> Linkin Pony- Recharge > by Kaciekk > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Recharge Intro( part 1) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A static wave jumped through the air. Mechanical energy rumbled in the ground. Clopping of hooves stopped, and looking over the once live world, was a lone Pegasus. Its wings spread out, the right wing clanking against itself. A metal wing, to replace one that was lost. Most ponies now had mechanical body parts, since it was so easy to loose them. But this Pegasus' wing was charged by a different energy, not the kind that will control his mind. Most of the mechanical technology created now has reversed itself. Instead of the body's nerves controlling it, the technology controls the nerves. This Pegasus, with his friends, found pure energy beneath the earth, that will not do this. Now, all of the world's natural resources were gone, all they had left was electricity... and the energy of the world. Steadily folding both wings down, he watched the silent city. Only flickering light were seen. The yellow Pegasus placed his right forehoof to the side. It was marked with blue flame tattoos that went with his Cutie Mark, a flaming music note. His talent was singing, but now that the world was dying, how could he use this talent? "See anypony?" A gentle voice came from behind. The Pegasus turned around and saw a blue-gray Unicorn. The Pegasus shook his head. The Unicorn stepped forward. His half right foreleg was made out of metal. It clanked against the cold ground. "Then why are you out here?" "Ummm...I dunno." the Pegasus replied. "There's not much to do." "You shouldn't be out here. You could run into Hybrids." The Unicorn warned Hybrids were the ponies that technology controlled. It was hard to reason with them, since they want to control what was left of the world. "If any Hybrid saw me..... well they'll be the one in trouble!" The Pegasus smirked. "If we can only get more people to use the good energy that wouldn't hurt the world." "HyperBlitz, we have tried, but we cant travel, it's too dangerous." "I don't care! We gotta tell them!" HyperBlitz bounced. "I know you're always up to a challenge, always getting hurt." the Unicorn bowed his head. "CharmingRhythm, no pain will stop me from doing what I need to do." "Yeah!" CharmingRhythm Laughed. "I remember the time you broke your hoof in a concert, but you kept on singing all the way through!" "Ha!" Hyper's smile soon faded. " But that was before this. Maybe we should do consents again, raise ponies spirits." "I don't know." Rhythm replied. "Lets go back to the base." The two ponies trotted into a large building. A large computer with many buttons in the front stood to the left. There was a door way leading into a hallway strait ahead. A generator was off in the far right corner. The two passed into another room. An orange Earth-pony was sitting at a large round table. He sipped a cup of coffee, then look over his shoulder. He sat the cup down. "What are you doing?" He asked. "Nothing really, BlazingFlair." HyperBlitz Retorted. The Pegasus clopped over to a mirror and stared into it. "Why are you always drinking coffee?" "Because I like it." BlazingFlair placed his head close to the cup." CharmingRhythm shook his head. Then he stepped over by Blazing. "Hyper is acting odd..." He whispered. Blazing paused and gazed at HyperBlitz. "He's probably tired." He told him. "Maybe, it is late." Rhythm replied. "I hope that's all. Just then, Hyper jumped and headed out the room. The two other ponies just watched, saying nothing. Hyperblitz walked through the main room, pass a red-violet Unicorn. He was polishing a window. "Oh Hey Hyper!" The Pegasus didn't reply, but kept on walking. "You're not gonna say hi?" "I'm going to my room, SpinningNote." Spinning stood still and waited till he went into the hallway. "Well! That was rude!" he said in a funny accent. Hyperblitz trotted into his bedroom. The room was dim, like most of the building. There wasn't much exciting in it, not many colors or sights. In the corner was a dresser with may things on it, that was the most interesting thing in the room. He placed his hoof on a microphone and wobbled it a bit. He glared over at a picture of all his friends. Then down at a CD case. He scanned the CD that read "Linkin Pony". "Why am I feeling like this? I feel sad." HyperBlitz thought. "Maybe because I looked out side. I guess all you can fell about this world is sadness." He gave out a yawn. "Maybe I'll fell better in the morning. " He sat over on his bed and closed his eyes. Little light fell into the room that morning, like most mornings. CharmingRhythm paced the floor as usually. A red Earth-Pony tapped on the computer board. He wearing mechanical goggles on his head. He studied the computer screen for a bit and went back to tapping. "Have you seen FeatherTune lately?" Rhythm asked "Hmm.... i don't know..... not since yesterday.... And Hyper hasn't got up yet." The red pony retorted, without turning his head. "We should just let him rest, EchoBeat." Rhythm informed him. "Hmm?" Rhythm paused and noticed he wasnt really listening. "Nevermind." "Good morning!" CharmingRhythm turned around and saw a cream colored Pegasus. He had fluffy brown hair and wide reddish-brown eyes. "Anyone see my headsets?" CharmingRhythm shrugged. "I have a feeling that SpinningNote took them." "Why would he take them, FeatherTune?" EchoBeat said, still staring at the screen. "Your eyes are going to bleed out if you don't take them off that computer." FeatherTune taunted him. "Then why havn't they bled out already?" EchoBeat snapped back. "Bleed it out, digging deeper, just to throw it away." Everypony jumped and tuned around, even EchoBeat. HyperBlitz cantered into the room. They all stared at him. He stopped his pace, and looked up. "What?" "You just surprised us" FeatherTune said. "Well.... why cant we have some lyrics now and then?" > Part 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hovering, FeatherTune went down the long hallway. He passed his room, and stuck his head into other bedrooms. He quickly peered left, then right. Suddenly he stopped his wings, and dropped on the floor. There was an odd noise at the end of the hall. It was scratching, but not just any scratching, mixing. It was music. "It's been so long since I've heard this," FeatherTune thought "I can barely recognize the song." FeatherTune pushed his hoof on the door and opened in. "SpinningNote?" The Unicorn shot his head up and stopped playing the music. His hooves were on a turntable. The disks matched the ones as his Cutie Mark, black, with blue centers. "I... uh." Spinning stuttered. He slowly took his hoof of the turntable. "I was just looking for my Headsets." FeatherTune turned his head and saw his headsets sitting on a box. He jumped over and placed them on his head. "How did they get here? Did you put them here?" "No! Why do you always accuse ponies?" SpinningNote replied. "I don't always!" FeatherTune said. He paused. "Why are you doing that?" SpinningNote jumped down from his chair. "Don't we all want to go back to making music?" "Yeah...." FeatherTune raised one eye wide. " But there's nopony to play to." "We'll find somepony." Spinning said in one of his odd accents. Then he stepped outside. He turned his head and stared down the empty hallway. A conversation could be heard from the other room, but it was hard to make out. Spinning went down that way. HyperBlitz was standing in the main room while EchoBeat was tapping at the computer. "What?" EchoBeat said. "You never listen!!!" HyperBlitz shouted out. "That's odd since FeatherTune is the one with the headsets, if he's found them." "He's found them." SpinningNote replied from behind him. "Oh SpinningNote! Can you look at my wing?" "What did you do?" Spinning said sarcasticly. "I didn't do anything!" Hyper snapped. "It's been acting odd. I try to bend it but it goes the wrong way. It also has been randomly spazing out." "I'll need my tools." Spinning took a few long trots into the hallway. He poked his head around the corner. "Feather!!! Get my tools!!!" And he went back into the main room without waiting for a reply. "You know i don't listen because I try to concentrate." EchoBeat said out of nowhere. "I need to make things perfect." "Well, that's just like you, a perfectionist." HyperBlitz nodded. " Somethings haven't change fortunately. Flaps of wings came out from the hall and FeatherTune appeared wit ha box in his mouth. He placed it down by SpinningNote. "Whats that!?" Spinning noticed that FeatherTune had something on a strap behind his back. It was a red guitar. Spinning put his hoof to his face. "Uhg... it's contagious." "What?" HyperBlitz was confused. "Nevermind!" FeatherTune blurted out. SpinningNote used his magic to open the box and he pulled out a tool. It was like an advanced screw driver thing. He carefully looked over and the base of HyperBlitz wing. "Try to put it down." Then Hyperblitz wing moved.... the opposite way. Spinning sat down and raised the screwdriver up to the wing. Just as he touched it, with a very slight tap noise, HyperBlitz jumped into the air. "WOAH! What the fuck are you doing? Are you taking it off?" "I have too... dur. So that way i can reset the circuits." Spinning said. HyperBlitz tried to settle down, but it was hard not to do as his name states. Spinning's magic pushed the screwdriver into the wind, and then twisted. Hyper Closed his eyes if it would of hurt, but it was connected with his nerves. A few seconds later, there was a snap, then the magic pulled the wing and gently placed it on then floor. Hyper stared down at the lifeless wing. Then he looked over to what was left of his real wing. A stub, that he could move, and if a wing was there, he could move that too. Just then , another pony walked into the room. It was BlazingFlair. He glanced at them. His green eyes shot left then right. Then he trotted over by FeatherTune. "What are you doing?" "He needs his wing fixed." FeatherTune explained. "Ah" Blazing nodded slowly. Then he tilted his head and saw FeatherTune's guitar. The Pegasus backed away with a guilty face. Then Blazing headed out toward the meeting room, that was also where they ate. "You better not be drinking coffee!!! It's going to be all gone before the end of this year! And you know there's no way we can get more food." FeatherTune called out.' "Hmm, maybe there is a way." EchoBeat said. "I can look that up. I'll try putting a message out there." Then his red hooves quickly pressed on the buttons. "We have something to purify water, but we would need a good light source." "Unicorn magic!" FeatherTune looked over to SpinningNote. "I wouldn't know how to grow plants. And I doubt that CharmingRhythm could." Spinning kept working on the metal wing. Then he zapped in with his magic. "We all can do some things. Usually what we do is based off of our talent. FeatherTune looked over to EchoBeat. "He types fast, and he drums....drummED. And i communicate with ponies using my headsets, and I always wore them in concerts. I don't know what fixing things has to do with you, SpinningNote." Spinning shrugged. HyperBlitz tapped his hoof impatiently. He knew that he had to wait a few minutes, but he didn't like waiting. Then on habit he started humming. "What are you humming, Hyper?" Feather asked. "I don't know. I hum random songs a lot, it's a different song each time. Usually the song goes with how I 'm feeling." "What do you feel right now?" "I don't know! um.. impatiant?" FeatherTune paused a bit and thougtht about the song he was humming. Then he flew up and flipped around his guitar and started playing. It was a heavy cord. "Faint?" "Yeah!" HyperBlitz bounced. EchoBeat smirked, then he started hitting his hooves on the desk. "I can't feel the way I did before Don't turn your back on me I won't be ignored Time won't heal this damage anymore Don't turn your back on me I won't be ignored" > Part 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clopping was heard through the empty streets. Steadily: Clop, clop, clank, clop. A metal hoof, with a blue orb in it lit the way. The unicorn kept heading forward. His dark brown eyes locked strait ahead. CharmingRhythm was doing his daily patrol. But this one was going on longer then usual. He had gone farther form the base than he has in several weeks. Rhythm stopped at a stream, which was terrible discolored with brown from waste. It hadn't rained in a while, yet the rain was horribly poisonous too. CharmingRhythms magic picked out a large jar from his saddlebag. He scooped out some brown water. He would then take it back to the base to have it purified. He placed it back into his bag. Rhythm paused to listen, but there was no sound.Satisfied, he started to sing. "No regret for the confidence betrayed No more hiding in shadow 'Cause I won't wait for the debt to be repaid Time has come for you" The he stopped with his eyes closed, he listened to his friend's voice in his head, then opened his eyes again. He started to rap now. "They're acting like they want a riot, it's a riot I'll give them As the sound climbs higher on this violent rhythm For you snakes in the grass, supplying the venom I ain't scared of your teeth, I admire what's in em...." He stopped rapping and stood still. CharmingRhythm had heard something. It sounded like somepony was there. Something was coming out from behind a deteriorated building. The unicorn's heart pounded with fear that there was a hybrid. But there was no hybrid, but a young Pegasus. She was awfully skinny, and beaten up, but she was smiling. A lavender Pegasus, with a violet and red mane. She looked at CharmingRhythm with her aqua eyes. "That's one of my favorite songs!!!" She called out with joy. "Well, actually i have a lot of favorite songs!! And i love you're voice!" She flapped her wings with excitement. "Wait..." CharmingRhythm spoke, trying to ease himself. "You know about my songs? I thought everypony forgot, or anypony left just didn't care about music anymore." "No! I love music, and you! Well not actually love you, but i love what you do!" The Pegasus jumped up. "I've heard you're using the energy under the world! I started to use that too!" "Really! That's great!" CharmingRhythm said. He started to walk again, and the Pegasus followed. "Well, I know who you are... CharmingRhythm! My name is ThunderCharm! I'm like one of your biggest fans!." ThunderCharm dipped her head. "But I told myself that I would do this, turn into a little FanFilly." "That's okay. I'm glad to see any fan, even a FanFilly." Rhythm Laughed. "You know, a lot of your songs have helped me through all of this disaster. The lyrics really touch me." ThunderCharm explained. "Lot's of songs! So many I cant count!" "That's good to hear." There was some silence for awhile. CharmingRhythm could see the base in the distance. He was tired, and he didn't feel like talking to ThunderCharm much longer. "Is there anything you want?" CharmingRhythm sighed. "No, not really, it's enough to actually meet you!" "What about in general, what do you want?" Rhythm said. "Umm..." ThunderCharm looked over and thought for a moment. "Besides the world going back to normal....Maybe some Ponies that understand me and will use the energy with determination!" "I feel you." CharmingRhythm replied. "We need to like.... advertise or something." "We need to get as many sane ponies as possible and maybe make a city. Around the area were the energy is found." ThunderCharm suggested. "Then around our base. There's an energy mill in the back." "Then maybe when I get a some ponies for a little community..." ThunderCharm look embarrassed for what she was about to say. "Maybe you guys can do some more concerts, It will make ponies happy and give them hope." "That's not the first time I've heard that." Rhythm admitted. A few minutes later, they were by the base. CharmingRhythm turned back to ThunderCharm. "Well, it's good to talk to somepony, even if I don't know you. Talking just helps, with whats going on in the world." ThunderCharm nodded with agreement. "I'm going to try doing what i said!" "Good luck." Rhythm replied. Then he pushed his metal hoof onto a button by the door.There was a little beep, then the door cracked open. CharmingRhythm passed through the entrance hall, into the main room. FeatherTune spun around in his chair. "So what did you do? You've been gone long." "I got some water, then i talked to another pony." Rhythm kept walking "Oh! Not a hybrid? Are they nice?" Feather twisted his head. "Yeah. She says she is a real fan of us. And she wants to try helping us get more ponies using the energy." CharmingRhythm explained. Then he went off into another room. He trotted through the meeting room, and went through a small door. There was a large machine, a filter. But Rhythm used one of the smaller pipes. His magic took the jar and poured the water into it. It wasn't much water, but it would help before the next time it rained. "Need any help?" BlazingFlair asked walking out. "No." "You never want help.... except you let that mare help us." "Thats US, not ME." CharmingRyhthm told him. "You don't take help, you want to do things your own way. Even the time i couldn't figure out how to work a coffee maker. You wouldn't let me show what i knew. "Because You would of burned my hoof!" Rhythm smirked. "Yeah, but that's not as bad as smashing your hoof in a door." BlazingFlair said. "And then keep playing bass." Rhythm added on. CharmingRhythm used another jar to have the clean water in. He placed in under a faucet. Then BlazingFlair turned back inside. > Part 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So how are you supposed to grow food?" BlazingFlair asked. "I got some seeds from of our preserved fruits. If i get the right lighting and water i can have a plant!" EchoBeat explained. He stared at the ground where he had put the seeds. "It's not going to grow fast you know." "Well I'll keep checking on it every day." Echo said. BlazingFlair shook his head and went back inside. Now that EchoBeat wasn't on the computer, Blazing could use it. The walked into the main room then jumped up on EchoBeats chair. He turned on the computer. I typed into the chatroom. There was a small chatroom that connected all the computer that ran on the earth's energy. You could send put messages and see if you get a response. That was what BlazingFlair was doing. He thought about the plant. what could make it grow. Magic? He typed in a question: "Any Unicorns that can use their magic to grow food?" He took his hooves off the large keyboard. He waited a while and saw that nopony answered yet. He thought that nopony could help him. He looked over at the info of the chatroom. Username: LPBflair Ponies online: 24 24 ponies wasn't much since this was for all of the world. Suddenly there was a response to his question, and before BlazingFlair could tap it, another response came up. He clicked into the chat to make it public. Blazing read the responses and usernames. MiniMare1: Are you a unicorn? Do you need a spell? HopeHops: My magic is mainly to grow plants, it's helped me and my friends a lot! BlazingFlair typed in his awnsers: LPBflair: MiniMare, I am not a unicorn, but my friends are, but their magic couldn't use that spell. HopeHops: Then why are you asking? Do you need food? LPBflair: We have food supplies, but what about when we are low on food? MiniMare1: How many friends? LPBflair: 5 HopeHops: Whoa dang!!! You got a lot! Most of my friends aren't friends, just ponies that have stopped by. Are those 5 ponies true friends? LPBflair: Yes, I've been with them since I was in High School. MiniMare1: How old are you? LPBflair: That is irreverent. How did this chat turn from talking about food to a random chat. HopeHops: That happens a lot. Ponies need others to talk to. LPBflair: I need to see if there is a unicorn around my area that can show us about growing food. "What are you doing?" FeatherTune asked from behind BlazingFlair. "Chatting...." FeatherTune poked his head forward and stared at the screen. "About food?" "Yeah, EchoBeat wants to grow food." BlazingFlair replied. FeatherTune just looked at him with a confused face like usual. There was a new user in the chat now HeartluvCR: What do you know about the energy? This is the first time using a computer connected with it, and it's not even my computer, or a friends, just a pony's i found. LPBflair: Well me and my friends have discovered the energy, and somehow, ponies followed us. HopeHops: Really? Wow! I gotta tell ponies that i'm talking with the one that discovered the energy!!! HeatluvCR: LP BFlair? LPBflair: Yes? HeartluvCR: It's your name, it's familiar. BlazingFlair? Blazing's heart stopped. FeatherTune jumped when he saw the reply. BlazingFlair looked over to the Pegasus. "What do I say?" "NOTHING! Just exit out of the chat!!!" "well i don't want to be rude." Blazing said. "Just do it!" FeatherTune leaned over and clicked the X button. Then the window vanished. "Hey! You need to calm down." "Maybe you're too calm!" FeatherTune called out. BlazingFlair shook his head. "They can still message me, they have my username." Blazing pointed out. "Maybe that was somepony we knew." "There was "luv" in the name! It had to be a crazy fan then!!" Feather shot up. "I didn't really even get to talk about planting." Blazing turned off the computer. "You know the world outside is more dangerous then the computer. The internet is charged on energy, so no hybrids could get to it. I'd rather be attacked by a fan then be attack by a hybrid, there's a difference." BlazingFlair jumped down from the chair and exited the room with FeatherTune. But they didn't notice that HyperBlitz was there. He had only heard a little bit of the conversation. He jumped onto the computer to look at the chat. He signed in with is own user. Username: LinkinBlitz Ponies online: 26 He thought that maybe his username gave too much away, but of course there was fans with names like that. He found the chat that they were just in. The three ponies where still in there. HopeHops: So the chat maker left, thats stupid, he opened this. MiniMare1: Why did he leave after Heartluv asked for his name HeartluvCR: Well maybe he was scared, i souln't of asked personal information LinkinBlitz: It really wasn't his fault MiniMAre1: Woah, when this colt get in? LinkinBlitz: I'm not much of a colt, but a stallion. HopeHops: Do you know LPBflair? LinkinBlitz: Yeah, but our other friend exited without him approving HeartluvCR: Oh..... Linkin.... *feels sad* LinkinBlitz: Whats wrong? HeartluvCR: Is CharmingRhythm okay? MiniMare1: What is she talking about? HyperBlitz sat back for a moment thinking about what to respond. This could be a fan that knows to much, or somepony that was close. Then he typed into the chatroom again. LinkinBlitz: Rhythm is doing fine. Im gonna guess.... HeartFelt? HeartluvCR: AHH yes! I'm about to cry HopeHops: Whats wrong with you? HeartluvCR: Oh i wish i could see him. HyperBlitz's heart was heavy. He turned off the chat. He looked over his shoulders. What would he tell CharmingRhythm. That he just talking to HeartFelt. A mare close to the heart of Rhythm. Of course he didn't know if she was alive or dead, after the world changed. But HyperBlitz just figured out she was very much alive. > Part5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Red and blue marked hooves circled around the room as a voice followed it. "I dreamed I was missing You were so scared But no one would listen 'Cause no one else cared After my dreaming I woke with this fear What am I leaving When I'm done here?" There wasn't much to do, like usual, so HyperBlitz sings. He sings alone, he wouldn't know if anypony would sing with him, or play and instrument. Usually ponies are serious now, well not FeatherTune. Music made Hyper feel better, anyways , his talent was singing, why not use it? Suddenly there was a little noise from outside. HyperBlitz looked out the tiny window. He didn't see anything. He turned over to his dresser and picked up and put his glasses on. There still wasn't anything. There was a mechanical clanking. It didn't sound like CharmingRhythm for sure. Hyper flew out of his room and around the corner. He stepped on the floor in the mainroom. He looked down and saw the symbol. He then went forward and then outside. He poked his head left then right. Suddenly FeatherTune jumped in his face with huge eyes. He clamped his two hooves on Hyper's muzzle. "Quiet!!!" FeatherTune whispered aggressively. "Hybrids!" HyperBlitz muffled. "Hymmbrinns?" "Yes!" Then FeatherTune turned around and fixed his headsets on his head. The both moved very slowly. "Maybe we should just go inside..." HyperBlitz said. "No. They've already seen me..." Feather murmured. He looked over to his left where the energy mill was. They didn't need hybrids going into the mill. "What's the Hybrid Theory?" HyperBlitz said. "It has nothing to do with these hybrids." "That was way before all of-" FeatherTune stopped and froze. HyperBlitz looked strait ahead and his heart sank. In the shadows was a glowing red eye. A Hybrid with a half of its face made of metal. A pony that technology controlled. The clanking of armored hooves came forward. The Hybrid came out of the shade. It was a Earth-Pony with all legs of metal but its back left leg. Its eye glowed, menacingly. Then one more hybrid came out. A unicorn with a armored horn and chest. They came closer and closer. Suddenly a blast of dark blue magic shot them away. They stopped for a moment. CharmingRhythm Jumped down from somewhere. He shot them again "And i thought you said you could take on a hybrid Hyper?" Rhythm taunted. "I would but..." "But what!?" Rhythm jumped in front and spread his legs out tom make himself look big. Sadly, this didn't work with hybrids. The unicorn Hybrid shot and electric laser at him. He dodged it to the side. HyperBlitz flew up and kicked the Earth-Pony. "Ow.... that hurt my legs." FeatherTune glided up and tried not to get hurt. The two unicorns, CharmingRhythm and the hybrid, struck horns. Then HyperBlitz swooped down and hit the pony hybrid with his metal wing. "Ha! Head-shot!" He stepped back on the ground. The hybrid still stood, even though it was bleeding for its unarmored neck. "Their weakness is the pure energy! I need my hoof cover if I want effect!" HyperBlitz pointed out. "Rhythm your the one with the most pure energy, in your leg!" "You can use your wing!" CharmingRhythm replied. HyperBlitz looked over at the glowing blue orb. How could he use that? It wasn't like a leg that you could hit directly. This was the base of the wing. Hyper flew up by FeatherTune. "Do we really want to hurt them, their ponies too?" FeatherTune said. "What! They use technology to control the world! They want to hurt ponies! They did it to themselves!" HyperBlitz argued. Suddenly, somehow, the Earth-pony grabbed Feathertune and pushed him on the ground. Hybrids were extremely powerful and strong, they could easily kill somepony. Feather looked up in great horror into the shinning red eye. The hybrids foreleg was like a mechanical claw. It sank into FeatherTune's back right leg. He yelled at the top of his lungs. The claw crushed his leg. Then the blue orb lit up in HyperBlitz from his energy and rage. It powered up his whole wing. HyperBlitz screamed. "YOU DID IT TO YOURSELF! YOU DID IT TO YOURSELF!" He slammed into the Hybrid. "YOU DID IT TO YOURSELF! YOU DID IT TO YOUR...SELF!" Then he swiped his wing on the belly of the unicorn "I WANNA SEE YOU CHOKE ON YOUR LIES SWALLOW UP YOUR GREED" He pushed the Earth-Pony into the brick wall "SUFFER ALL ALONE IN YOUR MISERY." The blue energy overpowered the mechanical parts and slowly drained the Hybrids. "CHOKE ON YOUR LIES SWALLOW UP YOUR GREED SUFFER ALL ALONE IN YOUR MISERY" He then dropped on the ground exhausted, and the orb's light faded. "Holy shit, HyperBlitz!" CharmingRhythm called out. "What the hell just happened. I haven't seen you do that before. And it's been a while since I heard you scream-sing." HyperBlitz tried to look around dizzily. "They.... had to.... be.." He couldn't finish the sentence. CharmingRhythm nudged against him to keep him up. "I can't believe you were able to do that." "They were..... hurting..... Feather...." He shook his head. "How... could I have... done that without... a song like that?" "True." Rhythm laughed. They went over to FeatherTune. He laid on the ground. He looked over at his leg and screamed. It was completely damaged and crimson covered it. "We get you inside." CharmingRhythm said hastily. He helped FeatherTune up. He limped inside, and tried to use his wings for support. "I don't think..." HyperBlitz started. "What?" Rhythm said. "That will not heal.... It is almost detached, and.... it will get infected." Hyper explained. "We can make a mechanical one." "WHAT!" FeatherTune yelled. "Maybe not... I think we can still save it. We can put a mechanical cover over it for protection while it heal.It will be best for you, and you might have a chance of beating hybrids if this happens again. You saw HyperBlitz." "No I didn't see him." CharmingRhythm dipped his head with irritation. "Well you HEARD him." > Part 6 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- SpinningNote looked over on his table. 6 disk cases layed out. All of The albums he contributed to. Well it really was only 5, the 6th was a remix, Reanimation. He laid them out in order by date. Hybrid Theory, Meteora, Minutes to Midnight, A Thousand Suns, Living Things. He wanted more music, they all did. He looked at some of the song lists. He picked up "A Thousand Suns" and opened it. All the albums came with a lyric sheet. He looked at one. "The Catalyst" It was a song that suited the world well, wit hthe lyrics, and the title. God bless us everyone, We're a broken people living under loaded gun. And it can't be outfought, It can't be outdone, It can't be outmatched, It can't be outrun. No! He remembered how he did the scratching in that song, and it was one of his favorites to play. SpiningNote put the the album down. He went around the corner in the storage room. "Storage" was just a title, it really was where they kept all their instruments. Spinning plugged in his turn table. He started to to play by pressing the keys on the side of the turntable. They made different note that went with the song. Then with his left hoof, he started scratching. It was the mid part of the song. It might of sounded better with EchoBeat drumming. Suddenly as he was playing: "God save us everyone, Will we burn inside the fires of a thousand suns? For the sins of our hands, The sins of our tongues, The sins of our fathers, The sins of our young. No!" He stopped. "HyperBlitz? "Why'd you stop playing?" He walked into the room. "Because I didn't know you were out there at first." SpinningNote replied. "So yeah." He cocked his head Hyper shrugged. "You've been doing this a lot. You sound great! "So do you, considering you were screaming yesterday." "Ha! I'm fine, screaming doesn't hurt me." HyperBlitz smiled "You have iron lungs." Spinning shook his head. "Heh" Hyper looked over. " CharmingRhythm wants a meeting." "Okay." SpinningNote stepped down and followed him. The went through the hallway into the main room. EchoBeat was on the computer as usual. "EchoBeat! Meeting!" HyperBlitz called out. EchoBeat jumped up then got behind them. They trotted into the meeting room. CharmingRhythm was at the far-end of the table. BlazingFlair sat to the right, and FeatherTune to the left. HyperBlitz sat down on the near-end, EchoBeat by BlazingFlair, and Spinning by FeatherTune. CharmingRhythm looked over at them to see that they were all there. "Okay, I just want us to discuss what we know. If there is anything anypony found out, or has to share. Like if there is anything that you found on the computer," He looked over to EchoBeat. "Or if you know anything about the hybrids. BlazingFlair will start with you and go around." Blazing looked up. "Um... Well I did find some more ponies that are living around here. I think one was that mare you talked to before. She has gotten about.... ten more ponies?" Rhythm nodded. "Sounds like she's doing well." BlazingFlair continued. "She told me that she would like all of us to meet them, and talk about how the pure energy." Then they all looked at EchoBeat. "I'm still figuring out about plants. One of the unicorns from that pony group Blazing found said that they know how to grow them. But as long as they are not hurt by the polluted water, the plants will be fine." "Hmm Okay." CharmingRhythm said, then looked strait ahead. "Hyper?" HyperBlitz thought for a moment, and then looked around uncomfortly. He tried to make himself speak loud enough. "Can.... can I tell you later?" He said looking down. "Why can you say it now." Rhythm asked. "It... it really only has to do with you..." HyperBlitz confessed. "All right." CharmingRhythm sighed. "Feather?" "Okay!" He jumped up. "First, why are you in charge of meetings?" "Because we voted at the beginning that i should be in charge, Remember?" "No, I don't remember." Feather said. "Anything else?" Rhythm questioned. "Other then my new leg feels odd," he lifted his back leg that was now metal. "No." Then SpinningNote sat up to speak. "Just deal with it Feather. I made it." Spinning snapped. "I think for now on, we all need to have some armor, like hoof covers, when we go outside. It's our best chance not to get hurt." "Okay! Sounds good!" CharmingRhythm replied. "Anything else?" He looked at HyperBlitz who was still uncomfortable. "No? Okay I think that's all." He stepped down and the other got up from their chairs. Most of the ponies left the room, but when they left, HyperBlitz closed the door. CharmingRhythm stared at him. Hyper tried to settle himself in front of the unicorn. "What do you need to tell me?" Rhythm tilted his head. "Why can't the others know?" "They can... It's just I want you to know first...." Hyper had that heavy feeling in his heart again. "I don't want to keep any secrets from you... But I'm afraid to tell you." "Why?" CharmingRhythm stepped up to him and wrapped his left foreleg around him. "Were best buds, right?" "Yeah.... But i don't Want you to be upset." HyperBlitz pushed him away. "Just tell me." "The other day, Blazing was on in the chatroom, he was messaging. He got off because somepony knew his name without him saying." "And that's a big deal?" Rhythm turned his head. "No its not that.... I got on after him, and I messaged that pony..." HyperBlitz paused and CharmingRhythm dipped his head to insist him to talk. "It was HeartFelt." Rhythm's heart sank and his pupils shrank. "HeartFelt...." > Part 7 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BlazingFlair was on the computer. He liked when he was able too, since EchoBeat always took it. FeatherTune was in the other chair strumming his guitar. Suddenly there was a 'beep'. FeatherTune looked up. He turned on a small screen next to the computer. It showed the camera that looked at the front entrance. SpinningNote was standing there. Feather pressed a button to let him in. A few seconds later he walked in. "EchoBeat still isn't on the computer?" He said. "Nope. Like I care." BlazingFlair smiled. Spinning left the room, and FeatherTune went back to strumming. It wasn't any certain song, just music. Just then, there was an off key, and a snap. "Damn it! My string broke!" FeatherTune called out. "How?" Blazing asked. Feather didn't answer, he just clopped down and placed the guitar on his back. He went over to the hallway. Then there was complete silence. BlazingFlair like the silence. But the silence was broken, unfortunately. EchoBeat slammed the door from the meeting room. His face lit up, he galloped to Blazing. "Blazing!!!" He said, louder then his normal voice. "My plant is budding!!!" "What? Whoa!" Blazing said confused. "I planted a seed! And now its budding! I didn't think it would work!!! I'm so proud of myself!!!" EchoBeat said with excitement. "Ooookay?" "Come See!!" EchoBeat jumped. "No!" Blazing snapped. Echo looked at the computer. "It's not like you're doing much." "I'll see your plant when it actually starts growing food!" BlazingFlair told him. EchoBeat frowned. "I'll find somepony else." He went back over to the door, and then CharmingRhythm came out from the other hallway. "Oh Rhythm, do you wanna see my plant?" "No!" He shot at him quickly. Echo left the room and CharmingRhythm trotted with heavy steps. He passed across the floor that showed the bands logo. He had a serious face. "Are you okay, you've been acting odd ever since the meeting yesterday." BlazingFlair asked. "Shut up, stop worrying." Rhythm said, the The went outside. He took his magic and slammed the door. "There's something wrong...." Blazing said aloud. He looked back at the computer. He was searching through files. Many were music files, and most were picture files. He scrolled through the pictures. He clicked one. It was of the band, but it was an old pick. "Heh, we were so young then..." He thought. "I can't believe I shaved my mane. And EchoBeats mane was so short too." He laughed at his thoughts. "HyperBlitz hasn't changed much, he'll always be like a colt." He looked over his shoulder for a moment, then went back. He click the video files. There were many videos from tours and there were music videos too. BlazingFlair wanted to play some of these videos, but he didn't like it when the volume was on, somepony could hear it. He looked over to the chair where FeatherTune was sitting. On the desk were his headsets. Blazing looked over his shoulder one last time, then he quickly took and plugged in the head sets. They felt odd on his head, and big. He played some videos and was instantly amused. He couldn't believe how well they made music videos, and the back-stage tour videos were hilarious. This is why he loved his band. The band was pretty much family; they all were like brothers. He looked down. "Why couldn't we keep doing this?" He thought. "Why did the world have to change." BlazingFlair sighed. "At least we all are still together. I guess we'll never split up..." He tried to think more positive. "HEY!!!" Suddenly the headsets where whipped off Blazing's head.He he spun around and saw FeatherTune's irritated face. "I can't leave my headsets in the open for a moment!" He shouted."Do you want a guitar to that head?" Featehr threatened. "But you just fixed it, and you cant get another." Blazing pointed out. FeatherTune shook his head. "I know that. I wouldn't hit anypony anyways. I can't even hurt a hybrid. It's just not me." Blazing nodded. Then he went and was ready to click out of the files. "You don't have to do that. I don't mind if you watch them." "No.... they'll just make me more sad. " BlazingFlair admitted. "They shouldn't. Seeing these should give us hope. Think about our past. How happy we were, ho happy the fans were. That why we all play music each day." Feather lifted his guitar. Blazing blinked. "I haven't played bass in a while." "Well you should!" Trotting on the path, CharmingRhythm glanced around. He wasn't sure where he wanted to go. He just couldn't stop thinking about HeartFelt. At least he knew she was alive, and she had a place to stay if she was using a computer. Suddenly he looked over behind an old building. There was a little camp. Ponies sat around a fire. Sticks covered up walls so they could sleep there. Rhythm could tell these ponies were not hybrids, since hybrids did not need a place to sleep, and they did not need heat. Rhythm turned around and suddenly saw ruby eyes. "CharningRhythm!!" ThunderCharm cried out. "Hey." His eyes widened. "Whats going on?" "This is a place that i got some ponies to stay!" She explained. "We're growing plants! And we're making shelter in some of these buildings. "I wish I could give you ponies as much comfort as me." CharmingRhythm said. "Maybe you could show us more about the energy!" ThunderCharm said. Then there was another pegasus that stepped up to her. She was green, with a blond mane. She had a torn cape and glasses. "Oh my gosh!!! ThunderCharm you wern't lying!!! That's CharmingRhythm!!!" "Okay calm down!" Thunder put her hoof in front of her. "This is my friend, DawnShy. She is a really big fan of you guys too." "Linkin Pony is amazing, just saying!" DawnShy jumped up. "Hey, do you guy's think that all of you can meet us? I would like to see how to use energy more, and i think the other ponies would appreciate it too." "Ha, I think we can do that." Rhythm replied. "Great!! I would love to see all of my heroes." ThunderCharm looked to DawnShy. "-Our heroes." "Heroes?" CharmingRhythm asked "Yes, you're music helps us.... and do you think when you all come, you can play a song? It'll make all the ponies happy!" Rhythm smiled. "I'll see." > Part 8 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- There was a different feeling in the base today. It seemed much happier. CharmingRhythm insisted all to go and visit the Pony camp. And the all agreed to do a song. Actually they suggested that before Rhythm could even tell that ThunderCharm wanted a song. "You felling okay, Rhythm?" HyperBlitz asked. "Yeah, I think doing this will make me think better." He replied with a smile. "You know what song we're doing, right?" Hyper Asked "Yeah." Rhythm nodded. "Have you told the others?" "Not really. I will right now." CharmingRhythm walked into the storage room. He looked at the keyboard that was on the ground. He lifted it with is magic. It wasn't a heavy keyboard, but if it was, it would be hard to pick up even with some magic. He went out into the hall again and set it down against the wall. BlazingFlair, Spinningnote and Echobeat passed by. "You guys don't need instruments." HyperBlitz said. "What!?" Spinning said."Does the song that we are play not need them? What if we want to play?" "Yeah, we all want to play too!" Blazing added. "I guess we can do more then one song." CharmingRhythm said. "Okay." Hyperblitz nodded, then looked over to the right. FeatherTune flapped his wings and followed the other ponies. " I need my guitar." "Acoustic." "What?" FeatherTune looked back. "Use you're acoustic guitar." HyperBlitz explained. "Okay?" FeatherTune replied to him with a confused face. All six stallions went toward the camp. The unicorns held their instruments with magic. FeatherTune, with is Guitar, and BlazingFlair with his bass, held them on a strap behind their back. EchoBeat just brought his drumsticks and a sing drum he held on a strap too. There was no way he could take a whole drum-set. HyperBlitz didn't need anything, he would just sing. His voice was powerful enough not to use a microphone. They went around the corner of the building. About a dozen ponies sat their, waiting. "Oh! Rhythm!" ThunderCharm flew down by them. He nodded. Then he look at the ponies. They didn't seem to be in the best health. But why wouldn't they be? He sat down his keyboard, and the other sat their own instruments down. "Okay you guys!" CharmingRhythm called out. "We brought you some Pure Energy!" He took out a metal sphere from his saddle bag. He placed it on the ground. He pressed it and it glowed. "This will charge the electronic in those buildings." All the ponies' eyes glowed blue as they watch the sphere. "It wouldn't do much, but we'll have a generator for you soon enough!" "We also have armor that is powered by the energy." SpinningNote said. He took out some armor from his saddlebag. They really were only some shoes and bracelets. "Not much, I know. But a little bit will help against hybrids." "Or you can just have me fight them." HyperBlitz smirked then winked at CharmingRhythm. "OH MY GOSH!!" Suddenly DawnShy came from the crowed and hugged HyperBlitz. "You're so awesome!!! I can't believe you're here!!" "Can somepony get this mare off of me?" HyperBlitz said. "Sorry." DawnShy said embarrassed, then backed away. ThunderCharm trotted up to them. "So how about a song? you have your instruments, I see." "Well, We haven't decided on a second song, but we know our first." CharmingRhythm told her. "But the first one I think you'll all connect with ." He set his key board up now, and then the three ponies who were not playing for this song sat down. HyperBlitz stood in the front, with FeatherTune to the Left, and Rhythm to his right. They all nodded. All the ponies sat anxiously. "What song?" ThunderCharm asked. "The Messenger." HyperBlitz Replied. Both Pegasi, DawnShy and ThunderCharm, gave a huge smile. FeatherTune started to strum his guitar. Please click here and open in another tab to listen to while reading: The Messenger HyperBlitz lifted up his head then began to sing When you feel you're alone Cut off from this cruel world Your instinct's telling you to run Listen to your heart Those angel voices They'll sing to you They'll be your guide Back home When life leaves us blind Love keeps us kind It keeps us kind -- HyperBlitz tried not to cry while singing. CharmingRhythm then started to play his keyboard, it sounded just like a piano. -- When you've suffered enough And your spirit is breaking You're growing desperate from the fight Remember you're loved And you always will be This melody will bring you right Back home When life leaves us blind Love keeps us kind When life leaves us blind Love keeps us kind Ohh ohhh Ohh ohhhh! Ohh ohhhh Ohhh ohhhh! -- Then all the ponies in the crowd started to follow along with him, even the other Linkin Ponies followed along. -- Ohh ohhh Ohh ohhhh! Ohh ohhhh Ohhh ohhhh! The song ended, and all the ponies clapped they hooves respectively. ThunderCharm and DawnShy seemed too be crying. That was okay, because Hyperblitz had tears falling down his cheeks too. They all cried, the song touched the hearts of all ponies. They chose the song because of this. How was it that ponies where sad and happy at the same time? They all seemed like family now. They all knew it was going to be alright if they just have each other. The lyrics were true, When life leaves us blind, Love keeps us kind. > Part 9 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flying through the air, cream wings flapped gently. FeatherTune looked over the decayed world. He wasn't sure where he was going. He wanted to see what he could find. Then he rested down by some dead trees. "I don't really know this place." He thought. FeatherTune looked over to the side. There was a cliff over to the right. He went over there. He looked down, there was a city, nopony was there of course. But lights flickered and buzzed. "Hellooooo" He called out into the wind. FeatherTune's voice echoed a bit. He took a deep breath . "We swim against the rising waves And crash against the shore The body bends until it breaks The early morning sings no more" He sang the song that he really only had part of. Obviously he sang many songs live, but not in studio. "So rest your head It's time to sleep And dream of what's in store The body bends until it breaks And sings again no more 'cause time has torn the flesh away The early morning sings no more " FeatherTune gazed out into the horizon. A dead world that went on forever. He looked down and saw a ledge that went into a cave. What could be in there? His ears twitched. FeatherTune thought he heard something. Maybe not? Clank Or it was so. FeatherTune jumped, and he panicked. He wasn't looking, and he slipped off the edge. He hit the ledge. FeatherTune slowly opened his eyes. He looked back up. Then saw a pony. Not a pony, a hybrid. FeatherTune jumped again. He tried to get into the air, but failed. His left wing was crooked. He ran into the cave for cover. In the darkness he cowered. But hybrids had got down on the ledge too. They stared at the Pegasus with their evil eyes. FeatherTune backed up into the cave the most he could. His heart pounded in his chest. "Please... don't hurt me." Like that would help. Hybrids didn't listen. They only kill. They got closer and closer, then Feather kicked them with his metal hoof. He jumped over them and got back into the light. The kick didn't do much, he would have to use more power. They hybrids turned back around. FeatherTune put his hoof on his headsets. He tried to call back to the base. He pushed a small button, then took a microphone down. "Anypony!! Can you hear me!! !I'm being attacked by hybrids!!! I can't fight them, my wing is broken!!" He yelled. "I went too far west. I came to a cliff by a city!!!" FeatherTune cried. "I DON'T WANNA DIE!!!" He circled around to get the hybrids to follow him. They didn't come close to attacking... yet. FeatherTune tried to wait for a response from his friends, but none came. What if he couldn't get signal? He jumped onto one of the hybrids, and they bucked him into the air. FeatherTune fell over the ledge, to the ground. He flapped his wing as fast as he could, but it did no good. He shut his eyes waiting for impact. But there was no impacted. It was an odd feeling, like levitating. Feather opened his eyes and saw a rainbow shield around him. Then he sat safely on the ground. He looked over. There was a yellow unicorn. She had a rainbow mane, that started from green, to blue, purple, red, orange, then yellow. She stared up as hybrid's leaped. She shot lasers at them as they hit the ground. She kept firing. Then the unicorn got one in the eyes. The hybrid stumped then fell to the ground. She shot the others. They fell to the ground, paralyzed. Then the rainbow shield returned, and it took FeatherTune with the unicorn. They went around the corner. FeatherTune watch the unicorn gallop. He was set down. "You gotta be careful." The unicorn said. " Those Hybrid's can kill you." "I know. One already took my leg." FeatherTune showed his leg. "I shouldn't of been so naive to go out here." "I haven't seen you before." The unicorn told him. " Where do you come from." "Well.... I have a base where I live with my friends, its over in the east." "I'm Iridescent, you can call me Iris" Feather sat up. "I'm FeatherTune..." He paused. "That's odd... we have a song called 'Iridescent'... must be a coincidence." "Song? We?" Iris looked confused. "I'm in a band.... that's who all my friends are that I live with." FeatherTune explained. "That sounds cool!" Iris replied. "I'd love to hear you play." "We don't play much anymore." FeatherTune looked at his broken wing. "I'm not sure how you will get home with that wing." Iris said. "I can help you... and maybe my brother too." A large, black Pegasus came from the left. His red and black mane covered up his left eye. He didn't seem that amused. "This is BlackOut." "Blackout...." FeatherTune thought of another song. How was it that these siblings had names of songs and they didn't even know? "He can be your extra wing..." Iris nodded. BlackOut picked up FeatherTune by the waist. "Hey! I don't like to be held like that!" "Just flap you wing, it'll be faster." He said irritated. They went up a steep hill to the highest part. Iris followed with her magic to help them. They headed out to the east. They kept going for a while. BlackOut would get tired, and he would started trotted with Feather trotting to. It was soon sundown when they got halfway. Before they got the base. Ponies were seen in the dim light. "FeatherTune!!" HyperBlitz called out. He cantered over to him " We got your message, were sorry we couldn't get to you in time, we thought you'd be dead... But it looks like you have some ponies that have helped you. "Yes... I would've been dead if they didn't come." BlazingFlair stepped up. "You guys can stay at the camp by our base, it's the best place for you." As day turned to night, they followed the light of CharmingRhythm and Iris. > Part 10 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- EchoBeat tapped his hooves on the table. Boredom was getting to him. He was waiting for Iris, the pony they met the other day. She had agreed on helping with growing plants. FeatherTune sat across from EchoBeat. "Why have you been hurting yourself so much. It's usually HyperBlitz who gets hurt." Echo said. Feather shrugged. He looked over at his bandaged wing. "At least I still HAVE my wing." EchoBeat nodded. Then he put his face on the table. He was tired of sitting here. Suddenly BlazingFlair walked through the door. "Echo." He sat up. "Finally!!!" EchoBeat went over to the door of the meeting room. The unicorn stood to the left. He summoned her with his hoof. Iris went over there. They went past the meeting Room an then outside. There area was cover with a roof, so that way the rain wouldn't get in. "What kind of plant is it?" Iris asked. "Tomatoes." EchoBeat replied. Iris looked over at the bud and frowned. "Well first of all, you're not growing it right. They grow fast, but they are a climbing plant. They need have a fence or pole." She explained. "Do you have any sticks or something. "There's some metal rods over there." Echo pointed. Iris went around the corner for a few moments. She trotted back and had three poles. She held them with her magic. Iris took them and stuck them in the ground alined at the back of the bud. "Now what? I watered it earlier." "I'll see what i can do." Iris leaned down and put her horn close to the tiny plant. A colorful aura appeared around the plant. It shimmered and seemed to grow. It got taller, then stopped. "You see, my magic is based off of light. Do you have lighting?" EchoBeat looked over. "I have a lamp. But your magic seems to do a lot more then that." "Of course, I speed up the process." She let the aura come back. The plant grew more. Then Iris stopped. She was tired. This was actually harder to do then it looked. "Its up to you from here. But I think it's good you're doing this. It will help ponies with no food." EchoBeat nodded then led her out. He went back to the plant and sat down by it. He looked at it for a while. "Come on little plant. I know we have food, but I just wanna do something that will help." "And you explain that to a plant and not a pony?" A laugh came from the door. HyperBlitz walked in. "We know you wanna help." EchoBeat just stared at him. "But you shouldn't be by that plant the whole day." Hyper said. "I can do what i want. And I want my plant to grow. I know talking helps it grow." EchoBeat said. "How about singing to a plant." Hyper cocked his head. "As long as you don't SCREAM at the plant." EchoBeat told him. "No, I'm not gonna sing to a plant anyways. I don't really care. I'd rather sing to ponies." HyperBlitz shook his head. "I wouldn't mind doing concerts. I'll make us happy and other ponies happy." Echo said. Hyper cracked his neck. "Yeah, but CharmingRhythm would have to agree. And I don't think he's really felling it." "I don't know why... Rhythm has changed more then any of us." HyperBlitz bowed his head in agreement. Then he looked over. He headed back inside. Echo gazed back at his plant. There was some little yellow buds on it. Those must have been the flowers.Then EchoBeat stood up and stretched his legs. He picked up the lamp and put it over the plant. He turned it on and positioned it correctly. Then he went inside too. He trotted into the main room. Nopony was on the computer. Usually BlazingFlair was on if Echo wasn't on. EchoBeat got on the chair and resumed the session on the computer. He clicked the messages. A few were in there. He saw there was a message for HyperBlitz. but it was posted a few hours ago. So there wasn't much of a chance that the pony was still online. Echo looked at the time. 9:14. It was late. Well late for them. So EchoBeat turned off the computer. He jumped back down and headed for the hallway. He traveled almost to the end, then turned. He closed the squeaky door behind him. The room was dark, so Echo turned on a little light. It was blue like most of the pure energy. He looked out the window. He couldn't see much, but he knew that it was the dead world out there. EchoBeat turned over. Before he went in his bead, he noticed his drumsticks were siting on it. When he went to pick them up, the dropped on the floor and rattled. EchoBeat froze and looked over with wide eyes. He didn't want to wake anypony. He waited about a minute. Then Echo curled his hoof and took the drumsticks. He placed them gently on his nightstand. He kept his hoof on them so they wouldn't roll. Echo sighed then turned back around. He jumped onto the bed. It wasn't a comfortable bed, but it was the best he could get. It was much better then anywhere the ponies outside slept. They probably only had blankets on the cold floor of the buildings. He glanced up and extended his hoof to turn off the small, blue light. Then all was quiet at the base. > Part 11 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Light flooded in the room. It was odd. Light this bright hadn't shown in a while. HyperBlitz tried to cover his face with his hoof. He realized the light was morning. Then the Pegasus rolled over... onto the floor. He jolted up. And looked around as if somepony saw him. HyperBlitz trotted out into the hall. Then into the main room. EchoBeat, like most times, was on the computer. FeatherTune was in the chair besides him. Hyper stared at them. "Why are you always the last to get up?" FeatherTune said without turning around. "Why does it matter." HyperBlitz replied. He looked over at the window. "It's actually fucking light out there. It's been awhile since I've seen that." "Yeah... but it still doesn't compare to the days before the change." FeatherTune said. "I like to call it the Catalyst." "You like to reference everything to songs." Feather gazed at him. "Why not?" HyperBlitz smirked. Then FeatherTune got down from his chair and went over into the meeting room. HyperBlitz came up behind EchoBeat. He watched him control the screen of the computer. "Anything interesting?" Hyper asked. "Well, you have been getting messages. I don't read them though. You had one last night too. I think you just got one now." EchoBeat stepped down. "Maybe you want to reply." HyperBlitz got onto the computer and look at the message. Message from HeartluvCR He turned over at EchoBeat. "Can I look at these alone?" EchoBeat only stood there for a few moments, then went away. He clicked the message and opened it. The user, HeartFelt, was still online. He turned the chat into private. Hyper looked at her last texts: HeartluvCR: Anypony there? HeartluvCR: I want to talk. HyperBlitz got onto his user and started to type. LinkinBlitz: I'm here. sorry, i didn't know. HeartluvCR: Thats okay. LinkinBlitz: What do you want to talk about. HeartluvCR: I want to know where you guys are? LinkinBlitz: Its hard to explain now that the world isn't really in any order. HeartluvCR: Is is still the 6 of you? Or did anything happen? LinkinBlitz: We are all still here, fortunately. HeartluvCR: That's good, since many ponies have died. I think i could of died, but this nice stallion helped me. I'm using his computer. LinkinBlitz: I'd have to think where we are at... HyperBlitz paused. It really was hard to think about this. They were more toward the west. Then he remembered. It was very close to the band's hometown. It wasn't the hometown though, just close. LinkinBlitz: I think we are close to LPs hometown somewhere around that area. HeartluCR: Really? well... where it USED to be? LinkinBlitz: Yeah... I haven't really seen the remains... It seen suburbs around though. HeartluvCR: I bet if CharmingRhythm saw it, it would break his heart. LinkinBlitz: I'm sure... he did grow up in one of the suburbs. HeartluvCR: Well I'll have to get lots of directions. I know it's by a larger city. LinkinBlitz: You'd still have lots of troubles getting here. There was a long pause where HeartFelt didn't write. HyperBlitz wasn't sure what happened. It still said she was online though, so he waited. HeartluvCR: so anything else? Do I need to know anything? LinkinBlitz: I'm not sure. HyperBlitz could sense another pony in the room. He looked over his shoulder. CharmingRhythm watched him. "You're chatting?" He asked. "Yes." Hyper looked over. The little screen next to the computer was there. He pushed a button on it and turned it online. It was a computer too, but small, and another keyboard was there. It was connected on another server. "You chat." HyperBlitz insisted. Rhythm got on, and logged in. Hyper set a request so he could get into a private chat. He clicked it. Then the screen read: New user in room: ChRhythm ChRhythm: Why did you make me chat if I'm in the same room. HyperBlitz turned to Rhythm and smiled. He shook his head and then typed. LinkinBlitz: I want you to see who's here HeartluvCr: Is that CharmingRhythm? LinkinBlitz: Yes... you can probably tell by his user name. CharmingRhythm looked at HyperBlitz confused. He stopped and thought. His eyes met Hyper's. Then he looked down before going back to type. ChRhythm: I'm sorry HeartluCR: Why? ChRhythm: Because, I couldn't see you after the change. I didn't know what happened. HeartluvCR: Chat isn't the same I know. I want to see you. I want to know how you're surviving. ChRhythm: We all are doing fine. After we found the pure energy, it's been easy. HeartluvCR: Did you guy's actually discover it? ChRhythm: Yes, but nopony gives us credit. HeartluvCR: I can tell ponies about that, ChRhythm: weldj if you can only find ponies HeartluvCR: what was that? weldj? ChRhythm: sorry, I cant type that well with my hoof, that was supposed to be "Well" HeartluvCR: What do you mean, your hoof. LinkinBlitz: He has a mechanical hoof, and leg. Lots of ponies loose limbs, so they have mechanical ones. It's charged with the pure energy. My wing is like that too ChRhythm: I could of explained that. LinkinBlitz: I felt like butting in though. I haven't had a turn here. Suddenly there was a notice: HeartluvCR has left the chat. "What!?" CharmingRhythm yelled. "What happened?" "Her computer could of crashed. It wouldn't be as good as ours." HyperBlitz explained. Rhythm sighed and turned off the little screen. He looked over at Hyper. "I talk to her a little." He murmured. "I just want her to be okay. I don't want anypony to be hurt or..." He couldn't think of what to say. "It's okay." HyperBlitz put his hoof on his friend. > Part 12 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A piece of trash was kicked around by hooves. It jumped over in the hall. HyperBlitz kept kicking it. Then, when he kicked it too far, it came back. He looked up and saw BlazingFlair. HyperBlitz kicked it again. Then Blazing. Hyper gave him a long stare. Then he hit it with more force. Still, BlazingFlair shot it back at him. "Is this one of those games where we are on the same team but against each other at the same time?" Hyper said, throwing it back. "I think so." Blazing told him. Then he kicked the ball of trash again. This time it went over Hyperblitz into the back of the hall. "I'm not getting that." HyperBlitz said, then kept walking forward. "Don't litter!!!" Blazing yelled out. Did it matter? They were just playing. All of them tried to have fun when they could. They all wanted a good laugh like they use too. But not CharmingRhythm. He wanted to have fun, but he couldn't show it. There was something that stopped him. "Hybrid's are become more of a problem then before." CharmingRhythm told SpinningNote. "I think they just want to be jerks. They do a pretty good job." Spinning joshed. "Maybe we should learn to fight better to fend them off." "Maybe." "I was joking...." Spinning said. "But that would be good. We need to fight them, fight for ourselves, and other ponies." CharmingRhythm said. "Then I can do what i planed to do." "What's that?" "I wanted to recharge the cities and building. So ponies can live better. I'd use the pure energy." Rhythm explained "Why haven't you told us that before?" SpinningNote asked. "I don't know....." Rhythm admitted. "That's my plan.... I thought I discussed it with somepony." "Maybe in your dream." Spinning laughed. "But learning more about fighting would be good. Spinning, get the others and tell them to come to the meeting room." "Uhg... alright." SpinningNote dipped his head and headed out the other way. CharmingRhythm sat at the table at stared off into the distance. He thought about the hybrids. They have destroyed so much. They have killed so many. They were pretty lucky to be all alive. A few minutes later, the other ponies came in. "What do you need?" BlazingFlair asked. "We need to learn how to fight." Rhythm said. EchoBeat and FeatherTune exchanged glances. They both weren't ponies that usually fought. Then they looked at CharmingRhythm, worried. "I know you guys don't like that, but we need to defend ourselves, and other ponies!" CharmingRhythm explained. "I bet I can fight." HyperBlitz said cocky. Rhythm shook his head. "We need to be serious." "Maybe you're too serious." SpinningNote argued. "Would you guys listen!" Rhythm said in a raised voice and slammed his hoof down. "If you guys aren't serious, then fine! I'll do this by myself!" "Rhythm, calm down You're usually more well tempered then this." Blazing replied."We can do this you know." "Shouldn't we find a pony who knows about fighting?" FeatherNote said. CharmingRhythm paced the ground. "We need to think of what will happen next. An attack from a unicorn can be spotted when they bend down, they use their magic. Pegasi, well usually when they get off the ground. Earth-ponies, they mainly charge." Rhythm said. "But these are still hybrids." EchoBeat said. "The same principle applies. Focus is the key. And find the weak part of the enemy." CharmingRhythm told them. "So a part that is not armored?" HyperBlitz said. "Yes... I guess, but we should have armor too." Rhythm looked down at his leg. "But isn't the weakness of the hybrids pure energy?" SpinningNote asked. "Yes, but you all need to know how to use it in fighting! I've seen Hyper use it, I know how to, but we all need to." "There's some in my leg, right?" FeatherTune lifted his back leg. "Yes, so maybe you could kick?" CharmingRhythm thought. " But just knowing basics will help. And what kind of pony you are against the enemy." He turned to BlazingFlair "I know you're strong, I bet you can hurt a hybrid." Blazing nodded. "Well, I this all we are doing, it talking?" "What else can we do? Later we can talk with other ponies." Rhythm replied. Then he stopped pacing. "We should get any army!" HyperBlitz jumped up. "Lots of ponies together is better! And like you said, if they know the basics, they can win!" "An army of ponies? Being in large numbers is better. But a larger number means it's easier to lose somepony. " CharmingRhythm retroted. "How? Isn't being alone mean you have a greater chance of dying." Hyper told him. "But the hybrids can see a bigger group easier, and they will have there own army." Rhythm looked out past them, into empty space. He took a deep breath and gave out a melody. "Like an army, falling One by one by one Like an army, falling One by one by one" Then HyperBlitz followed along with him, and the others murmured in too. "Like an army, falling One by one by one Like an army, falling One by one by one" How was a simple song something that related to a situation? How did it give of such a powerful message? It can only be told In the Remains of the world. > part 13 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The day wasn't even half over. SpinningNote thought about what CharmingRhythm said. How if they were fighting, they would need armor. He would like to experiment with armor. He centered himself on the floor. Below him was the symbol. He waited till somepony showed up. Then HyperBlitz appeared. "Hey, Hyper. I wanted to try making armor, but i don't have enough metal. I have to go out pretty far to get some, and I wanted somepony to help. I'd like a pegasus, but FeatherTune is hurt." Then he whispered. "but he'd be too weak anyways." Then Spinning when back to his normal voice. "So can you help." "Yeah, why not? There nothing much to do anyways." HyperBlitz replied. "Maybe one more pony can come. Blazing's strong, he can carry metal." SpinningNote nodded. "I can find him, then we will go." They walked out in the open. They headed south-east. SpinningNote led them. No Hybrids were seen, but they kept their eyes and ears open. Suddenly, Spinning came to a stop. Down below was a field with scrap metal in it. "Why is there so much?" BlazingFlair said. "I think this is where they scrapped metal before, now it just lays. But a lot of it is rusting." "Underneath rust is steel." HyperBlitz told him. "We better be quick, lots of hybrids are around here." Spinning said, then jumped down. They all jumped after him. Spinning examined the metal. He knew what kind he could use, and what kind wouldn't attract pure energy. He pick some up and put it in his saddlebag. BlazingFlair did the same. HyperBlitz looked around. "Are you going to help or not?" Spinning said. HyperBlitz jumped and went back to the metal. He didn't really know what to do. He just pick some things up and put them in his saddlebag. He watched the others, and tried to copy them. Hyper shifted the scraps. He looked under and over. Was there a certain kind they needed? There was other things besides scrap. There was pieces of old appliances and wires. There was also unknown things too. Suddenly, like always, they were interrupted by a noise. Hybrids of course. HyperBlitz jumped, his wings spread out. To the left, a group of hybrids stood. "Why are you guys so fucking annoying?" Hyper yelled out. "Any time we go outside, you always find us!!" BlazingFlair took his saddlebag off. He glared at the Hybrids. They jumped onto the piles of metal. Their hooves, clanked, metal on metal. A unicorn tilted it's head, Blazing jumped to dodge it. He ran forward then hit the hybrid, making it fall from the pile. SpinningNote kept taking pieces of metal with his magic and throwing them at the Hybrids. This was pretty affective, since he kept hitting them in weak spots. HyperBlitz flew up and looked around. Suddenly, a jolt of power came from behind throwing him out of the sky. He smashed into the metal and looked up. A pegasus Hybrid stood. It's wings were made of metal, and they had engines on them, making them much more powerful. Hyper stood up, blood stained his cheek. "You bastard." HyperBlitz mumbled. Then he flew back up. He spun his back around taking his wing into the path of the hybrid, but then the hybrid did the same. Their wings clank and they shot back. Hyper's eyes narrowed. He blasted forward into the hybrid. He knocked him down. But the hybrid still got back up. It's lifeless eye's watched HyperBlitz. BlazingFlair kicked the other hybrid's off of the piles, hoping for some affect. Blazing breathed heavy, but still fought. The hybrid's were not as hurt as he was. BlazingFlair was determined though. SpinningNote was having troubles too. He shot discs of metal at them, cutting through their skin. But no mater what, the kept going. He used the pure energy that he brought with him, inside his saddlebag. He took it and put it on some metal. Spinning shot it to on of the hybrids. It slit the throat, and it fell to the ground. Hyper fought with the pegasus, but they both seem to be equal. He smashed into it, even if attacked got him hurt too. Blood ran from his yellow coat, but his eyes still surged with rage. "Stop it!!" He yelled. "I know the pony inside can hear, but it's a ignorant pony. one who has made the wrong decisions!! That's why you should die!" HyperBlitz's wing glowed now, like before, it was blue. "FUCK IT, ARE YOU LISTENING!?" His wing crashed into the flesh of the hybrid. Crimson flew out into the air as the hybrid fell hollow. Suddenly the pure energy Spinning had grew more powerful. The hybrid's he was fighting blown out to the ground. BlazingFlair had pure energy in his sash, that glowed now too, making him much stronger. In an instant, all the hybrids fell dead. The surge of energy left the field. HyperBlitz set back down on the ground and shook his head. The other ponies looked around. No more hybrids stood. "We need to be quick, more can come!" Spinning yelled out. He swiftly got his saddlebag. Blazing looked at Hyper. "You need to be healed. You're hurt more then any of us." "No, I'll be fine." HyperBlitz snapped. "Let's just get that metal and leave." BlazingFlair took his saddlebag too, and put a few more pieces inside. He glanced at one of the dead hybrids. What if they used their metal with pure energy? Would that contradict itself? "Blazing, lets go!" SpinningNote shouted. BlazingFlair quickly got some parts and ran to them. > Part 14 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the silence, CharmingRhythm's eyes opened to see the ceiling. Barely feeling rested, he got up. He looked around in the hallway. It seemed that he had gotten up late. Rhythm walked into the main room. Nopony was there. He could hear voices from the other room. He could tell that they were all in there. Rhythm went to the door and put his ear on it. "Why have you had so much rage lately, Hyper?" BlazingFlair asked "It's not rage! I just have a lot of energy to let out." HyperBlitz laughed. "I guess it's good to use it on hybrids." FeatherTune said. "Apparently the pure energy likes it when you use it." SpinningNote said. "I thought Rhythm had the most pure energy?" BlazingFlair pondered. "He doesn't use it much." EchoBeat put out there. "Maybe if he was himself, he would." FeatherTune added. "He doesn't act like he use too. Now he's more independent then ever." "We have all changed, but I guess Rhythm has changed the most." SpinningNote said. CharmingRhythm stepped away from the door with his head down. "I know I'm not the same pony I use to be," he thought. "I wish I was, I could do much more then. What's stopping me?" He studied the floor. The symbol appeared. The circle, that diagonal lines crossed over, meaning to spell out "LP". If any pony wasn't with them, they weren't a group anymore. They all had tribute to the group. Rhythm looked out the window. He knew a few weeks ago he didn't feel like this. Was it because of HeartFelt? CharmingRhythm didn't want anypony, no matter the relationship to him, to be in danger or stress. Maybe it was the ponies that started the camp. He didn't want them to be hurt. He started to rap slowly. " I woke up in a dream today To the cold of the static, and put my cold feet on the floor Forgot all about yesterday Remembering I’m pretending to be where I’m not anymore A little taste of hypocrisy And I’m left in the wake of the mistake, slow to react So even though you’re so close to me You’re still so distant And I can’t bring you back" He took a deep breath and looked down. But something broke the silence. A voice, with an agressive tone. "It’s true the way I feel Was promised by your face The sound of your voice Painted on my memories Even if you’re not with me..." Rhythm turned around and saw HyperBlitz. "I'm with you." Hyper finished. CharmingRhythm loosened, then turned back around. His friend's hooves clopped on the floor next to him. "Any reason for that song?" HyperBlitz asked. "I don't know." Rhythm said. "I just overheard you guy's talking. And you were saying how I wasn't me." "We didn't mean to talk bad about you, Rhythm" Hyper explained. "No, It's true. I'm not the same pony." "Sure you are. You're just a bit depressed. Singing, or rapping, will help." HyperBlitz nodded. "But not that kind of slow rap." "What, something like Papercut? That's a lot of our old songs... But all songs are good..." "I don't know. Are you feeling insane?" Hyper joked. "Papercut is a really fast song." "Why does it feel like night today? Something in here's not right today. Why am I so uptight today? Paranoia's all I got left I don't know what stressed me first Or how the pressure was fed But I know just what it feels like To have a voice in the back of my head Like a face that I hold inside A face that awakes when I close my eyes A face that watches every time I lie A face that laughs every time I fall" "And watches everything" HyperBlitz added in. CharmingRhythm smiled. "See, that helped." HyperBlitz nudged him. "Doesn't every time you think of that song, you think of when you broke your hoof?" "Well... yes... But that was the past!" HyperBlitz called out. Rhythm looked forward. "Yeah... the past." "Now, don't go back all depressed." Hyper yelled in his ear. "Stop it!" CharmingRhythm pressed his hoof into his face. "Your going to blow out my eardrum." "I'm surprised I haven't already." Hyper jumped over and smirked. "Me too." Rhythm laughed a bit. Maybe just some socialization helped. Maybe that's what was wrong. There was so many ponies that had died. Many that they couldn't meet out on tours, or even play too. But CharmingRhythm saw that he still had his own friends. "Why do i keep hearing raps?" BlazingFlair said from behind. "Why cant i rap?" "I just haven't heard you sing or rap in a long time Rhythm." Blazing tilted his head. CharmingRhythm smiled. "Well, there should be some changes. " He glanced over to the side for a bit. "If we would go and defeat the hybrids somehow, and start over with a new world, you guys would help, right? "Of course." BlazingFlair replied. "I'm not sure how we would start that." He thought for a second and then went to another subject. "SpinningNote said he is almost done with his armor, He'd like you to see." CharmingRhythm nodded at the orange pony. > Part 15 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The light reflected off the metal. The armor stood there motionless. SpinningNote had been working on them no stop for almost four days. He tried to make each suit to contribute to each pony. The five stallions looked at his armor. They have never worn anything like these. But it was mandatory if they wanted to win against Hybrids. "These wouldn't explode, right?" FeatherTune asked. "Why would they," Spinning sneered. "Well, For Pegasi, I haven't made any wing covers yet. I'm not sure if they would weigh you down." HyperBlitz glanced over at his metal wing. "I'd just need one. Maybe some engines..." He suggested. "That's a good idea, since the armor would weigh you down no mater what. Engines would help with flight." CharmingRhythm looked at one of the armors. It had blue rims, and unlike the others, only half of the right leg was there. It was his own armor, he could tell. He studied it and looked at his refection of brown eyes. "I still need to fix some things, but i think they'll do good. I've put some energy in them, but I need more." SpinningNote explained. FeatherTune tilted his head. "You should put a symbol, like our cutie marks, on them somewhere." "I thought about that." Spinning said. Then he looked at the metal in the corner. What else could he use it for? "Blazing, why would you take parts of a hybrid?" "I thought we could use the metal." BlazingFlair told him. "I don't think that would work. It would destroy itself from the energy, or try to control itself. I know i didn't put any in the armor. but if any of you turn into hybrids don't blame me!" Spinning called out. "It would be Blazing's fault." Blazing then turned around and saw giant, maroon eyes gazing at him. FeatherTune gave a concerned look. "Don't worry, I know that we couldn't turn into hybrid's." BlazingFlair assured him. Clopping of hooves hit the dirt. BlazingFlair glanced around. He had gone outside. He didn't want to get hurt, he wore only a part of the armor, the leg covers. They felt odd, but secure. Blazing felt like he was dragging his own hooves. He watched the ponies that were in the camp. The population seemed to be double since the last time he saw them. But That was only a few weeks ago. BlazingFlair stepped forward slowly. Nopony noticed him. Suddenly he slipped a bit, and his armored hoof made a clank noise against the hard ground. The ponies that were closer jumped, expecting a Hybrid. Then they saw Blazing, and calmed. He walked into the camp and looked at the ponies. They stared back. There was only silence. A long silence. Then Blazing slowly moved again, and all the ponies eyes followed him. He felt uncomfortable. There was a little colt sitting to the side. It was sad to see him, because it look that he had no parents. He was a brown unicorn, that was very skinny and hurt. "Hey there little guy." Blazing whispered. The colts big eyes gazed up. " Are you alone?" The colt nodded. "I'm sorry. I know lots of ponies are gone now. But look at all the ponies here. They'll be your family." The colt just looked to the ground. BlazingFlair just backed away. He wanted to help, but it didn't seem to work. He turned around and saw a lavender Pegasus flutter down. When she landed, she looked up, and smiled. "What are you doing here?" She asked "I was just walking around." BlazingFlair said. "Oh." ThunderCharm looked at his metal boots. "What are those?" Blazing glanced down. "These are a part of armor. I'm just trying them out. SpinningNote made us armor.... so yeah. I think CharmingRhythm might want you guys to have armor too." He explained. "That would be good, actually." ThunderCharm said. "We could all work together to make some." "That's what CharmingRhythm wants. He wants ponies to work together so they... we can rebuild the world." There was some silence for a moment, the ThunderCharm lit back up. " Well, I think you're awesome by the way, Blazing. May I call you 'Blazing'..." "Of course. And thank you." He nodded. "Really, everypony... " ThunderCharm Stopped. "Well, before all the change, everypony, and your fans always noticed HyperBlitz and CharmingRhythm more, since they are seen the most. But I want to find a reason to like all of you guys. I think your just awesome!" "Heh. That's nice. " Blazing said softly. "This sounds odd... But could I hug you?" BlazingFlair paused. "I guess so. I haven't had a hug in a long time. This world needs more hugs." Then ThunderCharm wrapped her hooves around him. "My life will not be complete until I hug all six of you." She giggled a bit. Blazing smiled. Then they looked down and saw the little colt. His big eyes looked at them with emotion. Then BlazingFlair grabbed the colt and hugged him too. ThunderCharm put her hooves around the colt now and placed her head down. She took her wings folded them around the other ponies. All ponies were family, in the world now at least. "All I want to do is help, that's all anypony wants to do now." BlazingFlair said "I'd like to hear more music!" ThunderCharm said. "I know I've asked for a lot, but some of the new ponies here wants to here music. I want something that will get ponies more active." She looked down at the little colt. "Would you like to hear a song." He nodded. "I'd love to play for you guys. Maybe we can play something that's more up-beat. I think that will get ponies active!" BlazingFlair said. > Part 16 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dim day was at its peak. Dry air sweep through the dead trees. It hit the camp of the ponies, but it didn't bring their hopes down. DawnShy was working on setting things up. She didn't have much to work with though. The green pegasus looked over at the other ponies. There was much more then twenty now. A few others were working with the Linkin Ponies, helping them get things. Metal, for armor, tools.....and instruments. When they got their, all the ponies greeted each other. There was a happy tone in the air. Ponies as a community. "I'm not making all the armor for these ponies." SpinningNote said. "You don't have to. We are all going to work on armor together." ThunderCharm told him. "And there is a pony who knows how to forge better then anypony. He's the best blacksmith you could Find" She turned around and waved her hoof. A gray- green earth pony stepped up. He was a young stallion, with a sharp cut back mane. He gave them a serious look. "This is SilverBlade. He knows a bunch about making things from metal, and I'm sure he can show others." ThunderCharm said. "You need to show me how to put the pure energy in it." SilverBlade said in a flat tone. Spinning nodded. "Okay, and I'll show you how you can not blast your eye out with the energy." He said sarcastically. Then they both went back over to a part of the camp. Then BlackOut came from the left. "What about hybrids. Will we need to fight? 'Cause I can Fight." "That's if we get in trouble with hybrids." ThunderCharm told him. "Or if we get raided by hybrids." FeatherTune said out of nowhere. They all stared for awhile. That would be horrible. There would probably be more hybrids then ponies. CharmingRhythm looked over at EchoBeat who was think hard about that. "You don't talk much, do you?" BlackOut said. EchoBeat shook his head. HyperBlitz put his hoof around him. "He's shy, but that's okay!" Rhythm smiled and looked at HyperBlitz. "You two are like polar-opposites. Echo is quiet and shy, and you are loud, and dare I say- Hyper." "It's my job!" HyperBlitz laughed. ThunderCharm shook her head. "So what song are you guys playing?" "It's a secret." HyperBlitz said with enthusiasm. "Let's say it's one that will get you on your hooves." CharmingRhythm explained." We picked one that will somewhat relate to the world, like the messenger. But this one is definitely more exciting." "I can't wait!" ThunderCharm said. "You wouldn't mind cussing though? Since there are some little ponies here." Rhythm then asked. "I think it's fine. It's Music!" ThunderCharm cried out with joy. ------- Click here and open in a different tab to listen to while reading : Wretches and Kings They all took positions. The crowd was farther back, since this song had amp on it. SpinningNote hit a button, and it played a recording: "There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part; you can’t even passively take part, and you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you’ve got to make it stop." Suddenly the music crashed in. CharmingRhythm and HyperBlitz both jumped. Rhythm raised his hoof and waved it. "Hooves up like this y'all!" The ponies in the crowd followed. "To save face , how low can you go Talk a lot of game but yet you don’t know Static on the way , make us all say whoa The people up top push the people down low Get down And obey every word Steady getting mine if you haven’t yet heard Wanna take what I got, don’t be absurd Don’t fight the power, nobody gets hurt If you haven’t heard yet then I’m letting you know There ain’t shit we don’t run when the guns unload And no one make a move unless my people say so Got everything outta control Now everybody go" -- HyperBlitz flew up and slammed on the ground with force. -- "Steel unload , final blow We the animals take control Hear us now , clear and true Wretches and kings we come for you" -- Then Rhythm got back to the front. -- "So keep pace, how slow can you go Talk a lot of shit and yet you don’t know Fire on the way , make you all say whoa The people up top and the people down low Get down And I’m running it like that The front of the attack is exactly where I’m at Somewhere in between the kick and the hi hat The pen and the contract The pitch and the contact So get with the combat , I’m letting ‘em know There ain’t shit you can say to make me back down no So / push the button let the whole thing blow Spinning everything outta control Now everybody go" "Steel unload , final blow We the animals take control Hear us now , clear and true Wretches and kings we come for you Steel unload , fire blow Filthy animals , beat them low Skin and bone , black and blue No more this sun shall beat onto you" "From the front to the back and the side to side If you fear what I feel put 'em up real high Front to the back and the side to side If you fear what I feel put 'em up real high" -- then all the ponies followed along with CharmingRhythm and chanted with their hooves in the air. -- "From the front to the back and the side to side If you fear what I feel put 'em up real high Front to the back and the side to side If you fear what I feel put 'em up real high" -- As the song ended, CharmingRhythm shouted out "You hear me ponies? We're gonna take back our world!!!" All the ponies then cheered. > Part 17 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- CharmingRhythm sat in the meeting room. FeatherTune and HyperBlitz were in there also. They all sat in their usual spots. "I think my wing is almost healed." FeatherTune said. "Good, then I won't be the only working Pegasus." HyperBlitz told him. "Working?" Rhythm said. "Don't correct my word choices." HyperBlitz snapped. FeatherTune tried to bend his wing. He stopped, he didn't want to do anything bad, it was still in a bandage. He glanced over at the door. It opened and SpinningNote clopped in. "I perfected the armor." The unicorn announced. CharmingRhythm nodded. He stepped up his hoof that showed some of the armor. It had a orb in it, much like CharmingRhythm's, that glowed blue. "I think wee all need to wear hoof covers for now on." "That's a good idea. All of us need it." Rhythm said. A looked over to FeatherTune. Of course he had some energy in his back leg, but it would be easier to use his foreleg. SpinningNote came over to HyperBlitz and dropped a metal hoof cover on the table. "Try it on. " HyperBlitz placed his left foreleg on it, then he snapped it close. He pressed the circle on it, and it started to glow. The cover had designs on it, flames etched on it. "That's fucking sweet." He murmured. Spinning bowed his head. "I tried to make armor details relate to each of us. But I'm not really sure for some." He turned over to the other ponies in the room. "If you have any suggestions, let me know. Just nothing stupid." Just then, BlazingFlair walked into the room. He glanced over at the hoof cover Hyper had. "What's this? A meeting? Or is this room just accumulating ponies?" He said. "All but EchoBeat." CharmingRhythm added. "He said that he isn't felling well." BlazingFlair said. "Like how?" Rhythm cocked his head. "Maybe he was allergic to performing." SpinningNote said, but nopony listened to him, except Feather who had an odd expression. "I don't know, he's just in bed now." Blazing tried to explain. "Hmm." CharmingRhythm looked over. "How could he be allergic to performing? You know we've performed hundreds of times." FeatherTune said bluntly. "Maybe it happened after the change... I'm surprised the hybrid's don't notice." SpinningNote told him. Suddenly they all looked at CharmingRhythm who jumped up and froze. "We can't play anymore! Hybrids! The music is too loud, of course they find us!" "Why didn't they then?" FeatherTune asked. "We're we just lucky?" "I should of thought of this. We were putting those ponies in danger." "But no hybrid's came, right?" BlazingFlair said. CharmingRhythm jumped down. "But the Hybrid's WILL come. They know where we are. They don't have thoughts, but they do have senses. They are triggered to go towards commotion." "Then, all these ponies in one area is bad." HyperBlitz said. "Not unless we keep it down!" Rhythm replied. "Maybe it's the hybrids that are allergic to music." Blazing spoke. SpinningNote turned to him. "How?" "Well, they are weak to the pure energy." BlazingFlair tried to set up his conversation. "Yesterday, I took my bass and amp and put it with the generator. The generator charged the amp, but when I played a cord, the energy bar in the generator went up." "So they work together, mutualism..." Spinning said, and Blazing nodded. "Still," CharmingRhythm shook his head. "It's not worth the risk, these ponies don't need hybrids to attack." "We won't let that happen." HyperBlitz said. "To those ponies, we are their saviors. It seems odd, but that's how it is." Rhythm gave a sigh. He turned around. These ponies believed that they could fix all of this. But the only way to do that is if they helped too. After a while, ChamringRhythm just decided to leave. He passed through the empty room and hallway. His hooves' clopping echoed off the walls. He looked over. The door to his left was opened by a crack. He pushed against it and looked inside. EchoBeat's face was buried under the covers, but his brown and red hair stuck out. Rhythm just stared at him for a while, then he stepped up and placed his left hoof on the bed next to him. "Echo?" Then the red pony poked his head out. His weary brown eyes looked up at CharmingRhythm. "You okay? Blazing said you didn't fell well." EchoBeat only murmured "My head and eyes hurt." He rubbed his eyes with his hooves. "Migraine... makes sense since we didn't have correct ear buds." "I don't believe it's from that..." EchoBeat sighed. "It's just normal, we all get headaches." He pushed his face into the blankets. "I don't think we should play songs anymore." Rhythm told him, Echo glanced up a bit, "We could attract hybrids." Then EchoBeat put his head down again. "Hmm." CharmingRhythm paused, then stepped back. "Why don't you get some rest, okay bud?" He quietly went outside into the hallway. Rhythm pushed the squeaky door shut. He turned and saw the cold, empty hallway. He felt like the hallway right now. He was pretty much the ponies leader, he could tell them what to do, and they trusted him. But Rhythm wasn't sure if he could trust himself though. > Part 18 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BlazingFlair sat alone in the meeting room. He had his head low as he drank some coffee. There wasn't much to do, it was like that all the time. CharmingRhythm wanted to try to go out to the "city" sometime. It really wasn't a city, only a small suburb. But many ponies used the buildings as shelter. Rhythm wished to recharge some of the once, electronics. The room was so quiet, there was no sound at all. Blazing looked around, nothing. It was as if the world was dead, this was a dream. Then there was a small noise, it was unrecognizable, but it was of a pony. BlazingFlair took both hooves and clamped on to the cup, and sipped the coffee. Really, the life now was boring. And most ponies weren't that social like they were before. Blazing turned around, and saw the window. Somehow it was dirty, smudged. How did things get so dirty now? He stood up and went over to the window. Blazing took a towel, and wiped the dust off the glass. He watched the outside. It was like a photograph, it was still, with it's the rocky terrain. Then BlazingFlair placed the towel down. He saw something on the counter. They were glasses, probably HyperBlitz's. Blazing carefully took them with his teeth. He couldn't hold them with hooves, he'd loose balance, unlike a pegasus who could use wings. And he didn't have unicorn magic that could levitate them. The orange pony went through the main room, FeatherTune sat in his usual chair. Feather didn't notice Blazing though. BlazingFlair went into the hallway and entered into the first room on his right. HyperBlitz was sitting down on his bed. "I found your glasses." Blazing muffled. Hyper looked over and then took them from him. He placed them on the nightstand next to his bed. "Thanks." BlazingFlair looked at his bed, CD cases were spread across it. "What are you doing?" He questioned. "I don't know." Then Hyper fell and laid down on his back. He looked up to the ceiling. Blazing studied the CD cases on his bed, they were all albums. The first on was a red pony, with wings, holding a long stick with a flag on it. It's wing weren't normal, they were insect wings. The next was one was brown. A pony sat with a gas mask on, a spray-paint bottle next to him. Then, a black and white cover. Six ponies stood in the front of what to be an ocean. The fourth was hard to describe. It was back, with a white form on it to symbolize the sun. Last, but not least, was a brown pony with tints of red. There was a light gray layer floating off, like an explosion. Hybrid Theory, Meteora, Minutes To Midnight, A Thousand Suns, Living Things. Blazing glanced back at HyperBlitz, then he soon walked away. BlazingFlair kept going down the hall. He went to the room to the right at the end of the hall. The door was opened a little. He peeked inside. CharmingRhythm stood there, his back to the door. He faced the armor that was set up in a row. Rhythm studied his own armor. He was very still, he shuffled his hooves a bit, but that was all. He took a deep breath. He started off with a deep tone. "Skin to bone, steel to rust Ash to ashes dust to dust Let tomorrow have its way With the promises we made Skin to bone, steel to rust" Then CharmingRhythm got to a higher note, a bit easier for him to handle. He lifted his head. "Ash to ashes, dust to dust Your deception, my disgust When your name is finally drawn, I'll be happy that you're gone Ash to ashes, dust to dust" "What's the connection with that song." BlazingFlair asked. Rhythm turned around and blinked. "What?" "Well, most of the songs now have some connection with the world, right?" Blazing told him. CharmingRhythm was blank for a few seconds. "Well, 'skin to bone', that's all ponies are now, skin and bone," He looked at the armor. " And 'Steel to rust', we use a lot of metal, even for body parts." He lifted up his hoof. "Ash to ashes, dust to dust" Rhythm said all at once. "Too many ponies are now dead, and many more will be killed." BlazingFlair came closer as Rhythm lowered his head. "Anything else?" "I want the hybrid's names to be drawn! I do not want them! No of us do, of course!" CharmingRhythm stood up strait. Blazing nodded. "Yes, we will help. All of us. Those Hybrid's ruined it all!" CharmingRhythm's face suddenly got depressed once more. "No..." He murmured very quietly. "It was the ponies. We used all the resources, they are gone now. Hybrid's were supposed to be our salvation, but it turned us into monster." "Not us.... And the pure energy is our salvation!" BlazingFlair exclaimed. Rhythm eyes shot back to him. "Yes.... and it will save us. We need to go out, maybe tomorrow, to charge some of those buildings." He said. Blazing smiled and agreed. "Mm-hm. Maybe if we do that, some ponies would get more hope. Not mentioning you." "What?" Rhythm sneered. "I'm not that hopeless. I know that we can do this.... it's just that all those hybrid's are..." "Asses." Blazing finished his sentence. CharmingRhythm laughed. "Yeah." He put his hooves forward. "And we'll kick their asses!" "Sounds good!" BlazingFlair smirked. He took a quick look behind his shoulder. Nopony was there, but it felt like it. Then CharmingRhythm led out into the hallway, with Blazing behind him. > Part 19 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silence. That was all there was. It was so silent, that it hurt, like a pony would be deaf. CharmingRhythm awoke, but he didn't feel awake staring at a dark wall. He turned over and laid on his back. It was still pitch black. Very dim light came from the window. Probably from light pollution, what ever there was, from the little camp, the moon and stars. Rhythm sat up, he didn't know why he woke up. He wasn't rested, and it wasn't morning. Why was he awake? He didn't remember any dream. CharmingRhythm yawned. He didn't know what to do, but he didn't feel like trying to fall back to sleep. His brain was running wild, but with thoughts he couldn't make out. Then Rhythm put his hind legs on the cold floor, then his left hoof. He dragged his lifeless metal leg. He turned it off at night, to save energy, and so the bright blue light wouldn't bother him. He tapped the little orb in his leg with his other hoof. Then a flicker of blue showed. Slowly, the orb lit up. It lit up the room, and it was much easier to see now. CharmingRhythm glanced around. The he went out the door. He took to right turns, into the main room, where nopony would be. All of them were asleep. The computer was shut off, the only light was from a few buttons that glowed. CharmingRhythm took set in the computer chair. He didn't turn the computer on, he just sat there. He spun around in the chair. He looked at the floor that was tinted with the blue glow. He wondered what time it was. But if he wanted to know, he'd have to turn the computer on, and he didn't want the bright screen in is face. Rhythm gave out a sigh, he was hoping it wasn't not to loud. He thought to himself "Why am I here? Shouldn't I be in bed?" He turned away and stepped off the chair. He trotted up to the window. CharmingRhythm took a look outside. There wanst much you could see. The moon tried to show itself past the clouds. The clouds that always stayed. The night was cold, very cold. It was a bit warmer inside. But the day was warm, and humid. CharmingRhythm tried to imagine how the other ponies were. The base must seem like luxury compared to how those ponies lived. But the Linkin Ponies gave them role models, if they could have a nice home, so could the other. Suddenly, Rhythm could hear very faint taps. Clopping of hooves, and they were very steady and slow. The pony must not wanted him to here them. To bad Rhythm already knew they were there. He just sat, and waited a while, hoping that the pony would come closer. He knew he was close now, the silence was broken by soft breathing. A whisper came from behind. "Are you okay." There was a moment before CharmingRhythm responded. "Why do you ask?" "Well, you're up." "Why are you up?" Rhythm argued. "Because you are. Can you not sleep?" CharmingRhythm thought. "Hyper, I... I don't know why I woke up." HyperBlitz came closer and tilted his head. "What do you mean?" Rhythm shook his head. "Somethings up. I don't know why I'm acting odd. I'm not myself. Sure I am myself, but every so often, I'll be depressed." "We all are sorta sad... about the world, the ponies." Hyper said. "But why am I acting different then all of you?! Why can't I be myself?! What the hell is wrong with me?" Rhythm clapped his hoof to his face. "Dude, calm down, you'll wake the others." HyperBlitz put his hoof on CharmingRhythm's back. "You're acting like me when I went through those depression stages, doing drugs - a mistake I'll never make again." ChamrmingRhythm looked over to him. "Tomorrow... well later today, We'll go out to the buildings and meet some ponies. I know that makes you happy." "I guess. But I don't like to see ponies hurt. I don't what anypony to be hurt, I'm afraid that HeartFelt might be." Rhythm said. "At least you know you have a Wife! You know she's alive. I doubt my wife is alive, I'm sure my children are killed too!" It was dark, but from the light blue orbs in Rhythm's leg, and in Hyper's wing, Rhythm could see Hyper had a concerned face. "You need socialization, you know that, and you've gotten it... You need to get out everyday! There's plenty of ponies, new one coming all the time too. I'm sure they'll love to meet you." "Then why do I feel so alone!" CharmingRhythm said a bit louder then expected. There was a few minutes of quiet. Nopony spoke. But then HyperBlitz took a few deep breaths. He tried to get a good note. "Weep not for roads untraveled, Weep not for sights unseen. May your love never end, and if you need a friend, there's a seat here along side me." Their brown eyes met, with the glint of blue shining. Emotion's could be felt in the air. They were the best of friends, and they will always be. Then CharmingRhythm lunged forward and hugged the yellow Pegasus. He looked over in the corner, two silhouetted figures stood there and watched. It was FeatherTune and BlazingFlair. They took a few steps together. HyperBlitz looked around and saw them. Even EchoBeat and SpinningNote came. They were all awake. All friends were there for each other. They all exchanged faces, as if they knew what each pony was think. They DID know what each other thought. "Woah oh woah oh ohhh Woah oh oh woah ohh oh oh Oh Woah ohh woah" All the ponies sung together as friends, in perfect harmony, nothing was wrong. A song that spoke it's words, clear and true. > Part 20 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The hot, humid air stuck to CharmRhythm's coat. He trotted along with HyperBlitz. EchoBeat and SpinningNote had come too. All of them were wearing hoof covers, except for Rhythm. ThunderCharm was by their sides, with a few of her pony friends. They went towards the building. Spinning had brought a little generator. It was on wheels, and he drug it along with his magic. When they got inside of a building, he put it to the side. "I think there's something in here we can use." ThunderCharm said. She twisted her head around. "How about that television?" Rhythm pointed over. "I doubt we could get a signal, but we can try turning it on." "It will be just a test, we don't need it." CharmingRhythm said, then clopped over to the screen. It was very dust, there was a small crack in the top. SpinningNote put his generator by it. Then Rhythm, with his magic, took some cords and plugged them into the appliance. Then he started to push buttons on the genorator. The bars and orbs light up. It went to full power, then there was a sudden static noise. "GAH, Turn it down!!!" ThunderCharm shouted out, covering her ears. Then HyperBlitz went over to the Television, he pressed a volume button, the static ceased. "That wasn't loud, i could easily scream louder." "Hey, but I don't like that noise" ThunderCharm explained. "I wouldn't mind your screaming, I like it." Hyper froze with an awkward face. EchoBeat looked at the fuzz picture on the TV, like snow. The generator worked. Suddenly, lights began to flicker. Not all the lights, but most lights that were ten feet away turned on. They had a tint of blue to them. "We don't need a cord?" CharmingRhythm glanced up in surprise. "I think we do, but once one thing is plugged in, other things work." SpinningNote said. "How come those lights in the corner don't work." ThunderCharm asked. "Because they hate us...." Spinning taunted, "No, this generator is to small, it doesn't go the distance with it's energy." Suddenly there was a cry, from the direction of the camp. It was ponies, in fear, yelling. All the ponies in the building jumped. The all scurried to the source. CharmingRhythm galloped as fast as possible. They turned around the corner. Ponies stood in horror, they where all in groups. A hybrid, probably twice the size of any of them, stood in the middle of the camp. He steadily came forward. One stallion tried to tack his ground. It was SilverBlade the blacksmith pony, and with his brother. His brother was MetalShard, a pale teal Earth-pony. BlackOut tried to help also. DawnShy tried to be brave, but didn't get close to them. Just then, BlackOut shot forward and kicked the hybrid back, this didn't help at all. A low grumbling came from the hybrid. A flash of blue magic hit the hybrid, and it turned to CharmingRhythm "Rhythm, what the hell are you doing!" HyperBlitz yelled. Then the unicorn's leg glowed. He ran forward and punched the hybrid. The hybrid's armor was damaged, but it still got up. It looked over to SilverBlade who was throwing knifes and rocks. MetalShard spun around and tried to gather more weapons. A glow of indigo shot out now, stopping the hybrid, keeping it in place. Hyper turned to SpinningNote. "I'm not gonna be able to hold this forever." He said. Right as he let go, HyperBlitz tackled the hybrid. He rolled on the ground, but in a burst, jumped up. He slammed into Hyper's head, and he fell to the ground. Rhythm quickly got to his side. Slowly opening his eyes, Hyper's vision in the left was red. Blood ran down from his forehead. CharmingRhythm nudged him and helped him stand up. HyperBlitz flipped around and saw that the hybrid was now fighting SpinningNote, and BlackOut. Hyper, in a daze, he looked at EchoBeat. A flash of blue swarmed the area. Echo backed down, and sat up against the wall. The campfire was knocked down, but pure energy was overpowering it. Blue Flames lit up HyperBlit'z face. "Fuck yeah!" He scram, he pushed his hoofs down, the tattoos camouflaged with the fire. HyperBlitz flew into the hybrid with rage. It smacked against the wall. Then, CharmingRhythm lunged forward, his leg's orb glowing brighter then ever. His hoof crushed into the hybrid's metal. It let out a horrible whine. The blue blazed engulfed the hybrid, killing it with the pure energy. The fire soon died out. All the ponies stood in shock. No colt or filly could have unseen this. Hyper glanced over at Rhythm, who was exhausted. Then he looked up at Hyper, and smiled. EchoBeat and SpinningNote stepped up to them, ThunderCharm slowly looked at the scene. MetalShard laid on the ground. His eyes struggled to keep open, the teal earth pony was severely hurt. His side was torn apart, blood filled the ground. There would be no way to heal MetalShard All the ponies circled around the stallion. ThunderCharm spoke with misty eyes. "No..." He couldn't speak, he only muffled a few noises. CharmingRhythm stared sadly at the dying pony. "Sing for him." He whispered to HyperBlitz Hyper nodded, he stepped forward, letting the other ponies know. He let out a soft song, "I close both locks below the window I close both blinds and turn away Sometimes solutions aren't so simple Sometimes good bye's the only way Ohh" Then as he got to the chorus, ThunderCharm and DawnShy sung in the background with tears. "And the sun will set for you The sun will set for you And the shadow of the day Will embrace the world in grey And the sun will set for you" > Part 21 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The situation was getting worse. It was clear something bad was going to happen. It was all foreshadowing. All the ponies sat in the meeting room. CharmingRhythm stood up with his hooves on the table. He wore a serious face, his eyes darker than usual. "We can't let this happen!!!" He shouted out. "Ponies shouldn't die!!!" "We know, Rhythm." BlazingFlair told him. "The Hybrids are getting stronger! I sense something bad is going to happen." CharmingRhythm shook his head. "What's worst then what has already happened?" FeatherTune asked. "We need to be on guard at all time!! I can't believe that after I do what I wanted to do, It all failed! Those fucking Hybrids..." HyperBlitz lifted his head up and looked across the table to the Unicorn. "Don't let those things get in the way. You know what you need to do. It's your life." The was silence for a while. All the ponies exchanged looks. They knew that CharmingRhythm was right. SpinningNote looked over. "If we do get in any more trouble, we have to do things together as a team. We can't be called a team if one of us is out." "That's how we were as a band. If one was out, then we didn't move on." BlazingFlair added. "But..." EchoBeat said quietly. "Are we not still a band?" His brow raised. All the other stallions look to him. Maybe they were. They did still connect with the music. Everyday they did, singing, playing instruments, references. "I don't know, but I have heard about other ponies." BlazingFlair sort of changed the topic. "Like famous ponies. One of the mare's in the camp told me. Uh, DawnShy I think. She said she travels a lot. She found a camp down south, and there are other ponies." "Are they ponies that make music?" FeatherTune pondered. "That's where the big city is. Or was" Blazing nodded. "I don't remembered what the name was though, he made a lot of love songs." "Uhg, love songs." Spinning coughed. "That's the opposite of our music." CharmingRhythm's brown eyes looked down. "Music doesn't matter any more. No pony needs it, no pony cares. All ponies try to do is stay alive, they don't have time for music." "That's not what ThunderCharm told me." BlazingFlair argued. "She told me that if it wasn't for our music, she would just kill herself to get away from this world." All the Linkin Ponies looked at him in shock. "She says our music has such great meaning, getting over situations, saying that you can't be perfect, to just keep going in a troubled life." Then HyperBlitz nodded. "That was the meaning of most lyrics. I felt helpless, that's where most of the songs came from." He stared at Rhythm. "You see, music does matter." CharmingRhythm gave out a sigh. "I guess... it's just that all this is sort of happening so fast." "The world is dead still." EchoBeat said very quietly. FeatherTune looked over after stretching his wing that had finally healed. "But aren't we supposed to be resurrecting it?" Suddenly Rhythm flipped his head up. "Yes! We are resurrecting it!!! Of course, that's the pure energy!" CharmingRhythm then jumped and placed his hind legs on the table. "NO! The world never died! The pure energy is from the core! The heart!!! It's still there!" "Whoa! Alright!" BlazingFlair exclaimed. "You don't have to get up on the table." Rhythm quickly glanced at him, the looked down, oblivious to what he had done. "Right, sorry." He said embarrassed, then got back down. "Now see, That's the Rhythm I know." SpinningNote told him pointing his hoof. CharmingRhythm chuckled. "I can't believe it took me that long to realize that!" "Well you have realized it now." FeatherTune said. "Are you gonna try to stay like this, Rhythm?" SpinningNote taunted. "We don't want you to get all cranky." Rhythm shook his head. "I'll try." He glanced strait ahead to HyperBlitz. The pegasus gave out a little laugh. "Let's defeat Hybrid's with music!" Spinning called out with excitement. "I am not sure how that would work." EchoBeat tilted his head. "I have seen it done before." CharmingRhythm said. "HyperBlitz scream-sings." Hyper put his face down into his hooves, almost laughing. "I can't help it!" "But we are not gonna stop!" FeatherTune said, standing up on his back hooves. "Okay, Anypony in favor of kicking Hybrids' asses, raise your hoof and say I." Then all six ponies raised their hooves up and shouted out "I" They all laughed. They seemed to be like they were before as a band. All of the friends, having a good time, no matter what got in the way. All the ponies knew what situations they got into in the future, they would all be there together. > Part 22 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- EchoBeat stayed at the computer. He was feeling much better then he did a few days ago. FeatherTune sat the chair to his right with his back hooves on the desk. He looked at his one mechanical hoof. "It's odd. It's like this hoof is fake, but I can feel it." FeatherTune wondered. "Well, the energy is supposed to connect with your nerves." EchoBeat said. "Hmm." Feather mumbled. He looked up and the little screen. Nothing was going on outside. Suddenly, there was an odd noise. It didn't sound like a pony. It was mechanical, like technology. It buzzed, and crackled. "What's that?" FeatherTune looked up. The lights were flickering, and the computer flashed. EchoBeat jumped and swirled around in his chair. Just then, SpinningNote ran out from the hallway, he had a worried face. "What's going on!" Spinning shouted. "I don't know." Echo spoke. Then the red pony turned back to the computer. The files were flickering, opening and closing. Data flooded and showed on the screen faster then ever. Echo started to tap on the board to figure out what was going on. He struggled to keep up and navigate away form the mess. The data kept redirecting him. "I've never seen this happen before." EchoBeat said. Then HyperBlitz galloped out from the hallway too. "What the fuck?" The noises kept getting louder, and the lights flashing was blinding. All the ponies exchanged concerned faces. No pony could of done this. And it was doubtful a hybrid did it too. All of a sudden, it all stopped. The lights blacked out, the computer went dead, the buzzing ceased. All was quiet, even the ponies. Clopping came from behind. CharmingRhythm came out with the dim light of the window showing him. "A power outage?" He exclaimed. "This isn't good." "What are we going to do?" FeatherTune asked. CharmingRhythm turned around, and looked at the generator. He pulled it with his magic and took the cord and plugged it into the computer. He placed his hoof on the center button. Suddenly the generator got power, and the computer turned on. "Try to find out what's going on in the energy field." Rhythm commanded EchoBeat. He nodded and went on tapping right away. He quickly pushed buttons and opened files. He found the camera files, and opened them. "How do the cameras still work?" FeatherTune said. "They have back-up power like this generator." CharmingRhythm explained. "Then why don't we have back-up power on all our things!?" "Oh shut up!" Rhythm snapped. He kept his eyes on the computer. BlazingFlair then joined the group, and watched the screen with them. Suddenly, after a tap, Echo stopped and sat back. "I think I found the problem." "WHAT?!" HyperBlitz shouted. "There's a break. In one of the energy sources. The energy can't get through, and it's blasting out the wrong way." EchoBeat explained to them. BlazingFlair stepped up and stared at the screen. "But it would be very dangerous to fix it. Going inside of the energy mill isn't safe." "But it has to be done." CharmingRhythm replied in a flat voice. "If it's not fixed now, it can get worse. The whole mill could explode, and that.... would be the end." FeatherTune and SpinningNote gave fearful faces. SpinningNote stuttered. "We- we have to go in?" "I'll do it." Rhythm volunteered. "I know the mill the most, and I could fix it with my magic." He stepped over towards the meeting room door. FeatherTune jumped down from his chair. "You have to wear some sort of protection. Don't you have some sort of suit- not the armor though." CharmingRhythm nodded. "Don't forget this." Feather held out his hoof, there was a small ear piece in it. Rhythm's blue magic took it and placed it on his ear. "The suit is in the entrance of the mill, I'll be fine. I'll call you guys once I get in." CharmingRhythm assured them. He turned around and went into the other room. FeatherTune went back to his chair and placed his headsets on. He pulled down a little microphone. He connected it with the computer. EchoBeat would be controlling the camera while Feather controlled the microphone. All the ponies waited a few minutes. They all had scared faces, all but HyperBlitz. He had a determined face, he stared into the screen, waiting. He knew the Rhythm could do this. There was a quick intercom, with CharmingRhythm's voice. "Can you guy's hear me?" "Yeah, perfect." Feather pushed a button and replied. "You need to go over to the left, and keep going strait, then-" "Whoa, whoa, slow down, let my brain process this!" Rhythm said. "Fine, go left, and keep going." Feather retorted with irritation. The camera on the screen showed CharmingRhythm, it was very small though. He was in a black suit, and his black mane blended in with it. FeatherTune kept directing him to the right place. When he found the break, he stopped and examined it. "Shit- I think this is going to be harder then I thought." He spoke into the microphone. "I need some wings." FeatherTune turned over to HyperBlitz. Feather commanded the intercom, there was no way he could go in. Anyways, HyperBlitz was much stronger then him. Hyper swiped an ear piece off the desk and nodded. He spread his wings out. "I got this. Tell him I'll be there in a bit. Don't let him do anything stupid." HyperBlitz said, then turn into the meeting room. All the ponies worried. > Part 23 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- HyperBlitz stood in front of a door that sign read "Warning: Danger Area" That meant that the energy was powerful, it could hurt a pony if it wasn't handled correctly. Hyper took one of the black suits and put it on. It was a tight fit, but it was better this way. He stuck the ear piece in his left ear and moved forward. The energy mill was on a below level, like a canyon. It had holes in the rocky ground where the energy shot out. It was like a cave. There was a ceiling where the other end of the energy lasers could connect to. Without the suit, HyperBlitz could be blown to dust if he touch those lasers. Hyper remembered some of the direction, he went left and kept going. Suddenly, he heard the intercom come on. "Hyper, are you there?" FeatherTune's voice echoed. "Yeah..." Hyper still walked. "Is this connected with all the microphones?" "No, I can change back and forth from you and Rhythm." FeatherTune replied. "Go to your right. Then left after that big rock." HyperBlitz did as he said. He glanced around. He looked up at the ceiling, he could see where the laser was off center. It was tearing into the wall, and not the hole that captured it. Hyper took one last turn and saw CharmingRhythm in front of him. "Need some help?" Hyper said. Rhythm turned around. "I guess, we need to figure this out." "Do you have tools?" HyperBlitz asked. "Of course." CharmingRhythm replied. HyperBlitz watched him take a box from the side. He opened it with magic. Hyper looked up at the flickering blue. There seemed to be something loose. "I need you to go up there and tighten the bolt." CharmingRhythm told him. He placed a tool in front of the pegasus. It was like some sort of wrench. Hyper took it in his mouth and gazed back up. How could he do that? He'd need a steady hover. A buzz came in from the ear piece. "Be careful Hyper, don't get your wing too close to the energy. It can attract, and cause a backfire." FeatherTune said. HyperBlitz pushed in his ear piece. "What else would attract?" Hyper then dropped the wrench. "Well, um.... I think plastic will melt, that's why we use metal." FeatherTune retorted. Hyper stopped, his ear piece was made of metal, but he had something else that was made of plastic. His buds. That would be terrible if they melted onto his ear! And that would hurt! Hyper stood up, using his wings for balance. He took his fore hooves and snapped the buds out, left, then right. He placed them by Rhythm "Hold these." HyperBlitz then took the wrench again and flew up. He studied the loose bolt. He tried not to get too close too soon. He glanced down, then CharmingRhythm shot out some magic. It hit the top of the energy laser. He moved it over a bit, into the hole. Rhythm used all the power he possible could. Hyper saw the break, but it was burnt. The energy had destroyed it. He swiftly recovered the loose bolt, then got down. Right as CharmingRhythm let his magic go, Hyper yelled. "NO! Don't! Keep it, we need to fix the plating." He shouted, and Rhythm scrambled to shot his magic back up. "You need... to... explain... things better..." Rhythm stuttered as sweet rolled down his face. HyperBlitz pushed his ear piece. "Feather! How can I fix the plating? Is there any metal around?" "Uh..." FeatherTune paused. "I have no idea." Then the intercom beeped, a new voice came on, in a quiet tone. "There might be some. If you go down.... errr." EchoBeat spoke confused. "It's hard to explain. Over in the right corner, under some 'cave' there is some I believe." HyperBlitz called out to Rhythm. "Try to keep that hold, I'll be right back!" "Shit..." The pegasus quickly galloped over to the right. He wondered a bit, then saw the little crevice. He peeked inside, the light showed hints of silver. Hyper quickly grabbed a part. He examined it, it was a good size. He swirled around and looked over. The dark blue magic was dying out. HyperBlitz flung himself forward and flew as fast as possible. He took one of the tools from the box and jumped into the air. Hyper panted and fluttered his wings. With his hoof bent down, clamping to the tool, he swung it at the plate. It gave a deep ring, then he kept hitting it till it fell off. "Come on- Hyper... I can't..." CharmingRhythm said in pain. Then HyperBlitz pushed the plate up into the ceiling. "Let go now!" He shouted. Rhythm then collapsed, exhausted. He eyed hyper, who was still holding on to the plate. He hadn't screwed it in, he need to have the screw. CharmingRhythm glanced over, and with what magic he had left, took some screws and flung them up into the air, sticking them into the plate. HyperBlitz let go and fell. He placed his hooves out to catch his fall. He thudded onto the ground and looked over to Rhythm. The energy was now flowing normally. The hole that captured it gave the right glow now. "Good job guys! I think the power is coming back on!" FeatherTune said Both HyperBlitz and CharmingRhythm breathed very heavily. While on the ground, Rhythm stuck his hoof out to Hyper. Then Hyper clapped it and gave a respected 'brohoof'. "We better get back, we can rest up inside." HyperBlitz said, CharmingRhythm nodded. "Wait, let me get my buds!" Then he turned around and got them from the floor. They both pulled each other up, with the power they had left, carried each other. Rhythm smiled with relief. Hyper's brown eyes caught his smile, then he smiled too. When they got back inside, the took the suits of and rested, they need to regain there energy again, so they slept. > Part 24 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was early in the day, and BlazingFlair was drinking his coffee like usual. He still kept his eyes and ears open for anything from the mill. Everything seemed to be calm. HyperBltiz awoke having all of his energy back. It seemed he had slept longer then ever. CharmingRhythm had awoke before him, but that was normal. There was no more problems so far, and that was good, if there was any sign of trouble, they would quickly get it fix. Really, they didn't need more problems. But would there be another coming? Suddenly, there was a loud knocking. It came from outside. It pounded on the door. CharmingRhythm cantered over to the door and stood by it steadily. "Who is there?" "It's me, ThunderCharm!!! Then Rhythm quickly opened the door with his magic to reveal the mare. Her eyes were wide with fear, and she spoke with anxiety. "Rhythm- This isn't good! It's possible the worst thing ever!" "Woah!!! Calm down! We just recovered a mill break, what more could we have to deal with?" CharmingRhythm shook his head. "Hybrids!" ThunderCharm shouted. "What?" "They're coming! A whole army! Somehow a giant group of Hybrids came together!" ThunderCharm explained. "I didn't think they were that smart! DawnShy said she saw them coming from the west when she was traveling!" "WHAT!!!" Rhythm scram. "NO! How, how could they do this?" He looked over towards where the sun would set at the end of the day. "I guess they still have pony instincts.... but.... Banding together? There must be more then us!" "We need our own army. I'm not sure what we can do. I don't know about these Hybrids, would fighting scare them off?" ThunderCharm said with a horrified voice. "We can try our best." CharmingRhythm told her. "Do you have enough of armor? Use all that you have, give the more powerful armor to the weaker ponies that fight." "Like me.... I'll fight, I have to." ThunderCharm announced. "At least there was more ponies that made armor then SilverBlade, but he was the best." Rhythm nodded. "Get you things together; I guess we're going into war." --- Six stallions stood over the hill. They all wore armor. On the horizon, Hybrids came. "How the hell could they do this?" HyperBlitz called out. "They've done it before, remember. At the beginning of all of this." CharmingRhythm said. SpinningNote stepped forward. "Well, we're about to make a new beginning!" CharmingRhythm looked over where other ponies stood. There was a variety of ponies, Unicorns, Pegasi, Earth-ponies, mares, stallions.... there was even some fillies and colts. Pure energy could defeat hybrids, and Rhythm knew that, he just hoped that nopony would die.... nopony but hybrids. They waited, and the ponies charged up their armor. They were afraid, but determined. HyperBlitz spread out his wings, and the orb in his metal wing glowed along with his armor. ThunderCharm stood on his side. She tried to focus on Hybrid's, but it was hard. "What's a good war song?" She said. "There's a lot." Hyper said without turning. "How about one many ponies know." ThunderCharm told him. "Hmm..." "The cycle repeated As explosions broke in the sky All that I needed Was the one thing I couldn't find And you were there at the turn Waiting to let me know" Then HyperBlitz jumped down from the hill with a voice that was loud and clear. "We're building it up To break it back down We're building it up To burn it down We can't wait To burn it to the ground" He gazed up and saw the Hybrids had come closer. The other ponies stepped down by his side. Hyper took a deep breath. All of this did seem to go so fast, but no mater what, nothing would stand in his way. Nothing would stand in their way. "Are we gonna burn them down?" CharmingRhythm asked aloud to all the ponies. "Of course." ThunderCharm announced. Then Rhythm looked over at the other ponies, they all nodded. CharmingRhythm leaped forward. He put himself at the lead. When the closest hybrid saw him, it shot forward. It slammed into Rhythm's armor. He pushed his hooves into the dirt to keep his stance. Then he quickly bucked the hybrid away. He spun around in a haze, apparently the fight had broke out. CharmingRhythm noticed something, he was the leader. He was the one to lead all the ponies. Then he stood up, proud of his title. Every time EchoBeat would punch the hybrids with his fore-hooves, a bright blue laser shot out. He kept doing it, because this worked well. He looked around as other ponies stood by his side. EchoBeat jumped as a hybrid knocked down a pony next to him, but he got up, showing he was okay. Echo hear metal hooves clapping from behind. He quickly jumped up and kicked the hybrid with his back legs. FeatherTune flew above the fight. Any pegasus hybrids that came his way, he would quickly shove with his metal leg. The pure energy from his leg interacted with the hybrid. It went into the hybrid's energy orb, which was red, and it imploded. Feather jolted back when the hybrid literally exploded out of the sky. CharmingRhythm easily took hybrids with his magic lasers. But the size of the mob kept growing. There was defiantly more hybrid's then ponies. But hybrid's didn't have the same sense and thoughts as ponies, they didn't care for each other. Rhythm looked around and a hybrid just stood there. One eye was mechanical and glowing red, the other, was a normal blue eye. The pony underneath was corrupt. "You told me 'Yes' ,You held me high and I believed, when you told that lie I played soldier, you played that king and struck me down ,when I kissed that ring You loss that right, to hold that crown. I built you up, but you let me down So when you fall, I take my turn and fan the flames as your blazes burn" Then CharmingRhythm blasted the hybrid to death. In all the commotion, his armor clanked against the ground. Suddenly a pole hit the ground next to him.There was a red flag on it. CharmingRhythm looked around. SpinningNote shouted out. "Rhythm! There's something I forgot to tell you about the armor! It's when the energy goes on high-" A crowd of ponies pushed him away. What could be so important to tell Rhythm? > Part 25 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sound of metal gallops filled the air. All of ponies and hybrids. Many hybrids were now dead, it didn't look like any ponies were dead. That was good news, but there were many more hybrids to go. CharmingRhythm glanced around. He couldn't get sight of SpinningNote again. What did he want to say? Was it him who placed the fag down? Where did this flag even come from? Rhythm looked at the flag. He scooped it up with his metal hoof. The wind caught it and let the fabric wave. A flag the color of blood, stood out over everything. More ponies crashed past, more hybrids screeched. CharmingRhythm swung around and smacked the flag into the face of a hybrid. Then he smashed his hoof into it's side. The red glow faded, but a blue glow on Rhythm rose. The energy grew more and more. Was this what SpinningNote was speaking of? There was an odd feeling in CharmingRhythm's back. A static rush flowed out, and it felt like something was ripped out of his back. Of course it wasn't real, but Pure energy connected with the nerves, so what ever it did, Rhythm could feel it He twisted his head around and saw something that wasn't there before. A set of bright blue wings buzzed. They were surrounded by electricity and were created entirely of energy. They were like insect wings, and they seemed to come from a little slot in the armor. CharmingRhythm jumped. This was a surprise. He couldn't move them all that much, but he could feel it. What use were these? He quickly pushed forward, he placed the flagpole in his mouth. He kept his eyes looked forward. A hybrid that got in the way, he hit it to the side with his shoulder, and the wing, cut into the hybrid. He had gone the same direction the crowd had pushed SpinningNote. Rhythm wanted to find him. He wanted to know what these wings were for. They couldn't really move, but why could he fell them. Suddenly, he caught sight of Spinning. "HEY!" SpinningNote shot around and jumped when he heard him. "I was trying to tell you!" "About these things!" CharmingRhythm shouted. "I'm a electric-bug-winged armored pony!? Are you trying to make me look like a freak!?" SpinningNote looked at the ground. "I forgot to tell you.... hehe... Hybrid Theory eh?" "I don't need wings!!! What use are they!?" He shouted even louder. "I thought they might look cool. And they are made of energy, they can be used as shields or even weapons. All the armors I made have them, but Pegasi." Spinning explained. "Then why don't you have them?!" "Because my energy is not on high." CharmingRhythm shook his head. "I don't know why you didn't tell me before!" "Why do you have to yell at me?" "SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!" They both were startled by HyperBlitz. "We're not here to argue! We are here to kill hybrids!" He snapped. Rhythm gave out a sigh. "Hyper's right." They all nodded, then galloped off in different directions. SpinningNote searched around. He needed to inform other ponies of the armor. He tried to think of who needed it. Spinning gazed over and saw BlazingFlair. Blazing kept his head high as he trashed hybrids to the side. He stepped back from the crowd. It seemed his energy was getting in high also. SpinningNote jumped down by him. "Blazing, don't be surprised if wings come out of the armor!" He shouted. "What?!" BlazingFlair called out confused. He spun around and kicked another hybrid. ThunderCharm was there too. She was determined, circling around the hybrid enemies. On the outside, she tried to be brave, but it was easy to tell she was afraid on the inside. They all were afraid on the inside, but they fought for each other. ThunderCharm pushed up into the air. She glanced at the other ponies. She gave an odd look at BlazingFlair. Blazing saw her, then he turned his head around. He jumped when he saw the blue wings from his back. He shot a look at SpinningNote. "I told you." Spinning yelled. He found his way over to EchoBeat. The red pony tried to cope with the fight. Blood ran from his mouth as he steadied on a hybrid. He slammed his side into it. SpinningNote saw that his energy was not close to being high. EchoBeat need help soon. Spinning clopped over and put his hoof on Echo's armor. "What are you doing?" EchoBeat coughed. "You need this!" Spinning's energy transferred over to EchoBeat. The blue lit up in his armor. Suddenly a stroke of blue light came from the slit in the back. Wings then buzzed as electricity swarmed around them. "What?!" Echo said. "Use them as shields, or weapons, hit them into hybrids!" SpinningNote ordered. EchoBeat swirled around and caught a hybrid. He dipped his shoulder and cut into the hybrid. The wing crshed the metal and blue energy took over the being. On the other side of the battle, HyperBlitz soared over the commotion. He took out Pegasi hybrids as the flew and shot lasers to the crowd. The orb in his metal wing glowed and burned bright. it seemed that it would burn so bright, it would take out the eyes of hybrids. The yellow pegasus spun around and laughed. It felt good to take out some energy. The count of hybrids was low, and many laid on the ground deceased. When the battle would end, ponies would have to take the hybrid bodies somewhere they could rust and rot. But it was good to see many ponies were not dead, but many were hurt. If there was a pony dead, it wasn't here, but somewhere off in the battle. HyperBlitz did his best to kill hybrids, and he with his energy, did pretty well. He looked around, not a lot of red glow was left, but blue glow overran the area. After hours, had the war ended? > Part 26 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It all was over. The hybrids laid dead. There was probably more hybrids in the world, but they wouldn't bother them. Hybrids usually didn't have feelings, but they could sense. And they would sense fear for themselves. Out of all, there was probably only three dead ponies. Three ponies to dozens of Hybrids, it was a good ratio. But any of the ponies that were dead, they would grieve, and give love. All the Linkin Ponies found each other and gathered. They searched the ground for the lost. FeatherTune came across one, a pink mare, who seemed she had fought well. "She'll be missed." FeatherTune bowed his head. "But her next life will be better." He said. "You think she will have another life?" BlazingFlair asked. "Of course, I think all ponies that die will come back in a new life." Feather replied. EchoBeat looked over and nodded with agreement. "What are we going to do with all these hybrids?" SpinningNote said with disgust. "Move them." CharmingRhythm told him bluntly. "That's all we can do. Maybe where that metal scrap yard is." "It felt good to stretch my wings!" HyperBlitz said. "You enjoyed that?" Rhythm cocked his head. "Make the best out of any situation!" Hyper smiled. "Right?" Then CharmingRhythm nodded. "Hey!" They heard the voice of ThunderCharm. She quickly fluttered down by them. "We did it!" She called out. "Yep, and that was because all the ponies worked together." Rhythm told her. "There must be more hybrids somewhere." She pointed out. "Yes, but they wouldn't come anywhere near us." SpinningNote said. "And doing this will inspire others that they can fight too!" All the ponies in the crowd started to come around in a group. They all exchanged tired but grateful expressions. The fight was over, but the world still was in pieces. "It's good that the pure energy is much more powerful, because there was defiantly more Hybrids the ponies." FeatherTune said. "I'm surprised the pure energy, that is blue, didn't combine with the hybrid energy, that is red, and turn purple." SpinningNote taunted. "Well that sorta happened, I had a hybrid explode in my face." Feather shook himself. "We need to start with recharging the city!" CharmingRhythm called out. "Now that the hybrids are out of the way for a while, we can do that." He looked over at the other ponies. "Can we get this armor off?!" HyperBlitz cracked his neck. "Of course." SpinningNote retorted. "Unless you want it to become a part of you like the hybrids." "But I'm glad the fight is over." Hyper shook his head. "I really don't want to fight anymore." "Breaking the Habit?" ThunderCharm smirked. "Okay, now you're making song references?" FeatherTune snapped at the Pegasus. "Well, I like too. And that is one of my favorite songs!" She told him. "Along with Castle of Glass. That's another song that I am feeling right now." "How?" CharmingRhythm said. "Cause I'm only a crack, in this castle of glass. All of this fight was done by so many ponies. I only helped, I didn't do a lot, I'm just another pony, nothing special." "But it's the many ponies that make the difference." BlazingFlair explained. "If we all didn't fight, we would of lost." All the ponies murmured in with agreement. It was true. "So now what?" HyperBlitz said quickly. "Let's just go back to the base for now, then we'll figure out what we will do." CharmingRhythm replied. They headed back to the base and the camp. All the ponies were tired, and the day was almost at end. The sunset cast long shadows that they followed. DawnShy suddenly flew down in the front. She had be fighting too. She trotted along the side of ThunderCharm and the Linkin Ponies. "Memories consume Like opening the wound I'm picking me apart again You all assume I'm safe here in my room Unless I try to start again" HyperBlitz sang, he felt like he needed to. Then DawnShy and ThunderCharm sang too. Other ponies in the crowd that knew the song sang also. "I don't want to be the one The battles always choose 'Cause inside I realize That I'm the one confused" Then ThunderCharm giggled. "That was the very first Linkin Pony song I heard. And when I heard it, I fell in love." DawnShy looked at her and nodded with a smile. "That song has never got old either." "You two are the most true fans I have ever met." CharmingRhythm told them. "Did you have a Underground membership?" He asked. "No, sadly." ThunderCharm told him. "I really wanted one badly. But I deal with not having one, and still kept going. I would get on the internet every day to find news about the band." "Given Up is one of my favorite songs." DawnShy put out there. "Let me guess, the scream?" CharmingRhythm eyed over to HyperBlitz. "It's hard for me to do that scream." He laughed. The ponies came closer to their home, and the dark was setting in. The blue glow of the pure energy lit the way. In the next few days they would give time to settle back down. Then CharmingRhythm would make a plan to go out to the suburbs, and recharge the place. He had some good ideas of how to do that, now that his head had cleared up a bit. But Rhythm still felt odd, something still was weighing him down. They got to the cross road, and all the ponies said goodnight. They watched them go back to the camp. The stallions got inside of their base, so they could take off their armor. They all were tired, and needed rest, they still had much to do in the next days ahead. > Part 27 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- CharmingRhythm studied the ponies as they all worked. They collaborated together and switched around pieces. They worked on recharging the things in the buildings. CharmingRhythm suggested that the energy should run through the ground. Pure energy did come from the ground. ThunderCharm looked through the windows. She placed pieces of wires out of them. Little generators lined up, but most of the energy came from beneath. They wondered how they would do this. "They are doing well." CharmingRhythm said as SpinningNote stepped up. "Hmm." Spinning searched around. Some of the ponies dug and place wires in the ground. Hopefully the rocks wouldst get in the way, they did live in a very rocky terrain. If only the trees grew back. They could have plenty of food then. But many ponies worked on purifying water. EchoBeat was helping with planting, he was very happy with doing so. His little plant back in the base had grown very tall, and the tomatoes were very healthy. HyperBlitz scaned the ponies. He flew above them, with his wings steady. Then he gently landed on a building. He shuffled his hooves, he didn't want to fall through the roof. But nothing happened, even with the crumbling buildings. HyperBlitz stuck his head over the edge. FeatherTune helped place some of the wire. "You should put them over there." HyperBlitz called out to him and pointed his fore-hoof. FeatherTune then took the wires and placed them to the left. "No! Over there." Hyper shouted. "What?! Stop confusing me! I'll figure this out." FeatherTune snapped. He then followed the other ponies. CharmingRhythm trotted over to TunderCharm, she turned around after she heard the metal clanking, knowing who it was. "You think you can go over to the left corner of the suburb? We need to spread out when we turn on." "Alright." ThunderCharm nodded, then lifted up. "We need this to be perfect! And i will make it perfect, I am a perfectionist." "That's like EchoBeat." Rhythm said looking up. "What is your talent anyways?" "Paying attention to detail." ThunderCharm said. "Well, that is what it is in a nutshell. I can swirl clouds and make storms when it needs to rain. I also can place the clouds the right way." She explained. Then she flew over to where CharmingRhythm told her to go. She stood on the ground and placed wires through the building. They all tried to hide the wires, because they didn't want anypony to trip. CharmingRythm sat upon a hill with his friends. All six patiently watch. Rhythm clicked something on his leg, a communication thing. "Okay, I think we are ready. We all turn on in. Three. Two. One." Suddenly, the lights flickered, sounds buzzed around, a blue glow engulfed the buildings. A power lifted up their spirits, making them feel better then ever. All the lights turned on, electronics turned on, and the little neighborhood turned alive. All the ponies cheered. This was finally a place that ponies could live. Suddenly a random mare came out and hugged CharmingRhythm. He gave out big eyes. He was confused. "Hey, can you let go?" The mare stood back. "Sorry," She cocked. "I'm just so happy, my children can be safer now." "We still have a long way to go." BlazingFlair told her. She nodded. "I know, but I just want to thank you guys." "Thank all the ponies," FeatherTune added. "They all helped." Then the mare walked away with a cheery trot. The Linkin Ponies watched the buildings with pride. They had brought back hope to the world. CharmingRhythm then stepped back. He turned around and headed back towards the base. "Where are you going?" HyperBlitz asked. "I'm going back to the base, I've had a long day. You can stay here if you wish." CharmingRhythm told them, then went down the slope. The five stayed put, and watched the little suburb. Ponies that went by would smile at them, and they waved back. HyperBlitz looked around, he noticed that the wires even glowed. Once the sun would go down, it would be easy to get around. But right now, the sun was still up, and was about halfway through the western sky. "It's really amazing what we did." EchoBeat said softly. "Hmm-hm." BlazingFlair muttered. "It's really beautiful." "I agree." A soft voice of a mare came from behind them. The voice was familiar. Hyper turned his head. There was a mare that stood looking up the hill. She was a skinny, aqua green unicorn. She had brown hair that was tattered from stress, like her coat. But her light brown eyes scanned them with joy. "HeartFelt!!!" HyperBlitz shouted, then zoomed down and squeezed her. "How did you get here!" "I-I..." She couldn't speak with him hugging her so hard. All the other stallions came around and hugged her too. "Can you...guys..." HyperBlitz loosened the grip on her and gave a huge smile. "HeartFelt! I can't believe you are here, how did you find us!?" HeartFelt shook her head. "I had some help along the way. I asked many ponies for directions, and I didn't stop. But it's really a long story." She said. "You can tell your story once we get back to the base!" HyperBlitz said with excitement. "CharmingRhythm went back there." HeartFelt followed the five stallions. They all were glad to see her. They trotted back to the base and opened the door. Nopony was guarding it from the inside. When they got inside, HeartFelt stopped in the middle of the floor and notice the symbol. "Shh." HyperBlitz whispered to her, then he fluttered over to the cornor of the hallway entrance. "CharmingRythm!!!" He called out. "What!" He shouted. Then the clopping came from the hall, and the blue hooves stopped in the main room. HyperBlitz quickly got to the side for CharmingRhythm to see. His brown eyes widened and filled with tears. "HeartFelt?" "CharmingRhythm...." > Part 28 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- CharmingRhythm then quickly galloped over and put his fore hooves around the mare. "I can't believe you're okay!" He cried out. "You're really here. You came looking for us?" "Of course, that's all I could do." She muttered to him. HeartFelt looked at the hoof that wrapped around her. The cold metal touched her body. The blue orb lit her eyes up, and she gently pushed CharmingRhythm away. "I had many ponies help me. I sort of had trouble getting here. I told many ponies where I wanted to go, and they brought me closer. I found myself in the larger city in the south, and I knew I was close then." HeartFelt explained. "Then I went around the hometown, I wasn't sure where to look. I had a nice pony lead me towards this place. It took me weeks really." She looked down to the floor. "You must have been searching since the last time we talked on the computer." HyperBlitz said. She nodded. "I'm so glad you aren't hurt....." CharmingRhythm started "Much....I know we all are hurt. " He looked down at his own leg, then over to HyperBlitz's wing. "And we have all changed. I'm sure I have changed a lot since the last time we saw each other." "The last time we saw each other was months ago. So many months ago." HeartFelt exclaimed. "I know..." CharmingRhythm placed his hoof on her. "I know." HeartFelt gave a smile, but he didn't smile back. BlazingFlair walked over to them. "HeartFelt, would you like something to eat?" He asked. "We have food and clean water." "Oh yes! I have been traveling for so long." She said. She got up and followed him to the meeting room, the other ponies came too. "We probably have the largest food supply storage you can find. But our food is in cans and boxes of course." BlazingFlair told her as he walked. "But I have fresh tomatoes." EchoBeat spoke. "And I think I did well with growing them. I will try more plants." "You're growing plants?" HeartFelt said. "And he's taken a lot of time just to watch the plant." CharmingRhythm said blankly. "I might be able to help. When I was little, I practiced my magic on plants." HeartFelt told him. EchoBeat looked at her, pleased. CharmingRhythm sat down in his chair. HeartFelt just gazed at the table, she took an empty chair. "Where will she sleep though?" HyperBlitz pointed out. "We can move the things out of storage or the tools." SpinningNote suggested. "No! Move out the instruments, we need to use them more often anyways!" FeatherTune said. He looked at CharmingRhythm. "Maybe..." Rhythm's eyes gazed down at the table. HeartFelt looked over to HyperBlitz and he only shrugged. HeartFelt could already tell that CharmingRhythm was different. He didn't respond well, he was unsure of things. Night had fallen, and the lights of the suburb glowed through the windows. The base was silent as they all got ready to sleep. CharmingRhythm led HeartFelt to his own bedroom. She stepped into the small room, Rhythm turned on the light. There wasn't much in there. The room was blank, the bed sat to the left. "You can sleep in my bed tonight." CharmingRhythm said. HeartFelt stared at the bed. Then she placed her hooves on it and pulled herself up. She turned her head and looked at CharmingRhythm. His eyes looked away from her, then started to place his hooves away. "You can take the blanket and pillow." HeartFelt tossed them onto the ground by him. "All I need is a bed, It's nice to actually have one. It's been long since I've had good sleep.. You need something to sleep on too..." CharmingRhythm used his magic to fold the blanket and hold it. He stood still for a few moments, then he jerked. He headed for the door. "You don't have to go out there...." HeartFelt urged. But Rhythm didn't respond. He tapped the light and turned it off. He went out the door and slowly closed it. Rhythm placed the pillow down against the wall. His head and heart were heavy with thoughts and emotions, he didn't want to sleep in the same room. He ducked down by the pillow, and dragged up the blanket. The hallway was dark, but the blue orb lit up against the wall. CharmingRhythm took his left hoof and clapped the orb. It slowly dimmed, and then turned dark. He flopped his metal leg down, and tried to get comfortable on the cold floor. Clopping came to him before he could even try falling asleep. HyperBlitz gazed down at him before he entered his bedroom. CharmingRhythm placed his head down. But why wasn't the assurance of his wife not helping him? What was wrong? "You're sleeping on the floor?" Hyper asked. "Does it matter?" Rhythm grumbled. "You really need to lighten up." Hyper nudged him with his hoof. "Seriously, You're wife actually came looking for you!" CharmingRhythm didn't respond. Hyper shook his head. "Try to get some sleep." HyperBlitz entered his own room. He turned and jumped up on his bed. He capped his hoof against the orb in his wing, and it slowly dimmed, like Rhythm's leg. The wing became limp, and he folded it down. HyperBlitz balled up in his bed. He looked at the door, it was dark, but he knew it was still there. He could tell CharmingRhythm was still in an odd state. > Part 29 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- HeartFelt awoke dazed. She was confused at first, then she remembered she had found her friends. She carefully got off the bed, HeartFelt hadn't sleep that well in months. She looked outside in the hallway. CharmingRhythm still laid on the ground. He didn't move as she came up to him. Then his head slowly rose up. His eyes gazed over to her. "Are you okay?" HeartFelt asked. "I... I don't know... I'm fine" "Did you sleep okay." She tilted her head. "I don't know!" CharmingRhythm snapped. "What's wrong?" HeartFelt nudged her muzzle to him. "You're not the same Rhythm." "I know I'm not... Just-" He shoved his face into the blanket. "If you want to sleep more, you can go to your own bed." She said. "No!" He called back from the blanket. HeartFelt slowly took some steps back. She didn't want to bother him anymore. She clopped over to the main room. She tried to figure out the place. This was all new to her. HeartFelt gazed over and saw HyperBlitz. "Morning..." HeartFelt mumbled. "CharmingRhythm isn't being that welcoming." "He's changed a lot." Hyper shook his head. "I don't know why he's acting like this towards you. Something's weighing him down." HyperBlitz looked up at the mare. She gave out a sigh. "I feel I need to do something to contribute here. Now that I am staying here, I should do some sort of work.Is there anything you need me to get?" "No, you don't need to do that!" HyperBlitz said. "Really, you're our guest, and you've been through a lot-" "Please, I feel that's what is right." She argued. "Can I get something from that camp? Something that will help with making myself a bed?" HeartFelt urged. "If you really feel that's necessary." Hyper laughed. "I guess you can go. Just keep going strait outside, along the path." He twisted his head and went to the door. "But be careful! Stay with the other ponies!" He warned her, and HeartFelt went outside. --- Later, HyperBltiz stood in the meeting room. He looked at the door that lead to the food storage. EchoBeat was trying to figure out how to preserve his tomatoes. He pulled out a glass jar. "You think we can put them in this?" Echo cocked his head. "I doubt it." Hyper said. "Hmm." Echo tried to pick it up in his mouth, but it suddenly slipped. The glass shattered on the ground, making a peircing sound. HyperBlitz jumped into the air as the glass spread across the floor. "Nice job." Hyper snapped. "I'll clean it." EchoBeat said with his head low. HyperBlitz then quickly flew out of the room. He placed his hooves on the ground. FeatherTune glanced over to him wit ha confused face. Hyper just shook his head. He stepped forward and looked out the window. Feather twisted his head to look too. Rain tapped against the side. "HeartFelt went out there." HyperBlitz murmured. "She's been gone for a long time." FeatherTune spoke. "I can't believe Rhythm didn't notice!" "I'm gonna go talk to him." Hyper said with irritation. He galloped into the hallway an then to CharmingRhythm's room. He opened the door and looked inside. Rhythm laid on his bed and stared at the ceiling. "What are you doing?" Hyper called to him. "You know your wife is out there." He pointed to the window that rain pattered on. "Are you gonna get off your lazy ass?" Rhythm gazed down and grumbled. "If I feel it's necessary to go out, I will." "You disgrace me!" Hyper gagged as he flipped around and left the room. The clopping faded out, and CharmingRhythm glanced over to the window. The rain blurred out all vision, and droplets ran down the side. Rhythm thought for some time. He knew he had to get through what was pulling him down. He had to realize the truth in the world. That he can only live the present. Rhythm quickly got up and placed his hooves on the cold floor. He turned into the hallway. CharmingRhythm peeked into the main room to see that nopony was watching, then swiftly dashed to the door. He quietly closed it behind him. Rhythm looked up at the sky before stepping onto the mud. He shot out a magic shield to keep himself dry. Even though his hooves dragged in the mud, he kept moving forward. The rain fell down the edge of the shield, making it hard to see. This was the heaviest rain that had fallen in months. CharmingRhythm raised the shield a bit to see the pony camp. He studied the closed doors. A gray stallion peeked out and saw him. Rhythm galloped over to him, and looked under the doorway. The stallion gazed at him for a bit. "Have you seen a green mare with a brown mane come through?" "I think she left earlier, just before it started to rain." The stallion informed him. "I think she went that way." He pointed his hoof to the left, where dead trees stood. CharmingRhythm bowed his head and the raced off. He studied the downhill slope. There must be something off this way, possibly more camp. Rhythm took a step, he glared down as he started to slip, he placed his other hooves forward too. He came to a stop at the end of the hill. Rhythm peeked around, and there was HeartFelt who laid under dead brambles. "HeartFelt!" He called out and ran to her, almost losing the shield. She looked up, she seemed to be in pain, she was bruised and covered with mud. "Rhythm?" "What happened?" He nudged her side. "I fell down that hill, I wasn't looking.... I'm so stupid." "No you're not." CharmingRhythm mumbled. "I'm sorry I didn't come sooner. I was the one who was stupid. I keep letting things get in the way. I don't know what's pulling me down....But I had to find you." Rhythm gazed back up at the sky. "We need to get back to the base." Rhythm helped HeartFelt up, and she leaned on his side. He placed the shield above them both, and as Rhythm took a step, HeartFelt followed. CharmingRhythm glared back forward and let out a sigh. "May I sing for you?" He said very softly. "I guess... rap or sing?" "Just sing...." Rhythm let out. "Let me apologize to begin with Let me apologize for what I'm about to say But trying to be genuine was harder than it seemed And somehow I got caught up in between Let me apologize to begin with Let me apologize for what I'm about to say But trying to be someone else was harder than it seemed And somehow I got caught up in between Between my pride and my promise Between my lies and how the truth gets in the way And things I want to say to you get lost before they come The only thing that's worse than one is none" HeartFelt's eyes caught the guilt in CharmingRhythm's eyes. He ducked his head down low. "But you don't have none, you do have one." HeartFelt said. "I know. I can't believe how long I took me to realize that." Rhythm confessed. They came to the door of the base, Rhythm let go of the shield as they got under the roof. He opened the door with his hoof, and slowly entered. He was surprised to see all the ponies standing there, waiting for him. "I...I" He stuttered as their eyes hit him. HeartFelt looked around, her damp coat dripped. EchoBeat then quickly jumped and placed a towel around her. They all knew that they were coming back. HyperBlitz took some steps forward, and stood a nose-length away from CharmingRhythm 'That's what I thought." The pegasus whispered. "That's what the Rhythm I know would do." CharmingRhythm coughed. "You guys, I don't know why I didn't see this earlier. All I need is right here, my friends, and I can't think of the past, all those dead ponies." "Do you still feel bothered?" Hyper tilted his head. "Yes..." Rhythm gave an answer he wasn't expecting. "I don't know why, but I will figure it out. Right now, all I care about is being with my friends..." He paused and studied them all. "My family...you are all like a family to me." He turned to HyperBlitz. "And you Hyper, you're like a brother I never had. Really, all of you are brothers." They all circled around him and smiled. All they needed now was a restart, a new beginning for the world, with the energy, and ponies communicating. > Recharge-Renew:Act 2(Part 30) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Linkin Pony: Recharge Renew:Act 2 (Please read authors note before reading forward) ---- The dim light caught against the clouds that covered the sky. HyperBlitz glided against the wind. He wanted an early start to the day. He didn't tell the others where he was going, but he barely knew. He looked down at the little suburb. A few ponies stood there. They were working with recharging things, with the pure energy. They seemed to have a bit of luck, since some of the lights flickered on and off. Then Hyper let his wings out, and gently glided downward. He touched his hooves to the ground and glanced over. The ponies noticed him, but didn't move. HyperBlitz trotted over toward the strangers. "Hey there, I just wanted to know if you have seen any hybrids lately?" Hyper asked, then stopped his pace. "No... not really." A mare told him. She was a gold earth-pony. "Not ever since that fight." A brown colt added. "I didn't really know much about the fight. Apparently a whole army of hybrids came?" "That's right." HyperBlitz replied. "But I guess to many other hybrids are afraid of us now!" "Hmm... It was with that other pony camp..." The mare mused. "We don't usually go over there." The mare's eyes scaned Hyper and she gave a thoughtful expression. "Are you... HyperBlitz?" "Yeah! You know me?" He said in a cocky voice. "Well, some of the ponies in that camp said they knew you, I thought they were lying. I've heard of you before." She explained. "Linkin Pony, right?" "Yes." Hyper nodded. "You guys made some good music." The mare murmured. HyperBlitz nodded with agreement. The other colt went back to his lighting. The mare's movement was slow. Hyper saw the mare, she reminded him much of his own wife. But Hyper was sure that his wife was gone. Hyper gave out a sigh, he didn't want to think about that. The other ponies twisted the wires that connected to the lights. They seemed to have energy stored in a generator. The light flickered, then suddenly, a blast shot out. The one colt fell onto his back. He glanced up in horror, blood dripping from his forehead. The light had exploded. "I think you did something wrong." HyperBlitz said bluntly. He studied the light and wires. "I don't think you connected the energy right." "How-?" The colt stuttered as he tried to get to his feet. Then a green unicorn stallion replied. "He's right. The energy wasn't placed in the right way with the wire. It short-circuited." He then took the wire away from the generator and placed it to the side. "We need to find a safer way to get energy." The golden mare muttered. "We've been working on that." Hyper spoke. "We know it's in the ground, but we need to find weak spots to gather it... pure energy is hard to gather though. We need some special equipment." "Is that how other ponies that are far away get it?" The mare looked over and asked him. "Probably, but they need to learn more." He told her. Then he twisted his head around. "You guys should really stay by that other camp. It's safer there, and there are more ponies." "I don't think I can trust other ponies! No more then these one's here." The stallion argued, and gazed at the mare and colt. "How can I trust you? I don't even know who you are! Somepony who used to be famous, a famous pony I never heard of?" The stallion shook his head. "Because you're too old." The brown colt taunted him. "Does it matter anymore?" HyperBlitz said softly. "Fame doesn't make a difference to ponies in the world now." There was silence, they all gave him some hard looks. The mare gazed into his eyes. Then Hyper unfolded his wings, and lifted into the air. Suddenly, he bolted off without a proper 'goodbye'. HyperBlitz gained altitude, the pale world below looked small. A few ponies doted the ground. He searched around for the base, to see how far he had to go. But something was off. Apparently when he dashed off, he didn't notice direction. Just then, he tried to flip around. The sky twisted as he tried to get in the right position, his wings fluttered madly. His left wing felt the pain as he fluttered, the metal smacking against it. HyperBlitz swirled down, and landed with confusion. His hooves clopped unevenly, and staggered along as his wings slowed. He tried to gasp for air as he slid across the dirt. Suddenly he stopped, and he crashed face-first into the ground. He lifted his face up and coughed out a swear. "Fuck..." Hyper then got up and dusted off the dirt from his yellow coat. He shook and stretched out his left wing. "Fuck!" He repeated himself, louder. "That's not how you land!" The pegasus' brown eyes gazed over to the right. A little red and white filly stood alone. Her huge blue eyes were filled with confusion and fear. Then HyperBlitz slowly took his right wing and covered up his mouth. Had that child heard what he said? The expression on her face gave the obvious answer. Suddenly, Hyper flapped his wings once more and shot upward. He shouted as he pointed to her with his hoof. "You should brush your teeth, and you should wash your hooves!!!" He quickly stormed off without warning, in the right direction now. -- > Part 31 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The day slowly crawled along. The humid air flowed down, through the buildings. EchoBeat yawned as he stared at the computer. The glare reflected off of his glasses. He really had no idea what to do. HyperBlitz stepped into the room and looked at the red pony. Echo didn't notice him at first, but as he hit a hoof on the floor again, EchoBeat glanced over. It was silent and they just stared at each other. Echo slowly turned his head back, and Hyper's eyes followed him. Then HyperBlitz tilted his head down and looked behind EchoBeat. FeatherTune was sitting in his own chair, his muzzle faced up and his eyes were closed. He was asleep. Echo shot a glance back at Hyper, who gestured his head towards Feather. Echo twisted his head over, and back, and shrugged. He tapped his hoof on the desk next to FeatherTune. HyperBlitz passed around him. "That's not how you do it." He muttered. He put his head down low, behind Feather's shoulder. "GET THE HELL UP!" He shouted. Suddenly FeatherTune shot awake and fell back in his chair. He dizzily looked up and tried to make out Hyper. "What the fuck was that for?" "No sleeping on the job!" HyperBlitz called out. "What job?!" Feather snapped. But Hyper didn't reply, he swung around and left the room with a devilish smirk. When he stopped in the hallway, he stood by CharmingRhythm's door. Hyper stood still for a few moment, thinking. Then he push open the door. HeartFelt sat on the floor. She gazed up at Hyper as he entered the room. "Can I have a moment with Rhythm?" He asked. HeartFelt looked up at Rhythm who sat on his bed. "I guess?" She stood up, and looked at HyperBlitz confused. His eye's looked deep into her's. Then she nodded, and passed by him. Now Rhythm gave him a confused face. Hyper closed the door with his back hoof. "W-What?" CharmingRhythm mumbled. "It's okay." Hyper sighed. "I just wanted to talk." He stared at the unicorn. "You said that you sill are bothered. But you don't know by what. You said that you have what you need, but how are you still bothered?" His voice grew louder. Rhythm glanced down. "I... I don't know, Hype, I really don't know. It's something, just dragging me. It's like it's controlling me, away from reality. It's like how-" He glanced at his hoof. "HYBRIDS!" He shouted. "What, Hybrids couldn't do this to you." HyperBlitz exclaimed. "NO!" Rhythm jumped down from his bed. "How the Hybrids are controlled by technology! My hoof! It's changing me!" "Whoa, whoa! How is that possible, you have pure energy." Hyper pointed out. "Maybe the energy is dying out!" "And how could a leg control you?" Hyper coughed. "I don't know! But still, I'm gonna become a Hybrid!!!" Rhythm cried out. "No..." HyperBlitz assured him. "The pure energy won't let you become a hybrid, and I won't let you become one." CharmingRhythm breathed out heavily."But.. what if the energy isn't enough?" "Then how am I not going crazy?" HyperBlitz told him. "Because you have your own energy?" CharmingRhythm suggested. "Balanced out maybe... But still, I guess... maybe I need a charge up or something." "We could probably do that." Hyper said. The two ponies were now silent. Hyper took a few steps over, he noticed paper were on the bed. He was about to read what was on them, a wisp of blue magic grasped them. Hyper shot his head over to Rhythm as he hid the papers. "What?" HyperBlitz said. "I can't read it... What is it anyways?" CharminmgRhythm stepped back and dipped his head low. "Nothing..." He murmured. "It's just a song and lyric list. I was trying to see what lyrics would be good to connect with the world right now. There are a lot." His eyes wandered. Then Hyper stepped up with a smile. "Well, you be Lyricleis." He said in a 'ghetto' accent. Rhythm let out a laugh. "Oh my gosh, I can't believe you brought that back!" He looked at him brightly. "I got a good laugh out of you... That's why!" HyperBlitz explained. "Anyways, memories are what make us who we are." The smile on Rhythm's face faded. "Oh come on, Your fine when you're happy!" Hyper said. "So many memories are bad though...." The unicorn spoke softly. "If memories make us who we are, then chose to think of good memories. You'll find it will make you feel better, and make others feel better too." Hyper paused. "Really, all we are is everything we've done...All we are is how quickly we run" Rhythm opened his eyes wide, and a magic aura appeared around his horn. "I should write that down." He took his pen and paper. "That's a good song, even if it was a demo." As he wrote down things, HyperBlitz murmured to himself. "This is how we fall apart This is how the ending starts And when our heads betray our hearts We fake what we don't know" Then the pegasus looked over CharmingRhythm's shoulder, scanning the paper. Suddenly he swipped it down and glared at HyperBlitz. But Hyper just gave him a odd expression, with huge eyes. Then they both smiled, and laughed. Just then, the door behind them slid open. BlazingFlair looked at them "Why are you two laughing so much?" "It's nothing." Hyper shook his head. Then Rhythm clopped forward. "Hey Blazing, do you think it's possible that I could have my leg charged? To get more energy..." "I- I guess?" The orange pony looked at him shocked. "We can try." > Part 32 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buzzing came from the computer. EchoBeat opened some programs, and SpinningNote plugged in many cords. He watched the screen as it changed. Echo glanced at him and nodded. He took off his glasses, and took goggles off the table and slipped them over his head. SpinningNote passed over towards a generator, where the cords were connected. CharmingRhythm stood uncomfortably. How would this work? Did he really need to be charged up? That seemed preposterous. “Sit down.” Spinning said. “Um…uh” Rhythm stuttered. “Sit down dude!” SpinningNote snapped. Rhythm sat down in the corner, and placed his metal leg out. The orb seemed glowed normally. Rhythm guessed the glow was lower. It was probably from doing so much work. HeartFelt watched them all, uncertainty was in her eyes. She did not know how thing worked around here. But she knew that they had to be skilled with what they were doing. Indigo magic hovered a wire. SpinningNote studied Rhythm's leg. The wire snapped in under it. Another wire clamped onto the edge of the hoof. CharmingRhythm wondered about them. "This won't hurt... right?" He said slowly. "Let's hope not." Spinning exclaimed. Rhythm's worried eyes followed the purple unicorn. He placed the wire from the generator to the computer. How would the computer do any affect? A blue glow light up onto the walls. EchoBeat tapped on the keys. "I got connection with the mill, and I am transferring energy." He announced. "I didn't know you could do that." BlazingFlair said out of nowhere. "Well, duh." SpinningNote mocked. "As long as there is no interruption to the transfer, we will be fine." Echo said. "And If there is a interruption...?" CharmingRhythm spoke. Spinning flipped his head around. "Then we're fucked." "What-?!" Rhythm gagged. "He's joking." Blazing said. "Don't you know he jokes a lot." "Yeah..... heh.." Rhythm looked at the ground. "Hit that button, Blaze." EchoBeat pointed over to the left. BlazingFlair went over and saw a blue button on the edge of the desk. He clapped his gold hoof on it. "It's gonna take a while for the transfer to be complete." Echo said. The energy flowed through all the wires, Rhythm could feel a surge going through his metal leg. Then the blue orb grew brighter. "Can you feel that?" HeartFelt asked, and Rhythm nodded. "You never told me how you lost your leg." "It's...it's complicated." "I know how Hyper lost his wing, I saw a hybrid rip it off his back." She looked over to Hyper who stood to the side. He looked over at his wing and opened it. "You saw that?" HeartFelt nodded with sorrow. "Hmm...Rhythm, you can tell me. Was it hybrids also?" CharmingRhythm sighed. "I guess it was half fault of hybrids. It was when we first found the base. It was just an abandoned building, and we put our supplies in it. We found under the ground, a cave, and energy spots were everywhere. We decided that was where we could put a mill. But of course, hybrids found us. We got into a fight. The hybrids were pushing me, and I should of been more careful. I fell into a energy spot, and since there was nothing built around it, it was dangerous. The energy pretty much designated my leg." HeartFelt was horrified by his story. Now nopony spoke, the buzzing of the technology filled every ear. "That's why you have to gather it right." SpinningNote finally said. "You have to contain energy, If it is exposed to the open, you can get hurt." "But Hybrids die from it no matter what." BlazingFlair added. Time past with no speaking again. HyperBlitz brought himself up off the wall. He looked at the computer where EchoBeat managed the transfer. All the numbers and symbols on the screen were confusing. HeartFelt still gazed at Rhythm's leg, and watch the blue orb flicker with the sound of the buzzing. He looked up at her, their eyes met. SpinningNote turned around, impatiently. "Echo, do you think you can make it go any faster?" EchoBeat mumbled. "I...I don't know.... It might not be that safe." He twisted his head slowly. "But this is taking forever! And I'm sure you can make it safe!" Spinning snapped. "Erm..." Echo placed his head down low by the desk. His eyes looked through the goggles, his red hoof started to tap again. Suddenly, EchoBeat jumped up as his hoof slipped. A sound shot through the air, like screeching. Echo flipped around without saying anything. They all looked at CharmingRhythm. A sudden flash came from the wires and his leg. All the lights in the room flickered, Rhythm's eyes shrunk as a surge was shot through his whole body. Then it all went back to normal, by Rhythm laid on the ground weak, it was hard for him to get up. EchoBeat quickly jumped over to him, and the other circled around. "Fuck.... that hurt like hell." Rhythm said. "I am so sorry Rhythm, I didn't mean to." EchoBeat told him with guilt, and took off his goggles. "No.." The unicorn got up, and shook his head. "I think that's what I needed." His eyes shot up, with a bright face. He rubbed his hoof on his face, then looked at the wires. He unplugged them with his teeth. "I actually feel a lot better!" HyperBltiz smirked. "Maybe you should fix your mane." He looked at his mane, that stood up in spikes. Rhythm looked up at his hair, and laughed. > Part 33 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the dry air, BlazingFlair looked around in the meeting room. He placed a glass of water down. He wondered what he could do today. It was possible that he could go to the pony camp. He wouldn’t mind talking with some ponies. Blazing took a step down from his chair. He walked over to the main room. EchoBeat was on the computer as usual. CharmingRhythm was sitting in the chair FeatherTune usually is in. HyperBlitz and HeartFelt both watched EchoBeat tap on the keys. "I'm going to go to the camp." BlazingFlair announced. "Why?" Hyper asked. "Just to have something to do. Anypony want to come?" "I would actually like to meet some ponies there." HeartFelt said. Blazing nodded. "Anypony else?" "I guess I'll go." HyperBlitz rolled his eyes. "I'll.... Just stay here." EchoBeat said. "You should come, Rhythm." HeartFelt urged him. "i don't know." He grumbled. "Come on dude!" Hyper shook his chair "Fine!" CharmingRhythm smiled.He got up and followed them to the door. The ground outside was like dust. It was dry with every step of a hoof. It hadn't rained in a while. But that was normal, they lived in a hot area, and were used to it. Blazing glanced around to make sure there was no sign of Hybrids. There probably wasn't any, but everypony had the urge to be sure and look. When they came to the camp, there was a crowd of ponies. They sat in a circle. All of them were fillies and colts. A yellow mare looked over at them and smiled, she trotted over to greet them. "Hello! We just got all the little ones together. We were thinking of doing some teaching." The mare informed them. "That seems like a good idea." Blazing said. "Little ones, why don't you come meet these ponies." The mare told the children. All of the ponies turned around and stood up. Only a few enthusiastic ponies wave their hooves. A few colts and fillies stepped up to them. No of them spoke, they were all shy. "They are so adorable!" HeartFelt spoke sweetly. "All these children are so beautiful, its wonderful you are teaching them." She came up to one of them, and smiled. "None of them have cutie marks." "Yes, that's why we must teach them." The mare told her. "Please, fillies and colts, ask these nice ponies some questions." A orange filly came out. "Are you the ponies that beat the Hybrids?" CharmingRhythm laughed. "Well, we did fight them, but we couldn't get rid of all of them. We will try to make this place the safest possible. We won't let any of you get hurt." "Can I go to your house!?" A colt blurted out. "I don't know if you'd call it a house." BlazingFlair said. "Where do you find energy?" The orange filly asked, and pointed to Rhythm's leg. "Well, we find it in the ground. We use it to charge things of course." "Wow, these guys ask a lot more then I thought." HeartFelt said. 'What do you expect?!" HyperBlitz smirked. A small gray pegasus colt came up to Hyper, and then stared at him. "Why are your hooves on fire? And why is the fire blue?" Hyper paused, and lifted his hoof. "What? These are tattoos. It's not real." "How does it come off?" The colt tilted his head. "Umm... It can't. Its permanent, on my coat...." Hyper gagged. "Can I have a tattoo?" "You're too young to have a tattoo." HyperBlitz told him. Then a mare came up, she was a lighter gray. She pulled away the colt and gave Hyper a aggravated face. CharmingRhythm looked to him and gave a expression that would say 'really?' HeartFelt still watched the little ponies, they seemed to warm up to them quickly. A brown unicorn, one that Blazing had spoke to before, came up to HeartFelt. "What's you're talent?" He pointed to her cutie mark, a open book with a pencil. "Oh, I like to write stories." She smiled. The colt nodded, then looked to CharmingRhythm. "What about you?" Rhythm stopped. "Hmm? Well, I-" He laughed. "I like to sing, I can make music." "Can you sing for us?" Rhythm's face lit up. "Uh... no..." "I want a cool talent like you guys!" A blue filly said. "We can have any talent!" The brown unicorn said. "I can be a planter, or a energy collector!" BlazingFlair stepped up to the little ponies. "Or you can be a electrician, or a messenger, or a warrior, a guard, a blacksmith, a teacher, an artist!" Blazing was starting to be random. "You can really be anything! That's what the good part of being little right now." All of the fillies and colts smiled at him. "That's exactly what we teach for." The yellow mare told him. Then another mare came up, she was red, with a pink mane. She stared at HyperBlitz. Then she took her hoof and smacked it across his face. "That's for yelling at my daughter!" She shouted. "Whoa, what?" He coughed, and rubbed his sore cheek. A little filly gazed up at him from behind the mare. It was the red and white filly from a few days ago. "Huh.... I...I was telling her to brush her teeth and wash her hooves." Hyper looked over with guilt. "Maybe we should go, we don't want to bother these guys anymore." BlazingFlair said. They all said goodbye to their friends. The colts and fillies seemed that they wanted them to stay. The yellow mare thanked them for coming. HeartFelt really enjoyed seeing the young ponies. "Wow, Hyper what a way to make you look bad." CharmingRhythm laughed as they walked back. HyperBlitz shook his head. "You're a better role model then me." "I have know idea if they like me." Blazing thought aloud. "I think they do, since they smiled when you said they could be anything." HeartFelt assured him. > Part 34 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was early in the morning, EchoBeat gazed around outside. He was in the back of the base. He scanned the pile of scrap metal. He needed to figure something out. It was his goal to make a energy detector. SpinningNote stood over by the door. "How are you going to make that?" "I don't know." Echo said quietly. "Energy is attracted to metal, and other energy...." He picked up a pole. "Rhythm said he would like an easier way to find energy." "Yeah, so he doesn't loose another leg." Spinning said. "Don't joke about that." EchoBeat snapped. "Can I have some time alone?" --- Later in the day, CharmingRhythm paced the floor. He was waiting for Echo all day. It wasn't like he had much to do. He looked over to the computer. He placed his hooves on the keys, and the screen lit up. Rhythm just stared at it. Then there was a noise from the other room. "I think I got it Rhythm!" EchoBeat said. "Finally!" Rhythm exclaimed. "I used metal, and magnets, with energy too. It will conduct other energy in the area. The only thing is that it is bigger then I expected; I will need help moving it around." Echo explained to him. "Sounds good!" Rhythm said. "I think we can get Spinning and Hyper to come with us. We'll just search around for a while. Hopefully we will be back before it is dark." --- HyperBlitz flew and followed the other ponies. He was the only Pegasus with them. He watched the two unicorns help pull the energy detector. It was odd looking, but a bit like a generator. Metal pieces stood and held the extra energy and magnets. It was about shoulder height. Also, it was hard to explain how it worked. EchoBeat showed them by using a sensor, on a long wire, and placed it over CharmingRhythm's leg. The buttons on the machine glowed as it found energy. He really didn't do much, but Hyper did kept an eye out for any suspicion. The day seemed normal, a gray sky with a little light spot in the sky, indicating the sun. HyperBlitz looked away from the ground. He began to hum, and soon made out some words. "You love the way I look at you While taking pleasure in the awful things you put me through You take away if I give in My life, my pride is broken" He took a little pause as he fluttered through the sky. "You like to think you're never wrong You have to act like you're someone You want someone to hurt like you You want to share what you have been through" HyperBlitz glanced over at the ponies. They circled around and moved the energy detector. There was no luck so far. He glanced back over to the east, where the base was in the distance. To his left, a large wall block his view. Hyper flew a little bit higher. The Pegasus placed his red hooves on the stone. Hyper peeked over. There was more of the dry terrain, some empty buildings laid out also. But something caught Hyper's eyes. It was a large, gray structure. It was not a building, for it stood motionless on some tracks. A locomotive, that had been abandoned with no cars. HyperBlitz suddenly jumped down with enthusiasm. He flipped his head around and flew down to the others. "Hey, Rhythm!" He called out. "Hmm?" CharmingRhythm turned around. "I want to show you something!" "It can't wait? You know we're busy." Rhythm told him. "C'mon, just real quick!" Hyper said. Then he wrapped his hooves around the unicorn and lifted him up. Hyper kept fluttering and got higher. Rhythm panicked, and flapped his legs. Rhythm suddenly fell, and snatched Hyper's hind-leg. CharmingRhythm held on as tight as possible. "HyperBlitz!!! Where the hell are you taking me!?" He shouted. But Hyper didn't reply. He came closer to the big rock wall. HyperBlitz came down and pressed his fore-hooves down. Rhythm slid across the surface as he was dragged. CharmingRhythm finally let go, seeing that he had a safe place. He shot his head up and sneered at Hyper. "That." HyperBlitz said bluntly, pointing out his hoof. Rhythm looked over in the direction. He saw the locomotive on the tracks, clearly in the open. "A train?" "Yeah, I think it's interesting." Hyper said. "If there was a way we could charge it up with energy, we could travel." "Where?" Rhythm laughed. "South.... One of the mares in the camp goes there a lot. She says there are many ponies living in the big city still. Why not go there? We can tell ponies more about energy." Rhythm took a few moments to process his thoughts. "But first we want to find energy!" He said, and looked around at the other two ponies. "Now, get me down from here." HyperBlitz took his hooves around Rhythm again. "Don't slip this time." He took flight and glided down, placing Rhythm on his hooves. "What was that about?" SpinningNote spoke. "He wanted to show me a train..." CharmingRhythm trailed off. EchoBeat was not listening, he was testing his detector. He placed the sensor around, and shuffled it across the ground. A static noise arose. EchoBeat glanced at his machine. The buttons glowed blue. "I think I found an energy spot." He announced. "We can come back to it later." CharmingRhythm said. Indigo magic lifted up a rock. Spinningnote placed it on where the sensor was, to mark it. His magic took a sharp tool and stenciled in their symbol. Spinning looked over to Rhythm and nodded. > Part 35 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "C'mon, Echo." SpinningNote told EchoBeat. The red pony looked away from the computer. "Oh... right." He then jumped down and followed him into the meeting room. CharmingRhythm looked over the room; the ponies had gathered for a meeting. Echo sat on the right side of Rhythm, while Spinning was on the left. The stallions sat in their chairs while HeartFelt stood at the right side of the room. "So, we have some ideas." Rhythm started. "We can find energy easier," SpinningNote said. "And we might-" "Charge up a train!" HyperBlitz said quickly. "I was going to say that!" Spinning snapped. "You don't have to be so rude!" HeartFelt placed her hooves forward. "A train? I think I remember following some tracks up here.... from the city in the south." "Isn't that where we would want to go?" BlazingFlair spoke. "Yes, that was the plan." Rhythm stated. "Wouldn't we want some help from the ponies in the camp?" FeatherTune asked. "I know one pony knows that city." "But what will the ponies there think of us?" Spinning said. "We'll just have to see!" CharmingRhythm replied. "I'm sure that we will meet all sorts of ponies." BlazingFlair then began to speak faster. "There will be some ponies that might know us.... or not. There will be some fans, and haters. They might talk some shit about us and say we should of never came to their city. Others might like us, being nice. You know they might question a bunch, and I'm sure they will-" "Okay, we get the idea, Blazing" Rhythm waved his hoof. "I was just trying to make a point." Rhythm looked over. "Echo, do you think we can collect energy from the ground?" EchoBeat only nodded. There was some silence for a while. They all thought. Many different shades of brown eyes, and a pair of green eyes exchanged glances. The ponies didn't have much to say now. "Umm...are we going to talk about anything else?" FeatherTune said finally. "Well..... Really.... How are we going to do this?" HyperBlitz spoke. "I mean, travel, It can't be far of course, but we would probably be there for a few days." "If we find some ponies to help us." Rhythm retorted. "If anypony remembers us..." EchoBeat murmured softly. "I'm sure that there will be some ponies that know us!" BlazingFlair told him. "I'm sure there are many other ponies we know too.... Celebrities, since it's a big city, centered around entertainment." "Maybe..." Hyper didn't finish what he was about to say. "What?" Rhythm insisted. "I was think if we go there, and since it is centered around entertainment- Like Blazing said... We could possible play." CharmingRhythm paused. "We are going there so we can talk to them, and learn more. Music comes later... but that doesn't mean it's completely out of the picture." "Hopefully there is no hybrids there." FeatherTune muttered. "I think with the amount of ponies, that they could easily stop hybrids." Hyper said. BlazingFlair turned around. He watched the window, it seemed a few ponies were out from the camp. They probably were collecting things for supplies. Blazing wondered if any of them where the ponies they needed to speak to. "When will we get started?" Blazing asked, turning back around. "What will we need to bring.. even to get ready?" "Well, the energy detector, to find a good source of pure energy." CharmingRhythm said. "And probably a generator, to keep the energy in, and power up the train." "I want to bring my guitar!" Feather spoke aloud. "Just 'cause... I like my guitar. And what if we do play a song or two?" He smiled a bit. HeartFelt was quiet, and didn't speak much. She really didn't know what to say, how would she contribute to the group? She was still new to all of this. "Is there anything else we need to talk about?" Rhythm announced. "Is there any information that we can share?" Then the ponies stared at each other, and shook their heads. CharmingRhythm stepped down from his chair. Then the other did the same. "We can probably leave tomorrow. But we'll check with the camp ponies first." Rhythm told all of them "What if they want to come with us?" HyperBlitz mumbled, and dipped his head. Rhythm just stared at him. "There's nothing wrong with that. They might be help." HeartFelt then took a few steps towards Rhythm. "We can only go if the train will work right. What if it doesn't charge up?" The green mare worried. "I doubt that. It will be fine, but it might take awhile." Rhythm reassured her. HeartFelt sighed. She had a concerned and confused face. All the ponies had left the room but her, Rhythm and Hyper. "Are you okay?" Rhythm asked the mare. "It's just that... I don't feel I belong." She admitted. "What?" HyperBlitz spoke. "Of course you do. You're one of us!" HeartFelt shrugged. "I just really don't know how I'm supposed to help you guys." "You don't have to help right away." Rhythm said. "But any idea or facts you can give to us will help. That's how we work things around here." HeartFelt looked up a bit, and nodded. > Part 36 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hooves trailed along, following each other. FeatherTune hovered with his wings fluttering. His guitar was placed around his back on a black strap. He put his hooves down. "Are we coming back to the base after we talk to those ponies?" He asked CharmingRhythm Rhythm turned his head. "Well, we need to come back to get somethings, but after we talk to the camp and you want to get a head-start, go right away." FeatherTune nodded, then lifted back up. They looked over at the camp, ThunderCharm stood by the door. As soon as she caught sight of them, her wings flapped open with excitement. "Hey Guys!" She called out. "It's been a while since we talked." ChamingRhythm stepped forward. "Yeah... Well we found a train the other day-" "I did!" Hyper blurted out. "And, we were thinking of charging it up and going down to the city." Rhythm finished. "Oh wow, cool!" ThunderCharm replied. "You know, DawnShy goes there a lot!" "Yes, that's why we came here. We were wondering if she could help us...." Rhythm paused, the pegasus had eyes filled with admiration. "Um... would you like to help too?" "Oh yes!" She exclaimed. "Hey DawnShy!" She shouted. The green pegasus came out of the door, and she saw the ponies also. "These guys might be going to the city and they want some help." ThunderCharm said. "Awesome!" DawnShy spoke. A few of the ponies came forward, SpinningNote just stared at the mares. HeartFelt shuffled her hooves. "Are these ponies you're friends?" She asked. CharmingRhythm stopped for a moment. "Yeah, I guess. We have sorta begun a friendship. They are both really big fans of Linkin Pony." He said. ThunderCharm came up to the green unicorn. "Hi... um... you are... HeartFelt, right?" "Ye-yeah." She stumbled. "How did you know?" "Well uh..." ThunderCharm put her head low with embarrassment. "You know, before the change; Internet things. I searched up a lot. Just simple information!" She then said quickly. "Nothing bad, I just wanted to know names." "So when are we going?" SpinningNote said. "Whenever we are ready." CharmingRhythm retorted. "If you guys want to bring anything, you better go know." "Okay!" ThunderCharm jumped, and went through the door. The ponies had clopped and flew over to where the train was. EchoBeat used his energy detector to find a good energy spot they could use for the locomotive. HyperBlitz went through the train to see what was in it. Nothing much but dust. The engine was rusty, but durable. CharmingRhythm put some cords through the train, the generator sat inside. Somehow they would need to get the energy in, through the wires, then the generator, then the engine. Hopefully it was something they could manage. "I think I found something!" EchoBeat called out. SpinningNote leaped over to him, they were about 40 yards out. A part of the land swooped down in a ravine. Spinning looked at the detector, the buttons flickered like mad. "Okay, we need to collect it!" He said. BlazingFlair came forward, he wore a metal hoof cover. "Let me try." The orange pony placed his hoof down on the ground. He lifted it up and slammed it down with force. Blazing repeated this for a while. EchoBeat jolted his head every time he slammed into the ground. Suddenly, something appeared, the ground seemed to glow. The pure energy had broken through. BlazingFlair stopped, he didn't want to go further and risk anything. Then SpinningNote's magic brought a wire down by the blue aura. There was an magnet at the end, something very conductive to energy. Suddenly, what looked like a mist, flowed up, and onto the magnet. This then went through the wire, and soon to the generator. In the train, CharmingRhythm had put as many cords onto the train's engine as he could. Many different sizes and different connectors, some only clamped on like a jumper-cable. He heard a noise from the generator. The energy had reached it. Rhythm tapped a button on it, and a buzzing noise arose. The energy then went to the other cords. HyperBlitz stood stiff, waiting to see the results. There was blue sparks flying from the ends of the cables. CharmingRhythm pulled hard on some of the train's control levers. The engine gave off a whirring sound. A faint halo of blue circled the engine, and the parts inside began to move. HyperBltiz jumped with excitement, it had worked. "We got it!" He shouted out the train door. They waited a little bit for some more energy to transfer to the generator, it could be held in there. The ponies circled around the locomotive's entrance. SpinningNote helped EchoBeat bring his machine. Each pony got on. It seemed odd to get on a train, but they still knew they need to try many things. The only two that stood outside were DawnShy and ThunderCharm. The pegasi both stared. "Are... are we coming?" DawnShy asked. CharmingRhythm glanced at them and waved his hoof. "Of course!" The two mares' faces light up with giant smiles. Their feathers spread out with joy. They both climbed on, and shut the squeaky door behind them. "Okay, driving a train can't be that hard." BlazingFlair said. "It stays on the tracks the who time right?" SpinningNote told him with sarcasm. The pure energy was their fuel, as long as they had enough, they would be fine. Traveling to the city wouldn't take much time, but the tracks were rusty, and they needed to go slow. They set the time to be about an hour. > Part 37 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The wheel squeaked across the rails as they headed south-east. The ponies felt a bit uncomfortable. Standing while they were moving? They tried to place themselves on the dusty floor. FeatherTune watched the outside through a cracked window. The gray world past by slowly. SpinningNote made sure nothing was wrong with the generator. The ponies that were the most uncomfortable were the two pegasi, ThunderCharm and DawnShy. Really, it wasn't the train they were bothered about, it was the fact they were with these ponies. They had heard the fact that they all were now friends. The two mare's could only dream of a thing in the past. The change in the world actually brought them to their inspirations, role models, and even heroes. "Hopefully we aren't gone too long." FeatherTune said, still looking out the window. "As long as hybrid's don't get in our base, we'll be fine." SpinningNote replied. Suddenly, EchoBeat's head shot over to Spinning, with concerned eyes. "I doubt that." The unicorn told him. EchoBeat tried to settle himself away from the thought. He looked out of a window also. He saw many old house that were abandoned. He knew that he'd be able to tell they were close to the city when more housed appeared. HyperBlitz looked over. "Hey, DawnShy, what ponies are actually there." The green pegasus glanced up, surprised and pleased that he said her name. " Lots of ponies! I met one of my other favorite music artists! He is so nice, LovingSong!" She told with a smile. "Hmm... I've heard about him before." Hyper twisted his head. "Didn't he make the song 'Grenade' and uh..." "It Will Rain', and 'Just the Way You Are'! Yep, those are his most popular songs!" DawnShy replied. There was a little silence for a while. CharmingRhythm kept his eyes forward, through the windshield. Blazing kept the controls at a steady pace, and watch the engine carefully. Suddenly, Rhythm let out his voice. "What the hell is that?" HyperBlitz turned his head around. He looked through the window. A figure was placed on the track, far way. Hyper first guessed a hybrid, but as it came closer, he notice there was no metal parts. It was a pony for sure. "Shit! There's a guy on the tracks!" CharmingRhythm shouted. All of the ponies jumped and panicked. They looked out the front window with fear. HyperBltiz smashed the cracked window with his hoof, busting it out. He poked his head out and screamed at the top of his lungs. "GET THE HELL OFF THE TRACKS!" The pony was easy to make out now. A light purple stallion unicorn, with a crazy blonde mane. It seemed he was smiling. HyperBlitz screamed to the other ponies. "STOP THE TRAIN!" "It would be too hard right now, not unless there are breaks on the track." Blazing exclaimed. "Fuck." Just as they thought they would hit the poor pony, they suddenly stopped. The ponies slammed into the control board, onto of each other. They loked up dizzily, and their vision was blue.... blue? The train was entirely engulfed with a blue aura. It was magic from the unicorn. "Hi!!!" He shouted, waving his hoof. "What are you doing?!" Hyper called to him. "Wow, you have a train? Can I come on?" The unicorn said happily. CharmingRhythm bent over and whispered in Hyper's ear. "I think he's hopelessly lost. We should let him come." HyperBlitz grumbled with annoyance. He opened the side door. The outside was still blue as the pony came around. As soon as he leaped, the magic dissipated, and the train moved. The light purple unicorn's blonde mane was tipped with red. He had huge green eyes, and a orange cutie mark that was a marker and paper. He didn't match at all, not even his blue magic. He glanced at ThunderCharm. "Oh hi ThunderCharm! Hey DawnShy. I didn't know you were on this train!" ThunderCharm backed up and put her head low. "You know this pony!?" Hyper called out. "Um..." She looked up in guilt. "Yeah, we're friends! It just must be luck to find them!" The the unicorn stared at all of them. "Hey, Thunder, isn't this Linkin Pony? How did you get together with your favorite band! Is it just luck also?!" "I...I guess..." She murmured. "Um... This is RandomSketch..." She told all of them. "He's one of those ponies whose name suits very well. You know how HyperBlitz is actually hyper, well, RandomSketch is... random ." The pony seemed a bit too happy. Maybe he was like this so he can make others happy. But surly he knew of the world.. He jumped over again. RandomSketch's eyes found EchoBeat. "Oh hey, it's Filly Gaga!" EchoBeat put his head low and his face lit up. He didn't say anything though. 'RANDOM!" ThunderCharm snapped. "Stop with that joke! And this is real now, that's really EchoBeat! Don't be mean to him. He didn't do anything to you!" "Wow..." Hyper said, and rolled his eyes. "But she's so beautiful!" RandomSketch still joked. EchoBeat looked to the ground and whimpered. DawnShy then slapped Random with her wing. "Shut up!" "Fine." RandomSketch muttered. "Ooookay." CharmingRhythm said oddly. He glanced back over to the front of the train. They would soon come to the city, and they would have to be prepared. How would the ponies there react when they see a train moving? Did they even think how they could use the energy like that? > Part 38 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Levers were pulled down by BlazingFlair. They had found the city, many ponies looked confused as they saw the train approach. Also, many ponies circled the train as it came. The ponies inside didn't know how they would introduce themselves. How formal did they need to be? By how the ponies looked outside, probably not that formal. The door opened, and HyperBlitz saw what looked to be a thousand eyes staring at him. As he stepped down, he felt another pony jump off and hit his side. "HI!!!" RandomSketch bounced into the crowd. Many of the ponies got angry when he budged in. "Random!" ThunderCharm called out and jumped down from the train too. DawnShy came out and few up. She turned around and waved her green hoof. "I'll be back. Don't go too far!" She called back to them, then zoomed off. HyperBltiz took a few more steps forward, CharmingRhythm and the others came too. Really all there was now was mumbling, many spoke to each other in secret. Hyper then lifted his head up and cleared his throat. "Hello everypony. I know that it may seem odd that we are riding a train. We had charged it up with energy." "Who are you?!" Somepony from the crowd shouted. "Why are you here?" Another called out. CharmingRhythm then started. "Well, we wanted to meet up with more ponies. We thought we can get more information this way. And we can talk more about energy. We found an easier way to find it." Before Rhythm could say any more, the crowd got louder, and closer. Some looked confuse, some excited, some angry. Many different feelings were here.Rhythm lead the ponies forward, away from the tracks. The looked around and saw the start of the city. Many tall buildings were deteriorating. "I'm not sure these ponies trust us." BlazingFlair muttered. "Hmm." Rhythm thought for a moment. "Okay, everypony, circle!" The six of them came together away from the mob. They made a circle and put their heads low in huddle. All of their eyes glanced over each other. "Okay, what are we doing now?" HyperBlitz said. "We need to gain trust of these ponies." Rhythm told him. "I knew that these city ponies were going to act different." Blazing said. "I can sense negativity in the air." "Of course their negative, everypony is." SpinningNote spoke. "But how do we..." EchoBeat was quiet, and the noise of the crowd overcame his voice. "Speak up dude!" Hyper said. "How do we get trust of these ponies?" He said a bit louder. All of the stallions did speak, only thought. What would these ponies need? They could show them more about energy, but they might not even let them to do that. "Can I join the circle of trust?!" HeartFelt called to them from the side. Then Rhythm extend his fore-leg and showed her to a spot. Her eyes came in with the others as they all thought. She wanted to help of course. "We need to get more information about these ponies." She said. "Well, I don't even know how we would do that!?" Blazing shook his head. Suddenly, there was the voice of a young mare behind them, ThunderCharm. "Play them a song!" She suggested. All of their heads popped up from the circle and only stared. Then ThunderCharm shrugged. "This is a city that is based on art and music, right? I bet many of these ponies havn't seen a good act in a while. Play them a song, and they'll love you!" CharmingRhythm replied. "That's actually a good idea." ThunderCharm gave a smile and squeak. "But how would we find instruments? I mean, Blazing and Feather have their own, but what about the rest of us?" "Like I said, this city is full of art and music." ThunderCharm told him. "I'm sure somepony has instruments somewhere. Even if they aren't exact instruments you need. You guys don't have to be perfect, because music is music." "I like that idea." Hyper smiled. The group broke away from the circle of trust. They all looked to each other with agreement. But then they looked to the right. DawnShy few close to the grown towards them. She let her wings go and stood on the floor. Her face was bright with big green eyes. "I want you guys to meet LovingSong!" She moved out of the way and a stallion stood there. He had a tan coat, and a bushy dark mane. He wore sunglasses. Then he took them off with his hoof, and looked at them. "Hey." He nodded. "It's nice to meet you." He put his hoof out. HyperBlitz stared at it, then finally placed his own hoof down and shook. "Oh my gosh! I can't believe it. My two favorite music artist, in the same place!" DawnShy squeaked. "Okay, calm down. No time to fangasm." ThunderCham spoke. She looked over to LovingSong and giggled. "Hi... I'm ThunderCharm. I was wondering, since you do make music, if you have any instruments these guys can borrow." The tan stallion retorted. "Hmm.... Well, I do know where there is a bunch of instruments. They aren't exactly mine. I just found them in a warehouse." LovingSong spun around. "Why don't you guys follow me." FeatherTune glanced at HyperBlitz with a questioning face. Then Hyper jolted his head to gesture him to follow all of the ponies. Feather rolled his eyes and went, holding his guitar steady. > Part 39 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- They all passed through the city streets. They also passed my different ponies. Many looked at them odd, some hid behind walls, and in old stores and houses. DawnShy said this was normal. LovingSong stopped by a building. The door was broken, and he pushed it open with his hoof. He slowly went into the dark room. As CharmingRhythm came in, his leg's energy light up the walls. Then LovingSong kicked something, and more energy appeared and light up the whole room. A mass amount of boxes piled up. Instruments were there too. A large variety also. Some electric, and acoustic guitars laid against the boxes. Single drums, and a full drum set, laid on the ground. Microphones and amplifiers were there too, their wires tangled. And the most striking, a large piano, closed and dusty. CharmingRhythm came to the piano. His magic pulled the top open. He checked the cords inside, they were all perfect. Rhythm sat down and whipped the keys. It wasn't a keyboard, but it would odd. Actually, Rhythm loved to play a real piano over a keyboard. It would produce a different sound for their music, but they could still get the right notes. "We can defiantly charge up these amps and mics with energy." HyperBlitz said. "What would we play?" EchoBeat said, scanning the drum set. "We should play a rocking song!" Hyper called out. "Something that would get these ponies on their hooves!" Rhythm let out a breath. "Really, I was thinking the opposite." HyperBlitz looked at him odd. Then Rhythm placed his hooves on the keys. He played only about five notes, but he made clear of the song. HyperBlitz was confused. "That?" He gagged a bit. "Yeah... I mean... it's something we can all sing. And I think it would be good for these ponies." CharmingRhythm explained. "And even if sometimes in the past, Echo and Feather didn't sing, I want them to sing now. EchoBeat nodded, But Feather cocked his head. "Why is it that all the songs we have been playing for ponies be from A Thousand Suns?" He asked. "You remember the theme from that album, right?" Hyper said. "Uh... um..." "It was that you have to keep moving on, and try to live in a conflicted world." Hyper explained. "And that's exactly what these ponies need to hear." Rhythm added. SpinningNote came forward. "All right, we know what we are going to do... so lets do it! Except I'm not sure how I'm going to do anything. I guess I could play some sort of sympathizer. I think I saw one." "We better get some ponies to help us get all the things we need." BlazingFlair said. Later, they had found a stage, and gathered many ponies to watch. All the ponies in the crowd still looked confused, and some annoyed. There was at least fifty ponies, since they had gather them most from the city. The band set up instruments and the wires connected to a generator. CharmingRhythm came forward at looked at the ponies. He tapped the microphone to make sure it worked. "Hello Everypony." He said, and his voice echoed. "We would like to play a song for you guys." HyperBlitz said, into another microphone. "Um..okay, how many of you ponies know who we are?" Rhythm asked. Only a little more then half of the hooves raised. "Um, let me rephrase that, keep your hooves up. Okay, you might not of seen use before, but how many have heard of Linkin Pony?" Then a few more hooves went into the air. "We're still playing for you guys no matter what! " Hyper said. CharmingRhythm adjested his microphone over the piano. He took a seat and nooded to the others as they positioned. (Please click, and open in a other tab, here to listen to the song) Rhythm pressed down on the keys, as Spinning played a noise on his sympathizer. Rhythm lifted his head up and began to sing in a soft voice. "You were standing in the wake of devastation And you were waiting on the edge of the unknown And with the cataclysm raining down Insides crying "Save me now" You were there, impossibly alone" - Then HyperBlitz came forward and began to sing, EchoBeat began to play his drums. - "Do you feel cold and lost in desperation? You build up hope, but failure’s all you’ve known Remember all the sadness and frustration And let it go. Let it go" - The music played and got a bit louder, FeatherTune and BlazingFlair both played also. Rhythm's voice came back, with Hyper singing back-up now. - "And in a burst of light that blinded every angel As if the sky had blown the heavens into stars You felt the gravity of tempered grace Falling into empty space No one there to catch you in their arms" "Do you feel cold and lost in desperation? You build up hope, but failure’s all you’ve known Remember all the sadness and frustration And let it go. Let it go" - FeatherTune played a guitar solo, then Echo picked up with a soft beat. All of the ponies put their head forward. Microphones were placed in front of all six of them. They all sang in gang-vocals. - "Do you feel cold and lost in desperation? You build up hope, but failure’s all you’ve known Remember all the sadness and frustration And let it go. Let it go Let it go Let it go Let it go Let it go" - Then the music got to its loudest part, with EchoBeat tapping on a tambourine, and HyperBlitz raised his voice. - "Do you feel cold and lost in desperation? You build up hope, but failure’s all you’ve known Remember all the sadness and frustration And let it go. Let it go" - As the music of the piano and synthesizer faded out, the ponies in the crowd clapped their hooves and cheered. It was an applause that they could never get from the camp at their home. The band exchanged glanced and smiled. They were sure they had the trust of the city now. > Part 40 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After awhile, the ponies had come down from the stage. The crowd was happy, and excited. Many tried to talk with them, but the commotion was too loud. It was hard to stay together. Many eyes were on them "At least they trust us now!" HyperBlitz called out. CharmingRhythm nodded. "How do we get out of here?" "I don't know." Hyper laughed. He got over to the side, where there was less congestion. A path was cut through the crowd. The other ponies followed Hyper. Still, many ponies tried to get to them, but they tried to reason with the others. It was good to see these ponies' enthusiasm, and they hadn't met a group of fans like this in a long time. HyperBlitz looked through the crowd of many colored ponies. Their faces were bright, especially the fillies and colts. Something caught his eye. A tan mare, who seemed to be heading the other direction. Her mane was black, and her cutie mark was a pink bow. The design was strikingly familiar to Hyper. "SweetHooves?!" He called out. "Is that you?" Suddenly, the tan mare jumped at the sound of his voice. She ducked her head low, and ran without looking back. She passed through the crowd. Hyper then lifted off the ground with his wings. He zoomed forward and followed the mare. He zig-zagged through the bundle of ponies. Some pedestrians yelled at him when he bounced through. He tried to keep steady as he flutter through. Finally, he slammed himself through a door, and broke it open. Hyper looked around, the mare hid in a corner. "SweetHooves!" He yelled "Don't look at me!" She called back. The mare covered her face with her hooves and hair. "Go away!" “What?!” Hyper said. “Sweet, I didn’t know you were here-” He stuttered. “I didn’t know you were alive.” His eyes filled with emotions. “Just go away.” She murmured. “What’s wrong? Wouldn’t you be more excited to see me?” Hyper asked. “No…” The mare hesitated. “The world has changed everypony.” “Sweet, I know… I know that very well, but that doesn’t mean that everypony is somepony different now.” HyperBlitz paused. “Just look at me.” "I...I can't." She said. "I'm not the same" HyperBlitz lifted her head with his hoof. He removed her black mane from her face. A scar stretched across her eye and down her cheek. Hyper was silent for a while as he scanned her face. "You're still beautiful to me." He whispered. "Hyper..." She put her head down. "You've been through a lot, haven't you." Hyper asked. SweetHooves then nodded. "Haven't we all? I still see you have the band together." "Did you see us play?" He said, and she bowed her head. "Why didn't you come out then?" "I couldn't, Hyper... I just couldn't." They were silent for a few moments. Then a sound came out from the other corner. Hyper looked over the dusty room. There was an opening, a deterioration door. Something leaped out, a bright orange colt looked up. "Daddy!" "JumpingJolt!?" Hyper spoke with disbelief. "Jolt's still alive?" "Mm-Hmm. He's the only one left." SweetHooves murmured. "He was the oldest...." HyperBlitz took a deep breath. The colt looked up at him with a bright smile. "Well, he seems to still be happy and active..." "Like you..." SweetHooves said. No words were spoke now, only eyes met. Hyper leaned over and kissed the mare. Her eyes weary, did not close. She then resisted. "HyperBlitz..." She said, pulling away. Then a little voice came from the side. "Daddy, what happen to your wing?" Hyper looked at JumpingJolt, then too his wing. "Oh...a Hybrid took it from me." "Hmm..You lost a wing, and I lost sight in one eye." SweetHooves murmured. "Yeah... but Rh-." Hyper stopped. "Damn, I forgot. I shouldn't of ran off from them." He looked at the mare. "But I had to find you..." HyperBlitz then stepped over, he went outside. He gazed around, there was still a crowd of ponies. He tried to find his friends in the mob. He then took off from the ground, flying. The pegasus glanced down, and searched through the colors. Suddenly, Hyper shot his head up. Something else was flying to his right side. FeatherTune was fluttering, and when he caught sight of Hyper, he flustered over to him. He gave a bit of an annoyed face. "Why did you disappear like that?!" Feather asked. "I'm sorry, I had to do something..." Hyper said. "I completely forgot about you guys for a second." "How!?" "Just...." Hyper muttered. "Where's Rhythm?" "Down there, looking for you!" The cream pegasus pointed his hoof. HyperBlitz looked over and spotted the blue unicorn. "CharmingRhythm!!!" He shouted. Then his head spun around, confused, he looked up. Rhythm saw both of them. They couldn't hear him, but could read his lips as he spoke "HyperBlitz." with an irritated expression. Then Rhythm galloped towards them, through the crowd. Hyper and Feather glided down, they were in a space at the side of the crowd. CharmingRhythm came through and met up with the two. "What was that for!?" Rhythm called out. "Sorry... sorry." HyperBlitz echoed. Hyper looked over, he saw SweetHooves hiding behind a wall. Just as he extended his hoof out, she backed away. Rhythm and Feather were confused at what he was doing, for they couldn't see her. But just then, the orange coat of JumpingJolt zoomed out from behind the wall. FeatherTune and CharmingRhythm both jumped, and glanced around confused. The little colt came and greeted them, with a huge smile. "Whoa... JumpingJolt?" Rhythm said. "How did you..." He then looked at Hyper. "I'm surprised too." HyperBlitz admitted. "I thought he was dead. Who knew that he would be here." "But-- what? How... is..?" FeatherTune only stuttered, he couldn't make out a real sentence. SweetHooves finally stepped out slowly. Feather and Rhythm gazed over and looked stunned. Hyper took her underneath his left wing. SweetHooves' hair covered her scar again, and she looked miserable. "Sw-SweetHooves?" CharmingRhythm gagged. "She was here the whole time." HyperBlitz exclaimed. "But she still doesn't seem to be very excited to see me, or any of us." The mare put her head low. "It's not the same anymore. The world is too different." Then SweetHooves came away from his wing, and slowly went back behind the wall. The stallions looked to each other, confused, while JumpingJolt still had a bright smile. > Part 41 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was now late afternoon, evening would come soon. CharmingRhythm decided that it was time to talk with the ponies. They had their trust now, so they could probably speak openly. The other ponies followed Rhythm to a place that seemed to be once a park, they gathered to city ponies there. The citizens seemed to be respectful, for they were quiet. Rhythm, and the other stallions greeted the ponies as they walked through. They introduced themselves, but they were astonished to see how many ponies already knew who they were. The ponies settled down, and watched them. "Hello everypony, and thank you. I am glad that we can finally get down to business." Rhythm announced. Some of the ponies mumbled, a voice spoke out. "What are we talking about?" "Well, energy really." CharmingRhythm said. " And how we can use it better. I see some of you do have mechanical parts. And it seems you have pure energy on them. That's good, if you didn't you would be a hybrid." Rhythm looked over to BlazingFlair. "Even if we don't all have mechanical parts, we need energy on us at all times." Blazing raised his right hoof, that had a hoof cover on it. "But we need to get more energy." A voice said. "Yes. We have figured out an easier way to find it. EchoBeat can probably show you." He turned to the red pony, who looked at them shyly. "You know that energy comes from the ground... the planet. Many ponies say the world is dead, but that is a lie! If the world is dead, how is the energy coming up?! How are we still alive?!" All of the crowd started to mumble with agreement. "Pure energy is what has helped up. It is how we have grown food, purified water, and stopped hybrids." CharmingRhythm took a pause. "But I know there are still many hybrids out there." Suddenly, a thin, dirty yellow stallion walked up. He had a dark purple mane was spiked up. He also had many mechanical parts on him, his right eye, his left fore-leg, and right hind-leg. Of course it was common for a pony to have mechanical parts, but his seemed different. His metal was lacking the white or light gray usually seen, only dark silver. And there was no spot on it that was blue. If he had any energy at all, it would have to be hidden. "If the world is not dead, then why are all of the plants and animals out there dead?" The stallion asked. "Well, pollutants of course." Rhythm replied. "And if the energy is everywhere, and stops hybrids, why are they not all dead already!?" The stallion snapped. "Because it is hidden underground!" Rhythm raised his voice. Just then, another pony came from the crowd. She was a grayish-violet unicorn with a dark blue mane. Her front right leg had metal on it, and a blue orb showed. Her horn seemed to be cracked, but not broken. "Why must you ask these questions?! It sounds as you are on the opposite side of us!" The mare grumbled. "Are you a hybrid?" "WHAT?!" The stallion yelled. "How dare you accuse me of being a hybrid! Of course not! I am only trying to be realistic here, is that not right?" Before the mare could argue anymore, CharmingRhythm spoke to the pony. "And who are you to be realistic?" "I am NightHaze." The stallion addressed. "If you say you are not a hybrid, where's you're pure energy?!" The mare interrupted. "Please, you are the one being rude... must you get into everypony's business?" "No, but I want to know the truth about you!" She called back. "I have had about enough of you ponies!" NightHaze snapped, then flipped away, leaving. CharmingRhythm only stared. He wasn't sure what to make out of this. Then the mare came to him. "I'm sorry about that. It's just that NightHaze has always been a bother around here. There's something up with him. I'm SwiftStitch, by the way." Rhythm nodded, and BlazingFlair took few steps forward to speak. "There was something different about that pony. I couldn't see any pure energy on him, and how could he hid it? And I also think I saw his eye flash red." "Red energy would indicate a hybrid." Rhythm stated. "But you don't want to assume things to early." EchoBeat said quietly, only the front of the crowd heard him. "Yes... but in this world, its hard not to assume." SwiftStitch retorted. Suddenly, HyperBlitz came out from behind. "Maybe we can go hunt him down." "We don't have time for that." Rhythm told him. "We need to get to work." He looked to the crowd and spoke up. "Do we think we can do that? We need to work together, and use the energy wisely. We also need to share ideas and facts." Then the unicorn raised his hoof. "Lets get to it!" All of the ponies moved, and murmured. They seemed excited, a few came to talk, and discus their plans. The mare stayed in her place, and gazed to Rhythm. "You guys have done a lot so far, haven't you?" "They always have!" A voice said from above. ThunderCharm fluttered down by them. "Even before the change!" "Really? Like how?" SwiftStitch asked. "Well, one of the reasons I have always loved Linkin Pony was because they helped a lot in the world. The noticed the problems, and did a lot of charity." ThunderCharm said. "We didn't do that much." CharmingRhythm shrugged. "Are you kidding? You guys work so hard!" The pegasus exclaimed. HyperBlitz butted his head in. "Then why don't we get to work now! It's gonna be dark soon!" > Part 42 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The ponies had worked hard that evening, they had worked till sunset. Many of the citizens were grateful for them. They sleep inside the train, the only place they could go. They had gotten blankets from the city ponies so they wouldn't sleep on the dusty floor. Even though it was uncomfortable, the day had easily tired them. It was still dark, and the morning would come soon. All of them were asleep, but HyperBlitz awoke; he had intended to. Hyper gazed around and paced his hooves slow. He pulled the door open and close quietly. Then he flipped his head over to his right wing. He tapped the orb with his hoof, and the blue glow appeared. HyperBlitz went through the empty city streets. He looked left, then right, to make sure that no pony, or hybrid saw him. He wondered if hybrids would try to get in the city at night. He tried to remember the right direction. Hyper turned the corner, his wing's glow light up the wall. Something flashed, and he jumped. He quickly came to the sight. A pony stepped back, his leg was made of metal. A blue orb was in it's center. Hyper sighed with relief. "I.. I... uh.." The pony stumbled. "It's okay." Hyper said softly. "You shouldn't be out, you need to get inside quick." The pony nodded, then took his hooves away, and went behind the wall. HyperBlitz looked down the street once more. He had been in this city many times, but it seemed so different now. He glanced at the broken windows of shops. The buildings lined up in a row, a place where ponies use to crowd, day and night. Now it was bare. Hyper thought he was starting to wander too far. He need to change his route, but the city seemed so interesting to look at, even after all of the change. He turned down the street he remembered following earlier that day. HyperBlitz passed through the lone park. He wandered and thought, how long would it bee until sunrise? Then he came to his destination. Hyper took a deep breath. He pushed the door he had broke earlier with his hoof. The creaking echoed. The pegasus looked over. A silhouette of the tan mare shown. She was sleeping in the corner, a rugged blanket underneath. Her little colt was bundled up next to her. Hyper stepped forward, and bowed his head. His muzzle touched her side, and her eyes opened slowly. "HyperBlitz?" Her voice was quiet. "Why are you here?" "I had to come... I just haven't seen you in so long.. I needed to be with you." "Hyper..." SweetHooves moved slowly. She glanced down at JumpingJolt, who was still sleeping. Hyper came closer, and placed his left wing around her. The floor was cold, and hard to get comfortable on it. He looked at SweetHooves, but she did not meet his eyes. "I'm sorry I came so late... or early... whatever time it is." Hyper said. SweetHooves did not reply, but little movement came from beneath. JumpingJolt turned his head tiredly. "Daddy?" "It's okay, just go back to sleep." Hyper told him, nuzzling his mane. The colt tried to settle himself again. It was quiet for a few moments, until SweetHooves began to speak. "It's good to hear your voice again..." HyperBlitz sighed. " You should come back with us." "I...I can't." She said. "I just can't Hyper." "Why?" She only put her head lower, touching JumpingJolt. His eyes still gazed around, still not falling back to sleep. Jolt shuffled a bit, into a new position between the two ponies. There was only silence now. HyperBlitz sat there for a while, not knowing how long he was gone. He let his wife and son sleep, or at least rest. He felt guilt that he had awoke them now. A sad feeling came over him. The way that SweetHooves was now, so negative. How any of the world was. And the thought that all his children but one was dead. And SweetHooves probably had to watch them die. But then again, many ponies lost their whole family. But his family didn't want to come with him. Hyper, eyes now misty, breathed heavy. SweetHooves now moved again after a long time. She looked up to the pegasus, whose tears rolled down his cheek. "Why are you crying?" The mare asked. "It's... it's nothing." He murmured. "Then you shouldn't cry if it is nothing." "Hmm..." HyperBlitz gave a little nod. He thought for a long moment. "It's not December." "What?" The mare mumbled, but Hyper replied with a melody. "This is my December This is my time of the year This is my December This is all so clear This is my December This is my snow covered home This is my December This is me alone" His eyes were closed for a bit, before he sang anymore. He had to skip a part of the song, for it was a part CharmingRhythm would sing. Hyper sang quietly again. "And I'd give it all away Just to have somewhere To go to Give it all away To have someone To come home to" SweetHooves placed her head closer to him as he stopped. HyperBlitz only stared into space. Again, silence filled the room for a while. Gray light started to appear against the back wall. Hyper then noticed it, but still did not move. "I'm gonna have to go soon." He said, then met the mares eyes, the scared one now showing. "But, I'll stay a little bit longer." He whispered. > Part 43 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- In a short time, dim sunlight broke through the windows. The rays fell on BlazingFlair's face. He raised his head, and glanced around at his companions. He noticed that HyperBlitz was gone. Blazing jumped, worried, he didn't know where he was. He would have to go out to find him. Blazing slowly moved, not waking anypony. He thought it would be a good idea to leave a not. But how would he write it? He thought for a moment, HeartFelt had brought some things to write with, so she can jot down facts. Blazing looked inside of her bag and ripped out a piece of paper and a pen. He started to write. I am going to be gone for a little bit. I woke up and saw that Hyper was gone, I went to go search for him. I will see you guys later -BF Blazing placed the note on the control panel where it was clearly visible. He then stepped outside the train. Long shadows were placed on the ground from the early light. He walked out into the city. The streets seemed as bare as the desert, but soon ponies appeared. Many of the city ponies were still asleep. For the ones who were awake, they only gave glances at BlazingFlair The sky still seemed dark, but not as dark as the night. Blazing wondered where HyperBlitz was. He hoped that his friends were not angry at him for leaving to find Hyper. Many ponies seemed to be merchants, trying to get others to trade for food or fabrics. Blazing was surprised to see some ponies with money. Why in this world would you need to use bits? BlazingFlair glanced over. In an ally where nopony dared to go, a shadow moved across. He peeked over, it was the mare he saw yesterday, SwiftStich. The gray mare seemed sly now, as she vanished into a doorway. Blazing took his gait over to the door. The orange pony bowed down and watched through a stained window. SwiftStitch paced the floor. Another pony was facing her, NightHaze. He seemed very annoyed. Blazing tried to concentrate and measure his ears in their conversation. "Why do you have such a problem with me?" NightHaze asked oddly. "Because you are bothering ponies!" SwiftStich snapped. "How?" "First of all, the way you act. You are odd, and you scare children." "How dare you insult me!" NightHaze growled. "That's what everypony says." SwiftStich tilted her head. "And where is your energy? That's my biggest problem. No blue on you makes you seem like a hybrid." NightHaze sighed. "I have energy..." Then he came closer to the mare. "But as curious as you are, you want the truth, right?" "Of course." "You see I have metal parts, yes? Well I am still a pony. I have the mind of a pony, and I eat and drink, but not often. Sometimes the technology on me makes me crazy-" Suddenly, his right eye flashed red. "And sometimes I wish to kill. I guess I am part Hybrid, half of one." The mare stepped back in horror. She shook her head in disbelief while BlazingFlair watched in disbelief. He was only frozen now. "But now that I have told you my truth, I must kill you." NightHaze mumbled. "What-" SwiftStitch swallowed. Just before she could make one more move, NightHaze bashed his mechanical hoof into her chest. The sharp blades sank into her skin with red pouring out. His Hybrid energy took over her, and his hoof sank in deeper as she collapsed. SwiftStitch was a hollow body left in a puddle of blood. As NightHaze stepped back, BlazingFlair slipped down from the window. He breathed heavily with panic. Fear settled inside of him, Blazing hoped that the Half-Hybrid did not see him. The earth-pony then sprinted out of the alley. The light hit his face, he had been out for a while. He needed to find his friends. Blazing remembered that if they were split up, they would meet up at the park. So that was where he headed. He bounced around the ponies that were in the streets now. BlazingFlair tried to keep steady. He found the park, and like he expected, the other ponies were there. Even HyperBlitz was there, the reason Blazing was out. Hyper was speaking with them, he seemed to act odd. But BlazingFlair then jumped down with force, scaring all of the ponies. He rushed out and screamed. "HE'S A HYBRID!!! HE KILLED THAT MARE!" CharmingRhythm jolted. "Whoa, what? Blazing, slow down." "That guy from yesterday! I saw him! He killed that one mare with hybrid powers!" Blazing blurted out. "What guy? What mare?" Rhythm asked. "That dude... what was his name... NightHaze! And he killed SwiftStitch!" "How do you know?" FeatherTune stepped up. "Because I saw it!!!" BlazingFlair yelled. "He told her that he was a Half-Hybrid, and then he killed her!" "Blazing, calm down! Are you sure that you saw this?" HyperBlitz then said. "YES! Why are you guys not believing me! It's true, I saw it! I can show you! Now there was a crowd around them, many ponies looked at him with confusion. They all watched Blazing, and gave him mocking looks. But Blazing didn't bother with them. "Really, NightHaze is a Hybrid!" "What was that?" A harsh voice came from behind. All of the ponies turned around, and the thin stallion stood in front of them. He took a few slow strides forward. He was angry, for he heard them. All of the ponies were in fear now. NightHaze only came closer. "So, you think I am a Hybrid too?" He sneered. "I guess I'm just hated around here." > Part 44 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The stallion drew closer, and the fear was filling the air. NightHaze did not want to mess around. Death seemed to fill his eyes, even the mechanical one. "Is that what you said, I'm a Hybrid now?" He growled at BlazingFlair. Blazing was frozen, but then soon let go of the fear. "I said that... because I saw it." "So you are a stalker?" NightHaze snapped. "No! I was just walking, and I saw SwiftStitch go into a building, where you killed her!" "Now I am being accused of murder!?" NightHaze yelled at him. "I always knew there was something up with him." A voice came from the mob behind. Some ponies stepped down. "Well, why must everyone be against me!" He yelled. "Because you are a hybrid!" A different voice called out. "What the hell do you mistake me for?! A fool?!" "We don't mistake you for anything, we just know you are hybrid." BlazingFlair stated. "If I was a Hybrid, then how would I be able to talk?" "You-you're a Half-Hybrid. You even said so." Blazing swallowed. Suddenly, more ponies came forward, and shouted at them. They yelled back. A commotion of discord arose, nopony seemed to stop yelling. They park was filled with angry voices. NightHaze snapped at the ponies, and pushed them away. Now the ponies seemed to turn on each other. HyperBlitz's voice was one of the loudest, but it was hard to make out his words. As a mare screamed at him, he shouted back. "SHUT UP WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!" But the mare just kept yelling ,and went on to some other ponies. All of them still yelled, Hyper would have to scream louder to get their attention. FeatherTune swirled around as many ponies pushed him. He tried to scream too. "Escúchenme ahora mismo!!!" He called out, but nopony listened. HyperBlitz took up to the air. He fluttered around and watched the angry mob. He then took place on top off a broken table. He positioned himself, and took a very deep breath. Suddenly he let out the loud, highest pitched scream ever. All of the pony jolted and glanced at him. He had their attention now. All of the ponies stared in silence, HyperBltiz tried to breath one more. "You guys... need to.... shut up.... This will...not solve anything." CharmingRhythm stepped up. "Hyper's right." "Then what will solve the problem?" A pony asked. "Get rid of NightHaze. Since he is a hybrid. I saw red energy on him." The pony flipped around. "Just look!" All of the crowd moved, NighHaze had an evil glare on him. His mechanical eye was glowing red. "For that shows what!?" He called back. "That you are a hybrid!!!" BlazingFlair screamed. "You know what... maybe I-" NightHaze then jumped. He put his metal hoof forward, and suddenly a red light flashed out of it. A laser struck Blazing in the chest and sent him crashing into the ground. NightHaze then swirled and ran off, other ponies going after him. As most of the crowd went after the stallion, CharmingRhythm looked back at Blazing. He was on the ground motionless. The Linkin Ponies all gathered around him, Rhythm placed his head closer to him. "BlaizngFlair?" HyperBlitz came by him too, and touched his leg. Hyper gave a concerned look to Rhythm. The other ponies watched the motionless Earth-pony with fear. "C'mon, Blaze. You gotta get up." Rhythm shook him. HyperBlitz shook him too. Then he only gazed at CharmingRhythm. "That was hybrid energy that hit him." Then Hyper stood up away from the unicorn. "BlazingFlair!" He yelled, he shook him even more. Nothing seemed to help. "You can't die! You can't! Blazing, get the hell up!" Rhythm cried. He placed his head down on the orange pony. "Please, we can't lose you." Rhythm's brown eye's stared over. He saw his own leg, the blue glow lighting up. He then jumped up, and switched his head back to Blazing. He clapped his hoof down on the blue orb, and pressed it down. "W-what is he doing?" EchoBeat mumbled from behind. All of the ponies were confused. Pure Energy swirled around his mechanical leg. CharmingRhythm raised it into the air, then slammed it down on BlazingFlair's chest. All of the ponies leaped when he did that. Rhythm reaped this action, and slammed his hoof on him. The energy spread out into the air at every movement. "Blaze...." CharmingRhythm moved slowly now. His friend still was motionless. The other ponies still watched with anxiety. HeartFelt leaned her head down, wondering if the pony would ever awake. Fear was in every face of the ponies. Rhythm let out a cry, as the pony still laid on the ground with no life. Just then, a shake seemed to come from BlazingFlair. All of the ponies stopped. Slowly, green eyes appeared, and met gazes with CharmingRhythm. "B-BlazingFlair?" "You weren't actually crying, were you?" Blazing coughed. But Rhythm did not reply, he only scooped up Blazing from the ground and held him close. All of the ponies came in and hugged him. BlazingFlair let out a sigh and rolled his eyes. Then CharmingRhythm stepped back, but he had a hard time standing up. Heartfelt looked down at him. "Rhythm, you're leg is limp." He picked up is metal leg, and the blue glow was gone. All of the energy had been used up. "Hmm..." Rhythm looked at BlazingFlair. "It was all I could do. I wasn't sure it would work, but I know that energy recharges things..." "So recharge a pony?" HyperBlitz said, and Rhythm nodded. A few ponies trotted up to them. "Are you guys okay?" "We are now..." SpinningNote spoke. "We tried to chase him, a few are still going." A red mare said. "He was defiantly a Half-Hybrid. He was going insane. He was also babbling on about him getting an army of other hybrids. He said that they were making Energy Nodes... I don't know." "Energy Nodes?" HyperBlitz questioned. "A plug, to stop energy coming through the ground? I wouldn't think that Hybrids would be that smart." CharmingRhythm said. "I guess we underestimated them." "Well, if there is one Half-Hybrid, there must be more." Hyper told him. "Hopefully no more around here." > Part 45 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The day dimmed down, and the commotion dimmed down too. NightHaze was nowhere to be seen now. "Are you guys really going to be leaving." A colt asked the Linkin Ponies, as they get their stuff together. "We have too, we really can't stay much longer." CharmingRhythm exclaimed. "But we are going to keep in touch with you poinies, right?" He spoke out to the crowd, and they murmured with agreement. "We have gotten some things done, not much. Once we get a little more information, well come back." SpinningNote told them. "Information about what?" A pony asked. "Hybrids, maybe?" HyperBlitz shrugged. "Well, I think we just ran NightHave out of town." A unicorn mare spoke. "Hopefully he won't bother us any more. Too bad that poor SwiftStich had to go through all of that..." Then she looked to the ground. "Can you guys play us another song before you leave?" The colt questioned. CharmingRhythm looked around. "I'm not sure. We can try, but do we really want to get all those instruments out again?" "We can play something that doesn't require that much... FeatherTune has got his guitar, and Blazing-" He looked over to the orange pony. "Could you play your bass? Are you okay?" "I'm fine!" He called back. "What song would require much.. I mean, all of our songs are pretty complex." Rhythm shook his head. "I got something in mind." HyperBltiz gave a smirk. "Something that these ponies can get excited about. Of course we'd need to get EchoBeat a drum-set, but we can deal with that." Then SpinningNote jumped over. "So just leave out the Unicorns!?" "Well, with what instruments you play, yeah... Sorry." Hyper told him. "But if we are going to play, why don't we get to it!?" Not too long later, the ponies had set themselves up, They were at the same stage as they first played. But they had gotten even more ponies together. All of the ponies were happy to hear a song, no matter what song. "Go guys good?" Hyper asked BlazingFlair and FeatherTune, they both nodded. "How are you going to do this?" CharmingRhythm said. "I'll do it however I can.. Now, you probably wanna get out of my way." Hyper snapped with a smile. Rhythm rolled his eyes and went to sit down by SpinningNote. HyperBlitz then came up to the microphone. "Are you guys ready?" He spoke, and the crowd cheered. Before anything, the pegasus looked over the crowd. He saw SweetHooves, something he wasn't expecting. She gave him a little smile and nodded. HyperBlitz smiled too, and gave her a wink. He turned to the other ponies and bowed his head, telling them to start. Click here to listen to the song while you read. FeatherTune started to play a riff, and then as EchoBeat played his drums, BlazingFlair stood up and played his bass. HyperBlitz took the mic. "Wake in a sweat again Another day's been laid to waste In my disgrace Stuck in my head again Feels like I'll never leave this place There's no escape I'm my own worst enemy I've given up I'm sick of feeling Is there nothing you can say Take this all away I'm suffocating Tell me what the fuck is wrong With me" - All of the ponies in the crowd jumped up, and yelled as they played through the song. - "I don't know what to take Thought I was focused but I'm scared I'm not prepared I hyperventilate Looking for help somehow somewhere And no one cares I'm my own worst enemy "I've given up I'm sick of feeling Is there nothing you can say Take this all away I'm suffocating Tell me what the fuck is wrong With me" - As FeatherTune played a solo, the crowd screamed with enjoyment. Quickly, Rhythm shot his head to SpinningNote. "How is he going to do this?" "I don't know. He usually puts it in two parts." Spinning spoke fast. - "God!!!!! Put me out of my misery Put me out of my misery Put me out of my- Put me out of my fucking miser-" - Then HyperBltiz took a deep breath. - "-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!!!" - And Hyper scram, for the whole 17 seconds. CharmingRhythm and SpinningNote looked at each other with astonishment. Even BlazingFlair and FeatherTune stared at each other while they played. Hyper then tried to gasp for air again. - "I've given up I'm sick of feeling Is there nothing you can say Take this all away I'm suffocating Tell me what the fuck is wrong With me" - The song ended, and the crowd yelled. Hyperbltiz hadn't felt this kind of adrenaline in a long time. He looked up to the crowd with a smile, but exhausted. Blazing and Feather waved to the ponies, and even EchoBeat put his drumstick into the air. Hyper took the microphone again. "Thank you guys so much! You are fucking awesome!" CharmingRhythm then stepped over and stared at him. "I can't believe you did that." "Neither can I." He replied. "I've been screaming too much today. My throat and chest feels like its on fire." Rhythm laughed, and took the microphone. "Thank you, really. We've been happy to play for you guys. We hope to see you in the future." The ponies yelled with joy as he spoke. "I think we are done for now though, you've been a great crowd!" > Part 46 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The ponies had gotten on the train. They were now going in the other direction. The train moved much faster then the first time. TuhunderCharm's friend, RandomSketch, was with them, but annoying the terribly. "So where do you live?" The unicorn asked. "Is there more cities? Or do you live in one of those camps? Is there more ponies?" Suddenly, indigo magic circled around his mouth. "Shut up." SpinningNote snapped. "We've all had a long day. Can we please have some silence?" ThunderCharm laughed. "He always talks... But please, can you keep it down?" RandomSketch nodded. "Mm-hmm." Then Spinning's magic let go. All of the ponies sat in the train as it rumbled. Energy jumped in the engine, as gears turned. HeartFelt gazed up at CharmingRhythm as she leaned against him. "You did some good work today." She said. He looked at her and gave her a warm smile. "I would work more, since I want to talk with the ponies in the camp, but I just really want to rest when we get back." HyperBlitz stepped over. "I feel you." He sat down and rubbed his throat. "I need to rest myself from screaming." "You're scream in the park was more surprising then the concert." HeartFelt told him. Hyper nodded. He looked over to the window that he had broke the first day. "Hopefully it wouldn't take that long to get back home. I know we are going faster." "But we can't go too fast." BlazingFlair then told them. "These tracks are old, and you really don't want to fall off of them." HyperBltiz smiled. "We'd be in some trouble then." They were all silent now, only the rattling of the steel was heard. They rested for as long as they could. Soon enough the were sure that they were in the right place. The ponies stepped down from the car. All of the world had not changed since they left. The dead landscape, with trash piled up at the sides. HyperBlitz trotted forward and gazed around. All he could hear was the breathing of the other ponies and himself. But suddenly, another noise rang in his ear. It was very faint, like electric buzzing. He walked away from the other ponies and looked on the other side of the train. Over in the field, where some buildings were left, something strange laid there. A mechanical structure, it stood up on metal legs. It was taller then a pony, and lights flashed on it. The ground below was cracked, and drier then ever. It seemed to suck out what ever was left in the earth. "What is that?" Hyper said. CharmingRhythm stepped to his side and looked at the machine. "Is that... an Energy Node? It would have to be... what else?" He glanced at Hyper. "How the hell can these hybrids make such things? Did we just understimate them?" "Maybe there are more Half-Hybrids. More that are smart.... but they are all sort of dumb." Hyperblitz shoke his head. "And they just want to take out energy away." FeatherTune came up to them, and tilted his head. "What's going on?" "Those Hybrid bastards are already placing Energy Nodes." Rhythm scolded. Suddenly, RandomSketch bounced from the other side. "Let me see!" "Quiet!" Rhythm snapped. "There could be hybrids." "I doubt that." Random laughed. "Uh.. think again." FeatherTune pointed his hoof out. Over by the Energy Node, was two creatures. They were Hybrids, who were watching the mechine. Really, they only moved around, not doing much. They must have been guarding. "Lets go get them." RandomgSketch urged, but CharmingRhythm placed his hoof in front of his path. "No, We can't go out in the open." "Then what do we do?" Feather asked. HyperBlitz scanned the Energy Node, and how it seemed to bob, up and down, with the movement of the Hybrids. Both things needed to be destroyed. Hyper gazed down at his hoof cover, where he had energy. "I got an idea. Step back." Hyper trotted forward a bit. He was closer to the Hybrids now. Hyper tapped the orb on his hoof cover, and it flashed. Suddenly, energy swarmed the end of his hoof. The Hybrids looked over and noticed the pony. Just as they jolted, hyper took his hoof up, and flung it forward. The energy blasted out in a huge wave. It exploded the Node, giving off energy that suffocated the Hybrids. "Yeah bitches!" HyperBlitz yelled with satisfaction, and his hoof in the air. After he waited for the explosion to die down, he turned around . All of the ponies stared with stunned faces. "How... how did that work?" Rhythm stuttered. "I don't know. And we don't need to know how, as long as it does work." Hyper told him. "These Hybrids are getting trickier, and we gotta stop them while we can." "So any Hybrid or Node we see... we have to destroy?" FeatherTune asked, but sort of announced. "I guess so." Hyper shrugged. "But.... why don't we get back to the base, more Hybrids could be here, and we are all tired." All the ponies nodded with agreement. Hyper didn't go around to the other side of the train, but kept going forward. He got a closer look at the remains of the Energy Node. Parts spread across the ground, rusting. He glanced at the cracked ground, but something green popped up. "Are those...?" EchoBeat stepped forward and looked at the ground. "Plants? They must have bloomed from the energy releasing." "So disabling a node... will make plants grow." Rhythm said. "I guess so..." Hyper told him. "I guess that's a plus for us." > Part 47 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next day, the ponies decided they would go to the camp. CharmingRhythm said that they would do better if they kept up the work. They told ThunderCharm they would be there a bit before noon. HeartFelt came over to the computer desk. A lime aura placed down some paper. "I hope that those kids are doing okay." "They are probably fine." BlazingFlair spoke. "I know they really like us...." He then paused. "You should be one of their teachers." HeartFelt turned over. "What?....No, I couldn't be." Blazing shrugged. "You do like to write. And you seem to like children. I think you'd make a great teacher." HeartFelt blushed. "I don't know..." She looked at her paper. "Really, all I'm doing now is taking notes... the more information we have, the better off we'll be." EchoBeat stepped out into the mainroom. He looked towards the door. "I think we should get going. Feather and Spinning are already there you know. We don't want to keep them waiting." Just then, HyperBlitz flew into the room. He tapped his hooves down and gazed around. "Lets go!" CharmingRhythm came behind him and shook his head from Hyper's silliness. The ponies walked out to the camp. A few ponies met them halfway and followed them. HyperBlitz saw many ponies in the center of the camp, they seemed to be doing well. Some were talking with SpinningNote. A yellow Unicorn looked over to them. She was the one who was teaching the little ponies before. Apparently, her name was SunSwirl. She came to greet them. "Hello, it's good to see you all." SunSwirl's blue eyes were as bright as the sky from the past. "I hope you had a good trip... SpinningNote said you had a bit of problems." "Yeah... some..." Rhythm sighed. "Like what?" SunSwirl asked. "Well..." Rhythm gazed around. "I almost died." BlazingFlair said bluntly. "Or did I actually die? So I died and came back..." "Hey!" CharmingRhythm snapped. "Don't... you might scare some of the children." SpinningNote stared at him. "Yeah, I thought that was HyperBlitz's job." "WHAT!" The pegasus yelled. "Exactly... you;re so loud.... and-" Spinning was cut off. "We don't need any nonsense." A dark stallion spoke. It was Blackout, a pony that they haven't spoke to in a long time. He gave them hard looks. Hyper glanced over to one of the building. Many ponies seemed to carry out boxes. He then decided to go check for himself. His gait slowed as he looked inside. A white filly sat on the ground, just staring. A little light was tilted above her, and a water jug to her right. She must have been growing plants. It was the same filly HyperBlitz had scared a while ago. HeartFelt stepped in too, and watched the filly. "Are you trying to grow things?" She asked. The filly glared up, with deep blue eyes. "Uh... yes..." She whispered, then looked to the ground. "I'm trying to grow flowers, some of it is edible..." HeartFelt smiled. "That's good you are trying to help. What's your name?" "Li-LilyMist." "That's a beautiful name." The filly's eyes moved over to HyperBlitz, and HeartFelt moved over to speak with other ponies. Hyper stood stiff, trying to think what to say. "I'm sorry about scaring you... I didn't mean too, but sometimes I just panic." Hyper said. "It's okay." LilyMist replied. "I'm sorry about my Mother. Mama overreacts to things, and is a bit too protective of me." Hyper came in closer. "You need to respect your mother, she only wants the best for you." Lily nodded, the Hyper sat down by her. "So you are growing plants?" "Yeah... but I can get anything." She sighed. "Sometimes you just need a little push." He looked to the light ad water. "Do you have energy?" "A little." LilyMist held up her hoof, and a small shoe had a orb on it. "Just use a little bit, and place it on that bud." Hyper directed. The filly looked at the bud sceptically, the put her hoof over it. The aura of energy was put around it. From the water, light and energy, the little plant seemed to move. Suddenly, the flower bloomed,and white petals formed. LilyMist looked to Hyper with a huge smile "It worked!" She squeaked. "You seem to have another surprise!" Hyper bowed. LilyMist looked over to her flank, and the image of a pink and white flower appeared. "My Cutie Mark! Thank you!" She then hugged HyperBltiz. He felt odd, and looked around with embarrassment. "Like I said, you just need a little push." Just then a red mare walked in, and glared at HyperBlitz. He pushed away from LilyMist. "Mama! Mama! I got my Cutie Mark!" The mare gasped, and actually gave a smile. "That's lovely sweetie!" But then looked back at Hyper and scolded. LiliyMist looked up at him. "And I got help from Mr....?" "HyperBlitz." He tilted his head. "You? You help my daughter get her Cutie Mark?" The mare spoke in disbelief. "Well... uh." "He told me that I just need a little push, and I used some energy on the plant! My talent is growing plants! Like you Mama!" She said with enthusiasm. The red mare let out a breath. "Hmm... Maybe you can go help some other ponies grow plants." She took her filly with her hoof, and dragged her away, leave HyperBlitz alone. What did this mare have against Hyper? > Part 48 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was dark, and the night had come. Faint buzzing came from the mill, and all the ponies slept. They had gotten many ponies to work with earlier that day, and had many plans ahead. They knew that they could travel easier, knowing the area a bit more, and more ponies would help. The peak of the night rose, and black filled the hallway. But then the door at the end cracked open. A glow of indigo light the way. SpinningNote poked his head out. He thought that he had heard a noise. But how could he hear a noise, being at the end of the hallway? Had nopony else heard it? Or was it just the buzzing of the mill? Spinning took a few steps forward, and registered his ears. The buzzing was constant, and what he heard before was a sudden noise, as quiet as it was. Maybe it was nothing. But suddenly, a low tap sounded from the mainroom. Spinning stiffened. He then took very tough steps forward. He gazed into the darkness, and a flash of red sparked. A deep grumble startled the Unicorn and he jotted back. His heart raced. Another noise came from behind. "What are you doing?" A voice snapped. Spinning flipped his head. "R-Rhythm." He couldn't see him, but he could hear his voice. "There's a Hybrid!" "What? How could a Hybrid get in here?" CharmingRhythm's silhouette came out and looked to the mainroom, and the flash of red came out again. Both ponies jumped back this time. And again, another pony came out. The little light showed the Pegasus' fluffy mane as he came forward. "Why are you up?" "Be quiet." SpinningNote mumbled. The stood there in silence, as more ponies came out of their room to find out about the commotion. Soon enough, they were all awake. This was probably bad, since Hybrids go towards movement. "How the hell did it get in?" BlazingFlair's voice asked. "I don't know?" Rhythm retorted. A growl came from the corner, and distorted words were spoken. "Surrender now." "What the fuck!" HyperBlitz yelled. "Hybrids can speak?" Suddenly, Rhythm bounced out. "You want US to surrender? You're the one who broke into our base!" But the Hybrid did not replied, for it's instincts made it come forward to attack. EchoBeat clicked his hooves on switches, but noting seemed to work. "Rhythm! The lights are out!!!" The Unicorn swirled around. "There is one light I know will work." He galloped to the computer desk and went underneath it. The other ponies pushed the Hybrid away, as it lashed out it's fury. Jut then, CharmingRhythm pressed a button, and the floor beneath the ponies lit up. The symbol that was on the ground glowed white with pride. "Okay, that's sweet." Hyper smirked. "This Hybrid is strong! He's not going down!" FeatherTune said, and he fluttered upward. It seemed that no matter what they did, nothing helped. All of the ponies hit the enemy, and threw it around. The Hybrid slammed on the ground and just got back up. HeartFelt stood to the side. She noticed the generator was still working. But why were the lights not able to work? She was very confused, and she didn't know much about the base. One thing she did know, was that pure energy direct on a Hybrid would kill them. CharmingRhythm pushed the Hybrid onto the wall, but then its back legs, covered by metal, pushed him off, slamming him onto the ground. Rhythm struggled to get up, and BlazingFlair stood by his side. The the orange pony charged forward. The Hybrid attacked Blazing, and a laser shocked him, leaving a bloody bruise on his right shoulder. Blazing fell down, and lifted his head up, staring at his enemy. Suddenly, a lime-green aura zoomed out, holding a wire. The wire flickered with blue, and the aura stuck it right into the Hybrid's heart. The metal on the being cracked, it's red glow burned out as it screeched. It fell to the ground with rust and blood. CharmingRhythm got to his hooves and gazed around. All of the ponies stared at HeartFelt. "Did you..." FeatherTune tried to speak. "That was awesome!" HyperBlitz yelled out. "You just killed that hybrid." He then placed his foreleg around her. "I never thought you had it in you!" The mare pulled away from Hyper, and lowered her head. HeartFelt turned around and ran down the hallway in shame. Hyper glanced at the stallions with confusion. The all shrugged. Then CharmingRhythm ran after her. HyperBlitz followed. The pegasus stopped at the end of the hall, and sat down by the door on the right. He really didn't want to bother them, but he listened. He wondered why HeartFelt had ran away from them. Inside, Rhythm placed his head low and watched HeartFelt. "What's wrong? Why did you just run away like that? You just killed that hybrid, you should be happy. You know it deserved to die." HeartFelt had a hard time grasping air. Her gaze stayed staring down. "It's.... it's not that..." "Have you ever killed a hybrid before?" HeartFelt tilted her head slowly. "Yes...but it was only for..." The glow off of Rhythm's metal hoof showed agony in the mare's eyes. "It's okay." Rhythm whispered, somehow, know what she meant. He tilted forward and kissed the ridge of her muzzle. "We're gonna make everything right...soon. These Hybrids... they're gonna fuck off. I promise you." HeartFelt's breath shook. She looked into the energy, which the glow burned her eyes. She looked up, and Rhythm's gaze reassured her. > Part 49 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The cold dawn came in, but non of the ponies had dared to go back to sleep earlier. They stayed up, even before the first fading light showed up. In the morning, the ponies had decided to gather in the meeting room. Around the room, the sense of concern floated in the air. Every face gave a worried expression. CharmingRhythm let out a sigh. "It seem everything is happening at once." "With going to the city, then finding that node. And now the hybrid attack." BlazingFlair exclaimed. "Maybe its a sign." SpinningNote had a little enthusiasm of a joke in his voice, to lighten them up a bit, but those words seemed to be true. "Maybe... actually." EchoBeat said. "That we need to do something different." HyperBlitz spoke up. "To stop doing the same things over again. We need to take a new direction. Stop with all this shit, and do something that matters to all these ponies!" Rhythm dipped his head with agreement, but didn't say anything. "But what can we do? We need a good idea..." FeatherTune pointed out. "We do know a lot more ponies now." "Maybe that's it." CharmingRhythm started. "The ponies. We know a lot, and I'm sure they know more. We need to get as many as possible with us! to work together. Yes that's what we've been trying to do, but we need to truly do something! We need to give it a real reason. A group of ponies, as a team, across this dead world. A rebellion against the hybrid rule." "And it's not just hybrids. We need to get resources back." Blazing said. "Yes! What ponies don't understand, it's not just the hybrid we have to worry about." Rhythm nodded. "But they are the main priority." Blazing replied. " And the only way to get rid of them is with our energy and resources. Yes, that's all we talk about, it makes us sick to say it over and over again, but its the truth. I have an idea, if the hybrid are weak to energy, and we need it the most, when ever, and where ever we can, then put energy posts up. Maybe like generators. they could keep hybrids away. They would probably be the opposite of a node." "That's actually a pretty good idea." Rhythm's expression brightened. "Yeah, I got some ideas." Blazing shrugged. "But how are we gonna get ponies to know about this?" FeatherTune asked. "Advertise?" Spinning said, in his cocky voice. "That's probably the best way." CharmingRhythm replied. "EchoBeat, you know how to connect with ponies online, why don't you do that, get ponies to know out plans." Echo jolted a bit, but Rhythm still spoke. "But after we're done with the meeting." HeartFelt stepped up a bit. "You know I'm still here." "Of course." Rhythm said. "Why wouldn't we, because you're not talking?" "So, should we get started?" HyperBlitz sat up strait. "We need to do some real work! I'm sure we can go out to the camp. I bet the ponies there would be excited about our plans." "First priority, are the hybrids though." Blazing pointed out. "And to get rid of them, we need to build our team, and our supplies." CharmingRhythm stepped down from his chair, and let out a breath. "That's true. Hybrid's are smarted then we realized. There has to be some more half-hybrids out there. Sure we have the energy and weapons, but don't hybrids have that too? They make their own kind of energy, and have extremely powerful weapon. Hybrids are strong, so are we. And they are pretty much our match.But there is one thing that we can use to beat them. It's not energy, and not weapons, even if those help." "Where is this speech going?" SpinningNote interrupted. "Shut up..." Rhythm snapped quietly to him, then took his attention back to the rest of the ponies. "It's one thing we have that they don't." Rhythm gazed into the eyes of everypony, one by one. "Emotions." He let out. "Happiness, anger, resent, fear, sadness, trust, guilt... hate, frustration, hope-" Rhythm looked at them again. "Love... that is what will stop the hybrids. Our feelings between everypony. And especially... love. It keeps us together." "When life leaves us blind, love keeps us kind." Hyper said. Rhythm nodded, remembering the lyrics that they had spoken in a performance, so many weeks ago. "That is the truth." His voice shook. HeartFelt smiled, stepped up and kissed Rhythm. He pulled back and looked to the other ponies as his face turned red. HyperBlitz tilted his head. "You know we all love you. We all love each other. We are all in this together." Rhythm nodded. Hyper smirked. "I'd kiss you, but that would be weird. " Rhythm laughed uneasily as his face brightened even more. "Uh, yeah..." "Id rather just hug you." The pegasus put his hooves around Rhythm and pulled him in close. The other ponies did the same. "Group hug!" FeatherTune said. "Group hug is the advancement of the circle of trust." SpinningNote laughed. As the ponies stepped back, BlazingFlair looked to CharmingRhythm. "So when are we gonna go to the camp? Don't we need to get started? We have to give them a reason to be in a true team with us, and to gather even more." Rhythm quickly nodded, and bit confused in the moment. "Yes. Echo, stay here, you can talk to some ponies on the computer." As the ponies were leaving the room, Feather spoke up. "I don't care what you guys say, I'm bringing my guitar!" > Part 50 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- When they day had brightened up a little more, even if it still was pretty dull, the ponies had gone out to the camp. Like FeatherTune said, he had brought his guitar. BlazingFlair also brought his bass. HyperBlitz stepped up as they reached the camp. "Um, excuse me, everypony." He spoke in a loud, clear voice. All of the ponies looked to him ,and some come out of the buildings around the camp. "I'd like to have your attention. We would like your help with something. I know that you know us, and have tried to help us before, but this time, it's real. We are starting a rebellion team. We need as many recruits as possible. We are going to rebel against the hybrid rule of course. We need to take action! Clean up the world, and restore its natural resources! That's what the energy is for. Its NOT our resource, it helps bring them back!" All of the ponies mumbled in a positive tone. ThunderCharm came to them. "So we are gonna work? Even as dangerous as this is?" CharmingRhythm spoke. " I don't think Hyper is afraid of any danger." Hyper turned to him, smirked and shook his head, "Alrighty." ThunderCharm shrugged. "Thunder, we need to find more camps around here, and as far as we can go. For every camp, there will be camp leaders. You will be the camp leader of this camp." Rhythm said. "Rea-really? Why does that feel like a big position! why do..." She seemed to not be able to speak, as she was in awe. "You still seem to be a bit of a fan-filly." Hyper nudged her. She nodded. "Don't be, we are all ponies, nothing special. Anyways, you were the one to start this camp." A pony came to the side, it was BlackOut. "So we will all get jobs? To bring down the hybrids, and bring up resources." "That's right." Hyper nodded. "And I think Rhythm's job should be the leader of the rebellion team." "What?" The unicorn snapped. "Oh come on rhythm. You know you'd be the best for it. You are pretty much a leader already, and I know you'd do well." HyperBlitz urged him. The ponies the circled around them murmured with agreement. "I.. I guess." Rhythm sighed. "It's early." BlazingFlair said from behind. "So we can probably get a lot done, discussing what position we need to give. I think we well get good progress." "And we could probably get some ponies to go down to the city." BlackOut suggested, as he folded his black wings down. His sister, Iridescent came up to his side. "Yeah maybe-" ThunderCharm started to speak, but there was a noise in the background. It sounded like crashing, things breaking. All of the ponies turned and looked towards the base and mill. The noise defiantly was coming from there. CharmingRhythm stepped up, he couldn't see anything, but the noise kept going. Suddenly, EchoBeat ran towards the camp with panic on his face. "Echo! What is it?!" Hyper yelled out. The earth-ponies hooves skidded across the ground to a stop, and he breathed heavily. "Its... there... hy...hybrids..." "What?" "There... there are hybrids! They got into the mill!" "How the fuck did they do that!" Hyper shouted, and looked to the others. "Why would they go in the mill?" Rhythm shook his head. "How could they get in... and there's energy in there, it would hurt them. I thought that hybrids wee smarter then we thought, maybe they're not." "Maybe they are putting energy nodes inside the mill!" ThunderCharm said with fear. "Shit!" HyperBlitz leaped into the air, his wings flapping. "We need to stop them, no matter what they are doing! This is the reason we have to start working harder!" Hyper flew towards the base, and the other ponies followed. Now they could see a break in the barrier, and they could see plenty of hybrids swarming around. Hyper decided to go through the base to get to the mill. Once he got through, he could see many things destroyed. SpinningNote ran up besides him. "Everything IS happening at once!!! I guess that hybrids attack in groups every so often!" The unicorn looked down at the metal hoof cover he was wearing. That was all they could use, was hoof covers that they had. They did have time to get any other tools, weapons, or armor. They couldn't tell what the hybrids were doing, but they had to stop them. CharmingRhythm stepped forward, towards the hybrids. Hyper looked over to FeatherTune. He noticed that he still had his guitar. Hyper then stepped forward too. "I think we better have some fun while we're at it! Feather!" "Huh? What?" The pegasus flipped his head over. "You and Blaze need to give me a song! And I know the perfect one!" Hyper turned to EchoBeat who barely moved. "Echo, give me No More Sorrow." Echo nodded and started to beat his hooves against a piece of metal. FeatherTune played his guitar with heavy riffs. CharmingRhythm glanced at Hyper, and gave a smirk. Spinning, Rhythm and Hyper circled around the Hybrids that destroyed the supplies in the mill. Spinning's magic lifted up a piece of metal, and he threw it rotating, into the side of a hybrid's neck. It yelled and fell down as Rhythm slammed his mechanical hoof into its stomach. Hyper gave all of the hybrids an evil, and disgusted stare. "Are you lost in your lies? Do you tell yourself I don't realize Your crusade's a disguise? Replaced freedom with fear You trade money for lives." The pegasus then pushed a hybrid into a large rock, and blasted it with energy from his hoof cover. "I'm aware of what you've done." Just then, HyperBlitz flipped around and slashed another enemy with his wing, and the blood flew into the air. "NO! No more sorrow!" I've paid for your mistakes Your time is borrowed Your time has come to be replaced!" CharmingRhythm started to throw hybrids into the energy lasers that shot to the ceiling, but it was hard with the metal plates protecting it. "I see pain, I see need I see liars and fiends Abuse power with greed I had hope, I believed But I'm beginning to think that I've been deceived You will pay for what you've-" Then a flash of energy came from Hyper's metal wing and hoof cover. All of the hybrids around him fell to the ground. "-DONE!!!" All of the hybrids were becoming weak, and the energy from the lasers seemed to become stronger. "NO! No more sorrow!" I've paid for your mistakes Your time is borrowed Your time has come to be REPLACED!!!" BlazingFlair kicked a few hybrids while he had a break in paying the base. SpinningNote threw more pieces of metal into the flesh of the enemies. "Thieves and hypocrites! Thieves and hypocrites! Thieves and HYPOCRITES!!! "No, no more sorrow I've paid for your mistakes Your time is borrowed Your time has come to be replaced No more sorrow I've paid for your mistakes Your time is borrowed Your time has come to be replaced Your time has come to be replaced Your time has come to be ERASED!!!" Many hybrids were dead after the song was over, and the other ponies jumped into the battle. It seemed that a few others had come to help. BlackOut, DawnShy and ThunderCharm fought off any more hybrids that were left. After a while, it seemed all was clear, and all of the ponies glanced at each other, exhausted. > Part 51 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All of the ponies gathered around. They moved the dead hybrid bodies to the side, and also placed them in the energy lasers, where they would turn to dust. A few ponies had cuts and wounds. HeartFelt came up to SpinningNote, who had a slash across his cheek. "Do you need me to help? Your cheek-" "No, no I'm fine!" Spinning snapped. "I don't need any help, this is nothing. I'll just die of blood loss." He siad in a joke. "I'm not sure if that means you want help or not." HeartFelt tilted her head. Spinning just gave her a blank stare for a while. He stood there, motionless, then suddenly jumped when he saw the other ponies moving. Most of them went back out towards the camp. Others in the camp met up with them, worried about the hybrid break-in. "See, this is why we need to work!" HyperBlitz called out. "Yes..." CharmingRhythm looked around. "And will all of you agree to help us?" All of the ponies mumbled, agreeing. "Good, becasue there is a lot of work to do. We need to place energy posts, to keep hybrids away." "And make scout teams go out, to stop hybrids, and destroy nodes." BlazingFlair added. "And probably get some ponies to go around, gathering energy. Then some ponies to build things, and grow plants, and-" "Alright Blazing, we know, you don't have to keep going on." FatherTune muttered. HyperBlitz stepped up to the side of Rhythm. He looked around at all the ponies, whose gazes all stared back at them in anticipation. All of the ponies that sat in front of them trusted them, and would follow them. "God, how much work we have ahead..." Hyper sighed. "I'm sure we can do it. And it will be worth it." Rhythm replied. "Of course it will be worth it!" ThunderCharm told him, her aqua eyes glowing. "Yeah." Rhythm stood up strait, and gained a positive posture. "Bring the world back to a state that is more capable of living, how can that not be worth it? Nopony deserves this world. Non of you here." He scanned the crowd. "Those hybrids that we killed, they were once like us. They were ponies that ate, drink, and loved. But they made the wrong decisions, and chose technology, and consuming their resources over trying to save them." "Yeah! Speech!" A stallion yelled out from the crowd. Rhythm shook his head and laughed. " To think, any of use could have done that. Thanks that non of us did. I would have hated loosing one of my best friends-" The unicorn turned to his group. "And loosing the ones I love... But even though all of this hell we've been through, we've stayed together." Rhythm looked back to the crowd. "And we've brought more ponies together. As family. Everypony is one... and we will stay that way. And that's how we beat the hybrids." HyperBlitz took a few steps forward, and lifted his head. "And we need to start over. All of us. Like Rhythm said, we've been through hell. And we need to break out of it! We need to rebuild this world, and make it a home again. Even if it seemed like this hell has gone on forever, become a part of us. It's like this is our normal life now..." CharmingRhythm continued by him. "Starting over might be harder then we realize. But I'm sure that we can do it... But we got to forget all of this that has happened." "And let go of our mistakes." ThunderCharm added. All of the ponies around nodded. DawnShy tried to poke out of the crowd. The green pegasus stood in front of the Linkin Ponies, and her friends. "So, the hardest part of ending is starting again..." She gave a little smirk, and ThunderCharm smiled too. Hyper turned his head. "Hey, Feather, what can you do with you're guitar." He spoke in a way that he would understand what he was saying. "Do you think you can get the right notes?" "It might sound different, but I can try!" FeatherTune stood up on his rear-legs. "I can give it a go too!" EchoBeat told Hyper. "I can do what I did when we were fighting the hybrids." "I know whats going on!!!" ThunderCharm squeeled. "I want to help!! There's some glass, it can make a pretty close chime noise if I tap it with my hooves! "Do You know the exact beat?" CharmingRhythm asked. "I'm pretty sure! But I don't think everypony knows the song. I think a few do. Maybe they can tag along somehow." ThunderCharm looked over. "But, I never noticed how many ponies there are. And I know many told me they have listened to your music before. I even let them listen to my MP3 when ever I got it charged!" "I think we're good them. We should at least get a little help." BlazingFlair replied. "We got the whole band, you, DawnShy HeartFelt, we know that all of you know the words." ThunderCharm started to tap her hooves on the glass, and EchoBeat tapped his against some metal.Some other ponies who knew the song seemed to try mimicking other noises, with other materials. FeatherTune played his guitar with a high pitched riff. (Click here to listen to the song) CharmingRhythm stepped forward with a bright smile on his face. He started to rap, with a certain melody. The other ponies in the band followed along with him. "This is not the end, this is not the beginning Just a voice like a riot rocking every revision But you listen to the tone in the violent rhythm And though the words sound steady something empty with 'em We say yeah, with fists flying up in the air Like we're holding on to something that's invisible there Cause we're living at the mercy of the pain and the fear Until we get it, forget it, let it all disappear" Then all the ponies began to sing, Hyper's voice overpowering all of them. "Waiting for the end to come Wishing I had strength to stand This is not what I had planned It's out of my control Flying at the speed of light Thoughts were spinning in my head So many things were left unsaid It's hard to let you go" Then Hyper's voice got more powerful, and some other ponies began to harmonize. "I know what it takes to move on I know how it feels to lie All I wanna do Is trade this life for something new Holding onto what I haven't got" EchoBeat, ThunderCharm, and Feather tried to play a little louder now, while they sang also. "Sitting in an empty room Trying to forget the past This was never meant to last I wish it wasn't so I know what it takes to move on I know how it feels to lie All I wanna do Is trade this life for something new Holding onto what I haven't got " All of the ponies started to rap again, Rhythm, Hyper, and Spinning's voices were the loudest. "What was left when the fire was gone I thought it felt right but that right was wrong All caught up in the eye of the storm And trying to figure out what it's like moving on And I don't even know what kind of things I said My mouth kept moving and my mind went dead So I'm picking up the pieces now where to begin? The hardest part of ending is starting again " FeatherTune payed his guitar with a continuing sound as the noise grew louder. "All I wanna do is trade this life for something new Holding onto what I haven't got " Most of the ponies now rapped with Rhythm, but ThunderCharm and a few other sang with Hyper. "This is not the end, this is not the beginning Just a voice like a riot rocking every revision" "I'm holding onto what I haven't got-" "But you listen to the tone in the violent rhythm And though the words sound steady something's empty within 'em We say yeah, with fists flying up in the air Like we're holding onto something invisible there Cause were living at the mercy of the pain and the fear" "Holding onto what I haven't got-" "Until we get it, forget it, let it all disappear" All of the ponies stopped, as Hyper held that note. When he finnished, he looked at all of the ponies, his brown eyes filled with joy, he took in a deep breath again. "I'm holding on to what I haven't got!!!" All of the ponies cheered, and smiled. They all hugged each other. All of the ponies were content, and excited.The Linkin Ponies seemed to be their heroes. Maybe that was because they were. They hadn't noticed how much music could help everypony. There was hope in the air, and how they could all rebuild the world, and restore resources. It was time to recharge. Now it's your turn to Recharge! Help out with the rebellion team!! Of course you can help them out as ponies, but you can as humans! Visit the Facebook game Linkin Park: Recharge. It's still maintenance , but keep updated, and check back on www.lprecharge.com ! Thanks for reading the story! It might have been long, but it was a lot of fun to write, I will work on new stories with a better writing style!