Zoner: Shadow of Cherneighbyl

I’d completely lost track of time, lying down in my wooden box. The heat had become stifling within minutes of being sealed in, and the darkness was even worse. This was not a comforting kind of darkness like in my bedroom; there were no gently glowing stars or planets to keep me company here. Sometimes the blackness seemed like a physical thing, pressing in on me, crushing me, suffocating me. Closing my eyes didn’t help, either– I couldn’t even tell the difference. I had to settle for gritting my teeth and distracting myself with the virtual HUD. I could not afford to panic. If I were to be found out, they’d surely find Blossy, too. My fur and mane had become clammy, and not just from the heat– this was illegal. Technically, sneaking into the Zone made me a criminal. I’d never felt so alone. Or so helpless.

After a while, I tried to fall asleep, finding some comfort in the rumble of the vehicle’s engine, though the shifts in direction made it difficult. I may have drifted off at some point, but a sudden crash put an end to my rest. Did they hit something?! Or maybe we’ve arrived? My stomach tightened in dread..

The latter thought was proven wrong as I heard an engine fire up, then felt acceleration once again. The tightness in my stomach receded slightly, but I just wanted this to be over. I felt like screaming; anything to get me out of this damned crate. I wanted fresh, cool air, and to be able to see, and some bloody space! My jaw started to ache as I grit my teeth, and clawed my hooves against the base of the crate. Just a little longer, just hang in a bit longer. If Blossy can deal with it, so can I. She didn’t even get the luxury of a larger crate to match her larger form.

The engine had stayed at a fairly constant note by now, and I didn’t feel many changes in direction. We must be on a long, straight road; perhaps the final leg of the journey? I remembered seeing a straight line going towards the Equestrian Armed Forces base cordoning off the Zone on one of our maps. It was the only way in or out from our side– the rest of the borders consisted either of impassable mountains or was walled off by the EAF, who had erected regular guard towers and performed frequent patrols to prevent anypony from sneaking in, or anything from getting out. The Zone also cut into gryphon territory a small way, but from what Blossy and I had uncovered, they were no less thorough in isolating the disaster area from their lands.

A bump in the road broke me out of my thoughts, bringing me back to the bleak reality of being stuck in a box. I was at my wits’ end/ I needed to do something. I was hungry, thirsty, tired, hot, sweaty, and scared.

I could at least remedy the hunger and thirst. But first… if no light can get in, surely none can get out. It was a risk I was willing to take at this point, regardless. I concentrated, weaving a weak light orb spell, and was rewarded with the ability to see the wooden interior of the crate. The orb floated companionably, a short distance from the tip of my horn.

With a mental command, a drinking pipe flicked out from the neck of my armour, and I sucked down some lukewarm water. While it wasn't ice cold, it at least quenched my thirst. I clicked the pipe back into place and dug out a ration bar from one of my pouches with my magic. I carefully peeled the wrapper, not wanting to make any noise, and levitated the bar towards my mouth. It was surprisingly tasty, consisting of a dense mix of baked seeds, nuts and oats, all bound together with honey.

The bar was certainly very filling, leaving me feeling somewhat overfaced. Of course, they’re designed for soldiers who’re burning a lot of calories, not small mares who have never even undergone physical training.

A gentle pull signalled our deceleration; my ears pricked up- this had to be it. We came to a stop. My heart began to beat faster. I made out some muffled voices… and we were moving again, pulling a series of manoeuvres. A mechanical rattle sounded out from behind, and the vehicle moved a short distance before coming to a final rest. The rumble of the engine died away. I gulped. This was it.

My orb! I immediately cut my magical link to my bright companion. Deprived of its magical power source, it faded before winking out completely. The muggy darkness enveloped me again.

What if Anvil’s contact forgot or fell ill? How long would I be stuck in here? What if they think to check inside? I gulped again as my worries swirled around in my head.

I could hear indistinct noises. Things were happening, but I couldn’t tell what. If only I could see what’s going on out there. I’m sure I could figure out some kind of scrying spell. However, this wasn’t a good time for magical experiments. I didn’t know if there would be any audible or visible side-effects to the spell. Or if my first attempt wouldn’t result in something entirely different. No, it was best to lie still and wait.

Slowly, carefully, I covered my ears with my forelegs to make the noises go away. Shallow breaths and my pounding heartbeat dominated my hearing. I felt vibrations through the floor, and it seemed to rock slightly. My whole body was tense, rigid. Just hang on a little long– my crate suddenly lurched and I let out a squeal as my forelegs instinctively thudded back onto the floor. A shock of panic surged through me; oh no! Please, don’t have heard that. I held my breath, waiting for them to open my wooden prison and find me.

Only, my crate lurched again and again, with some kind of mechanical whirring in the background. By the time I’d been set down, as I gathered, I was almost due for another taste of that ration bar.

I lay in wait, hearing that mechanical whir recede. The hoofclops I was dreading never came; they mustn’t have heard me. I remembered to breathe again, and warm, stuffy air filled my lungs. Calm down, Moonlight, it’s going to be alright. The various CRASHES, SCRAPES, BANGS and shouts kept me on edge, despite my efforts. It was a constant reminder of my precarious situation. All that separated my friend and I from capture was a thin wooden panel.

The background sounds died down and a stallion’s voice bellowed, “Room, atten-shun!” Hooves clopped smartly, almost sounding as one. “Alright everypony, that’s the last one for today, see you tomorrow. That’s oh-seven-hundred, Dopey. As you were.” I heard ponies’ hoofclops receding, and found myself pitying whoever had the misfortune to be called ‘Dopey’. Who would call their foal such a thing?!

Soon enough, I heard somepony approaching. Clop-clop, clop-clop. My nostrils flared as I involuntarily exhaled– this is it. This is the contact. Or what if it isn’t? Maybe it’s just somepony doing some checks.

BUMF-BUMF! The wooden panel in front of me boomed, eliciting a surprised squeak from me while my heart lurched. “I’m with our mutual friend, stay calm while I get you out,” a pony directed his voice at me. It sounded like the stallion who addressed the room before. “Shit, are we smuggling in fillies, now?” I just managed to hear him mutter under his breath. I was too worked up to feel indignant at that comment. Just get me out of here.

The wood made a series of tortured noises before a red glow enveloped the panel right in front of me, yanking it off. Bright light blinded me, making me shield my eyes while cold air flooded in, making me shiver. It sure felt good to breathe fresh air, though. Well, relatively fresh– I could smell and taste dust. My eyes slowly adjusted to the light, and I could make out the form of a pony in front of me. “H-hi?” I stammered.

“Right. Come out of there. I’ll get your fellow Zoner out,” he said curtly. The stallion’s form moved out of my vision.

“Ugh!” I grunted, trying to stand. My hindlegs wouldn’t co-operate, though. I managed to shuffle/crawl out of the crate in a rather undignified manner. By now, my eyes had mostly adapted to the harsh lighting in the… warehouse. Rows of massive storage racks greeted my vision, pallets of various equipment, crates and boxes resting on them. A pair of forklift trucks sat next to a breezeblock wall, cables running from nearby panels to them. Big boxy units hung high overhead, projecting warm light downwards.

Looking up made me feel dizzy; after being cooped up in such a tight space for so long, the sheer size of this place felt daunting.

Wood creaked and groaned as the stallion worked on another crate. A cold ache rolled through my legs and flanks as I stood up successfully this time. “Ooh, ahh,” I sighed as blood started circulating again. I decided to try making my way back to my crate, so I could lean on something as I recovered. Bad idea– my legs were leaden and I lost my balance, sending my head into the wooden panel with a loud BANG.

“Ow! Fu-fudge!” I yelled as I fell in a heap, my voice faintly echoing in the warehouse. I was expecting it to hurt, but my helmet took the blow well.

“Quiet the fuck down!” the stallion hissed at me. “I am not getting caught because of some clumsy bint.”

“S-sorry,” I said in a small voice. Once my head stopped spinning, I carefully stood up once again and got a proper look at the stallion. His orange coat contrasted with the blue coveralls he wore, and his mane was cut short in the usual military fashion. I noticed a clear pouch on his left foreleg which housed a PDA, much like my own. On his other was a holstered pistol. His foreleg sleeves had golden three-chevron symbols on them.

His horn glowed red as he telekinetically ripped off the panel he was working on, to reveal my friend lying down. She didn’t look comfortable. “Come out, and be quiet about it,” the stallion said. “The sooner I get you two out of here, the better.”

The mare groaned as she shuffled out of her crate, bleary-eyed. “Oh, my legs. That is not an experience I’d care to repeat anytime soon,” she grouched.

“Hey Blossy,” I said, stiffly walking over to her. A smile spread across my lips– it was so good to see her after being alone for what felt like an eternity. My heartbeat started to calm down. I offered a hoof and helped pull her up.

“Thanks, Moony,” she replied with a wan smile. “I thought I would never get out of that thing.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but the stallion cut in before me, “You can hug and kiss later. Right now, we need to get you out of here. Follow me.” With that said, he trotted to a nearby door. His eyes scanned the warehouse as he waited for us to catch up. Upon reaching him, he tapped his PDA a few times, and waved it in front of the panel by the door. A CLICK sounded out from the door, which then swung open. He guided us into the small, empty room, standing before a metal marehole cover. The door automatically shut behind us.

“Thank you for doing this for us, Mister?” Blossy said, prompting the stallion for a name.

“Sergeant to you. And don’t thank me. I’m not doing this out of the kindness of my heart,” he replied. Well, isn’t this a warm reception, I thought sarcastically. A bit of Stalliongrad must have rubbed off on me.

“Now, when we go through that“– he gestured to the marehole cover –”you will follow me closely at all times. If you stray too far from me, the defence systems will make dog food out of you. This tunnel will lead you into the Zone, out of sight of this base. Any questions?” His red eyes flicked between Blossy and myself.

“N-no,” I echoed my friend. How casually he talked about us dying did nothing for my confidence.

“Good.” A red glow surrounded the marehole cover, unscrewing it before lifting the thick metal hatch up and setting it aside. I could see it took a lot of effort for him to do, and I doubted my own magic was strong enough for such a feat. Sergeant tapped his PDA some more, and I saw the words ‘Confirm maintenance mode’ flash up on the screen. After a final tap, he fed his hindlegs through the hole in the floor, and made his way down the ladders. Blossy followed, albeit less certainly.

I peered down the hole and saw coldly-lit grey concrete along with two ponies looking up at me. My stomach lurched; I was never fond of heights. Why ladders?! What’s wrong with a nice, easy ramp?

I took note of the metal steps of the ladders, which had indentations to secure one’s hooves in. I swung around and gingerly lowered myself while gripping the floor with my forelegs. Finding those indentations, I slowly worked my way down. I heard an impatient sigh from below.

Finally, I ended up in the tunnel, all four hooves on solid concrete. The air had an unwelcoming chill to it. The tunnel stretched out before us, long and straight. Harsh lighting beat down from the ceiling, and pipes and cables ran high along the walls. “Now, stay close, both of you,” Sergeant said before starting off down the tunnel.

We passed a pair of guns hanging from the ceiling as we followed the stallion. They looked much like our mounted weapons, only significantly larger, and with armour plates protecting them from the front. That certainly gave context to Sergeant’s warning.

“So, why did the EAF build a tunnel out into the Zone like this? It seems like a liability more than anything else,” my friend asked. Thank you, Blossy. Something to take my mind off of those guns pointing at my behind.

“We didn’t build them,” Sergeant said with an undertone of irritation. Clearly, he wasn’t one for conversation. “They were here as part of the original facility. It was decided to secure this tunnel, rather than destroy it, just in case. There is only one place it leads to, and that’s where we’re heading.”

We passed another set of turrets, and soon after, some faint beams which projected across the tunnel from devices attached to the walls. Fortunately, whatever Sergeant did, it stopped anything from happening.

***

After trotting though... well, a lot of tunnel, we came across another set of ladders leading up to a hatch. The tunnel beyond had caved-in; chunks of concrete piled up to the ceiling, thick metal rebar stabbing out from the rubble. Our guide remained silent after his explanation of the tunnels. Neither Blossy nor I felt like attempting any further communication with him, and the remainder of our journey was eerily quiet.

“Right, once you climb up here, I recommend you head bearing north-northwest for about eight klicks; you’ll find a little settlement with your fellow Zoners. You should make it before sundown, if you don’t dither about,” Sergeant instructed. He moved over to a control panel on the wall and entered a code, which sent a metallic CLICK from the hatch above.

“Now go, before anypony notices I’m missing. I’ll lock the hatch behind you, and the defences will be active, so don’t even try coming back. Good luck,” he said as he shoved open the hatch with his magic.

Blossy and I exchanged a look, and I gestured for her to take the lead. She climbed ahead of me, her red and pink-streaked tail wafting in front of my face. The vivid colours contrasted starkly with the mute palette of concrete, metal and armour. Fortunately, climbing was easier than descending, and my friend was able to help me up into… the Zone.

Just as I was about to drink in the scene before me, the hatch swung shut with a loud CLANG!– which nearly made me jump out of my skin. That was it; no going back.

A weak, warm breeze blew at us as we looked around at the environment we were now, at least for a while, stuck in. I was greeted by a dead, grey sky. Clumps of slightly darker cloud drifted slowly overhead. I was sure I could see faint ripples up there, too; almost like heat distortion, but that could have just been my eyes playing tricks on me. My attention drifted down to the wiry grass which crawled on the ground, coming up in occasional tussocks.

A far cry from what grows in the rest of Equestria. This stuff doesn’t even look edible.

Thick-trunked trees dotted the uneven landscape, the tips of their balding branches stabbing up at the sky. Wildly growing bushes grew in patches; their leaves, much like the grass, a muted, dull green. It was an ugly and uninviting place.

There was something else, too; a niggling sense of dread that had taken root in my mind since we arrived at the EAF base, which only grew more acute now that we were out in the open. Inside the Zone. Where we shouldn’t be.

“Well, here we are. I must say, this is an awfully drab place. Not that I’m unhappy to be out of that crate, mind,” Blossy said after a moment. Her tone suggested she also felt it, but her expression only hinted at disappointment with what she saw. “Regardless, now that we may actually talk, how’re you holding up, Moony?”

“I… guess I’m okay. Scared, mostly,” I replied.

“Hey, it’ll be alright,” she said softly, her determined eyes locked onto my own. “We’ve got each other’s backs, and we have the best equipment that bits could buy.”

Blossy’s earlier words echoed in my mind: You’re stronger than you think. I worked up the best smile I could. “Yeah. I think… I just need to get used to this place. But perhaps we ought to find that Zoner settlement?” I suggested. “I don’t like the idea of having to sleep out in the open.”

“Good point,” my friend nodded. “Now, which way is north-northwest?”

“I’m sure our PDA’s will be able to tell us. Probably a good idea to wake them back to active mode now that we’re free of the base,” I said, regaining a bit of confidence.

“Ugh, alright. At least I was starting to get used to that weirdness before we got boxed-up.”

I prodded at the screen of my PDA and it immediately lit up, asking whether I wanted to fully wake the device. I tapped ‘yes’, and once again when it asked for confirmation. The HUD popped up in my vision, with green text appearing in the center.

ZoneNet detected. Autoconnecting……… Success!
Welcome to the Zone.
Downloading and installing updates: 1 of 23………

A bar appeared, filling up and emptying as each update did its thing. “Uhm, are you getting updates, too? It’s right where I’m trying to look at, too!” Blossy grouched.

“Yeah, I am. If it’s bothering you, just give it a mental command to shift it elsewhere. Or you could make it transparent,” I suggested. I was surprised as how flexible these things were– I wondered what else I could do with mine. Shame they don’t come with manuals.

The unicorn scrunched her eyes up for a moment, before experimentally looking around again. “Yeah, that’s better. Thanks,” she said gratefully. “You seem to have really gotten the hang of using this techno-magical weirdness.”

“No problem. I don’t know why. I just… think things and it works.”

My attention switched back to the green text:

Downloading and installing updates: 23 of 23………
Congratulations, all updates successfully applied!
Downloading maps……… Success!

With that done, the text and bar disappeared, and the map in the top-left of my vision filled with a depiction of the local topography. I wonder, can I make the map big? Yes, I could– an expanded map covered my entire view, slightly transparent. A little arrow was at the center, with a green dot next to it. Must be myself and Blossy, respectively, I reasoned. I could zoom in and out, and pan the view around. Scrolling northwards, I found what looked like a collection of buildings, and a tunnel going into the side of a hill. That must have been the Zoner settlement Sergeant mentioned. I imagined placing a marker in the middle of those buildings, and was rewarded with an icon appearing right there.

Out of curiosity, I zoomed way out. At the moment, we were on the outskirts of the Zone– small clusters of buildings being separated by swathes of untamed land. As I panned north, the landscape became more and more built-up, almost like a town, or a small city. Finally, I came to the Cherneighble facility itself, a huge structure of hard straight lines and right-angles. Even this virtual representation sent a tingle of apprehension through my spine. If I was reading the map right, it would easily dwarf even the largest edifice back in Manehattan.

Okay, that’s enough, we’re miles away from that. Best get back to the here and now. Small map? Suddenly, my vision returned to normal. I noticed the minimap had a little arrow pointing me towards my marker, almost lining up with the red pointer of the compass.

“Uh, right. Mine’s finished. Red’s north on a compass, right?” Blossy asked, scratching her head. Only, her helmet got in the way. She put her hoof back on the ground as though everything went to plan, but her face flashed with irritation for a moment.

Oh Blossy, don’t ever change.

“Yeah. It’s okay, I set a marker in what looks like the settlement though. We can just follow that,” I said. There was even a distance in the minimap– 8.3km, which matched up with what we were told.

“H-how do you do that?” Blossy asked, her jaw hanging open. She shook her head. “Actually, no, tell me later. When I’ve stopped wanting to claw my eyes out.”

“So, um –” I spun around to get the grey arrow pointing upwards and gestured with a foreleg “– if we head this way, for eight-point-three kilometers, we’ll be right in the middle of the Zoner settlement.”

“Well, we’d better get started, hadn’t we!”

***

The journey so far had been quiet. Neither Blossy nor I said much as we plodded across the depressing terrain, too busy keeping a lookout for anything dangerous. I once spotted a black bird of some kind gliding well above us, which turned sharply away before it got close to one of those weird distortions. My momentary inattention punished me by getting a hoof snagged on a clump of tough, wiry grass, which nearly sent me face-first into the ground. I didn’t allow my eyes to drift away from the ground ahead for very long after that.

Six kilometers still to go, and we found ourselves having to wind around trees and bushes more often. Fortunately, we had a pointer to keep us on track. A calm breeze blew at us from the north.

As we rounded another tree, we came upon a wide, open space with a cluster of vegetation a fair distance ahead at the base of a hillock.

“Hey Moony, stop, get down,” Blossy warned, lying down. “Do you see those?” She gestured ahead at the vegetation in the distance.

I immediately hugged the ground, a lump forming in my throat as I saw several brown shapes moving among the bushes and trees. I gulped. “Y-yes.” I had to fight the urge to bolt– had they seen us? There didn’t seem to be much urgency to their movements, but it was hard to tell from here. I pulled open a pouch and levitated my binoculars up to my eyes.

“What d’you see?” Blossy asked.

The green blob turned to a crisp, close-up view of one of the bushes in the distance as I adjusted the focus. I scanned until I caught one of the brown forms. “I see… it” My stomach lurched as the image registered, and burned itself into my mind. A dog, bigger than usual. Its brown skin was wrinkled and had unsightly pink blotches, while dark fur grew in random patches. The flesh around its mouth was peeled back, exposing sharp teeth in a constant, menacing snarl. It was horrible. Yet, I somehow couldn’t tear my gaze away from it.

“What is it?” my friend prompted.

“It… they’re dogs. Or they used to be,” I replied. It was then that I noticed something else. Or rather, a lack thereof. I scanned for another creature to check, confirming that it wasn’t just one of the beasts. “Oh my goodness, they don’t have eyes, Blossy!” I said, my voice thick with horror. How awful, to suffer such an existence. Is this what the Zone does to life? Is this what it will do to me?!

“Hmm.” Blossy looked thoughtful. “Maybe we should skirt around them. Perhaps we could even just… walk through them? I mean, they can’t see,” she mused.

“I don’t think that’d be a good idea. They don’t look friendly. And, they’ve survived so far, so they must be able to find food and protect themselves without needing to see,” I suggested. Trying to sneak through the pack of mutant dogs seemed like a terrible idea, even if it would save time.

“Good point. Alright, we’ll –” Blossy immediately pulled out her own binoculars and floated them up to her eyes. “Oh no.”

Another form was making its way down the hillock. I peered through my binoculars; it was a pony! A pale blue unicorn; she was poorly equipped, wearing only an olive drab overcoat. She didn’t even have any mounted weapons. There was a lethargic quality to her movements, and her face was weary. And she was heading right towards those mutants, who had by now split up, putting the foliage between themselves and the oblivious pony. Suddenly it dawned on me: we were their food.

“We… we have to help her,” I said, my voice trembling.

“Yeah. I’ll need to get closer, but you could stay back and use your rifle. We can regroup afterwards– you’re the green dot on the map, right?”

“Y-yes. Are you sure this is a g-good idea?” I asked, doubt creeping into my small voice.

“It’ll be fine, I won’t be going that far,” Blossy replied with a confident grin. “Besides, I'm the one with the heavier armour.”

There wasn’t time to argue, we needed to act before that mare blundered into the mutant pack. “Okay. Be careful, Blossy. Please,” I begged. I didn’t like this. Not one bit.

My friend got to her hooves and made her way forwards, her hooves thudding against the ground. I stashed my binoculars away before floating my rifle off of my back. My HUD updated, and information panel for my rifle expanded; fifty rounds in reserve, ten in the magazine.

I peered through the scope, but clumps of grass were getting in the way, and this posture was different to how I had practiced. I stood up and lifted the rifle once again, getting into the familiar position. This time I got a clear sight of the mare; she was getting close– it wouldn’t be long before the mutants set upon her.

I took aim at a dog hiding behind a bush, facing away from me. Center body mass, just like Anvil taught me. My crosshairs lined up just underneath the thing’s skinny tail. With the pull of a trigger, I could take its life. I’d be a killer.

Killing is wrong. I never wanted to hurt anything. My heart started pounding in my chest and I felt a cold sweat build up in my fur. If I don’t, somepony could die. It might be Blossy. And it’d be my fault. My magical grip on the rifle started to shake. Do it, you haveto! My aim was shaking like a leaf, but I started to apply pressure to the trigger anyway. I have to.

Suddenly, the dog turned, its ears flopping about– Blossy must have caught their attention. The sudden movement further thew my aim off. SNAP! The tracer struck the ground near the mutant, sending dirt flying upwards. Damn it!

The rifle smacked into me, my unsteady magical hold on the weapon failing to counter the recoil as well as it should, and I let out a yelp of surprise and pain. On the plus side, it served as a wakeup call. Focus, Moonlight. Get it right.

I could hear barking interspersed with the distinctive thunderous booms of Blossy’s shotgun and the more distant-sounding pap-pap-pap of a pistol. I tried to ease the tension in my muscles and looked through the scope again.

The dogs seemed to be concentrating on the Zoner rather than my friend. There! I lined up one that was loping around the blue unicorn’s flank. My magical grip was more steady than before. Lead it slightly, exhale… my rifle let loose with another loud SNAP! This time I struck true– a red mist exploded out the opposite side of the dog and the force of the impact sent the animal tumbling away. It didn’t get up again.

My gaze swept back over Blossy, who was advancing carefully, blasting anything that ventured near. Several bodies already littered the ground, torn to shreds by her buckshot. She’d almost reached the other mare, but vegetation separated the two.

The blue mare’s face was a picture of terror as she spun around, trying to keep the dogs in front of her. But it was a futile effort; there were too many, and they would dart in and out of the foliage while trying to surround her. I saw one break off from the circling manoeuvre and dart towards her. I took aim. That’s right, lead it, exhale… SNAP!

In my haste, the round fell short and pelted chunks of dirt at the dog, which jumped and spun at the source, snapping its jaws. The mare saw the opportunity and raised her pistol, planting three rounds into the confused mutant.

Unfortunately, another dog took advantage of the distracted mare and darted in to sink its teeth into her flank. Her scream kicked up a strong urge in me to run away. I grit my teeth hard and suppressed that urge. I took aim at the dog that had latched onto her, towards its hindquarters to minimise my chances of hitting the mare. She was trying to kick the dog away, but her angle was wrong. Steady, exhale… SNAP!

The round hit a little low, tearing off a hind leg and staining the grass underneath a dark crimson. The mare stumbled free, but fell shortly after. Others darted in for the kill. My stomach churned. There were simply too many for me to deal with.

That was when Blossy stalked around the vegetation and swept the beasts back with her shotgun– BLAM-BLAM-BLAM! Three of them dropped in a heap from the barrage. The rest suddenly broke, rushing through the bushes to escape. One was slower than the rest, holding up an injured foreleg as it ran on only three legs. I took aim. It would be an easy shot, and good practice, to boot.

What the hay am I doing?! It’s a living thing, and I’m thinking of it as target practice? What have I done?!

I dropped my rifle as though it were contagious. I stared at the weapon, reliving the shots and sights over again. An explosion of red mist and a tumbling animal, a leg being torn off and blood painting the ground, a pistol riddling another beast with bullets, buckshot tearing others to bloody shreds.

A nasty headache was developing, and my jaw was hurting from being clenched so much.

I knew it might come to this. I knew I might have needed to cause harm. But so soon? I’d never thrown my hoof in anger in my entire life. I was not prepared for this.

I remembered the conversation I had with Blossy before we set off and shook my head; no, it needed to be done. We probably put them out of their misery. I saw them with my own eyes, the horrible disfigurements. They didn’t even have eyes anymore!

My stomach lurched decisively, giving me just enough warning to make it to the tree just behind me before it voided itself. The ration bar definitely tasted better the first time. I balked at wiping my muzzle on my foreleg, instead opting to tear off a bit of medical bandage to do the job. I had plenty more in my saddlebags, anyway.

Gingerly, I took a drink of water, swirling it around my mouth in a vain attempt to get rid of that taste. I shuddered as I felt a half-digested oat slide back down my gullet when I swallowed. Bleh! At least the pressure in my head was letting up now.

With my head relatively clear, I went back to pick up my rifle. I shouldn’t have dropped it, I admonished myself. I hesitated a moment before sliding it onto my back. Just touching it with my magic made me feel dirty.

I immediately set off in pursuit of Blossy and the other mare, following the green dots on my minimap. There were two of them, and they were both moving slowly towards me, so that was a good sign.

The corpses of mutant dogs littered my path as I got closer. I gave them as wide a berth as possible. I also tried to avoid paying them too much attention after I saw the first body; its face was red and ragged, nearly completely flayed by buckshot.

The two mares came around the thick bushes in front of me, and I breathed a sigh of relief. It meant I wouldn’t have to witness the results of my killing up close. More importantly, though, both mares were standing on their own hooves. My friend looked fine, but her face was grim. The other mare looked haggard, and her overcoat was shredded and stained from the attack.

I gulped. “H-hey, are you alright?” I asked, even though she didn’t look it.

The pale blue mare summoned up a wan smile. “Yeah, thanks to you two. I… I thought I was...” she trailed off. The smile disappeared and her face took on a haunted look. She shook her head vigorously. “A-anyway, Blossom here gave me a healing potion. My flank’s sore as shit, but they didn’t do anything lasting.”

“Good, I’m glad you’re okay,” I said. She might be better if I could actually shoot straight, though. “How about you, Blossy?”

“I’m fine, thanks. They didn’t even get close.” Her usual cheerful lilt was missing. “Are you? You’re looking kind of peaky.”

“I… yeah. It’s just… it was rather intense,” I said lamely. I didn’t want to say what happened in front of a stranger. “I never thought it’d be like this.” Blossy nodded in agreement. I could see it had affected her, too, but she was much better at hiding it.

“Shit, are you newbies?” the blue mare suddenly asked. When we both nodded, she added, “Well, fuck me. You guys are better kitted out than half the vets I’ve seen.” She frowned for a moment. “Look, I can’t give you anything for saving me, but let me make a suggestion: come with me to the EAF base and we’ll turn ourselves in.”

“Wh-what?” I echoed Blossy. “But they’ll arrest you. You’ll end up in jail!” I said. I couldn’t believe she’d willingly do that.

“Yeah, yeah. I really don’t give a fuck anymore,”– she gave an insouciant shrug –“I’m done. If going to prison is what it takes to get me the fuck outta here, that’s a small price to pay.” She sounded so tired now. “Just… trust me, you don’t want to stay in the Zone. Whatever you’re here for, it’s not worth it.” That haunted look crept onto her face again.

“I’m afraid we’ll have to decline your offer,” Blossy said. “But I wish you well.”

The blue mare simply nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Well, thanks again. And… good luck. You’ll need it.” With a wince, she trudged off in the direction we’d come from.

Blossy and I exchanged an anxious look. Would we be like that mare by tomorrow, or perhaps the day after?

***

The remainder of our trek was relatively uneventful. Talk was kept to a minimum as we concentrated on scanning for more mutants. There wasn’t much to look at, either, barring the odd field which looked like it might once have been farmed, their old furrows nearly smoothed out by the passage of time. One such field even boasted a wooden fence, falling apart. A section of the fence had been smashed inwards, as though a vehicle had been driven through it.

Another field had a tractor sitting in it, numerous pulsating distortions surrounding it. We thought better of going to investigate, given that it was getting noticeably darker by that time.

I found myself replaying the previous events in my mind. Each shot. Each... kill. Before we even got kitted out for this adventure, I was aware it might be necessary to use lethal force. I thought I’d at least be able to get settled into the Zone before that came to pass. Would that have made it any easier? No, probably not. It was all just so quick. So violent.

I was scared. I’d barely been in the Zone an hour before I had to take a life.

I kept trying to tell myself: it was necessary; It was ‘just’ a mutant; I was putting them out of their misery. It still felt wrong. Doubt started to take root in my mind– what were we doing here, really? It was patently obvious that this was not a place for a mare like myself.

Eventually, we came across a road which swept around towards our destination. We kept off and to the side since actually using the road might make us overly conspicuous. The crumbling asphalt was a reminder that this place was once inhabited by civilisation. Not only that, some of the brightest minds in Equestria came here to help with the Cherneighbyl Power Plant project. It was to be the ultimate solution to all of Equestria’s power demands– an unprecedented step forwards, and a clear message to the Gryphons that we’d not only caught up, but surpassed them. Only, something went wrong. Something went very wrong. And now we were here, trotting through this wild land that had already made me into a killer.

The road rolled over another gentle hill, straddled by warped guard rails. Even from a distance, I could see the red-brown rust bleeding into the asphalt below. Upon cresting the hill, we saw what must have been the settlement. The main road branched off into the cluster of buildings. In the fading light it was difficult to make out much detail, but they looked like old decrepit houses. A crude fence surrounded the space; the only way in was along the road. Only the largest structure had any artificial light pouring out of its windows. Some of the smaller houses sported orange glows, matching the campfire that was burning near the center of the shanty town.

“Well, this looks… cozy?” Blossy remarked as her hooves clopped on the road into the village.

My own steps were almost silent by comparison. From what I was seeing, her appraisal seemed rather generous. Now that we were closer, I noted that several of the building’s rooves had caved in. “Yes… home sweet home,” I replied sarcastically. A pile of bricks lay where once a house’s wall stood.

We made our way to a pony who seemed to be standing guard. He eyed us suspiciously, but allowed us to approach. The stallion wore a suit of crude olive green armour that looked as though it had been cobbled together. He boasted a single mounted weapon on his left side, which seemed to be something between one of my carbines and Blossy’s assault rifle.

“Ah, excuse me, is there a place we can stay here?” my friend asked the guard.

One of his eyebrows quirked. “Yep,” his gruff voice cut through the air. He rolled his eyes and added, “Go see Misty Hooves in teh big buildin’. An’ disable yer weapon trackin’! Nopony likes havin’ a gun pointin’ at ‘is face.”

“Of course, thank you,” Blossy responded, putting a touch more effort into her elocution. After doing as we were told, we headed into the settlement.

“Yeah, really cozy. And the locals are so very pleasant,” I grouched when we were out of earshot. That was snide, but my aches from the long trek were getting the better of me. Blossy merely snorted at the comment.

We turned to the right, coming before the ‘big building’. It seemed to be the most solid structure here, but it still had a ramshackle feel to it. The door had clearly been replaced sometime in the past– it was made out of sheet metal welded together. It was also one of the only buildings blessed with intact windows.

As usual, I let my friend lead us inside. Immediately, the savoury smell of cooking vegetables filled my nostrils and my stomach let out a growl to remind me that I hadn’t replaced what it had rejected before. Bright light beat down from overhead while various ponies sat at tables, chatting away. Some of the ponies eyed us as we trotted up to the bar that was the focus of the room.

A burst of laughter erupted from my side, startling me. The three ponies looked quite well-equipped, compared to the others, though their gear looked well-used. The grey stallion among them caught me looking, but just winked at me and rejoined the conversation. It was the warmth in here that lit my cheeks up. Yeah, that was it.

The teal mare behind the bar spotted us and gave us a friendly smile. The earth pony was almost as short as me. “Heya, what can I getcha?” the earth pony asked cheerfully.

“Hi, we were told we could get a place to stay here. I take it you’re Misty Hooves?” Blossy said. I had to make an effort to hear what was being said thanks to the background noises that permeated the room.

“The one and only! And yeah, I’ve got rooms you can stay in. Only ten bits a night for a basic single-bed room, the nicer room is available for fifty.”

“Okay, um… how do I give you fifty bits?” My friend asked uncertainly.

Misty gave an understanding smile. “Heh, I didn’t think you guys were vets– your gear’s too clean. Anyway, just look at me, and give a mental command for giving money. You’ll see a little window pop up in your vision so you can see the amount you’re offering,” she instructed.

“Do you want me to do this, Blossy?” I asked.

“Nah, thanks, I really should get comfortable using this.” After a short moment she furrowed her brows. “So… did that work?”

“Yeah, that’s it,” Misty replied, looking to her own PDA. “I’ve got your trade request. Check it on yours, press ‘accept’ if you’re happy, then tap your PDA against mine.” After tapping her own screen, she held out her foreleg to allow Blossy to complete the transaction. With that done, she continued, “Thanks! I know, it’s a bit of a pain. But it stops you from making mistakes, or having to lug around a load of actual money.”

“You’re telling me…” Blossy grumbled.

The teal mare’s silvery mane gleamed in the artificial light as she grabbed and held out a key card for us. Blossy took it in her magic and slid it into a pouch. “Here ya go. When you’re ready, head through that door,”– she pointed out a set of metal double doors behind us –” turn left at the end, then go down into the basement. You’re number four.”

“Our room is underground?” I asked incredulously.

“Yup! Nice and secure, and trust me, you’ll be grateful of it if a storm hits. These old walls literally shake from the thunder,” came the reply. “There’s a lot of underground stuff around here, though most of the tunnels have caved-in.”

“Why would they have built so much underground?” I wondered out loud. “Especially out here, we’re not even close to the CPP.”

“Beats me, I just tend this place.” Misty shrugged. “And like I said, the underground parts here have been isolated from the rest by tunnel collapses. Still, from what I’ve heard, figuring out a new power source wasn’t all they were up to, back when this place was in its prime.”

That piqued my interest. What else could they have been doing? Or were they just supporting projects related to the CPP? However, I wasn’t sure I wanted to stay in the Zone long enough to find out. That niggling sense of dread still hadn’t left me. It wasn’t just my own cowardice. It was something else.

Unfortunately, my stomach had its mind set on something else and let out another growl. Even worse, it happened during a lull in the background noise. Misty heard it, too, if her widening smile was any indication. “Heh anyway, you guys want something to eat? There’s still plenty of my vegetable stew left, made from veggies me and my hubby grow right here in the Zone!”

“Um, I don’t mean to be rude but… we won’t get magical radiation poisoning from it or anything, will we?” Blossy asked hesitantly.

Misty didn’t look offended at all. “Nah, we wouldn’t grow our veggies in a pocket of high magical radiation. Most of the Zone is actually fine in these parts.”

At this point I was inclined to trust the earth pony. Her customers looked… well, they didn’t look like they were suffering from poisoning. “I’ll take some, please. Can I also have some water?” I asked. Hopefully a hot meal would stay down better than a ration bar, too.

“Well, alright– same for me, please,” Blossy added.

“Coming right up! Just gimme two ticks.” Misty trotted away from the bar, towards a stove at the back which held a huge pan.

I looked back at the rest of the ponies in the bar as I waited. The three veterans were making a move and strode out of the inn. It didn’t seem wise to me, heading out so late. But they did look like the most experienced ponies here. A mare and a stallion sat in the far corner, playing cards. Others were engaged in their own conversations, while another young mare sat alone, staring vacantly into her bowl of stew.

“‘Ere ya go!” Misty called out to us. In a display of earth pony dexterity, she unloaded two bowls of steaming vegetable stew off her back, along with two mugs of water. “On the house, since you’re new here. If you want seconds, you’ll have to pay.” It smelled… okay, actually. I brought my muzzle close to the surface– it was clearly far too hot at the moment.

“Thanks. But how do you manage to get anything to grow? The plant life around here looks like it’s barely holding on,” I said. Having to raise my voice to be heard was starting to get tiresome, but I wanted to find out.

“Ah, well, we earth ponies have a way with these things. Plus my hubby, Green Hoof is, well, a bit of a green hoof!” she chuckled at her own little joke. How does a pony like this survive in the Zone?! “Sure, it takes a lot of care, but it also allows us to make a few extra bits, while you guys can get cheap food. Win-win!”

“You seem rather cheerful, Misty, considering the locale,” Blossy observed.

Misty nodded eagerly. “Yup! The Zone is a pretty horrible place, but I try not to let it get me down. We Zoners have enough things to be grim about, so I like to think I can offset that a bit.”

I found a small smile forming on my lips. She reminded me of how most ponies were when I was a filly. Back when life was slower and more relaxed.

We said our thanks, and the mare started serving some other ponies.

The noise was getting a bit much, and the muggy warmth in this place reminded me of being stuffed in the crate. “Shall we eat outside?” I suggested to Blossy.

“Yeah, alright.”

It was almost a relief to get outside again, despite the dim light. There was still a blanket of cloud up above, which only contributed to the gloom. Cool air washed over me as we trotted, levitating our food and drink ahead of ourselves. We decided to make use of the campfire not far down the road.

It turned out that the campfire was actually a metal barrel stuffed with bits of wood, presumably from the nearby trees. Still, it gave us some warmth and light as we sat around it. We both took our helmets off, and I shook out my mane. Such a mess. Feels good to get some air, though.

I tucked into my stew; it was fairly plain, but I eagerly gulped it down. Hunger is the best sauce, as they say. My friend was making slower progress. “Blossy, are you alright?” I asked after a few mouthfuls. “You seem kinda down.” Not that I was the embodiment of merriment, either, mind.

She gazed into the fire. “Yeah, I just… I guess I’m still a bit in shock over that encounter, with the mutants. It really hit me, afterwards. When I saw what I’d done.” Blossy switched her gaze to me. “The thing is, it was so easy. Just get my crosshair lined up, shoot, then they’d fall.” Worry tinged her voice.

So it wasn’t just me. “I understand. I hated it, too. But if we didn’t do anything, that mare would have… you know,” I said. I didn’t have the answers, but at least I could let her know she wasn’t alone in her feelings.

“I know,” she sighed. “These things aren’t like the animals in the rest of Equestria. They’re… vicious, wild.”

“You got that right,” a third, deeper voice cut in. “Mind if I join you?” A grey pegasus stood waiting, his orange eyes shining vividly in the firelight. He wore some basic-looking armour, but was actually equipped with a pair of mounted weapons. There was no helmet to obscure his short, deep-blue mane.

“Sure,” Blossy said. He didn’t seem threatening, and didn’t really need to ask, given that we were the newcomers here.

“Thanks. Just waiting for my shift to start,” he said, sitting a respectful distance from us. “Name’s Cloudy Shadow, by the way. Most ponies just call me ‘Shadow’ though.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Blossom, my friend here”– she gestured to me –”is Moonlight.”

Shadow stroked his chin. “Hmm, haven’t seen you around before, and you look spotless. New here?”

“Yeah, we just got here today,” Blossy said after a mouthful. I was content to listen and finish off my own stew uninterrupted for the time being.

“Ooh, I see.” He gave us both an appraising look. “So, you’ve already met the local wildlife. Not nice, huh?”

“Yeah,” Blossy agreed.

Shadow nodded sympathetically. “I remember my first encounter. Scared the hell outta me. I wasn’t as well-equipped as you gals, though.”

“How do you deal with it? The guilt?” she asked, her voice small.

Shadow snorted. “Ain’t no guilt here. It’s like you said before: these beasties ain’t like the animals back in normal Equestria. They don’t want to be your friend. They don’t even want to just leave you alone. They want to kill you. You’re their next meal. So yeah, I got no problems defending myself, and neither should you.”

My friend sighed. “I see.” She unenthusiastically put another spoonful in her mouth.

“Just give it time, and try not to beat yourselves up about it. Every mutant you put down means one less that can hurt anypony else,” he said in a gentler tone.

Everything he said made sense, but I didn’t feel much better about what I’d done.

“I’ll try to keep that in mind.” It seemed Blossy wasn’t entirely mollified, either, but when she lifted her eyes, I noticed some of her old energy had returned. “Anyway, you said you were waiting to start your shift? Does that mean you’re a guard?”

Shadow nodded. “Yup, that’s right. The trader, Swift Bit, offers a few bits to those who are willing to guard the place. Pay’s crap, but I’ve been saving up, and I’ve been learning from it. I’ll be striking out on my own soon, though. Been here long enough.”

“Do you get much trouble around here, then?” Blossy asked.

“Nah, not really. Sometimes we need to drive off a few mutants, but that’s about it. Just a few days ago, a boar smashed up some of our fencing– just ploughed right through it. Had to put it down before it ruined Misty and Green’s vegetable patch, which wasn’t too easy. Unless you hit ‘em in the head, they can take a real beating, and they’re fast,” Shadow recalled with a sigh. “‘Course, the smell of blood drew a pack of blind dogs before long, so I was fending them off while the fence was fixed.”

Boars, too? I supposed I should have been grateful we didn’t encounter those. However, I took note of what the stallion told us: aim for the head. I looked down at my nearly empty bowl and had a new appreciation for what it must have taken to make its contents. It really was a case of them or us. Kill or be killed. But even here, ponies were working together to eke out a living.

At the look on my friend’s face, Shadow continued, “Heh, it could be worse. Not like you’re alone here. And this place, while it doesn’t look like much, it’s important for the new guys to get acclimated.”

Blossy frowned. “Like that mare we met earlier? She nearly got herself killed trying to get away.”

Shadow glanced at his hooves, his expression softening. “She really went for it, then. Yeah, not everypony has what it takes to make it in the Zone. It’s a hard, brutal life. She okay?”

Blossy filled him in on what happened, and I also joined in after finishing my meal. He smiled when we told him about giving the mare a healing potion. “Good, that’s good. It’s so easy to turn bad in the Zone. Keep that compassion– it’s what makes us ponies,” Shadow said after we’d finished our story.

Heavy hoofsteps sounded out from behind. “Oi, Shadow. Yer’up,” a gruff voice called out.

“Alright, alright,” Shadow replied as he got up. “Well, it’s been nice meeting you, but I got some bits that need earning.” He threw a few chunks of wood on the fire from the nearby pile. “Take care.”

“Thanks, Shadow. You too,” Blossy replied.

I echoed her thanks, and watched him trot away. He seemed like a good pony, but was it really possible to still be good while being a killer? This was something I had never thought about before. I hadn’t needed to think about it. Will I be like that mare some day? Willing to do anything to get out of the Zone? I know I’m not strong enough.

Blossy was looking at me. “You alright, Moony? You’ve been quiet, even for you.”

But then, I don’t have to be strong enough as long as I’m with her. We’ll pull each other up and get through this, properly.

“Yeah, sorry. Just had a lot on my mind.” I bit my lip. “Do you think Shadow was right about not feeling guilty?”

“I… do. If some mutant comes up to us, I’m not holding back. It might feel wrong afterwards, but it’s more important that I protect us. If I dwell on it, I might hesitate. I can’t let that happen,” she said solemnly.

“Yeah,” I said, but it felt hollow. I breathed in steadily, trying to calm my thoughts. Relax. You’ve done nothing wrong. We sat in a companionable silence and my friend finished her meal.

As I stared into the fire, I realised what had been bothering me ever since we had arrived in the Zone. It was subtle, just on the fringe of my senses. I could almost feel it.

“Blossy, have you been feeling anything since we entered the Zone?” I asked suddenly. “It’s almost like a… vibration or something. I think it’s why I’ve been feeling so… uneasy.”

She looked thoughtful for a moment, and closed her eyes. “No,” she finally said, opening her eyes again. “But I know what you mean. I don’t feel… comfortable. Now that you mention it, I think it did start when we reached the Zone.”

“Hmm, perhaps it’s magical in nature…” I pondered aloud. Yes, that seemed to fit better. Focussing on my magical sense, it became slightly clearer, though it still felt fuzzy, indistinct. However, on a base, instinctual level, I knew that I did not want to connect with it. A cold shiver ran down my spine and I tried to dull my sensitivity to it. “Yeah, I think it is something magical,” I finished.

My friend visibly concentrated, but shrugged. “Still nothing. Though if anypony could sense it, it would be you. You always had an instinctive grasp of magic– you even have the Cutie Mark to prove it. Heh, remember that day?”

A smile worked its way onto my lips as the memory came to the fore. Simpler times. “Well, duh! It was the day I got my Cutie Mark.”

My Mark was a simple affair– a sparkling magical ribbon, the same deep violet as my magic. Ribbons of fabric were formless until given shape, a purpose. Magic was much the same– I could weave it intuitively, without studying all of the rigid mechanics like many unicorns needed to. That was my take on it, at any rate. In my darker moods, I’d take it to represent my weakness. My inability to stand on my own hooves.

“It was our third practical magic class –”

“– Second, it was the second magic class.” Blossy interrupted, facehoofing. “‘Hurr durr, I’m Moony, and I can’t remember my Cutie Mark day!’”

“Oh, shush, I was close enough! I was too excited about being able to do magic to take notice of what exact day it was.” I stuck my tongue out at her. Just like that, we were fillies again.

“Typical Moony…”

“Hmph! So, it was the second class,” I started again. "That was when I discovered that I could 'feel out' the spell. The next thing I knew, my pen was hovering in front of me."

“Oh, so you did start off on something small, like the rest of us mere mortals. The first I saw of you, you had half of the contents of your desk in the air.”

I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t trying to show off. I just wanted to see how far I could take it. Keeping track of things with different masses and dimensions took all of my concentration– it wasn’t easy, back then!”

“Heh, I know, you never liked being the center of attention. But ponies tend to take notice of things like that, and it was before anypony else so much as tickled anything with their magic,” Blossy said.

“Well, I actually kinda liked it. It was nice, having half the class cheering for me when Miss Stardust pointed out the ribbon on my flanks.” I remembered the tingle on my flanks, and the rush of euphoria that went with realising I’d earned my very own Cutie Mark.

“You know, I was kinda jealous when I saw that,” My friend admitted.

That surprised me. “You, jealous? Of me?”

She smiled sheepishly. “Yeah. I was… quite an ambitious little filly. I had my heart set on being the first to do magic, and the first to earn her Cutie Mark. Then I saw you manage both before I even got my horn to work.”

My ears folded back. “I had no idea. Sorry. I didn’t mean to steal your thunder.”

Blossy chuckled. “You don’t need to apologise for that! I probably needed to be taken down a peg, anyway.”

“Well, at least it wasn’t long before you got your own Mark,” I said, trying to keep the conversation more upbeat.

“Yeah, it’s a good thing I went to the bathroom after that class. I just wanted some time alone, you know? I was rather put out.” Blossy’s muzzle scrunched up in disgust. “But then I heard those ponies laughing, and you yelling for help. When I saw them pushing you into the toilet bowl –” she hesitated, sighed. “I have to admit… a small, bitchy part of me wanted to join in.”

An image of the white porcelain bowl, water sitting menacingly at the bottom, flicked through my mind. A tightness formed in my throat as I remembered the barking laughter, the rough pressure on the back of my head, the water getting inexorably closer, the feeling of desperate helplessness. ‘Spite, get ready to flush!’ I remembered Lemon commanding, her voice full of malice.

“But you didn’t,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah. That horrible little part of me got drowned out by this rush of anger. I couldn’t let that happen, you know? That was the first time I’d ever hit a pony.” Blossy sighed heavily. “Sorry, I’ve wanted to get that off my chest for so long. It must have been awful for you. You never had a chance, and I know how you hate getting dirty.”

“It’s okay. You stopped me from… you-know-what. That’s what’s important.”

“Well, after they hoofed it out of there and I found you huddled in the corner, I just knew I did the right thing,” Blossy said.

Even back then, she towered over me. But after a moment, she bent down and hugged me. It was exactly what I needed at that moment. When my tears had subsided, I also noticed Blossy’s own Cutie Mark had appeared. When I pointed out the gleaming shield to her, her face lit up. We just sat there, hugging in the bathroom, not a care in the world.

I smiled. “And then a certain somepony had a nice shield stuck to her flanks.”

Blossy returned the smile. “It was something, huh? I had a strong feeling that we’d stay close friends after that day. Cutie Marks seem to have a way of bringing ponies together. But still, it could have happened under nicer circumstances.”

“Nope, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I got my best friend for life out of it,” I said.

“Oh come on, please? At least let me not have gotten my Cutie Mark in the school bathroom!” she begged.

“Nope!” I repeated adamantly.

“Some ponies are so ungrateful…” Blossy huffed. “Well, it’s not a glamorous story, but it is ours.”

“Heh, it sure is,” I agreed.

“So how did you end up in that situation, anyway? I can’t imagine you just walking up to them after the way they’d treated you.”

I shifted self-consciously, my cheeks warming up. “I uh, sorta did. I was so giddy with my Cutie Mark that I thought Lemon Twist and her little gang had a change of heart and wanted to congratulate me.” I snorted– stupid filly. “I was such a dork.”

“Hey! You’re a good pony. I like that about you.” Blossy’s tone cut through the air. When I ducked my head, she rested a forehoof on my withers. “Besides, you still are a dork.”

“Gee, thanks.” I rolled my eyes when I saw my friend’s goofy grin, and couldn’t help one settling on my own lips. I batted her foreleg away playfully. “So anyway, do you know what actually happened to Lemon and her friends? That day was the last I ever saw of them.”

Blossy scratched the back of her head, messing her mane up even more. “Ah, that was father’s doing. When I told him how I got my shield, he was livid. I’d never seen him so mad. He wanted to pull me out of that school then and there– he always wanted me to go to a private school anyway– but mom talked him out of that. The following day, he barged into school and had some… demands for the headmistress. No sane pony says ‘no’ to father, so they ended up expelled.”

Well, that answered that. He probably saved us a lot of trouble. “How come you didn’t start in a private school, anyway?” I asked.

“That was mom’s doing,” she said, sadness creeping into her eyes. “She thought going private would turn me into a snobby, stuck-up brat. Father relented, but only after mom agreed that they’d hire a home tutor for me, to make sure my education was ‘of a high standard’.”

“Well, I’m glad you ended up in my school.” I said, putting a hoof on hers. The gesture was all I could think of; I knew she was sensitive about her mother, who had passed away not long after she earned her Cutie Mark. At least she got to see her daughter get that brilliant shield, I thought.

“Yeah, me too, Moony. Me too.”

We lay in front of the crackling fire for… I don’t know how long. A chill started nipping away at my hindquarters, and when I looked away from the fire, the buildings were only black silhouettes against the tenebrosity of the night. Fortunately, light was still pouring out of the inn’s windows. A forlorn howl called out from beyond the settlement, which made the chill feel worse.

“Maybe we should call it a night,” I suggested to Blossy, who nodded in agreement.

The inn was much less busy than before, and we set our empty bowls and mugs on the counter. Misty thanked us and wished us a good night. We headed through the metal double doors opposite the bar into a wide corridor. We trotted past the hanging light and the doors on our right, turning left at the end of the corridor as instructed.

A flight of stairs took us underground into a concrete room. Old-looking lamps were spaced high up on the walls periodically, bleeding an orangey light onto the concrete. On the other side of the room, I saw a tunnel flowing away, but it had collapsed and was completely impassable. Doors surrounded us; many of which looked like later additions. It was an eerie and damp place.

Number four boasted what looked like an original metal door– which itself more resembled a hatch. Blossy fetched her key card and ran it through the rusty card reader. A light blinked green and a metallic CLACK rang out from the door, which made my heart miss a beat. Blossy gave me a look before pushing the thick door inwards. I took a breath before following her in.

Our room wasn’t what I’d call homely, but an effort had been made. Two double beds sat on either side of the room, and there was a threadbare rug between them. “Well, this is… nice. At least we don’t have those horrible orange lights in here,” I commented. It’s a horrible cold white light, instead.

“Clearly they made the best with what they had,” Blossy said as I gravitated to the far bed. “Though I wouldn’t have minded an en-suite room.” She closed the door and ran the card through the reader inside the room, locking it with another CLACK.

I worked myself out of my armour, leaving it in a heap by my bed. My fur was a mess, but it was good to be free of the suit. “Something just feels off about this. I can’t put my hoof on it. It almost feels claustrophobic” I observed.

Blossy was getting out of her own heavier armour, but took a moment to scan the room. Realisation dawned on her face. “I got it– there aren’t any windows.”

“That’s it, yeah. I suppose it’s a lot safer this way,” I said, climbing into the cold bed and pulling the sheets over myself. A stray spring poked at my back and I had to wiggle to get… not uncomfortable.

“Yup. Also, windows wouldn’t be of much use, underground,” Blossy said wryly.

There was that, too, I thought, mentally facehoofing at myself. Tiredness started to overwhelm me as I lay in bed, and my jaws parted to allow for a wide yawn. I hadn’t realised how exhausting the day had been for me.

“Heh, somepony’s tired,” my friend observed. When I looked over, I saw she was already out of her armour and standing by the switch between our beds. “Okay, lights out. Good night, Moony.”

“Good night, Blossy,” I answered.

With a flick of a switch, the room was plunged into darkness. Just like the crate, only bigger, and cold. I noticed the light switch had a little indicator light to show where it was.

I shut my eyes and drifted off.

***

A familiar nightmare graced my dreams. Canterlot train station. As our trained rolled to a halt, I already knew what was going to happen.

But this is different. I felt more in-control this time. I was also dimly aware that I was actually lying down. I followed mum and dad out of the train and into the expansive station with its marble columns. Mutant dogs rushed between the milling ponies, playing with each other.

I trotted onwards and felt the strap digging into my back, but this time I ignored it and kept close to my parents. A bark caught my attention and I got another glimpse of a mutant dog. Wait, they shouldn’t be there.

I must have stopped in my bewilderment, because the next thing I knew, I was hearing shouts, then the BANG of the explosion. Mum, dad! I should have been with them!

I took shelter under my magical shield, protecting me from the raining glass.

Something urged me forward, and I walked towards the scene as I had done many times before. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to see them again. I carried on, anyway. The stench of burning hair assaulted my nostrils, and the roar of the fire filled my ears. I can just turn away now, I don’t have to…

But I did.

A unicorn stallion with an ultramarine coat laid before me– dad. I started to choke up. Not again. Please.

But something wasn’t right, he looked… wrong. His fur only grew in patches, and his bare hide looked discoloured and wrinkly.

Movement ahead caught my eye– a Pegasus was shuffling to her hooves. Blood dribbled from her back, staining her fur a deep crimson. I stared in horror as she shuffled in my direction, her head dangling from a thin strand of flesh. No, please no. I tasted bile at the back of my throat. Not you, mum.

Dad twitched. No, it’s not dad, not really. I tried to back away, but was transfixed by the horror of it all. He suddenly lurched to his hooves–

I woke up with a start. My heart was pounding painfully in my chest. I was cold, but that wasn’t the only reason I was shivering. What the hay was that?

At some point, I must have kicked off my duvet, but I didn’t want to move to find it again. Calm down– it wasn’t real. Just a stupid nightmare. Breathe in, 1… 2… 3… 4… and out…

When the pounding in my chest had subsided somewhat, I heard… whimpering? Blossy must also be having a nightmare, I concluded. I made out the word ‘mom’, but that was all.

I quietly pulled myself off the mattress and followed the sound of my friend’s whimpering. I wasn’t sure what I expected to achieve when I reached her, but if she was experiencing anything like my own nightmare, I wanted to help somehow.

“Moma, please… stay,” she mumbled under the noise of rumpling sheets.

“Shh, it’s okay. I’m here,” I whispered soothingly to her. I felt stupid, but she seemed to settle down. “I’m with you now.”

I sighed quietly. I’m too old to be doing this, but screw it. We used to sleep together as fillies all the time, and I think we could both use the comfort. I climbed into her bed, careful not to disturb her, and settled down, glad for the warmth.

Having Blossy next to me helped calm me down, and I felt my eyelids getting heavier. I dreaded what I might see if I fell asleep again, but I knew I would need the rest for tomorrow. I let my eyes close, and allowed sleep to claim me once more.