The Wastelands Sacrifice to be

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.