Fallout Equestria: Operation 6011

Operation 6011 chapter 8

The Storm

"They say rain is the heavens weeping for the troubles of those that reside below."

"I HATE THIS WEATHER!!!!" I cried under my dripping wet mane. The rain was romantic at first. But now, I wasn't kissing the love of my life, and I was freezing. Not only that, I was SOAKED. Apparently this armor was bullet proof, but not waterproof. It made the journey back horrifyingly miserable.

"It's not so bad." I gave the cute filly in my waterproof saddlebags, a cold and "do want to see how bad?" look. She just giggled, and resumed hiding in my bags.

Soundwave looked downcast, partly due to the fact that he had to stow away his non-water resistant headphones. He minus his music equals one unhappy camper.

Red seemed just fine, even if he had given his duster to Polaris to keep her warm. I'm pretty sure he was freezing his tail off, just too cool to show it.

Thunder got look out duty. Poor guy, I'm sure he was just as miserable as the rest of us.

By the rest of us, I mean everypony but Gumdrop. Lucky bastard.

I signed heavily. At least we haven't been shot at ye- a bullet whizzing by my head interrupted my thought, as the universe yet again decided to throw shit at my face. As if on cue a battle cry could be heard.

"FOR THE BROTHERHOOD!!!"

What the hell? Brotherhood? Great probably another group of ponies who want me dead.

Everypony had gone into combat mode, fighting off the ambush. The problem was, there was A LOT of them and A LITTLE of us. Also I'm pretty sure having machine guns, and rocket launchers qualified as "well armed."

Me, recognizing that we might be outmatched, decided to yell, "RUN!!!!"

I know. Not exactly the bravest and best thing to yell, but at that moment it seemed like the best damned idea in the world. Hey, you try fighting tons of ponies armed to the teeth in the middle of a big storm. It ain't easy.

So that's what we did. We ran. They followed. So scratch that, we fought while we ran.

Bullets flew by my head as we fled. Why is there suddenly so many ponies after my head? I have no idea, but we need to do something soon or we won't make it.

Thunder rumbled overhead, and lightning danced across the sky. The rain felt heavy on my wings as I dodged around in the air. My mind was blanking. What do we do? Something!! Come on!! I can't fail now!!

A rocket rushed past me and exploded in midair. Fortunately it was too far away to have any effect. I could see my friends struggling to not get blown apart as well.  I drew Justice and fired a few shots at our pursuers. I was rewarded with two kills, but that didn't do anything to deter our foes. Another rocket exploded nearby, causing me to nearly lose control. My friends looked weary. Wait, is Red limping? Also I don't think a red spot on Soundwave is a good thing. This was starting to look grim.

No!!! I can't die! I need to find out about Operation 6011!! I have to be able to stand against it all. I have to... to... to....

Be awesome.

"Hey Lightning!! What do we do?" I heard Rainbow Dash yell with a hint of worry in her voice.

I looked at her. She looked worried, SCARED. I saw past her. A city ruin.

"THERE!!" I pointed a hoof after dodging another explosive.

They all looked and understood right away. Out here we were vulnerable. But in the ruin, we can form a plan, and possibly get out of the weather. But most importantly, we have a chance.

We sped towards the beacon of hope as fast as our limbs could take us.

            *** *** ***

"Grenade!!!" Soundwave cried, as he tackled me to the ground. A second later an explosion erupted five feet away from were I used to be.

"You okay?"

"Yea." We got up, and I fired a couple rounds from Justice. I didn't hit anything, but I did succeed in making them take cover.

Ugh, I wish I could get into the air, but they immediately start raining fire down on me the second I do and I kinda value my life.

This is ridiculous. Does the universe really hate me this much?

I got my response in the form of a missile blowing up near me, throwing me off my hooves. I landed on the hard ground with a thud.

The ruins were just that. Ruins. We had set up shop in a destroyed, get this, shop. But we aren't trying to survive a megaspell so I'm sure we can fare better than the poor bastards that we found here. I glanced down at the bite mark on my left foreleg in memory of them. Dead ponies are tough. They were set up around the shop, behind various ruined carriages and wagons.

I heard a crack, and one of the missile launcher pony's head exploded. Looks like Red's set up. Either that or thunder makes pony's heads explode.  Another loud bang and a rifle pony flew backwards with a hole in her chest.

Soundwave's Wubbinator, sounded over and over again. Signaling each time, that somepony was being blasted.

Bubblegum fired off her SMG. She wasn't hitting much, seeing it was a close range one. But at the very least, she was making them take cover.

Gumdrop, much to my protest, was passing out ammo. Rainbow was playing, "shoot the inetheral pegasus mare" with our combatants.

Thunder fired a volley of missiles. All them hit their target, except one. Judging from the shrill screams that erupted from the building it connected with, this was going to get a bit chaotic. Undead ponies poured out of the building, attacking everypony in sight. Including us.

I hate you universe.

          *** *** ***

We all sat around the campfire. Music quietly played from Soundwave's portable stereo. We weren't out of the clear yet, I still don't know how we managed to lose them. The fight in the ruins was tough, but nothing I couldn't handle.

What? Okay fine you got me. I may have been severely injured a couple times and my friends had to save me. Okay three times!! Satisfied? Yes?Moving on now.

The radio interrupted the song that was playing, but no pony really cared seeing as one, we were tired and worn out. Two, it was DJ-Pon3.

"Hi there wastelanders!! It's the voice of truth here, DJ-Pon3!! Now y'all know that Pegasus mare that took out that slaver camp?"

We all listened intently after that point. It was about us after all. Well me, but hay, I can't have ALL the credit.

"Well she's at it again!! I just got reports, that the Raider stronghold over by Dusty Saddle, has been taken down!! Y'all wanna know the best part? She blew it up!! She didn't just kill the raiders, she completely wiped it off the map! It's like nothin' can stop this mare! Good job gal, keep up the good work."

We all hoof bumped, and gave eachother joyful looks. What else would we do for a job well done? We are a team, and we have been doing one hell of a job cleaning up this shithole called the wasteland. At least by my reckoning.

"Now time for the wasteland tip of the day! Y'all know how everypony likes to find loot, but sometimes ya gotta be careful when ya pickin a lock. Some boxes are booby trapped! It only takes one bad box to take ya to the afterlife. So be careful, and check the lid before ya pick the tin! It could just save your life. Now on to our next song by sweetie bell!"

However the music instead faded to whatever Soundwave was playing.  The news of our victory did lighten the mood, but it was somewhat noticeable. We barely made it. Not only that, it was only a matter of time  until they found us again.

I stared out over the ruins. We had chosen a strangely intact tower as our encampment area. I could spy the "Brotherhood" forces searching the ruins below. Luckily they were about a mile or two away so we were safe here. For now.

             *** *** ***

I shivered a little. It was freezing. Curse you weather and nighttime. The combination of the two resulted in it being ice cold. Sure we pegesai are resistant to low temperatures (it gets colder the higher altitude you go), but the wasteland doesn't to seem to care one bit about that and makes it deathly cold anyways. Everypony had turned in and it was my turn for look out duty.

I hate how I'm always first. We need to think of a different way to choose than drawing straws. I have terrible luck.

I turned my gaze to my annoyingly complex pipbuck. I fiddled with it for a bit, until I finally got the time. Eleven pm. Great. My shift isn't over for another hour.

Ugh! This wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so boring!! Okay maybe it is a good thing that it is very boring, but that doesn't dampen my hatred for the job. I am the type of pony who doesn't like being in the same place for too long. I have to always be on the move.

I shivered again. Why the cold?

"Cold?"

I glanced up at Soundwave. He wore a small smile.

"Cold? Nah, we pegisai are resistant to cold." He sat down next to me with a look that said, "Surrre you are."

"Okay fine," I relented, "I may be a little cold." I gave him little grin.

"Besides," I curled one of my wings around him. "Your turn isn't for another hour." He was shivering. I could tell now that I had my wing around him.

Wanna hear a secret? Okay, don't tell anypony. Well, the wings on a pegasus are the most sensitive parts of our body. This is because we  need to be able to detect minor changes in wind speed and direction. That goes double for the athletic types, like me. Us athletic types have honed in on the senses in our wings and can feel the slightest changes in windspeed/direction, more so than most pegisai. So when I had my wing around Soundwave, I could feel his lungs inhale and exhale, his every heartbeat, his temperature, each individual shiver, all the way down to the slightest changes in his body. Cool huh?

"Also you are freezing." I poked him for effect causing him to squirm a bit. "So why did you drag yourself out of your warm bed (well actually they were sleeping bags) to come out and see me?" I was feeling pretty playful mostly because of my immense boredom.

He caught on to that, and nickered.

"I just thought you would get all bored and lonely without me." he gave me a smirk, " So I decided to keep you company." I squeezed him tighter, and smiled.

"Thanks so much!" A devilish look appeared on my face as an idea struck me. "Wanna go prank my brother?"

He stared at me for a second, then a smile appeared on his face.

"You know I do."

             *** *** ***

I shook the darkness from my vision as I slowly opened my eyes.

What happened?

I was laying in a pile of rock and cement, the cold rain washing over me.

I remember me and Soundwave were pranking Thunder, then there was this explosion and a fight. Then everything went black after that. Wait. If I am alone now....

I felt a surge of adrenaline course through me. They took them!! Soundwave, Polaris, Red, all of them!!!

I shot into the air and started frantically looking for signs of where they went.

"Lightning!"

I spun around to spy Rainbow Dash heading towards me.

"RAINBOW!!!"

I charged her and swept her up in a big hug. I had never been so happy to see that Colorful mare in all my life. I released her before she could respond and gave her a serious look.

"PLEASE tell me you saw where they went with our friends!!"

I felt a mix of emotions. Sadness, fear, panic, but most of all.

Rage.

Rage burned within me hotter than the fires of hell. My eyes glowed a fiery red.

"Lightning.... You have that look again." Rainbow wore a concerned look. A look of realization crossed my face.

"Oh no..."

The red glow faded from my eyes, as a horrified look took place on my face.

Rainbow touched my shoulder comfortingly and gave me a confident smile.

"Lightning. It will be okay. We will get them back." She didn't even bother to ask if I was okay, because we both knew the answer to that question. I was far from it. But then again. I'm pretty sure, being "okay" has taken on a new meaning in the wasteland.

I let out a sigh, and closed my eyes.

"Okay. Well let's find our friends."

              *** *** ***

Sometimes, I think I'm cursed. Really, I do. I'm cursed to have a crappy life. I make theses wonderful friendships just for them to get killed. Now, I have this terrible feeling in my gut that my companions are going to die.

Me and Rainbow had been looking for days. Each hour just made me feel more depressed. The storm still raged, it seemed to get worse with each passing day.

We trudged on, as the storm whipped and bashed at us. We had to walk, mostly due to the fact that these were no conditions for flying.

Why? Why did the universe hate my guts?

Look it's Lightning! We've taken half of her cutie marks, her parents, and the most loving pony she had ever known. You know what would be fun? Let's take away her friends and her coltfriend and her brother, then shove her in a ridiculously huge storm.

Okay so I may be a bit angry at how the world has been treating me lately, who wouldn't be?

I heard a shout, then a crudely made hatchet flew by my head. I looked to my left, to spy three ponies that wore leathery, black, spikey armor.

Raiders. They did NOT just attack me while I'm on a quest for my friends.

I sprung into action charging the one with a rusty pistol trying to shoot Rainbow, not fully grasping the idea that she is intangible to all but me.

The other two swung at me with terribly made sledgehammers, I jumped over them and headbutted rusty pistol in the face.

Sledge hammer one swung at me, as I brought rusty pistol in between me and the hammer. A crunching sound was followed by rusty's scream of pain. The rain mixed well with the blood he coughed up.

Normally I would have winced, but I was in no mood for morals. All I knew was these ponies were bad, and were between me and those I cared for. That was enough for me. The tiny little flames were now little sparks of electricity, as I let out may anger with every buck, counter, and head butt.

I turned to finish rusty off when sledge hammer two's hammer connected with my left side. My armor was designed for bullet damage, not melee damage. So when I heard crack, my vision blurred, and I coughed up some blood; I knew that something was broken.

I quickly got up and dodged sledge hammer one's swing. My ribs protested, and I spit out another wad of blood. Enough of this. I drew Justice and fired directly into the head of sledge hammer one, effectively blowing half his head off. Enraged, sledgehammer two swung at me, I moved to fire at him next. However my side once again slowed me, causing me to fire as his hammer connected with my left side. My bullet broke a big hole in the center of his face, my side erupted in fiery pain shooting across my body.

I screamed out on pain, as my vision fuzzed. I coughed up another batch of blood, the residue mixing with the rain washing down my face. This time my vision preferred to continue fuzzing and clearing, over and over again. Not only that, my mouth tasted like copper.

I slowly got up, causing more pain to erupt from my shattered ribs. I coughed more blood, and picked up my blood covered Justice. I limped over to the last raider, who struggled for breath.

He looked up at me and said.

"Fuck you."

The shot rang out across the waste, the gun kicked from my mouth, because I was too weak to hold it. His head exploded, some of the blood splattering against my combat armor.

My breaths felt ragged and painful. The rain felt colder than before. My mouth had a metallic taste in it. I heard a voice. It sounded like Rainbow's. I took a step forward and collapsed on the ground. The cyan pegasus's fuzzy worried face filled my vision.

Why so worried Rainbow? Another shot of pain caused me to cough up more of the crimson, copper flavored, fluid. I feel fine. My vision darkened as Rainbow shook me yelling something I couldn't understand.

In fact, I don't feel anything at all.

The darkness overtook me, as I faded to unconsciousness.

             *** *** ***

"Heeyyy meat bag....."

Meat bag isn't here right now try again later.

"Wake up meat bag..."

"Will you stop calling her meat bag, ya jar head?"

Rainbow? Who are you talking to? He sounds kinda..... metallic.

"I agree with my pal RD here, stop calling her that."

Okay, I might want to get up. This is getting confusing.

I slowly opened my eyes, and groaned. My side burned, but not as bad as before.

"Hey look she is awake!"

My vision began to clear, revealing Rainbow and some weird robot that had a glass with something inside it atop it's head. Wait, is that a brain?

"What the fuck?"

They looked at me and Rainbow laughed.

"Looks like she's okay."

"Yea the mea-"Rainbow glared at him."looks like she is."

The robot then changed into a white, unicorn mare, with a medium length mane that was blue with light blue streaks in it. The mane was pretty messy, so was her short tail. She wore a pair of dark blue sunglasses that seemed to be in the shape of her eyes.

"Hi I'm Vinyl."

She sounded like a pony too, except for the fact her voice sounded slightly metallic.

I just stared at her in amazement. What the hell just happened? How did that robot just turn into a pony? Also, how the hell did I get here? Last I checked, I was dying in the middle of nowhere.

"Umm.... hi. How...." I was lucky I was even able to talk at that moment, because for the most part, I was at a loss for words.

Vinyl gave me confused look, then laughed.

"Oh, I share this body with this stupid program." Well that's one question down, even if it just gave me more questions.

She flickered then reverted back to a machine.

"I am not stupid, meat bag!"

This is just too weird, time for intervention.

I looked at Rainbow, who just shrugged. I face-hoofed, as the two argued. Well more like, she just antagonized him and he reacted.

"Hey! You guys never told me how you switched like that." I arched an eyebrow. Vinyl gave me a look that I could only describe as "derp."

"Oh. I forgot about that." She rubbed the back of her head with a hoof, and laughed awkwardly.

"Well...." I gave her an expectant look.

Why do I feel like a mother?

"Well none of us remember."

She changed into the robot again.

"Yea one day I activate with this meat bag in my systems. Now I'm stuck with her. You know what the worst part is?"

This has left weird town and joined my wtf list. I shook my head in response.

"She is always being annoying, and doing stupid stuff." He abruptly transformed back into Vinyl.

"It isn't stupid, it is fun. Something that you aren't. Did you know that he takes everything way too seriously?"

Wow. A living embodiment of a juxtaposition. At any rate,

"STOP!"

She looked at me in surprise. Rainbow just watched on in amusement. Wow. She's enjoying this. Doesn't matter I feel a rant coming on.

" I have just woken up after nearly dying of broken ribs and Celestia knows what else. I have before me, my best friend, and a robot who is also a pony. I am confused, my side burns, and I have a million questions! So stop fighting and answer them!!"

I wore a serious look. A small smile appeared on her face.

"Damn girl, you got spunk."

               *** *** ***

A long story later, and I learned that I was at Vinyl's home. The robot form's name was Doctor. So Vinyl/Doctor's home. Let's just stick to Vinyl right now. I like her better than Doctor. So, get this, Rainbow let them know of my condition and brought them to me. Apparently Doctor knew quite a lot about medicine. I had a few broken ribs, and  a couple of injured organs. I now have a few cracked ribs. I am supposedly going to make a full recovery in a few days.

"....so now I have to find, and save, them."

Rainbow remained silent, and Vinyl wore a surprised look on her face, as I finished my story.

"Wow. That is amazing." She looked very impressed, and amazed.

I gave her a confused look.

"What is?"

She gave me a smile.

"What you've done!!! A whole slaver camp, and a major raider base!! Not to mention the giant radscorpion. You are amazing!"

That side blinded me. I've never actually thought about my accomplishments. But that will have to wait, I need to find my friends and save them.

"Well thanks. But I gotta go. Now that I can go, I need to go. I can't stay, while my friends are in danger."

I turned to leave, when Vinyl blocked my path.

"Oh no, you are in no condition to go out in that storm again."

I shook off my surprise and gave her a serious look.

"I don't have time to stay, my friends are in trouble, and I have to save them."

Vinyl gave me a serious look. But there was something different about her look. It gave an impression of experience, like she knew how I felt. She sighed.

"Fine."

Rainbow looked at her in shock.

"WHAT!?!?"

"She is going to go no matter what. I guess I just hoped I could change your mind. You can go, but I have one condition." she gave me a small smile.

"What is it?" I arched an eyebrow.

"I go with you."

The Doctor took over.

"You are kidding me! I am not going with this meat bag!"

Vinyl regained control.

"We are going with her. I have to do this. Do you have anything better to do?"

Doctor didn't resurface, so I think we got our answer. I just stood there with a look of surprise. Now I know that usually the hero is supposed to be humble, and refuse, but to be frank I really could use the help. Not only that, I wanted to get out as fast as possible. Also Rainbow really wanted them to join us. I could tell by the "please..." look she was giving me.

"Okay," I said, "can we go now."

"Not yet. You need at least to rest up till tomorrow." Vinyl's look changed to serious.

"But-"

"Lightning...." I turned to Rainbow, who wore a completely new look. This one was sad.

"I almost lost you. I'm not going to risk losing you again."

"Besides," Vinyl interjected," what good will it be to find them and not be able to save them?"

Fuck.

They both had valid points.

I sighed, defeated.

"Fine. But tomorrow, we leave."

Vinyl smiled.

"Okay."

                  *** *** ***

I laid on my back, staring at the ceiling. I had tried many times to sleep, but I just couldn't sleep. In fact I hadn't slept since they took my companions. The only "sleep" I've gotten was when I blacked out from internal injuries.

I just couldn't stop thinking about them. I turned my gaze to the sleeping form of the rainbow maned pegasus next to me.

You know, despite all her athletic ability, and fierce determination, she looks adorable when she sleeps. It makes me wonder, who did she love? I didn't come from nowhere.

Who ever it was, they were really lucky.

"Can't sleep?"

I looked over at Vinyl, then returned to my staring at the ceiling.

"I'll take that as a yes."

I sighed.

"I can't stop thinking about them."

A frown found its way on to her face.

"I know how it feels. When Octy..." I glanced over at her. She looked so sad. Then she gave me a weak smile. "Here is an idea. Try thinking that your friends would want you to get some rest. It helped me a lot."

It actually sounded like a good idea.

I stared at the wall, and thought that with all my strength (mentally). But try as I might, I couldn't go to sleep.

"It's not working." she chuckled. I looked over at her with a puzzled expression.

"What's so funny?"

"Well I just thought that isn't ironic that after all you've done, you get taken down by three inexperienced raiders?" She stifled another laugh.

"Actually," I replied, "that is pretty funny. Now that I think about it." We both began to laugh, at the irony of me almost dying to three raiders.

I know right? I almost die, and we laugh about it. I need to go see a psychologist, because I don't think that's normal. At least for somepony who doesn't live in a irradiated wasteland.

I turned my gaze back to the sleeping pegasus mare.

"She was worried you know."

I gave her a small smile.

"I know, she tries to hide it and act tough, but I can tell."

Her face returned to it's former seriousness.

"You don't get it, when she came to us, she was frantic. She refused to leave you for even a second, and kept her eyes glued on to you. It was like she was trying to speed up your recovery through pure willpower."

A surprised expression appeared on my face. I returned my gaze to Rainbow.

"I had no idea.."

I truly didn't. I should have known though. I should have seen the signs. She has always been fiercely loyal, and tenacious (except for that one time, and I don't want to go back there). But there have been times, where she is worried or scared, but I never noticed.

A tear ran down my face. As I stared at the sleeping form of my ancestor, which now that I actually paid attention, shivered. She wore a pained expression, which twitched. She was having nightmares. Scratch that, she has always had nightmares, I just didn't pay attention.

"Vinyl...."

"Yes?"

"I found a way to fall asleep."

          ~>~>~>~>~>~>~

I found myself in a huge storm. But something was off. It was all wrong, for one, I was in the clouds, but thunder and lightning came from nowhere. So did the rain. Why didn't she tell me about dreams like this?

Heavy winds pushed and pulled at me. Ugh this no weather for flying. But it looks like I don't have a choice, if I'm going to find Rainbow in this mess then I'm going to have to fly through this mess.

I spread my wings, and I could already feel how chaotic the wind conditions were. I concentrated, and I could feel a slight anomaly in the wind streams. It had to be Rainbow. I shot off in the direction of the difference in air streams.

I fought the winds with all my strength, it was near impossible, no to mention the low visibility.

Come on Rainbow I know you are here somewhere.

I burst through another cloud, to spy several tornadoes. I looked more closely to spy a cyan and rainbow figure, struggling to not be blown away.

"RAINBOW!!!!"

I redoubled my efforts to reach her. Is it just me, or does it get harder to keep control the closer I get to her?

After What seemed like forever, I finally got close enough to hear what she was saying.

"I can't fail her" She muttered to herself.

I struggled as much as I could until I was able to put hoof on her right shoulder.

"Funny, I was thinking the same thing."

I gave her a reassuring smile, as she looked at me. There was a mixture of surprise and fear on her face.

"Hey I know that you don't want to admit that you are scared, but you can't do this alone."

She turned her gaze down.

"I guess I can't hide it now."

The tornadoes were threatening to rip us apart, but I had her now, and I wasn't going to lose her.

"I just wanted to be as strong as you."

I gave her a confused look.

"You can do a sonic rainboom, I can't do that."

She look back at me with tears in her eyes.

"THAT MEANS NOTHING!!! I am dead! Nothing more than a transparent fucking spirit that can't do anything that matters!! You do all these amazing things, and I get to watch!! Just like I got to watch the world fucking tear itself apart! What good is creating a weather control project, when all the Pegasai are just going to abuse it anyways! Now I'm fucking useless!!!! USELESS!!!" She was in full cry mode. There was one thing I knew to do.

I pulled her in for the most caring hug I could muster. As she cried into my shoulder, I rubbed her back.

"You aren't useless, Dash. You keep me going, I need you."

She didn't respond, she just cried and cried. As she cried the storm began to clear, revealing a beautiful sky. We landed on a cloud with a wonderful breeze. Rainbow pulled from me and gave me a tear filled smile.

"Thanks Lightning."

I hugged her again, as tears flowed down my face.

"Your welcome Rainbow."

             ~>~>~>~>~>~>~

I yawned slowly, then opened my eyes allowing light to shine into my eyes. I looked down at the cyan pegasus mare. Her shiver was gone, and she wore a a smile, with a tear rolling down the right side of her face. That drew a tear and a smile from me as well.

"Sweet dreams?"

I turned to a smiling Vinyl.

"You could say that."

       *** *** ***

The rest of the morning was uneventful. Well besides Vinyl's "Dubstep Cleaner." According to her, if you crank the base up to 11 on the machine, it cleans things on a microscopic level. It works, so says my super clean armor and Justice. Doctor hated the machination. I swear she reminds me of Soundwave in a way. I thought back to his "Wubbinator"

Now we stood in the doorway of Vinyl/Doctor's house staring out over the landscape.

Hang on guys, I'm coming.

"Okay team, let's go save our friends!" I cried as we began our quest.

Footnote: Level up!

Quest perk added: Fierce loyalty: you are loyal to your friends to the end. You get a boost to all combative stats, when one of your companions health drops below forty percent.

Perk added: Quick shot: hip fire shots are more accurate, and you aim down the sights faster

(Authors note: SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG!!! I also apologize for how short it is, this is a chapter designed to set up the story for an extra good chapter. So worry not, it will be made up for in the next chapter. I had a lot to do, and I got writers block a couple times. Do you forgive me? I hope so. I have to give thanks to my editor and to Somber. He helped me out a lot, so be sure to read his fic: Project Horizons on EQD!! Also be sure to donate money to him, he could really use it. Also thanks to the writers group for all their support. But most of all thanks to you!! The readers!!! You guys are one the reasons I write, so thanks a lot! Now you all have a really awesome day!

P.S:Be sure to check out my friend's blog, "The end of all worlds". It is very interesting and he needs more OCs.)