Subterranean Freedom

Chapter 5

Awakening Of The Destroyer

(EndSector Liftport)

After restocking on some supplies, the traveling trio make their way to the lift and headed up the elevator from Junk City to The EndSector Liftport. Once the lift stopped at the top of where they needed to go, they began to make their way out of the lift and head towards the stairs that lead to the liftport.

“The train will lead to Ranger HQ. It’s about a fifteen to thirty minute ride from here, so it shouldn’t be a problem.” Sunset said as she looks over at Obsidia who was busy looking around at the lift they’re in.

“Then I guess once we get to the entrance of your base, I’ll be heading off back to Trinity.” Aria said as she leans against the metal wall of the lift they’re in.

“Seems like it...you know you could always join-.” Before she could finish her sentence, Aria raised a hand in front of Sunset causing her to stop talking.

“Not happening. You already know that they’re hiding something after seeing Obsidia. What makes you think that I would join them, if they have something to do with this?”

“T-There must be a reason for this. Maybe I was suppose to take her to HQ and then to Canterlot Lab to get her looked at. Or maybe….”

“Still trying to convince yourself that your fellow Rangers aren’t the cause of this huh?” Aria said as she shakes her head in disappointment. “What do you need to be convinced that something fishy is going on with them?”

“I’m not saying that something isn’t fishy. I’m just saying that maybe they’re working on something that...might help ponykind?” Sunset said with a awkward smile on her face as Aria deadpan to her statement.

“...Forget it. Get yourself killed for all I care. But just so you know. When you do get killed, I will take the kid with me if and when I return for her.”

“I...doubt that would be possible given how the security is back at HQ. But I would recommend to not do that unless you want to get killed that is.”

“Trust me on this one Ranger. I have ways on getting inside that so called protective base of yours.” Sunset paused for a moment before shaking her head at the thought of what Aria meant by that. As she was about to ask her what she meant by that, they all felt the lift stop as the doors to the lift open up. “Come on. Let’s get this over with before I decide to change my mind.” She said as Sunset and Obsidia followed after the earth pony to the landing platform. Just as they were making their first steps onto it, the sounds of a train could be heard coming from their left as they looked over to see a light blinding their vision. Once the light started to settle down, it revealed that it was a train that caused it.

“Didn’t think I would find you here Sunset.” said a familiar voice as Sunset saw Adagio and two other Rangers exiting from the train. “Glad to see you survived the attack from one of Trinity’s soldiers.”

“Adagio! You made it too!” Sunset said as she was about to run up to her and hug her. Only for Adagio to raise a hand up towards her to stop her from doing that.

“So Trinity is with you?” She asked, looking over at Aria and Obsidia. Adagio blinking in surprise to seeing Aria before sighing in disappointment. “Never thought I would see you here again Aria.”

“The feelings mutual.” Aria said as she noticed Adagio staring coldly at Obsidia.

“Wait. You two know each other?” Sunset asked, confused as to how these two know each other.

“Yes...she is family after all.” Adagio said as Aria glared at the earth pony.

“Wait so you two are sisters!?”

“The term sister is something I wouldn’t use.” Aria said before turning her attention back to Adagio. “She left us just so you could get the easy life with those Ranger Rejects.”

“Who are you calling Ranger Reject, criminal scum!?” Lyra yelled as she took a step forwards, only for Bon-Bon to stop her by holding her back.

“I wouldn’t blame you for being angry with me for that. But I did give you both an offer to come with me to join the Rangers.” Adagio said as Aria snorted in anger.

“You think I would join them after what they did to us? I’d sooner die before joining the likes of them.” She said before glancing back at Obsidia who was shaking in fear from what’s going on.

“As much as the higher ups want you dead, that I can not do.” Adagio glared down at Obsidia before ordering Lyra and Bon-Bon to restrain Aria. “My orders are to kill the cargo that we were carrying on the train.”

“Adagio?” Sunset walked over to Adagio with a concern look on her face. “What do you mean by kill the cargo…..you don’t mean?” Adagio closed her eyes for a moment before taking a deep breath and opening her eyes to stare at Sunset.

“The….orders are to get rid of the cargo. That’s all you need to know partner. Now I suggest you get onto the train and forget this ever happen.” Adagio was about to walk pass Sunset as she unsheath her rapier. Just as she was about to walk over to Obsidia, Sunset stepped into Adagio’s path as she stopped. “Out of my way Sunset.”

“You seriously mean to kill her!? She’s just a little filly!?” Sunset said as she glared at her partner. “Can you at least tell me what’s going on? You’re my partner right!? What cargo are you talking about? Get rid of it how? What does Obsidia have to do with all this? Please tell me Adagio. We are partners right!?”

“Sunset…I’m...” There was a moment of silence between the two mares as Adagio once again closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Once she was finish doing that, the sound of something getting stabbed echoed through the area they were in as Sunset lets out a loud grunt. Looking down she saw Adagio’s weapon pierced her through her leg as she kneeled down on one leg.

“Adagio…..W-Why?” Sunset asked, staring in shock at the weapon Adagio thrust into her leg then up at her partner. The only answer that she got from her partner was a twist from her weapon as it went deeper into her leg. Sunset lets out another grunt of pain as she bit her lower lip.

“I can’t afford to be wasting time with something like this.” She said before quickly pulling her rapier out of Sunset’s leg. “Now step aside before I do more then just injure your leg partner.” Obsidia took notice to Sunset holding her leg in pain as she quickly rushed over to the downed ranger to see if she could be of some assistance to her. “She’s awfully fond of you. Almost makes me sad that I have to kill her.” Adagio took her attention off of Sunset and pointed the tip of her weapon at Obsidia’s neck

Obsidia gasped upon seeing the tip of Adagio’s weapon pointed towards her neck as she began to shake in fear from it. Sunset batted the tip of her partner’s weapon away from Obsidia’s neck as she glared at Adagio.

“A-Adagio….S-Stop this!” Sunset yelled, wincing from the pain in her right leg. Aria was about to pull out her gun, only to be stopped by Lyra and Bon-Bon with a sword at her neck by Bon-Bon.

“How can you two live with yourselves like this?” Aria asked as the unicorn and earth pony looked away. “Are you Rangers that low that you would kill a little filly? Has this world really made you all into monsters?”

“It’s not like we have much of a choice in the matter.” Lyra said, looking over at Adagio and the others. “We have to do this or else we could lose our jobs and be forced to live on our own.”

“We can’t go back to that life.” Bon-Bon said, gritting her teeth in frustration. “Do you know what it’s like to live in this world. Constantly trying to to find food, water, a place to call home where you don’t get attacked by monsters during the day and night?”

“Having to watch your friends and family die in front of you while you’re powerless to do anything about it due to being tired and starving?” Lyra added as a tear rolled down her face. “I’m sorry, but we can’t go back to living like that. Ever again.”

“Please, I’m begging you Adagio. Don’t do this.” Sunset said, pleading to her partner to stop this madness. Adagio slowly lowered her rapier for a moment as Sunset sighs in relief thinking that she finally was able to get her partner to stop. However, that relief was soon replace with pain as she felt Adagio’s rapier thrust through her neck as her eyes widen in both shock and fear of what happen.

“Sunset, you...should’ve stayed out of my way.” Adagio said as Aria looked away in frustration while Obsidia covered her mouth in horror as tears began to flow down her face upon seeing Sunset getting killed.

While this was happening, Sunset felt herself slowly slipping away into unconsciousness as her vision began to become blurry and dark. She tried to say something to Adagio and tried to move a hand to reach out to her, but that wasn’t the case there was nothing that she could do due to the rapier going through her throat and spinal cord. All she could do is watch her as her vision fades into darkness.

“A...Am I...going to...die here? Is this how it ends….please...Faust….anypony….I...I don’t want to die….help me!” She thought before feeling something burning in her chest. Upon feeling that, she noticed that the darkness surrounding her was starting to light up. She quickly looked down at her chest to see that it was glowing.

“I’ll choose you!” said the familiar voice, as her body began to slowly cover itself in fire. Sunset bagan to scream in fear upon seeing herself lite up on fire as she tried to put out the fire that was on her body. To no avail the fire continued to spread around her before her vision was soon engulfed in flames as she fades into unconsciousness within her body.

“What the hell?” Adagio said as she notices Sunset’s right arm moving as she grabbed onto the shaft of her rapier. Aria along with Lyra, Bon-Bon, and Obsidia were taken by surprise by this as they all stared in shock as to what was going on. Adagio felt her weapon being pulled out from Sunset’s throat. Everyone flinched upon her doing that as the bacon haired unicorn lowered her head as she begins to pant heavily.

“B-Bon-Bon?” Lyra asked as the earth pony looked over at her friend in fear. “What just happen?”

“I don’t know, but something tells me that we’re in trouble.” Bon-Bon said as the two began to lower their weapons upon sensing the sudden change in the atmosphere around them. The silence in the atmosphere continued to linger for awhile before Sunset’s body burst into flames. Everyone were once again taken by surprise by this as Sunset looked up at Adagio as her lifeless eyes were now filled with life and malice. Adagio quickly pulled away from Sunset as she takes up a fencing stance while motioning to Lyra and Bon-Bon to quickly make their way over to her. Both mares were hesitant at first, but they quickly ran over to her.

“Kid! Get behind me!” Aria yelled as Obsidia was snapped out of her trance and quickly runs over to the Trinity soldier.

Sunset slowly looked over Adagio, Lyra, and Bon-Bon as she pulled herself up.The hole in her leg and throat quickly healed themselves as the unicorn staggered over to them but soon kneels down onto one knee. Red circuit lines appeared around her body and clothes as the flames soon engulfed Sunset in a matter of seconds. The squad of rangers backed away a bit from this before the flames quickly died to reveal a unicorn with draconic features. Mainly around her arms, legs, back, and head. Sunset slowly stood up as she lets out a primal roar as flames erupted from her hands and feet before glaring at the squad of rangers

“D-Don’t let her appearance scare you. She’s still a low-D!” Adagio said as she glared at the draconic unicorn and quickly gets into a fighting stance. “I don’t know what happen to you, but don’t think I’ll be intimidated by your appearance.” She said as her rapier starts to glow a sickly purple. Once it was purple, she quickly charges at Sunset with a barrage of jabs and thrust as each one lets out a small explosion upon impact.

“That’s gonna hurt in the morning.” Lyra said as she created a barrier around herself and Bon-Bon to protect them from the poison gas. “Wasn’t expecting her to use that move on her.”

“You think that killed her, or it?” Bon-Bon asked as she noticed the cloud of poison started to clear up. Bon-Bon’s eyes widen in surprise upon seeing Sunset still standing and unphased by the poison attack that Adagio used on her.

“M-My Beast fang strike. H-How can you survive from that!?” Adagio asked as she took a step back. Sunset glared at Adagio before letting out a loud roar and tries to attack the mare, only for Adagio to quickly move to the right as Sunset’s fist collided with Lyra’s barrier in front of her face. The sound of glass shattering could be heard as the barrier that Lyra cast shattered as her head was knocked clean off from her body and was soon sent flying off down the platform and into a metal pole.

“LYRA!!!” Bon-Bon screamed in horror as her friend fell to the ground. The earth pony turned her attention to Sunset as she raised her weapon to try and cut off her head. “YOU BITCH! You’ll pay for doing-” As she brought her sword down upon Sunset’s head, it shattered into pieces causing her to be stunned. “W-What are you-” Bon-Bon couldn’t finish as she soon felt something sharp stab her. Looking down she sees Sunset’s dragon like claw impaling themself through her stomach as Bon-Bon coughed up blood from the impact.

Sunset soon lets out a primal roar as she placed her other hand into Bon-Bon’s body and began to pull at her spine. With great force she soon pulled the unfortunate earth pony in half before sending both pieces off her body to the side of the platform and train tracks. Blood and organs covered a small amount of the floor she was on as she soon turned her attention to Adagio, who was shaking in fear from this monster that used to be her partner.

“Dear Celestia.” Aria said as she stared at the bloody scene in front of her. She could feel her stomach beginning to turn as felt herself on the verge of throwing up as she covered her mouth. As she was watching, she soon felt Obsidia release her grip around Aria as she tries to run up to Sunset. Only for Aria to stop her by quickly grabbing her by the arm. “No way kid. I’m not going to let you get yourself killed by that thing or Adagio.”

“Dammit. No one told me that the cargo could do this to ponies if they got near it.” Adagio thought as she turned her attention to Aria and Obsidia. “I’ll have to end this fast before she turns Aria into what Sunset is.” Adagio quickly charged at Sunset as her rapier glowed a sickly purple again. Once she was within striking range she quickly assaulted her with a barrage of quick jabs and thrusts from her rapier as it let off small explosions from the impact. As a cloud of poison formed around them, Adagio quickly moved past Sunset as she lepted out of the cloud and prepared to thrust her weapon into Obsidia’s heart.

“This is going to hurt like hell.” Aria quickly pulled Obsidia close to her as she was prepared to protect the young filly by using her own body to block her sister’s attack. Though to her luck, Sunset quickly appeared in front of them in a red blur to block the on coming attack and quickly counters with a kick. The force behind the kick sent the mare flying off backwards a good distance before using her feet to come to a halt. Adagio let out a gasp of air before going into a violent coughing fit from getting the wind knocked out of her as she staggers to look up at Sunset as her vision begins to blur.

Sunset looked over at Aria and Obsidia for a moment before rushing off towards Adagio on all fours. As she was running, her mouth opens up as she begins to fire off volleys of fire balls at the earth pony. Adagio’s eyes widen as she quickly lunges herself off to the side to avoid the balls of fire as she quickly launches herself at Sunset and performed the same attack as before. Only this time, she aims for her head and chest.

“Why won’t you die already!?” Adagio yelled as she continues to assault the unicorn with her beast fang strike attack. “You’re nothing but a low-D! How can you have this kind of power where you were nothing but a weak and useless mare the moment we met!?” She asked only for her to feel herself stop. Adagio began to pull her weapon away, but she couldn’t due to Sunset grabbing it by the shaft of the blade. “Let go of my sword you monster! I’ll kill you!”

Sunset simply snapped the rapier into two as Adagio quickly stumbles backwards. She looked down at her weapon for a moment before looking up at the unicorn in anger. Just as she looked up, her face soon collided with Sunset’s fist as she was soon sent flying into the side of the train that she along with Lyra and Bon-Bon came on, and fall onto the platform with a sickly thud.

“D….Damn...it.” Adagio said as she soon felt her vision fading and fell into unconsciousness. Sunset took notice to this as she walked up to the unconscious pony.

Once she was close, she lifted up her foot and was about to smash her foot down onto her. Only for Sunset to feel a sharp pain in her chest as she began to transform back to her normal self. As she was transforming back to normal, she looked over at Aria and Obsidia who was trying to say something to her. She couldn’t make out what it was. But judging by the facial expression and Aria holding her back, It would seem that she was trying to rush over to her. Before she could even move a finger, she soon felt her body getting heavy as she fell to the ground. Once on the ground her vision began to fade as the world around her once again faded into darkness.

“Who....am I?”