Fallout Equestria: Project Horizons Modded

by starwars90001

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Death, Alternate Universe, Original Character, Science Fiction, Profanity, Adventure, Violence, Fallout
Length: 30650

A modded version of Project Horizons, shorter, more explosive, more action pack retelling

All stories can be changed, and Project Horizon is no different. Read the modded version of Blackjack's tale as she and her friends take Dawn and her Cult for the city of Hoofington! More crazy, more violence, more action pack. Demon Mares will battle cultists in this grindhouse retelling of Project Horizons!

Serves as the new prequel to the New Horizons:
Fallout Equestria New Horizons: Lacunae and Rampage's vacation in paradise.
Fallout Equestria: New Horizons

Published 2022-06-25 23:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2022-12-21 04:35:14 UTC

New Game, new opening.

When I plan my attack, I doubt that you're ready

She and her friends stood cold and unflinching with their backs against the gates of the plantation. The Cybermare sat on a motorcycle, two pistols held in the talons of her smooth metallic black limbs, as the engine of the bike revved as if ready to attack. From behind the jet-black visor of her helmet, the cyber mare’s glowing red eyes passed between her companions. To her right, a white and red striped mare covered in dense steel armor that adored a sea of spikes across its back, took up a battle stance as her hoof claws scratched wanting at the ground, glowing pink eyes gazing at all the raiders with smirking glee. To her left, stood the imposing form of a tall unicorn, well dressed in a midnight gown with a bow tie around her neck, a funeral hat slightly hiding the shining cat-like eyes of the mare’s unimpressed stare.

Surrounding them were the toughest Raider tribe in the west, The Gears. They circle the gates like vultures on the gang’s calling card. Motorcycles and jeeps. Tricked out in the typical Raider style, skulls on pikes litter their hoods with weapons wielded on the sides, and their logo a red gear was painted on their license plates. Exhaust ports bellowed fire as the scum waited for their signal to tear through the three mares towards their real target, the large farming community behind the gates.

“Your dead freaks! Nopony gets in the way of the Gears.” From the open ceiling of the biggest jeep, a stallion so large he could smash through brick walls spoked venomously through his hockey mask to a magically held microphone. “We just had ‘disagreements’ with those nice Society ponies. But since you want to stand in our path, you can become dust in the wind of death.”

With a loud battle cry, the Gears descended upon their prey. The mares simply prepared their weapons: The Cybermare clicked her guns, the Striped Mare scraped her hoof claws together, and the Alicorn’s horn shined to life in a light blue haze with a sniper rifle appearing before her.

“Whatcha want to do Jack?” The Striped mare asked her Cyber friend, her hoof cuffs scratching at the ground ready to be unleashed.

“Three Star formation. Whip those bitches and show them who's boss.”

The Striped mare laughed cheerful child-like glee, charging like a raging bull to meet the incoming Raiders. The Alicorn bowed before she and the rifle disappeared in a flash. The motorcycle’s front wheel lifted up as it sprung to life, when the bike came down it sped off leaving a cloud of smoke in its wake.

As the Striped mare charged toward the Raiders they opened up with their artillery. Minigun spray, assault rifle fire, and rockets were blasted from weapons mounted on the sides of the vehicles. The Stampeding mare dodged and weaved with a grace that seemed impossible for the steel armor she wore, but she moved like nothing was there. When bullets found their mark they simply bounced off the heavy dense armor, only leaving a few dents. When a rocket struck her, it blew off chunks of her exposed legs and sent her flying backward, but as she flew through the air she caught herself by flipping upside down and landing on her hooves. To her attackers’ awe, the wounds from the explosion simply began to heal as she started to charge again.

Like a bullet she galloped towards the closest Raider in front of her, the raider following suit. Before they could collide the Striped Mare leaped into the air, smashing her hoof claws into the biker’s face with a sickening crunch turning the raider's head into a fine paste. She didn’t even slow down from the clash, she simply landed and kept tearing through bikers. Smashing right through some and crashing others, she was a Rampaging red glare of death.

The Cybermare circled the other gates like a Hellmare, killing any Raider who dared challenge her. Being outnumbered and outgunned didn’t deter her, she circled around her attackers, picking them off with precise shots between the neck and hooves. Try as they might, the Raiders couldn’t land a hit on her, her bike was too fast as she dodged under fire like it was nothing.

When a jeep tried to ram her, the Cybermare leaped over them, shooting the vehicle's occupants before landing behind them as the jeep sputtered and crashed into the plantation’s walls. Raider after Raider fell as she left a trail of death in her wake.

For the few that got past the Cybermare to ram the gates, they were met with a bullet to the head. Every raider that approached the gate dropped like a fly with a quiet thud. Bikes and jeeps smashed into each other or the walls as their drivers fell dead from an unseen foe.

From the top of a mansion that sat at the heart of the plantation, the Alicorn silently laid on the roof. Staring down the scope of her sniper rifle, Her shots were perfect, always to the head no matter how fast the Raiders were going. All while quietly humming a nice melody.

When a large wagon sped towards the gate carrying a stack of boxes with one pony inside, the Alicorn broke her peaceful melody in annoyance. Her horn lit up as she reached out with her magic. Before the wagon could touch the gate its mad dash was stopped as the light began to surround the machine. Its rider looked around with confused crazed eyes, even hitting the gas a few times before realizing he was floating. Slowly the wagon lifted off into the air like a bag in the wind until it was a spot in the sky, then it exploded into a beautiful fireball of wreckage and smoke. The Alicorn simply smiled as she returned to her humming and shooting.

The three mares were a force of shock and awe, the Striped mare tearing through ponies as offense, the Cybermare fending off ponies as defense, and the Alicorn the last trump card. The Gears were slaughtered on masse with their herd being reduced to a handful of ponies within a few minutes.

Their leader was seething but even he saw the writing on the wall. the tribal leader looked over to his second in command, a purple unicorn mare in the passenger seat. Even through his mask, the displeasure could be heard as he commanded. “Signal the retreat, we’re leaving.”

She nodded and then rose outta her seat, her horn became engulfed in pure purple light before it blasted into the air. The landscape became a bright parade of various colors with the light transforming into a giant gear symbol in the sky. The Raiders knew what it meant and with angry sighs and displeasure grunts, they started to retreat.

The Gears' leader took one last look at the three mares who had beaten him as his herd fled around him and yelled. “This isn’t over freaks! The Gears never give up, we’ll be back to kill you all over!”

He sat back in his seat and ordered his mare to start driving. As the jeep started to flee, the tires began to whine. At first, the Gears leader thought they were stuck in a ditch, another humiliation of the day, only when the jeep was lifted up did he know what was happening.

The jeep flew through the air like being pushed by a gentle breeze, before twisting around and landing in front of three very scary-looking mares. A mare covered in blood, a mare with smoking guns ready to go, and a mare forming magical arrows.

The leader’s second in command started breaking down at the sight of the mares, the unicorn raider who had seen the toughest fights the Gears had ever been in, was now curled up into a ball panicking like a filly. “They're, they're unstoppable. They're unstoppable!” She frankly tried to flee but was kept in place by the same magical field holding the jeep.

The Gears leader shook his head at his second-in-command's loss of composure. He stood up and bravely faced three mares that any sane pony would be bowing to after what they did. But the large pony stood his ground as he took up a battle stance. “So it's to the death then huh?”

The Cybermare holstered her pistols, got off her bike, and walked on two legs like a Minotaur. She grabbed the handle of a long broadsword that shined like nothing in the wasteland. Her friends stepped aside as the gang leader and Cybermare faced off. He lowered himself ready to charge while she held the blade with two hands. The two stared each other down for a minute until they both charged.

It was finished in a second. The head of the leader was thrown back into the jeep much to his second-in-command’s screaming terror. The Cybermare holstered her blade as she walked back to her bike, turning back to address the last Raider. “That’s a gift for all the Gears. Tell them it’s from your friendly neighborhood Demon Mares.”

Fillies smiled for many things: toys, friends, sweets. But for Charity, it was the beautiful glee of a job well done. She sat back in her chair, looking over the Viewscreens with the biggest grin the filly could muster. Most fillies wouldn’t take such happiness in video footage of mass carnage, but Charity did know her mares had created it. She took pride in their work, they had given her everything, and soon even more.

As the three mares approached the gates of the plantation, Charity smugly looked over at the three ponies sitting in chairs around a table with looks of relief, worry, and contemplation on them. On the left was an ivory unicorn mare with a cobalt mane done into hair buns that shined, she wore a dress almost too fancy for the simple meeting they were having. On the right was her twin except his hair was left to hang, on top of that he wore an old royal military uniform. But the pony sitting in the middle was a real pony she had words for.

He was the image of clashing ideas, a beautiful design business outfit but wore over a graying coat, a classy hat over a rotting blond mane, beautiful blue eyes on a face that was half rotted away. Prince Blueblood was the perfect incarnation of the juxtaposition of the Wasteland and the Equestria that was, pretty and horrifying.

“So.” The filly purred as she turned to face her future benefactors. “Did my mares outdo themselves?” She had them wrapped around her little hoof by the looks they shared. “That’s our end of the contract, now time for yours.”

Turning her chair while putting on the most professional grin she could manage, her eyes darting to each pony knowing they had only one choice in the matter. “I’m willing to discuss terms if you find the merger too demanding, but first you have to accept. You have become a part of Crusader.INC.”

Prince Blueblood gave one last glance to his co-rulers, the stallion shaking his head, the mare nodding to it, before sighing in exhaustion. “Well, for saving us from the Gears, and hearing of your mares' performance around the Hoof I’ve decided it's to the Society's best interest to sign on with your company. I believe the Society has a bright future under the Crusaders, I accept the terms.”

“I agree too.” The unicorn mare chimed in politely. “For months the Society has suffered to sell our crops around the Hoof with the increase in Raider attacks on traders and caravans. The Demon Mares have done so much to cleanse the Hoof that we’re beginning to make a profit again. Crusader.INC has already proved that their reliable when it comes to protecting their allies and their interest, we’d be fools not to have them.” Princess Grace spoke with such enthusiasm it made her twin brother roll his eyes.

More than any pony at the Society she had been pushing to aid the Demon Mares ever since they had announced to the Hoof their return. Providing safe houses, food, and weapons had been something she spoke freely and done quietly.

Her brother on the other hoof wasn’t so forthcoming. “I say nay to this.” Prince Splendid slammed his hoof on the table to emphasize his point. “We can not surrender our sovereignty over to this fill- I mean mare.” He caught himself before he could finish the wording but continued. “We are the descendants of pre-wasteland nobility. We have spent generations cultivating this land into a living thiefdom. We have the biggest functional farmland in the region, if we surrender all that to her we will give our rightful claim to the Wasteland.”

Charity kept her exasperation at the stallion’s filly comment under her composure, she would show him why he had no choice but to accept a foal as his new boss, but first, she let Grace debate him. “Splendid, you’ve seen how the hoof has been getting chaotic over the last year and a half. The raids from outside tribes is even too much for the Reapers to stop, some gangs are even breaking off to crave their own chiefdoms again. Mutants have been rising in number, and settlements are being attacked weekly.” Grace now slammed her hoof to emphasize her point. “But the Demon Mares have been pushing that chaos back like a shield. Without them we'd be done now, we need them.”

“You just need Blackjack.” Splendid's voice was tangled with venom and sassiness as he leaned back into his chair.

Grace stood in her seat ready to drop a few unprincess-like words, but quickly stopped when she saw Blueblood shake his head. “That is. Not. This is about our future, not me.”

Prince Blueblood gave a long cough, the entire Society was like this. One side wanting to help the Demon Mares, and the other simply wishing to keep to themselves. He assumed the entire Hoof was like this, caught up in events so much bigger than them. “You know when I created the Society from the petty tribe of slavers a century ago I expected we’d gallop into challenges like this. We weren’t the only ponies creating a little kingdom in these blasted wastes. But I thought we’d endure, that no matter what our civilized nature and long laid plans would see us through. Now not is that only not true but we stand on the crossroads between our end and the murky future.”

The Ghoulish two-century pony looked across the table at the very patiently waiting filly. “I accept your offer but such a decision would split the Society in half.” He said with a sorrowful exasperation.

Charity knew this would happen, it had happened with all the tribes and factions of the Hoof. The divide was always strong until she laid the three cards down of their future fate.

“Let me give you three nice fates of what could happen to the Society in the future.” The filly’s tone became more bitter as she told them the undeniable truth. “Path one, you become a part of Crusader.INC the first mega corporation to exist in the Wasteland in two hundred years once I gain control of the Core as a subsidiary, you will enjoy the benefits of having your plantation crops reach far outside the Hoof and getting access to the equipment you need but can’t make. Along with having the complete protection of the Demon Mares and Reapers as they have joined on. Path two, you refuse, and when I gain control of the Core you will miss out on all those benefits while being sidelined by every other tribe or faction in the Hoof as they grow due to our partnership while your dwarf by them.”

Her tone became hateful, her expression darken as she gave the last path. “Path three, Become enslaved to Dawn and her Harbingers.” Charity watched as the three nobles went still at that. “For two years me and my mares had a ‘little’ cat and mouse game with Dawn and her followers over some code. I have the key to the city, she wants it. If she kills me and my mares because we don’t get enough aid, she will gain access to the entire city of Hoofington and all that fine tech. She will become the most powerful pony in the Wasteland overnight.”

She saw how they knew the writing was on the wall but needed to push them further. “You know who hired the Gears to attack you, you know whose causing mutations in the Hoof, you know whose weakening the Hoof more and more. And if Dawn gets my key she will be unstoppable. She won’t take over by force, no, she will pretend to be a defender of any who accepts her goddess. But those who don’t, well those raider attacks are about to get worse. How do you like your plantation getting burned down by raiders with tanks.”

Charity put on the evilest smile she could express, the same smile she always gave when a customer was being unruly. “You can surrender to her of course, but that means she’s going to take direct control of this place. She won’t get rid of you overnight, but slowly she will take more and more control until you nobles have no ground to stand on. Then she’ll either make you puppets or kill you off silently. Tell me, do you want that?”

The atmosphere of the room became filled with dread as each pony knew every word was true. In the last few years, Dawn and her cult had risen to such prominence that she had ponies from outside the Hoof flocking to her. She provided fresh shelter, food, and medical assistance to all who came. In return, they completely surrendered themselves both physically and financially to her church. If the Society bent the knee it would be over for them.

Even Prince Splendid wasn’t so sure about his convictions now. “We should hold a meeting to decide this with the other nobles.” He said before being promptly cut off by Charity.

“No, decide now or never because in a week or so the choice will be made for you!” The filly shouted with all the vulgar she could command. “In a week from now the Demon Mares and the Harbingers will settle a two year long blood feud, and you can either be on the side that wants to help you or get swept aside by the one that wants to destroy you! Which will it be!” she said loud and clear.

Blueblood gave it pause for the last time, Splendid was frustrated but couldn’t object, and Grace was in full agreement. Finally, with a gatsby sigh, Prince Blueblood made the choice for everypony. “As the monarch of these lands, I hereby put my hoof down. We will join, all those who object will lose status for endangering the future of the Society. We are now a part of Crusader.INC whether we like it or not!”

There was no argument, no dejection, just acceptance with Charity holding all the cards. “Welcome aboard, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful partnership.”

Mods:

Project New Horizon: A mod that expends the vanilla’s games quests and allows you to finish the game in different ways. Become a Finder, join the Reapers, take over the Steel Rangers, and join the Crusaders on a crazy new story! Comes with revamping factions and faction quests for more crazy!

Lacunae and Rampage redux: revamps Lacunae ad Rampage’s stats and abilities to make them super pony powerhouses!

Project Steel Horse: adds dozens of cybernetic implants and updates you can get throughout the Wasteland and through quests. PNH addon that connects to expended quest lines.

Drivable vehicles: adds usable vehicles around the wasteland, tired of hoofing around the place well this is for you.

The Gears: new raider faction added to the Hoof, the Gears. A raider tribe made for vehicular combat!

Holy book of the false prophet

Your heaven is someone's else hell

The screen before her flashed images of the former battle, the wreckage and remains of what had once been the Gears filled the surroundings of the plantation like the rest of the ruins. She had to admit watching their hoof work for the last year had interested her as to how good they had gotten, from wiping out pirates to ending slavery in the hoof they seemed to have done it all. Yet the question still remains, how did they resurface so fast and get so well-armed?

Dawn looked away from the console losing interest in the images and looking around the large command room, consoles with monitors litter the room with ponies watching all of them, various images from around the Hoof gave her Harbingers eyes everywhere. Looking to her side a young stocky green mare in white combat armor stood watching with a look of fright at the sight, mixing of shock and awe written on her as if she bore witness to Celestia’s fury. Dawn looked at her with a hint of amusement, clearly, the new merc wasn’t expecting this level of death and destruction from just three mares.

“What’s wrong Captain Green Field? Are the Demon Mares that amazing?” Dawn smiled somewhat smugly at the tough as nails mercenary captain. When the Dead Horses had signed on their current job they always mocked that working for the Harbingers would be easy caps, now they’d seen what awaited them on the job.

Green Field snapping to attention tried to put on a more professional face to keep her tough composure. “No Ma’am these “Security Mares” are just overblown mercs, nothing that the Dead Horses can’t handle.” She said with a little hesitation in her voice.

Dawn didn’t mind the merc’s bravo but failed to understand the level of threat before her. She would meet the same fate as the last few mercenary companies that fought against Demons but Dawn hoped they would at least serve some use. “Ms.Green I would like for you to gather your company and the other mercs. I believe it's time to prepare for an attack.” Dawn turned to her in a cold expression, the calm demeanor of the mare leaving for a more commanding presence. “I have important matters to attend to, contact me only when you need me.”

“Yes, Prophet.” was all Green Field said as she watched the graceful form of the pegasus mare trotting out the sliding door.

Trotting through the hall Dawn was always stunned on some level at the simple sight of it, the halls radiant cleanness with a pedestal white that seemed almost heavenly in its design, with pre-war magic tech this based she and her followers took over was a marvel of engineering that made the rest of the wasteland look like a hellhole in comparison. A marvel she wished to spread to the rest of the Wasteland but to do that she needed one thing first.

Passing a hall of windows, she stopped to gaze upon the Wasteland below from her tower. With the blessing of their Goddess, they had claimed the Stable-Tec tower, the largest building outside the Core as their own. Turning it into a temple to their goddess, now this served as both a beacon to the faithful who would come and a barrier against those who would threaten them. Walls of newly made steel surrounded the town with gun towers protecting the outside, inside a makeshift town thrived with hundreds of ponies, griffins, and even zebras making a life here.

She smiled at it, soon the faithful would be rewarded.

But first, she needed to reassure the faithful that her goddess' will was true. Making her way down to the lower tower levels, and down a hallway painted with images of an Alicorn shining light on six ponies. She came upon gilded double doors with two heavy-armed ponies guarding them, they saluted her as she entered the macroscale loud atrium. Rolls upon rolls of ponies sat looking over a stage where worker ponies set up a booth and microphone.

As Dawn approached she took note of the ponies around her. They came from all paths of life, some were filth and despair, some were clean and well kept. Some were simple folk and others were warriors created by the Wasteland. Some were from the Hoof and others from far away. But they all came here for one thing, to seek salvation.

As she trotted onto the stage all eyes fell on her. She wasn’t deterred by it, no she welcomed the attention as her followers watched wantingly. Standing in front of the microphone, at the gesture, the entire room quieted to whispers.

“Welcome My Little Ponies, welcome. Today is a truly blessed day in the eyes of the Goddess, as soon the day of salvation will be upon us.” Whispers of the crowd increased with talk of the holy day. “Soon the gates of Hoofington will open and the wonders of the core will be given to all the faithful. For 200 years our great nation of Equestria has been reduced to a blasted balefire hell escape. For 200 years our children have suffered at the horrors of the Equestrian wasteland, Raiders, Slavers, Steel Rangers, and so much more.” She became firmer and more intense as she preached her hopes and dreams. “Well not anymore! Soon all across the Wasteland shall have wonders that we have here in this tower!”

She basked in the roar of praise and stomps that followed, a smile of pride creeping onto her face. “No more rad sickness, no raider attacks, no living in the ruins of the old world! We will return the beauty of the land of Friendship through the faithful! Through virtues of Loyalty, Generosity, and Honesty! For we are the Goddess chosen!

They ate it up, ponies praised her name while the few who didn’t simply nodded along. “But our blessings are not just for us, to celebrate the coming Holy Day we’re opening our gifts to any who come, faithful or not! All may partake in the gifts of the Goddess! For when the day of salvation finally is here all of the Hoof shall know paradise again!”

They were completely hers’, they followed her, listened to her, were her holy soldiers. She could feel it as they cheered her name repeatedly as she left the stage. She was their prophet, no, their Angel from divine will. Soon all in the Hoof would see that, but there was one pony who doubted her in the tower, a pony she needed to show the truth.

Leaving through the backside hallway, she trotted into an elevator that shared the same cleanliness as the rest of the hallway, turning to the elevator's control panel she extended a pure black metal hoof, a talon spilling forth, and pressed the number 13.

When the elevator stopped and opened its door it revealed a harmonic sight of a large living room. A couch and chairs were set facing a fireplace at the center of the room, a small kitchen with several cabinets and a rainbow fridge overlooked already prepared food sat to the far right of Dawn. Stairs lead to a balcony that overlooked the living room below, Dawn trotted up the stairs hearing a faint sound of music playing.

“She’s playing that song again huh?” Trotting through a hall with four doors on each wall, Dawn stopped at the door last on the right. Pushing the already cracked door she was greeted by the sight of a grey pegasus mare laying on a bed curled up into a ball, a radio playing a familiar song.

Dawn looked around the room, it was the perfect filly heaven. A bright pink hue was invented in everything from the beds to the dresser. A bookcase was filled with tons of scientific literature and biology books sat on the right wall, and small model planets and stars hung from in a mock-up of the solar system. The younger pegasus looked almost at peace in the setting if the face of a destroyed mare wasn’t written all over her.

Dawn looked at her, the mirror image of her with a grey coat and purple mane to boot. One could easily confuse them as sisters at a glance only the sights of age telling them apart. Dawn somewhat took pride in that fact. Trotting up to the younger mare Dawn took a seat on the opposite side of her bed and looked at her.

“Listening to that old song again Glory?” She spoke calmly and motherly hoping for some response this time. But none came, instead, the same awkward quiet they usually shared. “The silent treatment this week Glory? Haven’t we been through this before?” Still, she did not answer. “Glory, everything I do is for your and Equestria’s benefit, I didn’t want to hurt you but your friends stood in the way of that quest. I just want you to live in an Equestria where there are no raiders, mutants, Taint, and Magical Radiation. Where you and your sisters can run across the green fields, play in the beautiful sun, and stare at the sky from the ground without that accursed cloud cover. Where glorious technology we access is spread across the land, and ponies live a peaceful life without knowing the pain the wasteland brings.”

A small growl could be heard from the younger mare, and with anger in her tone, she asked. “What about the ponies who don’t follow you? What about the ponies you hurt like Chapel? What about Blackjack? What’s in that world for her?”

At that, Dawn angrily got up and smashed a hoof into the floor. “She's going to die that’s what! I built all of this for you! I betrayed the Enclave, gave my body, and my soul so that my family and Wasteland can have a bright future. If I have to kill one mare and take away my Daughter's wife I will!” Glory gave her a seething glare before turning away from her so-called mother. Dawn simply started for the door. But before she could Glory muttered something under her breath.

“You already did.” was all Dawn could faintly hear. She didn’t turn to face her daughter as she left.

Harbingers redux: Makes the Harbingers even more of a threat, new location with new plotlines, new armor, and NPCs, PNH addon too.

Dawn the true villain: Ever feel Dawn was under used? This mod gives Dawn more plot focus and restats her to make her the true villain, comes with PNH addon

The Chill before the brawl

Every week, it's mystery meat, seaweed stewed_MF DOOM

“I want to rock with you! All Night! Dance you into day! Sunlight! I wanna rock with you! all night! We're gonna rock the night away!” Rampage swayed, tapped, and sang to the beat as she dropped a plate of meat onto a sizzling pan.

As the meat fizzled and cooked she grabbed a bowl of vegetables and then poured them atop a cutting board. Reaching under the island counter she slipped her trusty Hoof claws onto her forehooves then stared down the veggies with a sharp grin.

“I wanna rock with you. I wanna groove with you” She sliced and dice the veggies into pieces as she kept singing to the smooth melody of RnB. Each verse a perfect timed cut, each break a perfect smash until she had made the perfect salad.

Scooping some off into a bowl, she poured the rest into the sizzling pan of meats. The smell of a freshly cooked meal always brought her pride, being a good chef in the Wasteland was a rarity, especially with the lack of decent materials, but Rampage had turned it into a craft.

“Hoofington stir-fried is on the way my Zebs!” The Striped mare shouted from the small room one could barely call a kitchen.

Charity barely look back from the couch, too fixated on a pre-wasteland show to even catch most of what the Zony said. “I will have mine with sweet potatoes.” Charity uncaringly muttered while taking a bite of a candy bar.

“Charity your ass don’t need no more sweets, it already weighs a ton. Any more and we're gonna have Blackjack wheeling you around in a cart.” The Striped mare said with enough snark to make the filly blush. “Your ass getting extra greens young lady.”

“Okay, okay fine I’ll lay off the sweets.” The filly rolled her eyes before rewrapping her candy bar up and placing it on the living room table.

Blackjack yawned as she sluggishly walked into the confined room, stretching off an afternoon of sleep while sniffing the smells in the air. “Yo Ramp, what’s cooking?” The Cybermare asked before flipping onto the couch making Charity jump in annoyance.

“Wasteland stir-fried with extra meat and veggies.”

Blackjack’s face just cringed at that. even after all these years the thought of eating meat still didn’t sit right with her. “Eh, not sure if I’m feeling meat today. Can you take out the meat and add some gems to mine, pretty please.” The Cybermare gave the most pleading sad smile she could.

The red stripe white mare stopped her cooking and placed her forehooves on the counter in a triangle formation, leading on to her hooves she smiled with a smuggish expression. “So I growing, gathering, prepping, and cleaning this Fresh Food in the Wasteland! Only for you to whine, whine, whine about not liking meat? But if you don’t like my cooking we can go back to the good old days.” Her grin turned crueler. “You eating rusted scrap metal and bricks, Luu Luu drinking Rads, and only Charity will get food.”

Blackjack protested as quickly as she could. “Ah, no thank you Rampage your meat cooking is great I’m just being a picky eater that’s all.” She laughed nervously. Thought of returning to eating metal that tasted like mud mixed with salt gave her stomach pains. All the tasty metals Blackjack could eat were off-limits, only to be used in the repair or crafting of weapons.

A smile of victory crept onto the Zony’s face. “See Blackjack I knew you would see reason.” Rampage chuckled as she placed the pot down and went back to cooking. “Besides meat’s good for you, it builds muscles and keeps you healthy.”

“Healthy if you don’t mind vomiting.” Lacunae walked out of the hallway Blackjack entered from carrying a glass filled with red wine in her magic, her blue flowing mane magically sailed gracefully behind her. She wore a dark dress that had stars that shimmered as she trotted. “Arloste in all the 40 years I’ve known you I’ve never gotten used to your.” She paused for a moment. “Refined tastes.”

Rampage just huffed at that. “That’s because you got an elitist diet, Luu Luu. You were spoiled by those Canterlot 5 star restaurants.” Standing up straight and taking a high brown posture Rampage put on her best high society voice. “Oh I only eat my carrots if they're cooked to 250 degrees, with only the finest spice from Griffin lands and Canterlot sauces, added on all that Bullshit!” the alicorn just giggled at her friend’s mocking. “Luu Luu we live in the Wasteland now! Ain’t no time to be a pretentious eater, gotta eat what you kill! Eat what you steal! And most importantly old shit from a 200 year old supermarket like a pony raised by the streets!”

“I don’t agree with the streets part but you are a little too hard to please Lacunae.” Blackjack wasn’t fully in the conversation, instead, her glowing eyes fell on the viewscreen where turtles fought ninjas to the death. “Remember when we went to Flank and you wouldn’t buy a drink unless it was fresh blueberries mixed with 7 month old liquor.” Blackjack stared back at her with a smug face. “Me and P-21 had to tell you how uptight you were being.”

Lacunae just looked between both of them, giving them her best ‘really?’ look. “Ah yes, I’m getting food advice from Mare who eats her own flesh, and Stable pony who ate chips made from recycled shit and body parts. Truly my tastes are too 'Uptight' for mares of such good tastes.” That got both of them to shut up while Lacunae took a sip of her red wine in victory.

When the food was ready, the four mares took their seats at the table nestled in the corner. Lacunae politely ate her plate of only vegetables, Rampage and Charity on the other hoof chewed like monsters on the food before them.

Blackjack simply poked an uncaring talon at a carrot, hoping to take her mind off the unapptizing meal she looked to her boss with a pressing question. “Say boss mind if I borrow some caps? I want to buy some new parts for my bike, he needs more spark mileage.” Blackjack put on her widest grin, the grin that any filly would do when begging their parents for something.

The actual Filly just gave her a look any parent would give that begging. “Do I look like I’m made of money? no, go sell that trash you horde in storage.” She said barely taking her attention away from her plate.

“What! I can’t sell my stuff off! Some of that was hard fought!” Blackjack protests fell on Charity’s deaf ears.

“Oh, you mean like that sniper rifle you never use?” She said in an angrier mocking tone. “Or that collection of old porn you barely watch?”

Blackjack looked away, her face turning red at the claim. “I wasn’t finished watching all of them, I was just halfway through.”

If Charity groaned any louder they would hear it in the heavens. She closed her eyes and she muttered angrily. “Luna damn it Blackjack, why are you such a pervert.”

“You let Lacunae keep her wine.” The cybermare pointed an accusing talon at the alicorn. “That takes up 2/4 of storage.”

Charity finally gave Blackjack a look that made the Cybermare go even whiter. “Lacunae makes, buys, and sells her wine. Half her profits go to helping Crusaders.INC, her storage is a legit business. Yours.” Charity pointed a bone at the Cybermare. “Is there because your too lazy to throw things away!” The Cybermare relented, when Charity put her hoof down that was the end of the discussion.

“If you wish for more capital Blackjack simply make it your own.” Lacunae interjected with words of wisdom. “Think of your skills and think of the ways you can make money from them. Your talents can be put to such good use in so many ways. Take Arloste for example, she use to run a successful potion and food stand. All from her years of being a survivor in the wastes and her knowledge of her Zebra heritage.'' The admiration for which the Alicorn spoke highly of the Striped mare made the Zony blush a bit. “Take what you know and make it profitable.”

Blackjack gave it thought for a minute, she never had her own business. For most of her life, she had always been somepony’s little worker, when she lived in her Stable she was barely good at her security job. When she got out into the Wasteland she was a merc a few times but nothing important. Really, being the Demon Mare was the longest and best job she had. “So..what about being a model?”

Lacunae gave that response a deriding look. “Excuse me what?”

“Yeah, I got the looks, the style, was the sexiest security mare in 99. Being a model is right up my alley, and with my cybernetics ponies will be dying to see an exotic mare like me!” The confidence Blackjack showed over this made Lacunae reconsider the brains of her student. “It's easy money.”

Lacunae inhaled deeply. “Elements help me.”

“What? I’ll be fine Lacunae. It’s not like I’m doing porn.” Blackjack put on her best smile but it fell under the weight of Lacunae's deadpan stare.

“Blackjack listen. If you mess up my company’s reputation by getting us known as a porn company I will fucking kill you.” The Cybermare couldn’t tell if Charity was half joking half serious. “Besides you don’t need a second job. A week from now we’re going to have everything we need and want, a big company, an entire city of assets at our command, not living in a small bunker! And more importantly, Dawn’s head on a plate.”

The mood went from casual table talk to dead serious as they all pondered what was going to happen in a week. Come rain or clouds they would either have their revenge or be just a bunch of dead fools. “Do you guys think we’re ready for this?” the tone of fear and uncertainty in the cyber mare's voice gave pause to the others. “Dawn and her Harbingers are going to throw everything they have at us, this is going to be the biggest battle since we fought Sanguine and his mutants.”

Rampage and Charity had expressions of longing and desire written all over them. Rampage spoke up first in a cold tone. “For what those fools did to Chapel, did to the Crusaders, to my husband.” Now her voice was becoming more threatening. “We’re gonna buried those fuckers.”

“We didn’t prepare for a year just to back out now.” Charity interjected. “Remember what Dawn did to P-21? Remember how he died?” Blackjack shrunk back at that. “Remember who has your wife locked up in their tower. Or have you gone back to the merciful little saint?”

Blackjack glared with red burning hate. “The only mercy their getting is the barrels of my shotgun.”

Lacunae was the only one silent, her thoughts about the subject as unreadable to everypony except Rampage. “So it shall be. Guide us Elements of Conflict and Death.” Was her only recourse.

“Well, I hope ya’ll don’t go and get yourself broke before I can finish the upgrades Sugarcubes.” A robotic voice with a strange accent made the mares turn to look at the large view screen. On it, a light yellow mare with a light red mane done into a bow stared back excitedly at the mares. “Y'all gals already saddling up for the final battle, and I still have several upgrades to test out.”

Charity huff at the view screen mare, she gave her best ‘not this again’ face as she spoke. “Listen Apple Bloom. I told you that we don’t need any more upgrades to our gear, we’re literally about to have the big final battle. We don’t have time to waste getting more upgrades.”

The image of the yellow mare’s ears lowered, disappointment showing as if Charity had taken away her favorite toy. Blackjack sensing the awkward mood that had spur up got out of her seat, a good idea coming to mind. “Apple Bloom hows' about I test some of those new limbs and SATS mods. I’m sure they can help in the upcoming battle.”

The cute looking mare shot up at that, the vigor she just had a moment ago returning in full force. “Thanks Blackjack, I’ve been dying to try out the new SATS mods!” The joy at which the view screen pony shouted made Blackjack cringe back a little but she kept her smile. “Come to the lab, I can do the tests now.”

Blackjack nodded, this was the perfect escape from the dinner. “Sorry, Rampage can’t finish dinner today, put it in the fridge okay? Apple Bloom needs me.” Rampage raised an eyebrow at that but before the mare could protest Blackjack was already running down the hall.

“Blackjack remember you have magic training today! This is your last lesson!” Lacunae exhaled as her student disappeared down the dark tunnels of their hideout. “Ah, what will I do with that girl.” she shook her head exasperatingly.

“You need to beat her ass more Luu Luu” Rampage advised through bites of meat.

“I’m not her mother, I’m her teacher.”

“Shittt! Girl the way you talk to her sounds like your are one day away from grounding her! I haven’t seen you talk to another like that since your last student.” Rampage caught the glimpse of Lacunae's saddening expression, she had been around the Alicorn enough to spot the subtle changes in her deadpan stare. “But she isn’t Luu Luu, she’s much different.” the striped mare added.

“Yes. She’s different in so many ways, yet so like her. I hope when the time comes Blackjack doesn't falter as she did.” A critical moment was approaching, Blackjack was going to face her toughest challenge yet. All Lacunae could do was hope her faithful student was ready for what was ahead because if she wasn’t she too would be either destroyed or become broken.

The lair the mares now called ‘home' was a repurposed underground bunker, one of many created around the Hoof, with enough amenities for an entire platoon. During the war, Hoofington was the main target for the enemy, this led to Equestria’s government deciding it was a safer option to construct a lot of important assets in a vast series of tunnels that ran hundreds of miles deep, and the demon mares found the perfect one.

Nestled on the northwest of the city’s tunnels, their lair was connected to only a few other tunnels and whose only entrance from the surface was a destroyed listening post. The bunker wasn't anything to write home about, two barracks rooms, a locker room, a radio office turned Charity’s office, a gym turned training room and a kitchen/rack room.

The room Apple Bloom called her lab was an old medical area that had been converted into a more general sciences room, there were still signs of the old medical center with med beds and scanning equipment scattered around, but the area clearly had been redesigned. A set of workbenches and metal forges lined the front wall, and piles of scrap metal, and robot parts lay in an eastern corner of the room, in the center of the room a silver metal table stood. From the ceiling, several spider-like arms extended toward the table below, with various devices such as a saw blade and injection needle on them.

“Alright Sugarcube, let’s get this business on the road.” The gleeful accent of the mare’s voice boomed from speakers in the corners of the room.

Placing herself on the table and turning to look up at the spider-like limbs, a sense of unease hit Blackjack. She had been in this position before, going through several of these operations, but no matter how many times she did the feeling that those arms would rip her apart never went away. But she fought to keep that unease to herself, never allowing Apple Bloom to know it.

“So Bloomie, what’s the mods your installing?” Blackjack hoped some small talk would take her mind off the limbs of death above her.

“Oh! I decide to redo SATS to make it faster to activate, and it can now target more specific parts of a target like say the Cutie Mark or the eye pupil. I’ve also added a system that will tell you how hurt ponies around you are, for letting yall know who to shoot more.” An arm with a wire at the end lowered itself down toward Blackjack’s left forehoof, a compartment on the hoof opened showing a collection of ports embedded into it.

The wire connected with a small blue port and in an instant Blackjack’s vision was filled with numbers that she seldom understood. “The mods should take 30 minutes to install, but the limb upgrades will take an hour.”

“What are the limb upgrades anyway?”

“Oh, it’s a new Stealth Buck system along with grappling hooves for ya. Should make getting out of a spot easy for ya honeypie.”

Another limb extended down, this one having a drill that lower to blackjack’s left forehoof. The cyber mare simply laid back and tried to relax as the drill undid bolts in her arm. “So do you think this will help me beat Dawn?” The thought hung on the mare’s mind. She had given her remaining eye, limbs, and some organs to become this cybernetic creature, all in hopes that it could beat the Angel of the Harbingers.

Apple Bloom took note of the mare’s doubtfulness and tried to reassure her the best she could. “ those cyber pony addons are my best work, I used both Deus and Dawn’s model for yours. Your gonna do fine sugarcube, You’re the Deomh, Demon?”

“Daemon stellarum.” Blackjack corrected her, laughing a bit. “Sorry I got a hard Zebra name.”

“Well, hon you're the deadliest thing outside of Rampage. Y’all will do just fine when the brawling starts and you will kick that Prophet's can while saving your wife.” Blackjack smiled at that, the happy upbeatness of the A.I. always brought up the mood no matter what. “Plus I got a score to settle with a certain A.I., got something cooking for her when the fighting starts.”

She didn’t quite know what that last part meant but Blackjack just relaxed and let the arms from the ceiling do their work “For all of this I’m going to make it worth it.

Mods:

Underground Bunker: New player home! An Underground bunker that lets you store weapons, supplies, and companions when needed.

Apple Bot: A friendly loveable new companion, Apple Bot! Comes along with several implants and upgrades!

Past phantoms and dreams

Why do these phantoms always wind up haunting me?_ Czarface & MF DOOM - Phantoms

“Girl would you stand still.”

“I’m trying.”

“You keep fidgeting, Blackjack.”

Rampage and Sekashi fought to get the unicorn mare’s yellow wedding dress on, the Zony and Zebra having to wrestle her while getting all her hooves through the holes. “Jack I think it's time we buy you a new dress, this one is tighter than a virgin in heat.” Rampage admonish.

“Okay first of all, ew. Second of all, I ain’t giving up this dress after everything me and Open Skies went through to get it.” Blackjack protested while struggling to stand still. The dress itself wasn't anything special, a common wedding gown you could find in the ruins of any pre-war clothing store. It was the story behind it that attracted it to the unicorn mare.

She, her husband, and her wife had found the dress in an abandoned mall after they fought some raiders. They were injured, tired, and low on supplies, it would have been the end of them had Open Skies not unlocked all the departments of the mall by hacking a terminal. They must have spent half a week in there recovering, in all that time the three ponies who had been friends more out of necessity slowly bonded with each other, Glory patching them up, Blackjack gathering food, and Open Skies cooking.

When Blackjack found the dress she almost considered selling it once they got to the nearest settlement, but Glory and P-21 argued against it. They begged her to wear it and well, they loved how she looked, said it made her look royal. She pushed off their praise but she saw how they looked at her like she was beautiful.

At first, it was nothing but as their journey continued those looks blossomed from wanting, to caring, to love. They came to love her and she did them. When she completed the quest the Overmare had sent her into the Wasteland for, she had a choice, return to her Stable or stay with the ponies she loved. She chose the latter and not long after they were married.

“Almost got it. There!” the last hoof sled into place, Rampage then tighten the strap on her. “Now you look nice and fancy Jack.” Rampage petted her on the back before stepping back to examine her and Sekashi's work. The unicorn mare was a bit too big for the dress, her frame increasing over her time in the Wastes, but the yellow brought out the white in her coat so much Rampage couldn’t say she wasn’t beautiful. “Jack, you looking fine!”

“I must say, you look like quite the catch, young one.” Sekashi chimed in. “Perfect for your special day, I just hope we didn’t take too long.” Looking at the clock it was already noon. The whole town had been preparing for the event since morning with every pony ready for the biggest ceremony in Chapel in decades, Blackjack renewing her vows.

“Celestia Damn it! Glory’s gonna kill me.” With haste Blackjack started galloping to the door, holding up her dress with magic.

“Jack wait!” The Unicorn turned to face her Zony friend as she was halfway through the door. “Luu Luu can’t make it to the celebration but she wants to see you at Charity’s shop before she leaves, I'm going with her.”

Blackjack turned sour at that, the Alicorn seemed to be leaving every other day. Her last trip was across half of the Equestrian Wasteland, apparently, she was searching for somepony. Who Blackjack never asked. “Thanks, Rampage, I'll leave some cake for you and her.”

As the Unicorn hurried out of the room Rampage and Sekashi shared glances, the Zony’s a more proud one while her long-time friend a more hopeful one.

“You think those foals will be alright Sek?”

“When I first met them they were all lost, hurt, and confused by the world around them. But they found themselves and each other, their love reminds me of a silly story!"

“Girl you and your stories, what does everything need a story? You got one for when they do a threesome?.” They both laughed, the years of taunts never getting old. But Rampage began to reflect on her own life, what she used to have. “Do you think I should be like her, finally just settle down again, patch things up with Priest?”

“Time heals all wounds, but yours and his are greater.” Sekashi didn’t mince words, she always was truthful to her friend. “You both have lost the most important thing in your lives. Something I would fear losing.” The Zebra gave her friends a warm smile. “I think that it is time you give up being the Rampage Arloste, and come back to Chapel to be with us.”

The Zony let out a big sigh before returning the smile. “I’ll think about it. but right now Luu Luu needs me so I need to get ready, come on let's get you dressed before I leave.”

Chapel was a small town in the shadow of the city of Hoofington, barely made of a dozen standing pre-war buildings and dozens of homemade shacks, the town was the home base of the Crusaders Hoofington’s small army of lost foals and fillies. Normally everypony would be tending to the large fields of corn the town produced but today the town was alive with movement as fillies and colts went about preparing for the big celebration.

Blackjack dodged and weaved through the herds of foals, carefully keeping her dress from touching the dirt road that ran through the heart of town. She narrowly avoided colliding with a zombie-like pegasus mare as she led similar zombie foals through the street.

“Sorry Haprica, in a rush.”

“Oh don’t mind it mistress Blackjack, see you at your wedding.” The ghoul mare waved at their local hero as she galloped up to the only shop in town, Charity's, Where We Ain't!. The post office turned general store had become the home to the Hoof's prime money hoarder.

“Two crates of Radwater are worth more than 100. 150 take it or leave it.” The yellow filly argued to a very unimpressed Alicorn over two crates stacked on the counter. “Do you know what my ponies go through to get these?”

Lacunae raised an eyebrow at that. “Oh, you mean like when I saw one of your fillies fill these used bottles with water from the river?”

“The cost is from the bottles Lacunae! Do you know how much it takes to gather several dozen empty bottles!” Charity tried her best argument but the Alicorn wasn’t having any of it.

“Oh really? Last I checked you had an entire stock of saved bottles for reuse.”

“Not a Cap shorter than 150 Lacunae!”

The Alicorn sighed. “Fine, have your foals- I mean ‘ponies’ pack it into my wagon.” The filly barely hid her hop for victory. Lacunae knew arguing with Charity was like fighting the Sun, better to accept the price and make due.

As she turned her eyes widened at the sight of a very tired and sweaty Blackjack. “Oh Goldfish you made it, I was just about to search for you before I left.” Lacunae looked her over with a careful glaze over her fine dress. “A bit tight, but it really does bring out your colors more.”

“Thanks, Lacunae. Hey, can I have some water?” Galloping across town in a dress and high horseshoes wore out a pony, so Blackjack took a seat on the shop’s bench.

“That will be 20 Caps.” Charity replied smugly.

Lacunae rolled her eyes before her horn lit up and zap the tired Unicorn. “Feel better now?”

“I feel like I could do a mile-long stampede! Thanks, Lacunae!” Lacunae could hear Charity silently huffing while Blackjack hopped off the bench and did a jig. “You gotta teach me that sometimes, hell teach me half the spells you know rather than this Elements stuff.”

“That Elements stuff is the key to progressing beyond the skills you already know. But hopefully, we will continue your training after I return. In the meantime, I left you and your family quite the big gift, I hope you enjoy it.”

The excitement of a gift from Lacunae of all ponies was sidetracked by one burning question that Blackjack had for a while. “Not to be rude but I was hoping you would stay here today. Maybe move the trip up another day.” Blackjack saw the solemn expression the Alicorn had from the topic, clearly, this journey was super personal to her. “Fine, but can you at least explain to me why you keep leaving?”

Ever the mare of secrets and mystery, Lacunae considered whether she should lie to the Unicorn mare but decided she should at least be given some truth. “An old friend and colleague of mine has popped up again. She’s been spotted throughout the Wasteland, however, she moves from town to town which makes following her very hard. Me and her used to share common views but broke up after a disagreement ”

Clearly, there was more to this old friend than Lacunae was letting on but the Alicorn’s apprehension at the topic made Blackjack accept that was enough. “When will you be back?”

“Probably within a few days this time, She’s apparently traveling Manehatten which means I have to get there fast if I want to catch up with her.” Lacunae gave her student one last piece of advice before departing on her journey. “Enjoy your new life Blackjack. You built this life on blood and suffering and made a heaven here. The Elements watch for those with such conviction.”

To Blackjack, the Alicorn’s advice was always half complemented half esoteric word soup, but the Unicorn mare always accepted her teacher’s words even if she didn’t understand them. She almost wanted to ask the Alicorn to stay but thought against it as Lacunae disappeared through the doorway.

“Don’t you got somewhere to be?” Blackjack snapped back to the filly behind the counter who was going over a list of items on a clipboard.

Blackjack wondered if the filly ever took days off, even when the whole town was in the middle of preparing for the vow renewal, Charity was deep in sales records and stock checking. “Are you coming to Chapel Charity?” For as much the Cap hoarder she was Blackjack still wanted her to have some enjoyment in her life.

“No, I have a big buyer coming over later today. Apparently, they want some of my special supplies so I can’t leave here.” When Charity saw Blackjack’s worried expression she rolled her eyes. “I don’t do big events anyway, just tell Scotch I said hi. Oh, I did leave you a gift. Think of it as customer loyalty rewards.”

“Oh, missing Scotch huh? You two are getting close.” The way the filly turned a little red was all the gift Blackjack needed from her.

“You want to refund that gift cause I can.” Charity tried in vain to hide her face behind her clipboard, but Blackjack knew she struck a core.

“See you later Charity! I’m sure Scotch will be here soon for the after-party special.” Blackjack galloped out of the storefront as she heard the filly scream.

The main church for which the town was named was also the most well-maintained building in town. It was freshly painted, its stained glasses depicting two princesses moving the Sun & Moon restored, Chapel stood as a reminder of the old world in a sea of dead ruins. Now with added wedding decorations.

The mare of the hour stood in front of Chapel’s double doors, her nerves shot as she prepared herself for what awaited her. The sounds of choir singing through the air calmed her a bit, taking a deep breath Blackjack pushed the doors open to the sight of a packed room.

Ponies from every corner of the Hoof talked, hummed with the choir, or place their gifts for the couple. Some ponies were well dressed and kept with outfits that seemed impossible to keep clean in the Wasteland, others wore armor that look worn but was still clean for the celebration.

Blackjack took it all in, trotting through the main aisle she spotted the faces of ponies she’d helped all throughout the Hoof. All greeted her with respect and admiration, she was an icon to them, their heroine, the Security Mare. When ponies first started calling her that she hated it but seeing how they looked up to her, even modeling themselves after her, she accepted her title with silent pride.

She was the Security Mare, hero of the Hoof, that was her new life now.

A familiar voice snapped Blackjack’s attention to the center stage. “Oh no no no! The dress is too big! I look like a filly playing pretend in this.” The overly worried confused mumbles had become a welcoming voice to Blackjack. When the Unicorn trotted onto the stage she saw one of the bright spots of her life.

Glory fussed and tugged on knots in a vain attempt to try to get her dress to fit while Scotch Tape just rolled her eyes. She was so preoccupied with her battle she barely noticed Blackjack behind her, only when the Unicorn tapped her shoulder did the pegasus mare flutter into the air in surprise. “Blackjack doesn’t scare me like that, you almost made me tear my dress!” Blackjack only laughed as her wife turned a dizzying shade of red. “Oh no, you're already here that means we’re close to starting. I’m not ready!”

“Sheesh, your worst than mom Glory.” Scotch Tape mocked. “If I hadn’t forced her to pick a dress we’d still be home while the party started.” The green filly shrugged before galloping off stage in a hurry. “If any pony needs me I’ll be helping myself to the buffet before the rest of the Crusaders get it.” Blackjack waved goodbye to the filly before turning her attention back to her wife.

“Calm down Glory you look fine” The Unicorn comforted her wife in the only way she knew how, self-deprecation. “At least yours doesn’t make you look like a stuffed doll, mine is so tight it probably makes my butt look bigger.”

Helping the pegasus mare chill down was a full time job Blackjack accepted without payment. She was always there for her wife, and Glory for her. She just hoped these moments would be the rest of her life.

“Say Where’s the best stallion?” Blackjack said looking around Chapel for signs of her special buck.

“Oh P-21’s.” Glory shrunk back when she saw the disproving look that name got. “Sorry, Open Skies is in the back getting help from Priest with his outfit.” Blackjack had wondered if any of them were cut out for dressing fancy. Sure Blackjack had worn some to parties in the Stable before, even then she barely like them, Glory wasn’t much of a socialite in her former life, and Open Skies didn’t have experience with it at all or clothes in general. Maybe the classy life wasn’t for them.

“Seems you have all arrived.” Blackjack’s ears perked up as she turned to face two finely dressed bucks trotting onto the stage. One was a pitch black coated buck their local mental and spiritual leader, Priest, the Other was a small blue feminine buck who looked quite out of place with his attire. “Knowing you all I half expected to have moved the renew back two hours.” Priest took note of how they all looked and reconsidered his last statement. “Perhaps I should move it back up.”

“No!” Was the utmost cry from all three of them.

“Fine, fine. You all dealt with enough preparation. I will ring the church bell to tell everypony we’re ready, you all just wait here.” Before he left he stopped to look at Blackjack, rumination was written on his face. “Blackjack will Arloste come?”

It felt like something was tugging at him, he kept his stoic gaze but you could tell he longed for something. “She’s going with Lacunae on her trip, but she does want to talk to you when she gets back.” Blackjack’s answer seemed to raise the stallion’s spirits a lot, she hadn’t seen him smile like that since they got married in Chapel.

“Good.” He muttered quietly. “I will speak with her then. I, I hope she’s doing well. Let’s hope this day is a good one for everypony.” As he trotted off Blackjack heard him whisper. “And maybe it's time for me min hearts with her. By Celestia’s will”

All three watched the wise stallion disappear up a stairwell in an adjacent room. They all felt for the buck, they saw how he and the Striped mare kept their distance but still watched wantingly from afar with solemn eyes. “Think they will get back together?” Glory broke the silence.

“They will. I feel it.” In an uncharacteristic moment, Open Skies was the optimistic one. “I think our marriage is rubbing off on him. He’s been asking for Rampage a lot, hell, he wants to go on vacation with her to Los Pegasus.”

“Really? He almost never leaves Chapel, and that’s on the other end of the Wasteland!” The thought of Priest of all ponies in Los Pegasus seemed impossible to Blackjack, gambling wasn’t his thing nor was drugs, he must really just wanted to be with Rampage that much, it didn’t matter where they went as long as she enjoyed it. The thought gave Blacjack an idea of her own. “Say why don’t we go with them for our second honeymoon?” Glory and Open just gave her a look.

“Nope, not after the Tenpony accident.” Glory shook her head.

“What, do you want to go there and start a gunfight with every gang in town?” Open Skies rolled his eyes.

“Hey, that guy deserved a buck to the face he was a Celestia damn racist and killer.” Blackjack protested, they had never let her live it down. Now, whenever they travel Open and Glory had to strap her to one of them to keep her in line. “Hey, the guy shot a ghoul remember?”

Open just exhaled. “You're a stupid idiot Blackjack and you destroy everything you touch.” But then his annoyance gave way to sincerity as he approached her and nestled her red and black striped mane. “But you're an idiot with a good heart.”

Glory followed suit hugging her wife. “You do the right thing even when it's stupid and nonsensical.”

When Blackjack left her Stable she was a lost mare on a quest, alone in a world that wanted to kill her. Now she had a home, a place belonging to ponies that were her true family; a teacher, a sister, a filly, a whole town that needed her, a wife and husband that was her world. For all her life she was nothing more than just another security mare in the Stable, but out in the wastes, she found a new purpose.

The Unicorn’s eyes turned misty as she embraced them both. “I love you both, thank you for staying with this crazy mare.” Happily, she listened to the rings of the church bell.

When the time for vow renewal came, the three stood beside each other listening to Priest read their words. The entire town was here, Sekashi and her daughter, Charity and Scotch, every pony dear to them were here.

“Do you, Blackjack, take Morning Glory and Open Skies to be your loving wife and husband? To be their protector through happy days and rainy ones, through happiness and pain, until death do you all apart?”

There was no other answer she would say, it would take the entire Wasteland to separate her from them. “I do.”

“And do you Open Skies.” The vows were cut when the doors of Chapel slammed open. All eyes turned to see an injured foal limped into the aisle, scars all over their body.

Several adults including the center couple rushed to the child’s aid. All the foal kept repeating as they bandaged him up was. “Raiders, they took Daisy and Silver, they're holding them at the Luna damn.”

That was all the motivation the heroine of the Hoof needed, the ceremony could wait, the Crusaders needed Security right now. Blackjack, Glory, and Open were geared up within half an hour, they were miles away in two.

When they arrived at the damn they expected a trap, a bunch of raiders using the Crusaders to draw out Blackjack and her friends to kill them all in one fell swoop. What they got was more surprising.

“It's so good to see you again Blackjack.” Standing atop, the wind whistling through her violet mane, the spitting image of an aged Glory, looking at them through closed eyes. “I was hoping we’d meet on better terms.” Dawn purred.

“Mom, why are you here? Did you?” Glory didn’t want to comprehend the idea her own mother was working with Raiders yet the proof stood in front of them.

“The Crusaders, where are they?” Blackjack looked around for signs of an ambush but it seemed like they were the only ponies here. “If you hurt those foals, Dawn.” The clicks of the two rifles that floated beside the Unicorn showed she wasn’t in a talking mood.

“Calm down, I had those foals released the minute you left Chapel. It was just to get you here.” That didn’t make any pony less eager to start shooting. “I just want to talk that’s all, you’ve been..dodging me lately.”

“I’ll give the same spill as before, I gave up EC-1101 and I ain’t telling anypony where it is. So why don’t you just go about your merry day and let me get back to my vow renewal.”

A frown crept across Dawn’s sincere face, a bit of disappointment at the Unicorn. “I did not mean to interrupt your special day but this is more important than anypony.” From her view atop the damn, Dawn looked at the sorry state of the Hoof. The cool winds blew across the brownish land of the Equestrian wasteland, the dead trees and grass blowing along with it. Pools of a rainbow-colored liquid filled the area with skeletons of various creatures flooding along the poisonous water. The ruins of many buildings scatter the landscape, the scars of a long-dead civilization. “For so long ponies have suffered in this hellscape we call the Wasteland. All of them trying to carve out a slice of peace like you have Blackjack.”
‘
As Dawn spoke her words seemed sorrowful, as if the search for the Wasteland’s ills had waned on her. “I want to bring peace to this Wasteland Blackjack and you have the keys to do it. With EC-1101 I can give the ponies of the Wasteland something they lost, Harmony.” She was pleading, hoping the Security Mare of all ponies would understand wanting to do the greater good.

Blackjack didn’t return that sentiment. “Want to know why I ain’t helping you? Why I don’t tell anypony where EC-1101 is? The reason is I’ve seen the lengths ponies are willing to do to get those keys, I’ve seen the horrors unleash when they unlock those doors! Sanguine and his mutants, Dr. Zodiac and her cybernetic soldiers. How are you going to be any different? You're already doing the same tactics they did to get me to give the keys up, so why should I help you?”

“We’re sorry mom, if Blackjack doesn’t want anypony using that city then I think it's for the best.” Glory stood by her wife, the Magical energy weapons strap to a battle saddle around her flaring to life.

“I’ve seen enough ponies hurt by that damn code, that thing ruined my and Blackjack’s life I’m not seeing it used again.” Open Skies growled while clicking the safety off his grenade launcher. “Now make like a bird and fuck off!”

Dawn lowered her head in disappointment and began muttering something in a language none of them seem to understand. When she finally looked back at them her eyes glowed a violent green that struck them to their core. “I tried being kind, honest, and loyal but if you will not give me the keys to salvation, THEN PREPARE TO DIE!”

It happened so fast, that Blackjack could barely understand it. They tried to defend themselves but she was a monster, she moved so fast, struck with force like nothing they had ever seen before. In minutes the heroine of the Hoof lay beaten before the angel.

Blackjack for the second time in her life felt completely powerless. She was broken, her legs mangled, her right eye lost, and her horn destroyed, its pieces laying in front of her. Her vision was blurred but she saw a horrifying sight that burned into her mind.

Open Skies head lay a few feet away, his face forever frozen in shock as his thousand yard stare looked back at her. She couldn’t look away, she couldn’t move, everything hurt so much. She could hear the crying of the mare she loved, Glory begging and pleading for her mom to not take her from her wife’s side.

“I need to help her, I need to help her!” Glory struggled against the metallic talons that split forth from her mother’s hooves. “Mom, please! Please!”

“You helped her already, I’m sparing her to not hurt you, sweetie. She’s not dying, I made sure of that, Lacunae will come to help her eventually. Come now sweetie, let me take you away from this awful place.”

Glory begged cried, and fought as she was pulled away. As Blackjack’s remaining eye fell her last sight was Glory disappearing into the sky as her mother took flight. When Blackjack opened her eye again the blurring image of an Alicorn descended before her.

Their words were faint but they brought their own painful news. “Give her the potions before moving her Arloste, we need to get her to your house..or what remains of it. I’m sorry Blackjack Chapel is gone.” At that Blackjack fell into a deep sleep.

Blackjack’s cybernetic eyes shot open to the present, to the soft gaze of a wise Alicorn. “Good to see your wake now. It’s time for training.”

The Mystery of Chessboxin'

A game of Chess is like a sword fight. You must think first before you move.

“I think this is a bad idea.”

Charity looked annoyed at the elder robe mare across the table, they had been over the plan again and again. Charity wasn’t a master strategist or anything but from what Applebloom had told her they had two battles they needed to fight, one in the north and one in the south.

Sitting in the center of the table was a map of Hoofinton, multiple dots marking towns and places of interest were colored green with the points of their coming battle colored in a red X. The Harbingers cathedral, and an unassuming mountain, Black pony mountain.

From what Applebloom found the Harbinger’s ‘Goddess’ lay dormant in Hoofington’s main underground former military base. There she had been manufacturing weapons and supplies through control of the base’s systems, enough to create her own cult of followers.

“If we want that ‘Goddess’ and her cult dead then we have to destroy both the bunker and temple at the same time. If we attack one that will give their Goddess or Dawn time to escape.” Charity used her magic to form arrows that pointed off the map of the Hoof in every corner. “It takes a day for her to upload herself to another major terminal. Attacking her while she least expects it is our only way, but we can’t let Dawn escape. Dawn isn’t just some pawn of the goddess’ she’s her pupil. If the Goddess died Dawn has the source code and knowledge to restore the Goddess good as new.”

Dawn had been the one who apparently freed the Goddess from some major terminal in the core she was trapped in and brought her to their new hideout. Even built the new terminal for her god, they were both linked like Celestia and Luna. “We kill them both or fight them again later.”

“But you have something that can beat them without splitting our forces. The key to Hoofington.” Crunchy injected. “Instead of this all-or-nothing battle, why not open the city boaster ourselves with the weapons and defenses? We could even force them to surrender without firing a single shot.”

Charity rolled her eyes like any disrespectful foal, this time it was a filly who had to explain to an adult why they were wrong. “What, you don’t think I tried that? EC-1101 needs to go through a routing program where it needs to be galloped all around the Hoof to different terminals until it opens the city, then I need to go all around the city doing the same thing. Plus while being shot at and hunted by Harbingers and robots so no some controlled by that 'goddess', we fight to the finish and that’s it.”

“What’s wrong Carrot, all that studying on that boat take the fight out of ya?” Big Daddy teased as he sat drinks down on the table. “We’re getting the biggest stomp in 200 years and you want to try everything to get out of it. What happened to the mare who galloped through minefields to get some magical rifles?” The battle-scarred whitish stallion took a seat to the side, relaxing in his chair, shades covering his eyes as he sipped on the strawberry lemonade.

“These Harbingers have been throwing their weight around the Hoof long enough. I’m not letting them threaten my legion.” To the other side of the table sat the striped form of the Legate. The Zebra wore a cloak that showed a star-like pattern, his stripes were circles that all looked like they came from a single point-like a solar system. To top off his strange appearance was the dragon skull that covered his face. “My legionnaires have been complaining to no end about having nothing to do. This fight is a good way to whip my legion into shape! Plus I can’t let Gangers have all the fun.”

“Afraid your gonna be our clean-up crew Amandi?” Big Daddy smirked.

The legate nayed at that. “Only thing getting cleaned up is their wreckage after my legion is through. Try to keep up with us Stone.”

“Please, my Reapers will be done with Dawn and her cronies within an hour. We’ll be back for a drink while you're still fighting.”

“Want to bet?” Through the skull’s eye hole, Amandi raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah ya ponytailed filly, the first side to clear their battle gets free drinks from the other!” Big Daddy enthusiastically clapped his hooves together.

“Your on Stone.”

“Oh dear Celestia, can you two take this seriously!” The amount of embarrassment on Crunchy Carrots' face made the orange mare almost look red. “We are talking about the very future of the Hoof and most likely the entire Equestrian Wasteland, this isn’t a contest!”

“You really have gotten old Crunchy, no fun life anymore?” Big Daddy jest.

“I’m not 20 anymore! I act my age damn it!”

As the future employees in front of her kept arguing, Charity rolled her eyes and took a chocolate bar from her purse. She ate it as the others slowly realized she was waiting for them. “Can we get back to planning or are we done here?” She saw how Crunchy got redder while Big Daddy and the Legate scratched the back of their heads.

“Yes let’s.” Crunchy Carrot tried to compose herself, turning her attention back to the map. “There is another thing I wish to ask you Charity. It’s about what you plan to do when you take charge of the city?”

Charity knew that question was coming, if it wasn’t for the Harbingers the Steel Rangers would be gunning for her. “What’s wrong Carrot, think I’m going to take over the world?” Charity quipped.

Carrot ignored the comment as she press the matter. “You, no. I’m worried about the dangers that the city poses to the entirety of Equestria. Hoofington was a major development and research center during the Great War with most of its major projects overseen by the Princess herself. Massive factories, powerful defense systems, hidden projects lay within its walls.” Carrot now looked at Charity with a bit more ire. “All of this is a lot just to give to a filly.”

The filly could feel the daggers Carrot was glaring at her, it was expected. Carrot was the head Elder of the Hoofington branch of the Steel Rangers, a surviving unit of the Ministry of Wartime Technology that spawned into a large Wasteland cult. Obsessed with acquiring pre-wasteland tech by any means, they had made the Hoof one of their prime targets. So seeing the bounty they had so long lusted after go to a filly was probably the biggest shame they ever felt.

When Charity had first returned to the Hoof and made their plans known the Rangers tried to capture her, only to get a rude awakening by the Demon Mares. “Let's be real here with you Carrot. I don’t give a fuck about the Wasteland or you.”

Carrot glared but the filly couldn’t care less. “I want two things: One, kill that bitch who burned down my town and took my friends away! Two, restart my business bigger than ever, that’s it! I don’t care about taking over the Wasteland, I’m a filly what do I need that for? I just want to be the first CEO of the Wasteland!” Charity's horn lit up, a magically conjured hoof pointed to all the places of her interest. “I want to open the biggest Megacorpration across the Hoof’s trade hubs and beyond. With the material and tech of the city, I will out buy all the major traders like the Finders and start selling my own homegrown products. The rest of the Hoof can join in or not, I don’t care, but if you want some of that sweet tech maybe you should sign on.” Charity purred.

“Steel Rangers are not mercenaries! We work for the greater good, not petty caps!” Carrot yelled slamming her hooves on the table.

Charity shrugged. “Too bad. The Reapers and the Legion are getting in, gonna be sad when the Steel Rangers aren’t the only game with power armor in town.” Charity could see the fumes starting to pour out of Carrot’s head. “Still don’t want to sign up?”

“No.” Was her only answer.

“Too bad, maybe you’ll change your mind when the armor starts selling.” Charity hopped from her seat, making for the door but giving one last piece of advice. “In a week everything changes, be ready.” Before leaving the adults to themselves.

“Okay, my Zebs listen up.” Rampage stood in front of a whiteboard dressed in a coach outfit. “We’re going skydiving soon and I want your asses ready.” She smacked the board, pointing to a poorly drawn tower done in marker. “We’re jumping out the zeppelin onto the tower’s roof using flyer Talismans, the most important thing to remember is to flap your wings forward to glide with the air but to keep your legs together when landing.”

The Reapers all sat around the Striped Mare, intently listening to every word like students. “The turrets were made for large targets, not small ponies since the Zebras didn’t have natural flyers. That means we will be out gliding under molter fire, follow your squad leader, no breaking off. Will be flying down in a zig-zag pattern.” She pointed to the endless lines that ended at the building’s top. “Any questions?”

“Yeah Mama, how is zig-zagging gonna keep our asses from being blown off? That tower is a tough nut to crack with all those guns.” A caramel mare sitting in the front row asked, getting chuckles from her comrades.

“Well, smartass most of the heavy lifting on the ground will be done by the tin cans and our loveable Hoofington Death Hounds. They will be surprising the cultist with a good game of wack-a-mole.” A turquoise mare to Mallet’s right raised her hoof next. “Yeah what Cuffs?”

“So if we win will you make us all dinner please Mama?” Cuff did her best puppy dog expression which made the entire gathering laugh.

The Reapers always made the Striped Mare feel like she was at home, she treated them like her children and they loved her for it. And like any loving parent, she showered them with love. “If we win I’m making everyone a BBQ with meat pies! So don’t die or your ass is missing out!”

The Reapers stomped, howled, and shouted their battle cry in excitement at the news. Their cheering evaporated throughout the shady town of the Studium the gang called home.

At the top of the stadium's bleachers, an Alicorn looked out at the shouting crowd below with a smile on her face. “Always the mother Arloste.” She sat on the balcony overlooking the entire stadium. The arena that once held the largest sporting events in pre-war Equestria. Home to Hoofington’s Reapers, the most violent Hoofball team in the sport. When Equestria became the Wasteland various warrior tribes of the Hoof used this place as a battle arena between their champions until Big Daddy unified them under the former team’s namesake.

Most of the arena's bleachers had been converted into little dems that served as homes or services from the various tribes, the upper stands being for the highest Reapers and services. And Lacunae was enjoying its highest drinks.

She took a sip from her wine glass before returning to the sight of her good friend. “You adore her don’t you?” Lacunae turned to the gentleman voice of the stallion sitting across from her. He was probably the largest pony she had ever known with muscles that seemed more like steel than flesh. But that contrasted his beautiful face with his well-kept curled mustache. “You're always smiling when your with her.”

“She is a very good friend. Probably the best mare I’ve met since.” Lacunae caught herself before saying it. She didn’t think he needed to know that bit of personal information. “Anypony in the Wasteland. For almost 40 years I’ve seen how she’s become a ray of light to people around her.” Lacunae said with distant love. “An almost far cry from who she used to be. She’s taking me all the way to Dise you know?”

Stronghoof snicker at that. “That’s weeks down south, and from what I heard very dangerous and very expensive.”

“For us, that’s just the joy of the Wasteland, a fun little game. Besides me and her need time off after the big fight.” The Alicorn recounted the amount adventures the two shared. She considered they could write a novel series, of course, Lacunae would do the writing.

“Well, aren’t you spoiled? You get to go on two vacations.” Stronghoof simper his expression as the Alicorn looked bewildered at him. “I made arrangements with Elder Crunchy Carrots. After the battle, I plan to take a week off in Tenpony tower, with you of course.”

Lacunae was lost for words, a first in a long time. “Strong, i-i don’t know what to say. How did you? Tenpony wouldn’t allow?”

“Let's say the Stronghoof family has a lot of pull in Manehattan. A little deal or there, some trade you don’t have to worry about.” He winked.

Lacunae was knocked off her hooves, Tenpony was one of the surviving hubs of the former government and a high class society in the Wastelands. Getting in was not cheap, plus they didn’t take kindly to Alicorns. “How much did it cost? Did you really go through all of that for me? You shouldn’t-”

“Don’t say that.” He raised a hoof. “You are worth every cap my lady. For a mare as good as you no cost is too high.” Lacunae didn’t get emotional, the harder centuries of her existence had made her stoic yet even now she couldn’t hold back gasping. “I just want to know one thing. Will you accept me?”

“I will.” She whispered. “But, first I need to make up time with Arloste. Would you be insulted if I went with her first before you?” There was a bit of pain in that question, choosing between a lifelong friend and your partner was never an easy choice.

“No.” He smiled as he shook his head. “I know you and her have a deep bond, one that goes deeper than a friend. She is your family and you should try to build that with her. I can wait to take you when you return.”

With a quiet sigh, Lacunae let go of a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you my lady.”

“Again!” Blackjack slammed another glass down to the cheers of all the Reapers around her. The bartender sled her another which the Cyber Mare happily drank down. “That’s 40 in a roll, pay up everypony!” Blackjack giggled like a happy gambler when sacks of caps were thrown her way.

“Jack your cheating being a Cyber pony.” A Griffin in red painted combat armor half joked from the other side of the bar. “Ain’t no normal creature can keep up with that.”

“Shit, Griffins have stronger stomachs than ponies, bulls have stronger stomachs than you, and dragons them. Only fair a Cyber pony show you whose boss.” She waved off.

“Yeah well don't be such a show off during the big fight, end up dead that way.” A mare with an eye patch added.

“If I get killed by any pony other than Dawn you guys have the right to call me the biggest loser in the Reapers. But let’s enjoy tonight with another round on the house!” The bar laughed as ponies, Griffins, Zebras, Buffalo, and Minotaurs sang the Cyber Mare praises.

“Don’t lose Jack. Your the best thing to happen to the Hoof in 20 years.”

“Drinking would suck if you weren’t here.”

“You and Auntie Arloste do good around here. Ponies from all around the Hoof join up because of ya.”

They praised her, looked up to her, and saw her as an inspiration. When she first left the Stable Hoofington wasn’t very welcoming. Being hunted by Bounty Hunters, Raiders at every overpass, every day was a fight to survive. Except for the Reapers, she had heard the rumors and Wasteland guides about them, a mixed gang of every violent creature in the entire Hoof, fear and loathed by all. When she actually met them they were anything but. Violent yes, killers yes, but were the most welcoming and kind people you could meet when you actually spent time with them. Blackjack never had a job she actually enjoyed or took pride in, but the Reapers changed that.

As the Cybermare ordered more drinks her left arm began to buzz. “Seems that’s my signal to go everybody.” The bar moan and pleaded with the Cyber mare to stay, but she couldn't humor them. “Sorry everyone the filly at the top says jump I have to. See you all at the big stomp”

Plus they couldn’t stay in one place for too long, which made them easy targets for Dawn and her cult. So it was with cheers and goodbyes Blackjack left the former food stand turned bar for the arena. Walking into the shady town Blackjack saw more people here than usual, buying weapons and gear, praying to the goddesses, or training in the arena itself. All getting ready for the final fight.

She wondered if in her war of vengeance she was dragging all these people into it. Years ago some ponies called her a meddler, and she caused chaos in the Hoof. Deus, the mutant attacks, and now Dawn’s cult. Was she just a magnet for bad luck for everyone? No, even if she didn’t do anything EC-1101 would still be the target of Dawn and her goddess. Even if she died when she first set hoof in the Wastes they would be there.

Revenge or not they would still be monsters, she just had a personal reason to go after them. Was it selfish? To place one’s own personal hate on the same level as a threat to the entire Wasteland? Yeah, but they align so that was all that mattered.

“Wasteland, Hoof, Harbingers. All that matters is Dawn and Glory, even if I died I’ll see that bitch goes with me and Glory free from her.” The thought was cold and single-minded but was her conviction, all she had left in this world.

“It’s all that matters,” Blackjack spoke to confirm to no pony but herself

She scale the stairs of the town until she was at the higher bleacher of the arena. There she found her friends waiting at an entrance. “Hurry up Blackjack, time is money and energy.” Charity derided.

“Out having a fun time with the fellows before the big day?” Lacunae politely asked.

Blackjack gave one look back at the arena, seeing all the tribes of the hoof come together for this. “Just thinking of my role in this. Whether or not I’m to blame.”

“Jack don’t be a sore spot. I thought we pass the “everything’s my fault part of your life?” Rampage rolled her eyes in complete distrain at the idea of that Blackjack returning to that.

“No, I know I’m not to blame. But I needed to spend some time with them just in case.” She left the words hanging, deciding whether or not her friends knew how she felt. “It’s nothing just wanted to think about these ponies and creatures before we leave.”

They all knew what she meant, the idea of dying wasn’t completely off their minds just not at the center of it. They had spent two years preparing for this moment and now they would face their fate, either a New Horizon or death, but they accepted both.

“Come, let us be on our way.” Lacunae’s horn lit up as magic inclose them in a flash, then they were gone.

Mods:

New Arena: Complete rework of the Hoofington arena turning into a full town with inns, shops, more NPCs, and new quests.

Reapers reaping!: Complete faction change of the Reapers, new NPCs added, new quest to join the Reapers, better armor, and skills, more races in the Reapers, along with reworks of several major characters from the Reapers.

Steel Ranger Reapers allies: Don’t like that pesky Reapers Steel Ranger war? This mod removes it and makes them able to be allies, quest to get them to join you in the New Horizons addon.

Dawn's Low Conspiracy

Searching your crib, they can't find no evidence

The screen of the terminal dimmed the room in a green haze that seemed almost relaxing. The slight chirping of readings, and the hmm of the machine created a cozy feeling for any pony. Dawn could almost decompress here, forget the tolls of being the Angel her followers need, and reminisced on older better times. But she and her goddess had a bright future to plan for.

She stared at the screen for what seemed like minutes, finally uttering the phrase. “I theá pánta vlépei”

The screen buzzed and flickered, stopping when the image of an Alicorn appeared on the monitor. She was perfected, perfectly flowing rainbow mane, glowing sunny eyes, and a smile that seem so welcoming. She was the perfectly designed pony, as if someone took thousands of images, took the best of all of them, and fuse them together.

“Hail Princess Cognitum, restorer of the land.” Dawn bowed her head as she addressed her monarch in a pray-like fashion.

“Rise my faithful student.” She commanded with a gentle motherly voice. “The faithful day is quickly approaching, we must have everything in order if our vision is to see fruition. Are the preparations ready on your end?"

Dawn nodded a little nervously. “Yes, but. Is there no other way we can do this? Can we not simply keep searching for the Demon Mares and their hidden base?” When she had first heard the princess’s plan she protested vehemently, it would destroy half of what they had built over the decades. Even now Dawn couldn’t understand the princess's reasoning. “Surely we can wait to defeat them.”

The Alicorn’s warm smile became a disapproving frown as she explained. “We had time, but we wasted it. For two years we searched for EC-1101 only for those…’ Demons’ to return with the keys in toe. We could have fought them in a war of attrition at first but they were smarter than we predicted. Our attempts at finding them and stopping their influence? Failure. Our need to maintain control over the other groups and tribes of the Hoof? Lost. With the Hoof now allied with them, they have put us into a stalemate we can’t win.”

“Then why don’t we simply outwait them? Slowly bringing balance back into our control? We can hire more gangs like the Gears if need be bring in some warlords from the surrounding regions.” Dawn parlayed.

“Because they have forced our hooves, my student. In a week’s time, that filly will attack us, and if we act or not half our achievements will be undone regardless. However, this will leave her exposed and her ‘Demons’ easy to trap. We must take this advantage while it’s open.” Cognitum kept a level tone but clearly, the decision didn’t sit right with her either. “Is the trap for them ready?”

Dawn dejectedly nodded. “Yes, I’ve seen to its construction myself. I’ve placed the trap in a hidden vent in maintenance. None in the temple know but I.”

“Good. When the Demon Mares come put on a good show but flee with your daughter as soon as possible. I can not afford to lose you, my faithful student.”

“I will see your will carried out my princess, My champions are prime and waiting for my orders.” Dawn bowed as her ‘princess’ grinned at her.

“So it shall be.”

Glory’s ears fluttered at what she heard, her own mother was planning to destroy this place somehow, thousands of ponies and other creatures would just die all so that she could kill Blackjack. Glory almost couldn’t believe the mare downstairs was her mother, whatever happened to her in the Wasteland, whatever this Cognitum did to her created a monster. She shook her head, her mom was truly lost.

She unhooked her plugs, wrapping them around the personal crafted pipbuck of hers, and then sled them under her bed. She had made the thing from scrap metal, unused spell matrixes, and whatever mom left around from her repairs. Her proudest achievement was connecting it to her mother’s personal computer downstairs without being noticed. They didn’t know she was snooping in on all their calls.

But now she needed to act and fast, her wife’s life was depending on it. “Time to pull a little prank on mom.”

Mods:

Glory rebalance: Glory’s skills are expanded in all things nerd! She is now more useful in Science, Repair, Medicine, Energy Weapons, Doctor, and Barter. With added questline options.

Ante up remix

Ante Up! Yap that fool!
Ante Up! Kidnap that fool!

The week passed with a peace that was eerily uncommon for the Hoof, the usual bloodshed calming down to an almost frightening level. But beneath the surface in the miles-wide maze of tunnels, the real chaos was going to begin.

A party of four, dressed in combat armor shined lights from their helmets at the gruesome scene before them, all had looks of unease shared between them. They saw the mangled corpse of a grass green mare laying frozen in the river of murky water.

An older more worn stallion trotted up to her, examining the body with fine eyes he gave a worried glance to his companions. “No signs of struggle, she was killed instantly. Called it in card Shark. The Demon Mares most likely Lacunae are here.”

A blueish stallion nodded then got started pressing buttons on his Pipbuck around his foreleg. The screen flashed to life in a green hue but before he could say anything a tapping sound was heard. The stallion fell over into the murky water.

Before the others could react the same tapping sound came in quick succession. Almost all the ponies dropped except the older stallion who galloped off at the first tap. His gallop was stopped when an invisible force impale him.

As he fell over a shape fell from the ceiling, its form only visible from water that dripped off it. Magical energy crackled around the shape until it formed into a very obliged Cyber mare.

Looking around frantically, her eyes began to glow violently. “Charity, I’m approaching the target location. No alerts, but scouting party encountered but neutralized.”

“Good, continued to location. Try avoiding any more random encounters. Get to it, the Steel Rangers and Legion are in position.”

“Understood.” the glow of her eyes dimmed as she faded into nothing again. Only the slight movements of the water gave her away.

Through the dark tunnel lay a bright room, a metal staircase led from the murky water to a metal grading balcony. On top of it stood two ponies armed with assault rifle battle saddles, one was a rugged-looking mare with spiked hair that blew smoke puffs toward a light blue smaller mare much to her annoyance.

“So you were a raider before you joined the Harbingers?”

“Yep, was born into a tribe that lived in an old movie theater. We called ourselves the Ghost Killers after a villain in an old martial arts flick.”

“What’s with you raiders and names like that anyway?”

“Huh? It’s scared rivals tribes and enemies into fearing you, or to create the sense that these ponies could be dangerous.”

“Yeah but some of those sound really dumb, like I heard one was called the Smile Squad. Like whose gonna be scared of that? I think ponies would just fall over laughing from hearing that.”

“Some are stupid obviously, but in defense of dumb raider names, I raise this. If you heard the name Smiled Squad what would you think?”

“That they must be dumb if that's their name?”

“Yes, but it could also mean that their crazy, take pleasure in killing, or are so morally bankrupt that robbing and killing brings a smile to their face. All of a sudden that name takes on a more disturbing meaning. They could also be using that name to lure in ponies who don’t think they're a threat, a way to kill easy prey. Sometimes it’s the unthreatening sounding things that are most dangerous.”

“I never thought of it that way, I guess rai-” The word died on the blue mare’s tongue as her head exploded outward, spattering the raider mare in the face and causing her to fall back. Before she could react two more bullets found their way into her throat without a sound.

Both mares collapse onto the metal grading as Blackjack appeared to the side of them. “Huh? I’ll thank Applebloom for mods later.” Walking to a blast door connected to the rest of the balcony, she pressed a red button on a panel and the door slid open to a pristine hallway. “Charity, ready to start.”

“Roger.” Releasing her magical hold on her earpiece, Charity looked around the deck surrounding her, a set of consoles lined the room from one end to the other, large glass windows set above them giving the whole deck a view of the outside. A command chair sat perfectly in the middle with a panel to the side, its contents of flashing buttons went over Charity’s head. Apple Bloom had told her she would run most of the ship’s function so all Charity had to do was give orders, for that she thanked Celestia for the A.I. mare.

“Can’t believe you manage to buy this airship from the Society.” A raspy gruff voice sounded from behind the command chair. He wore armor that looked like a mashing of combat armor and sports gear from a prewar poster “Old King Awesome wouldn’t part with this beauty for mostly anything being the last of its type and all. But you somehow convince the old fart to cough it up.” He seemed impressed by the filly. In all his years he’d never met one so young yet so scheming.

She just snickered at that. “Well the Society has been a very good customer of my business, plus making them a deal they couldn’t refuse doesn’t hurt.” Charity grinned evilly. “Time to cash in on all my loans.

Blackjack crept through the greyish halls of the hub, attaching herself to pipes running along the ceiling and activating her stealth buck, she silently moved throughout the halls, avoiding several groups of ponies dress in purple robes as she went. Finally reaching a set of double doors with a yellow glowing sign named ‘generator’ she scanned the area for hostiles, once she was sure no pony was around she detached from the ceiling and snuck into the room as quickly as possible.

The generator was a 10-foot tall metallic square with two pipes ejecting out of it, one went into vats of water that bubbled and spiraled below the metal grading the generator sat on, and the other extended up toward the wall, breaking up into several pipes going all across the room. Steam rose from the vats below covering the room in a bright yellowish haze. As Blackjack approached the generator she reached into saddle pouches around her waist and pulled out apple-shaped devices.

Placing four of them across the generator, she connected them to a horseshoe-shaped object. “Time to set it and go.” Reaching out with her talons she began punching numbers into the device, her process stopped when she heard the sound of heavy metal hoof steps. Turning quickly around she was greeted with the lumbering form of a giant pony whose entire body was encased in heavy steel armor. Standing twice the height of a normal pony his armor was a sickly green with strakes of grey, two mounted miniguns set to his sides ready to fire. A lamp shined through the haze directly upon the Cyber Mare.

“Steel Rain? You survived that trip down the river?” Blackjack half joked but still was impressed he was alive. When they first return to the Hoof Dawn sent Steel Rain to deal with them, it was the perfect warm-up for them and a lesson in floating for him. “So Dawn restored you huh? No hard feels Cake Walk?”

The twin miniguns roared and Blackjack flipped to the side, running as the storm of bullets followed her. “Meeting old friends is always a party.” looking up she pointed her left forehoof towards a pipe, her hoof fired out like a grappling hook gripping onto the pipe, the cable retracted pulling Blackjack off the grading and away from the wave of death chasing her. When she caught up with the pipe she swung around it and planted her back hooves on top. Steel Rain guns clicked then a box cycled out the guns, opening to several rockets line up and ready to fire.

Rockets blasted out with a screaming hiss followed by smoke and fire as the room exploded. Blackjack jumped from pipe to pipe, always one step ahead of the destruction that followed. Having a bright idea Blackjack fired her left forehoof at a pipe high above the entrance, quickly pulling herself away as soon as her hoof reconnected she dropped like a rock toward the steel clad pony below. Landing on his back, belly down with a metallic thud, she tore into his rocket launcher with her talons. Lifting with the might of several ponies she pulled the guns up while she bit his neck causing the knight to scream and cry.

She droved her cybernetic teeth into his neck more and more as he struggled, laughing in glee at the steel pony’s pain. With a huff she jerked back tearing a piece of his throat off, his screams echoing throughout the room as sparks and blood gash from the wound. “What’s wrong Steel? What don’t like a good rodeo!” she laughed as she wrapped her forehooves around his neck. “Like all my upgrades! Was saving this fun for Dawn but you can be a warm-up!” She took her left forehoof and drove a talon into the visor of his helmet.

Steel Rain galloped with all his might hoping to throw the Cyber Mare off, but as she dug her talons through his visor into his eye and then into his eye socket, his running became a weak trot then fall. He fell limp to the floor, his screams becoming faint cries then silence.

Once he stop moving Blackjack hopped off him, completely forgetting her former enemy and going back to her real task. “You were always the most annoying enemy I had.” Was her last words to him.

she looked back at the generator of the room, the bombs were torn to shreds. Luckily she knew how to improvise. Walking over to the machine she pointed her talons at it and then stab them into the generator. With frightening vigor she tore the machine piece by piece, using even her teeth to rip it open. When she was done the machine was a pile of barely functioning parts that bellow steamed.

All throughout the tower lights went dead leaving Harbingers completely lost and confused. The darkness of the halls gave way to a red glow as the backlight turned on, and the generator room became a haze of red instead of the sickly yellow.

Outside the shadow of the airship loomed over the Hoof as it approached the towering form of Stable Tec HQ, its frightening form causing ponies on the ground to look up in awe and surprise. Inside Big Daddy walked through a refined hallway, the floor was velvet carpet with hexagon patterns along dimly lit lights created a nightly mood. the elder stallion approached two ponies dressed in strange armor standing in front of a set of wooden double doors, nodding respectfully to the buck one turned and open the entrance to a large theater room. Dozens of ponies, griffins, and buffalo sats were in the front row, as the elder bucked trotted down the walkway many nodded or bowed their heads to him.

Getting onto the stage, he trotted past a grey unicorn mare in the same armor most of the people in the audience wore and onto a poem. The grey mare’s horn lit up and Big Daddy’s voice boomed throughout the theater. “Reapers! Attention!” At that all of the crowd stood up, faces held high saluting the old buck. “Our greatest challenger since the Steel Rangers war is the enemy who sits below us! Today we face an enemy for the very soul of the Hoof, probably Equestria as a whole! They’ve come to the Hoof giving out promises of a better tomorrow under the guise of a False Prophet, but in reality, they want to take the city and conquer us all! They want the technology of the city of Hoofington so that they can build an empire under the name of a fake goddess, and destroy anybody that goes against them, well fuck that! I say that the Reapers show these robe-wearing Holy Flame-spouting pansies why the Reapers are the deadliest army in the Wasteland!”

No pony cheered instead they gave a loud stomp and shouted. “Death before dishonor!” Before saluting the buck.

“Now let's give ‘em hell!”

On the left side of the gondola of the airship hangar doors opened, the Reapers stood in attention looking determine at the landscape below them. Big Daddy trotted in front of them and then turned to the wasteland. “Reapers! Let’s stomp ‘em” With that, the grey buck grab a bottle from a strap around his armor with his teeth and smashed it across the floor. Stepping on the colorful liquid and then splashing it all over himself, he grinded his teeth as bat-like wings sprouted out of his torso.

Most non-griffins followed suit making the actual flyers cringe at the display, soon all the Reapers were sprouting wings. Big Daddy just smiled and then galloped toward the outside, jumping like a missile into the air and then taking flight toward the tower. The Reapers followed him, looking like a Hellstrom of bats descending from the airship. Down on the ground ponies standing on the walls and taking positions behind set-up defenses in the complex started firing up at the army of hundreds of gangers coming at them. Some tried to activate the gun towers, but their hearts shrunk as each tower refused to spring to life.

Their worry soon turned to panic as explosions tore through the tower’s walls. From the ruins that surrounded the tower poured forth dozens of power armor-clad ponies, wielding saddles with weapons fit for tanks.

Attacked from above and below the Harbingers fought vigorously to protect their found home. Sending the weak and elderly into the tower while the soldiers of faith laid their lives down.

“Now time to find Glory than Dawn.” Blackjack cracked her neck, ready for the fight.

But before she could leave a voice spoke from loudspeakers in the hall. “Oh, so the one born in a Stable has become a true heir to the Wasteland.” The familiar calm motherly voice made Blackjack stop and listen intently. “Look at what you have become. Cybernatic killer so driven by revenge you sacrifice your freedom, body, and name to a filly, all to destroy me. Even giving up your own title of Security for this ‘Demon Mare’ just to mock me. All this hate, all this effort. Tell me is this worth it?”

“It’s worth it for him.” Blackjack clicked her guns, loading them with armor-piercing ammo then walked with methodical anger down the hall.

Come with it

Tell me, do you wanna ride tonight?
Then tell me, do you wanna die tonight?

Far away from the ruined city and its war stood the ominous form of Black Pony Mountain. During the war, it was an exporter of coal for the conflict, and when that dried up its well-mined caves became the perfect setup for underground military testing facilities and bases. When the bombs drop the complex fell into silence, its treasures unknown to the Wasteland until one Pegasus restored it. Where an Alicorn would burn it.

Lacunae felt a welcoming sense of familiarity waiting in the sewers to strike. The smell and the dampness of the shallow water below were giving her the best nostalgia for a different a long life ago. She gazed around the Zebras in cloaks that surrounded her, they had their stoic calm to contrast her enjoying reminiscing, checking out their weapons, and making sure their stealth cloaks were fastened on.

The irony of leading the descendants of her former enemies to destroy an AI that considers itself the new princess wasn’t lost on her. She found it quite amusing how the Elements allowed such oddities to exist almost like they had a sense of humor.

“We’re ready to move miss Lacunae.” A zebra mare whose dreadlock spilled from her cloak’s hood stepped up to the Alicorn.

“Good, break off to your strike points. Zehper you're following me.” With a flash the Alicorn disappeared into nothing, the Zebra equip red-tainted goggles and broke into groups of three as they faded into nothing too.

They moved like the wind, passing by unaware patrols of Harbingers as they stalked toward their target until they found it. Playing cards before the looming sight of a giant gear door with the symbol of a crest moon on it was three ponies chatting and enjoying the night away.

“Goldfish!” A yellow mare in greyish armor shouted slapping the cards down on the table.

“Your cheating I swear. The fuck somepony’s this good.” A light blue mare across the table chuckled while shaking her head.

“Told ya nopony can beat Lucky.” A stallion in a duster sighed and then blew a smoke puff from a cigarette in his mouth. “She’s got the luck of the goddess.”

“Ha, wish that luck got us station anywhere but here. Rather be listening to the ‘Angel’ preach on and on than be in this shithole.” The light blue mare grumbled as she passed out new sets of cards.

“I like being down here, it’s quiet, empty, and lets me get away with my naps.” Lucky cheerfully added.

“Yeah, would rather be anywhere those damn Hoofinton freaks aren’t-” The stallion’s head exploded into a shower of meat and brain matter. His friends followed suit as their bodies fell limp onto the table.

Slight movements of air pushed inward to the base, carrying with them unseen deadly forces.

For the rest of the walk, Blackjack avoided groups of Harbingers as they galloped around shouting, panicking, and carrying supplies. All either hurrying to the frontlines or safety with their families. The Cybermare wondered how many of the innocent would be caught up in her game of revenge, many had died to it already now she was adding hundreds to that list. For a moment she had doubts about her actions but then remembered what Dawn did and what she planned to do, and at that, her guilt ended. She only could hope some of these ponies and creatures escaped the wrath this temple had coming.

Walking through double doors with the Stable-tec symbol imprinted on it, she was greeted with a large atrium with five rolls of seats and three sets of them facing a stage nestled into the wall, a red carpet set open to both sides revealing the actor underneath. A grey pegasus mare with a velvet mane set in a chair, her glowing eyes meeting the Cybermare as she descended with long wanting eyes.

There was no angry shouting, no boasting from either of them. Blackjack simply unleashed her sword and pointed it at her greatest enemy. “Are you ready?”

“More so Blackjack.” Dawn gestured with her wing, and a flashlight engulfed the stage. Appearing before Dawn were the awe-striking forms of several pony-like creatures. A tall brownish mare with a scorpion tail and bat like wings, a skinny bright red mare whose eyes glowed with a violent fire, A giant forest green mare with several heads whose long necks connected to a snake-like body, a sickly white stallion in a blacklong coat with shades covering his teal eyes, and a Cybernetic golden mare who stood on two hooves with electric talons sprouting out her forehooves.

“Thought this was personal.”

“It is my friend, that’s why I invited all your old friends here.” Dawn quietly laugh as she took to the air, looking down at her archenemy with hateful eyes. “My Little ponies the pony who wronged all of you stands alone before you. Pass the judgment you have long sought that the Goddess has blessed you with, and bring divine punishment upon this Demon of the Stars."”

The red mare screamed a jetstream of fire that Blackjack dodged out of the aisle and into the seats, only for the Manticorepony, Hydramare, and Golden Cyberpony all to rush her, tearing through the seats as Blackjack retreated, the sickly white stallion teleporting to a balcony overlooking the atrium and taking pot shots with his sniper rifle.

Blackjack dodged and weaved around claws, cyber talons, and the Hydra pony's heads. As she jumped above a hydra head that smashed into a chair she slice the head clean off. The Hydra reel back in pain but rather than backing off the cut head popped and hissed as two more sprouted forth in an instant launching toward the Cybermare. Blackjack tried to jump to seats behind her but was hit by a bullet in the arm knocking her back into the aisle and dropping her sword.

Before she could recover the Golden Cyberpony jumped atop her, pinning Blackjack to the stairway, raising her sharp electric talons up ready to strike. “Now you will pay Security, you and all those other Wasteland monsters.”

Before the Golden mare could bring her talons down Blackjack gave her a taste of her own medicine with a jab to the stomach from the free left hoof. The Cyberpony howled in pain as Blackjack used the moment to push the mare off her. “What’s wrong Amber, Radrat got your tongue?”

As the Cyberpony fell down the aisle in pain Blackjack had only a few seconds to catch her breaths before more jets of fire forced her to run again. “Guess you all learn teamwork is the key to winning, Twilight Sparkle would be proud. But you forgot one thing.” Blackjack gloated as she spun kicked the charging Manticoremare then dodged toward her sword. “I got friends too.”

Grabbing her sword, Blackjack stopped one of the Hydra pony’s heads by stabbing it through the eye socket. The Hydra pony gave a roar of rage and made a warpath to Blackjack with all her heads coming from every direction. Just as she was about to close in, the necks of each head exploded outward with the sounds of gunfire.

Blackjack glanced back to see the friendly neighborhood protection group, the Reapers. Dozens of colorful armored ponies and creatures rushed into the atrium, shooting at the mutants and Cyberponies. Leading them was a Zony who looked like the happiest filly in the world. “Hey, Jack we late?” Rampage said as she slowly walked down the aisle.

“Nothing much, just a little old friendly get-together. Brass and Fury are here to say hello.” Blackjack pointed at the fiery red mare and Manticoremare, the former exploding into balls of fire as the Reapers filled her with bullets, and the former flew around battling the Reapers' flyers in the air. Blackjack glanced around the atrium to see that her true opponent had left already. “Dawn’s gone, she couldn’t have gotten far. Rampage do you think you can take these freaks and the rest of the tower while I deal with her?”

Rampage almost looked offended at that. Her answer was crouching then jumping into the air, spinning and kicking the golden Cybermare away as she charged Blackjack. Blackjack nodded then made a mad dash for the stage. “Jack wait, can you handle her alone?” Blackjack turned back to see something she almost never saw on the Zony. A look of genuine worry.

“I didn’t come this far, give up my body and soul to back down now Arloste. If I die she dies that’s the way it goes.”

Rampage didn’t know what to say, she couldn’t talk her friend down from this, so she simply just nodded to her. “See ya, Jack.” Blackjack returned the gesture and ran to the stage, jumping on it and charging toward a back door. Rampage watched her disappear before being snapped back to the fight by dodging a divebomb by Brass and kicking the Manticoremare.

The mare trotted down the hallway, the red hue lights mixing with the clean white of the walls creating a feeling of eeriness in the air. Finally, she came upon an elevator with the same icon of Stable-tec. As she stopped at the entrance Blackjack fired off her revolver in quick succession, her bullets embedding themselves into thin air. Energy crackled off the body of the sickly white stallion who appeared out of nowhere and then fell to the ground. “Stealth Bucks are only as good as its wearer you Bastard.”

Blackjack walked up to the control panel, pressing a button called ‘Presidential suite’ the cyber mare’s eyes glowed when the door opened, as she looked around for traps before entering. As the door shut the sound of weird electronic music began playing from the speakers, which Blackjack blocked out as best she could with the cyber mare playing her own music from her embedded Pipbuck. “Time to face the Angel.”

Mods:
None

Protect Ya princess

You best protect ya neck

A Harbinger galloped with fear and haste through the death that surrounded him, running through a hallway, his fallen allies gore spilled across the aged grey floors and walls. Terror drove the stallion to flee into the nearest haven he could think of, a storage closet.

Seeing his usual sleeping spot lay open and unused he bolted down the hall, just as the idea of burying himself behind crates and the waiting attack out when four bullets greeted the back of his head.

As he fell to the greyish floor, gasping for the few seconds of life he had left he saw the beautiful guise of an Alicorn approaching him. He didn’t know if he was delusional or if the goddess had come to save him but he asked. “Great Goddess?”

She pointed her silent rifle to his tempo. “No, may the Elements take you.” And fired.

Lacunae let out a tired sigh. “I’m getting too ancient for this.” She thought of the number of combatants she’d prayed for, wondering if the Elements of death and conflict had seen her as their favorite agents in this world, that she had become the perfect infusion of their will. “Element of Harmony I need you back in my life.”

Her thoughts on the bloodiness of her life were cut short by Zepher shouting her name. “Lady Lacunae we’ve secured the barracks, store rooms, and upper levels, we’re ready for the last push.”

“Good, stay with me as we push toward the main terminal room. I’ll lead as they’ve probably set up their red magical fields and set up kill zones by now.” Lacunae shifted herself as she let a weight off her shoulders, cracking her back with a sigh of relief.

Zephyr nodded, following behind the Alicorn down the burning bodies littered hallway. Like a wave of death the Alicorn swept through the corridors of the complex, tearing through magical barriers with a single flare of her horn, teleporting behind enemy kill zones, and delivering swift death to her foes, she was the embodiment of death and war destroying all she saw. within minutes they had claimed one floor after another, driving deeper and deeper into the heart of the Harbinger’s great temple.

“So here we are.” Lacunae looked around at the wiring the ran across walls, the floors, and the ceiling, all leading down a tunnel so covered in the wire it consumed the entire hallway. “She’s waiting for us. Zephyr.” The Zebra behind her stood in attention. “Stand behind me and watch for traps.”

The mare turn to her fellow commandos behind her, gesturing for them to follow as the Alicorn trotted down the hall. Barely any light escape the wired encased ceiling dimming the room to a twilight vista. Lacunae could feel the anxiety of her squad, though it had been no easy win they had expected the base to be more prepared then it had been, When the shooting started the Harbingers had almost no defense ready or armed pony on stand-by. Lacunae and her zebra squad weren’t fools, they knew the difference between an unprepared enemy and one who looked unprepared.

That feeling was increased when the group entered a large atrium with rolls of terminals lining the walls with all wires extending into one monitor pillar in the center of the room that shined with rainbow colors and the melody of chorus playing from speakers around the room. On each monitor was the face of the most glorious Alicorn a being could lay eyes on.

“Aw, you come Lacunae. I’ve been waiting for you.” There was no static or robotic voice in her tone, like a warm motherly mimic of Princess Celestia herself. Lacunae for her part seemed unimpressed by the gradual of the display, to her it had all the beauty of a filly playing pretend princess with jewelry.

“You were expecting me?”

“Yes. Through a long process of elimination, you were the most likely. Blackjack is too, obsessed with my student to negate her for me, and while Rampage is skillful your precision is something that little filly relies on.” steam poured from the pillar, quickly covering the entire room, making Lacunae cast a spell around her and her squad’s heads surrounding them in a sealed bubble. The steam built until it cover the entire room, from the center of the mist a bright glow shined like the sun. Though she had to squint Lacunae could see a wing popping out of the mist followed by a long white horn, as the steam subsided the form of the Alicorn on screens appeared in all her beauty before Lacunae.

“Hello Psalm, let’s talk.”

Lacunae snorted but gestured with her wing for her companions to take point, with each zebra spreading throughout the room, still keeping their weapons trained on the pillar. “If your asking me to join your cult of a grand misguided view of tomorrow through your great design, the answer is no. I’ve already felt the ‘salvation' of one ‘goddess’ and I’ve become quite agnostic.”

“Aw, your mutation into that false form you have now. I’ve seen the Goddess, the false mutant I call her, and her army of hivemind-controlled drones. I see why you’d be quite against another claiming to have divinity but rest assured we are nothing alike.” The fake pleasantries were common throughout Lacunae’s life, but the amount of fake civility this AI was putting on just made her hate the machine more.

“Oh, and how so? Last time I checked you employ the same tactics my old master did. Creating an army of sickefans cultists, spreading your cult through control and manipulation, the only difference is you turn your followers into mechanized super troopers or arm them with advanced weapons. She would turn her followers into her perfect Alicorn race.” Lacunae’s gaze grew direr toward the machine. “Why should I believe anything you say especially after what you’ve done to Chapel and my friends?”

“Because I can help you. I know your story, your former student told me everything. Of the great wrong you’ve committed, how you’ve tried through student to student to bring some level of good back into the world, how you seek to ascend them. But I can give you that, I can give you the means to fix your mistakes. No longer do you have to search for the hope you're looking I can give it to you.” The holographic image extended a hoof to the Alicorn. “And, I can restore you back to your true form. All you have to do is trust me.”

Lacunae stared at the hoof for a minute, the AI watching her every move. Finally, the Alicorn sighed. “Perhaps, there is a path to salvation.” Lacunae extended her own hoof to the hologram. “Maybe we should stop the bloodshed.”

“I knew you were a sensible mare Psalm. Together we can fix the mess that is this Wasteland.”

Lacunae nodded her head then her horn lit up and blasted a beam of magic energy at the pillar, destroying it in a colorful rainbow explosion. “Sorry, I already have a boss thanks.” Lacunae smirked as the hologram faded away.

The bright lights of the room quickly turned red, and from the speakers, a loud static mare’s voice roared. “You know I'm not that stupid. This entire base is me Lacunae, destroying some terminal isn’t going to kill me. You didn’t think I’d let myself be that vulnerable do you?”

Lacunae gave a bored sigh, wishing she was home reading a novel. “No, I know my life never allows me to rest. So what’s the other trick you have up your tail? I know you prepared for me more than just giving a speech.”

Lacunae got her answer when a Zebra at the entrance shouted something before being blasted with red magical energy turning them into dust. From the dim light of the hallway three figures trotted into view, their bodies were pure silver, their manes holographic static that flicked and flowed, and adoring their heads were spiked horns.

“Lacunae let me introduce you to one of my future bodies. The Advanced Unicorn is a way to extend my will through an army of mechanical servants. They say if you want something done then do it yourself, now.” The three mechanized ponies focused their red glares on Lacunae. “Let’s get to business shall we.”

The middle mecha pony fired a red beam at Lacunae which she quickly countered, the Zebras began shooting but their bullets bounced off the heavy steel bodies, the mechas answered back with a rifle barrel appearing from their chests and fired, most of the Zebras took cover but one was filled with holes. In the beam struggle Lacunae won out, her magic slamming into the mecha’s head blowing it clean off. Lacunae quickly reached out with her magic, grabbing the rifle barrels and ripping them out. Floating out her favorite weapon, a gun so large it could be classified as a mini cannon, and shooting the mechas with bullets as big as cans. Both shots tore into the mechas and then exploded.

“Always be prepared for the big parties.” Lacunae’s boasting ended when she heard the loud stomp of gears in unison coming down the hall, looking down the tunnel she saw dozens of mecha ponies approaching with murderous intent. “Should have prepared more.” She clicked her gun and started firing.

The elevator stopped, the door slid open revealing the large harmonic cozy living room with marvel floors, sitting on a couch humming a tune Dawn looked at the warm sight of a roaring blaze in the fireplace. She turned to the Cybermare with the same closed eyes motherly smile she gave every pony. “You made it, your quite the determine mare-”

Blackjack stomped into the room and pointed her 12.7mm pistol at her, blasting at the pegasus for which she blocked with her wing.

The pegasus simply just shrugged her shoulders uncaringly. “Okay.”

Her eyes opened quickly, the purple pupils turning from a light hue to a violet glow. The black jumpsuit that surrounded her body tore as talons sprang forth from her hooves, her limbs extended ripping cloth revealing black metal plates underneath that burned a sickly green in a hexagon pattern. Her wings became sharp spikes spreading out further and further unit the mare became an almost nightmarish version of an angel pony. The motherly smile she kept on her face became a disturbing grin as she looked towards the Demon Mare.

“Well now let’s get started shall we.”

The 12.7mm let out a burst of bullets that Dawn dodged, diving toward Blackjack with talons ready to strike. Blackjack grabbed her revolver with her free talons, letting loose a quick session of shots. Dawn blocked it with her wing giving Blackjack time to sidestep her dive. Dawn hit the floor and then covered her side as Blackjack continued firing at her, deciding to rush her Dawn used her wings as cover. When she closed the distance she bashed the Cybermare with her wing knocking Blackjack’s revolver into the air and onto the balcony. Blackjack jumped out of the way of the next slash, rolling to the side to put some space between her and her opponent. Blackjack quickly drew her sword with her free hoof. Blackjack attacked Dawn with a sword and pistol, the two doing a dance of death as the cyber mare’s shots and sword strikes were met with counters from one of Dawn’s metal feathers. Finally, Blackjack made contact with a slice across the pegasus mid-section, but it was only a flesh wound that was quickly countered by Dawn embedding her right hind talons into Blackjack’s chest. It pierce the armor but didn't connect with flesh, the cyber mare quickly recovered and slabbed her sword into the pegasus's left wing, tearing circuits and black liquid as the wing fell.

Dawn grunted detracting her talons from the Cyber Mare, leaping a few feet away. Both mares were tired, bruised, and had their own scars. “It’s been a long time since I’ve met a pony like you,” Dawn said through heavy breaths. “All this effort, all this improvement just to get me. My old teacher taught you well, I wonder if your the prized student she was waiting for.”

Blackjack paused at that, it didn’t take much to put two and two together. “Lacunae?”

“Oh, did she never tell you of me? How like her to never tell anypony who she really is. Yes, I was her student some 40 years ago, she trained me just like she trained you, to be the hope of Equestria. And you know what I was, she looked at me like I was prime princess material and hoped together we could help the Wasteland. That was until I saw the results of her teachings, nothing. It was when I left her and found my own way did I find the path to restoring the old world, but.” Dawn took up a fighting stance her eyes changed from green to a pink glow. “She did give me a few life lessons.”

Blackjack shot at her only for the pegasus to disappear into a flash of magic and reappeared next to the glass window that made up an entire wall. She stared on in complete perplexity at what she just witnessed.

“Th-that’s impossible! Your fucking pegasus you can’t use magic like that, you don’t have a horn!”

Dawn just broke out in laughter at the Cyber Mare's lost for words. “I guess you aren’t her most prized student, otherwise you’d probably be using that broken horn of yours.” She kept teleporting around the room just to let the jab of that mark sink in. “What, did she never teach you to center yourself in the Elements?”

Blackjack roared in anger, shooting wildly hoping to hit Dawn as she kept teleporting while laughing. When she appeared to her left Blackjack shot at her, when she appeared to her right Blackjack slashed at her with the sword, then she appeared in front of the Cyber Mare but before she could act a magic field encased her, lifted her up, and slammed her against the stone pillar in the center of the room.

Blackjack fought but her limbs were completely pinned. Dawn appeared before her a look of complete satisfaction written all over her face. “It seems after all of this, at the end it was all for nothing.” Dawn gestured with her left forehoof and Blackjack’s left hoof was torn off with loud metallic screams. “You gave up everything, your body, your free will just to get back at me. I’d almost be impressed by how dedicated you are, you almost remind me of who I used to be if it was more pathetic.” With another gesture, Blackjack’s right hoof was torn off, and the Cyber Mare screamed out in pain that pegasus hummed happily too.

Dawn lowered her defeated archenemy to the floor, walking up to her with an air of triumph around her. Before Blackjack could get up Dawn smashed her down with her right hind leg, looming over the cyber mare she readied herself for the kill.

“This is what happens when demons fight angels, they get SMITED!” she drove her fore talons at the mare’s neck.

The loud bang of a pistol went off, and a hole formed in Dawn’s head. The pegasus fell back confused, barely able to process what was happening. All she did was look up, and another bang and a hole blasted into her eye socket. She uttered a word before falling over.

Blackjack could barely sit up, her vision blurred as numbers and symbols flashed across her vision. her left eye being the only one that could gaze up at her savior. Who she saw made her heart stop, above her Glory held her .45 pistol Sacrifice in her mouth, the barrel still smoking from the shot. Blackjack saw the hurt look in her eye and tried to get up and comfort her but she fell. Glory getting knocked out of her trace spit the gun out rushing to Blackjack’s side.

“I’m sorry Glory. I should have come sooner. Guess I’m still an idiot huh?” The two embraced in a hug as the pegasus cried into her wife’s chest. “I’m sorry, so sorry.

Another mecha pony fell to Lacunae’s hooves as the Alicorn and her Zebra companions kept shooting the bots as they entered the room, they had set up a Killzone around the entrance using the giant terminals as cover. When the Mechas entered Lacunae would damage them by tearing parts of their body off and holding them in place as the Zebra struck their joints and exposed parts. A pile of scrap was building up in the entryway, enough that the mecha started crawling above them.

“I must say Lacunae you’ve surpassed my expectations of you.” Lacunae quietly snorted at the smug purs of the AI, firing two shots into a mecha’s face as catharsis. “you are a star example of the power of magic, science, and talent, a true successor to the princesses but organics no matter how great have their limits!”

Lacunae wondered if her ‘goddess’ and this machine would be great friends, they had the ego to share. “At least you have the mindset of a princess.”

“It’s inevitable that you-, what?” For the first time the AI sounded completely lost, for a few minutes, her boasting became complete silence. Lacunae gave the speaker a passing glance but she knew by surprise what happened. “Dawn.”

“Is dead I take it? Seems your greatest student couldn’t measure up to mine. Sorry for your loss, it’s a hard thing for a teacher to suffer.” If the AI could seethe Lacunae imagine it glaring daggers at her, which filled her with the best satisfaction.

“THE PLEASURE WILL BE MUTUAL IN A FEW MINUTES WHEN THAT BUILDING GOES UP IN SMOKE!” The speakers growled with such venom that Lacunae didn’t know an AI could have.

“What?”

“Oh yes, that building is set to go off! A nice Balefire Megaspell surprise to get rid of all my enemies at once. I have the code to set it off at a moment’s notice!”

“No!”

“Time to wipe out those fucking trash of the Wasteland! Say goodbye.” Lacunae’s heart stopped, she tried to center herself to reach out to sense if her friends were okay but endless waves of mechas kept her attention divided. Her heart sank at the idea, that Arloste and Blackjack were gone, once again she’d be the lone survivor. “What, why isn’t it WORKING!” Lacunae heard the angry static shout of the AI, barely able to comprehend what was happening. “WHY IS MY MEGASPELL DEACTIVATED!”

Lacuna let out the loudest sigh of relief she had ever felt in her entire life, praying to every Element for the miracle they had bestowed upon her. “Thank you, thanks to the Elements that guide us.” She kept thanking in joy as she blasted apart another mecha that tried to rush her. “If this sign for me become holier then I will the truest priestess ever. I will do every Element every day, even fertility.”

“WHY ISN'T MY MEGASPELL WORKING!”

Glory dragged Blackjack down a greying battle-torn hallway, the Cybermare being placed on a cart Glory found in her apartment’s closet. Though she made some good distance the weight of Blackjack was like pulling a train car to her, she fought with all her might to carry her wife but was never an athletic pony.

Just need to find a Reaper, hopefully, Rampage.” She wiped the sweat from her head through short breaths. “Come on Glory, your a medical pony you need to take care of your patient.”

As she pulled more and more the feeling of her legs giving out became more apparent. She was just about to collapse when the sound of ponies yelling made her leap. “Down here I heard somepony!”

She turned around to see a sight she’d never thought she’d be happy to see, Reapers wearing their battle-worn armor sheer with gore. “Hey, a Harbinger looks like she’s carrying.” The pony’s eyes narrowed through the visor of their helmet. “Is that Blackjack!?”

“Isn’t that Dawn? Did she take out Jack!” Both ponies look ready to charge with bladed weapons darwn from hoof gauntlets.

“Wait it’s me Glory! Blackjack’s injured and needs medical attention. “

“Well, that’s a whiny voice I haven’t heard in a hot minute.” Trotting up behind the two Reapers was a blood-covered red-striped Zony with a Hydra pony’s head stuck in her helmet’s spike. When Glory locked eyes with her the pegasus let out a sigh of relief. “Calm down kids it’s just my old friend, chicken brains.”

“Don’t call me that!” The pegasus grey face turned redder than apples, she tried to refocus on Blackjack to get away from the embarrassment she felt as Rampage laughed. “Rampage Blackjack needs help! I need you to carry her for me!”

“It’s good to see your alright girl.” Rampage examined the unconscious Blackjack, sparks hissing from her arms. “Jack’s seen better, but she’s been through worst. Unhook yourself and follow me. We gotta little camp outside.”

Glory followed suit, but as she was getting loose her makeshift Pipbuck started beeping. She tapped a green button that ceased the Pipbuck's whaling.

“What’s that?” Rampage asked hooking herself into the pulley.

“Oh, my mom and her boss set up a surprise for you. Don’t worry though I disabled it.” Glory shrugged as she fluttered above the cart to keep watch on Blackjack. Rampage didn’t pay it any mind as she dragged the knocked-out Cyber Mare with pegasus and Reapers in toe.

“DAMN IT.” Lacunae didn’t think it was possible for an AI to have freakouts, she just pictured the snarl the machine would have if it had a face. “Know what. I can rebuild this, and find a better student, this isn’t a failure just a miscalculation. I just need to correct one mistake first.”

From down the tunnel, a loud thunderous stomp was heard, then another, and another. The mechas in the hall stopped cold as if they had been turned off. The stomps got louder as a long shadow loomed into view, then it appeared. Mecha Alicorn, large than even an Alicorn with a black metal body and long holographic red mane.

“Lacunae I would like you to meet my future body, the goddess model. Say hello to it and goodbye.” The Mechanize Alicorn’s eyes began powering up in a fashion that didn't bold well.

“Everyone to me!” Lacunae shouted with haste, no Zebra had to be told twice. They quickly galloped to Lacunae as her horn lit up, the mecha Alicorn fired a beam that tore through the lesser copies in front of it. Lacunae and Zebras disappeared just as the room they were in was set ablaze. Appearing a floor up, Lacunae pointed a hoof at a stairwell down the hallway. “Get out of here. I’ll hold her off.”

“What about the plan?” Zephyr protested.

“I’ll think of something just go!” Lacunae’s voice boomed with an unnatural commanding tone that could shatter eardrums. Most of the Zebras were down the hall in seconds, Zephyr tried to argue but the timely arrival of the mecha Alicorn in a flash of lightning ended that discussion. “Leave now!”

“Oh, no need to leave yet! We’re just getting started.” The Mecha's eyes lit up again ready to fire.

Lacunae acted quickly, just as the machine was ready to shoot she encased the mecha’s head inside a magical bubble. The explosion that went off sounded like three buildings collapsing as energy consumed the mecha’s head. Zephyr didn’t stick around to see if the mecha was truly dead she was galloping up the stairwell with her companions.

The mecha broke free of the bubble, looking around to see nopony was there. She was about to teleport away when magical arrows slabbed into her from the side. The arrows sprung against the heavy metal body of the mecha, the mecha began blasting in all directions, burning through walls ad destroying rooms. She didn’t notice her hooves being grabbed by magical rope that pulled her into the floor. Dragging her down into a maintenance room, the mecha Alicorn smashed into a crate of unused cybernetics that spilled onto the floor.

From all around magical chains began to form, as the mecha pony tried to stand she found herself bound by the chains that wrapped around her. She struggled then let loose a mighty blast of energy from her body that tore the chains apart, melting the metals of the room. “Fight me you coward!” Mecha shouted as she left the melting room.

She galloped down the hallway, looking for anywhere the Alicorn could be, scanning any room for even a slight bit of movement. However, she realized something was wrong. She kept galloping around repeating the same area over and over again. “Stealth teleportation or a mirror spell?” The mecha looked up at the ceiling. “It doesn’t matter! It won’t stop me!” The machine blasted a hole through several layers of concrete up until she knew it hit the rock of the mountain. Through her freshly created peep hole the mecha Alicorn spotted a glance of a tail fleeing away. “There you are.”

Teleporting two levels up, the mecha Alicorn wasted no time starting a path of destruction to everything in front of her. Harbingers' corpses burned, rooms were destroyed, and fire spread everywhere. Her search of death was unstoppable until she came across the congregation area. When the mecha fired its beams into the room it was absorbed by a magical bubble that surrounded an invisible figure. “Found You!”

The mecha Alicorn’s horn exploded out with power as she fired a beam as big as a pony into the room. Lacunae dropped her invisibility spell to increase her magical shield to meet the mecha’s death beam. Red clashed against blue in a rainbow fight as energy sparked setting seats around the congregation on fire. Both were equally matched, and both pulled in their power to their max. But inch by inch the mecha’s beam began pushing back.

“I told you, no organic can stand against my perfect form. You should have taken my hoof when I gave it to you.”

“Please, the minute I would have let my guard down you’d murdered me. No way you’d ever trusted a pony like me not to kill you. Plus, I think the world is better without princesses or goddesses.” Lacunae smirked but sweat started falling from her head. “that, and I have you where I want you.”

The mecha Alicorn laughed so loud and hard that she sounded like a real pony. “Wow, Lacunae didn’t think you were the overconfidence type. What? Have another spell to evade me? I think your running out of room.”

“Oh, it’s not a spell that’s my ace in the hole.”

Through empty halls of the base, a little shadow moved unnoticed by Cognitum, moving quietly level through the level until it found an unassuming black door. A panel sat to the side looking untouched for years until it sprung to life and started resetting code. The doors slid open to an old elevator, and the shadow entered.

“What?” The mecha started muttering in confusion. “Somepony opened the doors!” She said in utter complete terror. “But only Dawn and-” If Cognitum could feel shocked and fear it was vibrating in her voice now. “No, no, no,no no. They can’t reach there.”

The Mecha Alicorn tried to break off her struggle with Lacunae only to find her body struck as the same rope that dragged her through the floor kept her in place. “Just need to make sure you stay here, don’t want to miss our little fight.” Lacunae smugly jested as magical chains warped around the mecha’s body.

“No, no, no, no, no stop!”

The metal doors slid open to a small room, two giant box-shaped machines took up most of the room with narrow spaces between. Placed against the opposite wall the faint bluish light of a monitor shined in the dimness of the room, it’s screen flickering, a red line running across its surface.

Appearing into the room from cracks of magical energy was one overjoyed robotic yellow filly “Hello Cognitum.”

“Applebloom! But how, I thought you were. How’d you get that body” The Machine babbled in utter complete shock and confusion.

“Charity flip the bill for my new bod. And how easy it is to trick you when your not looking for it. You should’ve questioned why Lacunae never just teleported away.” With a hiss the chest plate of the small filly robot opened to a port that jetted out a horseshoe-shaped disk. “Brought a present for you, a nice holodisk with a few thousand viruses that will delete any software.”

One would think it was impossible for an AI to feel fear, but for Cognitum the feeling was a new sensation. “Wait, wait! Surely we can talk this over, I’m one for listening. I could provide aid to you and Charity as repentance to mend our bad terms.”

The robot filly tipped its head to the side as if to say ‘really?’. “Charity said you tried to cut a deal so she left you a very message Cog.”

The robot’s eyes lit up, her pupils turning into tape recorders. From speakers in the machine’s chest, the voice of Charity spoke. “Hello there, Cognitum. If your hearing this it means everything is going exactly as planned. Now, I'll cut right to the chase, you have caused me more financial damage than any pony in my entire life…You have burned the business I fought tooth and nail to build from the ground up. You gave the slavers the means to enslave all the Crusaders, all the lost fillies and foals of the Hoof, my friends just so you could cover your tracks. You have taken my best friend in the entire world Scotch Tape away from me and left me to the torture of my sister and her cronies. All of which is just a drop in the pain you’ve caused every Demon Mare. You made Blackjack into the violent killer, you took away the only sense of normalcy Rampage and Lacunae had, and made Apple AI’s life a living hell for two hundred years. All of that to give you a gift, a floppy with code design by pre-war software ponies for destroying any complex learning systems while leaving the system functional, don’t want to lose a good terminal.”

When the recording cut off Applebot approached the machine with an aura of a cereal killer. Mini turrets popped out of the ceiling and shot at the coming robot filly, but they bounced off harmlessly as the robot hummed and skipped toward her victim.

The synthetic voice of the maneframe protest with fear one wouldn't think possible. “No! Don’t do that! Listen, you can have the city, I can be your co-ruler.” The begging fell on death's ears as the wire from the floppy was inserted into a port in the machine. “I’m the last princess of Equestria, your savior. You wouldn’t kill your princess would you?”

Applebot shrugged. “Sorry I didn’t vote for you.”

As the disk went in the screen went wild with symbols, numbers, and letters flowing across in a chaotic fashion. Through it all the screams hollowed from maneframe, glitchy voice muttering nonsense as Applebotstared on in glee. Finally, it all went silent as the screen turned a flashy red and then shut off.

The mecha Alicorn screamed of nonsensical numbers, breaking off its struggle with Lacunae as it begin to flick madly. “Hmm, seems the plan worked. Now time to stop pretending.”

Lacunae’s eyes became pure light, her horn shined with the brightness of the sun. magic surrounded the screaming mecha, lifting her into the air, then stretching her limbs out. With cracks and pops, each limb was torn off in beautiful, sparks and wires until only the head and torso were left. And with a mighty blast, the body was blown apart

The mecha went silent as its head rolled across the floor up to Lacunae’s feet. Lacunae sighed, looking around the burning place of worship and hating the almost cosmic joke of the image. She let out a sigh and pulled out a bottle of red wine and a can. Pouring herself a sizeable drink she took a long gulp. “Oh, that hit the spot.”

good day

I woke up this morning like "I gotta get going!"
Tomorrow's not promised so I live in the moment
It's a good day to have a good day
It's a good day to have a good day_4Qent100

“Got that list of deals you wanted.” Applebot cheerfully hopped into the former communication room turned Charity’s office, the pre-war equipment had been moved to the side and replaced with stacks on stacks of papers.

Charity sat back in her chair looking over several documents, counting costs, and writing her signature across all of them. Sometimes she wondered if trading a desk job for a storefront was a good idea but hey she made more money. “Sugarcube those logs are ready.” Applebot trotted into the office carrying a stack of papers. “Ready to publish and go.”

Charity didn’t stare at the robot filly, the unicorn filly simply pointed her pencil at the building stack to her right. Applebot nodded and use mechanical arms that sprouted out of its body to stack the papers higher. “Golly hon, I think ya need to time off. Maybe you should go with Lacunae to Tenpony.”

Charity gave a wide birth at the idea. “I got work to do, setting up a company ain’t easy Apple.” She did stop to look at the robot with a hint of curiosity. “How’s the love bird doing?”

“She’s enjoying it judging by her last message, I haven’t heard her that happy in years.”

Scores of ponies galloped down the well-cleaned marvel floors of the tower, they stopped shopping in the tower’s classy markets, left their fine rooms, and huddled around one cafe where they stared on in shock at the sight before them. An Alicorn eating pies, cakes, and drinking wine like it was a heavenly gift. Her lover a muscularly large white stallion sat across from her eating a well cooked Radrat steak.

“Aw, now this is the reward worth fighting for. Elements thank you for guiding us, we’re avatars of your will.” Lacunae sent a prayer out before indulging in a cream filled cake.

“I see you're praising the Elements of joy and fun well.” Stronghooves said through bites of meat.

“Yes, I swore I’d praise every Element this vacation.” She said taking a huge bite of her cake before golfing it down with wine.

“To praise the Elements one must live life to its fullest, savoring in all the good and bad. For when one knows the variety of life can one know the Elements path.” Lacunae had to stop mid bite to stare on in shock at the stallion.

“Starreacher 4:17.” she finished. “That’s the prayer of the priesthood how-”

“My dear lady I’ve been studying your faith in a matter to understand your way of life. I’m not sure if I’m an expert yet but I’ve found its tenements quite beautiful.” Lacunae didn’t know what to say, few ponies had ever gone this far to ever understand her. He was always doing this, trying his best to impress her, and making her feel welcome and comforted. He really was a knight.

“So you’ve studied the tenets of the Elements?”

“Enough I could probably recall most of them.”

“Enough to practice them?”

Stronghoove scratched his head. “Uh, I’m not familiar with the methods of worship but I'll study up on them to practice.”

“Oh, I could help, planning to practice the Element of fertility tonight.” Lacunae purred at him. Stronghooves stared confused for a minute wondering what that partell.

“If it would please you I'll partake in it my lady, we can pray together.”

Lacunae burst out laughing much to Stronghoove's complete bewilderment. “Strong, I love you. Never stop being my lovely knight.”

They both shared a laugh, uncaring of the crowds of well-dressed ponies looking at them. They were absorbed into each other and that’s all that mattered.

“Ew, I’ll never get what they see in each other.” Charity mocked finishing another stack of papers.

“you will understand when you're older. One day I’ll have a Stronghoove to take care of you.” Charity rolled her eyes at the robot.

Trying to focus on her work she saw a paper detailing reports of Harbinger camps that were still being cleaned out by the Reapers and Legion, there were still holdouts in the east and west with Rampage leading the charge. “Wonder how that’s going?”

Rampage landed with a sicking crunch on top of a heavily armored pony, the pony becoming a bloody metal splat under her hooves. Rampage was kindly met with a storm of bullets that either bounced or embedded into her armor. She just shrugged at the attempt.

“Ya think Zebs would get this doesn’t work on me but Nah. Ya still just shoot me like it means something.” Rampage rushed another pony impaling them on her helmet spike before throwing their lifeless body at another pony and slashing through them.

She had almost single hoofly destroyed the outer defenses of a Harbinger compound. It was a warehouse on a hill with still standing pre-war walls around it, the Harbingers had built sniper towers at every corner making full assaults useless unless you had Rampage of course. As the stripe zony kicked the 40ft tower over in a single strike scorns of Reapers and legion poured into the breach she made.

“Ah, better let the kids stomp this. Don’t want to baby them.”As Rampage started to trot towards the entrance of the compound shouts for her froze the Zony.

“Ma’am Rampage! Where are you going.?” The red striped zony turned to see Mallet, Smoky, and Cuffs galloping up. The three mares had newly ‘acquired’ power armor thanks to the Harbingers and decided to decorate them with typical Reaper designs, Hoofball icons and hides. “Your leaving already?” Mallet said disappointment in her voice.

“Yeah, we’re having another contest with the Legion. The winner gets all the loot.” Cuff explained excitedly. “Heard the Harbingers still got some heavy stuff, I’ve been hoping I get a minigun.”

Rampage rolled her eyes chuckling at her kid's wanting love for fighting. “Girl yo ass don’t need any more shit. Ya already look like a tin can with chains and axes knives drawn on, yo ass needs a hair kit more, looking at that mess.” She said swirling the turquoise mare’s mane. “Besides, I gotta go, Charity needs me to start packing our things back in the lair. Y’all can deal with this.”

The three knew that trying to argue with Rampage was impossible so they used the only weakness she had, sad filly faces. “Please stay Mama Rampage.” They said in unison while putting on the saddest faces they could.

Rampage had gotten this tactic from many foals throughout the decades, she had built up a resistance to it. “Nah, ya’ll baby eyes ain’t working. Ya ain’t not fillies anymore!”

Their stares just got harder. “Please!”

“No.”

“Please mama.” Their stares only got harder.

“Y’all must think I’ve upgraded from milf to gilf to think I’ll spoil you every time you ask me for something.” They did not stop, they did not falter, their sad stares only bore more into the zony’s soul, and no matter how much she build up resistance Rampage wasn’t immune. “Spirits damn it, you y'all win, just drop that baby act. I spoiled ya’ll too much when you were kids.”

The three mares hugged the Zony, giving her thanks like the mother she was to them. “Alright, let’s get smashing girls.” Rampage grinned evilly at the compound with malicious intent.

Charity sighed as she finished signing the last paper. She started reconsidering that vacation hard, maybe once they took over the city she could take a month off. “Nah, I’ll lose profits that way.” Looking over at Applebot who was humming while playing around with a ball on the floor. The AI had some grasp of how to play the game but kept kicking the ball under her. “No, no, no, no. Your suppose keep it between your forehooves, here let me show you.”

The filly hopped outa her chair and then proceed to take the ball from the bot. She played with it effortlessly, kicking it between her hooves, against an empty wall then back when it rebounded, even bouncing it on her head without even letting it touch the floor.

“Wow, Charity your a pro!” Applebot said in utter amazment.

“The other Crusaders use to call me kickmare, I’d beat every pony who tried to play with me. Did that so much they ban me from playing, that and I got a lot of money from bets.” Oh, the pride Charity took in the mountain of build-up caps from her hoofball days.

Applebot looked at the filly playing ball and saw something she had not seen in the her in a long time. Charity being a foal again, she was still the money obsessed capital horse she was but now there was a sense of return to that good filly she met years ago. It was as if she was finally free from the stress of it all. Seeing Charity playing with the ball did give Applebot an idea.

“Say Charity.”

“Yeah.”

“After we set up in the city can you teach me how to play Hoofball?”

Charity looked at the bot and pondered it. It had been so long since she’d actually trained somepony in well anything, but she guessed she could try at it. “You know what, yeah I help you learn and we play together. Yeah, I’ll take a month off and teach ya.”

Applebot gave a resounding. “yaw!” While jumping around.

“But only if you help me clear out my room before we leave here.” Applebot nodded and galloped to join her in the mock game, missing a lot but being helped by Charity.

Returning to the town she once called home hasn't been easy for her, the cracking of the wood and destroyed or empty buildings gave the town an eerie feeling she didn’t like seeing. But she promised Glory she would do it, that no matter how much she hated her Dawn still deserve a proper burial.

Carrying the pony size casket on her back as she and the grey pegasus passed a burnout building, Blackjack sighed at what she was doing. Looking at the ruined structure she felt guilty at what had happened here, once the town’s church where she and her friends gathered to seek safety and guidance from Rampage’s late husband, now was a dead shell of its former self. She wondered how Priest would feel seeing his church like this.

Passing out of the dead town the pair trotted up toward a field of gravestones. Most looked whether by time but there were a few that looked well kept and new. There were five of them, all made of marvel with the names: Priest, Harpica, Rose, and P21 written on them. The last name made Blackjack just look away, this place just gave her bad memories.

As Glory and Blackjack stood above the grave, she swung off the casket and gently placed it into the ditch. Blackjack started using the shovel to pile dirt into the grave, remembering a prayer Lacunae knew all too well. “Harmony reminds us that there is no true love without suffering, there is no gift of life without pain.”

Tears began to well up in Glory’s eyes as the words of the prayer filled her. Blackjack embraced her in a hug, she needed to be her wife’s anchor right now, whatever feelings she felt about being here again she fought down, she would be strong for Glory. “It’s okay Glory, It’s over okay. You don’t have to suffer anymore. I will be here to protect you no matter what you hear me?”

“I hate her for what she did to you Blackjack but. She was still my mother, and I killed her, I.” With that the cyber mare sheesh her lover, not wanting her to go down that train of thought.

“You were only defending me, your not a killer Glory. Not like me”

They stood there paying some level of respect to the former prophet, After three years it was finally over, the revenge Blackjack so cling to was theirs now there was only one thing left. Glory left a flower at the gravestone’s base muttering a prayer as she left her behind, all the mares trotted away from the town leaving their former lives behind for good. Instead, they step toward their future.

The Demon Mares stood on a bridge extended over a river to the monolithic walls of the city of Hoofington, beyond them stood the towering form of dozens of skyscrapers, some that pierced the cloud cover like spikes born out of the ground. Charity stood before it with waiting eyes at her prize. She lifted the Pipbuck on her left hoof and she spoke into it with vigorous joy. “Okay, Apple Bloom we’re ready, open that sucker for us.”

The loud screeching sound of metal moving hollowed out as the wall began to part. Slowly opening to the sight of wondrous streets where the lights still flicker in buildings making it seem as if the city never died. But the sighs of Balefire still touched here as the skeleton littered the entire sidewalk, there were ponds of radiation and mutagenic taint flowing everywhere.

Glory turned to Blackjack with a sense of hope in her heart. “We can actually make the Wasteland a better place now. We can make that bright future that Mom wanted.” She’d hope this would make up for it, that her mother’s evil led to good in the end gave her peace of mind.

“Well come then stop waiting.” Rampage galloped off without hesitation leaving her friends stunned. “The first one who finds the best hotel for us to live in gets the best VIP room.”

Lacunae chuckled, never once in their whole friendship did the striped mare fail to brighten the mood. “Artsole wait you don’t know if there are Ghouls here.” the alicorn nodded to Charity, the yellow filly was then lifted onto her back as the Alicorn took flight.

Both Blackjack and Glory laughed, the somber mood lifting as they both chased after their friends toward a brighter future.

End.

Mods:

Project New Horizons: A huge modification to the base Project Horizons, this mod overhauls factions, characters, and the main plot to new twists and turns. Adds new subplots with new endings, fight old enemies in a new way.

Cybermare of the new age: Adds 50 new cybernetics to the game, upgrades your pony with addons that make them jump higher, shoot better, and have upgraded SATS, comes with a patch for PNH.

Alicorn redo: Lacunae gets a facelift in this mod adds more to her, more spells, more power, and more attitude. New improvement Lacunae with PNH addon.

Rampage, the zebra Reaper: Adds more zebra-like fighting abilities, now she can brew potions to use in battle. Has a PNH patch if using that mod

Charity, the capitalist filly: Become a worker for Charity and do quest unlocking new weapons and gear. If PNH is installed this adds her as a choice in the game.

Harbinger holy crusade: Redoes the Harbingers to make them more like a true faction in the wastes. Adds a base for them, upgrades their gear, adds variety to their NPCs, and scales but Dawn to make her more threatening than vanilla.

Blackjack's training Guillotine

Allow me to demonstrate the skill of Shaolin The special technique of shadowboxing

“Center yourself, quiet your thoughts, and reach out.”

That was easier said than done, she tried to clear her head, tried to center herself but her mind couldn’t focus on it. Her thoughts jumbled, too much was happening right now for her just to have a clear head. The coming fight, Dawn, her wife took up space in the Cybermare’s head.

“Reach out.”

She tried and tried again until finally, her eyes shot open. Blackjack looked at the item of her test, a simple five-pound weight. Even knowing her teacher’s glare Blackjack turned around to the expected disappointment on Alicorn’s face. She thought for a minute a little self-deprecation would help lighten the mood but clearly, Lacunae wouldn’t take joking right now.

“I’m sorry Lacunae. It’s just..not clicking.” Hanging her head in defeat Blackjack had long hoped Lacunae would get the picture that she was no good at this stuff, but the Alicorn assured her this was training she needed. “I don’t think this Elements stuff is working out Lacunae. I don’t need it anyway.”

“Oh really, you don’t miss your magic.” Lacunae raised an eyebrow.

“I think these.” Blackjack flexed her cyber limbs. “Make up for it. With all the training I did in the Zebra lands with Big Daddy and Hiroto, I’m more than ready for Dawn.”

Lacunae was no fool, she could see through those boasts was a layer of doubt, and the only way to prove that doubt wrong was to test it. “Then let’s see how good you are.”

“Huh?” Blackjack's confusion raised as Lacunae moved the gym equipment to the corners of the room with her magic. The gym was the largest room in the bunker, big enough for weight stacks and a few exercise bikes but little else, perfect space for combat training.

“Let’s have a little sparring contest. The rules are I can’t use my magic, just my hooves, my tail, and this training stick.” Magically floating two batons from the holder against the wall, floating one into Blackjack’s talons and the other into her mouth, Lacunae readied herself for battle.

Blackjack just stared at her in bewilderment. “You want to fight me? Without your magic, really? I know your a former commando or something Lacunae but I think I’m out of your league.”

The Alicorn just gave a dismissing snort. “You've tested yourself against Arloste, and failed twice, but not me. What are you afraid of getting kicked by a magicless Alicorn and shown to be the third rate of us?”

Blackjack just shook her head before lowering herself ready to strike. “Well, if you want to go then let’s do it.”

Teacher and student eyed each other, both waiting for the other to make a move. Each thinking of the other’s first move, each planning how the battle with playout, and the perfect way to end it.

In a flash, Blackjack struck like lightning, slashing viciously at the Alicorn. Even with the speed Blackjack was moving at Lacunae was able to sidestep the attack, when Blackjack followed up with a jab Lacunae bowed and bucked her chest knocking the Cybermare back. Blackjack caught herself but before she could fully recover Lacunae was on her.

Unleashing a flurry of hoof kicks and swipes that Blackjack formerly would have thought was impossible put her on the defensive. The Alicorn moved with such speed even the Cybermare with all her enhancements found it hard to keep up. Looking for a way out Blackjack dodged to the side by taking a hit to the gut. Rolling onto her hooves the Cybermare collected herself for a second, Lacunae didn’t strike she let her student compose herself.

Blackjack caught her breath, thinking of ways for her to best proceed. She began circling the outer reaches of the sparring area, Lacunae following suit. Then waited until Lacunae was right against the corner to rush her. Blackjack charged the Alicorn, and leaped into the air ready to bring her baton down in a powerful slash. Lacunae geared up for the attack only to be surprised when the attack didn’t come, instead, Blackjack landed in front of her jabbing at Lacunae’s chest. The attack knocked the Alicorn back into the corner, where her student delivered a series of blows that knocked the baton from Lacunae's mouth. Using her wings Lacunae fluttered out of the way of another jab, gliding to the center of the room.

Blackjack smugly laid her baton across her shoulder as if to mock her teacher. “Told you. Sorry if I bruised you too much Lacunae.” the hint of annoyance Blackjack saw in her teacher gave her a sense of pride. Perhaps she had finally surpassed even her. “See, I don’t need to find myself or any of that other nonsense. I’m already tough enough as it is.”

“I think you're celebrating a bit to early Blackjack. I’m only just getting started.” Magically floating a towel over to her, Lacunae wrapped her face in a tight bind to block out any light. “Your talent is amazing my faithful student, but let’s see what it's like when facing the Elements full force.”

Blackjack had to stifle a laugh to make sure her teacher couldn’t hear it. She was already at a disadvantage why add to it? “Eh, Lacunae I think that’s enough hoofcaps. You're making me win too easy.”

“Shut up and fight Blackjack.”

Both readied themselves again, circling each other like prey and hunter. Blackjack charge her like a speeding bullet going for a quick slash to her chin, only to be met with nothing. Blackjack had to blink twice, Lacunae was just there but then she was gone. Her E.F.S showed her Lacunae was behind her.

Turning to face her teacher she saw Lacunae standing in the same stance as if she hadn’t moved. Blackjack didn’t give it much thought, some magic trick or some spell, she rushed her again. This time Lacunae did dodge, with little effort the tall easy-to-hit Alicorn avoided the Cybermare’s strikes as if she wasn’t even paying attention.

Blackjack swiped at her hooves only for the Alicorn to jump, right into Blackjack’s follow-up attack. Blackjack fell back to deliver an upper kick to Lacunae’s jaw, but her backhoof was grabbed by Lacunae’s tail before it could connect. Blackjack was thrown back across the floor, before she could even get up Lacunae was on her. Grabbing Blackjack’s tail with her mouth and throwing her into the air, then following up with a hard buck sending Blackjack crashing into a wall. The air was knocked clean out of the Cybermare but Lacunae was on her again, a series of kicks repeatedly smashed the Cybermare against the wall until the Blackjack lost consciousness.

“Maybe that was a little rough.” Blackjack’s eyes slowly crept open to the distressed voice of Lacunae looking down at her. “Are you alright Blackjack?”

Yes, if feeling like a train hit you was normal. “I just need some spell that’s all.” When Blackjac tried to get up her body fought like hell to tell her to lay down. “Ouch.”

“Let me take care of that.” With a flash of magic, Blackjack was on her feet again.

As she dusted herself off a single thought ran through her mind. “How, how were you that good? Like do you got some weird super spell that lets you see the future?”

“The Elements my dear student. They allow you to see all the paths of the world, to see how the Elements move through everything. In a sense they allowed me to see every path of attack you would choose.”

“So Super Duper Powerful Spell huh?”

Lacunae rolled her eyes and patted her student on the back. “Their more than just powers, they are your connection to yourself and the Universe. Learn to use them and you will be just as great as the users of the Elements of harmony. To truly regain your magic you must center yourself. Learn yourself and your enemy and you will lose no battle. Now come I believe we deserve a snack.” Lacunae said while making for the door.

Blackjack considered that maybe she shouldn’t give up on this Elements stuff. Even if she can’t master it, it still wouldn’t hurt to learn it. Still, the battle with Dawn was soon, not enough time for her to find herself. She can soul search after the bitch that ruined her life is gone. “I’ll think about it.”

Mods:

Magic of the Elements: Unlock new skills, spells, and abilities for all races. Tab into the Elements of chaos, harmony, death, life, and order to make your character a powerhouse! Must be trained by a user of the Elements first.

Get into Fighting games!: new combat animations with the ability to string together combos like a good old fighting game!