Fallout: Equestria - Refuge

Fallout Equestria: Refuge
By AgentGei
Chapter 5: Faith
"... h-how?"

“My name is Morning Glory… I’m making this statement to notify the ponies of Thunderhead that I can no longer tolerate your callous and cruel abandonment of the surface...”

It’s funny how I chose the perfect moment to do this, when the surfacers are busy killing each other.

Night time is the best time for... this, especially when my power armor blends in with the darkness. The only thing that gives me away is the rain hitting the metal, making a constant noise that annoys me. But it’s not too bad, because the gunshots are louder. So many gunshots… Fuck, it's hard to pinpoint where the hell she is.

There’s a lot of chaos going on, but one thing I notice is how many buildings have fallen and how many bodies are lying around.

Huh.

But then I see her. On the top floor of a half-destroyed building, there’s a pegasus standing by the staircase, talking to a white unicorn and a blue earth pony. I zoomed in on them with my helmet’s interface, and recognized the black uniform on the…

There you are.

"Years ago, my mother left the Enclave because she realized she could no longer stand by while ponies suffered… She believed in Rainbow Dash… I believe in Rainbow Dash… The cowardice I see in your faces sickens and appalls me…"

I exhale and activate the tinted lens of my helmet, then jump off the roof and fly across the street, staying low and hidden. I crash through the window below them and hover in the air, aiming my beam rifles. Luckily, the gunfight outside masks my presence, so they don’t hear me.

I fly under the beam of the staircase where she’s standing. With a precise shot…

“This is for betraying us,” I whisper, and pull the trigger.

With two beams burned through her chest, she fell off from the beam, collapsing by the stairway.

"...Thunderhead is like a disease; the surface is a cure.”

But then, I saw something that made my blood run cold. Above me, the white unicorn was looking at me, with her red eyes glowing.

And she screamed.

Red... and white? What the fuck was I feeling? Was this another one of my drug-induced hallucinations? But no, this was too real. The low hum of the power armor, the cold metal pressing against my chest, the familiar insignia of the Enclave. Or what was left of it.

One of them had me pinned down, and I could see Dart, struggling desperately against his restraints. They had spotted him as a unicorn, and of course, they hated him for it. The Enclave had always hated anypony who wasn’t a pegasus, just as originally intended back in Neighvarro.

The soldier, who I’m assuming was a squad leader as there is a insignia labeled Captain by her armor, held me down harder and snarled with a commanding tone, her voice slicing through the air like a knife. “I won’t ask you again. State your purpose.”

My heart was racing, and I tried to think of a way out of this mess without having to reach for my guns… That would be a bad idea, considering we were up against fully armed power armored pegasi. Come on, Dusk… think, damn it… think… I remembered the code I used back at the Skyport to identify myself and other Enclave officers, and I decided to give it a shot, even though it seemed hopeless.

"I am Officer Dusk. Zero, eight, dash, two, seven, dash, two, zero, one, one. Division Thunderhead Skyport."

My words echoed in the air, and a tense silence followed. Behind their visors, I could sense the soldiers’ confusion and doubt. My gamble seemed to have worked, at least for now. I saw the Captain’s frown relax slightly, and she leaned closer, her eyes piercing through mine behind her helmet. “Officer Dusk?” she repeated, sounding doubtful.

I felt a drop of sweat trickle down my face. Fuck, this whole thing was so damn suffocating and that is not from being pinned down. Then the Captain let go of me, and took a step back, raising a hoof to her squad. “Stand down,” she ordered. The soldiers looked at each other, their murmurs barely audible beneath their helmets. “I said, stand down,” she repeated more firmly. They obeyed, and lowered their energy weapons, including the one that had been pointed at Dart.

"Dusk..." the Captain trailed off, pressing something on her neck. Her helmet retracted, revealing a weary mare with a dusty blue coat and a short blonde mane. Her emerald eyes widened with surprise.

“Zephyr Steps?” I recognized her, and a flash of memory hit me from my cadet years. She had been a decent teammate and even wished me luck after our graduation, but her words were tinged with sadness. "Listen, you seem like a good mare, but we might not work together in the same division. And… I’m sorry about your…" My brain purposefully trails off her words in my head, I’m guessing that means something.

Her expression brightened the moment she saw I recognized her and ran over to pull me up from the dusty ground. "Oh, thank the clouds, you’re alive! It’s been so long…" She hugged me briefly, then shook my hoof. I felt the cold metal of her armor despite my gloved hooves from my barding. "How have you been?"

I wasn’t sure how to answer that, but also a lot to catch up on, especially with a familiar face that I hadn’t seen anypony for a long while. She and I weren’t really close. We had gone our separate ways after graduation, and I hadn’t seen her since. I didn’t want to get into a long conversation, so I kept my answer short. “Well, I’m alive.”

She let go of my hoof, and her smile faded a bit. “Goddesses, you look like you’ve been through hell." She looked me over, taking in my scarred face, my worn-out barding, and even my weapons. "Have you been living on the surface this whole time?”

I chuckled nervously, “Yeah, since… after the civil war?” I was unsure of what she was referring to the whole time.

“I see, and that makes sense… most of the ponies from Thunderhead were lost, especially after the Enclave was disbanded,” Zephyr’s expression softened. She sounded sympathetic, but I wondered if she really understood. “Is your family still alive in the wastes?”

Unsure of how to respond as I can't easily just disclose this information to Zephyr, I glanced back at Dart, who was still easing his coat from being pinned down. His expression was indistinguishable, but I could tell he wasn't thrilled about the situation, especially now that we knew it was the surviving members of the Enclave behind the broadcast.

"Yeah, they are." I replied truthfully, then I quickly changed the subject. “And… to state our purpose, we’re here from the broadcast."

"Oh, that broadcast!" Zephyr seemed relieved, and turned to her squad. She made a gesture with her wing, and they nodded. “As expected, it has worked in bringing our old comrades back.” Then she looked at Dart again, and raised an eyebrow. “And who’s this?”

I felt a surge of anxiety, wondering if any of these ponies would recognize him as a runaway unicorn from Thunderhead from decade ago. To test my luck again, I motioned toward Dart and tried to act casual. "This is Dart, my…" I trailed off, searching for the right words without revealing too much, "... companion on the surface. We've been traveling together for some time now."

Zephyr nodded. “I see.” She didn’t seem suspicious, but I could tell she was wary. Not what I expected but I'll take it. She gestured to the desolate surroundings, "It’s wise of you to have loyal companions by your side, especially in a world like this. Is he dispensable?"

That was the response I expected, and it explained Dart’s tense reaction. Since we were in unfamiliar territory, I couldn’t let my facade slip. “Anypony is dispensable in the surface.”

Zephyr nodded in agreement, but Dart looked hurt. He glared at me, and I felt a twinge of guilt. I wanted to explain, to apologize, to reassure him. But I couldn’t. Not here, not now. I really want this to be fucking over.

I looked back at Zephyr, and saw her press something on her earpiece. She listened for a moment, then said, “Roger that, sir. On our way.” She let go of the button, and turned to me. “By the way, Dusk, the founder of the Loyalists wants to meet you inside the bunker.” Zephyr then gave Dart a scornful look, “You can tag along, but don’t try anything stupid like what you did to the terminal earlier.”

Dart snorted beside me, clearly unhappy. I gave him a reassuring look, silently asking him to play along. To my surprise, he seemed to get it, sighing and nodding reluctantly.

Okay, I had a million questions about this whole situation, but I was gently nudged by one of the soldiers to lead the way into the gaping mouth of the already opened bunker. Meanwhile, I saw that Dart was being pushed forward roughly. I wanted to step in and stop them from treating him like trash, but at the same time… I couldn’t. I swallowed hard, feeling a lump in my throat, and faced forward, catching up to Zephyr and asked, "Hold on, did you say Loyalists?"

"Our newly reformed faction with Enclave as our legacy," Zephyr explained, then let out a soft laugh, "The Loyalists, well, they were founded by the Thunderhead Enclave officer himself. Pretty obvious.” I noticed a small smile on her lips, “He’s also the one who brought us back together after the civil war, both survivors from Thunderhead and Neighvarro. He’s been leading us in our operation to restore order.” She lowered her voice. “I think you know him.”

I raised an eyebrow, I knew him? It felt like all the ponies I used to know were either dead or gone, and my memories of them were fuzzy at best. "Okay… and what is this operation exactly?"

Zephyr sighed. “I can’t tell you much right now.”

I nodded, understanding her words. Maybe the founder himself would give me the answers I needed that Zephyr couldn’t provide. I looked back at Dart, seeing his expression that he wanted me to dig deeper but I shook my head slightly, indicating that I couldn’t do that yet.

We followed Zephyr deeper into the bunker, with the rest of the squad forming a protective formation around us, going down and down until the temperature dropped, and the sound of our hoofsteps echoed through the silent corridors that were covered with metal and wires. Zephyr walked with confidence, her familiarity with the place shown in every step she took. From the looks of it, the walls weren’t ancient like the rest of the buildings across the Wasteland I’ve seen so far but rather, they had a metallic architecture that reminded me of the Raptor I used to be trapped in. Those damn walls…

“So, Zephyr,” I began, breaking the silence, “how did the Loyalists manage to reform? You mentioned something about a civil war, what exactly happened?”

Zephyr looked back at me, a mix of nostalgia and regret flashing in her eyes. “It’s… a long story, Dusk. After the civil war, many of us became disillusioned… like, we had no purpose anymore. The authority had collapsed, even Neighvarro was in ruins. We scattered—some went into hiding, while others tried to find their own ways on the surface. But then, a pegasus who believed in restoring what the Enclave once stood for started broadcasting a message.”

She stopped for a second, a hint of sadness in her voice. “It took time and sacrifices, but slowly, we began to regroup again. We hid, waiting for the right moment to strike. And three years later, we emerged, stronger than ever.”

I listened closely, realizing the depth of their commitment to this cause. She mentioned stray Enclave forces from Thunderhead and Neighvarro joining hands to rebuild what the Enclave was meant to be. I couldn’t help but wonder if this revival was based on Neighvarro’s belief in the superiority of pegasi over those on the surface. I wasn’t sure if I could ask about it.

“And what about you, Zephyr?” Dart’s voice cut through my thoughts. “How did you end up here?”

Zephyr glanced at him, at first she hesitated but then she seemed to make up her mind. “After Thunderhead fell, I felt lost, like so many others. My family is gone, my friends are either dead or disappeared… it’s damn hopeless. But when I heard that the Enclave was reforming, I couldn’t ignore the call. I wanted to make amends, to help rebuild what we had lost. So, I joined the cause.”

It made sense for an Enclave officer like Zephyr to remain loyal without question. Her unwavering dedication puzzled me, as I found myself questioning my own position within the Enclave. After all this time, it was still there, nagging at the back of my mind, but…

My thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Zephyr came to a stop. I looked up and saw a white stallion standing at the center of the corridor, clad in a similar white power armor to Zephyr’s, but with his angular face exposed, revealing a short, slicked-back gray mane. His eyes pierced through me with confidence and authority—I assumed he was the founder Zephyr had mentioned.

Strangely, my heart skipped a beat as I recognized his face, a wave of familiarity washing over me. Memories from my cadet training years resurfaced, reminding me of a stallion who had been close to me and Dancer. He often engaged us in friendly conversations about politics at the time.

"You two are absolutely perfect as a team and I'm wildly impressed. Say, we should go through more training together, I would love to learn more techniques… it makes sense that your dad got wild back in…"

Returning my focus to the present, I realized the white stallion was trotting towards us, and his expression shifting from surprise to a slow realization. “Oh my clouds above, don’t tell me…” he trailed off, his voice tinged with a deep, husky tone that triggered more memories of him. "Dusk? Is that really you?"

But the recall is specifically back in our graduation party, with three glasses raised.

"Cheers, to our unwavering, patriotic future…"

I swallowed hard, and backed away a few steps, at a loss for words. I then observed his chest where his name plated on but there's no insignia unlike Zephyr's. He's the fucking leader? A rush of air escaped my lungs, as I realized I had been holding my breath. "Silver Swift...?" I muttered, barely audible.

His red eyes sparkled with joy, and he pulled me into a hug that caught me off guard, causing me to flinch. "By the Holy Goddesses above!" He boomed in rejoyce, but the hug feels so uncomfortable as the armor is obviously not designed for this. Silver released me from the embrace, probably sensing my rigid body from it, and looked me up and down. "Wow, you've changed so much since our early enlistment days." He said, his voice full of admiration and nostalgia while he ran a hoof over his nape,

"I…" I stuttered, still reeling from seeing him again. My mind was clouded, and I barely registered his question. "What have you been up to this whole time? You look like you've been through a lot of shit."

Anxiety coiled in my chest, but I pushed it aside. "Just… surviving on the surface," I replied, glancing at Dart, who looked equally puzzled. I looked back to Swift, who seemed to have composed himself. "Yeah, don't worry about it." I squinted my eyes at him, looking back at his missing insignia, then questioned him, "And you're the leader of these Enclave Loyalists?"

"You’re sharp as ever, Dusk. Yeah, that’s me." Swift confirmed. Of course, a confident and resolute soldier like him would be capable of leading such a group. He was a strong nationalist among the pegasi, without a doubt.

"Maybe someday, I'll be a General in the Enclave…"

Swift glanced between me and Dart, his eyebrows furrowing. "And where's... Lightning Dancer?" He asked, his voice dropping to a lower tone. I felt my heart start to weigh heavy, making me lower my head and clench my jaw. “I know you two were always together.” Fuck. I took a deep breath, steadying myself while my brain was recalling again.

"Do you generally hate stallions?" Swift asked with his younger voice, then Dancer's chuckle echoed through my head, "Why asking me that? Is it because of my asshole dad or my lack of interest in stallions?" She nudged me with her shoulder, teasing me. “Well, Dusk here openly expressed her… uninterested-ness in them…”

I hear myself snicker, "Is that even a real word?"

"Dancer... she's dead," My voice trembled, hating the rush of memories that flooded back. "She died during the massive war in the Wasteland three years ago."

Swift's expression softened, then he looked away from me. "I'm... sorry to hear that, Dusk," he said quietly, his voice full of genuine sorrow. I could see him nodding to himself, as if he was trying to make sense of the news. It surprised me that he didn’t show more emotion, especially since they used to respect each other so much back then. He put his hoof on my shoulder, “My condolences.”

I just nodded, and silence fell between us as if Swift was giving himself some time to process. I also noticed Zephyr had a similar reaction since well, we all graduated in the same batch back then. Then, Swift took a deep breath and turned his attention to Dart, quickly changing the subject, “And who is this unicorn with you?”

I was about to answer, but Zephyr stepped forward, speaking on our behalf. “He’s Dusk’s close companion, sir,” she said. “She mentioned that he knows a lot about the surface.” I wasn’t sure if it was necessary to reveal that information, since it was widely known that unicorns were always surfacers then I remembered that we came from Thunderhead where they're… accepted.

As Zephyr put it that way, Swift gave Dart a closer look like he was a disgraced common surfacer. The yellow unicorn started to look nervous and intimidated by the white pegasus, but then Swift simply shrugged. “I see. He doesn’t seem like much of a threat as Dusk trusts him, just an average surfacer.” He turned to me, “That’s new from you considering you choose a unicorn to hang around with instead of a pegasus.”

Did I ever tell anypony that I despised non-pegasi ponies? But it seemed that was the case as how Swift implied, at least he didn’t recognize Dart as he had the same features as Dancer’s. Is that why he looked at the unicorn that way? But either way, I knew that things would get complicated if Swift found out. It was best to keep it to ourselves.

“Now my friend, let’s take a little tour of this facility,” Swift said, oddly stressing the word ‘friend’ and gesturing for me to follow him alongside Zephyr who fell into step beside the founder and Dart right behind me.

As we trotted deeper, I couldn’t help but notice the resemblance between the bunker’s structure and a Stable. I couldn’t resist asking, “So, this bunker…” I trailed off, hoping they would be willing to answer my questions. “It looks like a Stable. Is there any connection?”

Swift raised a brow, “You have a keen eye.” He then nodded, looking around the corridor. “This bunker was, in fact, an unfinished Stable that was repurposed and refurbished by the Thunderhead Enclave long ago.” He turned his attention back to the path ahead. “It was meant to serve as a secure facility in case of emergencies on the surface. However, before it could be completed, Councilstallion Sky Striker ordered to abandon the project.”

Huh. Father had never mentioned anything about this bunker to me or anyone else we knew. I was stunned, realizing that there were aspects of Thunderhead’s operations that I was completely unaware of, despite my family ties. Or maybe I was too ignorant or I was not in a position to know more about the Intelligence bullcrap. Dart, walking beside me, must have noticed my surprise and the mention of my father. His eyes questioned me, and I gave him a subtle shrug, silently indicating that I had no clue about this bunker.

Swift however continued, bitterness tainting his voice. “During the civil war as the Thunderhead authority lost control of the situation, I managed to take over this bunker and repurpose it as a refuge for other Enclave forces. We saw the potential in this hidden stronghold, and since after the official disbandment, we made it our base of operations."

My mind was flooded with questions. Did they even know that I had been arrested for treason during that time? It made sense why I wasn’t informed about this sanctuary, except… no, I wouldn’t ask them if they knew about it, that would only stir up some old tension between me and my former comrades. But still, the bunker seemed to be a secret project known only to the Intelligence division. And with Father involved, I made a mental note to bring it up when I saw him again.

Glancing at the walls, I noticed the faded remnants of the original Stable design overlaid by the Enclave's modifications. It was a stark contrast to the worn and weathered appearance of the rest of the facility. The air grew colder, and a sense of heaviness hung in the atmosphere.

“Speaking of the Loyalists,” Swift cut in, glancing at Zephyr, “I assume Steps hasn’t given you a crash course on the Loyalists?”

Zephyr snorted. “Sir, I’ve given her a little history lesson.”

“Nothing more?” Swift asked. Zephyr sheepishly shook her head. He continued instead, “In that case, we, the Loyalists, strive to continue the Enclave’s mission and uphold the values our ancestors established over a hundred years ago. We refuse to let disbandment and the loss of access to the clouds stop us. We believe that the Enclave’s purpose should not be abandoned or forgotten.”

He paused for a moment, his voice full of conviction. “Without letting Thunderhead’s corrupted motives tarnish the true purpose, the Loyalists aim to restore order on the surface, just as we once did above the clouds. Remember how we were taught that pegasi are the purest race among ponykind? How we should have been…”

I looked back at Dart, trying to gauge his thoughts on the matter. His expression was uneasy, showing a mix of concern and wariness. It was understandable. After all, the Enclave’s history was stained by controversy and questionable actions, as I had come to realize. The idea of a reformed Enclave, even one focused on preserving its original mission and distancing itself from Thunderhead, could be unsettling for the Wasteland.

Lost in my thoughts, I almost missed Swift’s question. “Dusk, do you still believe in the Enclave? I know how much you hated the direction Thunderhead was going in, and your desire for Neighvarro and Thunderhead to unite.”

Nervously, I looked at Dart again, silently seeking his input. His eyes met mine, and after a moment of consideration, he closed his eyes and gave a small nod, indicating that we should keep an open mind. Or maybe…

“Yes, I do,” I found myself saying, my heart pounding in my chest. Why does this fucking feeling keep coming back? “I’m curious to know more about your plans, your goals… Transparency and trust are important to me.”

The corners of Swift’s lips curled up slightly, "That's good. I need more capable ponies like you, Dusk," Swift replied, his expression softening with a hint of gratitude. "And of course, I will share more details about our plans and answer any questions you have. But first, let me show you the heart of our operations."

We reached the main lobby of the bunker, and the sight before me was both impressive and bustling with activity. The space, similar to Stable 99’s atrium, had been transformed into a functional hub for the surviving Enclave members, or rather, the Loyalists. Some soldiers wore their new white power armor, marching purposefully through the lobby, while others in their old uniforms diligently worked on terminals and equipment.

Swift led us through the crowd, explaining how he had managed to reunite the surviving Thunderhead soldiers and residents over the past few years. His voice grew thoughtful as he mentioned the families of the soldiers. “I’ve managed to bring together the survivors, but there are still many families of Thunderhead residents out there in the wasteland. I don’t know if they made it. It’s our duty to find them and provide safety and a chance at a better life.”

As he said that, I kept my own opinions and observations from my time on the surface… especially about New Thunderhead. Huh. I’m surprised no one brought it up despite it being one of the largest settlements in the Commonwealth in recent years. But of course, remembering that they left the ideologies from Thunderhead way behind, I held my tongue about more information about the surface, or acknowledge if they also knew New Thunderhead.

The tour continued as Swift showed us various areas of the bunker, each serving its own purpose. We passed through the mess hall, where pegasi gathered to eat and rest, the garden, where the Loyalists planted and harvested various fruits that once grew from the clouds by using the garden that the Stable had initially built (I didn’t bother questioning how the hell they planted cloud seeds on the ground), and the medical bay, where injured soldiers and sick ponies received treatment.

One of the medical pegasi noticed my shitty condition after a full body scan using one of their rebuilt scanners that they managed to salvage back in Thunderhead. With Swift’s approval, a few of the medical ponies took action in healing me back to my full health using various technologies that again, I didn’t bother explaining the complicated details that would make my head hurt. Having had tense previous experiences with a clinic or hospital, this was surprisingly… fast? Especially for me since my body was fully drained from toxins and shitty injuries that would take a few days to heal, but of course my scars and mental damage wouldn’t fully heal as my physical health.

But hey, at least I didn’t have to whine shit about healing taking way too long for me.

However while they were working on me earlier, I noticed that Dart had been watching intently from the sidelines and taking note of the technologies used as there was no magic involved (oh, and did I mention that there were no damn unicorns here?).

Then after the clinic, we were directed to the training grounds which was a hive of activity, where Loyalists honed their combat skills and the research lab remained a mystery, with neither Zephyr nor Swift offering any explanation of its purpose except Dart’s eavesdropping that researchers were studying more about the Wasteland.

We arrived at the armory, a vast space filled with rows of power armor and weapons. Swift explained how they had salvaged and repurposed much of the power armor used during the civil and brood wars. They had also developed new equipment and modifications to adapt to the challenges of the surface. It seemed that the Loyalists were well-equipped and not to be messed with. I wondered how the surfacers would react to seeing such advanced technology, or if they even knew what it was.

Finally, Swift led us to the main office of the bunker, a spacious room that had once been the overmare’s office in the original Stable design. A metal shutter covered one of the walls behind his desk, giving the room an air of secrecy. “Would you excuse us,” Swift said to Zephyr and Dart, “Dusk and I need to talk privately.”

Zephyr nodded and left without a word, but Dart hesitated, his eyes shifting between me and Swift. I tried to reassure him, saying, “I’ll be fine, don’t worry.” I wanted to tell him more, to promise him that I would tell him everything later, but I couldn’t. Dart sighed and said softly, “Alright. Just be careful.” He followed Zephyr out of the office.

As soon as Dart was gone, Swift flew over to his desk and pressed a button with his wing. The door closed behind me with a click. The white stallion gestured for me to take a seat across from him, and a heavy silence filled the room. I could feel the tension rising as we were alone.

Swift leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on me. “Dusk, I have to admit…” He sighed softly, “I’m glad to have you back with us. Almost all of Cadet Batch 23 are reunited and ready to conquer the Wasteland, just as our ancestors envisioned.” He smiled faintly, “But seriously, how have you been holding up on the surface?”

“Crap, I’m so sorry that happened, Dusk.” Swift’s voice was bitter. He knew what had happened to me earlier that day, when I found out that my mother had… “You don’t deserve to have such a shitty mother, abandoning you like that.”

My mind screamed at me, come on, Dusk. Tell him. It urged me to open up to my old friend, the one I used to be close with, the one who might still care about me… but how? I asked my mind back. How do I even start? He can clearly see that I’ve changed, and so has he. I don’t see the warmth that he used to have, he doesn’t see the passion that I used to have.

I clenched my jaw. Am I overthinking? Maybe. Maybe not. I have no fucking clue. I looked back at Swift, who seemed to be waiting patiently for my answer to his simple question. How have you been? It’s not even ‘where have you been’? But it’s… okay self, shut up.

“It’s been… hard.” I said, still clenching my jaw. “After Dancer, I… I didn’t know what to do with my life anymore. I didn’t know if I deserved to stay with my family anymore. I…” Shit, why am I saying so much? Shut up. Please shut up. “I didn’t know what to do without the Enclave.”

"I don’t give a fuck about Enclave politics or tradition or your own fucked up issues with pride or honor or whatever you pegasi call it!"

Please shut up.

Swift listened attentively to my words, his eyes showing a hint of empathy mixed with sorrow. “I get it. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for you, Dusk. Losing Lightning Dancer, your struggles, your pain… the pain of not being able to save somepony you loved so much. It’s… it’s more than anypony should bear.”

I nodded weakly. I couldn’t bring myself to open my heart as much as he expected me to. Or maybe, Swift was just being nice to me, and I shouldn’t read too much into it. Then, I saw Swift’s expression change to something more serious. “That’s why our ancestors fought so hard for us. Because the surface… it corrupts us. It even corrupted you.” He sighed, “Hell, I feel like calling back all the Thunderhead Enclave ponies wasn’t enough… let me tell you something, Dusk. Something that you won’t believe.”

That caught my attention. Swift leaned forward, “Back when I first tried to take over a Stable in the far northwest to expand our territory three years ago, the squad I sent was wiped out…” He frowned, clearly angry. “Those damn Steel Rangers are tougher than we thought. We learned not to underestimate them; they pose a significant threat to our operation.”

Fuck. No…

His words brought back memories within me, memories that I wished I could forget. Memories of the Enclave forces preparing to destroy Stable 99. Memories of Crumpets almost dying before I…

No, no, no, no…

Please. I thought I had left this behind. The nightmares that haunted me every night. I had tried to forget, tormented by the guilt that I had killed my own comrades. No, no… shit, please calm down, Dusk.

"That's… fucked up," I spoke up, pretending to be surprised.

The stallion squeezed his eyes shut, as if trying to block out the painful memories, “It is, it is indeed. They didn’t follow my order to fall back,” He spun his chair around, facing the wall of metal shutter, “But one detail that one of my ponies told me is that one mare who happens to be a pegasus is the one who caused the massacre among the soldiers…” Swift’s hoof started to shake slightly, “And she’s not a dashite!”

With a swift motion, he turns around the chair to face me, his eyebrows furrowed and his jaw clenched, "Can you fucking believe our own kind betray us like that?! Unbelievable!"

I can feel my throat threatening to get tightened, sweat started to tickle down from my forehead and I even bit my lip. Forcing my damn body to relax, I tried to mirror Swift's reaction, "I couldn't believe it, either."

Keep convincing yourself that, Dusk.

Swift opened his eyes, red pupils boring into mine, "Now do you understand why I want you to go back to us?" He rose from his chair, forehooves planted on the desk as he leaned forward, "You and me together, we'll go to that damn Stable and take out all these surfacers fucks. Especially to that damn traitor."

I shuddered, remembering the image of Crumpets on the brink of death, surrounded by the Core and the invasion of Stable 99. Goddesses, enough. Enough already. How could I even think of killing the Stable that Crumpets and the Applejack Rangers fought for? How could I tell Swift that I was the one who took out his forces?

But no, I had to play along, act like I was on his side. Don’t let him see how much this hurts. Is that even possible?

I cared about them. I cared about him as well. Maybe that’s why it hurt so much.

I pushed those thoughts away, focusing on the question that burned in my mind. "Then please enlighten me about that operation you keep mentioning."

Swift hesitated, weighing whether he could trust me with his secret plan. He wanted me to be part of it, I knew that much. But he also wanted something else from me. Something personal. He sighed and relaxed in his chair. "Dusk, this operation is everything to the Loyalists. It’s our chance to make a difference, to reclaim what’s ours. But it’s not easy, Dusk. It’s dangerous and risky and…” He trailed off, his voice cracking.

He looked at me with a vulnerable expression, his eyes pleading. “Before I tell you more, I need to know something. Did… did Dancer ever mention me? Did she ever talk about us before she… before she died?”

His question caught me off guard. “To be honest…” I felt a pang of guilt, wondering if I should lie or tell the truth. “I don’t know. The last time we all talked was at graduation.”

Swift’s face fell, disappointment and sadness clouding his eyes. “I see,” he said quietly, nodding as if he expected this answer.

We fell silent for a moment, both lost in our memories of Dancer. Then Swift cleared his throat and spoke again. “Okay… You deserve to know the operation that we’ve been working on for the past three years.” He pressed a button under the desk, opening a metal shutter that revealed a huge cavern garage and helipad beyond. Vertibirds and repair crews filled the space, and I even spotted a massive Raptor being fixed up—a sight I thought I’d never see again. Huh. They really do not fuck around.

Swift gestured to the scene outside, his voice full of pride and passion. “This is where we prepare our forces, for our mission to take back the Commonwealth, as the surfacers call it. But it won’t be easy, Dusk. We’ll face resistance and hostility and danger at every turn. But we have something they don’t have: power and strength and loyalty. You, me, and the rest of the pegasi—we can do this, Dusk. We can make this world ours again… the way our ancestors wanted it.”

I stared at the sight, feeling a mix of awe and dread. The Enclave Loyalists were not only a bunch of fanatics clinging to the past; they were a serious threat to anypony who opposed them.

I turned back to Swift, curiosity and fear battling in my mind. “The operation has a name…” I prompted him.

Swift looked at me with a serious expression, taking a deep breath before he spoke. “Operation: Euthanize,” he said firmly. “The operation that I designed and launched to restore the glory of the surface. With the skies no longer an option, we focus on here.” He tapped his hoof on the desk. “‘Euthanize’ means our goal to find the lost weapon that the Thunderhead Enclave left behind, the weapon that will wipe out all the impure surfacers. Once we have cleared the land, we fulfill the vision for the Enclave—a united force, free from the divisions between Thunderhead and Neighvarro and the superior pegasi only lives on."

Swift trotted closer, his eyes burning with fervor as he shook my shoulders. “Dusk, this is what you’ve always wanted, right?” he pleaded, his voice filled with longing. “We pegasi should have stood together, and now we must rectify the mess the surfacers have left behind for over a damn century! I know your family is out there, hiding somewhere. Let them know about us, persuade them to join. And you, Dusk… join us, and together, we restore the Enclave to its rightful glory.”

I was speechless, trapped in a whirlwind of mixed feelings. Swift had just dropped a bombshell on me: the Loyalists were planning to wipe out the surface dwellers, to “cleanse” the world of their filth. It was the same twisted logic that had driven me away from the Enclave, the same hatred that I had learned to reject during my time in the wasteland. Why did he have to tell me this now? I looked over my shoulder at the window, where Dancer’s face stared back at me, her eyes begging me to “open my heart.”

No, no… why?!

Again and again, that phrase haunted me, taunting me with the memories of the life I had built with the surfacers. Dart and Crumpets, who had become my family, who had shown me happiness and meaning. I had something to live for, something worth fighting for. But there was still a part of me that yearned for the past, that clung to the ideals and values I had grown up with. The Enclave Loyalists’ mission stirred something in me, something that I couldn’t ignore.

I took a deep breath, feeling the pressure of the moment. I couldn’t betray Dart… and Crumpets. I couldn’t risk their lives, or the lives of the Thunderhead refugees who had found a new home in New Thunderhead. And I knew Swift would stop at nothing to destroy that city if he ever found out about it.

"...Thunderhead is like a disease; the surface is a cure.”

Make it stop.

With a heavy heart... “I appreciate your offer, and I respect your cause. But…” I looked away, “I need time to think. This is not an easy decision.”

I saw a flash of disappointment in Swift’s eyes, but he nodded slowly. “Take all the time you need, Dusk,” he said softly. “Just remember that you’ll always have a place among the Enclave Loyalists.”

I nodded back, feeling a pang of guilt. With one last glance at Swift’s intense red eyes, I turned and walked toward the door, my mind racing with doubts and fears. Sacrifices would have to be made, regardless of the path I chose.

As I left the office, I heard Swift’s voice behind the closed door. “Let Dusk and her companion go, but keep an eye on them. Dusk will be back soon.” My heart skipped a beat, realizing that Swift was probably informing his fellow officers about our conversation. Don’t think about it, Dusk. Just get out of here. I tried to silence the thoughts in my head, taking slow breaths to calm myself as I made my way down the hall, heading for the exit.

As I approached the lone path that led to the exit, I caught sight of two pegasi silhouetted against the dim light of the exit—Zephyr and Red Storm, with her maroon mane and coat, and a striking yellow eye on her right side. Her left eye was covered by a burn scar, leaving only a gray pupil. Zephyr smiled warmly and wrapped a wing around me, “It’s too bad you’re leaving so soon, Dusk… but we’re glad you’re back.”

I forced a smile back, hiding the turmoil inside me. Red Storm seemed more curious than friendly, as if she could sense my inner conflict. She probed with a mischievous grin, “What’s holding you back? Afraid of what your daddy will say?”

I laughed nervously, trying to dodge the question. “Maybe? But I’ll figure it out.”

Red snorted and nudged me with her hoof. “You know what? If Lightning Dancer were here, she’d have dragged both of you to join the Loyalists by now. Too bad your marefriend is gone.”

The laughter died in my throat, and a wave of nausea washed over me. Stop thinking about it, Dusk. Just move on. Grief flooded my veins, threatening to consume me. Stop it. I fought to compose myself, hiding my vulnerability from those around me. For fuck's sake. My wings tensed, as if I wanted to jump on that fucker and strangle the living shit out that pegasus.

Open your heart.

Sensing the tension, Zephyr intervened, her voice laced with disapproval, "That's a fucking low blow, Red."

Red's expression shifted to regret as she tried to backtrack. "Sorry, Dusk. I didn't mean to-"

Cutting her off, I managed a weak smile just to shut her up, "It's okay, Red. Don't worry about it."

Zephyr swiftly changed the topic, redirecting the conversation to something less painful. "By the way, your friend is waiting outside the bunker," she said, referring to Dart. "He seemed anxious but refused to come in without you."

Grateful for the shifting topic, I nodded. "I'll go meet him, then."

But of course, Red couldn't resist adding her own ass sarcastic remark. Her face lit up with a mischievous expression, showing no remorse for her earlier comment. "By the way, can you say hi to Moonshadow and Glory for me? Glory was always a good pony. I wonder how she's doing now."

My heart sank at the mention of Glory. I couldn't bring myself to tell Red the painful truth—that Glory was no longer among us. It would only intensify the anguish and confusion within me. Instead, I simply nodded, my response clipped, "Sure."

With a vortex of feelings spinning me around, I said goodbye to Zephyr and Red, leaving the bunker and stepping into the harsh sunlight. The sun blazed in the sky, burning my eyes with its merciless glare, and making the decisions that loomed before me feel even heavier. Dart waited by the entrance, his face full of worry and anticipation. As I walked towards him, my vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness swept over me. Panic rose in my throat, clouding my mind. The choices I had to make, the conflicting loyalties and the uncertain future, seemed too much to bear.

“Dusk?” Dart called out, sounding alarmed. “Are you okay? You look… troubled.”

I tried to speak, but nothing came out. A storm raged within me, drowning my thoughts in a flood of emotions. My heart hammered in my chest, and I felt trapped by the weight of everything I had to say. All I wanted was to get away, to find some peace from the bunker and its…

"Let's just get out of here, please," I pleaded. As I stepped out of the bunker, a distant singing echoed from the speaker. It was a familiar tune, but something about it sounded wrong.

"And as the days grow old,
The nights grow cold even with magic…
I long to hold her close to me,
I know she means the world to me,
And only time can tell,
And take away this lonely hell,
I’m on my knees,
To my dear mare…"

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