The Wastelands Sacrifice to be

Chapters

Chapter 2: Loss and Hardship become Determination and Love
Chapter 3: The Day of Awakening
Chapter 4: Holiday Cheer in a Corrupted Equestria
Chapter 5: Blood Flows into the Moon Light
Chapter 6: Beliefs and the Past
Chapter 7: Cryo Knight Meet Knight
Chapter 8: Darkest Night becomes Darkest Yet
Chapter 9: Harmony at it's Finest
Chapter 1: The Phoenix in all its Glory

Chapter 2: Loss and Hardship become Determination and Love

Funny how things happen to go from bad to worse these days. I just lost my safe haven, Moonlit Stables, due to the fact that I was waiting for my sister to come home. Of course, this runs into a whole other issue of sorts. She had crashed on her unaccompanied flight outside the vault and received amnesia from the crash as a memento of what not to do if she ever remembers it. Now I waited for her to recover the memories that I had, in hopes she would too remember. I could only laugh at my predicament with a cold, heartless chuckle as the blackened sky reminded me of my failure to my sister and my parents once more. Sorry mom and dad, I thought, I let her get hurt and I can't even help her.

With my mind filled, my shabby cave with linens clumped in a bed in a small alcove of the cave seemed just simply empty. I couldn't sleep if I wanted to, stuck with this damnable shroud of depressing thoughts and anger. Strange how my usual firey demeanor calmed once I realized I could do nothing but wait and watch, all the while sitting alone. I stood and went to leave until I saw the clouds again for what they truly were. Having the strangest feeling it would pour, my mind began to panick. I got worried with anticipation of the storm that was to come from the storm pegasi. I knew they did this to spurn the ponies alive down here in their cruel effort or maybe it was an accident. Either way it was bad for us all.

Immediately, I ran to get the boards that I made to rig over the cave entrance for safety from the storm. With luck, I could hold a fire tonight to stay warm while the winds and rain blew down the mountain past me harmlessly. As I began to retrieve boards from the back, a flickering green flame caught me off guard as I lifted a hoof at it as it glowed vibrant green with energy. A green blight phoenix flew into the cave hiding in the alcove from the winds and soon to be coming storm. I put my hoof down and shook my head as I just kept retrieving boards to put up to block the entrance from the storm to come.

When the work was done for, I found myself putting some scraps of wood and a piece of linen to light the wood pile. As I stepped back to my linen, the phoenix lit the small fire for me. I just smiled and nodded to her appreciatively at her efforts to keep me warm. The storm started shortly after as I jumped at the lightning strikes and thunder. I was afraid of these storms for a good reason as one took my father from me. My mother was taken by gun fire hidden in the thunder of the same storm. I could only remember that in lost thought, jumping at each flash of light or thunder strike sounding off.

Slowly the phoenix fell asleep at my side as it leaned on my main. Instantly filled with the warmth from the phoenix. My energy aura around my mane seemed to buzz as it warmed the inside of my armor. It helped me sleep somehow and I loved it for that. The warmth made me feel as if I was home, though I knew I was far from it. It was a good sleep, where I dreamt of flying with my sister before... No don't think of it. Too late, the skies darkened and she crashed into the ground with ponies surrounding her. I watched as she called to me for help. As I tried to fly to her ghost, it seemed to get farther and farther away. Please come back, I thought, I won’t let this happen. Misery was causing me to shake violently and wretch with tears. No, I thought, wake up now please!

I jumped awake to a screeching phoenix that was trying to wake me. She must have seen me move or heard me scream. My body just wretched as tears stained my face in droves. I was terrified of the scene that was before me in my dreams as I just shook uncontrollably. Crying out in pain, it was as if that was a warning. My body reacted as I looked at the boards. I pulled them down and looked back to the phoenix, “Come on… Um… Saphire, is that okay for a name? I need to check if something is really true.”

The phoenix just saw the rain had stopped but the lightning strikes were still a real threat. She just nodded and followed me. With her nod, I let myself fall off the mountainside. Catching myself last second before a large rock, I glided down to see the scene in my dreams. Except this time, there was a mere search party of four town ponies and most notably a blue pegasus pony. He was just sitting by something that shocked my systems like a strike of lightning to my heart.

There lay a small filly burnt by a lightning strike. Her wings and ears clearly bat-pony in origin. What I could not deny was the golden frame with a picture half burned. It was my parents and she with me burned out. I just felt the phoenix land on my rear as I walked towards the motionless body. I fell on my rump, making the phoenix land nearby on the ground. I just cried over her body as my mouth cover released and pulled back. With my sorrow overflowing me, I just kissed her forehead as a last goodbye.

I heard words spoken from the blue pegasus pony as he sat at my side, “She had said she had to find you… That you needed her. The storm made her remember something because she flew out before we could stop her. I’m sorry… I wish I could have done more to-“

“No… It is my fault… She deserved a better sister. I was not a sister to her but a guide to her death. If you wouldn’t mind, can I bury her in your graveyard? She deserves at least that from me,” I spoke with this tone that emulated all the worlds’ tears and sorrow. Truly this time, my heart was broken from this loss. I couldn’t believe this could have happened or why, Luna damn me, I had to watch her die in my dreams.

With a simple nod, he stepped back. He waved the others to leave ahead of us. He put a hoof on my shoulder, “In the end, she remembered you and all she was. I’m sorry for your loss. I’ll fly back with you…”

No words could come out as I merely picked her fallen form up. I looked to the phoenix, “Saphire… Please can you carry that in your claws?” With an obedient nod, she picked it up in her claws so it wouldn’t melt. I just took off, tears falling as I flew towards the town. The flight was long and my heart was shattered into a thousand fragments by now. Once town had come into sight, I let the sheriff guide me to the cemetery. He told me where to dig as we both dug for hours, her body wrapped beside us out of the hole. The task, once complete, of burying her was easy but still as depressing as I knew it to be.

I sat and looked at the full moon seemed to shine through the thick clouds for once in a long time. My tears fell in what seemed like oceans. My vision blurred but knowing the phoenix as I saw it land on the ground beside me. It nuzzled my hoof as it just seemed as upset as I was. With the hopes of my life dashed in one lightning strike, I set the photo frame from Saphire beside her grave cross. I turned and left as other ponies let me pass, knowing that I must be in immense pain and sorrow. Saphire followed me and sat on my rear as a comfort I desperately needed.

Leaving was hard to do, knowing she was buried here. I saw the same blue pegasus in front of me as he seemed as upset as I was. He saw me stop before him as he hugged me, “Leaving won’t solve anything, little pony. You have to do right by her as well as I do… Come with me.” He led me to this small tin-like house. Opening the door for me, I saw this small room with a bed, small library and what seemed to be drawings of these elements. Not just any elements, I thought, the elements of harmony. I knew of them from the vault library, though most neglected to read those but me.

His voice was full of sorrow and yet it had a glimmer of hope in it, “These drawings… You know them, right? You have to. I’m trying to find the wielders of these elements. I know who I am already. Loyalty at your service.” He bowed to me trying to make me feel better, “You, my dear lady, have just shown me something I can’t quite explain. You had shown the rays of the moon through to the earth as your sorrow overwhelmed you. I was curious but I think I may have a theory on you. For now, I wanted to ask your help to find the other elements of harmony. Together we can save all of Equestria and hopefully cure the insane and bloodthirsty.”

I nodded to him as understood his words. That wasn’t the first time the moon had shown me its beautiful rays or visions like that. Maybe there may be something to it. For now I knew my job was to help him. I raised a hoof to shake, “My name is Cryo Knight. I would love to help you save this land. It would be what she would want me to do with my efforts. Your name?”

“Sheriff Apple Miles. Pleased to meet you finally Cryo Knight. This is going to be a beautiful friendship, I can tell already,” he kissed my hoof as I just seemed to shake off some embarrassment. He smiled and looked at me, “You should give your last goodbyes to your sister. We won’t be seeing this town anytime soon.”

I just nodded and bowed a head in thanks. I walked out as the familiar phoenix called to me in her shrill cry. She landed on my rump and seemed to change to a sea-foam color now. My energy in my suit must be changing her blue. She went with me regardless to Little Mech’s grave one last time. The words were hard to say or even think out without crying an ocean but I had to say them regardless.

My words were from the heart as they should have been and were, "Little Mech, I should have taken you flying that day. I should have protected you as Mother and Father would have wanted. You came for me when I needed you that day in the workshop and then during the storm. My first mistake cost me my sister only temporarily and now my second really has cost my beloved sister her life. I have wronged you so many times by not staying and just killing those who had nothing to do with this."

“I came to tell you the sorry you so rightfully deserve this day. I wanted to tell you in the flesh but Celestia blind me, I can't. Because you're gone forever, in which, I just can't imagine that such a bright light was snuffed from this world. You were the true embodiment of kindness and love to me. But for you, I will strive to be the best chance Equestria has to save it from itself. If not, then I would have let you die for nothing. You came to me knowing the danger, all to make sure I could get through one storm without fear. So help me do the same, my little Mech, for Equestria. Help me, in spirit, to save Equestria and its residents. I'm sorry I wasn’t there and goodbye to a great sister that I never got to see grow up."

Tears flowed from my eyes in an insurmountable quantity. To the point in which, I could not see anymore except for the tears I shed for her. I said my goodbye, I thought, so why do I feel so sad and empty. I see the purpose, for once in my life, to do better but it feels so far away compared to this. This, the longest day I have ever been through in my life. I felt a hoof on my shoulder as the Sheriff tried to comfort me.

He spoke solemnly and respectably, "She wouldn't listen to me when I told her to stay. I told her you were a grown mare and you could handle yourself. When I searched for her though, she still held that frame with the picture burned up a bit when she was long gone. That philly is one to be proud of and to look up to. It’s a wonder how she got that way but when I met you I know how. She had a great role model to look up to, even if her role model had some hiccups along the way."

His words only caused my silent cries to become audible as he took me in his hoof. He held me like that for a long time while I cried for the longest time over the thing I cherished so much lost to me. I'm sorry, I thought, you deserved a better role model little sister. Rest in peace, my little Mech. You deserve it far more than I do and far more than I will ever deserve. Why did you die and not me, Little Mech? Take me with you, was all I could think as I cried all of my sorrow and regret into the Sheriff's chest with his hooves around my back.

Even Apple Miles cried, tears falling onto the back of my neck. He was just as upset as I was over the loss. She must have been as bright a light for this town as she was for me back in the vault. I accepted this all as the moment lasted. After the tears had dried up, I looked at Miles, “We should rest up. If we’re to look for these elements, we need to sleep. Personally I’d rather not go home to my cave tonight. Can I stay with you for tonight?”

He led me to his place as I saw Saphire stay on my rump. She slept just by the fire, keeping it going for us. That night we drank to Little Mech’s influence on our lives. We spoke of her that night until eventually I fell asleep while lying beside him. He simply let it go as he rested his head beside mine and rested a hoof on my back. He really was a wonderful pony. So for this, I owed him. Tomorrow, we would search for the elements of harmony.

Chapter 3: The Day of Awakening

The pieces of my life had fallen away so long ago, so much so I am picking up the pieces to this day. I wanted to tell everyone that I wasn’t okay but how can I when no one really cares? Or rather, that’s what I thought. I was surrounded by so many people who cared for me before I left to find the one piece of me I could not live without. I had to find her as fast as possible and I would tear down the wastes to find her. She was my sister but I couldn’t leave her like this anymore.

So I struck out to find the piece of me I needed desperately as my system’s tracker had led me to a town. I found her in New Appaloosa with a slight fear she was captured by these earth ponies. Instead I find out she had lost her memory and was afraid of me. I was crushed as I hid in the mountains for fear of making her scared again. Little did I know, a storm rolled in washing a phoenix to my cave. I blocked us in so I could sleep at night.

With nightmares or rather visions of my sister falling to lightning, I had shot awake in fear. Retching tears and shaking consumed me as I just felt I needed to check. She was at the base of the mountain I lived on surrounded by other ponies and Sheriff Apple Miles. He let me carry her back, even helping me dig her grave. I saw the moon shine through to show its rays upon her grave as a last gift. I just left in tears to find somewhere to rest. That’s when Sheriff Miles told me of his hunt for the elements. He spoke of how he was loyalty and I was one but he couldn’t place it. I told him I’d agree to help him, finding a friend in Apple Miles. So now we wake in his house after we drank cider and talked about our lives with my sister all night.

My less than graceful wake up as I had to walk to his trash ca to get sick. After emptying the little content in my stomach, I found myself looking at what could have been a laughing Saphire. I just sighed and sat back in the small one room house, nibbling on an apple from his food crate. I just hated feeling like crap as I stared at my armor across the room with a hateful look, knowing it is the reason this whole mess started. Though one good thing came from this mess because I got to meet Miles, who is a genuinely kind pony to me.

He got up with ease, showing almost no hangover, his jovial smile as bright as usual. He walked over to me with a soft look to him. He accepted our predicament but also only saw the element I could be behind my mask of tactics and war. He sat beside me and pulled me into his chest for a hug. Letting this happen, he just held me like that, “You didn’t sound too good this morning. Can’t handle your cider can you, Miss Knight?” He laughed the idea off a moment as we sat like that a little while. Peaceful was the right word to think of as his warm frame made me feel like I had a heart left in me. It wasn’t completely pieced together but it was good enough.

Less graceful sounding than wanted, I spoke with a grumbled speech of a filly who was too sick to go to school, “I just… Feel like crap. How do you drink that much Cider and feel nothing? How is that possible at all? I had less than you and I still feel like a gryphon beat the tar out of me.” I leaned my head onto his chest as I had lost all boundaries between him and me since last night. He was like my knight in shining armor rather than me being his. I just knew that I was needed again and that was all. Miles needed me to help him and that was all that mattered to me.

Miles let me out of his grasp to find his cowpony hat and his holster. He played it over his flank and tied it with ease. With a worried gaze, he turned to see me wobbly on my feet. Though I felt fine, his look told me something wasn’t right about what he saw. He trotted over to me with look of fear instead of worry now. I just saw him try to shake me a bit in whatever realization he had made that something was wrong with me. He spoke but I never heard his words at all.

Just out of the blue, my world no longer looked like a very small house. It was like I was being brought to another world or plane of existence, or rather to the moon. That’s when I saw her, Luna herself, standing there with a cold look towards me. Her eyes spoke volumes that this was to be a grim warning not a good one. She spoke to me with a tone of stern command, like an order, “Leave this stallion now. Turn back before it’s too late. You cannot succeed in what you think is the right thing to do. Only something that wants to be cured can be. Don’t force others to die for something that will only try to kill you. Leave it be…”

Just like that, Luna was gone. I saw the moon, in detail, around me with all of Equestria and the planet below. I was brought down to the Equestrian wastes to see all of these ponies dead. That’s when I saw my body was being pulled out of the armor. I was bloodied and beaten from who knows what. Miles was carrying me almost as beaten as myself. He pulled me from a nearby pile of dead ponies in a savage battle. I watched as he fell beside me just near some shining object with a star on it. Not just any objects, the elements from the ancient lore in the vault. I saw myself lay a head on Mile’s hoof before slowly dying. He just nuzzled me until the bodies were motionless.

“Luna, why is this happening? Why are you showing me all of this? Please?!?” I called out to her as she came to stand in front of me once more. Her expression was grim and dark with the knowledge she knew I now had. She walked to me and showed pity now. She just put a hoof around me with tears streaming from her eyes. Why was she sad about this? I died didn’t I, I thought, why did it upset her.

Luna just spoke out of pity to me with a small smile, “I know it’s hard to do. Tell him you won’t find them. Let the two of you live together in the future I know you can have. Leave the wastelands as they are. You have such a beautiful future without this journey you two want to go after so badly.” She was sad that I could die, let alone die by Miles side… She knew that I wouldn’t survive this journey but how? I just shivered in fear until she spoke again, “Take what I said to heart. Leave the wastelands be. I know a filly who watches your dreams each night wanting you to live happily.”

With that Luna faded from view until I saw only the bodies of Miles and myself. I just cried, tears flowing like a river until I felt my world break down on me. I saw the fear of it all collapse on me. The dark world around me was beginning to move. I raised my head to see the house I knew from before. I was laying on the blankets he used as a bed, even covered up. Questioning the current situation, I saw Miles sleeping on the bed beside me. What happened to me, I thought. I was talking to him and then I saw… No I didn’t see her, I thought, it had to be a dream. But I felt the rock of the moon under my hooves, I knew was real so why did I want to deny it.

I must have startled Miles as he looked at me with a weary smile. He reaches a hoof up to check my temperature as relief coats his tired features, “Well you’re fever is gone. I was afraid for you. You seemed to be mumbling in your sleep though like something was wrong… I’ve only ever seen unicorn’s magic provoke an illness like that. So what unicorn did you see? Why were they trying to contact you?”

“It was… It couldn’t have been her. No. I want to believe she’s real or alive but how? I just…” my memories were playing with me as they showed Luna back to me. I just shook my head as her words seemed to echo in my head. It was time to think on this though, “Miles… It was… A spirit of the moon… She told me we need to leave the Wastelands be… She has to be wrong. But Miles I saw these ponies dead beside us. I saw us die together inches from the Elements of Harmony… We shou-“

Miles nuzzled my head with a soft smiled as he smiles softly, “It’s okay. We won’t die. I won’t allow it. I’m here to protect you. I won’t allow you to be harmed. That goes for any friends we make. Remember, loyalty or not, I was a sheriff… As for us together, I won’t allow us to die.” He stood not wanting me to move yet. He looked back down at me, trying to avoid the subject, “You should rest another day. We’ll leave when you’re well again.”

He seemed to be bothered by something. I just stared at him and thought how to word myself without me seeming like I’m prying. Unfortunately there was no other way to word it. My voice was slightly hoarse as it came out with curiosity coating it like rain coating Equestria in waves, “What’s wrong? You’re bothered and I know it. What happened that you are so clearly worried about?”

“It’s just… You glowed for a moment. Like you were using magic but that’s impossible right? I mean you are a bat pony. It just can’t be imaginably possible…” he really seemed bothered by this as if something else was on his mind. He sighed and laid beside me once more. He was warm to my cold form as I realized he had taken my armor off. Staying like that for a long time that day, I let my head rest on his hoof as he let his own head rest on me in return.

Knowing the fever was there, resting was the best option that day. So today we rested until the fever was gone. Later on the Doctor pony came and told me that I should be fine by tomorrow. He left me canteen of good water to drink and a grass sandwich. With his leave, Miles and I slept like that all day. That was when that night he had passed out finally. I got up and walked outside to see the clouds. I knew the moon was above it as I focused my mind. Flying to the sky, I climbed the altitudes to the cloud cover. I kicked a small hole in the cloud cover. I flew into the sky above the clouds towards the moon. I knew I was hidden well in the night so the pegasi would not see me. I got close to the moon until I was teleported there.

Making a second appearance, Luna stood there with accusatory eyes. She knew what I had to say already but I needed to say it. I raised my voice to a determined point, “I will find them. The Wastes do not seem to have the will to be cured but it is because they are as corrupted as the psycho ponies that live in it. This corruption can be changed if you try. If you are here you could have done something about it. So let me do so in your stead. I can save them all. Equestria can be as it once was in the legends. I won’t accept that this place is to remain a blood bath of corruption and hatred.”

She seemed shocked by my words but watched my every expression as well. With a nod, she smiled, “As my sister once did, I found a pupil in you at a young age. The moon has always come to remind you that you are truly gifted. You will replace me as princess to save this land. I remained in spirit to guide you. So please confer to the moon if you ever need me. For now, I want you to see what you have truly earned in your efforts in life.”

Like an explosion of light around me, I saw the phoenix of my cutie mark come out and surround me in blue fires. My eyes blanked as they seemed to white out. My body was changing but what was going on with me. I felt my wings seem to shift as my world began to blank. With that Luna left me with one last phrase, “Follow the rays of the moon that guide you and you will always succeed. Good luck, Cryo.”

The earth came hurtling towards me, I could hear it. Still blinded, my body had allowed me to black out. I woke as the ground around me was burned with marks of a magic implosions. My body felt stronger than I ever have before as my vision finally returned. I turned to look as my mane was like Luna’s but it gracefully flowed down. My coat was the beautiful blue-grey of before except it almost shined. I saw my tail flowed around my hooves as there was a faded starry blue where the center of my mane was a solid blue that shown like the night. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I caught a puddle. I had a horn like a unicorn… No… Like Luna herself. What had happened to me?

I looked back at the puddle after hearing Miles call out for me. He was coming but I couldn’t let him see me like this. I focused my mind believing in myself as I thought of at least looking like I was before. Like that, I saw my old self in the puddle as I realized it was a simple transformation spell but I could still use magic for now. I saw him come towards me as he sighed relief. I spoke up, “Sorry. I wanted to take a walk in the moonlight. It calms me…”

Lying was hard but he seemed to accept it. Like he knew I had a reason, he left it alone as he put a hoof to my head. He smiled, “Hey your fever is gone. You’re all better now thankfully. Let’s get some rest before we leave at dawn shall we?” He led me back as I just simply let it happen. He can’t know yet. So we fell asleep on the bed till dawn. I got up last unfortunately as I saw him staring at me with a shocked look.

“What happened last night?” he seemed shocked as I could only guess why…

It’s going to be a fun day…

Chapter 4: Holiday Cheer in a Corrupted Equestria

After recalling all of the night’s events to Miles, he just looked at me and seemed to smile. He just seemed okay with this as his voice held its own nervous edge, “Well at least you are as beautiful as I met you still. We’ll figure this out together. For now we at least know what element you are. Magic. So let’s just pack up and get ready… But uh can you hide your appearance? The darker alicorns out there would love to find you…”

I understood what he meant. I focused my mind once more, changing to the grey bat pony of old. I smiled at him and hugged him quickly, “Thank you for understanding… I was scared you’d have a different reaction. So where to fi-“

A knock came to the door as we looked at each other. We knew that people left going away presents to Miles but we’re about to leave. Who would call upon us now? So he walked to the door and smiled at the sight of the doctor with a festive red-fleece cap that seemed worn out, “Doc, nice to see you before we go. I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for Cryo and I. You really helped us out. But we’ll be heading out soon.”

“Must you leave today? We decided we should celebrate the holidays before you leave. We’re throwing a party today. Join us in one last party please? You too, Cryo Knight!” the doctor pony seemed to be happy and festive. I looked at Miles who seemed eager to go. The doctor pony was hoping one last get together before their beloved sheriff left them to find the elements.

I walked up to him and nudged Miles, “I will and so will he. Couldn’t miss it since you’ve been so kind to me. Do you need help decorating?” I spoke up with a smile of joy. I loved the holidays so much, remembering me and Mech setting up wreaths and other sorts of things. My love for the holidays ran as deep as my love for my past sister. I could celebrate this holiday with them in her honor. So with that the doctor pony took me in hoof and brought me to the center of town.

“We needed to get those wreaths and greens up on the house edges but it takes wings. We also have lights that shine from a power source we got if you could hang those too,” he gave me the list as I took it all to heart thoroughly enjoying the normal feeling of setting up for a holiday. His instructions became more specific as he went rambling on about his plans for this grand celebration.

My mind drifted to a better idea as I looked at the doctor, “I have a better idea to get those up. That’s if you and the town can keep a secret. Sound good?” I spoke thinking to my alicorn side I was hiding. I may not understand the magic but I can put my determination into making it work. This was a purely good reason to use it, to bring joy to the ponies here on this beautiful holiday.

He just watched me curiously. His mind could have wandered or he could have fallen asleep for all I know. He then lifted a hoof and shook mine, “Deal. Do you have any vault tricks they taught you to make this easier? Or do you have some idea with your phoenix friend or something?” He was genuinely coated in curiosity as he was his grey coat. So he was about to be in for a great surprise even though Miles may disapprove.

Letting go of the spell I learned to hide my appearance, I just shown my shining, grey-blue coat with the flowing mane and tail of translucent blue with full blue inside. The wings flowed out and held straight up and my horn glowed as the spell was reversed. I saw the doctor pony just jaw drop as I gave him a smile, “I want to bring hope to these lands once more. So I’ll start with this holiday to honor all of you and my late sister. You all deserve a good party.” I focused my mind and magic flew around me in a struggled effort. Then newly made wreaths and tinsel hung itself on the roof edges. The lights that were supposed to hang were replaced by magical tufts of material that hung off wire.

Saphire aided me in lighting the tufts as they all glowed a brilliant green, blue and red. I smiled there was tinsel hanging of each building and even snow men as a decoration around the town. The town was bright and beautiful as if struck with a light. That’s when the moon shown onto the town for once in a long time. I knew I did well as the rest of the ponies in the town came out astonished and happy. They skipped around and seemed ecstatic about the decorations. This was all I needed to confirm what I needed to do. My ability to spread joy and remind ponies of friendships past joys. Then I saw the pegasus ponies unable to hide the light. I flew up to them as they stopped dead. They bowed as I smiled, “Let’s just let it go for the holiday shall we?”

They simply nodded as I conjured a wreath around each their necks with supplies of their own, “Share the joy. Its time Equestria remembers the happiness that these holidays bring.” I saw them leave as I landed in the town once more. Miles tackled me to the ground after we rolled a few feet. He just seemed to smile, “You’re beautiful.” With that, he just nuzzled me as I returned the gesture. We stood up as people began to look to me not just astonished but full of hope. I knew this wasn’t the end as I used the magic inside of me to form foods of old that I saw visions of. There was tables of cupcakes and treats that many hadn’t see in a long time as well as juices and cider.

Feeling weak was worth the effort after seeing the town’s ponies smiling and enjoying themselves. I walked to Little Mech’s grave and used a bit of magic to create a golden flower that would last time itself with a gravestone saying, ‘Here lies Little Mech, The best sister ever known, Rest in Peace.’ I smiled at my efforts as Miles sat beside me. Speaking up with a tone of joy and happiness known to only the holidays and cheer, “Back home, she did all I just did to make everyone happy. Her goal in life was to spread this magical feeling of joy to everyone. Especially the most down of ponies. I believe that is what it means to be the element of magic. To bring that magic of hope and joy to every pony whenever possible. This will be our start towards the elements by showing tonight joy can be even in this town of ponies that seemed lost.”

“Only spoken truer by you, Princess,” he jested with the end of the sentence as he led me back to the celebrations. Ponies sang songs of holiday cheer and joy throughout the town that night. The voices echoed as I was brought in to sing with them, though poorly on my end. This only just made us laugh and enjoy our time together more. These people were like their own family in one as they enjoyed their time. I was taken aback to see this as I backed away. Miles must have seen me watch from afar as he sat beside me smiling.

“You know, I never did get to meet your family. Maybe we should drop in and give them holiday cheer of their own? Got any teleportation spells in that horn of yours,” he spoke with a jovial nature knowing that I had to be missing my family. With his words, he put a hoof around me and nuzzled me once more to show me he really did mean every word. Each word from him was like the song of cheer itself for me, I focused my magic with a tear in my eyes thinking of home. With that, home was just in front of me.

The guard stared at me, ignoring Miles, to just bow, “Princess Lu-“

“Not Luna…” I said smiling as I returned to the bat pony he remembered, “I am still the same pony as before Silver Shine.” He let me pass as he walked in behind us shutting the door. I walked in to the center as there must have been some announcement.

All I heard over the speakers was these simple words, “Our Cryo Knight has returned, everyone, she has come back to us.” About that time, my aunt, Shimmer Sprite, found me and hugged me tightly at a gallop. As I nearly fell over, she just kissed my forehead with joy. That’s when every other pony arrived to find me. They were cheering and happy as they usually seemed on the holidays but that’s when I noticed him, Tiger Shade. He was like a father to me when my parents died. I bowed a head to him as the armor was teleported in front of him, “Tested and approved. A gift to you, Shade. I won’t be needing it anymore.”

Tiger Shade just walked around the armor and hugged me tightly. I was shocked that he just left the armor alone to hug me. I hugged back as he stepped back, “I don’t need it. I just needed my family home. I’m glad you’re safe, my little Knight.” Saying this, it was bringing tears to his eyes he quickly winged away so no one would notice.

“Awe, Tiger is crying… You really did miss her you hard rock,” one pony said as they all smiled.

I just smiled and looked to them with grim news, “Little Mech won’t be coming back. Just know she watches our dreams in joy. In my time outside this vault, I found myself in a way. I want to introduce some pony. Miles come on.” I saw Miles nervously walk up beside me as Tiger Shade and Shimmer Sprite became skeptical. I smiled, “This is Sheriff Apple Miles from New Appaloosa. He’s the reason I got home safely or stayed safe out there at all.”

Each pony was greeting him as Tiger Shade and Shimmer Sprite stood beside me. Tiger Shade smiled at me, “I’m glad you finally found your way. We both are.” He looked at Shimmer Sprite smiling as she returned the look with her own joy. That’s when I looked at Tiger Shade and Shimmer Sprite backing away. They both watched me curiously as they seemed both concerned and curious. That’s when every other pony looked in my direction.

With the reversal spell done, I became my alicorn self once more as they stared. I smiled at my Aunt and Father-figure, “This is who I am… I was left a gift from Luna and now I wanted to save the wastes of Equestria with it. For now though, I wanted to start here with the holidays and my family.” I focused magic through my horn as usual as it glowed a different color then before. That was when I saw the vault cover in the luscious greens and lights of the Christmas decorations. The trees were lit and the false skies of the orchard shown a true light of the moon as moon roses grew beneath the trees. I smiled at my efforts as they others cheered.

Returning to my bat pony form, I was greeted with hugs and hoof shakes from them all. The cheer was clear in the air as they began to sing the song we used to honor Luna. That was when I had gotten a book for Miles as he sang along with me. This was only the beginning as Miles was dragged into the banquet halls to eat wondrous moon flower sandwiches with apple cider. I laughed when they tried to give him the hard apple cider and he refused with that sheepish smile of his. I sat beside Shimmer Sprite, “They would be proud of us ya know? All of them. Mom, Dad and even Little Mech. Luna bless us, we have been given a wonderful family. Especially one that brings us together like this.”

“Your father would have loved him. He is determined and loyal just like Moon Knight. He really would have impressed your parents. His loyalty to you really impresses me,” she said with a smile taking me in her hoof, “I approve too. Tiger Shade seems to have taken a liking to him too.” As she said this, we laughed at the site of Tiger Shade trying to give Miles a hard apple cider as he just nervously tried to say no. I hugged her once more until I walked over and took the hard apple cider from Tiger Shade, “I’ll take that.”

With that, the whole room lit up in laughter and cheers. We all have a wonderful night of cheer and joy. Celestia blind me, this is my good luck omen here. This family and Miles… They were all I need to keep going from this point on. I would make Little Mech proud of me when I cleansed Equestria. I joined the celebration after changing forms. I used my magic to make memory crystals of the night and the fun things we did. That was when we all had one last drink and gave out presents to our secret some ponies. That’s when my Aunt gave me the jacket that my father protected this vault in. It was a tasteful flight jacket he kept from our ancestors. She told me it was time to pass it down to me.

I saw Tiger Shade give a gift to Shimmer Sprite that could only be a wedding band. There was a cheer when she said yes and then that’s when Miles approached me. He smiled at me and held his hat to his chest, “I may not have a gift for you but what I offer is my heart. I’ll stay with you forever. Happy Holidays.” He kissed my cheek as I blushed furiously. That’s when everyone rose in cheer once more and the festivities went into the late night, early morning.

Tomorrow will suck waking up but for now, I am enjoying the family I have and the ones I love. Especially my special some pony. Each pony later collapsed in their own rooms as I walked back to mine. I saw a Christmas present with my name labeled on it. It was hidden in my drawer from Little Mech. So I sat on my bed as Miles came in. He looked at it curiously as I pulled at the wrapping paper. I opened it to find a necklace with a locket in it. It held a photo of my parents, Little Mech and me when we were younger. I cried as I was happy, “Thank you, Little Mech.”

With that tied into my mane for safety, I slept beside Miles as usual. I loved tonight for all of its wonders. I had left memory crystals with me and each pony or them with another pony as a gift from me. That was when I slept so peacefully grateful for the family and friends I had now.

Chapter 5: Blood Flows into the Moon Light

The world was twisted and cold as there walked an alicorn with the ghost of a filly following her, loyally nonetheless. This alicorn knew the filly only saw good in her actions, never seeing the blood that sheds before her. That is when the ponies of Equestrian Wastelands are going to realize that this one alicorn has a moral compass on the surface. Below it all though, there is a trigger that embodies the rage of a phoenix. The sleep of this phoenix lets loose without regard to whose there. It is not recommended to get in the way when the rage sets in, although few have seen it. So when time came, this was the curse of the alicorn to bear. Her temper, even rage, was the cause of so much pain and suffering. The only question is how long she can hold it in before the ghost filly’s jaded view sees the blood around her hooves.

It was simply too early to think about anything, although I did. Hearing panicked cries down the hallways of my stable. I woke dazily as falling out my bed was my only graceful thing I had in me this early. So I got up achingly slow reverting to my bay pony form as I saw myself in the mirror. Easily finding the source of the trouble, I saw it. There was Tiger Shade on the ground having bled out long before I woke. With shock and bewilderment in my heart, I looked around to see Miles in custody.

I walked around the crowd to the guards as I saw Miles fore hooves covered in blood. My voice was only a distant ghost of thought as I looked at him, “Tell me honestly… What happened? Miles, I trust you so please tell me the truth.” I desperately hoped they were holding him wrongly and he only found Tiger Shade like that.

“He was found trying to patch up Tiger Shade but his gun had been discharged. We pulled him away after we saw Tiger Shade was long gone. It looks like he neve-“ the guard began to say as he noticed my growing fear and confusion. That’s when I cut him off angrily, trying to cover my fear and confusion.

“I thought I said Miles in that. Though I appreciate the job you do here but I need him to answer,” I spoke my voice as cold as ice towards them as I could see Miles look up clearly still upset from something that he saw.

His voice shook as he looked up at me with pleading eyes, “I was walking back to my room last night and then I got clobbered over the head. I remember waking up and seeing Tiger Shade bleeding out. I tried to save him… He only told me one thing… He said to run… Why would he do that?”

My thoughts went back to the elders’ dislike of Luna’s religious worship and how much they hated my connection to her that neither of us understood until now. So I knew this was something to get me out. I shook my head with a sigh, “I believe you. Guys can you let me take him to the medical bay to make sure he doesn’t have a concussion?”

They simply nodded, allowing Miles to follow me as I spoke to him low and calm, “I understand what’s going on. There is bound to be an elder behind this. They hate talk of Luna or her power. They never believed to see it again until me. So I’m taking you to my lab so I can grab my armor. We need to leave… It’ll make us look guilty as hell but judgement for murder here is death and I don’t have proof to show them they framed you. Also it would tear this stable to pieces if they were taken out.”

“So what we run? This is your home. Why would we run like this? That’s ludicrous. It is your home right? I won’t make you leave on my account,” Miles said as he stopped inside my lab. He was watching me put my armor on with haste. He walked over and raised my head with his hoof, “I won’t make you leave. I saw how happy you were here… I’ll go. Visit me in Appaloosa okay?”

I stared at him and shook my head. I couldn’t believe these words. I just hugged him with my fore hooves and couldn’t hold back a tear, “I’m not leaving you. We are going. We have the elements to find afterall. Besides this place only reminds me of how I’m failing my promise to Mech. I will fix this world for the better.” My determination was full of a lot of lack of sleep and probably a hangover but I meant it. So now I finished putting my armor on with two sets of bags packed already. My look to him only seemed to reassure him.

We took off down the side hallways and maintenance hallways to avoid the guards. I stopped him before we came into the open of the vault door entrance. I saw the guard ponies before him. So I smiles summoning my magic as I levitated a bucket in front of them and then levitated a second bucket to knock them out. I knew this was wrong but I needed to do this. We slunk out the door as my aunt, Shimmer Sprite on the other side of the door.

I froze as she held a gun in her teeth with tears staining her face deeply. She spoke muffled but she was clearly upset. I didn’t have time so I jumped in front of Miles as a shield came around us. That’s when the bullet flew forward from the gun in a bang and ricocheted off the shield. In a sickening crunch and crack, the shot went through her head via her eye. The wall was stained with blood and pieces of her brain. Like that, she crumbled on the ground with the back of her broken out head towards me.

In horror, I sunk to my rump in shock at what just happened. Without further thought, I just cried out in anger at the thought of losing two more family members to the madness of this world. Before I could stop myself, Miles just hugged me with his fore hooves and tried to calm me. He tried to stop the frustration and loss that was welling inside me. I just stopped fighting as my body began to give out. Flowing over in tears, I sank into Mile’s hug feeling as if I only failed again. I couldn’t save any of them but why, I thought in my moment of weakness.

The guards woke up slowly as one, Silver Shine stood up seeing me. He put his bit in his mouth and stared at me. He could only stare at me with awe and shake it off, “What happen? How wid she- You didn’t do-“

“Of course she didn’t. Shimmer Sprite tried to shoot me and her shield… It ricocheted… I’m sorry, Silver Shine was it? Cryo tried to save me but…” Miles spoke up from his hold on me. He helped me stand on my own four hooves as I watched Silver Shine. Miles lifted a hoof where he attached a pistol as it cocked ready to fire, aiming towards Silver Shine. I pulled my weakened form in front of Miles. He just set his hoof down, letting out a sigh.

“Come on… Just believe me. I didn’t do this… She,” as I turned to Silver Shine, still shaking from the memory, “I’m so sorry… Wait… Crimson Cloud no!” I saw Crimson Cloud pull a weapon towards me and Silver Shine. I pushed Silver Shine out of the way as a clip unloaded into my chest. My armor took most of the damage but a shot to my central cannon went through into my chest. I felt it pierce and burn the side of my lung. About that point, I began coughing up blood. Sinking to the ground, I felt Silver Shine catch me. He pulled me up to my hooves and looked at me.

“Miles, right? Take her out of here. Crimson Cloud stop this…” he moved in front of me with a protective stance, “Cloud let her go. She didn’t do anything. This is all a play from the council of elders. Just… Fine let us go. I’ll leave with them. If you’ll shoot before understanding anything, you are just like the rest of them. Miles pick her up and get her out of here before the others come. I’ll watch our back.” I saw him aim his automatic small machine gun at Crimson Cloud.

Miles helped me onto his back as a cry of pain came from me as I was held in his hooves. I coughed in pain as Miles took off, hooves pushing against the wound slightly. Miles flew a few leagues out of the stable’s immediate range. He set down on a small plateau, while letting me down softly. He slowly pulled off the armored chest plate to check the wound. He wrapped it slowly with a gel on the wound. It stung as I felt the burn seep into wound. Healing gel or not, the pain it brought me were debilitating.

After the pain was gone, I lifted my head to look up to Miles, “Hi… Thanks for the-“

“Don’t talk. You need to rest and stop getting shot or hurt or sick in general. I don’t understand why you do this but for once, please, rest,” Miles said as he pulled out an apple to eat. I smiled at him as he lay beside me, letting me rest against his side. He stayed that way a long time until I found myself dozing off at his side from the blood loss. He must have been a comfortable pillow because I passed out quickly.

I woke up later as the voices woke me up. I heard Silver Shine speak up, “She can’t manage like this. Wandering the wastes in search of elements that may or may not exist. You need to let her go. Let her live a normal life.”

“What normal life? This is the wastes after all. She’s out here and is working a dangerous angle. These wastes are not hospitable for anyone. She can figh-“ Miles said angrily as his anger flared. Too bad for him, I interrupted him.

I raised my voice from above the normal range with a hint of frustration, “Too dangerous? Really Silver Shine?! I was the protector of my little sister and learning to be one of the main vault guardians like my fa-“

“How’d that work out for you?!? They are all gone… Little Mech and your parents… You can’t protect them let alone you believe you can protect yourself… You can be so jaded sometimes… Why, in Luna’s large rear, would you need to be out here when you have this delusion to save everyone,” Silver Shine said with anger in his voice, though he added the measure of me feeling guilt in there. He looked as if he regretted it after he said it.

With a loss of words, I stood on a shaky hoof to move away from them. I got to the edge of the plateau’s cliff like edge and felt dizzy. I sunk to my rump and just looked down with a tears falling. I just felt slightly betrayed the way he used those things against me like that. So I thought of his words as they stung deep. I knew I should be mad or upset with him but I couldn’t be. He was right in a way, though I couldn’t blame him for his words or his outburst.

I heard Miles get angry and start to yell at Silver Shine, “What do you think telling her these things will do? It’s not helping at all, instead its hurting her.” He seemed to calm down and shake his head at him, “You’re not helping is all I’m saying. So just… At least apologize. I’ll make a flight for provisions and such to New Appaloosa. Have fun.”

Silver Shine looked at me as I caught a glimpse of his apologetic gaze. He took a step towards me and I stood up on all four hooves. I walked towards him before he had the chance to try to get near me. I just smiled at him and shook my head offering him a canteen with an outward hoof, “Its fine… I… Know what you mean. I may not be a great protector but I’ll get there. Seems I’ll need some help then from a good friend who has a battle saddle. You wouldn’t know one would you?” I laughed lightly.

Silver Shine just seemed to smile, letting the conflict before go, “Yeah… I guess I can teach you more combat skills. Sorry for… Well yeah. Will you be able to keep up with this training?” He laughed at the idea and took a drink afterwards. That was the one moment I was happy until it was ripped away.

There was a voice from the sky as changeling landed near us. An alicorn landed beside it of dark black coat with a green mane. That was when the changeling spoke up with a tinge of mocking intent in his voice, “You should know this happy moment is all I’ll leave you with. If you hunt the elements of harmony, I will kill you. Slowly, painfully. Ripping away everything slowly and then finally ripping your precious family and stallion friend. You will hate every step you take as each step brings you closer to losing your mind.”

“You… You’re a changeling… I’ll kill you! I know who you are. You were in the storm that night!” I tried to run at him with a pistol in my teeth but I was held back by Silver Shine. I glared at him with anger that could have met that of a phoenix fire, “You killed them. You’re the reason my parents are dead. I will kill you!”

He chuckles, “Easy there little one. We’re going to have to save pleasantries for later. For now, Deal with my lackey.” He flew off as the alicorn summoned her magic and threw Silver Shine off the plateau. I glared at her as she aimed a fire ball spell right at me. I flew into the air, feeling the sting of the recently removed bullet and wound. I just found my strength to fly towards her as she focused only on the fireball. I flew past her at peak speeds as it blew up in her face charring and killing her.

I landed on the edge looking for Silver Shine as he flew back up. He hugged me and looked at the alicorn, “You… You killed her with magic? Why?-“

“I didn’t… She cast the spell. I merely redirected it,” I smiled and looked around. Then I thought of the threat. I relived it again and again without thought of what was around me. I found myself a place to stay for us nearby leaving a signal fire. I watched Silver Shine fall asleep by the fire in the small shack. I looked at the skies with a feeling of mourning, “So… What do we do now? This changeling is threatening our plans to save Equestria. I’m asking your guidance. Why won’t you help me?!?” I cried out a few yards away to the moon above and heard no reply. For now, I would sleep on it.

I saw an exhausted Miles land near me as he moved to me. He and I fell asleep under the stars of the shack’s broken and holed up roof. I was happy something was normal. Although my dreams were less than happy as I only saw the warning and the visions Luna shown me of dying with Miles… How can I stop this, I thought.

Chapter 6: Beliefs and the Past

The day after was just as confusing as the last one. I really lost my motivation for once as I levitated my armor in front of me to clean it. Morning was just another time of day for me to worry on the events that have come to pass. I was still sore but my armor had kept the wound’s bandages warm. The armor itself was on me except the front chest piece. I was polishing it after fixing the bullet hole in it. That hole could cause burns to my chest if I left the hole alone.

The others were sleeping still. Levitating the chest piece in front of me, I had Miles leaning on me asleep. I smiled to him as he just moved slightly in his sleep. Miles really was a stallion with a presence to enjoy. I thought on my feelings about him as I cleaned my chest plate. This line of thought kept me occupied for an hour until I found myself being poked.

Silver Shine had poked my flank with a hoof. I set my newly fixed chest plate back on as the mouth visor came down over it to secure it as I looked up to him. Silver Shine spoke up with a smile as he seemed jovial today, “Come on. I want to talk to you. Let’s go…”

“Alright… Let me set him down without waking him,” I said while gently setting Miles on the ground. I flew after Silver Shine as we sat on a hill staring at the mountain that held the vault we used to call home. I looked at him then the place I knew the entrance was speaking coldly, “It was the council am I right?... Why can’t they leave me alone? Or allow people to worship Luna? She is… Was a great pony to look up to.”

He sighed as his silvery coat did as his namesake, shine in the vague rays of sunlight. Silver spoke up with this cold tone, “Yes… No doubt about it. We always suspected this betrayal but not like this… They killed Tiger Shade. Why?” He looked down stones below with this frustration that seemed to be ageless. Silver stamped a hoof as he shook his head.

I sighed and stared at the vault until something caught me. I spoke up so the armor would hear me, “Mouth guard and display up now.” With that my mouth guard came back up and display played over my eyes so I could see it. I looked at a zoomed picture of the vault door to see a green smoke and a form stumble out and fall to its death. I kicked a hind hoof at Silver Shine, “Silver Shine! Somethings wrong at the vault. A green smoke is there and… Somepony just died from the cliff edge. Get Miles!”

Silver Shine looked up and saw nothing. He just nodded and ran to Miles. I heard a hind quarter get kicked with a loud ouch from Miles. I heard a little arguing but I was worrying about the vault more. Miles ran over to my side as Silver Shine trotted to the other side of me. Miles spoke up with worry and slight exhaustion, “What? Smoke? Whats going on?”

“Something is wrong. I don’t care if we’re not welcome I’m not leaving them in danger. Luna grant us strength,” I spoke with a tone of sincerity and determination. I took off towards the fallen stallion as fast as I could. I heard their cries as they flew after me with haste. I used my own magic to speed up my flight as I landed, sliding to a stop near the body.

What I saw was not what I expected to find coming out of the vault. The fallen pony was mangled with bullet holes and filled with this green substance that could be blood. I took a step toward it as it moved in seconds. The body moved as it heaved itself up with a ghastly cry. I tried to take a step back but I tripped onto my rump. For once, I felt helpless as it beared down at me. In seconds, the body lit up like a candle of blue flames and was being clawed by Saphire.

“Cryo!” Miles ran in front of me as he held up his pistol in his teeth. He fired away as Saphire fled. The mangled, possibly undead pony stopped moving as it fell back to the ground. Silver Shine caught up and stared at the vault pony that fell, “Hey I’m h…. Is that a Zombie pony? Why did it come from the vault? Whats going on?”

I had frozen in place as I stared at the body in front of me. My voice was lost and ghost-like, “Someone shot that pony… And… And… It still moved… Ponies don’t survive that… What is going on here?” I backed up until my sensor went off. It was an attack incoming. I shook my loss off as I looked around. Then I looked up to the falling bodies as I cried out, “Run! Fly quickly!” I kicked Miles out of the way with my hind hooves. I grabbed the jacket on Silver Shine to throw him back as I put a barrier around us. I lost control of my form as my armor conformed around my alicorn body.

Silver Shine readied his battle saddle machine gun and aimed at the oncoming army of zomponies. He was ready but worried firing in the shield. I could tell as he looked up at me struggling to hold the shield. I nodded feebly as he fired away, clenching down on the bit trigger. Miles did the same as he fired his pistol at the oncoming army. I held the shield as long as I could until I began to sweat from the use of the spell. It was taking too much out of me.

They finished off the army as I sunk to the ground weaker than I thought I could be. My wings wouldn’t even move, less so for my hooves. I was drained. I had never used so much magic before this. My body was limp and umoving to my own will. Silver Shine looked at me then the zomponies at the cliff top readying to jump. He lifted me onto his back after letting go of his trigger bit. He called to Miles, “Lets go. We need high ground to rest… Miles!”

Miles shot a few coming down and flew after Silver. Silver carried me for a while as he led Miles to a high mountain nearby. He found a small one room cave to stay in as he lay me down. Miles ran over and nuzzled beside me worried, “You okay? You hurt?” He was scared and I understood but I felt so tired.

“Fine…. Need rest. Used too much magic….” I lay my head against his neck as I slept easily. I could feel him staying there with me as I slowly drifted to sleep. My world was the moon once more as I saw Luna come to me now. She had helped me up as she looked me over. I spoke up with a weakened smile, “Shields are exhausting…. How’d you manage that?”

Luna nodded and gave me a hug, “Remember young mare, you cannot forget you have limits. If not for your friends… I shiver to think what would happen.” Luna held me in that hug as I could feel something like a memory.

I spoke up with a cautious tone, “Luna… I remember things… Like memories. Its as if I’m remembering things that happened. That attacked, it brought back something but why? Its like a flash… It drained me to have a vision spell hit me while holding a shield…”

“Because your memories are a few of mine… That memory would have been when I became Nightmare Moon. I felt it as well. As long as you live, we share these memories in moments like that. I tell you that you need to be cautious of that. Those memories can paralyze you as it has now. Now here is a trick that I learned. Focus your mind when our horns touch,” she spoke trying to teach me as best I could learn.

I stood up straight and did as I was told. Just as my own horn touched hers, lights sparked as if a new world around me. She showed me the event when we fought the zomponies. I looked at her with confusion, “Why are we here? I don’t see the importance of reliving this. I know what happened now. A memory caught me off guard.”

“Its not what I want you to see something. Look in the vault as that zompony comes out of the entrance. You’ll see what I mean,” Luna said as she lifted us towards the entrance. She watched the entrance as I started to as well. Luna was right, I saw a black figure with green wings.

I gritted my teeth, “That little weasel… I’ll rip him to pieces!” My fury caused my flowing mane to flow like a burning fire of blue in my anger. I knew he had something to do with this. My tail blazed behind me as I saw my armor shift from simple design to a phoenix like wing cover and jagged blaze edges on the armor now.

Luna put a hoof on my shoulder and hugged me, “Rage and anger are not the answer. They will corrupt you as they had me so long ago. It turned me into Nightmare Moon and I hurt those I loved. My subjects were hurt. Calm your emotions please…” Her hug got tighter as she seemed almost scared that my anger did this to me.

With a calm mind, I took a few deep breaths to focus myself once more. I saw my armor fade back to its simplistic, regular design. I looked at the figure, “Thats him… That changeling… I remember him from your memories. He is trying to stop us… Its a problem if he does. That thing can’t stop u… Wait whats entering now?” She looked where I pointed a hoof to as she stopped. I froze and thought on it, “Is that a… That one of those metal ranger things…”

“Steel Rangers… Not just any Steel Ranger though… Thats… He died…” Luna seemed to stop in her own memory she was lost in as she saw the metal covered invader. She seemed clenched in fear as the vault door closed.

I put a hoof on her shoulder, “Luna… Luna! Tell me whats going on? Who is that?” I spoke up to her concerned. I saw her fear and tried to hug her as it was only me trying to keep her form from shaking further. I looked up at her as I gave up the ruse to show my alicorn state. I was tall enough to hug her properly instead of hugging her leg.

Luna must have been crying as tears fell onto my back, “That is your great grandfather… You were named after him. If I remember correctly, he went by Knight after the wars started. I lost him to the wars but to know he’s still… He’ll die in there…”

“I’ll go… I can teleport right and I’m resting. So when I wake I can go in and save him. I know the codes to everything in that stable. Let me go in. I’ll save him and get him out… Please Luna and after you do… I want you to take my power until I truly earned it alright?” I spoke determined in my thought process. I needed to discover me first before I did this.

Luna stopped and pushed me back, “What… Lose your power? I… I…” She thought on it and nodded, “I will leave you with fractions of it. When you have learned the full lesson of friendship, you will gain them back. Not the shape but the magic. Don’t worry I won’t give you a horn. Just these…” She raised a hoof as she set it on my eye. Her other hoof landed on my other eyes as I heard magic begin to wrap around my eyes.

I felt pain like no other as I held back cries of pain. My eyes were burning as the pain seared into brain like a wave lapping over me. My body was shaking as my mind could barely function through the pain. I heard Luna speak softly, “Tell him I love him and to look to his dreams for me… You have enough power to teleport in and use some of your minor abilities.. Let your eyes rest…”

With that I sparked awake, covered in sticky sweat and shivering as the blanket on me had been soaked. I knew this place as a small raider outpost, whose people I had long killed. I looked to see Silver Shine making something in a crock pot as I smiled. Beside him sat Apple Miles, talking but I only just caught the tail end of the conversation. Miles had been speaking about a blurred discussion till now but what I heard scared me.

“We should let that stable stay closed… Its not safe for us and I reckon she isn’t in a state to talk after that surge of magic,” Miles had said full of concern and worry for the situation at hand.

Silver Shine wasn’t having it, “Did you see that Steel Ranger go in? We have to rescue him… But without a way in we’re not going to be able to help. Besides Tiger Shade left a vault behind for defense. Meaning new weapons we can pawn or sell off, maybe even use. Some good armor that might fit you too…”

“His name is Knight… He’s my Great grandfather… Luna’s somepony,” I spoke up with a hoarse tone to my dry throat.

Immediately Silver Shine grabbed his canteen and handed it to me, “Here. Drink up… Its a magical healing flask from the stable I kept in my flask.” I stared at him and took a sip. The pain eased up as the burn of my eyes started to go away. My pain seethed into a dull ache. My mind swam as I looked around. I saw Silver Shine look at me worriedly, “Your eyes…. Cryo…”

My mind knew Luna did something to allow me to keep my magic but what I didn’t know. So I moved to use my chest plate as a mirror. My eyes, I thought, there was no pupil or anything… Just a faint blue orb. I looked to Silver Shine, “I… I know why… I told Luna to take my power until I understood and deserved it. So instead of giving me alicorn shape she did this instead... I’m sorry but Silver shine is right. We have to save him. I can’t explain but we have to…. Thing is only I can get in…”

Miles turned around with a fire in his eyes, “No way hosey! You are not going into a ghoul infested stable alone… I won’t allow it. I won’t…” He walked up to me with an expression of fear and concern. I just watched him carefully as he had a hoof on my shoulder.

Silver Shine stepped beside him, “She’s right and you know it… With her magic, she can get inside. If he’s important enough to save, then do it. Open the door when you get in. We’ll help you.” Silver Shine just gave a kind smile as he held a hoof out, “Your going to be safe right?”

“Always,” I lied as I stood up and put my armor on. I was happy to be myself again. A bat pony, true and true. So I looked at Miles, “Trust me, I’ll open the-“

Miles kissed me without warning as he stepped back, “Promise you’ll open that door? Please…” He seemed coated in worry and loss as he gave me this look. It was a look of fear.

Flustering for a response I just managed to mumble out, “I promise…” I put a hoof around him with a rose cheeked smile. He hugged me back with a smile. So I just closed my eyes and stayed like that. I knew what I was supposed to do now but I had to do it alone…

Could I do this alone?....

Chapter 7: Cryo Knight Meet Knight

So I stood outside the stable with a shiver after a day of rest. I looked to the other two ponies behind me. Silver Shine and Apple Miles were behind me giving me these encouraging smiles. So I decided to try something that I didn’t know would work after the number Luna did on my eyes. I focused my power as best I could as I thought of my room. In an instant, I was there in my locked room with no pony there. No pony except the zompony that turned to me with a decidedly murderous look. I raised my back hooves and kicked it in the head as the heat from the phoenix fuel source blew out the back hooves plating. The zompony fell as I raised a hoof and stamped its head into pieces disgusting enough.

Wiping my hooves off, I attached a saddle bag to my back and decided to put my rejuvenation potions in my bags. There were six in here as I was afraid I’d hurt myself on my many projects I worked on in here. I grabbed my tools I kept for tinkering with the armor in the bag as well. I walked out with S.A.T.S. lit up over my eyes like a film, between magic and this beauty I can do anything for now. I decided to set S.A.T.S. off as I left my E.F.S. on for enemy marking. No one else in my apartment complex and the radiation counter went a click-click-clicking. Good think I have these potions but I would need radaway soon. So I went into my apartment living room finding the extra rations I could. Putting those in my bag, I had to make it to a clinic.

So I headed down the V.I.P. hallways towards the main atrium. That’s when my E.F.S. lit up like it was Hearth’s warming eve. I stopped to see the zomponies roam aimlessly trying to find food or something alive. I saw several animal corpses fortunate enough to have died before being eaten. With precision, I raised S.A.T.S. to aim my chest cannon at the center of the atrium. The problem with this plan is I have shield in time. I focused my S.A.T.S. as the ball of condensed, volatile phoenix flame launched to the center.

My mind instantly at work, I summoned the shield spell up as the flames brushed past. I felt the heat as I coughed from the effort of holding the shield and maintaining my own breathing. I found myself surprisingly intact, considering what I had just done. So I walked into the atrium where no more zomponies moved. I knew these ponies were my family but they died. So this was a mercy if I had heard one. That’s when I heard that laugh that haunted me. The changeling’s laugh…

“Oh… You’re a steel ranger? Lets rid this wonderful world of one more pest shall we,” he spoke sadistically as I heard magical explosions go off. His cackle was enough to tell me he killed the ranger or put it down. That’s when I stepped into gear, moving toward the clinic on the far side of the hall. I found several radaways and even more supplies. I put those in the bag as well and found another bag to put over these to have more space. The armor kept the weight from ruining my back as I got more rejuvenation potions, radaway, bandages and more than I think we’d need for a while.

I moved towards the laughter as more magical explosions sounded. I looked to see the red marks showing enemies. Three alicorns and him with the Steel Ranger. I focused my mind and bolted in with a set of three S.A.T.S. aimed shots at the alicorns. Two hit and killed them instantly, leaving only a pile of ash. The other had shielded in time to deflect into the wall.

With a quick glance, I saw the Steel Ranger as I aimed poorly through the side focus of levitating him out of the room. The two shots missed and my armor was heating up too fast. I had to stop. So I bolted into the hallway locking him in as I levitated the ranger to an elder’s room where it was empty and secure. I shot the turret as soon as its shots clipped my armor. The turret fell easily as I locked the door and put him in the back room. I looked at him and synced up a set of tools I carried to his suit. Turns out you have to have pipbuck repair tools as mine didn’t work.

Plan B, wake him up. I tapped his helmet lightly speaking quietly, “Hey… Knight… Luna sent me. She says to look to your dreams for her… Please wake up… I need you Gramps…” I spoke from my desperation as I really did. I forgot to open the door. Instead I focused on helping him first. That’s when I heard a grumpy graspy cough from the suit. With relief in my heart, I felt a wave of ease flow over me.

“I’m awake… And who are you calling Gramps? You aren’t my….” he stopped as he looked at me. He saw my hair and my complexion as he seemed to speak with a relief of all his own, “I thought you were a zompony in here… I came here because her dreams guided me here.”

I diverted his mind trying to get him up, “How can I help you? You need to get up. We have to leave. Silver Shine and Apple Miles are outside for us… I came in here for you.” I helped him get up as he sat on his haunches staring at me. My body wretched as I coughed. I released my mouth guard as I puked up the contents of my stomach, mostly prewar rations. The retching didn’t end for several minutes until there was nothing left in my stomach.

“Easy… I’ll be fine. The suits matrix is healing me. As for you, there was a radaway injection that the docs here gave to help your body cope for now,” he said as he set a hoof on my shoulder as he saw my bags. He rummaged and found it as he sounded pained in doing this, “This might hurt.” Without even counting down, he stabbed the needle into my neck.

Pain seared my body once more as I felt the radaway deal with the trace radiation I had taken in. I sunk to the ground in a heap as I felt like I was going to be sick again. He helped me to my hooves and into the bathrooms. He helped me sit as I got sick for over half an hour. I felt like it was day. Afterwards I got one more radaway shot straight into the same spot on my neck. Besides the sore spot on my neck, I felt better.

Knight spoke up with a gruff edge to his voice as he looked at my sickened frame, “Anymore time in here and you’ll be a zompony… We need out. You know the codes I assume?” He actually sounded worried to me, which was strange to hear. He helped me to my hooves and took one of my heavy bags of supplies. He looked around, “You took me to an elder’s room? Strange…”

After clearing the very last of my stomach, I stood with a weakened movement as I looked him, “Yeah… He won’t expect us here. He’s combing my family’s rooms for now. We need to get to Tiger Shade’s office. There’s something in there I need before we leave. Trust me we need it to get out.”

Knight just seemed to accept this and wave a hoof, “After you… I know they named you after me so call me Knight. You are going to be Cryo to help this… I guess I should take it as an honor they named you after me.”

Yeah an honor, I thought shaking off that train of thought. I have to get to Tiger Shade’s office. He has a stable override card as well as his prototype he said only a well-made armor could bear. I think this armor may just be it. It is a magical energy weapon from what he said. So I strode ahead not even trying for stealth with ‘Captain Heavy Hoof’ behind me.

With careful watch over my E.F.S., I had us stick to safe routes as we got to his door. It was locked as I thought. I looked at Knight speaking quietly, “Don’t wanna get bitten so stop them if they get close, quietly if you can…” I really hoped he understood quiet because from that design so far, it’s a walking explosives ordinance. I knelt in front of the door and began hacking the terminal based door lock. It was easy. He named his password after my aunt.

The door slid open as a few colt zomponies turned to me and gave grotesque moans. Without thinking on it, I focused my mind as I levitated them while simultaneously making the field smaller until it crushed them. I sighed relief as the magical wrapping fall with the crushed to pieces zompony colts. I shivered and walked past them, “Quick… Get in.”

Knight followed in and shut the door. He spoke as I moved to the large safe in the wall, “That was magic… You’re a bat pony. So explain or should I turn and shoot now?” He sounded worried and cautious all at once now. His tone worried me. He must think me one of those sadistically cruel alicorns.

I worked on hacking the safe, failing on my first attempt as I was distracted with fear, “I’m Luna’s great grand-daughter. It took a while but I was given her magic. Her spirit roams to help guide us. She showed me what to do to save this wasteland. I have her magical knowledge. As I said, she sent me here to help you too. Now let me focus…” I was curt and rude but I needed to rush. I hacked in a second time, this time more successful than the last having found the first half of the binary passcode. Now to hack the rest out of his system. This took work.

Failure… Try again… Failure… Try Again… Failure… Try Again. Each time backing out before I could get locked out. This was becoming tedious. I got the first half as 101110 but the other half was being devious. So now I figured a thought out. I knew Tiger Shade. I thought of it as I grinned. He flipped the other half. So if I got the code right it was 10111011101. With a click of my successful effort, I grinned and opened my fruitful efforts.

Knight locked the door and came over taking my bag seeing the massive side cannons that held magical energy blasts. It was simply beautiful to me but he just shook his head, “You don’t need that… You have phoenix powered armor… But I won’t stop you from taking it. It might save us from the hordes of those vile zomponies.”

As I started strapping it on with my telekinesis, I glared at him, “They are my family… Our family….” I continued my work until it attached to my armor perfectly on my side with barrels on each side of my hind. This would work. I pulled out the key card, slipping it into Knight’s bag. I looked at him determined, “I will take point. We need to go through the main halls. So follow me closely and stop asking questions or commenting until later. You don’t have that right yet.”

He stopped me as he sounded upset for once, “I’m sorry… I came here looking for you. She gave me a dream that warned me to find you…” He actually sounded worried as he visor was staring at me. I saw him lift his hoof to hug me, “Not Luna… Your sister. She’s watching out for you in spirit. She sent me to help you. I’m glad she did.”

I hugged him back as a few tears fell. No wonder he came, I thought, she told him. It was nice to have at least some family left that was here for me. So I pushed him back and smiled, “Sorry… I’ve been afraid… I lost Mech and… I know I’m doing the right thing but I just… I need to get myself to focus on the task at hand but I keep wanting to side track and help others…”

“That’s not sidetracking… That’s being you. You can’t see ponies in trouble or even in harms way. So you do what you can to save them. You have the true heart of a Knight… It comes from the family,” he said with a confident gruff tone. I thought he was full of moldy hay but he had a bit of sense left in him. I treasured that advice.

With a confident nod, I put a hoof forward, “Lets go.” I felt my stomach lurch but I swallowed it back down. I had to be strong to go on. I moved through the door as I saw the alicorn. I instantly focused my mind to put up a shield around the hallway piece behind us. I looked back, “Go… I can’t hold this long.”

With that, Knight bolted down the hall towards the stable door. I backed up slowly holding the shield until it deflected the laser into the ceiling collapsing it. I turned and smiled, as I bolted after Knight. He stood in front of a wave of dead zomponies, the ones I knew. The elders. I left a good back hoof kick to their heads as I got to the door’s console. I slid the card and typed in the password, ‘PraiseLuna.’ The door creaked as jumped the railing to get outside to fresh air. I sunk in front of Silver Shine and Apple Miles who glared at me.

Knight came after me and I heard him turn. With an ear shattering blast, I heard the console explode. The door slid close slowly as I turned to see that Changeling. He mouthed, ‘Meet you again’ before the door closed. I glared as I stamped a hoof. Quickly my stomach reminded me I was sick and I puked over the cliff. Miles put a hoof on my back massaging it slowly.

“Easy there… That there is radiation poisoning. You should be dead but I assume you took radaway. We’ll rest and give you more from my bags,” he said with a smile. He stayed with me until I cleared the little content in my stomach left. He nuzzled my mane as I smiled.

Silver Shine cleared his throat as Miles chuckled. Miles took a few steps back muttering something about jealousy to Silver Shine. Silver Shine took a good hind hoof to knock him back into the cliff wall. Silver Shine spoke up evenly, “So whats your name, Ranger? I’ve never seen you before.”

“Knight… I’m her great grandfather. I was pulled here to find her so I came. She really saved my metallic hide in there,” he smiled and became coldly serious, “We should camp far away though… That Changeling has powerful allies.” He spoke as if commanding a platoon of ponies ready for war. Now I heard the tone I couldn’t identify, authority.

Silver Shine blanched a sheet of white as I laughed at him. I think the thought of carrying Knight with us was encroaching upon him. With my weakened state, my voice was coldly ill, “I can levitate him. Just carry me with you. It’s going to take the little I have left to do so…”

Miles stood back on his hooves with a huff, “I’ll carry you. Silver Shine can carry him while you lighten his weight. Lets go before those alicorns come back.” Miles walked over to me with a smile as he helped me onto his back. My body felt heavy and tired. The shields and radiation sickness took a lot of me. So I lay on his back as he took off. Silver Shine readied for my spell. I let my mind focus as I lifted Knight with effort now becoming more difficult. Silver Shine took some of the weight and flew with us.

We had landed in a camp that night as I was let to rest after several radaway potions. My body felt half broken and demolished with unrest. Regardless, I slipped to sleep painfully as the radaway worked slowly. I found myself dreaming of Little Mech and smiled at the though. This was a good dream while I had it… Why did I think I could have one of those? That was until…

Chapter 8: Darkest Night becomes Darkest Yet

Beauty…

The moon shown like a pure light upon Mech and I as we flew. The air was light with a gentle breeze swaying through it. The world was filled with a shine that I could only feel through the gusts under my wings. Everything just fell in place like the old days. That was until she was hit by lightning and fell from the sky like a rock.

I flew after her in a flash, trying to catch her as fast as I could go. She fell faster than I could fly as I saw her hit the ground. She crumbled into a pile of dust as a frame was left. I landed to see the frame. It had a photo of my parents, strong as ever. They held my sister under a wing as she squirmed to get out. I saw myself off to the side rolling my eyes.

Back then, she was a pest in my eyes. Always knocking over and breaking important parts that took me months to make. Each time, I grew to hate her more and more. That was until I went out for my first flight with my parents. The vision of that fateful day shown in the ashes of my sister’s corpse. We were attacked by a bunch of what we thought was raider ponies. They told me to fly home and I would be safe.

My father had his twin energy cannons on a battle saddle on his side as my mother had her machine gun battle saddle. I heard gun fire as I flew towards the stable. The guards were there with Silver Shine, a young colt at the time. Silver Shine warned the guards I was coming. They got me behind their hoof and had their rifles at the ready.

Watching the skies, my mother came towards me with my father in her hoof. He was hurt as blood poured from the stub that used to be his wings. Eyes opening in horror, there were creatures with holes in them. It’s eyes glowed as it held a pistol in its mouth. Bullets let loose as my parents fell from the sky. I cried out only to blotted out by the oncoming storm.

As the ashes fell, the memory faded away from my mind. I looked around and cried out in sorrow as the void of my dream made my cries echo around me. I wiped my tears away as I saw the moon, “Why aren’t you here? What is going on?... Damn me to Discord’s chaos induced hell! Why am I-“

A voice called from the distance as it seemed twisted with an edge of insanity to it, “Oh look! The crying pegasus monstrosity is upset over some ashes… Too bad. You should wake up already. The ponies you care for are hurt. An alicorn placed that trap on your mind. You have to fight it. Now!”

Fluttering into the sky, the world around me seemed to darken in shadows. I stared around me, “Hey! Why isn’t Luna reac-”

Luna’s voice cracked the shadows around me and put a hoof on my shoulder, “Its fine. Your okay. We won’t allow it to happen again. Together we can protect you mind. I’ll do so while you wake and then together while you sleep. Now go save them…”

The world blurred as I felt Luna’s magic wash over me like a barrier. She was going to do her damndest to save me if she could. I wondered on an important thought as I faded from the dream, ‘Is Luna going to disappear one day on me?’

I woke to Apple Miles firing his pistol in his teeth, firing at the changelings that came towards our hut. My heart raced as I stood and focused my mind on levitating my armor onto my flanks, including the energy cannon from Tiger Shade’s vault. I saw Silver Shine behind us unconscious with a bullet through his hind hoof. He wasn’t moving except for small breaths. I turned to Knight, my distant grandfather. He was firing away behind at the horde behind us.

I found my bearings and fired the twin cannons ahead of me as the small bursts exploded as parts of changelings flew. After several clips and honestly too many explosions from Knight as well as myself, there was a bloody puddle of changeling parts around us all. If this was the way the wastelands wanted to be, why did it grace us with the tools to find the others and save us so often…. Or was that Luna saving us from becoming puddles like this, I thought on this deeply until I saw the wound Silver Shine had sustained.

I lifted a wounded Silver Shine onto my back and flew into the air, “Let’s go.” I focused my magic on Knight as I cast a Feather Weight Spell, which frankly made my eyes hurt as the magic resonated within them, “He’s easier to carry. Miles let’s go before more of that lunatic’s army show up.”

Miles did as I asked and lifted Knight. He flew after me as I moved. I led the way as my Navigation shown over my eyes like a film or contacts. After a few hours, we landed outside of Ponyville by chance. I saw the decay of the town. Long dead raiders lay around us and all around the town as it was patrolled by Timber Wolves. My voice was quiet, “Nobody said these things survived the apocalypse…. Come on… I flew here thinking it was-“

Miles looked at me skeptical as he finished, “Safe… This was a raider town. Why would it be safe? I didn’t know you were flying here. We need a healer not some raider town that’s been slaughtered by these monsters. Lets-“

“Don’t go now… I can heal your friend since I know how. Your navigation led you here because I have a friend who made it appear. In truth it is safe as can be with the exception of little old me. Call me Azenoth,” a stallion stood above with stripes as he looked down from a balcony at us. He rushed down to open the door and smiled, “Come in. Nothing will harm you-“

Knight shook his head, “Cut the rhyming… Your not Zecora… I know you know how to speak normally.” He said with a hoof stamp as this behavior had irritated him in a way I had never known. He seemed on edge as if this pressed a button or maybe a memory since he mentioned the name. I’d have to ask later.

The zebra chuckled as he let us in. He let Silver Shine lay on a bed of hay as he observed the wound that had ripped through a wing and into his flank. The zebra bade us back as he examined the wound carefully. The looks he had were grim but he pulled out a dark green liquid he put on the wound as Silver Shine winced. He then wrapped the wing and the flank. He walked to me with a nod, “He’s fine. Not much damage for now but flying is-“ he saw Knight glare, “Out of the question.”

I looked between the two, “What do you two have a problem about? Knight I’ve never seen you like this before… And who is Zecora?” Asking all this now I realize was bad timing but I needed to know why Knight was so mad. His attitude towards this zebra was almost hate as my EFS picked up on him being hostile as it was tinging orange to red. I stood in between, “I know about the war okay… But he’s helping… Explain to me what’s going on Knight. Please….”

He stopped as his icon became a friend green once more. He moved back to stare out the shattered window with a thump of his rump hitting the shoddy wooden floor. He seemed as if out of it as he stared ahead, “Zecora was a friend and also a mentor. I learned much from her. I could honestly give you the book she gave me ages ago since it was locked in a safe vault in the old sister’s castle not far from here. Forcing it like that just… After hearing it after so long made me angry is all… And with the war and after what the other zebra’s did to Equestria… I can barely trust them.”

“I’m not an enemy. I chose to heal and not kill. These woodland animals protect me. Even the phoenix’s,” he watched Sapphire fly in and land on my rump as the zebra smiled and continued, “She’s blue… Your armor and natural magic must have changed her. She is beautiful though… Oh and let me reinforce that my name is Azenoth.”

Smiling to Azenoth I gave a small nod. His hair spiked in a Mohawk now that I could see up close. He was weak but looked like he had a large intellect to counter. His cutiemark was that of a mosaic bottle of medicine made from his stripes. He was overall not too shabby for a wasteland survivor when it came to looking like a normal pony. He also seemed to have an old set of magically enchanted… Curtains made into a full set of armor minus the tail cover and head piece that had magic scrawl engrained on it.

“Your armor is unique Azenoth… Where did you find it? I haven’t seen much magic but that seems out of my level to even d- Wait you know I have magic?!?” I spoke calmly at first until his previous words finally hit the part of my mind that rationalizes all that I hear. I understood one thing clearly, he knew I had magic somehow.

Azenoth laughed as he pointed a hoof at my face, “Your eyes glow the color of alicorn’s magic. Something I’ve only heard of in books here that survived the fall. If anything you might want to take Knight’s suggestion. The temple of the sister’s is a good idea for you… And leave the spell up while he’s in here, his weight may crack the floors…” He jested as we both gave a small laugh.

Knight spoke up with an idea in mind, “Take your… I mean take Miles to the temple. It hard to miss from the air. Go. I’ll wait here to watch Silver Shine’s condition and learn more about our friend here. Go ahead…”

Miles had stayed outside watching the timber wolves with an edge of concern. I snuck up on him as best I could in armor as I tapped his leather barding. He jumped a bit as he turned with a smile, “It isn’t nice to see your better but we need to clean off your armor. It’s a bit bloodied and messed up. It really messes up the beautiful blue hue to you.”

With a small laugh, I gave him a look of horror, “You do that, the power source may get upset…. I can’t just wash it off with a hose. I use a cloth. Besides I have a mission just for us. How would you feel going to the Two Sisters Castle? A trip just for us, Knight gave us his blessing.” I enthused when I said ‘Knight gave us his blessing.’

Miles gave a small chuckle as he looked out towards the forest, “We’re flying in right? I don’t like the idea of a romantic stroll through a deadly forest… Flying yes and mayb- Ouch!”

I kicked a metal hoof into his flank as his mind starting going elsewhere. With a chuckle I decided to point to the forest again, “That forest has a castle my grandfather locked a book away in to keep it safe. It was his idea to go so let’s go before he changes his mind. Catch me if you can.” I took off as I heard him call after me as he followed.

The flight was peaceful as I was smiling to Miles as he watched below us. I laughed at him, “Whose the scared-pony now? The forest is fine. Azenoth was right. The creatures here mean no harm at all.”

“The ponies of old used to call this place cursed but I’ll take your word for it, oh my knight. Look the castle is just ahead. Let’s get there and see what’s going on,” he said flying ahead, almost making me believe it was race of some sort.

The castle was grand as it was dead ahead in all it splendor. Well ruin really. It was nice to see something from the old structures living at least in a finite degree of survival. So as I flew over it, there was a hole in the roof that I flew through to land in. I saw the throne room ahead possibly as it was nice to finally see something like this. The old structure was good until it fell apart if I read the scrolls in my vault correctly.

With a sting in my heart, I remembered my vault as each pony flipped through my vision as if the hall was filled with them in a memory. The light blue visages of them were walking before me until it finally morphed and the zombies raised their heads to me. I jumped and put a metal hoof in front of my face, “Don’t come near me!”

From beside me, I felt a hoof touch me as I bucked at it. I heard a solid thump as the blue-layered visions fell away to see Miles on the ground in pain with a slash in his side from where I kicked. I knelt beside him, “Miles! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it! Hold on. I’ll fix it.” I got a bandage out to wrap it as I felt terrible that I hurt him.

His voice was cracked but filled with a sense of concern still even though I kicked him with a set of metal hooves, “Hey… Its okay… A hoof is the least I should expect for scaring you like that. I honestly didn’t think you could kick that hard?... It’s a cut, I’ll be fine.”

Once the wrap was done, he smiled and stood up with a wince. His own words echoed in me ‘It’s a cut,’ he says. I know these metals… The can do a lot of damage. I spoke up shaking my head, “Go back… I think you need to get checked out by Azenoth. You might be hurt internall-“

“Cryo stop! I’ll be okay… No one is getting me out of here and leaving such a fine mare alone. Lets go,” he bickered as he stood with my aided hoof. He smiled to me and nudged my neck, “Come on, firefly.” He walked ahead with a limp as he shook his head as if to fight off some pain.

My mind screamed to take him back myself but I know Knight would be upset and demand I talk to him about what happened. Frankly I didn’t understand myself what I did or how but I know I hurt Miles. With a second thought, wait did he call me ‘firefly’? When did he start that?

I ran ahead and tapped his flank, “Firefly? What was that about? You never called me by a nick-name before…”

“It suits you is all. Besides that means your only my Firefly… What I saw earlier was a swarm of small blue fireflies made by magic. That’s what I’m calling you now. Plus it’ll make Silver Shine mad,” he winked as he saw the large tapestries that had worn.

With a huff, I simply followed his gaze until I saw them too. In their hay day they must have been beautiful. I saw the stairs as I check my EFS to see for danger. None was present, just Miles and myself. I wonder honestly if that’s a good thing. We took up the large set of stairs to the top and went left. In no time at all, we saw a huge library.

Now worn with time and most of the books being ash, the library looked in ruins more so than I guess it had been back then. So honestly what was the point of all this. Some book I really wanted to read about zebra potions that my grandfather had hid here and why did he-

Miles cut me off, “So your gramps hid a book here? Why? I mean I know that certain reading materials were banned but still… Well it better be here or worth it for that matter. This place is creepy.”

Just as his words came out, something roared out among the halls that wasn’t on my EFS. It was menacingly and terrifying to hear as I jumped towards Miles. I heard his chuckled as he hugged me with his one hoof, “Nothing is getting you now or ever. I’ll be there for you from now on. No more you rescuing me.”

My soft laugh and smile came across my face. I leaned my head on his neck and nuzzled him, “Fine. Promise. No more. As long you let Azenoth look you over when we get back? Hows that for a counter?”

“Fine as long you stay by my side for the next few nights. Deal?” he said honestly with a grin.

I nodded my head as he spoke again, “Honestly you’ve been sleeping horribly. Magic surging and you mumble… You honestly have me scared. What is it you dream of?” He took a curious look at the burnt books, trying to find one that wasn’t burnt up.

With his notion in mind, I looked around for books as well as I spoke up with a sigh, “Luna… She talks to me when she sleeps. She claims she is but a spirit but I don’t buy it… I think she’s living up there using my dreams to contact me. She said when I earn my magic it will come and shows me things that were or might be… Like us dying, trying to find the elements of harmony… I realize now in that vision, your there, but so was Azenoth. He’s one of the one’s we need to come with us. My grandfather was there too.”

“I see. So that’s how it is. Well how about you tell her to give you a rest and let you sleep for once,” he joked as he looked for more as he stopped, “Hey this book… Could it be called ‘Potions and Medicines of the Jungle’?”

Bolting over without thought, I ran towards him until I felt the floor giveway. I flapped my wings as the floor fell below me. I focused my mind as the bottom of my hooves glowed with blue fire that blazed out to give me more lift. I flew over to land by Miles as the flames subsided, “These floors are weak. We should be careful or else that might happen to us….” I took the book as he looked down the hole.

The book was still in good condition somehow. I opened it to see plants I saw on the way here in the ingredients lists. One of them was a healing elixir, something we usually find in medical boxes. So now I can…. Well now Azenoth can make them. I spoke up, “Lets leave before we find anything else okay?”

“I hear yo- Hey! Let go of me!” he said until he cried out as vines held him in a way to keep him from the bit trigger of his pistol on his foreleg and were pulling his unwilling body down. Flying after him was all I could do until one of the vines hit me, throwing me back into a shelf as it collapsed on me. The world became a haze of grey as I could barely move. All I could cry out before passing out was his name as I lost sight of everything.

Chapter 9: Harmony at it's Finest

Fire burned my sides as I felt the armor crack. Heat tinged my flank and hooves as the pieces fell off. The phoenix I trapped in it breaking free as it burned me and the wood and books around me to get us out. The books burned easily as the only one under me was saved, ‘Potions and Medicines of the Jungle.’ As everything burned around me, I felt weak and hurt. The structures that held me now gone as the now red phoenix glared me down as it readied a blast of fire.

A voice called out that I heard before but couldn’t place. It was exotic yet confident as it yelled out, “Do not harm her! She is my friend and guest. Leave this place now or else I will use my own phoenix to destroy you.” Sapphire sat on his haunches as she flew up to challenge it, he irradiated flames glowing stronger then before as she flew between me and the red phoenix.

As it moved away, Sapphire chasing it off, Azenoth quickly threw his canteen of water over me as it hurt the burns I sustained from the fire. He pulled me out as my armor crumbled to the ground. All that remained of it was the sleek, thin pipbuck I had on covered in metal before. Now it sat bare on my left front hoof. Without my armor, I felt naked and cold yet burning in pain.

Azenoth spoke slowly as he helped me to the side to rest, “I saw the fire and heard the cry. Knight is on his way slowly to avoid bad flooring but I got here as soon as I could. Let me see these burns.” He pulled a small jar from his bag as he opened it to reveal nasty smelling lotion, “It smells but it will heal in no time.”

He put the lotion on the burns that littered my flank, hooves and side. Mainly on my chest as it seeped into the burn as I didn’t feel any pain anymore. He helped me to my hooves as I looked towards the hole, “Miles… I have to save him! A vine grabbed him and-“

“You need to rest. He is strong. I know he’ll be fine. Lets go back to the cabin. That phoenix will want you dead and without barding you will… Hold on,” he moved to see Miles bag. He put it on his flanks and stared at the root. He put the root in his own bag as he looked to the door.

Knight finally arrived as he sighed, “Your safe… But you armor. I’ll carry the gun until your well enough to use it again.” He picked up the magical energy cannon onto his flanks. I sighed and focused my magic on mending my wounds as I at least could do that. The lotion must have helped because I felt better, not on par, but better.

Azenoth helped me walk towards the door as I stopped and stared at the hole, “Miles… I… I can’t! Azenoth, I may be hurt but he could be too. I can get us down there. Please let me help him. Those vines took him and I want to know why and if he’s safe.”

Azenoth gave me a long sigh with a smile. He handed me a book of spells as he smiled, “It’s from Princess Twilight’s vault. Hold onto it. The spells in it are from Twilight herself. Ones she used or even fixed. Now how about that magic bubble?”

I flipped through the book as I saw the spell he meant. I nodded as Knight stood by us, “Don’t strain yourself filly. You might hurt yourself further.” He watched as I summoned a bubble around us that levitated in the air and brought us down the hole slowly. It was a slow ride but I could still feel the tension between Azenoth and Knight. Not between each other but with me. Neither of them liked this decision but I wasn’t leaving Miles.

The walls looked like it was tunneled. Seeing the bottom, the dirt floor was tough and hard. Azenoth during out descent had been digging Miles bags until he found a leather coat with armored barding in it. I smiled as he gave me a simple smile back. The bubble popped as we landed in the cavern. I could hear writhing or was it pained pony cries. Wait a second…

Knight walked forward as he stared at the roots present in the tree, “This isn’t right… These roots. I saw them before. It’s the tree of harmony…”

“The rumored tree that held the elements… But why here? Or rather why him? If anything, it could have taken her seeing as she is the embodiment of magic,” he said smiling as he hoofed the air towards Knight, “You are loyalty… Both of you, good targets. He has-“

“Laughter… Always caring and saying anything to make me smile or others… Anyhow lets go,” I stepped forward as I shivered. I pulled the trench coat around me and put my front hooves in it properly as I sighed. I walked over to Azenoth and took goggles out and put them on as I smiled, “If the enemy thinks my magic is none existence, they will be surprised when it happens.”

Knight nodded at what I thought could be approval at my plan. Azenoth smiled and waved a hoof ahead, “Mares first, please.”

With a shake of my head, I walked ahead only minorly reading the small book of spells he gave me as it levitated below my nose. As I got closer, I stuck the book in a side pocket of the coat. I stepped forward into the larger cavern that shown a tree of wondrous white hues as it held six elements with a star at its center.

I stared at the tree as I saw beside it was a moving mound of white roots, muffling pony cries coming from it. With fear I moved forward until Azenoth tackled me to the ground. A root swung over our heads as I realized my own reflexes were heavily based off my armor’s specialized EFS. I looked up as it put a cage around my grandfather, if Knight shot he would hurt himself. Azenoth was pulled into the same cage.

Only leaving me, staring at the tree like a lost filly as I remembered a spell Twilight had in her book. It was a spell that teleported things. I used one before but hers was slightly different. As I began to cast, the tree focused several sharp roots near my caged friends. I stopped casting as I watched it, “What do you want from them or him? Miles did nothing wrong! Who are you to judge a pony’s heart?!”

My lashing out did something as it revealed an illusion of the same blue ghost-like forms I saw in the castle entry way as the pair was my parents with Mech beside them. I heard my father’s deep commanding voice, almost echoing, “This farse has gone on long enough. The land has changed, so have its ponies. You can’t save this now. It killed us and your little sister. Luna is baiting you to die. To charge the elements, it may kill you. It’s why you saw that vision, just the not all of it.”

“How dare you use my parents to do this! Also, Luna wouldn’t lie to me. If you are connected to this land, then you know how corrupted it has become. It cannot stay this way. We can save it. I would believe her over the corrupted roots you won’t acknowledge yourself. Now release my friends!” I surged with magic as I was increasingly upset at this situation.

I felt myself surge with energies similar to when I lost my temper over the changeling in my vault. The world skewed into a darker rendition then before as I glared at the tree. I looked to a puddle beneath me to see that I had grown a foot or so as my wings had grown larger and glowed with flame. My mane flowed longer than before as did my tail with blue fire flowing from them. As if I could care less at the moment, my anger was towards the tree using phantoms of my parents.

My voice boomed across the cavern that now echoed my twisted, evil tone, “Release them or feel the wrath of which you could not bear. I do not need you alive now to save you. I can use the elements later to bring your rotted, burned corpse back. Now… Let them go or we will see who moves faster…” I waited patiently as things twirled around my mind of how to hurt this tree, make every second count for pain as it had used my parents to cause me pain.

The phantoms of my parents wavered as my mother’s phantom form spoke, “F… F… Fine… You are no better than Nightmare Moon. Losing yourself to your anger and hate…. Your attempts will fail and Halter will end you. Our changeling has been assigned to stop you. Even that lightning that killed your beloved sist-“

With that, my fury had no boundaries as I flew faster than I ever had before and cut the roots with a slice of my fiery wings. The pony inside, Miles to my relief, had looked like his life was being drained as he slumped to the ground. I put him on my back as summoned a barrier to stop the root from piercing the cage. I summoned all my magic as it laced the ground in runes. Each rune burning the roots as they shatter seconds after. There was an unholy cry of pain from the tree.

The cage broke as did the bubble. Knight stepped out with Azenoth as Knight looked to me, “Cryo…. Calm… This isn’t you and to save him you need to be yourself…” He had weapons ready but he was trying to resolve this peacefully. The cave above us broke open into the light of the sky as the clouds part just enough to let a ray of moonlight shine in onto me. Miles fell to the side as I tried to escape the light, for some reason I was afraid of it. As if I was afraid I would be locked away but I could not place it.

The moonlight shown as it wrapped around me and began drawing me up to the sky. I cried out as I fought the pull with all I had but suddenly felt a familiar presence, “Rest now.” Luna’s voice called to me as I felt sluggish. With all the fight in me, I lost the ability to perceive anything around me.

+++++ Luna’s Perspective

The rest of them watched as this happened, even the tree has stopped its futile efforts to fight. Knight had given a small smile as he stepped forward into the light, “She’s helping you from her place as well… I may not be able to turn you back but she knows you. Cryo Knight… You have to reclaim yourself or the moonlight will take you. Remember why you came down here?”

Azenoth watched as the light stopped pulling Cryo Knight into the sky. It stopped as the tree’s phantom ponies vanished. Instead, I had formed a protective shell around Cryo Knight and myself. I found myself lost in the revelation that she had fallen to her darkness as I landed softly. Setting her down beside Miles, I watched her slowly change back to her natural bat pony self as the neon energy in her mane remained. The suit’s power must have permanently done that.

With a look to Knight, my special somepony stared at me as I knew that gaze from behind that helmet, “Its been awhile… But I cannot stay. You will forget this and think it is a dream. You cannot know yet.” My determined gaze told him as I took a few strides over to hug Knight one last time. I left a necklace made of stars and a moon pendant around Cryo’s neck. My voice echoed to the tree, “She will stop you. And your pet changeling. I hope you forgive her after all this is done.”

Beginning to ascend to the moon, I heard one cry out my name. Cryo Knight cried out once more as she saw me in my full form. I turned aside, “Filly, please forgive me for this. I will always care for you like you were my own filly. Know that much.”

Cryo Knight had tears rolling down her cheeks as I thought I saw her mouth I’m sorry. With that, I cast a spell that made them all forget as I levitated from the hole, all unconscious. Only one stayed awake, Miles staring weakly at me. My voice was low and filled with sorrow, “I cannot save you… Nor can Azenoth save you… You are the only one I will not make forget. You saw her as she truly was if she gave in to her darkness. Tell her otherwise before you pass… It’s the best you can wish for… Tell them the forest attacked and you saved them. I don’t want my name in it.”

Miles nodded as he smiled, “You were going to fight her even if it meant you might die… You are a truly good mare. I want to thank you for being there for her. I’m sorry I couldn’t have been more helpful to her and only wish I could spend more time with her.”

I smiled sorrowfully knowing his time is almost up, “You will… In the right Equestria when it heals. You will be there waiting for her. I promise. Be patient in your wait for her. She will come…”

Laying him down, I set the others nearby after creating a decent amount of false destruction that would fool them all. I gave Miles one last goodbye as I ascended back to the moon filled with regret I could not save him for her sake.

++++++ Back to Cryo Knight’s Perspective

Wearily and weak, I blinked to see Miles laying on the ground near me. I felt the damaged earth around me as I stumbled to get up. I remembered Azenoth finding me burning… Then we left, all of us together but… I reeled in place as I cantered to Miles side and slid beside him, “Miles! Please no… Not you too. Tell me you’re okay…”

“Firefly… You burned just like one trying to stop the roots… But I took the hit for you. Make sure you take care of the rest of the journey for me. Save them all and maybe I’ll be there when you fix Equestria,” he spoke with a wheezing cough at the end as tears couldn’t stop rolling down my face. He wiped a few away smiling, “No falling for that Shine okay? Your mine… Just remember to save us all.”

I laid my head on his neck and hugged him as I felt his breath slowing. I cried knowing what was to come as I felt him return the hug. He sacrificed himself for me and it was all my fault that I couldn’t beat the roots to do so. They took him. And he was here saving me from them…. My body wretched in sadness and frustration as I looked at him, “I’m sorry… It’s my fault. I… I should of-“

“Nothing… I saved you. We’re even. You’re never going to blame yourself ya got it? I chose this… Just promise me you will be strong for the others and get better barding,” He cracked a grin in his half out of it state of mind. I chuckled a bit between tears as he took his pistol engraved with all the symbols of the previous elements of harmony on it and set it beside me, “Use it to stay safe. It’s a tough little gun… You’re the only thing I’m glad I get to see before I die…” He coughed as he began to have a bout of labored breathing until it died down into nothing.

Knight had touched my shoulder as I hugged him tightly, tears not finding an end point as it all sunk in. Miles was gone because of… Because he wanted to save everyone. It was what he told me. I have to believe him. Even though I knew all of this, I still cried for a long time into Knight’s shoulder. Azenoth assured me that the timber wolves would dig him a grave.

We walked silently back to Ponyville. I went to watch over Silver Shine, too afraid he might pass away too. I slept nearby on a set of moldy hay as I only half slept listening to Knight and Azenoth.

“She will not recover well… With her power, she may divulge into darkness like her grandmother. This may be the time to stop searching for these elements. Its dangerous work and honestly will get you killed. All of you,” he said worried as I could plainly hear the fear in his voice.

Knight sighed with a heavy heart as I knew he would, “She won’t stop now. Not now that he sacrificed himself for this. She’ll finish his quest. You want to help; we could use a skilled medical officer in our group. You seem qualified and could help her master the techniques to calm that part of her magic. Besides I think your value has been proven to her.”

Azenoth could be heard tapping a hoof in thought as he seemed at odds with the idea. I stopped paying attention when I heard a familiar groan. I saw Silver Shine coming too slowly as he was looking around the room until he saw me. He must have seen my still red eyes from crying as he spoke up, voice like gravel, “Cryo…. What happened? Your eyes are red… And your covered in slowly healing burns….”

I just hugged him tightly sobbing silently as he just let it happen. He was like my brother all my life and now he only tried to keep me from breaking down any further. My words came out between sobs, “He’s… Gone… Miles died…. I couldn’t save him. All this magic and I couldn’t save him… Celestia damn me to tartarus.”

Silver Shine patted my back lightly as not to agitate the burns that magic and ointment were slowly healing, “Easy… He knew the risks… If you want to go back to Applelossa we can… Or… We can continue and finish what he started. He said you were okay with this and wanted to help. Well you have my full support. Lets find the other elements and help others along the way. He would want that.”

In time, my tears slowed down long enough to nod in agreement. I got up and dug around my saddlebag for food as I got out a bottle water and cast a purification spell on it, “Here… Its fresh and cold.” He took it as I sat in the hay feeling exhausted and looked out the window to the sky, “I’m going to find Sapphire. I’m worried about her. You rest.”

Silver Shine nodded as Azenoth nodded and came in. I left as Knight followed me out, “Those roots are out there…”

“Don’t care… I want to find Sapphire. She has kept me company and defended me. I think I deserve the ability to see if she’s okay,” I said angrily at him as I called out, “Sapphire! Girl come on!”

Knight decided to forgo the speech and called out as well, “Sapphire. Where are you?”

After a few blocks of walking, she flew down as brightly blue and radiant as ever as she nuzzled my mane. I smiled glad she was okay as I brushed off some ash from her, “At least you’re okay… I’m glad the phoenix didn’t hurt you. I deserve what it could have done to me though… I said it was would be a few months… Not a year…”

Sapphire screeched as she blew a wave of flame into the air as she stopped. She flew through it and it fell to nothing. She must be saying she beat it for now… That’s good enough. I need to get to work on this barding though. Silver Shine would know his way around a bit-operated pistol too. A good idea would be to rework this Pipbuck like my suit was wired and wire it to me, I thought.

“Not that look. You’re not remaking that suit. That phoenix will never stop trying to kill you. You captured a perfectly healthy phoenix and locked it in armor…” Knight began.

I intervened, “Not that… Just make my Pipbuck sync to my eyes as a display like before but… My magic makes that hard. I’ll leave it as is but we need to find a place to buy armor. Or find it… I need better barding.” I smiled to Knight, “No more armor for me… I’m a bat pony and damn proud too. I won’t use powered pony armor like that again.”

“Good to hear… That cannon will stay with me then. Until you can fly and use it,” he motioned his head to my magical energy twin cannon saddle guns. I smiled with a wicked thought. I cast a feather weight spell like before as I levitated it onto my flanks as I felt no weight to it anymore, “I can make that permanent… Which I did. Thanks to the book Azenoth gave me. I’ll be keeping those. I got them so their mine. Besides, you don’t know how to use this thing. Tiger Shade made a particularly nasty trait to it. Only the designers know how to set the magical blasts via strength in multiple settings. Hundreds of years old or not, I know this technology better than an old stallion who thinks he knows it all… Oh…. Sorry Knight…”

Knight laughed as I watched him enjoy the idea of me standing up to him then I laughed too. We both enjoyed the laugh for a while and he even helped me get the stable barding in Mile’s bag. We worked on enforcing the leather trench coat and even working in a metal plating in the seams of the jacket. Now I wore a black leather trench coat, gray stable barding from my stable and a set of goggles to hide my eyes if I use magic. The energy cannons hid well under the coat and one good buck to get it out of the way.

The day came for us all to go as Azenoth looked to Silver Shine and gave a long, exasperated sigh, “I’ve thought on it. I’ll go with you. Consider this place your home. We can come back anytime and besides, Silver Shine is still my patient as are you, Cryo. So I must go to watch over you. Besides, you’ll find my weapons interesting if it comes down to it.”

I gave a gleeful whiny as I nodded, “Let us not waste time then… I think we should wonder towards Tenpony Tower and Manehatten. That way we can rest at the tower but also because those winged ones here… We can check out the clouds above. Bat ponies have always had rights to bask in the moonlight. I think we can use that to ask a few pegasi some questions about the goings on as of late.”

Azenoth gave a hoarse snort as he laughed, “Just ask DJ Pon3… Bring something interesting and he’ll definitely see you. Best way to figure out what and who might be noteworthy. Most of the elements of old were hidden in one place. With Equestria like this, they have spread to the wind… I did hear that some gryphons run a base though. Not far from Tenpony Tower. We should go there too.”

“Gryphons?! Pfftt…” Knight snorted loudly as he stepped away. I waved a hoof at him as Silver Shine noted, “We have loyalty, honesty and magic… And you…..” He stopped thinking.

Snorting unhappily he sighed and lifted a hoof to this head, “I feel faintly hurt if not for your gleaming oversight. Its fine. I’ll discover mine. For now, I’m going back to picking at Knight till I hear him laugh. It has to be from me that laughs though.”

Silver Shine and myself gave a small chuckle as we both cracked up laughing, “Knight, laughing at a joke you give. I’ll bet to see that day.”

I nodded with Silver Shine, “I think Azenoth has a chance.”

Azenoth grinned, “Here’s the deal, if I make him laugh… Silver Shine, you fulfill one request of Cryo without fail. And if I should not and give up, Cryo you do him one favor without fail. This favor can be anything. Me, I win by traveling with you too.”

Silver Shine and myself once more gave a small chuckle and in unison, “Deal…”

“Let’s sleep one more night here and we’ll head out to TenPony Tower. I can gather supplies and count our rations as well as canteens. Azenoth if you could make a particularly rad based potion for Knight that would be helpful. His kind heal from rads,” I gave out his assignment as I stopped as Silver Shine. I looked to him with a smile, “You are helping me count.”

So we set on our jobs for the day until it was night. Then we all rested by a warm fire Sapphire made for us as I slept by Sapphire. She kept me warm and kept me from being alone while I slept. Sleep was peaceful. In my dreams, I slept in a grove of beautiful flowers that all glowed four colors mainly; red, orange, blue and pink. That was enough for me for that night.

Chapter 1: The Phoenix in all its Glory

It was late as usual for me. I tried my hardest to finish this project but it was frustratingly hard. Why was I having such a hard time finishing this armor, I thought to myself irritated. Shaking my head, I walked away from the work bench for a break. The attempt to even sleep was pointless in my stressed out state these days. Tiger Shade wanted this done by this week but its taking too long to calibrate it all. Why did I accept his project or even think it was possible to do in a month?

I'm stuck with it now but whats missing? Its like the passion to create is lost on me today even though I haven't slept in a few days. My little sister found her way into my lab again with her loud clopping as usual. Thank Celestia's beautiful sun rise, its a distraction that isn't a boring mural. Sky Mech was my cute little bat pony sister who loved trying to sneak up on me. It really made my day in the end of it all because of the hard work lately.

A slight clip clopping could be heard through the music DJ Pony played on the radio. With a flap of wings, a small grey-tan filly jumped on my back with a hard thunk. She immediately sunk me to the ground and began laughing delightedly, "I got sister again! I win! Your not good at this game Cryo. I keep catching you off guard lately. Its not fun really."

"I know, you little sprite, its this project. I'm still not done with it. I have a day or so to finish it or else Tiger Shade will have my wings," my voice was weary and worn. Being near my little sister, it brought spirits up from their low earlier. I merely bumped her off my back as she flew flawless to the ground.

Sky gave me a sort of death glare that just seemed cute now as she huffed, her wings flapping irritably, "You were supposed to take me flying outside today. Its too dangerous on my own so I needed an older bat pony to take me. You volunteered remember?"

My exhaustion was high but I managed to look completely awake besides the slowly dragging low notes of my voice, "I know, Sky. I promised and I'm sorry. You know Tiger Shade don't you? If I can't finish this soon-"

"If Mom were here, she'd drop everything to go. You're a terrible sister," Sky Mech flew out of my lab upset with small tears forming.

My hoof just stamped the floor as I looked up to a photo of two bat ponies standing under artificial moonlight together, "Mom why did you two leave so early? I'm not good at this being a parent and a sister thing... I feel like I'm failing her."

I decided now was a good time to leave my work and find Sky. I need a good brush of wind as much as she does. So I walked out the door as a spiky blue haired bat pony stood there with a black tiger claw in a shadow on his rump.

Tiger Shade glared at me, "So hows the project? You finish it yet? You must have since your leaving again."

"Just a stretch of my wings, sir. I've been in this lab for well over three moons. It was only a qui-" I spoke weary as he spoke over me.

"You mean to tell me you were going to leave before you were done again? What a failure you are these days. Finish this armor tonight and you test it tomorrow morning. That's my order," he barked out angrily as each note became even angrier. He stomped out the door leaving me standing there awe struck.

Tonight, I thought, its insane to think its even possible. Programming isn't easy at all or fast for that matter, what is he thinking? Fine, I thought, time to finish it so I can take Sky out flying. My night became nothing but programs as it all blurred together. There was a bag of apples dropped off so I could munch on them while I worked. Honestly it was easy once I started doing it.

Almost when the moon was at its highest in the middle of the night, a young male bat pony came into my lab. He knocked on a shelf to get my weary attention, "Hey... Cryo Knight. Have you seen Sky Mech? She was going to help find my ball tonight in the orchard before bed. Sky isn't in her room or anywhere else I looked. Is she here?"

I stopped programming immediately as I turned to look at the little colt, "You mean she's not in our room. Did you ask the guards to scan the vault?"

He nodded afraid like I was mad at him, "She was upset earlier and ran away from me. She said she wanted to get some space for herself. After that, I found a guard to check for her but her signature isn't here. They thought you were out flying with her but I guess I was wrong..."

"Sky... You didn't go without me did you? Oh no... Alright, little one, go back home. I'll find her," I ushered him out of my lab and looked at my armor with a half scared look. On one hoof, Tiger Shade was going to de-wing me if that armor wasn't done but on the other hoof, Sky is missing... Family comes first, I thought looking at the photo of my parents, they taught me that too well.

I turned and pressed enter finishing the mech suit's program and downloading it to the armor. Immediately, I started monitoring its program fixing it quickly and deftly. This part I knew too well and was prepared to finish as fast as possible. Two bolts one fix as my father once said. So I started to put the armor on once code repairs were done in minutes. Once the connection sequence finished I had a small display over my pupils once the armor synced with my body. Once re-adjustments on the display were fixed, I ran out of the lab.

Zooming past a sleepy Tiger Shade who turned immediately to face where I was running, "Where are you going, Cryo Knight? Where are you testing the armor?"

"In the field, Sky Mech is gone. It'll help me find her. Bring it back in the morning, promise," yelling back at him as I bolted down the vault hallways, metal clopping from my hooves loudly. I found my way to the door that they closed for the night and saw the guards. They were sleeping by the switch. I picked a grenade out of my pouch as it dropped with no pin. Almost instantly, the room covered in a grey haze as any sound became nothing but passing air.

Turning the handle to the door of the vault, it soundlessly creaked open. I picked up the grenade and put it back as sound returned. I ran out the door as the guards frantically woke up. They followed my armored shadow out to the mountain side. I looked out, letting my scanners get ahold of her vault registry chip. It found her instantly almost one hundred miles north toward New Appaloosa.

A guard ran out behind me and watched me, "Cryo Knight, whats the fire? You didn't need to sneak out. Why are you out here and in that armor you made?"

"Sky Mech, she's gone... Out there somewhere. On the move, just north a hundred miles or so. Stay here, tell the leader I'll be back with Sky Mech," I spoke as my hoof stamped the ground. Instantaneously, blue energy formed around my mane and tail. I looked below to look for a clear flight as my scans detected no armed ponies out there waiting for me.

"Sky... Oh no. Find the filly before its too late. Its our fault we stepped out to get food and left the gate-" he began and shook his head.

I cut him off, "Its not your fault. Its mine. I ignored her and this is my price. My faults have to be fixed though and I will find her. Be safe and shut that door."

Jumping off the cliff, I felt the weight of the armor lighten. The boots of the armor were designed with a slight hover technology to balance the weight while flying. I flapped my bat wings as a visor covered my mouth and nose. Speeding off into the night, I flew out to her as the numbers slowly dwindled down in miles till I found the night exhausting. I forgot the lack of sleep as my wings began to give up on me. My last memory was falling before blacking out to the wind rushing past me.

My coat was warm and I felt like something had smashed a brick into my head. I looked around and found myself inside a cage. My armor was glowing with warnings as multiple enemies stood around my cage. I just shook my head, "Funny... Raiders in the night. Seems like I have a camp to clean up before I get going again."

The raiders laughed maniacally as what looked like a dark long haired mare earth pony walked forward. Her armor was tatters of old enemies probably as her pistol aimed at my chest, "Don't tempt us you fool. Your one of the mechanical ghoul ponies. We're going to end you and when we do well my boys will have fun with the blood bath."

"You're right, you know? Blood bath is the correct term. As for your pathetic cage and weapons... Let me show you what a really gun is though," I spoke confident as a the front of my chest plate moved and opened up to a large energy cannon. It opened showing the glowing purple energy orb pulsing dangerously, "So how about that blood bath huh? Or will you surrender?"

The mare raider leader just seemed to laugh nervously, "You're... Not a ranger. What are you? Wait those wings... You can't be-"

"My name is Knight and your messing with my time schedule. Goodbye, raiders," as I spoke those last words, it ended for them all. The energy cannon fired and anyone near the energy cannon ball was burnt to death. The mare was nothing but ash on the ground that seemed to glow eerily. I stepped out of my cage and took some ammo and put it in my storage compartment.

Flying back to the sky, I began my scan again to find my lost sister. No one was going to get in my way of finding her. Every mile I flew faster than the last afraid of what she could be caught up in. My wings beat hard as my sleep deprivation was long gone. Full of energy, New Appaloosa came into view quick. Slowing down to survey the area, I saw earth ponies and a unicorn or two wandering the town.

The town itself was a wreck but his office building seemed well-kept. An old white earth pony walked out of a smaller building. I turned my gaze beside him as a small bat pony filly following him. Fear struck me as I could only watch her trot after him. Her wing was wrapped up and tied to her back. She's hurt, I thought, this could be bad for both of us.

Taking initiative was all I could do as I swooped down towards her. I did a low sweep so she would land on my back as I flew into the air quickly. My hope was not to be seen so well in my haste. I felt a kicking and screaming Sky Mech on my back.

"Let go of me you Raider! Help me! A raider stole me and wants to kill me!" she screamed and kicked me in the head.

In my loss of thought process, she fell from my back. I swooped to catch her as fast as I could manage. I fell below her as I softened her fall. My armor made sure I was okay besides a few soar back bones later. A crater had shown below me as I just slumped my head backwards, reeling in pain. My consciousness was to say the least lacking after the fall and kick to the head.

The little filly jumped off my stomach leaving a hoof kick in my gut. She ran to the guard at the gate and hid behind him. Her scared voice was all I could focus on, "Help she tried to take me! Take her in and lock her up... She's a raider can't you see?!"

The guard merely shook his head and chuckled, "A raider wouldn't save your life. Seein' from those wings, Ima bettin' she's related to ya or knows wherein you came from."

I stood weak and shaky, "I... I don't understand. Sky Mech its me, Cryo Knight. I'm your sister. Why don't you remember?"

"Its not that she doesn't. Its that she can't. She fell from the sky much like you but with much less grace. She landed on a building and broke through the roofing. She had a sever concussion and a broken wing. All she mumbled in her sleep was that she needed to find Knight. I guess that's you," the white old stallion spoke up abit dismayed, continuing, "Poor child has been hoping to find herself soon. You may have the answer."

I got angry, "May?! I'm her sister. Of course I know her, you silly earth pony. I'm from a strong and secure place where we train to be safe out here. She ran out on her own... It was my fault. I forgot to take her flying. I'm sorry Sky."

The filly, forgetting her name was Sky Mech, just stared at me, "Your not... I wouldn't have a mean sister like you. If I did, she'd be nice and everything that I knew she was. You can't be my sister!"

I just slumped my head dizzily putting the frame containing my parents photo in it on the ground, "B...But Sky... I.. I get it. I wanted to leave this with you this then. It'll help you remember. I need to make sure I finished something... Take care of her earth pony."

In my last moments flying away, I heard her call after me. She knew something about me but not enough... This was my fault. All my fault and I couldn't help her. So I was going to do the only thing I could and that was kill the raiders that approached New Appaloosa. It was the least I could do to stop this burning rage and sadness in my heart. I was burning inside with mostly rage at what I had let happen. So I decided to kill raiders to stay my anger and burn them to nothing but the ash they so righteously deserve anymore. At least it will help me vent past this catastrophe.