The Wastelands Sacrifice to be

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.