Chapters Previously On Off the Grid......
"Something is out there to get us ponies"
"What truth?"
"That there's a world out there....beyond the Grid"
"Alright.....let's go"
"HAHAHAHAHA"
.......And now the conclusion.
1 month later
Stryker had been living over a month in the outside world. He had managed to traverse the Wasteland's to look for his friend's, and Pixel's captors. Right now the dirt, or abandoned steel road's were silent with year's of decay apparent on them. It didn't compare to the trading post building's that were made of some fine steel, for other outsider's to crossover. Thousand's of masked unusual Equestrian like, or other species were standing around, or guarding the place. The sound of an army jeep was heard strolling by, a few vehicles usually coming through this place.
The jeep finally came to a stop, as the masked men looked over to see a scarlet Equestrian pony step out of the vehicle. Even though it had been a month, Stryker seemed a bit more unrecognizable comapred to what he looked like when he was in the Grid.
"Uuuuuhhh.....Hi?" One of them asked confused, not used to seeing a being like Stryker around these part's.
"I'm looking to gather some information....where's the best place to look?" Stryker asked.
"Information.....I'd try the pub with the trading post, it's right down the block.....just head down that street" One of them pointed out.
"Trading post huh....just head down this street?" Stryker asked.
"That's right just head down" The soldier aswered. From behind one of the buiding's, one of the Cybermen that was behind the captor's deal's who had taken Pixel, was using Predator vision to watch Stryker from afar. It quickly ducked behind the building to watch the Sheriff safely out of sight. The Cyberman soon came back to the masked Equestrian captor who was in a futuristic chair.
"High Lord....our scout's have detected a strange Equestrian signature in Outpost 47" The Cyberman reported, as the female Equestrian turned to him in her futuristic throne, and smiled.
"That must be the Sheriff we've been hearing.....so much about" She answered, pulling up a security camera footage.
"Awaiting order's to proceed with the acquasiton of the target" The Cyberman told her, as the female Equestrian being put her hand up.
"No need....let him come to us, we have what he want's" She smiled, pulling up a cell footage of a security camera that contained Pixel.
"High Lord, may I suggest utilizing the prototype unit's.....it may prove to yield far more viable combat data?" The Cyberman asked.
"Perhap's it's time for a field test" She smiled, as the Cyberman nodded.
"Acknowledged, commencing with activation of the prototypes" The Cyberman told her. In a very dark area within the female Equestrian being's stronghold were activated mechanical Unicorn's, Pegasi, and Earth ponies who were now ready for combat.
The tavern itself seemed rather more lonelier than usual. There was only a single person who was at the front desk with a bunch of weapon's on the wall behind him. He was currently working on a gas mask filter, while having the oil lantern next to him. It was odd knowing that only one section of this tavern used power, while he only used a lantern for the front desk. The sound of the front door opening was heard, as Stryker walked in, and came to the front desk. "Well....your obviously not here to buy gas mask filter's." The masked bat pony stated in a bored voice.
"I'm looking to gather some information, I was told this was the place to go" Stryker told him.
"Well you are in the right place.....got any money?" The bat pony asked.
"I have 20,000 Grid credit's" Stryker replied.
"Grid Credit's....what the fuck are those.......you won't find a single dealer around these part's that accept your form of currency...got anything of value?" The bat pony asked.
"And just what exactly is considered, an object of value around here?" Stryker asked.
"Weaponry, bullet's, ammunition, precious metal's....uh....fuel cell's" The bat pony replied, giving him an example.
"Hmmmmmm" Stryker hummed, trying to think if he had anything of value he really didn't need, until the guy at the front desk spoke up, pointing to a door to the left of him.
"Head through that doorway....it'll take you to the trading room....maybe you'll find someone to help you in there" The bat pony advised.
"Alright....thank's" Stryker nodded, as he journeyed into the trading post room. The room itself had a lot of power going through it, and there were people chatting, and talking with one another, discussing the object's they wanted to trade, or barter with. Some in the area were trading, other's were arguing. "Whoah.....there's so much going on" Stryker told himself, as he journeyed into the room.
"Live, or diiiiieeee...this is the newest model of weaponry from V.E.N. Industries....powerful weapon's, built for survival, and specalist's....get your weapon's" One of them stated, as Stryker stopped, seeing the person who was selling the weapon's, while a mysterious female Equestrian being he didn't recognize walk away from the trader's stand, putting the weapon back. "OH COME ON......don't just walk away without looking to spend on anything" The masked Equestrian salesbeing grumbled. Another of the masked soldier's only grumbled, seeing the female Equestrian being walk away.
"Don't worry about her, I'll buy one of your weapon's.....but first give me a discount" The customer demanded. Stryker walked up to the same desk, and spoke.
"Hey there" Stryker told him, as the masked, tall dragon trader looked down, noticing him. "Do you take Grid Credit's?" Stryker asked.
"Do I take......WHAT NOW!?!?!?!?!?" The Dragon asked confused, and taken back before turning to him with a growl. "If You Don't Have Bullet's, Or Gun's, Get Lost" The dragon growled.
"I'm just looking for some information....." Stryker tried to tell him, but the Dragon roared his next word's.
"I SAID.....GET LOST!!!!!!!!!!" He shouted. Stryker gave him a middle finger gesture in response, which made the dragon trader growl. Not finding anything, the Sheriff screamed his next word's.
"DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE GRID CREDIT'S!?!?!?!?!?!?" Stryker shouted.
"Over here" An Equestrian dragon spoke who was at his own area with his own item's on sale. Stryker walked over to the trader's post.
"Do you accept Grid Credit's?" Stryker asked.
"Well.....I don't know about the Grid Credit's....but we can work something out" The trader smiled.
"I'm not from around here, and I'm looking for information" Stryker told him.
"Information huh......well your in luck.....I happen to be an information broker.....so how's this.....you give me information about yourself, and where your from, and in return.....I'll tell you a fair share about this world" The dragon told him.
"Hmmmmm......Deal" Stryker replied.
The trader, and Stryker had talked for a few minute's with the Sheriff telling the trader who he was, what did he do, and so on. The information broker looked at his plasma rifle, which Stryker had successfully upgraded, after a month on his journey. "So your telling me that this gun is powered by a specific type of magic that come's from your horn's?" The dragon asked.
"That's right...it's a weapon designed by the engineer's back at the Grid....made exclusively used for ponies" Stryker explained.
"Fascinating....and there's an entire society of cute little ponies just like you?" The dragon asked.
"Well....you could say that....this little society mostly consist's of species that are Unicorn's, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies. Unicorn's are well endowsed with magic....Pegasi are the fastest flier's, and the best engineer's, and Earth Ponies are super powerful, and strong" Stryker told him.
"So which one are you?" The dragon asked.
"I'm not.....really sure. All I know about my past is that my mother was a special unicorn who left me on a doorstep of a palace city which fell a long time ago....I then grew up, on my own" Stryker replied.
"If that's the case.....where did you get that scar on your face.....I recognize many scar's on other being's, but your's I don't recognize.....who gave you that?" The Dragon asked. Stryker's mind immedietly shifted back to that dark hell hole that contained Scarlett Twinkle that made him shiver at the thought, and replied.
"From something you don't want to meet" Stryker replied coldly.
"What are you doing so far from home?" The dragon asked.
"The ponies of my world have been dissapearing, but I later discovered that we were being hunted....I don't kown what it was, but I knew it wasn't from the Grid.....it had to have come from another world. My companion's, and I left home in search of our lost comrades, in hope's of rescuing them" Stryker explained.
"So you came here with friend's....where are they now?" The dragon asked.
"I don't know....I lost them on the way here" Stryker replied with a tint of sadness in his voice, taking his rifle off the desk.
"Sorry to hear about that....alright I guess it's my turn to share some information" The dragon answered, as he brought up a messy bag, and then threw it down onto the desk. They each were a pair of colorful coin's, and picked one up. "This is a coin fuel cell....think of it, as the highest form of currency in this world....not only will it power my equipment....it's incredibly valuable, and fetches a high price." The dragon explained, as Stryker grasped picking up the coin's.
"Wait a minute.....I recognize these.....these are part's of Unicorn horn's that a Unicorn uses to power magic....where did you find these?" Stryker asked.
*****There's a city many mile's north of this outpost called "Candle Smoke"....there's a trader there by the name of Vampra, she's the one who has been in the distribution of these coin's. The dragon's advice rang through Stryker's mind. Stryker punched the gas, and went full throttle to the location that the dragon told him about.
Back at the outpost's, a Cyberman walked up to the trader that helped Stryker, and came to a stop.
"He's a pony named Stryker....he come's from a place called 'The Grid'" Th dragon told him.
"What of his weaponry? The Cyberman asked.
"Hee's got some sort of energy based blaster rifle" He answered.
"Where is he headed now?" The Cyberman asked.
"I sent him straight into the heart of Candle Smoke" The dragon replied.
"Excellent....the High Lord will be pleased" The Cyberman snarled, as the dragon gave him a sinister smile.
"Glad to be of service" The dragon replied.
Stryker continued driving through the harsh wind's, and ash sky heading straight into a trap. His vehicle raced by at high speed's with him not caring to stop at any cost. Stryker passed many wrecked military vehicles, until he came to a stop near one of them...seeing a barrel off gas intact on the side of the road. "Hmmm....I still have a long way to go.....I should look for supplies" Stryker told himself, as he turned the engine off, and got out of the jeep. Outside of the area, a night vision sniper rifle scope was searching the area, and spotted Stryker.
Stryker went forward to a barrel, and began knocking on it. "Hmmm....there's some fuel in this one....I should replenish my gas tank" He grunted, banging his hand on the top of the barrel. The sniper from afar, discharged the rifle as Stryker immedietly dodged the gunfire that almost hit him if he didn't evade. Stryker couldn't spot where the sniper was shooting from, but saw that his jeep wasn't too far. He had to get to it....no matter the cost. The sniper fired again with the Barret 50 cal....the power of the rifle, knocking Stryker back.
The female Equestrian being that was in the trader's outpost earlier, shifted her gaze, as she fired her Barret 50. cal at the tank of gas next to Stryker. "Oh....fuck" Stryker groaned, as the tank of gas blew up sending him into the vehicle with a hard impact.
"That's enough....head to the rendevous point....I'll meet up with you there....I'm going to go finish this myself" a male voice told the female Equestrian being, who nodded in response. The male being began to head down to where Stryker's location. At first the male didn't see anything, until he heard a gun cock, causing him to pull out his own, pointing it at Stryker.
"Put your weapon down......you traitor" Stryker growled. The male cyan pony scoffed upon Stryker's word's.
"Calling me a traitor......very funny Stryker" He replied with a cold snarl.
The Great Nightmare War (Many year's ago)
Stryker was walking down the guarded, torn down basement of Sugarcube corner with his partner's. He was ordered from Luna's royal guard to take care of the ponies who had there fair share of casualties, while battling the evil that consisted of Nightmare being's brought by Celestia, and Luna who had become corrupted from the Nightmare's new demon power's. Twilight Sparkle had rallied powerful armies, and had fought them on all front's. Right now it was the battle of Ponyville, and the two being's armies had only conquered the northern area's, near Canterlot castle.
Canterlot had already fallen, but they were fighting with huge ferocity. He was in what used to be Pinkamena's private basement that she would have used for killing, but she had turned it into a medical facility. A wound from the Nightmare realm would have eventually turned her into a being of the Nightmare Realm if she bled out, but her split personality protected her. Stryker seemed to somehow now how the Nightmare being's attacked on some front's, and when given order's....he would help on ocassion's. He had his normal friend's....and friend's in high places.
He roamed the hall's with the two healer's that he had planned on helping throughout the war....Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie....who currently had Pinkamena at the driver's seat of her body. The two were able to communicate with each other inside their brain, and if they needed to, one would take over for the other; for this case, Pinkamena was best required. "I'm so glad your working with me on this Flutter's....I'm more better at gutting bodies than patching it up, and it would be a lot more difficult if you weren't assigned to treat medical, as well" Pinkamena smiled.
"Being the batpony I used to be has me familiarized with some of the vexes, and curses that these wound's carry....if it wasn't for our practice in specialized exorcism, tending to the wounded would be impossible" Fluttershy smiled.
"I'm more of tipped bladed, and bullet specialist myself....but then again I'd rather get to business, and heal these wounded so we can get back out there" Stryker snarled.
"Ugh.....Captain Stryker, why are you alway's so focused on the war at the front line's than enjoying to take a break from them?" Pinkamena asked with a groan.
"I'm a captain of the best soldier's that I have been chosen to lead.....I made a promise to Shining Armor.....and I intend to keep it. A Captain belong's on the battlefield, but if there are wounded who need my help....then I'll make sure that they can get back out there" Stryker answered, as the two finally came across the medical wing. There were about 10 patient's for them to treat. Some of the wound's they had recieved were horrific, but it meant they had to get them back. "Let's get to work" Stryker sighed, as the three split up, intiating treatment to the patient's.
Hour's Later
The gunfire, rocket's, and magical spell's raining in the sky from the battle above was heard, as the basement's light constantly flickered on, and off. Stryker was tending to a dark blue male Pegasi who had lost his wing's, and was bandaged completely. One of his hand's had been sliced off, but a cold Nightmare magic was surrounding his body. It originally was trying to mutate him....but instead it was killing him. Stryker knew there was nothing he could do....only comfort. "S-Stryker.....I...c-c-c.....c-can't.....feel....my hand's" The dying Pegasi said weakly.
"Your going to be okay.....stay with me....you'll be home soon" Stryker told him, but still knew it was hopeless.
"I-I-I'm.....s-so......c-c-cold.....Gggggaaaaaahhh" The Pegasi groaned, drawing his last breath....and died. Stryker let out a sad sigh, shaking his head with a somber note. This entire war was a mess, and he knew it. He hoped peace woud descend to the fallen from this awful war.
"Lucky him" A blue Earth pony stallion mumbled who had been operated with only being treated from a few bruises he recieved in a battle.
"WHAT.....DID YOU SAY!?!?!?!?!?" Stryker growled, offended by the stallion's word's.
"He's better off dead than suffering with the rest of us" The stallion scoffed coldly.
"He fought bravely.....to defend our home from corruption....AND YOU DARE MOCK HIS DEATH!?!?!?!?!?" Stryker accused with a snarl.
"What was he fighting for Stryker.....why are we here.....why are ponies dying left, and right?" The stallion asked.
"YOU KNOW DAMM WHY.....WE'RE FIGHTING TO PROTECT OUR HOME.....TO PROTECT THOSE WHO CALL IT A HOME!!!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted angrily, as the blue stallion got up.
"You know what Stryker.....I'm done with your idealism.....I'm out" The stallion scoffed, getting up, and started to head out through another door of the medical wing.
"Where do you think your going.....DESERTER!?!?!?!?!?" Stryker asked.
"Anywhere, but here....I don't fancy dying a pointless death" The stallion said mockingly.
"You are FUCKING FULL OF IT.....You have a duty to uphold" Stryker told him, until he heard, an old battle phone ring, getting his attention.
"No Stryker YOU have a duty to uphold" The stallion told him, while Stryker answered the phone. Pinkamena, and Fluttershy had watched the whole conversation take place, and were also wanting to know wha the call Stryker recieved meant.
"This is Captain Stryker" Stryker said through the phone.
"This is the Outpost Commander, Regalias....we are being overrun, at the border between Ponyville, and Canterlot....we need backup....I repeat....we need backup" Regalias shouted.
"Hang in there....I'm on my way" He told them, after noting that the stallion was gone, and hung up the phone.
"Pinkamena.....Fluttershy....I hope you can take care of the wounded, they need me back at the front line's" Stryker told them.
"We'll be fine" Fluttershy smiled.
"Give 'em hell Captain" Pinkamena winked, as Stryker shot her a confident smile.
"I plan on it" He grinned, exiting the medical wing, and rushing off to make a difference in the war.
*****
The same Earth Pony who had left the medical wing that day, was standing in front of Stryker....an old acquaintance whom he had a much hated rivalry during the war, and here the two were, pointing both their gun's at each other. "You left your fellow ponies to die" Stryker snarled.
"They were already dead" The Earth pony snarled coldly.
"Was it worth it.....Clint did you find someplace to have a meaningful death? Your just a scumbag who live's by preying off the weak" Stryker snarled.
Clint was silent for a few second's, and then had a mischevious grin spread across his face, as his finger tightened on the trigger. "Your right" He smiled, as he fired his pistol at the Sheriff. Stryker easily dodged the shot, before firing a blast from his own weapon. Clint easily dodged the plasma shot, and began firing multiple shot's at Stryker. The Grid Sheriff used his robtoic glove to take all the bullet's, while firing another blast from his plasma gun. Clint dodged the gunfire again, and fired back, until he scored a direct hit, knocking the gun away from Stryker's hand. Clint began firing his weapon, as Stryker quickly ducked behind the jeep....Clint's bullet's bouncing off the vehicle's armor.
"Come out Stryker....there's no use hiding" Clint told him, as Stryker used his robotic glove arm to lift the entire jeep up with one hand, and slammed it down on Clint. The Earth Pony was still alive, due to his immense strength, as he got up with a pained growl. Scratches were all over Clint's face, and his gun was a few meter's away from him. Stryker picked up Clint's wepaon, and aimed it directly at him. The blue Earth pony immedietly noticed something off about Stryker. One of his eye's turned a lifeless black, and began bleeding, while the Sheriff pointed his gun at his enemy.
Stryker had a small psychotic smile on his face, as Scarlett Twinkle's voice sang in a dark whisper inside his head. In Stryker's vision....he was looking around, hearing her voice....unaware of his half transformation. Kill him.....Kill him....Kill him.....Kill him.....Just do it.....Kill him for us....Kill him already......Kiiiiiilll him Stryker While Scarlett Twinkle's voice rang inside his head, Stryker cocked the gun in his hand, as a piece of Nightmare magic started generating from the barrel of the gun.
That's Nightmare being magic.....what the hell happened to you Stryker? Clint thought, as Stryker had enough, and emptied the entire gun of it's bullet's, and handed it back to Clint. The voices faded, and Stryker's left eye turned back to normal. He did find it strange after seeing the red liquid on his finger's, after wiping the blood off that had poured out of his eye.
"I'm out here to save our home" Stryker panted, sounding completely normal, and unaware of what took place. Clint felt relief washing over his body, but did his best to not show any concern.
"I don't care" Clint said with a fake grumble.
"Then do it for Pixel" Stryker told him, as Clint stopped dead in his track's hearing those word's. He alway's had a crush on Pixel back during the war, but she only had eye's for Stryker....not for him. Clint looked back with a suprised, and a bit of a concerned look on his face.
"They took Pixel......Clint" Stryker told him.
"Her name....is Vampra.....and where she goes.....death follow's. She is relentless.....and merciless. She'll stop at nothing to get what she want's" Clint explained, as both he, and Stryker were now in the jeep that Stryker took with him, somehow still being intact after their scuffle. Stryker was driving the vehicle itself, while Clint was riding in the side seat. The two had contiuned to work together, but Stryker didn't really trust Clint, not in a million year's. Right now, Clint was his only option of finding some clues. Clint did his best to seem onboard for now, but he needed to find a way to ditch Stryker.
If Stryker had a part of a Nightmare being's magic that was secretly inside his body, the only way that could possibly happen is if he came across a Nigthmare being who generate's that type of magic itself. Clint decided to continue giving the information he had for Stryker so that he could survive. If the pair crossed path's again....they would end each other personally. "She rule's the Wasteland's.....she's in charge of these part's...no one messes with her" Clint warned, as Stryker scoffed.
"So what....you telling me I should just give up....forget about Pixel, and go home?" Stryker asked.
"All I'm saying is....you really need to think this through....you can't just go in gun's blazing, and hope to get out alive" Clint warned. Although with that Nightmare power coursing through your body, if you learn how to master that without consequence, you won't need to have a strategy Clint thought secretly to himself. Stryker was mostly silent, and continued driving along the road, passing ruined cities, and molded, torn building's. Stryker finally let the vehicle come to a stop, and sighed.
"Let's take a break here for the night" Stryker told him, as Clint nodded in response, as Stryker helped checked their equipment. Clint was mostly patrolling around the area, until he came across what Stryker was doing.
"Whatcha doin'?" He asked, pretending to strike up a conversation.
"Just taking inventory" Stryker replied. Clint looked down for a minute, feeling a bit conflicted, until he spotted something that caught his eye.
"What's that?" Clint asked, and pointed toward a golden, ancient chalice that was on the ground.
"What's wha....." Stryker trailed off, as he immedietly recognized the cup he saw, that he had once retrieved for Scarlett Twinkle. Stryker gasped, and jumped back for a bit, while Clint smiled.
"Shiny.....look's like it'll fetch a high price on the market" Clint chuckled, as he began to move toward's the cup.
"STOP.....DON'T TOUCH THAT CUP!!!!!!!!!!" Stryker warned, as Clint looked at him, hiding his unerved senses.
"Geez....calm down Stryker.....I was just kidding" Clint told him, as Stryker suddenly heard Scarlett Twinkle's word's ring in his mind. His left eye changed back into that demonic bloody color from earlier, and with some Nightmare magic his robotic glove molded onto his arm, forming a cannon filled with Nightmare magic that he wanted to point at Clint.
Kill him Stryker......Kill him......Just kill him already Scarlett Twinke's voice rang through his head. Stryker quickly went forward, and covered the cup with a black military blanket which ceased the voices inside his head, and reverted his left eye, and arm glove back to normal.
"Stryker.....Stryker....." Clint asked in a faded voice.
"How did that get here....how?" Stryker asked himself.
"STRYKER!!!!!!" Clint shouted, getting the Sheriff's attention.
"W-What?" Stryker asked nervously.
"You alright?" Clint asked....secretly being ready, just in case Stryker transformed, and fought him with that new form.
"Y-yeah....I'm fine" Stryker replied, as Clint gave him a studying glance, before pretending to shrug it off.
"Hmm.....sure you are" He smiled, walking over to a nearby area, as Stryker sat down.
"I need to relax" Stryker told himself, as the chalice beneath the black blanket immedietly disappeared with the blanket falling onto the ground, as if it wasn't covering the chalice at all.....or if it ever was there in the first place.
*****
"What are these thing's?" Stryker asked himself, while another metallic clang echoing throughout his dream. The canister of blood moved, and rattled, as Stryker stepped closer to get a better look at it. The jar rattled again, as Stryker gasped, and looked around, feeling something watching him. He turned back to the jar of blood, and Scarlett Twinkle's face peaked out from the corner of the blood filled canister
*****
"Rise, and shine Stryker.....hope you don't mind me driving....tried to wake you in the morning, but you wouldn't wake up" Clint told him, knowing full well that Stryker's nightmare was now proof enough for him that he had encoutered, and picked up a Nightmare being's energy of evil.
"Ahhhh....it was just a dream" Stryker sighed in relief.
"What.....having nightmare's about Vampra?" Clint asked. Stryker stayed long, and silent, remebering his encounter with Scarlett Twinkle. All the gory torn apart ponies who had died in that pit from her, and how she easily ripped apart that powerful Equestrian being that fought Raptus earlier.
"No.....something worse....much, much worse" Stryker replied. Clint started the jeep, and drove off, while also knowing that he had to find a way to ditch Stryker soon. He wanted nothing to do with any Nightmare being's, and he definetly did not want to be around if Stryker continued to have repeated transformation's.
Pixel sat in silence of the prison cell that she had been placed in by the Equestrian being that had taken her captive. Every so often one of the prisoner's was taken away, and then she could hear their scream's echoing off the wall's. She still had hope that Stryker would come for her, but she couldn't sit in this cell all by herself. They had all been branded with a prisoner number, and stripped of most of their clothing....to help prepare them for slaughter. If Stryker had looked at her now, she would have no doubt loved seeing the reaction on his face....but he wasn't here.
"You sound like a very brave mare" A female voice spoke up, as Pixel turned her attention to another Equestrian being who was sharing the cell with her.
"Who are you?" Pixel asked, as the other Equestrian being, appeared to be some sort of chipmunk.
"My name is....well....you can call me Lyca"
"You know that brave stranger who tried to save us?" Pixel asked.
"More than know....he, and I were close....very close. We've each know each other for a long time; I used to be a princess who ended up going on many adventures with him, and had a human body, but when we came across an artifact....I had a permanent transformation that turned me into this. We still felt the same way toward's each other, and went with the changes in our lives. We had job's of rescuing other's from Vampra, but she finally caught us when we were rescuing you, one of her Cybermen caught me outside." Lyca explained, as Pixel growled with frustration.
"That's it....I'm going to get us out of here" Pixel snarled, trying to think of a plan, until Lyca stopped her.
"Your not doing so without my help, I have an idea of where we can start, but first.....since you tried to use Link's sword....maybe I can help teach you how to properly use, and wield that weapon" She smiled, quickly giving Pixel some tip's.
*****
"Fuck you" She hissed, as the Cyberman repeated it's question again to which she shrugged. The Cyberman then activated the cell door, and journeyed inside to see what was going on. It used it's Predator vision to search high, and low for Pixel, still unable to find her. On the wall behind the Cyberman, Pixel was high above the floor, clutching onto the wall like Spiderman, until she pounced. She tackled the Cyberman to the ground, knocking the sword from it's grasp. Pixel struggled against the mechanical being, but eventually used her Earth pony strength to rip the Cyberman's head from it's body.
The Cyberman's body shut down, as Pixel threw the head aside. She quickly grabbed the silver sword that the Cyberman was carrying, and carried it on her back, while wearing a chain she got from the it to keep the sword in place. "Thank you....for everything" Pixel told Lyca, who chucked in response.
"No problem.....go save the other's first, before you rescue me" Lyca told her.
"I promise I'll come back for you" Pixel told her, and then quickly darted out of the cell.
"SECURITY BREACH, SECURITY BREACH, SECURITY BREACH!!!!!!!" The severed Cyberman head, as the other Cyberman were instantly discussing about why the alarm had sounded.
"Prisoner 37 has escaped" The lead Cyberman told the group.
"Her location is compromised" Another Cyberman stated.
"Divirge all unit's to every sector" The lead Cyberman ordered.
"AFFIRMATIVE!!!!!!" The other Cybermen announced, and readied their weapon's. Pixel had overheard their conversation, and snuck away....doing her best to find a place out of there without getting caught. She managed to sneak through a small crevice to see if it led her to another area. A Cyberman spotted her through the crevice that she had crawled through.
"Movement's detected....the prisoner is traveling through the ventilation system....procceding to commence with prisoner acquisition" The Cyberman said out loud, while readying his weapon.
"No need......secure the perimeter....I'll handle this myself" Vampra told the Cybeman. Pixel soon found herself in a strange storage system, that almost looked like a lab. She looked around for a door, until she heard one open, and shut, coming face to face with Vampra. Through the bright light's in the storage area....even with her hood on Pixel could fully see Vampra. Lyca looked more like an anthro chipmunk pony, while Vampra looked like an Equestrian shark pony.
If it wasn't for what she was doing, a lot of stallion's would think that she'd be quite the looker. She had beautiful midnight skin that had different type of pattern's on her body. Her mane was a dark jet black which went along with her look. She wore, an armor clad of panties, and bra that only showed off her long leg's, and her exposed belly. She was mostly covered, and had beautiful blue eye's. Sadly for stallion's....she was killer, not a lover.
"I command you for your bravery....but it end's here" She said in a chilling, yet sweet sounding tone. Pixel wasn't afraid, as she readied her sword in a battle stance. Vampra used her force power's, and threw a huge pipe at Pixel. The Earth pony mare saw the attack coming, and quickly used the power that Lyca had taught her to slice the pipe in half which impacted the wall behind her.
"Huh.....I see Lyca has taught you a trick, or two" Vampra said with admiration in her voice. Pixel only raised her sword, and charged, while Vampra brought out her own sword, and clashed with Pixel. Vampra was very powerful, but Pixel was not about to give up, using her super strength to fight her with everything she had. "Persistent aren't you?" Vampra asked, before shoving Pixel back, which knocked the mare to the ground.
Vampra readied her sword to go for the kill, but Pixel struggled to get up. The Earth pony mare had been in that cell for a month...she was malnourshed, and she was giving it her all to try, and escape. "I'm impressed" Vampra smiled, as Pixel channeled every bit of strength, and energy into her body, while standing up.
"I won't give up" Pixel growled, as Vampra readied her sword. The two clashed again, but Vampra threw her back into the wall once more. The floor gave out from beneath Pixel thank's to Vampra's powerful attack, as the Earth pony landed in a cold, dark storage room. Pixel got up, and looked around, quickly grabbing her sword that had fallen a few feet next to her. The Earth pony got up, and heard Vampra land behind her. Pixel got into a battle stance, until she heard the sound of mechanical footstep's approaching from the shadow's as mechanical Unicorn's, Pegasi, and Earth ponies that Vampra made approached them. "Oh no" Pixel gasped, seeing the horror of what Vampra had created with the death of the Equestrian ponies from The Grid.
"Take her away" Vampra ordered....Pixel's attempt of escape....ending abruptly.
The sound of the jeep driving down the road was heard, as Clint, and Stryker continued on their mission together. Clint was trying to figure out a way to ditch Stryker, not wanting any part with Nightmare being's, even if it meant saving Pixel from Vampra. Lucky for Clint his opportunity was going to come when he least expected it, as Stryker's jeep began sputtered for a few minute's, until it came to a complete stop on the abandoned highway. The jeep had stopped in a place that was almost the middle of nowhere with the only option to continue on foot.
"Why are we stopping?" Stryker asked.
"We're out of gas Stryker.....I'll check the back" Clint replied, as he went to the back of the jeep, and checked the extra gas tank strapped to the military jeep. "The extra gas tank is also empty too" Clint told him, as Stryker got out of the vehicle.
"What do we do now?" Stryker asked.
"Hmmm....well there is a town not too far from here" Clint answered.
"Let's go see if we can find some fuel" Stryker told them, as the two proceeded on foot toward's the abandoned, desert like town that seemed to be a very far part of the wasteland's. The huge skyscraper's, and normal buidling's were completely abandoned....each building have a giant hole in them. The two walked through the empty street's of the ghost town, while also spotting a bunch of window's. "What happened here?" Stryker asked.
"I don't know....probably a small war, or something" Clint replied, while scrounging through the building's, and area for fuel.
"Something tell's me whatever it was.....wasn't small" Stryker replied, looking at a huge hole through one of the building's that Clint also noticed. "I got a bad feeling about this.....we should leave" Stryker warned Clint, the place feeling off to him.
"Calm down Stryker.....there's no one here" Clint pointed out.
"EXACTLY......THERE'S NOTHING HERE......NO PEOPLE.....NO SURVIVOR'S......NOT EVEN DEAD PEOPLE!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted in response.
"What Is your point Stryker?" Clint grumbled, clearly annoyed.
"There's something Very wrong with this town......CLINT ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME!?!?!?!?!?" Stryker shouted, as Clint uncovered a weapon suitcase near one of the buidling's.
"Check out what I just found" He smiled, as he threw the case to the ground, and began to investigate it. "Stryker we came into this town looking for supplies.....try not to forget that....before you start freaking out on me" Clint told him, as he opened the weapon case. "Niiiiiicccee.....they don't make gun's like these anymore, this is some really heavy firepower.....wonder why it's here?" Clint asked out loud, as he looked at the very shiny AA12 shotgun that had been retroffited, rebuilt, and modified to carry the most powerful tank round's in it's barrel, while also having powerful ammunition.
"I'd rather not know why someone needed that" Stryker shuddered.
"....And what's this?" Clint asked, as he spotted a nearby wheel before uncovering a torn down, but mostly intact Harley Davidson Motorcycle. "That was convenient" Clint chuckled.
"Great....we got what we came for.....let's go" Stryker warned.
"Take it easy.....you can't rush these thing's" Clint replied, and accidentally touched the horn....which set off it's car alarm, as it beeped throughout the echoing ghost town.
"CLINT.....TURN THAT THING OFF NOW!!!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted, the beeping still echoing throughout the town, until Clint pulled out his gun, and shot the horn....turning the car alarm off.
"Piece of cake" Clint smiled, until a loud thundering boom was heard, mixed with a very, very loud roar.
"What.....the fuck......was that?" Stryker asked.
Boom......Boom.....Boom......Boom. The sound of very huge footstep's was heard approaching them, while a bunch of building's had small pieces of debris, and dirt fall off them. The thing got closer to Stryker, and Clint who were in the abandoned ghost town that they had stopped at for supplies. "Something's coming this way" Stryker said in a calm, yet cold voice. On the inside, Clint was freaking out, while maintaining his calm on the outside. If whatever was here was coming to kill them.....Stryker's Nightmare power could turn the Sheriff into a blood thirsty killing machine, either way this battle was going to be messy, and Clint did not want to be here when it happened.
"Let's go then....we're wasting time" Clint said with haste, as he ran past Stryker trying to get to the jeep, while the Sheriff looked at the powerful AA12 Shotgun. He pulled the gun out, and loaded it with a bunch of bullet's, while Clint pulled out his pistol. "Alright....gun's out Stryker" Clint told him, having no choice, but to fight a small bit so that Stryker wouldn't catch on about his plan to ditch him. The very tall mechanical being that was clearly evil, growled with his huge claw's that destroyed metal, while also wearing a sand covered hood. ".....or nevermind" Clint immedietly told Stryker, changing his mind.
"RRRRRRR.....Where Are Yoooooouuuu.....I Know Your Hiding" The mechanical zombie robot growled, as Stryker immedietly got next to Clint who had his back next to a building to stay hidden.
"Alright Clint....what's the plan?" Stryker asked, as Clint was starting to find a way to use this situation to his advantage, and looked at the motorcyle.
"WHEEERRREEE......ARE YOOOOOUUUUU!!!!!!" The robot roared, as it began looking around the abandoned city with the thundering boom of it's footstep's being heard around them.
"You distract it.....I'll get back to the transport, and go look for help" Clint replied, as Stryker growled not stupid of what Clint was truly talking about.
"NO.....THAT IS NOT A PLAN......THAT IS YOU DITCHING ME HERE TO DIE.....JUST LIKE YOU DID THOSE PONIES IN THE GREAT NIGHTMARE WAR!!!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted, getting the robot's attention, as he turned to where Stryker, and Clint were hiding.
"RRRRRR.....There You Are" The robot snarled coldly, knowing where they were now.
"Oooooooh Fuck.....look what you've...." Stryker growled, as he turned to talk to Clint, but he was already gone. "Clint?" Stryker asked, until the motorcycle they heard earlier which had been fixed by Clint drove past Stryker, and through the ghost city, distracting the giant robot. The robot roared angrily, until he felt the powerful gunshot's hit his mechanical body, causing him to turn his attention to Stryker. "Hey.....over here" Stryker called, as he used the AA12 shotgun, and continued to open fire on the giant robot.
The damage being dealt to the machine was causing a few dent's, but not enough to destroy the enemy robot. "Pathetic" The robot snarled, as he immedietly charged at Stryker with alarming speed. "Come, and get some" Stryker smiled, as he continued to open fire against the robot. Clint had already left the city on the fixed motorcycle....leaving Stryker to fight that robot on his own. Clint drove on, and on from the city, until he came to a stop.....looking back at the ghost town where the gunfire continued.
"Sorry Stryker your a fool for trusting me so easily.....I hope you learn your lesson for when we meet again, while it is the reason I'm abandoning you.....I hope you have that Nightmare power for me....then I can conquer my demon's.....and eliminate my rival......that is if you survive" Clint said to himself, as he turned the motorcylce back onto the road, heading away from the ghost town.
*****
The giant robot held Stryker in his hand's, and began crushing him to death, as the Sheriff groaned, and cried in pained. "Maggots, squirming around in my city....I'll crushe you like the scum you are.....BEG FOR YOUR LIFE, and perhaps....I will spare your miserable existence" The robot told him, as Stryker growled before looking at the robot giant robot in the face.
"You can kiss my ass" Stryker spat, as the robot tightened it's grip, with Stryker getting near the verge of death.
"Ooooooh.....so unwise" The robot snarled, before throwing him through a building, as Stryker hit the ground with a brutal impact. "Join your kind.....IN EXTINCTION!!!!!!!!" The robot shouted, as he pulled out a huge gun that seemed to be retrofitted for him, and him alone.
"DIE.....MAGGOT!!!!" The robot snarled with his gun pointed at the unconscious Stryker, until a rain of gunfire came across all his armor....forcing him to stop, and growl. The gunfire came from an AK47 that was retrofitted with a few minigun round's, until it was out of ammo forcing the being who carried the weapon to drop it. "YOOOUUU....I REMEMBER YOU!!!!!!!" The robot snarled, at Raptus, who had made it to the outside world....had finally tracked down Stryker. He held a very unusual weapon that looked like a powerful grenade launcher.
"Of course you do.....I'm the one who got away" Raptus growled.
"It was very Brave of you to return.....but a foolish choice....." The robot growled, as he pointed his gun at his new opponent. "This time.....I WILL END YOU!!!!!!" He said with hatred in his voice.
"Put your weapon down...before I PUT YOU DOWN!!!!!" Raptus snarled.
"Don't make me laugh.....VERMIN....I am powerful, you.....are weak" The robot growled.
"I am NOT weak!" Raptus growled, as he fired the flare round from his strange weapon which flew into the air. Raptus threw the weapon to the side, having only one shot in the barrel.
"Useless.....if you think that can defeat me" The robot snarled, as Raptus cackled.
"That wasn't meant to defeat you.....that was Rift Crawler bait" Raptus smiled, as a loud rumbling was heard, as a part of the ghost town began to rumble, and shake.
"What.....is a Rift Crawler?" The robot asked.
"You don't know what a Rift Crawlere is......Giant armored worm's that are a close cousin to the Tamed Sandworm's of the desert's, except this one live's in shadow's. They are terrifying creature's, but you wouldn't know the fear's of the weak" Raptus explained, as the robot rolled his dark evil eye's.
"Enough of your babbling.....say farewell" The robot told him, pointing his gun at Raptus.
"By the way.....they're attracted to light." Raptus mentioned, as he quicky dodged out of the way, while the Rift Crawler burrowed out of the shadow's, and attacked the giant robot, who struggled, and growled....trying to destroy the huge Rift Crawler that was attacking him. Raptus grabbed the unconscious Stryker, and fled from the city with him. The robot finally ripped the Rift Crawler in half with his bare hand's, but by that time the two ponies were long gone. The robot's angry roar echoed throughout the city, due to the ponies who had gotten away.
*****
"Kill him Stryker....." The voice sang, as a gun appeared near him in his dream.
"W-What....no" Stryker stuttered, as more gun's appeared around him, the voice he was hearing getting louder.
"Kill him already" Scarlett Twinkle sang louder.
"No....that's not the right thing to do" Stryker grumbled, but the voice was persistent, showing rocket launcher's, and soon had a bunch of gun's surrounding him in a circle.
"Kill him already.....Kill him Stryker....." Scarlett Twinkle shouted.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted, as darkness swallowed him, while Scarlett Twinkle's psyhcotic laughter rang through the darkness. The dream changed to the same room filled with blood jar's, as he heard that creepy clanking sound coming from nearby. Scalett Twinkle appeared behind him, as he turned to the Nightmare being, terrified as she raised her blade's, and then sliced him. This caused Stryker to wake up in a dark room, panting, and sweating from his nightmare.
"Easy there Sheriff" Raptus told him, as Stryker's senses began to return.
"W-What.....who......RAPTUS.....RAPTUS YOUR ALIVE......How?" Stryker shouted cheerfully, as Raptus smiled.
"Same way I've stayed alive all these year's.....I fought my way out of it" Raptus told him, as Stryker sighed.
"I thought you were dead.....how'd you make it out of there?" Stryker asked, but Raptus ignored the question.
"We got more urgent matter's on hand.....your wanted ALL over the Badland's...." Raptus told him, giving Stryker a wanted poster of himself, posted on it. ".....Vampra's put a bounty on your head. I spotted you eavesdropping on bounty hunter's, so chance's are wherever your headed, it's crawling with danger" Stryker explained to him.
"Then what do you suppose we do?" Stryker asked. Raptus looked from the hidden hole in an abandoned building that they had been in which had the two inside.
"I've got a plan" Raptus smiled.
Together Raptus, and Stryker had thrown together some scrounged up weapon's that they had found in the building they were in, and had stocked up on whatever ammo they could. Raptus had put on a special type of armor that attached special type's of arm machine gun's that were quite familiar. "You ready Stryker?" Raptus asked, as Stryker had made sure that every part of his weapon's worked, and the equipment he currently had on.
"Yeah....what's the plan?" Stryker asked.
"I know the whereabout's of Vampra's experimental facility....once inside, we'll split up to cover more ground...."Raptus informed them, as the two were now driving a medical truck from a World War 2 army base, as they drove down the road, while Raptus continued explaining the plan to Stryker. "We need to save as many ponies as possible, once we round up our kind, we'll secure an escape route, and get outta there" Raptus explained, letting the vehicle come to a halt, as they arrived at the secret facility. "That's our target" Raptus told him.
"What....where....your telling me this rundown shack is Vampra's layer?" Stryker asked.
"The actual layer is a subterranean facility" Raptus answered.
"Subta....what now?" Stryker asked.
"It's underground" Raptus answered bluntly.
"FOR THE LOVE OF ASS.....NOTHING GOOD EVER HAPPEN'S WHEN WE GO UNDERGROUND!!!!!!" Stryker shouted in annoyance. The two began looking around the disguised building's to find the entrance to Vampra's secret facility. They opened the door's of the first two rusty buiding's, only to find nothing in it. They eventually found the entrance to it, which had an elevator inside that they activated, and used to travel down. This gave both Raptus, and Stryker a chance to talk. "How'd you find out about this place?" Stryker asked Raptus.
"I interrogated one of Vampra's henchmen....." Raptus answered.
Flashback
Raptus pressed his blade against the trader that was working with Vampra's Cyberman who had given it infromation about Stryker. "TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU KNOW!!!!!!!" Raptus shouted, blade pinned to his neck.
"NEVER!!!!!" The trader shouted.
"Spill your secret's......or perhap's you'd rather I spilled something else....all over the ashy snow" Raptus growled.
End of Flashback
".....Let's just say....it wasn't very nice" Raptus told him in a cold voice.
"Your just full of suprises Raptus" Stryker smiled. The elevator finally came to a stop, and was ready to open the door to the inner part of the facility.
"Remeber Stryker.....if it attack's you....it isn't friendly" Raptus reminded him, as the two cocked the weapon's they had, ready to engage in a gunfight.
"Understood" Stryker smiled, preparing for battle. They entered the surprisingly empty place, and looked around.
"I'll take the right....you take the left" Raptus told him.
"Got it" Stryker replied, as the two split up to rescue the other's.
"STRYKER!!!!!!" Raptus shouted, causing Stryker to stop, and turn to him. "I hope you find Pixel" Raptus told him, as Stryker gave him a friendly wave.
"Thank's" Stryker smiled, as the two went back on their seperate path's to rescue their kind. Stryker came across a bunch of room's with window's on them. The place kind of reminded him of an insane asylum, but also an experimental facility. The first room he spotted had a rusted protoform robot inside that had weird, colorful tube's sticking out of it. "Hmmmm" Stryker mumbled to himself, before he walked to the next room. The next room contained another robot that was smaller, but also weird like.
The robot seemed more pony like, but wasn't perfect, and looked like it was given birth from a train. Stryker moved on to the next room, as in the previous one the light flickered, and the robot moved like a Nightmare being before going back to it's original stance. Stryker walked to an open room, and stopped, seeing the horror show inside. "Oh......no" Stryker realized, seeing the messy show of Equestrian ponies inside, while the light flickered.
*****
"Commencing automatic coversion" The machine droned, as the unicorn inside was locked into a dark machine door as electricity coursed through the area, and the unicorn's high pitched scream was heard. All of the other ponies that were locked inside the metal box's heard Raptus enter, as they all squirmed, and shouted for help. When the machine was done....the door opened, revealing a mechanical unicorn in place of the yellow one. "Meta-bot deployed" The AI said, as the mechanical unicorn looked around for the first time, and immedietly spotted Raptus.
"Intruder alert" The Meta-bot replied, as Raptus aimed his gun's at the enemy creation, and opened fire. The bullet's bounced harmlessly off the Meta-bot, as it charged at Raptus, gunfire ringing from that section of the facility.
*****
"I was....too late" Stryker realized, until he heard coughing coming from one of the table's, getting his attention. "Huh.....hello?" Stryker asked, as a dark green Pegasi, weakly raised his arm's.
"O...Over....here" He groaned painfully, as Stryker ran up to him, seeing most of his gut's, and organ's exposed.
"O-Oh....dear god" Stryker realized, seeing what had become of him. The green Pegasi looked at who had come to rescue him.
"S-Sheriff.....is that you?" The green Pegasi asked, as Stryker held his hand.
"STAY WITH ME!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted.
"You came for us......*cough* *cough* *gaaaaassspp*" The Pegasi gagged weakly.
"SAVE YOUR BREATH!!!!!!" Stryker ordered.
"Stryker......she said you'd.....come for us.....she never gave up on you" The pegasus chuckled.
"AND I WON'T GIVE UP ON ANY OF YOU....WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT OUT OF HERE!!!!!!" Stryker shouted, as the green pegasus chuckled.
"Stryker....it's too late for us.....All....of us" The Pegasus said weakly.
"DON'T SAY THOSE THING'S!!!!!!" Stryker shoued, as the Pegasus spoke again.
"But Pixel.....you can still save Pixel......*gaaaaassssppp* Vampra took her....." He told him, drawing his last few breath's.
"STAY WITH ME!!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted, not wanting to see another pony die....again.
"Save......Pixel.....thank you.....for....coming for us......uuuuggghhh" The pegasus groaned, as he died, among the other's.
"No......." Stryker said to himself, seeing the green pegasus, also joining the dead one's in the room that Stryker was in. He closed the eye's of the Pegasi, as he was interrupted by another Meta-bot who had spotted him alone.
"Intruder alert...." It pointed out, as Stryker went into a fury.
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!" He shouted, as he tackled the Meta-bot, and began relentlessly pounding his fist's into the false creation. "YOUUUU....HAAAAVVVEE.....NO......SOOOOOOOOUUUUULLLLLL!!!!!!!" Stryker screamed in rage, as he destroyed the Meta-bot leaving it's head severed from it's body with a bunch of broken gear's around it. Stryker heard the base alarm going off, and immedietly thought of Raptus. "Oh no" He gasped, as he took off, running to find his old friend.
*****
Stryker lowered his gun, and ran up to Raptus who slowly got up, and clutched the place where his arm was. "Are you okay?" Stryker asked, as Raptus managed to use his senses to ride out the immense pain.
"I'm fine" Raptus told him.
"Come on....we gotta get out of here" Stryker to him, until he heard all the voice's speak out from the metal boxes, as they all were talking over each other, realizing there were live ponies inside. Stryker went over to one of the boxes, and spoke.
"Hang on....I'n going to get you ponies out of here.....Raptus!" Stryker shouted. Raptus remained completely silent, as he glanced at the machine. His entire life of the outside world....constantly being weak....small.....powerless. A new sense washed over Raptus.....one that wasn't pleasant.
"Raptus....are you okay?" Stryker asked.
"No Stryker.....I'm not okay......I'm weak" Raptus told him, looking at the control panel.
"What are you talking about?" Stryker asked, as Raptus went up to the control panel.
"I'm tired of being weak" Raptus told him, and studied the control panel itself.
"WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS.....HELP ME FREE THESE PONIES!!!!!!!" Stryker ordered, as Raptus looked at him with a dark look in his eye's.
"No" He replied, and slammed his arm with all his might into the control panel, making the machine go haywire.
"RAPTUS....WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!?!?!?!?" Stryker shouted, as the place glowed, and crackled. Raptus inserted himself inside the machine, as the door closed, and the machine itself turned on.
Episode 12 (Season Finale+Gore chapter)
When the machine powered on, all of the ponies began screaming in agony from the pain, and finally the floor gave way, as the machine used a lot of power to use what was left of it. Down in a black pit of where the machine, and Stryker had fallen into....the place was a mess. Some of the boxes were on the wall's, and were completely empty, or had life, and magic drained ponies merged with the tear in the box. There was a lot of steel rubble down there, as broken light's above flickered on, and off.
There were a lot of dead lifeless ponies in the skewered boxes that hung in different position's. The place was filled with blood, oil, broken metal, machinery, and death. Stryker groaned, and sat up, feeling blood on his eye, and realized it wasn't his own. He quickly wiped it off, allowing him to see, and looked at the wreckage he was in. "Oh....no" Stryker mumbled, seeing what had happened. The machine hissed loudly, as Stryker sighed. "Raptus.....how could you?" Stryker asked, shaking his head in dissapointment...his friend, betraying him. Stryker began to walk away, to see if he could get out if the place, until a loud thump was heard.
"Huh?" Stryker asked, looking at the machine that had sealed Raptus inside. Bright blue lightning began igniting around the machine door, as Raptus exploded out of the machine angrily. "It can't be" Stryker gasped, seeing Raptus in his new body. Raptus stood up, and floated with the newfound power in him. The transformation turned him into an Alicorn, his skin had turned white like Celestia's, he had a huge horn, and now even had wing's. His eye's were now blank red slit's that seemed very narrow, as he looked at his new, and imrpoved body, while feeling the immense power course through it.
"Raptus?" Stryker asked, as the Alicorn looked at him with a disturbing glare.
"Can you feel it Stryker.....my power?" Raptus asked, as he raised his hand, and let powerful bright blue lightning bolt's generate from his hand. Both Raptus, and Stryker heard a groan, and coughing as a very weak, and bloodied pony from the machine disaster, began weakly crawling toward's them.....whimpering for help. "Help.....me" The pony begged from Raptus who only looked at him with a growl.
"I need more" He said coldly, as he picked up the red bloodied pony.
"RAPTUS NOOOOOO!!!!!!" Stryker shouted, as the pony screamed in agony, being drained of it's life force, and magic beyond what his body could handle, as it exploded in a mess of blood, and gut's. Gunfire rang across Raptus's face, as Stryker felt instinct kick in, as he began to open fire against his old friend.
"Futile" Raptus snarled, as he charged at Stryker, using his Alicorn magic to grab Stryker from afar, and threw him hard....making him impact the ground very roughly. Raptus continued using his Alicorn magic, and began bashing Stryker with everything he had, before raising him up with his arm. "Do you see Stryker.....this is what Real power feel's like" Raptus told him, and slammed Stryker into the ground again, before picking him up to face him. "I have the power to change the woooorrrllldd" Raptus smiled.
Stryker grunted, as he pointed his plasma rifle at Raptus's face, point blank. "This.....power doesn't belong to you....you stole it from the lives of the innocent!" Stryker growled.
"They were weak.....but now they can serve to make me strooooonnngg!" Raptus sang, as Stryker growled.
"Your obsession with power has corrupted you" Stryker spat in disgust.
"Has it......feel's gooood" Raptus cackled, as he threw Stryker with all his might against a wall, which broke away, and left him in a darkened place. His plasma rifle had been dropped, and a little clink got Stryker's attention, as that same golden chalice that he had given to Scarlett Twinkle appeared again, and rolled around. Scarlett Twinke's laugher echoed from the cup, as the chalice began acting weird, creating voices that only Stryker could hear. The cup began oozing the same black, blood like liquid that Scarlett Twinkle spilled onto Stryker before the two departed, and was now being absorbed into his body.
"My pooooooor little prince.....so WEAK, AND HELPLESS!!!!!" Scarlett Twinkle shouted, her voice echoing in the darkness without her being present, as Stryker woke up, hearing the sound of Scarlett Twinkle's voice, while seeing light's all around him. "I almost feel sorry for you" Scarlett Twinkle cooed. Stryker growled, as the light's turned into jar's of blood.
"Come on out.....I know your here.....I need your help" Stryker called out into the darkness.
"Oooooohhhhhh......your asking meeeeeee for help?" Scarlett asked
"I can't beat him alone" Stryker growled.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!" Scarlett laughed in response, as Stryker growled.
"It pain's me to say it....but I can't do this without you" Stryker told her.
"Aaaaaannnd what makes you think....I'n going to help you?" She asked, the dark place flickering like the shadow's were speaking in Scarlett's voice.
"I don't.....but I'm desperate....I can't let Raptus get away with this" Stryker told her.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" Her phsycotic laughter, and normal laughter were mixed together, as the shadow's once again consumed Stryker. He immedietly felt Scarlett Twinkle's hand's wrap around his face, as she turned to face him, and pressed her whole body against his, as Stryker began entering a unusual transformation. Stryker came out of the shadow's as Raptus looked at him.
"About time Stryker......let's FINISH THIS.....I'll let you join the rest of your fallen....pony brethren" Raptus growled, as he suddenly saw Stryker's change. The Sheriff himself had his horn's grown, instead of being armed with his plasma rifle, his robot glove had morphed into a Nightmare Cannon gun that seemed to be fused with his body. Stryker looked at his opponent with his eye's jet black, his pupil's shrunk, and blood red, while his eyes bled.
"It's time....to put, an end to your hunger for power" Stryker snarled in a demonic voice.
"Don't make me laugh Stryker....your weak, and powerless" Raptus snarled, as a demonic cackle echoed from Nightmare Stryker.
"Well considering who I am.....you could say your right.....I am weak...." Nightmare Stryker paused, as Raptus scoffed.
"Pathetic" Raptus reminded him.
"But....unlike you....I am strong enough to acknowledge my weakness.....and of who I am, and rely on the strength of those who would help" Nightmare Stryker told him.
"Your alone Stryker" Raptus told him as a sinister smiled spread across Stryker's face, knowing who was still in the shadow's behind him.
"I am never.....alone.....right Princess?" Stryker asked, as Scarlett Twinkle burst out of the shadow's with her claw's at the ready. She sprinted at Raptus with full speed, her psychotic cackling echoing around the place.
"WHAT THE....." Raptus said startled, until Scarlett slashed at Raptus who immedietly blocked her powerful blow, as she came to a stop, and cackled with a smile, while shooting Nightmare Stryker a flirty wink.
"Right.....my prince" Scarlett cackled, as she charged again. Raptus tried to get a blow on her, but she was lightning fast. His attack's bounced off her deadly claw's, as she took off with lightning speed again.
"GAAAHHH.....STAY STILL, AND FIGHT ME.....NIGHTMARE BEING!!!!!!" Raptus roared, searching through the darkness to find her. Ratptus charged at Nightmare Stryker, until Scarlett Twinkle appeared out of nowhere with a psychotic laugh, as her claw's scratched Raptus a lot....forcing him back. A huge gunshot rang from Stryker's fused cannon gun, as he pushed the Alicorn back with superior firepower. Immedietly, Stryker, and Scarlett Twinkle stood back to back, ready for battle.
"He's got to have a weak spot" Nightmare Stryker told her.
"Oooooohhh.....I think our Nightmare vision can fix that" Scarlett Twinkle cooed seductively, as she zoomed in on Raptus's body, and found the weak spot of where his arm had been severed before his transformation. "Time for fun my Prince" She sang, as she charged at Raptus with full speed, and used the skill of her claw's to avoid his blow's, and gave him multiple slashes, while Stryker helped out with the gunfire of his cannon.
"AAAAAHHH....RRRRRR!!!!!" Raptus roared, feeling blood oozing from his arm from a deadly scratch he got from Scarlett Twinkle. He attempted to slam her into the ground, but missed due to the mare's speed. Scarlett Twinkle slashed him in the back, and a powerful cannon shot from Stryker giving him a huge, critcial wound, as Raptus roared in pain.
Scarlett Twinkle came to a stop, and raised her arm's fully, as she readied her huge claw's. She charged at Raptus again, and slashed his leg's, giving him more deep wound's, and powerful bullet round's rang from Nightmare Stryker's weapon. Raptus roared in pain, as he collapsed on his hand's, and knee's. "NOOOOOOOO.....IT CAN'T BE.....HOW DID YOU FIND A NIGHTMARE BEING STRYKER......WHAT HAVE YOU BECOME.....MY STRENGTH.....MY MAGIC......MY POWER......" Raptus groaned, as Stryker stood in front of him at his defeated friend.
"This power was never your's to begin with." Stryker told him, as he charged up a powerful shot, and discharged it point blank, throwing Raptus against some of the rubble of the destroyed machine nearby.
"NOOOO....IT CAN'T END LIKE THIS!!!!!!" Raptus groaned, as he desperately threw a bomb at Stryker which immedietly began a countdown when touched. Stryker caught the bomb with ease, and threw it back, pinning Raptus to the wall, the beeping on it getting faster.
"Goodbye Raptus......see you in hell" Stryker snarled.
"STRYYYYYKKKKKEEEEEERRRRRR!!!!!!!!" Raptus screamed, until the bomb detonated with a huge explosion, as Scarlett Twinkle immedietly raced forward, and protected Stryker with their combined power. The smoke, and debris cleared, as there was now no sign of Raptus at all, as Scarlett Twinkle lifted herself off of him.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA......that was fuuuuuunnnnn" She cooed in her singsony voice. The entire building began rumbling causing them to look up.
"Ooooohhhh....I don't think the building liked that very much" Scarlett Twinkle told him, as Nightmare Stryker sighed.
"Were not going to make it out of here" He told Scarlett Twinkle who laughed in response.
"Not by yourself your not" She smiled, as she picked him up bridal style, as he gave her a confused, yet unamused look.
"Seriously?" Stryker asked, as Scarlett Twinkle giggled, before leaping out of the hole, and running full sprint out of the underground facilty, as it finally exploded. Stryker looked at her, slowly turning back to normal with him clutching his plasma rifle that she had recovered for him. "You can let me go now" Stryker told her, as the mare immedietly dropped him, and giggled.
"Sooooo....what are you going to do now?" Scarlett Twinkel asked, as Stryker still remebered everything that had happened when he was in his Nightmare form.
"I'm gonna find Pixel.....she's all I have left....couldn't save anyone" Stryker sighed, as Scarlett Twinkle scoffed.
"Boo-hoo.....all my friend's are dead.....yeahahahahaha!!!!" She laughed, as Stryker snapped at her.
"GO AWAY.....YOUR NOT STUCK IN MY HEAD ANYMORE......SO LEAVE....I never want to see you....OR HEAR YOU EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!" Stryker roared. Scarlett had stopped laughing, as she soon raised his chin up, and stepped closer to him. Stryker eye's went wide with shock, as her lips pressed against his in a deep kiss. Stryker liked, and disliked it at the same time. The kiss itself seemed to make his skin crawl, but a part of him enjoyed. After she seperated, she gave him a predatory gaze.
"You betcha....that you probably will.....but until that day.....bye bye....my lovely little prince" She winked, as her entire body faded from view leaving Stryker alone.
"Good riddance" Stryker snarled, but then let out a deep sigh, as he looked around. "Where are you.....Pixel" He said to himself, as he began walking away from the destroyed underground facility.
To be continued in Season 3
