"The flesh must be perfect!"

"What am I getting wrong!?"

"GODDESS SHOW ME! WHAT AM I MISSING!"

"Wait..."

"Can you hear me?"

"HAHAHAHA! FINALLY I-! Wait... NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!"

"What have I done to deserve your spite?! Goddess, why have you allowed this one to breathe? It's not perfect none of them are!"

*BANG!*

"BREACH! BREACH!"

-

Salem walked through the darkness without direction, save for the urge to move forward.

It was dark here.

But Salem didn't mind he was used to it by now, even before going under the improver.

All he could remember was the dark before the cruel light that met him when he awoke in that black site, he could still remember how it burned his eyes when he opened them.

His memories from before were long gone, leaving him with his first memory being the pain that came from light where darkness only provided safety.

Safety from the sun...

Safety from THEM.

Salem's eyes darted to the ground he walked finding a path that appeared from the darkness, a path made from something impossible to describe.

It was...

Familiar to Salem.

It was almost like a familiar street, almost as if he had walked a thousand times over.

At the end of the path, Salem found the end where a seat rested like it was waiting for him.

On one end of that seat, he rested a dark figure staring out into the boundless abyss.

"I believe you earned a break from those shattered memories of yours," Salem stood silently at the stranger's voice.

The terrian never met this man before yet he knew him quite well.

However, Salem never expected to meet him here.

"Come sit," The dream entity offered patting the space on the park bench not taking his unseen eyes off of the endless void.

"Why are you here?" Salem questioned while he walked up to the park bench.

"Now? I know you read those documents about me. You know why I'm here speaking with you," The entity held his briefcase close.

Salem all be it hesitantly took a seat next to the entity knowing this dream-like being wouldn't harm him, at least that is what the documents had told him.

"I am not supposed to do this you know," The entity reached for his hat and took it off resting it on top of the briefcase on his lap. "I couldn't warn your people about the sun. It surprised even my kin and I. However when they lost hope and moved on I couldn't just leave,"

The SCP huffed still clinging to his hat.

"Not yet anyways,"

Salem stared quietly letting the entity take a moment.

"I spent the past few years warning survivors about hordes and hunting infection groups, but despite my best efforts, they all were brought into the light. Leaving me with a few humans left... you'll be surprised Salem you weren't the last human," The entity spoke with a hint of hope in his voice.

At the mention of this Salem's heart went light for a moment at the entity's word, however, it was quick to be replaced with the realization that he could go back. This was a one-way trip, after all, even if Celestia could find a way back it would be highly unlike be HIS earth.

"Last time I checked Doctor Bright and a fellow college of his were attempting to use SCP-2000 to fix everything," The SCP told the terrain. "But-"

"But what?"

"The flesh was willing to do anything not to lose its hold on Mother Giga and her children,"

No words were needed leaving the two back in silence until the void slowly began to change around them.

"Now then... even though I couldn't save Earth maybe I can help you save this world,"

Tilting his head at the SCP's words Salem shifted in his seat.

"What do you mean by that?"

Placing his hat back on his head the entity huffed while the void began to take a new form, a familiar form in the shape of a location Salem knew quite well.

Canterlot...

"What is this?"

As if to answer him the entity pointed to the castle.

"A future... one I hope not to see come to fruition," The dream walker announced.

Salem would not ask another question but then in a blink, the entire mountainside roared into a ball of white light in a split second until it disburst. The unrivaled destruction harmless passed through Salem and the SCP however the land around ground zero was completely scorched into burning ash within milliseconds. His eyes widened at this needless destruction upon a place of such peace, the terrain had not been on this world long but seeing this made his blood run ice cold.

No one deserves such a fate, especially them.

"W-who does this?" Salem asked his voice almost cracking at the horrid vision he had witnessed.

The entity turned to look at Salem in silence, leaving the two in a barn wasteland that was once the lush fields surrounding the capital of Equestria under a dark sky chocking the sunlight.

Salem stared at the entity whose blank shadow-covered face stared back.

Nothing.

Not a single word.

"Tell me,"

...

...

...

"Tell me!"

...

...

...

"TELL ME!" Salem slammed his hand on the back of the park bench, however his armored fist didn't even scratch the wood.

The entity stood up from his seat while staring at Salem lifelessly.

Again no words were spoken by the entity leaving the only sound being heard was the hallowed breathing of Salem.

As a viper coiled for prey Salem was grabbed by the side of his head and pulled in by the entity who whispered into Salem's ear.

"You will find yourself on a path of bones that you will need the guidance of an enemy to show you the way.

There you and your companions discover a lantern that will show you a path of light.

Where you will find a long-dead hope being raised from ruin.

A land of peace will be turned by turmoil from within.

You and many others will be betrayed.

The dead will be defiled.

Brother will slay brother.

Blood will flow.

A choice will reveal itself.

The crown...

Or the wings,"

"Inquisitor!" Titus' voice snapped Salem awake while being shaken by the space marine.

"I'm awake!" Salem rasped aloud causing the massive superhuman to let the Chimera go.

Looking down at Salem, still breathing fairly heavily after the dream he had been rudely woken from.

"You were convulsing,"

"I'm Fine... just had a visitor in my dream,"

"What sort of visitor? Was it a daemon?"

"No, it was a friend," Salem huffed while he felt the familiar coil of someone wrapping around his arm. "Somone from home,"

Watching Malo and Titus snap at his response, the blue giant and the impossible lady leaned forward, asking the same question with and without words.

"Who was it?"

"Nine-Nine-Zero,"

"The dream oracle?" Titus asked to which Salem looked up.

"Been reading the file documents haven't you?"

"Of course! But inquisitor, what did 990 say to you?"

"He gave me a warning,"

"What kind of warning,"

"The one that involves genocide,"

Titus and Malo stood still in silence while Salem huffed.

"We need to warn them," Salem spoke while Titus crossed his arms and nodded.

"Do you think that is wise Inquisitor?"

"Titus,"

"Inquisitor... Salem. You had risked your life for these 'ponies' and after what you and Lady Malo have done they turned you away," Titus looked down at Salem who stared back up at the Ultramarine. "Be careful my friend. Warning them of mass death after your political banishment from the capital wouldn't be sound,"

Salem huffed at Titus' logic.

"I know, I was just trying to be open about all of this,"

Titus rested a hand on Salem's shoulder.

"An open mind is like a fortress with its gates unbarred and unguarded," Titus quoted staring into Salem's helm. "A Blood Raven once told me that a long time ago. Do tread carefully Salem such thoughts can be your downfall,"

"I'll consider it," Salem turned away, arms crossed. "Thank you for your counsel son of Ultramar,"

Titus took a seat leaving the group in the train cart in silence, save for the sound of the train rocking.

(An hour later)

Salem felt the train come to a stop, the group rose from their seats but as they did the cart door slid open. Titus was about to raise his bolter but a quick hand from Salem stopped the former SCP from doing so.

"SUPRISE!" Pinkie Pie's voice greeted them followed by streams of confetti.

Baffled Salem blinked behind his helmet at the sight of a surprise party before the trio, both impressed and shocked at how the element of laughter assembled a party at such speed when the train just came to a halt. A large crowd greeted the three with smiles and clapping as they stepped off the train, confused Salem looked at the crowd.

There weren't just ponies but rather all sorts of strange creatures, Salem quickly recognized some of the creatures from the many books he had read during his time in the blacksite.

Dragons like Spike, strange-looking hippogriffs, griffins to Salem's fantasy surprise, changelings that looked nothing like their former queen, and some humanoid yaks.

Salem was quickly taken by the hand by Malo who bore a look of pure joy as she jumped up and down so excited before bolting down the covered path.

"Calm down! Stop pulling! You're going to take off my arm! Malo-!" Salem pleaded but his partner didn't listen leaving Titus on the welcoming mat alone.

The ultramarine was glaring under his helmet at the overwhelming loud sounds and bright colors being thrown at him, if he hadn't known better the sound and constant flashes would have been like that of a battlefield.

"Mister Blue Giant sir?" Titus looked down at a small pony child at his leg. "Thank you for saving the princess,"

Looking at the pony smiling up at him not fearful of his massive appearance, Titus looked at the child, normally he would not have bothered to give the abhuman child a second thought but upon Salem's orders, the space marine just nodded.

"You're quite welcome, little one," Titus said, walking off, leaving the pony child to smile. Seeing the 'blue giant' in person, his friends would never believe him.

Author's Note

WELL it's been a minute or should I say a... year but that is mostly because I lost my original editor and Fire hearth has stopped reading this story. Not upset I simply lost the urge to proceed, do I now?

Hells no, Space Marine 2 has breathed new life into this fic and I've been grinding it among other stuff that has inspired me to proceed with this. Like a certain SCP-1471 fan game that may have had a hand in inspiration.

Sorry for the short chapter but like I said had a hard time continuing this, but I figured to leave it here since the party wouldn't have anything bad happen like the last time. However, Salem's wouldn't get too comfortable in ponyville because something is going down when a favor is asked of him which will lead him on a course that will have him asking for help from... spoilers.

Friendships will be tested, secrets will be uncovered, truths will be lost, and old enemies will seem honest compared to new foes.

But let's just say things are going to get interesting and after all... you know what they say:

"No rest for the wicked,"