Fallout Equestria: Syndicate

"... You don't believe because you don't understand...

The walk back to Gem City was uneventful. Unless you count me collapsing after trotting for less than a block. Every muscle in my body felt like it was on fire. Even my eyes felt like they were going to melt, though they weren't glowing anymore. It seemed that the farther away from the Monolith I got the more tired I became. Not only that, I started to fear what I would tell my friends.  If Gareth and Azure saw me with my eyes glowing like that I'm pretty sure they would have shot me. Hell, I would have shot me!

They asked me a few times about what happened but after I nearly passed out they stopped pestering me. I just didn't want them to know about Monolith, or the Acolyte ponies. The little pony in my mind said they wouldn't understand. That they would be afraid. So I didn't tell them about it.

Or the book tucked neatly in my bags.

Even if I did tell them what happened, would they even believe me? That I was set up to be gutted, then not even a minute later the same ponies were throwing me some fucking initiation party. I wouldn't believe it if Gareth said that it happened to him. Or Azure.

The Security ponies at the gates didn't seem too concerned with me being carried inside by Gareth but they didn't try to stop him either so that was something.

“Don't worry, Doc.” Azure told me reassuringly. “We'll get you to the doctor.” Doctor? Wait, doctor!

“Hell, no!” I rolled off Gareth's back and landed spread eagle on the concrete floor just inside the gate. “I am a trained physician I don't need to go to the doctor. I can take care of my self just fine thank you very much!” I got shakily to my hooves and leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. “I'm just tired, that's all. We'll go to the mayor, tell her what the water ponies should look for and then I'll take a nice long nap at Crystal Fox's house” they both looked at me skeptically.

“You promise you'll rest?” Gareth asked.

“Yes.” I said.

“And you won't do anything stupid?” Azure said.

“Yes! I promise.” I crossed my hoof over my heart and that seemed to satisfy them. I leaned on Gareth as we went through the market and towards the Mayor's office, but I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard my name coming out of the radio nearby.

“ Yes, children. It seems there's no shortage of heroes in the Wasteland these days. Just got word a few hours ago that our little mare from Stable 41, young gal by the name of Silver heart, just cleared the raider gang out of the old Ministry of Peace hospital between the abandoned Auxiliary Fort Scarlet and Amore Central. Much appreciated, Healer, they were some bad ponies.”

I felt my face burning as I looked around the market but none of them seemed to notice. Thank goodness.

“So a word to all you folks livin' in the Crystal Wastes, you see a white mare with silver hair and wearing a white and red nurse uniform, I suggest you don't shoot her. You may have found a new friend.”

That did it. With just those few words everypony within earshot was looking at me. Some with curiosity and others with clear skepticism.

“In other news, I very recently received confirmation on rumors regarding the Steel Rangers of Vanhoover. It has been confirmed that nearly a week ago the entire Vanhoover contingent of the Steel Rangers, under the command of Elder Paula Red has abandoned Vanhoover entirely and migrated to the Crystal Wastes. From what my sources tell me they have taken control of the North Luna Train Station and are using it as their base of operations. I am currently in the dark regarding their motives but stay tuned and you will know as soon as I do. I just hope their there for a benevolent reason."

Now it's time for more of the beautiful Sweetie Belle, dear listeners. May Celestia and Luna be with you all.”

The ponies stopped gawking at me the second DJ Pon 3 mentioned the Steel Rangers. Many of them looked concerned, even angry, and were discussing what they could possibly want. Gareth half supported me half carried me back to Crystal Fox's house. Promising that he and Azure would talk to the mayor then come right back.

“Did you get the crystal?” the old buck asked upon opening the door. “What happened?” he asked at the sight of me. His voice filled with worry.

“She's yet to tell us. Maybe you can get it out of her.” Azure told him sourly, helping Gareth put me on the couch, then she took my saddlebags and dropped them on the table. “And no, we didn't get any crystals. Just nearly died from Shadow radiation.” The old buck looked surprised.

“That's mighty odd. There's usually some of those suckers growin' 'round places with Shadow radiation.” he looked at me and placed a hoof on my forehead. “She's feeling a little warm. Did ya'll talk to the Mayor?”

“We're just going to do that.” Gareth told him. “You mind keeping an eye on her? Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid?” Crystal Fox snorted.

“I'm a grandbuck seven times over. I know how to foal sit.” I scowled darkly at the three of them.

“I'm fine. Don't need anypony watching me.” the old buck laughed heartily.

“ You're just like your dad. I can't count how many times he gave me that 'I'm a trained physician, I can take care of myself' crap.” he threw a blanket over me. And pulled open my bags. His eyes widened at the sight of something but it was so quick I thought I may have imagined it. He pulled two pouches of radaway from my bags and brought them to me.

“Drink up. That Shadow radiation is nasty business.” I drank the two pouches reluctantly and after making sure I had two cans of purified water and another blanket, Gareth and Azure left to see the Mayor. Crystal Fox watched them through the window for a couple minutes then turned to me.

“What happened, kid?” he reached into my bags and pulled a slender package made of black paper from one of the pouches. He dropped it on the couch next to me. “It's been a real long time since I've seen one of these.” I unwrapped the package with my magic and gasped at the sight of long black and purple sword in a sheath.

“I don't know how that got there,” which was entirely true. There was a not tied to it but I didn't read it. “I swear.”

“I betcha don't. But that don't mean you don't know what happened. I could probably guess but I'd like you to tell me.” he sat on his haunches next to the couch. “I won't tell yer friends if ya want.” Crystal Fox didn't seem the type to lie. Or judge. Or do anything bad for that matter. I'd only known him for a few days but he just had an aura around that shouted 'Trust Me. I'm cool.'

What harm could come if I told him?

So I did. I started with how we went to the water access door. How we split up. I told him that I found the crystals then got my block knocked off by the same pony who was calling me 'My Child' and 'Sister' just a few hours later.

He listened to me patiently, only interrupting to ask the occasional question. At my request he retrieved the book from my bags and brought it to me.

“What should I do?” I asked him, tears starting to form in my eyes.

“Do what you think is right.” he said, pointing a hoof at the book. “Why not give it a read?” I looked at the book suspiciously.

“What if it does something bad?” he shook his head and poked me in the chest.

“It's just a book. Knowledge. Knowledge can't do wrong or right. It's what you do.” he stood up and retrieved a small, white crystal from the side table and touched it to my horn. The crystal darkened immediately and begin to emit a faint, purple aura. “Thanks for this. I've been needin' it for a long time.” I looked at the crystal, dread coursing through my entire body.

“What's wrong with me?” I asked foalishly.

“Nothin'. It's just a type of magic is all. Read the book, trust me.” he told me with a wink, before leaving the room.

For the longest time I just lay there on the couch, looking at the book and the blade. Maybe I'll read the note first. I unfurled the note tied to the sword and read it quietly aloud.

“Dear Sister.

Confessor Tenebris was unable to give you this in person. He was busy with important matters concerning the Acolytes and simply forgot. Please do not be cross with him. Even the Confessor makes mistakes. Anyway, I placed it in your saddlebags when you fell outside the City. Sorry I couldn't talk to you but the Security ponies know of my loyalties and don't care much for me. I suggest you be careful in town.

“What the hell? How...?”  I shook my head quickly and read on.

“Every Acolyte receives a blade like this after their initiation. They are the instruments of protection for all those who serve the True Divine. Take care of this blade and it will take care of you. I hope you do not mind but I disposed of the poor excuse for a weapon you had on your person when we found you. Acolytes simply don't carry such crude instruments. Sombra be with you, Sister.

-Brother Malum.

P.S. I placed a bottle of polish for your sword in one of your side pockets.

P.P.S. There is also a six pack of Sparkle Colas in your medicine kit.

P.P.P.S. Sister Blue Berry says hi!”

I snorted loudly and covered my muzzle. Then I remembered that Crystal Fox was in the other room and probably didn't hear me.

“Where are they?” I said to myself. Azure and Gareth should have been back by now. Maybe they were trying to get more caps out of the Mayor? Or maybe they went to the warehouse without me. I thought for a moment and dismissed it. They wouldn't do that. With nothing else to do but ly there and drink water I tentatively pulled the dark book towards me and opened the cover.

The first page was covered in the same runes that I'd seen on the walls at the Monolith. They glowed bright red for a second before returning to black. The images of the runes flashed across my vision almost blinding me. I rubbed my eyes lightly with my hoof and looked back at the book. Now the letters appeared in the standard pony alphabet.

“Okey dokey.” was all I could say. The first page seemed to be some kind of warning.

“To those whose eyes are not meant for the knowledge within these pages, nothing but sorrow will come of reading past this page. Thou has been warned.” I read this quietly aloud and after some hesitation I flipped to the next page.

“The Book of Shadows. By Altonius. First High Confessor of Sombra.

Chapter I: Rise of the Sombraic Empire.

The Crystal Empire had been ruled for hundreds of years by the Sapphire dynasty. The fifteenth Monarch of the Crystal Empire, a Princess by the name Crimson Sapphire ruled during the Empire's decline and was the last Princess of the Crystal Empire for nearly a millennia.

Princess Crimson was known far and wide for her expensive tastes. She spent the Empire's funds on luxuries that were seen as too much even for the tastes of her fellow Aristocrats. After two years in power Princess Crimson had bankrupted the Crystal Empire and in the following months the Crystal Empire broke into a brutal civil war that would last for nearly a decade. The Princesses of Equestria, the false Goddesses known as Celestia and Luna, supported Princess Crimson. While many ponies supported the young and charismatic scholar, Lord Sombra.

Sombra had been loyal to the Sapphire family before the rise of Princess Crimson to the throne. He, and many others, protested her expensive tastes and petitioned the Royal Family to appoint her younger brother to the throne instead. One, Prince Zirconic, who had fought in the Yakyakastani/ Equestrian war that ended in a stalemate near Mount EverHoof. More than three quarters of the Empire wanted Prince Zirconic to take the throne, but Queen Sapphire, the grand matriarch of the royal family, left the throne to her first born daughter on her death bed.

When the war started, the rebels rallied around Sombra, who was known as an important wizard and scholar. Most of the Royal family stood by their sister but Prince Zirconic defected to Sombra's side six months into the war. Only to be tragically killed in battle three months later.

The Prince was killed at the largest and bloodiest battle of the war, which also happened to be the turning point of the war for Lord Sombra's rebel army.more than a third of the Crystal Legion was destroyed in what would be known as the Bizmuth massacre. From this point on in the war, Princess Crimson's Legions would be on the defensive.

In the eighth year of the war Sombra and his rebel army controlled two thirds of the Empire and it's surrounding lands. Including the Crystal Palace. The false Goddesses in the south saw that their distant relatives were going to lose control of their Empire, and thus Celestia and Luna of Equestria would lose control of a large portion of their wealth. For even a thousand years before the megaspells, the Crystal Empire was seen as a plaything of Equestria's rulers.

Celestia and Luna raised an army and invaded the Crystal Empire. This army was formed as the Equestrian Civil Defense Force and was disbanded immediately after the war. With the massive influx of troops from Equestria Princess Crimson and her battered forces managed to recapture the Palace and force Sombra's troops north. But they underestimated the King of Shadows.

Being the brilliant scholar that he was Sombra accessed the most powerful magic known to ponykind. Shadow magic. While we shall go over this unique and extremely powerful force in later chapters we will discuss Sombra's use of it in the war. He, and his many followers harnessed the power of their hatred for the tyrant rulers of the Crystal Empire and turned that power against them. In less than a year Princess Crimson's troops had been either captured, killed, or they retreated to the south under the protection of the false Divines.

By the ninth year of the war Celestia and Luna's armies had been crushed and pushed to the very edge of the border with the Crystal Empire. If they suffered another defeat, then the mighty Crystal Legion would be within striking distance of Equestria. Which Sombra declared would under his hoof for their meddling in the Crystal Empire's affairs. Desperate, the false Goddesses harnessed the power of ancient and powerful artifacts known only as the Elements of Harmony. Using these powerful relics they turned Sombra into his shadow form and banished him to the Frozen North, to remain for all eternity.

In a last act of defiance to foreign imperialism Sombra's generals cast a spell to make the Empire disappear as long as Sombra stayed banished. Celestia and Luna captured Sombra's generals and their troops in the year following the Empire's disappearance and had them executed...” The front door opened and I stopped reading, tucking the book under the blanket along with the sword.

“Hey. What took you guys?” I asked. Azure was watching Gareth with an amused smile on her muzzle. I could see why, Gareth looked extremely irritated and it seemed that it was that mare's mission in life to make him irritated.

“The ponies in this town are complete idiots!” he declared sitting in a chair at the table. I looked at Azure questioningly but she just shook her head.

“Why, what's the problem?” I asked. Gareth shook his head with such force I thought he'd hurt himself.

“He's pissed about the Enclave...” Azure began but Gareth cut her off.

“There's more than two dozen Enclave Pegasi in power armor nearby and nopony here cares! That idiot Mayor thought it was good having them less than a hundred yards from the city walls. By the Great Egg, this town is doomed!” I personally couldn't see what the problem was but if Gareth was so concerned... “I don't think the ponies here realize that on a whim the Enclave could obliterate this city and turn it into a landing dock for their Raptors.”

“What's a Raptor?” I asked curiously. Gareth pinched the skin above his beak in his talons and groaned.

“Raptors,” he said slowly. “are giant flying war machines. They can carry hundreds of troops and enough supplies to launch a major offensive. A few decades ago the Enclave invaded the Griffon skies and went on a killing spree. Hundreds died. Now imagine if they brought even one of those behemoths this far north, they would kill anyone and everyone that even remotely poses a threat! They would turn this city into a smoking crater.” Ah. So that's what a Raptor is.

“Calm down, Feathers!” Azure told Gareth, wrapping her forelegs around his neck. “You're going to give yourself a stroke. The Enclave isn't going to do anything. And if they tried, the Auxiliary would wipe them off the map.” Gareth burst into hysterical laughter, falling off the chair and dragging Azure with him he rolled on the floor laughing tell he could hardly breath.

“Those...those poorly trained.... weekend soldiers....  wearing armor...from...from some fucking museum,” he choked out between laughs. “taking out the Grand Pegasus Enclave! Hahahahahahaaaaaaaa!” Azure got to her hooves and gave Gareth a strong kick to the side.

“You'd be surprised what they can do when they stand together!” She almost screamed at him. Even the kick couldn't stop Gareth from laughing. Azure's face had turned bright red and reared up to stomp on him when Crystal Fox entered the room.

“Knock it off!” Gareth stopped laughing and Azure returned to standing on all four legs. “What's the issue?” Gareth and Azure immediately started telling Crystal Fox about the Enclave and the Auxiliary and how one or the other would win. The old buck whistled loudly and they fell silent again.

“I'll tell ya this youngin's. Don't underestimate the Auxiliary. It's the same reason the Gunners are gonna get their flanks kicked off the map.” he pointed at one of the hundreds of pictures on the walls. The frame held a photo of Crystal Fox, his mini-gun strapped to his side and several ponies in Auxiliary Armor. Including a tall Pegasus stallion.

“That's me and Sergeant Storm Wing's squad way back when.” Azure gasped and ran to the wall, pressing her muzzle against the picture frame. “We fought together at the battle of Fort Gestalt. Watched him cut that rogue Auxiliary bitch's head right off.” Azure was almost drooling over the picture by now, drawing concerned looks from Gareth and Crystal Fox.

“I...I don't suppose you'd like to keep the photo. Would you?” the old buck asked carefully. Azure spun on the spot and gave Crystal Fox a hug.

“Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!”

After ten minutes hard work we managed to pry Azure's forelegs off of Crystal Fox long enough for him to retrieve the picture and put it in a sealed plastic bag for her. Then it took another five to convince Gareth that I was feeling well enough to go to the warehouse. It's like he's a mother hen or something.

We left Crystal Fox' and headed to the old warehouse on the edge of the city. The dark tome was feeling particularly heavy in the pocket of my uniform. I thought about leaving it at the house but the little pony in my head told me that was out of the question.

It was a short walk to warehouse; which was a large building with walls made entirely of cinder blocks with a roof made of steel beams and wooden planks. The warehouse was built right on the edge of the city's crop fields, and surrounded by rusty old barrels and piles of garbage.

“This is the nicest settlement in the Crystal Wastes,” Gareth said sarcastically. “I wish I had a camera like Crystal Fox. I could have taken pictures at Tenpony Tower.”

“Can it, Feathers.” Azure said sternly. We reached the door and Gareth pulled out his bobby pin and screwdriver.

“I thought she gave us permission.” he looked back at us and winked.

“She did. But I don't want to get rusty.” it took Gareth almost five minutes of fiddling with the lock to get it open. I thought for sure the Security ponies were going to just stroll by and arrest us all. But thankfully nopony came.

The inside of the warehouse was filled from the floor to the ceiling in crates and metal trunks. There was a set of stair on the wall that led to a second floor. Gareth clicked on his flashlight and pointed it at the stairs.

“I'll check the upper floor. Keep an eye out. He may have left some traps or something.” he went to the stairs and climbed them quickly while Azure and I looked through the various crates and other containers. Besides finding a few dozen bottlecaps, I box of shotgun shells and a few packages of preserved pre war food they were all empty. It only took us twenty minutes or so to look through all the crates so we headed upstairs.

Gareth was sitting at a desk in the corner surrounded by a few open ammo boxes. He was typing away at a terminal with a determined expression. Upon noticing us he waved us over.

“The password is eight digits and I've tried thirty two times but the damn thing won't unlock!” he balled up his talons and slammed the enter key. Much to his surprise the terminal made a soft beep and unlocked itself. “Huh. I guess you two are good luck.” we looked over his shoulder at the screen but there were only three words.

Knowledge Is Power.

“That's it? That's it! I spend almost half an hour trying to unlock this damn thing and that's it? Knowledge is power!” Gareth raised raised his shotgun and blasted the screen. Suddenly the building began to shake and the staircase descended from the floor. The three of us ran to the edge to see the stairs had reclined into into the floor revealing a lower floor.

“Huh, so you had to shoot it” Azure said, looking down at the passageway. “That actually seems like Bounty's style. Doesn't it?” Gareth spread his wings only to recoil when his injured wing stretched too far. Swearing under his breath Gareth sank his claws into the wooden walls.

“Hop on my back, you two.” Azure looked at the griffon skeptically.

“Sure you can handle us both?” Gareth smirked and nodded.

“Okay, stud.” Azure said, throwing her forelegs around his neck. I followed her example, grabbing onto her back and holding on tight as Gareth climped down the wall with the ease of house cat scaling a scratching post.

Once we were a few feet from the bottom I jumped off and landed on my hooves. While Azure held onto Gareth until his feet and talons touched the ground.

“Thanks for the lift, Feathers.” Azure said sweetly before giving him a soft kiss on his beak. Gareth turned bright red under his feathers and almost tripped over a rusty pipe sticking out of the floor. Called it! The little pony in my head couldn't help shouting, while she bounced around my brain.

The room we found ourselves in was the exact opposite of the upper floors. The walls were covered in weapon racks holding various rifles, pistols and from what Gareth told me even some advanced magical energy weapons.

“Now this is the fucking jackpot!” Azure declared, running to the walls and looking over the massive arsenal. Gareth looked equally impressed at the enormous array weapons and ammunition surrounding us. Azure gripped a large magical energy weapon in her magic and pulled it off the wall.

An earsplitting tone pierced through the air reverberated in my skull. Less than a second after it began the noise ended and was replaced by a deep, familiar voice.

“Well, well, well. The cunt was right. You are persistent, stubborn really. Must run in the family.” just hearing the bastard's voice made my chest tighten. “Real shame she wouldn't let me kill you back in the Stable like your father. You'd probably be happier.” All my feelings of anger and despair from the last several days bubbled to the surface. Just hearing his voice; so smug, confident. Like he was untouchable. Was more than I could bear.

“Where are you, you fuck!?” I screamed. I looked around the room and started flipping over weapon racks and boxes of ammunition. Azure and Gareth just stood there watching me with horrified expressions. What the fuck's their problem? They should be helping me look!

“Whoa, hoho,” Bounty's arrogant voice said over the speakers. “Aren't you a busy little bee. Out of the Stable for what...four days? Five tops? Sweet Celestia or...sorry. I know you Acolyte freaks don't care for old the 'false Goddesses'. Tell me this 'Healer', what would you do if I hunted down that little filly you helped around Emerald Valley and gutted her in front of her Granny?” it felt like my body was on fire and the rest of the room had frozen around me.

“You touch one hair on her head and I'll inject powdered glass into you blood!” there had to be a secret door around here somewhere. A switch, a lever, a button or something! And why aren't Gareth and Azure getting off their asses and helping me look yet?

“You know, I think your friends here have the right idea. I might actually be intimidated if I were anywhere near you. I've seen the way those Acolyte fuckers get in a fight. It's weird that She's not one of them...”

“You don't know anything about them you bastard!” my head was starting to throb and my teeth hurt from grinding them. I was just I step away from drawing my blade and slashing everything within my reach to pieces. “They're better ponies then you could ever be!”

“Silver...” Gareth said but I ignored him.

“You're right about that 'Healer'. I am not a good pony. But enough about me. Seeing you act this way really puts things in perspective. Maybe now She'll realize you're a lost cause. Stop trying. I don't know...that cunt has always been too stubborn for her own good. Doesn't matter though. She's occupied with other matters,”

“Doc, calm down...” Azure tried to put a hoof on my shoulder but I smacked it away.

“Who are you talking about? Who's 'She' you fucking...fuck!” Bounty's cruel laugh echoed throughout the room in reply.

“Oh you crack me up 'Healer'. You're famous you know. Been listening to that buck from Manehatten drone on about you the last few days. But you're not special, that stupid bastard DJ Pon 3 has been going on about ponies like you for centuries. It's always been 'so' satisfying to put a bullet in the heads of those so called 'heroes' that he puts on his pedestal. I'm getting stiff just thinking about it. You know all he's doing is building up hope for it to come crashing down! It's the same with you, little mare.”

“Shut up!” I told him.

“It's only a matter a time before I add you to my collection. Your skull will be mounted on my wall with hundreds of others...”

“Shut up!” I repeated but he only laughed again.

“When the Syndicate finishes taking over the Crystal Empire there's going to be a reckoning, 'Healer'. DJ Pon 3 will be first on the block you know. I'm going to take my time with him and not only that, I'm thinking a live performance.” he laughed cruelly. “we'll start with peeling back his scalp and then I'll move on to shock treatments. All on the airwaves. All across the Equestrian Wasteland. Maybe I'll cut off his cutie-mark and the cutie-marks of every stuck up bitch in that tower and stitch them into a nice coat.”

“Doc, please...” Azure wrapped a hoof around me and tried to pull me to the door but I wouldn't budge.

“It'll be the start of the latest Wasteland fashion. I'll call it 'Bounty's Secret' I'll have to wear it when I break the Stable Dweller in half with my cock.” I couldn't even speak. My entire body felt like it was on fire and I thought my eyes were going to melt. The throbbing in my head went from dull to piercing. Like an ice pick was being driven into my head twice every second.

“Let's go, Silver. He's not worth it!” Gareth had joined Azure and the two of them were slowly pulling me back towards the wall.

“She isn't going to be able to stop me. She's already kept you alive for too long.”

“Bullshit!” I screamed at the walls. In an instant I removed the blade from my bags. Gareth and Azure released me at once and backed up several feet.

“You think your trip to Gem City was difficult? Our Androids followed you from Emerald Valley to the M.O.P. Hospital. From there to the outer ring of the city. That stupid cunt wanted to keep you safe. Our Androids killed off dozens of threats. A squad of gunners, a pack of mutant yews. Celestia knows how many raiders, radroaches, bloatsprites and Shadow Ghouls were turned to glowing ash to make sure you didn't die. Hell, we even activated your pet griffon's distress pulsar so you'd get another protector. If it were up to me I'd kill you but she wants you alive. Why she doesn't just have the Androids pick you up...but hey, I'm just a hired gun. She's a smart cookie, I'll give her that one.”

“FUCK YOU!!!” I swung my sword at the wall and cut a deep gouge into it. Several inches of exposed wire fell out and sparked repeatedly. When Bounty spoke again it was slightly distorted and not as loud as before.

“Well that's something to be grateful for. The Shadowphiles weren't too thorough in your education. I've seen Acolytes kill Ursa Minors with blades exactly like that one.” he was silent for a moment before adding, “what would you say to me paying a little visit to let's say... The Monolith?”

“NOOOOOO!!” I carved chunks out of the walls and magic shot from my horn. Black and purple energy scorched the walls and melted the wire beneath while my sword cut deep gouges along the hard lines. I don't even know why I was angry anymore. I just knew that I had to find him and kill him.

“You know... I think you may actually be worth all the trouble after all. You wanna turn that blade on me, little mare?” I stopped mid-swing and stared at the exposed speaker just inches from my muzzle. “You want to find me? Here's a clue. The road begins where the Empire died...” he paused.  “Oh, by the way.  Griffon! Blue bitch!” Azure and Gareth looked directly at the speaker.

“You got about ten seconds before my house explodes. Toodles!” I opened my muzzle to call him every filthy name I could think of but instead I felt something hard and round strike the back of my head. Then, a powerful wave of electricity arched from the instrument and into my body. My sword fell from my magic's grasp and I dropped to the floor; conscious but unable to move. Gareth quickly pulled me onto his back and scaled up the wall. Azure held his tail in her teeth and he managed to drag her up the wall behind him.

He carried me through the first floor while Azure galloped ahead, reared up and bucked the door right off it's hinges.

“Run!” we didn't even cover five yards before the warehouse exploded into flame and debris. Gareth turned and looked back at the burning remains of the warehouse. He shook his head, lifted me off his back and placed me carefully on Azure.

“Get her back to Crystal Fox!” he told her, panting heavily.

“What about you, how are you going to explain that!?” Azure said incredulously, pointing at the fiery remains of the building.

“I'll deal with it, just go!” there was shouting coming from the direction of the market. “Go, damn it. Go!” Azure didn't need to be told again. She turned on the spot and ran at full gallop towards the stands.

                            …......................

“What the hell's wrong with her?” Azure asked Crystal Fox. She was pacing back and forth by the door nervously. Every few seconds she'd move the curtain and look outside. “Is she sick? Was it the radiation? Come on! You're like a hundred years old you have to know something!” Crystal Fox sat next to me while I lay on the couch. My head hurt, and my eyes hurt but the worst pain I felt was guilt.

I'd gotten so angry that the dark magic the Confessor put in me showed itself. Bright green neon eyes and all. So much for trying to keep it a secret. Azure had asked the same question almost a dozen times but I wouldn't answer. I couldn't. She already thought I was some kind of monster, what would she think if she knew about what happened?

“She ain't got nothin' wrong with her girl.” Crystal Fox said reasonably. “She's just fine. Just let her emotions get the better of her as all.”

“Then what's up with her eyes?” she had asked me several times but I wouldn't tell her. It must have been freaking her out. It probably didn't help that my eyes hadn't changed back to normal yet. I was looking into my own eyes in the mirror on the wall. I looked like somepony's bad Daring Do Fanfiction villain, with the purple smoke leaking out the corners of my eyes.

“It's just a side affect of the anger. They'll go back ta normal when she's calmed down.” Azure didn't look very reassured and she didn't come any closer to the couch either.

“It's been almost two hours.” She said, looking out the window, her voice filled with worry. “You think Gareth's okay?”

“He's fine. Gem City Security is just givin' him the run around. Probably makin' him fill out a shit load of paperwork or somethin'.” Crystal Fox put a hoof on my shoulder and asked, “Ya willin' to talk yet, girl?”

“Can we wait until Gareth gets back?” I asked foalishly. I didn't want to talk about it at all. I spilled my guts to Crystal Fox because he seemed to know already, but my friends didn't know and I didn't want them to. But if I had to tell them I at least didn't want to do it twice.

Azure opened her mouth to protest but she closed it again at a look from Crystal Fox.

“It's almost dark, and you two have had an exciting day. Why don't you head to bed, Silver Heart? The room is ready for ya.” he pointed at Azure. “The couch folds out, you can make yerself comfortable.” I didn't argue. I dragged my self off the couch headed for the room. Crystal Fox gave me a comforting look, and Azure stepped back a little when I came close to her. I didn't blame her. If I saw her freak out like I did and have fucked up glowing eyes I'd probably have left town and galloped for my life.

Everything seemed fine back in the Monolith. Every pony there seemed to like me, despite only knowing me a few hours. But a certain pink pony in my mind was having a freak out session. Don't tell don't tell don't tell don't tell don't tell!!!

I found the room Crystal Fox showed me earlier and dropped face first onto the bed. I felt like crying but my eyes wouldn't shed a single tear. Does being an Acolyte mean my tear ducts don't work anymore? I'd have to look through my medical books and see if dark magic stops you from crying.

My body wouldn't let me fall asleep so I spent the night thinking of different ways to kill Bounty. Maybe I could give him an infusion of drain cleaner? Or give him to Confessor Tenebris as an offering to Sombra? No. That would be too good for him. After running out of ways to kill Bounty in my mind I pulled my bags onto the bed and opened the pocket with the my new book in it.

Sitting right next to my new Book was my new sword. Still in the sheath and untarnished. There wasn't a scratch or mark on it.

“Weird...” I put the blade out of my mind and floated my copy of The Book of Shadows from my bags.

“Maybe Sombra can help me understand.” it wasn't as if Celestia of Luna were very helpful in that regard. I'd spent my entire life praying to Celestia and Luna and what happened? My Stable was destroyed, the ponies I'd grown to know and care about were murdered, and since leaving I've seen nothing but destruction.

Hell, she even helped Bounty attack 41! Well I guess that's not true, she died two hundred years ago... or did she? Maybe she survived and founded the Syndicate to take over Equestria again! It didn't make that much sense but it felt kind of good to have somepony to blame besides Bounty. Maybe the Acolytes are right.

Celestia started the war with the Zebras. Then, she quit. She quit halfway through it and gave full control of the kingdom to her sister who once tried to kill her! What kind of fucking idiot would abandon her people like that? And if what the book said was true? If Sombra was in charge when the war started would he would have crushed the Zebras under his hoof inside of a few weeks? Could he have won the war before it even really started?

“I...I don't...I don't know if you can hear me,” I said quietly, looking at the ceiling. “but if you are I really need help. How am I going to tell them what's inside me? Will they hate me?” to be honest, I wasn't really expecting an answer. I was taught that Celestia and Luna could hear our prayers but they didn't directly communicate unless it was for something of great importance. If Sombra is anything like them then he probably does the same.

Read the book

No answer. Typical. I sighed and opened the book to the where I left off.

“Chapter 2: The Folly of the False Goddesses.

Many people from Ponies to Griffons and Yaks to Zebras wonder how the world became as it is. Why is Yakyakastan a smoldering, radioactive crater filled with mutant Yeti'? Why is there a city in the Zebra Empire where it's inhabitants are nothing but feral ghouls? Why is Equestria, and the lands beyond as they are now. Two words, my children;

The Princesses.

Damn right. I couldn't help thinking.

I spent the rest of the night reading and after the third chapter I was feeling a little better. The second chapter was nothing but how Celestia and Luna totally fucked up the world but the third was about obtaining enlightenment. It was full of advice and helpful tips on how to channel your anger. It sounded kind of like the self help books that the Stable counselor had in her office.

The first step towards enlightenment is being comfortable in one's own skin.

After putting away the book my mind wondered to the scroll that Confessor Tenebris gave me. The information is for your eyes only... I gloated the scroll in front of me and unrolled it,

Silver Heart

I know that you had no intention of joining us when you arrived in the Monolith. Nor did you even know of our existence, but I'd like you to know that as strange as it may seem, you made a good decision.

After being initiated every Acolyte has to complete a Holy mission in the name of Sombra before beginning his or her true training. I spent most of the night thinking of what yours shall be and I believe I have found the correct task. You may not know it but when you were initiated your mind linked with my own. I know of the horror that befell your home and the one who is responsible. You seek answers, and you seek revenge. Neither is an inherently good or evil thing, it simply is. And I can help you with this.

Your mission is to locate the ancient Stable, Stable 50, and assist them in an important endeavor. The Overstallion of 50 asked for my assistence and I promised to send an Acolyte to help. Much like the noble Auxiliary the Acolytes seek to help the Crystal Empire. Not harm it. Like the Gunners or the dreaded Syndicate.

Once your mission is complete connect to me through the mindscape. All you have to do is focus your mind and your Sombraic powers on me, and we will connect. Please be careful, My Child.

“Thank Celestia!” my ears perked at the sound of Azure's words and the door opening in the main room. Then came the tell tale click clack of Gareth's claws on the floor. “What happened? What took you so long?” Azure asked, worry and irritation evident in her voice

“Damn Security ponies had me filling out forms for the last four hours.” I could almost hear Crystal Fox smirking. “I told them there was a balefire egg rigged to a timer in the basement. The ponies here are really stupid you know. No offense.” he added.

“None taken. Silver Heart's sleeping. I assume you want to know what's going on?” there was quiet scratching on the floor (or wall. It was all made of the same stuff).

“I would be lying if I said 'no'. But if she doesn't want to talk about it...” Gareth began, and I immediately felt grateful towards the griffon.

“She don't. But you two may as well know what happened.” He's going to tell them! As much as I didn't want them to know, as much as the pink pony in my head said 'don't tell', I didn't want them to find out from somepony else. I put the Book and scroll away, pulled myself off the bed and went through the bedroom door.

“She was going through the water tunnel...” The three of them paused when I entered the room. Gareth looked concerned. Azure looked like she was torn between concern and fear. But Crystal Fox just stood there. A blank expression on his face. I silently made my way to the couch and sat down.

“when I found the source of the contamination.” I continued where the old stallion left off. “There were these dark crystals sticking out of the water, like Crystal Fox showed us.” I looked at my hooves the whole time. My eyes wouldn't meet their gaze.

“I don't really remember what happened next. The next thing I knew I was chained to the floor in a circle of crystals with a bunch of ponies in robes.” Azure stomped her right hoof.

“Acolytes!” she hissed under her breath. Gareth looked between Azure and I in confusion.

“They were going to sacrifice me to Sombra when I told them Sombra appeared to me. Then...” I didn't really know how to tell them what happened next without it sounding completely ridiculous so I just said it. I told them everything that happened except for the pancakes and the mindscape. I didn't want them to think I completely lost it and I really didn't want them to think that the Acolytes were watching them all the time.

“Then they let me go. Like nothing happened at all. I...I didn't want you guys to worry or...” Or think I was a freak, I should have said. “Sorry” I added lamely. Azure towards the couch and reared up. I flinched, preparing to be hit but Azure wrapped her hooves around me in a tight hug.

“Enough of that crap, Doc. You saved my life. You don't need to apologize for something like this.” I felt Gareth's talons on my left shoulder.

“Yeah. We'd be dead without you.” I lifted my head and he stretched his braced wing in front of me. “Or if I did make it I might have never flown again if you didn't go to that hospital. This doesn't change a thing.” he paused for a moment then added. “Did the note really say that?” I laughed a little and floated my bags from the other room. Then I pulled out the letter and showed it to them.

The three of them burst out laughing when they read Malum's note and even I couldn't help but join in. It felt good to laugh.

“If half of them are like this Malum guy they can't be that bad.” Gareth said reasonably. Drawing a dark look from Azure.

“They think Celestia and Luna aren't real. You know, the Goddesses!” Gareth rolled his eyes at her. “The Acolytes are all heretics. Try talking to the pastor at the temple in town and she'll tell you the same thing.” she turned her gaze from Gareth to me. “The pastor can answer any questions you have about how the Acolytes really are.”

“Isn't that a little biased.” Azure scowled at the griffon darkly. “What?” he asked, shrugging. “She's a pastor of Celestia and Luna. Of course she's going to say how the Acolytes are horrible 'heretics'. You ponies and your gods.” he finished shaking his head. Azure looked on the verge of striking him and Crystal Fox just sat there with an amused smile. But before Azure could harangue him again he added, “We'll see what she has to say. No harm in a second opinion from somepony who knows religion. But I want to back to that gun shop in town. That Tangerine really knows her guns. You know she made those balefire egg launchers.”

I didn't know anything about guns except that they went 'bang' so I left the talking to the others. They were talking (almost arguing) about what kind of weapons they should get with their cut of the caps from the mayor and the different mods they wanted. I knew Azure knew her weapons and Gareth was a mercenary so he basically had to but Crystal Fox seemed to know more than the two of them combined.

He just gave suggestions at first but soon he was telling stories about the weapons he'd seen, used or got shot with back in the 'good old days'. After some pleading on Gareth's part and a whole lot of whining on Azure's he even got his old mini-gun from his bedroom. Gareth had to help him carry it in and put it on the table. How he ever lifted it on his own even when he was younger was astounding.

“It looks like it weighs more than I do.” I said, looking at the massive multi-barreled weapon.

“It does.” Gareth confirmed with a nod, making Azure nicker behind him.

“This is Scarlet's Bastion. This beauty got me through many a scrap in my day. It takes five millimeter ammunition with a max ammo capacity of one thousand rounds, and is enchanted with an armor piercing effect to boot.” Gareth whistled. Wait. How did he do that? He has a beak! “even has a built in repair and lubrication talisman.” he looked at the gun fondly. Azure and Gareth were almost drooling over the hulking weapon.

“Where did you get it?” I asked running my hoof along one of the eight barrels. “Or did you make it yourself?” the old buck laughed at the question.

“I couldn't put one of these things together if I tried. No, I found this beautiful, one of a kind thing in the ruins of an old spa.” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“You found this,” I pointed my right foreleg at the weapon. “in a spa?” He smiled fondly at the mini-gun and nodded.

“It all started when I was a youngin' like yerselves trying to make my mark on the wall. Twas before I met yer parents and I didn't know much about the world outside my hometown. Little place called Viola Farm just outside a Fort Varado. We were protected by the Auxiliary so we never had to worry about attacks or nothin'. But the downside of living on a peaceful farm is that it's boring as shit! Especially since I spent half the day shovelin' brahmin shit.

“Me and a few a my friends decided to high tail it when we were old enough. Left my brother in charge a the farm while me and my pals went adventurin'.” his expression turned sad. “Needless to say it was a disaster. We hadn't even made it to the city before Lightning died; he was my brother's friend, decided to tag along when he heard what we was plannin'. Got killed by a feral. Next one to go was my friend Black Whip. Got killed by raiders outside of the Ironshod Firearms Distribution Center just north of Viola. Pretty fucked up two days to say the least.

“We had better luck after that, though. Me, Mint and Letter Opener found the spa just south of Gem City a week after we left the farm.” Gareth laughed suddenly next to me, making Crystal Fox pause. Once he realized everypony was looking at him Gareth stopped laughing, looking a little red.

“Sorry. But did you say your friend's name was 'Letter Opener'?” he nodded and Gareth made a choking sound in his throat. “Sorry, but the name's you ponies come up with.” he waved his talons. “Keep going. I promise I won't interrupt again.”

“Like I was sayin',” Crystal Fox said, annoyed. “we found the spa and besides finding a half dozen ferals there weren't any other dangers. We stayed there a while and stripped the place of anything valuable. We were looking through one a the old hot tubs when I found a button in one a the filters. Pushed it and a whole section of wall opened up and led into this room just full a guns and ammo. And a Shadow Ghoul. Said her name was Scarlet Heart.”

“You said she was a ghoul. Ghouls can't talk.” Crystal Fox shook his head slowly, Azure looked at me with a bemused expression and Gareth just shrugged.

“Not all ghouls are feral. They're really fucked up looking, especially in the Crystal Empire, and they live forever but they don't eat ya. Only the ones that went insane are like that. Most are just like you or me. Now Scarlet, she was a treat. Said she was stuck in that room since the megaspells, she was so grateful she gave me that gun and the battle saddle. I think I got a picture of her somewhere...hold on a sec” he left the table and pulled one of the many pictures off the walls and carried it to the table in his teeth.

“That there is Letter Opener,” he said pointing to each of them. “his mare Mint, me a course and there's Scarlet.” he finished by pointing at a mare with a blackened coat, tufts of black smoke for hair and milky white eyes with red iris's. She looked slightly rotted with pieces of flesh missing on her torso and bone exposed on her left hindleg. But besides that her face looked almost normal, besides some scars on her cheek her face was unblemished.

“She was really in there for two hundred years?” I asked, astonished. What did she do all that time?...my brain brought up all kinds a very compromising images and I shook my head wildly. Azure and Gareth watched me curiously but Crystal Fox either didn't notice or didn't care.

“Yep. And before ya ask any more,” he yawned loudly. “I'm mighty tired. I'm headin' to bed, we'll go see Scarlet tomorrow.”

“She's alive?” Gareth said incredulously. Crystal Fox shook his head.

“Nah, I'm just sayin' we'll go see her because I like sayin' it. Yeah, she's still kickin'. Lives on the other side a town. I'll show ya when yer done with yer little trip to the temple. Now help me lug this heavy bastard back to my room” Gareth hefted the mini-gun off the table and carried it back to the room. “Go on! Put yer back into it, boy!” He turned to me, “There's some more cookies on the kitchen for ya, girls.” we spun on the spot and dashed into the kitchen. Sitting on the counter was a plate covered in perfectly frosted cookies.

“How does he make these!?” I said through a mouthful of sugary awesomeness.

“Mmmm, crystal berries” Azure said, reminiscently. “We used to buy them by the basket when I was still a filly. But I never found out where dad bought them.”

“I don't care where it is,” I said, starting on my fourth cookie. “we need to go there.”

“Just ask Crystal Fox,” now that was a plan. We passed by Gareth on the couch who snatched the last of the cookies from the plate. “Hey!” Azure said before jumping on him. I watched the two of them fight over the cookies until they fell off the couch and continued on the floor. Rolling my eyes went to Crystal Fox' room and knocked on the door three times.

No answer.

I knocked again and a tremendous crash came from the room. Along with the sound of breaking glass. The door opened about a foot and the old buck stuck his through the gap.

“Sorry 'bout that I was tinkerin'. Whatcha need girl?”

“How do you make your cookies?”

                        ----------------------

The morning air stung my coat as Azure, Gareth and I made our way towards the Temple. Gareth stretched his fully healed wings in the breeze. I unwrapped it before we left and found it fully healed. Much to Gareth's surprise and delight.

He seemed un-bothered by the cold but Azure's teeth were chattering along with my own. She had given her Gunner armor and barding to Gareth to avoid angering any of the town ponies, who seemed to have an almost fanatical hatred of the Gunners. Without barding the crisp morning air was really bothering her.

I spent the better part of an hour trying to get Crystal Fox to tell me how he made his amazing cookies, but the old buck just wouldn't budge!

“Sorry, girl.” he said, “Tis a family recipe. Ya'll understand.” Understand my flanks! I thought bitterly as we left the warmth of his home. I'll get it out of him if it's the last thing I do!!

The Temple was located to the far left of the of Gem City's gate. Right in between a store with several small, furry animals in a pen and a small building with a sign that read,

The Crystal Times

The Temple itself was a humble building. The walls were made of blue and white crystal with pieces of rusted steel mixed in. There was a single sign on the front wall of the Temple, depicting a sun, a moon, and a crystallized heart.

'All are Welcome' was inscribed on a wooden plank beneath the sign. Azure pushed the door open and we went in.  Once I crossed the threshold of the doorway I felt a sharp, throbbing pain in my forehead that went to the tip of my horn.

“Ow!” I said, rubbing my forehead. Gareth and Azure looked back at me so I shrugged it off. “Hit my horn on the frame.”

“Hornheads.” Gareth said sarcastically with a shake of his head.

“Hey, it's not my fault!” I said indignantly. “I'm tired.” which was true. Ever since I left the Monolith I felt almost exhausted, but no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't fall asleep. Just one of those days.

The inside of the Temple was just as humble. Several rows of simply carved wooden benches were lined up before an pew with three statues behind it. The one in the center was Celestia; it was carved from white marble. Her wings were spread out wide over the other statues.

The one on the left was Luna. It was also marble but instead of white it was midnight blue with hundreds of white dots that made it look like stars. (Not that I'd ever really seen them, but books count...right? Right.) her wings were pointing out behind her, and she was rearing up on her hindlegs with one foreleg straight in the air.

The statue on the right side was made of bright pink crystal. She too was an alicorn, a little shorter than Luna with a bright, playfully happy smile on her face. Unlike the other statues her mane, tail and eyes were different colors than her coat. It made the statue look alive. I thought that she would jump off her stand at any moment to say 'Hello'. Standing near the statues was a short, green Crystal Pony mare in a long robe. She was wiping the face of the Luna statue.

“Hello, my children.” she said when she noticed us, dropping the rag in a bucket near her. “I have not seen any of you before. Are you new to the city, or just to the Temple?” she seemed nice...but there was something about her that made me uneasy. A little pink pony in my head was watching her suspiciously.

“Both, actually.” Azure said conversationally. “My friend here was wondering what the Temple thought of those 'Acolyte' ponies.” she pointed a hoof to me. The green mare's expression turned from friendly to disgusted at once.

“The Acolytes are nothing but a group of misguided heretics! Celestia and Luna may not be worshiped as they should in the Crystal Empire. But they don't even believe in Cadence. The Goddess of Love and holy matriarch of our land.” she trotted to the pew and pulled out a very thick leather bound book. “This is the holy book of the Goddesses. Celestia, who raises the sun, protects us during the day and brightens are lives with it's embrace...”

“Funny, I haven't seen the sun once since I left the Stable.” I said sarcastically. This drew a very dark look from Azure and an even darker one from the green mare. Gareth however looked like he trying very hard not to laugh.

“Then there is Luna. Goddess of the night and guardian of our dreams. She keeps nightmares from plaguing our nights so that we may better face the terrors that the wastes wrought during the day.” I opened my muzzle to say that I'd also had plenty of nightmares since leaving the Stable but Azure silenced me with a jab in the ribs.

“Finally, there is Cadence. She is the grand matriarch of the Crystal Empire. It's mother, it's protector. She used her powers of Love and Kindness to destroy the dread king Sombra, who would have enslaved us all under his banner...”

“Don't you think it's possible that if Sombra had beaten Cadence the Crystal Empire wouldn't be a radioactive wasteland?” I asked simply, my dislike of this mare growing every second. Her expression soured further and she slammed the book shut.

“It appears we have a heretic in the church. Are you an Acolyte or just a pony with no faith?” she shook her head. “Either way, you are on the wrong path my child. I can show you the true path to happiness and enlightenment. All you have to do is devote yourself to the Goddesses, AHHH!" she shrieked and back peddled into the wall. “Leave my church, all of you. Now!!” I didn't need to be told twice, I turned with a huff and trotted to the door without another word. There was a mirror on the wall next to the door, and I was irritated to see my eyes were glowing again. Dammit! Is it just random? Gareth and Azure followed me out the door.

“What the fuck, Doc!?” Azure asked once the Temple door slammed shut behind us. “Why did you say all that stuff? She could have shown you the truth.” The truth? The fucking truth!?

“The truth about what?” I asked. “What truth is so important that I have to learn it from that cunt? By the Shadows, why couldn't you have met the Acolytes with me...”  the look on her face after I said, 'By the Shadows' was absolutely priceless. She looked ready to pounce on me when Gareth went between us.

“Enough. You two can debate this religious crap later. I'm hungry, let's go get a yew burger.” my stomach rumbled and the little pony in my head agreed with the pink pony. Food Time! I my eyes stop glowing in a puddle by the temple. Thank Sombra

Gareth stopped right in front of the pen with the small fluffy animals, where a short muscular buck had just unlocked the gate and pulled a yellow one out in his teeth.

“Three yew burgers.” Gareth said, holding out three claws. The buck nodded dropped the yew on the cutting board and drew a very large curved knife in his teeth.

“What are you doing!?” he swung the blade at the yew's neck. He would have cut it's head off if I didn't snatch it away in my magic.

“Hey, I'm trying to fill your order here!” What is wrong with ponies on the surface? And griffons? I closed the distance between us, drew my blade and slammed him against the wall of his shop. His pupils shrank to pinpricks as my blade hovered an eighth of an inch from his jugular. I could see the glow of my eyes reflected in his own. Gareth and Azure were saying something but I ignored them.

“What is wrong with you?” I asked asked, floating the small yellow animal into my left foreleg. “If I come back here and find out you killed any more of them. I'm going to geld you. Turn this place into a petting zoo or something. No more butcher shop, got it?” the buck nodded and gulped. When he gulped his throat touched the edge of the blade slightly, leaving a small cut behind. I lifted the yew with my magic and was about to return the animal to the pen when it looked me in the eye.

It's pupils were huge and sad. It's lip was quivering slightly and it was just...so...adorable. The pink pony in my head was bouncing around on all four hooves shouting; 'pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease!!!'

“How much for this one?” I asked the buck, who was holding a rag on his cut.

“You want to buy a burger then?” I scowled darkly and once again saw my glowing eyes reflected in his. “Okay. No burgers. You just want the yew?” I nodded. “A hundred caps.” I counted out the money and placed the yew in the largest empty pouch in my saddlebags. It rolled around inside for a moment before sticking it's head out comically.

“What exactly do you plan on doing with that?” Gareth asked, pointing a claw at the small fuzzy creature in my bags.

“I've always wanted a pet.” the Stable didn't have any animals except for the rats that lived in storage. A few colts and fillies caught them and kept them as pets but Dad wouldn't let me. Those creatures are far too unsanitary, Silver. He'd say.

“You know those things are dangerous, right?” Azure said, watching the adorable animal out of the corner of her eyes. “They're supposed to be really vicious.”

“You're right. That,” Gareth said, pointing at it again. “is the most terrifying thing I have ever seen.” Azure gave him a dark look. “Listen, I'm going back to the gun shop. That mare Tangerine said she had some specialty rounds coming in today.” he smirked. “Enjoy playing with that terrifyingly vicious monster.

While Gareth went to the Barrel of Guns! Azure and I went to a stall that served roasted crystal corn. Why does everything have to be crystal?

The mare behind the stall slid two ears of crystal corn to us and pocketed the caps Azure dropped on the counter without a word. Even though she seemed to be in a sour mood her cooking was excellent. Every time I ate something new it was like an orgasm in my mouth! I thought back to the tubes of synthesized food paste in my bags.

“Never again.” I chucked the tubes in a nearby trash bin. They were filled with enough nutrients to keep a pony going for more than a week but after everything I'd tasted so far I'd rather starve than eat that shit again. While I ate I noticed Azure watching the yew in my bags with a worried expression. She even flinched a little when I tossed a few kernels of corn into it's mouth. I lifted the yew from my bags and held it in front of my eyes.

“Are you a boy or a girl?” it took a few minutes but I managed to find the proper parts. These things have a lot of fur. (or wool?) “You need a name. How about...” for some reasons my mind flashed to some of the names I learned in magical history class. “Star Swirl? No...Clover? Nah...oh! How about Artimage?” he just looked at me with that same cute look.

“It's settled then. Your name is Artimage.” Azure just kept giving me strange looks as I nuzzled Artimage. “What is your deal?” I asked, turning to her. “He's adorable!”

“Nothing. Let's find you some armor.” I knew she was just changing the subject but I didn't argue.

Azure dragged me from store to store and stall to stall,  starting with the armor shop, trying to find a suitable replacement for my uniform. But the armor they had were either too heavy, didn't fit right or were just too garish for for my tastes. I had just taken off a full suit of combat barding when Gareth barged into the changing room.

“We have a problem...” he turned away from me, his face turning bright red. “Sorry...”

“Why? We don't exactly wear clothes.” Azure said reasonably. Despite this Gareth still looked embarrassed.

“You were saying something about a problem?” I said, dropping the barding on the floor.

“Yeah.” Gareth said, distractedly. “Yeah, shit! We need to leave town. Right now!”

“Care to tell us why?” Azure said sarcastically. But Gareth didn't look like he was kidding.

“I went to Tangerine's store and there were three ponies in Steel Ranger armor inside.” he explained quickly, looking out the window of the shop. “They said they were looking for you, Silver Heart.”

“What!?” why would the Steel Rangers be looking for me? “Are you sure?”

“Well, let's go down the list; they were asking Tangerine if she's seen a white unicorn with silver hair, a griffon mercenary and a blue unicorn with her.” he said simply. “Oh, and they were calling you 'Healer'. Tangerine told them she hadn't seen us but it won't be long before somepony rats us out.” Azure rushed to Gareth and pulled her rifle and armor from his bags.

“He's right. Steel Rangers aren't exactly the nicest bunch...” she was interrupted by a gunshot coming from the market. We looked outside and I gasped. There were three Steel Rangers with heavy weapons facing a dozen Auxiliary with  magical energy weapons. One of them was on the ground holding her bleeding foreleg.

“You are not welcome here!” the lead Auxiliary said angrily. “If you do not leave here we will use deadly force!” the Steel Rangers laughed and readied their weapons.

“Two of them have grenade machine guns,” Gareth said darkly. “If they fire those off in the market...” They would kill dozens of ponies and injure dozens more.

“Come on!” I said, jumping out the door into the market. I rushed out the door and yelled, “Stop!!” the Auxiliary ponies and Steel Rangers watched as I rushed to the injured Auxiliary pony. “Hold still.” I told her.

The wound wasn't too bad. There was a large caliber round stuck in her foreleg but it missed the bone and lodged in the soft tissue. Before I could begin working on it the lead Ranger stepped towards us.

“Are you Healer?” she asked as Gareth and Azure came to my side, their weapons drawn. I nodded, pulling out my scalpel and forecips to remove the bullet.

“By order of Elder Paula Red you must come with us...” she began, but four of the Auxiliary ponies stepped forward threateningly.

“You are ordered by the authority of General Storm Wing to vacate this city at once!” the buck said sternly. “Leave now!” the Steel Rangers laughed almost hysterically at the Auxiliary. To their credit, the Auxiliary didn't back down they stepped forward again, their weapons directed right at the Rangers. There was something about a dozen armed ponies moving in perfect unison that gave the Steel Rangers pause.

“Back off tribal! If you think for a second we won't turn you into smoldering piles of pulp and shrapnel you're wrong!” their grenade machine guns clicked threateningly but the Auxiliary didn't even flinch. I removed the bullet and gave  the injured mare two healing potions before stepping between the Rangers and the Auxiliary.

“There's no need for violence!” I said desperately. “I'll go with you.” the lead Ranger whinnied.

“Finally! A tribal with some sense. Get moving!” she pointed to the city gate and the Rangers with her moved to my sides.

“I hope you know what you're doing...” Gareth whispered as the Steel Rangers surrounded us and led us out of the city gate. The Auxiliary followed closely behind until they reached the barricades by the gate but they didn't try to help us.

“Yeah, Azure. The Auxiliary can take out the Enclave but a few assholes in power armor are just too much.” Gareth said sarcastically. Azure smacked him upside the head.

“They don't want any of the town ponies to get hurt!” we turned onto the main road going south.

Time to see if this works...

I followed the instructions from the scroll and focused my mind on Confessor Tenebris but it wouldn't work. So instead of Tenebris I focused on Malum.

Malum! Brother Malum! Can you hear me? It's Silver Heart! Please, my friends and I are in trouble!

Then I felt it. I felt something odd brush against my mind. It sent a chill up my mind and made me stop in my tracks.

“What are you doing? Get moving!” the Steel Ranger to my left struck my in the side. The force of the blow knocked me to the ground. Then I felt something different in my mind; cold anger.

Do not worry. We're here, Sister.

Level Up! Melee 25

New Perk Added: Shadow Rage. When consumed by anger you deal 15% more damage and take 15% less.