Fallout Equestria: Fallen Fortress

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1: Death of a Man
Chapter 2: Birth of a Pony
Chapter 3: Slavers
Chapter 4: Learning the Ropes
Chapter 5: Old Debts
Chapter 6: On The Run
Chapter 7: Engineer's Answers
Chapter 8: Black Out
Chapter 9: In Flames
Chapter 10: What does Luck Have to do With it?
Chapter 11: Spies
Chapter 12: Chaos, Magic...
Chapter 13: On wing and a Prayer
Chapter 14: A Dedicated Search

Prologue

*Hiss* *Whoosh* Fresh air filled Medic’s frozen lungs as he slowly awoke from Cryogenic Stasis, “Vhere-? Vere am I?” He asks as he slowly steps out on his legs, “Ow, mein head.” He raised a hoof to his head to try and quell the headache he was experiencing. Wait… Medic lowers his hoof, “A-a hoof? Vhat happened to mein hands?” He walks in circles examining his body then sits down on his rump, “I’m definitely a horse… But vhy am I a horse?” Again a hoof goes up only to bump into a horn on Medic’s head, “Not just any horse… I’m a unicorn! Heh, Pyro vould love zis!... Vait, ZHE TEAM!” Medic runs to the other stasis pods and reads the names. “Wind Runner? Patriot? Fire Fly? VHAT’S UP WITH ZESE NAMES!? ZESE AREN'T ZERE NAMES!... Aren’t zey? V-vhy can’t I remember zeir names? Or mein for zat matter?” Medic looks at his stasis pod, “Healing Song… Mein violin und mein ability to heal make up zhis name… But it doesn’t feel right, or like mein…” Medic looks around the chamber and realizes there’s a safe next to each stasis pod, “Personal belongings?” He goes to open the one next to his own pod and a password hint shows up, “How did Healing Song lose his medical license? Oh, zhat’s easy!” He types in stole a man’s skeleton. The safe then opened with a hiss and a pop, “Mein… Mein violin!” Medic felt himself start to cry with joy, “Und it’s still in perfect condition!” He hugs the case then notices the metal bird shaped robot and a note,

“Medic,

I know how much you love your dove Archimedes, but I fear with what’s happening he won’t survive long. I never told you what happened to him till now. His memories and personality have been downloaded into this robot version for you. The real one died in the process since his soul was transferred as well. Yes, I read about your work with souls. Don’t worry, I’m not mad… Though you may hate me for taking mine back. Oh well, by the time you read this, I’ll probably be long gone. The Pip-Buck here will have all the data you need to activate Robo-Archimedes. Just strap it to your arm and follow the instructions.

Signed,

Lucky Wrench/ Engineer”

“Pip-Buck?” Medic reaches a hoof in and brings out what was left in the safe. Out came a few golden coins, an empty book for writing, some pencils, a sharpener, healing supplies, a bone-saw, a syringe gun, saddlebags, and a portable computer marked Pip-Buck 3000, “So a Pip-Buck is a portable computer. Leave it to Engineer to make somezing like zis.” Medic carefully strapped it to his left forearm. Immediately the computer beeped to life.

“Hello! Welcome to the loading screen of your brand new Stable-Tec standard, Pip-Buck 3000l!”

“So Engineer didn’t make zis?

” “If this is your first time using a Pip-Buck, please run the tutorial. You can begin the tutorial by selecting the ‘Run Tutorial’ option!”

“OK…” Medic clicked the run tutorial option.

“Welcome to the Pip-Buck tutorial! Bringing the Eyes Forward Sparkle online now!” A sudden burst of letters and numbers filled Medic’s vision. He moved his head, watching the icons move with it. He then moves his eyes, looking at all the areas that displayed his heart rate, health, and even a compass. The Pipbuck chimed again. “E.F.S spell online and running at 100%! Your Eyes Forward Sparkle displays all vital information, even including a Friend or Foe indicator on your compass! This signals a neutral entity.” A yellow bar flashed in the center of Medic’s compass, stayed for a few seconds, then disappeared. “This indicator means that the entity is a foe.” A red bar flashed where the yellow one was earlier, then disappeared just the same. “And lastly, this indicates a friendly entity.” A green bar flashed in Medic’s vision before vanishing like the rest, “Whoa.” “E.F.S tutorial complete. Would you like to run the Stable-Tec Arcane Targeting Spell tutorial? (Y/N)”

“Never heard of it.” Medic selects yes.

“Welcome to the Stable-Tec Arcane Targeting Spell tutorial. S.A.T.S. is a special spell to assist when targeting with any weapon to increase accuracy and where you wish to hit. You can activate S.A.T.S. by pressing the button marked V on the left side of the operation screen. When active, time will slow down giving you time to psychically select what to hit and where. Activate S.A.T.S while wielding a gun please.” Medic complies by grabbing his syringe gun, after a few attempts, in a telekinetic grip then turns on S.A.T.S. He is amazed at the slowed down world. He can’t move more than his eyes but has a fun time watching dust particles move slower than usual. Spotting a rusty can of BONK, Medic takes aim and the can is surrounded in a green highlight with an 89% hovering next to it. Must be my chances of hitting it. Medic selects the can and exits the spell, feeling it guide his movements. The syringe gun fires and a syringe hits the can dead center, causing it to fall backward, “Congratulations! Be aware that S.A.T.S can’t stay active forever and has a limited range of about 3 meters. This concludes the S.A.T.S tutorial. Enjoy your Pip-Buck 3000!”

A moment of silence before an audio file starts playing, “Hey Doc, it’s me, Engineer! As the note stated, I’m gonna guide you through how to activate your Robo Archimedes! Press a hoof down on his chest and a hidden panel will open.” Medic follows the instructions without question, “Once the panel is open you should see an orange colored button. Press that and Archimedes should wake up from his slumber. More details on his robot form are in the blueprints saved to the Pip-Buck drive.” Robo-Archimedes opened his eyes after the button was pressed and watched with curiosity as Medic closed up the panel.

“Archimedes? Is it really jou?” Medic asks skeptically and the robot dove coos. Medic smiles since he could always understand what his doves were saying. The bird had said,

“Jou Dumkoff! Of course, it’s me!”

“It really is jou!” Medic hugs his precious dove and looks at the other stasis pods, “What do jou say ve vake up zhe team?”

“Coo, Vrr.”

“Vat!? I’m zhe von in need of a big bear hug! Not jou!”

“Coo?”

“Gah! Fine.” Medic trotted over to Scout’s stasis pod,

“Coo.” (“Jour doing vell being a horse.”) Archimedes cooed from Medic’s back as he booted up the computer,

“Ja, vhat’s veird is it feels natural.” Medic pressed confirm for opening the stasis pod and stands in front of it, smiling, waiting for the silly Boston to come out, fall on his face, and cry for a medic. Scout did fall on his face but didn’t say anything. Confused, Medic prodded him with a hoof. No response. Medic checks his pulse and is shocked to find he doesn’t have one. In fear, Medic starts to do CPR. After 10 minutes Medic gives up in tears, “Nein… I hated jou. Jou always annoyed me, but here I am und I miss jou… Zhe others..!”

Medic runs and checks each stasis pod, each one yielding the same result: A dead team member. When he finally gets to Heavy, Medic’s tears gain new vigor for his best, human, friend, but they were no longer human. They were all ponies now, even Pyro. Then why were there memories of walking on 2 legs? Being people, and now they were ponies? What was this place? How long had it been? What happened? “ENOUGH!” Medic suddenly shouted, startling his robot bird companion. “I must calm down and deal vith zis pressure!” Medic returns to his own stasis pod and checks it, “Mein was properly sealed and zere was adequate power coming to it… So minor design flaws killed mein friends… Vait, Engineer said he’d most likely be dead… Und he doesn’t have a stasis pod, Ms. Pauling took his… Zere’s still a chance he’s alive if he knows about mein studies on ze soul! Ja! I’ll leave zis place und find Engineer! He’ll have zhe answers I seek!” A beep and the Pip-Buck showed a new quest, Find Lucky Wrench/ Engineer, “Good… Now zen, I have some looting to do.”

After about two hours of looting his teammate's safes and exploring, Medic finds himself in front of a large door. “Hm… Zhe Pip-Buck marks zis as the entrance to Stable 2 - 4… OH! Two Fort! I get it! Now, how do I open zis door?” He spots a terminal, “Vell, zat might help…” Medic trots over to it and it asks for a password, “Great! Now how vill I get out!?” A hint pops up, “Who built zhe stable… How am I supposed to know-” “Coo!” “Vhat? How do jou know Archimedes?” “Coo, coo, vrr.” “... Engineer knew… Knew I vould survive so he fitted jou vith vhat I needed…” Medic typed in Dell Conagher, “Engineer’s real name… Vhy did I forget?” Medic pressed enter. Alarms went off and a big hand began to open the door, revealing… The wasteland.

Dear friends,

Oh, how I miss you. You're words, craziness, and so much more. I hope you’ll thank me for burying your bodies outside of Stable Two Fort or whatever that thing is. I made sure to include these pony names as well as your class name on the monument. Scout = Wind runner, Pyro = Firefly, Soldier = Patriot, Demo = Eyelander, Heavy = Big Bear, Spy, I have no idea what you are but your name is Mantis. You look like a unicorn crossed with a bug! Sniper = Crosshair, Ms. Pauling = Ink Well. So far Ms. Pauling and Engineer are the only ones whose real names I remember. This world calls him Lucky Wrench, while for us he’s Dell Conagher. Me? My Pony name is Healing Song… But I don’t even remember my real name. I sealed up the stable again, only I can open it with my Pip-Buck, so someday I may return. For now, Archimedes and I will try and find Engineer with what we have. I’m using some of Demo’s armor (Since he was the only other male unicorn. (Pyro’s a girl.) and borrowing some of your weapons. Couldn’t find your sword Demo, which I’m kinda glad for. Don’t need a curse on top of my other worries. I’ve taken Spy’s Diamondback revolver, Scout’s scattergun, and Heavy’s shotgun. I have no intention of taking Sasha. She is way too heavy and the bullets she requires will be next to near impossible to find outside of our home. My good old bone-saw will be my melee. I’m taking my violin too. I feel like I can’t be separated from it right now or Archimedes. I hope all of you are sleeping peacefully here and on the other side. Maybe, I’ll see you soon, but I doubt it… And kind of hope I won’t. I’m not ready to die yet. Now that I’m done writing to you… I’m going to play a final requiem before I set off.

-Healing Song/ Medic

Medic closed his journal that was in his safe and pulls out his violin. He stands up on his hind legs and plays the instrument like he used to. Out of the finely tuned strings, Medic plays a final requiem. I will write to my friends in letters as though their still alive. Medic promised himself, I refuse to truly accept their gone.

****************************************************************************

New quest: True Names: Find out what your teammates real names are.

Find Lucky Wrench/ Engineer: There’s a chance he could be living. It couldn’t have been that long… Right?

Level 1

Perks: Wakey, Wakey. You Are temporarily 5% more resistant to fire.

S.P.E.C.I.A.L

Strength: 4

Perception: 4

Endurance: 4

Charisma: 3

Intelligence: 6

Agility: 5

Luck: 2

Chapter 1: Death of a Man

Death of a Man

Now that Medic had finished burying his teammates, he was able to truly assess his surroundings. The air outside the Stable burned, scorching Medic’s lungs. Despite it not being very bright, he covered his eyes. As his eyes adjusted, he started truly to see the barren landscape. He was in a town, or what used to be one. Buildings still crumbled, ash floated in the air, filling his mouth with a foul taste. He couldn’t tell whether what he was seeing was real life, or maybe he was still in the stable and under some hypnosis or hallucination. But as he blinked away the last of the ice from the cryogenic stasis, he could truly perceive the devastation before him. There was nothing here for him. Nothing. Nothing but a wasteland.

Medic looked up to see an unnatural cloud-covered sky. The atmosphere didn’t show any signs of a storm, and yet, the clouds remained. “Vat a strange world ve have awakened in, Archimedes.” Medic muttered and the robo-dove nodded in agreement, “I vonder if zis is Two Fort’s town proper.” Medic starts walking down the empty streets, Archimedes resting on his back.

Medic vaguely hears some gunfire at the fringes of the town. He walks on what he believes to be the main street, for there were no more signs. He bit his lip as he saw the devastation up close. Shop windows were smashed in, houses looted, and bodies littered the road, some fresh while some were ages old. The stench of rotting flesh made Medic gag.

As Medic continued to examine his surroundings, something gleaming in the distance caught his attention. A glint of light, just down the street. It disappeared almost immediately after as he looked at it, but it was just enough. Medic ran after it, and as he came to the place where he saw it, he saw another glint behind an alley. It disappeared as well. “Vat is zis trickery?” Medic asked out loud as he continued to follow the flashing lights.

Medic heard something crumble behind him. He looked back just as something swung behind him. Old memories of Spies triggered a reflex movement, his hind legs lashed out, connected hoof with flesh. Someone… Somepony gasped, the air rushing from their lungs. They began to wheeze, having their throats hit, possibly even collapsed. Lashing out again, Medic finally does in his assailant, his punches aiming directly for the throat. They collapse, a corpse of dead weight.

Medic keeps his eyes on the pile of rubble on the building above. He surely wasn’t alone, even after killing the pony behind him. Memories of Spies filled his head, mostly about noise distraction. Medic then began looking around for a ladder, a fire escape chute, something, to get to the top of the building. “Archimedes, be my eyes.” The robo-dove nods and flies up. Something beeps on the Pip-Buck giving Medic a screen of what Archimedes sees, “Convenient.” He mutters.

Medic witnesses a pony dashing across buildings, huffing as he jumps over the alleyways. Medic dashes back out into the street, trying his best to follow the pony. “Archimedes! Attack!” The bird dives and reaches out its talons on the offending pony. Its talons viciously scratch the pony just as it attempts to jump to the next building, causing it to fall off the rooftop and into the streets below, “I’m not normally allowed to attack civilians, but jou my friend… Are not von if jou attack me!” The pony gets pinned down by Medic and a bone saw is pressed against its neck, “Any last vords?” The pony squeaks, sounding more like a mouse than anything else.

“J-just following o-orders!” He whispers, trembling against the cold blade.

“Vat orders!? Whose orders!?” Medic shouts, slamming the pony against the floor.

“M-Malgus Blaze’s! H-he ordered us to d-draw out wanderers! A-and…” He stops. “Don’t h- hurt me please.”

“Zhat all depends. I’ve been to Hell and back und I could easily send jou zere if jou don’t finish zat sentence!”

“... We were t-told to murder them.” The pony seems to shrink in on himself, scared out of his mind,

“Anyzhing else?” The pony shakes his head no,

“Malgus d-doesn’t trust us to follow more t-than one order at a time.” At this close of a distance, the pony’s green eyes seem to shrink, not just the iris.

“Alvight. Scram, before I change mein mind.” The pony ran like his tail was on fire. Archimedes landed on Medic’s back and cooed in approval while Medic just frowned, “Vat happened to zis world, Archimedes?” He asks, “Somezing must’ve happened for it to be like zis.” Archimedes cocks his head to the side and coos, “Ja… I need to know.” *Beep*

New Quest: What happened here?: Find information as to what led the world to such an awful state.

Medic nods, “Maybe also add ze fact of zis Malgus Blaze… Perhaps ve should pay him a visit.” *Beep*

New Quest: Malgus Blaze: Who is he? What does he want? Where is he?

An arrow pops up on Medic’s compass pointing in the direction the pony had run, “Vell zis zing seems to vant me to follow zhat pony back to its base. Vhat do jou say ve follow it, Archimedes?” The robo-dove coos and Medic starts walking.

****************************************************************************

Level Up:

New Perks:

Memories: Your past has taught you many things. You get a 10% Perception bonus.

Wastelander: Experiences in the wasteland have taught you no one can be trusted. 5% critical rate increase when fighting other ponies.

Chapter 2: Birth of a Pony

Medic couldn’t see. The snowstorm was sudden and unexpected. He had long since put Archimedes otherwise, the joints would freeze. He knew he was on a road, a very long one, but other than that, nothing was seen. “Brr… Archimedes, we have to find shelter or start digging one out.” Archimedes didn’t respond. “Archimedes?” To save power, Archimedes had shut down.

“Dangit, Archimedes. Vhy so difficult...” Using his bone saw, Medic began cutting away at the frozen earth. Each stroke was a pain, and he was struggling to catch his breath. “Jou know, Archimedes, jou could’ve at least helped vith zis.” No reply. Medic frowns, not liking the silence. Eventually, cold and hungry, Medic manages to dig out a safety pit to protect himself from the storm. A small pile of dirt and snow serving as a windbreaker. With the task done, he crawled into the pit. Medic shivered, he was used to the cold and snow of his home in Germany, but this place and body were new. How could he have the same winter protection when he was like this?

Medic decided to pass the time by examining what his little heat source, the Pip-Buck, could do. The health monitor stated that he was suffering from minor hyperthermia, but with no real way to help him in that department, Medic ignores it. Inventory marked Archimedes in power save mode, treating it like the robo-dove was asleep. The weapons were marked with a percent to tell how good shape they were in. The bone-saw was down to 73% from the actions Medic had taken earlier to protect himself from the cold, “*Sigh* Vithout Engineer, I don’t zink I can repair zis.” Medic mutters. Checking the map function Medic realized that the only locations marked were the Stable and the town that he had left. The town was marked as White Tail Wood Ruins, “So it vasn’t Two Fort… ” Medic sighed again then tries to rest a little.

Medic stirs when he starts hearing music, “Gah. Vhy must Soldier always vake us up at such an early hour?” Wait… That’s not a bugle. Medic’s head shot up from under the light layer of snow he had been buried in. Medic spots a robot of a creature that was about the size of a softball flying by his little pit playing some sort of upbeat tune with an accordion as the main instrument. Medic stares at the robot confused and after a bit, it stares back still playing the tune. Medic pulls out Archimedes who was starting to turn back on as if waking from sleep. “Coo? Vrr.” “I know, it’s annoying, but vat do jou zink it is?” The music it was playing cut off right then, with some fizzing and crackling. Medic covered his ears till all was silent except for the humming of the robot's wings, “Uh… Hallo?” Medic asks the robot skeptically.

“Hi. Did you just talk to that robot dove?” The robot asked.

“Uh… Ja… Who are jou?” Medic responds,

“Wow, and you have a Germane accent. Impressive.” Medic frowns, glaring at the robot,

“First off its German und, again, who are jou? Or better yet, vat are jou?” The robot hoovers in silence as though it’s surprised,

“W-What? Have you never seen a Sprite-bot before?”

“I doubt it. Is zat vat jou are?”

“Uh, ya… That’s what I am… You may call me Watcher.” The robot sounds unsure and Medic continues to stare,

“Jour no robot. Jour voice doesn’t match the robotic tone of ze vons I’ve met.” Medic suddenly grabs his head and groans,

“Hey, are you OK?” Watcher asks and Archimedes coos in concern,

“Not really. I zink I have a minor case of amnesia und, ug, I think I just triggered a memory.”

“By talking about robots you have encountered?” As soon as Watcher states this Medic starts to scream. Flashes of the war games filled his mind. The one who hired him trying to make peace with his brother only to be killed by a previously unknown third brother. Team Vengeance who he worked for, for a time, until Gray Mann killed team Vengeance instead for an obvious betrayal the Vengeance Heavy was planning, the torture by a robot copy of himself, the taste of freedom when his Heavy came for him, and all those robots Gray Mann had built to kill Two Fort’s mercenary team. Then… Nothing.

Medic was breathing heavily as his eyesight returned to the real world. He felt himself wanting to cry, “Hey man… Are you better now?” Watcher asked,

“Nein. Head still hurts, und vat I remembered vasn’t pleasant.” Medic curls up defensively for a little bit and Archimedes rubs his metal head against Medic’s to try and comfort him. Eventually, he sits back up and returns his gaze to Watcher,

“Vatcher, is zis jour robot?” The bot hovers and whirs for a second. The bot seemed to be fighting off playing that absurd music.
“Watcher here. What was that?” The bot responds. “Is zis jour robot?”

“No.” Watcher says, unabashed,

“Oh… vell then… vere am I?”

“What do you mean… Also never got your name.”

“Oh, sorry. Jou may call me Medic or Healing Song. By where ve are, I mean vhat is zis land und vat happened here.”

“You're in the Magical Land of Equestria, Healing Song.” Watcher started using the pony name Medic mentioned, “We were once a land of harmony, ruled by Princess Celestia. Until war broke out with the Zebra’s about trading rights over coal from them and gems from us. Celestia passed the crown to her younger sister, Luna, who formed the 6 ministries run by the 6 heroes of Equestria. Twilight Sparkle ran the Ministry of Arcane Sciences, Apple Jack, War Time Technology, Pinkie Pie, Moral, Rarity, Image, Fluttershy, Peace, and Rainbow Dash, Awesome.” Medic chuckled a little at the silly name, “Over time the war got worse until the Zebra’s launched an all-out bombardment of balefire bombs. We responded the same way, leading the world to what it is now. The reason why there are all these clouds in the sky is because the Pegasi sealed the sky up behind the clouds with assistance from the Single Pony Project towers scattered around the Wasteland. That’s not even including the cloud and bombs that were released in Canterlot, our capital.”

“So… bombs und clouds? Zen vat is ze problem?” The robot emits a sigh.

“Not just any clouds, my new friend. The pink cloud. The deadliest, most corrosive, and strangest cloud to ever exist. And- hold on.” Static fills the sprite-bot. It cuts out, to be replaced by that infernal music.

“Vell, so much for zat.” Medic looks at his robot dove, then at the Sprite-bot. Archimedes coos then taps the Sprite-bot. A metal plate on it blows off, heavy smoke pouring out. The plate clicks as it bounces down the street, then rings as it lands on something else metallic. Medic could now hear the fans inside the bot, whirringheavily to clear the smoke, then something inside the robot caught flame, “Nein! Stop zat burning at once!” Shuddering, the robot begins to crumble to the floor, a booster failing and the other, loose. Old age finally caught up with the Sprite Bot, “Vell. I suppose ve could try to take it apart, ja, Archimedes?” The robo-dove coos in response. Medic pulls out a screwdriver he had grabbed back in the Stable. He then grabs the robot in, to Medic’s surprise, his hooves and starts to take it apart piece by piece. When the process was finished, Medic had an unusable case, two faulty thrusters, a bunch of electronic elements and a strange crystal the Pip-Buck marked as a levitation talismen,

“Vell zen. Zis could be useful.” Medic puts away the tools and pockets the talismen. He then checks his compass to find that the guiding arrow is gone, “It must’ve lost ze trail in ze storm. Is zere a chance I could track zat pony? Probably not… Zat sort of zing was one of Sniper’s skills, not mine…” As soon as these words were spoken Medic feels his horn let out a spark of magic and Medic feels something change. Archimedes coos and Medic looks at his flank. Instead of a tattoo of his violin with healing energy coming from it, it had changed to a literal crosshair that would normally be seen at the end of a sniper scope. Medic blinks in confusion, “Does zis have somezing to do with the fact I have mein teammates souls?” Medic tenses, “I better not have Pyro.” No spark, “Phew, zat must’ve been ze soul I gave away, I guess.” He then looks around with a heightened vision and spots a shack far off in the distance to the west, “I’m now regretting not bringing one of Crosshair’s sniper rifles…” Archimedes giggles at the fact Medic used Sniper’s pony name and Medic growls in response.

The ‘shack’ turns out to be all that’s left of the Whitetail Railway Station according to Medic’s Pip-Buck. There are signs of some pony staying there and a lock of golden hair confirms the probability of said pony being the one Medic was following. The compass arrow returns, now pointing to follow the railroad north. As soon as it returns the spark of magic reignites and Medic’s ‘tattoo’ changes back to the violin, “Fascinating.” He mutters, “Whatever zis zing is it’s tied directly to ze soul! Wish I could’ve asked Watcher. Any ideas, Archimedes?” The robo-dove shrugs, “Zhen I guess ve’ll find out later since zis computer…” Medic shakes the Pip-Buck on his hoof, “doesn’t have an explanation in its data banks. Must expect me to already know... I also gotta stop talking to myself.” With that Medic exits the shack and starts walking alongside the railroad, heading north. Taking a drink of water from a canteen in the process.

****************************************************************************

Level Up:

New Perk: Soul Shift: Depending on the skill needed, you will gain effects and abilities from required teammates souls.

Crosshair/Sniper: +2 perception, -2 strength

Crosshair’s Perk:: Hunter: Years of surviving in the outback has taught Crosshair excellent tracking skills. Able to track down large targets.

Spy/Mantis: + 2 to Charisma, -2 Endurance

Demo/Eyelander: + 1 to Luck, + 2 to Intelligence [+1 Explosives skill] -2 to Charisma

Heavy/Big Bear: + 2 to Strength, + 1 Intelligence, -3 Agility

Scout/Wind Runner: + 1 to Agility + 2 to Endurance - 2 to Charisma, -1 Luck

Soldier/Patriot: + 1 to Strength + 1 to Luck

Robot Ally: Robots seem to be nicer than ponies. + 5% damage to opponents when a robot companion is equipped, and a 3% Charisma bonus when talking to a robot.

Robot Enemy: Past experiences taught you the Dangers of robotics. + 3% damage when fighting robotic enemies.

Chapter 3: Slavers

Medic sat next to a fire roasting some rat meat. He was taking a break from walking and thanks to Sniper’s skills, it was easy to find the rats and prepare them to eat. Medic chomps down on the rat kabobs getting the familiar taste of roasted meat. Archimedes pecks at it and purrs in content when he’s able to eat the meat. Medic checks his Robo-Dove’s stats and smiles when the energy core converts the meat into power, giving the arcane energy a break. A few minutes later, Medic puts out his fire and returns to the railroad. He spots what looks like a checkpoint for trains farther down the road, with a lot of activity,

“I zink we’ve found our target, Archimedes.” Medic mumbled as he lifted the Robo-Dove off his back, “Go see vat’s going on, try not to get caught, und relay back to me vat jou can. I’ll try und get closer.” Archimedes nodded and took flight. The communication link on Medic’s Pip-Buck activated almost immediately. Medic grins as he continues to trot down the road toward the buildings. Closer up, it is clear to Medic that there are guards on watchtowers that surround the checkpoint. None of them notice him, hinting at their poor training at being snipers. Medic feels part of him growl at their unprofessionalism, which makes him worry about how much of an influence his teammate's souls have on him.

Medic points his head to the ground in hope to hide his horn’s magical aura, “OK Spy, jour up.” He whispers and the spark of energy once again appeared. Looking to his flank, Medic finds that a new symbol has manifested itself. It was Spy’s butterfly knife dripping with blood that was pointing down diagonally in front of the Dead-Ringer, “Odd… Spy didn’t have a tattoo according to vat I remember.” Medic just shrugs and activates a spell, on instinct, that makes him invisible. With new found confidence, Medic walks into the checkpoint, unnoticed.

Medic enters a building and turns off his cloak spell to check on Archimedes, who was in the rafters of another building. Medic covers his mouth to prevent himself from making a sound from what he saw. Ponies, dozens of them, all in cages, some of them badly wounded. Medic feels anger rise in his chest. Memories of the Nazi concentration camps, and of being forced into the war filled his head. Angry, Medic turns to the last Slaver he saw, and shouted, “Hey! Over here!” The Slaver turned, and shouts, “We’ve got a loose one!” Alarms sound over the camp, and Medic grins a sadistic smile. “Gut. Come to me…” As the slaver he called to runs towards him, he pulls out the bonesaw. The slaver swings, just missing the spot where medic’s head used to be. Medic pushes the slaver over and stabs him repeatedly. Now splattered with blood, Medic looks up to the rest of the slavers charging at him. “Oh ho ho! Vat a bloodbath!” Medic’s tattoo returned to its original design at those words.

What ensued could only be described as a dance of great precision and utter destruction. Bullets flew, blood spilled, and Medic… was a sadist. Bodies piled on the ground, old corpses, new corpses, flies gathered and a stench filled the air. Panting, Medic stopped to look at the utter destruction he had caused and smiled. Archimedes appeared with a set of keys in his beak during this time of relative peace, “Danke kamerad. Let’s go free zese poor ponies.” Archimedes leads Medic to one of the building and he enters. The ponies screamed when they saw him, and Medic frowned.

“Vat? I am here to save jou!” Medic looked at each of the caged and shuddering ponies, then looked back at himself. He was absolutely soaked, wet with the blood of his enemies. “Oh… no worries, kamerads. I vill not hurt you.” And with that, he unlocked the cages, much to the fear of each slave. Confused, each of the slaves takes a tentative step outside the cage. Then, in a single, unanimous roar, they practically push the door and surrounding walls down in the rush to freedom, knocking Medic down in the process. Archimedes seemed to laugh as Medic got trampled, much to Medic’s embarrassment.

When the stampede finally ends and Medic manages to stand he looks around and frowns, “Vhy? Even in zis vorld, no von bothers to zank me! *Sigh* Nothing changes don’t it, Archimedes?” He feels someone tap his back, he shrieks and whirls around just to see a rosy pink furred filly, with a blood red mane, who was cowering in fear. No tattoo was upon her flank, “OK, not a spy.” Medic loses his defensive stance and takes a deep breath, “Und vat can I do for jou little von?” The filly slowly walks up to Medic and gives him a hug. This startles Medic and he tenses up, but calmed down after a bit and returned the filly’s hug,

“Thank you for helping us Mister Unicorn.” She speaks softly, “I’m Bloody Ruby.” Medic’s heart melts and responds quietly,

“Nice to meet jou fraulein. I’m Medic or Healing Song, und zis is Archimedes.” Medic replied, said Robo- dove nods his head.

“Nice to meet you too, but I told you my name, why are you calling me Fraulein instead?”

“It’s German.” Medic replies,

“You mean Germane? That’s neat.” Ruby says,

“No, its- jou know vat? Never mind. So vere can I find jour parents?” Ruby’s smile faded with that, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“It’s fine, I’m used to it. Orphaned foals are quite common in the Wasteland. That’s why the Cutie Mark Crusaders exist! We’re one big happy family.” Her smile returns while Medic cocks his head in confusion,

“Vat’s a Cutie-” An explosion outside interrupts Medic’s question and screaming follows,

“Scheisse! Zere must be a Slaver left.” Archimedes perches on Medic’s head and coos. Medic sighs in response, “Hop on Ruby.” Medic gets down low enough for the filly to climb on,

“What? Why?”

“Archimedes suggests that it vould be better for jou not to valk right now. Zat is until I can examine jour injuries properly.”

“O-OK…” Ruby carefully climbed up onto Medic’s back.

Medic dashed out of the warehouse just to come across a pony in a battle saddle, launching grenades in just about every direction. “COME OUT YOU COWARD!” He shouted, shooting another grenade. It exploded against a guard tower, toppling it to the ground. Ponies shouted in fear and confusion, running around searching for an escape from the explosive rain.

“I’m over here.” Medic replied calmly, “I’m guessing jou’re Magnus Blaze. Ze head of zis whole operation?” The pony aimed his guns at Medic, eyes filled with rage, “So are all of jou so far gone zat jour villing to kill a child?” Medic shakes his head in disgust, “I’ve seen vat jou have done here, but zat takes ze cake for ze worst!”

“Oh, you're one to talk!” Magnus retorted, “You just killed a whole band of ponies just trying to make a living!”

“Don’t make me ze enemy here!” Medic shouted, “Jou’re making jour so-called living by harming innocent civilians! Some of zem children!” Medic pulled out the shotgun from his saddlebags, “Now stand down und jour death vill be quick. Jou don’t vant me to get… Creative.” Medic grinned for emphasise on the word,

“Shut the buck up, man. Surrender yourself.” Medic felt Ruby slip off his back. Medic began to formulate a plan.

“Surely jou know of parley?” Medic stated rather abruptly.

“That old pirate rule? What about it?” Magnus snapped.

“I call parley.” Magnus snorted,

“Yer talking to me now, aren’t cha? So let’s discuss terms. You surrender and then I blow you up. Take it or leave it. If ya don’t…” Medic saw Ruby slide closer to Magnus, all he had to do was stall a little bit longer,

“Go on, finish zat sentence.” Magnus suddenly understood as Ruby clambered onto his back and slid the battle saddle off,

“Oh, you little mother bu-” He was cut off as Ruby began to choke him. The Stallion tried to buck her off but to no avail. Ruby, while keeping her front hooves on the stallion's throat, pulls a knife out of his armor, grabs it in her mouth, and stabs it into his neck causing the pony to fall. After a few more successful stabs the filly left the corpse of Magnus Blaze alone. Medic stood in shock and amazement,

“No vonder jour called Bloody Ruby!” Medic smiled with pride for the little filly he picked up. A notification beeped on Medic’s Pip-Buck marking the quest for Magnus Blaze complete. He smiled wider, “Vell zat’s von zing over vith, now come here. Let’s get jou cleaned and heal zose vounds.” Ruby nodded and followed Medic back into one of the buildings, some of the other freed slaves followed as well, despite the fact that they still feared him

****************************************************************************

Level Up:

Mantis’ Perk: Cloak and Dagger: The magic ability to turn invisible. Doesn’t cost any magical energy when not moving. Spell only accessible under the influence of Spy’s soul.

Chapter 4: Learning the Ropes

Medic groaned, his hooves sore from tending to all of the freed slaves in the small medical clinic he had set up in one of the building remains. Bloody Ruby helped where she could, though she acted surprised when Medic said he didn’t even know what a Healing Potion was when he had half a dozen. Ruby voiced her concerns when Medic stands below a pipe spraying somewhat radiated water to clean himself. His Pip-Buck quietly ticking away,

“Medic? Why do you seem so… Confused?” Ruby asks as Medic downed a Rad-Away he had found amongst the ruins,

“Thought jou might ask zat soon.” Medic tossed the Rad-Away away and shook his fur in an attempt to dry himself, “I have a mental illness called Amnesia. So in some places of mein memory, I’m blank, don’t have it, do not remember.” Medic kept out what he did remember not wanting her to think he’s insane, “So zere are a lot of zings I vould like to know, and I just don’t.” Ruby gasped,

“So what do you know?”

“I was a doctor in a war, I was tortured by mein enemy for somezing, vhen I got rescued by a friend, then me und mein team had to fight a whole hoard of robots to get out free. Ze last zing I remember is all the blood being drained from my body from ze robots… After zat, I’m lost… I woke up in cryogenic stasis deep underground in a Stable. Mein team vas in stasis too, but somezing happened to each pod causing each von to die in cold sleep. I buried zem, but I vas attacked aftervards by von of Magnus Blaze’s goons, und I zink jou get ze rest.”

“Well yes, but a war? The only war I know of was the Great War between Ponies and Zebras that occurred two-hundred years ago!”

“My war vas more… personnel. A… very demented… pony vanted to control a company, und in ze process get hold of a very powerful mineral, Australium, it had life-enhancing properties."

“That’s intense.” Ruby muttered, “But the war changed everything, you’ve seen that for yourself... I think.”

“I have a little bit of an understanding of jour war… But if two-hundred years have past… I don’t know if I could find my friend who may have survived… Two-hundred… Not even I could dream about going zat far…”

“Well maybe you're friend became a ghoul!”

“A vat?”

“A ghoul, sort of like Zombies but created from magical radiation. If he didn’t lose his mind, he would still be alive and well.”

“... Danke Ruby. Now zen, I’m gonna go out and get somezing to eat. Please don’t leave here. Archimedes, stay vith her.” The robo-dove nods from its location on the rafters and the comlink opened again so Medic could keep an eye on her. Once Medic’s a safe distance from the ruins he summons up the soul magic he’s been using and awakens Sniper, “Alvight. Let’s see… I need to get food for both me und Ruby. Rats aren’t gonna do a lot.” He then spots a very large mole rat, “I stand corrected.” Medic pulls out his bone-saw and crawls toward the rat that was feasting on pony flesh. When Medic was just a meter from the rat the wind changes, making him no longer downwind. Medic felt ready to chase the rat, but was surprised when the Mole Rat ran towards him, “Holy Dooly!” Medic swiftly cuts off the rat’s head before it could strike with its dirty claws. Medic panted as he tried to calm himself down, then got worried again when he realized what he said, “So ze more I use jou guys skill, ze more of an effect jou have on me! Zen Sniper’s gonna gain a strong influence over me since I need him so badly… Zis can’t be good.” Medic shook off his worries for the time being then picked up the Mole Rat by the tail in his mouth with his teeth.

Medic returned to the mini-clinic he had made to find Ruby asleep next to a pile of wood for a fire. Medic smiled, happy that the little filly thought ahead. Taking the flint and steel he had used to start a fire earlier, Medic created another and started preparing the meat. Ruby woke about thirty minutes later. Medic had canceled using Sniper and there was a cracked plate of meat in front of her, Medic settled for another rat kabob. Ruby seemed shocked,

“Vat? Never had roasted meat? I know vere equine, but ven jou need food jou gotta eat somezing. Rats seem to be fairly common prey too.”

“No, I just thought that you wouldn’t want to eat meat with the fact that some of your memories are missing.” Medic hadn’t thought about that. Even in war, these ponies would’ve eaten a vegetarian menu! Medic swallows his chunk of meat and replies,

“Vell… Ven rations vouldn’t get through, ve had to hunt und eat meat to stay alive.” Medic remembers the days when the supply trains wouldn’t come on time in different bases so the team was forced to go out and hunt the local wild stock to survive. Medic smiles at the thought of when Heavy saved him from a full-grown bear that was feasting on some wild berries Medic was going to collect. They ate well that day,

“Why are you smiling?”

“On von of ze hunting trips I vas attacked by a bear. Von of mein teammates killed ze bear und ve had a feast zat night. Afterwards, I started reading up on edible plants. I didn’t vant to follow another bear for safe berries ever again!” Medic laughs a little at his own idiocy, a laugh that Ruby doesn’t share,

“How did he kill it?”

“Vith his bare han-er, hooves.”

“Wow!” Ruby said, absolute trust written on her face. Medic’s smile wavers a bit seeing the trust the filly had for him. He shook his head as he remembered how much he had trusted Vengeance Heavy, and how he had turned on Medic for things he wished he could forget again, “Mister Medic? Are you alright?”

“J-Ja… I just remembered somezing disturbing… Anyvays could jou help me vith ze simpler zings zat I don’t remember?”

“Of course! I owe you one!”

“OK... “ Medic pulls out the small gold coins that had been left in his safe, “Are zese jour currency?”

“They used to be, till every pony switched to bottle caps because they wanted to forget about the war and all it wrought. I can’t tell you what those words mean though.”

Medic looks closely at the coin and read “Von bit.”

“No, the other stuff.”

“Oh! Zat’s Latin! Deum magnum solis translates to: Worship the great god of the sun, und terra nocte ac die stands for: The land of the night and day!”

“Sounds like Old Ponish to me, but I’ll take your word for it.”

“Um, vat pony species are zere?”

“Species? I’m guessing that means types. You have the Unicorns, which you are, that can do magic, Earth Ponies, which I am, who have strong ties to the land, Pegasus, who sealed up the skies, and can fly, and Zebras who are our arch nemesis, I hear they’re good at potion making. They are the reason the war started after all.”

“Interesting. Next can jou tell me vat a Cutie Mark is?”

“Your memories are so bad you don’t even know what a Cutie Mark is!?” Medic nodded, “Wow, no wonder why you need my help. A Cutie Mark is the symbol on your flank, it comes when you discover your special talent. I haven’t gotten mine yet… What’s yours?” Medic smiles at this and pulls his violin out from his saddlebags,

“Zis is a Violin. A string instrument zat I have played for the majority of mien life. Zhough I zink my talent has to do with mien healing abilities too. Mein family und meinself have alvays been doctors, und I did more zen zey ever did in ze medical field. I even brought von of my teammates back from being dead for 17 hours! Haha! Ug.” Medic grabbed his head, “I zink, I’m getting anozer memory flash.”

“What!? What can I do!?” Ruby asked worriedly. Medic didn’t respond as he was shaking really bad. He didn’t feel his body hit the floor.

Demo was shouting at Medic to get up, “Come on Doc! The team needs ya!”

“Demo? Vat happened?” Medic asked weakly,

“Bloodsucking, Australium seeking, deadly robots! That’s what!”

“How zen are jou not drained?”

“The bots couldn’t handle the alcohol quantity within me!”

“I swear jour made of zat stuff!... Vere are ze robots?” Demo points behind himself to the pile of robot scrap, “Oh… Zen how am I alive?”

“Your magic healing gun did that bit, and your self-healing ability you’ve been bragging about. Now come on! Sniper’s fighting a bunch of bots by himself! You’ve gotta get the team and Ms. Pauling back into shape. I’ll see what I can do to help that naked rat.” Demo runs off drawing his cursed sword,

“Heads… Heads…” The sword says as Demo runs off. Medic starts to heal his teammates. Come on! Medic mentally shouted, They need blood. He rushes to the robots and pulls out the blood canisters, This’ll have to do. During this moment a robot Medic rolls around the corner and Medic freezes,

“Don’t worry Doc, I’ve hacked this one to help us out. An Engineer is on its way!” Engineer’s voice came from the sound box and Medic calmed returning to his work.

With the entire team recovered they ran after Demoman, but Medic gets grabbed from behind, “Doc! I’m losing control!” Engineer’s voice was cracking up from the robot Engineer that was holding him, “I-I’m sorry Doc.” The cold metal of a gun was pressed to Medic’s head. He heard someone screaming, a gunshot, then darkness.

Medic returns to the real world gasping for air, “I am never gonna like doing blood draws ever again.” He mutters shaking and slowing sitting back up, “Sorry if I scared jou Ruby… Ruby? Archimedes?” No reply… Till he hears a scream, “Oh no, vat now!?” A robot pony walks in holding Ruby by the neck and ignoring Archimedes’ pecs and scratches as he flew around the robots head. Ruby is tossed at Medic’s feet and he immediately checks her for injuries. Medic glares at the robot, “Vat do jou vant!?” He screams, as a section in it’s chest opens and a small television is revealed from the pony robot. Medic recognizes this as how the Administrator would sometimes talk to the mercenaries if communication links were down, “No vay…”

“Hello Medic. I had heard Stable Two Four had been opened. Didn’t think only you would come out though.” A pony Administrator appeared on the screen.

****************************************************************************

Level up:

New Perk: Self Healing: Over time your wounds will heal, just not the extreme ones.

Chapter 5: Old Debts

Medic stood there mouth agape, millions of questions flooding his mind. He spoke the first thing that reached his lips, “HOW ARE JOU ALIVE!?” Medic shouted at the women on the other side of the screen,

“Now mister Heisenburger, is that really any way to talk to your employer?”

“Heisenburger? Who… Vait… Is that me?” The Administrator laughed wholeheartedly,

“So you forgot! Seems the side effects mister Conagher mentioned were a bit severe!” Ruby sat up glaring at the TV screen,

“Hey! You creep! Quit talking to Medic like that!” The Administrator frowned,

“Why is this child,” The Administrator asked crossly, “defending you?”

“Vhy do jou care!?” Medic stood over the filly defensively, “Jou only ever sought to destroy vat friends und families ve had or created!” It was Administrator’s turn to glare,

“Mister Heisenburger, may I remind you that you are still legally under contract. I pay you, and you do as I tell you. (Granted, you haven't even done that.) If I tell you to kill your family…” The Administrator takes a puff of smoke. “Then you kill your family.” Medic felt like he had been slapped. How dare this woman talk to him like this!

“Jou! Jou... No more! I refuse to work for jou any longer!”

Medic telekinetically pulled out all the guns he had, pointed them at the robot’s head and opened fire. The robot went down but the TV remained intact, “Oh dear…” The administrator smiled, “Do you remember section 37.4, article B of your contract?... I wonder, how long you can run.” The robot started to heat up and the part of Medic that was Demo screamed at Medic to run and Medic went wide-eyed as it clicked in him what was happening,

“RUN RUBY!” Medic gathered all the supplies in his telekinetic grip that he could and ran for the back entrance, Ruby ahead of him by just a little, the Administrator’s laughter filling the old building. They reach the door as the robot explodes sending the two of them flying through the opening. Medic’s magic falters and he grabs Ruby mid-fall to pull her close for protection. Archimedes was launched from the blast out of the doorway a little behind the two flying ponies They land with Medic taking the brunt of the landing. The old building crumbled from the force of the blast crushing anything Medic had left behind.

Archimedes and Bloody Ruby were crying Medic’s name when he came to. He had hit his back on an old light post and was knocked out by the force. “Vhat? How long vas I out?”

“Over an hour. Enough time for Ruby to collect the supplies you saved, but also for me to worry.” Archimedes talked with a robotic voice in reply, “And her too, I guess.”

“Archimedes? Vat am I going to do vith jou? (Und vhen did you learn to talk?…)” Medic mutters as Ruby sighs in relief, hoofing over the guns and medical supplies that Medic managed to save. Medic smiled comfortingly and glad that he was able to save as much as he did. Especially, his friend’s guns, “Danke Ruby.” He then checks his violin, amazed to find it unscathed, “How?” Ruby looked surprised too, “Zat landing should’ve-” Souls. The word echoed through Medic’s mind, “Nein… Did I? Nein… I couldn’t have! Is a part of me in zis?” Medic felt fear rise up in his heart,

“Medic? What’s wrong?” Ruby asked fearfully seeing Medic’s face,

“I-I don’t know. Vithout mein memories… How much does she know?” Medic looks back at the wreckage of the collapsed building, “She knew mein name. Mein real name… Zhrough she only mentioned part of it… Vat did I do to lead me to zis?...” Medic moaned, “Listen, Ruby. Ve have to get moving. Mein actions have broken mein contract vith her… Now… Like ze contract stated… I’m an enemy, und… She’s going to try to kill me… Jou have to come vith me. If ve start moving she von’t find us very easily.”

“Kill? That crazy lady? How? Who is that smoking b-”

“She’s powerful und if she used a robot to communicate to us, zen… She’s bound to have more… Und maybe… Some of Gray Mann’s, only repurposed… I-I couldn’t live with meinself if jou got hurt… Since jou defended me… She’ll be after jou to.” Ruby’s eyes went wide with true fear and she gasped,

“She would attack a filly!?”

“Jou heard vat she said about me. ‘If I tell jou to kill jour family, zen jou kill jour family.’ I had to, but zat lady.” Medic shook his head, “She is vay more insane zen I’ve ever been. She’s villing to kill anyvon who gets in her vay!” Ruby glowered,

“That’s sick!” She shouted, “Alright, she’s going down!”

“Nein, ve can’t do zat now, if ever. Vat ve should do is get moving, avay from here, und avay from her. Ve need to survive.” Medic stuffed the supplies, his violin, and guns. Except for the Diamondback which remained levitated by Medic’s side. Getting the hint Bloody Ruby grabbed a Slaver gun nearby and checked the load, before going towards a similar gun to get ammo and replacement parts. When she finished she had a nice looking Glock 17 locked and loaded. Medic smiled slightly at the filly’s smarts, “Next, ve need to quickly grab jou some armor. None of zis stuff. Too big for jou und I’m not zat good at repurposing.” Ruby nods and the two of them quickly run around the checkpoint ruins finding a pair of filly size fire resistant boots, a bike helmet and some kid’s pretend knight costume made from real metal, “Zis’ll have to do for ze time being.” Medic comments after Ruby is dressed, “Now come on, ve’ve got a long valk ahead of us to who knows vere.” Ruby nods and the two of them start walking east, following the train tracks. Vaguely, Medic thought he could hear a train.

****************************************************************************

Level up:
New perk: Gunslinger: You can draw and fire weapons at a quick speed and high accuracy. 5% damage boost when using small firearms.

Chapter 6: On The Run

What kind of animal lives on these railroads? Medic thought to himself as he shot another creature. He couldn’t even determine their origin, it was that unusual. Archimedes soared above keeping watch for other attackers, while Bloody Ruby slept on Medic’s back, leaving him rather alone. He was running out of ammo, and even the corpses of the dead slavers didn’t yield anything useful. They had passed a junction about two hours earlier and now they were heading for a tunnel through the surrounding mountain range. A crashed wagon with no wheels blocks the entrance.

Medic puts Ruby down then tries to push the wagon out of the way. No luck. He tried using telekinesis to lift it, and nearly passed out because of the pressure, “*Pant* Never *Pant* tried zat before *Pant* dummkopf! Of course it wouldn’t work!” Medic stood up again and charged the soul spell, “Jour turn Heavy.” Medic’s cutie mark changed to one of Heavy’s sandwiches with a bullet replacing the olive, “Vell… Zat’s a little silly. Oh vell. Let’s try zis now!” Medic tried pushing the wagon out of the way again, now feeling new strength. The wagon started to slide with a groan of metal like it was stuck on something. Medic looks behind the wagon into the cave spotting the harness stuck on a rock. In response, Medic lifts the wagon as carefully as he can to get it detached and moved away from the cave entrance. Slowly, the wagon is lifted onto Medic’s back and tossed out of the way with a loud thud, this wakes Ruby up with a start,

“Thunder!” She shouts and hides beneath Medic as his cutie mark reverts,

“Oh, nein, nein. Zat vas just me moving zis wagon out of ze vay so ve could head through zis cave.” Medic chuckles,

“C-Cave?” Ruby looked at Medic even more spooked,

“Ja? Are jou afraid of ze dark?”

“No, its what hides in the dark! Feral ghouls love darkness, and caves are where major hoards hang out!”

“Oh… Vell ze mountain’s a little too steep to climb so ve vill have to go through… I suggest ve check ze wagons for supplies. I’m nearly out of ammo.” Medic walks over to a wagon marked Four Stars Technology and bucks the door open finding a boat load of preserved paperwork scattered amongst ammo boxes, “Oh! Vell lucky me!” Medic pulls out all the ammo boxes then spots a sheet of paper with a very familiar stamp. SAXTON HALE, it read, “Mann Co? Here?” Medic grabs the sheet and pockets it to look through later before heading back out to find Bloody Ruby attempting to lock pick a box of explosives. Demo’s soul screamed danger with the way the filly was handling the box so Medic held the container steady in a telekinetic grip as she continued to try and unlock it.

Medic focuses, calling upon Spy’s expertise for the lock picking job of the many locked ammo boxes, hoping the filly was distracted enough not to look. Unfortunately, she wasn’t. Ruby gasped just as a click was heard from the explosives box, successfully disguising the noise. Medic mistook the sound of her gasp for one of joy instead if shock and smiled as he began to lock pick the first box. Ruby was startled but managed not to say anything. She decided to ask him later if she had the chance.

Snarls start to come from the tunnel as Medic opens ammo box three of seven. Ruby cringes while Medic smiles, his original cutie mark returning, “I zink zese house guests overstayed zeir velcome.” Medic reloads the shotgun, “Aim for zeir heads. It’ll kill zem quickly.” Ruby is confused due to Medic’s confidence and knowledge on ghouls but decided to save the questions for another time. Medic shoves the last four ammo boxes aside, and Archimedes lands on his head. Medic then turns on the lamp function of his Pip-Buck, “Alvight… Here ve go!” With that, the two ponies ran into the dark tunnel. The sounds of hungry feral ghouls only getting louder.

Medic vaguely wondered when was the last time he had done this. He couldn’t remember all of his fights with the wizard, but he could remember what he fought. He smiled at some pleasant memories, as he shot one zombie above the neck, blowing it off and sending its head into another ghoul, who promptly tore it apart. Ruby stood back as Medic performed an orchestra of undead death, blasting and chopping corpses back to the infernal hell they had crawled out of.

One ghoul managed to get closer to medic then he thought it would. Snarling, it dashed at Medic, but he managed to shoot it in time. He broke it’s deadly charge, killing it in the process, but it still slammed into him, sending him sprawling. Ruby dashed forward, killing the last ghoul, and helping Medic back up. Medic thanked Ruby and they continued to run down the train tunnel, killing ghouls along the way.

As Medic ran he wondered if any of this was real. He wanted to discern if this was the real life or just a fantasy that his mind had conjured up, but no matter which it was there was a high chance he would die and knowing that Medic only had one real goal… Survive.

The two ponies and the robotic bird ran/flew out of the tunnel, shooting and killing the last of the ghouls that were following them. Medic and Ruby then slumped up against a rock, breathing heavily, “Vell… Zat vent vell.” Medic commented after a few minutes, “Ze three of us just defeated hundreds of zombies, exhausted our ammo supplies, und lived to tell ze tale. Und it’s not even Halloween!” Medic laughed for a little bit leaving the poor filly confused. Before she can ask however an apple shaped grenade lands next to the team, “OH SCHEIßE!” Medic shouts as he grabs Ruby and hides behind the rock. The grenade explodes making the team’s ears ring and showering them with shrapnel and dirt. After a bit, Medic peeks over the rocks looking for their attacker

“Didn’t you see the bloody bombs?” A voice Medic knew asks,

“Demoman?” Medic turns around to see a Demoman unicorn clad in purple armor with two eyes, instead of one and an eyepatch, standing not far from him and Ruby. The E.F.S was marking him as hostile and Medic believed it, “Uh, ve can talk zis out, ja?” [Charisma fail.]

“No Doc. I’ll see you in Hell.” He fires a grenade from his grenade launcher and Medic’s instincts kick in charging a shield. The grenade struck the shield and bounced back, “Ah cripe!” The Demo ran to get out of the blast range, but he still managed to get hit and tossed into a pit. Medic stares at the magic shield he had created in shock,

“I-I don’t remember ever making zis zing before!” He cried in joyful surprise. Ruby looked at his flank seeing no change in the mark and she wonders if she had just imagined what had happened before. Medic runs over to the Demo, “So doppelganger of mein friend. Who are jou- AH!” Medic screams when he sees part of the Demo’s skin burned away to reveal metal and wires. Medic takes a step back, “V-vat? A robot? But how!? Vhy!?” Memories were resurfacing, but Medic fought them to stay in the real world. The Demo laughed, its voice now sounding like the machines Medic knew too well,

“I’m what the Engineer calls, a Synth.” The Demo-bot replied. Medic takes a step back in fear as the Demoman ‘Synth’ takes a step forward, “As for why, well the Admin has to get help somehow, and with all of the bots and ruins lying around, Engineer has all the parts he needs to make an army and then some! So enough chatting.” The Demo-bot pulls out a pitiful sword that would cry in shame if it met the real Demo’s cursed sword, “Are ya ready to die Doc?”

Medic, being so close to the Demo-bot, pulled back quickly. He had no wish to die so quickly after his incursion with the Administrator. “Ruby! I need some help!” Ruby dashed out from behind cover and circled the Demo-bot. Medic pulled out his bone saw and charged. Medic ducked as the sword swung, and Ruby jumped onto its back. The Demo-bot, however, was prepared and bucked her off. Medic got up and swung the bone saw into its eye and it got stuck, leaving a long, straight gash across the face, with a bone saw stuck in the middle. Ruby jumped to her feet and pulled out one of the apple shaped grenades she had obtained from the explosives box earlier. She pulled out the pin with her teeth and ran towards the Demo-bot,

“Hey, tin can! I’ve got a present for you!” She called tossing the grenade. Medic jumped out of the way pulling the bone saw with his telekinesis, but the weapon remained stuck. The Demo-bot tried to grab the grenade to throw it back, but because of the yank that Medic did on the bone saw the robot was thrown off balance, causing it to fall over. The grenade landed at the robot’s feet and detonated. With the internal components somewhat exposed, the robot was destroyed by the blast.

Medic’s telekinetic grip fell as the bone saw was lost in the blast. When the smoke faded Medic ran forward trying to find his trusty bone saw. Eventually, Medic finds the remains of the hilt and Medic starts to cry, “Mein most trusted veapon… Gone…” He muttered. Medic checked his pip-buck, just to make sure that when he picked it up, it was truly gone. Medic cried in joy when he found that, instead of showing up ‘Gone’ or ‘Broken’, it just showed 0% on the durability. After all that happened that day, Medic broke down and cried tears of joy, “I can fix zis! I just need ze parts und ze knowledge.”

“I can do that for ya Doc.” A nearby voice stated and Medic screamed, overwhelmed by emotion. He turned to stare at a small, seemingly harmless, red and blue filly, talking with Engineer’s voice, who stood there smiling, “Oh, sorry bout that. I can’t leave the Administrator so I sent out little Gemstone here instead.”

****************************************************************************

Level up:

New Perk: Electro Shield: When in moments of dire need or when enough magical energy is charged, you can summon a shield that prevents explosive blows from dealing damage. It can also disable Robots passing through it.

Chapter 7: Engineer's Answers

Medic watched patiently as the filly known as Gemstone worked on repairing his bone saw. Archimedes was playing with Bloody Ruby by helping her check the wagons and small buildings that were nearby. Medic had the comlink up between him and Archimedes so he could keep tabs on the pair. Medic hated the quiet so he struck up a conversation,

“So, am I talking to Engineer or Gemstone?” He asks,

“Doc, I’m gonna be staying in control, for the time being, less Gem walks back to the Administrator’s casino or attacks you.” Engineer responds having no emotion behind his words,

“OK… Vhy create a robot filly?”

“Ah miss my kids, plus no one expects a filly to have a sentry gun in her.” A panel on Gemstone’s back opens and a mini-sentry comes up.

“GAH!” Medic shouts when he hears the gun lock onto himself,

“Don’t worry, it won’t harm ya. Need to reload it anyway.”

“H-How do jou reload?” Medic asks slightly spooked,

“Gem eats metal and the internal system or dispenser converts it into bullets and replacement plates for the body.”

“Wow! Jou sure have been busy vile I napped.” Engineer chuckled,

“That’s the first time I’ve smiled for real in over 200 years.”

“Ja, about zat. How are jou alive?”

“Ya kind of the reason for that Doc.”

“How so?”

“When I took my soul back from you, I accidentally tied the soul to my body. Making me invincible to any weapon and time itself. A living statue of who I was when the deed was done.”

“VHAT!? Jou mean to tell me I could’ve been immortal if I tied mien soul to meinself as I did to my violin?” Medic felt another memory resurface, but he rejected letting it manifest,

“That would explain why your violin never broke or had a string snap. But yes you could’ve, though I don’t recommend it.”

“Jou? Telling me not to do vat I’ve already done. Vat jou’ve done to jourself?”

“Doc… Ya don’t understand. You don’t have your own soul anymore. The person whose soul that got bound to you would’ve died and they would start to have an influence over you. For me, living with the Administrator is a nightmare, and she refuses to let me leave her because of what I can do. I rarely leave my workshop anymore, my robots do all the scavenging for me, and if I didn’t make the robot Engineers unable to build without a schematic I would be out of a job. Being immortal is dull and living with Helen is nothing short of Hell. If I had the choice to die though… I don’t think I would give up on this life. This world is full of new possibilities and I have all my Sentry ponies to take care of.”

“Vait, jou made more zen just Gemstone?” Gem smiled for Engineer,

“Gemstone was the first. She and her bigger brothers are connected to a special system that serves as my only gate to the outside world. I have a special kind of helmet that puts my real body to sleep allowing me to drive this robot through and through. I get to temporally be little Gemstone or her brothers.”

“So ze Administrator is terrible to jou, vhy don’t jou just leave?”

“I’ve tried that Doc! All the robots that I’ve made can track me no matter what I do! I also fear that I’m always being watched! Each robot may be unique personality wise, but their code remains the same!” Even though the robot filly couldn’t cry it was clear Engineer was breaking down inside, “I’m always watched Doc. The only freedom I get is by driving Gem or her brothers.”

“But… Can’t jou just end ze zing that tied jour soul to jour body?” Gem glares at Medic,

“Did you not hear me Doc? I don’t wanna die, not yet… But even if I wanted to… I can’t… There’s a powerful enchantment on my soul that can only be undone with an equally powerful spell. There’s only one person I know that could possibly have the ability to undo this magic and that is Merasmus… The problem is he disappeared a few years back and I fear he’s dead. Helen refuses to believe that and wants the robots to find him… In fact, she was going to ask you to search for him.”

“Vhy vould she vant to find him?”

“She had me bind her soul to her too…”

“VAT!? JOU VENT VITH HER!?”

“I DIDN’T HAVE A CHOICE DOC! I DIDN’T WANT TO BE ALONE AND I HAD NO IDEA WHEN YOU WOULD WAKE UP! IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO WAKE YOU GUYS WHEN THE RADIATION LEVELS WERE THAT HIGH!” Engineer took a deep breath, “I had hoped that at least one other team member would’ve survived, but it’s clear that only you did Doc… Or did you?” Engineer had Gem scratch her chin as he thought,

“Engineer? Vat’s going on in zat head of jours?”

“Doc, our teammates are dead therefore their souls should start to have an effect on you.” Gemstone lifted the now repaired bone saw and handed -er hoofed it over to Medic, “Have ya had any instances of being another teammate?”

“Being? As in zey take mein place?” Gem nodded, “Nein, but I do have a spell zat allows me to access zeir strengths und skills. Mein Pip-Buck labels it as Soul Shift.” Gem stares for a few seconds before Engineer’s voice continues,

“Pip-Buck? It’s supposed to be a Pip-Boy!” Gem starts pacing and Medic’s thanks go unnoticed, “This affects my theory. If the Pip-Boy changed when you came to this world then that means changing into Ponies was just this world’s way of keeping the balance. But then our world would have to have a strong connection to this one for something like that to happen.”

“Engineer? Vat are jou talking about?”

“Something that’s been wracking my brain throughout the centuries. There has to be a reason why we’re here and not home, and it all happened when Grey Mann dropped those bombs.”

“Grey Mann? Bombs? Engineer, vat is going on?” Medic’s head had started to ache with the gathering of this new information.

“Ya really don’t remember do ya? Grey Mann’s thirst for power dragged the whole world against his robots. Eventually, he dropped bombs on all the major cities. If it wasn’t for Vault-Tec and myself, many more would have perished. We built the Vaults, including 2-4 for the Administrator that she put all of you in. Then she had me make the Synth forms of all of you for some reason. Demo’s you just destroyed.”

“So ven did jou find jourself as a pony?” Medic asks trying to keep himself out of his past memories,

“During the moments of the bombs at their peak. The light turned bright green, and I covered my eyes. Next thing I know, I changed into a pony.” Medic suddenly remembers the waiver he grabbed with Saxton Hale’s stamp of approval and pulls it out.

“Does zis mean anyzing to jou?” Gem read the waiver and her eyes go wide,

“Where’d you get this Doc?”

“In a wagon marked Four-Stars Technology. Vhy?”

“This is proof that our worlds had a connection! There’s no way this came after the bombs. Is there any chance you could find more?”

“For jou? Of course!.” Medic tries to give the waiver to Engineer,

“Keep it. The Administrator mustn’t know what I’m up to.” Medic nods and pockets the waiver as Bloody Ruby appears on the top of a hill, “OK Doc I’m nearly out of time. Be aware that ya gonna meet up with the rest of the team of Synths soon. Stay safe and I hope that when we meet again I can share more with you. Oh, and take this.” A compartment on Gemstone’s side opens revealing a glass ball with what seemed like mist flowing around inside. Gemstone gives it to Medic “That’s a memory orb. Focus your magic on it and-” Engineer’s voice cut off with a static burst. Gemstone blinked a few times, then smiled politely,

“I’m sorry sir. Engineer’s connection has been severed by either, someone pulling the plug on the mainframe, or his connector overheated.” A sweet voice carrying a southern accent escaped from the little fillies lips, “Is there any questions I can answer while I’m here?”

“Uh... “ Bloody Ruby and Archimedes stood on the edge of the camp watching, “How do I use zis?” Medic holds up the memory orb,

“Focus your magic on the memory orb and you will find yourself riding whoever the memory is from. Do this someplace you won’t get attacked, for you will be unable to move in the real world while viewing the memory.” Gemstone replied, “Anything else?”

“How do I get back into contact with Engineer?”

“We find you, or you could visit him at the Administrator’s Casino. Uploading confidants now.” A beep on Medic’s Pip-Buck and a marker appeared. ‘Administrative Gambling Casino’ the marker read. Wow, such a creative name. Medic thought,

“Danke, zat vill be all Gemstone.”

“You're welcome, sir.” With that, the filly walked away,

“That was interesting,” Ruby commented with Archimedes on her head. She hoofs over some open ammo boxes, “Here, I got what I needed, what’s left is for you.”

“Danke Ruby…” Medic accepts the ammo boxes then voices his curiosity, “I wish to view zis memory orb… Can I count on ze two of jou to keep me safe?” Ruby and Archimedes salute. Medic smiled then pressed the Orb to his horn, focused a magical aura on the orb, and the world faded away.

Medic finds himself looking at his reflection in the mirror, only it wasn’t himself he saw. Instead, he was staring at an Earth Pony, like Ruby and Gemstone, with orange fur and a bright blond mane. A set of welding goggles hung around his neck instead of over his emerald eyes. A frown painted his face. Engineer? Medic wondered as the pony sighed and lifted a construction helmet over his head. Definitely Engineer. Engineer walked into a room filled with terminals all observing a different part of the Wasteland. An old frail bright purple Earth Pony mare sat in a wheelchair watching the screens. Her black mane was almost completely silver with age, “Are you ready mister Conhagur?” The mare asks and Medic realizes who it is. The Administrator!

“I should be asking you that miss.” Medic felt his lips, no, Engineer’s lips move as he spoke, “After all, what you're about to have me do… The pain will be terrible.” The Administrator manages to turn her chair around so she could stare at Engineer,

“Mister Conhagur, I haven't felt anything in decades. If I were to feel anything now, it would be very welcome.” The Engineer swallowed his pride and picked up a component off the surgical table nearby. Medic, watching through his eyes, saw many more various monitors spanning the entire wall. The air was cool, but verging on the smell and taste of recycled air. A bunker? Medic thought to himself, but even if he tried, he wouldn’t be able to speak. Engineer turned to the Administrator and began carting her down a hall. “Mister Conhagur, do be careful. It is incredibly expensive to keep these bones together, I do not want to fall apart due to your carelessness.” The Administrator croaked.

“Sorry, Ma’am.” The Engineer said, scared but not worried. Medic finally recognized a room, a room he had seen once, briefly. They entered the surgeon's room, the room Medic had once brought Sniper back to life in. Quite a miracle, really. Dead for 17 hours. But if that was the room that I had brought Sniper back from, where had everything else come from? Medic didn’t have time to ponder these questions as a machine pulled the Administrator from the wheelchair onto a table. “Ma’am, I’m going to warn you one last time-”

“Do it, Mister Conhagur. I will not tell you again.” The Engineer put the device down on a nearby table and looked at the device on the Administrators ankle. Wincing, he pulled it straight out, just like he did last time. “Now, Ma’am, this is the last one. There will never be another one of these thi-”

“I am aware, mister Conhagur. The supplies of this land will last long enough to sustain us. And the machines are of no more use to me. You must find your old teammate… he’s already done it once, you must learn from him how. You will not fail, Mister Conhagur. Because if you do, there won’t be enough of you left to regret it.” The Engineer panicked, slightly, and Medic knew what the Engineer knew. A line didn’t go in entirely correctly. The Engineer didn’t correct it. Medic stared at the line, or more accurately, the Engineer stared at the line. “Mister Conhagur?” The Administrator warned.

“Almost done, Ma’am.” Engineer pressed the big red button on the little machine, and it began humming. “Done, Ma’am.”

“Now, Mister Conhagur, the plans may truly begin.” The Medic stared as the memory began to swirl his vision, becoming a blue and black blur.

Medic was sucked back into the real world, where he found himself standing over and staring at a very scared pegasus clad in black carapace armor. Medic blinked a few times, surprised to find himself standing and in a different location, “Vat?” He asks no one in particular.

****************************************************************************

Level up:

New Perk: Patriot's Perk: Wake Me Up: Whenever you are in danger or out cold, Soldier will take control of you until you’re awake.

Chapter 8: Black Out

Bloody Ruby’s POV: Ruby watched as Medic viewed the memory seemingly asleep. Then she gets shocked when Medic’s horn glows and his Cutie Mark changes to that of a strange flag she didn’t recognize. Red and white stripes with a blue section full of white stars. Medic’s eyes opened a light brown instead of the icy blue she had grown used to, “Today is a good day!” Medic said in a new voice. Ruby takes a step back and Medic turned to her, “Do not fear citizen, I have heard great things about you, Ruby!”

“Um, who are you, how do you know my name, and what have you done to Medic?” Ruby asks and Archimedes coos in agreement,

“I am the Soldier. Medic’s commanding officer and one of the members of the Reliable Excavation and Demolition Team!” Medic replied raising a hoof in a salute, “I know your name cause I’ve been here the whole time. Me and the rest of the team, minus Pyro, that is. I simply took over while he’s out. Too bad my girlfriend isn’t here, she’d love to meet a full-hearted American like you.” Ruby wanted to ask what an American was, but this ‘Soldier’ kept talking, “Hm, that and honey so we can coat ourselves with it and fight hippies like those who put other American ponies in cages! Where can I fight some hippies?” Soldier asks Ruby,

“Uh…”

“Never mind, I see one up there.” Soldier interrupts pointing to the sky with a hoof. Ruby looks up and barely spots the Pegasus,

“That pegasus? But you’ll never-” Ruby was once again interrupted, but this time by an explosion. She watches as Medic soars through the air toward the unsuspecting pegasus. The unicorn strikes the pegasus hard in the back, causing him to fall from the sky, Medic riding him the whole way down. The poor pegasus lands on the ground with a hard thump not far from the camp. Ruby runs over to check the damage, finding Medic unscathed but the pegasus with a broken wing and probably multiple broken ribs. He was wearing some weird, black, bug-like armor with a scorpion tail and green goggles. The pegasus groans than shrieked in fear and pain when Soldier walked over and stepped on the broken wing. Medic smiles, and says, “Good afternoon, Hippie. I will be your guide today. Your guide to pain. In which you will be in a world of.” Medic raised his hoof and stopped. His Cutie Mark returned and eyes turned back to their icy blue.

Medic blinked a few times, surprised to find himself standing and in a different location, “Vat?” He asks no one in particular. He stared at the pegasus below himself and stepped back. Medic looks to Ruby fearful, “Filly? Vat did I do? Und don’t spare any details!” Medic reached into his saddlebags and pulled out the medical supplies he had stored up. He then started tending to the still freaked out pegasus while Ruby explained the craziness she had just experienced, and Medic groaned, “Ruby? I’m sorry if I scared jou… I zink now is as good a moment to tell jou-”

“That there’s more than one person in you?” Ruby asked,

“Vell, sort of.” Medic replied, the pegasus had long since fainted, “I have multiple souls.” Ruby stared in confusion,

“What does that mean?” She asks as Medic finishes binding the pegasus in healing bandages and pushing a healing potion down his throat,

“It means I have the lives of many other ponies vith in me. None of zem vant to remain silent. Zey all vant to live. If zey veren’t mein friends, I fear zey vould have tried to control me by now, since I, meinself, do not have a soul other than vat is tied to mein violin I believe.” Ruby’s eyes went wide, her little mind struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the situation,

“So, how did you obtain your friend's souls?” Ruby asks a little afraid,

“I took zem so I could cheat death und ze Devil.” Medic replies casually, and Ruby gasped.

“You dare steal from your own friends?” She cried, angry. Medic cringes and sighs,

“Ja, I dared, I succeeded, und I’m beginning to regret it. Engineer vas right, und it only took zem dying first to realize vat I have done. Zey are mein friends, zey should’ve had more chances to live, zey truly cared for me, even ven it seemed like zey didn’t, und finally… Immortality isn’t worth it. Not worth ze lives lost to reach ze top, for ven jou get up zere, jour zere alone.” Medic holds a hoof to his heart as though that could reach something deeper. Ruby opens his mouth to speak, but Medic’s horn glows and he screams. Ruby watches as other Cutie Marks surrounded his own then leap from his flank forming blue pony shaped apparitions that take form. Ruby sees Medic fall to his side as though he had run a great distance nonstop. The biggest blue ghost walks over and picks up Medic and hugs the stallion. This pony’s Cutie Mark was of what Ruby guessed was some sort of sandwich with a bullet stabbed through the middle,

“Doctor not alone. Friends always with Doctor now, give Doctor strength.” He spoke with a strange accent and seemed to struggle with Ponish,

“H-Heavy…” Medic cried weakly and hugged his old friend. Ruby felt something touch her. It was cold and warm at the same time. She looked seeing a young pegasus trying to lean on her only to fall through her. A chill ran up Ruby’s spine,

“Awe come on man!” His Cutie Mark was a baseball wrapped in electrical energy. The bug-like pony wearing a red mask and a suit laughed and snorted. No mark was visible on his flanks. A fully grown blank fank? Ruby wondered,

“You should’ve expected as much Scout.” The bug-like pony chuckled in an unknown accent as well. Only he seemed to be a lot better at the language than his big companion. “We are merely spirits after all.”

“What is going on?” Ruby finally asked and the eye patch wearing pony replied. His Cutie Mark was a shield with a dynamite stick and a sword hiding behind it,

“All of us wished to speak to the Doc, lass. So we forced him to do a spell that would free us from him as ghosts of the past for the time being. The process was painful, left ‘im weak. Heavy’s giving ‘im strength since without us as he said, he only has his violin to keep himself rooted to the world.”

“So if he lost contact with his instrument and none you were with him… He’d die?”

“Aye. Yer a good pony, lass.”

“A true American!” The earth pony with a helmet over his eyes saluted. Ruby tensed. Soldier, “Also, I want to beat this hippie more!” He tried to stomp on the pegasus having no effect,

“NEIN! JOU’VE DONE ENOUGH, DUMMKOPF!” Medic shouted trying to get free from Heavy to stop Soldier. Instead, he ended up falling on his face,

“Ooo, that oughta hurt.” Scout whispered as he stood up then asked Spy, “If we are just spirits, how come Heavy can lift Medic? Hm?” Spy fell silent and scratched his chin thinking, he then smiled,

“Simple. We are tied to him! We can interact only with him, but our presence is always there.” Spy grinned as Scout growled,

“Fine smarty pants, I’m heading back.” Scout disappears into a blueish glowing orb that flies back into Medic. Said pony gasps as energy returns to him. Medic looks to Spy with a glare,

“Quit hiding it from him Spy! Ve are out of ze var games! Jou don’t need to hide it!” Medic shouted, annoyed about something that Ruby didn’t understand, but she guessed it was something about Scout.

“I will tell him when he is ready. He is still just a boy.”

“Jou both are dead, vat more could jou need? Quit making excuses und be a man instead of a cowardly little child like jour own son!” Ruby gasped and Spy growled,

“Don’t talk about him like that!” He then stops realizing what he just did. Medic smiles knowingly, “I hate you sometimes.” Spy muttered and the pegasus in a desperado hat put a hoof to Spy’s back in support,

“Doc’s right Spook, but ya need to stop pushing him away first. I know how weird it is to meet your real parents for the first time.” Spy lets out a sigh,

“Thank you, Bushman.” Sniper smiles and all the souls return to Medic. Ruby stares in amazement. Medic slowly sits up,

“Ruby? Jou have to promise not to tell anyvon vat jou have seen or heard. Zis Pegasus is going to wake up und vant an explanation. I’m going to tell him zat I have multiple personalities und go from zere as needed. Ve vill have to deliver him to his kind... somehow.”

“But-” Seeing Medic’s worried face Ruby changed what she was going to say, “I promise Medic… What did you see in the memory orb?” Medic pauses before replying,

“I was mein friend, Engineer, and he was doing something to mein employer. She spoke about one of us, me und mein teammates, as though she needed somezing from us… I guess Engineer is trying to tell me something… I just don’t know vat.” The pegasus started to stir in his weird bug armor,

“Where am I. The last thing I remember…” The pegasus buck noticed Medic kindly smiling at him, “Oh no! PLEASE DON’T HURT ME!” He shouted in terror, backing up a little, and Medic rolled his eyes,

“Look, I’m not going to hurt jou. Ze von who attacked jou is a different story. Have jou ever heard of ze story of Doctor Jekyll und Mr.Hyde?” The pegasus thought for a bit then asked,

“Is that the one where a guy makes a potion and gains a freaky second personality?” Medic smiles and nods,

“Ja, zat’s ze von. Jou see, I have somezing similar, zhough not induced by a potion more a glitch in a computer system zat kept me und mein teammates in cryogenic stasis for ze last 200 years. Who attacked jou was known as Soldier, und he had very violent hobbies. He vas able to control me cause I vas viewing a memory orb.” Both Ruby and the pegasus listened to Medic’s lie. Ruby being amazed at just how well Medic could cover something up. This causes Ruby to wonder how many times Medic had done so in the past. Medic held out a hoof, “Jou may call me Healing Song or my wartime designation, Medic.” The pegasus accepted the helping hoof and sat up,

“Blackout. Enclave designation, Scout. Nice to meet ya Medic.” Medic raised an eyebrow at Blackout’s reply,

“I’m sorry, vat’s ze Enclave und vat kind of Scout?” Ruby piped in,

“I’m Bloody Ruby. Medic’s my guardian. He just came out of a Stable and has Amnesia so I wouldn’t be surprised that he doesn’t know much.” Medic looked kind of hurt but he probably didn’t dwell on it,

“Ah, that explains why you haven’t heard of us.” Blackout remarked, looking at Medic with sympathy, “The Enclave is the military force up above the clouds, and I’m the kind of Scout who checks if the world below is safe for my kind.” Medic kept smiling, but Ruby suspected he was fighting control with Soldier right there and then,

“I see. So vhy haven’t jou been down here before. As jou can see, ponies can live here. Ve aren’t thriving to be fair, but ve’re living none ze less.” The pegasus went silent and Medic sighed, “Vell, if jou don’t have an answer, I’m sure ze rest of jou do. Are jou aware of any bases around here zat ve could take jou to?” Blackout’s eyes went wide,

“You would do that?” He then coughed, “Uh, I meant to say-”

“Jou thought I’d keep jou around as a punching bag? Or vorse, sell jou?” Blackout slowly nodded in fear, “Nein, I vouldn’t do zat. Zose are Slavers und I ever so happened have a liking to slaughtering zem, not reasonable ponies like jou who vas simply in ze wrong place at ze wrong time. Now again, vere can I take jou?”

“Uh, I believe there’s an Enclave outpost not far from Ghastly Gorge.” Blackout replied unsure of his response,

“Believe?” Medic buried his face in his hooves, “Oh vhy don’t I just get vacked vith von of Pyro’s axes? If jou don’t know for an assurity, zen jou’ll be traveling vith us until ve find a base, jou ving heals, or until a friend of jours comes down looking for jou.” Blackout cringed,

“Alright, alright. There is a base near Ghastly Gorge. I just never went there. They may try to shoot you.” He clumsily gets to his feet. “What did you do, anyway? I was flying pretty high. (Not regulation height, but still.)” Medic panics,

“I do quite believe, that I performed a rocket jump?” Both Blackout and Bloody Ruby stared at Medic confusion written on their faces, “It was a technique Soldier used. Firing rockets at his feet as he jumped, giving him a lot of height and speed that even our Scout couldn’t beat him in a race if he was using his rocket launcher.” Blackout jumped in understanding and shock,

“HE USED MISSILES TO JUMP!?” Medic nods in response, “But, you don’t have a rocket launcher with you… How?”

“I have no idea!” Medic cried with exasperation, “It defies any logic or science I have ever studied! As if teleporting bread vasn’t bad enough!” Blackout was about to question Medic more but Ruby advised against it,

“We need to get a move on. Staying here will only bring more trouble and Ghastly Gorge is on the border of Everfree! We’ll have enough trouble from the forest without dragging more attention to ourselves… Not to mention the creepy lady!”

“Creepy lady? Now that’s just not nice!” Blackout retorted, “I know plenty of Pegasi that seem creepy, but have a heart of gold.” Medic snorted,

“Her heart burns with hellfire!” Blackout raised an eyebrow, “I’ll tell you what I know to the best of my ability.” Medic responded as they started walking alongside the railroad toward Ponyville.

Medic’s POV: “Und zat is all I remember.” Medic finished talking about what happened to him up to the gunshot to his head from a robot version of his friend. Part of him said if the robot didn’t kill him, Vengeance Heavy would… If Grey Mann hadn’t had killed Vengeance Heavy first. Medic didn’t include the fact he vaguely remembered talking to the Devil and trading away Pyro’s soul for the opportunity to return but after that… There was nothing.

“So you, in a sense, got shot in the head by your own friend? How did you survive!?” Blackout shouted in confusion. The Everfree Forest was coming up on the horizon. Medic had chosen to ignore the creepy town his Pip-Buck marked as Ponyville as to avoid any act of insanity against the revolting decor of pony and monster bodies,

“Honestly, I don’t know vat happened after zat.” Medic replies, again, hiding the Devil encounters and works with the soul, and instead replacing them with moments of Amnesia, “It’s all a blur.”

“Sorry for your loss.” Blackout commented, but Medic waved him away.

“Really, it vas nothing to me. Not at ze time… I zink...” Medic tried to make it still seem like he was confused more than he really was. Silence filled the air. Blackout began to move along. “Well, are we going or what?” He called back,

“J-Ja…” Medic replies and continues to move forward. A few steps are taken before large blue vines sprout out of the ground, charging at the team. Ruby’s screams of terror are all Medic needs to be told the vines aren’t good news, “Run for it!” Medic’s shield appeared as the vines lunged, “Whatever jou are! Stay back!” Medic shouts and the vines writhe from the electrical current they experience from the shield. Ruby and Blackout run down the tracks and Medic follows, wishing he had Pyro’s flamethrower.

And just as he had that thought, he could see some blindingly bright orange and red flames jutting out from a spout in front of him. Wait… It wasn’t just any flamethrower design, it was one he recognized! He could see the familiar gasoline pump handle, the red design, the tank attached to the bottom, and the hoof holding it… “PYRO?!” She hmphed back, continuing to spray fire everywhere, burning the vines to a crisp very well-done. Pyro stopped holding onto the handle so hard, and the flames stopped. Pyro looked around, pointing the flamethrower in every which direction. She stepped on a burning pile of ash but didn’t seem to notice. Seeing a smaller vine trying to wriggle it’s way back into the earth, Pyro pointed the flamethrower at it and pulled the trigger. An explosion of fire came rocketing out once more, and Pyro considered the job done.

She turned to Medic and put the flamethrower on her back. Out come pouring a sudden noise of hmphs and hurrs at him, and Medic cried, “Woah, woah, woah! Slow down! Jou know I can’t understand jou like that!” Pyro stopped and hugged Medic. Medic returned the hug, then pulled himself away. “I thought jou were dead!” Pyro said something like,

“About that…” Medic realized what he did with Pyro’s soul.

“Oh boy… How did jou escape ze Devil?” Pyro looks confused,

“You mean the king of Pyro Land? He let me come back.” Pyro replied and Medic’s mouth fell open, “Said I was to go and help you till you fulfilled your end of a deal. Too bad, I wanted to stay with all the fairies. Oh well, It’s nice to be back here too!” Medic could only guess what the ‘fairies’ really were. Ruby and Blackout walk back upon hearing Medic’s shouts and Ruby asks,

“Who is that?”

“Oh! Ruby, Blackout. Meet Firefly, my team’s Pyro.” Pyro muttered,

“That’s not my name.” But no one except Medic understood what Pyro had said. Pyro waves at the Pegasus and Earth Pony who were standing there dumbfounded,

“I thought you said all your team members died in Cryogenic stasis!” Blackout says,

“I thought so too… But apparently… Pyro survived.”

****************************************************************************

Level up:

New perk: Story Teller: You are able to lie quite well. You gain a 5% Charisma bonus when telling a lie.

Chapter 9: In Flames

Pyro had taken the lead as the team continued to travel down the railroad towards Ghastly Gorge, blasting fire at any plant creature that came out of the forest. They began to hum a mysterious tune, but it sounded happy. Medic wondered if her Pyro Vision was still on, or if the pony world had somehow muted the effects. To answer his question, Pyro bent down to a flower, then opened a lighter and engulfed it in flames. “Poor Pyro, not even zis madness could save her from her hallucinations,” Medic muttered. As Ruby watched in horror as a very pretty flower turned black, then crumbled to dust. She leaned in towards Medic, and whispered,

“Is she ok?” Medic shook his head,

“I often vondered zat myself.” Blackout stood behind them, automatic weapon in wing. He could just pull the trigger. They didn’t even bother to take it from him. It’d be fast, they would even be able to see who did it. Just a twitch of a feather…

“Blackout, where are you from?” Ruby asked, shaking him from his murderous thoughts.

“Hmm? Oh, that, I don’t know. There wasn’t a name for where I was born. They say it was above the Everfree, so that’s what I tell ponies more often than not. Makes them treat me with respect.”

“Oh, Blackout. You already have my respect!” Ruby said. Blackout’s heart melted. He had only known her for a few minutes, but if anything were to happen to her, he would kill everything he could see, and then himself. Ruby bounced over and picked Archimedes off of Medic’s back, placed him on her head, and jumped onto Medic’s back,

“Whoa!” Medic nearly lost his balance, “Varn me before jou do zat next time.” Medic laughed. Pyro looked back and giggled at the sight, “Shut up!” Medic states with a smile, “Just because I’m doing zis doesn’t mean I haven't lost mein old habits.” Pyro just shrugs before returning to her task at hoof. Almost missing the drop-off, but stopping right at the edge of the cliff. Pyro takes a few steps back, “Since ven vere jou afraid of heights?” Medic asks as he walks over to the edge. He too backs up, “Whoa… Zat’s deep.” They had arrived at Ghastly Gorge.

To their left an old suspension bridge with the remains of the railroad tracks laid, clearly having seen better days, below was a dark chasm with a strong wind flowing through it. Pyro lights her horn and a small fire came to life like a torch. She then lowered it into the gorge. It came to rest by what looked like a large machine used in mining, “So… Vat can jou tell us about zis place, Blackout?” Medic asks as Pyro stops magically feeding the fire and it goes out, much to her disappointment,

“Well, I know it was one of Equestria’s main suppliers of gems with its mining operations.” Blackout commented as he confidently walked to the edge. Medic grabs him in his telekinetic grip and pulls him back,

“Nein! In jou current state, jou can’t fly through that strong of a wind, or probably fly at all.” Medic stated sternly, “Jou vill not risk it!” Blackout was a little surprised by Medic’s outburst but nodded,

“Geez, Sorry... Doc.” Medic frowned hearing his old nickname but shock it off. Pyro started to jump up and down with delight and Medic’s eyes go wide,

“Oh no! Bitte tell me jou didn’t-” An explosion cuts Medic off, “Jou did…”

“What did she do?” Ruby asks,

“She set zat large piece of machinery on fire, causing vatever fuel it had left to exploded.” Medic replied then the ground around them started to shake, “Vat now!?”

“Rock Eels! Do what you can to get away!” Blackout shouted and ran towards a ramp that led into the gorge. Medic ran and Pyro happily bounced after them. Ruby stood for a second, as two giant grey worms came out of the earth and soared into the air. They came slamming down, and Ruby sprinted towards Medic,

“W-wait for me!” Medic turned back at her distant voice, and he ran back for her. Pyro glanced back and saw the worms. She laughed,

“Playmates!” Medic faintly heard her cheer,

“Nein! For goodness sake!” Medic shouted, “Zese are not friendly entities!” Pyro pulled out her axe, ignoring Medic, and shouted a muffled,

“Come and play!” Medic was the only one who could understand what Pyro had said and he shivered with fear. Medic placed the filly back on his back and ran away from the crazed pyromaniac and two giant land eels. Blackout jumped over some rocks and slid under another Rock Eel that burst from the rocky walls. Medic skid to a stop as the creature opened its oddly green maw. Medic jumped back as the eel snapped at where he had just been,

“How many of zese zings are zere!?” Medic pulled out the shotgun and fired at the creature’s eyes. It screeches, rears up, and slaps its tail down, causing rocks to fall. Pyro pushes Medic and Ruby out of the way of one, of the rocks then stand, and swings her axe at the struggling, half blind eel. The eel backs up and falls down the cliff. Pyro says something in mild disappointment, but no one hears. Archimedes screeches up above in warning as Medic continued to run. More rocks rain down from the sky as another eel bursts from the rock wall above Medic and Ruby’s position. Medic feels something rise in him. A feeling of desire, to run. He hears Scout’s voice, ‘Let me, Doc. I can outrun these chuckle nuts!’ Medic embraces the feeling and the soul magic envelops him. Medic’s cutie mark changes to the baseball wrapped in electrical energy and strength fills his legs. He felt freedom, he felt joy… He wanted to run!

Ruby lurched as Medic suddenly gained speed, outrunning the falling rocks, and dodging the falling eel. Medic felt the urge to yell an insult but he rejected the immature cries of the Boston boy’s soul. He quickly caught up to Blackout and passed him. The pegasus stared in shock at the veteran doctor’s speed. Ruby cheers on Medic’s back, enjoying the feel of the wind in her mane. Then the wind seemed to stop. Ruby looked around and realized they arrived at the bottom of the gorge and they were racing the wind. The corpse of an eel landed in front of Medic with Pyro on its back and Medic screamed and skidded, trying to slow down. Medic tripped on a rock and landed on his face. In his head, Scout cries ‘Medic’ and Medic tells him to shut up. Medic’s horn lights up and the soul magic ends. Pyro walks up to Medic triumphantly,

“THAT WAS AWESOME!” Pyro cheered, her voice oddly not as muffled as before, “You just ran as fast, if not faster, than Scout ever did! Can we do it again!? Huh? Huh?” Medic puts a hoof to Pyro’s muzzle and feels the slightly broken nozzle of the mask,

“Zhat should be an easy fix…” Medic mutters, “Find a replacement nozzle und screw it on. Anyzing to not have jour high pitched voice in mein ears. Jou can be as bad as Scout vithout zat zing.” Pyro giggled and gave Medic a nose boop,

“I always have spare masks!” She opened a bag Medic hadn’t ever noticed before and out comes another mask and a pair of Pyro-vision goggles, “Engineer always had me carry an extra pair so I started carrying all of them.” Blackout, panting, finally caught up at this point,

“How did... You run that fast?” Blackout asks over the wind as Pyro undos the nozzle on her mask and the new mask, “Seriously! You’d have to be on Dash or something like it to reach those speeds!”

“Uh… Ja… I vas… Bit of a bad habit. Enhancements are fun…” Medic nervously chuckled,

“Give me your stash.” Blackout demands,

“Nein! I need zem in case of an emergency!” Medic acts offended, taking on some acts he had seen Spy accomplish when cornered. Medic grasped his saddlebags protectively acting as though he had what Blackout had mentioned, hoping that the strange butterfly marked medical boxes he opened back at the checkpoint had at least one of these ‘Dash’ drugs in there. Blackout grabbed Medic’s hoof, the one with the Pip-Buck, and opened something that Medic didn’t know existed. The inventory sorter. Scrolling through the many items marked in the computer, he stops on an icon marked Dash Inhaler, 4x. Blackout stops,

“Listen to me. I know what this stuff can do. You may feel great right now and that… You could run for miles. But this stuff will deteriorate your mind, make it what you require to live. You will become some wretch begging for the release that the drugs alone can give you. And let’s not even talk about the crash!” Medic zoned out of what Blackout was saying as a new voice tried to take over his mind,

“So… ‘Dash’ is like ‘Bonk’ only longer lasten’?” A new voice came from Medic’s lips and Blackout looked up just in time to see a sly grin and deep blue eyes start to fade back to the icy blue and a look of worry of Medic. Medic gripped his head and shouted,

“Shut up Scout!” Blackout’s eyes went wide hearing this,

“You had a Scout?” Blackout’s question goes unnoticed as Medic started a conversation back and forth with the boy in his head,

“Come on Doc! If it’s anything like Bonk than I have to try it!”

“Nein! I am in control here! It’s bad enough for me to take it! But I am old und jou are young, jou have a whole life ahead of jou!”

“You mean had!”

“Vatever! I still von’t let jou take it!”

“One puff can’t be that bad!” A new voice pops in, this one being Spy,

“Trust me, boy. One puff is all it takes.” Spy commented, “Now will you two please stop arguing and notice we aren’t under attack by giant worms anymore? That is a little weird, is it not?” Medic finally regained control and sighed with relief. He then looked up and saw that all was quiet, no rocks were falling, and no giant rock eels were ‘running’ around, “I don’t like this.” Spy mutters and Medic nods,

“Ja… Zat’s a little weird.” Medic then notices the hoof waving in front of his face, “Vat? Blackout?”

“Are you done talking to the voices in your head?” The pegasus asks and Medic flushed with embarrassment,

“Ja… Sorry, zis sort of zings happens every once in a while.” Ruby giggled at Medic’s reaction to Blackout’s comment. Blackout shakes his head and turns around,

“The fancy voice is right...” Blackout said looking around, “Whatever’s down here the worms don’t like and I get the feeling we don’t want to meet, him, her, or it.” Ruby shivers in fear but calms down a little when Archimedes lands on her head. Pyro gave out a muffled ‘aww’ before sitting up straight and looking around,

“Pyro?” Medic asks, fear in his voice, “Vat’s ze matter?” Pyro was staring stone-faced (Like always with the mask on) at one of the nearby caves, “Blackout? Vat othzer creatures live in Ghastly Gorge other than zose eels?”

“None that were ever recorded… Unless Diamond Dogs moved in.” Blackout replies,

“Diamond Dogs? I assume zey can eat gems?” Blackout tapped his chin,

“Not sure. It was never recorded… Then again we never did take the time to study them. I do know they were kicked out of their homes in Maripony.” Medic shook his head,

“Ponies kicked othzer creatures out of zeir homes? Boy does zat sound familiar.” Medic’s mind heads back to World War Two and the actions of his fellow Germans against the Jews, their items, and most importantly, their homes. Medic sighs, “I pity zem.”

“Why?” Ruby asks from his back,

“It’s not ze first time I’ve seen a race be kicked out of zeir homes for just being different… Vat’s vorse is I had to help vith zose terrible zings or face death for treason. Zen zey tricked me into doing zose horrendous experiments on zem and- and-” Medic stopped, somewhat shaking. They didn’t need to hear that. Blackout stares at Medic in shock. Pyro walks up and starts to rub Medic’s back comfortingly, while Ruby hugs Medic, “I’m sorry… Zat’s in ze past. I should not dwell on it.” Medic lets out a deep sigh,

“Who was it that Celestia or Luna kicked from their homes?” Blackout asks,

“Zat’s not important… It von’t change anyzing zat has happened, or affect anyzing zat vill happen.” Medic replies glumly,

“True, but I still want to know.” Blackout replies,

“I’m not telling jou und zat’s final!” Medic’s shout echoes across the walls of the gorge and his companions flinch. Pyro’s eyes return to the cave she was looking at earlier and she starts to tremble, “Pyro? Vat’s wrong?”

“Devil Dogs,” Pyro says with her common muffled voice,

“Devil Dogs? Don’t jou mean-” Medic’s eyes fall on a pair of amber eyes gazing back at him. A dog many times the size of the ponies sitting there gazed back, a glowing gun in its paws, pointed at Medic “Oh scheisse!” The dog welding the magical energy weapon opened fire at the small team of ponies.

Blackout jumped into the air, somehow holding himself up on injured wings, and opened fire with his weaponry. Ruby dashed behind a rock, cowering under heavy fire. Medic dodged the blast and pulled out Spy’s revolver, launching his assault. Blam, blam, blam. Three shots right at the Dog’s face and the thing didn’t even flinch, even as a small amount of blood flowed out of its cheek. Medic is vaguely reminded of how Heavy never backed down no matter how much damage was taken. This creature was doing the same, “Not good! Ve need to retreat!” Medic shouted up at Blackout as the Pegasus took another shot from his battle saddle,

“Why!? We can take it.” Blackout responded,

“Nein! We can’t!” Medic jumps to the side to dodge another shot then ducks as one goes over his head. There wasn’t just one dog in the cave. Pyro started screaming and ran for the ramp on the other side of the Gorge, Ruby followed. Medic fired the last three shots at the dog he could see before running after the two of them and reloading. Blackout glided over on his slightly repaired wings following after the other two ponies. After running a certain distance another rock eel appeared from the wall,

“This is no time to play!” Pyro ‘mmphs’ at the eel and tries to jump over it only slamming into its side. The eel let out a roar and whacked Pyro over the edge of the platform they were on. Pyro pulls out the flame thrower and air blasts at the ground to save herself. Medic watched in fear as one of the Devil Dogs, as Pyro had called them, started walking over to her, gun pointed at her head. The dog fired and Pyro got surrounded in some green energy before turning into a pile of glowing green goop. Ruby screamed but Medic couldn’t move after what he had seen. Blackout had to whack Medic in the back of the head to get him to move,

“Focus, Song!” Blackout shouted using part of Medic’s pony name, “You're lucky I manage to scare that eel away in your moment of stupor.” Medic looked over to Bloody Ruby who was shaking terribly and a wave of guilt floods Medic’s heart, “Stop standing there and get moving!” Blackout shouts over the wind. Medic runs over and picks up Ruby placing her on his back. Archimedes flies over and snuggles into Medic’s saddle bags, “Hurry up!” Medic runs, not looking back even as the Devil Dogs start howling… In Terror? Medic looks back and watches in horror as Pyro starts to swing her axe at the dogs. Some swings hitting, but it didn’t look like she meant to cause harm. She was just scaring them so she could get away. Pyro then ran up the ramp that Medic, Blackout, and Bloody Ruby were on. Medic couldn’t believe his eyes, just a second ago he was certain she was dead. Yet there she was, running to meet up with them.

Medic steadied himself emotionally. I can do zis, I can do zis. He thought. He remembered that he bargained away a soul. Of course, it was Pyro’s, she was a demon in her own right. She must’ve scared the hell out of the devil, literally. Medic could see a scorch mark where her cutie mark should be. There were tallies there. One looked fresh. Oh no, Pyro, vat did you do…? Medic finished reloading Spy’s revolver and aimed. He only had four shots left for the thing, but he was certain the Devil Dogs were worth spending the heavy caliber bullets.

The first bullet left the chamber in a gaseous explosion. It traveled through the air at [Insert velocity of a revolver bullet here] heading straight for the heart of the enemy. It punctured the light skin, the underbelly, of the Devil Dog right where his heart should have been if Medic remembered anatomy correctly. The Dog stopped and suddenly fell still, lying in a pool of slowly spreading blood. Medic pulled the hammer back and aimed again. This time, something on his Pip-buck flashed. “S.A.T.S. ACTIVATED.” something chirped from it. Suddenly, a green outline and a percentage surrounded the dogs, Medic assumed it was a chance. At this close of a distance, maybe 20 meters, Medic could easily see why the numbers were all 80% or higher. Medic choose one Devil Dog, aimed at his hand, and fired. The Computer-guided bullet left cleanly, bucking the gun back in Medic’s faltering telekinesis. The chances didn’t fail Medic, as the bullet clipped the artery in the Devil Dogs arm. Instantaneously, the Dog dropped his weapon and started screaming. The other devil dogs began to back away. Two losses in a matter of seconds was dangerous. They began to flee, one or two at a time but eventually, with the terror of the mad axe-swinging pony and the true shot doctor, they decided it was best for a tactical retreat. They dug into the ground and vanished.

Medic never dropped his gun once as they left. He still had two bullets left in the chamber. As the last one left, Medic unloaded the bullets from the revolver and slid the safety slide over to green. Suddenly, as the battle ended, (The rock eel had disappeared,) sounds of congratulations emerged from all sides. The first thing Medic could decipher was Heavy’s giant laughter, then his congratulations. “Good shooting, doctor!” Then Spy with his respectful tone, “Admirable shot.” Scout, because he was loud. “Yeah, doc, imagine yourself on one of them combat puffs! You’d be unstoppable!” Soldier and Demo were both drunk somehow and singing sea shanties, but somehow Medic was fighting a Kraken and winning. Then it was Sniper, but Medic simply felt him nod. Medic turned his attention outwards and noticed Ruby bouncing up and down. “That was awesome! Terrifying, but awesome! Let’s never do that again!” Medic could only laugh. Blackout said nothing. Medic was beginning to have second thoughts about keeping him around.

“Danke, Ruby. Jou’re just too kind.” Pyro walked up to where they were and slung her weaponry across her back. She had an odd assortment and could see a tiny toy badge on her chest, something he hadn’t noticed before. It was an infernal orchestra, and Medic smiled. Pyro gave him a pat on the back. “Jou know, Pyro, we do have something to discuss.”

Blackout was once again thinking about murder. The way he was facing, he could bite on the saddle once, and both the masked one and the doc would go down. But with one seemingly invincible, and with Ruby around, he wouldn’t be able to do anything. He would have to find a subtler method…
“We have something to discuss, Pyro, was it?” Medic nodded.
“Ja. Pyro, jou died.” Pyro stared blankly. Medic could now see there was 12 marks on the flame-retardant suit. Did that mean she…
“Mmph hmph huddah mph-” Medic stopped Pyro.
“Slow down. You know I can’t-” A rumble interrupted him. It stopped almost as soon as it started. “Fine, we vill discuss zis later, as soon as we get out of here.”
“Mmph.” Was her affirmative. Blackout stared across the gorge.
“My base is just up ahead.” Blackout said. Soon enough, the foul deed would be in somepony else's hooves.

*************************************************************************************************************

Level up

New Perk: Surefire: 10% more of your shots hit the intended target.

Chapter 10: What does Luck Have to do With it?

Blackout led them across Ghastly Gorge beautifully, but it was a bit more distant than ‘just up ahead.’ In Medic’s opinion, Blackout was intentionally going in odd directions to make sure that they could never find their way back here. Or maybe… maybe it was a minefield. Medic couldn’t tell, and he sure wasn’t about to try to find out. A V formation of three pegasi soared directly overhead, marking the incomers for arrival and reminding them of the awesome might of the Enclave. Blackout sighed. It wasn’t out of discomfort, it was because he was back in his territory now. It was his game now, and Medic was scared that he would deal his cards perfectly. All Medic could hope to do is roll the dice and pray for a miracle.

Ruby was happy as ever. She was admiring Pyro’s fine equipment, especially her lighter. “But how do you hold it? It’s so clumsy! What happens if you drop it and there’s still fire? Can I touch it! It’s so pretty! The flint is so tiny…” It went on and on. Medic had to remind himself that she was still just a child. He was only really worried that Pyro might introduce Ruby to pyromania. If that happened, all Hell would break loose.

Medic could see an entire legion of Pegasi walk out to greet the incoming party, “This isn’t regulation.” Blackout muttered. Soldier started shouting in Medic’s head, but Medic managed to keep him from saying things out loud,

“Vell… Vat happens now?” Medic asks, and Ruby hides behind Pyro’s legs. The Pegasi walk up and seem to assess the group before one addresses Blackout,

“Sergeant Blackout! You are far from your marked Scouting Zone and traveling with surface dwellers no doubt. Why are you here?” The supposed leader spoke,

“I was knocked out of the sky and these ponies helped heal me and get me here.” Blackout’s action of leaving out details got Medic wondering why. Blackout was bound to bring it up to his colleagues later,

“Alvight.” Medic stated causing all attention to be drawn to him, “I have helped jou get here as I promised, now if jou don’t mind us, ve’ll be on our vay.” Medic turns to go only to find that both Ruby and Pyro are no longer behind him, “Oh, nein. Vhere did zey go?” He turns back and gets Ruby and, somehow, Pyro giving him Puppy Dog eyes,

“Can’t we stay for a little bit?” Ruby asks,

“Vhy? Ve need to get a move on before…” Medic stops as he spots what looks to be a pony Soldier in the trees, “Nein, how!?” The synth Soldier walks forward pointing a rocket launcher at Medic,

“Good day maggot!” Blackout goes pale hearing that voice again,

“What!? I thought you said-”

“It’s a robot based off mein teammates und he’s after me!” Medic pulls out Scout’s Scattergun and points it at the Soldier Synth. The robot laughs and fires a missile. Pyro hops in front of Medic and air blasts the rocket back. The Soldier Rocket jumps out of the way and Medic fires the Scatter Gun. All of the Enclave soldiers opened fire. The torrent of bullets ripped through the trees. The synth rocket jumped off and soared through the air.

“Earth Ponies can’t fly! Shoot him down!” Shouted a sergeant. Finally, Medic shot the fake Soldier with the Scattergun and stopped his momentum. He falls amongst the horde of pegasi, which proceed to tear the robot apart with fire and lead.

“This isn’t the end!” The Soldier Synth shouted as its voice edged into the familiar robot variant, “The Administrator will make sure that you are killed! No matter how many times it takes!” That line scares Medic, as it means there is a chance that his employer knows of the multiple souls Medic has. With the Soldier Synth destroyed, one of the Pegasi walked up to Medic and saluted,

“Admiral Thunder Cloud, sir.” The armor-clad Pegasus stated before lowering his hoof, “Now if that robot was after you, I’m afraid you will be staying here for briefing.” Medic sighs,

“Of course. She couldn’t have picked a better time to strike.” Medic muttered in response, and Medic thought to the Administrator in her familiar pose, smoking and smiling to herself, congratulating the only person in the room with her genius tactics. Ah, but then there was Engineer… Medic feared the day he would have to fight even just a synth of one.

The black coated and grey maned pegasus named Thunder Cloud led them into the courtyard of the great complex. Various drills were being performed, and Medic could see a cadet group undergoing hoof-to-hoof combat training. Their wings were tied to their bodies. Medic assumed it was to simulate not having wings. He then wondered if Blackout remembered any of it?

Medic and the rest of the group were led into a decontamination airlock. They each had to strip their materials off their bodies and stand underneath a chemical shower. Blackout shivered, and Ruby got eerily quiet. Pyro was Pyro, and when she took off part of her mask, she was asked to keep the suit on. A pair of Pegasi led her out the front door once again. “Ve vill meat you later, Pyro,” Medic called as they were taken away from Pyro. Pyro shrugged.

The rest of the group was led into the deeper parts of the compound. Medic couldn’t keep track of how many twists and turns they took, the staircases they traversed. They arrived in an interrogation room. “Is zis really necessary?” Medic tried to rationalize with the Admiral, but he shoved them in there. Medic sighed and got Ruby to sit down on one of the cold, bolted metal chairs. Blackout was in the room with them. His face was twitching like he was fighting something. Medic finally noticed. “Blackout? What’s wrong?” He exploded.

“You hit me, d*mm*t! You struck me out of the sky and beat me! Surface Ponies can’t fly! That’s what we’re told, from day one! SURFACE PONIES CAN’T FLY!!!” He was roaring. Spittle came flying out as he approached with anger. “And here you come, with your ****ing souls, prancing around as if you own the skies and bloody jump to pegasus heights! Even if that wasn’t a criminal offense in the Enclave, you still struck me! I’ve been planning your death since you picked me up, and now that you two are alone without that d*mn*d monster, I can complete the task.” He stopped shouting and got deathly quiet. “And if you think you can stop me, we can just suck the air out of this room.” And with that, he left. Medic was horrified and Ruby began to bawl. One thought went through Medic’s head, How did he know about mein souls?

Blackout watched as Medic tried to comfort Ruby. He turned at the Admiral’s command and stood at attention. “Sir!” He said.

“Blackout. Is this true? Because you know what happens if it is.” Blackout panicked. He loved Ruby to death, but if she actually died…

“S-sir, I…” All he did was vent. Keeping something like that in was dangerous, he might’ve even shot them if he didn’t say anything. But he had a duty to the Enclave, and one lie turns into another… “Sir, permission to speak freely, sir?” Thunder nodded. “Sir, it may have happened, but I have since learned valuable information about our other enemies through them.” There, no one had to die. He wished no one would divide him between the Enclave and Ruby again.

“Sergeant Blackout, that is not regulation. You should have shot them.” Blackout began panicking again.

“The little one wasn’t responsible for it, sir.” He said, and the Admiral glared at him.

“Excuse me, sergeant? I thought I just heard something, but I’m not quite so sure. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need a coffee.” Blackout stood aghast as he left. He looked into the one-way window where Ruby had fallen into a sadness-induced sleep. Medic looked worried as he stroked Ruby. Blackout couldn’t stand to lose the little filly. If he could even just keep her. Blackout cursed himself then ran after the Admiral,

“Sir? I don’t think we can kill the Doctor.” Blackout knew he was digging himself a pit, but there was a chance that Bloody Ruby could live if he went down this path. Admiral Thunder Cloud stopped,

“Explain Sergeant.”

“The little one told me that the Doctor has been around since the war and has stayed alive through 200 years in Cryogenic stasis. He was a part of, from what I can gather, the work on souls the Ministry of Image was rumored to work on. He has multiple souls, not minds as he tried to convince me of.” The Admiral paused to consider this.

“If he was, I want that information. If you don’t, or can’t get anything from him, kill him.” Blackout sighed.

“Yes, sir.” Blackout replied before heading back towards the room where Medic and Ruby had been left, finding Medic looking right at him through the reflective glass,

“I know vat jou’re up to, Blackout. I know nothzing about ze Ministry of Image und zere vork on ze soul.” Medic growled looking right where Blackout was even as Blackout moved to a seat.

“I’m not interested in the Ministry anymore.” He said,

“Veally? Zen vat are jou after? Are jou perhaps considering to go against jour commanding officer?” Blackout glances at Bloody Ruby’s sleeping form in the chair, an action Medic somehow sees, “Oh,” Medic chuckles, “So zat’s it. Jou care about Ruby and want to save her from zis place. Zen vat? If jou get her out of here vithout me, she’ll come back vith Pyro, possibly in ze same vorld of hallucinations. Ze only difference vould be, she can die, Pyro cannot. Jou also have to be avare of ze Administrator I told jou about. She vants me dead as vell, but Ruby stood up to me und I told her mein tale. The Administrator is after her as vell. Kill me und not only do jou devastate Ruby, but jou’ll also be making her a veaker target.” Blackout stared at Medic.

“Be aware I’m not doing it for you. I’ll find Ruby if not you, as well a way out of here. Forget the branding, they can’t if they can’t catch me.” Medic wondered about that but didn’t want to ruin the moment so he stayed silent. Blackout, having cleared that up, got up. As he left, Medic noticed a deck of cards on the table. Medic pulled one card out and noticed the Ponish design on it. If he was lucky enough, he could find someone up for a game of cards and get some more caps out of them. But he had to get out first. As the door started to close, Medic put the deck of cards in between the door and the wall. The door failed to close. All Medic had to do now was to make sure Ruby knew the situation.

“Ruby, wake up. Ruby!” Medic whispered harshly. Ruby rubbed her red eyes as she awoke.

“What?” She said, and Medic opened the door.

“I can assume Blackout will be right behind us. Let’s go, we’re forging our own luck from now on.” ‘That’s a new one for you, Doctor.’ Spy said in Medic’s mind, ‘I see you're taking a few lines from me.’ Medic shook his head as Ruby climbed back onto his back so they could travel faster.

Medic bolted out of the door, grabbing the deck of cards on the way. No one was in the other room, so Medic peeked into the hallway. He could see one pair of pegasi, but they were heading in the other direction. “Ruby, let me know if you find a map. We can’t exit ze vay we came from.” He said and noticed a crook he could hide in for the time being. He dashed across the hall and into the hiding spot just as another pegasus walked by. He was muttering something about not having enough doctors. He was nursing a small cut. Medic frowned, but what could he do. He wasn’t about to walk out and heal his cut.

Ruby was searching along the walls and suddenly pointed at a piece of paper. “There,” she said quietly. As the pegasus passed, Medic clambered out of his hole and walked up to the map. There was a plug beneath it. Medic pulled out a cord from his pip-buck and plugged it in. A downloading screen appeared, and Medic waited impatiently. He could hear more Enclave soldiers passing through. They sounded to be dangerously close when it finally finished. Medic, skipping the hole he used, dashed down the hall, hiding around the corner before checking for other troops. Luckily, there were none. Ahem. Came Spy’s voice. “Oh, I’m a dummkopf!” Medic said and activated his invisibility spell. Ruby panicked but said nothing as she saw the stallion she was being carried on disappeared.

The Enclave troops passed by down the T section. Medic looked left and right and looked down at his pip-buck. The map told him that he was going in the right direction for a different exit route. It then warned him about certain amounts of radiation out the back. “Nevermind the radioactivity, zat is ze vay we are going.” Medic walked down the hall and stopped a few times to make sure he wasn’t about to suddenly become visible. Ruby, thankfully, had slipped off but managed to keep up by hiding from cover to cover. They eventually came across a room marked ‘Ammunition’, and Medic needed more .44. He opened the door and a slight stench that came wafting out. Medic wrinkled his nose at the smell and strained his eyes against the dark room. He deactivated the stealth shielding and motioned Bloody Ruby to his side.

“Could jou go investigate? Jou are stealthier than I, after all.” It was true. Medic couldn’t help but notice that in the silence of empty halls, footsteps tend to carry farther, and he was not light-footed. Ruby slipped in like a shadow, and eventually became one as she moved in. Ruby almost instantly came back out, blushing and mouth agape. “Vhat’s wrong, Ruby?” Ruby simply shut the door and shook her head.

“What was seen cannot be unseen.” She said after they both hid in another janitor's hole, instead of a closet. (The machines, Medic had noticed, were rather large, but didn’t appear to have a camera.) Medic heard somepony knock on the door, and the pony behind that knock said,

“You two better not be doing what I think you’re doing in there.” Medic didn’t need to hear anymore, and especially not Ruby after seeing it herself.

As the three of the Enclave soldiers walked away from the Ammunitions room, Medic dashed back into it as the door was about to close. Activating the light on his Pip-buck, he browsed the ammunition types until he came across several shotgun shells that looked about right for the Scattergun, and several .44 caliber shots. Medic was pretty sure the Shotgun he had taken from Heavy was using the same type of shell as the Scattergun, so he only took two boxes of shotgun shells. Geez, Doc. Grumbled Scout, You should’ve used more guns or at least paid attention to ours. Medic mentally growled at Scout before returning to the task at hoof.

When Medic and Ruby finally left the ammunition storage room, they both had enough bullets for their guns to last a while. Activating the invisibility spell again, the pair head down the halls following the map on Medic’s Pip-Buck. They were passing what could’ve been a control room or communications center when they heard another voice, the voice of Admiral Thunder Cloud, coming from inside. What he was talking about piqued Medic’s interested and he paused causing Ruby to bump into his invisible form. She takes cover, but still pauses to listen in like Medic was,

“Yes, sir. There is a chance he worked for the Ministry of Image. Soul Magic has been mentioned as well as a case of amnesia for being in Cryogenic Stasis for so long.” Thunder Cloud stated to somepony else in the room or on the other side of a Com-link,

“Try to make friends with him.” Spoke a mysterious voice,

“Sir? Making contact with the surface dwellers is one thing, but becoming friends with them?”

“If you’re not willing, get that Scout Blackout to do it. He’s been with them for a while.”

“He’s showing signs of rebellion. No doubt he’s going Dashite.”

“Then use this as a chance for him to prove his worth. We need the spells of the Black Book. If he has seen it or used it though… We may not need the book, just this ‘Medic’ alive.” As touching as it was to be shown such high regard by the assumed mysterious Pegasus in that room, Medic trembled at the thought that his research on the soul was getting more and more attention daily, and now… Somepony claimed they needed him. No doubt for something similar to what Engineer claimed he had done to the Administrator and he wanted nothing to do with it.

“Come on, Ruby. Let’s go.” He led her past the office and into another hall. The exit was in sight, a nondescript door with no cause for concern. Behind, Medic presumed, was emptiness, “Go on, Ruby, I’ll be right behind you.” Medic turned around to make sure no pony was following. With that clear, Medic turned his attention to the access terminal. He placed his hoof down only for it to phase through a cloud-like substance. Confused he shook his hoof through the computer a few more times, before stopping to think. An idea came to Medic’s head. Scout and Sniper were both Pegasi here and this base was full of them. So in order to work with the cloud terminal, he just needed to use Scout or Sniper’s, souls. Medic selected Sniper’s much to the Boston’s displeasure.

With Spy’s instructions, hacking the terminal was a cinch. The passcode was The Truth. Medic was confused, but he opened the door without question. Big mistake. Inside the door, outside the base, was a horde of feral ghouls, basking in radiation, and in the mix was a Pyro Synth, playing with the ghouls. Medic could tell because this robot wasn’t wearing a mask. Pyro always wore a mask. Only Engineer ever saw her face, by chance, during a battle, which probably led to the carrying of multiple masks and goggles. Of course. Medic thought, Engineer saw her face, figures he would leave the mask off when making her synth. A scarred white furred and white-maned face with very blue eyes turned to Medic, and a child-like voice giggled at him,

“Knew you wouldn’t stay in there long, and you brought a cute friend. That Soldier was unlucky, but not me. This pack listens to me and now they want your blood… Don’t worry, I won’t kill the filly, you on the other hand… Oh wait, hoof now, are about to go down. Hope you like bleeding out.” Ruby whimpered as all the ghoul heads turned toward them. The Pyro Synth moved quick, grabbing Ruby and hopping back a safe distance. This caused Ruby to scream, “Please be quiet little filly. This evil man is about to be executed, no need to feel sad about it.” Ruby began to cry,

“No! Healing Song’s not bad! He protects me!” Pyro Synth had heard enough and covered Ruby’s mouth,

“Calm down, it’ll be over soon. Go! Feast! Fresh meat!” The horde of ghouls surged forward, right at Medic. Medic pulled out his bonesaw. The only way he was getting out of this was a fight, tooth, and nail.

“Heavy! Lend me jour strength!” Doctor, dis is bad. Despite Heavy’s worries, Medic still felt strength surge through him. His first swing made a ghoul’s head explode, and hit another then scrape it blind. A ghoul hit him to his right, and Medic swung right to knock it back. Medic was fighting for his life, and he was afraid of losing.

C’mon, doc. Let me in. Medic let the young man into consciousness, Look Doc, this is really bad! Let me take control. I promise I’ll handle all of them. You’ve just gotta trust me on this. ‘I don’t trust jou enough to get jour head out of the clouds.’ Medic replied as another ghoul fell from a stab through its eye. One ghoul bit Medic’s leg and he yelped, Doc, please. ‘Fine but if ve die jour soul is going to ze Devil.’ Medic felt himself fall backwards as a ghoul rammed him in the chest. Next thing he knew he was in some sort of common room, just like the one back on the RED team’s base, “Vat?”

“Oh no.” Spy whispered, “You actually let him take control!?”

“Vhat vas I supposed to do! I am about to die and zat boy is the only thing that run faster than I!” Spy sighed.

“And do you realize how much Dash you still had on you?”

“Oh nein.” Medic said and found a screen to the outside world. Scout had pulled out one of the inhalers and was taking a puff. Just one, thankfully, but one all the same. Scout tossed it back into the bag and grab Medic’s bonesaw.

“Alright, you undead freaks, let me show you how we do it in Boston,” Scout said. The Boston boy jumped up and soared over the ghouls in slow motion. He swung the Bonesaw with his teeth, despite having the horn. An Earth pony style, though he was a Pegasus when he was free, to be sure. As he fell back down, he swung himself around in mid-air and stabbed at another ghoul. They converged on Scout, and this time, he jumped backwards, to the Synth Pyro. With time slowed down for him, he could react faster than the synth. He slashed it across its face, and it let go of Ruby. It backed up and grabbed the flamethrower.

They were at a standoff. On one hand, the Synth knew that throwing the ghouls at this… thing… wasn’t going to help. On the other hand, it would just take one flame to catch him on fire. But he was fast, it would have to act fast. It was still calculating the probability of success when Scout threw himself at it and lobbed it’s head off,

“Zat… Vas…” Medic just stood there staring at the screen in shock then he heard Scout ask,

“How about that Doc?” The boy in control of Medic’s body then bucks a ghoul’s head off, “One moment.”

“Scout!” No reply since the Boston was focused on murdering all the remaining ghouls before returning to Ruby,

“Ya alright Ruby?”

“Scout! Let me back in control!” Medic screamed banging on the door he had flown from,

“That was what I was afraid of.” Spy muttered, “Soldier! Scout is trying to become a commanding officer!” Soldier lifted his head out of the refrigerator that was somehow in the mindscape,

“He’s what!? That no good, Private is leagues from holding that title!” He lined himself up for a ram, “He’s about to get one major headache if he doesn’t open that door for Medic!”

“Not yet guys!” Scout’s voice echoed through the loudspeakers, “This place is loaded with radiation.” The steady clicking from the Pip-Buck confirmed this, “I’m gonna get us all a safe distance first.” Ruby was tossed onto Medic’s back, “Hang on!” Scout called before charging away from the spot in a burst of speed. Five minutes later Scout stopped beginning to feel the effects of the Dash edging off and he forced himself not to take another puff. Medic was going to take over and didn’t need those effects. The door to the control center of the common room opened and Medic ran inside. Scout paused, “Doc? I feel… Weak… I’m not in control but I think I’m experiencing that crash Blackout mentioned.” Medic blinked a few times. He was back in the real world then he thought about what Scout mentioned, “I also really want another puff…” Medic felt Spy tackle Scout,

“No! You imbecile!”

“I wasn’t gonna! I’m just stating!”

“It’s bad enough I’m addicted to the Nicotine in cigarettes! But I will not let my son fall down that path!” Spy’s voice stopped and silence filled the mindscape,

“Y-you're my dad? All this time? NO! THAT’S NOT TRUE!” Scout’s Cutie Mark appeared and hopped off of Medic’s flank forming the blue apparition of the Boston Pegasus, “Is it true Doc? Please tell me it’s not!” Medic stood there in shock. He could feel all eyes on that screen in the mindscape except for Spy who looked away in shame,

“Ja… It’s true.” Medic winced as he heard the Boston boy cry.

***************************

New perk: Wind Runner’s perk: Any speed enhancing drug lasts 2 times longer and is 20% more effective then their original effects.

Chapter 11: Spies

Blackout rejoined the group after Medic and Ruby had been walking for fifteen minutes. At this point, Scout had stopped crying and had returned to the mindscape, but is was clear that he and Spy would not be talking to each other for a bit. Blackout was with Pyro, and he had her gear. His face was solemn and his battle saddle was greased. “I’m not a Dashite.” He said, gripping something at his neck. “I’m not a Dashite.” He said again, fear in his voice, and a firm resolve. “And if I have to prove it, I will.” Medic looked him up and down.

“Blackout.” Medic said. “Go home. Jou don’t vant a part in zis.” Blackout let go of whatever was around his neck. His wings drooped, but the battle saddle remained pointed at Medic.

“Tell me everything. The souls, the book, hell, tell me what you don’t know. But one way or the other, the Enclave will get the information. Even if we have to rip it from your dead or dying brain, or from your lifeless corpse.” Medic didn’t know how they could do that, but he didn’t think Blackout was lying. He was trembling, and Medic knew that a scared man was more apt to make a mistake then a man who was calm.

“Blackout, ve can talk about zis, but put ze saddle down.” Medic took a step towards Blackout. Both barrels pointed at him now.

“Tell me now. Or I’m assuming one of your souls goes in the trash.” Medic opened his mouth to reply but all that came out was a scream as his Team members started shouting all at once. Medic brought his hooves to his head and Blackout remained patiently waiting for the internal war to pass. Scout’s voice was the loudest,

“I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna die! I’m too handsome to die!”

“Scout! Jou’re alveady dead!” Medic mentally shouted back since he couldn’t stop screaming in pain. They finally stopped, knowing Medic wouldn’t let them die. “I don’t know anyzhing about jour Ministries. I’m not even from zis world.” Ruby and Blackout stare at Medic confused then look to Pyro, “Yes, all mein teammates are from a different vorld too.” Blackout returns his gaze to Medic,

“Explain.” He demands and Medic sighed,

“I’m not sure how ve got here, I believe it had something to do vith ze falling of ze bombs in both our vorlds at ze same time and geographic locations. Not sure othzerwise. Vhere I’m from, I walk on two legs, don’t have magic except for the rare wizard, have hands vith five fingers on each, und my species is called a human.” Pyro realized Medic was giving one of his lectures and decided to walk away with her gear, knowing it was going to be long and boring for her, “Ponies are small horses zat can’t talk und are used as pets or beasts of burden. Unicorns and Pegasi are simply fables.”

“So… You only have Earth Ponies?” Ruby asks. Medic hands over a Rad-Away to her before continuing,

“Pretty much. But I do know zat ze Unicorn vas popular enough to sponsor headgear und clothing around it. Every Halloween someone would dress as a Unicorn for vatever reason. It vas mostly Scout I believe.” Internally, Scout shouted a ‘hey!’ that Medic ignores, “Ze big problem for me is that I don’t remember a lot of zings from before ze var I was in, und afterward… Most of it is just not zhere… Vat I do remember is not pleasant und I’ve told jou it all before.”

“No, you haven’t!” Blackout states, “You know you have multiple souls! You never told us how you survived the gunshot to the head!” Medic stares at Blackout for a while, contemplating whether or not to tell him. Eventually, Blackout cocks his guns, “Speak already!” Scout whimpers and Medic sighs,

“I traded a soul for ze chance to comeback from ze Devil. I have a contract over mein soul, which he had at ze time, und I cheated the contract by taking ze souls of mein teammates. Pyro’s soul vas ze von I traded for ze chance to come back zat time.” Ruby and Blackout look at the unicorn who was burning the corpse of a Bloatsprite cheerfully,

“Wait… Then how is she here?” Blackout asks,

“I’m honestly not sure. From vat she told me, it sounded as though the Devil vas scared of her, so he sent her back to make sure I fulfilled my contract. Ze only problem for him is zat I haven’t died since zat vound to ze head.” Medic turned to Blackout, “Zat is all I vill tell jou.”

“No! Tell me about the soul spells!” Blackout shouted, “If you have multiple souls-”

“Did jou not hear me!? Zhere is no spell! Before coming here I had no magic vithout ze spellbook a vizard used! Und all of zose vere spells zat mostly included transfiguration, und spells zat involved bombs!” Medic yelled back, “Unicorns aren’t real vhere I’m from! Ze closest zing to magic ve had come at ze click of a button. Technology.”

“But we had technology too.” Ruby replied, “The Pip-Buck on your foreleg is a great example. You're kind must have embraced the Earth Pony way.”

“Earth Pony vay?” Medic asks Ruby,

“The strive for progress. The advancement of Science and Technology!”

“... I guess ve did…”

“So, it’s not a spell… It’s some sort of advanced science!” Blackout concluded and Medic sighed again,

“Fine! It is, but zat is all jou’ll get!” Medic telekinetically gripped the device that was around Blackout’s neck, “Now enough questions about my research!” Blackout immediately started struggling,

“W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING SONG!?” Blackout shouts,

“Zis is obviously some sort of recording device! Do jou take me for a fool!?” Medic replies clearly angered,

“NO IT’S NOT! LET GO!”

“If it’s not a recording device zen tell me vat it is!”

“IT HAS A PICTURE OF MY FAMILY INSIDE!” Medic pauses and shifts the telekinetic grip to open the object. Inside, there is indeed a picture of Blackout surrounded by other ponies who Medic assumes are his family. Medic released the object, which he now assumes is a locket and looks at Blackout with anger,

“Zen jou must have ze device. Do jou veally zink ze Enclave wouldn’t suspect jou of turning jour back on zem? Zey probably implanted a transmitter or somezing to get ze information zey need. Besides, from vat I can gather, it sounds like zey alveady suspect jou to be a traitor if zats vat a Dashite is.” Blackout went wide-eyed before shaking his head and looking over at Ruby. Then his face gained a stern look and returning his gaze to Medic,

“I will follow you until you give me the information I need!” Blackout replied,

“Zen vat? Jou’ll have to leave me und Bloody Ruby. Jou can’t protect her and remain loyal to jour Enclave. Zey von’t take her vill zey?” Blackout cringed and Ruby looked up at him,

“You want to protect me, but can’t?” She asked trying to wrap her young mind around what was being said between the adults. She shied away from the argument, unbeknownst to the two. Pyro walked away with her, giving her the lighter, “Huh? You’re giving it to me?” Ruby asks confused and Pyro nods carefully showing her how to hold the lighter correctly then flick it on. Ruby allows the glimmer of the flame to reflect in her eye, then she looks up to Pyro. She ‘hmphs’ and walks back to the argueing two.

Pyro stands and pushes the two adults apart from each other. She then starts talking but as usual, only Medic understands, “Pyro, if jou vant Blackout to understand jou’ll have to remove jour mask at least part vay.” Pyro grumbles, but compiles and lifts her mask just enough to free her white muzzle,

“I said you are both acting like foals, even more than me! This is not how anyone should solve a problem! For goodness sakes Medic, you are usually not the one to lash out first! I get it, you’re under a lot of stress and have different personalities influencing you, but you need to keep your individuality and not go Soldier on all your problems.” Medic was surprised Pyro could talk that much.“And Mr. Blackout, you are egging a mad man (Hey!) on, If you don’t want to end up with living plants for wings, I suggest you stop!” The idea for plant wings had crossed Medic’s mind, but it was more for himself than Blackout. Blackout cringed,

“He can do that?” He asks,

“He’s done weirder,” Pyro replies, pointing to her face as she lifts her mask off. “I’m not supposed to be alive right now, or ever.” She throws the mask down onto the floor. “I’m done seeing things through rose-colored glasses. We’re leaving. Whether you want to come or want to stay, I don’t care, but if you hurt any of us…” She ignites the igniter on her flamethrower. “You’ll have me to contend with.” Blackout stands silent. As the party gathered themselves together, Blackout begins to walk with them. Ruby takes the lead, putting quite some distance between her and the rest, but staying insight. Pyro walks beside Blackout, looking forward but obviously ticked. Blackout tries not to look at her scarred face, but can’t help but glance at how such a pretty thing had fallen so far.

An Enclave flying force soars overhead, far above. They dive down, towards a building up ahead. Ruby shifts her path away from the building. She stops. “What now?” She asks. Medic just passes her.

“Ve don’t know. I… suppose ve try to find an old work friend of mine.”

“The wizard man?” Pyro asks. Medic nods.

“I don’t see any other option.”

Unbeknownst to the party, a synth follows their path.

The party made camp that night in a run-down residential household. There were a few containers of instant noodles and the water from the sink had very little radiation in it, so Medic went ahead and cooked some noodles over a fire Pyro had set up in the still intact brick fireplace. Ruby explored what was reachable, the only bedroom she was able to find happened to be a foal’s room. She grabbed the long-gone child’s saddlebags and emptied of now useless school supplies. Blackout watched her explore the old toy chest for the little plastic pony toys, “Hey! This pony is dressed up like you!” Ruby cheered pulling out a cyan pegasus clad in the Enclave armor. Blackout tensed recognizing the blue color and rainbow mane. Seeing this Ruby quickly shoved it into her new saddlebags, “Sorry Blackout.” Blackout shook his head,

“You did nothing wrong… It’s just… She represents everything I stand against… Being down here… helping grounders… Am I a Dashite by helping you guys?” Ruby pulls the action figure out again and examines it,

“So this is Rainbow Dash? Didn’t she create the Enclave?” Ruby asks and Blackout shakes his head,

“Not that I know of, and yes that is Rainbow Dash. She created the Shadowbolts in honor of the Wonderbolts. But when the sky was sealed up she rejected everyone in the new government, the Enclave, and headed down below the cloud cover to… to help those down below. Those who followed her example are branded with her cutie mark and marked a Dashite.” Ruby gasped,

“B-Branded? As in, over their cutie mark?” Blackout nods, “No wonder you’re so scared!” Medic walked into the room,

“Yes, in fear is no way to live. Sounds far too much like what my government did to make sure jou stayed loyal. Only ze price vas getting sent to ze front vhere jou’d most likely die. Less, of course, jou vanted to go to prove jour loyalty. Or maybe jou’d end up in ze gas chambers. Either vay, jou’re dead.” Ruby cringed and Blackout went wide eyed, “If I vere jou, I’d take ze branding. Least jou’d be in a sense free.”

“NO!” Blackout jumped to his hooves, “Becoming a Dashite is the worst thing you can become! Imagine what it does for your family!”

“Zen how far vill zey go to get jou to ‘prove jour loyalty?” Medic asks, “Ven vill jou stop eating out of zheir hooves? Zey vill kill jou before zey say jour proven simply because jou’ve been down here!” Blackout took a step back in shock,

“I-I’m a loyal officer in the Enclave! They would never betray me!” Blackout said, agasp.

“Zhen jou fail to see ze corruption in such governments. I vould know.” Blackout stared out the window.

“It all comes down to the freedom of choice, doesn’t it? Of all the things they can’t take away from you… they can’t take away your freedom to choose.” Medic nodded.

“I refused to become a part of my crazy fascist regime. I chose my path. Demented though some of my choices have been, still I chose life. Now jou must choose. You can return to jour lifestyle, living in fear amongst jour own people, or jou can stay with us, maybe even fix a thing or two.” Blackout didn’t respond.

It began to pour down rain in the middle of the night. Pyro rubbed her eyes, unused to seeing the world in all of its greys. Everything seemed new to her, even her lighter which she’d had since she got it. The house creaked, a noise she could never have heard in the mask. Instead of jumping at the noises, though, she reveled in them. She loved all this new, she closed her eyes and took in everything.

That was when the door creaked open and a Synth Spy came in. It silently stole across the room and went into the bedroom where Blackout and Ruby were. It dropped a Datacard and grabbed Ruby. Ruby opened her mouth to scream, only to smell chloroform and pass out. The Synth creeped out of the window and disappeared into the night. A small camera detached itself off the Datacard and crawled onto the roof, attaching itself into a small crevice where it wouldn’t be seen. It waited, watching. Soon enough, the chaos would ensue.

Level up

New Perk: Politician: Your voice commands attention. When you speak, others will listen, and might even be swayed. 10% Charisma bonus when talking to unstable characters.

Chapter 12: Chaos, Magic...

Chaos, Magic...

Medic awoke to a scream and several gunshots. It was early, and Medic put his glasses back on. Pyro started with a jump, breathing heavy, flamethrower in hoof in an instant. Medic ran upstairs to the Foal’s room, and saw, or rather didn’t see, what Blackout was so worried about. Ruby was gone, and in her place, a Datacard. Blackout opened fire again, though the kidnapper had clearly been gone for some time. Blackout then slumped to the floor and started crying quietly. It had been too much for his mind in so little time.

Medic walked up to the data card on the ground and examined it, “Zis looks oddly familiar.” He lifts it up and examines his Pip-Buck trying to find a point he could plug it in, “How does zis work?” Blackout stomped over,

“HOW ARE YOU NOT PANICKING?” He shouts at Medic,

“Because zis is no time to panic. Bloody Ruby is in danger and it’s best if we do not lose our heads. The perpetrator left a clue, best to indulge them und find out vat zey vant… For now.” Medic continued to fumble with the data card, “Seriously! Vat do I need to do here!?” Pyro laughed at Medic’s attempt to swipe the card across the screen of the Pip-Buck. She assisted him, and finally, the Pip-buck showed a loading screen with a green outline of a generic Stable pony. It winked when it finally loaded. The administrator showed up on the screen.

“Mr. Heisenburger. So good to see you again.” It was a live feed. Medic was linked to one of her cameras. His heart fell into his stomach.

“I do quite believe zis is ze time to panic.” Pyro shoved her leg towards and shouted,

“Mean lady! I’m going to come find you! I’m going to cut off your head and leave the blood to splatter on the ground! Then I’m going to-” Medic cut her off.

“Firefly, now is not ze time for threats. We are at ze disadvantage here…” The administrator laughed.

“Finally, some sense from you. I suppose I should put your mind at rest. No, I did not kill the little child. Her talents go beyond the scope of even her over-active imagination. I will have you know that she made some very colorful remarks…” Blackout stood up and put himself into the already small camera-view.

“Yeah, that sounds like her.” He said, wiping away the wet streaks beginning to clump in his coat. “What do you want from us in exchange for her?” The administrator laughed. “No, no. You have to earn that. First I have a… task for you.” Pyro chimed in.

“We wouldn’t take anything from you, witch.” The administrator took a long, deep puff of her cigarette.

“And what makes you think you have a choice? I have what you want, I want something from you, we can all walk away from this… what’s the word for it… happy? Yes. But for you, your prize will simply be still breathing. I have spies everywhere already, Mr. Heisenburger. You cannot hide.” Medic’s already pale complexion went paler. Blackout suddenly looked around the room. “By the way, your all showing to me nothing but flanks. Turn around…” Medic realized he didn’t have a camera on his Pip-buck.

“She’s spying on us from inside ze room!” The Administrator’s laughter filled the room. “Medic. Is that what your team called you? I am willing to think about burning our old contract… if you kill Merasmus.” Medic shuddered. Remergus Exmortis briefly came to mind, a resurrection spell. Blackout came to the real camera. “Over here. Witch, whoever this Merasmus is, his head will be on a stake.” He said.

“O-on one condition! I get my medical gear back!” Pyro raised a singed eyebrow. Blackout turned, confused.

“I thought that was some sort of honorary title.” Medic shook his head.

“I had a set of equipment that allowed me to heal even the gravest of wounds. If we’re going to see Merasmus, we’ll need it.” The Administrator’s figure went stock still for a moment. The image shuttered with interference.

“You’ll have your equipment, Mr. Heisenburger. But you must accept a synth with your party to ensure your dutiful cooperation. I expect you to complete this, or I will kill you.” The image went dark. The Pip-buck returned to a health screen, beeping about abnormally high blood pressure and anxiety.

Blackout smashed the camera. He went into a rage. Pyro raged with him. Medic slumped down onto a chair in shock. Kill Merasmus? They’ve tried. So many, many times. And he wanted his help, not another enemy. The other team members in Medic’s head were quiet too. All trying to think of a way out of this without endangering Bloody Ruby. Nothing came to mind. Medic sighed,

“Told jou she vas evil…” He mutters and Blackout turns his head away from the dead camera. He grabbed his helmet and slipped it on,

“She’s a bastard. But why did she keep calling you Mr. Heisenburger?” Blackout asked

“She knows my real name. Heisenburger is my last name, but I honestly can’t remember my first.” Blackout nods slowly as he began to understand, “I say ve head for the Casino coordinates that vere given to me by one of Engineer’s robots. Administrative Gambling, I zink it vas.”

“Lame name.” Blackout commented,

“I agree,” Pyro said with her mouth full of a snack cake she had found in the mostly intact pantry. Medic shook his head and loaded the coordinates up on his Pip-Buck,

“It’s not too far from here. It’s in ze ruins of Dodge City. If we just follow ze railroads east, we’ll get zhere in no time.” Blackout spread his wings,

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s eat breakfast then get a move on!”

Chapter 13: On wing and a Prayer

Breakfast was bare-bones. They stripped what they could out of the pantry and added some spices that were in Pyro’s bag. She cooked, and to Medic’s notice, surprisingly well. Sniper muttered something about wasteland ingredients, but Medic quieted him soon enough. Blackout was fidgety the whole time, pacing back and forth in the foals room. He decided to pass the time by examining the toy chest for anything Bloody Ruby might like. Medic came up to get him when the food was ready,

“Blackout? Pyro’s done cooking, und it’s not burnt!” Medic knocked on the door before walking in and spotted Blackout with a small pony in his hoof. It was a Pegasus clad in a black uniform posed in a battle stance,

“The Shadowbolts… Best fliers since the Wonderbolts.” Blackout sighed, “I always looked up to them for their loyalty… But now… What if they are just blindly following... ” Blackout tossed the pony action figure back into the toy chest before walking out with Medic, “This child was probably a Pegasus or some major fan.” Blackout muttered. He walked down the stairs into the temporary kitchen that had been set up in the living room and Pyro served him a spoonful of soup and he drank it greedily. Pyro poured more in, and he ate that, too. Medic sipped his, enjoying the bold, spicy flavor. It vaguely tasted of chicken, and a few pieces of tofu floated around in it.

“Contrary to popular belief, I am actually vegetarian. I found ingredients that taste like certain animals though, so no one misses out.” Pyro said taking her hat off and sitting down with her own bowl of soup.

Blackout looked outside, and sighed. “We need to get going as fast as possible.” He put down his bowl, and wiped his mouth on his wings. “Command would kill me for that. Guess that doesn’t really matter right now, does it?” He muttered. Medic nodded,

“Ve just have to avoid ze Enclave at all costs now…” Medic said before taking another sip of soup, “If ve do incounter zem again, no doubt zey vill brand jou a traitor Blackout… Zen… Who knows vat zey may do to me.” Pyro had stopped drinking her serving when Medic mentioned that,

“Then we’d just have to do our best and get you out of there. Soldier could blow the doors then have Scout run you out. Easy as pie!”

“Not quite.” Blackout corrected, “You see, for cages we mostly use powerful shield technology that can withstand missile blasts and other high explosives. They also prevent magic from passing through. So if you’re in one. You're best hope is to be released by someone on the outside.” Medic and Pyro stay a little dumbstruck at Blackout. After a bit of staring, Spy speaks up.

“What about having one of us already free to interact with objects before we get placed into a cage?” Everyone turned to Medic, “What? It worked when we were in that interrogation room. I was able-”

“But that was on the ground, Spook.” Sniper interrupted, “We don’t know if you can interact with the cloud terminals like me and Scout can.” Blackout gasped,

“That’s why you were able to see me through the one way glass!” Medic rolled his eyes,

“Yes, yes, and if ve’re all done vith our meals I’d like to get a move on.” Everyone nodded in agreement. They snuffed out the fire in the fireplace and stepped outside. It was raining… Of course it was raining…

Pyro and Medic had found two umbrellas and were holding them above their heads in telekinesis. The umbrellas were old with a few holes and broken, but some protection is better than none. Blackout just wore his carapis Enclave armor and had explained it somewhat deflected water so he stayed mostly dry. The group walked in silence... except for Scout complaining about the rain.

“Couldn’t we have waited till the storm had passed?” He asked, and Spy mentally slapped him.

“Quiet, boy! If you didn’t want to suffer, you wouldn’t have joined this job in the first place!”

“Well I’m used to the sun and clear skies of the New Mexico desert! And-”

“Shut up laddie, we’re giving the poor Doc a headache.” Demo interrupted.

“I just can’t wait to kick my old roommate’s a-”

“Just shut up all of jou!” Medic mentally shouted cutting off Soldier, “I’m trying to zink about how ve could still have Merasmus as an ally… Or kill him...”

“Mate, you would just go and get us all killed. Multiple souls or not, you need to start thinking about who you are willing to let go.” Sniper stated calmly. Medic stopped.

“Song? What’s on your mind?” Blackout asked and Medic started getting his crazed smile.

“I zink have a plan… But I’ll need a few zings to pull it off. My old gear included.” Medic scratched his chin thoughtfully, “Zen again, it’s a crazy idea und probably von’t work.” Blackout and Pyro looked at Medic expectantly. “Look, I can’t tell jou. Vat if she’s listening?” Pyro nodded.

“But what do you need?” Medic thought for a bit before pulling out his journal and writing a list. He quickly showed it to Pyro and Blackout before ripping out the page,

“Please set zis ablaze Pyro. Ve can’t have any evidence.” Pyro compiled by setting the paper on fire.

“Are you sure you can remember all that?” Blackout asked.

“I hope so. Ve probably can’t defeat Merasmus vithout zose items.”

“Can’t… Without… He’s that powerful!?” Blackout shouted.

“Ja… Ve -zat is me und my teammates- have tried to kill him on multiple occasions, but each time he comes back.” Medic confirmed, “So unless ve mess vith his soul, zhere vill be no vay to defeat him.”

“So that’s your plan.” Pyro whispered, “Why keep it a secret?” Seeing Medic’s stare Pyro understood, “Oh, you don’t want more people or ponies knowing about what you can do.”

“Which is vhy zis is of ze utmost importance. Vat jou see me do must not leave zis group.” Medic turned his gaze to Blackout, “Is zat clear!?” Blackout flinches but nods, “Good. Now let’s head out.” They started walking East, Medic in the lead.

The rain cleared up a little bit later and Medic and Pyro dropped the umbrellas. They both shook water from their pelts before they resumed walking. Blackout grumbled but no one listened. Then Scout started to talk, “Oh come on! We’re traveling too slow and it’s too quiet! Can we move faster or someone say something!?”

Blackout roared. “SHUT YOU FRICKIN SCAMP! I JUST LOST THE ONLY THING I CARE ABOUT ANYMORE!” Blackout huffed. “And if you think I’m going to make small talk with you, any of you, just because you want me to, then you’re wrong. Because until you feel loss like I have… shut up.” Scout made Medic turn on Blackout,

“Oh yeah!? I lost my Mom and my brothers to time, Heavy lost his Mom and Sisters, Sniper lost his adopted parents and was betrayed by his biological, Spy lost the love of his life, Engineer had a divorce and lost his child, Demo lost his Mom and adopted parents, and Medic’s wife slept with the Blu Demo! As for Pyro, no one knows more than she doesn’t like talking about it. If you think we don’t know you are sorely wrong!” Scout shouted.

“Scout! Shut up!” Medic shouted, too late. Blackout bit back.

“Well you little rascal, you wanna tussle? Why don’t you come on out, I can show you how I feel.” He grabbed Medic by his overcoat. To Medic’s dismay, his consciousness was shoved back as Scout took control. Medic’s body went limp as the change happened, and Blackout went off balance. Using this to Scout’s advantage, he flipped Blackout over and slammed him into the mud. He jumped on him, landing strong-hooved punches. Blackout kicked, knocking Scout off him. He flew up a few meters, then slammed back down on Scout in the midsection. Ribs cracked. Scout hollered in pain but he made Medic’s old body stand back up.

“If I had my own body you’d be begging for mercy!” Scout stated as he lunged gripping where Blackout’s neck was, the armor protecting him. At that, Blackout fired up his suit’s beams.

“You really want to kill me, scamp?” He sent a quick overcharge to the power, and the beam towers thrummed to life, hissing a deadly tune. Scout quickly ran back, and returned power to Medic. Medic gasped in pain as he realized his ribs were cracked.

“H-Heavy? Put Scout in a time out. Sit on him if jou must.” He gasps out, “Zis… is no time for fighting amongst ourselves. Vat’s worse is zat zis is not jour body, it’s mine. Do it again und I may die. Zen I’d know vat soul to get rid of.” Scout flinched as he was carried to a corner of the mindscape. Medic turns his focus on Blackout, “I am sorry for Scout’s outburst. Are jou hurt?”

“No, but you deserve those bruises, I believe.” Blackout growls and Medic flinched causing more pain,

“Alvight, I may agree vith jou slightly on zat...” Medic sighed and Pyro finally speaks up.

“Will you both just stop! Bloody Ruby is who matters right now! Stop feeling sorry for yourselves and let’s get a move on. You boys clearly don’t know when to stop.” She walked over to Medic and helped him stand, “Medic, you may only have a fraction of your soul left, but you can’t let something like this happen again. Blackout, control your temper!” Blackout didn’t flinch. He didn’t move. He was dead to the world. Medic coughed a little blood before he was fully standing.

“Let’s get a move on.” Medic said with a groan. They started walking again a little slower.

Eventually they arrive at a town that the Pip-Buck marks as New Appleloosa, “Ve’re only halfway zhere!?” Medic shouts in exhaustion. “Looks like ve may have to stay here for ze night. How could ze Synth get zhere so fast!?”

“Teleportation.” Said a voice nearby, “Thought you’d get here sooner Doc.” From behind a large boulder came a red and blue pony talking with Engineer’s voice, “And what do you know! Pyro is alive! How are ya?”

“Medic, what’s going on?” Pyro asked

“Yeah Song, who is this and how do you know him?” Blackout asked as well, guns pointed and primed.

“Ze voice that is speaking is Engineer. A co-worker, und I have to ask as vell, vhy are jou here?” Medic explained,

“Ah, Doc... I know you’re upset but don’t take it out on me. If I had known Helen was gonna do what she did, I’d try and stop her. Though I doubt I could do much. Remember, she only keeps me around because of what I know.” Medic gave him a sympathetic stare. “Doc, do you even know what you are doing agreeing to the Administrator’s terms? You know killing Merasmus is next to near impossible.”

“I know, but I have a plan. It involves some certain items including my gear. Do you think you could help?”

“Doc, you know why I can’t. I can give you some caps but that’s about it.”

“Hold up, do your Sentry ponies have a Dispenser mode? That vould be very helpful vight about now.” The bot looked at Medic confused,

“But you look fine to me.”

“Broken rib.”

“Oh! Yeah, let me turn it on.” The front chest opened up do reveal a dial of some sort and as it went up Red healing energy flowed out from the pony’s mouth into Medic, who breathed a sigh of relief as the rib mended itself.

“Danke Engineer.” Medic smiled

“That was cool and creepy.” Blackout commented.

“If you’re Engineer, then you must’ve built all those synths. They’re well made, but why send them after us?” Pyro asked.

“I had no choice in the matter, Pyro. She controls all the robots I make or repair. She knows how to control all my robots except my Sentry Ponies. I hope to keep it that way because they are my only connection to the outside world. I have had cabin fever like you wouldn’t believe! I want out! I-” Pyro suddenly hugs Engineer.

“I missed you Dell.” She said somewhat crying. Engineer slowly hugs back.

“I missed you too ya little firebug.” After a few seconds they seperate, “Alright, I have some caps from the random jobs that my ponies do. I want you to have them to help you buy whatever you need. I’m sorry I can’t do more.” A panel opens in the Sentry Pony’s side and out comes a small bag filled with caps. “Medic. I have another memory orb. Don’t view it near the town. I heard about how Soldier took over and how you met Blackout.”

“Do you not trust me to handle civilians, maggot!?” Soldier’s voice came out of Medic’s mouth and Medic covered his mouth with his hooves until Soldier was done shouting.

“You really are fighting for control.” Engineer looked at Medic sadly. “Ah shoot! Gotta go!” Medic could faintly hear the sounds of the Administrator calling for the Engineer. The ponybot shut down briefly, then returned to autopilot. Medic stared blankly at the robot for a time. He turned away as Blackout studied the robot. He scanned the street for a hidden corner to stay in, or maybe a park bench if he was feeling that way. The robot was walking away when Medic finally spoke up.

“Anyone see somezing marked Inn from here?” He asked and Blackout pointed down the street at a building made from shipping containers.

“Why did your Co-Worker give you bottle caps? Why not Bits?” Blackout asked as they entered the town and headed for the Inn,

“Bits aren’t used down here. Caps are. Ze reason for zat isn’t very valid but its just how it is.” They entered the Inn and Medic walked up to the pony at the desk, “Room for three?” He asked calmly.

“That’ll be 300 Caps.” The pony replied and Medic nodded using the inventory sorter on the Pip-Buck. 300 bottle caps were removed from the sack that Engineer had given them. Medic hoofed the caps over and the pony counted them just to be sure. With that out of the way he placed them in the cashregister and gave Medic the key to room 7. Medic thanked the pony and led the team down the hallways and into the marked room. One bed and a couch that could probably turn into a bed, but Medic was too tired to care. He flopped down on the couch and fell asleep almost instantly. Pyro pushed him aside to pull out the bed. She huffed as she tucked him in. Blackout walked to the grimy window and looked out to the street.

“I’ve never seen so many… regular pony folk like this.” Pyro walked over to him and spoke.

“They just try to get along in this world. They just want to live, like me or you.” Blackout shook his head.

“Where I’m from they tell us everypony down here is a savage. But seeing this… it proves they were wrong. I would be a fool to turn away from this now, but things like this will get me branded and I don’t want to lose my Cutie Mark. Not after all the work that went into getting it.”

“What is your Cutie Mark?” Pyro asked and Blackout stiffened. “Don’t be afraid. Mine would probably have to do with burning someone to death.” Blackout looked at the Pyromaniac’s flanks seeing the strange symbols that took the place of her Cutie Mark, and sighed. He looked away before explaining. “It’s a light bulb with electricity surrounding it. I got it after I helped defend my home town from a mutated Bug Bear. Electricity was involved. Although, I broke more things than I actually helped…”

“May I see it?” Blackout blushed behind his helmet and with some hesitation took off the helmet and unbuckled the armor. Stepping out, Pyro got a good look at his body and calmly kept her blush down. She looked at Blackout’s flanks as he looked with her. A glowing light bulb sat there with electricity circling it. Blackout blushed deeper.

“T-they say I glowed like a lightbulb when I stuck my hooves in that generator…”

“What happened?”

“I created a short circuit that struck the Bug Bear with enough amps to kill it. Hence I broke stuff.” Pyro nodded as Blackout began putting the armor back on.

“Engineer had a gun that could do stuff like that, quite painful. So do you continuously wear your armor because the faint glow your mark gives off?” Blackout nodded, “Wonder if mine could’ve done that?”

“It could have. But it’s an insanely rare effect. We should get to bed. Long day ahead of us.” Pyro looked to the bed.

“T-there’s only one. Do you want to…?”

“W-what? I-I don’t know… Maybe?” Pyro nuzzled him slightly.

“Might as well, just no funny business.”

“Back at you.” They both climbed into the bed and fell asleep. Medic woke up later needing to use the restroom. When he got up he faintly spotted two figures in the only other bed. Lighting his horn for light he looked again and smiled. Pyro and Blackout were fast asleep, but Pyro was wrapped up in Blackout’s armored wings. Spy chuckled.

“Seems to me that some romance is about.” He whispered mentally, Scout gagged.

“Jou two just ruined ze moment.” Medic muttered as he tuned down the light of his horn and went into the room’s bathroom.

The sun rose the next day and Pyro’s eyes fluttered open. Seeing where she was a deep blush grew on her face. She carefully slipped out from Blackout’s grasp and headed for the bathroom. She quickly washed her face with cold water before she headed out of the room. When she got to the main lobby she found other ponies munching away on fresh hay and that was it. She headed to the desk and asked where the kitchen was. “Not much of a kitchen. We got hay and that’s about it.”

“That won’t be a problem, I have my own ingredients. Would it be alright if I use your kitchen? Please?” Surprised by Pyro’s request and filled with curiosity the pony at the desk lead Pyro to the kitchen.

“Here you go sweetheart. Just be sure to clean up after yourself.” Pyro did a salute and pulled out what was in her bag, wondering what she should make for her friends. She had some leftover oats, canned apples, sugar, and cinnamon from who knows how long ago, and some fresh milk she raided from some poor dead guy’s refrigerator. Oatmeal was clearly an option but she wanted to utilize the hay that was being presented to her. Then she remembered the cookbook she had found a while back had said something about Hay Fries. Satisfied with her palette she set to work.

When Blackout and Medic woke up Pyro was placing bowls of fresh oatmeal and a plate of Hay Fries on the table in the room. The smell enticed the two sleepy ponies and they happily chowed down. “Did jou make this?” Medic asked and Pyro nodded. “It’s the best oatmeal I’ve ever had!”

“Same!” Blackout added, “Wait why aren’t we eating in the lobby?”

“Too many ponies wanted to try at least the Hay Fries. So the owner let me bring it back here.” Pyro replied. Medic tried one of the Hay Fries and nodded.

“No wonder! These are great!” Medic grabbed a few more to snack upon.

“You should’ve seen the show, though. So many little ponies in the kitchen, just watching me cook.” She chuckles. They laughed for a bit before resuming their meal. Then Blackout said something that regain everyone’s focus on the present trial at hand.

“I wish Ruby was here with us.”

“She should be here.” Medic agreed. “But until ve defeat Merasmus nothing vill change. I just hope my plan works. Because if it doesn’t ve are all doomed.” Then Medic brightened, “Speaking of. Ve have some shopping to do!” Medic checked his bottle cap count. “1514 Caps left. Engineer sure gave us quite a lot to work with.” Medic shrugged then stood. “Let’s get a move on.” They returned to the lobby and dropped off their dishes and the room key.

“If you ever feel like it you can work here.” The owner said to Pyro. “You’re cooking could really help this place.”

“No thanks. I’m the wandering kind.” Medic couldn’t tell if she was lying so they all managed to leave without too much of a hassle.

“Now where to go?” Medic asked no one.

“How about the store with the sign ‘Absolutely Everything’ over it?” Blackout asked pointing with a wing.

“Vell I guess ve’re about to test their philosophy.” Medic spoke with a calm smile… Or as calm as he could get.

“Medic? Quit smiling. You’ll scare someone.” Pyro pointed out and Medic frowned.

“Maybe it would be best to have Spy handle zis zen.” The group nodded in agreement and Medic let Spy take control. They walk into the shop and are shocked to be greeted by a ghoul. Spy took it in stride.

“You’re not like those feral ghouls... are you, madam?” The pegasus ghoul blushed a little but nodded as she wrote on a piece of chalk board. "My name is Ditzy Do and I am not a feral ghoul. I have been the proud owner of this shop for more than 200 years.” She erases it with a hoof then writes more. "Also the author of the Wasteland Survival Guide. How may I help you?" Spy smiled after he read this all out loud.

“Me and my colleagues are simply here to collect some supplies. We have a long day of travel ahead of us." Spy explained.

“Wait, what about the other items you need?” Pyro asked,

“Too soon. It would be a little much to carry and she might get an idea of what we’re up to.” Spy stated calmly, “Now, we need…”

They left the shop with the needed supplies and a copy of the Wasteland Survival Guide as a free gift with the purchases. “What’s wrong with her?” Blackout asked once they were out of the city.

“The ghoul? Vell according to Ruby zhere are some ghouls zat haven’t lost zheir minds und are just like jou or me. Ze ones zat have lost zheir minds are like zombies from horror stories.” Medic explained simply.

“I met a few feral ones. Nasty fellows. Reminded me too much of Halloween and the waves of zombies we had to fight.” Pyro added.

“What’s Halloween?” Blackout asked and the mercs looked at him like he was stupid.

“Do you not have Halloween? Dress up as your favorite character or creature then go knocking from door to door asking for candy? Do you really not have that?” Scout asked.

“From what you're describing, it sounds like the prewar Nightmare Night celebrations.”

“So jou had it, but don’t anymore.” Medic concluded and Blackout nodded. “Alvight, if ve keep heading East, following the railroad, ve should arrive at our destination by sundown.”

“Too bad you can’t fly like me.” Archimedes landed on top of Medic’s head as he spoke.

“Jou have no idea how creepy it is to hear jou talk zen just do coos, und vhere have jou been!? Jou vere gone for a long time.”

“I was exploring, and I got to Dodge city.”

“What can jou tell us?”

“Be careful. It’s a town full of Raiders and Slavers. If it wasn’t for all the robots keeping things in check the city would be in shambles, more than it is now. Protect Pyro. The Stallions seem to have fun toying with Mares.” Pyro simmered in small fury. “I’ll do what I can to warn you from above, but you mustn’t attack anyone. Saw one pony get dragged off for shooting some pony else. The Medic bots seem to have inherited your insanity cause the room they took him to caused him to scream for hours.”

“Und all of zis happened last night?” Medic could hardly believe his ears. “Ze Administrator allows zat? Ve got to get Ruby out of zhere quickly. She said she’d make sure Ruby was alive but you’d be surprised vat one can live through. Speaking of, did jou see her?”

“No.” Archimedes replied. “My guess is she’s in the main building. It has the most security. Couldn’t get close without being marked hostile by the Sentries the Engineer bots have set up.” Medic growled, this had just gotten a lot harder and more pressing.

As predicted, they arrived at Dodge City about the time the sun was going down. Archimedes hid himself inside Medic’s saddle bags for safety. The once clearly Western style town was a mess. They hadn’t seen any raiders nor the all-too familiar slavers, but Medic had assumed this was because they saw a massive detachment of robots pass by. A terrifyingly large, army-green, robot crossed the road they were walking through, and barely gave them a glance. Later, Medic could hear automatic laser fire, and a rough voice saying, “Engaging Zebra Scum.” The protectron force accompanying it also opened fire, but Medic couldn’t hear what they were saying over the din of the larger green robot. Medic was glad they weren’t the target of the attack. Blackout spoke up. “They must not have registered us as combatants yet. Lucky for us.”

“I suppose.” Medic turned his head away from the bloody battle and to the very familiar looking building. “Zat’s odd.”

“What’s odd?” Pyro asked, looking at the building.

“Zis building is ze exact same building vhere ve battled Team Vengeance. Vhere I revived Sniper! Vat’s it doing here?” Medic stopped. “Zen again ze Stable appeared here too. I vonder vhy it vasn’t just us?”

“Not the time to wonder about that sort of thing, Song.” Blackout replied walking up to the building. He stopped when he heard a beeping sound. “What was that?”

“Sentries!” Spy shouted as he made Medic dive bomb Blackout just in time before the guns started shooting. Pyro hopped backward to avoid the bullets. The Administrator’s voice booms over the loudspeakers.

“You fools! Don’t shoot them. They are of value to me!” The Sentries stop shooting, but remain pointed at the small team. “Get in here Mr. Heinsinburger before I regret calling them off.”

“Jou better let in all of us!” Medic responded.

“Fine, but a single sign of trouble, and your head will sit on a pike.” The team rushed into the now open doors and were greeted by the Spy synth. The real Spy scoffs as the synth bows.

“Welcome back Mr.Heinsinburger, Pyro, and welcome new twerp.” Blackout nearly charges the synth but a gun pointed at him stops him. “As predictable as a Scout.” The real Scout has to be mentally held down because of that statement. A passing Scout bot shouted,

“Go to Hell Spy!” Pyro and Medic stifled laughs. Blackout brought them back to earth.

“Where’s Bloody Ruby?” He asked and the Spy Synth chuckled.

“You mean that filly I brought in? She’s in good hooves, don’t you worry.” The Spy Synth smiled wickedly. “Our Medic bots are keeping a good eye on her.” Medic’s eyes went wide, remembering Archimedes' words, ‘The Medic bots seem to have inherited your insanity...’ Medic growled, pulled out his bonesaw and pounced on the Spy Synth.

“If you bots dare harm her, I swear I’ll blow this place to kingdom come!”

“I doubt that Mr. Heinsinburger. You wouldn’t even get the chance.” The Administrator’s voice echoed around them. “Besides, even if you did blow this place up I’d still be alive. Your little filly however, would not.” Medic growled again looking at the closest loudspeaker. “Now please get off of my associate.” Medic compiled and a door opened. “Come. We have much to discuss.” Pyro looked at Medic then to the door. Blackout then asked,

“Are we supposed to come with?” A deep and annoyed sigh came from the loud speakers.

“Fine, fine. You might as well hear what I have to say.” The small team walked through the doorway and down a few hallways until they arrived at a meeting room. Engineer was in there and the Administrator was sitting in one of the end seats of the table in the room. “Have a seat.” All except Engineer sat down. “Now, I want all team members to be here. I wish to see them Mr. Heinsenburger.” Medic looked at the Administrator in shock. “We haven’t got all day...” Medic glared.

"No. You don't need all of us out. They can listen just fine where they are." The Administrator returned the glare, but hers had a backing.

"Need I remind you who is currently in my possession?" Medic's magic activated from his fear and the rest of the team were released from Medic’s body. Medic then face planted on the table unable to support himself.

“Song!? What’s wrong?” Blackout asked in surprise and the Administrator grimaced into what could be called a smile.

“He has no strength without the other souls.” She replied. Heavy once again walked over and helped support Medic. “First things first.” She states. “Your equipment.” She nods to Engineer who picks up a suitcase from the floor, walks over, and places it in front of Medic. Medic carefully opens it and examines the Medi-Gun, checking its condition. Not finding anything wrong, Medic lifts it out telekinetically and puts it on. “Second. The synth that will be coming with you.” A door opens behind the Administrator. A bald, tailless, silver pony walks through the door. “This model is known as Scientia. It is a learning robot. It has already studied Engineer and the other Synths. Now it will be learning from you.” Blackout scoffed.

“It’s an Earth Pony. How could it possibly learn anything from Healing Song, Firefly, or me?” As if to answer his question, a pair of mechanical wings spread out from its sides, and a horn rose from its head. Blackout seethed at this pale imitation of a god.

"As you can see Scientia can learn from all three of you. I expect good results from you're journey." The Administrator said calmly, though her eyes shined with amusement. The Synth returned its horn and wings into its body and walked over to stand by Pyro. "Now finally, the main part of our deal… Merasmus." A hologram of Equestria's map appeared on the table. "His last known location was somewhere in the mountains north of Canterlot. Where the fabled Crystal Empire is supposed to be." A light shined on the table in the estimated area. "Find him, kill him and the filly goes free."

“You know Merasmus. He cannot die by any of our means.” Medic said, Heavy still lifting his head.

“Да. Magic man does not die easily. Not even Sasha could take out tiny magic man.”

The Engineer stepped forward. “That’s where Scientia comes in. It can absorb magic, and use it to its own gain. Whether it be repairs or… well, you know.” Scientia emitted a low, robotic growl as he said that. Blackout seethed.

“You two clearly can’t be trusted. How do we know, even after holding up our deal, that you’ll let Ruby free?” He put both front hooves on the table, angry. “And this… abomination… How are we supposed to know it's not just going to kill us and do the job itself?” A silence filled the room.

“Because I hold all the cards, bird. You dance to the tune I play. So dance, little bird. Or be cut from the program.” The Administrator’s threat filled the silence of the room, echoing on the empty walls like a promise of a better future shattered. Medic turned his head to Blackout.

“It’s no use fighting them, Blackout. We can’t do anything.” With that final slap in the face, Blackout backed down, sadness running through him. He would never break free. He couldn’t escape.

“Well, gentlemen. It looks like neither of you have anything else to add to this mix. I would wish you luck… but it doesn’t exist.” With that, the Administrator’s chair rapidly sped off into a wall that had just opened, and just as quickly closed again. The Engineer shrugged, and scrubbed at a spot of yellow gold liquid on the floor. He walked out a door, after wiping his hoof on Medic. Medic, strangely, felt a little better. Blackout then proceeded to flip the table. Pyro flinched at this action.

"Blackout! Calm down!" Pyro called out. Blackout turned to Pyro in rage.

"Calm down? CALM DOWN!?" He screamed, "THIS B**** HAS JUST SENTENCED US TO DEATH WITH THIS MISSION! AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF BLOODY RUBY IS OK!!!" Seeing Pyro's frightened face Blackout took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm sorry… I'm just really stressed out right now." Pyro walked up slowly and nuzzled him lightly.

"We'll get past this, we always do."

"Yeah, and we've been through some pretty crazy s***!" Scout butts in before being dragged back into Medic by Spy. Medic takes a deep breath after all the team was back in him before standing.

"Despite Scout's nature, he is right." (Hey! Wait, what?) "We have been through some pretty crazy things, but back then we almost always had respawn. Now we have to somehow overcome without it. Besides, even if Scientia is an unknown factor, it is still our wild card if something goes wrong." Scientia seemed to grin a little bit. “Speaking of, I think it’s about time I got the rest of the gear I need for my plan to work.”

Chapter 14: A Dedicated Search

If someone had told Medic every detail of what was happening now, he would’ve laughed. He wasn’t laughing now. They were all holed up in an old warehouse -not far from Canterlot- (Or maybe farther) for The Ministry of Morale that was used to store party favors, gags, and most importantly, robot entertainers that were trying to ‘entertain’ the party of four, and because of this they were afraid. Except for maybe Scientia, no one knew if it had emotions or not. They had come into this warehouse to wait out the effects of a radiation storm and from the lack of ticking from the radiation sensor on Medic’s Pip-Buck, this would have been a safe option… If not for the deranged robots.

These robots were all a light faded pink, with a hot pink mane that looked like cotton candy. A light blue glow came from their eyes, shining eerily.

“You’re a little late for the party, but that’s OK we’re gonna have so much fun.” The robot speaking started giggling in a mad manner. The mouth had opened and closed as if it was actually talking. Another robot entertainer lifted a present box that was covered in dried blood.

“Yeah, lots of fun! For today is a special day for somepony! Is it you, Ms Snow White?” The robot with the present asked Pyro. Pyro took a step back.

“Is this how I acted with Pyro-Vision on?” She asked.

“Maybe not zis bad.” Medic replied wondering what would happen if he shot one of the robots.

“Why are they acting like this?” Blackout questioned as he stepped between the present robot and Pyro. “Time wearing them down?”

“Possibly.” Medic replies. “Vat happens if von of us says yes to the special day question?” Medic asked the robot closest to him.

“You get a party of course.” The robot’s voice got deeper as it spoke, making it very creepy, and the sparks coming from its neck weren't helping the situation. Medic gulped,

“V-vat kind of party?” The robot took another step forward and Scientia raised its horn letting it spark with electrical energy. Medic shook his head at Scientia, “Not yet.”

“A birthday party!” The robot’s voice returned to its high pitched cheeriness when it said this and confetti was launched out of nearby cannons. Pyro started screaming when some of the confetti turned out to be someone's entrals. Medic’s eyes went wide and Archimedes said from his saddle bags,

“I thought you were bad when you played with your victims!” All of Medic’s souls nodded in agreement. Scout the most enthusiastic. Medic looked to Scientia,

“I zink ve have seen enough! Fire at vill!” Medic ducked as Scientia fired at the robot closest to him, giving him enough time to pull out Scout’s scattergun. Blackout’s battle saddle rang throughout the warehouse tearing through two of the robot entertainers. Pyro realized her fire wasn’t affecting the robots much if at all, so she grabbed her fire axe and started hacking through the robots. Medic went into S.A.T.S and fired at three robots at once. One of the robots -as it went down- said,

"You've been a bad pony!" Alarms started sounding and security robots began to appear. "Bad ponies don't get parties and are reported to the Ministry of Morale, or get handled immediately." The sound of spent bullet cases sounded across the warehouse, as the klaxons wailed. A wide trailer door chunked open, yellow emergency lights over the door accentuating the dark. A howl emitted from the container, and a sudden pour of robotics came forth, splitting the parties attention from panicked pink entertainers to the flood of mad parts.

The clouds outside decided to pour open their tears even harder. The screams, the sirens, the bangs and crashes, and now the pounding on the roof. Din filled Medic’s ears, deafening him. He couldn’t even hear his shouting anymore.

They were five minutes into that nightmare when the bullets started running out. Chk Chk. Medic ducked as razor claws came swooping at his head, spinning around to kick the nightmarish robot down. “These don’t seem like regular robots! These were designed by someone to kill!” Blackout shouted, ever the tactician.

Medic shouted back, “Ja! Placed here by some madman!” Pyro fought on a pile of robots that had begun to coalesce around her, her rage a thing of fear. She had the high ground.

The robots suddenly began to slow down, pacing around the team like a pack of wolves. “Yeah, these definitely aren’t Ministry of Morale implacements. These are predators. Weapons programmed to kill.” Pyro, her steady stream of opponents choked, turned to put in her thoughts.

“Then someone had to do it. And if these weren’t from the war before, someone from after the war didn’t want someone to find something here. Those body parts from the boxes were a scare tactic.”

Medic nodded. “An effective one.” The team tightened the circle, Medic pulling out his bonesaw, as he had nothing else. Pyro quickly sharpened her axe, sparks scattered over the gore soaked floor.

The robots parted. A hulking, heaving mass came through. Not of organic origin, but not a mechanical contraption. “More… flesh…” It was just a mass. A mass of flesh and robotics, combined into some hideous amalgamation. It left behind a bloody sludge, like a snail who decided it wanted to kill. It breathed, with many faces and appendages breathing with it. Medic saw a head, sticking out like a sore, with one of its eyes split by a silvery, rusted saw. It revved every time the being heaved. The head twitched. It’s one good eye, with obvious cataracts, glanced at Medic. It’s pain was obvious, because it still breathed independently from the mass.

The team took a step back. The robots behind them hiss and flexed claws that Medic could now see were taken from creatures like the Hellhounds they met back in Gastly Gorge. “You are an abomination!” Pyro screamed.

“I am… eternal…” It flexed, unsheathing many parts of metallic cabinets, spinning saws and spear points unfolding. All the robots howled, and closed the ring again. It was an arena, the team was David facing Goliath. They were all going to die.

Suddenly, the roof groaned. Decades of rain had taken a toll on its infrastructure, and now it was cracking. A portion of the roof collapsed, between the mass and the team. The mass emitted a horrendous sound, backing away from the rain. “Quickly, everyone! Into ze rain!” Medic cried, rushing forward. The hybrid robots growled their dissent, but did not make a move to stop them. Once they were in the downpour Medic’s Pip-Buck started clicking rapidly.

“Not good, Song!” Blackout shouted. “Better come up with something quick or we’ll all die of Radiation poisoning!”

“I know! I know!” Medic groaned as he passed out Rad-X tablets. “I’m zinking!”

“Think faster doc!” Scout shouted.

“Jou’re not helping!” Medic scolded the boy. “Alvight. Any ideas how zat… zing operates?”

Blackout was the one who replied. “My best guess is it’s some sort of cybernetics. But it also looks like it's the robotics is keeping that thing alive.”

“So just taking out the brain might not work, we also need to find its power source.”

Pyro piped up, “It doesn’t like water. Do you think those boxes from the party robots are waterproof?” Medic looked at one of the boxes, slowly leaking blood.

“A little bit. It might work. It vill require timing…” That was when Medic noticed something. “Do those pipes have nozzles on them?” Blackout looked to where Medic was pointing.

“Rain generators. An emergency system, if there is a fire.” Blackout’s eyes widened and everyone looked at Pyro. She flinched.

“Are you sure we want to set the boxes on fire?”

“Yes!” Medic shouted, quickly giving up the last of his Rad-Away supplies to the party. “That was my last Rad-Away, so we better do this fast and make it count!”

“Goddesses, please let the system still work.” Blackout prayed. He then turned to Pyro. “The three of us will hold them off of you. Do what you do best!” Pyro nodded, determination filled her deep blue eyes. Scientia charged another lightning spell and struck a few of the weird cyborgs. They hissed and screamed as the team ran by, but without the system they couldn’t move.

Pyro pulled out her flamethrower and began to set all the wooden crates they passed ablaze. The mass and remaining active cyborgs gave chase. One landed on Blackout, but a discharge from his suit and it was on the ground.

Medic began to cough, his old lungs not liking the thick smoke from the fires. He began to slow down when Scientia tossed him on her back. “This unit knows you are useful and does not wish to lose a valuable asset.” Medic groaned as the silver robot ran to catch up with Pyro and Blackout.

Just as Pyro was starting to set a box of party hats ablaze she ran out of fuel. “No! Not now!” She cried, she looked over to Medic who was still coughing harshly. “Oh no!” Before she could say more, a loud alarm went off and storm clouds began to form from the nozzles in the pipes above them. They let loose a torrent of rain. The water -thankfully- was not radioactive. All around the warehouse, rain began to fall. But there were still open spaces where the cyborgs and the mass of flesh stood, safely dry.

Blackout looked crestfallen. Scienta took a moment to glare at him in that robotic fashion. “These are abominations to science. This unit requires you to kill them.” Blackout backed into a stream of water, trying to take in all the movement.

“I don’t think we can!” He shouted back, surrounded. He lifted off the ground, flew over the robots, and settled into another stream. “I only have one shot left, and this thing doesn’t have the piercing power to kill more than two with a lucky shot. You have magic, but I’m guessing you need to recharge too, Medic’s sick, and Pyro only has her axe left!” Medic slowly pulled out Spy’s revolver and checked the load.

“I got one full chamber on this revolver.” He wheezed. “I think our best bet right now is to do a tactical retreat while the water is still coming down.”

“What about the radiation storm!?” Pyro protested. “We can’t go back outside!” Blackout took to the air and looked around.

“We have four options. Go outside,” Everyone cringed at that idea. Except for Scientia, who stood stoically with Medic on its back. “Get to the walkways above us, go for the room these guys came from, or head for what looks to be an office that way.” Blackout pointed past the mass of robotics and flesh.

“You have got to be kidding me.” Pyro groaned as Blackout landed. "There's no way we could survive running past these freaks!" Medic looked in the direction of the office and then all the water nearby. The mass of flesh seemed to be trying to avoid putting any piece of itself into the puddles. An idea formed inside Medic's head and he turned to Pyro.

"Pyro!" He coughed. "Jou are an unicorn! Try using levitation magic on ze water!" Pyro looked at Medic then tapped the horn on her head.

"Oh yeah I forgot about this thing, but I've only created flames with my horn before!" Pyro shouted.

"Just try! Me and Scientia, if it can, will help to ze best of our abilities." Medic lit his horn even if he had a hard time focusing. Some of the water that was in the air seemed to stop and floated there in a red glow. An orange glow and an electric blue joined in and the water was drawn together in a large bubble. It was then thrown at the mass of flesh, which shrieked in an unnatural manner. "Go! Go! Go!" Medic cried and the team ran forward. The mass was too busy trying to get the water off itself to stop the group, but it's minions were more than capable.

Scienta turned to look at an abominant as it passed. Charging its horn, it blasted it into vapor. “This unit has nothing more to learn from these abominations. Suggested course of action: Extermination.” Medic sighed.

“Yes, Scienta. We know. We know you want them dead.” Scienta began to speed up, trying not to jostle Medic too much. As it passed another abominant, it spread out its wings. The wing connected with fleshy motors, and decapitated it. It began spurting an oily, bloody fluid. It collapsed with a heavy thud, spasming. Scienta then leaped, beginning to flap its wings as some motor turned on inside it. Medic groaned, and could see Pyro continuing to throw the large bubble of water at every robot coming close.

As Scienta landed on the ramparts above, Medic could see that Blackout was trying to unlock a door. He was fumbling with a toothpick and a paper clip. “No, no, you’re doing wrong.” Medic said, struggling to get up. Scienta leaped back down, trying to pick Pyro up. Pyro ended up just tossing what was left of the water bubble at a small band of enemies before hopping onto Scientia's back, allowing the alicorn robot to bring her safely to the rest of the group. Where Spy was now instructing Blackout how to pick a lock.

"Ahg! This isn't working!" Blackout cried out.

"Let me try." Spy coughed.

"That body is in no condition to do something that requires this much focus, Spy. Not only that, but we are running out of time!" All the fires had gone out and the rain clouds were beginning to clear. The remaining abominants that Scientia hadn't murdered were heading in the team's direction fast. Their robot teammate grabbed the screwdriver and bobby pin from Blackout in it's electric blue telekinetic grasp. Scientia then proceeded to unlock the door with impressive speed.

Just as the door opened an abominant reached the team by climbing one of the columns that supported the ramparts. It screeched at the group as it crawled over the guard rail. Pyro quickly blasted it with fire from her horn, with enough force to send it back over the edge. Everyone then swiftly ran into the office space, Scientia carrying Medic. Pyro was the last in, so she shut and relocked the door. The sounds of banging rang from the other side for a few minutes before all became eerily quiet.

Medic let go of a breath he didn’t know he was holding, which led to a coughing fit. Pyro pulled out a canteen and gave it to Medic who gratefully accepted it. Blackout spoke up. “So. A couple of rads. A few murderous robots and that… thing. And there’s no way out? Sounds like Tuesday to you guys.” Pyro giggled at that and Medic rolled his eyes.

"So what happens now?" Pyro asked.

"Ve rest and recover for a bit." Medic replied. "Zhen ve see vat ve can find in this office space. Zhere's bound to be something ve can use, or at least some information. After all ve are still waiting out Zat storm." Blackout nodded in agreement while Scientia went over to the only still working computer and began to hack it. Blackout began exploring what little there was and looting containers. Pyro didn’t leave Medic’s side as he rested.

“You need to stop pushing yourself so hard.” Pyro said. Medic sighed.

“What other choice do I have?” Pyro shook her head.

“There is always a choice. You just need to see it.”

“If I slow down one of my team members may die.” Medic countered.

“If Doctor doesn’t slow down, Doctor may die.” Heavy’s voice escaped Medic’s lips and Medic sighed again. A ding sounded from the computer Scientia was hacking.

“This unit has acquired knowledge about this facility and a possible escape route if it is still functional and our enemies are unaware of it.” Scientia stepped back as Blackout came over to read what information was on the monitor.

“This place was a secret Ministry of Arcane Sciences transport location!? They would transport all sorts of experiments by-products here. A substance known as taint is one of the most common by-products? Wait… You want us to try and use one of the transports!?”

“That is correct.”

“There’s no way one of those is working right.”

“It’s our best shot, it doesn’t have to work long, just enough to get us out of here.” Medic confirmed. “Where are they located and what’s the weather like?”

“Um… there’s an emergency staircase down to the launch bay and the rain should be clearing in about five minutes…” Blackout said checking the monitor again. A loud bang rang out across the room. A dent appeared on the door they had used to enter the room.

“I’ve got a funny feeling we don’t have that long!” Pyro exclaimed. Blackout entered the keys to free all of the parked transports from their harnesses and then led the group to the emergency staircase that was currently being blocked by a turned over desk. With Medic still being carried by Scientia they couldn’t help Pyro and Blackout, so they pushed the desk out of the way on their own. They arrived at the launch bay just as the creatures broke down the door to the office.

“Which do we take!?” Pyro asked, looking at all the transports.

“Number three looks like it’s in the best condition but it’ll take both me and Scientia to pilot.” Blackout pointed out. A loud crash sounded behind them.

“Saddle up! We’re taking it!” Medic shouted. They ran over, Pyro hopped in while Medic was quickly tossed, and the two who could fly strapped in. They were about to take off when the creatures burst into the launch bay.

“Start flapping Scientia!” Blackout shouted and it compiled. Pyro started throwing some of the extra cargo out and set it ablaze with her magic when the creatures got close enough, this only dazed the creatures for a few seconds though and they were running after the now floating transport. Pyro then used her magic to form a massive air blast that sent all the creatures crashing into another transport, causing the thing to explode and forcing the group’s transport out of the launch bay. The whole place went up in flames as Pyro collapsed from over exertion of magic. Seeing this Medic pointed his Medic-Gun at Pyro and turned it on, hoping it would help a little.

Then the transport started to shake. And Blackout shouted, “We’re gonna have to land! This doesn’t have enough power to keep it up!” Medic watched as Scientia and Blackout gracefully glided to land in a field. He was impressed to say the least, it was clear that at least Blackout had done this before. Scientia on the other hoof probably was a faster learner than Medic gave it credit for. Once landed, Blackout disconnected from the harness and ran to check on the two ponies in the cargo hold. Seeing Pyro he gasped, “Firefly! Are you OK! What happened!? What did you do!?”

“I didn’t do anyzing! She collapsed after using a lot of her magic!” The rain began to stop as Scientia walked over.

“Magical exhaustion.” It explained. “This unit recommends rest and some Med-X for the headache she will have when she awakens.” Medic checked the inventory sorter on the Pip-Buck and confirmed he had two left on him. He then tried to stand but collapsed as well, his legs just weren’t willing to support him.

“Great! I guess we’ll have to stay here a while then!” Blackout groaned. “But if we can get this transport up and running again we should be able to fly where we need to rather than walk.”

“Can jou fix it?” Medic asks and Blackout shakes his head.

“I know the electronic bit but the rest of it I’ll need help.” Scientia opened up her side and pulled out a wrench.

“This unit can assist while our companions rest.”

“What can you not do?” Medic muttered annoyed that they were relying so much on the robot. He watched it warily, knowing what robots can do.

Blackout clambered onto the roof of the sky wagon, eyes scanning the area by the old warehouse. “I hope they don’t follow. It’d be… a tragedy on this wasteland.” Medic nodded in agreement and sighed.

“Wherever Merasmus may be, I hope we find him soon. I don’t know how long Bloody Ruby can last in the hooves of the Administrator.” With that he fell asleep.

When Medic awoke Blackout and Scientia were both in the cargo bay. Pyro was sitting up looking outside with concern. “Pyro? Vat’s wrong?” He asked and Pyro shivered.

“It’s cold, and visibility is very low. I don’t know how we’re going to find Merasmus in this storm.” Medic slowly stood and stared out the window. A full on blizzard was going on outside and Medic got a small fear of being buried under the snow.

“Vhere exactly are ve?” Medic asked as he looked on his Pip-Buck map. No visible landmarks were nearby.

“We’re in the frigid North, quite a ways away from Canterlot.” Blackout replied. “We Pegasi never really had any control over the storms up here, so there’s no way I can clear a path. We’ll have to wait out the storm and that could be a while.” Medic checked their food rations.

“How long exactly? Because even if ve rationed our food and water, ve may only be able to last about a veek.” Blackout cringed and Medic really began to worry. Suddenly there was a shift in the transport. “Vat’s going on!?” Medic frantically looked around and then out the window. A green magical aura was visible through the glass. Medic looked out at the snow filled landscape as the transport was slowly lifted out of the snow. “Someone’s lifting us with magic!? The telekinetic strength for somezing like that vould have to be exponentially stronger than vhat me and Pyro can do!” Blackout walked over to Medic,

“An alicorn perhaps? Does that mean one of the Goddesses survived? Or is it one of those fake one’s from Maripony?” Medic tried to find the source of the magical aura but couldn’t see through the snow.

“Vell whoever zis is zey may have unintentionally saved us.” Pyro smiled,

“Maybe they can help us! If we say we’re just looking for Merasmus we might get some help!”

“This unit does not like that plan. Has too many chances for something to go wrong.” Scientia finally spoke up and Medic frowned.

“Let’s just have hope.”

“This unit does not compute the concept of hope.” Blackout rolled his eyes.

“Don’t bother with it Song. It’s not worth our time.” About ten minutes of levitation flying later a light could be seen in the distance along with the ruins of a city. Blackout gasped, “The Crystal Empire!? Did it really survive the war? Or is this someplace else? No it has to be! Only the Empire was up here!” Medic looked around for the pony who could possibly be saving them and spotted a dark shape up in the sky with a green aura coming from it’s horn, and wings clearly flapping in the wind.

“It is an alicorn!” He gasped and everyone perked up, especially Blackout.

“Can it really be!?” The transport passed through a barrier and was placed down in the center of the city ruins next to what used to be a grand castle. The alicorn walked up to the door and peeked inside, it’s shining green eyes widened upon seeing the ponies inside, and it quickly opened the door.

“Are you OK? It said with a small echo in its voice. It must’ve been a male, and Medic’s eyes widened as he slowly recognized the voice.

“Merasmus!?”

Author's Note

Sorry this took so long to come out with. I've been struggling to find inspiration, but I'm still trying and haven't given up!