Prologue: Welcome to the New Age
From the cradle to the grave, our lives would be spent in the Stable all under the care of an Overmare or Overstallion. That was our only option, at least, what we were told at first. Myself and twenty-four others were chosen for a special mission by the military, one where we wouldn't have to live in a steel box all our lives. That was what the 'president' of Prancem had decreed and what Coriolanus Iceblood said was law. That was our fate: we would serve from cradle to grave, either above ground or below.
My name's Sagittarius Evergreen, former resident of Prancem Stable 1. Our small country had chosen to remain neutral in the conflict between Equestria and the zebras, hoping to avoid the destruction. While our nation didn't suffer as much as our neighbors, the residual fallout would force most of our citizens underground into our own Stables, built from stolen technology. Some might call Prancem lucky but in reality, the day fire rained from the skies was just another day under Iceblood's rule. Our leader would find the destruction inspiring... and soon our nation would know a different kind of suffering.
It's been at least a couple centuries since the world burned. Originally, Prancem Stables were designed to function like their Equestrian copies; open when it was all-clear. But Iceblood would never send the all-clear signal. Instead, residents were forced to conduct constant research and production of new weapons, spells and technology. Live and die in the pursuit of tools to realize the president's dream of a new world that he would control. Many would rather just see it burn again.
Still, there were things the president needed from the surface and that's where the Enforcers came in. While the Stable Dwellers toiled in their prisons, some were chosen for specialized missions above ground. I volunteered; anything to see daylight at least once. As an Enforcer, I had the wonderful opportunity to trade my Stable 1 jumpsuit in for a shiny blue uniform identifying me as a pawn of our great leader's will. Trained in post-apocalyptic survival and what passed for combat in Prancem, I was ready to begin spreading the "glory of the nation strong enough to survive" to the rest of the world.
Unfortunately, Iceblood wanted to prove Prancem was the strongest nation a bit more than he actually wanted to make it strong. Broadcasts were made of his legions of Enforcers, his army and sent all across Equestria and the neighboring countries. Instead of actually doing something that might help Prancem while furthering Iceblood's goals, I had the fantastic duty of being paraded through the empty streets of Capitol City while Spritebot cameras captured everything. PFC Evergreen, marching along like a good little toy pony soldier. It was enough to make me sick; I never watched the broadcasts and I prayed my family didn't either.
During training, got my cutie mark while trying to create fire. One of the Stable's projects involved bio-engineering animals to make them more combat-effective. Stable 9 genetically modified phoenixes while they were eggs turning them into bioweapons once they hatched. Called Fyrebirds, I got frustrated when I was unable to make a camp fire and tried to use one to accelerate the process. Wound setting my saddlebag on fire while I was wearing it but for some odd reason, it was the only thing that burned. No matter how hot it burned, my hide stayed green. Soon after, a phoenix feather appeared on my backside and the other members of my squad started calling me Fyrebird.
I wouldn't have much time to celebrate, however. Some of the Stables didn't fare so well in their "research". The president wanted results and when he didn't get them, he would use the residents of an underproductive Stable to be test subjects for one of his more dangerous experiments. Most of the time, he'd come up with some sick scenario and pit the population of the Stable against itself, leading to fighting and eventually the death of every pony inside.
Stable 7 was tasked with developing new forms of rations and food, researching nutrients to create new, compact meals to sustain the population. When they failed to produce results fast enough, Iceblood forced them to start looking into ponies as a source of food. As a form of disgusting irony, the residents of Stable 7 were forced to eat the remains of the population of Stable 9 while ponies in Stable 6 watched. So Stable 6 is afraid of 7... because 7, "8", 9.
Fear and oppression only last for so long. Eventually, some of the Stables rebelled. Now, our nation is in the grips of a civil war. Sadly, Stable 1 was located in the Capitol City, well within Iceblood's immediate grasp meaning my family couldn't join the rebellion... and neither could I. Being under that mad colt's rule is almost intolerable; I can barely look at myself in the mirror. So I waited, bided my time until I could get close enough to him and have the honor of lighting his cigar... and maybe setting the rest of him on fire to see if Iceblood burns.
The Stable Rebellion, as it's being called, is still ongoing to this day but truthfully, there's not much anypony can do. For two centuries, Iceblood's been stockpiling weapons and building his army. The only thing he hasn't managed to find is something to conquer; with the world in shambles, Prancem is the only nation capable of even fielding an army other than the Enclave. But the pegasi stopped caring about what goes on down here a long time ago.
How Iceblood's lived so long remains a mystery. There are rumors that it's just a long series of clones, that he's some kind of mutant or a robot in disguise. Whatever he is, he's been running this country in the ground for too long but nopony does anything about it. The new generations that emerge only have living and dying in the Stables to look forward to, all in pursuit of more power for the president. Some believe the lies said about him, that he's some kind of savior leading us all to a glorious future. Even if it means making the present a living hell.
Prancem could be helping the world rebuild. Instead, the only thing we're building is tools to continue the same cycle of destruction that ruined every other country. No one knew exactly how many weapons were developed, how many bombs, missiles and guns were collected. I only knew that if and when they were finally used, it would mean another holocaust. And Prancem probably wouldn't be lucky enough to survive the next one.
Life sort of became routine after that. Only a handful of Enforcers were allowed on the surface at a time, all the others were kept in the Stables and isolated. My family and I were located in Stable 1, practically next door to the Capitol building where Iceblood supposedly kept to himself. I would get called to go to the surface once in a while, usually for drills. March around in formation, train and "be ready" for when I was needed. All under the watchful eye of our president.
Sometimes, Iceblood would select a squad of Enforcers to go out and do something, retrieve something he needed. These squads were fitted with specialized suits, a type of heavy armor designed to also protect from the intense radiation. This armor was also outfitted with tracking devices and squads were accompanied by Prancem Spritebots, flying robots that kept an eye on everything for the president. If any member of the squad deviated from their orders, the armor would lock up and the Spritebot would dispose of any "insubordination". Not that any of the Enforcers ever tried to get away, anyway. Prancem had the only clean sources of food and water we knew of. That was enough to keep most ponies in line.
For the longest time, I was always passed up for missions leading outside Prancem territory. I was never told why; maybe it was my youth or inexperience but I never got an explanation. One day though, a larger force was needed for some reason I'm still not entirely sure of and I was picked to go. Had I known what I'd be getting into, I probably would've been less excited.
It was a couple weeks ago when we got the assignment. Squall Hawkeye, my bunkmate and only real friend came and got me from camp that morning. Didn't even have time to eat anything when he woke me up and told me every Enforcer in the city was being called for assembly. No time for breakfast, shower, anything; just get in full battle-dress and prepare to render unto the president. Suffice to say, I was less than enthusiastic so I made sure to take my time getting dressed, even snuck a ration. I wasn't going to be anypony's pawn... not on an empty stomach, at least.
The tents were set up to be temporary but "temporary" had lasted for about four years so that didn't really mean anything. I stepped outside into the camp to be greeted by the usual: mostly empty city, perpetual overcast sky, dimly lit street lamps(was told they were the "power-conserving" models) and the towering skyscrapers that made up the president's office buildings across the street. I took my position next to Squall and wiped the sleep from my eyes to better take in the "majesty" of the deserted city.
Being born in Stable 1, the city was like an entirely different world to me, to a lot of us. Buildings stretched up like mountains just waiting to be climbed. The few Prancem pegasi who dared to try were met with a shock from a patrolling Spritebot. Iceblood's eyes patrolled constantly but they didn't see everything. Squall and I actually climbed a ladder to the roof of a building once just to see the view. It was totally worth the electric discipline session that followed.
Once in a while, we did get the chance to visit one or two of the ancient offices of our ancestors, get a glimpse of how they lived. Sometimes, we got a chance to take a few things back with us, supplies or trinkets, whatever we could find without the Spritebots catching us. Things from the outside world were a rare commodity and the only thing really of value to Stable Dwellers. It didn't really matter what it was; if it was something we couldn't find in the Stable, we wanted it and would trade with other Stables for their findings as well. Some of the Overponies even supported it, others didn't care.
I tried to imagine what it was like for ponies back then who lived and worked in the cities. Squall didn't think there was much of a difference. Once, I remember him calling the office buildings the "above-ground Stables". I was quick to point out a difference to him: the ponies that used to work there got to go home at the end of the day. And their homes weren't underground.
As I gazed at the dull-gray skyline, Squall nudged me to get my attention. He gestured forward to a couple new recruits in the formation in front of us. I shrugged to Squall, my way of saying, 'it figures' but he nudged me again. The second time, I noticed what he was wanting me to see: the pink rose-colored unicorn filly in front of us. Right away, I recognized her mane, tail, even her cutie mark.
"R-rose?" I asked, both to her and myself in a whispered disbelief. I leaned forward, trying not to break ranks but then decided to screw it. "Rose!" I shouted. I didn't want to believe, was hoping it was just early and my eyes were playing tricks on me.
She turned. "Sagi!" she called and ran over to me. The filly broke ranks to hug her big brother. I almost felt my eyes tear up; not from pride or joy but from sorrow. My little sister was an Enforcer.
"What are you doing here?" I asked her. "Shouldn't you be studying medicine with mom? I thought you were going to be a nurse."
Rose dropped her gaze. "I... I got drafted."
I felt my heart actually sink. Young fillies and colts were often conscripted to go places where older ponies were too big to travel like narrow crevices, alleyways, tunnels and the sewers. They didn't last long; most either went missing or were killed in the process. I wouldn't ever want to imagine my sister doing anything like that but now it looked like I wouldn't have to. I felt a tear slide down my cheek.
"Sage, formation," Squall said through gritted teeth. "Stay in formation!"
"Or don't. Let the CO see you breaking ranks and see what happens," a jet black stallion next to Squall said with a sarcastic grin. I shot him a glare and he turned away, blowing his mane out of his eyes like he hadn't said anything at all. Typical Azrael.
Azrael "Deathray" Drays wasn't fond of the military either but he still reminded us of the rules. He was another member of our squad and had been out of Prancem a couple of times, talked about the rest of the world being in shambles. Az acted like he was a tough guy a lot, liked to brag but always tried to keep things in line. Never ratted us out when we had a little "excursion" before though, which made him all right in my book. Usually, he was all right but he had a weird fascination with light and rumor had it he was afraid of the dark.
Before I joined the squad, he was sent out on a patrol to look for UBs- unauthorized beings in the capital. Usually they were dealt with before they entered the city, some escaped the Spritebots long enough for them to reach shelter. Enforcer patrols searched for the invaders that evaded capture by Spritebots and handled them personally. They were sent out to capture, not kill. There was so much we can learn from the outsiders, why waste that opportunity and the ammo?
The idea was to try and get the drop on them, catch them and bring them back to detainment in Stable 1 where our scientists could interrogate and 'research' them. Drays' squad at the time were tracking some in an old factory on the outskirts of the city and tried to approach them stealthily. The squad leader ordered them to switch off the lights on their PiPBucks and move quietly.
For some reason, Drays didn't want to keep his light off for very long and would switch it on every few minutes despite instructions. The factory processed magnifying glasses: Azrael Drays accidentally shined his light through a series of amplifying lenses that turned his PiPBuck light into a deadly beam of concentrated energy. The following blast burned a hole through the side of the factory and alerted the UBs to the squad's present. Az's fascination with light became the off-topic conclusion of the mission debriefing that followed. The name "Deathray" was given to him shortly afterward.
"Sage," Squall whispered to me. "I know it's tough, man but you gotta get back in rank."
I looked to my sister. A knot in my stomach, I nodded at his words. "He's right..."
We pulled away from each other. "I love you, big sister," Rose said.
"You too, I love you too," I replied quickly, getting back in formation. Our parents would be so proud... both their children were toy soldiers. I hoped they would never see this.
Our company commander took his time walking the perimeter of the formation. Although he supposedly held the rank of 'general', that word didn't really mean much to any of us. Guy-in-charge underneath other-guy-in-charge is what it really meant. General Typhoon's loyalty was legendary; his own cutie mark was the nation's flag. How he'd earned it was anypony's guess but what was clear about the blowhard was that he was blindly obedient. The old bearded Pegasus couldn't see the earth for the flag flying high above it.
The general examined each pony in the ranks before making his way back to the front again. We all kept our eyes forward, still as statues. Typhoon was Iceblood's right-hoof stallion, the leader of our fledgling military. His authority was only surpassed by Iceblood himself so getting on his bad side was not something any of us wanted to do. Like many other 'officers', Typhoon was practically a mini-Iceblood and their devotion to him was absolute. But he wasn't Iceblood, meaning he could be replaced at any time. And he knew it.
Finally, he reached the front of the ranks and announced to all of us:
"Enforcers of Prancem! We have assembled you all today for a special occasion! Our most gracious leader himself wishes to speak with you all about the future of our great nation, the future of our world! You have been gathered because you represent the best! Our nation now calls upon each and every one of you just as you are called upon on each and every day! For your president, recite the oath!"
The ritual, the Enforcer's Oath was a declaration of devotion to the president unto death. We all knew it by heart and were forced to recite it every day both as individuals and in groups. I raised my hoof and placed it above my head as usual, feeling like I was going to vomit.
"For the ponies of the Prancing Nation, we act according to our station! To our enemies, we offer only death from our first sight unto our dying breath! For our flag and our leader, we stand tall! Enforcers united, Prancem all!
As the entire formation echoed the oath, the double doors across the street opened. It was hard trying to see through the crowd but I could make out who had exited: President Iceblood himself. The ice-blue white-maned stallion exited without entourage or fanfare. In fact, he almost looked like he was hurrying up to General Typhoon's position.
Prancem was a tiny nation, the only reason it survived the war intact. Our 'president' wasn't really an elected leader; Iceblood was just the stallion in charge of Prancem's most successful business, the Magi-Tek Corporation. Before the war, it had been the Prancem equivalent to Equestria's Stable-Tec but Magi-Tek's contributions had been significantly less innovative. More so, Magi-Tek's had been to simply reproduce and reverse-engineer technology stolen from other nations like Equestria, the Crystal Empire and even the Zebras. They used the motto "Like Magic!" when one of their "latest inventions" was released to the general population. But the only spell Magi-Tek could ever pull off was a disappearing act.
It was strange to see the president without a podium or something to stand behind. He was ground-level, appearing in front of all of us and without any of his personal guards around. This would've been a dream for any assassin; why was he taking such a big risk? Still, you don't somehow live for centuries if you don't at least have some secret. At the time, I would've given anything to have my battle saddle and rifle in hoof and put round in his skull. But if I had, he'd only be replaced with another tyrant, probably the pony standing right next to him. Not much would change, except my sister would get to see her brother face a firing squad.
"My Enforcers," the president began, walking towards us. "Sons and daughters of Prancem... I have had a vision! A vision has come to me of indeed a glorious future for us all! A new age is about to dawn and our great nation is at its forefront!"
I heard a few murmurs from the back of the formation, ponies talking amongst themselves. A new age? What the buck did that even mean? He's seeing VISIONS now?!
The president continued, neither he nor the general even paying attention to the whispers among the ranks. "I have called you all here today to share my vision with you: our country, glorious Prancem, at the head of a new world! Powered by the fires of the Old World, our nation shall rise above the ashes and into triumph everlasting! Our reach shall stretch through the clouds, into the skies and the stars beyond!"
Honestly, I wasn't prepared for any of this. I was skeptical but I couldn't help but be curious. Into the stars? Was he talking about the moon? The GPE or Grand Pegasi Enclave ruled the skies over the whole planet keeping it in perpetual overcast. While they said it was for the protection of civilization, in reality, it just made things safer for them. No sunlight reaching the surface meant crops had to be grown underground, fortunate for Prancem but unlucky for most other places.
The other nations, Equestria to the south and the Zebra Empire to the north were completely devastated by the war. Once proud countries had been transformed into massive wastelands plagued by pollution, radiation and mutation. Clean food and water were scarce because of the lack of sun and just like Prancem, the Enclave wasn't inclined to help anyone but themselves. The clouds and all above them were GPE territory; what Iceblood was talking about sounded a lot like aggressive expansion.
General Typhoon stepped in to speak. "The president's new vision requires the immediate formation of two special squads to secure the Pre-War technologies and equipment Prancem needs. The first group will be comprised of unique individuals who's traits will help achieve the squad's goals. The second group will consist of those with the most combat experience and will be deployed to Zebropolis immediately."
"Serve Prancem well. Let her fire burn in your heart to keep you warm and let the light guide you as you set out upon this great journey!" the president stated. After speaking, he turned and made his way back towards his building. Something seemed off about his gait but at the time, I thought it just might've been his age. I still wondered how he even survived two-hundred and fifteen years in the first place.
"Stand by for assignment!" the general shouted. "If your name isn't called, you're in Z-squad. Those who are called are in E-squad and will come forward."
I swallowed hard again. This would be my first assignment outside Prancem, something I'd actually dreamed about. It would be an opportunity to break free from control, if only for a moment. I sometimes had fantasies about running off and forming a resistance movement with ponies from the wastes, coming back and freeing Prancem. It looked like I would finally get the chance but one thing complicated this: my sister.
I didn't used to be like this. When I was young, I was loyal. Blind, like so many of the others. There are fewer now but most of those in charge are absolutely obedient to Iceblood. I was almost one of them.
My grades in school, or what passed for school in Stable 1, were exemplary. I read a lot, had a knack for taking things apart, seeing how they worked. My mentor and teacher, a green earth mare named Green Screen, taught me everything. I had my parents and my sister but to GS, I was like a daughter she never had. We might've had stronger feelings for each other but I was too young to tell.
She taught me about the way things used to be before the war, the way ponies used to interact. Green was originally from Equestria and she talked about it often. As a teacher, she taught all the students the basic lessons but also took time to tell ponies about friendship, the elements of harmony and how the world was so long ago. After class, she would take me aside sometimes, specifically because I wanted to learn more and tell me what she remembered.
Unfortunately, her lessons changed. Iceblood made a decree that only Prancem-approved materials be taught to Stable Dwellers, cutting out most of Green Screen's lessons on the magic of friendship. But she refused to stop teaching them. Shortly thereafter, she was arrested for "acts of sedition" and imprisoned. It was soon afterward discovered that Green Screen wasn't originally from Stable 1 or Prancem and that knowledge made it all the way to the president. At first, she was accused of being a spy but then the truth came forward about how she'd made it here from Equestria and how she'd survived all that time.
Green Screen was a ghoul, a pony who'd suffered exposure to radiation but hadn't died. Some ponies were afraid of ghouls because of their appearance which is why GS wore a green sheet over her body. Despite the ghastly features, ghouls were just like ordinary ponies but were immune to radiation and could live exceptionally long times. But when Iceblood found out, all he cared about was that there was a "foreigner" in our midst, one that wasn't afraid to speak out against him.
When I came back to the classroom one weekend, we had a new teacher, one who taught us the 'right' history about Prancem. I'd later learned that Green Screen had been executed quietly that Saturday. It was about that time my grades started slipping. Now an Enforcer, I still thought about GS sometimes and what she told me. The magic of friendship can light the darkest hours. That lesson was something I recited more than the oath.
"Zap Cracker!" the general called out. A twitchy apricot-colored unicorn with a purple mane and tail stepped out of the formation. I'd never met him before but would find out later he was a Stable 3 pony, the power production experts. Zap was an electrician, good with wires and could even modify equipment in the field. He was an obvious first choice for the Equestria mission.
Typhoon continued down the list on his clipboard. "Bandwidth Broadcaster!" That was a name I actually recognized. Bandwidth Broadcaster, the 'star' of Stable 2. The brown-maned white Pegasus walked to the front with a huge grin on his face. I was skeptical at first as to why he'd been chosen but it wouldn't take me long to find out.
Almost everypony had heard about BB. Stable 2 regulated communications for the capital, monitored signals and transmissions. Bandwidth became instantly famous the day he hijacked the audio/visual system to send his own message: about fifteen minutes worth of songs off of a Pre-War album he'd found. Didn't take the Enforcers long to shutdown his broadcast but nopony would ever forget the day they saw Bandwidth Broadcaster strumming an air guitar on every screen in the city.
"Herbal Medicine and Rose Evergreen!" the general bellowed. I felt my heart hit the back of my throat. I watched my sister and another filly beside her step out and walk to the front of the ranks. That settled it; I was going into the Equestria squad. I wasn't going to let anything happen to my sister. In the middle of the crowd, I raised my hoof like I was back in Green Screen's class all over again.
"What are you doing?" Squall whispered to me. There was no time for me to explain it to him, I just had to get onto that squad.
"Glitz and Glamour Gemstones! Cake Doughnut! Harvester Garden! Azrael..." the general flipped his pamphlet over. "Deathray" he said in a strained tone, "Drays, Squall Hawkeye!"
Squall snapped back to attention at the sound of his name. Hesitating for a moment to look back at me, he departed the ranks with Drays leaving me standing with my hoof in the air.
Several others were picked, random members from the ranks walked up to join the others. My name wasn't called.
"The rest of you are to return to your tents, assemble your equipment and prepare to move out! You are dismissed!" the general concluded. The formation broke up instantly going from assembly to mob of ponies. All except those at the front of the formation. I hadn't been chosen but I wasn't going to take no for an answer; I ran right up to Typhoon.
"General Typhoon!" I quickly saluted. "Sir, I reque-"
"Was your name called?" the general asked. He pulled out the clipboard again and flipped through it. "Name, soldier. Now."
"I... uh," I stammered.
"Was your name called or not?! Either tell me your name or return to your station with the others! If you're wasting my time-"
"Her name was called," a voice from behind spoke out. Both the general and I, the entire group of ponies looked over to the speaker. It was Azrael. "Her name was called, sir," the black pony repeated.
The general walked over to him. "Show me where, sergeant." The ponies looked over the pamphlet together, finally Azrael pointed to a name. "Right there, sir."
"Ahh... very good. Private, get in there," the general ordered. I was shocked. It took a moment for me to realize what happened and for my brain to send the signal to my legs. I moved quickly, trying to be inconspicuous as I joined the formation next to Squall.
"All of you are to report to the aerodrome right away. The president will have a special message for you," Typhoon grinned. "Prancem watches you always. Dismissed!"
With that last shout, we began marching away from camp and further into the city, escorted by Spritebots. I still couldn't believe what had happened but at least I'd be able to protect Rose now. Nothing was going to happen to her on my watch. My curiosity got the better of me and a nudged Azrael on the flank as we walked.
"Hey... just wanted to say, thanks," I whispered.
Az turned around, grinning. "Thanks for what? Your name was on the list."
I quirked an eyebrow. "You're kidding." Did the general actually skip my name? That wouldn't have been surprising.
"Nnnope. Evergreen, I saw it myself."
I smiled back, understanding. "You mean Rose Evergreen."
The black stallion shrugged. "Well, that's one way to look at it. I just saw Rose-your sister- and then the name Evergreen. It's the name you share so it is technically your name, too."
"I appreciated Az, really, I do," I said back to him. The magic of friendship can light the darkest hours. Light.
"Don't mention it. Seriously, don't. And if I run out of batteries, you owe me," Azrael replied, turning back around. Tough guy wouldn't be caught without some form of illumination, good ole' Deathray. He did more for me than he, than any of us, really realized by getting me on the squad that day. I would later discover that opportunities to pay him back would never be in short supply.
