Chapter 9: Following the Trail
Aha! Pinkie, we found our first clue

Good morning, wastelanders! How is everypony doing? This is your pal, Dj-Pon3 and, well, it's that time again...that's right time for some news! I heard a rumor that Monetary Jack, cheese shop owner in that oh-so-hoity-toity Tenpony Tower, has been arrested for deciding that being a thieving jack-ass is the appropriate response to an act of kindness. Remember what I keep telling you, my little ponies: treat each other with kindness and respect. Or don't and watch come back to bite you in the tail. In other news, somepony's finaly arrived to fix my toaster. Hallelujah! It's breakfast time! Here's a little Sapphire Shores to get you through the morning.

Some music started playing as we continued to walk at our steady pace across the wasteland. It wasn't to long ago that we had packed up camp at the MASEBS tower and started heading towards the next one. It had been a relatively quiet trek, me leaving the radio on and everypony mindlessly listening as we walked. With the morning newscast we now had something to talk about. "What's so exciting about having a toaster fixed?"

"The real question is who's the loser that was hired to fix it? Not really a useful skill to have."

"Yeah, guess your right. You listen to the radio much?"

"Not a lot of other options. Some days in Crop Yield you either did nothing or listened to the radio while doing nothing."

"Sounds exhilarating. I heard about somepony called 'Stable Dweller' in one of the recent broadcasts. What's their deal?"

"The Stable Dweller rescued and freed a whole lot of slaves out of Old Appleoosa not to long ago. Apparently she's also a dragonslayer."

"Impressive. She must have quite a lot of experience in the wasteland to pull that off."

"I wouldn't be to sure. She's called Stable Dweller for a reason. If I remember correctly, Dj-Pon3 said she couldn't have left her stable more than a month ago. Speaking of hero's on the radio, I'm guessing you're the one who dealt with the raider base south of Ponyville."

"Well, I didn't do it alone, Azel was there with me. But yes, that was us."

"Nice job. Keep that up and you might even get a nickname. Actually, I guess you already gave yourself one."

"Guess I did. What was the deal with that flower you saw yesterday? Said it was a 'prickly petunia' or something."

"Oh, that. It's a kind of flower Mirage and I discovered during our travels. You see, it has these thorns all over it's stem and if you poke or get 'pricked' by one you...well, you see a glimpse of future danger and how to avoid it."

"Really? Sounds pretty helpful. Why didn't you bring it with us?"

"Because it turns to dust after you use it. I was surprised to see one all the way out here."

"Where are they normally?"

"In the Everfree Forest and the surrounding area. Even then they're few and far between."

"What were you doing in the Everfree Forest?"

"We had taken a job that seemed simple enough at the time. Some snob in Tenpony Tower was wanting some cockatrice scales and was offering quite a reward to anypony who could get them for him."

"Wait, aren't cockatrices able to turn ponies to stone with a look?" Lily questioned.

"That'd be them."

"How the hell were you going to kill one without one of you becoming forest décor?"

"Actually, that was our plan. Mirage walked right up to one and it immediately started petrifying him. However, while a cockatrice is using it's gaze it makes itself a stationary target. As soon as it was distracted I shot it in the head and we left with our prize. On the way out we encountered our first prickly petunia."

"What in Equestria gave you the idea that poking one of it's thorns would be a good decision?"

"It wasn't really a conscious decision. While we were walking I didn't see it and just happened to get scraped by one of the thorns. It gave me a vision of us finding a fork in the path and choosing to go right. Then the vision jumped to a bit later and showed us getting attacked by these blue vine-like plants. Once I came out of it I looked at the flower and saw it turn to dust. Sure enough, a little later we came across the exact same split in the path. After some convincing of my brother, we went down the left side instead and exited the forest without a problem."

After he finished his story Lily muttered something about "killing joke" while I asked, "Nothing against your shooting skill or anything but how was Mirage sure he would survive the cockatrice's stare?"

"Because of his little trick that by now I'm sure you're familiar with. He can make a duplicate of himself."

"Where'd he learn to do that? Why don't you use it?"

"Because I don't know how. He was practically born with that ability thanks to our changeling blood, similar to my shape shifting."

"I read quite a bit about the Changeling Invasion back in Thunderhead and I don't recall changelings duplicating themselves being mentioned anywhere. How is that connected to his heritage?"

"You're right, we- I mean, they can't. Unlike me, Mirage wasn't born with the full genetic code needed to shape shift. Once while he was attempting to use magic in order to try and bring out his incomplete powers, whatever spell he was doing mixed with his changeling magic and he copied himself, and he's been using that ability ever since. These duplicates, or 'after images' as I like to call them, are physically identical and mentally linked to the original, impossible to tell the difference when standing next to each other. Really annoying when the enemy that you're fighting as hard as you can to kill might not be real in the first place."

"Ugh, you can say that again. When did you two split?"

"A bit more than a year ago. We were a little outside of Trottingham I think."

"What happened?"

"I don't really know. We got separated for half a day or so and when we found each other Mirage was, different. Something happened that changed him and, well, we couldn't seem to agree on anything after that. We went our separate ways and then a few months later he starts calling for vengeance against me."

"Must have been rough. I can't imagine Lily and I trying to kill each other."

"It was a difficult time to say the least. Luckily, during that time in Trottingham I met somepony who was a good friend and partner in crime that was able to help me get out of a few tight spots. He stayed up in Trottingham though when I left to escape Mirage. But enough of me going on about my scared past, what's your story? Why'd you leave the Enclave?"

"Ha, well, it was more like I was kicked out rather than leaving of my own free will. I did quite a bit of inventing back home during my off time. Recently, I found a way to drastically improve the performance of gem-powered guns. Since that's about 90% of the weapons used by the Enclave, once word got out that I had developed this upgrade the Council practically begged me to show them how to do it."

"Sounds like you had a pretty good setup. If anything I would expect that you would become more valuable and rewarded rather than kicked out. What happened?"

"I told them no."

"What?! Why? I thought you were loyal to the Enclave before Tree Fall attacked you. Why would you refuse to help the Enclave and it's citizens?"

"Well that's the problem, Lily. It wasn't going to help citizens and lower rank troops. Just higher ranking officers and commanders in the military would get the upgraded weapons, as a perk for their 'dedication and service' to the Enclave and incentive for others to follow in their hoofsteps. They wanted only a small elite of the Enclave to have access to the improved gear, not the general public."

"What was to stop you from just showing everypony how to do the upgrade yourself?"

"City law. After my initial refusal of their proposition, somepony pulled a few strings and got the members of the Gust City Council to hold a meeting to enact a new law. The law prohibited active military personnel from instructing other ponies how to preform any process that increased the universal effectiveness of a weapon unless they have permission to give that information to that specific pony. Unfortunately, it was passed and I was unable to give out the secret."

"That's ridiculous! How were they able to get that passed?"

"The reasoning they used was that it would prevent any possibility that classified military Intel could be leaked to the public and relayed to spies and traitors, dashites for example."

"I still don't see how that would lead to you being kicked out. Did you break that rule and get caught or something?"

"No, because they left a loophole in that law. While I wasn't allowed to instruct or demonstrate how to recreate the upgrade, it said nothing about making a business out of modifying weapons and having said upgrade as one of the options. Besides, I wasn't necessarily kicked out. One of their, 'ambassadors' to me as I considered them, named Tree Fall was assigned to a patrol mission with me and shot me down while we were traveling there."

"Why?"

"Probably because the council was tired of dealing with me being uncooperative and decided to have me killed. With me considered KIA they now have free reign to inspect and disassemble my gear and try to figure out how I did it, since all military equipment is counted as government property. Not that all of their snooping around will get them anywhere."

"Hmph, quite a political system you pegasi have established up there. Very reasonable and fair. Too bad they don't try and spread that civility and prosperity to all of us down here."

"Not everywhere in the Enclave is like that." Lily said. "There weren't any schemes or plots in Thunderhead for the whole 6 years I lived there. And we are helping out down here. Haven't you seen the Enclave Volunteer Corps outposts that have been showing up?"

"Yeah, I've heard of them. And while handing out food and supplies is nice and all, what we really need is for you guys to get rid of that cloud layer. I appreciate that you pegasi up there are trying to help out, but so long as that gray curtain in the sky is still there I don't think it'll be enough. Just get rid of it."

"It's not that simple horn head. We can't just 'get rid of it'." Oh great, now I get to listen to these two squabble again.

"Oh yeah? What's stopping you feather-brains?"

"The cloud layer is where almost all of the Enclave's food comes from. We'd go hungry if it was destroyed."

"Oh no, what a nightmare!" Specter said in a mocking tone. "Big deal. Everyday somepony dies of starvation down here and most of time it's because there wasn't any edible vegetation near them. Now, I wonder what could have caused Equestria to become so bare. Maybe there's something that is blocking out the sun like, oh I don't know, a shit load of clouds or something. Too bad there isn't anypony that can do something about it. Oh wait second, there is."

"And as a result forsake everypony that lives up there?"

"Why not? It's no different than what the Enclave did to us 'surface dwellers'. It'd be karma at it's best."

"I...how can you say that?! Just dismiss the pain and suffering of hundreds upon thousands of citizens just to get back at somepony."

"It's really easy when those that would be suffering deserve it."

"Both of you, knock it off!" Thankfully, they heard me and quit arguing. "Can't you two get along for at least a day? We're getting close to the next tower so I need you to keep an eye out in case we get ambushed again." I didn't stop to turn around and make sure they heard me. I just kept walking.

Azel tapped his chalkboard to get my attention and see what he had written. "What's that?" As soon as he saw me read his message he pointed to a towering structure in the distance which went up higher than the cloud layer.

"I believe that's Shadowbolt Tower, former hub of the Ministry of Awesome."

"Quite impressive."

"Yeah, definitely not something you see everyday. Hey Lily, Thunderhead is right next to the tower right? Anything you know about it?"

"Hmn? Oh, Shadowbolt Tower, yeah. Most of Thunderhead's engineering and science projects end up in there at some point. It has all the facilities and materials we could possibly need. I heard they've found quite a lot of pre-war experimental tech and prototypes in there too. It was closed off to citizens like me so I don't know much about what actually goes on in there."

"Why'd they need to make it so big? Was there a pre-war Enclave that was planning for the future or something?"

"Probably not. I think it was meant to be a symbol, a monument of Equestria's power and superiority over the Zebra Empire." I suggested.

"Do they use the entire thing?"

"No, about the bottom three-fourths of what we can see is unoccupied. I don't think they've even explored beyond that point."

"Is that green glow coming from the city caused by the tower?"

"No, something in the city is doing that. Apparently they sent a team to investigate a while ago, but it didn't end well for them."

"Yeah, I'd imagine so. Those of us down here all know that just approaching the core is a death wish, possibly worse than Canterlot."

"Then let's hope that the hideout isn't actually in Hoofington. Speaking of which, there's the next tower." I pointed ahead to the tower which was growing with every step we took. "Azel, you and Specter inspect the surrounding area. Let's make sure we're alone this time." Azel nodded and looked to Specter to make sure he had heard. With a look between them, they split from Lily and I to begin their patrol.

"I'm guessing that you want me to watch your back while you are plugged in."

"Mostly, yes. But it doesn't hurt to have somepony to talk to and bounce ideas off of in case we hit a dead end."

"I suppose so. It's nice to see that you're growing more accustomed to our new surroundings. I don't think I'm that far quite yet."

"I wouldn't say that I'm accustomed to the wasteland quite yet, but I definitely am getting more familiar with how things work around here. I'm just glad my failure to be aware of my surroundings didn't get all of you killed yesterday." I had plugged in while we were talking and the terminal finally had logged me in.

Search Data: Daybreak
...

"Oh, don't worry about that. They slipped past all of us and were prepared to deal with you. None of it was your fault. At least you're taking precautions for that situation now."

"I guess you're right. Thanks cuz."

One Result(s) Found
Message Subject: Daybreak's Progress

Okay, let's see where we're going next.

Display Message: Daybreak's Progress (Destination)
...

"Find anything?"

"That's what I'm about to find ou-"

Final Destination on Route: Ministry Mare Rainbow Dash's Office, Shadowbolt Tower

"Well...that's unfortunate."

"What is it?"

"You wouldn't happen to know how to get into Shadowbolt Tower would you, Lily?"

"As long as a pony has the right clearance I suppose. Though, fighting one's way in wouldn't be all that difficult. The challenge there would be to stay alive once inside. Why?"

"Because the message was sent to Rainbow Dash's office. I assume that it's on the top floor."

"Well, yes it is. But how are we supposed to get there?"

"Get into where?" Specter asked as he and Azel returned from patrolling. "What's going on? Where to next?"

"Hotshot says that the next stop is in Rainbow's office, all the way at the top of Shadowbolt Tower."

"Oh, huh." He looked up at the portion of the tower that reached the clouds. "Yeah...I don't see it happening."

"Come on guys, we just need a plan." i encouraged. "Let's start by analyzing the obstacles in front of us."

"Well let's see;" Specter began. "There's the lightning rods that we have to find a way to sneak past, Enclave security that we have to deal with once we arrive and while inside the tower, and one of us can't walk on clouds. Take your pick."

Okay, so maybe this might be a problem. "One step at a time. During the war, at events like the Cloudsdale Young Flyer Competition some unicorns would use a spell that allowed non-pegasi to walk on clouds so they could watch. Specter, do you know it?"

"Yeah, I know it. But I don't think it'll be any help. Spells I cast fizzle out once I change. I can cast the spell as a unicorn but I'd have to stay like that for it to work. And I don't think unicorns are welcome up there."

"Maybe not in the actual city. But we do have unicorns that live in Shadowbolt Tower." Lily suggested.

"What? I thought Neighvarro banned any cities from bringing surfacers to live with us."

"That's because the unicorns were already there when we found them. Apparently, there was a whole Stable built inside the tower."

"Really? Well, guess they needed to use that space for something." That would explain why Thunderhead was always the best place for me to get most of my gun-smithing supplies. "OK, so Specter can mimic one of the unicorns. How do we get him inside?"

"Uh, I didn't think that far ahead yet. I don't think unicorns are even allowed to leave the tower."

"Hmn, maybe I don't need to look like a unicorn while we get in."

"What do you mean?" Lily questioned. "Unless we can find somepony that has access to the tower, you being a unicorn is our only way in."

"No, there is a third way. I'm sure the guards would simply step aside if an important looking solider wearing advanced gear;" He made a gesture towards me. "was escorting a dangerous prisoner like..." His coat changed color. His gray coat and mane turned to stripes of white and black. Before us now was a zebra that looked very similar to Azel. "me. So, what do you think?"

"That's not how I look. You have the patterns wrong."

"I know. It would take a lot of time to memorize how you look. So instead I just used you as an example for what zebras look like. Does it look real enough?"

"A pony won't be able to tell the difference."

"Good enough for me! So...how do we get up there, you two going to carry me or something?"

"Maybe I can send a distress call to the EVC and get them to come and 'rescue' me. Once they arrive, I can convince them that Hotshot got my message first and had captured my attacker. They escort us back to Thunderhead and bring Specter in for questioning."

"No. If we're going to try this prisoner escort plan, we're going to need a vertibuck. Our own vertibuck and no escort other than ourselves. The less we have to deal with other ponies, the easier it will be to keep up the facade."

"Okay Daybreak, where do we get one? Unless you can call in support like Lily, I don't know how we can. It's not like the Enclave just leaves them around."

"Hmn, Lily, is there anywhere nearby that Thunderhead operates."

"There's an old aircraft station somewhere around here I think. Heard they were sent here to study some phenomenon. Why?"

"Because we're going to steal ourselves a vertibuck."

Footnote - Level up!

New perk! MOA VIP: Your possession of Daybreak allows you higher clearance than normal with certain terminals. You can now access certain documents that would normally be unavailable and new commands have been unlocked.

Skill Note - Hacking 20

Author's Note

Okay, another chapter down! As always I want to honor kkat's brilliance with the original fanfic about swearing ponies with guns. I'd also like to give an especially big thanks to you the audience because we've reached a milestone of 200 views! Woooo! Seriously, thank you guys for everything, this has been a fantastic ride for me and I hope that you've enjoyed yourself as well. Anyways, see you in the next one and have a great day!