Fallout Equestria - A Dreamer's Wake

"I really hate you right now, you know that, right?" I said, clenching my teeth as I looked at my companion, she laughing at me. We bumped into a small nest of Bloatsprites and she suggested that, since I can't use magic with my horn, that I could use my horn as a weapon to quickly take them all out. Now I got a bunch of Bloatsprite meat stuck on my horn and she is refusing to clean it off. "Seriously, clean it off."

"Oh but it looks lovely on you, and it hides that ugly horn of yours pretty well!" I rolled my eyes at that comment, stomping my hoof upon the ground now. "Okay! Fine!" She sigh, chuckling a bit, as her horn glowed in magic, cleaning off my horn finally and throwing the dead buggers onto the ground as we walk.

"Thank you, finally." I muttered a little, barely loud enough for her to hear. She was chuckling softly though, finding this amusing apparently. "Anyways, we have a long road ahead of us Berry, so hopefully, we can get there in time before you know what comes after my flank. I really don't want to work for the flying fuckers. Do you have enough food and water for at least part of the trip? We might be able find something to loot, hopefully a raider's camp." I explained softly, looking at her curiously as the wind gently blow against us, causing her mane to gent sway in a rather lovely motion.

She blinked a little, turning her to head to then quickly back to her bags, going through her stuff. "Yeah. I have plenty for a good bit of time actually, and remind me when we can. We'll have to take a look at you and see why you don't need to eat anymore. Something's not right about that." I shrugged a little. I'm assuming maybe it's because I'm related to a ghoul so don't really care for the answer myself.

As we continued our route, we stumbled upon a small shack, hidden away behind a small handful of dead trees, near the bottom of a mountain actually. Curiously, I decided to go ahead and walk up to the shack, knocking on the door to see if anypony would answer. None came.  I shrugged and gently push open the door, taking a look inside and mumble a little to myself as I've seen a pretty empty shack, saved a door to another room, a bed, and one set of shelves. I went ahead in and walked right up to the shelf, taking a look what's on it. Really, there's a lot of scrap metal, cans, and other useless items laying around. However, two caught my attention. One looked like a small police box from pre-war times and as I took a closer look at it, it was made out of wooden. Somepony probably found them very interesting and carved a replica at some point in time, then was left here. Next to it was a blue box, though the pages were completely burnt out. From the looks of it, not from balefire.

While I was flipping through the burnt pages, trying to find one readable, I heard Berry screamed out and quickly, I turned around seeing her, at the other door now open, staring at a small round object, hanging there. It had some sort of like eye-stalk sticking out the front and seems to be made out of metal, rusted though. "Hey, I think it's just a old rusted helmet! Nothing to be scared of mate!" I said to her, smiling gently as I walked over by her, poking the hanging helmet.

"Well... It just scared me. Why is it hanging there? To scared ponies away! Plus that little stalk thing. Looks like it's just staring into my soul!" I chuckle softly as she explain her fear of the thing and I decided to take it down, putting it onto the bed frame in the room.

"No biggy. It's out of the way now though." I said softly, poking my head into the other room of the shack now, taking a look around and noticing that the room is fully empty but there's a trap door in the middle. Well, at least I think it is. With my perception, I can easily see a possible handle and the outline of the door. Curiously, I pulled it up, and was greeted with a door being opened. Smiling at my victory guess, I took a look down the ladder, seeing that it leads into a hidden basement. "Well mate, maybe you were correct?"

"Really? What's down there? I can't tell." Berry asked, looking down as well though it is pretty dark for her.

"I don't know for sure but I do see some storage boxes and shelves, so something is down here for sure!" I said gently, climbing down the ladder now and jumping onto the floor below, turning on my lamp for Berry as she comes down. "A lot of boxes." I muttered, looking around at the place. After checking through ten boxes, I stopped because all of them was filled with a lot of scrap metal, electronics, and the sort. So instead, I walked over to the workbench in the room, taking a look at the strange object on it. It's a stick of some sort with some sort of gem on it. I recognized the gem as a talisman though, bigger than the usual ones I've seen before. However, I have no idea what it is for. It's a strange dark olive color. Then again, it's probably that color cause it looks like it is off.

Looking to the side though, was a piece of paper. Picking it up, it seem to have a picture of this object, or well of what it is in parts and such. Most of the small words all around the piece as well as below it as been badly scratched at, as it seems the paper went through a lot in the years. However, the big words at the top caught my attention. 'Ponymade Sonic Screwdriver Prototype'. I blinked a few times, reading those words. So this is the thing on the workbench? A prototype though so I highly doubt it'll work. What caught my attention the most is 'Ponymade'. Does this mean that a whole another specie made these things before? Also, what does it even do? Curiously, I picked it, shaking a little, mumbling a little. However, I did notice a little switch the side so I held it down, watching as the dark olive gem glow in a bright, more greenish, color and made a buzzing noise; but that's it. "What is Luna's great flank does this thing suppose to bloody do?" I asked, waving the thing around and seeing no effect.

"Maybe you should keep it? Who knows, we'll probably figured it out?" Berry suggested as I shook my head a little, still waving it around, waiting for an effect.

"Honestly, no. I don't see any purpose of this. I mean, all it does is glow and make a buzzing noise. What good does that do?" I said softly, looking at her as she seem to give me two begging eyes. Shit. I hate saying no to eyes like that. "Argh. Fine. We'll keep it but it'll be in your backpack. I don't want the thing buzzing on me while trying to sneak up on an enemy!" She smiled happily and immediately took it from my hooves, adding it to her bag, while I rolled my eyes.

"Let's get bloody going." i mumbled as I climbed up the ladder, with her right behind me. Once we left the shack, I decided to follow down south, by the mountains. At firstly, I honestly couldn't tell where we are as this is my first time really following a map of Equestria but as I start taking a closer look at the mountains, I mumbled something beneath my breathe, sighing and looking down the ground.

Berry caught on and gently walked up to my side, looking at me curiously. "Something's a matter?" She asked as I just stopped, setting down right there, looking up into the sky, cursing softly to myself as she watched, her right ear perking up. She knows something is up, she sees it on my face. My expression. She sees it clearly as daylight.

"Argh. If you must know, I just realize that my original home, that colony, is nearby. It's in these mountains." I said gently, looking at her then back at the mountains, thinking. Been so long.

When I turned my head back at her, I caught her smiling. Raising an eyebrow, she finally explained. "Then let's go check it! I mean, I'm kinda curious to see where you've came from. Aren't you?" I sigh a little after hearing, growling a little at the idea. "C'mon Storm! Who knows, maybe more of your kind is still alive? Maybe they have a Stable?" I growled more, not liking this idea. "Please?" She ended, once again using those eyes. I really hate her for using those eyes on me again about this.

"Fine." I said under my breathe. "Let's go check out the caves, see what happened, and then get back to our route. Happy now?" I added, looking at her with only one eye as she nodded, smiling happily.

Getting up to the cave entrance wasn't too hard since it wasn't that high up, plus the only wildlife we bumped into was some mutated bull-like creature and mole rats. Was kinda happy about that and a bit surprise. Though I would be having some sort of problem getting up here but once I was up here, there was a problem. The entrance of the cave was gated by some sort of homemade wooden fence, similar to the raider outpost. I growled a little, loading my shotguns now. Time to do some good old fashion shot 'em up instead of beating wildlife to death.

I opened up the front gate, looking to my sides and seeing heads of a variety things on spikes, some are ponies but mostly wildlife. These raiders must not get many ponies, which is understandable. Walking down the path, I turned on my light and looked around, keeping my eyes out for any raiders yet none so far, surprisingly. As I continued walking both the path, going through the guard section of the colony finally, I notice a lot of paths as been blocked off by rocks, ceiling must've collapsed at some point in time. Then again, somepony might've blown the ceiling down too to make this place less of a maze.

Finally though, I've found two raiders moving their way toward me though looks like they were leaving, probably going out hunting. The two are only wielding machetes though. The left one was an earth pony mare while the right one was an unicorn stallion as well. However, instead of normal raider armor I'm use to. Their armor is made out of a Stable 39 jumpsuit with additions to. I guess that the bat ponies here did got a Stable and the bastards raided it at some point in time. The moment they saw me though, they instantly begun rushing at me, just like the raiders before. Do these ponies even think before they act?

Taking my stand, I used my lovely S.A.T.S. once again with my combat shotgun on my side, blasting away once the mare was close enough, however the stallion manage to move to side tackled me, using his magic to thrust his machete down at me, but I was able to jerk my head just in time, kicking him in the crotch, getting him off of me as I quickly readied my gun once again, shooting him down before would be able to tackle once again. Two dead, probably many to go!

Loading shots into my combat shotgun, I moved ahead as Berry stayed a safe distance away, watching. She wasn't a fighter for sure and I'm glad she is staying her distance. As we moved down through the paths, I've noticed more and more lovely raider decoration every, the sound of dripping blood making my shiver a little as we move. Eventually, we found the door to Stable 39, though it was open already, stuck open specifically. It seems the raiders packed a lot of things to keep it from closing. Three raiders specifically are at the entrance, one was looking outside of the Stable, and upon seeing me, he whistled the others, both mares, then charged me. All of them seems to be using machetes, which is strange. Don't any of them have guns of some sort?

I quickly let out the remainder bullets in my combat shotgun into the stallion, accidentally though. Forgot that I didn't had that many bullets left due to the ghouls. So instead, I switch to the Jackson pistol that I had collected from that town, shooting down a mare before she was able to cut my head off in the head three times, then she was down. The other mare manage to get her machete into my chest and was about to pull it off before I tilted my head a little, shooting her in her left eye, then right eye. She went down then but the machete stayed in me as I growled in pain.

Berry quickly got to my side, kneeling down to look at it as I kept my eyes on the door, making sure no more comes out. She slowly took out the machete and I felt my heartbeat pick up a little as I bleed out but it slowed back down once she was able to get her bandage tied around my neck, being held against my chest. "Those machete can go deep! Need to be careful!" She said, sighing softly as I nod. I was still growling in pain though cause damn it hurts a lot more than bullets.

Holding the pistol, keeping it out and loaded. I moved into the Stable now, noticing it is in a very bad broken down state, walls rusted and all. I sigh a little, just looking around the place. I did notice that Luna's mark is sprayed in quite a lot of places, or at least use to be Luna's mark. After many years, it was worn away and looks very awkward now. Most of the doors seem to be non-operational, so we couldn't do too much exploring. I also found a few more raiders, though one at a time. Was able to easily take them down just fine though simply because it was one at a time.

However, moving into the next room was probably a big mistake on my part. Upon entering, I was in the eating hall of the Stable with the Overmare window's up above, and everypony's eyes in the room was set upon me and Berry. I gulped a little, taking a few steps back. There was easily twenty five, probably more, raiders in here, sitting at a variety of tables. All earth ponies and unicorns too. I assumed they were all enjoying their meal until I came in. Most of them looked surprise  though and didn't do anything but a few almost instantly got up, growling a little as they pulled out their machetes from their sides with either mouth or magic.

It only took a split second for the rest to catch on and get up, also moving in now as me and Berry just backed up. They weren't charging like the others did though, I think they really want to have messing with us, since there is no way I can defend from all of them. Especially with my low ammo that I have. However, a noise came from the Overmare's Office, catching everypony's attention and I heard a voice. It sounded deep and bad, like the pony's voice box has rotten away. I already took a guess it might be a ghoul then. "Stand your ground." Were the words. The ponies in the room stopped, backing up a bit but keeping their machetes out.

Then, the door on the far end opened. I'm assuming this door led up into the security's chambers, which from there you can get to Overmare's Office. I'm assuming. Every Stable is probably not the same. The pony who came out of the door was a stallion and ghoul, so I was correct in that aspect. However, I didn't expect him to have a pair of rotting leather wings. His coat, I assumed, was a dark purple color. He no longer have hair for sure but he was wearing a Stable 39 security helmet upon his head, though with added spikes on it. His eyes was glowing a bright blue color.

Slowly, he walked over toward us until finally he was right before us. He was a little taller than me but not by much. Berry was hiding behind me, ducking her head down a little, however he paid no attention to her. His eyes was completely on me. "Well then." He started saying. "It's been a long time. I never expected to see you again, Midnight Storm." I blinked a little. Was he a bat pony from the colony back in the day? What happened? Damn it! Is he even mad at me? I gulped a little.

"I apologize if I don't recognize you but please, go ahead, and tell me. Who are you again?" I asked softly, smiling a little at him as he nodded a little.

"I am not surprise Midnight, due to my rotting form. Name's Night Wing. I was a guard back in the day when we both lived in the colony. Actually, I knew your mother very well." He said softly then added. "She was very upset after you left. Blamed it on herself actually." I didn't believe it honestly.

"I can't believe you on that honestly. My mother never cared much for me. Always disappointed in me. Always sad about what I do." I said, taking a look up at him and nodded a little. He clenched his teeth a little upon that comment.

"She was never disappointed in you. She was disappointed in herself." I raise an eyebrow at that, waiting for him to continue and explain. He caught on. "Hmmm... Do you know much about your father?" He asked though instead of explaining.

I rolled my eyes a little. "That I only spent like five years with him, that he loved me greatly, and that he was taken away because he was a changeling. So what?" However, he shook his head.

"He wasn't your father. Changelings can't sexual reproduce. However, you are correct about a few things of that pony. He did loved you greatly, he was a changeling, and he did thought he was your father. However, that was incorrect." He explained softly. I'm not really buying it honestly. "I could tell you the truth though but I feel you won't believe it from me. However, your mother did wrote a letter to you sometime after you gone. She told me that if she ever passes away, I should give it to you, if you ever returned. I kept it ever since, despite the fact that you would be most likely dead." He explained as I looked at him. I don't believe him so far myself. What about my horn? If I didn't got that from my father, who he is saying isn't a changeling, then how else did I got it?

"I want to see this letter." Was my only words though. I really want to see this so called proof. I know my mother's hoofwriting and I would know if she is telling the truth.

"Right. This way." He said softly, turning around and heading back toward the door. We both followed him, though really it was me following him and Berry following me. He led us up into the Overmare's Office, going behind the main desk and opens a drawer. He pulls out a piece of paper and a memory orb. "While the unicorns were here, building this Stable. I asked them to store a memory of mine in here." Then looks at my horn. "Seeing that you somehow grew a horn of some sort, I'm assuming you might be able to access it. I recommend doing so if you still don't believe the letter." I blinked a little and kinda forgot about that trick. "Here." I gently place the letter onto the desk, closer to me. I picked it up and begun reading it:

Dear Son,

If you are reading this then it means that either Night Wing passed away and somepony went through his stuff or that you are my son. If you are not my son, please pass this on to my son, Midnight Storm, if he is still alive. If you are my son, then please believe me when I say this. Your father was never the stallion you lived with during your first five years. You see, sometime before I was pregnant with you. I was having an affair with, hopefully, the same guard stallion that you are nearby right now; Night Wing.

I really don't know what happened but I grew apart from that other stallion, and kinda glad I did once we've figured out that he was a changeling. However, I still shouldn't have cheated on him as not only I did I betrayed him, I also betrayed myself, my oath, and Princess Luna. I just couldn't help myself on that first night when I saw him. He was walking door to door, investigating missing objects, and just one thing led to another.

And I want to say that I am sorry that I never told you this before son. I should have done when you were old enough but instead, I didn't. I let my own shame got the better of me. Seeing you grew up all those years just sadden me, made me feel bad about myself for what I've done. I believe that, part of the reason why you left, was because of me. If I just told you the truth, let that shame out. You would probably understand why I felt the way I felt. I do love you, miss you so much. I was so proud when you've gotten your cutie mark, ya know. So proud that you were different. That you were so you and you didn't cared about the others' words. I should've done something back then to help you get through all the trouble you went through...

Son, if you ever find a reason to forgive me. Please do so. I know I don't deserve it for the wrong I've done but losing you like I did was just the worse thing that ever happened to me. All I want now is your forgiveness, and to see you once again.

Love, your mother.

I was tearing up reading it. That was my mother's hoofwriting for sure and I really really want to believe it so much right now. But the horn on my head? I don't understand. Don't understand at all. I sigh softly, looking up at Night Wing. "I'm assuming that memory orb houses the memory of you meeting her for the first time?" He nodded softly. "Why did you put it into a memory orb?"

"To relive it." He said softly. "I know you won't be able to do it how I can but memories are still like dreams. As a bat pony, we can still access memory orbs through an alternate route using our own magic. However, you were never good using your own inherent magic. But, with that horn, you have a shortcut. Unicorns can easily access them with a simple small magical spark, unlike us. We need to focus on the orb, connect our mind to it like we do with a lot of our magics." I nodded a little. "So... Do you want to view it? Or shall we start the Q and A finally? I got so many questions to ask you, and I know you have many for me."

I  nodded a little. I do have a lot of questions for him. Like how he became a ghoul. The fate of my home. But I want to see this first, I want to see if it is true. "I'm gonna use your memory orb first though." He nodded a little. "Berry, just sit tight." I said, looking at her. "You can chat with him if you want. You said you were curious about me and my home after all." I added. I knew the basic of memory orbs, having heard about during the war. Sighing a bit, I held the orb up to my horn, focusing my mind on generating a telekinesis spark, just one. The moment it came, everything just seem to swirl away.

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My eyes were opened once again, I was walking through the streets of the resident section of my own, though back when it was 'normal'. It was different and some old ponies I remembered while living here I've noticed walking about but much younger. I felt some sort of suit of armor on me, felt stronger too. Not surprise. Night Wing is probably much stronger than me. He was walking up to a familiar home, the home which I grew up in actually. Knocking on the front door, it opened and there was a younger version of my mother.

I don't know if it was me thinking or me gaining his thoughts but damn she was beautiful. I felt my, his, heartbeat picked up as I looked over her. "Oh. Investigating the missing objects guard?" I felt myself nodding to her question.

"Yes M'am. Rumors traveling that fast?" She nodded a little as she opened up the door a little.

"Well. Come right in then. My husband is out and I was just making some tea for myself. I'll put a little extra in for you." I felt myself nodding as I walked in, looking around the place, then taking a seat. After a few minutes, she came back holding a tray and pouring some tea for herself and me (him). I took a sip and it was a rather sweet and amazing taste actually! Or was that me experiencing his taste buds? "So what kind of questions do you have Sir?" My mother finally asked, after sitting down.

"Oh." I felt myself saying. "Well, mind if I ask first. How do you learn to make this?" He smiled, holding up the cup of tea between his hooves as she smiled.

"Oh. It's a family recipe. Passed down from my mother and onward. It's a secret though!" She winked, smiling softly as I felt my eyes, slowly moving down her body but then back up at her face.

"Ah. That's respectable M'am. Right. Down to business now." He said softly then quickly went on. "So, have you seen any suspicious activity as of late?" She shook her head.

"No Sir. Everything seems to be the same as it always have been." She answered softly.

He nodded. "Hm. Well, once again, gotta skip a hoofful of questions. Right. Are you missing an objects?" She shook her head. "That's good, then he, or she, hadn't hit here, yet." I added, I mean he added. I really need to make up my mind on this! These memory orbs are a pain to go through like this! I love just having the memory slammed into my head!

"Anymore Sir?" She asked afterwords as he sigh softly.

"No M'am. If you hadn't seen anything suspicious and everything is fine. There is no possible way you would have any information that can help us." He said to my mother as he sat there, holding the tea.

"Oh. Well I guess you'll have to be going then? I'm sorry I can't be of any help." She replied, taking a sip of her drink as she looked over to the door once, sighing softly.

"Yes. I guess so." Was his words as he sat his tea down and gotten up, moving over to the door. She came over as well.

"Well. Goodbye and good luck! Oh, silly me. What's your name Sir? So, just in case if I get information, I know who to talk to." My mother said, gently opening the door for him.

"Night Wing M'am." He said softly, taking his steps out the door, then turning his head. "M'am, thank you for the tea." He stopped for a moment. He was thinking about her, ignoring about the whole husband ordeal even, then finally taking the courage to say. "M'am, you think you'll be alright if I take you out later tonight after my shift?"

She blushed almost instantly after hearing that. "I don't know... I mean, I'm married but." She trailed off, thinking about. I can tell, that look on her face, then finally. "Sure! Just a harmless date wouldn't hurt and he'll be busy anyways today. I heard his boss has him working on a special project."

We both smiled; my, I mean his, heart was rushing. However, before either one could speak up, the world spiraled out once again.

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I opened up my real eyes, still sitting in my spot, seeing that Night Wing and Berry seem to be talking, or were, until Night Wing looked over to me, noticing I am up. "It was a great time. Hearing your mother accepting my offer. First ever time I felt my heart rush." He said softly as I nodded. It was a great feeling. "So do you believe the letter?" He asked after a few moments of silence.

"Yes. Though it contradicts my horn here." I said softly, putting a hoof on my chin, thinking on a moment. "Anyways... I need to ask. What happened? As a whole I mean. To my home, to you. To my mother." I said softly, wanting those answered now.

He smiled a little, looking out the window for a moment. "It's been so long but I'll tell you what I do remember. During the war, we kept to ourselves most of the time until the Equestrian Army came in. They took a lot of our kind, forcing us to go out to war for them. Mostly as Scouts but kept each one to an individual post. So we really have no idea what happened to one another. At least that what they said. They didn't took me though but that is what they said to the ones they did took." I blinked a little. So I wasn't the only bat pony out there fighting? Shit. "After sometime, Stable-Tec started their Stable project and a whole group of unicorns moved into the colony, working on this Stable. This Stable specifically being made for us. When the megaspells did came, we all retreated inside just as planned. The door shutting behind us. However, we didn't knew about the experiments that Stable-Tec was doing..." I clenched my teeth a little. I may have only been in one other Stable but it kinda did have it's own experiment going on. I'm not surprise hearing about this. "Our Stable was primarily built to put bat ponies into a permanent dream state. Putting us into a computerized dream that is hooked up to the main computer hidden in the Stable. We were told to go to our personal bedrooms and sleep. Once asleep, we'll 'wake up' in this dream, thinking it was real." I nodded a little.

"However, what Stable-Tec didn't realize is that some bat ponies is very hard to trick with fake dreams. Some of us caught on and through a series of events, we took down the fake dream. Waking everypony up. However, doing so destroyed the main computer, shutting the Stable as a whole down. After that, it wasn't long until the Stable's reactors all broke, radiation filling the place. A lot of us died from radiation, some of us became ghouls. I'm the only one whom became a sane ghoul... I had to kill the others, as they later started attacking visitors that came along." I frowned a little, hearing the story.

"My mother?" I asked, tearing up a little, ears folding down.

"She was a feral, sadly to say. She didn't die as I was hoping." My tears started flowing for sure now, blurring my vision. "I am sorry to tell you that. However, since then, I've been having visitors come to this Stable. They were all pretty insane and crazy. Almost killed me but I was able to escape and hide. When they went asleep though, I did what a bat pony does best. Entered their dream, just like our Princess Luna once did. I thought maybe I could try being her, try entering their dream and help them. Get them to be better than what they are. However, their dreams... I'm not gonna talk about them. At most, I got them to believe I was some sort of god-like creature because they were freaking out from seeing me in their dreams. Since then, I've been accepting them as part of a cult, so to say. Just hoping, maybe one day, a sane normal pony comes along." Then he smiled a little, chuckling. "And the first sane one has to be you." He finished, smiling a little. "Now tell me Midnight Storm, what is your story? I would like to know how you became how are you today."

So, I explained. Starting from since I left the colony to my adventures in the wasteland, though only saying the basics and what I wanted to say. Once after everything has been done and said, he finally spoke up. "Interesting. Well firstly, I think it is obvious that the Enclave lied about your horn." I blinked a little. "From what you said about that one pony." Who was the Watcher guy, by the way. "It sounds like they might've did some more things. Reversing ghoulifications can't be that simple and yes Storm, I do believe that you are, or suppose to be, a ghoul right now. Maybe you are on the inside. Would explain your lack of eating and your green eyes. You probably are filled with a lot of radiation." Just as I assumed honestly. "Actually, if they really want to use you for something. I wouldn't be surprise they added a little extra to get that horn on top of your head." I nodded a little. He has a point.

Thinking about it, I realize of how much I've been tricked and lied to by so many ponies. My mother, my so called father, my real father never telling me about it himself until now, the Equestrian Army, Enclave which isn't surprising, and probably a lot of more ponies. "Oh... Fuck." I finally said, growling deeply now as Berry backed away. I think she knew what was going to happen. "Oh Luna suck me in your clit and spit me out a-new! This is fucking shit crazy! What the bloody hell did the Enclave do to me? If this horn was one thing, then what else did they fucking do to me?" I yelled out, slamming my hooves onto the ground now. "And what the fuck are they planning? What do they need a fucking mutated bat pony for? One that they mutated themselves!?! Oh for the love of fucking Luna's horn, please fuck me with it!" I continued  onward, slamming my hooves now against the wall.

"Midnight! Please calm down!" Night Wing spoke up, standing up as I took one look at him.

"Oh shut up. You are my fucking father all of those years and never once fucking told me? What? Did Luna fucked your ass with her big horn to keep your mouth shut or what?" I growled over at him. "You know how helpful it would be to actually know the fucking truth back!?!" I glared at him.

"I'm sorry. I was waiting for your mother to say something, as it was her right to say. Not mine." He defended, standing up. "Please you probably wouldn't have believed me." He added. That was true.

"Well. Fuck my mother then for it!" I said out loud then stopped. "No wait better yet. Fuck me. Fuck me for never asking!" I growled, stomping back to the wall, slamming it again. "Actually, fuck this whole entire whole. Seriously, almost everypony I have ever known fucked me up one way or another." I continued rambling and was about to continue before Berry surprised me, hugging onto me and crying. "What...?"

"Please stop Storm! Calm down! I can't stand seeing you like this. You're a better pony than this." She said up to me with teary eyes, as I mumbled in anger.

"But..." She put a hoof to my mouth. I maybe very angry but I will not harm her for sure.

"Calm down, take deep breathe." I growled a little but nodded, taking deep breathe and closing my eyes. She was correct. I needed to calm down and think clearly. Going ape-shit mad and rambling on probably isn't the best idea.

"I'm sorry." I said softly, ears folding down. "I'm so sorry... It's just, I've been holding that back for a long time. I thought I released it all when I was drunk at, something." I didn't knew what then but now I knew it was the plant pot. "But I guess it wasn't enough. It's just, dealing with my own kind, my own family, like I did. Then the shit with the war, and with this wasteland. Just everything. Now I'm finally learning some truths, good truths that I should've known about from the beginning?" I sigh a little, ears folding down as I closed my eyes thinking. Really though, my life wasn't that bad. There was time before the war I was going good and I am not doing fully bad out here in the wasteland. However, my thoughts went back to the Enclave and this horn. This bloody fucking horn. "It's going off." I finally said.

"What?" Berry asked, a bit surprised. I think she isn't hoping what I am suggesting.

"This horn. It's going bloody off. You are gonna help me cut it off and provide whatever healing you can to my forehead." Before she could say anything. "Think about it, Enclave did this to me for some reason. They forced it onto me without asking me and then lied to me about it. Cutting it off not only would probably ruin their plans but could also piss them off. And I really want to piss them off now." I explained, breathing slowly, still trying my best to hold my anger for now. "Plus, I would love to look like my true self, or at least close to it, once again." I finally finished, looking at her. Night Wing was watching from the side.

"I can show you where the medical room is at actually. There should be a table and tools there." He said. "But you really sure about this?" I nodded a little.

"Yes. Also. Father." I muttered that third word. "You gonna help me. I want to learn more about my own inherent magic. I want to become better at who I am. It's part of me and I should learn how to use. I know I don't have much time but some sort of simple lesson. I have a feeling I might have a better time doing it now." He blinked a little and before he could say a thing. "At least help me learn how to dream walk enough to control my own dreams and use memory orbs like a bat pony. I might be able to find more answers in memory orbs." He nodded a little after that. "Then, you'll leaving with us and we are taking care of the raiders you grouped up here." Again, he looked like he was about to say something. "That's what they are called. They are basically the worse kind of ponies I've ever seen. You've been into their dreams, seen what they do. It's not pretty, right?" He sigh a little, nodding.

I grinned a little, breathing slowly still. "Good. Then let's get going." Berry doesn't seem to be very happy about this but I think she knows that I'm not changing my mind any time soon. So Night Wing took us to the medical room and I went ahead, lying myself down onto the bed. Luckily, the tools were enchanted by unicorns long time ago with a similar spell used on mugs. To forever keep them clean.

"You really sure?" Berry asked once again, I nodded slowly, laying my head flat back and closing my eyes. I didn't want to watch. The first thing she did was applied Med-X to my forehead, and thank Luna for that! Afterwords, a few moments has passed with my eyes closed then I finally felt it, and damn it hurt like hell, even with Med-X! I clenched my teeth, my hooves holding on the sides of the bed I am lying on, as the saw cuts through the horn, blood dripping down my face. Soon, it was done but the pain stings for a good time. I felt a bandage being wrapped around my forehead and a towel being used to wipe off the blood from my face. "Open your eyes." I did so and was greeted with some healing potions, which I hurried up and drunk down, smiling a little as the pain slows down until it was finally done. Took four potions though. I looked to mirror, seeing the bandage around my forehead, then Berry started unwrapping it. The bandage was only used to stop the bleeding. The potions should've healed the wounds. Once it was removed, my forehead was normal again. No horn. Just a flat white forehead. The healing potion must've healed wound by increasing cell reproduction rate of my skin, not of anything else. I was glad for that!

Looking to the tray, I say the horn lying there, soaked in blood on the fat end. "Well. It's done." Night Wing said. "Better?" Actually, I kinda feel a lot better now, like a weight was off my soldier. I nodded a little. "Good. Due to your time limit with the Enclave, I say we better get going with what you want to do. Berry here should probably rest and eat up. Cause once we get to the final phrase, we really going to have to be on the move." I nodded. He was correct.

He led Berry up to his own personal room and me to the security room. "Why does this Stable even have a security and medical room anyways?" I asked curiously.

"To mock a real Stable. Like I said, we were lied to and tricked into that fake dream." I nodded a little, taking a seat. "Okay. First thing first, dream magic works a lot differently then unicorn magic. You know, the magic you were able to use with that horn." I nodded a little. I remember. Had to focus from some sort of magic from within. I'm assuming it was within that horn though. "Dream magic, rather focusing on an inner source. You are focusing on an outer source. You see, our eyes are very special. They aren't just about seeing in the dark and glow. No. They allow us to see into the dream world itself, a spiritual world you may say. A world that, rumored, was created by Princess Luna. However, it was also rumored it was where we originated from and Princess Luna pulled us from there. There's a lot of rumors and we really don't know what is the truth." I nodded a little, listening carefully.

"You must focus on this dream world. Let your eyes find it. Focus on it then on the pony, or objection in the case of memory orbs, of your desire. Let the dream world guide you into that pony's dream, that object's memory. Soon, you will find yourself in it. Your physical form will stay in this world, unconscious without you, but your soul will be in the dream, in the memory, of your desire. So, Midnight. Try it. Try focusing on that world, try getting connected to your own dream." I nodded softly, sighing a little as I closed my eyes. "Don't closed your eyes. You won't see if you do so." He said. Well then.

I sigh, nodding. Opening my eyes once again, letting myself stare into space. Not focusing on the objects in the room but rather trying to focus my mind on the dream world, as he mentioned. Sighing a bit as I sat there for what seemed like eternity, just focusing. Finally, I notice the world softly changing around me, swirling almost. Kinda like when entering a memory orb but not as fast. Smiling a bit, I started focusing on my own dreams, thinking of them. Focusing on them, letting my mind drift away through the swirls around me...

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My eyes opened, I was standing right above a zebra, one who was begging for mercy, hiding behind his hooves. He was a young one and I remember this day. I was suppose to get inside and out with an intelligence briefcase but this zebra caught me. "I don't care how young he is! If caught, you must kill the ones who've saw you and complete your mission quickly!" I heard that pony's voice on the radio. I remember this part, I am about to lose another argument then follow the rules. Submitting to this bigger pony. However, I'm a bigger pony now myself.

"Know what, fuck you and your orders. Fuck this blasted words!" I said back, rather freaking out the zebra.

"What?!!?!?" I heard the pony yelled back. "Nightstalker, you dare speak to your..." There's that name again but this time. I didn't care. I needed this and I'm gonna get this.

"NO. I am sick of being known as a Nightstalker. I'm sick of being that fucking pony that hunts during the night for you, killing innocents. I don't care if they are zebras or not. I'm NOT gonna do it anymore! I QUIT!" I yelled back, stomping my hooves onto the ground, scaring the zebra.

"WHAT??!?! YOU CAN'T..." I ended the transmission then smiled down at the zebra, turning around, heading out of the place. Though, turning on my stealth field so that way I can safely leave...

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I opened my eyes as I ended my dream, looking up to a... Raider? "We've overheard your little discussion!" He proclaimed, smiling down at me as I looked around, seeing eight more of them. I gulped a little and also took a look at myself, noticing that I was tied to a chair. "Honestly, I can't believe we all were that stupid! Oh, he can walk into our dreams! He must be a god! Fuck no. He is just one of your kind... Hmm... His screams was pleasuring to hear." I growled upon hearing that, trying my best to struggle. "We also overheard a lot and well... Let's just say, we all agreed to not kill you, Midnight." I blinked a little after that though, stopping my struggling to look up at him.

"Why not kill me? And what are you gonna do to Berry?" I asked, growling some more actually. He smiled a little, grinning.

"We are leaving you here. Leaving you to your fate with those Enclave ponies. If they are as deadly as you said then we really don't want to kill you and get them pissed off at us!" He explained, chuckling a little. "As for your cute female companion. Well, maybe I'll kill her eventually. Maybe I'll sell her to the slavers, you did mention going to Fillydelphia. Eh, at least one of you will get there. Or maybe I'll keep her as a cocksleeve for all the stallions of our group, which sounds like the best because she must've heard that stallion screamed. Couldn't find all of your stuff!" I growled deeply once again, struggling much harder against my bonds upon hearing their plans for her, though smiled at the good luck. "Knew it." He added.

"Oh. You are so gonna get killed when I get out of this..." I growled, still struggling against my bonds.

"Well. Good luck on that. You stupid flank got rid of the only thing that might've helped ya right now." He was correct. If I had access to telekinesis still, I would be able to get myself out of this. "C'mon colts, let's blow this joint. Oh and here!" He sat the Sonic Screwdriver Prototype I picked up from earlier onto my nose. "Thing is fucking stupid as hell. Don't know why your companion wanted it. We sure don't. So you can keep it!" He laughed a little before leaving the room, with the others following after him. I growled more though, staring at the thing on my nose, then started crying softly.

I should've saw this coming. Raiders can't be that stupid to fully ignore us. They would totally get curious enough to see what's going on. Why didn't I saw this coming? I gritted my teeth, thinking about this then stopped. I need to get out of here! Save Berry, get back on track to Fillydelphia, and teach the Enclave a fucking lesson, maybe. I don't know how I'm gonna do this but it's a plan! However, I have no idea how to get out of here. I'm just staring at the thing on my nose, watching it closely as I mumbled a bit. "Maybe..." I said to myself, thinking. I smiled a little. Maybe it has a use after all.

Gently, I let the thing rolled off my nose and once it fell off, quickly grabbed it in my mouth. Using my tongue to roll it around my mouth until the gem end is pointing out and I have a grip on the little lever. Gently holding it down, seeing the light go off and the buzzing sound as well. I moved it down to the rope around me, pushing the glowing gem onto the rope, watching slowly. Took a bit but soon the rope started smoking. Yes, I knew it. The gem heats up after sometime! It took a good bit of time but the rope finally caught fire and gently burned away. I had to drop the tool now cause of the flames but with the ropes burning, and weakening, I was able to get myself freed.

Pushing the burning ropes away and putting the fires out. I took the tool, putting it to my side. I have to go back to the Overmare's Office! Hurrying back to the office, I found my bags there. Emptied now but I put them back onto my sides once again, putting the tool inside of it now specifically. Now where would Berry hide some of our items at? I looked around the place, thinking. Then I noticed it, a symbol on the floor. Newly marked too. It was a health symbol, quickly drawn too, and two white lines on either side. She was referencing her cutie mark, having to draw it as fast as possible. Forcibly pushing it down as I had to, was pretty heavy. A hidden door opened behind the desk. Secret button.

I walked down the steps, taking a look around. Right on the floor was a bag and around the room was a rather impressive terminal and computer set-up, though it looked pretty friend. I'm assuming this where the main computer frame for the fake dream was hiding in and that Night Wing must've shown it to her while I was in his orb. Opening the bag, I saw a hoofful of items that was ours. Firstly, the Jackson pistol and it's ammo. Then the combat knife! I put those back where they belong. The memory orb and fake Applejack statuette was also in here, I smiled. The memory orb was my real father's memory so I'm gonna keep it. Maybe someday, I'll relive it myself. Seeing my real parents having their first moment together. There was also 2 stimpaks and a healing potion in here. Good, they didn't stole all of her medical supplies. No shotguns though but at least I have something, now to find and save Berry! Those raider cunts fucked with the wrong pony!

After that, I took off. Running through the Stable, through caves. Once outside, I took a look down onto ground, seeing a rather large group of hoofprints in the dust. Good thing the wasteland has a lot of dust and ash! From there, I followed them down the mountain side, out into the wasteland then south. However, I've seen a few places where it looked like struggling occurred and someponies got pushed onto the ground. Either way, they are heading south. Which is good for me! Going that way now, following the hoofprints. I found some dead mole rats and bloatsprites on way, rather cut down badly too, until we finally hit what seems to be a run down building. Grinning, I slowly made my way to the building, taking a closer look at it now. It says on the front 'Bank of Equestria'. Might be a good place to loot but screw that! I want Berry!

Gently pushing the door inside, I looked around. To my surprise, no raiders but a lot of machetes are on the ground. As well as piles of ashes everywhere. I gently walked around, brushing the ashes aside, looking about. Then, I heard a noise outside, looking back at the door, nothing. Nothing was coming in. Still. Ashes and machetes? This doesn't sound pretty good to me! Eventually, I stumbled across Berry's bag and health kit on a pile of ashes, looking at them and checking their insides. Empty. I picked them up though, putting them into my bags to the best of my ability. She'll want them back when I find her. I decided to head out of the building though, they aren't here for sure, and the moment I stepped out, I was greeted by four heavily armored ponies with energy weapons. Oh shit. I just did the math and their guns were aimed at me now. "Oh... Steel Rangers! Hello! I'm sorry to be a bother but I'm assuming you killed all the raiders here, yes?" I asked, grinning a little. Trying to play nice.

One held out his hoof to the others, hoof command to hold fire. "Yes. There was a rather large group of raiders hiding out here with a hostage. We took them all out. I'm assuming you knew the hostage?" I gulped a little. I hope they don't mean all.

"Yes. She is a very close friend. Do you, by any chance, know where she is?" I asked nervously, giving my best smile as possible.

"Yes. She's with us, for now." Good news to hear. "However, the current Elder is looking into exterminating her as she is a threat. She seem to have knowledge our base's location." Oh shit. Yeah. I did show her that location on the map. "Which means you also probably know, if you have been traveling with her." I gulped a little.

"Yes. I do." I admitted. "I'll come along peacefully though, as I have no wish to show harm and can explain everything!" I said out loud!

"You better outsider. For both yours and hers sake." Yeah! I better come up with something, at least until the Enclave becomes a distraction!

Slowly, I took a few step forwards as they gestured me to come forward and then followed the first two, with the other two behind me. Moving toward where their Fillydelphia hideout is. I was nervous about this and I really need to try my best to succeed here, or else I'll end up just like those raiders! I do not like this at all!