Ties With The Past

All six of these ponies were dressed up nicely in complete suits to give off the aura of professionalism, and going a step further to wear pants as to cover up their cutie marks. Each pony consisting of armor except for one, their leader. Who wore a suit without protection, only sporting a stylish pair of black shades not even bothering to cover her muzzle up with a mask to decrease the chance of recognition.

Except for two other ponies who would work getting the loot out in another automobile auto-carriage. Who wore dark-colored shades to keep their "identity hidden" while at the same time looking like business ponys with nothing out of the ordinary. To the best of their ability, however.

The "Get Away Driver" had just a concealed protective vest underneath his suit jacket but covered most of the white suit beneath, he along with two other ponys had this.

The last two had lots of armor on, stuff that was snatched and bribed away from military personnel. One was bigger than the other. The small pony got the armored vest that went over her suit but got protection around her chest, shoulders, barrel, legs, and flanks, which slowed her mobility drastically. And lastly, the bigger pony had an EOD Suit a suit that was built for defusing bombs as some seem to call the "Iron Stallion" though it was only good for taking pistol rounds, and a handful of a higher caliber rounds would punch through with ease.

Each of them had each of their own unique masks or helmets to wear.

Like how the earth pony mare in armor whose code name was Dandelion had a helmet on of a smiling unicorn princess that had a gold tiara on top it's head lopsided at the same time with its eyes derpy with one eye looking up and the other looking down. On her back, she had a battle saddle with two sub-machine-guns strapped snugly at her sides "CR 805B". Each SMG had attachments that consisted of a Military Laser Module which was a gadget that had a laser sight and a flashlight all in one to weigh the barrel down slightly giving her weapons more stability by keeping the weapons down, a CAR Quad stacked Mag that would allow her to fire sixty-rounds from each gun.

The Iron Stallion was his code name, he had the complete suit of armor with a helmet, he looked like he worked for the police bomb squad. He had an Industrial Buzz Saw attached to his back along with a Striker Shotgun that was also known as a "Street Sweeper". He would be able to hold in his magic since he was a unicorn. Each shell loaded in was a "Dragon's Breath Round" which was a fancy word for "Incendiary Round". The Barrel Exit was as he named it "King's Crown Compensator" which is also called in a less flashy way "Muzzle Breaker" giving the weapon more accuracy and creates a louder noise, something that was good for scaring civilians.

One of the two unicorn fillys had a single USS Vega (AK-17) Standard Assault Rifle code name: Blossom even though her name was Blossom... she had a drill kit on her back, meanwhile the youngest of the unicorns had a Micro Uzi that is highly concealable sub-machine gun with a monstrous fire rate. However, this combination of firepower and concealability comes at a price; the Micro Uzi is terribly inaccurate and difficult to control, especially in fully-automatic mode.

While the ponies were fitting on their clothes and armor and weapon checkups the young filly nervously walked up to their leader who was currently looking over a set of blueprints that was sprawled out onto a table with a circle coffee cup stain on the corner of the valuable document.

"Auntie Fallen... why do we have to rob a bank again-n?"

Without looking Fallen replied to the young filly who was only eleven, "to make money sweetheart."

This confused the young unicorn filly who was enthusiastic about being able to shoot a gun down at the range, but now that she was going to have to use it on somepony, it didn't sit right with her. "I stole before... but I don't see how robbing a bank has anything to do with good..."

"Sweetheart it bad ponys run this bank," she looked over her shoulder, "which is why we got to make rich ponys bleed and the perfect way to do that is, do you know? The perfect way to do that? Do you remember what I've told you, Rose?"

"Um... make their wallet bleed?" Rose said with uncertainty.

"That's my girl! Exactly!" Fallen turned around to wrap her arms around the young filly. "Make their wallets bleed money! Because the money they have is dirty money," the mature mare explained.

"But, doesn't that mean you're stealing from the ponys who work hard and store their money there?" Rose kept up on questioning the morality of it all, she didn't know how to feel about it.

Smile growing at the corner of Fallen's lips, "don't fret none Hun, banks are insured by the princess by law. So the princess will pay back the money to the people we take the money from."

Tilting her head Rose continued to question further, "but doesn't that mean that you're stealing from the princesses?"

Fallen shook her head speaking in a lower voice, "No-no-no, she's giving the money back to the ponys whom it belongs too, she gives because she agreed to it. It's a win-win for us. Because the princesses are good ponys. And so are we." She explained logically as the filly interpreted it that way. "And we are going to make those evil rich ponys know that we know what bad they are doing, and that we will stop them, and that there isn't a damn thing they can do about it!" She finished with a confident smile that was infectious causing the filly to smile right back.

"And remember kiddo, no real names only-"

"-fake names," the filly finished for her mom.

"Yeah, fake names..." they hugged. "Remember my fake name?"

The filly nodded her head, "Angel!"

"And yours is, Nightmare!" The mature mare began to send the filly a barrage of kisses in front of the others causing the filly to squeal in surprise.

"Mama STOP!"

The others laughed at the spectacle.

Laughing her ass off the older mare backed off hoofing over the fillys mask to her, a dragon mask.

*****

Clicking a flashlight on the pony held it in his mouth, using his magic to hold a Flathead Screwdriver and bobby pin on the lock that locked him out of the fuse box's internal wiring. After a couple of seconds of fidgeting with the lock. It clicked, causing the stallion to smile.

Six ponys waited in a large auto carriage that was being driven by one of the six heading for a specific destination in broad daylight. The auto-carriage had black tinted windows so that nopony would be able to look inside and had the windows be made out of ballistic glass so that it could stop bullets from entering the vehicle.

Each pony wore an earpiece so that they could all stay connected through comms, there was also backup on the other end, a stallion that went by the alias Gallows. This stallion was always at the ready to bring in some extra help by reaching out to contacts. From back up getaway drivers or diversions or digging up information that they might need.

Fallen/Angel their leader began to speak while looking out the window whilst her team listened to her words intently, "robbing banking banks is fun, especially the ones that have been robbing the ponys blind. Some say we are 'modern day Robin Hoods', and others just don't understand that we have a choice. Are we criminals? I don't think so. Everypony needs a job right? Everypony needs a payday."

Shortly after the auto-carriage pulled up into the parking lot beside the bank. Quickly as they came, the ponys unloaded out the auto-carriage, guns at the ready.

"Cut the power," Angel voiced into the comms to the other team.

The stallion at the fuse box pulled down a lever switching off the bank's power, starting to tear apart the fuse box's intestines to make it difficult to repair.

In a lined formation the five ponys entered the building. First was the armored ponys: Iron Stallion, next was Dandelion with her crazy princess unicorn mask, third was the filly Nightmare who wore a dragon mask, last was Angel watching their backs.

Once, Iron Stallion entered the building he walked the first security guard he saw with the stock of his shotgun. Knocking the guard's lights out causing the uniformed stallion to do a quick twirl before toppling over the floor like a sack of potatoes. The auto-carriage drove off in a hurry drawing a lot of attention from bystanders going about their business drawing the attention of most of the city cops.

The innocent civilians watched in shock as they entered the building.

Iron Stallion demanded strongly, "EVERYPONY GET DOWN ON THE GROUND, GET DOWN ON THE 'FUCKING GROUND!" All five ponys moved in for intimidation in numbers, even if two of the robbers were children. Telling all of the civilians that were going about their business to get down. "EVERYPONY, DOWN ON THE GROUND! RIGHT NOW-DOWN ON THE GROUND!" The ponys gasped in surprise shocked to see armed ponys pointing lethal weaponry directly at them. See two ponys not doing what they were told he got up at them, "You. Down. NOW!" Causing them both to jump from a sudden outburst and fall on their bellies. Iron Stallion was the intimidation of this operation as well as the heavy bullet sponge if push came to shove.

The heisters began to spread around the room.

A banker mare behind her workstation pressed a button beneath her desk alerting the authorities.

"Get down on the ground!" The filly Nightmare growled at an adult stallion who whimpered in fright. Having an Uzi pointed at his face by an eleven-year-old.

Dandelion the second armored earth pony in the group who had the wacky unicorn princess mask spoke up, "Mares and gentlecolts we are robbing this bank, not you. Comply and you live."

Blossom a small filly, wore a Templar helmet, "Resist, and you die."

Just as they were done speaking a pony stood up, "I will not stand for this! I work hard for my money!"

"Really?" Dandelion sucker punched the pony knocking her down.

Sirens outside could be heard from outside telling the heisters that the Manehattan police were soon going to come down on them.

"Stop you are under arrest!" I security guard jumped out from behind a pillar holding a gun in her mouth aimed in the heisters direction. The guard was shaking in fear, especially when all guns were turned on him. "Don't move or I'll shoo-"

He dropped before he could finish his sentence with a neat hole between his eyes. All their eyes turned to Angel who had her suppressed pistol floating beside her.

"Three minutes, move," Angel said without a hint of emotion.

"Bank vault, now!" Iron Stallion jumped over the banker's desk taking her as a hostage along with the manager, heading towards the back where the vault was located. "Come on, let's go, MOVE!" Dandelion and Blossom hopped over the banker's desk following after the moving hostages.

Angel and the Nightmare filly stayed with the mass of hostages in the main lobby.

Fallen calmly addressed the hostages, "Please remain calm, and nobody will get hurt. We are only recovering, money that has been stolen by First Equestrian Bank from the Equestrian people."

"Dandelion tie her up." Once in the vault, Iron Stallion and Dandelion began to tie together the banker's legs placing horn inhibiting rings on the unicorn bankers, to stop them from using magic. Blossom removed the drill from her back and started to drill a hole through the metal vault with a giddy smile beneath her mask.

"They took your money that lies in their pockets and convinced you that it was for your benefit. We do not wish to harm you. Think about your family, think about your friends."

In the vault room, the Iron Stallion and Dandelion loaded up the money into blue gym bags while Blossom told with the hostages, something that would scare ponys for life in a stressful situation. A foal playing with a gun. Blossom waved the assault rifle around pointing it in their faces. "La-la-le-la-la!" She chanted laughing like a maniac.

Back at the lobby, a mare began to raise her head from off the cold marble floor.

"I said stay down! Do not. I repeat. Do not be a hero now." The mare instantly pressed her face against the floor crying when Angel's pistol was pointed at her direction.

Dandelion took charge in the vault room, "Alright times up, leave it."

Taking what they had finished looting and stored into a bag, they left the room without the hostages.

Heading down in the maintenance tunnels with the money bags. "Pizza filly on her way to delivery!" Blossom chirped through comms informing their getaway driver.

"Come out with your hooves up!" The police demanded through a megaphone.

"Nightmare, mount me like a whore," Angel said with a straight face getting on her knees. Shortly after giving that order the filly came running with the sound of little hooves. Hopping onto Angels back, the mare took off running right after with the small filly holding onto the older mare. Jumping over the banker's desk heading to the back of the bank, only to come in contact with a SWAT team aiming weapons at her.

"Freeze!" A SWAT mare shouted.

"Hold your fire! She's got a filly!" A SWAT stallion added.

The armed unit glared at them through their fiberglass faceplates.

"Rose kill them." Angel's voice spoke within Nightmare's head.

"No! I can't! They're good ponys!"

The cops pressed, "Put your gun down! And surrender to the law!"

"They'll kill us first if they don't outright lock me up in prison, taking you away from me, and putting you in one of those horrid foster homes. And what about your sister?[i/]

"I... I ca-NO!"

Angel jumped to the side lighting up her horn. Nightmare doing the same, while Angel created a protective shield around the filly and herself, Nightmare open fire with her Micro Uzi.

At the sudden movement, the police fired right back.

Rose/Nightmare clutched at Fallen/Angel's suit for dear life while her gun went to work howling death.

The bullets from the outside were blocked but the bullets coming from the inside passed through.

The screaming police who writhed in agony were prominent after the Uzi's magazine was spent. Some lie dead while the other suffered.

Nightmare panted from the stress of her decision caused her to squeeze the trigger, causing her to crush the weapon from the amount of force she put on the Uzi. Seeing what she had done her eyes widened in horror shaking her head in denial. "No... no... no... NO!" She grabbed on tighter to Angel beginning to cry.

Angel aimed her silenced pistol on each officer and ended all their lives. The ones not moving, she put a bullet in their heads too. Just to make sure. Why? Just in case. Angel ran down the maintenance tunnel.

Meeting up with her crew shortly after in the second auto-carriage.

Hopping into the vehicle, and that was it, they had escaped...

"Home free baby!" Dandelion cheered.

Iron Stallion butting in, "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

Angel/Fallen cradled the troubled filly in her hooves rocking her gently, pulling off the dragon mask to expose the vulnerable young filly beneath. Putting away her shades, she laid her head on top the filly cooing comforting words into her ear, hugging her.

Meanwhile, Blossom watched the spectacle with a raised brow rolling her eyes whilst she patted her assault rifle, "Sucks that we didn't get to use these babies."

"I know, but it's better this way. Less blood to clean, you dig?" Dandelion chuckled winking at the filly.

"Whatever," Blossom scoffed.

"Aye buddies, what do you say I buy us some drinks and a few soda pops for the kids?" The driver asked with a smile of his own, his job so simple, that he was going to be paid handsomely for.

"I'm down," Iron Stallion agreed.

Everypony began to ease up. Feeling safe.

Taking off their masks.

Suddenly a loud popping sound caused everyone to jump in their seats. Before the vehicle began to swerve.

"Everypony, hold on!" The getaway driver informed his passengers before the vehicle slammed into a pony then another carriage causing the auto-carriage to roll over multiple times.

*****

A mare in front of a desk that had the brand name "Manehattan News" she began to give the rundown of today's news with a stoic gate, "Just reporting in, police have intercepted a band of bank robbers from escaping, Pay St." Live footage began to play from the air, the camera aboard a Helicopter, the video showed a downed auto-carriage that was expelling black smoke set ablaze. Just as a firefight was outgoing both figuratively and literally. Fire from the vehicle was spreading and the robbers were firing off their weapons at the police who fired right back.

"A single unit of swat members have been brutally murdered in The First Equestrian Bank. Is this an inside attack on Equestria from Zebrican sympathizers, the Striped Menace themselves? Or is this just some run of the mill hoodlums? We'll get more back to you after this commercial break."

In the year 2077, Equestria was in the midst of a resource war with its neighboring country, the Zebricans. The land of the Zebras. Who's top recourse, the zebras had plenty of. coal while The Ponys of Equestria did not. Equestria had gems of plenty, but fossil fuels of few. The majority of its power came from imported Zebrican coal. These Zebricans needed gems to perform rituals of plenty.

So when did this problem come from? Where did this conflict start?

Well, the Zebras are a very religious bunch. Perform rituals, fought in a strange combat art that had them stand on their hind legs, they create potions that would make a pony alchemist jealous. And they despised the mare in the moon, Nightmare Moon.

And when she came back to Equestria, most if not all zebras were furious that Equestria was harboring the wicked villain of eternal darkness. Stories upon stories were told, passed down from their great ancestors. These stories would explain how ruthless and vile Nightmare Moon was.

While the Zebras respected and admired the Sun Goddess Princess Celestia but not her young sister Princess Luna. Relations between nations strained when Princess Celestia would not give up her young sister Princess Luna or finish her to an execution.

When an attack on Littlehorn, a school for gifted unicorn. A gift from the Sun Goddess to the Moon Goddess. The public was outraged on the attack on children and called for blood. Relations became thin, shortly after, peace shattered like glass.

Celestia's heartbreak caused her to step down from the throne, handing it over to her sister, Luna. At this news, the Zebras retaliated, declaring war on Equestria.

At this, the Dragons hid in their mountains and the Griffon Nations stayed neutral, yet most of the griffons becoming mercenaries, to take advantage of the war. Fighting on either side, just as long as they were getting paid, working for the highest bidder, and whoever had their contracts. Saddle Arabians were allied with Equestria, while the Yaks stayed out of the war.

In the end, none of this mattered because the warheads were launched.

Megaspells that were created to heal soldiers on the battlefield were weaponized to destroy. The Zebras with their stealth technology got their spies to intercept and reverse engineer these into Balefire bombs.

What was the point of this? Religion? Money? Power? Greed? Envy? Jealousy? Fear? Perhaps something else???

*****

"President Snow Mare, what will you have me do?" A stallion asked a small spherical glass camera that resembled a robotic eye that's color was a blue light.

"Take an infantry ground unit and a light airborne unit. They have an ancilla that is so very valuable to our cause. This can not, under any circumstance, fall into the wrong hooves. This rightfully belongs to us, True Equestria. Once the ancilla is acquired, destroy that Hardware Town. Make sure to eliminate those power armored boy scouts. Don't want them escaping to inform their Scout Master. And remember, no witnesses." The robotic eye ordered, watching the stallion intently.

"Yes, ma'am," the sand colored pegasus stallion saluted the robotic eye. "I will get it done Ms. President."

"As you were Captain."

He visibly relaxed walking out of his quarters with the robotic eye constantly following his every move. Only getting some privacy when his quarter's door closed behind him.

"Honey round up White Nectarine and the little one. We got some work to do."

His wife sighed kissing his cheek briefly before heading off to find her children and inform them of their new assignment, donning a disturbed look in her eyes.

***Later***

Skimming through his power armor setting whilst he sat within the hull of a Verdibuck who's engines were prepped and ready to go, all he was doing now was waiting on his daughter. Who always seemed to shrink on her responsibilities. Always late. She was apart of the ground infantry unit, something that had her deploy below the cloud cover as a reconnaissance unit for the Wasteland and the other in an aerial unit, his son, White Nectarine, was outside the Verdibuck instructing a squad.

After a few minutes keeping everypony waiting Peaches came running whilst in her power armor, "I'm here! Come on let's go!" She exclaimed, whilst the ponies that were currently in the hanger watched her intently with hawk-like eyes as she passed by, knowing her as the "spoiled fuck up" something she was actually quite good at mind you.

Hopping into the Verdibuck with her dad.

Seeing his daughter inside and ready to go he ordered the pilots to get going, shaking his head embarrassed by his daughter tardiness.

Popping off her helmet, his daughter started to fidget with her Ground Infantry Helmet clumsily. Cleaning the visor so when it got dirty it would be faster to clean. Or so she thinks.

These Ground Infantry Helmets looked oddly like an owl in perspective, the ears of a pony wearer would be required to have their ears in a 45-degree-angle facing back just to fit within the helmet. Both the armor and helmet were painted black in color, yet the eyes that the helmet, the visor had an orangy-goldish tint to them. And on the mouth there was an air filter with a voice modulator combined with a bit of armor plating, making it look like a birds beak. The Armor was bulky, and could hardly fly since it was just that heavy, so heavy in fact that there had to be a frame for the armor to be mounted on top of as to not crush the pony wearer and to help mobilize the suit of armor. The suit was then built for high drops, and for that reason, there were shock absorbers attached to the bottom of the metal hooves with the help of a couple of talismans.

Normally, a Ground Infantry units were unheard of. But, that because the Enclave had spread it's units all over the world to reclaim lost technologies and civilizations to bring them closer together and unite them all under a single banner, of peace... There were bases stationed at The four Commonwealths in Equestria, The Griffon kingdoms, and even in the Dragon Lands, yet have few in Zebrican Lands.

There were divisions among the Enclave, as too split the work up and increase efficiency. While the main Enclave Army would be focusing on Equestria solely. This division would be conducting their focus on a different part of Equestria, a part were pony kind originated from.

Long ago... ponys seceded away from this part of land, to get away from the Wendigoes' frosted cold.

It was soon recognized as Equestria's parent land, and since then, ponys visited their past as tourists bringing revenue to the poor land, that split off into their own counties, creating their own unique identity.

This division's army was solely reliant on robotic soldiers to fill in the gaps in pony power. And this mission was to acquire a unique processing brain, to help run more combat units to help stabilize the Enclaves control in this area. Aiming to overtake the Brotherhoods control over the parent lands that were dubbed by many the: "Mother Land".

The two other ponys in the Verdibuck just pretended not to be there. Since her dad was there, they knew it was bad news if they were caught messing with the offspring who's parent was hanging around.

The captain placed a hoof on her heavily armored shoulder to stop her from shaking, "Relax this will just be another sweep. Your brother and I will do the recovery," he nodded his head briskly to reassure his shaking filly.

He noticed the shaking from her exposed head, her body remained still and stoic, covered behind thick heavy chunks of metal.

She nodded her head in agreement, except the fright in her eyes said that she wasn't comfortable going on another ground op. She disliked old Equestria, especially old Equestria's momma. Life above the clouds was paradise compared to everything down there.

"Just stay behind everypony, and next to walls. You could use those as cover and-"

"I knnowwww daddddd," she grumbled looking down and away from her father.

The Captain looked down as well just wanting to get his orders over with. He really didn't like doing these kinds of sweeps. To ease her suffering she laid her helmet over her head turning on her MP3 player through the power armors built-in software. Using the helmets internal speakers as headphones of sorts.

"And if you get lost... play dumb sweetie... and remember... stay away from ponies..." Her Dad informed her, even though she was completely ignoring him.

Song

A short amount of time passed as the instruments slowly hummed in her ears, "Everypony knows that a war is coming~ Everypony knows deep in their hearts~" The Verdibuck soared through the wasteland sky just below the cloud cover descending downwards closer to the ground. Whilst the Captain's daughter looked out at the dead Wasteland below, that was still contaminated with mutated life. "Everypony knows~ that the talks are over~ Everypony knows thisis just the start~" She examined her plasma rifle inserting a microfusion cell into her weapon causing the plasma rifle to purr to life. Not lucky enough to get a plasma cartridge. Shooting microfusion cells out of a plasma gun is bad. Since the plasma rifle drains through microfusion cells quicker since the weapon demands more charge input to fire. "Everypony knows it's all over this~ Some gems and-some coal traded by the rich That's how it goes~ Everypony knows..." The stallion singing sang softly almost putting Captain's daughter to sleep.

But this next part woke her up, the sudden hit of a drum, "Everypony knows there were children bleeding~ Everypony knows how many died... Everypony had their empty feeling~ Turn into a burning hatred INSIDE!" Looking out from the Verdibuck she saw down below a town getting burnt to the ground with ponys screaming while ponys wearing scraps of leather and metal pillaged the town. "Everypony goes to up sign up TODAY! Take up your ARMS~, to make them PAY! For those crying woes~ Everypony knows..."

"Everypony knows what he did to save her~ Everypony knows what a hero he was~ Everypony knows that we'd do almost anything~" Memories of films that showed what had happened to Cloudsdale went through my head. Fire. Fire everywhere. "Even break all of nature's laws~ Everypony knows who discovered it first~" To see the pegasi all obliterated in one single blow cemented our fear of showing our true home. "A spell so STRONG that we could do our worst If the need arose~ Everypony knows..."

She teared up knowing the reality of it all. We were all pawns in our lives and there was nothing we can do about it. "Everypony knows~, everypony knows~ That's how it goes~ Everypony knows~ Everybody knows,~ everypony knows~ That's how it goes~ Everypony knows~"

"Set her down here Echo 4-19," the Captain ordered when they were near their objective. The Verdibuck slowly descended further down in a 90-degree angle. Landing on the dead ground floor.

She looked down to see a deep dark cave that was within a mini mountain. "And everypony knows that we will survive THIS! Everypony knows which Stable is theirs Everypony knows who would be their last kiss~ If there wasn't room for them down there..." She and the two other Heavy Ground Infantry jumped out electing a loud boom where their armored hooves hit the ground. They all marched into the cave as another Verdibuck landed behind them with more heavy infantry units coming out to group up. "Everypony knows that Zebras have it~ Everypony knows but just will not admit. How the war will close... Everypony knows..."

They all stopped in front of the huge metal gear shaped stable door. Of course, she listened to her father and waited behind the others as instructed. The two in front closes to the stable door were equipped with a pair of miniguns while the rest of the troops had plasma rifles or even laser rifles. Some even duel-wield. "And everypony knows that the FIRE'Scoming~ Everypony knows time is running out~ Everypony knows now it's just preparing... For when all the Megaspells will RAIN DOWN!" The captain wore a Pip-buck checking it over tapping it. Waiting then when the screen lit up he tapped some more whilst we waited. "Everypony knows that hope is dead. That you'll be there lying helpless in your bed... When you see the glows~ That everypony knows..." A loud eerie loud sirens began to blur alerting them all to the immense opening of the heavy door.

"And Everypony knows that if you survive this. There could be much worse still in store for you~ From the burning earth and boiling oceans. Would you even want to see it through~?" The door got pulled back electing a loud screeching sound of metal. "Everypony knows it's coming apart~ Say one last prayer if it's still in your heart~" The metal door then moved over to the side. "Before it blows... Everypony knows..." The silhouettes of ponys were shown as the darkness was now illuminated by the stable.

"Welcome!" Ponys greeted them.

*Click*

*****

An earth pony mare with a red mane, which had a bright white highlight that had appeared around a year ago since I first noticed it's appearance, her coat was a pale yellow. She asked a question, "So when do you think you'll be back? And how much time do you need, to... um... reconsider?" Her cheeks flushed red.

"Just give me time alright... you're too young for this sorta thing," I spoke carefully choosing my words wisely, forcing out each and every word out as if my throat were a cheese grater.

She looked down and I did the same, we each couldn't meet each other gaze, while she gave me a hug, the earth pony muttered sadly, "Be safe, I'll be waiting here, so don't stay away for too long."

Chuckling I nuzzled her cheek, "It's just two weeks, you can survive without me," she kissed my cheek while I kissed her forehead. Since I had a horn she had to kiss my cheek. Though I always found it weird, it was a bit too close to my mouth which made me uncomfortable all the time, those kisses that I was given made me feel empowered all the more to protect her.

"Remember no colt-friends," she almost growled which kinda caught me off guard, finding it kinda cute at the same time. What was she on about? "Or filly-friends," she added into her warning, giving me a nuzzle in turn for good measure.

"Oh... 'kay?" I laughed nervously rubbing the back of my neck. "I left everything in the..." I leaned in close to her ear. "In the suitcase for you," she nodded her head blushing by how close I got. I opened the door looking back at my sister. It sucked to leave doing a stable test thingy. Suppose I was going to get paid a lot for testing a freezer for two weeks. "Bye, little sis!" I waved, she waved back starting to cry. It broke my heart to see her like that, especially since we rarely ever split up. I took her almost everywhere with me, but at a safe distance when need be.

"BYE ROSE!" My baby sister blurted out, bursting into a fit of tears, waving her hooves wildly, practically hopping up and down in place.

"See you later Ruby!" I called back to her flashing a reassuring smile her way. I left to meet up with two of my other associates.

I had to shake myself off to stop from crying myself. Being a pony I couldn't hold back my own tears, I was walking and crying. To combat this, I looked up at the pure blue sky, taking in the fresh air. I felt scared and alone. Was this how it felt to be a grown-up? How was I supposed to feel?

I only took a small bag of bits with me and had a small hidden pistol in my short cropped tail, and a small knife in my mane that was disguised as a small mane pin. This was going to be a long and uneventful ride. Well, sleep looks like the best option right about now. I'm going to have to mess with freezers later.

*****

Shaking is all I could do, breathing heavily, I trembled in the cold damp cryo-pod. The pod was small around me, making it very uncomfortable. Like a small metal coffin. Laying on my back upright, feeling disoriented, lost, confused, with a sick feeling that crept over me. My fur was wet matted down with water that came from the freezing process. Slowly coming to notice the small glass square shaped window in front of me. Maybe if I tried I would be able to see through it. Squinting, I leaned forward, trying to make out what was or is outside the pod. But it is too blurry to see through with all the condensation pressed against the glass window.

Just then the cryo-pod door whirred to life in front of me lifting itself up, so fast, in fact, it made my heart skip a beat in surprise. The opening of the door was like a gateway back to the living world. Now that the metal door was out of the way, I could finally see somepony standing before me. The pony in front of me was dressed in a stable 248 security armor. Complete with the helmet that had a protective glass faceplate. That was currently lifted up at the moment. She was prodding me with a black baton that she held loosely in her mouth. "Yeh okey?" She asked with her mouth full.

"C-C-C-CO-O-O-LD-D-D-D, I need heat! warmth!" I stuttered out with a frozen voice, my body shaking in an attempt to stay warm. Taking my time to look around to see what in the HAY was going on, but the stable security guard pony brought my attention back to her with the prodding of her baton. Once she knew she had my attention, she placed her baton back at her side. Beginning to gingerly help me out the pod. Gritting her own teeth from how cold I was. Placing me down on my own hooves, she draped an unarmored wing over my shivering shoulders.

Utilizing the observant skills I was blessed with by birth, my eyes swept across the room, scanning each and every smidge of detail. Slowly being able to make out cryo-pods laid out against the walls placed around the room. The walls were a dull metallic gray color. There are two other stable security guards waking up the other residents, who also had just woke up, just like me. Both of the stable guards gave me uneasy expressions, as they passed me by. Wondering what was the meaning of this, I carried on with the same guard, who was leading me to a heavy magnetic door that was a "bulkhead". Something that I vaguely remembered coming through from earlier. I was just glad to have been in that freezer for just a night.

Just as the bulkhead door had risen up, I was momentarily swarmed by fellow stable dwellers. With thundering voices of flashing blinding lights.

"C-C-COL-D, p-please l-let me-e-e th-th-through, I n-nee-ed heat," I was barely able to stutter out, right after being swarmed by the stables inhabitants.

"Welcome back to the land of the living!" A stallion cheered with an excited smile shaking my hoof without my consent.

Only to have him shoved away shortly after by my escort, "Buck off Blitz," the stable security guard said with a hint of authority in her tone. Pushing through the crowd of ponies who were barraging me with question after question.

Getting through the thick of it, the guard escorted me the rest of the way through the dull metallic corridors, the obnoxious ponys getting distracted by the rest of the ponys who were waking up, moving away from me to question them instead.

In the corridors I walked through, I noticed that everything was gray besides me, the lights, the security pony, and the occasional yellow strip on each and every magnetically sealed bulkhead door.

Finally arriving in the medical wing, there was barely anypony currently there, which was probably a good thing, except for a small foal getting a check-up by a doctor who had a nurse standing by at the ready. The nurse mostly watched the doctor do his work. Checking the foal's heart with a stethoscope. Listening intently to the foal's heartbeat rhythm.

The stable security guard that lead me out of the cryo-pod earlier, helped me up onto a medical bed. The guard then bonked me on the nose, causing me to go cross-eyed "See you later Grandma~" she sang before snickering into a hoof exiting the room, leaving me alone to wait patiently for my turn to get a check-up wrapping myself around in a blanket, desperately trying to keep myself warm. I was going to get a check-up too right?

The foal squeed when the doctor handed her a lollipop for being a good filly. Quickly running out with the lollipop following right behind her held afloat in her magic. After that, a silence came over the room as the Doctor and Nurse went back to work. Not noticing me at all. They must have been very distracted by the foal then.

After a couple of minutes later when the nurse smiles towards me sheepishly, finally coming to notice my petty existence. The nurse canters over with a towel beginning to dry me off. "Sorry miss got distracted, foals you know... so adorable!" sighing dreamily she continued her work on drying me off.

Looking over the room like a hawk taking in every single little detail. Noticing that some of the white square shaped medical boxes had a trio of pink butterflies stamped on them; at the corner of the boxes. All the medical equipment was neatly resting upon metallic surgical trays while the rest was stored away somewhere nearby. Taking notice of the nurse's work the doctor came over to stand beside the bed and nurse, greeting me halfway, "Hello, Ms. Lady... erm..." he looks over his clipboard searching for my name.

Not wanting to be rude towards the medical staff I complied to cover up the Doctor's blunder: "Ms. Midnight Rose, and where am I, and what is going on here?" I ask the doctor my mind feeling fuzzy, I was having trouble remembering a few things... still, I remained cautious "And why did that guard call me grandma?" Having a lot of questions I did, hoping to get at least some answers. The longer I was awake, the more questions I had, at the same time my body felt groggy and sluggish. That just so happens when you wake up from a long cold wet nap... I hope most of that damp area of my lower body isn't piss. But I woke up cold, like nothing I had ever experienced before. It was almost as similar as waking up in a bathtub filled with cold water. Not that I know how that feels like anyway because being in that cryo-pod was colder than the arctic!

Nodding his head he continued hearing me say my name at the same time finding it on the clipboard, "Ah, yes Ms. Rose. I am Doctor Petroleum. Now to answer your question Ms. Rose I'd advise that you stay calm... this might be shocking-okay," the nurse beside me gave a reassuring hug. Radiating a calm feeling in the room, which did little to lessen my worries. The cold in the air was overwhelmingly stale. My brain thumped in my skull telling me that I needed "fresh air". "To be honest, we don't know what happened to you, but what we do know, is that you were frozen, in some sort of cryo-pod. And since you're wet, I could only assume that you have been frozen," the doctor explained. "Why you were frozen is unknown to us, the security mare that brought you in here, found you and the rest of the frozen ponys behind a maintenance wall or something like that. Skywalker her name was, always exploring the stable, very skittish, but what do you expect from a caged pegasus. She's the one who found the tunnels that connected to the other stables. Stables 249B, and 251A"

The nurse then chimed in "When she called you "Grandma" She was most likely... no. Was just being a pain in the flank. Besides we didn't even know you were a resident here in our lovely stable until after she found you."

Scowling the doctor continued "The overmare approved of your unfreezing. So don't, misbehave, Ms. Rose." The doctor finished sourly with a judging gaze, before going back to a calm demeanor again which made me roll my eyes at his bad attempt to intimidate me.

"Welcome to stable 248!" The nurse exclaimed draping an extra blanket over my shoulders. "Just rest up for right now, we'll get you situated once you're all better~ We'll have a jumpsuit ready for you when you wake up!" The cyan nurse cheered brushing a strand of her green mane back, "Why you're not wearing one right now is beyond me."

"Can I have something warm to eat and drink before I go to sleep then? Oh and please not those skin-tight jumpsuits like the ones you're wearing," I smile sheepishly, "Something more casual...?"

Nodding her head the nurse agreed: "Alright, I believe I can do that," walking off into another room that had a sign on the wall right beside the door that read "STAFF ONLY!" in bold red letters.

The doctor headed into another room opposite from the nurse. With a neon sign stuck out with the word "OFFICE" stamped on it in bold black letters, leaving me alone. Not long after that, the entrance to the infirmary opened up. Entering the infirmary were two ponies who were guiding a gurney in. A pony laid on top covered with a piece of white cloth were some spots were stained with red splotches.

"Another accident, another day," one stable dweller said not noticing me in the room.

The other stable dweller agreed: "That just so happens when you don't know how to fix a spark generator. Poor kid, sand on her tenth-birthday too."

Listening quietly to the conversation waiting for the nurse to come back, with what I had asked for. After a few long dragging minutes, the nurse finally came back from the "STAFF ONLY" room, balancing a tray professionally on her back, smiling sheepishly she slid the tray onto my lap.

What was in the tray were two bowls and one glass of water. The main course was in the largest of the two bowls and was colored orange. The aroma reached my nostrils helping me remember a small part of my life back at a restaurant where I frequently used to dine at when I was younger, always getting the health choice by my mom in the cold winter months. In the second bowl that was noticeably smaller, had three packets of salted crackers.

"Hope you enjoy your stay, Ms. Rose," the nurse said shyly backing away to help the doctor who nonchalantly looked over the dead filly from under the bloody covers. Why was he so cold about it? Why wasn't he in shock? A normal pony would have been in shock, then again.. he was a Doctor and a Doctor saw plenty of death I would think. Was death really common in the stable? The door that the gurney and I had come from lifted up again, but nopony had come through which confused me greatly.

I began to eat my warm food greedily wanting the cold to go away. After finishing my food and water, the nurse raised up two outfits beside my bed, a doctor Lab Coat on the right that had a trio of pink butterflies embedded into the corner of the coat, then on the left laid an Equestrian Army uniform that was currently in a plastic bag.

I look at both and quickly declared confidently and if a bit childishly, "I'll take the Army uniform!" With a big toothy smile chugging all the water down. Giggling at my joyous reaction, the nurse smiled retracting the doctor's coat.

"We're going to have the Equestrian Military visit soon, so please be on your best behavior. We were told that some special ponies of the old world's military would be coming to evaluate the stable. I'm going to-" she pulled out a pip-buck, "-give you this. You're a stable resident now or uh... still are, and you should be able to work now-after you recover of course!" She hastily added, "I know that the overmare is supposed to be the one to give you this, but she is currently busy at the moment," The nurse chuckled nervously eyes falling to the floor.

Just then the stable speakers blurted on with an enthusiastic mare's voice: "Everypony our visitors are here! Drop what you're doing an come on down to the Stable Atrium so we can greet our visitors!"

The nurse smiled as everypony began to filter out and leave the room, talking amongst themselves.

Taking a glance back the nurse sheepishly smiled back at me almost forgetting all about me. These ponies weren't very good at attention, "Will you be okay all alone?" She asked me.

"Yeah, I'm going to hit the hay now," I answered placing the tray by side of the bed onto a squared box machine thingy, that was currently not being used. Rolling myself together like a donut taking the pillow where my head would be resting and pulling the blanket over myself starting to sleep. Leaving the pip-buck on top the squared box machine beside the bed. In my sleep, I could hear a faint chorus of a sound that was so quiet and distant it sounded like a whisper that was a continuous humming sound.

An image of the Equestrian Army swarmed my mind's eye, creating a mental image that invaded my dreams.

[Sometime Later]

Waking up again feeling refreshed I opened my eyes coming to find the bed covered with privacy bed curtains blocking my view from the rest of the room. Feeling nonchalant about exiting the bed. I first put on the Equestrian Army uniform. Only missing the boots and helmet which brought a frown to my face, but was still glad to have a comfortable uniform to help keep me warm from the cold metallic room. Not a pony in sight besides the bed curtains that were closed in around me.

Sitting on the bedside waiting... waiting was all that I could do. It's not like I had a right to touch or explore without any permission, so I waited for the doctor, nurse, or at least somepony that would walk through that door. But nopony came slowly losing my patience and begin to look towards the "pip-buck" the nurse had given me earlier. Grabbing the pip-buck from the box-shaped squared whatever it was, strapping it to my left foreleg. The cushion made the arm computer snuggly fit along my foreleg. The pip-buck purred to life causing the screen to light up with scrolls of text to run along the screen, shortly after booting up to show a happy stallion in a stable jumpsuit smiling towards me giving me a wave with the words below him "loading..."

My pip-buck screen was now consumed with pop up in a green text asking: "Would you like a tutorial?" With two words below the question. "Yes / No". I selected [No] already knowing how to operate the pip-buck. Instantly the happy stable stallion was replaced with a happy stable unicorn mare.

The pip-buck had three buttons below the screen. STATS, ITEMS, DATA.

Checking my "STATS" to see how well my body was doing.

S-6
P-7
E-5
C-5
I-6
A-5
L-3

With more data that I will not go into detail right now, but just know that it's there.

My vision was now then consumed with a large hud interfacing with pip-buck made me feel a bit nauseous. Which I had to adjust using the pip-buck. Now making the health bar smaller so that it didn't obstruct my vision. That was at the bottom left corner. And had the E.F.S [Eyes. Forward. Sparkle] a compass that I adjusted to the top of my vision so that it didn't become a nuisance and clog up my vision keeping it down with the rest of the hud features. Then to the bottom right corner, I could see the AP bar which was fizzing about for some reason. Shaking my head looking around the room beginning to investigate. Getting out of bed, looking over each surgical instrument with precise accuracy. Looking over the medical supplies within the room. Coming to realize that plenty of medical supplies. From 5 Potions, 12 Painkillers pills and syringes, 6 Dash inhalers, 7 Buck short stubby plastic bottles containing tablets that looked like vitamins, 60 Rad-X, and lots and I mean "LOTS" of RadAway that went up to 26! That was only counting the medical drugs in this room!

Moving to the STAFF ONLY room. I was able to find the room filled with locked lockers and some more medical supplies that I could take or just leave alone. No one was here to observe me, so would it really matter if I were to take something? But what good would it be to take something I didn't need? Nothing. It would do me no good so I would just leave it alone. Even finding a couple of white saddle-bags bearing the universal red cross on either side of the bags. Finding nothing else of interest, I exited the STAFF ONLY room, which was probably just supposed to be a staff room, but I keep referring it to as the "STAFF ONLY" room.

Lastly, I entered the Doctor's office. Inside I found a desk that had a terminal resting on top. Two twin filling cabinets on the left side of the small boxy room. There was even a bed in the room right beside the desk. The office was the doctor's living quarters as I come to notice. And at the footrest of the bed was a small footlocker. A couple of books were strewn about on top of the desk. One book was wide open showing random digits of symbols and characters, that made me assume that it was some sort of code.

Strolling up to the bed which had a mirror beside the headboard, peering at my reflection.

Standing in before me was a unicorn mare that wore an Equestrian Army uniform, who had a black coat sporting a blue mane with a few black highlights... or would the black be lowlights? You know because of the color-whatever. I straightened my uniform wanting to look nice and sharp for my social interactions in the stable. As much as I didn't like being social, this was part of the job description when I had signed up for testing.

Ears perking up when I heard the sound of a bulkhead door at the entrance of the infirmary lifted up abruptly. Alerting me to the presence of somepony entering the infirmary. But being in the office I was clearly not supposed to be in... I was either going to have to confess and expose myself or hide.

Metallic whirring was heard alongside heavy metal hoof steps echoed throughout the infirmary Looking down in my vision focusing on my E.F.S. [Eyes. Forward. Sparkle.] a setting I only knew was because of somepony I once knew had one himself.

I was really surprised to find out that two bright red bars were closing in on my position. Red was an obvious symbol for "bad". The steps started to get louder as whoever it was, is getting closer. Sweat started to form on my brow. I didn't want to go out like this! Anything but this! I did the only thing I could or... wanted too... I hid under the doctor's bed just as the steps grew louder. I was going to be in so much trouble! Is it because I broke into the Doctors office?! I'm sorry! Won't do it again! Please!

I started shaking under the bed. I was defenseless! No... that's not completely true... I had my horn! I wasn't utterly defenseless now! I had the power to fight back!

Just as I was gaining the courage to fight back, the door to the doctor's quarters was lifted up and open for the two hostile visitors to enter.

Peeking out from beneath the bed I was able to observe two ponies in some sort of odd-looking power armor that was bulky and heavily armored. It was like nothing I had seen before. Their helmets looked oddly like an owl because of the ears of the pony having to be in a 45degree angle facing back just to fit on the helmet and with the bird beak looking mouthpiece. Both of their armors were painted black, but their eyes that the helmet had an orangish-goldish tint to them. Both ponys were obviously pegasus because of their wings! Which were both covered with this piece of protective plating. Both pointing their weapons toward the back of the room.

Gulping nervously from beneath the bed, I was sure that they would find me out sooner or later. They both each had a plasma pistol on their left and a plasma rifle on their right, which was connected to a battle saddle that was built into the power armor suit. But they weren't as big as the power armors I had come to know. They were huge... deadly for sure.

Pointing their weapons in my direction in utter silence, just then, THEY OPENED FIRE! I could feel the heat coming from the spent plasma as their shots struck the bed. The bright searing light blinded me causing me to shield my eyes with my hooves, a high pitched screech reached my ears. Confused I moved my hooves away to see a giant cockroach that was the size of my hoof screeching with a green pile of goop behind it and that it was missing a leg. Trying to retreat away from the powered armor menace, but they didn't show the roach any mercy, disintegrating the roach into green goop.

Confused and panicked I stayed put under the bed shaking in fear.

What could I do against these armored killing machines? I wasn't that great with magic... but I sure as hell was good with a gun... but I didn't seem to have one at the moment.

In the span of 15 seconds, they walked past me and were gone. THEY WALKED PAST ME! Like as if I had never existed in the first place! But that wasn't possible! All power armor had a built-in Eyes Forward Sparkle! Unless their E.F.S and mine were fucking up? And were these armored ponies not an enemy and my pip-buck were just malfunctioning and playing games with me?

Why they were here I wasn't sure, but they left in a hurry without a second thought. They came and killed a roach that I didn't even know was in the room, they took something then. And left. Hearing the rhythm of the metallic whirring of machinery as they left metal thuds in their wake. Then, nothing, utter silence. After a few ungodly minutes that felt like hours.

Finally having the courage to come out from under the melting bed, the acidic smell was strong lingering from the green pile of shit that was the giant cockroach and bed. Maybe the armored ponys weren't so bad? They didn't seem to have any interest in me, they just didn't notice me at all. But if I could see them doesn't that mean they could see me too? Looking over the desk I noticed that the book with all the random digits of symbols and characters was gone. Whelp now I know the reason why they came here for. But, that was probably only the small part of the big picture.

Where was everypony? Well, wherever they were I was going to be the one to find them, or maybe they'll find me. Taking a couple of shaky breaths I straightened my uniform in front of the mirror again for the second time. But, left my messy mane alone. I liked my mane just the way it was, nice and short. Since I was sure nopony would come back on such short notice I decided to check what was on the doctor's terminal. Hopping onto the doctor's swivel chair I got to work unlocking the computer. With its password nearby on a sticky note stuck on the monitor itself... like really? You didn't even bother hiding the sticky note. The stupid doctor just put it on the screen itself. Well, his loss. My gain!

_________________

[Server 6 - Doctor]

M33ti^g )*th T*e
Unlock Safe
Open Passage
[________________]

I selected the first option the {>Meeting With The Outsiders}. but only got a:

ERR: network connection failed.

Aggravated I selected the other option: {Unlock Safe} then getting the all good:

Safe is unlocked.

Even hearing the soft hiss of the safe opening was some good news. Following the noise, I found that the mini safe was built under the desk. So small that I hadn't noticed it earlier. Opening the case eagerly wanting to see what prize I could snatch up. The nostalgic feelings I felt from the thievery I was committing, I felt like the Goddesses' Celestia and Luna were gazing down upon me, blessing me with trash... are you KIDDING ME?! Yes, I wasn't very pleased to find a "switchblade". Yeah, the goddesses want me to fight with this garbage?! They knew me so well! Just you wait, Celestia, I'm going to shove this so far up your royal plot, you'll be wishing that fucking with me was only a dream!

Growling insults under my breath I took the switchblade regardless. Though I could always use a scalpel... that shit was sharp as hell. But it wouldn't be able to cut through metal. Better luck next time I suppose. Moving on to the last option in the terminal: {>Open Secret Passage}. Getting the sweet sound of the wall moving to reveal a "secret passage" indeed. But was it really necessary? Those ponys didn't attack me. Should I really be snooping around? Was this a mistake? Fuck... I wanted to be on the safe side, and the safe side was to not get caught by anything red on my pip-buck.

"You only live once right?" I told myself with a small smile shrugging my shoulders. Climbing into the newly opened passage, that was a small cramped maintenance shaft. There was a button that I pressed curiously, quickly finding out that it closed me off from the infirmary. "I probably should have taken those saddle bags... and maybe some supplies..." I bit my lower lip what was I doing snooping around the stable? Did I even have a right too? The doctor did say not to cause any trouble. And the nurse told me to wait right? Well, I actually don't remember... I felt exhausted then. And now I feel... so lonely and out of touch. I remember when my senses were much more keen than dull how they are now.

Shaking my head, I crawled through the cramped passageway. Making me very claustrophobic, there was a very little wiggle room to move through. The only thing to be heard the bumping of my elbows and knees against my metallic prison. Other than that it was deadly quiet on the outside. There was still the same lingering thought that would come from the back of my mind "was I doing the right thing? Should I have listened?" "Well, only one way to find out!" I told myself trying to bring back some of my lost confidence. When I reached the end of the tunnel there was another button. I waited until I was ready to press the button that was on the wall beside me.

Taking a deep breath after a minute long break, I pressed the button opening the new passage just like before. A supply closet it seemed to be. Without a second thought, I climbed down expertly making sure not to step into a bucket and trip like an idiot. There was a time and place for everything after all. Looking around I saw a variety of things. Mostly detergents, some nails, turpentine, and even a lone spark battery; in gray metal cube boxes. But, I didn't have time to loot! I had to find some answers to my questions! First of all: Where is everypony? Who were those ponys in that black power armor? Were they the Equestrian Army? Why was my pip-buck acting up? My AP bar was fizzing about with static and it only seemed to grow worse. The longer I took to get out of here the more I felt uncomfortable.

My pip-buck was more than likely just faulty, nothing more. That's probably why they appeared to be colored red on my pip-buck. Stupid machine! Why did it have to be me? Why did I have to get the busted one?

Sighing deeply I slowly opened the supply closet door that was surprisingly enough, not a bulkhead door but was instead a thin metal door with hinges that squeaked loudly, making me cringe when I poke my head out of the supply closet. Looking both ways left and right like if I was about to cross a street. Sighing in relief when I noticed nopony in sight, telling my brain that I wasn't going to get into any trouble.

I Moved out into the short hallway. To my left was a neon green sign with black text: "Restrooms". And to my right, there was a complete copy of the signs: "Overmare" and "Living Quarters" with an arrow pointing right. With two more signs below it: "Atrium" and "Armory" there was even a sign below that one that read "infirmary" pointing left.

"The Overmare? Yes, that's it!" I quickly made my way towards the neon signs. Taking a sharp right turn heading for the Overmare's office. "Maybe she's still here besides why would she leave her office? She was supposed to be overseeing everything down below... or that's how I saw it. I didn't really know much about stables, to be honest. I saw lots of rooms from left to right there were bulkhead doors.

Checking my E.F.S. I wasn't surprised that nopony appeared. Not a single green bar in sight or red for that matter. Moving onto the room opening every single room. For somepony, for something... but I found no hint on where everypony could be. Taking me about fifteen minutes to finally reach the Overmare's office, with a terminal connected to the wall beside the bulkhead door. Pressing the button beside the door expecting the door to open. Only to be surprised that the door didn't open. Muttering a curse under my bed I moved over to the terminal connected to the wall, using my magic to press a button so that the keyboard would come out from underneath the terminal.

______________________

[Server 10 - Overmare ]

Unlock Door
[______________________]

Having nothing better to do I selected the only option in the terminal:

Unlock Door.

Getting the message of relief:

Overmare door unlocked.

Walking into the Overmare's room frowning. I felt uneasy when I didn't find the Overmare here. The E.F.S. told me everything I needed to know... nopony was here... moving over behind the back of the overmare's desk. Sitting down on the overmare's rolling chair. The desk was littered with papers, the pencil scratches over the papers. Doing a 180 spin to face the giant master terminal control panel, that was right behind the overmare's desk.

The giant terminal screen had a number of smaller monitors beneath it. Giving it, it's meaning as overmare... the one mare that oversees all... The only downside was that all the screens were busted as in somepony shot the screens up. All of it was busted, "something isn't right at all," I muttered to myself my ears pinning back, "what is happening?"

To the left of the room, there was a circular window that looked down into the atrium, moving to see the atrium I was able to see blood... oh god the blood... everything... everything was red.

Suddenly behind me, I heard the bulkhead door behind me slide down; closed. "Because he made you," A mare's voice from behind me. Confused I did a quick spin facing the only entrance to the room. I was surprised to see nopony around.

Startled I pulled out the switchblade, holding it steadily in my magic directly in front of myself as if it were my only line of defense. "Where are you?!" I asked loudly my eyes roaming across the room cautiously. Having nowhere to go since my back was against the circle window. "Who are you?!"

"Your worst enemy..." The mare's voice whispered into my ear the warm breath brushing against my ear startling me. Jumping in surprise I slashed the switchblade to my left. Only to cut through air. My heart started to race ever so slightly, the unknown was beginning to scare me.

So, I did the only thing I could in my panic. I made a mad dash for the door, only to hear the mare's voice burst out into a fit of laughter. Pressing the button beside the bulkhead the door had risen without a problem. But what I saw utterly scared me the most. Blood... blood was everywhere... Ponys were covered in blood littering the floors. How DIDN'T I NOTICE THIS?! WHAT IS ALL THIS?! WHAT IN TARTAROUS IS HAPPENING HERE!" I screamed with my eyes starting to water. Running that's the only thing I knew I could do... the mysterious mare's laughter echoed throughout the halls as I ran.

Slipping on the bright rose red sea of blood falling muzzle first into a pony. "Do you really think you can run away from me?! Hahaha!" Pulling my face away from the pony I saw who I had fallen on. What I saw shocked me, having me shake my head wide-eyed.

"Oh~ oh~" I moaned but, not in pleasure oh no... not pleasure... it was anything but pleasant. What I had fallen on was the small filly who I first saw in the infirmary, that I remember was so happy to get a stupid sugary treat. I started to cry feeling a coldness start to spread through me. Whatever it was it was coming from behind me. That voice, who is it? I don't remember that voice, it doesn't ring a bell! What the in Tartarus would she want with me?! What is even happening?! What did I do?!

Hearing the feminine voice again cackling madly made me shiver so bad I was paralyzed with fear. Everything around me was red! Grabbing the sides of my head shaking my head trying to free myself desperately. She was getting closer and whoever it was it would be bad news if she got me! Getting up I ran as my vision began to swim. Running through the small narrow corridors that just seemed to get narrower and smaller the longer I ran.

Finally entering the atrium. The dead ponies everywhere. With nowhere left to go, I gunned it out the stable. Finding that the STABLE DOOR WAS MISSING!!! Crying I ran out into the cave. Running through the sea of spent 5mm casings.

The cave was so dark that I had to activate my pip-buck's lamp in order to see where I was going. Stumbling over rocks in the dark. Because the green light that was being illuminated from the device on my foreleg did little to aid my vision.

Just as I was starting to lose the last of my waning hope, I saw a small light at the end of the tunnel. That was it! If there was light then, there was a way out! My vision started to go heavily blurry swimming so bad I was starting to lose my focus.

"You know, if you wanted light, you could always just looked my way!" The mare giggled.

She read my mind?! Panting heavily I leaped towards the light that would lead outside! Bright light, that's the only way I could describe it.

*****

"Come on Rose! I'm so borrrreeeedddd!" The filly outside my room whined loudly. The wooden door stood strong and firm against the small filly.

Hunched over my father's desk with pieces of his 10mm pistol neatly laid out. every crook and cranny of his gun. There would be no secrets that this weapon would hold from me.

"Roooooooosse! Come on! Open up!" The small filly called from outside my door, startling me; having me jump in my seat that was my father's.

Cursing insults quietly under my breath I marched towards the door hearing the filly whining behind the oak wood door. Using my magic I unlocked the door, then swung it open. "No, now stop bothering me!" Growling at the smaller filly I scowled harshly, but my intimidation must have been non-existent because she just latched onto me; hooking her arms around my neck.

Burying her face deeper into my neck nuzzling it startling me further causing me to blush embarrassed. "Yay! I just knew you would come out! Now we can be friends!" She squeed loudly, so loud, in fact, I thought my eardrums would pop! Her little arms constricting tighter around my neck like a snake, effectively suffocating me. After a few more seconds of embarrassment, she finally let me go. Taking a few steps back, then went right back to bouncing up and down on her hooves. Sporting a huge grin, which kind of creeped me out.

The little earth pony filly who was about a year and a half younger than me. She had a ruby red mane and a bright yellow shining coat. Shaking my head at her annoying antics. "I'm sorry Ruby but we can't be friends," I said rearing my head back on instinct in fear of the smaller filly who might choke me out. I'd had never seen her lash out before and I wasn't too keen on finding out now.

Ruby immediately stopped her bouncing, now standing still. Her shoulders slumped the same going for her posture as well. Where her happy grin was, was now replaced by nothing more than a frown that just seemed to droop at the corners of her lips. Then every slowly her small form began to tremble ever so slightly, "b-but you promised..." She stuttered out weakly with a look of disdain her eyes beginning to water. "YOU PROMISED!" She screamed with her eyes closed, tears now flowing down her cheeks like miniature running rivers.

Cringing with a twinge of regret I quickly caved in, "No-no, I-I didn't mean it like that!" I said moving closer to her reaching a hoof out to her only for Ruby to pull away from me. Seeing Ruby sad just made me sad... was this what friendship was? family? I didn't really know what friendship was. Besides, I liked to spend every minute either alone or with my mom and dad. Both of whom were busy at the moment.

"Then what did you mean?!" Ruby retorted not quite believing my words.

Even I didn't believe my own words either they just sorta came out. And I too didn't want to lose my one and only friend. She was too special for that, she just radiated this warmth that just made me just want to smile. Being lonely sucks. "I.... uh... what I meant to say was-we're best friends!" I blurted out, mentally picturing myself digging a bigger hole for myself.

Stunned Ruby started to calm down her sobbing into a more manageable volume. "Y-you really m-mean it?" She asked with snot leaking out of her nose. Using my magic I levitated over a box of tissues for the little earth pony. Helping her clean up her pretty little face with a tissue. Doing all the work for her, it was my fault that she was crying after all. So, it was now my responsibility to clean her up.

The only thing I could do was nod. My mouth would not open to produce a sound, so my body did all the talking through body language; nodding my head. Ruby immediately perked up throwing herself towards me sobbing openly into my chest wrapping her arms around my back just below my arms. I hugged her back awkwardly not knowing what to do at this moment.

*****

The light was blinding yet so pure, as I was bathed in its warming glory. Toppling over, laying on the ground like an exhausted animal huffing and puffing. Having my eyes sealed shut. Catching my breath. I... I had won. I was alive so I must have won, right? That was my goal, stay alive and I had succeeded, so I must have won, surely I had won. My mind repeated in near endless loops.

Truth be told I didn't know how long I had been resting under the sunlight that started to burn a hole through my back. It felt like a desert, but I wasn't really sure at the moment, even before my vision was terrible. But, now was the perfect time to see wha-.

Opening my eyes I was immediately blinded by the sun's shining holy light. It was like walking out of a dark movie theater then going outside only to have your eyes slowly burned by an inferno of light, having to adjust your eyesight to the light. When my eyes finally did adjust after about four minutes I had just experienced one of the most mind-numbing moments I had ever had in my short life.

Everywhere as far as I could see... was a complete and utter desert... "I didn't now that there was desert here. Hope my garden is okay." Some buildings and homes had, funnily enough, withstood the elements for a long time. Standing tall and somewhat firm. Other buildings and homes were not so lucky having caved in, or partly for the most part. I take that desert part back this place looked more like a wasteland now that I think about it.

Looking around I noticed that I was on a low mountain that was about 57 meters tall. So it wasn't that high up. Making my way down thinking about my previous encounter with death or whatever it was. What the hell was that thing and what happened to all those innocent ponies? Something wasn't right about that place and I for sure would steer clear of that place in the future. I just wanted to go home and see my sister again.

*****

"Come on lets play! It'll be fun!" Ruby hopped up and down with a pleading smile.

Shaking my head at her childish antics. She practically wanted me to play princess with her, I had to face hoof so bad at her foolishness. "No, I'm not playing princess with you. Besides, don't you have someplace better to be? Like oh, I don't know... at home?!" I snarked...

Ruby only giggled at my response getting a little to close for comfort rubbing her side against my chest. "Then what would you rather play instead, huh?!" She asked bumping the tip of her muzzle with mine making my cheeks flush red. She was WAY to close for comfort.

"Something challenging! You know a game that has a winner and a loser!" I quickly blurt out my mind going into overdrive, she was too CLOSE!

"Oh, but it's not about winning, it's about fun!" Ruby said nuzzling my cheek forcing my cheeks to heat up further.

Rearing my head back I asked: "What's that?" Wanting to get as far back as I could from this filly.

Giving me some space not seeming to care at how close she got to me she continued her explanation: "Fun is when you... fun is... it's like... it's kinda... sorta like a ..." She kept pausing to think unsure all of a sudden which surprised me. "What is fun?? HERE... Let me spell it for you!" She then cheered all of a sudden remembering.

Music began to play out of thin air as she began to sing, having you sway in sync with the rhythm. "'F' is for Friends who do stuff together~ 'U' is for You-" She pointed towards me with a hoof then at herself. "-and Me~ 'N' is for Anywhere and every time at all!" She exclaimed cheerfully so much so that it was infectious having me smile along with her. Finishing her song with the words: "Down here in Germaney!"

The music continued to play after she was finished so I decided to chime in cheerfully. "'F' is for Fire that burns down the whole town. 'U' is for UNHAPPY... PONIES! 'N' is for No survivors~ When you-" Before I could continue further the music cut out with a disappointed Ruby.

"Rose those things aren't what fun is all about! Now, do it like this, 'F' is for Friends who do stuff to-" Only for me to cut off the annoying Ruby back.

With a scowl, I snapped out: "-Never! That's completely idiotic!"

Not wanting to back down Ruby started up again more chipper than before. "Here, let me help you... 'F' is for friends who do stuff together. 'U' is for You and me, TRY IT!" Ruby encouraged with her beaming infectious smile.

Uncertain if I should run or not I did as I was told by the smaller filly. "'N' is for Anywhere and anytime at all. Down here in Germaney!" She finished with me sporting a happy smile getting me to sing along. "Wait... I don't understand... I feel all tingly inside... should we stop?" I asked feeling weird.

Ruby only beamed brighter getting right in my face. "No! That's how you're supposed to feel!"

Smiling with her, just not as much. "Well, I like it! Let's do it again!"

"Okay!" Ruby cheered singing the song together as... friends... sisters...

*****

*Crunch*

The hoof sized roach insides came spilling out after I was done squeezing it in my magic. "Bucking disgusting." I scowled at the filth. Never did like roaches... and now this pest got a few inches bigger? This just wasn't my day...

That's when I heard it... the sound of buzzing wings. My eyes widened but with my instincts kicking in I ducked to the side just as something flew past my head. Checking my E.F.S. I was quick to find the three red bars. "The little bastards tried to sneak up on me!" Upset at their shitty assassination attempt. I used my telekinesis without looking to throw the roach's guts over my attackers. To stun them if possible. I would have taken out my switchblade at an opportunity like this, but I had lost it during my mad dash to the exit; so I was once again weaponless.

Picking up a small rock with my magic, I rolled out of my cover that consisted a small rock that I had just been using as cover. It didn't even cover most of my body it was a poor choice of cover. So, it was a good thing to abandon it so quickly. Now being able to see my enemies that shocked me.

What was in front of me where three monstrosities that were once parasprites, but were not the cute parasites I was used to seeing. No, these things were a sickly green color with unnatural bulges popping out here and there it was disgusting! The once cute creatures were anything but their former selves. Their bodies look like bloated spheres. Just then one of them fired a long spine towards me.

Acting fast I grabbed it midair with my magic. Tossing it back at the ugly bug, killing it instantly as it popped sickeningly. Not going to bother and take a chance of getting hit by these monstrosities I scrunched up my face in concentration when I forcibly squeezed the mutated parasprites into paste. "I need a weapon..."

[LEVEL UP!]
LEVEL 5!

S-6
P-7
E-5
C-5
I-6
A-5
L-3

Skill Index

Barter -16
Big Guns-16
Magical Weapons- 3
Energy Weapons - 22 +2
Explosives - 22 +1
Lockpick - 22
Magic - 23
Medicine - 29 +3
Melee Weapons -29
Repair -19
Science - 19
Small Guns -26
Sneak - 27
Speech - 26 +3
Unarmed - 16

Perks:

Contract Killer - Collect ears to trade in for money
Past Memories - Help you reflect on ideals and philosophy

Reputation- Neutral

Vault Renegade