Chapter two: The Crossroads

The bullets rang loudly inside of the mansion as the two stallions fired upon Metric Zoom. Her sensors went wide as she felt her chassis lock up into place as she attempted to dodge out of the way. She was unable to bring her hooves into motion as she turned her sensors off so as to avoid seeing the bullets. There was nothing, no impact against her chassis from the rounds, no hooting and hollering from her two attackers… That was when she heard Dark Hearts voice, booming from in front of her in a pissed off tone.

“How DARE you come into my home, insult me, and try to harm this poor mare!? Just who in the hell do you think that you are…?” He snarled as he had donned his suit of dark energy,

Metric Zoom turned on her sensors and felt the food that she had put into her body as it jiggled with anticipation and excitement as she looked upon Dark Hearts outfit. He had stopped the bullets with some strange force field that had been conjured in front of them. Her voice was full of joy as she spoke. “Woah! Dark Heart! That was so cool!” she said with a small tone of happiness and relief in her voice. The Blossom Forged mare had managed to shake her legs back to wakefulness, having relaxed due to the Leatherwing stallion saving her life in the knick of time.

“Hey, that’s not fair!” The two stallions exclaimed at the same time, their eyes went wide as they both dropped their guns. The one with the smashed in face dropped to his forelegs with a whimper.

“Alright! I’ll tell you who sent us!” cried the injured stallion as he felt his legs begin to shake from fear as he watched the leatherwing stallion drop the forcefield. The two bullets dropped to the floor with a quiet tinging noise. The stallion slowly looked up at Dark Heart as he approached him quickly.

His sword appeared into his mouth, the hilt was gripped tightly in his teeth. The stallion approached the wounded, whimpering pony as he held the sword made of darkness up to his neck. His forehooves gripped the stallion as he slammed his body hard up against the wall. “Tell me.” Dark Heart said in a pissed off tone. “Who sent you, and why?” The other stallion that was uninjured took a step back as he turned to run, only to be greeted by a tall and tough looking Darkling that had blocked the way out.

The injured stallion began to shake and shiver as he was pinned against the wall. “W-w-we were paid by somepony, no… something! We had found a bunker out in the wastes and entered it. As soon as we did, though. There was this voice…” the stallion shivered as he felt his bladder begin to act up a bit, his eyes had filled up with fear. “I-it called itself Cog, and apparently it has a beef with you for something from the past. Cog said that if we killed you and brought your carcass back to it, it would pay us well over a thousand gold!” He said in a nervous tone.

Dark Heart tilted his head as he kept the stallion pinned up against the wall, his sword vanished from his mouth as it swirled and faded into a pitch blackness. “Oh? Why would this Cog want me dead? I never crossed his path before… Are you sure that you have the right stallion?” the leatherwing asked, his wings folded against his back as he grunted somewhat. “You had better tell me, before I allow Metric Zoom to beat you down into a bloody pulp. And I know that you don’t want that.” He smirked wickedly from underneath his suit.

The stallion shuddered as he let out a cowardly whimper as he spoke. “Y-Yeah! You’re the stallion we were told about! You killed some stallions that had been pony napping from this town and you then set the captured free!” he shivered even more. “Listen, Cog is going to kill us if word gets out that we failed to take you down. Just… just let us go, and we’ll never darken your doorstep ever again! Hell, keep the guns and our gold. W-we didn’t want any of it, anyway!”

The bloodied stallions companion shot him a glare, his voice was filled with a cold tone as he spoke. “No, the guns and gold that we have are ours! It’s not his gold or guns, it’s ours! OURS Blaze be damned! There is no way in the nine hells, that I will stand by and allow our things to-” he didn’t get his last word out as the darkling that was standing in front of him quickly grabbed the stallion by the head and lifted him up. The dark being took his time and held the pony by the neck, beginning to apply pressure to his windpipe slowly.

“Hey, that’s enough… You don’t have to kill him, you know?” Dark Heart said as he let go of the already wounded stallion and backed off a bit. He stared at his minion, watching as the stallion that the monster had in its grip passed out and his body went limp inside of its hand.

“I didn’t kill em, boss… just made im shut up and stop talking.” The darkling said in a calm and relaxed tone, almost as if it had known what it was doing to the pony. The monster turned to the bloodied stallion as Dark Heart let go of him.

The stallion fell onto his hooves and gulped as the monster gently set the unconscious stallion onto his back. The stallion left their guns and dropped the gold from their pockets. It wasn’t much, maybe about ten to twenty gold pieces. The stallion left without saying a word as he carried his companion away and out of the town. As he galloped away, he passed by a dusty and broken sign that rested outside of the main gates. It was old and bent at an angle. Written on the sign in Common was the name Dunport. Dark Heart picked up the gold and guns, his head turned to look at Metric Zoom with a concerned expression on his face.

“Metric Zoom, I am glad that you are alright.” Dark Heart said with a concerned tone in his voice as he spoke. “If something were to happen to a guest inside my home, then I’d be feeling pretty shitty about it.” he turned and trotted up to her, the darkling soon shrank down to its small size and wandered off.

“Well, at least we’re both safe.” Metric Zoom said in an awe inspired tone, her voice was calm and relaxed as she spoke excitedly. “Hey, Dark Heart. After seeing the way that you handled those two dumbasses. I have something to ask you! And also a few things I forgot to tell you about, earlier.” she said with a slight giggle. The blossom forged gave the leatherwing stallion a soft smile as he approached her.

“Oh? And what might that be? Surely you are happy with the way I have treated you thus far, yes?” Dark Heart asked as he stood before the mare, his head tilted as he looked down at her. He was unsure as to what Metric Zoom would say.

“Oh no! Not at all!” She exclaimed in surprise as she hugged him gently. He could hear the food that he had thought she had eaten as it bounced around inside of her chassis. Her voice was cheerful as she let go of him and spoke once more. “So, I need to go outside and deposit the food into a hole, I am not a flesh and blood pony that needs food and water to survive.” she blinked and rubbed her chin with a fore hoof. “Listen, Dark Heart… I never had a real father figure. I was thrown out of Cog’s bunker moments after being activated, and shortly after that… I was taken in by a raider, whom I eventually killed. He was a horrible stallion, nothing but wanton murder and death.” She turned her attention back to Dark Heart, pulling her mind away from the memories as she spoke in a soft tone. “I would like to become your daughter, despite the differences.” Metric Zoom gave the stallion a happy smile as her sockets closed and formed a happy expression on her face.

Dark Heart rubbed his chin a bit as he spoke, his voice was cool and collected. “Hmm, I would be more than happy to take you as my daughter! However, I do wish to learn more about this Cog character. But, I must sleep, I am exhausted from today's activities.” he trotted past Metric Zoom and gently rested his left front hoof on top of her head softly. “Whenever you’d like to explore Dunport, there is an old electrocycle out back in the shed. Just remember to put it back once your finished using it, and to put the lock back on the door.” He took his hoof off of her head and trotted off to his bedroom.

Metric Zoom blinked as she was curious about the electrocycle, but first, she had to empty her chassis of the food that she had taken in. She found a spot in the middle of the ash covered front yard, and moved it to the side. Digging a hole as she then opened up her mouth and spilled out the food that was jiggling around inside of her chassis into it. A short couple of seconds later, she had fully covered up the hole and set the ash back on top of it. Metric Zoom trotted off to the back of the mansions exterior where she found a shed. It had a lock on it, but it wasn’t locked up. The mare trotted up to the shed and took the lock off the door, opening it as her sensors went wide. In the shed rested a neon red electrocycle with a bell on its right handlebar, on the side of it was scratched. The brand name having been scratched and filed off fully to where it was unintelligible. The blossom forged mare galloped over to the electrocycle and climbed up onto it, kicking up its kickstand, she began to pedal as fast as she could. The electrocycle whirred as it sputtered to life with a cough. Metric Zoom slowed down as she pulled out of the shed and turned as she came to the front of the mansion. She coasted down the hill to the mansion as she let out a loud whoop of excitement. As she coasted, her mind kept running with the thought about having a father, one that wouldn’t abuse her or berate her… or even to belittle her like the raider used to. Then, she knew that Cog was on the prowl and that he had to be stopped… a bit later, as she reached the bottom of the hill, Metric Zoom pulled out and onto the main streets. She was going to take her time, memorizing her new home that she had to protect.

Meanwhile, in Murrage…

Seeking Blade and Fluttershy stood in the briefing room, they had been given new orders. Their orders are simple, take a squad that was comprised of themselves, Serene Morning, Sun Spot, Night Eye, Shield Stabber, Searing Staff and a couple of rookies. They were told to head to Dunport in order to regroup with Alpha Squad, which were sent over to the town so that they could send out medical supplies and rations for the citizens. Seeking Blade gave Fluttershy a nod as they looked to one another and turned around. Their scrap pistols and scrap rifle rested on their backs as they trotted out of the tent to group with their companions. Seeking Blade and his family were off on yet another adventure, it would seem. And it appears that there hasn’t been enough of that for him. After five minutes of navigating the maze that was military buildings, tents and soldiers, Seeking Blade and Fluttershy finally arrived at the tent where their companions were waiting. Two of the new recruits were waiting at the tent as well. They looked fresh off of the truck, and saluted the two ponies as they approached. Seeking blade rolled his eye and adjusted his eyepatch over his sewn up eye.

“You don’t have to salute me, rookies…” He said to them in a relaxed tone, his eye glanced over his and Fluttershy’s companions. His tone shifted from one of relaxation, to the tone of a tough and readied fighter. “This is our final mission, one that is sending us someplace in-between Stone Cross and Turves.”

“What’s out there that is so important? Last I checked, there wasn’t anything out in between those towns.” Serene said in confusion as she took out a map and unfolded it. Looking it over carefully.

“There’s also the question as to if this will involve combat or not.. I mean, your magic and my own have grown far weaker due to when the bombs fell.” Searing Staff said in a worried tone.”Besides, you still need to get in more training with your magic… that last encounter with Bleeding Heart three-hundred and eighteen years ago could have ended badly for you, if you hadn’t let your magic explode like that.” he said as he tapped his son’s forehead gently with a fore hoof.

“Even still.” Night Eye said as she and her brother finished cleaning their scrap rifles. The Earth Pony had bandages wrapped around her legs, dried blood was able to be seen. Yet she was still standing, much like the others. “Dad still kicked that eldritch assholes flank six ways to sunday. We can stand against whoever we end up facing, no matter what the wounds were. Hell, dad lost a leg and an eye, and look at him now. Kicking ass and taking names!”

“Sis, calm down… Nopony said that father wasn’t still strong.” said Sun Spot as he rested his scrap rifle on his saddle rack. He spoke once more in a calming tone, his breathing was slow as he formulated what he was going to say. “It’s simple, this mission is a recon one from what I can assume. If things escalate, then we will have to find someplace to hold down at until things quiet down. It’s that simple.”

“Yeah, sorry kiddo, you say that now… but what if we end up holding out at the very spot that is sending the attackers out from?” Shield Stabber asked in a gruff tone, the grandmare to Sun Spot and Night Eye wasn’t entirely sure about her grandcolts optimism. “Besides.” she said as her voice shifted from her gruff tone, to a more pleasant and kind tone. “If we do end up in a bad spot, all of us will be together. Isn’t that what is important?” she asked with a soft smile.

“Well, yeah. That IS pretty important… but I don’t think that us being together will just magic us out of the bad spots when we get into them.” Night Eye said as she rubbed the back of her head with a hoof.

“Well, either way. Let’s get going.” Seeking Blade said in a calm tone as he began to trot away with his family, the two recruits and Fluttershy alongside him.

They trotted towards the edge of Murrage and blinked as a soldier flagged them down from a parking area. The soldier was a gryphon who looked to be in his mid to late forties. He had on a soldier’s uniform and patted the hood of a truck that was similar to the one that they had returned in.

“Sir, I have been given orders to let you have this truck. Think of it as a parting gift. Seeing as how none of you will remember the location of Murrage…” he said and gently rested a claw on Seeking Blades head as he approached. “It was nice knowing you all, Soldiers. May Luminaces speed be at your backs.”

Seeking Blade gave a nod as he and the others trotted over and climbed into the truck. Fluttershy and Serene Morning climbed into the front seats as Sun Spot, Night Eye, Searing Staff, Shield Stabber and the two rookies climbed into the side seats in the back of the truck. They all had buckled in and the stallions cybernetic leg turned the key in the ignition. Fixing his eye patch as he turned out of the parking area and drove out of the city. As they drove over the threshold and into the ashen wastes, everypony inside of the truck instantly forgot where Murrage was as they drove onwards. Forgetting about its existence as they drove onwards. The time flew by as they made their way onwards.

The next day at Dunport…

The day passed by relatively quickly, Metric Zoom had spent time with Dark Heart, her new foster father. He had mostly shown her how to handle a firearm, starting her out with a scrap pistol. She fired off a few rounds at the glass soda bottles that he had set up for her to practice on. The Blossom Forged mare took her time to aim. She was about to pull the trigger, when a stallion galloped into the yard, breathing heavily. His eyes looked to the two of them frantically.

“Dark Heart, Metric Zoom!” he gasped and wheezed as he caught his breath. “W-We have to do something! There’s an army truck pulling into the town square, y-you gotta go see it!” he wheezed as he slowly caught his breath. His expression was worried, and Dark Heart and Metric Zoom could both see it on his face.

“Alright, we’ll go take a look… Come on, honey.” The Leatherwing said as he looked to the Blossom Forge mare, and began to trot away with her by his side. “We’ll see what all of the fuss is about.”

The two made their way down the hill and to the town square where they saw a green painted army truck was waiting in the center of the area. They saw the group of ponies and cocked their heads to the side briefly before approaching. Seeking Blade had noticed the leatherwing and the blossom forged, his eye squinted as he fixed the eyepatch over his bad eye. His cybernetic leg was hidden underneath his scrap armor.

“So, mind telling me who you two are?” He asked as he leaned against the side of the truck, his gaze was focused on the leatherwing as he stared.

“I am Dark Heart, the protector of this town. And this.” he motions to the blossom forged mare next to him. “Is my daughter, Metric Zoom. We heard that you were here, and we wish to know why.”

Metric Zoom gave a nod as she spoke in a relaxed, but playful tone. “So, what are you going after? Raiders? Bandits? Those nasty floating suns that like to suck the joy out of ponies?” she asked curiously, her playful expression turned into a smirk.

Seeking Blade blinked as he cleared his throat. “Well, This is our final assignment. But unless you want to assist us, then I can’t tell you anything more.” he said with a stern expression on his face, Seeking Blade glanced his eyes over the two ponies. He studied them, examined and took in their features. It was strange to him to have to explain everything, he didn’t like being the one in charge of this sort of situation… but he was, and he had to accept it.

“We’d be more than happy to help, I am a good melee fighter. And Metric here is a crack shot with her scrap pistol. She learns rather quickly.” Dark Heart said as he gave the stallion a nod. “Besides, you look like you can use a couple of extra hooves on hand…”

“Well, we are a little underhooved on this… so, let me tell you both what the assignment is.” Seeking Blade said as he trotted up to the two, neither of the three realized that another Pony was approaching them from behind Dark Heart and Metric Zoom as he spoke. “We are currently on our way to a bunker to try and deal with somepony or something, known as Cog. He, She or It has been causing trouble in the wastes, and must be stopped.”

Upon hearing Cog’s name, Metric Zoom narrowed her sensors at Seeking Blade, her voice was filled with a rough tone as she spoke with a sense of warning. “Cog’s bunker is constantly changing and he likes to mess with the citizens of the wastes… If you are sure that you are all set to go after him, I can lead you there.”

“Well, we can use all of the help that we can get. Climb into the truck with the others, and we’ll be heading off with your guidance. Metric Zoom.” Seeking Blade responded with a motion to the back of the truck. He then noticed the mare that had managed to silently approach them without their notice… He rolled his eyes and snorted. “And let me guess, you want to join us as well, miss…?”

The feminine voice fluttered through the air as Divine Kiss spoke to the stallion with the eye patch. “My name is Divine Kiss, and yes. I’d love to join you! You needn’t have to tell me the ordeal, I just overheard it, kind stallion.”

Dark Heart turned his head to Divine Kiss and gave a smile, Metric Zoom was about to do the same. However, as she got a good look at the False Queen, her sensors went wide and then narrowed, anger slowly crossed along her face.

“Psh. A False Queen that wants to help innocent ponies and other victims of Cog’s evil deeds? What’s in it for you, bitch?” Metric Zoom said in a very rude tone, one that caused her father to look at her with an annoyed expression on his face.

“What? I simply care about other people.” Divine Kiss responded in a relaxed but regal tone. “Is it really that hard for a Blossom Forged like yourself to understand, that not all False Queens are evil? Hell, I have my sanity. But I chose not to leave my subjects because they needed someone to protect them.”

“Yeah, sure… I’ll believe that once I find a boyfriend.” the blossom forged mare spat in response. Her sensors were locked onto the False Queens eyes. If looks could kill, she would have had the mare buried ten feet under by now…

“Metric Zoom, that’s enough.” Dark Heart said in a stern tone as he looked between the two mares. “Divine Kiss is my friend and our ally, I do not want any hostilities between any of us… We have a job to get to doing, so let’s all just get into the truck and head out before an ashstorm or some of the weird weather hits…” He gently prodded his daughter towards the back of the army truck.

“Fine. I’ll work with her, for now…” Metric Zoom begrudgingly replied as she climbed up into the back of the truck alongside her father.

Seeking Blade and Divine Kiss climbed inside, as well. The tailgate shut with a loud and heavy thump after the others climbed inside. They all sat down as Seeking Blade opened up the window that seperated the cab from the back and turned the ignition. The truck roared to life as the headlights were shut off, still having more than enough daylight to get a decent distance before needing the lights to get turned on. The stallion drove out of Dunport as they headed off towards their destination. Tension filled the air between Metric Zoom and Divine Kiss as the journey began.

Author's Note

Okay, so I had forgotten a couple of things about Seeking Blade in the previous chapter, so I rectified them in this one. It was mostly just the eye patch and cybernetic leg that I forgot, so that was a easy fix.