Project Apocalyptica: P.U.N.K.

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.