Chapter 4: Wings of the Pegasus
“Or does she approach even now, a savior clothed in machines crafted long ago by Chozo hands?”

Samus’ log: Celestial Year 1212 June 13

Education.

Education is a defining part of our lives. Teachers that we had as children help give advice that will help us in our futures. However, sometimes teachers don’t get the respect they deserve, which makes me respect them for being so emotionally invested in their jobs for so long.

The two mares led Samus, Reggie, and the foals down the long, broken streets. Samus looked to her right as she noticed a tower with a large barrier around it.

“Tenpony Tower. That place has been inaccessible for a while.” Blackjack, the security unicorn, said as she noticed Samus’ look,”I’d been thinking of going over there to investigate, but I’ve been too busy helping protect Friendship City, especially with the way things have been going.”

“Problems in the city?” Samus asked.

”Meh, the usual. Riots, assassinations, and heavy drinking.” Blackjack shook her head, and then looked at a small device on her hoof,”Everything’s harder what with the food shortages and all.”

“And what is that?” Samus looked at the thing.

Blackjack blinked,”You’ve never seen a pipbuck before? You must be new here.” She held up her pipbuck,”A pipbuck is really cool, it can manage your inventory, look up your vital signs, and instantly know the names of new locations for some reason.” She scratched her head.

‘Huh, that doesn’t sound too bad, sort of like my own power suit.’ Samus thought.

“All the problems with the food shortages would be gone if anypony was willing to go into the stable under the city,” the pegasus mare said.

Samus blinked,”What’s the problem?” She asked as a tall statue came into view.

The pegasus, Morning Glory, frowned as she flew in front,”:Most ponies are afraid of stables, due to the fact that most of them are known for their... unorthodox experiments.” She turned to Samus with a weird look,”I’ve heard that some stables had created experiments so horrible, they could turn you white.”

“Unless you’re already white.” Blackjack said with a smile as she trotted up to the entrance to the city. The doors opened up to show a pair of security ponies.

“Oh, hey Blackjack!” One of them said, before looking at Samus, and giving a sigh,”Please tell me you’re just visiting...”

“Relax, we’re only going to give these two foals a home.” Morning said with a smile as she indicated the two fillies silently following them.

One of the guards looked over the two,”Oh, goddesses! Is that one the daughter of Peach Cobbler?! She’s been missing for weeks!” He indicated the filly that was in the cage,” And that one... she’s from the Pennybags family that went missing!” He looked up at the group,”Thank you all for finding them!”

Blackjack shook her head,”I didn’t find them first. These two were the ones who did that.” She indicated Samus and Reggie.

“Oh, thank you, it’s hard to find anypony with your kind of bravery these days.” The other guard said with a sigh of relief.

“Speaking of bravery, I hear you have a stable problem?” Samus asked, as she stepped up closer to the guards.

The guard frowned,”Oh, you’ve heard, huh?” He sighed,”The stable near the city would provide a nice boost in our food and medical supplies, and would provide some good tech. It would also help the internal economy and fix the overpopulation problem by allowing more groups of ponies to leave and find their own settlements. Do you want to help?” The guard asked.

“Well, apparently you guards are too busy keeping the peace here,” Samus held on to Puppysmiles, who had apparently found something shiny and wanted to inspect it,”And I think my mission can wait until we fix your little problem.”

Blackjack smirked,”Somehow, I’m not surprised you’d do that for us.”

Samus looked down at Puppy,”I’ll look after your little sister for you.” Morning Glory flew down and picked the filly up,”It should be safe for her here.”

Blackjack walked to the side,”I’ll lead you to the stable and open it for ya, however, that’s as far as I’ll go. I don’t want to leave the city for too long, you understand.”

“Hey, I hear ya.” Reggie said as she and Samus walked with Blackjack.

One of the guards turned to Glory,”You know what that filly is, right?”

“Yes, but she seems harmless.” Glory looked down as Puppy struggled to get out of her hooves.

Blackjack led them through a small tunnel leading to a large vault door with the letters 33 emblazoned on it. Blackjack pulled out a wire on her pipbuck and placed it inside the console on the front. With a siren, the doors opened up as the unicorn removed the cord. She turned to them,”Alright, head on in! Be careful though.” She pulled out a billy club and walked back.

“What’s with the club?” Samus raised an eyebrow.

“In case I get ambushed by the Wild Card Gang. They’re always trying to forcefully recruit me!” Blackjack growled as she left, swinging her club.

“Wild Card Gang, I really hate those dorks,”Reggie growled as she walked with Samus inside.

Samus looked at her companion,”What’s wrong with them?”

“I just don’t like them!” Reggie shouted, her wings flaring up.

The stable around them looked remarkably clean, albeit there were a few metal boxes and bits of paper lying around. Samus looked up as she noticed the lights that still kept everything lit in the white rooms before them. The two walked towards the center hallway.

Reggie frowned as she looked at the white halls,”I don’t like this. Stables are almost never quiet...”

Samus walked along the hall, and noticed a sign above her

Medical Ward.

She turned to the right and she and Reggie came across another long hallway with various doors with numbers on them. Samus walked up and entered one and saw several desks lined up with various plastic skeletons showing the anatomy of a pony lining the walls.

Reggie walked in with Samus, and noticed the skeletons,”Well, at least they’re not real.”

Samus looked at the desks,”I thought this was the medical ward, why are there school desks?” She turned to the blackboard and noticed a button near the bottom right where the teacher’s desk sat. She pressed it, causing the blackboard to rise up, revealing a machine with various tools working on a decayed skeleton of a filly.

“And now we get the real pony skeletons!” Reggie said with an affirmative nod.

“Welcome students!” A new voice said, causing the two to turn and watch as a floating robot enter the room. The robot had several appendages with various medical instruments being held,”What shall we learn today?”

“We’re... not students.” Samus said,”Trust me, I have a few degrees.”

“Nonsense! There’s always time to learn!” The robot said.

Reggie put a talon on her pistol,”I don’t like this...”

Samus shook her head,”We don’t have time for this.” She nodded to Reggie as they began to back off.

The robot’s one eye turned red,”Do you really want to leave, children? You do know what happened to Tra-la-la, don’t you?” The thing pointed a scalpel at the filly body,”She wouldn’t listen to me, and paid the price.”

Reggie pulled out one of her guns and fired on the machine’s eye,”I hate killer robots.”

Samus pulled out the Flash Sparkle,”Me too.” She and Reggie ran out of the room as a warning siren blared.

“Warning: Truants detected, Kill on sight.”

“Somehow, I don’t think that’s a good way to run a school.” Samus muttered as she and Reggie watched several robots come around the corner. A missile flew passed them as Reggie turned.

“A sentry bot!? They have a sentry bot here!?” Reggie shouted as she and Samus turned and ran into a seemingly empty hallway from a bot with a red eye rolling on treads.

“We don’t have enough ammo to go through this many robots!” Samus said as she looked behind her,”We’ll have to find the central processing unit!”

“You think it could be in the overmare’s office? Or the principal’s?” Reggie asked as she and Samus kicked aside a pair of robots.

“Probably the principal’s office!” Samus said,”Considering how things are going!” She yelled. They ran down the hall until they came across a large door with the sign,’Principal/CPU office.” The two stopped when they saw four large turrets pop out of the ceiling.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me!”Reggie shouted as another missile flew by them.

Samus turned to see the sentry bot roll towards them. She ran towards it and jumped over it. She grabbed it’s back and aimed its missile launcher towards the turrets,”Please get off, Student!” It said as its missiles began to fire on the turrets. Reggie flew behind with Samus in response. As soon as the four turrets were destroyed, they turned the bot around and kicked it down the hall, towards a wall. They turned to the door and walked into the room.

The door shut behind them as a red light showed on top. A shutter came down over the door,”Of course it locks, why wouldn’t it do that?” Samus rolled her eyes and turned to look upon a large computer with a tiny blue screen in front.

Reggie frowned when she saw a few skeletons littering the room,”I think someone may have tried to stop this thing before us.”

“Greetings, students.” The computer in the center of the room said, it’s voice began to crackle,”But you’re not students, are you?”

“That much should be obvious.” Reggie turned to the computer with a glare.

“Yes... I’m sorry for what my teachers have done.” The computer said.

“Wait, are you expressing emotion? I thought computers couldn’t do that!” Reggie cocked her head.

“Not unless they have some sort of learning program built into them.” Samus said,”Which is what you probably have.”

“... The social experiment for this stable involved an increased emphasis on education. My creators wondered if lack of education led to the Great War.” The computer began,”My creators made me to be the centerpiece and placed several robots under my control. They put a program inside of me that allowed me to optimize my teachers to teach based upon the student’s behavior and learning style.”

“So, how did that lead to killer robots?” Reggie asked.

“A teacher’s plight: Unappreciative parents, am I right?” Samus asked.

“As I controlled my teachers, I began to develop a personality, and I realized how bad some ponies can be.” The screen turned red for a moment,”Some would talk about how I’m not doing my job right, I’m not doing enough, I can’t do anything!” The screen went back to blue,”So, I punished them. I decided to kill their foals. Then they attacked, and I killed them. This was 150 years ago, so very long ago. I... regret those actions. I’m so lonely, my teachers don’t have anyone to teach, and I don’t have anypony to talk to.” The computer sighed,”I’m sorry about my teachers attacking, they were only doing what they were supposed to do:Teach, and kill if a student’s being naughty.”

“Do you want us to deactivate you?” Samus asked.

“Please! It’ll stop my teachers! It’ll stop my loneliness! I don’t want to go on anymore! I just want peace...” The computer sobbed,”On my bank, there is a console. Type the word,’Nyx Sparkle,’ and you will open my protocols, type the command,’End Program’ .”

Samus nodded as she went to the console. Reggie held up a talon,”Hold on, one question first: The sentry bot, why?”

“Oh, explosive safety!” The computer said happily.

“And that involves missiles?” Reggie raised an eyebrow.

“No one’s perfect.” The computer said as Samus typed in the password, and the command. This caused his screen to dim and the shutters to open. She and Reggie turned to each other.

“I don’t think I’m liking stables very much.” Samus said with a frown.

“Hey, remind me to tell you about the clone stable...” Reggie turned to the door.

True to the principal’s word, the robots were inert, allowing Samus and Reggie to walk by them and into the med bay. Samus looked inside and noted several skeletons, real and fake, lying around the area. Four first aid kits with a butterfly symbol were attached to the walls,

Reggie flew up and opened each of them,”Alright, these contain some supplies.” She turned to Samus,”Are we sure this is going to be enough to solve Friendship City’s problem?”

“With the weapons that could be salvaged and the food that could be in here, the city could equip its citizens well enough to venture out and even out it’s population.” Samus said. She turned to the atrium,”I’ll go check the food stores.”

Reggie flew behind Samus,”Can I ask you something?”

Samus walked ahead,”Yes?”

“How are you going to stop the alicorns? I mean, the only ones to take them out were Steel Rangers and Hellhounds, and even then lately I’ve seen Alicorns power through them.” Reggie looked around the tables of the cafeteria.

“I have a secret weapon.” Samus said simply.

“What? Some kind of alien tech that you can only access in deep stress?” Reggie asked.

“Well, I can’t access it yet due to the fact that it’s rebooting. So I’m doing these other tasks till I get it back.” Samus said as she took a peek inside a food storage, and noting that it was half-stocked with canned products,”Alright, this checks out. Let’s go back.”

Samus and Reggie walked up back to the entrance of Friendship City as two guards greeted them.

“You took care of everything?” One guard asked.

“Yeah, there was a problem with an AI, but we finished that.” Samus said,”You should be able to safely enter that place.”

The other guard nodded,”I’ll inform Mayor Black Seas.” He said as he left. The first guard turned to the two,”ALright,you can come on, i believe Glory took your little sister to the marketplace. Be careful though, the ponies down there can get rowdy.”

As the two walked in, they began to feel a little cramped by all the ponies walking close to each other.

“Wow, when they said this place was a little overpopulated, they weren’t kidding!” Reggie flew up and searched ahead.

Samus growled to herself as she pushed some people aside gently,”I wish I had wings right now...”

They moved around the crowd until they heard sounds of fighting. Samus moved towards it to see a group of pegasi holding up a black pegasus with a brand on his flank.

“Lousy Dashite, it’s ponies like you are the reasons why we’re stuck on this mudhole!” one pegasus in front growled, a switchblade in his mouth.

“Please,” The black pegasus coughed,”I had nothing to do with your failings-”

“Shut up, old stallion!” The lead said.

“Stop!” A green coated, white maned pegasus in leather armor ran out,”What the hay are ya doin’!?” She yelled as she stood in front of the other pegasi.

‘The hell!? I didn’t know there was a Mississippi on this planet, or would it be Whinnissippi?’ Samus thought to herself as she went closer.

“There is no more Enclave, A’right? Ya shouldn’t be fightin’ each other!” The mare said.

“Shut up, Sunny!” The lead pegasus charged forward with his switchblade. Sunny closed her eyes, but nothing came to hit her. She opened her eyes to see Samus grabbing the pegasus’ mouth.

“You really need to watch your mouth.” Samus said, before throwing him aside. She looked at the blade in her shoulder, that must have went in through a hole made by one of the turrets in the stable. She used her teeth to pull the blade out and spat it on the ground. With blood trickling down her hoof, she glared at the other two pegasi.

A claw decked one of them from behind, causing the last one to look and shout,”I give up!” He said, his wings flaring up as he saw Reggie give him a glare.

Sunny gasped in shock as a little filly in a yellow suit ran by and gave Samus a hug,”Sammy!” Puppysmiles said with a big smile,”That was so cool!”

“I know Puppy,” Samus said, giving the filly a hug,”Did you have fun?”

“Uh-huh, although Glory got a little weird when she saw the pretty unicorn again, they began to suck each other’s ribs for some reason!” Puppy said,”Sort of like what Mommy and Daddy used to do!”

Samus nodded,”That’s right, Puppy, now I have something very important to do.” Samus got up and turned to Sunny,”Sunny Smiles, correct?”

Sunny could only gawk as Samus took off her helmet,”Uh-huh.”

“I...” Samus sighed,”I have a message for you.” She gave her helmet to Sunny,”It’s from your father.

Sunny left her trance,”Pa? But Ah haven...” She took the helmet and put it on, and played the audio log. After hearing it, she took it off and sniffled,”Oh, Pa, Ah love ya too...” She looked up at Samus,”Do ya know how he died?”

Samus thought back to Arbu,”... No, I don’t .”

“... That’s alright.” Sunny wiped a tear,”Ah... Ah knew that, but.... Ah always had a little bit of hope...” She sniffled. She looked up at Samus,”What’s ya name?”

“Samus Aran.” Samus said.

“Samus, thank ya.” She looked down as she gave the helmet back to Samus.

“I... wish I didn’t have to tell you that.” Samus put on the helmet and turned.

“Was that all ya were here for?” Sunny asked.

Samus nodded,”Yep, I gotta get going. A little filly has lost her mother, and I need to help her.”

“Ah’m going with ya.” Sunny said, getting up.

“What?” Samus said with a turn.

“I agree, what?” Reggie asked with a raised eyebrow.

“If... If ya found my Pa, then maybe mah Ma’s probably around, and Ah thank ya’ll can help me!” Sunny said, flying up and towards Samus,”Plus, Ah thank ya’ll need a medic, which Ah happen to be a combat medic!”

Samus thought for a moment, and then nodded,”Alright then.”

“Thank ya kindly!” Sunny wiped some tears away. She turned to Reggie,”So who are ya?”

“Just call me Reggie.” Reggie said, before whispering to Samus,”Are you sure this is a good idea? She doesn’t look well armed.”

Samus whispered back,”She’s a medic, she doesn’t need to be. We may need her around to watch Puppy as well.”

Reggie sighed as she nodded in agreement.

A random guard then ran into the area,”The Steel Rangers are here again!”

“Steel Rangers!? Aw, crap!” Reggie growled as she flew up,”Come on, let’s check it out!”

Samus ran under Reggie as Sunny flew behind them.

“Wait up!” Sunny yelled as she picked up Puppy.

Footnote: Level Up!

New Perk: Unavailable

Companion Perk added: Medic!: Healing items are 20% more effective when Sunny Smiles is in your team.

Author's Note

Thanks to Alchemystudent

The stable was added by me to provide a little more interaction between Samus and Reggie.

And this stable is a little different from what Fallout Equestria: Starlight had, mainly because I wanted to do something different for it. I hope the experiment makes sense.

Any feedback is appreciated.