Fallout Equestria: Crystal Reborn

Take me home...

A few hours after leaving the castle we arrived at Emerald Field. While at the market procuring supplies one of the guards flagged me down. She chatted with me a bit and then told me the mayor wanted to meet with me before I departed again. I shook her hoof and thanked her for the message. I found Starlight browsing the stalls and asked her to come with me.

“The mayor wants to see us?” Starlight asked confused, I took her hoof in mine and pulled her along with me.

“That’s what the guard said.”

He continued to walk following the signs leading to a large elevator. Stepping onto the elevator the guard at the bottom pressed a large red button. The generator began to clang and hiss and it began to pull on the rope and our ascension to the upper level began. After a moment of climbing we reached a stopped. I stepped off the lift and onto a wooden platform that lead through what was formerly a window. The mayors office was formerly the announcers box, most of the electronics have been removed and it was converted into a office, there was a wall that separated the entrance to the mayors quarters. A pony sitting at a terminal was typing away, she briefly looked up from her terminal.

“Can I help you?” She asked monotonously.

“Ugh the mayor summoned me…” I awkwardly said. I rubbed my foreleg, I felt awkward at the exchange. The secretary sighed then stood up. She knocked on the door to the mayors office.

“Mayor, the princess is here to see you.”

“Let her in,” the secretary pushed open the door and revealed a furnished office, the window was draped in red velvet and floors were polished to a shine. The room was immaculately clean. I looked around and saw little trinkets sat in cabinets and hung on the wall behind the desk was the flag of the Crystal Empire.

“Welcome to my office, Princess and guest,” Mayor McDonut smiled, it’s been a while since I’ve seen her but something seems off. I don’t remember her looking this young. She had less wrinkles and seemed in considerable better mood. Her light pink fur shined and her mane was beautifully curled almost like Rarity. I felt a bit conflicted inside about how I felt.

“Good morning, my name is Starlight Glimmer, Aide-de-Camp to Princess Cadance,” Starlight extended her hoof in which the mayor returned. Aide-de-Camp? I think that’s some sort of advisor.

“It’s good to see you again mayor, you seem different since I last saw you.”

“Oh Princess, your settlement has done wonders for Emerald Field. The Castle itself is like a stable, it’s been supplying us with tons of water and now we have so much ponies have begun to start bathing again. We’ve been able to clean the town again and even trade off excess for a profit. We are indebted to you Princess,” the Mayor smiled.

“Mayor McDonut, if I may, I do have some request from the citizens of Castle-Town,” Starlight began to dig through her saddlebags.

“Please call me Milly. No need for the formalities, we are all friends here,” Milly stated. I smiled at the thoughts of having friends again.

“Ms. Milly, we would like to request food and artisans.”

“Artisans?” Milly sat back in her chair.

“Skilled labor like engineers or business ponies, anypony that can help jump start our economy and build new safer structures,” Starlight said holding the list in front of her face with her magic.

“As far as builders go we have a few skilled builders. I can have one sent over but don’t have the NCR and Applejack’s Rangers now at the castle?”

“Yes but we rely on existing infrastructure, our houses are built on top of the former runways at the castle airfield. We don’t have any real equipment to breakdown the broken structures or vehicles left around the area.”

“Alright, but I would like to make a request if that’s alright,” Milly sat up in her chair.

“If it is within our power I’ll see that it happens,” I replied with a smile.

“We would like to request to join the Minutemares. The increasing monster and raider attacks are becoming worrisome. The raiders have been better armed as of late and we can’t let the city be destroyed.”

“I can request Bullseye to allow you admittance but its up to her but I’ll see what I can-“ starlight interrupted me.

“Done. Bullseye is sending a detachment of 10 ponies here to help defend and train your guards.”

“How did you send a message so fast?” I looked at Starlight who held out a book. I looked into it and the title of the page said list of settlements.

“Please sign here Ms. Milly,” Milly took the book and wrote Emerald Field followed by her signature. The book then disappeared into smoke. I looked at Starlight. She smiled back at me.

“How… How did, you… Without a dragon,” I was fumbling to get myself together. The spell she used, if she used it was meant between Spike and Celestia to send letters.

“I enchanted a crystal in library to act as conduit the transport spell is easy to learn but its hard to be both a receiver and sender. Since my cutie mark is in magic, I have enough magic stored to act as both. It’s like teleportation, only certain ponies can do it but long distances require immense magic,” Starlight flipped her mane.

“Must be nice to have magic, I’m just an earth pony, I can’t do much outside baking and being the mayor. “

“Oh don’t be silly, you’re perfect the way you are,” I winked. I saw Milly blush, Starlight was fiddling with her PipBuck.

“It’s time for us to head out Mayor, our team should be waiting at the gates.”

“Let me see you two out,” Milly stood up and walked us to the elevator. She wrapped her arms around me. “Let me know when you’re back, I’d love to see your settlement,” she said. I stepped onto the elevator and we descended back to the bottom floor.

Stepping off the lift we headed to the entrance to the city. Ember, Lightning Dust, and Sheer Cold stood waiting at the gates. The pegasi had strapped additional large bags on their back.

“Do we really need all that?” Starlight asked.

“I would say so. MAS hubs are the most dangerous of all the ministry hubs. You never know what you will find. The Goddess was created in a MAS facility so we need to enter like she’s waiting behind every door,” Sheer Cold said.

“So they what did you buy?” I asked examining their bags.

“Besides the extra medical supplies and food rations we picked up a heavy machine gun. It’s an older model so its not compatible with our battlesaddles but extra firepower never hurts,” Lightning Dust turned around and from the back of her pack several metal apples dangled. “If you ever need them, I have them. It’s good to be prepared.”

“Are you able to fly with all that? It seems to limit your mobility,” I walked around the two pegasi examining their gear.

“No, the packs cover our wings but it’s pretty easy to ditch the bags if we need to,” Sheer Cold smiled.

“Well if you’re ok with it then lets get moving. It’s going to take a while to march across the city.”

We exited the city through the main gates, the large gates came to close with a loud clang. As we began to walk I started to think about Shining Armor. I wonder where he is… Does he still even love me anymore… We continued our trek down the destroyed city streets. Several skeletons hung from a school bus wagon, I felt horrified at the sight. Not only did my Empire end but they killed almost the entire generation.

As we walked down the structures seemed to be getting progressively worse. The glittering crystal houses that dotted the Empire now lay destroyed.

“You know, the capital city always creeped me out every time I came. It’s so abandoned compared to the other cities,” Ember stopped to look inside a delivery wagon. I followed behind her and opened the back doors. The smell of rotting flesh lingered in the air inside the cart. I quickly pulled my face back. The stench was putrid, I couldn’t hold myself back. I threw up as soon as I pulled back. Ember came up behind me rubbing my back.

“I haven’t been up here before but I know down in Equestria, there are massive cities that lay almost abandoned. Stalliongrad or at least what’s left of it is almost completely abandoned besides the two settlements there. But those settlements are still far outside the city limits,” Lightning Dust walked up to me. I lifted up my head wiping my mouth, taking a few deep breaths I was able to regain my bearing.

“What do you mean other cities?” I asked still trying to catch my breath.

“Rainbow Falls survive the majority of the destruction. It’s population was rather low and so it wasn’t hit by the Megaspell directly. But radiation and the Frost claimed a lot of ponies even to this day. Not to mention the raiders and monsters that are wandering around the wilderness,” Ember replied, she walked next to me and looked straight at me. “Princess, many communities outside the city still exist but just barely. Without the capital or their princess they had to fend for themselves and many may still be out there.”

I smiled at Ember, “I hope my ponies are doing well but I don’t think they will want me as their ruler after almost 200 years of independence.”

As we continued out walk through the suburbs I curiously stumbled upon a rather pristine house. It’s exterior wasn’t glittering but it didn’t seem to be wrecked like the other houses in the area.

“Hold on, I want to check this out, lets take a break,” I said. I watched as the Pegasi gasps as they dropped their bags and stretch their wings.

“Princess, does this house seem off to you?” Starlight approached the house. Suddenly a force field appeared repelling Starlight and sent her flying across the street.

“Starlight!” I ran over to her. “Are you ok?”

“I’m fine, just wasn’t expecting that…” Starlight stood up dusting herself off. I walked back over to the house.

“Somepony doesn’t want us here,” Lightning Dust said. “Sheer set up the machine gun and setup a perimeter.” Sheer Cold began to unpack one of her bags and set up the machine gun. “We’ll keep watch while you work on getting into the house. I turned my attention back to the house. I saw Starlight examining the house. I felt my PipMare buzz. Lifting up my forehoof I checked the map. This location was marked as ‘Sunburst’s Laboratories.’ How did it know this was a laboratory… how did it know it wasn’t a house…

“Starlight check your PipBuck,” she looked down at it and her expression changed immediately.

“Sunbursts?” Starlight said quietly. She paused for a moment, Starlight approached the barrier and her horn began to glow. She whispered something and the shield went down. I approached Starlight and I saw tears rolling down her cheek. “Idiot,” she whispered. Starlight proceeded towards the door.

“Are you ok?” She didn’t respond.

“I’m fine,” Starlight said coldly. She proceeded into the house, I followed after her. The place was a mess, papers and charts were scattered throughout the entry way of the house. Chalk boards with old equations dotted the room. Wires covered the few open wall spaces and ceiling connecting to several pieces of machinery. I saw a ladder leading up to the small second story loft, looking around the bottom floor there was a door that lead into a small alcove that contained a kitchen. Walking in I saw ruined furniture destroyed by time and rot. The refrigerator door had long since rusted off its hinges and lay face first on the floor. There were several holotapes scattered on the dining table. I walked up to the table and up the closet one.

“I think I done, I finally completed my life’s work! Starlight I was able to create a shield strong enough to withstand a megaspell. I heard the sirens go off and a loud explosion outside but nothing happened. I was able to construct a shield that had dense enough molecular structure to withstand even the strongest of blows. This can revolutionize what we know about combat shielding and finally put an end to the war. Let Ms. Twilight know I was finally able to perfect it. I told her it was possible and she didn’t believe me,” the voice on the tape began to laugh hysterically. “Now I need to disable the shield and find you. I think you told me you were in Stable 13. I’ll have to start my trek to find you. But I can’t wait to see you again.”

Voice began to cheer and then the tape ended. I removed this one from the PipMare and picked in another one.

“Day two of being trapped in the shield. I’m not sure how to dispel it, everything I’ve tried has failed and has kept me locked in here. Looking at the spell matrix again I seemed to have made a solid wall of magic. If my hypothesis is correct the dome I created was set on a time limit. Everything I’ve tried has either backfired or just ineffective. I hope the shield gives up soon. Anyways, I hope your doing well Star, I’ll find you as soon as I’m out.”

I put another holotape in:

“Day eight of being trapped in the shield. I really need to keep a consistent log. I hear screaming outside the house. I can’t see anything outside the house. The magic barriers isn’t translucent. I guess that’s probably why Twilight didn’t want me experimenting with shields of this power. Starlight… Never mind, I think I know how I’m going to get out. I’m still receiving power from the grid and I’m going to try to dig my way out. Maybe the shield only exists on the surface. It may take a while though, I don’t have many gardening tools to dig. Anyways I’ll let you know how it goes.”

The tape ended. I took it out and put the other tape in.

“I’ve been here for a grand total of 14 days. Yup two weeks. I’m beginning to run out of food and water. The power has finally gave out and now I’m stuck in the dark. I have no sunlight to speak of. Only my magic, but I’m hopeful somepony will come looking. I haven’t heard the screams for a few days. I wonder what happened out there. I wonder if life is going on as usual. Maybe it was a false alarm. Who knows. All I know is I’m trapped in here with no pony looking for me.”

The tape ended abruptly. There was one more tape on the table. I put it in and static began to play. I heard a bit of music in the background.

“This is it… This is where I die… trapped in my house. I’ve been in here for…” there was a brief pause followed by laughter. “I want to say I’ve been in here forty days… It’s been about 15 days since I’ve last ate. And as of this morning, my sink is no longer dispensing water. With the last of my sanity I just… I just want to say one thing before I go…” I heard the pony from the tape sigh. He began to cry. “Starlight Glimmer, you were my best friend. I still think about the time I left you back at the village. It’s something I greatly regret. After graduating from Celestia’s school I was never able to shake the guilt of leaving you behind. Once the war started I thought I was never going to see you again. Then I heard you went to the Crystal Empire and I thought maybe one day I’d see you again.” The voice began to cry. After a few moments he stopped. “I really hope you’re still alive Starlight. I’m sorry I left you behind. Maybe I’ll see you again in the next life,” the voiced sighed. “This is Sunburst, signing off for the last time,” the taped ended.

I left the kitchen and look up to the loft, Starlight was standing at the top looking into the small bedroom. I began to flap my wings and my hooves left the ground. Ascending to the second story bedroom I touched down in front of the bed. It was a mess up here. The bed was unkempt, the drawers a were missing and in the corner, a unicorn skeleton draped with dark blue cape and lighter blue stars. The words I’m sorry were scribbled all over the walls. Lack of provisions drove him insane until he finally succumbed to his ailments.

“I’m so sorry Starlight…” I said pulling her into my embrace. She began to sob uncontrollably and I began to stroke her mane. “It’s ok.”

After a few moments Starlight pulled her head out. “I’m sorry you had to see that Princess.”

“Don’t be, emotions only mean were are ponies. Here, I found these downstairs, I suggest you listen to them when we get back, they are pretty heavy,” I levitated out Sunburst’s holotapes. Starlight grasps them in her levitation field packing them.

“Let’s go rejoin the others,” Starlight said, I nodded in return and she teleported outside the house. I looked back at the skeleton, I activated my magic and wrapped his body in his cloak. I then lifted him up placing him on the bed and encased his body in crystal. That should prevent any looters from touching his body.

“Thank you…” a voice echoed throughout the room. My heart sunk in my chest. I teleported out of the house as quickly as I could.

“Are you ok Princess? You looked like you’ve seen a ghost?” Ember said examining me.

“I might have…” I shook my head. The pegasi have begun to pack up their gun emplacement, Starlight was staring off into space. It seems Sunburst’s fate really got to her.

“We are ready to go Princess,” Lightning Dust said. I turned back to look at Sheer Cold, she had everything packed on her armor. I still think that was a bit much for our mission. Next time I’m going to have to tell them to use only what they have on them.

We set off down the road putting Sunburst’s house behind us. After about an hour of walking we began to see signs of life. Ponies dismembered and hung up on poles. Some of them were even crucified.

“Eyes up ladies, seems like we aren’t alone out here,” Lightning Dust, said. I levitated my plasma pistol out of its holster, there were several large barricades made out of scrap. We passed by the first one and the sight of a decaying corpse. This one was a crystal pony wearing an assortment of scrap for armor.

“Raiders,” Ember said. We cautiously kept moving. Every sound kept us on edge. By the time we made it to the center of the camp we had passed by at least a dozen raiders.

“Let’s split out, maybe we can find something useful,” I whispered. We all split in different directions.

I entered one of buildings. A few raiders were laying against the wall, no weapon in sight, no shell casings or burn marks on the walls or bodies. I turned one of the corners entering an office. There was a dead raider laying on the desk. Seems she died from a shot to the head… I levitated the body the tossing her aside. I found a note with a knife in it. It’s read ‘Beware of Sparkle World’ written in blood. I pulled the knife out and levitated the note. I flipped it around. Underneath the letters it was an old poster of Sparkle World. I walked back out into the main room, the stairs in the corner collapsed in. I assume the upper floors are gone. I walked back out to the center of the raider camp. None of my companions had returned yet.

I started to stare at the tops of the crumbling buildings. Beyond the patch of what I can only assume were apartments, I saw a glint off in the distance. I heard a bullet strike the concrete beside me. I immediately ignited my horn casting a shield around me. From the rooftops several figures began shooting down at me. In a panic I ran back into one of the buildings. Several grenades exploded outside the building. I gripped the plasma pistol with my magic, I aimed towards the door ready for one of the hostile to enter. I could see at least four on my EFS. I took a deep breath. One of the figures was approaching the door. As soon as he entered the room I slipped into SATS.

As time slowed, I began to see my hit chances on the enemy. It was a griffon… I targeted her torso and hind legs. As I released the targeting spell, time speed up. I fired two shots, both hit their marks. I heard the griffon wail in pain as she dropped to the floor. The superheated plasma had burned through her battlesaddle causing extreme burns but none of the shots were fatal. I saw her face dripping with tears as she cried out.

“Just fucking kill me already,” she begged. I stepped over her and rushed outside. There was an aerial battle taking place between the pegasi and griffons. Two more were on the ground and Sheer Cold and Lightning Dust were engaging the other three in mid air. My EFS suddenly lit up with a dozen more red marks.

“Ember! Starlight! Where are you?” I called out.

“I’m in here,” Starlight called out, she was firing at a group of griffons form inside the building. I opened fire at the two trapping her. I hit one in the wing and the other began to take off. I grabbed the other one shortly after takeoff slamming her back into the ground. Starlight had dispatched the wounded one. I rushed toward Starlight, several stray rounds from the novasurge rifle and the griffons laser weapons came close to hitting me. Once I made it inside I found Starlight and Ember, Starlight was wrapping her foreleg with a magical bandage.

“Are you ok?”

“I’m mhmnm,” Starlight replied. I cocked my head at her confused. She spit out the magical bandage. “I’m fine, focus on the fight!” Starlight levitated a shotgun firing into the doorway. I turned around to find a now deceased griffon.

I ran out and took off to help Lightning and Sheer. I put my plasma pistol back in the holster. I doubt it would do much good in a fight light like this anyways. When I joined there were only two remaining adversaries. The two griffons began to fly back to put distance between us. My horn lit up and I began to cast a gravity spell.

“Increase gravity,” I yelled. The griffon began to fall out of the sky like a rock. Desperately flapping her wings before she crashed onto the floor below. The other griffon charged at me only to be stopped by Sheer and Lightning opening fire with their novasurge rifles. I began to look around and I couldn’t see the glint of snipers scope. “Let’s regroup.” We flew back down to the ground. Starlight and Ember were there waiting.

“Who are they?” Ember began to examine the bodies.

“Let’s ask them shall we?” I said. I walked back to the building and found the female griffon still writhing on the floor. I grasped her with my telekinesis and began to drag her out the building and back towards the group. We all circled around her.

“What the fuck do you want?” She said grabbing her side.

“Who are you?” Lightning asked.

“I’m Gawdyna fucking Grimfeathers,” Lighting Dust punched the griffon across the face. “You bitch!” the griffon spit out blood.

“Let’s try this again. Who are you.”

“Answer us truthfully and we will give you this,” I levitated a healing potion out of my bag. I dangled it in front of her face. The griffon frowned at me. “I’ll start. My name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Empress of the Crystal Empire, third princess of Equestria.” The griffon looked away from me. She looked at my companions and back me.

“My name is Ava von Razorbeak,” she panted. “Can I please have the healing potion, the pain is excruciating.” I levitated the potion to her, she grabbed it in her claw sucking it down. The burned patches on her skin and feathers began to heal, quickly disappearing like they never existed. She then stood up.

“Are you a merc or with the Griffon Empire?” Ember asked, she pushed on the griffons former wounds. I saw the griffon wince a bit at the pressure expecting the searing pain but was surprised that it not there.

“I’m conscript from Griffonstone…” she said.

“Conscript?” Ember look confused. I guess this word would be foreign to a pony without a nation.

“A conscripted is a pony or griffon in this case that is forced into military service. They are required to serve a certain amount of time or in some cases their whole life,” Starlight said looking down at the griffon.

“In the Enclave, we used to have something similar called the draft. Every pony had to put their name in a lottery and every month a few hundred names would be called. Service minimum was two years but you could be called more than once,” Lightning said.

“That’s why I stayed in. Got called twice and though it’s better to stay in. Free food, housing and decent pay. Well until Cauterize that is,” Sheer added. She removed her helmet to look at the griffon.

“What are you going to do with me?” she asked.

“We’ll we can’t exactly take prisoners but I don’t reckon you want to go back to the Griffon Empire,” Sheer rubbed her chin. “If it’s ok with the Princess you could come with us. Although, I’m not sure how I feel if you had a weapon considering you just tried to kill us.”

“We’ll either way I’m dead to the Empire. You can kill me now or leave me to the monsters.”

“While I don’t mind her coming with us but are the rest of you ok with this?” I asked looking at my companions.

“Personally, she isn’t a threat to me,” Lightning smirked. I looked over at Starlight.

“Having a griffon might changed the social dynamic at the castle a bit. Make us seem more like the old harmonic style of rule like Princess’s had.”

“I’m rather impartial, she isn’t a threat but I’m hesitant to give her a weapon,” Ember said.

“Well then Ava, you are welcome to join us if you please,” I smiled. I extended a hoof to her, she grabbed it and stood up.

“Thank you Princess. I appreciate you kindness,” the griffon said. Ember levitated a water bottle to her.

“You’re suffering from severe malnutrition and dehydration. When was the last time you ate?” Ember dug through her bag looking for food.

“We were told to scavenge the land but there is no food in sight. But we’ve become little more than raiders stealing from settlements. Even then settlements are few and far between. All griffons have been banned from Emerald Field in light of the attack on the castle so we haven’t eaten in a few weeks. Water ran dry a few days ago. Any spoils go straight to the officer in charge and we get the scraps,” the griffon drooped her head. “Then it’s a fight for scrap.”

“Here darling,” Ember levitated a can of spaghetti to the griffon.

“Thank you,” Ava lowered her head to Ember. She also levitated a two water bottles to her. The griffon used her talons to open the can. The sound her talons caused were akin to nails on a chalkboard. I began to rub my ears. “Sorry.”
“Well Ava, since you’re part of the team I think we should let you know where we are going,” I opened my saddlebags and levitated the map out laying it on the ground. Ava looked over to the map. “The MAS hub, huh?” She said swallowing her food. “That place is a death trap,” Ava was shoving more food into her beak. “The other day we lost an entire team trying to take the building.”

“Do you happen to know the kind of defenses they have?” Starlight asked.

“Enough to kill a bunch of griffons,” Ava sarcastically remarked. She swallowed hard and looked at me. “It seems that the place is inhabited or at least was recently. A mixture of energy and conventional weaponry on top of traps.”

“Good thing we bought this beauty,” Lightning Dust laughed rubbing the large saddle boxes containing the machine gun.

“That won’t do you any good. Unless you have it attached to a battlesaddle its dead weight. I’d ditch at the front door. Shotguns and submachine guns will be your best friend.”

“And why’s that,” Sheer Cold sat down across from Ava pushing a small bread wafer into her mouth.

“If it follows the logic of other ministry buildings, it will be tight spaced with winding corridors. Only way to effectively move through the building is separately to cover the most ground but the defenses will overwhelm you.”

“What if we move in teams?” I levitated a few stones in front of us. “Each of us bring a Unicorn and if any of us are wounded or incapacitated we teleport them outside the building where Ember will wait,” I said moving the rocks around to show the teams and Ember.

“Who will wait outside with me? I can’t exactly help you and fend for myself.”

“I’ll stay outside,” Ava said. “I’m not in a hurry to die in that hell hole.”

“Well it seems we have a plan to go in.”

“Can we trust the Griffon?” Sheer asked.

“I agree, enemies don’t just turn friend in a matter of seconds,” Starlight said.

“I disagree, after all, Twilight and her friends were able to turn Discord good.”

“Discord?” Lightning Dust asked.

“Like the old mare’s tale, Discord?” Ember look at me confused.

“Discord was a Draconiquis from our time, a lord of chaos defeated by the Elements of Harmony long before the war started…” Starlight said.

“Yes Discord was, well…” I paused to think. I rubbed my chin thinking of how to describe him. “He was a Draconiquis who reigned over Equestria briefly in ancient times. He was subsequently overthrown by Princess Celestia and Luna and formed Equestria from what remained. After he appeared again and the Elements of Harmony defeated him turning him to stone. A few months later, Celestia thought it would be a go idea to reform him. I was skeptical of this choice at first but it worked out. Discord reformed and he became close with Fluttershy, I never saw him again after.”

“You see all you ponies get is gods easily swayed by words. In the griffon country, we have monstrosities that roam the land. Giants, dragons and other ungodly creatures ravage the countryside. We have no god to protect us. Only our talons and what we can create with our claws.”

“It’s not like we have them any more, the last goddess is right here.” Ember said sadly. “Equestria must had been beautiful before the war.”

“It was, it wasn’t perfect but it was home,” Starlight gave a soft smile.

“In the Enclave, everything was propaganda. Even the legends like Discord were used to scare foals into being good members of society or else Discord would get you.”

“In the part I’m from, they always said Celestia and Luna became the sun and moon after the war to stop the Zebras from ever entering Equestria again, Discord was said to be a punisher who dragged Zebra’s into an alternate dimension and killed them,” Sheer said.

“Lightning, whatever happened to the Changelings?” I asked.

“Let’s walk and talk,” Starlight said.

“Agreed suns about to go down and make things a lot more complicated,” Sheer said. The Pegasi packed their gear and we began the final leg of the journey.

“What are Changelings?” Lightning Dust cocked her head.

“You’ve never heard of the Changelings?” Starlight raised an eyebrow.

“The Changelings are a complicated bunch. They mainly kept to their land in the east. We have had little to no contact with them. The Enclave has sent scouts long ago but none returned.”

“During the war, Equestria was able to maintain a fragile peace with them,” Starlight said.

“The Changelings were extremely aggressive creatures, during my reign over the Crystal Empire, they would infringe on our eastern villages to feed. Queen Chrysalis would always deny that she was responsible and that each hive is ruled by its own queen but as their leader she needed better control of her country,” I frowned thinking upon their attack on Canterlot. I sighed and continued walking.

After passing through the high rise apartments zone the tall MAS hub became visible among the Crystal skyline. A large eight pointed star adorned each side of the building. I began to notice piles of skeletons lined the street. Signs of protest lay strewed about the floor. These were members of the United Workers Party. They were, for the most part against the war but especially against the ministries claiming all kinds of mistreatment and dangerous pony experimentation. I shuddered at the sound of the bones crunching under the weight of the Pegasi power armor. We were fast approaching the MAS Hub. At the final T intersection we halted our party.

“I think we should make camp here,” Starlight said.

“Agreed, we should rest and scout out the defenses if we can.”

“Into the building, we don’t want to be caught out in the open,” I said pointing to the coffee shop behind us. I looked at the sign, ‘Donut Joe’s’. The sign showed a tan colored stallion flanked by two beautiful mares. Pushing through the front door I heard the sound of a bell. Even after all these years it still worked as if the store never closed. The skeletal remains of patrons lay dead, slumped over the table. I walked farther in checking behind the front counter. A skeleton with a tattered apron and white bakers cap lay solemnly behind the counter. I turned around to check the storage room. A the pungent smell of death assailed my nostrils. I large amount of dried blood led to the walk-in refrigerator. Opening the fridge a pile of skeletons in tattered suits lay in a pile in the center. I ran out of the back and out the front door. I threw up whatever food I had eaten that day if any.

“Princess!” Ember ran to me rubbing my back. “What happened.”

“Th-the back r-r-room,” I stuttered. Taking a deep breath I felt the fresh air enter my lungs. “I think I’m good.” I walked back into the store, Lightning Dust entered the back room to investigate my findings. I followed behind her.

“They did not die any easy death,” Lighting Dust put her helmet on. She approached one of the skeletons pulling it off the pile. “Multiple fractures, lacerations, cracks… I assume they were beaten before they died.”

I levitate a rag out of my bag placing it over my nose. “They seem to be a little to well dressed for a donut shop,” I looked at their blood stained suit. Three balloon pin adorn their lapel followed by a name tag a bit below it. “Limestone,” I muttered.

“They are agents of the MoM…” Starlight looked over me. “They were the most unpopular ministry. Especially considering the thing’s they’ve done.”

Lightning Dust began to check the coats of dead agents. She held her hoof up holding a picture. I levitated it towards me, it was a picture of Pinkie and her family in their younger days. Besides Pinkie there were two grey mares, one held a soft smile while the other gritted her teeth in anger. I put the picture in my saddlebag and walked out of the fridge and headed towards the front of the store. Sheer Cold had set up the the machine gun on one of the tables pointing out the window.

“Everything ok?” Sheer asked.

“I’m fine… I just want to find an end to the brutality.”

“Everyday we inch closer to peace. In order to end the brutality once and for all we must overcome it with our own.”

“Maybe…”

Footnote: Level Up.
Perk adde: Cool Under Fire: Danger is your middle name, you attract bullets and you show no fear. Perception gains +1 while under sustained fire.