The Lost Legacy

Blueblood's hoofsteps were his only company he found himself with as he made way down a corridor. His lens had been silent for the better part of ten minutes, nopony having a word to say (or had secretly turned off audio transmission). Occasionally, he'd hear a grunt, or Daybreak “hmm”ing to himself, but silence was reigning almost unchallenged. He approached the end of the corridor, coming before an immense door. His horn was quickly ignited, a teal aura wrapping around the door...

The door opened, Blueblood passing through it, the automated system closing it behind him. As he made way he noticed somepony waiting on his approach. An older Unicorn stallion, whose uniform spoke of a decorative career, a stark contrast against Blueblood's lack of clothing.

“Commander,” Blueblood spoke with a salute.

“At ease. You've been briefed on your assignment?”

“Yes, sir.”

The Commander nodded. He turned to walk, Blueblood knowing to follow. “You're assigned to Daybreak Flare, a researcher from Ponyville. Any questions?”

“My briefing didn't explain something. Why are we doing this, exactly?”

“You know these scientist types, each mind doing its own thing at its own pace. One of them might have their own idea at any time and require swift aid, so each consultant is being assigned their own operative.” Next came the part he knew, but also knew better than to interrupt his CO. “Your job is to fulfil his needs. If he wants equipment, get it. If he wants files, get them. He has an assistant for more basic needs, don't worry,” he quickly added with a smirk, seeing Blueblood's displeased expression. “If he wants to go out into the field, you go with him. Do not let him out of your sight, and keep him safe. His expertise, like that of his peers, may be invaluable. If he suddenly can't see sense, drag his plot out of there. Knock him out if need be, just keep him from becoming a casualty.”

“Yes, sir.”

“One more thing. Keep in mind most of these experts are not military. Expect more... lax behaviours from them.”

Blueblood took a look at his, his naked form. “Is that why I'm not wearing fatigues?”

“No, that was Daybreak's request. He doesn't like the uniform. Literally threw a guard out when he refused to remove it.” Blueblood's CO smiled. “It's not often you see an Apple thrown around like that.” He raised a hoof, pointing to a door. “You'll find him there.” He quickly glanced around, confirming unless somepony was about to suddenly appear, they were alone. “Good luck, son.”

Blueblood smiled, and saluted. “Thank you, father.”

He received a salute of his own, and was soon left alone. Blueblood made way to the door, with it opening for him.

If Blueblood had been asked an hour before to imagine what he'd find, it wouldn't quite be this. He'd have expected his charge at a table, in the process of some experiment. Instead, Blueblood just found him sitting. Daybreak was looking over a pair of screens, one moving through text at a rapid rate, the other moving through images, but this unicorn seemed to have no trouble keeping pace. The screens came to a halt, before changing to what Blueblood recognized as a menu screen. Daybreak leaned back in his chair with a heavy sigh.

Blueblood took a step forward, alerting Daybreak. Before Blueblood could speak, Daybreak gazed upon him. “I take it Quick Fix is busy.” Hang on, who was-“No matter, can you get me a coffee?” Wait, he thought Blueblood was... oh that son of a-“Oh, and something to eat too. I skipped breakfast. Daisy sandwich'll do, thanks.”

Blueblood's hoof thudded in the floor. “I am not your errand colt! My name is Blueblood. I have been-”

“Oh yeah!” With a flash of his horn, one of the screens changed to show text. “I got the memo! They didn't include a picture, for reasons that escape me.” With a gold flash, Daybreak vanished, reappearing before Blueblood. “Sorry, we got off on the wrong hoof.” He held out one a foreleg. “Daybreak Flare.”

Blueblood took it. “Blueblood.” They shook briefly, before Blueblood took a look around the room, littered with devices he could barely hope to name. “What's all this?”

Daybreak grinned. “Research. An idea of mine; Instead of all of us all tackling one idea, we separated, to try multiple things. Some paired, some didn't, I went alone. This way if one thing goes wrong, we got fall-backs. Or we might just find the best solution faster.” His grinned collapsed. “Faster than me alone anyway.”

“Not going well?”

Daybreak shook his head. “I was undersold on how bad things were getting.” In midair, a near-transparant screen appeared, right before Blueblood's eyes. “This is our list of MIAs.”

“MIAs?”

Daybreak's frown deepened. “We have no idea if we should be using 'K'. You've read the reports on its wake?” Blueblood nodded. “It's magic is... well, I've been here a fortnight and haven't made heads or tails of it. The data isn't that helpful. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was compiled by somepony who failed basic magic analysis.” He took his seat again, with more weight than just that of his body. “I haven't found a possible match for it anywhere yet.”

Blueblood's eyes darted through the list, finding some names he recognized, others he didn't and...“Wait, this list, it shows attempted tactics, and arsenal...”

Daybreak nodded. “Whatever it is, it isn't just resistant; It's been outright immune to everything thrown at it so far. The upper brass have been holding off on heavier artillery -populated areas and all that-, but some ponies are getting a bit twitchy. One failure is too many failures to them, I'm surprised they've held off this long. Which brings me to-well, to me, and the others. We were called in to find a more efficient means of ending this.” Daybreak released a sigh, one that seemed full of disappointed.

“We might have it too. Stardust came up with an interesting idea involving phase displacement.” Daybreak turned to Blueblood, who offered nothing more than a confused gaze. “Divide the target on a targeting grid. Then you fire a phase shift spell, and put each part in a different phase, you can paint that picture.” Blueblood shuddered, making Daybreak nod. “At times I think she should be committed, but don't let her know I said that, she scares me.” He leaned back in his chair, in thought. “Just a matter of when they're gonna try it.”

Blueblood smiled, an idea forming. “We got confirmation this morning. It's making way towards the Crystal Empire.”

Daybreak's horn flashed briefly, a screen changing to a map, focusing on an area in the north. “And do to that, it'll need to go through...there!” The map was zoomed in, focusing on an area void of any civilisation. “Emptier than my library on weekends, they'll execute the plan there.”

Blueblood's smile widened, bait set, there might just be something for his service record here if he played his cards right...“How about we join them, for some recon?”

“'Recon'?” Daybreak held his chin in a hoof for a moment. “Yeah, why not? I'm a more 'hoofs-on' kinda stallion anyway. Worse case scenario I just end up with field data of my own to work with.” He smiled. “All in all, that ain't a bad thing.” With a flash of his horn, all screens vanished. “You know what? I feel like a break. I'm off to the mess hall, coming?”

Blueblood shrugged. “Yes.” His job was to follow orders anyway. He'll just say he was ordered to eat. The pair made way for the door, a thought suddenly occurring to Blueblood...“Do we have any idea if it bleeds?”

Daybreak smirked. “I hope it doesn't. Imagine having to clean up the mess.”

Blueblood chuckled at that.

The door opened, Blueblood walking into yet another empty hall, darkened by eons of dust on the windows. The rough map of his Lens was not much different from the real thing, this place was bare, devoid of almost all touches once present in places like this. He took step after step through the darkened corridor, the same as any that had come, barren, lifeless, and-

He'd stepped on something. He looked down, finding the remains of-what were they called...tapestries? He was gonna go with that. He picked up what was left of what was most likely a wall-spanning piece once upon a time. Most of it was eroded, faded, but something had survived the eons. Not intact, but enough to make it out.

A rainbow.

He put his hoof to it, when was the last time he'd seen one? When was the last time he'd looked? When was... with a silent growl, Blueblood let the tapestry fall, his rage boiling beneath the surface.

How, exactly, had this even happened? This was not how it was supposed to play out! It was supposed to quick! Equestria's unmatched might was wipe out that thing, he'd get his name on the victory somehow and get a promotion! He'd follow in the hoofsteps of Commander Rapier Wit, and eventually go down in history as one the greatest ever to serve in the Equestrian miltiary! But no! That abomination pushed them back, forced them on the defensive. It made an absolute mockery of the mightiest military force on the planet! Now here he was! Stuck in a place that had been abandoned since who knows when! Stuck with an incompetent researcher, a jeweller, an idiot, a wannabe-be stunt pony, and a hippie!

Still, as dreary, as dilapidated as this place was, it had, at least, more to see than elsewhere. Igniting his horn, Blueblood cleared a window, gazing out into the outside world.

Darkness.

As far as his eye could see, darkness that even the daylight from above could not illuminate. That was its wake, nothing but the black. Immoveable, impenetrable and incomprehensible. Much like its creator, the darkness had made way across the land, through the Empire, Baltimare, Manehatten... Heh, it would be easier to list the places it hadn't made way through. Such a list did not warrant compiling, only an idiot would fail to complete the list from memory. Maybe he should see if Swift could recite said list...

Now here he was, with nowhere to run. With one last hope somewhere inside these walls.

I'm not giving up, father.