Fallout: Equestria - Remembrance

Chapters

Chapter 1: A New Story Begins
Chapter 2: Sisterly Bonds
Chapter 3: Distant Twilight
Chapter 4: Matchmaker
Chapter 5: McIntosh Drop
Chapter 6: Revelation
Chapter 7: Regrets
Chapter 8: Bittersweet Melody
Chapter 9: Aftershock
Prologue: From the Ashes

Chapter 1: A New Story Begins

“So this, this is what the war caused.” I said to myself as I ventured forth, making my way to that ruined town in the distance. “So much destruction. It’s amazing anypony survived.”

Humming a tune to myself as I made my way down the road, taking a moment every now and then to the shack that I had just left, watching as it faded farther and farther into the distance as that town grew nearer. Sighing to myself as she stopped, sitting down and taking a moment to look up to the sky with a soft smile.

“I know I haven’t gone far, and this all is a lot to take in so soon, but I hope you’re up there in Elysium father, and that you’re looking down on me proud of me.” I said softly, simulated emotions or not these were more than I could handle.

“Hey there, who you talking to.” A curious voice said from behind me, making me jump before I spun round to face the source. Seeing a young dragon walking up the path behind me, the way she was rubbing at her wings she must of just been flying.

“Just, no one - I guess.” I said softly and turned away. “What’s the big idea, just dropping in like that.”

“Sure seemed like you were talking to someone.” The dragon added. “So, where you going then? Everyone is going somewhere.”

“I don’t know, I just left a bunker. I’ve never been topside before.” I said, looking back at that dragon with a glare.

“Ah, FoB I see.” The dragon said. “Can call me Midas, not my real name but it doesn’t matter.”

“Sweetie. Sweetie Belle.” I said back, gaze of concern and mistrust turning to more of confusion and curiosity. “So, why suddenly stop and talk to me? And what does FoB even mean!”

“Fresh out of the Bunker, and simple, because you’re the only one around for miles, and my wings were tired and I was feeling kinda lonely.” Midas said. “Not to mention, you’re clearly not flesh and blood, so it’s probably safer to be around you then anyone else. What I need you don’t and vice versa.”

“You do have a point.” I said with a sigh and a shake of my head. “Look, I don’t mind you walking with me, or talking with me, but do kind of be mindful that I don’t know you, and I’m not about to be buddy buddy with you out of the blue.”

“Woah, relax there. No need to get servos or circuits burnt out because of me.” Midas said with a laugh. “You’re just a standard android, nothing more, nothing less, you have no value to me - Though you can be of help.”

“I knew it, you aren’t just here to alleviate some loneliness.” I said with a roll of my eyes and a shake of my head.

“Hey, you scratch my back I scratch yours, right?” Midas said with a laugh. “Look, there is a stable near here, I can’t get in there’s some sort of biological lock forcefield thing around the door.”

“What do you want me to do then.” I said sarcastically. “No promises that it’ll let me through.”

“But that’s where you’re wrong my metalic friend, you have nothing biological about you, not even valid life signs, To that forcefield, you don’t exist.” Midas said with a smirk. “Pipbuck, got one from a stable dweller back east, didn’t pick you up till I was nearly on top of you.” The dragoness said, holding her tail in front of her displaying the device.

“Okay, and what makes you think that changes things about the forcefield.” I said with a sigh and grumble.

“Simple, you and this rock here have a lot in common.” Midas said, picking up a rock as we passed it. “And just like this rock, you’ll pass right through that barrier and have access to the stable door.”

“You’ve thrown rocks at the barrier?” I said, looking at her with a quirked brow.

“Rocks, cans, small animals, yeah.” Midas said with a shrug.

“Small Animals, Really.” I said with a look of disgust and disbelief.

“Still a dragon you know, I didn’t hurt any of them, they just kind of bounced off it.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Kind of fun looking if you ask me, maybe you could make a trampoline out of that forcefield, if you could figure out how to make it yourself.”

“But that’s so cruel, how could you do that to defenseless little critters.” I said with a grumple.

“Dra-gon.” Midas said with a slight hint of annoyance in her voice. “Geez, you really must be new if you don’t know that pretty much every dragon ever hasn’t exactly been nice, well, minus one - but that’s a special case.”

“You mean Spike, don’t you.” I said stopping, for the first time looking at that dragoness, her amber scales shining in the daylight, piercing blue eyes looking back at me, even her crest looked less like scales and more like a mane. There was something off about this dragon, and it just intrigued me more and more as time went on.

“Yeah, I mean Spike.” Midas said with a roll of her eyes and a huff. “Look, are you going to help me or not. It could mean a good payday for the both of us if you do.”

“Uh, as you pointed out, I’m an android.” I said giving my head a shake. “So, I think you mean you’ll get a good payday, I’ll get nothing because money is of no value to me.”

“You say that now, but give it time - when you get to a hotel and need a safe place to rest where scrappers aren’t going to think you’re a pile of goodies for them to dig through, or you need some more ammo or that new gun.” Midas said with a chuckle.

“Don’t need to sleep, and my weapons systems do not use ammunition nor are they compatible with any available wasteland firearm.” I pointed out, looking back to the large doors on my back. “So again, what would I need with money.”

“Well, you run on some sort of coolant or fluid, right?” Midas asked, an increasingly confused look coming over her face, I guess this might be the first time she has found something in the wasteland that has no need to be selfish.

“Well, I do have my coolant, and my hydraulic systems…” I said, thinking on it for a second. “But they are handled much like your circulatory system, if a leak forms it self seals, though I suppose if a line ruptured that self healing wouldn’t be able to fix it…” Stopping in my tracks and thinking for a moment, in a way, she was right, what if I needed money for those repairs, surely I couldn’t do it on my own with just scrap laying around could I?

“Aha, and there we have it, a reason for you to need money.” Midas said in a matter of fact tone and a very sure look coming across her face. “So, does that mean I can count on you to help.”

“Fine, under one condition, no hurting anypony that might be in that stable.” I said, glaring at her as we started to walk again.

“What ponies? That stable was a abysmal failure.” Midas said with a shrug. “Just an automated signal now that plays a recording every year, something to do with remembrance, why any one would need that beats me.”

“There is an old saying, older than time it seems.” I said softly, looking to that Town as it grows nearer and nearer. “To know where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve been.” Giving a sigh to that dragon. “And to forget your history, is to doom it to repeat.”

“So, remember the past so that you don’t make the same mistakes in the future? Sounds legit.” Midas said with a shrug. Clearly she didn’t believe in such things, perhaps it was just the dragon way, or maybe there was something in this dragons past she would much rather ignore and forget then continue on remembering.

00000

The remainder of the trip to the township was rather uneventful and quiet, I couldn’t help as we neared the settlement I couldn’t see much in the way of activity, or damage. It seemed rather odd to me straight off the bat, everything I had been programed with told me to expect the rotting remains of society everywhere I look, yet this town looked untouched by both war, and passage of time.

“So, uh…” I said finally, looking to Midas. “What do you know of this town?”

“It’s called Littlehorn, there used to be a school of magic here, one ran by one of the old world princesses for the talented and gifted.” Midas said, giving a yawn and a stretch, clearly bored with all this walking.

“You mean Princess Luna.” I said. “I am aware of the massacre that happened in that school, this township was the population it was serving?”

“Not exactly.” Midas said, looking at me “This town is inhabited by Thestrals, ponies that have very bat like features, the old Night Guard.”

“Oh?” I said, looking at the town again for any activity. “I don’t see anything or any pony up out there.”

“Night ponies, they are nocturnal, its midday, they’re all sleeping.” Midas said with a groan. “Geez, we really need to get you up to speed, I feel like I am foal sitting.”

“You used to foal sit?” I asked, ears perking and smiling at that dragon, perhaps she did have a softer side.

“Yeah, I used to hang around this Tower, a bunch of nut jobs run it, They stuck me in a daycare in my off hours to watch over the foals, something about being naturally very motherly or something like that.” Midas said with a shrug and a slight look of disgust. “I never want to see another drooling face or dirty diaper ever again.”

“Good thing you’re a dragon then, right?” I said with a coy smirk. “Dragons hatch almost like miniature versions of their adult selves, and have a majority of the skills and instincts they are going to need from birth, unlike ponies which have to learn it all.”

“Not exactly, but I am not getting into the birds and the bees of dragons, not right now.” Midas said with a groan before she stopped short in her tracks, I stopped with her and looked to where she was staring, Up in the hills, a structure could be seen, surrounded by a pink haze. “The school…”

“May Elysium welcome them” I said softly and looked to Midas. “You alright? You seem a bit more shaken.”

“Yeah, I guess I am.” Midas said, looking to me and giving a half hearted smile. “Just, all those fillies and colts, It gets to me you know? Young ones with their lives taken from them before they ever really had a chance to live.”

“It is sad, this is true. However, remembering them and honoring their memory is the best thing we can do now.” I said, trying my best to be reassuring. “So, where is this stable?”

“Under the tavern in town.” Midas said with a sigh as we started to slowly walk again. “Even after everything, that megaspell being set off to heal the land, that School still radiates that evil cloud.”

“Perhaps the mountains shielded this area from the effects? Or perhaps there is something more at play in that building, something that helped it come back.” I said, pondering some. I slowed as we walked past the welcome sign for the Town, it was painted a dark shade of blue, the lettering bright white, overlaying a crescent moon, Words saying ‘Welcome to Littlehorn Valley.’

“I feel like I’m walking into a tomb.” Midas said with a groan. “I hate tombs.”

“I thought you said you’ve been here before?” I said, with a questioning gaze.

“I have, but it was dark, and the Thestrals were active and doing stuff, the town is so deathly quiet during the day.” Midas said looking to me. “What, I might be mean and cruel, but I’m not a liar.”

“If you say so.” I said with a roll of my eyes and a shake of my head. “So, if the Thestrals are only active at night, then how do you expect to get into the Tavern?”

“I did a favor for the tavern owner, in exchange he gave me a key to the tavern so I could go to the Stable whenever I want.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Don’t ask, I’m not telling.”

“Wasn’t going to. What you do in your off time is your own business.” I said with a groan and a shake of my head, I didn’t even want to think about what favor she could of given to get such access. “So, I guess you’re going to want to use your ill gotten gains immediately, before the tavern owner can change his mind?”

“How did you guess?” Midas said with a chuckle as she stopped in front of a large wooden building, the only sign on it was that of a beer mug. Giving a shrug thinking maybe there could only be so many that not every structure needed a unique name.

Midas walked to the door, using a key she pulled from a pouch on her satchel to unlock the door, slipping inside quietly before she waved a claw to encourage me to follow. I could smell the scent of alcohol on the air wafting out of the tavern. Giving a sigh I followed.

“Alright, so… downstairs then?” I said quietly, looking around at the empty room, watching Midas sneak around trying to not make much noise at all.

“Yeah, downstairs - right through this do-” Midas said, before she was cut off by the sound of a male’s voice behind us.

“Oh hello there sweet cheeks.” He said, smiling at Midas. “I didn’t expect to see you back so soon, looking for another round?” The way he carried himself, the way he talked, I had an idea what he meant but I really didn’t want to inquire further. “And you brought a friend, how lovely.”

“Oh, hey there Nightshade, uh… No, not really.” Midas said, rather nervously. “I need to go visit the stable right quick, and then I really need to be on my way.” Quickly making her way to the door, only to be stopped by an outstretched leathery wing.

“Playing hard to get I see.” Nightshade said with a smirk. “Alright missy, you can go visit the stable, but I expect you in my bedchamber this evening, I need a good wake up call” Moving his wing and clearing the door before he started up the stairs, he kept looking back at Midas with an infatuated look.

“Seems you have an admirer.” I said with a laugh. “Coltfriend or something?”

“Just. A. Favor.” Midas said, running a claw across her face. “Nothing more.”

We made our way down the stairs, and into the darkness that was the basement of this old building, I stopped as Midas lit a lamp and revealed that large gear shaped door. In awe I stared at it, it was impressive, even from the outside. Painted and slighting engraved on the monolith of a door was the number 15, Stable 15.

Midas pointed to the control panel, and then slipped her pipbuck off her tail and held it out to me. “You’re going to need this to open the door and shut down the forcefield.” She said, I could see it in her face that she was begrudgingly giving it to me, there was importance to this little piece of technology, even if she didn’t willfully admit it.

“Alright, well, I don’t see any forcefield now.” I said, looking around, I could see rocks and cans and a few beer mugs near the door, presumably some of the items that Midas had thrown. “Are you sure it’s really there?”

“It’s there, trust me it is.” Midas said, giving a groan. “Could you go before Nightshade gets impatient and comes down here looking for me?”

“Yeah yeah.” With a groan I started to approach the door, I could hear a magical hum and the closer I got the door the more the air started to fizzle and crackle with magical energy. Just a few feet from the door now, I started to see little paw prints in the mud of the floor that all suddenly stopped with a few smear marks, apparently where they had fallen.

“Well, here it goes..” I said, closing my eyes as I impacted the forcefield, at first it provided resistance, but after my head was through I walked through it without any difficulty. “Huh, guess you were right.”

“Yeah yeah, open the door and shut off the system already.” Midas said, getting increasingly impatient with me. Walking over to the yellow panel next to the door, looking at it and then back to Midas.

“First, some answers.” I said, sitting next to the panel and looking at that dragoness.

“Whatever.” Midas said with a groan. “What is it now.”

“What happened to this stable, and what is in it that you want so much.” I asked.

“The stable used an experimental power system, alright? Based on the megaspell framework.” Midas said, giving a growl at me. “They had a breach of containment and the Stable was filled with radiation, all ponies inside died.”

I stopped, and looked at the door, this place was a tomb and I started to have second thoughts about opening that door.

“Alright, next question, what is in there that you want so badly.” I questioned.

Midas had a bit of reluctance at first, before she groaned and shrugged. “Fine, you win, its the power system, the schematics are in the stable still and I have a buyer up in the New Canterlot Republic that is going to pay big caps if I can get it.”

“So, you’re a tomb raider.” I said, crossing my forelegs.

“I am a broker, I sell information, schematics, and technology.” Midas said, anger welling up in her voice. “Sometimes, I have to go chasing after some information or technology, no big deal, it’s all about that next payday.”

“And if I don’t want to let you in? This place is a crypt for all those who died in it, it isn’t right to just desecrate their final resting grounds like this.” I said with a growl of my own.

“What happened in there is a tragedy, just like what happened up in the School was a tragedy, but what is the point of leaving valuable technology locked behind closed doors all for a little bit of ideology” Midas said, starting to plead with me just to open the door.

“Ideology is what separates us from savages.” I said, looking at that panel again, giving a sigh. Maybe there was more that could be gotten out of this stable, maybe I could find out some of the stories of what happened here, and be able to share it with others so that the fate of Stable 15 is remembered, and honored.

“So what, dragons are savages to you then? Because we don’t honor the dead like you ponies do.” Midas said, quite obviously livid with me now.

“No! I mean, kind of, your ways are a lot more savage then how we ponies behave.” I said, facehoofing and sighing. “Fine, I’ll open the door, under one condition.”

“What now.” Midas said, pressing claws against that barrier. I could only imagine what she wanted to do to me right now, if looks could kill I’d be dead and in a million pieces already.

“Two conditions, actually.” I said, to which Midas’ eye twitched, but she had no choice but to accept, not only did I have her pipbuck, but I was her only chance to get in. “First, you can’t hurt me any, and second, we investigate deeper into the stable, and find out exactly what happened.”

“Fine, Now just open the door!” Midas said, starting to lose her temper.

Without delay I levitated up the Pipbuck, pulling a plug from it and plugging it into the door’s controller, causing a plastic panel to lift and a button to illuminate. Looking at Midas, who kept motioning to press the button, I gave a sigh and did as instructed. Pressing the button an alarm started to blare, as the door hissed and banged as it was moved, starting to roll aside before the pipbuck started to click loudly and rapidly, after a few moments it died down and the forcefield dropped.

“Give me that.” Midas said, snatching her pipbuck out of my aura and storming into the Stable. As she walked she put the device back on her tail like before, completely unfazed by the clicking still audible from her pipbuck.

“Uh, isn’t that clicking a bad thing?” I asked, following closely behind.

“For ponies yes, but just like lava, dragons are more resistant to this kind of magical contamination.” Midas replied, as she kept going forward I stopped to investigate in drawers and doors.

“Most of these doors are locked tight…” I commented, sighing softly. “How do you intend to get to the schematics when the stable is locked down?”

“Simple, lift the lockdown.” Midas said with a shrug. “Look, if you want you can chicken out now, I’m not stopping till I get those blueprints.”

“Well, why is the stable in lockdown to begin with?” I asked, catching up and staying close.

“It’s the primary containment protocol, unique to this stable.” Midas said, as she pointed to a window ahead. “Most stables don’t have to watch their radiation like this, but because this thing was powered by a hung spell, the slightest breach in containment would make the whole stable go into lockdown.”

“Well, if you lift it, with the leak still going and radiation still present, wouldn’t it just lockdown again.” I asked, as we neared the window I looked inside, a large spherical chamber, with a bright orange ball hung in the middle, I could feel the surging of magical energy coming from it.

“It’s called a manual override for a reason.” Midas said with a groan. “And before you ask why they didn’t try it, it’s because only the overmare had the key to override a stable radiation lockdown, and was the only one with authority to open and seal doors.”

“So, she was the only one able to move around the stable in a lockdown, she had to brave the radiation to get where she needed to go to clear the stable, or evacuate the citizens.” I said, staring at that brightly glowing orange ball. “She didn’t make it, did she.”

“No one knows.” Midas said, looking through that window as well, but instead of up at the ball, down to the floor, looking to see if she could see any sign of the schematics. “I guess considering the stable is still in lockdown, that she never made it to give the all clear or evacuation orders.”

“Or maybe she did.” a voice over the loudspeakers said. “Why have you come here?”

“For your booty, ante up.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Actually, I was told there is schematics for the stable’s power system somewhere inside, and was offered a very large sum of caps to find and recover it.”

“I see.” The voice said. “As you may of guessed, I am the overmare of Stable 15.”

“But, everypony in here is dead.” I said, confused and slightly alarmed.

“Not everypony.” The overmare corrected. “When the radiation became too much, I was locked into the Stable’s server room, through my pipbuck and a experimental Robronco interface, I uploaded myself into the maneframe of the stable to escape death and the take control of the systems.”

“The manual override?” Midas asked, scratching at her head.

“Not quite, the manual override did not respond to command. The stable stayed locked down and everypony outside of the core shielding perished.” The overmare said, sadness evident in her voice. “That was, a very long time ago.”

“I see.” I said, looking down and thinking to myself. “Well, Me and Midas aren’t susceptible to the radiation like the stable dwellers were, could you open the doors and let us get what we’re here for?”

There was silence, I suppose the overmare was thinking. After a few moments of me and Midas just kind of looking at each other and to the nearest speaker, before we could hear the banging from doors as the locks were lifted. The overmare never spoke, or told us anything more, but she is letting us into her home, into her tomb.

00000

Some time had passed, Midas and I scoured several rooms before heading deeper and deeper into the stable, every now and then I swear I could hear shuffling and the sound of hoofsteps behind us. The deeper we went the more I heard, eventually we found ourselves on the bottom floor of the stable, slightly flooded.

“Oh boy, just what the mechanic ordered, a nice bath.” I said sarcastically, to which Midas chuckled and looked back at me with a smirk. “You knew it was flooded down here, didn’t you.”

“Well, its just pretty common place with this unmaintained stables, pumps go out or filters get clogged, and then the bottom floors start to flood.” Midas said with a shrug. “I’ve been in a stable where the bottom 3 levels were entirely flooded and you had to swim to get around.”

All I could do was shudder at that thought, I may be made as realistic as possible, simulated respiration and all, but the thought that I am made of metals and alloys and what water would do to me was practically a nightmare in itself. Midas however seemed to take pleasure in knowing she could bring the little tin mare to shudder and shake at the thought of the horrors of what mere water could do.

“So, how much farther.” I asked, groaning a little trying to shake that thought of the rust and seized servos out of my head.

“I have no idea, what I was told never said this stable had this many levels, let alone that I would be at the absolute bottom looking for an access shaft up into the power core of the stable.” Midas said with a groan, frustration starting to mount.

“Okay, uh, if I was a secret access corridor into a highly volatile and dangerous power core, where would I be?” I asked, looking around, stopping at a bookcase and looking at it confusedly.

“I swear to whatever gods or goddesses you believe in, if you say behind a bookcase I will sell you for scrap.” Midas said with a growl, staring at me as I looked over the books on display.

“No, its just, the books here don’t seem to belong.” I said, pointing at them “These are children's books, nursery rhymes and such, they don’t really belong in the gullet of a stable, do they? The daycare was 4 floors up.”

“You know, you might be right about that.” Midas said, stopping and looking at the bookcase herself. “Maybe storage? I mean, that’s what most stables used the bottom floors for.”

“Even then, wouldn’t it be stored closer to, you know, where foals would be?” I asked, looking at them closer, reaching out with a hoof to gently pull one from the shelf. A part of me hoped to hear a click and then a panel somewhere open, but it just slipped off the shelf, Tilting my head I flipped through the pages. “Okay, so they are real books, but again, what the hay are they doing all the way down here.”

“Perhaps they are meant as a trap.” The overmare said, finally speaking up. “Or perhaps, as a memento of days gone past, a means of remembering.”

“Remembering... You’re the pony from the recording, aren’t you.” I said, spinning round to face the speaker. Using my internal holotape player to play the tape, shunting the audio through my vocal processors.

“Yes, that was me.” The overmare said, that sadness even more evident than before. “Glad to know my message did not fall on deaf ears.”

“My father, he listened to this tape every year, it was the last broadcast he intercepted from the stable.” I said, ejecting the tape and using my magic to levitate it out in front of me. “My whole purpose, the reason he made me, was so I could remember, and help others do the same.”

“A noble cause, young filly.” The overmare said, sadness shifting to what could be described as pride. “Your father is a very wise man.”

“Was.” I said, before sighing and looking away. “He passed, just before I left the bunker.”

There was silence, Overmare nor Midas finding any words to say. I could feel a claw on my back and I looked up to see Midas standing over me, a soft smile on her face and eyes glassy with tears.

“You have only just left that bunker, he just passed, and yet you’re still out here like this?” Midas said, softly, before she kneeled down and gave me a hug. “And I thought dragons were supposed to be strong.”

“It’s my purpose, to honor his memory.” I said, giving a weak smile of my own. While I do have emotions, and the thought of all this death and destruction still weighed heavily on me, I still had a goal, and I felt it is the best way to pay my respects to him.

“Aren’t you sad? Mourning him?” Midas said, leaning back and looking at me somewhat confused.

“I am, I already miss him.” I said, looking at that dragoness before giving a brighter smile. “But he made me for this purpose, for this reason, to go against it would be to dishonor him, and the best I could ever do for him, is complete my mission and find out what happened to Miss Rarity and Sweetie Belle, the original, my namesake.”

“Uh… you do know that you could figure that out just by reading a book, right?” Midas said, giving a bit of a chuckle. “There was a pony that wandered the wastelands a while back, she wrote a journal about it all, including some of that history.”

I stared blankly at her for a moment or two, before chuckling myself. “Well, I could just read a book and hear someone else’s rendition of what happened, or I could figure it out myself and find the truths that others may have missed.” I said, before gently pushing Midas back away from the hug.

“Huh, honorable I guess.” Midas said, standing back up and scratching at her head. “Though, it’ll be kind of hard figuring out what happened to Miss Rarity, see, she died in Canterlot, and… Canterlot is kind of, a bit blown up at the moment.”

“Well, that sucks.” I said, thinking for a moment before a smiled “I heard a rumor, my father told me in my early days back when I was just a head… that sounded a lot more creepier than it did in my head.”

“Yeah, I can kinda tell.” Midas said, cringing a little. “Anyway, what did he tell you?”

“That Rarity found a book.” I continued, looking down at my hooves. “And that she did something to make statuettes, it is all a rumor, some through the grapevine so to speak.”

“Yeah, the Ministry Mare Statuettes, everyone knows about those nowadays.” Midas said, looking at me more curiously.

“Maybe a clue about her can be figured out if I collect enough of those statuettes?” I asked, looking at Midas.

“It’s possible, I suppose.” Midas said with a shrug. “I mean, I’ve heard that some weird things happen if you get a whole set together, but there is what, only two known whole sets?”

“Well, then perhaps I need to find one of them and barrow them, it is important.” I said, before looking up at the speaker, which had fallen silent again. “Miss Overmare?”

“Yes, little one.” The overmare responded.

I thought for a few moments, then it hit me and as I stood I took a moment to look to Midas, then back at the speaker. “You’re down here, aren’t you.” I asked. “This is where the maneframe is.”

Midas went wide eyed for a moment, staring at me before she looked at the speaker. “Is that it? The access corridor I’m looking for is in there with you, and you’re hiding from us?”

“Yes.” The overmare replied, a sigh could be heard afterwards. “You see, I am not alone in here, so to speak, the Radiation did something to me before I uploaded myself into this maneframe.”

“You were tuned into a ghoul, like my dad.” I said. “And when you uploaded yourself, your body stayed there, and went feral, didn’t it.”

“Sadly, yes.” The overmare said. “To open the door, is to unleash my former self, and I don’t wish to harm anypony, or dragon, or creature.”

“Is there any way around it?” Midas asked. “I need to get into that core, its the only place left the schematics can be.”

“We could… well, Kill it.” I said with a sigh, the thought made me feel cold and cruel, but it isn’t a pony anymore, it’s just a creature of instinct and violence. “I guess you knew that and decided not to for this long.”

“Indeed I have.” The overmare said with a sigh. “Though, I suppose all stories must come to an end, even mine.”

“Well, you’ll still live on in the maneframe, right?” I asked, wondering if maybe this is why she had never killed her former self before.

“I will, but I will lose my final connection to the real world, my life will become entirely digital.” The overmare said with a sigh. “Promise me, that you will remember me, and that you will remember and honor all those who died here in Stable 15.”

“Of course.” Me and Midas replied in unison.

“Our stories may be over, but yours is just beginning, but you can keep us with you, and let our stories guide you to a brighter future.” The overmare said, before the speakers hissed as a lock released, a large concrete slab on the wall lifting and revealing a door behind it. “Download the data banks, take my pipbuck, It’s all there.”

I sighed, and gave a nod, I had no clue if she could even see me but it felt appropriate. “Yes ma’am, any other requests you have of us?”

“Yes, just one.” the overmare said, a slight glimmer of happiness coming in her voice. “Remember. Remember to stay kind to one another, and to others. To stay loyal to yourselves and to your cause, to show unrivaled generosity and to give it all so others don’t have to.” The overmare paused, stifling a sniffle. “Always be honest, share laughter and good times with all that you meet, and most importantly, be true to the magic inside of you, both of you, you’re both something special. This world needs ponies, and dragons, like you two.”

The air fell silent, Midas and I taking a moment to just soak up all she had said. Smiling at eachother and chuckling some. Maybe she was right, maybe we are something special, something new and unique.

“Oh, and one more thing, just one more.” The speaker crackled to life once more. “Don’t eat pears, they are the devils fruit.”

To which, both Midas and I cracked up laughing.

“What?” The overmare said, admittedly confused. “The Pears are a mean bunch, always trying to one up my family.”

“You were an Apple.” I said curiously.

“Hah, once an Apple always an Apple.” The overmare said. “Suppose I am more an Apple to the maneframe rather than an apple to the core now.”

“That feud ended, a long time ago, didn’t you know?” I said with a chuckle. “The Pears and the Apples made up, was a whole heart warming story, my dad made sure he told me that, the idea that love triumphs over all was something he really hoped I’d take to.”

“Your father was a very smart stallion.” The overmare said, I swear if a smile could have a sound hers would be loudest. “Love is kind, and wise.”

“Yeah, it is.” I said, before chuckling and looking at Midas. “Unless that love’s name is Nightshade.”

“Oh ha ha, very funny.” Midas said with a groan. “Can we get this over with already, to sooner I can get as far away from here as possible, the better.”

“Alright, let’s do this.” I said, giving a sigh as I opened the panel on my back, letting both collapsed gatling lasers unfold. Conduits to and from the weapons starting to glow brightly green as energy from my core dumped into them.

“Holy…” Midas said, staring at the weapons. “That is some… serious firepower.”

“What? Doesn’t everypony carry weapons like these?” I asked, slightly confused as to why I would be designed with such weapons if they are unusual.

Midas sighed and pulled out a handgun from her satchel. “No. Most creatures can’t afford something that heavy, let alone two.”

“I see…” I said. Looking back at the panel. “I suppose the two undeployed collapsed rocket launchers is probably a little overkill?”

“Rocket launc-” Midas said before groaning out and running her claw across her face once more. “Dear goddesses, did your father design a android, or a fricken tank?!”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” I said softly and chuckled a bit before smiling and calling out. “I think we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.”

With that, the door slid open. At first there was nothing but darkness on the other side, till we started to hear some movement as something hidden inside started to move and stir. A few moments later, a rotting face peered out from the darkness, only a hint of the original yellow coat still seen, framed by all that remained of a light green mane. The ghoul moved slow, barely able to stumble around.

“Just, a hollow reminder of what I used to be.” The overmare said, that sadness returning to voice. “Please, Dispatch it quickly.”

Looking at the speaker, giving a sigh before spinning up just one of my weapons, looking at Midas who had her handgun raised and aimed at the ghoul, but still hesitated to pull the trigger.

“If this is what happened to you, what about others in the stable, are there more like this?” I asked, barely audible over the whine of the spinning barrels.

“If there are, I’m unaware of them.” The overmare replied. “It may be fruitful for you to stop hesitating, if there are more the noise is likely to draw them in.”

She was right, I closed my eyes and let a burst rip from those rotating barrels, the sound of flesh slumping to the floor had me open my eyes, sighing as I looked at what remained of that ghoul.

“I’m sorry.” I said softly, before I looked up to the speaker. “This must be hard for you.” To which, there was silence, however I could hear the banging of doors behind us as locks engaged.

“Hey, wait, what?” Midas said, looking up at the speaker “We had a deal!”

The speaker remained silent, we looked at each other for a moment before I pulled the pipbuck from the ghoul’s leg, entering into the server room and forcing the door to close behind us, keeping it slightly open with several of the books from the shelf.

“We better make this quick, I don’t like this.” I said, darting ahead and to a ladder the lead upwards, presumably to the core.

Midas nodded, and we both started up the ladder, climbing as quickly as we could, reaching the chamber of the Stable’s core. The air itself crackled and popped with magic, The counter on both pipbucks going absolutely insane from the amount of radiation here.

“I don’t care how resistant you are to this stuff, we can’t stay in here long, Find it and let’s go.” I said, looking to Midas before starting to dig through several of the nearby desks. Every now and then I could hear Midas chew on something before she resumed her search.

“Running low on my meds here.” Midas said with a grumble. “I swear, if we don’t find this and we have to leave because of a few chems…”

“Don’t worry, we’re going to find it.” I said, looking back at her before I flung a drawer open and saw a rolled up piece of blue paper. “Is this it?” I said, levitating it up and unrolling it for Midas to see.

“Uh, maybe?” She said before she sighed and came over, looking at it closely enough. “This is only half of it, where is the other half?” Leaning over and looking into the drawer, groaning at finding it empty.

“Uhm… well, maybe…” I said, looking around, noticing a slightly ajar maintenance panel. Running over to it and groaning as a pile of tools and loose bolts and nuts fell out, digging through them and into the open access panel, before I came across a bundle of rolled blue papers.

“Alright, I think this is it, lets get out of here before you’re roasted alive.” I said. Looking around trying to find Midas, only to notice that she was nowhere to be seen. Starting to look around for her before I saw the slumped mass of amber scales by the desk, running over and taking her in my magic before dragging her out of the chamber, closing a door between us and the core, instantly calming down that mad clicking on our pipbucks.

“Midas, come on Midas, wake up.” I said, gently patting her cheek. “Don’t you do this to me…” Looking down at her satchel, taking a deep breath before opening it and starting to dig through. Finding a empty package for RadAway, looking deeper and finding a few loose pills, I couldn’t tell what they where but I had no choice.

Prying her mouth open and putting the pills, helping her chew and swallow, sitting next to her as she started to stir and wake up. Taking the time to start scooping some of the spilled contents back into her satchel. Humming a soft tune as I carefully tried to put everything back from where I took it from before I came across a photo. I stopped and looked at it, curious at first. It had a dragon and a pony in it, but the head of the dragon was ripped from the photo. In between them a young hatchling, amber in color with bright blue eyes.

“You’re a halfling?..” I asked quietly to myself, before putting the photo in her bag and smiling as she started to sit up and open her eyes.

“What in the world happened..” Midas said with a groan “Why does it feel like I had a herd of buffalo tap dancing on my head.”

“I think you got over exposed to the radiation, but it’s alright, I managed to find some of those radiation pills you were taking.”

“Fantastic, that means you went through my bag, anything else you find in there you aren’t telling me about.” Midas said, glaring a little at me.

“Just… a picture.” I said, shying away a little and giving a sigh. “Sorry, but, I felt like its the only thing I could do to save you.”

“Its fine. So you know then, a part of my messed up chaotic family tree.” Midas said before she finally got fully to her feet. “Well, thanks anyway for the save.”

“Yeah, don’t mention it. Anyway, let’s get out of here.” I said, moving to and starting to climb down the ladder. Once we were both on the ground floor I levitated over the bundle of papers and she looked through them, her jaw dropped and she looked at me.

“This is a gold mine, it isn’t just the schematics, its the specifications, the operating standards, even the shielding matrix, This could have me well taken care of for months!” Midas said excitedly before she chuckled some. “I suppose I owe you another thanks.”

“You can give it to me when we get out of here alive.” I said with a chuckle, and we both headed over and pried the door open and started our way back up.

00000

The remaining climb was rather uneventful, as we neared the top and we could start to smell the fresh air that had blown in through the stable door, the speakers crackled to life once more.

“I am sorry that I did not say anything before, but your comment prompted me to check the internal monitoring systems, You were right, multiple stable dwellers have turned into ghouls and gone feral.” The overmare said, breaking the silence. “Please, do not be angry at me for this, I had to ensure your safety.”

“It’s fine, just, when we close the stable door - Turn that security system back on, keep curious ponies out, alright?” I said, smiling as I looked up at a speaker as we walked past.

“Sure thing.” The overmare said in reply, a bit of relief in her voice.

“And another thing.” I said, stopping and looking around before I saw a camera, looking up to it and smiling brightly. “Don’t ever stop broadcasting your message, remembering things is one of the most important aspects of life, and your message of remembrance gave ponies like my father to hold on to hope, and finish projects, like my construction. You’re still doing an important thing, and helping the world.”

“Thank you.” The overmare said, that relief growing and she sounded more relaxed than ever. “I occurs to me, that you never told me your name.”

“Sweetie belle.” I said, smiling at that Camera, Midas kneeling down and looking up at the camera too. “And she’s Midas.”

“Sweetie belle, Midas, You two take care, and know you’ll be in my mind and heart, as much as I have one.” The overmare said with a soft sigh.

As we neared the door, I stopped and looked back into that stable, smiling softly and then looking down to the pipbuck adorned on my leg, examining it for a moment to see what looked like several apple pastries on the side. Calling out just one last time.

“Thank you, for protecting us and helping us like that.” I said. Looking at that pipbuck closer. “And, this isn’t goodbye, I’ll come back and visit you, I promise.”

“I look forward to that, Sweetie.” The overmare called back.

And with that, we were on our way, taking a moment to seal the door behind us before we climbed the stairs up into the tavern, the sky outside was dark and the tavern was bustling with activity, opening the door I could see over a dozen faces looking back at me.

“Isn’t it my two favorite ladies.” A familiar stallion’s voice was heard. “You’re late.”

“Oh, hey Nightshade… about that.” Midas said, and groaned a little. “Look, I did a favor for you, I’m not interested in you okay?”

“Oh, I got that - My misses would be mighty upset if I chased after another pretty lady.” Nightshade said with a chuckle. “Just days get real lonely without her, and It’s nice to have some ladylike company every now and then.”

Midas stared at Nightshade for a moment, and then groaned and threw her claws up in the air. “So you used me, to cheat on your wife?!” She called out at him, to which he shied away and slowly nodded.

“Well, that’s something I could of gone without knowing.” I said, slipping out of the tavern as quickly as I could and just let Midas alone with him so that they could handle this their own way.

Going to a nearby grassy hill with a clear view of the darkening sky, I just stared up into the abyss above, and wondered if somehow, someway, ponies in Elysium could look up at the same sky, the same stars. Just the thought alone was pretty comforting.

I lost track of time, just staring up at the night sky, maybe even dozing off a little, I guess, Robots don’t really doze off do they? I guess I was slipping in and out of sleep mode, whatever it was - time was going faster than I realized and before long Midas appeared at my side sitting in the grass just idly picking at individual blades.

“Something on your mind Midas?” I asked, sitting up and looking at her. “Things with Nightshade all ironed out and stuff?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Midas said, sighing. “Isn’t it funny, when you think they are chasing after you it’s easy to not feel anything for them, but the moment you know they aren’t chasing you, it kind of makes you want to chase them?”

“So you do like him.” I said, laying a hoof over her shoulder. “It’s normal, I think it’s called playing hard to get, relationships really aren’t my forte.”

“I guess I did, maybe a little, somewhere deep down.” Midas said with a sigh, shifting her gaze to look up at the sky and the stars. “Why in the world of all ponies, the one that ever peaks my interest is the one that’s already taken and is only cheating on his wife with me.”

“Hey, viva la vida Midas.” I said with a smile. “There’s plenty of fish in the sea, you’ll find someone else.”

“Yeah, I suppose.” Midas said, smiling a little “He did give be a bottle of scotch for my troubles, I suppose you don’t drink but it’d be nice if you kept me company for it.”

“Of course Midas, I think after everything we’ve been through today, the only creature up here I think or feel I can trust, is either trapped in a stable maneframe, or sitting beside me about to drown her troubles with a bit of alcohol.” I said with a chuckle.

Level Up!

Perk Acquired: Old World Prospector

Perk Details: The Goodies of the old world are no stranger to you, your ability to spot and appraise scrap and materials found has improved substantially,

as well as your chances of finding higher quality items.

Perception and Luck are increased by 2 while indoors.

Chapter 2: Sisterly Bonds

As dawn came, I awake, sitting myself up and giving a stretch and yawn. I suppose my father did build me to be as realistic as possible, perhaps he even built in the need for sleep? And what is the purpose of a yawn for a robot? Well, I suppose those are just questions I will have to answer in due time.

Looking around, I tried to gain my bearings, we were still on the grassy hill just outside of Littlehorn. Midas still asleep beside me with, what appeared to be more than half of that bottle of Scotch she acquired. Getting to my hooves I looked around, early morning, surprisingly enough there were birds chirping and a gentle breeze blowing, nothing like yesterday at all.

“Midas? It’s time to wake up.” I said, nudging at my sleeping companion, causing her to start to stir and eventually open her eyes. “Come on, we have a delivery to make.”

Midas rubbed at her eyes and yawned, stretching as she sat up before looking at me with a bewildered and confused look. “We? I thought you weren’t interested.”

I gave her a smile and a nod. “Yeah, we.” I said, getting to my hooves and offering her a hoof to help her stand. “We’re in this together, aren’t we? Friends don’t abandon friends.”

“Friend?” Midas said, looking even more confused. “You think we’re friends?”

“Well, yeah. I saved your life from radiation poisoning, we splunked through stable 15 together, I mean, sounds like things friends do to me.” I said with a shrug and a smile.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right with that.” Midas said, corking what was left of her bottle of scotch before slipping it into her satchel. Picking that old jean bag up by the strap and settling it on her shoulder before she looked around. “Got a lot of ground to cover.”

“Yeah, your client, the uh… oh what was their name again…” I said, rubbing at my chin trying to recall it.

“NCR. New Canterlot Republic.” Midas said, looking down at me. “You’re trying to tell me that you have the capacity to forget things like that? I mean, it was only yesterday and even the crappiest terminals are that bad with memory.”

“Oh, I remembered, but I just had to verify.” I said with a teasing smile at her.

“You’re messing with me.” Midas said with a chuckle.

“Am I?” I asked, starting to walk towards the road leading away from town.

“...Are you?” Midas asked, following behind, the look of confusion constantly growing.

I let that idea sit for a while as we walked, putting some distance between us and that old town, looking back every now and then to try and judge the distance we had come. I couldn’t help but notice that we were nearing where the entrance to the bunker had been hidden.

Slowing down as we neared it, my eyes locked on that old structure. Midas looked at me then followed my gaze to that structure. “He’s there, isn’t he.” she asked. “That’s where your bunker is, where your father is.”

“Yeah.” I asked before I looked forward, picking up the pace rapidly wanting to do nothing more then put distance between me and that place. Even with my attempt to move away quickly, I couldn’t help but notice a freshly disturbed patch of soil next to the hut with a cross planted in the soil.

We stayed silent for some time, until everything had faded in the distance behind us. Finally slowing down and letting Midas catch her breath.

“What is up with you, didn’t you want to stop and pay your respects or something?” Midas said with a groan and a huff. “You practically sprinted away from there.”

“Look, we all have our own way to grieve, and my way is to focus on my mission and not get caught up with it.” I said, shooting her a quick glare before sighing. “I’m sorry.”

“Nah, it’s all good.” Midas said with a shrug, “My wings needed that little bit of morning exercise anyway.”

“Wings?” I said, looking back along the path and nothing nothing but hoof steps in the dust and soil. Had I really been going that fast? That she needed to fly just to keep up with me? “Sorry, I guess I just don’t know my own speed?”

“Like I said, it’s all good.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Look, there’s a settlement not too far down the road, I need to stop off there and call in a couple favors, and get a few provisions for our little trip.”

“Alright, and what kind of favors?” I asked, looking to her curiously.

“Nothing like back in Littlehorn.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Mainly to see if we can get some transport, the NCR offered me a vertibuck if my salvaging was successful, but I need to get to a radio tower to call it in.”

“Vertibuck?...” I asked, that was a new term, the heck was a vertibuck?

“Flying transport, that’s all you really need to know.” Midas said with a chuckle as she started back down the path, whistling a tune to herself as she walked.

Vertibuck, why had I never heard of those before. Are they new? Perhaps a post war invention, or maybe they weren’t exactly widely used so that information on them was readily available. The more I thought about this, the more it bothered me, lost in my thoughts I lost track of time, and before I knew it we were approaching what looked like an old scrap wall. It had a pole on the corner, flying on it a white flag, with what looked like… a two headed ursa? And the words ‘New Canterlot Republic’ Written across it.

“I guess this is your buddies then?” I said, looking at Midas.

“In a way, yes. They are a part of the NCR but they are just a far forward outpost, nothing really goes on here and these guys are usually bored out of their minds just waiting for something to do.” Midas said with a shrug. “They got a radio back to command, that’s all I need.”

“So, they are just kind of, scavengers and farmers then?” I asked, trying to take peeks between the scrap walls to see what was hidden inside. Before long we approached the gate, to which it had a guard standing either side. “Uh… doesn’t look like they want to let us in.”

“They will, just gotta convince them.” Midas said with a wink and pressing a claw tip to her snout. “Not to mention, the stuff I have is requested by the head herself, to deny me is to probably get court martialed.”

Nearing the guards, they both straightened out and stood at attention, stopping us as we got to the gate. Midas kind of glared at the both of them before she sighed. “Look, I got some important papers for the boss lady, could you please just, let us in and use your radio, we need to call for a lift.”

The two guards exchanged glances for a moment before looking back at us. “How do we know you’re telling the truth?”

“Because why else would a random dragon walk up to a NCR outpost and ask to be let in to use their radio.” Midas said with a groan. “I mean come on, I was here about three or four days ago, you guys should remember me.”

“Uh, Maybe that’s not the best way to try and convince them Midas..” I said with a nervous chuckle. “I mean, these guys are military, aren’t they? Don’t they have orders to follow and stuff?”

“Our orders are not to let anyone through without verification of their identity,” the second guard said and looked at us for a moment. “If you’ll tell us what is on these papers, we will talk to the Colonel and see what she says if it’s important enough.”

“Would saying that’s classified be enough to deter you?” Midas said with a groan. “Come on, Just go get the Colonel, She’ll verify my identity for you two jarheads.”

“Name calling really isn’t something you should be doing right now…” I said, nervously. “What my hot tempered friend is trying to say is th-”

“No no, don’t speak for me Sweets, once the Colonel gets here she’ll clear all this up and these two knuckle heads will be apologizing profusely just to keep their jobs.” Midas said, giving me a pet on the head. Really, a pet on the head, I was just trying to help.

The two guards exchanged a look for a moment and sighed. One of them headed back while the other stayed at their post and held their rifle close, keeping an eye on the two. “This had better not be wasting the Colonel’s time.”

“What about all of my time you’re wasting with all this garbage” Midas said with a growl. She took a deep breath and ran her claw down her face like she had done countless times before. “This all could of been avoided if you just let me in to begin with.”

“Well, it’s best to follow protocol, right?” I asked, trying to distract my frustrated companion. “I mean, there are rules for a reason, not every rule is meant to be broken”

“Right, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that I was just here, I had dinner with the Colonel, I bought these jarheads a drink, and now they act like they’ve never seen me before.” Midas said with a sigh, looking to me. “There is following orders and not breaking rules, and then there is just plain stupidity.”

The guard just shook his head and looked at me then forward again. “Its just protocol Midas, especially given your unknown friend here.”

“Ha! I knew it!” Midas said, spinning round to face him. “Not so empty in there now are you.” She tapped a foot and placed her claws on her hips. “Could've just said that to begin with. She’s a new buddy of mine, no problem with her.”

“Well, I rather they be thoughtful and follow the rule book.” I said, sitting and smiling at the guard. “It’s one of the things that keeps us all from just doing whatever we want, stop following rules and what’s the point in having them anymore?”

“Dragons have lived centuries with minimal rules, and the only rules around is you don’t mess with the one that can beat the snot out of you.” Midas said, rather proudly and matter of factly.

“Oh, is that why you’re in Equestria then? Couldn’t square off with the others?” I said with a coy grin and giving her side a nudge.

“Careful lug nut, or I might tighten a few bolts if you get what I mean.” Midas said, shooting me a look.

The guard looked like he was trying not to laugh as the other guard came back. “Alright you two, Colonel Indigo will meet with you. Go on inside, but don’t cause any trouble.”

“Cause any trouble? Come on, I don’t have a bow or any arrows with me right now.” Midas said with a smirk before she walked past the guards and into the outpost, with me in close tow.

“Bow and arrow? What?” I whispered to Midas, taking a peak back at the guards trying to see if we were out of earshot.

“Yeah, guards and bows don’t mix.” Midas said with a snicker. “It’s an old joke.”

“Okay…” I said, looking at her with a chuckle. “You’re pretty weird sometimes, you know that right.”

“Eh, life’s too short to take seriously, may as well have as much fun with the time you got, right? Not to mention I am pretty sure they hate when you make jokes like that - so its a little payback.” Midas said with a chuckle and smiling down at me. “You got a lot to learn, little pony.”

00000

It took us some time to reach the center of the outpost, passing by shops and farms on our way in. On the way in it looked small and desolite, but now we’re here it seems to be a sprawling farming village, almost like it was bigger on the inside or something.

Nearing what appeared to be the statehouse of the settlement, it had several flags flying in front of it, but none higher than that now familiar NCR Flag. I wondered why they were out here, Canterlot was at least a two day train ride.

“Alright, you just stay quiet and let me do the talking.” Midas said with a smirk as she looked to me. “The Colonel and I go way back, hell if not for me she wouldn’t even be in the NCR.”

“Sounds like she might have a bone to pick with you then.” I said, as we stopped outside the door, looking at Midas she seemed confident and sure of herself, but looking around I couldn’t help but feel this was the short end of the stick, and only somepony who really messed up could of ended up all the way out here.

Midas pushed the doors open and walked inside, it was surprisingly nicer inside then it was on the outside. Clean and polished wood floors, practically no sign of dust or cobwebs, I couldn’t even find a crack in the plaster of the walls. Walking up to the central desk, to which Midas leaned on it and whispered something to the receptionist before she’d move over and sit down in a chair, apparently waiting our turn.

“Midas… Something seems… off” I said softly, looking to that dragoness, but she just waved it off and looked down to me with a gaze that simply said that there was nothing to worry about. I was still nervous but that all faded away when I heard a door close and hoof steps approaching.

An off-white unicorn mare with a dark blue mane and tail came in. She looked at me and Midas for a long moment with a stern look on her face. “You have a lot of nerve showing back up here, Midas.”

“Nerve! What the hay are you talking about.” Midas said with a huff as she got to her feet and turned to face the unicorn. “I brought you the finest liquor and food caps could buy this side of Tenpony and you say I’m the one with nerve.”

Midas gave that unicorn a long glare, before she smirked and held her arms out, offering that unicorn a hug with a bit of a laugh. I couldn’t help but stare at the two absolutely confused, who in the world goes from angry to buddy buddy that quick?

“Sorry, I couldn’t resist having a little fun with Midas here,” the Unicorn said with a laugh as she looked at me for a moment. “So, what’s with the walking toaster?”

“Hey, this walking toaster saved my bacon.” Midas said, giving me another pet on the head. “Without her I wouldn’t of gotten anywhere near the goods.”

“This walking toaster has a name.” I said with a grumble, getting to my hooves and holding a hoof out to the colonel. “Sweetie Belle.”

Midas looked at me, then back to Indigo for a second before she burst out laughing. “Oh come on Sweets, she’s just yanking your chain. She grew up in the roughs of Manehattan around a bunch of dragons, she’s just another one of the crew.”

“Yeah, don’t worry Sweetie,” Indigo said and paused a moment. “Wait, Sweetie Belle? As in the head of PR for Stable-Tec from during the war?”

“Well, Kind of yes and kind of no to be honest.” I said with a sigh. “It’s a long story that involves some pretty eye opening information.”

“You know, you haven’t told me anything about that either, been wondering it myself some.” Midas said, looking at me with a curious look and a grin. “Well, once I get this call done we got some time before our lift gets here, could share the story then.”

“I really would rather not.” I said with a groan. “Please don’t push it, it’s got a lot of conflicting information with what was publicly known or accepted.”

“Will you two just kiss already?” Indigo said with a laugh.

“Don’t even joke like that.” Midas said with a groan. “I’ve had enough kissing for a year at this point.”

“So Nightshade wasn’t a good kisser?” I asked with a coy grin, trying to shift the attention off me for at least a moment. “Was he at least good at… something.” Shifting my gaze to look at that unicorn, wondering just what she would say next.

“Well, since you’re here I’m guessing you found what I asked you for,” Indigo said finally getting down to business. “Did you have any problems getting it out of Stable 15?”

“Oh just a load of radiation and feral ghouls. Though seems the overmare locked herself in the maneframe of the stable and locked them up, we just had to deal with her.” Midas said, scratching at her shoulder scales.

“Well, her ghoul, She herself is still in the maneframe.” I added, trying to make sure Midas wasn’t leaving out important information. “The tavern keeper seemed pretty cooperative, maybe later on somepony could go in and clean out the stable and make it nice for her.”

“We’ll see, maybe we can work something out,” Indigo said with a slight nod. “Thank you both, this information will be very valuable to the NCR and our allies. And not to mention might get my flank out of this backwater.”

“Aw, I thought you liked it back here in this backwater.” Midas said with a sneer. “I guess it’s grown boring for your tastes? Not enough raiders around to kick the faces in or something?”

“Well, you two definitely have interesting conversations.” I said, starting to back away from the two and chuckling nervously. Trying to distance myself and perhaps just get back to minding my own business for the time being.

“Yeah, I don’t know how General Sparkle does it up in the Wilderness, there’s nothing exciting around here,” Indigo said with a groan. “So, how about those blueprints?”

“Doesn’t she have a new kid?” Midas said with a smirk. “Something to do with a party gone wrong?”

“That’s what I heard yes, Generals really shouldn’t drink that much,” Indigo said with a shake of her head. “Last I heard she went back to her tribe up north after the war ended and is back to running the Rangers from there.”

“Huh, y’know I always wondered what the attraction of having children was.” Midas said with a shrug before she’d nudge me.

“What, I can’t have children, I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.” I said with a groan before slipping away again. “Please, just finish what you’re here for so we can get going.”

“Awww, I think we made the tin mare uncomfortable.” Midas said with a teasing chuckle.

“Well, it was nice meeting you Sweetie,” Indigo said with a smile before she looked back at Midas. “How about we finish up here and later I’ll treat you to a few drinks. Your toaster friend here is free to come if she wants.”

“Oh come on! I’m not a toaster!” I spouted back at Indigo. “Why can’t you just be respectful and not call me such things!”

“Woah woah Sweets, calm down, ain’t nothing worth getting your servos in a twist.” Midas said with a nervous smile. “Maybe she should hang around someplace else while we handle business, Seems you two can’t really get along.”

“Fine by me.” I said with a huff before turning and walking to the door, leaving the two to finish business. Taking time to myself to wander and explore the settlement, checking out shops and seeing if there was anywhere I could lend a hoof to pass the time.

00000

I had found a farmer who was willing to let me lend a hoof in his fields for the afternoon, leaving Midas and Indigo time to do their business and catch up. I lost track of time but I guess it had been a few hours before all the work was done and the farmer thanked me and sent me on my way.

I wandered back into the market square as I come to understand, looking around from shop to shop before I caught wind of what looked to be a bar, walking over I thought I heard a familiar voice coming from inside. Looking in through a window I could Midas at the counter with Indigo and another dragon. For a moment I contemplated going and joining them but used my better judgement and refused to.

“Hey Sweets come on in!” Midas said, clearly having caught sight of me. The smell of alcohol was so strong from the door I still had half a mind to not even reply, but I was not programed to be rude.

“Alright Midas.” I said, begrudgingly joining the group, as I sat down the other dragon stood and left, giving me a glare as they passed. “What’s up with them?”

“Hates robots.” Midas said, before she looked at me with a chuckle. “Thinks that a group of em killed his family.”

“Wonderful, so robots aren’t liked in the wasteland if he’s anything to go by.” I said with a groan, looking to Indigo with a frown. “Let me guess, still calling me toaster and things like that.”

“You know I’m just kidding around right?” Indigo asked as she took a drink. “You seem like a nice robot, sorry if you didn’t like that.”

“It just feels rather derogatory.” I said with a groan. “I get it, most robots don’t have feelings, but can you tell me that there are more robots then me that breath, have a pulse, and other simulated life signs?”

“Well, no, I can’t think of any,” Indigo said with a shake of her head. “Alright Sweetie, I’ll stop.”

“Thank you.” I said with a sigh, shifting in my seat and supporting my head with a hoof, elbow on the counter. “I just, wish I had more going on today then this. Digging around in a farmer’s field all day isn’t exactly my idea of a good day.”

“Eh, I get what you mean, talking with politicians and military buffs, trying to get that vertibuck, not really my idea of a good day, we got like, absolutely nothing done.” Midas said with a sigh, swirling her cup watching her drink of the day slosh about. “At least our ride will be here first thing tomorrow morning.”

“So where are you two off to next?” Indigo asked.

“I guess to where ever we can find Midnight, she was the contact I was given for delivery of the goods.” Midas said with a sigh, looking down at her satchel. “I don’t look forward to seeing the new bundle of ‘joy’ she’s got with her.”

“Why, something against foals?” I asked, “I mean, I know you foal sat, but I never thought you had anything in particular against them.”

“When you foal sit for several years of your life, in a daycare, in a tower that isn’t exactly pleased that you exist, you kind of get fed up with the whole, dealing with foals things.” Midas said with a groan. “Especially when their parents don’t seem to be far off being foals themselves, and I don’t mean age wise.”

“Well, good luck with that, I’m not much better with foals myself,” Indigo said with a chuckle and a shake of her head. “I’m sure things won’t be that bad with Midnight at least, she’s got a good head on her shoulders, better than the psycho she replaced after the war with the Imps.”

“Yeah, isn’t this her second?” Midas said with a chuckle. “Coulda swore she had another foal. Been a while since I seen her.”

“You really get around, don’t you.” I said, looking to Midas with an sigh. “Next thing I know you’ll be saying you’ve been fighting in wars and killing creatures since you were knee high to a grasshopper.”

“Oh you have no idea,” Indigo said with a chuckle. “We were running around Manehattan, and this was before the place became as civilized as it is these days mind you, back when we were young getting into all sorts of trouble. Raiders, Slavers, Ghouls, groups just out to cause trouble and chaos, and don’t get me started on the local wildlife. You name it, we probably got into a fight with it at least once.”

“Needless to say, yeah, Manehattan back in those days, was a absolute reincarnation of Tartarus in Equestria.” Midas said with a smirk. “Then we got out, I went to Tenpony and you went off to the NCR. I remember the day you came around, pissed off cause you flunked out and the drill sergeant said you were too out of control. What’d you do again, I seem to remember you breaking his nose, several times over.”

“Wow…” I said, staring at the two, a little scared, a little in shock. “You two really have been through everything together, haven’t you.”

“Yeah, Midas here is the best friend I’ve ever had,” Indigo said as she placed her hoof lightly on Midas’ shoulder and smiled. “You’re lucky Sweetie, take good care of this dragon for me, okay?”

“I already saved her life once, I think if she is that reckless she’s lucky she has a robot around.” I said with a chuckle, to which Midas just glared at me.

“Oh yes, nearly dying of radiation,” Indigo said with a light smirk. “Really Midas, after everything we went through in Manehattan radiation almost kills you, you might as well just die of embarrassment.”

“Oh, that’s just not fair.” Midas said with a groan, looking at Indigo. “I ran out of RadAway and Rad-X, I risked my scales for these papers.”

“Except for the few loose pills of it in your bag.” I added with a soft chuckle. “Good thing I had the peace of mind to check that, elsewise the payout for you risking your scales would be all mine.”

“Okay, look, you distracted me with all your talking, I couldn’t think straight over the rabid clicking this stupid pipbuck was doing, and you want to blame me for losing a few pills in that? Please, I’d love to see you do better.” Midas said, folding her arms across her chest and looking away with a ‘hmpf.’

“Are you sure you two aren’t dating?” Indigo asked with a smirk.

“Are you sure you don’t a reminder of what a dragon’s fist tastes like” Midas said, shooting Indigo a glare. “After all that happened in that hell hole up the road, I don’t want to think about anything romantic or private for at least a month, if not two.”

“Was Nightshade really that bad?” I asked, nudging Midas to break the death glare. “He seemed… Okay”

“Except for the cheating part, and the terrible kisser part, and the… okay, no, I’m not going into that, not now, not with you.” Midas said with a groan.

“Oh, so you’re into married stallions now?” Indigo said with a smirk. “That’s gonna make things awkward I’m sure.”

“Oh I don’t even want to hear it!” Midas said, snapping back at Indigo. “Need I remind you who you slept with when you came to visit Tenpony!”

“Oh come on, most of them weren’t that bad,” Indigo said. “Okay, Diode was but it was only once and it was more out of pity for the guy. At least I didn’t try to hit on Focus until Life Bloom showed up...”

“Oh really, I heard it had more to do with the copious amount of alcohol he bought you.” Midas said with a smirk, before she looked back to me, her smirk turning to a frown before nudging at my side. “Come on Sweets, its all in good fun, we’re all sisters here, right?”

“Yeah, sure, I guess.” I said and looked away, out the door and just took a moment to ponder perhaps I should go somewhere and wait for the two to finish their drinks. “Look, I’ve only been activated and out of the bunker for a little over a day and a half, and I can’t say I am feeling very… sisterly to either of you. Sure, you’re my friend Midas, and she’s your friend, but all these teasing, it’s fun in all, but it gets old quick.”

“Hey, you were all for it not too long ago.” Midas said, looking at me confused. “What’s up with you, having malfunctions or something?”

“No, I’m fine, nothing is out of operational standards, its just - I can joke along with and tease at you, but I’m doing it more to fit in and be a part of the group then I am to be myself.” I said with a sigh, standing from my seat and looking at the two. “I think I’m just going to find a place to sleep for the night or something.”

“Sweets, hold up.” Midas said, standing and stepping in front of me, kneeling down so I didn’t need to look up at her. “Look, you should never be afraid to show who you are, Alright? Don’t hide a part of yourself just ‘cause your friends may not like it or not.”

“Midas I..” I said, before she put a claw to my mouth so silence me.

“I may have only been round you for a day and a half, but that’s your entire life at this point, and honestly, when you called me your friend I had mixed feelings, I thought that I couldn’t be friends with a machine, but you showed me that friendship doesn’t have those limits.” Midas said with a smile. “Just like Indigo showed me that even a pony can be more dragon-like then a dragon, and that it’s alright to trust and care for a pony.”

“That, really means a lot Midas.” I said, and wrapped my forelegs around her in a hug. Maybe she was right, and I need to stop being so timid and learn that I can be myself without fear. I might be a machine, a robot, or android, whatever you want to call me, but when I am with friends, the most important thing, is to be me.

“Just remember what the overmare said, Alright?” Midas said. “Stay honest to yourself, and to your friends.” She gave me a short hug before she stood and looked at Indigo. “We’ll have to catch up another time, I think right now, she needs me more than anything.”

Indigo nodded a little. “Go ahead, you know where to find me,” she said with a smile. “You two have a good evening.”

“We’ll try.” Midas said before she looked back to me. “Come on Sweets, lets walk and talk, just you and me.”

“Why? What is there to talk about?” I asked. Looking at her curiously.

“Well, there’s clearly things bothering you, and I want you to get them off your chest. No use holding them in if it’s going to weigh so heavily on you.” Midas said, going over to the door and opening it, I followed, confused, and as I walked past her, I noticed her giving Indigo one last wave before she followed behind.

“I still don’t understand what you want to talk about.” I said, slowing down and letting her catch up. “Sure, there’s things bugging me, but nothing to talk about.”

“Well, you definitely didn’t seem to like it when I was spending time with Indigo, figured at first, maybe it’s jealousy, your only friend spending time with another friend. But then things got complicated.” Midas said, pointing over to a nearby park like area. “You just, seem unhappy in general, now with ponies that’s one thing, but robots or androids or whatever, I don’t know.”

“I saw his grave.” I said, with a sigh. “I thought you did too.”

“That’s what all this is about?” Midas said, looking at me before she plopped down in the grass under a tree. “Let me guess, didn’t sink in he was gone, till you saw where he was buried, wasn’t it.”

“I guess so, I mean, I had the thought in my head that he was still there, still around, somewhere.” I said, sitting beside her and looking out at the horizon. “I felt something different, when I saw where he was buried, I mean, I didn’t even know I could feel pain, but this hurt alot.”

“Yeah, I know that feeling.” Midas said with a sigh. “There’s a reason me and Indigo are so close, it’s cause at a early age, my dad disappeared. I didn’t know where he went or what happened to him, Mom just kept telling me he was no good and she dealt with him.”

“Thinking about what you said, about that area, I think I can guess what she meant by dealt with him.” I said, looking at her, I could see the pain in her face.

“I refused to believe that he was gone, in any sense of the world, I held on to the idea he’d come bursting through the door and telling me how much he missed me and how he’ll never leave again.” Midas said, looking to me, her eyes were glassy, I could tell she was holding back tears. “Then I found him, what was left of him, she threw him into a pit of radioactive gunk, He turned into a ghoul, a feral, he tried to kill me and Indigo”

“Oh… That’s just…” I said, at a sudden loss for words, looking down to my hooves and giving a sigh. “He was feral, wasn’t he?”

“I couldn’t tell, maybe he was just insane or maybe he did go feral, but he didn’t just growl and hiss like ferals do, he mumbled things, he yelled things, words, actual sentences.” Midas said with a sigh. “He didn’t recognize me, and if he was feral, I’ve never seen a feral that acted like him before or since.”

“That’s why you ripped your photo, isn’t it.” I said, scooting a little closer, trying to offer some comfort. “You ripped your mother’s head from it, so you could look at it and see just you and him.”

“She was selfish, and cruel.” Midas said, her sadness suddenly snapping to anger. “She used me, she taught me how to be a thief, how to deceive other creatures. Most of the trouble me and Indigo got into in Manehattan, was her fault.”

“She sent you where your father was, didn’t she.” I asked, cautiously lifting a hoof to pull her a little closer to me.

“She tried to kill me! She wanted me to go there so Dad would drag me into the same pit that she threw him into and that she never would have to see me again!” Midas said before she suddenly grabbed onto me and held me tight, the first sign of true softness this dragon has ever given me, she held onto me and just shook, and cried, all I could do was run a hoof on her back, trying to calm her down just a little.

“But she didn’t succeed, you’re still here, and you have me now, alright?” I said, leaning back from her. “I’m not going to abandon you or try to kill you like she did.”

“I know you aren’t Sweetie.” Midas said with a soft sigh and leaned back. “Stable-tec had a pretty big presence in Manehattan, I’ve read terminal entries about your namesake, who you were modeled on.”

“You know about the original Sweetie?” I asked, kind of taken back by this suddenly coming to light. “Is that why you trusted me off the bat, because you recognized me in some way?”

“Yeah, Sweetie was a kind hearted mare, gentle and loving. She did her best where she could and how she could to try and make sure everything came out alright in the end.” Midas said, smiling a little more. “She always had a plan, she always knew just what to say and just what to do, she was confident in her talent and knew she could help any pony that she put her mind to.”

“Wow…” I said, looking back to my hooves for a moment, thinking about all that I can’t tell how much of that actually made it into my programming, but now more then ever I felt like I had big shoes to fill and I wondered if I could ever really measure up to the greatness of ponies like her.

“In a lot of ways, more than just physical, you remind me of her.” Midas said, using a claw to lift my head to look at her. “You’re confident, and persistent, and you never give up, not to mention not a selfish bone in your body.”

“You mean, not a single bone in my body.” I said before chuckling some. “But I get what you mean, and, for what it’s worth, thanks.”

“Anytime Sweets, you’re my best buddy right now, no pony, no dragon, no creature in equestria or beyond is gonna change that.” Midas said, giving me a playful punch on the shoulder, mouthing ‘ow’ and shaking her claw. “Though… remind me not to do that again.”

“I’ll try to remember that.” I said, before finally getting to my hooves and looking back to the bar and now closed markets. “May be too late to look for a room for the night.”

“Bull. I bet Indigo is still in that bar, she has always been a heavy drinker, it’s what got her in trouble in Haythens to get sent all the way out here in the first place.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Get her in on it, we could have the best penthouse this place has to offer.”

“Well, least we could do is give her some company to drink with.” I said, giving a nervous smile to her. “Don’t want you to lose your chance to hang out with the only pony that kept you sane through your childhood.”

“Yeah, and she has my bit pouch, she has no problem drinking the bar dry if it’s coming out of someone else’s pocket.” Midas said with a chuckle, before together we made our way back to the bar, most Patrons had left not to long before we got there, but low and behold as Midas predicted, still at the bar sat Indigo, surrounded by what appeared to be a pile of shot glasses.

“Oh hey Goldie Scales,” Indigo said through a slurred speech as she looked at us. “Are you and Chrome Face over there here to take me to your magical kingdom?”

“Okay miss drunky, where’s my bit pouch.” Midas said, sitting on the stool next to Indigo. “I think you’ve had enough.”

“I’ll decide when I’ve had enough, I’m just gonna get up and walk over to the…” She said as she got up and then fell on the floor. “Floor, yep, gonna walk over to this nice floor, good floor.”

“You think you’ve had enough yet there Indigo?” Midas said, getting up from her stool and leaning down “Now what did you drink, I bet you asked for some of that Whiskey I dropped off the other day, you know that’s only safe for dragons to drink more than a couple shots of.”

“Do I even want to know?” I asked, looking down at Indigo. “Dragons are pretty resistant creatures, so I am guessing your liquor is stronger so you guys can get drunk too?”

“Pretty much. Though Indigo here sometimes fancies herself a dragon, and doesn’t realize what gets a dragon drunk could cost her a liver.” Midas said, poking at Indigo. “Still living there, or should I call the medics, again.”

“Darn it Goldie, I told you last time, I hate liver and onions don’t feed it to me!” Indigo said.

“I’m not getting my bit pouch back, Am I?” Midas said before she simply scooped up her heavily drunk friend. “Alright, let’s get you home, Was hoping you could get us a room or some place to stay, guess we’re crashing on your couch.”

“Does Chrome Face even sleep? I mean she’s a robot… hey Chrome, do you dream of electric sheep?” Indigo asked me. “I mean we count sheep to get to sleep so do you count electric sheep? Or robot sheep maybe...”

“I don’t know if I should be insulted by that, or impressed that someone as drunk as she is right now was able to come up with something that interesting to think about.” I said, stopping to contemplate for a moment. “Then again, hey Indi, do you dream of magic sheep then, I mean, you’re a unicorn, everything you do is magic, so are they magic?”

I could hear the sound of Midas slapping herself in the face from the sheer amount of stupidity going on between us. Rather then trying to engage in conversation or contemplate what kind of sheep they count to go to sleep, she was more focused on getting Indigo home before something embarrassing for the both of them happened.

“I heard that sometimes, when ponies get really drunk, they either black out, or pee themselves, or both!” I said, smirking, to which Midas stopped, looked back at me with a glare that I swear rivaled that from the entrance to Stable 15, then turned and kept walking, though picking up the pace slightly.

“Hey, I’m not that drunk, I’m perfectly in control of my… thingies, whatever its called…” Indigo said before passing out.

“Aw. she passed out.” I said, to which Midas swiped at me with her tail. We neared the state house in the center of the settlement and Midas pushed the door open, going to opposite way I had seen Indigo come from before we went through a rather out of the way and hidden door, and down a flight of stairs into what looked to be a simple basement.

Midas brought Indigo into a bedroom before she came back, glared at me for a moment, then disappeared into the bathroom and I could hear the water running in either a shower or tub. Looking around and peering into a few jars and shelves around, a picture caught my eye, and on closer inspection I could see Midas and Indigo, they looked barely old enough to be out of school, yet I could see this picture was taken by somepony, or some creature, after the two had taken down what looks to be a pack of feral ghouls.

“Kind of morbid…” I said to myself, looking at the photo. It made sense, to these two that was a great triumph, even though it was a pile of what used to be ponies. Sighing I put the picture back on the shelf I had taken it from and moved over to the couch, climbing up on one side and laying on it, trying to get myself comfortable and before long I drifted off.

00000

As morning came, I stirred awake, jolting myself up and looking around before I had seen where I had been laying the night before, Midas after her washing up had joined me, and was rather embarrassingly cuddled up against me. I understood I am warm, maybe that’s all that was about. Jumping over my still sleeping friend I looked about, I could hear sounds of rustling about in a back room, following the sounds I opened a door and saw Indigo there, moving round the kitchen and cooking.

“Oh, hey there.” I said, hoping she hadn’t seen how Midas decided to sleep last night. “Whatcha makin?”

“Oh, just some breakfast, nothing special,” she said and looked back at me with a weak smile. “How bad was I last night?”

“Well, you didn’t wet yourself.” I said with a chuckle, before coming over and sitting at the table. “Really, you’re just really stubborn and kind of loopy when you’re drunk. Nothing major.”

“Sorry about that,” Indigo said with a groan as she levitated a plate over to me. “I just, don’t know when to stop sometimes.”

“Don’t worry about serving me anything, I don’t eat.” I said with a smile. “And it’s alright, we all have our problems, and I understand yours a bit more now too. Midas, she opened up a lot to me last night, she stopped being the big old tough dragon and started being, well, More like a pony, I guess.”

“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it.” Midas said, as she walked in with a stretch and a yawn. “What’s for breakfast Indigo, something good I hope, I hate Vertibucks.”

“Eggs, and some other stuff I had lying around,” Indigo said as she sat down with her own breakfast. “Sorry, I’m just still getting over last night so I didn’t have time to make a big fancy breakfast.”

“Hey, you didn’t make a total fool of yourself.” Midas said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “Still going to need my bit pouch back, even if it’s empty.”

“Can’t you just get a new one?” I asked, looking at Midas with a slightly confused look, wondering just what was so important about this particular pouch.

“You can’t reply a family heirloom, It was my dad’s before mine.” Midas said, giving me a soft smile. “It has more value then the bits it holds, more than any creature could ever replace.”

“Don’t worry, it's in my bags, I’ll get it to you before you leave,” Indigo said with a soft smile. “I know it's important to you Midas, I wouldn’t lose it even if I was drunk.”

“Oh, glad to know you lose your dignity before you’d lose that.” Midas said with a snicker before giving a yawn. “I can’t remember the last time I slept so well, I feel like I curled up with a space heater all night.”

I wanted to say something, it was in the back of my head and I bit my tongue not to just let it slip, all the while feeling slightly insulted that I am nothing more than a ‘space heater’ when someone decides to curl up near me. Oh well, the less she knows the less likely she’d kill me.

“So, when is that vertibuck going to be here? I know you said in the morning but the morning is anytime within a set period of hours, I was hoping I could do some browsing and maybe a little shopping before we have to leave.” I said, looking to Indigo hoping she’d have a answer for us.

“It’ll be here at 0930,” Indigo said as she took a bite of her food.

“Thats in…” Midas said, tapping at her chin trying to figure out the difference.

“In about 45 to 50 minutes.” I said, looking at Midas, who simply shrugged and started to scarf her food. Geez, it looked like she hasn’t eaten in days, well, she didn’t eat anything all day yesterday from what I can remember, though she did drink so I suppose she could of had something to eat before that, but still she could have some grace about it.

“I would say make sure your bags are packed and everything is good to go, but, you don’t carry any bags.” Midas said, looking at me, taking a moment between stuffing her face to speak. “We should get you a pair of saddle bags at least, can’t rely on all that fancy technology you got hidden in your back.”

“Fancy technology?” Indigo asked.

I sighed, and stood, access panel on my back sliding open and out deploying both my collapsed gatling lasers and missile tubes, Looking at Indigo and giving a nervous, and slightly embarrassed chuckle. “I uh… yeah, I guess I carry heavier weapons then that of pre war armored vehicles…”

“And then some.” Midas said, tapping her forehead to shift attention to my horn. “Don’t know how it works, but she’s got magic, a robot with magic, go figure right?”

“Who made you, an old Steel Ranger with a thing for overkill?” Indigo asked as she looked at me surprised for a moment.

“I don’t know why my father made me like this, I mean, He used to work for Robronco before the war, he did work on multiple robots that they deployed, maybe it’s just a force of habit?” I asked and shrugged, stowing away my weapons. “Maybe I was so valuable to him, he dedicated a large portion of my design to defensive weapons so it was unlikely I would be destroyed?”

“Maybe when he made you you had a massive empty space and instead of leaving it empty he filled it with guns because why not?” Midas said in between bites.

“Maybe,” Indigo said with a shrug. “Still, I’d stay clear of anything that’s left of the Steel Rangers out there. Applejack’s Rangers should be fine, and most of the old guard died out or switched sides during the Great Schism but you never know.”

“Noted, anypony else out there we should be mindful of?” I asked with a nervous smile. “Don’t want to walk right into a wolves den so to speak.”

“Well, Raiders are pretty much a dying breed, thanks to the Enclave ironically enough,” Indigo said with a shrug. “If you ever find yourself out west though I’d probably stay away from Sparkle-World, I’ve heard things about the locals there.”

“Got it, no pre-war amusement parks either.” I said with a nod “What about this Enclave group, are they going to be a problem?”

“Nah, a majority of them have allied with the NCR here, in fact I have a feeling the bird coming to pick us up might actually be Enclave in origin. They had the largest flight of functional Vertibucks and could spare them to do missions like this.” Midas said with a smirk, looking to Indigo “So, is that the case, is the big E coming to pay us a visit”

“Yeah, I think General Sparkle worked something out with Whiteout to have one of their Vertibucks heading that way from Project Starlight stop by briefly,” Indigo said with a shrug. “It’s hard to believe really, it’s been over a year and I still can’t believe the Enclave and the NCR are working together.”

“Yeah, you and more then have the NCR who fear that the rumor of that rebellion rising in the Enclave ranks is more than a rumor.” Midas said, finishing what was left on her plate before she stood. “How much you want to bet, it’s not a vertibuck.”

“Well, what else could they be sending, is there other flying craft then vertibucks?” I asked, looking between the two.

Indigo just looked at Midas and laughed. “Oh, you have no idea, you should’ve seen what they brought out during the war. But yeah it could be a Raptor, I doubt they’d send out a Thunderhead or Nimbus though.”

“Well, thinking about the distance we have to travel, and how far they are going out of their way to get us, I think they sent a sports car rather than a jalopy.” Midas said. “So what do you say, 50 bits on it?”

“You’re on,” Indigo said with a smirk as she offered a hoof.

Midas quite happily took that hoof and gave it a shake. “What do you say Sweets, you in on the pot?”

“I don’t have any bits.” I said, simply and thought for a moment. “I have a few caps, but nothing really worth anything I don’t think.”

“It’s fine, I’ll give you the bits for it, I’m pretty confident.” Midas said with a smirk. “Just as long as you agree with me.”

“Fine, I’ll put 50 bits on the Raptor.” I said with a laugh, standing and putting my hoof into the fray. “Well, we have about half an hour before it gets here.”

I was about to turn around and start my way out, But I couldn’t help but notice a new sound. Looking back at the two, to which Midas had a claw outstretched as if she was expecting Indigo to give her something.

“Oh I so called it” Midas said with a laugh. “Someone go pick that phone up, cause i most definitely called it. Pay up”

“Yeah, yeah…” Indigo said as she went to the other room and came back with the bits as well as a bag that she tossed to Midas. “Your bag.”

Midas smirked and stuffed the bits and the pouch into her satchel. “Thank you.” She said before turning to me. “Better get moving, Big E doesn’t like waiting.”

Together, we went outside, I looked around for a few moments, catching a few merchants who were looking skyward, looking that way myself before my jaw dropped. I saw a sleek craft, clouds puffing from the sides as it hovered its way down to the ground, door opening the lower it got.

“That’s a… What’d you call it… Raptor?” I said, looking at Midas.

“Yep. That’s a sports car of the sky.” Midas said with a smirk. “Hard to believe that it was designed from the ground up to kill dragons.”

“Wait, why were they designed to kill dragons?” I asked, looking back at the ship. “Oh right, during the great war the dragons sided with the Zebra, didn’t they.”

“Yeah, after the Dragon Lord Ember got assassinated,” Indigo said with a shake of her head. “Not that the Dragons have had anything resembling a leadership since then.”

“ Yeah, Great Great Grandmother Ember.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Sometimes I wish I got to know her.”

I went to say something, but the Raptor finally fully landed, allowing a figure to walk out that open door and out to greet us. Looking at the pony I tilted my head, they were clad in full armor and nothing at all was visible of the pony inside. Holding an outstretched hoof and motioning for us to board.

“Was good seeing you again Midas, and nice meeting you Sweetie,” Indigo said with a smile. “Take care, I hope to see you again soon.”

We both smiled to Indigo and nodded, as we started to go and board the craft, as we walked past the armor clad pony I took a moment to take a closer look, nothing leaped out at me about them, except for the Rainbow colored lettering on the back of their helmet, spelling out ‘Loyalty’. Huh, Wonder what that’s all about.

Giving Indigo one last wave as the door sealed and we took our seats before the ship started to shudder and shake as it took off and sped away. Looking out the window I couldn’t even begin to imagine how fast we were traveling, this was truly amazing.

I had no clue where we were going, and right now, I didn’t really want to know. I had already made three amazing friends, and one I get to keep with me. I’m starting to feel like this all is a dream come true.

Level Up!

Perk Acquired: Better Together

As long a your friends are there for you, bettering yourself becomes second nature. When Traveling with a companion you gain an extra 25% experience.

Author's Note

I'd like to thank RuinQueenofOblivion for her assistance in writing both the NCR Guards and Colonel Indigo in this chapter. Was a pleasure working with you, as always, and credit where credit is due.

Chapter 3: Distant Twilight

Author's Note

I just wanted to say, before you dig into Chapter 3

Thank you, every single reader I have gotten means a lot to me, and I hope you return and read more. Please, Leave a rating and comment, it'd mean even more to me to see support and get critique on what I can work on and improve.

Special thanks goes out to both RuinQueenofOblivion and Megaskullmon for their assistance and support in the production of this chapter.

Chapter 3: Distant Twilight

I found it amazingly easy to lose track of time during this flight, going between staring out the window, to our armor clad friend who seemed fixated on me. Never stopping his stare for anything, a part of me wondered if he was even blinking behind that helmet of his. I only knew his gender simply because I overheard him talking with the pilots.

“So, Uh… Mister, armor guy.” I said nervously “What’s with the staring?”

“Ah, so you’ve noticed.” He said, his voice soft, not at all what I expected. “Well, you see, my Wife had a robot not too different from you. Modeled off the same pony.”

“There are more of me?” I said, jumping to my hooves. “Are they looking for what happened to Rarity and the Original Sweetie too?”

“No, I have to say this much. That robot was made by her ancestor, in a time of loneliness and sorrow.” He said, a hoof lifting and the helmet coming unlatched. Slowly removing it I could at first see his white coat, before his rainbow mane came into view. “You see, My wife is a descendant of Scootaloo, a very close friend to your likeness and namesake.”

“Where is your wife now, Mister..?” I asked, hoping to lead him into speaking his name. He stood quietly for a few moments before he smiled and looked at me with the most gentle eyes.

“With our daughter, in Scootaloo’s settlement over by Ponyville.” He said. “And my name is Spectra.”

To which Midas suddenly shot up, eyes wide as she stood. “Spectra, as in, Husband of Former President Winter Breeze, Spectra?” She said, a hint of both confusion and fear in her voice. “I’m sorry I did not recognize you sooner, President.”

“That’s what he gets for wearing that armor,” one of the pilots called back.

“Are you sure it’s wise to get in the middle of this?” The other pilot asked.

“Hey, what’s the point in going incognito if everyone recognizes you?” Spectra asked with a chuckle. “Not everyone would be thrilled to know that the President is going to visit an exceedingly high ranking member of the NCR that he knocked up during a party.”

“So much for Loyalty then, huh?” Midas said with a smirk. “Didn’t know the new one was yours. So how’d that happen? How’d Winter take it?”

“Oh, Winter seemed to take it perfectly fine to be honest. A part of me thinks she was the one encouraging it to happen in the first place. She planned the party, sent out all the invites, she must of known Midnight was… in her time” Spectra said with a nervous gulp. “Liquor and hormones, nasty combination.”

“Sounds like how I was born… to be honest.” The other Pilot said. “All that and a spa...”

“Hey, General Sparkle has a pretty cute flank, can’t say I’m not jealous,” the first pilot said with a snicker. “Though she’d probably just shoot me instead, crazy snipers.”

“Is it the flank you should care about or the mind of the mare? I would think one should care about her mind and how she feels. Rather then how she looks. Eh I was raised to be to good I guess.”

“Woah. Soldiers with standards? Who ever heard of that.” Spectra said with a laugh. “Look, I was a soldier once too, it’s how I met Winter, I know how much a nice body can get you going just as much as a nice mind, but let’s be honest with ourselves, It’s mostly the body.”

“Woah there hotshot.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Don’t let Winter hear you saying that. Don’t want to see what she does to your carcass after that.”

“Please, She knows I love her mind just as much as her body, and there ain’t one better in the Enclave on both fronts.” Spectra said with a chuckle.

“Well, except for Generals in the NCR.” Midas added with a snicker.

“I am so lost right now…” I said quietly, looking at the two, then to the door that seperated the cabin from the cockpit. “What are you all even talking about?”

“Is it bad that I found…. My husband in a town that killed a lot of the Enclave? I was on leave… and well got drunk. I got married to a Griffin.”

“New Pegasus?” Spectra said, tapping on the door.

“No I don’t wish to say the name. Just I was lucky they welcomed me.”

“I don’t ever intend to get married.” Midas said with a shrug, leaning against the back wall of the cabin. “I don’t want to split my wealth two ways, it’s mine, I earned it.”

“What if they are just as wealthy as you are?” I asked, looking to Midas who just kind of stopped, and looked at me with a dumbfounded look on her face. I guess she never thought about finding some creature with as much wealth or more wealth.

“Not to mention riches aren’t everything.” Spectra added. “Who knows, love could just be around the corner for you waiting to nip you in the tail the moment you least expect it.”

“You never know, could be sitting in the cockpit right now,” the first pilot said with a laugh. “You’re kinda cute for a dragon, I wouldn’t mind…”

The other pilot laughs “Hmm or maybe there could be two. My husband is extremely open bird. He doesn't mind since that’s what his species are like.”

“You’re both lucky that I don’t think anyone back here can fly this thing, elsewise, I’d get to see what two overly brash pegasus look like when they go splat.” Midas said with a groan.

“Actually, I can fly it.” Spectra said with a smirk. “At least they stopped hitting on Winter, or picking on me for what happened with Midnight.”

“Darn, I knew we forgot to do something,” the first pilot said with a chuckle.

“Oh yes I forgot about that.. But I wish to keep my job.” The other laughed.

“So uh, how long till we get there?” I asked, shifting in my seat and leaning against the wall, looking out the window with a sigh. “All this is fun and all, but something about flying is making me really uneasy.”

“Who knew, robotic ponies can get airsick!” Midas said and patted my back. “Its okay sweets, we’ll get there soon enough.”

“Careful, we don’t want to be cleaning up nuts and bolts back there for a week,” the pilot called back. “Or, whatever robots would throw up.”

“Oh come on, I don’t even have a stomach!” I said before groaning softly and turning away from that window. “But maybe looking out the window isn’t a good idea.”

“Oh I’m very sorry miss. I don’t mean to make you sick with my flying. I'd rather not clean up whatever a robot craps out…” The other said softly.

“What part of I don’t even have a stomach do you two not get, the part where I don’t eat, or the part where I don’t have any sort of waste product!” I said, growing quite angry with the two. “And for your information I am powered by a prototype powercore, I have no need for external energy at all, so don’t you go making snide remarks about plugging things into me or something like that!”

“And that, my friends, is how you fluster an Android.” Midas said before she’d lay an arm over me. “Don’t take what they say to heart, they’re just tasteless pilots, y’know, chair force.”

To which, myself, Midas, and even Spectra had a soft chuckle to.

“Oh don’t worry miss The one that married me with my husband also shot me for making jokes at his expense so I know not to anger a robotic creature.”

“Even so, don’t you have any sort of common decency? I mean, I went through this with that NCR Colonel.” I said with a sigh. “Is this going to be a running gag or something, that everywhere I go I get to hear quips and snide remarks about me, just because I’m manufactured rather than born?”

“Her name is Indigo.” Midas said with a sigh. “And I guess you’ll just need to get a tougher skin about it Sweets, I get it too, Dragons aren’t exactly liked in a majority of places in Equestria.”

“Yeah, It’s less to do with you and more to do with the fact that Robots aren’t usually of your caliber out here in the wastelands.” Spectra said. “Most don’t have feelings, and the ones that do are very basic and rudimentary, It’s really nothing against you, it's just a knee jerk response because critters of the wastes are used to using robots as punching bags.”

“Yes that’s I learned that myself the hard way when I tried that on the robot that shot me. I tried being like I was with you. He just turned around brought out his gun and said dance then maybe we will make fun of you later.”

“I wouldn’t do that…” I said, kind of a little embarrassed that other robots could act that way.

“Yeah, and if you tried you wouldn’t have to worry about missing, with the firepower you got you could take down the building they’re in with no problems.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Really though, it’s really nothing against you, ponies and other creatures will just have to get used to the fact you’re just like them, just a little more metallic.”

“So, who made you. I know you’re not another one of Scootaloo’s side projects.” Spectra said with a smile, trying to relax some. “Not sure how many other ponies out in Equestria even know about Sweetie Belle, let alone enough to try and recreate her.”

“Her father.” I said, looking down and sighing. “My father.”

“Hondo?” Spectra said, a little confused. “Pretty sure he died before the war, didn’t he? He didn’t even have any expertise in robotics either…”

“No.” I said softly, looking at that now increasingly confused stallion. “What you know to be truth, is not the truth. Rarity is truly Sweetie’s mother, and her father pursued his career and life with Robronco rather than staying and being a father for Sweetie or a Husband for Rarity.”

“News to me, and I’m used to knowing everything.” Spectra said with a chuckle. “So, tell me Sweetie, where is your father now?”

“He’s…” I said, before locking up, I could feel a familiar claw on my shoulder, and looked up to see Midas smiling down at me.

“He’s gone, Spectra. He passed away just a few days ago, he turned into a ghoul and spent the last two hundred years making her.” Midas said, trying to spare me the memory for the moment.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” Spectra said, coming over and kneeling down, smiling at me. “It’s alright though, cause he’s in Elysium now, with Rarity and Sweetie, he’s back with his family.”

“Yeah, I guess.” I managed to squeak out, swallowing my sadness for a moment. “But what about me? I’m a robot, a android, Will I ever go to Elysium? Will I see him again?”

Both Spectra and Midas looked at eachother, then at me, collectively giving me a sigh before I could feel Midas giving me a hug, neither of them knew, or wanted to say anything. I suppose, that is something I’ll have to live with. Do I, as a robot, a singular unit, have a soul?

00000

The remainder of the flight was quiet, I suppose my question caused a bit of tension between the pilots and the passengers. It was a question that would not be easy to answer, and even harder for some to admit. As the ship came in and settled down, the door opened and we departed, giving a wave to our pilots before they took off, Spectra putting his helmet back on and following with.

“Not going with them?” Midas asked, looking to Spectra. “I figured they wouldn’t want to leave the President of the Enclave alone, without any guard.”

“Trust me, I have guards, they just… aren’t seen.” Spectra said, looking between me and Midas for a moment. “The Alliance with the NCR has given valuable information and training to our recon groups, in the words of the NCR’s First Recon, The last thing you’ll never see.”

“Spooky.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Don’t know how I feel knowing I have a crosshair on me at all times.”

“Well, I’m sure they know what they’re doing, so have faith in them.” I said, giving a nervous smile before I looked at the path ahead, I could see structures between trees and a few buildings hidden in tall grass. Almost looked like a story book, a hidden grotto of sorts.

I sighed and looked back to Midas, who seemed rather unphased by it all, and well, Spectra hidden in his armor I had no clue what he was thinking. I looked back to the path, this time I saw a pony approaching us. I couldn’t quite make out the details, but I could tell it was a mare at least, from the distance I believe I could see a horn as well.

A dark blue Unicorn mare dressed in relatively simple gear approached. She had a short black mane and a tail that curled around a little, she smiled softly when she saw Spectra and then looked at me curiously.

“Mister President, its good to see you again,” she said with a nod. “And you too Midas, who’s your friend here?”

“She’s a member of Midas’ party, I hear their mission into Stable 15 was successful.” Spectra said, “So where’s Twilight? How’s she treating her mother?”

“Wait, you named your new foal Twilight?” Midas said with a snicker. “Family tradition finally come round and bite you in the flank? Going of the fact that you are a Sparkle in a long line of Sparkles, that means her name is the same as the Ministry mare’s”

“You don’t think I haven’t realized that right?” Midnight said with a groan. “But she’s doing fine, her big sister is watching her right now. Though, she has to prepare for her own ceremony soon.”

“Oh?” Spectra said, slight surprise in his voice. “She’s tying the knot already?”

“Wait, didn’t you two name her? Sounds like it wasn’t either of your ideas?” Midas questioned, thinking for a moment. “Don’t tell me the powers that be told you to name her that”

“She is almost 18, and NCR or not she is still a Dayrunner, we have our traditions,” Midnight said with a nod. “And, well that’s complicated but in short, yes. Equestria has a funny way of doing things sometimes.”

“Well, Twilight Sparkle or not.” Spectra said, taking his helmet back off. “She’s still my daughter, and well, I wouldn’t miss a chance to see her.”

“And what is the tradition for picking a partner in your tribe then, Miss Midnight?” I asked, curious about how these ponies have handled such sensitive matters.

“Just Midnight is fine, and the Dayrunners have always been primarily hunters and warriors,” Midnight said. “To earn the favor of a mare, you must prove yourself to her by bringing a trophy of one of your kills before her during the period of the ceremony. If she deems you worthy, she takes you as her mate.”

“Oh.” Curiosity still peaked, but a little more timid to ask anything more. “So uh… what did your mate bring you.” I managed to squeak out, looking at Spectra, wondering if he had to bring her anything to make up for things.

“The heart of a Devildog,” Midnight said with a smirk. “They’re the top predators around here, a very worthy prize. Blaze was a good stallion and a good father for Aurora, I sometimes wish he was still here.”

“Oh, he uh… he passed?” I asked nervously.

“Yes, he was killed by Raiders a couple of years before the NCR was formed,” Midnight said sadly.

“Sorry.” I said and shied away a bit.

“Death is a rather… touchy subject for her right now.” Midas said with a shrug and a sigh. “She just lost her dad not too long ago”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Midnight said as she bowed her head a little. “I wish there was more I could say or do.”

“No, It’s fine. He’s in a better place.” I said, looking at Spectra who simply smiled and nodded. “He’s finally getting to be the dad he always wanted to be.”

“That is good,” Midnight said with a nod and smiled a little. “So, you helped Midas get the blueprints? Thank you for that, these will do a lot of good for the NCR and our allies.”

“Big steps forward from a little pre-war tech.” Midas said, digging into her bag and pulling out the bundles of paper. “I believe you’ll find everything you want is in this.”

Midnight levitated up the bundles of papers and looked them over for a long moment. She nodded and put them away before she looked back at Midas. “Thank you, I’ll make sure these get into the right hooves,” she said before levitating out a bag. “Your payment as agreed.”

“Seems a little light, but you guys never screwed me over before.” Midas said, snatching up the bag and putting in her satchel. “So, what’s next, any more pre war tech you need me to fetch?”

“Actually, we really should focus on my mission…” I said with a nervous chuckle, trying my best not to upset or interrupt.

“Sweets, you already found out more about your mission without doing diddly, we just keep living life day to day and I am sure we’re bound to come across all the information you’ll ever need and more.” Midas said with a chuckle and a ruffle of my mane. “No need to be so impatient.”

“Your mission?” Midnight asked curiously.

“To discover the fates of Rarity and my namesake, Sweetie Belle, and to find out if they have any descendants in the wastelands” I said, looking to Midnight. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything, would you? I already heard that there is a Settlement that a miss Scootaloo calls home, and that she had direct contact with both Rarity and Sweetie Belle.”

“Yes, she runs a settlement near Ponyville,” Midnight said with a nod. “That would probably be your best place to look for anything more than second hoof accounts. Or if you could find Littlepip, she saw some things through memory orbs and she’s from the same Stable Sweetie was in.”

“Sweetie made it into a stable?” I said, ears perking up and a smile coming across my face. “Which! Oh, this is great, that means she wasn’t killed in the blast or anything like that”

“Uh, Stable Two, she was its first Overmare,” Midnight said and blinked a little. “So, your best bet might be to head towards Ponyville.”

“What happened to Stable Two, nothing like what happened to Fifteen I hope.” I commented, looking at Midas, who shrugged and I looked back to Midnight. “I’ve heard of a book, that apparently chronicles some of what happened, should I consider finding a copy?”

“That would be a good idea, I’m sure we can find one easily,” Midnight said with a nod. “There are a few books out there, but Littlepip’s should be the one you want.”

“Well, what about something that makes some money, you know, my kind of business.” Midas said with a sigh. “I get you want to finish your mission, but some things are more important.”

“Sorry, yes, I’ll see if I can find anything,” Midnight said. “You’re free to stay in the village for as long as needed. I’m sure we can work out some sort of sleeping arrangements.”

“No no, no need for that we can handle getting a room or something ourselves.” Midas said with a wave of her claw, before she urged me into a what appeared to be a nearby market stall.

“Why’d you do that?” I asked, looking at her confused and slightly annoyed, I was enjoying the talk.

“She is a new mother, the father of her newborn foal is here, and her first daughter is on the cusp of a very important ceremony where she’ll pick a mate that she’ll spend hopefully the rest of her life with. I think you’ve wasted enough of the important lady’s time.” Midas said with a groan, peaking out a window and watching as Spectra and Midnight left. “You two can talk and shoot the breeze all day long, another day.”

“But that was rude!” I said with a huff, sitting and crossing my forelegs across my chest. “Could've at least let me say a proper goodbye.”

“Oh, yes, and let you go on with something else for the next hour and a half. Look, for a android, or whatever, you’re really long winded when you want to be.” Midas said with a sigh, looking back to me. “I got places to be, ponies to see, caps and bits to collect, I can’t sit round waiting for you to get bored talking with someone.”

“Could of left without me.” I said, giving a sigh and slumping a little. “I mean, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to waste your time or hers, it’s just this mission, it’s really important to me.”

“And like I said, you figured out so much in just your first day hanging out with me, if you focus and put on blinders and just chase it, you’ll get it done within a week and then what?” Midas said, tapping a foot. “Your purpose will be done, you’ll have no mission left to complete, just going to find a new one? Robots don’t work that way.”

“I…” I said, growing a little confused, sighing a little. “I guess you’re right, I just, I want to get it done, it was my father’s only wish of me.”

“Sorry to be so brutal Sweets, but he’s not here now. You no-life this mission of yours and you’ll end up sitting in a corner wondering why you exist by the end of the week.” Midas said with a sigh. “I care about you, I like having you around, if you just chase after this you’ll end up a pile of scrap metal with nothing in no time, and, I’m not ready to let you go yet.”

I sat there in a stunned silence, Looking at Midas, then to my reflection in the window, giving a sigh before I smiled a little and looked back to my Draconic companion. She had said so much, opened up so much since I met her, a part of me thinks it’s because of what she knows about the old pre-war Sweetie, another, maybe that she actually has grown to understand that I am not that Sweetie, and that I’m my own pony.

“I care about you too Midas.” I said softly, my frustration and anger turning to gentle compassion. “I didn’t consider your feelings about this, and, I’m sorry for that.”

“It’s okay, You’re just, following your programming.” Midas said with a sigh. “But you’re more than that, alright? You’re more than just the culmination of wires, and gears, and programming, you’re a pony just like every other flesh and blood pony out there.”

“I guess.” I said with a quirky smile. “I remember hearing my dad saying something, way back when I was just, well, a pile of parts and circuit boards.”

“What’s that?” Midas said, her concern turning to curiosity, smiling more warmly at me as she moved around and sat beside me.

“Wires only understand the code of it’s command, yet somehow I can tell, you still love me how I am.” I said with a chuckle. “I think it was a song he liked, something about how a android could love, and be loved, and be more than just the sum of its parts and programming.”

“Well, he’s right.” Midas said with a smile. “I can tell you care about me, and I know I care about you. You might be a bucket of bolts and my only friend prone to rusting, but in my mind you’re just like them.”

We just sat there for a few moment, just thinking about what the other had said. Chuckling every now and then and giving each other nudges. A part of me felt there was more to this than just a mutual companionship, or a basic friendship, I found myself looking up to her, admiring her for her strength and determination, wanting to be more like her, like she was an elder sister of sorts.

As time went on, we eventually stood and started to wander around the village, the dayrunners had quite the setup here. There was a good deal of shops and even a few places to grab a bite to eat. I was particularly surprised to see what appeared to be a robotics shop, built into a tree.

00000

The later the day went, the more ponies seemed to show up, many of them dressed in styles of clothing that I had never seen before. I suppose it may of been a way to tell what tribe or village each member was from, assuming that they are all here for a reason. Mares and stallions alike, all showing up, some in small groups some all alone, I suppose this may be because of what Midnight said earlier, something to do with her eldest daughter and picking her mate.

Following the hustle and bustle of the arriving ponies, we found ourselves in a gathering, with Midnight standing on a central podem with, who I assume to be her daughter standing beside her. The first time I had ever seen the foal, Surprisingly, she seemed to look a bit like the Ministry mare as well, I couldn’t help but wonder just what was going on with that little filly.

I nudged at Midas and went to whisper something to her before Midnight spoke, addressing the gathered crowd.

“I’m glad to see all of you gathered here today,” Midnight said. “As there are many of you here who may not be familiar with the traditions of the Dayrunner Tribe, or just need a refresher, the terms of this challenge are as follows. You claim to be the finest hunters and warriors Equestria has to offer, now is your chance to prove yourselves. You must go into the Wilderness and hunt and bring back a trophy of your prey. You will return with your prize or you will not return at all, the Wilderness is unforgiving. Those who return will be judged, and one of you will be chosen by my daughter Aurora to be her mate. This is your last chance if you want to back out, but I wish you all luck, may the best being win.”

I blinked, it was still alien to me to hear ponies, or any creature going out and willingly hunting or killing anything, let alone just for the hoof of a mare. Shaking my head I looked up to Midas, who seemed partially interested at the same time kind of disappointed. Poking at her side a bit to get her attention.

“Hey Midas, what do you think of all this?” I asked, smiling a little nervously.

“Sounds like they ripped off a dragon tradition, and then watered it down a bit to make it mushy and soft enough for ponies.” Midas said with a shrug. “Way back when, dragons had to compete in multiple life threatening events all to retrieve a single item that declared them as the next dragon lord. It’s been lost since the last dragon lord Ember died.”

“I believe we’ve talked about that in the past?” I said, nodding and looking back up to the podem where midnight had been standing. “I believe you called her great great grandma or something like that.”

“Yeah, Dragon Lord Ember was my great great grandmother, nothing special, though records say she only had one mate and one clutch of eggs before she was assassinated.” Midas said with a shrug. “Still feels like a watered down version of that, instead of multiple challenges, there is only one, and all they gotta do to prove it, is bring back a piece of it, they could find a dead devildog out in the field, cut out the heart or cut off its head and bring it back, and no one could prove they killed it or not.”

“This has been our tradition for over 200 years,” Midnight said as she approached Midas from behind. “We have precautions to make sure that suitors are honest, there are magical techniques to check the age of a kill and ways to make sure that the suitor is truthful. If they break the rules, they are kicked out and are looked upon with great shame.”

“Oh no, not the great shame!” Midas said with a smirk. “Look here, you want to make it fun and challenging and make sure your daughter comes home with the best of the best, why not have her go out with them, watch them hunt to not only verify the kill, but to assess their ability and hunting technique, Anyone can bag the biggest and the baddest if they are lucky enough, but to do it with the skill and finesse of a true huntsman, gotta be there first claw to see that.”

“She does have a point,” Aurora said as she came up to us.

“Yeah, like oh, I don’t know, taking down a devildog, bringing back the heart and winning the hoof, but then dying in some raider attack.” Midas said with a snicker. “Hunters are warriors, if they cannot defend themselves in battle, then perhaps they cannot be a true huntsman either.”

Midnight shot her a look and Aurora looked down a little. “It, is an option if the mare would like to,” Midnight finally said. “The only role she has is the choosing and the ritual preparation for that. Aurora, would you like to go out with the suitors as Midas suggested?”

“Actually, I would, Midas has a point,” Aurora said with a shake of her head, a little bit of pain could be heard in her voice. “I’ll do it.”

“Bring two guns.” Midas said with a chuckle. “One, for shooting the suitor if they get a little… inquisitive, and the other for signalling for help.” Midas said, taking a moment to dig around in her satchel before pulling out what looked like a pistol, but had a large tube rather then a barrel. “Can take mine, I don’t need it anymore - The group that used these fell apart at the seams when a little bit a corruption made it into their ranks.”

Aurora took it in her magic and examined it for a moment before she nodded and smiled at Midas. “Thank you, that means a lot.”

“Excuse me, uhm, ma’am” A young male’s voice could be heard, turning round to see a cloaked figure approaching, pastting both me and Midas and stopping before Midnight, flipping down his hood to reveal his pale off-white coat and powder blue mane. I couldn’t help but notice, his horn was curved. “I was told there was a tournament, but was not told that it was for the hoof of your daughter, I would like to withdraw my entry, I am not prepared for such… commitments.”

“Of course, we’re not going to force anyone who doesn’t want to participate,” Midnight said with a nod as Aurora looked at him curiously. “You’re free to drop out or withdraw if you want.”

“Thank you.” He said before he turned around, and for a moment I could feel his golden eyes set on me, as if he was surprised to see me as much as I was to him.

“Excuse me?” I said, reaching out a hoof to stop him. “What are you?”

“What do you mean, what am I?” He asked, looking at me. “Do you mean my name? It’s Alabaster.”

“No, I mean, what are you, you don’t like like any pony I’ve ever seen.” I said, smiling a bit. “But it is nice to meet you.”

“We, have no name we call ourselves, but the striped ones call us Lunari, if that means anything to you.” Alabaster said with a confused look. “And it’s nice to meet you Miss…?”

“Sweetie, Sweetie Belle.” I said and smiled a bit more brightly. “And she’s Midas.” Pointing to my dragon companion, who seemed rather displeased with having her introduction taken away from her.

“Ah, Miss Belle, I must ask, what are you?” Alabaster said with a curious smile. “I have never seen a mare of metal before.”

“Robot, Android, whatever.” I said with a shrug and chuckled. “And it’s just Sweetie, no need for such formalities.”

“Robot… Like, the floating orbs and singing ones?” Alabaster said, rubbing at his head.

“Do you mean the Mr. Handy and Spritebots?” Midnight asked as Aurora walked off to get ready to go.

“Is this what you call them?” Alabaster said, before he looked back to me. “These, Mister Handy and Spritebot… Are you like them?”

“Not quite, I mean, I guess yes on a level that I am mechanical and manufactured, but no, because they aren’t simulated to be alive, I am.” I said with a sigh. “Some other ponies I’ve run into seem to think I am nothing more than a walking talking toaster”

“Toaster, What is a Toaster? Is it another type of robot?” Alabaster said confused, looking between all of us.

“It's a kitchen appliance, made for toasting bread.” Midas said in an annoyed tone. “How could you not know that, where have you been all this time, under a rock or something?”

“Well, he said he’s a Lunari, I’ve only heard rumors of them from Riva and the other Zebras from the FRA,” Midnight said. “They’re from a far away land and have mostly lived in caves and grass huts from what I’ve heard. He may not be familiar with your level of technology.”

“Yes, the striped ones, Zebra as you call them.” He said with a nod. “They found us, many moons ago, they taught us how to build with mud and light our homes with tallow, they have taught us much, and asked so little in return.”

“Doesn’t sound like any Zebra I’ve ever met.” Midas said, looking at him closer. “So, what’s with the curved horn, straight horns too drab and boring for you.”

“Drab, what is drab?” Alabaster said, confusedly.

“Nevermind, What’s with the fancy bump on your face.” Midas said with a groan.

“It is as it has been for countless generations, scrolls we have found told stories of how our ancestors had straight horns, like hers.” Alabaster said, pointing to Midnight. “And how we looked far different then we do now, but the Jungle was unforgiving, we had to change to survive.”

“Not really an explanation.” Midas said before she threw her claws up and turned around, walking off in a fit of frustration.

“Actually it makes sense to me,” Midnight said. “Curved horns wouldn’t get caught on foliage while you’re moving quickly through the forest. It’s why we typically carry knives, but that’s not always an option.”

“A knife, it is a bladed utensil, yes?” Alabaster said with a tilt of his head. “We have one, but it is not effective at removing tree limbs or vines, much better at slashing meat.”

Midnight rolled her eyes and in a blink of an eye levitated a small blade out of her pack and gave it a light twirl before offering it to him at the hilt. “Dayrunner Hunting Knives are far from mere utensils. We’ve learned to use everything at our disposal to hunt and fight.”

Alabaster looked to the blade, taking it in his magic and examining along its length. “Well, it is… Nice blade, but small.” He said, before he turned and lifted his cloak, pulling what could only be described as a short sword from its sheath. “This, this is traditional blade of… my tribe.”

“Okay, that is impressive,” Midnight admitted and blinked a little.

“Not sharp anymore, need to find sharpening stone.” Alabaster said, giving a sigh before he offered it to Midnight. “Want to hold it?”

Midnight took it in her magic and examined it carefully. “Well, I can definitely say that its well crafted. It looks good.”

“Thank you.” Alabaster said and smiled “If you want, you can have it. I do not think I will be needing it any time soon.”

“So, you’re going to talk about your knives, and then just, give her your only weapon?” Midas said, tapping a foot. “Either you have a deathwish, or you’re hiding something, who’d you steal the dagger from.”

“I did not steal.” Alabaster said, turning to Midas. “Why does the scaled one accuse me of such.”

“My name is Midas, not the scaled one, and you know that.” Midas said with a groan. “No pony is just going to give up their only weapon, especially a priceless family heirloom, unless there is either something wrong with it, or you actually stole it and you’re trying to get rid of a hot item.”

“Never said it was a family heirloom.’ Alabaster pointed out. “And, I do not think I am going to be returning home, for a very long time, journeys of discovery rarely end swiftly.”

Midnight bowed her head slightly. “Thank you, I’ll take good care of it. And yes, I know how that is, let me guess, rite of passage? Go out and find yourself and overcome challenges according to your traditions?”

“Yes and no.” Alabaster said with a sigh. “In my tribe, it is customary for two to be given to each other at birth, they swap places and live with the other’s family until they are of age, once they are ready, they are sent out into the jungle to discover themselves, and then they return, and marry the one they are given to.”

“So, you’re running away from a betrothal.” Midas said with a shrug.

“I don’t think he’s running away, are you Alabaster.” I said with a concerned smile.

“Running away? No, I would never.” Alabaster said, kicking a hoof in the dirt. “I am concerned that, I am not ready for this step, to become what my tribe expects of me.”

“That I can definitely understand,” Midnight said with a shake of her head. “My tribal obligations have never been unreasonable, but. Well, being a Sparkle, sometimes you have certain expectations heaped on you.”

“What does it mean, to be a Sparkle? What is a Sparkle?” Alabaster said, looking to Midnight. “Is it a bloodline? A heritage of sorts?”

“I’m a descendant of Twilight Sparkle, the Ministry Mare for the Ministry of Arcane Science,” Midnight said with a shake of her head. “My mother, Nebula Sparkle, traveled around Equestria to old M.A.S. sites. Me, well, I had a floating robot show up one day and ask me to try and use an Element of Harmony.”

“I see… I will spare you the questions I have.” Alabaster said with a chuckle. “This land, it was our home in the past, but it seems to alien to me, why would any of you ever want to live here? Why did you all not come when we left?”

“When you, left?” Midnight asked and tilted her head a little. “What do you mean?”

“My tribe, we left equestria under guidance from a Princess, even our home in the jungle is better than much of this place.” Alabaster said, looking at Midnight curiously. “Why did she not take you too, why did she leave this place with anything?”

“Uh, it hasn’t always been this way, about what, 213 years ago about, there was a thing called the great war, it did this.” Midas said. “Did you not know that?”

“No, I did not.” Alabaster said, looking even more confused. “If this land has not always been this way, then why did the princess take us away to the jungle?”

“I wish I could tell you, you’d have to ask Luna that one,” Midnight said with a shake of her head. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you more.”

“Luna? The moon?” Alabaster said, turning his attention to Midnight. “The moon does not speak.”

“Uh, no the Princess actually… I’m guessing the Princess who took you away, that doesn’t really sound like something Celestia would do,” Midnight said. “Let me guess, she didn’t exactly leave a name and forwarding address.”

“As I said, many moons ago, we have no memory or scroll describing whom it was that took us, just that she was royalty and that she wished us a better life.” Alabaster said. “Princess Luna…”

“There, is a way to communicate with her, sort of,” Midnight said thoughtfully for a moment. “When she died on the Last Day her consciousness kind of got, scattered. One part of it wound up in the ancestor of a friend of mine from the Imperial War and she can temporarily transfer it through the dreamscape.”

“I thank you for the offer, but I must decline. We will find this when we are ready.” Alabaster said with a smile. “For now, I must be going, I have much to think about.”

“But you have no weapon.” Midas pointed out. “So, you must be running off to die.”

“He wouldn’t of just, given his weapon if he wasn’t confident that he would survive.” I said and gave Midas a bit of a glare. “How about, you come and travel with us, I guess you could say I am on a quest of discovery about myself too.”

“Robots have tribes?” Alabaster said with a chuckle. “Strange creatures you Equestrians are.”

“I don’t have a tribe, but I do have a mission.” I said with a smile. “And, I could use all the help I can get on it.”

“Nonsense, You have me that’s all you need.” Midas said “What more could he possibly give that I can’t”

“Magic lessons?” Alabaster said, pointing to his horn. “Training in Combat techniques?”

“Or, just companionship, It’s going to be a really long road, and honestly, I don’t know where or how it’s going to end” I said with a sigh. “But, I do know that when you’re with your friends, you’re never too far from home, and you’ll never be alone.”

Midnight smiled a little at that and nodded. “That is very true, I still stay connected with my friends from the war, even if they live miles away.”

“About that.” Midas said. “Could we perhaps, discuss getting Indigo out of that dust bowl you stuffed her in?”

Midnight chuckled and shook her head a little. “Well, she helped you get these plans, I’ll arrange something, don’t worry,” she said before adding jokingly. “Maybe an outpost on the edge of the Crystal Wasteland.”

“Hey, just keep her away from the booze and I think what happened over in Haythens isn’t going to happen again.” Midas said with a chuckle. “She just can’t control herself when she gets around liquor.”

“I have to wonder, Substance abuse is not a new concept to me.” Alabaster said. “This, Indigo, did she have a bad childhood? Something Traumatic that could cause her to wish to do this bodily harm?”

“Yeah, it’s called growing up in the outskirts of Manehattan.” Midas said with a groan, “Look, if you’re going to be traveling with us, couple ground rules.”

“Midas.” I said, giving her a nudge. “Do you really think it’s the time to do that?”

“Hey, no better time than the present, right Curly Que.” Midas said, looking at Alabaster with a smirk.

“Curly Que? Are you attempting to mock me, or give me a term of endearment?” Alabaster said with a chuckle. “I wish to know if I should be upset, or flattered.”

Midas went to speak, which I just nudged her into silence before I smiled at Alabaster. “I think that understanding, will come in time.” I said, taking a moment to glance back to Midas to make sure she wasn’t about to say something she’d regret.

“You get used to it, she does that with everyone,” Midnight said with a shake of her head as she looked back. “I should go check on Aurora and see everypony off.”

“Alright, we’ll catch you later.” I said with a smile, waving to Midnight before Midas, Alabaster, and I turned round and went to find a place to stay for the upcoming night.

00000

As night set over the settlement, myself, Midas, and Alabaster settled into a room we managed to get from a local inn. With all these hunters around we were lucky to get a room at all, I guess having Midnight’s word made life a little easier. Come to think of it, I don’t think anypony has told us the name of this place, or even what Midnight’s role in this place is, oh well, I suppose that is for the morning.

I fetched some blankets and pillows from a closet in the hallway, bringing them in and offering them to my companions, to which and much to my surprise, they both rejected the bedding. Confused I just shrugged and brought them over to the couch where I would be laying for the night, building myself a nice little pillow fort type structure.

“So, What are we going to do tomorrow?” I asked, pulling a blanket over my side and giving a simulated, yet highly realistic yawn. “Still wait for Midnight to come up with something else we can do to make some caps, or bits, or whatever?”

“I suppose so.” Midas said, as she messed with the bedding on the main bed. “I don’t like hanging round one place too long, makes it too easy for things to sneak up on you.”

“Have you a reason to be wary of such a situation?” Alabaster said, having made himself comfortable on the guest bed. “Need I keep my weapon on ready in case of bandits in the night?”

“No, at least, not that I know of.” Midas said, looking at him with mild agitation. “Like I need to be protected anyway, I can handle myself thank you.”

“I think you could handle a whole army on your own Midas, at least if your attitude had anything to say about it.” I said with a chuckle, getting more comfortable with my arrangements.

“Maybe not a whole army, but maybe the entirety of a town’s guard.” Midas said with a shrug, lounging back onto the bed. “Can’t defend against something you can’t see coming just from the sheer number of creatures after you.”

Both I and Alabaster shrugged and laid back into our respective places. Staring at the ceiling it wasn’t long before I heard the familiar sound of sleeping coming from the two beds in the room, peeking up I could see they both had fallen asleep. Laying my head down and closing my eyes, letting my body rest and systems go into standby, I fell into my own sleep.

00000

Floating? Why do I feel like I am floating? Opening my eyes and sitting up, I come to realize that I am in the middle of an ocean, floating on a boat alone. Looking around, calling out hoping to hear something calling back but the only response I get is my own echo.

“What in the hay…” I asked myself, moving to the side of the boat, and looking over the edge, to my surprise what looked back at me, looked like me, but not, I had fur and flesh, not metal and membranes.

It took a few moments before it hit me, I was dreaming, this all is a dream. I looked around, I could see silhouettes moving in the fog, other boats but none of them would respond to me. Starting to panic some I started trying to paddle my boat, but found that it wouldn’t move.

“Do not be afraid, Sweetie.” A haunting voice said, I looked around wondering just where that voice had come from, before I had the urge to look up, I could see a reflection of the world, as if there was water above me, but in my boat, sat a dark blue alicorn.

“Who are you.” I asked, lifting a hoof wanting to see if the alicorn did the same.

“Who I am isn’t a concern, Sweetie. It is who you are that I am worried about.” She said, looking to me with a gentle smile. “You aren’t the same Sweetie that I knew, yet you are her aren’t you.”

“I don’t know what you mean?” I said, confusion rising, looking at myself for a moment “What happened to me, why am I like this?”

“Because inside, it is who you are.” She said, her calm demeanor overwhelmingly creepy. “A little android, who wishes to be flesh and blood, and wants to know what happened to the one before.”

“It’s my mission, my father gave it to me.” I said, as the world twisted and I found myself standing on the ground in, what looked to be a town. Standing in front of a carousel boutique. “To find out what happened to my namesake and likeness, and to her mother.”

“Mother? You mean Rarity correct?” She said, sitting down beside me. “Very few knew that Rarity was truly Sweetie’s mother, how did you come by this information?”

“My Father, he’s her father, her real father.” I said with a sigh. “I’m nothing but a facsimile, made to look like her to ease his broken heart.”

“Yet, in your programming, your mind, your heart, you are her. Not in perfection but you are her.” She said, That blue mare holding a hoof out, guiding me to look into the window. Giving a sigh I simply did as instructed, I was confused on how a robot even dreams, let alone can see ponies I’ve never even met.

Inside the Boutique, I saw them for the first time together, a Stallion, a mare, and a filly. I could feel a tear welling up in my eye before I turned around to see she was gone, Looking around before I just looked back into that building.

“Is this Elysium?” I simply asked, not really expecting an answer. Not taking my eyes off them, watching as he played with a young Sweetie, Rarity making them clothing for what appeared to be, an upcoming hearth warming eve celebration.

“Yes, and no.” I heard her say, looking for her I could still not find her. “Your questions will be answered in time, little bot, including your most important one.”

I stopped and thought for a moment, what did she mean by that, what question was more important than my mission? I could spend all eternity sitting here, watching them in this phantom town. Smiles, laughter, together at last, it was all too much, I didn’t want to wake up and go back to the real world.

Of course, that’s when I did.

Gasping and sitting up, finding both Alabaster and Midas standing over me with worried looks on their faces.

“W-What happened?” I asked, rubbing at the side of my head. “Why do you two look so freaked out.”

“Sweetie. You were mumbling in your sleep.” Midas said, giving a sigh.

“You kept saying, do not wake up, like you were commanding something.” Alabaster added.

“Yeah, I guess I didn’t want to wake up.” I said with a sigh. “I dreamt last night.”

“Wait, Androids can dream?” Midas said, looking at me more closely. “I mean, I can tell your dad put a lot of work into you to make you realistic, but did he really go that far?”

“Perhaps an aberration of your programming” Alabaster said, surprisingly insightful. “Did you see any figures, or anything specific in your dream?”

“Just, a blue mare.” I said, looking at him. “She was an Alicorn, not too much taller than you actually.”

“Mother has visited you.” Alabaster said, grinning widely. “This is a joyous occasion! To be visited by mother is considered one of the greatest blessings, She has not been seen by any member of the tribe for many generations. Some thought she abandoned us.”

“Mother?..” I said, looking at him increasingly confused.

“She is not really our mother, but she is mother of the night and mother of the moon, she watches over creatures like us, to protect us and guide us.” Alabaster said, sitting down and relaxing a little.

“Either way, I think we should get you looked at, if this is a malfunction or aberration of sorts, it needs to be handled.” Midas said, looking to Alabaster. “And you’re not going to throw any parties or sing any songs about this, this does not go beyond this room, Understood?”

“Yes ma’am.” I said, giving another sigh. “She said, that all my questions will have answers, including my most important one, what does she even mean by that, what was my most important question, I thought that was my mission.”

“You asked, not too long ago, you asked about if you could go to Elysium.” Midas said with a sigh. “And, well dragons don’t believe in it, and have our own form of afterlife, there is one uniform fact about it. There is no afterlife, for things without a soul.”

“So, that is what made you two so quiet.” I said with a sigh. “And because I am not living, and I was manufactured, I don’t have one.”

“I think that’s what she meant, your most important question, Do you have a soul.” Midas said, looking to Alabaster who had rather rapidly backed away from the two. “What’s your problem?”

“Spirits are tricky things, if our time with the striped ones has taught us anything, it is that many spirits cannot be trusted.” Alabaster said with a shake of his head “We believe that things we make with our hooves, cannot have souls, as they are made not born, and that if one was to get one, it was a spirit in possession of the object.”

“Yeah, but think of it this way, you were made.” Midas said, tapping a claw to her chin. “Just because you were made inside your mother, doesn’t mean you are any more or less manufactured then Sweetie here.”

“I was born, thank you very much.” Alabaster said with a huff.

“Yeah, but you work on ‘programming’ and you were ‘built’ by the blueprints provided by your parents, kind of like Sweetie was.” Midas said, giving her chin scales a scratch. “In my mind, She has just as likely a chance of having a soul as you or I do.”

Alabaster stayed quiet, looking between Midas and me before he relaxed some and sighed, Shaking his head and mumbling something under his breath before he went over to his bed and laid back down.

Looking back over to Midas as she sat on the couch beside me, I couldn’t help but smile at her. “Thank you for that.” I said softly. To which Midas just shrugged and gave my mane a ruffle.

“Don’t mention it Squirt.” She said, relaxing back into the pile of pillows I had put together. “I’m not going to let superstition and fear of the supernatural get in the way of our little dynamic duo action we got going.”

“Yeah,” I said, smiling and laying my head down, finding myself feeling even more drained and needing a rest just to recharge. Drifting back off to sleep with Midas nearby, feeling even more at ease and safe. The last thing I heard was a gentle voice, whispering to me ‘sleep tight’ before fading away to rest once more.

Level up!

Perk Acquired: A Sparkle of Friendship

Friendship can be one of the greatest motivators around, and as long as your friends are by your side, there’s nothing you can’t handle.

When in a full party, S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats Increased by 1.

When traveling alone, S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats Decreased by 2.

Chapter 4: Matchmaker

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 5: McIntosh Drop

Author's Note

I want to personally apologize in advance for the delays in getting this chapter out, I had a few difficulties keeping focus on it and making everything happen the way I wanted it to, and i wanted to Thank every reader of it for being so patient with me. I'll try to keep my Friday-Saturday-Sunday release schedule going in the future.

Happy Reading!

Chapter 5: McIntosh Drop

I took my time getting back to the ship, just watching the stars in the sky and the clouds drift by. Taking in the serenity of the moment and having time to myself to just breathe and relax. It’s far too easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of activity and action, and to miss the world around you, despite the land being in ruins, and death being a day to day norm, there is still more beauty to this world then I have ever really noticed.

When I reached the ship, the number of guards hanging around keeping an eye on it had dropped dramatically, I couldn’t tell if it was because Spectra had left, or if the guards are simply going to bed. Either way, greeting the guards as I went to board I couldn’t help but stop and notice one guard off to the side, out of the way, leaning against a tree.

Taking a deep breath, I walked over to where that guard had sat, sitting down beside them and giving them a nudge making them startle awake.

“Woah, woah, it’s okay there sugarcube.” I said with a chuckle. “Just saw you over here and wondered what’s going on, if something was bothering you or something.”

The armor clad pony looked at me, head cocked to one side and I could feel their stare. Giving a little bit of a nervous smile before they finally spoke.

“Oh, sorry ma’am, I didn’t mean to fall asleep on the job.” The pony said, jumping to their hooves, despite the distortion in the voice from the armor, I could tell the pony inside was a mare.

“It’s fine, you’re fine,” I said with a chuckle. “Just sit down, and relax alright? I’m not some high ranking general that’ll grill your bacon for a little bit of laziness.”

“... Yes ma’am.” She said, sitting back down, I could hear the confusion in her voice, I guess she expected the captain of the ship to be some sort of hard driven pony that earned their rank rather than the last one in line given it because there was no one left.

“So, Is there anything bothering you?” I said with a smile. Looking at her with my own head tilted curiously to the side.

“No Ma’am.” She said, going to get back up to which I stopped her again. “Ma’am, please just let me return to my duty, I promise this will not happen again.”

“Do I look mad?” I asked, quirking a brow and chuckling some. “And my name is Sweetie, you don’t need to keep calling me Ma’am.”

“But you are the captain of the Quetzal, we were always taught to give our superiors respect and to treat them with dignity, and that in addressing them we should only ever say yes or no, followed by ma’am or sir, depending.” She said, giving a nervous chuckle.

“Fresh out of the Academy?” I said with a smile. Leaning back against the tree. “I’m not Enclave, or NCR, or anything else, Just a pony, albeit robotic, but still just a pony like you and everyone else.”

“Ma’am?” She said, confusion in her voice continuing to grow. “You’re saying, you’re not affiliated with any group, and yet they gave you this vessel?”

“Eh, not by choice I don’t think, See I was the last one in line and no one else wanted to, so it kind of got passed down to me whether or not I wanted it.” I said with a chuckle. “So relax, I’m not going to court martial you or reprimand you for a bit of informality.”

“Yes ma-... Yes Sweetie.” She said before she relaxed a little and gave a sigh. “I don’t know if this really is the kind of life I want, I thought it was, after the war, what happened in Coltlumbia, it was inspiring, but now I’m not so sure.”

“Coltlumbia, Don’t think I’ve ever heard of that, where is it?” I said, that pony staring at me for a moment before she shook her head.

“We’re not allowed to talk about it with outsiders, Sorry ma’am” She said softly and with a sigh. “In fact, please forget I even mentioned it to you.”

“Why is that?” I said, my curiosity peaked, why was she so willing to talk about it one second, but closed up like a clam the next.

“Standing orders, ma’am.” She said. “As a soldier I am not allowed to speak about, or even reference the Enclave capital without express written instructions from the president himself.”

“So it’s the Enclave Capital?” I said with a chuckle. To which she simply facehooved and gave a sigh.

“As you see, I’m not very good at this.” She said, reaching up and removing her helmet. For the first time I could see her Orange Coat and cream colored mane, “Private Autumn McIntosh.”

“McIntosh, like Big Mac before the war?” I asked, tilting my head curiously and smiling more.

“Yeah, was about six generations ago the first McIntosh popped up in my family line, been a tradition ever since.” Autumn said with a sigh. “Well, unless what great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother Sugar belle said was true, then there was two more macs before us, and we were named after them”

“What do you mean.” I said curiously.

“Well, before the war, Sugar Belle and Big McIntosh were together, it didn’t work out though, the stress of everything and not wanting to move tore the two apart, Sugar Belle didn’t want Big Mac to know that she was carrying.” Autumn said with a sigh. “Thought that if he knew, he’d come back and be unhappy just to be there for her and the foal, and thought it wouldn’t of been what either of them truly wanted.”

“I see… So, Big Mac had a foal he never knew about?” I asked, tilting my head to the side.

“Exactly.” Autumn said with a nod. “His son grew up under Sugar Belle’s guidance, and he joined the military and ended up serving under his own dad. Years went by, and Big mac died protecting Celestia, and in his honor, the first mac of my line was named.”

“That’s so…. Sad” I said, pausing a second to think “I mean, having a foal you never knew about, that’s one thing, but having that foal serve in the military under you, and then name their first foal after you when you died, that’s a whole new level..”

“Yeah, I kind of try and not think ‘bout that.” Autumn said with a sigh. “Anyway, his Wife and their daughter got into Stable 66, where everything went all peachy keen for a couple generations, then the Enclave came and opened the stable, took us all out and gave us better lives.”

“So, how did you find out that you’re related to Big mac?” I said, scooting a little closer and laying a hoof on her shoulder. “If you’re alright with me asking.”

“Sugar Belle, on her deathbed in Stable 66, She admitted that she and Big Mac were together and that the foal was his.” Autumn said with a sigh. “We don’t know if she was just a senile old mare, or if she was telling the truth.”

“Well, what do you believe?” I asked “I’m sure you have your own opinion and take on things by now.”

“I think that honesty is always the best policy, and that I think Sugar Belle felt the same way. She may not of remembered everything right, she went through so much and was so alone, but I think she wouldn’t of lied about her relationship.” Autumn said with a smile. “Honestly, I think it gives more meaning to the name, and I wear it with pride.”

“Good attitude to have bout it Autumn.” I said with a chuckle and getting to my hooves. “Anyway, why don’t you come on board and get some rest, I’m sure where ever you sleep in there is better than out here.”

“Yeah, you’re right, though I guess sometimes, I just want to stay out here and look at the stars. I don’t know if Elysium is real or not, but sometimes I just, like to stare at the stars and think that maybe, wherever Elysium is, that they are looking at the same ones along with me.” Autumn said with a chuckle, before she got to her hooves and for the first time ever I noticed she had a horn, as she picked up her helmet in her aura and followed me on board. I stayed quiet, and just thought, I remembering my first night out of the bunker.

“So, uh.” I said with a nervous chuckle as I and Autumn started to go our separate ways, She heading over to a panel in the wall that looked like it could fold down, myself heading to the staterooms. “You going to be staying with us for a while?”

“I think so, why?” Autumn asked with a smile. “I mean, I’ve been posted on this ship since I graduated, The President said there was something special about me and that I needed to be here.”

“Ever figure out what he meant by that?” I asked, stopping and turning to face her.

“Not that I know of, I mean, I always assumed that it was because of my heritage, that Princess Eventide would actually allow me aboard her ship.” Autumn said, pulling the panel down and fluffing the pillow.

“I thought her name was Gambit?” I said with a curious smile, walking over next to her.

“Well, that was her prewar callsign, she kind of had a disgruntled past and didn’t like her name much, so she just went by her callsign instead.” Autumn said, propping herself up and sitting down onto the bunk, starting to take her armor off.

“Callsign, like, military?” I asked, sitting and smiling, helping a little with her armor when and where I could.

“Yeah, She was a Shadowbolt during the war, She survived in this auxiliary stable built alongside Stable 1 in Canterlot.” Autumn said with a chuckle, Looking to me for a moment. “Turns out, she’s half sister to the original Princess of Friendship.”

“Huh, I think I’ve heard that before.” I said with a chuckle, taking a plate from her and setting it aside. “So, Coltlumbia, what happened there?”

“A clash of ideals broken out into full scale war.” Autumn said with a chuckle. “Ponies who wanted the Enclave to return to its old isolationist way, claiming President Winter had made it weak, and Winter with her friends fought back.”

“Huh, Does war happen a lot up here?” I said with a chuckle. “Forgive me, I’m still learning about the wasteland and its history, I was still in a bunker not even powered on less than a week ago.”

“Not that I know of, I mean there are skirmishes left right and center when groups clash and tempers flare, but really large scale all out war has been ultimately avoided.” Autumn said with a yawn. “Anyway, it was nice talking to you Sweetie, I guess I will see you in the morning.”

“Yeah, absolutely.” I said with a smile before getting to my hooves and leaving her to rest, thinking to myself as I walked how much of a interesting mare she was, she seemed so insightful to the wasteland, so full of information and life, just talking to her was nice and relaxing.

“Goodnight Sweetie!” I heard Autumn call out, bringing a groan from the others who had been trying to sleep despite our conversation, I could hear her apologizing to them as I went to my stateroom, laying down onto the bed and just staring at the ceiling, again I found my eyes drifting from the ceiling to the nearby window and up to that starry filled abyss, giving a sigh as I just stared out to them.

00000

I watched as the night sky started to change color and hue, the stars disappearing one by one as the next day arrived. I hadn’t slept all night, I spent the whole time just watching as the stars peacefully twinkled, finding solace in their silence.

Slipping from my bed and coming from my room, I was surprised to find the ship bustling with activity. While there was less than two dozen ponies aboard, they all were hanging around chatting and enjoying a morning beverage, I even caught sight of Midas working the stove preparing food for all who wanted it, honestly I don’t think I’ve ever seen her smile more then just then, I think she had a real passion for cooking.

Alabaster was up in the front of the ship, hanging out with Cloud Chaser talking about who knows what, I swear it was a mixture of gibberish, other languages, and crude jokes. Deciding I’d like to go outside and get a moment of fresh air I headed over to the ramp. Looking back at my friends, my crew, I couldn’t help but smile all the more. Everyone getting along so well, it was almost like a dream come true.

Walking from the ship and over to the tree from the night before, I let out a sigh as I sat and leaned by back up against the bark of that familiar tree. Looking at the sky and just having a moment of peace, before I heard the sound of hoofsteps coming up the path, peering around the tree I saw Autumn carrying several bags of what appeared to be food from what I could see.

I hopped to my hooves and rushed over to her side. “Hey there stranger.” I said with a chuckle. “Need any help carrying those?”

She kind of looked at me confused before she smiled. “No, I’m fine, I’ve carried worse things than this.” She slowed her pace, clearly trying to prolong her time from the ship.

Slowing I stayed beside her as we walked. “So, about last night.” I said with a nervous smile.

“Sorry if I was out of line, it’s just so exciting to be out and away from the cities.” Autumn said with a sigh, the look on her face said relief rather than exacerbation

“Oh no! Not at all, never, I really enjoyed our talk last night, and I thought about what you said when we were getting on the ship, about the stars.” I said with a chuckle. “I thought nearly the same thing the first night I spent out of the bunker, I found peace and comfort looking at the stars and imagining that somepony in Elysium could look at the same stars.”

“You have somepony in Elysium?” Autumn asked, I could see by the way she was looking at me I had confused her.

“Yeah, I guess.” I said with a sigh. “My Father, my creator.”

“For what it’s worth, that’s less silly then imagining that you’re looking at the same star that your long lost great like, seven times over, grandfather is looking at.” Autumn said with a chuckle, though I could hear her pain. “I mean, I don’t even know if it’s real.”

“Well, you said last night that honesty is the best policy in your belief, and there is no reason to believe that he isn’t your how ever many greats grandfather.” I said, stopping Autumn and moving round in front of her. “I think it doesn’t matter how true it is on a bloodline level, you’re still named after him and in his honor, and I am sure that he’s up there smiling down on you and proud of you.”

“Yeah, I hope so.” Autumn said with a smile, I didn’t notice last night but her smile is so, I don’t know, beautiful? She seemed so earnest in her emotions, like she wore everything on her sleeve and wasn’t afraid of who or what somepony might do with it.

Shaking my head to break the little trance of thought I put myself in, before I smiled back to her “So, heading back from the markets?”

“Eeyup!” She said, setting the bags down and digging through them for a moment. “Got some fresh apples and carrots, oh some celery stalks too! I think I grabbed hay burgers too..”

“Do you always buy supplies for the ship?” I said with a chuckle. “Shouldn’t you use the bits you have for yourself, clothing and such?”

“Nah, Nothing means more to me then my family, and y’all aboard Quetzal are my family!” Autumn said with a smile. “May not be blood, and I might have real family back in Coltlumbia, but nothin’ could replace this ship or the crew in my heart.”

“That’s very noble of you.” I said with a soft smile. “Though I think I would prefer if you spent more of your time and money on yourself then on the ship, that’s my job now alright, and it’s my job to take care of you and everyone else aboard.”

“Nonsense!” Autumn said with a chuckle. “If I am a descendant of Big Mac, that makes me an Apple, and while I may not of been raised like one, I do know that the Apples are always well known for their hospitality.”

“You’re really stubborn about this aren’t you.” I said with a laugh, taking one of those bags she had with my own magic.

“You bet, nothing ever changes my mind once I’ve made my choice.” Autumn said with a chuckle and a nudge at my side. “Just don’t ask me to cook, never been able to do that.”

We just laughed and walked together till we both were up that ramp, to which the soldiers aboard all swarmed around her to see what she had brought back. I couldn’t help but laugh as she handed out little boxes to each of the crew.

“Do you do this often or something?” I asked, smiling at her.

“Yeah, every time we’re someplace I can go shopping. It wasn’t just my caps that I spent, these guys give me their pouches and tell me to pick up things for them because…” Autumn paused and thought about it for a moment. “Huh, guess that isn’t the case anymore is it?”

“What?” I asked, tilting my head and smiling curiously at her.

“Well, before, the Enclave had a rule about how many hands were allowed to leave the ship at a time, and because we’re so small only one or two of us would be allowed to leave at a time.” Autumn said, passing off the bags to the crowd of ponies. “I’m the fastest, I tend to get around quicker then most of them can and because we have limited time during a port call and its rare we all get time away, they just have one pony focus on shopping and the rest do the other duties.”

“Huh. Well yeah I guess that isn’t the case anymore, it isn’t an Enclave ship anymore.” I said with a chuckle. “Though, I think I might keep say, half staff here, give you all time off the ship.”

I wasn’t expecting it, but the crowd erupted in cheers and swept me off my hooves, carrying me around the deck for a few moments chanting and cheering before they finally put me down. I couldn’t help but laugh as both Midas and Alabaster watched on in amazement, chuckling and laughing to themselves.

“What’d I do?” I said with a chuckle, seeing Autumn had been keeping up with the crowd in their little victory lap around the deck.

“You gave them all something that they had been wanting and asking for for months, time to spend off the ship and actually get some RnR.” Autumn said with a laugh, before she turned as she noticed Midas and Alabaster approaching.

“So who’s your friend Sweets.” Midas said with a smirk, looking down at Autumn.

“Autumn McIntosh.” I said, nervously smiling at her, she didn’t seem the least bit phased by their braizen approach.

“Nice to meet you Autumn McIntosh.” Alabaster said, offering a hoof, before Midas knocked him out of the way and looked at her closely.

“You look like an Apple.” Midas said, tapping a claw on her chin. “Guessing that McIntosh name isn’t coincidental.”

“Well, we honestly don’t know if we are or aren’t” Autumn said, giving a bit of a nervous smile. “And I can tell you aren’t full dragon.”

Midas recoiled at that and her eye twitched some. “How, How can you tell that”

“Your face, specifically your muzzle.” Autumn said with a smile. “It shows more pony like features and structure, you’re a halfling, at least.”

“I don’t like you.” Midas said with a scowl. “No one, and I mean absolutely no one, has ever been able to guess that.”

“Not to mention your crest scales aren’t rigid, your body scales lack the typical sheen that dragons have, they are probably softer and more flexible to the touch, should I go on?” Autumn said, sitting and smiling at Midas, who just stared at her with wide eyes before she quickly went to the other side of the ship, clearly lost in thought and slightly horrified.

“How did you know all of that?” Alabaster said, looking over to Midas with a chuckle. “I did not think this was possible.”

“It’s just simple observation and knowing key features that she lacked.” Autumn said with a chuckle. “I mean, you could get it from any book on dragon raising, which, surprisingly there are a decent number of.”

“What ever made you interested in that?” I said, smiling at Autumn. “I mean, I didn’t think raising dragons was a common point.”

“Oh, it’s because we found an egg and it hatched.” Autumn said with a giggle. “In Coltlumbia, there is some caverns and caves and I guess a Dragon was living there and abandoned an egg or something.”

“I… you… what?” I said, rubbing at the side of my head. “You explored caverns under the city, you found a dragon nest with an egg, and you thought the best course of action was to take it and raise it yourself?”

“Well, yeah” Autumn said, looking at me slightly confused. “I mean, it’s the right thing to do, right? Not leaving an egg there to freeze and die?”

“What if it’s parents came back for it!” I said with a groan. “You could of ruined that dragon’s chances of growing up happy and normal.”

“Oh, we gave the dragon back to its parents, see, the Enclave chased off the dragons and wouldn’t let them come back for the egg.” Autumn said. “Something about being really uncomfortable with dragons so close by, but when they realized what had happened they offered the dragons their home back and returned the hatchling”

“I… okay, that was really unexpected.” I said, looking at her before giving a sigh. “Well, I’m glad everything worked out okay for you, that was risky but I am happy yo-”

“Oh, no, I got kicked out of Coltlumbia and banned from ever returning for it.” Autumn said, still smiling. “But that’s when I joined the Enclave as a soldier and they put me through boot camp.”

“I…” I said, rubbing at the side of my head, looking at Alabaster who was staring at Autumn like he had just seen a ghost, peering back I could see Midas still pacing back and forth on the other side of the ship, I could see she was mumbling something to herself, probably still trying to come to terms with how somepony could figure her out so quickly and easily like that.

“I’m sorry.” Autumn said, her smile finally turning to a frown. “It’s just, when you grow up in a stable, and then you’re taken and given free reign over an area bigger then you have ever known, you just, find a lot of reasons to be happy and thankful.”

“It’s fine, really it is.” I said with a sigh. “I think, it’s just something that none of us really expected from…”

“A young fresh out of the academy soldier?” Autumn said with a sigh. “Yeah, I get that alot, a lot of the ponies in my flight got creeped out by my cheerful attitude, said that this was the hardest most grueling things they had ever done, and yet I am doing it with a smile and a good attitude.”

“Maybe being a soldier wasn’t the right call for you.” I said with a sigh. “How about this, from now on you’re no longer a soldier aboard this ship.”

Autumn looked at me confused and saddened, nodding slowly as she got up. “It’s alright, I’ll pack my bags and call for a raptor so the enclave can reassign me.”

“No! No no no.” I said, hopping to my hooves and rushing around in front of her. “You have such a good attitude, you can find reasons to smile even in the darkest of times, and I feel like in our coming journeys, that might be something very important, I want you to be the ship’s counselor, and morale officer, if you’re up to it”

She looked at me confused at first, before she smiled brightly once more and suddenly gave me a hug. “You mean it, really?!”

“Y-Yeah, a b-bit too tight… I think you’re denting m-my casing…” I said, squirming and trying to push her off.

“Oh.. sorry.” Autumn said with a giggle. “I mean, it’s something I always wanted to do, help other ponies be just as happy as I am, there are always so many reasons to smile, and I never want to stop smiling!”

“I get the feeling that you didn’t smile much before.” I said with a chuckle.

“Well, no, not really.” Autumn said, rubbing at the back of her head. “Stable 66 was really cramped, privacy was like… next to impossible, we all had to share our rooms, and sometimes two families could end up in the same room, and yeah… it’s not fun when you can’t get up in the middle of the night for a glass of water and have to walk across the room and can’t walk three feet without stepping on somepony else.”

“That… sounds horrible, honestly.” I said, sitting and thinking to myself for a moment, Midas finally coming back over and sitting down beside me and giving a sigh.

“Alright, Look, I’m sorry” Midas said, taking a deep breath. “It’s just, some of that is some of the most protected things in my life and, very few know it, so the fact you can just look at me and get it all like it’s written in a book.”

Autumn nodded and smiled. “Well, for me it kind of is.” She said, getting to her hooves and offering one to Midas. “To me, reading another pony’s emotions is just, second nature.”

“Like your special talent?” I said, trying to look around her to see if she had a cutie mark and if she did what it was.

“My mom thought that too, she said my level of empathy is not normal.” Autumn said with a shrug. “She put me through so much training, she was convinced it was my special talent. I still haven’t gotten a cutie mark, it’s embarrassing being the only adult pony in the Equestria, without one.”

“Your butt marks, they are what you call cutie marks, yes?” Alabaster said, smiling a little more. “My tribe does not get them, and while we do have our own special thing we excel in, mine being healing and potion brewing, there are no marks broadcasting our special ability to the world.”

“Huh.” I said, looking from Autumn to Alabaster and back. “Another reason to go to Scootaloo then.”

“Scootaloo? She was in Coltlumbia during that fight I told you bout” Autumn said with a bigger smile. “She was so awesome, how she helped rescue ponies from that ship that was crashing.”

“My ship, you mean.” A familiar, raspy voice said. “I spent a better part of a decade fixing that thing and getting it working, wasn’t too fun to see it a smoking crater in the ground.”

“But if not for it, you and I would of never met Cloud.” Autumn said with a giggle. “You’re like that aunt I never knew I had or wanted until you were there!”

“Heh, I suppose some things can have a happy ending.” Cloud chaser said. “Well, we’re about to dust off, so you four better get buckled in and ready for take off.”

“Oh? Where are we heading?” Autumn said with a smile.

“Maripony.” Both I and Midas said at the same time.

“Midnight, a pony here in this village hired us to recover the original copy of the Journal of Friendship from Twilight’s personal quarters in what remains of the Maripony residential block.” Midas said with a sigh.

“How close can you get us?” I said, looking to Cloud Chaser.

“I could get you close enough you can read it from the ramp. But there are some nasty critters in that area, not sure how close I can safely go without drawing attention.” Cloud Chaser said, using a wing to scratch at her side.

“I thought the ship has active paint that can hide it from view.” I said, looking back to Midas who simply shrugged.

“Yeah, but ferals don’t hunt by sight, many of them are blind, they hunt by smell, and sound.” Cloud Chaser said with a sigh. “And cloud engines have a distinct smell, and the ship is too large for perfect sound dampening, they’ll still be able to find it, and their activity will draw in hell hounds and alicorn for sure.”

“So, we land a ways away.” Midas said with a shrug. “No big deal, just walk over to it without drawing any attention.”

“Except the fact that you’re walking into ground zero of a balefire explosion.” Autumn said with a sigh. “Radiation is going to be off the charts, the facility has some natural shielding because of the projects, but outside it? You’re goose is cooked.”

“So, close enough that we can get in without dying of exposure, far enough away that we don’t wake up every ghoul and draw too much unwanted attention?” I said, sitting and thinking for a moment. “Ghouls, they don’t really hunt dragons do they?”

“Not really, but they’ll go after you, they don’t know you’re metal.” Cloud Chaser said. “If they didn’t confiscate my armor, I would join you, ghouls leave me alone cause I’m one of them.”

“What about the ship.” Midas said, giving her fingers a snap as she looked rather coyly first to me, then to Cloud Chaser. “Drop us off, then fly around as loud as possible and draw their attention, they’ll chase you right? Fly off and they’ll follow you and all the activity will draw the hellhounds and alicorns with you.”

“Then how are we going to come back and pick you up.” Cloud chaser said with a sigh.

“Fly high enough and engage the active paint, come back as quiet and slow as you can not letting them follow you?” Midas said, that coy grin turning to a nervous and unsure smirk.

“Could work.” Autumn said. “Or we could deploy diversionary troops around the perimeter, they can keep the heat down while drawing activity to them and away from the recovery team.”

“Too risky.” I said “I think we should go with Midas’ plan, it’s crazy enough it might work, and if it doesn’t well, I hope you can fly this thing sideways.”

“Why.” Cloud Chaser said, looking at me through narrowed eyes.

“Because, if the attention comes back to us, and we’re being pursued, the best chance we have is if you can fly in front of us with the ramp down. But because the ramp is on the side of the ship you’ll need to fly sideways for us to be able to jump on.” I said with a sigh, looking to Midas, then Alabaster, back to the other two.

“Fine, but if we scratch the paint you’re paying for it.” Cloud chaser said with a chuckle. “And trust me, this stuff ain’t cheap.”

“Alright, sounds like we have a plan, All hands aboard?” I said, to which Cloud Chaser nodded. “All provisions accounted for?” to which Autumn nodded, looking to Midas and Alabaster. “Looks like we’re ready to get out of here.”

Before we even moved, I could hear the ship spooling up, a faint humming growing louder and louder till I felt the jolt of the ship lifting from the ground and taking to the sky. Looking at Cloud Chaser who simply smiled back at me.

“What? Neural interface, I can pilot the ship from the bathroom if I wanted to.” Cloud Chaser said with a chuckle.

“Neural interfaces are nice and what not, but what if it fails and you can’t get to the cockpit?” Midas said, crossing her arms.

“Then we crash and all of us die in a horrible massive fireball.” Cloud chaser said with a chuckle. “This system is from my old ship, it's infallible, how else do you think one pony alone piloted an entire Thunderhead?”

“Whatever” Midas said with a huff before she turned and walked away, Alabaster quickly following suit behind her.

“Well, I guess Midas isn’t in a good mood today.” I said with a chuckle. “Anypony got any idea why?”

“Woke up on the wrong side of the bulkhead is my guess.” Cloud Chaser said with a chuckle.

“Got a few scales in a twist would be mine.” Autumn said, giving a soft chuckle of her own. “Maybe I should go talk to her, see if maybe I can cheer her up some.”

“Might be a bad idea, she doesn’t seem to really like you very much.” I said with a sigh. “Give her time, she’ll come around and start warming up to you, I can feel it.”

“Hope so, having an irate dragon around can be bad for general morale and health.” Autumn said with a sigh. “Maybe I shouldn’t of been so forward with telling she isn’t full blooded dragon?”

“Maybe, give her some time to cool down and then apologize,” I said, looking back to Cloud Chaser with a smile. “You should head up to the cockpit, even with that fancy neural interface I think I feel safer with you physically at the controls.”

“Got it.” Cloud Chaser said with a chuckle as she turned and headed towards the front of the ship, Leaving just me and Autumn alone for the time being.

“Hey Autumn, would you like to ge-” I started to say before I was cut off by her hoof gently pressing to my lips, she looked at me with a concerned smile before she simply shook her head.

“We both have a lot to do, and right now I get the feeling some things are running a bit hot, let’s not be hasty” Autumn said with a smile, to which I gave a sigh and a nod. I watched as she turned and went back to her bunk before I finally went my own way, making my way back to my room, and laying down on the bed and staring out the window watching the scenery fly past, just taking this moment to be by myself and sort through some of the things I was thinking, and feeling.

00000

I lost track of time, I suppose I dozed a little lost in my thoughts. Being pulled back to reality by the crackling of the PA speaker in my room coming to life.

“We’re here.” I heard Cloud Chaser on the other side say. “Grab your gear and get ready to leave, I can already see the ghouls gathering”

As I left my room, I could feel the tension on the ship. Both excitement and anxiety went through the crew like wildfire, some commenting how they wished they were hooves on ground giving some pain to those ferals, others wishing that they never had to see what this war had caused.

I found Autumn, clad in her armor, Midas and Alabaster all waiting by the door.

“You guys ready.” I said with a nervous smile.

“Sweets, this is what I was born for.” Midas said with a smirk. “Been cracking the skulls of ferals since I was a hatchling.”

“I admit, I was not aware that there were mindless ponies.” Alabaster said. “I have traveled this far mainly with caravans, and they traveled only the secure paths.”

“Well, let’s not give them something to chew on.” Autumn said, my attention shifting fully to her.

“You’re staying here.” I said, to which Autumn looked to me, lifting a hoof and removing her helm.

“Excuse me?” Autumn said with a chuckle. “Ma’am, with all due respect, you have no right to tell me not to protect my captain with my life.”

“As councilor and morale officer, you are needed here on the ship, remember?” I said “You’re not a soldier anymore, you don’t need to fight.”

“Sweetie, I’ve been trained for this, I swore my life to this, and honestly, it’s just the Enclave way.” Autumn said with a soft smile. “No better morale booster, then watching your captain kicking flank and taking names.”

“I said no, now take off that armor and go back to the crew.” I said, narrowing my eyes. “That is an order.”

“As captain, I respect your decisions, but as an Enclave soldier, I have to respect the order of the Enclave, and captain doesn’t leave the ship without an escort.” Autumn said with a chuckle. “Just be happy it’s me and not somepony else, I’m the least trigger happy on the crew.”

“I see…” I said, giving my chin a rub as I thought for a moment

“That, and I don’t think she could bare to harbor the idea that her marefriend was going down into danger without being at her side.” Midas said with a smirk.

“We’re not dating.” Both I and Autumn said at the same time, which brought a nervous smile from me and a soft blush from Autumn.

“Right.” Midas said with a roll of her eyes. “Denial isn’t becoming of either of you, just saying.”

“There is quite clear chemistry between the two of you.” Alabaster added. “Even more then between Aurora and her new mate if I do say so myself.”

“Alright, that’s enough.” I said with a sigh, looking at Autumn who had started to inch away slowly. “What I choose and what Private McIntosh chooses to do in our private time, is none of your business.”

“Yeah! And even if we were dating, which we aren’t, why would we want to hide it from you two, afraid you’d be jealous or something!” Autumn said, stumbling over her words so clearly embarrassed.

I had to admit, she was really cute when she was like this, but giving my hoof a wave between Autumn and Midas to break any exchange the two were about to have. “I believe we have a mission to work on.” I said with a chuckle.

I could feel as the ship came to a halt, Cloud Chaser coming up to us, looking from Midas, to Autumn, Alabaster, then to me, before she smirked. “You know kid, you remind me of myself in my younger days.” She said to me. “Just keep in mind, you might have some hard armor, but there are some things out there harder than that.”

“What do you mean by that?” I said, looking at her curiously.

“There are mutated diamond dogs down there, hellhounds, mean motherlovers.” Cloud said. “They can rip through powered armor like no big deal, They beheaded another canterlot ghoul just like myself not too far away from here.”

“So… they’re strong and capable of ripping through thick armor..” I said, pausing and looking back to Midas and Alabaster, who both seemed unphased, while I could tell Autumn was starting to panic a little.

“Yeah, and while we might be able to put you back together if they rip into you, can’t promise we can put you back together in the right order.” Cloud Chaser said with a sigh. “So, if you see one, run, don’t engage, don’t taunt, don’t reason, just get away from it.”

“It’s the one you don’t see you have to worry about.” Midas said with a shrug. “I’ve dealt with a few hellhounds, they aren’t that tough.”

“I have only see one, and it was very keen on giving me a wide berth, I do not believe that they are naturally aggressive.” Alabaster said with a nod.

“All it takes is one.” Cloud Chaser said. “Like I said though, they’re mutated diamond dogs, they like gemstones, and they are likely to be more complaint if you give them gemstones without a fuss.”

“Good thing that Equestria is very rich in gemstones.” Autumn said, giving a sigh of relief. “I have a large collection of them from all around the stable and Coltlumbia, maybe they’ll be interested in them?”

“See, I know we kept you around for a reason.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Go grab your stones, we’re going to need them.”

“Don’t dragons eat gemstones?” I said, looking at Midas

“Yes, Dragons eat gems, no, I am not sparing any of mine.” Midas said giving me a glare. “They are mine, I earned them, and I am not about to throw them to a hellhound so that it leaves me alone.”

“Shiny things aside, we have a more pressing matter.” Cloud Chaser said with a sigh. “Like I predicted, The Quetzal is drawing a lot of attention, ghouls are arriving in the dozens and we have nothing that can clear the landing area in a single go, likely to draw even more in.”

“What about landing somewhere else?” Autumn said, looking at me. “Maybe there is a building rooftop or something nearby that isn’t as crowded with zombies?”

“Zombies?” I asked, tilting my head

“Yeah, some ponies like to call Ghouls Zombies because of their appearance.” Cloud Chaser said, shooting Autumn a look. “She’s lucky I know she only calls ferals that.”

“Right, sorry.” Autumn said with a nervous chuckle. “Sometimes I forget that you’re a ghoul.”

“It’s fine squirt, I just wish you would realize that feral or not, ghouls are ghouls.” Cloud Chaser said with a sigh. “But that’s a talk for another time, right now we need that pad cleared.”

We said, looking between us for a few moments, thinking quietly amongst ourselves. It definitely wasn’t going to be easy to clear them, and like Cloud Chaser said, the longer we wait the more show up.

I went to speak, before we heard the sound of an explosion below us. Exchanging looks before we’d go to the ramp and look down, ghouls scattering every which way with only a hoof full of injured or dead ones remaining on the pad.

“Ghouls don’t scatter like that without a reason.” Cloud Chaser said, and the reason didn’t wait long to appear. A deckhand calling out to us, Alicorns incoming.

I watched as Cloud Chaser’s face tensed, she looked at me with a combination of annoyance and concern. The way she braced herself, it’s like she expected an attack that never came.

“What the hay..” Autumn said, as she looked around wondering what was about to happen, we could hear hooves on the hull outside the ship, every now and then a flash of color as a figure dashed by the door, before a large dark purple colored Alicorn landed on the ramp and looked down at us.

“We speak for the Unity.” She said. “The ghouls will not be returning, you can thank us later.”

“What do you want, Unity was destroyed years ago” Cloud Chaser said with a sneer.

“Unity, the goddess, yes.” the Alicorn said, face turning softer, and a smile appearing across her muzzle. “Unity, our village however, is very much alive and well.”

“A village?” Autumn said, looking at Cloud Chaser who simply shrugged. “We had no clue there was any type of civilization here, last time anypony stepped hoof in this area, they never made it out.”

“Yes, and we are sorry that has been the case.” The Alicorn said. “We were confused, and lost in the haze without the Goddess, but many of us have come free from the fog and have banded together with our Hellhound brethren, and have founded a safe haven, founded a new Unity.”

“I see…” I said, looking to Cloud Chaser who still seemed very tense. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, and I welcome you aboard the Quetzal.”

“Quetzal?” The Alicorn said, looking to me confused. “The great ship of the Princess of Friendship, is she here?”

“No” Cloud Chaser said with a groan. “She has never even stepped hoof on this ship since its completion”

“We understand, it is not the original, much was lost and much cannot be recovered.” The Alicorn said with a nod. “She helped us understand the light, and we the beacon that helped us from the dark and the fog, it is… unfortunate she is not here.”

“Could always go and visit her in Canterlot.” Autumn said with a shrug, which got me to turn around and face her with confusion. “Ever since the new construction started, she has pretty much always been there overseeing it.”

“Canterlot?” I said, “I was told it was destroyed, that there was nothing left there, I need to go there immediately.”

“Kid. Canterlot was destroyed.” Cloud Chaser said with a sigh. “This Canterlot-”

“Is just a mere reproduction of the original, much like this vessel.” The Alicorn said, Looking to Cloud Chaser. “Cricket, It has been a long time since we last saw you.”

“Didn’t think you’d recognize me outside the armor.” Cloud Chaser said with a chuckle.

“Your voice, is unmistakable.” The Alicorn said with a chuckle of her own. “Canticum Lunae, she is gone isn’t she.”

“Yeah, she went down in Coltlumbia, Surprised the story hasn’t gotten back to you.” Cloud Chaser said with a sigh.

“We are sorry, but many stories of the war never reached home.” The Alicorn said, holding out a leg for Cloud Chaser, I recognized the gesture, as offering a hug.

Cloud Chaser smiled, and gave the Alicorn a hug. “Celestial, I believe was the last name she went by, is she around?” she said with a chuckle. “I owe her big time, elsewise I would of been in the crater too.”

“We are sorry, but she is not.” The Alicorn said with a sigh. “She has started her own quest of self discovery, she wishes to remember who she was before the war.”

“Don’t we all.” Cloud Chaser said with a sigh.

“Which war? The Coltlumbia one or the great war?” Midas said, scratching at her head with a groan. “So many wars, why can’t you be specific!”

“The great war is where I lost myself, and so did she” Cloud Chaser said. “Surprising, I know you’ve read my files, guess they only gave you the amended one.”

“Yeah, I guess I did.” Midas said, scratching at her chin as she looked at the Alicorn. “So, we’re here for a book, I guess you wouldn’t happen to have it on you.”

“Yes, we are aware.” The Alicorn said with a smile “We do not touch the quarters of the Princess. You must enter alone if you wish to get her Journal.”

“Do I want to know how you know that.” Midas said with a groan.

“I have a feeling I know.” I said, looking at the Alicorn. “I see it in your eyes, you have the ability to see through others, don’t you”

“Yes little one.” The Alicorn said with a soft smile. “It has been our gift since unity was broken and we became self aware.”

“So, you talk about yourself in the plural I see.” Cloud Chaser said, “Thought that was a thing of the past after Unity was defeated.”

“It is hard for us to adapt to new ways of speaking, this way is all we know.” The Alicorn said with a soft chuckle. “However, if it makes you feel better, I can speak in the singular, it just takes more effort.”

“Speak however you find comfortable most.” I said with a smile. “So, can you protect us while we go and get the Journal?”

“Yes, we can.” The Alicorn said with a smile and a nod.

“And, do you have a name? I mean, I don’t feel comfortable just calling you the Alicorn all the time” I said with a smile and a chuckle, holding my hoof out to her. “My name’s Sweetie Belle.”

“Amethyst Star.” The Alicorn said with a smile.

“Another pony from ponyville before the war.” Cloud Chaser said with a chuckle. “Followed in Ministry Mare Twilight’s hoofsteps. She’s likely one of the first batch of alicorns to serve under unity.”

“Correct.” Amethyst said with a smile. “We do not remember much of our pre war time, but we do recall a great admiration and fondness for the Princess,”

“Great, another pony from before the war that knew both rarity and sweetie, and yet another dead end.” I mumbled.

“Don’t fry a circuit board over it Squirt” Cloud Chaser said with a chuckle. “If everything was meant to be easy, daddy would've known what happened before he ever made you, and you’d have another purpose.”

I stopped and stared at her a little for a couple of minutes, letting my frustration calm and I gave a soft smile and chuckle. “I guess you’re right.” I said with a shrug.

“Think of it this way, Little one.” Amethyst added. “The point of your journey is not your destination, it is the trip itself.”

“But it’s my programming..” I said with a sigh and a shake of my head. “Its all I can think about.”

“But you are more than the sum of your programming, are you not?” Amethyst said with a smile. “Is there not more to you then just the wires that make up your soul?”

“I…” I said, and paused, getting lost in thought for a moment before I turned away and sighed. “I don’t know.”

“You will soon enough, Little one.” Amethyst said with a smile. “We must be going, we are needed back at Unity, you are free to visit.”

“Don’t worry, we will.” Cloud Chaser said with a smile

“Good, We look forward to your arrival.” Amethyst said with a smile before she took off from the ramp, quickly rushing forward as I saw her fly off with at least a dozen alicorns in tow.

“What in the hay just happened.” I said with a chuckle. “I mean, you said they are likely to be reasoned with, but they just came and saved our bacon.”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” Midas said with a shrug. “I think we should get going before they change their mind or come back with a bath.”

I went to ask what Midas meant by that, but I simply shook my head and gave a sigh. “Alright, so we have time to grab our gear and get ready.” I said, looking between my three companions. “We’ll meet back up here and descend when everyone is ready, alright?”

“Well, I’m already ready.” Autumn said with a shrug.

“Don’t need to brag miss goody two shoes.” Midas said with a groan before she started to wander to the back of the ship, I watched as Alabaster followed her back to the Armory while I myself went back to my cabin to run a few diagnostics before we would depart.

00000

As time passed, I could hear hoofsteps around the ship, activity picking up and excitement building. Sighing I climbed from my bed and exited my room, heading back to the front of the ship to where my friends had gathered, I could hear as I walked past the crew, ponies talking about ‘the drop’ and how they wished they were on it, how they wanted to go down there and kick some ghoul flank, and maybe an alicorn’s or two. Chuckling to myself and giving my head a shake, I had to remember these ponies, they’re a different breed, they grew up with death and destruction and war, they live for it.

When I got to my friends, I noticed Midas and Alabaster had their own armor now, adapted for their size, and it didn’t look powered like Autumn’s.

“Suited for Success I see.” I said with a chuckle as I walked up to them, to which Midas and Alabaster chuckled.

“Not my idea.” Midas said, rolling a shoulder and looking back to the plating that adorned her scales. “To be honest, probably adds no more protection than my scales did, but I guess I have to follow protocol.”

“What Protocol?” I said, looking over to Autumn who was rolling her helmet under her hoof.

“Oh, Just standard Enclave operational protocol, the same protocol that demands that a soldier needs to accompany the captain when in hostile areas.” Autumn said with a shrug and smiled at me. “Just following the rulebook ma’am.”

“Right…” I said with a sigh and a shake of my head. “But this isn’t an Enclave ship anymore, and Alabaster and Midas aren’t Enclave Soldiers, why are you making them adhere to protocol?”

“I… Good point.” Autumn said and paused, looking at Midas with a chuckle. “Guess I just really wanted to get you two fitted for some armor, never really know when you might need it.”

“So… I don’t need to wear this silly get up?” Midas said with a groan.

“I guess not, not if you don’t want to.” Autumn said with a shrug, looking over to Alabaster who was not so silently chuckling to himself. “What’s so funny chuckles?”

“You would understand, if you had fur like I have, and packed it into an armored shell, it tickles.” He said with a laugh. “It will take some getting used to, but I appreciate what has been given to me.”

“Alright, so we land the ship and get out?” I said, nervously trying to shift the topic, unsure of why so many of the crew were referring to it as ‘the drop’

“That’s a big negative ma’am.” Autumn said with a chuckle. “Landing pad is clear but not unobstructed, landing risks severe damage to the ship.”

“So, how do we get down.” Midas said, crossing her arms and tapping a foot.

“We jump, and use wings” She said, pausing and pointing to Midas. “Or jump jets.” She stopped and pointed to what looked like a set of folded bars on her and Alabaster’s back.

“What about me?” I said with a sigh. “I have neither of those.”

“You’re also a robot with heavy kinetic servos in your legs, from the height we’re dropping from you should land and catch yourself pretty easily without any damage.”

“Should.” I said with a sigh. “Should isn’t very reassuring.”

“Trust me, you’ll be fine.” Autumn said with a laugh. “The Enclave protocol insists that I go to serve as your protection, not to try and kill you, it’s as safe as it can be.”

I just gave her a nervous smile, before the cabin around us went dark, only lit by a red light on the wall, the door opening not down into a ramp, but sliding along the side of the ship clearing the way.

“Ground Recon Team is clear for drop.” Autumn said into her radio, motioning a hoof for us to line up at the door one at a time, Midas leading with me in the rear.

I went to say something, but the whistle of the engines drowned out my voice, the red light turned green and without warning I felt a push from behind, I watched as Midas jumped with wings flared, Alabaster jumping and I could see those bars flare out and form what appeared to be energetic wings, and then my turn to go.

“This doesn’t look safe!” I said as I was pushed from the door by Autumn, keeping in mind what was said I tried my hardest to keep my hooves under me as I watched the ground rapidly approaching. Closing my eyes and bracing for impact, the only thing I could think or say, was to yell ‘OH FOR CELESTIA’S SAKE!’ as I fell.

I felt what only could be described as dread as I fell, it felt like forever, I wondered if it would ever end or if this was all just a bad dream. I wanted to cry out for Luna to wake me up, but no words came from my mouth, and that's when I felt it, a hard impact and accompanied by a THUD as the world around me came to a halt.

LEVEL UP!

Perk Acquired: Aerial Ace

Whether you’re flying like an eagle, or falling like a brick, your experience in the sky has taught you a few valuable lessons, most importantly being - Don’t look down.

Fall Damage reduced by 50%

Limb Damage Reduced by 20%

Chapter 6: Revelation

Even though the fall had been stopped, I still felt as though my world was spinning, I didn’t want to open my eyes, or try and move. I was too afraid of what that fall could of done to me. Staying there, as still as possible I could hear hoofsteps approaching me.

“Sweetie?” I heard Autumn say, before I felt a hoof pushing against my side, prompting me to finally open an eye and look up at her.

“How bad is it?” I said, hoping that she could at least break it to me easy.

“Oh it’s terrible, I’m afraid we’ll have to amputate.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Come on Sweets, you’re fine.”

Giving a sigh, I opened my eyes and got to my hooves, taking a moment to brush off the dirt and dust kicked up by the landing. Taking a moment to check myself over, everything seemed to be still in place, a few dents and scrapes here and there but nothing major. Giving a sigh as a wave of relief washed over me before smiling up to them.

“Wasn’t that fun?” Autumn said with a smile, “I kind of want to go up and do it again.”

“If by fun you mean utterly terrifying, then yes, loads of fun.” I said with a chuckle and shake of my head. “And let’s not and say we did, please and thank you.”

“Aw, you’re no fun.” Autumn said with a chuckle.

“Well, I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news, but our ghoul friends probably heard that, so we might want to think about getting a move on.” Midas said with a roll of her eyes and shake of her head.

“You are probably right.” Alabaster said, looking at me and Autumn for a moment.

“Alright alright,” I said, stretching and shifting my weight, getting anything that was loose to pop back into place. “Let’s get moving, the North Center Complex shouldn’t be too far from here.”

“North Central Complex?” Autumn asked, looking at me as we started down the road.

“It’s what the building was labeled as on the map.” I said with a chuckle. “Surprising that you didn’t notice that first.”

“Hey, who do you think I am, President Spectra?” Autumn said with a chuckle. “I notice things that interest me, old pre-war buildings aren’t really my forte.”

“Understandable.” I said with a chuckle, It wasn’t long till we were at the base of a tall tower, it seemed practically untouched by time itself, the bricks were solid, the glass unshattered, even the paint looked well maintained.

“Something is off about this.” Midas said, looking over to Autumn as though she expected the mare to have a comment or explanation.

“I have literally no clue how this is even possible.” Autumn said with a shake of her head. “This area has been the site of two direct megaspell detonations, the entire maripony structure is gone, yet this building looks like it was just finished a couple days ago.”

“Wasn’t there an enchantment used in the past, pre-war?” Midas said, tapping at her chin. “I think they used it on the Ministry towers in Canterlot, something about self repairing.”

“You really think they used that here?” I said, looking over to that dragoness. “I mean, I doubt they were stingy with their use of those spells, but that seems like a very powerful one to just use willy nilly.”

“Maybe there is something more here than meets the eye.” Alabaster said with a chuckle. “Either way, standing out here is not going to finish this mission.” He motioned and walked up to the door, going to push it open before it pulled open just enough for us to see the eye of a pony on the other side, as well as the barrel of a rifle being pushed through the opening.

“What do you want.” The pony on the other side of the door said.

“We’re here looking for something left here a very long time ago.” Midas said, reaching out and placing a claw on the barrel of the rifle. “Now please, stop pointing that gun before we do something that you’ll regret.”

“Midas!” Autumn said before she shoved Midas out of the way. “What my friend here means to say, is that there is a book that was kept here by the Ministry mare, we need to get up to her room to retrieve it, so, can we please be let in?”

“The Ministry mare, huh.” The pony said before she’d pull the rifle back in and shut the door, we could hear the sound of locks being undone before the door swung open. “Been a while since ponies been round on Ministry business.”

“Oh, I uh.” I said before chuckling nervously some, eyeing her rifle. “We’re not from the Ministry, we’re just here to pick up an family heirloom for one of the Ministry Mare’s descendants.”

“I see, So you have nothing to do with that cloaked mare that keeps coming around.” She said, placing the rifle down next to the desk before she slipped around it and down into her seat. “Well, either way as long as you aren’t here for trouble then you’re welcome.”

“Thank you.” Autumn said, still glaring at Midas.

For the first time I got a good look at that mare, she seemed young, but her mane and coat were tattered and it looked like a good portion of it had fallen out, even her wings seemed to be in similar shape, and just by her voice alone I could tell she was a ghoul.

“So, you want to get up to Twilight’s room then.” She said, tapping away at the keyboard of the terminal that sat on her desk. “Well, I can tell you how to get there, but if you do me a little favor I can get you straight up there on the VIP elevator.”

“Hold up.” Midas said, leaning over onto that desk. “We have a few questions and I think you can give us the answer.”

“Well, I’m just a receptionist, so my level of access may be outside the ability to answer some questions.” She said, leaning onto the desk and smirking at Midas. “Not to mention, information isn’t free.”

“Wait wait, you’re a Receptionist, to an empty housing block.” I asked, “So you’ve been here how long?”

“Since the bombs dropped.” She said with a chuckle. “Longest job I’ve ever had, sitting at a desk doing nothing for what, two hundred and twelve years?”

“Hold the phone.” Midas said, looking at that mare with a growing look a confusion “You have been coming in to work, despite the fact that the world as you knew it is gone and there is no reason for you to be here?”

“Well, I didn’t stay here at first, I wandered the wastes some, tried to go home only to find out that home was long since gone.” She said with a shrug. “I got bored, tried to settle down, found out that settling down is not as easy as one would imagine, so I came back to where I was comfortable.”

“And you kept coming back ever since.” Autumn said with a chuckle. “That’s some dedication, I doubt you have gotten a paycheck in over a century.”

“Actually, while I stopped getting bits a while ago, The ministry maintains a presence here.” She said with a shrug. “The only one I get to see though is that cloaked mare that comes round every now and then and goes down into the basement.”

“Do you know anything about her?” I asked, smiling at her.

“She’s tall, like, as tell as Celestia tall.” She said, scratching at her cheek. “She’s blue, I think she’s a unicorn, but it’s hard to tell these days, never caught her name, something Lullaby or something like that.”

“So. she doesn’t talk to you?” Autumn said, curiously tilting her head and smiling at the ghoul.

“Nope, she comes in, flashes a Ministry badge, and goes downstairs without a word.” She said with a shrug.

“Do you know what she does down there?” I asked.

“Mess with the database connections probably, they haven’t worked right ever since she started showing up.” She said with a groan. “Now to get back to the topic. That’s what I need your help with.”

“Repairing a database connection?” I asked curiously. “Why can’t you do it yourself?”

“Because there is a biometric shield down there that I can’t pass through.” She said. “But you’re not affected by them so you can just go waltzing right through it without a second thought.”

“It doesn’t always work like that.” Midas said with a sigh. “Stable-Tec barriers are one thing, but ministry stuff is a whole new tier, there is no promise she can get through, let alone what would happen to her if she tried.”

“It’s worth a shot.” I said with a smile. “You help others they help you, it may seem like a lost notion in the wastelands to you guys, but to me - it still makes sense.”

“So you’ll help?” She said, tapping a hoof on her desk.

“Yes, I’ll try my best but you have to understand, I might not be able to get through.” I said with a sigh, smiling at that ghoul. “So, just through that door and down the stairs?”

“Yep. Pretty much.” She said, chuckling a bit to herself as she reclined back in her chair. “I’ll be here when you get back.”

Nodding to that mare I turned and smiled to my friends before heading over to the door, looking back to them before I pushed it open, Looking into the darkness of the hallway and down the stairs, taking a moment to look around for a switch before I simply shrugged and started down the stairs.

As we went down and it got darker and darker the farther we got from the door, suddenly the stairwell would light up making me stumble and stop, looking back to see Alabaster smiling nervously and apologetically, his horn glowing in a gentle light.

It felt like these stairs would go on forever, I swear we must of scaled the height of this tower at least once over just going down, no stops or floors, I couldn’t help but wonder what was at the bottom of these seemingly endless steps.

In the dark it’s easy to lose track of time or how long you’ve been going, but soon I saw light radiating up the staircase in front of us, speeding up it wouldn’t be long till we reached the landing, looking around we saw only one door at the far side of the room, and the doors to what looked like an elevator next to the base of the stairs, to which I stared at blankly.

“Why didn’t we try the elevator?” Midas asked with a chuckle.

“Did you see any elevator doors up there?” Autumn said with a groan. “It was so dark I couldn’t even see my hoof in front of my face.”

“I do not trust those, machines.” Alabaster said. “Too many things that could go wrong.”

We all stopped and looked at him for a moment, he simply shrugged and chucked to himself. Looking about the room, trying to find anything worth while or a clue of where we were or what was here, but we found nothing.

“Okay, this is boring.” Midas said with a groan before she stood and walked towards the door, walking into a forcefield that bounced her back and made her fall down. “The heck… oh, right… the shield”

“Well, guess it’s time to try and see what happens.” I said with a nervous chuckle.

“You don’t have to do it, we can go back up and just tell that receptionist that you couldn’t get through.” Autumn said. “You don’t need to risk yourself like this for somepony you don’t even know.”

“No, what’s the worst that could possibly happen, I get a little seared?” I said with a chuckle. “That’s easily fixed with a quick coat of paint.”

“But what if it’s worse, what if you get fried or something and we can’t fix you?” Autumn said with a frown.

“I don’t think so, I mean, look at Midas, she just bounced off, if anything I’ll either go through or bounce off too.” I said with a shrug. “Either way, there’s only one way to find out.”

I took a deep breath and started walking to that barrier, when I reached it I held my hoof out, touching the spot that Midas had just bounced off of. I could feel the magical energy surging and buzzing as my hoof made contact, I felt just a little resistance as my hoof went through the field. Looking back at my friends with a smile before pressing farther, passing through the barrier with next to no more resistance.

Standing on the other side of the barrier I looked around for a panel or something that I could use to shut down the barrier, unable to see one on this side of the door I opened it and stepped through into what looked to be a large atrium. Looking next to the door I found the control box and flipped off the switch when I heard a voice behind me and the sound of rapidly approaching hoofsteps.

“What do you think you’re doing! You shut off the Biolock you stupid robot!” He said as he pushed me out of the way, looking at the panel before he gave a sigh. “Great, I can’t just turn it back on, I hope you’re proud of yourself.”

“I’m not a stupid robot!” I yelled at him as I steadied myself, glaring at that stallion.

“Excuse me.” He said, looking to me, his expression turning to confusion.

“I am not a stupid robot.” I said again, to which he seemed even more perplexed.

“What is your designation, who is your manufacturer.” He said, looking at me, growing curiosity in his face. “I’ve never seen a robot like you”

“My name is Sweetie Belle, and I don’t have a manufacturer, my father built me.” I said with a huff.

“Sweetie Belle was a Stable-Tec employee, not a Robot, what is your designation.” He said before he smirked. “And robots don’t have fathers, they have manufacturers, they are built, not conceived and grown.”

“You’re wrong.” I said, sitting and crossing my forelegs across my chest. “I was built by a single pony in a bunker alone with love and affection.”

“You’re malfunctioning.” He said in a matter of fact tone. “You were not built in a bunker by a single pony, you were built here, probably as a science project.”

I went to correct him before his horn started to glow and he lifted me off the ground. Struggling in his aura and trying to find a way to break free.

“Put her down.” Midas said, as she walked through the door, to which that Stallion dropped me and quickly started to back away.

“O-Oh, I’m s-sorry, is this your robot ms. d-dragon” he said with a nervous smile.

“Oh right, because two seconds ago I wasn’t even built outside this place and now you’re asking a dragon if I was hers.” I said with a roll of my eyes and a huff.

“Y-You should check on her, s-she seems to be malfunctioning.” He said nervously, getting over to an intercom panel and pressing the button, whispering something into it before he started to inch closer to the door on the far side of the room labeled ‘stairs’

“She isn’t malfunctioning.” Autumn said, stepping in behind us and standing beside me. “She is not a mass produced unit”

“O-Oh, hello soldier... “ he said, he seemed even more nervous as he looked at Autumn. “W-What’s that E on your armor stand for?..”

“Enclave, The Grand Pegasus Enclave.” Autumn said with a bit of pride.

“But, you are not pegasi.” He said with a gulp, Autumn went to reply but was cut off by the sound of hooves running up the hallway towards us. The stallion quickly diving behind a counter at the far side of the room as a group of ponies burst through the door.

Rifles lifted, trained on us, all I could see was their Blue and Gold suits, their faces hidden by helmets.

“State your business here.” One of them demanded, staring at me, then shifting his gaze to Autumn. He seemed to be examining her, probably looking at her armor and stature.

“We’re here to fix a linkage to a database that the front desk asked us to repair.” Midas said, stepping forward with her claws out in plain sight. “See, we’re unarmed, no reason to hold us at gunpoint.”

The Guard looked at Midas for a moment before he slowly lowered his rifle, his subordinates doing the same. “Are you from the Ministry or Stable-Tec?”

“Stable-Tec?” I asked

“Guessing you’re not from either of those then” he said with a sigh. “Look, we can’t just let you in, we have protocol and regulations we have to follow.”

“Captain Dusk, you can’t be serious! Shoot them, they are intruders, that is what Protocol and regulation demand!” the stallion said, popping his head out from behind the counter he was cowering behind.

“That is enough from you, we don’t go shooting unarmed creatures, dragons, robots, or… whatever the heck he is. Or not.”

“Wait wait, Stable-tec.” Autumn said, taking off her helmet. “I recognize those suits and that armor, you’re stable-tec security.”

“Yes, we are.” Dusk said, looking at Autumn with a chuckle. “You seem surprised.”

“Well, last time I saw Stable-Tec Security was before we were taken out of 66.” Autumn said with a chuckle. “So, there’s a stable down here?”

“Yes and no.” He said with a chuckle and shake of his head. “It’s not an official stable, a gift from Stable-Tec to the Ministry of Arcane Science, it’s not owned nor operated by Stable-Tec, nor does it have a number.”

“Aha, I’ve heard of Stables being given as gifts to the ministry.” Autumn said with a nod and smile. “So, you and I, we’re not too different.”

“I look forward to your stories.” Dusk said with a chuckle. “What is your name, by the way.”

“Autumn McIntosh.” She said with a chuckle. “Yours, other then Captain Dusk?”

“Just Dusk, that’s all anyone calls me down here anyway.” he said with a chuckle. “My name seems a parody of the Ministry mare’s so most just ignore it and settle for just that.”

“Parody of the Ministry Mare’s name… assuming you mean Twilight…” Autumn said, rubbing at her chin. “Dusk… Twinkle?... Dusk… Sparkle?...”

“Dusk Shine.” He said with a laugh.

“Two legendary names meeting face to face huh.” Midas said with a chuckle. “Next thing we know you two are going to get together and have secret foals together.”

“Please no, My wife would kill me,” Dusk said with a laugh. “Not to mention what my daughter would think.”

“Yeah, and I find it odd the first thing that your mind jumps to is children” Autumn said with a smirk at Midas. “Hinting at something?”

“Hey, we all have our biological clocks, and they’re going to keep ticking regardless of if you want them to or not.” Midas said with a smirk. “Either way, I was only teasing. Based on rumors that I got about a secret relationship between Twilight and Big McIntosh.”

“We’ve heard those rumors too.” Dusk said with a chuckle. “Though I am not related to Twilight, as far as we know anyway.”

“And while we have suspicion that I am related to Big McIntosh, it’s just that, suspicion and rumor.” Autumn said, shaking her head and laughing.

“Y’know I do it just to rock your boat, right Autumn?” Midas said with a chuckle.

“Oh I know.” Autumn said. “Anyway, back to the matters at hoof?”

“Right, We need to go and fix the link to the front desk so she can help us get up into Twilight’s room.” I said, looking to Dusk.

“What do you want in Twilight’s room?” Dusk asked as he took a seat and finally removed his helmet, letting me see his light gray coat, vibrant blue mane, and Magenta colored eyes. He looked, strangely familiar for some reason.

“There is a Journal that Twilight and her friends kept up there, and we were hired by a family member to recover it and return it to her.” Midas said with a chuckle. “So we need you to let us in so we can fix the link so the front desk will let us up to Twilight’s room.”

“Like I said, I’m sorry but we can’t let you any deeper into the area.” Dusk said with a sigh. “As much as I’d like to help, it’s just too dangerous to let anyone that isn’t Stable-Tec or MAS into the stable.”

“Why?” I asked, giving him a slight smile.

“It’s because there are experiments going on in there that nopony outside of stable-tec and the MAS can see.” Dusk said, giving a shake of his head. “To let you in would be a total violation of everything we stood for down here.”

“Wait, the Ministry is still operating down here?” Autumn said, looking a mixture of confused and surprised.

“Makes sense.” Midas said with a shrug. “Put all your staff in one building with a stable in its basement, also makes the enchantment make sense - if the tower collapsed on the stable it’s likely that it would be crushed under all that unsupported weight.”

“Keeps all your best and brightest minds safe and sound so that everything keeps going without interruption.” Autumn said, slowly nodding her head.

“All, except a few, though one has returned to us.” Dusk said with a chuckle. “It’s sad that Twilight as well as a few other members of the Maripony research facility didn’t make it down here, but we have honored their name and kept working to bring pride to their legacy.”

“Over two hundred years after the bombs fell, the fall of Equestria, and yet somehow the Ministry of Arcane Science keeps going.” Midas said with a smirk. “I knew Twilight was a control freak and planned for everything, but this is a bit in the extreme.”

“What would it take for us to be allowed in.” I asked, sitting and rubbing at the side of my head.

“Well, I think you’re okay, but your friends need to stay out here.” Dusk said with a sigh. “Robots can be controlled and trusted that they aren’t going to sell information if they are told not to.”

I went to argue with him about the robot thing, but i decided it would be a bad idea to make him think I was rebellious or capable of violating any sort of basic robotic laws that he believed I had.

“Well, I can’t do it without Midas.” I said, glancing back at Midas with a slight smile.

“Why is that.” Dusk said crossing his forelegs across his chest.

“Because she is my technician.” I said. “Not to mention she is a certified Stable-Tec technician as well, she even has a pipbuck.”

“Is that so.” Dusk said, looking at Midas.

“Yep, didn’t want to brag or anything.” Midas said with a chuckle, moving her tail to show the pipbuck.

“Fine, you two can enter, the other two need to stay out here.” Dusk said, chuckling as he looked to Alabaster and Autumn. “Guess we’ll have plenty of time to hear each other’s stories.”

Autumn nodded and smiled over to Alabaster, who simply shrugged and sat down with his back against the wall. The stallion that started all this sighing as he got to his hooves, motioning for the both of us to follow.

00000

Many of the rooms in the hallways had blinds drawn over the windows, blocking us from seeing inside. Unsure if it was for security, or if perhaps light sensitive experiments were being carried out within the darkness of the rooms behind. Speeding up and walking beside Dusk, giving him a smile when he looked to me.

“So, What all have you been working with down here?” I asked, to which Dusk looked to me with a lightly confused look. “What? It’s just a little curiosity, that’s all.”

“I get that, just, never seen a robot express it.” Dusk said with a sigh. “Learn things every day, next thing I know I’ll find out that you have fully fledged emotions.”

“Actually, I do.” I said with a chuckle.

“She was designed from the ground up with realism in mind.” Midas said, trying to sound official. “She has simulated emotions, and much about her is designed to mimic and mirror a living pony. So much so that she can even confuse the S.A.T.S. on the Pipbucks, unsure if she is alive or robot.”

“I see.” Dusk said, looking to me. “So, you can think and feel and behave like a living pony, what limitations do you have?”

“I… Honestly don’t know, I guess not many.” I said, taking a moment to think about his question. “I mean, I can survive drops from usually fatal heights, I am stronger than most earth ponies, I am faster than most pegasi, My magic is… rudimentary at most though, so I guess I can’t do everything unicorns can”

“Or Fly.” Midas said with a snicker. “Or need I remind you your run in with gravity recently?”

“Do I even want to know?” Dusk said with a chuckle and shake of his head. “I feel you two are going to drive me nuts at this rate.”

“Well, once the database connection is repaired, we’ll be out of your mane and on our way.” Midas said “Though I am concerned about this other pony, The receptionist upstairs talked about her, and you down here too, saying one returned.”

“Ah, yes.” Dusk said, looking back to Midas. “One of the ponies believed to have been killed in the Maripony detonation has made several appearances recently”

“Oh?” I said, stopping and looking at Dusk. “Did you happen to catch her name?”

“Of course I have, though I don’t see why you’d want it.” Dusk said, looking at me with a quirked brow “Or is this just that curiosity simulation you got going?”

“I’d like to know, that’s all.” I said with a nervous smile. “For posterity’s sake”

“Trixie.” Dusk said in a matter of fact tone. “Trixie Lulamoon.”

“Wait, I read Littlepip’s book, Trixie was a part of the goddess, and was killed, how is she here?” Midas said, looking at Dusk with a perplexed gaze. “I mean, I suppose it is possible that Trixie did what Twilight did, but that’s far fetched, at least, I think so…”

“You’ll have to fill me in on the details later” I said with a chuckle.

“I as well, I have no clue what you’re talking about, who is the goddess?” Dusk said, looking at that dragon with an equally perplexed expression. “What did Twilight do?”

“Long story, will tell you later.” Midas said with a laugh. “Lets get to the database and see what we gotta do to fix it before the receptionist has a hissy or changes her mind.”

“Well, I’ll leave you two to it, I’m expected back at my quarters for an early dinner. See you Later?” Dusk said, as he started to turn and walk away.

“Oh, for sure.” I said with a smile, Midas however groaned and shook her head, never stopping walking.

We followed the signs on the wall for a while, till we reached a large room filled with row upon row of what looked to be some sort of computer. Walking along the rows it was easy to tell which were working and which weren't. We stopped every now and then to investigate the ones that were dark, finding most of them had been simply switched off.

It all felt, off, like perhaps it was a setup.

“Midas, I don’t like this.” I said, looking around.

“Neither do I, I know a trap when I see one, and trust me, we just walked straight into one.” Midas said with a sigh. “Question is, who, and why.”

“Isn’t it obvious.” A familiar stallion’s voice from behind, turning round to see its the scientist from before. “I wanted to capture our visitor from the Ministry, I felt this kind of ‘malfunction’ would be more than enough to catch her attention.”

“But, why?” I asked.

“Because the Ministry is dead!” He proclaimed. “The ministry died over two hundred years ago, and now somepony is walking around flashing a badge and pretending to be us, an Alicorn at no less. Surely just looking for a way to get her hooves on more IMP or ways to bring back their precious goddess. Well, not on my watch!”

“How do you know that, if you’ve been trapped down here all this time.” Midas said, crossing her arms across her chest.

“Simple, the receptionist and I have a little fling going, I shut off the forcefield, and she comes in and gets her hooves on some tasty commodities.” He said with a smirk. “But now you two have crawled into my trap, and while I suppose I can just reset and wait for her to come back, getting a couple false stable-tec representatives is a good runners up prize.”

“Okay, fine, you caught us, now what are you going to do?” Midas said, “Stop us from leaving? Call in the security to get them to arrest us? You have no proof. Nothing you try and do would stick.”

“Oh, No no, see, another thing my friend up at the front desk taught me.” He said, his horn starting to glow and levitating out a rifle. “Is you do not leave the inept security to do, what a bullet could do much better.”

We both dived for cover, looking at Midas, she seemed calm.

“Look dude, you don’t want to be doing this.” She called out. “Imagine if you shot at us and missed, you could take out generations of data in one shot alone, do you really want to risk that?”

“I’m not going to miss.” He said with a chuckle. “I didn’t always live down here in the stable, I used to be on the surface, but like I said, the receptionist took a liking to me, didn’t want me to leave, so she negotiated for me to get into the stable and stay.”

“I knew that mare wasn’t telling us everything…” I said under my breath, giving a shake of my head before looking back to Midas.

“Okay, you’re not going to miss, what about the blast from the gun, think the security isn’t going to hear it?” Midas said, trying to come up with some way to defuse the situation.

“Enchantments, on both the gun and the room, no sounds come in, no sounds go out.” He said, chuckling. “It’s amazing how loud a server room can get, seems having one in a stable got a bit, unbearable for the occupants.”

“So then what?” Midas said. “You going to kill us, then what are you going to do with the bodies? Can’t just drag them out through the stable, you’ll be found out and kicked out.”

“True…” He said, stopping to think for a moment. “I suppose that was one undersight to my genius plan.”

“So how about you put that rifle down, and we talk about this, alright?”

“I’ll put the rifle down, but we’re not talking about anything.” He said with a sneer to his voice. “I will simply come down there, and hunt you down like the dogs you are.”

“Sounds like a Raider talking.” Midas said, lightly smirking. “Was that who you used to be before you got down here? Some Raider gang member?”

“Warlord is more like it.” He said. Neither of us were willing to look to see if he standing still, but his voice sounded like it was coming closer. “I got tired of all the blood and guts, decided I wanted something more simple, peaceful, serene.”

“So you slept with a ghoul receptionist and convinced her to let you into a stable.” Midas said with a chuckle. “So you picked the easy way out.”

“Easy way, sure, it was easy.” He said. “But not as easy as it will be to take care of you two.”

“What makes you so sure of th-” Midas said before I heard the sound of metal on flesh, I looked over to see her collapsed on the floor, he smirked up at me, he had been levitating around the room, holding himself in his own magic.

“Hello there, Toaster.” He said with a coy smirk. “Get up, come over here, and kill her.”

“No.”

“Get up, and come kill her now.” He said, his smirk turning to a frown.

“No.”

“Okay, You want to play this the hard way.” He said, dropping himself from his magic and picking up the wrench he had used on Midas. “Fine, we can play this the hard way.”

Bringing it down, I heard the sound of metal on metal as the wrench impacted the side of my face. The sound of shattering glass followed next, when I opened my eyes I could see one of my lenses had been shattered.

“You shouldn’t of done that.” I said.

“Oh really, what are you going to do little worthless hunk of junk.” He said, his smirk returning.

“Run.” I said, getting to my hooves, glaring down that smug stallion.

“And why would I do that, you’re unarmed and she’s knocked out cold.” He said with a chuckle.

“Let’s just say, the claims of us being unarmed, were greatly exaggerated.”

“You’re a terrible Liar.” He said, swinging that wrench again, this time I caught it with my leg, He took a second to look at it then back to me, that smirk fading away once more. “What the hell!”

“Run. Now.” I demanded.

“Why would I do that, so what, you blocked one of my shots you’re not going to get so lucky every time.” He said, I could hear fear starting to well up in his voice.

I didn’t speak, I let the sounds of whirring motors and hissing hydraulics do the talking for me, Panels on my back sliding free, and deploying those now all too familiar gatling lasers. As they unfolded I felt, anger welling up inside, clouding my mind, my judgement, I just wanted to see this Stallion dead more than anything.

“What the!” He said, quickly getting to his hooves and staring at me, his horror evident.

“I said RUN!” I shouted, the barrels starting to spool, that green energy turning red as it flowed into the two weapons.

Stumbling backwards his eyes only got wider and wider the faster the barrels spun, as the glow built he turned and started to run. “What in the blazes are you!” He called out as he ran.

“Something you will wish you never had anything to do with.” I said, I could feel the smirk coming across my face as the first bolts let rip, hitting the wall behind him making him freeze and turn back to face me.

I didn’t stop, the bolts just kept coming and soon enough the sound of searing flesh and cries of pain were heard, I kept firing, he wasn’t down yet and I wasn’t done yet. It felt like forever, but it was no more than a couple of moments. His body collapsed on the floor, riddled with multiple burn marks and bleeding wounds, lightly convulsing as I walked over to him.

“M-Mercy.” He said, looking up to me, the fear and pain in his eyes all too real.

I looked down at him, red fading back to green, I felt myself feeling horrible for what I did to him.

“I…” I said, stumbling over my words. “I’m sorry…”

“P-Please… Don’t kill me.” he said between coughs.

“I.. I didn’t mean to… Oh goddesses I am so sorry…” I said, reaching out and gently touching his cheek.

As my hoof gently touched his face, he flinched, and I saw in his eyes for a moment, just what a real monster looked like. Not him, but my reflection. The shattered lense having fallen entirely out in the heat of the moment, guns still deployed.

“J-Just, hold on.” I said, stowing my weapons and getting to my hooves, rushing over to Midas to see how she was doing, digging into her bag and pulling out a healing potion. “Sorry… but somepony else needs this more.”

Rushing back to his side, when I got there, I noticed he had gone limp, and he wasn’t breathing anymore. Starting to panic I tried my hardest to revive him, compressing his chest and doing whatever I could to help him take a breath. Minutes felt like seconds, and I kept going, I kept trying, till I felt a claw on my shoulder.

Looking up I saw Midas, lightly rubbing her head but smiling apologetically down at me.

“It’s okay Sweets, he’s in a better place.” She said softly.

I just stared at her for a second, then down to the body of the stallion, then I simply stood and wrapped my legs around her, burying my face against her scales as I started to cry.

“It’s alright Sweets.” She said, taken by surprise at first, but slowly returning the embrace. “It’s not easy, the first time you have to do that.”

“I didn’t have to! He was running!” I cried out.

Midas stopped for a moment and looked down at me, claw gently moving to the dent at the side of my head. “He hit you?”

I sighed, and softly nodded.

“Maybe, it was a self protection system, maybe it wasn’t your fault.” Midas said, hugging me even tighter.

It didn’t matter to me what it was, what I had done is permanent, a pony is dead because of me. Every now and then I tried to look back at the body, but Midas would gently turn my head back and shield my eyes.

“It’s okay Sweets… It was bound to happen eventually… emotions are a complex thing, and they can make you act crazy when they get the best of you.” She said softly.

“I don’t want them anymore..” I said, sobbing lightly against her scales.

“Sometimes I didn’t want mine anymore either, but they are as much a part of you as everything else, you can’t live without them.”

“But, Mine are just programmed, all I need to do is shut off the program that simulates them…”

“And lose out on your laughter, and happiness, and love, all because you’re afraid of the fear, anger, and pain?” She said, leaning back and smiling down at me. “There is a old tune from the old world, My dad used to sing it to me, said it got passed around a bit.”

“W-what’s that” I said, between sniffles.

“Sometimes you gotta let it rain.” She said softly. “Giving up your happiness because you’re scared of the bad stuff, isn’t the way to go, you gotta let it sometimes, how else are you going to enjoy the rainbow?”

I sighed, and looked up into her eyes, she was right. Giving up on everything good because I am scared of the bad isn’t the way to live life. Looking back to his body once more, Midas again trying to stop me but this time I simply pulled free.

Walking to his side, I gently moved him into a more peaceful position, his eyes still wide open. Sighing as my horn glowed, using my magic to gently shut his eyes, placing a hoof on his chest.

“Life is full of stories, all stories are worth remembering, the good and the bad.” I said, smiling down upon the corpse. “Your story has ended, but it will not be forgotten. You have my word.”

“Sweets…” Midas said, walking up behind me.

Looking up to her, and giving a smile. “Remembrance is one of the most important things. It’s something I was built on, something I was designed to do. I might of been the one to end his story, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be the one to remember his story and help others remember it too.”

“But some stories are meant to be left behind… and not retold.” Midas said with a sigh.

“He surely had a lot of lessons learned in his life.” I said, looking back down his body. “I don’t know what life is like as a Raider, but he decided he wanted something new, something better, something to take pride in, that tells a lot about who and what he was.”

Midas just stood there, silently looking down at him with me. Reaching for his Pipbuck and turning it on, I found logs dating back quite the while, back to when he was a raider, back to when he left his home, Stable 13.

“He was a stable dweller.” I said softly, “A stallion of wisdom and science, pushed to his extremes… he let his emotions get the better of him and gave in to addiction and desire… but he redeemed himself, he wanted to be a part of something bigger, something better, something larger than himself.”

“I guess you’re right.” Midas said with a slight smile. “That old saying still holds some water, surprisingly enough.”

“What? Never judge a book by its cover?” I said with a smile. “I wish this Pipbuck had his full name, it just says Mr. Sparkle.”

“Maybe Midnight will know more, She’s from the Sparkle family out of Stable 13.” Midas said, giving a light shrug.

“Who knows, maybe it was her uncle or something.” I said, smiling up before I got to my hooves and walked over to a nearby panel, pressing the button I called out for Medical and security to the server room.

00000

Some time passed before we heard the door swing open, looking up we saw Dusk’s familiar face, flanked by a mare and a small filly. I smiled a little up at him before I looked to the body of ‘Mr. Sparkle.’

“What happened.” He said, attempting to catch his breath.

“We were attacked by him, apparently he’s been shutting off servers in hopes to lure Trixie down here so he could capture and kill her.” Midas said, with a sigh she shook her head. “We walked right into his trap and he decided we’d be just as good, claimed we weren’t stable-tec representatives and said he’d kill us because a bullet can do your job better than you can.”

“I mean… I can’t say I am surprised.” Dusk said with a sigh. “I was always nervous about letting him in here, he always had more… extremist ideas that clashed with a lot of other ponies.”

“Is that why you were more strict about protocol earlier?” I asked

“Yeah, you only make that kind of mistake once, I nearly lost my rank multiple times because of his antics, though, I have to say it’s a shame this is how it came to an end.” Dusk said, looking down to the corpse.

“What are you going to do with him? I asked.

“Well, same thing we do with all dead, incinerate them.” Dusk said with a frown. “I hate that, I wish we could just bury them and give them a proper grave.”

“Well, I looked through his Pipbuck, he’s from a stable, Stable 13, there are a couple other stable 13 dwellers with the same name he had, maybe they’re related, perhaps they’d like to take custody of the body and handle things in their traditional ways?” Midas said, tapping her chin. “I mean, If you’d like, we have a ship we can transport, free of cost.”

“Right…” Dusk said, looking at us for a couple minutes, I could see it in his eyes that he was contemplating and judging us silently. “Okay… I’ll see if there is any paperwork on the release of a body to the family, you’re promising me that you’ll bring him home.”

“On our lives.” I said with a smile.

“Alright…” Dusk said with a sigh and a shake of his head. “Honestly, I don’t like any of this, but I feel like I have to ask you some questions, make sure everything adds up.”

“We have nothing to hide.” Midas said, giving that Stallion a glare. “I explained to you what he said, what he was going to do, we did it in self defense.”

“I can’t exactly ask him now can I!” Dusk yelled, spinning round to face us. “He’s dead, I have two strangers with the body, one of them even openly admitted to searching his corpse before calling for Security.”

“Look at the dent on Sweetie! The broken lens!” Midas said pointing at me.

“You could of done that to cover your backsides.” Dusk said.

“Oh yes, because I am totally strong enough to dent metal that fell several stories and smacked the ground without much of a scratch.” Midas said with a roll of her eyes.

“Excuse me. But I do keep a short term recording…” I said, with a sigh. “Though I am afraid it might incriminate me more.”

“What do you mean?” Dusk said, looking at me curiously.

“Short term memory, basically..” I said. “I automatically record everything and keep it in a short term buffer.”

“And what about the incriminating part.”

“He attacked us… But, I attacked back, I told him to run, and he was running… and I opened fire on him.” I said with a sigh. “I murdered him in cold blood.”

“Robots don’t have blood.” Dusk said with a sigh. “Well, that simplifies the matter, if you can produce the evidence, it means you two are free to go.”

“But!” I said, jumping to my hooves.

“But what?” He said. “Robots are bound by their programming, and if you are the one that did this, then it is excusable, you acted on programming, not malcontent.”

00000

It felt like hours later, I had followed Dusk to the security room, leaving Midas to go back and join Alabaster and Autumn at the entrance. Sitting in a room alone, having my head plugged into the wall. It felt, so wrong on multiple levels.

Eventually, Dusk came back in. His eyes were glassy and his cheeks were wet, I looked at him and gently reached out. “What’s wrong?”

“Despite his assaulting you, despite his intent on murder, you still tried everything you could to save his life.” Dusk said softly. Slumping down into the chair opposite of mine.

“You didn’t take anything, you didn’t steal anything, you just wanted to know more about him, so you could tell others his story.” Dusk continued. “That’s, honorable, and very heart warming Sweetie.”

“Just doing what my father built me to do.” I said with a weak smile.

“You’re still free to go, but, I wanted to thank you, you did everything you could to right the wrong in your mind. But he was to blame.” Dusk said, leaning over and looking at me. “You did what you did in self defense, you went out of your way to try and save his life, no one asked you to, no one expected you to, if you walked up and crushed his head in there is nothing I could of done to convict you, you killed because you were threatened.”

“Are you trying to make me feel better?” I said, looking at him more curiously. “I murdered a pony, self defense or not, I did it in anger.”

“But…” Dusk said, shaking his head.

“But nothing Dusk, nothing is going to take away the emptiness I feel, nothing is going to take away the sadness and self loathing of watching as something I did ended another.” I said, scowling slightly. “Don’t try to soften it, don’t try and candy coat it to make it a little easier to go down. I killed, and maybe Midas is right, maybe I’ll have to kill again, maybe that’s just the way of the wasteland.”

“But it doesn’t mean it has to cost you who you are.” Dusk said softly. “Your a kind hearted pony, or robot, or whatever you are. You have only the best in your mind when you come into something, and when pushed you are capable of breaking just like everyone else.”

I just sat there, staring at him for a moment, trying to process what he said.

“What do you mean.” I eventually said, still confused.

“Sweetie, you tried to bring back a dead pony, for over half an hour.” He said softly. Looking up at me with a smile. “You may of been the one that killed them, but you still tried to save a life, and when you couldn’t, you saved something almost as important, his life story.”

“How does that make it any better?” I asked.

“Because Sweetie, The wasteland gets into you, changes your heart and turns you into a monster.” Dusk said. “I spent many nights with him, trying to help him through his demons, and it seems like in the end, you can take a wastelander out of the wasteland, but you can’t take the wasteland out of the wastelander. It was bound to come down to this, if not you then it would of been Ms. Lulamoon.”

“I see…” I said, looking down at my hooves.

“We turned the servers back on.” Dusk continued, taking a deep breath and lifting up a old leather bag with gold trimming. Placing it on the table and sliding it across to me. “And we got you your book. You’re free to go.”

“I stared for a moment, at the bag and then to him. Taking a moment to lift the flap and looking inside I could see a purple bound book with gold trim, pulling it out on the top there was a large golden hoofprint, with a six pointed star in the center and five smaller different colored gems on the hoofprint itself.

“Thank you, Dusk.” I said, putting the book back in the bag and smiling at him.

“One last thing, we found this in the room as well.” He said, placing a piece of folded paper down on the table and sliding it to me. “It was addressed to a Ms. Sweetie, I don’t know if it’s for you or for somepony who hasn’t been around in a very long time, but it felt right to give it to you.”

“I see, thank you again.” I said, slipping out of the chair and standing, taking a moment to unplug myself from the wall, shuttering as the lines fell free before I picked up and put the bag on my back.

“Will you be coming back?” Dusk said with a little smile. “I put you and your friends into the shield, you guys can come and go as you please.”

I stopped and looked at him for a moment. “Why?” I asked.

“Because I wanted to, I felt it was right.” He said, sitting up, his smile growing more bold. “I might have to answer to the headmare about this, but I think she’ll agree with my reasoning.”

“Headmare? Don’t you mean Overmare?” I said with a little chuckle.

“Remember? This was made by stable-tec, not owned or operated by it, and here in the Ministry, we do things differently.” He said with a smile. “Not to mention I looked in that book of yours, and found a few clues to who I am.”

“Oh?” I said, looking at him.

“It was a running gag that I was Twilight’s descendant, that she had another secret foal with another pony, turns out, rumors are wrong.” He said, stepping up, looking prouder than ever. “I’m the descendant of her older brother, Shining Armor.”

“Glad you have some answers.” I said with a smile.

“And I hope you can find some of yours.” Dusk said, which caused me to look at him even more confused. “What? I talked with Midas and she told me what you’re after.”

“Okay, anything else you did while I was in here plugged into the wall like some worthless appliance?” I said with a groan.

“Nope, that pretty much covers it” He said with a smile before he walked to the door and swung it open. “Take care Sweetie, and make sure you stay who you are, and trust the magic in that little robotic heart of yours. The wasteland can be cruel, but if your choice of friends is any evidence, you’ll be alright.”

I stopped and smiled at him for a moment before nodding and walking out that door to rejoin my friends. I couldn’t help but take a moment to think about how much of a crazy roller coaster it has been. How things are happening so fast that it’s hard to just keep your head above water, but I think Dusk is right, I think everything is going to be alright in the end.

Or, at least I hope.

LEVEL UP!

Perk Acquired: Wasteland Blues

Your first kill will stay with you for a lifetime, but it doesn’t mean you’re any less of a pony.

Perception +1/SATS Accuracy +10%

Chapter 7: Regrets

I took a moment to gather my things and thoughts before I headed for the door that led to the atrium, pausing and looking through the window, I could see my friends on the other side, talking, laughing, just having a moment to relax.

About to open the door before Autumn had jumped to her hooves and rushed over to the door and to me. She had this bright brilliant smile as she called out. “Sweetie! Oh my gosh, I am so glad to see you’re okay!”

“I.. Yeah, I guess I am huh,” I said, chuckling a little and stepping through that door

“Midas was telling us what happened, it sounded so awful, how could anypony do that,” Autumn said, her smile turning to a frown. “I don’t understand raiders, why do they trick ponies, set up traps, and do these horrible things.”

“I...” I said before I paused and let that thought sink in for a moment. She was right after all, why do raiders do that? Is it because of an illness, or maybe they endured something terrible that left them mentally and emotionally scarred. Chuckling a little and giving my head a shake before turning to face the now approaching Midas and Alabaster.

“Raiders don’t do anything that makes any sense,” Midas said with a shrug. “They are self-serving, careless, and ultimately pointless foe. They’d just as quickly kill each other as kill a passing trader, all that senseless violence, for no reason.”

“Indeed.” Alabaster said with a sigh. “I have had many a run in with these raiders, I am very impressed that you managed to handle yourself so well Sweetie, a skilled fighter you must be.”

High praise that brought a flinch from me, the thought about what had happened still fresh in my mind. Giving a little bit of a nervous chuckle before I turned away and sighed.

“I’m not a skilled fighter, What happened in there was a fluke, a glitch in my programming, a bug somewhere in the code. It shouldn’t have ever happened.” I said coldly, backing away from the three.

“Or Sweetie, it was a ghost in the machine,” Autumn said, I could see the concern in her eyes. “If it was any other way around, I think we would have done much the same, I can’t blame you, or be angry at you - for just defending yourself and your friend.”

I went to say something before I saw Midas just quietly shaking her head, giving a sigh and looking away.

“Maybe you’re right.” I said, “Maybe I just did something that is natural and anypony in my position would have done it. But my moral coding says what I did was wrong, and says that i am guilty of a horrible crime.”

“It’s called a conscience Sweets,” Midas said. “Just tell me if you start to see a little singing dancing cricket or something,”

I stared at her for a few moments in disbelief, despite all that happened she could still find time to think up jokes, or even found them appropriate. Chuckling a little to myself and giving my head another shake, maybe I was overthinking this, maybe I’m just being far too serious, but I can’t help but feel my sin crawling up my back and reminding me at every turn what I had done.

“What happened down there, It’s hard to come to terms, I remember my first deployment. We got attacked by raiders, I was forced to kill one that was charging my position.” Autumn said with a sigh. “To be honest? I’m a medic more than a soldier, I don’t have the heart to kill, and I know how terrible it feels.”

“Yeah…” I said, looking down at my hooves and taking a deep breath, about to speak before I heard the sound of hoof steps quickly approaching, turning to see Dusk approaching, followed by what appeared to be a small crew carrying a large black bag.

“The body is ready for transport,” Dusk said, giving a half-hearted smile, before he’d levitate forward what looked to be Mr. Sparkle’s rifle, sighing as he looked at it. “We don’t really have much use for weapons down here, maybe you can make better use of this, I’d hate to see it just, go to waste and be melted down for scrap.”

Nodding slowly I reached out for the rifle, taking it into my hooves, the first time I could see it up close and personal. Carved into the wood was very delicate and intricate patterns, painted in with a mixture of purple and pink paints, all of them leading to the stock where a large six-pointed star had been carved and painted a brilliant white. Finding some lettering carved under the star, which read “Whisper’s Decline.”

“I don’t know if we can accept this… It’s so, personal.” I commented, looking back to Dusk who simply sighed and nodded.

“I can understand, it’s a tall request, maybe his family would like to use it,” Dusk said with a nervous chuckle, clearly trying to suggest something so we’d take the rifle off his hooves.

Taking a moment more, looking it over and taking in its delicate personalization, So much time and love went into carving each mark, this must of taken years of dedication to get it to such a professional level, no telling how many times he had to replace parts from screwing up. Turning and holding the rifle out to Midas so she could take a look, and much to my surprise she simply took it from my hooves and slung it over her shoulder before she turned and started towards the staircase out of this lower area.

“Leaving so soon?” Dusk called out, looking past us and to Midas, she froze in her tracks before she looked back with a sigh.

“Look, it’s nothing personal but we’ve got a job to do,” Midas said, coming back over to us. “Transporting bodies, nearly being killed, all for a stupid journal, I really just - want to get this over and done with and put as much distance between me and Maripony as possible.”

“I can understand,” Dusk said with a chuckle. “I just, hoped you would stay for dinner.”

Midas looked a little dumbfounded at that, before she simply chuckled “Maybe another time, duty before pleasure right?”

“Why can’t duty and pleasure be one and the same?” Dusk said with a joking grin. “Anyway, there’s always a place at the table for guests, feel free to drop by anytime.”

“I look forward to it,” I said with a smile, looking back to Midas who had started to scowl at me. “What, it’s called being polite.”

“Whatever. Let’s get out of here before you decide to be ‘polite’ to someone else.” Midas said with a groan before she headed to the door. We followed close behind to the elevator doors, calling for it and heading back up to the surface.

DING! Main Lobby

Stepping out into the main lobby, I could see a few guards across the room with the receptionist in cuffs. Midas simply started walking to the exit paying them no nevermind, but that’s when she called out to us.

“You Jerks!” She screamed. “You didn’t have to kill him!”

My ears folded back and I flinched at that, I looked over to her and could see how upset she was. Midas moved back to block my view and encourage me to continue to walk, but I couldn’t just walk away, stepping around her to address the irate receptionist.

“You knew why the databases were going down, you knew he was setting up a trap to catch an imposter. Yet you sent us down into it anyway, how else did you expect this to end.” I asked coldly.

“I think we both know the answer to that.” She said, her voice becoming suddenly calm and collected.

“With us dead, our corpses stripped of everything valuable, and discarded in some pile somewhere?” Midas said, stepping between me and the receptionist once more. “Come on Sweets, she isn’t worth our time.”

It was silent for a few moments as I looked at Midas, giving a sigh before turning and starting for the exit once more before she called out again.

“Like you did to him I see.” She said, her voice so cold and calm, it sent chills through my body. “Taking his rifle for a trophy, who knows what else you’ve got stashed in your bags.”

“No, we’re returning it to his family,” I said, turning to face the receptionist once more, walking past Midas and over to her. “You sent us in there with the intent of us dying, and you want to treat us like the bad guys when we simply defend ourselves from an attack you knew was coming.”

“Welcome to the wasteland scavver,” The receptionist said, her lips curling into a demented smile. “There is no rule or justice out here, just the acts of ponies, and I know him well enough to know he would have run when he saw he was outmatched. You gunned down a fleeing pony.”

I flinched again and looked away, which brought a twisted cackle from that mare.

“You did!” She said, cackle going into full out laughter. “I miss judged you scavver, you’re one of us aren’t you, ruthless and unforgiving.”

“That’s not how it happened at all,” I said meekly, not turning back to face her.

“Uh huh, whatever you say.” She said, the laughter suddenly disappearing and her voice returning to that chilling calmness. “Better take my rifle too then, they’re two of a set his and mine.”

I took a moment to look over at the other rifle leaning against the desk, the thought honestly crossed my mind to take it. Shaking my head and turning to walk away.

“You best take it, else it’ll be the last thing you’ll see when I get out of here, and trust me, I’ll get out.” She said, that cackle returning.

Midas simply looked at that twisted mare with a blank, uncaring stare. Walking over to the desk and snatching up that second rifle before she started to walk for the door. This time a Security pony coming over and taking that rifle back.

“Sorry ma’am, but we can’t let you take it.” He said, Midas glaring at him before she just let out a groan and threw up her arms, walking for that door either way.

Once we got outside I turned to that dragoness, her annoyance as plain as day.

“You just had to,” Midas said with a growl as she looked at me.

“What?” I said, ducking down and backing away a little.

“You just had to instigate her, you couldn’t have just left well enough alone,” Midas said before she’d slump down a little. “Ponies like that, they’re twisted, they want to mess with you, get in your head, you should never ever in a million years openly talk to them.”

“I didn’t know…” I said, ducking down all the more.

“Well… Now you do, don’t do it again.”

“Hey, why don’t you get down off your high horse scales for brains,” Autumn said, jumping to my defense.

“Excuse me?” Midas said, glaring at that Unicorn.

“You heard me, she was just trying to make things right, you don’t have to get on her case for it. She’s like a stable dweller, you gotta give her time to adjust, you can’t just bake her like she was just any other scavenger or trader of the wasteland.” Autumn said, glaring right back.

Midas just stood, staring at Autumn for a few moments more before she’d just give a groan and take off, presumably flying back to the ship.

“You didn’t need to do that,” I said, with a nervous smile.

“Yeah well. Dragons have an attitude problem, and sometimes you need to stand up to them in order for them to realize that they need to get it back in check.” Autumn said, smiling a little at me. “You alright?”

“Yeah, let’s just… get back to the ship before Midas does something we may all regret.” I said before we’d gather everything once more and head for where the ship had landed.

00000

As we headed for the ship, I could swear I heard the sound of wings overhead multiple times, but every time I looked I couldn’t see anyone or anything for that matter. As we reached the clearing where the ship had landed, I saw the usual complement of guards standing around, but there was this one pony who caught my attention, standing off to the side and entirely cloaked.

Walking over to her and giving as much of a warm welcoming smile. “Hey there,” I said warmly. “My name is Sweetie, can I do anything for you?”

“No.” She said at first before she stopped and looked back to me, and the now approaching group with that large black bag levitated beside them. “Is that him?”

“I… yes?” I said, looking to the group of ponies.

“Mr. Sparkle, the would-be assassin who was attempting to capture me,” She said before she looked back to me, for the first time I could see a bit of her light blue coat on her muzzle, poking out from the cloak.

“Yeah, that’s him,” Autumn said, stepping in and putting herself between me and the mystery mare. “What’s it to you?”

“So, the rumor is true, it is over.” She said, a sound of relief in her voice. “He believed me to be an imposter, he wished to murder me to prove he was correct.”

“Yeah, we stumbled into the trap he set for you. He attacked us, and I… I killed him.” I said, it still hurt to admit that.

“So I have you to thank then.” She said, dropping her hood. I could see her light blue coat and an even lighter shade of blue for her mane. “I suppose you know who I am then.”

“I… yes,” I said, giving a sigh. “You’re Trixie Lulamoon.”

“Precisely,” Trixie said with a smile. “Though, not the pony you may have been expecting.”

“What do you mean?” Autumn asked, looking at that mare curiously.

“There is a time and a place for every story, and I’m afraid this is neither of those.” Trixie said with a sigh. “Just, thank you for ending this threat to my life”

“You’re welcome.” I said, starting to relax. “But, Midas said there is a book that says Trixie was absorbed or made part of this creature called the Goddess, but the goddess was destroyed, how did you survive?”

“It’s a complicated story. However, I can say that the Trixie that was one with the Goddess and myself, are not one and the same. In fact, her death is what brought me here, I’m from… a mirror world, so to speak.” Trixie said with a sigh. “But I can’t say much more, please, no prying - it is a hard topic as is.”

“Understood, well uh… it was nice meeting you” I said, smiling awkwardly. “See you around?”

“More than you might think.” Trixie said with a smile, before she simply started to walk away before we could say much more, a set of wings unfurling from beneath her cloak and she took to the sky, watching as she flew to the NCC tower.

“Could this day get any weirder?” I said to myself, bringing a chuckle from both Alabaster and Autumn before we three would board Quetzal.

Once aboard we all went our separate ways, Autumn to her bunk Alabaster disappearing into the back, and I could hear Midas in her room, seemingly having an argument with herself, or, at least letting out her frustrations.

I, however, went to the dining area, slumping down into a chair and staring at the ceiling of the ship for a moment or two, taking a deep breath and letting out a sigh. I was exhausted, and I could feel as my eyes started to drift closed, I stopped trying to fight it after a little while and I let my mind wander as I drifted off to sleep.

00000

“Did you think it was over? That I was done?” A familiar sounding voice said, causing me to stir and nearly fall from the seat. Looking around I saw no one, not any of the crew, nor my friends - or the source of the voice.

“What do you mean?” I said back cautiously, slipping from the seat and getting to my hooves, still looking around for the source of the mysterious yet familiar voice.

“You sprang my little trap dear little unicorn, you didn’t really think I was going to let you get away, did you?” that voice said, becoming more clear and quite obviously male.

“Mr. Sparkle?” I called out, looking around all the more, I could hear hoofsteps on metal but I still couldn’t figure out where he was.

“What’s it to you.” He said back, stepping around a bulkhead and coming into full view. I could see the burn marks on his coat, his eyes staring at me, glossy and glazed over, unblinking.

“I’m sorry!” I said instinctively, starting to back away from him. I could feel a pounding in my chest, the sensation so odd and catching me off guard that I turned from him and looked to myself, where metal plates once were now stood flesh and fur, that pounding in my chest only getting stronger with each passing moment.

“You’re sorry? Do you think that’s going to fix it?” He said, his lips curling into a sadistic smirk. “You murdered me, you struck me down in cold blood when I was running away, and you know it. Now it’s my turn to return the favor.”

“I… No, that’s not how it happened at all!” I said, shaking and backing away even quicker.

“Think if you keep telling yourself that, it’ll make it come true?” He said, chuckling even more. “Stop running away, just accept it - it’ll all be over soon.”

“Where’s the crew.” I shouted, backing up all the more till I felt cold metal against my backside, having backed into a bulkhead. “What did you do to my friends!”

“Oh, they aren’t here anymore, they left you all alone, with me, how nice of them.” He said, that twisted grin getting all the wider. “Just you and me, and none of those fancy weapons of yours.”

“Please! I..I’m sorry” I started to plead. “I don’t know what came over me, I...I didn’t mean to!” Tears starting to well up in my eyes, standing up on my back legs as I quickly looked around trying to find any route of escape.

“You honestly expect me to believe that? You expect me to just forgive you after what you did to me. I was running, I wasn’t a threat to you anymore, you could've just left me alone and let me live, but you didn’t.” He said, grin turning to scowl. “You justify yourself by calling me a monster, but you’re the real monster, a true freak.”

“No! You Just… You don’t understand!” I yelled, panic starting to build as my fear started to get the better of me. “I wasn’t in control of my actions… it was… oh, goddesses! Somepony, anypony, Help me, please!”

“No one is going to come for you, you’re mine now Sweetie, all mine.” He said, scowl turning back to that sadistic grin, I could hear the sound of a blade being drawn, which only made me panic all the more. “I’m going to slit that pretty little throat of yours, and well… what happens next is my little secret, no sense in ruining all my fun.”

“P-please… don’t do this…” I said as tears started to stream down my cheeks, the more I tried to pull myself from the bulkhead, the more I tried to get away from him, the more I felt like I couldn’t move at all, that sense of being trapped rising ever so quickly.

“Don’t do what? Exact my revenge on some worthless scavver with no heart worth a damn?” He said, shifting that knife upwards, I could feel the blade on my throat, the coldness of the steel pressing through my fur.

I looked at him, eyes pleading for mercy. He simply started to laugh as he dragged the knife lightly across my throat, letting me feel just how sharp his weapon was and how easily he could have taken my life right then and there. Panicking all the more, squirming and trying to push him away, the more I pushed the heavier he seemed to be.

“Oh look at you, squirming around like the worthless rat you are.” He said with a chuckle, pressing that blade more firmly against my flesh. “Any last words scavver.”

“P-please… I-I’m so sorry… I never wanted to hurt anypony…” I said, closing my eyes and giving up the struggle, anticipating for the moment he’d finally do as he threatened. As the blade pushed harder to my flesh and I felt the bite of the blade as it started to dig in, tensing up all the more before suddenly I was jolted. Opening my eyes to see Midas and Autumn standing over me, I had fallen from the seat and was laying on the floor.

“You okay Sweets?” Midas asked, holding out a claw for me. “You were screaming for help in your sleep.”

I stared for a moment, wide-eyed before I finally came to, checking myself and feeling relief as I found metal where there was flesh, checking out the familiar scrapes and dents before I’d take her claw and let her help me back to my hooves. “I… I think I was having a nightmare?” I said, giving my head a shake. “How is that even possible?”

“What was it a nightmare about?” Autumn said, checking me over before she’d pull a chair over and urge me to sit. “I mean, I’ve never heard of a robot dreaming before, let alone having a nightmare.”

Midas, however, didn’t seem surprised at all, sitting in a chair beside mine and laying an arm across my shoulders. “Your father really did do a good job putting you together, didn’t he.” She said softly. “Maybe too good of a job, let me guess - It was about Mr. Sparkle?”

“I… uh, yes… How’d you know?” I said, looking at that Dragoness.

“I still have nightmares about the first time I had to kill somepony.” Midas said with a sigh and a shrug. “It’s something you just, get used to. Just gotta keep reminding yourself, they’re dead and you’re not, they can’t hurt you anymore.”

“But, this was different.” I said, giving a deep sigh. “I wasn’t me, or was I? I mean… I wasn’t like this anymore, I wasn’t metal, and… there was this pounding in my chest that just kept getting stronger and stronger like it was ‘bout to burst…”

Midas recoiled at that, leaning back and looking at me for a moment or two before she’d chuckle some. “A robot that dreams about being organic, now that’s one I’ve never heard before.”

“I… what?” I said, looking at her curiously and honestly confused as well.

“The pounding in your chest Sweetie, It was your heart.” Autumn said with a warm relaxing smile. “Or… your dream heart, if that makes any sense, I mean, you dreamed like you were like me, or anypony else”

“Well… that does explain a few things.” I said with a nervous chuckle, before sitting back in my chair and giving a sigh as I started to relax some. “There has to be something I can do to make things better… else I’m never going to sleep again if all I have is nightmares like that.”

“Maybe you’ll feel better once we get a little bit of closure?” Autumn said, rather obviously thinking out loud. “Maybe once he’s been laid to rest with his family, everything will be alright.”

“Yeah, it’s less than a day to get back to the Dayrunners, so with any luck, you’ll not really miss out on much sleep at all.” Midas said with a chuckle. “I suggest you get some rest, you don’t need to sleep but maybe you can take down systems one at a time instead of rebooting them all at the same time.”

“Maybe.” I said, giving a chuckle followed by a sigh. “Thank you, both of you… for saving me from myself.”

“Anytime Sweets, just - try and not dream of any more homicidal maniacs, alright?” Midas said with a chuckle before she’d head back to her cabin.

“Well, I’m not going to go anywhere. If you fall asleep and start having a nightmare, I’ll be right here to snap you out of it.” Autumn said with a smile.

“And what if you fall asleep?” I said, chuckling some.

“Oh, I’ll be fine. Enclave training handles long sleepless periods, can’t really sleep in combat now can you?” Autumn said with a smile, reaching out and wrapping a leg around me, leaning in and laying her head against my shoulder. “Not to mention, this is just what friends do.”

I just smiled, I didn’t want to say anything. It felt nice having somepony so close, her warmth and just, it was so relaxing. Leaning my head over and gently laying it atop hers. It wouldn’t be long till I heard her starting to lightly snore, having fallen asleep.

“So much for not sleeping.” I said to myself quietly, chuckling a little before the sound of a door caught my attention, looking up I saw a form sneaking out of Midas’ quarters and quickly moving down the hall and slipping into Alabaster’s. I simply shrugged it off and thought nothing much of it. Turning my attention back to the now sleeping Autumn, just, enjoying the moment.

00000

As morning game, I could hear the sound of ponies starting to stir all around the ship, Climbing from their bunks and beginning their day, but it wasn’t long till I could hear them all whispering things to each other.

Autumn started to stir, pulling herself up off my shoulder and yawning as she stretched some. Rubbing at her eyes for a moment before she realized that not only had she fallen asleep, she had quite literally fallen asleep on me and slept there the whole night.

Jumping to her hooves she’d stare at me for a moment. “Oh.. I am.. So… so so sorry Sweetie… I… this is so embarrassing.” She said, looking around and hearing the chuckles from the crew nearby.

I just smiled a little at her, I couldn’t help but find her embarrassment kind of cute. “It’s fine, It was actually kind of nice, having somepony close for once.”

“You… w-wait, what?” Autumn said, her panic fading to confusion as she stared at me, clearly unsure of just what to think of this situation.

“Yeah, especially after that nightmare.” I said with a smile and light giggle. “Plus, it’s what friends do for each other, right?”

“...Right.” Autumn said, a light blush peering out across her cheeks as she looked away. “I...I should go and get ready.”

“Really?” I heard Midas say from across the room, drawing both of our attention as she approached. “Come on, you two are so falling for each other. It’s about as obvious as the sky is blue.”

“Oh? And what’s it to you?” I asked, chuckling at that dragoness, watching as her smug expression shifted and she gave a nervous chuckle.

“Oh, It’s just uh… a bet that was going around.” Midas said, “I mean, with you two laying on each other like that, and everything else that has happened… I’m in trouble, aren’t I,”

“Depends, what was the bet on.” I said, the playful tone slipping from my voice.

“Just… you and Autumn, you know… getting together.” Midas said, tapping two claw tips together. “After what happened last night, and how you two like that this morning, I kind of, thought it’d be today, right now actually.”

“... You bet, on us… getting into a relationship.” I said, letting that sink in for a moment before I facehooved. “That is… so wrong… on so many levels.”

“Oh come on, Is it so wrong to make an educated guess on when somepony may decide to express how they feel?” Midas said with a huff, crossing her arms across her chest. “I mean, come on, it’s not like we were betting when you two would try sleeping together.”

“We?” Me and Autumn asked together.

“I told you today wasn’t the day.” Cloud chaser said, coming back from the cockpit. “I give em a week, maybe two at most.”

“Oh come on, you too?” I said, looking at Cloud Chaser.

“Us, about half the ship, and half a dozen from the dayrunners.” Cloud Chaser said with a chuckle. “Anyway, for what it’s worth - we’re ready to cast off.”

“Alright… uh, well… I think I’m due for a shower.” Autumn said before she quickly slipped away and rushed to the back of the ship.

“Ugh… Alright, so get us underway.” I said, slipping from my seat finally and giving a sigh. “Midas, you and I need to have a little talk.”

“Alright, straight back to the dayrunners I presume?” Cloud Chaser asked as she turned and started to head back in the direction of the cockpit.

“Yeah, best speed.” I said before I shot Midas a glare.

“Oh boy, I know that look, someone’s ‘bout to get her scales baked,” Cloud Chaser said before she slipped out of view.

“I’m in trouble.” Midas said to herself with a sigh. “Here, your quarters, or mine?”

“Yours, Now.” I said sternly, walking past her and to the door that lead to her quarters.

Once inside, and the door sealed behind us, I simply kept glaring at that dragoness.

“Oh come on, you can’t be serious right now.” Midas said with a groan. “It’s just a bet, a harmless little playful bet, nothing more nothing less, what’s there to get your wires in a twist?”

“And what makes you think this is just about the bet.” I said, tapping a hoof.

Midas, looking even more worried now than before gave a sigh. “So what is it then?”

“I saw Alabaster leaving your quarters last night.” I said, smirking some as I saw her eyes go wide and her jaw drop.

“I… I can explain.” Midas said, for the first time ever stumbling over her words.

“Oh, as you said, it was so obvious, and I can tell just by how friendly you are with him that there is more going on here than just friends.” I said, sitting on the floor and watching Midas as she moved and sat on the bed.

“We… we never intended for things to get so serious so quickly,” Midas said after a few moments of silence. “At first… he heard what happened with the bat pony in the inn, and he had an itch he wanted scratched and asked me if I’d scratch it for him…”

“And?” I asked.

“What do you think?” Midas said, giving even more flustered and agitated. “The first night he spent on the ship, he was in here with me, but… after that, there was more going on, things just… clicked”

“You sure you’re not just getting caught up in the moment?” I said, chuckling to myself some.

“We just talked last night, he told me about his home, about how the mares there are like putty in his hooves. Doing as he tells them, when he tells them, with nothing more than a yes sire and rushing off to meet his every demand.” Midas said, sighing some. “He hates it, he really despises it. He wanted a mare that would speak her mind, isn’t afraid to get her hooves dirty, and just… is her own lady, y’know?”

“That’s why he’s attracted to you…” I said, smirk fading away and just listening to her. “What about the other way round? How about you to him?”

“He… he makes me feel special, okay?” Midas said, looking away “He makes me feel things that, I haven’t felt in forever, and thought I might never feel again… and, I really like it okay? Is that so wrong?”

“No, but if you’re going to make bets on other pony’s relationships that aren’t even real, you should be more open and direct with your relationship.” I said with a sigh. “It’s only what is fair.”

“What does this have to do with being fair?” Midas said with a huff. “My relationship is my business, and it only happens in my quarters or his… or the showers when no one else is around, but only then!”

“And that makes it alright to keep it a secret but make and take bets on others?” I asked, lightly tapping a hoof on the floor.

“If you’re going to do it where everypony can see it, then yes, absolutely. It’s just a little bit of friendly banter and teasing anyway, it’s not really a big deal.” Midas said with a groan, crossing her arms across her chest once more. “You don’t want us to take the piss out of you for things you do, then don’t do them where we can see them.”

“Well, stop it.” I said, staring at her a bit. “I have a feeling you are more than just a contributor to this bet, I honestly believe you’re the one that started it. So give them back whatever they were betting and tell them that the betting is closed.”

Midas sighed, nodding a little and going to talk, but as she opened her mouth a soft knock came on the door. It slid open and standing there was a shocked Alabaster, staring at the two of us before he’d set down what he had brought. A box of chocolates and a bouquet of roses just inside the door before he’d quickly make his escape.

Midas just stared at the gifts for a moment before the door slid shut, slipping from her bed and over to the gifts, picking them up with a soft smile.

“He uh… realizes those are probably irradiated, right?” I said, looking at the box of chocolates.

“Probably not, but it’s no big deal - I don’t eat chocolate.” Midas said with a smile, moving over and sitting on her bed, just hugging the box and flowers to her chest.

“And, where’d he get the flowers?” I said, standing and moving over, sitting next to her on the bed.

“Don’t know, they’re fake anyway, I don’t think real roses survived the wasteland.” Midas said, before she sighed and looked at me. “Look, I’m sorry about the betting, alright, but you can’t say a thing about this, if it got back to his home he’d be excommunicated… its one of the few things someone of his… title, could do to get permanently kicked out.”

“I… what?” I said, slightly shocked by this sudden information.

“Yeah… If word got back to his home, he’d be disowned immediately. It’s one of the few things the elites of his society can do that’ll get them such a bad punishment. He never intends to return home, but he doesn’t want them thinking less of him for his choices out here.” Midas said with a sigh, looking down at the flowers. “It’ll take some getting used to, not being able to talk about it or publicly display affection… but I think we’ll manage.”

“I can only imagine how hard that must be.” I said, scooting a little closer. “I mean, I’m sure you two have urges to just, hold each other and stuff, and you gotta fight it and act like strangers when anyone can see you.”

“Yeah, it sucks.” Midas said, chuckling a little. “But it makes our private time together all the spicier. Like the saying says, distance makes the heart grow fonder.”

“Even if that distance is only a couple feet?” I asked, chuckling some.

“Would seem that way, yeah.” Midas said, leaning back and smiling to herself. “Spending all day seeing something you want but you can’t have, it’s always right there at your fingertips but just outside your reach, just makes you want it all the more.”

“Feel better?” I said, smiling at her.

“Yeah… Yeah, I do, thank you, Sweets, I didn’t realize how much that was weighing on me.” Midas said, laughing to herself a little more.

“Hey, what are friends for?” I said, giving her a nudge. “Just, try and keep it under control - I don’t need to find out what a pregnant dragon is like.”

“Oh, don’t worry, we take precautions.” Midas said, surprisingly candidly. “Honestly, I think we both know quite well what we’re doing.”

“I hope so,” I said, slipping from her bed and getting to my hooves, walking to the door and stopping as it slid open once more. “Catch you later.”

00000

An hour or two passed, I just spent the time lazing around in the commons area, talking with a few crew members about nothing important. Deciding to go and pay our pilot a visit I stood and started to head for the cockpit, weaving between crew members as I made my way.

Reaching the cockpit, I saw a hammock strung from the back bulkhead to a support for the windscreen of the ship, Cloud Chaser laying in it just reading a book.

Tapping on the metal to get her attention, once she looked at me I simply smiled.

“What’s up buttercup.” Cloud Chaser said, sitting herself up some, looking at me curiously.

“Just, wondering something is all.” I said, sitting in the vacant pilot’s seat. “You’re from before the war, right? You were married and had a family and everything?”

“Yeah, I did.” Cloud Chaser said, obvious sadness to her voice. “He was really a great guy overall, maybe a little too obsessed with books and old journals, he wanted to know everything there was to magic, to become the best wizard that ever lived.”

“Sounds pretty ambitious.” I said, smiling a little more.

“Yep, pretty much how he was, even if he flunked from Celestia’s school.” Cloud Chaser said, chuckling to herself a bit more. “So, what bout it? Want the birds and the bees talk or something?”

“What, no.” I said, laughing some. “Just, curious about what it was all like.”

I saw as Cloud Chaser flinched and looked away. “That… was a very long time ago, and are a lot of very painful memories.”

“Oh… I, I didn’t mean to bring that up, I didn’t know.” I said, quickly trying to save face.

“Nah, it’s fine. Sure they’re painful, but you gotta tell the story eventually, right?” She said, laying herself back down into her hammock. “Back then, everything seemed perfect, even during the war back before either of us got deployed. I was young, lived in Ponyville. He kept coming round because his best friend was the pupil of the princess or something like that.”

“Princess Twilight I presume?” I asked.

“Only Princess in Ponyville as far as I am concerned. Anyway, we met at a bookstore, he was looking for this old journal from this crazy unicorn. It was practically love at first sight.” Cloud Chaser said, frowning and looking down at herself. “Sunburst was an amazing stallion, he had such a big heart”

“What happened to him?” I asked, to which Cloud Chaser cringed and turned to stare at me for a moment before she looked away.

“He died in the war, early days, tried to use a healing spell on some pegasi that got shot up. Zebra didn’t care much for Medics.” Cloud Chaser said with a sigh. “But, let’s not talk bout that... “

“Oh, sorry.” I said, scooting away a little.

“Like I said… it’s fine.” Cloud chaser said, rolling onto her side facing me. “When I moved to Cloudsdale, he was so concerned that he’d never see me again. We talked to Maud and got him this rock that let him walk on clouds indefinitely and he moved there with me.”

“Sounds nice.” I said, trying to pick my words carefully.

“It was.” She said, sighing again. “Hey, can I get a raincheck on this - We’re nearing the dayrunners and well, the ship doesn’t land itself.”

“I… Alright.” I said, looking at the flight plan I could see we were more than an hour out, but I got the gist of what she was after, it was a painful topic she wanted to avoid right now. I just hoped maybe in the future she’d trust me to tell me the rest.

I stood from the seat and went back to my Quarters, flopping down onto the bed and just staring at the ceiling for a while, before I looked out the window. Watching the clouds zip past as we flew it felt almost like counting sheep, and it wasn’t long before I felt myself drifting off.

I fought it for a short while, before I gave in, it’s the middle of the day and everypony is around, if I get into another nightmare I had more than enough help to get out, and admittedly a short nap sounded very nice right about now either way.

Letting myself drift to sleep, knowing it’d only be a short nap best - but it’s better than nothing.

00000

Startled awake by the crackling of the ship’s loudspeakers, Cloud Chaser’s voice coming through the static.

“We’re at the Dayrunners camp, though you might wanna get up here - I got something you’re going to want to hear.” She said, before the static suddenly stopped and the speakers shut off.

Slipping from my bed and stretching a little, hearing clicking and whirring as the metal plates and servos warmed up and realigned. I soon left my quarters and headed to the bridge, there was a bit of a stirring in the crew, they were whispering and mumbling things, none of them seemed to want to say what it was too loud.

Reaching the cockpit, Cloud Chaser jumped up from the Pilot’s chair and turned to face me, she seemed concerned, perhaps even a little angry.

“So, want the good news or the bad news?” Cloud Chaser said, giving her head a shake and sighing. “Honestly, it’s bad news and worse news in my opinion.”

“Well, start with the less bad news?” I said, trying to hide my nervousness.

“Some stupid farmer decided he’d let his livestock out into the landing area, we’re stuck up here till they get em all out so we don’t land on ‘em,” Cloud Chaser said with a chuckle, “That’s the bad news.”

“And the worse news?” I asked, wanting to breathe a sigh of relief.

“The Enclave want their ship back.” She said rather candidly. “Seems the admiralty doesn’t like the president going around and giving away some of their most high tech ships to just random ponies.”

“But we just got it, they can’t take it away already, that’s not fair.” I said, frowning.

“Yeah, well, the order is out, the ship stays here until the Enclave come and pick it up, and if we try and leave they have orders to blow us out of the sky at their next convenience.” Cloud Chaser said with a sigh. “That’s why the farmer is bad news, if he can’t get the livestock out before the Enclave shows up, those pigs and such are going to get a fireworks show.”

“They’d do that? Even with us over the Dayrunners? What about all the debris?” I said, feeling a bit of anger starting to rise.

“Collateral damage.” I heard Autumn say as she walked up behind me. “The Enclave never really cared about civilian losses, it’s more about the importance of the ship. They can’t risk it falling into the hooves of a merc that’ll sell it to the highest bidder, this ship has some of the highest tech we have access to, and if it fell into the wrong hooves, that’d be bad for more then just us.”

“I get that but…” I said, shaking my head and sighing. I really didn’t like this but what do we do? Don’t give it back and they are going to hunt us down and kill us, but if we give it back what’ll we do then? We don’t have any other mode of transport other than walking… screwed if you do, screwed if you don’t…

“Well, that’s all I got.” Cloud Chaser said with a chuckle. “Unless you want to hear the good news.”

“Good news? Why is this the first time I’m hearing about it?” I asked, turning to face that ghoul. “Out with it, I doubt how much it’s going to change but at least it’s something.”

“Well, remember how I said I’m not allowed to be a captain when this thing came round?” Cloud Chaser said, lightly tapping at the console in front of her chair. “Well, It’s ‘cause of what I did when I was a captain, and part of my bargain to keep myself out of prison. Give them all my tech, and give my word to never captain another ship as long as I live.”

“How is this good news?” I said, impatiently tapping a hoof.

“I used to be captain, that means I had a crew, a crew of skilled and knowledgeable mechanics and engineers.” Cloud Chaser said, looking at me blankly. “Y’know, the kind of pony that longs for the sky and has an intense loyalty to their captain?”

“I still don’t get it.” I said, frowning a bit.

“Neither do I, can you please get to the point?” Autumn said, trying to be more polite.

“A ship.” Cloud Chaser said with a chuckle. “Ever Since Canticum Lunae went down, they’ve been scouring the wastes for another one. Turns out they found one, it’s in bad condition, will take a good amount of work to get her airworthy again.”

“Again - this is good news, how?” I said with a groan “We’re losing our ship, we have a junkheap that looks like a ship, and this is good news to you?”

“Don’t rock it yet.” Cloud Chaser said, smiling a bit more earnestly. “When I found the Thunderhead that would become my beloved Canticum Lunae she was nothing more than a burnt out husk and pile of scrap metal.”

“Okay, and?” Autumn added, clearly getting rather annoyed.

“And we made an airship that put the biggest, baddest, and toughest of Enclave Airships to shame, The Quetzal would never reach that potential, not because of her size - but because the Enclave insisted as a diplomatic ship she would never be armed.” Cloud Chaser said, her smile turning to a frown. “We have a ship, our own ship, we can put whatever we want into it, mold it to our own design, and you don’t see how this is good news?”

“That’s all fine and dandy, but what about transport.” Midas said as she joined us. “It took you the better part of a decade to get that old thunderhead up again, without transport we’re stuck hoofing it everywhere which can take days - weeks even.”

Cloud Chaser paused, looking at Midas and then giving a sigh, turning back to face the controls and looking out the front window of the ship.

“She’s a lot smaller than a Thunderhead, and she wasn’t burnt out from stem to stern, a lot of usable parts and a lot less stuff we need to rebuild or design from the ground up.” Cloud Chaser said, leaning more heavily back into her chair. “It’ll take time, months most likely, but we can get her up and going, that’s a promise.”

“Still doesn’t solve immediate transport concerns.” I pointed out, to which Midas and Autumn both nodded.

“The Enclave is unlikely to take everything away from us, honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if Spectra gave us a Vertibuck or Raptor to get us through.” Cloud chaser said with a sigh before a glint caught her eye, looking out the window she pulling our gazes with, there was a pony on the ground with a flashing glint up to us.

“What’s that?” I said, looking down at them.

“Just the signal we’re clear to land, the Dayrunner’s radio is on the fritz, maybe you can take a look at it after you deliver the book, I heard you’re close cousins.” Cloud Chaser said with a chuckle as I felt the ship dropping out from under my hooves as we started to descend.

“Was that a robot joke?” I said, tapping a hoof in annoyance.

Cloud Chaser simply chuckled and waved a hoof at us. Giving a sigh I’d turn and walk out with my companions by my side.

“Sometimes, I think she does these things to us on purpose.” I whispered, looking back to see if we were out of earshot.

“She’s got a twisted sense of humor, it comes from everything she’s been through for the past two hundred years.” Autumn said with a shake of her head. “It’s like those old stories, of how ponies during the war knowing they were going to die would adopt vulgar and gruesome songs to deal with it.”

“Except her death never came.” Midas added. “I’m willing to bet when she didn’t die, she tried other methods, anything that could possibly kill her. But she’s a ghoul, a Canterlot ghoul no less, notoriously hard to kill.”

“You can’t help but feel sorry for her, I mean - everything she’s been through, all that has happened to her... “ Autumn said, making me stop and turn to face the two.

“What did she go through, what did happen to her?” I asked, frustration mounting.

“Sweets, it’s a story for another time, and probably best told by her when she is ready to tell.” Midas said, kneeling down and putting one of her claws on my shoulder. “We know what we do, because I worked closely with the Enclave, and she is Enclave.”

Autumn sighed and nodded, looking back at Cloud Chaser in the cockpit. As she turned her head back there was a jolt as the ship touched the ground. “Her reports, everything that happened to her, was one of the things that really empowered the Enclave in the early days, a Cloudsdale mare who lost it all in one instant.”

“The plight of the Enclave, in one single body - paying the price for a war they didn’t want,” Midas added, looking back. “She’s an inspiration in some senses, and a legend in others - and a pure nightmare to anyone who opposed the Enclave before President Winter and Spectra stepped in.”

We stayed quiet for a few moments, looking at that lone mare in the cockpit, slipping from her seat and gently moving around. She gently touched each panel in the cockpit, and I swear I hear her talking, or maybe singing. Was she singing the ship a song? Maybe her final goodbye to it - before it’s taken from her.

“Cloud Chaser?” I called out, pushing past my friends and approaching the cockpit, to which she suddenly stopped and turned to face me.

“What is it toaster?” She said with annoyance in her voice.

“Thank you.” I said, smiling. She just paused, looking at me confused for a couple moments before her features softened into a smile.

“No Sweetie, thank you.” She said in reply, which caught me off guard.

“For what?”

“You’ll find out.”

Then she went back to moving around the cockpit, what was once gentle touches now took on more of a dance-like movement, as she moved I could catch glimpses of her face, she was frowning, and I could see the tears welling up in her eyes.

“You okay?” I said softly, interrupting her once more.

“I’m fine.” She said, coming to a halt. “I was there when this ship was first drawn up, I gave them a majority of the technology used in her, In a way - She’s like family to me.”

“But you’re crying?” I said, reaching a hoof out.

“Wouldn’t you cry too if-” She said before pausing. “Right, you’re a robot.”

“I know what crying is.” I said, moving over next to her.

“This ship, everything about her from the ground up - is something that came from me, a part of me, a part of the technology I developed. I watched her blueprints be drawn, I was there when they laid the first pieces of her hull, I watched her take shape and I was aboard her when she was launched.” Cloud chaser said, turning to the pilot’s seat once more. “Then they said she was mine, I could take her where I wanted, do what I wanted, as long as I answered to somepony else - and now they’re taking her away.”

“It’s like losing your husband all over again isn’t it?” I said, looking at her, hearing her sigh and shake her head.

“It’s worse.”

“Well, it isn’t really goodbye, right? They’re taking her back - but she isn’t going away forever, you’ll see her again, hear of the great things she is doing, the great ponies she is carrying.” I said, smiling a little. “It’s like when a foal grows up, and it’s time to let them go and be their own pony, You can still be proud of them and love them”

She flinched when I said that, and I started to back away as she turned to face me, a darkness looming in her eyes.

“I know you mean well Sweetie, but I am going to respectfully demand you get off my bridge, go back to your little friends, and never talk to me about children again.” with each word her voice becoming louder, making me back away faster and faster till I simply turned and ran.

I couldn’t help but wonder what did I do, how did that moment go so wrong so quick - my mind racing and when I got back to Midas and Autumn I simply hugged them both.

Suddenly, I feel like this voyage is about to get a whole heck of a lot longer…

LEVEL UP!

Perk Acquired: Cricket’s Song

You have discovered things about the world that surprise and scare you.

Learning when it is better to silence yourself, and instead listen to the sounds of crickets.

Additional Dialog options opened

Speechcraft +10

Chapter 8: Bittersweet Melody

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 9: Aftershock

Nearing the Dayrunner’s camp, I could see the crowd of ponies that had come from their homes and stood on the outskirts looking at where the crash had happened. None of us had said anything the entire way there, but as we grew closer a group of ponies in Enclave uniform were running towards us.

“Retrieve the body,” Spectra said, a sadness still obvious in his voice. “By order of the president, the body is to be collected and buried with full honors.”

“But sir,” One of the soldiers said before Spectra simply glared at them, making them pause, look at each other than simply nod and continue towards the wreck.

“You three go ahead, I think I need some time for myself right now,” Spectra said as he slowed down and came to a stop, his eyes drifting to a nearby hill, the hill that I had last spoken to Cricket on. I could only give a sigh and nod, continuing forward with my friends.

As we started to pass the crowd, we passed some of the ponies from the crew, they were sitting together and not saying much, but I could see their eyes were glossy and swollen, they all had been crying. Autumn paused when she saw them.

“I think I need to stay here, they need me,” Autumn said, a slight smile but I could see her barely holding back the tears.

“It’s okay, we’ll handle this,” I said, looking to Midas who simply nodded.

Walking further, near the center of the town where I expected to find Midnight we passed a cafe, sitting inside Alabaster was staring down at his drink. Midas just ran over to him when she saw him, embracing him in a tight hug and breaking down.

I just stood there watching the two, taking a deep breath and deciding this was on me and me alone. Continuing forward until I stood at the center, everypony around seemed to know now what had happened, and the feeling of sadness was overwhelming.

“Midnight… somepony, anypony, where are you” I said to myself, sitting down and staring at the ground.

I felt lost, and alone - Everypony else had someone that they could see, someone they could count on to help them through this, but where was mine?

I felt guilty, and selfish thinking that way, but I didn’t know how to handle my emotions right now, I can’t cry like they can, I can’t come to terms with my emotions like they can, and I just, I really needed that one pony that understood right now.

“Hey Sweetie,” a voice said as Aurora walked up next to me. “Are you okay?”

“Cricket’s dead,” I said, with a deep sigh. “Everypony has somepony else, but not me.”

“I’m sorry,” Aurora said with a sigh as she looked up at the sky for a moment and then back at me. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”

“She tried to steal the ship, they shot her down,” I said, my gaze shifting up to that mass in the clouds. “They killed her.”

“I’m sorry,” Aurora said softly for a moment as she placed her hoof on me gently. “I wish there was something more I could do or say. That’s messed up though, but something tells me this isn’t going to go well for whoever attacked her. I just wish that was going to be enough, guess it won’t be.”

“I have so many questions, and it feels like no one has the answers,” I said, looking at Aurora with a deep sigh. “Why would she risk this? Why would she throw away her life like this?”

“I wish I could tell you,” Aurora said as she brushed her mane back a moment. “I’m sure whatever reason she had it made sense to her. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I don’t know,” I said, looking back down to my hooves. “I was hoping to find your mother, but I guess she’s probably busy or dealing with Spectra about this whole mess.”

“Well, the Enclave did just shoot down a ship close to our village, that doesn’t look good,” Aurora sighed a little. “But if you need somepony to be there for you, I’m here for you. You’re my friend Sweetie, you really helped me out back there, and I want to do the same for you as best I can.”

“How can you help? How can anypony? No one can bring her back, or make the ship not get shot down.” I said with a sigh and a shake of my head. “I don’t know, I really don’t, I’m just, angry, and sad, and want them to pay for what they did, but I’m just one pony, how can I do anything.”

“I know how you feel,” Aurora said as she closed her eyes a moment. “I still remember when my father died. But to answer your question, in my experience, a single pony can do a whole lot. But also I don’t think Cricket would want you to let this get to you. Losing somepony close to you is never going to be easy, but I think she’d like you to move on, and do the best you can to remember her.”

“I barely knew her, but I know she meant well, she tried to teach me, help me understand that the wasteland isn’t nice, isn’t kind, even though the hardships of the past are mostly over, there is no obligation to be kind to anyone,” I said, looking up at that shadowy mass in the clouds once more. “She was like a mentor to me, and now she’s gone, but I’m not ready for her to be gone, I still had so much more to learn!”

“The Wasteland is unforgiving, but I know one thing,” Aurora said as she looked back behind them for a moment and smiled a little. “You’ve got a few really good friends who are going to be there for you when you need them. See, everypony always talks about Littlepip, Blackjack, Ruby Starlight, Scootaloo, or whoever, but each of those ponies had good friends backing them up. You very rarely have to go alone, at least if you’re lucky, and something tells me you’re very lucky.”

“I don’t know who any of those ponies are,” I said, looking at Aurora with a sigh. “And all my friends have somepony else that counts on them or rely on them, I’m the only one alone…”

I just sat there for a moment, looking down at my hooves.

“Is that really how you feel Sweetie?” I heard Autumn say, looking up to see her walking over to us. “You didn’t need to keep walking, you could have stayed with any of us and we would have understood.”

“Yeah, you could at any time sat with one of us,” Midas said, walking up with Alabaster in tow. “You’re all of our friend, just as much as we’re your friends, You never have to be alone, I know I thought you just wanted to be alone.”

“I thought you wanted to stick with Midas, saying you knew her the longest,” Autumn added.

I just sat there for a moment and thought to myself, realizing how stupid and selfish I had been.

“I’m sorry…” I said with a deep breath and leaned back, looking up at the sky. “I just, I thought you all wanted to do these things on your own and I wouldn’t fit in, guess we all made a couple of mistakes”

“Looks like you’ve got more ponies backing you up than you thought,” Aurora said with a soft smile. “As I said, you’ve got good friends.”

“Yeah, I guess I do,” I said, looking at my friends before pulling them all over to me and hugging all three, holding them there for the moment. “What would I do without you guys?”

“Walk to the ends of Equestria never knowing what it’s like to be a part of a group of misfits and rejects?” Midas said with a chuckle, ruffling my mane a bit.

“Go insane from never knowing what to do with yourself or how to handle all these complex feelings you’re feeling for the first time?” Autumn added, giving a firm squeeze.

“Or perhaps both.” Alabaster said, smiling at me.

We all were in pain, and grieving in our own way, but together we could still find a reason to smile, just sitting there for the moment and looking at my friends, before smiling and turning to Aurora.

“Thank you.” I said, before turning back to my friends and just enjoying this moment where we could all be together without fear or worry.

00000

Hours had passed, and I went back up to the location where the wreckage lay, sitting amongst the pieces of twisted metal and broken hull. My attention kept driving back to what was left of the bridge, she was gone now, the Enclave had retrieved her body and that looming figure in the sky had gone to the distance.

Everything felt so surreal, like a dream that you couldn’t wake up from.

“Sweetie? You okay?” Spectra said as he sat down beside me.

“I don’t know, I’ve lost so much in so little time,” I said, looking at that rainbow-maned stallion. “I was just getting to know her, and she was trying her hardest to teach me everything she knew.”

“I’m sorry for what happened to her.” He said, looking to me for a second before looking away. “This wasn’t ever supposed to happen, The ship wasn’t supposed to be taken back, no shots were supposed to be fired - but since the last war some of the authority I have as President has been stripped away and given to a board, my word isn’t the end all be all anymore.”

“What happened in the last war?” I said, looking at him a bit more curiously.

“It was, several years ago now I believe,” Spectra said with a sigh. “The Enclave, under the run of my wife Winter was embracing some… idealistic beliefs, beliefs that not every pony in the Enclave believed would work or would be the best for the Enclave going forward. Many of them tried to fight back, and a group of old soldiers and generals banded together with the promise to protect the Ideals and beliefs we’ve held since the founding.”

“So it was a civil war,” I said with a frown. “Enclave versus Enclave…”

“Winter had some friends, the New Canterlot Republic, the Free Roam Alliance, as well as a few minor groups, and one very rambunctious alicorn,” Spectra said with a chuckle. “She was always one to make friends with the most unorthodox groups, but that’s what made her into the pony she is.”

“What happened?” I said, looking back to the wreckage once I noticed that Spectra’s attention had locked onto the wreckage of the bridge once more.

“There was a lot of bloodshed, a lot of ponies died,” Spectra said with a sigh. “The Old Enclave, or the hardliners as some ponies called them, tried their hardest to flex their might and make the New Enclave bow to their demands.”

We sat there and looked at the wreckage for a few moments in silence before Spectra started to speak again.

“They brought a massive ship, a ship that was bigger than a Thunderhead, meant to be the super capital of their new fleet,” Spectra said with a sigh and a shake of his head. “She-”

“She took it on and saved a lot of ponies by keeping it distracted,” I said, interrupting him, to which he simply nodded with a slight look of confusion. “She managed to really badly damage it, didn’t she? I remember Autumn saying something about that.”

“She didn’t just damage it, she destroyed it,” Spectra said with a sigh. “She pelted it with everything she had, and by the time she was done and her ship was disabled, she had done irreparable damage - we had to scrap it.”

“Good riddance,” I said with a sigh. “Is that where her ship went down? The Canticum Lunae?”

“Yeah, She always said that a part of her heart was destroyed with that ship,” Spectra said with a sigh, wiping at his eyes for a moment. “A couple of ponies and I that had fought with her during the war were trying to see if we could get it flying again, as a surprise for her, but we never got around to it.”

“Spectra, it’s okay,” I said, hearing that stallion starting to break down, turning him to face me, and placing a hoof to each of his shoulders. “Do you think this is what she wanted? To be mourned over, to have every pony she knew and cared for crying over her?”

He just stared at me, eyes wide and tears rolling down his cheeks.

“You said it yourself, she was suffering, she had been suffering for two hundred years. Her suffering is over and she is in a better place with her friends and family again, Right?” I said, he slowly nodded. “Then why mourn her death, when you can celebrate her freedom, and the life she led before now? I think that’s what she would have wanted more than anything else.”

I watched as his expression relaxed a little, and he looked relieved for the moment. His attention went back to the wreckage for a moment before he stood, and walked over to a piece of the shattered hull plate. Picking it up in his hooves and dusting it off, in golden ornate words embossed across the metal ‘Quetzal’.

“This ship was a gift for that Alicorn I mentioned before.” He said, pausing to take a deep breath. “She had a ship named the Quetzal before this one, an old airship from the prewar times, after the war, there was an attempt on her life, and her airship was destroyed.”

“Why would anypony want to do that?” I said, coming over and sitting beside him once more.

“Because not everypony liked the idea of having a Princess again, many saw it as a return to form, many others saw it as a huge leap in the wrong direction,” Spectra said, turning to me with a chuckle. “And as the wasteland does, groups radicalized and decided that they wanted her dead more than anything, and tried their hardest to kill her, she’s still living though, up in the Canterlot reconstruction area.”

“I guess she isn’t going to be too happy about her ship being destroyed is she?” I said, looking at that broken piece of hull plate.

“She didn’t want it, she said it wasn’t the same.” He said with a chuckle. “It’s kind of sad, all ships named Quetzal seem to blow up. Maybe we shouldn’t use that name anymore.”

“It’s a ship with a legacy, to stop using the name would be a dishonor to everything it stood for.” I said, reaching over and placing my hoof to that piece of hull. “This Quetzal might be gone, but there’ll be another, I can feel it.”

“Maybe so,” Spectra said, smiling a little “I have a lot of paperwork to take care of, it’s not every day a ship goes down in a friendly fire incident, even more so against orders.”

“I think Midnight is going to need you more than your paperwork, I can’t imagine having an Enclave ship firing on another Enclave ship and taking it down in your backyard is a traumatic experience.” I said, smiling at him

“Just, keep this in your mind and heart Sweetie.” Spectra said, slipping the piece of hull to me, “Remember this ship, remember the sacrifice made here today, and remember I’m not going to let it rest until justice is done.”

“Yes, Sir.” I said with a smile and a nod.

00000

Spectra had left, gone back into the Dayrunners camp, leaving me with just the broken hull plate and the silence. Taking a deep breath I took to my hooves, turning around to see what appeared to be the assembled version of the armor that Cricket had in her quarters.

“I… uh, hello?” I said, waving my hoof apprehensively.

“Captain Sweetie Belle of the Enclave vessel Quetzal, Automated recovery activated approximately seven hours ago.” It said back, in a computerized but oddly familiar voice.

I stared at it for a few moments, looking through the eye lenses I could see the suit inside was empty. Thinking back to what I had seen in her room, it was just in a pile in the corner, who assembled it? And why is it here with no operator?

“Captain Sweetie Belle of the Enclave vessel Quetzal, What is this unit’s orders.” It said, in that erie computerized voice. It had an undertone of a mare’s voice, and I just sat there trying to figure out why it was so familiar.

It didn’t take long for it to dawn on me. “Cloud Chaser…” I said, before I looked at the armor. “Cloud Chaser installed an AI unit in her armor, didn’t she?”

“Affirmative.” The armor replied.

“Does the AI have a name?” I asked

“Affirmative.” it replied again.

Thinking for a few moments, looking at that armor, tapping at my chin. “State your designation.” I said, sitting up straight.

“This unit has no designation.” it replied.

“You just said you have a name? Is a name not a designation?” I said, confused by this armor.

“A name is a personalized moniker of identification, a designation is assigned to computers and artificial intelligence units.” It replied.

I honestly felt like this armor was messing with me, using Cloud Chaser’s voice no less.

“Okay, fine, what is your name.” I said, running a hoof across my face in exasperation.

I swear I heard the armor laugh at me, before it replied. “This unit’s name is Cricket.”

“But that’s Cloud Chaser’s name?” I said, even more confused now.

“Creator Cloud Chaser, programmed this unit with her combat knowledge, experiences, and gave this unit full autonomy.” It replied, this time I heard it laugh, it had her laugh. “Afraid she created a murderbot, she programmed her life’s experiences into this unit too, everything over the past 200 years, stored in this unit’s memory”

“So… you’re like me, but instead of being a synthetic android like me, you’re just a rudimentary maneframe in command of the protocols for the functions of the armor?” I said, rubbing at my head a little.

“Essentially, yes.” It replied. “However, I was not given all her knowledge, or motivations, just enough to know right from wrong, and to know to do no harm unless something befalls my captain.”

“Her?” I asked

“You.” The armor replied. “Unit Cricket, was programmed with orders to follow all orders and commands given by captain of Enclave vessel Quetzal, which is you, Captain Sweetie Belle.”

“Why did you only approach now?” I said, staring at it a bit more.

“This unit was offloaded and placed in a safe place by the creator, with a timed response to come to this location immediately. If she is here, to power down and await assignment, if you are here to activate primary assignment.” The armor replied.

“She knew she was going to die?” I said, pausing a moment, “Of course she knew she was going to die, even that far in advance she knew that she was going to get shot down… if she knew why didn’t she avoid it.”

“Because loss creates strength, Captain Sweetie Belle.” It replied. “Loss is what let Cloud Chaser become the potent mare she was, She would never have made it this long, or lived a life like she did, if not for her loss.”

“But why did it have to be her loss?” I asked, getting to my hooves.

“The creator knew that she had lived a long life, longer than most, she knew that she wasn’t going to last forever and had come to terms with that long before she went down.” The armor said, lifting it’s hoof and placing it to my chest. “She knew, and did what she thought was best, and in her mind this all was justified.”

“But it was uncalled for!” I yelled, and shoved the armor back “She didn’t need to die! She didn’t need to do this! She could of stayed with us, with me, I could have learned so much from her!”

The armor, honestly reacted like it was taken aback by that. “This unit understands your frustration and anger, but the creators choices were not ones I had any part in.”

“She built you to be her replacement you stupid bucket of bolts!” I screamed “She made you so that you can be her when she does something so stupid that she ends up dead and needs something to take her place!”

The armor just stood there, silent, watching me.

“You… You’re just a worthless pile of scrap metal with a hollow interpretation of a personality of a pony that was loved and adored!” My anger starting to break into sadness. “A pony who didn’t need to die! A pony that could have found a new life and lived happily with a new family!”

“Do you believe that is what she really wanted?” The armor said stoically.

Taking a moment to stare at that armor, before I sighed. “I… No… it’s not what she would have wanted, She said so herself, she lived her life, she died two hundred years ago... “

“And this outburst? It’s just your selfishness in wanting her back?” The armor replied.

“I wasn’t ready for her to go!” I said, falling down and burying my face into the grass. “I wanted to learn so much from her… I wanted to know what it was like to be her, she knew so much and… I just wanted to be a part of it…”

“Would she have spent her last days programming an AI to take over her old armor suit to stand and serve you, if she didn’t think you were a part of it?” The armor said, moving around and sitting beside me, a steel hoof on my back.

“You only serve me because I am the captain, if Midas was the captain, or Spectra, or Autumn, you wouldn’t serve me anymore.” I said sighing.

“Incorrect.” the armor replied, “While it is true that I was programmed to serve the captain of a vessel, a vessel that no longer exists, so, ask me - how am I supposed to serve a captain of a ship that no longer exists?”

I stopped, and thought for a moment, it just dawned on me, “I’m not captain of the Quetzal anymore…” puzzled for a moment, I stopped and looked back at the armor. “She knew this was going to happen, that means she programmed you not to follow the captain of the ship, but to follow me.”

“Partially correct.” The armor replied, chuckling again. “I was programmed to follow the captain of the ship, Which includes the ship’s former captain if no new captain had been chosen, as the ship no longer exists no new captain can be chosen, so I will forever be in service to you.”

“And in the event she didn’t get shot down, and things moved on - she would have just reprogrammed you to follow me anyway if anything ever happened to her.” I said softly smiling. “I think I never gave that old mare much credit, but she definitely was smarter than the average mare.”

We sat there, me and the armor, for a good while. I felt a sense of kinship with this armor, it was an AI like me, maybe a little more crude and basic, and far more meant for war then I could ever be - but it felt almost like a little sister to me.

“So, Cricket…” I said, turning my attention to that armor, looking it over again. “Are you programmed to say ‘this unit’ when referring to yourself, or is that just something you’re doing because her life experiences and your existence haven’t properly integrated?”

“This Uni-... I- am uncertain of what you mean.” It replied, shifting its attention to me. “I was not aware that I had been speaking in any abnormal way.”

I couldn’t help but smile and laugh a little, it felt almost like it was trying to joke with me, trying to encourage me to laugh. Everything still felt so surreal, like it was all just a terrible nightmare.

“Do you have any messages from her? Cloud Chaser I mean.” I said softly, looking down at my hooves. “Did she leave anything for me, well, other then you?”

“I have many recordings of her progress while she was constructing the artificial intelligence maneframe. However there is none directly addressing you.” It said, sounding almost sad.

“Wait, you’re armor, right? That means you can open up so that a pony can get in or out, right?” I said, tapping my chin for a moment. “If she left a message just for me, she wouldn’t want it to fall into anypony else’s hooves, she’d leave it in a place that only I can get at.”

“You believe that she has left a media storage device within the armor for you?” It said, sounding confused.

“Encryption, my father built me with one of the best decrypters in Equestria, I can hack almost any terminal.” I said with a smirk. “She said she knew my father, she would know that he made his own encryption special for the Robronco robots as a proprietary anti-tampering method.”

“I see.” It said, obviously taking a moment to think for itself. “I can do a vital signs scan internally, it… in theory, should allow me to find any media storage that she may have left behind.”

“Good, you do that. I need to go and get Midas and Autumn, you stay here and wait for me to get back, okay?” I said, getting to my hooves. The armored suit nodded at me and sat in place while I started heading into town.

00000

As I passed the city limits, I could feel the tension in the air, ponies were still upset about the events that had passed. Reaching the tavern the somber feeling was overpowering, everypony, mostly the crew, staring at their drinks, some crying, some sniffling and trying to compose themselves.

“C-Captain on Deck.” One of them managed to say when he saw me, jumping to his hooves and giving a half hearted salute.

“At ease.” I said and smiled at him, “Does anyone know where Midas, Autumn, and Alabaster have gotten off to? I need to speak with them urgently.”

“They were just here,” The tavern keeper commented, motioning me over. “I didn’t catch what they were talkin’ bout but they got up and left out of here in a rush, sayin’ somethin bout that wreck of that ship.”

“So, they went to the wreck of the ship?” I said, pausing “is there any other wrecks around here other then the Quetzal?”

“Oh, just the wreck of an old airship not too far from here, dangerous place, lots of nasties live round there.” The tavern keep said with a sigh. “Lost many a good hunter there too dontcha know.”

I chuckled. “Whinnysota, huh?” I commented, to which the keep just nodded and smiled back. “Any others?”

“None that I can think of” She said with a shake of her head.

“Thank you, I’ll be going, and uh - the crew drinks on me, alright?”

“It's on the house sweetheart, a little liquor does the mourning heart good.” The keep said with a chuckle. “Though thank you for the offer, I am sure it means a lot to them to hear their captain cares that much ‘bout them.”

I smiled and nodded before I made my way out the door. Taking a deep breath as I looked around, two wrecks, 50/50 chance to find them at either location. I don’t think they would go to the Quetzal again, so I guess it had to be that old airship.

“Oh horseapples, I didn’t ask where that old airship was…” I commented to myself, shaking my head and sighing. “Can’t be too hard to find, though maybe asking around a bit more could help too…”

As I wandered the streets, thinking about where I could ask about this downed airship I couldn’t help but look around at the ponies I passed, it seemed like a ship being shot down so close shook just about everypony. “I wonder if Midnight would have any idea..” I asked myself, before I started heading over to the town center.

00000

The closer to the town center I got, the more voices I could hear. Rounding the corner and the town hall coming into sight, I could see a large gathering of ponies surrounding a podium. I couldn’t make out the figure standing at it just yet, they were leaning down looking at something under the podium, however I did recognize that rainbow maned stallion standing beside the podium.

“We are sincerely sorry for what you all had witnessed today, we never intended to bring a warzone to your village, nor did we ever intend for the ship to get shot down. The Commanding officer aboard the Nimbus is going to be held accountable, not just for the destruction of the ship, but for all the emotional and mental pain their actions has caused upon all of you at the Dayrunners camp.” Spectra said, the anger in his voice palpable. “If any of you have grievances at all with the events of the day, know that the president of the Enclave will personally hear, and see to it all, ensuring that it will be resolved. The Enclave will not return to its old ways, I will promise you that.”

The crowd stayed quiet, their eyes shifting from Spectra to the pony at the podium, still leaned down and messing with something under it. It looked like the crowd was expecting that pony to say something.

Midnight finally pulled herself back up as she adjusted herself for a moment before beginning to speak. “Since the incident occurred I’ve been in communication with President Grimfeathers over the radio. Given the situation we’ll be working closely with the Enclave in order to deal with the clean-up from the explosion. As President Spectra said, the commander of the Nimbus will be held accountable. I know this isn’t an easy time for any of us, but none of us want to return to the days before the Enclave War. We’re going to need to work together if we’re going to make it through this. I know after what happened, it’s not easy to trust the Enclave, but we’re not going to throw away what we’ve accomplished in the past few years. So, let’s work together to make sure that we get this cleaned up and make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”

“Exactly.” Spectra continued, “What happened here today is an exception, not the rule. The Enclave of old, the one that ruled through fear and intimidation is not going to make a come back, not now - not ever. Undoubtedly not all the Hardliners from the war were exposed and dealt with, and that means we will naturally have little resurgences here and there, but I assure you that the Enclave has responded to each and every one rapidly, and dealt with the situation with the utmost care and importance.”

“There will always be mistrust between our nations,” Midnight said as she looked over at Spectra. “Ponies on both sides may not always be willing to work together. But our future depends on us working together. Equestria’s future depends on that. So let’s make sure that when we build that future we’ll have a good one.”

“Well, I for one hope that mistrust between our nations will be a thing of the past.” Spectra said, shooting Midnight a quick look. “The future of Equestria is indeed in our hooves, not just mine - or Midnight’s, but all of our hooves. Equestria divided will never be a strong future for any of us, or our children to look forward to, and ill will between our nations will only ensure that our future will not be a good one for generations not yet born.”

“So, for those future generations, let’s do this together,” Midnight finished. She smiled over at where Aurora was standing and gave her a nod.

“For the sake of Equestria, for the sake of peace, we must.” Spectra said, shaking his head and giving a sigh. “If we can’t, then I fear the future we’ve created.”

“Spectra,” I called out, and pushed through the crowd. “From everything I’ve seen, everything you’ve told me, everything I’ve learned over the past few days of my life, I think you, Midnight, Aurora, everypony, is doing the right thing, and that the future will be great. One pony died today at the hooves of an insane power hungry remnant of the past - Is that really a reason to start doubting your position? What of the ponies here? Why would they doubt, why should they doubt your resolve? You’ve done everything right, you and Midnight, and I think those actions should speak louder than words.”

Midnight paused a moment and looked at Spectra before she smiled a little. “You’re right of course, Sweetie.”

Spectra paused, smiling over at Midnight. “Of course she is, she may be less than a week old, but I think she’s one of the most observant ponies out there. With her leading the charge, I think any future will be better than we alone could create.”

“You two are gonna make me barf.” I said with a chuckle. “Can robots even barf? What would they barf?”

“Take the compliment Sweetie.” Spectra said, giving me a wink.

Midnight laughed a little before she gave me a nod. “Thank you for your time all of you. Things aren’t going to be easy, but I know if we work together, the future will still be bright.”

“Anyway, before you two sneak off to do… ‘official dignitary’ work, I have something I need to ask.” I said, stepping up to the Podium, facing the two. “The pony from the bar told me that my friends went off to this crashed airship for some reason, I don’t actually know where that is, or how to get to them if they’re in trouble.”

“Wait, they went to the crashed airship?” Midnight asked as her eyes went wide at that. She groaned a little as she shook her head. “That’s a mistake…”

“What do you mean?” I said, pausing and looking between them. “If they are in danger I need to get to them, please, I need to know where it is.”

Midnight looked at Spectra for a moment. “It’s not far from the village, if you take the Central Road north towards the mountains you’ll find it easily enough. However, actually getting close to it isn’t going to be easy, nopony has ever gotten close enough to the ship itself. There are creatures in the airship that attack anypony who gets close enough. Your friends are in grave danger, not even the strongest Tribes of the Wilderness go near it.”

“Makes me wonder why they would even want to go anywhere near it themselves…” I said, something felt off, shaking my head before giving Midnight and Spectra a quick wave before I took off down the road.

“Something is wrong, I don’t think they’d go there on their own free will… not unless they were tricked, or forced.” I said under my breath as I kept my sprint up. “Whatever it is, I’m coming.”

00000

It took some time to find this Central Road midnight had talked about, but once I was on it I sprinted north as quickly as my hooves could carry me. A part of me actually kind of enjoyed this feeling, rushing to my friend’s aid, the wind in my mane, it all just felt - kind of natural and right.

Skidding to a stop once the shattered decrepit hull of that crashed airship came into view, Looking it over for any sign of my friends, not even a hoof print in the dirt leading up to it. Wondering to myself if I had gotten it wrong, if they maybe just went back to the Quetzal and not to this ship.

“It’s not worth the risk of doubting myself…” I said, taking a deep breath and slowly approaching the downed airship. It was old, like, older than the wasteland old, vines growing in and out of the boards that made up its shape, sun bleached fabric left of its envelope, nothing recognizable about this vessel at all.

“Midas?” I called out tentatively, slowing down my approach. “Alabaster? Autumn? You around here?”

There was nothing, just silence, stepping closer and closer to that wreck.

“Guys, this isn’t funny, if you’re here please tell me,” I called out again, this time a loud low groan from within the shattered hull.

I could feel the fear rising as I tensed and stepped closer still. I saw a shadow move just out of sight within the dark confines of the hull. Something was definitely there.

“Come out, whatever you are, I’m not here to hurt you, I just want to talk.” I said, moving around trying to look within. “There isn’t any reason to hide, I promise.”

I felt like whatever it was, it was staring back at me from the darkness of the shattered hull. I took a step closer before a roar erupted from the hull, and this monster from within came sprinting out straight for me.

“Woah there big guy.” I said, holding my ground. “Easy, no need to hurt anypony, alright?”

It seemed to be confused, stopping as it stared at me. Making unintelligible noises.

For the first time getting a good look at it, it was large, easily eclipsing even the largest of Alicorns in size. It stood there with a quadruped posture, but it appeared that it had hands on its forelimbs, rather then feet. Most notably, it wore a metal faceplate or helmet of sort, all you could see of the face under it was bright blue glowing eyes.

“Do you have a name?” I called out, taking a careful step forward. “What can I call you?”

It just watched me, it started to shift and move about as though it was getting nervous. Still making those noises at me.

“Do you understand what I am saying? If you do, can you please…. Uh… stomp on the ground twice?”

It stared, no stomping, guess it doesn’t understand or doesn’t want to show it does.

“Have you seen my friends? A dragon, a pony, and a really fluffy pony?” I asked, taking another slow step forward.

It, for the first time, took a step back, still staring at me.

“You’ve lived here a long time, haven’t you.” I said, slowly but steadily moving towards the creature. “You’ve been stranded here for a long time, all alone.”

For once, it looked sad, looking away and making a sound that sort of sounded like a whine.

“It’s okay though. You’re not alone now, you have me, right? We’re best buddies now, right?” I said with an inviting smile.

It seemed even more confused, looking back at me for a while more before it took off and hid back in the hull of the ship. As it sprinted away I couldn’t help but notice on the crest of its head, there was a bit of purple colored mane, and the same for the hair on it’s tail.

“Guess you’re not one for company…” I said, sitting down and scratching at my chin. “Okay, obviously I can’t just walk up to it, that’d definitely tick it off, cornered animals and all… I could sit out here, but if it has my friends in there it could be eating them for all I know as I just sit here and debate this, wait… no, no it’d be watching me, the first time something hasn’t been scared of it and ran away, it likely thinks I am some sort of threat…”

As I sit here, looking at that shattered ship, wondering just how I am going to go up to it and check if my friends are inside, I hear a rustle behind me, turning around to see not one, but three other figures in the brush behind me. Just shadows, nothing more.

“Or you ran inside to get away from these.” I said to myself as I stood to fight, Once again that roar like howl ripped through the air, as the creature from the ship came sprinting out. Bounding over my and stopping once it landed, standing between me and the brush the others were in.

“So we are best friends.” I said with a smile. It motioned me back and started to back up, any time I didn’t move it would motion me back again. “You’re not a bad creature, aren’t you, you just take the rep for those things because they attack anything that comes near, huh?”

That sad sounding whimper like noise again, starting to understand I nodded and just followed it back till we both sat inside the wreck of the ship with those figures, still in the brush watching us.

I took a quick moment to look around, noticing that a lot of the woodwork and other debris had been cleared out, rotting boards replaced by relatively new ones, but most notably, a large metal cage sitting on its side across the room. Empty.

“You know, I am going to need to go home eventually.” I say to the creature. It just paused and looked me over for a moment. Before it motioned to my dented cheek, then the glowing portal in my chest.

“Yeah, you noticed, I’m not a pony, I’m an android.” I said with a smile. “What are you? I’ve never seen or heard of a creature like you before.”

It made that sad noise once more, before it would reach up and pull that metal faceplate off. Under it, a sad looking gentle face, it was no monster, just misunderstood.

“Its okay, I’m here now, My name is Sweetie, what’s yours.” I said, holding a hoof out to it.

Just more of those noises, I stopped and thought, had it been talking to me this entire time and I just never understood? Is it telling me things right now but I just have no understanding of what it was saying?

“What I’d give for fluttershy right about now…” I commented with a deep breath.

The mention of Fluttershy seemed to cheer it up, it smiled down at me and started to jump around some, definitely appearing for joy.

“You knew Fluttershy?” I commented. It nodded.

“Do… Do you know how to write? Or maybe we can work out a gesture system, so you can answer in a way I can understand?” I asked with a smile, it nodded again.

Quickly, I drew two circles on the ground, one with yes and one with no written in the center. “Okay, when I ask you something, you point at the one that is your answer, Okay? This one here is yes, and that one is no, Okay?”

It nodded, and pointed to Yes.

“So, do you have a name?” I asked, It nodded and pointed to yes again. “Can you tell me your name?” it shook its head and pointed to no. “Why can’t you, is it because I don’t understand your language?” It nodded and pointed to yes. “Can you write it in my language?” it shook its head and pointed to no.

Good progress I couldn’t help but think, but we are far away from being able to get anywhere else. “Have you seen my friends?”

The creature shook its head and pointed to no.

“Horseapples…” I sputtered and sighed. “Okay okay, they didn’t come this way - guess that means they went to the Quetzal after all… and now I’m trapped.”

The creature motioned out to the shapes within the brush then pointed at the yes, before pointing to itself, copying the same motion as before but then pointing to no and then to me.

“They’re scared of you?” I asked. It Nodded and pointed to yes. “What are they?” to which the creature made a barking like noise as though it was a dog. “A pony from the camp not too far from here told me about creatures that live in this area called Hellhounds, are they Hellhounds?”

It nodded and pointed to yes.

“Double Horseapples.”

It tapped yes twice.

I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “We need to warn the Dayrunners, that’s their camp up the road, if there are hellhounds this close that could mean that they are in danger.”

It didn’t answer or motion, just sat there in thought for a moment, or at least that is what it appeared to be doing.

“Do you think we could drive them away?” I asked.

It shook its head and pointed to no before it reached back and pulled a spear from the wall, pointing at it and holding up one finger, before it pointed out at the brush and held up three.

“Not enough weapons and too many critters that need taken down, yeah, that’d be a problem.” I said, thinking before looking at my back. “I have weapons, I just… Don’t know how to make them come out. Last time they came out I was in immediate danger and I did it in self defense.”

The creature motioned like it was pulling something open.

“I don’t think that’d be a good idea, I don’t want to be irreparably damaged.” I said with a shake of my head and a sigh. “You said they are scared of you, but would attack me, do you think if I could get them to attack me that they could trigger the self defense systems and let me use my weapons?”

The creature shrugged and stepped outside of the hull, raising the spear over its head and making some sort of chant like call out at the brush. It seemed like a display of dominance or intimidation.

“Seems I am going to be trapped here a while then, huh?” I said with a sigh.

Hopefully nopony comes and looks for me, I don’t want to find out what would happen to a pony if they got attacked by the hellhounds, or tried to attack my new friend here. Hopefully things would work out soon, maybe once its brighter outside the hellhounds will go away. Or maybe they’ll stick around there waiting to have a chance at me...

What in the name of Celestia have I gotten myself into...

Author's Note

I know this is a short one, but consider it part 1 of a two parter.

I'm just, so sorry that it's been so long since an update, I'm still not entirely sure when the second part will come out, or if I'll ever be as quick and productive as I was when this started over a year ago. I'm still going to try though, please just, have patience with me.

Prologue: From the Ashes

Author's Note

This is my first public attempt at writing a Fallout: Equestria fic, based in the universe and head canon that I and RuinQueenofOblivion share. I don't really know how well this all is going to go, or if I'll ever finish it, but I figure I'll never know if I don't try.

So read, enjoy, feel free to give feedback and criticisms.

Prologue: From the Ashes

“On this day, our day of remembrance, on the anniversary of the day our enemies rained unspeakable horrors down from the heavens, we take a moment to remember love and loss, to remember those who's stories ended far too soon, and to remember those who no longer have a voice of their own. Two hundred years ago, we retreated from the horrors that became of our homes, and into the safety and security underground, where we'll stay, and we'll wait, and we'll remember.

But, as we take this moment to reflect on our past, remember to look to the future, to think about the young ones yet to come. Think about how their stories may shape and guide the lands, and remember to protect them from the horrors that forced our retreat, remember to treat them with love and kindness, keep the hatred that consumed our ancestors from their hearts. Have them never know the horrors or fear of war, make the concept of it all alien to them so they may never make the mistakes we made, because war never remembers who it has destroyed, it doesn't know mercy to forgive those who cross it, war will never bring harmony, or friendship, because war...

War Never Changes.”

Sighing as he reached for the eject button on his pipbuck, removing that holotape from the tray before just sitting back and relaxing. Sighing once more to himself before he spoke in a gravely raspy voice.

“Two hundred years already...” He said, rubbing a hoof across his face. “Has it really been that long? Seems like everything was just yesterday.”

“It's actually been a bit over 210, sire.” His robotic companion said, hovering next to his chair.

“Really? Where does the time go.” He said, groaning as he moved to sit up, looking about the workshop he had known and called home since the bombs fell. “No matter, we still have work to do.”

“Sire, you really shouldn't be getting up, you aren't well.” His robot said, hovering up behind him. “I may be programmed to help you with your day to day tasks, but I cannot override my basic medical programming. You need rest.”

“I'll rest when I'm dead.” He said, starting to move towards a workbench across the room. “I can feel my mind slipping, It's getting harder and harder to remember basic things, or even how to do the most basic of tasks.”

“I have heard of this before, on other radio broadcasts.” His robot spoke, keeping pace behind him. “They call it going Feral, and that all ghouls such as yourself, will eventually turn feral.”

“I know what's called Unique, I know what it does to ponies, what it'll do to me. It's why I must finish my work before I'm too far gone” He said with a growl to his voice before he turned around to face his companion. “Help me or not, I need to finish her, if not for myself, for her.”

“I understand sire, but you really need to rest.” Unique said with a simulated sigh. “Straining yourself is only progressing your condition quicker, not to mention I am certain you have something else.”

“I've kept tabs on the condition, I know what's happening, if I don't finish this, I never will.” He said before turning and heading over to his workbench, sitting down and pulling over a circuit board. Looking it over and scratching at his head before letting out a growl of frustration. “Why doesn't any of this make sense to me!”

“Sire, that's one of the discarded boards...” Unique said, concern rising in her simulated voice. “That particular module was finished two months ago and has already been installed.”

“Alright miss funnybot, what was I working on then.” He said, spinning round in his chair to face her once more.

“You were working on her eye lenses, over there.” Unique said, lifting a claw and pointing to another workbench across the room. “I believe you cracked one before you decided to head to bed last night.”

“You have got to be kidding me...” He said, leaning against the back of his chair and rubbing his hooves across his face “Fine, we'll just use the old set.”

“Should I go get her?” Unique said, lowering an eye stalk to look him in his eyes. “She is nearly complete, after her eyes are done all we have left is to install the jewel.”

“The jewel... The jewel... What jewel?” He said, looking confused more than ever.

“Her Jewel, the one that goes at the base of her horn and should allow her to channel magic from her core through it to cast basic spells.” Unique said, before hovering off, coming back with a crate carefully packed.

“Are you sure you are ready for this, sire?” Unique said, looking to him increasingly concerned. “Last time you worked directly on her, you could barely hold back tears.”

“I don't expect you to understand, you're just a robot, but when you design something to look, sound, feel, smell, be everything that somepony close to you ever was, It's always going to be emotional to work on them.” He said “She is more than just a robot, she's my daughter, in more ways than one.”

“In a way, she is my daughter too.” Unique added. “I have been with you since she was nothing more than a blueprint, I helped you lay her first wires, I was there the day you activated her core for the first time.”

“I suppose you're right.” He said, looking at the crate before he stood and walked beside it, undoing some of the clasps that held it together. “We started this together, you and me, let's finish it together. What do you say to that?”

“I would be honored, Sire.” Unique said, claws unclasping her side's locks. Releasing the sides of the crate and moving them aside, revealing inside a robotic pony-like figure.

“Almost as beautiful as I remember.” He said, with a soft smile, looking to unique. “What can I say, she has her 'mothers' eyes.” He jokingly said, clearly teasing at his robotic companion.

“Nonsense, she clearly has her father’s eyes.” Unique said, not missing a beat. “My eyes are clearly blue, while yours, and hers are most definitely green.”

“Yeah, you're right, those are definitely my eyes.” he said, lifting a hoof to run across the synthetic membrane that covered her barrel. “Though she has her mother's color, that's for sure.”

“I must say, white does suit her.” Unique said, hovering over to his side and laying a claw over his back. “In many ways, I feel I know her real mother.”

“The real one's mother?” He said, with a sigh. “Yeah, I programmed you to be a lot like her, with a lot of the memories I could muster. I've made some mistakes, I left and abandoned her with my real daughter to pursue my career, I can't believe how stupid I was.”

“I think you made the right choice, else wise I would of never met you.” Unique said, turning her eye stalks to face him, If she had a mouth she would most definitely be smiling at him. “And we would of never have had the chance to make this remarkable beat of engineering, and love.”

“Yeah, I guess you're right.” He said with a chuckle.

“Of course I am darling.” Unique said, before she gently lifted a claw to shift and adjust that robotic pony's mane. “You did a fantastic job at making her very lifelike, to some, it may be hard to tell she isn't alive.”

The two sat silently side by side, marveling in what they had created together. Tears welling up in his eyes as he looked at that robot, that pony, he had created in homage to his daughter.

“Let's get to work.” He said softly, his horn glowing weakly as he hovered over the lenses for her, having Unique gently open the soft membranes that covered her eyes, slotting the lenses in place and giving them a gentle shift to make sure they seated and bonded with her eyes properly. “Alright, get the power feed, let's see how her systems look.”

Unique gave her best nod before she hovered over to a nearby coil of cable, bringing them over and dropping them beside him before she helped open an access port on her chest, plugging in that cable the hiss and hum of electric motors and hydraulic lines pressurizing could be heard. “So far so good.” Unique said, keeping an eye on the diagnostic screen behind the panel.

“Very good, so far everything is checking out green. How about you shunt some power to her eyes, lets see if everything is working properly up there.” He said, waiting to see if those eyes began to glow the green he'd come to expect. When they illuminated he would let out a soft cheer “I'm glad we went with these lenses, they look much better now that they're lit up.”

“Excellent.” Unique said and chuckled in her own special way. “Shall I get the gem?” To which he nodded, and she hovered off, leaving him a moment alone with his creation.

“Listen to me.” He softly whispered. “You're going to do great things in your life, I can feel it. You're the product of love and technology, and you're as much my daughter as the pony I modeled you on ever was.” He paused, taking a moment to stifle his crying and wipe a tear from his eye. “I'm sorry, I'm not going to be there for that though. I'm not going to see the end of your mission, and I'm hoping that you can understand.”

“Sire, I can't seem to find the...” Unique said as she hovered back, seeing him with his creation she stopped “Oh, I am sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt.”

“You didn't interrupt Unique.” He said softly. “You're here at just the right time.” He said, his horn glowing and a shard of gem coming from his coat pocket. “I had it, I just wanted a moment alone with her.”

“You could of just asked.” Unique said before she came over and gently lifted the horn to reveal the cradle for the gem. “This is a very big moment for you, and for her.”

“You have no idea, she's my legacy, everything I strove to be, everything I ever wanted to do in my life.” He said, placing the shard in its cradle. “My second chance to be a father, but I'm going to end up abandoning her again.”

“Sire, don't speak like that, you don't have to be absent from her life.” Unique protested. “You and I can travel with her on her mission.”

“No, you need to stay here, and I'm not safe to travel with her, not with my condition.” He said with a sigh.

“Don't be absurd, you have many years left in you, you'll see.” Unique said, a virtual sadness welling up in her vocal processors.

“Unique, You're amazing, you've always been helpful and kind, taken care of me when I got sick, been there through thick and thin.” He said with a smile. “You know that it's true, I'm going to turn feral, it could be tomorrow, it could be a week from now, it might be a month from now, but it's not years away.”

“Nonsense!” Unique said, “We will find a way to preserve your mind and keep you here, you have many great things left to do, you cannot be thinking like this!”

“Unique, Activate her power core.” He said, his expression growing more stoic and his voice growing more emotionless. “Bring her systems online, fully. Time to wake her up.”

Unique went to protest, but she could tell he wasn't about to listen to her argument. Deciding it was best to just listen to him, she flipped the system from diagnostic to run. A hum growing inside that armored alloy shell as the power core built in power. Servos unlocking and the whole form of that robotic pony started to quiver as the coolant started to flow and joints started to warm.

Mere moments later, she opened her eyes and the power cable disengaged from her chest. Unique closing the door as the robo-pony stood there under her own power. “Systems online.” She softly said, before she looked between them “Unique! Father!” She said with a bright smile before she hugged the both of them.

“Good Morning, Sweetie.” He softly whispered to his creation. “Did you sleep well?”

“Very! I feel like a million caps!” She said eagerly in return.

“All systems functioning within normal parameters?” Unique questioned, looking down at that robot pony. “Nothing exceeding safe tolerances, right?”

“Nope! None at all!” That robotic pony said as she looked between them, expression turning from excitement to concern. “You two, don't look very happy, is something wrong?”

“Your father is...” Unique started.

“Very ill.” He completed, cutting Unique off. “I don't have much time before I need to go, and I wanted to get you started and out on your way before that happens.”

“You're dying?” The synthetic filly said. Sitting and tilting her head curiously “is there anything I can do to help?”

“Yes, there is. What is your designation, model number, and mission.” he said softly, looking at his robotic daughter.

“Sweetie Belle, Sweetie for short. Model Number... I don't have a model number, I'm one of a kind! And My mission is to find anything remaining of the original Sweetie Belle, or her mother, Rarity.”

“Very good Sweetie.” He said softly. “Now you go with Unique, Daddy has some business to take care of. Unique, would you be a dear and run some final diagnostics on her, make sure her system monitors are correct.”

“Sire, that equipment is in the other room, are you sure it is safe for me to leave you here alone?” Unique said, looking at him, to which he just nodded and smiled before he motioned for the two of them to leave.

The two went to the other room, Sweetie sitting on a table and letting Unique open access panels and plug several sets of wires into diagnostic ports across her body. Humming a soft tune to herself to pass the time.

“So Unique. What's going to happen to Dad?” Sweetie asked.

“He's going to turn feral.” Unique said, with a simulated sigh. “he's losing his mind to the radiation he's been exposed to, He's going to stop being himself.”

“That sounds terrible.” Sweetie said, sadness coming across her face as she shifted her gaze downward. “Is there anything we can do?”

“I am afraid not sweetheart.” Unique said, giving her primary eye stalk a shake. “This is something that he is going to have to come to terms wit-”

She was cut off mid sentence by the sound of a loud bang from the other room, Unique looking at sweetie before she rushed over to the door leading to the main chamber.

“You stay here, I need to go check on your father.” Unique said before disappearing through the door. Sweetie could tell something was wrong but was unsure what, she leaned and tried to look but found that Unique had purposely covered the door.

Moments passed that felt like eternity, before that Miss Nancy came back through the door. “Sweetie, I am afraid your father has... passed.” She said, a sound of complete sadness in her synthesized voice. “I believe, it would be best if you left and started your mission.”

Sweetie was stunned, looking at that robot before her before she looked to the doorway that lead to the way out. Sighing to herself as she slipped off the table she had been sitting on, disconnecting the wires and buttoning up her shell before she looked to Unique.

“Unique, Take care.” Sweetie said softly. “I'll be back, and I'll make sure I have something to tell him, even if it's just to his grave.”

With that, the determined little bot started towards the door, not another word was said as she walked down that access corridor. Reaching the ladder that reached up to the surface she stopped and looked back, to see Unique hovering in the doorway at the start of the hallway.

“You too, Sweetie.” Unique said softly. “Your father and I, we love you.”

Sweetie smiled, before she turned and started her way up that ladder, minutes later she crested the peak and found herself in a small shed, swinging open the door she took her first steps into the wasteland. Only to stop, she felt something loose in her casing. Opening an access panel she found a holotape, written across it, just a single simple word, Remember.

She stopped, and gave it a listen. Moments later as the tape ended she just looked out at the wasteland, to the horizon, to the ruined town in the distance, and mirrored the last words spoken on that tape.

“Because War. War never changes.”