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!