1. Marksaline the Necromorph Queen

The Ishimura, save Sunset Shimmer 8/?

State of player:

》Sunset Shimmer《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
Magic Cutter - No upgrades, currently 10 shots total. 5/10 loaded with weapons capacity of 10 and 5 shots ready to be loaded.
11/12 inventory spaces are free.

》Marksaline《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
No weapons, but can perform surprisingly effective finishes on normal Slashers and Leapers. Takes half a RIG life bracket damage if the target is not stasis effected.
12/12 inventory spaces are free.
The Slasher blades collected are stored in her mission inventory space because she can...

》Nightmare Moon《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
Nail rifle - No upgrades, currently 50/50 capacity in ammunition loaded. No reload in inventory stored.
One medium healing stored in Inventory.
11/12 inventory spaces are free.

》Luna《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
Nail rifle - No upgrades, currently 50/50 capacity in ammunition loaded. No reload in inventory stored.
12/12 inventory spaces are free.

》Cadance 《
Suit level 1 = 12 inventory slots (base suit)
Nail rifle - No upgrades, currently 00/50 capacity in ammunition loaded. No reload in inventory stored.
12/12 inventory spaces are free.

As the mares and fillies talked about how to use their resources the most useful did Sunset Shimmer had a pretty brilliant idea, all of them buy 5 Upgrade Nodes. When Cadance told Sunset that this would use up basically all they had and they should not waste everything they had at once, did Luna argue that Sunset was right. They all had individual Credits, BUT they had collective Upgrade Nodes! Every node one got was counted to them used individually.

In other words if they eatch buy 5 nodes for 50.000 Credits, they have 25 new upgrade nodes individually to use. While they can't swap weapon to upgrade them after hooving them to one another, was there still a major benefit to the system.
They would exploit the Tarterus out of it.

Somewhere in the guts of the Ishimura was a certain entity cursing up a storm and had decided to take the silk hoove covers off, if they play dirty than they better don't mind going down hard.

Sunset Shimmer had her 'Suit level 1' with 12 inventory slots.
Her 'Magic Cutter' used 21 upgrade nodes, currently 23/23 shots total. 23/23 loaded with weapons capacity at its peak and almost everything, but two reloading nodes completely upgraded.
With 5 shots ready to be loaded.

With her remaining Nodes she used for 5 upgrades on her RIG:
Twice HP,
- HP - Increases the users overall 'health'.
- AIR - Increases how much spare 'oxygen/air' the user has in low air environments.
- ERG - Increases the amount of 'stasis energy' user have to supply their stasis module.
- DUR - Increases the duration of the targets affected by the users stasis module.

With all they had left in Credits they buy 9 times 10 packages of magic cutter, eatch ammunition pack with 10 capacity.
95 magic cutter ammunition overall in reserve.
While it means the Flamethrower for all was out of the question, did the magic cutter simply was better in overall performance in its excellent upgraded state.
The one flamethrower that Sunset had would most likely be the only one they ever use.

A slot in the suits could hold 25 capacity of magic cutter ammunition, so Sunset was holding 4 slots occupied.

With 08/12 inventory spaces are still free to use for Sunset.

In opposition did everypony else used 25 of 26 'Upgrade Nodes' to max out their RIG Node Upgrades. Keeping eatch with exception of Sunset 1 upgrade node in reserve, mainly because they had nothing to spend it on.

And like that they are all ready to go and continue the adventure.

Challus Mercer contacted the herd via RIG link video message:
"Hello everypony, I've managed to patch myself into the transition desk's security system." Apparently did the surviver Challus Mercer made himself already very valuable. Mercer said in a celebratory tone that he had some good news to share with them all, which was likely something that was related to their current objective:

"It took some work, but I managed to open the door to the maintenance bay. Since it is now unlocked you can go in there and find the replacement part i need to get the transport wagon back in working order to help your friend Discord to fix the Ishimura. The data board spare part should be somewhere inside, further keep you eyes open for a upgrade node. Its a part used to open some doors for supplies that are usually only used with the 'Captain's authorization' or if one is willing to use the emergency lock release via a upgrade node.

Be warned though, you will not be able to remove it once it is inserted. Don't ask me who design a system like that, I am a doctor not a engineer.

As the adults nodded their heads in understanding and Fluffelpuff started to annoying Marksaline with her redicules long tongue because she was bored, the link disappeared as Mercer ended the transmission.

As they all left the Kellion to once more stand bravely ready to save Sunset Shimmer from a very unkind fate, was noone really surprised as they stood outside the Kellion and there was another slasher group walking towards them.

Luna, Nightmare and Cadance stand ready to rain projectiles to dismantle the enemy, but Cadance mentioned only 7 Slashers coming their way.

Before they started shooting the still normal walking speed coming enemies towards them, did a squeaking Marksaline got everyone attention.
A 'Grabber Necromorph Soldier' had just taken apart the 'filly combat formation' by grabbing Marksaline and currently wiggle her in the air rather comically.

Sunset Shimmer jumped up the fluffy companion and grabbed Fluffelpuff, if the adults had any time to see the redicules duel between Marksaline and Fluffelpuff being thrown against one another they migh have suffered a minor laughing fit.

But they had their own questionable fun shooting the 7 Slasher coming their way into pieces before they reached melee range.

The grabber keep trying to smash Marksaline into Sunset Shimmer, while Fluffelpuff was used, as bouncing shield to prevent damage by sending Marksaline with a comical squeaky sound back towards the Grabber.

Interesting enough did the Grabber take colliding damage from getting Marksaline bounced back to it, while the tough filly only complain about getting dizzy in Lunas voice.

While the fillys are in their duel against the remote controlled 'Grabber Necromorph', did the adults give the Slasher Necromorph a good fight.

Cadance cursed foal friendly, when the weapon she held remembered with clicking noises that it was still empty. Luna and Nightmare in the mean time sniped with controlled short bursts eatch slasher a leg off.

35 shots are used up by Nightmare and Luna in total to remove eatch Slasher a leg, as to slow their movements down and denie them a sprint towards them.
Another 35 to remove from eatch Slasher one arm, slowing down their movements toward the herd even more.

With 10 shots left for Nightmare Moon and 20 for Luna, did Luna stopped shooting. Nightmare was simply the better long range shooter in speed and precision and she would give her rifle to her sister, once she had emptied her in use Nail Rifle.
Nightmare managed to destroy 2 Slashers enough with her 10 remaining shots to have only be worried about the remaining 5 that slowly crawled with gurgeling noises toward them.

Luna give her weapon to her sister and in turn receive the empty gun.
Since the docking bay was pretty huge and the path the Necromorph had to still crawl over to reach any of them, did Nightmare decided to finish the fillys squeaky duel prematurely.

Nightmare noticed that instead of 5 shots to sever a limb, 10 are required to cut of one of its legs with the Nail Rifle she used.
The default strength and unable to be upgraded Nail Rifle was better than nothing, but was clearly inferior to Sunset Shimmer fully damage upgraded Magic Cutter.

When Nightmare used her last 10 shots to cut of the kinesis module arm of the 'Grabber Necromorph', did it started to crawl towards a very disorientated Marksaline that dropped hard on the walkway but fortunately unharmed life bar wise.

The adults of the herd bludgeon the 'Grabber Necromorph' remains to a unusable state, while Fluffelpuff take her still dizzy sister into her fluff for safe keeping.
Sunset in the mean time used her default flamethrower to finishing of the attacking 5 Slashers. Despite the fun she had burning them to a few pieces of charcoal, was the weapon simply not worth keeping it.

She put it away in the ship store, since only ammunition for weapon they had with them would drop.

The 'Grabber Necromorph' was apparently a special enemy that give a selling piece that give on the shop 10.000 Credits. They used the 50.000 Credits they got accumulated via group bonus to buy supplies that got distributed between them.
Namely 12 small medi gel packs, 4 stasis recharge packs and 40 additional Magic Cutter ammunition.

With total 135 shots for Magical Cutter to reload, did Sunset Shimmer would not run out to soon on ammunition. Still would she not try to be wasteful.
Their 12 small and 1 medium medical gel packs would keep them healthy for some time.
The 4 stasis recharge packs would help them slow many Necromorphs down for Marksaline to dismantle by chewing their heads and bladed arms off.

Overall the had all pretty good chances to make it for a while with all their supplies they would carrying among them.

Since Marksaline would be using stasis to attack in general, was she given all stasis recharge packs to her inventory.

Fluffelpuff had not been idal all the time, she had transformed the bodys into crimson cookies for herself and her sister. To everyponys surprise did the weapon or rather module arm of the 'Grabber Necromorph' was a unexpected boon. When Fluffelpuff give it to her sister, did it dissappeared in a flash of light and made a new apperance on her with her wings no longer being see-through.

Marksaline got her telekinesis add on that could hold a object in eatch wing.
Discord give them a short audio message that Marksaline could now used all the collected bladed weapons to pin Necromorphs to walls or the ground.

Marksaline had a delightful smile on her face, with to prospective chance to impale her enemies brutally to surfaces.

Another growning from the entity was to hear throughout the ship.

Finaly ready to move on the herd started to move down toward the flight lobby.
But apparently was there fight in this area still not done, as multible Leapers came out of the areas below them and jumped towards the side of the walkway, before they climbed onto the walkway proper to get into a attacking position.

They had nothing against this area to be used to give Sunset some more experiences to get used to the hooving of the Magic Cutter tool made weapon. Fortunately for the filly did the Leapers had to reach them first. In this wide room the enemy could not use a corridors tightness to force them together for easier areas for them to attack.

All this room give Sunset enough space to cut them down, before they could really do anything but become target practice.
Sunset blasted their arms off with three hits to the limbs, what was apperently sufficient to make them unable to move. A singel shot to the head finished them off.

They dropped eatch a small medical gel pack and with it being 4 Leaper, they had now 16 total in small healing items.

The entity commanding the Necromorph had noticed how fruitless this area was and let them alone, at least until they reached near the elevator downstairs.
Than they get jumped by squeaky fleshy Necromorph that clinging to them and seem to leave slightly acidic substances behind inflicting minor damage to them. But with the all punching and smashing this small swarm of attackers with blunt force, they bearly did any damage.

They started to slightly anoy them though, when another swarm on the elevator dropped down on them when they used it to drive towards the lower levels. It was slightly harder in this confined space to kill them all by punching and kicking and so they all had half a bracket of life damage suffered by the time they exit the elevator.

Another foe coming from the path infront of them made a apperance when they exited the workroom.
The 'Grabber Necromorph' showed how nasty it could be when it had a box in its grip and showed Nightmare how hard a kinesis Modul could throw a metalic object.

Wasn't to surprising that Nightmare suffered half a bracket life damage and cursed verbaly this 'horseapples sucking bastard' for hitting her with a environment found box. A helmet might reduce head trauma, but could not negate it entirely. Nor did it stop the protective helm itself to ring out like a low grade tower bell.

4 shots to a leg from Sunset cutter tool deprived it of movement speed and 4 shots later of its ability to use its mutated in the forearm kinesis module.

After the herd had some fun beating it to pieces with their weapons, did Sunset Shimmer get next the kinesis module in form of wings.
Sunset was finding it sad that she would not be able to try fly with them, but since pegasus had something like junior flight schools. She rather not want to hurt herself trying to fly in a deadly environment.

When the herd didn't get any resistance until they reached the room Mercer would be in did the group relaxed and let their guard down for a few seconds, exactly for that did they got punished, when to their surprised a swarm of the tiny fleshy and acidic Necromorph dropped down on them infront of the door of the transportation control room. It seemed the entity somehow managed to surpress its squeaky war cries through some unknown means.

Apparently did they all needed to check the ceiling more often in the future.
While the little terrors again only managed minimal damage, did the ponies hoped that the acid damage of the tiny Necromorph didn't count as suit damage that would require a new suit eventually to be acquired via shop.

Unfortunately it did count just like being hit by a acidic Slasher range attack made out of corrosive bile, what was suddenly showed to them with a new integrity indicator that Discord snapped into existance for the herds benefit.
Further when the ponies fully entered the safe room, did they noticed that Discord was no longer standing in the opposed room. Mercer and Discord had a cup of tea, while they talked about something while one of his copies was busy on one of the rooms consoles.

This time Mercer unfortunately had nothing left to heal them all up, further did he seem a bit offended when noone was using the flamethrower weapon schematics he gifted them.

Sunset explained that the Flamethrower simply was to inefficient, while her Magic Cutter was way more efficient in every statistical value. After using it she said it was very entertaining to use, but they are not here for fun.

Mercer just nodded and continued to talk about chocolate rain coming out of cotton candy clouds.
As non sense their dialog obviously was, did it only helped them to lose interest in the three occupied individuals in the safe room and they moved on.

Unexpectedly did they meet a surviver that was screaming for help, why was obvious when a Slasher was dragging it by a impaled foot behind it. When the Slasher noticed them, did it ripped itself free from the surviver foot without luckily not ripping the pierced part free of the legs joint.

The diamond dog surviver was whimpering on the ground. With new prey to toy with did it was coming the herds way to add to its prey collection so it could torment them for its amusement it seemed.
The Necromorph seem to do have value for living prey of the surviver from the Ishimura after all. The groups take the not killing of its prey as evidence of that fact.

The foe was turned into a bunch of bloody meat pieces when Marksaline practiced to cut of limbs with her collection of bladed bone pieces. Interesting was that she could with some difficulty cut its arms off with a steady hit.

When their foe were taken care off, did Nightmare recommend to pin down one of its legs next time, with Marksaline being on Fluffle Puff rear standing did she had enough angle to get a leg impaled to the ground in a diagonal direction.

The surviver was still whimpering on the ground cradling its injured leg. They wondered if the survivors RIG was malfunctioning, because it showed no life indicator. They used a small medical gel on the foot wounds to seal it, yet it still didn't change his life indication.
Perhaps not only the ship suffered from losing power.

The surviver thanked them and introduced himself as 'Red Hering'.
He had left his group of survivers to find some food for himself and the 7 other survivers of his group currently holding out in the maintenance bay.

Since the herd just came from a room with food dispersion stands, did they moved back to the safe room.
The surviver said he needed a moment of rest, so he waited outside the room heavy breathing.

Nightmare and Luna stayed with him since he was outside the Necromorph safe zone, a easy target unguarded in the hall before the save room.

Cadance and the fillys smashed the food dispersion stand and stashed all they managed in their inventory.

They give the surviver some soft drinks and candy bars they had floating in their magical grip.
He thanked them and after he ate his share, lead them to the maintenance bay.
Actually to the elevator to the maintenance bay, but he wondered what they wanted in there because the broken tram was not replaced yet.

They called Discord about the wagon they replaced, but the Draconequus confirmed that they had in fact not given the final confirmation to the main console to place the new wagon on the rails.

So they moved to the room of the wagon replacement area and had indeed only to confirm with a press of a displayed button the placement of the intact wagon.

They expected a attack after having a main objective completed, but nothing come their way.
It was strange, it seems the entity had its own plans how to surprise the herd in the near future.

The herd and the surviver than continued to their next objective. They all expect a attack in the dark corridor that had lost its environmental lights, but again nothing happend.
Something was up and they didn't like the waiting for the trap to spring.

The Elevator was to small for them all, so the fillys and Nightmare drive the elevator down first.
When they arrived downstairs they see the survivers doing some repairs apparently.

They video message the others that the area was clear, so they come down after letting the surviver Red Hering drive down the elevator.
When everyone was finaly together again, did the surviver called out the others to come to them.

They shuffle tiredly to them and take the food and drinks the Herd had stashed in their inventory for them all. Red Hering was thanking them profusely for saving him and for delivering food and soft drinks for his group.

The survivors got back to what ever they where doing and the leader of the group Red Hering guided them through the area to the spare part.
It was very strange, not a singel Slasher or other Necromorph seem to make a apperance in the area.

When they all come down the elevator from taking a in the area used elevator to reach a key they had near a console, did they wonder what the enemy was occupied with. Red Hering told them with the key they had the ability to unlock the door and get the spare platinum control piece they needed to fullfill the reactivation of the transit system.

The survivors had a gift for their heros, they collected all the explosive barrels in the area in one place and offered to refill their flamethrower.

Red Hering was surprised they didn't had any with them. Apparently Mercer forget to mention that to them.
Luna wondered why Mercer didn't tell them about the survivers of the maintenance bay, but guessed that they had not linked one another's RIG communications list.
Or more likely, the powered off RIGs probably mean their communications was down as well.

Red Hering guided Nightmare Moon to the explosive collection of barrels when he wanted to give over a riot shield with spikes on its front to her. It seem to be perfectly welded together to use as blunt weapon and as shield against Necromorph that would charge them in the future.

One of the very tired looking Diamond Dogs had casual left his active welder infront of a explosive barrel and sit down besides it. He invited them all to join him.

Nightmare inspected the riot shield that the bipedal Dogs had made for them, while the other moved on to the sealed room to retrieve the needed part and a upgrade node they spotted in the room. When the herd entered without Nightmare did suddenly a deafening explosion was to hear.

Following by Nightmare RIG flatline.
They stormed out the room to investigate what happened.

Apparently did a explosion of all explosive barrels of the area had somehow detonated simultaneously the collection of welder and flamethrower fuel and ripped the survivers and Nightmare Moon to bloody unrecognizable pieces.

They all cursed that Nightmare got taken out alongside a huge group of Diamond Dog survivers by a accidentally occurring work related incident.

Fun fact: When old age is no longer a factor, than any other death cause becomes more likely... like working accidents.

They moved unchallenged back to the transportation control room. Apperently did Mercer and Discord had moved to the transportation stop of the area.

When they replaced the damaged control platinum piece, did the system got restarted and the wagon halted before Mercer and Discord.
They send them a voice message that they would drive over to the bridge and check for survivers and ship access to further their goals.

They moved back to the ship to respawning Nightmare and buying some more small medical gel packs.

No resistance towards them until once more time in the elevator ride up to the flight lounge a swarm of the really annoying fleshy Necromorph had to insisting on being harassment of the kind that sticks to ones memory because they are quite unique that way.

Once more did the swarm was quickly dispatched, but had again inflicted herd wide half a bracket RIG damage and one more suit damage.
Cadance noticed it was rather clever to use a enemy type that could inflict minor damage, but didn't reward them by defeating them via any loot.

Further would their suits eventually give them reasons to spend individually 10.000 Credits on a new suit.
At least they would get more inventory space and armor out of it.
Suit level 2 – 18 inventory slots, 5% armor bonus (found in any store) would benefit them, unfortunately did the herd not know what would happen if they buy it and the needed again their suit replaced.
Would it cost them once more 10.000 Credits to buy a new suit?

They opend a voice message link to Discord and ask, Discord had anticipated this question. A suit replacement of the same quality was going to cost them 50% less. Still they would have to indeed buy a new one to replace the old.
Further would a 100% breached suit lost 50% of its air capacity.

That was very concerning, they had no idea what air insufficient areas would look like. The first time they would experience would without a doubt be a major event.

They had to interrupted conversation with the Draconequus and their contemplating about things to come, when once more the annoying swarms of fleshlings come their way.

They used stasis to stun the little buggers and eliminated them one weapon smash at a time.
They didn't deal mutch damage but cost the group suit integrity and time.
Than Sunset Shimmer decided that the Flamethrower schematics had their use after all.

When they reached the actual lobby did they meet a singel surviver going through some of the contents of the briefcases. The Griffon surviver had like the others before him no RIG life indicator, something they would have to ask Discord about. Would be extreamly inconceivable to run through the area without a life indicator and the holograms that showed inventory and other stuff.

Unfortunately did they meet a new type of alien or more likely Necromorph. It attacked the surviver from behind and stabbed the surviver repeatedly in the chest, before it paused and with a mighty attack pierced the survivers forehead.

It seem to disappearing into one of the room open ventilation shafts. But what the adults and Sunset witnessed in the following seconds was simply gut emptying.
The body of the poor former surviver contorted and suffered muscle spasmodic movements, before his body deformed and they see the creation of a Leaper in pony.

Apparently did they just discovered how Necromorph are created, Marksaline seem to react like a disappointed mother that just see one of her sons wasting all his potencial.
It was quite bizarre coming from the little devilish cute monster in her ominously glowing glyph armor suit.

The Leaper followed through the same ventilation shaft into parts unknown, but they all knew that they didn't see the last of them.

One of Discords copies was watching how many Necromancer of Light members of all races got herded or flocked together while they didn't resisted and got treated to good food and drinks, but he did wondered what was going on.

He teleported to Celestia who was currently in her bed chamber with her way to tight battle armor. Celestia cursing about fluffy penguins and to tight armor limitations.
It was quite entertaining.

A snap of his Griffon talon made the armor form fitting before a second snap placed it as intended on Celestias body.
She looked surprised and than thankfully into the direction of the chaos god.
He didn't expect a cold armor hug, he got flashbacks to Cadance tricking him and germane suplex the Tarterus out of him when he assumed it to be a perfectly safe normal hug.

To his surprises of this evening was added when she let him go and give him a short kiss on his right cheek. What ever he did to deserve this, he decided he needed to do it more often...

Celestia thanked him for sending her memory crystal balls of future events so her family would not suffer.
Discord had no idea what she meant and just nodded, no need to not take anything good coming his way.
She ask him to stay here and watch over the sleeping fillys.
Once she was back and had stopped who ever would try to hurt the fillys would she come back and reward him handsomely.
The purr in her voice made him blush purple with red stripes.

When they exited the Kellion did Sunset had bought a upgrade node and with the one found in the maintenance bay, had upgraded the Flamethrower she owned and retrieved it out of storage.

She bought one ammunition and than upgraded damage and capacity. She had after the capacity a free reloading of her weapon because it had more than 0 ammunition in it.

Every little exploit counted in a fight for once survivel.

They all buy flamer fuel and magic cutter ammunition beside a few small medical gel pack to get everypony back to 100% health.

The entity that was controlling the Necromorph had a minor laughing fit before they exited the Kellion again, why was clear as they spotted redicules amounts of Necromorph fleshlings coming their way.

This time the actual Sunset Shimmer had the last laughter. She had more than enough fuel in her inventory to burned them all, not even one got close enough to cause damage.
The aggravated "O - come on!"
from the entity was music in Sunset ears.

She reloaded her last fuel reload into her flamethrower and the herd moved towards the flight lounge to use the elevator there to use the transportation wagon.

They send a short thanks to Mercer for the Flamethrower tool made weapon schematics, it was a pure life saver after all.

After the call was ended did Mercer kicked over a few stacked together boxed and Discord was laughing himself to pieces, literally.
After Discord recombined his pieces more or less where they should be, did he needle Mercer a bit.

"Not only did your rigged maintenance bay explosive trap failed to kill them all, now the weapon you expected to be a waste of money and upgrade nodes become a valuable asset after all. Your master will not be pleased."

Mercer was sulking and kicking someones cut of foot into a conor where noone would notice it in frustration.

He answered:
"I did exactly as ordered and did nothing wrong, my participation in the entity plans was flawless and random luck prevented us from victory.
I will play my part, once the filly dies will I ascend as my mistress had promised me.
I will not disappear like any dream construct, I will survive this night and I shall be a better Sunset Shimmer than this brat could ever be!
Besides... once I have Sunset Shimmers body when her soul dies, I will somehow convince Marksaline to make me a Necromorph pony and I shall life for-everrr!"

Discord had a foul taste about this dream constructs ambitious plans. Survivel was understandable, but as ruthlessly as Challus Mercer was presumably be not just in this endeavor was clear that he had to save Sunset alone for the fact that he didn't want to ever see the likes of him after tonight had ended.

Author's Note

Anyone has a guess what's happening?
Place it in spoiler brackets and I answer your theory what is going on.
And / or if your right or wrong.

Enjoy the mystery if noone guessed it until revealing.

As always-
Stay snuggly everycreature

Edit:
07.01.2024
Minor typos fixed.