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                   Subterranean Freedom                    
                    -by ElementBrigade-                    
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                     Chapter 1: Chosen                     
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Chapter 1: Chosen
***Chapter 1
Chosen***
(Ranger’s HQ, Locker Room)
CODE NAME REGISTRATION:
Sunset Shimmer
REGISTRATION COMPLETE.
This is a tiny tale of time,
“What’s today’s schedule?” Sunset asked, as she pulled out her Standard Ranger issued coat.  “Genic hunting again?”
“Nah, we’re on lift guard duty.” Adagio said as she closed her locker and walked over to Sunset.
Concerning war between friends.
“Guarding the lift. Work even a Low-D like you can do!” She said placing a hand onto the low ranked pony’s shoulder.  “Right Sunset?”
Destiny decided to challenge us.
“See you there, partner.” With a pat on Sunset’s shoulder, Adagio made her way to the door as she exits the locker room.
And so we chose to end the world.
“Yeah….see you there....partner.” Sunset said as she slipped into her coat and closed her locker door.
In order to meet our mortality.
There was nothing to regret.
Nothing….
“Took you long enough partner.” Adagio said as she saw Sunset enter into the room. “What took you so long to get here?”
“I had to make sure I had everything I need for today’s mission.”
“Typical Sunset Shimmer. If you keep on not being prepared like I am, how are you ever going to rise up the ranks like I have?” Adagio said which caused Sunset to glare at the bragging pony for a second before looking away. “Come on, Captain Vector Zero is waiting for us inside. You know how she can be when she has to wait.” With nothing else to say, Adagio pushed the door open as the two mares walked in.
“Adagio Dazzle 1/64!” Adagio said, standing at attention.
“Sunset Shimmer 1/8192! R-Reporting for duty ma’am!” Sunset said.
“At eaze ladies.” Vector Zero said as she turned around to face the two mares in her office. “I’ve called you two in to review the details of the mission I’ve assigned you both with.” She said as she handed them both a copy of the mission. “Guard duty, Level E. You are to board the freight train and guard its contents. An easy task for you two. Any questions?”
“Where are we taking the train to?” Sunset asked.
“You’ll board the high-speed lift sent from the BioCorp Labs, and guard its contents. Be careful though, we have received intel that Trinity has been patrolling around the area. Any other questions?”
“No ma’am, but might I speak with you before the mission?” Adagio asked.
“Of course. Sunset? Please wait outside.”
“Yes ma’am.” Sunset said before saluting and making her way out of Vector Zero’s office.
(Low Sector: Ponyville Borough)
Sunset stood leaning underneath the dim light of an electric lamp post as she watch the ponies of Low Sector continue with their daily lives. It was always the same down in the low sector. Old, run down, dirty, and lifeless. Sunset tried to look away from it all as she looked up at the ceiling. Only it didn’t really help her that much seeing how there was nothing but rusty old metal covering the surface of the metal ceiling. Staring at the metal ceiling,  Sunset began to imagine the vast blue sky and lushest green plains of Equestria. Stories about the land filled her mind with wonder and excitement about someday being able to leave the underground and seeing it with her own eyes.
“Sunset!” yelled Adagio as she brought the unicorn from out of her fantasy making her way towards the her.
“Done talking with the Captain?” Sunset asked. “What did you talk about while I was away?”
“I’ll tell you later. Come on, let’s head over to the Low Sector Lift Port.” Adagio said as they begun to walk down the street. Moments as they were about to leave, a older looking mare along with her child caught the attention of Sunset when the mare spoke.
“Excuse me, but are you the one that stopped that genic from coming into our town the other day?”
“Um, yes.” Sunset answered as the mare grabbed her hand.
“I wanted to say thank you for saving my son from that monster. Most ponies don’t like you rangers, but I thank you for what you did.”
“It’s no problem ma’am. Just doing my job.”  Sunset said as she smiled at them warmly. Only for Adagio to clear her throat.
“Not to break up this little moment, but we gotta go Sunset.” Adagio said as the two began their walk out of the sector and onto the metal lift.
“Don’t get a bloated head Sunset. Stuff like that will get you killed if you think you’re better than anyone else.”
“You’re one to talk. You keep bragging on about how you’ll be regent soon.” Sunset muttered to herself as the lift brought them to the station.
“We’ll have to go to the lab on foot seeing how Trinity is scouting the area. And we don’t want them to hijack the train on the way there.” Adagio said as she unsheathed her rapier. “Don’t worry. If things get too rough for you, I’ll hold your hand and deal with the Genic myself.”
“I’m not a baby you jerk.” Sunset said as she unsheathed her katana. “I can look after myself thank you.”
“If you say so Low-D.” Adagio said as she jumped onto the tracks taking the lead. “Just don’t come crying to me when you’re in a pickle.”
(Moments later}
[Genic Processor)
Sunset was standing on a walkway made of metal as she faced a large dragon like creature. From what she could tell it was obviously dead due to the giant spear running through it’s chest like a piece of hung meat, and the missing of it’s lower body. The yellow unicorn was a bit puzzled at the way the dragon looked. Her curiosity of the dragon was cut short as it begun to talk.
The long wait is over.
“Long wait?” Sunset said as she walked closer to the decaying dragon. “What do you mean by long wait?”
At last, you have awakened, my dying dream.
The dragon opened it’s mouth as a gust of air rushed past the unicorn. Sunset quickly covered her nose as she suspected the air from the dragon’s breath to be foul and decaying. But what surprised her was the fact that air from the dragon’s breath wasn’t foul or bad, it felt like pure magic was flowing out of it and into her.
Let us go, my little friend. Once again to the sky.
“Wait, the sky? The sky’s real?” Before Sunset could ask the dragon any more questions, the dragon began to fade away as the room she was in began to be engulfed in a bright light.
“Sunset? Sunset!?” Adagio said as she shook Sunset, trying to wake her up. Sunset moved her hand to her head as she slowly opened her eyes. As her vision began to appear, she notice that they were inside a white hall, full of clean tiles and steril lights. From what she could tell they were in the Canterlot Lab.
“W-What happen?” Sunset asked as she pulled herself off the floor.
“You tell me. One minute we entered into the hallway, and the next thing I know you froze up and fell to the floor like a ton of bricks. You feeling okay?”
“I fell over?” She asked only for Adagio to roll her eyes.
“Get it together Sunset. I don’t want you to screw this mission up for me.” Adagio said as she walked off ahead. “Let’s go, we got a cargo to get.”
“Was what I just saw just a dream?” Sunset said asking herself. “It felt real, but-.”
“Hey Low-D! Get in here! You gotta check out what I found!” Adagio yelled, bringing Sunset out of her state of mind as she rushed over to the next room. As she entered into the room Adagio was in, her eyes widen in amazement at what she saw. Standing there pinned to the wall was the dragon that she saw in her dream. Only this one was dead and not moving.
https://camo.derpicdn.net/315d1d63f024d67090bfbabd22c0bd81f5f3cced?url=https%3A%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2F7n0odEIgOUnMxV5D_33wjRYShZ2kMu4i9aGKDmnpYJq5-adHXnTuMPXQ17QKyVIs9tM8OuTuQ3X00Wm3Xlw93CrjKKmTZOAZDcALG2Wzg7oUZ9fGuIsqMbQhNQ79Eemj6w
“What in the name of Celestia is that?”
“I don’t know. We don’t have records of Genics being this big.” Sunset said as she walked a bit closer to the railing. “It could be an experiment gone wrong. How the hell did they even get this thing in here?”
“Who cares. What? Are you scared or something?”
“No I’m not scared, just curious that’s all.”
“Sure you’re not.” Adagia said as she begun to walk off. “Come on, we got a job to do.”
“....Odjin….” Sunset said as she shook her head before following after Adagio.
(Canterlot Lab Liftport)
“COME ON!!” yelled the ranger pony as Sunset and Adagio made their way down the steps of the liftport.
“The liftport is about to leave! Hurry up Sunset!” Adagio yelled as she and Sunset rush towards the train with their cargo in the last split second. “Man, thank Celestia that we made it on time. Next time don’t slow me down like that.”
“S-Sorry.” Sunset said as she turned her attention at the cargo they were transporting. “Hey, do you know what’s inside the cargo that we’re transporting?”
“Don’t know. But whatever is inside here it must be something special.” Adagio answered as she leaned against the guard railing. “So relax, nopony would ever attack a lift guarded by Rangers.”
“If you say so.”
A few minutes of silence filled the atmosphere around as Adagio looked off at the railroad tracks, while Sunset was still fixating on the cargo they were carrying. The moment of silence was broken when Adagio decided to speak up.
“Sunset.”
“Yes?”
“I want you to give me the credit for that Genic the other day.”
“What? But why?”
“I have the potential. All I need is the reputation, and they’ll have to promote me. If things goes well, I could even be regent. I Have the qualification after all.”
“A regent? Are you serious?”
“I am.” Adagio said as she walked up towards Sunset. “I, Adagio 1/64 will be regent. I must. Sunset, with your 1/8192 D-Ratio, you’ll never make it past grunt level. But once I get to the top, I’ll be able to help you out.” She said as she placed a hand on Sunset’s shoulder. “Come on Sunset, what do you say?”
Sunset fell silent upon hearing Adagio’s request. Running the calculations in her head. If she were to give Adagio all the credit that she herself has done, then her chances of promotion would be slim to none. It might even be nonexistent. Before she could give her answer, the alarm on the train started to go off as the lights began to flicker on and off.
“What’s going on? Are we being attacked?” Sunset asked as she looked off to the side. As she did, she notice a war genic sprinting on the other side of the track with a pony sitting on it’s back. The pony pulled out what appeared to be a handgun and start to shoot at the two ranger ponies, only to hit the cargo they were carrying.
“A war genic? It’s Trinity!” Adagio yelled as Sunset quick fired a barrage of magical beams at the pony riding the war genic. The pony ducked her head at a beam that flew past her head. In retaliation the pony shot back trying to take out Sunset. After the barrage of beams flew or bound off the war genic, both the pony and the war genic ran past the train as the duo decided to hop onto the track the train was on.
“Did it give up?” Sunset asked.
“Damn! Looks like they’ll do anything to stop the lift!”
As the pony hopped off of the war genic, the mare pulled out large cylinder like weapon from her back. Kneeling on one knee she carefully took aim at the lift as she prepared herself to fire at it. Adagio’s eyes widen as she saw the mare fired upon them. The rocket that was launched out of the tube made contact with the lift as it cause it to explode into pieces. As the smoke started to clear up, Adagio survive the explosion as she was hanging from a broken train track. As she looked up she saw Sunset hanging on the other side of the broken track by her jacket.
“Sunset?” Adagio said as he vision became more clear. Trying to figure out a way to save her partner, Adagio tried to swing herself to where the unconscious unicorn was. Before she could get a good amount of momentum, the track that was holding Sunset Shimmer up broke as the unicorn ranger fell into the dark abyss. “SUNSET!!!”

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             Chapter 2: The Mysterious Pegasus             
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Chapter 2: The Mysterious Pegasus
***Chapter 2
The Mysterious Pegasus***
(Flashback)
(Trinity HQ)
“Sonata Dusk and Aria Blaze, I called you both here for a mission that I need you to do.” The male stallion said from behind the table that was between them. “Your target is a lift leaving the Canterlot BioCrop’s Labs in the low sector.”
“A retrieval mission? What is it?” Aria asked.
“Oh! Are we getting another shipment of food? I do hope it has tacos in it like last time.” Sonata said as she was smacked upside her head by Aria.
“No it’s not that.” The stallion said with a slight chuckle. “Your target is a pegasus most likely a filly depending.”
“A filly? What makes you think that-” Aria paused as she notice the stallion shaking his head as a melancholy expression appeared on his.
“It should shed light on how dirty this world has become. Retrieve the target at all cost. Understand?” The stallion asked as Aria and Sonata both nodded and gave off a salute. “Good, now go.”
“Oh man.” The mare said, wincing at the fact that the lift fell into the abyss of darkness. “I didn’t expect for that to happen.” Looking down at the wreckage, the mare jumped off of the war genic and faced it. “Go down there and get the cargo. If you see any of the rangers down there, kill them so they don’t get whatever it is that was in that thing.” The genic climbed onto the wooden part of the track shimming it’s way down lower until it disappeared into the darkness below.
“Dammit, the boss is so going to be disappointed with us if the cargo is damaged or worse.”
Darkness. Nothing but an endless sea of darkness as Sunset Shimmer pushed herself to keep moving forward, limping with each step as she tried to ignore the pain from her right arm and left leg. As she continues to limp for a bit, visions of a the dead dragon, a glyph, and a live dragon flowed through her mind as she pauses and looks up.
“I’ve chosen you.”
Looking up Sunset could see the glyph that went through her mind as mist of light flew from out of it and enveloped around. As the light enveloped around herself, flames begins to appear on her body while she was covering her eyes from the blinding light. As she lowered her arms, she saw a shadowy figure standing in front of her.
“It is the power given to you…The Dragon’s power...You are the chosen one.” The figure said as it vanish for a split second before appearing in front of Sunset, causing her to jump back a bit and fall onto her bottom. “The 1000-year world destroyer…..find your fate…before it finds you!” The figure said as it slowly turned around. “What you do will change...everything.”
(Old Waste Shaft)
“Hey, She’s waking up.” said a youthful voice as Sunset’s eyes shot open. As she pulled herself up, she notice that she was resting inside a house made of a mix of scrap metal and cardboard.
“W-Where am I?”
“You’re in the old waste shaft kid.” said a rugged male voice. Sunset turned her head to the left to see a old stallion entering the room with a cane to help support his weight. “Glad to see you’re still alive after that fall you just had.”
“W-Who are you two?”
“Oh, where are my manners.” The Stallion said as he took a seat next to Sunset. “My name’s Iron Head, and the girl beside you is my niece Lily Flower.”
“Hi!’ The filly said as she waved at the ranger pony.
“Care to tell us who you are kid?”
“Sunset Shimmer 1/8192. How long have I been out?”
“A few hours maybe.” Iron Head answered. “We found you falling from above along with the wreckage from the lift you were on. I’m actually impressed that you survived the fall.”
“I-I fell….” Sunset’s eyes widen as memories of what happened moments ago suddenly rushed into her head. “Oh no, the cargo!” She yelled as she tried to get up, only to wince as she felt pain coursing through her body.
“Easy there kid, your body hasn’t recovered from the fall. I recommend you wait for a while before trying anything else.” He said as the stallion leaned back in his chair. “No sense in trying to push yourself if you’re still hurt.”
“B-But, I gotta get the-”
“No buts kid. You need to rest up before you could do anything else. Celestia knows if you went outside right now, you’ll be prey to the monster outside of this place.”
Sunset was about to argue with the stallion, only for her to notice the room starting to spin. “I guess maybe a few minutes of sleep wouldn't hurt anypony.”
(Ranger HQ)
“And that's what happened to us ma’am.” Adagio said, finishing up her report of the incident that happen on the mission.
“I see, and the cargo? What happen to it?” Vector said, pressing her fingers together while looking at Adagio.
“Excuse me?”
“What happen to the cargo? Were you able to secure it?”
“Trinity was still there within the area. I barely got out of there alive, but I believe that the cargo was destroyed when it fell into the abyss.”
“As likely as that sounds, we can’t take any chance. Find the cargo, and secure it. Failing to do that, make sure it is destroyed. No matter what it looks like.”
“Y-Yes ma’am.”
“You sure you don’t want to rest for a bit before leaving? I mean you did pretty much fell from all the way up there, so I wouldn’t be surprise if you needed it.” Iron Head said as Sunset flex her arm muscles.
“I appreciate your concern sir, but I really need to get going. HQ will be wondering where I am and what happen to the cargo.”
“Do you even know what that cargo thing you keep talking about?”
“No, but whatever is inside it I need to secure it.” The mare said as she placed her weapon on her hip.
“Well I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for Sunset. If you can’t make it back to HQ, feel free to stop here at anytime when you’re not busy.”
“I’ll take that into consideration.” Sunset said as she waved good-bye to Iron Head and Lily Flower, and began to walk off to where the old colt found her at.
“You think that mare will be okay?” Lily Flower asked.
“Possibly, she is one of those Rangers after all.” Iron Head said as he walked back inside. “Come along, we have work to do Lily.” The stallion said as he and the little filly walked back inside the poorly made house.
“I’m a little bit surprised that there would be ponies living down here then back up in Ponyville Borough. Then again, not everypony can afford to live up there what with not having any bits to do so.”  Sunset said to herself as she begins to make her way through the old waste shaft. Moment after making her way through the trash and the door that leads to the next room, Sunset paused for a moment upon hearing the sounds of heavy footsteps. Look through the mountain of trash, Sunset could see the war genic from before when she was with Adagio transporting the cargo on the train. What got her attention the most was what the war genic was carrying. In its arm it was carrying what appears to be a white colored pony with a aqua colored mane, wearing a cream colored dress.
“I-I gotta do something….b-but.” Sunset’s body begins to shake due to the fear of facing the war genic by herself. Most high level rangers wouldn’t have a problem dealing with a war genic solo, but given how low her rank is it would be crazy to fight one. Maybe suicidal. The mare closed her eyes as to try to calm herself down while thinking of a plan to rescue the pony. Upon doing so, she soon felt a surge of power flowing through her body as if she was driven to do something. Opening her eyes her eye color changed from aqua green to bloody red as a orange-red colored aura surrounded her body. Without thinking, Sunset began to rush over to the war genic as she jump over the mountain of trash, jumped into the air as she unsheathed her katana, and embedded it into the war genic’s back upon landing.
    The war genic let out a loud roar upon being stabbed in the back by Sunset’s katana as it tries to shake the mare off of it. It was successful as Sunset was soon sent flying backwards into the mountain of trash. Shaking her head from getting thrown, she looked up to see the war genic in front of her as it was about to slam its fist into her face. In a blink of the war genic’s eye Sunset quickly vanish from its sight as she would appear a few steps away from the monster on its left. With her katana placed in her sheath, Sunset charged at the war genic as a mach cone appeared around her body. Once she was close, she quickly unsheath her blade as she cut off the genic’s arm that was holding the pegasus. Once the pegasus was freed, Sunset quickly grabbed her in her free arm and landed a few inches away from the war genic. The war genic let out a mighty roar as it grabbed its arm due to the pain from having its left arm cut off.
    Without looking back at the war genic, Sunset placed the mare safely onto the ground as she looked over her body to make sure she wasn’t hurt or injured in anyway. After looking over her body, the ranger sigh with relief that the mare wasn’t hurt. A smile appeared on Sunset’s face for a moment before it disappeared upon hearing the war genic’s heavy footsteps coming over to her. Turning around, the war genic body began to glow as it tried to punch at Sunset again only for her to quickly dodge out of the way of the war genic’s fist. Sliding to the genic’s right, she quickly thrust her sword into the war genic’s rib cage. The war genic roared in pain as it slammed its fist into the ground, causing the ground to sake as it took Sunset off guard causing her to lose her footing a bit as she stumbles backwards.
    This gave the war genic the opportunity to backhand Sunset in the face as she was sent flying into a pile of trash. The genic was about to charge after the ranger until it fell to one knee and began to cough a bit. Looking down it notice its own blood leaking out from the wounds that Sunset inflicted unto it. As it tries to pull itself up from the ground, Sunset burst from out of the trash pile and into the air. The war genic saw her coming as it tried to knock her out of the air by throwing a metal plate at her. Only for Sunset to cut it in two and slammed her katana into the war genic’s head. There was a moment of silence when her katana embedded into the genic’s head as it was soon broken once it soon fell to the ground dead. As the war genic laid dead onto the ground, Sunset eyes changed back to normal as the aura quickly vanished from off her body. Blinking at what just happened, she pulled her katana out of it’s head as she placed it back into her sheath, she soon walked over to the knocked out mare on the ground. As Sunset kneeled down to lift the unconscious mare up a bit, she notice that the pegasus had weird markings on her body.
    “What in the name of Equestria is this mare? I’ve never seen markings like this before. Not even in the Ranger’s records or archives.” She thought as she notice the mare slowly opening her eyes. Once the mare was fully awake, Sunset gave her a small smile as she chuckled a bit. “Thank Celestia you’re awake, I thought that war genic might’ve  hurt you or some-.” Before Sunset could finish her sentence, the mare quickly hugged her which took the ranger off by surprise. “Thing?” Feeling the mare shaking in fear as to what happen to her, the ranger placed a hand on the pegasus head in a means to try to calm her down. “Hey, it’s okay. I got him.” She said as she jerks a thumb over at the dead body of the war genic. “Can you stand?” The mare nodded to Sunset’s question as she begins to pull herself up from the floor. Once fully standing she brushed away some of the dust covering herself a bit as Sunset pulled herself up from the floor as well.
“I’m Sunset Shimmer, what’s your name?”
“O…..Obsi….dia.” The pegasus said as she tried to talk to Sunset, but it sounded like she was having trouble speaking.
“Obsidia? Your voice? You can’t talk can you?” Sunset asked as Obsidia sadly nodded. ‘Hm, maybe the medical ponies back at HQ can help her with her problem with talking.’ She thought before shaking her head and looking back at Obsidia. “Anyway, we need to get out of here Obsidia. It’s not safe here and I prefer not to stay here any longer then we have to.” The ranger said as she begins to walk off for a moment before looking back at the scared pegasus. “Here, let’s go.” Sunset said as she offered Obsidia her hand. Obsidia was hesitant at first, but looked up at Sunset as she noticed her nodding with a smile on her face. She nods back as she in turn walks over and takes her hand.