Project Apocalyptica: P.U.N.K.

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.”