ATLAS

ATLASClub Damnation
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I opened my journal and began to write...

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‘Twilight’s journal...’

“Rise and shine, Mister Atlas.” Ringing, the alarm clock caught his attention. He turned to it, sighing.

‘He’s never been able to sleep. He used to be my watchdog, you know?’

Gingerly, he placed his holopad onto the bed, right next to himself.

‘He had been looking at a picture of my friends and I, with him behind us. The last picture we took, when his friends were already gone...’

His eyes stared at the pad, looking deep into the picture of old. The alarm clock kept ringing, he ignored it.

‘I should have known... All he needed was friendship, and me, an old student of the magic of friendship, didn’t notice that. Nostalgia was eatingat himinch by inch, consuming his mind.’

Finally, he took his eyes away from the flat device, focusing on the window instead. Morning, yet Lower Apex remained dim as ever, only the artificial neon signs and lights to provide just enough brightness for one to be comfortable. His hands rested upon the bed, feeling the soft linen of the covers as he broke them. Such a gentle feeling, yet unsuiting for his destructive nature.

‘Alarm clock continued to rattle away...He never did really like alarm clocks, I guess he didn't like the one in his room either...’

Atlas looked at his bloodied hand, then back at the obliterated clock. Shards of metal and plastic stuck out from his palm. He watched as the crimson fluid seeped out of the wounds, trickling onto the floor.

‘I had to follow the trail of blood into the bathroom.’

He looked at the broken valve held in his undamaged hand, tossing it away. The sink continued to pour water constantly. He dipped his hand into the stream, watching as it washed the blood away.

‘He spent some minutes pulling the broken clock pieces out of his palm.’

With a stoic expression, unchanged since his arrival, he pulled the last piece out of his self, his hand once again bloody, yet the flow diminishing. Flicking the shard away, he formed a small cup with his hands and let the stream of water wash away the remaining trails of blood before leaning down and washing his face.

‘When I got there, the first aid kit under the sink was open...’

Tightly, he adjusted the bandage around his hand, then looked at the mirror, at the reflection of himself.

‘His scarred face and overly large body made him feel almost like a monster. I... don’t blame him for that...’

His cybernetic fist, now stuck into the broken mirror. Breathing heavily, he pulled the limb away, allowing the shards of glass to fall, then looked through the window.

‘Damnation was waiting for him...’

Atlas’ eyes locked onto the large building that was Club Damnation.

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“Howdy stranger!” Hatcha exclaimed from behind the counter. “How’d the sleep go-”

‘I feel bad for the old changeling...’

“No,” Atlas muttered, slowly walking down the stairs and into the living room of the hotel. “I don’t sleep.” He crouched to avoid the ceiling, moving over to Hatcha.

‘He noticed Atlas’ bandaged hand.’

“Uhm... Stranger?”

Atlas huffed, reaching into his pocket to reveal a credit chip. “It’s nothing, now take this.” He tossed it onto the counter. “Nobody walks into my room, okay?”

‘Once again, he knew that I was behind him, or at least, he hoped so. I can only assume that he wanted the room to be intact so I could trace him easily.’

“What...” the changeling muttered, picking up the credit chip. “Oh! Sure thing stranger!”

‘Good thing that he didn’t have the idea of using my account again...’

“Good.” The giant turned to the door, sighing and walking over to it.

‘Waiting for him was Lower Apex. Hovering above were civilian craft, casting shadows over a crowd of people composed by all species who walked below. Buildings that stretched all the way up into the top of the cave system, neon signs and lights all around... I really hope that Ponyville doesn’t turn into this. It’s okay, but... Can’t we keep at least a piece of our original culture? I’m sure Atlas would agree.’

People shot worried glances up at Atlas and moved away from him as he walked through the middle of the street. He looked around the area for a particular building.

‘A twelve-foot tall giant is hard to miss. Some even confuse him for a Colonial Guardsman in a heavy exosuit, and even without it they only standat nine feet...’

He smirked as his eyes locked onto a restaurant. “Joe’s Restobar!” He walked over to it, bumping into other people as he did so. They looked up at him fearfully, returning to their own world as they saw him enter the building.

‘A human restaurant... I couldn’t stand the smell of burning flesh...’

Once inside, he was greeted by the sight of several tables, the smell of grilled meat, and the sounds of both conversations and clattering utensils. Humans, Gryphons, and Changelings sat behind the tables, enjoying their meals along one another.

‘He walked over to a table and sat down, several eyes locking onto him...’

Atlas sighed as he pushed away the bent metal chair, opting to sit on the floor instead, but not without causing a small earthquake. He carefully rested one of his arms on the table, glaring at those who were still looking at him.

‘A waiter cautiously approached him. A gryphon, whose eyes were of gold.’

“Welcome, sir. May I take your-”

“Five family portions of bacon and eggs, along with five large beers,” Atlas said with a blunt tone, not even bothering to look at the waiter, who smiled awkwardly.

“Will do, sir!” he exclaimed. “Your meal should be here in... fifteen minute-”

Atlas calmly turned to the waiter. “Make it five, or I’ll make you into fried chicken myself.”

‘Classy...’

He spent his time trying to get a hold of the forks and knives, only managing to bend them in the process.

‘Three, two, one...’

A team of Gryphon waiters rushed to his table, each of them holding a single, oversized plate of bacon and eggs, along with a massive jug of beer. They set their baggage on the table and smiled, waiting for him to say something. He eyed each of them, watching as their feathers drenched with cold sweat.

“Good.”

‘The waiters sighed a breath of relief and went to different tables, leaving him alone with his food... His eating habits are as bad as he looks.’

Atlas chugged down the last of the beers, calmly placing the jug on the table and looking down at the empty plates. He huffed, grabbing one of them and biting into it.

‘He also eats ceramic...’

The wait staff and everyone else in the restaurant looked on in stunned disbelief, the former frozen in terror. Atlas turned slowly to them, and smiled. Half the waiters were too terrified to even react. When Atlas finally opened his mouth to say "That was a good meal,” they each turned away and went back to their tasks.

‘Once he paid for that oversized meal using my account, he got up and walked out into the streets once more...’

With his spirit lifted by the meal, Atlas continued to walk, following the path that would eventually lead him to the club.

‘There’s a saying that goes, ‘It’salways night in Lower Apex’... I can only say that it’s basically true, since there is no day-night cycle, and the clubs function all day, all week.’

He rounded a corner, finding himself at the end of a long line leading to a massive building with holoscreens displaying the word “Damnation!”

‘And almost always, especiallyin Damnation, you’ll have to wait a few hours before even walking into it.’

“Hmph...” He estimated that at least an hour had passed, an hour of boredom. Eventually, all that stood between him and the entry to the club was a group of three men.

‘He wasn’t in the mood to wait any longer...’

A single, young man cut into the line, right in front of him. Atlas unfolded his arms and grunted, prompting the man to look up. “H-Heh... S-sorry, big guy, I was here first!”

‘Everything but the music went silent, and even the Gryphon bouncers looked up at him. The group of men turned to him, glaring up at his face with barely enough confidence.’

“Move,” he muttered.

The young men grinned, one of them exclaiming, “You got a problem with us?”

Atlas sighed and shook his head. He folded his arms once again, waiting for the line to diminish in length.

‘He may not look like it, but he sometimes likes to avoid conflict... sometimes...’

Once it was his turn to enter the club, he stepped forward, only to be blocked by the bouncers.

‘Unfortunately, the bouncers weren’t too happy that night...’

“Hold on there, human!” one of them yelled, adjusting his suit and standing in front of the doorway. “Now, we ain’t got no place in the club for a big sack of shit like you, so you better get out.”

‘And fortunately, someone else was somewhat happy...’

The Gryphon pressed his talon against his head, sighing out, “Yes, understood...” Atlas smirked as the guard folded his legs. “Look, human, I’ll give you another chance... You want a job?”

‘He does seem like a good bouncer, doesn’t he?’

“Maybe,” he said, leaning down. “Why?”

Huffing, the Gryphon continued, “Go talk to the bartender...” He made way for Atlas to step into the hallway. “Tell him that Reaver sent you. Now get outta my face or I’ll change my mind.”

‘And so he was let into the world’s most well-known club...’

He began his walk through the club’s entry, ignoring the protests of those still in the waiting line.

‘I think it was one of the closest instances of a ‘drug trip’ that I’ve ever had, just walking through that hallway. Strobing lights, trippy paintings, and...’

“Oooh...” a voice rang out as he reached the actual entry to the club. “Hello there, hunk!” Once his eyes adjusted to the lightning, he looked down to see two unicorn mares beaming up at him.

‘Except that two stallions greeted me instead...’

“Hmph?”

“Welcome to your ‘Damnation’!” one of them exclaimed, lighting up her horn and bringing a small pill out of a small vase set upon a metallic table. “Here you go, you sexy thing!” She held it out for Atlas, who pinched the little pill out of her magical grip, keeping his stoic expression. “Now stand still!”

A small, eye-like device on the ceiling scanned him, followed by a cybernetic voice speaking up, “Human, Ex-Guardsman, Over-augmented.”

“Mmmh!” The other mare smiled. “Seems like you’re special! I like that...”

“Now take these, and you’re ready to go!” They each held out a single earpiece for him, and just as before, he grabbed ahold of both items, though not bothering to place them in his ears.

‘I figured out that his ears wouldn’t explode like mine would have, so he didn’t put on the mufflers...’

“Have fun!” they both exclaimed as they parted to make way for him. He pushed open the doors and entered Damnation.

‘Just as him, my vision was attacked by a myriad of strobing, colorful lights. I could see people of all species just constantly dancing, each of them with a different style. All the way atthe other side of the massive club, I could see a huge platform with a female minotaur mixing the music... Easily one of the most interesting experiences I’ve ever had.’

Atlas continued to walk through the outer rim of the club, tossing the earbuds away. He pushed through the crowd, spilling drinks, forcing people to insult him, yet he paid no attention. His objective was only to find the main bar.

‘If I remember correctly, it was a male Gryphon that ran the bar... I could recall more, but it was probably a bad idea to swallow the pill they gave me at the entrance.’

He sat at one of the stools in front of the bar which, surprisingly, sustained his weight. Looking around, he spotted the bartender and snapped his fingers, catching the Gryphon’s attention.

‘Ah! He wore a business suit, and one of his eyes was blind!’

“What’s your poison?”

“Water,” Atlas replied.

“Soft stuff for a tough guy, huh?” the Gryphon chuckled as he leaned down to retrieve a bottle of water, setting it in front of Atlas.

“Don’t try to be funny.” Atlas adjusted his cooling vest as he grabbed the bottle.

“Let me guess...” The bartender leaned over to him. “You’re over-auged, so you overheat?” Atlas looked to the side.

‘The only thing that makes him uncomfortable...’

“Well, that explains the water.” He chuckled. “So, anything else?”

Atlas looked back down at the Gryphon. “Reaver told me to talk to you.”

“I see...” He rubbed his beak with his talon. “You like to fight, right? You sure look like it.” Atlas replied with a nod.

“Heh!” The bartender turned to a door set on the other side of the bar. “Wait a sec, I’ll be right back!”

‘He smirked while watching the bartender rush to the door... And someone else rushed to him.’

“H-hello!” Atlas craned his neck to the side, then down, to see a small mareling sitting in the stool next to him and looking up at him with a smile.

“Hi.” He turned back to the bottle of water.

“I’m K-Karen, nice to meet you!” The little changeling beamed up at him.

‘Did I mention that he’s pretty much asexual?’

He chugged some of the water. “Uh-huh...”

“What’s your uh... n-name?” She blushed, looking away from him.

He huffed. ”Does it matter?”

‘What a gentleman...’

After a few minutes, Atlas looked behind the little changeling. “Hey, look at that!” He took the moment she turned around to crush the pill in his hand and allow the dust to fall on her drink.

“Uhm...” She looked back at him. “What’s up?”

“Can you drink?” he asked.

“H-huh?”

Atlas rolled his eyes. “I...” He groaned. “I like marelings that drink...”

“Oh!” Karen grinned and lifted her drink.

‘Changelings absorb energy and chemicals extremely fast, and they’re not very resistant to the latter...’

The Gryphon bartender scratched his head a few moments after he arrived, looking at the sleeping mareling. “What happened?”

Atlas shrugged.

“Huh... Well, anyways, I’ve got a job for ya’. Just go through that door over there.” The bartender pointed to the door on the far side of the bar.

The giant nodded. “Sure thing.”

‘He didn’t know what he was getting into...’