Project Apocalyptica: P.U.N.K.

Chapters

Act 1-Chapter One: Expedition
Act-1 Chapter2: Somnus Apocalyptica
Act 1-Chapter 3: Invasion
Act-1 Chapter 4: Deserted Equestria
Act-1 Chapter 5: Aurora.EXE
Act-1 Chapter 6: Taste of the Wastes
Act-1 Chapter 7: Laws
Act-1 Chapter 8: Wanted
Act-1 Chapter 9: Manic the Mechanic
Act-1 Chapter 10: Parts and Recreation
Act-1 Chapter 11: The Last Migration
Act-1 Chapter 12: Unusual Troubles
Act-1 Chapter13: A Problem for Two
Act-1 Chapter 14: Something Strange This Way Comes
Act-1 Chapter 15: The Cult of the Eclipse
Act-1 Chapter 16: Aretilla Security Service
Act-1 Chapter 17: The Eclipes's End
Prologue Act

Act 1-Chapter One: Expedition

Act I: P.U.N.K.

*~~~****~~~*

*Expedition*

New Equestria. An underground haven those who have escaped four hundred years of conflict in solitude. The caves and tunnels expanded as much of Equestria’s underground mines and facilities branched out. Some could say that they continue to dig into the underground, hoping to find more habitable spaces and hopefully more resources. But that is hard to come by when you are struggling to get by with only mushrooms and small puddles of dirty water that happen to seek their way into the underground.

Times are tough in this society. And Candlejack knew it better than anypony. In fact, he had to basically steal from vendors in order to survive the harsh metallic streets of New Europa. The pegasus mouthed the name. New Europa, the section of the underground marked NE-10. Or more commonly known by those in the higher sections as ‘Gravel Pit’. A fitting name for a section that is slowly crumbling down around itself. Most of the citizens have moved to NE-8, which happened to be a more manageable environment. However, it still was a decrepit place of living. And as the young pegasus stallion thought back to his times as an urchin, he probably would have thought he might have had it better by being nothing but a street bum. Not having to worry about listening to ponies rant. Drink all the booze he can milk from the pity of bigots. Sleep anywhere he wanted and whenever he wanted too. It seemed like a simple life at the time. And at the ripe age of ten, he found it to be a haven. Not having to deal with adults tell him what to do. Can play for as long as he wanted and not be told off about it. Find the smallest spaces he can crawl into and just sleep for hours upon hours. Life seemed like a haven then. But that was where the fantasy ended and the reality kicked in. It was tough to even get a measly scrap of cooked mushrooms. Not only that, when he had been caught by the local city’s farmers of Mud Carrots, he never had to run so fast in his life. He even got away with a part of his tail intact when one of them decided to chase him off with a Lunarium shotgun. He yelped when the cold tingly feeling of the beam shot past him and grazed his tail. Dropping only two of the three Mud Carrots, he quickly flapped his wings and took off, dodging another beam that came close to him. A ‘flying rat’ was all he could manage to hear from the farmer as he landed clumsily on the roof of a vendor. The neon sign buzzed loudly as he shook away the daze and sighed. Looking at his meal, only half of a Mud Carrot, he casually brushed off the mud bits and chewed down. A sour and tangy taste made him tear a little. Mustering his strength, he plopped the last of it into his mouth and chewed, trying his best to ignore the disgusting taste of mud. His stomach didn’t agree with him and he rubbed it, trying to ease the pain. He looked around, making sure no pony was watching. He gave a small grunt as he felt his stomach ease out the pain. Taking a moment to adjust himself, he stood up and brushed his rear with a tarp that happened to be used as a cover base to keep out the mud grubs. Nasty little buggers that tear away at anything plant wise. Having feeling relieved of his tension, he quickly took off and landed gently on the ground, trotting away from the vendor who seemed oblivious to the young colt. He peeked out of the alley and looked to his left. The busy scavenger market as lively as ever. He looked to his right. The dark corridor of the subdivision of the section laid cold and lonely. His stomach growled again. The Mud Carrot was a no brainer to the colt now. He looked down the corridor, eyeing it. ‘Maybe they might have something worthwhile.’ A brilliant idea at the time to him. That was until he had stumbled upon a junk yard. He had never seen so much treasure in one spot! It was almost like an expedition. And that is what he had thought. Donning a metal rusty pot for a helm and strapping on a chariot hubcap and two spatulas he found in the pile to his body, he was ready to dive in. And treasure was indeed he found! Climbing up a pile, he reached in, seeing something shiny that had caught his eye. When he pulled it out, he was in awe at the wonder. He had never seen anything like it! The metal like stick had a strange looking tip. It looked like a ball of some kind with a symbol. Cocking his head in wonder, he couldn’t help but notice that the ball had something moving inside it. And whenever he shook it, there was words that seemed to follow:Try Again. Having no clue as to what it meant, the colt dropped it, having found something else to sate his curiosity. It was a poster. And not just the neon posters you find that advertise. No, this was a poster that even the Solar Empire and the Lunar Republic themselves didn’t have. The poster had three pegasi in strange looking clothes. Faded words read: Be ome a Wonderbolt T y! Joi the EAF! The name ‘Wonderbolt’ came out as something of a mystery to the colt. What is a Wonderbolt? And why did they look… strange? Definitely not the mane styles of today’s society. And not only that, the suites they wore didn’t seem anything like the Expedition teams that were sent above ground. In any case, it was something that intrigued him. Taking a quick look around, he spotted a leather sack that seemed to have found itself in the pile through unknown occurrence. Plucking it from the top of a bent sign and stuffing the poster in the sack, he wondered what else he could find. What seemed like minutes turned to hours for the young colt as he dove in and out of piles of junk and scrap. He found that if he dug deeper, he could find even more valuable trinkets. Some that even seemed as old as New Equestria itself. Having moved on from the recent pile with his treasure, he couldn’t help but notice something stick out of the next pile. It was a small box. Dropping the sack where he stood and walking over, he couldn’t help but feel… entranced. Almost as if it was calling to him. He slowly reached out a hoof. Locking it around the box, he pulled. It didn’t budge. The colt frowned and pulled again. Taking his other hoof and planting his hind hooves into the pile, he pulled even more, grunting as the box remained firmly stuck. The colt backed away, taking a moment to catch his breath. Rubbing his chin, he had a small thought occur to him. He trotted over to his treasure pile and dug through the trinkets. He pulled out the strange metal stick with the word ball at the tip and went back over to the box. Heaving the stick in, he pushed against it. The metal creaking at the colt who tugged at it with all he could muster. And with a loud pop, the box clattered to the ground along with the colt who stumbled at the sudden release. And when the box landed, it opened and a soft melody played. The colt looked up from the ground and over to the box. It was a nice melody. Slow and yet, something about the way the box played made the colt feel at ease. He stood up and brushed himself off, walking over to the box. And as the box played the haunting melody, the colt sat and listened. The little alicorn pony in the box danced and spun to the song. It’s expression blank. But to the colt, he felt that the statuette was crying. And he could imagine it. This song. It was meant for somepony. To ease the pain or sorrow. And when the music stopped and the statuette halted its’ dance, the colt blinked away the trance. A strange feeling overcame the colt. And unbeknownst to him was the danger that loomed over him. Seeing the shadow, he turned and gaped. The pile was falling. Metal and junk clattered and screeched as the colt scrambled to get out of the way, only to trip on the music box. The colt covered himself with the box under him as the metal and scrap fell on top of him. The colt kept his eyes closed, waiting for the sound of metal to stop screeching. And when the dust settled, he opened them. Thankfully, he was only bruised on the side. And when he tried to stand up, he found himself falling back into the ground. He furrowed his brows and looked back, seeing his hind leg pinned underneath a stray metal plate. He grunted, pulling again. Swearing quietly to himself, he used his free hind hoof and kicked the metal plate. It didn’t budge. His stomach growled, reminding the colt that he had spent too much time admiring his surroundings than eating. Pulling his leg again, he stopped when he heard something. He strained his ears to listen. It sounded big. And noisy. That was when the colt had the realization. Junk yards usually have bulk units to control the buildup. And as he feared the worst, a bulk unit rolled into view above a pile of scrap and metal. Its loud tractor like engine rang loudly throughout the junk yard. The colt struggled to free his hoof. But to no avail. He kept trying to pull, however, as he noticed the massive bulk unit grinding close by. “Come on, let go of me!!” The colt said to himself in frustration as he kicked the metal plate again. He shrunk back when the massive wheel of the bulk unit grazed by his muzzle. It continued forward, only to stop and then reverse. The colt looked on in horror. He was going to get crushed. He prayed. He prayed that he would do anything. Anything for some pony to help him. What the colt didn’t notice was a tall slender figure lifting up the pile he was stuck under and scoop him up. The colt yelped when the creature quickly climbed up a junk pile in time to avoid getting crushed. The colt found himself dumbfounded by the sudden creature carrying him up the pile. Finding them out of sight and safe from the bulk unit, the colt was gently placed on the ground. The colt looked up to his savior. The slender like creature stood up on two slender limbs and wore a tattered shawl. It looked down at him with yellow round eyes. The colt cocked his head slightly, causing the creature to follow suite, making a small hum in the process. “W-who are you?” the colt asked, still shaken by the close call. The shawl moved, revealing a slender like limb with strange stubs at the tip. It held one stub to itself before a metallic noise of garbled static screeched to life. The colt couldn’t understand what it meant. But he remembered himself stating in his mind that he would do anything for anyone to help him. And that is exactly what this creature did for him. He was hesitant. He looked down at his hooves, seeing the small box he had unintentionally grabbed when he was carried up. The colt lifted the box to the creature, a sign of his gratitude. But the creature looked at him. It’s round eyes studying the gesture. It then bent on one mechanical knee and gently gave the box back to the colt. As it did, the box popped open and the melody began playing. They watched, entranced by the haunting lullaby and the dancing statuette. Studying the movement of the lone alicorn spinning on two hooves with the other two outstretched. The colt hadn’t realized. Realized how important his life was at that time until he stared death in its face. The colt found a strange feeling overcame him. He felt something cold trail his cheek. The creature sat down and scooped the colt under a mechanical arm covered by the tattered shawl. And they sat there. Listening to the lullaby that played before them. That day changed his life. More than he thought. And eight years later, he found himself sitting here in a sewer. The smelly, foul water rushing by him through the cages. The stallion was accompanied by only a small pile of moldy hay and a close to breaking bucket that housed something even fouler than the water. Sitting in this cell gave him time to think a lot of things. ‘How many days has it been?’ he asked himself. ‘Well, the moment they walk through is the moment I’ll know.’ His ears twitched, hearing what sounded like a metal door slamming shut. ‘Perhaps a little more sooner than I thought.’ Hoof steps. And from the sound of it, a lot of weaponry too. But there was one distinct sound he heard that struck him. Almost like cloth flapping in the wind. Or whatever you would call wind in the underground. The pegasus didn’t raise his head, hiding his dark expression under his bangs as he saw the hooves of what appeared to be three ponies stand before his cell. “Are you Candlejack?” a stern sounding voice asked. The pegasus didn’t respond. His cage was struck with the butt of a spear that had a humming blue beam forming the tip. “Hey, flying rat! You speak to our commanding officer when asked too!” another voice said with disgust. The stallion said nothing. “Should I teach you a lesson in respect?” No response. “Alright, punk, you asked for it.” The stallion’s ears twitched at the sound of the cage door opening and the guard strolling in with his spear at the ready. “Fool.” He heard the stern sounding voice say. At that moment, the stallion’s instincts kicked in. He quickly batted the spear to his side and rushed forward, punting a forehoof under the guard’s chin. It was enough to have the guard ease his grip on the spear. The stallion gripped the spear, twisted and yanked it out of the grip. He brought it around skillfully and locked the non-beam end of the spear under the guard’s hooves and tripped him. The guard yelped in surprise and before he knew it, the stallion was on him, the non-beam end of the spear aimed at his neck. He caught sight of the other guard rush in when the stern voice shouted: “Cease!” They did. The stallion looked at the figure. The young and handsome looking unicorn stallion in a vanilla colored hide that was covered by a suite and cape and a neatly trimmed blonde mane and tail stood in the cell. His blue piercing eyes judging the pegasus’s orchid colored eyes. Candlejack waited. Studying the stallion’s look. And then, the stallion spoke: “You are indeed what I am looking for.” Candlejack eyed the stallion. “Sorry, I don’t roll that way.” He retorted. The stallion shook his head. “You misunderstand my meaning. Here, walk with me and I will tell you.” Candlejack arched a brow. He looked at the pinned guard under him. “They will not harm you. I only mean to talk.” The guard looked at his commanding officer quizzically before taking his stern look as a sign of “don’t-buck-it-up-more-than-you-have”. Candlejack tossed the spear aside and walked over to the stallion, who walked next to him as they made their way down the sewer. As they passed, Candlejack noticed the cells occupied with poorly hygienic ponies. Each cell consisting of either a lone soul or a group of them. He felt a bit squeamish when he noticed that in one particular cell, a certain act was going on that made him feel angry at the stallion next to him. He couldn’t do anything for the poor mare as her cellmate moved on her. He was a prisoner too. As they passed the horrible act going on in the cell, they stopped in front of a metal door. One of the guards went to open it and they ascended the stone steps. “A pony of few words, I take it?” the stallion next to him asked. Candlejack didn’t look at the pony before responding. “I don’t need to talk to get my point across.” He said venomously. He would have thought they would have helped her in that cell. But they continued on as if nothing was happening. And he had hoped the tone in his voice made it clear as to what they passed hadn’t gone unnoticed. “We become the monsters when we give into the temptation. Both of them are just as much.” Candlejack spat. “By what right?” he asked coldly. The stallion remained stoic in his response. “By right of the Equestrian Round Table.” What a load of bull, the pegasus thought. The Equestrian Round Table. A group that is above the doings of the Solar Empire and the Lunar Republic. In fact, both of those factions branch from the ERT themselves. And the very pony walking next to him as they made their way down a tunnel with more cells and prisoners, is the very pony behind it all. Or at least, the heir of it. Candlejack walked next to them as they made their way over a rickety metal walkway. Prisoners below them worked non-stop with old and rustic looking pickaxes. Their price for freedom. But for Candlejack? No, his freedom was something different. And spending more time in that cell made him want to embrace that very freedom. In fact, he was curious as to when they reached a hall, they took a left instead of a right. Surely, the gallows were the opposite direction? They do know where their own execution places are, right? The confused Candlejack eyed the ponies around him. Something wasn’t right. “I can tell what you are thinking.” The stallion suddenly said. Candlejack said nothing, not even looking at the pony who addressed him. “I can assure you, I only mean to talk.” He reached back with his magic and pulled out a small tablet. The tablet blipped to life and he levitated it to the pegasus for him to see. Candlejack arched a brow. By request of Brilliant Mane, heir to the Round Table, prisoner ID 14115 is to be relieved of all charges and be set free as a citizen to our society. Candlejack was almost tempted to ask, but thought better of it. Brilliant Mane lowered the tablet before speaking. “Will you hear me out?” Candlejack said nothing as he waited for the pony to speak. Taking it as a green light, Brilliant Mane spoke. “Excellent. I have a proposition for you.” Brilliant Mane smiled. “I want you to partake in a certain expedition. Spelunking if you will.” Candlejack knew better. He has heard about the supposed ruins of the underground society before the new advanced sections started branching out. Some say that the residents disappeared and while others say that they still remain there, guarding the precious salvage they house. If he was being asked to partake in an expedition that is ordered by the very pony who runs the place, then it was something that involved his life for. ‘But on the other hoof, I can just stay in here and rot like the sorry excuse of a pony I supposedly am.’ He thought. He looked at the pony. He was smiling. ‘Dammit, he knows I have no choice.’ Taking Candlejack’s look as another defeat, Brilliant Mane nodded. “Do not worry. You will be provided the necessary preparations before digging in. However, I do expect one thing from you.” Candlejack arched a brow. “Results. Fail to bring me it and it’ll be more than you rotting in a sewer. Perhaps that little abode you call a home near the junk yard?” Candlejack narrowed his eyes angrily. ‘You better expect that to come back and bite you in the ass.’ He thought coldly to the stallion. With that, the stallion and his guards left Candlejack standing in front of the entrance of the prison he was housed in.

~~~****~~~

“So, it is just as bad as I thought.” A zebra mare said to Candlejack as she sat a pot of boiled beans in a can in front of him. Candlejack chewed casually at the bland tasting food. ‘Better than the shit they fed me in the sewer. If any at all.’ Candlejack swallowed before speaking. “Hey, as long as I’m scot free to do whatever the hell I want, then so be it.” He said matter-of-factly. The zebra sighed and sat in the small stool across from the rickety small dining table. A dome lamp with a dimming bulb hung overhead, providing a small amount of light in the small house. And while, it wasn’t much, it was home nonetheless. “And that is particularly why you were in prison.” She said with a bored expression. Candlejack shrugged as he chewed another spoon full of beans. “I was only in there for a few months.” He said between bites. The zebra shook her head. “A year. Candlejack, do you realize how much we worried?” she asked. Candlejack stopped himself in the middle of a bite. The spoon tantalizingly close. He then sighed and put the spoon down into the bubbling beans. “Is this going to be another one of your ancient ancestor talk?” he asked. The zebra frowned. “Only because it seems you can’t get it through your thick skull.” Candlejack took a bit of offense. “Hey, my thick skull saved me multiple times from head trauma!” The zebra arched a brow. “You call having a neon sign drop on you as having your thick skull save you?” Candlejack took a moment to process this. “Okay, maybe it sounded better in my head. But it wasn’t my fault the vendor wouldn’t hand over the scrap!” The zebra looked bored again as she retorted. “Only because you stated that having him ‘jedi mind trick you’ out of bolts is a sin above all sin.” Candlejack waved the spoon at her. “You never know! In today’s society, we might have telepathic earth ponies. It’s only a matter of when.” The zebra sighed. “Jack, please just listen to me.” Candlejack lowered his spoon, averting his gaze. He knew what was going to come next. ‘Guilt trip city’. “You were lucky DD saved you from the Scrapper. You are lucky to even be out and about! You may have been a street urchin, but you have a home now. And we’ve been doing our damnedest to make sure you still have a home.” She motioned around the small space. “And I know you have thought of ways to try and find us suitable living space. But that is the thing. Today’s society isn’t all fantasy.” The zebra put a reassuring hoof on the pegasus’s. “It’s time to wake up, Jack. You’re not a kid anymore. And as much as I prefer you to remain a child, life doesn’t treat us such.” Candlejack sighed. “I know, Zelori. You don’t have to keep telling me.” The zebra raised a skeptical brow. But Candlejack quickly spoke. “I understand what you mean. Really, I do. And I owe you both a debt of gratitude that I can never seem to repay.” That was when the zebra mare smiled. “You have already repaid it in full, Jack. You are my brother. And being the oldest, I have to look out for you. Me and DD both.” She made him look into her green emerald eyes. “Know that even though I may be far or out of ear…” Candlejack finished it for her. “I will always watch over you from the heavens.” He sighed as the zebra gave a nod of approval. “My ancestors are smiling down on you, Jack. Their wisdom is wise as well as powerful. If all hope is lost, think back to what I have said.” Candlejack gave a defeated look. Zelori patted his cheek and smiled. “Now then, I believe DD has required some assistance of you.” Candlejack quietly nodded as Zelori picked up her finished can and dumped it into a stained sink. The pegasus stood up and quietly exited the building through an open doorway. As he stepped out, he looked up to the cave ceiling. Stalagmites loomed overhead dangerously. He thought back to the time when he met Zelori. A young mare older than he was. And when the slender mechanical creature named DD brought in the crying colt, Zelori smiled at him kindly and offered him a can of beans. The colt looked at it confusedly, awed by the sudden gesture. He looked up to see the zebra mare nod at him. He immediately planted his muzzle into the can and chewed, tears streaming from his face at the taste. While bland, he had found it better than the Mud Carrot he had earlier. The zebra mare laughed softly as Candlejack rose his head, only to find his muzzle stuck to the can. He gave a quick tug of the can, only to find again that it was firmly stuck on him. Using all his hooves and laying on his back, he tugged again. Zelori trotted over and with such skill and grace, twisted the can once and it popped off of his muzzle. The colt looked in awe at the mare. “What is your name?” she asked. The colt wiped his muzzle and sniffed before speaking. “C-Candlejack.” he said. The zebra mare arched an amused brow. “An odd name. Why are you called that?” she asked. The colt shrugged. “Dunno.” The mare smiled again. “Where are you parents?” The look he gave to her told her otherwise. “A troubling thought?” “I don’t really want to talk about it…” he said sadly. DD hummed and garbled. Zelori chuckled. “That is to be remain known, DD. But I think we can help you get back on your hooves.” She said. The colt cocked a head in confusion. Did the mare understand the creature? But it was after that came next. Zelori and DD showed the colt a grand tour of their little abode. While the house was a lonely little stack of metal sheet walls and a downed power line connecting to the house’s generator that provided the light, it was the yard that made it special for them. A place where they can scavenge around, finding small little decorations here and there to add to the house. The colt found himself wondering every now and then as they explored a spot where the bulk units had trouble getting into, of course with the robot’s and Zelori’s supervision. As he dug through a pile he deemed worth looking into, he noticed a shadow loom over him. He turned to see DD lug something across its’ back. It brought a sack around and laid it gently on the ground for the colt. It was his precious treasure he had acquired before being trapped in the pile. He dug through and found all his trinkets in place. He looked up at the robot and smiled. “Thanks!” he beamed. DD patted his head softly, giving a small happy garbled hum. They spent hours looking through piles and piles of junk. Zelori smiled when she saw Candlejack emerge from a pile with a bent Groucho Marx. Followed by DD, who emerged with a colorful wig and a red ball on its’ face. It pressed the red ball and it made a honking nose that made the mare and the colt burst out laughing along with DD’s stuttering hums. As the hours went by, Candlejack found himself having more fun than he could imagine. Much better than roaming the streets. And while Zelori and DD did their best to make sure the colt was well taken care of while they searched for his parents, they found themselves always hanging out and playing. Eventually, the search was a forgotten memory and Candlejack couldn’t have been happier to be sleeping along with a pony he could call a sister and a slender robot he could call a parent. Candlejack, as he thought back to the simpler times, found himself wandering down to a small little metal shack. It had a small burning lantern inside and a tall slender looking robot hunched over a workbench. He quietly entered and knocked on the metal wall. DD looked up from its’ work and greeted him with a hum. “Hey, DD, Whatcha’ working on?” DD gestured with a limb as it spoke with its’ usual garbled voice. Zelori had told him that DD was a Cleaner Unit who was tasked with cleaning up any stray debris or junk in the junkyard. Apparently, spending years as the yard’s keeper, its voice box ended up being damaged when a large metal slab nicked it as it tried to flee. Thankfully, it got away with its head. Now it could only communicate through garbled hums and gestures. But Candlejack didn’t mind it not one bit. He trotted over to the tall robot as DD scooched to the side to let the pegasus see its’ creation. Candlejack arched a brow. “What is it?” he asked, tapping it with a hoof. It seemed familiar. And when he tapped it again, the strange metal box blipped to life and a familiar melody played. It took him completely by surprise. DD hummed proudly. “You… fixed it?” DD gave a happy hum. Candlejack smiled and looked back at the box. The very object that started his friendship with the tall robot. Now better and improved. The music notes played harmoniously instead of the previous stuttering. Candlejack remembered when he was devastated that the music box had suddenly broke. The statuette of the alicorn stuttered and popped off of the box, DD looked at the box and to the distraught colt. Candlejack wasn’t sure where it went after that. Who would have thought the old Cleaner Unit was fixing it all this time? DD held up the box, examining it’s handiwork before lowering it to Candlejack. He didn’t know what to say. The design of the box was slimmer now and seems durable enough to withstand even the most devastating shock. Candlejack smiled and placed it on the workbench. “Thanks, DD. It means a lot.” The robot gave a cool like motion as it hummed happily. “Oh, didn’t Zelori say you needed my help?” DD rubbed a stub against its’ robotic round head. It then made a gesture as if an idea had struck before it scanned the room. Candlejack ducked when a long limb brushed overhead as the robot dug through scrap and metal. It then pulled out a small sack and handed it to the stallion. Candlejack remembered this sack as well. The very thing he used to collect his treasures. Candlejack arched a brow and looked at DD, realizing that it had also put on a colorful wig and honked the red ball on its’ face. While the sudden change in appearance made him smile, Candlejack shook his head before handing the sack back to it. “Don’t you think I’m a little old to be dumpster diving?” he asked, trying his best not to make it sound like he wasn’t in the mood. Of course Candlejack wanted to go dumpster diving! The sheer possibility of what he could find was still great. But after having left prison, he wasn’t sure what to think. DD cocked its’ round head. It noticed his sad look. DD made a small hum that told the pegasus it knew. Candlejack sighed. “I’m sorry, DD. I don’t mean to shoot you down. It’s just that after everything that has happened, I don’t think even a good ol’ garbage bath would help.” DD rubbed its round chin with a stub before humming at another idea. Candlejack quickly stood aside as DD crawled out of the shack and motioned for him to follow. Candlejack arched a brow before following. Candlejack had to quickly trot to keep up with the long steady pace of the robot. As the robot began climbing a pile, Candle Jack unfurled his wings and took off ahead of it. He landed casually on the top as DD reached him and sat down. Candlejack wasn’t sure what the Cleaner Unit was doing. And seeing as it made no motion, Candlejack sat down and followed its’ gaze. It took a moment for him to realize that they were overlooking the entire section. The distant bulk units casually drifting through piles of metal and scrap. The small neon signs that indicated the positions of the vendors. Small little advertisement posters hanging decrepitly on walls of metal sheet walls that were houses and apartments. While they live in a society underground where technology was an uncommon occurrence, Candlejack took in the view and smiled. He couldn’t have found a better place to call home. And as the two sat there, admiring the tranquility of the quietness, Candlejack couldn’t help but think that maybe he could live in this fantasy. Just one more time. As he scanned the area, he found the round open area where Zelori had taken him one day to do something a little different than dumpster diving. She said that it would help better increase his chances if he was ever found without help. And that was when she showed him the arts of her people. It consisted of standing on his hind hooves and using his forehooves as a means of defense. He never could understand why standing on your hind hooves as a part of the technique, but she said that if he could find the balance within him, he will have no trouble at moving. It was harrowing for him. Zelori did her best to tell him how to stand on his hind hooves. He could only manage to stand up for a minute through constant practice. But it would always end with him falling flat on his side, back or front. Thankfully, he wasn’t a lost cause. In the brief minutes he could stand, he can dish out a few moves. He even tried them on Zelori. And while the mare toyed with him at his attempts, she smiled as he managed to find a partial bit of his balance. And from then on, the colt found himself constantly practicing after a good three hours of dumpster diving. DD clapped happily as Candlejack showed him the moves Zelori taught him. Candlejack smiled and looked up at the serene robot. The view may not have been much, but he was pretty sure he wanted to see what DD wanted to show him. And as he looked back to scan the area, he noticed seeing a group of ponies in their Lunarium powered suites scaling a junk pile. Even DD noticed it. Candlejack frowned. ‘Time already?’ he thought.***~~~****~~~*** “We are here to escort Candlejack for his parole.” One of the guards stated to a frowning Zelori. Candlejack and DD rounded the corner, catching the guards by surprise by the sudden tall slender robot. Candlejack eyed the guards. “Well, I’m here. So get on with it.” He stated coldly. DD gave a sad garbled hum. Candlejack looked up and smiled at the robot. “Don’t worry, DD. I’ll be fine.” However, he wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. None of them knew. And Zelori furrowed her brows worriedly at her adoptive brother. “Jack.” she started. He nodded. “I know, I know. I’ll keep in mind what you’ve said. As annoying as it is.” He gave a small playful smile to her. But Zelori didn’t return it. She watched as Candlejack was led away from them. DD garbled again sadly. “He’s grown up, DD. We don’t need to treat him like a child anymore.” She said. DD garbled sadly. Zelori sighed in response. “That may be true, but Candlejack still has a lot to learn. And I fear that the small amount of experience we have taught him won’t be enough.” DD rubbed a stub on its’ round head. It then put a mechanical limb on her shoulder, forcing her to look surprised at the robot. “DD, you surely can’t suggest?” DD garbled again, hugging the zebra mare. Zelori found herself baffled. She clearly thought DD must be a little loose in the wires. But the gesture was enough to show its’ resolve. “I-if you want me too… but what about you?” she asked. DD pat her head and gave a garbled happy hum. She looked sadly at the robot before looking back to the distant figures of Candlejack and the guards. She then gave a serious look before nodding to the robot. DD watched the mare quickly trot gracefully down the junk yard and over piles of metal and scrap. The robot slumped a little before turning back and heading down to the small shack. It was hesitant at first. But reaching in and feeling for the sleek box, it pulled it out and examined it. Making sure that it was happy with its work, it turned it on and the melody began playing. DD set it down on the ground and sat quietly, watching the small statuette of the alicorn spin on the box as it played the haunting lullaby. It was time. It had to let go eventually. Both of them were grown up. As much fun as it had with them, not everything lasts forever. And DD knew this. It always knew this. And if it remembered what Zelori had once said: “The memories we forge are the ones we experienced. We may be far or out of ear, but know that I will always be watching you from the heavens.” And on this day, if anypony was to take a stroll through the junk yard, either be it curiosity or adventure, they would certainly hear the haunting lullaby. A sign that was more than just a box with gears. But they wouldn’t know it. Only those that have forged the memories with it know.

Act-1 Chapter2: Somnus Apocalyptica

Somnus Apocalyptica

Candlejack frowned. When Brilliant Mane mentioned spelunking, he knew better than to have thought it would be life risking. And he was right. The gear they provided him was heavy and all around uncomfortable. The bulges under his suite depicted his wings as they moved and shifted uncomfortably under it. Not only that, the hoof gauntlets and boots they made him wear were bulky enough that he felt even more weighed by them than the chest plate. And now that he took a good look, he noticed the others that had volunteered wore suites that were a bit lighter than the one he had. They lined up as they waited to be given their weapons for protection. A Solarium carbine as the primary, a Lunarium energy pistol and a solarium knife that had the blade no bigger than his hoof. Donning the helm, Candlejack waited patiently as the pony in front of him decided to go with the rifle instead of the carbine, which was odd to both him and the supplier. But the helmeted guard remained quiet as he went to stand next to the others ready to explore. Candlejack counted no more than thirteen that had volunteered (making him the fourteenth to being forced volunteered). Being the last to acquire his gear, the supplier smirked and took away the carbine from him in mid-giving. “Sorry, we appeared to have run out of carbines. But there are plenty more pistols and a knife for you.” Candlejack narrowed his eyes through the visor. Of course, why wouldn’t they? They all knew a prisoner was forced to partake. And they had heard he had lived in the junkyard. So why not torment the weak? But he digressed and holstered the pistol and knife. Being underprepared, he was ready to partake. He looked to see that Brilliant Mane was watching from afar in a tent that housed a table and crates. Guards left and right meddled about the site. He then looked down to the tunnel, seeing a metallic door at the end. They were to descend into the depths and from there, find the ruin and retrieve whatever they could find valuable. Brilliant Mane then used his magic to project his voice over them. “Attention! I do appreciate your valor and bravery in this expedition! I want you all to know that the moment you step in, you will lose all communications with the outside! But fear not! Let Celestia’s light shine your path and Luna’s shroud to protect you from the danger! When you return victorious, I will see to it that your pay will be doubled!” He darted his eyes sternly at the group. “This is a dangerous operation. And I know that some of you are afraid to find what is down there. But Equestria has never feared from danger. You will be cautious. You will be quick. And most of all, you will survive.” Candlejack frowned again. Brilliant Mane put a hoof to his chest and shouted: “Long Live Equestria!” Twelve of the fourteen followed the gesture and repeated before a sound of a buzzer and a green light shone. “Goddesses speed, gentle-colts. Do your nation proud.” And with that, Brilliant Mane watched the group turn and enter the tunnel. All except one. Candlejack narrowed his eyes judgingly at the stallion, who returned it. Candlejack then turned and trotted after the group. Entering the lift, the group shifted uncomfortably. Candlejack tapped his hoof patiently, hearing the small clunking his boots were making. He was told that the boots were designed to help them aim their carbines. Basically, almost making them stand on their hind hooves to take aim. It was considered a weight to steady them, but light enough to where they can strafe and move. Such an uncommon occurrence this technology was. At least, to NE-10. The sections above NE-5 have a more common use of technology than those that rarely see it. The only technological thing Candlejack can think of was DD and the neon signs that advertised shops. Or the occasional Lunar and Solar guard that tended to patrol the section (due to either disobedience or slacking off). But the pegasus sighed quietly, watching as his visor displayed his suite in the top left corner with the words "OK" that lined the limbs, torso and head. On the far right top corner was a little compass stating that they were facing north east. As the lift descended, Candlejack took the time to study his group. Some were eager to fight for their nation, while some shifted nervously. There was one, however, that he was unaware of, who was watching him from the back of the lift. The lift stopped suddenly, causing Candlejack’s insides to rise a little. With a loud metal screech, the door opened and their visor’s helmet lights kicked on. Holding their carbines above and to the side of their heads (except for Candlejack who remained without one) the group advanced. Candlejack has never been outside of NE-10. And when they entered into another tunnel with green lights that marked the way, he was in awe at the sight. Gems and crystals left and right were imbedded into the walls. Some were protruding from the ceilings and walls. One of the guards whistled. “I heard they found a crystal mine. But this is just incredible.” He said through their built in communication device in their helms. “Stay focused. We don’t know what to expect down here.” The lead one said. Candlejack felt saddened. If the underground wasn’t such a dangerous place, he probably would have found more treasure outside of NE-10. And as they passed a colorful looking crystal, he stopped and leaned in to get a closer look. It sparkled brilliantly at him. He slowly raised a hoof to touch it, only to be startled at the sudden pat on his shoulder. He turned and noticed one of the volunteers shake his head at him. The pony then quickly trotted over to the group who were scanning the area with their carbines pointed out in every direction. Candlejack glanced back at the crystal before sighing and trotting after them. What seemed like minutes turned to hours. The green lights seemed to go on for miles. And by the time they had reached the entrance to the ruins, most of the group was ready to call it quits. Candlejack found a good vantage point on top of a stalactite and scanned the horizon. The ruin was massive. Its block like metallic structure was illuminated by the vague light the crystals gave off. “What is that?” one of the ponies below noticed. “It seems to be a bunker.” Another stated. A bunker? A sudden feeling overcame the pegasus. It wasn’t what he had intended, but the sheer thought of it was exponential. And the little kid in him was dying to find out more. His fantasy of treasure and riches was abruptly cut off when the lead one barked. “Alright, listen up. We had sent an expedition team inside before hoof. As it turns out, most of them didn’t come back. So, we are to back them up. Find any survivors you can and any valuables they have. Signal with your helms of your locations and we will try and get to you as quickly as possible.” He shifted his carbine and trotted down the slope. Candlejack watched the group slide down the slope, noticing that one of them was looking at the bunker just as cautiously as he was. Following suite, Candlejack felt himself shiver. As the block like structure loomed overhead, he found himself grinning. “So, what exactly are we to expect, danger wise?” A mare asked. The lead went over to a panel and pressed a few buttons on it before the door suddenly screeched to life, alarms blaring. “Something I hope we never have to see. Stick close and don’t lose sight of each other.” And with that, the group advanced, unaware to them that they were being carefully watched at every move.

~~~****~~~

Candlejack was amazed at how sturdy the place was. When they had entered, it was almost what he had expected. Dark, gloomy and all around ready for exploration. Of course, that didn’t sway his mind of the possible dangers that this place might hold. The lead didn’t say it, but whatever had went down with the previous expedition team didn’t end so well. The group covered the bases before stating the all clear to move forward. Candlejack drew his Lunarium energy pistol and waved it left and right, testing it to see if it was going to be a nuisance or not. And while, not the most ideal protection, it did give him that sense of safety.

And as they went further and further into the bunker, they found themselves in what appeared to be a lobby. “What kind of bunker has a facility inside it?” one of the ponies asked as two of them went over to a humming terminal sitting on an oval desk. While they busily worked over it, Candlejack found himself trotting away from the group and over to a pile of metallic crates. Curious as to how these massive metal boxes had gotten in here, he couldn’t help but notice something sticking out of one of them. Curiosity had gotten the better of him. And as one of the ponies watched him carefully, unaware to him, Candlejack gave a good tug and a loud clatter of metal and debris sounded. He backed away when he saw something that made his heart race. “Oi, prisoner! What the hell do you think you are doing?” one of the guards stated, marching over to him. Candlejack looked confusedly at the pony, who looked down at the pile. Spotting what made Candlejack’s heart race, he leaned in to get a closer look. The skeletal looking metallic figure remained lifeless. But it wasn’t only that that made him fearful. It was the fact that the lower half was mechanical and the upper half was that of a pony. “What the hell is that?” One of the ponies trotted over and pushed aside Candlejack, causing him to back away slightly. “By the goddesses. That’s an android!” Candlejack cocked his head. ‘Android?’ “And from the looks of the design, this is pre-war!” Candlejack found this baffling. A pony that is machine and flesh? The thoughts of DD came back to him. He shook his head dismissively. ‘I highly doubt DD is one.’ He thought. Besides, they said this was pre-war. “Hey, Buck. You might want to take a look at this.” one of the mares over by the terminal spoke. The lead walked over and looked on in the terminal. “A surveillance system?” He looked at the two. “Bring it up. The one that is more recent specifically.” Candlejack awkwardly made his way to look over their shoulders. He saw the terminal light up and a small box with a strange red blinking dot at the top next to the letters R-E-C displayed over a moving image. “This is further into the bunker. Hall B-1.” The mare said. He watched as he saw two ponies enter the room. Both of them bearing the same expedition suites they wore. One was hunched over, catching his breath while the other quickly went to a panel and quickly pressed it. As the door was closing, it suddenly stopped, causing them both to back away and aim their carbines. Candlejack squinted his eyes. It was faint, but there. A hoof was stopping the door. Then another hoof. And then another hoof. “What the hell…” one of the mares said in horror as the door was forcefully opened and in rushed what seemed to be a swarm of limbless ponies. The two fired on them, only to no avail as they were swarmed by the advancing creatures. One of them went down in a dog pile while the other was smacked straight into the camera, causing the feed to be lost. The lead stood up and pulled a small lever on his carbine, making it hum. “Now we know what to expect.” He looked to the two who were still discussing the body of the mechanical pony. “Get ready to move out!” the two stiffened and saluted to him. “A-are you sure about this, cap’n?” one of the mares asked. The lead nodded. “We are in a pre-war bunker with what appears to be rogue androids. Keep an eye out. Don’t let your guard down. We have a new objective.” He trotted over to another metallic door. “Find whatever the expedition team before us failed to retrieve and bring it back to the top. I am having you paired in twos. Keep an eye on each other and don’t get separated.” He motioned for one of the mares to follow him while the rest buddied up. Candlejack awkwardly stood there, waiting to see if one of them would. Fortunately, it seemed that the silent pony walked towards him. Without so much as an exchange of words, the pony nodded to him and held out a hoof. Candlejack arched a brow before hesitating to shake it. Partnered up and ready to move, the two followed the group as they traversed further. When they reached a four way hall, the lead pony motioned for them to split up, four down one hall, another four down another and leaving Candlejack and the other to take another hall. Making their way down the hall, they descended the steps at the end and found themselves in what appeared to Candlejack to be a living area. He looked at the panel and carefully pressed a big button that made the door hiss and open. The stallion shivered again, not of fear, but of curiosity. What could he possibly find down here that nopony else thought existed? And as he stepped in, unsure of what awaited him, the lights in the room suddenly blinked on. Candlejack let out a silent gasp. The room was spacey. Much bigger than the living space in the junkyard. He rubbed his helmeted chin in thought, scanning the room. The room had a long red velvet sofa that partially surrounded a destroyed glass table. The walls were bland and rusty. However, he did notice some posters here and there. One of them read:

Mind your manners! A friendly bunker is a successful bunker!

On the poster was what appeared to be a pony with black eyes that seemed to have a piece of it missing while smiling and winking with an outstretched hoof with stubs. How strange. Why draw a pony with stubs that he only saw on DD? And now that he got a closer look, he noticed that the pony in the poster had a certain slit at the joint. Was this an android? Candlejack looked to see the silent pony scanning the room as well.

“Do you have any idea what this place is?” Candlejack asked the pony. The pony shook his head in response. Candlejack continued his exploration. He found two doors. One that lead down a small hall way with four doors that lined both sides of the wall and another that lead to a strange small tiled room. He instantly recognized the sink. But it was the strange bowel that seemed planted into the wall that caught his interest. If it wasn’t for the stains and the cracks, he probably would have guessed that it was kept cleaner than most things down here. Finding nothing else to sate his curiosity in the room, he went down and explored the small hall. The doors opened as he walked by, stopping to look in. Holes formed the walls with what appeared to be sheets and a strange white looking square. He went to the unusal designed holes and put a hoof on it, testing it. The texture was soft and silky. Going over to the white square. He picked it up and squeezed it. He cocked his head, feeling the texture to be soft and… fluffy. Perhaps a little too fluffy. So fluffy, in fact, the more he squeezed it, the more he found himself nuzzling it under his chin with a smile. So soft and comfortable. He looked to see the silent pony eyed him questioningly, causing him to flush under his helm and put the fluffy square back on the sheets. As he did, the pony suddenly was on him, pushing against the wall and putting a foreleg on his neck. “W-what the hell is you-“ The pony held up a hoof to the helm in a shushing motion. Candlejack arched a brow quizzically before he heard the sound. It sounded like hoof steps. And not just any steps. These hoof steps had a steady humming pace to them. The pony released his grip and the two quietly peeked out of the door. The door leading to the lobby was closed, yet, they could hear a distinct sound of clattering coming from the other side. The pony held up the carbine slowly, making it hum to life. Candlejack took out his pistol and pulled back on the top, making it hum quietly. The two sidled against the wall, making the door open with a hiss. They peeked out and saw that the room was still untouched. But whatever was in here left a strange blue trail leading into the small tiled room. As much as his brain was sending him alerts, Candlejack was curious as to what was in there. And without thinking, he found himself slowly moving towards it, unaware of the pony trying to reach out to stop him. He could hear it as he got close. A gurgling sound and what also sounded like humming in movements. Peeking in, he saw the figure of a pony. But not just any pony. This pony was missing skin, revealing mechanical like wires and structures underneath. He noticed the head twitching slightly. Candlejack narrowed his eyes and aimed the pistol at it. But, he couldn’t bring himself to pull the trigger. Not because this looked like a pony. No, he was curious if anything. What did it look like? What was it doing? Could it probably communicate? And before he could think anything else, the head turned, glaring at him with a red eye. “I-i-i-intruder.” It suddenly spoke in a metallic stutter. “Security underway. P-p-please remain where you a-a-a-are.” It turned fully, making Candlejack back away. Another feeling overcame him. One that made him shiver. What could this place possibly house? And if this creature is only a fraction of what it has to offer, then what’s to say that nothing else isn’t worth of value? He looked to the couch. ‘Maybe I can find a way to get that back up to the junkyard.’ And as he thought this, he didn’t notice the pony suddenly aiming the carbine at him. “Identity unknown. Preparing to remove from the facility.” It let out a screeching sound that made Candlejack’s bones rattle. And before he knew it, the creature was on him. The pony took aim, but found it difficult to line up the shot. Candlejack wrestled with the creature, finding that its’ strength greatly overpowered his. Fortunately, the suite’s bulky weight like boots on his hind legs kept him from being sent sailing across the room. Another feeling overcame him. Excitement. And without thinking, he quickly locked a hoof around the decrepit android’s skeletal hoof and twisted. He found it easy to turn. And with all his might, he pulled. The android went with the motion and sailed over the sofa. With a loud clang against the metal walls, the android sparked. “Warning. Any more d-d-d-damages to Zillex and its’ properties is a crime and a-a-a-action must be taken.” Zillex? What’s Zillex? The name struck the stallion as odd. But more importantly, the creature actually responded to being damaged. His heart was aflutter. This place was just dying to be explored. However, his excitement was short lived when the silent pony fired a burst shot of solarium bullets into the android. It spluttered as white looking liquid splattered against the wall. It now remained lifeless. Another feeling overcame him that made him frown. “Now why did you do that?” he asked the pony suddenly. The pony eyed him questioningly. Candlejack went over to the body and poked it with his pistol. “I wanted to hear what else it had to say.” His ears twitched again as he heard more sounds of steady humming. He peeked out of the doorway and saw down one side of the hall. Multiple red glowing eyes swayed in the darkness. And they were heading their way. Candlejack rubbed his chin and looked at the pony. “I wonder if they know what this Zillex is.” He said. The pony slumped before quickly galloping over to him and taking hold of his gauntlet hoof, forcing him to follow. They raced down the hall, looking back to see that the red eyes were very much gaining on them. And what Candlejack saw baffled him. Skeletal androids that resembled ponies of all gender appeared to be clawing for them, echoing the same word over and over: “Intruder. Intruder.” Candlejack and the pony turned down the hall. The pony then tipped over a locker to block off the advancing androids. They only managed to make it halfway down when the creatures turned and rammed into the locker, sending it sailing down the hall. Of course, as it did, some of the androids tripped over it, causing them to act like a living wave. The pony stopped and grabbed hold of Candlejack, tossing him into a room before jumping in after him. The pony took aim at the panel and fired off a burst round. The panel sparked and crackled as the door closed shut. They took a moment to catch their breaths. Candlejack looked at the door, hearing the sounds of the passing androids. When the sounds faded, Candlejack brushed himself off before looking at the pony. “That was… err… pretty quick thinking back there.” He said. The pony looked at him before going to remove his helm. Only, it wasn’t a he as Candlejack originally thought. In fact, he was surprised to see that the pony underneath wasn’t even affiliated to them. No, this pony was none other than his sister. “Something you lack in.” Zelori said sternly. Candlejack balked. “What the hell? Since when were you a part of the ETG?” he asked. Zelori rubbed her muzzle in frustration. “I’m not a part of them, I just happened to...” she stopped and averted her eyes as she continued. “Acquire a suite.” Candlejack gave her a bored expression. “And you say I’m a terrible liar.” He caught her stern look. Candlejack then sighed. “So, why are you here? I thought I was the only one that was forced to volunteer?” Zelori adjusted the carbine in her hoof before speaking. “I’ve joined to make sure that you wouldn’t cause any trouble.” Candlejack arched a brow. “So, you think acquiring a suite and disguising yourself as a volunteer is a form of making sure I’m not causing any trouble?” Candlejack smirked. “Then what about you and the method you used to acquire the suite? Wouldn’t that put you on the trouble list too?” Zelori frowned. “Necessary risks are to be taken to ensure survival.” Candlejack nickered softly. “So much for ancestral wisdom.” Zelori narrowed her eyes at him. “And what was all that wanting to hear more?” she asked. Candlejack stopped and rubbed the back of his helmeted head. “I was… errr… curious.” He said. Zelori shook her head. “And you were well aware of the fact that it was a rogue machine?” Candlejack felt himself flush at this. “I-I was well aware of it! I just wanted to… you know… see how it reacted.” Zelori sighed dejectedly. “We were right about you being reckless. Which is why DD asked me to watch over you.” Candlejack arched a brow. “DD asked you? Why?” Zelori eyed her adoptive brother judgingly. “Perhaps you should ask DD yourself.” Candlejack frowned. ‘Way to be a helpful sis, sis.’ Zelori looked around the room. “We need to return to the others.” She put her helmet back on and trotted past him. He hadn’t noticed it, but the room they were in was surprisingly small. Fortunately, there was a tall blast door behind him. Trotting next to Zelori, the two stood in front of the door, eyeing it. Candlejack felt that feeling come back to him. It made him itch all over. Ignoring the scratchy feeling, Zelori pressed the button on the panel and the door hissed open. The room was dark. Using their helmet lights, they scanned the area. “This seems to haven’t been touched in centuries.” Zelori stated in awe. Candlejack eyed strange bulky terminals with blacked out screens and dials lining the wall. Zelori stopped to examine one of the terminals, carefully turning a dial once. When nothing happened, she went to the next one. Her curiosity as great as her brother’s. And as for Candlejack, he was still in awe at the abandoned technology when he suddenly clunked into a wall that made him back away and rub his helmet at the impact. He couldn’t quite make it out as his helmet’s light shone back at him. But if that was the case, he could safely assume it was a mirror of some kind. Or… maybe not? When he put a hoof to his darkened reflection, it didn’t feel like a mirror surface. Zelori looked over to him, not realizing that her hoof had brushed a switch. When it clicked, the room around them suddenly hummed and the terminals blinked on. Zelori backed away, her carbine at the ready while Candlejack let out a small gasp. The surface he was touching wasn’t a mirror. It was a window. And when the dim light clicked on, he saw through the window something he had never dreamed that he would ever see. On the other side of the window was a tall and wide cylindrical pod that seemed to bubble to life. Emitting a soft glowing green hue, the pod appeared to dispense into small little tubes that seemed to connect to a strange bulky device that had glowing colorful lights. Candlejack couldn’t make heads or tail of what tube goes to where. As the pod continued to dispense itself into the tubes, the terminal in front of Zelori blinked once and a symbol of a prism appeared. “Greetings, adventurers. Are you the ones who reactivated me?” Candlejack and Zelori exchanged glances before Candlejack spoke. “What… are you?” he asked. The prism seemed to blur when the metallic deep voice spoke. “I am an artificial intelligence designed by my creator, Dr. Trottingheim. Designation ID 4-P0C-41YP7-IC4. Or as my creator commonly calls me, Apocalyptica.” Apocalyptica? What kind of name was that? Candlejack rubbed his chin in thought. “What do you mean by that name?” Candlejack asked. “I do not understand what you mean.” Apocalyptica responded. Zelori narrowed her eyes. “Your name. Why does your creator call you that?” Candlejack reiterated. “I am not sure what it means myself. But I can tell you that I am designed to keep records and ensure the export and import of Luridium is to be safely sought out and executed to the highest degree.” Candlejack arched a brow. “Luridium?” He asked. “Luridium. A material that was found as a solid, but can be malleable to form either a gas or liquid. It is more commonly used as energy supply for Zillex properties and its products. A safe, eco-friendly material used in conjunction with Solarium and Lunarium.” Candlejack narrowed his eyes. ‘That name again.’ Zelori caught his look before taking her turn in speaking. “Apocalyptica. You say you are an artificial intelligence. Are you really a robot?” “Negative. I am a product of numeric codes and values. An idea spawned from the mind of my creator, Dr. Trottingheim.” Zelori arched a brow. “So, did this pony used to live here?” she asked. Apocalyptica seemed to change its prism to a triangle. “Negative. I am detecting that this is the last designation where I am stored. My files indicate that there are many more facilities, such as this one, scattered throughout the continent.” It seemed to turn into a question mark symbol. “Odd. My systems state I have been currently inactive for over one hundred and fifty-two thousand, five hundred and seventy years. Please, tell me what I have missed?” Again, the two siblings exchanged glances. “For over four hundred years?” Zelori stated in bafflement. Candlejack arched a brow. Sometimes, Zelori scared him at how quick she is to figure most things out. The zebra mare rubbed her chin. “Apocalyptica. I have a question to ask.” The symbol turned to a prism again. “I will be pleased to answer your questions.” It said. Zelori didn’t sugar coat it one bit. “The androids that were housed in this bunker. Do you know what went wrong with them?” she looked around. “And more importantly, do you happen to know exactly what a previous team of ponies like us had found, but failed to retrieve?” It turned the prism into a strange line that made wave like motions before turning back into the prism. “Answer. The androids that were employed here along with Zillex employees were powered by Luridium. My files have indicated that most of the androids here are offline and non-functional. However, it appears the security system has been activated for quite some time only recently. As for the recent expedition team, I have a recording dating back to two weeks before today showing a group of ponies in similar suites entering the facility.” It turned the symbol into a circle. “It appears that whatever happened to the androids that once were employed here have a corrupt program in their systems, causing them to go into uncontrollable violence.” “What is a program?” Candlejack asked. Zelori shushed him. “A program is a design that allows for AI, like myself, to run executable files that allow us to monitor specific objectives or execute any form of audio or media. However, most of the androids that are affiliated to Zillex Corporation have a personality chip that allows them to act and think like one of you.” Candlejack found this fascinating. He then looked to the pod and motioned to it. “So, what exactly is that tube like thing in there?” Apocalytpica turned back into a prism. “That is a vat of Luridium in its natural and pure state. The lines connecting to the vat run throughout this facility, giving power to it. And not only that, it also has a use to creating more powerful equipment than the ones you are carrying.” Candlejack arched a brow. “Do you know where we can find them?” he asked. Zelori eyed her brother questioningly, making him respond with a shrug. “What? We were tasked with finding anything valuable and retrieve it.” Apocalyptica turned into a triangle again. “Most of the facility has been locked down due to a quarantine. I will override the alarm and that should unlock the room where you will find your objective.” Candlejack smirked. “Sounds like a plan then.” He said as he trotted over to the door. “I do have one favor to ask. If you would take the time?” the AI suddenly spoke. Candlejack looked back to the terminal. “Well, if you help me, I help you. Fair's fair.” He said, causing Zelori to arch a brow at him. “It pleases me to hear that. I am downloading myself into a chip. If you can take me to the server room, I will grant access not only to your objective, but to the whole facility. I will also deactivate the androids currently roaming the facility. While they may be corrupted, the kill command is still on stand-by.” Candlejack cocked the pistol, making it hum to life. “Well then, let’s go.”

~~~****~~~

It was much worse than they had thought. Apocalyptica remained dormant inside of the helmet of Candlejack, being guided by the AI in the process, while firing back at the advancing androids. They kept echoing the same word over and over:

“Intruder. Intruder.” Candlejack took aim and pressed the trigger. He only managed to fell three of them. ‘Out of a hundred to go.’ He swore quietly. When they rounded a corner, as per Apocalyptica’s instructions, Zelori turned, using her boots to help her stand and opened fired at the androids. She managed to fell five of them. But the rest continued to advance. Landing back on all three (her fourth holding her carbine above and to the side of her head) she quickly galloped after Candlejack, who was waiting for her through a doorway. The androids were right on her tail. Candlejack fired on them, falling two that were about a hoof’s reach to Zelori. Zelori then dived in, rolling to her hooves before standing and firing at the panel. With a crack, the panel sparked and the door closed, catching one of the androids at the torso in the process. It metallically rasped a growl as it tried to claw at them with a skeletal hoof. Candlejack took aim and fired point blank into the android’s head. With a splatter of white looking liquid and the jolt of the android’s body, it remained lifeless and the door closed fully, cutting the creature in half. Taking a moment to catch their breath, Candlejack looked over to Zelori and they exchanged a small smile. “We have arrived.” Apocalyptica said in Candlejack’s ear. He looked around, seeing that the room was filled with bulky looking machinery. “There should be a Master Terminal straight ahead. Plug me in and I will get to work.” Candlejack nodded and motioned for Zelori to follow. The two traversed through the room before reaching what looked to be an even more complex looking terminal. Candlejack reached back into his helm and pressed the little chip slot, making the chip Apocalyptica was in, pop out. Taking the chip, Candlejack placed it into a slot that he thought looked similar to the slot his helmet had. The terminal blinked to life and the prism shimmered into view. “Accessing facility Master Control Program. Requesting override.” There was a brief moment of silence. “Request granted. I have full access of this facility now. Oh my.” Zelori arched a brow. “Oh my?” Zelori asked. “I’m detecting a video feed that had recently been recorded thirty minutes ago. It appears that similar ponies in your suites are… well… no longer around.” The two exchanged glances. “Put up a feed.” Candlejack said. “As you wish.” The terminal brought up a box. This recording had audio. But they could see it. Four ponies rushing down a hall. The feed blinked, showing a different angel of them running down the hall. That was when one of the ponies had their helmet knocked off of their heads, revealing a mare. She had a fearful look in her eye. One of the ponies stopped and looked back. The mare held out a hoof. “Help me!” she cried. The helmeted pony looked back quickly to the fleeing group before shaking his head. “You’re on your own.” He said breathlessly. He took off. “W-wait! Please! Don’t leave me here!” She turned and gaped. “N-no! Stay back! Stay back!” “Intruder. Intruder.” Candlejack grit his teeth angrily. The mare was soon dog piled by a group of androids. It was hard to tell, but the way their hooves were moving, the poor mare was being ripped apart. All they could see out of the pile was the mare’s hoof twitch spastically before going limp. The camera feed blinked again, showing the remaining three running down the hall. They stopped inside a room, taking a moment to catch their breath. “I think we lost them.” The one that had ditched the mare said tiredly. “B-by the goddesses. What the hell is going on?” one of them stated. “I knew that we were going into something dangerous. B-but I thought that…” one of the ponies took off his helmet and tossed it aside before speaking. “That what? That this mission would be easy? That we would go home scot free?” He then grit his teeth and angrily batted his helmet away. “Damn you, Brilliant Mane!” That was when they stopped. It was distinct, but there. The strange slurping sound. The stallion that batted his helmet away cocked his head. “W-what is that?” he asked. Without any warning, Candlejack noticed something descend quickly from the ceiling. It latched around the stallion’s neck. He screamed as he was suddenly lifted up into the ceiling, struggling to break free. The slurping sound got louder as the other two made their way over to the door they had entered. Candlejack saw that whatever had gotten ahold of the stallion muffled his cries for help. He winced when he heard a bone sickening crunch and the stallion’s body stiffened before going limp. The slurping continued and they watched as the stallion’s body slowly ascend into the ceiling, bobbing slightly. As for the other two. They quickly opened the door and found themselves backing away when the same androids they were being chased by entered the room. “Intruder. Intruder.” The stallion fired off two shots before an android batted it away and extended a skeletal like claw hoof at his neck. The other pony decided to bolt in the opposite direction, only to have a similar long flesh like tongue descend onto the pony, knocking off her helmet and latching around her neck. She gasped for air desperately. But the androids didn’t like whatever had ahold of her get away. And when two of them gripped the hind legs of the mare, there was the sound of bone and flesh ripping and tearing. Zelori looked grimly, her grip on her carbine tightening as the mare’s upper half ascended to the ceiling and the lower half of her was ripped apart by the androids. That left the strangled stallion. He did his best to kick away from the grip. But, with a quick little motion of her claw like hoof, another sound of bone crunching and the stallion went limp. Candle Jack waved his hoof. “I’ve seen enough.” He said darkly. Apocalyptica canceled the feed. “I am sorry to see you in such state at the site of your friends. But I will fulfill my part of the deal. Activating, kill code.” The terminal brought up a bar that filled up all the way in a blink of an eye. “Kill code active. You are free to walk through the facility without worry.” “I don’t think the facility is all clear.” Zelori stated, clearly disgusted by what she saw. “There is something probably more dangerous than the androids in here. I’d rather you let us access the room so we can get out of here.” “Of course. The room I directed you to is, in fact, just beyond this room. However, I am detecting an organic lifeform that has taken residence. I recommend caution.” Zelori cocked her carbine before nodding to Candlejack. “Let’s be done with this.” Candlejack couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty. ‘And all because I had to use that bulk unit and steal Lunarium, only to have not known I had ran a pony over in the escape.’ Candlejack walked sadly after Zelori before Apocalyptica stopped him. “Candlejack. I must thank you and your sister for reactivating me.” Candlejack looked tiredly at the terminal. “As a sign of gratitude, I will tell you about a certain project that my creator has left for me to instruct. And while, I have not seen it come to fruition, there is a way to start it up again.” Candlejack arched a brow. “What project?” he responded. “A project that my creator deemed ‘the last saving grace for equianity’. A project dedicated to not only saving your species, but a project that can bring Equestria back to what it originally once was.” Candlejack rubbed his chin. “You mean, New Equestria? Whatever happened to the old Equestria?” Apocalyptica turned to a triangle. “’Old’ Equestria, as you call it, was a land that once was a utopia for both flesh and machine. They lived together in peace through harmony. The very idea of my creation. But… it appears that my files indicate that the necessary facilities to activate the project have gone offline. If you ever find yourself above ground. Please. Activate the facilities. I will remain here in the meantime.” Candlejack rubbed the back of his helmeted head. “I’ve… never really been to the outside.” Apocalyptica turned back into a prism. “I can tell. However, if you return with the Luridium equipment in the next room over to your superiors, it would surely grant you a step to reaching the outside.” Candlejack sighed. “You make it sound like it’s going to be a long and harrowing task.” He said. “It is. But my calculations state that within four years of this very day, you will be granted access to the outside world. And when you do, please keep in mind my request?” Candlejack again rubbed his helmet. “Err… sure? I don’t see why not.” Apocalyptica turned into a circle. “It again pleases me to hear you say that. I will look forward to your endeavors, Candlejack. Your future is bright.” And with that, Candlejack trotted over into the room, giving a tired look to the waiting zebra mare by the door. Entering into the room, they looked on in awe at the room. It was small, but there were strange looking alien like devices with glowing green hues. “These must be the Luridium equipment.” Candlejack said. His ears twitched again when he heard what sounded like contorted breathing. He took out his pistol and aimed over to his left, causing Zelori to follow suite. They stopped and lowered them, however, when they saw the very pony that had led them into this expedition. The stallion was bloodied from head to hoof in what looked like a mix of white and red stains. “Damn androids…” he rasped heavily. He looked to the two and his eyes widened. “You… you think you have… the better of me?” He slowly stood up, using the wall for support. His pupils dilated and he donned a wide grin. “Hehe…heh… you are wrong… you are nothing but machines!” He reached back for his carbine and drew it up, aiming at them. Zelori immediately stepped in front of Candle Jack. “You think… you can get away… acting like us?” he slumped, still aiming the carbine. “Bullshit!” he then gave another raspy chuckle. “You’re not taking me… I have won… I have always won!” He laughed manically before suddenly turning the carbine into his mouth and pulled the trigger before they could react. The stallion’s head exploded into giblets and a sickening sound followed after. The body fell to its’ side, leaving the two baffled ponies to process what they had just witnessed. Candlejack blinked and looked down at himself. He hadn’t realized that some of the blood from the stallion had splattered onto his suite. The two remained silent that time, quietly grabbing what they could of the Luridium equipment and exiting the room. Thankfully, the halls were clear of androids. And as they walked down the hall, passing the bloodied battle of the cornered ponies, they exited the bunker and followed the lights back to their home.

Act 1-Chapter 3: Invasion

Invasion

4 years later

~~~****~~~

New Equestria. Nothing has ever changed much in the four years that had gone by. Four years too long. And as the young pegasus stallion thought this from the balcony of a two storied apartment in section NE-5, he couldn’t help but feel that something may have changed at least a little bit. At least, he had hoped. After that incident in the bunker four years ago, Candlejack felt that to him, it might have. The neon streets of NE-5 glowed brightly from afar. The city practically a safe haven for those that need not worry about the dangers the underground had. Protected by the sheer grace of Brilliant Mane is his subjects.

The thought made him despise the stallion even more. Brilliant Mane. The sole bastard that has been tormenting Candlejack for four years. Expedition after expedition. Almost as if each and every mission he has been sent on has been nothing but a failure. ‘But no, it never was a failure. At least… we haven’t failed.’ “Can’t sleep?” a voice said gently from behind him. He looked to see Zelori lean over the balcony railing next to Candlejack. Candlejack said nothing and looked back out to the streets. They were quiet. For a while, the two adoptive siblings watched the lights shine brilliantly. It was almost like a dream. If it wasn’t much of a struggle to at least keep this dream. “Was this all really something to be fighting for?” Candlejack said suddenly. Zelori took a sip from her cup of tea. “Are you referring to where we are now? Or are you referring to Brilliant Mane?” the zebra mare asked. Candlejack slumped a little. “Just this in general…” he said. “It’s so… surreal.” Zelori smiled before taking another sip. “That solely depends on you, my dear brother.” Candlejack frowned. ‘Not much help, are you?’ but he digressed. The two remained quiet again. They had spent a harrowing four years of expeditions. Each one a life and death situation. Each time were casualties. And yet, each time there were victories. The two didn’t think it until now, but they are lucky to be alive. And every expedition they have returned from had always been a success despite the tragedies. Zelori eyed her brother worriedly. “Does the title still bug you?” Candlejack sighed. “Oh no, definitely not a bother.” Candlejack said with a sudden sarcastic perkiness. “I mean, who would have thought a title that refers to us as practically suspicious?” Zelori nodded. “So I have heard from the denizens. Most believe us to be suspicious of each returning expedition.” Candlejack snorted angrily. The title they had acquired over the years was given to them by Brilliant Mane himself. Candlejack remembered standing on the podium in section NE-1. The section that housed the ERT. A place of nobility and where society has not a single care for the sections below it. And yet, the people of the lower sections believe with all their being in their new heir. And as their heir and light of hope waved proudly with a smile at his subjects who had gathered before him, Brilliant Mane turned to a stoic Candlejack and Zelori. “People of New Equestria! We are here on this very day, to honor two brave souls. Their deeds of valor strike hope in these trying times!” He scanned the crowd of nobles and middle class citizens. “They have been daring. Relentless. Always facing the danger of the threat ahead of them while remaining vigilant in their tasks. They are the shields to your hope! And they have inspired me as well!” he turned to the two, the cue for them to step forward. And they did. Candlejack scanned the crowd, hoping to spot one individual among them. Seeing as he couldn’t, he returned to looking straight ahead, just as he was told too. Zelori glanced quickly at her brother, remaining stoic, but worried at the same time. “Let it be known, that they have done everything they can to ensure victory. Carrying their team’s hopes and dreams along with them! They, my people of New Equestria, are the ones who will carry us to a new dawning era! And with them, I do proudly release the burden of the titles to them.” He held out a hoof to them. “Will you accept this title?” Candlejack said nothing. He found himself shivering. Not in excitement. No, this was far more than that. It was tempting, just to lay him out on the ground here and in front of thousands of ponies. And with each cheering from the crowd, Candlejack couldn’t help but think back to the teams they have been assigned too. Each pony of their teams suffering harrowing fates one after another. Some were fathers. Mothers. Kids that were dreaming big. He and Zelori had listened to each and every one of their hopes and dreams. And it made him sad. Sad that they had a much bigger ambition than he had. All he ever wanted was to spend quality time diving into piles of garbage. Finding the next cool trinket he can claim as his own. The constant sounds of the humming scrappers in the distance as his white noise for him to sleep through. The smell, while a second sense to him, was practically a haven. Nothing compared to the smell of the junkyard. And while, they have moved up in this society, both of them longed to return home. Candlejack remained stoic. Hiding the unbending hate he had for this moment as he smiled and shook the stallion’s hoof. The crowd ringed in his ear. Cheers that would probably had made any other pony feel proud to have done their nation a service. But Candlejack and Zelori didn’t care about that. And having to find themselves moving into a spacey two storied apartment in their new designated section, Candlejack felt something new in his life. Something that left him hollow and empty. But he could never find out what was the cause. As he returned to himself and looked back into the dark lit room of their new living quarters, the answer was obvious. The kind and noisy garbled hum was the only thing that appeared to be missing. Candlejack pulled himself away from the railing and walked towards the door. “Heading out again?” Zelori said without as much as a glimpse to her brother. Candlejack stopped and looked over his shoulder, eyeing his sister questioningly. She knew about his little “night outings”. A recently new habit he had found himself partaking almost every night after that incident. “Don’t stay out for too long. We have another expedition tomorrow.” Candlejack turned, giving a disgusted sigh before walking out and closing the door. Zelori lowered her head to peer into her half-finished tea. “My ancestors are smiling down on you, Jack. Why can’t you see that?” the mare told herself. She looked to see her adoptive brother’s figure make his way down the stone steps and heading straight for the bustling city that is NE-5.

~~~****~~~

The bustling city of NE-5. While not as calm and collected as the other sections, this part of New Equestria was the go to for everypony to drown out their troubles. The seven sins were strong in this section. And it was one where Candlejack felt like he belonged too. Passing the local vendors and street markets, the streets were as lively as ever. Ponies of all kinds, male, female and mixed, mingled about. And the more Candlejack pony watched, the more he noticed that most of the residents here have some sort of limb that was unlike any he had seen.

Some had the metallic looking sleek limbs on either one, two or all of their legs. Some even had it on their bodies or on their heads. And some had the full deal. And as Candlejack made his way through the bizarre crowd of ponies to reach his destination, a small pub that had a neon sign with three X’s and a mare kicking her hind leg back and forth while leaning suggestively against the building’s wall, he stopped, seeing familiar looking ponies come out of the pub. A Solar and Lunar guard exited with small green bottles in their hooves. In the middle of them was a petite looking mare who was also stumbling with them. They were laughing and having the time of their lives. ‘Probably a bit more once they reach wherever they are going.’ Candlejack thought sourly. The site of seeing them happy, however, brought that hollow feeling back again. Candle Jack entered the pub and was greeted with ear pulsing music. The pub was dark with only the accompaniment of a violet and white light. And the more Candlejack went further in, the more the pub expanded. And with the more expanded pub came with more ponies. And those ponies were having the time of their lives too. The DJ bobbing his head to the music with flashing lights as a crowd of ponies on the glowing illuminated tiles danced away. Above the ponies were cages. Four to be exact. Two of them had mares dancing and swaying on poles inside while the other two had stallions inside. They too were grinding on the poles. Candlejack felt at home here. Or so he thought. This place did its’ damnedest to drown out the hollow feeling. He quietly made his way to the bar, traversing the mingling crowd that was outside of the dance floor. He passed by a small booth where a well-groomed stallion was surrounded by at least four mares. He made a sexual joke that made the mares laugh and giggle. Candlejack felt the feeling become even stronger the more he neared the bar. The barkeep, a pretty looking mare with a long electric like mane and neon white hide (probably the lightning Candlejack had thought) smiled at him. He studied her, seeing the eyes look him up and down. “Electric Light for your troubles?” the mare asked with a smirk. Candlejack shook his head. “The strongest you have.” The mare nodded and went into the back of a store room, quickly scanning the drinks on the shelves before finding what he had asked for. Bringing the bottle around, she brought out two shot glasses and poured them into the cups. Candlejack arched a brow at the mare amusedly. “Shouldn’t you not be drinking on the job?” Candlejack asked with a smile. The mare returned it before taking a shot. “Frankly, I would like to hear what you have in mind.” She said. Yes, a rather pretty mare. Candlejack took a shot of the strawberry tasting drink before the mare refilled them. The mare studied him. But Candlejack remained challenging. The mare poured another, they took a shot. Another. And another. And another. Candlejack found his vision beginning to blur. He took another shot, unaware that the mare had stopped on the third shot. “So, now that you are loose and relaxed, I would like to her what kind of stories New Equestria’s P.U.N.K. leader has to tell?” Candlejack swayed a little. Clearly, he wasn’t seeing the mare correctly. But he shook it off and spoke. “Pha! A dumb title if you ask me. What’s so great about it?” Candlejack slumped. “That bastard thinks he can get away with giving me that title? I’ll show him!” The mare started wiping her countertop before giving an amused smile at him. “I don’t know. It kind of fits you, don’t you think?” Candlejack poured himself another glass before taking the shot. “Whadda’ mean?” he slurred. The mare poured him another. “I mean, you do live up to it. Handsome. Brave. Daring. Ready to face the challenge of a good expedition.” Candlejack took another shot and found the taste to suddenly be bitter. “Handsome, I’ll give you that. Brave? Probably. Daring? Mostly. Ready to face a challenge.” He looked her over and down to her flank, spying her martini glass cutie-mark. “You bet your martini ass I am.” The mare gave an amused smile before pouring another. His last shot. Candlejack took it and smiled. “Perhaps I can show you how daring and brave I can be? It’s not everyday I find somepony who knows good taste in drink.” The mare gave a small laugh. “Easy there, Casanova. I’m still on the job.” She bit her lip. “Of course, not that I am not interested.” Candlejack found a new feeling out his hollowness. Perhaps a little more excitement than he had planned tonight. Candlejack eyed her as she moved to put away the drink. He gave a small drunk hiccup before turning to watch the ponies on the dance floor bob away to the DJ’s music. Something about the pulse pounding beat made him tap his hoof along with it. And as he watched this, he spied another mare in the corner. This one was also a pretty one. And when he noticed her, the mare met his gaze. She gave a small flirtatious smile towards him. Of course, being drunk, Candlejack was unaware of the stallion that was supposedly trying to score her. He turned back to see the bar keep mare busy with another customer down the counter. The chattering of the ponies drowned out for him and he fell into a trance like state at the thoughts of him and the barkeep. He noticed her looking his way, a touch of red on her cheek before focusing back on her customer. ‘I’m ready to face any challenge alright.’ He thought with a smile. That was when he was suddenly turned around on the stool and forced to look straight into a stallion’s green colored eyes. “I’m talking to you, punk!” he growled. Candlejack blinked once before squinting his eyes. “Do I know you?” he asked. The stallion forced Candlejack off the stool and shoved him over, making him stumble a bit. Regaining his balance, Candlejack couldn’t help but grin. ‘Oh yeah. A challenge I’m going to have.’ “I’m going to teach you a lesson on who to look at.” The stallion said, cracking his neck. The mare next to him gave a frown. “Neon, please. You’re embarrassing me.” She said sourly. Candlejack eyed the mare and gave her a smile, which she returned with a bite of her lip. That made the stallion fume. Candlejack felt a hard strike across his cheek that made him stumble. The ponies around them witnessed it and looked on speculatively. Candlejack rubbed his sore cheek before spitting out newly formed blood. “What’s your problem? I can’t help but eye a pretty mare. If anything, most mares like a compliment or two.” He said. The stallion didn’t like the interested look the mare gave him. And this time, Candlejack’s instincts kicked in. Years of Zelori’s training and four more were paying off. The stallion reared back with a hoof and swung, only to have Candlejack quickly catch it and lock a hoof around it. The stallion wrestled with his hoof, but found him to be unmoving. Which took him completely by surprise. In that moment of hesitation, Candlejack took the opportunity. He twisted, the sound of bone crunching. The stallion yelped in pain and found himself struggling to stand upright. But Candlejack held on. Something about this stallion couldn’t help but remind him of a certain pony he hated. The image of Brilliant Mane’s smile appeared to him on the stallion’s face. Another feeling overcame him. One that made him grit his teeth angrily. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to come back from an expedition?” he said suddenly and coldly. The stallion looked confused as Candlejack applied pressure to the leg. “Of course you don’t. You just sit high and dry all day on your ass, thinking that everything is going to be okay. That the expedition teams will always come out victorious. Opening up new opportunities for this piece of shit nation.” Candlejack applied more pressure, making the stallion grit his teeth in pain. “Let me get one thing straight. You have no idea what it’s like. But I know. I know full well what those expeditions are capable of.” “L-let go of me!” the stallion cried in pain. But Candlejack held on, the anger burning in his eyes. “Oh no. You need to know.” The face of that stallion he hated ever so much. The thought of him in sheer pain he was putting into it made him giddy. “I risk my life everytime you send me on one of those things. And you just write it off and take credit. So that way you can live happily without worry of the exact possible danger.” The stallion tried to stand upright, but only to fall back onto his side as Candlejack applied more pressure, the sound of more bones cracking. The stallion tried pulling away, but Candlejack still held on. “Y-you’re a psycho!” he stated. Candlejack chuckled a little. “Oh no. I haven’t even started counting the heads yet. But you know what they say.” He grinned at the stallion. “There is always a first, eh?” He then brought the stallion in and grabbed him by the scuff of his hide. “So piss off.” Candlejack heaved the stallion over his shoulder and the pony went sailing into the parting crowd. The stallion stood up, only to find that he was having trouble standing. Candlejack spat before eyeing the crowd. Some were giving him worried looks while most were excited to see a pony get hurt. His gaze fell to the mare behind the counter. She furrowed her brows disappointedly at him. He sighed, feeling the hollowness come back. He then looked to see the mare that the stallion was hitting on eye him suggestively. He rubbed the back of his head before shrugging. ‘Guess it wasn’t such a total loss.’ He found himself smiling and wrapping a wing around the pretty mare before stumbling out of the pub. He couldn’t remember much after that. The drinks muddled his thoughts. But the feeling of pure bliss and soft moaning in his ears and the tender caress of the mare’s hooves on his fur hide was a pleasant feeling for him. And what seemed like minutes that went by made the hollowness fade. When they had settled down, Candlejack found the blackness all too comforting.

~~~****~~~

Candlejack awoke to the sound of an alarm. He looked around groggily, trying to find the source of it. When he did, he stopped the alarm and looked at the time. The time read six in the morning. He took a deep breath, feeling his brain pound his head. He sat up on the bed, rubbing his spiked mane and yawning. He took a moment to blink away the tiredness before narrowing his eyes at the touch of something soft. He looked to his right to see a lump in the sheets. Curiosity struck him and he pulled back the cover, revealing a bubblegum colored unicorn mare in a long blond mane.

He sniffed once. The smell that greeted him was that of alcohol and bodily fluids. He let out a quiet sigh before silently sliding out of the bed. And as the mare snoozed quietly with a smile on her expression, Candlejack tiphoofed his way over the room and to the door. ‘Another night of debauchery is another success.’ He thought as he opened the door. Making sure the noise of the door hadn’t woken the mare up, he closed it with a soft click and turned to grasp his bearings. He was certainly in an apartment building. However, the setup was not the one he was used too. Candlejack made his way down the hall before realizing that he was utterly clueless as to where he was going. It took him a good few minutes before finding the door that led to the stairs. Making his way out of the building, he was greeted again with the lively streets of NE-5. Taking a moment to grasp his bearings again, he found that he hadn’t traveled far in his “drunken” state. The neon sign down the road that depicted the suggestive neon mare was distant, yet clear. Heading in the opposite direction, he found himself thinking back to another simpler moment. His first crush. It was a strange occurrence to him. And it wasn’t until three expeditions later that he met the mare of his eyes. After having finished up debriefing with his newly assigned crew, he found himself wandering the streets of NE-3 while Zelori was away to visit DD in NE-10. Candlejack found it odd to have suddenly stumble upon a workshop. He looked at the neon sign overhead: Heaven Tibesti’s Scrapwork Candlejack arched a brow at the name. ‘How many more odd names can I find?’ he thought. Curious, he trotted over to the booth. He could hear the distinct sound of a saw blade in the back. He pressed the small bell on the counter of the booth. “’Ah’ll be there in a tick!” a voice with a strange accent called out. Candlejack rubbed his chin. ‘What kind of accent is that?’ And what’s more odd, he couldn’t help but notice the strange looking contraptions displayed inside. They were bulky, tall and had wheels. Almost like a chariot, but slimmer in design. In fact, one seemed to have caught his eye. A bi-wheeled sleek black looking chariot that had pipes protruding the back in an odd fashion. The excited feeling came back to him. ‘I wonder what it does.’ He thought. And without realizing it, he found himself looking straight into the face of a cream colored freckled mare in a red mane. She smiled, her orchid colored eyes meeting his. Something about the way she smiled at him, however, was intriguing. So intriguing, in fact, he had forgotten how to speak. “Well, howdy. Haven’t seen you aroun’ these parts.” She said. Candlejack found it hard to create words. “Uh wha-ha-say-um…” was all he could muster. The mare giggled. “’Ah take it vocabulary isn’t yer’ forte?” she asked with an amused brow. Candlejack felt his face suddenly feel hot, making him shift uncomfortably. “I-I usually don’t have this much trouble…errr… finding words.” He said. Why was his heart beating rapidly? This feeling was indeed new to him. The mare leaned against the counter and propped a hoof on her cheek. “So, how can ‘ah help you?” she asked. Candlejack rubbed the back of his head, giving her his best smile he could manage. “Oh, uh… just taking a look around is all.” He said. She arched a questioning brow at him. “Well, a booth vendor doesn’t have much ta’ sight see.” She said in a bored manner. The sudden change in expression made Candlejack feel strange. He thought the smile suited her better. He quickly darted around the workshop before landing his gaze onto the sleek looking bi-wheeled chariot. “W-well, I do have one question to ask.” He said. He felt relieved when the mare’s smile returned. “That… ummm…” He pointed to the contraption. “What exactly is that?” The mare followed his gaze before beaming. “Ah, she catches yer’ fancy?” The way she had said that made Candlejack’s heart beat even faster than before. ‘What is this mare doing to me?’ he thought painfully. And when the mare turned, he found himself speechless. Her mane was in a ponytail. His curiosity mixed with this feeling made him choke a bit before clearing his throat. “That, my friend, is my latest creation.” Candlejack arched a brow. “Creation?” he asked. The mare nodded. “Yeup. Been workin’ on her fer’ two years.” Two years, huh? Candlejack found this interesting. “She has a built in Lunarium engine. A Solarium powered headlight and motor. As fer’ the fuel, it runs at that recent material they had recovered from an expedition two years ago.” Candlejack perked up at this. Luridium? It made him excited to hear that he had influenced a creation. Especially to a mare who, for some reason, he can’t seem to keep his eyes off of. The way she eyed the contraption. Her orchid colored eyes and those tiny displaced freckles on her cheek. The strange metallic smell she gave off, signaling her constant work over the devices. It made him happy. The mare waved a hoof at him with a confused look, making him blink back to earth. “You alright there, sugar?” she asked. Candlejack did his best to keep his wings from unfurling. “Just… uhh…” he quickly looked around and spotted strange looking plates on the walls. “What are those!” he said suddenly, quickly pointing to the plates. The mare smiled. “Just a little side hobby of mine.” She said. “Nothin’ too fancy.” Candlejack rubbed the back of his head. “I… would like to hear about it.” He said. The mare arched a brow. “Oh, well it’s like ‘ah said. Nothin’ too fancy.” She bit her lip in thought. “A-are ya’ sure?” she asked. Candlejack found himself smiling and nodding. The mare returned his smile. “Well, alright. As long as you are intending to buy somethin’.” And bought something he did. And as he listened to the mare talk happily about how the process of creating a plate takes, Candlejack found himself intently listening to every little detail. The mare definitely knew what she was talking about. And she calmly answered each of Candlejack’s questions to the best of her knowledge. Not realizing the time, the mare suddenly remembered that she had to fill an order and apologized for having to cut the conversation off. “Are you… I mean.” Candlejack started. “Are you going to be sticking around long?” The mare turned and smiled. “’Ahm open 24/7.” She said. “O-oh, great! Then… I guess I’ll see you around?” the mare nodded. “As long as you intend ta’ buy somethin’, then you are always welcome.” And with that, she donned a strange looking helmet before going back to a bulk like machine with a saw blade. The loud noise of the blade cutting into the metal drowned out the sigh of relief Candlejack gave. And every so often, he had found himself stopping by the workshop, finding himself asking more questions to the mare, who calmly answered them with her smile that made his heart beat. Candlejack had a new feeling that time. And it was strange that he found the mare talking to be more intriguing than her explaining the details of her work. Of course, that didn’t dissuade Candlejack from legitimately asking questions about the bi-wheeled chariot. Its design had one wheel out front with a long like metal railing connecting to the seat while another bigger wheel was surrounded by the back of the seat and the strange looking pipes lining on both sides of the back wheel. And for a while, Candlejack felt that the two had hit it off pretty well. She even remembered his name. And her name was pretty obvious to him, but he received a strange amused look from the mare when he had asked for her name. “It clearly states my name.” she said as she looked up to the sign. Candlejack felt like he had said something wrong that made him feel embarrassed. But the mare laughed it off. And Candlejack couldn’t have felt anymore happier than he was. Of course, that didn’t stop Zelori from hogging into his business. She eventually found out about him seeing the mare, causing her to ask amusing questions and receiving strange responses from her brother. “She definitely has struck your interest, my dear brother.” Zelori said one day when they had sat to talk about it. Candlejack shifted uncomfortably. “W-what do you mean?” he asked. Zelori took a sip of her tea. “I take it you don’t know what love is?” she asked. Candlejack cocked his head at the word. “Love?” he asked. Zelori smiled at him. “It is a feeling we hold to those we deem close. A feeling that is strong and… complicated.” She winked at him. “What you feel for the mare is something that you enjoy feeling around her. You feel it is necessary to hold her close to your heart.” Candlejack put a hoof to his chest. The thought was strange. He loved her? What exactly did it mean? Zelori chuckled at her confused and flustered sibling. “Candlejack, if you feel it is too much of a burden, tell her how you feel. But do be expecting a reaction when you do.” Candlejack looked at her questioningly. “Love is, like I said, a complicated feeling. It can be a pleasant emotion. But it can ensue the most confusing of reactions. I am just forewarning, when you do express that feeling to the one you want to tell it too, expect the answer to change that feeling.” “Change the feeling?” he asked. Zelori nodded. “This is not wisdom my ancestors bestow upon me. This is me telling you, because I love you. You are my brother and I do not wish for anything to come to harm you.” Candlejack bowed his head, feeling even more confused. Zelori loves him? Did she love him like he does the mare? Or was it something meant to be something else? “Do you understand what I am saying?” Candlejack nodded slowly. Zelori smiled. “Good. Now then, I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you what to do next.” Candlejack nodded. He felt his excitement rise. And not only that, he also felt another feeling. Something he doesn’t have outside of expeditions. Confidence. But he wanted to tell this mare. Tell her exactly what he felt. Yes, he will tell her. And he would brace himself for the answer. Zelori said it will change the feeling. And he was hoping that it would be a pleasant one. He found himself soaring through the air, low enough that he wasn’t breaking the sky limit. He spotted Heaven’s workshop and descended. Landing gracefully in front of the store, he happily rang the bell. He waited. He waited for what seemed like two minutes. When the mare didn’t respond, he furrowed his brows and pressed the bell again. No response. And now that he realized the sudden no response, the workshop was also eerily quiet. He twitched his ears, hearing something from inside the shop. It sounded like breathing. Candlejack looked around, making sure no pony was watching before climbing into the booth. “Hello? Heaven?” he asked. The breathing was getting louder. He squinted his eyes, seeing that the workbench he usually found her in to be empty. Yet, it seemed like it was recently messed with. His ears twitched again when he heard the breathing coming from further in. He quietly made his way over the metal sheets and peered into a doorway that had the sign above it reading:

Employees Only

Candlejack furrowed his brows worriedly. Was something wrong with Heaven? He quietly made his way into the back before reaching a hall that had three doors. Two of them were closed, but one was slightly ajar. He could hear the breathing from inside. Stepping as quietly as he could, he made his way to the door and peeked in. What he saw was something that made his heart sink dramatically.

Heaven was laying on a bed. There was another pony on top of her. The stallion grunted with a dumb smile on his face while Heaven panted, holding onto him. Something wasn’t right about this at all. And the feeling that hit him was like a tidal wave. Yet, what he didn’t realize was the door suddenly opening fully, causing the stallion and Heaven to quickly look at him in surprise. “C-Candlejack!? What are ya’ doin’ back here!?” Heaven shouted in surprise. The stallion was immediately shoved off of her and Heaven marched over to the door. “Get out!!” Candlejack was confused. Before he could process anything, Heaven looked at him angrily before slamming the door in his muzzle. He rubbed it slowly, backing away. What had he just witnessed? Candlejack looked at the door. He then turned and walked quietly out of the booth, finding the back entrance and making his way down the street. He didn’t know what to think. Who was that pony on her? What was he doing? And why did it look like she was enjoying it? Candlejack had another feeling overcome him. A feeling that made his heart tighten in his chest. He looked back to see the quiet ambience of the light that lit up the workshop. Without another word, he took off, that feeling never leaving him as he did. Candlejack snapped back to present day when he found himself staring at his reflection in a window. He studied himself. Something about him has changed greatly. Something that made him act this way. These strange feelings that kept coming and going. And when he had returned home to Zelori that day, he didn’t say anything. He remembered washing his face in the sink. “So, how did it go?’ Zelori asked from the doorway. Candlejack took another hoof full of tap water and splashed himself. He then turned and smiled at her. “It went pretty well.” He said. Zelori smiled. “I am glad things went well. What did she say?” Candlejack felt the feeling come back. Seeing Heaven angry and slamming the door in his face. “She wanted to remain friends.” He said without thought. But he knew better. And from that day henceforth, whenever he decided to pay her a visit, she would refuse service to him and give him a disgusted look. Taking it as she has had enough, she made it clear she didn’t want to see him ever again. Which Candlejack found himself happily obliging too. But then… why did it hurt so much? He felt a hoof tap him on the shoulder that snapped him back to reality. He looked away from his reflection and saw Zelori looked at him questioningly. “I hope you haven’t forgotten about our expedition?” she said. Candlejack rubbed his head. “Of course not. You know me.” He said with a smile. Zelori shook her head. “Gone for the night and I find you wandering the streets like a stray puppy.” She studied him. “At least you seem a little less tense than when you left.” Candlejack stretched his wings. “Well, a good drink every now and then helps ease the tension.” Zelori gave a skeptical look, making Candlejack shift uncomfortably. “L-look, can we just drop it and get on with this? The sooner we get this expedition out of the way, the better.” Zelori watched him walk down the road in a sigh. Zelori looked back to see the distant night pub. “The stray puppy I knew long ago is gone.” She said to herself before following after him.

~~~****~~~

Candlejack and Zelori found themselves back in their expedition suites. However, these suites were modified to their preference. Zelori’s, a lightweight for quick movement and a Solarium rifle for far range support. A rapid fire Luridium pistol (one of the recent and new equipment supplied to those who are high ranking). And a retractable Lunarium staff. Candlejack, however, was geared for more combat than support. A lightweight suite with partially bulky gauntlets and weight boots. Thankfully, this suite had wing support, so he was able to stretch his wings at will. And being that the case, the material used for his suite was also light for ease of aerial support (not that it was necessary underground).

He was equipped with a Lunarium carbine and a Lunarium pistol. His close quarters, however, acted more like a Solarium baton than anything. But it was perfect for him to use up close. And being the daring fighter he is against the rogue machines, he figured he would need more room to evade. Behind them were newly recruited spelunkers. Candlejack and Zelori remained quiet while their team chatted amongst themselves. Their speech to them was what they had expected. ‘Straight from training.’ They thought. They could only hope that it pays off than their previous team. They didn’t show it, but they had a feeling the reaper was with them again. Waiting to torment them both. But what Candlejack wasn’t entirely expecting was when one of the spelunkers was suddenly up close and squinting her eyes at his suite. Candlejack looked to her and then to Zelori, who returned his questioning look. “What does P.U.N.K. stand for?” she said suddenly, tapping her hoof on his chest that had his title embedded. Candlejack rubbed the back of his head. “Just a… title.” He said. The young spelunker cocked her helmeted head. “Yeah, but what does it mean?” she asked. “It labels him as a pony that hasn’t been killed in the line of duty.” One of the other spelunkers said. “”I was there when they were granted that title. It’s an acronym for Pony Unit Never Killed.” The mare rubbed her chin. “Never killed? Why’s that?” Candlejack wasn’t sure if this mare really had no idea or if she was intentionally trying to start something. Candlejack sighed and looked up and over to the tunnel. They had gathered by one of the excavation tunnels in the western area of NE-3. Having practically spelunked most of the ruins around the lower sections, it was time Brilliant Mane thought that exploring the more dangerous ruins in dangerous terrain. And what no better expedition crew to enter first and risk themselves other than P.U.N.K.? And as that very pony that looked forward to another successful expedition from the two, he held out a hoof and gave his usual speech. And while this went on, Candlejack couldn’t help but twitch his ear at the sound of something metallic hit metal. Zelori heard it too as well as did the expedition team. They turned to the metal blast door that led out to their expedition site. Candlejack darted his eyes at the metal door. Another soft clang. Zelori cocked her rapid fire pistol and held it up slightly. Brilliant Mane narrowed his eyes at the sudden alertness and looked to the door. Another clang. “W-what is that?” the mare asked. Candlejack took up his carbine and cocked it, following Zelori’s example. Taking a moment, the team followed suite. Multiple hums of their gear coming to life. Another clang. Candlejack held up his free hoof, using his boots to help him stand and give the order. “Back away from the door!” he ordered. They did. And as they retreated a ways back, a loud screeching sound reached their ears. The door suddenly bent. Candlejack squinted his eyes, seeing a skeletal hoof piercing the durable metal door. ‘No freakin’ way!’ he thought with a grit of his teeth. Years of expeditions has prepared him for the worst. He was used to rogue androids and robots in the ruins he has explored. And while, he felt it satisfying to plant his pistol in between their eyes, he was well aware of the brute strength they are capable of. However, despite knowing how strong an android can be, he wasn’t really sure how strong they could be. And now he knew. He knew full well how strong they could be. Another hoof pierced the door. Then another. And another. Each hoof bending the metal, making it scream with every ounce of force they could muster. One of the hooves retreated and was replaced with a glowing red eye. Candlejack noticed the mare that had asked him about his title shiver in fear. Biting his lip in hesitation, he put a hoof on her shoulder, making her jump. “When they break through, run for it. In fact, do so now.” He said to her in a whisper. The mare looked at him, the fear still in her eyes. He looked at her sternly now. “That is an order. Now do it.” The mare suddenly dropped her carbine and bolted away from the group, causing the others to look at the fleeing mare questioningly. Brilliant Mane had watched this. And he studied the pegasus. “That goes for the rest of you.” He said suddenly. Zelori watched her brother, studying his posture. Upright, taking charge and acting like a true veteran. Something she couldn’t help but smile about. However, the screeching metal door forced her to stand and aim. “I cannot guarantee your lives. If you feel that you have too much to live for. Too much left unfinished. Then beat it. This work isn’t for you.” He didn’t mean for it to sound like he thought they were incapable. And while this may be partially true to him, he was right in a sense. These ponies were straight out of training. They didn’t know what to expect. And taking his words to heart, all but two suddenly dropped their gear and bolted away from them. Candlejack eased slightly at this, but seeing the two that didn’t flee, he could only hope that they intend to know the consequence. And when he turned to look back, the door was suddenly denting more and more. One of the androids managed to slip through the slits they created and bent up. Zelori, however, took aim and felled the creature. “Cease your assault.” One of the androids from behind the door said as it clawed its’ way in. “Any more damages to Zillex and its’ properties is a crime and action must be taken.” This sentence echoed throughout them. Candlejack grit his teeth and looked to Zelori. Taking his look as a sign, she nodded and suddenly galloped on all threes away from the door with Candlejack following suite. The two that had wanted to stay and fight looked at their fleeting figures in confusion. And in that moment of hesitation, they hadn’t noticed that more and more androids were crawling their way through the holes they had created. And Candlejack feared the worst. He did his best to ignore the sudden screams of help from the two that stayed behind. ‘They never listen…’ he thought. Brilliant Mane watched this from where he stood. “Sir! We need to evacuate!” one of the Solar guards stated. Without as much of a single word uttered, Brilliant Mane turned and allowed himself to be led away from the breached blast door. ‘This is more troublesome than I had thought.’ The stallion thought to himself. He then put a hoof on one of the guard’s shoulder. “Alert every able body in NE-3. I do not care if they are off duty. I need everypony to be at the ready. We have been breached.” He turned to another. “Sound the alert. Evacuate the people to the lower sections.” He turned to see Candlejack’s and Zelori’s fleeting figures. “The flying rat is more clever than I had anticipated.”

Act-1 Chapter 4: Deserted Equestria

Deserted Equestria

The alarm has gotten out. It blared throughout the city section. And as Candlejack and Zelori galloped up to one of the supply posts not too far from the invading androids, they quickly gathered what they could for ammo. Zelori arched a brow, seeing a small plastic box with a heart symbol on it. Opening it, she found two stimpaks and what appeared to be some sort of gel tube. Taking a quick glance at the instructions for it, it appeared to be a burn and cooling remedy for those who may have been struck by the Solarium and Lunarium. Pocketing it into her suite’s expedition bag, she tossed one of the stimpaks to Candlejack, who arched a brow as he caught it in his hooves. She then furrowed her brows and then tossed the second stimpak at him, causing a vein in him to twitch. “The hell are you trying to imply!?” he snapped. Zelori ignored him and looked to the city. The alarms were blaring loud and far. A voice on the intercoms above: “Code red. Door E-3 has been breached. All citizens evacuate to the nearby checkpoint. Repeat. Door E-3 has been breached. Please, evacuate to the nearby checkpoints. It is highly recommended you do not stay in one place.” The voice kept repeating the message. But the two estranged siblings could hear it clearly. The citizens further in were panicking. Zelori looked to Candlejack. “We need to help the citizens evacuate.” She said. Candlejack sighed before nodding and putting the stimpaks into his expedition bag. Zelori looked at him questioningly, the sigh clearly stating his protest. Candlejack gave a small hoof wiggle at her. “I’m fine with helping the citizens. But the ETG? They need to fend for themselves.” He said. Zelori wasn’t sure about her sibling’s thought. And while, she was against the ideals of the Equestrian Round Table, she felt that they should at least try something to aid in the evacuation. Zelori rubbed her chin. “I have an idea. But I need you to promise me one thing before I tell you.” Candlejack looked at her with a smile before making a hoof motion across his chest. “Cross my heart.” He said with a smirk. Zelori put both her hooves onto his shoulders, forcing him to look her in the eyes. “Promise me. That you will not get yourself killed. Your life won’t end here. You will continue to live. You will fight and you will survive. Promise me this.” Candlejack studied her look. Another feeling came over him. One that he always seemed to feel when Zelori asked him of such a thing. Candlejack sighed before patting his sister’s hooves reassuringly. “We’ve made it this far. It wouldn’t hurt to live just a little bit longer.” He said. Zelori hugged him, forcing Candlejack to change his reassurance. Candlejack returned the gesture before they pulled away and she looked at him worriedly. “We will split up and round up any wandering citizens. I’ll take downtown while you check the outskirts. And remember. No matter how far or out of ear I am…” Candlejack finished it for her. “I will always watch over you from the heavens.” Zelori smiled before turning and galloping down into the city. Candlejack bowed his head in guilt. ‘Dammit, and here I was hoping just to end it all.’ His eyes widened at an idea. He then smirked slightly. ‘Perhaps, I can.’**~~~****~~~ Zelori galloped down the street, rushing past the panicking citizens as they ran with anything they could manage to carry to the checkpoint. A massive crowd gathered by one of the checkpoints, the ponies nearly stomping over one another to get by while the Lunar and Solar guards did their best to quell them. Zelori narrowed her eyes at the crowd, spotting families and friends being pushed and shoved aside. She grit her teeth when a mother got separated from her filly. ‘This is getting out of hoof.’ She thought. That was when the crowd started screaming. She looked to see a swarm of glowing red eyes advance down a street. “This cannot continue.” They echoed. “Cease all hostilities.” A group of the ETG lined up and took aim, firing onto the androids. Most of them fell, but some managed to quickly spring from the swarm and in a blink of an eye, found themselves overrunning the defense group. The crowd started morphing towards the gate. It had barely opened to let through another family. She snapped out of her daze when something loud and hollow land next to her. She looked to see a helmet. She gaped, seeing that the helmet wasn’t fully empty. The cracked visor displayed a frightened look of the recent wearer. Her ears twitched at the sound of garbled static coming from the helmet. “Defense Team Alpha 2. Respond! What is the current situation over at checkpoint A-2?” Zelori bit her lip, hesitant at first before picking up the helm. The voice came through again. “Alpha 2! What is going on over there!?” Zelori pressed the button on the side of the helm. “Checkpoint A-2 has been overrun.” She said in a shaky breath. “Repeat. We have lost A-2.” There was garbled static before the voice spoke again. “Dammit! Get all able bodies to protect the rest of the checkpoints! Let no android through!” Zelori was about to respond when she suddenly stopped and looked down at the ground. Something was off. And she soon knew why. Looking at the advancing swarm as they descended upon the crowd, a loud steady thumping sound reached them. She looked and squinted her eyes. She found herself staring in awe when a familiar machine burst over a shop, crushing it in the process. A bulky, giant tractor like machine with saw blades at the front and an exhaust at the top. A junk scrapper. She noticed that there were androids clambering on it, echoing the same line: “Cease all hostilities.” Zelori dropped the occupied helmet to her hooves. “How can this be possible?” she asked herself. She then looked over to the city. “Candlejack!” Without another word, she left the panicking citizens to their demise, certain that there was nothing she could have done. Making her way down the road further, she noticed that some of the androids had made it in the downtown area. And not only that, she could see the bloody fates they have left behind in their wake. She stopped in the center of a circle lot. The branching pathways extended long and dark. And each one occupied by blood and rogue androids. “Momma!” a small voice called out. Zelori looked to see a group of ponies running into a store. Probably to barricade themselves in until rescue showed. But there was the problem. Rescue was nowhere to be found here. And as she watched the fleeing ponies enter into a store, the filly with them had tripped and fallen. The mother looked at her child. “Anna Belle!” the mother called out. A gruff looking stallion put a hoof on her shoulder, stopping her from going any further. “There’s nothing we can do for her! Get inside before those things get you!” he stated. The mother looked to her daughter. And then to the nearing androids as they echoed the sentence. Zelori watched stoically as the mother looked to her daughter and bite her lip. “I love you.” She said to the frightened filly before she turned and rushed into the store. The stallion was the last to go in, closing it shut as the androids clambered onto the store. The filly found herself surrounded by the androids. “No! Momma, don’t go!” she cried out. She looked fearfully up as an android stood over her. “Cease all hostilities.” It said metallically. It extended a hoof to the filly, claws protruding from the tip. The filly curled into a ball, fearful of what to do next. And then the filly heard the sound of metal being struck with a beam. The android spluttered and fell to its’ side, crackling in electricity as it did. Zelori rushed forward, her retractable staff at the ready. And using it as a leverage to hop over the group of androids and land gracefully on her hind hooves, she quickly spun the staff, swinging it as the androids got close. Stabbing into an android, she pushed, sending it to the ground. She then lifted her lower half, carrying herself around it, using her boots to collide into another advancing android. She quickly drew her rapid fire pistol, pelting three more androids, causing them to crumple into a white bloodied heap. She then unhooked the staff from the downed android, crushing the head with her boot before rushing over to an android that had dared to reach for the filly. Never has Zelori let out a roar of anger in her life. The ones climbing the store turned their attention to her. “Cease your assault.” They echoed. But Zelori refused. Instead, she spun her staff and stabbed into the android’s head, ripping it off before flicking it off of the tip. The androids rushed her, claws at the ready. She spun on one hind hoof and leaned back, the claw grazing her chin. Supporting herself on one forehoof, she lifted her hind hoof up, smacking the android’s chin before she let herself gently fall onto her back, her staff locked in her leg and spinning, cutting the androids that advanced on her. Felling the creatures, she quickly kicked herself up from the ground and aimed her pistol, burst firing at the ones that had her surrounded. And with each swing of her staff, with each fire from her pistol, she felt her anger rise. All sense of wisdom left her mind, only to be replaced with recklessness. She gave one final cry before slicing the android in half at the midriff. The half skeletal creature crumpled to the ground. Zelori took a moment to catch her breath before spinning her staff and making it retract into its’ holster. Taking a quick look around, she found that not a single trace of functioning android was anywhere to be seen. She had done it. She looked over to see the filly, staring at her with a fearful look. She shrunk back and shivered, covering her eyes and muzzle with her hooves. Zelori, however, felt the anger leave her and replaced it with relief. She smiled and held out a hoof to the filly. The filly looked up at her, tears streaming. But the look she gave her was awe. A look she couldn’t help but remember a young colt giving her that same expression. The filly hesitantly took it and Zelori helped her up. The store’s door then burst open and the mare that was the filly’s mother rushed out, bearing a nailed 2x4. Zelori aimed her pistol in reaction, but didn’t fire. “Get away from her!” she shouted. The filly even seemed to duck behind Zelori at the sudden outburst. Zelori glanced down at the fearful filly before looking the mother squarely in the eye. “Do you care for your loved one?” she asked. The mare waved the 2x4 at her, gritting her teeth. “I’ve already lost too much! I refuse to let that happen again!” the mare stated, the anger clear in her eyes. But anger wasn’t the only thing Zelori noticed. The board wavered in the mare’s magic. She was afraid. Zelori frowned. “That is not the answer I was looking for.” She said calmly. “Do you care for your loved one?” The mare took a shaky step forward. “J-just leave us be! Haven’t you ETG’s done enough? I…” she wavered again before looking at Zelori. “I won’t let you take her away from me!” Zelori pressed her trigger slightly, pelting the board and causing it to fly out of the mare’s magic grip. It clattered to the floor, a charred marking indicating where it had struck. The mare backed away slowly. “Then own up to it.” Zelori said coldly, keeping her expression stoic. “If you truly wish to make it out of here.” She looked to the filly. “Together.” She looked back to the mare. “Then prove yourself. Not just to her, but to yourself.” Zelori looked to the filly and smiled at her. The filly slowly stepped away from her, tears falling on her cheeks again before running to her mother, hugging her foreleg. The mother was baffled. Tears streamed from her own. She held her daughter, the guilt clearly displayed. Zelori then looked past her to the ponies coming out of hiding. “How were you able to take them out like that?” the gruff stallion asked her with sheer admiration of the mechanical corpses at his hooves. Zelori didn’t answer him, but instead, made a suggestion. “There should be a supply depot for expeditions nearby. I will take you there. Then, I will see to it that you are at a stable checkpoint. After that, you are on your own.” She said, holstering her pistol and trotting down the road. Things were more dire than she had thought. It has only been thirty minutes in and already ponies have started to lose their faith in themselves. She can only hope that Candlejack was faring better.~~~****~~~ Candlejack galloped down an empty road. He had made sure that each building he passed had no pony inside. But that wasn’t all he was looking for. ‘Now, if I recall, there should be… aha!’ He stopped in front of a building. It was a shop that has been known to dedicate black market deals to the ETGs. He trotted up to the door and tested it. Locked. He cocked his head in thought. ‘How am I supposed to get this open?’ He asked himself in contemplation. These type of buildings are usually under lock and key. No way in or out except for the front. His ears twitched when he heard steady hums from down the road. He looked to see androids clambering buildings, breaking whatever they could manage to get ahold of or deem a threat. Candlejack rubbed his chin. And then beamed as he remembered how they managed to get in here the first place. He walked out to the middle of the street and put a hoof to his teeth, whistling. He caught the attention of three androids. He quickly unfurled a wing and smirked challengingly. “Cease all hostilities.” They echoed before advancing on him. Candlejack trotted up and stood in front of the door, motioning with a wing to come and get him. One of the androids rushed towards him, claw hoof extended. Candlejack quickly sidestepped, batting the android’s hoof slightly and causing it to aim into the door. With a loud scream of metal, the android pierced it, finding itself stuck. As it continued to casually try to pull itself out, the other two bounded towards him. Candlejack sidestepped just in time, avoiding a decapitation. His helmet flew off and he had a claw like mark on his cheek. He winced at the stinging sensation before quickly dodging another swipe. Candlejack danced around the androids. Using his boots to plant into the ground and causing him to stand, he stopped a claw hoof from going any further with his gauntlet foreleg. He then quickly tossed his and the android’s foreleg up, causing it to rear back. Candlejack ducked, spun and gave a powerful buck into the chest. The android crackled at the impact, its’ chassis dented. However, it shrugged it off and looked at him before repeating the same sentence. Candlejack looked past the android and saw that the one that had stuck itself in the door managed to free itself by cutting away at it. Smiling at the opportunity, Candlejack brought out his pistol and shifted his head slightly to the side as an android’s claw hoof grazed his other cheek. The momentum carried the android further and it stabbed into the dented chassis. Candlejack aimed and fired off two shots, each striking the heads. The excited feeling came back to him. ‘Why were they echoing the same sentence over and over?’ Candlejack thought as the other android who had clawed at the door repeated the phrase. “So, tell me. What do you mean by hostilities’?” he asked the android. He waited as the android swayed towards him. “Cease all hostilities. This cannot… continue... this.... must… free them.” It said suddenly. Candlejack’s eyes widened at the sudden change of tone. The android seemed to stop and twitch a little before continuing. “Cannot… continue. Must… free… them…” It held out a claw hoof to him. But something about the way it did wasn’t out of sheer killing intent. Candlejack saw the eyes suddenly go from red to a metallic hazel. “Free… them… Free… them…Cannot… continue…” it then blinked. Something that Candlejack didn’t think they could do. And when it did, it seemed to take on an expression of terrified confusion. It looked at its’ claw hoof before looking down at itself. Part of the skin had holes, revealing the skeletal structure connected with wires and gears. Then, it did something completely unexpected. Candlejack covered his ears when it suddenly reared back and screamed. Looking out from one eye, Candlejack watched with quiet interest at the sudden reaction. The scream, however, caught the attention of the nearby androids that were ransacking the nearby buildings. Candlejack looked around, seeing dozens of red eyes focus on them. Taking it as a sign to get moving, Candlejack quickly rushed past the screaming android and into the building. His eyes darted the dark shelves, seeing if he could find anything worth using. He hopped behind a counter and dug through the shelves. Pocketing a couple of stimpaks and gels, he looked and saw something that made him grin bigger than ever. It was a small looking metallic apple. In fact, there wasn’t just one, but three of them. Picking up one, he noticed a small fine print label:Zap Apple. Press stem and wait three seconds. If you are still holding this over three seconds, we are not responsible for any limb loss or injury. - Zap Apple Co.**

Out of curiosity, he examined the object. Then, he pressed the stem. It beeped once. Twice. Candlejack realized his mistake and quickly tossed it out the door. On the third beep, it made a loud ringing sound and he felt himself being blasted back at a sudden spark of energy. Thankfully, his boots kept him from being sent off his hooves. But he couldn’t say the same for the androids however. When he had tossed it out, the apple had popped around the screaming android, which was being quickly overrun by others.

The electricity traveled, causing the swarm of androids to suddenly spaz. And when they did, he had to cover his ears at the constant screaming the creatures made. He uncovered his ears when the androids crumpled to the ground, their bodies twitching at random. Candlejack whistled in admiration before turning and pocketing the other two before galloping out of the store and making his way down further. When he arrived at a street, he looked down it and noticed ETG fighting off androids that were advancing on them. He frowned, watching as the two did a surprisingly good job at holding out. However, no matter how well they were managing, it always seemed like an android was there to take the place of the one that had fallen. He darted is eyes in thought. ‘Should I? Or shouldn’t I?’ he asked, patting his expedition bag and feeling the small lump of the Zap Apple. Thinking he probably might as well, he turned to reach in, only to stop and look up.

Heaven Tibesti’s Scrapwork

Candlejack was hesitant now. He glanced to the two fighting ETGs and then back at the booth. He could remember the painful feeling of being rejected by the mare he had once loved. But, did he really want to never see her again? ‘What if she still thinks I’m a creep?’ he thought. He bit his lip, his thoughts struggling with his rapidly beating heart.

We need to help the citizen’s escape.

Zelori’s words ran through his mind. He furrowed his brows before nodding to himself. Trotting over to the booth and looking in, he noticed the sleek looking bi-wheeled chariot still on display. However, something about it seemed different this time around. It had more cover on it and it seemed like it was carefully painted and decaled. However, that wasn’t his main concern. Hopping into the booth, he found it to be eerily quiet. The thoughts of that moment came back, the humming ambiance of the light over the workbench. When he took a step forward, he heard what sounded like a crash and a scream. His heart sunk.

He quickly bolted over the scrap metal sheets on the floor and turned the corner into the workshop. He stopped. Heaven was being lifted up by the neck by a strange looking android. Heaven pounded away at the android’s metallic arm. Candlejack quickly pulled out his pistol and fired at it, pelting it in the head. It didn’t flinch. Or even make a motion of acknowledgment. In fact, it seemed like his bullet didn’t put a single dent in it. He looked at his pistol and tossed it aside, pulling out his carbine. Standing to take aim, he fired, the burst rounds pelting the metallic hide of the android. It turned its head to look at him now, seeing the red eyes stare him down. The android then dropped the mare and turned to face him. The android was something he had never seen before on his expeditions. It was bulky, sleek in design and it was nothing but metal. But that wasn’t all he noticed. It also had a strange looking weapon on its back. It had multiple barrels in a circular like manner and had a chain connecting to the barrel. He glanced to see Heaven in a stunned state before shrinking back into a corner when the android started shifting. The weapon on its back moved down its’ side with a loud hum and it gripped a handle. The barrel spun and lit up. Candlejack held up a foreleg, feeling whatever came out of it graze him multiple times. He then dove to the side and planted himself against the wall. The weapon still firing, chipping away at his cover. He winced, feeling the stinging burns of the weapons ammunition. These weren’t Solarium or Lunarium rounds. ‘What kind of rounds are they?’ he thought to himself. He was dead curious. In fact, he couldn’t help but feel a little left out in firing the gun. He pat his expedition bag and smirked. He quickly peeked out, seeing the rain of fire halt. The android’s weapon clicked for a bit before something on its back dispensed. The chain connected to the gun fell and a new one took its place. He looked past the android, seeing the frightened Heaven. “Get to cover!” he shouted. Heaven blinked once and looked at him in confusion. “Do it!” he shouted again. Heaven balked and looked around desperately. Candlejack watched when she crawled under another workbench that happened to be in the corner. ‘It’ll have to do.’ He quickly pulled out the Zap Apple and pressed the stem. He waited, watching the android close a lid. ‘One.’ It then cocked the lever on the side. ‘Two.’ The barrel spun. ‘Three.’ Bolting out of cover, Candlejack tossed the Zap Apple. It popped in between them, forcing Candlejack against the wall. He felt his body tingle all over and fell to the ground, his muscles making him twitch. But, he had done it. The android sizzled and crackled before stumbling forward and crashing on the ground with a hum. Candlejack felt his heart beat faster. This feeling hurt, however. He groaned in pain when his muscles tightened on him. Before he knew it, Heaven rolled him over and jammed a stimpak into his chest. Candlejack felt his body suddenly ease and he sighed with relief. Heaven stood up, shaken by the confrontation, and sat down on her haunches, baffled by what she had witnessed. Candlejack took a moment, coughing for air before pushing himself off of the ground and looking at her. “T-thanks…” he rasped. Heaven nodded slowly, shivering. “C-Candlejack? Is that you?” she asked with a shuddering breath. The pegasus found himself unable to speak. Another feeling had hit him. One that made him shift uneasily and choking his words. He then gave her his best smile he could manage. ‘What am I doing?’ he thought to himself. He was relieved she was okay. But still, something about this felt… strange. Heaven took a moment to process this before furrowing her brows at him. “What are ya’ doin’ here?” Candlejack rubbed the back of his head. “Erm… on an… expedition?” he replied in more of a question than an answer. Heaven looked at him questioningly. Candlejack wasn’t sure what to make of this. Usually, he would have no problems in taking down an android on an expedition. But he was either by himself or with Zelori. And while, they had aided their team to the best of their abilities, it was always them that returned. But this situation was different. Heaven wasn’t a part of an expedition. In fact, he had almost forgotten that the androids had invaded part of section NE-3. “You uh…. seem no worse for wear.” Candlejack said hesitantly. Heaven sighed and hugged herself, still shivering. ‘Smooth, Candlejack.’ He thought. He then perked up, hearing the sound of a yell. Heaven heard it too and quickly stood up. Candlejack reloaded a fresh clip into his carbine and cocked it. He made his way quietly out of the workshop and peeked over the booth. The two ETG’s were still holding out, but one had seemed to be injured. The other, however, remained standing and firing at the advancing creatures. Candlejack balked when he noticed that one of the androids had acquired a Solarium carbine. He watched, studying the way the creature held it. It didn’t have to stand. In fact, it held it in one claw hoof and aimed. The ETGs quickly crawled behind a booth as the burst fire from the carbine pelted one on the suite covered hide. She yelped before ducking back and putting a hoof to her helm. “Delta B team requesting backup! I repeat! We are pinned down here!” There was a pause before the mare swore loudly and fired onto the advancing creatures. Candlejack rubbed his chin before his eyes fell to the sleek looking bi-wheeled chariot. He trotted over, causing Heaven to arch a brow. “How do I start it?” Candlejack asked suddenly as he hopped on it. The design of the interior made him lean forward, locking his forehooves over the handlebars. Heaven balked. “Wha? You are not drivin’ her!” she protested. Candlejack looked at her sternly. “Do you rather want to stay here and be fodder for them?” he asked. He felt a little bad for speaking to her like this. But he really didn’t know what to do at this point. He had to get back to Zelori. Not much else he can do here. ‘Besides, they seem to be holding out alright.’ Heaven bit her lip, looking out of the booth. “B-but what about those things? What if they come after us?” she asked. Candlejack smirked and reached back, pulling out a Zap Apple. “I’m well prepared.” He replied. Heaven was hesitant again. She then sighed and trotted over to him and hopping onto the seat, wrapping her forelegs around his chest. He did his best not to have his wings unfurl before looking down at the dials in front of him. Heaven pointed a hoof to one particular one. “Turn that one and then press that button.” She said. Candlejack did. And he smiled when it roared to life and he felt it jar his body. He felt his excitement increase. He had always imagined himself riding one of these things. “And then I just turn this handle, right?” He asked, remembering what Heaven had told him before the incident. He twisted it downward and Heaven’s eyes widened. “Y-yes but, I have ta’ open the garaaaaaaaAAAAAAHHH!!” Candlejack floored it. And when the chariot moved, it crashed through the wall of the booth and he quickly turned the handles, making it skid across the street with its’ back wheel. His heart was beating faster now. He couldn’t have been any more happier to suddenly be driving this thing. He looked to see that the noise of the chariot caught the attention of some of the androids. “Unlicensed auto chariot. Present identification or cease.” They echoed. The ETGs behind the booth looked to see them, their hopes rising. Candlejack arched a challenging brow before revving the chariot. He had their full attention now. “Hold on.” He told Heaven. The mare didn’t need to be told twice. She was already holding on, her mind racing with panicked thoughts of her having to suddenly keel over from her rapidly beating heart. Candlejack ignored the frightened mare before kicking down the pedal and leaning forward, the chariot bolting. Picking up speed, he narrowed his eyes as an android had stood in his way. The creature was pinned underneath the front wheel and Candlejack moved over it, the back wheel skinning the android and crushing it. He grit his teeth, seeing his only way out being guarded by more of them. He skid to a halt, Heaven holding on for dear life, before pulling out his carbine and firing. As he did this, he hadn’t realized he was still holding down on the handle. Trying to keep his balance as the chariot spun, the carbine fired, striking true on the androids. Each falling one by one. He eased the pressure on the trigger and let go of the handlebar, balancing the chariot with one hind leg and looking confusedly at his unintentional work. The androids that had surrounded him laid crumpled on the ground. He then looked over his shoulder to see the ETGs give him a look of shock. The ETG mare then retracted her visor and smiled at him. “Think that thing has more seats?” she asked. Candlejack studied the ETGs. They were pretty wounded. And they seemed like they were on the verge of running out of ammo. Candlejack looked forward and saw the red glowing eyes of the androids appearing over the buildings. He then looked to see a shaken Heaven shrink behind him, her grip tightening around his chest. Candlejack gave the mare a stoic look before revving the chariot and turning down the street. “W-what? Hey! Don’t leave us here! We need support!” the ETG balked. But Candlejack had already drove the chariot halfway down the street. ‘You’ll manage.’ He thought quietly. Heaven looked at him with a mix of shock and confusion. “Y-ya’ aren’t goin’ ta’ help them?” she asked. “They are ETG. They were trained specifically for this reason. If they can’t do what they are trained to do, then they have failed their duty.” He replied to her. “But aren’t ya’ one o’ them?” she asked, looking at his partially torn expedition suite. Candlejack shook his head. “I never said I was one of them.” He replied stoically. This was true. And while Heaven tried to process this, Candlejack glanced back, seeing the ETGs retreat behind the booth and firing onto another fresh wave of androids. ‘Besides, I have other plans.’ And one that involved a Zap Apple and a certain pony he hated.

~~~****~~~

An hour has passed. Zelori had did her best to round up who she could. What started out as a small group became a small crowd. As she fell any android that got in her way, much to the awe struck citizens at her skill, she had managed to save at least a dozen ponies and foals. She led them up a rocky hill where she had seen another checkpoint that had been perfectly guarded. And she soon found out why.

“Not another step forward!” an ETG from above the checkpoint called out, causing the five that patrolled the bottom line up and aimed at them. The ponies behind her shifted slightly, uncertain about the sudden halt. “You have no business being here!” “Business?” Zelori arched a brow. “If I recall, I am tasked with escorting civilians to stable checkpoints. As per request by Brilliant Mane himself.” She said. The ETG above the checkpoint narrowed his eyes. “I’m sorry. But by order of the Equestrian Round Table, this checkpoint is specifically designated for the high class.” He nodded. “And Brilliant Mane has already retreated behind the checkpoint. You must find another stable checkpoint that is properly citizen labeled.” Zelori looked back to see the shocked looks of the citizens. “Don’t bull shit us! Let us through! We are citizens!” the gruff stallion said. Murmurs of agreement erupted from the crowd. The ETGs took aim. “This is your last warning! Find a properly assigned checkpoint! Or we will shoot!” the ETG stated. The crowd quieted when they heard the sound of a loud roaring sound from behind them. Zelori turned and saw a small sleek looking chariot ride into the crowd, making them part to desperately get out of the way. Zelori narrowed her eyes as she saw Candlejack with a mare holding onto him for dear life. He stopped in front of her and smiled. “I finally got my dream vehicle!” he smirked. Heaven balked. “Hey! Ya’ didn’t even pay fer’ it!” she growled. Zelori looked to the mare and smiled, causing Heaven to suddenly shift uneasily. “Err… can ‘ah help you?” Zelori said nothing before turning to scold her brother. “Reckless to the end. Have you’ve even found anyone out in the outskirts?” she asked. Candlejack sighed and shook his head. “Just the one. But everything else was already android territory.” He explained. Heaven slid off the seat, her legs wobbling as she did her best to stand upright. “H-have ya’ even gotten yer’ license yet?” she rasped as she realized she was on solid ground. Candlejack arched a brow. “What’s a license?” he asked. Zelori rubbed her muzzle with a sigh before looking to see the ETGs still aimed at them. Candlejack followed suite. “I won’t warn you again! Head to the designated checkpoint or we-“ Candlejack smirked. “Frankly, I feel as if you are disobeying a direct order from Brilliant Mane himself.” He retorted. The ETG shook his head. “Negative! Brilliant Mane has already been escorted to safety by the Equestrian Round Table.” As the ETG said this, Candlejack tapped his forehoof against his hind leg in thought. ‘Seems like they are being the stubborn prick heads like usual.’ He then looked down at the chariot and then to his wings. He smirked, Zelori catching it. “What are you planning?” She asked immediately upon seeing it. Candlejack unfurled his wings. “Everypony, step aside and remain that way!” he ordered. Murmurs of confusion erupted before Candlejack revved the chariot and spinning it to turn back down the road. Zelori watched as her sibling sped down the road, causing the crowd to react quickly. Feeling like he had gained enough distance, he turned the chariot and revved it. “The hell is that kid doing?” one of the ETGs asked. Zelori’s mind was racing. What was the idiot thinking!? Candlejack revved the chariot again and took off, the motor roaring as he gained speed. He then pulled back, causing the chariot to pop up onto the back wheel. He then let go of the handlebars and planted his hooves onto the front of the chariot guard. Bringing his wings in, he kicked off when the chariot crashed into the cement barrier the ETG have erected around the checkpoint. Time slowed for them. They watched in awe as Candlejack catapulted over the barrier, the chariot crashing and rolling into the ground, causing the ground ETGs to move out of the way, and he unfurled his wings. He shifted his position, gliding up with his hooves out in front of him… and aimed straight at the one ETG on top. The guard didn’t have time to register this when Candlejack tackled him and they rolled. Candlejack, however, positioned himself so he could stand the guard and then planted his foreleg under the ETG’s neck. “Wh…what?” was all the ETG could say before Candlejack smirked and delivered a hefty hoof punch across the ETG’s helm, knocking him out in the process. Zelori was stunned by this, but quickly snapped out of it and drew out her staff. While the front ETGs were looking on at the spectacle, she threw the staff around one of the ETG’s neck and choked her out. The ETG went limp from the lack of oxygen and was laid aside. The crowd took that as an opportunity and they took it. Storming the barricade, the ETG didn’t have time to react when the crowd descended on them, tying them up. Candlejack watched his handiwork play out before turning to see the switch that opened the checkpoint. With a loud screech of metal and alarms blaring, the checkpoint door opened and the crowd cheered. He looked down as the crowd advanced through the grinding gate. His eyes fell to Zelori. She studied him before sighing and giving a small smile. Candlejack returned it before turning to the other side of the gate and seeing section NE-4 expand before him. It was almost similar to NE-3, however, this section had more apartments and streets. The middle class section as they called it. He looked to the knocked out ETG. The ETG’s helm crackling with static. Candlejack heard a garbled voice from it. “…repeat. Brilliant Mane has given the notice for every able ETG to quarantine the section!” Candlejack gave a sly smile before taking off the ETG’s helm and pressing the button on the side of the helm. “Roger. Has Brilliant Mane been safely evacuated?” he asked. There was static for a brief moment. “Affirmative. Brilliant Mane has retreated behind gate E-7. Commence crowd pacification until more word is given from him.” Candlejack felt his heart beat rapidly. Victory is ever so close for him. He pressed the button, trying his best to keep his smile from getting out of control. “Roger that.” He said. He dropped the helm and flew down to where Zelori stood. The zebra was watching with quiet interest at Heaven, who was shakily looking at the scratched chariot. “My… my work…” she rasped weakly. Candlejack arched a brow before walking over to her. Heaven fell to her haunches and sighed. “Are ya’ happy now?” she asked. Candlejack rubbed the back of his head. “More along the lines of ‘being even’.” He said. Heaven shot him a glare. “So, that’s what that was all about? The fact that you were out ta’ get me?” she asked coldly. Candlejack shook his head. “Never once thought about it.” He said coolly. Heaven suddenly stood up and delivered a hefty hoof punch across his cheek, causing a brow to arch from Zelori. Candlejack stumbled a bit, but stood and rubbed his cheek. “Bein’ even? Is that what ya’ call it?” She jabbed a hoof into his chest. “You are the one who thought it would be smart ta’ just waltz in on me and my colt-friend?” Candlejack felt the hollow feeling come back. “I didn’t know he was.” He said stoically. Heaven’s anger was clear. “An’ ya’ just so happen ta’ think ‘Ah didn’t have one!?” She spat. “’Ah seen the way ya’ been lookin’ at me ever since you walked up ta’ my booth! ‘Ah thought it was cute at first, but then ya’ kept comin’ over, getting’ me ta’ talk about my hobbies!” She jabbed another hoof at him. “Ya’ only bought one thing from me an’ ever since, ya’ just wanted ta’ hear me drabble on things that have no business with credits!” She pointed to herself. “’Ah could care less about yer’ wildest fantasies of me! But in the end, it never should have mattered to ya’! I only wanted credits! An’ then ya’ started askin’ about my motorchariot and ‘Ah figured you were interested in buyin’ it!” She gave a sly smirk. “So, ‘Ah thought ‘Ah would play along!” Candlejack gave her a bored look. And while the hollow feeling remained, he found it amusing to see the mare rant. But the mare insulting him wasn’t his main concern. He was smiling. And Zelori narrowed her eyes at him. She was confused by the sudden outburst of the mare, who she now realized was the crush of her sibling. But Candlejack wasn’t making any gestures towards her that seemed he cared. Even Heaven frowned angrily at him at the smile. “Ya’ think this is funny to ya’!? My colt-friend can’t get over the fact that ya’ walked in on us an’ he thinks that ‘Ahm goin’ behind his back!! But of course ya’ wouldn’ happen to know it ‘cus you are just only in it fer’ yer’ damn chance to drive my chariot!” She motioned to the scratched chariot. “’Ah poured sweat, blood an’ tears into it! An’ ya’ just go an’ wreck it!” Candlejack trotted over to the chariot and pulled it up. He turned the dial and pressed the button, hearing it sputter a bit before roaring to life. “Seems to work fine enough.” He said with a shrug. Heaven was furious. “Don’ get smart ass with me, boy!” she spat. He smirked and looked to Zelori. “Yo, sis. Wanna’ take out the ETG directly?” he asked. Zelori arched a brow. Heaven balked. “Are you ignoring me?!” she stated. Zelori looked to the mare. She hadn’t thought it at first. But this mare might have been the sole cause for him going out at night and leaving with mares that she knew were no good. Zelori sighed before trotting over to the chariot and hopping on to the back. Heaven balked again. “W-what are ya’ two doin?!?” she stated. Candlejack revved it, giving her a smile. “Going to go end our suffering once and for all.” He said before turning and flooring the chariot. Heaven was speechless. Never in her life has she met ponies of such caliber. And while the two sped down the road towards the gate, they were unaware of a lone slender figure having watch over them from the top of a building.

~~~****~~~

Brilliant Mane watched from the front of the gate. He darted his eyes, seeing the section NE-3 fall to the invasion of the androids. He remained stoic as his mind raced with thoughts.

‘It seems I have gotten careless.’ He quietly sighed. ‘But… this is an opportunity in disguise. The AI told me so.’ He couldn’t help but turn his calm expression to a cold one. ‘It even stated the casualties I we will have to deal with. But if it is right about one thing…’ His ears twitched when he heard the sound of a roaring engine from afar. ‘Is that it has high hopes for him.’ As if on que, a sleek scratched looking bi-wheeled chariot rolled into view. On it was a pegasus and a zebra. They looked at him, the zebra with her stoic demeanor. But the pegasus… Their eyes met. He grinned widely at Brilliant Mane. ‘Apocalypitca… is that what you had in mind?’ Brilliant Mane couldn’t help but smile softly. ‘An opportunity to strike down the sole cause of our suffering.’ Brilliant Mane stood as ETGs suddenly lined up in front of him, aiming their carbines and rifles at the two.

Candlejack eyed the line. ‘To end our suffering.’ Candlejack thought. Brilliant Mane narrowed his eyes at the stallion.

‘To rid this world of the plague it has and rebuild anew.’ Brilliant Mane and Candlejack studied each other, waiting to see who would strike first. And yet, at the same time, they both had a thought.

‘To save this dying world, we must enter into the valley of death. And it’ll all start here.’ Zelori’s grip tightened around Candlejack. Brilliant Mane looked over his shoulder and nodded to the guard. The ETG then pulled a lever and the gate screeched loudly.

“I had high hopes of you, Candlejack.” Brilliant Mane shouted over the screeching metal. Candlejack smirked.

“I’m touched.” He retorted. Brilliant Mane shook his head.

“You had an opportunity. You could have lived happily with your family. You could have not worried about the dangers our underground utopia has.” Candlejack snorted.

“Utopia is cutting it short. I’d say ‘hell’ is more like it.” Brilliant Mane narrowed his eyes again at the stallion.

“And you think taking me down will just end it all? You do realize that if I do die, there will be others to take my place.” Candlejack tapped his hind leg with his forehoof.

“I don’t plan on just killing you. I plan to end it all. ETG has been around long enough. We aren’t blind to the fact that we are running out of oxygen down here.” Candlejack shrugged. “In fact, I’m pretty sure what the outside has to offer won’t be anything like it is down here.” Brilliant Mane arched a brow.

“Is that so? And you deem killing me and escaping to the outside is another step to move forward in society?” Candlejack smirked.

“Apocalyptica seems to think so.” Brilliant Mane sighed.

“And you believe the ancient AI more than the ones that have sheltered you from its dangers? The outside world will not be kind to you. It will throw everything it has to break you. And before you realize that the mistake is a big one, it will eat you alive.” Candlejack snorted.

“Better than suffocating down here. You and I both know that the android invasion wasn’t just an incident. It’s a wake-up call.” Zelori remained silent as she studied her brother’s actions. “If I didn’t think it, I probably would have just followed your every order around and pretend nothing is going to happen.” Candlejack then frowned. “We are leaving here, Brilliant. And you can’t stop us.” Brilliant Mane couldn’t help but smile.

‘Perhaps I underestimated the flying rat. Apocalyptica was right about his will for freedom. But… is he truly the being the AI claims him to be?’ Candlejack arched a brow at the contemplating stallion.

‘What is he planning?’ he thought. He eyed the ETGs again. They were itchy on the trigger. Brilliant Mane then shot a forehoof out to his side from his cape.

“Open the gate.” He ordered. The ETGs took a moment to look at one nother. “That is an order.”

“B-but sir?” one of the ETGs started. But Brilliant Mane dismissed the protest.

“Let them go. If they cannot abide by our laws here, then surely they will perish either way.” Brilliant mane looked to the two. “Heed my words, you two. Doing this means you have already come to terms with your consequences. You will not only be leaving your home, but everyone you cared for behind.” Candlejack couldn’t help but laugh. Zelori watched silently as her brother laughed higher. He then stopped and grinned at him.

“Then you better heed mine.” He drew out his pistol and aimed it at him, causing the ETGs to return the gesture. “Your downfall will lead to your blood on my hooves. And when that time comes, I hope you have already made amends with your own consequences.” Brilliant Mane studied the stallion.

‘To think that a prisoner would so carelessly throw his own life away like this. What did he find down there in the ruins?’ Candlejack felt Zelori tap his shoulder.

“Jack. Are you certain about this? You do realize there is no turning back from this.” she said. Candlejack smirked again.

“Zelori, if I wasn’t so sure, I wouldn’t have dragged you and DD along for the ride. You and I both know what the ETG is doing. You saw it yourself. Those expeditions weren’t just go in and retrieve.” Of course, Zelori knew this. But her main concern was the action that her sibling is taking to ensure they never return. She could only hope to keep him out of too much trouble. And when Candlejack revved the chariot, Brilliant Mane turned and walked towards the gate. Candlejack frowned and pulled out the Zap Apple. With a loud screech of the wheel and the roar of the motor, the chariot sped forward.

ETGs dove out of the way. Candlejack pressed the stem and narrowed his eyes. ‘One.’ Brilliant Mane made no motion to move out of the way. ‘Two.’ Zelori remained stoic as they sped by the stallion. Time seemed to slow for them. She looked to see Brilliant Mane glancing at them. His expression was that of acceptance. He knew. He knew what he was going to do. ‘Three.’ Candlejack tossed the Zap Apple back behind them and it landed in front of Brilliant Mane.

‘So be it. But know that my influence isn’t exclusive to down here. I will see you again, Candlejack.’ Time sped up and a loud pop of electricity spread throughout the ETG. Their screams muffled by their helms. Candlejack sped the chariot into the tunnel, his expression grim. He glanced back, seeing a silhouette of a stallion in a white cape covered in his own blood look to them. Candlejack grit his teeth.

‘Dammit, nicked him.’ He thought.

~~~****~~~

The tunnel rumbled. The explosion from the Zap Apple seemed to cause the cave to crumble around them. Candlejack didn’t let go of the handle. Zelori used her staff to bat away at the rocks that came dangerously close to nicking them. Candlejack’s eyes widened when he saw the light at the end. Freedom was ever so close. He then balked when a rock rolled into their path. The chariot flipped over, catapulting them both over. Candlejack and Zelori went rolling with the chariot. Shaking off the daze, Zelori looked to see that Candlejack had been pinned by the chariot. He struggled to break free, only to find that his hind leg was caught in the wheel and a rock.

“Dammit! Let go!” he growled. Zelori sidestepped a rock that had fallen next to her. She quickly rushed forward and jammed her staff under the vehicle. Grunting as she tried to lift it, the rock kept it in place. Candlejack tried to life with his back, but another rock came falling down and pelted them, causing the vehicle to become even more stuck. Zelori’s mind panicked. She kept pushing down, trying to lift the rock. Then, as if the heavens had answered her prayers, she felt the vehicle and the rocks lift. Candlejack felt himself becoming free. And then blinked in confusion when he and Zelori were suddenly scooped up and started moving above the ground.

The light neared. They were close. The tunnel still rumbled. Candlejack looked up, his eyes widening in surprise by the slender like robotic figure in a tattered shawl sprinting down the tunnel. It gave a worried garbled hum before it heaved both of them forward. They rolled and the figure was struck with a rock. They rolled to a stop and Candlejack quickly stood up, looking over to the tunnel

“DD!” he called out. The slender robot frantically tried to push aside the rock, but more kept falling on top of it. Zelori and Candlejack rushed forward, only to have DD hold out a slender limb towards them. Candlejack wanted to reach out, but he noticed that DD hadn’t reached for them. Instead, it tossed something. A sleek, black looking box. Candlejack stopped and caught it in his wing, stepping back when he came close to be crushed by a rock. He looked, his surprise turned to shock. DD garbled at them. It stuttered for a bit, its’ eyes dimming with everytime it tried to push aside the rock. The tunnel rumbled again.

“Jack!” Zelori said, putting a hoof on her brother’s shoulder. But Candlejack didn’t want to move. He wanted to help. DD was hurt and needs help. But he saw it. The look DD gave him. It wasn’t sadness, nor happiness. DD looked to the two baffled ponies, garbling a cool like tone. The tunnel rumbled again, furiously this time. The rocks fell one by one, piling on top of the robot. Candlejack couldn’t hear anything. Zelori was calling to him, but her voice was drowned out by the tunnel. Candlejack then felt himself being turned around and galloping towards the light. They both dove into an opening, the tunnel exploding into dust. Zelori and Candlejack coughed the dust away before turning back to see the tunnel entrance was covered by rock and debris.

“DD….” Candlejack shivered, his hollow feeling increasing into a sorrow. Zelori was sharing the emotion as well. Both of them remained silent, their thoughts cluttered with scenarios on how it might have gone better. But Candlejack had already struck the first hammer. The steps before them laid out and he had already nailed a piece into place. However, it was one he had no intentions of involving. He sat on his haunches, dumbfounded. He then felt a lump in his wing. He blinked and shifted it onto his hoof. He examined it. The craftsmanship was carefully in play. DD had made small adjustments to the box.

And when he tapped it, the melody began playing. A hologram of the alicorn now a moving puppet. It danced and spun with the music, displaying DD’s work has been a success. But Candlejack didn’t think so. It was a hollow victory. One of many he believed himself to face. And he knew this. He knew what was at stake in trying to leave. He had talked about it. Shared it with those closest to him. Zelori found herself unable to think clearly. Instead, she sat next to him, wrapping a foreleg around him and bringing him in close. At that moment, Candlejack felt himself transgressing back into a colt.

And as the melody played, Candlejack shivered. His heart sank heavily into his chest. He gripped the box tighter in his hoof, watching through blurred vision at the dancing alicorn. What they didn’t realize was that the room around them lit up. They had entered into what appeared to him as another bunker. But behind them blinked a familiar prism.

“It is great to see you two again.” The deep metallic voice of Apocalyptica greeted. Zelori looked over her shoulder, eyeing it coldly. “Oh, it appears I have interrupted something. Is this what you ponies call a ‘moment’?” It then changed into a triangle. “Is that a music box playing?” Candlejack gripped the box tighter. “What a soothing sound. I’m sorry if the trouble has been too great.” Candlejack stood up suddenly and turned to look at the screen. It displayed over head on a huge screen.

“It’s over, Apocalyptica… We are free now…” he said. Apocalyptica changed back into a circle.

“Indeed. And it pleases me to see you all in good health.” Candlejack bit his lip, drawing blood. ‘It doesn’t know…’ Zelori stood up.

“May nature guide you to rest.” She said before turning to the screen. “We are ready…” Apocalyptica changed back into a prism.

“Four years it has been since I have tasked you both. And in those years of your expeditions, I have guided you. Led you to the chance of being free.” Candlejack said nothing, his grim expression covered by his bangs. “You have made it this far. But I have just begun. This project to save your home. This land. It has to be seen through. It is what my creator wanted. What the land wants. To save a dying civilization from another incident.” Zelori and Candlejack remained silent.

“What… are we to expect outside?” Zelori asked suddenly. Apocalyptica suddenly blinked into an image. It was covered in static, but every now and then, an image of what appears to be a bunker surrounded by rocks and a path leading away from the door buzzed in. The image faded and Apocalyptica returned.

“I’m afraid the camera feed is corrupted. However, I expect that my data for the project to be housed in the facilities scattered around the land. If we are to see this project through, I will need both of you to aid me. If not for ourselves, then the betterment of Equestria.” Candlejack and Zelori remained silent, causing Apocalyptica to turn into a static line. It then blipped and changed back into a prism. “It appears that temperatures are reading off the charts. If you are to continue forward outside, I recommend wearing these.” The locker to the left of them hissed open. A shelf extended forward, displaying strange looking suites.

“These suites are specially designed to combat the temperatures of the outside. I recommend you wear them if you are to not burn out.” Candlejack and Zelori exchanged glances before silently ditching the torn expedition’s suites and putting on the futuristic looking equipment. Retrieving their items from the expedition bags and putting them into the suites built in bags, they were ready to venture forth. They stood in front of a blast door. The door then screeched with a loud metallic scream. The rust falling in specks at the movement.

“I wish you both luck. I would start by heading west of the bunker. There is a small settlement where you can probably find someone to give you proper directions. I’m afraid I can’t be much help, but I will promise to see you again when you reactivate the facilities.” Candlejack and Zelori remained quiet as they took a step forward. Candlejack shielded his eyes through his visor at the sudden blinding light overhead. He was in awe. The path led down and expanded into nothingness. Nothing except for sand. Sand and dirt as far as he could see.

They had made it outside. But it is only a question of what they will face in this new world. The world above ground that was known as Equestria.

Act-1 Chapter 5: Aurora.EXE

Aurora.EXE

Detrot. What was once a haven for those looking to drown their sorrows and live a simple life, is now a place divided. The outskirts, or more commonly known to the citizens as The Subdivision, is a scavenger haven. Crumpled buildings rotting with sand and stone concrete. But inside these once habitable ruins lies treasures that can make one rich. However, that is if they know where to look. And a lone figure was doing just that. Her body covered by a tattered body cape meant to protect her from the sun's harmful rays. And yet, something about this figure was uncanny. She looked like a pony, which she knows. However, she knew that she wasn’t entirely flesh. And while her design was sleek and her mane long and silky, her eyes were dark, illuminated by the neon light blue that were her irises. And with each steady movement she made through the ruined streets of the Subdivision, her eyes scanning each pile of debris and metal she passes that were lit up through her metal finding program, her hums with each step were the only thing accompanying her. One would question why a mare would be wandering around the Subdivision without any form of protection. But to her, she felt she didn’t need it. She had no trouble scouring the ruins and avoiding the dangers that littered it. She quickly ducked behind a dumpster that had seen better days when her scanners picked up something hostile ahead. She waited, her breath non-existent. The ground beneath her rumbled in a slow steady quake. The dangers that were in the Subdivision were considered “Lost Residents”, a name that was always intriguing to her. Aside from the purpose of finding salvage and scrap, she was also exploring this place more out of sheer curiosity. Her personality chip allowing her to think freely of her actions and expressions. And she narrowed her eyes, waiting patiently as the rumble grew louder. Her scanner detected the hostile rounding the corner. Optic nerves allowed her to zoom in. She could see them. Small tiny scavenger units hopping over debris in a carefree manner. Aiding them was a giant bulk unit. The pony like robots grouped together, their beeps and hums loud and clear. “Big brother.” The tinier units rasped metallically in an echo. The bigger one rolled on tractor like hooves, the ears fuming out smoke. It’s dimly lit yellow eyes scanning the area. It stopped, its engines roaring faintly as its head moved. The little units bounded up and down as they clambered the debris. The lone figure watched from the shadows, studying a way around them. The tiny scavenger units hopped on a concrete pile and a compartment on their back opened. A long arm connected by a claw at the tip reached in. The other units followed suite, but in different areas. The metallic mare frowned slightly. ‘Finding alternate routes.’ Her thought program told her. Symbols and lights flashed in her sights. A small square displaying an area map around her. Circles formed over what looked like random places on the map. They were immediately crossed out with an X before one circle stood out to her. It was in fact, right beside her. She looked to her left, seeing the ruined building. Above her was an open hole in the wall. ‘Best route found. Caution to proceed.’ The mare slid a fore hoof out of her body cape and held it out to her side. She then blinked and looked to her hoof, eyeing it in confusion. The tips of her hooves were stuttering. She brought her hoof in and examined it. The claw stubs were jammed. Her hoof protesting against her will. She remained stoic as she placed her hoof against the dumpster. With a quick strike of her other hoof, the claw stubs broke free. Moving them in a wave like motion, testing to see if they are stable, she dug into the concrete wall, her other hoof resembling the one she had freed. With a quick hop and a spring forward, she climbed the side with ease and crawled into the hole. Despite the sun bearing high overhead, increasing the temperature above five hundred degrees (according to her built in thermostat), the building was dark. Only a small beam of light from the sun lit the way from the destroyed windows. She activated her optic lights, illuminating the area in a light blue hue. The room was in a mess. Chairs and tables littered in no particular angles or against one another. Burnt specs of paper and metal rust littered the floor. She scanned the area, reading that there were no hostiles on this floor. The red dots on her map in the top right of her HUD were small, but they depicted the threats outside. She walked forward, her movements humming in a steady pace. Her metallic hoofsteps echoed through the ruin. Her scanners were picking up metal and scrap, but she ignored it and kept walking, her gaze more interested in the architecture. Something about this place made her feel as if she was walking through a part of history. ‘Who were the ponies that used to work this place?’ She had thought. ‘What did they do here? Was it something they enjoyed? Or was it something they loved to hate?’ She studied the wall, seeing destroyed and cracked picture frames. Whatever had laid dormant in them must have long been decayed. She then fell her eyes onto a whiteboard. She cocked her head, seeing dried out ink on the board:Profits for Solarium:

Year 1: 400b quartz

Year 2: 367b quartz

Year 3: 234m quartz

The last option was circled and a line was drawn next to it, connecting to a sentence:

Massive drop in pay. Somepony is getting fired for this.

She wasn’t sure what to understand about the sentence, but the chart depicted an increase steadily rising before it took a dramatic drop before increasing slowly. She dismissed it for now, having to turn her gaze back down the hall. Some halls and doorways were blocked off by the crumbling ceiling. But she was able to find her way to the other side of the building. She reached for the doorknob, her claw like hoof grasping it. Before she could do anything else, the knob popped off and the door fell forward with a loud creak and landed with a loud clunk. She arched a brow before looking at the knob and tossing it aside before stepping in.

This room had terminals inside. A row of them lined up symmetrically to the walls. She scanned the room. All the terminals were either destroyed or stripped for parts. She frowned quietly, sensing that somepony had already been through here and had a field day with the terminals. Although… one seemed to strike her curiosity. Her ears twitched to a faint hum and click of a terminal. It sounded like it was buried underneath the debris. She released her claw stubs and dug in, lifting the heavy debris aside with ease. She felt herself smile as she found a terminal humming alive on its side. Pulling it out and letting the debris she held drop with a loud crack of metal and concrete, she placed the terminal on the desk and studied it. It was dented, but the humming it made told her it was still kicking. The keypads were small to use her whole hoof, but big enough for the tips. However, she found it more easier to use her claw like stubs to tap away at it. She scrolled the files, finding only summaries for Solarium and Lunarium export and import. However, she did find a personal log file that may have belonged to the previous pony assigned to this terminal. She tapped a key and read through the first report: >Things couldn’t have gone from worse to utter shit. Stock Market is pissed at the sudden decrease in import of Solarium and it seems he is out for blood. I wouldn’t blame him if I was in his shoes. He practically lost millions of bits due to a stupid bug in our system. The repair bots told us that they tried everything they could, but he wouldn’t hear another word of it. I guess our IT team got lucky this time around. She scrolled to the next one: >This is hell! I can’t even seem to catch a break without Stock Market looking down my back! He practically threatened to dock our pays if we don’t fix this bug soon. I could practically give two shits about this. He doesn’t know what I know. And I think it is high time his little secret got out. She narrowed her eyes, seeing an email report: >To PR Department>You know better than to have declined the issue. I have the proof right here in this document. All you had to do was read it. But it seems you won’t even listen to a concerned employee. The next report was a response: >To Makinroy of IT>We are not responsible for employees neglecting to inform their higher ups about their issues. If you want something done, take this complaint to the actual Complaints Department.The reports seemed to end there. The sleek metallic mare frowned. She was expecting more out of this exploration. However, it appeared to be just an employee having a bad week in the office. She scrolled through the terminal again, seeing if there was anything she missed. Unfortunately, the heat in the building seemed to make the terminal crackle before popping on her in a burst of smoke. She stoically looked around, spotting the doorway leading out. As she stepped out, mimicking a sigh of disappointment, she stopped and stiffened. Her HUD was flashing red. She looked to her right and she saw the sun being blocked by a looming figure. A giant red eye peering in through the window, the red light shining on her. She darted her eyes, seeing that her options out were blocked by debris. She looked back to the door she had exited, only to balk when she saw a small scavenger unit look at her red eyes. “Big… Brother…” it rasped metallically. More red eyes lit the room. How had her scanners not pick them up!? She racked her head, making her HUD static a bit before seeing that the map was displaying a warning: Threats detected. Proceed with caution.

‘Thanks for nothing.’ She growled. The shadow looming over her moved. She looked back to see the bulk unit back up, a beeping sound accompanying it. When it stopped, the muzzle fumed with steam out of the nostrils. The mare’s map was finding a best route to take to avoid this. However, being cornered, she grit her metallic white teeth in frustration. ‘Time to create a route.’ She thought when the map couldn’t’ find any available route. The bulk unit whistled before the tractor like hooves tore the dirt and sand up. The mare stood in front of the doorway, glancing to see the scavenger units creeping up on her.

The bulk unit moved forward, intending to ram into the building. The scavenger units sprang forward. The mare, however, hopped quickly to the side as the bulk unit rammed into the building, crushing the scavenger units. The mare’s body cape flapped at the impact as she moved forward, bounding up the body of the bulk unit, her claw stubs digging into the metallic chassis. Having reached the top, she quickly galloped gracefully over the head of the bulk unit and jumped onto the building’s roof. The bulk unit rumbled as it backed up. The mare quickly turned and bounded towards the edge of the roof. With one good hop, she heaved herself up and over onto the next building. “Big… sister….” The bulk unit groaned and the compartments on its side opened. Scavenger units crawled out of it and hopped onto the roof. “Big brother…. Big brother…” they echoed. The mare neared the edge and came to a halt. Peering over, she looked to see the long drop underneath her. Which was an inconvenience to her when she glanced back to see the scavenger units hop over to the roof she was on and surround her. “Are you proud… big brother?” they echoed. The mare bit her lip, drawing white blood from it. ‘I… I am uncertain if I should…’ she struggled with the thought. But she had to use it. It was the only way she can make it out of here. Her HUD flashed with a prompt: Activate 4UR4?: >No Yes

She swiped her hoof, moving the arrow over to the ‘yes’ and tapping it. Her HUD flashed with long lines of statuses, but at the same time, she could feel the program run through her. She had always found it a mystery as to why she has this unknown program with-in her. And discovering upon accident, she had blanked out at first. And when she came too, the danger she was in at the time was nowhere to be seen. But this time, she was aware. And she was ready. Her irises glowed brightly and her mane and tail glowed as well. This program was a mystery to her indeed. But she is certain of one thing. She could rely on it to aid her.

And when a scavenger unit sprang forward, the mare lashed out her claw hoof in blinding speed and hooked the neck of the unit. She heaved forward, shoving it into the ground and latching the wires and metal, she pulled out her hoof. The scavenger unit crackled with electricity and spazzed. “AhhhhHHHAHHAaaAH… It…. Hurts…” it said as it twitched underneath her. The scavengers looked on, their eyes changing color to yellow. The mare held up the hoof, wires and metal dangling loosely in her claws. Her expression stoic. The units seemed to get over their confusion before rushing at her all at once. The mare took two gallops forward and ducked as a unit sprang over her. She dug her claws into the scavenger unit and sliced its metallic insides out. The other two units sprang at her as the one she had fallen landed and rolled off the side of the roof. The mare quickly held out both hooves to her side and hooked their necks. They struggled to break free from her grasp, extending the excavation arms they were built in with lash out. But she quickly moved and shifted her head and body as the arm claws tried to land true. She winced, feeling that one of the claws grazed her side and tearing off a bit of her protective cape. A white gash on her side signaling that it had struck. She then spun and heaved one of the units away, tearing the neck in the process before planting the other in the ground. The one she had pinned under her claw hoof lashed at her with the arm. But she quickly caught it in her other claw hoof and she struggled to force the arm downward. The scavenger unit doing its best to fight back. “S-scared… don’t want… to die…” it rasped metallically. The mare remained stoic, studying the robot. It made no expression of any kind. However, seeing the arm fight against her grip was a sign that told her otherwise. But this program wasn’t designed for mercy. And she definitely didn’t want this to come back and bite her in the ass. She then widened her eyes angrily before digging her claw hoof into it’s neck. The unit gurgled a bit before the mare took the arm and pierced its head. It went limp under her, the light dimming from its eyes. Taking a moment to claw her hoof out of the robot’s neck, her ears twitched at the sound of a roar. The bulk unit had rounded the building and lined itself up. It fumed at the nostrils again before the tractor like hooves dug up the dirt sand again. This time, the mare was ready. She faced the unit and quickly galloped forward and jumped. Time slowed as the mare soared across the gap. As the bulk unit rushed by her, she dug her claw hoof in and latched on. Time sped up and the unit rammed into the building. It dug itself a little further in than she had expected, but ignoring the rebar that had grazed her and tearing up her cape, she stuck her other hoof in and climbed up to the back of the unit. Her eyes scanning the back, her target sensor picked up an energy reading from a small compartment. The Solarium core lit up on her screen right next to the Lunarium core. She ignored the groaning protest of the bulk unit as she dug in and ripped the compartment off. She then dug her claw hoof in, hooking the cores and ripping them out. It crackled with electricity and a loud groan of pain emitted from the bulk unit. “So much… pain… big sister… why…?” The mare squinted her eyes slightly before looking at the cores in her claw hoof. The amber and sapphire like cores glowed brightly. She then crushed them both, feeling the energy disperse through her. She felt her body tingle a bit before digging another claw in and slid down the side. The loud humming sound signaled the defeat of the massive unit. The mare let go of the side and fell quite a bit before landing on the cement, cracking it underneath her. Her HUD flashed again. Impact Compensation. Solarium and Lunarium core absorbed. Beginning repairs. Her body tingled again. She looked to see her cuts and gash seal up as if they were being sewn together. She also found this to be an intriguing part of her functions. She was able to absorb the energy from Solarium, Lunarium and Luridium. However, she deems that the first two were much more appetite friendly than the latter. Luridium always seemed to mess with her. However, despite the worrisome effects, she found herself maintained and fully functional. The program deactivated and now her usual curious self again, she looked back to the bulk unit. She then smiled when she noticed that the bulk unit dropped enough of the material she was tasked to look for. Gathering what she could and stuffing them into her saddlebag, she began making her way back towards the exit of the Subdivision. However, she stopped, her map suddenly picking up blue dots. She narrowed her eyes and quietly but quickly stuck to the shadows as she neared the blue dots. They were moving slightly, but it was strange to see friendlies here. Usually, the scavenger ponies would just shoot you on site. She rounded the corner and peeked out. She studied the figures. They were wearing suites designed to explore the outer areas of the Subdivision. However, they seemed… exhausted. In fact, she couldn’t help but stare in awe as one of the figures was standing on two hind hooves and lugging another pony in a suite over the shoulders. It appeared the second one was limp. She watched with quiet interest as the figure put one hoof out in front of the other. She had never seen a pony walk on two hooves before. She then winced when she saw the suited pony fall forward and the one on its shoulder rolled a couple feet away. The second made no motion. The one that had dropped did her best to push herself off of the dirt sand. She was able to crawl just a bit before reaching out to the second suited pony. That was when the figure went limp and fell to the ground. The mare darted her eyes in thought. ‘How odd. A pony that walked on her hind hooves? And more interestingly enough, they are unarmed.’ She quietly stepped out of the shadows and over to the figures. Her scanners analyzing them. One was indeed a female and the other a male. However, both of them appeared to be slowly losing their vitals. She picked up on their heart beats, seeing the line slowly rise and fall. She scanned the female one. Scanning scavenger database… Error.

Non-existent background check. Action required.

She cocked her head, intrigued more. She then looked to the male one and scanned.

Scanning scavenger database… Error.

Non-existent background check. Action required.

She was in awe. ‘These two aren’t from around here?’ her HUD beeped again and this time, a different scanning was taking place. She frowned. ‘Dammit, of all the times for my basic program to scan… wait…’ it was scanning the male. A list displayed before her.

Compatible match found. Scanning…

Information found.

Age: 22

Species: Pegasus

Job Affiliation: Unknown

Likes: Unknown

Dislikes: Unknown.

DNA is required for further information.

If an android could blush, she did. 'DNA?' She looked to the unconscious pony in the suite. Her basic programming had gotten to her again. But this time… it appeared to have found a…

“Match? But… how?” She quickly blinked out of her confusion before her ears twitched at the sound of another steady rumble. She grit her teeth before looking at the two. ‘Something about this is… odd. But I can’t just leave them here like this. I need to figure out what is going on. And more importantly…’ she looked to the unconscious pegasus in the suite. ‘Why did my breeding program pick him?’

~~~****~~~

The ruins of Detrot. While, not a place to write home about, it was a habitable space for scavenger ponies and units alike. And the sleek white mare sat in a chair while a gruff and elderly looking buck fiddled with her hoof claw stubs with tools and gadgets. A soldering mask over him while he repaired her hoof. And as the buck was doing this, she was looking over to the two unconscious ponies on the sofas. The old buck was surprised to see the mare trot up to his place with two ponies he had never seen before. And the suites they have worn were especially ancient. So ancient, in fact, she was surprised when the buck told her they had walked quite a ways with the AC unit busted.

She couldn’t help but feel giddy. Not only did one of them walk in on two hind hooves, it appeared that they were strong willed enough to survive the heat. And she was glad she was able to get them back in time. They had suffered from heat exhaustion. They were lucky nothing attacked them in the state they were in. And when they were in the AC confine of her home, she took the liberty of removing their helms. She was in more awe than she thought her personality chip could register. The one that had walked in on two hind hooves was a zebra mare, no more than twenty-five years of age. The other was a young pegasus stallion with a white spiked mane. She hesitated at first to remove his helm. But mustering away her embarrassment, she removed his helm and felt a little relieved. Her scanners indicated that his physical health was in good conditioning. In fact, both of them were in good health. However, their mental health on her scanners indicated abnormal levels. Which increased her curiosity even more. The buck pulled back out and dusted off her hoof, pulling up the helm and admiring his work. “Welp, yer’ all set ta’ go!” he said with a toothy grin. The mare lifted her hoof and tested her claw stubs. They were no longer stuttering. She smiled and looked to the elder buck. “Thank you, father.” She said. The buck rubbed his nose with a foreleg proudly. “Think nothin’ o’ it. Jus’ doin’ me job!” The vanilla buck with a balding red mane and thick sideburns in overalls rubbed his chin. “Speakin’ o’. Where exactly dija’ find ‘em?” The mare shifted slightly. “I… was exploring the Subdivision.” She said. The buck sighed and shook his head. “Aurora, Oi told ya’ specifically the dangers o’ that place. What in Trotland’s buttered hole were ya’ doin’ over there that was so important?” The sleek white mare in a blue silky long mane registered a guilty expression. “I was looking for materials you needed for the Condition Antenna.” She said. The buck rubbed his chin again. “Aye, tis true oi needed the parts. But ya’ didn’ hafta go out an’ get ‘em.” He snorted. “Oi was goin’ to let that Pastel feller go instead.” He growled quietly. “Oi don’ like the lad eyein’ me only daughter.” Aurora giggled softly before patting the buck’s cheek. “Do not worry, dear father. He is a nice stallion at heart. But you know full well that he is out not just for me.” She said. The buck smiled before patting her metallic sleek hoof. “Oi know. Is jus’ hard tryin’ ta’ keep this place runnin’ and the mayor constantly breathin’ down me back.” Aurora kissed the top of his head before smiling. “Perhaps I shall make dinner tonight. You just rest for now. I expect an all-night work tomorrow on the antenna.” She said. The buck smiled before spinning on his stool and shifting the metal scrap on his workbench. When he did, the zebra mare suddenly jolted up, startling both the mare and the buck. “Jack… Where is Jack?” she said suddenly, looking around. She then fell her gaze onto the unconscious stallion. She gave a sigh of relief before wincing and rubbing her head. “Where… am I?” Aurora and the buck exchanged a quick glance before the buck gave a toothy grin. “Welcome back ta’ da’ livin’!” he said heartily. The zebra mare looked to them, her eyes bearing caution. That caution then turned to surprise. “Who are you?” she asked. The buck gave a hearty laugh before rubbing his muzzle and speaking. “Names Truffelton. Oi’m the mechanic o’ this joint! An’ this ‘ere is me lovely daughter Aurora.” He said, nodding to the mare. The zebra’s eyes studied the mare, making her shift uncomfortably. The zebra then bolted out of the sofa and reached behind her. “Android! Here!?” she stated. She then blinked in confusion and looked over her shoulder. She was unarmed. And Aurora noticed the sudden heart rate increase on the mare. The buck frowned. “Aye, she’s an android. But she ain’t jus’ an android.” He smiled proudly at her. “She’s me angel o’ me life.” The zebra arched a brow. “Angel?” she asked. The buck nodded before frowning. “And ye bes’ watch yer’ manners. It was thanks ta’ her that ya’ are still walkin’ this earth.” The zebra mare took a cautious step back, the uncertainty clear on her face. Aurora registered a sad look. “I’m sorry if this is sudden, but I had happened to find you both wandering the outskirts of the Subdivision.” Aurora stood up and smiled at her. “My registration ID is 4U120124. Or in simpler terms, you can call me Aurora.” The zebra narrowed her eyes suspiciously towards her before looking to the unconscious stallion. She walked over and put a hoof to his head. “He’s burning up…” she said. Aurora studied the two. Who were these two? And why did they intrigue her so much? And more importantly. She felt a bit of red touch her cheek, seeing her basic programming activating. She shook her head furiously before looking to the mare. “He must be suffering heat fever.” She said. The zebra arched a questioning brow at her. “It’s similar to what you would call a ‘common cold’ but more along the lines of excessive exposure to heat.” The zebra looked worriedly at the stallion. “Is there any way to cure it?” Troffelton laughed. “O’ course there is a way. She said tis like the common cold. But instead o’ pills an’ cold medicine, we use…” Aurora trotted over to a cabinet and pulled down a plastic box, using her claw like stubs to grip it. This caught the zebra’s interest before Aurora turned and held up the box. “A special coolant pack.” She popped open the plastic box and pulled out a red looking pouch. The zebra watched as Aurora shook it and the pouch inflated. “It consists of crushed Lunarium crystals that melt into a cooling liquid. Similar to an ice pack.” She trotted over, her steady movements unnerving to the zebra, before she placed the pack gently on the stallion’s forehead. They noticed the small relief of his pain stricken face ease. Aurora read his vital signs stabilizing. And she smiled at this. Something about the stallion peacefully sleeping made her feel giddy. She then blinked in confusion and frowned, deactivating her annoying basic programming. The zebra sighed, slumping a little. She must have been on full alert all this time. And when she sat down on the sofa, she put a hoof to her head and leaned back, closing her eyes. Aurora furrowed her brows before turning. “I’ll go ahead and get dinner started.” She said, trotting past the buck and into another room. Troffelton rubbed his chin, seeing the zebra mare ease a little. “Oi’m curious now. Jus’ who are ya’?” The zebra mare made no motion of looking at him before speaking. “Zelori.” She said. Troffelton smiled. “Oi bet ye from Zebrica, am oi right?” he said. Zelori looked at him now, a questioning brow displayed. “Zebrica? How do you know Zebrica?” she asked. Troffelton puffed his chest out proudly. “Oi’m no stranger when it comes ta’ travelin’. Oi been all over ta’ continent afor’ settelin’ ‘ere.” He winked. “Even been ta’ Zebrica.” Zelori darted her eyes in thought before sighing. “No, I am not from Zebrica. But my ancestors are.” She said. Troffelton rubbed his chin again. “Really now? The Last Migration oi take it?” Zelori narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the buck. “And you know this, how?” she asked. Troffelton smiled. “Well, oi’m glad ya’ asked! Ya’ see, ‘ere in Equestria, people o’ all kind mingle about in ta’ world!” he said. Zelori furrowed her brows. She wasn’t sure if she was going to regret this or not. However, she remained calm and listened. It was interesting to hear the old buck speak about Equestria. How it once was a place that was filled with luscious grass, trees and flora. How everything wasn’t all dirt and sand. Buildings were tall and brilliant during the post-industrial era. A place where any creature could call home. The way the buck described it, Zelori couldn’t help but smile at the thought. ‘Perhaps, maybe I can gather more information about this place.’ She then looked to the stallion. ‘But I don’t want to let Candlejack out of my sight just yet.’ Troffelton caught the worried look from the mare and he smiled a toothy smile. “So, what’s ta’ lad’s story?” he asked. Zelori shook her head. “It’s best I not say. He really doesn’t like it when ponies know about his personal business.” she said. “Then I bet ya’ both are closer than me an’ moi’ gut ‘ere if that be ta’ case.” He said, slapping his bulging belly. Zelori arched a brow again at the buck. ‘What an odd pony.’ She thought. Zelori then eyed the door Aurora had went through. She could see the mare move about on the other side. She could see it, however. An android with a cutie-mark. And one that wasn’t particular to the ones she had faced in her expeditions. Instead of the Z like pattern surrounded by a circle, this was a blue heart with a barcode striking across it. “So, what’s the story about the android?” Zelori asked. Troffelton frowned slightly, making it clear to her that she didn’t like her referring to his ‘angel’ as an android. But if she wanted to get anywhere, she had to know. “Me daughter is me pride an’ joy. Took care o’ her fer’ twenty-two years and countin’.” He said. ‘Twenty-two?’ Zelori rubbed her chin. “How old is she exactly?” she asked. Troffelton returned the gesture. “Not rightly sure. Found ‘er in the scrapyard over yonder.” He smiled. “Oi was frankly getting’ too old ta’ be runnin’ aroun’ the scrapyard. Me ol’ bones don’ work like they used ta’. So, oi’ figured oi’ build a personal assistant ta’ help aroun’ the house.” He had a tear fall down his cheek. “Little did oi’ know that oi’ had brought an angel ta’ life. Been a carin’ like daughter an’ treatin’ ‘er like so ever since.” Zelori displayed more than interest. She couldn’t help but feel a bit of guilt. She looked to Candlejack. ‘So, he too has found a pony that changed his life.’ She then looked around the room before standing up and cracking her neck. Troffelton arched a brow. “I apologize if this may seem sudden. But I would like to know exactly where I am. You… wouldn’t mind giving me a tour of the place?” Troffelton smirked. “Now that, oi can gladly do.” He then looked around and shambled over to a locker. He reached in and withdrew a belted vest with pockets. He motioned for the zebra mare to take it, which she hesitantly did, before reaching in and pulling out another one. Zelori watched as the buck clipped the vest over his hide and adjusted it so it would fit over his gut. Zelori then followed suite, adjusting the vest to make sure that it was well fitted to her needs. She then caught a cape in her hoof. “Ya’ don’ hafta worry ‘bout burnin’ up ‘ere. This place be protected by o’ Conditioner Antenna.” He said. Zelori arched a brow. “A Conditioner Antenna?” she asked. Troffelton smiled proudly. “Aye. The big ol’ lookin’ metal tower in ta’ distance. It spreads o’ aura that’ll keeps places like Detrot from burnin’ up! I’ll show ye’ on ta’ tour.” He motioned to the stallion. “An’ don’ ye’ worry ‘bout the lad. Me daughter will watch over ‘im.” Zelori furrowed her brows, copying the concerned look he gave suspiciously over to the stallion. Clearly, both of them were hesitant in leaving them behind. However, Zelori found it strange to trust this buck’s words. And she wanted to be fully prepared. As one of her ancestral wisdoms have taught her ‘Knowledge is power.’

~~~****~~~

Candlejack tossed and turned. His head was aching, but he couldn’t wake up. His thoughts were forcing him to keep himself sleeping. The thoughts of DD being crushed by the rocks haunting him. He replayed it over and over in his head. Thinking of ways that he could have probably done better. ‘If I wasn’t so damn reckless, I could have… no… I should have…’ Images of him and DD exploring the junkyard came back to him. A memory showed him mimicking the robot in a dirtied bed sheet he had found in one of his explorations. Using it as the tattered shawl, he mimicked every movement he could. DD and Zelori found this questionable, but amusing at the same time. And when DD bounded up a pile of junk, Candlejack frowned before looking back at his wings. He flapped them, the rhythm off key. He had managed to fly once, but that was out of sheer panic to get away from being shot at.

DD looked down, giving a worried garbled hum. It was about to make a motion when it spotted Zelori looking out from the porch of the small junk house and shaking her head with a smile. DD rubbed its head with a stub before looking down, seeing Candlejack struggle to fly. An idea struck the robot. Turning and bending down, gathering up a metal pole and rope, the robot threw together what it could and made a fishing like pole. Using a bent pole to form a hook that could fit around the colt, DD lowered the pole and while Candlejack was distracted in trying to concentrate in getting the right rhythm, DD hooked him under his belly. However, it kept it there, waiting patiently for the colt to get the rhythm down. When it and Zelori noticed the colt getting the rhythm down, DD slowly lifted the colt up. Candlejack blinked and looked back, seeing him lifting up with his wings flapping. He beamed and went to extend his forehooves out, only to stop and blink confusedly as he came face to face with DD. The colt kept his wings flapping, but he soon noticed the rope and hook keeping him afloat. He frowned slightly before turning to face a chuckling DD. And yet, Candlejack felt like DD had taught him something. And everyday during his explorations and Zelori’s lessons, DD helped him understand his lacking ability to fly. The hook and rope being his “training wheels”. Eventually, he managed to lift himself up off the ground and was soon flying over piles of junk, going to and fro and able to swerve and avoid collisions. The only other problem he had was landing however. And when he flew back and tried to land, he found himself losing his footing and rolling comically straight into a junk pile next to an amused Zelori. The image ended, causing Candlejack’s head to ache. He tossed and turned again before forcing his eyes open and jolting up, flinging a red looking pouch off of his head and against the wall. He looked around quickly, his breathing heavy. Realizing he was in an unfamiliar place, his mind went full red alert. The place seemed like a mess. But he could make out one thing that was familiar to him. A workshop in the corner. His ears twitched when he heard clattering coming from the next room over. Candlejack took a moment to steady his heartbeat before maintaining a stoic look and sliding off of the sofa. He quietly crept towards the workshop. He looked around, seeing if he could find anything for offense. Spotting a monkey wrench, he unhooked it and gave a test swing. Heavy, but blunt. Perfect for head trauma. He then crept back to the door, leaning against the wall and leaning in to hear. There was humming coming from the other side. Candlejack furrowed his brows. The humming sounded familiar. His eyes widened. ‘Android.’ He thought. He was confused. This place was empty and looked messy. However, it seemed an android had made a home here. Whatever was going to happen next, he wanted to get the drop on it. He quietly opened the door, sliding in through the small gap. He peeked over, seeing that it was a sleek white mare. Indeed an android. But… one he wasn’t familiar with. This one seemed like it was brand new. Its design completely flesh like, looking exactly like a pony. Even the mane and tail were silky enough to make it look real. But what gave it away were the black like slits at the joints and the dark eyes illuminated by a neon blue hue. And not only that, it was actually humming a small tune. It dug through a cabinet and pulled out a strange looking small sack. Candlejack noticed the hoof like claw holding onto it before it was placed neatly down on the counter and the android went to work at a chopping board. Candlejack felt the sweat form from his brow. This android was acting like any normal pony would. ‘No… no she isn’t real… she’s just a tangled mass of wires and bolts… nothing more…’ he thought to himself. Taking a quiet deep breath, he quickly crept up and readied the monkey wrench. Only to stop and realize the android had stopped cutting. She had dropped the knife and a hoof like claw gripped it before she spun and swung the blade at him. Candlejack immediately reacted by bringing the monkey wrench in front of him, blocking the knife from advancing any further. He then quickly followed it up by wrapping a foreleg around the android’s foreleg and twisting, causing the knife to fall from her grasp. He smirked victoriously before realizing that the android had brought her other free hoof claw around and gripped his foreleg. She twisted, causing him to yelp in pain. The android then followed up by knocking the monkey wrench from his hoof locked around it and shoulder bashed him away. He had planted his hind hooves into the ground, expecting the weight of his boots to keep him from flying. However, he quickly realized that he wasn’t even in a suite. He sailed through the air and crashed into the wall, knocking down pots and pans. The android took a step forward before her eyes widened. “O-oh!” she said suddenly. Candlejack shook away the daze and looked confusedly at the android. He then furrowed his brows. Uncertain of what to do. ‘Dammit, I’m cornered. What can I do?’ he looked around desperately trying to find a means of defense. He then looked down at the pots and pans beneath him. The android quickly shook her head and held out a hoof, the claw stubs retracting into them. “W-wait! I didn’t mean to-!” she ducked when a pan sailed towards her. It clattered against the wall. Candlejack stood, smiling now that he had an arsenal of weapons. He then proceeded to hurl them one by one. The android frowned before dodging one. Then another. “Please! I can explain!” she said, furrowing her brows worriedly at the stallion. He hurled another, forcing her to duck again. She popped out her claw stubs again and held up a hoof, catching another pan before dodging another. Candlejack was quickly running out of ammo. ‘Crap! This thing is good!’ He darted his eyes, spotting something on the top of the wall. It looked like a Solarium rifle. He grinned before bolting to it. The android balked when the stallion suddenly pulled it down and took aim, standing on two hooves. ‘He can stand on his back hooves too!?’ the android thought with interest. She then realized the weapon he had and her look went from curious to dead serious. “Let’s see how good you are dodging sun infused bullets!” he said with a wide victorious grin. He pressed the trigger and time slowed. The android narrowed her eyes. She then lifted up her pan she had caught and the solar beam bounced harmlessly off of it as time sped up. Candlejack was dumbfounded. The pan sizzled a bit. The android then shifted it slightly, showing her stoic look. Her gaze then fell to the clock over the stallion’s head. She wasn’t sure when Troffelton would be back, but she might as well hurry up and get dinner started. Her basic program activated again and she sighed in defeat. ‘Alright, you stubborn program. Let’s see how great my match is at making dinner.’ Candlejack shook away his dumbfounded look before gritting his teeth. “Dammit! You won’t get the better of me! I will show you I’m not one to be toyed with!” He cocked the ball point lever, making the rifle hum again before firing. He repeated the process in quick succession. The android, however, moved the pan, bouncing the beams harmlessly off of the black exterior. She noticed the pan turning red now. She quickly tossed the pan, pirouetting in the process. Candlejack grit his teeth as he cocked the lever again and fired. His last bullet. The android took the opportunity. As the pan landed on the stove, the force caused a bowl and a few vegetables to fly. The android quickly grabbed the bowl. Time slowed as the android brought the bowl around, scooping the beam and the vegetables in the air before quickly flipping the bowl and placing it down. It burned red hot. The smell of cooked vegetables reaching Candlejack’s nose and making his stomach growl slightly. He wasn’t sure what the android was doing, but the dance wasn’t going to trick him one bit. He flipped the rifle and charged, bringing it around. The android caught it and quickly yanked it out of his grip before dropping it. Candlejack went forward still, planting into the counter. When he did, the cabinet rattled, causing a sack of sand flour to tip over and sprinkle into a baking bowel. The android casually strolled over to the other side of the cabinet. Candlejack felt the sweat form on his brow. ‘It’s reaching for a weapon! I have to act fast!’ Candlejack spied the knife he had forced it to drop. He reached, locking his hoof around it before bringing it up and swinging. When he did, the android pulled back, tossing dirt covered onions into the air. The force in which Candlejack swung cut the onions in half. The android quickly moved, graceful on her metallic sleek hooves, catching them and juggling them. Candlejack cocked his head in confusion. He then shook it, growling. ‘This thing is toying with me! I won’t let it think so!’ He grinned. “Fancy moves. But I’m not an idiot to your android ways!” he said. The android arched a brow as she juggled them in her hooves. Her expression was stoic when she replied. “Depends on what way you want it.” She smirked slyly. Her basic programming forcing her speech to alter. “Do you want it dry?” she tossed the onions at him. Candlejack balked before swinging the knife, cutting the onions again. “Or perhaps, play a little in the water.” Candlejack arched a brow as the android had somehow walked past him during the onion juggling. The tap water in the sink soaking the onions. “I’m not picky. But I prefer it if you would decide quickly. The heat is running out.” Candlejack quickly moved to the side, gaining some space between him and the android. “What are you talking about!?” He pointed the knife at her. “I’ve killed plenty of your kind! Although… you’re not stark raving mad?” Candlejack rubbed his chin before shaking away the idea. “Doesn’t mean you won’t be yet.” The android stirred the onions in the sink with her hoof before plucking them out of the now dirt filled water and trotting over to the bowl. “But I’m not the one causing a mess in my kitchen.” She then gave him a flirtatious glance. “Or maybe, you prefer it to be rough.” Candlejack was confused by this gesture. He then frowned and brought the knife in, ready to move. “What nonsense are you blabbering about?” The android licked her lips. Candlejack couldn’t’ help but notice that the tongue was strangely white. The smell of the onions and the cooked vegetable suddenly reached his nostrils. And in doing so, his stomach growled. The android smirked as she quickly flipped the bowl over along with the steaming vegetables. She tossed the onions in and stirred a bit with a bent spoon before putting them in the baking bowel. Candlejack’s stomach growled again. Now that he thought it, perhaps the android was seeing through his moves because he hadn’t eaten anything in a few hours. ‘That must be it! I’m slow in my reactions because I am hungry!’ He looked to the android, seeing her stir the brown looking flour and vegetables. He licked his lips and the android caught it. “Well, you have been a help in getting it ready.” She then eyed him suggestively, looking over her shoulders. “But are you truly ready for the main course? I’ll let you have a taste, if that will sate your appetite?” Candlejack was tempted by the smell of the cooking vegetables. He then blinked once before shaking away his hunger. “N-no! I won’t slack off here! I still have a head to collect!” he said. The android narrowed her eyes. ‘What is this stallion then? A bounty hunter? A scavenger? He definitely is pretty skilled with his hooves. But it seems my advances aren’t working.’ She then frowned and eyed the active program. She was frankly getting annoyed with it. The way it altered her speech made her feel like she had lost control of herself. Candlejack noticed the struggling look and smirked. ‘Time to go in for the kill!’ he twirled the knife around his hoof skillfully before rushing at her. Finally deactivating the program, the android noticed the stallion rushing. She quickly shifted her position slightly and felt the blade brush past her cheek. She then shot a claw hoof out to grip his foreleg and brought him forward… head first into the stove. Candlejack started seeing little Candlejacks as he slumped to the ground and the stove popped open with a ping. The android carefully placed the bowel in and closed the door, turning an egg like timer and propping her hoof against her cheek. She looked down to the dazed stallion. ‘He certainly seems capable in a fight. And he’s not bad looking either. But… why does it think this pony is a suitable match?’ She then blinked and looked around, seeing the mess the stallion had committed. She rubbed her chin before coming to a sudden realization. ‘The way he fought… the way he strategized his movements… his confusion at my advances… This stallion…’ A sudden dread came over her. ‘Is a total idiot!’

Act-1 Chapter 6: Taste of the Wastes