The Ocean Above Us

“The process is ready, but I have no subject... The only option is to perform the procedure on... myself...” -Dusk Shine’s last recorded audio.

Nimbus took a step back. The mare he saw in front of him was Athena, the voice that had been his light in the darkness of Rapture. At the same time, he saw Twilight Sparkle, the scientist who had given him the power to his own light in that same darkness. What did she want from him?

“Nimbus...” Twilight said, her voice no longer sounding of Athena’s, but only dry and helpless, “I’m sorry...”

“Why? Why would you lie to me?”

“I... I-” She frantically began to think of an excuse, but Ryan cut her off.

“She wanted you for her own experiments. At first, I believed it to be a simple treachery...” Ryan hissed the words, turning his head to Twilight as he spoke, “But when I discovered it was a push against me, well... I took action.”

“Your own experiments? What does he mean?” Nimbus desperately looked at Twilight for answers.

“I had to study the Little Sisters more... When-”

“When she saw you arrive,” Ryan interjected, “She took advantage of your need for guidance.”

“I-” Twilight started, but was cut off as Ryan backhoofed her across the face.

“Silence!” He commanded. Then, turning to Nimbus, his voice lowered. “You have simply been misguided. I want you to kill this rebel, and I will let you walk free.”

“What?”

“Or are you going to be that short change hero that you’ve always been, showing compassion and kindness to those that have done you wrong, only to leave them in a sense of false hope?”

Nimbus looked at Twilight Sparkle. Athena was a trick, all laid down by this mare. He didn’t know what she wanted, but she hadn’t been straight with him. Ryan extended his hoof, and in it, was a revolver.

“Don’t try to be a hero, Nimbus. This is no place for a hero... or a better pony...”

Twilight gasped as Nimbus took it.

“Okay...” Nimbus whispered. “I’ll do it.”

As Nimbus aimed the weapon at the bound Twilight, he thought about what he was doing. He thought about what Twilight had actually done to him. Ryan said she was using him for her own purposes, some experiment. Ryan said she had deceived him from the very beginning. Ryan was also a dirty scoundrel that had done nothing but try and kill him. As crazed as he was, Ryan had a point. There was no point in trying anymore.

“Nimbus...” Twilight whimpered, “I’m sorry...”

“I’m done trying to play the hero.”

BANG!

Fluttershy heard the gunshot, and told the fillies to stay put as she hurriedly ran into the office. She shrieked in horror when she saw Nimbus standing over a unicorn’s corpse. A gun was in his hoof, hammer forward, it’s barrel releasing a wisp of smoke after having just been fired. Nimbus walked over to the chair, and released Twilight’s bonds.

“It’s time to start actually being one.”

“Twilight?” Fluttershy wasn’t expecting one of her friends to be here.

“Nimbus... Thank you...” Twilight breathed, looking up at her saviour.

Nimbus only nodded, and looked down at Andrew Ryan. His eyes were wide open as he reached for the hole in his throat that drained him of all strength he would never have. Nimbus just stared at Twilight for a long moment.

“Let’s go, Athena.” Nimbus said, dropping the gun, “Or Twilight, whichever you prefer.”

The loud clang of metal clashing together echoed throughout the security checkpoint. Rainbow’s weapon deflected Applejack’s relentless attacks. Rainbow pushed her back, and fired her harpoon. Her target propelled herself off of the ground, sending her body in a controlled flip backwards. Her back hooves made contact with one of the pillars, and he pushed off again. This put her in a position to come down on top of Rainbow, who was pulling her missed projectile from the same pillar.

Seeing the incoming attack, Rainbow instinctively took a step backwards. The harpoon wire tightened, and it pulled her to the ground as she tried to move away. Applejack came down on her back, her needle penetrating Rainbow’s armor. Rainbow squirmed beneath her, she was pinned and helpless. She flicked her hoof, and the harpoon tugged against it’s spot in the pillar. She tugged again, and the weapon came free, quickly finding it’s place back on Rainbow’s hoof. Applejack brought the needle up to strike again, but Rainbow was able to turn herself around and shove the possessed mare off of her.

Applejack stumbled backwards on two hooves, giving Rainbow time to line up a shot. She fired, but the harpoon seemed to stop mid flight. Applejack held out her hoof to hold the harpoon with her telekinesis Plasmid. A moment later, it flew away from her, dragging Rainbow in the opposite direction. The harpoon was now in the pillar on the opposite side of the room, tethering Rainbow as Applejack charged her. Rainbow reached out with her free hoof and froze Applejack mid-stride. She used the pause in the action to yank the harpoon from the wall. Applejack had already broken from her frozen state, but Rainbow now had the upper hoof in the battle. She used the harpoon much like she would use one of the Big Sister needles, stabbing it several times through her foe’s body.

She stabbed a final time, and lifted Applejack up on the end of her weapon. She lashed out and struggled in vain, but she couldn’t reach Rainbow. Rainbow fired the harpoon, launching Applejack into the wall and pinning her there. She struggled against the force pressing through her body for a few moments, but found it to be futile. Rainbow yanked the harpoon out of her, sending a shower of blood from her wound. The metal projectile clattered on the floor, followed by Applejack’s limp body.

“You never knew when to quit, AJ,” Rainbow said aloud, her voice suddenly spiking with crackles of sadness. She had just killed one of her best friends, just like that. She didn’t even think twice about it. All of the good memories she had shared with her suddenly rushed through her mind, leaving only a blur of what had once been. This was what she had become, a killer. A heartless, cold blooded killer.

As Rainbow removed her helmet to wipe the tears welling up in her eyes, she saw something above Applejack’s body. It was only there for a split second, but she swore she saw it. It wasn’t a trick of the light, or her mind. There was a ripple there, like something was trying to pull open a hole in the universe, much like one of Twilight’s teleportation spells. The thought of the dear librarian nearly brought her to tears again, for Twilight was probably dead down here, too.

The elevator door opened to reveal Rainbow Dash grieving over the dead Big Sister, much like a Little Sister would to her Big Daddy. Rainbow was on her knees, holding the corpse tightly as if it were a beloved toy.

“Is that... Rainbow Dash?” Twilight said from behind him.

“Twilight?” Rainbow’s head turned to meet the source of the familiar voice.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight trotted over to her friend, and looked at the Big Sister she held. “What...”

Apple Bloom went to follow her, but Fluttershy's wing stopped her. Oceana peeked above the pegasus's head to see what was going on.

“I killed her, Twilight...” Rainbow cried.

“Who is she?”

Rainbow slowly removed the helmet from the Big Sister’s head. A blood stained, blonde mane fell down out of it, slightly concealing an orange coated face. Underneath her eternally shut eyes were three freckles.

“Applejack!” Twilight gasped, “Rainbow, how... how...”

“She was under Ryan’s control...”

"Applejack, no!" Apple Bloom pushed past Fluttershy's wing and ran towards her fallen sister. Fluttershy followed her, Oceana on her back.

Nimbus slowly cantered up behind Twilight, saving his energy instead of chasing after her. He saw the surprised Twilight, and the depressed Rainbow, and the dead Applejack. Then, he suddenly got an image of Trixie in his head, telling him about how Big Sisters will recover if they have ADAM in their bodies. He also recalled how Rainbow was unable to harvest ADAM. The neurons in his brain made a connection, but it wasn’t soon enough for him to warn the blue pegasus.

“Rainbow!” Nimbus shouted, as Applejack’s eyes suddenly opened, revealing the sickly yellow glow commonplace to the Sisters. She opened her mouth, releasing a feral shriek, and thrust her needle right towards Rainbow’s exposed head. It did not reach it’s target, however, for Nimbus had leapt forward and struck Applejack’s foreleg down with his pipe.

“Nimbus, don’t hurt her!” Twilight raised a hoof to stop him, but he already had her friend pinned up against the wall, his pipe against her neck. The stallion considered this request, and rose his hoof to her forehead. Applejack struggled, but soon became still. Her eyes blinked, and they lost their golden glow. Instead, two normal eyes with green irises were in her head. Nimbus felt her ADAM flowing through his body. He could see Twilight smiling from his peripheral vision. This was what she wanted from him, she wanted him to repair the damage that she had caused...

“My... head...” Nimbus heard Applejack’s voice for the first time. It was strong, and had a heavy southern accent. Nimbus set her down, looking back to make sure Rainbow was okay.

“Applejack!” Apple Bloom ran to meet her big sister. “I thought you were dead! Are you okay?”

“Apple Bloom...” The orange mare smiled weakly when she saw her sister. “Am I... What’s going on?”

“You’re free of Ryan’s control,” Nimbus said, “the ADAM infused into you has been removed.”

“Ryan... That no-good backstabbin’ thievin' rat’s gonna pay for what he did to me... and Rainbow... and Apple Bloom...” Applejack shook her head, looking up at all of the others who were now surrounding her. “Rainbow Dash?” She looked at the blue pegasus pony. “If I recall correctly... I was fightin’ you...”

“Yeah, I’m sorry...” Rainbow hung her head, “We didn’t... we didn’t really have a choice...”

“And who are you?” Applejack examined Nimbus. “I remember fightin’ you too, but we haven’t been introduced.”

“I’m Nimbus,” was all he said, before stepping back and allowing the others more room to see her.

“No hard feelings?”

“None,” Nimbus replied. “I understand you had no choice. And I’ve already taken care of Ryan...”

“What about my brother?”

Nimbus did not reply, he only looked at the ground in front of him.

Applejack looked at Twilight, hoping that she’d answer the question.

“He had to... kill him... He couldn’t be saved...”

Applejack sighed shakily.

They all took a moment to regain their breath, and mourn the loss of Big Macintosh. After a few minutes, Fluttershy looked to Nimbus.

“We really should find your sister...”

“No,” Nimbus said, “I’m not losing anypony else. I’m going to go alone. Twilight, can you take the others back to the Ravine?”

“Now hold on,” Rainbow interrupted, “I’m not gonna let you go out on your own.”

“Yeah,” Applejack agreed, “And I owe you. If not for you, I’d still be fighting ya’ll. I’m going to go with you, too.”

Twilight nodded her head. “I agree. Don’t worry, I can get the others back to the Ravine. I’m guessing you... killed... everypony between us and Arcadia?”

Nimbus nodded.

Twilight took an odd comfort in that. The path would be clear, at least.

“First thing’s first, though.” Nimbus walked to the elevator leading down from the security checkpoint. “We’re going to Hephaestus to find out where my sister is.”

The journey back to the city’s core was quicker than going to Ryan's offices. Nimbus caught Applejack up on his goal, and Applejack explained her history as well. She was captured by Ryan while trying to protect Apple Bloom from from becoming a Little Sister. Although she saved her before she was brainwashed, she herself became a Big Sister. They had made some business before that, selling what apples they could grow from their home in Arcadia, before it became overrun. They had to relocate to a place called Pauper’s Drop, where Ryan offered a fortune for the price of her sister. Their big brother, Big Macintosh, took good care of Apple Bloom by taking her into hiding. Unfortunately, the disappearance of Applejack put a lot of spotlight on her brother, and he was forced to change his name and disappear.

“I’m sorry... I didn’t want to have to kill him but...” Nimbus began to apologize, but Applejack stopped him.

“It’s not your fault, Ryan killed him. And you already took him out, so we just gotta move on...” As focused as Applejack was, she was haunted by her own action in his death. Ryan was pulling her strings, but Ryan was dead, so shouldn’t she feel at least a little better? Her face portrayed the thoughts in her head. Although she had her helmet on, she still felt like everpony could see her clearly.

It was true. Twilight easily read her friend's expression through her helmet.

“We’re all sad that he’s gone, but we have to keep moving. We need to make sure his death wasn’t for nothing.” Her words were uplifting, but she wished she could believe them herself. “It’s what he would’ve wanted, right?”

“I guess so...”

They heard the roar of the generators long before they reached the actual room. The generator room’s doors opened, revealing the massive cylinders that upheld the city. This was it, the place that held the location of all the Big Daddy and Little Sister pairs, and hopefully Nimbus's sister as well. Rainbow led them down a flight of stairs and to a small opening that held a computer terminal. It’s displayed showed the current status of the generator, the output levels, and other things an engineer might need to know, but Rainbow didn’t seem to take any interest in it. Around a corner, underneath the doorway they had entered from, was another computer that Rainbow had identified as the one they needed. However, it’s screen was shattered, and several wires that had been connecting it to the wall were torn out. There was no using this machine.

“No...” Rainbow breathed. She panicked, her voice becoming more and more distressed. “No, no! How could this have happened?”

“He was ready...” Nimbus murmured.

“What?” Twilight looked over to him.

“He knew what we were coming for before he captured Topside. He knew that I was looking for her...”

A faint shimmer of light flashed in front of the destroyed computer. Nopony seemed to notice it, and it disappeared as quickly as it came.

“Are there any other places we can look for her?” Nimbus almost knocked Rainbow over when he spun around to face her. Before she could reply, another voice gave him an answer. A very familiar voice. It was actually a pair of voices.

“It’s heads and tails, really.”

“Will it be heads, or tails?”

From the shadows beneath the staircase, two unicorn ponies emerged. They both had tan coats, and chocolate brown manes. One a mare, and the other a stallion. The mare held a single coin in a hoof. When one of them spoke, the other would finish their sentence.

“Perhaps you might want to try looking in a different way...”

“... Before you look elsewhere.”

“Every coin has two sides...”

“... All that matters is which side you look at.”

Twilight glared at the twin enigmas. “You two again?”

“Heads or tails?” The tan mare asked.

“It doesn't really matter,” The stallion told her.

“What do you two want?” Twilight demanded, her tone becoming hostile. “All you two do is pop up out of nowhere and make no sense!”

“Twilight...” Nimbus nudged her. “I think they’re trying to help us.”

The mare disregarded Twilight’s tone. She flipped the coin in her hoof, displaying the heads side. She quickly flipped it again, and it was on it’s tails side.

“All you have to do is flip the coin...”

“...and you’ll find your answers.”

Twilight didn’t like those two, they made things complicated. Sure, they had returned her notes to her, but how had they acquired them in the first place? The notes... They were talking about the tears... Twilight looked back, suddenly realizing what they were trying to tell her, but they had already vanished.

“Twilight?” Nimbus asked her, looking at her now excited expression. “What’s going on?”

“I got it!” She told him, excitedly turning to face the broken computer. “I know what we have to do!”

Applejack just looked at Rainbow Dash, who, in response, looked back. They turned their heads to Twilight, each bearing identical looks of confusion. Twilight stared at the destroyed device, her horn glowing with purple magic.

“We have to flip the coin...”