Two Hundred Days

by SwordTune

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Other, Changelings, Original Character, Comedy, Adventure
Length: 41403

After the first changeling invasion, we thought it was over. It was far from it. Now they've returned, stronger than ever, while we lay unprepared. This apocalypse was invisible to us, but it was inevitable.

It only took sixty days to take everything Equestria was, and raze it to the ground. It only took sixty days for Fillydelphia, Ponyville, even Canterlot, to fall. It only took sixty days for my life to take a turn for the worst.

My name is Gala Hat, I was a designer of nature inspired formal wear. Now I repair the clothes of my comrades before the winter chills them to the bone....
My name is Keen Eyes, I was one of the first students to obtain a degree in Arcane Engineering. Now I must maintain what remains of Ponyville's infrastructure...
My name is Nurse Toxin, and I had snake bites and bee stings relieved within the hour. No pony got sick on my watch. But now all I can do is keep every pony breathing...

We are the survivors of the Second Changeling Invasion, and our legacy resides in the pages of this journal.

Published 2015-08-14 02:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2015-08-14 02:50:01 UTC

Day 1

Day 1

So, this is it. Me, you, and this journal. I don't know why I'm wasting my time with this, I have a generator to fix, but I guess it's what's keeping me sane. I need something to get my thoughts out, even though no pony will read this. It's been sixty days since the first changelings revealed themselves and collapsed the Pony of Liberty in Manehattan. Then it was the Ponyville Palace. Fillydelphia's train stations were bombarded by magic afterwards, and a single shipment of apples has not arrived from Appleloosa.

Princess Celestia warned every pony to remain indoors and let the military handle it. I guess it worked in Manehattan since we haven't heard anything from them since the fifteenth day of the invasion. We have heard plenty of changeling, however. First they took tactical positions, city halls and such. Then, your home became their next target, and then your family. I wouldn't know the feeling, my parents stayed in Manehattan and let me find my own way in this world. They didn't mention there'd be changelings.

Speaking of the changelings, have you ever seen one feed? Disgusting doesn't do it justice. To see the love and compassion ripped from the bodies of a pony, whether it be a filly or a stallion, is mortifying. And I've seen six feedings since that day changelings revealed themselves in Ponyville. It was like they'd melted into our society while we thought we had defeated them; I saw a classmate of mine glow green and morph in the middle of our lecture.

But that was the past. There's not enough time to weep for the past now, only time to gather, repair, and occasionally eat. The apple farm was burned, restaurants and vendors were raided, and houses were ransacked. Whoever remains in Ponyville is desperate for survival, and we've even turned on each other to live. If it wasn't bad enough with invaders, now me and my friends have to look out for hungry ponies too. We'd run if we can, but with Cloudsdale under siege, a permanent winter has settled over summer and the snow's too thick to travel in. Everyday I hope Celestia would smite the invaders and end this. But, I think today I've stopped hoping. Keen Eyes out.

Day 2

Nurse Toxin to Keen Eyes, if you thought you could hide this from me you got another thing coming. Don't even bother putting an entry for today because I need to do some complaining too, you know.

A trading mule showed up today trying to trade some apples he found stashed in a flower garden. They looked perfect on the outside, crisps and juicy, but worms and rot had ruined the insides. One bite and I had brown apple slosh all over my face, and I think it's making me sick. The next time some pony goes out to scavenge, the Apple Farm, they damn well better find some pills.

Day 2 Part 2: Keen's Entry (haha Toxin)

For the record, this journal wasn't a secret, I found it in the "fuel" pile for our heater, but I thought that if we were going to burn it, writing in it would do more good. Speaking of fuel, Copper Tail, our cook, wasted half of it cooking our rations into something "acceptable." I'll admit it was delicious, but it wasted far too much vegetables and fire wood in the preparation. Every pony pretty much agrees that Copper Tail needs to stop getting carried away, or else we'll starve eating gourmet cooking.

On another note, it's my turn to scavenge the town tonight, and Gala hasn't finished my winter coat yet. There's no way I'm using some pony else's; half of us are sick, and I could catch it from another coat. But I'll have to take one for the team tonight if we're going to support ten survivors in this flimsy housing.

I've already gotten requests of bandages, medicine, food, and nails. I don't know if I can carry that much in one bag. I'll have to focus on just two things,but I'm not sure what. Medicine and bandages could really help the Hay brothers, they both got hit by some unicorn raiders a week ago. But Copper Tail wasted so much food last night, we'll have nothing to eat after tomorrow. But the cold feels even worse. Without nails we can't fix the hold in the roof and the shattered windows. The only warm spot is the basement, and the wounded need that place to heal up. Every pony else has to sleep by the broken heater to even be remotely warm.

Anyways, I guess I should prepare for the night. Wish me luck, journal.

Day 3

Nurse to Keen, again. How do you expect me to heal the sick without a single bandage? I might be a unicorn but healing spells like that don't even exist. Thanks to you Hay Bale and Hay Day are getting worse. Bale's rear leg isn't healing at all, in fact it got infected last night. I supposed I could remove the infected flesh with a cutting beam spell, but I'm too hungry to focus on anything, let alone remove infected flesh from a patient. Too bad you couldn't find any food last night, you know? Maybe that could have helped us all a lot, unless you expect us to eat nails and plywood. I don't care if it's cold when ponies are sick and hungry. Damn it, why do you suck at priorities.

Day 3 part 2

Um, is this a group journal Keen or is it a thing between you and Toxin? I wouldn't want to intrude, but you were sleeping so I kinda, sorta, took a tiny little peak at your book. I swear I didn't plan to snoop or anything, I just wanted you to know that your winter jacket is ready. Though I guess it won't be your turn until next week.

Do I put my name here? How does this work.... Gala Hat signing off? Like that?

Day 4

Not that I'm hiding anything, but I need to install some private storage. Times are tough enough as it is, but some pony's been taking more than their share lately. I woke up today to find my breakfast half gone, and after I spent a night out in the cold gathering building supplies for the house. At least there's no draft from the roof or windows now.

Nurse Toxin doesn't appreciate my "slow recovery" from the flu I caught the night of Day 2. She gave me a check up right before lunch and said I was fine. I can feel it though, my stomach's killing me, and it doesn't feel like hunger. What's worse, I've got this headache from the cold I can't focus long enough to fix our heat generator. We really need medicine, but there's none to be found on the Apple farm. In fact, the winter's gotten to the trees as well and soon, there won't even be any apples. What happened to those farmers who lived there? We're starving and they just disappear.

Day 4 part 2

So I just got back from the generator, and things are finally starting to heat up. The fire's a welcomed change around here, and ponies are starting to work harder now that they aren't half frozen. Now if only I could fix the problem of food and medicine, that would be a real miracle. That and finding some candy, I'm craving it after a day of work, but I suppose I'll have to settle for a creaking bed tonight.

Keen

Day 4 part 3

Should I be labeling this as day four or night four? Well anyways, it's me Toxin, here to tell whoever reads this that I am absolutely livid. Unicorn raiders came back and scouted out our base last night; they caught me off guard while I was treating Bale's infected leg with some herbs we found in a flower garden and made off with the herbal solutions I managed to make. To be honest, they didn't really treat the symptoms effectively, but every pony needed some hope that they'd feel better.

The Hay brothers, however, have inspired me even more that I have inspired them. Hay Bale, even with his infected leg, scared off the scouts with a makeshift spear we had lying around. He may have saved every pony here, at least for the night, at his own expense. His rear leg's much worse at this point, and the infection's taking a toll on the injury and the rest of his body. The cut in his leg reopened from the scuffle with the raiders, with the flesh turning black and rotting. With no bandages and no antibiotics he's sure to die, but I can't tell him that. I just can't bear to let him know he'll die in a basement from an infected knife cut.

Day 5

Gala Hat's Log

Keen and Toxin have gone out today responding to a cry of help from another group of survivors. One of their members galloped down the road in a frenzy, asking any pony for help. At first every pony tried to ignore her, but I heard she started crying about her filly and a collapsed diner. We just had to give the mother the benefit of doubt. Keen and Toxin left as soon as I repaired their winter clothes, which were torn up in a raider scouting party last night. I'm just happy I sleep on the top floor and stayed as far away as possible, I don't know what I would do if I met one of those meanies.

Meanwhile, Jade Jewel's been getting every pony to reinforce our doors, and said one pony will have to be on defense at night from now on. She's a little disorganized as a leader but she has a way of pushing every pony around. She can be a jerk sometimes but I can't argue with her logic, after the raider scouts broke in we've all bit a bit jumpy.

Day 7

Gala Hat's Log

It only takes a few hours to get across Ponyville in this weather, and it's not even snowing. But it's been two days, and I'm getting worried. Not Copper Tail though, he's just glad he doesn't have to cook for two more mouths. How could he think that? Without Toxin we're all more likely to die from sickness, and Keen is the only engineer out of all us survivors.

And that's not the only thing wrong around here. Today Mint Leaf's herb bag got torn on some barbed wire while she was working in the garden. Normally I could fix it, no problem at all, but not today. Today my thread's gone, and I know it wasn't the raiders. I keep my tailor bag under my bed, and the only ponies who could get to it are in the group. I think there's a thief among us, but I'm not sure. I could have misplaced it, or maybe a thief sneaked in. Hopefully nothing else gets taken.

Day 8

Gala Hat's Log

This morning we shared the last two apples. Tomorrow will be the last three carrots. After that, the house will be out of food. No pony was expecting this group to prosper or have an easy time of things, but, I think ponies are getting restless. Nothing needed mending today so I got the Hay brothers some water and chatted with them to pass the time.

Hay Bale's infection just kept him asleep all day, but Hay Day's pneumonia was weakening by the hour. He hopes to get back to scavenging once he's better but he looks really weak. I tried to tell him he needed more rest but I think he' done waiting around.

Day 9

Me and Toxin, we're finally back. Sweet Celestia I'm so tired, I just want to lie down. I just, I don't even know how to vent my frustration. The filly was trapped under a collapsed burger joint. Levitating the rubble off the little one could have been easy, until a couple of other unicorns joined up. Raider unicorns, and they were friends of the mother. I didn't recognize them but Nurse sure did. She said they were the ones sniffing around our stuff that night before we left.

I wasn't ready to quit on the filly but Nurse Toxin had other feelings about those stallions. She told me it was a trap, that they'd distract us to break into our base and steal our goods. It made sense to me at first, I thought back to when some of my rations were consumed, and I figured they sneaked in while I was asleep. But I realized that if they got in they would have taken more than just half my breakfast (the more I think about this while I write the more I suspect someone in our own group stealing for themselves).

It was a hot debate in the middle of the snow; the raiders and the mother promised to leave us alone, claiming they were just too desperate to think strait, and Toxin yelling at me to leave with her before something bad happened to us or the group. But I kept thinking of that filly, her leg trapped under the weight of the rubble, probably broken in multiple points too, so I chose to save the kid. If any pony reads this, know that I chose to help the filly, not the raiders.

Now Nurse is practically breathing down my back about things going on here at base. She blames me for using up the rations we took while exploring, she blames me for Gala's missing spool of thread, she blames me for our need of barbed wire, which tore Mint Leaf's bag. How the hell was that one my fault, it was Jade's idea. Toxin didn't even say anything about the broken radio we found in the diner. I hauled that thing all the way back to fix it and she can't even be hopeful.

Honestly, I just... just... fuck it. Keen Eyes out.

Day 10

Day 10

Gala Hat's Log

I'm not sure what's wrong with Nurse Toxin right now but she's hasn't been talking to any pony aside from Hay Bale during his treatment. At least Hay Day's illness seems to have gone by now, but he's too busy scavenging firewood and scraps of carrots from Ponyville to even stop and chat. As for Keen, well, he's seen better days. Not that he's sick, it's just that he's usually quick to work and fix things. He's really passionate about repairing machinery, but I think he's gotten to absorbed with the wrecked generator out back.

Every pony else is relatively fine though. We're still short on food, but now that Hay Day's out flying and collecting we're at least eating something everyday. Me, I'm just trying to find where my thread and sewing needles are. I could always replace a needle with a feather from my wing, of course, but I don't have a replacement for thread. Lately I've just been gluing swaths of cloth onto holes in clothing.

I don't tell anyone else, but, I just feel so useless, and it's all just because of some missing thread. Every pony else is really adding to the base, even if they are quiet about it. Even without her bag Mint Leaf is still harvesting herbs for tea and tonics. Toxin hasn't done anything accept make Hay Bale healthier. And what am I doing? Gluing together clothes.

Day 13

Keen Eyes's Log

I think I've cooled off long enough to actually have something to say: the silence is driving me mad. I was all for it at first, work got done and survival was relatively better, but the only ones who ever really talk are Jade Jewel and Copper. Jade's still giving out orders like nothing's wrong between us and as long as there's something to cook Copper Tail just won't shut up. Literally he has to describe his favorite recipes and what extra ingredients should be added for an extra "kick."

I am starving. Yet Copper has the gall to tell me his favorite gourmet dishes while I work, in the cold, with nothing but some damp hay in my belly. I think this is all I can write today, but at least I don't have to go scavenge now that Hay Day's alive and kicking. It's been too tense between every pony lately and... whatever. Keen Eyes, signing off.

Day 15

Nurse Toxin here to say that I will not conform to the "log" introduction, Keen Eyes. Not after risking every pony for a bunch of raiders, and especially not after you keep this journal away from me for the past few days. For the first time since we met in this abandoned house, the three of us - Gala, Keen, and I - met joined up and had a meeting.

The first thing Gala talks about is what we put in the journal. Oh, she just loves it so fucking much. Well I'll tell you this, I don't want to talk about my feelings to any pony, that's why I'm writing right now. I get plenty of pep talks from Hay Bale, and I don't need another discussion about my "feelings" or my "grievances" with a gloomy, goth pegasus who's ironically into all kinds of fashion, including colorful ones. Also, I don't fucking know where the fucking thread is, so stop asking.

Also, our resident constructor Hammer Hoof fell from the roof fixing yet another hole. He twisted both rear ankles, so guess who has to heal that too? I don't normally complain about my patients, but these conditions are ridiculous. Hay Bale looks like he's on his death bed right now and Jade's been distracting Hay Day with requests for food and firewood when his brother really needs medical supplies. I swear if Hay Day returns this evening with no meds or bandages, I'm headed to the clinic across town tonight.

Night 15

No medicine from Hay Day, so you know what I'm out doing, and yes I brought the journal with me. I figured since Keen and Gala were asleep, no one would miss it. I also wanted to record my first thoughts on what I'm headed to right now. It's was clinic for little fillies and colts before the invasion. Three weeks after the first attack it had become one of the last medial facilities in Ponyville. By day 50 of the invasion it was the last medical center left in town. No pony's gone near it ever since a cutie pox infection spread through the patients. I'm just glad I was working at the Ponyville hospital when it broke out, or I would be dead too. The poor ponies all died of exhaustion; our bodies just weren't meant to perform so many tasks.

Anyways, I'll reach there in a couple hours unless a snow starts to set in again. The skies are clear now, but with Cloudsdale focusing air support around Manehattan, anything could happen with the weather. I think I even see some Everfree Clouds moving in.

Night 15 part 2

Corpses everywhere. I'm standing outside the quarantine signs of the clinic and I see corpses everywhere. No wonder survivors steered clear of this place, dead doctors, dead kids, and dead soldiers litter the floor, covered in false cutie marks. Sweet Celestia, how did this happen. We cured the last known case of Cutie Pox, what made this different?

Night 15 part 3

The inside of the clinic isn't so bad actually. Every pony cleared out as soon as the disease spread so now there's no bodies in the way of searching the cabinets. I didn't think I'd see a clean needle ever again, let alone five. And the drawers are filled with pain killers and fever relief; most were out of date or cracked open, but I still salvaged three bottles of pills. I'm sure if it wasn't so dark I'd have a field day in here, but I'm too low on calories and I can barely keep a light going with my horn. Even levitation is wobbly for me, which sucks because there's still so much stuff on the top shelves. I'll have to make another trip when I'm not starving.

Gauze pads everywhere; they're on the floor, on the beds, in the sink, and they're not very clean. At least one box was still intact, hopefully it's enough for Hay Bale's leg. There was some tape and adhesive bandages too, which could definitely help some small cuts and scrape every pony gets while working. You'd think a chef like Copper Tail would know proper knife safety. The only thing missing are the antiseptics to clean Hay Bale's wounds, but it's getting late and I need to get back before raiders wake up for their morning "walks."

Day 16

Gala Hat's Log

It's safe to say Nurse is officially my hero. Even Jade Jewel, who's a little cranky about Nurse running off at night, can't deny that what she did was amazing. No pony had the courage to even talk about the Helper's Clinic Outbreak, let alone go near it. And the supplies she brought back really boosted every pony's morale. Hay Bale's on a speedy recovery and might even be walking by the end of the week. I don't know if three days is enough, but Nurse seems sure enough, so I guess I'll take her word for it.

Day 16 part 2

Keen Eyes's Log

Nurse can be a bit of a bitch sometimes, but she really pulled through this time. Heck, I even got a dose of pills to drive out my headache from the cold. Things feel better than they have in days. Me and Hammer Hoof even got around to fixing up the heater's pipes, realigning and and hammering pipes into place was really hard without those pills. But now that we've got that done nearly the entire house is warm, not just the kitchen and living room. That's not all, Sweet Tooth, our resident inventor, helped me finish rewiring the broken radio I found when I helped the raiders get the filly out from under the diner. It's mainly been a side project I've been working on since we got it, however the commotion of Nurse's escapades brought Sweet Tooth out for the first time in weeks. Rediscovering pesticides is apparently hard work, but she had the time to help me take a look at the shoddy wiring in the radio. Now we've got more connections to the outside world than we thought was possible.

It turns out the changeling's destruction wasn't as complete in other cities. Appleloosa still has about a third of its farm holdings and is receiving a small support from Equestria's military base in Manehattan. Fillydelphia's got a squad of royal guards waging guerrilla warfare on those damn dirty changeling. Nothing from Cloudsdale itself, but some pony calling herself DJ-Pon3 reported from Manehattan that air support from the Wonderbolts was pushing back on the encroaching main changeling army. Nothing more was said on the open air, but at least now every pony here in Ponyville knows the Celestia and Luna have a plan.

Day 17

"Nurse Toxin the Savior!" That's the title I get for my actions. Sweet Celestia, if only they knew. The night I left for the Helper's Clinic, Hay Bale's infection reached an advanced stage that required medical supplies that were never in Ponyville to begin with. I tried to tell Hay Bale, but the smiles on every pony's face was as unfamiliar as it was welcomed. I didn't have the heart to give them the bad news, so I'll tell it to you, journal: Hay Bale's infection will kill him within the week.

It's more than hard to think about it, to wonder what would have happened if I had stayed. I would wash Hay Bale's wound every night, but I was gone that night. I don't think some water and cloth could have made such a difference, but there's just no other reason for the sudden progression of the bacteria. It's eating its way into his bloodstream, sucking out his life by the hour. I set aside half of the pills for Hay Bale so he wouldn't feel death's grip, but his body will still take the brunt of the effects. For now, I told him his the cut on his leg needs more time to heal, but that won't change the fact that he's dying. He's dying because of me. It's all my fault, and... and the longer I hold this in and keep a smile on my face so that every pony will think that things are fine, the more I'm starting to lose my mind over my stupidity, and over the look Hay Bale give me when he thanks me for all I've done, when in truth I've done nothing but lie, and lie, and lie.

Now, I don't know what to do. My only option left to save Hay Bale is to wait and hope; hope that he's the lucky one in a hundred thousand who survive this kind of infectious attack. All I can do hope is that tomorrow Celestia will raise the sun and with it, bring a swift and brutal end to this damn apocalypse. All I can do is hope for a miracle.

Day 19

Day 19

Keen Eyes's Log

Two days of radio silence from Manehattan since I fixed the radio. We're not expecting much from what's left of our military, but it would sure help pass the time. I just wish DJ could at least play something when there's nothing to report. ~~Oh well, at least-~~

Headed out tonight with Hay Day, no questions asked. Emergency broadcast just played on the radio, and I've only got two or three hours to prepare. Honestly, I have no words for a message like this:

Citizens of Equestria, you are not forgotten. You have faced many hardships the past couple months, and you have seen things no pony should ever have to bear witness to. I know this, because I have seen such things myself, and I have seen the same in your dreams. I understand your pain, your suffering, and your hatred, for both the Changelings and the royalty. I know what it means to struggle, to weep, and to lose all those who you hold dear. But, I also know the meaning of friendship, family, loyalty, and kindness. I know times have tested your bonds with your comrades, as they have mine, but I am proud that you all stand together to face this calamity with hearts as strong as horses. This is why, effective immediately, I, Princess Luna, have ordered air drops of supplies on every major city of Equestria. In it, you will find food, water, antibiotics, clothes, antiseptics, weapons, tools, and surgical equipment. This is why, dear citizens, you must know you are not forgotten.

Day 19

I know it doesn't show, but even as I write I am crying, not of sadness, but pure joy. I don't know if Princess Luna saw my nightmares of Hay Bale's death, if some pony else's fears prompted a response, or if their timing is sheer dumb luck, but I just relieved modern supplies are now dropping on Ponyville. Three crates have already landed and more are arriving by the minute. Tonight is going to be one hell of a night. Leaders from each of the survivor groups are meeting before the sun sets to make a plan to keep the air drops away from the Changelings. The raiders have even sent a representative, but no pony is really considering their involvement in the plan. No pony but Keen Eyes.

That stallion is perhaps the stupidest smart pony around. This is my last chance to get real medicine and cure Hay Bale and now he want to get raiders in on it! He thinks their firepower can fight of the Changelings for the night, as if they can think of anything except taking for themselves. I swear, as soon as the Changelings are chased off, we're going to have a hell of a scuffle with those unicorns.

I know I should stay and make sure Hay Bale's fine, but he can't die any faster now. I've given him a strong sedative pill, the last one in fact, to keep him from moving around at night. As soon as the night hits Keen Eyes, Hay Day, and Jade Jewel are headed out to collect the dropped crate. Well, with Hay Bale asleep I get to go with them, and I'm going to keep an eye on those raiders and make sure Keen doesn't screw up retrieving the medicine.

Day 20

Keen Eyes's Log

Last night went without a hitch, and though I'd hate to admit it, we have Nurse Toxin to thank for the success. But that was late into the night, first, I have to say that I am beyond ecstatic right now. Jade, Hammer, Nurse, and I, we met up with the Marketplace Survivors to go over the plan of attack.

First, we'd hit the two crates dropped near the old Sugar Cube Corner. The place was overrun with Changelings trying to break through the magic seal placed on each crate. We didn't realize it was a pony-only-seal at the time, but we didn't focus on that until after the Changelings were gone. Thankfully the raiders said they owed me a favor for helping one of their fillies, or else the crates would have been completely inaccessible. Not every pony was on board, but when the unicorns went to work I think pretty much every pony agreed we needed them.

The raiders began the first phase of the assault, the distraction. Three unicorns levitated various bits of junk into the sky, drawing the Changeling's attention away from the crate. In an instant the unicorns compacted the junk into a ball of compost and scrap and dropped it on the Changelings below. But what they lacked in brains they made up for with their numbers and resilience, and after a short period of silence they began to rise from the garbage. That was phase two of the plan. The Marketplacers and us charged onto the Changeling crawling from the junk and clobbered them with lead pipes, chains, planks, and just about anything else we could get our hooves on. I'm sure they're not dead, just taking a long nap.

The seal was the next challenge but we blundered through it with sheer luck. We didn't know it was designed to block out Changeling only, so we spent about fifteen minutes staring at it until some pony from the Marketplace sloped on ice and fell through the seal. We kind of felt stupid after that, but we didn't care. Both crates were stuffed to the brim with carrots, potatoes, hay, and apples. We hauled it off to the old City Hall so we could safely divide it up.

We decided to split up the food by weight, so each group got about 30 kilograms of food. Hay Day delivered our supplies back to base, and a Marketplace pegasus sent their food back to their home too, but the unicorn raiders didn't have some pony to fly for them, so they just hid their food somewhere in City Hall.

The crate near the Library Stump was much smaller, thus not guarded by Changeling, but it had some of the best stuff. There were first aid kits, adrenaline shots, fever relief pills, antiseptics, even some clean metal rods for splints. We had a much harder time dividing this rate up, Nurse insisted that we get the most since Hay Bale was still considered in a critical condition. The raiders conceded to her because of me, but the Marketplace Survivors refused. If it wasn't for the cold we would have stood there all night arguing, I'm sure of it. But the wind began to pick up we finally had our way. We got a bottle of antiseptic, three of the six first aid kits, and six of the twenty pill bottles. We didn't need adrenaline shots but that was all the raiders wanted, so the Marketplace got the rest.

This is where Nurse really saved our flanks, but I think it would be better if she told the story. Keen out.

Day 20 part 2

Nurse Toxin here to say that technically I was right about raiders attacking us. But, maybe I was a tiny bit off on which raiders would attack. You see, after we picked up the medicine near the destroyed library tree we headed for the only crate with a clear marking on it; it was surgical equipment and it had dropped right on top of the Helper's Clinic. Naturally I was the only one with any experience with the clinic, though I think the raiders would have preferred some pony else.

Of course, the Changeling had already surrounded the clinic and were trying to crack open the magic seal around the surgical crate. Non of us knew how long those seals lasted but none of us wanted to find out, so we initiated another battle plan that the Marketplace leader came up with.

Naturally, Jade Jewel coordinated everything away from the battlefield, no pony argued, she was just to dainty and would have gotten in the way. The raiders took the sewers, using the pipes to position themselves under the Changelings surrounding the clinic. Our three pegasi, Hay Bale and two of the Marketplacers, would hover above the clinic with storm clouds full of sleet and hail, which basically meant any storm cloud at that time. The rest of us - Keen, me, and the Marketplace leader and his sister - would sneak through a filthy, junk filled, rat infested, moss covered alley way. The Changelings couldn't even handle how disgusting it was, which is probably why they didn't guard it. I took three baths as soon as we returned and I still smell like garbage. I might have to ask Minty for a herbal soap or somethings.

But anyways, we crawled through the alley and slipped into the clinic without being seen, and we made our way to the room that was right below the the surgical equipment. Keen and I asked the earth ponies to take a step back so they wouldn't get hit by what we were going to try. A raiders agreed to lend us two adrenaline shots for this mission, one shot for me, and one shot for Keen.

I had administered plenty of adrenaline shots in the Ponyville hospital, but I never actually got one myself. I wish I had, the rush of power was exhilarating, almost uncontrollable. For a pegasus or an earth pony they'd just have to blow of some steam, but for a unicorn, let's just say it was a pretty wicked light show.

Keen and I fired off solid beams of magic from our horns, delivering an array of green and blue auras and destroying the roof the crate was on, bringing it down into the clinic. That was the first distraction. They Changelings were on us in three seconds, but the raiders were on the Changelings in two. I could tell they had taken their adrenaline shots as well, for their magic glowed brighter than before and their beams broke through brick and metal, something an average unicorn could not accomplished alone. If I wasn't at the risk of death, I would have thought it all looked very pretty, but alas, Changelings still managed to swarm into the clinic.

Even with adrenaline, fighting the Changelings was hard. I only new a small cutting spell for making incisions on a patient, but the Changeling were professional soldiers of their hive. They had more than just blasts of magic, they had adhesive spells which trapped the Marketplace leader, and fired magical cocoons, one of which engulfed Keen. The leader's sister gave the Changelings a good fight but we was eventually killed by a blast to the chest. They poor mare, I would mourn for her, but I didn't really know her.

The more I got cornered the more frantic I became. The adrenaline was still going but I began to feel exhausted. The walls of the clinic were shot out and crumbling, and I could see the raiders were struggling as well. It was only by the power of the pegasi that pulled us through. Our final stage of the plan was to channel a hailstorm onto the Changelings and blow them away, and though there was some collateral damage on the raiders, no pony else was killed. The Changelings and their insect-like wings could not handle the weather and get left grounded. I don't mean their wings broke and they got stuck on the ground, I mean the hail was so strong Changelings were pummeled beyond recognition.

It was a close victory, but a victory none the less. To the victor goes the spoils, or so they say. Well, not this time. We opened up the crate to find multiple sets of surgical blades, IV bags, heart monitors, and so on. More than enough to even divide among us. But then there was the raider problem I kept worrying about. So what if I suspected the wrong raiders? It's not like I know the difference between one unicorn faction and the other.

We were caught off guard when we exited what was left of the clinic. Fifteen unicorns, armed with spears, bolas, and batons, all waiting for us. They had allowed us to take care of the Changelings and so that they could steal he equipment we so rightfully earned. Of course, since I was right about the raider threat, I had a plan ready for escape. As our raider friends yelled at our raider enemies, I led Keen Eyes and Jade with me into a neighboring shop, and Hay Day followed from above. The shop was part of the Quills and Sofas chain, however there were no quills to be found.

Quills or no, my plan still worked with the sofas. As the enemy raiders began to close in on the others, I told Jade and Keen to rip up as many sofas as they could, though Jade mostly stood around telling Keen to work harder. I levitated all the stuffing over to the front, where all the windows were broken, piling them up until all the windows were obstructed. Once we had enough stuffing, I had Hay Day flap his wings and give a big gust for the stuffing, blowing it all toward the enemies, getting all the dust and sofa feathers in their eyes. I'm sure sharped quills would have added to the effect, but these stores always seemed to run out of quills. I wonder who could possible need so many quills.

The sofa stuffing gave every pony a chance to escape, while the enemy raiders choked on the filthy air of old sofas. After that, our groups were once again divided, we returned to our run down house while the Marketplace Survivors went back into the Marketplace. I'm not sure what happened to the unicorn raiders, but I would assume they have a base somewhere. We'll still have to look out for them now that we're no longer working together, but it's comforting to know that there's something left in Equestria that can unite every pony like that.

Day 35

Day 35

Keen Eyes's Log

Pesticides and fertilizer! Pesticides and fertilizer for every pony! Okay not really but it's a great relief to have Sweet Tooth out of the garage for a while. She says she won't be going back into research for a while, but that's okay, Mint Leaf was able to use the pesticides to their fullest, wiping out parasprites and other filthy creatures in the garden. I'm still shocked just how much damage they've been doing all this time now that we've tripled the growth rate of the garden. With some earth pony earth magic and the fertilizer Minty says the carrots and corn should be ready for harvest in a week or so. I'm not sure what Sweet Tooth put in her recipes, but it works like a charm. We even cleared out parasprites in the walls of the house. A few of those bastards has nested near the warm heat ducts and constantly cause damage. Now they're dead.

But like our carrots, another problem sprouted up. The Market Place survivors sent a pegasus over to warn us about a large caravan of ponies spotted not far off from the train station. They've set up a camp, complete with walls of packed dirt and wood, and at least a dozen campfires. It sounded too much like those Last Survivor ponies.

The Marketplace kept their radio on Manehattan at all times, so I Nurse had to fill the messenger in on who the Last Survivors were. Jade told the messenger she wanted to form a plan with them to deal with them in case they came as raiders, and Nurse backed her completely. I wanted to warn them not to jump to any conclusions, and I still do, but they went off to discuss things with Copper Tail and Hay Day, both of them agreed to an aggressive plan as well.

Day 35 part 2

Gala Hat's Log

I don't know what to choose. Keen Eyes doesn't think we should agitate such a large group of ponies, instead he wants to be diplomatic about it. But Toxin and Jade Jewel are convinced the Last Survivors are a threat. Mint's supporting Keen on this issue and so is Hammer and Sweet Tooth. But Hay Bale's going with his brother and Copper Tail; they're siding with Jade and Toxin.

I'm the only pony who hasn't decided yet. Every pony says I don't have to choose, but I know I do. I just can't believe we're arguing over this after what we've been through. Keen, Nurse, and I, we met each other in Fillydelphia University on our first day. I remember spilling orange juice on Nurse's Alchemy Notebook, I remember Keen falling from the bell tower, I even remember the first study session we had together, and Keen didn't even bring a book because he said he had everything he needed in his head. Nurse stopped laughing at him after he aced the mathematics final without even opening a test prep guide.

We were destined to be friends forever, even when Nurse left Fillydelphia University to work in Ponyville once she got her nursing degree, because Keen followed two years after when he transferred to continue studying arcane engineering, and even though I had my own workshop in Fillydelphia where I designed clothes and accessories, but I left all that to follow my friends to Ponyville. If I hadn't, I might be among one of the countless dead in Fillydelphia, and I wouldn't have to suffer from seeing my friends being torn apart.

Day 36

Keen Eyes's Log

The Aggressors - that's what I'm calling Nurse's merry band of fools - left first thing this morning without even preparing breakfast. They're meeting with the Market ponies to talk about the Last Survivor "threat" in the old town hall, which has completely screwed over my plan. Me and Sweet Tooth thought over a diplomatic approach to the Last Survivors, but we can't leave the base with just a few ponies, it's just too risky, especially since we have no idea what happened to the two raider groups after the night of the care packages.

Hopefully they'll come back before doing anything too irrational. I don't know about the other Aggressors, but Nurse Toxin hates raiders more than anything. But, these Last Survivors don't sound like raiders, there's too many of them and they're much to open about their movements. If anything, they're just a group of survivors like us who got lucky with a cache of goods. Living in a big herd probably adds to their productivity too.

There's so many possibilities we could open up with the nomads. We can't just declare them as enemies, and we don't have the power to do so anyways. If Nurse is somehow right, and the Last Survivors is just a herd of marauders, making a move against them will probably end with us dying, and I quite enjoy having life over death.

Day 36 part 2

Nurse's Log of Being Better

We've talked things over with the Market ponies all morning; they've decided to taking the name of Marketeers for convenience. We're taking a short recess before we continue our plan, but here's what we have so far:

A preemptive strike will be sent onto the Last Survivors if they encroach any closer to Ponyville territory.

The Marketeers will take command of the pegasi during any coordinated attack against the Last Survivors any enemy of Ponyville.

The Residents (that's us) agrees to direct land forces of earth ponies and unicorns during any coordinated attack against any enemy of Ponyville.

Division of weaponry and food resources shall be maintained by appointed diplomats from both parties.

Collective defenses shall be operated as long as a threat towards Ponyville remains in close proximity.

Operation of defenses shall be maintained in shifts by two ponies from either group.

Defensive shifts shall change at 6:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 Noon, 4:00 PM, 8:00 PM, and 12:00 Midnight.

And those were just the broad aspects of the planning. It was much crazier during the discussion, when every pony had their own theory about what the Last Survivors were up to, rather than having a plan for what we should be up to. We's return to discussions in a few more minutes, but I think we're pretty much settled, another hour or so of map reading and battlefield discussion should seal the deal.

Day 38

Keen Eyes's Log

The nerve of those ponies, coming back barking orders like they owned the place. I recognized some as the Marketplacers, or the "Marketeers," and Jade and Nurse went along with it. I haven't had time to talk about it or write since some pony thought building magical catapults would be a great idea.

I spent hours designing the ammunition for the catapults - it was a simple hollow metal casing that shattered on impact, cracking the glass vials inside and releasing whatever deadly poison was put in it - and mixing together bits of scrap to design a scale model prototype. Hay Bale's found his place in the work force as a permanent guard, armed with heavy spiked horseshoes and a reshaped pot as a helmet. He keeps watch over the wall construction, essentially doing nothing because the Last Survivors have no sign of aggression. So far Hay Day's "reconnaissance missions" report that they've been harvesting herbs and fruit from the edges of the Everfree. Clearly, they must be a force to be reckoned with.

At least all the building gives Toxin something to do so she'll shut up about the Last Survivor threat, even though it's all because of said threat. The ponies who organized these defenses, now called the Coalition of Ponyville, sent ponies with no construction skills to help build the wall, so now Nurse has her hooves full of ponies who couldn't use a nail properly. Tetanus is the main problem here, most of out nails are partially or entirely rusted. But all the medical assistance has made her the center of the Coalition, Jade Jewel and the Marketeer leader always ask for Nurse's opinion and her influence. Damn it, now she's kind of like my boss; I'm not happy with that.

What's worse is Gala Hat's making armor, Sweet Tooth and Mint Leaf are working on Poison Joke Gas, and the Marketeers sent two carpenters to "help" me design weapons; our jobs weren't meant to be like this, they've corrupted our survival with war.

The carpenters are horrible; they're working together trying to piece together a piston onto a torque bar with wood glue, and I think... one of them just broke the piston. That's it I'm kicking them out.

Day 40

Gala Hat's Log

I'm finally done with all that armor. I've spent the past three days sewing thick pads of cloth and metal wiring into the most hideous things I've ever seen. The Coalition keeps saying they want function, not form, but the guard look simply ridiculous; the Last Survivors just might die from laughter looking at them.

The barricades facing the Last Survivor Camp was finished a few hours ago, and catapults are already being hauled toward it as a "defensive measure." Two Marketeers are taking the first shift, so every pony here's resting from days of continuous work. If this is how's it's going to be with Nurse and Jade's plan, I think I've chosen my side on the matter.

Day 41

Nurse Toxin's Log of Success

The plan's working perfectly, we've reinforced the perimeter adjacent to the Last Survivors and set up defensive weaponry aimed against them. Gathering materials for the barricades really showed us the purpose of Keen's arcane work beam. I'll ask him to make as many as possible, it's made this project really easy.

He won't like the idea, he's been more complacent each day, but he'll get it done either way. I don't know what he thinks we'll do without this plan if the Last Survivors mounts an attack. He knows they outnumber us immensely, and could march on Ponyville any day now. But he still wants to be "buddies" with those crazies. It's like he didn't even pay attention to the message they sent out, the message against the Princesses and against our government. "Changelings are everywhere" they said, like an invitation to suspect every pony around you. They're here to sow chaos and confusion into what's left of Equestria.

Well, I refuse to let that happen. I've seen enough innocent lives ruined by bandits, psychos, and raiders. I'm not going to let another patient die in their hospital bed, or see a filly get left behind because she's too sick to run, or put down a crippled soldier because he's dead weight to the group. I've seen the like of the Last Survivors, and reader, they're no different from every other heartless soul in this wasteland.

Day 42

Keen Eye's Log

Sure I'll build more work beams, just as soon as I get more emeralds, more engines, more enchanted wiring, more crystal lenses, and more magnets, and more respect. Nurse thinks I was wrong to doubt the plan, but I never said we couldn't do it, just that it was the worst possible action to take.

I went out last night with Sweet Tooth to look for the parts I needed for the beams. At least, that's what I told the Coalition - Nurse, Jade, and the Marketeer commander - at their new headquarters, the town hall.

It was nice to scavenge with some pony who actually new what to look for, there was no need for simplified descriptions of parts, no rudimentary names for all the pieces. It was almost calming. But relaxation wasn't what we needed. We needed help, help from the only ponies left in Ponyville that I knew wasn't caught up in the craziness of the Last Survivors, the raiders.

They had to be in Ponyville, that much I knew. We've seen signs of them ever since we began building up the wall, but the Coalition was too busy to really take notice, so I kept watch. Somewhere in Ponyville, near the Apple Farm, there were raiders who could listen. Or kill Sweet and me. I didn't really think it through at the time, but it worked out in the end.

There was a camp of fifteen unicorns on the edge of the Apple Farm, on a hill overlooking much of the landscape. They didn't take kindly to our trespassing; I almost got my head shot off by a loose burst of magic, but there was one pony that spoke up for me. Against all odds, I had come across the very same filly I helped all those days ago.

So much had happened since that night the raiders joined us to retrieve the supply crates. So many dead, including her mother. Apparently after the we ran off with our share of the loot that night the raiders had a massive falling out. Raider factions split apart, taking what they could from other raiders.

After that, she and her mother ran off to take shelter in the barn of the Apple Farm, and they weren't the only ones. More raiders joined in at the farm, some friendly and some not so friendly. Needless to say, the fighting finally got to her mother. That's what brought the raiders together here at the edge of the farm, they all knew the filly's mother, and they all were hungry for revenge at the faction who took the barn from them.

So that was my night I guess. I got the filly's name, Lavender, and where to meet tomorrow to make our own plan for the Last Survivors and the Coalition. We're going to end this madness before it gets out of hand.

Day 42 part 2

Gala Hat's Log

Another big radio message was broadcast today from Manehattan, but it wasn't DJ who gave the message, it was Princess Luna.

Much has happened in such a short time, I know. Here in Manehattan the military, the refugees, and even my sister, has lost touch with the rest of our nation. Our battle still rages hard with the Changelings here, as it does for many cities across Equestria, but that does not mean we can forget you. No, no, we must remember you all now more than ever. Which is why I am blessed with your sweet dreams every night, I see your struggles and your hope, and I now the light of freedom still shines in the black sky of terror the Changelings have brought upon us. It is, like the moon, only a small glimmer of light, but know that it is enough. Berryshine, know that there is still plenty of fruit punch left in Equestria; Pound Cake, know that your parents have safely fled to Manehattan; Caramel, your horseshoes are under your pillow; Sweety Drops, your friends are hiding on Manefair Lane; Fluttershy, your animals live safely in the Everfree; Braeburn, Applejack's safe in Manehattan; and to the Last Survivors, I know of your dreams as well. And there's not a single Changeling who could do the same. Please, you must have faith in our nation, just as I have faith in you. I do not expect this faith to be built on thin air, no, this faith will be built on military force. Military force that will leave Manehattan in two days to finally restore order to Fillydelphia, Ponyville, Las Pegasus, Appleloosa, and every little town in between. And to the Changelings, who undoubtedly listen in on us as well, be warned: we are coming.

I'M SO HYPED!

Day 43

Nurse Toxin's Log of Total not Blackmail

I've always wondered why there was a torn out page in the journal, but it was next to Keen Eyes's log so I never looked. Well, I found a paper wedged behind Keen's desk today when I went to check on his recent work. It's titled Day 33 part 2, and I'm not sure if I should laugh or be concerned. It seems a little creepy, just a bit. I suppose now's as good of a time as any to stick it back in.

Day 33 part 2

Keen Eyes's Log

Out here in this wasteland, it's amazing what you end up feeling. I don't know why, but talking to Mint over breakfast and discussing our opinions about the Last Survivors, it really changed my perspective. I met her when I moved to Ponyville to continue my studies, and back then I really didn't think much of her. Sure, she's a brilliant botanist, but I never took an interest into botany.

But now, something about her voice, the way she's so passionate about the pony mind, is rather attractive. Okay fine it's really attractive. Also, did you know my favorite color is green? Like the green of a pine forest in a fresh winter morning. Her mane is that exact same color! It even smells like fresh herbs from working in the garden. I just don't know what t say, I mean, I wasn't the friendliest during my time in the University of Ponyville, and we don't get to talk much now that the world's done to shit. I know it's stupid to think about this despite everything's that's going on, but I just needed to get this out of my system.

Oh, the things I could do with this.

Day 44

Gala Hat's Log

It's much safer to travel in Ponyville now, at least between the buildings we secured. A watch tower was set up at city hall where Hay Bale can see the roads between our base and the Marketeers'. With the extra security in mind, i managed to walk across town to the Carousel Boutique to gather more of the materials the Keen Eyes found.

It's more amazing than I ever imagined. The variety and quality of the cloth was better than anything I've ever seen, despite months of idleness and damage from the horrors of the parasprites. After the Changelings drove away our most powerful unicorns, and the Princesses, something caused the parasprites to pop up once again. They weren't as volatile as I've heard some ponies say, apparently they nearly destroyed Ponyville once, but they're infestation across town has really done more damage than we could afford.

Outside the Boutique, was the part of Ponyville completely deserted. It looked a lot like our place, before the Coalition took action and began to clean up the area. But our efforts are just a small section, insignificant compared to the destruction that remains. I... I can even see a few corpses on the road; they look like they were drained by Changelings. They weren't just dead, they were empty husks of themselves. Cold, grey, shriveled up husks, that's what were.

Even with everything we've accomplished, every struggle our team has overcome, it's still hard to move on. My friends have changed so much, like extreme versions of themselves, arguing and taking sides like enemies. Toxin would always stress the importance of liberty, now she commands the group as head of the Coalition. Jade, she was a sales pony at a jewelry store when I first met her, and though she still has that charm in her eyes, she uses it for control instead of sales. Keen and I were the quiet ones, and I always felt connected to him, until a Changeling killed his professor before his very eyes. Since then he's been ready to jump into a situation to help, putting his friends before himself. It's an excellent trait, I know, but I can't help but miss the days where we'd just read in the castle library.

Quiet, like how it is in the Boutique. I feel safe here, surrounded familiar sights of cloth and sequins, I think I'll spend some time here, free from the worries of the Coalition.

Day 47

Keen Eyes's Log

I guess Gala Hat really likes the journal, because she took it with her to the Boutique for three days without telling any pony. So much has happened I might need two pages for this entry. Seriously, where do I even start?

Lets begin with the raiders. Yeah, that seems like good spot. Lavender convinced her raider friends to meet up at the Sugar Cube Corner this evening. It's blocked off from our section of town so no pony from the Coalition or the Marketeers could follow us. Us, meaning me, Mint Leaf, Hammer Hoof, and Sweet Tooth.

There were eight raiders total waiting for us as the sun began to set, each of them carried weapons from a loot crate form Manehattan. I had almost forgotten about the weapon crates. Us "Residents" finished our food from the crates long ago, but luckily we expanded the garden into a small farm, sustaining us well enough, and anything we couldn't grow Hay Day just scavenged from places across town. But we had no weapons, which is why the raiders are so important.

It took us about an hour to go over the plan of attack, and then we moved out in the cover of night. With no pegasi, we were at a disadvantage, but we managed to bypass the two wall guards anyways. The wall guards, surprisingly, were the Hay brothers. I would expect those two to be tired after their day time duties - Hay Day patrolling our skies and Hay Bale up in the watch tower - but they seemed alert as ever. It didn't matter, the raiders, Lavender included, managed to sneak along the front of the barricade undetected, and waited for the signal with their spears at the ready. Me and Hammer were the decoys: we told the Hay Brothers we had to fix a section of the wall or else it would grow unstable. Really, we were marking the weak spots of the wall by tapping hammers on them, directing the raiders to the right position.

Sweet Tooth and Mint Leaf had the fun part, taking out the Hay brothers. We didn't kill them, no, we just put them to sleep. Sweet Tooth developed a sleeping gas from the weird fumes she makes in the garage-laboratory, and Mint, for whatever reason, grew a large amount of a power narcotic. Both worked perfect on the Hay brothers, and they were out cold for the night (and probably the next day too).

With the brothers down and all the weak spots spotted, we signaled the raiders to begin penetrating the barricade with their spears, tearing through the flimsy support beams and wooden panels. I helped with some magic, ripping open new weaknesses with telekinesis. By midnight the deed was done, and Ponyville was once again linked to the rest of the nation. But that was just the first day.

The next morning all hell broke loose with Nurse Toxin. As head of the Coalition, she rounded up every pony, us and the Marketeers, and demanded who sabotaged the wall. The Hay brothers stood guard with crude maces, probably looking for whoever jumped them last night. Good thing Sweet and Mint thought to sneak up behind those two, I didn't want my friends to get caught for what I was about to do.

In the middle of her rant about the "dangers" of the outside, I called out Nurse for sabotaging the group. Oh boy, she had lots to say to me, but I didn't let her; it was my turn to talk. I had to get every pony to see the error of what we've done, wasting our time building walls and making weapons. All of which, was useless, because a small group broke it down in one night. I showed them what the rest of our beloved town looked like, turning their attention to houses just at the end of the street, broken down and crumbled. We had spent our time tearing apart what we should have been building up, and we took that rubble, turned in into a pile of scrap, and called it a "great success."

Food, another thing on ponies minds, was the next problem. We had enough to eat, true, but only because of a lucky harvest and careful rations. The primitive wall did nothing to expand sections of the town into gardens and farms, where earth ponies could turn up crops like magic. Sweet Tooth had spent weeks developing on fertilizer, and we were brushing her work aside like garbage while we worked with the shattered remains of our city. Even salvaging food stuff was still an option in the days that had passed, I told them. With the Coalition's coordination, salvage squads could have explored the other half of Pony that we had left untouched due to unstable ruins and Changelings. This got some ponies talking; they began to complain about their rations and work, but not many were on board. Just a few Marketeers and Copper Tail. I should have know food would grab his attention. I'm not saying he's fat or anything, it's just... yeah he's fat.

I could have gone on, but a Marketeer pegasus spotted something nearing our place of meeting, and if you haven't guessed it yet, it was the Last Survivors. All fifty-something of them. Some Marketeers fled back to their base, while Copper Tail, Mint, and Jade Jewel retreated to our house. The Hay brothers stood ready, guarding Nurse and the Marketeer leader. Sweet Tooth stood at the front, looking at the gear the Last Survivors wore; essentially crude plate armor, but Sweet has a lot more details. Hammer Hoof and I stood with the rest of the Marketeers in anticipation, half ready to talk, half ready to run, and half ready to fight. Wait that doesn't - never mind.

Apparently they didn't like the last message from Manehattan, that much was clear. The pony who I could only assume was their leader marched in like he was the lord of the land and asked that we join him against the next inevitable wave of the Changeling invasion. For once, in a long time, Nurse and I agree on something, because we both called them dumb asses when he referred to the military reinforcement as disguised Changelings. It was a bold move, there was fifty or so of them, but only sixteen of us (10 Marketeers and six of us residents since Gala Hat was still gone at this time).

Soon we were surrounded by pegasi armed with storm clouds from the Everfree. Lighting surged from those clouds like crazy, but somehow the Last Survivors learned how to maintain even those freakish things. I realized Sweet Tooth wasn't crazy to be focusing on their stuff, some of it was very high tech. Their infantry (warriors, fighters, soldiers, whatever you want to call them) was armed with brass spears that had lines of crystal conduits running through them. I recognized it as a friend's work from my days as a student. Those crystals channeled the magic from unicorns to deliver an explosive hit, while the brass component of the spear spaced out the crystals to increase the maximum energy storage. I couldn't remember the exact equation for magic per square centimeter of surface area, but it was a lot.

We really had no choice but to listen to them. They weren't the immediate threat the Nurse thought they were, but every pony knew that if we pushed them they might turn into it, so I asked Nurse to just let me do the talking. I approached them as a friend, complimenting their amazing equipment and outstanding numbers, and apologized for the outburst. I made some small talk with the leader, pegasus by the name of Fang. Probably not his real name, but that was all he gave me. I had him explain why we were threatened by the military forces sent to help us while struggling to contain a mix of laughter and disagreement.

Each and every one of the Last Survivors were confident that Manehattan had become Changeling base set up to fool last surviving ponies of Equestria, their reason being that they never hear from any pony who makes it to Manehattan in search of safety. They called it a trap for desperate souls, and intended to lay waste to it, thus their formidable armed forces. This, I knew, was impossible. The princesses were alicorns, gifted with powers beyond that of ordinary ponies. Luna could even see and visit dreams, though I'm glad she's never popped into one of mine, not that my dreams are weird in any way... please don't tell Mint Leaf I dream about her.

Anyways, I gave the Last Survivors the only answer I could at that moment: I agreed tot heir terms. I wasn't going to follow through with it, but I just needed to buy Ponyville more time, so I told him that I too had suspicions of what lied beyond Ponyville, and that we'd love to join their herd. We just needed a few days to gather our materials. Fang happily agreed, and said he'd send some pegasi tomorrow to assist with the mobilization of our resources.

By the time he returned to his camp to prepare to "assimilate" us into the Last Survivors, it was noon. That gave me roughly half a day a night to coordinate an escape. And as expected, Nurse disagreed with my plans. I wanted to flee to Canterlot, its mountain position made it easily defensible, and it was no longer a target region of the Last Survivors. Nurse Toxin said we should seek safety in Manehattan and actually do something to help with the war. Once again, we were split. Five of the twelve Marketeers followed me, and so did Copper Tail, Hammer Hoof, Sweet Tooth, and Mint Leaf. Jade refused to leave Nurse Toxin's side and the Hay brothers pretty much owed their lives to Nurse for treating them. I made a mental note to find Gala Hat later and get her on our side too.

So what could have been an effective evacuation turned into a rush as every pony took as much as they could for either side. It became clear to the the others that the Coalition was splitting up, and they all wanted as much for their side as possible. The Marketeers turned on each other so quick, it was hard to see them as one big family only hours before. But that's life , I suppose. Among the rushing madness I tried to reason with Nurse, as did she, but we could not find any common ground. Her plan was good in theory, but Manehattan was a long way from Ponyville, and we'd be on the same path as the Last Survivors. Canterlot was closer and had already been passed by the Last Survivors. They were clearly on a mission to Manehattan, so there was no reason for them to return to Canterlot. Toxin thought the Last Survivors would have cleared out anything left in Canterlot. We were rushed by our groups in our argument, and it slipped my mind to remind her of our farms and fertilizer formula. But it was too late, I couldn't get a hold of Nurse again, so I coordinated the resource salvation with my group.

Seeds, blueprints, food, and scrap. The essentials to rebuild a society was all we needed to take to Canterlot. Our blueprints, including recipes for fertilizer and pesticides, could help create farms that would make scavenging scraps obsolete, and Mint Leaf's garden had plenty of grape seeds, apple seeds, and carrot seeds. Oh yeah, potatoes too, but I wouldn't mind leaving those behind. Yuck, I can't stand those things. Luckily, the garden was untouched by the Nurse's merry band of misfits, and Sweet Tooth kept her research locked up in the garage. My stuff was instantly stolen by the carpenters that "helped" me during the wall building, however I had every detail I needed in my mind, it was just all the parts I had accrued that irritated me the most.

But as I write this out, I think it was the need for machine parts that helped me find Gala Hat. She was scribbling out sketches for black and white dresses in the Carousel Boutique when shit hit the fan. That's where I thought to look for the machine parts I needed to find before we left for Canterlot. There were many sewing machines I left in there after all, far too many to carry that day I found the beautiful place.

It was hard to explain things to Gala Hat, she was really torn between me and Toxin; I still have tear stains on my armor. First I told her about what happened at the wall, and that upset her. She freaked out over the Last Survivors, and nearly few strait out of the Boutique to check on every pony. It took a while to calm her down, but it didn't last long once I told her that Nurse decided to take her followers to Manehattan while we planned to escape to Canterlot. By then, she broke down completely. Night was falling on us however, and the buzzing of Changelings signaled that they had taken notice of our sudden commotion, and that was a big problem. Marching to the Boutique was easy with no threats, but this night it was surrounded by untamed ruins, and the problem of the previous days were nothing compared to this colossal task.

Day 47 part 2

Keen Eyes's Log

(I ran out of ink, and since I stopped I figure I should just split up this entry). My first priority was getting Gala Hat to come with us. I knew she was going through some pretty rough emotions, out of the three of us Gala was the most emotional, even in our early days in Fillydelphia University. She used to have this scrapbook of all the crazy shit we'd do. I think the best was the picture we took to remember the first (and only) Mile High party we went to. Mile High was a club of pretentious pegagus pricks who thought they were the "master race." They threw the best parties though, and we got in only because Gala Hat was a pegasus. In fact, it was so crazy Nurse Toxin actually had a photo of her - no, wait, this is off topic.

Where was I, oh yeah; after I talked to Gala Hat for about fifteen minutes she finally had it in her to get up and join us in our journey to Canterlot. Every pony had taken apart the remaining sewing machines for their scrap, except the one I fixed up for Gala, she kept that that in her saddle bag. We rolled up think dark fabrics to take along as well, but we couldn't take much or we would have been slowed down, and the whole group agreed we had to get away from the Changelings with haste.

We sneaked past squads of Changelings headed for the house and the marketplace, hunting down Nurse's group, and even though I didn't agree with her judgement, I feared for her just as Gala did. But given her recent paranoia, I was sure, and I am still sure, that she wouldn't let the night catch her off guard. Besides, the majority of the Marketeers stuck with her, and they're a real bunch of hard asses. The Changelings didn't have an easy night, that's for sure.

But neither did we. As we trekked through the narrow alleys of Ponyville in single file, we had to duck and swerve past dozens of Changelings and avoid broken glass and falling bricks. Wild animals roamed in the remains of buildings as well, including one timber we found in a logging shop of all places. How we managed to escape it, I'm not quite sure, but with more luck than any pony should deserve, we escaped it through an alley too narrow for its bulky wooden body.

Our steady pace and fearful steps continued on until the moon hung right over our heads. We had reached the very edges of Ponyville, and our right was Canterlot, looming from the mountain side. To the left, was a fire fight between two familiar sides. Changelings and unicorn raiders. In the fray and melee of the whole thing, I spotted a small figure blasting her way across the field; Lavender was a fierce little filly, fighting like a bat out of hell (whatever that means). Despite our urgency, I couldn't just leave the raiders alone, they were very violent, yet very outnumbered by the Changelings.

Gala Hat was the first to agree to help them, then Mint. The Marketeer twins Lotus and Lilac followed my lead and soon so did every pony else. We joined in the fight on the field outside of Ponyville. It was only later I found out thy planned to run away as well, but Chagelings caught up to them at that spot.

We watched each other's back as we charged in, Lilac, Lotus, and Gala Hat dropping in from above smashing rocks onto the Changelings. White Hoof, a unicorn Marketeer, was a sharp shooter with his telekinesis. From afar he pelted screws and bolts at the Changelings, scoring amazing trick shots by bouncing his shots between targets. Sweet Tooth and Red Diamond, an earth pony Marketeer, ran into the battle with sticks, effectively clobbering a hefty number of Changelings while Hammer Hoof, Gum Drop (another earth pony Marketeer), and I finished them off with a few blasts of magic. I'm not sure where Mint Leaf was but her narcotic plant seemed to work on Changelings just as well as ponies, as many simply dropped to the ground with no warning and stayed asleep throughout the night.

It took an hour before the Changelings decided to cut their losses and flee while they could, but the damage was done to us. Lavender's raider team had been decimated, only two unicorn stallions remained with her after that night. Two. That's all that remained of the only thing she had left of a family. She was born and raised as a raider, but, under those circumstances the three of them deserved a little cry after the battle. Just a little one was all they could afford, sadly, for Ponyville was still an inferno from hell and we were much too close to be safe. One raider, Crush, carried Lavender as she wept and simply started following us, without a word. The other one, Triple B was his name (Triple Bee?), he managed to cough out a "thanks" as we trotted away from Ponyville, but the despair was strong in his eyes too. They had all just lost everything in their life.

I don't know why they chose to follow us, and I still don't. But that was just last night, and they haven't completely shaken off their emotions. We hit the base of the mountain of Canterlot this morning after spending all of Day 46 taking a long route to Canterlot. It was a hiking trail that winded and stretched far from the dangers of the main road, but it also took much longer. It was just a few nights ago the raiders helped me take out the barrier between us and the Last Survivors. Nurse was right to fear them, I just didn't see it. It wasn't that they were delusional, or that they wanted us to join them, but it was what they could do to our group that I should have feared.

When I boil down the source of it all, I find myself. So much death, so much loss, I just couldn't keep my damn mouth shut and my head down. I had to start something, and it backfired, yet I didn't pay the fucking price, Lavender did! Of all the ponies, why'd it have to be her? A filly like that, her mother killed by raiders who just couldn't get along, her friends drained to the bone by Changelings who didn't need to be out that night. And here I am, taking down my thoughts in a pile of paper like some kind of fantasy story that some pony might ready at some point, some where. It's stupid, and I'm stupid.

But at least the Changelings got what was coming for them. Once we made it to the gates of Canterlot in the afternoon, we all witnessed the lightning blasts from a Wonderbolt airstrike blow a whole strait into Ponyville, AKA Changeling central. Even now it's a hard thing to swallow, but I could never expect the Wonderbolts to just give up a chance to stop so many Changelings. It was all gone anyways; the shops, the schools, that tree castle thing, it was all lost to the Changelings anyways. But hopefully it was just the Changelings. I used a glass lens from the Carousel Boutique to zoom in on the aftermath; wood and stone scattered across the dirt with bodies charred and broken, probably all Changelings. Hopefully.

And so here we are, Journal, your longest entry. I finish off by letting you know we've camped in some rich stallion's mansion just down the street from Canterlot Castle. The food's good, preserved by some kind of spell or potion. No sign of heavy movement on the streets of houses; the Last Survivors didn't even set a single hoof in here, let alone raid it. I wish I could tell Toxin "I told you so," but now I don't have any pony to say it to.

Day 48

Day 48

Gala Hat's Log

I'm not sure what to say, but I feel like I need to write something. It turns out that Hammer Hoof got pretty scraped up in our escape from Ponyville. He said a Changeling cut him in the side with just a small razor. He said he'd be fine. Then the infection settled in. Even if he told us how bad it felt, none of us could have done anything to save him. By the time we found out it was too late; Hammer started coughing up blood and choking on the mucus built up in his lungs. We buried him two days ago.

It was Keen who took responsibility for that. He buried Hammer Hoof, and he blamed himself afterwards. But Keen's led us all the way from Ponyville to Canterlot - he knew the hiking trail best - with barely enough sleep. He flopped onto the couch the first chance he got. I should consider us lucky that we got here. Canterlot's the capital of Equestria, and the Changelings know how important it is to us. I've never seen more Changelings in one spot than I have here in the inner district of Canterlot. We must have came in at a really good time, because just a few minutes after we made our way into this mansion, thousands upon thousands of Changelings began to swarm in and out of the city. I don't where they are during the night, but they march through the city in the day like they own it, which I guess they do.

Every Changeling I see bears some kind of insignia - a large green chrysalis or cocoon with dark strikes across it - that I can only assume is a symbol of rank or influence. They're military, and they sure now how to show it. If I crack open the blinds and look through the window, I can see constant saluting and trading of papers, information perhaps. This morning I spied one Changeling with red strikes across his insignia pass by, I don't know what it means except that he's shown the most respect. Or was it a she? I can't tell with Changelings, in fact I don't even know if they have genders. Aren't they like insects, with a Queen and all? So is the queen like their mother, and if so is she here too?

It's all very, very confusing, especially with everything that went down in Ponyville. Everything that I stepped out on. Sweet Tooth told me about the weapons she saw them bearing, weapons of the Equestrian E.U.P. that wasn't even supposed to be in effect yet. Keen told me what they said to him, that Manehattan was a ploy to fool the survivors of the invasion. He called them many thinks, things I will not repeat, ever, but I won't say it was without reason. Princess Luna saved us with the order to airdrop resources across the nation, and had just announced deploying troops back into cities infested with Changelings. Ponyville's a long way from Manehattan, but I didn't doubt for one moment that we'd get help. How could I? So long a the sun and moon moved like they should, our princesses were watching over us.

Day 50

Gala Hat's Log

We were almost found by a search party yesterday by a squad of Changelings making their daily rounds. I always peek out at the from the top window, but I never open the blinks more than a crack. Somehow, one of them noticed me and had his team double back onto our position. We spent most of yesterday in the cider cellar as different groups checked in to make sure they had no intruders. They got the answer they wanted after the red marked Changeling came in to investigate. He found nothing as well and sent a messenger to report that nothing was suspicious in the area.

He was definitely in charge; we were lucky to avoid him, or else there's no telling what he would have done. And he is a he, I could tell that much from all the "yes sir" that was going around him. On the bright side, Copper Tail uncovered even more food stored in the cider cellar, once again preserved with a special spell or potion. Even the boxes of hay fries smelled fresh, but that's probably all the preservatives put into it. I don't know what Hammer Hoof sees in junk food like that, it's disgusting. Good thing the previous owner had some sense to stock up on some apples and carrots too.

Day 51

Gala Hat's Log

That little raider found me writing in this journal yesterday, and asked what I was doing. I told her I was writing my thoughts. She just looked at me with with a blank stare. It took me a while to figure it out but it turns out she never got a chance to learn to write, at all. The invasion began just a few weeks before she was supposed to start school, and her mother was never a good teacher either. So she asked me why I was writing things down when so much stuff happened.

It was a good question, one that I never really stopped to answer. The Journal never had any purpose to surviving, in fact in some cases we could have spent our time on more important matters like improving our lives. It never occurred to me why I wanted to write along side Nurse and Keen, but once I thought about it I found that it made me feel connected with them again. We never read each other's entries, but just knowing the pages of this Journal shared our thoughts made me feel better. So that's what I said to Lavender, that writing made me feel better about the way our lives were, and that it was a way for me to tell the Journal my thoughts, like the way a filly talks to dolls, or a colt plays with an action figure.

So she asked me to teach her how to write. Me, a fashion designer, to teach a little filly? I didn't think I would like it, or that I could even do it for that matter, but she had lost her mother and her friends, and despite the things they do I understood how close she was to them. Like me, she felt safe among her raider buddies, and like me, she needed an outlet for her emotions. It was a long and hard process, and I'd often take over and write the words for her, but we wrote her first entry together by the end of the day. Here it is.

Hi there Journal, my name is Lavender, and all my friends are dead. Crush and Triple B are fine, but they were more like my mommy's friends. My mommy's dead too, but I don't know why. The other ponies that came for our barn kept shooting and shooting. Me and mommy had our friends to help us, but she was shot. Crush and Triple B are always angry about it, but they are nice to me. Not as nice as my friend Corn Flower though. He was a big colt, a whole three years older than me, and he would always play games in the afternoon after he was done looking for food in the fields. He called me brat sometimes, like how the others called him a runt, but I knew he was always my friend. He's dead now, somewhere in the grassy field of Ponyville, and so are all the ponies who saved me from the Changelings a few nights ago. I miss them, Journal. I miss mommy, I miss Corn Flower, I miss Zapple, Zeepple, Deranged, Blighthoof, and all my other friends from Ponyville. Gala Hat says you can make me happy again, right?

Day 55

Keen Eyes's Log

Work. Work is good. Though I sound far too much like my dad, I have to admit, it's true. While the arcane work beam was efficient, it's focus only generated enough force to push apart loose rubble and crack through thin wood. Here, in the capital city, thing's weren't senselessly destroyed by the invasion; no, they were colonizing Canterlot.

It was clear we needed better equipment to face a threat like this, I'll give the Last Survivors that much. They were crazy, but with the weaponry they had, it's hard not to be. Hiding from the Changelings is always an option, but it won't always work out that way, so I've began looking into creating a more power work beam, one that can replicate a magic blast from a powerful unicorn, one that all of us could use. I'll admit, I'm not the best at magic. I can't even do more than a short burst of a magic blast, and maybe that's why I chose to study arcane engineering as a way to compensate.

Resources however, are hard to come by. The small motors from sewing machines are strong enough, and Sweet Tooth has plenty of wiring and metal plating for the arcane beam's structure, however none of our parts could convert the kinetic energy from the engines into magic. My old pile of scrap had a few crystal lenses which generated power when spun against each other. The grinding of the crystal released a small amount of residual magic, which I channeled through a refraction gem - the emeralds I picked up from the Boutique. Of course, none of those essential materials were present in our mansion, so my brilliance is curse to remain within the walls of paper and pen.

The others haven't really been doing much either thanks to the Changelings paroling the streets, passing us every twenty minutes or so. The only times we can have any feelings of securing is in the morning and evening, probably during a shift change between the transition of night and day. It takes an hour for them to fully organize themselves and get back into action, which give us just enough time to snoop around the neighborhood and collect the few goods we don't have.

The pegasus twins Lilac and Lotus have been a big help during those times by keeping a bird's eye view on Changeling movements. The two raiders, Crush and Triple B, try to make themselves useful by patrolling the street during the shift changes, but they're quick to rush back to base when Lilac or Lotus spots incoming squads.

The other Marketeers, Gum Drop, White Hoof, and Red Diamond, they try to spruce up the place to feel more like home. Honestly though, we're in a freaking mansion. What's there to spruce up? If anything, the living room's now cluttered with boxes and old magazines as they rearrange and re-purpose a few useless rooms. I feel like I'm in a dorm all over again.

Day 56

Triple B

What is this? If every pony's going writing in journal then Triple B wants in!

Day 57

White Hoof's Log

Is this what the other's think of fun? But writing is boring. Well I guess since there's no other silent activity to do while the Changelings pass by, might as well jump on in.

I'm glad We have Crush and Triple B with us, there were just way too many mares in the Marketeers. Not that I'm complaining, most of them were easy on the eyes, but sometimes a stallion's gotta do a bit of roughhousing. Crush gets it, but we can't do much more beyond the good hoof wrestle and staring contest.

Day 58

Lilac's Log

Oh my gosh, Copper Tail literally just called me Lotus this morning. If he can't even get my name right, he could at least try to look less like an idiot. I don't even look that much like my sister. I mean, sure we're twins, but it takes me all morning to get my mane strait while she literally does nothing with it. It's always like a mess, like a bird found cotton candy and stuffed it into its nest after a cold rainy day.

Day 58.5

Lotus's Log

Don't listen to my sister, she's a bitch.

Day 59

Copper Tail's Log

This mansion's cider cellar is amazing, some of these recipes were only talked about as rumors back between students in my cooking class. Some said they contained ingredients that didn't exist or were too hard to get, others claimed the ratio of the ingredients were completely counter-intuitive but very delicious, but only the maker new of the true mixture. As for me, my clique always thought that the ciders were secretly the brewer's worst creation, passed off as something "radical" or "experimental" to draw attention away from the fact that it was screwed up.

That was, of course, until I tasted a cup of Flippy's Exquisite Burning Cider of the Inflamed Crystal Heart. I don't know all the ingredients in the recipe, however it had two distinct flavors while I drank it, and it left a third after taste that was nothing like the first two, but just as good. It did burn though, more than any other spice I have tried, yet it was a subtle burning, probably meant to react with another ingredient to subdue its intensity, only to be released like a fiery hell in one's mouth. I know not what this recipe is, nor do I know of its whereabouts, but Celestia as my witness, I will find that recipe, and I will make it mine.

Day 59 part 2

Gala Hat's Log

Teaching Lavender how to read and write is going great. With plenty of stored food and water, not to mention juices and cider, I can spend the whole day with Lavender, helping her with grammar and spelling. The mansion is the perfect place for a filly to begin learning; it's spacious, comfortable, and quiet, especially when a Changeling squad passes by.

Lotus and Lilac spend their days rummaging through the walk-in closets trying on outfits and jewelry, none of which I recognize as my own design. A few however, did resemble the drawing back at the Boutique, and I'm not surprised. The mare who worked at that place was really a big hit in the big cities, or so I've heard. I can't remember her name, but I read she was a designer for Sapphire Shores, and was even linked to Princess Cadence in some way. That was a status level I never dreamed of carrying in my life, but for her they were just notches on a belt among many others, and I'm sure that belt looked fabulous. Gossip around the spa was always uplifting, knowing that I lived in the same city as such an influential designer, I just wished I hadn't fallen asleep through the massage or I might remember her name.

I don't even know where to get purple dragon scales, let alone how to incorporate it into a jeweled dress. I'm just glad Lotus didn't get a hold of it. Unlike her sister she doesn't treat the dresses as well as she should. Luckily, both of them liked blue, so they left the purple one alone along with an rainbow of other colors, including an actual rainbow. It took me all day and most of the night to understand the technique used to put dragon scales on a dress. The thread itself - a diamond laced silver thread - was extremely expensive and difficult to acquire, but combined with a masterful technique of a tightly intertwined crisscrossing pattern, it was impossible to replicate. The thread did more than hold down the scales, it was woven around each scale, evenly distributed and so fine it was barely visible. It gave the polished scales a bright sparkling look, as the microscopic fragments of diamonds along the thread reflected a beautiful array of rainbow colored lights. There was nothing to show who had made the dress, but in the back of my mind I know it was from the Carousel Boutique. It had so many gemstones it was hard not to think of it when you looked at the dragon scales.

Day 60

Keen Eye's Log

No! I was so close to a power source. Inches away from my face in fact, taunting me with its mesmerizing glare. But Gala would not allow me to destroy a piece of work as fine as the Dragon Dress. All I need is three scales from the dress to replace the crystal lenses. The refraction gem doesn't even have to come from the dress, it could just be taken from one of the hundreds of gemstones lying around in the jewelry closet.

Dragon scale would even surpass the quality of crystal lenses as a conversion source. Their organic structure and near indestructibility binds to residual magic in the atmosphere, creating its own aura node. While still very faint and invisible to the naked eye, a dragon scale aura is over twenty times as potent as a regular crystal lens, give or take. If those scales were each attached to a motor and spun in alternating directions, the flow of energy between them would multiply itself as it passes each scale. It would be the ultimate magic source for an improved arcane work beam. I can only imagine the effects it could yield if hundred were lined up and attached to powerful engines. I'd probably never a chance to see it though. I can't even grab a hold of a few scale to power a small piece of equipment. It is a nice dress though, I have to admit.

I'll have to begin work on another project, one that doesn't require a source of magic, like some silent power tools or a spyglass. Anything I can make would take the edge off for a while, at least.

Day 60 part 2

Mint Leaf's Entry

It's been roughly a hundred and twenty days since the first Changelings revealed themselves in Equestria. Almost a third of a year has passed, and more things have changed than I could have ever imagined. I keep thinking back to my herb garden in Ponyville, and the neighbors I had along with it. Daisy had helped me start my first garden, and told me what kind of herbs grew in Ponyvile. Coming from Appleloosa, there was a huge difference between the dessert dirt and the Ponyville soil.

I don't think I'll ever know what became of Daisy, but she would weep for her flowers if she saw what the Changelings had done to every patch of fertile soil. It was all turned to dust, some effect of their sinister magic had ruined the land. The struggle was real when I tried to keep a herb garden going back at the house. Of course, fertilizer and pesticides were much appreciated when Sweet Tooth recreated them, but it just wasn't the same.

On the other hand, the flower patches and windowsill plants of Canterlot are almost untouched. Sometimes when I peek out the window I can see some stray Changelings enjoying the flowers as they walk by, smelling the various scents of tulips and roses. If you ask me, I'd say these Changelings are simply awful, bipolar creatures.

Day 61

Gala Hat's Log

I'm so bored. There's nothing to do in this mansion but wait for the Changelings to change shifts so we can explore the rest of Canterlot. I wish I could just fly up and out of here and take a look for myself, but Keen Eyes says there might still be Changelings moving in the city during the shift change. There's already signs of civilian-like Changelings, the ones who just walk around town on their own or with a partner or two. They don't follow any set path, nor do they bear their military insignia.

But if they're Changelings, then can't I just pass as a Changeling morphed into a pegasus? I get that they don't do that kind of stuff now that they control all of Canterlot, but they have no reason to suspect that I'm an infiltrator rather than a citizen. It's all confusing to me, why these Changelings don't act like the marauders roaming the streets of Equestria, and why Canterlot was left looking like a pony city and not a Changeling nest.

But what's not confusing is the amount of clothing material in this mansion. We've been here for days, but no pony bother to take a good look around and try to learn more about this place and its previous owners. Well, no pony but me, Detective Gala Hat is now on the case.

I spent the morning going through the contents of two separate rooms. Both were well decorated and shared similar interests, with few exceptions. The room of the left wing bore no mirrors to speak of, and possessed a much more rustic design than its counterpart. The bed was carved from a single, large piece of mahogany wood, and matted with a soft but very supporting mattress of pegasus feathers. The other room had a modern frame constructed from silver and steel. I didn't recognize the mattress material, but it was certainly artificial. In the rustic room was a golden golf club, a trophy most likely, and a matching certificate, naming it as an award from the "Annual Stallion's Golf Convention." Meanwhile, the modern bedroom was clearly a mare's room in every possible way; a body sized mirror, light pink wall paint, big flowery paintings on each wall, and a picture of the mare herself at a fashion event.

I've yet to determine the relationship of the two residents, but I have an idea of their personality, which is a start.

Day 62

Triple B

Triple B likes private gym!

Day 62 part 2

White Hoof's Log

What my comrade is trying to say is that the boys and I found the key card to the mansion's gym room, fully equipped with new treadmills that actually display time and distance. Really nice stuff, it is.

Day 62 part 3

Lilac's Log

Who do those stallion's think they're fooling? White Hoof might be tough but I've never seen him run across a street without losing his breath, and it's SO obvious those raider stallions are using magic to lift more than they actually can. They're like, not even tryhards, they're just like losers.

Day 63

Keen Eyes's Log

I got it, it's finally done. It's done, it's done, it's done. IT'S FINALLY DONE! The perfect creation, courtesy of Sweet Tooth's help, to combat the Changelings. It began shortly after Gala Hat so cruelly denied me my rightful dragon scales, when a massive army of Changelings marched into Canterlot. I don't know what they were doing or why they showed up, but many of them looked burned, crippled, or depressed. Probably defeated at the front lines of war, but I didn't care much about it at the time. What I was focused on was what I thought would be an adequate replacement for dragon scales. It was a quartz crystal I had spent days trying to fuse to three electromagnets without compromising its structure. Don't ask me why, I was desperate for something to do at the time.

Needless to say my initial purpose for the electromagnetic quartz was flawed, but it was the Changelings who revitalized its practicality as something else. For whatever reason, the Changelings emit a different type of magic that influenced the quartz in a very minor way; energy, presumably magic, passed through the ruby and generated small, almost unnoticeable vibrations. With such a large group of Changelings passing by, the effect was magnified to the point where the quartz began to aggressively shake against the electromagnets.

Now, if it were any other crystal attached to those electromagnets nothing would have happened, but luckily for me the property of the quartz converted the energy of its shaking into electricity, which in turn powered the electromagnets that repelled each other. The closer I moved the crude contraption closer to the windows, thus closer to the Changelings, the stronger the vibrations and the more power was released, as a result of being closer to the source of Changeling magic I assumed. This increased the power of the electromagnets until one of them actually cracked off the quartz crystal and bouncing out the room and down the stairs.

Were it not for the mansion's size and thick walls, clink of the small electromagnet may have alerted the Changelings of our presence. Thankfully, I had used the smallest piece from the scrap pile. After the shock of the incident passed us, I announced to every pony I had found a method of detecting Changelings through the use of their magic. The device, while simple on paper, took countless hours of searching for just the right pieces, and countless more hours of careful welding. Like I said, magic beams were not my forte, but with the help of Sweet Tooth the delicate pieces were assembled into one amazingly beautiful Changeling device. I called it, the ABCD. The other unicorns, the raiders especially, offered to help with the magic welding, but I would not have their brutish magics anywhere near my creation. It was one of a kind, the only method known that could seek out the location of the Changelings. Something so simple, that I could have easily constructed it during my classes, yet so useful, it could have revealed the numerous Changeling agents hidden among us.

Day 64

Day 64

Keen Eyes's Log

It's time for a test run out in the field today. Today, we're taking our equipment outside the walls of this luxurious mansion at an attempt at the first step for freedom. With me is the best team of survivors I could hope for: Gala Hat, her black clothing (which completely contradicts her love for colorful dresses) and quiet nature made her the perfect scout for the team, I just hope she doesn't get scared mid-mission; White Hoof's a peculiar Marketeer and a perfect sharpshooter, however his left foreleg was slightly disfigured and discolored at birth, thus he will be at the rear of the team looking out for targets to take down; Crush, a ruthless raider and an unstoppable fighter, he won't give anything about his past life despite his outward and social personality, and while he's smarter than his fellow rider Triple B, the difference was marginal; finally, there was Sweet Tooth, educated and somewhat insane, she's the only pony of the group who could fabricate and operate explosives for the mission, however I wish she wasn't so... enthusiastic about it.

I've left Lavender under the protection of the others, but Gala Hat was her closest friend. I'm sure she'll be happy with Mint Leaf though, they get along just as well and Mint loves to care for foals. I do hope Lilac and Lotus keep their influence away from her though, two of them is enough adolescence for the group.

The scout mission will begin just after the morning shift change, when the Changelings haven't fully woken up yet. We'll wait roughly ten minutes after the first patrol passes, ideally that would put the maximum distance between the patrol coming toward our base and the one moving away. The number of what appears to be "civilian" Changelings have increased, which is why the ABCD is vital in this situation. We cannot predict the movements of the civilians, along with that our predictions are likely to be inaccurate, so we need to be able to compensate for that with the device.

Our goal is to reach the Canterlot Gardens without detection within the day. The Gardens were one of the few places damaged by the invasion force, and while the inner parts of it remain relatively untouched, the main roads to it are obstructed by large stones and dead trees. I assume the Changeling military don't intend to put "trim the hedges" on their to do list, so it makes a perfect stopping point for future expeditions.

I leave the journal here until I return, I hear writing has become one of Lavender's favorite hobbies, maybe she could do her own entries.

Day 64 part 2

Mint Leaf

I'm glad Keen accomplished something that makes him happy, I really am, but I just think a test run of this scale is a little too much at this early stage. He says the ABCD was improved to point out just a single Changeling from twenty-five to thirty meters away, but we don't even know if it's true. All his facts were just drawn up on a sheet of paper and confirmed with equations I can't even read, let alone comprehend it. I'm not going to argue with him about it though, not after what happened between him and Nurse back in Ponyville. I won't let our team get shattered again, and that includes keeping every pony safe.

I feel weird talking about Nurse and Keen again. The subject has only ever been touched upon by Gala Hat every now and then, and she's never said anything about it in front of Keen. The conversation was always just between us. Well, it was more like me listening to all her stories and emotions about her past with Keen and Nurse. Some tears were shed, mistakes may have been made involving a lost parasprite and Sweet Tooth's "special pills," but we had some good moments.

Anyways, I just keep thinking back to how well they got along, at least from Gala Hat's point of view. I don't know what Keen thinks though, he never talked about Nurse before, at least not in the way Gala Hat does. Sure, I heard he studied at Ponyville University for a while, but I only ever saw him passing by on campus, so I didn't really know him; but if everything Gala Hat says about him is true, then I wish we were friends long ago. She almost idolizes him; she sees a brilliant and level headed stallion, one who's passionate about his work and lives to better the lives of others. I can see some of that in him, but I wouldn't go so far as to say he's that perfect. He knows how to have fun, but keeps it bottled up inside, even more so given our current state of affairs, and in place of that he's stern and focused, and while that's just the behavior we need to survive, it's not what I'd look for in a stallion.

I wonder if he regrets anything. Gala Hat regrets the time she spent at the Carousel Boutique when the group split apart. I definitely regret not coming to terms with my best friend before she was taken by the Changelings. I recall White Hoof rambling about some old friends he knew in the E.U.P guard. According to him they died as the first response to the Changelings, and he regrets not looking out for them. But Keen's so locked up. He drowns himself in his work, always changing some equation or adding extra parts, never stopping until he makes something useful from the scrap he carries with him.

The detector he made's great, but I think it's a lost cause if he tried to continue with his other projects. No matter what he tries to make, we're always missing an "essential support structure" or some sort of "crystal conduit" is missing. It's impossible to know what he's holding back, but there's definitely something he feels sorry about, something he needs to reconcile with himself. Maybe it is Nurse Toxin, and he's just too sensitive about it. Or maybe as the one who led us to Canterlot he blames himself for Hammer Hoof's death. Maybe it's losing his home, or his friends; not all of us got out of Ponyville alive.

Day 64 part 3

Red Diamond's Log

I was told there's an unspoken rule about not reading each other's logs, but to hell with that I'm bored. While every pony has been keeping up with their tasks and their hobbies, I've been doing the one thing we never got to do in Ponyville: Sleep all day, everyday. I need to change things up a bit, even if it's just to get Gum Drop and Copper Tail off my back for being lazy. As if those oafs are doing something around here. I'm surprised their drinking and eating hasn't choked them to death yet. It doesn't matter, the cellar looks like it was built to last for months. For the first time in my life I'm glad we have rich ponies in Equestria.

Back to the journal. I'm starting from page one. I want to know the whole history of these ponies, Nurse Toxin especially. I want to know what broke up the Coalition that fateful day in Ponyville. Out of curiosity, of course. I couldn't care less for that trash pile I used to call home. I don;t get why they all cling to the past, it's not like we had a chance of getting our old homes back, or reclaiming the lives we lived before the attack. Hell, I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one who thinks the mansion's a better place than what we had in Ponyville. For me it's better than anything I've lived in my whole life.

Yeah, so what if I was poor in the old days, there wasn't a job for some pony with a bed as her cutie mark and sleeping as her talent. I got the bills paid in time with a job at Quills and Sofas. Best work place by the way, since they were always out of quills and hardly any pony would buy a sofa I basically just sat in the store all day, like I am right now. Thankfully some things never change.

Day 64 part 4

Sweet Tooth's Records

Oh, it was wonderful, simply wonderful! Stepping out into the city of Canterlot, seeing the world, observing the enemy. For starters, did you know that Changelings stored their prey (us) in green sacs for storage even after feeding? I sure didn't! The amount of data I could have retrieve was phenomenal , Party Pooper Keen had us move on once we entered the Canterlot Gardens.

Contrary to popular belief it wasn't untouched at all! Oh, how delightful! The center of the Gardens seemed to have been cultivated to imitate the environment of a tropical rain forest, but despite the obvious use of magic it was a poor substitute. The green storage pods held countless animals that used to reside in the Gardens, some containing as many as eight creatures crammed into one swelling pod. Oh I wanted to poke it, I wanted to poke it so bad!

There's so much more we could learn from them, their biology, their magic, their social structure, it's all so fascinating. From the Gardens we had a quick view of the castle interior, an essential piece of information now that we've grown more offensive. The Changelings seems to have converted into a hive-like structure, with with green, slimy walls, and judging from the scent it was made of an organic material. I wish I could have explored it, I wanted to feel the walls, understand their architecture, even taste the material. Is it poisonous? Does it taste good? How do they make it? All these questions permeated my mind as we returned back to base, thankfully unharmed.

Night 64

Keen Eyes's Log

Something's inside the castle; something big. It set off the ABCD the moment we set food in the Canterlot Gardens. Up until that point the device showed no faults in its design. I would point it in one direction, and if the magnets rumbled around then we had a hostile in that direction. Most were civilians, since we knew how to avoid the soldiers.

But once inside the gardens, everything set off the detector, whether or not it was a Changeling. I gathered a small sample from a chrysalis we found in the Garden. I also filled up a jar of the slime they coated trees with. I don't know what it is, or what it does, but it definitely has done something to the landscape. And whatever's in the castle now, probably some disgusting sinister project, is interfering with the ABCD's capabilities. I have to know what it is if my creation has any hope of flourishing.

Day 65

Gum Drop's part

Finally, a reason to drink and eat without any pony getting on my case. We're having a nice gathering this evening to celebrate our first venture into the unknown. And guess who's got two hooves and is in charge of the drinks? This guy! :)

Copper Tail's taken over the kitchen now that his "exquisite cuisine" has a place in this world. Just as long as he doesn't touch the cider, I'm fine with that. He's a great chef, I will admit, but he better leave the drinks to The Brew Master Gum Drop. That was my DJ name back in school, please don't tell anyone.

Day 65 part 2

Red Diamond's Log

Fucking Keen Eyes, always gotta ruin my fun. I found some of those new headphones I kept hearing about. A new invention open to all ponies with a fat wallet and a love for listening. It was good for listening to some music I guess, but before I could try it on one of the music players in the master bedroom Keen Eyes saw me and freaked out about something. He had a quick rant and proceeded to yank the headphones away from me with is stupid unicorn magic and run off. Seriously, what the hell I only have hooves. He probably just wants to take it apart and add it to that awful device of his.

That stupid Changeling detector got every pony worked up for nothing. We're not soldiers and we're not scouts; I say we chill out while the military makes their way back to Canterlot. Nothing more to it; we have all the food, water, shelter, and medicine that we could possibly need, so why throw it all away on some ambitious pursuit to fight the Changelings ourselves?

Day 65 part 2

Keen Eyes's Log

Radio radio radio radio radio radio radio radio radio radio radio radio radio radio radio radio radio...

It's been so long since we've heard from a radio. Our last connection to the outside was that the E.U.P. was mobilizing against the Changelings by order of the Princesses. With all that was going on, the escape and hiding in Canterlot, I had forgotten about our need for a radio.

Well maybe not ignored, since there was a huge old radio down in the kitchen, but just avoided. Those old radios were really loud and would have gave away our position to just about every Changeling in Canterlot. Thankfully the ~~red one~~ Red Diamond found a pair of headphones though. I don't know how long she had it, but I don't care. I'm re-configuring some of the internal pieces to connect the headphones to the audio so we can have the radio play without alerting anything outside of this mansion.

It would be an excellent surprise for every pony this evening, to play the radio for the first time in weeks and find out about the rest of Equestria.

Day 65 part 3

Mint Leaf's Log

Keen found me helping Gala Hat solve the mystery of the previous owners. He held up a pair of headphones and told me to come quick. I asked Gala Hat to come with me but she said she found some connection in the rooms we were looking at. Well I sure hope she found something great because the radio was definitely worth leaving to listen to. I hate writing with my mouth so I just asked Keen to use his magic for me.

... I'm Telly Prompter live from Fillydelphia HQ, the newest installment to the city's destroyed landscape and the place where Operation Reclamation is coordinated. Next to be is one of the Wonderbolts' most recent officer, Captain Rainbow Dash, here to tell us what she can about the military's recent efforts.

Thank you Miss Prompter, it's an honor to be on Manehattan Radio Station to give the latest feed to our struggling citizens. Now, I won't lie and say it's been easy. We've taken almost as many casualties as the Changelings have in the recent week of fighting, but it's not been in vain. Unlike them the E.U.P and the Wonderbolts have spearheaded the primitive hives scattered across Fillydelphia and Baltimare. I can't disclose all the details as of now, but I think even the Changeling know who's running the town now. Commander Spitfire and a large group of E.U.P guards have now passed the nearest demilitarized zone and hit fully fledged Changeling territory in the Foal Mountains and Hollow Shades. And, of course, we're winning. I really don't mean to toot my own horn here, but I just can't help it; I guess our loyalty to Equestria and her people just makes us the best around these parts.

Thank you, Captain, for that inside look on our position against the Changelings. I'm sure folks all over Equestria are happy to know how much progress the military's made in just the past few days. Now, over to.....

The Foal Mountains! I've taken the Express through those mountains and it's right between us and Manehattan. Amazing, if things keep going the way they are, Canterlot will be ponyfied once again pretty soon. I can't wait to finally do some proper gardening, maybe get a job trimming some hedges or pruning bushes. That would be the life.

This is really the perfect news to kick off the night. It'll be an hour or so before Copper Tail's done with the food, but I can smell it for sure, and I may have sampled a bit of Gum Drop's specialty drinks when he wasn't looking. Look, who could blame me? Ever since Sweet Tooth found the medicine cabinet fully stocked she's been making all kinds of crazy pills. I have a gut feeling she's going to spike something. Mark my words journal, it will happen!

Day 66

Day 66

Keen Eyes's Log

I... I can't remember what happened last night. A bit of cider, a bit of pie, a bit of "herbal medicine" from Sweet Tooth. Sweet Celestia, my head. I think I'm just going to lay down for the rest of... my life....

Day 66 part 2

Red Diamond's Log

hOLY SHIT yO thaT PARty was WIckeD! ThAt WitE h00f reaaally knowz HOW to HoLD his liquor, bUT SO do I!

Day 66 part 3

Gala Hat's Log

What are they thinking? I would expect Keen of all ponies to know Lavender's too young of a pony to have been exposed to such intense partying. Honestly, after the Changelings mobilized against the E.U.P forces that were on its way, the city became a playground for every pony. That is definitely no way to teach a growing filly like Lavender.

I was horrified when Red Diamond took her up to the roof for a toast to freedom. And then Crush and Triple B offered to take her through Canterlot for some "casual wreckage." I just had to stop them. This is Canterlot! It's nothing like surviving in the ruins of Ponyville, and we certainly don't need to make it look like it.

And don't even get me started on what Lilac and White Hoof were doing after the little drinking game with Red Diamond. Thank goodness Lavender was with me before that all started. Just, no, I'm not even going to touch that subject.

Gum Drop and Copper Tail were the only decent ones; they drank and ate all night, talking about their past as contemplating the meaning of life in the middle of their drunken stupor.

Even Keen and Mint Leaf fell victim to Sweet Tooth's experiments with whatever drugs were used by the Canterlot elite. I think the three of them's passed out in the bathroom upstairs.

As for me and Lavender, after I took her away from Red Diamond we had a fun, calm night of drawing, coloring, telling ghost stories, and trying to make origami. I swear, Lavender's talent has got to be in origami. I've never heard of a unicorn her age having so much dexterity with telekinesis. She began with a swan at the start of the night, and by morning she had finished a scale model of The Headless Horse, courtesy of my inspiring ghost stories. All I can do is a frog.

Day 67

Keen Eyes's Log

Now that they're gone - the Changelings - the city's so quiet. I stand here, on the roof of the mansion, and nothing, not a single beep, comes from the detector. We've let loose our frustrations and repressed urges of freedom, some more extreme than others, but our job's not here. Even if the Changeling military had left to take on the rescuing forces, the citizens should still be here. If they fled to the castle, such a large concentration of their magic should set off the ABCD from here. It's like they've vanished.

That's not possible, not even creatures as freakish and unnatural as the Changelings could move their entire population over night just like that. No, my suspicions will be confirmed once we determine the properties of the samples we retrieved from that wretched garden of theirs. Sweet Tooth and Mint Leaf are taking a look at the organic matter now, hoping to glean some information from chrysalis shells and Changeling fluid. Yuck. I leave you in their capable hooves, Journal.

Day 67 part 2

Mint Leaf's Log

I'm no chemist, that's Sweet Tooth's specialty, but I think my botany skills are as sharp as ever. I left the sappy fluid for Sweet to examine and took a look at the structure of the chrysalis samples myself. Hard and foul-smelling, they unlike anything I've ever seen. There's a clear merging of animal and plant cells in it - I found this out with a handy microscope crafted by Keen Eyes - not as if they were a mixture of the two, but a completely different type of cell with both plant and animal characteristics. I had to know how the Changelings had accomplished such a feat, but alas, I have yet to find anything as to what may have caused such a combination.

Day 67 part 3

Sweet Tooth's Experiments

Yes, my pretty, you secrets shall be mine. Mint Leaf has already informed me of your strange biology, and I too have confirmed it with my own eyes. Microscopes do not lie, Changeling Slime, and neither will you!

I have distilled much of your contents, alcohol being one of them, and yet the secrets of this bizarre slime is still hidden from me. Luckily, three fourths remain of the fluid, ripe for experimentation. I continued my tests with some hydrolysis, a small sample was mixed with a tablespoon of distilled water, and another sample mixed with enzymes of my own saliva. I shall leave these two to breakdown over the next few nights.

We are not done, no, not even close. Half remains now, and though I can feel the fear of the slime I can assure you it cannot feel the harm inflicted upon it. The next reasonable approach was magic! It had to be, how could something so close to the Changelings not have some magical influence surrounding it. It is weak in its magic, yes, but just as Keen had his stroke of brilliance, I had mine.

I created roughly an ounce of iron filings, and subjected them to a magnetic field generated from my own horn. Yes, this was not a normal field of magnetism, as magic was inherently flowing through the field as well. And for the sake of discovery, I took the next step in my experiment. With a makeshift pipette I doused my horn in with a sprinkle of the slime, and by the moon that bitch burned like hell! With a sudden crackle and a spark the magic fueling the magnetism spell had been sapped from my body, and the joy of the experience was flooded with a wave of first sorrow, then anger and hatred. Only the strongest logical reasoning stopped my sudden outburst from ruining the laboratory I had set up in one of the many bathrooms within the mansion.

This effect, however painful it may be, must be explored further with the other types of ponies. What is the full range of its draining capabilities? How are the emotions it inflicts effected by the state of the pony? Why must it consist of plant-animal hybrid cells? These are the essential questions in this investigation, and only by experimentation can we get this right. TO THE FIELD TESTING!

Day 68

Triple B

Triple B don't want none of that green shit!

Day 68 part 2

Lilac's Log

Um, no. I am not going anywhere near that disgusting slime, and I will literally flip shit if Sweet Tooth even looks at me with that thing.

Day 70

Keen Eyes's Log

Mint and Sweet have presented their findings to every pony by now, asking if any pony would like to test the "draining effects" of the Changeling slime. Honestly, I can't blame every pony for being freaked out over the stuff. As a general rule, anything related to Changelings were bad, but magic eating slime could be one of the worst things imaginable.

For all intents and purposes, I think our research is done. The chemical composition, its organic chemistry, these things should be left to actual laboratories, not makeshift burners and distilleries cobbled together from parts of a rich stallion's home. Besides, much worse news arrived from Manehattan radio this morning, and I think the slime has something to do with it.

... Telly Prompter, reporting live from news cloud hovering over what appears to be a savage three way conflict between Equestria's own military, the Changelings, and a new group of radical militants. We've been trying to land the crew and the cloud down to gather more from the situation, but there isn't a single landing zone not overtaken in this utterly relentless fighting. Against all reason, the pony militants marched into the Foal Mountains just two days ago and have savagely attacked Changelings and E.U.P alike. None of our sources have been able to identify the kind of spears the unknown force is carrying, but it's undoubtedly powerful, going head to head with the E.U.Ps very own Harmony Spear Formation - inaudible boom

Okay, um... what appears to have been the Wonderbolt's base camp has just been stuck by an immense green explosion - Cloud Steer, could you take us down closer? I- I can barely make out the troops down in some kind of, goo? They're still alive; Cloud! Get us closer, we have to pull them out before- sweet Celestia it's the Chang-- radio crackle

Again, more death on the pony side of this war. We've barely made any advance against the Changelings and they hit us with everything they got. Every pony must see, it's more than just our country, or our homeland. It's about Nurse; Ponyville was hit by the Wonderbolts when the main nest was stirred up. It's about Hammer Hoof; he died from an infection simply trying to make it to safety. It's about the Hay brothers who pulled through more suffering than any of us. It's about each and every stallion, mare, and foal who died because of this damn bloody war.

Day 70 part 2

Gala Hat's Log

It's all simply awful, what happened in the Foal Mountains. For a moment, I thought we had a change to get our homes back and put the Changelings behind us. Now I don't know what to do. I really don't.

Keen thinks he has it all figured out; he thinks the Changelings are making the slime as a weapon against Equestria's magic, and once they get it out into every theater of war they'll be nothing to stop them from completing their domination. He sure has a whole lot of confidence in his theory, which is good. Because I don't care for it.

He's jumping to conclusions, like what Nurse did the moment she heard about the Last Survivors. Plenty good that did us, getting us split apart, losing Ponyville to Wonderbolt bombings. If we just hadn't stirred up the Changeling horde, maybe Ponyville might still be standing.

Now we've gone full circle and we have nothing to show for it. So what if the Changelings do have an anti-magic slime, there's nothing we can do about it. Canterlot's their central hive now, or at least a central hive. There's bound to be lots of danger if we go investigating it, we could even get some pony killed. I won't let Lavender see another of her friends taken by these monster. I won't let Keen make the choice that's going to split us up again. I won't pursue this matter any further, and neither should Keen.

Day 70 part 3

Mint Leaf's Log

Abandon ship every pony, Gala Hat hates Keen now. Or at least she's upset with him. I can see why; he's come up with what can only be called a suicide mission. A mission into the Canterlot Castle to learn about the heart of the Changeling forces and expose any weaknesses. If nothing else, he wants to sabotage the production of the Changeling slime.

We don't even know how it's made, where the materials come from. Hell, we don't even know what's in the castle. From what his Changeling detector can tell us, it's something with a lot of magical power, and I don't like the thought of going near that kind of power if it's controlled by the Changelings.

But, now that I think about it, maybe that's why he's right. Whatever' in there could come out at any moment. It could even be unleashed right now, and we'd all fall to its might. That must be why he's dead set on this idea, on this suicide mission "to save Equestria." It's true that we might be the first and only ponies to get this close to the Changeling's command center. It's true that any danger to us may be worth it if it helps save Equestria. But all the same, I'm just to scared to go with the plant.

Like Gala Hat said to him, we're not soldiers. Me, I'm just a gardener from Ponyville.

Day 70 part 4

Sweet Tooth's Log

Incompetent imbeciles. To look into the heart of the enemy, and pull their secrets out against their will, what greater cause is there? I cannot believe how short sighted every pony is. Keen Eyes led us here from that disaster in Ponyville, I trust his judgement, especially if it means more chances to test on the Changelings' things.

I'm surprised Gala Hat's against this. I would expect that she of all ponies would want to get back at the Changelings, after all, it was their fault Nurse Toxin's no longer with us. Everything wrong around here is the fault of the Changelings. Lavender doesn't have a family because of the Changelings, how can we sit idly by and not deliver retribution for her mother.

Because of the Changelings, we all have to put up with Lotus and Lilac's incessant complaining. If that will not motive a pony to hate the Changelings, I cannot imagine what will.

Day 71

Keen Eyes's Log

Sweet Tooth, Mint Leaf, Crush, and me. We finally made out for Canterlot castle last night once every pony had gone to bed. We had intended to return before morning, but things never go as planned. I just don't know what went wrong.

The main Changeling army had returned from the front lines of the battlefield. We took cover in a mane salon as we watched them march into the castle. In the sky we could hear the reinforcements going out to take their place on the battlefield, buzzing away towards the Foal Mountains. We wasted roughly an hour waiting for the Changelings to pass us before we could move on into the gardens.

Of course, I had brought my amazingly beautiful Changeling detector, and of course, it went crazy as we entered the castle grounds. The electromagnets roared to life as it picked up all the Changeling soldiers that filled the castle. Their magic was just too much for the ABCD to handle. I had to shut it off for the remainder of the mission.

The plan was to enter the castle through the ballroom, which connected to the Gardens. However, that entrance was on the other side of the gardens and secured by three Changeling guards. We trotted quietly through the Gardens, making sure not to disturb the slime pods stuck to the trees; filled to the brim and leaking, they looked like the slightest disturbance would rupture their shell. The scenery was the worst part, for we witnessed the slow deaths of the fauna and flora alike. The pods were parasites to the tress they were stuck on, according to Mint. She said the trees looked as if they were debilitated by some form of blight. Meanwhile, those trapped within the pods - birds, rabbits, even a baboon - were either dead or dying, drowned by the thick slime of the pod. Like a pitcher plant, it broke down their flesh and incorporated it into more slime, likely fusing it with the plant matter it was draining from the trees. That was the source of the slime's biology; it was a cruel abomination of nature, and a fitting parasite for the heartless Changelings.

The guards were no problem for us. Mint and Sweet Tooth took some time before the mission to concoct some kind of sleeping powder, made from Mint's herbs and some drowsy medicine Sweet had a habit of using. I won't pretend that I understand how it works, I just hope I never get to experience its effects. The powder was delivered through a crude homemade grenade, created by yours truly, and quickly dispatched all three guards in half a minute.

Once inside the ball room we made our way toward the main entrance, skirting around the light of candles and staying out of sight. Thankfully, there were still many grand ornaments and statues of the princesses to where we could take cover. The quickest way to the entrance of the castle was therefore a path we could not take, for countless guards patrolled the hallways and even the cover of darkness would not be enough.

It was just our luck that none of us has ever actually been in the castle of Canterlot, and so we knew of no other way into the heart of the castle, the throne room. It was the most logical place for a command center, and from there we could find our way to wherever the slime was being stored.

At least, that was the plan.

Day 71 part 2

We are now hiding in what seems to be a meeting room. Day has come and it's far too easy to be spotted for us to be sneaking around. Having no sleep last night, we decided to take this opportunity to prepare to make the journey back to the group; we needed more knowledge of the castle grounds before we began to neutralize the Changelings, but this scout mission was a good insight as to how organized the enemy was, and given how long it took the Changelings to retreat from the war front and switch with another army in Canterlot, we had quite a few days left to sort out the slime before more reached the battlefield.

Day 71 part 3

Crush's Page

I can't believe this. We come out here to wreck shit and now he wants us to go back! No way, these freaks killed my friends, I'm not letting that go unpunished.

Day 71 part 4

Sweet Tooth's Log

I managed to collect many more samples last night in the Canterlot Gardens. Horrible place, yes, but it's simply so rich in opportunities for study I could stay there for days watching the slime, mixing the slime, feeding the slime, perhaps even touching the slime once again. But Keen's right, we must leave now before the Changelings find us and confiscate my samples. My work cannot be disturbed by such dull-minded creatures.

Night 71

Keen Eyes's Log

We started off the night checking out the path the guards would take, each of us covered a different zone and stuck to the shadows, to find a way out of castle without running into any trouble.

Ninety minutes after sun down we returned to the meeting room and combined the guards' paths onto a large map we drew on the chalk board. It was in no way a complete map, but we all agreed the safest course of action was to sneak along the business wing and loop around the back into the Canterlot Archives. The Starswirl the Bearded room cut through a section of the castle, making the escape quicker by cutting over a scenic garden path.

Once through the Canterlot Archives we were stopped by two Changelings taking a stroll around the Labyrinth. The Labyrinth was adjacent to where we had entered the Canterlot Gardens and it was the safest area possible. With no much space, so many hedges, and numerous statues, we had no problem sliding past what little security was put near the Labyrinth.

Of course, we had forgotten one crucial part of the Changelings. The can fly, and subsequently, they have patrols up above. We were spotted very quickly as we crossed over into the Canterlot Gardens, and though the exist was no more than a hundred meters away, the Changelings got to us before we got to our escape.

We were prepared to fight, Crush most of all, yet we did not. We were captured and sent deep down into the bowels of the castle, probably for whatever cruel experiments the Changelings had prepared for us. How we were captured, that's up to speculation, because I myself don't remember a thing, along with Mint and Sweet Tooth. Crush is no where to be seen in this forsaken dungeon, and the only sense of time is whenever the guards change shifts, signalling the setting or rising of the sun.

Day 72

Day 72

Keen Eyes's Log

Well then, I guess it's just you and me journal. The door of this cell is solid stone, most likely granite, and only a small peep whole lets in the candle light from the outside. As I've said, I measure the passage of based on the shifts of the guards. They're shifts are long, lasting from sunrise to sunset and sunset to sunrise.

Food isn't a problem. They clearly want to keep us alive, but that doesn't mean the food is good. It's not even whole. Meals are dropped from a chute that connects to the surface, however no light ever come in. We must be far down. Even if I had the endurance to climb such lengths, I'd never fit into the chute. Not even my hoof can fit. The only things that comes through the chute are apple slices and small breaths of fresh air, and neither can ever satisfy me.

You can imagine the state of the food after it has been dropped from such a height. I count myself lucky not t have been hit by my falling meal, unlike Mint, who yelped in pain when the first meal was sent down. I haven't heard from her all day, but I take it she learned her lesson before lunch.

I can't see what it's like outside, but I can hear Sweet Tooth's endlessly yelling, "Let me out you bastards! I'll roast your asses and serve it to you on a silver platter damn it!" I can see her doing it, I really can, but the Changeling's don't know her like I do. The other things I can tell from the sounds of the outside are this: There is water - not a second goes by without the endless pattering of it against the stone floor. It's also large cavern - the echoes produced by the flowing water would be a welcomed sound to set a calmer atmosphere, if Sweet did not replace it with her screeching and hollering.

With nothing to see or do, the only thing I keeping me from going mad is flashing some light from my horn and writing my thoughts across the pages of this journal.

Day 72 part 2

Keen Eyes's Log

There's really no point in a title, but I can't help but put it there as if it were just another entry. For some short moments I get lost in thought, day dreaming of how I got here. I see Gala Hat, chatting her head off about caring for Lavender and the group; Lavender's face a grim frown as I told every pony of my plans to take the fight to the Changelings; understandably, fear is with every pony else and they are reluctant to follow through, every pony except Crush, Mint, and Sweet - their minds are made up.

The guards have switched, signalling the coming of night, yet I remain in my own memories. Once again my mind lingers for a while before it focuses, this time on the day I first met Lavender. I see her mother, pleading me to help the raiders pry her daughter out; out came the rubble and every pony rejoiced, except for Toxin. Toxin, the mare who had been my friend for almost as long as I can remember, is now most likely dead in Ponyville. Ponyville was our home in the years preceding the invasion, and its castle drew in the great minds and even greater teachers; teachers who would inspire the wonder and imagination of a world full of machines, machines like the detector I designed that would eventually lead us down here. Here, we shall die.

Day 74

I sleep, eat, scream, and sleep some more. The Changelings have started to toy with our hunger, sloshing down water applesauce in place of solid food. I welcome it it all the same. Despite all the struggles in the aftermath of the invasion, water was always plentiful in Ponyville, and of course the mansion was well stocked with all kinds of drinks. But down here, water is found in the juice of the fruit and the condensation on the walls.

I don't even know what they want. Is this some sick game of theirs? Taking ponies and breaking their body and spirit, just for laughs? If so, what have they done with Crush. What sick forms of experimentation or torture can they implement to exact the painful screams from his soft, fleshy throat. Am I mad now, or are those his screams I hear? I don't know which I would prefer - waiting here as my companions are shattered and drained to their very limit, knowing I will soon follow, or wallowing in a dark, damp, degrading room with my mind successfully lost to the Changelings.

I cannot pace about as I normally do, for just a few paces in any direction is met with a hard stone wall, but I am still free to stretch. It is a welcomed comfort, but soon it became another form of the the Changeling's torture; a slim source of hope given to all their prey by the deprivation of nearly all their basic needs developed an idea within my mind and compelled me to forsake reason and slam myself against the door. I fought with tooth and horn to move the stone door by using what little space I was given to generate momentum.

Day 74 part 2

It must have been two hours or so after I began to flail about when my right shoulder cracked under from the stiff granite door. It had not moved an centimeter. I can feel it now, some sort of foul essence that pervades the air, clouding my mind.

It's hard to write coherently now. I struggle to form even short sentences. My thoughts drift more often. As time passes, I go insane. I think..

Day ???

How long has it been now, I do not know. Like when we were first captured, darkness fell upon me and I recall nothing, however I do not think I would see anything to remember anyways. This time, however, I did not awake on my own accord. It was the screams of Sweet Tooth as she was torn from her cell by the Changelings. Her voice echoed by as they left the cavern but the worst was still to come.

Wherever they are taking us, it is far, but still very much connected to our cells. I find myself being awakened from my naps by faint, strained wails of pain, but at other times the exact same voice gives cries of content, relief, or joy. Despicable things are happening here. Will any pony ever discover them? We all may just die here, alone, segregated, and tormented.

Where are our princesses? Strangely, this is all I ask myself now. An unknown number of days have passed, and all I wonder is why not even the slightest comfort is given to us. Luna, Protector of Dreams, Conqueror of Nightmares, Vanquisher of Fears, Sister to Celestia and Guardian over the Night, why can she not save me in my sleep. I want to go in peace, not fear. I want to bask in the peace of the silent moonlit night, not rot in a dungeon. I want to leave this world as my own being, not a lab rat or toy for the Changelings. None of these come. I do not think they will ever come.

Day ????

I will not listen this time. I cannot listen.

Mint Tooth's soothing tone, her beautiful figure, soon to be taken from this world by the depravity of the Changelings. They do not know what they do, what an amazing creature they have destroyed this day.

I write this with hooves tightly over my ears, and it shall be so for all time. Every shriek from every provocation rings in my mind nonetheless, but it is what I must do to stay sane.

Day ?????

Time has passed, that's all I know. The guards mean nothing to me. The slosh they serve as food, I lick it up mindlessly. Each sentence is a struggle, each word a whole year in my mind. I am the last one now. So be it. Let them come, I'm ready.

Oh, it's them I hear. Yes, too many are coming for a normal shift change. The clank of equipment, stomping steps of soldiers, they are all familiar. In all this, I still have a happy thought. For the first time in a long time, I can finally leave this cell. Yes, they are here. A click in the key, no, the guard had the wrong key. A quick fix however, and the door it unlocked. It slides. It moans from its weight. In the corner of my eye I see them. I give no resistance to them; they are shocked. They whisper, they mock, they kick and stomp on-

Day ??????

Day ???????

Day ????????

Day ?????????

One day they say. "They" being the inquisitors, the researchers, the wardens and the masters. It doesn't matter what name they take; it's all the same. The say their business will take just a day. It is eternity on my end. I should be dead, but it is by their dark powers that I live, so that they may have more fun.

At the end of each daily session, I am left in a room, much more spacious, well lit, and smelling of fresh air. It is pitiable then that I cannot enjoy any of it. I can only feel hate, only see pain, and only smell my own blood dried and smeared across every instrument of suffering. This room is where the business is conducted. They ask nothing, say nothing - pain just comes and with it a piece of myself is lost.

I have said before that the confinement had broken my spirit and body. I was naive to think it would be so easy. It was in that cell where I was cultivated, marinated, and seasoned for the oven of hell the Changelings have built. "A wondrous cavern of Canterlot's mountain" they call it. "Just begging for the personal touch!" they exclaimed.

Nothing has come for me this morning, as expected. They are very punctual and were explicit last evening as they cauterized my wounds. "We must attend a staff meeting, so I must apologize in advance for delaying tomorrow's appointment," were the exact words of the Changeling researching me. I finally have the time to somewhat recover, and it will be all for naught.

Day 83

Eleven days, or so they say, since I was first brought to this hellish place. To think, I had planned to go into Canterlot and leave unharmed in a single night, and despite all that has happened, I'm still left with a quill, a vial of ink, and this journal. I don't know why the Changelings left it with me. Perhaps they are amused at my anchor to sanity, or perhaps they simply do not care.

Well, I do not care for whatever they think of me. They have not harried me for some time now, and by now enough of my strength has returned to allow me to stand.

I suppose now would be the right time to record the happenings of this forsaken place, but truth be told, I cannot bear it. Writing eases my mind but it burns my soul. I think back to the cuts along my legs, the deep incisions and samples they drew from my flesh. My own blood, leaked from my veins, tampered with, and pumped back into my arteries and burning every inch of my being with what felt like acid in my blood.

These experiments are vital to understanding the enemy, but forgive me if I cannot describe them. I cannot return to that moment, even in memory, of how I was tormented, of how I suffered. And worse, such acts of violence has been done to my friends as well. Crush, the first of us to be lost, he must have suffered this the most.

Oh how I wish this fate had been made known to me long before we journeyed into Canterlot. I was deluded to think that I, a single piece of an extravagant and dark puzzle, could be they key to the Changeling's defeat. Maybe that's why I must write. My punishment for my arrogance, an eternal hell in my mind. My only redemption, revelation of such savagery.

Yes, somehow the world must know how we lived in anguish under the eye of the Changelings. All of Equestria must learn to hate the methods of the Changelings; the burns, the drowning, the deprivation of base requirements and the overindulgence of the very same needs.

Day 83 part 2

I recall the first event that occurred within these walls. I awoke to a cold sting in my hindquarters; a simple prod given by the handler. Surrounding me were his assistants. The handler would bark orders with buzzes and hisses, and the assistants would respond. None showed any interest in my screams or struggles - I was cemented to the cold stone table by a glue similar to the green slime on the surface.

It was soon clear to me what they intended to do with me as the handler commenced his invasion into my flesh. Layer after layer my coat and skin were removed, exposing my left rear leg. I screamed and pleaded but to no avail; an assistant had sealed my mouth shut with more of their disgusting green glue.

The handler then, amused by my anguish no doubt, propped my head up for a full view of what took place. An assistant handed him a small vial of green fluid, much more fluid than the generic slime. To my horror, a writhing organism lurked within the vial, like a maggot but much bigger.

I cried, I shook, and I kicked with all my strength, but I did not yet know it only pleased them more. The green liquid was injected deep into my leg, excruciating slow as the green maggot slithered its way down my flesh. I believe it was at this point I passed out from the pain as it bore a whole to my bone.

Day 83 part 3

That of course was only the first part of the day. I was only offered a moment of rest before I was subjected to general torture; hot metal brands etched their way across my skin, water flooded my lungs for hours as they slowly drowned me, only to remove the water with telekinesis and begin again.

At every emotion I felt the thing in my leg festered and grew. Pain, it grew. Woe, it grew. Hatred, it grew. Miraculously, the day did end at some point, and while I was unconscious from the inflicted suffering the handler finally removed the creature in my leg.

I awoke on the table once more the next day. At least, I think it was the next day. I recall a different Changeling now, one much stouter that his colleague before him. There were fewer assistants, but it did not matter - the glue that held me remained.

This Changeling did take notice of me. He chatted like a friend and introduced himself as Mr.Glutton. He commented on my state of nutrition, expressing disappointment at having such a malnourished subject. I was hopeful that I would be granted real food, even if it was to be another false sense of hope to break my spirit further. But not even a small light of hope makes its way this far down. Instead, Mr.Glutton introduced me to his feeding tubes; six long, narrow pipes attached to the wall that would funnel "nutrition" into my mouth.

Oh yes, those pipes were strapped down into my mouth as I screamed once more for mercy, but it was then I learned of Mr.Glutton's taste for the "unappreciative." He scolded me as his assistants operated a contraption built into the wall, slapping me and spitting on my face, calling me a "spoiled pony brat." He said he would punish me for not accepting his efficient cuisine; the thick, chunky, black fluid that flowed down the pipes and flooded my mouth.

I choked and gagged when it burst out the pipes and down into my stomach - it tasted of blood, but bitter - and it made it nearly impossible to breath. Its texture was grainy, like sand rather than oats, and it cut my mouth at times when I would spas around. My struggles only delayed its effect, and by one hour my stomach was beyond bloated. It stretched by belly and forced me to regurgitate, crossing over into my windpipe as well and knocking me out once more from asphyxiation.

And like the prior day, this continued many times. Each time would be quicker as water was added to turn the black chunky syrup into a sinister dark liquid, and each time I wretched and spammed from its horrid taste; its bitterness, the taste of rot and mold, blood and sweat, thy were all pieces of the overall sensation. It was even spicy at times, burning my mouth and throat as it ran down to my gut.

By about noon time Mr.Glutton left for his lunch break, and afterwards it was back to general torture, just as the day before. Electrocution was implemented this time due to an assistant's remarkable skill in shock magic. Thus I was punctured in the chest, legs, and flank and severely shocked by such magic.

Needless to say I did not remain wake through it all. I was bested five times and only gained consciousness after a violent stomp to the head by Mr.Glutton. Burning, drowning, bone snapping, and forceful whippings were included as well for the rest of my day, but none of that could compare to whatever I was force fed that morning, and nothing could ever compare to it.

Day 83 part 3

The other three days were mere imitations of the first day. I was vivisected and patched back together by Changeling magic, only to be taken apart once more the next day. Sometimes they used red hot scalpels for some added effect, or poured their magic draining slime across the entirety of my body and watched as I writhed from its pain.

I was twisted, chopped apart, sampled, and put back together dozens of times. Their ability to innovate new methods to make me suffer never ceased. They did nothing they could not reverse; acid in the eyes, dislocation of my joints, festering insects left on my wounds, they were all repaired, but not truly healed.

I looked upon myself now and I can still see the points where crystals were sewn into my flesh and ripped out, or the scar left after an assistant spilled acid across my back. Whatever is coming tomorrow, whoever they have sent to torment me this time, I would not be surprised if it surpassed many of these things in their depravity and my agony.

Day 85

No... not this... my hooves.

Sweet Celestia, WHERE ARE MY HOOVES!

My blood is my ink. Everywhere, is my BLOOD!

The SAwBladE, THE suRGeon, my TWO REAR HOOVES ARE GONE! oh LunA WhY? i cant stop writing I HaVE to RITE it is all I HavE LEFT IN mY sOUl. by the mOOON I can here tham outSIDE talking AND LAffinG at ME.

they wont stop nd they cant stop as i bleed my blodd out thees wounds they look at me and i know they know that i know that they know what they will do to me

i wONT LeT THEm takE ME and I wONt let theM KilL me and i wunt Wait hear and SEE them come and-

Day 86

Day 86

Bodies, upon bodies, upon bodies. All emotion siphoned from their eyes, yet they still live. I am one of them now, in this pit of death, discarded as quickly as a foal discards old toys. That was the command of the Changeling queen, my special guest. Their torture was a means to elicit emotion, emotion for their Queen to feast on. Such an event should have been more frightening than what my words can convey, but I have no will do detail the encounter.

I must resort to writing by mouth. Magic is too taxing a task to perform in the suffering that I now face. I till write to you journal because I am well and truly scared. Somehow, if my last thoughts were written down with blood and paper I would find some consolidation. The truth is, I do not fear death. I fear not being remembered.

And down here, atop a pile of lifeless bodies, is the worst place to die. All who see me now are those who cling onto what's left. Their time will come soon. All who move around me are the crows, picking their pony for the day. Not even in the minds of crows will my existence hold meaning. I will become another meal.

Wait, crows in a cavern. This place should be deep underground, no animal could possibly...

Day 86 part 2

The Changelings are as arrogant as they are wasteful. They think of us as trash, and throw us in here as a testament to their opinions. Their "garbage cavern" has not been cleared out in a while, if it ever has. I see now where the crows come from, though their nests block nearly all of the light from the narrow entrance.

I could leave now. The entrance was only a few meters from the highest point of the body pile. With work, I can build my way up with my pony comrades; their last service to their kind. However, work is the problem. I sit here against the cavern wall in my pain because I cannot move. Infection has undoubtedly spread through my hind legs now.

The loss of my hooves were not enough for the Changeling Queen. She demanded a "whole" specimen, an issue that was quickly remedied by driving steel hooves into my open wounds, holding them tight with nails and stitches. It really needs no explanation as to why this has left me incapacitated, and why each movement is impossible to take without a soul tearing, gut wrenching, tear jerking pain from my legs.

I have been conscious ever since I was dropped down here, and every moment since has kept me awake with my excruciating pain and injuries. Evening is here and night will soon follow. My exhaustion will surely overtake the sensation of the infection, and hopefully a quite night of rest will return some strength to me.

Day 87

I rise before the sun, my steel hooves bury their cold sting into my flesh at each movement. But my mind is sharp thanks to the pain. By noon I manage to pull together a formidable pile of corpses - with magic of course - stable enough for me to climb up. I take no note of the bodies, but I cannot help but think that somewhere in here Crush, Sweet Tooth, and Mint Leaf are dead or dying, rotting under the rot of ponies. Such is my punishment for leading this endeavor. I am the greatest royal fool, and this sin is my sun to raise.

Are you ready Journal? You shall be the first of us to taste the sun and kiss the fresh air. I cannot climb and carry you with me so that we may experience it together. Up you go now! I will see you on the other side.

Day 87 part 2

If I could write my last words for this world, it would go as such: "Nearly any pony can withstand adversity. To test the true character, one must be given power."

Nearly any pony can withstand adversity. To test the true character, one must be given power.

My friends and I, we stood through Ponyville together. We fought hunger together. We innovated together, lived together, endured adversity together. But when we had a choice, the power to choose our own destiny, I botched it up. To die out on the surface is a blessing, for one who does not deserve the slightest comfort.

Signing off forever, Keen Eyes

Day 88

Day 88

Gala Hat's Log

Just like the others, we found Keen Eyes at the base of Canterlot's mountain. Crush and Sweet Tooth were the first two to come out of there. We wouldn't have spotted them if Red Diamond wasn't sleeping on the rooftop again. They shone a signal light, a common unicorn beacon to call for help, so we sent Lotus and Lilac out to investigate.

We were all shocked at what we saw. Crush's horn had been snapped and glued back together, and Sweet Tooth was covered head to tail in painful brands. We tried to save them, but we weren't the only ones who saw their light. The Changelings came before we could carry them off, and certainly before they told us what had happened. The last thing Sweet Tooth said to me before a Changeling swarm split us apart was "Wait for the others."

So every evening, under the cover of darkness, me, Lilac, or Lotus would fly out to that same spot and look for Keen and Mint. Whatever they did when they left us stirred up something in the Changeling nest, and now the streets are once again filled with guards. Not as many as before when the E.U.P started their advance distracted the Changelings, but it was still dangerous to move about.

And then we found Mint Leaf only two days before Keen Eyes showed up. Compared to the state of of Crush and Sweet Tooth, she had things better, but she still won't talk to any pony. Her left foreleg is totally crippled and it's a struggle to get her to eat and drink, but she is still alive.

By now, three messages have been played over the radio. Two of them were from Manehattan, hosted by DJ-Pon3 to boost the nation's morale. The third one is unclear. We picked it up on a really old frequency after Copper Tail got bored and messed with the settings. It was a short series of beeps played on a loop, and it just kept going, and going, and going.

It sounded something like this:

di-di-dit di-dah dah-dit dah-di-dah-dit dah di-di-dah dah-dah / di-dit dah-dit / di-dah-di-dit di-dah di-di-dit / di-dah-dah-dit dit dah-dah-dit di-dah di-di-dit di-di-dah di-di-dit

I've never heard anything like it, but I feel like it's important. If it's some kind of code then there must be a reason for it to be protected in a code.

Day 88 part 2

Red Diamond's Log

Finally, a chance to settle down. The morning after Keen and his scout team left us Gala Hat got really paranoid. I totally get it, other ponies were paranoid too, but I just wanted to sleep.

Instead White Hoof, Lotus, Triple B, Gum Drop, and Gala voted to move our base to somewhere closer the the edge of Canterlot, in case we needed to leave in a hurry. We must have spent the whole day just looking for the right place. Gum Drop wanted to use a big fancy hotel while White and Triple B tried to pull us to a sports shop. Somehow, Gala got us all to agree to set up at a small bed and breakfast place called "The Lonely Manticore" with a really scratchy carpet material.

It's warm and cozy at least, so I guess it's not that bad. I'm freaked out at what happened to the scouts though. I mean, who wouldn't be. Crush was one of the toughest ponies I've ever seen, and for him to show up broken like that, it's just not a pretty picture to think about.

After we decided to stay at the Lonely Manticore we spent the entirety of the following day moving our stuff over there. Unlike the mansion, the food in the bed and breakfast were not only sub-par, but most of it was spoiled too. Gotta hand it to the rich, they know their foods well.

Gala also insisted I bring all the spare parts and scrap metal the Keen always lugs around with him. Me, of all ponies. Why not Triple B, he's more like a pack mule than any of us. But no, instead he and White Hoof got to sit on the rooftops and watch for Changelings and drink cider, and since no Changelings showed up that day, they just sat around and drank cider; that's supposed to be my job.

The job I have now, which is looking after Mint, is much better. There's not much to do aside from getting her to eat each meal and calming her down when she gets one of her "fits." It's a little hard - she screams and shakes half of the time, and the other half she hallucinates and experiences violent spasms. When it gets to that I end up having to tie her up in a blanket before she hurts herself.

It's all really weird. I don't get more then a few hours of sleep at night - Mint's fits happen most often after hours - and I'm too busy rehabilitating her in the day to take a good nap. I thought I'd hate it, but seeing Mint slowly coming out of her fracture state feels kind of good.

Day 89

Lavender's Note

I am still learning to write but Gala said I was ready for my own pajes in the book. I get scared when I look at Mint or Keen. No pony tells me why they left. No pony tells me anything. Only Gala and Copper play with me, and Copper only scares me with kitchen knifes. He is not like my daddy, Keen is. Keen help save me one day and I don't ever forget it. Gala takes care of me so she is like my mom.

I remember my real mom saying to me that daddies and moms should love each other. She once said my real daddy was a basterd. She never said what a basterd is, but I don't think she loves him.

I think Gala loves Keen though. She cried when she saw him. I did too. That means we both love Keen, so he is my daddy.

Day 89 part 2

Gala Hat's Log

Without any medicine I don't know what we can do for Keen. Both his rear hooves are gone, replaced with metal versions nailed into his legs. It looks like any other infection we've seen. It's the same as Hay Bale and Hammer, and they're both gone now. Keen could really be next.

We didn't think we would need antibiotics. I'm sure the mansion has some, but it's swarming with Changelings now.

Day 89 part 2

Copper Tail's Log

I gotta say, if my cooking won't snap them out of whatever state they're in, I don't think nothing would. Fried hay and grape apple cider makes any pony feel better. Damn, whatever they found back there really did a number on them.

I wish we knew what to avoid, what to look out for. They left nothing for us when they left, so we can't be sure about what happened. Gala Hat doesn't think they went into the castle, she says it wouldn't have been that long to go in and out. I'm with her on that, but there's no other lead we have.

We need to pull them back and get some answers. I bring Keen Breakfast and lunch everyday and I see his cold, empty eyes looking at me, like he doesn't know who or what I am. It's freaking me out man, that guy was always the most level headed of us.

Day 89 part 3

White Hoof's Log

I went out hunting a couple of Changelings with Triple B this morning to honor those who left us. Together we took down a squad of four; one for each of the scouts who are either dead or injured. Triple B's not talking, probably still shaken up about Crush being gone. I wasn't that close with Crush, but he was a good stallion.

Day 92

Gala Hat's Log

Thank's to Red Diamond's hard work - never thought I'd say that - Mint Leaf's making good progress to recovering. She still can't walk alone, but there's nothing we can do about that. Her fits have stopped but she's still not talking to any pony.

Keen on the other hoof, he's not well at all. We've tried removing the metal hooves nailed to him, but we don't have the skill to do so. Luckily some alcohol was available to clean his wounds, but the nails are leaving his skin open to infection so I have to clean it every morning and night.

Getting him to eat is still nearly impossible to do. For whatever reason he starts violently vomiting after a full meal so we need to slowly give him food and drink throughout the day. I talk to him to calm him down but he never says anything back. And at the end of each day he looks for something. I don't know what but there's something he needs, and if we find it we could get his mind back on track.

Day 93

Red Diamond's Log

Mint said her first words this morning. It was like a whisper of the past, hearing that "thanks" when I served her milk and cookies this morning. I asked her how she was doing, and she said "yes." Then I asked if she knew her name, and she said "yes." I asked her if she could tell me her name, and she said "yes." I asked her what her name was, and she said "yes." Still so much work to do. We've done what we can for her foreleg, but I think it's been set incorrectly, and limping around moves the makeshift cast so much she flinches with each step. It's still more success than Keen's had.

Day 93 part 2

Gum Drop's Log

I tried to get some better food from the restaurants across the street, but I galloped back here as fast as I could when I saw how many Changelings were searching the city. I guess Keen and the others gave us away. They're scanning all of Canterlot for other ponies, and I don't think we can hide here for long. The others are already taking over it while I take watch over Mint and Keen.

Day 93 part 3

Gala Hat's Log

We should have realized they'd look for us after they found Mint and Keen. No, we should have realized it long before that. After Keen took the others on reconnaissance we could have repaired a carriage from the street, gotten ready to flee. Even if we left everything behind and ran, we couldn't carry Keen and Mint with us.

On top of all that, I have Lavender to worry about. Moving will be hard on her, and I don't know how she'll react to leaving Keen and Mint behind if we have to. I have to admit we might not have a choice in the matter. If the Changelings find us, we can't escape with them on our backs.

On the other hoof, Red Diamonds thinks we can get leave now, take a broken cart right outside and ride it down the mountain and make our way to Manehattan. That's the best place to find medical treatment, but there's no way we could get there without running into a war zone or losing Keen to his infection.

We could go west, but Los Pegasus is just as far. Cloudsdale's out of the question for obvious reasons. If we did leave tonight, our only hope to get anywhere would be to follow the train tracks south to Dodge Junction and Appleloosa, or north to Vanhoover. Neither of those places sounds good but we're at the end of our ropes. Red Diamond's right: if we stay we'll die, or worse, end up like Keen.

Day 93 part 4

Lavender's Note

Gala Hat says we are going to run with Keen and find him help. The Bad Ones are coming to find Keen. The Bad Ones want my new daddy, but I want him more.

Day 93 part 5

White Hoof

I need to fix up this carriage before night falls. That gives me about two hours to replace two wheels, reinforce the suspension, board up the top of the carriage, and replace a hinge on the door. Triple B's good for the heavy lifting, but bless his tiny brain, he can't do more than hammer in some nails. Glad we still have Keen's scrap metal, or else this carriage's going no where.

Lotus and Lilac are looking out for the Changelings as we work, circling the Lonely Manticore like two squawking crows. At least the Changelings are sweeping away from us, for now. In a few more days they would have been right on top of our base, probably with Keen and Mint as ruined as ever.

I don't mean to sound like a pessimist, but if we take those two in their state, they might jeopardize our exodus from Canterlot. We already not sure on where to go, we don't need one of those two break down on the road. If surviving this means I have to live with their lives on my conscious, then so be it I'll will put them down the moment they slow us down.

Day 93 part 6

Copper Tail's Ramblings

One carriage for food and cooking utensils is all we get. Two bales of hay already fills that thing to the brim, a bowl of fruit and some carrots might squeeze in but there's nothing more we can take. My saddle bag's just trying to burst with all the pots and plates that I have to bring. At least we've quit taking Keen's box of metal salvage. I wish Triple B could take the cookware, but he's hauling the food.

Night's about to fall on us and Gala Hat's trying to coax Keen out of his room; she's been at it for the past hour but he won't budge. Red got Mint on board really quick, but still no words out of Mint except the occasional "hi" or "yes." At this point, I don't think Gala can get on board with us, but I hope she won't forget the escape just for him. Keen was a great dude, but we can't afford him like this. In any event, Gala Hat's basically the new leader and we need her along regardless of Keen's condition.

Night 93

Gala Hat's Log

I managed to get Keen to come along, but with great effort. I had to tie him down to his bed and tie the mattress to the top of the carriage. He wasn't struggling dramatically, but he simply didn't want to leave. I guess he's okay with being strapped down to a mattress though. It took a little longer, but we finally took our leave only half an hour after dark.

Everything was fine until we got to the outer gates. They were even rustier than when we came to Canterlot, and though we managed to buck it down, we also managed to alert nearly every Changeling in the city. If it wasn't for our huge head start, they would have swarmed us. The road down hill really put us ahead for the first hour, but once we got on the road to Ponyville we were really slowed down.

There's no doubt they're still following us, but for now we're out of sight. We've taken the road to Ponyville to find the railroad, and maybe we'll find out where we should be headed. Every pony's put the decision into my hooves, like they did when Keen led them. My head is wracking with pain from the pressure of the choice.

Los Pegasus was one of the biggest cities before the collapse, probably still teeming with ponies. Probably.

Appleloosa is secure for now, but it's been isolated from the rest of Equestria by a Changeling siege. Getting there would be hard, but if we manage to make it we just might find help for Mint and Keen.

Dodge Junction was a small town, said to be one of the few places untouched by the Changeling's surprise invasion. It's the least likely target for the Changelings, but there's next to no chance for us to find a professional doctor in Dodge.

We could try and make it to Manehattan. No, it's too far and too dangerous. We've had no radio contact with any station from Manehattan for days. From last we heard, the land between us and Manehattan is completely overrun. Oh how I wish I could hear something from DJ-Pon3. Any news from Manehattan could really soothe the nerves.

Day 95

Gala Hat's Log

We've been evading the Changeling search parties at nearly every corner. They're really not letting us go, which scares me even more. Their stupid insect wings let them overtake us and recolonize the ruins of Ponyville. They're pretty much building it from the ground up; the Wonderbolt strike on it didn't leave much. Not even the ruins of the old castle was left.

It sucks, hiding here in the edge of the Everfree Forest. The carriage can barely move in the thick flora, and no pony can sleep for more than a few minutes without something from forest hooting or screeching or scratching. At this rate we'd have to head south through Ghastly Gorge to avoid the walls of the Changeling fortress. If we do, then the choice has been made for us; Dodge Junction and Appleloosa would be the closest cities to us.

Day 95 part 2

Red Diamond's Log

Being out here in the forest has really given Mint a new well of recovery. The scent of the trees, the blooming flowers, the ripening fruit; everything in nature is bringing out more of Mint each day. She can answer simple questions with a coherent answer, but her leg's still severely broken. Limping around's difficult for her, but her cast's holding better now with some new tree sap.

I keep telling Gala Hat she should let Keen walk for himself and see if the forest can help him like it did for Mint, but she's worried he'll wander off or infect his metal hooves. Just writing about it gives me the jitters, but Keen's had no improvement since we found him, and the nails are digging into him anyways. I don't think a simple walk could do much more harm than that dusty mattress he's strapped to.

On another note, I swear I can feel timber wolves watching us, growling at us at every moment. Every time I try to sit down for a nap, which I still try to do at all times, I constantly hear heavy breaths coming from the deeper parts of the forest. White Hoof tells me it's just Triple B's exasperated mouth breathing, but not even that buffoon can make a growl like a timber wolf.

Day 96

Gala Hat's Log

After leaving the carriage stuck in a pit of mud, we've had to take what food we can and carry it in our saddle bags. We have enough for a few days, but there's no way we can make it to Los Pegasus if we wanted. Vanhoover's out of the question as well then too. The Changelings are still building up a fort on top of what used to be Ponyville. Looking at it now, I still can't believe we were living there two months ago. I can't believe two months ago I was still with Nurse.

But there's no time to cry over a city's ruin. We're still hiding from Changeling search parties as they comb the area for ponies, and we'll have to make a run for it down to Ghastly Gorge if we want to get out of their reach. I didn't want to make Keen walk, but I had no choice once the carriage began to sink into the mud pit.

We couldn't bring any antiseptics with us - there wasn't much left in the Lonely Manticore anyways - so Keen's going to have to struggle through the nails tugging at his skin in every step. He's healed around most of it, but those metal hooves those monsters put into Keen are opening new cuts in his leg as the nails creep up into his flesh. Sweet Celestia, I'm feel... so sick just taking about it. I have to-

Day 96 part 2

Gum Drop's Log

Vomiting is a waste of food, especially now. If the Changelings didn't hear Gala Hat's regurgitation, they'll probably smell it soon enough. It's okay though, now that we're at Ghastly Gorge. Well, it's okay for every pony but me and Triple B. Once look at the rocks and we all knew Keen was not making it through the gorge without help, so I have to carry Triple B's saddle bag of hay while Triple B carries Keen.

I don't get why Red Diamond makes fun of Triple B. This entire escape wouldn't be possible without him; he pulled the cart out of Canterlot and through half of the Everfree Forest, he lugged the most food in his saddle bag, and now he's pulling another pony's weight too. All Red ever does is talk to Mint. It's been helpful, I suppose, but that mare's been lazy ever since our days as Marketeers. Talking is pretty much all the work she'll be willing to do, and even then it'll be too much for her. Wish Triple B was a Marketeer instead of a bandit when we were in Ponyville, sure would have made some hell of a difference.

Day 97

Gala Hat's Log

We've lost the Changelings for now but as soon as they expand that fort of theirs their reach will definitely cover this whole area. Hiking across the gorge is probably the best chance we have to completely avoid the Changelings. We don't know how long it will take us, and there's no time to fly up ahead and scout the whole place, so we'll just have to have faith and hope it's deep enough to keep us out of sight.

Lavender's pretty scared from stories she heard of giant eels living in the rocks, but I keep telling her they were cleared out after a severe weather incident a few decades ago. But old legends are White Hoof's specialty and he keeps spouting old ghost stories of travelers eaten by the eels. Every pony else isn't moving to well on this rocky terrain either. Changeling scouts pass overhead a few times and we have to cling to the edges until they finish passing over the area. All together we're making pretty slow progress at the moment.

At least Triple B's taken a fast pace when he can, even with Keen on his back, so that every pony else has to keep up. At this rate we'll be out of the gorge and on our way to Dodge Junction. No pony want to go near Appleloosa after escaping from the Changelings in Canterlot, even though it's been over hundred days since the first attack on Equestria, when it was announced that Appleloosa was under siege. A lot could have changed, in fact Appleloosa could be the biggest city in Equestria outside of Manehattan. But that's too big of a chance for some others (Copper Tail I'm looking at you).

We got to get a move on in a few minutes. There's a pretty big shelf just two or three kilometers ahead, and we want to set up camp there before it gets well and truly dark, and the twins are already complaining about the cold air.

Night 97

Red Diamond's Log

It's great to finally get a chance to rest after hours of treading through that horrible gorge. Ghastly can't describe what it is, it's completely insane. The rocks are hard and sharp and I scraped myself twice just trying to get up onto this cold stone ledge. The damn cliff side is impossible to traverse. At least Triple B was able to bring up Keen with brute force alone. Stallion's just as insane as the gorge itself.

Mint Leaf's progress it going very well out here. She's been talking to every pony more throughout the day, even trying to comfort Keen Eyes a little. She keeps telling him to remember, remember, and remember. But remember what? I wish we knew what went on in that castle, the same way any reader will know what we're thinking as...

Oh shit, we're idiots.

Day 98

Red Diamond's Log

Sweet Celestia, I... oh, I don't know what to think after tonight. I spent hours flipping through the pages, looking for the pages we ignored during our shock. Every pony's made a habit of not looking back, just writing forward. Maybe we can't hold onto the past, so we just lock it up in here, like what Keen did when he was so cruelly tortured by those sick, twisted, fuckers. Damn it I can't even swear enough to... whatever.

We're leaving right after breakfast and I don't want the little one to hear my language or Gala will have my hide, but I don't think Lavender can handle hearing what they did to Keen. Gala will want to know. She needs to know,now that I think I've found out what's wrong with Keen. No matter what happened down there this journal seemed to keep him tethered to sanity. If we get him to write, maybe something inside him will be fixed.

Probably won't be writing much from now, with Dodge Junction just a day or two away every pony wants to get there before we run out of food. I don't want to do the extra work, but I guess going hungry is worse. I can handle a bit of hunger but Gum Drop and Copper Tail will lose it if they skip a meal.

Day 98 part 2

Lavender's Note

The night was very cold and the fire was small. No pony talks becuase they are tired. Gala says I need to eat hay to grow big but the hay taste yucky.

Day 98 part 3

Gala Hat's Log

I flew up ahead to check out how much farther we have until we're out of Ghastly Gorge, and it looks like I underestimated the length. We'll probably have to make camp again tonight, even if every pony keeps up with Triple B's pace with no breaks. I'm thinking of flying Keen up ahead to Dodge, but he's too heavy with those metal hooves on him. Lotus and Lilac could help though, but we don't have much food to split up, and without a pegasi with the group they won't have bird's eye view of the gorge. They might get lost easily.

But Keen's infection's returned, and we're out of any alcohol or antiseptics or anything. We'll need another day or two to get out of this place and probably another three or four to walk all the way to Dodge Junction. I don't know if Keen can handle another week like this, he's already sleeping through most of the day and our water is running low. Abandoning the group to save Keen could save him. He's the last pony I've got from the old times, I can't lose him.

Day 99

Red Diamond's Log

Crap, this is bad. Gala Hat took and the twins took Keen and Mint last night. She talked to me about taking Keen to Dodge first and coming back, but she needed to take the twins to do it. I said no, but clearly that meant nothing to the bitch, and now she's even gone off with Mint, as if all my hard work did nothing to make her better. It gets better, half of the food and water's gone with them too, and worst of all I'm left here to watch Gala's precious little brat, the thick head, fat ass 1, fat ass 2, and White Hoof. When I get my hooves on her, I'll... do something.

I'm getting out of here today, and I'm taking this stupid journal to Keen and he better write like his life depended on it. As much as I hate it, I'll need Triple B to take my saddle bag or else there's no way I could handle climbing out of here. Oh yeah, that was the other thing we needed pegasi for, carrying grounded ponies out of this cursed place!

Day 100

Day 100

White Hoof's Log

When Red's pissed wonders can really happen, that much has to be said. She's even keeping pace with Triple B, and they're still faster than the rest of us, even though Triple B's carrying so much more food.

I don't blame Gala for what she did but why'd Lilac and Lotus have to go? They could have at least thought about how we were going to get out of a massive gorge without fliers. I can't believe she even left Lavender here with us. I mean, she treated that filly like her own, and she just got up and left without hesitation. Damn, what have we come to.

Day 101

Triple B

Triple B try to climb out but fall down. Was very close too.

Day 101 part 2

Red Diamond

This is so stupid. I make it all the way here, stub my hoof on rock trying to climb out, and all I get is being stuck. At least we've made it to some kind of end. The gorge split up a few times back but Gum Drop and White Hoof checked out the different paths to make sure we stayed on the main crevice. I hope those two didn't screw up, because there's nothing here.

I heard some ponies say there was a path out of here once, a long time ago, but since then we've had a few weather disasters and if it even existed, well, it doesn't now. Unless of course White Hoof and Gum Drop are complete tools. We've only got two more days of food and a day left of water, and that's after we ration it. I swear, Gala Hat better come back or so help me Luna I will snap her wings the first chance I get.

Day 102

Gum Drop's Log

I'm so hungry. Red Diamond might get by with an apple for breakfast since she basically does nothing her whole life, but I need real sustenance! And the water is horrible. The water canisters got stuck in the mud back in the Everfree and now it tastes like dirt. Stale, flaky, and a little metallic, dirt. I wish we had just one bottle of cider left, just one sip would lift my poor spirits up.

Day 102 part 2

Copper Tail's Log

That's it, I'm done. First chance I get tonight, I'm looking out for me and myself, no pony else to share food and drink with, especially not Gum Drop. Yeah, we were friends in Canterlot, but that was when there was a cellar of food and cider only a few feet away. But down here in this crevice, these ponies got to learn: when the food's low, be the last one to sleep.

Day 103

Red Diamond's Log

So I heard Copper rummaging through my saddle bag last night, piling food into his. He'd already gone through Gum Drop's and White Hoof's bags by then. I don't know how he planned to escape with it, since he's so fat he can barely hike without extra weight, let alone a bag stuffed with food.

Triple B caught him almost immediately once I alerted the group, but Lavender actually did most of the work. That little spitfire rammed her horn right into Copper's leg. He didn't bleed but it really jacked up his ankle, bending it in directions I didn't think was possible. So now we've got him hanging back, away from us and our food, with a heavy boulder on top of his tail for good measure.

We might last a little longer without him to worry about, but I've got my eye on Gum Drop, his stamina's not much better than Copper's. And I'm keeping Lavender by my side from now on too; I'd like to have a little bandit child to back me up. Sadly Triple B's not going anywhere either, but it's always important to have some extra muscle with you nowadays.

Day 108

White Hoof's Log

Holy fucking shit, it's about time we got out of that place. To be honest, I've been smiling ever since Lilac and Lotus got back from Dodge, and I never thought I'd be smiling to see those twins. I don't know why they insisted on bringing Copper too, but I don't think he'll try anything now we're free, especially with Triple B staring him down the whole time.

Lotus brought a hay bale for the trip to Dodge, but tomorrow will be the day we can have an actual warm meal in what feels like forever. And after that, I might go hunt down a few Changelings for payback after they booted us out of Canterlot. No pony's doing much except walking, and with civilization just over the hills we're all trying to keep up with Triple B's long strides. Hey, that's a pretty good name for him, Long Strides. I still don't know why he goes by "Triple B," it doesn't even have anything to do with his rock cutie mark. But he is as tough as one, I'll give him that.

Day 108 part 2

Red Diamond's Log

Today, I can sleep full on hay and water. Tomorrow, I'm going to give Gala hell.

Day 109

Mint Leaf's Log

It's been a while, journal. A long while, really. I'm better now though, I think. I still get nightmares, of course, but whenever I sleep I feel a presence, a calming presence, trying to coax me back into life. I can't remember much, but with Red Diamond and Gala here I'm getting back pieces. I know it's just the shock, but I feel so bad for getting in so much trouble.

Gala said she brought me here with Keen, but when I woke up in Dodge, truly woke up, I was in an operating room. My first reaction was to check my leg because that was the last thing I remember happening before she was brought to me. I remembered Changelings with odd tools, eventually cracking my foreleg in two. I think that's when my brain just got overloaded, because everything after that's just fuzzy memories. So I would say I was ecstatic to wake up in Dodge to see my leg nearly healed; no bone fragments digging in my skin or moving around when I walked.

Red seemed upset when she saw me, but her face quickly turned to relief when I started talking to her "normally." I really hope I didn't say something weird while my mind was lost. Amidst all the wild sentences and loose words she spewed, I heard Copper left the team once he got to Dodge, something to do with Triple B and food.

My leg's not perfect, the local doctor said the makeshift splint I had was barely keeping my leg in place, and after all the walking I had to do the bone was put into a very awkward angle, so I'm stuck in bed for the next week or so. Still better than what happened to Keen. Seeing what happened to him, even while I was mental, was so nerve racking. I tried to make him better, at least I thought of trying, but Red said I didn't make big improvement until the gorge. Gosh, I barely even remember a gorge, I just recall a lot of rocks and falling. I wish I could do more right now to make up for everything I missed, but even writing is hard and I'm really tired. Must be the herbs they gave me at noon, something local I've never heard of. Wish I could learn more about it.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot; Nurse Toxin's in Dodge Junction.

Day 109 part 2

Gala Hat's Log

I don't care what Red's complaining about, I'm just relieved to hear Keen will be fine. He's been under intensive care for four days now, and they haven't even gotten to the metal in his legs. Some of the doctors in Dodge are refugees from big cities, professionals with years of experience, and even they claim to have trouble. But they've confirmed that he's in a stable condition right now.

That doesn't make the dark reality of Keen's condition any better. It wasn't the metal hooves nailed to his legs that was killing him, it was some kind of weak Changeling poison, a pale mucus-like fluid pervading nearly every part of his body. It's what caused the infections in his legs to worsen rapidly and return just as strong after repeated cleaning. They've tried cauterizing the wound to slow it down while they operate, but if it made any difference no pony can notice it.

Dodge has grown a lot ever since ponies started fleeing east to Manehattan. A lot of ponies decided to settle in Dodge temporarily, a quickly became permanent residents. Even so the technology in the hospital still isn't completely up to the standards of Manehattan or even Fillydelphia, which happens to be an increasingly dangerous demilitarized zone right now. The lack of magic or machines has made it really hard for the doctors to flush out all the poison the Changelings put in Keen. That's why it's been so long, but they're making progress. I come see him every evening, and now I can do it with Lavender.

Oh, the poor filly must have been so upset when I left with Keen, but I'm glad she understands why I had to save him. She even thanked me after Lotus flew her into Dodge this morning. It was a funny sight, a little unicorn on the back of a stark white pegasus, and a good reminder of why we still persist in this broken world. As long as I have my friends, I'll have a reason to live on, which makes it even better knowing who's taking care of Keen right now. I haven't gotten a chance to ask her all my questions, and though I don't understand how, at least Nurse is still alive.

Day 110

Nurse Toxin's Log of Surviving a Long F***ing Time

Where do I even begin? How do I even start, I mean, I feel like a total stranger here now. Jeez, they've used a shit ton of pages the past few months. Good think you've got plenty of pages to spare, right Journal?

What am I doing, talking to a pile of paper? Must be as mad as Mint was when one of those twins brought her into the hospital. A psychiatrist's looking at her now that I've done what I can for her leg. You know, you'd think after living in Ponyville's ruins for over a month they'd learn how to keep a broken leg in the right place. Fuckers didn't even find a strait stick to hold her leg in place.

But in all seriousness, it's a damn miracle Keen and Mint are still alive, Keen most of all. I never took him for the adventurous type, but I overheard what he found in Canterlot. Hard to believe we were so close to the central hive of the entire Changeling invasion. Red Diamond came in and showed me the pages Keen wrote while he was held captive, and now I understand the Changelings less than I did before. I don't get why they left the journal with him, or how he was so easily captured. Some powerful magic caught them, but whatever it was acted like some kind of sedation. Nothing in here describes what it was like or how it was administered.

The poison, however, I do understand. Kind of. From what he wrote and what I see, the Changelings pumped him full of the stuff the second day of his torture. Disgusting pieces of shit gave him an oral dose, probably using his body's own digestion and immune system to give him a slow and painful death. I'm up to my neck in frustration just trying to counteract and reverse the effects of the poison, along with all the other doctors in Dodge.

Dr.Healall's the one who showed us his trade secret, a spell that could exponentially increase cell activity and metabolism to hasten a patient's recovery. But with enough unicorns performing the spell, a total of 7 if you must know, we can seal minor wounds on the spot and prompt the body to heal itself over three times as fast. But even then Keen's body is only slowly beating back the Changeling's poison, and I still need to inspect the damage done to his internal organs before I even consider doing something with his steel hooves.

I feel like I've just been pushed into the deep end of the pool. With my old friends coming out of no where, Keen on the operating table half dead, and the constant news from Manehattan about the spreading conflict with the Changelings, it's hard not to feel like an insect in this high stakes world we found ourselves in.

Day 110 part 2

Gala Hat's Log

I remember when Keen fixed a radio with nothing more than pieces of scrap and his own horn. I thought his recovery would be easier with a radio to listen to, so I asked around Dodge for a radio. Dozens of refugees camped around the main city have their own portable radios, but none had a spare to lend me. Luckily, the clerk at the general store near the cherry orchard offered to sell his radio in return for some extra farm ponies.

I thought it was a great opportunity for Mint Leaf to recover quicker. She seems to be her happy self again, but the doctors say she needs to use her foreleg to help it strengthen now, and seeing as her talent's all about plants, there's no better place for her to work but the farm. I signed up to help repair uniforms and tapestries, and maybe add a bit of style on the way. I also looked for Triple B to ask him if he wanted work on the farm, but Lavender told me they left this morning with White Hoof for some Changeling hunting.

I can't believe they want to go take revenge on the Changelings after we ran from their search parties by jumping down into the gorge. Then again, we had wounded with us and couldn't risk it. But I'd wish they wouldn't run off without finding anything useful to do. They don't even have a proper place to stay, and Nurse can't keep letting us stay at her cottage.

Speaking of which, Red left a note on Nurse's kitchen asking me to let Keen use the journal as soon as possible. I don't know why but I suppose it wouldn't hurt. It'll still be a very long time though, according to Nurse.

Day 112

Mint Leaf's Log

It's nice to be working with plants again, and I can't complain about the free cherry pie for lunch everyday. It's given me some time to reflect on what's happened over the past few weeks. I'm still a little uncomfortable with the whole thing, as if I fell asleep back in that Changeling prison and woke up here. Gala says to just put it behind us, but I just an't shake the feeling of what the Changelings did to us in Canterlot.

I keep thinking back to her. I don't exactly know who or what she was, but something about that Changeling had a powerful presence, like my very being was bleeding out with her simply being there. Powerful, menacing, and strangely captivating is all I can say about that encounter. I hope Nurse can bring Keen back to his old self so he could tell me what he remembers.

Day 112 part 2

Nurse Toxin's Log

Gala brought in a radio after breakfast, she said she bought it from the shop next to the cherry orchard. I had to turn her away though, because we're too close to the next stage to have anything distracting in the room. Dr.Healall said we drained all of the Changeling poison out of Keen Eyes's system, and I double checked with a blood test. Every pony agreed to begin examining the internal organs to find any damage that we couldn't identify at first glance.

We looked through him fairly thoroughly while we filtered Keen's blood clean, but another doctor, once renowned in Vanhoover for his x-ray cutie mark and degree in internal magic scanning, detected ruptures in the renal vein and liver. We were lucky he was with us, or else none of us could have seen that with our spells.

I stepped out after that, which is how I'm righting this now, because I really don't have much skill in prosthetic legs or amputations, at least not the same level of skill as the rest of the doctors. My cutie mark, a syringe of green venom, gives me a very, very limited range of expertise. But I'm relieved it worked for me today to save an old friend, and whatever we quarreled before I'll put behind us.

Day 112 part 3

Dr.Healall's Medical Notes

So, sadly I've used up the notebook I brought from Los Pegasus by filling it with countless memories of my past experiences. Living in a world where a simple cut could become fatal has made me realize how important every piece of medical knowledge is important, which is why this case is so crucial to Ponykind.

The first property I noticed was its powerful affinity with magic. When my healing was put to use on the obvious damage to his muscles and organs every pony, especially me, was shocked to see an increase of poison as the damage was repaired. I was immediately cautious, but Nurse assured me she could filter away the poison faster than it developed, and I needed to repair Keen's body as soon as possible. The state he was in was too precarious to leave unattended.

The second concern I had with this peculiar poison was the direct ration between its growth and the rate of healing. We hypothesized that it was a similar breed of fluid the Changelings were utilizing against Equestria's forces in every theater of war, however it possessed more properties than simple magic draining.

After an analysis of the poison at the cellular level, I confirmed what was asserted earlier in this journal, that the poison was comprised of protists displaying all traits of both animal and plant cells, however unlike the original analysis done by the discoverers of the poison, my research identified the majority of the fluid to consist of an extracellular matrix of mostly protein and loose cellulose.

One of Nurse's friends, Mint Leaf I believe, has an affinity for botany and nature, while my expertise only pertains to medical issues. I may require her assistance for further information.

Day 112 part 4

Gala Hat's Log

Every pony else has gone to bed but me. It's tiring work on the farm, but I just can't sleep, despite all the good that's come around lately. Triple B finally started helping out on the farm, and he's really helped Dodge Junction out with this season's rushed harvest. According to the weather ponies I heard on the radio, storm resources like snow and lightning are being directed toward slowing Changeling advancements into Manehattan territory.

I'm really tired, so I'll let Nurse write down the report.

... to Pillow Clouds with the weather reports.

Thank you, Vinyl. I'm sure all you ponies in Equestria can feel the heat just as we can in Manehattan, but I'm sorry to say that Cloudsdale has declared a rationing of cool weather effective immediately. The Changeling's most recent siege on our weather city has limited all movement of air forces and precipitation, and what we have is being targeted against the enemy.

A recent paper issued by Captain Rainbow Dash of the Wonderbolts places two scheduled rain days sometime in the following months for the following cities: Appleloosa, Whinnyapolis, and Los Pegasus. All other regions will have to bear with the weather until the siege has lifted from Cloudsdale. Now over to Huffington for the recent war reports.

Thank you. For ponies outside of the Manehattan area, Princess Celestia has declared Fillydelphia and its neighboring countryside to be unsafe for refugee travel. All ponies must direct their movement around the region and make their way to Manehattan from the northwest or higher. This is the result of recent enemy troop movements into the D.M.Z between lower and upper Fillydelphia, keeping our forces under constant heavy fire and night raids. The military and the Royal Guards assure us we have nothing to worry about, but I have with me today Former E.U.P Tactician and founder of the Royal Black Ops Division, Sergeant Delta Wing, and he's here to give us the grim reality of the situation.

Continued rambling with details and guesses I couldn't care for.

Day 113

Day 113

Red Diamond's Log

I'm nothing more than a regular mare looking for a regular life, but now I can't have a life at all with so many duties and threats flying around us. For instance, fifteen stallions rode into town this morning. Dressed in dirty armor and bearing sharp spears around. They looked like part of the Royal Guard or E.U.P. Very soldier like.

The best part, they called themselves the "True Survivors," some kind of splinter group from the Last Survivors. Acted all noble and stuff, asking to help out with chores and the like. Yeah, I remember those guys, they're the ones Ponyville freaked out over. Maybe if it weren't for them, we'd still be in Ponyville, not that that's a good thing.

Nurse seems pretty chill about them though, and so do the others, for the most part. Triple B got up real early to harvest the western orchards, probably to show off to the rest of the town that he's still tougher than the new guys. I'd be happy to have some helping hooves do all the work around here, but their weapons just put me off. They're the same as the ones we saw in Ponyville -advanced and bristling with power- and I keep wondering why they would need those in a peaceful place like this.

Lavender's not doing well around those guys either, much more than I am. They can't help but remind her of Ponyville, and the day the Last Survivors came was when everything went to shit. She lost her friends because of everything that got stirred up. Even if they were bandits, it can't be easy for her.

Day 113 part 2

Nurse Toxin's Log

Gala Hat dropped off the journal before heading off to work, so I decided to say some quick things on Keen's progress. The rest of the doctors have begun switching roles, applying their own talents to fixing Keen's legs. Two orthopedists, Dr. Labile and Dr. Calcaneus, are currently looking at bone damage around the area of the dismemberment. Once they finish realigning the fractures to be healed by Dr.Healal, Dr. Cotard, a neurologist, will do another check on Keen's brain activity.

I'm needed after that to help remove the pieces of metal scrap lodged in Keen's legs. Even if we remove the false hooves easily, which will prove difficult because of the intertwined nails and screws, there's still a lot of fragments the Changelings left in him, and some of the rustier pieces will leave considerable damage on the adjacent flesh, so I'll especially need to detoxify those areas.

Day 113 part 3

Mint Leaf's Log

Nurse came over after lunch to hand me the notes Dr.Healal took when he examined the toxin in Keen, and said he wanted to talk to me about what I saw. There were some diagrams and drawings that didn't look anything like what we collected when we were in Canterlot, so I should go over to the hospital after my evening shift in the upper cherry fields.

Some of the True Survivor guys came around after lunch as well to lend a hand with orchard work too. It's hard to judge them, considering I don't know much about their old herd, but they don't seem even remotely close to the fanatic leader from the old radio transmissions. When I asked one of them why they split from their group, all I got a dark look. I guess it's a touchy subject, so I better not delve any deeper. Those spears are really sharp.

Day 114

Gala Hat's Log

I stopped by the general store on my way to the orchard this morning for some breakfast but got a surprise instead when I saw a whole caravan packing up food and tents and clothing. I was even more surprised to see Gum Drop, White Hoof, and the pegasi twins packing up with them. After all we've been through, when I asked why they were leaving they told me Manehattan was the best place to be, not a overcrowded backwater junction.

Red Diamond doesn't try to show it, but I know she's bummed about them leaving, a lot more than I am. I did kind of leave her with them in Ghastly Gorge, and even though she acts all carefree, I know she's feeling lonely too. Lavender tries to comfort her, but I don't think she understands everything about it. Still, it's good to have her off my hooves for a while. I've been doing everything I can to keep her from seeing Keen. She just couldn't handle seeing how he is.

Day 115

Nurse Toxin's Log

I heard a huge herd of ponies packed up and made their way to Manehattan. I don't blame them for having hope, but it's a long way north and I don't think they'll find anything good enough to make the trip worthwhile. Dodge Junction's growing faster every day, but every pony still seems to think Manehattan's the place to be.

Well, truth be told, it doesn't much better than this. We have doctors, we have food, we have safety, and we have land. Manehattan's guarded, but that's where all the fighting is. And the thick city life can't compare to open land from horizon to horizon. We still lost one of our nurses to the caravan though. She told me to come along, that we'd have our old lives back in the big city, maybe even better. With the war going on, she said it was the perfect opportunity to strike it rich in Manehattan, and get a life of luxury once the war was over.

Hell, if that's what every pony in that caravan thinks, then good riddance to them. The world's not a place to dream about the future or reminisce about the past. We have to focus on what's happening right now, and right now, prosthetic specialist Dr.Facade, from Manehattan of all places, is about to give Keen proper hooves. It's sad to say it, but we're lucky he was on vacation when the invasion struck. If it hadn't been for his delayed train he might be back in Manehattan, holed up in a dusty office giving crutches to soldiers.

Speaking of soldiers, one of the True Survivors got in a fight with a couple other stallions at the Jubilee Tavern. The manager Cherry Jubilee herself had to drag both the T.S. and the two drunks over to the hospital to wrap up their faces and relocate a joint. This is why I don't like to drink.

Day 115 part 2

Lavender's Note

Gala always makes me go play with the other fillies in the orchard, but I want to go see Keen. I try to tell Gala it's ~~inpotent~~ important to see him ~~becuse~~ he's like my daddy now, but she thinks I'm playing. Red helps me read and write now. Her friends left her, just like my ~~frends~~ friends left me in Ponyville, so we are the same.

The other fillies here aren't like me. I call them babies when they can't hear. I think they're too happy, so bad things haven't ~~hapend~~ happened to them.

Day 115 part 3

Mint Leaf's Log

I got off from work at the orchard early when Gala told me Nurse told her that Dr.Healal said Keen was done with all his operations. They're going to lift the anesthesia spell tomorrow and wait to see if he wakes up. If he doesn't, Dr.Cotard will have to try a waking spell, but they say they'd rather not force it.

Gala still hasn't brought in the little one to see Keen. She says she doesn't want to explain why Keen is sleeping. I don't think it's the best idea to leave her in the dark, but what do I know, I'm only good with babies when they sprout from a seed.

The radio's a nice thing to have while we wait by Keen's side, though writing is a bit hard without wings or magic to hold the quill. I should ask Gala or Nurse to do this.

Welcome back every pony, if you're just joining us here at the brand new "I Heart Vinyl Radio Station," I'm here in an interview with the Minister of Public Relations, Miss Pinkie Pie. Before the break, we were just discussing how the Princesses, especially Princess Twilight, are working to keep the public maintained in our current crisis. Pinkie, you told us that certain measures were being taken both in Manehattan and internationally to keep things stable in Equestria. Could you elaborate on that?

Well.... I can't go into too much detail since some of these are super super top secret, but I can say that due to recent weather patterns improving and the successful defense of Cloudsdale my good friend Rainbow Dash has been working non-stop, and I mean really non-stop, to deliver rain across all of Equestria's big cities to fill up the reservoirs AND wash away all that icky Changeling slime scattered all over Equestria. That's TWO problems solved with one BIG weather factory! Isn't rain amazing.

P.S. Really hard to keep up with this one. Too much writing in too little time.

Day 21

Day 21

Keen Eyes's Log

Another transmission from Manehattan:

Good morning Equestria, DJ-Pon3 back from one crazy night, am I right? C'mon guys, I think we all know those were some crazy care packages Luna sent out. Now, for the first time in months, the moment you've all been waiting for; it's an actual weather report from Cloudsdale! Looks like you party animals know how to get the Changelings' attention huh? Well, over here in Manehattan we got Commander Spitfire herself saying the Wonderbolts got a second wind in the aerial siege thanks to you and drove the main Changeling army down to the ground. You know what that means? BEACH WEATHER BITCHES! So you better be getting that tan ready cause last night wasn't the last you'll hear from Manehattan. I'd tell you all, but, I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

It looked like survivors across Equestria had the same idea as we did, thankfully. I don't know how, but our commotion helped Cloudsdale out of its siege, so I think I'll take today off and enjoy the sun for a while.

Day 23

I am Nurse Toxin, and I just saved Hay Bale's life. I never had any doubt he would pull through, of course, I had so much confidence in him, but I suppose the antiseptics and surgical equipment helped out, I guess. Seriously though, I was able to clean out Hay Bale's infection and remove most of the infected flesh. He'll definitely have a scar across his leg, but at least he's not dying. Some general antibiotics are also working in his system now; I just gave him his third dose this morning. I'm still going to make sure he stays in bed for another week with the IV drip we acquired, but at least he's not in a critical condition. And for the first night in what seems like forever, I can finally sleep well.

Or, I would if Hay Day hadn't gone and catch influenza after I told him he shouldn't push himself. I just don't understand what it is about stallions that makes them push themselves to get the job done, they can't possibly help around if they're sick or injured. What a day, at least the flu's not to hard to deal with, he just needs some rest, some pills, and a good talk on proper hoof washing. Too bad he has to get sick right before the weekend, the group was planning a party to celebrate our progress since we first hid here when the Changelings arrived. Hay Day said he even had a song rehearsed and ready, but I don't think we're up for blues music. Me, I'd like to kick it up with some of the tracks Dj-Pon3 played over the radio today.

Day 24

Gala Hat's Log

Together we learned,

Together we earned

the right to see

what we could be.

Together we fought,

Together we sought

the need to heed our victory.

Never to stop,

Never to rot

Never to balk

or be forgot.

I know it's not much, but I thought we needed some poetry for the celebration, but I don't know if any pony will like it. Maybe I can ask Keen Eyes for help.

Never mind, Keen Eyes doesn't like poetry, but he did say he was working on a rap or something. I never knew he was into rap, he seemed for like a classical person to me. Oh well, I'll just work with what I have.

Day 24 part 2

Keen Eyes's Log

I kinda wish I had better lyrical skills, because one look at what Gala came up in just a few minutes was astounding. But, I said I wanted a rap for the party so I guess I'm committed now. I don't have anything else to really do so I'll just sit here in the sun scribbling out lyrics.

Now, I've got a message to the Changelings, and anything else that thinks they can stomp on Equestria. Keen Eyes Battle Rap, lets go:

Hey Changelings, can you feel the pain? I'm taking down anything a mite insane, best keep still or you just might feel an itty bitty spike inside your brain.

Daylight, it's surviving time, I don't want to die so I'll use all my might, to avoid anything that bumps in in the night, or anything else that gives me some fright.

'Cuz when the blight falls, we require medical halls, just to survive, 'Cuz when our might fell, no pony else to cast a spell, just to survive, we got the skills and learned to fight well.

So be mindful and just know you're right fool - any moment there's no slowing our rule, we're going with no control!

I swear by the magic in me, I wouldn't want to be you, silly, we're the meanest, I feel it strongly, I could be as rude as the Diamond Doggies.

You think we're the rejects, wrong see, this city's an crumbling canvas for an artist of the art of survival and the cruelty of life's my masterpiece.

I'll ram all the thankless bandits, madness, cuz I know you're all reckless, I'll grab an ax and I'll have you headless, or maybe put my mic to your hippocampus.

All together we're one and we have all the fun when we hand you your bum, the damage is done, and although this is serious business, still gotta admit we're having some fun.

Tonight you're dying and grim, our might's filled to the brim, you'll be hiding, lying, crying quiet, whining with your blatant sins.

Tonight we're rising as kings, our might's sung in our hymns, I'll be climbing, fighting, grinding, swiping, slicing, going to win!

Day 25

Nurse Toxin's Log

Fine, I'll put a damn title on my entries. Saying "Nurse Toxin here" was too cliche anyways. The celebration's tonight but I'm stepping out to keep an eye on Hay Bale and Hay Day. Hay Bale's awake most of the time now that his leg's getting better, but Hay Day's influenza's gotten worse and now he can't stop complaining about his headache. It's probably still better than Keen's rapping though.

But it's just influenza (I hope), nothing like what I had to do for Hay Bale's leg. Not sure what I'm going to do with a jar of inflamed and infected black flesh, but I think I'll just store it out of sight for now, just in case.

I got some ice packs for the Hay brothers from the kitchen, and it sure looks relaxing, Gala's poem's a little boring though, but every pony else seems to like repetition. But I have my own repetition in the basement; Hay Bale's still going in and out of fevers as the antibiotics do their work, and Hay Day still won't shut up because now he's hungry. Nothing I can really do, of all the pills we acquired, antacids were not among them and if he eats he's going to have a stomach ache. I'm not putting up with him and his stomach aches.

Day 25 part 2

Gala Hat's log

It's really nice of Toxin to look after the Hays during the celebration. She left the journal after she came up again to grab some water, so I though I'd just make a quick entry.

I think Keen is too unsure of himself. Yesterday he told me he was bad at poetry, that he was never good with rhymes or words, but he's wrong. He's actually good at rap, which kind of weird. I can't believe I spent two years with him in Fillydelphia University without knowing what kind of music he liked. Some friend I was, I kept buying him Sapphire Shores's albums.

On another note, Sweet Tooth took a break from testing pesticides on parasprites to enjoy the celebration and found my spool of thread under the couch after passing out from Copper Tail's "special cider." The things he suggested with that drink should never be mentioned, written or said. Still, I wonder how my thread got under the couch.

Day 25 part 3

Keen Eyes's log

It's been a long day of relaxing. Food's fresh, Minty's got herbal tea, Copper Tail's cuisine's actually welcomed with bountiful food, and the entertainment was relaxing. I guess I was wrong about my lyrics. I sure wish I had helped Gala, but, I just can't do a slow pace like that. Her poetry was relaxing, no doubt, but it just wasn't my kind of leisure.

We're getting back to work tomorrow though, so I guess I should be looking into some modes of travel, maybe repair a cart or put together something from the scraps in the garage. We could use some power tools or flashlights, so I'll work on that. Of course, I would need to borrow parts from the garage, and Sweet Tooth is very protective of her scrap. I might reconsider using our parts, instead I could take a trip across the road to the cart wash and see what's left. Or trek over to the Apple Farm Barn to pick up some scrap metal. Or... anything else that keeps me from getting in the way of Sweet Tooth's research. She's crazy.

Day 29

Toxin's Log of Awesomeness

It's been business as usual the past few days, but nothing we can't handle with the supplies we got. Keen's been taking scraps of metal from the buildings around the house to fix up some tools. He made Mint a water screw to irrigate her herbs and constructed makeshift flashlights for non unicorns.

Nothing for me, of course. It's not like I'm helping the Hay Bale fight back the infection in him day to day, while treating Hay Day's strange chronic headaches; he's spending too much time in the heat but he won't listen, so I told him his brain matter will denature if he doesn't take it easy while flying.

I can't just keep giving him pills, or else we'll be out in a couple of weeks. I've asked to limit our use of the pills so we can make them last. We're halfway through our supply of pills, yet Keen's not on board and neither is Copper Tail. At least Keen will admit we need to conserve our food though, Copper refuses to listen to Jade's plan to begin rationing food, and insists good cooking and hearty meals is what brings up morale. He's not wrong, but I'm sure that actually having food is better.

Mint began to convert her herb garden into a vegetable garden, but there's hardly enough land for a plentiful amount of food. Hammer Hoof thinks we should expand our defenses and claim the houses next to us. It's a good plan, but we don't have enough metal and stone for that. Gala Hat's just giving some general help around the place - helping Sweet Tooth organize, preserving food for Copper, gardening with Mint- but she doesn't know how to solve the food problem. It seems that every time we conquer a challenge even more pop up.

Day 29 part 2

Keen Eyes's Log

It's amazing how much salvage a place like the Carousel Boutique can hold. The sewing machines are in relatively good condition. A couple screws, a few gears, maybe readjust the engine, and boom, perfect birthday present for Gala Hat. Now I just need to remember her birthday.

The fabric in this place is amazing too. Some of the materials are really unconventional, like gold and silver, even sapphires. One of the outfits left in the closet looked like something Sapphire Shores would wear for a concert. Her music's good enough I guess, but those outfits are really just too much.

I tried to take as much fabric as possible, as well as some extra thread, yarn, and a couple emeralds lying around, but my pack was mostly filled with mechanical parts and two sewing machines. Those things are so much heavier than they look, and they already looked pretty heavy. It was a good workout though, carrying it all back to the house.

I spent the rest of the day up in my room putting together pieces from the Boutique into something useful. I still remember when I was a colt I wanted to build weapons for the royal guard. I imagined soldiers with spears shooting fire and helmets with fireworks. I tried the firework thing, and then got kicked out of Magic Kindergarten for setting fire to the teacher's desk. That was way back when I lived in Manehattan, so my parents were able to get me into one Fillydelphia's inter-district Magic Academies. Defintely not as good as Manehattan's branch of the Magic Kindergarten program, but I really didn't have a choice.

Needless to say I quit making crazy constructs and stuck to arcane engineering. I was okay with performing spells and such, but my real talents were in melding machinery with magic. Even got my cutie mark for it - three sparkling gears - when I completed my first science project that didn't result in disaster. It was a steam engine.

And here I am now, still sitting at a cluttered desk in my room piecing together an emerald to a sewing machine engine to make an Arcane Work Beam. It's weird that I couldn't get it to work in Fillydelphia U, yet I managed to get a beam going in the attic of a post-apocalyptic house.

Oh yeah, I also showed Gala Hat the fabrics I got from the Boutique and she hugged me so hard I think I still have a wing mark on my back. Ow...

Night 32

Nurse Toxin's Log of Radio Revelations

I heard something on the radio just now when I got up to take Hay Bale's temperature. He's finally out of the basement now, but I'm still keeping an eye on him.

The message on the radio wasn't on Manehattan's radio network, we just picked it up from a random frequency we thought was empty. I found them rather strange, they called themselves the Last Survivors, a nomadic herd of ponies from Los Pegasus looking to expand to any survivors left outside of Manehattan. I'd say more, but the message keeps repeating so I can just write it down.

Greetings comrades. We send this message out to you on fifty different frequencies to all cities so that you may hear us. We may sound strange to you at first, but our way is true. It is the way of kinship and friendship. We, the Last Survivors, are a nomadic group. Some would even call us a "faction." But that is not true. A faction would suggest we are not with you all, yet we are. There are those who will proclaim the injustices and cruelties we have committed as we travel across Equestria. How can you trust these claims, when Changelings have filled our cities and streets like rats riddled with plague? You can't. WE are Equestria's salvation. The ponies who lock themselves behind the blockade of Manehattan, the PRINCESSES who shun us from safety, they are all lies! How do they stand while all of Equestria lies in ruins? How do they send aid to those who need it when no more resources exist? Changelings are EVERYWHERE! They are in your city, in your neighborhood, in your house, in your very room. DECEPTION and LIES surround us, the Last Survivors of Equestria, the LAST who stand against the corruption the Changeling queen has bestowed upon our great nation. So join us, comrades, for we shall gather the TRUE remains of Equestria and forge a new colony, FREE AT LAST FROM THE EVILS OF THIS LAND!

Day 33

Toxin's Log of Skeptics

It's still going. That awful radio transmission's playing across almost every radio frequency in the area. Every pony had to listen to it at breakfast because Keen Eyes and Mint Leaf can't help but "analyze" the message to find out what these ponies are like. I already know what these fuckers are like: self justified raiders. It sounds like they're trying to recruit as well. I wish Celestia could just banish these fools to Tartarus, or the frozen north. Or anywhere but here.

Keen think's their getting closer as their message gets less choppy and static filled. He can't tell how far, but he's sure they're coming for Ponyville or Canterlot. Mint agrees, she thinks these nomads are really confident in their conclusion about Equestria. She says they must be moving from one city to another because they call themselves a "nomadic group." If so, I hope they go for Canterlot.

Day 33 part 3

Keen Eyes's Log

Okay, I spilled orange juice on part 2, so I'm just skipping that part. It was just some nonsense anyways, not really important at all. Nope, totally didn't rip it out of the book due to embarrassment. So... yeah....

I think these Last Survivor ponies are just angry at the princesses for walling off Manehattan when the Changelings took over the rest of Equestria. I don't blame them, we're still at war after all, and DJ Pon3 says there are weekly attacks on the defenses, so there's no time to let in any more survivors. She's been answering questions ponies have been sending to Luna through their dreams, but they're too short to put here. And they're not any of my questions so I'm sure they're not important.

But, back to the nomads, I can't help thinking about what kind of protection they have that keeps them safe on the road from Changelings and bandits. During the first 60 days of the invasion our group tried to leave Ponyville, and the roads and rails were already dangerous. Now, every pony's more desperate and Changelings walk around freely looking for a meal. They're still disgusting.

At least I have some good news: my arcane work beam's helped Hay Day salvage raw materials from buildings themselves. It blasts a small spurt of energy from the engine through the emerald, cracking apart wood and bricks and metal panels, materials we could use to expand our defensive wall to other houses. I hope one day we could reach out to the Carousel Boutique, it was in really good shape for an abandoned building, but that's quite a few blocks away.

Day 34

Toxin's Log of Triple Epicness

Some pony new entered Ponyville today, a trader by the name of Money Bags. That name gets on my list of stupid names, right next to "Filthy Rich."

Mr. Bags sure had some good salvage though. He had an entire cart with him stacked with random bits he had dug up from Rainbow Falls. He said a fair was set up to celebrate Princess Twilight's tenth year as Princess of Friendship. He got whatever he could before Changelings swarmed in.

Every pony came out of the house to barter with him, even with the two jackbooted thugs he kept near him as guards. Even Sweet Tooth came out from the garage to trade some springs and a carriage wheel for a tool box and a bottle of cider. Keen Eyes traded away one of the emeralds he found for some pistons and knife blades.

Of course, Copper Tail filtered through the contents of the cart looking for food or cooking utensils. We got a frying pan but he traded away a soup pot. I like soup. Dangit.

Gala Hat sold a couple of old saddle bags for buckles and needles. I think she's making new bags with the golden fabric Keen found. Not a bad idea, gold saddle bags do sound pretty awesome.

Mint Leaf let Money Bags sample some of her Cinnamon-Mint Tea, and it was an instant hit. He sold us a bundle of carrots for a steaming hot mug of that tea. Maybe I should try some myself if it's that good.

No pony else found anything they thought was worth trading, and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't sell me any medicine for the antique infected flesh I cut from Hay Bale. That thing gives me the creeps.

Money Bags said he'd be back in a few days with new goods to sell. He's on a trade route from here to Appleloosa, then to Fillydelphia, and back here again. Before he left, I told him I'd pay for some news about my aunt Rosemary Tonic in Appleloosa, along with anything else he might overhear. Hopefully I can get some information about the Last Survivors too.