Fallout Equestria: Newbornby MasqueradeingChaptersPrologue Beginnings Excerpt from Golden Grace's journal The EverfreeThe Desolate House Of RedPrologue Prologue It was at that moment the world exploded. Light lit up the horizon with a fiery glow that covered the land. The blast itself never got far but the repercussions were felt everywhere as clones and machine alike stopped and fell where they stood. The lifeless corpses and heaps of metal covering the wastelands like a grim carpet signifying the death of the artificial intelligence A.R.C.H.I.E It's mad assault on the world finally over finally stopping the machines in their tracks. Despite finally being able to be free and never having to deal with psychotic machines attacking them any more many a person did not celebrate the fall of the A.I. Instead the remains of the human race moved out to the fields of death to gather the bodies of the dead and burn them, hoping that the act and defeat of the A.I. would finally bring them peace. Unfortunately stopping the A.I. also meant the death of all the valiant clone Immortals who fought against the machines to keep what was left of the world alive. It was these people that the remaining humans mourned, these people when killed came back in a new body ready to fight once more. Most of the clones fought not because they wanted to but because it was only them who stood a chance against the machines. They fought for the future, for hope, and for love. The reason they were able to keep coming back to life was due to the collars they all had which, linked their bodies to their minds up to the psi-net. Psi-net is a cloud that holds the conscious minds and memories of the individual people that the clones came from. But this was linked to the main server where the A.R.C.H.I.E. unit was located. It's original task was to monitor and control all operations of the Psi-net facilities Including clone creation, and robotics stations. When he fell so did all the functions he had control of cutting off the mental uplink the clones minds had with their bodies and trapping them in the cloud. All but one who is lost to the system forever. It was that moment the world exploded in light, rainbows swept across the land in all directions like a tidal wave covering the world. It was to fast for anypony to react every pony who encountered it braced for death only to be surprised when it passed over them harmlessly leaving them unaffected, all but two ponies that is. Golden Grace was the name of the medic / scavenger earth pony who was scavenging the ruins at the base of a large mountain where a dragon was rumored to reside when the event happened. She was a pony of average height, Her coat was a lustrous gold color, or it would have been had she ever taken a bath more than one a month and groomed her coat. Her main was a tangled mess of copper With various things used in her scavenging hidden away in it. Her cutie mark which peeked out from under her traders barding and saddlebags, was of a open vault with gold caps spilling out. Her companion and current lover at the time Ready Shot the warrior / mercenary unicorn was watching the mountain and keeping look out and was the first of the two to see the event happen. Ready shot was slightly taller than Grace her coat a dull gray her muzzle scarred from the hard living that come as a mercenary. Her main was a short cut black that looked like it was cut with a combat knife, which it probably was. Her cutie mark was of a target with a full clip on it unfortunately it was hidden away beneath her combat armored barding. Golden Grace was trying to pick the lock on a door cursing every time she broke a bobby pin. Ready shot chuckled at her antics, glancing over her shoulder and back at grace she said. "You know G.G I can probably just blow the door of the hinges if you want, Might speed this up just a bit." Grace just growled caught up in the lock, and it's stubborn refusal to open. Ready shot just chuckled once more and turned her attention back to the mountains. She let her gaze wander up towards the peak of the mountain where a flash of light caught her eye she opened her mouth so say something but was interrupted by a click and a shout of triumph as grace finally unlocked the door. She looked back at Ready Shot a large cheesy grin on her face, turning back to the door she opened it only to be greeted by a wall of moving rainbows that quickly overtook them. As it collided with them a loud thunderclap hit followed by a brief flash of overwhelming blue light happened at the same time. These events coincided in such perfect unison that for any one standing there they were indistinguishable, and as quickly as it came it left leaving both Ready Shot And Golden Grace startled on their rumps checking themselves to see if they were alive. After checking that everything was still attached the looked at each other and asked in unison. "What the hell was that?" They paused opening their mouths to say something again just to be interrupted by the sound of an infant crying. Hearing it Grace immediately jumps up and starts searching for the source of the sound. Shot just watched her still semi shell shocked, Grace found what she was looking for in the doorway. It was an infant alright but it was unlike anything she had ever seen it. Right about then Ready Shot snapped out of her daze and trotted over to take a look. Grace was the first one to respond. "What is it?" "I don't know. But it looks kind of like a hairless monkey." "Where did it come from?" "I don't know but it wasn't here before." "What should we do with it?" "Dunno, kill it, leave it alone, eat it take your pick." "We cant do any of that that is mean it's just a baby after all. It cant even fend for itself yet." "Or maybe it is just a clever trick from some new creature." "we are not leaving it, or harming it, or ignoring it." Grace looked at the baby one more time it having quieted down and staring at them with piercing green eyes. "We are keeping it." "WHAT!!??" "You heard me." "But we don't even know what it is." Grace turns grabbing a small blanket from her saddle bags carefully scooping up the child she carefully wraps it in the blanket. As she wraps the child she notices something odd. The child has a small skin tight high tech collar on the child's neck, she gently taps it with a hoof with a small clink noise. Deciding not to mention it she finishes wrapping the child up and fastens it onto her back, smiles at Ready Shot and says. "Ready." "I hope you know what we are getting into." "don't worry for some reason I have a feeling things are gonna turn out for the best." Author's Note Forgive the grammar at the moment I don't have an editor an/or proofreader. Beginnings Beginnings Darkness simple and oppressing it surrounds me on all sides. But this is how it always has been this part I’m used to the dreams are something I have had for as long as I can remember and they are always the same. Next the white characters would appear words an symbols in a language I can’t read but yet are somehow familiar. It is neither Equish, Sand dog, nor griffish. Then the voice starts speaking in a language I assume is the same as the words. While I don’t understand it occasionally I will mimic it. The words roll off my tongue easily as in a way that none of the other languages I grew up speaking do. This is how the dream is every night it never changes and it is the only dream I ever have. Waking up I sat up on my bead my legs hanging over the side with the tip of the digits on my feet brushing the ground ever so lightly I sat there for a moment thinking. The dream used to bother me in fact I used to be afraid of it. But over time it became a thing of meaningless repetition happening every night until it came to have no meaning for me. It had become just another part of life like the sound of a metal leg clinking unevenly down the gently illuminated tunnels underneath the cybernetics clinic in ponyville as sandy my adopted sand dog sister approached my room. Sandy poked her head in just as she has done the past fourteen years that I have lived here. With her signature impish grin that kept her from being a nurse in the clinic above. As a female sand dog she stood more upright and didn’t use her paws to help her walk. Her fur was a spotty brindle color with one large patch of brown right behind her left eye. She wore a form hugging blue vest that stretched down to her waist; with haphazard white string holding it shut over her breasts with long fur sticking out between the strings. She wore a pair of small leather shorts to cover her more sensitive bits. Her mane was messily spiked into a rough mohawk. Her clack steel studded collar had a ruby hanging from it. “Good your awake we can finally get the freak show up and running.” Sandy said. With a grin I smiled replying. “We both know who the real star is I mean where would we be without you our main attraction?” “Ha ha Oddball cover your weird hairless body and get yourself over to Dr. Vine’s office she wants to talk to us about something today.” “Any idea what?” “Nope” With that she turned and left the curtain I use as a door swishing shut behind her. I got up and walked over to the single outfit I had on the floor. A soft leather vest typical of sand dogs, a pair of custom made rough fabric pants, A large leather belt, and a pair of fingerless leather gloves I made from some scrap leather straps giving them a wrapped look when I put them on. My vest was dark blue indicating that I was technically the son of the leader third in line for possible secession of the tribe. Simply a formality seeing how only a dog can be the leader of a dog tribe and I am most certainly not a dog. Sandy had a lighter color indicating that she was second in line. The ruby on her collar indicated that she was a direct blood relation. My belt served as a replacement for a collar because I already had a small metal one that seemed to be a part of me we were unable to remove it and it grew with me as I did; and while the dogs did try to figure out what it was the tech was beyond even the most skilled of them. One thing that they knew for sure was that it was unlike anything ever seen. The clasp on my belt was made out of red jasper signifying that while I was adopted I was adopted by the current clan leader. The items in the front pocket of my vest where various tools used in my trade another although minor form of rank. Once all my clothing was on I walked over to the large piece of polished metal I used as a mirror to make sure it was all in place. Despite what other races thought of the sand dogs and hell hounds they were very particular of how they looked particularly if it came to rank. I also took this chance to examine myself again. I stood upright on two legs nothing to unusual for a dog. But that is where the similarities between me and the dogs who adopted me ended. I have virtually no fur nor hair on my body and what little I did have was focused on my head. It was black, long, and shaggy hanging down near the center of my back to keep it out of my eyes I have taken to wearing a leather head band which I tied on as I looked at myself in the mirror. My skin was pale and my eyes where two different colors one a dark blue the other bright green. The tings at the end of my arms the dogs and I call my monkey paws it is the closest description for them that could be thought of. (It was actually one of the doctor ponies that worked in the clinic that came up with it.) The same type of monkey themed description was thought of for my feet although while I can pick up things with the weird shaped fingers on my feet I don’t have a thumb on them and there the only part of my foot that seems to bend. My feet don’t have thick pads on them like the sand dogs so I had to wear boots kind of like the ponies have; but made special for me. The overall boot was made of soft leather with a thicker patch on the bottom to make up for my lack of pads. As for the rest of my body my skin wasn’t as thick as the dogs but it was not fragile either. Over the years it thickened up compared to when I was still very small. It was also possible to see the general shape of the muscle beneath my skin though it had not been like that originally it was one of those things that changed over time as I got stronger and older. Once I had finished looking at myself and making sure everything was in its proper place I walked out of my room toward where sandy waited outside of Dr. Rose Vine’s office my boots making a sot clicking sound as I walked. Along the way I thought about the past how I was usually attacked a first sight if Sandy or My adopted father wasn’t there with me. Once I asked what I was father simply said in the barking growling language of the sand dog and hell hounds. “You are a promise made to a dying pony friend. A promise to further the growth of all life despite how others feel. That promise is one that got her killed protecting you. So I guess you are the dream of a dead pony passed onto a foolish dog.” He looked at me a strange look on his face. “You are a dream of life and so she named you so. Life. But with dogs you will be Oddball because you are the oddest thing dogs have seen in a long time.” That is all he would say on the matter even to this day. He and the other dogs raised me like they raised Sandy and the other pups wandering for a while until one day we settled here at the clinic with some pony doctors and grew from there. I learned along with sandy how to build and repair cybernetics and the various nuances involved with gem tech. My monkey paws proved in some cases more useful than even the dogs paws when creating the cybernetic and I proved a quick learner. It didn’t take me long to reach Dr. Vine’s office and as expected sandy was waiting there for me. “Took you long enough Oddball.” Ignoring the comment I asked. “Is the Dr in?” “Should be I haven’t checked yet.” “Why not?” “She wanted to talk to both of us no point going in alone.” “Fair.” I walked in first and was greeted by the sight of thousands of papers stacked everywhere and covering the desk in such a fashion as to form an impenetrable wall successfully obscuring everything directly behind the desk. I was able to tell that there was a pony behind the desk because a tall stack of paper floated next to it wrapped in a reddish glow as it bobbed gently. But the oddest thing to me was the low rumble that filled the room after a moment I realized it was in fact snoring. I looked over at sandy and watched the grin grow on her face as she realized the same thing I just did and thought of a mischievous plan for a quick laugh. I was tempted to stop her but an opportunity as perfect as this doesn’t happen very often. Sandy crept slowly up next to the desk carefully avoiding the stacks of paper. looking over her shoulder at me she carefully moved the stack of paper directly in front of Dr. vine setting it gently on the floor so I could see all that was about to happen. Dr. Vine was face down on the desk and drooling slightly as Sandy slid up beside her. Crouching she pursed her lips and gently blew on the doctor’s ear. The ear flicked a few time and Dr. Vine stirred slightly sandy stopped for a second letting the doctor settle a bit before repeating the process. This time the doctor stirred and slowly opened her eyes to see sandy. The moment she did Sandy let out a loud BARK! Causing the doctor to jump quite literally into the air falling backwards and flipping the desk in the process; once she hit the floor the telekinesis field exploded sending all the papers in it to fly every direction. Me and sandy couldn’t stop laughing sandy wound up on the floor rolling, holding her sides, and kicking a little. I managed to stay on my feet but had doubled over holding my sides in pain from the laughter. Dr. Vine after a few seconds of panic quickly scrambled to her hooves straitening out her lab coat and began to chastise us. “What the hell where you thinking you almost gave me a heart attack!” We just kept laughing. “I have enough issues without you two almost giving me a heart attack. Celestia dammit look at this mess do you know how long this is going to take to clean and re-organize this mess?” She went on like that for a couple more minuets as me and sandy recovered from our laughing fit. I was the first to recover so I was the first to be able to talk and ask Dr. Vine questions while Sandy continued to giggle on and off. “So why did you call us her today?” “What?.... Oh yea I called you here because me and the rest of the ponies and dogs in charge of the clinic had a meeting the other day.” “What meeting?” “It was a meeting to discuss the current state of our supplies.” “Why would that be a problem don’t we get shipments delivered every day from the caravan routes?” “Normally yes but something has been interfering with the caravans. It’s not just one rout either all of them have all but stopped arriving at their destinations in every town.” “Ok but what does that have to do with us specifically?” “Well all of New Ponyville is sending out scouts down various routs to see what is going on and the clinic is being forced to help as well. So we brought up a list of potentials we could send on the scouting mission and unfortunately the only viable option we could afford to do was send you two.” “Why us and not some of the hell hounds or guards?” “Look I’m goanna be blunt with you. It is because frankly you two are the most disposable people on staff.” This comment got a reaction from sandy as she listened in an pissed her right off. “That’s bullshit!” Dr. Vine just breathed and responded in a forced calm. “If we sent any of the hell hounds or guards it would weaken the clinics and towns overall defenses. Opening us up for possible attack by raiders, bandits, or any number of monsters especially since we are so close to what remains of the Everfree. That is not an option we or the town could afford. Seeing how we are the reason ponies where even able to re-settle the town in the first place if we weaken the entire town weakens. Look you two are medically trained that alone increases your odds of survival; and we not going to send you out unprepared we will give you some supplies, basic armor and weapons so you won’t be helpless. Now Elder Feral Bark your father has volunteered to gather all the equipment and supplies you two will need you are to meet up with him in the cybernetics shop and head out immediately he will give you more details about your task when you get there. Now get out of my office before you make a bigger mess.” With that she turned and started gather up the mass amount of papers strewn about the office. Me and Sandy quietly followed orders and left. standing in the hallway we looked at each other feeling rejected and a downtrodden we started on our way to the cybernetics shop to meet up with our father and clan leader Elder Feral Bark. Author's Note Forgive any grammar issues I am still a novice and I don't currently have an editor. Excerpt from Golden Grace's journal Excerpt from Golden Grace's journal 11th day after the event of sunshine and rainbows . My name is Golden Grace. I am an earth pony medic and scavenger. My cutie mark is that of an open vault with various things spilling out of it, mostly gold caps. My partner who is lying near the fire next to me as I write this Ready Shot is a unicorn mercenary and my lover. Her cutie mark is that of crosshairs centered over a full magazine with a couple of bits underneath the magazine. After recent events I have decided to keep a journal should anything happen to me so that people may know my story in hopes of spreading hope, and the vision of life for all races. Its been 11 days since the world exploded in a wave of rainbows. Bringing back the sunshine and cleansing most of the radiation and taint from the wasteland. Although the event seems to have had some unintended side effects the most notable of which for me any way, was the strange infant creature that it brought with it. Me and ready shot where exploring the ruins located at the base of Dragon Mountain as some of the locals have taken to calling it. (This is due to the fact that one of the few remaining dragons left in the world resides in a large cave near the peak.) When the event happened to be frank I thought we had triggered some sort of super trap. Seeing as I was picking a particularly annoying lock at the time. After a few moments we both realized we were alive and rejoiced over this fact hugging each other. Shortly, no immediately after we heard the sound of crying. On the other side of the door I had opened was an infant....creature, is the best I can say. It looked hideous damn near monstrous but......It also looked helpless and fragile, as if even the slightest breeze might harm it. I don’t know what came over me, but at that moment I guess I fell in love with it like a mothers first time seeing her foal. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was starting to desire a foal of my own. I believe in the end I made the right choice. I have taken to calling the infant Life because he is just so full of it; and because to me he represents the hope and proof that life of all forms can grow no matter where you are. That is something I think the world needs more of still even after the event swept clean a lot of the radiation and taint from the world. Even with this, there is so much violence now that ponies fight over newly re-fertile pieces of land and territory. After taking care of it a while I learned some very important things. First of all I learned that it was male, that one was fairly obvious, but it tends to remind me sometimes when I am changing his diaper. Second children are fussy no matter what species they are. They demand more of your time than you have or can afford to give. I have come to learn this first hoof. Secondly children can be hard to feed especially if they aren't even the same species. It took near two days of the child’s non stop crying and various experiments before we discovered it could eat barmen milk. While I am not sure if it is the best thing for him but it seems to be working for now. He does not have teeth and I am not sure if that is a permanent thing or not and it is a little worrisome. Another thing that has me constantly worrying is the collar around his neck. It is unlike anything I have ever seen. It is apparent that it is very high tech, but the tech is nothing like I have ever seen I couldn't possibly begin to even guess what it is for, and that worries me. The other thing that worries me is if we don’t get it off it might eventually choke him as he grows, although the collar doesn't seem to bother him. Maybe I am worrying for nothing but it will always be on my mind. The collar is tight, tight to the point I can’t even slip a sliver of paper under it. It is super flexible almost like his skin but not quite. I really hope it is not something that will come back to harm him as he gets older..... Oh minor note, and I am not sure why this comes to me know. But the child has no belly button or anything to indicate that he ever had an umbilical cord in the first place. Author's Note Things should be looking better now I got an editor. http://www.fimfiction.net/user/TheCrimsonDM The EverfreeThe walk to the cybernetics shop while short felt like the longest in our life. In just a few minutes we had been ripped out of our world and thrust into a harsh and truly unforgiving one called reality. As i walked I realized that it was foolish to think I could just live down here crafting cybernetics my entire life. As I learned in the five years I spent above ground with the dogs before the clinic was made by president Flutter Shy and ponyville re-settled. Being the only one of my kind I am scary and a target. In the end I was chosen for this job because I scared the ponies. Though why Sandy was being sent I had no idea, she was both older than me and Elder Barks direct blood related decedent. We soon reached the shop located just a little ways off to the side of the clinic. The shop while still under ground was located in a small grotto; well hidden in the side of the hill that the clinic was located on. The cave opening had long since been boarded up and hidden. The only source of natural light was from a fairly large fissure in the ceiling. Bars covered the hole so no pony would accidentally fall in. the fissure was also used as a source of ventilation so the foundry’s smoke could escape. In the middle of the shop with several bags on the work table in front of him stood the imposing hunched form of Elder Feral Bark talking to a dirty gray pony with his rough growling voice echoing about the silent shop. “Pony get sandwich.” “Why?” the pony said. “Because dog is hungry now stop asking questions and do as dog say before dog get mad.” Elder feral bark said this last comment while leaning in closer to the pony’s face and growling sending the pony almost fleeing in terror. This sight made me involuntary chuckle while it was true Elder Feral Bark was bigger than most dogs and; his cybernetic right arm and eye caused him to look rather intimidating me and sandy knew how much of it was really an act. While the pony moved hastily past us, me and Sandy walked forward to greet the gnarled old sand dog. As I entered the acrid smell of the shop hit mi nose causing my eyes to water a little. “Hello elder.” I said bowing my head slightly. “Hi dad” Sandy said with little enthusiasm the thought of why we where hear stilled weighed heavily on her. Elder bark smiled sadly at the two of us he replied in the barking sand dog tongue. “Hello young ones it’s good to see you.” Sandy was the first to reply. “Hello Elder I imagine you can guess why we are here.” Nodding his head he simply turned back toward the table waving us over. Walking up to the table I saw the various things he was able collect four us. There were two neat stacks of supplies with two different suits of reinforced leather armor. Off to the side of the piles laid two energy weapons, a cloak, and some extra ammo for the two guns. “This is what you will be able to take with you.” He explained while pointing to the stack on the left. “This stack is for Sandy. The other for you, Life.” The last comment of his caught me off guard. He never called me by my actual name. I asked. “Elder why do you refer to me by that name?” “You are no longer a pup and now both of you are leaving the den, to find a life of your own beyond the pack. Make no delusions both of you are not coming back at least not to live here.” “What do you mean are we being exiled?” Sandy asked in a panicked tone. “No you are not being exiled. There just comes a point in every creatures life when the must leave the den and explore the world around them, although there is more to it than that.” He paused for a moment adopting a small scowl.“The way the town set up the routs for the scouting parties was on a first come first serve biases. Seeing how the clinic took the longest time to choose the rout our scouts would check you two got left with the worst route. A move I believe was intentionally made to weaken my line of succession.” “What. Why would they do that?” I asked. “While it is true that compared to everyone else currently working the clinic. You two contribute the least amount to its overall operation. I believe that while anyone who knows you Life does not feel threatened. What you are, is unknown and that scares most things especially ponies. Sandy you are both a strong candidate for succession and a trouble maker. That makes you a threat to anyone who wants to succeed me and a general nuisance. Anyway enough of that, you are here to get equipped and learn about the route you will be taking. So get suited up, then I will tell you exactly what rout you will be following.” On his command we began strapping all the equipment to our bodies. It was all roughly the same between us with only a few exceptions. For starters my armor had to custom tailored to me; and while I was shrugging it on some minor things had to be changed for it to fit me properly. There were no such issues with Sandy’s armor. The next difference was with the armor came a very large concealing cloak for me. Elder Bark instructed me that I was to wear it at all times; and while I was out near pony, town, or settlement, I was to hunch down and attempt to walk more like a sand dog to decrease my odds of not being attacked on sight. Once everything was in place we moved onto the two energy weapons next. Elder Bark explained. “Unfortunately the only weapons I was able to get for you two was from my personal stash. You will have to decide between yourselves who gets what.” There was a plasma pistol and a laser rifle both appeared to have been heavily modified. The plasma pistol had a blue energy field around the tip and the gem cells were set up like a revolver chamber four of them where loaded at once. The laser rifle’s cells where set up like a traditional assault rifle in a magazine style right in front of the trigger. Elder Bark began to explain. “The laser rifle has been set up with rapid fire and a green energy beam. The green beam represents the magical radiation it is laced with, to poison any living thing hit with it. The plasma pistol is made to shoot faster at cost of damage but it also has larger ammo capacity.” I let Sandy take her pick first seeing how unlike her I never really learned how to shoot. She chose the rifle and slung it on her back next to her pack. So I got the pistol and the holster that came with it, attaching it to my belt on my right side. Once everything was off the table Elder Bark rolled out a map with the various trade routes on it. Tracing his claw along the eastern route he explained. “You two will be following this route through the Everfree down to New Appaloosa and up along the coast all the way to Manehattan. Next to Hoofington this is arguably the most dangerous of all the routes, so you will need to stay on your guard the entire time especially in the Everfree. Taking time to look each of us in the eyes he continued. “In the Everfree it is of the utmost importance that you stay on the path and never stray off it, that is the only way you are going to be able to more-or-less get through the forest safely. The worst of the creatures in the Everfree tend to avoid the paths. Also you cannot sleep in the Everfree otherwise what remains of the black moss will get you. If you do have to stay the night in the Everfree try to find the zebra witches hut if at all possible for some reason all the creatures in the forest avoid it making it the only safe spot in the forest. After you manage to get out of the Everfree the rout will become a little less hazardous at least until you reach one of the city ruins as long as you are alert and careful you should be ok.” *** A few hours later Sandy and I found ourselves standing at the edge of the Everfree the path we were supposed to follow stretched out before us quickly vanishing into the shadows of the forest. A place of legends and horror stories where even before the war ponies and other creatures rarely managed to survive traversing its depths. The forest had grown unchecked for a couple centuries increasing both the size of the overall forest and the threats found within. Gulping I glanced at Sandy and began to stride forward after a moment’s hesitation Sandy fell in behind me holding her rifle tight and glancing around nervously. The moment we crossed the tree line the entire atmosphere changed and the air grew colder sending goose bumps up my arms. Looking back I checked how far into the forest we had walked and discovered we were barely three feet from the tree line. Turning back around I lowered my head and forced myself to walk further into the forest Sandy clung close to me keeping an eye behind us to such a degree we nearly had our back pressed together. The entire atmosphere of the forest was oppressing and felt full of rage as if the very trees themselves hated our presence. I felt as though something was watching us constantly from every angle keeping me on edge and paranoid. As we ventured further and further into the forest it got darker as the canopy above our heads filtered out more and more of the suns light until it got to the point where I had to rummage around in my pack and pull out a lamp in near perfect darkness. “Can you hurry up I think I hear something moving out there.” sandy whispered in a near panicked voice. “I’m trying but this isn't easy.” The sound Sandy was noticing was the rustling of underbrush and the creaking of wood as something seemed like it was circling us getting closer by the second. I began to frantically search for the little lamp I had, my heart racing as the sounds seemed to draw closer and closer until finally I felt it! My hand brushed against the small cylindrical gem-tech lamp quickly pulling it out I flicked it on flooding the small area with the artificial bluish light. The first thing I saw was sandy staring at me eyes wide mouth open a look of fear on her face as she slowly and shakily raised her paw pointing towards me stuttering. “B-b-b-brak.” I swallowed hard and slowly turned looking behind me only to look straight in the large green eye of the thorny black vine coated Bracken Wolf it’s feted breath stinging my nostrils as it began to growl, it’s growl sounded like a cross between a rock slide and the splintering of trees as they fell. Taking a couple of hesitant steps backwards it advanced as I walked backwards. My mind was blank with terror though at some point without thinking about it I had hooked the lamp to my belt and drawn my plasma pistol, and held it my hand shaking pointing at the very large creature in front of me. After a couple steps back I tripped over my pack falling backwards I fired accidentally. The blue plasma bolt from my pistol hitting it dead in the eye; the bracken wolf howled in pain its howl sounding like a thousand creatures of the forest screaming in pain. The combination of the fall and the howl snapped me out of my panicked stupor as I rolled off the bag and ran towards Sandy grabbing her snapping her out of her stupor. We ran a random direction just trying to get away from the massive monster behind us. It wasn't even a second before we heard the Bracken wolf chasing after us it running sounded like the creaking of old timbers. It gained ground fast everything that seemed to be slowing us down didn't seem to affect it I could practically feel it’s strangely cold breath on my neck. The brush slapped my face as we ran barely able to see more than a foot ahead of us. Sandy was in front always faster than me with her weird hoping run. Glancing over my shoulder I saw the Bracken right behind me bright green fluid dripping from its eye socket glowing slightly. Glancing back I saw that as it ran it phased trough the brush without even disturbing it. I looked forward just in time to see sandy stop in front of a large tree before she ran into it. Thinking quickly when I reached her without stopping I pushed her off to the left as I dived to the right causing the Bracken Wolf to run into the tree. When it hit the tree there was a bright flash of orange light and the wolf exploded. Green glowing fluid and bits of Bracken wolf splattered me covering me from head to…paw. Stranding up I looked around for Sandy calling her name. “Sandy....Sandy!” I called in a loud whisper. I heard a groan accompanied by a weak. “Over here.” I spotted her splattered with the green blood and lying on the ground barely moving. I rushed over to her only to find her impaled on a wood spiked fence. The spike stuck clean trough her sides her blood mingling with the glowing wolfs as it poured out of the wounds. I stood there in shock unsure what to do as she groaned and tried not to move. Looking around franticly I noticed where in the Everfree we were. The tree the wolf ran into was actually a strange hut made into the growing tree. Zebra masks and talismans hung from the branches, the door to the hut was open and peaking in I saw that except for some sparkle cola bottle on the floor and some other strange things and furniture the place was empty. Running back out I carefully lifted Sandy off the spiked fence with her howling in pain and passing out I carried her into the hut and laid her on the old blood stained bed. Reaching for my pack I groaned realizing I never picked it up when we started to run. So instead I opened Sandy’s pack and pulled out all the medical supplies we had, and began to bandage her stuffing cotton into the wounds to help staunch the bleeding. Once done I sat down, my monkey paws covered in her blood and thought for a second. Supposedly we were safe in this hut that much I knew but Sandy’s wound where serious....and my fault. Oh Celestia I’m so stupid if I hadn’t...No got to focus she need more medical help than what I just gave her If she is to survive she will need some alcohol to sterilize the wound and possibly a cybernetic patch. But how or where am I going to find that or get it? I looked over at Sandy’s bag and noticed the map sticking out of it standing up I wiped the blood off my paws and pulled the map out of her pack. Unrolling it I laid it down on the table and lit some of the lamps around the hut to read it. Scanning it I looked for the hut I was in only to be disappointed to discover it wasn’t on the map. But something did catch my eye Red Eye’s Chapel. In the bit of history Elder Bark had taught us he spoke of some of the sand dogs being captured and forced to create cybernetics by an evil pony with a cybernetic red eye. If this is the same red eye then he might have something I could use to patch up Sandy, but Elder Bark called him evil and well I am pretty much a monster will he even work with me? Sandy coughed roughly in her sleep spitting up a bit of blood in the process and wheezing. I don’t have a choice. This is likely the only hope she has of survival I don’t have much time. Grabbing her pack I set out some water and food by the bed along with the painkillers sandy kept. Then I slung her pack over my shoulder grabbed her rifle, and head out shutting the hut door behind me. Facing the Everfree in front of me It felt darker more foreboding somehow now that I was alone. Gritting my teeth I set out in the rough direction of the Red Eyes Chapel alone in the ever free with the sun setting I had a feeling that things weren’t about to get easier. *** It was official despite the map I was lost; the forest was to dark for me to see very far past the small circle of light cast from the lantern on my belt, and as I wandered the forest only got darker. Being alone deep in the untamed forest didn’t help to calm my nerves either making me jittery and jumpy at the slightest sound. I looked up at one of trees surrounding me the thought of climbing one had occurred to me earlier with disastrous consequences. As I tried to scale it my hands kept finding thorns that seemed to grow as I climbed and hand-holds that seemed to disappear before I could use them. In the end I got about three feet off the ground only to fall with the same result every time I tried to climb a different tree so I gave up on that idea. A sudden rustling noise distracted me from my thoughts as the sound of creaking timbers accompanied it. I looked around franticly drawing the laser rifle as I searched for the source of the noise my heart beating fast and loud in my chest. The creatures stepped into the circle of light one at a time, snarling an all too familiar sound like a rock slide crossed with splintering trees. Bracken wolfs this time I had a good view of them as they surrounded me. They were huge big enough to almost swallow a pony whole. Their green eyes glowed in the artificial light cast by my small lantern. Their skin was comprised of gnarled black thorn vines twisting and twining around each other looking almost like exposed muscle the thorns looked almost like a thin layer of fur. Their paws were huge with long red blade like claws that looked like massive curved thorns. They stopped just inside the circle of light growling but not approaching I just stood there unsure of what to do. My rifle pointed at them switching between them I counted five in all standing nearly shoulder to shoulder. After a few moments the two in front of me parted letting a sixth one enter this one was slightly larger than the others and had only one eye a glowing burnt hole was all that remained of the other eye. It looked me up and down as if gauging me. Then a thought struck me. Was this the same wolf I had shot in the eye? That couldn’t be the case I had watched it explode when it ran into the wards on the witches tree hut. It looked back at the other wolfs and gave a short bark. Suddenly I was side swiped by one of the wolves and the rifle was wrenched from my hands I looked over at the one that had my rifle. It looked back then proceeded to slowly and deliberately crush the rifle in its jaws. I watched in shock as the pieces fell to the ground. These things where sending me a clear message that my weapons wouldn’t help me now. Tearing my eyes away I notice that there was an opening where the wolf had been and without hesitation I took the chance and ran through it as fast as I could. The wolves quickly chased after me howling I could feel their icy breath on my neck as I ran barely keeping ahead of them. As I ran I noticed a strange sound that the wolves where making between howls it was a strange choppy barking as if they were laughing. Soon I realized what they were doing. They were toying with me and leading me on. Eventually I assumed they would force me into a corner and kill me. A fire rose inside me as my rage at my situation built then a thought occurred to me I still had the plasma pistol and the one wolf was still missing an eye. Adrenaline surged inside me as a mad and impulsive plan formed and I acted. Moving faster than I thought possible, I suddenly switched direction. Jumping I grabbed a small tree with my right paw using my momentum I swung around tucking my legs up and drawing my plasma pistol at the same time with my left. I fired several times at the surprised Bracken wolf that was chasing me. The blue plasma splashing across its face burning everything it touched and blinding the wolf as it passed under me its thorns scraping the bottom of my boots. Carrying through with my swing I planted my feet on the side of the tree and sprang off it diving prepping myself to roll on impact, only to find impact never came as I fell into empty space the cliff wall rushing past me as I fell. Author's Note This chapter was problematic and nearly crashed my flash drive. As always thanks be to my editor The TheCrimsonDM. http://www.fimfiction.net/user/TheCrimsonDM The Desolate House Of RedI flailed wildly as the cliff raced past my head desperately trying to slow my fall. In the dim light cast by my lantern i saw vines running along the cliff Desperately I reached out for them with my right paw feeling them brush against the tip of my fingers when my paw finally snagged on a vine jerking me around, my head hit the side of the cliff I and blacked out. ~ ~ ~ ~ The dream starts the same way every time with pure empty darkness. Then strange characters in white scroll across the darkness like the text on a computer screen. But something was off this time around the dream changed. When the white text finished scrolling at the bottom was a single sentence in Equish. “Hardware adapted......Downloading information and integrating possible software updates”. ~ ~ ~ ~ Pain....A dull throbbing pain all over was the first thing to register as I slowly awoke. Next was light, accompanied by a bit of warmth across my face. Slowly I opened my eyes and stared at the large hole above me; the glorious light of dawn shone through the hole dust motes swaying gently in its rays. For several minutes I just stared at the dancing motes of dust wondering how I was alive. Deciding to attempt moving I began sitting up. A decision I regretted instantly as pain shot through my body causing me to shout and almost lose my strength as I forced myself to sit up my arms wobbling. Tears ran down my face, my eyes watering from the pain as I examined my body. First thing to grab my attention was the fact that my left arm was bending off to the side at a very unnatural angle the bone straining against the skin. Closing my eye’s I breathed deeply in then out as I attempted to control the rising panic and bile. Turning my head away from the sight of my arm my eyes still closed; I opened them and began to examine the rest of my body. My mid section hurt, probably due to several broken ribs. My legs seemed beat up and badly bruised but functional. Feeling my head I felt a fairly large gash now scabbed over blood matting the hair on the back of my head. My cloak and the pack on my back where destroyed their remains scattered about the rubble I was laying in. Carefully I stood up looking around I saw that I was in a large ruined building of some sort. Judging from the damage and the fact that it was the wall that I crashed through and not the roof it seemed that the building had sank tilting on its side as it did. Some windows still had bits of stained glass in the frame. From what little of the building that I could see was intact I guessed this was some sort of temple or chapel at some point. Searching around me in the rubble I managed to find bottle of painkillers that had been in the pack still mostly intact one large crack running down the side of the plastic bottle. Opening the bottle I shook a couple of tablets into my mouth and began to chew, grimacing at the bitter chalky taste. Pocketing the bottle I searched for a suitable piece of wood or metal I could use as a makeshift splint for my arm for when I set it. After a couple minuets I managed to find what I assumed was a broken piece of a window frame nearby that looked like it would work. Grabbing it I gathered the scraps of my cloak then walking over to two large pieces of a fallen stone pillar I firmly wedged my left paw between them. The renewed pain brought more water to my eyes as I moved my arm. Breathing deeply and gritting my teeth I jerked back forcing my arm to straighten out. The pain hit me like a tidal wave of sledge hammers causing me to scream loudly and throw up. My vision swimming I quickly managed to strap the piece of window frame to my arm with the tattered strips of my cloak almost passing out in the process. Leaning back against a large stone I sank down tears streaking my dirty face. Digging around in my pocket I pulled out the painkillers and took several more slowly chewing the chalky tablets as I tried to remain conscious. I sat there for a few minutes mind blank as I focused on fighting back the pain as I waited for the painkillers to kick in; Crying silently as I stared back up at the hole I fell through. A dark sense of hopelessness swelled inside of me as I thought about my situation. “NO!” I shouted in defiance my voice echoing. I couldn’t afford to sit here and cry when Sandy was dying I needed to find something or somepony that could help her. I had already lost Dog knows how much time while I was unconscious. First I quickly took stock of what was left of my supplies. All I had left was the cracked bottle of pain killers and a canteen, everything else had been destroyed in the fall. Sighing I attempted to tie the canteen to my belt fumbling with only one paw. After a few failed attempts I managed to succeed in getting it caught on my belt buckle and gave up, letting it hang awkwardly. Standing I looked around for some sort of exit I could use to get out of here and figure out where I was. Spotting a partially collapsed doorway at the back of the large room I began walking toward it when my boot caught on something. Looking down I saw a red piece of fabric partially buried under a thin layer of rubble and dust. Bending down I grabbed it giving it a firm tug I pulled it out from under everything dust flying everywhere in the process. Taking a look, it turned out it was a tapestry of a regal brown earth pony with a red cybernetic eye. My eyes widened as the realization dawned on me. I was standing in Red Eye’s chapel. Now destroyed and sunken into the earth. Looking back at the passage in the back of the room I realized that it lead farther underground and possibly to what remained of the cybernetic labs. I quickly made my way to the passage and looked in. It got far too dark, way too fast for me to explore it without a light. Looking around I tried to think of something I could use. My little lamp had been destroyed in the fall so that was out of the equation. Looking down at the tapestry I had in my hand an idea occurred to me. Grabbing a long thin chunk of splintered wood I wrapped the tapestry around the end of it creating a makeshift torch. Now the only problem was lighting it. Walking around I I tried to figure out how I was going to go about the task when I stepped on something and got a nasty little shock. Jumping I yelped in pain looking down i saw what it was I had stepped on. My plasma pistol sparking as the blue energy field around the tip sputtered to life for a second before going out. Smiling, I now knew how I was going to light the torch. After a minute or two of tinkering and a couple more nasty shocks later the torch was lit and I was taking my first tentative step into the dark partially collapsed passage. **** As I made my way further into the bowls of the earth my only company the sputtering light of my makeshift torch; time began to lose all meaning as every second blended into each other with nothing to distinguish it from the last. It went on like this for Luna knows how long my steps echoing lightly the light of my torch slowly fading as it burned down. After what felt like hours of pain induced mindless trudging, doubts began to creep back into my mind weighing down each step. What if this tunnel leads nowhere? What if it is a dead end? You’re deluding yourself, you can’t help sandy, you can barely help yourself. It was foalish to leave her alone. You killed her you truly are a monster...I staggered stopping leaning against a wall; my head throbbing as pain and doubt weighed down on me like a physical force. Old memories began to resurface and images flashed through my mind pulling me into the past. ~ ~ ~ ~ I looked through the slats of the small wagon that I crouched in hidden as Elder Bark pulled it toward the ramshackle town, sandy walked next to it one paw on the side of wagon a small laser pistol at her side. The other dogs not that far behind us in the caravan. Elder Bark looked over his shoulder his golden eyes looking straight at me ears rotating back as he spoke. “Now remember Pup you must stay in the wagon hidden at all times while we are in the town. Me and Sandy will be talking to the village leader while the other dogs restock so you will be alone. We may be a while but there are snacks and some things for you to tinker with back there as long as you stay under the tarp everything should be ok. If anything messes with the wagons leave it alone and stay quiet unless it comes to your wagon and if it does you know what to do” As he finished his sentence I grasped the handle of the combat knife I had strapped to my belt. As we pulled up the dog caravan began to split up heading to different parts of the town looking to sell some wares and restock on supplies. My wagon was wheeled of to the side of the town gate and deposited with the rest of the personal wagons. Once the wagon was parked Sandy let go of the side and quickly climbed up Elder barks back clinging to it as was the norm for young pups. Checking the wagon one more time to make sure I was safe and comfortable in the wagon elder bark left to go talk with the leader of the town. I waited a few minutes tinkering with the random bits of cybernetics he left me before I got bored and decided to take a nap. **** A loud crash followed by some nickering laughter woke me from my nap with a start. Sitting up quickly I pulled out my knife and holding it in a reversed grip I peered through the side slats of the cart looking for the source of the noises. I saw a group of colts six in total all rummaging through the carts stealing anything of value smashing anything that was breakable and not valuable enough to sell. Three of them had .9mm Submachine guns and stood keeping watch as the others looted. The one I assumed was the leader seeing how he was the only one with a bandanna tied around his head had sawed off double barrel .20 gauge shotgun. The other two had knives. I could hear my heart beat in my ears as I hid gripping my knife tightly watching them slowly approach my wagon. Elder Bark's past lesson rose in my mind his words echoing in my head as I watched them approach. “If any one messes with the wagon you are in and discovers you, take your knife and slash for the eyes. The moment you blind them or they flinch away run and try to hide. But never run in a straight line and try to go from cover to cover. That way if they have a gun they can't hit you." It wasn't long before they reached my wagon the leader talking to the two following him as they came near. “Stupid dogs leaving this stuff unguarded it's like they wanted to be robbed." “Yeah they sure are stupid they didn't even have any traps set." “I don't know I've had a bad feeling about this since the beginning I feel like something has been watching us." The leader sneered as the colt said this. “Shut up your just being an idiot there is nothing here but easy loot and us." He stopped next to the wagon and turned to face my wagon and focused. Suddenly the tarp glowed with an aura of red and was sent flying off the top off the wagon I was crouched in. He looked in and I sprang all of Elder Bark's lessons being thrown out the window as my adrenaline surged and my instincts kicked in. I brought the combat knife straight down burying it in his skull with a loud CRUNCH! His horn that had been hidden by his bandanna cutting a gash along the back of my hand. The others stood there in shock as they stared at me for all about two seconds before the two nearest turned and fled screaming. “MONSTER!" The three guards started to shoot at me, ducking I let go of the knife that was stuck in the leaders skull and scrambled over the back of the wagon fleeing straight through the center of town as they gave chase. As I ran ponies took one look at me and screamed and either running away or joining the colts in shooting and chasing me as I weaved through the buildings blind panic controlling my movements. Bullets whizzed past me as I ran until eventually I felt something hit my leg. Searing red hot pain filled my mind as my leg was jerked out from underneath me and I collapsed rolling a couple times before I came to a stop screaming in pain. Curling into a ball and holding my leg I cried as the mob of ponies surrounded me. A unicorn mare walked out from the circle of ponies that surrounded me as I lied on the ground and pressed a gun wrapped in a pink glow to my skull tears streaked the fur under her eyes as she sneered saying. “Die monster." I closed my eyes as the trigger began to move and waited for the bang. Suddenly I heard a loud roar and felt the gun drop next to my face. I opened my eyes. Blood sprayed my face as I watched the Mare's head fly spinning through the air Elder Bark standing in front of me his cybernetic arm covered in blood. ~ ~ ~ ~ Shaking my head I pulled myself back to the present and the endless dark tunnel. I bought my paw to may face only to stop as I realized two things. The first of witch being I couldn’t see my paw right in front of my face. The second being I had dropped the torch. Placing my back against the wall I was leaning against I sank down in darkness so complete I couldn’t even tell if my eyes were closed. My head pounded and I felt weak my energy fading and soon without realizing it I soon fell unconscious.
Prologue Prologue It was at that moment the world exploded. Light lit up the horizon with a fiery glow that covered the land. The blast itself never got far but the repercussions were felt everywhere as clones and machine alike stopped and fell where they stood. The lifeless corpses and heaps of metal covering the wastelands like a grim carpet signifying the death of the artificial intelligence A.R.C.H.I.E It's mad assault on the world finally over finally stopping the machines in their tracks. Despite finally being able to be free and never having to deal with psychotic machines attacking them any more many a person did not celebrate the fall of the A.I. Instead the remains of the human race moved out to the fields of death to gather the bodies of the dead and burn them, hoping that the act and defeat of the A.I. would finally bring them peace. Unfortunately stopping the A.I. also meant the death of all the valiant clone Immortals who fought against the machines to keep what was left of the world alive. It was these people that the remaining humans mourned, these people when killed came back in a new body ready to fight once more. Most of the clones fought not because they wanted to but because it was only them who stood a chance against the machines. They fought for the future, for hope, and for love. The reason they were able to keep coming back to life was due to the collars they all had which, linked their bodies to their minds up to the psi-net. Psi-net is a cloud that holds the conscious minds and memories of the individual people that the clones came from. But this was linked to the main server where the A.R.C.H.I.E. unit was located. It's original task was to monitor and control all operations of the Psi-net facilities Including clone creation, and robotics stations. When he fell so did all the functions he had control of cutting off the mental uplink the clones minds had with their bodies and trapping them in the cloud. All but one who is lost to the system forever. It was that moment the world exploded in light, rainbows swept across the land in all directions like a tidal wave covering the world. It was to fast for anypony to react every pony who encountered it braced for death only to be surprised when it passed over them harmlessly leaving them unaffected, all but two ponies that is. Golden Grace was the name of the medic / scavenger earth pony who was scavenging the ruins at the base of a large mountain where a dragon was rumored to reside when the event happened. She was a pony of average height, Her coat was a lustrous gold color, or it would have been had she ever taken a bath more than one a month and groomed her coat. Her main was a tangled mess of copper With various things used in her scavenging hidden away in it. Her cutie mark which peeked out from under her traders barding and saddlebags, was of a open vault with gold caps spilling out. Her companion and current lover at the time Ready Shot the warrior / mercenary unicorn was watching the mountain and keeping look out and was the first of the two to see the event happen. Ready shot was slightly taller than Grace her coat a dull gray her muzzle scarred from the hard living that come as a mercenary. Her main was a short cut black that looked like it was cut with a combat knife, which it probably was. Her cutie mark was of a target with a full clip on it unfortunately it was hidden away beneath her combat armored barding. Golden Grace was trying to pick the lock on a door cursing every time she broke a bobby pin. Ready shot chuckled at her antics, glancing over her shoulder and back at grace she said. "You know G.G I can probably just blow the door of the hinges if you want, Might speed this up just a bit." Grace just growled caught up in the lock, and it's stubborn refusal to open. Ready shot just chuckled once more and turned her attention back to the mountains. She let her gaze wander up towards the peak of the mountain where a flash of light caught her eye she opened her mouth so say something but was interrupted by a click and a shout of triumph as grace finally unlocked the door. She looked back at Ready Shot a large cheesy grin on her face, turning back to the door she opened it only to be greeted by a wall of moving rainbows that quickly overtook them. As it collided with them a loud thunderclap hit followed by a brief flash of overwhelming blue light happened at the same time. These events coincided in such perfect unison that for any one standing there they were indistinguishable, and as quickly as it came it left leaving both Ready Shot And Golden Grace startled on their rumps checking themselves to see if they were alive. After checking that everything was still attached the looked at each other and asked in unison. "What the hell was that?" They paused opening their mouths to say something again just to be interrupted by the sound of an infant crying. Hearing it Grace immediately jumps up and starts searching for the source of the sound. Shot just watched her still semi shell shocked, Grace found what she was looking for in the doorway. It was an infant alright but it was unlike anything she had ever seen it. Right about then Ready Shot snapped out of her daze and trotted over to take a look. Grace was the first one to respond. "What is it?" "I don't know. But it looks kind of like a hairless monkey." "Where did it come from?" "I don't know but it wasn't here before." "What should we do with it?" "Dunno, kill it, leave it alone, eat it take your pick." "We cant do any of that that is mean it's just a baby after all. It cant even fend for itself yet." "Or maybe it is just a clever trick from some new creature." "we are not leaving it, or harming it, or ignoring it." Grace looked at the baby one more time it having quieted down and staring at them with piercing green eyes. "We are keeping it." "WHAT!!??" "You heard me." "But we don't even know what it is." Grace turns grabbing a small blanket from her saddle bags carefully scooping up the child she carefully wraps it in the blanket. As she wraps the child she notices something odd. The child has a small skin tight high tech collar on the child's neck, she gently taps it with a hoof with a small clink noise. Deciding not to mention it she finishes wrapping the child up and fastens it onto her back, smiles at Ready Shot and says. "Ready." "I hope you know what we are getting into." "don't worry for some reason I have a feeling things are gonna turn out for the best." Author's Note Forgive the grammar at the moment I don't have an editor an/or proofreader.
Beginnings Beginnings Darkness simple and oppressing it surrounds me on all sides. But this is how it always has been this part I’m used to the dreams are something I have had for as long as I can remember and they are always the same. Next the white characters would appear words an symbols in a language I can’t read but yet are somehow familiar. It is neither Equish, Sand dog, nor griffish. Then the voice starts speaking in a language I assume is the same as the words. While I don’t understand it occasionally I will mimic it. The words roll off my tongue easily as in a way that none of the other languages I grew up speaking do. This is how the dream is every night it never changes and it is the only dream I ever have. Waking up I sat up on my bead my legs hanging over the side with the tip of the digits on my feet brushing the ground ever so lightly I sat there for a moment thinking. The dream used to bother me in fact I used to be afraid of it. But over time it became a thing of meaningless repetition happening every night until it came to have no meaning for me. It had become just another part of life like the sound of a metal leg clinking unevenly down the gently illuminated tunnels underneath the cybernetics clinic in ponyville as sandy my adopted sand dog sister approached my room. Sandy poked her head in just as she has done the past fourteen years that I have lived here. With her signature impish grin that kept her from being a nurse in the clinic above. As a female sand dog she stood more upright and didn’t use her paws to help her walk. Her fur was a spotty brindle color with one large patch of brown right behind her left eye. She wore a form hugging blue vest that stretched down to her waist; with haphazard white string holding it shut over her breasts with long fur sticking out between the strings. She wore a pair of small leather shorts to cover her more sensitive bits. Her mane was messily spiked into a rough mohawk. Her clack steel studded collar had a ruby hanging from it. “Good your awake we can finally get the freak show up and running.” Sandy said. With a grin I smiled replying. “We both know who the real star is I mean where would we be without you our main attraction?” “Ha ha Oddball cover your weird hairless body and get yourself over to Dr. Vine’s office she wants to talk to us about something today.” “Any idea what?” “Nope” With that she turned and left the curtain I use as a door swishing shut behind her. I got up and walked over to the single outfit I had on the floor. A soft leather vest typical of sand dogs, a pair of custom made rough fabric pants, A large leather belt, and a pair of fingerless leather gloves I made from some scrap leather straps giving them a wrapped look when I put them on. My vest was dark blue indicating that I was technically the son of the leader third in line for possible secession of the tribe. Simply a formality seeing how only a dog can be the leader of a dog tribe and I am most certainly not a dog. Sandy had a lighter color indicating that she was second in line. The ruby on her collar indicated that she was a direct blood relation. My belt served as a replacement for a collar because I already had a small metal one that seemed to be a part of me we were unable to remove it and it grew with me as I did; and while the dogs did try to figure out what it was the tech was beyond even the most skilled of them. One thing that they knew for sure was that it was unlike anything ever seen. The clasp on my belt was made out of red jasper signifying that while I was adopted I was adopted by the current clan leader. The items in the front pocket of my vest where various tools used in my trade another although minor form of rank. Once all my clothing was on I walked over to the large piece of polished metal I used as a mirror to make sure it was all in place. Despite what other races thought of the sand dogs and hell hounds they were very particular of how they looked particularly if it came to rank. I also took this chance to examine myself again. I stood upright on two legs nothing to unusual for a dog. But that is where the similarities between me and the dogs who adopted me ended. I have virtually no fur nor hair on my body and what little I did have was focused on my head. It was black, long, and shaggy hanging down near the center of my back to keep it out of my eyes I have taken to wearing a leather head band which I tied on as I looked at myself in the mirror. My skin was pale and my eyes where two different colors one a dark blue the other bright green. The tings at the end of my arms the dogs and I call my monkey paws it is the closest description for them that could be thought of. (It was actually one of the doctor ponies that worked in the clinic that came up with it.) The same type of monkey themed description was thought of for my feet although while I can pick up things with the weird shaped fingers on my feet I don’t have a thumb on them and there the only part of my foot that seems to bend. My feet don’t have thick pads on them like the sand dogs so I had to wear boots kind of like the ponies have; but made special for me. The overall boot was made of soft leather with a thicker patch on the bottom to make up for my lack of pads. As for the rest of my body my skin wasn’t as thick as the dogs but it was not fragile either. Over the years it thickened up compared to when I was still very small. It was also possible to see the general shape of the muscle beneath my skin though it had not been like that originally it was one of those things that changed over time as I got stronger and older. Once I had finished looking at myself and making sure everything was in its proper place I walked out of my room toward where sandy waited outside of Dr. Rose Vine’s office my boots making a sot clicking sound as I walked. Along the way I thought about the past how I was usually attacked a first sight if Sandy or My adopted father wasn’t there with me. Once I asked what I was father simply said in the barking growling language of the sand dog and hell hounds. “You are a promise made to a dying pony friend. A promise to further the growth of all life despite how others feel. That promise is one that got her killed protecting you. So I guess you are the dream of a dead pony passed onto a foolish dog.” He looked at me a strange look on his face. “You are a dream of life and so she named you so. Life. But with dogs you will be Oddball because you are the oddest thing dogs have seen in a long time.” That is all he would say on the matter even to this day. He and the other dogs raised me like they raised Sandy and the other pups wandering for a while until one day we settled here at the clinic with some pony doctors and grew from there. I learned along with sandy how to build and repair cybernetics and the various nuances involved with gem tech. My monkey paws proved in some cases more useful than even the dogs paws when creating the cybernetic and I proved a quick learner. It didn’t take me long to reach Dr. Vine’s office and as expected sandy was waiting there for me. “Took you long enough Oddball.” Ignoring the comment I asked. “Is the Dr in?” “Should be I haven’t checked yet.” “Why not?” “She wanted to talk to both of us no point going in alone.” “Fair.” I walked in first and was greeted by the sight of thousands of papers stacked everywhere and covering the desk in such a fashion as to form an impenetrable wall successfully obscuring everything directly behind the desk. I was able to tell that there was a pony behind the desk because a tall stack of paper floated next to it wrapped in a reddish glow as it bobbed gently. But the oddest thing to me was the low rumble that filled the room after a moment I realized it was in fact snoring. I looked over at sandy and watched the grin grow on her face as she realized the same thing I just did and thought of a mischievous plan for a quick laugh. I was tempted to stop her but an opportunity as perfect as this doesn’t happen very often. Sandy crept slowly up next to the desk carefully avoiding the stacks of paper. looking over her shoulder at me she carefully moved the stack of paper directly in front of Dr. vine setting it gently on the floor so I could see all that was about to happen. Dr. Vine was face down on the desk and drooling slightly as Sandy slid up beside her. Crouching she pursed her lips and gently blew on the doctor’s ear. The ear flicked a few time and Dr. Vine stirred slightly sandy stopped for a second letting the doctor settle a bit before repeating the process. This time the doctor stirred and slowly opened her eyes to see sandy. The moment she did Sandy let out a loud BARK! Causing the doctor to jump quite literally into the air falling backwards and flipping the desk in the process; once she hit the floor the telekinesis field exploded sending all the papers in it to fly every direction. Me and sandy couldn’t stop laughing sandy wound up on the floor rolling, holding her sides, and kicking a little. I managed to stay on my feet but had doubled over holding my sides in pain from the laughter. Dr. Vine after a few seconds of panic quickly scrambled to her hooves straitening out her lab coat and began to chastise us. “What the hell where you thinking you almost gave me a heart attack!” We just kept laughing. “I have enough issues without you two almost giving me a heart attack. Celestia dammit look at this mess do you know how long this is going to take to clean and re-organize this mess?” She went on like that for a couple more minuets as me and sandy recovered from our laughing fit. I was the first to recover so I was the first to be able to talk and ask Dr. Vine questions while Sandy continued to giggle on and off. “So why did you call us her today?” “What?.... Oh yea I called you here because me and the rest of the ponies and dogs in charge of the clinic had a meeting the other day.” “What meeting?” “It was a meeting to discuss the current state of our supplies.” “Why would that be a problem don’t we get shipments delivered every day from the caravan routes?” “Normally yes but something has been interfering with the caravans. It’s not just one rout either all of them have all but stopped arriving at their destinations in every town.” “Ok but what does that have to do with us specifically?” “Well all of New Ponyville is sending out scouts down various routs to see what is going on and the clinic is being forced to help as well. So we brought up a list of potentials we could send on the scouting mission and unfortunately the only viable option we could afford to do was send you two.” “Why us and not some of the hell hounds or guards?” “Look I’m goanna be blunt with you. It is because frankly you two are the most disposable people on staff.” This comment got a reaction from sandy as she listened in an pissed her right off. “That’s bullshit!” Dr. Vine just breathed and responded in a forced calm. “If we sent any of the hell hounds or guards it would weaken the clinics and towns overall defenses. Opening us up for possible attack by raiders, bandits, or any number of monsters especially since we are so close to what remains of the Everfree. That is not an option we or the town could afford. Seeing how we are the reason ponies where even able to re-settle the town in the first place if we weaken the entire town weakens. Look you two are medically trained that alone increases your odds of survival; and we not going to send you out unprepared we will give you some supplies, basic armor and weapons so you won’t be helpless. Now Elder Feral Bark your father has volunteered to gather all the equipment and supplies you two will need you are to meet up with him in the cybernetics shop and head out immediately he will give you more details about your task when you get there. Now get out of my office before you make a bigger mess.” With that she turned and started gather up the mass amount of papers strewn about the office. Me and Sandy quietly followed orders and left. standing in the hallway we looked at each other feeling rejected and a downtrodden we started on our way to the cybernetics shop to meet up with our father and clan leader Elder Feral Bark. Author's Note Forgive any grammar issues I am still a novice and I don't currently have an editor.
Excerpt from Golden Grace's journal Excerpt from Golden Grace's journal 11th day after the event of sunshine and rainbows . My name is Golden Grace. I am an earth pony medic and scavenger. My cutie mark is that of an open vault with various things spilling out of it, mostly gold caps. My partner who is lying near the fire next to me as I write this Ready Shot is a unicorn mercenary and my lover. Her cutie mark is that of crosshairs centered over a full magazine with a couple of bits underneath the magazine. After recent events I have decided to keep a journal should anything happen to me so that people may know my story in hopes of spreading hope, and the vision of life for all races. Its been 11 days since the world exploded in a wave of rainbows. Bringing back the sunshine and cleansing most of the radiation and taint from the wasteland. Although the event seems to have had some unintended side effects the most notable of which for me any way, was the strange infant creature that it brought with it. Me and ready shot where exploring the ruins located at the base of Dragon Mountain as some of the locals have taken to calling it. (This is due to the fact that one of the few remaining dragons left in the world resides in a large cave near the peak.) When the event happened to be frank I thought we had triggered some sort of super trap. Seeing as I was picking a particularly annoying lock at the time. After a few moments we both realized we were alive and rejoiced over this fact hugging each other. Shortly, no immediately after we heard the sound of crying. On the other side of the door I had opened was an infant....creature, is the best I can say. It looked hideous damn near monstrous but......It also looked helpless and fragile, as if even the slightest breeze might harm it. I don’t know what came over me, but at that moment I guess I fell in love with it like a mothers first time seeing her foal. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was starting to desire a foal of my own. I believe in the end I made the right choice. I have taken to calling the infant Life because he is just so full of it; and because to me he represents the hope and proof that life of all forms can grow no matter where you are. That is something I think the world needs more of still even after the event swept clean a lot of the radiation and taint from the world. Even with this, there is so much violence now that ponies fight over newly re-fertile pieces of land and territory. After taking care of it a while I learned some very important things. First of all I learned that it was male, that one was fairly obvious, but it tends to remind me sometimes when I am changing his diaper. Second children are fussy no matter what species they are. They demand more of your time than you have or can afford to give. I have come to learn this first hoof. Secondly children can be hard to feed especially if they aren't even the same species. It took near two days of the child’s non stop crying and various experiments before we discovered it could eat barmen milk. While I am not sure if it is the best thing for him but it seems to be working for now. He does not have teeth and I am not sure if that is a permanent thing or not and it is a little worrisome. Another thing that has me constantly worrying is the collar around his neck. It is unlike anything I have ever seen. It is apparent that it is very high tech, but the tech is nothing like I have ever seen I couldn't possibly begin to even guess what it is for, and that worries me. The other thing that worries me is if we don’t get it off it might eventually choke him as he grows, although the collar doesn't seem to bother him. Maybe I am worrying for nothing but it will always be on my mind. The collar is tight, tight to the point I can’t even slip a sliver of paper under it. It is super flexible almost like his skin but not quite. I really hope it is not something that will come back to harm him as he gets older..... Oh minor note, and I am not sure why this comes to me know. But the child has no belly button or anything to indicate that he ever had an umbilical cord in the first place. Author's Note Things should be looking better now I got an editor. http://www.fimfiction.net/user/TheCrimsonDM
The EverfreeThe walk to the cybernetics shop while short felt like the longest in our life. In just a few minutes we had been ripped out of our world and thrust into a harsh and truly unforgiving one called reality. As i walked I realized that it was foolish to think I could just live down here crafting cybernetics my entire life. As I learned in the five years I spent above ground with the dogs before the clinic was made by president Flutter Shy and ponyville re-settled. Being the only one of my kind I am scary and a target. In the end I was chosen for this job because I scared the ponies. Though why Sandy was being sent I had no idea, she was both older than me and Elder Barks direct blood related decedent. We soon reached the shop located just a little ways off to the side of the clinic. The shop while still under ground was located in a small grotto; well hidden in the side of the hill that the clinic was located on. The cave opening had long since been boarded up and hidden. The only source of natural light was from a fairly large fissure in the ceiling. Bars covered the hole so no pony would accidentally fall in. the fissure was also used as a source of ventilation so the foundry’s smoke could escape. In the middle of the shop with several bags on the work table in front of him stood the imposing hunched form of Elder Feral Bark talking to a dirty gray pony with his rough growling voice echoing about the silent shop. “Pony get sandwich.” “Why?” the pony said. “Because dog is hungry now stop asking questions and do as dog say before dog get mad.” Elder feral bark said this last comment while leaning in closer to the pony’s face and growling sending the pony almost fleeing in terror. This sight made me involuntary chuckle while it was true Elder Feral Bark was bigger than most dogs and; his cybernetic right arm and eye caused him to look rather intimidating me and sandy knew how much of it was really an act. While the pony moved hastily past us, me and Sandy walked forward to greet the gnarled old sand dog. As I entered the acrid smell of the shop hit mi nose causing my eyes to water a little. “Hello elder.” I said bowing my head slightly. “Hi dad” Sandy said with little enthusiasm the thought of why we where hear stilled weighed heavily on her. Elder bark smiled sadly at the two of us he replied in the barking sand dog tongue. “Hello young ones it’s good to see you.” Sandy was the first to reply. “Hello Elder I imagine you can guess why we are here.” Nodding his head he simply turned back toward the table waving us over. Walking up to the table I saw the various things he was able collect four us. There were two neat stacks of supplies with two different suits of reinforced leather armor. Off to the side of the piles laid two energy weapons, a cloak, and some extra ammo for the two guns. “This is what you will be able to take with you.” He explained while pointing to the stack on the left. “This stack is for Sandy. The other for you, Life.” The last comment of his caught me off guard. He never called me by my actual name. I asked. “Elder why do you refer to me by that name?” “You are no longer a pup and now both of you are leaving the den, to find a life of your own beyond the pack. Make no delusions both of you are not coming back at least not to live here.” “What do you mean are we being exiled?” Sandy asked in a panicked tone. “No you are not being exiled. There just comes a point in every creatures life when the must leave the den and explore the world around them, although there is more to it than that.” He paused for a moment adopting a small scowl.“The way the town set up the routs for the scouting parties was on a first come first serve biases. Seeing how the clinic took the longest time to choose the rout our scouts would check you two got left with the worst route. A move I believe was intentionally made to weaken my line of succession.” “What. Why would they do that?” I asked. “While it is true that compared to everyone else currently working the clinic. You two contribute the least amount to its overall operation. I believe that while anyone who knows you Life does not feel threatened. What you are, is unknown and that scares most things especially ponies. Sandy you are both a strong candidate for succession and a trouble maker. That makes you a threat to anyone who wants to succeed me and a general nuisance. Anyway enough of that, you are here to get equipped and learn about the route you will be taking. So get suited up, then I will tell you exactly what rout you will be following.” On his command we began strapping all the equipment to our bodies. It was all roughly the same between us with only a few exceptions. For starters my armor had to custom tailored to me; and while I was shrugging it on some minor things had to be changed for it to fit me properly. There were no such issues with Sandy’s armor. The next difference was with the armor came a very large concealing cloak for me. Elder Bark instructed me that I was to wear it at all times; and while I was out near pony, town, or settlement, I was to hunch down and attempt to walk more like a sand dog to decrease my odds of not being attacked on sight. Once everything was in place we moved onto the two energy weapons next. Elder Bark explained. “Unfortunately the only weapons I was able to get for you two was from my personal stash. You will have to decide between yourselves who gets what.” There was a plasma pistol and a laser rifle both appeared to have been heavily modified. The plasma pistol had a blue energy field around the tip and the gem cells were set up like a revolver chamber four of them where loaded at once. The laser rifle’s cells where set up like a traditional assault rifle in a magazine style right in front of the trigger. Elder Bark began to explain. “The laser rifle has been set up with rapid fire and a green energy beam. The green beam represents the magical radiation it is laced with, to poison any living thing hit with it. The plasma pistol is made to shoot faster at cost of damage but it also has larger ammo capacity.” I let Sandy take her pick first seeing how unlike her I never really learned how to shoot. She chose the rifle and slung it on her back next to her pack. So I got the pistol and the holster that came with it, attaching it to my belt on my right side. Once everything was off the table Elder Bark rolled out a map with the various trade routes on it. Tracing his claw along the eastern route he explained. “You two will be following this route through the Everfree down to New Appaloosa and up along the coast all the way to Manehattan. Next to Hoofington this is arguably the most dangerous of all the routes, so you will need to stay on your guard the entire time especially in the Everfree. Taking time to look each of us in the eyes he continued. “In the Everfree it is of the utmost importance that you stay on the path and never stray off it, that is the only way you are going to be able to more-or-less get through the forest safely. The worst of the creatures in the Everfree tend to avoid the paths. Also you cannot sleep in the Everfree otherwise what remains of the black moss will get you. If you do have to stay the night in the Everfree try to find the zebra witches hut if at all possible for some reason all the creatures in the forest avoid it making it the only safe spot in the forest. After you manage to get out of the Everfree the rout will become a little less hazardous at least until you reach one of the city ruins as long as you are alert and careful you should be ok.” *** A few hours later Sandy and I found ourselves standing at the edge of the Everfree the path we were supposed to follow stretched out before us quickly vanishing into the shadows of the forest. A place of legends and horror stories where even before the war ponies and other creatures rarely managed to survive traversing its depths. The forest had grown unchecked for a couple centuries increasing both the size of the overall forest and the threats found within. Gulping I glanced at Sandy and began to stride forward after a moment’s hesitation Sandy fell in behind me holding her rifle tight and glancing around nervously. The moment we crossed the tree line the entire atmosphere changed and the air grew colder sending goose bumps up my arms. Looking back I checked how far into the forest we had walked and discovered we were barely three feet from the tree line. Turning back around I lowered my head and forced myself to walk further into the forest Sandy clung close to me keeping an eye behind us to such a degree we nearly had our back pressed together. The entire atmosphere of the forest was oppressing and felt full of rage as if the very trees themselves hated our presence. I felt as though something was watching us constantly from every angle keeping me on edge and paranoid. As we ventured further and further into the forest it got darker as the canopy above our heads filtered out more and more of the suns light until it got to the point where I had to rummage around in my pack and pull out a lamp in near perfect darkness. “Can you hurry up I think I hear something moving out there.” sandy whispered in a near panicked voice. “I’m trying but this isn't easy.” The sound Sandy was noticing was the rustling of underbrush and the creaking of wood as something seemed like it was circling us getting closer by the second. I began to frantically search for the little lamp I had, my heart racing as the sounds seemed to draw closer and closer until finally I felt it! My hand brushed against the small cylindrical gem-tech lamp quickly pulling it out I flicked it on flooding the small area with the artificial bluish light. The first thing I saw was sandy staring at me eyes wide mouth open a look of fear on her face as she slowly and shakily raised her paw pointing towards me stuttering. “B-b-b-brak.” I swallowed hard and slowly turned looking behind me only to look straight in the large green eye of the thorny black vine coated Bracken Wolf it’s feted breath stinging my nostrils as it began to growl, it’s growl sounded like a cross between a rock slide and the splintering of trees as they fell. Taking a couple of hesitant steps backwards it advanced as I walked backwards. My mind was blank with terror though at some point without thinking about it I had hooked the lamp to my belt and drawn my plasma pistol, and held it my hand shaking pointing at the very large creature in front of me. After a couple steps back I tripped over my pack falling backwards I fired accidentally. The blue plasma bolt from my pistol hitting it dead in the eye; the bracken wolf howled in pain its howl sounding like a thousand creatures of the forest screaming in pain. The combination of the fall and the howl snapped me out of my panicked stupor as I rolled off the bag and ran towards Sandy grabbing her snapping her out of her stupor. We ran a random direction just trying to get away from the massive monster behind us. It wasn't even a second before we heard the Bracken wolf chasing after us it running sounded like the creaking of old timbers. It gained ground fast everything that seemed to be slowing us down didn't seem to affect it I could practically feel it’s strangely cold breath on my neck. The brush slapped my face as we ran barely able to see more than a foot ahead of us. Sandy was in front always faster than me with her weird hoping run. Glancing over my shoulder I saw the Bracken right behind me bright green fluid dripping from its eye socket glowing slightly. Glancing back I saw that as it ran it phased trough the brush without even disturbing it. I looked forward just in time to see sandy stop in front of a large tree before she ran into it. Thinking quickly when I reached her without stopping I pushed her off to the left as I dived to the right causing the Bracken Wolf to run into the tree. When it hit the tree there was a bright flash of orange light and the wolf exploded. Green glowing fluid and bits of Bracken wolf splattered me covering me from head to…paw. Stranding up I looked around for Sandy calling her name. “Sandy....Sandy!” I called in a loud whisper. I heard a groan accompanied by a weak. “Over here.” I spotted her splattered with the green blood and lying on the ground barely moving. I rushed over to her only to find her impaled on a wood spiked fence. The spike stuck clean trough her sides her blood mingling with the glowing wolfs as it poured out of the wounds. I stood there in shock unsure what to do as she groaned and tried not to move. Looking around franticly I noticed where in the Everfree we were. The tree the wolf ran into was actually a strange hut made into the growing tree. Zebra masks and talismans hung from the branches, the door to the hut was open and peaking in I saw that except for some sparkle cola bottle on the floor and some other strange things and furniture the place was empty. Running back out I carefully lifted Sandy off the spiked fence with her howling in pain and passing out I carried her into the hut and laid her on the old blood stained bed. Reaching for my pack I groaned realizing I never picked it up when we started to run. So instead I opened Sandy’s pack and pulled out all the medical supplies we had, and began to bandage her stuffing cotton into the wounds to help staunch the bleeding. Once done I sat down, my monkey paws covered in her blood and thought for a second. Supposedly we were safe in this hut that much I knew but Sandy’s wound where serious....and my fault. Oh Celestia I’m so stupid if I hadn’t...No got to focus she need more medical help than what I just gave her If she is to survive she will need some alcohol to sterilize the wound and possibly a cybernetic patch. But how or where am I going to find that or get it? I looked over at Sandy’s bag and noticed the map sticking out of it standing up I wiped the blood off my paws and pulled the map out of her pack. Unrolling it I laid it down on the table and lit some of the lamps around the hut to read it. Scanning it I looked for the hut I was in only to be disappointed to discover it wasn’t on the map. But something did catch my eye Red Eye’s Chapel. In the bit of history Elder Bark had taught us he spoke of some of the sand dogs being captured and forced to create cybernetics by an evil pony with a cybernetic red eye. If this is the same red eye then he might have something I could use to patch up Sandy, but Elder Bark called him evil and well I am pretty much a monster will he even work with me? Sandy coughed roughly in her sleep spitting up a bit of blood in the process and wheezing. I don’t have a choice. This is likely the only hope she has of survival I don’t have much time. Grabbing her pack I set out some water and food by the bed along with the painkillers sandy kept. Then I slung her pack over my shoulder grabbed her rifle, and head out shutting the hut door behind me. Facing the Everfree in front of me It felt darker more foreboding somehow now that I was alone. Gritting my teeth I set out in the rough direction of the Red Eyes Chapel alone in the ever free with the sun setting I had a feeling that things weren’t about to get easier. *** It was official despite the map I was lost; the forest was to dark for me to see very far past the small circle of light cast from the lantern on my belt, and as I wandered the forest only got darker. Being alone deep in the untamed forest didn’t help to calm my nerves either making me jittery and jumpy at the slightest sound. I looked up at one of trees surrounding me the thought of climbing one had occurred to me earlier with disastrous consequences. As I tried to scale it my hands kept finding thorns that seemed to grow as I climbed and hand-holds that seemed to disappear before I could use them. In the end I got about three feet off the ground only to fall with the same result every time I tried to climb a different tree so I gave up on that idea. A sudden rustling noise distracted me from my thoughts as the sound of creaking timbers accompanied it. I looked around franticly drawing the laser rifle as I searched for the source of the noise my heart beating fast and loud in my chest. The creatures stepped into the circle of light one at a time, snarling an all too familiar sound like a rock slide crossed with splintering trees. Bracken wolfs this time I had a good view of them as they surrounded me. They were huge big enough to almost swallow a pony whole. Their green eyes glowed in the artificial light cast by my small lantern. Their skin was comprised of gnarled black thorn vines twisting and twining around each other looking almost like exposed muscle the thorns looked almost like a thin layer of fur. Their paws were huge with long red blade like claws that looked like massive curved thorns. They stopped just inside the circle of light growling but not approaching I just stood there unsure of what to do. My rifle pointed at them switching between them I counted five in all standing nearly shoulder to shoulder. After a few moments the two in front of me parted letting a sixth one enter this one was slightly larger than the others and had only one eye a glowing burnt hole was all that remained of the other eye. It looked me up and down as if gauging me. Then a thought struck me. Was this the same wolf I had shot in the eye? That couldn’t be the case I had watched it explode when it ran into the wards on the witches tree hut. It looked back at the other wolfs and gave a short bark. Suddenly I was side swiped by one of the wolves and the rifle was wrenched from my hands I looked over at the one that had my rifle. It looked back then proceeded to slowly and deliberately crush the rifle in its jaws. I watched in shock as the pieces fell to the ground. These things where sending me a clear message that my weapons wouldn’t help me now. Tearing my eyes away I notice that there was an opening where the wolf had been and without hesitation I took the chance and ran through it as fast as I could. The wolves quickly chased after me howling I could feel their icy breath on my neck as I ran barely keeping ahead of them. As I ran I noticed a strange sound that the wolves where making between howls it was a strange choppy barking as if they were laughing. Soon I realized what they were doing. They were toying with me and leading me on. Eventually I assumed they would force me into a corner and kill me. A fire rose inside me as my rage at my situation built then a thought occurred to me I still had the plasma pistol and the one wolf was still missing an eye. Adrenaline surged inside me as a mad and impulsive plan formed and I acted. Moving faster than I thought possible, I suddenly switched direction. Jumping I grabbed a small tree with my right paw using my momentum I swung around tucking my legs up and drawing my plasma pistol at the same time with my left. I fired several times at the surprised Bracken wolf that was chasing me. The blue plasma splashing across its face burning everything it touched and blinding the wolf as it passed under me its thorns scraping the bottom of my boots. Carrying through with my swing I planted my feet on the side of the tree and sprang off it diving prepping myself to roll on impact, only to find impact never came as I fell into empty space the cliff wall rushing past me as I fell. Author's Note This chapter was problematic and nearly crashed my flash drive. As always thanks be to my editor The TheCrimsonDM. http://www.fimfiction.net/user/TheCrimsonDM
The Desolate House Of RedI flailed wildly as the cliff raced past my head desperately trying to slow my fall. In the dim light cast by my lantern i saw vines running along the cliff Desperately I reached out for them with my right paw feeling them brush against the tip of my fingers when my paw finally snagged on a vine jerking me around, my head hit the side of the cliff I and blacked out. ~ ~ ~ ~ The dream starts the same way every time with pure empty darkness. Then strange characters in white scroll across the darkness like the text on a computer screen. But something was off this time around the dream changed. When the white text finished scrolling at the bottom was a single sentence in Equish. “Hardware adapted......Downloading information and integrating possible software updates”. ~ ~ ~ ~ Pain....A dull throbbing pain all over was the first thing to register as I slowly awoke. Next was light, accompanied by a bit of warmth across my face. Slowly I opened my eyes and stared at the large hole above me; the glorious light of dawn shone through the hole dust motes swaying gently in its rays. For several minutes I just stared at the dancing motes of dust wondering how I was alive. Deciding to attempt moving I began sitting up. A decision I regretted instantly as pain shot through my body causing me to shout and almost lose my strength as I forced myself to sit up my arms wobbling. Tears ran down my face, my eyes watering from the pain as I examined my body. First thing to grab my attention was the fact that my left arm was bending off to the side at a very unnatural angle the bone straining against the skin. Closing my eye’s I breathed deeply in then out as I attempted to control the rising panic and bile. Turning my head away from the sight of my arm my eyes still closed; I opened them and began to examine the rest of my body. My mid section hurt, probably due to several broken ribs. My legs seemed beat up and badly bruised but functional. Feeling my head I felt a fairly large gash now scabbed over blood matting the hair on the back of my head. My cloak and the pack on my back where destroyed their remains scattered about the rubble I was laying in. Carefully I stood up looking around I saw that I was in a large ruined building of some sort. Judging from the damage and the fact that it was the wall that I crashed through and not the roof it seemed that the building had sank tilting on its side as it did. Some windows still had bits of stained glass in the frame. From what little of the building that I could see was intact I guessed this was some sort of temple or chapel at some point. Searching around me in the rubble I managed to find bottle of painkillers that had been in the pack still mostly intact one large crack running down the side of the plastic bottle. Opening the bottle I shook a couple of tablets into my mouth and began to chew, grimacing at the bitter chalky taste. Pocketing the bottle I searched for a suitable piece of wood or metal I could use as a makeshift splint for my arm for when I set it. After a couple minuets I managed to find what I assumed was a broken piece of a window frame nearby that looked like it would work. Grabbing it I gathered the scraps of my cloak then walking over to two large pieces of a fallen stone pillar I firmly wedged my left paw between them. The renewed pain brought more water to my eyes as I moved my arm. Breathing deeply and gritting my teeth I jerked back forcing my arm to straighten out. The pain hit me like a tidal wave of sledge hammers causing me to scream loudly and throw up. My vision swimming I quickly managed to strap the piece of window frame to my arm with the tattered strips of my cloak almost passing out in the process. Leaning back against a large stone I sank down tears streaking my dirty face. Digging around in my pocket I pulled out the painkillers and took several more slowly chewing the chalky tablets as I tried to remain conscious. I sat there for a few minutes mind blank as I focused on fighting back the pain as I waited for the painkillers to kick in; Crying silently as I stared back up at the hole I fell through. A dark sense of hopelessness swelled inside of me as I thought about my situation. “NO!” I shouted in defiance my voice echoing. I couldn’t afford to sit here and cry when Sandy was dying I needed to find something or somepony that could help her. I had already lost Dog knows how much time while I was unconscious. First I quickly took stock of what was left of my supplies. All I had left was the cracked bottle of pain killers and a canteen, everything else had been destroyed in the fall. Sighing I attempted to tie the canteen to my belt fumbling with only one paw. After a few failed attempts I managed to succeed in getting it caught on my belt buckle and gave up, letting it hang awkwardly. Standing I looked around for some sort of exit I could use to get out of here and figure out where I was. Spotting a partially collapsed doorway at the back of the large room I began walking toward it when my boot caught on something. Looking down I saw a red piece of fabric partially buried under a thin layer of rubble and dust. Bending down I grabbed it giving it a firm tug I pulled it out from under everything dust flying everywhere in the process. Taking a look, it turned out it was a tapestry of a regal brown earth pony with a red cybernetic eye. My eyes widened as the realization dawned on me. I was standing in Red Eye’s chapel. Now destroyed and sunken into the earth. Looking back at the passage in the back of the room I realized that it lead farther underground and possibly to what remained of the cybernetic labs. I quickly made my way to the passage and looked in. It got far too dark, way too fast for me to explore it without a light. Looking around I tried to think of something I could use. My little lamp had been destroyed in the fall so that was out of the equation. Looking down at the tapestry I had in my hand an idea occurred to me. Grabbing a long thin chunk of splintered wood I wrapped the tapestry around the end of it creating a makeshift torch. Now the only problem was lighting it. Walking around I I tried to figure out how I was going to go about the task when I stepped on something and got a nasty little shock. Jumping I yelped in pain looking down i saw what it was I had stepped on. My plasma pistol sparking as the blue energy field around the tip sputtered to life for a second before going out. Smiling, I now knew how I was going to light the torch. After a minute or two of tinkering and a couple more nasty shocks later the torch was lit and I was taking my first tentative step into the dark partially collapsed passage. **** As I made my way further into the bowls of the earth my only company the sputtering light of my makeshift torch; time began to lose all meaning as every second blended into each other with nothing to distinguish it from the last. It went on like this for Luna knows how long my steps echoing lightly the light of my torch slowly fading as it burned down. After what felt like hours of pain induced mindless trudging, doubts began to creep back into my mind weighing down each step. What if this tunnel leads nowhere? What if it is a dead end? You’re deluding yourself, you can’t help sandy, you can barely help yourself. It was foalish to leave her alone. You killed her you truly are a monster...I staggered stopping leaning against a wall; my head throbbing as pain and doubt weighed down on me like a physical force. Old memories began to resurface and images flashed through my mind pulling me into the past. ~ ~ ~ ~ I looked through the slats of the small wagon that I crouched in hidden as Elder Bark pulled it toward the ramshackle town, sandy walked next to it one paw on the side of wagon a small laser pistol at her side. The other dogs not that far behind us in the caravan. Elder Bark looked over his shoulder his golden eyes looking straight at me ears rotating back as he spoke. “Now remember Pup you must stay in the wagon hidden at all times while we are in the town. Me and Sandy will be talking to the village leader while the other dogs restock so you will be alone. We may be a while but there are snacks and some things for you to tinker with back there as long as you stay under the tarp everything should be ok. If anything messes with the wagons leave it alone and stay quiet unless it comes to your wagon and if it does you know what to do” As he finished his sentence I grasped the handle of the combat knife I had strapped to my belt. As we pulled up the dog caravan began to split up heading to different parts of the town looking to sell some wares and restock on supplies. My wagon was wheeled of to the side of the town gate and deposited with the rest of the personal wagons. Once the wagon was parked Sandy let go of the side and quickly climbed up Elder barks back clinging to it as was the norm for young pups. Checking the wagon one more time to make sure I was safe and comfortable in the wagon elder bark left to go talk with the leader of the town. I waited a few minutes tinkering with the random bits of cybernetics he left me before I got bored and decided to take a nap. **** A loud crash followed by some nickering laughter woke me from my nap with a start. Sitting up quickly I pulled out my knife and holding it in a reversed grip I peered through the side slats of the cart looking for the source of the noises. I saw a group of colts six in total all rummaging through the carts stealing anything of value smashing anything that was breakable and not valuable enough to sell. Three of them had .9mm Submachine guns and stood keeping watch as the others looted. The one I assumed was the leader seeing how he was the only one with a bandanna tied around his head had sawed off double barrel .20 gauge shotgun. The other two had knives. I could hear my heart beat in my ears as I hid gripping my knife tightly watching them slowly approach my wagon. Elder Bark's past lesson rose in my mind his words echoing in my head as I watched them approach. “If any one messes with the wagon you are in and discovers you, take your knife and slash for the eyes. The moment you blind them or they flinch away run and try to hide. But never run in a straight line and try to go from cover to cover. That way if they have a gun they can't hit you." It wasn't long before they reached my wagon the leader talking to the two following him as they came near. “Stupid dogs leaving this stuff unguarded it's like they wanted to be robbed." “Yeah they sure are stupid they didn't even have any traps set." “I don't know I've had a bad feeling about this since the beginning I feel like something has been watching us." The leader sneered as the colt said this. “Shut up your just being an idiot there is nothing here but easy loot and us." He stopped next to the wagon and turned to face my wagon and focused. Suddenly the tarp glowed with an aura of red and was sent flying off the top off the wagon I was crouched in. He looked in and I sprang all of Elder Bark's lessons being thrown out the window as my adrenaline surged and my instincts kicked in. I brought the combat knife straight down burying it in his skull with a loud CRUNCH! His horn that had been hidden by his bandanna cutting a gash along the back of my hand. The others stood there in shock as they stared at me for all about two seconds before the two nearest turned and fled screaming. “MONSTER!" The three guards started to shoot at me, ducking I let go of the knife that was stuck in the leaders skull and scrambled over the back of the wagon fleeing straight through the center of town as they gave chase. As I ran ponies took one look at me and screamed and either running away or joining the colts in shooting and chasing me as I weaved through the buildings blind panic controlling my movements. Bullets whizzed past me as I ran until eventually I felt something hit my leg. Searing red hot pain filled my mind as my leg was jerked out from underneath me and I collapsed rolling a couple times before I came to a stop screaming in pain. Curling into a ball and holding my leg I cried as the mob of ponies surrounded me. A unicorn mare walked out from the circle of ponies that surrounded me as I lied on the ground and pressed a gun wrapped in a pink glow to my skull tears streaked the fur under her eyes as she sneered saying. “Die monster." I closed my eyes as the trigger began to move and waited for the bang. Suddenly I heard a loud roar and felt the gun drop next to my face. I opened my eyes. Blood sprayed my face as I watched the Mare's head fly spinning through the air Elder Bark standing in front of me his cybernetic arm covered in blood. ~ ~ ~ ~ Shaking my head I pulled myself back to the present and the endless dark tunnel. I bought my paw to may face only to stop as I realized two things. The first of witch being I couldn’t see my paw right in front of my face. The second being I had dropped the torch. Placing my back against the wall I was leaning against I sank down in darkness so complete I couldn’t even tell if my eyes were closed. My head pounded and I felt weak my energy fading and soon without realizing it I soon fell unconscious.
