The cafeteria's bustle was a droning, draining, and dreadful clutter of blurred movement.
Not six feet above the floor rested the ceiling of the building, designed low so to save space for the many floors above it. A thrifty and rather neat decision, if one that consequently made the room entirely stifling thanks to its hundreds of occupants. Ponies, griffons, yaks, hippogriffs, and all manner of creatures filled the space completely, bumping and jostling each other on their way to retrieve the sustenance they required, if not desired.
There were no tables in the cafeteria, or furniture of any sort; anything nonessential had long ago been repurposed for greater things. The structure's floor, walls, and ceiling were a bland grey, a result of their steel composition. Much of the starship--too much, most would say--was the same, for strategic reasons that few beings wished to dwell upon for long.
At the very back of the building, opposite the front doors, sat a chin-high counter that spanned the room's length. Various baskets, boxes, and crates were set atop it, though they all contained the same substance. A mere seven unicorns and three kirin manned the counter, doling out proportional rations to every creature that approached.
Behind them was a dividing wall with a vibrantly-glowing Phasegate in the center, the only source of illumination aside from the harsh blue fluorescent lights above. The recent invention allowed only certain individuals into the room beyond, installed in hopes to prevent anything unsavory from occurring.
Seated near the edge of the organized chaos at the left side of the cafeteria was Roseluck, who sipped quietly away at her thermos as she waited. The mare's hooves ached from a long day of labor, pleading for something softer and more natural to sit on than the cold, hard steel. The chemical taste of the water within the container she held was as downright vile as always, biting back and leaving a burning sensation all the way down. The stale air she breathed was ridden with the heat of so many bodies packed into one place, which she knew would persist long after she left the cafeteria.
These and many more unpleasant sensations were experienced by those on the Refuge daily. Still, they weren't really that terrible, considering the alternatives. One became used to such things after a long enough period of time.
And it'd been long enough.
Roseluck blinked, shaken out of her musings by a gentle hoof on her shoulder. Green eyes swiftly landed on the one who'd brought her back to the present: A uniformed red earth pony stallion with a yellow mane that she recognized instantly.
"Hello, Poppy." She greeted, trying but failing to keep the fatigue and somberness of the day out of her voice. Her words were barely detectable anyway, nearly lost amid the bustle of the nearby horde as they were, so she doubted he'd picked up on anything.
The stallion responded with a cordial nod before sitting beside her, absently straightening his blue uniform as they both gazed outwards at the crowd. Roseluck sipped once more from her half-empty thermos, content for the moment to be still and simply observe the goings-on. Really, the army of various creatures was much more organized than it seemed at first glance, and it was thanks to this that a respectful four or so feet continued to separate the seated earth ponies from it.
"So, Roseluck," Poppy began, "how has your day gone? Everything as hoped for?" He didn't turn to or even so much as glance at her when he spoke, instead steadily eyeing individual creatures at a time and making certain they took no more than a passing interest in their conversation.
"Yes, I'd say so. A little difficult at times, but it went smoothly." The mare plastered on a smile, capping and storing the thermos back in her left saddlebag before leaning over to rest on Poppy's side. He tensed in reaction, but just as suddenly forced himself to relax and twist in place to wrap a foreleg about her withers. She smirked to herself at his inexperience, closing her eyes and rearing her head back so her muzzle pointed straight into his twitching ear. "It's in the right one," she whispered, ensuring she outwardly displayed only pure bliss, "very bottom, under the clipboard."
Roseluck felt the stallion nod as he started rubbing along her right side, slowly tracing patterns across her barrel while his hoof drew ever closer to the saddlebag. She bit her lip, resisting the urge to sigh in satisfaction as he happened to soothe some of her sorer aches in the process.
"Mine's in my uniform," Poppy muttered back from the corner of his mouth, "middle pocket, left side." The mare affirmatively nuzzled into his neck and lifted her own foreleg to begin fondling his chest. She took her time, reveling in both the musculature and the stallion's uncomfortable shifting before her hoof finally came to rest on a slight bulge in his aforementioned pocket.
Roseluck covertly grabbed the object inside before swiftly resuming her ministrations, now edging back across his front while holding the contraband in her fetlock. Simultaneously, Poppy plunged his hoof into her right saddlebag, slowly digging around for several moments until she heard a soft rattling, akin to a pouch of sand, and he began the journey back across her barrel.
In seconds, the pair's clandestine business was finalized and they promptly stood, separating themselves accordingly. A lazy glance out at the crowd revealed nocreature suspecting anything save a quick cuddle session between two hopeless romantics. The mare reverently stored the pilfered object she'd traded, stalwartly resisting the urge to bolt away then and there.
Poppy seemed quite nervous, despite his attempts to hide it. That was to be expected; he was relatively new to this, after all, it being only a month or two since he first made contact. Still, he was luckily able to keep his true feelings mostly under wraps, smoothly slipping the small, illicit pouch into a pocket.
The transaction complete but the charade still ongoing, Roseluck stepped forward to plant a quick kiss on his cheek, smiling broadly at his near-inaudible nicker of surprise.
"Have a nice day~" she breathed, to which the stallion stiffly nodded and swiftly stepped back.
"Y-you too."
With that, the pair finally fully separated and Poppy retreated into the crowd of creatures, some of which were rolling their eyes at the display. Roseluck grinned innocently back at them as they quickly moved on towards the cafeteria's rear, waiting several moments before joining the horde herself.
The mare didn't especially know why she got so much enjoyment from confusing her business partners, but she had little time to consider such things; the counter at the back of the room was fast approaching and she needed to be ready.
In short order, the yak in front of Roseluck stepped away, revealing a clearly-unenthused kirin wearing both a hairnet and a no-nonsense frown. The off-white earth pony gave her finest cheery expression, receiving a blank stare in response. Just as expected, three slate grey, grainy cubes were then levitated up to her, to which she turned, exposing her left saddlebag. The sustenance was promptly dropped in and Roseluck performed a thankful bow before trotting back out towards the doors.
As she left the cafeteria behind, any trace of levity did much the same to her.
Dismal metal structures stretched every which way, reaching for the distant ceiling much like the skyscrapers of old. Little room was left on 'ground' level--just enough for what could generously be called a street. Lighting was poor, as every scrap of energy needed to be saved for more important things. Far, far above her head, Roseluck could gaze out through the Refuge's transparent dome and into the emptiness of space. An infinite expanse of stagnant stars glittered away, no longer under the control of a certain princess of the night.
The off-white mare made her weary way through the Refuge's lower district, her hooves dragging and her head bowed under the weight of both the day's labor and various repressed memories. Initially, the crowd of creatures followed along with her as well, but it gradually thinned as they all turned off towards their own destinations.
All too soon, only Roseluck was left in the lifeless area between buildings, accompanied by nothing save leftover, stubborn guilt from the item stored in her saddlebag and a deep exhaustion that filled every cell of her body.
The sound of feathers ruffling and a throat being cleared drew her attention up to where a light blue hippogriff sat off to the side, awkwardly waving her down.
"Ho there, friend! I don't suppose you could spare a moment to help out a poor soul in need?" He paused, sheepishly grinning back at her incredulous stare. "It won't take long at all, that I can promise." The stare went on for several moments with no further developments and the hippogriff started to wilt under it.
"...can't you find somepony else? I doubt I'm qualified for whatever it is." Roseluck sighed deeply, scuffing her aching forehoof against the reinforced steel floor as her whole figure drooped. "I just want to get back to my bunk." The hippogriff nodded a few times and clutched at his arm in an embarrassed manner, stiffly clearing his throat.
"Yes, well. That's quite understandable. I do understand, you see. It's just that," here, he pointed at the insignia on her saddlebags as his smile became almost apologetic, "I couldn't help but notice that you're a mechanic who's also an earth pony. And, well, that just so happens to be exactly what we need right now." The hippogriff anxiously tapped the ground with a talon as he gazed back at Roseluck's creased eyebrows. "It's...also kind of urgent?"
Sighing yet again, the mare lifted a hoof to massage her temple, but finally placed it back down and turned to face him fully.
"Alright, then. Lead on." To which he gave off a happy little chirp and pranced away to do just that. Roseluck grumbled to herself, cursing her people-pleasing nature, but dutifully followed along all the same. Their path took them off into an 'alley' of sorts, in that it was a tighter-than-usual space between buildings and they had to travel single-file. It was quite dark there; what little illumination there was in the first place failed to penetrate very far. Still, the mare could make out the shape of her guide, as well as the general cleanliness of the 'alley'.
Once out the other end, the light blue hippogriff headed towards the front doors of a nearby skyscraper, but not before pivoting in place and offering an extended talon.
"Oh! My name is Riverbeak, by the way. Thank you for helping me with this." So genuine was his thankful smile that Roseluck couldn't help but grin back, despite herself. She stepped forward and, dipping her head in acknowledgement, proffered her own hoof.
"I'm Roseluck." The hoofshake came to an abrupt halt at this and Riverbeak's eyes bulged in surprise just before he craned his neck to peek back at her cutie mark.
Awkward silence took over as the mare's smile dropped away entirely, replaced by an annoyed frown when he continued to openly stare.
"Yes," she growled, "it's a plant. No, I don't cover it up. Yes, I'm aware of how that comes off as. Now, let's just get this over with, shall we?" The hippogriff flinched back at this, but soon scurried after her as she all but stormed off towards the building.
No further conversation was had between the two; an incredibly thick tension had sprung up with surprising suddenness and completely staunched any attempts to fill the silence. Roseluck reached the front doors and, without so much as glancing back to check if they were the right ones, pushed them open.
A dark foyer greeted the pair, illuminated only by the scant lighting from outside. Riverbeak proceeded to take the lead, heading over to a nearby staircase before slinking down the steel steps. She followed, rolling her eyes at his newfound uneasy attitude and frequent glances back at the mark on her flank. Once at the bottom of the stairway, Roseluck's mechanic training allowed her to recognize the problem immediately.
With a soft grunt, the mare doffed her saddlebags and set to work.
It was a simple issue, really: One of the steel skyscraper's main power lines had ruptured, causing the failsafe to trigger and clamp it shut. This wasn't exactly a problem of immediate concern--the emergency clamp had worked as designed and the ten-foot-radius cylinder's leak was sealed tight--but the building would be running on reduced power until it was fixed and that came with its own host of annoyances.
Roseluck settled herself in front of what was effectively an enormous pipe that ran through the height of the building and channeled power and magic much like a unicorn horn. The hippogriff currently awkwardly standing off to the side had been correct earlier; she determined the repair would take a mere five minutes, perhaps even less.
There was another individual within the room: A dark yellow griffon hen that Roseluck aimed a passing glance at and Riverbeak headed towards. The mare's ears flicked, catching a whispered exchange that the gossip-loving filly in her couldn't help but eavesdrop on:
"Really? An earth pony? This is the best you could find?"
The hen's voice was coarse and heavily judgmental.
"She's a mechanic, isn't she? Her name is Roseluck, and she was kind enough to help us out. Would it kill you to be thankful for once?"
Riverbeak's tone held a great deal of defensiveness, but also a good amount of chiding.
"Roseluck?"
A pause as the griffon doubtlessly peered over at Roseluck's cutie mark, which was still proudly displayed for all to see. Then, the echo of steps in the otherwise-silent room as the hen approached.
Roseluck let out yet another sigh.
All manner of creatures populated the Refuge, indeed as many as could board it in time. They each had their own racial specialties and had found ways to offer invaluable services for the good of the starship.
Unicorn magic helped run the vessel and produce the rations that they all hated but needed all the same.
It was thanks only to Nirik's Breath--a magical ingredient that added delectable flavors to whatever it was combined with--from the various kirin that the horrid grey cubes of nutrients were even edible, let alone palatable.
Yaks were able to work in the colder sections of the Refuge that couldn't be heated, griffons and hippogriffs used their flight to access areas that others couldn't reach.
Even breezies played a pivotal role in everycreature's continued survival: Something about the way they absorbed pegasus magic and transformed it into Airin somehow produced orders of magnitude more energy out of nowhere, and it was this that allowed the Refuge to continue to sustain itself even years after its main reactor had gone dry.
Earth ponies had no special purpose.
They'd had to find their own, which was why Roseluck had become a mechanic.
"Pretty blatant of you to show off that mark of yours, huh?"
The mare scowled, but didn't turn to face her assailant, instead clutching her trusty crowbar in her teeth and prying open the power line's attached circuit board. The insulated lid soundlessly popped off and she proceeded to busy herself flicking several of the switches inside.
"You'll need something to prop that clamp open, I imagine."
The failsafe clamp that'd sprung over the massive cylinder's rupture needed to be strong; enormous amounts of various energies were channeled through the power line every second and, just like water, they tended to take the path of least resistance. Roseluck had temporarily redirected the flow elsewhere, boosting the other three lines, but she only had thirty seconds or so before it returned and a four-ton clamp to get through.
She finally turned to face the cranky griffon, unable to stop her finest smug grin from slathering itself across her muzzle as she lifted her forehooves up to the rupture.
"That won't be necessary," was her self-satisfied response as she firmly grasped either side of the clamp and proceeded to pry it open. Earth pony magic flooded her system, bolstering her strength to ridiculously unbelievable levels. Roseluck allowed herself a wink back at the hen's bulging eyes before retrieving her welding tool and setting to work.
Her right foreleg ached in protest as it sat wedged inside the clamp, the hoof and elbow propping the thing open as she used the other leg to patch the apple-sized hole.
It being the most recent model, her welding tool was finished in seconds and the clamp, detecting the fix, promptly deactivated. A soft whirring and muted rush of power denoted the power line resuming full functionality soon after.
Roseluck, having been exhausted well before the repair, now found the need to lean heavily against the smooth surface of the cylinder, wiping the sweat from her brow as she recovered. Using so much magic at once was a drain and there was a sudden urge to vomit, but the mare's only expression was a broad smile thanks to the look of utter disbelief on the griffon's face.
"See, what did I tell you, Goldy? You could stand to be a lot nicer to earth ponies. They're really helpful, and it's not their fault the plag--" Riverbeak was cut off by an upraised claw, and Roseluck's triumphant grin shifted to an uneasy frown when the griffon's surprise turned into suspicion.
"That's quite a lot of magic you have there, Roseluck." Utterly spent as she was, the earth pony was helpless to stop Goldy from stalking forward and peering into her saddlebags. "You wouldn't happen to have any...secrets, would you?" Her breathing grew ragged and her heart raced as a talon dove in and began rummaging around.
Roseluck's pupils shrank to pinpricks as the suspicious griffon pulled out the object she'd procured not an hour prior: an oblong metallic sphere, perforated with holes that emitted a soft yellow glow from inside.
Goldy scrutinized it for an agonizing couple of seconds, turning it over in her talons, but evidently couldn't figure out what it was and promptly dropped it back in.
Directly after she did so, a light shove from Riverbeak jostled her as he all but dragged her away from the saddlebags, fuming.
"Really, Goldy? You repay a kind deed by rummaging around in her stuff? What is wrong with you?!" To which the griffon growled and started to retort:
"Do you even know where earth ponies get their magic? What if she--" but it was her to be cut off this time, a furred talon having been shoved in her beak. Roseluck hastily gathered her things and donned her bags, simply wanting to leave the premises before anything else went wrong.
"I'm so sorry about my sister. Really, I don't know what's gotten into her..."
The rest of the hippogriff's apology was lost as the mare hurriedly ascended the stairs, scarcely able to give a short wave of farewell before exiting the building entirely.
It was only after she'd left the skyscraper far behind that Roseluck slowed down her pace, much to the relief of her throbbing legs and hooves. Each step was accompanied by a wince as she made her weary way home, each towering steel building crawling by at a pace a lethargic snail could beat.
The 'street' she was on soon led her back to a more residential-looking area, with stocky, angular structures as opposed to the rigid columns of skyscrapers. This section was reserved for the less common races aboard the starship, such as deer, zebras, and of course, earth ponies like her.
Really, anycreature that had lived too close to nature and thus had less members make it out alive.
Roseluck came to a halt on the steel path, glancing about to check for any potential witnesses. It was rather late--for a given definition of 'late,' considering the starship--so she doubted there'd be anycreature to watch her, but paranoia dictated she be extra cautious after Goldy's suspicion had nearly ruined her.
Satisfied, the mare slunk off to the side, heading perpendicular to the established road as she traveled around the edge of the area. Her dragging hooves regained some pep as she neared her true destination and a smile began to break out across her muzzle once more.
Soon, the ground started to curve in accordance with the shape of the starship and the wall of its transparent dome entered her vision. Nestled up against that wall was an unassuming little door with a keypad for a handle.
After thoroughly checking once more for any passerby, Roseluck stepped up to the door and keyed in a special code. Clicks and snaps reached her ears before a mechanical whirring emanated off to the side and a trapdoor slid open nearby. Eagerly, the mare all but skipped inside and, with a flick of the switch within, dim lights engaged and the entrance closed behind her.
The earth pony excitedly descended the steel steps and would have broken into a gallop in her haste to get out of the stale air of the starship's main dome were she not still so sore everywhere. Ahead, a vibrant blue light radiated out from a pilfered Phasegate, brightly illuminating the compact hallway at the end of the stairs.
Roseluck breathed once, in and out, before stepping through. Immediately, the rich, earthy smell of life filled her being and she nearly collapsed in relief. Gone was the stench of metal and stewing despair, replaced with a wonderful scent that strengthened exponentially the closer she got to her prized secret.
As Roseluck reached the end of the short hallway, her hooves touched glorious dirt and she sank to her knees, burying her nose in the substance as all tension fled her body. A few treasured seconds with her eyes closed to fully appreciate the smell later and she finally opened them to take in her home.
Truly, it wasn't much to look at: A space roughly the size of a modest bedroom, with light fixtures emanating a soft yellow glow and a floor of soft dirt, with some machinery off in the far corner next to various tools.
To Roseluck, it was everything, thanks entirely to what resided in the room:
Gorgeous, blooming flowers covered the space, presenting a prismatic array of petals that could bring tears to the most stoic of gazes. Roseluck broke into heaving sobs as she took in the sheer amount of color that filled her vision, so different from the dreary grey of the rest of the starship. She soon pulled herself together, though, and approached the room's far corner to make her repairs.
One of the light fixtures that mimicked the sun had gone out a few days ago and its core needed to be replaced. If she'd gone any longer before fixing it, there was a risk that the carnations and poppies under it would wilt and die completely. Much like their caretaker, they needed a source of light in their lives, one that served as a reminder of how things once were and gave hope for the future.
Roseluck set to work, dutifully replacing the broken core of the light and slotting in the replacement. She wondered, idly, if Poppy had planted the seeds she'd traded him yet and was appreciating them as much as she did. The earth pony knew, in hindsight, that the reason she became so giddy while making her trades was not because she got to tease a clueless stallion, or even that she consequently received much-needed physical affection from how they'd chosen to go about it.
No, the reason she was so joyful when trading was instead because it was then and only then that she could procure the things she needed for her little garden.
With the 'sunlight' now repaired and shining proudly upon the needy flowers, the mare trotted over and bent down to nuzzle them each individually.
"There you are, my lovelies. Grow big and strong for me, won't you?" Roseluck could detect a spike of energy from the plants and already their somewhat-wilted leaves were beginning to unfurl, waving their gratitude as they did. Satisfied, she stood straight to proudly gaze about her work.
Suddenly, her expression grew somber again and she stepped over to the center of the small room, expertly avoiding the several plants and sprinklers in the way.
Two separate flowers grew on a mound in the middle of the garden, with two fading photographs propped up against their stems.
"Hi, girls," greeted Roseluck as she settled down in front of them, idly raising a hoof to stroke one's petals. Their leaves waved as if in greeting, and the earth pony's hooves helped her sense a rush of familiarity as they recognized her presence. She smiled a sad little smile, moving her light pets to the other flower in efforts to minimize any jealousy. "How has your day been? Mine was pretty stressful, but I feel a lot better now."
The plague had spread fast and with no warning whatsoever, back on Equus all those years ago. Within months, well over half the whole world's population had been killed and the numbers rose hourly. All because every last species of flora carried it so well. Ponies' very food betrayed them, befuddling even the greatest minds before they, too, succumbed.
Roseluck still had no idea how she made it out alive, but here she was. Initially, she had agreed wholeheartedly with the Refuge's ban on plant life.
But things were different, now. Without flowers to care for, the mare knew she was better off dead. And she could tell--inexplicably, but still beyond any doubt--that her darlings were safe.
Soon, Roseluck finally rested her weary head on the dirt mound, tired, but content all the same. Life was stressful, yes, but so very worth it. As long as her secret garden remained, she had a reason to exist. A legacy to preserve, even as everycreature else lost more and more hope with every day they remained stranded and floating through space.
The daisy and lily she shared the mound with watched over her as she slept, still supporting her even despite all that'd happened.
She smiled a beaming smile, for she knew that as long as the life here remained, she still had something to live for.
And that was good enough.
