Anonymous in Nu-Questria 2

by MancerMandrake

Rating: mature
Tags: Second Person, My Little Pony: A New Generation, Sunny Starscout, Adventure, Zipp Storm, Sex, Hitch Trailblazer, Profanity, Violence, Izzy Moonbow, Dark, Death, Human, Narcotics, Drama, Anon
Length: 97677

Anonymous, resigned to his fate, finds himself swept up in an adventure to uncover the lost history of Equestria. Led by the strong-hearted Sunny, the crew of ponies (and human) venture out into the unknown in their newly refurbished airship.

Anonymous, resigned to his fate, finds himself swept up in an adventure to uncover the lost history of Equestria. Led by the strong-hearted Sunny, the crew of ponies (and human) venture out into the unknown in their newly refurbished airship.

Countless dangers may be lurking in the shadows of the ruined kingdom. Will friendship be enough to keep their ship afloat? What will they be willing to risk in order to find the truth?

This is a "Human in Equestria" story told in second-person. It is a direct continuation of the previous story. There are sexual themes, cursing, violence and drug use. No explicit sexual content. This story will not match up with lore from MLP: Make your Mark or MLP: Tell your Tale. Instead, this is a unique take on Equestria's history that leans heavily into personal headcanon.

Published 2022-03-11 00:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2022-03-11 00:30:01 UTC

Chapter 1 - Communication Failure

“Well, Twilight, that’s the thing about changelings...”

You are Anon. You are churning a heavy stone mortar and pestle.

“I always liked ‘em better back when they had holes.” You say to yourself with a grin.

The joke does little to lift your spirits. Your arms ache. The beaded sweat on your brow runs together and drips off your chin.

“Oh this? Oh, just a little hobby I’ve been working on in my spare time... you know.”

Sure, you don’t technically have an alchemy license, but the last time you fucking checked, Celestia’s “Sunshine Decrees” don’t count in any of the protected wild territories. Your property is technically still within the bounds of the Hollow Shades woodlands, so you don’t need to report your alchemical inventory to any fucking magistrate or imperial authority.

“Grh.” You strain and grunt. “Come back with a fucking... warrant.”

Your arms give in. You can’t stir any more. You drop the mortar and it clunks against the side of the bowl. You wearily wipe your brow with your bare forearm. You fling the sweat behind you and pick up a rag to dab your forehead dry.

Alright. One more time.

After drying your hands, you take your measuring scoop and carefully pack it with an even mix of the powder. The small ruby-like beads of congealed dragon’s breath glint in the light of the nearby globe lantern. It took a long fucking time to work out the right ratio, but you think this mixture should be just the thing to give it the right kick. To punch that slug nice and hard. Yeah.

You exhale slowly as you tap the powder carefully into the funnel. You watch it sink into the cold, steel barrel. You remove the funnel and grab the heavy lead pellet. You thread it carefully into the barrel, then pack it down with the ram rod.

You turn towards the wooden bench where the test vices are waiting, jaws agape. The light from the globe lantern casts your shadow down the improvised gun range you carved from the light, tan stone.

You clamp the barrel to the vices on the testing bench. You tighten the screws extra hard with the wrench, despite the sudden, sharp pain in your finger joints.

You sure hope this barrel holds. If those griffins didn’t sell you the right kind of steel then you’re gonna have to break some fucking beaks the next time you visit Manehattan.

Alright. You toss the wrench into the toolbox. One more time.

You put in the wick. You wipe your hands on your shirt, then you strike a match against the roughly hewn wood of the bench.

The fuse ignites and you quickly dash behind cover and cup your ears.

You wait. You listen.

The bang comes swiftly, taking you by surprise. The report of the gun sends a shockwave through your chest as it reverberates in the small tunnel. Your ears ring with a high pitched whine.

Fucking hell...

You peer around the corner of the stone wall. The tunnel is covered in thick, white smoke, but you can pick out crimson flames and embers in the sloped rock wall.

The smoke clears and you see a perfectly round hole punched through the iron target. The metal is charred with a thick, black residue. You can see pulverized stone where it struck the back wall.

Damn, well that fucking worked.

You lean forward and try to line up the gun barrel and the hole it made in your vision. You put a pinkie finger in your ear to try and stop the pitched whine.

Looks pretty much straight on. Well, damn. It took a long ass time, but now it looks like you finally found a shred of human dignity in this world. It’s your right as a citizen to be able to defend yourself, after all. Not to mention, it’s only a matter of time before some shit goes down.

This time you aren’t going to hide out and wait for it to blow over. Nope. You’re gonna defend what you’ve built. You have the right, god dammit. Certain assurances must be made, no matter what Celestia and her half-pint purple piglet might think.

You hear some kind of shrill shrieking sound trying to break through the high-pitched whine as you rub your ears. It sounds like a different kind of whine, mixing and stabbing into the first.

You cringe and turn to the door. There’s a batpony mare standing there. Her yellow, slitted eyes pulse as she shouts, her fangs are bared and her forked tongue flashes in her mouth.

“A knob!” The batpony mare says in a muffled shriek.

“What?” You say. You try to move your jaw and pop your ears.

“Airs uh waffle born bee site!” You think you hear her shout.

“What?!” You yell. You finally work your eardrums loose and the tinnitus fades.

“I said there’s a fucking alicorn outside, you dumbass! Why is she here?!” Valerie says with a bitchy glare.

“Really? Fuck, what color?” You ask as you press your thumb and index finger against the bridge of your nose.

“Purple.” She says.

“God fucking dammit.” You say.

You whirl around to your workbench and yank open a metal drawer. You pull out a hand-rolled cigarette from the bunch, one with only tobacco inside. You slam the drawer shut and strike another match.

“Is there something you wanna tell me?” Valerie says in her standard accusatory tone as she takes a step into the tunnel.

You wave out the match and puff the cigarette.

“Settle down. She’s probably just trying to get me to go to that fucking school again.” You say as you take a long drag on your cigarette. The cherry burns hot as you suck in the smoke.

“Go make her leave. I don’t want her coming in here. Do I make myself clear?” Valerie says, her leathery purple wings flare out. Her teal fauxhawk is pointed like a venomous stinger. Her fluffy ears are folded back. She’s always becomes such a cunt when she’s even a little anxious.

You exhale a long plume of smoke. You clear your throat to disrupt the tingle of unfiltered tobacco.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’ll take care of it, fuzz tits. I know.” You say in a low grumble.

Valerie’s eye slits narrow. “Fucking asshole.” She says and then stomps out of the tunnel and the hidden, pony-sized door.

You take another short drag. You wait until you hear the bedroom door slam.

You crouch down and waddle through the small door. You turn and carefully close it behind you, hearing the tiny latch click into place. You reach up and pull the cord overhead, releasing the heavy tapestry. It unfurls down the wall and perfectly obscures the entrance, but you kick the folds a few times to be sure.

You amble along the hall towards the front of your ranch-style home, the floorboards creaking and shifting beneath your slippers.

You glance out the front window. Yep. There’s Twiggles. The soon-to-be ruler of all Equestria just standing right on the steps of your porch. You decide to take your time walking to the door.

You hesitate for a moment as you reach towards the handle. You look down at your white t-shirt and its stains of black grease and yellow cooking oil. Your grungy sweatpants have holes in the knees. You’re wearing your fuzzy slippers. Yeah. Perfect attire for another royal meeting.

You pull open the thick, human-sized wooden door and step out in front of it. You hold your cigarette with two fingers and take a long drag as you fling open the screen door and step onto the porch, letting it bang with a flimsy shudder as it strikes the side of the house.

Twilight Sparkle, the princess of friendship, greets you with a blank, observant stare.

You exhale a cloud of smoke across the porch which quickly rises up to the ceiling in a haze. You shrug your shoulders and throw your hands out to the sides.

“Yeah?” You ask in an obstinate tone.

Twilight glares at you for a moment and lightly coughs. You stare back coldly as you lean against the doorway. Your shoulder traps the screen door open.

“Anonymous. I have come across development that pertains to your presence here in Equestria, and I feel that is is my obligation as your friend and future Princess to inform you of it.” She says in a neutral, diplomatic tone.

“Uh huh.” You say.

She looks a bit taller since the last time you saw her. Still not quite up to Celestia's height, but the alicorn juices are certainly kicking in. She must have also used another fucking privacy-violating scrying spell to find your house.

It’s tucked under the overhang of a cliff at the edge of the woodlands, so its virtually invisible to see from the air. No roads leading to it but an overgrown footpath through the far canyon, and no one should know where it is except for you and a select few “work contacts.”

Twilight blinks. She takes a short breath and adopts a more sympathetic voice.

“Anon, I know you think that I forgot about your original request. You know, the one you asked me a short while after we met?" She says.

You stare blankly. Twilight continues.

"You asked me if there was a way to send you back to your own world. Back to planet Earth. I believe I have found the answer. If you are willing, I would like to have a brief discussion with you about-”

You chuckle under your breath. Twilight stops and purses her lips tightly. You admire the cigarette in your fingers for a bit.

“What? Go back?” You say. You cough and then spit a wad of phlegm onto the porch. You wave your hand in a sweeping gesture.

“Why would I want that, Twilight?” You say with a smile. “Take a look around. I got it all figured out now.”

She grimaces slightly.

You glance around your homestead. Beyond the porch is your yard with its weed-ridden garden, its budding green tomatoes and rows of sprouting vegetables, its low stack of wooden chicken coops, its rusted heap of junk metal, tangled with vines.

“I’d say I’m doing pretty well for myself, Princess. I don’t need your help.” You say. “I’d say you’re a few years too late. Sorry. I’m a citizen now. I own real estate. I make my own living. I even have a new gal, and lemme tell ya, she really knows a good suck!”

You make a face and hang your mouth open. Twilight just rolls her eyes.

“Alright Anon, if you truly think that-”

“Yeah, Twilight. Yeah. She’s the one this time. I can really tell.” You say. You waggle a finger knowingly. “Keeps me up all night too, you know how those ‘children of the night’ are, hah.”

You laugh under your breath.

“Anon,” Twilight says, shaking her head with an exasperated sigh, “Why are you like this?”

You shrug and glance to the side.

“You don’t consider me your friend any more, Anon. I understand that.” She says. “But here I am trying to help you with the thing that’s been troubling you the entire time you’ve been here - the entire time I’ve known you! And you couldn’t care less.” She says.

She lowers her gaze, her ears droop down to the sides. “What caused this? Why do you-”

“Oh, I dunno, Twilight!” You say. You casually flick the half-finished cigarette over the railing of the porch, where it fizzles out in a marshy puddle on your lawn.

“Maybe it’s because all of the ‘friends’ I have from Ponyville are now professors at that gaudy, crystal eyesore you call a school. Maybe it gets a little busy teaching a class full of students along with, I dunno, running a business or holding on to a high-stakes career. Spending time with family members. Not to mention making time for the odd friendship quest. Maybe that huh? Maybe they’re too busy to spend time with any of their friends, much less me.”

Twilight folds her ears back and narrows her eyes at you. You sweep your hand up in another sarcastic shrug.

“Plus, you know most have shacked up already. Pinkie is seeing that fucking unfunny cheese clown, Discord is teabagging Fluttershy on the nightly, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash are so far in the closet they’re finding Hearth’s Warming Eve decorations. Maybe, just maybe, any of that might have something to do with it? Huh? They all... moved on!”

Twilight looks at you defiantly, but maintains her cool. You shrug again.

“Or maybe it’s because everywhere I go now I have to flash my Creature Papers at some dopey train conductor or barman and wait for them to read out the list of my special dietary requirements and physiological features just so I can get on a fucking train or buy a goddamn drink? Huh? You wanna tell me why you thought that was a good idea?”

Twilight shakes her head, nonplussed.

“Anon, what are you talking about? The creature friendship initiatives we launched benefit all creatures, especially you! It’s never been easier for a human to integrate into a pony community!” She says exasperatedly.

“Yeah, yeah. Just takes away all the mystique is all, Twilight. I’m not special anymore. No one is.” You say. “Everycreature is the same now. Everycreature equal and joined together in the big homogeneous blob of friendship. Hooray. Great job.”

You lean back against the door frame and gaze off to the side.

Twilight keeps staring for a bit. She takes a short breath.

“Anon, I still don’t understand why you continue to behave in this way. Did you really expect none of my friends to move on? We all have goals, Anon. Aspirations. We want to grow and prosper in life, and...” She pauses. “And I guess you just want to have a good time.”

You shrug. “Maybe, Twilight. Maybe.”

“Anon, please. If you are truly unhappy, if you truly believe you can no longer find a place here with us...” Twilight says, “I shall do the noble thing and send you back to your home world. Safely and unharmed.”

You think about it for about a half a second before you reach the same old conclusion you made. Those long, sleepless nights in the train cars and back alley hotels were good for something. You realized don’t need to go back to Earth. Nothing waiting for you there.

“Nah.” You say, scrunching up your face. “I’m good, Twilight.”

Twilight starts again. “Anon, I can send you back to your own time, right when you-”

“I said I’m good, Twi.” You say, shooting her an impatient glare.

Twilight looks over your disheveled and uncaring figure like a stubborn stain in a treasured ball gown. Her studious eyes still linger with some ever-present hope that a solution to your current state of affairs will spring forth like a long-forgotten secret.

With a huff, she finally speaks up. “Alright, Anon.”

Her wings unfurl and she looks behind at a navy blue saddlebag adorned with her royal crest. Her horn glows and a small music box floats out from beneath the flap. She lifts it to an outstretched forehoof and lets the spell fade.

“But if you ever want to reconsider, or even... just talk to me for a while, just hold this box and speak into it. I’ll be on the other side, okay?" She says.

You look over the box. It seems to be small wooden music box with gold floral motifs etched in spiraling patterns over its surface. There’s a small latch, and you just know it has some saccharine tune that plays when it opens.

“Oh, is that your phone number?” You say with a snort. “Sorry, I already have a marefriend, Twi.”

“Just take it.” She grumbles.

You turn and sigh. You raise your hand up and flip your palm open.

Twilight zips the box into your hand with a quick burst of magic.

“Alright...” You say as you grip it loosely in your hand.

Twilight gives you a small, approving nod and begins to turn away. Her head stays pointed to you for a moment before she takes a step off the porch and looks up to the sky.

“Fare well, my human friend. I hope we can meet again soon.” She says as her wings stretch out.

Yeah, don’t let the tree branches hit your rapidly expanding ass on the way out, Twiggles.

With a might push of her larger-than-average wings, the Princess takes wing and soars out above the distant pine trees. You wait for her to disappear, standing firm in the doorway. As soon as she’s gone you pitch the music box into the yard. It lands in a patch of mud near the garden. You don't give it a second look.

You want another smoke. You want a cold drink. This shit has got to stop already.

“Anon! Get inside now!” a shrill voice cries out from the dark hall behind you.

God dammit.

You lean off the screen door and let it close on its own from spring tension. You whip around and close the heavy front door tight.

“Coming, my dear.” You say in a dulcet tone.

You make it about halfway through the small living room before she appears from the hallway. Her scornful glare burns like the headlamps of a semi truck coming down the freeway.

You stop and just stand here as she approaches. Well, here it comes.

“Tell me what is going on. Now!” Valerie screams, her voice cracking a bit at the end.

“Look, okay. Okay.” You say, splaying out your fingers in a passive motion, “She wasn’t here for you, alright? There’s nothing-”

“So was she here for you?! Why are you still talking to her?! Have you been meeting her behind my back?!” Valerie screams, the sharp points of her wings are curved menacingly out to the sides.

“No. She doesn’t mean anything to me, alright?” You say in a calm voice.

She takes a step forward, her fluffy ears fold back and she sneers. “That’s what your little business trip really was about, wasn’t it? You were going to see her?”

“No Val, please.” You say.

Valerie throws her head back. Her body shimmers with a piercing green aura and a gout of ethereal green flames swirl up her legs. It engulfs her body briefly as her figure instantly changes underneath. Before you now stands a perfect copy of Twilight Sparkle.

“Tell me the truth! Is this what you want?” She says defiantly, her bitchy way of speaking now coming through Twilight’s voice.

You grit your teeth and cringe. Just because she’s one of the few unreformed changeling drones out there, she has a constant persecution complex and dislikes other ponies almost as much as you do. You used to feel sorry for her. Not any more.

You look off to the side. “No.” You say in grim tone.

You hear her flap into the air. Out of the corner of your eye the blurry purple form hovers in front of you.

“Look at me.” She says.

You sigh angrily and roll your gaze to the ground. You look below her. You try to quell the rising anger. You feel the tension between you, like the spring of a mousetrap about to snap. Another fucking fight, and there’s nothing you can say to stop it.

You clench your fist, raise your gaze to her false violet eyes and slowly relax your hand after.

She studies your face with a disgusted glare for a moment. “Well, hm?” She asks before changing again with a shimmer to a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane.

“How about now? Hm?” She says in a gruffer, tomboyish voice. “This is more your speed. Is this it, Anon? Is this the mare that got away?”

You clench your teeth and your eye twitches. “Fucking stop. Just stop.”

She grins and drops to the floor in front of you. You stand your ground. With another flash of green flame, she changes to an orange earth pony with a long, blond mane.

“C’mon now, tell the truth, Anon! That’s what an honest guy would do.” She says, raising a forehoof at you.

God fucking dammit. First Twilight bitches at you and now this?

“Wow, a changeling lecturing me about honesty, how fucking ironic!“ You put a hand on her head and shove her to the side. “Get out of my way.”

She stumbles a bit, but regains her balance. You walk around her towards the hall. You hear a rising scream as Val tries to tackle you from behind.

The force of her lunge shoves you forward, but you keep your footing. She instantly wraps her forelegs around your chest. She pulses with another flash of green light and becomes a bat pony again. You twist and try to wriggle her off your back.

“Hooves off, bitch!” You shout and try to pry her loose. She flaps her bat-like wings quickly as she grips you tighter.

“Answer me! Do you want me to die off you sick bastard?!” She screams right behind your head.

“No!” You shout, with a burst of sudden strength your weary fingers manage to wrench her hooves off you, you push her back by her forelegs and she floats backwards in the air. You spin around and raise your hands to deflect her again.

Instantly she zooms up to you. You manage to catch her forehooves, but her hind hooves clasp around your waist and dig in tight. The force of it pushes you back against the wall, but luckily you are caught by the tapestry.

She leans forward, hissing with her long, forked tongue between her fangs. “No? You fucking love it, don’t you? Which one to do want me to be tonight?”

You fume. “You’re a fucking, awful, toxic bitch, Val, and I rue the day I ever met you.” You say through clenched teeth.

She presses her body close to you. “Oh yeah, baby. Keep talking just like that...” She says in a sultry voice. She runs her tongue along your lips and then forces her muzzle against your mouth. You open your mouth and let her kiss you, not fighting back, but not reciprocating.

You hold her around her barrel with your arms, taking the moment of pacification to start walking down the hall. She snakes her forked tongue along your mouth, licking your teeth and breathing hotly against you. You accidentally let her flank get too close to one of the shelves and it knocks an old stack of magazines to the floor.

You make it to the bedroom and you toss her to your queen-sized bed. “Ahahah!” She cackles as she falls down onto her back, her hooves aloft in the stagnant air.

You cross your arms and glare at her. With a devious grin, she spreads her back legs and runs a hoof over the fluffy patch of fur on her chest. Her tongue lolls out of her opened mouth as she lets out a sensual moan.

You feel like locking her in here again, but you know she’ll keep pestering you. She’s simply begging for her daily slice of bread.

“On second thought... why don’t you go ahead and change back into Twilight and I’ll really give you something to feel sorry about.” You say. You heatedly tug at the drawstring to your sweatpants.

Valerie’s eyes light up with vicious splendor as her body writhes.

Chapter 2 - One Bad Night

You’re sitting at the foot of your bed with the stub of a cigarette in your clenched teeth, wearing nothing but your boxer briefs.

Valerie the cantankerous wench is passed out in her true form. Her dark gray carapace rests motionless in a sex-induced coma, half-way tucked into the bed sheets.

Thin bands of moonlight creep through the blinds of the bedroom. The only light besides the lantern still burning where you left it in the hallway.

You rub your neck gingerly, feeling the fresh puncture wounds she left right above your clavicle. You pull your fingers away and feel fresh blood on them.

Fuck. She got in there deep this time. Need to patch that up before it gets infected.

You grunt and slowly rise off the bed. Valerie’s sleeping form remains still as you make your way quietly out of the room. You know she’ll be back to “normal” when she wakes up in the morning. She’ll act all cuddly and loving again, pretending that nothing happened. That is, until her next inevitable freak out.

You take a few puffs on the cigarette and finally stub it out on the side of the porcelain sink as you get to the bathroom. You open the bathroom mirror cabinet and look for the bottle of antiseptic.

The small glass bottle is empty. Fucking hell. You close the mirror and grumble to yourself.

You clean away the blood with some water from the sink, then dab it dry with a rag. The other scratches on your arms and chest will be fine. They already seem to have clotted over.

You press the rag to your neck and pick up the lantern from the nearby shelf as you step through the hallway. You remember there’s another thing you can use as disinfectant. Just buried out there in the yard.

You throw on your crusty plaid bathrobe and put on your slippers. Quietly you unlock the front door and step onto the porch, closing it behind you as softly as you can.

The moon is bright tonight, as it seemingly always is in this part of the country. There's so many stars without the light pollution from the streetlamps of the big cities. You carry the yellowed, old globe of light with you any way.

You make your way out to the chicken coop and bend down near the outside wall. You set down the lantern and scrape the damp earth away with your hand. You gradually uncover the metal tin and free it from its hiding place.

Inside the tin you find the jar of moonshine, just as you left it. Seems like Valerie didn’t figure it out this time. The jar is still about three-fourths full. You unscrew the cap and smell the harsh, alcoholic vapors.

Using the rag, you wet a section of it and dab it on your neck wounds. The piercing pain that follows makes you shiver, but you bear it.

You decide to take a swig of the booze. Why not? You’ll need all the help you can get to go to sleep after today. Cider isn’t going to cut it.

You wander around your property for a while. You look over the scraps of trash littered here and there. You check in on the sprigs of the pot plants growing between the tomatoes of your struggling garden. You pace near the edge of the forest beyond the clearing. You take a swig here and there and let your mind wander along with your feet.

Fucking Twilight... giving you a music box telephone. She should know by now that childish novelties aren’t your thing. No. You aren’t going to let Starlight Glimmer give you another counseling session. You aren’t going to try and talk with those... fucking students again. You aren’t going to become the model citizen they want you to be. You just want to be left alone.

You shake your head slowly and sigh. Her offer to send you back to Earth was such a paltry compromise. It’s basically just saying “get out of my life and go somewhere else,” as if you’re just another transient pony on the streets or something. Not that Twilight even knows any homeless creatures any way. She never has to mingle with the riffraff outside of her castle and school.

You grimace as another swig of moonshine washes down your throat. You raise the jar up to catch the light and see that it’s now only half filled. Fuck.

You hurriedly screw on the cap and then rub your head. Your head is a bit woozy, and your chest is warm. You should take it easy for a bit. Just go and lie down.

As you stumble back into your yard, your mind begins to spin with a variety of thoughts, some impure, some depressing, some amusing. You smirk a bit. Your body feels loose and limp.

Suddenly you stub your toe on something. You inhale sharply and hop on one leg, but your balance fails and you fall into the mud.

It takes you a second to get your bearings, but you slowly sit up. You mutter some curses under your breath and feel around for the thing you tripped over.

Of course. The fucking box.

You’re about to toss it into the junk heap, but then you think of something. You laugh quietly under your breath as you saunter back inside your house with a tipsy swagger.

Soon you come back out carrying a few burlap sacks filled with your special powder, some matches, and a few wicks. You hum a soft tune as you make your way to the center of your yard, right beyond the point where the moonlight makes direct contact with the grass below the overhang.

You put down the three sacks in a nice little bundle.

You put in the wicks and twist them together into one, long strand.

You take the music box and hold it in your hands. You peer at the small device, inspecting it a bit. She said you just had to talk right? Well, I have something to say, Twilight.

“Hey Twilight, you there?” You say.

There’s a tiny burst of violet sparkles around the box. The star-shaped latch on the front clicks open and the lid opens on its own. Inside there’s the sound of spinning gears, and you see six gems seated in a spinning golden disk. They shift between the hues of the rainbow.

Twilight’s cutie mark symbol appears as a blurry, semi-transparent hologram above the gems as the lid fully opens. You hear the sound of shuffling quietly emanating from it.

“Mh... Anon? Is that you?” You hear Twilight say in a sleepy voice.

Perfect. You set the box quickly on the bundles of powder and strike a match.

“Hey Twilight, it’s me, yeah!” You say, slurring your words a bit.

“Anon... are you drunk? What time is it?” Twilight asks. Her symbol glows brighter along with the volume of her voice.

“It’s alright, it’s fine. Hey, I wanted to tell you something, okay?” You say, lighting the fuse. You hold back the giddy laughter rising in your chest as you lean back.

“What is it, Anon?” Twilight says in a soft, empathetic tone.

“Alright, well it’s really important so listen up, okay?” You say, your lips trembling as you involuntarily grin. You quickly step back until you’re a few yards away, then you turn and run.

Twilight remains silent, waiting for you to speak. You make it back to the porch before you hear her say, “Anon? Are you there? What’s that sound? I think there’s some sort of noise on your-”

KA-BLAM.

The fireball that erupts on your lawn sends a shockwave through the overgrown grass and kicks up a tremendous plume of dirt along with it. Pebbles and rocks sail through the air and scatter around, clinking off hard rock and wooden shingles. There’s a magnificent five foot crater in the ground now. Small, ruby-red embers lick flames into the air around it.

“WHOO! YEAH! HAHA! FUCK YEAH!” You cheer loudly and pump your fists. Your ostentatious laughter echoes out across the night air.

You hear the clambering of hooves from inside. With a few more giddy chuckles you turn towards the front door.

Valerie flings open the inner door and then pushes the screen door open with her face.

“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!” She screams.

Her shining, yellow eyes are wide and filled with tears. Her teal mane is a mess and her legs are trembling.

You flash her a satisfied grin. “Just having a little fun, baby! Relax!”

You stroll towards her, putting your hands in the pockets of your bathrobe, but then taking one out to catch yourself from stumbling over your own feet. You lean casually against the side of the porch.

She looks around the yard in a panic, her eyes turn to you momentarily, then she glances to the sky. Her mouth opens and she starts to fidget with her hooves in a panicked fashion.

“No no no no no! No! Fuck!” She says, a tear running down her chin.

“What? What is it?” You ask. You turn your head and see something silhouetted against the moon. The figures are small, but you can see their stocky frames and the glint of midnight-blue steel on their bodies.

Before you can think, Val is out the door. She rushes through the yard, ducking into the overgrown grass with her wings splayed for balance.

“Val, wait!” You say. You reach out a hand for her, but she’s already gone, disappeared around a rocky outcropping.

You watch the spot where she disappeared for a second, but then you slowly turn your gaze to the rapidly approaching stallion guards. Fuck if you’re gonna let them chase off your mare and sack your house.

You point your finger out to them. “Well alright then, fuckers. You wanna play? Let’s play.” You say. You pump your fist and whirl around. You can’t help but let out a manic burst of laughter.

“Hahah! This night just keeps getting better and better!”

In a flurry of quick movements, you get inside and lock the door. You grab the bookshelf an tip it on its side. Books and ceramic trinkets clatter to the ground. With a heave you push it up snugly to the door.

You crouch near the front-facing window and toss some discarded papers and bottles off a small wooden crate. You yank off the top of the crate and cast it aside. You grab a small iron pipe inside it and fumble in your pockets for your matches. Your breaths are heavy and quick.

You hear the muffled voices of stallions outside. They aren’t on the porch yet, but they will be soon.

You carefully reach up and strike the glass with the end of the tube. Shards dash themselves against the floor, but it leaves a nice little hole for you.

“Get the hell off my lawn!” You yell. You light a match and hold it to the fuse.

A moment later, the small pipe bomb bounces off the railing of the porch and sails a short ways into the yard, its sizzling fuse emitting a tiny plume of sparks.

“Weapon! Bomb!” You hear a stallion’s voice yell abruptly. The voice is followed by some quick hoofsteps on mud.

The explosive goes off with a pathetic little bang. Fucking hell. These were the shitty ones. Where’s the good ones you made?

You quickly scan the dark living space, trying to spot the similar looking crate somewhere under the piles of garbage.

Fuck it. Might as well use them up, right? Plenty more where that came from.

Another match, another bomb. It soars out the window, clearing the porch cleanly this time.

Wait, shouldn’t you be yelling something badass right about now?

“Fuck Luna!” You shout out the window as the bomb explodes.

There are four stallions, all in the night princess’s royal guard uniform standing a safe distance away in your yard. “Relay the unicorn team! We need shields immediately!” One of them says.

Another bomb comes out.

“Fuck Celestia!” You say. You laugh as your face pulls into a tight grimace.

“Fuck Twilight Sparkle!” You shout and chuck another grenade.

“Fuck the diarchy! I hate the diarchy! I hate the diarchy!”

You use the distraction to scramble to the hallway and pull the cord to raise the tapestry. Your fingers are twitching as you try to pry open the secret door. You long to cradle a steel barrel packed full of shot.

Chapter 3 - Going Numb

You are just about to slip back to sleep again before your cheek slips off the cell wall and your body jolts itself awake.

You tilt your neck to the side and try to stretch it with a low groan. The Hollow Shades dungeon is not known for its comfort, but at least the cold, damp stone walls feels good against the bruises on your face. The black eye might need some time to heal, but you can almost see out of it again now.

You raise up your hands, the heavy cuffs pulling tight on your wrists, and you rub your face.

Did they have to kick you so many times after they wrestled you to the ground? You weren’t really resisting that hard. Maybe some of the off-color remarks about their loyalty to the Princesses rustled their bat jimmies. You wish there were laws against police brutality here...

Still, it was pretty awesome. Sure, you didn't hit anything with your gun, but at least you managed to get a shot off. You weren't really aiming for them any way. You just wanted to show them that you shouldn't be fucked with.

They didn't have to take it so personally, damn.

Well, maybe once your head stops pounding so much you can appreciate it more. At least the cell block is quiet. There's no sound except for the occasional drip from the empty cell next to yours.

You rest your hands in your lap. You’re still wearing your bathrobe in all its muddy, torn glory. Next time it won’t be so easy, guardpones. You think about it for a while as you lean your head against the wall and grin.

Then you hear the clank of a heavy, wrought iron door and the jingling of keys. With a few hoofsteps, a royal bat pony guard comes into view, followed by the purple one herself, Twilight Sparkle. She’s looking at the floor, her wings firmly stuck to her sides.

The bat pony stands at attention in front of your cell. Twilight’s somber gaze raises up slowly. Her eyes are shadowed from the glare of the piercing blue glow-lights by her razor-cut mane.

“Prisoner, stand for the Princess.” The stallion says in an deep, authoritative tone.

Twilight raises a hoof. “It’s alright, Sir Agdayne, I can handle it from here.” Twilight says in a kind, small voice. “Please leave us.”

The bat pony stallion turns abruptly and gives a deep, formal bow to the Princess. He holds out his keyring to Twilight, who takes it with her magic. Without another word, the stallion marches out of the cell block. The door clangs shut behind him.

You know Twilight must be exhausted, but her mane and tail are still well-brushed and trimmed to perfection. Always keeping up appearances, huh, Twiggles?

You smirk a little but don’t say anything, opting to stay leaned back against the wall. Twilight stares at you back. How loud was it on her end, you wonder? Your smirk widens into a full smile, and your bruises hurt with a good kind of pain.

Twilight lets out a prolonged sigh. “Anon, it’s time to go.” She says. “Come on. I have a chariot waiting.” She levitates the keys up to the cell door. With a twist, the heavy cell bolt clunks open.

“Where we going, Twilight?” You ask, “Did you post my bail or something?”

Twilight shakes her head sadly. “No, Anon. When I showed up to your house yesterday afternoon, I was trying to give you one final chance. I tried to give you the choice to leave amicably, on good terms if you wanted to, and now that’s changed. I'm sending you back.”

Your smile fades. Your eye twitches as you lean off the wall.

“What, what are you saying?” You ask.

Twilight sighs and adopts a very distant tone.

“The Royal Guard informed me of what they found after they seized your property. They found out about the drugs you were growing and selling, and the alcohol you supplied to the Griffon Mob in Manehatten. Then came the plans for weapons, the actual prototype weapons, the plans for large scale manufacture of ammunition, the letters to the overseas fabrication companies...!”

She stops and sighs deeply as her voice becomes a bit too panicky.

Your mouth opens. You want to say something, but you know she’s really serious this time. You clench your fists and lean forward.

“It’s over, Anon.” Twilight says as she looks down at the floor. “Luna and Celestia have already been informed, and we will convene at sunrise to make arrangements for your trial.”

“So is this it, Twilight? This is how you finally get rid of me, huh?”

You rise up slowly out of your seat, the chains jingling on your wrists.

“What are you saying, you’re going to have a little mock trial and then exile me?”

Twilight shakes her head slowly. “No, that’s not it. You will be tried fairly under Equestrian law, but...”

She looks at you with all the weight of her royal position resting on her small, purple withers. “I want you to plead guilty. I want you to opt for the banishment sentence.”

You lean forward, clasping your hands together as the chains hang from your wrists.

“Twilight, I already told you. I can’t go. I have property, a house, a marefriend...” You say. You actually sound a bit sorry.

“Anon, that doesn’t matter now. The guards have seized your property and all of its assets. All valuable materials from inside will either be scrapped or sold at private auction. The proceeds will go directly towards your defense team’s budgetary concerns.”

You stand up and walk over towards the bars of your cell. As you make a silent oath never to drink again, you kneel down and look into the eyes of your first pony friend as your mind scrambles for a way to get you out of this mess.

“Twilight... please.” You beg, “I’m sorry. I know I really went overboard, but...”

Twilight glances down for a moment, but then raises her eyes. She speaks with the tone of a calculating leader. “There’s nothing I can do, Anon. It’s either that, or you’re looking at a sentence of twenty years or more. I’m sorry.”

Twenty years?! You’re not a fucking terrorist! You didn’t even kill anypony!

You clench your eyes tight and bang your head gently against the bars.

“Twilight... please!” You say, searching for reasons to sway her to your side. “My girl... Valerie. Do you know where she is? Is she going to be safe at least?”

Twilight looks off to the side and sighs. “Your batpony marefriend? They haven’t found her yet, Anon... she might get picked up eventually, but it’s tough to say.”

You look down at the floor. Valerie is probably half way across Equestria in a completely different form by now. Of course she’s not going to ask around or check on you. Not once she sees all the pigs swarming around the place.

“Did you really love her, Anon?” Twilight asks distantly.

You sigh and rub the shackle on your forearm.

“I thought we had... some kind of connection...” You say glumly. In truth, you only had one real thing in common. You were both hiding from this. The authority of the crown.

Twilight waits for a moment, then turns to the door. With her magic, she pulls it open and it slides to a stop. You lean back from the bars and stand up slowly.

“Come on, now. The guards have picked up some of your clothes. You can get changed once we get to the castle.” Twilight says.

You glance hesitantly towards the open cell door. You look back at Twilight.

She looks at you with an expectant, unapologetic stare.

The glowering faces of the princesses really hammered it home. Hell, even Cadence and Shining Armor were there. All perched up on the thrones in the great hall of Canterlot Castle, with you standing pitifully in your little suit, chains on your wrists. It was Equestria against the human. No more chances.

The trial began two days after your capture.

In truth it was only a few short hours in total, but in your mind the minutes dragged on to centuries. All the legal formalities and ceremonial recitations and the arguments from the lawyers... It never seemed to end.

All of those nobles watching from the public benches, your five friends from Ponyville nowhere to be found, and that Judas in front of you. It was hell. Especially her gaze. She maintained her disapproving look of scorn with those narrow, violet eyes the entire time.

Twilight won. In the end. You knew that the only way out of this was to follow her advice. Just forget about Equestria.

The list of charges were staggering. Some of things they said made a few nobles in the front rows pass out. The murmuring of the crowd was always interrupted by Luna stomping her hoof and screaming for order in her booming, royal voice.

It was too much. You couldn’t play it off as a childish prank or harmless fun any more. No more chances One way or another, you would be declared a serious threat to capital “h” Harmony.

You plead guilty.

Celestia, in her regal tone, read out your final sentence. Her magenta eyes betrayed the slightest feelings of despair, but you felt not a twinge of empathy.

You spent a few long, lonely nights in one of the guest rooms within the Canterlot spires. The tiny, circular room your only reprieve. No alcohol. No drugs. Nothing to numb the pain. You stared at the ceiling, expecting the rage to boil over at any moment, yet it never came. Just an empty pit in your stomach that grew wider and wider.

Twilight stopped by in the evenings in the most secretive part of the forbidden archives to go over her notes with you. She explained everything in cold, calculated terms from across the lengthy oak table. She showed you around the ritual casting room. She explained how the spell would shunt your spirit back to Earth in your own timeline. At the same time, it would make it impossible for you to ever wake up again in Equestria. If things went well, you’d be back like you had never left in the first place.

You could have asked how she figured all this out. You could have even given a paltry attempt at understanding, yet your mind refused to cooperate. You just didn’t have it in you any more.

You were just waiting for the end.

You entered the ceremonial chamber in the forbidden archives of the castle flanked on either side by guards. All of the princess were already waiting. Luna. Celestia. Twilight. Cadence. The combined magical strength of the four alicorns would be needed.

The guards unlocked your shackles.

You stepped up onto the altar.

You laid down on the smooth stone platform and folded your arms across your chest.

With the swirling multicolored magic all around you, the horns of the alicorns all aglow, you made one final plea to the ancient gods of this realm. Those that came before the Sun and Moon, and those who may come after.

“It’s all just a dream.” You whispered to yourself. Your feet started to feel very numb.

“I’m going to wake up in my bed.”

“It’s all just a dream...”

“It’s all just a dream...”

“...It is finished. We shall speak of this ‘human’ no more, dear sister.”

“...”

“Farewell, Anonymous. May you find peace in your world, and rest for your weary, troubled soul...”

“Shining... are you sure this was the right thing to do? He... he looked scared.”

“It’s okay, honey. If he wasn’t going to be a threat to ponies, he would eventually become a threat to himself. You had to do this... I know it wasn’t easy.”

“...”

“Twily... are you okay?”

Chapter 4 - Seaside Before Dawn

Like some of the coastal cities you knew back on Earth, the mornings of Maretime Bay start covered in a thin blanket of mist that had crept in silently from the sea overnight, shrouding the streets in cold, pale fog.

You stare despondently at the town, hoping to glimpse the shadow of somepony moving in the hazy, yellow cones of the streetlamps. Your body is slumped carelessly against the gunwale at the bow of the ship. Your hands are hanging over the edge.

The light of dawn is barely edging along the horizon. You’re still not sure who is moving it, but damn, you wish they’d hurry the hell up...

The tunic and long-sleeved t-shirt you’re wearing helps protect against the chilly morning air. Zipp managed to get a few clothing essentials for you along with your new suit, but unfortunately, not a jacket.

You cup your hands and blow into them, rubbing your fingers a bit to warm them. You rest your arms on the bow and tuck your hands into your sleeves.

The bulkhead of the ship is rocking almost imperceptibly back and forth on some unseen current of air that ebbs gently from the sea. It’s so much more peaceful up here. Not like that damn “Royal Suite” they threw you in.

You don’t know how they expected you to get any sleep in there. The four-posted, extra king-size bed they put you in was so creaky and ancient, it groaned continuously as the ship swayed. Plus you were pretty sure there was alicorn jizz on it somewhere.

You managed to sleep a few hours, but there’s this pinging vibration in your chest that starts to act up sometimes just as you’re about to drift off.

It’s the anticipation of it all, you guess.

You’ve resigned yourself to your fate. You will gaze upon the crumbling, desiccated tombs of old. You will marvel at the ruins of the once-great cities. Eventually, some more awful shit from the past will crawl out to haunt you.

Just take the blows, Anon... You know they’re coming. This reality still has a lot more in store for you, and that letter sitting in your suit pocket is just the beginning. You have a veritable catacomb of skeletons in your closet just waiting to parade out...

And, let’s not forget, that you’ve been here for less than a month and you have already broken the heart of one mare, and you’re about to do the same again.

You sigh and rub the bridge of your nose.

What the fuck happened?

She runs up to you, knocks your chips out your hand, then pounces on you, yells at you, then she just... kisses you?

What ever happened to not getting tangled up in mares, Anon?

You grumble and lean your head into the crook of your arm. You close your eyes and let your body go limp against the gunwale of the ship.

You guess it was probably the “suspension bridge effect” at work. She seemed really worked up, all galloping through the streets like that. Probably thought you were going to just keep walking straight into the woods or something.

Then, when she found you, she misattributed her frightened feelings for arousal. Yeah, that has to be what happened. She thought you were showing her affection when you held her hooves off your chest.

Oh Sunny, you poor, poor mare...

It was hard not to feel a little sympathetic, honestly. It’s like she was using her one last-ditch effort to convince you. She was trying to say, “hey, don’t give up on me just yet.”

It truly warmed your cockles of your heart. You couldn’t just reject her right then and there. You gave her a hug just to show her she has nothing to be worried about.

That should have been it.

You’re not exactly sure what the nod was about, but you think you came to some sort of understanding...

You’re pretty sure you won’t have to friendzone her as hard as you did to Izzy, at least. She seems to be at least somewhat socially competent. Right?

She already knows you’re going back to Earth the first chance you get. She knows you were already banished once. She’s a smart mare. She’s probably not going to do anything dumb, but then again, it might be nice to try and think up a way to let her down easy, just in case...

“Hey, you’re up early.” A tomboyish voice says from behind you.

Your eyes pop open. You raise your head slowly and look behind you to see Zipp standing on the deck. She’s eyeing you with a calm, curious look as she steps across the length of the bow. She is wearing a sky blue scarf with thin, white stripes around her neck.

“Hey, yeah.” You say. “I, uh, had trouble sleeping.”

You blink your eyes and rub them a few times.

“Everything okay?” Zipp asks, walking over towards you.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” You give her a tiny smile.

Zipp tilts her head and sighs. She walks over to the low wall next to you and leans on it with her silver forehooves.

“You’re anxious. I can tell.” Zipp says. She slowly looks at you and then tilts her head. “It’s okay. I’m anxious too.”

“Oh yeah?” You ask. “What do you have to be anxious about?”

Zipp rolls her eyes, “Oh, I dunno. The ship falling apart, not being able to fix it, being hundreds of miles away from home with no way to contact anyone, accidentally waking up an humongous ancient beast that tries to devour me and my friends.”

She smirks at you. “That sort of thing.”

You shrug your shoulders. “Fair point.” You say.

You look out across the bay to the horizon. Dawn is still teasing the edges of the sky.

“So uh...” Zipp says. “I realize that I kind of... haven’t really gotten to know you very well yet.”

You glance at her. She sighs and quirks one ear to the side.

“What kind of things are you into?” She asks.

Shitposting on the internet. Smoking fat doinks.

“I uh...” You rub your neck. “I used to play video games a lot, back on Earth.”

“Video games, huh?” Zipp says. “You’re into computers, too, right?”

“Yeah.” You say with a small nod.

“Yeah, I could tell.” Zipp says. She smiles and leans forward more, resting her body against the gunwale. “Not a bad idea you had, searching on the web for diamond dog sightings.”

“Yeah, sure.” You say and tilt your head away.

“I mean, uh... despite what happened after that.” Zipp says.

She glances around for a moment. She shivers and puffs her wings a bit due to the cold. You drum your fingers on the bow of the ship absentmindedly.

You take a short breath through your nose. “You know, it’s funny. I never thought I would see a pony society so integrated with technology like your city is... it’s weird.”

Zipp turns her ears towards you and raises an eyebrow. “Hm, why’s that?”

“It’s just something I couldn’t really ever picture before. It reminds me of what it’s like back on Earth too much, I guess. All the smartphones and apps and live streams... it’s almost uncanny.”

Zipp rubs her chin with a hoof for a moment. “Hm, I suppose it would be strange. You lived with ponies in the past, way before we ever had any tech like ours.” Zipp says. “But when we lost our magic for generations... I guess we had no choice but to, you know, innovate?”

She shrugs with her wings. You tap the wall some more.

Zipp glances around. “At least that's my theory." She says somewhat awkwardly.

She suddenly perks up her ears and tilts her head at you. "So wait, you were into computers before you went to Equestria the first time, right?” She asks.

“Well, yeah. Of course. I tried to tell the ponies about them and their uses, but... I dunno. It’s not like I could just build one and show it to them. I couldn’t fabricate fuckin’... microtransitors out of raw silicon.” You say.

“Right, right.” Zipp says, nodding her head.. “And I’m guessing nopony had a magic spell to help you out with that sort of thing.”

“Nope. Not really.” You say.

“Right. Hm.” Zipp says. She thinks for a moment.

“But, now hear me out,” Zipp says, tilting her ears to one side and then showing an astute grin. “What... if somepony did actually listen back then? Hm? Maybe you’re the reason we do have all this stuff now?”

She pokes your shoulder with a primary wing feather. You shake your head and exhale through your nose in disbelief.

“Yeah right. Ponies back then didn’t want the internet or computers. They didn’t need it. They were fine living how they were.” You say, leaning against your arm again. “And honestly, once I got back to Earth, I learned to appreciate that way of living a lot more.”

“Really?” Zipp says, folding her wings in and leaning back. “So did you ever want to, you know, go on the internet and tell everyone you lived on an alien planet with creatures you’d never seen before?”

You shake your head and laugh a bit. “No... there would be no point. I didn't have a way to prove it, and the internet has enough schizos on it already....” You say.

Zipp exhales in a short laugh. She leans off the low wall and shakes her head before turning back to you. “Right, well, that might be one more thing our worlds have in common. After meeting our friend Patrice, that is.”

She starts walking across the deck towards the control room. “Any way, I’m gonna go check some things. I’ll be on the bridge if anyone needs me.” She says.

You lean up and watch her walk down the stairs to the main deck. You turn back to the sea and rub your chin on your arm. You see a small glimmer of light poking out above the rolling waves.

Yeah, you’re pretty sure you didn’t influence the technology that the pegasi have made for themselves. Live streaming and Twitter weren’t really a huge thing back when you left. Not that you would tell any ponies about that if they were.

You kept it to the basics. Word processing. Email. Photos. Better video games. There were a few ponies that were interested, but nothing ever came from it. This new stuff was most likely the result of convergent evolution. Somehow the conditions of Equestrian society grew to match the conditions of the electronic age in your own world. They already had a sort-of industrial revolution going on any way.

You sigh and lean up. You stand and rub your hands together in the chilly wind.

Just another mystery. You’re just glad you’re going out of range of their cell network soon.

You stretch out your back and crack your neck as you stand up.

Ah, shit. You’re a bit too old to be going on adventures like this, Anon...

You quietly shuffle back to the galley of the ship, looking to start boiling water for that cup of tea.

As you make your way through the back halls, you hear the sounds of some shuffling coming from some of the cabins. Some of the other ponies must be starting to wake up now.

You think they expected only servant ponies to be in the small kitchen, because the ceilings are pretty low. Still, it’s not so bad if you kneel down next to the counter.

You take a brass teapot off the shelf and fill it with some water from the tap.

You fiddle with the knobs on the magic-powered stove for a moment, trying to get it to start up, when all of a sudden-

“Good morning, Anon!” Izzy says cheerfully as she tilts her head around the corner.

You jump a little and almost lose your grip on the teapot.

“Oh, are you already making tea? Let me help you with that!”

“I got it, Izzy” You say sternly, but Izzy is already trying to levitate the pot out of your hands.

You reluctantly let it go, and for some reason she tosses it into the air and catches it with her hooves. She sits on her haunches and touches her horn to the teapot. She sticks out her tongue, summoning all the magical energies under her control.

Her horn glows for a moment and then fizzles out. It glows and then fizzles out again.

“Sorry, it does that sometimes.” Izzy says sheepishly.

You facepalm.

Chapter 5 - Captain Sunny and Her Illustrious Crew

After making a quick breakfast, Izzy followed you back up to the main deck, talking the whole way.

You sat on the deck, eating your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and sipping tea, and Izzy kept pestering you about things in her typical fashion.

“Oh, did you go on the trolley? It’s so much fun, right?” Izzy says with a huge grin.

“No.” You say. You then wash down a mouthful of peanut butter and bread with sugarless black tea.

“What, really?” Izzy says. “What about the toy store, did you go in there?”

You sigh. “No, Izzy.” You say. “You see one small town pony village, you’ve seen ‘em all. It wasn’t that interesting.”

Izzy tilts her head to the side for a moment. She’s barely touched her food.

You take another bite of your sandwich. Izzy quickly perks up her ears.

“Ooh, but what about the Canterlogic building? I bet you haven’t ever seen that before! It’s so big, and they have all those machines inside!” Izzy says.

“Izz-urk.” You say, your throat accidentally becoming lodged with too much sandwich.

You cover your mouth and cough. Izzy just continues to look at you with a pleasant smile.

“I’ve seen bigger buildings, Izzy. The stupid oversized pink glasses were weird, though.” You say once you clear your airway.

Hitch comes out of the doorway to the cabins, stretching his neck. His chest strap is shining with his sheriff badge, and his short teal mane is quaffed perfectly.

“Well, good morning you two.” He says.

Izzy’s head whips around. “Hey Hitch!” She says in a friendly tone.

You give him a small, two-fingered wave.

He walks over toward you both. “Hey, is Sunny up yet? What’s the plan for today?”

Izzy is chewing with about half her sandwich in her mouth. “I dunno! Shunny hash the plansh!” She says. She swallows audibly. “I’m just along for the ride~!” Izzy says in a cheerful voice and raises her sandwich to the sky.

Hitch quickly glances around the deck. The door behind him opens again and Sunny and Pipp walk out of it. Sunny is looking her usual self. Her purple-pink mane is in the typical long braid. Pipp is wearing white ear-muffs and a fluffy white scarf.

Sunny perks up a bit once she sees that you, Hitch and Izzy are already up. She speeds up to a trot as she comes over.

“Okay, okay, okay... where’s Zipp?” She says, walking in place with giddy excitement.

“She’s uh... on the bridge.” You say. You point a thumb behind you.

Sunny turns in the direction of the control room and calls out. “Zipp! Come here, please!” She then turns and starts pacing towards the starboard side of the deck.

Pipp takes a seat near you and Izzy. Izzy offers her half of her sandwich, and Pipp smiles. You dust the crumbs off your hands and look up to see Zipp gliding above you.

She swoops over the main deck. Her wings of white, pink and blue are fully outstretched. She lands gracefully near the group and looks over at Sunny.

“Hey. Everything’s looking good, Sunny. We’re ready to ship out.” Zipp says casually.

Sunny stops walking. “Perfect.” She says.

Sunny whirls around, standing proudly with her head held high. “Alright everypony!” She says. Zipp sits down and Sunny runs her eyes over her ragtag crew. Her eyes drift to you and she adds, “And human!”

Sunny begins walking in long strides along the starboard side as she talks. “This is it! We’re finally about to reach the heart Equestria for the very first time. We have our team, we have our airship, and this time there is nothing stopping us from heading straight-

She thrusts out a hoof to the western horizon. “To Canterlot!”

She beams with a brash, confident grin. There’s a look of pure determination in her eyes. She slowly sets her hoof down, and the ponies listen with building excitement.

“From this point on, we must all work together and to keep our wits about us. I have assigned you all roles, and while they are not strict roles you always have to follow, I expect everyone on this vessel to pull their weight!” She says, tapping a hoof on the deck to punctuate her statement.

“Hitch,” She says, pointing a hoof at him. “You’re our chief of security. You’ll be in charge of watching the skies and surveying the ground for any possible threats as we make our journey.”

Hitch nods. “Alright.” He says with a grin.

Sunny turns to Zipp. “Zipp, you’re our chief engineer. It’s your job to keep the ship running and report any damage immediately to the rest of the group.”

Zipp cocks her head. “Well then. Aye, aye, captain.” She says smugly.

Sunny turns to Pipp. “Pipp, you’re going to be our secondary lookout. You’ll be working with Hitch in shifts, alright?”

Pipp folds her ears back and looks “What? Why do I have to do that? Can’t I be like, the beautiful singer sitting across the bar~?” Pipp says wistfully.

Zipp lets out a breathy sigh and scrunches her face. She glances at Sunny.

Sunny tilts her head a bit. “Well, we don’t have a bar, but you can sing from the bow of the ship if you want...?”

Pipp perks her ears up a bit, but still looks hesitant.

“And you can take pictures to, uh... document our journey!” Sunny adds with a smile and a nod.

Pipp looks a bit relieved and smiles. “Alright. Deal!” She says with a cute grin.

“Oh! Oh! What do I do?” Izzy says. She raises a hoof excitedly.

“Oh, well obviously you’re my first mate, Izzy! You’re going to relay my orders and make sure everything runs smoothly!” Sunny says.

Izzy looks pleased. She adopts a reassuring smile.

The sun starts to crest over the bow of the ship. Sunny glances at you.

“Anon, obviously you’re our expert on Ancient Equestria. You’re going to called on to identify anything we find that looks like it might be from old world.” She says.

You nod, wearing a bored expression. “Yeah, I figured.” You say and shrug with one hand.

“That means you might be called at any time, so be ready, okay?” Sunny says with a smirk.

You nod and roll your eyes back. “Yes, ma’am...” You say. You tilt your head skeptically. “And I suppose that makes you...?”

“That’s right, you can call me Captain if you want. Captain Sunny!” She says boldly with her chest puffed out. The sun rises up higher in the sky now, and the light of the orange-red globe illuminates the small furs of her coat, giving her a radiant aura.

You smirk sarcastically. Wow. What a display. The other ponies, however, buy into it immediately. They brim with eager anticipation.

“Yeah! Well alright everypony, you heard the mare!” Hitch says. He stands up and extends a hoof.

“Let’s get this bird in the air.” Zipp says. She stands up and walks forward a bit, also extending her hoof.

“Yeah!” Izzy says, springing up into the air. Pipp giggles and steps forward, adjusting her scarf.

Sunny walks forward and all of the ponies put their hooves together in a circle. They glance at you and Sunny nods you over.

“Come on, Anon!”

You stand up and then bend over far enough to rest your hand on the top of their hooves.

Sunny grins perhaps a bit too wide at this gesture. “Alright everyone, for friendship on three.” She says.

She and the other ponies count to three, pumping their hooves each time.

“For friendship!” They all shout, raising their hooves to the sky. You raise your hand up with them.

You followed the ponies towards the bow of the ship. Soon, the mooring cables are undone by Zipp and Hitch, and Sunny stood at the helm. With the ship detached from the cliff, all that was needed was a little push with Izzy’s magic to send it coasting out sideways into the air above the sea.

Sunny turned the vessel slightly to port and gently pushed the throttle forward. The grand dirigible, remade and given life through the friendship of the five pones, then fluffed up its sprawling canopy with magically generated helium produced by the crystalline arcane reactor of the M.A.R.E. With a steady hiss, the ballonets within the frame deflated and made room for more lifting gas inside.

With that, the ship began its lazy-yet-graceful ascent into the skies above Maretime Bay.

As you looked off the bow, you saw the streets below had been almost completely purged of fog. The sun cut along the streets, casting bands of piercing tangerine light. Swirling clouds of mist race off the stern of the airship, churned up from the powerful engines beneath.

A few ponies below poked their heads out of their windows and front doors. A few waved a hoof and tried to yell goodbye, but you’re too far away and could not hear them over the engines.

As you clear the main streets, bulkhead rumbles with a bit of turbulence and Sunny gradually tilts the throttle back. “Whoops!” She says. She glances back at the group, then folds her ears down and leans forward, putting both hooves on the large, mahogany wheel.

“Haha! She almost crashed into the Canterlogic building!” Izzy laughs from her perch next to you. She looks at you and lowers her voice. “We certainly wouldn’t want that to happen, now would we?” She says with a mischievous grin.

You just shake your head, choosing to ignore the implications of a group of over-idealistic young ponies crashing an aircraft into the tallest buildings in a city.

Sunny continues to hold the rudder steady as the ship continues it powered climb. Within about a half hour, it is easily soaring well above the approaching foothills in the distance.

Airships are not really known for their top speeds. Given what you know, it will probably take about two or three days to get to Canterlot. You watch the scattered houses on the outskirts of Maretime Bay scroll past, the cobblestone streets turning into rough dirt paths, and the rolling green hills coming after.

“Hitch!” Sunny yells from inside the bridge.

“Yeah, Sunny?” Hitch calls out. His head is leaned over the edge of the front of the bow.

“What’s it look like on your end?” Sunny calls out.

Hitch raises his head up. He’s wearing some elongated periscope-like contraption on his head.

He lifts up the goggles and says, “Nothing so far, Sunny!” The wind whips his goggles down make his teeth clack together hard. “Ah!” He says painfully.

Izzy bursts out laughing. You can’t help but grin too. Pipp giggles from inside the bridge.

Zipp trots up to him and extends a wing to block the wind. “Dude, why are you wearing those things?” She says. “Don’t you remember? We have a better way to watch the ground.”

Hitch takes off the goggles, then clips them to his shoulder strap. “Yeah, I know,” He says awkwardly. “I just felt like I could put them to some good use for once.” He rubs the top of his muzzle as Zipp folds her wing in.

Zipp shakes her head and folds her ears back. Her eyes are narrowed as she turns away from him. “Okay, Hitch, let me show you how to run the equipment again.” Zipp says.

“Okay, thank you.” Hitch says with an exasperated sigh. “I was too afraid to ask because you already told me so many times...”

Zipp leads Hitch down the stairs to the main deck, passing by you. Hitch glumly follows, but pokes an eye up at you as he crosses your path.

Zipp steps over to the bride door and cracks the door open.

“Hey Captain,” Zipp says. “I’m going to teach Hitch the ropes again. Do you want to go over the charts again later?”

Sunny has relaxed a bit at the helm. She look back at Zipp and gives her an affirmative nod. “Very good, chief engineer! I'm just going to keep climbing until we reach about six thousand feet. After I level out, we'll look at the charts again.” She says.

Izzy peeks in through the bridge window curiously. She looks over at you and then to Sunny.

Sunny turns an ear and then looks over at Izzy. “Go ahead and go with them, first mate. You might need to know this too, alright?” She says.

Izzy sits up proudly on her haunches and gives Sunny a firm salute. “Yes, Captain! Right away, ma’am!”

She then turns and skips back towards the center of the deck, singing a tuneless melody.

Zipp closes the door gently and looks up at you.

You don’t really feel like being left alone with Sunny and Pipp, even with the reinforced glass windows between you.

“Uh, yeah, I’ll come along too, just in case I need to take over for a watch...” You say.

Zipp nods and leads you and Hitch over to the main pylon that connects the ship to the balloon frame above. Within it, there’s a spiral staircase made of sturdy stainless steel. It leads up to a small, chamfered box right below the balloon frame. You remember Zipp installing some sort of electronic equipment in there.

You walk along with the ponies in small steps, keeping pace with them as they make their way towards the spiral staircase.

Luckily, the winding stairs aren’t really that long. It goes up about one and a half stories before it gets to the horizontal white capsule.

You crawl more than walk your way up the stairs. Thankfully, it had a low railing on the side for you to hold on to. The entire structure felt stable. Spanner saw to that for sure, so you weren’t really worried, but you did still have to brace yourself against the small gusts of chilly wind.

Zipp leads Hitch and Izzy into the room, and you sit down at the top of the stairs, halfway into the doorway. Your feet stretch down the staircase below.

“Alright, so,” Zipp says.

“This is the radar. You press this button to turn it on, alright?” Zipp says, pointing to a small device with a green LCD screen. She taps a green button which powers on the device. A sweeping green line and two rings drawn in rough aliased pixels appears on the screen.

“And uh, how do I do the range-changey thing again?” Hitch asks.

Zipp points to the two circular buttons on the right side of the device.

“This ones makes it bigger, this one makes it smaller, alright?” Zipp says. “Also, this one right here, that displays the range of the last object it picks up.” Zipp says, pointing to another button.

“Okay, okay.” Hitch nods. “I think I got it.”

“Oh, oh,” Izzy says, scooting forward between the two. “Can I look with the camera?”

Zipp leans off to the side. “Sure, Izzy. Give it a whirl.”

Zipp reaches over quickly with a hoof and flips on a surge protector on the floor.

A group of CRT monitors anchored to the wall in metal braces turn their screens on with a sizzling ping.

Izzy picks up a small control deck. It has a pony-sized joystick and a series of large oval buttons.

Zipp leans her hoof over the pad. “Alright, so, this one switches between the feeds. This is to zoom in.” Zipp presses the button, and the bottom-right camera zooms in. It shows the picturesque landscape of Equestria in grainy, low-resolution quality. The colors are muted and there’s a bit of chromatic aberration going on with the screen. Inside the frame, there’s a featureless green hill dotted with a few small rocks.

“And this-” Zipp says, but Izzy has grabbed the control stick and is moving the camera around in circles.

“Bzz, bzz, bzz.” Izzy says, flattening her ears. She imitates her favorite stallion actor. “Scanning for Earth Ponies. Must find Sarah Cornflower.”

Izzy makes long sweeping motions with the camera. Zipp puts a hoof on Izzy’s as she starts to run the camera’s motors out to their limits. Hitch shakes his head and smiles.

“Izzy, I don’t think you’ll see many earth ponies for quite a while.” He says.

Izzy is tapping the zoom in and zoom out buttons erratically now. She tilts the control stick a bit and then gasps as a small, furry brown mass pokes it head out of a hill.

“Oh, wow! Groundhogs!” She exclaims.

“Really?” Hitch says, leaning over and quirking an eyebrow curiously.

Sure enough there are a few fuzzy, round groundhogs poking their heads out in a field of patchy grass.

“Alright. Come on, Izzy.” Zipp says. Izzy is transfixed by the sight, however, and keeps the camera centered on it.

Zipp looks up at you. You shrug and reach your hand over.

“Oh, what a little cutie you are...” Izzy says. You poke her in the back. “Oh!” She exclaims.

“Come on Izzy.” You say.

Izzy glances over her shoulder and then folds her ears back. “Fine...” She says, passing the control pad to Hitch. Izzy reluctantly scoots back towards the doorway.

Hitch moves forward a bit and tests out the camera controls. Zipp frowns for a moment as she glances at Izzy, and then her eyes light up as she is struck with an idea. “Wait, I got something you guys can do.” She says.

Izzy turns her head and looks at Zipp with a surprised face. Zipp shows you a knowing grin. You quirk an eyebrow.

Chapter 6 - Tactical Pillow Fighting

You are in the haphazardly thrown-together workshop that Zipp set up in the cargo hold. There are cardboard boxes filled with random bits of junk piled up everywhere, and a few metal tables sit covered in a variety of tools, components and different lengths of wire.

Zipp is rummaging around in one of the boxes with a hoof. You and Izzy are watching her.

“Hm... I’m sure I left it somewhere in here,” She says. “Aha!”

Zipp yanks out what appears to be a nearly-deflated exercise ball from the pile of junk. It looks to be about one foot in diameter.

“Here we are.” She says.

“Oh, are we going to play a game?” Izzy says excitedly.

“Well, actually,” Zipp says. “It’s for training.” She pulls out a small hoof-powered pump from the box as well and attaches it to the ball.

“Training?” You ask. “For what?”

Zipp starts pumping up the exercise ball with her hoof. “Well, I figured that if we encounter any... unfriendly creatures, it would help to be prepared, right?”

“So you mean combat training?” You ask.

“Think of it more like defensive training.” Zipp says. She looks at Izzy. “Izzy, do you remember when we talked about trying out that spell?”

Izzy tilts her head. “Uh, the bubble one?”

Zipp nods. “That’s right. A shield spell.” She finishes inflating the ball and detaches the pump.

“Oh yeah!” Izzy says, nodding.

Zipp seems to want to test Izzy’s capabilities with magic through the tried-and-true method of dodge ball. You remember unicorns guards would often learn various shield spells as part of their duties. While not the most difficult type of spells master, they still required a pony with the diligence to study and practice it thoroughly.

And, you know Izzy does not quite have the same level of aptitude as those stone-faced stallions and mares...

“But, uh, I dunno, Zipp.” Izzy says. She looks down, rubbing a hoof over her foreleg. “That spell seems really hard to do.”

“Well,” Zipp says, cocking her head. “That’s why we have this guy here.”

Suddenly, Zipp tosses the ball in your direction without even looking. You catch the cobalt sphere in your hands, and it resonates with a sharp ping as your palms slap its sides.

“Oh, I see.” You say. “You want me to throw some heaters at Izzy, huh? Make her learn the hard way?”

You imitate throwing the ball in an overhand pitch at Izzy. She gasps and moves to the side. You smile at her.

Zipp exhales through her nose. “No, you big dummy. You’re going to be the one she protects.” She smiles wider.

You start to piece together her plan and nod.

“Alright, so you want me to be the target to help motivate her, is that right?” You say.

“Bingo.” Zipp says.

“Huh, I dunno.” Izzy says, taking a few steps up towards you. “I don’t want Anon to get hurt.”

You purse your mouth to the side and think for a bit. Zipp raises her eyebrows at you.

“Hey, we’ll give it a shot. Why not?” You say.

It could work. Who knows? You would definitely appreciate not dying a gruesome death if Izzy can prevent it.

You step over to the open space in the rest of the cargo hold. The room spans the breadth of the ship, so there’s plenty of space to practice. You make it over to the far wall, with Izzy following hesitantly behind you.

You turn and heft the ball back towards Zipp. It bounces once before she deftly catches it with an outstretched forehoof.

“Alright, you ready, Izzy?” Zipp says.

Izzy is standing next to you. She seems a bit timid, but she nods and her horn gently glows.

“Just picture a big bubble around you, alright?” Zipp says, rolling the ball in front of her gently.

A moment later, Zipp spins and bucks the ball quickly with a single, powerful hind leg. It speeds through the air directly at your chest. Izzy’s horn shoots a stream of sparks and she shouts “Bubble! Bubble!”

The ball curves in the air a bit, its surface rotating at a high velocity. It impacts your chest and you instinctively wrap your arms around it. It doesn’t hurt, but it does make a loud PANG!

Izzy’s horn sputters out and she droops her head. She sighs.

“Alright, let’s try it again.” Zipp says.

You throw the ball back to her. Zipp catches it in midair with a push from her wings to gain more lift.

“Hold on a sec.” You say, raising up a hand.

You lean down to Izzy and put a hand on her withers reassuringly.

“Hey, Izzy.” You say, and she looks up at you with anxious eyes. “It doesn’t have to be a bubble, okay? Just focus on trying to keep me safe.”

You give her a reassuring smile. Izzy nods gently, but frowns a bit.

“Just think about how we’re friends, alright? You can do this.” You say.

“Okay,” Izzy says. “I’ll try.”

You stand back up, putting your hands to your sides and readying yourself for the next pitch.

“Alright,” Zipp says. “Here it comes!”

She kicks the ball again, and just like before it shoots through the air at you. Izzy closes her eyes and clenches her teeth. Her horn glows very brightly, this time the magic concentrating on a single, brilliant speck right at the tip.

The ball curves up towards your face. Oh shit.

You wince and turn your cheek at the last moment, but the ball collides with your head nonetheless. You stumble back and barely catch yourself on the wall.

Izzy gasps and her horn stops glowing. “Anon!” She shouts as she looks at you with a frightened expression.

You rub your cheek. It stings a bit but you’re okay. The ball bounces back across the room slowly.

“I’m alright...” You grumble. You lower your eyebrows and return Izzy’s concerned expression with one of annoyance.

“It’s okay, Izzy.” Zipp says as she rolls the ball around with her hoof casually. “He can take it.”

You stand up straight and nod. “Yeah.” You say. “Just don’t hit me in the face again, feathers. Otherwise I might throw it back at you.”

Zipp chuckles softly. “Alright, alright.” She says. “Izzy, are you ready?”

Izzy looks a bit wobbly. Her face is scrunched up and her horn is already putting forth a slight aura.

“Mhm.” She says, nodding her head. Her trembling knees say otherwise.

Zipp bites her lip for a moment, considering something. She turns and kicks the ball with much less force, and it bounces once before heading your way.

You tense your arms and get ready to catch it. This time it’s going a bit low. However, as you are just about to reach for it, the ball is enveloped in a bright pink hue and immediately slows down. It coasts up to you weightlessly, and you stop it with a single hand.

Izzy droops her head, her horn sparkling with pink magic. “Sorry Zipp, I just can’t do it.” She says. She ends the spell and you catch the ball in your hand.

Zipp walks over to you both. “Hey, Izzy. It’s okay, alright?”

She smiles warmly at Izzy, but Izzy seems despondent.

“If you keep practicing I’m sure you’ll get it.” Zipp says, leaning her head down towards Izzy.

“Yeah, or maybe she just doesn't care about me that much. How about we switch places, Zipp?” You ask with a smirk.

Zipp returns your challenge by narrowing her eyes at you. “Alright.” She says coldly.

You trade places with her and walk to the other side of the room by the workshop.

You turn to see Zipp standing by Izzy, she holds her head high with regal authority, completely calm. Izzy still looks a bit nervous and she glances from Zipp to you with wide, nervous eyes.

You clasp the exercise ball firmly in both hands and hold it at chest level.

“Alright, so the thing with magic is...” You say. “You never know when you’re going to-”

You quickly heave the ball forward, hoping to take them by surprise. You put in a bit more than you intended and it zooms towards Zipp at a breakneck speed. She remains motionless as Izzy scrunches her nose and tries to activate her horn.

Ping! In a flash, Zipp catches the ball and stops it completely with one hoof. Her narrowed eyes relax a bit and she traps the ball underhoof.

“Well shoot. That didn’t work.” You say with an amused smile.

“Again.” Zipp says. She throws the ball back to you and you catch it.

“Throw it softer this time!” Izzy whines.

You tap your fingers against the ball and look at Izzy. “Izzy, is that what you’re gonna say to a dragon chucking boulders at us? Don’t throw them so hard?” You tease.

With that remark, Izzy grits her teeth and lowers her head. There’s a twinkle of determination in her eyes, the kind you’ve only seen before when she gets really into her sewing.

You feign a throw. Izzy’s horn sparks a bit. You wait a moment and then toss the ball.

“DON’T HURT MY FRIENDS!” Izzy yells. Her horn lets off a blinding bright flash and a wave of fuchsia colored magic emanates from her body.

Your eyes go wide as you see it. A translucent throw pillow shimmers in midair as the magic coalesces into a semi-solid form. It deflects the ball, reacting like a real throw pillow would, then it drops to the floor. The ball bounces harmlessly off to the side.

“Woah!” Zipp says. She steps forward to take a look, the sparkling magenta hologram reflecting in her eyes. The pillow then fades into the ether and Zipp turns to Izzy with an astonished look.

“It wasn’t a shield, but, hey! That was something, Izz!” She says.

Izzy looks a bit confused, but then slowly grins. “Hey! I made a pillow!” She says.

Huh. It’s a bit strange, but it is Izzy, after all...

Zipp laughs and trots up to Izzy. “See, I knew you had it in you!” She wraps a hoof around Izzy and pulls her into a quick side-hug. Izzy smiles softly and looks a bit relieved.

“Yep... Now we just need to work up to something that can stop a magic beam, or a hail of arrows.” You say.

Zipp lets go and walks over towards the exercise ball.

“Alright, well,” Zipp says. She punts the ball over towards you, and you reach down to pick it up as it rolls over. “Keep practicing. I gotta go look over the charts with Sunny.” Zipp says.

She walks over to the stairs that lead back up to the main deck. You stand up and look over at Izzy.

“See you soon, Zipp!” Izzy says. Zipp disappears up the stairwell.

Izzy then turns to you and narrows her eyes. “Bring it, monkey man.” She says with a renewed confidence.

Oh, it’s on.

For a while you practice with Izzy, throwing the exercise ball and letting her try to deflect it. For a few more times, she manages to spontaneously summon a pillow in the air to block the projectile. It’s always a different shape and design every time, but none of them seem to become any more solid.

Eventually you start to get a bit bored of the exercise, and you begin faking her out with different throws. Izzy starts to focus less on her magic and simply trying to dodge them.

“Block this, bone brain!” You say, winding up a hard pitch. You put your shoulder into it and the ball careens toward the unicorn.

“Ah!” Izzy says, leaning her head out of the way as the ball smacks the wall behind her. “Anon!” She says, folding her ears back.

You snicker and grin.

Izzy rears up on her forehooves and bucks the sphere back at you with a peeved grunt.

It’s moving too fast to catch, so you deflect it with your forearms and it bounces over to the back of the cargo hold.

“Hey, hey,” You say playfully. “No need to get upset, Izzy.”

You put your hands on your hips and nod towards the ball. “Now go on and get it.”

Izzy exhales loudly and rolls her eyes back. “Nah, I’m bored. Let’s do something else.” She says.

She walks over towards you. You crouch down on one knee and give her a condescending look.

“Done practicing already? You still have a lot to learn if you want to be a real magic user, pony.” You say chidingly.

“Yeah, yeah...” Izzy says, looking off to the side.

“So what do you wanna do?” You ask.

Izzy sits down on the burnished wood floor and thinks for a bit.

The hum of the engines can be heard through the heavy bulkhead of the ship along with the rumbling of the wind. The space is quiet and illuminated with only a few flood lamps mounted on the support beams.

“Do you wanna... burn one?” You ask slyly.

Izzy eyes dart towards you. “Nah, I can’t get high while I’m on the job, silly. I’m first mate!” She says.

“Ah huh. Since when were you such a stickler for the rules?” You say, grinning at her. You move to a cross-legged sitting position.

“Hey, I’m serious, Anon. I can’t let Sunny down.” She says.

You shrug and sigh. “Fine.” You say, “No fun allowed...”

Izzy turns her head and looks at you out of the corner of her eye with a smug expression.

“You know, Anon... I bet you already had plenty of fun last night with Sunny, didn’t you?” She says.

You narrow your eyes at her and your smirk disappears.

“What did you two get up to, any way?” She asks with a twinkle in her magenta eyes.

“Uh, well,” You say in a deadpan tone. “We drank some smoothies, we talked about stuff for a while, looked at the sea, took her to a back alley and fucked her. You know, just usual stuff.”

“Ooh, spicy~!” Izzy says. “You did pull out though, right? I don’t think Sunny’s ready to be a centaur mom.” Izzy says.

You laugh and slowly stand up.

“No worries about that little one.” You say. You pat her on the top of her head. “No worries at all.”

Chapter 7 - Criminals and Fairy Tales

You and Izzy ended up wandering around the ship for a while. You found Pipp singing to herself in the lounge area by the galley as she trimmed her hooves with a file. You decided not to bother her.

Hitch seemed bored up in the surveillance room. He lied on his side while he absentmindedly tapped buttons and adjusted the cameras. His vigilance did not waver for nary a second. He seemed to have experience with this sort of thing, probably from late-night stakeouts or something.

Sunny and Zipp were going over the charts on the bridge, comparing them with the landmarks they could spot from the high altitude. They had made a few small adjustments to the map, but did not need to plot another course. The wheel remained locked on its heading, and the ship sailed effortlessly through the sprawling mountain valleys below.

You and Izzy are looking over the starboard side, watching the sprawling forests and hills pass by the ship. There is a crackle of static the intercom turns on, and Hitch says. “I got something. Looks like an old cabin.”

Sunny responds a moment later. “Where’s it at?” She says as she taps the intercom button on the control console.

“Uh, let me see here.” Hitch says into the intercom. “It’s about thirty-five degrees starboard. At the top of that ridge.”

Sunny quickly takes the throttle and powers down the engines. The hum of arcane energy from the stern fades and the ship starts to coast along without power.

Sunny grabs a pair of binoculars that are hanging inside the bridge and throws them over her neck. She rushes out the door over to the side of the ship where you and Izzy are standing, and leans over.

For half a minute she scans the hills far below, her ears tucked back and the binoculars to her face. You and Izzy squint and try to look too. Sunny perks up a bit as she spots it.

“Huh. Well, well.” She says, lowering the binoculars.

Hitch made it down the spiral stairs and trots over to Sunny.

“What do you think, Sunny?” He asks.

“Looks abandoned. The roof is collapsing in.” Sunny says. She holds the pair of lenses out to Hitch so he can take a look and slips the strap off her head.

Hitch takes a look. “Hm, so it is...” He says. You follow Hitch’s gaze and you see the ridge he was describing. Tucked into a rocky outcropping there’s a small brownish-gray abode sitting in the pines. There’s an obvious hole in the roof, and the wood is sun-dried and cracking.

For a moment, you think of your old ranch-style home. Thankfully, this one is on top of a cliff and not underneath it.

“Should we start a descent, Captain?” Zipp yells from the bridge. You glance back to see her standing in front of the helm.

Sunny turns towards her. “No, that’s alright! It’s probably just a vacation home or something. Maintain altitude!”

You scratch your chin. “Hm, I thought you said you didn’t know any ponies that lived out this far, Sunny.” You say.

Sunny looks up at you, her braid snaking around her shoulder. “Anon, I don’t think it’s worth it. It’s probably just an old pony home that got abandoned.”

“Yeah, but what if there’s trinkets down there?” You say, secretly hoping to prolong the journey with this detour.

“No, it's not worth it.” Sunny says, waving a hoof dismissively.

Sunny then walks over towards the bridge. “Turn the throttle up, Zipp! Full steam ahead!” She says in a friendly yet commanding voice.

You look back over at the ridge. Izzy is leaned over the side almost a bit too far as she looks at the cabin.

“Oh, what if it was a pair of secret lovers - from different pony races! And they ran away together to live in that place!” Izzy says, getting lost in a whimsical fantasy.

Hitch puts the binoculars down. “Yeah, well. Sometimes ponies do wander off...” He says.

“It’s never happened when I was sheriff, of course.” He adds. “But I have heard tales about ponies leaving and never coming back ever since I was a colt.”

“That’s the only explanation! It must have been true love!” Izzy says, reaching a hoof out towards the cabin as it start to slide further and further away from the ship.

You grab Izzy’s shoulder as her back hooves nearly lift off the deck.

“Or,” You say. “It was a criminal trying to run from the law.”

Izzy frowns and droops her ears, but she leans back onto the deck. Your hand slips off her shoulder.

“Yeah, that seems more likely to me,” Hitch says with a sigh. “Nopony would ever find them out here.” He raises the lenses up again and start to scan around more.

You look up at the long tails of cirrus clouds in the late morning sky and put your hands in your pockets. The whir of the engines kicks back in and the ship shudders forward.

“Well, I thought my idea was a lot more romantic.” Izzy says with a huff. “Boys just don’t get it!” With that, she walks over towards the bridge to meet up with Sunny and Zipp.

You turn around to watch her go. Hitch steps away from the side. “Hah, mares, am I right?” He says. “Life’s not always some fairy tale story. You know what I mean. Right, Anon?”

You shrug and nod. “Yeah. I do.”

You really do.

Hitch starts walking over to the surveillance booth, leaving you alone.

You decide to retire to your room until they call for lunch.

The porthole windows pours thick cylinders of yellowed sunlight into the cabin. The dust in this room is so thick you can make out the exact dimensions of the beams from the motes of dust alone.

You are relaxing on your back in the large bed, basking in the calm, quiet atmosphere.

You told the ponies you didn’t get a lot of sleep. You said you wanted to take an afternoon nap. They felt sympathetic and let you go.

The thick duvet on your body mixed with the warm air is an instant sleeping pill for your tired mind.

You are about to drift off when you hear a gentle tap at your door.

You groggily sit up in bed and rub your head.

“Who is it?” You ask.

“Hey, it’s me.” Sunny responds from the other side of the door.

“I’m trying to sleep, Sunny.” You say in an annoyed tone.

“Yeah, I know. Can I come in for just a minute?” She asks.

Dammit. The moment you were dreading is right outside your door. Now that you're alone, she might try to pounce on you again. Great.

“Uh, don’t come in. I’m naked!” You say. You stand up out of the bed and look down at the gray sweatpants and the white long-sleeved t-shirt you are already wearing.

“Well put some clothes on!” Sunny says impatiently.

God dammit. “Alright, hold on.” You say. You open and close the dresser drawers, making a racket to pretend to be dressing yourself.

Reluctantly you approach the door in stocking feet and hold your hand close to the handle. You consider just locking the door and talking through it, but you decide to just get it over with and turn the handle.

You open the door to see Sunny standing in the hall. Her nearly ever-present smile widens as she sees you. You keep the door open only wide enough for your head. Her pony-sized noggin can't fit through.

“Hey.” She says. She turns her head down a bit, but her eyes are locked onto yours.

“Hello.” You say. You look at her with a tired look on your face.

“Uh...” Sunny says, “So I was wondering if you could maybe go over some theories I have?” She slowly reaches up and undoes the latch on her teal knapsack.

“I dunno Sunny,” You say with an exaggerated yawn. “Ah. Can it wait until later?”

Sunny hesitates. “I mean, yeah, sure. If that’s what you want.” She lowers her hoof and flattens her mouth as she looks up at you. You swear for a moment her pupils seem to dilate.

“I just figured...” She says, darting her eyes away. “Since you’re not doing anything right now, and Zipp is at the helm right now, we could...”

“Talk?” You say.

Sunny smiles a bit and nods. “Just a bit.” There’s the most gentle hint of a peach-colored blush under her cheeks.

“Yeah, sorry. I just feel really out if it, you know?” You say. “Maybe in a few hours once I wake up, alright?” You say.

“A few... hours?” Sunny says, tilting an ear.

“Yeah,” You say. “It’s been nonstop the past few days, Sunny. I need to take some ‘me’ time. Recharge the old batteries, okay?”

You smile a bit at her and tap the door with your fingers.

Sunny raises her head up, opening her mouth a bit to say something.

“So. See you in a bit! Bye!” You say. You then close the door.

You hear Sunny walk back a step. “Uh, okay!” She says, her voice raised a bit, but not in an aggressive way. “I’ll check back later, get some rest, Anon!”

You lean against the door and hear her plod down the hallway.

Silently, you slip the latch closed to lock the door.

Whew. Well, that’s taken care of.

You amble back to the bed and collapse onto it.

Your body feels tired, yet your mind is swirling with the thought of another mare trying to jump your bones.

Whatever happened to not running, Anon?

Well, you can wait a bit longer. You’ll feel up to it next time, or maybe she’ll get the hint.

Your eyelids droop.

You drift off to sleep.

You are shaken awake from the jostle of the bulkhead. You hear the engines winding down, and the ship starts to sway towards the port side.

You sit up. The sky outside is banded with clouds of pink, orange and violet. The sun is setting, and for some reason the ship is slowing down and banking to the side. Did they find something?

You rub your eyes and stretch. Fuck, you really did sleep for a few hours. Your bones feel sore as you rise up from the bed and stumble a few steps on the hardwood.

You plod over to the door and pull on your shoes. You unlock your door and swing it open casually.

As you make your way up to the main deck, you see the ponies crowded around the port side of the ship. That is, excluding Sunny.

The ship had been listing gently to port, but it straightens out as you walk across the deck. With a sudden gust, the arcane engines reverse thrust and gradually bring the ship to a standstill in the air.

You walk over and try to peer over the group of ponies as they talk in hushed whispers.

The door to the bridge suddenly slams open and Sunny gallops out of it.

“Anon! Anon! I was just about to come get you!” She says. “Look!”

She slows to a trot and then rears up to plant her hooves on the gunwale.

There’s no way you’re close to a settlement by now. What could it be?

You peer over the side and see a wide valley down below. The land here is a lot less mountainous, and the sparsely forested area is quite flat. Yet there’s something about the patterns of clearings in the trees. From overhead it looks like there’s almost some sort of green veins growing through the woodlands, branching off to smaller capillaries that pattern the landscape in neat rows.

From what it looks like, it almost seems like those clearings mark where there used to be roads. The layout seems eerily familiar. It reminds you of a subdivision.

You then see something else near the center of the sprawling, overgrown roads. A concrete structure, immense in size and partially submerged in the pines, sits at the middle of the valley. Its greenish-gray surface might easily be mistaken for an exposed rock formation if not for the tell-tale signs of right angles and sharp edges.

“What is it?” Izzy says, peering hard.

“I dunno, but it definitely looks abandoned.” Hitch says. He’s looking through the lenses of the binoculars.

“Alright,” You say, tapping Hitch on the shoulder. “Let me see.”

Hitch removes the strap and hands the pair of lenses to you. He keeps looking in the direction of the building the whole time.

You raise the binoculars up, closing one eye to peer through a single oversized lens like a telescope. After a moment of adjusting, the structure comes into focus. It seems to actually be composed of several box-like structures clustered together. Some of them have caved in from age, but a substantial number are still standing. From what you can tell it looks like...

“It’s a... shopping mall?” You say. You lower the binoculars.

“What? No way, really?!” Pipp says with sudden excitement. She looks up at you.

“I mean, that’s what it looks like to me!” You say with a shrug. You hand the binoculars over to Zipp, who takes a look next.

Sunny turns and shoots you a challenging glare.

“A shopping mall? Did they have those back in the Ancient Equestria?” She asks.

“Well no, but who’s to say they didn’t invent them a few hundred years after I left?” You say.

It does seem quite odd. The closest thing you can think of would be the strip malls of Manehatten, or the recreation centers of Los Pegasus. You get a vision of the tranquil pony suburbs before the collapse. Rows of identical houses with perfectly kept lawns stretching across the village with a pristine, ivory shopping mall standing at its heart. Something about the image makes your skin crawl.

“Oh. My. HOOFNESS!” Pipp exclaims. She turns to Sunny, tapping her hooves with a barely contained energy. “We have to go, Sunny! Can we? Please?”

Pipp shows a pleading smile to Sunny, who is contemplating the prospect with a hoof to her chin.

“Hm, it does seem like it’s worth checking out...” She says.

Zipp speaks up. “Well, this might give us some clues as to what the old world was like.” She says. “Plus there might be stuff we can use in there.”

“Or treasure!” Izzy says, springing up suddenly. “Think of the booty, Sunny! Arr!” She snarls like a pirate.

“Oh! If there’s old school clothes in there we have to go, Sunny!” Pipp pleads. She grabs Sunny by the shoulders with both hooves. “If I can get get some pics wearing retro fashion I could get so many reflits! Think of the content!”

Sunny flattens her mouth and narrows her eyes. She glances over to Hitch, who just smiles gently and shrugs. Izzy leans in between them. “And the booty! We’ll be rich!” Izzy reiterates with manic glee.

“Well,” Sunny says. “We aren’t pirates, Izzy. We’re researchers. But Zipp has a point!”

She turns back to look out across the vista. “I have a feeling we’ll find something in there that will be worth the time.”

You feel uneasy about the prospect. Empty shopping malls always felt creepy to you. Plus, you’ve already seen enough of them on Earth.

“I think you should maybe reconsider...” You say.

Sunny cranes her neck to look at you. “Oh, and why would that be?”

Pipp silently shakes her head at you.

“It feels off. I just don’t like it.” You say.

“Tsk. What’s the matter, afraid of some old ruins?” Zipp says condescendingly.

You curl your lip at her. “No, I just don’t like it. It looks dangerous.” You say.

“I don’t see it, Anon. All I see is a chance to learn! Come on, everypony!” Sunny says.

You hold up your hands to protest, but the group follows Sunny’s lead as she walks back towards the bow.

You drop your hands and begrudgingly walk with them.

“What’s our time to descend, Zipp?” Sunny asks as she casually throws open the bridge door.

“I’d say about... hm.” Zipp says. “Twenty minutes? Give or take?”

Sunny, Zipp and Izzy walk inside the bridge, and Sunny then quickly takes the helm. She expertly grips the wheel with one hoof as she edges the throttle forward.

Pipp and Hitch walk up to the bow to get a good view as she ship angles towards the direction of the mall.

You put your hands in your pockets and lean against the side of the bridge. You sigh and rub the bridge of your nose. At least you’re well-rested, right?

Chapter 8 - Late Night Shopping

You are very sure this place didn’t exist when you were around. There shouldn’t be any big towns between Baltimare and Canterlot. Not in a straight line any way. Plus, you’re too far south to be near Hollow Shades.

No this doesn't add up.

The lack of houses in the roads is a bit disturbing. Perhaps they are all hidden behind the encroaching trees, or perhaps they crumbled into the soil a long time ago. The roads are so overgrown they have become fields of grass and scrub brush. Young trees desperately try to gain footing where they can.

As the ship hovers close to the structure, you start to get a better idea of just how massive this thing is. It’s easily the size of some of the malls you’ve seen in some upper-middle class neighborhoods. There’s at least three levels inside, and there's huge sections dedicated to what you can only assume are department stores. Much of the structure is collapsing from disrepair. You can see giant chunks of concrete poking out at odd angles, and the rusted latticework of rebar poking through.

Zipp takes off to scout the area unaccompanied. She skirts around the structure in a big loop before returning a few minutes later. She explains to Sunny that there’s a flat open area on one side that would be a perfect landing spot.

The airship touches down on a wide open area with relatively few trees. It’s about two hundred feet from the building, in which you can see a towering entrance with a dense grid of empty window panes built into it.

The ship touches down with a heavy thud, and immediately after the ponies get to work securing lines to anchor the craft.

You shield your face with a hand and watch the sun dip below the tops of the distant mountains to the west.

You walk up to Sunny, who is tightening one of the clasps on the mooring lines.

“So, let me get this straight. You want to go into a collapsing, derelict structure at night and snoop around for clues? You aren’t fucking Daring Do, Sunny. Someone could get hurt.”

Sunny sighs and looks at you. She stops ratcheting the clasp for a moment.

“Anon, we have flashlights. We have six pairs of eyes, two pairs of wings and one unicorn horn. We’re just going to look around, alright? I don’t know who ‘Daring Do’ is, so I don’t know if I should be happy that you’re comparing me to him or not.” She says. She then resumes tightening the latch.

“Well, first of all, it was a she, and second-” You say, but pause as you realize you made a poor choice in referencing her.

With a final, strained pull and a heavy grunt, Sunny finishes tightening the line. She sighs and hops off the gunwale.

She looks at you with a criticizing glare. “Come on.” Sunny says, “Where’s the Anon that survived a week in the woods, huh?” She smirks and tilts her head. She walks past you, bumping your knee with her flank intentionally.

You turn to scold her, but Zipp abruptly appears over the side, flapping powerfully with her wings. She looks over at Sunny as she hovers just over the edge of the gunwale.

“Vessel secured, Captain.” She says cooly.

“Excellent work.” Sunny says. “What’s the status on our fuel?”

“We’re getting pretty close. At best we can only do thirty-five percent power right now. We’re going to need to vent out the excess spell energy overnight before we can recharge it.” Zipp says. She shrugs. “At least, that’s the safest way. I don’t want to risk overloading the grid.”

“Well then,” Sunny says, glancing at you with a smug grin. “Sounds like we’re gonna be grounded ‘til morning.”

You shove your hands in your pockets and shake your head. This mare must have a death wish.

“Make way for the ladder!” Hitch yells as she carries the front end of the long, metal side ladder. Izzy and Hitch help him carry it from the other side.

The silhouette of the mall looms against the dusk sky as you and the ponies walk towards it. They geared up with a flashlight and saddlebags each, except for Izzy, who instead uses her horn as a vibrant neon-pink lantern.

Hitch is wearing a heavy, tan-colored saddlebag. Along with the military-style flashlight on his shoulder strap, he is also carrying a thick coil of nylon rope, a string of steel pitons, and a spare brass lantern.

You sweep the wide beam of your flashlight over the ground in front of you. There’s a spongy layer of moss that covers the asphalt in most places. Collected piles of dirt grow scraggly, dry tumbleweeds. There’s also strange haystack-like lumps dotting the field, which seem to be piles of trash covered with heavy vegetation.

As you get closer to one, you drag your flashlight over its surface and you see the dull glint of metal within the pile. Upon closer inspection, it seems heavily rusted tubes are bent all within the mass.

“What is it?” Izzy asks.

“Anon, any ideas?” Sunny says as she approaches the pile.

“Beats me.” You say matter-of-factly. You notice chunks of faded plastic and decomposing paper in matted clumps within it.

“Just seems like a lot of litter, doesn’t it?” Hitch asks.

Izzy steps forward to join Sunny. Her neon horn bathes the debris in magenta hues as she looks around it.

Izzy sits down on the moss as Sunny carefully prods the surface. There’s a small creak as the pile dents inward, and suddenly Izzy perks her ears and stands up.

“Wait, wait! I think I see something!” Izzy says.

Sunny turns to her. “Hm? Where, Izzy?” She asks.

Izzy’s horn fades, and you all keep your flashlights pointed to the pile. With a gradual hum, a section near the top is bathed in a different kind of magenta hue as Izzy concentrates on a spell.

There’s a loud creak and groan of metal as Izzy wrenches something up with a telekinetic pull.

“Woah!” Sunny exclaims and quickly steps back.

“Wait, Izzy!” Hitch say, leaning his head forward and his eyes going wide. “You’ll tilt it over on us!”

Izzy glances back with a grin, her horn still aglow. “Relax, Hitch! I’ve done this plenty of times!”

Hitch leans back. “What?”

“Yeah!” Izzy says. There’s a hideous shriek of metal scraping against metal as a heavy chunk of something rises up from the heap. “It’s a big pile of trash! This is my bread and butter! Cha-ching!”

With one final pull, the object of her desire is freed. Rusty bits of metal, chunks of soil and grassy root clusters spill down among the vines, and there’s a slight shift in the heap as it shrinks to fill the gap.

Izzy brings the object down and sets it a few feet away from the group. The ponies lean their flashlights up as Izzy rotates it in the air.

With what’s left of the pipes and rods, it seems to be shaped like...

“A chariot.” Sunny says.

With a high-pitched squeal, the ancient vehicle comes to rest on its bent axle. The wheels have a modern design made from stamped metal. They have sweeping curves instead of spokes. There’s hardly anything left of the outer hull, but you would recognize a pony-pulled chariot design like this anywhere. The only thing is - this one doesn’t have any draft poles. There’s just some strange, oblong extension on the front of it.

“How... odd.” Sunny says, walking closer as she inspects it.

Zipp floats up on her wings and zooms around it from different angles before leaning close to the extension on the front.

“Well, it’s a chariot alright, but not a type I’ve ever seen." You say, glancing around the desolate area. "I guess this field used to be their parking lot.”

“Izzy.” Zipp says, lifting her head up. “Tip it on its side. I want to check underneath."

“Okay!” Izzy says. She quickly envelops the whole thing in an aura and thoughtlessly tips it over.

With a loud groan of metal, the undercarriage of the chariot is revealed. It has a cylindrical case underneath the front part of the chassis. Rusted pipes lead in and out of the front extension. They seem to be connected to a gearbox at the back.

Zipp wipes away the grime from the casing and inspects it. “Hm. No markings.” She says. “But if I had to guess... this looks like a grid conduit.”

“Uh, say what now?” Hitch asks.

“It’s a device that harmonizes with a magic amplification grid. It allows a machine to tap into the power supply. It’s like wireless electricity.”

“Huh.” Hitch says.

“Wow, how'd you figure that out, Zipp?” Pipp says. She’s raises up her phone to take a quick picture. At the last moment, Zipp forces an awkward smile. After the flash, she goes back to a neutral expression.

“Because it looks like the ones on the ship.” She says plainly.

“That’s our chief engineer for you, hah!” Sunny says and throw a hoof around Zipp’s neck. She smiles and hugs her from the side. She then reaches into her saddlebag and pulls out her journal.

“I can’t believe it. This changes so many things!” She says, sitting down and opening her journal to a fresh page.

“Well, there she goes.” Hitch says, rolling his eyes. He sits down as Sunny frantically writes in her journal.

“Self-propelled chariots. Wireless power! Huge shopping malls! This is totally different than the Equestria I had imagined!” Sunny says, holding the pencil to the side of her mouth as she cradles her flashlight with her neck.

Yeah, it sucks. From the way things are looking, you'd hate it here. It was probably filled with rich, snobby unicorns or some shit.

For a while you let Sunny take notes. Pipp documents the discovery and makes a quick video of it. Hitch tries his best to keep Izzy from pulling more chariots out of the pile, but ultimately fails. She manages to lay out about a dozen in total. If you combine that with all the other piles it could be about a hundred or more. You notice many of them share the same design - an obvious indicator of a mass-produced product.

Sunny finishes writing her notes and snaps her journal shut. “Well then, shall we?” She says with a confident grin.

Sunny then led the group up to the entrance.

The massive, dark portal before you stretches inward to a multi-story interior. The concrete planters and balcony railings inside stretch into a cavernous oblivion.

You search around for signs of movement, but see nothing. The air is calm and still. The hoofsteps start to echo as the ponies traipse onto the laminated tile floors past the doorway.

“Just look at it...” Sunny says, completely enraptured with it all.

The rows of shops seem to mostly have their shutters drawn, save for a few here and there. You try to read some of the faded signs sitting around the entryway plaza. Of the metal frames still standing, only a few still contain placards. The paint on all of them is too weathered to make out except for a few pieces of letters here and there.

You stop and raise your light to the ceiling. At one point there were skylight windows that spanned the entire building, but they’re all gone now.

“Alright,” Hitch says as he steps ahead of Sunny. “If there’s anypony in here, it’s better if we let them know we’re coming.”

He plants his hooves firmly and shouts. “Hey! Is there anypony in here?!”

His voice echoes and reverberates within the expanse of old, forgotten halls.

Silence follows.

“We come in peace! We aren’t here to hurt anyone!” He yells again.

He whips his barrel around to flash his light in some corners. Once again, his call is answered with silence.

“Guess nopony’s home!” Pipp says. She looks a bit relieved and flutters her wings. “We got the whole place to ourselves, guys!”

“ECHO!” Izzy yells loudly. She grins as her own voice comes back to her a half a second later.

“Well, Captain.” You say with growing impatience. “What next?”

Sunny nods. “Alright. Let’s stick together and take this one store at a time. Everypony with me?”

All the ponies respond affirmatively. Sunny moves to the first shop, closed with a sagging, rusted shutter.

After the ponies struggled with it for quite a while, Sunny concluded that the only way to get the first shop open was by wrenching the shutter off its guide rails.

Izzy used her magic to peel it off like a sardine lid, and this served to release a small rush of revoltingly smelly water from within. It spilled over the dusty marble floor, and the ponies all coughed, gagged and backed away.

The shop used to be some kind of bakery. Now the smell of rotting, water-logged dough filled the air around it. There must have been a leak in the ceiling somewhere to let in all that rainwater.

You and the ponies agreed to write it off as a loss, with none of them daring to venture inside.

The shop across the way already had its shutter already opened a bit. Sunny carefully raised it up as Hitch stood ready, whipping his flashlight around to scan the interior.

It seemed completely gutted, with empty, metal shelves lining the walls and free-standing racks pushed up against the sides. Even the letters of the sign above the shop had been pulled from the wall.

The next shop down had a metal gate that was bent down at one corner. Your flashlights revealed the glimmer of dark lenses sitting in racks beyond the gate, and baskets filled with small plastic clips. It appeared to be a shop for sunglasses and other accessories.

Eager to collect a souvenir, Pipp coerced Hitch and Izzy to work together to bend the gate further down.

With a big shove from both Hitch’s and Izzy’s combined weight, the ancient gate snapped off its hinges and rattled to the floor. The space inside was pitch black, but you felt a bit more comfortable as the party of mares made their way inside, lighting up the interior. They cooed and gasped as their flashlights revealed various styles of mane clips, eye wear, scrunchies, buttons and saddlebags. Hitch followed them and methodically searched around the perimeter.

“Oh, wow! This stuff is perfect! I can’t wait!” Pipp gushed as she quickly collected a hoof-full of hair clips. She cupped them in the fold of her fluffy wing and made her way over to a dusty mirror to wipe it off.

Sunny and Izzy are giggling to each other quietly as they try on sunglasses, and even Zipp seems happy as she strolls around.

You sigh and lean against the wide doorway to the storefront. You glimpse out into the cold, still plaza as moonlight paints squares of pale blue upon the old marble planters and overturned, broken stalls.

Well, they certainly found their “booty.”

Suddenly, you glimpse something at the edge of your flashlight’s beam. It looks like a pair of yellow eyes across the way.

You center your beam on them, and just as you do, you see the slitted irises narrow. The eyes dart away out of view behind the corner of the shop window.

You scan around the shop with your light, but it’s too far to get it very bright. You don’t notice any movement inside.

You turn back and say in a raised voice, “Sunny. Hitch. I just saw something.”

Sunny turns her head, holding a clutch of glossy buttons in her hoof.

Hitch immediately trots through the racks over to you.

“What, where?” He says, he narrows his eyes and takes his flashlight off his strap with a slide of his hoof.

You point over to the shop across the way. “I saw eyes coming from that shop.” You say.

Hitch pans his flashlight over the shop as Sunny walks over towards you.

“Eyes?” Sunny asks.

“Yeah.” You say.

“What’d they look like?” Hitch asks.

“Yellow. Slitted like a cat’s eyes.” You say.

The rest of the mares pack away their treasures and walk slowly up behind you.

Hitch clips his flashlight to his shoulder strap and slowly loosens the belt for his heavy saddlebag. He slips out of it and it crumples into a heap on the entry gate.

“Alright, everypony. I’ll check it out first.” Hitch says in a hushed tone. “If we see anything, we run for the ship, alright?” He glances back at you and the four ponies.

You all nod and Hitch carefully starts to walk across to the other side. His hoofsteps are silent. He carefully angles each hoof and shifts his weight to eliminate all sound.

The mares follow him in single file, and you walk alongside the line.

“Ohh... this is so creepy.” Pipp says in a quiet voice as her wings shiver.

“Shh...” Sunny glances back and shushes Pipp. Izzy also stares back at Pipp with widened eyes as if to reiterate her point.

As you near closer to the shop, you see that the front entrance is lined with white, stone cubes. There’s letters carved into them like giant alphabet blocks. The walls are lined with painted red shelves, and the floor is covered in tearing, faded carpet, which once had a array of colorful shapes patterned across it.

Hitch lowers his body as he pulls ahead from the line. The mares gradually slow down and come to a standstill about thirty feet from the doorway.

Hitch slinks inside, his neck bending silently around the corner like a slithering snake. You keep your own flashlight trained on the window where you saw the eyeballs.

“Aha!” He exclaims and then lunges forward out of sight.

Pipp gasps a little too loudly and covers her mouth.

There’s a painfully long pause before Hitch rears up onto the windowsill. He’s holding a stuffed bear in his forehoof with oversized, circular yellow eyes.

“Is this what you saw, Anon?” Hitch says with a tender smile.

“Aww!!” Pipp says, holding a hoof to her chest as she adores the sight. Izzy snickers to herself quietly.

“What? No!” You say.

You quickly jog into the shopfront and whip your flashlight around. You don’t see anything pony sized or larger among the toys scattered around the shelves and the floor. Further back there are tipped over racks, desks and tables but there’s no trace of any movement therein.

You rotate around, darting your flashlight between darkened corners, and your entire body tenses up for an imminent attack.

“Hey, it’s actually kinda cute, huh?” Sunny says from the shop window.

You shoot her a look. She’s holding the stuffed bear and looking at it. She glances at you with an earnest smile.

“I swear I saw something moving, and it wasn’t that.” You say. You shake your flashlight beam on it. “The eyes looked completely different.”

Sunny blinks in response to the glare of your flashlight.

“Well, just look around then. It’s probably one of these.” Hitch says, sweeping a hoof over the array of slightly soggy plush animals scattered around the floor.

You recognize the shapes of dogs, cats, crocodiles, sharks, pigs, dragons...

“How do you explain it moving, then?” You ask. You whip around and scan the ceiling.

Hitch shrugs. “Probably the wind.”

“The wind?” You ask critically. “Really?”

Zipp walks past you with a serious expression on her face. You glance over your shoulder for a second and she disappears into the store racks.

“Look Anon! I found you!!” Izzy says frantically. She slides in front of you and Hitch as she raises up a stuffed toy over her head.

Perched atop her hooves is a stuffed monkey wearing a black suit. It has brownish-gray fur, oversized lips, round stub-like ears coming off the sides of the head, and little, black, beady eyes.

You exhale angrily. “Very fucking funny, Izzy...”

Pipp trots up and looks at the toy in Izzy’s hooves. “Oh my feathers! That is so perfect! It even has a little suit and everything!” She gushes. Sunny, now standing at the doorway, suppresses a laugh with a hoof to her mouth.

Your cheeks turn red and your grip on the light trembles. The fear in your gut turns to rage.

“We had a term for that, you know. That’s speciesism. Back in the old Equestria, you’d get tied and quartered for stereotyping me like that.” You say, jabbing your finger towards her angrily.

Pipp seems a bit taken aback by your hyperbole, but Izzy keeps smirking at you regardless, her belly rumbling with tiny giggles.

“Hey.” Zipp says from the back of the shop in a neutral tone. “Come check this out.

Izzy and Pipp alight with grins and Izzy drops the monkey. They rush past you and Izzy lights her horn up to see.

You sneer at Izzy and resist the urge to trip her as she passes you.

Hitch follows them, and Sunny walks up to you. She smiles sympathetically.

“It’s okay, Anon. I don’t think Izzy was trying to be... speciesist against you, she was just making a joke.” She says.

You shake your head and exhale through your nose. “Whatever. I still don’t like this place.” You turn from her and walk along with the others, tilting your body to fit through a tight gap between the shelves.

You pass into a small aisle that reaches towards the back of the shop. There’s a heap of stuff piled against the far wall, and Zipp is digging around in it with her hooves.

You catch up to the rest of the ponies and suddenly Zipp grabs hold of a large, white box and wrestles it out of the pile.

“Ooh!” Izzy says enthusiastically. “What is it?”

Zipp pushes the box across the floor with her hooves. It’s got a bright printed graphic on the top, only somewhat faded from time. There’s an image of what appears to be a round light-gray video game console with large pony-sized paddles. It says “Mooncast 3” in futuristic block letters.

“It’s a game station I think.” Zipp says, tilting her head to look at it. “It’s not a kind I’ve ever seen...”

“Can we play it?!” Izzy says, jolting her body up so hard she nearly springs off her hooves.

“Video games? That’s why we have phones, Zipp.” Pipp says.

Zipp shakes her head abruptly. “No. This means something. They had computers back then. Technology just like ours.”

Sunny steps forward. She brushes past Izzy and Pipp to look at the box.

“Incredible...” She says. “This is an amazing find, Zipp!”

She grins and quickly look at Pipp. “Quick, Pipp. Take a picture!”

Izzy and Sunny crowd around Zipp and then point to the box with hearty grins. Pipp turns and takes a group selfie with all of them in the shot.

After the flash, Izzy begins walking in place, overloaded with excitement. “Open it! Open it! I wanna see!”

“Eh...” Zipp says as she tilts her head and examines the box. “I suppose we might be able to get it to work...?”

Zipp works a hoof carefully into a seam on the side of the box to try and pry open the flap. It is swiftly enveloped in a magical aura and ripped open by Izzy.

“Ooh-”

“Izzy, be careful!” Sunny says, putting a hoof protectively on the box. “We can’t risk damaging it.”

Izzy’s smile disappears. “Sorry.” She says very softly.

Izzy watches as Zipp very carefully removes the device and its accessories from the box. The console itself looks sleek and contemporary, with swooping curves on the sides. In the center of it, there’s a polished white orb embedded within a circular groove. The paddles seem pretty standard, but they match the device’s design. They are crescent-shaped with pony joystick on one side and a cluster of buttons on the other.

Zipp turns the console in her hooves, inspecting it. “Well, there’s ports for the controllers, one for the game cartridge, but I don’t see where you could plug it into power or a television...”

Sunny already has her journal out and is tapping her pencil against her chin. “Hm. Well, we already know they had wireless electricity from the chariots. Maybe... it will resonate with the power on the ship?” She asks.

Zipp shrugs and smiles. “Hey, it’s worth a shot.”

Zipp then turns to Izzy. “Hey Izzy, go find us some games for this, will ya?”

“Yay!” Izzy says, she then scrambles up to the pile and starts immediately sifting through it with her hooves.

Sunny and Hitch helped Izzy comb through the piles of toys scattered through the shelves.

You might as well help them out. You figure it might be interesting to see if video games evolved differently over time here. Plus, having a night to relax and play video games would be pretty comfy...

The uneasy feeling in your gut starts to fade as you dug around through collapsed shelving, lifting up each board to reveal forgotten toys once intended for a generation of fillies and colts a long time ago.

“Woah!” Sunny says suddenly. “Anon, look at this!” You glance over your shoulder to see her holding a gray plastic game case up to her face.

“What?” You say, turning to her.

She holds out the case to you. On the cover is an imposing silhouette of an equine form with piercing green eyes. She has a curved, gnarled horn, and she’s standing on the balcony of a white castle tower. It is unmistakably her. The changeling queen herself: Chrysalis.

The title of the game reads “Equestria Legends: War for Canterlot”.

You tilt your head and chuckle a bit. “Huh.”

“It says ‘Legend’ on it. Is this a game about the past?” Sunny says with rising enthusiasm.

“I mean, yeah, that does look like it...” You take the case in your hands carefully. You notice in the corner the logo for the Mooncast 3. It must be compatible.

You smirk a bit. “Hell, I might even be in this one.”

Chapter 9 - Game Of The Millenia

You all made it back to the airship, and the mares unpacked their saddlebags excitedly in ship’s inside lounge area.

“Alright, let’s see this.” Zipp says as she carefully placed the video game console on the low table. Izzy waited patiently, but her eyes practically bulging out of her head. You took a seat next to her and watched as Zipp carefully plugged in the two controllers to the front of the plastic case.

“I don’t really see a panel to open it anywhere.” Zipp says, running a hoof delicately along the side. She notices a circular, unlabeled button on the top of the case and gently depresses it with a hoof tip.

The white orb in the center flickers abruptly as a muffled whirring sound rises within the machine. The orb gradually glows and emits a hazy white smoke that seems to sublimate off its surface.

“Hey nice! It still works!” Zipp says with a cheerful grin.

“Woah!” Izzy exclaims as the orb projects a hologram of a dark blue sphere directly above it. The sound of glittering chimes fades in from some unseen speaker, and the logo of the console appears in white text within.

“Ooh!” Izzy coos and leans forward. The logo fades abruptly and is replaced with smaller text that reads “Insert Cartridge.”

Sunny and Hitch walk up to the table curiously. “You got it working, huh?” Sunny asks.

“Yep.” You say. You grin cheekily. “And also, I call first controller.”

You reach for the controller. Izzy’s head shoots up and her pupils narrow in. “Second!” She says.

Zipp chuckles softly. “Okay, okay. Let me see that game, Sunny.”

Sunny sits down next to you by the table and passes the game case over to Zipp. Hitch eyes the hologram suspiciously and passes a hoof through it. It goes right through, but causes the text to distort and glitch for a fraction of a second. He squints and examines the device, seemingly baffled by it.

Zipp pops open the case. Inside, there’s a white cartridge embedded with some kind of exposed crystal in the middle. The title of the game runs along the top.

Zipp delicately slots it into the cartridge port, and after a brief moment, the dark orb fades out.

You and Izzy hold the controllers as the title screen fades in as a three-dimensional, rectangular hologram. There’s a silhouette of queen cheese legs, and with a sudden flash of light and the crack of thunder, her body is illuminated and her viridian eyes shoot open to a menacing glare.

Storm clouds rumble in the simulated sky as hundreds of changeling drones circle lazily in the background.

In the foreground, there’s some blurry silhouettes of what you suppose are the protagonists, but... they don’t look like ponies.

“Uh...” You say, leaning in to squint harder.

Pipp flutters up to the other side of the table wearing a pair of oversized white-rimmed sunglasses. “Woah, who is that? She’s got such an... edgy look.”

Pipp lands next to Izzy on the couch and takes a seat. She takes out her phone to document the game.

You turn to Pipp. “Well, that’s Chrysalis. She was what were called a changeling, and-”

“Let’s go!!” Izzy says, suddenly smacking the controller with a hoof.

She apparently pressed whatever constitutes a start button. The image of Chrysalis laughs maniacally and the title screen fades to be replaced with a rotating loading indicator.

“And. She tried to take over Canterlot one time in the past.” You finish explaining.

“Woah!” Pipp says, holding up her phone to capture the hologram.

“You mentioned changelings in the past... what were they, Anon?” Sunny asks.

“They were magic creatures that could change their form to look like other ponies. They fed on love for sustenance.” You explain.

“Love?” Sunny asks.

“Yeah.” You say. “As in, love given to them by other ponies or creatures.”

“Why do they all look like bugs that were turned into ponies?” Hitch asks.

The screen fades in and a cutscene starts playing. Synth strings play a melancholic tune as it shows the spires of Canterlot from afar atop its mountain perch.

“Just... I’ll let the game explain.” You say.

The cutscene shows some establishing shots of Canterlot. It looks pretty similar, but for some reason a lot, lot bigger. A strange feeling sinks into your gut as you notice something about the residents wander around.

There’s creatures. Among the ponies of different races, there’s dragons, yaks, hippogriffs, griffons, and... even reformed changelings? What the fuck?

With an explosion of green fire, the front of the main ceremony hall crumbles away. Chrysalis steps out amid a haze of smoke, holding a stallion that kind of looks like Shining Armor in a telekinetic field.

They didn’t get her little crown thing right, and the colors on her wing carapace are way too blue. But it still looks like her...

Chrysalis then delivers a short and melodramatic speech, explaining that she has defeated the royal guards and Celestia, and now there was now no one to stop her from taking over Canterlot. She commands her armies to feed, and chaos soon erupts thereafter, with all the creatures and ponies rushing around as a swarm of changelings descends on the populace.

Well, that’s sort of how it happened...

It then cuts to Twilight, who is for some reason, is a lot taller, is already an alicorn, and is wearing shining purple armor. She’s standing in front of a group of random looking creatures. She begins talking in a voice that doesn’t sound like her.

“Everycreature, the time I had predicted has come. Chrysalis has destroyed Equestria’s defenses, and captured the Crystals of Harmony. Only you have the power to stop them now! Quickly now, go! The fate of Equestria depends on you all!” The Twilight hologram says.

It then changes to a character select screen. You feel very uneasy as you tilt the joystick to see various creatures move into frame, highlighted by a spotlight. You only see two ponies among them. A generic-looking unicorn stallion and a pegasus mare.

“Yeah, looks like they embellished some things...” You mutter under your breath.

“Ooh!” Izzy says and selects a female dragon. “She looks cool!”

You glance at Sunny, Hitch and Zipp. They seem enthralled. Sunny especially seems to be enjoying this.

But it’s wrong. This isn’t want happened at all. You were there. You went along to the wedding as Lyra’s plus one. This is practically revisionist history... there were no damn “creatures” in Canterlot then.

You consider just handing off the controller right then, but you decide to try and give it a chance. You select the unicorn stallion. At least they got that one right.

The game then begins with an isometric view of a cobblestone Canterlot street. The female dragon and unicorn stallion jump into frame, followed shortly by the non-accurate Twilight.

A group a changelings walk into frame, but are then blasted away by Twilight’s purple horn lasers.

“Hahah! Yeah!” Sunny cheers.

Twilight then points a hoof down the street, ordering you both to advance. She takes flight into the sky, and you are given control.

You test things out. It seems like pretty simple beat-em-up game. You have various attacks and a few spell-based special moves that you can use.

You and Izzy make your way through waves of changeling drones. At first they are simple bug-style changelings, but then they start morphing into various creatures as more difficult enemy types. The changelings turn into dragons and breathe fireballs. They turn into pegasi and try to dive-bomb you with kicks. They even turn into yaks and tear through buildings and cover.

The screen becomes an absolute clusterfuck of different anachronistic creatures duking it out in the city streets. It makes your head hurt, and it’s not due to the 3D hologram models or the exaggerated particle effects. It’s just such a gross misrepresentation of something you personally lived through. It feels wrong in your gut.

When you and Izzy reach the end of the street, you are met with a small castle gate. Suddenly, an oversized orange pony jumps off the wall and lands on all four hooves, shaking the ground. It’s a changeling replica of Applejack, and she’s not wearing her hat, is also wearing weird armor, and looks about twice the size of her older brother.

Dramatic boss music plays and a health bar extends at the bottom of the screen.

You pause the game and rub the bridge of your nose.

“Ugh, I’m sorry... everyone. I don’t think I can play this any more.” You say.

“What’s wrong, Anon?” Sunny asks. The other ponies turn to you.

You throw your hand out at the hologram, now frozen in time. “This is completely wrong! There weren’t all these creatures in Canterlot back then. It was just ponies! And Twilight and her friends look nothing like they did, the city looks way too big, and-”

“Who cares! This is awesome!” Izzy says.

She unpauses the game.

“Ugh.” You frown and set your controller on the table. There’s an awkward tension in the room now.

“Well, it’s just a video game, Anon. They aren’t supposed to be very accurate sources of information.” Sunny says nonchalantly.

“Yeah, I just don’t... feel like playing it.” You say. Your unicorn gets a giant hoof to the face and flies across the screen as you rise up off the floor. “You can play if you want, Sunny.”

You step past her. Sunny glances over to the screen for a moment, then slowly turns her gaze to you.

“Actually,” She says. “I was thinking maybe... you could tell me what you remember?”

Once she says that, Zipp quickly shoots over to the couch and grabs the controller, saving your unicorn character from imminent death.

Sunny flashes a quick smile.

You sigh and slouch a bit. “I mean...” You say. “I could tell you, but why do you care?”

You shrug. “Obviously this game was made so far in the future they didn’t give a shit about historical accuracy. It was a legend to them. A myth. It doesn’t really have any relevance to you or how Equestria fell.”

“Well,” Sunny says. The hint of a smile forms on her muzzle. “I care because I want to hear it from you. It’s still Equestria’s history. Plus, you were there, and that makes you a primary source. The best kind of historical source there is!”

She nods at you. You glance away to get a read on the other ponies. Hitch still seems perplexed by all of this. Zipp is giving you her usual cool, detached stare as she focuses on the game. Pipp hasn’t stopped recording, and Izzy is starting to sweat from how quickly she whips around the joystick.

“Yes!” Izzy says. “Niiice.” Zipp says. You hear the mighty moan of mega Applejack as she collapses to the street in a huge cloud of dust. She slowly shifts appearance to a regular changeling drone.

You might as well just give her the facts so you can get away from this noise. Plus, you know that Chrysalis might be out there somewhere... might be good to make sure they’re all prepared.

The sounds of hoof-to-hoof combat and magical beams suddenly fill the air again as the two mares continue to the next stage of the game.

“Alright,” You say. “I’ll tell you how it really happened.”

Chapter 10 - Historical Revisionism

You and Sunny walked back up to the upper deck to get some quiet.

You began your tale, recounting it to the best of your memory as she listened and took careful notes under the light of the bow’s lanterns.

You had went by train to Canterlot with Lyra for the wedding. It was the same train taken by the mane six, but a different car. Lyra was one of the bridesmaids for Cadence and Shining armor’s wedding, and you can still remember how excited she was...

After you arrived, you spent the first day helping out with Applejack and Pinkie Pie’s various tasks, and chatting with the rest of the mane six. Meanwhile, Lyra went on to meet with Cadence and the rest of the bridesmaids.

You didn’t know about changelings then. Not until it was too late.

You were supposed to meet up with Lyra once evening rolled around. The mane six went on their way to get some drinks and relax, and you waited for Lyra near the main square.

She kept you waiting, but eventually she showed up. Except it wasn’t really her. The changeling Lyra copy wasn’t wearing her bridesmaid’s outfit. It made some weird excuse.

You got lured you back to the castle room where you should have been spending a nice night with your pony wife, but instead the changeling dropped the disguise and knocked you out.

You woke up in the crystalline caves below the city, chained to a pillar made of glittering amethyst. You watched helplessly as Lyra and the other bridesmaids were hypnotized by Chrysalis to stand guard at the exit. Her laugh, God... it was awful.

Luckily, after what seemed like hours... Twilight pulled through. She had somehow found the real Cadence in the caves and rescued her. They passed you on the way up, and Twilight unlocked your shackles.

As you were confronted by a possessed Lyra and the other two bridesmaids, you knew you had to do something. Twilight and Cadence distracted the other mares, and you grabbed and held Lyra tightly in your arms. She struggled and kicked at you, bruising you all over, but you held on. Eventually... she snapped out of it.

By the time you made it to the city streets, the changelings were already pounding away at the protective shield around the city. You watched as the spell cracked and shattered into nothing, and the swarm descended upon the city.

You could have stood and fought, but you didn’t want her to get hurt. You couldn’t risk it. You grabbed Lyra and hid in an empty home. You listened to the carnage unfolding, knowing Twilight and her friends would come through in the end. They had the Elements after all, right?

It was only after the fact that you learned what really drove out the changelings and saved the day. You were told by Twilight that Shining and Cadence’s love overcame Chrysalis’ magic draining effect. Shining cast his most powerful protective shield spell yet to blast the changeling swarm out of Canterlot in one fell swoop.

You and Lyra crept out of the home to see the group of friends victorious, and soon thereafter, the true wedding was held.

You sigh deeply, letting the memory slip past your lips one final time before it becomes slapped into a textbook somewhere.

You are leaned with your back against the high gunwale of the ship. The sounds of crickets and frogs resonate from the wild landscape surrounding the ship. The ever-present hum of the engines mixes with buzz of the electric lamps around the inner rim of the bow.

“And then, at the reception, Twilight sang a pretty great song the bride and groom.” You say.

Sunny smiles warmly as she finishes writing down a note. She takes the pencil out of her mouth for a second.

“Hm. Did it have a name?” She asks.

“Oh... it was called, ‘Love is in Bloom.’ I believe...” You say.

Sunny jots that down quickly. She grins as she and puts the pencil in the fold of her notebook.

“Wow,” She says softly. “You know... somehow I knew I’d appreciate your story a lot more than that silly game in there...” She nods her head back to the stern and smiles casually.

“Well, I guess the real thing didn’t make for an interesting game...” You say.

Sunny closes her notebook and sits up tall.

“Hey, uh, weird question.” She says. “Who would you say your favorite friend was back then... out of the ‘mane six,’ as you call them?”

You shrug. “I mean, it’s hard to decide...”

You know it’s definitely not Twilight, at least.

“I liked hanging out with Rainbow Dash a lot... we got along really well most of the time. Pinkie pie was also really cool, but she was best in small doses. Applejack was nice to share a cider with every once and a while... Rarity was cool, but I didn’t really, uh, ‘vibe’ with her very well. You know?”

“What about Fluttershy?” Sunny says with an innocent smile.

“Uh...” You say.

Flutershy... what a kind and innocent little pony she was at first. Later on in your life, there were quite a few... tumultuous events that strained your friendship with her..

You don’t think Sunny is ready for that story yet.

“She was... a very kind and very shy pony.” You say.

“Hm.” Sunny smirks. “Okay. So what I’m getting is that Rainbow Dash was your favorite?”

“Yeah, sure. Why not.” You say. You shrug indifferently.

Sunny grins and reaches into her bag for a moment. You watch her as she pulls out a few round graphic pins from her bag.

She holds them out to you in her hoof, turning them over so that they face upward.

You see various buttons that have Rainbow Dash’s cutie mark printed on them in different styles. The inked tagboard is all weathered from age, but you can still distinctly see the clouds and banded lighting bolts.

Sunny smiles at you genuinely for a moment. “Well, go ahead. Take one.”

“Uh... No thanks, Sunny.” You say.

Sunny tilts her head. “Alright, I have other ones...” She says, reaching back to pull out even more pins from her bag.

She spreads them out on the deck near her notebook to show you.

Along with the buttons that resemble the cutie marks of the old ponies, there are some with positive messages about being inclusive. One of the buttons reads “Everycreature Belongs!” Another boldly proclaims “Friends Before Forms!”

You shake your head. “No, really Sunny.” You say. “Pins... are not my thing.”

Sunny freezes her hoof and looks up at you.

“Oh.” She says. “Alright.”

She hesitantly starts packing up the buttons.

You cross your arms and look away from her.

You stare into the darkness beyond the ship, the partly cloudy night makes the ship an island of light in the wilderness.

Sunny picks up the last button, but stops to admire it before she puts it away.

You glance at her. She has a wistful look on her face.

“I’d never heard that term before: everycreature.” Sunny says. “You said there were only ponies in Canterlot back then, but from what it sounds like, that eventually changed...”

“Yeah.” You say. “So why are you looking at that button like that?”

“It just... I dunno.” Sunny says. She tilts her head away and smiles with a bit of a blush. “I really like it. Knowing that all these different creatures were able to come together and become friends...” She says. She strokes the button with a hoof before she puts it back in her bag and closes the flap.

You sigh and shift your sitting position a bit. You don’t really like the way this conversation is headed.

“Yeah... it was something.” You say.

Sunny picks up on your lack of enthusiasm and quirks an eyebrow questioningly.

“I mean, you’re an example of that, right? You were there too.” Sunny says.

“Well, not really.” You say plainly.

“It’s not the same thing when you only have one human or one dragon in a mostly pony society. It’s not like what happened when Equestria opened its borders and encouraged all kinds settle there.”

Sunny narrows her eyes a bit. “How so?” She asks.

Damn. Are you really going to drop a redpill on her right now? Tell her your little pet theory on why Equestria might have fallen?

You rub the back of your head and stall by exhaling in a long breath. Slowly, you look at Sunny.

“Let’s just say that things started to change a lot. Ponyville became something different. By all accounts I should have been glad not to be the only weird looking biped walking around, but...”

“But what?” Sunny asks.

“You know what? Just forget it.” You say. You flap your hand dismissively.

You move to stand up, but Sunny puts her hoof on your arm.

“Hey, Anon.” She says. You stop.

“You don’t need to try and spare my feelings, alright? I want to hear what you have to say.”

You have an unsure look on your face. Sunny is looking at you with a serious expression.

It’s not like you really believe it to be true, but you felt like you should tell her. It’s not a possibility she would ever consider. Plus, if you do tell her she might stop trying to thirst after your dick so much. Eh, why not.

You take a short breath through your nose and clear your throat.

“Back on Earth, there once was a great and mighty empire called Rome, right? It existed two thousand years before I was even born. And everyone knows that it’s a powerful nation that conquered most of the known world at the time. But even though it was incredibly influential, it eventually fell. It wasn’t the first one either, many empires rose and fell throughout Earth’s history.”

Sunny removes her hoof from your arm and listens intently.

“People didn’t really know how the great empires fell, but people had some... ideas.” You say, feeling a bit unsure as to why you’re explaining this.

“They believed that a nation is only as strong as its cultural cohesion. You know, everyone speaking the same language and operating under the same value systems.”

Sunny skews her mouth to the side, but she keeps listening. You continue.

“Some theorized that Rome fell because it was weakened by letting in too many people from the nations they conquered who had different beliefs, different ways of doing things, different customs. The culture that made Rome strong eroded over time to become something else. That, along with other factors, might have tipped the scales in their military conflicts. They suffered a terrible series of losses against their enemies, and eventually the entire nation fell.”

You scratch your head. “Now I’m not saying that’s what happened to Equestria, but...”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Sunny says, holding up a hoof. “You’re saying that making friends with creatures from different parts of the world - letting them move to Equestria - helped cause it to collapse?”

You sigh. You raise your hands submissively. “Look, all I know is that I went to sleep and there were creatures everywhere. Now I wake up, and all the creatures are all gone, and your pony races are living in segregated cities.”

Sunny shakes her head and puts her hoof back on the floor.

“That’s ridiculous. Anon, we were separated before, but when we showed everyone how amazing friendship could be, they’ve changed. Our cities have only gotten better because of that. They are cooperating with each other instead of being afraid. It’s done nothing but good!” Sunny says.

She’s getting a bit frustrated it seems.

“Well yeah, sure. For now.” You say. “But what will happen when you bring in the griffons? You know that they eat meat, right? It’s not even a choice for them. They’re carnivores. They have to do it to survive. Are you going to tell me that all those ponies back in your town are going to be fine with watching them eat live rabbits every day?”

You shrug at her with a disbelieving look. Sunny furrows her brow and glances around, thinking.

“Well,” She says, “If they don’t have a choice, and as long as they don’t eat ponies, I don’t see what the big deal is.”

“Yeah.” You say. “You don’t see what the big deal is, but all those other ponies probably will. They won’t like it. They will want to move away.”

“But... but that’s speciesism!” Sunny says, she lifts a hoof and leans forward. “Like what you said to Izzy. You shouldn’t discriminate against other creatures for things they can’t even control!”

“That’s not really the point.” You say. “I don’t really care. I got used to being a weird alien to every pony in this world. I adapted and changed. I became an ‘honorary’ pony. When the creatures starting coming, they were supposed to integrate and adapt too, but that wasn’t always the case. They kept their heritage with them, both their families and their cultural values. That creates conflict, Sunny. In one form or another.”

You glance over the side of the ship and gesture towards the dark mall looming in the distance.

“Just look around you, Sunny.” You say. “Once this place had tens of thousands living here. Where do you think they all went? Do think everyone just left amicably when magic went away? Whatever happened, it wasn’t pretty, and I’m certainly sure it wasn’t prevented by the power of friendship between all creatures.”

Sunny scoffs at that last remark. She blinks a few times and leans back as if she is recoiling from the idea. Her mouth twists into a scowl.

“You have... some nerve, Anon.” She says, stomping a hoof. “The only reason you’re here is because of friendship. Ponies coming together to accomplish what they couldn’t alone. From what it sounds like, you’re saying we should have just let you die in that forest alone because you’re dangerous to us.”

“No, that’s now that I’m saying. But you know what?” You say, rising up slowly to your feet. “Maybe you should have, Sunny.”

You lean down towards her. “I’m not exactly the best person. Why else would then want to send me away, huh? I didn’t fit in back then, remember?” You say with sardonic intonation.

Sunny’s eyes narrow as she stares back at you, bold and unmoving.

“And I don’t fit in here now, either.” You say.

You stand up straight and cross your arms.

Sunny grimaces. She clenches her eyes shut for a moment and folds back her ears. For a moment you think she might try to kick you or something.

Instead, she just says, “That’s... not true, Anon.”

You look at her coldly. She opens her eyes and her tense expression softens. She leans up and meets your gaze.

“You do belong here. I can feel it in you. You want to be around ponies.” She says. “You even fell in love with one.”

The word twists in your gut as she says it.

“What would have happened to Lyra if you weren’t there to help her? She might have gotten hurt... or worse.” She says.

“No, she would have been fine.” You say in a low, patronizing tone. “And don’t talk about her, please.”

Sunny glances away for a moment.

“You know,” She says. “I really don’t think you believe ponies and humans are that different deep down.”

She looks at you with a scrutinizing stare. “You want to believe in harmony. I know you do.”

“Sure, whatever.” You say. You turn out towards the mall. You don’t want to look in her stupid eyes any longer.

You motion out to the darkened mall.

”So what do you think happened then, huh?” You ask.

Sunny scrunches her mouth up and looks out across the open field.

“Well... what if someone very evil and powerful came along? Someone like Chrysalis, but only stronger?” She says.

“Maybe they’re the reason things started to fall apart, and maybe they caused the different creatures to fear and dislike each other?”

“Alright,“ You say. “So you think Twilight failed to stop this evil person, and they killed her and took over Equestria?”

“Well...” Sunny says. “Nopony is invincible. I know Twilight would have done everything she could to stop them, but sometimes... things just don’t work out.”

Her ears tilt down a bit as she considers it.

“Then what? How did all the ponies get separated?” You ask.

“Anon, ponies can get scared when terrible things happen. It can cause them to make rash decisions that do more harm than good. Without somepony like Twilight to help them keep believing, they might have grown distrustful. First they just stopped trusting creatures, but it wouldn’t have ended there. Eventually they would start fearing other ponies.”

She inhales slowly deeply and then exhales in a resolved breath.

“That’s why we have to change it. We have to do what Twilight isn’t here to do now.”

You glance at her. She turns her head to you.

“We’re the ones that need to show all creatures in this world what it means to be friends.” She says.

You feel a small twinge inside. This time it isn’t nostalgia or the pang of regret. Her words resonate across the generations, echoing the speeches of princesses of old.

You want to dismiss her, or call her naive, but you don’t. You just shake your head and avoid her gaze.

“And,” Sunny adds as she promptly picks up her notebook and packs it away. “I think the first creature I’m going to teach the meaning of friendship to... is you.”

Sunny smiles a bit, then begins to walk off towards the center of the main deck.

Is she really trying to pull that played out old card on you again? You’ve had enough “friendship lessons.”

“You know, Sunny. I’m a decade older than I look. That makes me like, what, twenty years your elder?” You say.

You turn toward her. Sunny pauses and looks back at you out of the corner of her eye.

She giggles. “Well, for someone that old, you certainly have a young soul.” She says. Her confident grin widens and she continues walking.

You sneer and watch her walk to the door to the cabins and slip back inside quietly.

You stand out on the deck for a moment.

A young soul? Really? That seems like a poor excuse made up by a mare that’s suddenly into older guys. Gross.

You walk back in the door a moment later. You go down the hall to the steps leading to the galley and lounge below. The sounds of the video game are still on full blast.

You won’t get any sleep with them playing like this. You decide to walk down the stairs just to check.

From the bottom landing of the steps, you see Hitch and Zipp engaged in a heated battle against a throng of changelings. Izzy is watching with adoration as their characters fight, and Pipp is sitting on a couch, distracting herself by trying on new accessories and taking photos.

Sunny isn’t here. She must have went back to her quarters.

“No, no, no! That’s not fair!” Hitch complains. The griffon he was playing as gets knocked to the floor as several changelings hit him with multiple horn blasts in quick succession.

“Hah!” Zipp says. “You have to block, dude!” She’s intently focusing on the hologram, her hooves clacking the buttons with incredible precision.

You decide to watch for a while, taking a seat on one of the couches. Eventually, Hitch runs out of lives and starts stealing them from Zipp to keep playing. They don’t make it to the end of the stage and fail it.

Hitch then calmly puts down the controller and decides that he doesn’t want to try again.

It’s still an anachronistic schlocky piece of garbage, so you don’t volunteer.

Not at first, at least. Once the ponies swap out a few more times, you eventually decide to give it a go. It was something to do, at least. Why not?

You and the ponies wind up staying past the usual bedtime on the ship as you try to power through to the last boss.

It turns out that Chrysalis actually has three different forms she morphs into with each of her health bars. You must have missed that part when it happened in real life for sure. Also, she’s the most awful bitch ever and you hate this fucking game.

Chrysalis destroys both your avatars with her unavoidable horn laser move for the twentieth time, and it’s at that point that Zipp finally decides to call it a night.

She goes to the engine room to power down the reactor and open the ventilation valves.

You, Hitch, Pipp and Izzy all head to your respective cabins and turn in for the night.

Chapter 11 - Sunny Has the Plans

You are Sunny Starscout.

You’re resting your head against your forelegs on the small desk at the corner of the bridge. You have one ear perked up towards the pressure gauge, and you have a nice cool smoothie next to your muzzle.

You didn’t think this part of Equestria would be so... muggy. It’s already getting hot and it’s only mid-morning.

You let out a prolonged breath. Your neck and head relax along the slant of the desk.

With a sudden ping, the hissing sound coming from the pipes below the gauge stops.

You slowly lift your eyelids open and glance towards the dial. The needle is all the way at the bottom, pointing at zero.

Perfect.

You slide off the desk and lean towards the dial, tapping it with a hoof.

You didn’t expect it to take this long, but the engines are finally cleared. You’ll have to ask Zipp about that again...

Still it was pretty cute seeing them all passed out in their bunks when you got up bright and early.

You smile to yourself and think about how much fun they had hanging out together. You feel a little regretful that you couldn’t be there with them, but you had a duty to catalog what you found and draw up the plans for today.

Your crew needs their captain, after all...

You sigh and take a long gulp of your smoothie.

Whew, alright. Time to lay everything out and go through it one more time, just to be sure. Then you’ll wake up the others and run them all through it. No problem!

You grab your saddlebag and start tucking the rolled up maps underneath the strap.

Sure, Anon will probably complain about it and try to ask if he can just stay on the ship. You know he’s going to. But hey, he’ll probably be paired with Izzy, so what’s the big deal? He’ll manage. Plus, your crew has your back. You got this.

You turn and march out towards the deck with determined steps. Your head held high, you remind yourself of all the progress you’ve made so far with confident resolve.

This plan is gonna be great!

You are Anon.

You are dozing in the large bed in your cabin, your mind still in that hazy state between waking and sleep.

You’re so comfortable right now. You remember the bed was cold when you got in, but now it’s so cozy and warm. The thick duvet traps in the heat well, and this fuzzy pillow you’re holding onto certainly helps a lot.

Wait... did your room have a fuzzy pillow in it?

Your eyes pop open. The cabin is lit up from the bright morning sky outside the windows. There’s a lump in the covers right in front of you. A stream of blue hair is spilling out from the top.

You slowly retract your arms from the sleeping form of Izzy, and the feeling of comfort turns sour in your gut.

Izzy stirs. She lifts her head up and lets out a big yawn.

She brushes her mane back over her shoulder and then cranes her neck to look at you. You’re glowering at her.

“Good morning Ano-aah!!” She says before you promptly push her off the bed with your hands and feet.

She topples out and lands on her back, her hooves raised in the air. “Oof!”

You sit up in bed. You were sleeping in only your underwear, and your bare chest is now covered in bits of lavender fur.

“What are you doing, Izzy?” You say with displeasure.

Izzy rolls up to her hooves and stands. Her mane is a frizzy mess of curls.

“I was just cuddling!” She says.

“I don’t remember asking for you to cuddle me!” You say.

“Well sheesh.” Izzy says. “What’s the big deal? You seemed cold! I was pretty cold too, so I thought hey, I’m sure Anon wouldn’t mind a nice- ack!”

She ducks the pillow you throw at her head.

“You indecent wench! Begone!” You say.

Izzy lets out a sharp, prolonged gasp and slowly lifts her head up.

She looks at you incredulously. Her mouth twists into a snarl. She starts to say, “Why I-”

Suddenly stomps a hoof and glances away. “You know what, Anon? Fine. Hmph!”

She starts walking away with her snout lifted up in the air. She moves around the foot of your bed towards the cabin door.

She stops before she gets there and whirls her head around.

“But you just lost pants privileges. I’m taking these!” She says abruptly. Her horn glows and both of your pairs of pants levitates up into the air with a fuchsia glow. She smirks at you.

“Don’t you dare!” You say.

You throw off the covers and leap off the bed. Izzy immediately dashes to the door and kicks it open with a hoof.

“Izzy!!” You shout, but she’s already gone, giggling as she runs down the hallway.

You quickly grab your shirt from the dresser and pull it over your head, then run after her.

Izzy bolts up the stairs, taking them three at a time. You hurry after her, your bare feet slapping against the metal steps. She makes it to the landing at the top and barrels into the door to the main deck. You’re only a few steps behind her as she runs out into the open.

Sunny is there, sitting further down the deck. Her eyes open very wide as she sees you stumble out, accidentally hit your toe on the doorjam and faceplant onto the deck.

Izzy spins around, her mouth wide with mirthful glee as she laughs the hardest you’ve seen her laugh yet.

You slowly rise on your forearms and leer at Izzy as your cheek stings with pain.

Her horn stops glowing and the levitation spell ends. She tosses your clothes casually on top of your head and continues to laugh.

You peel your pants off your face and move up to your knees, grunting with pain.

By the time you’re standing, Sunny is walking over.

“My my, you two.” She says, grinning. “I’d say you’re getting along pretty well.”

She stops a few yards away. She tilts back her cup of smoothie and smacks her lips loudly afterwards.

“She cuddle raped me and then stole my pants for absolutely no reason.” You say, pointing at Izzy. “Why don’t you keep your first mate in line, Sunny?!”

Sunny just giggles. You angrily stand and hold your pants in front of your lower body.

“Pff... It’s okay, Anon! You don’t need pants any way!” Izzy says, trying to catch her breath. “Your legs have plenty of fur on them!”

You realize your cheeks are flushed. Sunny quirks an eyebrow at you.

“Back to your cabin, sailor. Go get dressed.” She says cooly.

“Alright, but for today, keep her away from me.” You point accusingly at the violator of personal space.

“Meanie!” Izzy says, sticking out her tongue.

Sunny shakes her head and chuckles.

“Alright then...”

You retreated back to your suite to dress yourself properly. You stayed there until you heard the rest of the ponies getting up, and only then did you venture back out to the main deck.

With the rest of the crew roused from their slumber, Sunny laid out a series of sketched diagrams she had made of the mall on the deck. She then started to give a briefing for today’s agenda.

“Alright, team!” She says with a bright smile. “Today, we’re going to be finishing up our search of the mall. But don’t worry. I have a plan that will make sure we get every single last piece of research in there, and do it all... three times as fast!”

She taps a hoof on her diagram of the area surrounding the mall. It lands near the airship’s current position.

“First, we’re going to all work together to power up the reactor.” She says.

“Then, we’ll fly the airship over to the main courtyard of the mall’s structure.” She traces a hoof over to the square patch of open space near the central part of the building.

“We’ll anchor there. After that, we’ll all break up into groups of two and search each one of the remaining wings of the mall. Each pair will pick up anything that might give clues to Equestria’s history.”

She taps her hooves together as she lists off her requests. “Movies, books, video games, posters, post cards, phones, computers, laptops. Anything you can find!”

She leans forward and smacks the courtyard on the diagram again. “Then we bring it all back where we started.”

She looks back up at the group. “Last but not least, we’ll hoist up the cargo into the cargo hold and be on our way.”

She grins as she leans up tall. “I expect we’ll be done by the afternoon. Are there any questions?”

She glances around at each of you, sitting in a semicircle on the other side of her folded-out maps.

Hitch raises a hoof. “Uh, how are we going to communicate if we all break into pairs? What if something happens?”

Sunny smiles. “I’m glad you asked, Hitch.” She says. “First off, each group will be given one of these.”

Sunny pulls out three plastic walkie-talkies out of a bag on the floor. She slides them across the deck over to you all. They’re black with red trim, and seem to be toys made for colts.

“I picked them up in the toy shop when we were looking around. Pretty useful, right?” She says.

Hitch picks up one of the walkie-talkies and looks at it. He twists the knob on the top, and the sound of static crackles forth.

“Huh. Well, it seems to work.” He says.

Sunny nods once. “Yep, they all have rechargeable batteries. I already charged them up and tested them out last night. Pretty useful, right?” She says.

“Still, in the interest of safety, try not to wander too far. The radio signals have a limited range. Also, we’ll be doing check-ins every half-hour. Be sure to report in right away if anything happens, okay?”

She looks around at all of the ponies and you.

“If your group misses a check-in, head immediately back to the courtyard. The other groups will also head there and we’ll immediately organize a search party if anyone’s still missing.”

Well damn, she seems to have this planned out pretty well. Perhaps you weren’t giving her enough credit before...

Pipp pipes up, “Soo... what will the teams be?” She asks.

Sunny tilts her head and shrugs a bit. “I think you’re all perfectly capable of figuring that out yourselves.” She says slyly.

Izzy immediately glances at you, furrows her brow and then leans towards the closest pony next to her. “Pipp!” She says. “Be my team member, please?”

You cynically smirk at Izzy. What, is she trying to make you jealous?

Pipp looks at Izzy with surprise for a moment, then she smiles softly. “Of course, Izzy!” She says. They share a friendly hug.

Zipp notices that her sister is already taken as a partner, and glances around at you, Sunny and Hitch.

“Uh...” She says anxiously. She notices Sunny motion her head towards Hitch, who is trying to clip the walkie to his shoulder strap with limited success.

“Hitch, you wanna pair up? Let me help you with that.” She says. She walks over and to assist the sheriff clip the walkie.

“No, no. I got it.” Hitch says.

Oh, wait. Your blood turns to ice as you realize that only leaves you and Sunny. You’ll be alone together in the mall. She slowly looks over at you. Her eyes peer into yours for a prolonged second.

You furrow your brow and start to open your mouth, but she turns back to the group. “Alright, sounds like we have our teams, then!” She says enthusiastically.

Great. Just great.

Pipp grabs one of the walkie-talkies and looks at it along with Izzy. They whisper to each other and giggle. Hitch is adjusting his shoulder strap while holding out a small hand-held mirror out in front of him. He flashes a handsome grin at himself. Zipp momentarily rolls her eyes back.

“Uh, yeah. Is there any chance I can just stay here and watch the ship?” You ask. You take the remaining radio and slide it back towards Sunny.

She stops it with a hoof.

“Yeah, if you want her to die out there.” Pipp says sarcastically.

“You need to be a better friend, Anon.” Izzy says critically. She sticks out her tongue at you and makes a face.

Sunny looks at you and quirks an eyebrow.

“Fine...” You say.

Chapter 12 - Stay Close

Just as Sunny said, you and the ponies gathered in the main engine room of the ship to power up the engines. Sunny produces the earth pony crystal, Izzy the unicorn crystal, and Zipp the pegasus crystal.

With the interlocking pieces in place in front of her, Sunny lowers her head as if reciting a silent prayer and the other ponies gather around. You watch silently from the sidelines.

“Let’s do this...” Sunny says, raising her head up slowly. “For our homes.”

The warmth of her smile is matched by those of the other ponies, and just as before, the crystals begin to glow.

Soon enough, the reactor is at full capacity and the ship is taking off. You watch from the main deck as Sunny pilots the airship flawlessly, letting it rise up over the tops of the concrete-and-steel structure with ease.

The ship gradually floats over the central courtyard, and from what you can see it appears to be about the size of a small city park.

You feel a bit of hesitation as they lower the ship down slowly into the space. The balloon won’t fit of course, but the hull of the ship will. Zipp hovers in front of the bow and motions with a hoof to help guide Sunny down into position.

Once the main deck is lined up evenly with the roofs of the surrounding buildings, Sunny balances out the buoyancy to put the ship in a neutral float. The craft hovers, suspended weightlessly in the air, and Zipp locates anchor points in the surrounding area to tie up the mooring cables to.

You notice Sunny lock the controls with a gold-colored key that she puts into her side bag. Shortly after, she is leading you and the rest of the ponies down into the cargo hold.

In the section at the very back of the lowest deck, there’s a hatch made from a heavy, hinged metal place. It takes Hitch and Sunny’s combined strength to raise it up and reveal the expanse of empty air below.

You look down. As expected, the courtyard below is overgrown. The tops of deformed, scraggly trees are scattered around the edges haphazardly, and the center has a giant crack running through it from where the earth shifted under the foundation. The area directly below the hatch seems to be clear save for some tall grass and exotic, broad-leaf plants.

“Alright, let’s get the elevator going.” Sunny says happily. She goes over to a dusty panel near the back wall and wipes off the controls with her fetlock.

“Stand back, everyone.” Hitch says. You and the other ponies move back from the hole.

Sunny flips a switch. A green light appears on the controls, and she pushes a button. A large metal bin with a mesh bottom descends from the ceiling, connected to a winch above. A spinning orange light blinks on, and a beeping alarm tone sounds off repeatedly.

Sunny lets the cargo elevator descend a bit through the gap in the floor before letting go of the button.

“Alright! Team one: Izzy and Pipp. Go ahead!” Sunny says.

“Yeah!” Izzy says as she leaps into the cargo elevator. She lands with a clatter of hooves and the bin sways ominously, but she doesn’t mind at all. Pipp gracefully flutters down to join her as Sunny hits the button to descend again.

Izzy holds onto the support cable with a foreleg and spins around carelessly on her back legs, singing a gleeful tune. The bin sways a bit, but the heavy steel cable holds them mostly steady. Once the bin hits the courtyard, the winch automatically turns off.

Izzy hops out and looks around with a hoof over her eyes. Pipp carefully steps out to follow her.

Sunny picks up her radio and turns it on. “How’s it looking down there?” She says.

A second later the radio static is interrupted by Izzy’s voice. “All clear, Sunny! Send the next team down!” She says.

Sunny perks her ears up and hits the button to raise the elevator again.

You and Sunny load into the elevator next. Zipp works the controls to lower you both down. You sit cross-legged and you try not to lean into her as the container swings slightly.

The air in the courtyard feels a bit humid and warm. It’s not just the morning dew being evaporated by the rising sun. You pick up the sound of moving water coming from somewhere in the distance.

The bed of the cargo elevator flattens out the tall grass below, and you and Sunny carefully step out of it.

Sunny gives the all clear, and Hitch comes down next. Zipp works the controls to lower him before flying down herself.

“Alright!” Sunny says to the group. “The west wing and northeast wings are both collapsed, so that means we only have three to search. Try not to get distracted, alright?”

“Remember, we’re looking for clue to Equestria’s past. Bring it all here and put it in the bin.” She says, pointing towards the bed of the cargo elevator.

“Team one, you’ll be taking the entryway wing on the east side.” She points a hoof over towards the multi-level plaza that you partially explored last night. “Be sure to check the stores on the higher levels, alright?”

Izzy salutes her captain. “Yes ma’am!” She says, puffing out her chest to look more important. Pipp giggles and salutes towards Sunny.

Sunny turns to Hitch and Zipp, who are somewhat awkwardly standing near each other. “Team three, you’ll be taking the southern wing and rotunda. Looks like there might have been a food court in there, but under no circumstances should you eat anything, okay?”

“Don’t eat the food that’s hundreds of moons old. Got it.” Hitch says with a disinterested expression. “We’ll try.” Zipp says with a smirk and nudges Hitch.

“Anon and I will take the northwest wing.” Sunny says. “Remember, stick with your partner and let me know if you run into any problems. Any at all, okay?”

Sunny grins and looks around at the other four ponies. They all nod.

“Alright! Let’s go!” Sunny exclaims.

You and Sunny make your way towards the northern section of the courtyard, slowly navigating through thick brush and vegetation. The area is slanted slightly against you, and you have to make sure you keep your footing on the spongy, lime-green moss.

This open area is alive with the sound of birdsong, but you don’t recognize any of their calls. There’s strangely opalescent flies that buzz in the air when you accidentally shake them off their perches. Your skin already feels a bit damp from the humidity.

You both make it to the center of the courtyard, and you hear the flow of a small stream.

Sunny stands at the ridge of a small gap, eyeing it carefully. It’s only about two feet wide, so she can jump it easily. She seems to be watching the flow of the water.

She looks back at you. “Watch your step. It’s flowing from where we’re headed.”

She hops down to a chunk of exposed concrete on the other side.

You carefully step over the gap and then follow her further northwest. The clearing here is flat and wide. Overgrown planters are filled with a mishmash of common flora and exotic plants. You think you also see stone benches, but they are so choked with greenery it’s hard to tell.

Sunny makes it to the northwest passage into the mall proper with you in tow behind her. A screen of vines and scraggly trees veils the entrance to the mall’s cavernous interior. The darkness inside is broken up with pockets of light that creep in through holes in the roof.

Sunny sits down and looks back at her saddlebag. This time she carries an olive colored double-bag along with her typical teal satchel. She’s got a length of hempen rope strapped to the side.

She pulls out her flashlight and clips it onto the shoulder strap of her satchel. She also pulls out her phone and quickly checks the time.

“Alright, you ready, Anon?” She says, turning back to you.

“As ready as I’ll ever be...” You say.

“We’ll start on the lower level first, like before.”

“Alright.”

She clicks on her flashlight, then walks up the short flight of stone steps. She swipes at the vegetation with her hoof to make a gap. You sigh, turn on your flashlight and follow her into the passage.

Immediately you notice the entire wing is lush with hanging plants and vines. They cascade from the railings on the upper floors and have a wide range of colorful flowers and berries attached to them. The light and moisture here is plentiful, and the sound of rushing water is definitely coming from this direction.

You and Sunny began walking along the first floor to see every store sequentially. This wing seems to have been designed so that window shoppers can ping-pong their way between both sides as they browse.

The first shop appeared to be a clothing store for female creatures. The dresses and gowns on display were all decayed and weathered. There were some sized for mares, but they were hardly recognizable as clothing.

Sunny checked the back rooms and the counter, but didn’t find anything worthwhile.

The next shop was a shoe store. Again, Sunny scrounged through the back while you paced around the shelves aimlessly.

She walked out and seemed a bit disappointed. She then sat down and radioed the other teams for the half-hour check in.

Izzy and Pipp radioed back saying that they already found some interesting stuff they were working to haul back to the courtyard. Hitch and Zipp reported that they hadn’t had any luck yet.

Sunny put her radio back in her saddlebag and you continued on.

The next shop in your wing was a sporting goods store. Sunny was initially intrigued, but then quickly disappointed as she noticed half of the ceiling was collapsed. Thick sections of concrete had crushed half the merchandise, and a thin trickle of water was running from the hole in the ceiling.

Sunny sighed and started walking around the store. You looked around at the metal racks and casually scanned around with your flashlight.

The shelves were mostly empty save for deflated balls, rusting bicycle frames and trampolines. You were about to give up, but you spotted an aluminum metal baseball bat wedged at the bottom of the back shelves. You dusted off the filth and picked it up.

It was sized for little fillies and colts, but with the right amount of force, it could still brain something pretty good. Hm.

You swung it around a few times. Sunny then came around the corner into your aisle, dragging something with her hooves.

“Hey Anon~!” Sunny says in a sing-song voice. You look over at her. She’s dragging what looks like a large nylon bag in her teeth.

She drops it and turns your way.

“I found- Oh!” She says. “I, uh... found a bag I think might fit you, but, what’s the bat for?”

You slap the bat into your other hand. “Oh, you know. Just a little assurance.” You smile.

Sunny shakes her head. “Anon, that’s not why we’re here. If we encounter anycreature that would want to hurt us, we’re not going to try to attack them.”

“Hey, you have hooves that can break bones. I’m not so lucky. It’s better to have it than not.” You say.

Sunny sighs. “Well okay. Sure. If it makes you feel better.” She says. “Just look at this.”

She hooks her hoof under the strap and lifts up the bag to you.

You take the bag and shake it out. It’s a faded black duffel bag that seems like it’d be home on a minotaur’s shoulder. There’s a small tag with a three-headed cerberus logo stitched into it.

You unzip it and put your bat inside. You throw it around your shoulder and tighten up the strap as far as it can go.

“Alright. Seems to work pretty well.” You say.

Sunny grins. “I also found some shirts that might fit you. They’re still in the plastic too!”

“Huh.” You say. “Sure, show me. Wouldn’t hurt I guess.”

Sunny shows you to the shirts she found. Plain gray t-shirts still in the packaging. They’re a size larger than you, but they’d still fit alright. You rip them out of the spongy plastic and put them in your bag, laying them loosely underneath the bat.

You both walk out of the shop after that. The next store over is closed with a heavy shutter, but Sunny doesn’t try to pry it open.

That sound of rushing water has intensified quite a bit, and you now see the source. About several yards ahead of Sunny, there is a huge split in the marble floor. The split runs up the western wall, and the sunlight illuminates a glittering white waterfall that pours out from the crack. It originates from some large, grassy hill that has pressed up against the side of the building.

Sunny carefully steps forward, testing the floor for signs of weakness in its spiderweb of cracks.

You follow in her hoofsteps as she leans over the side of the crevice and looks down.

“Well, this is a bit of an obstacle, huh?!” She shouts over the din of the waterfall.

Her gaze follows the stream of water as it flows beneath the nearby shops to the darkened basement of the complex. Time and erosion have worn at the concrete supports so much that the inner rebar is laid bare. Chunks of broken concrete lay half-submerged in the rushing white water.

“Looks too far to jump, Sunny.” You say loudly.

“I know! Let’s just swing over it instead!” She says.

“Swing over it? What?!” You ask.

“Yeah!” She says. “Look at that pole right there!”

She points a hoof towards a metal pole jutting out from the second floor walkway. It looks like it was once used to hold a banner or something.

You want to protest, but Sunny is already unstrapping the coil of rope from her pack. She also takes out what looks to be a metal hook out of her bag. She seems very eager as she ties the hook to the rope with a quick, sturdy knot

She steps over towards the side of the hall away from the waterfall to line herself up with the length of metal sticking into the air. You step back a bit to give her some space.

With a practiced motion, she grips the rope tightly in her teeth and tilts her head, letting the grappling hook dangle. She then begins to swing the hook in a circle quickly, letting it build momentum.

Her determined gaze is affixed to her target. With a flick of her muzzle, she casts the hook into the air, and it soars out towards the pole.

The rope coils around the pole a few times, and the hook catches onto the metal with one of its barbs.

Sunny tugs on the rope with both hooves. Once she feels that the connection is secure, she looks at you with a confident smile.

“Well?” She says. “You want to go first?”

You shake your head. “Are you-”

“Suit yourself!” Sunny says. She then dashes forward and takes a running leap, holding onto the rope in her teeth,

She swings in a smooth arc. Her hind legs grip the rope as well. There’s a strange elegance to the way she rotates slightly in the air before she lets go and lands on all four hooves.

She gives you a look as if she expecting some impressed comment from you. You don’t give one. Clearly she’s practiced this.

You move to the edge of the crevice and glance down. It’s a good twelve or so feet to the other side with nothing but rushing white water below. You try to shake off the uneasy look on your face and you extend your hand out.

“Come on, Anon. It’s not that far.” Sunny says.

Sunny throws the end of the rope back over to your side. You catch it. You grip it tightly with both hands and yank on the pole again just to make sure it holds.

It’s solid.

You edge your feet close to the precipice and take a short breath. Here goes nothing.

You leap. Your legs clasp tight on the rope along with your hands. You hear the strain of the rope’s fibers tightening as your momentum carries your body across the gap.

You let go and stumble a bit as your feet hit the other side. You wobble your arms a bit to keep your balance, but you don’t fall.

“Hey!” Sunny says cheerfully. “Nice job!”

She stomps her hoof in applause a few times.

You’d be lying if you said that wasn’t a bit exhilarating. You smile at the compliment and hand the rope to Sunny.

She takes it and traps the end underneath a chunk of concrete debris.

“We’ll unhook it once we get up to the second floor.” She says.

She then turns to look at the the vast number of stores in front of her hidden among the vines and the dewy grass. Streams of light pour down from skylights and broken sections of roof.

For the next hour or so, you and Sunny continued working your way through the lower level. You don’t know how many different clothing stores you saw, but it really started to wear on you after a while. Tediously combing through the ruins of this place is going to take a lot longer than just the afternoon at the rate she’s going...

More and more damaged stores started showing up the further you went it. The ground became uneven in many places, and the walls were sometimes dented inward from encroaching terrain. There were no signs of anything about to immediately collapse, but you made sure to tread very carefully.

The third to last shop turned out to be a novelty joke shop.

You scrounged through crates of rotting plastic junk along with Sunny, hoping to find at least some reference to Pinkie Pie or even Cheese Sandwich. All you turned up with in the end was a collection of plastic gag crap.

You groan and lean your head back, then rub your neck. You slap down the lid to the crate and lean back against the end of a rack.

Sunny glances your way for a moment, noticing your discomfort. She leans back from her crate for a moment, then smiles a bit.

“Hey Anon.” She says. “Check this out.”

She grabs something quickly and turns away from you, sitting on her haunches. You hear her tear open some plastic. Then the sounds of a balloon being inflated, and the sounds of a balloon quickly being twisted and turned in quick succession.

She turns back and grins wide. She extends a hoof, and perched on top of it is a little, sky-blue balloon animal. It looks bipedal with a snout and a tail.

“Heh. H-here you go!” She says nervously.

You snort and shake your head. “What’s that supposed to be?”

“It’s a dragon!” Sunny says, showing a slight grin.

“I, uh, okay? I mean I get the grapple hook, but...” You say. You gesture your hand at the balloon. “Where the fuck did you learn that?”

“Uh...” Sunny says. Her cheeks redden with embarrassment. She places her creation on the floor and looks down.

She rubs a hoof over her forelegs and says in a very quiet voice, “I worked as... a clown for a summer.”

You laugh. “Haha, no way, really?”

Sunny nods, she avoids looking at you and her cheeks flush harder.

“It’s not the worst job I ever had.” She says, sounding playfully annoyed.

“So was that your day job before you became an explorer, huh? Entertaining kids?”

“No...” Sunny says. “I had been doing my last job for a few years. Back in the Bay, I mean.”

She clears her throat and looks up at you.

“Last job I had before all this was working as a smoothie delivery mare.”

“Really, huh?” You say. You imagine Sunny pulling along an ice cream cart through the streets of the city. “Did you like it?”

“Well, yeah. It was a pretty alright job. It paid the bills, and I liked making smoothies and handing them to our customers.” She shrugs and flattens out her mouth. “And well, that’s about it, really...”

You see a distant sort of look in her eyes, like she’s recalling all those times when she was stuck behind a counter with a bitchy customer, or working overtime pulling a cart up and down the same streets again and again. The entire time she must have secretly wished to venture far beyond the distant streets, and well, now she’s here.

A dream come true. At least for her.

“Bet you never thought you’d make it this far from your village, huh, ‘Captain Starscout?’” You say, sarcastically adding finger quotes for emphasis.

“You know, I think about that sometimes...” She says with a sigh. “It was pretty lucky everything came together like it did. I wouldn’t even be out here if not for the friends I made.”

She laughs a little and smiles.

“It all happened so quick. And now I’m out here, finally doing what I always dreamed of...” She says.

“Hm...” You say.

“So uh, how about we take a break, huh?” Sunny says.

She slips her phone out of her saddlebag and checks the time. The screen lights up her face with a blue glow in the dimly lit space.

She then pulls her radio off her shoulder and turns up the volume.

“Team one and three come in. Over.” She says into the walkie-talkie.

The soft crackle of static fills the air for a few seconds before the response comes.

“Hey Sunny!” Izzy says through the radio. “We’ve got so much cool stuff! I can’t wait to show you!”

Sunny skews her ears a bit to the side and smiles. She depresses the button to talk again. “That’s great, Izzy. How’s Pipp?”

“Oh, she’s doing fine! We found a massage chair!” She says.

Sunny tilts her head a bit. “Wait, really?” She says.

“Yeah! We’re trying to get it to work with the ship!” Izzy responds.

Sunny snorts and shakes her head a little. “Okay, well I was just about to take a break here, too. Get some lunch while you’re up there, okay?”

“Roger that, captain!” Izzy says cheerfully.

The sound of static persists for a bit as Sunny waits for a response from the other team.

“Hitch? Zipp? What’s your status? Over.” She says.

There’s no response.

Sunny glances up at you with a bit of unease on her face. She tries again.

“Team three, come in. Do you copy? Over.” She says.

There’s another pause. Finally the radio crackles and Zipp’s voice comes through.

“Uh, h-hey Sunny! I read you.” Zipp says.

“What’s your status?” Sunny replies.

“We’re doing fine!” Zipp says. “We found some things... uh, nothing too interesting though.”

“Alright.” Sunny says. She lowers the radio for a moment, but then changes her mind. “Any problems so far?” She asks.

“Uh... Nope not really.” Zipp says.

There’s a somewhat awkward pause.

“Hitch, uh... we found an abandoned pet shop.” Zipp says quietly.

“Oh.” Sunny says, dropping her ears. “Okay, well, we’re about to take a break for lunch, why don’t you guys do the same?”

“Sounds good, Sunny. Team three out.” Zipp responds.

With that, Sunny slips the radio back into her saddlebag.

You feel a bit of relief at the promise of rest and food. You slowly stand up and put your hands in your pockets. You look at Sunny expectantly.

Sunny flashes a reassuring smile. “I hope you like cucumber and carrot sandwiches.”

“Eh, not my first choice.” You say. “But that’s fine.”

Chapter 13 - A Game of Myths and Creatures

You and Sunny walk out of the shop and into the small atrium at the very end of the northwest wing. Light pours in from the pyramid-shaped skylights into the space below. The sun is almost directly overhead now, and it’s easy to see unaided. To your right, a collapsed multi-level department store sits sulking, its imposing facade marks the end of the wing, and its many floors are crumpled on top of each other like crumpled cardboard flaps.

Sunny sits down in the center of the atrium on a small patch of grass. She unstraps her saddlebags for now.

You sit down on an overturned acrylic-and-metal divider that once held advertisements from the old world. You lean forward towards her as she digs around in her bags.

Sunny then gives you a sandwich. You both sit and eat quietly.

You’re getting used to eating pony food again. At least she knows how to pepper the cucumbers. It’s not very filling and doesn’t have as much cream cheese as you like, but it’s alright.

As you chew on your sandwich, Sunny takes a swig from her canteen and wipes her lips. She screws on the cap and eyes you for a moment.

“Hey, Anon.” She says. ”How about we play a game?”

You look at her and swallow.

“I’ll name a mythical creature, and you tell me if it actually existed, alright?” She says with an astute grin.

“Uh... sure. Why not.” You say in a bored tone.

“Alright, hm... Manticores.”

“Yep.”

“Hydras.”

“Yeah.”

“Goblins?”

“Nope.”

“Zombies?”

“Nah. Not unless you count brainwashed ponies.”

“Oh, okay...uh, Centaurs?”

You scratch your chin for a moment.

“Well, I only saw one centaur back in the day. It was Tirek, and he was an asshole.”

“Hm? I thought centaurs were part human, though?”

“You might be thinking minotaurs. Tirek was some kind of weird baboon hybrid or something. He had red skin, clawed hands and a very hairy face.”

“Oh. I see.” Sunny says. She pushes around her canteen with her hoof a bit.

“Hey, uh, another weird question.” She says.

You lean up a bit and sigh.

“I know alicorns live for a very long time, but... what about temporary alicorns?”

The question makes you balk. You almost choke on your sandwich.

“What? Temporary alicorns?” You say.

Sunny looks away. “Um... yeah.” She says.

What the fuck?

“I’ve never... heard of that.” You say cautiously.

She reaches back into her bag without even looking and pulls out her phone.

She unlocks her phone and taps it a few times, glancing up at you with a shimmer of hesitation in them. She slowly turns the phone’s screen to you.

“See?”

There’s a photo of her standing with Izzy and Pipp in Maretime bay. Sunny has ethereal golden wings splayed out at her sides, and a shining golden horn on her head. Her mane has a rainbow streak running down it, and the sky around the bay is filled with a multi-colored aurora borealis.

You stare at the phone with a scrutinizing glare, refusing to believe it.

You quickly chomp the rest of your sandwich, stand up off your seat and dust your hands of crumbs.

You then take a step forward and lean down towards Sunny. She looks at you, seeming a bit confused. You pass your hand over her forehead. There’s no invisible horn there.

Sunny leans her head back with an unsure expression.

“Well, I’ll be.” You say.

You pat the side of her barrel, and she shifts away a bit. Nope, no wings either.

“Um... what are you doing?” She asks.

You lean back. “Just making sure.” You say.

“Oh.” She says. Her somewhat tense body language relaxes.

“So...” You say, putting your hands in your pockets. “How did that happen?”

Sunny’s eyes dart around. “Well, um. The first time it happened was right after we reunited the ponies of all different races. It’s linked to the crystals somehow. I’m not really sure how it works, but... when it happens it’s almost like the magic inside them flows into me. It lets me fly and use magic like... Well, an alicorn.”

“How long does it last?” You ask.

“Usually about a few hours. The first time it lasted almost a day, heh.” She says with a nervous laugh. She turns her neck to the side and runs a hoof along her braid. “For a while I thought the rainbow in my mane wouldn’t ever go away... But that faded too.”

“Hmph.” You say. You walk back to your plexiglass not-a-bench and sit down on it.

“Well, alright then.” You say. You lean forward. “You have magic alicorn powers, but you’re not an alicorn. That’s a pretty strange coincidence, isn’t it?”

You notice that Sunny’s enthusiasm from earlier in the day has now been replaced with a pensive, melancholic mood. She studies the ground at her hooves for a moment.

“Seems kinda like Twilight, is... in a way, passing on her power through-”

“Anon,” She says abruptly. “Do I remind you of Twilight too much?”

She looks up at you, almost wincing as if expecting a sudden attack.

The question is so sudden and direct, you’re not really sure how to take it. You slowly lean back on your hands and take a slow breath.

“I mean...” You say.

“That’s... probably why you don’t really like me very much, huh?” She says. She exhales through her nose and shakes her head.

Now that you know about her transformation, it does seem too... coincidental. She must be destined for some great ascension into being, well, another princess.

Yet at the same time, you believe her when she said she was pulling smoothie carts and working odd jobs just to get by. She’s a poor salt-of-the-earth mare with silly dreams. Now that she’s accepted those fantasies as reality, and the weight of all the responsibilities that came with it.

Who cares if she wants the same thing as Twilight? At least she had to earn it. Twilight had friendship thrust upon her, and she had to accept it. Sunny believed in friendship the entire time. She held onto that despite all the fear and paranoia of her home.

Yet even then she has her limit. Maybe she needs you to reassure her that she’s doing the right thing. After all, you’re the closest thing she has to an authority figure...

You take a silent breath. “I guess you’re like her in some ways, but...” You say haltingly. “No, Sunny. I don’t think that.”

Sunny’s entire body seems to relax.

You try to smile reassuringly.

Suddenly, she blinks and stares in between your legs.

This makes you quite uncomfortable for half a second. Then you realize you’re probably sitting on something about to break...

You look down. You don’t see any tension or cracks in the glass. “What?” You say.

“That thing you’re sitting on.” She says. “Let me see it.”

You stand up from the divider and step aside. Sunny quickly walks up and swipes off the dust with her leg.

She peers closely into the weathered acrylic glass, trying to make out something.

“I think there’s a map in here.” She says.

It’s hard to tell from the glare of the sun, but you notice a blue sheet of plastic inside the case that’s folded up with some symbols and writing on it.

“Huh.” You say. “Also, you just ruined my perfect butt print. I hope you know that.”

“Pff, shut up, Anon.” She says, but still smiles any way.

She turns around and quickly bucks it with a hoof. The metal sidebar dents inward and the convex glass pops out of its casing. She slides the glass off to the side and carefully reaches a hoof down into the space below.

She smooths out the folds and wrinkles of the plastic sheet with her hoof, and sure enough, it is revealed to be a mall directory.

Sunny doesn’t even look your way. She tilts her head and moves to the bottom side of the case to read the map from the right side up.

You step around and look over her shoulder as she scans a list of shops with her hoof.

She abruptly stops and leans her head down. “No... way.” She says. “Is that what I think it is?”

She’s looking at a listing for store that’s called “Inkwell’s Books.”

“A bookstore, huh?” You say. No wonder she’s excited.

She quickly scans through the sprawling floor plans of the mall’s multiple stories, trying to find the store number that matches.

“According to this it’s... there!” She says with an enthusiastic tap of her hoof.

She’s pointing towards a shop on the third floor of the northwest wing. It’s very close judging by the “you are here” symbol.

Before you can say anything, she steps away from the map and then quickly begins trotting back down the wing of the mall.

You follow her with a relaxed gait, watching her silently count out the shops in her head. She comes to a stop abruptly.

She takes her flashlight and turns it on. She then raises it up to try and illuminate the third floor.

She leans and strains. As you catch up to her, you see it too. A fading plastic sign on the third floor with black letters printed on it. The name of the store matches.

Sunny looks up at you with an eager grin, she then clips her flashlight back on and gallops towards the stairs leading up.

“Race you up there!” She says.

You grin and watch her she clamber up the nearby flight of steps, her mane and tail bouncing as she gallops.

You follow at a leisurely pace, choosing to plant your feet a bit more carefully.

She disappears out of sight as you reach the second story. You make it up to the top, only to see her standing in shock. Her mouth gapes open as she looks into the abandoned bookstore.

You move along the walkway, and you spot the reason for her stunned expression.

The bookstore’s ceiling is coated in thick, black soot. A few charred wooden shelves are stacked horizontally in the center, and a heap of waterlogged ashes sits in the middle. All the other shelves are pushed to the corners, completely devoid of all literature.

“Wha... what...?” Sunny says.

It was burned. Someone piled up all the books in the store and torched them. And from the looks of things, it didn’t happen hundreds of years ago.

This was recent.

You step forward. The store is relatively small compared to the ones on the lower floor, so it doesn’t take long to quickly scan over everything with your flashlight.

You don’t see anything besides bookshelves and a pile of dirty clothing piled in the far corner. It might have once been an improvised bed, but you’re not sure. The door to the back room is blocked with shelving, and the front counter sits vacant.

“Why?” Sunny says.

“I don’t know, Sunny.” You say. “Maybe some drifter came through, decided books were good for a campfire...?”

She walks forward and puts a hoof on the stacks of shelves, then leans up to look into the fire pit.

“Well,” You say, “It’s weird that they stacked it up so high. Seems too tall for a pony.”

Sunny stops examining the ashes and turns to you.

“Do you think it was a bipedal creature?” She asks.

“Hm... maybe.” You say. You put your hand to your chin and rub.

She carefully extends a hoof out and pushes around the pile of ashes. As she moves it around, she suddenly gasps.

There’s the bones of a large rodent in the ashes. The pearly white skull with its empty eye sockets is looking up at both of you.

“A carnivore.” You say.

Sunny quickly glances around.

“Hitch.” Sunny says. “We need to get Hitch over here right away!”

She grins at you, but then a new voice cuts through the muffled din of the distant waterfall.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

The voice is low, deep and masculine. It belongs to an imposing dark figure standing outside the bookstore. You notice feline ears atop his head and narrowed, yellow slits for eyes. His fur is all completely black. He looks like a buff panther on two legs. He’s wearing a filthy dark-gray trench coat with frayed ends.

Then you hear the distinctive metal click, and you see the revolver in his hand.

“Hooves down on the ground, pony.” He says with a tasteful sprinkle of disdain. He sneers at her with pointed canines in his cat-like snout. You notice the skin of his lips are a deep black.

Sunny’s mouth is open in shock. “Wh-what?” She stammers.

“I said hooves down.” He says cooly. He whips the revolver towards you. “And you: paws in the air.”

Your limbs are tense, and you sneer hatefully, but you raise your hands up.

“Now step back.” He commands.

You take a few steps back. You glance down at Sunny, who is wearing a terrified expression.

“W-wait.” She says. “We don’t mean you any harm.” She clears her throat.

The cat walks forward, keeping the gun pointed your way.

He leans down and snatches Sunny’s satchel, making her gasp and lean back.

He tugs it forcefully over her shoulder. The strap breaks and Sunny winces and folds her ear back.

“Be quiet.” He says. “Stupid mud pony...”

He steps back and holds up the bag in his cat claws. He looks it over for a second, then he casually tosses it back over his shoulder. It sails over the railing of the walkway. With a muffled thud, it hits the hard ground below.

He pauses for a bit, eyeing you both. “You’re both gonna come with me. No questions.” He says, waving the gun casually at you both.

Sunny’s ears lift up slowly and she lifts up a hoof.

“Listen. We only came here to research the old world. We are friendly to all creatures, so there’s no need-”

“Yeah, sure.” He says gruffly at Sunny. “You aren’t supposed to be here. Don’t you know that?”

Sunny’s eyes shoot open in surprise.

“Not supposed to be here? But, why?” She asks.

“Shut up, pony.” He says. He waves the gun at her face, getting agitated. “I know you mare types are really dumb, but come on. What part of no questions don’t you understand? I’m taking you to see the my boss, alright?”

You feel the weight of the bag on your shoulder. You can’t reach for your bat without him noticing, but maybe if you play along...

“Sunny... maybe we should do what he says.” You say.

Sunny stands firm. She glares daggers at the cat despite the thick barrel of the gun being leveled at her.

“We are willing to go with you. However, we will not leave our friends behind. Let me radio them, and they will come peacefully.” She says.

The creature flattens his mouth and shakes his head.

“Sorry, little girl. No can do.” He says.

Your skin burns with anxiety as you watch Sunny stare certain death in the face. You don’t want to go with this trash freak, but you also really want him to lower that gun.

“Sunny... let’s just go.” You say.

Sunny doesn’t respond.

“What, are you serious?” The cat asks jokingly.

He then quickly lunges forward and grabs Sunny by the braid. He yanks her over towards the front of the store.

“Ahh!” Sunny screams. She twists her head and her hind hooves drag on the floor. She’s shutting her eyes tightly from the pain.

You feel something inside you haven’t for a while. Cold, decisive anger.

“Let me go! Please!” Sunny says. Her front legs are lifted uselessly off the ground.

“Hey spine dick. What’s your fucking problem, man?” You say.

The cat flashes you a toothy grin. His canines are long and yellowed.

“Well I haven’t seen you around. Are you some kind of pig-minotaur hybrid?” He says, chuckling a bit.

“He’s a human! He’s with me!” Sunny yells. She flails her forehooves at his legs and grunts with exertion, but she can’t reach.

“Pff, what a stupid name. What are you doing with this pony, huh? Looking to get some sweet alone time with her, eh?” He says, glancing down at Sunny.

“What’s it to you, litter box?” You say coldly.

He cuts his eyes back to you.

“Hey, I don’t blame you or nothing.” He says with a sinister grin. “In this world, you keep what you find...”

He eyes Sunny for a moment, making you feel sick to your stomach. Then the creature motions with the gun to the floor. “Alright. Kick your bag over here.”

You glare at him, knowing there’s nothing you can really do. He obviously know how to use that thing, and you can see the rounded tips of bullets sitting in the cylinder. You lower one hand very slowly and touch it to the shoulder strap.

Sunny glances at you and stops struggling. She breathes heavily.

“Alright.” You say calmly. “You don’t have to hurt her.” You hook a thumb under the bag and slowly slide it off your shoulder.

Sunny glances up at the creature, her braid still held tightly in his grip, and her forehooves dangling a few inches above the ground.

You let the bag slide off your shoulder. It’s only partially zipped up. You could fit your hand in, but...

You slowly drag it forward with your feet. You look up at him slowly.

“Well? Kick it.” He says.

You wait a moment. You draw your foot back slowly.

Without a word, Sunny leaps backwards on her hind legs. She grabs her mane with one hoof and swings forward like she’s on a rope. The creature doesn’t notice as her body curls up in the air. In an instant, her back leg springs forward. Before the cat can do anything, she sends a powerful kick directly to the beast’s exposed crotch.

“Agh!” He cries out pain. He leans forward, lowing his gun arm. You look in amazement as Sunny lands and yanks her braid out from his loosened grip.

“Gh!!” She grunts between clenched teeth and then grabs onto his gun arm with her upper body wrapping around it.

The beast wheezes and clasps his hand protectively over his junk. He tries to shake Sunny off, but she holds firm.

Now’s your chance! You jab your hand into your bag and grab the end of the bat. You sprint forward as you slide it out all the way.

The cat’s pupils become as wide as saucers as he sees you bolting towards him, the bat’s handle clasped tightly in your grip.

He tugs and yanks Sunny around, but she wrestles him down again. He tries to raise his arm up with his other hand, and his clawed finger pulls back the trigger in a desperate, final effort.

The revolver goes off with a tremendous bang. The bullet ricochets off the floor and whizzes into the wall. You don’t flinch. You’re already in range.

Ping! You strike his jaw in an upward, diagonal arc, putting your shoulder into it as hard as you can. The vibration instantly sends ripples down your arm, and his jaw skews to the side.

His shoulders slump and his head wobbles. His eyes roll back, and you see the white scleras.

Sunny quickly jumps back. With a drowsy groan, his large frame crumples forward and his body splays out on the floor. The gun spins out of his hand and clatters on the ground.

You both stand and catch your breath, looking at the incapacitated body.

“God damn, Sunny.” You say. “Nice job with that kick!”

Sunny inhales deeply, and she glances up at you with a dead serious glare.

She huffs and turns to the knocked out feline. “Anon,” She says, “I don’t like having to resort to that.”

She leans forward and puts a hoof on the cat’s neck, feeling for a pulse.

“Well still, it worked.” You say.

Sunny leans back. She looks at you.

“What kind of creature is he?” She says.

“Looks like a bipedal cat. I’ve seen their type before. Stupid bastard...”

She leans her head down and places her ear over the creature’s back, listening carefully.

A moment later she states “He’s still breathing.”

“Yeah, he’ll be out for a bit. Good thing too, because he was probably going to kill us.” You say.

“That doesn’t make it right!” She says in a suddenly snappy tone. She raises her head to glare at you. “You don’t know what his intentions were. He could have just wanted to talk!”

You look at her like a naive little filly.

“And then what, Sunny? You think he was just going to let us go?” You say.

Sunny scoffs and turns away.

You look down and notice the revolver on the ground.

“See, take a look at this, Sunny.” You say, picking up the firearm from the floor.

The revolver is some bulky design with a widened, stylish trigger guard. It’s meant for stubby, clawed hands and has been spray-painted black. It has five chambers in the cylinder, and seems pretty solidly made. From the hand-carved marks, you can tell it was custom made and not manufactured.

Sunny looks at the gun with a puzzled expression.

You toss the bat aside. No need for it any more. You then hold it out to her with both hands, barrel pointing down.

“This is a firearm.” You say. “Do you know what this is?”

Sunny looks it up and down quickly. She then tilts her ears back. “I mean, seems like it’s some kind of weapon, and it made a really loud bang...”

You sigh and face-palm.

Come to think of it, you didn’t see any guns in the movies you watched. Even the one with the android unicorn, all it did was shoot laser beams. None of their goo-based deterrents slowed it down. In the end, they killed it by squishing it in a hydraulic press.

“Your community is pretty sheltered, huh?” You say. “Sunny, this isn’t just some weapon. It’s designed to kill things. Not incapacitate them or capture them. It shoots bits of metal very, very fast that makes holes in whatever it hits.” You say.

She looks at the gun, seemingly unimpressed.

“It’s a weapon designed for war.” You add.

“War, huh?” She says. She glances back to the collapsed creature.

“So you’re saying he’s part of some sort of army?” She says.

“Ugh, no.” You say with rising frustration. “He’s not part of an army. He’s just a thug. A bad guy.”

Sunny quirks an eyebrow at you.

“And you know that just because he has a firearm?” She says.

“And the fact that he was pointing it at us!” You say.

“So kind of like that bat you were carrying.” She says. “He wanted to feel protected.”

You sigh and tuck the barrel of the gun into the waistband of your pants. This is going nowhere.

“Look. I’m just glad you’re willing to use force when it’s needed, alright?” You say.

“Was it needed?” She asks.

“Yes! Obviously!” You say, gesturing to the passed-out thug.

Sunny skews her mouth to the side.

“I’m surprised you even knew what to do with all your pacifist talk, honestly!” You say in an accusatory tone. “How’d you even know to kick him in the nuts, huh?”

Sunny whips her head away from you and huffs. She moves around the creature towards the front of the store.

“Well, if you must know.” She says. “When I was a filly, I had a lot of ponies bully me.”

She shakes her head and smooths out her mane.

“Let’s just say I learned pretty quickly how to beat a stallion in a fight. Okay? I’m not proud of it, but now you know.” She says in a standoffish voice.

You guess she was ostracized for her beliefs.

Sunny puts hoof on her side where her bag usually hangs from. Finding nothing, she glances back to you. “Any way, it doesn’t matter. We need to contact the others. We have to tell everypony!”

You grimace, but she starts trotting out of the store and towards the staircase.

Chapter 14 - Tension Below

By the time Sunny makes it down to the first floor to retrieve her pack, she is already buzzing with anxious energy. Her satchel lies open on the hard marble floor, the contents of which are strewn about. Her collected knickknacks and notebook pages are scattered everywhere.

“No, no, no, no!” She says as she approaches them.

She reaches down and picks up the radio. The plastic casing is cracked and the speaker is hanging on a thin pair of wires. She desperately tries to turn it on, but the sound of static never comes.

“Ugh!” She says and tosses it to the floor in frustration.

You catch up to her, and look around awkwardly to make sure you aren’t being spied on by another pair of eyes.

Sunny quickly scoops up the contents of her satchel and throws it back inside. She then throws her bag over her shoulder loosely and looks up at you.

“Well, no time to waste. Let’s go find them!” She says.

“Alright, but wait-” You say, but she is already galloping past you.

You turn and run after her, your shoes slap against the hard floor as you follow the swift beat of her hooves.

She makes it back to the crevice. The roar of the waterfall bears down upon you, and you feel it mist your skin as you approach.

Without hesitating, Sunny grabs the rope and swings back to the other side.

She lands and turns back to you with a determined gaze.

You step up to the edge and look at her. “Maybe I should stay here!” You say, thinking of guarding the creature in case it tries to get away.

“Anon.” Sunny says in an tone that tells you she’s serious.

You sigh, shake your head and then reluctantly extend both hands.

Sunny throws the rope to you. You catch it.

Your legs are tense. You grip the rope tight. Something about all this makes you feel really uneasy inside. You’re not sure if it’s the hostile creature or the fact that there’s now guns in Equestria, but for a moment you second-guess yourself.

You push off and swing on the rope, but you didn’t get as much momentum as you thought. You’re going to come up short! At the last moment, you extend your leg and the toe of your shoe taps onto the floor on the other side.

“S-shit!” You say. You press down with all of the weight you can possibly muster on your foot to try and anchor yourself. Your body threatens to twist and turn, and your arms shake from the strain.

Sunny rushes up to you. “Wait, Anon! Hold on!” She says.

She extends a forehoof towards you. “Okay. Stay calm.” She says. “Just slowly grab onto my hoof and- AH!”

Sunny shouts as the ground beneath her other hoof suddenly gives way. She steps back quickly, and the chunk of ground you were planted on crumbles down into the ravine. You feel the tug of gravity in your gut as your body is swung back to the other side. Your body spins around in a disorienting manner.

Somehow you manage to keep hold of the rope. You swing like a pendulum, slowly coming to a stop in the middle of the ravine.

You turn to Sunny with a look of helplessness on your face. The sides of the ravine are now too far to reach, and you have white water churning below you.

Sunny looks at you. Her eyes are wide and alert, but she looks decisive.

“Anon. Can you climb up?” She says.

You look up at the twenty feet of rope above you to the thick metal pole. It doesn’t look like you can reach the second floor walkway even if you did climb up there.

“I... I don’t know.” You say.

“Okay. You just need to lower yourself into the water then.” Sunny says calmly.

You look down. It’s not that far. It would only be a four foot drop if you shimmied all the way down the rope.

“A-alright.” You say.

Carefully you go down the rope, loosening your grip little by little. You get to the end, and your shoes dangle over the water. You let go and fall to the wet concrete. The rocks under the water shift a bit, but you keep your balance. You are soaked up to your knees now.

You look up to see Sunny staring down at you. “Stay there!” She yells over the din of the falls. “I’ll have Izzy get you out!”

With that, she turns and starts to gallop away.

You shiver and try to make your way towards the shallower water that spills into the basement of the mall. You have to plant every footfall very intently on the wobbly concrete rubble, but you make it over without falling or twisting your ankle.

You make it to the threshold of the cavernous interior. The insides of the basement are pitch black, and all you can see is a few thick support pillars before the inky darkness extends into nothing. The resonating sound of the water makes it seem quite vast.

You feel around for your flashlight and find it in your front pocket. You hold it up and click on the light.

You see a widened corridor leading south. The walls are solid concrete, and there’s streaking brown stains on the wall from where the water rose up higher in the past.

There are no signs of movement among the many support pillars.

You lean against the earthen wall behind you, letting out a sigh. You turn out your light and cross your arms tight to your chest to try and keep your warmth.

You really hope they’re all okay.

Five minutes go by.

Ten minutes go by.

Then fifteen.

You start to pretty chilly. You notice the sun has now shifted out of view beyond the overhead skylights. Your feet feel sore and practically frozen. At this rate you’ll die of hypothermia.

Fuck this.

You turn on your flashlight again and check the basement. Still nothing there, but you confirm the water is indeed flowing through the tunnel to the south.

You take the flashlight in one hand and pull out the revolver in the other. You then trudge forward, stepping into shallower water and the dark cave of the mall’s forgotten lower level.

You are Sunny. You are galloping as fast as you can to the courtyard.

You don’t stop when you get to the entrance covered in vines. You close your eyes and leap through.

You land and keep going, shaking a few leaves out of your mane.

You weave your way between the thorn bushes and jump over a fallen tree.

The stream is up ahead. Then you’ll be in the center, right under the ship. Izzy and Pipp should still be there.

You leap over the gap and stand on the raised ridge. You spy the cargo elevator sitting motionless in the grass. There’s nopony around it, just a heap of stuff they found.

“Pipp? Izzy?” You call out.

There’s no response.

You look around carefully. You walk forward. They should be here if the elevator is down. Where did they wander off to?

Then you hear the scream. It’s loud and shrill. Pipp!

You whip your head over to the bushes near the eastern side. Your body tenses. Your hooves dig into the dirt, ready to spring forward.

There’s so much rustling, but you don’t see a thing.

“Pipp!” You shout.

“Sunny!” She shouts out. “Help!”

You then hear a zap. There’s a flash of pink magic behind some trees to the right. Izzy!

“S-stay away! I don’t want to play with you!” You hear Izzy say.

You look both ways, unsure who to run to first.

Just... JUST MOVE!

You command your hooves to run. You run towards Izzy. You feel your eyes start to tear up in regret instantly. No time to think! Just go!

You make it to trees, only to see Izzy being restrained in the arms of a creature you’ve never seen or heard about before. Izzy is struggling but her hooves can’t touch the ground.

“Hey!” You shout in the must intimidating voice you can muster. “Let her go!”

The creature looks at you and growls.

You feel a shiver run down the length of your body, all the way to your tail.

You stammer a bit. “L-listen! We’re sorry if we’re trespassing but please don’t-”

“What are ya gonna do about it, pony?” You hear a voice behind you say. It’s low and angry. It’s so sudden it makes you gasp.

You turn to see Zipp standing by the feet of another creature. There’s ropes pinning down her wings. Your eyes widen with terror. You try to talk, but no words will come.

You are Anon. You are alone.

You go quietly but purposefully through the flooded corridors in the underbelly of the mall, seeking out the hallways and opened doors that seem the most promising.

Most of the doors are essentially fused to their frames with a thick layer of rust, but some of them have caved inward or fallen from their hinges. Unfortunately, none of them contain stairs leading up.

The halls grew quiet as you get further from the waterfall. The water starts to get stagnant and murky, and you nearly lose your shoes in some mud. The only sounds are the occasional drip from the ceiling or the thin trickles of water that spring out from the cracks in the wall.

You think you see something down one of the side passages. A hint of sunlight that warms the upper walls.

You shine your light down the corridor to see a collapsed section of ceiling at the far end. It forms a ramp leading up to the ground floor.

Hell yes. Now you can finally get out of here.

You start to wade closer, but you notice something that stops you in your tracks.

Ahead of you, illuminated in your flashlight’s beam is what appears to be a pile of moss-covered green rocks. Yet there’s a distinctive shape to the mass of stone. You recognize the shape of an alligator. Then you see the reflective yellow eye.

There’s a god damn cragadile in the middle of the passage!

It’s stretched out length-wise across the passage. It’s body is half-submerged in the opaque water, but you know it has to be at least ten feet long. It’s so incredibly still that if you weren’t paying careful attention, you would have easily trodden right onto it.

For a moment you stare at the beast, keeping your flashlight leveled on its head. You think of the revolver, but you know it probably won’t pierce its tough hide. Plus, you don’t need to fuck with a cragadile right now.

You take a second glance at the glow of sunlight beyond the reptile, and think.

You haven’t ever been close enough to one to know if they’re like the alligators from Earth, but you know that if you don’t mess with them, they usually don’t mess with you.

This thing is big, obviously well-fed from the fish and local fauna around the area, but you figure should be able to just creep up and step over its tail.

You shuffle your feet forward through the muck. Tiny ripples extend out from your legs, disrupting the still waters and lapping at the body of the reptile.

The cragadile does not make a move. It seems to be almost in a trance. Good.

You make it to the tail. You quickly scan the waters nearby and confirm there aren’t any more of them. Thank god.

With the patience of a thousand monks you step over the tail of the beast and start to shuffle towards the ramp.

You realize you’re breathing a bit erratically, unconsciously waiting for some great rush of water and for it to lunge at you, but it never comes.

Your shoes suddenly hit a bit of concrete in the water. With a sigh of relief, you quickly splash out of the shallow water and onto the ramp of the collapsed ceiling.

Your legs feel the relatively dry air of the rainforest as you make it up about half way. With a groan you sit on a patch of moss to take your shoes off.

You wring out your socks one by one. Your feet feel sore and look as wrinkled as prunes, but you are thankful to be out of that basement.

After letting your feet dry a bit, you shine your flashlight up to scan the interior of a store in heavy disrepair. The shelves are all empty and turned onto each other. There’s a multitude of dark green vines snaking along the rafters.

You stand up and walk up the ramp a few more steps. Then you peek up towards the front of the store.

Sure enough, there’s sunlight coming through the windows. It streams in through a screen of hanging plants and vines, but it’s there. You must be somewhere close to the courtyard if your estimations are correct.

You turn off your flashlight and sneak up to the windows. The glass inside them had been shattered a long time ago, but you still plant your feet carefully to avoid anything that looks like it might be sharp.

You crouch next to one of the windows and peek out beyond the vines.

To your front is a collapsed store covered in slabs of broken concrete. To your right, you see a wide open clearing, and the bulkhead of the airship hovering above. The courtyard!

You guess you somehow ended up underneath the collapsed section of the west wing. This store is located right where the wing would have connected to the central area. Pretty lucky!

You look and listen for a moment before moving.

There’s nothing. Just the whir of the engines and the occasional call of an exotic bird.

Suddenly, you hear a voice. It’s quite far away, and you can’t pick out the words, but you would recognize that louder-than-necessary volume anywhere. Izzy.

Quickly you make your way back to the ramp. You pull on your damp socks and shoes. You take the revolver in one hand and carefully climb out of the front window. You start to stealthily make your way forward through the overgrown courtyard.

Chapter 15 - Sneaking Mission

You found the ponies.

But what now?

The four mares are sitting in a tight group near the entryway plaza. They are guarded by three creatures of varying sizes and shapes. Hitch is strangely absent.

Somehow they must have gotten caught. Individual ambushes set up for every group. They must have planned this.

You’re crouched behind a pillar by the side of the courtyard. There’s a healthy thicket of bushes around it, so you feel pretty obscured. You’ve been able to get a good look at them from here at least.

Zipp and Pipp have their wings tied to their barrels with nylon rope. Sunny and Izzy seem fine, although they are clearly anxious. None of them appear to be hurt. At least, not yet.

If any of these fuckers starts handling them like that cat back there, then you’re not sure what you’ll do.

You count the bullets in the cylinder of the gun. There’s five cartridges. One of them were already fired. That leaves only three bullets.

Three bullets. Three heads. Math checks out.

You just need a plan.

You take another look at the gang members and think.

One of them is big. About six and a half feet tall. He looks like another cat. He seems to be the one in charge from how he’s just standing with his arms folded as he watches the others. His back is turned to you.

Another one is a svelte-looking lizard creature of some sort. You think you saw something like it before in Kludgetown once. It has pale green scales that cover its body, and it holds a long rifle in its claws, and it looks like a lever-action design.

There’s another one with a rifle as well. It’s short and squat dog. Not a diamond dog, just a weird bipedal dog. It has a face like a pug with bulging eyes. Its claws are barely long enough to hold the bolt-action rifle it carries. It waddles around on stubby little legs.

All of them wear dirty, dark-gray trench coats. You notice they have some sort of patch sewn into the front. It looks like a dragon skull stitched in black thread. Definitely the symbol of some sort of shady organization.

You’re itching to blast these assholes away, but you’re not sure how well you trust the sights on this revolver. They looks like they were carved by hand.

No, assaulting from a distance won’t work. You can’t risk missing.

You turn the revolver over in your hand. Your thumb tenses on the hammer, but you don’t pull it back. Not yet.

There’s something tugging at you in the back of your mind as you try to visualize the act you’re about to commit.

It makes you hesitate, and you know why.

Sunny.

Her words echo in your mind. “All these different creatures were able to come together and become friends.” You think of her touching that stupid button.

That’s the kind of world she hopes for, well... welcome to creature-filled Equestria, Sunny. Full of brutal carnivores that don’t give a shit about your pony values.

And yet... do you really want to be the one to show her what it really means? Will she ever look at you the same, once you’ve killed?

You shudder and shake the thoughts out of your head.

No. That doesn’t matter right now. It’s either us or them, and you’re not waiting around to see what they do.

You have to act.

You slowly move your head around the pillar, but your eyes widen surprise.

Izzy is staring straight at you from the center of the group.

You stare back. All she can see is your eyes and the top of your head. You shake your head slowly at her.

Suddenly, you see her stupid face light up in a small grin. Fuck.

You duck behind the pillar.

“Hey guys, uh...” Izzy says loudly.

“Shut up, pony!” A gruff voice snarls. You glace back to see that the tiger creature is gesturing at Izzy with his open claws.

“Yeah. Well, uh, I need to pee. Will you let me do that at least?” Izzy says.

“No!” The short dog says in a shrill voice. “You hold it!”

Izzy lets out a long breath through her flapping pony lips and tilts her head.

“Okay, well. I have been holding it. Since before you guys even showed up! So...” Izzy says.

Sunny glances nervously at Izzy. Zipp is staring into the distance with a serious but calm expression. Pipp is beside her, her mane is mussed up and she looks miserable, especially with the absence of her phone.

The lizard creature facepalms. “Ugh.” It says in a feminine-yet-crass voice. “Just go in the bushes then. Pugly, go take her.”

The lizard creature gestures at the squat little dog thing, who’s name is apparently Pugly. “Fine!” He says and then points his gun towards Izzy.

“Go, pony!” He barks.

Izzy perks her ears up and grins smugly.

“Why thank you, good sir.” She says politely and starts casually walking towards your hiding place.

Fuck.

You shrink down to the ground. You press your body close to the layer of leaves from the thicket, trying to make your body as hidden as possible.

Just in case, you hold your firearm level to the ground.

You hear hoofsteps approach. They are accompanied by paw pads hitting the grass. Then you hear Izzy stomping clumsily through the bushes.

“Slow down!” The dog cries out in a frenzied voice.

“Hey!” Izzy says, stopping in the bushes somewhere. “I can’t go with you watching! Look away!”

The creature groans in response. “No, no! Pony goes, I watch. Heheh.” He says.

What a creep...

Izzy, however, doesn’t seem to mind. You hear her go further into the bushes. Then suddenly you see her familiar white horn breach the surface of leaves.

Her big, dumb, lavender face leans out towards you.

You quickly make a motion of zipping your mouth closed.

She nods. She then mouths the words “Hello!”

You mutter under your breath, “Izzy, I need you to do something for me...”

She smiles and says quietly, “Do you want to come with us? We’re going with our new friends to see their boss!”

You shake your head and grit your teeth.

“No. Where is Hitch?” You say in a harsh whisper.

“I dunno. Zipp said he ran away.” Izzy says.

Then you hear it, a distinct sound of fluid hitting the ground. Izzy has started to piss while looking straight at you.

You see the faintest of blush under her rosy lavender cheeks. Her smile widens in relief. Then she sees you cringing in disgust, and her eyebrows furrow.

“What?” She says. “I really did need to go.”

You slowly crawl a few inches away from the bush.

“Listen, Izzy. These people are bad. Bad guys, okay? They’re going to hurt you and the others!” You hiss at her.

“Hey! What you doing? I can’t see you!” The goat thing yells.

Izzy raises her head up out of the top of the bush and looks back.

“Uh, almost done!” She says. “C-Can’t a mare get some privacy? Heh...”

Truth be told she is indeed almost done urinating. You are running out of time....

“Izzy, do a spell on this guy. Take him out!” You whisper loudly.

Izzy pokes her muzzle through the leaves once more. “What? But Sunny says we need to be friends!” She whispers.

“That doesn’t matter, just do it! Please!” You whisper loudly.

Your plea falls upon Izzy’s ears as she finishes up. Her mouth curls in uncertainty.

Then she just says, “Anon, go find Hitch! He’ll know what to do.”

Her muzzle disappears as she starts to stand up. She shakes her flank and flips her tail, rustling the bushes as she does. She then turns and starts bounding back towards the group.

“La la la!” She sings.

Dammit!

You hear her clear the thicket and start trotting away. You press your hands to the ground and think about making a move.

“Slow down, pony!” The dog complains.

You push yourself up and look out over the bushes carefully.

The creature is turning around as Izzy walks over to the group of mares.

“Ah! I feel much better now.” She says exuberantly. Sunny and the others all look relieved just to see her returning.

You raise up to your knees and steady your gun arm. From here, you could probably shoot that dog. But then what?

Come to think of it, Hitch would probably be your best bet for a distraction. He has to be around somewhere, and you can make it to the south wing from here.

Yeah. Izzy’s right.

You begin to sneakily crawl away from the bushes.

Then suddenly you hear a gruff female voice say “Wait.”

You stop moving.

A few seconds go by. The wind is rustling in the trees high above the courtyard. There’s no way they see you under this heavy brush, right?

You hear some heavy footfalls coming your way. You quickly scramble, trying to make it to the row of pillars behind you.

It’s too late. The small, ten eyes of the creature crest the top of the bushes and the lizard female sees you.

“I knew I saw another heat sign! Over here!” She says.

Fuck! Well, no use in hiding now! You scramble to your feet and quickly dash to the pillar behind you.

“Stop running!”

You hear the action of the rifle as it chambers a round.

There’s a line of young trees by the pillar. You leap towards them and pull yourself forward by grabbing onto the small trunks.

There’s an explosion of splinters as the tree trunk right near your head explodes.

God dammit!

You shoulder through the trees quickly. Young twigs snap against your chest and scrape at your shirt. You manage to make your way through and then press your back up to the pillar. You are concealed now.

There’s another loud report as the rifle fires once again. You don’t see where the bullet goes, but you hear it whiz by you at a lethal velocity.

“Come out! Drop the gun!” She screams.

Nah. Not today, you crusty bitch.

You turn back the hammer on your revolver. You raise up the heavy iron frame with two hands. You wait a second, steeling your resolve.

Just turn out and fire. Just turn and fire. Don’t think.

You finger gingerly touches the trigger.

Then, with one swift movement you lean out from behind your cover and aim at the bushes you were just previously at.

You immediately see a lizard creature being strangled by her own rifle frame. It’s enveloped in a bright fuchsia aura. She manages to get out a “Gk! Help!” as she struggles.

Izzy stands a few feet from the creature, her horn shining bright.

You hear another rifle go off. You see the amber muzzle flash pointed up in the air. “Enough. Stop doing this! Now!” The dog shrieks. He waves his rifle around.

“I will shoot- AUGH!” The dog says before he is suddenly tackled to the ground by Sunny.

Zipp flies at the tiger and delivers a powerful kick to his stomach. She springs back and takes to the air. Her unrestrained wings spread to their full width.

Holy shit!

“I won’t let you hurt him!” Izzy shouts. The lizard is still wrestling at the rifle and trying to shake herself free.

You duck out of the trees and take a few steps forward. You have a clear shot now, but just as you start to draw a bead, you see the creature pry its long snout free of the rifle stock and drop down to the grass.

For a moment you lose her, then you see her springing forward with a terrifyingly hateful glare in her eyes.

Her muzzle opens wide. Her teeth are nothing but rows of sawtooth blades dripping with spit. Her muzzle has a line of pink grooves embedded on it. Infrared sensing glands. Clever girl. Now let’s see if you’re bulletproof.

You stare her dead in the eyes and pull the trigger.

Click.

You expected the gun to buck hard. You expected a thunderous bang. The round didn’t fucking go off! Shit! Shit!

A twinge of panic shoots down your spine as you turn back the hammer with your other hand. The cylinder moves to the next bullet, but the creature is getting closer and closer to you.

“STOOOP!!” Sunny yells at the top of her lungs.

The lizard creature is quickly enveloped in a bright pink glow and lifted off the ground. Her intense expression disappears.

You raise up the gun up again as you assess the situation.

Sunny is looking at you and Izzy in a panic. The dog creature is rubbing his head as he slowly picks up his rifle again.

The tiger is holding Pipp in his big, meaty paws. He has one long, yellowed claw pressed up to her neck, threatening to pierce into her perfect pink coat.

Zipp is standing firm a few yards away with her wings splayed out menacingly.

“Don’t you dare hurt her!” She yells.

Sunny turns back. “Zipp! Stand down!” She shouts.

“You better listen to her, birdie. I’ll do it.” The tiger says with a low growl.

You glance around at the creatures, unsure what to do.

Izzy is still holding the lizard in her telekinetic grip. She is approached from behind by the dog creature.

“Put her down!” The creature shouts as he pokes his rifle against her barrel.

Izzy looks at Sunny, who nods at her in response. She then levitates the lizard thing over towards the dog and drops her on the ground.

The tiger nods, but his distinctively feline face retains a snarl. Sunny and Zipp seem to relax a bit.

“Good.” The tiger creature says in a deep, intimidating voice. “Don’t make any wrong moves, now.”

You decide that the situation is fucked. You raise your hands up slowly.

The tiger’s eyes cut to you.

He snarls. “Now you. Drop the gun, or I’ll send her to Tartarus.”

Nothing you can do now unless you want Pipp to die a horrific death. Slowly you lower your arm and drop the firearm on the ground.

Suddenly, there’s a crash from the west side of the courtyard.

The tiger creature points his ears and slowly glances that way. His grip on Pipp stays firm.

There’s another thud. Another crash.

“What the...?” The tiger says.

“You! Unicorn! Stop doing this magic!” The squat little dog yells at Izzy.

Izzy scoffs. “I’m not doing that!” She says, turning up her snout.

You look over to the treeline in the distance. You squint your eyes. After a few seconds, you see another tree trunk shake. There’s another loud thud sound.

What the... fuck?

You see the form of another creature appear from the treeline. The all-black cat creature from the northwest wing is sprinting in a ragged fashion and nearly out of breath.

“Nails! What’s going on?!” The tiger yells.

“Run!” He cries out in response.

“What?!” The tiger cries out.

From the depths of the forest, there arises a glorious sight. Some might say, even divine. You have never been this happy to lay eyes on the one and only Hitch Trailblazer as he expertly rides a humongous fifteen foot cragadile out of the wild patch of trees.

“Hee yaw!!” Hitch shouts. The cragadile stomps forward on its massive feet and slams its tail into a tree, making it quake and shudder with a resounding thwack.

Hitch had fashioned some improvised reigns out of vines and tree branches. He holds it taut in his forehooves as his hind legs firmly grip the rocky hide of the beast’s back. There’s a look of daring bravado on his face as he guides the beast towards you all.

“Shoot that thing! Now!” The tiger beast yells in a hurried voice.

The dog aims his weapon. The lizard thing quickly dives for her rifle hidden in the bushes.

“Uh oh.” Hitch says and dives off the back of the cragadile. He tucks and rolls on the ground behind the beast.

A moment later the rifle of Pugly goes off with a loud crack. The bullet ricochets harmlessly off the thick stone scales, not even leaving a scratch. The cragadile continues rampaging and flinging its tail around.

Well, that’s a good distraction. Time to get the fuck out!

You ignore the lizard creature rummaging frantically in the bushes for her rifle and sprint towards Izzy.

“Izzy!” You yell. She looks back at you.

“Pillow him!” You shout, pointing at the tiger creature.

Izzy’s face lights up, both from her sudden smile and her horn glowing.

The tiger begins to run from the cragadile, and you see his fearful eyes for a moment before a huge, fluffy, blue pillow materializes in his face.

“Gah!” He shouts with a face full of fluff. He shakes his head and sputters.

“Everypony!” Sunny shouts.

There’s another explosion. The lizard creature sends a round that tumbles in a spiral off the side of the cragadile’s heavy hide. The cragadile gets ever closer and winds up its powerful tail.

“Get to the cargo elevator! Now!” Sunny yells.

She starts galloping away as the cragadile smashes its thick, stone-covered tail directly into into the back of the tiger. The tiger’s back bends forward with a disgusting crack. His claws loosen, and Pipp is launched from his arms.

“Oh shit!” You shout. “Izzy, quick-” You start.

However, you are interrupted by a white blur streaking by and grabbing her midair. Zipp holds her sister in her hooves effortlessly. With a few powerful flaps of her wings, she carries her away from the rampaging reptile.

“Nevermind!” You shout.

You then sprint as hard as you can along with Sunny, Izzy, Zipp and Pipp towards the stern of the airship.

Your heart is pounding. There’s sounds of grunts and screams of agony from behind you. Hitch is shouting in a weirdly cheerful voice. “Get ‘em girl! Show them what that tail can do! Yeah!”

You glance behind to see the creatures getting thrown around by Hitch’s new animal deputy.

Sunny stops a few yards from the cargo elevator. You stop with her.
Zipp deposits Pipp onto the cargo elevator. She waves a hoof at Izzy, who runs over quickly and crowds onto the bin next to Pipp.

“Hitch! Come on!” Sunny yells at the top of her lungs.

Zipp flies up to start the winch. You shout at the stallion as well, “Hitch!”

The creatures are either running away or writhing on the ground in pain. Hitch, who was watching all of this unfold, suddenly turns to you and Sunny.

He throws his head back and lets out a heroic laugh. He starts to trot your way, but yells over his shoulder, “Thank you for your help, ma’am! Equestria will remember you!”

The apparently female cragadile stops for a moment and lets out a happy growl. Her tail sways slowly from side to side, as if she heard what Hitch said.

Damn, he even has a way with those animals just like Flutters did...

It almost hurts just how amazing he is.

Your shoulders slump. Sunny waves Hitch forward as you hear the elevator winch above you clunk to a stop.

Sunny meets Hitch half way on his victory procession back to the ship. His mane is still perfectly quaffed. His smile is bright and proud. The world trembles before him.

Then a creature leaps out of the bushes behind Hitch. It’s the black cat from before, and he’s holding a rifle in his claws.

“Hitch! Look out!” Sunny shouts.

“Won’t be that easy, you dumb ponies!” The cat shouts, pointing the rifle directly at Hitch as he chambers a fresh round.

You are frozen. You know it’s too late. No cover to hide behind. No way to push Hitch out of the way. Time almost seems to progress in slow motion at you see the creature squeeze the trigger of the rifle, and his bruised face twists into one of psychotic rage.

“No!” Is all you hear Sunny shout before the bang.

You clench your eyes as you hear the rifle go off. You feel the sound rumble in your chest. You know when you open your eyes, you will see death.

You slowly open your eyes, but what greets them is not the red of blood. Instead, you see a bright and shimmering golden light that seems to pervade the air. All things, the bushes, the grass, the trees, the ponies and the creatures are coated in metallic glaze. The bullet intended for Hitch’s skull is curving away from him in slow motion, and the metal is heating up with a white-hot glow as the fabric of reality is bent towards the singular task.

Sunny’s horn and wings shine forth boldly. Just like the picture you saw, they are ethereal and translucent. Her mane is lifted up from the arcane energy coursing through her, and there’s a rainbow streak running down it.

You have never been this happy to see an alicorn in all your life.

A moment later, the spell ends, and the bullet zips harmlessly into the soil. Sunny pants, the ethereal set of alicorn appendages fade a bit, but don’t disappear.

The cat is standing in absolute shock. His arms tremble and his mouth drops open.

“N-no it can’t be! That’s impossible!” He shouts.

“Oh yeah?” Sunny says. Her mouth pulls into a stoic smile, her eyes narrow and her horn sparks menacingly.

“Believe it.” She says.

A bolt from her horn zaps at the cat’s feet. He draws back, dropping the rifle which then clatters to the ground. He turns tail and begins to run with panicked whimpers escaping his throat.

All you can do is stare and grin.

Sunny turns to you. There’s confident look on her face beneath that golden horn. Hitch looks around with widened eyes.

“Woah! Sunny!” He says.

“Quick,” Sunny says. “To the ship!”

Hitch gallops towards the elevator as it finishes descending back to the ground.

You are still dazed by what just happened as Sunny walks up to you. “Go with him, Anon. I’ll protect you both.”

She turns and spread her wings. You notice that Sunny’s satchel is bulging outward a bit more than usual. There’s three distinct lumps in it still flickering with bits of magic energy.

You turn and swiftly follow Hitch onto the elevator, and it begins to rise.

Chapter 16 - Revelry

Soon the ship is raising up quickly above the mall. With the mooring cables detached and the ballonets deflating, there’s nothing stopping you and the ponies from being lifted up to the sky.

The ponies whoop and holler with delight as they stand on the main deck. There are many cries of “I can’t believe that just happened!” and even more shouts of “That was insane!”

You joined them, letting laughter escape your lips as you let the relief wash over you.

Somehow you made it. Despite everything, you’re all still alive.

As the ship ascends, the evening sun dips into the mountains in the western sky. The clouds are burning with a brilliant display of oranges, pinks and purples. It is a safe haven to you and the ponies. A return to normalcy. There’s an electric feeling of victory in the air, and it’s hard not to give in.

Sunny strides out of the bridge sans wings and horn. Her head is held high and she wears the rainbow streak in her mane proudly.

The ponies stomp their hooves and let out a few more whoops before Sunny raises her hoof to shush them.

“Alright everypony,” She says. “Settle down.”

“That was so amazing! Hitch was like, so clutch!” Pipp gushes.

“Ah, it was nothing.” Hitch says with a wave of his hoof. “I’m just glad I came across that rock alligator thing. She was really nice, actually.”

“Cragadile...” You mutter.

“It was quite impressive, Hitch.” Sunny says.

“Well, not as impressive as you stopping that... thing from shooting! I don’t know how to thank you, Sunny.” Hitch says.

Sunny smiles. She looks around at each of her friends.

“You don’t need to thank me, Hitch. We all helped each other get out of there. We got through it because we believe in each other.” She says.

“Everyone helped out in their own way.” She says. Her eyes land on you. “And I’m very proud of all of you.”

The ponies murmur and smile warmly at each other, you turn your gaze to the side.

“Now. I’m sure you’re all wondering what the next part of the plan is.” Sunny says. “And to be honest, I’m not sure. Those hostile creatures definitely took us by surprise.”

She starts pacing as she speaks in her commanding tone.

“It was smart of them to ambush us when we split up into pairs. They must have been watching us since we first arrived. That would explain why Anon saw those eyes yesterday.”

“Yeah, and you didn’t believe me...” You say glumly.

“You’re right, Anon.” Sunny says. “We didn’t. And I think that you deserve an apology for that.”

The other ponies turn to look at you. You cross your arms.

“I’m... sorry Anon.” Hitch says first.

“Sorry.” Pipp says. “I’m sorry too, Anon.” Zipp says.

“We’re all sorry we didn’t listen to you.” Sunny says.

You honestly feel like they mean it. You nod and bit a smile. At least they can admit when they’re wrong.

“Sorry I, uh... called you a monkey, too.” Izzy says, folding her ears back.

“Apology accepted.” You say in a sober tone. “Now let’s get out of here and never look back. Right, Sunny?”

Sunny seems surprised.

“Well...” She says.

“Why? You saw how Sunny stopped their weapons!” Hitch says.

Sunny nods. “Right. We now know that our magic can stop them, but... I don’t want to rely on it. It’s best to avoid them for now.”

“So...?” You say.

Sunny breathes harshly out of her nose. “But we’re still going west.”

“W-what?” You say. You uncross your arms and look at her in sheer disbelief.

“Are you sure, Sunny? What if they follow us? What if there’s more-” Zipp says.

“Zipp! Anon! Calm down! Let me explain.” Sunny says.

She waves a hoof around at the dusky sky around them.

“Look. We’re thousands of feet in the air. We don’t have to go back to the ground to take a look. We just scan it from overhead.” She says.

You look around at the evening-painted sky.

“Oh I get it! Like we’re just a little bird flying by!” Izzy says. She does little flapping motions with her hooves.

“Exactly, Izzy.” Sunny says. She turns to Zipp. “We should have enough magical reserves to make it there. Right, Zipp?”

Zipp nods. “I mean... if we take it slow there should be no problem. But Sunny-”

“Great!” Sunny says. “No problem! Are we all agreed?”

You look at Hitch. He’s thinking about it with his hoof to his chin, but he doesn’t say anything.

“No, Sunny.” You say. “That’s still a bad idea. What if they have a way to fly themselves?”

Sunny shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so. They don’t have magic they can use to fly, and they can’t power a ship like this.”

Sunny taps her hoof against the deck twice.

“Yeah, I guess.” You say. You feel a bit of anger rising up. “But let’s say they have more guns. What if they try to shoot us down, huh?”

Sunny shakes her head. “Anon, can those guns really reach us way up here?”

“Well, no. They’d need something bigger, but...” You say.

“Sounds like you’re worried about nothing, then.” Sunny says.

She tilts her head. “But I’m not going to do this unless we all agree. So let’s put it to a vote!”

She stomps a hoof and quirks an eyebrow at you. “Sound fair?”

The other ponies look at you. Maybe the other ponies will see reason? At least there’s a chance...

“Fine.” You say sternly.

“Okay.” Sunny says. “All in favor of returning back home?”

You raise your hand. Zipp meekly raises her hoof. “It’s... probably the safest bet.” She says.

You glance at Hitch, who seems to be contemplating for a moment.

Izzy and Pipp look at him.

“Don’t you believe in us, Hitch?” Pipp says.

“We can do it, Sheriff!” Izzy says, hugging Pipp from behind.

You narrow your eyes. His ears are standing up and folding back repeatedly.

“Alright. Fine. We’ll stick to the skies, and the skies only!” Hitch says. He jabs his hoof out to Sunny. “No landing unless Anon and I check it out first, is that clear?”

“Crystal.” Sunny says with a smirk.

Hitch gives an affirmative nod and puts his hoof down.

Pipp and Izzy cheer, suddenly tackling him into a hug. Sunny giggles. Zipp seems a bit nervous. You feel the anxiety creeping in too, but what can you do?

You are, after all, still on this ride.

“So we can just monitor with the cameras from the surveillance booth, right?” Zipp says.

“Yes. No landing unless it’s absolutely safe! If not, we can just turn around and head straight back home.” Sunny says with a grin.

You let out a long sigh and cast your gaze to the floor.

“It’ll be fine, Anon!” Pipp says. “You’re always such a stick in the mud!”

“Hey, he’s just being careful, and after what happened, I don’t blame him.” Hitch says as he stands up from the mares hugging on him.

“Well, with all that’s aside...” Sunny says. You glance up at her with a pained look.

She hops excitedly and spreads her hooves apart.

“I think it’s time to celebrate! Who’s with me?” Sunny says.

“Whoo! Yeah!” Izzy and Pipp cheer. Zipp and Hitch smile a bit and seem to relax.

“To the cargo hold!” Sunny commands triumphantly and points her hoof.

“Arr! Time to assess the booty!” Izzy shouts with a growl.

The ponies laugh as they rush off towards the doors to the lower decks.

And so it went. As the evening light dimmed outside the porthole windows, the ponies dug through their pile of precious cargo and carefully unpacked things from their plastic prisons.

You know they left a good chunk of it behind in the expeditious escape, but there’s still quite a lot of stuff to go through. Not that you cared. You stayed on the sidelines and watched with a grim look.

Pipp shows off her collection of pony dresses she found. Izzy looks through a pile of collected appliances and gadgets, explaining what each one is without really caring if it’s correct or not. Zipp, Hitch and Sunny seem to enjoy the spectacle.

Sunny then asks Hitch and Zipp what they found, and they revealed their prizes. A small, magically-powered griddle, a few cases of bottled water, and a collection of small crates that contained glass bottles of various shapes and sizes.

You recognize it before the others do.

“Oh, what is that?” Sunny inquires.

“Oh, well, I know you told us not to eat the food, but... this stuff doesn’t expire.” She says. She pulls out a dust-covered wine bottle from the crate to show it to everyone.

“Wine?!” Izzy says excitedly.

“Yep. Might be worth a fortune if we sell it.” She says proudly.

“No way! Let’s drink it!” Izzy says, hopping once with glee.

Sunny laughs. “Take it easy, Izzy. Let’s save the good stuff for historical purposes.” She says. “Let’s go with something else! Oh! I know!”

Sunny pounces on the crate and takes out several bottles with her teeth, placing them on the side. She finds the one she wants and raises it up in her hoof. It’s a clear bottle half-filled with amber liquid.

“Margaritas all around!” She says, beaming at the tequila in her hoof.

“Yea-heah! Now you’re talking!” Izzy says. She then begins doing a dance while chanting “marga-marga-ritas.”

“Hey, good idea, Sunny! Plus I can grill us up some hayburgers with this!” Hitch says, tapping the aluminum metal casing of the griddle.

“Sounds like a party to me.” Zipp says coyly.

“Oh yeah! Let’s get it started everypony!” Pipp says with extra cheer.

Izzy prances over towards you during her margarita dance. She whips her head up to you and asks with excitement sparkling in her eyes, “Are you in Anon? Will you party with us?”

Fuck it. You might as well have one last party before you die.

“Sure.” You say.

You turn to Hitch. “Just make something for us non-grass-eaters, alright?” You say.

Hitch tilts his ears up and looks your way.

“Oh course! Carrot dogs too!” He says with a smile.

And so the party commenced.

The ship climbed several thousand feet into the air before it leveled out automatically. Suspended in the sky, far away from the dangers of the jungle below, the ponies brought forth their contributions, working together as if guided by some unspoken instinct for parties that all ponies seemed to share.

Pipp and Izzy put up streamers and balloons they had salvaged from a party supply store. Sunny brought ice from the freezer, fresh fruit and a cordless blender. Hitch hauled up the griddle and collected the ingredients for the hayburgers and carrot dogs.

You had nothing to bring to the party. Nothing but your own self. You helped at least with getting the sound equipment hooked up. Izzy had found some speakers and a stereo somewhere in the mall.

With a bit of cunning, you eventually figured out how to put the stereo into auxiliary mode. Pipp then pulled up her custom party playlist on her phone.

A poppy, dancy song belts out from the speakers, and the ponies instantly start to groove and shake their rumps to it. It was a bit too contemporary for your liking, but you appreciated the effort.

Pipp and Izzy took to the dance floor. Sunny hummed along. Hell, even Hitch moved his flank as he worked the griddle.

You sat back and took in the scene. It helped to relax you.

The ponies dancing in the light of the deck lanterns, the calm breezes fluttering at the canopy of the balloon, and the stars peeking out in the night sky: all of it seemed so magical and spontaneous that you almost forgot about the terrifying events that happened a mere hours ago.

As the first song ended, Sunny finished up blending the drinks and began passing them out. Izzy practically drank hers in one gulp. The others found this amusing.

Sunny held out a drink to you with a smile. You took it with a respectful nod.

Strawberry mango margaritas. A fruity girl drink if there ever was one, but hell, you’ll drink it.

You sipped and listened to the music. You denied Izzy’s requests to dance. You told her that you weren’t drunk enough yet.

A few songs later and Hitch finished up grilling a stack of hayburgers. He made some grilled carrot dogs for you as well, which you gladly accepted despite how typically unappealing you had found them in the past.

You were too hungry to care. Plus, you didn’t want to drink on an empty stomach.

You drank and ate along with the other ponies, all just sitting on the deck. Izzy and Pipp had a quick spat over who got the massage chair, but eventually they agreed to split up the time between them.

With your glass half full, you felt that familiar, warm buzz of alcohol seeping into your mind. You started to talk more and you felt a smile on your face.

“So, about those creatures, what was their deal, even?” Izzy says, slurring a bit as she drains her second margarita and eats her third hayburger. She’s in the massage chair now and it’s rolling out her lower back.

“I dunno, but they had like, no chill. No chill at all.” Pipp says, wobbling a bit with her wings stretched out for balance. She hasn’t even finished one but she already seems tipsy.

“Wasn’t it obvious, Izzy? They were a gang! Bad pirates! They wanted to steal and kill because there isn’t anyone around to stop them.” You say, taking another gulp from your cup.

“That would explain those weird patches they had.” Zipp says. She is laying on her side, propped up on one hoof. “What were they again? Some kind of goat?”

“It looked like a skull with sharp teeth and horns. Kind of like a... goat with sharp teeth?” Sunny says. She eats a bit bite of her hayburger and chews.

Hitch sits down after having finished grilling. “Yeah. I noticed that too. Maybe it’s someone important?” He says.

“I thought it looked like a dragon skull!” Izzy says.

“I’m not sure. It looks like their leader was that tiger cat. They all seemed to be different kinds of creatures.” Sunny says.

“Well, their little gang needs to update their dress code.” Pipp says. “Tench coats are so not in right now.”

“Any insights, Anon?” Sunny asks.

“Beats me.” You say. “I didn’t get close enough to look at it. I’m guessing you didn’t get any answers out of them, either.”

Sunny flattens her mouth and shakes her head.

“Figures.” You say. You lean up and gulp the rest of your beverage. “I guess I should be glad it didn’t turn out bloody...”

“It’s really strange how they all seemed to know what ponies were, but none of us have ever heard of them or seen them.” Zipp says.

“Yeah, what was up with that?” Pipp says. “They called me a ‘stupid overgrown bird’ how awful is that?”

“I guess they get visitors from time to time.” You say. “Maybe that’s why they were there in the first place, to trap ponies.”

“No, that’s not it I don’t think... they said we weren’t supposed to be there, remember?” Sunny says.

“Right, whatever.” You say.

“It means that there was some agreement made, perhaps long ago, that ponies would stay away from this part of Equestria. But why?” Sunny says.

“Ugh... I wish the older ponies weren’t so secretive. Even our own mom won’t tell us anything until one of us becomes queen.” Pipp says, rolling her eyes in frustration.

“Yeah...” Zipp says.

“Well, just another mystery we’ll probably never solve.” You say. “Excuse me.” You get up slowly and walk over to the blender to refill your cup.

The ponies talk about it a bit more. You finish pouring your drink. By the time you return, Izzy has switched places with Pipp on the massage chair.

Izzy starts grooving to the music as everyone else finishes up their food. Izzy then suddenly spins on her back leg and waves a hoof.

“Hey everyone! Why are you all sitting around? Let’s party! Woo!” She shouts and then begins dancing as the next song picks up.

“Heheh, hey that’s right. We’re being boring, sorry Iz.” Zipp says as she gradually stands up.

“Yeah, she’s right!” Sunny says. “Tonight is a cause for celebration! Let’s dance!”

Sunny starts shaking her flank with a cute little grin.

Zipp joins her, and Hitch grins and stands up to dance too.

Pipp looks a bit peeved that she didn’t get her time in the massage chair, but she eventually hops up as well.

The ponies start to dance. Izzy turns up the music. You scarf down the rest of your carrot dog and after downing some more liquid courage, you join them too.

How long has it been since you danced with a pony? You wondered as you tried your best to loosen up.

You tried to feel out the rhythm of the song with your hips. You nodded your head to the beat. You think you start to get it, and your movements loosen up.

However, dancing on two legs is still a novelty to the ponies, so they laughed at you as you started to move.

You didn’t care. Eventually, your presence was accepted on the dance floor. They started to get into it themselves.

Izzy moved quite well to the song, spinning and shifting on her hooves. Pipp fluttered a few feet off the ground and eventually began singing along as the chorus hit. Zipp danced in a carefully choreographed manner. Hitch, despite being a stallion chad, turned out to dance like an absolute dork. Completely oblivious to this fact, he he smiled proudly.

You and the ponies, the crew on the ship running on dreams and friendship, all partied hard as the night drew on.

Chapter 17 - Things Get Sloppy

You were exhausted and coated in sweat as you collapsed on the deck and looked up at the patch of the night sky beyond the balloon.

The crisp night air felt good on your skin, and though your head swam from alcohol, you felt at ease.

They started doing shots as the hour grew late. That was probably a bad idea. Things got sloppy, and memories came in pieces.

Izzy was insatiable. She kept “accidentally” bumping against your legs while you danced, and her horn kept getting dangerously close to spearing you through the stomach. You quickly grew tired of this, so you ended up slamming a hayburger onto her horn.

She found this amusing and tried to make a game out of stacking as many burgers as she can on her horn. Then she presented it like a kebab to the other ponies.

When she got bored of her game, she started trying to goad Sunny into using her powers again.

The other ponies joined in. They started chanting “Alicorn!” over and over at her as she became increasingly flustered. This spurred you to lift her up onto your shoulders and parade her around just to increase her embarrassment. She tried to fight back the bouts of laughter to yell “Stop! Stop!”

As things started to get blurry, you think at some point you almost tripped over Pipp, then you jokingly yelled at her that she was “too short for this ride” and that you were going to “throw her overboard.”

You weren’t going to really do that, but Zipp had to fly up to you and give you a look like she was going to throw you over first. If Hitch hadn’t talked her down, man... you might have gotten in your first fight with a pony in a long time.

Ah, who cares? None of them will remember any way.

At this point, Izzy is the only one still dancing. Well, her wobbling, shifting movements might be considered a dance to some, but you think at any moment she’s going to trip over her own hooves.

Pipp had to rush to the bathroom to throw up. Sunny is probably still in there, holding her mane back. Poor girl.

Hitch and Zipp started getting strangely close to one another as they danced late into the night. Right now they are both leaning over the gunwale of the deck, talking quietly.

You wonder if maybe something else happened in the mall between them when they were alone.

You chuckle to yourself and lean up on your elbows.

“Hey! Izzy!” You say.

Izzy ignores you, lost in the music and dancing in her clumsy way.

You’re not sure why, but you’re feeling generous. You want to let Hitch and Zipp have their space.

You get up, swaying a bit from how dizzy you are, but you steady yourself.

You walk over to Izzy.

“Izzy!” You say.

“Anon!” Izzy says. She’s dancing with her eyes closed now.

“Anon! Anon! Anon! Anon! Are you groovin’? Are you feeling the beat? Woo! Yeah!” She says.

“Woo. Yeah. Let’s turn down the grooves a bit, huh?”

You grab her horn. Bits of hay and lettuce are still stuck to it.

Her head stays in place as her hooves continue to dance around.

You smile and shake your head. You exhale in an almost-laugh.

You grab Izzy’s cheeks and mush them together. “Izzy!” You say.

She looks at you with violet, surprised eyes and fish-like lips.

“Yesh?” She says.

You have to admit, she’s pretty cute, even when she’s a drunken mess.

“You wanna take a break for a bit, huh?” You say.

You release your hands from her face and pat her head gently.

Izzy’s face is already painted a deep rouge from her inebriated state, but you think she blushes more as she glances around and notices that she’s the only one left dancing.

“Alright!” She says with a chipper smile.

She trots around you, leaving the music blasting. You go over to turn down the volume a bit.

You then see Izzy plant her hoof in a discarded hayburger and start to lose her balance.

“Who-ah Ahh!” She screams as she flails with an uncoordinated flurry of hooves. She accidentally steps on her mane, twists her body and winds up landing on her side.

“Ow...” She says.

You let out a snort. “You alright, Izzy?” You say as you step over to her.

You crouch down and extend a hand. Her mane is all messed up and she looks at you with cheery eyes and a mouth twisted up in embarrassment.

“I’m okay! Fine!” She says in a slurred tone. There’s a yearning look in her eye as she languidly reaches a hoof forward. “I’m... feeling better now, actually.”

You roll your eyes, smile and pull her up to a sitting position.

Izzy brushes her mane back, turning her face a bit to hide from you shyly.

“Thanks... Anon.” She says.

“Don’t mention it.” You say. “But maybe it’s time to turn in, don’t you think?”

She sends a few strands of magic up her horn. An envelope of magic tugs your hand forward to her cheek. She giggles and nuzzles against it.

“Woah, woah.” You say. “Easy with the drunken magic...”

You let out a laugh and let her rub her face on your fingers.

You look over towards Hitch and Zipp. Zipp is extending her wing over him. Huh. Well then.

You then look back at Izzy. Her horn stops glowing and she wobbles slightly on her hooves as she opens her eyes. Her smile is very wide. She’s still bubbling with that same youthful vigor.

You know what? This might be one of last nights you have left. Why not?

You kneel down towards Izzy with a gentle smile. “Hey, Izzy.” You say. You push her mane out of the way with your hand.

You see her back legs almost buckle a bit. Her tail twitches upwards. Her eyes sparkle, reflecting the starry night.

“Y-yes, Anon?” She says.

“Look, about the whole cuddling thing...” You say. You put a hand gently on her withers.

She bites her lip. Her eyes grow wider.

Her head then suddenly stops wobbling. She inhales sharply through her nose. Her pupils shrink to pinpricks.

“Um, hold that thought!” She says quickly. She puts a hoof over her mouth and does a three-legged trot over to the side of the deck.

Oh...

You watch as Izzy rears up onto the gunwale and leans over the side.

You cringe and turn away. It’s hard to ignore the retching, so you just slip your hands into your pockets and stand awkwardly as she gets it out of her system.

At least she knows to hold her mane back.

A few moments later, you see her wipe her mouth and lean up. She starts to walk back towards you, and you see her eyes are watery and she has a sorrowful look on her face.

“You feel better now?” You say.

She nods despondently and looks down.

You kneel down and pat her back.

“Hey. I need you to do something for me, okay?” You say.

She looks up.

“Drink a lot of water, then go get some rest. I don’t want you feeling too bad tomorrow.” You say.

“Okay, Anon...” She says in a quiet, slurred voice.

You smile reassuringly and scratch her scalp with your fingers.

“It’s okay, Izzy. I’ve been there too.” You say.

You escorted her into the door to the cabins. She almost tumbled and fell a few times, but you steadied her.

As you stepped into the hall,you saw Sunny coming out of one the crew quarters. She looks at Izzy and immediately frowns.

“Oh no, not you too!” She says. She rushes to Izzy and hugs her.

“Oh Sunny...” Izzy says, starting to sob. “I drank too much! It was too tasty!”

“I know, Izzy. It’s okay.” Sunny says as she rubs her back softly.

Izzy closes her eyes and leans against her.

“Shh... just relax. Let’s get you cleaned up.” Sunny says warmly.

You’re in the lounge drinking some water and rubbing your temples as you take a breather on the small couch. You just know you’re going to have an awful hangover tomorrow.

There’s a few electric lights in the galley, but in this lounge there’s only a small reading lamp over by the corner. You turned it on and it put forth a dim electric light.

With the hum of the ship’s engines as they drift lazily along the mountain valley, the ship is once again peaceful. To you and the ponies, the ship is but a mote of stardust suspended in the night sky.

For now, at least.

You hear Sunny close the door to the crew cabins again and then start to come down the stairs.

You look up as she descends to the landing near the galley.

“Hey.” She says.

“Hey, there’s the alicorn...” You say back with a grin.

“Some party, huh?” She says.

“Yeah... I think we all overdid it a little.” You say.

“Yep. Just a bit!” She says with a nervous giggle.

She comes down and sits on the chair opposite of yours. She leans against the armrest with a big sigh. Her hind legs curl up, and she flops her tail over them.

She looks out the side porthole window and runs a hoof unconsciously over her braid.

You don’t really believe Sunny when she says she won’t stop along the way. No, there’s no chance.

But you have an idea.

You think you might be able to convince Sunny to put a stop to her heinous quest. To turn back to the safety of the Bay. You just need to show her a better way...

Sunny yawns wide and puts a hoof over her mouth.

“So... Hitch is on watch tonight, by the way.” She says.

“Yeah?” You say. “So... are you gonna turn in too?”

“I might in a bit.” She says with a sigh. “I just feel really guilty that I let Pipp and Izzy drink that much....”

“Well hey, they’re grown ass mares. They did it to themselves.” You say. “You don’t have to baby them, Sunny.”

Sunny shakes her head and raises her eyebrows. “So just because they’re ‘grown ass mares’ doesn’t mean I should let them get puke all over my nice airship.”

You chuckle a bit. “I suppose you’re right.”

She sighs and leans her head down on her hooves.

You lean forward.

“You know, it’s funny. You seem more worried about your friends getting too drunk than you do about those creatures we found.” You say.

Sunny shifts up a bit and points an ear towards you.

“If you hadn’t hadn’t used those crystals at the last moment, I’m not sure what would have happened.” You say.

She raises her head towards you. Her turquoise eyes are large and filled with purpose.

“What do you mean?” She says.

You fold your hands together and put then underneath your chin.

“It’s all so uncertain, isn’t it, Sunny?” You say. “I could have died today. You all could have. How do you deal with that? Never knowing what might happen?”

Sunny tilts her head. She then sits up and ponders this for a bit.

“I suppose... I just try to stay optimistic. I put my trust in my friends that we’ll pull through somehow, no matter how bad it seems.” She says finally.

“Yes, I understand.” You say. “But what if it doesn’t? Wouldn’t it be better to play it safe? After all, the odds are stacked quite against you, Starscout.”

Sunny narrows her eyes.

“You know what I would do in your situation?” You say, leaning back and casually draping an arm on the back of the couch.

“What’s that?” Sunny says, quirking an eyebrow.

“Well, I’d turn back. I’d go back with all the spoils you’ve collected, and then I’d show them the truth. What’s really out there.” You say.

“You mean... the creatures we saw?” Sunny asks.

“Yes.” You say.

Sunny skews her mouth to the side and quirks an eyebrow. “What exactly do you have in mind, Anon?”

“Well, it’s simple, really.” You say.

You point a finger up towards the main deck. “Those cameras Zipp has up there. I know she has the recordings. Plus, Pipp probably got a video off before her phone got stolen.”

You lean forward, elbows on your knees.

“All we have to do is show the ponies what they’re up against. Publish it on Flitter. You know how ponies are. When there’s a collective threat, they’ll pull together to make sure they defeat it. We just need to give them a reason to... ensure their safety.”

“Anon.” Sunny says in a stern voice. You got so caught up in your speech that you didn’t notice she’s glaring at you with a disapproving scowl.

“What?” You say.

She sighs and rubs her head. “Do you think I haven’t ever met people like you before?” She says.

“Huh? Wha-”

“You want all the ponies to fear these creatures? Why? So you can convince them to go to *war?*”

Your face pulls into a tight, mischievous smile. Well, when you put it that way...

“War isn’t the term I would use.” You say, leaning back in your seat.

Sunny takes a deep breath.

“Why. Why would you ever think that’s remotely a good idea?”

“Sunny.” You say with a sigh. “Let’s be reasonable. I don’t feel like dying out here. No one does.”

Sunny looks over to the side, keeping her resentful expression solidified on her face.

“You’re just like him.” She says.

“Like who?” You say.

Sunny lets out a long, deep sigh. “Someone I knew back home. Someone who knew how powerful fear and hatred can be.”

You try to think. Who is she talking about?

She turns to you and looks at you with very serious eyes.

“Anon. Did I ever tell you how my dad died?” She says.

Yikes. You remember the other ponies had mentioned in passing that she didn’t have any family. No one lived her lighthouse except her. You didn’t know she had a dead dad.

“Go on...” You say.

“My father was a researcher of the ancient world.” She says. “You knew that already. What you didn’t know is that he explored the world with a group of friends.”

You quirk an eyebrow.

“They had a ship they sailed the seas with. Every so often, he’d go out with them on a journey to find new places and try to unearth clues from the old world. The world ponies left behind.”

Sunny looks off to the side and sighs.

“I was too small to go with him then. I always wanted to go, just one time. But... I never did. Still, it was always so exciting when he came back. He would hug me and tell me all about his adventures.”

Her eyes start to get a bit glossy.

“Then, well... one day he didn’t come back.” She says.

Your expression turns grim.

“They found the wreckage of their ship floating a few miles out of the bay.” She says. “The fisherponies said it was probably a storm that took them by surprise.”

“Oh...” You say.

“They never found his body.” She says.

There’s a grim pause as you chose your words.

“I see.” You say. “So... in a way, you want to pick up where he left off.”

She turns to you. “Yes, Anon.” She says resolutely. “I do.”

She leans forward a bit. “I can’t just sit by and let the fear of the unknown hold me back. I would rather die trying to bring back harmony and peace to this world.”

You can tell she means it. Why is she so obstinate?

“Even if it means the lives of your friends...?” You inquire.

She remains steadfast. She looks you square in the eyes and doesn’t respond.

“You know what, Sunny? There’s a time and place for bravery. This isn’t it. What you’re doing isn’t that. It’s just plain stupid.” You say.

You regret it almost immediately.

Sunny scoffs. “Stupid, huh?” She says.

“How about crazy? Insane?” She says, raising her voice. “Why not mule-headed, ignorant, good-for-nothing?”

She grits her teeth angrily. A single tear runs down her cheek.

“Do you know how many times I’ve had to deal with people like you?”

You raise your hands up defensively.

“Look. I’m just telling you how I-”

“Fine. You know what? For what it’s worth: you’re right, Anon. You want to hear me say it? You’re right.” She says.

“Those creatures don’t want to be our friends. They don’t want to work with us for a better future. If you had shot them like you wanted to, it wouldn’t have mattered. Not one bit.” She says.

You furrow your brow at her.

Sunny sniffs. “So there you go. Happy?”

You let out a long breath.

“No, Sunny.” You say. “I don’t care about being right.”

Sunny purses her lips and fumes.

You look at her. “But you’re in over your head.” You say.

She huffs and turns from you. She strokes her mane, running a hoof over the rainbow coloration.

“I had it under control!” She says.

“Yeah... sure.” You say.

You get up and groan. “Look... I’m sorry I made you upset. I’ll see you tomorrow.” You say. You start walking over towards your quarters. You feel a headache coming on.

“You know what?” Sunny says, quickly leaning up in her seat.

You stop. You look back at her.

Her mouth wobbles a bit like she’s about to say something. Her eyes are filling with tears.

“It wouldn’t kill you to try and believe in something for once. Why can’t you just do that? Why can’t you believe in us?” She says.

Well. There it is.

“Well, I tried that once before. Didn’t work out so well.” You say.

“Why are you so sure this time won’t be different?” She says with a bit of vitriol in her voice.

You turn towards her, pointing a finger. “You want to know? It’s because whatever happened was big, alright? Really big, and none of the princesses, not Twilight, Celestia or Luna. Not Cadence or Flurry Heart. Not anyone or anything could stop it.”

Another tear runs down her cheek. She doesn’t wipe it away.

“You think you’re better than all of them combined? Fine. Go on and prove it. Then I’ll believe in you.” You say.

You slowly lower your hand. Sunny stares silently back at you.

Without another word, you walk to your cabin door. You throw it open and step inside. You lock the door behind you.

You feel horrible immediately.

You are Sunny, screaming into your pillow and pounding your bed with your hooves.

You sob for a good while. Then after that you you raise up your head and wipe your eyes.

Okay, okay. Calm down... just calm down.

You feel sobs bubble up in your chest involuntarily. You squeeze your eyes shut and try to hold them back.

Slowly they subside. You then reach back and grab your braided mane. With your teeth, you pull the mane bands loose one by one.

Your frizzy, tangled mane unfurls in a big heap behind your neck.

You sniff and wipe your eyes again.

Very slowly, you get up and walk over toward the desk with the small mirror on it. The ship moves under your hooves and you almost trip over yourself.

With a huff, you sink into the small stool-seat and lean forward.

Your eyes are red and puffy, you have horrible bags under them, and your mane looks so ugly right now you don’t know what to do.

You wince and your eyes well up again, but you force yourself not to cry any more. You burn with anger at those tear ducts.

Anon doesn’t deserve to make you cry any more, Sunny.

He... he doesn’t get to do that.

Yet you know that this is a lie.

You touch a hoof to your mane an push up the section of rainbow strands. It looks so gross you feel sick...

What he said still stings. You don’t deserve to have this. You haven’t done anything worth enough to stand where Twilight or the other princesses once stood.

You’re a mess, Sunny.

You stare forlornly into your own tired, reddened eyes.

Why are you like this? Why do you do this to yourself?

This entire time you’ve been just making it up as you go along. You don’t know what you’re doing. You have to go up in front of everyone and tell them how you’re going to do the impossible. You never tell anyone how you feel like a phony. Yet he knows.

Somehow he knows! And he just gets to sit in back and mock you for every little thing you do wrong. How is that even remotely fair?

Gah!! You scrunch your eyes up tight.

And even worse, he hates spending time with you, and everything you try to do just makes him mad and disappointed.

You take a deep breath and exhale.

You just wish... you could reach him. Like that time on the bench...

You turn your head over and notice your your mane brush.

Things seemed so simple back home.

You pick up the mane brush and start to run it through your hair in the rote, mechanical way you’ve done thousands of times. Slowly pulling the tangles apart, trying not to get it caught.

Yet it always does. One little knot always pulls your scalp. You’re used to it.

No pony is perfect. Isn’t that right, Dad? You told me what matters is trying. That’s what counts.

Because if you don’t... who else will?

Chapter 18 - The Morning After

You are Anon. The morning sun is very bright in spite of the scattered cirrus clouds in the sky. Your eyes hurt.

You rub the bridge of your nose to try and ease the pain from the migraine burning right behind your eyeballs. Fuck drinking. What a stupid idea.

You’re sitting on the main deck in the shadow of the balloon. Pipp and Izzy are nearby, both nursing bottles of water.

They groan and take turns complaining, but they seem alright. They’re a lot younger than you so they shouldn’t have any right to whine so much.

Sunny isn’t up yet. You didn’t see Hitch or Zipp, either. It’s a good thing the ship didn’t drift too much in the mountain valley overnight.

Izzy slumps onto the deck spreads her hooves out. She lets out a big groan.

“Oh, I hope Hitch and Zipp are okay.” She says.

“I think they’re fine, Izzy.” You say. “They didn’t drink as much as you did, after all.”

Pipp puts down her water bottle and wipes her mouth. “Yeah, well she didn’t sleep in the crew quarters last night. What’s up with that?”

You smirk a bit.

“I dunno. Might have had something... more important to do.” You say.

Izzy turns an ear towards you, her eyes are closed and her chin is laying flat on the deck.

“Oh yeah, like what?” Izzy mutters.

“Oh, I dunno.” You say with a smirk. “Just a hunch.”

Speak of the devil. Zipp then appears from the door to the lower decks.

She walks over towards the group of ponies. She seems more awkward than usual, but she looks quite refreshed.

“Hey guys.” She says. “Uh, any breakfast yet?”

She looks as the mess left behind from the party: discarded paper plates and plastic cups, streamers hanging loosely and fluttering in the wind, half-deflated balloons barely hovering over the deck.

“Oh, don’t even mention food right now, Zipp! You’re gonna make me feel sick again.” Pipp says. She swoons dramatically.

“Oh, uh, alright. I guess... I’ll make myself something then.” Zipp says. She rubs a hoof on the floor and looks down.

Suddenly you see Izzy raise her head. Her eyes are closed and she sniffs the air.

Her head swivels over towards Zipp and she continues sniffing. She gets up slowly and walks over towards her.

She opens her eyes and looks at Zipp. She then sniffs loudly an leans forward.

“Uh... Izzy?” Zipp says. She leans back and blushes.

Izzy narrows her eyes at Zipp. “Did you have a good time last night, Zipp? Hm?” Izzy says. She smiles mischievously.

“Uh, yeah! The party. It was really great. Had a lot of fun. Any way-” Zipp says, she spins on her back hoof to turn away.

Izzy wraps a foreleg around her and pulls her close. Zipp tenses up and grimaces anxiously.

“You know... your sparkle is really, really, bright today.” Izzy says.

“Uh, really?” Zipp says. “I didn’t notice.”

“Uh huh, it’s magnificent” Izzy says. She grins as she mashes her cheek against Zipp’s face. Zipp stammers in response.

“Uh, okay. I’m... just gonna... can we talk in the-”

“Good morning everypony!” Hitch declares as he walks across the deck.

He smiles confidently with a typical swagger to his step. He’s no longer wearing his shoulder strap and badge today. It gives you the feeling like he’s walking out in nothing but a bathrobe.

“Oh hey, Hitch!” Izzy says cheerfully.

Zipp’s pupils shrink to pinpricks as he approaches and she lowers her head ever so slightly.

Zipp slips out from under Izzy’s leg. She shows a grin filled with nervous energy.

“Water? That’s a good idea.” Hitch says. “I’ll take one of those.” He grabs a bottle of water and unscrews the cap.

“Can you guys keep it down please? I have such a killer headache...” Pipp complains.

It is at this moment that Sunny comes out of the bridge and walks over to the group.

She forces a smile as she gets close. You see the bags under her eyes, and the loose ponytail she has pulled her mane into. “Good morning... everyone.” She says.

The ponies look up at her and watch as she trots over towards you all. She avoids your gaze.

She lets out a languished sigh. “I know we’re all a little worn out from last night, but don’t worry. Today will be easy.”

“Ugh, I sure hope so!” Pipp says.

Zipp has slinked away from Izzy quietly, glad to no longer be the center of attention.

Sunny turns to her. “Since Pipp isn’t feeling well. I think Zipp should take the next watch. Is that okay?”

Zipp freezes. “Uh, yeah. That’s fine, Sunny.” She says.

“Unless you’re feeling tired too?” Sunny says.

“Alright, WHAT IS GOING ON?!” Izzy shouts as she stomps a hoof.

Hitch and Zipp look uncomfortable. Sunny quirks an eyebrow at Izzy.

“Volume, Izzy...” Pipp whines.

“Uhm...” Zipp says. “We... uh...”

You sigh. “Isn’t it obvious?” You say.

You gesture a hand at Zipp and Hitch.

“They fucked last night.”

“What?!” Izzy says, flabbergasted.

“WHAT?!” Pipp says, jolting upwards.

Sunny facehooves.

You smile smugly.

“Woah, woah, woah.” Hitch says, raising up a hoof.

Zipp glances around nervously. Her ears fold back in shame.

“Everyone just calm down and let me explain.” Hitch says.

“Yes. We did spend the night together. It was in the heat of the moment, and entirely consensual.” Hitch says. “Neither one of us wants this to come in between our friendship, and so I want you all to know: this was a one time thing, and we don’t want any of you to treat us differently.”

Hitch nods resolutely. Zipp’s face is flushed crimson, and she moves her head sheepishly along with him. Izzy glances at them both with an incredulous look on her face.

“Hitch...” Sunny says.

“I know. I know. I’m sorry that we didn’t say anything, but-” Hitch says, but is interrupted by a small pegasus rolling up to her hooves and stomping over to her sister.

“Is this true, Zipp?!” Pipp says aggressively.

Zipp turns her face away and glances at her sister from the corner of her eye.

“Yes.” She says quickly.

“Hah! I knew it!” Izzy says.

“Well, okay. I appreciate the-” Sunny says.

Izzy prances over towards Zipp and Hitch, then throws both her forehooves around them and pulls them close together. She grins and looks at them out of the corners of her eyes.

“So you two lovebirds stayed up all night, huh?” She says.

They both look incredibly uncomfortable.

“Izzy, please...” Sunny says, rubbing her temple.

“Tell me everything.” Izzy whispers in Zipp’s ear. She shudders violently.

“IZZY!” Pipp screams and stamps her hooves.

Izzy is surprised by the outburst. She frowns and backs away from the two ponies.

Sunny exhales in one long, exasperated breath and runs a hoof over her mane.

“Okay. Now I know that this was unexpected and comes as a bit of a surprise.” She says. “But that shouldn’t affect things around here. Hitch is still our chief of security, and Zipp is still our chief engineer. If they want to be together, that’s fine. They just have to do it on their downtime.”

Sunny whips her head around and looks at everyone with a serious expression. “Is that fair to everypony?”

“I-it really just was a one time thing, Sunny.” Zipp says quickly.

Hitch lowers his head a bit and frowns.

Sunny looks at them both. Her ears fold down and her eyelids droop, showing them that she is incredibly done with their shit.

Hitch looks at Sunny and says in a genuinely compassionate voice, “We just caught up in it, Sunny. We both agreed that this isn’t the right time or place for this. We’re sorry. It was... irresponsible.”

“Wait... it was really just a one night stand?” Izzy says in a sorrowful tone.

“It better have been.” Pipp says, glaring at her sister.

“Like. I. Said.” Sunny says, loudly announcing every word. “That doesn’t matter. You had your fun, and that’s fine. Now it’s time to get back to work. Hitch, you go rest for your watch. Zipp, you go up there and work the cameras.”

“And the rest of you!” She says, pointing a hoof at Izzy, Pipp and you. “You clean up this mess! I’ll be on the bridge. Now get to it!”

She whirls around and walks with a purposeful steps towards the bow. You groan along with Izzy.

“Aw, cleanup duty? I hate cleaning.” Izzy says glumly.

“Well... see you soon, everypony.” Hitch says. He starts to casually walk back to the crew quarters. Pipp glares daggers at him as he leaves.

“You better have been safe. Zephyrina.” Pipp says in a bitchy tone.

“Pipp. You know what?” Zipp says cooly as she turns away. “Mind your own business.”

Pipp gaps and recoils in disbelief. Izzy watches with wide eyes as Zipp walks past her.

Then you were left on the deck with Izzy and Pipp and a giant mess around you.

“Ugh! I can’t believe her!” Pipp says. She stomps her hooves angrily. She then winces and rubs her head.

“Well, time to earn our stay.” You say with shrug. You find a bundle of empty trash bags under the margarita table.

Izzy walks over to you as you pick one up.

“Hey, Anon.” She whispers. “I have a question. Can earth ponies and pegasi... make babies?”

You look at her with a blank expression.

“Yes, Izzy.” You say.

You toss the empty trash bag over her horn. “Yes, they can.”

You and Izzy were the ones that did most of the work cleaning up. Pipp had fits where she complained about her hangover and how horrible her sister was. It caused her to throw little tantrums on the deck.

Still, it didn’t take too long to get everything put away. You decided to just throw the bags of trash overboard.

You hefted the bags over the side, one by one. You then leaned over and watched them fall to the misty ground below.

You noticed that the ship was flying lower than it usually does. Sunny must have descended to get under the layer of low, scattered clouds. You’re still at least a thousand feet up or more.

You stayed there for a while, leaning over the side. The cool wind felt nice on your face. Pipp went back below deck, and Izzy ran off to do... something.

As the ship traveled further east, the number of abandoned structures slowly increased. There were crumbling skyscrapers and patches of small buildings clumped together.

As you studied it, you notice that there were strange circular depressions near some of the buildings. They were clustered in some parts, and spread out over others. They had long since been filled in with vegetation, but they look almost like craters from bombs.

What you don’t really get is why they’re so evenly spaced out.

“Anonymous, report to the bridge immediately.” Sunny says over the intercom.

You sigh and rub your face. Oh right, Sunny still has to chew you out for what you said last night. Gotta get that over with.

You lean up and turn towards the bow. As you do, you notice that the clouds in the western sky are growing thicker. No, not just thicker. There’s a wall of dark gray clouds gathering up ahead. In the distance, you also see the outline of a very familiar looking mountain.

You walk over towards the bridge slowly.

You open the door and step in. You expect her to instantly start shouting at you, but Sunny doesn’t look back at you from her place on the helm.

“Hi Sunny.” You say.

Sunny turns her head. Her eyes are cold and empty.

“Grab those binoculars. Tell me what you see.” She says. She then nods towards the mountain on the western horizon.

“Alright.” You say.

You take the binoculars off their hook. You walk over to the front-facing windows of the bridge and raise the lenses to your face.

You see the outline of the mountain at the heart of Equestria. Mount Equus. Time has not worn away its pointed top, nor its steep sides. From this eastern vantage point, you cannot see Canterlot.

“That looks like it.” You say. “But we can’t see Canterlot from this angle.”

“Not that.” Sunny says. “Look below the clouds.”

You point the binoculars to the southwest. Underneath the dense thunderhead, right where Ponyville used to be, there is nothing but a huge crater filled with an expansive body of water. Lightning flashes within the clouds and you see glints of wet, jagged rock sticking out of the lake.

“Holy... shit.” You say as you lower the binoculars.

“Well...?” Sunny says.

What the fuck happened? Your stomach twists in knots as you look at Sunny and frown.

“Sunny...” You say. “That’s where Ponyville used to be.”

She closes her eyes and takes a breath. “I thought so.” She says. Her hooves move listlessly along with the steering wheel.

She opens her eyes, looking straight past you.

“We’re going to go around it.” She says. “We can’t fly in a storm like that.”

This is not the response you were expecting.

“I can’t believe it.” You say. “Ponyville. Twilight’s castle. They’re all just gone...”

She doesn’t say anything. She just keeps staring forward.

You look down at the ground. There’s knot in your stomach, and it’s twisting up the more you think about it. You knew it was going to be bad, but... not like this.

You take the binoculars and hang them back up on the hook. You glance back at Sunny for a moment. You should probably say something, but you can’t think of what.

“I’ll tell you when we get to Canterlot.” She says emotionlessly.

“Okay.” You say.

You reach a hand towards the door. You hesitate for a moment. Shouldn’t you apologize for what you said last night? She’s still pissed off about it, but at the same time you don’t know what you can say without making things worse.

You decide to just ignore it for now. You quietly slip out the door to the bridge and start to walk back along the deck. Your mind is swirling with dark thoughts, of storm clouds raging and the earth shifting underneath that innocent little town you knew so long ago.

Izzy appears in front of you. She wears a chipper smile and her horn is glowing.

“Hey Anon! Take a look!” She says.

She holds up a paper plate in her levitation spell. She has drawn a picture of Hitch and Zipp kissing with cartoon hearts floating around them.

You curl your lip at it. “That’s... cool. Izzy.” You say.

You walk past her, returning your gaze to the deck. Izzy decides to follow with you at your side.

“I know they said that it was just a one-time thing, but I’m not so sure. I think they really like each other!” She says.

“Yeah, maybe.” You say.

“Oh, I had another question for you. About interracial kids. Do they come out with just like, one wing? Do they have short wings? I mean, how does that work if-”

“Izzy.” You say angrily. You turn to her. “Can you just drop it already? No one cares that you’re shipping Zipp and Hitch.”

Izzy’s expression turns into a frown. Her ears droop.

“O-oh.” She says.

“Just stop. Alright?” You say.

“Did I do something wrong?” She asks.

“No. Just-” You say.

“Then is there something bothering you? Are you okay, Anon?” She asks.

You turn away from her. You feel the deep well of remorse inside you filling up. Your chin nearly wobbles.

“I’m...” You start to say, but you can’t finish it. You’re not fine. This is horrible.

You take a breath. You need a distraction.

“Come on, Izzy. Let’s get some food.” You say.

It always sets your mind at ease. Cooking.

You didn’t always enjoy preparing your own meals. Food was convenient on Earth. Ready to eat meals that require little to no preparation. Taking time to prepare a big meal seemed like a waste of time.

Then you were thrown into this world. After years of being forced to do it on your own, you slowly grew to enjoy the simple rituals of it.

For this late breakfast with a lot of hungover ponies, you had just the thing in mind. Simple, but filling.

You stood at the stove in the kitchen, slicing up bananas over a pot of simmering oatmeal.

Izzy and Pipp laid in the lounge with the blinds over the windows, trying to rest their weary eyes. As you stirred in a bit of honey, you looked over and noticed their noses twitching at the smell.

You ladled three bowls and handed them out.

“Alright... the best meal for a hangover.” You say. “Banana oatmeal. Eat up.”

Izzy carefully sits up and takes her bowl. Pipp scrunches up her face.

“I don’t really like bananas.” She says.

“Just trust me.” You say. “But it’s hot, so be careful.”

Pipp takes her bowl and delicately blows on it.

Izzy lifts up a bit with her levitation and tastes it with her tongue. She finds the taste satisfactory and begins to eat more.

You eat along with the ponies in silence. Pipp gradually starts to get accustomed to it and starts eating as fast as Izzy, but the tense feeling in the room grows. The ponies start to pick up on it. You want another distraction...

“Well...” You say. “Hitch and Zipp. Pretty crazy, right?”

Izzy sighs.

Pipp ignores the question. Her fussy mane droops over her eye as she stares into her bowl.

“I wonder why Zipp never told me she liked Hitch.” Izzy says despondently.

“Well... Izzy, I’m sure she would have.” You say. “They just got caught up in it, like Hitch said.”

Izzy huffs.

“Can we not talk about this any more?” Pipp says in an annoyed voice. She cuts one burning green eye towards you and sneers.

“Fine.” You say.

Izzy frowns and eats another slow bite of oatmeal.

You get done with yours. As you are about to make another bowl to give to Zipp, the intercom rings again from the speaker upstairs.

“Everyone, report to the main deck in five minutes.” Sunny says abruptly.

“That’s an order.” She adds. There’s a static click as she hangs up.

You sigh and prepare a bowl for Sunny as well. Hopefully this isn’t her announcing that she’s throwing you overboard.

You and the ponies all make it to the bow of the ship where Sunny is waiting. She declines your offer of food. She says she’ll eat it later. Instead, she directs everyone’s attention to the storm that’s passing by.

The airship has banked slightly to starboard as it approached. Sunny made a course to give the storm a wide berth. It’s a good thing, too. Bolts of lightning shoot down from into the lake underneath it quite frequently.

Despite all this, the ponies are not very perturbed. They take turns looking at it with the binoculars. Sunny wears a blank expression the entire time.

“Is it just me, or is there some sort of... haze around it?” Zipp says as she lowers the binoculars.

It is difficult to pick out from a distance, but there’s a purple glow to the air underneath the storm. It’s too dull to be refracted light. It seems to almost permeate the air itself.

“I noticed that too.” Sunny says.

“Looks like some sort of magic aura or something.” You say. “Maybe it’s magic to keep the storm going.”

“That’s not magic!” Izzy says suddenly. She points a forehoof out at it and looks over at you.

“I know what magic looks like, okay? I’m a unicorn. That isn’t magic. It doesn’t have any sparkle to it.”

“Well then.” You say. “Excuse me, Izzy.”

“No sparkle...? Then what is it?” Pipp asks.

“We don’t know.” Sunny says. “But it’s too dangerous. We’ll go around it.”

She then turns to the pink pegasus princess.

“Pipp, go ahead and document this. Take a video, please.” She says.

Pipp doesn’t respond for a moment. Then she takes out her phone and raises it up. “Sure.” She says. She clears her throat and angles it out towards the storm.

You notice that there’s a ring of destroyed buildings around the perimeter of the vast lake. The vegetation is almost completely gone even though the precipitation is heavy being so close to the roiling storm. Patches of wet, bare earth dot the streets underneath piles of wet rubble.

“Could be some kind of acid rain, maybe.” You say.

“Great. Even more reasons to avoid it.” Sunny says.

Zipp, Pipp and Izzy keep watching as Sunny takes the binoculars and begins to walk back to the bridge.

“We should be getting close now...” She says. She isn’t looking, but you know she’s talking to you.

You follow her into the bridge. She hands off the binoculars to you wordlessly. You raise the lenses to your eyes and adjust them. Off in the distance, the spear-like mountain juts up from the countryside. Its snow-capped peak is both familiar and foreboding.

You don’t see Canterlot yet. You don’t really remember what vantage point you need to be at, and this landscape has changed too much to recognize any landmarks.

For a while you just stare at it, waiting for those old familiar towers to swing around the bend. Or at least, what was left.

Then you realize it.

There’s nothing.

The mountain is missing a piece on the western slope. Like someone knocked it off with a giant chisel.

Canterlot isn’t going to swing into frame. There’s just a giant hole where Canterlot should be.

You lower the binoculars and rub your eyes.

Fuck.

There’s a pause as Sunny looks at you from the helm.

“... I’m guessing it’s not there.” She says.

“No.” You say. “Canterlot is not there any more.”

You sigh as the weight of this realization presses down upon you. You place the binoculars onto the control console and then take a seat at the small desk near the corner.

The grand city at the heart of Equestria now lies in a pile of stone at the base of the mountain. A heap of useless rock no different from the rest.

You rest your head on your hands.

Sunny still seems unresponsive. For a while you contemplate the travesty of this world until she finally deigns to look at you and open her mouth.

“I’m sorry.” She says.

You look up at her, a bit surprised.

You open your mouth, preparing to tell her what you think this all means.

Then Zipp bursts into the room.

“Sunny!” She says.

“Huh? What?” Sunny says, craning her neck back.

“We’re getting a radio signal. Come, quick!” Zipp says. She then bolts out of the door.

Sunny looks at you, her tired eyes widen. Without another moment of hesitation, she runs out the door too.

Chapter 19 - Terrible Reception

You’re looking over Zipp and Sunny’s shoulder. They are crammed into the small tech post, and you’re in the doorway.

Zipp carefully tuned the old device that looks like a ham radio. The needle swept gently over the dial as she listened.

The small speakers on the device hiss with the drone of static, then slowly a voice starts to pierce through.

“-Aircraft. Repeat. Land immediately. You are in a restricted area!”

The voice sounds like a mature female, but not the creature you heard before. It sounded quite commanding.

“Where is it coming from?” Sunny asks Zipp.

“I can’t say for sure, but I think it’s there.” Zipp says.

She points to one of the monitors. The camera is pointed to a skinny, black tower that’s situated within the city ruins about a dozen miles away from the storm. It soars over the rest of the buildings, at least forty stories tall. There are long, spidery strands of antenna on the roof.

Zipp holds down a button and the image on the screen zooms in.

Amid the ruins you notice that some of the chimneys are wisping out smoke. There’s activity in the streets. Creatures dressed in dark clothing are scurrying around. Some of the buildings have been boarded up, and some of them have lights coming from inside.

“An encampment.” Sunny says. “That has to be where they’re calling from.”

She puts a hoof to her chin pensively as the radio crackles to life again.

“Hey. The ponies in the balloon. I repeat, land your ship right now!” The voice says.

“Well, should we answer her?” Zipp asks. She holds up a microphone on a spiral cord towards Sunny.

Sunny raises her head and puffs out her chest. Despite Canterlot and Ponyville being destroyed, she retains some glimmer of resolve.

She takes the microphone in her hoof. You feel a bit tense as she raises it towards her lips and presses the button to talk.

“This is Captain Sunny Starscout. Ambassador of ponykind. We would like to extend an offer of peace and friendship.” She says.

There’s a long silent hiss of static through the radio.

“Are you shitting me?” The voice responds. “Land your ship, now.”

“Can you please tell us why you want us to do that?” Sunny asks.

“Listen.” The voice responds. “Do you have any idea where you are? Do you know who I am?”

Sunny smirks. “Well, I don’t but I’d love to know.”

“Alright then, listen up.” The voice says with a riled-up tone.

“My name is Zelina. Major General Zelina of the Imperial Abyssinian Military. You are currently entering a world of shit. I am giving you a direct order to land your ship immediately. Do it now.”

“Woah.” Zipp says. Her eyes widen with surprise.

Sunny lowers the microphone and furrows her brow.

“Abyssinia.” She says. “Where have I heard that before?”

“It was a continent far away from Equestria. It was home to bipedal cats and many other creatures.” You say.

“A foreign army?” Zipp asks.

“It seems that way...” You say.

“Hm.” Sunny says. “We need to approach this very carefully.”

“Well, Captain Starscout?” The voice from the radio says mockingly.

Sunny raises up the microphone and pushes the button to talk.

“Can we negotiate over the radio? We’ll halt our ship’s progress but we’ll stay airborne.” She says.

There’s a pause before the voice responds in a stern tone. “No.”

“Why not?” She asks.

“Haha. Alright. You don’t know how things work around here. I get that, but this is for your own safety. Land now or I will shoot you down.”

Sunny bristles with anxiety as she pushes the button again quickly.

“There’s no need for that.” She says. “If you wish to talk peacefully, we are willing to meet, but I won’t put my crew in danger.”

“Sunny...” You say.

She shushes you and listens to the radio.

“You’re serious, huh?” The voice says. You think you hear a long breath mixing with the static on the radio.

“Well then, you leave me no choice. Sorry, ponies.”

“Why?” Sunny asks. “We are only here to observe and learn more about Equestria. Why do you need to resort to violence?”

“Oh, so you’re a history buff? Is that it?” The voice responds in an agitated tone. “How about I give you a lesson face to face, Starscout? If you aren’t dead when you hit the ground.”

The sound a receiver violently banging down comes from the radio, and then it cuts out. Beads of sweat glisten on Sunny's forehead and she grits her teeth.

Zipp leans in towards the radio’s display. “We lost the signal.” She says.

You let out a long-held breath.

“Well.” Sunny says. She flattens her mouth. “I tried my best to negotiate.”

“Right...” You say. You frown at Sunny. “Do you think she’s just... bluffing?”

“I don’t know.” Sunny says. She adds a bit of cheer to her tone. “But at least we learned her name, and more about who they are.”

“Yeah, wonderful.” You say sarcastically.

Zipp operates the the control pad for the cameras and starts pointing them towards the encampment, trying to get a better angle on things.

Sunny takes a breath and looks up at you.

“Is there anything you know that might help us, Anon?” She asks with pleading eyes.

You sigh. “Well, you won’t like to hear this, but I didn’t hear many good things about Abyssinia back in the day. The things that went on over there... Let’s just say it’s not a good sign.”

Sunny lowers her head. “I figured you might say that.” She says.

“Uh, Sunny? Anon?” Zipp says. She points her hoof to one of the monitors. “Should we be worried about... that?”

You look at the monitor. In the blurry, desaturated picture you see some large device rotating on top of one of the smaller buildings. The long barrel and heavy mechanical base are all you need to see to discern its purpose.

It’s an anti-aircraft gun, and it’s starting to aim directly towards the camera.

“Shit! Fuck!” You say.

“What? What is it?” Sunny asks.

You put a hand on Sunny’s back and look at her with wide, terrified eyes. “Sunny, we have to turn the ship around. Right now.”

“S-so is that what I think it is?” She says, looking to the monitor and then to you.

“It’s a gun! A really big fucking gun! It’s going to shoot at us-”

You stop mid-sentence as you see a plume of smoke erupt from the anti-air canon.

“Shit. GET DOWN!” You yell.

You shove Zipp and Sunny down by their withers to the floor. You press yourself against the floor with them.

“H-hey!” Zipp says. Sunny covers her head with her hooves.

There’s a whistling sound that rises in pitch. Then the crack of an explosion off the port side. A moment late you hear the sound of metal fragments pinging off the hull.

Sunny gasps and tenses up. Zipp’s eyes widen as she realizes what happened. You look up at the monitor. There’s tiny creatures crowding around the base of the gun as they prepare another shell.

“It’s flak. They’re going to shoot at us again!” You say.

You look to Sunny. “We need to take this thing higher! Get out of range!” You yell. You get up and start to quickly descend the stairs.

“Anon! Wait!” Sunny calls out as she goes down the steps after you.

You don’t turn back. You make it down to the main deck and jump down the last few steps.

Zipp flies down quickly as Sunny reaches the bottom. Another shell explodes in the air close to the stern. It leaves a hovering cloud of gray smoke, and the ship is peppered with hot metal fragments. You hit the deck.

Izzy and Pipp gallop towards you from the bow, screaming for Sunny. Hitch bursts out from the door to the lower decks, scanning the sky with a surprised look on his face.

“What was that? What’s going on?!” Hitch shouts.

“EVERYPONY!” Sunny yells as loud as she can. “REMAIN CALM! GET TO THE BRIDGE!”

Izzy and Pipp skid to a halt. They look at her with terrified expressions. Hitch gallops over stoic and determined.

“You heard her, everypony! Move!” He shouts.

The air is thick with the smell of sulfur. You run along with the ponies across the deck to the bridge. You keep glancing behind to make sure they’re keeping up.

Zipp flies ahead and opens the door for everyone. One by one they start to filter inside. You wait by the door to make sure they make it all in.

Just as Sunny is about to make it to the door, there’s another explosion. It’s close. Right under the front of the balloon. You hear the sickening groan of metal being wrenched apart, and the shockwave ripples through you. Searing hot shrapnel pings off roof of the bridge.

You, Sunny and Zipp look up in horror as the patch of smoke clears. You see the fabric of the balloon catching fire and the exposed frame underneath. There’s now a sizable hole the canopy.

“No!!” Sunny screams. Her face twists in anguish.

“Sunny! Get this ship above the clouds!” You shout. You point to the helm.

Sunny whips her head towards you. “No! We won’t make it!”

“What?!” You shout, but she marches inside the bridge.

Zipp flies up and looks at the monitor on the control panel.

“We’re losing pressure!” Zipp says as flashing red warning symbols light up.

Sunny rears up and grabs the wheel with both hooves, keeping it steady.

“Vent the ballonets! Emergency override! Increase power to helium generation!” She yells in a commanding voice.

Zipp turns a heavy red lever on the side of the control panel. There’s a loud rush of wind through the pipes below deck as the ballonets are vented. Pipp shrieks and covers her head in her hooves.

Sunny cranks the throttle forward and the ship increases its speed. She turns the ship starboard, trying to make it less of a target.

“Sunny, the reactor can’t take this. We don’t have enough power!” Zipp says as she hurriedly adjusts dials to try and maintain altitude.

There’s another loud crack as a shell explodes on the port side dangerously close to the main deck. Bits of metal embed themselves into the deck and rip along the balloon canopy.

“Sunny!” Izzy shouts as she holds Pipp on the ground.

“Sunny, what do we do?!” Hitch asks. His eyes are wide, and for the first time ever, he looks panicked.

Sunny looks to the left and right. Her chest is heaving with heavy breaths. She levels out the ship and locks the wheel in place with a switch.

She turns and looks over at Hitch, Izzy and Pipp.

“Everyone! We need to come together!” She says while stamping a hoof. “Now is not the time to be afraid. No matter what happens, we’re going to get through this as friends!”

She looks at them with a tearful expression. Izzy and Hitch stare back, and Pipp raises up her head.

“Give me the crystals! Quickly!” Sunny says. She reaches into her own pack for hers.

Izzy stands up and reaches into her mane for the unicorn crystal. Pipp meekly retrieves the pegasus crystal from beneath her wing.

Sunny takes them and slots them together on the floor of the bridge. She closes her eyes and exhales in a long breath. She puts a hoof on the crystals.

The ponies watch with anxious expressions as there’s another loud explosion outside.

You start to get nervous. Nothing is happening.

“Well?!” You say. “Get on with it!”

“I’m trying, Anon!” Sunny says fiercely as she cuts her eyes to you.

“C-come on, everypony! Let’s help her.” Hitch says as he takes a step forward and puts a hoof on the crystals.

Izzy moves forward too, but Pipp hesitates.

“I can’t!” She says. She curls her mouth into a frown and glares at him with tearful eyes. “I don’t feel friendly right now, not with Hitch here!”

Hitch whips his head around. “Oh, can you stop being a foal?! Now is not the time!” He shouts.

This only serves to make Pipp angrier.

“Hitch! Pipp! Stop it now!” Sunny yells.

“Wait!” Zipp says as she lands next to Sunny and puts a hoof on her back.

“That’s the problem. We aren’t getting along!” She says, looking at the ponies individually.

“Well that wouldn’t have happened if one of my supposed friends didn’t sleep with my sister!” Pipp shouts as tears stream down her face.

“Enough!” You shout.

“Hey! HEY!” Sunny yells. She puts both forehooves in the air.

She points at Zipp. “Zipp, apologize!” She points at Pipp. “Pipp, try to understand her feelings.”

Zipp lowers her head. Hitch looks away awkwardly.

There’s another explosion outside. It hits close to the bulkhead and there’s a low groan as the ship’s frame strains from the shockwave.

This nudges Zipp and Pipp into action. Zipp raises her head.

“Pipp, I’m sorry. I should have told you I liked Hitch. I know you care about me and you’re upset because I didn’t tell you.”

Pipp takes a step forward. Her face scrunches up and she sniffles.

“I’ll own that. I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d act like this. I tried to avoid it to protect my own feelings. That wasn’t right.” Zipp says.

Pipp wipes a tear away quickly and sits down in front of the crystals.

“Z-Zipp, you’re my big sister. You always will be. I just feel like we’ve grown so much apart lately...” Pipp says in a sorrowful tone.

“I’m not going anywhere, sis.” Zipp says.

They lean forward and hug each other. Sunny and Izzy smile warmly at this.

Hitch looks down and then looks over at Pipp as the hug ends.

“I’m sorry too, Pipp. I... I wasn’t trying to hurt you or your sister.” He says in a quiet, remorseful voice.

Pipp nods and shakily smiles.

With a collective sigh of relief, the ponies all lean in and put their hooves onto the crystals. You crouch down and put your hand in too. You watch and wait for the magic to start seeping out.

Yet it doesn’t.

There’s an awkward pause as Sunny looks to you. You look back, and instantly you understand. You and Sunny are at odds with each other. Now more so than ever. You’ve created dissonance in the group.

You look away, your mind reeling with the implication that you’ve doomed everyone. Sunny starts to say, “Wait. Wait! There’s still one more thing-”

She is interrupted as a huge explosion rocks the ship. A fireball engulfs the surveillance booth. A hideous squeal of metal rings out as bolts pop off the spot where the balloon frame connects to the pylon.

You watch as the balloon starts to buckle inward. The tattered canopy tears open as flames spread quickly over it. The ship begins to rumble and shake.

The ponies all scream. You let out a vile string of curses and put a hand on the wall to steady yourself. Alarms blare and red lights fill up the control panel as the ship begins to rapidly loose altitude. The balloon frame is simultaneously collapsing and being pulled away from the ship.

There’s a sinking feeling in your gut as you realize that this is the end. You grab onto the metal window frame and try and steady yourself. Cracks start to form in the reinforced glass.

Sunny jumps to the helm and unlocks the wheel. She fruitlessly tries to fight the ship as it lists to the side.

You turn to Izzy, who is screaming and holding on to her friends for dear life.

You manage to reach out to her and touch her foreleg. “Izzy!” You yell over the din of crashing metal. “Use your magic! Save us!”

The ship begins to tilt upward as it descends. Your body feels like it’s getting lighter. Izzy leans up at looks at you with wide, violet eyes.

“I can’t, Anon!” She yells.

“Yes you can! I believe in you! Please!!” You shout.

Izzy’s horn lights up a little. She looks around at all of her friends terrified and cowering on the floor, and her face twists as her emotions well up inside.

Her horn glows brighter. Sunny slams the throttle all the way forward as the ship points further up towards the sky. The thrust from the engines helps to slow the descent, but it won’t stay that way for long.

“You can do it, Izzy. I believe in you. I believe in you, Izzy.” You say, trying to sound encouraging.

Izzy shuts her eyes. Her horn glows so brightly that the bridge is flooded with lavender light. The wind is howling outside.

“DONT. HURT. MY...” Izzy shouts.

There’s a massive crunch as something gives way near the stern. The weight shifts and the ship begins to tumble end over end. You and the ponies are thrown into the air.

“FRIENDS!” Izzy shouts.

There’s a bright flash. The last thing you feel is your body pressed in from all sides by some fluffy mass. Then the ship hits the ground.

Chapter 20 - Grounded

The ship rolled and tumbled for what felt like ages. Your head spins as you slowly become aware of your surroundings. You only know that you’re inside the ship.

Your body feels bruised and completely immobilized. Your vision is filled with some kind of glittering magic material, and you feel a warm body pressed up against your stomach.

You’re still alive.

You groan and try to move your arms and legs. The stuff around you must be magic pillows that Izzy materialized. You hear a muffled voice that sounds like Pipp.

The ethereal pillows slowly start to fade. Your body sinks lower from its position suspended above the floor.

Then the spell cuts out and you fall about a foot onto the hard deck of the bridge. You land on your side. All around you, the ponies also drop to the deck. Pipp drops right in front of you with an “Oof!”

“Ow...” Hitch says from the other side of the room.

“What... what happened? Is everyone okay?” Sunny says as she raises up slowly to her hooves.

You shakily stand up. Your stomach feels sore. You definitely have some bruises all over, but at least none of your bones feel broken.

“I’m okay.” You say.

You notice that Izzy is still over by the bridge. Her legs are trembling and her eyes are shut tight.

“Izzy... she did it.” You say.

Izzy slowly opens her eyes and looks around. Her mouth opens in disbelief as she sees everyone still in one piece.

“Wh-what?” She stammers.

“Izzy...” Sunny says. She trots over and wraps her forelegs over Izzy. She then pulls her into a tight hug.

Izzy seems a bit confused. The other ponies walk over.

“Thank you, Izzy.” Hitch says earnestly. He limps a bit with his hind leg.

“You... you saved us, Iz!” Pipp says.

“I... I did. Didn’t I?” Izzy says. She looks like she can’t really comprehend it herself.

“Filled the whole room with pillows! How did you do that?” Zipp says in an enthusiastic voice.

As the ponies smile appreciatively at Izzy, you look around the room.

The windows are all broken up, but still intact. The cracks are so numerous it makes them look almost opaque. The roof is dented in many places, making the ceiling feel low and cramped.

“Hitch, are you okay?” Sunny asks in a worried tone.

“Just banged my leg... I’ll be okay.” He says, looking at his hind hoof.

You make your way over to the door. You turn the handle, but the door doesn’t budge. It seems to be stuck in the frame.

You kick it with your heel. It creaks loudly and swings open, then its hinges give way and it falls onto the deck.

The first thing you immediately notice is that the back half of the ship is missing. The pylon that previously held up the balloon is nothing more than a pile of twisted, bent metal. The deck still has shrapnel embedded into it from the flak.

You look back at Sunny and the ponies. Sunny gasps silently. Her eyes well up with tears as she sees the totality of the ships destruction.

You step out onto the deck and look around.

The ship landed in sparsely forested area. Judging from the swath of broken branches and toppled trees, the forest helped slow down the ship a bit as it tumbled across the ground.

You spot a few small buildings through the trees. All of them look collapsed and overgrown with vines. There doesn’t seem to be anyone around. At least, not yet.

The ponies slowly filter out of the door and stand with you on the deck. Together, you try to comprehend the situation you find yourselves in.

“She... she wasn’t bluffing.” Sunny finally says, adding an awkward laugh.

“Who?” Hitch says.

“Major... General Zelina.” Sunny says shakily. “Of the Abyssinian military.”

She takes a few steps forward, looking to the rear of the ship as if still expecting the missing stern to suddenly reappear.

“She’s the leader of those creatures we met. We contacted her on the radio, a-and...” Sunny says, trailing off as her voice cracks.

There’s a gentle breeze that tussles her mane. She lowers her head and avoids the gaze of her crew members.

“She called us on the radio. She gave us an ultimatum. Either land, or she’d shoot us down.” Zipp says.

“Oh...” Hitch says. Pipp folds her ears back and winces.

Sunny turns around slowly. Her head is held high, but her eyes show the pain welling up inside.

“I’ve... failed you. I’ve failed you all as a captain.” She says remorsefully.

“S-Sunny?” Izzy asks nervously.

Sunny inhales through her nose. Her mouth trembles, and she has to force the words out.

“They’ll... be coming for us soon. If you leave now, you can get a head start. With any luck, you might make it back to the east coast on hoof.” She says.

“What are you saying, Sunny?!” Hitch asks incredulously.

“I’m saying...” She says with a long sigh. “I’m no longer fit to be your captain. I’m staying here.”

“Sunny. No. You aren’t just going-” Pipp says.

“I said I’m staying here!” Sunny shouts. She clenches her eyes tight and a tear rolls down her cheek.

The ponies look crushed.

“Please, just... go. I deserve this. I’ve ruined everything.” She says.

You should be pissed at Sunny. You tried to warn her. If she listened, she could have prevented this, but you don’t feel like yelling at her any more. Not with her standing in the wreckage of her dream. The ship is now just another ruin sitting among many.

“Sunny...” You say, but she doesn’t look up.

Izzy marches up to Sunny and clasps her hooves over her cheeks.

“Sunny!! Snap out of it!” She says in an assertive tone.

“No!” Sunny says, pushing Izzy away with one hoof. She tries to fight off Izzy, but just ends up getting caught in a tight hug. Sunny starts bawling as Izzy holds her.

It’s hard to see. No more ever-present optimism from this mare.

You sigh and rub the back of your head, trying to consider what to say. Pipp walks over to Sunny and runs a hoof along her mane in a comforting gesture.

Hitch starts to walk over to Sunny, but his hind leg twists at a weird angle. “Ah!” He says, wincing with pain.

“A-are you sure you’re okay?” Zipp asks.

“I think... I might have sprained something.” Hitch says as he carefully sits down and looks at his hind leg. There’s a nasty bruise on the cannon.

He inhales sharply as he massages his leg.

“Ah...!” He says.

Zipp walks over to Hitch and sits down next to him. She takes a hook at the leg and carefully elevates it above his body.

“W-well.” Hitch says. “I guess that means... I’m staying with you too, Sunny. Sorry.”

Sunny’s sobs die down and she looks over at Hitch with a painful expression.

“No...” She says in a small voice.

Izzy lets go of Sunny and lets her sit normally on the deck. She moves around to her front and looks at her with round, compassionate eyes.

“Sunny, I know you were just doing what you thought was right.” Izzy says. “No one here is going to blame you for that.”

“Izzy’s right.” Pipp says. “We aren’t leaving you!”

Sunny starts to mouth something, but instead just looks down.

You sigh. You slowly sit down cross-legged on the deck near to Sunny.

“The captain always goes down with the ship, isn’t that right?” You say, trying to smile.

Sunny looks up at you. The tears are still flowing.

“Listen. You screwed up. It’s okay. It happens to all of us... especially me.” You say.

Sunny raises her head up and wipes her eyes.

“If you aren’t going to be captain any more, that’s fine.” You say. You grin with macabre delight. “But it’s not to late for me, right? Captain Anon. What do you say?”

Sunny’s mouth wobbles and she exhales through her nose. Pipp rolls her eyes.

Your little joke falls flat and your smile fades. You stare at the deck.

“Look, Sunny... for what it’s worth: I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.” You say solemnly.

Then, you hear a droning sound in the distance. It begins as the distant rumble of diesel engines. Dark smoke rises up from the forest canopy. You then hear orders being shouted and the cries of frenzied laughter.

“They’re coming...” Sunny says quietly.

“Wait... the crystals!” Zipp says. She leaves Hitch’s side and walks a few paces towards the bridge.

“Oh shit!” Izzy blurts out.

Zipp then flies over to the bridge and Izzy gallops with her.

Sunny slumps against the deck for a moment, looking to the south where the sounds are coming from. Hitch and Pipp turn to watch their compatriots rummage around inside the bridge room.

You watch Sunny as she raises up to all four hooves and silently begins to plod forward towards the destroyed stern, looking out towards the fog-laden tree line in the distance.

You hear the engines in the distance die down.

A few moments later, Izzy and Zipp return from the bridge carrying the crystals.

“Sunny! We found ‘em!” Izzys says.

Sunny doesn’t respond, but nods her head once.

“Alright.” Sunny says. “You all just... hold onto them for now.”

“Uh... okay?” Izzy says, tilting her head.

“Will you give us a signal when it’s time to use them?” Zipp asks.

Sunny shakes her head slowly. “No. Just... hide them for now.”

Izzy ties up the Unicorn and Earth Pony crystals into her mane. Zipp tucks the pegasus crystal under her wing.

You look out in the distance and you notice moment in the trees.

They walk in a loose formation, spreading out around trees and buildings. There’s a few dozen at least. They all march in their own dissonant rhythms. There’s tall, hulking creatures, scurrying short ones, a wide range of sizes in between.

Sunny steps to the side of the deck. The section of gunwale is bent back from the bulkhead and set at a shallow angle. She looks over it at the creatures. You and the other ponies crowd up behind her.

Instead of just trench coats, the creatures now have modern-looking body armor strapped to whatever constitutes their chest along with armored pads on their limbs. The black patches you saw before are emblazoned on all of them. They carry rifles, pistols, bludgeons and manacles.

Then one creature in particular catches your attention. A centaur mare.

She walks through the clearing with a steady gait, giving off an air of authority. The creatures deliberately form a path for her towards the downed ship.

She wears slate gray body armor on her humanoid torso. The fur on her top-half is a pale gray-blue, and her fingers end in claws. Her hair is long and a dark, metallic blue. It spills down her shoulder and covers one of her eyes. Her long, slender legs make it seem like she’s gliding across the ground.

There’s a clamor as the creatures surround the ship. The creatures mockingly call out to the ponies and laugh among themselves. Sunny narrows her eyes at them, but doesn’t budge.

One of the creatures, a hulking fish beast, raises his webbed claws up towards the gunwale. He hops up and then bends it down further with a low groan as he hangs off the side.

Sunny steps back a bit. You all do the same.

The other creatures move around behind him, ordering themselves by height.

One calls out, “Stair formation! Stair formation!”

The centaur mare wordlessly keeps stepping forward. She then steps on the outstretched claws of a small creature at the back of the group. She continues walking up the staircase of bodies towards the ship, planting her hooves gracefully. Every step is met with an outstretched paw, as if she is stepping up a hill made of claws.

She reaches the top and stands on the fish-beast’s shoulders.

“Well then!” She says in a boisterous tone. “Hello there, ponies!”

Sunny glares, unmoving.

“Ready for that lesson now?” The centaur says. The creatures bellow with laughter all around.

As you glimpse her face, you realize what the symbol on their patches represents. Her head is elongated and goat-like. Her teeth are sharp and pointed. She sports two curved black horns on her head, and her yellow eyes have black scleras.

Their symbol is a centaur skull.

“Zelina, I presume.” Sunny says. “Care to explain why you shot down my airship and endangered my crew?”

Zelina runs a clawed finger across her hair.

“I know. It’s a real bummer, huh?” She says. “I thought airships like these stopped working hundreds of years ago. Talk about an antique! Imagine the surprise when I saw it flying in my sky.”

She hops up and puts her front hooves on the gunwale.

“So, permission to come aboard, captain?” She says.

Sunny backs up a few paces hesitantly. You and the ponies do the same.

Zelina hops up onto the deck with a short clatter of hooves. “There we are.” She says.

Tree medium size creatures clad in armor pull themselves up on the gunwale behind her. They unstrap their rifles from their backs and hold them in a ready stance. Zelina smiles and turns down to one of the creatures by her side.

“Nails, is this her? The orange one?” She asks, pointing a clawed finger at Sunny.

The black cat creature from the mall steps forward. He narrows his yellow eyes at Sunny.

“That’s her. She’s wearing the... symbol.” He points a finger at Sunny’s bag.

Sunny looks down at her saddlebag and then back to Zelina.

“Well then.” Zelina responds. “Get it. Bring it to me!”

Sunny leans her ears back and scowls. “Not so fast. Why do you care about this symbol?”

Zelina holds up a hand. “Oh? Do you think we tolerate royalists here? Idiots that go around kissing gilded hooves?”

So they despise the old ruling class. That figures.

“You know, I was surprised that old gun even still fired. Haven’t had to use it in years! Oh, think about how happy my little gunny boys were to fire it. They waited so long...”

She giggles and puts a claw over her mouth. Her amber irises are glimmering with mirth.

Sunny stomps a hoof.

“Why are you doing this?” She shouts.

Zelina takes a few steps forward, towering over Sunny.

“Sunny, Sunny! You should be proud you made it this far! I’m actually a little impressed.” She says, punctuating it with a short laugh. “But your little trip ends here, I’m afraid...”

She then lowers her horse half to the deck, folding in her legs to sit down. Even in this position she’s still a few heads taller than her.

“Let me get a look at you. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a pony up close.”

Zelina reaches out a hand towards Sunny. Just as she is about to touch Sunny’s cheek, Sunny bats her hand away with a hoof and leans forward.

“You don’t scare me.” She says.

“Oh! Haha! And feisty, too! How adorable.” Zelina says with a snarky grin. “You know, you shouldn’t be so impolite to people you just met.”

She roughly musses up Sunny’s mane. Sunny grunts in response.

Zipp, Pipp and Izzy hop forward. They then crouch down next to Sunny, sharing the same menacing look.

Zelina leans back. She puts her hands on her hips as she looks over the ponies.

“Hm. Hm. Well now, what to do with you?” Zelina says.

Sunny steps back a bit and runs a hoof over her mane.

Zelina then sweeps her eyes over to you.

“Oh my. Who’s this lovely creature?” She asks.

You glare at her with empty, cold eyes.

“You must be new here as well. Where do you come from?” She says with a peppy grin.

“Fuck off.” You say.

Zelina nearly bursts out laughing.

“Wow. That’s cute.” She says, stifling laughs.

Zelina clears her throat and looks back at Sunny. “Well, I think that my crew is going to be busy for a while cleaning up this mess.” She says, gesturing around to the wreckage of the ship.

She slowly rises up to her hooves. Her black horse tail flicks behind her. Sunny raises her head up and continues staring.

“I suppose you’re going to have to come back with me for now. We’ll show you around. Hm? How’s that sound?” Zelina says.

Sunny stomps a hoof. “We aren’t going anywhere until you tell us what’s going on!” She says in a rising tone.

Zelina crosses her arms. “Really? You’re going to make me do this, huh?” She says.

Sunny glares at her with a barely contained fury. Zelina rolls her eyes and sighs.

“Alright.” She says, uncrossing her arms and standing up straight.

“Sunny Starscout. You are charged with unauthorized use of magic equipment, possession of contraband material, and trespassing in a high security area. Your ship and all its cargo is now property of the Abyssinian Republic. You and your crew will be taken back to our headquarters where you will be imprisoned and then sentenced for your crimes.”

The creatures behind her rouse and let out grunts of agreement.

Sunny lowers her head. “Prisoners. That’s what I expected.” She says grimly.

“Oh, come on now, Sunny. It’s not so bad! I don’t enjoy being the big, mean authoritarian but you’ve forced my hand. Now. Don’t worry. I promise that no harm will come to you and your crew. In fact, you’ll be given the same opportunity that every creature has when they come here.” Zelina says.

Zelina turns to look out over the crowd of creatures gathered below.

“Isn’t that right, everyone?” She shouts.

The creatures let out a riotous cheer in response.

Zelina holds up a hand. “Nails. My good lieutenant.” She says as she turns back around. She places a hand on his shoulder.

“You’ve done well. I’m glad you finally started to do your job for once in your miserable little life.” She smirks and runs her hand through the fur on Nails’ cheek.

“In fact you’ve been such a good boy that I think a little promotion is in order. Come back with us, will you?”

She pats his face. Nails lowers his gaze. There’s a burning sense of angst in his eyes. “Sure thing... ma’am.” He says before stepping back.

Zelina leans down over the ponies.

“Oh, and please give me your bag. The one that has the magic in it? If you don’t mind.” Zelina says.

You maintain a deadpan expression as you hide your relief. It seems they don’t know about the crystals yet.

Sunny puts a hoof over her bag.

“Alright. But before you put us in chains, just know that I really meant what I said. We came in peace, only to learn. We never meant any harm.” Sunny says.

She carefully undoes the strap on her saddlebag and sits it down on the ground.

“Will you talk with us once we reach your base?” Sunny asks.

Zelina grins. “No. Why wait? We’ll talk on the way. Much to discuss.”

Zelina reaches down and takes Sunny’s bag. She grins as she leans back up to her full height.

At this moment, more creatures rush up the gunwale holding manacles attached to chains.

Sunny raises a forehoof but holds her ground. The ponies tense up, and you look to Sunny.

Is now the time to act?

The creatures stop short of the line, snarling and holding the chains tightly in their paws and various other grasping appendages.

“Don’t worry.” Zelina says with a polite and charming smile. “We’ll take them off once we get there. This is just standard procedure.”

You watch Sunny, waiting for her to give the word. Yet she doesn’t. She lets the creatures approach her and clasp the bands around her hooves. The entire time, she stares Zelina dead in the eyes.

Chapter 21 - Lesson Zed

They led you all in a single line back to the trucks.

It was hard to walk in chains. You had to stoop over so you didn’t pull at the line so much.

The creatures taunted you and prodded you along with the butts of their rifles. Zelina watched the entire time, so they didn’t dare to go further with it.

They took you to where their vehicles were parked on a rough dirt trail. All of them looked like gas guzzling troop transports. They sported worn and shredded canopies, and their frames were marred with rust.

Zelina stepped up into one of the truck beds with a heavily armored creature. She then ordered you and the ponies up onto the truck with her.

You loaded in one by one. There were no benches or seats, just dried wood planks with flaking paint.

The massive engine block of the troop carrier roared to life, and soon you were bouncing along your way towards the tower.

Zelina’s sizable bulk occupied one corner of the vehicle by itself. The adjacent corner was taken up by the medium-sized, bipedal creature in full armor. Zelina gripped the metal support rods for the roof to balance her upper torso as the truck jostled around.

“Well.” She says. “Where to begin?”

“Just tell us. What happened to cause ponies to stop being friends?” Sunny asks.

You and the other ponies perk up when she asks this.

“Hm.” Zelina says. “Now normally I don’t do this... but you’ve made such an impression on me, Starscout.”

She taps a claw on one of the metal supports for the truck’s roof and grins.

“Let me put it this way, Sunny. Do you know what that symbol you were carrying around means to us?”

Sunny looks at her with a resolute if detached expression. “It’s the symbol of your enemy. You hate... Princess Twilight.”

“Hate? Oh no. I don’t hate her personally.” Zelina says, putting a hand on her chest. “The world hates her, Sunny. The world fears her, and I don’t blame them. For what she did, she deserved to die. Our nations came to an agreement on this a long time ago.”

She glances around quickly at everyone. “And by the way, that includes your little pony tribes.” She adds, pointing a finger coldly at the group.

“What?!” Sunny says.

“Don’t interrupt.” Zelina says. She snaps her fingers.

Sunny glowers at her.

Zelina clears her throat. “Yes. Long ago, all of Equestria was ruled by that oppressive queen. The queen of magic. The queen of power. She brought so many wonders into the world. She gave lives of comfort and ease to those who supported her. In return, they gave up their freedom. A cruel fate, but... people were a lot dumber back then I suppose.”

Zelina is momentarily interrupted by a bump in the road.

“Of course, she didn’t stop there. She turned her sights to the countries outside of Equestria, and planned to take their lands for her kingdom. She did this not through war, but by spreading her magic devices so that creatures like ourselves would rely on them.”

“The creatures accepted this at first. Her magic made life easier, after all. But then they saw how it made people weak and easy to influence. They saw her true plan. She sought to take control of the entire world by making all of its people too complacent to fight back. With no one to oppose her, she could do whatever she wanted.”

“What? Twilight would never-” Sunny yells.

“What did I say about interrupting?!” Zelina says in a raised tone.

The guard raises up his rifle and glares menacingly through the visor of his helmet. Sunny maintains her hateful expression, but she leans back and casts her gaze to the side.

“Now then.” Zelina says.

“My great-grandfather was an incredible centaur. Or at least, that’s what I’ve been told. He and his friends were among the few who were willing to stand up to the queen. The queen hunted them down and broke up their peaceful demonstrations. Many creatures lost their lives in the struggle. His group suffered many defeats, and stood no real chance against the queen and her magic.”

Zelina leans forward with a peppy smile.

“That is, until they found the secret of how to stop her magic from working.” She says.

She leans back and gestures grandly with her claws.

“They put a great plan into action. Slowly, they managed to disrupt the queen’s magic. The creatures around the world began to notice. Bit by bit, they began to wake up and join the fight. The tide turned against her, and her end drew near.”

Zelina grins wider, seeming to relish telling this story.

“She was surrounded and ready to be struck down. It should have been simple. Easy. But, out of nowhere she activated a secret weapon and nearly wiped out everything in Equestria in the process.”

Sunny gasps in disbelief. She puts a hoof over her mouth. “N-no!” She says.

Zelina sighs in mock sympathy. “But it’s true. This weapon was so powerful it nearly destroyed every city in the world. It left scars across the land. That storm you see in the distance? It never ends. She made it.”

“There are many names for it. The Ever-Storm, The Sea of Dead Queens, The Gate to Fucking Tartarus. Call it whatever you want.”

Her eyes shine and she claps once. She throws her hands up and splays her fingers.

“I just prefer to call it the world’s asshole! Welcome!” She says extravagantly.

Sunny looks shocked. Her mouth hangs open.

Zelina folds her arms in and looks at Sunny with a patronizing gaze.

“It’s no coincidence that you ended up here little pony. All of the bad ones eventually do. It’s inevitable. Quite sad, really.”

“Y-you still haven’t answered my question” Sunny says. “So... did this weapon get blamed on ponies?”

Zelina grins and tugs on the canopy of the truck. With a tearing sound it rips off the metal supports and flutters off the side of the truck, twisting in the wind before settling on the muddy road.

“Well, to put it simply....” She says. “Just look around you, Sunny. Do you really want something like this to happen again?”

You glance around at the barren landscape surrounding the road. You notice dead, blackened trees are everywhere now. All are devoid of leaves or any other greenery. The ground is rocky and covered with spots of mud. Bone-white concrete structures stick out at awkward angles here and there.

“This land is broken forever from the war. There’s toxic rain that kills all plants and animals in a thirty kilometer radius. Nothing can grow here. We have to rely on shipments to survive.” Zelina says.

She turns to Sunny. “One angry dictator did this. Just out of spite. Now, I’m normally not one to judge, but that is simply unforgivable, wouldn’t you say?”

“I don’t... believe you.” Sunny says desperately. “That’s not something she would do.”

“Is it not?” Zelina says. “I get that you’re obsessed with the old world. You know, carrying her symbol and all that. But those times are long-gone Sunny. Are you so sure it was a blissful and perfect as you think it was?”

Sunny grimaces at Zelina. Then she turns to you. With a huff, she gives you a look that shows she’s confident in her assertions.

She looks back at Zelina and says, “I am certain. I have it on good authority that this pony is not who you think she was.”

Zelina shakes her head. “Tut-tut-tut. Sunny. I expected more from you. Do you think that our people coerced the pony tribes into separating? Pff. No. Your ancestors willing agreed to do it. That’s the truth.”

“You lie. Do you have anything... any single bit of proof to back that up?!” Sunny says angrily. The other ponies are glaring along with Sunny. They seem to be taking this personally.

Zelina just grins. Behind her, the black tower rises up starkly against the gray clouds of the storm. A single spear-like silhouette marking the headquarters of the army.

“Of course.” Zelina says. “I’ll show you the treaty that was signed. But Sunny, this is old news. It happened, I dunno, over one-hundred and eighty years ago?”

“H-huh?” Sunny balks.

“Well yeah. The only way to ensure an alicorn isn’t born is to separate the races.” Zelina says. “Back then, all you ponies agreed to do this. It’s for the best, you know?”

Zelina shrugs.

“Alright.” Sunny says. “Clearly we are not going to agree on this. So let’s just move on. What are you doing here, any way? Why stay in this desolate place?”

“Oh, us?” Zelina says, gesturing a hand casually at her bodyguard.

“Well, to put it simply. We’re the platoon that’s tasked with protecting this place from snooping little critters like you.” She says, pointing a claw.

Sunny tilts her ears back and frowns.

“We’re also *technically* supposed to clean up all the magic artifacts and dispose of them throughout the area. That would have happened about forty fucking years ago if my soldiers weren’t all a bunch of perverts, idiots and assholes.” Zelina says.

She looks over to the creature in armor to her side. “No offense, private.”

The solider just nods once.

Zelina grins and then leans forward to Sunny. She cups her hand over her mouth and lowers her voice to a whisper.

“We also - and this is a secret - have to watch the storm. Just in case.” She says.

Sunny lifts her head up and tweaks her ears towards the centaur.

“There are rumors. Whispers. They say the queen might still live.” Zelina says. “They say she sleeps below the storm. That’s why it grows five meters every year. Her rage is ever-expanding. It boils the water to make the toxic clouds. It is a symbol of her undying hatred.”

“Do... do you really believe this?” Sunny asks hesitantly.

“Oh no, of course not! It’s all just superstition.” She says, punctuating it with a small laugh.

“But then again, a magic pony on a magic airship did almost fly directly into it today. So really, I’m not so sure *what* to believe any more.” She says.

Her eyes spark with a curious sort of wonder. Sunny turns her head and grimaces.

“So... the only reason you shot down our ship is because you think all magic is dangerous?” Sunny asks.

“Why yes.” Zelina says plainly.

Sunny lowers her head. “Why take it so far? Our ship wasn’t a weapon. It wasn’t going to harm anyone.”

“Oh?” Zelina says. “And I suppose you weren’t going to hurt Nails and his group with your magic, either. Is that right?”

Sunny jolts upright and looks at Zelina. Her eyes narrow to pinpricks.

Zelina titters. “Nails told me about your magic, Sunny. He said you nearly disintegrated him with a laser. Now why would you do that, if magic is not dangerous, hm?”

Sunny takes a breath.

“I wasn’t going to harm him. I never intended to do that.” She says sternly.

“Oh. Well, why not? He was going to kill you. You should have defended yourself.” Zelina says.

“Because I don’t hurt creatures. That’s not who I am.” Sunny says. “I just wanted to scare him, and it worked.”

Sunny and Zelina stare at each other. Zelina seems to be ascertaining if Sunny is lying.

You notice that you’re now getting close to the encampment. The road under the truck turns from dirt to cracked pavement.

“I’m not sure if I believe you, Sunny. In a way, it’s more exciting if I don’t know for sure.” Zelina says. “Just promise me you’ll go easy on my boys if you decide to use it again, will you?

“I already told you. We don’t want to harm anyone.” Sunny says.

“Well, it’s a little late for that, Sunny.” Zelina says. “I guess we’ll see if you’re a pony of your word.”

Zelina smiles and starts to stand up as the truck pulls into the streets of the ruined city. The truck slows down. The tower is only a few blocks away.

Chapter 22 - Processing

The truck stopped in front of the main tower. The creatures milling in the streets all turned their attention and watched as Zelina and her bodyguard ushered you out of the truck.

You were all still in chains. You stood in the center of the street, surrounded on all sides by creatures that balked and stared at the ponies.

“My loyal troops! Come to me!” Zelina says proudly as she steps out of the transport.

She moves around the line you and the ponies have made. The creatures around seem to murmur with a growing excitement.

“Here we have the magic mare! The one who invaded our skies with her airship! The one who attacked our soldiers! Here she is, brought down to earth! Just as promised.” She says.

You look around as Zelina paces in front of the group. You notice that the buildings have been repaired to the best of the creature’s ability. Newly laid bricks cover up holes, and wooden supports prop up tilting walls.

The creatures that are not looking your direction are mostly huddled around metal barrels with fires burning inside them. You then get a whiff of something you haven’t smelled in a while: the unmistakable scent of cooked flesh.

They serve meat here. Of course they do.

Zelina comes to a stop and whirls around to face the crowd.

“Who among you fears these ponies?!” She shouts.

The crowd seems somewhat amused by this. They chuckle to themselves.

Zelina slowly turns back to the group and puts her hands on her hips. She looks over each one of you.

“Release them.” She says.

In an instant, a group of creatures step forward and unlatch all of the restraints on you and your group. Hitch winces a bit and sits down carefully as his manacles are taken off.

Sunny stands firmly planted and glares angrily at Zelina.

Zelina swishes her hair back with a hand and raises her voice for all to hear.

“Now! We have the rare opportunity to witness the magic firsthand! I want you all to pay very close attention!” She says. “This is what we are fighting to prevent! Power that can destroy an entire nation!”

Many of the creatures in armor tense up and raise their rifles to the ready. Others stare with distant, vacant eyes.

Zelina walks over to Sunny wearing a confident smirk.

“Go on then. Show us. Show us the power that destroyed your own world.” She says.

She gestures for a creature. They step forward wordlessly and hold out Sunny’s bag. Zelina takes it and tosses it to the ground at Sunny’s hooves.

Sunny looks at her bag and then slowly raises her eyes to meet Zelina’s. There is a prolonged pause as they stare each other down. Izzy and Zipp glance nervously at Sunny, waiting for her to give a signal.

“You want to know how our magic works?” Sunny says.

“Please. Go right ahead.” Zelina says, unfurling her claws in a motion of invitation.

“Fine.” Sunny says. She pushes her bag back to the side. “But I don’t need this.”

You watch Sunny step forward a few feet. The creatures watch her with palpable anticipation. They are all silent except for two creatures which are bickering over some food near a burning barrel.

Sunny steps over towards the creatures at the barrel. The crowd parts to make room for her.

The two creatures, a mangy looking diamond dog and a medium-sized fish beast notice Sunny approaching and turn towards her. The dog holds a lump of charred meat in his paws.

Sunny looks at the dog. She takes a short breath.

“You should share your food with him. That way, the next time he has food and you do not, he will share it with you.” She says.

The dog snarls and clutches his food to his chest. The fish beast looks very confused.

“No.” The dog says.

“Oh come on now, entertain the pony.” Zelina says.

The dog glances at Zelina and then back to Sunny. With much reluctance, he slowly brings the hunk of meat up and tears it in half. He then gives one piece over to the fish, who promptly snatches it and takes a bite.

“There.” Sunny says with a nod. Without another word, she turns and walks back over to the line of ponies.

Zelina watches her curiously. As Sunny sits down on the street, she tilts her head and widens her eyes.

“Well?” Zelina asks.

“Friendship.” Sunny says. “That is how our magic works.”

Zelina snorts. Her lips twist into a grin. Her chest rumbles with spasms of contained laughter, and then she lets out a guffaw.

The creatures all join in on her laughter. They point at Sunny with clawed appendages. Their sharp teeth flash as they open their mouths.

Sunny sits with a distant, disinterested look on her face.

Zelina calms down and wipes a tear from her eye. “Really? That’s the source of your power? Making friends?” She says in a gleeful tone.

Sunny waits for the laughter to die down before she opens her mouth again.

“Yes.” She says.

Once again, the creatures howl with laughter.

You shift awkwardly in your stance and look down. You feel second-hand embarrassment creep up the back of your neck. You hope you’re not blushing.

“Come now, Sunny!” Zelina exclaims as she turns her humanoid half and raises her hands. “Are you being serious?” She says.

The laughter goes on for a while. On one hand, you’re glad Sunny did not reveal the crystals. On the other, you wish she did it with a bit more tact.

“I am being serious!” Sunny shouts suddenly.

She takes a step forward. Her mane is frazzled and loose, but she still carries her voice with composure.

“Friendship is the truth of this world. It’s what brings all kinds together. By choosing to deny fear and embrace friendship, we have only made each other stronger. And this goes for creatures too! The magic of ponies isn’t about power, or hurting other people.”

She sweeps her eyes along the crowd.

“It’s about living how we’re meant to live. Together.” She says.

The creatures eye her with a mix of suspicion and curiosity, yet they remain silent.

Zelina then steps forward and puts her hands on her hips.

“Touching. Really touching, I must say.” She says. “Well, if that’s what you believe, Sunny, then you’re going to have a great time here.”

She looks over her shoulder at the crowd. “Everyone here loves making new... friends.”

Some of the creatures nod in agreement. Some lick their lips and throw predatory gazes at the ponies. Your stomach turns in disgust.

Zelina claps her hands together loudly.

“But first! We must get you processed. Come along, now!” She says.

Soon she has you all shuffling across the street to the ground-floor entrance of the tower. They lead you up to a counter where you all wait to have your information taken down one by one.

You lie and say that you’re from a place called “Humantopia” because fuck them.

They then put you in individual rooms and strip you down. Typical prison stuff. They give you dusty work uniforms to wear. Faded khaki coveralls that fit loosely over you. Probably re-used from creature around your size, but they ride low in the crotch.

You are then all shuffled out through the rear exit and into a large yard of packed dirt.

Zelina marches out from around a corner of the tower. She is accompanied by a lithe looking bipedal cat. It holds a clipboard and wears a dressy uniform dark red with black trim.

Zelina comes to a stop in front of the line of ponies.

“Alright, my fresh recruits. Your first job of the day shall be...” She says while turning to the cat with the clipboard.

The cat creature says “Metal reclamation.”

Zelina claps her hands together. “Wonderful! A great job to start with for such energetic ponies!” She says.

“Metal what?” Izzy says. Zipp shoots her a look.

Zelina grins. “I know, it sounds like bitch work. And it is! Think of this as the first step in a very long ladder. You’ll work up from there to better jobs. But everypony has to start somewhere, don’t they?”

“Yeah. Forced labor. Great. How about you just fuck off.” You say.

Zelina turns her gaze to you and her smile fades.

“And let’s get another thing straight. I’m not one of you. I’m a human. Not a pig-rat hybrid or whatever the fuck you think I am. Unlike ponies, I’m used to dealing with bleeding cunts like you.” You say, letting your vitriol spill into your words.

You spit a wad of phlegm onto the ground. A creature approaches you with the butt of his rifle raised up. Your eye twitches and you wait for the blow.

“Wait, now. Hold on.” Zelina says, raising a hand.

The creature stops and lowers his weapon to the ready stance. He steps back behind Zelina.

“If he doesn’t want to work, that’s fine. It’s a good excuse to demonstrate our rules.” Zelina says.

She turns to the cat again. “And what is the rule for lazy creatures?” She asks.

The cat stands up straight and raises his clipboard to his face. “Recruits that refuse to perform labor automatically forfeit all rations for the day.” He says.

Zelina turns to you.

“No work. No food. Simple as that.” She says with a chipper smile.

You sneer at her, but choose not to say anything else. Zelina takes in your angry expression for a moment before looking back at the ponies.

“But don’t worry, little ones. I’ll personally keep a close eye on your progress here as you work up the ladder. I’m sure that eventually you’ll all be assigned suitable positions for your... abilities.”

She looks at you with a grin. “Whatever they may be.”

There’s a pause. The ponies hang their heads, accepting their fate.

“Well then. Let’s get a move on. Come along!” Zelina says. She then begins to walk over towards the far end of the yard. The creatures standing behind you move forward.

“Move.” They command. You feel the butt of a rifle push against your back and you reluctantly step forward.

They lead you all to another truck. This one is smaller and built more like a bus with actual seats. They shepherd you on and force you to sit.

Two creatures hop into the front, and soon they fire up the truck and start to pull away. Zelina stands nearby and waves politely as you pass her.

The creatures drive you out to a section of the ruins that are more dilapidated than the rest. Huge piles of broken concrete fill the streets and block the roads.

You pull up to an especially large pile of rubble that forms a dead end. They then unload you and make you stand in a line.

One of them takes a large metal bin off the truck and places it down in front of the line.

“Break the rocks. Get the metal rods and put them here.” The bulky diamond dog says. He points to a metal bin.

Sunny sighs. “I see.” She says.

“Um... how long do we have to do this for?” Pipp asks the guard.

“Until rain comes.” The dog replies sternly. “Then you go back.”

“What?!” Pipp shouts.

“Wow. This is lame.” Izzy says.

“Not very efficient, either.” Zipp says.

“Go. Work now.” The dog creature says.

“Wait, how am I even supposed to break rocks? I don’t have hooves.” You say, showing them your empty palms.

The creature grumbles and starts to pull a sledgehammer out of the truck. Another creature puts up a hand to stop him.

“No. This one doesn’t want to work. Zelina says he needs to learn.” The creature says.

The diamond dog drops the hammer. He motions to the guard creatures and they begin to lead the ponies towards the debris. You stay behind and watch them shuffle away. You start to reconsider your stance as you realize all you’re going to do is just sit here.

“This is awful. I can’t believe we’re doing this.” Pipp complains.

Hitch limps along. “Uh, guys? Just get me near and I can help.”

Zipp folds a wing over Hitch. “No dude. I think you should sit this one out like Anon.” She says.

Hitch glances at you, then looks at Zipp. “No. I can do this, Zipp. I need to stay with you guys.”

Zipp sighs and nods quickly. She helps him walk over to the rubble.

Sunny and Pipp are already tapping at small chunks with their hooves, trying to figure out where to start.

Izzy sits down and takes one long look at the ruinous mass. She then tilts her head and says. “I’ll just crack ‘em open like this!” She says.

She leans down and starts chipping away at the concrete with her horn. She’s able to get a surprising amount of force with it.

The rest of the ponies start bucking the stones with their hind legs, trying to break off chunks. Once they break off, they then smash their hooves down on them to break them up further.

You stand, shifting your feet as you watch them. The day drags on.

Chapter 23 - Worthy of It

The sun dipped low in the sky. As the evening began, the ever-present storm started to grow in intensity. You noticed the sky darkening and creeping tendrils of clouds spreading out over the land.

The diamond dog guard blew a whistle and ordered the ponies back to the truck.

The ponies returned. They looked exhausted. Their hooves were scuffed, their coveralls were covered in dust, and their manes were slick with sweat.

You and the ponies got on and drove back to the main encampment. On the way, the rain started to come down in a sprinkle. The creatures seemed to expect this, so you paid it no mind.

Immediately after you all arrived, they led you into a mess hall.

A great throng of creatures were also filtering inside. The ponies slowly moved into the line among some smaller-sized creatures.

When you got to the door, the guard stopped you and took you aside.

You stood at the far side of the room with a few other creatures who also refused to work. They looked sickly and frail. You kept a respectable distance to avoid getting some strange disease.

The ponies slowly made their way through the line and got trays of unappetizing looking gruel, the same as the other creatures.

You watched them sit at a table and eat. They whispered to each other quietly. Your stomach growled fiercely as you caught the scent of stew with meat in it. You felt weak and powerless, no better than the slobbering diamond dog to your side.

Yet most of all, you wanted to know what Sunny was thinking.

You noticed that some of the creatures were eyeing the ponies.

You had seen looks like that before in shaded bars and brothels you had visited in the old world.

In this place, there’s nothing off limits.

If Zelina was not keeping careful watch from the sidelines, there’s no telling what the creatures might do to your pony friends.

The rain started to pick up outside.

They led you down covered walkways to the bunkhouses. The rain smelled horrible. Like piss mixed with sulfur. It formed puddles in the road that let off putrid steam.

None of the creatures dared to venture into the streets unless they had the shelter of a truck or overhang to leap to.

The bunkhouses were rows of unimpressive looking concrete structures. It looked like it used to be some sort of housing project at one point. It consisted of rows of single-story town homes that had been stripped of all decor and personality.

The door was nothing but a bunch of planks nailed together, and the interior had only a few piss pots along with collection of old mattresses on wooden pallets.

It was nothing more than a concrete hovel, but they let you all stay together in the same room at least.

The exhausted ponies each chose a mattress and collapsed onto it. They groan and rubbed their aching hooves. You sat along with them, your head hanging low.

Pipp was the first to speak up.

“Ugh. This is horrible! This is the worst thing that’s happened yet. What are we going to do?!” She complains.

“Hush. They might be listening.” Zipp says.

She casts her eyes over to the door. There’s light from fires flickering outside in their trashcan containers, but you don’t hear the shuffling of armored creatures.

Zipp then goes back to wrapping a thin piece of ripped khaki over Hitch’s leg, which now looks horribly swollen. The creatures offered no medical treatment the entire day, and by the end Hitch was limping everywhere.

Izzy lets out a big sigh and looks over at Sunny, who is laying down on her mattress, completely motionless.

“Well. It’s a setback, but we always get out of tough situations. Right, Sunny?” Izzy says with a tired smile.

“You... have a plan, right?” Izzy asks meekly.

Sunny takes a languished breath. She slowly raises her head up.

“I don’t.” She says.

She slips off the bed and sits next to the oil lantern in the middle of the room. It’s the only source of light.

“They don’t know the secret to our magic, but there’s no point in trying to use it. There’s no point in trying to escape.” Sunny says.

She looks up at the ponies.

“We’re stuck here. This is what we do now.” She says.

You listen to the words, but you don’t really absorb them. You never saw Sunny so resigned to her fate before. Never had she given up like this.

You sit in silence along with the rest of the ponies, thinking about the situation at hand. You recall the image of the ship getting blown up, Zelina’s sarcastic smirk as she stood on the bow, and the leering eyes of the creatures as they sized up the ponies.

No... this can’t be where it ends.

You feel a deep urge inside. There was something familiar about it - that bitter taste at the back of your tongue. It’s something you have not felt in a long, long time.

You have a burning passion to bring down a corrupt ruler.

Just as Pipp starts to sniffle, you stand up.

“Is that it, Sunny?” You say coldly.

Sunny looks over at you with a confused and sad expression.

You walk over to her, crouch down and slap your hands against her shoulders, making her jolt a bit.

“You’re just gonna give up?!” You say.

“W-what do you want me to do?” Sunny says.

“Stand up for yourself! That’s what you’re good at, right?” You say.

You rise to your feet. You point a finger at the other ponies.

“Look at yourselves. You let some centaur bitch shoot down your aircraft. Then you let her shove her cloven hoof up your ass and do shit work for scraps of food. And now your plan is to just - what, play along?”

You slap the back of your hand against your palm.

“No. Fuck that!” You say.

“What are we supposed to do, Anon?!” Pipp shouts back. “There’s a hundred of them, they all have armor, and fire-cannons or whatever!”

“So what?!” You say, pointing at her.

You burn with anger, your fingers curl up as you raise your hands in front of your chest.

“So what. You have something that trumps all that.” You say. “Something this stupid fucking world hasn’t seen for God knows how long.”

You kneel down and look at Sunny. She shows you her grief-stricken eyes.

“You have... a god damn alicorn.” You say.

Sunny’s head droops. She lets out a languished sigh.

“I’m not worthy of these powers, Anon.” She says quietly. “You even said so yourself, remember?”

Your retort catches in your throat. Your rage is cut short as you regretfully recall the words you shouted at her the other night.

You shake your head slowly.

“No, Sunny.” You say. “I...”

You take a solemn breath. “I was wrong.” You say.

Sunny raises her head up slowly.

“If there’s any pony that walks this land, any pony at all that deserves to have this power... it’s you.”

Sunny’s expression softens a bit.

“You... you did the impossible. The entire world wanted the pony tribes to stay separated. Everyone and everything said that they needed to stay apart.” You say.

You look around at the unicorn, the other earth pony and the two pegasi.

“You said fuck you. This is more important.” You say.

Sunny opens her mouth to say something, but doesn’t. Her eyes are damp and large in the dim light of the room.

“You aren’t some snobby unicorn groomed from a young age. You weren't born into some society of elite nobles. You were just a regular pony. A regular fucking earth mare that believed in friendship, and love, and doing the right thing, even though its hard.” You say.

Sunny takes a shaky breath. You keep going.

“I’ve seen a lot of princess ponies with wings and horns. And, well, let’s just say, you’re the first one I actually fucking respect.” You say.

Sunny silently wipes her eyes. You crouch down back to the eye level of the ponies.

“Does this mean... you want to believe in me now?” She says, her voice hangs nervously on her words.

“It means...” You say. You swallow and look her square in the eyes.

“I’ll try.” You say.

Sunny hears the authenticity in your words. No sarcasm or facetiousness. Her mouth twitches. A thin smile forms.

“Alright.” She says with a hint of resolve. “Then I’ll try too.”

She sniffs and looks at the other ponies, who were all staring at the scene unfolding before them. She stands up and pushes her mane behind her shoulder like you’ve seen her do so many times before.

“So... here’s the plan.” She says.

The ponies lean forward in anticipation.

“We are going to the center of the storm.” She says.

You bite your tongue. It’s difficult, but you don’t interrupt.

“We find the source. The thing causing it. We either turn it off or destroy it. We’ll show Zelina and her army that magic shouldn’t be feared. The land will no longer be poisoned. We will gain their respect, and they’ll let us go free.”

She looks around at all the other ponies and you.

“All agreed?” She asks.

Reluctantly, you and the other ponies nod in approval.

“Good.” She says. “Now here’s what we do...”

Chapter 24 - Skill and Purpose

The next morning you were rudely woken up by a siren at the crack of down.

You and the ponies were forced to line up outside the bunkhouses before anyone could do so much as piss.

You were marched along with the other creature recruits down the street. The tower loomed in the misty morning sky, a portent of the harsh work day to come.

The ponies and you eventually made it over to the tower and were led into the backyard. Zelina and her cat servant were waiting.

“Oh, so you all survived the night without killing yourselves? Hm?” Zelina says with a smarmy grin.

“Wonderful. Good show, ponies.” She says and claps her hands together.

“Well I hope you have gotten your rest, because today will be another fun day of - yes, that’s right!” She says with rising enthusiasm.

She turns to her cat servant. The cat servant looks at his clipboard and says, “Metal Reclamation.”

“Metal Reclamation! Hooray! Don’t try to have too much fun, now.” Zelina says.

You and the ponies remain silent. You look at your feet to keep up the act of looking defeated.

“Of course,” Zelina says with a sly tone, “This could be all avoided if you were to tell us how your magic really works.”

Zelina shifts her cloven hooves and shoots a knowing smile to Sunny.

Sunny turns her head away and grimaces.

“No? Still not in the mood to share?” Zelina says. “Well then. You’ll spend another day serving our cause in one way or another. Go on, then.”

Zelina motions with a hand and the guards move forward behind your line.

Soon you are all in the truck again, moving along the ruined city streets. Your stomach gurgles from hunger pangs. You glance nervously up at the storm, and suddenly your hunger start to dwindle.

As you arrive, you unload along with the ponies and the guard creatures. The ponies are a bit tense. So are you.

Hitch is the last to step off the truck. He hops down and hisses with pain as his hind hoof touches earth.

“Hitch, you really can’t be working today.” Sunny says with a sympathetic expression.

“No, it’s okay, Sunny. I can-” Hitch says before taking another step and collapsing with pain.

“Ah!” He cries out, curling his body up and clutching his leg. “Oh that smarts!”

The three guard creatures look at each other and shrug. They look at the pony with vacant, bored stares.

Sunny leans down to Hitch with a worried look on her face.

“He’s not well.” She says. She looks up at a buff diamond dog guard with a helmet over his face. “Please. We need to take him back and get him medicine.”

“Pony is fine. Let me see.” The dog guard says as he slings his rifle on his back and crouches down.

The other guards, a warthog and a bullfrog, both stand awkwardly, both still holding their weapons.

“Hey.” You say. “I’ll take his place. Give me something to use.”

The warthog creature mumbles something to himself and then stomps towards the truck again.

He reaches inside and grabs a sledgehammer from a metal crate. He holds it out to you with one paw, his massive, bulky arm holding it like a toy hammer.

You take it with both hands and heft it over your shoulder. You nod at the guard, but he doesn’t respond with any word or gesture.

The guard turns away. Zipp crouches down. She looks at Izzy, who nods back at Zipp.

“Now!” Zipp yells.

In a flash, Izzy’s horn sparks up and pulls the rifle off the diamond dog’s back. The strap snaps off and the rifle soars up into the air. Zipp takes off and catches it in the air, then flies out over the concrete rubble.

“Hey!” The bullfrog creature says. He and the warthog raise their weapons and take aim at the retreating pegasus.

Zipp spins and dives towards the mound of rubble as they open fire. She’s moving far too fast, and all the bullets miss. She disappears below the mound of debris and out of sight.

The creatures try to keep shooting the concrete, but their weapons simply click. They look down to notice that their weapons are missing their magazines. Izzy is holding them up in her telekinetic grip.

“Whoopsie!” Izzy says as she tosses the magazines far into the distance.

At this point, you are swinging the sledgehammer over your head with both hands. It collides with the helmet of the warthog with a heavy clang. He instantly falls to the ground and his body goes limp.

At the same time, Pipp and Sunny tackle the diamond dog creature and start kicking him in the stomach with their hooves.

The bullfrog raises his rifle up, preparing to use the butt stock as a club. You drop the sledgehammer and grab onto it with both hands before he can bring it down.

You grunt and strain against the creature. The bullfrog’s breath smells awful, his slick green lips curl in anger and his throat inflates a bit.

He is then picked up in a bright pink aura that encapsulates his entire body.

He lets out a shrill croak of panic as he is lifted into the air. His body is then tossed casually to the ground and he tumbles in the dirt.

Sunny finally kicks the diamond dog guard in the chin. His head lulls to the side and he lays flat.

Hitch gets up and stands on his feet, dropping his injured act. “Okay, quick!” He says and then trots over to the back of the truck.

Zipp flies back over to the group and lands in the back of the truck. She helps Hitch climb on. You reach down and take the truck keys from the warthog creature’s pocket.

“Got it!” You say, looking at Sunny with a smile.

Sunny nods. She goes towards the passenger seat of the cab, and Izzy and Pipp load into the back of the truck.

You run to the driver’s side and swing open the door. You sit on the tired, worn seat and stick the key in the ignition. You crank it and with a few seconds of struggle, the diesel engine rumbles to life.

You look in the mirror to see the bullfrog creature slowly rising up off the ground and rubbing his head.

You push in the clutch and put the truck into first gear. You then push on the gas and the transport lurches forward.

Black smoke shoots from the tailpipe as it starts to pick up speed. Sunny braces herself on the dashboard as she sits in the passenger seat.

“Go, Anon! Go!” She urges.

You rev the engine more and then shift it into second.

The road is clear ahead. There’s a straight shot out of the city, and a gradual decline along the barren landscape leading towards the storm.

About thirty seconds into your trip, an air-raid siren rings out from the base. The creatures must have radioed back to raise the alarm, but it doesn’t matter. You just needed a bit of a head start.

Sunny is craning her head out the passenger-side window, looking back to the encampment. Her ears are folded and she has a very serious expression.

“They’re starting up their trucks! They’ll be after us soon!” She says.

She puts her head back inside and looks at you. “Can’t this thing go any faster?”

You push the pedal down further. This thing only has four gears, but even in the highest you’re only going about fifty miles per hour.

“It’s not exactly designed for speed!” You shout over the churning engine.

“Well just try to get us close!” Sunny says.

Your hands turn white as you grip the wheel. You steer the truck around a pile of debris, and then the road opens up as you start to get out of the city.

The road turns from pavement to gravel. The sun winks out for a moment as it dips behind the storm. The landscape is empty and vast. It barely feels like you’re getting any closer.

The truck jostles a bit as you narrowly avoid a pothole. You look in the rear-view mirror to see a group of dark vehicles speeding along the road behind you. It looks like they’re gaining.

You then see a flash of light, and a moment later you hear the distinct crack of gunfire.

“They’re shooting at us!” Pipp cries out from the back of the truck.

“Hold on! Get down on the floor!” Sunny cries out.

“Don’t worry! They can’t hit us from here!” You say in a raised tone.

You try to will the truck to go faster. Your eyes nervously dart along the road, looking out for obstacles. You occasionally glance back in the rear view to watch the approaching vehicles and the dirty smoke trail they leave behind.

Ahead of you, the clouds of the storm continue swirling ominously.

Then the engine starts to sputter. White smoke billows out from the front hood. The engine tries to keep chugging, but it eventually gives out and dies.

“No! No!” You shout. You turn the key, trying to start the truck again as it coasts along the path, losing speed by the second.

The engine keeps trying to turn over, churning with meek gasps of ignition before sputtering out. You slap the steering wheel in frustration.

“Alright!” Sunny shouts. “Stage two, then!”

She kicks open the door to the passenger side and runs around the side of the truck.

“Fuck. Shit. God dammit.” You say as you open the driver’s side and run around a moment after she does.

You both jump into the back of the truck. The other ponies are all laying on the floor.

“Stage two, everyone!” Sunny says with steadfast determination.

Izzy pushes the earth pony and unicorn crystal forward. Zipp does the same for the pegasus crystal.

Sunny quickly arranges them on the floor. You kneel down and watch, and you realize your breaths are coming quicker with anticipation.

Please. Please work.

There’s a glimmer. Then a spark. The crystals glow with rapid intensity and an iridescent stream of magic shoots out towards Sunny. Her body shimmers with magical light as her ethereal golden horn and wings appear on her body.

“Everyone hold tight!” She says as her body tenses and her horn focuses and controls the magic flowing into her.

The truck bed is coated with a golden shimmer for a moment before it shifts upward suddenly.

With a groan and a sudden snap, the truck bed is wrenched off the frame and starts to levitate in the air. You watch the ground begin to retreat below you as the wooden bed is carried up into the air with nothing but the will of a very determined pony.

Sunny then jumps into the air and her wings shoot out to her sides. She begins to glide as she keeps the tuck bed held in her magical grip.

“Go Sunny! You got this!” Izzy cheers.

Pipp and Zipp smile warmly as Hitch looks in wonder.

Sunny flaps her wings hard, moving forward quickly and leaving glittering trail of magic particles in her path.

The wind starts to pick up, whipping at your face and clothing. You stay low to the floor and hold onto one of the seats for stability.

The ground goes by much quicker now. Small hills of dirt and gravel zip past you.

You are about a mile from the edge of the massive lake and closing in fast. The bursts of thunder within the storm are not as frequent as they were yesterday, something that Sunny is counting on.

One last ditch effort. One final push towards hope. Come on, Sunny. You got this, you brave, stupid mare.

You look up to see Sunny’s focused expression. Her entire body is pointed toward her singular goal. For a moment, she glances down and catches you staring. A confident smirk spreads across her muzzle.

At this moment, you see her horn and wings blip out of existence for a moment. The truck bed lurches down for a split second.

“Woah! Woah!” Sunny exclaims. She tilts her body back and her wings flap hard as she tries to slow down. Her legs flail in the air wildly.

“What’s happening?!” Izzy shouts.

“I don’t know!” Sunny says as her horn begins to fade out. Her wings also begin to become more transparent. She starts to droop lower in the sky.

“Oh no! Sunny!!” Pipp cries out.

“Shit! Hold on!” You say as you clench the seat tighter.

Sunny’s magic gives way. Thankfully, you weren’t too high up. The truck bed falls several feet to the ground, then tilts up on one side. You and the ponies fall out of it.

You flip over in the air once. You then manage to catch yourself with your hands and roll along the ground. Your hands and arms get scraped up, but you come to a stop without hitting anything.

You’re very dizzy and disoriented as you look up. Sunny is laying on the ground, holding her chest. She’s wheezing like she got the wind knocked out of her.

The other ponies are banged up, but don’t seem too hurt. They slowly rise up, letting out grunts of pain.

“What? What happened?” Izzy asks, rubbing her head with a hoof.

“Anon! I thought you said you were going to believe in us!” Pipp shouts at you.

“I was!” You shout back. “I swear I was!”

Zipp is looking at her wings with a confused expression.

“Hold on a second.” She says. She stands in a ready position and unfolds her wings. She flaps hard and jumps into the air, but comes right back to the ground without lifting off.

She flaps a few more times and then hangs her head. “I can’t fly! It’s not working any more!” She says in a desperate tone.

“Oh no!” Pipp says as she flutters her wings. She looks back at them with a crushed expression.

“Izzy, try using your magic!” Zipp says.

Izzy perks her head up. She then squints hard and scrunches up her face. She looks at her horn with both eyes, but no matter how hard she strains, there’s no light coming from it.

You stare in shock at the ponies trying their best to activate their magic. Your gaze then drifts over to the lake and the gnarled, twisted black structures rising out of it.

“Wait. That’s it!” You say.

You slowly rise up to your feet. “They set up a field of anti-magic! That’s what caused this!” You say, pointing towards the lake.

The ponies look up at you in varying levels of disbelief.

“Back in Ancient Equestria, there were artifacts that could negate magic. Even magic as powerful as Celestia’s or Discord’s! It’s the only explanation!” You say.

Sunny manages to rise up to her hooves. “Is this... true, Anon?” She asks with a pained breath.

You nod grimly. “Yes. I promise you Sunny, this isn’t me.” You say.

Sunny looks at you for a moment. She sighs and looks out over towards the storm.

“Stage two failed.” She says. “So that means...”

“Time for plan B?” Hitch asks cautiously.

Sunny nods. She walks over and picks up the Earth Pony crystal, which got flung out of the ship.

You and the ponies look for the other crystals. You gather them up and then start walking back the way you came. After a few dozen feet, the crystals begin to glow again and Sunny’s wings and horn flicker back to life. She stops and looks back at her wings.

“See?” You say.

Sunny looks at you for a moment, but chooses to say nothing. The crystals hover close by her, orbiting her as they feed magic energy to her.

In front of Sunny, five armored trucks are barreling across the wasteland towards you.

You, Izzy, Pipp, Zipp and Hitch crowd around Sunny. She stands as tall as she can, though you can tell her pride is wounded.

The trucks circle around the party as they draw close. They surround you all in a circle. They quickly stop and the creatures start to pile out.

The guard creatures all point their weapons at Sunny as they spread out. Then Zelina steps out of the back of one of the trucks.

“Sunny!” She says in a cheery tune. “You changed your mind, did you? Hahah!”

As she moves forward, Sunny furrows her brow and her horn sparks menacingly.

One of the creatures suddenly fires his rifle. The loud bang makes everyone tense up, but the bullet pings harmlessly off a glowing gold shield that surrounds the group.

“You fucking idiot!” Zelina shouts angrily. She marches over to the creature and slaps the back of his helmet. She then grabs the rifle out of his hands and holds it like a bat. She smacks the creature in the chest with the rifle frame. “Don’t shoot unless I tell you too!”

The creature whimpers and cowers down. Zelina throws his rifle off to the side. For a moment she glares at the creature before turning to Sunny with a peppy grin.

“My apologies, Sunny.” She says. “It’s so hard to find good soldiers when all they bring me are these incompetent bags of meat.”

Zelina carefully steps forward, admiring Sunny’s transformed appearance. She then notices the crystals hovering around her, and her one visible eye shimmers with desire.

“Crystals, hm? So that’s the key. I should have known.” Zelina says.

She turns to a nearby guard and smacks him on the shoulder pad of his armor.

“Didn’t you idiots even search them?” She shouts.

The creatures don’t respond. They seem used to small outbursts like this.

Zelina folds her arms and turns to Sunny.

“Well, no matter.” She says calmly. “We have you cornered now, Captain Sunny. There’s no where left to go.”

“That may be true, but for once, listen to what I have to say!” Sunny shouts.

Zelina quirks an eyebrow and raises a hand limply. She waves it at her.

“Go on.” She says.

Sunny raises her head up and says in a forceful tone, “You have lived in fear of the ever-storm for so long. Why haven’t you stopped it? That’s what we were trying to do. We knew you’d never let us try on our own, so we wanted to help without your approval.”

“Help?” Zelina says. “By deserting your job and running headfirst into the storm?”

“I am going to use my magic to stop it. To find its source and put an end to it!” Sunny shouts.

“Hah! You really are something!” Zelina says. “Don’t you realize we’ve already tried that? What do you think happened when you got close? The storm is surrounded by artifacts meant to disrupt magic, but no matter how many we put up the storm still grows!”

“You can’t stop it with anti-magic then!” Sunny shouts. “You need magic that’s powerful enough to counteract what caused it in the first place. That’s what I can do!”

Zelina frowns and clenches her fists.

“Do you really expect me to believe that?” She says. “You want me to let you just waltz into the storm with your friends? I’m not an idiot. Your little escape attempt has failed. Give up.”

“You’re wrong.” Sunny says. “I am not trying to escape. I want to help you. Help all of you. Only we can do this, so just let us help!”

Zelina taps a claw against her chin for a moment. She studies the temporary alicorn with shrewd eyes.

“Fine.” Zelina finally says.

Sunny relaxes her fierce posture. You almost do a double-take. Sunny’s plan B actually worked?

Zelina shrugs and sighs. “I guess you are right. The only way to beat the magic of the old queen is with the magic of a new one. It makes perfect sense.”

Zelina backs up a bit. She points a finger at Sunny.

“However!” She says. “I need assurance that you won’t just run off. I can’t risk you getting away. So. With that in mind...”

Zelina casts her gaze over the group.

“Your friends are staying here, with us. And if you don’t come back in twenty-four hours...” She says.

She then runs the claw on her thumb across her neck with a threatening grin. “You won’t have to worry about them any more.”

Pipp and Izzy both gulp in unison. Your lip curls into a snarl.

“No. I need my friends. Don’t you remember? The only way my magic works is-” Sunny says.

“Alright, fine!” Zelina says. “I’ll let you bring one friend. Only one! That’s a fair compromise, right?”

Sunny inhales slowly, she puffs out her chest. Her horn glows a bit brighter.

“It’s alright, Sunny.” Hitch says.

Sunny looks over at him. Hitch nods softly. The three mares behind him nod as well.

Sunny’s horn fades. She looks back over at Zelina. “Fine then. I’ll take-”

“Woah, now. You don’t get to choose.” Zelina says with a grin. “That’s not how this works.”

Sunny opens her mouth to say something. Zelina grins and casually waves a finger along your group.

Her finger lands on you.

“He will accompany you.” She says.

You quirk an eyebrow.

Sunny looks at you, then looks to Zelina.

“Anon?” Sunny says.

“Yes.” Zelina says. “And you should be thankful I’m letting him go with you at all.”

Zelina then gestures you forward.

You look at Sunny. She thinks for a moment and then nods in acceptance.

You reluctantly step forward from the group. One of Zelina’s dog creatures comes up to you and pats you down. Finding no hidden weapons in your coveralls, the creature then leads you out of the circle of vehicles.

“I’ll let you prepare your things.” Zelina says. You notice her throw Sunny’s bag at her hooves before you disappear around the side of a truck.

A little while later, Zelina comes out around the side of the truck and walks over to you.

Zelina looks you up and down with a disappointed glare. Her mouth twists into a grimace. The creatures at her side retain vacant expressions.

“So.” Zelina says. “Why are you with these ponies, Mister Anonymous?”

You shrug your shoulders.

“It seemed like a fun thing to do at the time.” You say sarcastically. You shift your weight and act casual.

Zelina exhales from her goat-like snout. “Hmph. Well then. Does that mean you have no strong ties to them? You don’t really care what happens?” Zelina asks.

You shrug again and feign apathy.

“Very well.” Zelina says. She tents her clawed fingers and lowers her voice. “I have a proposition for you.”

“Yeah, sure. What is it?” You say, sounding bored.

Zelina reaches behind her humanoid torso and takes out a small snub-nosed revolver from a holster there. She holds it with two fingers clutching the grip.

“You know how to use one of these?” She asks.

You look at the piece. You nod.

“Terrific.” Zelina says. “I’m prepared to offer you a chance. Prove to me that you can do what’s needed, and in return... you’ll become an officer in my army.”

You turn your head and eye her warily.

“Look. I’m not talking about a shrimp-dick middle-management role. You’ll be commanding squads. I can already tell you’re smarter than most of my recruits. Your team bested one of my squads in an afternoon. Plus, maybe I just like your face, alright kiddo?”

She smiles and steps forward towards you. She bends down and holds out the gun casually.

“Think about it. You’ll have respect. Honor. Prestige. I treat my people well, Anonymous.”

Her smile widens. “At least, those that treat me well.”

You don’t really like the way she towers over you, dangling that gun. You shift back a bit.

“So. What exactly do you want me to do?” You ask.

“It’s simple.” Zelina says. “Take the pony into the storm. When you’re both alone, kill her. Dump the body. And then come back and tell the other ponies that she died on accident.”

You knew it would be something like that.

You look at the pistol, sitting there in her fingers. There’s no way you’d ever accept her offer to be a goon in her army, but if it convinces her to let Sunny go, then that’s good enough for you. Plus, you get a free gun out of it.

“Hm.” You say. “What about the crystals?”

“You can dump those as well. Don’t need them.” Zelina says with a fanged smile.

You look to both sides. You scratch your chin.

“Alright. Fine.” You say.

You raise a hand casually and she presses the revolver into your palm.

“Good.” Zelina says with a satisfied grin. “You made the right choice, Anon.”

Zelina steps back and turns towards the middle of the truck circle.

You look down at your work uniform. The dingy coveralls have deep pockets sewn into the front. If you tuck it down close to your hips, it sort of melds in with the baggy bunches of clothing near your thighs.

You awkwardly stuff it in along with the small bits of gravel you forgot to clean out.

Zelina has two soldiers escort you around the circle of trucks. She walks in front of them.

You go around to the other side. Sunny is waiting between two lines of guards that are all closely watching her. She has her pack over her shoulder again, and you notice the crystals are stuffed into it. Her horn and wings are still glowing on her body.

Sunny smiles a bit when she sees you. She walks up to you and Zelina has the guards step back.

You nod at Sunny. She stands by your side and faces towards Zelina. The major general centaur stops and adopts a proud, militaristic stance.

“Remember, Sunny. Twenty-four hours. That’s all you get. And don’t come back without something to show for it. I hate being disappointed.” Zelina says.

Zelina half-smirks, half-sneers at Sunny.

“I understand.” Sunny says.

“I’m glad we’re both agreed.” Zelina says. She then points a finger out towards the horizon.

“There’s an old outpost about five hundred meters in that direction. Inside you will find a boat. You can use this to traverse the storm. You’ll need to cover up from the rain, too. I’m sure you’ll find a way to figure that out.”

“Very well.” Sunny says. She turns and faces the storm. “But you had better keep your word, Zelina. My friends are not replaceable.”

Sunny begins to walk away. You take a few steps with her, glancing back at the group of creatures before turning and keeping pace with her.

Together you slowly start to trudge over the rocky, barren ground. Echoes of thunder rumble in the distance.

“Oh, also!” Zelina shouts. “If you see the queen, tell her to come out once and a while! Hahah!”

Chapter 25 - Forgotten Melody

The ground turned to a field of barren gravel. The air became thick with humidity. The humongous crater and its sprawling lake grew closer.

Yet the ominous landscape ahead did not bother you as much as you thought it would. You felt a rising sense of purpose as you walked along with Sunny.

She waited for you both to get a good ways away from the group before she spoke up.

“So... why did Zelina pick you?” She asks while raising up her ears.

“Well...” You say.

You look down as you shove your hands into your front pockets.

“She wants me to kill you the moment we’re out of sight.” You say in a deadpan tone.

Sunny rolls her head back and laughs. “Hah! Yep. That sounds about right.”

“Yeah. She gave me a gun and told me that I’d get a cushy job in her army if I did it.” You say.

“So what’s stopping you, huh?” She asks with a smarmy grin.

“Hey, I’m still mulling it over. I’d be dining on finest cat food in this side of Equestria. It’s pretty tempting.” You say jokingly.

Sunny snorts and shakes her head.

“Yeah, I’m sure you’ll have to think about it long and hard.” She says.

You feel the revolver in your pocket. It’s weighty for such a small thing.

“So, you want me to throw this thing away?” You say.

Sunny keeps walking in silence for a bit, seemingly focused on the lake ahead.

“Actually. You know what, Anon?” She says as she stops walking and looks up at you.

“You keep it. I’d rather you have a way to defend yourself.” She says.

She keeps walking. You figure she doesn’t care any more. Not after all she’s seen.

Eventually you both find the supposed “outpost” Zelina mentioned. The old building is merely a shack made from rusted sheet metal. You find a garage door on the front of it, and with a bit of straining you manage to pull it open.

The metal shutters roll up, revealing a motorboat. It looks like a crappy aluminum boat, but it’s something at least. The outboard motor looks like it’s seen better days.

“Great.” You say. “Just go through a raging storm on a dinghy. Why not.”

“Can you figure out how to work it?” Sunny asks.

“Probably.” You say. You notice a rusted can of fuel near the far side of the small garage.

Sunny looks around the inside of the shack while you fuel up the motor. It looks like there’s just enough gasoline to fill up the old thing.

As you screw on the fuel cap back into place, you notice Sunny looking at a box on the shelf labeled “contraband.” Among the various mechanical gizmos in the box, there’s a small picture frame. Inside the picture frame is a stylistic rendering of a very familiar six-pointed star.

You sigh and walk over to Sunny.

“Come on, Sunny. The sooner we do this, the better.” You say.

“Right. Sorry, Anon.” She says, shaking her head. “I’m just...”

“Distracted?” You say.

“I feel like there’s something wrong here. I don’t believe for a second that Twilight Sparkle caused this. Do you?”

“I don’t know. Listen, it’s been a long time since I last saw her. We know that much. I’m not sure what she might have gone through or what kind of mare she became.”

Sunny lowers her ears. She thinks for a moment before saying, “It just doesn’t make any sense. Why would my father never mention this if it’s what she’s really known for?”

“Maybe he tried to just focus on the good parts?” You say with a shrug and an awkward smile. “I mean, not all of her decisions were that popular back in the day...”

Sunny sighs.

You notice that there’s some folded, dusty tarps on another shelf. You take one and unfurl it. It seems in alright condition.

“Hey, looks like this could help with the rain.” You say.

Sunny looks at the tarp and nods. “Nice. That will definitely work.”

She walks up to the boat and places a hoof on the side.

“Hm, but you won’t be able to see if you’re under it too.” She says.

You walk up to the boat, folding up the tarp half-way to condense it again.

“I suppose so.” You say. There’s no scaffolding to secure it as a makeshift roof.

She glances to the side and notices something on another shelf and her eyes light up. “Wait! I got it!”

She rushes past you to dig through a pile of old clothing.

Soon you find yourself wearing an oversized rain slicker, boots and rubber gloves as you pull a boat along the rocky beach.

You are tugging it from the front while Sunny pushes from the back. You grip the tongue of the trailer with both hands, glancing behind you occasionally even though there’s never any obstacles in your way. Sunny helps to keep the boat balanced on the trailer as she pushes with both hooves. She’s able to contribute pretty well despite how small she is in comparison.

The outpost is only a few hundred feet away from the shore of the lake, but you and Sunny have to slowly walk the entire way. It feels like ages.

The lake is calm as you arrive. The waves lapping at the gravel-covered beach are hardly noticeable. The roiling clouds in the sky above threaten to disrupt things at any moment, but for the first leg of the journey you’ll avoid the worst of it.

You carefully land the boat in the shallows with the motor raised. The water is murky and has that acidic, sulfur-like smell.

As you help Sunny inside the boat, the sheer scale of the lake comes to the forefront of your mind. It encompasses not only the entirety of the Ponyville township, but also the outlying farmland around the area. It must be at least a dozen miles in diameter.

You climb into the boat and grab an oar to push off into the deeper water. As you grunt and strain, you try to look on the bright side. At least you’re not getting yelled at by a bitchy centaur.

Sunny stands on the bow. She looks directly towards the center of the lake, which is shrouded with a wall of fog, mist and rain.

Once the vessel drifts out into the water, you lower the outboard motor and give it a crank.

It takes a few tries, but eventually the old thing sputters to life. You let out a sigh of relief.

You start to pilot the boat towards the storm, glancing the other way at the retreating shoreline. Sunny scouts ahead at the bow, calling back to you with directions on how to proceed.

You pass the toppled, concrete facades of old building that stick out part-way from the surface. You navigate around twisted towers of gnarled, black rocks.

Then the rain started, as you knew it would. Thick drops made tiny craters in the water at they splashed down. Sunny covered herself in the tarp, and you angled your head down.

“Are you doing alright?” You yell to Sunny over the din of rain.

“I’m doing fine! How about you?” Sunny replies.

“I’m okay but it’s hard to see!” You say. Sheets of rain pelt you as the wind blows in short, erratic bursts. The way ahead is obscured from the sheer amount of rain and mist in the air.

Yet you continue all the same.

The areas where the rain seeped past your clothing started to burn and itch. Your wrists, your ankles and the front of your neck all felt tingly and irritated.

You ignored it. You kept the throttle cranked and silently prayed that you wouldn’t hit a submerged rock.

“Wait!” Sunny says out of nowhere. She spins around under the tarp and lifts up the other side to look at you. It surprises you so much that you let go of the steering handle and the engine sputters out.

“Shit. What? What is it?” You say as you grab the handle again.

“Do you hear that?” She says.

Her eyes are shifting around. Her ears are twitching underneath the tarp.

“Yeah, I hear a lot of rain and thunder!” You say, a bit irritated.

Sunny focuses on a spot towards the starboard side of the boat.

“No... I hear something else. It’s like... a voice or something. It almost sounds like a melody.”

You strain your ears and look around. All you can hear in the rain.

“It’s coming from over there.” Sunny says, motioning with her head.

“I don’t hear anything, Sunny. What are you talking about?” You ask.

“I don’t know, Anon. Just trust me. Let’s go in that direction.” She says.

You grumble but turn back to the motor. You tug at the pull cord, trying to get the thing back to life. You pull it again and again. Then, you start to hear it too.

For a fraction of a second, you recall a memory. A time long ago you would stroll in the fields outside of Ponyville all by yourself. You could sometimes hear a melody whistling through the wild and untamed grasses. There was something about the way the wind moved across the land. Something that shaped it into that graceful, delicate tune. A song sung without a voice.

That melody is here now, but in a different form. Instead of being molded by grass and rolling hills, the wind is shaped by jagged rocks and decayed buildings. There is a deep, melancholic longing to it.

You get a tingle of recognition. This has to be a sign. This will lead you in the right direction.

You give one might tug on the pull cord of the motor, and it immediately snaps off at the handle.

You watch in horror as the pull cord snakes back into the shroud of the motor and disappears.

“Fuck!” You shout.

“What?” Sunny asks, turning to you. “What happened?

You turn and show her the detached handle to the pull cord.

“Guess we have to row now. Dammit.” You say.

Sunny frowns and sighs.

You toss the pull handle to the floor of the boat and pick up one of the oars.

“It won’t be far.” Sunny says, trying to sound hopeful. “Trust me.”

You raise up the motor and put the oars into the handles. You sit backwards in your seat and begin to row.

You keep rowing, stroke after stroke. Your arms begin to burn. You know you don’t have the strength for this sort of thing. You probably won’t be able to make it back to shore.

As you keep pulling with long, strained strokes, the rain actually starts to die down. Then it stops altogether. The ever-present noise of rain gives way to a silence interrupted by distant rumbles of thunder.

Not only that, but it seems... brighter. You put down the oars for a moment and pull back your hood. Sunny peeks out from under the tarp before throwing it off.

You look up to see a column of sunlight coming down through a circular hole in the clouds. The eye of the storm. The center!

Yet as you scan the calm waters around the boat, you do not see any landmarks. Not even any of the jagged rocks are around. You also no longer hear the melody on the wind.

“Well, this looks like this is the center, Sunny. So where do we go from here?” You ask.

Sunny glances around with quick turns of her head. She covers her eyes with a hoof and leans forward.

The boat keeps drifting slowly towards the middle as she looks. Sunny eventually gives up and turns back to you.

“I swear I thought something would be here. There should be a source, right? It all can’t just be coming from nothing!” She says, sounding somewhat exasperated.

You take off your gloves and scratch your chin. You then scratch the itchy parts on your wrists.

“Well.” You say. “You could try... using your magic again? I guess?”

Sunny exhales through her nose. She purses her lips, thinking it over for a moment before taking her bag off her shoulder.

“I suppose it’s worth a shot.” She says as she opens the flap and starts to take out the crystals.

Just as she does so, you hear a deep and resonating thump. It seems to come from the water. A large stream of bubbles flows up from the depths in the center of the lake.

“What the...” You say, staring in disbelief. Sunny notices and looks over at it with you.

There’s a vibration in the water. Below the surface, something is rumbling. Ripples flow out from the middle of the lake. You look to the crystals and notice that there’s a faint spark in each one that pulses in time to some rapid, inaudible beat. It makes an awful, tense feeling rise up in your gut.

You and Sunny both watch in awe as a shape crests the surface of the water. It’s made of purple crystal and has an unmistakable shape: a six-pointed star. It is perched on the turret of a tower that begins to rise up out of the murky, sunken depths. It keeps rising up until it is towering over you. The top is at least sixty feet up in the sky.

No.

“I can’t believe it!” Sunny exclaims. “That’s her symbol!”

She’s leaning off the boat slightly, her eyes are alight with wonder. You lean the other way to balance her out. “Easy, Sunny!” You say.

Sunny leans back. She looks at you

“There’s a landing there!” She says, pointing off the port side. “Can you get to it?”

You notice that there’s a sort of balcony close to the bottom. There’s a staircase running up to it.

You scrunch up your face and shake your head slowly. “I don’t know, Sunny. Do you really think this is a good idea? Why would she build this thing here?” You say.

“Well, yes, but!” Sunny says, her eyes darting around as she quickly thinks. She then slaps a hoof on the gunwale of the boat.

“But we’ve already come this far!” She says, shaking a hoof at you in exasperation. “Come on, Anon. We have to see!”

You rub your aching shoulder. You have some serious doubts about this.

“Fine.” You say.

Sunny sits down and motions with a hoof at you. “Come on, Anon! I’d do it but I don’t have hands! You can do it!”

You take a long, deep sigh and pick up the oars again. You start to row once more, cursing your opposable thumbs.

Sunny keeps looking to the tower with eyes shining in wonder as you approach. She steadies herself on the bow, then picks up a rope in her teeth.

As the staircase draws close, you stop rowing and brace yourself. Sunny leaps over to the staircase and quickly wraps the rope around one of the decorative crystal spires on the small, carved railing.

You carefully reach out and grab onto the staircase as the boat drifts up to it. You pull the boat flush to the staircase from there and step out carefully.

You wait for Sunny to finish tying the knot with her teeth. A rotten feeling turns in your gut, but you are too far past the point of no return.

You and Sunny carefully make your way up to the small landing, making sure to plant your feet and hooves carefully on the crystalline steps. In front of you, there’s two huge, arched double doors that almost seems to be carved out of the mineral itself. There are symbols and decorative lines in them, but no seams that you can see.

There is, however, a circle with a heart symbol etched into the door at about pony height.

Sunny steps forward tentatively. You notice her knees are trembling slightly as she raises a hoof toward the door.

“Go on, Sunny.” You say. “I’m... with you.”

She presses her hoof onto the door. Immediately, the sound of mechanisms click and whir behind it. The door lights up with a glittering array of sparks at the seams. With a sudden jolt they begin to swing inward.

Sunny takes a few steps back as a dark room with a vaulted ceiling is revealed. The inside is unremarkable, but there is a spiral staircase leading down.

“What is this place...?” Sunny asks. Her eyes scan the room, and she seems to have fallen into a daze.

“It’s almost like the top of a castle tower.” You say. “But that would mean the rest of it is under the water. Really deep under the water.”

Sunny stands up straight and nods once. “Well... come on, Anon. Let’s keep going.” She says. She takes a step forward, and with renewed courage and a flick of her mane, she steps into the dark interior.

You follow her, staying a few paces behind. You pull off the soaked rain jacket and gloves and throw them off to the side.

As Sunny puts a hoof on the landing to the stairs, the double doors start to close on their own. They shut tight, and you and Sunny are momentarily thrown into absolute darkness. Then, a series of torch sconces on the walls light themselves with bright pink flames. The sconces line the walls of the staircase as well, and you can see that it goes down for dozens of stories.

“Huh. Well that’s convenient!” Sunny says.

“Yeah.” You reply bluntly.

Sunny carefully descends the stairs, looking around at everything with a whimsical expression. You follow. At least you’re going down the stairs and not up them.

Chapter 26 - Matriarch

You’re not sure how many flights you had to go down. The stairs seemed to just keep twisting down deeper in a never-ending spiral. You didn’t come across a single landing or doorway on the way down. Just steps and railings and steps and more railings.

You thought about the immense volume of water pressing in around the long, thin cavity. You figure the outer shell of this thing has to be pretty thick, or at least you hope it is. You shuddered as you imagined the walls giving in.

The bottom of the tower was an unremarkable floor that had another set of double doors at one end. It was situated in slight indent, which indicated that it connected to another part of the room.

“We’re almost there.” Sunny says.

Sunny takes the last bend of the staircase as you walk slowly behind her.

She goes up to the doors, knowing exactly what to do. With another press of her hoof, the doors began to open on their own. A gust of stagnant air flowed out from the doorway, and a grand hall revealed itself to you.

“Woah. Now this definitely looks important.” Sunny says in a loud whisper.

The hall before you is dimly lit with torches lining the walls. The ceiling is so high that you can’t tell where it is. There are rows of pillars made from crystal, and a raised section at the far end that almost looks like an altar. The walls have decorative carvings in them that resemble tall, arched windows.

At the back wall, there is another six-pointed crystal hanging on metal supports. It feels almost like a crucifix.

You and Sunny make your way through the hall. As you approach the raised section, you notice a hexagonal panel on the floor with the tops of several white orbs embedded into it. They glow with self-emissive light.

Sunny stands close to the raised platform. Her ears are folded back from nervousness, and she leans her head forward.

“Hello?” She asks meekly.

The torch flames all simultaneously dim for a moment. Then, a voice booms forth from the ether.

“Welcome, Sunny Starscout.” Says the voice in a very royal tone.

You recognize it immediately and your blood runs cold.

“And Anonymous the human.” The voice adds with a hint of displeasure.

“T-twilight?” Sunny says. She turns to you. “Is that... her? Princess Twilight Sparkle?”

“What the... fuck?” You say, glancing around.

“The symbol of my greatest accomplishment, standing right next to the symbol of my world’s downfall.” The voice says. “Quite poetic, really.”

“What is this?” You say. You don’t notice any cameras or speakers anywhere. “Where are you?”

“We have a lot to catch up on, Anon. But first...” The voice says.

You watch the orbs inside the raised platform let off a faint white smoke. The smoke rises up to form the shape of a tall, slender mare. Colors begin to magically spread along the mass of clouds, and the form shifts into clear definition. There’s a long, pointed horn, a mane that billows in an unseen wind, and a pair of outstretched, violet wings.

Sunny gasps silently. Her jaw hangs open and her eyes go wide as she beholds the full majesty of the alicorn princess.

You see it too, but your mind cannot fully comprehend it.

The Princess looks down at her with a calm, composed smile. Her face shines brilliantly in the holographic display. Her muzzle is as long as Celestia’s was, and she stands at nearly the same height.

You realize you aren’t breathing. The visage of Twilight penetrates your mind. Even though she wears a crown and is adorned with royal regalia, you cannot for the life of you accept this to be truly her.

“I am here.” Twilight’s hologram says.

The princess bows her head slightly and closes her eyes.

“I-It’s you! Oh my stars...!” Sunny says in a stammer. Tears of joy start to stream from her eyes. She holds her hooves up to her chest.

You finally take in a shaky breath.

It just can’t be. This can’t be her.

Yet as the figure of Twilight Sparkle raises her head, you get a sense that it’s too elaborate not to be. Her mane flows with a wellspring of arcane energy around it. The pinks fade to purples, and then the purples fade to a midnight blue. A field of stars glitter inside, and all together it forms a tactful pastiche of the Equestrian night sky.

It’s her. Holy fuck, she’s actually still alive.

“You have endured a great deal, my little pony.” Twilight says to Sunny. “Thanks to you, magic has finally, finally returned..”

Sunny gasps silently.

Twilight raises a gilded hoof to her chest. “You have proven yourself to Equestria. First, by uniting the three pony tribes. Second, by seeking me out. Only one who truly had harmony and truth in their heart could have done this. And I must say... I am very proud.” She says.

Sunny’s face runs wet with tears as the corners of her smile pull tight against her cheeks. She seems so happy that she could burst. Twilight’s eyes dampen. She leans her head down towards Sunny to speak again.

"Twilight. Is that really you?" You say, taking a hesitant step forward.

Twilight quickly turns to glare at you with a disappointed expression. You balk a bit and relax from your timid posture.

“What? Aren’t you happy to see me?” You say with a charming grin.

“Wait your turn, Anonymous. This isn’t about you.” Twilight says.

You let out a snort. You feel a giddy sensation rising up inside.

“Why, so you can keep doing your Celestia impression? Come on, it’s me!” You say, throwing your hands out to the sides.

Twilight raises up to assume a regal posture. Her glare shoots right through you. The hatred is palpable.

You drop your hands dejectedly. A conflicted feeling rises up inside you. Now you have finally met a pony from the time before, and it just happens to be the one that hates your guts the most. Well, the feeling is mutual, Twilight.

“So... what is all this, exactly? Was this all some sort of test for her? The wilderness? The creatures with guns? The storm?” You ask.

“In a manner of speaking, yes.” Twilight says plainly.

“Well, I’m sorry Twilight, but this is just... embarrassing! What are you doing here? You’re hiding out while the world is in ruins?” You say.

You look at her incredulously. She stares right through you.

“I was getting to that, Anon.” She says. “If you’ll be so kind-”

“And what did you mean by ‘symbol of the world’s downfall’ any way, huh?” You say, getting riled up more by the second.

“That should be obvious to you, Anonymous. Or do you not remember your crimes?” Twilight snaps back.

Sunny hears this and gasps. You feel hot under the collar of your uniform. You clench your fists tight.

“Listen. I did my time, Twilight.” You say. “Sunny and her friends let me out. You said that might happen.”

“Well yes, that is true!” Twilight says with a short nod. “But I didn’t think it would be so soon. Tell me, how exactly did you end up on the east coast of the continent, hm?”

You are confused. Did she not remember putting you there?

“You’re the one that was supposed to keep track of that. How could you blame me? I was in solid crystal for fuck’s sake!” You say, waving a hand in disbelief.

Twilight smiles slowly. Her violet eyes narrow.

“So, if it wasn’t you, then who helped you?” She says.

You grit your teeth. Something about her face triggers you. You feel a twinge of something buried deep in your mind. A dark urge for malevolence and destruction. You suddenly remember the loaded handgun in your pocket, but you quickly push the thought away.

“Wait!” Sunny shouts.

She walks up between you and the princess. She holds out a hoof between both of you. She looks at each one of you individually with an anxious expression on her face.

“What is Anon charged with, exactly? What are his crimes?” She says, looking to Twilight.

You relax your posture a bit. Twilight glances Sunny with a smile you can only view as condescending.

“Sunny, I am not blaming you. You were right to bring him along, and I’m sure he might have even helped you. But Anonymous is a very dangerous human. He is a threat to our world.” She says.

“That’s bullshit.” You say. “You’re a much bigger threat. What about that giant storm up there? You want to explain why you did that?”

You point up to the ceiling. Sunny glances up with you.

“Oh, the self-perpetuating thunderstorm?” Twilight says. “That wasn’t my doing, Anonymous. Honest. I just use it as cover for my secret base of operations.”

Twilight tilts her head at you. You scowl.

“I could stop it if I wanted to, but what would be the point? All it would do is give away my exact location. I thought it best to keep the Abyssinian military away from my affairs.” She says.

The audacity of this mare. You walk to the front of the hologram and stand directly in the princess’s view. Your unbidden displeasure is painted starkly on your face.

“So how did it happen?” You ask as your words turn sour.

Twilight lowers her head a bit. The length of her horn and her golden crown tilt towards your head.

“Well, Anon. To put it simply, Equestria has changed quite a lot from what you remember. Certain events were put into motion which lead to disastrous results. You are one of the main figures to influence these events.” She says.

You resist the urge to punch her. What are these accusations? Why can’t she just be glad to see you after all this time?

“You wanna tell us anything specific Twilight?!” You say snarkily.

“Certainly.” Twilight says. “And I want Sunny to hear this too.”

She straightens up her impressively long neck.

“Anon, when you graced us with your presence so long ago, you brought a few things with you, did you not?”

“No, not really.” You say. “Unless you count the clothes on my back.”

“Ideas, Anon.” Twilight says with small smirk. “You brought ideas from your human planet to our world.”

Twilight looks to the side and raises up a hoof. “And ideas, Anon, are very hard to get rid of. Aren’t they?”

You feel a pit grow in your stomach as you grimace harder at the princess.

Another hologram materializes above Twilight’s hoof. It’s a simple bolt-action rifle that slowly rotates in the air.

“You recognize this device, correct?” Twilight says.

You exhale in one long, hot breath and slump your shoulders. You know where she’s going with this.

“Wait. I recognize it.” Sunny says. “That’s a firearm.”

You close your eyes and pinch the bridge of your nose. Is this really happening?

“Yes, indeed! Very astute, Sunny! This is a rifle. A type of firearm that is incredibly common in Anon’s world!” She says.

“So what?” You say.

“Well, I’m glad you asked, Anon! The very first rifle that was ever produced was made by you! Quite an honor, isn’t it? Your name was in history books!” She says.

You facepalm. Sunny looks completely shocked as she slowly turns toward you.

Fuck.

“This is what it looked like, by the way.” Twilight says. Another rifle appears next to the first. It is an exact replica of your home-made gun.

“So... so fucking what?” You say, gesturing vehemently at the hologram. “Ponies have fucking smartphones and computers now! They are way more advanced technologically than they were in the past. So what if they also invented guns along the way? That’s not my fault!”

“Oh, but it wasn’t ponies that invented firearms, Anon. It was creatures. Ordinary, innocent creatures that had a slight tendency towards violence due to their turbulent pasts. They were part of a rapidly-growing, rapidly-industrializing nation. You decided to give the secrets of firearm technology... to them.” She says.

The blood drains from your face.

“That’s right. Those documents you made? Well, they survived despite my best efforts to contain them. The spread of harmful information is like the spread of weeds. No matter how many you pull, there's always more.” Twilight says.

Twilight waves her hoof and the two holograms dissipate.

“Ideas, Anon!” She says as she leans her head forward. “Ideas are very hard to get rid of.”

She snorts through her long muzzle, her violet eyes are burning with hate. You tremble from the fury building up inside you.

“And that’s not all.” Twilight says. “Besides spreading the ideas of mass-produced killing machines, you were also able to infect Equestrian culture with many other... unique, human ideas.”

She’s wearing a smugly confident grin. She’s practiced this speech to you thousands of times to herself. You just know she has.

“Sure, some were rather beneficial, like the ideas on electric infrastructure, circuitry and microprocessors.”

She waves to the panels beneath her.

“However, these were vastly outweighed by the more negative and destructive ones.”

“Like. What.” You say mostly through your teeth.

“How about propaganda, Anon?” Twilight says. “Did you ever think that ponies might have been influenced by your little drunken escapades? You inspired a certain group of changelings to spread fear and disorder among my population. My nation was beset by whispered ideas of uprisings and regime changes.”

Wait, is she talking about... what was her name again? Mallerie?

“Did you think that your actions went completely unnoticed by everyone around you? You often tried to pass off your more awful deeds as mere jokes, but every joke has a grain of truth to it, does it not?”

Twilight raises her eyebrows at you.

“You helped plant the seeds of disharmony in Equestria, Anonymous. That much is evident. For this and many other things, you are a danger to this world and all ponykind.” She says.

You look down at Sunny. Your face remains stern, but you try to find hope in her eyes. She is lost in a state of shock. She can say nothing at all.

“No.” You say. You slowly raise your eyes up to meet Twilight’s.

“You’re wrong, Twilight. I’m not the same Anon that left you all those years ago.” You say.

Twilight silently blinks and turns to the side.

“Even if that is the case, it does not excuse you from facing justice. You have not served the full length of your original sentence, Anonymous. Don’t you remember?” She says.

“What?!” You say.

“You were supposed to be banished forever. For your entire human lifetime. You swore to never return, and now that you have been... accidentally revived, you must agree to return to my custody immediately in order to send you back to Earth. ”

She looks you directly in your eyes and says, “Regardless, I am a princess of friendship. I can see that you still would like to be a part of your world. I will grant you a chance at redemption, Anon. You will be awakened for parole in one year’s time.”

“One YEAR?!” You shout.

The audacity of this stupid overgrown bitch. What the fuck is she even the ruler of any more?!

“Yes.” Twilight says calmly.

You glance at Sunny, who is trying to process this all. You glance to the side and try to think.

“Wait. Wait.” You say. “How long is that, exactly? How long would that even be in your time?” You say nervously.

Twilight sighs. “Oh, I suppose I should tell you, Anon.”

You look at her. A twinge of fear shoots down your back.

“It’s been four hundred and sixty-seven years since you left.” Twilight says.

Fuck. Fuck.

“S-so wait. That means one year on Earth is like...”

“Fifty one point eight repeating years.” Twilight says. “Give or take. The time dilatation from multiverse travel can sometimes fluctuate by up to five years.”

You can only look in shock.

“What the... fuck, Twilight?” You say, thinking of Sunny growing old as decades slip by in the blink of an eye. “What kind of monster are you?”

Twilight gives you a passionless expression.

“You had your chance to be my friend, Anon.” She says. “I remember a time when we were amicable, but you betrayed my trust too many times. You let down my entire generation. I am sorry, Anon, but we cannot afford to have you in our world.”

She steps off to the side and paces around the platform in front of you.

“Time has passed. If you have truly changed, then you must also know that I am not the same Twilight either. I am much less lenient when it comes to those who spread disharmony. We have given too many chances to those who deserved so few.”

“So what, you’re going to just slap me back into a box? Just like that?!” You say, taking a step back.

You whip your head to Sunny, who is still lost in taciturn contemplation.

“Sunny, are you just going to let her do this? Come on! You know this isn't right!” You say.

Sunny looks at Twilight, then back to you. She then stares off into space ahead of her.

“I... I...” She stammers.

“Sunny is no longer any of your concern, Anon.” Twilight says. “I should thank you for seeing her safely to me, but beyond that, I cannot let you interfere any longer in her life. She has a bright and shining future ahead of her, and you will not be a part of it.”

You start hyperventilating.

You’re sick of this. You’re so sick and tired of playing Twilight’s game. She should be dead. Equestria is destroyed and now she wants to try and play the role of the all-knowing mentor? Fuck that.

“Yeah, well I got one thing you don’t!” You shout. “Sunny is my FRIEND! She helped me, and I helped her. Got it? If she’s going to be the next princess then you should have her decide! Let her decide if I’m a criminal or not!”

You turn to the kind, orange mare. You kneel down and look into her eyes.

“Sunny. Come on. Please.” You say desperately. You take her hoof off the floor and hold it.

Sunny slowly opens her mouth. She tries to find the words, but she just can’t seem to grasp them.

“Well, Sunny. Anon does have a point.” Twilight says. She walks forward and leans down with her lengthy neck.

“You are going to lead ponykind one day. You need to make decisions like this. So what would you have me do? Let him stay here and risk him causing further disharmony? Or have him leave to return when the world is better prepared?”

Sunny lowers her head slowly.

Twilight leans over Sunny. She stands like a mother over a lost filly. Her ethereal hoof reaches out to Sunny's shoulder.

“You are just beginning your journey. Yet I know that deep in your heart, you will do what’s right. For the good of everycreature in this world, you must make your choice, Sunny Starscout.” She says.

Sunny looks up at you. In a small, timid voice, she says, “Anon...”

You wait for her to continue with baited breath. Twilight calmly waits as well.

“Is it true? Did you really bring guns to Equestria?”

You feel something snap inside of you. No longer any rage left, all you can feel now is the pain.

“I mean...” You say, but can’t finish the words.

You huff and your eyes feel puffy. You can’t look at her any more.

“I didn’t want to hurt anybody, Sunny. It was just a mistake. I got... carried away, alright?” You say.

For a long moment, you wait for her to say something. She simply just hangs her head. Your grip loosens and Sunny’s hoof slips out of your hands.

“See, there you have it.” Twilight says, swooping her neck toward you. “You are agreeing that you did irreparable damage to this world through your actions, correct?”

You turn toward Twilight. “No. I did not.” You say.

Twilight steps to the center of the platform.

“Hm. Very well. Sunny, what is your decision?” Twilight says.

Sunny’s points her gaze to the floor. Her mane sweeps down her neck, and she rubs the side of her head with a hoof. Although it is only a few seconds, it seems like ages before she speaks.

“A-Anon.” She stammers. “It... it won’t be that long for you.”

You feel as if you were speared through the chest.

“Please... believe me. I’ll be there when you return. I promise.” She says. She bites your lip nervously, and a tremble rolls down her body.

Twilight frowns and nods.

“A wise, but noble choice. I am very glad to have put my faith in you, Sunny.”

“Sunny... why?” You say.

“I still have to figure out how your sarcophagus got moved across to the east coast. It’s quite puzzling, really.” Twilight says. “Plus, I have to make sure you didn’t accidentally inspire any other ideas to ponies around the area. Oh, so much to do-” Twilight says.

“Show me your face!” You interject loudly.

Twilight looks up at you and you see the faintest hint of smugness pull at her lips.

“SHOW YOURSELF, TWILIGHT!” You scream. You raise your balled-up fists and square up your shoulders.

You take a step forward and bring your fist down onto the panel. You punch right near the corner, hard. Your hand immediately stings with pain, but for a split-second the hologram of Twilight cuts out.

Twilight rears back a hoof in shock. “Oh my. I can see you’re a little upset.”

You bang on the panel again and again with your fists. There’s some kind of plexiglass cover over the orbs, so you can’t smash them. You continue to try regardless, pouring your emotion out with your fists.

“I’m done. I’m fucking done with your shit, Twilight. I’m not going to let you groom Sunny just like Celestia groomed you. She deserves better, dammit! She deserves to be happy!!” You shout.

Your knuckles start to bleed. It hurts too much to continue. You exhale in a growl as you crouch down, jam your fingers into the small gap underneath the panel and try to wrench the entire thing off the floor.

Your arms shake from the strain, too worn out from the trip over to be of any use, but you put all of your strength in regardless.

Twilight steps back and raises a hoof in the air awkwardly, but she doesn’t seem scared or even put-off. Her eyes even betray a hint of glee.

This makes you redouble your efforts. Your face starts to turn red.

Sunny jumps onto the panel in front of you. Her body makes the hologram distort slightly behind her.

“ANON! STOP!” She shouts. She stomps a hoof loudly.

You look at her with your teeth clenched tight, hot breath hisses from them.

“STOP! STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!” Sunny yells.

“Gah!” You shout as you let go. You fall back on your side and then quickly sit up.

Twilight puts her hoof down slowly and looks at you. Sunny is standing protectively in front of her with a bold look on her face.

“As you can see, Sunny. Anon is not quite yet ready to rejoin our society...” Twilight says.

“I... I thought I knew you, Anon.” Sunny says, pausing to sniffle. “Why didn’t you tell me this?”

You slowly rise to your feet. You feel blood dripping down your hands.

“Sunny. I was just trying to protect myself!” You say. “You know how dangerous this world can be.”

You look at her as a tired, broken man at the end of your rope. She stares back, the fearless and pious mare she was from the very beginning.

She doesn't believe you, but you have to try.

“Listen, I don’t know who this... thing is. But she is not your friend.” You say. You point at the false Princess.

“I have to answer for my crimes, but she doesn’t. Equestria fell under her rule, but she doesn’t take any blame. How is that remotely fair? How can you side with her?!” You say.

Sunny’s sad, sea green eyes roll off to the side. Her mouth opens and she tries to say something, but she can’t. She lowers her head and sits down.

“Anonymous. She has made up her mind.” Twilight says as she adopts her royal tone once more.

“It is time for you to go back.”

A door opens at the side of the hall. Twilight motions to it with a hoof.

“Go into the door on your right. I will be with you shortly.” She says.

You tremble with anger for a moment, but your rage subsides as you remember the gun. You look at Twilight with a shrewd, unblinking gaze.

“Fine. Will you at least look me in the eyes before you banish me? Hm?” You say.

“Of course.” Twilight says. “I will perform the banishment spell personally. I'll arrange some time to meet beforehand.”

“Alright then.” You say coldly.

This is it. It’s either you or her. Fuck the monarchy, right?! You finally break eye contact with Twilight and walk off to the side.

“Anon...” Sunny says.

You stop and look back at Sunny. She looks so lost and forlorn that you can hardly stand it.

Sunny says, “Will I see you again?”

You slowly turn to her.

“That’s not up to me any more, Sunny.” You say.

You try to smile. You fail. There’s a hint of hope on Sunny’s face, but it doesn’t linger very long.

“Please tell them... Izzy, Hitch, Zipp and Pipp... tell them that I’m sorry. I don't expect them to forgive me, but I hope I see them again one day.” You say.

Sunny nods once, but her worry is spelled out across her face.

You turn and walk through the open doorway. Your steps are purposeful and direct. Your body tenses up as you dread doing the most important thing you will ever do.

Chapter 27 - Discordant

You watch him leave. Anonymous the human. The human who helped bring you across the world. The one who you trusted with your very life. The criminal who spread ideas of hatred, anger and war.

You try to whisper goodbye. He doesn’t hear it. He simply walks out of your life, and you let him.

Twilight is by your side. She feels so familiar to you, but at the same time so much grander than the stories described her. You feel in awe just to be in her presence.

Even though he was your friend... the things Twilight said made too much sense.

You remember him showing you the firearm. He recognized it instantly, and knew how to use it. When he was pointing it at those creatures, he really was prepared to kill.

A weapon for war.

You remember your first conversations with him. You remember how much he hated Twilight. But to see it right in front of you! Oh sun above, how he hated her!

He’s clearly unhinged. Why didn’t you see it from the beginning?

Gah!

His awful outlook on life, his reluctance to cooperate, his hatred of creatures... all the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place.

And yet... despite all that, you will remember his kind smile.

The door to the hall closes.

“Sunny.” Twilight says, and you snap out of your thoughts and look up at her.

You notice that you’re still sitting on the holographic display panel. You awkwardly shift off it and take a few steps back. You gaze up at the Princess. She clears her throat as she steps back to the center of the platform.

“You made the right decision, Sunny. Again, you have shown you are fit to stand where you are now.” She says with a warm smile.

You glance away for a moment. You get mixed feelings from her praise.

“Any way!” She says with a slightly awkward giggle. “I believe we were in the middle of something. I have something very important to give you, Sunny.”

You watch Twilight’s six foot tall body light up with a bright pink glow. Her horn shines with a dazzling star, and you have to stop your jaw from hanging open again.

“Sunny Starscout, by reaching this place, you have shown to be worthy of knowing the true history of Equestria. You have earned the right to know the truth that has been hidden from you. You will know how the world fell into despair, only for the spark of friendship to reignite the world once again.”

You have to shield your eyes. Her horn is too brilliant.

“Yes, I accept!” You say.

“Very well.” Twilight says. Her horn fades in intensity, and the glare disappears.

“But - can I please just ask - why are you in a hologram?” You say.

Twilight tilts her head curiously.

“Oh! Well, I suppose that is a bit off-putting. I apologize, Sunny. It’s been so long that I’ve simply grown accustomed to addressing my followers in this way.” Twilight says awkwardly.

She waves a hoof in the air and another cloud of smoke rises up around her. It forms a hologram of the three pony crystals.

“My power is innately tied to the harmony between the creatures of the world. When this disappeared, I became powerless. I managed to retain the longevity of an alicorn, but not the magic. It made me vulnerable. Weak. I could not risk being out in the open. Therefore, I was forced to go into hiding. To bide my time. To wait for the arrival of one who would inspire the spark of friendship once more.”

The crystal holograms then snap together and start to glow.

“Namely... you.” Twilight says. She gives you a knowing smile.

“It was only when magic returned that I was able to start using magic again. The years have left me weak, Sunny. I am slowly getting better, but it will take a while for me to recover my strength. I am sorry, but I cannot risk exposing myself just yet.”

“I... I understand.” You say. “I know you’re just doing what’s best... but, will I see you one day?”

“Yes.” Twilight says kindly. “And that day will be very soon, my dear student.”

Student? You’re her student now? You feel a sense of elation rise inside you.

The crystals fade into smoke. The smoke falls to the floor and covers the platform.

“For now, let me avail you of the truth of your world.” She says. “Sunny Starscout. This is the story of Equestria’s rise and fall.”

Her form evaporates into smoke. It all forms into one cloud that spreads out to cover the stage.

You lean back on your hooves as the ethereal hologram smoke washes over you. It sort of tickles, but you don’t feel anything solid.

“You call it the ‘ancient world,’ but this was my reality. Equestria, three hundred eight years ago. A time of prosperity that has never been surpassed. The height of the Golden Age of Magic!” Twilight says.

The smoke around you flickers into motes of light, and a virtual environment forms before your very eyes. As your eyes adjust to the light, you see something that you once could only visualize in your head: the soaring turrets of castle built on a hill.

The walls were alabaster white, and the roofs were violet and gold. You are at the center of a bustling market square. Ponies and creatures of all types ride on self-propelled chariots. They glitter in the sun and hum with arcane power as they zip along.

“W-woah.” You stammer. “Where are we?”

The Princess’ voice calls out to you from the air as you look around the hologram. “This was my home, Sunny. The city of Canterlot.” She says.

You hear the call of trumpets in the distance. You look over at the main castle, the one you had only seen rough sketches of, now presented in fully realistic detail.

You can faintly see the huge doors open, and a tall, purple alicorn step out from them.

You inhale. The most amazing feeling washes over you as you realize that Twilight is going to personally show you her own past.

You are Anon.

You heard Twilight’s voice partially through the great stone doors, but you couldn’t make out any words.

You are waiting with your hands in the pockets, looking out into the hall.

This section is dimly lit with torches as well. They burn with a gentle lavender hue. There’s a lot of doors in the hall. They all look identical and shut very tightly.

One at the far end of the hall, left side, suddenly opens up.

“This way, Anon.” You hear a voice call out.

You make your way slowly down the hallway. Your footsteps echo on the rough stone halls. No carpet to be had. It was either removed or has rotted away a long time ago.

You make it to the end of the hall and turn to the door.

It appears to be a decently-sized sitting room. There’s another glowing hologram of the Princess inside. She is standing near a stone bench with no cushions on it.

“Come in, Anon.” The hologram says.

You quirk an eyebrow as you step forward carefully.

“The hologram playing for Sunny is one I pre-recorded. I’m speaking to you through a live avatar right now.” Twilight says.

You walk up behind a stone bench opposite to her and lay your forearms on the backrest.

“Alright. I can see that.” You say. “But how the fuck do I know you’re the real Twilight, huh?”

Twilight scoffs. “Do I not sound like her? Do I not look like her? Who else could I be, Anon?”

“Someone pretending to be her.” You say.

“Really, Anon? Isn’t it obvious? Those crystals Sunny carries were made by me. They lead her here, to the center of where Ponyville used to be. Is that not enough of a hint?” She says.

You shrug. “Fine. Let’s just settle this already. Will you come out now?”

Twilight seems a bit bashful and looks away. You lean off the bench and put your hands in your pockets again.

“What? Are you scared?” You ask dismissively.

“No, Anon. I’m not.” Twilight says. She looks at you. “I just feel a bit of remorse, that’s all.”

“I wish you could have been there, Anon. I wish you could have seen Equestria at the height of its glory. We did so much good work after you left. I’m sorry you never got a chance to see it.” She says.

You fight the temptation to roll your eyes.

“I will reveal myself to you. But first, I must understand one thing. In order to trust you, I need to understand how you were set free.” She says.

You shrug and sigh.

“I don’t know what to tell you, Twiggy. Sunny and the other ponies all woke me up from my emerald casket using the magic of the crystals. It was in an abandoned ruin near the east coast of the continent. When I came to, they were all just standing around me.” You say.

“Yes. I see.” Twilight says. “Oddly convenient story. So you don’t remember anything before that? Nothing at all?”

You scratch the back of your head.

“Nothing but shit that happened on Earth. No one helped me, as far as I know, anyway.” You say.

Twilight studies you for a moment.

“Look, I didn’t mean to throw a wrench into your plans with Sunny. But you have to believe me. I don’t know why my casket was moved. Honest.” You say.

Twilight skews up her face for a moment and looks off to the side.

“Throw a wrench... provoke, disturb...” She says.

Her eyes light up with recognition. “That’s it! Hahah!” She says.

She walks up towards you and leans her neck over. “Were you visited by you-know-who? Tell me truthfully.”

You give her a tilted gaze.

“What are you talking about?”

Twilight narrows her eyes. “Don’t play coy with me.” She says.

She reads the bewilderment on your face, and sighs.

“Discord.” She says in a low tone.

“Oh. Him.” You say. You shake your head. “Nah, not really.” You say.

“Not really?” She asks pressingly.

You shrug. “Why do you ask...?” You say.

Twilight leans back and sighs. “Just a hunch.”

Twilight waves a hoof dismissively.

“It no longer matters.” She says. “Thank you for answering my questions, Anon. I appreciate your cooperation.”

She steps back and moves around one of the stone benches.

“You know, it sounds silly, but I’ve been down here for so long that I’m actually quite glad to see you in person. I don't suspect you share that feeling.” Twilight says.

“Sure. Whatever.” You say dryly. "You want to sit down and chat over some tea? Go ahead.”

Twilight smiles smugly. “I would like that, actually.” She says. “But I understand you’re bitter about me exiling you again. I never thought you would grow attached to ponies again so soon.”

You snort and curl your lip.

“But Anon, you have to understand: Equestria is just not ready for you right now. In a few decades we’ll be in a much better place, but for now you’re better off in your own world. Don’t you agree?”

“I don’t care.” You say.

Twilight quirks an eyebrow.

“I just think you shouldn’t be making the choices any more, Twilight. You're not a princess any more.” You say.

Twilight puts a hoof over her mouth and giggles. “Oh ho. Quite the reprimanding tone coming from one like you, my little human.”

You narrow your eyes. “I remember when you were the short one. So come on out. Explain yourself, and try your best to swing this so you’re the good guy.” You say.

Twilight nods with a patient smile.

“Very well. In that case, I will see you shortly.” She says.

Her large alicorn frame starts to turn away from you, but she glances back over her shoulder.

“Just know that you asked for this, Anon. You need to be careful what you wish for.” She says.

Before you can ask anything, the holographic image of Twilight dissolves. The light inside the orbs in the floor go dim, and only the magic torches lining the perimeter give off any light.

Somewhere from inside the castle’s depths, you hear the whirring of gears and the sound of an electric servo running. You hear some clanks and some shifting stone. Then, the door on the far side of the sitting room opens gradually.

A cloaked figure steps out. It’s alicorn sized, but you can’t make out anything under the hood in the dim torchlight.

“Here I am, Anon.” Twilight says. “Face to face once more.”

The figure lifts up her head. You then see two, bright burning coals of violet in empty eye sockets.

The lights in the room slowly burn brighter.

Before you, there is a huge pony skeleton. Twilight’s body is nothing but reanimated bones that move through unseen arcane machinations. Her long horn is the only thing adorning her head. There is no mane to speak of. Her hooves are fitted with tarnished royal horseshoes, but she wears no crown.

It is an image of something unworldly. A mockery of life itself.

“I believe the name in your world is ‘lich’, Anon.” Twilight says. Her voice seems to transmit from a realm beyond, breathy and ethereal.

“What... the fuck?” You say.

Twilight slowly pulls her hood back over her head, revealing the round skull underneath.

“Surprised? When the magic of ponies failed, I became weak, Anon. I was made mortal. With these desperate circumstances, I had no choice but to peruse other forms of magic. That is all.” She says matter-of-factly.

You tense up.

“You can’t be serious.” You say.

“I am. I spent my life giving everything I had to this world. To maintain harmony. And what did I get in return?”

She starts pacing over towards you. Towards the center of the room. You are frozen in place.

“Equestria betrayed me. The world betrayed me. They took my life.” She says as she stops right in front of you.

You eye her warily. You get a very eerie sense of something Izzy would call sparkle coming from her. Your hands are still jammed into your pockets. The gun is concealed.

“I was assassinated. Thrown away. Left to rot in a crypt deeper than the darkest pits of Tartarus.”

She leans her head back and slowly pulls her hood back over her skull.

“But you know me, Anon. I make plans for every eventuality.” She says. “Although my appearance may be terrifying to some... it allows me the one crucial thing I need.”

She turns her head to the side. “Time. Time, Anon. I had to ensure that the new age of harmony could begin. I had to see the dawn rise in Equestria once more.”

You snort and lean back a bit. Ugh. She smells very musty.

“I’ll admit, your interference in this world has been quite a challenge, but I have overcome it, have I not?” Twilight says.

“What the fuck are you talking about, Twilight?” You say.

“You, Anonymous.” Twilight says with her firelight eyes dancing in her skull. “You were the greatest test of my power. Or should I say, the greatest test of harmony. Equestria runs on it, Anon. The friendship and good nature of all creatures must be preserved, and you were in direct opposition to it.”

“It’s not my-”

“No, it’s not your fault, Anon! It never is! That’s what you keep saying.” Twilight says with anger sparking in her voice. “You could never own up to your actions and take responsibility. I always had to do it for you.”

You respond to her criticism with a detached glare. Your hand tenses for a moment on the pistol in your pocket.

“Do you know how long I have had to contemplate just how awful you truly are, Anon? How many times I have calculated the magnitude of your interference in this world? No matter the scope, no matter how many simulations I run, the most significant variable has always been you!”

Twilight starts to pace around you slowly. She stares at you the entire time, but you stand your ground and watch her.

“You have been the center of a great body of study, Anonymous! Ironically, if you had never come into this dimension, I would not have never discovered the secrets of the multiverse.”

“Multiverse theory, huh?” You say.

“No, not theory. Application.” Twilight says as she moves around your shoulder.

“There are many Twilight Sparkles, Anon. Many Equestrias. Just as there are many versions of your own world. All varying in slightly different ways, with slightly different outcomes.” She says.

“So how could I ignore all the possibilities that stretch out over the grand horizons of space and time? I had to know, Anon. I had to see what my life could have been like without a human interloper. I traveled across the dimensions. I found out for myself.”

“And?” You say, getting impatient.

“Well, I surveyed various Equestrias throughout the multiverse. I took notes on the social, economic and political climates. I noted all major events and changes, and tabulated the results.”

“In all the versions of Equestria I sampled, I found that there was a twenty-seven percent chance of increased violent crimes during a human’s visit to Equestria, a forty-eight percent chance of sexual misconduct increasing through the nation’s population, and a sixty-five percent chance of disharmony destabilization during the reign of the Princess of Friendship.”

Twilight seems a little too excited to quote all those statistics. So much for harmony between all creatures.

“Wait. Other humans? There are others out there?” You say.

“You didn’t think you were the only human to get pulled into a version of Equestria throughout the entire multiverse, did you?” Twilight says.

You scratch your chin. Honestly, you had never thought about it.

“Let me explain, Anon.” Twilight says as she stops in front of you. “Before Celestia passed on from this world, I spoke to her for one final time. She was on her deathbed, ready to pass on. It was then she gave me her final lesson. She revealed to me the prophecy of this world, known only to a very special few.”

Twilight waves a skeletal hoof dramatically as she continues.

“She told me that our world undergoes cycles. It takes thousands of years, but eventually every period of harmony is befallen by a period of disharmony. This is the way it has always been, since time immemorial. The nations of ponies and creatures rise and fall in endless cycles. A wheel turning forever.”

You nod slowly, but at the back of your mind you know she’s gone off the deep end.

“I... see.” You say.

“The prophecy stated that the rule of the two Princesses, the Sun and the Moon, will be followed by the rule of one. A unicorn named after dusk. Me. The last princess to preside over Equestria before disharmony returns.”

Twilight touches her hoof to her chest.

“Celestia knew I would be born. It was destiny. Even when I was a scared little filly, they knew who I was supposed to be. They raised me and empowered me, for they knew my fight would be the most difficult out of all the princesses that had come before.”

“They put their trust in me, Anon. They believed that I could break the cycle. That I could usher in an age of everlasting harmony. Can you see the magnitude of that task, and how it must take every conceivable effort to accomplish?”

You start to feel uneasy, and glance away.

Twilight sighs with breath that should not be there.

“But there is no use fighting the inevitable, Anonymous. I tried my best, and I failed. I’ll admit that. In all the multiverses I have seen, all the worlds I have explored, most end up the same way. There is always an event that happens when the period changes to an age of turmoil. It is called the Disharmony Event.”

“So what is this event?” You ask.

“Well, in my case, it was the destruction of Ponyville due to the collapse of Cloudsdale.” She says.

“You’ve got to be kidding.” You say.

“I’m afraid not, Anon. That really did happen.” Twilight says. “That is the true cause of the ever-present thunderstorm. Abyssinian rebels managed to collapse the magic resonance grid that powered the city. Without magic, there was nothing to stop the city from falling to the ground.”

Your mouth opens in shock.

“It was winter. Seven days after Hearth’s Warming.” Twilight says with a very distant tone.

No fucking way. An act of terrorism destroyed two cities at once? Could this really be true?

“You... you couldn’t stop it?” You say.

“I tried, Anon.” Twilight says sternly.

“What do you mean you tried?!” You say.

“Anon! This is much bigger than you could possibly comprehend! Do you think I did not pursue every option? Do you think I did not put in every measure of defense?!”

You bare your teeth at her. “It wasn’t enough, huh?” You say.

“I learned that there are some things you cannot avoid, Anon.” Twilight says in a bittersweet tone. “So I chose the next best option.”

You narrow your eyes. Twilight tilts her head slightly.

“To accelerate the age of harmony. To begin anew. With the rise of a new princess and a new nation, I may once more see an age of everlasting harmony.”

Her words ring true to the relentless devotion you knew her for. She would do anything to save her world. But the implications are staggering. Was she the one that set up everything?

“Just... wait. How much of this did you plan? Huh? How much have you been manipulating Sunny’s life?” You say.

Twilight stares at you for a moment. “You know me quite well, Anon. What do you think?” She says.

You involuntarily let out a short laugh. Your eyes well up. Your chest convulses in manic spasms.

“S-so it was all just you all along, huh? Sunny, the crystals, the airship? It was all you.” You say. "What, did you make her in a test tube? Did she even have a dad?!"

Twilight turns her head to the side, clearly disinterested in your emotions. “I do what must be done, Anonymous. Is it not my personal duty to bring the future ruler of Equestria under my tutelage?”

You start to laugh again. God, this is all just a fucking joke, isn’t it? Why can’t you stop laughing?

“Tell me.” You say between laughs. “Did you plan for her to fucking fall in love with me, too?”

Twilight’s gaze turns back to you. Her fire-like eyes burn with greater intensity.

You casually take the snub-nosed revolver out of your pocket and point it at her head.

“You did this, Twilight. Fuck you.” You say.

Twilight’s skeleton opens its mouth slowly.

BANG.

You don’t really remember pulling the trigger. It just happened. You felt your finger squeeze on its own, and just like that, there’s a gaping hole in Twilight’s right eye socket, and a spout of magic flame shooting from the back of her head.

She clutches her face with a hoof. You think she might be screaming, but you can’t hear anything. You turn the hammer of the revolver with your thumb.

BANG.

Again.

BANG.

The form of Twilight Sparkle, the former queen of Equestria, falls to the ground. Her skull is cracked from the three holes in it. Splinters of bone are scattered on her dingy robe. The flames in her eye sockets slowly fade and puff out into twin trails of smoke.

You lower the gun, staring at your work. You let out a shaky, long-held breath, and there is a winding release of tension deep in your core.

Slowly, you sit down on a stone bench and hang your hands off your knees.

Finally. It is done. A shudder runs through you.

As you take a deep breath and consider your options. Might be some chance of rescue. Maybe.

Just then, the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. You feel a pulse of something in the room.

“That was a bad idea, Anonymous.” Twilight says.

You whip your head around. Her skeletal form remains motionless on the floor. There’s no one in the room.

Then, all of the torches go out at the same time.

You hear the clacking of bones. The hum of some arcane ritual. There is a dull ember of magic burning inside a prison of pony ribs.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t use the gun.” Twilight says as her skeleton rises up off the ground. “My hopes for you once again end in disappointment.”

You look in horror as Twilight once again stands before you. The embers in her eyes are now blazing orbs of fire. Tendrils of flame creep out of the three holes in her skull.

Your body is suddenly encased in the grip of a magic field. Your arms are pressed to your sides, and you are lifted into the air. Twilight’s ivory-colored horn hums with magical power.

“Did it feel good at least? Finally doing what you dreamed of for so long? I bet it did. Assassins are so single-minded. It’s really quite boring...”

The revolver is forcibly removed from your hand. It hovers over to Twilight, who turns her head to it for a moment before levitating it far away.

“Y-you bitch!” You say, straining against the telekinesis.

“Well, you’ve had your fun. Now that Discord’s plan has failed, I wonder if he’ll finally show up again.” Twilight says as she slowly turns away.

“Gk!!” You choke as your chest is compressed tighter.

“Eh, well I suppose we’ll see! Come along, Anon. I have something I need to show you before you go...” She says.

You are dragged forward through the air. You unwillingly float by her side as she walks out into the far door.

She takes her time, walking in a slow, methodical rhythm. Your mind screams internally and your arms tremble and struggle, but you know there is no escape.

Suddenly, there is a chime that sounds in the room. Twilight lifts her head high and glances around.

“Shoot. I suppose that will have to wait for now.” She mutters.

Twilight steps through the hall and brings you into another room. It’s too dark to see anything inside, but it seems pretty big. She floats you in as she stands in the doorway.

“Stay here for now, Anonymous. I need to go and see Sunny off on her new quest. I won’t be long... I promise.” She says.

She drops you unceremoniously on the floor.

As you scramble to your feet, you see the doors close in front of Twilight. You are then encapsulated in complete darkness.

You stand up tall and whirl around, searching for any points of light at all, but it’s completely pitch black. You put your hands forward and step around, trying to search carefully around the room.

It was stupid to try and just shoot her. Of course she has some bullshit power to reform herself.

What did she call herself? A lich? Isn't that like some evil wizard skeleton or something? You think you remember that those have a weakness. Something like a physical object that's connected to their soul. You have to destroy it before you can kill her, and who the fuck knows where it could be?

Your fingers touch cool, smooth stone. You move up to the wall and rest your back on it.

Too late now. Game over. Twilight won. Again.

You slowly slide down the wall into a sitting position. You rest your forearms on your knees and your head hangs down.

You’re exhausted in many ways. Physically, emotionally and psychologically.

You suppose that it’s time for all this to be over.

As you take a resigned breath, your mind wanders over the events of your short stint in the new Equestria.

You think of the pony camp, the forest, Izzy’s treehouse, Zephyr Heights, the airship...

It wasn’t so bad, really.

You should have tried to appreciate it more.

You then think of the ruins of the mall. The party on the deck of the ship. That moment alone with Sunny.

Your heart wrenches in your chest, and you quietly wish you could somehow go back.

Chapter 28 - Friendship Obligations

The last measure of Equestria’s national anthem faded. The trumpets went silent, and all that was left was the sound of the wind whistling through the mountainside.

You are Sunny Starscout.

Equestria was more beautiful than you could have possibly imagined.

The scenic hologram of the Ancient Equestrian vista fades before your very eyes. Twilight Sparkle’s from fades with it. The holographic display goes dark, and for a few moments, everything is quiet.

You realize you have not blinked in a long while. Your eyelids feel dry as you finally close them.

The orbs then flicker back on suddenly. An abrupt cloud of smoke rushes up from center of the platform. You open your eyes to see the Princess materializes in front of you once again.

You stand up on all four hooves as she appears.

“So, Sunny.” Twilight says calmly. “Do you now understand what you must do?”

You look at her in absolute reverence.

“Yes, Princess.” You respond. You nod slowly, a feeling of righteousness building in your chest.

“Harmony must be brought back. There is no cost too great. You must do this not only for your generation, but for all generations that follow.” Twilight says.

“I understand.” You say. You bow your head and drop to one knee. “Thank you, Princess.”

Twilight smiles softly at you.

“Rise, Sunny Starscout. There is no need to bow.” She says.

You slowly stand up, feeling a bit flustered.

“You don’t need to call me Princess, either. Just Twilight is fine.” She says with a kind smile. “Do not think of me as only your teacher, Sunny. First and foremost, I’d like to be your friend.” She says.

The words wash over you and fill you with elation. Friends. Twilight Sparkle wants to be friends with you.

Friends?

Your heart skips a beat as you suddenly remember that they are waiting for you. Hitch, Izzy, Zipp, Pipp. They’re held captive by Zelina’s army.

“Prin-er, Twilight! There’s something I must do first. I’m sorry.” You say.

“Oh?” Twilight says as she tilts her head. “Whatever could that be?”

Your cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“In order to get here, I kind of had to... leave my friends behind with an Abyssinian Major General. I told her I could put an end to the ever-storm. I didn’t know what was really causing it. I messed up. I’m sorry. Let me make it right.” You say.

Your face burns and you have to look away. Oh stars, you feel so foolish.

Twilight tilts her ears to the side. “Oh? Is that all?” She says.

She raises her head up proudly and closes her eyes. You watch her horn start to glow. You expect some great burst of magic, but nothing seems to happen.

You glance around. Twilight lowers her head and her horn stops glowing.

“Very well. The storm is gone.” She says.

“W-wait. Just like that?” You say.

“Just like that.” She responds.

“But what about the cover for your secret base? What about saving your magic?” You say.

“Oh Sunny, don’t worry so much.” Twilight says, giggling under her breath. “I haven’t survived this long without having a backup plan. It’s fine!”

She smiles proudly.

You blink. You realize you are rubbing your mane nervously.

“So... uh.” You say.

“So. Go and reunite with your friends! Tell the commanding officer that you have completed your task. They will see how magic can be used to help others, and they’ll release your friends. They’ll be free to go!”

She raises a hoof as she keeps talking casually as if this is the most simple thing in the world.

“It’s actually a good thing you interacted with them so early. It makes for an excellent first step! After your friends are safe, your next task will be to sow the seeds of friendship among their ranks! You will do this by showing them how magic and friendship can work for them rather than against them.”

You gulp.

“You want me to convince an entire army of creatures that hate magic to just... change their minds?” You say anxiously.

Twilight nods gently.

“Small steps, Sunny. You will take small steps little by little to accomplish this.” She says.

You reluctantly nod.

“Oh... okay. I guess so.” You say, catching yourself with a timid tone in your voice.

“Fear not. The Abyssinian military is supposed to be destroying magic artifacts. However, I know that most of the soldiers have been collecting them in secret. Deep down, many of them hope to see the return of magic just as you and I do. You must do is unlock the power they already have. Bring magic back to them, and they will be able to use what they have collected.” Twilight says.

“But... how?” You ask.

Twilight looks at you like you asked why water is wet.

“You must make friends with them, Sunny. Stay among their ranks and spread the truth.” Twilight says.

You feel very uneasy when you think about staying here with the members of Zelina’s army.

“Of course, I don’t expect you to do this right away. It will take time, Sunny. Focus on one or two creatures, and start from there.” She says.

You let out a breath and run a hoof over your mane nervously. You tap your hooves nervously.

“Okay, okay... I’ll do it.” You say.

“Yes. I know you will. Just like me, you are touched with a special gift. You understand the true importance of friendship, and all that it can be.” She says.

“I... I do.” You say. You smile a bit and perk up your ears.

Twilight nods sagely. You inhale and puff out your chest.

“Hoo! Okay! Gonna go save my friends, and befriend an army. I’ll be right back, to this, uh, royal chamber in no time!” You say with an awkward nod.

Twilight raises a hoof gingerly. The door on the opposite end of the hall swings open on its own.

You look over your shoulder as you hear the scraping of stone. You see the exit, and suddenly feel a pang of guilt.

You look back at Twilight.

“Uh, Twilight. Will... will Anon be alright?” You ask hesitantly.

Twilight lets out a long, slow sigh. “Sunny...” She says.

Her eyes have that look to them. It’s the same look you got from the older mares in the Bay. “It’s for your own good, Sunny.” They would say. “Your elders know what’s best.”

“I think it’s best if you forget about him.” Twilight says.

You feel something snap inside you. You push it down. Now is not the time...

“I know it’s hard, but this will be much better in the long run. Please trust me, my student.” Twilight says.

She sounds so very compassionate. You open your mouth, but the words won’t come. You swallow and simply nod your head.

“I... understand.” You say.

“Well, I have quite a lot to prepare for! Now that you’re here there’s so much to do, Sunny! Big things are in motion for Equestria!” Twilight says.

She levitates a book hologram in front of her. It opens by herself, and Twilight looks down and levitates a quill to the page. She smiles warmly as she writes something down.

You turn and start to walk away. You glance back at Twilight one last time as she puts the book down.

“Farewell, Sunny Starscout!” Twilight says. “Believe in the magic of friendship, and you will never be steered wrong.”

The smoke starts to rise up again, and her form starts to fade.

“Goodbye, Twilight.” You say as you walk away.

Your mind goes blank as you step out of the large double doors of the grand hall. You plod up the spiral staircase in a haze. You walk methodically, like a robot. You should feel elated, but you’re only numb on the inside.

Why do you feel so uncertain? Is this what it feels like to live out your dreams?

You lose track of how far you walk as you mull over your feelings. You find yourself standing on the landing at the top of the stairs. The door is already open at the top, and you can see out to the lake beyond.

The sky is big, blue and clear. Where there was once the constant noise of rain and thunder, there is now only a gentle breeze. The clouds are gone, and you squint as your eyes take in the light of day.

You walk to the balcony over the lake. The boat is still there, just bobbing in the water.

You stare at it as a very anxious feeling wells up in your chest.

Why are you scared now? Why do you hesitate?

You look down and notice that your hoof is partially covering a muddy boot print. You lift your hoof off the print and look at it. Your mind recalls the human that made it, and your eyes begin to well up with tears.

Anon.

What did he say about Twilight?

“She was the Princess of Friendship that abandoned her friends.”

You grit your teeth. You feel the tears bead up at the corners of your eyes.

No! What are you thinking? You quickly wipe your eyes.

He’s a criminal! He’s dangerous!

You shake your head and flip your mane.

You start to stomp down the stairs to the boat, but you can’t help but keep thinking about his dumb little smile.

Horseapples. Why did he say that just before he left?!

“Please... tell them that I’m sorry. I hope I see them again one day.”

Shoot! How are you going to tell them? You didn't even think about that. What will Izzy say?!

You sit down and put your face into your hooves. You rub your eyes and sniffle more.

If he doesn’t care, if he just wants to spread disharmony, then why did he consider them friends? Why was he so sad to leave them behind?

Why did he look so sad to leave... you?

You wipe your eyes and nose. You blink and try to clear your head.

Across the vast lake there is a thin, dark tower. Inside are your friends. You will have to explain that the friend they knew and trusted was a criminal. A person bent on destruction.

But... do you even believe that?

Your face twists up. You feel anger boiling up inside.

You stomp your hoof. Then you stomp it three more times.

No! No! No!

This isn’t right!

You tilt your head up, let out a loud wail and start to cry.

You breathe in short, shallow gasps as you stare up at the sky. You need to try and make sense of all this. To see the light of truth within your mind.

But it feels like the storm has moved from the world into your head. Swirling clouds of confusion and doubt obscure all.

If this is truly what Twilight believes in, then why does it hurt you so much inside to do it? Doing the right thing shouldn’t feel like this.

You lower your head and let the tears run down your muzzle. They drop to the floor.

Not like this. Please. You never even got a chance to tell him.

You shake your head vigorously. You try to push the feeling down. It comes right back up. It makes you want to shout and stomp and cry even more.

But you can’t deny it any more.

You... love him.

It took losing him to finally see it. Now all you can think about is how many chances you threw away. How many times you could have told him how really felt. How he makes you feel when he’s around. How happy you were to have him by your side.

Now he’s gone. You abandoned him. Why would he want to come back?

You blink and wipe your eyes. You try to just breathe for a moment.

You slowly take your saddlebag off your back. You open the flap to see the crystals inside.

You feel like you want to throw them into the lake. You don’t want to be the new ruler of Equestria. Not if means doing things like this.

Your face twists up again. As you try to fight back the tears, a shimmer of light catches your eye.

You look in your satchel and see that there’s a flickering light coming from inside the crystals.

You blink in confusion. In this state, you don’t feel any kind of friendship. You feel angry, sad, confused...

But the crystals continue to glow.

You look at the crystals again. They are glowing stronger now. Even though it doesn’t make any sense, the sight makes your heart beat faster, and a swell of passion bubbles up inside you.

The crystals wiggle themselves out of the pack. They begin to delicately float in the air in front of you.

Then you realize it.

This is a test. Twilight is testing you, isn’t she?

“Even the worst pony has some good in them, Sunny.”

The words of your father come back to you.

“Sometimes it can be hard to see, but if you try hard enough, you’ll see them for who they really are. Everypony has some good in them, you just have to try and bring it out.”

Anon can be saved. Even if he did all these terrible things, you know that he’s still a good person at heart. That’s why he came all this way with you, isn’t it?

Oh, it makes so much sense now! You turn and start to gallop towards the door, the crystals gliding alongside you with every step.

Chapter 29 - Remembrance

“Anon.”

You tilt your head up.

You see her silhouette in the doorway. The hall stretches out behind her.

“Is it time, then?” You say.

“Not yet.” She says. “First... I need to show you something.” Twilight says.

Her horn glows violet. You are picked up in a telekinetic field. You don’t struggle against it. You simply go limp.

“Yeah, not feeling it. Just put me away already.” You say.

“You don’t understand, Anon.” Twilight says. You float up to her position in the middle of the doorway.

“You seem to think you have any control here. You not understand your place in my world. You don’t understand who you’re dealing with.”

Her bony hooves clack along the corridor as she turns and steps through the hall. The rooms go by one by one as you are dragged along through the air. There’s an unsettling stillness to everything in this place.

“I am the light of Equestria, Anonymous. The guiding star. Everything would have been for naught if I did not survive. And yet I beat the odds. I have defeated every villain and dispelled every malevolent force that has come my way. To think you could just come and try to end me like this! You are nothing in comparison to what I’ve faced.”

She stops in front of a door near the end of the hall.

“Let me show you exactly what I mean.” She says.

She presses her hoof against the door, and thin lines of magic spread out across it. The ancient door with its expertly designed carvings slowly begin to swing open. It reveals another room with a high, vaulted ceiling.

Twilight steps inside, floating you along with her.

“Welcome to my library, Anon.” Twilight says.

As you look up at the walls, you feel a twinge of disbelief shoot through your mind.

There are rows of vertical alcoves carved into the crystal walls of this crypt-like place. Inside every alcove is a statue. Each statue is a creature. They range from many different kinds. Yaks, griffons, dragons, cats, dogs, hawks, eagles, centaurs. There’s even some ponies mixed in. The more you look, the more you realize they all have one thing in common: they all look completely terrified.

This is no library. This is her prison.

The rows of graves rise up into the inky darkness before being interrupted by another row of torches, but they extend even further beyond that. The room breaks into many sections further in.

There must be hundreds, if not thousands of creatures trapped in stone.

“Impressed? Behold, human. This is the fate of those who oppose destiny. Every one was willing to give up their life to bring disorder to this world. Now they spend their lives in stone. You will take your place among them, as it always should be.”

Twilight lowers you to the center of the room.

You stand on your feet and look at her. The demon. The possessed corpse of a pony that died a long time ago.

“Many ponies have gone to great lengths to protect me, Anon. To preserve the last vestige of magic in this world. Yet I have never taken a life myself. I keep my enemies, Anon. I learn from them.”

“You’re sick, Twilight. You’re fucked in the head.” You say.

Twilight shakes her skeletal head slowly.

“No. If there is anyone here who is mentally unwell, Anon, it is you.” Twilight says. “How can you look upon my collection and still think you have any chance of hurting me?”

You narrow your eyes at her. Twilight tilts her head mockingly.

“Well, it’s true that my magic is not what it used to be. But I didn’t let that stop me. I have developed spells allow me to peer into the memories of those I have petrified. I am able to review their lives at my leisure, discovering all their horrible truths.”

You look over at a statue of an adult male griffon. He’s rearing back, his talons raised defensively and has a look of pure fear on his face.

“Whatever secrets you still keep from your world... I will find them. I will study them. I will best them.” Twilight says.

She begins to walk around you. Her lidless eyes peer into your soul.

“We are locked in a war of cultural and technological progression, Anon. Whether you like it or not.” She says.

She passes by your shoulder. You turn turn your head to her. Your body is tense and ready to act even though you know it’s pointless.

“I think we both know who’s going to win. So, let’s end this now. No more secrets, Anon. No more lies. Submit to my commands. It makes this procedure go by much... easier.” She says.

She stands in front of you. The robed, skeleton figure turns to look into your eyes. You can no longer recognize her as anything remotely resembling a pony.

“You know what, Twilight?” You say. “You’re psychotic. Genuinely psychotic. Look at what you’ve fucking done. You think that I’m the bad guy? I’ve never imprisoned anyone in stone.”

Twilight looks at you, blank and unmoving save for her shifting eyes.

“Well? What do you have to say, you self-absorbed, autistic virgin? You know, after all these years I thought you would have gotten laid at least once. Maybe some dick would have loosened that stick up your twat. Instead you probably only get off to smothering foals in their sleep, don’t you?!” You say.

Twilight’s horn sparks with a few small zaps. She tilts it towards you. You clench your hands and stare back at her.

“Yeah. That’s more like it. Go on, Twilight. Why just trap me in stone? Why not kill me, huh? What’s the fucking difference at this point?!” You say.

Twilight’s horn starts to flow with a darker hue of energy. There’s bubbling black and green ichor seeping out of it. Purple smoke trails off the tip of her horn.

“Do you think I am not capable of inflicting fates worse than death, Anonymous?” She says in a calm, passionless tone.

You look at the black magic seeping from her horn. Who knows what it might do? Who knows how far she’s fallen. Despite your fear, you resolve to at least die standing.

But yet, your eye twitches and you lean back a bit. In turn, her horn stops seeping dark magic. She leans her head up, and there’s a hint of satisfaction in her body language.

“Enjoy trying to rile me up while you can, Anonymous.” She says. “Soon the only words out of your mouth will be ‘please’ and ‘stop.’”

Twilight turns from you and walks further into the room. As she does so, you hear the sound of shifting stone gears. The floor in front of her opens up as two heavy, crystal panels slide apart. A stone workbench then rises up out of the floor.

You realize that this is her work space for spellcraft. It is littered with books, parchment, gems, trinkets and various components. This is where she does her work, standing among stone bodies.

You then notice something odd. On her workbench there is only one piece of decoration. It’s a large snow globe of a town, and is completely encased in a shield spell.

Why would she need to put a protective shield around a snow globe? Wait. Unless...?

Twilight returns from her workbench levitating a book with her magic. It’s bound in dark blue and has a picture of a pony in profile on the cover. There’s a cutaway exposing a diagram of its brain.

“Here we are. Sit tight while I review the spell. This will only take-”

Twilight is interrupted by a rumble that shakes the room for a brief moment.

Twilight immediately glances around. Her eyes pass over you, but you are still standing right where she put you. After she sees nothing, she starts to quickly walk to the door.

As she passes you again, there’s another slight rumble. It feels closer this time, and you can hear the muffled sound of stone crumbling away.

You turn to the door as Twilight keeps walking towards it. Suddenly, thin rays of golden light start to seep out of cracks. You hear the wobbling trill of magic rising in the air.

With a sudden explosion of light, the door is blown open. The huge doors fall down to the floor, coming clean off their stone hinges. Chunks of crystal glass scatter across the floor, and a plume of dust is kicked up into the air. You shield your head with your hands on instinct, and Twilight turns away.

You see a shining beacon of light through the dusty haze. Two golden, outstretched wings and a glittering horn.

Sunny?!

The dust clears, and you see a defiant look in those turquoise eyes. She stands so proudly with that determined gaze, and you cannot help but feel elated as the knot loosens in your chest.

Twilight merely stares back at her. Then she raises a hoof and pulls down her hood. A long, flowing mane of purple, pink and blue spills out of it.

She has regained her illusory form.

“Sunny Starscout. You’re back.” Twilight says in a disturbingly cheery voice.

“Princess Twilight! I'm sorry about your door! But I figured it out! Anon can be saved! Together we can redeem him!” Sunny says, puffing up her chest.

The little ethereal alicorn steps forward boldly into the room. You don’t hesitate for a second.

“Sunny! Stop! Twilight has gone insane!” You shout. “She’s not in her right mind! She’s... undead! She’s a lich!”

Sunny looks at you with sudden shock as she stops in her tracks.

“Enough!” Twilight says as she whips her head back to you. Her horn shoots a bolt of vibrating dark energy at your feet. Spires of dark crystal immediately begin to grow around your boots, and in half a second, you are completely rooted to the ground.

“Shit!” You say. You struggle against it, but your feet are stuck.

When you look back up, you see Sunny staring around at all the statues around her. Her mouth is agape and her eyes are wide with horror as the terrible realization comes to her.

Twilight takes a step forward.

“Sunny. I know what this may look like to you, but please, you must try to understand...” Twilight says.

“Wh-what? Who are these creatures? What is all this?” Sunny says as her eyes sweep over the cold, unmoving bodies.

Twilight takes a long, deep breath.

“Sunny. Just like Anon, these creatures had to be taken out of our world. It’s necessary. It’s so we can build a world without unneeded disturbances.” She says.

Sunny gives her a look of confusion mixed with disgust.

“I did this for you, Sunny.” Twilight says.

Sunny shakes her head and clenches her eyes. Her wings glow brighter and her horn shines. She turns to Twilight with burning anger in her eyes.

“I would never want you to do this!!” Sunny says in a hysterical tone. She grimaces as hot tears run down her cheeks.

She then levels her horn at the Princess.

“You are not Twilight Sparkle!” She says with zealous fervor.

Sunny’s horn begins to shine with the most illustrious glow you have seen yet. You wiggle your toes in your boots, but no matter how you shift, you still can’t seem to get free.

“But I am Twilight Sparkle, Sunny.” Twilight says. “I can explain everything. Don’t do something you might regret.”

“Let Anon go. Now!” Sunny shouts.

Twilight turns her face to the side. She looks at you with one large, purple eye. You can barely glimpse the arcane flames burning behind the illusion.

“I won’t do that, Sunny.” Twilight says with a disgusting smirk crawling up her lips.

Twilight turns back to the defiant mare.

“Think of your future. Think of what we can accomplish together. You were born for this. You were always meant to become-”

“No!” Sunny shouts.

She leans her head up and stomps a hoof. A bolt of energy zaps right in front of Twilight’s hooves.

“The only one that gets to decide my fate is me.” She says. “And I won’t stand by someone like you!”

You feel a twinge of hope flutter in your chest.

“Is that so?” Twilight says, tilting her head to the side.

You try to yank out your feet while Twilight is distracted. If you can just get over to that workbench, maybe you can grab that snow globe.

“Do you believe that circumstances such as yours just happen on a whim? Do you think that destiny makes mistakes?” Twilight says.

Sunny bares her teeth. “I don’t care! What you’re doing is wrong!”

“Oh, my little Sunny...” Twilight says in a facetious tone. “You’re not thinking long-term. You need to consider what’s best for all of Equestria, not just what you think is right. They will all wake up in time, and when they see the world we have created-”

“STOP!” Sunny says. “I’m not a little kid! I’m a fully grown mare! I know what’s right and what’s wrong, and abandoning your friends, trapping all these creatures in stone - that’s not good! It’s not what my father had in mind when he talked about you!”

Sunny snorts aggressively through her nose as her horn shimmers brighter. Twilight closes her eyes and shakes her head steadily.

“Argyle Starshine was a great stallion, Sunny. An exemplary scholar in my order.”

“Don’t you dare say his name!” Sunny says. Her horn emits several glistering sparks.

“He was a true believer. I knew from the very start.” Twilight says, taking another step forward. “He was the perfect choice to raise you.”

“Be quiet!!” Sunny cries out.

“If he could see you now... he would be very disappointed, Sunny.” Twilight says.

“STOP!!” Sunny says, shutting her eyes tight.

Without warning, Sunny shoots a bolt of radiant light out of her horn. It strikes Twilight directly in the chest. The impact ripples against her, and the magic spills off on all sides.

Twilight turns a little. The magic fades.

“Oof.” Twilight says, rubbing her chest. She rolls her head over to Sunny.

“That was a pretty strong horn zap.” She says. “But say, didn’t you pay attention to your lessons? I’m the element of MAGIC!”

Sunny gasps silently and folds her ears back.

You watch Twilight power up her horn, and a bolt of black and purple energy which writhes through the air like a python as it closes in on Sunny.

“SUNNY!!” You cry out. She’s just standing there in shock!

The tendrils of dark, occult magic surround Sunny. For a brief moment, it looks like she will be overwhelmed. Then a shimmering hemisphere of gilded light surrounds her body. The dark magic is pushed back by the bolt of rainbow-colored light coming from Sunny’s horn. With a single, bold step forward, Sunny pushes back against Twilight’s assault.

Sunny concentrates and focuses her beam of arcane energy. It becomes a shining lance piercing into the mouth of the black serpent.

Twilight shrieks with hideous laughter. Sunny gradually starts to gain ground against her opponent.

“It seems I was wrong! You aren’t fit to become my student after all!” Twilight yells.

Sunny and Twilight seem evenly matched now. You silently pray as you keep wiggling your feet inside the boots. Your sweat is dripping into them, making it feel damp inside.

“Stop this! I don’t want to fight you!” Sunny says loudly.

“Oh, but it’s too late for that, Sunny.” Twilight says. “You’ve already broken my heart. You’ve already betrayed Equestria! All for a violent, loathsome human!”

Sunny’s beam of energy keeps going strong, but Twilight stands confidently and doesn’t even seem to be trying.

Twilight then sucks in a deep breath. At the same time, the torches around the room all flicker and nearly snuff themselves out. Threads of magic energy snake through the air all around and funnel into the tip of Twilight’s horn.

She’s pulling in all the ambient magic in the area.

As she does this, her body ignites in tongues of violet flame. Her cloak burns away almost instantly. Her illusory form vanishes. All that is left are bones and fire.

Sunny looks on in pure terror at at Twilight’s true form. Two massive wings of bone fold out on Twilight’s sides.

Sunny’s mouth quivers, and her energy beam nearly falters momentarily before she corrects herself. She grits her teeth and concentrates more, but it is not enough. Twilight’s magic beam starts to overpower Sunny’s. Ethereal violet feathers sprout along her outstretched pegasus appendages.

“Give up, Sunny! You have no chance to defeat me. I am Equestria’s truth! I am Equestria’s light!” Twilight screams.

Fucking hell. Of course Sunny could never win in a one-on-one magic duel with her. That’s ridiculous! What is she thinking?!

You frantically look around for something to use. You twist your upper body and look over your shoulder. You notice that the magic shield around the snow globe has disappeared. Twilight must have sucked away all the magic from it. Now’s your chance!

“Sunny! On the work table!” You shout and gesture at it.

Sunny glances over at you. She’s sweating bullets trying to ward off Twilight’s encroaching attack. She’s giving everything she can and can’t spare any more. She sees your motions, but can do nothing.

“Hold on, Anon!” She says desperately.

“Do not think of saving him. He deserves to live in STONE!” Twilight shouts.

You feel all faith and optimism drain from your face as you see Twilight’s arcane energy overtake Sunny Starscout.

She is blown backward and is thrown violently to the ground. She tumbles end over end and the pony crystals clatter to the ground.

“SUNNY!” You shout. You are compelled to move by a force you cannot ignore. You suddenly realize that your foot has popped out of one of the boots. You look down in surprise and immediately start to work your other foot loose.

Sunny lifts up her head in a daze. Her ethereal alicorn form is still functioning, but she looks punch drunk.

Twilight approaches her slowly.

“Oh, my poor, deluded child. It appears you've lost. Time to give up now!” Twilight says as she takes a half step forward.

Sunny flails her legs and then quickly stands up onto her hooves. She aims her horn at Twilight, who is now only a few yards away.

“Is... is that all you’ve got?!” Sunny shouts.

Twilight stops and looks at her. Violet flames still cover her skeletal body, and she lets out a laugh.

“Oh ho ho, so you still want to fight? Are you serious?” Twilight says.

You manage to free your other foot from their crystal-encased prison.

Yes! Fuck yes!

Without thinking, you quickly turn and run towards the workbench.

“I won’t let you do this.” Sunny says to Twilight.

You sprint towards your salvation. You lean forward and put everything you can into it.

“Your optimism is truly inspiring, but it’s getting a bit dull.” Twilight says. “You are in the wrong here, Sunny. Yield. Now.”

The balls of your feet smack the crystal floor again and again. Your muscles course with adrenaline.

“I won’t give up! Anon is my friend and I won’t leave him behind!” Sunny shouts.

You are very close now. You reach out your hand towards it.

“That is not your decision to make! It never was!” Twilight screams.

You grab it.

Inside the snow globe there is a small cottage town in a pastoral landscape. You recognize it instantly. Ponyville in winter. The calm, pastoral scene tugs at pent-up, nostalgic memories. This has to be it.

“Hey, Twilight!” You yell.

You raise the bauble up over your head with two hands.

Twilight slowly turns to you. Her flaming eyes see you standing across the room with her priceless possession in your clutches.

“Any last words?” You say confidently.

“Put that down, Anonymous. Put it down. Right. Now.” Twilight says coldly.

“No. I don’t think I will.” You say. “I think I just figured out the source of your power, bone pone.”

Sunny’s ears perk up when you say this. A hopeful expression washes over her face.

Twilight is carefully walking towards you now. Her horn shoots arcs of black electricity out to the sides.

“Put it down!” Twilight says.

“I’ll fucking do it!” You say. You’re holding onto the thing very tightly. The moment she gets to close or uses magic, you’re going to spike it right into the ground.

Twilight stops walking.

“One last chance. Stop this foolishness and-”

Sunny blasts Twilight from the side with a spear of golden energy.

“ANON! DO IT! NOW!!” She yells.

You give her a half of a second to look at you, helpless to her own demise. You want her to make sure she watches this.

“Bye, Twilight!” You say.

You heave the globe to the floor with all your might.

“NO!!” Twilight screams. A wave of dark energy bursts from her body, and Sunny’s magic fades as she is thrown back. Twilight’s horn crackles with magic. She lunges forward on illusory wings, but it’s too late.

The globe smashes into the ground and shatters. The sound of bursting glass and spilling water reverberates through the room.

Twilight lands on the floor. She looks upon the wreckage in horror. Then, she throws her head back and begins to scream.

“AAAGH!!” Twilight yells at the top of her lungs. The fire around her body explodes into a raging inferno. Spouts of flame shoot from her eyes.

The entire castle begins to shake as she continues to scream. You crouch to the floor to keep your balance. Sunny covers her head with her hooves.

Twilight rears up. Shimmering magic illuminates her hooves for a moment before they come down with a sonorous boom. Magic sigils trace along the floor in effervescent lavender. The room rumbles slightly, and some of the statues wobble on their bases. You tense up, but remain standing.

Crystalline dust begins to fall from the ceiling. A few cracks form the walls all around the room. As the earthquake dies down, a thin stream of water starts to trickle in from one of the walls.

Twilight’s form slouches. The flames wreathing her body dim and then disappear. Only the fire in her eyes remain.

You stand poised to move. Sunny stands to her hooves, and her alicorn magic rises back to full strength.

It looks like Twilight’s panting heavily, but you know she has no breath. Somehow, despite your best efforts, she still remains upright.

“You idiot!” Twilight shouts. “You absolute moron!”

Her horn glows. Your body is suddenly wrenched upward by a dark field of magic. Before you can do anything, you are thrown across the room.

You spin, losing all sense of spatial awareness before your back slams into a wall. All breath is pushed immediately from your chest and you wheeze with pain.

“Gah!!” You shout.

“Anon!” Sunny yells.

“Did you really think I would put my phylactery out in the open?! You absolute buffoon. That was the only snow globe of Ponyville left in existence and you ruined it!!” Twilight yells.

You are thrown across the room again. You make it half way across before you end up tumbling across the floor. Your arms and legs are battered and pain wracks your body.

“Agh! F-fuck!” That’s all you can manage to say as you lay face-up on the floor.

“Anon!” Sunny says as she rushes over to you. She gingerly puts a hoof under your head and uses her magic to help you sit up. You wearily move up to a sitting position and rub your shoulder with a groan.

“I’m... okay. I’m okay, Sunny.” You say to her. You wince as you do. You’re not okay. Your whole body hurts. You're pretty sure something broke.

In spite of that, you feel glad knowing that she’s with you now. Even though your plan didn’t work, at least you got to see her one last time.

“Was is the shield I put around it? Is that why you thought it was important?” Twilight says. “I put that there to protect it from ambient moisture! Not because it contained my soul!”

Twilight’s skeleton towers over you and Sunny. She tilts her head down at you, and her skull now looks like it has a sneer.

“Why do you always destroy everything you touch? Is nothing scared to you?” Twilight says angrily.

Sunny has her foreleg supporting your back. Without thinking, you drape your arm around her and pull her close to you. You press your face to her cheek and hold her tight.

Her fur is soft. Her body is warm. This once-familiar sensation now takes on new light as it becomes the sole object of your focus. You want to hold her. That’s all you want before you go.

“I’m sorry, Sunny. I tried.” You whisper.

“Anon, it’s okay...” Sunny says back. Her breaths are shallow and fast.

“No, it’s not.” You say in a kind voice. You shake a little, tears ebbing at the corners of your vision. “But before we get turned to stone... just know that I’m... I’m really glad you came back for me.”

Twilight stands above you both. The water seeping in through the cracks is the only noise in the room as it forms small puddles on the floor.

“Anon, I...” Sunny says as she presses closer into the embrace. “I just couldn’t leave you. I couldn’t.”

“I know, Sunny.” You say as you pet her mane softly. “I know.”

Although it hurts beyond measure, you let her press herself against your torso and clench her hooves tighter. You hold on and command yourself to never let go.

You let yourself accept this last moment of serendipitous compassion as you wait for Twilight to cast her spell. It doesn’t matter any more. You’d endure a thousand years in stone as long as it was with her.

And yet, the spell never comes.

You slowly lift up your head. Sunny leans back from the hug.

You look over to see that Twilight has stepped away. She is staring at the broken snow globe, which lies in pieces on the floor. The small pellets of fake snow are being washed away by the expanding puddles on the floor.

“Love.” She says, her tone somber with a hint of disbelief.

Sunny leans off you and stands up. You slowly rise up to your feet as well.

Twilight looks at her reflection in the puddle. She touches a bony hoof to the side of her skull, feeling for flesh that is no longer there. Her firelight eyes glimmer in the reflective surface.

“There are few things more powerful in this world. Few things that can overcome impossible odds...” She says.

She hangs her head and slowly sits down on her haunches.

“What have I done? Oh sweet Celestia, what have I done...?” She says.

You look to Sunny. She looks back, shocked.

Twilight gradually looks over to you both. There is a calmness in her eyes now. It suggests that something lost was now found.

“What sort of madness have I fallen into this time, when I cannot even recognize true love when it is right in front of me?” She says.

“You have every right to look upon me in horror. Not only am I a monster in appearance, I have lost sight of what I truly strive for. The call of friendship no longer beats in my heart. There is no heart left to call to.”

“Twilight...” Sunny says in a scared voice.

“Go.” Twilight says abruptly. “Leave this place.”

You can hardly believe what’s she’s saying.

“You don’t have to do this...” Sunny says.

Twilight stomps the puddle to disrupt her reflection. She lets out a sigh as she turns back to you both. There is a great deal of pain in her voice as she speaks.

“You are right. I am no longer Twilight Sparkle. That pony died a very long time ago...!”

Sunny covers her mouth with a hoof. You look at Twilight with a serious expression, knowing that she’s finally seeing the truth of her actions.

“Leave this tomb to ruin... and me along with it.” Twilight says. “Let the past be buried here. Go on and do what you please.”

You don’t know what to say. Sunny just stares at Twilight.

“If you truly must know... then take this with you.” Twilight says.

A small device floats over towards you and Sunny. It looks like USB drive for a computer, but it’s shaped differently and encased in white plastic with gold trim. It is unlabeled, but clearly of great import.

“Inside this device is the entirety of Equestria’s history. Study it, and you will know the truth. The entire truth. Everything, including the parts I’d rather not mention.” Twilight says.

Sunny reaches out a hoof for it, but hesitates. You quickly snatch the drive out of the air.

Twilight nods gently.

“Now go before I change my mind.” Twilight says.

You slip the drive into your pocket. You then turn to Sunny, who is still looking at Twilight with an uneasy expression.

“Come on, Sunny. You heard her. She’s not the person you looked up to. Not any more.” You say.

Sunny doesn’t glance at you. She takes a step forward towards Twilight.

“I can still help you...” Sunny says.

Twilight shakes her head and turns away. Her voice takes on a very distant tone.

“Help me by living, Sunny. Believe in yourself and your friends. Keep those who are important close to you.” She says.

“Do what I should have done. Cherish them. Love them. When they depart, know that they have never truly left you. Don’t ever let yourself forget that.” Twilight says.

She then points her horn towards the ceiling. With a crackle of ferocious arcane energy, a bolt of magic flies out and strikes the ceiling.

A shockwave ripples across the room. The ground begins to shake again, and chunks of stone begin to fall.

“No! Twilight!” Sunny says.

“It’s over!” You say. “We have to get out of here!”

You quickly shove the drive into Sunny’s bag. You then pick her up by the barrel and quickly start to walk towards the door.

“Twilight! Please! Please don’t do this!” Sunny begs as she reaches out a hoof towards her.

“Farewell, my student. Take good care of the ponies for me.” Twilight says as she looks over her shoulder.

You carry Sunny out of the grand hall, managing to keep your footing on the trembling ground thanks to your naked feet. You take her to the staircase as she keeps calling out for Twilight.

The massive length of the spiral staircase towers above you. The walls are shifting and cracks are spreading up the great length of the passage. You know you have no chance of making it up all of them in time, but yet you persist.

You round the first couple of flights in a delirious panic. Sunny writhes in your arms and wiggles out of your grip.

She lands on the floor and leaps up a few steps.

“Fine! Let me do it!” She shouts as she starts to ascend the stairs on her own.

You nearly trip as the tower jostles violently. A large chunk of stairway careens past you into the floor below. Your exit seems incredibly far away.

“I don’t think we’re going to make it!” You say as you brace yourself against the wall.

“Don’t say that!” Sunny shouts.

With a flap of her ethereal wings, she lifts off the staircase and hovers in front of you.

“Hang on to me!” Sunny says.

“What?!” You say.

Before you can say anything, Sunny zips around to your back. You feel her hook her forelegs under your arms, and she grips your waist with her hind legs.

“Just hang on!!” Sunny yells.

You take a nervous breath, but Sunny is already pulling you off the ground. Her golden wings are beating heavily, and she manages to lift you. You clutch her forehooves tightly in your hands.

Sunny begins to fly up the center of the tower. More rocks begin to fall, but a shimmering field of magic deflects them. Sunny’s wings and horn emit a powerful light, and you both begin to pick up speed.

The crystals orbit around in a triple helix of trailing light. The resonate hum of arcane energy overpowers your senses, and all you can do is hope.

The tower begins to buckle and tilt to the side. Fault lines chase you up the passage and gushes of water begin to burst from the cracks. Sunny cries out as her desperate effort pushes you further to the surface.

The top landing of the staircase comes into view. Yet as it does, the ceiling begins to crumble. Your vision is filled with dust, debris, and radiant light.

You close your eyes. You feel your body being rotated quickly. You and Sunny corkscrew through the debris, pushing aside the hard stone with nothing but will alone.

Then, you are free.

Fresh, humid air smacks your face. You feel yourself leveling out. As you open your eyes, you see a sky of dispersed clouds and a sprawling lake below.

Sunny does not stop. Together, you streak across the sky, leaving a golden comet's tail.

The castle walls give way.

The water is rushing in.

You watched them leave. Now you die.

Around you, the statues stare with unblinking eyes as the water floods up around their bases. Soon your phylactery will be crushed, and the last tethers you have to this world will finally come loose.

Water engulfs you, yet you have no breath to hold. No skin to feel the cold of the depths. No eyes to see the dark. Silently, you prepare to accept death once more.

Somehow, you know they will make it out.

They, the ones who will light the dawn of a new age over Equestria, shall go on. You lived to witness it. It is the faintest consolation, but one you hold dear nonetheless.

A peace washes over you.

Let it be so. A new dawn. Free from the stained pages of history.

You feel something crunch inside you. A group of threads spin apart. The pin holding the weft of your soul has shattered. Everything comes loose.

You creep into the place beyond thought, beyond sensation, and beyond all knowledge. You finally let go, and wash unto the void.

Peace.

Then you open your eyes.

You must have spaced out while you were reading. You can’t remember the last sentence. The afternoon sun seeps into your fur, soaking it with cozy warmth. Your legs are folded beneath you. You sit below an ash tree in the park just outside Ponyville.

With a short sigh, you turn back the pages one by one, trying to find the last passage in the book that you remember.

Suddenly, the shadow of a hovering pegasus blots out the sun.

You turn to see Rainbow Dash as she lands beside you. She folds her wings in and swishes her mane back in her typical show-off way.

“Hey Twilight!” Rainbow Dash says with a well-meaning smirk. “Quit being such an egghead and hang out with us! Come on!”

You slowly look over to see Applejack and Fluttershy passing a beach ball between each other. They take turns hitting it into the air and chasing after it while laughing in the sun.

Rarity sits on a picnic blanket with Pinkie Pie. They chat pleasantly between bites of freshly-baked pastries. Pinkie smiles as she devours a cupcake whole.

“Sorry, Rainbow. You’re right.” You say. “I’m not sure what got into me. I can’t waste a perfect day like this!”

“Yeah! Now you’re talking!” Rainbow Dash says. She flies over towards the two ponies on the picnic blanket.

You follow in a prance. A smile springs to your lips. Normally you would be a bit perturbed by the thought of leaving a book without marking your place, but you know that some things are more important. You can always come back to it.

Your friends all smile brightly as they see you approaching.

"Twilight!" They say in unison, and you beam happily.

Chapter 30 - Living as Legend

Sunny pushes through the quickly scattering clouds and weaves between spires of stone. You fly faster than you’ve ever flown before, and can hardly keep your eyes open at all.

With a sudden rush of wind, Sunny tilts backwards hard and beats her wings to slow down.

Sunny gently floats down to the shore. She places you on the pebbly beach and slips her hooves off your torso.

You immediately turn and collapse to your knees.

The far tower at the center of the lake begins to sink. The spire, the star, the stairs and even the boat are all pulled below the water as the structure underneath collapses. The water boils with bubbles of trapped air rising to the surface. Turbulent waves disrupt the surface and lap against the beach.

The weight of it all comes crashing down upon you. Your head swirls from the events that just transpired, and you clutch your knees tightly with your fingernails.

Sunny lands next to you. Almost immediately, her magic gives way. The crystal pieces fall out of the air as they stop glowing and clink against the ground.

The bubbles and frothing water at the center of the lake begins to calm down. All that’s left now are rolling waves.

“Anon...” Sunny says as she moves closer to you.

“Sunny... it’s gone. She’s...” You say. You sit upright and look at her, but your arms go limp.

Your body is sore. Your mind is fucked. You just watched Twilight Sparkle kill herself and sink a thousand creatures below the sea.

Sunny is frowning. The look in her eyes tells you she understands. She understands, but can barely comprehend it herself.

“All of that was just-” You say.

Sunny interrupts you by putting a hoof on your cheek. She turns your face gently to hers.

“Shh.” She says. “It’s over.”

As you look into her eyes, the fear and dread begins to ebb away.

“What’s done... is done.” She says.

You open your mouth to speak, but you are gripped by a force much stronger than you can control. You shakily inhale. Sunny rubs your cheek tenderly.

“Sunny, I should be down there.” You say. “Twilight... was right. I’m a danger to this world too... and we didn’t have the right to just-”

Sunny can no longer hold back. She leans forward and her hooves circle around your back. She embraces you tightly.

“Don’t you say that!” She says.

You slowly wrap your arms around her. You hold her close to your chest as she rests her head against you. You lean your head on hers.

You hold her like that for a long while. The pain and heartbreak between you scatters to the wind, and all that remains is the singular moment of your embrace.

Without words, without admission, you both accept the love between you. Born by chance and tempered through the sin of slaying a goddess turned mad.

You then remember the drive in your pocket. Soon, you will come to know all of Twilight’s deeds. Everything will be made clear. Then you will know if the judgment was right or wrong.

Sunny leans her head back slowly. You do the same.

“You owe me, Anon.” She says.

“I do?” You say.

“I just saved your life. So yeah, I you owe me.” She says, smiling slightly.

“What do you I owe you, Sunny?”

Sunny leans back as she sits on her haunches.

“Well, you can start by... giving me a kiss?” She says.

A smile creeps up your face. You exhale in a laugh through your nose.

“Okay, well...” You say. You lean forward and put a hand on her cheek. Your thumb rests on her chin, just below her delicate pink lips. You draw close until you are inches apart.

“Then what?” You say.

“We’ll just have to see.” Sunny says breathlessly.

Your lips meet. You kiss her slowly. The emotion of it all starts to spill out. You kiss her again and again. She tilts her head and keeps kissing as you pull closer into your embrace.

After what seems like hours, you both reluctantly part from the kiss. As you do, the silence is interrupted by the roar of diesel engines in the distance. You look over to see the trucks of Zelina’s army headed your way.

As they draw close, you and Sunny both slowly stand up to face them. You notice that the pony crystals are laying dormant on the ground. You motion to them, and Sunny gathers them together with her hooves.

Three of the trucks pull up in front of you. As they stop, a squad of creatures spill out the back of the vehicles and walk out in front of them.

They hold rifles in their claws, but they don’t aim at you. The other trucks in the line come to a stop and shut off their engines. More creatures make their way forward. You scan them for signs of brightly colored ponies, but see none.

Zelina steps out to the front of the group. Her hands are on her waist.

“Well, well.” She says. “You actually managed to clear the storm. You really are impressive! Hah!”

She grins and tilts her head to the side. There’s a hint of annoyance as she looks over at you.

“Zelina, we did what you asked. Now just leave us alone.” Sunny says.

Zelina quirks an eyebrow, and then throws up her hands in a shrug.

“Well, I guess you showed me. I suppose pony magic can be used for good things after all!" She says.

She chuckles to herself and puts a hand over her forehead.

“But I’m sorry, Sunny. I sent you on a suicide mission. You weren’t supposed to come back.” She says.

Sunny narrows her eyes. You cross your arms.

“But I’ll tell you what... you do another job for me, and then I’ll let you see your friends. Alright? Sound good?” Zelina says.

“No.” Sunny says.

“No way.” You say.

“Hm? Really?” Zelina says.

“Yeah really. We did your fucking job, now release our friends.” You say.

Zelina taps a claw on her chin.

“Hm. You know, I don’t think I can do that. It’s kind of... against my orders, you know?” She says.

She raises her hands in the air. “I can’t let you leave. Sorry. But you know what I can do? I can just kill you both right here. How about that?”

Zelina grins and looks at the soldiers surrounding her. With a wave of her hands she gestures them forward.

But they don’t move.

Zelina waves her hands forward again. Then she does it again.

“Well? What are you waiting for? Shoot them!” She says impatiently.

But the creatures do not move.

You see one of them step forward. The creature throws his rifle to the side, then reaches up and takes off his helmet. He’s a bipedal hawk creature with cold, gray eyes.

He walks forward until he’s halfway between you and the rest of the creatures.

He then collapses down to his knees.

“The tales were true.” He says in an awestruck voice. “You are the new pony queen. Please. Will you magic back to us?”

You and Sunny exchange a confused look. You then both look back at the creature.

His claws are trembling as he brings them up and clasps them together. He leans forward in a bow.

“Please, have mercy.” He says desperately.

Several other creatures step forward. Each one puts down their rifle as they move up to the hawk creature. The creatures kneel and bow with him, forming a small line.

“Forgive us, your majesty.” They say. “Have mercy!”

More and more creatures step up to offer their submission. Soon Zelina is standing by the trucks alone, wearing a completely bewildered expression on her face.

“She’s not a queen you dumbasses! She just has alicorn powers!” You yell.

“Anon. It’s okay.” Sunny says. “I’ll handle this.”

Sunny holds the crystals in one hoof and ambles forward to the creatures.

“Enough! Creatures of Abyssinia! Listen to me!” She says in a raised voice.

“I am not a queen, or a princess, or any sort of ruler! You do not need to fear me or my friends. We come to you simply to learn the truth, and now that we have learned it, we will leave you in peace!” She says.

“I cannot grant mercy, for there are none of you I wish to harm! Instead, look to yourselves! Look to each other! Cast down your weapons of war! Let go of your fear and embrace friendship instead!”

Zelina rushes up to the line of creatures and skids to a halt on the gravelly road.

“What are you all doing? She’s the enemy! Don’t listen to her!” She shouts.

Sunny looks at Zelina and cocks her head.

“Hey. That goes for you too, Zelina. I am not going to hurt you or try to force you to do my bidding. You don’t need to kill me. I’m not a threat.” Sunny says.

“Are you crazy, you dumb little horse?!” Zelina says. “Do you think we’re just going to let you walk away with all that magic you wield? You are a threat to all forms of life. To the entire world.”

“You know what? Fine.” Sunny says.

She steps forward to the line of creatures. You follow with her uneasily, but you stand tall by her side.

“Would a threat do this?” She says.

Sunny tosses the crystals to the ground in front of the creatures. All of them stare in enraptured awe as they glitter in the evening sun.

“Go ahead and take the crystals. They’re the key to activating my magic. Destroy them. Lock them away. Do whatever you want.” Sunny says.

Zelina opens her mouth and her eyes flare with surprise, but she doesn’t retort. She seems completely stunned.

“Now. We’d like to go see my friends. We’ll walk if we have to.” She says.

She starts to move around the line of creatures. Almost instantly, the creatures reach out and pick up the crystals in their paws. They examine them and hold them up to the sky, whispering with reverence as if they are handling sacred relics.

Zelina suddenly whips her frame towards Sunny. Her fists are clenched and she’s fuming with resentment.

“You can’t be serious! This is a trick, isn’t it? Why would you give up your powers?!” She yells.

“No tricks here.” Sunny says. “I’m done with pretending to be someone I’m not.”

A soothing tingle runs down your back as you hear those words.

“Well then who are you?! Who the fuck are you?!” Zelina yells frantically.

You turn and point a finger at Zelina. “Her name is Sunny Starscout, and she’s the best damn earth pony you’ll ever meet. Don’t you forget it!”

Zelina’s mouth twists into a furious grimace. She lets out a frustrated cry and stomps her hooves.

You ignore her and keep walking with Sunny to one of the parked vehicles. Zelina begins to yell in a state of manic fury.

“Are you crazy?!” Zelina says. “Do you know what you’ve done?! You’ve ruined my entire operation! My family is never going to let me live this down!”

You open the passenger side of one of the trucks and let Sunny jump in. You close the door and move around to the driver’s side. You hop in, and turn the keys that are still in the ignition.

You cannot hear Zelina’s voice over the rumble of the engine. She rants and raves at you both as she steps up towards the truck.

You simply put it in reverse and back away. Then you and Sunny drive back to the encampment on your own.

Chapter 31 - Going Home

You passed several vehicles going the opposite direction on the way back to the encampment. None of them tried to stop you, and none of the creatures even looked your way. They seemed to be in a hurry to get to the lake.

The setting sun casts an unnatural beauty to the desolate landscape as you drive through it. It almost seems peaceful without the rolling claps of thunder.

As you arrived at the base, you noticed most of the creatures on base were either scrambling to load up trucks, or gathered in small groups to stare in awe at the sky. None of them paid you any mind, too focused on the disruption of their lives to see you walking right in.

You found the ponies back at the bunkhouses. There were no longer any guards posted outside.

“Sunny!” Izzy exclaims, being the first to spot her as she walks into the bunkhouse.

“Sunny! Anon! You’re back!” Hitch exclaims.

“Oh my wing feathers you’re a sight for sore eyes!” Pipp says.

“You made it! You actually did it!” Zipp says.

Izzy runs up and immediately hugs Sunny. She hugs her back. You smile warmly at the sight.

The other ponies crowd around you and Sunny. Their relief is palpable.

“What did you find? What happened?” Zipp asks.

Sunny leans back from the hug with Izzy.

“It’s... a long story. I’ll tell you later, but for now, I’m just really glad to see all of you.” She says.

“So does this mean we can get out of here? What about Zelina?” Hitch says.

“Zelina won’t be bothering us any more.” Sunny says.

“Huh?” Hitch says.

“She no longer has any reason to. The storm is gone.” She says.

“Yeah! We noticed. I’m guessing you had something to do with that.” Zipp says smugly.

Sunny nods. “More or less.” She says.

“Well who cares about the storm! Let’s get out of here! I really need a shower...” Pipp whines.

Zipp nods. “Yeah, you’re right. We had some ideas. We could-”

Zipp is interrupted by the sound of heavy footfalls coming from the doorway. You spin towards the open door to see a dark figure clad in a trench coat and a wide brim hat step across the threshold.

You tense up for a moment. The bipedal creature reaches a black paw slowly towards his head. He then removes his hat slowly and holds it to his chest.

You see the face of the black bipedal cat, Nails. Yet his thin, yellow eyes show a hint of remorse, which instantly puts you off guard.

“S-Sunny. Sunny Starscout.” He says.

“Y-yes?” Sunny says, turning to him.

“I’m... sorry. I’m sorry for everything.” He says. You notice tears in his eyes, and his arms shakes as it holds the hat to his chest.

“What you’ve done... You’ve saved us. You’ve saved me. We can finally go back home. You don’t know how much you’ve done for all of us. Please. Let me pay you back.” He says.

Sunny looks a bit confused, but she steps forward any way.

“It’s okay, Nails.” Sunny says. “I’m not a savior. I’m just trying to do what’s right. You don’t have to-”

“No, you don’t understand. You don’t know how long we’ve worked to get rid of the storm. It was the last thing keeping us here. Thanks to you, I can finally go back and see my cubs.”

He hangs his head down and rubs his fingers over his eyes. He takes a moment to collect himself. You glance at the ponies, but they seem enraptured by his sudden vulnerability.

“And seeing as how it was my fault your airship got shot down in the first place... I need to make it up to you. It’s only right.” He says.

The ponies exchange furtive looks with each other. Sunny looks at you. Knowing that he seems sincere, you shrug and nod. Then Sunny takes a breath to rouse confidence in her tone.

“Well, that sounds like something a good person would do, Nails. Does that mean I can consider you a friend?” She asks.

Nails lifts up his head and nods once. “Yes. I’m your friend now... I should have listened from the start.”

He smiles politely, showing as little of his canines as possible.

“Great!” Sunny says. “In that case, we need your help getting back to the east coast. Can you help us?”

Nails’ ears perk up as she says this. He nods almost a bit too enthusiastically.

“Yeah. I can do that. I have a friend that drives on the supply lines. He knows the roads out east. He’s a good guy, honest. Real discreet, too.” He says.

You figure this is a guy that smuggles things around for him. Oh well, better than nothing.

Sunny nods. “Very well. So you’ll have him take us?”

“Yeah! He can get you out as far as the mall. Even a little bit further if I ask him. It’ll get you out of the restricted zone.” He says.

“Excellent. Then that’s just what we’ll do.” Sunny says.

She turns with a smirk to the rest of the ponies. They light up with thankful grins.

“Alright. So who’s up for a road trip?” You say.

“Yeah!” The ponies say in agreement.

And so you had your exit.

Before you knew it, you were all huddled in the back of a supply truck as it made its way down the rough, bumpy roads leading to the east. The ponies all sat with excited grins, whispering softly to each other as you huddled in blankets behind the boxes of cargo.

The truck rode on through the night. The ponies were all exhausted. You were too, but you felt too anxious to sleep. You kept an eye out as the ponies snuggled in woolen blankets and drifted off to sleep one by one.

You couldn’t get the image of Twilight’s skull out of your mind. You tried to ignore it. Like Sunny said, what’s done is done, but that doesn’t mean it’s over. Her legacy is inscribed on the drive in your pocket. Her great and terrible legacy is waiting to be discovered, but in all honesty you’d rather not know.

But Sunny will want to know. She won’t give up.

You take the drive and look at it in the dim moonlight that seeps in through the back of the truck. The glints of gold trim and smooth, alabaster surface on the drive do not suit the contents of the device.

Sunny picks her head up suddenly and looks at you.

“Can’t sleep?” She whispers to you.

She lets out a silent yawn. You quietly tuck the drive back into your pocket.

“Yeah.” You say.

There’s a silence as Sunny looks at you with half-lidded, tired eyes from across the truck.

“I can’t stop thinking about it, Sunny.” You say.

“I know. I’m still trying to comprehend it all myself.” She says. “But that drive she gave us... that has to be the key.”

You glance over at the slumbering ponies. Izzy and Pipp are leaned against each other. Hitch is next to you, cuddled up in a corner with Zipp leaning her head on his shoulder.

“When are you going to tell them?” You ask.

“Soon. Once they wake up.” She says.

“Oh.” You say.

You slowly look over to Sunny, who yawns again and runs a hoof over her mane.

“What about those creatures, Sunny? Do you think they’ll just leave you alone after what you did?” You say.

“Well, I’m not sure.” She says. “I suppose Zelina might hate me for a while, but she doesn’t really have any reason to go after me. I don’t have alicorn powers any more.”

“Hmph. Maybe.” You say. You suddenly recall another time where magic crystals got removed from a certain group of ponies long ago.

“But are you really sure giving up the crystals means you can’t use them again?” You ask.

Sunny tilts her head. “I mean, yeah. Twilight created them to pass down her power to other ponies.” She says. “What you mean?”

“Nothing.” You say. “Just forget about it for now.”

Sunny smirks a bit and shakes her head slowly.

“You’re a strange one, Anon.” She says. “But I like that.”

You smile and lean back against the wall of the truck. Sunny shifts a bit under her blanket, and then carefully opens it as she sits up on her hooves.

“Well, I know one thing that might help us... uh, sleep a bit better.” She says.

She creeps over towards you, wearing a bashful grin. You quirk an eyebrow in response.

She puts a hoof on your crossed legs. “Will you... hold me, Anon?” She says.

You feel a warmth in your chest. Something you have not felt for a very long time. To hold a mare in this way, especially a mare you love, is a treasurable thing indeed.

You uncross your legs and open your arms to her. She sits down and leans back into you. She lets out a soft, breathy sigh as you wrap your arms around her and pull her close.

She’s warm. Warm as the sand on a sun-covered beach. Almost instantly, you feel a sense of peace wash over your mind. Twilight’s haunting visage is no longer there. Only her.

You continue to hold her like that until sleep ebbs at the corners of your mind. Sunny starts to breathe slowly and rhythmically as she loses consciousness.

She trusts you so much, right from the bottom of that pure little heart. You find yourself drifting off too. You trust her the same.

The next morning, Sunny explained the entire story to the ponies as the trip went on. In quiet, solemn dignity, she told the ponies the fate of Twilight Sparkle, and everything she had become.

The ponies were shocked, but supportive. They weren’t as in to Equestria’s history as Sunny, so you knew they did not fully understand the gravitas of what happened. Yet still, they listened respectfully to every word, and they learned the truth.

Zipp examined the drive that Twilight gave you. She said that it looks compatible with their technology, but it requires an old style of port to access. She would need to try and find a computer that would work with it back home.

Sunny discussed the next steps with you and the ponies. In the end, she decided to have everyone travel to Zephyr Heights. Together, they would work on finding a compatible computer, and also figure out the best way to release the information to the public. Perhaps on a website. Perhaps in a book. But whatever they learned, it would be for the betterment of ponykind.

Still, the drive burned a hole in your pocket the entire trip. You kept thinking about it, but at the same time Sunny kept your mind at ease.

When you finally made it to the edge of the restricted zone, the truck stopped and the driver got out. He was a hefty walrus creature with a detached gaze. You all piled out of the truck, and the creature threw a backpack full of supplies at your feet.

Then, he just got back in his truck and drove off.

You were all still tired and had a long way to go, but for the moment it felt very freeing to be out of the area.

The road to Zephyr Heights was long and uneventful, but eventually you all made it. You set up in the secret hangar once more and started to get to work.

Chapter 32 - The Star on the Sea

There is something innately comforting about the ocean. For all it’s churning waves and unseen currents, there is a promise of rebirth with every rising tide.

You listen to the waves rolling in with the evening swells. You are seated on the walkway of the lighthouse, looking out across the bay. It’s hard to comprehend that you were here not too long ago, getting unwillingly dragged along on a quest to explore Equestria’s fallen glory, and now you have returned, knowing too much.

Yet you have gained something along the way. Some might call it truth. Some might call it friendship. For you, it’s a bit more.

“Hey.” Sunny says as she steps around the bend.

You look at her and smile warmly.

“So, uh, any word yet?” You ask.

Sunny grins and nods once.

“Yep. Zipp says she found out how to open the archived data. She says it’s going to take a while to decrypt everything, but she’ll tell us when it’s ready.” Sunny says.

She sits down next to you. Her head lazily drifts to your arm and she nuzzles her cheek against it.

“Well. Alright then.” You say.

Without thinking, you lift your hand and run it along the length of her silky smooth mane. Your fingers pass through the rainbow streak, which is now beginning to fade at the roots.

“So, how long do we have?” You ask.

Sunny shrugs. “It will probably be done by this afternoon...”

“Oh.” You say, somewhat disheartened.

Sunny lifts up her head with a comforting smile.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” She says.

You look away.

“I just don’t think I'm ready to face it yet, Sunny.” You say.

“But why?” Sunny asks as she cuddles closer to your arm.

“Because, well, what if everypony agrees with Twilight? What if I am the downfall of this world?” You say.

Truth be told, you have been thinking a lot about the creatures and their guns. You wonder what will happen now that they have no reason to stay there any longer. What's to stop them from showing up again?

Sunny sighs slowly. She leans off of you and stands up in front of you.

“Anon, we’ve been over this. It’s not going to be your fault.” She says.

You look away. She has told you this many times, yet it’s still quite hard to believe.

"What about the creatures? Zelina? She mentioned she has a family. She belongs to a nation..."

She takes your hand in her hoof. She brings it up to her mouth and kisses your fingers gently. You gradually look over at her.

“Anon, please don't.” She says.

You squeeze her hoof gently with your fingers. She puts her other hoof over your hand and looks into your eyes.

“You can choose to give in to fear. You can choose to dread what might come next. But, Anon, that's not what I want for you. Whatever happens, whatever we face next, I’m going to be here with you. You aren’t going to do it alone.”

You look into her eyes and see the honesty therein. "I promise." She says.

“And if the world turns against me again?” You ask.

“Then I’ll still love you. Even though I shouldn't. I promise.” She says.

She brushes her mane back over her shoulder and smiles somewhat awkwardly.

“I mean, so what? I fell for a criminal from another dimension.” She says with a slight laugh. “If that makes me a bad pony, then I don’t bucking care!”

You chuckle and shake your head. “Wow! Sunny Starscout almost swore! Stop the fucking presses!” You say jokingly.

She giggles and gives you a cute little smile. You quickly put a hand under her foreleg and tickle. She her giggle turns into a small laugh.

Just as you are about to lean in for a kiss, there’s a ding from inside the lighthouse. Sunny tilts her ears towards the sound, and you glance over too.

“Oh! Muffins are done!” She says. She perks up a bit and starts walking back around the walkway of the lighthouse.

You follow her inside and take the elevator down to the ground floor. The smell of baked goods has filled the entire interior of the house.

“Mhm. Smells pretty good. I just hope you aren’t hyping them up too much.” You say.

Sunny carefully pulls out the tin from the oven with an oven mitt in her teeth. She sets them down on the kitchen island to cool.

“Okay, just let them cool down for a bit!” She says.

You poke at one any way. It’s still very hot, but you can’t resist.

“Anon!” Sunny says.

“What? Banana nut muffins are really good.” You say.

You peel off a steaming chunk of muffin top and quickly blow on it. Sunny shakes her head, but she has a light blush on her face.

You pop the bit of muffin into your mouth and chew. It’s the best damn thing you’ve tasted so far.

“Hm.” You say. “That’s pretty dang good.”

With an affirmative nod, you reach out again to grab some more, but Sunny bats your hand away.

“Stop! You’re gonna burn yourself.” She says.

“Oh? So what? I can take it.” You say.

“No. Don’t be silly, you big oaf.” Sunny says as she nudges your shoulder with a hoof.

“Yeah? What are you gonna do to stop me, huh?”

Sunny raises an eyebrow. You smirk at her and reach out a finger towards the muffin tin.

“Come here, you!” Sunny says. She bounds behind you and suddenly grabs your belt in her teeth. She yanks you down with surprising force, and you tumble back to the rug.

“Ah!” You shout and try to roll away, but you are blocked by a peach-colored hoof stomping down.

“Nope! You’re mine now, human.” She says in a playfully menacing tone.

She pins you down by the shoulders with her hooves. With a flirty giggle, she then rests her body weight on your chest and cranes her neck down over you.

“Now, submit to my affection.” She says.

“Shoot.” You say.

She giggles and nuzzles against your cheek. You let her rub her smooth fur against you. Even with such a simple gesture of pony affection, her touch sends tingles down your spine. You reciprocate the nuzzle.

She leans her head back with a confident smirk.

“So. Anon.” She says.

“Yes...?” You say.

“I think I know what we can do while the muffins wait to cool down.” She says.

“Oh no.” You say. “You don’t mean...”

“Maybe. What do you think I mean?”

She wiggles her eyebrows and her tail swishes behind her.

“Uh... I dunno, Sunny. It might not be the right time.” You say, trying to temper your response despite the building, fluttering passion inside your chest.

“Don’t worry.” Sunny says, narrowing her eyes and leaning closer to your face. “I’ll tell Zipp we’ll be there tomorrow. It can wait.”

You swallow.

“I just... I’ve been off the mare wagon for so long. It’s not just something you just... jump back onto, you know?” You say.

“Jump on? What is that, a human euphemism? You’re saying you want to... ride me?” She says in a sultry voice.

“I mean... I...” You say.

Sunny presses her lips to yours. She kisses you gently. Your inhibitions fly free, and you find yourself kissing back as you caressing her flank and back.

Her breaths are hot and shallow. She tilts her head and kisses you deeper for a moment, then quickly pulls back.

With flushed cheeks and a half-lidded eyes, she says, “Too bad. I’m gonna be riding on top of you.”

Damn she’s bold. You’re into it. You smile at her meekly, and she smirks.

Once more into the breech. Once more you are in love with a cartoon pony.

Shit. Here we go again.