Destiny's changeby ChiefKitsuneChaptersPrologue: Return Part 1 (updated 12/11/21)Prologue: The Sacrifice of a Friend (Updated 12/11/21)Ch. 1 Eyes up Guardian! (Part 1) (Update: 12/11/21)Ch. 1 Eyes up Guardian! (Part 2) (Update 12/11/21)Ch. 2 HomeCh 3 The Cosmodrome Part 1 The CourtyardPrologue: Return Part 1 (updated 12/11/21)Author's Note Well I hope you all enjoy this story as I have much planned for it. Though that is the same for my other stories. I just can't help myself when my muse wants me to put out a new idea. Anyways I'm trying something different with this story. Let me know what you think, but please no needlessly negative comments. Though as always constructive criticism is always welcome. ~Chief (update: Yes I'm back and I'm going through my stories to fix them up before adding any new chapters to them. Hope you enjoy the small fixes as I hope it helps flow better now.) Prologue: Return Part 1 (updated 12/11/21) Equestira With the sun setting in the west, a group of ponies and one dragon gather around a large statue. With heavy hearts and moist eyes, the group looks upon each other in silence asking who would be the first to speak. As the ponies exchanged looks they were drawn away from wondering who would speak first about their lost friend, by a quiet sniffle coming from the dragon as he stands before the base of the statue where he read the name and inscription. Twilight Sparkle ~ The greatest shining light for many as she lead in the defense of Equestria from many great threats. A friend, daughter, sister, and Mother. She made the greatest sacrifice to protect her home and loved ones. Looking up from the inscription Spike spoke softly but with the silence of the group behind him they all heard his words. "I miss you so much, you were the mother I always had but never knew. You gave me everything I needed all the love I could ask for and more. As you raised me, taught me, and looked out for me. I just wish I could see you one last time to tell you how much I love you.... Mom." As Spike spoke in deep pain for the missing mother he always had but never appreciated, the will of the ponies behind him crumbled as tears began to fall. Even the great Princesses of Equestria and the Crystal Empire openly shed tears at the hollow pain in the young drake's voice. The only one to not shed tears being a white stallion with a blue mane, even as his eyes grew wet and the desire to cry grew he felt he needed to be strong for his wife and mother. As the stallion's father silently cried for his lost daughter while holding his wife close, a strange sound began to fill the air slowly building in volume. As the ponies and dragon look around for the source their eyes catch a shooting star streaking across the now night sky before it vanishes from sight. The strange sound having faded away before returning in greater volume as a bright white light lite up from the tip of a dark shape in the sky. As the source grew closer to the ground a gust of wind began to pick up as the wine of the ship's engines changes pitch as the Sky Hawk begins to deploy its landing gear while the spotlight was kept trained on the memorial and group of ponies. As the strange object continued to grow near the ground the blinding white light was replaced with smaller less blinding running lights showing the outline of the ship. The pony watching in awe as it soon touches down softly on the grass near the statue and the engines begin to shut down. Confused and in awe at this strange machine they watch in silence as the area once more grows quiet without the whine of the engines from the ship. With it the ponies look to one an other for some clue as to what was going on, and as the silence grew further making the Equestrians start to grow worried a shimmering white light blinds them all once more as it flashes and while they can't see they can hear the thud of something landing on the ground. Quickly the Princesses blink away the spots from the white flash to find an armored Unicorn standing next to the ship with a glowing little cube hovering next to her head as she seemed to be in an argument with it. Though hushed as it was all present gasped as the armored mare grunted in agitation making her cloak flutter showing she had wings hidden under it marking her an Alicorn. Seemingly distracted with their conversation the ponies and dragon began to slowly move closer soon they began to pick up the cube's side of the conversation. "Spark, you said these were your friends and family why are we still standing next to the ship?" The hovering cube bobs and its corners seem to rotate to show expression that the armored alicorn was seeming to read. Though they couldn't hear a reply from the pony they assumed there must of been one as the cube continued. "I've seen you face down countless enemies time and again, you even faced down Ghaul alone with no hesitation. Which I might add would have helped prevent a few of the times we got in trouble if you had thought about it before acting." The armored equine bobs her head in a slow way showing that this was not a new discussion between the two as the mare had a talent for finding trouble as much as a certain Vanguard leader did. As the group stopped at the edge of the light from the ship the conversation halts and the two turn to face the group before with a sublt flash of white the cube was gone from sight. As the cube vanished the alicorn's horn began to glow with a familiar magenta hue as the mare undid the clasps and seals for her helmet before with a burst of air from the pressurized suit as the seal was broken. The helmet is slowly pulled off to show a failure lavender coated face with lovely purple eyes and a dark blue mane with pink highlights making every being gasp and go stock still. The armored mare was busy grumbling to herself as she removed her helmet and under her breath could be heard ".... Damn it Ghost, ...." before she trailed off into more mutters. Looking up the purple alicorn blinked at the sight of her friends and family bringing tears to her eyes while they stared uncomprehendingly at her. As she smirked and waited for their brains to reset she looked over each one. First was her mother and father, Twilight Velvet and Night Light, who looked haggard and rather ruffled as the two hadn't had much to be happy for in the past 18 months since Twilight Sparkle died in defense of the nation. Next to them was her brother, Shining Armor, and Cadence, who stood in front of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. fanning out from her family were her closest friends. But what held the mare's attention was who was between her parents, was Spike whose sight brought tears to her eyes and a stalling to her breathing as it catches in her throat. Her eyes remain on the young dragon for what feels like a lifetime for both as they stare into each other's eyes. With a hitch in her voice, she whispers "Oh Spike, I've missed you" and with that the two rush towards the other to meet halfway in a tight hug with Twilight adding her wings to hold Spike even closer as they both began to cry. The young dragon's once-quiet sniffles becoming loud cries as he holds his mother tightly hoping she wouldn't vanish if he let go. While the mare silently cried and held her baby dragon tight for the same reason. Softly to Spike, the mare whispers "Shh it's ok Spike I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." as she softly sat back to hold him in her lap while stroking his head fins and whispering more comfort to the crying youngling giving him the occasional nuzzle. For the two of them, nothing else mattered beyond the other, and while the group of ponies wished to join in the hug and joy that her return brings. After hearing what Spike had to say earlier they hold back to let the mother and son have their moment together. Prologue: The Sacrifice of a Friend (Updated 12/11/21)Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Ch. 1 Eyes up Guardian! (Part 1) (Update: 12/11/21)Author's Note Hey its me again. Sorry about the wait had a rough few months but its getting better so I'm finding time to write more once again. Anyway here's a new update for you dear readers. And as always please give feedback but no unneeded hostility please. I welcome comments, and the more comments I get about how you like my story the more drive I have to write so if you like this story and want more sooner let me know. ~Chief (Update: Again nothing major was changed just some small things which I hope help the story flow) Ch. 1 Eyes up Guardian! (Part 1) (Update: 12/11/21) Cosmodrome, Old Russia, Earth As a white light flashed out from behind one of the decaying automobiles, a loud gasp is heard followed by a few short coughs. Hidden behind the decaying car sat a strange being that resembled something from humanity's distant past before the Collapse. The creature was something from long before Humanity landed on Mars to discover the Traveler. It was a rather short being with four sturdy legs that ended in round hooves as the mare blinked away the painful glare of the bright sun she looked down to find her forelegs and indeed her entire body covered in some strange armor. Reaching up to feel for the helmet that she knew was there was stopped when, with a subtle white flash Ghost appeared hovering above her head. As she stared at the strange glowing cube it began to speak, seemingly more to himself than to her. "I finally found you, guardian, after such a long time...." it looks back up from the ground to meet her gaze as he continues, "You've been dead for a very long time guardian, and you will see things that won't make any sense but trust me I have been searching for you for a very, very long time," Ghost is cut off by a loud howling sound that puts her heart into overdrive. "Oh no. The fallen have found us we must hurry and find you a jump ship to get to the last city. We must hurry so Eyes up Guardian!" And with that, the strange cube vanished from her sight. 'Guardian, don't worry I haven't left you. But first, we need to get out of here Now head to The Wall and see if there is any way through it.' Nodding the mare began to gallop towards the towering wall of metal and stone with strange writing on parts of the structure. "Alright, but I still have many questions," she grunted as she jumped up onto one of the decaying vehicles' hoods before leaping down to continue her mad dash to the hopefully safe wall. As she speeds on her cloak flutters in the wind causing a new sensation that nearly makes the mare trip as the wind flitters through her feathers on her wings which she hadn't had a chance to take stock of yet. Quckly she is able to catch herself from falling with a burst of energy from her horn and a flaring of her wings, though while it did slow her speed a little it was still better than landing on the ground and having to get up again. As she nears the decaying wall she spots a broken down metal door leaving a stairway open to her view. As she spots this promised safety she begins to lessen her speed before a bolt of blue energy strikes the car next to her. Making her let loose a yelp as she stumbled away from the dangerous spot before picking her speed back up. Soon the white armored mare was thundering up the rusty stairs into the dark wall before her eyes could adjust to the darkness as she had spotted a few dark shapes moving in the distance after the nearmiss and not wanting to wait around to find out if they where the ones who were after her. As she reaches the top of the stairs she turns and begins to gallop down the catwalk, her hooves pounding away at the ancient rust-covered metal, into an even darker area when the strange cube appears and lights the way up another set of stairs. But not before seeing Something crawling up the wall before the light could fully illuminate it and as hard claws clanking on metal rang in her ears as she rushed onto a large platform surrounded by a literal sea of darkness. Ghost speaks up as he begins to float away from the mare. "Hold on let me see if I can get the lights on, we won't last long in the dark. And then I need to find you a weapon." He continued to speak though more to himself again as he got further and further away leaving the mare in near total darkness and on edge. From the darkness, she could hear the strange device muttering to himself talking about military encryption and hardware along with centuries of decay when a cry of triumph sounds from the floating cube as large overhead lights came to life after centuries of being off. To show a massive internal structure to the wall but that was overshadowed by the multitude of six limbed beings rushing from the light back into the darkness. Ghost being helpful "That's a lot of Fallen....." Ghost's eye brightens as the gate that had been in their way before was opening as he saw an ancient assault rifle leaning against an old crate. "There an old rifle! Grab it and move we have to hurry Guardian." Ghost urged the mare on as he vanished from sight once more. As the mare stared at her hooves for a moment wondering how she was going to use the weapon. Her time of questioning was suddenly cut off as two of those Fallen creatures rounded the corner ahead of her wielding sparking knives. With a snort the mare's body begins to run without her conscious thought as her horn lights up a light lavender color while a similar aura surrounds the rifle as it launches up and stops in front of the mare as she puts pressure on the trigger and the auto rifle gave a loud report felling one of the dregs. Within a blink of the eye she had already switched targets to the still charging Dreg and pulled the trigger once more sending its now lifeless body crashing to the floor in a growing pool of its own blood. Blinking as her mind comes out of the combative stance she was in to stare at the floating rifle in awe. That's when something in her mind clicked and she understood she could use these weapons even if she lacked the proper appendages. 'Guardian! We have to keep moving!' The mare winces at the volume at which Ghost screamed at her in her head. The mare nods and rushes down the corridor and rounds the corner only to slide to a stop as red beams of light appear with a humming sound. And before she can even open her muzzle Ghost quickly jumps in 'Fallen Trip mines. Stay out of the red lights to keep from triggering the mines.' the mare nods and lifts a hoof to her chin and tapped on it in thought for a moment while the rifle floated beside her ready for more Fallen. Smiling as she gets an idea she begins to slowly move closer to the mines to find them and once she finds the source of the beams she removes the mines from the walls with her magic careful to not set them off. She begins to move down the new hallway when another loud howl sounds and she spots a group of four to six Fallen rushing her and under her helmet she smirks. Her magic moves the mines into the path of the oncoming group without them noticing having blindly charged once they found the mare was not using her rifle to attack them. The mare watched as they crossed into the red beams and with a sharp whine, the mines detonated on the group. Killing all six of them without the mare having to fire a shot. Ghost then comments 'Effective we'll have to remember that in the future.' The mare nods and begins to trot down the corridor at a steady pace with her rifle ready, but no more fallen seem to be eager to jump her for the moment. However just as she was starting to think that and relax a dreg dropped down from above her knocking her rifle away and lunging with its sparking blades. Just as quickly the mare reacted in kind as her left hoof went to her chest and pulled a combat knife from its sheath as she blocks the strike before pushing the dreg back with some magic and lunging forward sinking her blade into the Fallen's chest as its glowing blue eyes dull as it dies. Raising from the now-dead dreg the mare wiped her blade clean on the fallen's attire before resheathing it and without even looking levitated her rifle back to her side and continued on. Ch. 1 Eyes up Guardian! (Part 2) (Update 12/11/21)Soon after dispatching the Fallen dreg with her knife the mare began to move again through the next room before coming across a long, and rusting, path leading her to the other side of the Wall's interior. The path hanging over a literal sea of darkness that the mare's sharp eyes couldn't cut through. Hesitating at the start of the bridge across the casam the mare was about to ask if there was another way across. For every instinct in her screamed to stay as far away from that darkness as possible. She however didn't even have the chance to open her mouth as yet another howl followed by countless more sounded out down the halls she had just been through. "Nevermind, Bridge it is." she curses under her breath as she gallops down the length of the rusting bridge. Her booted hooves causing her passing to echo across the dark area. Each beat of her hooves landing making her wince a little as she speaks up. "Well if they didn't know I was here before they do now." As she finishes her comment she reaches the other side of the bridge where a strange box sat unopened as well as a short drop into a lower hallway. Ignoring the box as the echoing sound of her passage across the bridge faded she was about to leap down to continue on when Ghost speaks up. 'Hey, Guardian see that chest to your right? Open it. It might have something useful inside.' Grunting at stopping herself right before she launched herself into the lower hallway to inspect the container wondering how to open it. Seeing a green panel glowing she taps it with the tip of her hoof causing the seal to break and the chest to open on its own. Having stumbled back from not expecting it to open like that the mare steps forward and peers inside to find another strange weapon. Before she can ask Ghost tells her its called a shotgun and it is very deadly in close quarters. Nodding the mare levitates the new weapon up and slides it to lock on her back and raises her rifle once more since she lacks the munitions for the shotgun. With her new weapon acquired she leaps down and her wings fan out slightly to slow her fall. As she lands more gently than other beings making that jump thanks to her wings she finds the hallway only goes one way so the armored mare takes off once more down some ancient corridor trying to outrun her pursuers. Though as she was twisting and turning down the tight corners of the structure her mind was already figuring out that she wouldn't be able to outrun them. However, as her eyes passed over decaying junk along with the Fallen crates her mind fed her ideas on how to outsmart the Fallen after her hide. Rounding around a very tight right turn in the hallway the mare ducks as a dreg swings at her neck having been waiting for her. As she slides forward under the Fallen's body her own twists and rotates as she follows up with bucking it in the rear sending it flying forward into the wall where with a sick crunch its neck snapped. Soon the strange mare was up and moving once more. As her armored shoes thunder down the hallways of the abandoned Wall, the pony finally burst out of the dark hallways that held the occasional dreg. Into a large open area, standing before here was a large group of the Fallen from dregs to vandals but they only held her gaze for a moment as on the far wall out of a dark passageway crawled the largest of their kind she had ever seen, along with the largest weapon that had ports along it that were on fire. "Of course the leader would be here waiting. Where else would he be?" the armored mare said sarcastically out loud, as she readied her rifle but upon finding that she was low on its ammo she formed a plan. Suddenly with a commanding howl the Fallen Captian orders them to charge. As his own weapon opens up on her, she dives to the side while her rifle rains down rounds upon the fodder. After the round from the Captain's weapon landed the mare dashed straight into the fray to keep him from getting an easy target on her again. She was practically flying as she bounced off dreg and vandal using her knife and rifle to put each down as she bucked one into a large container. Growling in frustration the Captain watched as his followers were being cut down by this creature. Soon his anger was too much and he charges to meet the strange guardian in the melee as soon as he hears her rifle click to say it was empty. The captain moves his subordinates aside with a shove and with a wicked grin growing on his face raises his arms to smash down on this irritating pest. The pony smirks under her helmet as the captain did exactly what she wanted him to, he got close enough to her where she could use it. So dropping her rifle from her grasp she unslings her shotgun as the captain's arms are falling towards her she pulls the trigger sending a shower of buckshot into the captains face taking out his shields and ending him as he is sent flying back a few steps to land on his back with his face nothing more than mincemeat. As all beings in the area stare in shock at what had happened with the only sound being the echo of the shotgun bouncing down the halls behind her as the lower Fallen stared at her and then their captain in growing fear. Seeing this nearly made the mare cackle out loud as with a pump of the shotgun to load a new shell the Fallen break rank and flee down the darkened passage that the Captain came from leaving her and their dead behind. With a shimmer of light, her Ghost appears and gives a "huh?" before looking around and turning to his guardian in shock "impressive, guardian. Now let's get out of this wall." He nods to the doorway with a glowing Exit sign above it. The mare nods and putting her shotgun back on her back and picking up her rifle she begins to trot unmolested out of the Wall. Ch. 2 HomeSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Ch 3 The Cosmodrome Part 1 The CourtyardSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Prologue: Return Part 1 (updated 12/11/21)Author's Note Well I hope you all enjoy this story as I have much planned for it. Though that is the same for my other stories. I just can't help myself when my muse wants me to put out a new idea. Anyways I'm trying something different with this story. Let me know what you think, but please no needlessly negative comments. Though as always constructive criticism is always welcome. ~Chief (update: Yes I'm back and I'm going through my stories to fix them up before adding any new chapters to them. Hope you enjoy the small fixes as I hope it helps flow better now.) Prologue: Return Part 1 (updated 12/11/21) Equestira With the sun setting in the west, a group of ponies and one dragon gather around a large statue. With heavy hearts and moist eyes, the group looks upon each other in silence asking who would be the first to speak. As the ponies exchanged looks they were drawn away from wondering who would speak first about their lost friend, by a quiet sniffle coming from the dragon as he stands before the base of the statue where he read the name and inscription. Twilight Sparkle ~ The greatest shining light for many as she lead in the defense of Equestria from many great threats. A friend, daughter, sister, and Mother. She made the greatest sacrifice to protect her home and loved ones. Looking up from the inscription Spike spoke softly but with the silence of the group behind him they all heard his words. "I miss you so much, you were the mother I always had but never knew. You gave me everything I needed all the love I could ask for and more. As you raised me, taught me, and looked out for me. I just wish I could see you one last time to tell you how much I love you.... Mom." As Spike spoke in deep pain for the missing mother he always had but never appreciated, the will of the ponies behind him crumbled as tears began to fall. Even the great Princesses of Equestria and the Crystal Empire openly shed tears at the hollow pain in the young drake's voice. The only one to not shed tears being a white stallion with a blue mane, even as his eyes grew wet and the desire to cry grew he felt he needed to be strong for his wife and mother. As the stallion's father silently cried for his lost daughter while holding his wife close, a strange sound began to fill the air slowly building in volume. As the ponies and dragon look around for the source their eyes catch a shooting star streaking across the now night sky before it vanishes from sight. The strange sound having faded away before returning in greater volume as a bright white light lite up from the tip of a dark shape in the sky. As the source grew closer to the ground a gust of wind began to pick up as the wine of the ship's engines changes pitch as the Sky Hawk begins to deploy its landing gear while the spotlight was kept trained on the memorial and group of ponies. As the strange object continued to grow near the ground the blinding white light was replaced with smaller less blinding running lights showing the outline of the ship. The pony watching in awe as it soon touches down softly on the grass near the statue and the engines begin to shut down. Confused and in awe at this strange machine they watch in silence as the area once more grows quiet without the whine of the engines from the ship. With it the ponies look to one an other for some clue as to what was going on, and as the silence grew further making the Equestrians start to grow worried a shimmering white light blinds them all once more as it flashes and while they can't see they can hear the thud of something landing on the ground. Quickly the Princesses blink away the spots from the white flash to find an armored Unicorn standing next to the ship with a glowing little cube hovering next to her head as she seemed to be in an argument with it. Though hushed as it was all present gasped as the armored mare grunted in agitation making her cloak flutter showing she had wings hidden under it marking her an Alicorn. Seemingly distracted with their conversation the ponies and dragon began to slowly move closer soon they began to pick up the cube's side of the conversation. "Spark, you said these were your friends and family why are we still standing next to the ship?" The hovering cube bobs and its corners seem to rotate to show expression that the armored alicorn was seeming to read. Though they couldn't hear a reply from the pony they assumed there must of been one as the cube continued. "I've seen you face down countless enemies time and again, you even faced down Ghaul alone with no hesitation. Which I might add would have helped prevent a few of the times we got in trouble if you had thought about it before acting." The armored equine bobs her head in a slow way showing that this was not a new discussion between the two as the mare had a talent for finding trouble as much as a certain Vanguard leader did. As the group stopped at the edge of the light from the ship the conversation halts and the two turn to face the group before with a sublt flash of white the cube was gone from sight. As the cube vanished the alicorn's horn began to glow with a familiar magenta hue as the mare undid the clasps and seals for her helmet before with a burst of air from the pressurized suit as the seal was broken. The helmet is slowly pulled off to show a failure lavender coated face with lovely purple eyes and a dark blue mane with pink highlights making every being gasp and go stock still. The armored mare was busy grumbling to herself as she removed her helmet and under her breath could be heard ".... Damn it Ghost, ...." before she trailed off into more mutters. Looking up the purple alicorn blinked at the sight of her friends and family bringing tears to her eyes while they stared uncomprehendingly at her. As she smirked and waited for their brains to reset she looked over each one. First was her mother and father, Twilight Velvet and Night Light, who looked haggard and rather ruffled as the two hadn't had much to be happy for in the past 18 months since Twilight Sparkle died in defense of the nation. Next to them was her brother, Shining Armor, and Cadence, who stood in front of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. fanning out from her family were her closest friends. But what held the mare's attention was who was between her parents, was Spike whose sight brought tears to her eyes and a stalling to her breathing as it catches in her throat. Her eyes remain on the young dragon for what feels like a lifetime for both as they stare into each other's eyes. With a hitch in her voice, she whispers "Oh Spike, I've missed you" and with that the two rush towards the other to meet halfway in a tight hug with Twilight adding her wings to hold Spike even closer as they both began to cry. The young dragon's once-quiet sniffles becoming loud cries as he holds his mother tightly hoping she wouldn't vanish if he let go. While the mare silently cried and held her baby dragon tight for the same reason. Softly to Spike, the mare whispers "Shh it's ok Spike I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." as she softly sat back to hold him in her lap while stroking his head fins and whispering more comfort to the crying youngling giving him the occasional nuzzle. For the two of them, nothing else mattered beyond the other, and while the group of ponies wished to join in the hug and joy that her return brings. After hearing what Spike had to say earlier they hold back to let the mother and son have their moment together.
Prologue: The Sacrifice of a Friend (Updated 12/11/21)Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Ch. 1 Eyes up Guardian! (Part 1) (Update: 12/11/21)Author's Note Hey its me again. Sorry about the wait had a rough few months but its getting better so I'm finding time to write more once again. Anyway here's a new update for you dear readers. And as always please give feedback but no unneeded hostility please. I welcome comments, and the more comments I get about how you like my story the more drive I have to write so if you like this story and want more sooner let me know. ~Chief (Update: Again nothing major was changed just some small things which I hope help the story flow) Ch. 1 Eyes up Guardian! (Part 1) (Update: 12/11/21) Cosmodrome, Old Russia, Earth As a white light flashed out from behind one of the decaying automobiles, a loud gasp is heard followed by a few short coughs. Hidden behind the decaying car sat a strange being that resembled something from humanity's distant past before the Collapse. The creature was something from long before Humanity landed on Mars to discover the Traveler. It was a rather short being with four sturdy legs that ended in round hooves as the mare blinked away the painful glare of the bright sun she looked down to find her forelegs and indeed her entire body covered in some strange armor. Reaching up to feel for the helmet that she knew was there was stopped when, with a subtle white flash Ghost appeared hovering above her head. As she stared at the strange glowing cube it began to speak, seemingly more to himself than to her. "I finally found you, guardian, after such a long time...." it looks back up from the ground to meet her gaze as he continues, "You've been dead for a very long time guardian, and you will see things that won't make any sense but trust me I have been searching for you for a very, very long time," Ghost is cut off by a loud howling sound that puts her heart into overdrive. "Oh no. The fallen have found us we must hurry and find you a jump ship to get to the last city. We must hurry so Eyes up Guardian!" And with that, the strange cube vanished from her sight. 'Guardian, don't worry I haven't left you. But first, we need to get out of here Now head to The Wall and see if there is any way through it.' Nodding the mare began to gallop towards the towering wall of metal and stone with strange writing on parts of the structure. "Alright, but I still have many questions," she grunted as she jumped up onto one of the decaying vehicles' hoods before leaping down to continue her mad dash to the hopefully safe wall. As she speeds on her cloak flutters in the wind causing a new sensation that nearly makes the mare trip as the wind flitters through her feathers on her wings which she hadn't had a chance to take stock of yet. Quckly she is able to catch herself from falling with a burst of energy from her horn and a flaring of her wings, though while it did slow her speed a little it was still better than landing on the ground and having to get up again. As she nears the decaying wall she spots a broken down metal door leaving a stairway open to her view. As she spots this promised safety she begins to lessen her speed before a bolt of blue energy strikes the car next to her. Making her let loose a yelp as she stumbled away from the dangerous spot before picking her speed back up. Soon the white armored mare was thundering up the rusty stairs into the dark wall before her eyes could adjust to the darkness as she had spotted a few dark shapes moving in the distance after the nearmiss and not wanting to wait around to find out if they where the ones who were after her. As she reaches the top of the stairs she turns and begins to gallop down the catwalk, her hooves pounding away at the ancient rust-covered metal, into an even darker area when the strange cube appears and lights the way up another set of stairs. But not before seeing Something crawling up the wall before the light could fully illuminate it and as hard claws clanking on metal rang in her ears as she rushed onto a large platform surrounded by a literal sea of darkness. Ghost speaks up as he begins to float away from the mare. "Hold on let me see if I can get the lights on, we won't last long in the dark. And then I need to find you a weapon." He continued to speak though more to himself again as he got further and further away leaving the mare in near total darkness and on edge. From the darkness, she could hear the strange device muttering to himself talking about military encryption and hardware along with centuries of decay when a cry of triumph sounds from the floating cube as large overhead lights came to life after centuries of being off. To show a massive internal structure to the wall but that was overshadowed by the multitude of six limbed beings rushing from the light back into the darkness. Ghost being helpful "That's a lot of Fallen....." Ghost's eye brightens as the gate that had been in their way before was opening as he saw an ancient assault rifle leaning against an old crate. "There an old rifle! Grab it and move we have to hurry Guardian." Ghost urged the mare on as he vanished from sight once more. As the mare stared at her hooves for a moment wondering how she was going to use the weapon. Her time of questioning was suddenly cut off as two of those Fallen creatures rounded the corner ahead of her wielding sparking knives. With a snort the mare's body begins to run without her conscious thought as her horn lights up a light lavender color while a similar aura surrounds the rifle as it launches up and stops in front of the mare as she puts pressure on the trigger and the auto rifle gave a loud report felling one of the dregs. Within a blink of the eye she had already switched targets to the still charging Dreg and pulled the trigger once more sending its now lifeless body crashing to the floor in a growing pool of its own blood. Blinking as her mind comes out of the combative stance she was in to stare at the floating rifle in awe. That's when something in her mind clicked and she understood she could use these weapons even if she lacked the proper appendages. 'Guardian! We have to keep moving!' The mare winces at the volume at which Ghost screamed at her in her head. The mare nods and rushes down the corridor and rounds the corner only to slide to a stop as red beams of light appear with a humming sound. And before she can even open her muzzle Ghost quickly jumps in 'Fallen Trip mines. Stay out of the red lights to keep from triggering the mines.' the mare nods and lifts a hoof to her chin and tapped on it in thought for a moment while the rifle floated beside her ready for more Fallen. Smiling as she gets an idea she begins to slowly move closer to the mines to find them and once she finds the source of the beams she removes the mines from the walls with her magic careful to not set them off. She begins to move down the new hallway when another loud howl sounds and she spots a group of four to six Fallen rushing her and under her helmet she smirks. Her magic moves the mines into the path of the oncoming group without them noticing having blindly charged once they found the mare was not using her rifle to attack them. The mare watched as they crossed into the red beams and with a sharp whine, the mines detonated on the group. Killing all six of them without the mare having to fire a shot. Ghost then comments 'Effective we'll have to remember that in the future.' The mare nods and begins to trot down the corridor at a steady pace with her rifle ready, but no more fallen seem to be eager to jump her for the moment. However just as she was starting to think that and relax a dreg dropped down from above her knocking her rifle away and lunging with its sparking blades. Just as quickly the mare reacted in kind as her left hoof went to her chest and pulled a combat knife from its sheath as she blocks the strike before pushing the dreg back with some magic and lunging forward sinking her blade into the Fallen's chest as its glowing blue eyes dull as it dies. Raising from the now-dead dreg the mare wiped her blade clean on the fallen's attire before resheathing it and without even looking levitated her rifle back to her side and continued on.
Ch. 1 Eyes up Guardian! (Part 2) (Update 12/11/21)Soon after dispatching the Fallen dreg with her knife the mare began to move again through the next room before coming across a long, and rusting, path leading her to the other side of the Wall's interior. The path hanging over a literal sea of darkness that the mare's sharp eyes couldn't cut through. Hesitating at the start of the bridge across the casam the mare was about to ask if there was another way across. For every instinct in her screamed to stay as far away from that darkness as possible. She however didn't even have the chance to open her mouth as yet another howl followed by countless more sounded out down the halls she had just been through. "Nevermind, Bridge it is." she curses under her breath as she gallops down the length of the rusting bridge. Her booted hooves causing her passing to echo across the dark area. Each beat of her hooves landing making her wince a little as she speaks up. "Well if they didn't know I was here before they do now." As she finishes her comment she reaches the other side of the bridge where a strange box sat unopened as well as a short drop into a lower hallway. Ignoring the box as the echoing sound of her passage across the bridge faded she was about to leap down to continue on when Ghost speaks up. 'Hey, Guardian see that chest to your right? Open it. It might have something useful inside.' Grunting at stopping herself right before she launched herself into the lower hallway to inspect the container wondering how to open it. Seeing a green panel glowing she taps it with the tip of her hoof causing the seal to break and the chest to open on its own. Having stumbled back from not expecting it to open like that the mare steps forward and peers inside to find another strange weapon. Before she can ask Ghost tells her its called a shotgun and it is very deadly in close quarters. Nodding the mare levitates the new weapon up and slides it to lock on her back and raises her rifle once more since she lacks the munitions for the shotgun. With her new weapon acquired she leaps down and her wings fan out slightly to slow her fall. As she lands more gently than other beings making that jump thanks to her wings she finds the hallway only goes one way so the armored mare takes off once more down some ancient corridor trying to outrun her pursuers. Though as she was twisting and turning down the tight corners of the structure her mind was already figuring out that she wouldn't be able to outrun them. However, as her eyes passed over decaying junk along with the Fallen crates her mind fed her ideas on how to outsmart the Fallen after her hide. Rounding around a very tight right turn in the hallway the mare ducks as a dreg swings at her neck having been waiting for her. As she slides forward under the Fallen's body her own twists and rotates as she follows up with bucking it in the rear sending it flying forward into the wall where with a sick crunch its neck snapped. Soon the strange mare was up and moving once more. As her armored shoes thunder down the hallways of the abandoned Wall, the pony finally burst out of the dark hallways that held the occasional dreg. Into a large open area, standing before here was a large group of the Fallen from dregs to vandals but they only held her gaze for a moment as on the far wall out of a dark passageway crawled the largest of their kind she had ever seen, along with the largest weapon that had ports along it that were on fire. "Of course the leader would be here waiting. Where else would he be?" the armored mare said sarcastically out loud, as she readied her rifle but upon finding that she was low on its ammo she formed a plan. Suddenly with a commanding howl the Fallen Captian orders them to charge. As his own weapon opens up on her, she dives to the side while her rifle rains down rounds upon the fodder. After the round from the Captain's weapon landed the mare dashed straight into the fray to keep him from getting an easy target on her again. She was practically flying as she bounced off dreg and vandal using her knife and rifle to put each down as she bucked one into a large container. Growling in frustration the Captain watched as his followers were being cut down by this creature. Soon his anger was too much and he charges to meet the strange guardian in the melee as soon as he hears her rifle click to say it was empty. The captain moves his subordinates aside with a shove and with a wicked grin growing on his face raises his arms to smash down on this irritating pest. The pony smirks under her helmet as the captain did exactly what she wanted him to, he got close enough to her where she could use it. So dropping her rifle from her grasp she unslings her shotgun as the captain's arms are falling towards her she pulls the trigger sending a shower of buckshot into the captains face taking out his shields and ending him as he is sent flying back a few steps to land on his back with his face nothing more than mincemeat. As all beings in the area stare in shock at what had happened with the only sound being the echo of the shotgun bouncing down the halls behind her as the lower Fallen stared at her and then their captain in growing fear. Seeing this nearly made the mare cackle out loud as with a pump of the shotgun to load a new shell the Fallen break rank and flee down the darkened passage that the Captain came from leaving her and their dead behind. With a shimmer of light, her Ghost appears and gives a "huh?" before looking around and turning to his guardian in shock "impressive, guardian. Now let's get out of this wall." He nods to the doorway with a glowing Exit sign above it. The mare nods and putting her shotgun back on her back and picking up her rifle she begins to trot unmolested out of the Wall.
Ch 3 The Cosmodrome Part 1 The CourtyardSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
