Fallout Equestria: Sin Of The Dark Moon

by Tenebrae Moonfallen

Rating: mature
Tags: Narcotics, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Death, Alternate Universe, Princess Luna, Fetish, Suicide / Self Harm, Horror, Profanity, Non-consensual, Adventure, Violence, Princess Celestia, Sex, Fallout
Length: 18108

In a alternate timeline of the ancient bicorn imperium where the Maw never existed and the time between greatly expanded Tenebrae finds himself awaken in the Equestrian Wasteland.

In the frozen wastelands of the far north, where the remnants of the once-great Crystal Empire lie buried beneath endless snow, a strange pony awakens in a shattered lab with no memory of who he is or how he came to be. With nothing but his name, Tenebrae, and a burning desire to survive, he must navigate a world twisted by necromantic magic and inhabited by nightmarish creatures born of the Wailing Frost.

Joined by Flitter Light, a young unicorn apprentice of the Illuminators, Tenebrae embarks on a harrowing journey through the hostile wilderness. Together, they face the horrors of the Frost—cannibalistic Snow Ponies, mutated abominations, and the ever-present threat of the fog itself, which twists fear into a deadly reality. During their journey through madness and despair, Tenebrae slowly uncovers the dark secrets of his past and the true nature of the Wailing Frost, a curse that may be tied to his own forgotten identity.

In a world where light is a precious commodity, and hope is a flickering flame, Tenebrae and Flitter Light must find their way through the darkness—or be consumed by it.

Published 2024-08-25 23:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-12-04 11:02:46 UTC

Prologue

Fallout Equestria:

Sin Of The Dark Moon

Prologue

The wind howled through the narrow mountain pass, carrying with it the bitter sting of frost that clung to every surface it touched. Flitter Light shivered beneath her heavy cloak, drawing it tighter around her body as she followed closely behind her teacher, Sundawn Shatter. Her teacher and mentor, his presence as solid and comforting as the heavy lantern that swung from the iron rod strapped to his side. Sundawn was an older unicorn; his once-bright orange coat now faded to a dull amber, and his mane, streaked with silver, was hidden beneath a thick hood. But his eyes were sharp, always scanning the horizon, always aware of the dangers that lurked in the shadows of the north. "Stay close, Flitter," Sundawn called over his shoulder, his voice muffled by the storm. “The Wailing Frost can be deceptive. It’s not just the cold we have to worry about.” Flitter Light nodded, her hooves crunching through the snow as she hurried to match his pace. The caravan trailed behind them, a ragtag collection of traders, travelers, and a few mercenaries hired to protect them on this dangerous journey through the frozen north. The wagons creaked and groaned under the weight of their supplies, pulled by sturdy earth ponies who barely seemed to notice the cold.

"Do you think we’ll reach Glimmer’s Rest before nightfall?" Flitter asked, her voice trembling slightly, not just from the cold but from the unease that had settled deep in her gut. She had been on several journeys before during her training, but something about this one felt… different. Ominous. Sundawn paused for a moment, surveying the landscape ahead. The path wound through jagged cliffs, half-buried in snow, with only the faintest hint of a trail to guide them. Above, the sky was a blanket of swirling gray, promising more snow and even harsher conditions.

"We’ll do our best. Remember what I’ve taught you,” Sundawn continued, his eyes briefly meeting Flitter Lights. “The lantern will guide us through, but you must trust in your instincts as much as your magic. The Wailing Frost feeds on fear and doubt,” he replied, though his tone carried a hint of doubt. “That said, The Wailing Frost is stronger than usual. We may need to find shelter before we can push through." Sundawn adjusted the special icy spear strapped to his saddlebag, drawing her attention to the lantern he carried, its golden light cutting through the swirling snow like a beacon. It wasn’t just an ordinary lantern; none of the Illuminators’ lanterns were. The crystal inside was imbued with a special magic that only the Grand Maestra knew, a soft, warm glow that could cut through the illusions of the frost and reveal the truth hidden within the darkness. It was our lifeline, our most trusted tool, and Flitter felt the weight of the one she carried in her own magic, a comforting presence even in this desolate place.

“Understood teacher.” Flitter Light glanced around, her emerald eyes scanning the horizon. The Wailing Frost wasn’t just any snowstorm. It was a living thing, a remnant of the war that had ravaged Equestria so many years ago. A Zebra megaspell, Sundawn had told her, infused with necromantic magic and unleashed upon the north. The fog it created was thick and endless, and within it lurked horrors twisted by radiation and dark magic. It preyed on fear, turning ponies against each other… or worse, turning them into something monstrous.

"We Illuminators are the only ones who can guide others through this nightmare," Sundawn had said during her training, his voice filled with the quiet pride of their order. "Our lanterns reveal the truth within the darkness, cutting through the illusions and lies. Without us, the North would be certain death." That knowledge had filled Flitter Light with purpose, with a sense of duty that pushed her through the long, grueling days of study and practice. But now, out here in the middle of the storm, that purpose felt more fragile than she had imagined. The weight of her responsibility pressed down on her, as heavy as the snow that blanketed the land. "Keep your focus, Flitter," Sundawn said, his voice cutting through her thoughts. He could always sense when she was doubting herself, even when she tried to hide it. "Remember your training. The light will guide us." She nodded again, gripping the handle of her lantern a little tighter. The soft glow comforted her, a reminder of the power she wielded against the encroaching darkness. As long as the light burned, they had a chance. They pressed on, the wind growing fiercer with every step. The caravan moved slowly, the ponies pulling the wagons straining against the weight and the cold. Flitter Light’s hooves were numb, and her breath came in ragged gasps, each one visible in the frigid air. She kept her eyes on Sundawn, his presence a steady anchor amidst the chaos. Hours passed, though it felt like days. The storm showed no signs of abating, and the world around them became a swirling blur of white. Flitter Light’s muscles ached, and exhaustion tugged at her, but she pushed forward, driven by the knowledge that they had to reach Glimmer’s Rest. It was the only safe haven for miles. Then, just as the darkness seemed to close in completely, Sundawn stopped abruptly. Flitter nearly ran into him, her hooves skidding on the icy ground. "Do you hear that?" he asked, his voice barely audible over the wind. Flitter strained her ears, trying to listen. At first, all she could hear was the howling of the storm. But then, beneath that, there was something else, a distant, haunting wail that sent a shiver down her spine. "The Wailing Frost," Sundawn muttered, his eyes narrowing. "It’s closer than I thought. We need shelter now." He turned to the caravan behind them, his voice rising above the wind. "We’re stopping here! We need to set up camp before the storm gets any worse!" The caravan came to a halt, the ponies and travelers moving quickly to unload supplies and set up makeshift tents. Flitter Light helped where she could, though her eyes kept drifting to the horizon, to the thick fog that seemed to be closing in around them. "Flitter," Sundawn called, drawing her attention back. He was standing by one of the wagons, his expression grim. "Take these.” He floated a small box filled with mini crystals to her. “I need you to light a perimeter. Keep the fog at bay."

She nodded, taking the box and her lantern, and moved around the camp, placing small, enchanted crystals at intervals along the edge. Each one flared to life with a soft, golden glow, creating a protective barrier against the encroaching darkness. As she worked, the wailing grew louder, more insistent. The fog pressed against the light, swirling just beyond the barrier as if testing its strength. Flitter Light’s heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to remain calm. Suddenly, there was a commotion at the edge of the camp. Flitter Light spun around just in time to see a shadowy figure emerging from the fog, a pony, but twisted and malformed, its eyes glowing with madness. It lunged toward the nearest tent, its mouth open in a silent scream. "Snow Ponies!" Sundawn shouted, drawing his weapon. "Defend the camp!" Chaos and gunfire erupted as more figures appeared in the fog, their twisted forms charging toward the caravan. Flitter Light’s heart raced as she tried to focus, her magic flaring to life as she created a barrier of green light to hold them back. But the Snow Ponies were relentless, driven by hunger and madness, and for every one they repelled, more seemed to take their place. In the midst of the battle, Flitter Light caught sight of Sundawn, his Hoarfrost spear cutting through the fog as he fought to protect the caravan. But even he seemed overwhelmed by the sheer number of enemies. Desperation clawed at Flitter Light’s mind as she struggled to maintain the barrier, her magic flickering under the strain. Then, with a sudden, sickening jolt, she saw it…a Snow Pony slipping past the defenses, its twisted hooves reaching for Sundawn. She screamed his name, but it was too late. The creature’s jaws clamped down on his leg, dragging him into the fog. His lantern flickered once, twice, and then went out. Everything went dark. Flitter Light’s world narrowed to that single point of light extinguished in the fog. The cold bit into her skin and fear wrapped its icy fingers around her heart. But she couldn’t give in. Not yet. She fought back the tears that threatened to overwhelm her, focusing on the task at hand: She had to protect the caravan and keep the light burning. But as the wailing grew louder and the fog pressed in closer, Flitter Light couldn’t shake the feeling that the darkness was winning. And she was right.

Chapter One

Fallout Equestria:

Sin Of The Dark Moon

Chapter One:

Dream Of Flesh

I woke to the sensation of a cold liquid burning my lungs. Panic clawed at me as I flailed, my hooves pressing against a smooth, curved surface surrounding me. Panic surged through me as I thrashed; my limbs were heavy and uncooperative. A muffled crack echoed in my ears and a spider web of fractures spread across the frosted glass before me. My vision blurred, the greenish fluid distorting the jagged lines. With another push, the glass shattered outward, a torrent of liquid rushing past me, pulling me forward; I collapsed onto a cold, icy metal floor. The air was sharp and biting as I gasped, dragging it into my starved lungs as my body convulsed, expelling the liquid that clung to my insides like ice-cold tar.

I lie there, trembling, my cheek pressed against the frozen steel, trying to make sense of the chaos in my pounding head. My memories eluded me like slithering shadows slipping away just as I wanted to grasp them. I know nothing of who I am, how I came to be here, or what this place once was. Rolling onto my back, I stared up at the ceiling or what was left of it. Jagged chunks of ice clung to exposed rusty metal beams, and wires dangled like dead vines from the cracked, crumbling structure where dim, flickering lights encased behind ice barely illuminated the destruction around me. As my vision cleared, I saw overturned tables and frost-covered debris scattered across the floor. The air is heavy with the scent of decay and something foul with a chemical sting. My breath formed small clouds in the frigid air as I tried to stand, the icy air biting into my skin. I tried taking a shaky step forward, slipping on the frozen ground and catching myself on a nearby console. The screen was dead, shattered, and coated in a thin layer of frost, the reflection of an equine visage with pearly fangs adorned with twin forward-facing dark grayish horns, its gold and moon silver eyes gazing back at me. Its silvery mane hung in matted, tangled clumps, and a faint claw-like scar traced a path down the left eye. I touched the scar, feeling the rough texture beneath my hoof. It was old, but I had no memory of how I’d gotten it. Is that me? I wondered as my skull screamed in response. A name, my name, floated just out of reach in the back of my mind; I tried to focus through the pain. “Tenebrae.” I thought I heard from somewhere in my head.

“Yes, yes, I think my name is Tenebrae,” I whispered to myself in the icy screen. I took a moment to steady myself. The silence surrounding me was deafening, broken only by the occasional creak of metal shifting under the weight of the ice above. I wasn’t alone here. I could feel a presence lurking in the shadows, watching, waiting. I needed to get out of here, wherever here was. I felt like I was waking into a nightmare, but I had no memory of the dream that led me here. One thing was clear: I had to survive, escape this frozen place, and find out who I was… before it found me.

~~~

The cold gnawed at my bones as I took another tentative step, my bare hooves slipping on the ice-slicked floor. The air was thick with the stench of rot and decay, mingled with something metallic, like blood left too long to congeal. I couldn’t stop shivering; my head throbbed with every heartbeat, each pulse sending sharp spikes of pain through my skull. I needed warmth, something to cover myself with, but nothing was in sight except broken equipment and scattered debris. I scanned the room again, my eyes lingering on the remnants of what must have once been a laboratory. The ceiling had collapsed in places, allowing thick layers of ice to spread across the floor like creeping vines. The walls were lined with shattered monitors and consoles, their screens dark and lifeless, and the faint hum of machinery from somewhere behind the rusted icy walls. Focus: I need to find anything that could help me understand where I was.

My eyes landed on a door at the far end of the room, partially obscured by a fallen metal beam. Beyond it, a faint blue light flickered, casting eerie shadows on the frost-covered walls. I moved cautiously toward the door, the cold seeping into my bones with every step. My breath came in short, ragged gasps as I reached the door and pressed my hoof against it, feeling the cold metal beneath my palm. As I pushed it open, the door groaned, revealing a narrow corridor bathed in that same pale blue light. The walls were lined with cracked, frost-encrusted panels, and the air was even colder here, if that was even possible. The light flickered overhead, casting long, shifting shadows on the floor. The corridor stretched out into darkness, but there was no turning back. I had to keep moving. As I stepped into the corridor, the door creaked shut behind me with a loud, echoing thud. The sound reverberated through the space, unsettlingly loud in the otherwise silent facility. I froze, listening, my breath catching in my throat. A low, groaning sound echoed through the corridor like a distant wail. Something was down here with me.

I forced myself to keep moving, my pace quickening as fear gripped me. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever, each step taking me deeper into the bowels of this frozen hell. My fur brushed against the walls for balance, the frost biting into my skin, but I barely noticed. My focus was on the darkness ahead and whatever awaited me there. Then, faint at first but growing louder, I heard a soft, rhythmic tapping, like nails on metal. It was coming from up ahead, somewhere in the blackness that seemed to swallow the end of the corridor. I hesitated, my heart hammering in my chest. The tapping grew louder, more insistent, and with it came a new sound, a low, guttural growl that sent icy tendrils of fear snaking down my spine. My instincts screamed at me to turn back, to run, but there was nowhere to go. The way back was sealed, and the only path lay forward into the darkness. Swallowing hard, I edged closer to the source of the noise, every nerve in my body on high alert. Suddenly, the lights overhead flickered and went out, plunging the corridor into pitch blackness. I froze, my breath catching in my throat. The tapping stopped, replaced by an eerie silence that pressed down on me like a weight. Then, from the darkness, I heard a whisper, soft and cold, like a breath against my ear.

“You were never meant to be me.”

The words sent a jolt of terror through me, and I stumbled back, my flank finding the icy wall for support. The corridor I had just come from was no longer there. The darkness seemed to close in around me, suffocating, as the whisper repeated itself, louder this time, echoing in the empty corridor.

“You were never meant to be me.”

I ran forward blindly through the darkness, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The whisper followed me, growing louder and more insistent until it was a roar in my mind.

“You were never meant to be me.”

I collided with something solid, a door. I fumbled for the handle, threw it open, and tumbled through, slamming it shut behind me. The whispering stopped, cut off as if by a switch. I leaned against the door, my chest heaving, sweat mingling with the freezing cold. The room I had stumbled into was different from the corridor warmer, though not by much, and dimly lit by a series of small, flickering lights embedded in the ceiling. My eyes adjusted slowly, and I saw that I was in a circular chamber, its walls lined with shelves filled with strange, unrecognizable objects. A large, cylindrical tank stood at the center of the room, much like the one I had woken up in. But this tank wasn’t broken. It was intact, filled with that same thick, greenish liquid. And inside… something was moving. I stepped closer, my heart pounding in my chest. The figure inside was obscured by the liquid, but as I approached, the shape became clearer. It was equine, with long limbs and a gaunt, almost skeletal frame. Its eyes were closed, and its head lolled forward as if in a deep, unnatural sleep. A memory… brief, fragmented… flashed through my mind. The same tank, the same figure, but it wasn’t alone. There had been others… like me. My hoof trembled as I reached out, touching the cold glass of the tank. The figure inside twitched, its eyes snapping open, revealing dark, empty sockets. A scream lodged in my throat as the creature’s head jerked toward me, its mouth opening in a silent, gaping maw… darkness took me.

~~~

My eyes shot open in a panic… I was back in the corridor, my hoof still on the door. “What the fuck was that?” I whispered to myself. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, as I slowly closed the door behind me this time. The cold continued seeping into my bones as I staggered through the corridor, my breaths coming in shallow gasps. Every step was a struggle, the slick, frozen floor conspiring to bring me down with every step. A sudden clang echoed through the corridor, and I froze, the sound reverberating off the metal walls. My heart raced as I scanned the darkness ahead, eyes straining to see beyond the feeble glow of the flickering lights. I forced myself to keep moving, each step slower than the last, as I listened for any sign of the thing from before. My mind was still blank, but instinct told me to avoid whatever else might be lurking here. The faint memories that danced just out of reach hinted at danger and why this place was buried beneath the earth, sealed off from the world above. Rounding a corner, I stumbled upon a control room, the door half-hanging off its hinges. Inside, the cold air mixed with the smell of burnt circuitry and a stale, icy rot. Desks were overturned, their contents strewn across the floor, papers, broken monitors, and strange devices I couldn’t name. I moved toward one of the consoles; my hoof brushed against the cracked screen. It flickered to life, lines of code scrolling too fast for me to decipher. But one word stood out, repeated over and over again: Protocol Flurry. It pulsed on the screen, an ominous red as if it were trying to warn me of something. I leaned in closer, my breath fogging the glass, trying to make sense of the message. But before I could, the sound of something heavy and metallic scraping against the floor echoed down the hallway. It was closer now. I could hear it clearly: a slow, deliberate drag, as if something was being pulled along the ground.

Fear spiked through me, and I backed away from the console, my pulse pounding in my ears. The noise grew louder and closer; I instinctively looked around for a weapon. My eyes fell on a broken piece of metal piping lying amidst the debris. I grabbed it with my maw, the cold metal biting into my teeth, and positioned myself near the doorway, body tensed. The dragging sound stopped. The silence that followed was suffocating and thick with dread. I held my breath, every muscle in my body taut, as I waited for whatever was out there to reveal itself. A shadow appeared at the edge of the doorway, extended and distorted by the faint light. My grip tightened on the pipe as the shadow grew larger, more defined. And then it stepped into view. It was equine… at least, it had been. The figure was twisted and emaciated, with skin stretched tight over its skeletal frame. Its eyes were vacant, hollow, but its mouth hung open, a silent scream etched into its face. It dragged its legs behind it, one limb twisted unnaturally, leaving a dark, wet trail on the floor; the other was clad in rusted metal braces. It turned its head toward me, eyes focusing on my face with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. I could feel its empty gaze, filled with a hunger that made my skin crawl. It took a step forward, then another, moving with a slow, deliberate gait, the metal of its ruined leg scraping against the ground.

I raised the pipe and took a step back. It continued forward, relentless as if driven by some unseen force, uncaring of the damage to its own body. There was no recognition in its eyes, no sign of the equine it might have once been. Only a single-minded determination to reach me, to close the distance between us. With no other choice, I swung the pipe as hard as possible. It connected with a sickening crunch; the creature staggered but didn’t stop. It reached for me, foul rotting teeth snapping, and I struck again, harder this time. A guttural sound escaped its lips, a gurgling growl that sent terror coursing through my veins. Desperation fueled me, and I kept swinging, again and again, until the creature crumpled to the ground, its broken form twitching one last time before lying still. My breath came in ragged gasps, the pipe slipping from my mouth as I stared down at the thing I had just killed. A wave of nausea hit me, and I stumbled back, nearly slipping on the icy floor. The reality of where I was began to sink in. This place wasn’t just a lab… it was a tomb. And I was trapped in it, with no memory, no identity, and no way to know what other horrors might be lurking in the darkness. I had to find a way out. But first, I needed to figure out who I was and what Protocol Flurry meant.

I backed away from the motionless monster, my pulse racing, but I forced myself to move and leave this room. The whispers of the darkness still echoed in my mind, and I had no intention of sticking around.

I turned and began to explore the chamber, my eyes darting around the dimly lit room. The shelves were filled with strange devices and scientific equipment, some shattered, others coated in thick layers of ice. I passed a table cluttered with vials and syringes, their contents frozen solid. My breath came in quick, shallow bursts as I moved cautiously, the fear still gripping me. But there, near the far wall, I spotted something useful: an old, rusted crowbar half-buried under a pile of debris. I grabbed it, testing its weight in my mouth. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. A door on the far side of the chamber caught my attention. With the crowbar in my mouth, I approached, it was heavy and reinforced, but a few solid hits with the crowbar loosened the ice and rust enough for me to wrench it open. I stepped through, my heart pounding as I entered a new corridor. This one was narrower, the walls closer and more oppressive. The lights here were dim, flickering occasionally, casting long shadows that danced across the walls. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and I had to fight the urge to gag as I pressed on, the crowbar clutched tightly in my mouth. As I moved through the corridor, I became more aware of the sounds around me… the distant creaking of metal, the faint hum of ancient machinery still struggling to function, and something else. A scuttling noise, like claws scratching against the floor. It was faint but unmistakable, coming from somewhere up ahead. I slowed my pace, trying to stay as quiet as possible. The scuttling grew louder and closer. I pressed myself against the wall, holding my breath as I edged forward. The corridor turned sharply, and I peeked around the corner, dreading what I might see. At first, there was nothing but darkness. Then, as my eyes adjusted, I saw movement, a cluster of small, pale shapes scurrying across the floor. They were low to the ground, almost insect-like, with far too many legs and a strange, nearly translucent quality to their skin. I watched in horror as they swarmed over something on the ground, their movements frantic, like they were devouring it.

I knew I had to go that way. The only other option was turning back, and that wasn’t a choice. Steeling myself, I gripped the crowbar tighter and stepped into the corridor, approaching the swarm. As I drew closer, the creatures seemed to notice me, their heads, if you could call them that, turning in unison to face me. There was a tense silence for a moment, and then they scattered, scuttling into cracks in the walls, vanishing into the darkness. I stood there, heart racing, watching as they disappeared, their absence leaving only the sound of my own breathing in the corridor. I took another step forward, my eyes falling on what the creatures had been swarming over. My breath caught in my throat as I realized what it was… a pile of bones, twisted and broken, partially covered in the same frost that coated everything else in this frozen hell. There were smaller equine ones, their delicate skulls cracked and shattered, their skeletons picked clean. My mind struggled to comprehend it, to remember if I’d ever known of such creatures. Yet, something about them seemed oddly familiar, like a dream half-forgotten. And then, next to them, I saw something else with larger bones, but not equine. A larger avian creature, its wings broken and folded awkwardly beneath its body, its beak frozen open in a final, silent cry. My gaze fell on a tattered coat draped over the skeletal frame, mostly untouched by the elements. The coat was thick and lined with fur, its color blending with the icy surroundings. It was meant to survive these conditions. I knelt beside the bones, hesitating momentarily before pulling the coat free. It was heavy and stiff from the cold, but as I wrapped it around myself, I felt a wave of relief. The warmth it provided was a small comfort in this nightmare, a reminder that I was still alive, still fighting. As I adjusted the coat, something fell from one of the pockets: a small, weathered journal whose pages were yellowed and brittle. I picked it up, flipping through the pages, most of which were smeared and illegible, but a few entries were still readable. The handwriting was shaky and desperate as if written by someone on the verge of madness.

“Day 47: The last of the food is gone. I can hear them scratching at the walls, waiting for me to give up. I found an exit, but it was blocked by ice… if I could just get through, I might have a chance. They won’t stop until they’ve devoured everything…”

“Day 51: The others… they’re gone. I’m the last one. I tried to clear the ice, but it was too thick. I don’t have much time left…”

“Day 55: I can hear them now, inside my head. Whispering. Telling me to give up. But I won’t… I can’t. I have to find a way out. There has to be a way out…”

The last entry trailed off into a smear of ink; the words lost to time. I closed the journal, shoving it back into the coat pocket. The exit was close, but if the journal was to be believed, it was blocked by ice. I didn’t have time to dwell on it. The scuttling noise returned, louder now, echoing through the corridor. The creatures were coming back, and I didn’t want to be here when they did. I hurried down the corridor, moving as quickly as I could while still trying to stay quiet. The passageway sloped deeper into the facility, and I had to steady myself on the walls to keep from slipping on the ice. Finally, I reached the end of the corridor, where the walls opened into a larger chamber. The air here was colder, the frost thicker, and I could see my breath in the dim light. At the far end of the room, I spotted the exit. A heavy metal door, partially covered in a thick layer of ice, but still recognizable as a way out. I crossed the room, my hooves crunching on the frozen ground. I saw the ice the journal had mentioned as I approached the door. It was thick, several inches at least, covering the door and the surrounding walls. It looked solid and impenetrable, but I had to try. I raised the crowbar and swung it at the ice, the impact sending a jolt of pain through my jaw. A chunk of ice broke free, clattering to the ground, but it was just a tiny piece. I struck repeatedly, chipping away at the ice, but it was slow, grueling work. The cold seeped into my bones, making my movements sluggish, but I couldn’t stop. The thought of those creatures closing in behind me spurred me on. After what felt like hours, I had made some progress, a small section of the door now visible beneath the ice. I was exhausted, my breath coming in ragged gasps, but I couldn’t afford to rest. I swung the crowbar again; this time, the ice cracked, and a web of fractures spread across its surface. I hit it again, and the cracks widened, chunks of ice breaking away and revealing more of the door. But just as I began to feel a flicker of hope, the room was filled with a low, rumbling growl. I froze, my heart skipping a beat as I turned to look behind me. From the darkness of the corridor, something emerged. It was massive, its body hunched and twisted, covered in patches of matted fur and frost. Its eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, and its mouth hung open, revealing rows of jagged, yellowed teeth. The creature’s breath came in ragged, labored huffs; each exhale sending clouds of mist into the air. With a surge of adrenaline, I turned back to the door, smashing the crowbar into the ice with all the strength I had left. The ice shattered, and I grabbed the door handle, yanking it open as the creature lunged at me. I threw myself through the door, slamming it shut behind me, the creature’s roar echoing in the narrow space. I stumbled back, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps as I sat on the icy floor, listening to the creature’s furious growls on the other side.

But as I looked around, I realized that my ordeal was far from over. The room I had entered was vast, a massive underground chamber, its walls lined with thick sheets of ice. Giant, ancient machinery lay dormant, half-buried in snow and ice, the remnants of whatever dark purpose this facility had once served. And at the far end of the chamber, there was another door. This one was tall, imposing, and made of solid metal, with a symbol etched into its surface. A symbol I recognized, though I couldn’t remember from where. But I didn’t have time to think about it. I had to keep moving and find a way out before the creature found a way through the door. Wrapping the coat tighter around myself, I started toward the door, my footsteps echoing in the vast, empty chamber. The chamber was extensive, almost cavernous, and as I stepped further into it, the sound of my hoof steps echoed ominously off the icy walls. The cold was relentless, seeping through the thick coat I had taken from the skeleton, and I shivered uncontrollably. The ground beneath my hooves was treacherous and uneven, with patches of ice and snow that threatened to send me sprawling. I stumbled several times, catching myself on the remnants of ancient, rusted machinery, each time glancing over my shoulder to make sure the door I’d come through remained closed. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, the cold air burning my lungs as I forced myself forward, step by step, toward the door. When I finally reached it, I hesitated, my hoof hovering over the cold metal handle. The symbol seemed to pulse, almost as if it were alive, urging me to open the door and leave this place's horrors behind. I took a deep breath, then pulled the handle, wincing as the door creaked loudly in the silent chamber. I slipped through, leaving the chamber and whatever monstrosity was behind me.

~~~

The tunnel was long, narrow, and sloped upward, a winding path carved through the ice and stone. The walls were rough, glistening with frost, and the floor was uneven, forcing me to move carefully to avoid tripping. But the air here was different, sharper, cleaner, carrying with it a promise of freedom. My heart pounded with renewed hope as I began to ascend. The farther I went, the more I noticed the temperature gradually rising, the biting cold of the chamber left behind as I moved closer to the surface. My breath came quicker, anticipation growing with each step. The tunnel twisted and turned, and as I rounded a corner, I saw a faint glow in the distance, seeping around another bend in the tunnel. Light. A flickering warm light. I quickened my pace, the promise of the outside world pulling me forward. The voices reached my ears first—faint, distant, but unmistakable. People. I felt a flicker of hope for the first time since waking in that horrible tank. Someone was out there. Maybe they could help me, explain what happened, who I was, and how I ended up here. The light grew brighter, flooding the tunnel as I neared the corner. The voices were more apparent now, though I couldn’t distinguish the words. I was so close to freedom that I could almost taste it. I broke into a gallop, the thought of finally escaping this nightmare driving me forward. Finally, I reached the corner, the light blinding after so much darkness. I squinted, straining to see, but what I saw made my blood run cold. They were equines, or at least, they had been once. Their bodies were gaunt, their fur matted and filthy, patches of skin missing where frostbite or worse had taken hold. Their eyes were wide and wild, filled with an almost palpable hunger. They huddled around a small fire, the light casting grotesque shadows on the tunnel's walls. One was gnawing on a bone, its teeth scraping against the marrow. The others were laughing, a high, crazed sound that echoed off the walls, filling the tunnel with their madness. I watched in horror as one of them turned and tossed something into the fire, a piece of flesh, charred and unrecognizable but unmistakably… equine. Before I could react, a loud crack split the air, and pain exploded in my chest. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. The world spun around me, the bright light searing my eyes as I struggled to understand what had happened. I felt warmth spreading across my chest, and when I looked down, I saw blood dark, thick, seeping through the fabric of the coat. I tried to cry out, but the sound was weak, choked off by the pain that surged through my body. My vision blurred, the tunnel around me dissolving into a haze of light and shadow. The voices grew louder, deranged, as hoof steps echoed through the tunnel, rushing toward me. I reached out, trying to grasp onto something, anything, but my strength was fading fast. The pain in my chest was unbearable, each breath a ragged, desperate gasp. I could feel the darkness closing in, creeping at the edges of my vision, threatening to pull me under.

“Damn, look at the size of this one! Great shot, Bleeder; we’re going to eat good tonight!”

“I want its teeth!”

“I want the balls if it has any!” They shouted more profane and disgusting desires as they started to crowd around me, but my vision was going black. I don't want to die, not when I was so close to freedom.

“Worthless flesh must I do everything?”

“H-hey, what the fucks wrong with it!?”

“How is he getting back up? I shot him straight through the heart!” Before everything went black, the last thing I remember was screaming and the words.

“Shall we have a feast of our own?”

And then there was nothing.

~~~

I awoke to an unsettling scene. The fire that the cannibals had been gathered around, once crackling and alive, was now nothing more than a cold heap of ash, the gray remnants dusting the ground like a forgotten memory. No trace of warmth or embers remained, and more disturbingly, the cannibals themselves had vanished as if they had never been there at all. Pushing myself up to stand, I braced for the sharp pain I expected from my wounds, especially the one in my chest. But as I moved, there was no pain, only a strange, disquieting ease. Confused, I looked down at my coat, the fabric still stiff with dried blood. My breath caught in my throat as I saw that the massive hole that had been torn through my chest was gone as if it had never existed. The coat was still soaked in my blood, a grim reminder that what I had experienced wasn’t a nightmare. But there was no gaping wound, no ragged flesh or shattered bone. I had been wounded; I knew that much, but now there was no sign of it. My heart raced as I tried to calm my rising panic. I forced myself to take in my surroundings, hoping for some clue about what had happened. That’s when I noticed it. The blood. It was everywhere, pooling around where I had lain, soaking into the cold earth. But it wasn’t just my blood; there was far too much for it to have come solely from me. The dark, viscous liquid was smeared across the tunnel floor, splattered against the walls, and even dripped from the ceiling in thick, sluggish drops. It was as if someone had taken a sack of fresh meat and violently smashed it against the tunnel's interior, the blood spraying out in wild, chaotic patterns.

Yet, despite the overwhelming amount of blood, there were no bodies. No torn clothing, no weapons, no sign of a struggle. Nothing remained to suggest that the cannibals had been here at all, save for the gruesome evidence staining every surface. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, mingled with the damp, earthy smell of the tunnel, creating an oppressive atmosphere that pressed down on me from all sides. The tunnel walls were rough, carved from the frozen earth, the cold seeping through the stone and into my bones. The ceiling loomed low, the uneven surface adding to the oppressive feeling that the tunnel was closing around me. The only sound was the distant blood drip, echoing through the darkness like the ticking of some grotesque clock. I didn’t understand how I was still alive, how the wound had healed, or where the cannibals had gone. I only knew for sure that I had to keep moving. Whatever had happened here, whatever had left this tunnel drenched in blood and devoid of life, was something I didn’t want to encounter.

With a deep breath, I continued down the blood-soaked tunnel, each step dragging me deeper into the unknown. The oppressive silence pressed against my ears, broken only by the distant, echoing drip of blood and the soft squelch of my hooves on the wet ground. My mind buzzed with confusion and dread, the memory of my wound, that terrible shot to the chest gnawing at my sanity. Yet, the wound was gone, leaving only my bloodstained coat as proof that it had ever existed. The tunnel seemed endless, twisting and turning in ways that made it impossible to tell if I was making progress. But then, as I rounded a bend, a faint glimmer of light caught my eye. It was coming from a small side room, the door half-open, the light flickering weakly as if struggling to stay alive in the suffocating darkness. My curiosity got the better of me as I pushed the door open, and the scene inside made my stomach churn. The small room was filled with bodies, the victims of the cannibals piled haphazardly against the walls. The air was thick with the stench of death, a sickly sweet odor that made me gag. Their faces were frozen in expressions of terror and pain, their eyes wide open and empty. Some were missing limbs, and others had been mutilated beyond recognition. But I saw a faint movement in the corner, barely visible behind the pile of corpses. A small figure lay slumped against the wall, bound with rough ropes. Her coat was a light, almost lavender blue, though matted with dirt and blood. Her mane was short and black, with a single blue stripe running through it, adorned with a single horn, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. A lantern with a firefly inside was emblazoned on her flank a… cutie mark, though I couldn’t recall how I knew that term. I approached her cautiously, unsure of what to do. My mind was a blur, fragmented memories flashing in and out of focus. I crouched beside her, gently shaking her shoulder. “Hey… wake up,” I whispered, my voice rough from disuse. Her emerald green eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she looked at me with confusion. Then, panic set in, and she struggled against the ropes, her breathing quickening.

“Please, don’t hurt me!” she cried, her voice trembling. I raised my hooves and tried to calm her.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I said, though my voice was unsure. She stared at me, her eyes wide and full of fear. Then, something seemed to click, and her expression softened slightly.

“You’re… not one of them?” she asked, her voice hesitant. I shook my head, though I wasn’t entirely sure myself.

“No. I’m just… trying to get out of here.” I untied the ropes that bound her. She took a shaky breath, her body relaxing a bit as she realized I wasn’t a threat.

“I’m Flitter Light,” she said, her voice still weak. “I’m an apprentice Illuminator. My teacher and I… we were guiding a caravan through the Wailing Frost when the Snow Ponies attacked. My teacher… he didn’t make it.” Her words were a jumble to me, names and places that didn’t quite connect in my mind, but I nodded as if I understood.

“I’m… Tenebrae. I think my name is Tenebrae. I can't seem to remember anything else, but that sounds right when I say it,” I admitted, the weight of that realization pressing down on me. “I woke up in a glass tank filled with a greenish liquid… everything is so confusing.” I helped her to her hooves, her legs wobbling slightly as she regained her balance.

“You woke up in a tank?” Flitter Light’s gaze moved over me, taking in my appearance. “Well, you’re definitely different,” she murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re bigger than a normal pony but not quite the size of an alicorn. And your eyes… one gold, one silver. And those horns…” I reached up, touching the two forward-facing horns that jutted from just behind my ears, their presence both familiar and alien to me.

“I don’t know what I am,” I said quietly, the truth of it gnawing at me. She seemed to consider this for a moment, then nodded.

“Well, whatever you are, I’m glad you found me. Besides, that's not the craziest thing I've heard or seen in this frozen hellscape. We need to get out of here before those Snow Ponies return.” Her horn glowed a subtle green as she started looting the pile of bodies, slinging a saddlebag over her shoulder and digging through the contents, somehow levitating items out, including a cloak similar to mine, which she wrapped herself in before continuing to dig until she found a small steel-caged lantern that housed a strange, softly glowing yellow crystal. “Thank Celestia, it's still here,” she murmured with relief.

“How are you doing that?” I asked, mesmerized by the random assortment of items floating back into the saddle bag. She looked at me, confused.

“You mean my levitation spell? It's one of the first spells all unicorns learn when they're still fillies and colts.”

“Spells? Like… magic? You can shoot fireballs and do all kinds of stuff like that?” I rubbed my head in confusion. The concept was strangely familiar yet distant, like something from a half-remembered dream. She looked dumbfounded.

“Wow, when you said you couldn't remember anything besides your name, you really meant it. I mean, I've heard of memory loss, but it sounds like you have complete amnesia.” I nodded my head, though I felt a bit embarrassed. She giggled softly, more to herself than at me. “Just like a naive stable-pony fresh out of the stable.” She muttered quietly to herself. “Well, Tenebrae, as thanks for saving me, I'd be happy to fill you in on the history and common knowledge you're missing; it may help jog your memory. Once we get out of here, that is.”

“I’d appreciate that,” I replied, grateful for the offer. She nodded and headed toward the door, her hooves making soft clicks on the cold, stone floor.

“We need to move before the Snow Ponies come back,” she said, peering cautiously out into the tunnel.

“Snow Ponies… you mentioned them before. Are they the cannibals?” I asked, following her out of the room. The tunnel stretched out before us, its walls slick with ice and blood, the air heavy with the metallic scent of decay. Flitter Light nodded grimly.

“Yes. They were once normal ponies, but the Wailing Frost changes you… makes you desperate, turns you into something less than a pony. They turn to the only thing left… each other when food runs out.” I shivered, though whether from her words or the biting cold, I wasn’t sure.

“If that’s the case, I don’t think we need to worry about them returning.” She stopped and looked at me, her eyes questioning.

“What do you mean? Did you… kill them?”

“Not exactly.” I quickly filled her in on what happened with my encounter with them; however, I left out the part of my chest wound and its strange regeneration, instead saying that they knocked me out. Flitter Light’s eyes widened in alarm.

“No bodies? That sounds like the work of snatchers. You’re beyond lucky they didn’t take you, too.”

“Snatchers?” I asked, trying to keep up. She started moving again, her pace quickening.

“They’re these… creatures, almost insect-like, with translucent skin and many legs. They usually eat any bodies left behind, but a group breaks away to find new hosts when their colony grows too large. They infest and control them from the inside, using them like meat suits to keep warm until they find a new nesting site. Once they do, they rip their way out, leaving nothing but husks behind.” The mental image sent a shiver down my spine.

“That’s… horrifying.” Flitter Light nodded, her expression dark.

“It is. We need to be careful, Tenebrae. This place is full of things worse than Snow Ponies.” We continued down the tunnel, the cold intensifying with each step. The walls began to widen, the ceiling lifting as the tunnel led us closer to the surface. A faint light grew brighter, illuminating our path with an eerie, pale light. Finally, we emerged from the tunnel into a vast, frozen wasteland. Endless snow stretched out before us, whipped into swirling patterns by the relentless wind. The sky was a heavy, oppressive gray, casting the landscape in a dull, lifeless hue. The wind wailed around us, a mournful sound that seemed to carry the voices of the lost. Flitter Light pulled her coat tighter around her, her small frame trembling in the cold. “The Wailing Frost,” she whispered, her voice nearly lost in the wind. I looked out at the desolate expanse, the reality of our situation sinking in. The wasteland stretched on for miles, an endless sea of white and gray, with no sign of shelter or safety in sight. But despite the overwhelming odds, a spark of determination flared within me.

“Let’s keep moving,” I said, my voice firm despite the cold. With a nod, Flitter Light fell in beside me, and together, we set out into the frozen wilderness, the wind howling in our ears, the snow crunching beneath our hooves.

~~~

The wind howled like a banshee, carrying stinging ice crystals that bit into my exposed skin as Flitter Light and I trudged through the endless snow. The world was a sea of white, broken only by jagged rocks and the occasional twisted, dead tree poking through the snow like skeletal fingers. The cold was relentless, seeping into my bones despite the heavy coat I’d found. Flitter Light walked beside me, her small frame huddled under her coat, but her steps were sure, her determination strong.

“Are we close?” I asked, my voice nearly lost in the wind.

“Still a few miles to go,” she replied, her voice muffled by the scarf wrapped around her muzzle. “We’ll need to find shelter soon, though. The storm’s getting worse.” She was right. The wind was picking up, whipping the snow into blinding white gusts. I could barely see a few feet ahead of us, and the chill seemed to reach down into my very soul. We continued on, heads down against the wind, searching for anything that might offer a reprieve from the storm. After what felt like hours, Flitter Light pointed to a dark shape ahead. “There! A cave!” she shouted over the wail of the wind. We hurried toward it, struggling against the gusts that seemed determined to push us back. The cave entrance was narrow and partially obscured by snow, but it was deep enough to offer some shelter from the elements. We stumbled inside, the sudden drop in wind noise almost shocking in its abruptness. I shook off the snow clinging to my coat and looked around the small space. It was dark but dry and, more importantly, out of the wind. Flitter Light set down her saddlebag and pulled out her lantern, the yellow crystal inside casting a warm, comforting glow around the cave. “We should be safe here for a while,” she said, her voice soft in the stillness of the cave. She sat down, her exhaustion evident as she slumped against the wall. I joined her, grateful for the momentary respite. As we sat there, catching our breath, I couldn’t help but notice how much I still didn’t know about her, this world, and myself.

“You said you’d fill me in on what I’ve forgotten,” I said, breaking the silence. Flitter Light nodded, her eyes thoughtful as she gathered her thoughts.

“I’ll do my best. Let’s start with the basics. We’re in the frozen north of Equestria, once known as The Crystal Empire, a place that’s been nearly uninhabitable since the war.”

“The war?” I asked, my mind trying to piece together fragments of memories that refused to form. She sighed, looking at me with a mix of sympathy and sadness.

“Yes, the Great War happened over two hundred years ago. It was a conflict between Equestria and the Zebra Empire that lasted for decades. It started over resources, then escalated into something far darker. Both sides unleashed megaspells, powerful, destructive spells that could annihilate entire cities in seconds.” She paused, her gaze distant as if seeing something far away. “One of those megaspells was unleashed here in the north. The zebras infused it with necromantic magic, ultimately creating what we call The Wailing Frost.” I shuddered involuntarily at the name.

“The Wailing Frost… that’s what this storm is, isn’t it?” Flitter Light nodded.

“It’s more than just a storm. It’s a dense, endless fog filled with snow and ice, but it’s also infused with dark magic, creating a barrier surrounding the entire north. The Wailing Frost feeds on the fears of those who pass through it, twisting their nightmares into reality. It’s also highly radioactive and mutated the local wildlife into horrible abominations.”

“And those… Snow Ponies?” I asked, thinking of the cannibals.

“The Frost got to them too,” she said, her voice heavy with sorrow. “They were once normal ponies, but overexposure to the Frost’s magic drove them mad. They became psychotic cannibals, scavenging the remains of anypony unlucky enough to cross their path.” I felt a chill run down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold. This world… It was a nightmare, a hellscape where the land itself seemed intent on devouring anyone who ventured into it.

“What about you?” I asked, eager to shift the topic away from the horrors outside. “You said you’re an Illuminator apprentice. What does that mean?” A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and there was a glimmer of pride in her eyes as she spoke.

“The Illuminators are a small but vital faction here in the north. We guide caravans and travelers and rescue those lost in the Wailing Frost. We use magic lanterns like this one," she nodded toward the caged lantern housing the glowing crystal, “to cut through the darkness, to show the truth in the nightmare. That’s why we’re called Illuminators; we ‘illuminate’ the darkness.” Her voice grew more somber. “We’re neutral in the conflicts that plague the north. Every major faction respects us because they know how important we are to their survival. Without us, the few existing trade routes would be lost, and many more ponies would die out here.” I listened intently, the weight of her words settling heavily on me. The world I had awakened into was harsh, filled with dangers I could barely comprehend, but it was also one where ponies like Flitter Light fought to bring some measure of hope and safety.

“And your teacher… he was one too?” I asked gently. She nodded, her expression clouded with grief.

“Yes, he was. One of the best. We were guiding a caravan to a settlement on the edge of the old Crystal Empire capitol when the Snow Ponies attacked. He… he didn’t make it.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, though the words felt inadequate.

“Thank you,” she replied quietly. She fell silent for a moment, then looked up at me with a determined glint in her eyes. “But I’m not giving up. We’ll make it to the settlement. We have to.” I nodded, sharing her determination. We sat in silence for a while longer, the lantern’s glow casting flickering shadows on the cave walls. The storm outside raged on, but inside, we had a small sanctuary for now. When the storm finally waned, we left the cave and continued our journey. The wind had calmed, but the cold was as biting as ever, and the snow still fell in a thick, relentless curtain. We made slow progress, stopping occasionally to rest or seek shelter when the storm threatened to intensify again. During those stops, Flitter Light continued to fill me in on what I had forgotten or perhaps had never known. She explained the different types of ponies: Earth ponies, who were strong and in tune with the land; unicorns, who wielded magic; and pegasi, who once controlled the weather and could fly. She told me about the world before the war, a world of harmony and prosperity, and how it had all been shattered by greed and mistrust. But what fascinated me most was the Illuminators. The way she spoke of them with such reverence and pride made me realize just how important they were. They weren’t warriors or rulers, but all respected them because they brought light into the darkest places. They were guides, rescuers, and, in many ways, the keepers of hope in a world that had almost forgotten what hope was. The journey was arduous, the cold relentless, but with each step, I felt a growing resolve within me. I didn’t know who I was or why I was here, but I knew one thing: I wasn’t alone. Flitter Light and I had found each other in the darkness, and we would find our way out of it together. Finally, after what felt like days of trudging through the snow, we reached the top of a ridge. Below us, nestled in a valley and partially obscured by the swirling fog, was the settlement. It was small, just a cluster of buildings huddled together against the elements, but to me, it looked like a beacon of safety in the vast, unforgiving wilderness. “There it is,” Flitter Light said, her voice filled with relief. “We made it. Welcome to Glimmer's Rest.”

I nodded, my eyes fixed on the distant lights of the settlement. We still had a way to go, but I felt a spark of hope for the first time since I’d woken up in that cold, sterile tank.

“Let’s go,” I said, and together, we started down the slope toward the settlement and whatever awaited us there.

~~~

We descended the slope with careful, deliberate steps, the wind still whispering through the barren landscape. As we got closer, the settlement Glimmer’s Rest didn't look like much, just a small cluster of buildings surrounded by a crude, wooden palisade, half-buried in the snow. Smoke curled lazily from a few chimneys, and the faint glow of lanterns lit up the frost-covered windows. It looked like the last bastion of warmth and life in this frozen wasteland. Flitter Light seemed to relax a little as we approached the gates, though her steps remained cautious. I kept close behind her, my eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger. The journey here had been filled with too many close calls, and I wasn’t about to let my guard down now. “Stay close,” Flitter Light whispered, her breath misting in the cold air. “Glimmer’s Rest is a safe place, but they don’t take kindly to strangers.” The gates loomed ahead, two massive wooden doors reinforced with metal bands, worn and weathered by years of exposure. A pair of guards stood at the entrance, their faces obscured by thick scarves and goggles, their bodies bundled up in heavy coats. They each held a spear tipped with what looked like jagged shards of ice.

“Halt!” one of the guards called out as we drew nearer. His voice was rough, probably from years of breathing in the icy air. “State your business!” Flitter Light stepped forward, lifting her lantern slightly so the soft glow illuminated her face.

“I’m Flitter Light, an apprentice Illuminator. We were guiding a caravan to Glimmer’s Rest when Snow Ponies attacked us. My teacher… Sunbeam Shatter didn’t make it, but this one here saved me.” She nodded toward me. The guard’s gaze shifted to me, his expression unreadable beneath his layers.

“And who’s this?”

“I… my name’s Tenebrae,” I said, trying to sound confident despite my uncertainty. The two guards exchanged glances, then the one who had spoken first nodded.

“Alright. If Flitter Light vouches for you, you can enter. But don’t cause any trouble. Glimmer’s Rest is a peaceful place, and we aim to keep it that way.” With that, the massive gates creaked open just enough for us to slip through. As we passed the guards, I couldn’t help but feel their eyes on me, studying every detail of my appearance, my unusual size, my mismatched eyes, and especially my forward-facing horns. I wasn’t sure what they thought of me, but for now, they weren’t stopping us. Inside the walls, Glimmer’s Rest was a stark contrast to the endless white wilderness outside. The settlement was small, just a few rows of low buildings huddled together for warmth, but there was a sense of life here, a stubborn refusal to succumb to the harshness of the north. Ponies moved about, bundled up in heavy clothing, their breath fogging the air as they went about their business. A few glanced our way, their eyes lingering on me with curiosity and perhaps a hint of wariness. Flitter Light led me through the narrow, snow-packed streets, her steps confident now that we were within the settlement’s protective walls.

“I know a place where we can get some rest and maybe something to eat,” she said. “Follow me.” We wound our way through the settlement until we reached a small, weather-beaten building with a faded sign above the door that read The Lantern’s Glow. Flitter Light pushed the door open, and the warmth that spilled out was like a physical embrace, pulling me in from the cold. Inside, the inn was cozy, if a bit shabby. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering light across the room. A few ponies sat at rough wooden tables, nursing mugs of something steaming, their conversations hushed but friendly. As we stepped in, the innkeeper—a stout, elderly earth pony with a grizzled coat—looked up from behind the counter.

“Well, if it isn’t Flitter Light!” he exclaimed, his voice rough but warm. “We were worried when the guards said you missed your check-in.” Flitter Light offered a tired smile.

“We ran into some trouble, but we made it. This is Tenebrae,” she added, gesturing to me. “He’s the reason I’m still alive.” The innkeeper’s eyes widened slightly as he took in my appearance, but he didn’t comment on it. Instead, he nodded and beckoned us over.

“Well then, any friend of Flitter Light’s is welcome here. Come on, sit by the fire, and warm up. You both look like you’ve been through Tartarus.” We took seats near the hearth, the heat from the fire working its way through my frozen limbs. The innkeeper brought over two steaming mugs of something sweet and spicy that warmed me from the inside out. As we sat there, the warmth and safety of Glimmer’s Rest starting to sink in, Flitter Light leaned over and spoke quietly.

“Glimmer’s Rest is one of the last safe places in the north. It’s not much, but it’s home to those who’ve managed to survive out here. The ponies here are tough, resourceful, and loyal. They’ll help you if you prove yourself to be a friend, but they won’t hesitate to turn on you if you give them a reason to.” I nodded, absorbing her words. This settlement might be small, but it was a beacon of hope in a world that seemed determined to snuff out any light. And for the first time since I’d woken up in that cold, nightmare-filled lab, I felt a glimmer of something I hadn’t even realized I’d been missing. Hope. As we sat there, sharing the warmth of the fire and the company of others who had also survived against the odds, I knew that this was just the beginning of my journey. There were still so many questions, so much I didn’t know about myself or the world around me. But with Flitter Light by my side and the knowledge that I wasn’t alone in this fight, I felt ready to face whatever came next. After all, even the tiniest glimmer of light could make all the difference in a world as dark as this one.

Chapter Two

Fallout Equestria:

Sin Of The Dark Moon

Chapter Two:

Dream Of Breath

Two days had passed since we arrived in Glimmer’s Rest, and in that time, I had learned more about this strange, broken world. Flitter Light had been patient with me, explaining the basic history and some of the major players that shaped Equestria into what it was now. She told me about Stable-Tec, the company responsible for building the Stables—massive underground bunkers designed to protect ponies from the megaspells that ended the world. But instead of saving lives, many of these Stables had become tombs or, worse, twisted social experiments conducted under the guise of survival. Each Stable had a number, and each had its own dark story. Survivors from one such Stable had founded Glimmer’s Rest, though Flitter Light hadn’t elaborated on which one. She also taught me the basics of magic, and after a few hours of practice, I got the basic levitation spell down that I had seen her use before. She also spoke of the Ministries, the six powerful government branches established during the war. Each was led by one of the Elements of Harmony, who had been heroes once but were ultimately consumed by the war. Their influence had seeped into every part of life, from industry to magic to the very culture of Equestria, leaving a legacy that was as much a curse as it was a remnant of their intentions to protect the nation. Flitter Light also explained how trade functioned in the wasteland, an economy built on the ruins of the old world. Bottle caps—most commonly called "caps"—had become the de facto currency. The absurdity of using such an item as money wasn’t lost on me, but it made a twisted sort of sense in this shattered land. The old currencies were meaningless now, reduced to relics of a bygone era. Caps, being durable and plentiful, became the new standard. She explained how every settlement, no matter how small, relied on this currency, trading everything from food and water to weapons and medical supplies.

And then there was more to the Wailing Frost than I had realized. It wasn’t just a dangerous stretch of land but a barrier—an endless wall of fog and frost that surrounded the Frozen North, cutting it off from the rest of Equestria. No radios, no magical messages, nothing could penetrate it. Flitter Light explained that this barrier blocked all forms of communication with the outside world, leaving the ponies here to fend for themselves in the frozen wasteland. She mentioned that while there were supposedly a few areas along the barrier that allowed passage, they were few and far between, with only one official entry point under the strict control of the Illuminators due to their neutrality. Throughout these days, Flitter Light had also sent a written report to the Illuminators' headquarters detailing the fate of her teacher and the caravan they had been guiding. Another Illuminator, passing through Glimmer’s Rest on their way back from a rescue mission, had taken the report with them, promising to deliver it to their superiors. Yet, despite all this new knowledge, gaps in my memory gnawed at me. The underground lab where I had awakened was a constant presence in the back of my mind, especially the flashing words on that screen: Protocol Flurry.

The name echoed in my thoughts as I sat in the warmth of the inn’s common room. Flitter Light was upstairs, resting after another long day of explanations, and I found myself alone with my thoughts. The crackling of the fire and the low murmur of conversations from the other patrons did little to distract me. I needed answers. The innkeeper, the same elderly earth pony who had welcomed us, was cleaning mugs behind the counter. I got up and walked over, my hooves making soft thuds on the worn wooden floor. “Excuse me,” I began, catching the innkeeper’s attention. He looked up, his grizzled face curious.

“Yes? What can I do for you, lad?” I hesitated for a moment, then took a breath. “I wanted to ask if you’ve ever heard of something called Protocol Flurry.” The innkeeper frowned, setting the mug he had been cleaning aside.

“Protocol Flurry? Can’t say I’ve heard of it. Sounds like pre-war business to me. That or one of the Crystal Love Laboratories projects.”

“Crystal Love Laboratories?” The innkeeper’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

“Crystal Love Laboratories was an outfit up here in the north, way before the war ended everything. They were independent, not tied to any of the Ministries, though they had the full backing of Princess Cadence herself. Word is, they were into some pretty advanced stuff, hyper-advanced technologies and things even the Ministries wouldn’t touch.”

“What kind of stuff?” I asked, my interest piqued.

“Can’t say for sure,” the innkeeper replied, leaning back. “But folks say they were working on projects related to… well, love, of all things. Magic fueled by emotions, maybe even trying to harness it as a weapon. There were also whispers of experiments related to the Crystal Heart, but who knows if there’s any truth to that. Most of what ponies know is just speculation passed down through the generations, including crazy theories of recovered alien technology, space travel, and other insane ideas.”

I nodded, digesting this information. “Could the Crystal Love Laboratories have anything to do with Protocol Flurry?” The innkeeper shrugged.

“Could be, but if it was something connected to the Crystal Love Laboratories, it could be bad news. Best to tread carefully, lad.” I nodded again, a sense of unease settling over me. If Protocol Flurry was linked to the Crystal Love Laboratories, then whatever had happened to me was more than just a simple experiment gone wrong. There was a deeper story here, one that I was only beginning to uncover.

“Thank you,” I said finally, stepping back from the counter. “I appreciate the information.”

“Just be careful,” the innkeeper warned as I turned to leave. “Glimmer’s Rest is a safe place, but the north is full of secrets best left buried.” The innkeeper's words lingered in my mind as I returned to my seat by the fire. There was something about Protocol Flurry that didn’t sit right with me, something that tugged at the edges of my fragmented memories. The fire crackled softly in the hearth as I sat back down, the warmth doing little to chase away the chill that had settled over me. The innkeeper’s words echoed in my mind—secrets best left buried. I wasn’t sure I agreed. There was something about this world, this Protocol Flurry, that I needed to uncover, not just for my sake but for whatever remnants of my past still existed. Flitter Light descended the creaking wooden stairs; her hoofsteps light yet purposeful. She looked more rested, though the weariness of our journey still lingered in her eyes. When she spotted me by the fire, she offered a small smile and trotted over.

“You’ve been deep in thought,” she observed, settling down beside me.

“I’ve been trying to make sense of what I learned,” I replied. “About this world, what’s happened… and what I might be.” Her expression softened with concern.

“It’s a lot to take in, especially when you’re still piecing together your own memories.” I nodded, staring into the dancing flames.

“I asked the innkeeper about Protocol Flurry. He didn’t know much but mentioned something about Crystal Love Laboratories—an independent group that worked on advanced technologies, supported by Princess Cadence.” Flitter Light frowned, her ears twitching in thought.

“I’ve heard of them. Most ponies around here know them only as legends or rumors, whispers of pre-war projects that nopony truly understands. But their connection to Princess Cadence makes sense. The Crystal Empire was always at the forefront of emotional magic, and Cadence… well, she was the Princess of Love.”

“The innkeeper said they might have been experimenting with emotion-based magic, perhaps even weapons,” I continued, my mind racing with possibilities. “And something about a Crystal Heart.”

“The Crystal Heart was the source of the Crystal Empire’s power,” Flitter Light explained. “It amplified the love and light of the Crystal Ponies, creating a protective barrier around the empire. If the Crystal Love Laboratories were working on something similar, they could have been trying to weaponize that power—or harness it in ways I can’t imagine.” I leaned back in my chair, the weight of these revelations pressing down on me.

“Protocol Flurry… it has to be connected to all of this somehow. But what does it mean? And why was it mentioned in that lab where I woke up?” Flitter Light looked at me, her eyes searching mine as if trying to piece together the puzzle with me.

“Whatever it is, it sounds like it might be tied to your past. And if the Crystal Love Laboratories were involved, then we’re talking about something extremely advanced—possibly dangerous. Maybe that lab was one of their facilities.”

“If that’s true, then Protocol Flurry could be the key to all my questions,” I said, the realization dawning on me. “To my memories, to understanding what happened to me—and what I’m supposed to do now.” A heavy silence fell between us, the gravity of the situation settling in. After a moment, I looked at her, my gaze steady. “Flitter Light, are you sure you want to join me on this? You could head back to the Illuminators headquarters. It would be safer.” She hesitated, her eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. Then she sighed softly.

“I can’t go back yet, Tenebrae. Not until I’ve completed something important.” She paused, then continued, her voice a little quieter. “To become a full Illuminator, I must find my teacher’s lantern. It’s a tradition… a rite of passage, you could say. Finding one lost in the darkness is proof that I can bring light to others. Without it, I can’t truly call myself an Illuminator.” I considered her words, understanding dawning on me.

“So you’re not just helping me—you’re on your own quest as well.” Flitter Light nodded, a determined look in her eyes.

“Exactly. And besides, after what we’ve been through… I think we might be able to help each other. I’ve come this far; I’m not turning back now.” A small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

“I suppose we both have something to prove.” She returned the smile, though it was tinged with a hint of sadness.

“Seems that way. But before we set out, we should take a look at the town’s crier board. We’ll need caps for supplies, and there might be some work we can pick up to earn them.”

“Good idea,” I agreed, rising from my seat. “Let’s see what this town has to offer.” We left the inn's warmth together and stepped out into the cold, foggy night. The streets of Glimmer’s Rest were quiet, save for the distant howling of the wind. The crier board stood near the town square, a large icy wooden board filled with various notices, requests, and job offers pinned to its surface. As we approached, Flitter Light began scanning the postings.

“Let’s see… there’s a request for help at the local infirmary, something about a missing shipment of supplies, and… oh, this one’s interesting.” I glanced over her shoulder at the notice she had found. It mentioned a need for someone to clear out a den of mutated creatures terrorizing the nearby trade route. The pay was decent, and the note mentioned a reward of caps and ammo.

“Let’s take both,” I said, nodding. “Not exactly subtle, but we could use the experience—and the caps.” Flitter Light folded the notice and tucked it into her saddlebag.

“Agreed. We’ll head out first thing in the morning.” As we turned to head back to the inn, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our paths had intertwined for a reason. Flitter Light had her own mission, and I had mine, but together, we might just be able to navigate the dangers of this world and uncover the truths buried in its frozen depths.

~~~

The morning broke with the faintest hint of light, barely visible through the dense, dark fog that perpetually shrouded the Frozen North. The Wailing Frost was ever-present, a relentless storm of snow and ice that never ceased. The biting cold seemed to seep into our bones as we trudged through the snow-covered wasteland. There was no sign of life—just endless fields of snow and jagged rocks, all enveloped in the eerie, oppressive fog. Flitter Light walked beside me, her special lantern hovering in front of her. Its soft, warm glow was the only thing keeping the fog at bay. The lantern emitted a gentle, flickering golden light that seemed to push back the encroaching darkness, creating a small bubble of visibility around us. Without it, we would have been swallowed by the frost, lost in the endless blizzard. We had spent the last of Flitter Light’s caps on what few supplies we could afford—a 9mm pistol with a box of ammo, a spiked baseball bat, and a spiked horseshoe. The shopkeeper had thrown in an old leather saddlebag for me, clearly seeing the desperation in our eyes. It wasn’t much, but it would have to suffice. The weapons were crude but serviceable. I gripped the bat in my magical aura, the black glow of my magic casting an unsettling light on the spiked weapon. It felt oddly familiar in my grasp as if I had wielded something like it before. The spiked horseshoe was securely fastened to my right forehoof; it's cold metal, a reassuring weight. Flitter Light’s pistol floated beside her, her green magic keeping it steady even as the wind howled around us. Her expression was resolute, though I could sense a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

We had accepted both notices from the town’s crier board—the missing shipment of supplies and the den of monsters terrorizing the trade route. I had a hunch the two were connected, and Flitter Light agreed that it made sense to check them out. The journey through the Wailing Frost was grueling, each step a battle against the snow that seemed determined to drag us down. The thick and dark fog pressed in from all sides, but Flitter Light’s lantern held it at bay, providing a small sanctuary of light in the overwhelming gloom. After hours of trudging through the snow, we finally reached the area near where the first notice indicated the missing shipment had last been seen. The scene before us was grimm—a few wrecked wagons, half-buried in snow, with the bodies of ponies frozen in grotesque poses. The snow around them was stained dark red, a stark contrast against the endless white. “This is it,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the howling wind. I nodded, scanning the area. Tracks in the snow, uneven and erratic, led away from the wreckage. She recognized them immediately.

“Ghouls,” Flitter muttered, her voice low and tense. I hesitated, the memory flashing through my mind—back in the lab where I had first awakened, one of those creatures had attacked me. I didn’t know what it was at the time. Just that it was dangerous. I ended up killing it with a metal pipe. “Ghouls are… they used to be ponies before the war. Some kind of necromantic magic twisted them into what they are now. They’re dangerous and relentless. Once they’ve turned feral, there’s no going back.” I frowned, the pieces slowly coming together in my mind.

“So, those creatures—ghouls—are what we’re dealing with?”

“Most likely,” she said, her voice grim. We searched the area, but the fog and snow made it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. Eventually, we found the missing supplies half-buried in the snow near the wrecked wagons. Flitter Light’s lantern illuminated the crate, revealing an assortment of medicines, healing potions, frozen blood bags, first aid kits, charmed bandages, etc. “We should take these back to Glimmer’s Rest,” Flitter Light suggested, her voice laced with concern. “The town needs these supplies, and it’s not safe to stay out here longer than necessary.” I nodded.

“We’ll take them back,” I agreed, “but first, we need to deal with those ghouls. Grabbing the supplies on the way back will be more efficient.”

Flitter Light hesitated, then nodded, her expression resolute. “You’re right. We need to stop them before they cause any more harm. And it beats having to make a second trip out here.” We followed the tracks, pushing deeper into the Wailing Frost. The landscape grew more desolate, just snow and jagged rocks stretching out into the endless fog. The air was cold and oppressive, and the fog seemed to grow thicker the further we went, but Flitter Light’s lantern kept it at bay, the small sphere of light our only guide. After what felt like hours, we reached the entrance to a cave, a dark hole in the side of a snow-covered hill. The tracks led straight into the darkness. Flitter Light’s lantern cast a faint glow inside, but beyond that, it was pitch black. I tightened my grip on the spiked bat and prepared for whatever was inside.

“Stay close,” I murmured, my voice low and tense. “We go in, take out the ghouls, and get those supplies back to town.” The moment we stepped into the cave, the air grew thick with the stench of decay. The walls were cold and damp, slick with ice and something far darker—something that reeked of rot and death. Flitter Light's lantern cast a golden aura that pushed back the darkness but only made the shadows dance more ominously along the jagged stone walls. We hadn’t gone far when the first ghoul staggered out of the darkness, its twisted, decayed body barely recognizable as something that had once been a pony. Its flesh hung off its bones in ragged strips, and its eyes glowed with a sickly green light that filled me with an instinctive revulsion. Flitter Light gasped, but I didn't hesitate. I swung the bat with all my strength, feeling the spikes tear through decaying flesh and brittle bone. The impact was solid, sickening, and the ghoul crumpled to the ground in a heap, its skull caved in, dark fluids oozing from the wound. Before I could catch my breath, more ghouls shuffled out of the shadows, their snarls echoing through the cave. They came in a rush, their movements frantic and unnatural, driven by a hunger that had long since consumed whatever sanity they once had. Flitter Light raised her pistol, her green magic steadying her aim despite the fear in her eyes. She squeezed the trigger, and the sharp crack of the gunshot echoed off the stone walls. The bullet tore through a ghoul’s chest, sending it sprawling to the ground, but still, it crawled toward us, relentless in its pursuit. I swung the bat again, feeling it connect with another ghoul's jaw, shattering it into a mess of broken teeth and rotting flesh. The ghoul’s head snapped back, but it didn’t stop; some unholy force still drove its decayed body forward. I had to swing again, this time smashing its head into the cave floor, the spikes of the bat digging deep into its skull. The sight was grotesque—blackened blood and bits of brain matter splattered across the icy ground.

Flitter Light struggled to reload, her magic trembling as she fumbled with the ammo. A ghoul lunged at her, its jagged teeth snapping inches from her face. I kicked it away, the spiked horseshoe on my forehoof tearing through its chest with a wet, crunching sound. I could feel the resistance as the spikes lodged into the ghoul’s ribcage, and I had to wrench my hoof free, ripping through decaying flesh in the process. The cave was alive with the sounds of battle—snarls, gunfire, and the wet, nauseating thuds of metal meeting flesh. Flitter Light fired again, this time catching a ghoul in the eye. It went down, twitching violently as the last remnants of life drained from its mangled body. But they just kept coming. For every ghoul we felled, it seemed two more would take its place, their hollow eyes filled with a mindless, insatiable hunger. One of them grabbed me, its rotting hooves digging into my sides as it tried to drag me down. I could smell its rancid breath and feel the cold, clammy touch of its decayed skin against mine. I swung the bat wildly, smashing the ghoul in the side of the head. The blow didn’t kill it, but it loosened its grip enough for me to tear free. “Flitter, behind you!” I shouted, spotting a ghoul crawling out of the darkness toward her. She spun around, her pistol raised, but the ghoul was too close. It leaped at her, its jaws snapping at her throat. She screamed, but in a flash of green magic, she summoned a barrier, just barely keeping the ghoul at bay. The force of the ghoul’s attack sent her stumbling back, and the barrier flickered, threatening to give out. I rushed forward, my bat coming down with all the force I could muster. The spikes tore through the ghoul’s spine, severing it with a sickening crunch. The creature dropped like a sack of rocks, twitching as its unnatural life finally left its body. Flitter Light panted heavily, her eyes wide with terror and adrenaline. I could see the strain in her magic, the pistol wavering as she struggled to focus. But there was no time to rest. More ghouls emerged from the shadows, their twisted forms barely visible in the lantern's dim light. “Hold the line!” I barked, my voice rough and commanding. I swung the bat repeatedly; each strike more desperate than the last. My muscles burned with exhaustion, but I couldn’t stop. Not now. Not when we were so close.

Flitter Light fired her pistol in quick, controlled bursts, echoing like thunder in the confined space. Each shot was precise, a testament to her training despite the terror that threatened to overwhelm her. But the ghouls were relentless, and soon, we fought back to back, surrounded by the decayed remnants of what had once been ponies. A particularly large ghoul lunged at me, its rotting mouth wide open, jagged teeth gleaming in the dim light. I swung the bat with all my might, but the ghoul caught it mid-swing, its bony hooves wrapping around the wooden shaft. It was stronger than I expected, its decayed muscles still powerful despite their withered appearance. I struggled to wrench the bat free, but the ghoul pulled it closer, snarling as it tried to sink its teeth into my neck. With a surge of magic, I forced the bat forward, the black aura surrounding it intensifying. The spikes drove deep into the ghoul’s throat, and with a brutal twist, I tore the bat free, the ghoul’s head snapping to the side with a sickening crunch. It fell, twitching violently before finally going still. Flitter Light took down another ghoul with a well-placed shot to the head, her breathing ragged.

“How many more of these things are there?” she gasped, her voice tinged with desperation.

“Doesn’t matter,” I growled, my breath coming in harsh, difficult bursts. “We’re ending this now.” We pushed forward, our movements a mix of desperation and determination. The ghouls were relentless, their rotting bodies moving with a speed and ferocity that belied their degraded state. But we fought back with everything we had, each strike of the bat, each crack of the pistol, driving them back further into the darkness. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last ghoul fell, its body crumpling to the ground in a lifeless heap. The cave was silent once more, the only sound of our ragged breathing as we stood amidst the carnage. I lowered the bat, my magic flickering weakly as exhaustion set in. The weapon was slick with blood and bits of bone, the spikes stained dark with the remnants of the ghouls. Flitter Light stood beside me, her pistol still raised, her hooves trembling with the aftershock of the fight.

“We did it,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind that howled outside the cave. Her green magic slowly faded, and the pistol lowered as the adrenaline wore off. I nodded, though my mind was still racing, my body thrumming with the lingering intensity of battle.

“Yeah. We did.” The stench of decay hung heavy in the air, but there was a grim satisfaction in knowing that we had survived and emerged victorious. But as I looked at the bodies strewn across the cave floor, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning—that there were far worse things waiting for us in the depths of the Frozen North. After some looting, we found a few frozen, rusted containers stacked loosely in the back of the cave. We found some caps, a few shotgun shells, a combat knife that was in surprisingly good condition, and a mostly intact first aid kit.

“Let’s get out of here,” I said, my voice rough with exhaustion. Flitter Light nodded, and together, we made our way back into the Wailing Frost, the oppressive fog closing in around us once more. As we began the long trek back to Glimmer’s Rest, medical supplies in tow, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched…

~~~

The wind howled through the Wailing Frost, carrying with it the biting cold that seeped into our bones. The fog was thicker than ever, swirling around us in a dense, dark shroud that seemed to swallow all light and sound. Flitter Light’s lantern was our only beacon, its warm glow barely piercing the oppressive gloom as we trudged through the snow. Each step was a struggle against the icy ground, and the silence that enveloped us was unnerving, broken only by the crunch of our hooves and the faint, distant wail of the wind. Despite the exhaustion weighing on me, my senses were on high alert. The feeling of being watched had only grown stronger since we left the cave, a prickling sensation at the back of my neck that refused to be ignored. I glanced around, trying to peer through the fog, but all I could see were shifting shadows and the endless expanse of snow and rock. Yet, the feeling persisted, gnawing at me with an intensity that set my nerves on edge. “Do you feel that?” I asked, my voice low and tense as I kept my eyes scanning the fog. Flitter Light nodded, her grip on the lantern tightening as she looked around nervously.

“Yeah… it feels like something’s out there, watching us.” I didn’t like it. We were exposed out here, vulnerable to whatever might be lurking in the darkness. I thought back to the ghouls in the cave, their decayed bodies and unnatural hunger. Was it possible there were more of them out here, stalking us from the shadows? Or was it something else entirely, something even more dangerous?

“Keep that lantern steady,” I murmured, my voice barely audible over the wind. “We can’t afford to lose our way in this fog.” Flitter Light nodded again, her magic holding the lantern aloft with a determined steadiness despite her obvious fear. The golden light flickered slightly, casting long, eerie shadows that danced across the snow, but it remained our only lifeline in the impenetrable gloom. We continued on, every muscle in my body tense, ready to react at the first sign of danger. The minutes dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity as we pushed through the snow, our breath visible in the frigid air. The feeling of being watched grew stronger with every step, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. And then I saw it… a shadow, barely visible through the fog, moving in the distance. It was large, much larger than a pony, and it seemed to glide effortlessly across the snow, silent and swift. “Flitter, over there,” I whispered urgently, pointing with the bat still gripped in my magic. She turned, her eyes wide as she followed my gaze. The shadow paused, hovering just at the edge of our vision, its form indistinct and shrouded in the swirling fog.

“What is that?” she breathed, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and awe.

“I don’t know,” I replied, my grip tightening on the bat as I prepared for whatever might come next. “But we’re not sticking around to find out. Let’s move, now.” We quickened our pace, moving as fast as we could through the thick snow without losing our footing. The shadow continued to follow us, keeping its distance but never straying too far. It felt like a predator, stalking us, waiting for the right moment to strike. The fog seemed to close in around us, the darkness growing heavier, more oppressive. Flitter Light’s lantern flickered again, the light sputtering as if struggling to stay alive in the face of the encroaching gloom.

“Keep it together, Flitter,” I urged, sensing her growing panic.

“I’m trying,” she replied, her voice strained with effort as she focused on maintaining the light. “But this fog… it’s like it’s trying to snuff out the lantern.” I glanced back at the shadow, which had moved closer, its form still unclear but unmistakably menacing.

“Just a little further,” I said, more to myself than to Flitter Light, as we pressed on, the cold biting deeper into our flesh. The shadow that had followed us retreated into the fog as we approached Glimmer’s Rest, leaving an uneasy tension in the air. We hurried through the settlement’s gates, the familiar sight of the town’s dim lights offering a small measure of comfort after the harrowing journey. The familiar sights and sounds of the small settlement greeted us. The lanterns hanging from the buildings flickered weakly in the swirling fog, their glow barely enough to pierce the dense shroud of the Wailing Frost. But even that meager light was a comfort after the relentless darkness outside. The feeling of being hunted gradually faded as we moved deeper into the town, replaced by a sense of weary relief. We headed straight for the infirmary, eager to deliver the medical supplies we had recovered. The infirmary was a small, cramped building, its windows covered in frost. Inside, a few cots lined the walls, each occupied by a wounded or sick pony. The smell of antiseptic and herbs filled the air, a sharp contrast to the decay we had encountered in the den. The infirmary’s caretaker, a stern-looking mare with a graying mane, looked up as we entered. Her expression softened when she saw the crate on my back.

“You found them,” she said, her voice tinged with disbelief and gratitude. “I didn’t think anypony would make it out there and back with all those ghouls.”

“We did,” I replied, setting the crate on the counter with a heavy thud. “Here’s everything we could recover.” She quickly rummaged through the supplies, her expression growing more relieved as she inspected each item.

“These will help a lot. Thank you.” She handed us a small pouch of healing potions and a bundle of fresh bandages. “These are for you. You’ve more than earned them.” Flitter Light smiled faintly, clearly exhausted but appreciative of the reward.

“Thanks. We could use these.” After leaving the infirmary, we made our way to the guard post to claim our payment for clearing out the ghoul den. The guards, who had been on edge since the ghouls began appearing near the town, were visibly relieved to hear that the threat had been neutralized.

“Good work,” one of the guards said as he handed us a pouch of caps. “That should keep the town safe for a while.” With the supplies turned in and our payment collected for the den, we finally headed back to The Lantern’s Glow. The warmth inside was a welcome relief, and we collapsed onto the worn-out cushions in our room, both of us drained from the day’s events. Flitter Light set her lantern down on the small table, its glow now soft and steady in the dim room. She sighed, her breath still shaky from the tension of our journey.

“We made it back. But I can’t help but wonder what that shadow was that we saw out there. I don't remember hearing anything about a gliding shadow during my training.” I nodded, my thoughts turning to the ominous figure that had followed us through the Frost.

“I don’t know. But we can’t worry about that now. We need to plan our next move.” Flitter Light looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to decide our course of action. The answer was clear in my mind, though the thought of returning to that place sent a shiver down my spine. “We’re going back to the lab,” I said, my voice firm despite the unease I felt. “It’s the only place where we might find some answers. And… we need to find your teacher’s lantern. Since that's where the Snow Ponies took you It may still be there somewhere, and you need it to become a full Illuminator right?” Flitter Light’s eyes widened slightly, but she nodded in agreement.

“You’re right. I can’t move forward until I find it. And maybe the lab will have some clues about you, too.”

“We’ll be more prepared this time,” I said, my gaze hardening. “I know what’s out there now. We’ll be ready for it.” Flitter Light gave a small, determined smile.

“Let’s do it. We’ll face whatever’s waiting for us together.” I felt a surge of resolve at her words, the fear that had lingered since I first awoke in that lab tempered by the knowledge that I wasn’t alone in this. We would return to that place, not as victims, but as hunters. Whatever secrets the lab held, we would uncover them, and whatever dangers lurked within, we would face them head-on. As we settled in for the night, the inn’s walls creaking softly in the cold, I couldn’t help but wonder what we would find when we returned to the lab. The fear that gripped me when I first woke up there still lingered in my mind, but I was no longer the disoriented, confused pony I had been then. Now, I was ready to confront the horrors of that place—and to find the answers that lay hidden in its depths. As I drifted off to sleep, the wind outside howled through the Wailing Frost, a reminder of the relentless cold and the darkness that waited just beyond the walls. The first light of dawn was a faint glow against the swirling fog of the Wailing Frost, barely illuminating the settlement of Glimmer’s Rest. The wind had quieted to a low moan, but the cold remained ever-present, biting through our coats as we prepared for the day ahead. We needed to be ready—better armed and better protected—for our return to the lab. The marketplace was just beginning to stir as Flitter Light and I made our way through the narrow streets. The few vendors who had braved the early morning chill were setting up their stalls, their breath visible in the frigid air. Despite the cold, the sight of the small market bustling with activity brought a sense of normalcy. We stopped first at the weapon stall from earlier where a grizzled earth pony, his green fur, a patchwork of scars, was displaying various weapons and armor. His keen eyes narrowed as he looked us over, assessing our needs.

“You two look like you’ve seen better days,” he grunted, his voice rough but not unkind. “What can I do for you?”

“We’re heading back out,” I replied, my gaze sweeping over the assortment of gear. “We need some armor, something we can wear under our coats, another gun good at close range with ammo. We could also use some more 9mm rounds.” He nodded, his expression turning serious.

“Good choice. You’ll need all the protection you can get in these parts.” He turned and began rummaging through his stock, pulling out two sets of leather armor. The pieces were well-worn but sturdy, the leather tough and reinforced with metal plates in key areas. “These should fit you both,” he said, passing the armor over. “They’re lightweight, but they’ll take a hit better than just your coats. Now, as for the close-range weapon…” He reached under the stall and pulled out a double-barreled shotgun, its wooden stock polished to a dark sheen. “She’s a bit old, but she’s reliable. Just make sure you don’t let her get too wet in this cold, or she might give you trouble.” He handed the weapon over, along with a small box of shells. “And for your friend…” He added a box of 9mm along with a few more magazines to our growing collection. “That ought to help keep you both in one piece.” Flitter Light tested the weight of the armor, slipping the pieces under her coat. It fit snugly, offering protection without sacrificing too much mobility. She nodded in approval, then carefully loaded the extra rounds into her saddlebags.

“How much for everything?” I asked, reaching for the caps we had earned the previous night. The vendor eyed us for a moment, then waved a hoof dismissively.

“Let’s say a hundred caps, even. Consider it a discount for the work you did clearing out that ghoul den.” I handed over the caps, grateful for the small favor.

“Thanks. We’ll put it to good use.” He grunted in response, watching as we adjusted our new gear.

“Just be careful out there. The Wailing Frost has been getting worse as of late.” With our supplies secured, we made our way to a nearby stall that offered food and water. The mare behind the counter was cheerful despite the cold, her breath fogging up the air as she greeted us.

“Morning, dears! What can I get for you?”

“We’ll take whatever you have that’ll keep us going in the Frost,” Flitter Light replied with a small smile, her voice less tense now that we were better equipped. The mare nodded enthusiastically and began wrapping dried mutfruit, old canned oats, and something called sparkletack which seemed to be some kind of thrice-baked soda bread using Sparkle-Cola, which we packed into our saddlebags. “This lot should keep you well-fed for a while.” She handed us two canteens, their surfaces already cold to the touch.

“Thank you,” I said as we paid for the provisions. “This will help.” With our purchases complete, we headed back to The Lantern’s Glow to finalize our preparations. The inn was quiet, the few patrons who had risen early had already headed out for the day. We returned to our room, the warmth inside a welcome contrast to the bitter cold outside. As we laid out our gear and checked our weapons, Flitter Light glanced at me, her eyes serious but determined.

“We’re really doing this, aren’t we? Going back to that place.” I nodded, securing the shotgun over my back.

“We are.” She nodded, her resolve firm.

“Hopefully we’ll find my teacher’s lantern. And maybe… we’ll find out more about you, too.”

“Maybe,” I agreed, though my thoughts were more focused on the immediate danger. Whatever horrors the lab held, we had to be ready. Once our preparations were complete, we made our way to the gate, our breath visible in the cold air. The wind outside had picked up again, howling through the Frost, a constant reminder of the dangers that awaited us. “Ready?” I asked, my voice steady despite the tension that had settled in my chest. Flitter Light took a deep breath, then nodded.

“Ready.” Together, we stepped out into the freezing fog, leaving the relative safety of Glimmer’s Rest behind. An uneasy silence between us marked the journey back to the lab, the weight of our task pressing down with each step. The path through the Wailing Frost seemed more treacherous now, the thick fog obscuring our vision and making every shadow a potential threat. The memory of the shadow we had encountered before was fresh in my mind, its presence lingering like a stain on my thoughts.

When we finally reached the tunnel entrance, the same one where I had first awoken in this world, a chill ran down my spine. The familiar sense of foreboding returned, stronger than before. I glanced at Flitter Light, who looked just as uneasy, though she tried to hide it.

We descended into the tunnel, our hoofsteps echoing off the walls as we retraced our steps. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on us like a weight. The tunnel seemed to stretch on forever, the darkness ahead swallowing the light from Flitter’s lantern.

When we reached the side room where I had first encountered Flitter Light, we stopped, staring at the space where the pile of bodies had been. The room was empty now, the remains of the cannibals’ victims gone.

“They’re gone,” Flitter Light whispered, her voice barely audible. “What happened to them?”

I frowned, scanning the room for any signs of what might have occurred. “Maybe the snatcher bugs got to them,” I suggested, though the thought didn’t bring much comfort. Those creatures were a nightmare all their own.

“Or something worse,” Flitter Light added, her voice trembling slightly. She took a step closer to me, her eyes darting around the room as if expecting something to jump out at us.

“Stay close,” I ordered, my tone firm. We couldn’t afford to let fear get the better of us now. We had a mission to complete, and we were already deep in enemy territory.

We moved on, passing the scene of gore where the Snow Ponies had shot me. The memory of that moment flashed in my mind—being hit, falling, and then waking up, mysteriously healed, the bodies of the cannibals nowhere to be found. It didn’t make sense, but nothing about this place did.

The tunnel grew narrower as we approached the lab entrance, the walls closing in around us like the maw of some great beast. The air was colder here, biting into our skin, as if the very ground was trying to ward us off. But we pressed on, the light from Flitter’s lantern guiding us through the darkness.

Finally, we stood before the entrance to the lab, the place where all of this had begun. The door loomed before us, a rusted, imposing barrier between us and whatever lay inside. I could feel Flitter’s gaze on me, her breath hitching in anticipation.

“Ready?” I asked, though I wasn’t sure if I was asking her or myself.

Flitter Light nodded, though the fear in her eyes was unmistakable. “Ready.”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever horrors awaited us beyond that door. Then, with a firm push, I opened it, and we stepped inside and I heard it again that voice...

"Welcome back flesh."

~~~