Chapter 0: A Stallion out of Time

“The right stallion in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world.”

Once upon a time, in a land far from Equestria, there lived an elegant race of ponies: the Alicorns. The Alicorns were a small race for they were all females and were blessed with longevity in their lives. Because of their goddess-like lifespan, it was rare for an Alicorn to search for a mate amongst the other pony races. If an Alicorn were to fall in love it would be destined to end only in tragedy. Even so, one such Alicorn did just that and planned to have a family of her own.

She, the daughter of the Alicorn Queen, and he, a simple Unicorn traveling wizard, encountered each other on one fateful day. That day when she was exploring unknown lands, against her mother's wishes, saw a Unicorn being attacked by magical beasts. Seeing this she stopped those beasts from killing him, but did not come out of it unscathed. He then brought her to his abode and treated her wounds. They quickly became friends, soon after they fell in love. Every so often, she would sneak out and meet with him, until her mother found out and locked her away. The Unicorn learned of what the Alicorn Queen did and sought to rescue his love. Using his talent for magic, he successfully rescued her and ran away with her to the Unicorn Kingdom. They lived in secret on the outskirts of the Kingdom and started a family.

Years had passed and the Queen never did stop looking for her daughter. She hired agent after agent to no avail. Until one day, the most darkest of magical energies went throughout the world, that caused even the sun to darken in the sky. In sight of this terrible omen, the Queen sent some of her most dangerous agents to destroy the source of the dark energy, the Wendigoes.

On the same day that the Princess was giving birth to her third child, while her love was out on a trip for his studies,, the whole room filled with a dark magical energy that caused complications to the process. With the help of her two daughters, the Princess managed to give birth, but with the loss of a lot of blood. She held her knew born foal and saw a wondrous yet ominous thing. She held the world's first Male Alicorn. The little colt had a twilight blue coat, a black mane with orange-red tips that seem to ember like a fire, and piercing golden-yellow eyes. As the Princess marveled and cooed at her little colt she slowly realized that she had a visitor: an eerie creature known as a Dullahan. This meant that some-pony was going to die... and the princess knew exactly who that would be.

As the two stared at one other the room was began to form ice from another magical source. The Princess sensed the harmful intent behind the magical ice and feared for her children. She looked to the Dullahan and begged breathlessly, "Please take my children and flee! Their father is in the old tower in the Crystal Kingdom." She gasped in pain and then continued, "Tell him... tell him... that I love him and that it's not his fault. And our son's name, it's..."

---

"Sola Eclipse?!" I nearly jumped off my perch up in the rafters of the study to the sound of my father's deep voice coming from right behind me. I looked and saw a wisp of light floating behind me. "What are you doing?" the wisp asked knowingly, blinking at every word.

"Um, Reading." I smiled innocently at the wisp. Actually, I was just looking at the pretty pictures of the only picture book in the whole tower. (I'm only seven years old, I can barely read.)

My father sighed through the wisp. "Get down from there before you hurt yourself." The wisp said before it dissipated into thin air. I looked down from my perch and saw my father with his wide rimmed, pointy hat and a matching cloak - dark blue with moon and stars design on it. He is looking at me with his topaz eyes. My father is a grey unicorn with a white mane and a short white beard, that looks like the color of his coat is bleeding into it.

I closed the book (no title, just a design of an Alicorn on the front and a Unicorn on back) and levitated it with me as I got down. Jumping from my strut and fluttering to the top of a book case. I walked to the sliding staircase and slid down it's railings using my wings to slow my descent. When I got to the bottom I noticed my father glaring at the method of me getting down. My ears flattened to my skull, "What? I got down." Again smiling innocently.

Closing his eyes and rubbing the bridge of his nose with a hoof. "Sola, return the book." My father ordered. I complied and placed the book back on it's pedestal and replaced the glass dome lid around it. I returned to father and sat on my haunches, ears still flattened, and waited for the inevitable lecture about recklessness. Father gave one more sigh before opening his eyes and giving me a stern look. "Sola, do you know what time it is?" I cocked my head to the question.

Time? I looked to the giant twelve hour hourglass in the center of the room. At that moment, the enchantment on the now empty hourglass caused it to flip to it's A.M. side up. which means that it's midnight and I missed my evening studies (and supper, I'm starving.) I then looked to the window to further confirm that it was really late. I bowed my head and looked at my hooves. I knew I was in much more trouble than just for reckless endangerment.

"You had us worried that you might have been out there, lost and hurt! Or even worse, found and captured by some-pony who would use you for their own gain!" Father was raising his voice gradually, and I lowered my head and cringed more as he went on. "Your sisters are out there right now looking for you! What if they got hurt while doing so?" I squeezed my eyes shut, starting to sob with tears budding in my eyes. Father paused and gave a heavy sigh. Then he sat next to me and started to pet my mane in an attempt to comfort me. "I'm glad that you're safe." He said in a comforting tone. He put his foreleg around me in a half embrace and I leaned against him. "Just don't scare me like that again. Okay?" I nodded in compliance "Good." He got out of the hug and stood "Now, don't let this make you think that you're out of trouble. You are still going to have to be punished." He took a second to ponder while stroking his beard, "You are to give me a report on everything you learned this evening. It will be due tomorrow..." He paused and looked at the hourglass, " Well, later today."

I groaned. A report?! I sure hope it's not a written one.

Hearing my groan, "That's what you get for making your sisters and me worried. Now, go to your room. There will be no supper."

"B-but..." I stuttered, father cut me off with an uncompromising glare. I looked down, away from his topaz eyes, "Yes father." I said and marched off to my room. But before I left the room completely, I looked back at father. He was looking at the book I was "reading." Of what I could see of his face, he looked sad. Without missing a beat of my march, I continued on. Everything faded away as I walked down the cobblestone hallway.

=====***=====

Darkness, all I could see was darkness. It was a sort of heavy darkness. It felt like the darkness was pinning me on all sides. I felt like I should have been panicking but I was too tired. I just wanted to sleep but something had stolen my attention. I heard talking but it seemed as though the darkness was muffling the sound.

"But sir, do we really have to do this?" a buck whined, "I've been hearing some scary rumors about this Crystal Forest."

"Of course we have to!" Another buck barked with authority, "When the president of Stable-Tec asks you to find new ways to store magical energy, she expects results. And I intend to give em! And what better place to start lookin for new materials, than an unexplored region."

"Yes sir, I understand why we're here. But I wanna know why 'we' are here?" The first buck clarified, " why can't we just hire some explorers to find your materials?"

"Absolutely not! You can't trust those 'Daring Doo' types with candy for foals, much less a magic storing crystal! Besides, the president wants us to be discreet..." The second buck trailed off in the middle of his rant.

"Sir?" The first buck asked with slight worry, "What's the matt-" he stopped short. "Oh! Wow... That's a... wow." He was at a lost for words.

I could hear soft crunching of snow getting closer and stopped right next to me. Then there was a tap through the darkness. It sounded like a hoof tapping against glass. "Comet, call in the extraction team." the buck ordered his subordinate, "We found it."

Heavy. The darkness was getting heavier. Can't fight it, too...sleepy.

=====***=====

"But why can't I go!?" I asked father, in a loud tone. We were in his study. There were books covering every wall except for where the windows were. The giant hour glass in the center of the room read near 9am. Father was sitting at the desk under the farthest window from the door. He was writing in one of his journals, calm. I stood on the other side of the desk, wings flared in anger. "This is not fair!" I stomped a hoof, "The 'perfect Saint Duo' gets to go camping, and I have to stay here and study about extinct bird-pony things!" I fumed.

"Hippogriffs." Father corrected me, not looking up from his work, "And there is no proof that they're extinct. They just haven't been seen in a generation or two." He said, still writing.

I huffed, "Father. If that's not extinct, then it's a really good trick of playing dead." I retorted.

"That's one theory." He said, finally looking up from his journal. Rubbing his beard with a hoof in thought, "Or maybe they are lying in wait for the right opportunity to take back what was theirs from the Griffons." He smiled, using his perfect story teller's voice.

Okay, now I wanted to know what happened to the Hippogriffs, but I needed to keep my resolve. I stood my ground, fixing a glare toward with an expression that told him that I wouldn't be fooled by his evasion.

After a long silent second father sighed and gave me a thoughtful look, "Sola." He started, "You know why I can't let you go. It's too much of a risk." He said as if he was explaining it to me for the thousandth time (It's not the thousandth time yet, but it sure was close enough to seem like it.)

"I'll be careful." I pleaded, "I'll wear a cloak to hide my wings and hair. I...I'll write a report... do some extra magic studies... anything! I need to get out of this place!" I said, starting to raise my voice again as my pleas were slowly turning into accusations.

"Sola." Father tried to get my attention, but I ignored him and continued.

"I need to get outside and stretch my wings, and I don't mean to the courtyard. I need outside that barrier!"

"Sola." He tried again, but I interrupted.

"Is it because don't have my cutie mark? If you let me out, I would have an easier time finding mine. And if I can make some friends, I could..."

"Enough!" He interrupted with a booming amplified voice, demanding my attention. During my rant, I hadn't realized I was flapping my wings. I was three fourths of the way to hitting my head on a rafter, but father's voice shot me up the last fourth, cracking my head on it. I eased myself down with a tear in my eye and holding my head with both hooves, as if I was trying to keep my brains from leaking out. On the floor I inspected my new lump (it felt like I was growing a second horn.) I looked at father and immediately stood on all four hooves.

"I shall have no more talk of this kind. You will go to your room and stay there for the day." He said with a serious look and ending with the same uncompromising stare that he always gave me.

I glared at him for a moment, "I hate you!" I screamed before stomping off and slamming the door as hard as I could with my magic.

Once I had gotten to my room I slammed that door too. I went to my bed and started to pound my straw pillow in frustration. After beating the stuffing out of it I was still angry, so I turned and bucked over my trunk at the foot of my bed, scattering all my possessions within. One by one I enveloped the nick-nacks that my father had given me from his travels in my golden glow of my telekinesis. "It's not fair." Whoosh goes the lava rock, father had gotten me from his dragon trip, right out the window. The rock hit the blue barrier outside, creating shockwaves in it, and making a noise that sounded like a low toned 'pwaa'. Golden aura formed around another knick-knack father had gotten me from his travels, "It's not fair!"

Whoosh! Pwaa.

"Not fair, not Fair, not fair!"

Whoosh! Pwaa. Whoosh! Pwaa. Whoosh! Pwaa!

After throwing my last three nick-nacks from father I looked for something else to throw. I saw a hoof-sized blue crystal. I had found it outside in the courtyard. The only place where I can fly in this cage, a cage made to keep me "safe." I clenched my teeth at the notion of "safe." I looked at the wall of my "cage" and visualized father's face, "I hate you! I wish you would just die!" I focused my magic, a bubbly black aura formed around the crystal and I... did a double take. Black bubbly aura? I floated the crystal to me and observed it as it turned pitch black and formed tiny new spires of crystal. "Huh." I breathed.

Whoosh!

I flung the spiky crystal out the window, too angry to care about new discoveries, and looked for another object to throw.

It took me a second to realize that there was no corresponding 'pwaa' when I threw that crystal. My eyes widened in amazement as I looked out the window. There was a hole, no bigger that my hoof, slowly closing in the barrier. I flew up to it to get a better look. The edges of the hole was sparking with miniature black lighting bolts. I looked through the hole and saw a weeping willow blanketed in snow. Snow! Actual snow! The last time I saw snow was five years ago, when I was seven. It's so fluffy looking! I thought to myself. I just want to jump on it and take a nap! I poked my nose in the hole and inhaled. It smelled like a mixture of fire wood with fresh cold morning air. I enjoyed it so much so that I look a second inhale and then a third. By my ninth or tenth breath, the barrier had closed around my muzzle, getting me stuck. Reflexively I jerked away but all that gave me was a pain in my neck. I flapped my wings hard, trying to pull my muzzle out, but I was not successful. I tired myself out and hung there by my muzzle. I tried to think of a way out of this predicament, but then the hole got slightly tighter.

I panicked, "Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no, no!" I swung and flapped my wings to get my hooves against the barrier. Little shockwaves formed as my hooves pressed against the barrier and I heaved, still stuck. "Uh, Father? Sisters? Any-pony? Help!" I pleaded, but then the barrier tightened more, locking my jaw shut and almost cutting in my skin. Great, how ironic, I'm gonna die by the very barrier that was meant to protect me. My ears then perked to a muffled noise that I couldn't place. It seemed to be coming from the outside. "Hello?" I Inquired through my teeth, "Is any-pony there?" The cold woods bore no rebuttal. "If any-pony is there, could you help me out? Just push on my muzzle... you may have to push really hard." Again no answer, "Hello?"

Suddenly, something hit my nose and launched me out of the hole, into my window, and I crashed into my wardrobe filled with barely used cloaks and hats. In a daze, I looked back toward the hole and saw some sort of vine-like tentacle retreating back through the hole. The hole closed up as soon as the last tentacle thing left. My vision began to become blurry and everything faded to black as I passed out.

=====***=====

"Warning. Reactor overload. Reactor meltdown in two minutes." A monotonous mare spoke just loud enough to hear over an alarm that rang loudly through the air.

I opened my eyes, feeling filled with energy, and stared into pure darkness. I attempted to turn my head and see if there is anything visible but my head wouldn't move. I tried to gallop away from the darkness but my legs were pinned as well. I struggled to flap but my wings are denied flight to me as well. My heart began to race.

"Warning, reactor overload. Reactor meltdown in one minute." The mare announced once again.

I cried for help to the mare, but it was as though the darkness was silencing me. Actually, I'm not even sure if I took a breath the entire time. My chest started to hurt as I panicked.

"Warning, reactor overload. Reactor meltdown in thirty seconds." The mare spoke once more.

Okay, calm down Sola, you got to think. You're in the middle of pure darkness, and you're paralyzed from hoof to horn. What can I do to get out of here? I stopped and briefly assessed the situation and my options. Then, as I tried not to laugh at myself, I mentally face-hoofed. Right, magic. I can do that. I concentrated magic to my horn, aiming to create light in this void, but nothing. I could feel the magic emanating from my horn but no light shone. At last concentrating harder rewarded me with a loud 'Crack!' Light splintered outward in front of my eyes. It's working!

"Warning, reactor overload. Reactor meltdown in 10...9...8..." The mare began counting a loud.

Why is she counting down, is this "Reactor" pony having a mental breakdown that big of a deal? In any case, a countdown is never good. I focused my magic even harder and the crack doubled in size, branching off more streams of light from it.

"7...6...5...4..."

I poured more magic into my horn, feeling an over flow of energy. The crack spider webbed outward.

"3...2...1...Zer..." the mare stopped short. As she was saying zero, for a final push I blasted out all the gathered energy and shattered the black crystal I was encased in. I gasped deep, feigning for even a breath. My lungs fought for air and I collapsed to the ground in a coughing fit. After a minute of catching my breath, I tried to stand, but my knees buckled and I hit the cold floor again. I wrenched my head up to look at my legs while I flexed them experimentally. They were stiff and hard to move but as I got the blood moving again I managed to have better control over them. Before I attempted to get back up, I took a good look around. I was in some sort of sealed chamber. A round room with grey walls lay before me. I was on a platform in the center. There was only a single light illuminating the room and it was located over a concave square section of wall. Next to it a panel stood out with some writing that I couldn't quite read from afar.

Shakily, I returned to my hooves and started toward the panel. I lifted one hoof forward and started to fall. I caught myself by stumbling forward and keeping my momentum. I stumbled a few more times before I got to the panel, out of breath. There were two circular divots with the words "open" and "close" under each one respectively. I looked at the weird grey wall and panel. Analytically I pressed in the divot marked "open." In correspondence the wall slid vertically. "Interesting." I mused to myself, "This wall is a door and these are switches that open and close it." I pushed the close button, then the open, close, open, close, open, close. I chuckled and hit both continuously. I was really amused by the device. I stopped and chuckled again.

"Who's down here? Show yourself!" A mare's voice called out, echoing through the door. I immediately fell silent and cautiously went through the door. i entered into what seemed to be a storage area. There were shelves to my right, a desk to my left, and boxes in the corners. With the only lights being from the room I had just exited and a moving green light coming from down the hallway and around a corner, I stood near-silently. Hoof steps echoed though the corridor. Quickly I ducked into the shadows next to the shelves awaiting the hoof steps to get closer.

The green light shone into the room. "Hmm, I don't remember a door be'n there." A tan earth pony mare with brown hair said as she walked in. She wore a skin tight blue barding with yellow trim around her neck, down the front, and around her waist which allowed her flank to show. Uh, I mean her cutie mark... yes! Cutie mark... There was a metal looking tool with hexagon sockets on each end. She also wore a bright brick-like bracer on her left foreleg. She didn't look my way as she passed me, she was to distracted by the door. I took this chance to get a closer look at her foreleg. Sticking to the shadows, I snuck up to her as she looked into the other room and analyzed her legwear. It looks like a brick sized manacle with a small window on top and three buttons below the window. I slowly reached out a hoof to push a button, and I turned off the green light that was shining from the window . "What?" The mare pulled up her leg to examine the thing. She took a step back and sat on her haunches, so she can use her right hoof to hit the light button again. "Stupid Pipbuck, I gotta get this thang checked out." She said with some angst.

When she turned it on, the light momentarily blinded me. Then I heard her gasp and I looked at her. She stared at me, eyes moving from my hooves to my eyes. Showing teeth, I gave a friendly grin. She responded by screaming "Monster!" and racing away. (Well I thought I gave her a friendly grin.) As she ran away, I saw the number '0' on her back, interesting. Well in any case, a scared pony either runs for help or an exit, and I hope it's the latter. Who ever these ponies are, if that's their mechanism for doors, I would not like to know what they use to fight monsters. Either way, there is only one path out of this storage area.

I started down the dark corridor and rounded the corner at the end to see an even darker corridor. I could the mare's racing hoof steps getting quieter. I was going to follow her out, but I guess I will just have to find my own path. First I need a light. I closed my eyes and focused my magic, "Okay." I said to myself, "Burn bright, not hot, bright, not hot." I chanted while visualizing light coming from my horn. I pored energy into the spell and felt it working. I opened my eyes to see my results. I produced no more than a candle's worth of concentrated light from the tip of my horn. "Really?" I said half out of breath from the exertion. I groaned a bit and continued down the dark hall with nothing but two feet of visibility.

As I walked down the hall, I passed a few doorways that were marked "Water Treatment," "Pipbuck Maintenance," and "Reactor Room." I didn't go in any of the doors, especially the Reactor Room. I heard shouting in there and if somepony was having a meltdown, I want to be nowhere near there. I came to a T-section in the hall and there were signs pointing to the left and right. Residential, Orchard/Hydroponics, and Stasis Chambers were to the left, and Security, Atrium, Overmare's Office, and Stable Door were to the right.

Okay, orchards and stables are both outside, so either way would get me out. I thought to myself. But, Security means to keep ponies safe, so they are the local guards and I'm the "monster" here. So I'll go left and save myself the headache. I took the left path cautiously. If I run across any residents it would cause a panic.

I walked for a couple minutes and noticed that the walkway is curving slightly to the right. Then I came to another T-section and saw the same signs, but Residential was gone and Maintenance was back the way I came. As I stopped to look at the signs, somepony gasped right behind me. I froze at the sound and turned my head slowly towards the new path. there were two Unicorns embracing each other like lovers, but they were both staring at me with eyes and mouths ajar.

I half raised a hoof to smile and wave, but I put it back down and bit my lower lip in thought. Maybe I shouldn't smile. After all, It scared the last pony I saw. So instead I observed them for anything that will be of help to my situation. They continued to stare at me, unmoving. They wore a thicker barding than the one the last mare was wearing, also with the same color scheme and the word "Security" on their chests. They both had what that mare called a Pipbuck on their left forelegs and some sort of metal baton sheathed on their right. From the looks of them, they are security guards and this society allows mares to be in such a position.

Then a voice announced from their Pipbucks. Wow, I marveled, those can project voices too. I wonder what else it can do.

" I repeat." Oh yeah, I snapped out of my wondering, it was talking. What was it saying? "We have a report of a monster in the maintenance wing. So be advised, and stay on your guard. Until we can get surveillance back up, I need all hooves to report back any suspicious activity. Chief Morningstar out." The mare's voice ended. All three of us took our eyes off of the same Pipbuck and stared into each others eyes. My eyes are now almost as wide as theirs and my muzzle froze into a straight line.

Mechanically, I turned toward the orchard and started to walk down the corridor. Once I was out of sight, the stallion began to talk loudly, sounding like he couldn't believe what he just saw, "Chief Morningstar, a suspicious creature has been seen heading to the orchard."

What!? Those things can project two ways!? I froze, heart racing nervously. What should I do? I ask myself. Incapacitate those two and double back, or run to the orchard to head off the possible ambush? I juggled the ideas of hurting innocents or being attacked with monster slaying weapons.

"Run you fool!" A deep stallion's voice commanded, I looked for where that voice came from. "Run!" The voice echoed, I galloped at full sprint towards the orchard. Who am I to argue with a disembodied voice?

I got to a door at the end of the corridor with the words "Orchard/Hydroponics" over it. I paused in front of the door and took a breath. Using my magic to push the open button, I jumped through the door as soon as it opened. My hooves crunched on the dirt road, and my eyes scanned the area for anypony. Thanks to the light above the door I just exited, I could see nopony in the immediate area. I let out the breath I was holding. Alright, I'm clear for takeoff. I looked towards the sky and saw that it was pitch black. I could see no stars or moon light. "I guess a new moon is scheduled for tonight and the Pegasus are gathering clouds for a storm nearby." I told myself, I then stretched my wings and took off, "Not a problem. I'll just get above this cloud cover and..."

CRACK!

Right into what feels like a stone ceiling, then I rebounded into an apple tree, breaking a branch before hitting the ground. I lied there coughing with pain in my ribs and a second horn growing. Then suddenly light shined in my eyes, giving me great discomfort. I rolled over to my hooves and stood up. I squinted and blinked through my discomfort and saw that I was not alone. There were eight guards I could see, a mix of Unicorns and earth ponies. Half of them were recovering from the brightness, three were readying their weapons, and one was staring at me dumbfounded, like she never seen an Alicorn before.

"Surround her, before she gets away." A security Unicorn mare wearing a helmet ordered.

"Her?" I may have a mare-ish figure and a snout shorter than most stallions, but I don't look like a mare. I narrowed my eyes at that mare while the rest surrounded me. Maybe now that they can see me in the light, we can come to an understanding. I softly cleared my throat and raised a hoof in a friendly gesture. "Greet..."

Bang!

One of their weapons went off, interrupting me. There was a sharp pain on the side of my neck. I put my hoof to it and looked at it. A small amount of blood was on my hoof. Looking behind me, I found a small hole in the tree I fell out of. So that hoof-ish sized weapon can shoot tiny projectiles at blinding speeds. I swished my tail nervously, and noticed something weird about it. Both my mane and tail are long like a mare's and flowing like a fire in the wind. No wonder they think I'm a monster (and a mare), I must look like a fire demon from hell.

"Hold your fire! The Overmare wants her alive!" The lead mare barked.

I glared at her and snorted. Okay , now this is just getting insulting. I took a breath to ebb my anger and began, "I..."

Thwack!

I was interrupted again, but this time it was some over enthusiastic earth pony buck hitting me upside the head with a metal baton in his mouth. "Mheah! Fhen Moints!" He exclaimed around his weapon. I turned my head and glared at him with the mother of all stink-eyes. His ears flattened in response when he realized that rushing in alone and pissing off a larger than he was Alicorn, was not a smart idea.

That's it! Seeing red, I pivoted on my fore hooves and bucked hard enough to launch him into a tree twenty feet away. At that point, the other four melee ponies rushed me. I levitated the baton the buck dropped and threw it at the fastest guard. It struck him in the forehead, causing him to falter in his gallop, tripping him. He face planted and skidded a few feet on the ground knocked out. I glanced down and saw a broken branch from my crash. I floated it to me, hooking my forelegs around it, and flapped my wings to spin me hard clockwise. The branch broke against the next fastest guard, effectively taking her out. Then the last two guards tackled me from behind to the ground and proceeded to pin me down. One grappled my wings and the other fell on my back hooking her fore leg with mine and heaved. It felt like she was going to break my leg.

I struggled, trying to get my hooves under me, no good. How do I get out of this, I asked myself. "Oh, that's easy." The deep voice answered my thoughts, "Visualize their hearts, how they beat and how they contract." With how dire my situation is, I closed my eyes and did what the voice said, "Good, now imagine putting your hooves against those hearts." I did so and the two on my back gasped and loosened their grip for a second. It was working, whatever I was doing. "Now crush them." the voice commanded.

What? I thought back in confusion.

"Smash their hearts like little tomatoes, or they're going to capture you and do who knows what." Are those my only options? Kill them or risk torture?

No. I reassured myself. These are ponies, torture is beneath them.

"are you sure? They have weapons meant for killing. What makes you think they don't have tools for torture? The only guarantee for survival is to kill them." the voice said coolly, like taking their lives would be trivial.

No. I firmly thought back.

"Kill them!" The voice growled.

"No!" I shouted out loud. My sudden outburst staggered the two on my back enough to free my wings. I flapped and flew upwards and stopped suddenly. Launching both of them off my back and into the tree above. I poised myself to fly away as fast as I can, but something stabbed me in my flank. I looked and saw a glass tube with clear liquid in it and a sky-blue aura pushing a metal piece on the end down, injecting me into my cutie mark (a black sun with a white crescent moon covering the right half of it). Without warning, I became really drowsy and my wings started to flap unevenly. I tried to get away, but instead of flying up, I crashed down into the ground.

"Bout time doc. What took you so long?" A buck said with relief in his voice.

"Lets see you inject somepony while they were spinning a branch around like a mad mare." A mare retorted. I fought to keep my eyes open, looking for possible escape routes. There were some new ponies treating the wounds of the five that attacked me. they wore long white coats and they poked and prodded at their patients.

"Status report!" Called a familiar mare's voice. She was the one talking on the Pipbuck earlier.

The mare that was barking orders before spoke up. "Target is neutralized, with five injured and zero casualties."

"And what of our guest?" An elegant sounding mare said. I tried to look at them, but the doctor who injected me rolled me to my back and started to poke and prod me.

"Well, she may have sustained injuries from the landing." The guard informed them (neglecting to mention the minor injuries they caused) while the doctor took a look under my tail. I heard a faint 'oh my' as she did. "But otherwise..."

"Um, Overmare, Chief." The doctor interrupted, "You should take a look at this." All were silent as I heard their hoof steps converge to me. My battle with my eyes started to wane. My sight got blurry when the first of the ponies saw me and started to murmur. All I could see is pony shaped blurs surrounding me.

"Well I'll be. She is a he." Morningstar whistled.

"Indeed. And he is an Alicorn." The Overmare replied, "I wonder what he did to earn the right to be royalty?" What is she talking about?

"Really, royalty?" Morningstar echoed my thoughts disbelieving, "Why would a royal pony willingly sabotage a stable that is meant to save ponies? And besides, the books say only mares can earn the right to rule."

"Which is why I want to know how he managed it." The Overmare said, and turned to another pony blob. "Doctor, ready a stasis pod for our guest, and wake a memory expert." The doctor nodded and started giving orders to her team. Morningstar also turned and gave orders for the rest. The Overmare stayed, staring at me.

My eye lids felt extremely heavy and I gave in to them. Before I lost consciousness, the deep voice whispered to me, "Sweet dreams, my prince." He chuckled darkly into the darkness.

=====***=====

Forward I trotted into the void. However, no matter how far I travel, I seem to be getting nowhere. All around me was darkness as far as I can see, Which isn't that far. Then a vertical line of light shone through the darkness. Automatically, I moved towards it. As I got closer, a cobblestone corridor formed around me, and at the end, where the light was shining, is a large wooden door, ajar. I raised my hoof to push open the door, but stopped when I heard talking from the other side.

"But father." A familiar voice argued, my sister Luna. "He is our brother, your son. Are you suggesting that we abandon Sola when he needs us most? There has to be a way to save him from that prison!" Luna yelled, clearly upset.

"Luna, dear..." Father tried to explain himself.

"I agree with Luna." My eldest sister, Celestia, Interrupted calmly, "You are the most knowledgeable of magic. Surely you know of a way to free him."

"I do know of one, but..."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Luna interrupted father, "Let us do it and free Sola." Luna exclaimed hopeful.

"No." Father said simply.

"What, Why?!" Luna argued.

I did not wait for father's reply, but instead pushed open the door to reveal myself to them. "Father, Luna, Celestia!" I called out, "I'm...home." There was no pony there. I was no longer in the tower, but instead I was now in a hallway made of solid grey walls and metal framework. I could see a window with a door next to it at the end of the corridor. Looking back, I saw that the door I came through was now a blank grey wall. "I guess I have no other choice but forward." I told myself.

"Do you?" The deep voice replied. I looked forward and saw a black smoke-like entity with bright red eyes staring at me through the window. I moved at a quickened pace towards the window, but the entity dissipated when I got close.

"Okay Mr. Cortex." A baby-pink Unicorn mare with a snow white mane and that blue barding with the zero on the back, was talking to a green Unicorn stallion with a black mane and in a doctor's coat. "I need you to find out who he is, why he's here, and how he managed to achieve Alicorn-hood." She instructed in her elegant voice.

Cortex sighed, "Doctor, Cortex."

She cocked her head in confusion, "Pardon?"

"It's Doctor...Cortex." He said with emphasis on 'Doctor', "I did not go to four years of Ministry of Peace training to be called 'mister'." The word hissed through his teeth as if he was a snake.

she cleared her voice, "Of course, forgive me." She apologized and gestured to somepony on a table that I didn't realize was there. "Doctor, would you be so kind."

"Ah, yes, the patient. "Cortex moved closer to the pony on the table. He had a twilight-blue coat (just like mine), a horn that is twice as long than any other Unicorn's (just like mine), and a mane that's black at the base and a glowing orange-red at the ends (just like...That's me!). Cortex put his horn to...uh, mine and it started to glow green. "Now lets see what's in your head, shall we."

"Hey!" I shouted, "You stay out of my head!" I pounded my hooves against the glass. They didn't react to my pounding and continued on with the procedure.

The doctor worked silently except for a few confused 'huh's and 'interesting's. I pounded harder trying to break the glass. The mare in the room stomped her hoof irritated. "Will you stop with the 'oo's and 'ah's, and tell me something!"

Not distracted by his work, Cortex chuckled, "Sorry miss Overmare, I just find this subject quite fascinating." At that moment the smoke-like entity protruded from my body and smiled evilly at Cortex with pointy, jagged teeth.

"Hey! Stop what you're doing!" I yelled again, but more out of fear for him. The shade started to enter the doctor through his horn and he screamed in pain. He fell to the ground.

The Overmare quickly went to his side. "Doctor Cortex, are you all right?"

Cortex groaned and slowly got up with the help of the Overmare. "Yes." he said breathlessly, "I'm fine, just got caught off guard by a bad memory."

"Bad memory?" Overmare echoed, "I hope it wasn't too painful." She said worriedly.

Cortex walked past her towards me, behind the window. "No. Not painful, but disturbing." He focused his gaze to my eyes, the whites of his eyes turned green and the edges were smoking. "I believe this stallion is very dangerous, and we must take drastic measures." I glared at him, he smirked back. What is he planning?

"Are you suggesting we kill him?" Overmare asked appalled.

"Oh dear, no." He said without leaving his gaze. "I suggest we extract all his memories. So we can reteach him to use his skills for good."

My eyes widened in horror. My memories?! "No!!" I pivoted and bucked the window as hard as I can, but all I got was Cortex giving me the most evilest smile ever.

The Overmare sighed "I don't like it, but if he is that dangerous. We have no other choice." She bowed her head in what seems like prayer.

"Trust me." He said to both of us. "This is the right thing to do." The shade protruded from him. It had an evil face and a curved red blade-like horn.

No!! I have to stop this! I looked around for a way in and saw the door next to the window. I push the button magically, and the door hissed open. Without hesitation, I ran through the door. However, I was not in the room beyond the window, but outside surrounded by snow. The sky was a crimson red, the sun was blackened, and all the crystal buildings were in ruin. Even the castle was broken and on fire. I walked the road toward a rock hillock with somepony on fire on top.

I stopped when my hoof splashed in something sticky. I lifted my hoof to find that it was as crimson as the sky. My eyes followed the trail of blood to a mangled Pegasus corpse, half buried in the snow. A beige hard hat was covering the face of a tan stallion with two toned green hair. Backing away from the sight, I bumped into another one. However, this one was a decapitated grey stallion, impaled by a street lamp. Smoke poured out from his wounds, like as if somepony had set fire to only his innards. In horror, I jumped back startled. My heart racing as I tripped and fell on my rump, splashing into a sticky puddle. (Please don't let it be what I think it is.) I looked down to confirm my fear, and more. I was sitting in a large puddle of blood sprinkled with severed limbs, pieces of skull, and quite a few eyeballs.

My eyes widened, looking at all this gore. "What kind of monster would do this?" I asked just to keep me from screaming.

"Sola." The deep voice called out to me. I lifted my head and looked for where it came from. "Sola." The voice called again from behind me. I turned and found myself at the base of the hill, but instead of stone the hill was made of countless dead bodies. The hill suddenly became steep and a staircase rose out of the bodies, giving me passage to the top. "Wake up, Sola." The voice beckoned from the top. Determined to find out who's responsible for this carnage, I charged up the stairs. I'm going to give him a piece of my mind, or rather a buck into next...

I stopped dead at the top once I saw who it was standing on top of the hill of corpses. He had a twilight-blue coat that was splattered with blood from his victims. His mane long and blazing, and his eyes are closed and smoking. "Wake up." I stepped hesitantly closer staring at his (my) face. "Wake up." The voice said again and opened his glowing green eyes, "And smell the ashes."

=====***=====

New Game:

Sola Eclipse Lv. 1
S. P. E. C. I. A. L
6. 4. 6. 2. 4. 3. 3

Chapter 1: Ashes

View Online

"Ashes, ashes, and we all fall down."

War, war never changes.

Ages ago, war ran rampant throughout the world. Nations fought nations. Neighbors assaulted neighbors. Brothers killed brothers. War was waged for a number of reasons: honor, glory, territory, resources, greed, love, hatred, for one's very survival, or even war for the sake of war. Tools of death were used to conquer and defend in the name of peace. Magical creations were conceived in the purest of intentions but were used for the most malicious of ideals. Then when life of the whole world was nearly extinguished. One pony sacrificed everything to seal away the very spirit of war itself and brought about an era of peace. However, time can erode all things and war is a patient creature. After a thousand years of peace, the seal weakened and war returned. New, more powerful weapons were made. War machines were used. Spells of mass destruction were created. Bringing the world to its knees once again.

Thus the cycle continues: Nations fought nations. Neighbors assaulted neighbors. Brothers killed brothers. For war, war never changes.

---

I woke up with a jolt. My eyes opened groggily as I took deep quick breaths. "Wake up process complete." A monotone mare's voice announced, muffled by a glass and metal container that I seem to be in. "Opening stasis pod." With a hiss, the window of my pod opened upward.

I groaned as I heaved myself out of the pod from a laying down position. I fell over the side and landed roughly on my side, onto a chilly cold floor. I rolled to my knees and looked around in confusion. "Where am I?" I was in a large room, filled with rows of stasis pods. I tried to remember the night before, but all I could remember that was resent was my brawl in the orchard and dim flashes of my dream.

I hung onto one memory of the dream. "We extract all his memories" Dr. Cortex had said, but that's ludicrous. I can still remember things like my father's study, my bedroom, and ... and .... I tried to recall something else but my mind was blank. Then to further confirm my memory loss, my stomach growled and I tried to remember the last thing I ate, but I can't recall eating anything at all, ever.

Silently, I started to panic. Think Sola, um, what's father's name? Nothing. Do I have any friends? Nodda. My special talent? Zilch. What is... uh, What is... um. I was on the verge of breaking into tears, when the sound of a door hissing open snapped me out of it.

I wrenched myself out of the fetal position (That I unconsciously went into) and stood up. I looked over a row of pods and saw the door that had opened, but there is nopony to be seen. "Hello?" I called out, "Anypony there?" A door does not simply open itself after all. Wobbly, I made my way to the door, looking at the other pods as I passed them.

Each Cylindrical capsule has a glass window, that is fogged up with a silhouette of a pony inside, and name plates of the occupants. I walked along, looking at each name. Then I stopped at one familiar name that I heard from my dream, Dr. Cortex. I looked at the window and it seemed foggier than the others, making it hard to see inside. I looked to the pod's side and saw a control panel with a red button that says 'open'. Using my magic, I pressed the button. "Opening stasis pod." The monotone mare announced. The pod hissed open to reveal that it was empty.

I stared at the empty capsule. My dream was just a dream, right? But if it was a dream, that would mean I would have my memories, but I don't have my memories, so it wasn't just a dream and... and. The sound of glass shattering interrupted my hyperventilation. I looked towards the door and saw a purple tail with white swirly ends moving down the hallway out of sight. "Hello?" I called out, moving in a quick trot to the door. "I need some help. Could you tell me where I ... am?"

The hallway was empty. I took one step out the door and felt a crunch under my hoof. I looked down and saw a broken glass bottle, soaked in its own contents. It was sticky and vaguely smelt of carrots (which is weird, I may not remember eating one, but somehow I know the smell and taste of a carrot). My stomach growled to the scent and my mouth felt dry and sticky. I stared at the brown-carrot liquid, calculating. Pro: I get something in my stomach. Con: Some of the 'something' will be glass and whatever else is on the floor.

I sighed and looked away from the floor. Maybe I'll be lucky and find some food down this hall. I rubbed my stomach trying to comfort it, but my hoof found fabric between it and my hide. I inspected the obstruction and saw that I was wearing one of those blue barding with yellow trimming. This one had holes for my wings and a yellow zero on my back. I stretched my wings experimentally, the barding wouldn't get in the way of any flight movements.

It didn't take long for my stomach to get angry at me, sending an empty feeling throughout my abdomen. "Alright, I'm going, sheesh." I answered the growls and trotted down the corridor in search of food.
=====***=====

"Hmm..." I stared at the signs at a T-intersection in confusion. The right path was to the Orchard/Hydroponics, Residential, and Maintenance. Which makes sense, since I turned left at Maintenance, past Residential, to the Orchard. However, what's getting me confused is that if I had turned right at Maintenance I would have gone to Security, Atrium, Overmare's Office, and Stable Door, which are the same locations if I turn left here. So this facility is either one big loop or some crazy funhouse. Well anyway, the Orchard is where the food is, so I'll go th.... I looked at the right path and it was barricaded to the ceiling ten feet down the path. My face was blank. I about-faced, "To the Atrium!" I exclaimed, marching down the left path.

As I walked down the curving corridor, I noticed a few things. This place is extremely filthy, trash littered the ground, and I could hear chittering echoing in the air ducts (don't ask me how I know that they're air ducts, they just look like they should be). Then I arrived at the Atrium. It had a high ceiling and four floors, which the fourth was just a room with a round window overlooking the Atrium. The only way into that room was through the only room on the third floor.

While scanning the area, I found a map on the wall and immediately went to it. It was a map of the whole facility, Stable-0. Overall, this place was designed to look like one big cog, like one of the ones on father's hourglass. Looking over the map, I found a "You are here" star in the Atrium. Right next to the only corridor that leads to the Stable door in the center of the cog on the second floor of the Atrium. I turned and looked at a door that is twice as wide as the other doors, with a sign that read "Stable Door."

If there is an exit, then that would be it. I should probably get out of here before somepony notices me. I stopped at the thought, and looked around again. though it is strange that I haven't seen anypony anywhere. I shook my head and went to the door's control panel. "Meh. I'm sure it's fine. They're probably just sleeping off a night of celebration." I said aloud, confident in my assumption. It would explain the trash everywhere and empty common area.

I pressed the button eagerly, nothing. I pressed it again, nothing. Scowling, I continuously pressed it till I got tired, still nothing. I huffed, "Well that's just great. Only one exit out of this place and the door's stuck." I kicked the panel with a forehoof, and then noticed some sort of keyhole. "Or perhaps locked." I don't remember ever seeing a keyhole like this one before (of course I don't remember hardly anything anyway), but a keyhole means that there's a key that fits it.

I was just about to think of my next move, when I smelled something cooking. I sniffed the air, trying to determine the origin of the scent. It smelt like something savory and nutty. I followed my nose to a railing that overlooks the bottom floor. I looked over and saw a table with a plate of food on it. Without hesitation, I jumped the railing and glided to the ground. Once there I galloped to the table and ogled at the food. It was the size of a loaf of bread, steaming hot, and smells great. There was also a note next to the plate, written very sloppily.
"Paleez Njoy
Mor en citchan"
At the bottom, it was signed with a foalish drawing of a smiling earth pony with spiral eyes and a weird hat, and with the initials "SB."

I stared a second longer at the illiterate note, dumb founded. Till my stomach reminded me of the food in front of me, so I chowed down. The texture made me think of oatmeal, and it tasted like a mix of almonds and something I can't quite place my hoof on. The food was gone in ten seconds flat. I scarfed it down so fast that it burnt my throat. I licked what remained on the plate and looked at the note again. I deciphered the script, "More in Kitchen." Don't mind if I do.

I trotted to the kitchen, around a knocked over table. I pushed open the swinging doors and was immediately assaulted by the delicious aroma. Inside I saw two large metal boxes in front of me with hinge doors and the words "Sol-King Refrigerators" on the front. Beside that was a counter covered with stacked dusty dishes. Then next to that was a pan with food in it on top of a stove (Sol-King Stovetop Ovens). Forgetting the rest of the room, I bum-rushed the food and got it all in my mouth in one bite.

After chewing a couple times, I turned around and froze. Behind me there was an island counter (chew), on that counter was a cutting board (chew), and on that was the front half of a rather large cockroach (chew). I don't mean the size of a gold bit large, I mean the size of my head large (gulp). I stared blankly at the half of roach as I contemplated what I just ate exactly. The flavor of almonds and what I am now calling 'gamey roach', was still in my mouth. It wasn't a bad flavor. In fact, I really like the taste, it was quaint and earthy.

I shrugged and turned to the door. Overall, eating something that tasted good overshadowed the fact that it was a cockroach. As I was about to pass the refrigerators, something clinked inside one of them. I stopped and looked at the offending metal box. Slowly I hooked a hoof on the handle and opened it up. I heard chittering and then, "Ahh!!" I screamed as a roach latch onto my face. Backing up, I shook my head vigorously. It clung like no other. It squeaked as its mandibles lunged at my eye, only to pierce my cheek under it. I cried out in pain as I reared up and fell backwards through the swinging doors. The roach flung from my face as I hit my head on the knocked over table.

Groaning, I sat up and looked for where that roach had gone. I looked right, clear, looked left and, "Son-of-a Muffin!!" I was face to boney face with an earth pony skeleton with a metal baton clenched in its teeth. Heart racing, I fell back and scooted backwards a good two meters. It was wearing security barding, rather torn and beaten up security barding.

"Squee!"

I looked towards the table I ate food on and there was the roach on its back, struggling to get upright. I need to kill it before it attacks again. I looked at the skeleton's weapon, put my aura around it and tugged, it was stuck. The roach squeaked and got upright by using its wings. I tugged at the baton again, no good. The roach skittered in a tiny circle to get its bearings, until it saw me and fluttered its wings menacingly. I fumbled to get to my hooves as the roach charged me. With one final heave, the baton pulled free and I hit the roach midair as it lunged at me. It squeaked in pain as I hit it again, then not at all when I hit it a third time.

I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding. "It's done." I sighed with the baton floating next to me. In my peripherals, I saw something hanging off my weapon. I looked and flinched away in surprise. The skull of the skeleton was still holding on to the baton. I wiggled the baton in an attempt to loosen it, but it just felt like I was waving the most weirdest flag ever. Using magic, I unhinged the jaw and placed the skull next to the rest of the body. "Sorry friend." I said to the skeleton.

Good thing there's no such thing as curses, or I would be getting one for desecrating a corpse. Or is there? The sound of chittering broke my train of thought. I looked and found another roach staring at me from atop a counter that connected to the kitchen. I confidently went into a battle stance. It's only one. Two more skittered onto the counter. With this baton, I can handle three. Then I heard massive amounts of chittering. Wide eyed, I looked left, right, and up.

"Well...crap."

=====***=====

"Cursed! I'm cursed!" My heart raced as I galloped down the corridor to Security. "I desecrated a pony's remains and got cursed!" I yelled hysterically. Back at the dining area, I managed to kill a few before I lost my baton when I lost focus on it from them biting me, a lot. Now, I'm running for help with half a swarm on my tail.

I jumped and flapped my right wing to help me make a sharp left turn to the Security wing. However, after a half gallop, I ran into the door at the end of a short hallway (literally). I rubbed my pained nose and looked back. Chittering echoed through the corridor and was getting louder. I opened the door, rushed inside, and closed it right up. I exhaled heavily, safe. I turned away from the door and my heart jumped with a jolt. I was in a wider hallway covered in scorch marks, holes, pink ash, and skeletons. There were also desks on their sides, which looks like they were used as cover from projectiles.

"This place looks like a war zone. What happened here?" I stepped around the skeletons carefully not to disturb their remains. Some of them were security, but most were wearing regular Stable suits. I even found shreds of burnt barding poking out of pink ash. A tear budded in my eye at this horror. This isn't a monster attack. This is pony killing pony! Why would they kill each other? I thought they were supposed to be friends, or comrades at the least (because of the uniformity).

I looked away, needing to look at anything but dead ponies right now. There were seven doors in this hallway (excluding the one I came through) and each one had a name above it. From the beginning of the hallway to the end, there was the Training room, Barracks, Restroom, Storage closet, Armory, Monitor room, and Chief's Office. I ignored the Barracks and Training room, for I already had passed them and did not feel like backtracking as of yet.

So instead I opened the door to the storage closet. It was a cramped little room with stuff on shelves. I didn't bother looking at the stuff, it was uninteresting. I then turned to the restroom across the hall and opened it up. It was almost as small as the closet, even though there was another skeleton in there. This skeleton was muzzle first in some sort of water trough, obviously a victim of a drowning. On the opposite wall was a mirror above a... You know what, I don't know what that is, but it has a spigot. Interested, I turned one of the levers next to it and water came out. "What? Indoor plumbing?" I marveled.

I then realized that my mouth was dryer than a desert. I stared a second at the water spewing from the spigot. It was the oasis to my desert of a mouth. By turning my head awkwardly, I managed to sate my thirst. After drinking my fill, I lifted my head to see, a mare on fire! No wait, that's just me in the mirror, and my mane is long and a mess. Somehow I managed to get my ever flowing mane all frizzy with split ends. Weird, it looks dimmer than I remember. It almost looks like normal hair.

I ran a hoof through my mane, only for it to snag on a knot with a painful tug on my scalp. I winced and sighed, "Wish I could just cut it off." At that moment, through the mirror, I saw a grip sticking out of the skeleton's security barding. I turn around and looked at it. The sheath it was in was attached to the barding's sleeve, and it was in the shape of a small blade. I hesitated, biting my lip. "Is it considered grave robbing if I take a knife from a dead pony that is not in a grave?" Asking no one (to be honest, I just need to hear somepony's voice).

I considered it for a bit, and decided that it should be fine as long as I don't desecrate the remains. I gingerly unsnapped the sheathed knife from the skeleton's barding, all the while chanting "Please no curse. Please no curse. Please no curse." After removing it, I did a quick glance around and sighed in relief. Unsheathing the knife, I examined it as I floated it in my aura. It was a simple straight edge blade, made of a fine steel, and was in relatively good condition. "This'll do." I said, turning to the mirror.

A crumpled piece of paper caught my eye. I picked it up and read it, "B.S. If you clog that toilet one more time, I will drown you in your own shit. S.R." That's neat, even the outhouse is indoor, and also, ew. I glanced back at the drowned skeleton and cringed. That is no way for a pony to die.

Which made me think as I turn back to the mirror to cut my hair. Why are all these ponies skeletons? How long was I in that pod for? Why am I the only pony who woke up? And If my memories are gone (which they are most definitely gone, save for a few), how is it that I know names of things and creatures, like roaches, almonds, and knives. If I don't remember seeing or learning anything about them? Heck! How can I even read in that case?

I sighed as I cut down the last clump of long hair. I looked over my work and then stare in my own eyes for the better part of a minute. I don't know what I was looking for, but I looked into those golden-yellow eyes anyway. Sad, depressing eyes. I took a deep breath and smacked my hoof against my head semi-hard like. "Cheer up Sola. Stop thinking about questions you can't answer, and focus on getting out of here." I put on a confident face and nodded to myself. Securing the knife in its sheath and attaching it to my right sleeve, I exited the restroom and continued down the hallway. "But how will I accomplish that? When the way outside is locked, and the only ponies who would know where the key is are dead."

I stopped and looked at the Chief's office door. The leader of Security would probably have a key. So I went directly to the chief's office, which was flanked by two black domes (Though they were both smashed and one had a metal tool sticking out of it) on the wall. I opened the door to reveal (surprise!) more skeletons. Six skeletons occupied a mid-sized room with bookshelves on the left and right walls, a door on the other end of the room, and a desk in the center with a strange box on it. Out of the six skeletons, only one was a security pony. "A five on one battle. Doesn't seem like a fair fight." I looked at the bodies. They all, except for the guard, had broken bones, missing teeth, an even one's skull was half missing. "For the five." I added.

I carefully maneuvered around them to the desk and searched the drawers I had found junk and a slip of paper that says "I88-Ironpony" in the top drawer, and organized paper, a full bottle of something called "Sparkle-Cola," and a "magazine" named "Guns and Bullets" (Firearms and you: Learn how to protect your family today!) in the bottom drawer. However, no key of any kind. I set aside the drink and magazine (I really need to get a bag to carry stuff) and turned my attention to the strange box.

It seemed to be made of metal, except for the glass front, and an odd part jutting out the front with letter marked buttons covering its surface. Being fascinated by the buttons, I pressed one at random. The device hummed to life and the glass dimly glowed green. The word "password" appeared in the glass accompanied by a box an blinking line. "Hmm." I hummed, scratching my chin, "Password. Word of pass. Word for passage." I looked at the lettered buttons, "Aha! It wants a certain word for passage inside. But which one?"

I scratched my chin and started spelling. P-L-E-A-S-E, enter. Incorrect. I looked around the desk for a clue and saw the name plate and tried that. Morningstar, enter. Incorrect. I guess having your own name as your password would be too obvious. "Now what?" I huffed. I looked at the password box on the machine and noticed some new words under it. "Hint: Favorite Gun."

I looked at the Guns and Bullets magazine and moved it in front of me. Maybe she had written some notes or circled a picture or something. I opened it and started flipping through the pages. Occasionally I would stop and marvel at all the neat new weapons on display, like the Anti-Machine Rifle. How can somepony carry that thing, let alone fire it? It's massive! Flipping some more, I stopped on the "How to shoot shotguns" section. It featured the I42-Ironpony Combat Shotgun (The answer to all of life's problems). The name was similar to what was written on a slip of paper in the desk. I dug out that piece of paper and entered it in. Correct. "Yes! Now, let's see what's inside." I enthused.

I half expected something to open up, but a bunch more words replaced the password. Apparently, this machine was used to log entries like a journal. I navigated the logs using the arrow keys (thank you instructional prompts) and started reading the first entry. After reading a couple lines, I decided that it was too boring and skipped to the next one. Then to the next one, and then the next ten.

I ruffled my mane in frustration. "What kind of mare would write this kind of boring crap in a personal journal!? Where's the drama, the love interests? I mean seriously, how much detail does one need to have for an uneventful day?" I huffed as I selected the last entry. "If you give me one more uninteresting entry, I will throw you across the room." I threatened the box.

It must have worked, because within the first line was a familiar name. "Damn that Cortex. He stole my keys and left the stable, locking all the doors on his way out! And what's worse is that all the residents believe we locked the doors in an attempt to trap everypony inside forever, and it's causing a riot! Actually, it's a borderline war. On one side is Security with superior firepower, and Maintenance on the other with more numbers. Which it sure doesn't help that everypony's been at each other's throats ever since we captured that damned Alicorn. I swear, half of my ponies want to kill me just as much as the Maintenance ponies.

"I don't know if you Stable-Tec bastards are getting these logs, or I've been typing on this terminal every week for nothing. But I do know that if this shit-storm gets anymore worse, I'm getting the hell out of here through that secret exit in the Overmare's office. Good thing the Overmare likes to talk when she drinks. She even told me her password, guest (It's so dumb that I would've never guessed it). So as a final note; screw you guys and screw this Stable. Morningstar, out."

I stared at the terminal a little longer, "Well, isn't she just a ray of sunshine." I looked at the security skeleton. "Or was. At least I now have an exit plan. Just need to figure a way past the roaches."

Fiddling around with the name plate, I absent mindedly knocked it over. There was a small key stuck to the bottom and it had a tag that said "Armory spare." A smile played across my face as I chuckled.

=====***=====

I floated my 10mm pistol up and aimed at a lone roach on a wall. "Okay. Line up the sights, take a deep breath..." I inhaled, and "Yahhh!" I screamed as I emptied the mag at the roach. The roach was unaffected, for every bullet missed and hit the wall around it (I imagined a perfect outline of the roach on the wall.). It jumped down and charged me.

I did the first thing that came to mind and threw my gun at the roach, hitting it square in the head-torso area. It squeed as it's wings sprawled out and body limp, dead. I trotted on over and picked up my gun. I changed out mags and holstered it. "I got to stop throwing my weapons. Who knows if there were more roaches around." As if on queue, another roach skittered into view from around the corner. I immediately crushed it by throwing my baton at it. I levitated the baton back to me. "However, it sure is effective." I said as I checked for more roaches around the corner towards the Atrium.

After confirming that the coast was clear, I harvested the meat from my kills and put them in my newly acquired saddlebags. Just one of the very few things that I found in the armory. Along with the pistol and baton, I had found fifty rounds of 10mm bullets (which is now about forty left) and a set of security barding that was too small for me, but I took it anyway (maybe I can find a tailor or an armorer to help me).

They must have really felt threatened if they had to arm everypony with nearly every weapon in the armory. Even though I could have taken the weapons from the corpses, but I believe warriors should be buried with their weapons. Even if it's more like a mass grave, and they're not at all buried. Just so, it wouldn't feel right to take those weapons.

I cautiously made my way back to the atrium, quietly smashing roaches on the way. Half of the swarm was scattered about from the walls to the floor. Before any of them could notice me, I ducked into the closest room in the atrium. I closed the door behind me and glanced around for any danger. Clear. The room had a desk with a terminal (locked), a yellow box with three pink butterflies on it (with a vial and a pouch inside, each labeled Healing Potion and Rad-Away respectively), and four cots with matching curtains. Despite everything being dusty, this area seemed relatively clean. Illustrations were plastered on the walls, indicating that I was in a clinic ("Even the smallest cut can kill. Treat injuries A.S.A.P." Was on a picture of an injured hoof with fungus growing off of it).

My gaze continued down the room and stopped at the other end of the room. A Deja-Vu feeling washed over me as I looked at the observation window with a door next to it. I walked up and placed a hoof on the glass looking inside. I saw a clean white room with a table in the center. The same table where I had laid unconscious. I went inside and there was more to this room than just a table. I saw a cabinet, an Alchemy Station (I'm not going to bother asking how I know that), and a countertop with various medical tools strewn across it. There was also a small square table on wheels in the corner with a device on it.

This gray device was no bigger than my hoof, rectangular, and had six buttons on it. I immediately picked it up to get a closer look. It had the words "Holo-tape Recorder" on the front and the Stable-Tec symbol on the back. I pressed the first button, a triangle with a line under it, and the device popped open to reveal a smaller, thinner, rectangular, orange object.

"This must be the Holo-tape to the recorder, but what exactly does it record?" I pushed the Holo-tape back in and pressed the green triangle button. It clicked and a voice came out.

"This is Chief Medical Examiner Tender Care, and boy do I have the most interesting patient ever!" The mare in the recording gave a barely contained giggle before reigning it in with a professional gentle cough. "Sorry. This is the most exciting thing that has happened since the Stable's door closed twenty-five years ago. But I digress. Let's just focus on the examination for now."

I started searching through the cabinet as I listened. There were some healing bandages and plenty of vials of liquids with weird names (I left those alone since I don't know what they're for).

Tender Care cleared her voice, "The patient in question, is a twilight-blue stallion with a fiery colored mane that seems to glow to the proximity of raw magic. For example. If I would levitate something his mane would seem like it's on fire, but when I activate the S.A.T.S spell on my Pip-Buck it's just normal hair. If this is a mutation from the Megaspells or a natural occurrence, remains to be seen."

I wonder what a 'S.A.T.S.' spell is? I guess it's just one more thing that Pip-bucks do. Makes me want to have one for myself. A ready-to-use spell with no effort on the user would be valuable, especially to somepony whom only remembers how to do levitation, a horrible light spell, and whatever spell that evil voice had me do.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot his race. He's... An Alicorn!" Tender Care gave an excited squeal that forced me to flinch away from the recorder. "I wonder if this makes him a prince? Oh! I can nurse him back to health, he would be thankful and slowly fall in love with me. Then we would get married and have six kids and I would rule along side him in a kingdom of our very own!" She continued to giggle to herself.

Wow. I don't know if I should feel flattered that she would spend her entire life with me, or upset that she wanted to use me for her own gain. Besides, I'm nowhere close to being a prince. As far as I can remember (from what memories I still have) father was a scholar, not royalty.

I thought of the last words that I remember saying to him, "I hate you!" I stared sadly at a recipe journal I found at the alchemy station. It was mostly empty but for simple instructions for improvised healing bandages, salves, and healing powder. Father would write in a journal like this one... I miss him.

An elegant voice interrupted Tender Care's daydreaming with a graceful throat clearing. "Miss Overmare! I didn't see you there! I was just finishing up my examination... Um... How long have you been standing there?" She said with worry in her voice.

"Long enough. How is our guest?"

"Yes! The patient! He has a slight concussion, a minor cut on his neck, some minor bruising on his ribs, and strained ligaments in his wings and right foreleg." I checked myself and stretch each part as she listed them off. If I remember correctly, half of those were self-inflicted and the rest was from their security. I half expected my injuries would still be there. It felt like it happened just yesterday.

"Oh dear. That sounds painful. Will he be all right?" The Overmare said in a worried tone.

"Pfft! This is nothing. A wee bit-o-healing potion and he'll be right as rain. Now those security ponies in the other room are a different story. Four of them I can heal just fine, but that stallion he bucked into a tree, has two cracked ribs and a broken leg. I'll have to reset his leg before any magical healing can happen." A ping of guilt went out for the ponies I had hurt (except for that one stallion, he deserved it).

The Overmare gave an exaggerated sigh, "Buckshot has always been a loose cannon. Not to mention the constant complaints about him and some toilet from Silver Ratchet." (Wait, what?) "Well anyway. Why don't you go ahead and take our guest's measurements for a stable suit. The memory expert will be here soon."

"Yes ma'am!" Tender Care chippered followed by friction that was audible over the recording.

"Um... Tender. Aren't you supposed to use a tape measure?"

"Oh no, trust me. This method works juuust fiiine." The recorder clicked to an end.

"I'm curious about what kind of method she used. This stable suit fits amazingly well." I absently thought aloud while hoofing through the medical tools (none of which seemed useful enough to take).

I motioned my hoof to the recorder for another button, but a metallic squeak attracted my attention. Storing the recorder in my bag, I looked for the source of the squeak. A small air duct grate on the far wall pushed open on a hinge by a roach with the help of five others. They pushed their way in with the grate closing behind them. They didn't yet see me in the room except for one particularly large one staring me down (or maybe up). I stared back into that roaches bug eyes as I edged closer to the door. This one looks a bit different. Not only is it larger, but it is also glowing green slightly.

When I'm no more than a hop, skip, and a jump away from safety, all the roaches stared at me as they noticed my presence with their antennae twitching like mad. I froze and glared back wondering why they haven't attacked yet. It's almost like they're waiting for something. Then the glowing one flared its wings and gave a commanding squee. The five squeed and launched themselves at me.

I reared up and smacked the first two out of mid-air. Then while dashing for the door, I used my telekinesis to shove the third roach into the fourth. I jumped through the threshold closing the door behind me. "Phew! That was a close Ya-ow!" A sharp pain erupted from my rump. The fifth roach had managed to land on me before I escaped. I smacked it to the ground and smashed it beneath a hoof. Muttering my irritation about another bite, I move to the observation window. The four smaller roaches were skittering all around the room while the glowing one just stared at me. I smirked back at it, "Ha! let's see you try and get me now!" I stuck out my tongue waving it about to taunt it further.

The glowing roach responded by crashing into the window, leaving a spider webbed crack from the impact. I jumped away giving a surprised un-stallion-like squeak. "And on that note, it's time to go." I turned and trotted back to the clinic's entrance.

=====***=====

With my baton ready I opened the door and peeked into the atrium. No roaches were near enough to be considered a threat, which gave me a chance to plot my route to the Overmare's office.

If I go around the railing I would have to kill or evade three or more roaches on the way to the third-floor room that leads to the Overmare's office, where a light-purple mare is waving at me from the office window. Or, I can jump the railing and fly... Wait a sec... A mare?

I looked back up at the Overmare's window and there was nothing there. "Did I imagine her?" I narrowed my eyes at the third-floor platform and licked my lips. "Only one way to find out!" I galloped, leaped, and kicked off of the railing for more height. I closed my eyes and relished the feeling of the rush of air brushing against my face and through my feathers of my outstretched wings. Opening my eyes, I flapped the rest of the short distance and landed safely on the platform. I then immediately opened, entered, and closed the door before any roaches can react.

Sighing in relief, I sat down and stretched out my right shoulder and wing in a circular motion. There were minor aches in my muscles from under use. "I really need to fly more. Or maybe some exercises or something. All that time in the stasis pod has really weakened my wing muscles."

As I sat there I glanced around the room. I was in a social sitting area complete with a couple sofas, a table, and some sitting cushions. On the far wall was a door and next to that a hallway to the stairs. Except for the pristine white cups on the table, there was nothing in this room. So I checked out the door first. It was a bedroom, perhaps the Overmare's room. Inside I saw that this room was tidy with a personal restroom (Which has a special spigot that showers water down like rain. I'll call it a shower.).

If it wasn't for the personal effects, this room would seem like no-pony ever lived here. Even the fancy looking hairbrush was clean. However, other than the hairbrush there was nothing useful in the room. I then continued to the office pocketing the brush (What? It's inlaid with silver). The Overmare's office was up two flights of stairs, down a short corridor, and through a door. Inside was just as tidy as the bedroom downstairs. The Stable-Tec symbol adorned both the ceiling and floor in front of a semi-circle desk. On the left wall was the circular window, the right had bookshelves filled with knick-knacks and books, and on the far wall was a counter that held some items on display. One of which I recognized.

Trotting around the desk, I approached the display. To confirm what it was, I read the name plate, "Pip-Buck: Alpha." Curiously, I raised a hoof to it and pressed a button. Nothing. Frowning, I pressed another and another and turned some nobs and dials. This thing was dead, maybe it can be revived. I lifted the Pip-Buck from it's pedestal to examine it and the leg brace of it fell open.

"Aha! Maybe it only reacts to somepony wearing it." Thus I buckled it onto my left leg for some reaction. It was nice and snug, but still dead. I huffed at the undesired result and continued my examination. Twisting it with my leg I found a hole one inch in diameter, left side of the device, and in the bulkiest part. "I guess I'm missing a piece."

I looked to the other displays hoping it was a separate piece of the collection, but all of them looked either worn, damaged, or outright junk. An antique steam gauge assembly, a box of engraved railroad spikes, the first prototype Stealth-Buck (damaged), and the first prototype Spark-energy core. I looked at the Spark-energy core using my magic to lift and turn it. It was a cylindrical cone shaped metal object. Clearly containing something inside it, but there was no way to see inside unless I cracked it open. However, I don't want to break it for it's also about an inch in diameter which makes it a perfect size.

I brought the core to the Pip-Buck and plugged it into the hole. There was a click and a quiet hum as the device came to life. As I cleaned off the screen, there were green symbols, numbers, and words flashing across it. I only managed to catch a few words like "Boot-up complete" and "Subject detected... Initializing synchronization" as something clicked in the latch. A sudden piercing sting from the Pip-Buck's leg brace went into my leg. I screamed in pain hopping backwards on three legs, knocking over the Overmare's chair. I tried to tear off the device, but nothing would work. More letters ran across the screen and I read "E.F.S. Initializing..." A strange tingling from my leg to my eye forced me to blink. Something green started to appear in the bottom of my vision. I blinked and shook my head, but it was still there even when my eyes were closed.

In a panic, I started hitting buttons randomly in hope to remove the obstruction. I saw the words "Synchronization Complete" and a text box appeared. However, thanks to my frantic button pushing, it disappeared.

"Wait! No! Bring that back, it could help!" I yelled at the device pushing more buttons. The screen changed to a mission list. I then pushed a different button which put another thing in my peripherals of my sight (That's it! I'm just going to stop pushing buttons!). Reflexively, I looked towards the square-like arrow that moved and stopped above the Overmare's terminal. Curiously, I moved my head around. The arrow kept pointing at the terminal, even the compass-like thing (I think E.F.S. was what it was called) on the bottom of my vision had an arrow.

I looked to the Pip-Buck and found that the first mission on the list was named "Wakeup call" and it wanted me to use the terminal to leave Stable-0. It took a second to realize how useful this will be.

This task manager will remember and point me to my goals. Despite the annoying stuff in my vision, this will be very useful!

Trying not to reflexively glance at the E.F.S., I moved to the terminal to work on it. But then I noticed something on the wall next to the door. Eyes wide and mouth agape, I shambled over to the display case as if in a trance. Inside, the long grip wrapped in leather, the pommel had a depiction of a hooded figure, the cross guard resembled skeletal wings, and its long blade glistened with a purplish-blue sheen.

"Oh hello, you beautiful bastard." I whispered to the bastard sword, gently caressing its case. Next to its scabbard was a nameplate "Angelus Mortis. The Angel of Death, huh? Don't worry my friend, I will free you." I tried opening the case, but it was locked. I tried smashing the glass, but it was reinforced. I tried everything I could think of even biting, but I was repelled every time. Sadness washed over me as I realized that I can't open it.

Ba-leep!

A noise from my leg made me jump. I checked the Pip-Buck and noticed a new mission was added. "Fallen Angel: Return later to Stable-0 to retrieve Angelus Mortis when possible... Yes, that's right! I will be back to free you." I reassured the sword, putting a hoof on the glass. I cantered back to the terminal and entered in the password. once on, I skipped over the personal logs and looked at the other options. Stasis pods, Play Holo-tape, unlock safe, and open Overmare's Entrance. Intrigued, I selected 'unlock safe' and a corresponding click came from the bookshelf. I investigated and found a wall safe behind some books. inside were some papers, a small pouch of ten 'Pre-war Bits' (according to the Pip-Buck), a snub-nosed revolver (loaded), and a twilight-blue orb.

I emptied the contents into my bag (except for the papers) one by one, but when I focused my magic onto the orb I was hit with a sudden wave of drowsiness. A flushing sensation pulled me into a blackout.

~ooO0Ooo~

My body felt weird, to say the least. I was numb but I could tell that I was strapped to a cold table. My eyes opened groggily to see the white room of the clinic. However, the weirdest part was that my body wasn't moving to my will. It was like I was a puppet or was forced to watch someone's actions through their eyes. It's definitely not comfortable. Is this the doing of that orb I found? One moment I'm in the Overmare's office, the next I'm in somepony's head strapped to a table.

"Finally awake I see. Any good dreams?" A stallion announced his presence.

My eyes warily looked for him while my legs strained against the restraints (or should it be my...ride?... No,... host?).

"Or perhaps, a nightmare?" A green coated stallion with a black mane stepped into my host's vision.

I can't help to feel like I've seen this stallion before. My host decided to glare at him (exactly what I wanted to do).

"Oh come now Sola Eclipse. Is that any way to treat an old friend?" He pouted at... me? Am I in my own memory?

My face put on a confused look.

He seemed to stop and think for a bit, then he looked at his own hooves. "Ah right, you wouldn't recognize me in this body. However, we do know each other very well. After all..." His eyes turned red and the white turned green with smoke forming at the edges. "We did almost kill each other the last time we met." He said with the same deep voice that almost had me kill two ponies with some-sort-of heart attack spell.

My eyes went wide and I felt my mouth move. "Sombra." I whispered trying to form a spell, but was rewarded with a shock from my horn.

"Careful there, black crystals don't only neutralize magic you know." He tapped my horn. "It can also store said magic and convert it into usable energy."

Hold on, I recognize that face from my dream. He's Cortex! Why did the memory me call him Sombra?

"Well, right now I go by as Dr. Cortex, the brain expert. However, tis true that I was also King Sombra, King of the Crystal Empire." Sombra (or is it Cortex?) struck a regal pose, then continued to look down on me. "That is until you trapped us both in that crystal prison of yours."

My face had a stern feel to it and my eyes glared at him. The expression seemed to convey the words "Do your worst."

He smiled in response, "Not to worry. I won't kill you. In fact, I should be thanking you." He tapped a hoof to his head. "If not for you, I wouldn't have met this buck and his wonderful mind spells." He then turned and started to pace around the table I'm on. "Now don't let this make you think you're off the hook. Punishment is still in order. Since you so kindly ended my era of war, forcing me to start from scratch. I will, in return, send you back to square one."

My face was confused again, but I knew what he was talking about.

He stopped pacing at my head. "But, I have an idea to make this more fun." Using magic, he forced my face to look at him. "Dear future Sola Eclipse, I have your memories. If you want them back, come find me up north in the Crystal Empire." He touched his horn to mine.

Before the host me could ask any questions, everything washed away into nothingness.

~ooO0Ooo~

I opened my eye and found myself flat on my face, drooling on the floor. I lifted myself up and wiped off the spit from my face. Sombra's words for me echoed in my head. "I have your memories. If you want them back, come find me..."

I gritted my teeth pounding a hoof on the ground in anger. "He took my memories for a game of hide and seek!?" I raged, stomping to the terminal. "Oh, I'll find you! I'll find you and kick your flank to the moon!" I pounded the password in and selected the 'Open Overmare's Entrance' option. A spiral staircase started to lower with a hiss. It was painfully slow. I looked to the terminal hoping to make it go faster. However, there was no such option. so I chose to listen to the Holo-tape.

"Hello! My name is Scootaloo. You probably know me (being famous and all) for my awesome performances at events like last year's GALLoPS, or maybe just as the founder of Red Racer. In any case, if you are listening to this, that means Omega-Level Threat Protocols have been enacted and you are the proud Overmare of a Stable-Tec life-preserving Stable. You have been chosen for your caring nature and attention to detail, which is exactly what is needed for the Stable you are responsible for and for all Stables across Equestria (and the few in the Crystal Empire). Stable-0, your Stable, is charged with two imperative missions.

"First, you are to monitor the livable conditions of the atmosphere. Then when everything clears up, send out the 'all clear' signal to the Stables. Second, you must ensure the survival of your Stable, especially of the occupants in the two hundred stasis pods. Those people are the most talented and pure of heart of all the known races. If we are to make the world free of strife and war. They must survive at all costs. We even went as far as to keep Stable-0 a secret to all but for the ones invited. No record of its existence or paper trail to follow. Heck, I wouldn't even let them contact their families or... Ahem... In your safe, you will find documents detailing on how to achieve your objectives and on functions of your Stable. Take note of the Top Secret documents and do not share them with anypony (except for future Overmares of course). Vice-President of Stable-Tec, Scootaloo, signing off....

"... Damn this thing is depressing! I can't believe I got through that whole script. I improvised a little though, but I sounded good. Hey, how many more we gotta do?... About a hundred?...Shi..." Click.

=====***=====

I extended a corded plug from my Pip-Buck and plugged it into a console for what I assume is the Stable's door. It was a huge, solid metal, gear shaped door that was elevated above a drainage ditch. An extendable bridge would go through the door when it opens. I glanced down at the Unicorn remains whose Pip-Buck was attached to the console before mine, and pitifully sighed. After listening to that recording my anger subsided and guilt started to seep in.

"These ponies were living peacefully until I broke out of that crystal and released Sombra upon them. Now they're all dead. Bones and dust." I stared at the console where a cover over a red button flipped open. "All except for the people in the pods." Some confidence returned to me as I thought of those pure souls. "I know what I can do to repent for my sin. I will ensure their survival, but not suspended in those capsules, waiting to rot. However, I can not just wake them up to giant insects, skeleton, and various unknowns outside." I scratch my chin in thought

Then all of a sudden, the Overmare's secret entrance closed on its own and secured shut. It looked like just a normal wall now. And that gave me an idea. "I'll secure someplace outside for them before they wake up. Someplace safe from whatever an 'Omega-Level threat' is."

Ba-leep!

A new mission appeared on my Pip-Buck. "Home, Sweet Home: Find and secure a location(s) for the Stable-0 occupants to live." I nodded in agreement to the device. And with renewed gusto, I slammed the red button.

I then fell to the ground putting hooves to ears when a loud alarm suddenly sounded. Slowly I removed them when I got used to it, but then put them right back when a mechanical arm pulled open the gear door with an earsplitting metallic screech. The door rolled out of the way and the bridge extended through the opening. After everything was done moving the alarm finally went silent. I sat up and rubbed my pained ears wondering one thing out loud. "Whose idea was to have a loud, annoying alarm go off every time you open the front door?"

Leaving the question unanswered, I crossed the bridge through the Stable door expecting to see the great outdoors, but I was actually in a cavern deep underground. A smooth shaft was above a metal platform on the opposite side of the cavern from the door. My hooves clanged on the platform as I walk on it. Up the shaft was nothing but pitch blackness.

"What now? Fly up and probably hit my head again?" I looked around and saw a lever. With a bit of excitement, I pulled the lever. The only thing more exciting than a button is a lever. The platform shook and started to rise upward through the shaft.

=====***=====

Natural light blinded me slightly as the ceiling split open and the platform replaced it. Around me, there were large mounds of scrap metal piled everywhere. The large room I was in had a tall ceiling with fogged windows at the top. Long belted tables seemed like they were used to convey scrap through large machines to mold it into solid ingots. Two double doors were on opposite ends of the room one with an exit sign above it.

A chill ran up my spine as I noticed that the atmosphere in this room was haunting in a way and unnaturally silent. Then an eerie moan echoed through the door not marked with an exit sign.

I stared at the offending door uneasy. "Probably just the wind." I justified as I trotted to the exit. "Even so, the sooner I'm out of here the better." I mumbled. Putting a hoof on the door, I gave a sturdy shove. It didn't budge at all. Sighing exasperatedly, "Great." I glared at the other door. As my only option, I trotted to it. As soon as I opened the door, the eerie moaning turned into faint singing coming from the only door at the end of a hallway straight ahead.

"...on the wall!... Five bottles of cider on the wall, five bottles of cider! Take one down, pass it around, four bottles of cider on the wall!... four bottles of cider..." The song continued as I followed the melody. The left and right hallways were both blocked by either a collapsed ceiling or a secured door. I slowly crept my way to the door as the singer got louder. "...two bottles of cider! Take one down, pass it around, one bottle..." I got to the door, 'General Manager Stone Mason' was engraved on a plaque attached to it.

The stallion continued on singing, bellowing a theatrical ending. "...on the wall, one bottle of cider! Take it down, pass it around, zero bottles of cider on the waaaaall!" I slowly opened the door to peer inside. There was no one there. Going inside didn't reveal who was singing unless it was the skeleton in the corner that was half crushed by the collapsed ceiling.

I looked around for an explanation. There were some metal cabinets, rotten bookshelves with ruined books, moldy chairs, and a glossy looking wooden desk with an extremely dusty cylinder glass container on it. "Okay, if there's no-pony here singing and no devices to project a singer's voice, then the only thing left is..." A shiver went up my spine at the thought. I shook head and snickered, "No, there's no way it could be a ghost. I mean, there's no such thing as, EEP!" All of a sudden, the noise of something falling on the ground right next to me made me jump into the air away from it.

From my perch atop the metal cabinets, my heart was racing. I saw that it was a recorder that had fallen from the desk. I got down slowly and went to check it out. The recorder was broken, but the Holo-tape was intact. Putting it in my recorder, it started with a click.

"They did it..." A stallion's gruff voice gasped in pain. "They killed us all... And here I thought the Crystal Empire would be safe from the war." He gasped again and coughed wetly.

"Pfft, Ha!" A second stallion's voice gave out a barely contained guffaw. "Really? How naïve are you? Did you think the sister-in-law of one of the Ministry Mares would stay completely out of this?" The first stallion groaned, "Oh, what's the matter Mason? Can't face the music?"

"Shud-up before I toss you in a vat-o'-molten steel." Mason strained to talk through the pain.

"Yeah? You and what legs? I can't help to notice that you're a little pinned at the moment." Mason growled at the other stallion. "But don't you worry. I won't torture you with the 'You're getting what you deserve' and the 'I hate you' speeches. After all, I'm not completely heartless." He snickered a bit at his own comment. "Instead I'll give you some hope. There is somepony from the Stable coming to this room."

"Well, that's good news. I might survive this after all. " Mason gasped in pain again, "When are they coming?"

"Hmm... I'll tell you what. When I'm done singing this song, he'll be here." The nameless buck cleared his throat and inhaled. "Ten billion bottles of cider on the wall, ten billion bottles of cider! Take one down, pass it around, nine billion, nine hundred ninety-nine million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine bottles of cider on the wall!" Before he continued, he took a deep inhale. Mason groaned heavily before the recording clicked to a stop.

I stared at my recorder perplexed. Mason was obviously the skeleton and the other pony was definitely the singing stallion from earlier. However that's impossible, no pony would be alive after all that time. Unless it really was a ghost.

"You wouldn't believe how many times I had to start over."

I jumped to the noise of the stallion's voice that was coming from the cylinder glass jar. Hesitantly I moved closer to it. Its shape was actually an oval cylinder with a metal base and lid. I wiped off the dust on the glass to reveal a perfectly preserved severed Unicorn head. It had a gray coat with a brown mane and blue dead eyes.

Then with a smile, he looked me in the eyes and announced, "Hi! I'm Dead!"

=====***=====

Level Up!

Perks Gained:
Magazine (Guns & Bullets) Rank 1: Congrats! You now know more about modern weaponry than you used to. You gain 5% more damage when using firearms! (Now you just need to learn how to hit your target and you're golden.)

S.C.A.N.S (Stable-Tec Certified Assisted Navigational Spell) Rank 1: "Stable-Tec presents the newest in Navigational Arcane Technology. Track Your own personal missions with ease! Just select an objective and let us guide your way." The path of your closest quest target is displayed in S.A.T.S.

Author's Notes:

All-Right!! Now we're getting somewhere! Found a Pip-Buck, got out of the Stable, and discovered a... talking head, who's devilishly handsome and is single (ladies). Hmm, I wonder who he is.
First off, I'd like to thank Kkat for creating Fallout Equestria in the first place. Second, all the side story writers whose writings inspired me to write (sorry I can't list you all, I don't remember names that well and there are too many). And lastly, thanks to my editor Bah Blacksheep, her skills at nit-picking made this story all more that enjoyable.

As a reminder, the only true lore in my mind is that of Kkat's work and of the show. All other sources are considered alternate universes. That said I will reference those universes to my heart's content.
Oh, and before I forget. Feel free to comment anything you like. You want to give me ideas to put in my story? I'll consider it. I did something wrong and/or it mildly offended you? I might change it, just for you. You hate my story and I should go die? Yay Troll!!
Anyway, thanks for reading and giving my story a chance. I'm having fun writing it, and I hope you're having fun reading it.
DeadEndtheDullahan signing off.

Chapter 2: Dead

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"prepare yourselves the bells have tolled, shelter your weak

your young and your old. Each of you shall pay the

final sum, cry for mercy the reckoning has come!"

"Hello! And thank you for testing out newest product; The Pip-Buck. (Please note that this device is in alpha testing and is subject to minor bugs and glitches.)

This Pip-Buck features the state of the art E.F.S. (Eyes Forward Sparkle), S.A.T.S. (Stable-Tec Assisted Targeting Spell), Mission tracking, and auto mapping. This Pip-Buck is also equipped with a radio, an inventory organizing spell, a vitality sensor, and a compass. Take note of the compass and E.F.S. at the bottom of your vision. This is achieved through magical probing that sends visual signals through your nervous system to your brain. If the probe ever becomes too uncomfortable for you, please get the attention of a Stable-Tec representative and they will remove the Pip-Buck for you. However, we must encourage you to push through the discomfort and continue the tests.

Now please, turn your attention to the instructors as they will guide you through the rest of the testing. Once again, we at Stable-Tec would like to thank you for helping us, help you to be prepared for the future (TM).

Happy Testing!"

=====***=====

"Oh man! Am I glad to see another smiling face. I mean. Wow, how long has it been since I saw somepony? Two hundred... and ten years? Doesn't matter. You're here now! And that's what counts. Um... By the way, could you help me out of this jar? I snorted algae a few years back and I think it had taken root."

I stared silently at the severed, smiling, unicorn head that just spoke to me. I then opened my mouth to say the one thing on my mind. "You're a talking head."

"A-yep! And a mighty happy one at that! Say, I don't suppose you have anything to drink in those bags of yours? Singing for over two hundred years straight can give you a really bad case of cottonmouth. And this liquid I'm swimming in isn't exactly thirst quenching."

I continued to stare unblinkingly as he talked to me. "You're a talking... head." My voice broke a little as panic slowly showed in it and my eyes.

The head looked slightly confused. "Yes... Hello, I'm Dead, and you are?" Dead motioned his muzzle for me to say something.

I opened my mouth once more. "You... are a talking... Head!" I nearly screamed at the sentient head that should be dead. Dead pondered my words. Yes, please realize that you're an impossibility. I believe in curses, ghosts maybe, but a talking severed head is where I draw the line. Just to talk you need air and he doesn't even have lungs!

His dead eyes looked into mine. "Ya lost me." He said matter-of-factly.

What am I witnessing here? There is no way this is real. Am I dreaming? It would make sense considering everything that had happened. Either that or I've gone insane.

"You're not dreaming." My eyes darted back to Dead. "And you're not insane, or at least I hope not." He added eying me.

"H-h-how did you..."

"Trust me." Dead interrupted my stuttering. "I know the expression. When a pony sees a Dullahan for the first time (and most times, only), they usually say 'this must be a dream' or 'I've gone insane.' Then they try to run when they realize it's not. Heh, fun times." Dead chuckled.

I don't get it, what's so fun about somepony running away from you?... Wait, hold on. I raised my hoof to get Dead's attention. "What's a Dullahan?"

He gave me a blank stare. "You know, a Dullahan." I shrugged my shoulders. "Death riders of the night? They hunt down corrupt souls and drag them down to Tartarus?" I cocked my head in confusion. "Um... The Headless Horse?" He added hopefully. I shook my head. "Damn. And I worked so hard on that one too. Okay, how bout this." Dead bargained., "You get me out of this jar and I'll tell you whatever the heck you want."

I pursed my lips as I contemplated his offer. I could use his help to get out of here. But... He looks like he's the thing of nightmares. On the other hoof, he could teach me about stuff I don't know. However... He reeeally looks like the thing of nightmares... and he's a talking head. Dead stared at me awaiting an answer. I sighed heavily, "Fine. I will give you the benefit of the doubt and help you out."

"Yay!" Dead figuratively jumped for joy. "I promise, you will not regret this. Thank you, Mister... uh."

I blinked in pleasant surprise. Mister? I'm starting to like this guy. "Sola Eclipse." I answered with a smile.

He smiled back, "It's a pleasure. Now, to open this thing just press the release button on top." I found the said button and pressed it. As soon as the container hissed open, Dead rocketed out of it by using his own telekinesis on himself. He trailed what looked like smoke from his neck. "Yes! Fresh air! Oh, how I missed you!" he exalted floating in the air, dripping a liquid that burned my nostrils with its perfume. He then continued to sore around the room giggling and laughing with a couple 'woo-hoo's added in.

I watched calmly as he flew around in circles. He sure looks like he's having fun, but... "Ahem! I'm glad I could help you in your dire need. However, I think it's about time we head out."

Dead stopped in mid-loop to listen to me and finished the loop by spiraling straight at me. He stopped inches from my face. "Oh, yes yes yes, That's right. We should definitely get out of this hellhole." He then floated to the metal cabinets pulling drawers at random. "I hope you don't mind that we take the scenic route though. There's something I want to check out." After opening the last drawer, the bookcase with a section of the wall opened up. (Ponies back then must have really liked secret passages.) Dead floated to and landed on my back. " But before we go. I must know one thing." He said with a serious face. "Why are you cosplaying as a princess?"

My only answer to that was a glare.

=====***=====

"So, you're a male Alicorn?" I nodded to Dead's question, "And you don't know how that is, because?"

"Because a smoke like entity named Sombra possessed a pony and used his magic to steal my memories." I explained as we passed a dark empty room in the secret research wing of this recycling facility. Dead had told me about how Stone Mason would collect old projects and failed experiments that were sent in by the Ministries or Stable-Tec. Also that he would even expand research on said items in secret and sell them to the highest bidder (whatever that means).

"You lost your memories too, eh?" Dead said while he was rooting around in my bag. "I'm sure you'll get em back. You just have to hunt down this Sombra guy, right? Now me, half of my memories went missing ever since I got separated from my body." He tugged at something inside my bag. "So logically, my memories are in my body, and I just have to find it."

That made me stop and look at him confused. "That makes no sense. How can your body hold memories without a brain?"

From my bag, Dead looked at me with a smug expression. "Ever heard of muscle memory?" I shrugged, "Well there you go. It just goes to show that... Yah!" He then jumped straight up in fear, levitating.

"What?" I asked with concern.

"It's... It's uh..." he spluttered with his eyes darting around and landed on something in my bag. "Is that meat of a giant insect?"

I looked for what he was referring to and saw the roach meat next to the revolver and Pre-war bits. "Why, yes it is. I found that roaches can be very tasty."

Dead landed on my back and fastened that saddlebag shut. "I'll have to take your word for that." He opened the other bag and instantly lit up to the sight of the object he was looking for. The Sparkle-Cola. "So, ya got any family?" He asked while biting the bottle cap.

I continued walking. "Yes, my father and two sisters." I said happily, glad in the fact that I remember something.

With a hiss and a pop, Dead opened the bottle. "Sisters? Oo, What are their names? Are they single? Are they hot?" He excitedly interrogated me and then a drink while I answered.

"Well, I don't remember much. Only that their names are Celestia and Luna." I felt a wet mist as Dead spat the Sparkle-Cola in surprise. It smelt of carrots.

"You are the Brother of Celestia and Luna?" I nodded to his disbelieving question. "THE Celestia and Luna?" I nodded again, unsure of what he's getting at. seeing that I didn't understand, he gave up and sighed. "Never mind. How bout your dad? He's not an Alicorn too is he?" He continued to drink the cola.

I stopped and looked in a lab that was trashed with a few skeletons and an empty armor rack. Then continued on. "No, my father's a Unicorn. He would teach me magic and stuff when I was a little colt, but all I wanted to do was fly and find my cutie mark outside."

Another fountain of Sparkle-Cola dowsed me. "You were an Alicorn when you were young? Before you got a cutie mark?!"

I glared at Dead dripping with the carroty drink. "Will you stop spitting that stuff on me?" I said in an angry tone.

He glared back at me. "Will you stop bullshitting me? The only possible way for you to be an Alicorn that young is if you were born one. And that's impossible!"

"Impossible?!" I shot back at him. "You are talking without airflow from lungs. You are drinking without a way to digest it. And you're telling me that me being an Alicorn at a young age is impossible?" Dead glared angrily at me, ready to explode.

Then he did, but in laughter. I shrank back in confusion as Dead busted up laughing. "Haha heheh! Sorry... sorry, something you said reminded me of a slew of jokes I would say to Stone Mason. Ahem." He reigned in his laughter still smiling. "I know we were arguing an' all, but my...Heart... wasn't into it. Hahaha!" He Chuckled, "You can say that I didn't have the... Guts... to continue. Yahahaha!" He chortled, "Woo! I could say one more, but I should stop while I'm a... Head! Wahahaha!" He laughed so hard that he fell to the ground rolling.

I don't understand. Wasn't he angry a moment ago? I doubt a reminder of some old jokes would make him forget about that. Plus, they aren't even that funny.

He then stopped and shot up to head level. "Well, that's enough exposition. Let's go find my body." Snagging the cola, he continued on and around a corner chugging what's left.

I stared after him disbelieving. What just happened? He was laughing his head off (now Sola, don't you start) and now he's serious? I gave a heavy defeated sigh as I mentally gave up. My head hurts. The familiar sound of glass shattering came from Dead's direction. I rushed around the corner to see Dead floating in the doorway of a room marked 'Containment.' Under him was the shattered remains of the cola bottle on the floor.

Cautiously I approached him. "Dead? Are you all right?" He muttered something in response, but I couldn't hear him completely. "If this is another sudden mood change, I'm going to forget finding your body and find the exit instead." I said while ducking around him to see his face and froze when I saw it. "Dead?" The expression on Dead's face was a mixture of shock, horror, and disbelief. I outstretched my wing and waved it in front of his eyes. There was no reaction, he just continued to stare unblinkingly. Then I noticed that he was quietly uttering 'gone' under his breath. I looked around for what was 'gone'. The Sparkle-Cola was definitely gone, but I don't think that's the reason for... Oh, no.

This containment room was chard from a long-dead fire. All the desks were flipped, their contents were tossed asunder. Every terminal was busted, and a large glass containment vessel was shattered. However, the most disturbing thing was the headless corpse that was burnt to chard bones in the center of the room.

Dead fell to the ground, crying in despair.

=====***=====

"Gone... gone... gone..." I closed the flap of my bag over Dead, muffling his continued muttering. He's been at it for roughly thirty minutes now, and I'm starting to get tired of it. I do pity the little guy, but he needs to get himself together. My stride faltered one step as I realized something. I should avoid saying that to Dead.

I followed the mission marker on my E.F.S. around a corner to yet another dead-end. This time there's a statue bust of Stone Mason the General Manager. It was smirking with its chin held high as if Stone Mason was being smug that I got lost in his facility. Even with the help of a mission marker. I lifted My Pip-Buck and checked my mission list. 'Wake up Call' was still active, but now it wants me to exit the Stable-Tec Recycling Facility. "So instead of pointing a way to the exit. It points at the exit." I gritted my teeth and growled, "Stupid piece of junk!" I swung the Pip-Buck as hard as I could and hit the bust's head clean off.

Three things happened in that instant. When my Pip-Buck made contact with that smug face, a button was pressed. Said button activated some sort of slow-motion spell. I watched as my Pip-Buck smashed through and shattered that head (it was beautiful in its own right). I then noticed a new addition to my vision. A green line ran from me to my objective through a wall. Suddenly, as fast as it activated the spell deactivated. The head's remains scattered to the ground and that line disappeared.

"That's interesting." I approached the wall that the line went through and examined it. After looking closer I found a seam running up the length of the wall. Airflow could be felt through it. I stepped back. "This must be a secret door." I looked around for the switch to open it and saw a red button on the bust where the head used to be. Happily pressing it, the wall opened up on squeaky hinges. Through it was a messy restroom with a half-broken wooden door. "I should've known that there would be a secret door." I may not have known Stone Mason, but it seems that he really liked secret passages. (Wouldn't be surprised if he helped in the design of Stable Zero.) To think, if it wasn't for that spell on my Pip-Buck I wouldn't have found it.

I took the time to look at the 'slow-motion' button to familiarize myself with it and found that it was marked with four letters, S.A.T.S.. If I recall correctly, Tender Care mentioned an S.A.T.S. spell in her recording. Maybe this was it. The world slowed down again as I pressed the button. The line reappeared leading me through the broken door. However, it turned off quicker this time. Perplexed, I hit the button again, but it only activated for an instant. I examined the Pip-Buck for damage. "I didn't break it, did I?" I asked, concerned that I broke it when I barely got to use it.

After seeing hardly a scuff on it, I tested the S.A.T.S. again. It worked longer than an instant, but still shorter than the first time. "hmm..." I started to pace in thought, "So it's not broken. But it still doesn't last as long as the first time." I stopped myself before I had hit my nose on a wall and continued my pacing through the broken door.

I paid no attention to how far more destroyed this area was compared to the research wing. "I wonder if it supposed to do that?" I continued my thought proses while stepping over some rubble. "If so, then that means the duration of the spell is variable to how I use it... Or how often." I stomped a hoof in excited discovery (Snap!). "Ah-ha! It has a recharge feat...ure?" Looking down, I saw what my hoof made contact with and Instantly jumped away from it.

In a silent panic, I glanced all around; left, right, up, down, and even under me. I exhale in relief once I was satisfied that nothing curse-like was going to happen. Then I looked at the skeletal leg sticking out of a pile of rubble. There were visible fractures in the bones from where I stepped on it. I bowed my head with my eyes closed and prayed an apology. "I am deeply sorry for fracturing your leg and disturbing your rest. So please don't curse me and be at peace." I gave a moment of silence. There was some wind whistling in the distance and Dead's Quiet mumbling.

I straightened myself and continued my path. Being very careful not to step on that leg again. However, after a few steps, there was another pair of skeletal legs. In fact, it was the whole rear-end of a skeleton with half of the spine. Long dried blood stained the tattered carpeting under it. With wide eyes, I followed a blood trail to where the rest of the corpse was, five feet away.

Its barding was eaten away by time, but I could still tell that the pale-green clothing was a type of uniform. For it had a unique patch on its shoulder. The Insignia was a pony skull with crossed assault rifles behind it and the word Militia on a banner under it. "Militia. It must be the name of their group." Though, something doesn't feel right. A Militia is essentially an army ran by the common people. Why would a soldier from such a group come to a recycling facility? Respectfully and gently, I reunited the two halves of the skeleton. It certainly wasn't to get in the Stable. According to that vice-president pony, that place is a well-kept secret. Unless he was here for the vast amounts of materials for rebuilding.

After sending out a silent prayer, I decided that that was the most logical reasons why. However, that does not explain how this one died in such a grotesque manner. I turned and continued down the hallway. "I'm just over thinking things." I scoffed, trotting along. But then, I came across a pair of double doors riddled with bullet holes. A decapitated skeleton laid at the foot of the doors with blood stains splattered on them. I cracked open a door, and sure enough, there was the head.

I grimaced at the thought of how hard and how many times does one have to slam a door to decapitate a pony. Then an eerie feeling came from the next room, sending shivers down my spine. I gulped as I hesitated to go through the doors. "Please be nothing... Please be nothing... Please be nothing." I chanted opening the doors and walking in.

The reception area was the very picture of a massacre. Militia skeletons were tossed about haphazardly. Each one had died in their own unique way. One, in particular, stood out above the rest. This Militia corpse was impaled from the pelvic bones through the ribcage with a flagpole. It was set up in the middle of the room.

I stood there awestruck at the sight. "What kind of monster would do such a thing?" I asked no one appalled. Whatever, or whoever it was (this seems too deliberate to be an act of a beast), must have been a hulking brute. Being able to lift a full-grown pony off the ground with a pole, would've taken an amazing feat of strength. I'm sure glad that I didn't wake up anybody in the Stable. This is downright terrifying.

A chilled breeze blew through the room and brought notice to a blood-stained paper in the pocket of the corpse's barding. Interested, I took the paper and read it. "Sergeant Candy Cane,

The following orders are considered classified. Sharing of any information pertaining to this mission is a punishable offense and certain measures will be taken accordingly.

An anonymous benefactor requested the Militia to retrieve secret research data from a Stable-Tec facility at the provided coordinates. I want you to take a squad, retrieve the data, and take any research projects that you can. After that, destroy the rest and report back to me.

May the Goddesses protect you and hasten your return.
Colonel Saltwater Taffy."

The Militia's insignia was stamped on after the signature.

I shivered slightly as I inhaled the chilly air, it smelt of dust. So these Militia soldiers came for the research wing. They were probably the ones who destroyed Dead's body... Keeping that a secret from him would be prudent. He's crazy enough as it is without a vendetta. as I stared at the corpse, I couldn't help but feel that these Militia fellows deserved this.

Except for the whistling wind, the room was quiet. Narrowing my eyes, I glanced around the room anxiously. "It's too quite." I whispered. What is this bad vibe I'm getting?

"Glare!"

I immediately turned around to the sound of a voice behind me. Except there was no-pony, only corpses around. "Hello?" I called out to the empty room. "Who's there?"

"Glaaare!"

Goosebumps ran up my neck as I recognized the voice. Turning my head, I saw thick smoke oozing from my bag and a pair of blue lifeless eyes giving me an evil glare from inside. Interesting though, on my E.F.S. a red mark was pointing in his direction. I was curious about what that meant.

"What did you just read?" Dead growled. Read? I looked at the letter I was levitating. Oh, horse apples! Did I read that out loud? So much for keeping it secret. He growled again, "Give it!" I complied and slowly levitated it to him. his blue aura overtook my golden aura, dragging the sheet of paper into the bag. Mumbles of him reading escaped the bag. Then he started chanting once more, but with malus soaking the word every time he said it. "Militia... Militia... Militia..." Gingerly, I secured the bag shut. Oh great! He went from depressed to angry. I don't think I can handle any more of these mood changes. The red mark on my E.F.S. disappeared as the smoke retreated back into my bag.

Huffing exasperated, I continued towards my objective. "Just think Sola. Once you leave this place, you won't have to worry about any more dead ponies. For I'll be soring in the sky." My wings stretched out in anticipation as I reached out with my magic to open the door. "Fresh air, clear skies..." The double doors suddenly burst open with a flurry of wind and snow. "...and a raging snowstorm."

My wings fell limp to my sides brushing the floor.

=====***=====

Crunch... Crunch... Crunch... Crunch...

My hooves crunched in the snow with every step I took. With one wing wrapped around me and the other blocking the wind from buffeting my face, I trudged on northward. The storm didn't let up the whole time I was walking. It was thick too.

Looking back, I could no longer see the recycling center. Every direction was white from the snow. If it wasn't for the E.F.S. to keep my baring, I would have been lost. A gust of frozen wind rammed against my impromptu windshield, threatening to knock me over. I pushed against it, gaining some ground. However, I Fell to my knees as a spastic shudder surge throughout my body. "D-damn. I-it-ss c-c-cold."

I can't believe out of all the supply crates those Militia brought, not one held any clothing. In fact, all I found was a small assortment of ammo for guns I don't have and a metal apple that my Pip-Buck name as a 'grenade' (Whatever that is). Though I found it strange that they were empty. It didn't seem like the place was disturbed since the Militia were killed (which was very disturbing). However, nothing helps with my predicament. The Stable barding was comfortable, but it wasn't made for freezing weather.

I got back up on my hooves and pushed forward. suddenly, the storm had gotten thicker and stronger. It nearly stopped me in my tracks, but a red light pierced through the blizzard. The harsh wind nipped and bit at my face as I stared at the arching light. When it had disappeared was when I realized that somepony shot that into the air. Which means somepony alive that's not a talking severed head.

I eagerly plowed through the blizzard the best I could towards the direction of the light. Where there are ponies there's shelter, and with shelter is a warm livable environment. I used the promise of warmth as motivation to push forward. However. a wall of wind and snow impeded my movement. I stumbled back a couple steps when the wind caught my wing just right. Not wanting the same result, I returned my wings to my sides.

My face stung as snow bit at my eyes, but I stood firm against the abuse. Then with confidence and hooves striking the ground, I charged the barrier head first. About a third of my body entered the wind wall in the initial charge. It felt like I was being pushed and pulled in six different directions. However, there was only one direction my muscles allowed me to go, forward.

With one hoof in front of the next, I managed to get my torso inside. Somehow the wind then changed its tactics. Instead of pushing and pulling, it's now hitting and beating. I could distinctly feel pointed strikes against my face, chest, and legs. Even a rock came out of nowhere and hit my gut. I cringed in pain. How is this happening? Is there a creature in the wind, or is the wind itself alive?

I then grounded my hooves once more an stomped onward. Either way, if I stop now I will surely die. My Rear-end then entered the wind with me. Every step thereafter was full of accomplishment. Then suddenly, the wind stopped pummeling me and I was relieved, but it then grew stronger still and lifted me off the ground. My legs flailed as I was spun out of control in every direction.

I didn't know how long I was tossed around like a ragdoll, but I quickly got tired of it and through out my wings. Though I was still spinning, I was in control now. With as much strength I could muster, I flapped my wings as hard as I could. By luck, I escaped the wall of wind and surfaced on the other side. The world spun around me as I went into a freefall and landed in a snowbank unharmed.

As I laid there in the snow, I found my self in total awe of what just happened. As a result, I kicked all four hooves into the air yelling triumphantly. My legs flopped back down as I stared into the sky. There was a slight overcast of clouds, but the blue sky could still be seen around some big fluffy white ones. Oh, how I wish I could just jump on one and take a nap.

A tremor then interrupted my daydreaming. I sat up and saw that I had landed just outside of a complex of sorts. My Pip-Buck made a noise to inform me that I found the 'E.L.Co. Train Station.' And from what I can tell, a firefight is occurring inside.

=====***=====

"Bucks-a-Plenty!" An angry looking earth pony stallion called out. "Come out! Bucks-a-Plenty!" No answer came from the solid steel wall and door that lead to a train tunnel.

After finding my way across three train platforms, up a flight of broken stairs, and through two destroyed stores, I arrived in the main entrance hall on the second floor. Once there, I stuck to cover as best as I could. Below, blood and bodies littered the main floor. Some of the ponies were looting the bodies and gathering up equipment and ammo.

The leader of the attackers nodded to his compatriots and three injured prisoners were brought before him. "I got some of yer ponies out 'ere! An I know they are just die-in to get back in!" He then dragged a prisoner forward and drew a weapon on him. "So how bout it? Yer life for theirs." The gun (If you can call it one) held in his mouth looked like literal junk that was stuck together to resemble a gun. After a moment of silence from the steel wall, he pulled the trigger and blew the prisoner's brains out.

This made me jump and bump into a dead potted plant. I quickly grabbed it with my telekinesis before it could make a noise. No pony downstairs seemed to have noticed me. Gently setting down the dead plant, resumed my surveillance. On my trek up here I was hoping that they were fighting off wild creatures, or even a monster. This, however, is what I arrived to; a different kind of monster.

The stallion holstered his weapon and wiped off some blood splatter off his face. " I really hate be'en ignored." He nodded and another prisoner was dragged forward. " Almost as much as repeating myself." he smiled drawing his gun once more.

I stopped breathing as I realized something horrid. This pony is going to kill them regardless if Bucks-a-Plenty agrees to the trade or not. The look on his face says it all. Despite what he just said, he loves to kill. My eyes started to dart around. There has to be something I can use to distract him.

In the middle of my search, I noticed that the red mark on my E.F.S. was back. Although, it didn't seem like it was pointing at anything in particular. I wonder what... No! What am I doing? I mentally slapped myself. This is no time for curiosity. At that moment, a glint of light shone in my eye. The ceiling of the entrance hall used to be made of glass. Now, it's just an old rusted frame that held the glass. Something reflective on the roof was glinting the light.

Bang!

I screamed in pain as a bullet lodged itself into my shoulder. With a limp, I scrambled to a destroyed storefront for better cover as the sniper took more potshots that were less accurate. falling behind some shelving, I could hear the sniper shouting. "Buzzkill Sir! I spotted another tango on the second floor!"

Buzzkill sighed agitatedly. "Damn Four Runners." He spat, "They're like fukin radroaches. You two. Git up there an put em out of my misery."

"Yes, sir!" His soldiers chorused together.

I could hear their hoof steps echoing closer. I hobbled my way to behind the sales counter with blood dripping down my leg. "This is bad." I hissed in pain as I checked my wound. "Really bad." I dug into my bag and found the healing potion. "Hope this works as the name says." Greedily chugging it down, I felt not only the bullet hole close up, but also my bite wounds from the Stable healed. I checked the most recent wound once more. It wasn't a hundred percent healed, and what's more, there was a lump under my skin that would cause a slight pain when agitated. Yep, that's a bullet.

There was a loud crash as one of the shelves were kicked over. "Oh Four Runner! Come out come out, wherever you are!"

I quickly moved into cover behind the sales counter. Flinching as the bullet squirmed in my shoulder. Two more red markers were on my E.F.S. "I see. The red marks point to those who wish to do me harm. Or rather, those who are actively trying to hurt me."

"Who's tryin?" I looked up wide-eyed to see the stallion who said that. He had a dirty yellow coat with a dark-brown mane. He also wore pale-green Barding, and his hoof punched me in the face! Before I could fall to the floor, he grabbed my neck and proceeded to choke me against the counter. My eyes bulged as my limbs flailed about for some leverage. My assailant turned his head to his companion. "Ha! A Unicorn! You owe me fifty caps." Turning back, he saw my flailing wings and stared at them confused. "What the hell?"

At that moment, I noticed how close my horn was to his face. Taking the opportunity presented to me. I jabbed my horn at him with all my strength. The resulting 'squish' forced him to fall back clutching at his right eye screaming in agony. While catching my breath leaning on the counter, I could hear my assailant scream out profanity that I would dare not to repeat. Then I saw his companion aim a junk pistol at me and I scrambled for cover.

Bullet after bullet slammed into my wooden cover. Luckily, none of the projectiles penetrated the counter. I unholstered my pistol and waited for him to stop shooting. When he did stop, I popped up and fired in his general direction three times to force him to dodge out of the way behind a shelf. While he did that, I ran for the exit nearly tripping over some debris. However, before I was in the clear, a gun fired behind me and hit my rear right leg. I fell to the dirty floor once more as I saw my pistol fly off to the ground floor.

Behind me, the one who shot me calmly followed me out the store reloading his gun. I tried to stand but failed. He kicked me to my side and stood over me. Locked and loaded. "This will teach you to not mess in Militia business."

"Militia?!" I Said with a strange combination of surprised and fear. Surprised; Because I didn't expect an army of the common people to act like brutish thugs. And fear; because he just said his group's name loud enough for Dead to hear.

"Militia!" As if on queue with my mental reasoning, smoke erupted from my bag and enveloped the Militia soldier. The junk gun fell to the ground as smoke was forced down his mouth and nose, into his lungs. With a crazed sinister look, Dead's face appeared out of the cloud of smoke. The Dullahan stared unblinkingly into the eyes of the suffocating stallion.

I watched in horror as the Militia soldier gasped for air, but he didn't get any. He tried to disperse the smoke with a hoof, though it didn't do him much good either. Dead smiled from ear to ear with an evil grin as tears started to run down the soldier's face. The soldier fell to the ground spasming. He then weakly raised a shaking hoof to Dead, as if he was pleading for his life (which he probably was). Dead continued to stare as the soldier fell limp. The longer he stared, the more dissatisfied his expression became. I know that soldier was going to kill me, but did he have to die in such a sadistic manner?

Then without warning, there was a gunshot and a bullet grazed Dead's cheek. A small cut formed on his face with a drop of blood oozing out. Licking the blood off his cheek, Dead saw the sniper on the roof. The sniper fired again, but in just harmlessly passed through the smoke. Dead's smile returned pared with a sinister laugh as he launched himself at the sniper. In response, the sniper opened fire with everything he had. The bullets, however, passed through the mass of smoke doing no damage.

Absentmindedly, I got up and hobbled to the railing. Not able to keep my eyes off of Dead as he toyed with the sniper by using smoke to blind and his horn to headbutt. "What the hell is going on up there?" Buzzkill yelled and I looked at him. Now that I have a clear view of him, I could that he was turquoise with a blond mane. Also, I could see the second prisoner bleeding on the floor at Buzzkill's hooves. His eyes then locked on mine.

At first, he looked confused, but then he looked like just saw a ghost. Suddenly, with a scream, the sniper fell from the roof to the ground floor in a way that snapped his neck instantly. If any Militia didn't notice Dead before, they did now with weapons drawn. Dead slowly followed the sniper down to the ground floor. "You know. There was a particular quote that I would say in this kind of situation." He said, still smiling his psychotic grin. "But It was already used in the beginning."

I could hear murmurs coming from the Militia. They didn't know what to make of the floating Unicorn head. Most were shaken and readying for a fight. Others were slowly inching their way to an exit. Buzzkill, however, was nowhere to be seen and his last prisoner was sneaking her way to the steel door. Then, somepony fired the first shot, but they missed the stationary target.

The rest opened fire while Dead zipped around dodging oncoming projectiles laughing with an insane laugh. Occasionally, he would fly near soldiers and they would get caught in some friendly fire. A few soldiers fled in terror as Dead shot straight up into the air and stopped his levitation spell. Then as he freefell his horn lit up with electricity sparky off of it. "Eat Chain Lightning suck-ahs!" He screamed, arching a lightning bolt into one Militia soldier which then branched out hitting two more. Those soldiers fell to the floor in pain. Their muscles forcefully contracted as lightning coerced through their bodies. Before Dead could be splattered on the ground, he caught himself in his levitation spell once again and sped off to his next victim.

I stood there in awe of his magical prowess. Even if it's just that one spell. That's still one more than I could do. I was suddenly, and violently, tackled by somepony from behind. We both flipped over the railing and fell to the ground floor. Somehow I managed to smash into the only bench around. It broke in half from the sudden force trauma. Groaning and whining in pain, I tried to get to my knees. Not far from me was my assailant, the same stallion who choked me, trying also to get up but failing. While I had a bench to break my fall. He had nothing and thus broke a rear leg. With teeth bared, he gave me the death glare with his left eye while his right was dribbling blood down his face. Then with one hoof in front of the other, he started to drag himself towards me using just his forelegs. "I'll kill you!" He growled through his teeth.

I tried to get away, but I fell down as the sharp pain returned to my shoulder. The bullet hole reopened when I had smashed into the bench. The Militia pony steadily got close. Fumbling, I Struggled To concentrate enough magic to lift my baton in defense. Between my wounds, the pony who wants to kill me, and stray bullets flying everywhere, I'm having a hard time forming the spell. Then when the stallion was nearly on top of me, Dead rocketed into him out of nowhere while yelling, "Yee-ha!"

The soldiers head whiplashed into the floor, knocking him out cold. Dead remained floating there when his eyes found me on the ground. "Oh! Hey Sola." He glanced down at the fainted soldier and back to me. "Sorry, was this one yours?"

Catching my breath, I also looked at the soldier and back to Dead. "Uh... No. Not at all. Thank you."

Dead smiled in response. "Not a problem. What are friends for?"

Friends? He's my friend? I returned the smile, truly happy to have a friend.

Bang!

My smile instantly disappeared and was replaced with utter shock. A single bullet was for once accurate, entering through Dead's temple and exited out the other. Dead's left eye had went crossed eyed as the bullet tore through his skull. His horn flickered off and he fell to my hooves, His face was lifeless. "Dead?" I asked with a quivering jaw. My hoof nudged the lifeless head. Blood oozed out of the hole and trickled down his chin. "Why?" With tears in my eyes, I turned my gaze to the one who killed him. It was a young buck standing there with the smoking gun in his mouth. His whole body was trembling. Dead was clearly his first kill, I could see it in his eyes, but that's no excuse.

My vision clouded with red as I stood up ignoring the pain. The buck aimed his weapon at me and yelled something (I don't know what, I stopped listening). "You killed my first and only friend!" I growled, flaring out my wings. The buck fired once more. It missed by a mile. I started to stalk forward as my horn lit up with a black aura. "Picture the heart in my mind." He fired at me three more times, but each one went wild and then the gun jammed. "Imagine my hooves on that heart." The buck then dropped his gun and started to claw at his chest with tears and fear in his eyes. I reared up onto my hind legs. "And smash it out of existence!" I yelled, slamming my forehooves onto the ground.

The buck's chest then exploded, sending blood and chunks of him everywhere. Since I stalked closer, I ended up drenched in the gore. When the buck landed in a pool of his blood, is when I snapped back to reality. My eyes widened in horror as I realized What I just done. All at once, the pain flooded back into my comprehension and I fell to my knees. My wings also fell limp and landed in the blood.

Some of the remaining Militia approached with reloaded guns, forming a firing line. I looked at my blood covered hooves, trembling. "Ready!" A Militia pony yelled. "Aim!" I could hear the firing mechanisms cock back, ready to fire. Uncontrollable tears started to run down my face. Tears for Dead and tears for the buck I had killed, but none for me. I deserve the pain and death coming my way.

When gunshots rang out, none of them were from the firing line. "Let's go Four Runners! Send these Militia assholes packin!" Cried out a mare coming from the steel door. A corresponding war cry announced a group of ponies charging into battle. The Militia fired back at the Four Runners as they retreated.

The world blurred around me as I started to feel lightheaded and collapsed onto the ground. I struggled to keep my eyes open, but everything went dark. Noise of the continued battle faded out and all I felt was cold. "Is this death?"

I had gotten no answer as I fell deeper into the darkness.

=====***=====

Level Up!

New Perk!

Bloody Mess, Rank 1:
"What? Where's my opponent? Oh, he's here... and there... and there... and there..."

5% bonus damage means enemies will sometimes explode into a gory paste. Watch out for flying eyeballs!

Chapter 3: To New Beginnings

View Online

"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose,

for this thing that we call 'Failure' is not the falling down,

but the staying down."

"Crshhh...ood morning Northern ...crsh...land. Uh, I'm your host Diamond Jack and, um,...crshh...sning to Coliseum Radio... yeah...Crhh... hearing some rumors of a Stable dweller demon?...Crsh... rumors are from some Militia ponies, so they ...crshhh... trusted. Uh, anyway, rumors are continuing to come in and I don't ...crshh... to sift through them all. But, uh, out of the ones I read, um, ...crsh... was in common. Um, there was a mare wearing ...crshh... suit, her mane may have been ...crsh... fire, she had a horn, and maybe some wings ...crshhh... thing of nightmares right there. Um, there's other ...very... gory details, but ...crshh... say she's dangerous and ...crshh... encounter her, run. Sooo ...crshh... our morning back on track with a lighter note. Here's Countess ...crsh... with her famous song ...Crshhhh..."

=====***=====

In a daze, I dragged my hooves forward into the endless void. I vaguely remember this expanse of darkness, but I really don't care. In light of what I have done, I should probably find the deepest, darkest corner and quietly die there

After walking for a while, something appeared right next to me and I stopped to look at it. What stood next to me was a solid wooden door with a glossy finish and a relief of a Unicorn knight wielding a bastard sword was carved into it. However, this door was also badly damaged. Cuts and Burns marked every inch of its surface. The face of the Unicorn was completely gouged out. Also, there seemed to be no way to open it. In a way this door resembles me; damaged, broken, and useless. I stared silently at the relief, at the destroyed face of the Unicorn. "I wonder what you did to have your face erased." I whispered. Something then appeared in my peripherals, another door. Shortly after a third door appeared and then a fourth. They were forming a sort of corridor. I took one last glance at the carving before walking towards the new doors.

As I passed each door, I noticed that all the doors were heavily damaged and inaccessible. That is until I came across a perfectly fine simple wooden door attached to a cobblestone wall (the only wall in this weird place). Not only is this door undamaged, but I also recognized it too. This door was my bedroom door in father's cobblestone tower. I reached out and pushed opened the door to reveal my room. Looking around, I could see that the room was exactly how I remembered it, except everything seemed smaller and my wardrobe was destroyed. As I walked about the room I started to feel a bit nostalgic. There was my straw pillow I had beaten the stuffing out of. Then there was my trunk that I had stored my nick-knacks in. And there was my desk... with the makings of a book on it.

I sat down at the desk and levitated the materials to examine them. There were three basic materials; a leather cover, a stack of paper, and a long leather strip to bind them together. Unconsciously, I assembled the book while examining it.

There was then a knock on the door. "Sola? May I enter?" My sister Luna asked.

I glanced at the door and back to my book. "Uh..." I quickly snagged the book with my (twelve-year-old) hooves and stuffed it into a drawer. "Come in!" I called back.

Luna opened the door and walked in. Her mane flowed over her midnight-blue coat as if the wind was gently blowing in her hair. It's weird that both my sister's hair would do that randomly, while mine would glow when magic is being used. I think I heard father speculate about genetics or maybe gender. I wasn't really listening. "Little brother, I was hoping we could... Oh my! What happened to your wardrobe?"

"I, uh..." I looked away slightly embarrassed. "Crashed into it."

"Crashed into it?" she looked at me confused.

"Yes, crashed. Now, is that all, or was my furniture your only concern?" I asked back with a playful tone.

Luna snapped out of her confusion. "Oh, yes of course. I wish to talk to you about your quarrel with father." She said on a serious note.

My eyes narrowed as I turned my attention to one of my nick-knacks (a polished blue crystal) and started to paw at it on my desk. "There's nothing to talk about."

Luna sighed and got closer to me. "Sola Eclipse, you can not be angry at father forever." She said to me while placing a hoof on my shoulder. "He loves you very much, and he's only doing what's best for you."

My ears perked up at that statement. "What's best for me?" I shrugged off Luna's hoof and faced her standing up. " So it's best for me to be imprisoned behind a barrier for years on end?"

"I suppose not. However, that's because..."

"Because some unknown evil, who doesn't know that I exist, might take me for their own gain?" I interrupted.

"Little brother?" She tried to get my attention.

"I've been thinking about this for a while, and concluded that the risk of that happening is very low!" I raised my voice.

"Sola, please calm down. you're going to..." Luna tried to warn me, but I continued my rant.

"Especially if I take certain precautions against..."

Thump!

During my rant, I once again unconsciously flapped my wings and hit my head on my ceiling. I sat on the floor holding my head. I even somehow hit the same place on my head as when I had hit it this morning in the study.

As I hissed in pain while rubbing my ever-growing lump, Luna raised a hoof in concern. "Are you hurt brother?"

"I'm alright." I whined, waving a wing at her. "Nothing I can't handle."

Luna stepped closer. "Are you sure? Perhaps I can fetch something cold, to help with the swelling."

"No, I am completely fine!" I said harshly. "Just... go on your camping trip. Celestia is waiting." I waved my wing at Luna again while turning my back to her.

"I see." Luna turned and walked to the door. "As you wish, I shall leave you be." Before she completely left, she stopped at the door. "However, I fully expect a proper conversation when I return."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere!" I called back while she closed the door. My sister's hoof steps echoed away from my door. Turning my gaze to the window, I glared at father's barrier outside. If only wasn't there, I could just... My expression went blank as I had an epiphany.

I sat at my desk and pulled out my newly made leather bound research journal. Bringing out my ink well and quill, I opened it to the first page and wrote the heading to my first research project; "Black Crystals." I then turned my attention to the polished crystal on my desk and attempted to recreate the bubbly black aura that I did before.

My eyes closed in concentration and everything went silent. "Why?" My ear twitched to the whisper. "Why?" The voice whispered again. My eyes shot open to find the source of the whisper.

However, I found my self alone in a dimly lit train station. "Hello?" My voice echoed in the empty room.

"Why, Sola Eclipse?"

Drip, drip, drip...

I hesitantly turned around to see Dead floating there with blood dripping down his face. "Why did you let me die?" I started to back away from him as he was crying blood.

"I..." I stammered.

"Why did you destroy our Stable?" I turned again to see an uncountable mass of Stable-0 residents. All of which were mostly decayed corpses.

"I didn't..." Backing away again, I slipped on something slick and landed on my rump. Recognizing what I slipped in, my eyes followed the trail of pooling blood.

The young buck stood behind me with his chest cavity blown out. "Why did you kill me?"

"I-I was only..." I stumbled away as I choked on my own words.

"Why?" They all chorused together. My eyes darted around for an exit, but they surrounded me. "Why?" The room got darker as they got closer without moving a hoof. "Why?"

I curled into a ball screaming as everything went pitch black.

=====***=====

I inhaled sharply as I was startled awake. Groaning, I turned over and pulled the covers closer. Mmm... so warm.

Then there were some loud banging. Groaning again, my eyes groggily opened. I saw a white mare with electric-blue hair and shaded glass covering her eyes smiling at me. Then I straightened up my head and saw the whole picture. It was actually a framed advertisement for a limited edition of Sparkle-Cola; Sparkle- Cola Beet. It depicted the mare using a musical apparatus with musical notes flying through the air. It also had a caption, "Be the life of the party, with a Beet!"

More loud banging came through a bead curtain on the opposite wall. "Hey Wild Herb." a gruff raspy stallion spoke up, "You know hitting that radio won't fix the signal, right?"

A young sounding mare giggled in response. "Yeah, I know Doc. But it doesn't make it any less enjoyable." She banged the radio again.

I sat up and looked around the room in confusion. "Where am I?" I whispered to myself. I was in a shack made of sheet metal pieced together with wood. I certainly don't remember walking into this sort of place. However, that's no surprise, the question is what do I remember? "Well, I remember the Militia's brutality, Dead's awesome lighting spell, and..." The sight of Dead being shot flashed Through my mind. "Dead..." My eyes widened and wetted in realization. "Dead is gone... And I...I..." The image of the young buck I killed popped into my head and lingered. My hoof slapped to my mouth as I dry heaved into it. " I'm sorry... I'm so sorry." I apologized, breathing heavily with tears budding in my eyes.

Then the beads on the certain clacked together. "I knew I heard talking." There was a young earth pony mare standing in the doorway, Wild Herb I presume. Her coat was pink with yellow splotches all over and her mane was a baby blue. "Hey, Doc! He's awake!" She then quickly glanced at me. "And he looks like he's gonna hurl!"

"Will you stop yelling. I'm right here." The gruff, raspy stallion (Doc, I guess) said, calmly walking into the room. However, when I saw him I immediately froze. Doc wore a flat wide rimmed hat and a thin bow tie. And, more obviously, he looked like a walking preserved corpse! With a horn, so he's also a Unicorn. He was saying something, but my attention was too distracted by his sunken in the nose and bloodshot eyes.

What snapped me out of it was Wild Herb waving her hoof in front of my eyes. I slowly looked at her, still not blinking. "W-wh-wha-what is..." I studdered.

"First time seeing a Ghoul, huh?" Wild Herb said giving me a happy-go-lucky smile.

I Glanced at Doc and back to Wild Herb confused. "Ghoul?" The question held little to no fear in it. Only curiosity could be heard. I know Doc looks like a walking corpse, but if what he is has a name, then that's what he's supposed to look like. My mental reasoning calmed me down.

Wild Herb saw the results as well and smiled wider. "Yes, a Ghoul. A Ghoul is... um..." Her face scrunched in thought, trying to find the right words. She then turned to the Ghoul. "Doc, a little help."

Doc huffed, mildly irritated that he had to explain what he was. " A Ghoul is an individual, like myself, who were lucky enough to survive the Mega-spell blasts over two hundred years ago. However, who was also unlucky enough to survive a massive dose of magical radiation."

"Oh, come on Doc." Wild Herb nudged Doc's shoulder with a hoof. "Don't be such a downer. Not many ponies can claim that they lived for over two hundred and fifty years." She smiled innocently.

Doc grumbled back. "I didn't say that there weren't any perks. But by all rights, I should've died a long time ago."

Wild Herb giggled. "You're tellin me! You old coot!" She smiled playfully. Doc gave her a tired glare in return.

I stared at them both during the whole exchange, a little lost. So, being a Ghoul is a condition, not his race? And why does he consider it unlucky, if he has a longer lifespan? As I looked at Doc again, I cringed. Then again, if I had to live a long life looking like a corpse, I'd consider myself unlucky too.

Doc then huffed at the young mare. "Why don't you go tell the mayor that our friend's awake. I need to ask him a few questions first."

Wild Herb pouted at the request. " Awe! I wanted to stay and watch." Doc just stared at her. "Fine!" She growled foalishly, "I needed to see if big sis is back anyway."

Both Doc and I watched her leave in a fit while slamming what I assumed to be the front door. "Well then," Doc grumbled and turned to me. "Let's just get the introductions out of the way, so I can ask my questions." He lifted a hoof to his chest. "I am Doctor Holiday Special, the proprietor of this clinic. That," He motioned to the door, "was Miss Wild Herb, the... local Apothecary if you will. Now." A red magical aura covered his horn and a nearby clipboard as he levitated it to himself, producing a writing utensil. "What is your name?"

I removed some blankets and sat upright facing him. "My name is Sola Eclipse. A pleasure to meet you Doctor Holiday Special." I said while curtly nodding my head.

The doctor looked at me a little surprised, then started to write on a sheet of paper attached to the clipboard. "A pony with manners, that's rare nowadays. And please call me Doc." I nodded once more as he finished writing. "Tell me, how old are you?"

"Uh..." My face scrunched up in thought for a moment. Then I looked him in the eye. "I don't know."

Doc calmly looks at me and then scribbled something down. "I'll just say you're in your twenties. Next, do you have any allergies or Medical conditions I should know about?"

I started to become slightly confused. "I don't think so."

He continued to scribble. "Okay. And I'll just skip the family history portion. Unless you have a history of getting shot?" Doc cracked a smile, clearly a joke.

I didn't return it. "Not likely. May I ask, what is this for?"

"This?" Doc held up the clipboard, "This is a medical file. I do one for all of my patients." He then focused his telekinesis on a stack of framed pictures. "You never know when certain medical histories and treatments will come in handy. Now, I'm going to show you some pictures and I want your honest answer." Holding up the first in the stack. "What do you see?"

I scrutinized the symmetrical black splotch for a moment before answering. "I see a three-headed roach."

Doc sat the picture down and showed the next one. "Good. How about this one?"

I eagerly analyzed the picture. This is a fun game. "I see a small pony in the shadow of a larger one."

He flipped to the next one. "Interesting, and this one?"

Happily looking at the picture, I scrutinized once more, but then I frowned and averted my eyes. "An exploding butterfly."

Seeing my reaction, Doc quickly put the picture down. "I see... I have one more Mr. Eclipse and I'll let you go." He held up the last picture. "What do you see?"

Reluctantly, I looked at it. "Um... Two bears high-fiving." I gave the first answer that popped into my head. No longer interested in this game.

Doc then frowned, writing on the Medical file. "Hmm... I didn't expect that."

"Why? did I give a wrong answer?" I asked quizzically.

He shook his head. "No, not at all. I was just expecting different answers, Because of what I saw in your bags." Doc pointed at my saddlebags in the corner of the room. I looked at him in confusion. "I know." He continued. "I had no right. However, Wild Herb is a curious girl and she couldn't help herself." With his red aura enveloped on all the pictures and his clipboard, he turned to the door. "Please excuse me, I need to go file this away."

I watched Doc leave the room, still confused. What would be in my saddlebags that would have him expect certain answers? I got off the bed and walked to my bags. Upon looking at them, I noticed that one bag was bulging more than it should. I unfastened and opened it up.

My body froze, spine shivered, and jaw quivered. My vision became blurred with tears at the sight of who I found inside.

=====***=====

"I have so many questions right now. I don't even where to start."

"..."

"Maybe, was it hard to learn that spell?"

"..."

"Or perhaps, I should ask if you could teach me that spell?"

"..."

"Oh! I know what to ask. How did you survive a bullet through the brain?"

"..."

"Dead?" I stopped in the middle of a busy market area to look at the (surprisingly silent) Dullahan in my bag. After leaving the clinic, I found myself wandering this settlement named Bellmouth. I seemed to be located within an incomplete underground train platform. Despite the recent attack by the Militia, all the residents were all happy and enjoying what they have. Some ponies cried out that they were opened for business while I heard some others laughing to a joke. It was peaceful in the middle of chaos.

I poked Dead with a hoof. "Hey Dead, are you alright? You wouldn't stop talking ever since I found you, and now you're silent? What's wrong?" Dead remained quite. Slightly annoyed at being ignored, I picked him up in my hooves and shook him. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" His eyes were rolled back in his head and his tongue plopped out. Is he playing... Dead? Argh! Now he's acting out his puns. This just irritated me more.

However, at that moment I noticed a bunch of ponies staring at me. When I looked back at them they all looked away quickly, continuing their business as if they have seen nothing. My cheeks burned as I quickly put Dead back in the bag and trotted away from everypony's sight.

Once I found a secluded corner I ducked into it, hiding from the weird stares. I sat there embarrassed that all those ponies saw me talking to, and shaking around, what looked like a severed head. Suddenly, I heard snickering. I quickly glanced around to see nopony there. "haha, they all think you're crazy." My eyes narrowed as I looked at my bag. It was quivering from Dead's laughter. Jabbing a hoof, I wacked Dead a good one. "Ow!" He exclaimed. A blue aura opened the bag's flap to reveal the Dullahan wincing in pain. "What did I do?"

I huffed at him, "Why were you acting like a lifeless, severed head?"

"Really?" Dead looked at me as if I should know. "How did you first react when you first saw me?" ( … He's got a good point.) Then he smiled at me. "Plus, it's friggen hilarious to watch you squirm when everypony thinks you're a psychopath." I jabbed my hoof once more, into Dead's face. "Ow! That got me in the teeth!" Dead griped while checking his teeth with his tongue. "I think you loosened one."

"Now, how did you survive a bullet to the skull?" I interrogated.

Dead continued to lick his teeth. "You need to work on your anger issues." I glared in response. "To answer your question; Dullahans can't die by physical means."

"Really?" I said, disbelieving. "If your going to spout nonsense, at least make it believable." I broke away my glare to make sure nopony was seeing me having a conversation with a talking head. There was one pony, but after coming down the stairs I was hiding under, she walked off in a different direction of me. Didn't even notice me.

"What? You want proof? fine." I looked back at Dead in time to see him pop his tooth out with a sickening snap. With a click on the ground, he spat out a blood-covered tooth.

"What the...!" I blurted out startled.

Dead turned to me, licking the blood off his lips. "Let me give you a scenario." As he talked, the blood on the tooth dissipated into smoke and returned to Dead. "Let's say somepony blasted my face off with a shotgun." The tooth then started to disintegrate into smoke as well. "As long as those little bits of me don't get completely destroyed by destruction magic. I can reassemble myself as many times as I need." He smiled, showing off the tooth reforming in his mouth.

I gawked at the sight. That's amazing, but then... "That means your body was destroyed by a fire spell of sorts." Dead's expression was instantly replaced by sadness as he blankly stared at nothing. (Crap, I mentioned his body without thinking.) I cautiously watched Dead for any signs of crazy outbursts.

"Perhaps." He said sullenly. "It would take a Unicorn, talented in fire magic, or maybe a weapon imbued with a fire talisman... or something." He continued to stare off into the distance.

"Hmmm..." I racked my brain for a way to make Dead feel better. When nothing came up, I looked through my Pip-Buck for some inspiration. The Stat screen showed me an animated, stubby looking, Alicorn. I guess this was supposed to represent me, and it said I'm healthy... neat. Changing the screen, there was an Inventory page which listed everything I have alphabetically. Fairly organized and very nifty. I continued on to the Data screen where it showed my missions. Apparently, the mission 'Wakeup Call' was completed sometime when I was asleep. However, after Doc directed me to talk to the mayor, a new mission appeared. It was called 'The Welcoming Committee: Go talk to the Mayor of Bellmouth.'

"Hmmm..." After I read the mission details, I looked at Dead. His attention was now on the snub-nosed revolver. He spun the cylinder with his telekinesis with the same sullen look. It looked like he was going to shoot himself, which we both know that that would do nothing but draw attention. "Say, Dead," I said quickly before he did anything drastic. "Perhaps we could ask the mayor if he knows anything pertaining to the Militia that went to the recycling facility. Maybe, get a lead or something." Some life returned to his eyes. I could nearly see the gears turning in his head as he thought of my proposal.

Finally, after a minute of thinking, Dead gave me a slight smile. "I'd like that." He said with renewed gusto. "I'd really like that."

"Well, then it's settled." I grabbed the gun out of his magical grasp and stowed it away. "Let's go talk to the mayor." Standing up, I checked if the coast was clear once more.

"As long as you're good talking to a stranger. I'm ready."

My eyes widened in anxiousness as I realized what he said. "Oh, right. I sure hope I don't say anything that will offend." I shook my head in an attempt to dislodge the fear. It kind of worked. "Everything will be fine. The worst he'll say is 'no.'" I smiled with confidence as I headed up the stairs.

"Or maybe, in this case, the worst he'll say is 'yes.'" Dead chuckled.

My smile disappeared, confidence destroyed.

=====***=====

I followed my mission marker and finally found where the mayor wants. Apparently, he took up residence in the restrooms near the entrance of the settlement. At the entrance, there were teams of ponies sorting through a pile of weaponry and equipment. I noticed quite a few militia uniforms amongst the loot. "I wonder, what do they do with the bodies?" It wouldn't seem right to just leave them out there to rot.

"No idea," Dead answered my undirected question. "Perhaps they burn them."

My eyes shot at him in shock. "Burn them?!"

Dead answered back calmly. "Yeah, it's what I would've done. If it's good enough for a king, it's plenty enough for them." he then motioned towards the Mayor's home. "Now, can we get this over with?"

Nervously, I approached the mayor's door. I took a deep breath and was about to knock. However, the sound of a raised voice caught my ear. "What do mean, 'you haven't heard from her?!'" Wild herb yelled, "You got a Ham radio. you could call her from across the Northern Wasteland!"

"Aye, I could." Replied a stallion with a guttural-ish accent. "That's if the signal wasn't total shite." Bucks-a-plenty I assumed.

"Well, send somepony to fix it!" She ordered, stomping a hoof.

Another hoof stomped in response. "Now listen here lassie, I just lost half me fightin' force protectin' your sorry ars. An' I'm not about to send anypony, to the police station of all places, to jumpstart some transceiver that is not even crucial to our survival right now!" Bucks-a-plenty stomped once again even louder. "So unless you 'av any other business with me, I suggest you go tend to your shop. I'll let you know when I hear from your sister."

Wild Herb growled in response and started to stomp her hooves. the door swung open harshly, nearly hitting me as she stomped past me, thoroughly angry. "I do not envy anypony getting in her way." Dead whispered to me.

"Yeah..." I agreed. The expression on her face somehow made me uneasy.

"Ah! If it isn't the boy Alicorn! Our savior!" Bucks-a-plenty happily voiced aloud. I looked inside and saw a dirty blue pony waving me forward. "C'mon in! I've been waitin' for ya."

Walking in, I closed the door behind me. Inside didn't resemble a restroom in the slightest. It looked very personalized with furnishings and trophies of what he hunted. There was taxidermy of some sort of deformed ball of fur with wings, a head of a large ghoulish canine, and another taxidermy of a large wooly bovine with one of two horns sliced clean off. The stuffed bovine stood two feet over me as I got a closer look (which was impressive considering I'm roughly a foot taller than most ponies). "Impressive. This one looks like it was a tough fight." It looked so lifelike. Almost as if it could impale me at any moment.

"aye, he was. Still is too."

huh? "Still?" I asked, looking at Bucks-a-plenty in confusion.

Suddenly, hot steaming breath blew down my neck and I jumped away from the (apparently alive) bovine, surprised.

Bucks-a-plenty laughed at my reaction. "Bloody-hell, that was hilarious! Makes me wish I had a working camera." He went to stand next to the bovine. "Don't be afraid of ol' Brute here. This here is one of the most friendly Yaks you could find. Which it really isn't sayin' much." Brute snorted menacingly in my direction.

I took a cautious step back. "Uh... Mr. Bucks-a-plenty?"

"Please, call me Bucky." He requested curtly.

"Bucky." I corrected myself, "Why does he look like he wants to rip my throat out?" For some reason, the phrase 'if looks could kill' came to mind. Although, I don't remember where I learned it.

Bucky looked between his friend and I. "Maybe he feels threatened by those." He motioned towards my wings. "I can't blame 'em, really. They are somethin. I'm jealous."

I looked at my wings and saw what he meant. My wings must have reflexively fanned themselves out when I got surprised. Almost like how some animals would make themselves look bigger and tougher to scare off predators. (Did I just compare myself to an animal?) I shook my head to focus myself on my wings, trying to get to my side. "Sorry," I grunted as I used a hoof to bend a wing. "Sometimes these things have a mind of their own."

"S'alright. Brute didn't mean to give ya the Death Glare, did ya Brute." Bucks-a-plenty then nudged him to apologize. Brute grumbled in response. "Brute?" He nudged again with a commanding tone.

Brute looked at him, snorted in his face, and walked to a large cushion on the floor. Then proceeded to lay down on it.

"Thanks, buddy." Bucks-a-plenty said sarcastically while wiping off his face. "Please, come inside my office." He walked around a table in the center of the room and sat down. "I'm sure ya have plenty of questions, but let me first welcome ya to me settlement." Bucks-a-plenty then cleared his throat and smiled. "welcome to Bellmouth. Home of the Four Runners and the Merchant Guild." He put a hoof to his chest, visibly proud of his welcome speech.

I remember the four runners, but... "What's a Merchant Guild?" I asked the proud stallion.

Bucks-a-plenty's eyes lit up in excitement. "I am glad ya asked. The Merchant Guild is where all the local gangs get together under one banner to establish comradery and free trade. Basically, I'm tryin' to get these ponies unlabeled as Raiders. So settlements, like Colosseum City, will see us as safe and open up commerce."

I nodded my head as I tried to follow the explanation. "What's a Raider?" I asked my next curiosity.

Bucks-a-plenty looked at me in confusion. "You really don't know? What rock were you hidin' under?"

"Actually, I wasn't hiding and it was really a recycling facility." I clarified.

Bucks-a-plenty blinked at me disbelieving. "Okay." He said in acceptance of my answer. "Well, a Raider is somepony who murders, rapes, and steals for pleasure, or survival. The ponies of Bellmouth are all ex-Raiders. Meanin', they all don't want to survive that way. However, other settlements still see us as scumbag Raiders, so survivin without trade is gettin' hard." He then flicked at some figurines on the table. "And then there's those damned Militia, huntin' us down like dogs."

I looked at the little figurine he had flicked. It was a wooden toy soldier placed on a map of the local area, which was tattered. Perhaps the toy represented the Militia, and judging by the map, they were hulled up in a nearby winery to the Northeast. My Pip-Buck a small beep and the words 'New location marked on the map' appeared at the top of my vision. I glanced at the words and back at the map. Maybe the squad that destroyed Dead's body haled from there. However, it's not enough to risk a venture to unfriendly territory. "So..." I continued, "Are the Militia considered to be Raiders as well?"

"Bha!" Bucks-a-plenty scoffed, "If that were true, I wouldn't have a bounty on me head and me goals would be realized." He stood up and pointed at the Militia figurines. "Those bastards are mercenaries, sanctioned by all the settlements in the Northern wastes as an army for the people." He then slams a hoof on the table, causing all the figurines to topple over. "But what the people don't know is that they horde supplies, torture anypony who they see as an enemy, and kill anypony that would threaten their power over the wastes. If ya ask me, They're worse than Raiders." He ended with a huff.

"But, you said Raiders murder, rape, and steal. How can the Militia be any more worse?" I inquired.

"Well, not only do they do whatever the hell they want. They are also militaristically organized. Where Raiders got simple gunners and brawlers, the Militia has actual trained marksmen and soldiers." Bucks-a-plenty spat on the ground as if talking about the Militia was leaving a bad taste in his mouth. "Listen to me, talkin' your ear off." He smiled warmly, "I'd like to know more about ya. Ya said ya from a recyclin' place?" He asked, shifting the conversation to me.

I anxiously shifted my weight at the sudden question. "Um, yes It's a Stable-Tec recycling facility just south of here."

His eyes widened. "South!? Ya came through that wall-o-wind without heavy equipment!? Either the Goddesses are lookin' out for ya, or Alicorns are pretty amazin'." Goddesses? So there are deities in this land. I opened my mouth to ask, but Bucks-a-plenty continued on. "And Stable-Tec recyclin' sounds familiar. I think I heard some ghost stories bout the place."

"Ghost stories?" I asked, forgetting what I was going to ask.

"Yeah, somethin' bout singin' in the halls and an unknown monster decoratin' the place with bodies of trespassers. But seein' that ya came from there, those stories must have been complete rubbish." he scoffed. (Oh, how wrong he is.) "Although, I always thought the place was somewhere in the west end of the Northern Wastes. Anyway, judging by the looks of ya, you're a Stable Dweller. Did ya leave on a supply run, or were ya exiled? Either way, we at Bellmouth can accommodate ya."

"Actually," I said looking down at my hooves, "I left in search of a unicorn possessed by an evil spirit. He stole my memories and ran north to the Crystal Empire. And because of me... the Stable..." An image of the dead Stable Dwellers came to the forefront of my mind. I could feel tears about to flow, but Bucks-a-plenty placed a comforting hoof on my shoulder.

"Don't say anymore, lad. I understand. It's the reason why I stopped bein' a raider." I sniffed and nodded. "It makes me sad to know a whole Stable of good folk are gone."

"Well..." I lifted my head with my sadness controlled. "Not the whole Stable is gone. About two hundred people are still alive in stasis.

Buck-a-plenty looked at me in surprise. "Two hundred? I guess there's still hope yet." He smiled.

I nodded, "Indeed, I also want to find a safe place for them to live." I said positively.

Bucks-a-plenty gave me an unsure look. "Not sure if that's even possible, boy'o. The wasteland out there has a lot more than just Raiders and Militia givin' us troubles"

Discouraged now, Like what?" I asked.

"Well, there's things like radiation, mutated creatures, and..." There was then a knock on the door. "Yes!?" He yelled out.

"Hey boss, I have all the reports you asked for." A mare called back.

"Shite." Bucks-a-plenty muttered under his breath, "Sorry we had to cut this short, but the duties of being mayor are catchin' up to me. Why don't you head down to Tinker in the Armory, she knows your coming. Come in!" He yelled. The mare came inside with her pink mane standing as spikes on her head and a holo-tape in her mouth.

"But I still had some questions." I protested.

"Ay, me too lad, but it'll have to be saved for next time. I'll see ya later... uh... Ya know, I didn't catch ya name."

"It's Sola Eclipse."

"Right, See ya around Sola." He said as he guided me out of his home, closing the door behind me.

"How rude." Dead said, peeking out of the bag.

"Well, he is busy." I excused. "Not much we could have done."

"You forgot to ask him, by the way." Dead pointedly accused.

"Well, I was about to." I deflected while lifting my Pip-Buck to him. "At least we now have the location of the nearest Militia outpost." I smiled at Dead, showing him the map.

"Hmm..." He considered the consolation. "I guess that's something. If they are as organized as Bucky mentioned, then maybe they would keep a record of some sorts. Let's go there next." Dead happily ordered.

My body stiffened at the thought. "How about we hold off on that. At least, until we have a plan."

"What!?" Dead objected. "I got a plan. It's called: Go in there, take what I want, and leave nothing standing."

"And get me killed." I added bluntly.

Dead scoffed, "pfft, you won't die, you're the main protagonist." He reasoned.

I stopped and looked at him confused, "What?"

Dead looked back at me in defeat. "Fine, I suppose you're right. You need to level up more anyway." He moved around in the bag, getting comfortable.

I opened my mouth to say something, but I just shrugged and continued downstairs. Accepting the fact that Dead is weird.

=====***=====

A bell chimed as I walked into the Armory. Which was a shop housed inside an old maintenance room next to the unfinished tunnel. The Armory was a single cluttered room with metal boxes and weapons lining the walls. A couple of workbenches and an extremely dirty bed occupied the far end of the room, but most noticeably there was a frame of some sort of armor being held suspended by a mechanical winch.

"Hey!" A mare called welcomingly from under the frame. "I'll be right with you, just need to detach this one bolt." She shuffled around some tools.

At the moment, all I could see of her was a pair of sea-green rear hooves sticking out of barding that covered her body. The sturdy looking clothing (obviously made for this kind of work) accentuated her hips and complimented her short aqua-marine tail.

"Ah, crap. Hey you, can you be a dear and get me that wrench on the counter there?"

"Huh? Wrench?" I broke away from my staring and found the tool. I used my telekinesis to lift it behind the armor.

"Oh! Hey, is that magic?" She asked while I felt the tool leave my magical grasp. Seconds later, the right foreleg of the armor was detached and the mare dragged it with her as she stood up. My eyes widened in surprise as I didn't expect what the rest of her looked like. A sea-green wing wiped some dirt off her for forehead as she released the armor's leg from her talons onto the counter, and she gave me a pleasant smile with her petite beak. "Thanks for the assist." She then raised a talon for a hoof shake. "My name's Bella, people call me Tinker. Mostly because of my profession."

Blinking, I raised my hoof to meet her talon. "I'm Sola Ecli-iii-pse" I stuttered as she shook my leg vigorously.

"You must be the guy who helped us with those Militia assholes. I have to say, that was some awesome magic out there. The smoke thing that shot lighting and that chest explosion you did. Oh man, epic!"

"Y-y-ou s-s-aw th-that?" I tried to say through the shaking.

"Yeah! I saw the whole thing through a hole in the gate. Which reminds me." Tinker turned to her workbench moving stuff around. While she was searching, I tried to physically stop my leg from shaking, even though she had already let go of it. By the time I finally got my hoof on stable ground, Tinker turned back to me with something in her grasp. " I believe you dropped this." She held up my Ten Millimeter Pistol to me. However, there were some additions to it. I took it from her and examined it. It felt heavier, yet balanced. The barrel was longer, so was the magazine, and there was a red dot sight. "It's a beautiful gun. I couldn't help myself, but to sup it up for you. Free of charge, of course."

My eyes shot back to her. "Uh... Thank you miss Tinker, but I can't accept this gift for nothing in return." I said while I floated it back to her.

Tinker just pushed it back to me. "It's just Tinker, and you have already saved my home. Just think this as a reward for a job well done." She offered.

"Very well then." I nodded and holstered the weapon. "Now, I have a question. Are you a Hippogriff?" I asked, honestly curious.

Tinker at first blinked at the question, then she smiled jokingly. "Why, yes. What gave me away? the beak and feathers, or the horses' ass?" She asked sarcastically, While she wiggled her rear.

After a second, I shook my head and blushed as I caught myself staring again. "It was just, I thought Hippogriffs were extinct." I explained.

"Extinct?" Tinker repeated, tapping a talon to her beak in thought. "I suppose my tribe's historian did say that we used that as a tactic in the great Griffon war." her forehead then scrunched in confusion. "But that was over a thousand years ago, and not well known at that. How did you..."

All of a sudden, the bell chimed hard as Doc barged in with a worried look about him. "Bella!" He called out with his gargled voice. "Is Wild Herb here?" Worriedness was evident in his question.

"Well, she did drop by to refill on ammo, but she's not here now. What's the matter? Why the long face?" She quietly snickered at her own joke. (Snickering also came from my bag, and I nonchalantly bumped it in a table as I repositioned myself.)

Doc sternly looked at the hippogriff. "I can't find her anywhere." He said unamused.

Tinker shrugged, "She's probably just scavenging more supplies for her shop."

"When a radiation storm is about to stroll through the area?" Doc challenged.

Tinker started to look worried. "Oh, I see your point."

I looked between them confused. "Radiation storm?" I asked. Tinker just looked at me as if she was asking 'what rock were you living under?'

Doc, with his gargled voice, answered my question. "A magical radiation storm is a weather phenomenon that's been plaguing the northern wastes ever since the Megaspells went off. Being caught in one will give you minor radiation. Which isn't dangerous, as long as you get some Rad-away in you."

"But Wild Herb knows that we're low on Rad-away. She wouldn't just go out there and cost us supplies like that." Tinker pointed out.

Doc turned back to her. "If she's not in the settlement, then she's outside." He put a hoof to his chin in thought. "Now the question is, why? And, Where did she go to?"

"Hmm..." I too put a hoof to my chin in thought. "Well, the last I saw of her was when she stormed off after an argument with Bucks-a-Plenty."

"Argument?" Doc inquired, "Of what?"

I looked at both of them as they looked to me for an answer. I continued my thought aloud. "At the time, Wild Herb was upset that Bucks-a-Plenty wouldn't send anypony to fix the transceiver in the police station." Both of their faces instantly showed shock as I said 'police station.'

Doc then faced Tinker. "Bella, I need to barrow your best gun with ammo." He said urgently.

Tinker planted a firm rear hoof on the ground. "Aw-hell no! You're not going on that suicide run. Radiation might not bother you, but those monsters out there will tear you apart. I'll go, I have more combat experience."

Doc also planted a hoof. "No way! Your combat experience is with aerial combat. And in a rad storm, the higher you go the more rads there are. You said so yourself, we're low on supplies and your style of combat will cost us more. At least I'm immune."

I looked between the two as they argued back an forth. Until I felt a nudge from my bag. Dead was peaking out of the bag and he motioned for me to offer my services. I glanced to them and back to Dead with a concerned look. He mouthed the words, "You'll be fine, do it." I sighed and faced the two arguing.

"Besides, if you go and get killed, the Armory will most likely be looted and everything will be in chaos as ponies fight over the weapons." Doc argued with what seems like the worst case scenario.

"Ahem..." I tried to interject.

"Oh yeah? Well, if you go an die, then Bellmouth will be ultimately killed because our only doctor will be gone." Tinker matched his worst case scenario with her own.

"I'll go!" I yelled to get myself heard. Both of them were silent as I continued on. "I'm the most logical choice. I have my own Rad-away and if I were not to come back, this settlement will survive."

Doc once again put his hoof to his chin as he thought aloud. "I suppose he did save us from the Militia. So combat experience won't be an issue." I frowned as he gave me credit that I didn't deserve.

Tinker nodded, "Yeah, I saw it myself. He's amazing!"

"So it's agreed then." Doc said putting down his hoof and walking out the door. "Although, I saw your supplies. It's not much, but I'll give you some of my personal stash, as payment."

After he left, Tinker looked me up and down. "What?" I asked.

She then walked up into my face giving me a weird look. "I need you to take off your clothes."

I just looked at her wide-eyed.

=====***=====

My Pip-Buck clicked furiously as I walked through the destroyed suburbs to the police station. A needle was jumping back and forth in the green section of Rad-counter. I shook it, annoyed. My new armor attached to my Stable-0 barding flapped around with it. "Why did they had to make this thing so annoying."

Dead made another loop around my head. "Well, that's because if they didn't, ponies would ignore the dangers that radiation possesses." He said while going higher, closer to the storm clouds, where the radiation is the highest.

"And why are you ignoring those said dangers?" I pointed out his hypocrisy.

Dead then chuckled. "Because, radiation is the aftermath of (usually) destructive super magic, like mega spells. Which isn't really destructive in itself, so I'll be fiiine… Eep!" At that moment, lightning struck a metal rod sticking out of the building next to him. The radiation then spiked for a split second. Dead immediately retreated back into my bag with a trail of smoke following him.

I chuckled at his reaction. "What was that about it not affecting you?" I asked chuckling more.

"Shut-up!" Dead growled, "I said, I'll be fine with radiation, but magic filled lighting is a different story." He said scowling at me from the bag.

"Oh, yeah." I stopped for a second as his words reminded me of a question I wanted to ask. "How did you learn that cool spell? Chain lightning, was it?"

Dead narrowed his eyes at me. "A good teacher and hard work. Why?" He questioned.

"Well, I wanted to learn it." I said looking into a destroyed storefront.

"Again, why?" Dead repeated. "You already know that chest explosion spell. With some practice, you could kill even the toughest of enemies with that one." My smile disappeared as I was reminded of that spells killing power. My pace also noticeably slowed to a crawl. Dead scoffed, "Ha! You wanted to learn a spell that could incapacitate instead of kill?" He laughed aloud. "Sure. Why not? I could teach ya, but I can't say if you can learn it though."

I cocked my head toward him. " I might not be able to learn it? Why?"

"Well." Dead cleared his throat and straightened up (The best he could anyway) to ready himself for a lecture. "Ya see, all ponies have a special talent and magic users can learn spells related to that talent the best. For instance; if you had the talent for baking. You could probably learn a heat spell to bake without an oven, or maybe have an increased skill in telekinesis to mix the ingredients more efficiently. (Oh great, now I'm hungry for cheesecake)." He shook his head to recollect his thoughts. "Anyway, your talent basically determines what spells you can master, and all other spells will be that more difficult to learn."

I looked at him confused. "Soo... Can I learn the spell or not?" I asked, interrupting his lecture.

Dead huffed at my question. "What's your talent?" He countered.

My expression turned sour as I was reminded of my memory loss. "I don't know." I said putting my eyes on my E.F.S. My eyes followed a new marker as I was passing it, and as I did, my Pip-Buck notified me that I found Quibbles Comic. In the window was a fairly weathered poster of something called 'Power Ponies.' (Hmm, I'll have to check that out sometime.)

"Oh, right." Dead continued talk, "I guess we'll just have to use a trial and error style of teaching. Maybe your cutie mark can tell us some...thing." He trailed off. "Hey, when did we get an entourage of Ghouls?"

Entourage? I stopped to see what he was talking about, and there were a small group of Ghouls following us. I waved at them. "Hello! Can I help you?"

All of them stopped and stared at me. They then gave an unnatural wail as red marks appeared on my E.F.S.

=====***=====

I quickly opened the double doors of the police station and closed them behind me. With a nearby sofa, I barricaded the door shut. Falling to the ground out of breath, I fought to slow my racing heart.

"Sooo… Why did we run?" Dead asked while he floated around the reception area searching through all sorts of stuff.

"That's... huff... because... puff... They tried to eat me!" I said both out of breath and hysterical.

Dead floated back to me and poked my fresh bite wound on my rump. I hissed in pain. " I can see that, but what I meant was, Why didn't we just kill them?"

There was then a bang on the doors as the group of Feral Ghouls caught up to us. "That's because... their ponies," I said, unsure of my own words.

"Ha!" Dead balked as he dug out a healing potion for me. "I looked into the eyes of the one that bit your ass. That is no longer a pony. More like a zombie now." He gave me the bottle and I gladly drank it all.

While my wound sealed itself, I looked at the door where the Ghouls were banging and sighed. "I suppose you're right." I then stood up, " However, It doesn't mean I have to kill them." Dead followed me as I pushed through another set of double doors deeper into the precinct.

Inside was a big open area filled with desks. Some of the ceiling had collapsed in the center of the room, which had left piles of debris completely covering some desks. Dead floated up to the hole in the ceiling and whistled. "There's some pretty neat stuff. Must be the evidence locker." He said as he went up inside.

"Why do you say that?" I asked while I looked over a corkboard. All the pictures on it were worn away or destroyed. Only one name was left on it, King Pin.

"I doubt a room filled with weaponry, narcotics, and Zebra paraphernalia, in the middle of a police station, is anything but an evidence locker." Dead reasoned logically.

After a minute of searching desks, I found a bottle of Zap Apple Brandy (strangely, it looked like a bottled rainbow) and a bunch of trash (mostly just bottle caps and bobby pins). As I put the brandy in my bag, Dead returned with a Holo-tape in his mouth. "Eh, check it out." He landed on my back to fish out the Holo-tape recorder. "Maybe it has something cool on it."

Dead clicked in the tape and pressed play. "This is Detective Brass Tacks. Here as witness to a testimony of one Switchblade, Member of the group Tunnel Snakes." A tired-sounding Stallion was talking close to the recording device.

Then there was a bang on a table. "Eh! We're a gang, not some fucking book club!" Switchblade, a nasally Stallion, spoke up.

"My apologies." Brass Tacks said, not in the least apologetic. "Why don't you go ahead and tell me about your boss and operations."

"Hey, I just wanted the record set straight, Tunnel Snakes rule!" Switchblade then cleared his throat. "It all started about a year ago. When the boss had gotten a weird letter with a strange package. The letter promised us a serious amount of bits if we delivered the package discreetly. We all thought, 'Why not,' some serious coinage just to play mailpony seemed like easy bits."

"But, then the situation went south." Brass Tacks interjected.

"Yeah, well, for a few months we had dropped the shit off without a hitch. But then Jimmy got curious." Switchblade paused in reflection. "Poor ice-cream lovin' bastard." I could hear him drink something before he continued. "Hey, are you sure this place is secure? I did hear some cops were workin' for Caballeron and..." He then choked on his words as he went silent.

"Switchblade, are you alright?" The detective asked in concern. the sound of coking and falling to the ground echoed off the recorder. "Somepony get a paramedic!" Brass Tacks yelled before the recording clicked to an end.

"Wow." Dead said with wonder. "That tape had nothing relevant to the current situation." He then ejected the Holo-tape and tossed it away. I opened my mouth to say something, but suddenly a mare's scream rang through the halls. Without a hitch, I galloped in the direction of the damsel in distress.

After busting down a couple of doors, I arrived at the holding cells where a bloated ghoul was reaching through bars after Wild Herb. Quickly, I charged at the ghoul and bucked it in the face. The ghoul flew against the wall as its foreleg tore off in the bars. Flinching away from the squirming leg, I turned to the pony cowering in the corner of the cell. "Wild Herb, are you harmed?"

Wild Herb looked up at me with surprised tear-filled eyes. "You? How did you... Watch out!" She warned me.

I looked just in time to see the three-legged ghoul tackle me to the ground. With the weight of the ghoul pinning me down, I struggled to keep it from taking a bite out of my face. Each snap of its teeth inched closer to my hide as my horn glowed in an attempt to lift the ghoul of me.

Although I only managed to lift it a little bit off me, It was all the leverage I needed to toss it into a nearby desk. There was a resounding snap as the ghoul impacted the desk. With limp rear legs, it squirmed, trying to get me with one leg. The ghoul dug at the ground to avail.

Breathing heavily, I got myself back on my hooves. As I stood over the prone ghoul I finally caught my breath. "Sola." Dead whispered from my bag. "You need to kill it." I looked at him, his eyes were filled with conviction and wisdom.

Kill it? I glanced back to the ghoul and remembered Dead's words from earlier; 'That is no longer a pony. More like a zombie, now.' I unsheathed my knife with my magic and pinned the ghoul's head down with a hoof. It squirmed vigorously, trying to get free of my grip. It was all in vain. I then placed the tip of my blade at the base of its skull and... I hesitated.

Even though the ghoul was growling and hissing at me. I couldn't help imagining it as a pony begging for help. My heart wrenched as I felt tears well up inside me. Before the tears reached my eyes, I closed them and took a deep breath to steel myself. "This is no longer a pony." I reminded myself. "If I don't kill it, harm will come to others." I exhaled a whisper as I plunged the knife into its skull. "I'm so sorry." I retrieved my blade from its skull and watched as the black ichor of what's left of its blood drip to the floor. I felt... numb. It was the only way I could describe this.

"You know." Wild Herb spoke up, grabbing my attention. "You actually gave It mercy." I blinked at her, then numbly returned my gaze to the dead ghoul at my hooves. "The way I heard it; when ghouls go feral, they become mindless husks, hungry for flesh. So some think that nothing pony is left in them, but I think their souls are still trapped inside. Forever being tortured, watching themselves eating ponies, not able to pass on."

"So..." I began, with this new information lifting my numbness. " are you saying that when I killed this one." Nodding my head at the corpse. "I freed their soul from torment?"

Wild Herb smiled and nodded. "Yep, that's what I believe. Doc doesn't believe in an afterlife or the Goddesses."

Hmm... So it's not proven. Even so; "Thank you." I smiled at Wild Herb, which she returned. "Now, Let's get you home."

Her expression changed to one of chagrin. "Umm... yeah, about that."

=====***=====

"Seriously, who locks themselves in a place where they can't escape from?" I griped.

"Stable dwellers." Dead replied, "Oh! And this one time, When I saw 'The Great and Powerful Trixie.' That was hilarious." He chuckled.

I took the last step at the top of the stairs to the roof. We both went silent as we approached the door. "Ok. She said there was a group of ghouls up here. So be on guard." Dead whispered. I nodded and upholstered my pistol. Dead floated next to me with the snub-nosed revolver in his mouth. I gave a confused look. "Just maximizing my effectiveness." He expertly said around the gun in his mouth. I shrugged and continued to open the door.

At first, I peeked through the gap I made. There were no ghouls in sight. Calmly, I walked through the doorway keeping my eye scanning my surroundings. It was silent until Dead busted out waving the gun around wildly. "Bring it on! Ya zombie bastards! I'm ready for ya!" He yelled to the air ducts and dead machinery. Nothing responded.

"Ooo...kay." I looked around and saw something that didn't match the rest of the surrounding. A table was set up with a tattered canopy over it. Some junk was scattered on the table. "What's this." I walked over to the table poked at stuff.

"Looks like the workings of a ham radio." Dead answered me. He floated to an electrical box at the base of a small tower. "This must be the transmitter. Everything looks fine though." Dead looked over the box and then flipped a switch. Nothing seemed to happen. "Wild Herb was right. The power's out. If we turn on the generator, we can both get her out of that cell and get the transmitter up and running." He proceeded to follow a thick cord on the ground.

Something nagged at me at that moment. "How do you know so much about this kind of stuff?" I asked as I followed him around a corner.

"When I was imprisoned in that jar, Stone Mason often left papers and schematics on his desk."

"Really? Like... what?" I stopped in my tracks. There was a recently eaten pony off to the side.

Dead didn't see it and continued on. "There was a lot; a Spark-energy generator schematics, a regular correspondence to a Sunburst about translating a journal written in old Ponish, plenty of project reports..."

There was a trail of blood leading to the generator room. "Dead?"

"Incidentally, That's how I learned where my body was." Dead ignored me and continued to go towards the room. The generator room had no door and it was dark inside, except for a sickly green glow.

"Dead! Stop!" I commanded.

He finally heard me, but he stopped just inside the doorway. "What!?" Dead yelled back. Then he noticed the trail of blood.

At that moment, four clustered red marks appeared on my E.F.S as the ghouls howled. Dead immediately turned and fired his weapon. His bullet made its mark, one of the Feral ghouls screamed in pain. However, as a result of firing the gun plus Dead's levitation magic, had sent Dead spiraling backward with the recoil. He landed right next to me looking a bit dizzy. "Yes, That was very effective." I commented sarcastically, referring to his reason for the gun.

The sound of hoof falls re-grabbed my attention and I aimed my pistol. Three ghouls came running out after Dead. I unloaded my gun at the one in front. The ghoul took three hits; a graze on the neck, one in the shoulder, and one in the leg. Causing it to topple over with a painful scream. (Yes! I actually hit something!) I then aimed at the next one and pulled the trigger.

Click... Click, click. Shoot! Did I empty my gun already?

As I groaned in frustration of my firearm skills, the ghouls barreled down on me. One reared up and smacked me with its forehooves. While the other lunged at me with a bite. Although, because of the hoof smacks knocking me around, the bite found nothing but air. I quickly recovered and whipped my pistol at the biting one while pivoting to buck the other. They both hissed in pain.

I tried to reposition myself as the ghouls restarted at me again. However, I wasn't quick enough to avoid them tackling me to the ground with bared teeth. As they bit at me, I was only able to block one with my Pip-Buck. While the other sunk its teeth into my flank. I screamed painfully as the bite broke the skin.

Then the one on my Pip-buck slid onto the S.A.T.S button and everything went slow-motion. I decided to kick the one biting me in the flank. The ghoul was then highlighted with the words 'Target selected' and "95%" above it. Slightly confused on what's happening right now, but even more so, frustrated that I'll have to kick the ghoul off me in slow-motion. I tried to will my legs to move faster and two more notches appeared under the 'Target selected' words.

When the S.A.T.S finally ended, my legs decided to move on their own. One hoof kicked into the ghoul's diaphragm, causing it to release my flank and for air. Then both my legs simultaneously lashed out and impacted its sternum. Its ribcage concaved in as it coughed up black blood and fell over dead.

The other ghoul continued to gnaw on my Pip-Buck until Dead flew up point blank and it in the head. Dead once again flew away, spinning from the recoil. I quickly stood up and looked for the one I tripped. "That's two of the four. We're not out of the woods Y... Ye-ow!" Before I found the ghoul, It found me. My right foreleg to be exact, with its teeth. It had crawled to me during my scuffle. "That's it!" I screamed through gritted teeth.

Hooking my hooves around the ghoul, I flapped my wings and flew up. My Pip-Buck clicked frantically as I got closer to the rad-storm. When I got to a sufficient height, I spun the ghoul around and threw it off the building. I didn't see it hit the ground below, but the red mark on my E.F.S disappeared. I glided back down to the roof where Dead had landed. "Are you alright?" I asked concerned.

"I think I'm gonna puke my guts out." He replied weakly and with a snicker following it. Then the last ghoul gave screech, demanding my attention. The ghoul limped toward me on three legs. It was the source of the sickly green glow from earlier. It strangely looked angry and it had a horn that was glowing slightly brighter than the rest of it.

I grabbed my pistol and reloaded it. "I am starting to tire of this." I groaned while aiming my gun. The ghoul stood still and growled. Its horn grew brighter and brighter. Not liking the way that looks, I pressed the S.A.T.S button. 'Target selected' appeared with three notches. Although, instead of '95%', it's a '0%'. I mentally shrugged, not knowing what the number meant.

The slow-motion then ended and my gun fired three times. I watched my bullets spin toward the glowing one's skull. At first, I was proud that I got some really accurate shots. However, I then found it weird that I'm seeing my bullets at all. The magical glow of the ghoul's horn flashed outward as it sent out a shock wave, flinging my bullets back at me. I ducked down, dodging the returned rounds, but I received a big dose of radiation as the wave washed over me.

"It'd be best if we don't draw out this encounter." Dead said, floating next to me. "And sad to say, I don't have any instant kill spells." He looked at me implying something, and I knew what it was.

"No." I replied to the unspoken request.

Dead narrowed his eyes at me. "You do know this is a monster, right? Not some colt?" I looked away from him. He growled. "Fine then." Digging into my bag, Dead grabbed the grenade. "Just help me get closer to this rad-bag. "Curious on what he was going to do with the metal apple, I nodded. "Good. Now we'll need some sort of slingshot." He planned.

However, I had my own idea. While Dead had his back turned, I reared my hindlegs and bucked the 'invulnerable' head right at the glowing one. He flew at blinding speed, stabbing it in the chest with his horn. Dead dropped the grenade at the ghoul's hooves. "Ow! That hurt you asshole!" He yelled at me while the ghoul tried to its best to shake him off.

"I got you closer didn't I!" I shouted back.

"Not what I meant!" Dead continued to yell with glowing blood draining down his horn and face. "But I guess this'll have to do." A blue aura appeared around the grenade. Dead took a deep breath before pulling out the pin. "Oh, man. This is gonna be painful."

I looked at them confused, still not sure what a grenade truly is. Then without warning, the grenade exploded right under them. My chin dropped in shock as a piece of rubble flew past my head. "That was in my bag?!" I screamed hysterically.

"Oh, Yeah! Your bag was in so much danger, that's why I blew myself up!" Dead sarcastically yelled while little smoke clouds converged on a half-obliterated floating head.

He actually looked very scary with half of his face gone. I looked away before he gave me nightmares. "You're alive, are you not?" I replied, looking over the corpse that the ghouls had torn apart.

Dead then spat something green out of his fully formed mouth. "Whatever, let's just get this thing fixed." He said irritated, floating into the generator room. I opened up the corpse's bag and found an assortment of items ranging from ammo and food, to a healing potion and something cylindrical... that looks very familiar. "Son-of-a mother loving biscuit!" Dead yelled at the top of his lungs (If he had any).

I quickly transferred the items to my bags and went to see what the commotion was about. "What's wrong? is it broken?" I asked him while he was searching through piles of junk at the base of a large dormant machine.

"No, not broken. The Spark-energy core is missing." Dead continued to search frantically within nearby containers.

I looked at the generator and there was indeed an empty port that was roughly one inch in diameter. "Oh!" I exclaimed in remembrance. I took out the cylindrical object I found on the corpse. "Here, I found this Spark-energy core on the body outside."

Dead ended his search and snatched the core out of my magical grasp with his teeth to plug it in. "Thank you... huff... you're a gentleman and a scholar.. whew!" He said, slightly out of breath with beads of sweat on his face.

"Are you alright?" I asked concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Dead reassured me as he plugged in the core. "It's just when reconstructing from a death state really sucks the energy out of me." He then flew back into my bag as the dormant machine then hummed to life. "Now, if you don't mind. I'm gonna take a nap." His blue aura closed the bag flap.

Bzzt…

Suddenly, my Pip-Buck made a noise. Checking it, I found a radio signal was added; 'Colosseum City Radio'. I selected it and there was a Mare singing the last note of a very upbeat song. Then a Stallion's voice replaced it. "Yeah, um... that was Sweetie Bell. The... uh... I mean, one of the best singers... ever, yeah. Ahem!" The Stallion on the radio seemed very nervous. As if he was very uncomfortable talking in a public setting. "It's... uh... time for a news update. Um... Tonight there's an arena match between our reigning champion... um, (forgive me if I pronounce this wrong) El Pollo Fuego and... uh... the rookie from the east,... um...(hold on I got the name here somewhere) The Lone Wolf. So, go watch the match and... uh... and tell me how it went. I'll be right here all day (and night... for that matter). Ahem!"

I smiled as I listened to the radio. Even though it's almost painful to listen to this stallion. I was very happy that a whole city is out there surviving. I looked outside and saw that the radiation storm was clearing up. Blue sky, another reason to smile. "In other news. I finally read through all those rumors from the south. It's... uh... It's not pretty. Um.. they all were different, some even too farfetched to be true (seriously, a magical flying head?), But...uh...one thing came up constantly. The Stable Dweller Demon." My smile slowly turned into a frown as I processed what was being said. "So, uh... The demon is an Alicorn who wore a Stable-Tec suit. Her mane glowed like fire and she could... uh... make you explode! And what's worse, She's in league with a known raider settlement. An Alicorn, working with raiders! I don't know about you, but she sounds like the next Nightmare Moon to me! Ahem! I... uh... I guess what I'm saying is; um... if you're planning on going south for some reason, be very cautious. Or... uh... otherwise, don't go at all... Anyway, time for some music. Here are the Ink Blots with Keep a Knocking." The stallion had cut away with music taking his spot.

I glared to the north, angry that they only had one side of the story. And also... I gritted my teeth and screamed. "I Am Not A Mare!!" My voice echoed across the empty buildings.

=====***=====

Level Up!

New Perk!

Hooves of Steel, Rank 1:
"Hadouken!" Channel your chi to unleash devastating fury!
Hoof attacks do 20% more damage to your opponents and grappling is 10% more effective

Author's Notes:

Yes!! Finally! I got the fourth installment of Dark Origins uploaded!
So what do you guys think, I personly think that the names of the new characters are quite clever.
Anywho, I'd like to thank Kkat for starting this phenomenon known as Fallout Equestria. I'd also like to thank the creators of both Fallout and MLP (Seriously thank you). I can't forget to thank you side story creators, your input on the forums are a great help. And thanks to the readers like you, Thank You!

Once again, as a reminder, I create this story on the premise that the only true lore is that of the show and Fallout Equestria by Kkat. All other stories are considered alternate universes, and I will use events and likenesses from them any way I see fit. Just so I can end up with a creation of my own and not obligated to incorporate the whole background of said side stories.
Please freely ask any questions, comment any comment, and inform me of any concern. I'm an open book.

Fallout Equestria: Dark Origins

by DeadEndtheDullahan

Chapter 0: A Stallion out of Time

Chapter 1: Ashes

Chapter 2: Dead

Chapter 3: To New Beginnings