“Silence!” Vital ran towards the now still body. However, as he approached Silence, he paused when he saw a glint in the grass. Vital knelt to pick up the large dagger that Silence had been carrying. It’s not like she had anywhere to hide this, so where did it come from? Vital glanced around the town square, his veins turning to ice as he realized just how little cover there was here.. He dashed behind the dog, leaving enough space between him and the mech to make sure no electricity would arc onto him while Vital took a closer look at the dagger.

It had a curved blade the polished steel gleaming in the sunlight. Almost a foot in length; it was made of steel, but it also looked as if it had never been used before. In a time period when weapons of this quality were scarce and invaluable, it was usually a reason to be cautious around it. Vital continued his inspection with the short, navy blue pommel. The steel ball on the bottom had been painted red, perhaps in someone’s attempt to be funny. Vital squeezed his eyes shut for a moment as he felt his head start to swim. However, when Vital finally looked at the other side. His memories finally crashed into reality as he stared at the yellow circle painted there.

He was back in the lab, pulling out the cause of the stabbing pain in his side. He looked down, a small spasm of pain in his side as the memory and the present synched up and both Vitals held the same knife. He glanced at Spectrum, spotting his open case to her side. Pictures were strewn across the ground, and upon smelling the rose perfume he knew at least some of his oils had broken. Vital grit his teeth and raised his fist to strike Silence’s still body.

“Now now, you don’t want to hurt such good breeding stock.” Vital’s eyes widened as he heard the deep booming voice. He jumped away from Silence, getting to his feet, ready to fight. What he saw was a red man in a pair of blue jeans with a shaved light blue scalp, laughing at him. “Do you travel with these two?”

“Yes. Now who are you?” Vital put his dagger back on the ground, his breathing slowing down as he calmed down.

“The name is Cattle Racer. Now, if you don’t mind, may I look at the new members of my herd?” Cattle slipped off his backpack before pulling out a length of rope. A brown arm barred his path as Cattle tried to step forward. Cattle unfurled his wings as he stood his ground and grinned at Vital. “Ah, do you care about her?”

“Yes. Besides, I’m not about to let you tie my friends up.” Vital stepped towards the red pegasus, putting his face only centimeters from Cattle’s.

“Cattle, you really should… wait for me.” Vital turned to a gray girl with yellow hair who was breathing heavily. However, he turned away blushing as he realised she seemed to only be wearing a shirt and a small pair of underwear. Of course that’s nothing compared to Silence, especially with how flat the girl is.

Cattle smiled wider as he said, “See something you like? Well little Short Circuit here is my wonderful little assistant, and has been great at keeping me company, especially late at night.” Cattle let out a peal of laughter as his hand clapped firmly onto Circuit’s backside. Vital noted the almost cowering she did at the motion.

“Nice to meet you Short Circuit, I’m Vital point, masseuse.” Vital held his hand out to the young girl, giving her a comforting smile. Circuit hesitantly extended her hand before gripping his lightly and shaking it.

“Electromancer.”

“Well Vital, it’s been fun, but we need to tie up your friends here quickly before they wake up. Circuit’s bolt may have been strong, but she really isn’t all that great at magic.” Cattle ignored the downcast look from Circuit, instead slamming his shoulder into Vital’s, causing the brown man to take a step back.

“Hey! Don’t think I’m just about to let you take them.” Vital once more stepped in front of Cattle, causing him to sigh.

“Circuit, can you tell the young fool exactly why he should back off and let me have my way?”

Circuit cleared her throat as she stepped forward. “Lord Cattle Racer has an ideal world for us all. He wishes for us all to be happy, but there are too few for us to be happy. This is why he will use the knowledge of his ancestors on how to raise and control cows on woman. With these woman, he will pick the best of them to use as breeding stock. He is as strong as an earth pony, fast as he is a pegasus, and will use his pathetic unicorn Short Circuit to think, seeing as she is useless as breed stock.” Circuit looked down, her eyes filling with tears.

Vital growled at Cattle, “And what happens if they refuse?”

Cattle smiled as he took in the praise and said evenly, “They don’t.”

“I don’t think I quite approve of you simply deciding girls are your little sex slaves.”

“Are you saying no to me?” Cattle was back to trying to intimidate Vital, and finding little success. Circuit gently put her hands between them and softly pushed against their bare chests.

“Well, maybe if he got some experience with us, he would understand better. I would even be willing to become his first cow.” For a moment Circuit smiled at him, but as Cattle kept scowling her confidence withered. “Of course I would miss your rough and stern touch, but perhaps I could teach him how to properly treat a girl if he’s gentle?”

Cattle took a deep breath as he thought about it. “Fine. He can come with us. However, I will be taking the other two to teach them how women are supposed to behave. And one last thing,” Cattle said as he pushed the rope into Vital’s arms, “tie your friends up first.”

Vital looked down at the rope in his arms, trying to keep his breathing even. Don’t speak, your voice may betray you. Now just go over to Spectrum, put the rope over her, slide the pistol out of its holster, wrap a loop around her arms, take off the safety, and turn! Vital paused before he turned, his eyes fluttering, preparing for what he was about to do. Two minutes. Two minutes, and then my odds of being able to win drop drastically. One last deep breath in, and Vital turned, bringing the pistol to bear on Cattle’s face, only a foot away from the barrel.

“Argh!” Vital screamed as Cattle forced the two shots to go wide by gripping Vital’s hand in an attempt to crush it. He then pulled Vital in close, putting a hand under the brown man’s arm before flipping him over Cattle’s head.

“Well this is disappointing. Circuit, tie up his friends. I’ll take care of this idiot.” Cattle attempted to stomp down on Vital, but he rolled to the side, barely getting up as he watched him. Vital kept his eyes open as Cattle kept up a barrage of strikes upon him. Vital tried throwing a punch back, but Cattle spun around him and spread his wings in a blow that sent Vital to the ground.

Vital felt a spasm in of pain, forcing his eyes to stay open, even against the tears building around them. Glancing around himself, he spotted his primer, and his dagger. Cattle picked up Vital in a bear hug, Vital straining against his arms. One minute Vital, time for the counterattack. Vital jammed the primer into Cattle’s side before hitting the button and holding it. The effect was immediate as the magic surged into skin to calm the nerves. Normally this was used with medgel to allow for regeneration and healing. However, when no medgel was there and applied in length, the magic worked similar to a low power taser. As Cattle’s body started to shake, he dropped Vital, only to be quickly hit by an uppercut.

“All right, let’s play kid.” Cattle unfolded his wings and beat Vital down as he took to the skies. Cattle flew after Vital as he started running, tackling him to the ground. Cattle was just about to throw Vital the young man brought the pistol up towards Cattle.. Cattle felt his heart almost pause.

However, it wasn’t because of the gun. No, it was due to the lightning bolts that flew past the two, one striking Vital’s right arm. His right hand opened up as Vital’s nerves burned and an arc of lightning from Vital’s arm blasted the two away from each other, the hair on Cattle’s chest burning. The pegasi smiled though as Vital grabbed his right arm, trying to get it to move.

“Lightning’s a bitch, isn’t she? Don’t worry, you won’t have to deal with the paralysis for long.”

Vital simply stared at Cattle as he kept attempting to get the arm to move again. Wait, I have a fight to win, this can wait. Besides, I should be used to losing my arm at this point. Vital brought his arm up to block Cattle’s attack when he charged at him, but then Vital forgot what he was doing. Two minutes and thirty-seven seconds after the fight had begun, Vital finally blinked.

Waiting within the darkness were the blue eyes of his pseudo mother, and the times he had fought her in his seven year stay in Canterlot. Beyond those were his worst memories, waiting for the shock and pain of the combat to get to him, allow him to be distracted so that they could try to take over his reality. Each time it broke Vital’s focus, forced him out of the rhythm of the fight and his opponent. With this, Vital lost his advantage.

Whoomph

Vital’s eyes snapped back open as Cattle’s fist was shoved into his gut. Cattle followed up by beating into Vital’s defense, blows landing all over the poor man’s body. “Last chance to join or,” Cattle finally grabbed Vital by the neck and pressed him against a wall, “die.”

Vital gargled out a response, an action that got Cattle to slam him back into the wall. Vital then kicked off the wall and brought his feet into Cattle’s face. Vital slammed into the ground, unable to catch himself with only one hand. Gasping for a breath, Vital sat there for a moment to try and collect his thoughts. A wave of electricity passed by him getting him to turn away for a moment, spotting Spectrum dodging Circuit’s attacks. She needs your help Vital, get it together.

Cattle came back, attempting to kick Vital in the head. Vital hopped to his feet, his body protesting as he squeezed his eyes shut, pushing the memories out of the way until he found the one he needed. Vital’s left hand pulled started to search on the mechanical arm for the restart button, while duck, dodging, and diving to get away from Cattle’s attack. “Get back here kid!”

“Fine, come get me.”

Cattle hesitated. The brown man was holding his paralyzed arm, trying once more to get it working. He seemed different now. He was simply standing there. There was no fear on the young man’s face. None of the respect Cattle think he so rightly deserved. The cocky bastard thinks he can beat me? And to think I was going to let him enjoy one of my harem! Cattle roared in anger as his veins bulged in his face. Spittle flew as Cattle started running at Vital, charging at the young man who was now his enemy.

Vital watched the lumbering gait, taking in nuances that were within the older man’s movements, memorizing them as he had tried before. Vital stepped to the side as Cattle’s right shoulder cocked back for a forward punch. Cattle swung his left arm around, and Vital ducked underneath before rising behind the older man’s back. Vital clicked the reset button on his right arm, freeing it from the forced shutdown, and wrapped it forward as he gripped Cattle’s jaw. Vital then put his left palm on the back of Cattle’s head, and pushed.

The snap that came was deafening within Vital’s ears. He almost fell as Cattle became much heavier in his hands. Ice flooded Vital’s veins, numbing his hands as he slowly lowered the man to the ground, waiting for him to blink, to move, to do something. Vital slowly put two fingers against the man’s throat, his mouth becoming dry as his hand touched the man. No pulse. Why is there no pulse? Vital stared at his hands as tears started to fall upon them.

Once upon a time they were meant to bring relief to those in pain, to lift the spirits of the weak, and to bring sleep to those who needed an escape from reality. As I aged they were used for pleasure, pleasure I was overjoyed to give as it showed how much trust these lonely women would put in me. However, after the incident, they changed. They no longer touched flesh, soft or otherwise. However, they still gave hope to people. Hope that the one who led them was strong and dependable. They still soothed one’s worries and sought to fix what was broken. But now they have broken. They have become that which they once prevented.

“Help me! Please, save me!”

Vital glanced in the direction he thought he’d heard the noise come from. That is if I didn’t just imagine it. Vital numbly watched as Spectrum threw the Circuit onto the ground before slamming a foot down into her gut. Ignored the increasingly desperate screams as Spectrum drove the boot in harder. However, as Spectrum raised her hand, he was momentarily blinded by the sun bouncing off the object within her hand. Vital’s eyes widened as Spectrum’s smile widened, her eyes twitching.

Vital screamed, “Spectrum, stop!”

======++++++======

“Circuit, tie up his friends.”

Circuit looked down, sighing inwardly to herself. “Okay. I’ll get right on it.” Circuit felt tears sting her eyes she turned away without Cattle having even acknowledged her. Not that it’s anything new. I don’t matter and I’m okay with that because I’m alive. Circuit rubbed at her eyes as she picked up the rope next to the blue woman. That is, before Spectrum grabbed herm causing her to fall. “Ack!”

“Who the fuck are you?” Spectrum clutched at the girl’s foot as her body tried to wake up. However, Spectrum had just enough functioning nerve control to keep the girl on the ground. Circuit tried kicking Spectrum in the face but the grip almost felt like it was going to break her ankle. Circuit’s horn glowed ice gray as she brought her hand down and rubbed Spectrum’s rainbow hair.

Good, just enough for a good sized charge. Collect, Sparks of electricity started winding around Circuit’s hand as she gathered her magic, amplify, a ball of electricity burst into life in her palm, and discharge! The ball became a bolt as it struck Spectrum in the spine. Her hand opened as the rest of her spasmed on the ground, the shock taking control away from her again. Circuit gripped her head for a moment before crawling away. However, the single shock put Spectrum’s system back in check after the spasm.

Spectrum stood up, reaching for her sword. Glancing to her right she saw Silence who was laying still and facing away from Spectrum. “Silence, get up.”

Circuit glanced over at the other body and bit into her lip. “Maybe I could wake her up? We don’t have to be enemies.”

Spectrum looked back at the girl and could tell the panic in Circuit’s face, the twitching of her hands. She will backstab you the first chance she gets. Sorry bitch, but I learned this lesson long ago. Spectrum charged forward as her blade came to life. Circuit raised her hands to her head as Spectrum brought a murderous downstroke upon the girl.

Spectrum felt her sword get yanked out of her grip violently as it glowed gray. It shut off as it slammed into a part of the dog that was glowing gray itself. Spectrum turned back to the girl in front of her and saw that she had started running towards Silence. “Get back here!”

Circuit’s magnetism trick had bought her a little bit of time, but it had come with a splitting headache. I keep telling Cattle to stop having me use my magic like this. I just don’t have enough skill. I just hope I can fight with whatever charge is left in this girl’s body.

Circuit slid next to the yellow woman as she put her hands onto Silence. Immediately Circuit felt a surge of energy as she drained Silence of the electricity that was running through her. “This… this will work.”

Spectrum jumped at the girl as she screamed, “Don’t you touch-” A wave of electricity came off of Circuit that blew Spectrum back. However, that only served to anger Spectrum as she started standing back up. Circuit glanced down and closed her eyes. I’m sorry. I swear I didn’t mean to cause this. However, since you aren’t going to need it, I’ll take it. Circuit felt a rush of energy fill her as she started taking the electrical synapses left in Silence’s brain, the few she could find.

“I will kill you!” Spectrum started running at Circuit as electricity started to collect around her.

I have spent two years of my life under a horrible and disgusting man. I am not going to die, not yet! Circuit released the storm building within her. Immediately, one of the bolts caught Spectrum in the gut, throwing her to the ground. Circuit didn’t have any control though as she continued to release her stored electricity. Her head was splitting as her magic continued to rage out of control. I need to ground myself before I have a stroke or something. Wait, I know! Circuit slammed her hands down onto Silence and the last bolt blasted herself back as the body jumped.

Circuit stood up on shaking legs. She was weak and her vision was blurring, but she was still alive. It’s a shame I had to kill those two. It would have been nice to have other girls around- “Gack!” Circuit went into the air as Spectrum kneed her in the side. Circuit couldn’t react as Spectrum grabbed her wrist and threw her onto the ground. Spectrum followed with a stomp onto the ground that Circuit rolled out of.

“You! Little! Bitch!” Spectrum ran at the gray girl again and raised her fist. Circuit did all she could and dove into Spectrum’s legs, causing them both to fall. Circuit stood up and tried to focus through the pain and nausea, but quickly saw Spectrum standing and smiling. No. She has to be at least hurt. I’ve given her all I can, but- but I still am going to die?

Spectrum walked slowly towards the girl as she collapsed against the ground. She was sobbing on the cobblestone as Spectrum drew steadily closer and closer. However, only a foot away, Circuit screamed, “No!”

Spectrum backpedaled as electricity jumped around her, but then consolidated to come back to Circuit. Circuit stayed kneeling on the ground, and with each lightning bolt she sent they grew weaker and weaker. Because of the need to direct the lightning through her hands, Spectrum easily dodged each bolt as it came her way, but the electricity that filled the air around Circuit with each bolt forced Spectrum to keep her distance. On the tenth strike, Circuit suddenly stopped and collapsed back onto the ground.

Spectrum watched as the the electricity faded as the girl collapsed backwards, twitching. Spectrum stood over the body for a moment or two, spinning Vital’s knife in her hands as she tried to figure out whether or not the girl was dead. There is plenty of blood coming out of her eyes to make it possible. When Circuit opened her eyes, Spectrum reached down and yanked her into a kneeling position by her hair.

Circuit tried to see someway to save herself and saw Vital kneeling over Cattle’s body. Cattle’s dead body. Circuit tried to get out of Spectrum’s grip as she screamed, “Help me! Please, save me!”

“Spectrum, stop!”

Spectrum glanced over, her arm twitching in anticipation. “Vital, what the fuck is going on and why would you want this girl alive?”

Vital took a deep breath in as he tried to calm himself. He was almost to the point of passing out from exhaustion, and the memories swarming the edges of his eyes didn’t help. “Be- because it wasn’t her choice. She was just his pawn, right?”

Circuit immediately started shaking her head frantically, only to stop as the knife was pressed against her throat. Spectrum continued to glare at Vital as she shouted, “She will kill us the first chance she gets! I will not allow any of us to die by this girl’s magic!”

“She was this man’s slave. I doubt vengeance is the first thing on her mind. Spectrum, we don’t have the right to decide this. Death should only come,” Vital faltered before balling his hands into fists, “if every other option has been used. We can still give her the chance to be free and have a choice.”

“Except she killed Silence!” Spectrum felt tears start rolling down her face, and Circuit started squirming as the blade started shaking.

Vital grew very silent as he walked over to the still body of Silence. he knelt down next to her and put two fingers against her throat, a spasm of pain ran through him as Cattle’s face replaced Silence’s for a moment. Silence still had a heartbeat though, but that gave Vital little comfort as he looked at the blood that went from Silence’s nose down to her collarbone. He wrapped his arms underneath her and started walking towards Spectrum.

“Is she alive?”

Circuit cleared her throat as she heard the tears in Spectrum’s voice. Circuit knew, just as Vital did, that Silence’s fate decided hers. Vital finally turned to Spectrum as he approached them. “She is alive, but I am unsure as to whether or not she will stay that way.” Vital looked down at Circuit. “I’m sorry.”

Circuit couldn’t even get out a reply before Spectrum’s dagger plunged into her stomach. A second stab sent even more pain as she was dropped onto the ground and Spectrum walked along with Vital. Circuit watched as they walked away, barely whispering, “Help me.”

“Are you having fun?”

Circuit barely turned to look at the mech that was standing behind her. It was missing most of it’s chest cavity, but it was unlike any other mech that she had seen. It had a slender steel frame, exact replicas for human appendages, and a soft pink glow in it’s eyes. Circuit started crying as she begged, “Please help me. Please, I don’t want to die.”

“Are you having fun?”

“No, but if you saved me maybe-”

The mech raised one of it’s hands, the side of it gleaming like that of a sword in the setting sunlight. “Then allow me to put you out of your misery.”

Spectrum and Vital were too far away and too busy looking for shelter to hear Circuit Breaker’s final scream.

Author's Note

I am sorry everyone, but as of right now, this story is on hiatus. I am at a point where I wish to write, but unfortunately this is not one of the many projects I want to work on. I do enjoy the story, and I love the world I am building, but I am at a point in this story that I am unwilling to trudge through at the moment, and my pledge to put out high quality stories will not allow me to write this story as I am with it. I have been rewriting large chunks of the chapters because I either haven’t liked how I wrote them once, or worse, just didn’t like the angle. Hopefully given some time and space, Odyssey will be revived and finished. However, for now, this is where I say goodbye.