Linkin Pony Recharge: The Catalyst

by Kaciekk

Rating: teen
Tags: Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Original Character, Adventure
Length: 16772

The world is dying, the new breed is taking control. The Linkin Ponies need to find a new way to live. But how much to they have to sacrifice just for their own lives?

A Prequel to LINKIN PONY-RECHARGE

The world is dying, the new breed is taking control. The Linkin Ponies need to find a new way to live. But how much to they have to sacrifice just for their own lives? And will any other ponies find them? There has to be a new source of energy out there, but is the world at a Catalyst nopony can change?

Published 2013-10-06 21:50:02 UTC
Last updated 2016-06-13 19:20:33 UTC

Prologue

It was the not so distant future. The sky was gray, like the many days before. It slowly grew worse. There was a lot of waste on the ground, and ponies didn't even bother to clean it up. The ponies were using up almost all of their resources. Was there a energy that they could use that would not hurt the environment? But unfortunately, it was too late.

Many ponies were starting to die. It was in the nature of anypony to make life easier. So they decided that technology could help them. They were equipped with armor, and mechanical parts. Some ponies even had their own weapons. It was going good for a while, but many ponies gathered into citadelles . The races were starting to lose their senses. Their minds became only ran on instincts. Each day, those ponies lost more emotion. All they wanted was to make other into the new breed of mechanical ponies. They thought if they could do that, it would help all of them. And now the new breeds take all the resources they can get, leaving the normal ponies almost bare.

But there was an evil implanted into those ponies by the technology. The electrical currants going through into their brainwaves was corrupted. The amount of new breeds grew, and roamed around cities. Normal ponies without these mechanical parts hid away, though they could barely live. If a pony gave a threat to a new breed, they would be certainly killed.

Still, the people wanted to make a change, and bring back some of the resources, or find new ones. But the new breed got in the way. Most of the ponies left with true minds were ponies who were environmentally conscious, or knew better then to make themselves robots.

There was a group of ponies just like that. They had even started getting ready for fate before a drastic change. They had watched many ponies become the new breed, and were still able to communicate with them. The group of ponies refused to become the new breed, for they knew something went wrong. They might only be musicians, but they were intelligent. They hid in the shadows preparing for the worst to come. It came. No pony knew that the new breeds would be corrupted. But they had a pretty good sense of it to start with.

But was the world at a Catalyst that nopony could change?

The air was thick with fumes, and the sun was only a glint of light behind the fading sky. A stallion walked along the streets of the city. His pale red-orange coat was hit by the shadow of the walls. He careful looked around. The street was lined of decaying wood and rusting metal. The stallion pushed his long, black mane back with his hoof. He adjusted his ears to see if there was any noise. There was nothing.

The stallion slipped away by a shop and glanced inside. There were plenty of toys and gifts from all of the world. A store that would bring ponies joy from finding their favorite things, was now depressing.

A Unicorn stood inside. He had no metal parts, which told the red-orange stallion it was okay to go in. He walked inside; the room was dark. The Unicorn slowly turned.

"I don't need any visitors. Nothing is for sale..."

"I know," the stallion spoke "Why are you here? Don't you have a band? I'd think that you would be with them more often."

"Unlike what you would think, we don't spend our lives together ever hour. We are like brothers, but there is other matters to be done." The Unicorn raised his head, pale light hit his gray-brown eyes. "Music is dead. Everypony thought it wouldn't be, that ponies will always want music. But look now, there are barely any ponies to play too. Most of them are robots."

"So you say..." The other stallion said. "There are still ponies, but they are hiding. I'm sure that they would like music from a pony like you, and like me."

Indigo magic lifted up a small rectangular piece from a shelf. It was unfolded into a little figurine, a robot soldier. "This is not the robot I was thinking I would see. Now, there are zombie-robots." The Unicorn said.

The red-orange stallion came forward. "You're a DJ, I'm a DJ...."

"What's your point."

The stallion gave a sigh. "I really don't know."

"Of course," The Unicorn gave a growl. "Nopony would care who we are. Life is meaningless now." The indigo aura collapsed the figure, and it dropped to the floor with a click.

"That's not sarcasm." The stallion examined.

"My own humor was ripped away from the world's change. It's only going to get worse."

"But you shouldn't let it."

--

It was the next day. The stallion had not seen the Unicorn again. The pony knew the Unicorn, but they were not close friends. But in the world now, anypony wanted to find trust from any of the ponies they could find.

In the dim city, the stallion caught glance of a mechanical pony. Though he could recognize who he was. An old friend, who had turned into a new breed. Maybe there was hope, that his mind wasn't completely lost.

The pony trotted toward it wearily. It was a silver pegasus who scanned the area. It's eyes flashed too see the approaching stallion. The new breed didn't do anything.

"Hey... remember me?" The stallion said anxiously.

The Pegasus gave a grumble, covered by mechanical sounds. "You're lost."

"Huh?"

"Why are you here?"

The pony tilted his head. "I'm not sure what you mean by that. I'm just here. I guess I'm just trying to live like anypony else.

"But you're dying," A raspy voice replied "While I'll stay alive."

"I think you're wrong, those mechanical parts aren't safe."

"The world isn't safe... neither are you." The pegasus raised his right hoof. He didn't do much, only show that he had a gun implanted.

"Hey, get that away!" The stallion smacked his hoof on the metal foreleg.

"No!"

The new breed lunged forward and the stallion ran back. The enemy fired lasers toward the stallion. He swooped around and zig-zagged across the streets. He quickly stopped his canter by a building. Just as the gray pony came out from the corner, the pale stallion threw a barrel with his forehooves. The creature screeched as it broke on top of him.

In a blur, the red-orange stallion raced away. He was faster then the new breed. He couldn't believe that he was a pony he once knew. He didn't want to think he needed to hurt him or even kill him. But there was no right equipment to kill him.

The pony stopped, and another figure stood by him. He was outlined by the light of a fire. He had a white mane, and olive coat. He wore a vest with dark green patterns.

"A Hybrid attacked you?"

"Yeah... but he was my friend... I couldn't kill him-"

"There are no mercy for the new breed." The olive Unicorn replied. "They are lost, and can't be found. But we as normal ponies need to find a new way to live. I am currently trying to find a new resource. Maybe something that works with brainwaves like the hybrids, something we can use to stop them."

"I'm guessing you haven't had any luck yet."

"I am a scientist, I am not going to give up. Even if that means I have to go face the enemy. They are not even ponies anymore."

The stallion looked to him for a few moments. "You're a scientist, and you are still doing your job. While I can't even do anything with my talent."

"There is always a way to use your talent. You just need to find ponies to connect to, and bring out your help." The scientist reassured.

Later that evening, the stallion went back to his apartment. The lighting was dim, and his eyes had to adjust. Going through the small room he went toward his computer. There are ponies out there that will know what I want to do. I want to make a difference in the world. Music isn't dead. He noticed how many views he had on PonyTube, but they had come to a halt because of so little ponies. Yes there are many other things to do, but music can give hope to ponies. My name is only known because I am featured with other artists. I can't make lyrics... so what ponies could make good lyrics, and agree with making a difference.

The idea had came to him. He knew the perfect ponies. He started to write an email, hoping it would go out.

Dear Linkin Ponies,

I know that I haven't been that in touch with you. You have always been a band I admired, and I know you are fond of some of my work. I had even seen one of you the other day. I know not many ponies listen to music anymore, but what If we could make some ponies hear us. And I do mean US. I would like to do a collaboration. I have an idea for a song, but I do need lyrics. You guys would have to make lyrics. I know that you are a very caring group, always wanting to help ponies. So why not make a song to speak to the world? Email me back please
Sincerely, ElectricTone

Author's Note

This story is probably better written than the original was. I will not have as many references though ( I used up a lot) and lyrics are really not allowed. The Linkin Ponies are become more of their own thing, not just based from the band. These stories are for the build up on character.

ElectricTone, the pony in the prologue, is not a Linkin Pony. He is not a main character, and will not be in the story very long, he was just to introduce the plot.

--

This story is rated Pg-13 for foul language and gore.

Chapter I

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter II

The ponies circled around and got ready for the duel. They stood in a face-off between the apposing Hybrids. They were outnumbered by bodies, but their minds were stronger.

SpinningNote stepped forward and his horn lit up with magic. His aura lifted up an empty barrel. It slammed down and clanked over the head of one Hybrid. But the enemy still stood. It raised its right leg that had a large metal claw with a winding wire going up to the shoulder. It gave a low growl from its cord covered mouth. There were other Hybrids with the same cover design, but they varied slightly, and they were different types of ponies.

Spinning jumped back the Hybrid gave one swing of the claw. Just as it got back to position Spinning slammed his hoof down on the top of its head. He quickly stepped to the side ignoring the pain in his right forehoof. It still followed the Unicorn as he got cornered. He was ready to attack with magic. All of a sudden HyperBlitz fell from the sky and rammed his back hooves into the side of the enemy. He flipped his head up and gave Spinning a quick nod.

Hyper bounced over to see what BlazingFlair was doing. The Earth-pony was at a distance from a really slow Hybrid. He picked up a big, old branch with his forelegs and struggle to keep his balance on two. Blazing swung the branch to the creature and it hit across its face and chest.

"Hype, distract it!" Blazing commanded weakly.

The Pegasus fluttered above the ground. "Hey, mother fucker!"

The Hybrid noticed him and ran towards him. Walked towards him.Its round metal shoulders turned as it lifted its legs.

Blazing ripped off a piece of metal from some object, and placed it between his teeth. He stuck the sharp part forward and swiftly ran to the Hybrid. Blazing was able to jam the metal into the belly of the Hybrid. As it reared up in pain, Hyper used his forehoof to smack the creature under its chin.

Blazing then sought out EchoBeat. He noticed that other ponies were fighting too. A gray Unicorn stallion was using magic attacks on a clawed Hybrid while a magenta mare kept throwing chunks of rock at another. Blazing then found the red Earth-pony. He already had some bruises, but nothing critical.

Echo stood with defense as he felt beads of sweet roll down his face and cling to his shady beard. He saw a Hybrid come his way but it paid no attention to him. Its armor had a rusty tint to it and it had a gun attached to its foreleg. It raised its leg to the left and a burning laser flew out. It hit the side of the fence. Echo could see HeartFelt cowering away from the shot.

Echo's ears twitched as he heard CharmingRhythm's voice. " HeartFelt, get out of here!"

The mare picked up GentleSketch with lime magic onto her back. HeartFelt galloped away behind the far side of the fence.

The gun Hybrid heard Rhythm, and then aimed him. The blue-gray Unicorn kept steady until the Hybrid shot at him, and he dodged by jumping left to right.

EchoBeat saw his chance. He ran forward and grabbed the cord of the Hybrid that came from its neck to lower shoulder. The creature stopped going forward as it growled with confusion.

"Stop!" It said in a raspy voice.

As Echo held it back Rhythm's blue magic surrounded the front of it. The Hybrid was almost paralyzed. Echo let go of his grip fast as the magic threw the enemy into the air and slammed on a stone wall.

"Where's ElectricTone?" Rhythm asked anonymously.

The stallions scanned the area around them. The pale red-orange pony was standing about fifty yards from them. A dark blue Hybrid apposed him, about the same size. It took two swings at him. ElecticTone tried to dodge. Crimson dripped from his shoulder. He tried to get back but the distance was dangerously close.

Suddenly a huge crate fell on top of the Hybrid. ElectricTone glanced up and saw FeatherTune who was exhausted from using his strength. FeatherTune then crashed his hooves on top of the foe's back that was covered with broken wood.

"I'm not sure that the crate would hurt it enough," He skipped off and stared at ElectricTone.

"We gotta help those guys!" CharmingRhythm called out.

The ponies swirled their head and saw a whole group of Hybrids attacking the two other ponies. HyperBlitz was already wrestling a clawed Hybrid. Blazing and Rhythm galloped over to the scene. Rhythm pulled a strong Hybrid away from the gray stallion with magic. SpinningNote then threw a huge pipe with power on top of it.

Blazing tried to get to HyperBlitz to help him, but there was too much commotion. Blood ran down from the yellow pony's head around his muzzle. The Hybrid closed around from the back of Hyper. Its claw clapped on the base of Hyper's wing. He bared his teeth as the pain sunk in. He tried to rear up and kick the Hybrid away, but the grip was too strong.

Suddenly the Hybrid's claw pulled away. Blood fell like mad and HyperBlitz gave the harshest scream. Blazing pushed his ears back as it pierced his eardrums. He knew how Hyper could sing and scream in songs, but this was completely different. The most perfect voice became to most horrid.

Hyper's right wing was completely ripped from the base, blood covering his shoulders. He became week and couldn't stand strait. Blazing saw an opening and tackled the Hybrid. The other unknown stallion used magic and twisted the Hybrid.

EchoBeat quickly ran to Hyper to to assist him away from the fight. The red pony let his friend rest after they were at a good distance.

"Fuck," Hyper cursed with agony caught in his throat. He still had a determined look in his eyes. "I gotta get them!"

"HyperBlitz, you're hurt," Echo said.

"I don't fucking care! They gotta pay!"

"Hype-"

"NO!"

CharmingRhythm took a break and went towards them. "HyperBlitz, he's right."

"But I have-"

"HyperBlitz," Rhythm lowered his head and his eyes gave a dark look of irritation.

"Fine..." Hyper mumbled.

"Why does he listen to you?" Asked Echo.

Rhythm didn't reply, he only turned away. EchoBeat stayed with the injured Pegasus. All of the others went back to the fight. The other gray stallion held a Hybrid still with his magic while draining its energy. The magenta mare kept throwing whatever objects she could find at it.

SpinningNote tried to think of a plan while he ran. There was still a good amount of Hybrids left. He skidded across the dusty ground as he spotted something. A small round tank was hidden behind the quarrel.I was probably used for some sort of fuel. It was opened, possibly used, but there still had to be something inside. The Hybrids ran with some sort of fuel, electricity even, but they had some sort of power.

"Feather! Get that big gun guy over there!" Spinning called out.

FeatherTune fluttered above the ground and saw the huge Hybrid. It was yellow, but with an ugly tint. FeatherTune was drawing it over by shouting at it, but he spoke in a different language.

A whirlwind of magic picked up dirt into a crate, on top of the load inside. Then Spinning's indigo aura picked up the container and threw it at the large Hybrid. The enemy fell back on to the tack. The dust flew everywhere and smoke from the Hybrid and combustion filled the air.

All of the ponies started to scatter. There was a chance to get away with all of the smoke to blind the Hybrids. Rhythm came over to the fence. He could see the silhouette of his wife. HeartFelt's brown eyes were filled with fear.

"HeartFelt, you can't let these hybrids hurt you! 'Cause I'm not gonna let that happen!" Rhythm told her.

He twirled around when he heard a pony call his name, but it was hard to tell who it was. He cantered to the path that they originally wanted to go. All of the ponies' coats felt dry with itchy eyes from all of the dust.

The ponies tried to get away from all of the commotion. ElectricTone still followed them

Rhythm glanced to the pale red-orange pony. He started to speak but he changed his mind as he did. "Hey, ElectricTone-- I... nevermind."

"What?"

"I was going to have you check on HeartFelt and the other ponies but I don't want to bother you. Anyway I know that you wanted to follow us-"

"No, that's fine. We are almost half-way anyways. And I don't think I have I have enough effort in me to move on. I don't want you to be held back. It's fine if I check. I'll let her know," the DJ bowed his head.

"Lets hope that the next time we meet isn't too long from now," Blazing said and placed his golden hoof out. ElecticTone put his right forehoof to his and gave a rightful hoof-shake.

"Be careful," EchoBeat told him.

"Crate work good on Hybrids," Feather gave an awkward wink. "Adiós."

The Linkin Ponies kept traveling north while ElectricTone went back.

They traveled slow across the dry terrain. It was probably after noon, but they had no idea the exact time. Non of them spoke for a while. They were beaten up and exhausted. CharmingRhythm still took lead. He glanced at his team, they all walked with their heads low. They haven't been in a Hybrid attack like this.

HyperBlitz was trotting to the left of Rhythm. His eyes weren't exactly placed forward or down, but out of focus. He was thinking deeply, and somewhat looking at something past reality. Rhythm glanced at Hyper's right wing, which was only a bloody stub now. It made Rhythm sick to look at it. He saw his friend's face again. The yellow pony seemed very upset.

"H-HyperBlitz," Rhythm stuttered as he spoke quietly. "Y-ya know we could... make you another wing."

The Pegasus suddenly flipped his head over and his eyes burned. "And not become a Hybrid?!"

Rhythm sighed, "I'm sure there's a way we could figure out..."

"No matter what we do, using metal or whatever would turn me, or anypony in general, into a Hybrid!"

"Hyper," BlazingFlair tried to calm him down, but Hyper gave him a dirty look and Blazing didn't say anything else.

There was another moment of silence. There was only the sound of hooves clopping.

Hyper took a breath, and spoke without turning his head. "CharmingRhythm, It's not the wing I'm upset about. Its those damn Hybrids! The fact that they-- They do this! Those fucking Hybrids have been doing it! Attacking ponies, killing them, making them slaves! It just makes me so fucking pissed... I..." He bared his teeth and didn't finish.

"It's gonna be okay..." Rhythm said.

"We just gotta keep pushing forward. But for right now, lets get to the base," Echo said with releif.

Chapter III

It wasn't late when the ponies arrived at the base, but the ponies were so out of it that they decided to rest fort the last part of the day. They tried to get situated in their new home, but it wouldn't be easy. They have been to the base before, but now they had to live there.

The base was an old building, it was hard to tell what it was used for before. But the ponies found it perfect, like it was made for them to use. There were enough rooms for six bedrooms, a mainroom, a meeting room and a good place for storage. It was off the city grid in a rural area with a small neighborhood. Still, that didn't mean that they wouldn't see any Hybrids.

BlazingFlair had gotten up early, only because he had went to bed so early. IT felt good to sleep, but he still was wary to see if there were any Hybrids.

He came out of his small room and his green eyes studied the gray hall. Blazing's surroundings seemed so different. He placed his gold hooves forward and every clop echoed through the space. He paced through into the mainroom slowly, and only looked around. He had a sense of loneliness.

Blazing walked though the stale aid of the rooms. He entered into the meeting room. A large oval table stayed in the center. The orange pony passed by the counters that had cabinets below. He scanned over to where he had came in; to the right of the entrance was a door that led to where most of their food storage was.

Blazing's green eyes looked to the window. Pass the glass was the dying world, so dull and gray. It was morning, and not much light from the sun showed normally. Everyday it was humid still, and it was even uncomfortable inside. Blazing still watched to the outside

I wonder if if any ponies know about this place. Who left it? It doesn't look like there are any Hybrids out there. His thoughts skipped subjects naturally. Geez, what time is it? None of the guys are up yet. Blazing looked over to the digital clock, but it wasn't on. They did not want to waste any energy they had, even if they had any left known of.

Blazing wanted to get something to eat soon; most of the food was canned or tightly packaged. He didn't feel hunger, and he didn't feel like getting something out. His body was sore and is limbs ached.

BlazingFlair stood in front of a door at the end of the room, opposite of the entrance. He knew it was there, but he kept forgetting. It was mysterious. Blazing never knew what was on the other side. He remembered the structure of the base outside, but it seemed that nothing would be there. Did the door lead to something underground?

The stallion's curiosity grew, and he placed his gold hoof though door handle. Though Blazing pulled, it wouldn't open. The door was locked. There has to be a key somewhere. Blazing took a glance around the room. Then he began to pull again. He used all the strength he had left from the day before. Blazing checked too see if he could see anything under the door. He just kept fiddling around with the handle, lock, and hinges.

"Blazing!"

The orange stallion flipped around with wide eyes, startled.

CharmingRhythm was standing on the other side of the meeting room. His eyes were dull and weary, probably from lack of sleep. "What are you doing?"

"I- there's this door... and well, I have no idea whats on the other side," He began. "I want to know. But this door is locked. Why is it locked?" Blazing always said a lot of statements, and fast. "There has to be a way in. Why do we need this door? Do you have any idea what's inside? Have you seen-"

"Blaze, shush..." Rhythm spoke very unenthusiastically. "It doesn't matter. We'll figure out whats on the other side later. We still have to get situated. We have to set rules-"

"Rules?!" BlazingFlair cocked his head. "Why do we need rules? We're all friends, we know what we need to do, right?"

The Unicorn took a pause and tried to straiten his attention. "Rules, or like... plans. We have to set jobs for each other. We can't stay unorganized."

"Alright... so we can check the door later?"

Rhythm sighed, but gave a small smirk, "Yes. Now, we need to get the others up. Could you get-"

"This early?"

"Blazing, it's better to get up early and go to bed early. Especially when we need all the light we can get. Now," Rhythm rolled his eyes, "Can you get up SpinningNote and EchoBeat?"

Blazing just glared at him for a moment with an annoyed expression, then he straiten up and replied. "Yes, sir."

The orange pony retraced his steps back into the hallway. Rhythm followed behind to wake up the other two ponies. Blazing went to the second to last door on the left side of the hall. SpinningNote's room was small, the same size as Blazing's. Spinning had placed his saddlebag carelessly on the floor. The Unicorn slept on the bed in the right corner of the room with his red-violet foreleg falling to the side.

Blazing stepped up and ruffled Spinning's stringy hair and spoke, "Hey dude, you gotta get up."

Spinning just waved his hoof around aimlessly.

"C'mon."

"Why?" The Unicorn moaned.

"Just 'cause," Blazing answered blankly.

He decided to leave Spinning because he knew he would get up eventually. Blazing strutted across the hall. He opened the door and peeked inside. A little more light came in because the window faced more towards the east, but it was still dim.

EchoBeat laid in his bed with the sheet up to his shoulders and one hoof staying on top. Blazing couldn't understand how it could be comfortable with a sheet when it was this humid. Echo's long bangs spread across his pillow and he slept with his mouth slightly open.

Blazing came down by Echo's head and started to talk in a softer tone than he did to Spinning. "Hey Ec, you should get up."

Echo's brown eyes showed faintly and he mumbled with his mouth still open. Echo's mouth usually stayed slightly open. "Can't I just sleep?"

"CharmingRhythm said we all got to get up, so yeah..."

"Alright," Echo said as he pushed himself up.

Blazing walked out of the room. It seemed that all the stallions were gathering in the mainroom. They stood in a circle and glanced at each other. HyperBlitz was the last to get to the circle, lacking energy.

"What?" He groaned.

"We need to set some rules," Rhythm replied.

"Rules?" FeatherTune said tiredly. "Isn't it a bit early to make rules. I mean, not like time, but like, we just got here."

"Yeah, we've haven't even been here for a day," Echo added.

"Would you guys just bare with me here," Rhythm said with his eyes shut.

"CharmingRhythm, we know how you want things to get done," Hyper said, "It's just that, yes, we did just get here. What kind of rules would there be? We're all friends, of course we'll be fair about things. Is it that we need 'jobs'. There isn't much that we know to do right away. Would it be stuff like working the water filter, collecting any resources we can find, going out if we need simple supplies... stuff like that?"

"Yeah... I guess... We would all sorta be equal for that, I guess taking turns, we just don't want anypony to do nothing ." Rhythm replied.

"You know we wouldn't do just nothing," Spinning told him.

Rhythm gave a glance of annoyance at the Unicorn, but it wasn't directed for just him. "I think that I have to agree that we need time to pass to make some more principles. Though I do think it's a good idea we get up early, we want to save daylight..... barely any daylight."

"Don't we have a meeting room?" FeatherTune questioned.

"Yes... we'll have meetings if something important comes up," Rhythm nodded. "I think there needs to be a pony to announce meetings and important things. I guess a leader. I know we are all equal minds, but somepony has to lead... but not complete control... It's hard to say..."

All off the ponies paused and thought about who could possibly be a leader. Then the circle of stallions turned their heads to Rhythm. All of them except Feather, who then caught on and looked to Rhythm too. The blue-gray Unicorn gave a surprised expression, and twisted his head around as if he thought there was another pony.

"Me?" He said with a cracked voice.

"Rhythm, you pretty much lead us already even if you don't realize it," Hyper explained.

"You're defiantly the best for a leader," Echo agreed. "You already do so much for the group. Since we are going to be living together we do need a basic leader. "

"I don't know," Rhythm blushed.

"Rhythm, don't deny it!" Blazing said with a smile and poked Rhythm with his hoof. "You know we'd listen to you. You're awesome enough to be a leader! And it's true that you sorta already are. C'mon! We are all equal, but we agree that you are the best. Sure we need to figure some things out."

"Alright, alright, alright," Rhythm was getting tired of hearing Blazing talk.

"Sorry," Blazing backed away with his head down.

"Now what?" HyperBlitz said, a bit annoyed. He wasn't the type of pony who liked to get up early.

Blazing watched the yellow pony pass to the other side of the room. His wing stub looked so pitiful, covered with a clothe.

"We can't go back to bed," Blazing spoke.

"Why can't we?" Spinning butted in.

"'Cause we can't..." The orange pony said vaguely. He glanced over to the meeting room entrance. "Can we check that door now?"

"Only if you find a key," Rhythm replied.

"Why do you think it needs a key?"

"It's locked, there has to be a key somewhere," The Unicorn explained.

"Are you talking about that door in the meeting room?" Echo said, but no pony answered him.

"Wait, what door? There's a door?" FeatherTune flipped his head. The pegasus opened the entrance door and stared across the room. He stood thee for a few moments then blurted out, "There is a door!"

BlazingFlair rolled his green eyes. He trotted pass Feather who was in the doorway. Blazing decided that he should get something to eat now that he felt a bit more hungry. Still he did not want to eat the packaged and canned foods, for they didn't taste the greatest. None of the ponies ate anything tasty in a long time.

Chapter IV

It was the next day. The air of the base was just as humid. The ponies worked out some things to do, but most of their jobs were similar. Still CharmingRhythm was the definite leader. It seemed that they would live so scarcely with little resources.

FeatherTune trotted though the meeting room. HyperBlitz was sitting in the first chair. He looked down, depressed, at an empty cup. Feather felt a little sorry that he was the only pegasus who could fly now, but he didn't say anything.

Feather slipped into the food storage room. His auburn eyes glanced around the space. It was hard to imagine that the ponies collected this food over the past months, but how long would the supplies last? Will ponies ever beagle to grow food safely again?

The cream Pegasus flew upward. He glanced at the packages on the top shelf. Feather reached his hoof out and touched one of the plastic packages. He suddenly slipped his hoof, and the package fell to the floor with a soft thud.

Feather muttered quietly to himself with annoyance. He quickly got to the ground to pick up the package. It went halfway under the bottom shelf. He crouched awkwardly and scooped the piece up with his hoof.

Before Feather could get up, something caught his eye. Something had a small glint of light hitting it. Feather reached his forehoof under the shelf and pulled it out quickly shook his leg, covered with dust.

A silver key was at the left side of the cream pony. He looked at it confused for a while. Then he remembered that there was a door that was lock. He picked it with two hooves and fluttered into the meeting room. Luckily, CharmingRhythm was now in there. Feather threw the key on the table.

" I found a key."

Rhythm picked the object up with his magic and eyed it.

Just that moment, the door from the mainroom flew open. "Key!?" BlazingFlair exclaimed loudly.

"Yes, we can check that door now," Rhythm answered his question even before he asked.

Soon enough the other ponies gather around the door. FeatherTune watched carefully as Rhythm twisted the key in the lock hole with magic. Suddenly there was a small click sound. Rhythm opened the door to see stairs leading to darkness.

"I knew it was underground!" Blazing said with excitement. "Lets go!"

"What?!" Feather let out. "What if we can't get out? What if something is down there?"

"We wouldn't get stuck, it's unlocked now," Rhythm told him.

"But what's down there? A bomb shelter? A basement?"

"Feather, that's the reason we're going too look," HyperBlitz said. "Whatever is down there, we will make it beneficial to us."

The stallions started down the stairs and turned right. The two Unicorns used their magic as lights to see. Feather stayed in the back of the group, still unsure. They had to go down about two stories until the stairs stopped. It was a large space, very dark, damp, and rocky.

"What's down here? It's empty..." Echo glanced through the black space. "Who left it? Can we use it?"

"Maybe to hid from Hybrids," Spinning said bleakly. "There's something over there," He used his indigo light to reveal a boulder. "Oh, no, it's just a rock."

"It's all rocks!!!" Feather yelled out.

"And crystals," Rhythm added.

The ponies looked to the floor he lit up by a boulder. There were small crystals that seem to glow blue even without Rhythm's light.

"We have no use for them," Hyper muttered.

"I found another door, but it's locked," Spinning announced.

"We can try the key-"

Rhythm was stopped by the other Unicorn. " I already tried- and yes I took the key. It must go outside, since the ground slopes up and the door is sorta halfway on the ceiling."

"We can try from the outside. We need more light," Blazing spoke.

Rhythm turned around. "Spinning, can you get some candles, and Feather, try the key from the outside."

SpinningNote jumped over. "Yal'righty."

FeatherTune mumbled a bit and took the key with his teeth. He started back up the stairs behind the red-violet pony, but then went outside the base.

He went around the outside in the humid world, gray and all. Feather found a cellar door, it had to be it. It seemed to be on a hill, with patches of broken fence guarding it. The pegasus tried the key in the lock and twisted it a few times. It didn't seem to be working.

FeatherTune was started when he heard a clanking noise, and tried the key again. He heart started to race as the sounds grew louder. He flipped his head around and his auburn gaze became dreadful when he saw Hybrids. He slammed his hooves on the door and yelled like crazy.

"Ayúdeme!Ayúdeme! Por favor! Escúchame!"

Feather had dropped the key, but he had no where to go now. He stopped for a moment and turned around to see the metal and flesh creatures coming towards him. He flipped around one more time to slam on the door, but it was somehow open, probably from a pony inside.

The Pegasus suddenly rolled down the side of the rocks, bashing into his muscles. Feather quickly got to his hooves. The light from outside made it easier to see, and now there were some candles, and orbs of magic. But the orbs of magic wouldn't last long. Feather glanced to his friends with fear.

"Shit," Rhythm let out when he saw the Hybrids, already coming towards them underground.

"Uhhggg... stupid Hybrids!" Blazing groaned.

"We can't leave... maybe we can fight them. There isn't that many. There's like four or five," Spinning explained.

"Yeah! I still haven't got them back yet!" Hyper yelled. "No wing doesn't mean I can't fight!"

"But throwing things works good on them when we really don't want to get hurt. We have nothing to throw-" Echo stared with fear.

"What do you mean! Rocks, duh!" Feather told him, still a bit dizzy.

Blazing then jumped in front of one of the Hybrids, its red eyes glowing. Blazing leaped and smacked the Hybrid on its bare cheek with his hoof. He then went back before the Hybrid could hurt him. There were four other enemies ready to attack the stallions.

Five Hybrids to six ponies, that shouldn't be to hard. Especially when they are so stupid. Feather thought to himself. He watched how Hyper distracted a Hybrid and ran back, while Spinning blasted indigo lasers at it. Feather didn't have any magic, but he had wings. He was the only one with wings.

Echo was standing behind a boulder as a slow Hybrid came towards him. The red pony threw as many rocks as he could. Feather knew that Echo wasn't fond of fighting. Feather didn't fight much either, but if he tried, he would mess up somehow. He couldn't mess up now.

Feather bounced into the air and saw red eyes glowing in the dark space. The metal of the foe creaked as its joints turned. It reached up to grab the Pegasus, but he got away from the grasp. Feather then kicked its head with his hindlegs and flew backwards.

The Hybrid grunted as it followed the cream pony. Feather saw that the side of the ground sloped down. He kept fluttering backwards directing the enemy. Its metal hooves scrapped across the ground as it fell into the pit.

There was an odd sense that Feather had. A burst of wind came from below and he launched upward. He glared down at the Hybrid. The ground around it was glowing! The crystals along the boulders lit up to a blaring blue. The light lit up the whole area, and EchoBeat watched the same as Feather. The ground seemed to engulf the Hybrid. Its body was disintegrating, and soon enough the glow died down, but was still there.

"What the hell what that?!" Feather coughed.

"That came from those crystals," Echo examined. "We can use that power as light, and to hurt Hybrids!"

Feather raced over and placed his hooves on the cold ground. He saw that CharmingRhythm helped Blazing disable a Hybrid with magic. The Unicorn's dark eyes looked to Feather, then widened with fear. Feather turned around and saw another Hybrid. It's pelt almost blended in with the terrain.

Rhythm yelled and the Hybrid came towards him instead of Feather. Blazing was on the other side of the battle now, and didn't notice what was going on. Rhythm galloped quickly away from the dark Hybrid, but it was fast too. FeatherTune scooped up a rock in his forehooves and flew to the scene.

He smashed the rock down on the Hybrid, slowing it down. It seemed dizzy now, and couldn't find its enemy. Rhythm was still running, about twenty yards away. His blue hooves slipped across the uneven floor. He tripped into a pit, where crystals lined. A bright blue glow came about and flashed in the Unicorn's face.

Feather fluttered his way to find his friend. The blue power from the ground shot up like how it did to the Hybrid. Feather landed and saw Rhythm pull himself away from the glow as it faded. The blue-gray pony scrambled and sat on the ground. Blood lined the floor and shined in the blue light. Feather saw that the source of the blood was from his friend's leg. He had no leg.

Rhythm screamed as he saw his disintegrate limb. The blood drained from his right foreleg below his elbow. FeatherTune watched in horror as he got to his side.

"AHH!!!"

"CharmingRhythm!"

"HOLY FUCK!"

"Rhythm!"

"MY LEG!"

Rhythm held his injury with his left leg and still screamed. FeatherTune tried to calm him down, but he was still freaking out. Feather knew that the wound needed to be covered up, or he would loose too much blood.

"Stay here," He told Rhythm.

"What?! What are you doing! FeatherTune! My leg is fucking GONE!" But his words faded out as the Pegasus zipped through the air.

He zoomed up the stairs and into the meeting room. The light was brighter, and it blinded him. Feather snatched a rag from the counter that was meant to clean dishes. He held it between his teeth as he went back to the underground. He quickly found his friend again.

"FeatherTu-"

"Cover your leg!"

Rhythm saw the rag, and his magic quickly picked it up and twisted it around the bloody stub. The clothe wouldn't hold it for long, but it was better than nothing. Rhythm then limped away to the base of the stairs.

Feather met up with the other stallions. The Pegasus scanned the area, and saw that the other ponies were able to stop the rest of the Hybrids just as he got there. Random spots of blue light were coming from the ground. The other ponies took a few good breaths and looked to each other.

"God... these Hybrids are so annoying," Blazing mumbled.

"What is this blue light? It seems to be coming from the earth, and those crystals," Echo stated. "Those Hybrids seem to be vulnerable to it."

Hyper spoke too. "Yeah. It helped us. Well, we could have stopped the Hybrid's by ourselves, but it help us do it much faster."

"It helped us, and hurt us," Feather said in a shaky voice.

"What do you mean?" Spinning asked.

Feather turned to see CharmingRhythm waiting at the base of the stairs. The other ponies turned their heads too.

Hyper saw his missing leg, wrapped up in the bloody rag. "Is his leg...."

All of the ponies could see that Rhythm didn't have half of this right foreleg anymore. The energy from the ground was very powerful.

Chapter V

The next morning seemed like it would never come. But it did. The ponies knew how dangerous living was. They had survived two Hybrid attacks so far, but there were many more to come. The Linkin Ponies knew that as long as they stayed a team, things would be easier.

HyperBlitz stepped out of his own room. It was uncomfortable, because it was a new room to him. They all would have to adjust to changes. Even horrible changes.

The yellow pony took his tattooed hooves to the front of the hall, only a few paces away. He stood by the door that went to the small bathroom. Hyper heard voices from the mainroom, and didn't want to disturb the stallions conversation. They all spoke with concern in their throat.

"We can't do anything without getting attacked," BlazingFlair voiced.

"We just need to get more experience," EchoBeat retorted. "If we do that, we can go against Hybrids easier. Its only going to get worse, like how the sky keeps getting duller."

"We need our own weapons or something like that," FeatherTune suggested.

"Or maybe not go outside at all!" Blazing called.

"It's not like we can stay inside forever. We'll have to go out sometime, to find things," Echo told him.

"I thought we came here prepared!" Argued Blazing.

"We came here as prepared as we could be. Nopony is really prepared in this world anymore."

"We could attack Hybrids first," Feather said.

"That's the stupidest idea ever!" Blazing muttered.

Hyper didn't know why Blazing was being to grumpy, he was the most optimistic of the group.

"Are you calling me stupid?!" The other pony defended.

"Feather, your idea would only work if we could find Hybrids before they see us," Echo told him in a more calm voice. That would work if they were just roaming, and we could attack them from far."

"We can only do that if we throw something, or have the Unicorns use magic," Blazing added.

There was a small moment of silence and Hyper's ears twitched waiting for another sentence.

"I don't think we can do much without getting hurt," FeatherTune feared. "Just look at what happened so far."

"How is it that of all ponies, our two front-ponies got injured?" Blazing mumbled. "Both Hyper and Rhythm lost limbs."

Hyper's heart stopped a bit when he heard his own name.

"It is a bit ironic that our two main ponies had that happen to them. Its just this bad luck..." Echo began. " I think that's why Hybrids made metal parts. All the Hybrids wanted to do was to make life easier, and not to die. They want other to be Hybrids too. If was surrender, we become one of them, if we fight and fail, we die."

Hyper backed away from the wall, for the words that sank in hurt him. He didn't want to hear anymore, even though he already knew a lot of this. He just slowly turned and faced towards his room.

The door had opened next to him. Hyper's brown eyes found CharmingRhythm looking to him. He could only see half of the Unicorn's body with the door covering in front of him. Rhythm's leg had a better clothe on it now, but it was still sickening to see.

"You shouldn't be eavesdropping," Rhythm said.

Hyper just shrugged. "They shouldn't keep information to themselves. This isn't the time to be secretive."

Rhythm shook his head slowly. "I don't think we are going to keep secrets from each other. We live under the same roof now."

"Ya know, I'm glad that I'm with you guys. Out of any ponies I, or any of us, could get stuck with during this shit, I'm glad its with you guys," Hyper admitted.

"We are all good friends, once a band..." Rhythm trailed off.

"Some things change... like most of the world. But it's not like we could have stopped this, or at least not alone."

Rhythm came out from hiding behind the door, but looked to the gray floor. "To think those Hybrids were once like us. They were ponies... now they are monsters.They did it to themselves. Now they want to bring it down on us."

Hyper scanned Rhythm. His eyes kept getting stuck on his friend's lost leg. The Unicorn's dark gaze looked to it too and sighed.

"Rhyth, things change. Losing a part of you doesn't make you less of who you are," Hyper said and Rhythm nodded. "But you're still a Unicorn... I'm only half a Pegasus."

"But it's sorta my own fault I lost half a leg, I tripped into that blue power. I could have been more careful while you couldn't do anything with that Hybrid and your wing."

"Well... If I could have got him away from me... and Feather said you were being chased by a Hybrid." Hyper pointed out.

CharmingRhythm just looked over to the ground and gave a sigh. It didn't seem like he wanted to talk much more. Hyper stretched his foreleg out to show for a hug. Rhythm's brown eyes looked at him for a moment. He then leaned forward and Hyper wrapped his leg around the Unicorn's neck.

"I guess we're stub buddies now."

Rhythm pulled back and look the the Pegasus with no amusement in his eyes, but Hyper didn't seem very amused either. He only left Rhythm to himself now.

HyperBlitz walked down the hall steadily. He saw that the last door on the left was slightly opened. His hooves stopped and he peeked inside. SpinningNote stood on the end of the room. There were boxes stacked around. A red guitar leaned against a box with a snare drum on the floor next to it.

Spinning's black mane was down and covered his eyes as he looked downward. He hadn't even glanced up to Hyper when he came in. In front of the red-violet Unicorn was a turntable, with buttons on the left, and a record below his hoof. He turned the vinyl back and forth slowly. The table was not turned on so it made no sound, yet Spinning still stared down and twisted the disk.

"SpinningNote?" Hyper spoke to him. The pony did not speak nor move his attention. Hyper came forward to him. "Hey Spin, you alright?"

Again, Spinning did not reply. A single tear fell from his muzzle onto the record and he stopped turning it. Though he stopped that movement, he began to shake.

Hyper quickly stepped up to him with concern. The Pegasus placed his red hoof on Spinning's shoulder. "SpinningNote," He spoke with hurt in his voice. "What's wrong?"

"What do you think?" Spinning shuttered out. "Life is what's wrong."

"Aw, Spin, its just that we are going through tough times," Hyper pulled Spinning over and pressed his cheek to the other stallion's. "Shit happens, we just gotta push on. Things will get better better once we figure some stuff out. C'mon Spin, I know you aren't this way. Where's the fun Spinning? I know he's in there, we need him to do this. We all have to-"

"That's exactly what Rhythm said. That Spinning is gone-"

"No he's not. I've seen him the last few days; I know I can see him again," Hyper looked into Spinning's grayish-brown eyes which were filled with uncertainty and tears. "Spinning, you know how we always wanted to help the world? Well, maybe we could do that now... or in a while. Every effort can lead to a change. And we can't be negative to do that."

The Unicorn just bobbed his head for agreement. Hyper then left him alone in the room, he probably could figure things out by himself.

HyperBlitz sat down on the cold floor. He went to the underground part of the base to have some time alone. Some time to think. Yet there was always time to think. The cave wasn't as dark as it was when they first arrived because the blue light from the ground was in random spots. IT had not vanished from the day before, and it still gleamed a bright blue. The cellar door had already been boarded up and they decided not to open it.

What is this blue energy? Hyper thought, looking through the cave. Did whoever leave this place know that it was here? This stuff isn't natural. I've never seen something like it before? Was it here even before the Catalyst? Why haven't I seen it anywhere else? It's pretty damn powerful, it blew off Rhythm's leg.

The yellow pony glanced over his right shoulder to see his own lost limb. His wing stub was wrapped up tight in a tan bandage. Hyper tried to move it but it hurt when he did. It still felt as if the whole wing was there. He was depressed that he was only half a Pegasus now, and couldn't fly. But Hyper knew that wasn't the big picture. It was that Hybrids have done this to many ponies and still do it. To think they took so many lives, and the minds of ponies, now barely living, were now inhuman. There was no way to turn a Hybrid back into a normal pony.

It seemed like this was only the beginning. It was. The only way they could stop it was if the races came in numbers, but now they were divided. All of the ponies left were hiding. Hyper noticed that he and his team were hiding now too, and he regretted that, but it was the only safe choice.

Hyper shifted his position for it hurt to be sitting on the cold, hard rocks. He studied the blue lights, which seemed like they wanted to move upwards. There has to be some pony out there that knows what this stuff is. Maybe its only underground. Its pretty effective on Hybrids as much as ponies. Hyper saw that something shone and reflected the blue light. They were metal plates of armor on the floor. It was what was left of the enemies. Metal isn't effected by this power. He observed.

Hyper noticed a blue crystal at the side of him. It wasn't really glowing; they probably had to be in numbers to do that. He tried to comprehend how unnatural they were, but there was to many jumbled thoughts to think of the little crystals. He didn't even feel like sorting through all of what he was thinking. Hyper knew there was one way to clear his mind- to sing.

So he gave a gentle tone and began.

"Give me the strength of the rising Sun,

Give me the truth of the words unsung,

And when the last bells ring,

The poor men sing

'Bring me to kingdom come' ."

Author's Note

Lyrics from 'Until it Breaks' and rightfully belong to Linkin Park.
(please do not report)

Chapter VI

The ponies had been at the base for five days. It was three days after CharmingRhythm had lost half of his leg. It was become very dry, and it had not rained the whole time. Rain was needed. Though the rain wasn't healthy; standing in a shower could cause illness, even if it was drunk. But the ponies had a water filter to clean it. The filter used little energy, but they used what ever they had left. The ponies had plenty of bottled water, but it was better to save what they had. There was a river that wasn't that far off, though the water in it was worse than the rain.

SpinningNote paced around in the meeting room and halted by the counter. His indigo magic lifted up a bottle to his mouth and he took a gulp of water. It wasn't the best tasting water, but at least it was clean. Clopping came up next to Spinning and FeatherTune gave a somewhat annoyed glance.

"Don't be drinking all of our water!" The Pegasus defended.

"We have plenty," Spinning said as he rolled his grayish-brown eyes.

"CharmingRhythm said that we should be careful with what we use. For water, save the bottled for later, and use our filtered. It's possible that we may need it later."

"Wow, I never thought you could say an unscrambled sentence," Spinning taunted, a bit sarcastic.

Feather didn't give a remark, he just still gave an annoyed expression.

"You know he's right," A voice stated as it came into the room. CharmingRhythm stood by the door from the mainroom.

"Wait, who? Me or him?" Feather cocked his head.

"My point exactly," Spinning mutter quietly.

"I'm talking about you Feather, how we have to save out supplies."

"Yes!" The cream Pegasus said with a smug whisper.

"But like he said, we have plenty of water!" Another voice jumped in, coming from the left of Rhythm.

"But Blazing," EchoBeat's voice came from the same direction, the supply room. "We don't really have any filtered water left. We need that not just for drinking, but cooking and washing."

"Than we need too go out and get some," Rhythm announced. "If we get a little more with what we have now, we should have enough until it rains again. And I guess it wouldn't hurt to have some bottled water. It's just that we just got here, and we don't need to waste things right away."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Going outside is dangerous! Haven't we learned that already!" Blazing pointed out.

"But somepony gots to take the risk," Spinning retorted. His magic lifted up two clear, plastic jugs and put them in a saddle bag. "It shouldn't be too hard."

"But Spinning, it is dangerous," Echo said with emphasis.

"Whatever," The red-violet Unicorn started his way to the door.

"Spin," Feather tried to stop him.

Then he went passed Rhythm and out the door and stood in the mainroom for a few moments. He looked around and saw HyperBlitz sitting in the computer chair. His brown eyes looked to him with confusion.

"Sup, Hype."

"Um.. hey," The half Pegasus said uncomfortable.

Then suddenly Spinning flipped around into the meeting room again. He shouted out while shaking his head rapidly. "Anypony coming with me?!"

Again, he went into the mainroom. SpinningNote clopped pass the hard floor to the entrance. He slipped to the outside world and stood still again. The Unicorn waited for a few minutes, wondering who would come with him, because he knew that someone would come with him. Spinning began to grow impatient .

Soon enough, the door flew open. The bulky orange stallion looked with wide eyes.

"And you said it was dangerous," Spinning mocked Blazing.

"We all know it's dangerous," Blazing said. "Lets just get this over with before Hybrids find us."

Spinning started to trot next to Blazing. He had a saddlebag tied to his waist also, and it had a few plastic jars in it too. Blazing's green eyes just stared forward with uncertainty. Spinning led the way to the west, where the river was. Hopefully they were not going to be out too long.

After a while of traveling across the dry terrain,they had found the river. It was horrid how much trash was stacked up along the way and at the river. Spinning watched the dirty water flow slowly. He took out his jars and and scooped up the dirty water into them to be filtered.

"This isn't much water," Blazing exclaimed.

Spinning looked over to the pony to see him take the jar with two hooves and scoop up water. He then would twist the cap back on.

" This will be enough until it rains. We just gotta be careful how much we drink," Spinning retorted.

"Well, look who's finally being supply conscious," Blazing told him with a smirk.

Spinning's ears pricked and he looked past the orange stallion. A dark figure came over him from the back. It's mechanical clanks were covered by the sound of the rushing river.

"Blazing!"

"What? It was just a joke."

"NO!" Spinning swiped his hoof into the air and pointed.

BlazingFlair flipped around and saw the Hybrid. He suddenly freaked out and ran the other direction.

"We need to save out jars!" Spinning announced as he took both his own ans Blazing's water with magic and hid them under some wooden boards.

"SpinningNote!" Blazing called out and the Unicorn raced across the surface.

"Fuck! why do we keep getting attacked?!"

"This is just one Hybrid. There are two of us," Blazing commented.

"Yeah, but look at how huge he is!" Spinning shouted.

The Hybrid was a dirty red Unicorn. Its horn was covered with metal and a blade in front. It was heavily built, with dark metal shoulder pads. Its eyes gleamed red at the other ponies and it crept forward with huge thumps.

"Get to the other side of the river!" Blazing shouted randomly.

The orange stallion quickly ran forward past the Hybrid, and jumped off a boulder, almost falling into the water.

"Blazing!" SpinningnNote called with irritation.

He then followed his friend to the other side. The huge Hybrid turned and took a swing at Spinning. The red-violet pony swiftly ducked down and ran to the boulder to jump off. He turned his head as he stuck his landing to see the Hybrid coming towards them. Its metal hooves crashed into the river making enormous splashes. The water didn't affect it at all.

Spinning saw BlazingFlair still running. He had no idea why he didn't want to fight; a battle would be easy enough with two ponies, the Hybrid being slow, and it had no guns. But Spinning followed Blazing again. They ran across the dusty ground and came to one more stop.

"Blazing! We shouldn't be running. We can fight it. Maybe trow things at it," Spinning told him .

BlazingFlair then skipped over and picked up a piece of wood with his forelegs. He stood on his back hooves and tried to keep his balance. Then the orange pony threw the wood towards the Hybrid. The attack missed, and the wood thudded right in front of the Hybrid. SpinningNote glanced with annoyance.

The Unicorn tried to think of an idea as the large Hybrid came closer. Its eyes beamed red, and its wide shoulder plates made it look larger than normal. Spinning kept pacing backwards, and shot a few blasts of indigo magic at the Hybrid. Nothing seemed to slow it down. Spinning bared his teeth and tried to think. All they wanted to do is get some water.

The Hybrid took a lung forward and its speed got faster. Both Blazing and Spinning ran again. When they looked back, it was slow again. It still wasn't as slow as a gun Hybrid.

"Oh, shit."

Spinning glared around as he heard BlazingFlair. He then looked behind him where Blazing was looking. They were on a rocky cliff, and it stopped only a few steps away.

"This is not safe," Blazing muttered with fear in his eyes.

Spinning studied the enemy once more. "Neither is it for a Hybrid."

"What?" Blazing stuttered. "Are you saying we should jump off?"

"Hell no! What's wrong with you, do you have the brain of a Hybrid?" Spinning scolded.

"Then... what?"

"Go over there," Spinning exclaimed. "Distract the Hybrid, then I'll divert it from you."

"So I distract it, then you distract it?"

"Just do it!"

Blazing galloped quickly to the left and swirled around and shouted. "Hey MetalHead!" He waved his golden hoof in the air.

The Hybrid grunted and turned to Blazing. Hybrids were usually attracted to more commotion. This gave a chance for Spinning. The red-violet pony looked over the cliff. He could see an old tree trunk sticking off the side. Spinning trotted over and looked at it, hopefully it could take a little weight. He then looked to Blazing who was still flailing his hoof around, but with more panic.

"Hey!" A shot of magic it the side of the Hybrid. It turned its attention to Spinning and he did it again.

Blazing watched as the foe started towards his friend. The Unicorn kept using weak magic attacks to keep it occupied. It came closer and Spinning backed up. He felt the tree trunk hit his back hoof, and steadily climbed onto it.

"SpinningNote, be careful!"

Spinning ignored his friend, because he knew that was exactly what he had to do. The dirty red Hybrid's metal hoof pounded onto the tree trunk, and Spinning could feel it shift downwards. His heart raced as his enemy took a few more steps and the tree creaked. The Hybrid raised it foreleg for a swing, and with some help of magic, Spinning took a daring leap. He bashed his back hooves into the shoulders of the Hybrid, and took one more jump.

He scrabbled his hooves across the dry terrain, almost losing his balance. His grayish-brown eyes just caught a small glimpse of the the Hybrid falling with the tree. The ground that it was connected to cracked, and fell with it. Spinning cantered away, afraid he would plummet off the cliff.

"That was insane!" BlazingFlair called out.

Spinning nodded with agreement, and only walked, out of breath. They both went back towards the river to get their jars of water. Spinning took plastic jars from under the wooden boards, putting them in his saddlebag, and giving the others to Blazing.

"Should we tell the others about this attack?" Blazing asked.

"Probably... I don't know," Spinning admitted. "Should we really worry them more? I mean, they would want to know whats going on around here."

"I guess we should be honest though," Blazing retorted, and walked at his friend's side, with their heads down.

Chapter VII

EchoBeat's red fur bristled as the humid air surrounded him. It felt like the walls grew closer every time he entered into the hall, and every step along the way. That feeling released once Echo came into the mainroom.

The ponies had already been in the base for more than a week. SpinningNote told them about the Hybrid attack and how he was able to stop it. It has lightly rained the day after, and overnight last night. But it was no heavy shower; they only got little water from it. The rain made the air more stuffy.

Echo glanced in the mainroom. CharmingRhythm stood a few steps away. Echo studied the Unicorn's face; he seemed to be in deep thought. His eyes were cold as he looked the opposite way of Echo. EchoBeat guessed that Rhythm felt a bit ashamed sometimes, having only half his leg. The grayish blue pony seemed to be able to walk okay, but limped whenever he missed a step. Echo noticed CharmingRhythm was trying to remain stoic with his feeling and actions.

EchoBeat stepped towards his friend. Rhythm's dark eyes finally some emotion.

"EchoBeat," Rhythm spoke as if he didn't know Echo was in the room. "H-hey."

Echo bowed his head and blinked. "Are... you okay?" He asked bashfully.

"Hmm? Oh yeah, I'm fine... I was just thinking..."

"Thinking about what?"

"N-nothing," Rhythm shook his head. "We all think don't we?"

"Mm-hmm," Echo nodded. "I've been thinking about something too," He took a pause, unsure. "I was thinking that maybe we need to find help. Or maybe see if there are other ponies around here."

"Do you think there would be?" Rhythm asked.

"We have to check. I have a feeling there is. I know there has to be somepony who can help us-"

"Help us with what?"

Echo sighed. "Maybe they can give us advice about Hybrids. Maybe they know about that blue energy stuff, and maybe they can help you with your leg."

"I don't need help," Rhythm lied, and pulled his half limb to the side.

"CharmingRhythm," Echo looked down. "I want to know what that blue stuff is. Maybe it can help us. But I do have a feeling somepony is out there. I want to go out."

"That's dangerous."

"I know. But I want to see if some one is there. I can be careful. And I don't want to go alone," Echo explained.

"I can come," Rhythm offered.

"What? No, that's a bad idea," The red Earth-pony eyed Rhythm's leg.

"I can still fight a Hybrid! I can still get around. Why do you think-"

"Rhyth," Echo spoke with sympathy. "Admit it, you couldn't run from a Hybrid. That leg isn't like a flesh-wound."

"You're right," Rhythm breathed out. "But you need some pony to come with you. I know that you are smart, even if you wouldn't want to fight."

"BlazingFlair said he's never going outside for months," Echo began. "SpinningNote probably would make some excuse; Hyper is too loud... FeatherTune maybe... he's a bit confused."

"He hasn't really been out yet, you should bring him."

"Bring who?" A voice came from behind.

Echo and Rhythm turned to see the cream Pegasus. EchoBeat spoke. "You. Would you like to come with me. I want to see if I can find anypony, I have a feeling somepony is out there-"

"Yeah, there are ponies out there! They're called Hybrids!" FeatherTune said in Echo's face.

"Don't be smart," The pony replied without anger. "We just need to check. And I want to have a pony to back me up."

"Then I'll get a weapon to bring with me," Feather said bluntly and whirled around out of the mainroom.

CharmingRhythm blinked at Echo. "He's not going to fight, even if he says so."

EchoBeat nodded and smirked.

--

The two ponies trotted outside in the lifeless world. They decided to check the abandoned neighborhood first. If ponies still lived here, it would be a nice place. EchoBeat thought as he stepped carefully. FeatherTune eyed around for any trouble. He wanted to fly above to see around them, but Echo said that a Hybrid could see him easier. Really, Echo knew that might not be true, he just wanted them to stay together.

The stallions turned by a electrical pole, and passed a chain-link fence. There was a cellar door that was blocked by some old crates, and the windows on some buildings were cracked. Barrels, wood, and even a refrigerator laid on the ground useless. All of this was disgusting to Echo. He truly wished ponies didn't do this to themselves.

Echo pushed open a wooded fence in their path with his red hooves. His heart stopped for a second as the wood creaked. FeatherTune kicked a sand sack to the side. Echo called the Pegasus as he fell behind. The Earth-pony's ears twitched as the wind passed through the branches of dead trees. He closed his eyes and imagined a greener world, with leaves falling to the earth. With calls of birds in the air, and laughter of ponies. That vision faded when a voice called out.

"What was that!?" Feather exclaimed.

Echo halted. There was a tapping sound. Something was coming. He shot a glance at Feather, who's auburn eyes were worried. Echo tried to think of what to do. They were in the open, in the middle of two rows of buildings. Feather darted in between to houses and jumped over two barrels. Echo followed and went behind the barrels. In the dark, cramped space, the ponies watched through the small openings. Echo pushed aside a sand sack to have more room and to help hide.

"I knew we shouldn't have come out!" Feather rasped.

"Shh," EchoBeat tried to silence him.

Echo settled stiffly. His ears prickled and he tried to look though the vertical peep-hole. He could feel FeatherTune ruffle his wing. Echo tried to listen to the tapping sound, but Feather's breathing seemed to distract him. The eager Pegasus wanted to look out too. His cheek pressed against Echo's shady beard. Echo pushed him with a shoulder and tried hard not to speak.

As his brown eyes narrowed Echo studied the movements outside. Chills ran through his red fur as he saw a shadow fall on the ground. An olive-green figure placed a hoof on the dry ground. The Unicorn's pale mane seemed to blend in with the paleness of the world. The pony had a smooth cover over it's right forehoof. It seemed like it was metal, like a Hybrid part. But Echo studied the figure. He didn't has rusted metal plates, wires digging into his flesh, guns or claws, nor beaming red eyes. He could be a real pony. Echo thought.

The Earth-pony shifted his muscles and moved forward slightly, his muzzle pressing the barrel. "I think he's safe." He said quietly.

"What?" Feather moved uneasily. "We can't trust him. He could be a Hybrid. Look at that thing on his leg."

"He doesn't seem like a Hybrid to me," Whispered Echo. "He doesn't have many metal implants, even if that is one, and he doesn't move like a Hybrid."

Echo stood up slowly. Feather coughed a word but Echo couldn't comprehend it. The red pony just hopped over the barrels, his hooves hitting the top. He wobbled to a stance, then made eye-contact with his opposer. The olive Unicorn seemed a bit startled.

"You're not a Hybrid," Echo said with ease.

"I certainly hope not," The pony replied. "You seem to be a common pony. Are you a wanderer? You must be looking for more ponies."

"Yeah- How did you know?"

"I can just tell. Especially by the way you looked at me," The pony nodded. "My name is SparkWire."

"I.. I'm EchoBeat. Yes I am looking for some help. I just came here about a week ago," Echo eyed SparkWire's metal cover on his hoof. "What I that?"

"This here," He held it up. "Is a hoof-cover. it holds pure energy. It's like the Hybrid parts, but its not an actual limb, and it won't control nerves. It connects to the brainwaves."

"That's astonishing," Echo gaped.

SparkWire's deep gaze looked to the side, his ears perked up. "It seems you have friend who would favor in joining our conversation."

EchoBeat turned and saw auburn eyes staring from the dark space. "Why don't you come, FeatherTune."

The cream Pegasus fluttered over the barrels. He gave a suspicious look at SparkWire. "How do we really know you're not a Hybrid?"

"A Hybrid would have many more parts than I, and this pure energy is good. It can be used against Hybrids. I am a scientist, I know how to work this. I made it."

"Wait," Echo leaned forward. "Pure energy?" He studied a sphere on the hoof-cover that glowed bright blue. "Is that what that light is in the ground, from the crystals?"

SparkWire bowed his head. "Hmm. Have you seen it?"

"Yes. There was a large cellar underground from our base, there was blue crystals and they gave off a very powerful energy."

"So it is you who took that building over there? I saw it a while ago, I wished to investigate it, but I was some ponies was taking it for themselves," SparkWire admitted." You see, the pure energy is from the earth. It has been collecting over many years, and was harnessed in crystals. I has appeared in the ground after ponies have taken so much oil from the top layer, and it is attracted to the change in atmosphere.But you say you need help?"

"Yeah," Echo said, flushed, and shot a glance at Feather. "You say you're a scientist. And you can make such hoof-covers that connect with the brainwaves... do you think you are able to make mechanical, amputated limbs that do the same?"

"I have done that once before. But I do not see any need for you two. None of you are missing a limb."

"It's our friends." Echo said.

"Wait. But it was that same energy that disintegrated CharmingRhythm's leg," Feather exclaimed.

"I have no doubt in that. Pure energy is powerful, and can be harmful in large numbers. In smaller numbers, in a few crystals, and if harnessed and collected properly, it can be very useful. It, as I said, can be used against Hybrid. I knew there was some other recourse out there, I was searching, and I found it."

"Wow." Echo was fascinated by the scientist. "So do you think you can make some limbs... and maybe show us how to harness energy? I don't want to take advantage of you."

"No, no. That is completely fine. I'd be honored. This is what I want to do, to inform of others about this energy," SparkWire smiled. "Show me the way."

Chapter VIII

Static buzzed, released from the stiffness, corresponding with the wide eyes that sought helpful information. The olive Unicorn settled on the floor of the atrium, the ponies offered him a seat in the meeting room, but he denied. All were excited to see SparkWire, and fascinated by his hoof- cover. Questions aimed at him like lightning and the earth.

"Where have you been living?" BlazingFlair said

"What is that thing?" SpinningNote pointed to SparkWire's hoof-cover. "Is that a crustal from underground?"

"Are there more ponies?" Blazing begged.

"Have you killed any Hybrids?" HyperBlitz asked, cocky.

"Everypony shut the hell up!" CharmingRhythm rasped. He leaned towards SparkWire. "I'm sorry about them."

"It's quite alright," SparkWire smiled. "You must be the one that needs a new limb."

"Hmm? No, I-I'm fine. This leg is nothing. It doesn't bother me," Rhythm lied.

"Really?" SparkWire twisted his neck. " Do you recon you can run at normal speed without fault?"

"I-"

"No," Spinning poked his head in. "Hyper needs a wing too."

"A wing isn't as important as a leg," Hyper shook his head.

"Though it should be important to carry pure energy," SparkWire stated.

"Pure energy? Is that what that blue stuff is?" Blazing questioned.

"Yes it is. Your friends said it was by your base; the reason this one lost his leg.I need to show you how to secure energy."

"You should make the limbs first," FeatherTune said.

"I would, but I need energy crystals. And would you want a chance that a part of this base explodes from unstable energy?" SparkWire implied. Feather gaped at him

"I need some metal, do you have some?"

"There's plenty in the back," Hyper informed.

"Mind collecting some? And show me your energy source."

The ponies had gone to the cave. They brought many pieces of metal and even found some from the long-gone Hybrids. SparkWire studied the glowing ground. "Extraordinary."

EchoBeat stepped to his side and saw the energy too. "Metal isn't effected by pure energy, it was the only thing left of the Hybrids. You're going to use it to hold the energy in place, aren't you?"

"Indeed. But I need your assistance, and of course I can't do everything by myself." SparkWire spun around. His olive hooves clopped across the rocky floor, the tapping of the hoof-cover breaking the pattern: clop, clop, clank, clop.

He seemed to only wander. The Linkin Ponies stood there, waiting. The olive Unicorn came to a rock, and he pushed it over with his forehooves. When he was done, SparkWire patted his tattered vest. His eyes darted to the other ponies.

"Would you take some boulders and circle them round the energy spots? Though be careful."

BlazingFlair bounced and found a boulder. He shoved it with his shoulder and in tilted. The rock skidded on a slope of the cave floor. FeatherTune panicked and leaped into the air above the stone. His eyes beamed to the orange Earth-pony with annoyance. Blazing shrugged and gave a face that said 'sorry'.

SpinningNote's indigo aura picked up some stones and placed them in a curved wall. SparkWire spoke to him, "Save your magic." As the scientist walked away, Spinning gave a scolded reaction. He then kicked some foal-sized stones on the floor.

By another energy spot, Hyper shoved a rock to the left of one Echo had placed. Echo studied the finished circle. He wasn't sure how much they really needed. "It's like a fire-pit," Hyper stated at random.

"Alright, that should be enough for a demonstration," SparkWire announced. The ponies halted.

"What now?" Feather muttered.

A rich green spark appeared, and it picked up a metal plate. SparkWire slid the sheet between a rock, and the energy spot. His magic bent the metal slightly, and secured it in the earth. He repeated this with varied shapes of metal. SparkWire completed the bulwark with a proud stance. The Unicorn's face shifted again, the blue glow outlining his pale mane.

"We must do the same for the ceiling. It will create a stable energy well." His green magic lifted up a slab of metal to the ceiling. "I shall need a Pegasus for assistance."

FeatherTune leaped into the air towards the floating piece. Hyper watched with hurt in his brown gaze. Feather put his hooves on the metal while hovering. He held it and it tapped the ceiling. A quick flash of magic push the metal and bent it. Another piece came towards Feather.

"Why do I have to help,? You seem like you can do this by yourself!" The cream Pegasus complained.

"Do you want the metal to fling across the room as I use my spark, an maybe the metal will bash into somepony's head?" SparkWire smirked.

Feather snorted and took his attention to the metal again. CharmingRhythm pulled himself forward. His eyes narrowed to the ceiling as Feather helped complete a circle. SparkWire gestured his hoof to Rhythm, telling him to back away. The grayish-blue Unicorn stood by Echo and they both looked upwards. SparkWire's shimmering magic swirled around the energy spot. The blue glow raised to the first wall they made on the floor. Then suddenly, with a flash, the blue skyrocketed to the ceiling. All of the ponies jumped when the light hit their faces. The energy was now a thick laser, waving between the ceiling and floor.

"Whoa," BlazingFlair gasped.

"That should be stable," SparkWire thought aloud.

Rhythm came back towards him. "I can hold the metal with my magic as you use yours to put it in place. And maybe SpinningNote can help."

SparkWire gave a glare at him.

"Just because I'm missing a leg doesn't mean I can't use magic."

The olive-green stallion's face lightened, and he spoke, "I know that. Holding metal should be easy for you, but using the spark requires more magic."

Spinning bounced to his side with his mane's tail shifting. "Would you show me your spells? The spark, then how to raise the energy. I think it might take a while to complete each energy spot."

"Very well. Come, I'll show you." SparkWire nodded and moved to the next destination.

HypeBlitz dragged his tattooed hooves across the rocky terrain. Blazing trotted next to him. Hyper grumbled, and his eyes showed loath.

"What's wrong?" Blazing asked.

Hyper sighed, "It's just that... well, I could be helpful if I had my other wing. I'm useless right now."

"No you're not." Blazing nudged him with his shoulder. "You're helping. You brought some rocks and metal."

"Yeah, but I could be airborne. I could bring metal to the ceiling. Right now I'm useless as an Earth-pony."

BlazingFlair's green eyes flashed and became hateful. He lowered his face and bared his teeth.

"I didn't mean it like that!" Hyper rasped with a loud voice. "I'm sorry! I meant... It came out wrong! I mean... like, useful!!! Useful!"

"Stop arguing and get your lazy asses over here!" Spinning called out.

Both Hyper and Blazing trotted. Hyper shook his stiff legs and he walked by the orange pony. He turned his head to him with a low gaze. "Blaze, I didn't mean it like that. It came out wrong. I really was saying... well... That right now that I am only as useful as a Earth-pony, because I can't fly. It's not what I'm use to. And I bet that I'm not even as useful as a Earth-pony, because I guess I wouldn't be as skilled with ground activities-"

"It's okay," Blazing told him with a warm expression. Hyper just slugged down. "C'mon," Blazing bumped him in the shoulder.

"OW!"

Blazing jumped as the yellow pony shriveled away, and he noticed he accidentally hit him on his wing stub. "I'm sorry!"

"It's fine," Hyper grumbled. "It's what I get."

Blazing wanted to reply against that statement, but the look on Hyper argued. The two stallions remained silent and gathered with some of the other ponies who watched SparkWire.

EchoBeat went over to another energy spot that was not covered. He decided that instead of waiting he could make use of his time by working on some of the ground walls. The red pony shoved some boulders, stabbed some metal poles into the ground, and straitened the pieces up. He was careful with not getting to close to the blue energy. Echo's forehooves were planted on a boulder, he quickly slipped down, near an exposed spot. He jumped, what seemed like five feet into the air, and went back with fear in his eyes. Echo did not want to end up like Rhythm.

Over by the currant energy spot, four of the ponies worked. FeatherTune held a metal sheet in place as CharmingRhythm did the same with his light blue magic. Rapidly, one after another, SparkWire's magic flashed a plate so it stayed on the ceiling, then SpinningNote did the same with his magic. As they completed it, Feather's wings carried him to a float and is legs and head slugged down with irritability.

Rhythm limped over to another energy spot that needed to be set up. His blue hooves closed in a tight stance, and he kept himself on the flat ground before a dip in the hard soil. Little work would have to be done to this energy spot; almost half of the ground came around it with sketchy rocks on the slope. Rhythm stared at the spot, his gaze mixed with fear and resentment. There was a dull, dark stain on the rough floor, and from the glow of the blue light it turned violet.

BlazingFlair came and stood next to the Unicorn. The orange stallion looked confused at Rhythm, then the energy spot, and repeated. There was a deep glare in Rhythm's eyes, he stiffened as if he needed to speak. He bared many moments before he did. He finally let out a forced, harsh growl:

"Hellhole."

Then he flipped and trotted away from BlazingFlair. Blazing jumped, and quickly turned his head. He shot a disturbed glance at EchoBeat. The red pony looked at him for a moment, his eyes shifted to Rhythm slightly, then back, and he shrugged.

The ponies finished a few more energy spots. SpinningNote was assisting SparkWire with lifting the energy. The first time he did it, the laser wobbled, and all the ponies feared that something would go wrong. Now Spinning kept a steady movement, and as sweat rolled down his cheeks the magic flashed the energy in its place.

"That should be enough for now," SparkWire smugly announced. "You all know how to do this, and you could easily get the other energy spots done. Why don't we go back in your base. I'd happily look towards making some mechanical limbs."

Chapter IX

Author's Note

This was the last full chapter I wrote of this, like a while ago. Sorry this was canceled. But if you do want more the the Recharge universe, read my story in progress, Chasing the Sun. It may be be directly centered around Linkin Ponies, but it is one of their son. It's a better written story, and you get in the mind of , what I think is, a relatable character.

Chapter IX

CharmingRhythm sat on the floor of the mainroom awkwardly. SparkWire placed some thin metal wires on the floor, and took out some odd tool from his vest pocket. Rhythm sat up strait when he made eye-contact with the older Unicorn.

"Would you mind showing me your wound?" He asked.

Rhythm hesitated. He took the leg to his mouth, and loosened the clothe with his teeth. Rhythm unwrapped the bandage with his magic and his left foreleg. He placed in to the side and held out his half leg. It was blood-stained, it was dry with the flesh swelling, and blue fur blistering as an outline.

BlazingFlair shivered, turned his head to the side and stuck his tongue out in a gag. SpinnningNote glared at him and smacked him with a red-violet hoof.

SparkWire studied Rhythm. "When did this occur?"

"A... about a week ago," Rhythm said in a stoic voice.

"Hmm. You said it doesn't bother you. I'm sure that is not true. Are you upset with this?"

CharmingRhythm sighed. "Of course. But it's my own fault. I was being clumsy and I fell into that energy spot," Rhythm paused, his dark brown eyes seeming to search for something beyond reality. "I have to hold myself up and love my scars." he looked over to HyperBlitz, and they both nodded at each other.

"Very well," SparkWire said. "I'm afraid that this wound is too fresh to put anything over it. Besides, I need to gather materials. The metals you have wouldn't do for a hoof or even a wing."

"My wing is probably not ready either," Hyper added.

The olive Unicorn bowed his head. "Indeed, though your wing may heal quicker." SparkWire turned to the other ponies. "Would you mind if I come back tomorrow or the next day with some materials for fitting. I can't guarantee that I can give you the limbs right away. But if i can make them ahead of time, and show you how to work them, you can place them on yourself."

"That would be helpful," EchoBeat replied. "We don't want to stall you any longer. It's going to get dark. you better head out to your... wherever you are living."

The scientist smiled, and collected his tool. "Yes, night is no time to be about with presence of Hybrids." He came to the door and gave them a salute. Echo waved outside, then slowly closed the door. Echo halted in the middle of the room while Rhythm's blue magic wrapped the bandage back around his leg.

"I think it was good that we found him," Echo said.

"He's a bit of a smart-aleck," FeatherTune snorted. "He says he's a scientist so I think he thinks he's better than us."

"Feather, I don't think it's that way. He's nice. Sure he can be a bit upfront, but he's helping. Aren't you glad that we found another pony, somepony we can trust?" Rhythm gestured.

"Yeah," Feather spoke.

CharmingRhythm shuffled himself up. "But he could very well be a scientist, and I think that's something we need. Knowing about this pure energy will help us. Maybe it's a new resource."

The air shifted and putrid smells suffocated those who walked strait from their homes. Trotting the streets, CharmingRhythm kept his head low as he just passed through. Shouts of ponies reached back and forth across the street. Many citizens pushed boxes and luggage around, others bartered for things and argued. Rhythm laid his ears flat for these sounds disgraced him. He'd happily listened to music over anything the world gave him. But no pony supported his music. Only his friends.

Signs laid on the walls of streets. News papers were tattered in their baskets along the side walks. Everypony was getting tired of the same expressions to the loss of resources, and the 'global warming' and the results of deaths of those trying to get more oil in the ground. Was there any more they could find? Or was it too far down for those to get it.

A shriek came out and Rhythm shuttered. He scrambled his blue hooves to a halt and he looked. It was only a filly calling for her mother. The filly was a pegasus, and flew upwards to a second floor window; he mother did not seem impressed. CharmingRhythm glanced at the sky. Each day it was getting worse. The sky was dull, pale patches of blue showed, and the sun showed ever so often, the light that did show was vague.

There was a clanking sound coming from the right side. Rhythm turned, his brown eyes adjusted. A gold Unicorn was pounding a tool to a metal plate. A stallion glared at him with satisfaction. A mare, with wavy red hair, looked at him nervously. The stallion, a medium sized brown Earth-pony, had a metal leg. It was not complete, the wires stuck out waiting for its component. The Unicorn placed the metal over his leg with magic, and it clamped down.

"Now try," The Unicorn ordered, but in a friendly way.

The stallion placed down the hoof, which had a claw. His metal part creaked from gears turning. His mare looked to him with joy. The brown pony turned, and Rhythm could see he had metal on his shoulder too. He was become a new breed.

The Unicorn adjusted his friend's shoulder pad. "are you sure you want the claw?"

"Of course! It will help me in the long run. It may help me when it comes to collecting things, believe it or not. So many ponies are dying, and we need a new way to live. The other get metal parts, it will work for me too. This might be the new resource."

"Alright," The Unicorn said, then completed his touch ups.

The stallion stood upright. He glared around. There was an odd noise. Rhythm has somehow drew himself closer to the scene. The metal part lifted, the stallions' eyes closed. He shouted in pain and flung his claw forward.

"Oh my! Please stop, dear!" The mare cried.

It seemed all the ponies came around him and the commotion increased. He raged and spun around. Crimson wisps flew through the air, and CharmingRhythm's heart throbbed. His vision became blurred, heated and bloody. He seemed to be falling back.

The grayish-blue pony gasped for air as he jolted up. He shivered and stood motionless for a moment. It was only a dream. Though Rhythm remembered an incident similar to that. The dream was repeating his memories, his past. That was months ago. But there was no blood, ponies did not circle around in a mob, there was not that much commotion, and Rhythm was not that close.

CharmingRhythm pulled himself up. The light from the window was dark, but not dark enough to be night. He could hear pattering of water droplets. Rhythm came off his matted bed with a stumbled, the stood up strait. He felt drowsy, his muscles were sore, as if he had a terrible night's sleep.

Rhythm found himself walking around the corner. He saw HyperBlitz sitting in the swivel chair that was by the computer in the dull light. The yellow pony moved back and forth with his tattooed hoof on his cheek. When he stopped, Hyper's brow lifted and his brown eyes looked to Rhythm.

"Morning," was Hyper's greeting.

CharmingRhythm nodded back to him.

"You're up late," Stated Hyper and Rhythm shrugged. "The others went to the cave. They wanted to make more energy wells. We can go down there in a bit."

"M'kay," Rhythm replied with a sigh. He passed off into the meeting room.

His dark eyes scanned around the room; it was dark, and rain poured onto the window. There was a candle lit on the counter. They shouldn't have candles on when there not it the room, Rhythm said to himself. He just want into the storage room to find something to eat.

Nothing they ate anymore was for taste. It was just to stay alive. CharmingRhythm took some canned fruits, that had a bland taste. Most things had so many perspectives, and so much salt. Rhythm didn't feel like eating, but he knew he needed something in his stomach. As he finished, he heard the door open. He turned around and saw BlazingFlair.

"G'moring CharmingRhythm," The orange stallion said. "I just need a little more metal."

Rhythm waited for Blazing to come back, who had metal on his saddle bag and held between his teeth. Rhythm's magic took the piece from his mouth. The two ponies made there way down to the cave and met the others. EchoBeat and Blazing placed some metal and rocks on the ground. FeatherTune stuck some on the ceiling, and SpinningNote made a spark.

"I'd need some help with the spark. I don't want to waste my energy on it," The red-violet Unicorn invoked Rhythm.

"Alright," Rhythm said and walked forward. For some reason today, he did not have as much enthusiasm. He had no real push, or energy to do something. Maybe it was the weather. It was very damp and humid in the cave. Or maybe Rhythm didn't get any well sleep, and he could be so bothered by the dream he had. He tried to concentrate and use his magic.

Evening drew to night, and the hard pattering of rain became a slow drizzle. CharmingRhythm sat alone in the meeting room with candle light the only way to see. It was quite, except for the sound of the rain and the noise of the water filter working. Rhythm wondered about the filter, what about the dirt inside of it? It would have to be cleaned every so often. But now he ignored that.

The other ponies were probably all asleep. There wasn't much to do anyways, and it was good to save daylight. Rhythm was tired, but bothered by the idea of going to bed. He thought about his dream. What did it mean? Dreams came for some reason, predicting the future, having to do with present life, or some problem that was dragging one down, or possibly something uplifting. There was nothing uplifting in Rhythm's life now.

The Unicorn questioned himself. I don't understand. Why was there so much commotion and blood? Maybe... like how I lost my leg... maybe how everypony's lives are falling apart. I could help... no I couldn't! No matter what I tried, even shouting out with my friends, they wouldn't care anymore. All of are fans don't care, they are in this hell. CharmingRhythm only sighed. He sung with a soft, high tone.

"Standing alone with no direction

How did I fall so far behind?

Why am I searching for perfection

Knowing it's something I won't find?"

Rhythm took a gasp of air.

"In my fear and flaws

I let myself down again

All because

I run..."

He didn't finish, only placed his head lower. There was a voice from across the room.

"Why do you sing that?"

CharmingRhythm gazed up. The candlelight made a silhouette on the yellow pony's face. His brown eyes were worried. When Rhythm did not reply, HyperBlitz trotted over to him. He pulled up a chair and sat next to him.

"It's just," Rhythm started, "You know. All of the problems we face. Maybe we could have done something, before it got too bad."

"We tried, don't you remember? We told all of our fans and followers, to make a difference in the world. I still don't think that would be enough. The Hybrids are only because they did it to themselves, they were to stupid to do something like that. Ya'know that's why we refused."

Rhythm nodded with a hesitated breath.

"Keep your head up, Rhyth. We all need to do that," Hyper asured him. "We're all in this together. And maybe this blue energy stuff is a new resource. If it can power hoof covers and mechanical limbs, there's hope. Ponies might have abused the resources, and the Hybrids have took whats left of them, but we can have a new one, and gain those old ones back."

"Yeah," Rhythm said with a blink. Though his head was still low.

"Aw come here Rhythm," Hyper extended his tattooed foreleg out.

Rhythm paused and studied him. He then leaned forward and felt Hyper's forelegs wrap around him. CharmingRhythm placed his chin down and his beard ruffled against the fur of Hyper. He saw the bandaged wing stub, but he didn't worry about that. Rhythm placed his left hoof around and accepted the warm gift from his friend, his brother.