Project Everlight

Chapters

Chapter 3: Through the Dark
Chapter 1: Unwelcome Reception
Chapter 2: Curtain Called

Chapter 3: Through the Dark

Twilight Sparkle sat with her back against the wall, knees pulled to her chest as her forehead rested on the knees. Her eyes were closed in an attempt at sleep as the last couple of hours had taken their toll, so she thought she’d take advantage of the safety they now had in the security station.

It was not easy as every time she started to drift off, she was met by either the desperate engineer trying to follow her through the destroyed security glass of the waiting room only to be dragged away, the monster that had chased her through the vents before she met AJ or…..what she saw in the hall of mirrors.

Each time it snapped her fully awake and alert for the attack that didn't come.

She eventually gave up on even a little sleep and simply rested her chin on her knees and watched the others as they did their best to relax or talked quietly among themselves.

The few families were huddled together looking relieved to finally have somewhere actually safe as the engineers were checking over the systems or watching the few cameras they had access to AJ among them. Trixie and the surviving medical teams were nowhere to be seen, Gilda having had the exhausted unicorn placed in her office monitored by the three medics so she wouldn't be disturbed and could rest after what she did.

Pinkie was fluttering between everyone, mane half poofed, a smile on her face looking nothing like she had when she told the other two, she is the least useful among them so was the one to risk herself to keep them safe.

This wasn't Pinkie, this was Dr. Pie, head of psychology doing her job to help the survivors of an extremely traumatic event, the Moral Officer as she had introduced herself to the new arrivals what felt like a lifetime ago but had been just over 2 hours.

2 hours….it really had been that short of time. And she knew things were far from over as they still had to restore power and then from there try to find a way off the station.

She sighed and decided to get up and go check on Trixie knocking on the door to the office.

“It’s open.” Gilda said and Twilight entered seeing a medical tech checking on Trixie who was laying on the floor, the desk pushed against.

“The Great and powerful Trixie is fine! Shoo and go bother someone else with your poking and prodigy of her person.” The blue unicorn was saying as she tried and utterly failed to push the tech’s hands away showing she was anything but okay. But she was awake and that was a good sign.

“Right, you're totally fine.” Gilda was standing over the showmare. “You totally didn't burn through everything you had.”

“Twas nothing for The Great and OW!” She was interrupted when the medtech injected her with something to help her with the fatigue. The mare said something under her breath Twilight couldn't quite catch as she rubbed the spot and stared daggers at the med tech no doubt for interrupting her title.

Twilight rolled her eyes and shook her head as the tech packed up the medkit and stood. “I’ll check her in a bit but that should help negate the side effects for now”

Gilda nodded. “Thanks, get some rest yourself.” She said, the tech nodded and left the room leaving just the two unicorns and the griffin.

“Well good to see you're awake.” Twilight said, stepping forward.

The showmare looked at her and snorted. “Trixie was merely resting her eyes is all, she could have easily gone another 10 hours…..may…..24! She said head held high from here she lay on the floor barely able to move.

Twilight chose not to challenge that reminding herself everyone has their own ways of coping, and this mare clearly relied on her performance. “I bet you could but still glad to see you are doing well.” She said once more.

“Yes….Trixie is just glad everyone made it after those……”The Showmare shook her head. “It was nothing for The Great and Powerful Trixie.” She dismissed.

“Well…….just wanted to check on you. I'll let you enjoy your time.” Twilight said, turning on her heels and leaving the room.

“Thank you……” She heard quietly behind her as the door closed and she looked over the room that hasn't really changed from when she last saw it except that Pinkie was making silly faces at a group of foals who giggled and laughed at the poofy maned mare.

Twilight couldn't help having a small smile at that as she made her way towards the front of the station where the theater worker and one of the theatergoers sat behind the counters, both of them armed with a pistol from the armor that thankfully still had weapons and ammo in them even if most had been cleared out when the red alert went out.

“How's it up here?” She asked.

The theater worker, a zebra in the red vest, looked at her. “Quiet…..thankfully…..” he said.

The theater goer swallowed hard and nodded. It was clear they were both still on edge, but they didn't look nearly as terrified as they had been when Twilight first saw them hiding in the back of the theater.

It was good to see. She stood there keeping watch with them for a couple of minutes before returning through the door to the rest of the station where she saw AJ walking towards her.

“Hey, ah know it's safe here but we got a job to do, we can't get out of here as long as the powers out ain’t no way anyone can make it out.” She said,

Twilight sighed. She knew it couldn't last but still she’d hoped for just a few more minutes even though that wasn't really possible. She nodded. “Alright, I think we should grab Dr. Pie or let her–”

“Let me do what? And it’s Pinkie.” Pinkie said, stepping out from behind AJ.

“Oh….Uh…stay here–” Twilight started to say.

“I’m not staying here.” Pinke interjected.

“Oh…..I thought you–”

“Would leave my friends to face what's out there alone? Everyone will be fine here between Gilda protecting them and trixie raising their spirits. It’s all hands-on deck for the power mission and we are the hands.” She said once more with that steel in her gaze.

Twilight gulped under that gaze. “Right….uh…okay.”

The steel was gone in an instant replaced by a wide smile. “Good, so shall we get going?” She asked.

Before they could act Gilda walked up. “You three heading out to do what corporate ordered?” She asked.

“Hm…oh….no….Rarity…..she didn't make it…” AJ said somberly.

“Oh….damn….sorry to hear that…..who were you talking to on the coms then?” The guard asked.

“Dr. Eclipse….he gave us an update to the mission.” AJ informed her
“Eclipse….Arcane Eclipse?” Gilda asked.

“Dr. Arcane Eclipse.” Twilight corrected a bit firmly, not liking how the griffin spoke so informally about him.

“Right…well…Dr. Eclipse always gave me a weird vibe the few times I've seen him but nice to know a department head is still active and made it. Wasn't sure if any of them were around….either way got something before you three head out. Wait here.” She said and left them there by the door to the front of the security station.

After a moment Gilda returned, pushing a small car from the armory. Here we go…”She said, handing out 3 of the same pistols the mares lost during the scream attack. “Now do any of you know how to shoot?”

AJ raised her hand. “Grew up on a farm, know my way around shooting.”

“Good. you take this.” She handed the engineer a Stormbreaker shotgun.

“Wait, don't you need these?” Twilight asked worriedly.

Gilda snorted. “There are plenty of guns in there, while the heavier stuff is missing, we got plenty of this so don't worry. It’s more useful to you anyway as I won't let you go out there unarmed.” before handing Pinkie and Twilight two flashlights that attach to their uniforms. “Those should help too.”

“Oh…thank you….” Twilight said as she looked at the flashlight before clipping it into the slot on her jumpsuit for it on her chest.

“Forget about it, the least I can do after you saved our asses.” Gilda chuckled “Anyways, good luck you two, once you leave the vicinity of the security station, we most likely will lose contact because of the power outage but we will know when you succeed through the camera when we see those lights come on.” Gilda said.

Twilight nodded. “Still thank you….” She looked at AJ and pinkie. “You girls ready”

“As ah can be.” AJ replied as pinkie nodded.

With that the three of them turned and entered the lobby of the station followed by Gilda. “I’ll only open the door a bit as I don't want to fully open it.” Gilda said, going to the controls. “Ready?”

Twilight took a deep breath and steeled herself nodding to Gilda.

The Lieutenant nodded back and hit some buttons on the control panel and the heavy security door slowly and thankfully silently started to rise up a bit then stopped so they could get out.

The three of them crawled under the door. “Good luck you three, if anything happens you can fall back here, we’ll keep an eye out.” Gilda said before the door started to close again and they were locked out standing on the steps of the lit-up Security Station looking out at the darkness beyond, at least there was nothing in the light Twilight thought.

Aj started walking forward and Twilight took a deep breath to steel herself before starting to follow along with Pinkie into the darkness that enveloped them the further, they got from the security station.

And then the light was gone leaving them cutting through the dark with their flashlights.

AJ kept her head turning looking to the sides as they followed a wall pasting abandoned stores since her light was on her uplink it let her more easily direct it as opposed to the lights Pinkie and Twilight had which only faced forward.

Twilight hated to admit it, but she was getting used to the distant monster calls from the dark so didn't jump as badly given the distance meant they weren’t a threat to them.

She wished she wasn’t.

AJ head suddenly snapped to the side as they passed another store, and it illuminated another AUX bot walking towards them. “Hello, can I assist you?” It asked loudly.

Not wasting any time, the three mares started running as the bot left the store to try and follow them repeating its question, but they weren’t sticking around for whatever it drew to it.

Their boots were somewhat loud but still better than that looping message and having gotten between two shops where they hid turning out their lights.

In the distance they could hear the AUX bot “Hello can I help you?” It said and quickly seemed to turn. “Hello, can–” There was a roar and the sound of rending metal as the bot was found by what sounded like a couple of those things.

Not wasting time, the group moved quietly away from the sound and after a short time did, they dare to turn their lights back on.

Twilight had to shove her hand nearly into her mouth to avoid a scream as her light fell on the upper half of an earth pony security guard, half her face missing with her chest torn apart with a smeared blood trail leading back from where this part had been dragged as she realized she was also standing in a pool of blood from what looked to have been some off duty crew member and she nearly slipped in the blood trying to jump back.

There were bodies everywhere or more accurately…pieces of them and a few of those monster bodies and the light showed a massacre.

Pinkie’s mane was fully straight as she looked at the carnage impassively and AJ’s mouth was a thin line. “Come on….” She forced out and started walking through her movements seemed stiff as if she was forcing her legs to carry her away from the sight.

Twilight remained rooted in place until Pinkie grabbed her arm and nearly dragged her behind her, seeming to have no issues moving.

Soon enough they were away from the site and Twilight felt her stomach lurch a moment before she doubled over and emptied the contents of her stomach onto the decking and a moment later, she heard AJ doing the same.

Pinkie seemed to be the only one who wasn't sick as she stood over them helping them as best she could, holding their mane’s out of the way. “There there….it's okay….let it out…" She said reassuringly in an almost eerily calm voice, no it was eerily given everything around them.

Soon Twilight’s stomach calmed enough for her to wipe her mouth and stand wishing she had water to rinse her mouth but sadly she'd need to live with the taste for now.

“You two, okay?” Pinkie asked.

“Y…yeah.” AJ said, taking a deep breath and frowned at Pinkie.

“Are you?” Twilight asked.

“I’m fine, well not really but I don't have time to worry about myself at the moment.” She said and Twilight realized she wasn't being the “moral officer” Pinkie but the head of Psychology, Dr. Pie.

Twilight took a deep breath to steady herself and gave Dr. Pie a nod. “I’m good just….yeah…”

Dr. Pie nodded. “Stress, it’s a normal reaction.” She said,

Aj took a deep breath before nodding as well. “Come on, let's keep moving, we aren't too far from the club.”

With that the three of them started walking once more and soon rounded a corner and saw a dimly lit neon sign proclaiming Neon East with a set of closed doors that were the old-fashioned type that moved on hinges.

“Weird…” Twilight commented.

“Yeah, it is, but it means it's easier to get in.” She said as she walked towards the doors trying them out, but the doors didn't budge. “Keep an eye out.” She reached for the plasma cutter on her belt.

Twilight and Dr. Pie shone their lights out as they raised their laser pistols ready for anything that came at them, or as ready as a researcher and psychologist with no combat training can be as they listening to the plasma torch cutting through the door lock.

Soon they heard the torch turned off. “Got it, come one.” Aj said as she raised the shotgun entering the club.

The other two mares followed here and were greeted by an empty that looks like it was normally covered in lights with a set of swinging doors with no sign of anyone having been here at all.

Carefully the three of them moved through the doors that opened onto an upper area of the darkened club withs small tables and their chairs on top of them as the club wasn't open when all of this started.

Their lights pierced the darkness to the lower levels where it opened space for a dance floor Twilight guessed.

“Come on, Dr. Eclipse map said the junction was in the DJ booth.” AJ said moving along the balcony reaching a set of stairs that went down to the next level were there were more tables and a bar with multiple bottles behind it and soon they reached a door that had STAFF on it that was locked, the plasma cutter took care of that.

“It's so quiet…” Pinkie said, seeming calmer than before.

“Yeah, almost creepy.” Twilight said as they walked down the hall and soon found a door labeled “DJ BOOTH” and walked out onto it being above the dance floor with a maintenance access panel behind it.

AJ crouched down and used her tools to open it showing various flashing lights that Twilight didn't understand any of what she was seeing. “Alright, give me a moment…” She said started to disconnect and reconnect things as well a plug in a small computer to work on it. Her fingers danced through the inner working of the panel with the grace of a ballet professional you wouldn't expect from someone in her line of work.

“Almost………got it.” She said hit a few keys on her small computer. “That should do it.”

There was the sound of the power systems coming online and then the club lit up as its lights turned on with a laser light show and strobe lights. “Wait…” AJ was saying but whatever was to follow was drowned out as loud, thumping music let forth from the speakers around them like a loud dinner bell.

Author's Note

Finally was able to get to the next chapter despite the delays.

The biggest one was my self-putting the "goal" of having chapters ben 6000 words but I realized that wasn't feasible or a correct idea to do as it caused me to stress needlessly trying to fill chapter to reach that goal resulting in things that wont help a chapter.

I got reminded not to let Perfect get in the way of Good and it helped me a great deal as ill write the chapters as long as they need to be and not artificially try to force them to be longer if they don't naturally end up there.

Chapter 1: Unwelcome Reception

Deep in the furthest reaches of The Commonwealth of Stars at the edge of known space in a region known as The Vectis Expanse a lone ship dropped out of hyperspace. The two pilots checked over their sensors to ensure everything was as it should be.

Before the ship a massive space station hung in the void of space, the only artificial structure within several star systems besides the lone ship approaching a marvel of engineering here in this lonely region of space.

With their checks complete one of the pilots keyed their coms. “Calypso Point Station this is ZTS Tempest requisition permission to commence docking. Transmitting codes.”

There was a brief pause before another voice came over their headsets. “This is docking control, you are cleared to dock in bay 34B, welcome to Calypso Point Station and glad to have the fresh blood.”

With that the pilots keyed the internal comms. “This is your pilot speaking we are on final approach to Calypso Point, please make sure you have everything before disembarking. Station Time is 09:43.”

With that final message the pilots returned to their controls as within the passenger compartment several people, a mix of ponies, zebra and griffins waring varying jumpsuits marking them as researchers, security and engineers, the uniforms all marked with ZyraTech on the back showing them as employees all sitting in their comfortable seats in the spacious compartment colored a light blue with white trim to invoke feelings of relaxation and calm.

Dr. Twilight Sparkle was one such passenger, wearing the white jumpsuit with blue accents around her wrist, collar and shoulders marking her as a magical researcher for ZyraTech.

The young researcher had her muzzle in her datapad reading up on the latest magical theory papers, focusing on those written by Dr. Arcane Eclipse given she was being assigned to his team on something called Project Everlight. She wasn't sure what the project was as her orders had been devoid of much details save it was some sort of research into magical energy though for seeming to not have a lot of progress something happened to the previous team as every other researcher on the ship was replacements for them, including several guards and engineers.

Twilight could hear the others talking about what happened to the previous employees, the prevailing rumor was they had all been killed in some sort of accident during an experiment and now they were replacing the dead.

Twilight paid this no mind as she didn't put stock in unsubstantiated rumors, especially when they were something like that. She had worked for a few years with ZyraTech and knew that while they pushed limits they were far from stupid as they pride themselves on their reputation as a cutting edge and safe company. They were a top company because of it and one Dr. Sparkle had jumped at the chance to work for four years ago when she graduated from The Royal Canterlot University and their recruiters contacted her.

She had worked in a few labs here and there on minor projects but now she was headed for the big leagues not only heading to Calypso Point Station, one of ZyraTech’s top research stations but also getting to work with the legendary Dr. Arcane Eclipse, someone she looks up to a great deal as the top stallion in the field of magic studies. To say she had squealed like a school filly and jumped around her room when she got the email of her new assignment would not have been a lie.

Finally she was moving up and recognized for her work.

Though for now she had to get to the station and they finally were arriving as she finished the paper she was reading and closed her datapad returning the palm sized computer to her pocket after taking a moment to look at the picture of her with her family at her graduation from RCU. Now with her head not buried in her screen she looked around the compartment seeing all those who were there and her eyes settled on something that didn't belong.

A white furred unicorn mare with a well styled purple mane sat near the back of the compartment distinctly not wearing the various colored jumpsuits of normal employees.

Now she wore a light gray knee length skirt with black pinstripes, a matching blazer jacket wearing some nice shoes and wearing makeup. It wasn't hard for Twilight to identify someone from upper management when she saw one though what someone like her was doing aboard was anyone's guess as Twilight was too far to see the pin on the neck area of her blazer to mark her department.

The cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane sitting next to her wearing a ZyraTech Security uniform, dark blue jumpsuit with red accents around the shoulders and end of the sleeves and sturdy combat boots. A few things stood out about this security mare.

One, she was a captain unlike the others guards aboard the ship who’s highest rank was a sergeant, for another she already was wearing a tactical vest and lastly Twilight recognized a ZyraTech Arc Blaster Mk II on the mare's back. The mare wasn't heading for the station to be given an assignment like the rest, she clearly was already assigned a post, and it was clear it was guarding the upper management mare next to her.

“I heard she’s an investigator sent by the company to look into the accident.” The mare next to Twilight said.

Twilight looked at her, seeing she wore a white jumpsuit like herself but with green accents marking her as specializing in biology rather than magic theory.

“What makes you say that?” Twilight said normally she wouldn't indulge in rumor mill but her curiosity was very high given the total lack of information on the two.

“One of the guards tried to talk to the captain, was told to back off but got a look at that mare’s lapel and she’s a corporate investigator.” He said.

“Hmm….”Twilight said looking at the mare, she let herself entertain the idea there really was an accident that resulted in nearly two dozen replacement employees…..and the more she entertained the idea the more she connected dots, why would the company suddenly need this many new employees all heading for the same station, sure Calypso Point was a big station being a small city in itself suddenly needing this many replacements and all for the same section….

She was drawn out of her thoughts before it really got anywhere by a feeling of the gravity aboard shifting marking the transition from the ship's artificial gravity to the station’s as they entered the docking bay and soon two loud thuds sounded as the ship was grabbed by the docking clamps.

There was a tone as the intercom was activated. “We have successfully docked with Calypso Point Station. Please make sure you have everything before disembarking.” The pilot’s voice said.

Twilight sighed and removed the harness before standing along with the others as she grabbed her small duffle bag from above her seat and headed for the door. Soon her light boots met the deck of the station and she took a deep breath of that station air and…..her face scrunched up.

“Gah what is that smell?” She said covering her nose as she was hit with an unpleasant odor she couldn't place but was definitely there coming out of the clean air of the ship.

“Yeah yeah, I'm working on it.” A voice said sounding annoyed and Twilight looked to see an orange mare wearing a thick dark gray jumpsuit with bright yellow accents marking her as an engineer, the utility belt filled with tools also did that.

Twilight blinked at her. “Huh?” She said,

“I said I'm working on it, it's the environmental systems, been having issues all week…..bah why am I explaining it to you.” The mare scolded herself before walking off heavy bootfalls fading quickly.

Twilight could just blink after the mare before sighing…..and wincing at the smell before starting to walk again towards the security checkpoint.

Due to the delay caused by the unpleasant smell she ended up near the back of the line waiting with her duffle.

A moment later the supposed corporate investigator walked past the line with her guard following behind looking board and stepped up to the guards at the checkpoint. The guard took one look at her and the captain behind her and waved them through without a second look.

Twilight had to admit she wished she could bypass all the checkpoints. Though the thought was quickly forgotten as the line started to move and after about 15 minutes she was at the head of the line stepping onto a yellow square. “Name?” The griffin guard said rather testily.

“Dr. Twilight Sparkle, Magical Research.” She said,

“Right couldn't tell that by the uniform.” He said rolling his eyes causing Twilight to frown at the unprofessionalism, she was not used to that at a ZyraTech facility and didn't expect it at one of their top stations. He grabbed the badge off her chest without hesitation and scanned it. “Right, like I told the others, none of your quarters are ready so you’re going to have to stay in the waiting area till they are done.”

“What?” Twilight said, blinking confused. “We got this assignment 3 weeks ago, how aren’t our quarters ready?” She asked.

The griffin frowned. “Because they aren't, and keep giving me attitude and you can wait for your quarters in a cell.”

Twilight snapped her mouth shut.

“That's what I thought, please place your bag on the cart, it will be brought back to you after we check it.” He said as another guard with the barest hints of dark circles under his eyes rolled a cart over and Twilight placed her bag on it, it was marked with an ID so they shouldn't send it to the wrong person, she hoped.

“Stand with your arms out to the side for a scan.” The guard said and twilight stood as instructed, this was normal for a research station so this wasn't unexpected as two arms lowered down from the ceiling and started to spin as light shone from them, it made one full rotation when it suddenly made a noise that didn't sound good and stopped. The guard growled, took his baton and hit the scanner hard enough there was a loud clang and the scanner started rotating again. “Gref, remind me to chew out engineering, the damn scanner is broken, those lazy bastards have been slacking on our equipment.”

Twilight remained silent as the scanner spun 5 times and then gave a tone turning green before raising back up and the griffin handed Twilight a system interface uplink “Alright, follow the blue line along the floor to the waiting room, we’ll get you there when your room is done.” The guard said

Twilight nodded as she placed the uplink over her ear and saw a it display over her right eye when it connected to her datapad as well as the station’s systems and walked through the open door of the checkpoint into a hall where she saw two guards on patrol, the zebra guard eyes darting from shadow to shadow and she got worried when his eyes jumped to her, his hand going for his side arm before he visible relaxed, nodding to her and walking past.

Twilight let a breath out she hadn't realized she had been holding when he did that. “What in the world…..” She said under her breath before she started walking along the designated line, being sure to step exactly on the center as instructed.

She passed 3 engineers head off somewhere down a side hall as well as another security patrol, they had a lot of security here, though it was their top research station so they probably are just being safe. Twilight thought.

Soon enough Twilight entered a brightly lit room with various benches along the wall and the center area, a couple doors marked as bathrooms and along the right wall was a window with two security guards in it to watch them though there wasn't a door from them to the waiting room, just the thick glass window with a large screen above the far wall playing a sort of orientation video giving a virtual tour and welcoming them to the team on repeat.

The room was populated by those who came with her on the ship minus the investigator and her guard of course, some of whom had gathered into small groups based on department to talk among themselves.

Twilight chose to not join one of these groups and instead took a seat along the wall sighing….and smelling that unpleasant odor still. What a great start to what should be a shining moment of her career.

After a few more minutes the rest of the passengers entered and either found seats of their own or joined the clusters of people, Twilight simply observed them wondering if she had worked with any of them before and just forgot, she was well aware she had a bad habit of getting wrapped up in work and forgetting people but she hadn't really done anything about it as she was too busy working to worry.

About ten minutes after the last of the passengers enters the door opened again and the most aggressively pink mare Twilight had ever seen wearing a teal jumpsuit with white accents marking her as part of the psychology team….though her uniforms had all sorts of pines on it from little balloons, to party hats and other such things making it look like decoration had exploded on her, she also had the biggest smiles on her face Twilight had ever seen.

“Ahem! Excuse me, could I have everyone’s attention please?” She said she didn't raise her voice yet it carried with ease and Twilight couldn't help noting it sounded like she was on the verge of laughing.

Slowly everyone turned to face her as she looked at each of them in turn including Twilight then back to the middle of the room. “My Name’s Pinkie Pie, I’m one of the psychologists here on Calypso Point Station, though I prefer to be called a ‘Morale Officer’ if you’d be so kind.” She said and giggled, twilight barely kept from rolling her eyes at the desire for the unofficial title, Twilight never understood people like that.

“Anyways I am here as I want to address the rumors you most likely have all heard and no doubt talked about regarding why you are all here.” She said, becoming serious so fast Twilight nearly got whiplash from it. “First off, yes we had a bad accident here on the station and you are replacing those we lost here.”

Twilight blinked at that, the rumor was true?

“Now, security is looking into it and I heard the company is sending someone to look into things as well to ensure it doesn't happen again and station administration plans to take things slow for a while to make sure there aren't any issues that might have led to the accident. You have nothing to worry about as once we know what happened protocols will be put in place to ensure it doesn't happen again.”

“Now then if anyone is concerned or has concerns over your week of orientation do not hesitate to come by the office or send questions to the admins, we are here to ensure you get settled in as best as you can and feel comfortable as well as safe here at the station. We are all a team here and we only succeed when we are all doing well.” She said the last part and then suddenly the big smile was back on her face.

“Anyways, I just wanted to welcome you all to Calypso Point Station! We have fun here and are doing great work.” She said, smiling at each of them before turning on her heels and heading for the door.

After a couple minutes everyone slowly drifted back to what they had been doing, talking amongst themselves or sitting doing things on their datapad or in one case appearing to try to take a nap.

Twilight sighed and took out her datapad to read one of her books when suddenly the lights went out in the room and she heard a couple people yelp in surprise.

The light came back on a moment later and the group was looking around concerned.

There was a tone from the speaker above the security station. “Relax everyone, it's just a power fluctuation, we've been having them a few times a week, it's nothing to worry about probably one of the labs running an experiment.” one of the guards said.

This seemed to calm the others but not twilight, she had studied the info she had access to regarding the station, it has a Stellar Forge Mark II reactor, the latest and best reactor, those labs would have to be doing something insanely dangerous to cause such a power drain, something that goes against some major ZyraTech safety protocols and wouldn't be approved……perhaps it was good the investigator was here as it seemed some people were doing something they really shouldn't be.

As she stood up and started to walk towards the security window to ask them what was really going on as there was too much wrong here for this place, too many malfunctioning systems and the strange behavior of those she had seen.

She was nearly to the glass when she felt a strange ripple move through the room and cause her horn to hurt as her stomach started doing somersaults and she lost her balance for a moment but got her feet back under herself before falling hand going to her head to clear the weird fog that hit it for a moment seeing other unicorns doing the same as….did something flicker in the shadow under one of the benches?

No, of course not.

She looked to the guard room and saw the zebra slumped over on the console as the other one was shaking him trying to get a response and kicking into whatever training he had as he hit his radio saying something Twilight couldn't hear as he looked out at the now worried faces of those in the room.

He keyed the intercom. “Relax everyone, there is nothing to worry about, I’m sure he’s just been having trouble sleeping and it caught up to him. Everything is okay.” He said as twilight saw the Zebra twitch.

And then an alarm started blaring as emergency lights started spinning in the room.

“Warning, a Code Red Security Alert has been initiated, a lockdown is in effect, please follow all directions of security personnel and remain calm, once more, remain calm.” An automated message said and started to repeat.

And then they all heard a scream from outside the locked door and gun fire.

“What in tartarus is going on?” Someone yelled as the unassigned guards in the room that had been passengers aboard the ship moved to take defensive positions or tried to find weapons.

The intercom toned again causing some to look towards the guard room including Twilight. “Now everyone remain calm, I'm sure it's just…uh…some sort of drill…yeah I'm sure everything’s fine.”

As he spoke the gunfire outside the door continued as the unconscious Zebra guard in the security room shifted and proceeded to vomit blood all over the console as the guard looked to him. “Zeria?” he said before removing his finger from the button so the mic stopped so everyone in the room watched silently as the zebra started to have a violent seizure and fell from his chair and the guard hit his radio again no doubt calling for help.

A different tone came over the speaker. “Attention, this is Colonel Zeryal.” An authoritative voice came over, twilight remembered that was the name for the one in charge of the station security forces, a zebra if she recalled his picture correctly, well decorated. “An unknown breach has occurred, all non combat personnel are to shelter in place and follow all directions of security personnel till containment can be reestablished. All security forces, code red, use of lethal force has been authorized. You are to meet up with–” There was a sudden crash through the speaker and an inequus roar that caused twilight to feel fear on a primal lever came through the speaker. “What the….Star? What….what happened…….stay back!” There were energy discharges and a crash. “Star...waht….get off of..ahahahaggghhh”the sound of the colonel's scream field the room turning into wet gurgling sounds before the speaker cut out.

Panic was starting to set in among the passengers as they looked around and then there was a shot from the security room and all eyes snapped to it to see the guard, a slug thrower pistol drawn aimed as….Twilight mind reeled at what it was seeing.

“It was the size of a griffin, with a split lower jaw forming two lower mandibles of sharp teeth, its arms were unnatural long and ended in claws as it had a sort of hunched over stance, its back with a small hump to it with spikes running down it that almost looked like broken ribs…..and it was wearing a bloody security uniform and had matted blood covered fur.

They all watched as the thing lunged at the guard inside of the room with it having him in its long fingers as she struggled to try and get his pistol up his screams silent behind the glass as the thing grabbed the guard’s head in one claw and slammed it into the glass hard enough to spider web the security glass as red exploded inside the room.

The thing then slammed into the glass causing it to crack more as Twilight moved without thinking and dove under the bench she had been sitting on along the same wall as the security room just in time to hear the glass shatter and the same inequus roar as they heard over the radio s the thing dragged itself through the hole it just made in the glass.

Someone screamed as the thing lunged at the nearest passenger and twilight closed her eyes as it lifted the mare up that twilight vaguely recognized as the one who had been sitting next to her on the ship grabbing her leg as it held her upper body.

Twilight heard her scream along with the sound of tearing fabric and meat as the scream cut off, replaced by many other screams and that roar.

‘You need to move…..if you stay here you're dead. Move through the window. Move now damnit!’ Twilight screamed at herself in her head as she lay there frozen under the bench.

Then something hit the top of the bench and her eyes snapped open and she darted out from under the bench her mind automatically cataloging the sound came from a severed arm wearing a security uniform was what hit the bench.

And then she was at the hole in the glass climbing through, luckily the glass was designed to not be sharp and she was wearing her researcher jumpsuit which provides some protection.

She was soon in the security room, the smell of copper thick in the air as the floor and walls were covered in dark red blood and some black substance.

She looked over the controls and saw one labeled for the door and hit it hearing the locks disengage on the door outside. ‘Yes, we can get out and get help!’

The door opened and three more things wearing bloody uniforms rushed in pouncing on those who made a run for the opening door and her eyes went wide and she looked around and saw the door out of the room was locked with a keypad that she didn't know the code for.

Her eyes frantically darted around as she heard the screams and those roars in the other room, then her eyes settled on the vent grate.

She rushed forward taking out a small pocket knife, mentally thanking her older brother for getting it for her on her 10th birthday when he couldn't find a book she hadn't read yet as it had come in handy many times and now it just might save her life as she used it to unscrew the grate and got it to swing open starting to crawl inside as something hit the glass.

She looked back seeing one of the engineer passengers, bloody handprint where he hit as he moved to crawl through the broken window. “Come on!” Twilight yelled.

Then one of those things grabbed his leg and he tried to hold on, then he was gone and Twilight was crawling for her life having pulled the grate closed holding it wouldn't be noticed.

The vents were not exactly meant for researchers such as herself, this being the domain of engineers and their little repair bots, not a researcher like her. But then it wasn't like she knew the station, all she could rely on was the system map which wasn't for vents.

She crawled taking random turns seeing out of one vent cover as an engineer was set upon by 3 of those things as he tried to run and was dragged down.

Through another she saw one of the guards firing on those things as they charged him, two engineers behind him. “When in tartarus are these things, and why are they wearing station uniforms!” he yelled before the power cell in his laser pistol clicked and he tried to replace it….he wasn't fast enough.

Twilight kept crawling through the maze unsure where she was going, taking random turns hoping to find safety only to see those things outside moving in the halls and room or others being killed.

Then she saw a guard with Shormbreaker shotgun firing on those things and killed a couple of them….before the vent above him exploded and one of those things grabbed his head and dragged him screaming as he fired wildly around himself into the vent.

Twilight blood ran cold……they were in the vents…..they were in the vents with her…..

Her eyes darted around, she needed to get out of here, if one of them saw her there was nowhere to go….

She crawled looking for somewhere to get out when she heard one of those inquire roars behind her and the sound of claws on the vent, she looked back and saw one of them forcing its body, dragging itself toward her around the corner of a side vent as it locked eyes on her wearing an engineer uniform it having been a griffin from the look of it.

She screamed and scrawled as fast as she could to the next vent not even looking as she kicked it out crawling out and dropping into some sort of storage room filled with shelves and parts Twilight didn't recognize as she ran from the vent as she heard the thing reach the vent starting to drag itself out roaring before she heard the wet slapping sound of its feet on the deck as it sprinted after.

Tears streamed down Twilight’s face as she ran between the shelves quickly reaching the end and taking a right hearing that thing slam into the shelves at the end of the path growing almost in annoyance right behind her before starting to run again.

No no, she didn't want to die.

She turned up another set of shelves running, where was the door?

She heard a crash as the shelves were knocked over and the thing was right behind her, she practically felt its breath on her neck as it gained ground quickly.

She grabbed a shelf to use it to sling shot herself around….and felt her boots slide out from under her as she hit a pool of blood spreading under the torn apart remains of an engineer and went down hard.

“No no no….”She said crawling as she heard the thing come around the corner behind her…then felt its claw grab her leg and she screamed.

She tried to grab a shelf, screaming again as she wildly kicked at it with her free leg as it started to drag her back holding onto the shelf for dear life.

Its claw dug into her leg and she worried it was going to break it as her life flashed before her eyes.

She saw her discovering her first book and reading on her own….discovering magic theory….learning her first spell learning what a library was….her 10 birthday, her brother heading off to university, her getting first place at her school’s science fair……graduating high school and getting accepted into RCU, get recruited by ZyraTech….everything leading up to here and now where she was going to die in the storage room of a research station she dreamed of working at.

“Hold it you damn varmint!” She heard someone yell and heard a humming sound and then the creature roared in pain as it let her leg go.

Twilight scrambled away till she reached the wall and put her back to it looking back.

She saw a mare in an engineering uniform….the mare she saw when she first got off the ship, holding a plasma cutter as the thing turned to face her.

“Come on you nasty beasty!” The engineer said raising the plasma cutter kept it between her and the monster as twilight heart jackhammered in her chest and she took quick ragged breaths.

The monster lunged and the engineer dived to the side and slashed at the things side, it roared in pain and jumped away crashing into a shelf knocking it over before jumping at the mare again. Twilight couldn't figure out how something so big moved so fast.

The engineer barely dodged this one, heavy boots echoing in the small storage room mixing with the wet squelching slap of the monster’s own footfalls.

The thing lunged and the engineer put the plasma cutter through tis hand and it roared in pain and slashed at her with its other claw, the engineer barley dodging this one and it was clear she was out matched by one of these things that twilight had seen kill a an armed guard without much trouble, and that one had been a Zebra, this one used to be a griffin which were already strong and fast.

The Engineer was going to lose, she was going to die and then twilight was going to die here in this storage room.

Twilight didn't even think, she felt as she gathered magic in her horn and fired off a spell, the magic blast struck the thing and it roared in pain snapping around to face her and she froze in absolute fear as it took a step towards her.

Then the engineer was on its back, her thick jumpsuit protecting her from the spikes, her arm around its neck. “Got you!” She said and plunged the cutter into the top of the things head and started moving it down as if cutting through a simple part, though the flesh of the creature gave way far easier than metal as the plasma cutter sliced through with ease.

The thing gave a roar as the engineer didn't stop dragging the cutter over its head as the creature gave one pathetic shake to try and get her off, lost its balance and fell forward with a loud thud on the deck giving a couple of twitches then lay still.

The engineer panted as she got to her feet looking down at the thing…..then broch her boot up and back down on its head….once…twice…thrice till rubber met decking each blow met with sickening cracks and squelches before the engineer stepped back and dropped back to sit on the floor against a shelf and pointed sharply at the thing. “An’ stay dead……” She panted out.

Twilight looked at the mare who looked at her. “You okay sugarcube?”

Twilight swallowed hard and gave a small nod.

“Good….what’s your name? Names Applejack, Lead Maintenance Engineer. Though feel free to call me AJ.”

Twilight licked her lips. “D…..Dr. Twilight Sparkle…..Class 3 Research Specialist….I’m new here…just arrived an hour ago….”

AJ gave a low whistle. “Well ya sure picked a mighty fine time to arrive.” She glanced at the thing.

“What’s going on? What are those things?” Twilight asked.

“Don’t rightly know….but I can tell you they were part of the crew…was in the environment systems with Wrench….watched him pass out….have a seizure and turned into one of these things….”

“Wait…this….these things are crew?” Twilight asked eyes wide and AJ nodded. It made sense, they were wearing torn uniforms…her mind raced, this all started after that weird ripple that made her feel sick…it went down her horn…it had to be magic based to affect her and the other unicorns like that but….what could cause all of this?

”Yes, don’t rightly know what's happened but we can't stay here.” AJ said standing up and dusting herself off before walking over to Twilight holding out a hand. “Think we’d be safer together.”

Twilight blinked then gave a nod taking her hand and being nearly yanked to her feet, the mare was stronger then she looked. “Where are we heading?”

“Ah was heading for the checkpoint at the airlock, trying to get back to engineering section as I got radioed from the chief to get back there though not heard anything since so for all I know it's just as bad there as here but hoping this is just in the ring.” AJ said, checking over the plasma cutter to see how much battering it had left.

“I…think this is everywhere, the colonel was killed while making an announcement and he should have been in the Admin Section.” Twilight said looking herself over for injury, her leg was hurting where the thing had grabbed her and she could feel the deep bruise forming but the blood on her uniform wasn't hers so that was good…..at least….

“Yeah, heard that too but was hoping he was in Docking for some reason though we won't know till we get out of here.” AJ said with a sigh. “Anyways, you know any combat spells?”

Twilight nodded. “A couple though never used them…brother insisted I learn some growing up in case I ran into anyone weird though I doubt he was thinking of ‘station being taken over by mutated crew’ when he said weird….” Twilight said.

AJ chuckled and this got a small smile from AJ. “Well nice to see you can joke, used to you researcher being rather stuck up….no offense.”

“None taken.” She said, both mares could tell the other was doing all they could to hold it together in this situation.

After a moment longer they headed for the door and it opened with a small hiss that made both mares wince but they didn't hear anything outside and AJ peeked into the hall. “It's clear…”

Together they stepped out and twilight tried not to look at the pools of blood but then she did look at them as she noticed some sort of black oil like substance in the blood….there were no bodies so clearly this was where crew had turned into those things and thinking about it the Zebra in the security room had vomited up blood with the same black substance in it.

Her mind’s gears were spinning as she thought about this before AJ pulled her arm. “Don’t zone out on me, we need to stay focused.” The Engineer mare drawled.

Twilight blinked and shook her head giving a nod. “Yeah sorry…..the scientist in me took over for a moment….” She said blushing.

“Well tell ‘er to wait her turn as we need you in the driver seat Twi.” Aj said before starting to walk down the hall, the sound of the alarm was still blaring and emergency lights flashed but they could still hear distant roars, screams and gunshots letting them know those things were still around.

At each intersection they peeked around the corner before darting across it, or if they saw creatures would find an alternative route doing their best to avoid them when able.

Then AJ stopped at a panel. “Hold on, I know a shortcut that might be safer…” She said as she used a tool that was a small drill, sounding unbearably loud in between the alarms as she unscrewed some bolts and removed the panel revealing a ladder up. “Maintenance passage…..it's cramped but no one was working in this area so it should have been empty so unlikely one of those things are in it.” Aj explained. “You go first, I'll keep an eye out.” She spoke

Twilight nodded having to agree with her reasoning before she climbed up the ladder to the small maintenance area, AJ wasn't kidding the place was only about three feet tall at best so she would need to crawl but still if AJ was correct, it would be safer than the corridors.

So, she climbed in and a moment later she heard AJ closing the hatch and sealing it before climbing up, glancing back to watch her enter the passage.

AJ nodded to her. “Just head along here and take the second right.” She said and Twilight nodded back before starting to crawl.

The corridor was eerie… She could hear the alarms still, but they were muffled and unlike the corridors below that had lights on, this corridor was lit by spread out red lights bathing everything in hellish red with gaps of darkness between them, it was clear they were meant to have flashlights up here.

And a moment later a light came from behind Twilight, and she looked back to see AJ’s system uplink had a flashlight on it, she chuckled. “Engineering uplink, we got a few more bells and whistles.”

Twilight nodded, wishing she had such bells and whistles, but she would make do as she started crawling relying on the light that made it past her which thankfully AJ was making sure plenty did.

Soon enough she took the second right she came across. “Take the first left.” AJ said and Twilight nodded though doubted AJ saw it as she crawled forward taking the left.

“Alright, third left then a right and we will be as close as we can be…” AJ said as the two mares crawled through the maintenance corridor…..then froze as she heard several muffled gunshots below them followed by a muffled scream.

Twilight held her breath for what felt like an eternity before she heard AJ let out her own breath. “Okay….we’re good…..keep moving….” twilight let out her own breath and started crawling taking the turns as instructed till she was starting to pass a ladder.

“Okay we are here, we should be one hall over from the airlock.” AJ said and twilight moved passed so AJ could reach the ladder, turning off her flashlight she descended, and Twilight heard her unscrewing the panel which seemed to echo in the mostly silent passage then stopped.

A moment later. “Come on, it's clear Dr. Sparkle.” She heard AJ’s voice, and she descended down and was soon in the corridor and gave an eep as she saw several torn apart bodies of guards and engineers and several dead creatures, the creatures oozing that black oily substance along with the blood.

AJ started to reseal the access causing Twilight to look to her. “What are you doing?” she whispered.

“Closing it so those things don't wander up there in case we need to use them later.” AJ explained and twilight said no more, hoping they didn't need to use them again. “Looks like security made a small stand here….most likely from the airlock checkpoint.”

Twilight nodded and the two started to walk to the end of the corridor before taking the left and there ahead of them was a checkpoint and the airlock beyond a flickering sign above the checkpoint annoying it as an airlock to the Entertainment Section.

The door to the office was open….a severed leg laying there having prevented it from opening and AJ headed for it a moment before they heard a knocking on the airlock door, and they froze looking at it before they heard a muffled voice. “Hello? Mr. Guards? Is that you? Can you let me out please?”

The two mares looked at each other realizing someone was in the air lock and AJ headed for the office entering it.

A moment later there was the sound of hissing air that sounded so damn loud before the door opened to reveal the “moral officer” from psychology looking relieved.

“Oh, thank you so….wait what are you doing here? Wait, are you okay!?” She asked moving towards her, looking worried clearly seeing the blood on Twilight’s uniform before she stopped and looked around blinking. “Where is everyone? What's going on?”

“Shhhhhhh” Twilight said as the mare was being rather loud. “They will hear you…”

The mare blinked and leaned forward whispering. “Are we playing hide and seek?” She whispered. “You know this isn't the palace for that right?”

Twilight just blinked at the mare. “No we aren't playing hide and seek, we are trying to stay alive, the crew’s turned into monsters and are killing the rest, we are trying to get out of here.” Twilight whispered harshly.

The mare, Pinkie Pie Twilight thinks she said before, blinked and looked around and then spotted the severed leg holding the door to the office open and her mane seemed to deflate ever so slightly as her eyes went wide looking back to twilight she gulped and gave a nod. “Rodger dodger.” She whispered back as the two made their way into the officer to see AJ looking over the controls. “Damnit….systems locked down on the other side too…” AJ was saying.

“Can you open it?” Twilight asked.

“I’m trying….”

“Hello, you three in Checkpoint 17b, can you hear me?” The PA system above them said and they all three looked up. “Oh good….set your uplinks to system setting 174.3.” The voice said.

The three looked at each other before doing so and a moment alter the display in front of their right eyes activated and the video had a see-through screen of the white unicorn that came with Twilight’s ship displayed before their eye, transparent enough to not block their vision as the mare seems to be sitting in some office.

“Good, this is Rarity, Special Investigator for Executive Compliance….I see you are Dr. Sparkle, Class 3 Research Specialist, Applejack, lead maintenance Engineer and Dr. Pie…..head of psychology…Okay…..not the best but work with what i got.” the mare said.

“Ma’am what are you talking about?” AJ said, frowning. “Aren’t you aware we are in the middle of a crisis?”

“Yes, darling I am quite aware, believe me if not for Captain Dash we would not be having this conversation right now.” Rarity said somewhat tersely. “Anyways, I need you to do something for me.”

“Ma’am with all due respect but we got our own problems.” AJ said.

“Yes, I imagine you do and I would like to help but as it stands the systems are damaged, so I have limited access. I can lift the lockdown on the airlock so you can get into the entertainment section, but you’ll find the power is out in much of it leaving me with limited access. What I need for you to do is reroute power past the damaged systems and restore power to that part of the station.” Rarity said. “Once you do that, I can better guide you and use my access to handle things.”

Aj Was silent for a moment then sighed. “Alright, I see what you mean, where’s the damaged systems?” She said,

“Sending them to your uplinks now, once you leave the entertainment checkpoint connection will be spotty at best so don't expect a lot of help from me.”

Suddenly the cyan mare, Captain Dash Twilight guest was pushing into the view of the camera. “Hey, you three are at a checkpoint, right?”

“Uh…yeah?” AJ said.

“Cool, look for a metal cabinet on the wall, should be in the back of the office.” She said and the three looked at the obvious metal cabinet with a red light in the center.

A moment later there was a beep, and the light turned green. “Grab what you need, I'm authorizing you three to use whatever means you deem necessary to keep yourself alive and help Rare’s here with what she needs.”

“Yes…good idea Captain…. anyways good luck you three I’ll keep in touch as long as I can….stay safe…" She said and the connection terminated.

The three looked at each other before walking over to open the cabinet and saw multiple Aurora Pulse Pistols on full display as well as multiple batteries for them.

They blinked and looked at each other.

“Any of you know how to shoot?” AJ asked.

Pinkie and Twilight shook their heads.

“Alright, well these are easy….just aim it at something you want to destroy, keep pulling the trigger till it stops moving and socially replace the battery when it's dead.” AJ said grabbing pistols and handing them out as well as multiple batteries handing them out as well.

Twilight had never held a gun in her life, but she took it feeling the weight and put the spare batteries in one of her chest pockets as did Pinkie.

She might not have ever held a gun before, but logic dictated if she wanted to survive then she would need to use one.

With them now armed with more than just a plasma cutter the three of them headed for the airlock and when they entered the door started to close behind them as they prepared to enter the Entertainment Section of Calypso Point Station.

Author's Note

You know, I never thought I would ever write horror given I'm not really a fan of it, yet here I am pumping out a nearly 8,000-word first chapter with a drive for me.

So, guess I'm going horror for a while.

happy Halloween everyone!

Chapter 2: Curtain Called

The airlock door to The Docking Ring closed with a series of loud thuds as locks engaged that seemed to echo in the small chamber as the three mares stood in the center.

The room was unnervingly quiet after the noise of the alarms and chaos of the Docking Ring as the airlock cycled.

Twilight was doing her best to control her breathing, the weight of the pistol in her hand felt heavy yet she knew it was light as her mind went over everything she knew about the pistol. While she had never so much as held one she had studied ZyraTech creations when she had been recruited wanting to know as much about the company and their products as she could.

She knew the weight of the pistol, its charge, the fact it had two settings in the form of stun and lethal, the exact number of shots it had per battery, how it was the preferred weapon of choice for private security companies because of the two settings and was a reliable weapon that was very easy to maintain.

Her mind went over this information again and again as what felt like eternity stretched out before her despite knowing it had barely been a couple seconds.

“I was going to organize a small fair in a couple of weeks…” Pinkie Pie said as she watched the door, her mane still partly deflated.

“Huh?” AJ looked at her blinking.

“Everyones been so on edge these past few weeks. I was working on getting clearance to organize and host a fair in the section…..was going to have food, decoration and games….supplies were set to come in at the start of next week…..” Pinkie said. “Don’t think a party is going to help anyone now….” She trailed off and the chamber lapsed into silence once more.

There was a chim from the door in front of them and then a thud as the first of the locks disengaged, followed quickly by the second all working in perfect sequence just as it was meant to and now Twilight had a thought that she hopped the 5th thud wouldnt come and the last lock wouldn’t disengage so they were here in this sealed room away from the danger.

She cast that thought away just as quickly as it surfaced and took a deep breath before letting it out as she raised the pistol, holding it in two hands just like she had seen in movies. She saw out of the corner of her eye as the other two did the same.

All three mares aimed at the airlock door as the count down that was the locks disengaging counted down till the fifth one unlocked and with a hiss that made Twilight wince the door started to open.

The small chamber was met with light pouring in that confused Twilight as Rarity had said the power was out in Entertainment but as the door parted she saw the checkpoint lit up and beyond it was darkness.

As the door opened more it revealed the back shoulder of a security uniform and Twilight had to keep from jumping as the door opened more and the headless body of the security guard fell into the airlock chamber.

With the door fully open Twilight looked out at the utter massacre that had taken place at the checkpoint.

She saw multiple bodies of security guards, several behind the barriers that had risen from the floor to provide cover, their bodies in the same state as what she had seen of others killed by those monsters but she also saw several bodies of those things mixed in bleeding that mix of blood and black substance.

“Don't see anything….”AJ whispered before starting to slowly advance from the air lock, Pinkie and Twilight moving to follow as they stepped out into the overrun checkpoint.

“Looks like they gave them one hell of a fight….” AJ said, kicking one of the dead creatures.

“I thought Rarity said the power was out?” Twilight commented seeing how the lights of the checkpoint were clearly on.

“Checkpoint has its own generator, can be switched on if the power goes out. They most likely got it on before they were attacked….” AJ explained.

“Ah….makes sense.” Twilight said as she looked over the bloodbath before them.

“Come on, there might be something useful among all this…”AJ said as she walked over to one of the guard’s bodies to search through his pockets.

Twilight gulped as her mind reeled at the thought but the scientist in her asserted her cold logic, they were dead and anything they found on the bodies might be what keeps them from joining them.

She checked one of the guards and found a few spare power cells for the pistol, pocketing them as she moved to the next body and finding they had used all their power cells.

She moved to the next one in front of the security office and screamed as one of those things slammed into the glass hard enough a small crack appeared in it as Twilight raised the pistol nearly pulling the trigger before her mind caught up that it wasn't able to reach her.

With that her mind started taking in the details.

First this used to be a griffin security guard, the beak twisted and broken into something sharper and more deadly.

Second it was scratching at the class and gave a very muffled roar as it couldn't get out.

The others rushed over weapons at the ready as they aimed and saw it as well.

“Goshdarnit…..you nearly gave me a heart attack Twi…”AJ said, lowering her pistol as did Pinkie.

“Sergeant Thorne….” Pinkie said and the other two looked at her seeing her mane was nearly fully deflated. “I recognize the scar over his left eye….he was seeing me every two weeks…..reliable and tough…..scar came from his father…..we were….dealing with that…..he’d recently requested an increase in sessions due to nightmares…..” She said voice devoid of that cheerful spark it had had before as she watched the thing that used to be Thorne desperately trying to get out to attack them as it gave another roar.

Twilight looked back at it seeing the scar Pinkie mentioned…..She realized she was a stranger here, the closest thing to connections she had on the station had been the other passengers….but these two lived and worked…..these people had been their colleagues, friends. People they knew and now they were seeing them as twisted monsters trying to kill them.

Twilight's mind tried and failed to comprehend what that must be like for the two mares who had no choice but to keep moving.

“Hey Sugarcube…..you okay?” AJ asked Pinkie.

Pinkie took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. “Yeah….unfortunately Thorne…….that thing means we can't raid that weapons locker……” She said pointing to the open cabinet in the back of the checkpoint where they could see two Stormbreaker shotguns.

“Yeah….” Twilight said then thought. “Wait, why isn't the glass breaking?” She asked. “The glass in the waiting room shattered after a few hits…..why is this barely doing anything?”

“Some of the glass in less important areas are just Class I security glass meant for minimum protection from say an angry visitor or some one drunk, just need something basic as if it's gotten through it's not a big deal. Checkpoints use Class II stuff used by the military. It's much tougher stuff as you use it for when you want to keep people out….though i wouldn't fully rely on it as some of the glass is older and we hadn't gotten around to checking it as it was a low priority…”

Twilight nodded as she looked at the small crack in the glass where the things beak had hit. “Should we….deal with it?” Twilight asked.

“Don’t think so…right now it's trapped and opening the door could lead to a whole heap of trouble and be needlessly risky….Ah say we leave it as is.” AJ said.

Twilight looked at Pinkie, she knew who it used to be. The pink mare was looking at her boots. “Dr. Pie? If you’d like we can–”

“No.” Pinkie said looking at Twilight with a steel in her eyes that caught the researcher off guard. “AJ is right…..it's a needless risk…and Thorne is clearly long gone, that thing might have his face but it's not him.”

Twilight swallowed hard and nodded. “Right…anyways we should get moving as I don't want to tempt that thing to keep trying to get out.”

The others nodded and they turned to look at the darkness beyond the pool of light created by the checkpoint’s generator where they could see a few emergency lights but the rest of the Entertainment Section was pitch black.

Twilight swallowed hard as Applejack turned on her flashlight and advanced into the darkness with the other two mares following her into Entertainment proper.

Twilight knew both from promotional and having studied the map when she got the assignment as part of the initial orientation she knew the section was basically a giant mall with stores, cafeterias, cantinas and various entertainment venues spread out over multiple levels.

It was a palace filled with hiding places that would be perfect for ambushes and all they had was a few emergency lights and one engineering uplink flashlight to see.

To say Twilight was scared would be an understatement as she gripped the pistol tightly keeping it at the ready as she tried to peer into the darkness beyond the flashlight.
In the distance they heard the occupational roar from the darkness that made them jump but thankfully none of them sounded close.

The air here tasted off, not like the docking ring but almost stale.

“What's wrong with the air?” Pinkie Pie asked the question Twilight was thinking in a whisper.

“Environmental controls must be offline, general life support has a backup so will keep enough air in the section for a while but can't say how good the air will be as it's meant for basic survival.” AJ whispered back as she scanned around them. The three of them were walking near one of the walls as Twilight wouldn't want to try and navigate in the middle of the darkness.

Soon the light came across something laying near the wall. It was a security bot that lay damaged, its frame roughly the size of a stallion and painted in the same dark blue and black colors as the station’s security uniforms, though scorched and scuffed. Across what remained of its chest, ‘ZyraTech’ was printed in a fading white stencil, a stark reminder of its origins. Its head was featureless, a simple boxy shape without eyes or a mouth, making it unsettlingly blank. One arm ended in a four-fingered hand, while the other had been integrated with a barrel-like plasma weapon, singed and slightly warped from whatever last damaged it; there was a sizable hole in its chest under the company name.

AJ looked around and the light illuminated several bodies of the creatures with extensive plasma burns, it was clear the security bot had put up a fight before going down though….

Twilight eyes narrowed when she saw something the light passed over. “Go back.” Twilight whispered.

AJ did so and the light shone on the body of a pegasus in casual clothes of a shirt and jeans also showing plasma burns. “What the….” Twilight said.

“Must have got caught in the crossfire….”AJ said. “Section most likely activated the security system when thealert started and I can imagine the chaos that would have caused.”

“Yeah….Must be that….”Pinkie said looking over the bot once the light was back over it. “We should keep moving.”

With that AJ stepped around the destroyed bot as they continued along the wall eventually reaching the first shoop entrance. AJ panned the light through the window to see knocked over shelves of what looked to be a shop that sold various small decorations, there were smears of blood over several shelves as well as that oily substance.

Soon they were past it when they heard an uneven series of footsteps, one sounded like a boot while the other was flesh on the decking as if someone was walking around with a single boot on.

Twilight grimaced as she remembered that sound from the one that had chased her as there was no reason anyone would be walking around with just one of their boots and that unnatural pattern.

It was one of those creatures no question.

The other two came to the same conclusion almost as fast as Twilight herself and AJ looked around, the flash light showing them the door to the shop they were next to and she ducked inside as did the other two.

The three of them quickly made their way to the back of the shop getting behind some shelves, from the looks of it the store sold various goods from snacks to fabrics.

Once they were behind the shelf AJ turned off the light and they were plunged into darkness, the only light source was a single sign behind the counter that advertised some sort of beer bathing everything in a light blue light.

Twilight remained quiet as the unnatural footsteps got closer till she was sure it was right outside of the shop. SHe struggled to keep her breathing slow in case it hear her panicked breathing.

Then the sound was fading as it walked past the shop and soon she couldn't hear it, but as she strained to hear it she heard what sounded like soft footsteps approaching them from the back of the door to the back area of the shop and she heard AJ whip around turning on the flashlight.

What was standing there in the beam was an AUX Bot wearing an apron and colored the same as the walls of the shop.

“Welcome to Harlock General Goods! Is there anything I can help you with?” IT said cheerfully….and loudly just under shouting at them.

Twilight breath caught at how loud it was. “No, we are good. Go away.” AJ said quickly.

The bot stood there. “Welcome to Harlock General Goods! Is there anything I can help you with?” It asked once more.

Twilight winces once more and could now hear those footsteps from outside returning.

“Damnit…” AJ said and pushed past the AUX Bot as she ran for the back door, Twilight and Pinkie only a second behind her as they burst through the door to a less pretty area as it was just boxes of goods and a simple desk.

AJ ran for a panel in the back of the store taking out one of her tools as Twilight looked back seeing the AUX Bot walk through the door. “Welcome to Harlock General Goods! Is there anything I can help you with?” It asked again just as loudly as it walked towards them.

AJ got the panel off revealing a ladder like before. “Everyone in!” She ordered as Pinkie reached it first climbing up with Twilight right behind her.

“Welcome to Harlock General Goods! Is there anything I can help you with?” The damn bot asked as it reached the panel and then AJ was in the access point quickly resealing it.

She was half way done when Twilight heard the AUX Bot once more. “Welcome to Harlock General Goods! Is there–” It was suddenly cut off as there was that inequus roar and the sound of smashing metal.

AJ abandoned trying to fully seal the panel and was climbing up the ladder as quietly as she could and they all reached the top and started quietly crawling away.

Twilight kept listening and imaging hearing that thing tear the panel off the wall and start chasing them but she didn't hear it as they crawled away.

After what felt like hours AJ spoke up. “Alright….i think we are good….”

They slowed and started to take in breaths as they relaxed and AJ looked at the wall where a series of numbers and letters were painted.“Okay, we aren;t far from a panel…”

“Shouldn't we stay in these? Like before?” Twilight asked.

AJ shook her head. “These pens don’t go where we need and besides….I don’t know if anyone was working in here and I'd rather not find out when it starts chasing up.” AJ Said and Twilight gulped as she recalled the one in the vents.

“Why wouldn't it leave us alone?” Pinkie asked referring to the AUX Bot

“No clue…probably a malfunction.” AJ said as she worked as she seemed to be working out the route to a panel. “Alright take the next right and go straight, we will reach the next panel.”

Pinkie nodded and started crawling with Twilight right behind her and AJ bringing up the rear doing her best to have her flash light shine past them.

Soon enough they found the ladder and Pinkie started to climb down. “Hold on Sugarcube, I need to go first to get the panel off.” AJ said.

“No, you don't, give me the tool.” Pinkie said on the ladder.

“Huh?”

“You are the only one between us who can fix the power, Twilight’s a decent level researcher who can figure out what's going on I'm sure. Me? I'm the head of psychology and I don't think these things are willing to lay down on a couch and talk to me about why they are filled with such homicidal tendencies. If that door opens and one of them is there you two need to escape.” She said that same steel in her voice as back when they left Thorne.

Twilight gulped at it as she realized what the mare was saying in that situation.

AJ hesitated as Pinke stood there with her hand out, eyes locked firmly on the AJ mane completely straight.

AJ passed her the tool and the pink mare disappeared down the ladder and they could hear the tool undoing the bolts.

A Moment later the sound stopped and the tool was tossed up the ladder, Twilight barely reacted to catch it in her magic, a light purple glow in the dark passage as she passed it back to AJ.

“It’s clear.” Pinke whispered up the ladder and soon the mares were back in the main floor near the body of another crew member in casual clothes torn apart.

“Looks like we have reached Entertainment proper.” AJ whispers looking around, not far from them was a bench with an overturned rubber planet next to it. “Let's keep moving.”

The trio followed along the wall once more, Twilight straining her eyes into the darkness once more but all she saw was the light from a couple of signs that were still working in the power outage advertising products.

Their boots sounded impossible loud in the void around them…..

“Help.” Someone said in the darkness. “I need help here.”

THe group froze hearing the strained voice and looked at each other. The voice was coming from ahead around the corner.

“Do we….” Twilight said.

“Someone clearly needs help.” Pinkie said.

AJ nodded to the pink mare and started to carefully approach the corner. “Hold on sugarcube we are coming.”

“Over here, I need help.” They responded.

Twilight the scientist in Twilight’s head perked up and was trying to take the wheel as it noticed something. Twilight was trying to keep focused on the matter at hand so was mentally shushing that part of herself but it persisted.

“Please….help.” The crewmember said.

“Easy, they are going to hear you too.” AJ said as the three neared the corner.

“Help. I need Help.”

The Scientist forced its way into the driver seat of Twilight’s mind and hit the adrenaline button as it screamed what it had noticed.

The inflection hasn't changed once.

AJ stepped around the corner. “What in–”

She was cut off by an ear piercing scream that made Twilight see spots as she covered her ears from the impossible scream seeing Pinkie Drop to her knees clutching her ears as AJ fell back covering her ears muzzle open in a scream that was drowned out by that impossible scream and Twilight could see blood starting to run down her cheeks as the scream faded.

Twilight ears were ringing but she'd worked on a project that developed a nonlethal weapon meant to disable that used sound frequency to have various effects, she was pretty sure it had messed with her hearing ever so slightly.

And right now she was the only one standing even if she was defended as she grabbed Pinkie’s arm dragging her to her feet, she saw Pinkie lips moving but couldn't hear anything but that ringing as she rushed over to AJ who was still on the ground nearly curled in a ball, thankful Pinkie followed her as they both grabbed AJ and Twilight looked to see what was in the flashlight beam.

It was slender and wearing what looked to have been a nice dress before being torn and blood stained with a far too wide mouth that seemed to almost grin with how wide its mouth was and it took one slow step toward them eyes locked on AJ.

Pinkie and Twilight grabbed AJ’s arm and had to half drag her as they did their best to run. Twilight legs felt like jelly but she forced them to move even if she stumbled trying to keep the flashlight pointed ahead as best as she could using magic to try and steady AJ’s head as the mare struggling to have her leg move, shed take one good step and then everything would stop half way through and she was back to being mostly carried.

Twilight accessed the map on her uplink, it was glitching badly as the signal was weak but she could see enough there was something ahead that was large and they could hide in as that scream no doubt was drawing multiple of the other creatures they had seen.

She moved them towards it as her uplink lost signal and the flashlight soon fell on steps and they climbed them real quick as Twilight felt a strange tingling in her horn she ignored as everything on her felt off and they need to hide as they ran through an open door way into the dark past a counter and into a small opener oom that Twilight shut the door too and quickly moved AJs head around so the light showed if there was anything else in the room.

All there was was a doorway on the other side of the room and then nothing.

With that she sat down and let out her breath as she saw Pinkie doing the same next to AJ who was laying down.

Slowly the ringing faded from Twilight’s ears as she felt her limb start to feel normal again and she could see Pinkie moving her arms and legs around , nodding to Twilight as they looked at Aj who wasn't moving.

“Is she…” Twilight asked.

“She’s breathing….but i think whatever that scream did to us did more to her being in front of it….” Pinkie said checking AJ.

Twilight nodded as her mind worked on what had happened.

After a bit AJ groaned and her hand went to her head. “Anyone know the number of that truck?” She croaked out.

Twilight got up and walked over, there was still tingling in her body especially on her horn but she moved without needing to focus. “You okay?”

“Splitting headache…..what….was that thing…..it didn't look like the others….”

“Ambush predator…” Twilight said. “I think there are others of these things then just what we saw….though less common. Some sort of mimic ability though not perfect….it wasnt really responding to what we said and its inflection was off.” Twilight said as she saw AJ’s cheeks were streaking in blood as if she had been crying. “I think….it was magic enhanced….though i've never seen magic that does that….”

“Well….ah hope we never do again…”She said sitting up with pinkie’s help who handed her a handkerchief to wipe her eyes as best as she could. “Thanks sugarcube.”

Pinkie smiled. “Anytime.” her mane had a bit of its poofiness back with Twilight thought was a good thing.

“Where are we?” AJ asked, looking around.

“Not sure…..i was just running from that thing as we cant go back out there as its most likely swarming with those things…..i saw something about Chuckle before the map died.”

“Oh! Chuckle buns House of Mirrors….i love this place!” Pinkie said with some cheer, her mane poofing up a bit more. “It's a hall of mirrors, every month they change its layout so you cant master it.

“Is it safe?” Twilight asked.

Pinkie nodded. “Yes, the exit will be on the other side of the area, about 200 feet away from the entrance.” She said, “Should give us cover.”

“Right….that's good,” Twilight said. Least that was one concern she wouldn't need to worry about for now.

“Hey Pinkie…this here normally?” AJ asked, aching gotten to her feet and shining the light on something on the wall besides the entrance.

DON’T LOOK IN THE MIRRORS THATS NOT YOU

Was scrawled on the wall.

“No…..that's….not there normally….” Pinkie said, looking at it.

“Any idea what it means?” AJ asked.

“No….but….someone was either playing a weird prank or…they risked a lot to leave a message….” Pinkie said.

Twilight gulped. “No clue what they can mean….maybe in the panic they got scared by their own reflections in the mirrors?” Twilight suggested.

“Maybe…” AJ said.

“It’s possible….the mind can do weird things under high stress…”Pinkie said.

“Either way….We dont have much choice but to go through.” AJ said as she moved to get to her feet, Pinkie helping her up. “I don’t want to stay here any longer than we need to in case one of them gets curious about the door.”

This got the three of them to slowly start to move towards the entrance of the hall of mirror and its maze.

They entered and Twilight could swear the tingling in her horn grew stronger.

She shook her head, that things scream really did a number on them all. She was keeping an eye on AJ as she took the worst of it.

Soon they left the small hallway and entered….well the mirror maze and it seemed to light up as the mirrors reflected the flashlight making it easier to see though not by much but it was better then outside that was for sure.

“Anyone have an idea how to solve it?” AJ asked, looking around as they were at a 4 way junction.

“Normally id say just go till we find the exit but that's the fun way and we really don’t have time for that. “Pinkie said. “So we will go the surefire way and follow the right wall.”

“Ah, yeah I read about that.” Twilight spoke up. “It will always lead to the exit eventually.”

Pinkie nodded. “Righty-oh.”

With that AJ took the right path and began to follow the wall taking every turn that went that way till they reached a dead end with a mirror that made them look 3 feet tall. And she looked at Pinkie. “Well this just leads us to a dead end.”

“Yes, now we keep following the right wall as it takes us the other way.” She said, rolling her eyes.

AJ sighed and turned around following the right wall once more as their bootfalls sounded….muffled in the maze.

Twilight looked at the floor and saw it was decking like the rest of the station in the dim light causing her to frown. Her hearing must still be damaged.

Aj head suddenly snapped to one of the mirrors they were walking by as she raised her hand and then blinked at it.

“What is it?” Twilight was readying her….wait…where was the pistol…..she checked her pockets and didnt feel anything but her datapad and she looked at Pinkie who was doing the same.

“I….think we dropped them outside….” She said, smiling sheepishly. “But..what is it AJ?” She looked back at AJ.

“I….thought i saw it turn its head….: AJ said squinting at the mirror that made them look bigger then they were.

The other two mares looked. “Probably just the light….”

“Yeah….: She said and started walking again as the other followed, Twilight sparing a moment to glance at the mare before shaking her head and walking after them.

They soon reached another deadend and turned around a moment before Pinkie jumped with a yelp as she moved back pointing at the mirror at the end of the deadend making them all look seeing themselves as extremely thin.

“It….It smiled at me….” Pinkie said, rubbing her head and frowning as the other two just saw their reflection. “Somethings wrong….”

Twilight looked at it as well and moved her arm raising it up to wave watching the reflection move in sync then looked back at the other two.

Pinkie gulped as AJ looked at other mirrors. “Come on, this place is freaking me out..”She said, turning to keep walking and Twilight followed them.

And moments later she leapt back from a mirror going pale. “It….it…my neck…”She said, hands going over her neck. “My neck was….cut….” She said feeling nothing.

Twilight frowned at this and then Pinkie jumped back into her, nearly knocking Twilight over.

“What?” Twilight asked, bracing herself on the wall.

“It…it i….i stabbed….AJ…”She gulped. “Somethings wrong…this place…something wrong in here…..” Pinkie said, looking around.

Twilight looked around as well, this wasn't just from the ambush. She then saw her reflection and something seemed off….it took a second for her mind to figure out what.

There was no blood on her uniform. She looked down and saw the smeared blood from her fall and when she looked back at the reflection she saw the blood there.

“We need to move…” Twilight said and the group started to move faster following the right wall passing mirrors.

Twilight saw herself, her eyes just bloody sockets smiling at her as she moved past.

Another there was a massive hole in her chest and she saw her heart beating.

Another she saw herself as one of those monsters twisted and deformed.

Another she was laughing over the bodies of AJ and pinkie holding a bloody blade.

On and on and on as the normal reflections soon ended and each mirror was a different twisted and demented reflection worse then the last and all of them laughing as the mares started running through the nightmare hall of mirrors.

They turned a corner and saw a glowing exit sign sprinting for it as Twilight could have sworn she heard multiple people laughing.

And then they were out into the exit room and all three of them dropped to the floor panting. “That….that…..what..was that…” Pinkie said voice cracking mane fully straight.

“I…I don’t rightly know…” AJ said.

“Not us…..” Twilight whispered as she stared at the ceiling.

“Guess…..guess we know what that message had meant…” Pinkie said quietly.

Twilight swallowed and put her hands over her eyes trying to block out what she'd seen out the corner of her eyes as they ran….least her horn was feeling more normal.

AJ started to get up. “Let's get the hell out of here.” She said firmly eyes locked onto the exit door and slowly the others dragged themselves to their feet to follow her towards the exit.

The three of them went through the door without hesitation and AJ looked around, shining the light around as Twilight strained to listen. She could hear a distant roar but nothing close by so she let out her breath as Aj started walking along the wall, the others following without a word.

Eventually they came to a ticket booth and AJ turned to walk past it and through the halfway open doors without saying anything and neither did the other two.

They entered a lobby with discarded food items and knocked over velvet ropes, a sign emergency light gave light in the lobby as they went through the doors to the theater, a single spot light was centered on the stage as the only light source as well as small dim lights along the paths between chairs.

Looked like there was some sort of performance going on when this all hit, the air was thick with copper and socially their boots squelched on the carpet as they stepped over what was laying there.

AJ climbed the stairs to the stage and went behind the curtain and entered a hallway back there and then came to a stop frowning and she stepped back and looked a the sign above the door then back at the hall, her light illuminating the dead end of the hall, some panel on the wall and a pip running down it.

“What is it?” Pinkie asked.

“Ah was heading for a strange room we could take a breather in……but…it's supposed to be here….yet….” She frowned and walked towards the wall passing by a dressing room and a ladder then went to a catwalk where the lights were.

She looked at the panel. “I have no idea what this is….” She reached to touch it only to have her head pass through it. “What the…: She said as the other two walked up seeing her hand in the wall as she moved it around.

“It’s…..an illusion.” Twilight said.

The other two mares looked at her before they all three looked at the wall and stepped through.

The illusion blocked her vision and then Twilight found herself staring down the barrel of a Stormbreaker shotgun being held by a large griffin hen in the dark blue and black security armor, several people in casual clothes and a couple in engineering uniform and one wearing a red vest standing behind her looking terrified.

The Hen aimed the shotgun down at the floor. “Damnit, you three nearly got your fucking heads blown clean off.” She growled. “Get in here quickly.

The three mare’s hands lowered, having gone up at the sight of the gun. “What in tarnation is going on here?” AJ asked.

“Isn’t it obvious? We are fucking surviving.” She said, rolling her eyes. “Come on in, we got some food and water, it's not much so take only a little, got it.” The guard said, shifting the shotgun in her talons.

The three mares moved to follow her, seeing the storage room where they found more people looking as related as one could. Several crewmen, engineers mostly but she was three white and red jumpsuits with red crosses of medical personnel but the majority were people in casual clothes huddling together comforting children if they had them the room lit by lanterns or flashlights of the engineers uplinks.

“How long have you been here?” Pinkie asked.

“Since this all fucking started. Those damn things were in the audience….medical got called and arrived to try and hell when those….fucking things happened….most of them got torn apart as did a lot of people in the audience but a few of us got back here……”

“And the shotgun?” AJ asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“Bitch multiple people went down non responsive, you bet your fucking ass i ordered my men to arm up….doubt it helped them but still we had a clear security breach. Not like i had any fucking idea it would be this, i thought it was some weird pirate attack.” She said and took a deep breath and looked at them. “Lieutenant Gilda, Station Security if that wasn't obvious…..and you three are?”

“Lead Engineer Applejack. That's Class 3 research specialist Dr. Twilight Sparkle and Dr. Pinkie Pie head of station Psychology.” AJ said.

“Well welcome to the club, not sure how much longer we will be here for.”

“Why's that?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“And what’s with that illusion?” Twilight asked.

“That illusion is whats keeping us fucking alive….like i said there was a performance when those damn things happened…the entertainer has been manianting the illusion ever since when we all ran back here.” Gilda gestured back towards the hall.

The three of them went and looked and saw at the back of the hall sitting against the wall was a blue unicorn mare with a white and gray mane wearing dark purple clothes and a dark blue cape covered in stars and matching pointed hat.

She saw them and pushed herself off the wall putting her arms up. “The Great and Powerful Trixie is here for you.” She said with a flourish before swaying on her feet and falling back against the wall.

One of the medical crew pushed past them as did Gilda. “Dammit you dumb unicorn, I told you to cut the theatrics, you need to relax as much as you can.” She scolded as the doctor checked her over.

Trixie nodded and sat back down. “Trixie is not used to maintain her illusions this long or this detailed….” she said.

It didn't take a unicorn to see she was exhausted but as a Unicorn Twilight recognized the signs of impending magical burnout and the showmare was pushing her magic reserves to their limits.

And the second they run out is the second that the illusion wall vanishes….and after that….

“IS there somewhere you can go?” Twilight asked, looking at Gilda.

“Oh I'd love to get back to the station and lock it down but I have no damn clue if the place is safe.” She said,

Twilight nodded. “Alright we will check it out.”

“What? The fuck you mean ‘you’ll check it out? Fuck no you won’t i’m not letting you go out there.” She said standing to her full height.

“What are you going to do, arrest us?” AJ asked with a small smirk. “Need the station to successfully do that dont you?”

Pinkie nodded as Twilight spoke. “Yeah, we’ve been skiing through the section already, we can go there, you stay here and keep these people safe.” Twilight said standing her her full height, still barely coming up to the hen’s shoulder.

Gilda scrubbed her talons through her head feathers. “Fuck, fuck, fuck fuck. Fine! But No fucking heroics. Just take and look and if yous ee even one of those fuckers get your colorful asses back here got it? I’m not losing another damn person.”

Twilight nodded. “Where’s the station?”

“About 100 meters down from here, leave the theater and turn left. You can't miss it as the barriers were up when I left.”

With that the three mares turned on their heels and headed for the illusionary wall, blank on this side, and passed through to head for the security station.

As they walked back through the theater they slowed as Twilight looked to the others realizing she had just volunteered them for something rather dangerous. She opened her mouth to apologize when Pinkie spoke up.

“Don’t, you did nothing wrong.” She said, somehow knowing what Twilight was about to say as she looked at her face. “If you hadn’t then I was going to. Those people can't stay there and we are their only chance at reaching safety.”

“Eeyup.” AJ said. “We’ve come this far so out of all of them we are the best choice for heading there.”

“But…what if there are those things?” Twilight asked ears going back a bit.

AJ patted the plasma cutter on her hip. “We handle it because not handling it isn't an option.” SHe said as Pinkie nodded in agreement. “Besides, we aren't letting you do this alone.”

Pinkie nodded. “Friends don’t let friends risk their lives on dangerous missions to save others alone.” Pinkie said her mane poofing up a bit as she smiled at Twilight.

Twilight nearly stopped, the one thing keeping her from doing so was their need to keep moving but she did lapse into silence as she blinked at what Pinkie had said. She’d have asked about it but they had reached the lobby and needed to be quiet.

Did….these two mares actually see her as a friend? Even though they had only met a couple hours ago? Twilight had only been viewing them as three mares thrown together by random chance fighting to stay alive. Was that….really a foundation for friendship?

Twilight had to stop this train of thought as they reached the exit and entered the dark voice beyond. She took a deep breath and filed this away for later analysis when things were calmer as she focused her ears to listen for things.

AJ looked around, scanning for those things. The flashlight barely reached the far side of the mall only really succeeding in reflecting off a few items that looked like a mix of stars in the void….and eyes…..

The only reason Twilight didn't panic was the reflection didn't roar and charge them like those things would have.

Once AJ was sure none of those things were around she started following the left wall, their boots sounding far too loud to Twilight’s ears as she swore they echoed in the darkness and would bring every single one of those things to them.

She shoved that thought down under ruthless logic as if it was really that loud then those things would already be here and they aren't exactly quiet with those roars.

That seemed to keep the fear at bay for the most part, not all of it, but enough to let her focus on what is actually happening rather than wild and baseless thoughts.

Luckily the only thing they saw as they walked was the body of an engineer at the edge of their light, AJ didn't even glance at it as this was becoming all too normal unfortunately.

Still even with the brief light Twilight could have sworn she saw plasma burns rather than the usual damage the monsters make.

She didn't dwell on this as there wasn't time….a thing becoming familiar to her as well as the bodies. The Scientist in her was peacing as it was trying to make sense, it wanted to understand but it couldn't as there wasn't time for anything.

Soon the flashlight shone over a raised barrier like what they had seen at the checkpoint, only this one didn't have a body behind it.

AJ slipped the plasma cutter from her hip and primed her finger over the button not igniting it to avoid the light.

THe three of them slowly crept past the barrier towards the door beyond, the sign above the door saying “Security” and Twilight could see an emergency light on inside and then they were passing through the door.

First they were greeted by the counter long abandoned as AJ looked around the room before they headed for the door past the counter.

Entering the main part of the station they saw a large open room with desks that showed some signs of disarray but looked more like rapid movement rather than the violence they had been seeing.

Nothing moved in the room and they looked to the doors along the sidewall that lead to offices and then two across from them, one labeled Holding and the other Armory.

Twilight gulped her mind tightening up as this all felt wrong at this point as she had gotten used to the violence of the station that seeing such mundane and clean areas felt wrong as they headed for the officing.

They found one with Gilda’s name on it and checking inside showed a well organized office, the next one was for a sergeant and was equally organized. The other offices were in the same state.

Next they headed for the armory though found that locked as it seemed it had battery back up for it, it made sense to Twilight don't want panicked people in a power outage doing something unwise though right now she wished it didn't have such a sensible feature.

Holding was also thankfully empty and they were stepping back out into the main room looking around confirming there was nothing in the station.

“Alright….place is safe, don't want to turn on the generator as the light might draw those things in” AJ said as she relaxed.

Twilight and Pinkie nodded as the trio turned to make their way back to the theater to report their findings. Making their way through the dark voice once more till they reached the ticket booth and headed for the illusionary wall Twilight feeling relief that it was still there though she did notice it had lost some detail.

They walked through and were greeting the same way as before with Gilda aiming the shotgun at them before lowering and letting out a breath. “Fuck….” She said and looked at them. “Report.”

“Station;s empty, doesn't look like those things have even been in there and we didn't see any on the way there but I would say that shouldn’t be counted on.”

Gilda nodded. “Yeah, got about 20 people to move, it's going to be risky as 100 meters is a long way.” She said looking back at Trixie whose forehead was resting on her knees, horn had the barest flicker to the magic around it as she was clearly taking deep breaths.

Gilda headed for the store room. “Alright everyone, grab what you can, we are heading for the security station as recond reports its safe. You have to be as quiet as you can no matter what we come across, you all know what those things did so expect to see their aftermath. You have to stay quiet so as not to draw them to us as if we are caught in the open…..”

Gilda didn't need to finish the statement as Twilight heard the others started to move to gather supplies though two of the medical crew came out approaching Twixie who didn't so much as look up at them.

Soon the survivors were trickling out of the storage room, some carrying food and water, others carrying their children and a few had pipes or tools and other things they found in the storage room to arm themselves.

Once everyone was out Gilda did a sweep of the storage room, most likely make sure no one was still in there and then came up to the head of the group looking at Trixie who was between the two medical crew arms around their shoulder as she tried to stand there but looked on the verge of falling over.

“Alright….drop it…”She said and the magic around Trixie’s horn winked out and her head lolled to the side, eyes closed as one of the medics checked her and gave a nod to gilda.

With her magic gone the wall slowly faded away and as it did Gilda clicked on a flashlight on the shotgun aiming it forward as she started to advance.

Twilight and the others followed her, AJ with the plasma cutter at the ready and Pinkie went to the back to make sure no one fell behind as Twilight walked near Trixie concerned about her though there was nothing she could do to help as she needed rest to recover her reserves.

As they left backstage the pool of light from the flashlights and lanterns made the theater carnage much easier to see and bloodbath was the best way to describe it as it was a log of people caught off guard without cover.

She saw parents cover their children's faces as they made their way up the pathways between rows of seats stepping over the bodies wearing white and red uniforms and casual wear.

Soon they hit the lobby and then left the theater behind and Twilight internally winced as Gilda was right, despite how quiet everyone was trying to be it was a lot of people walking with several light sources making them basically a flare for any creatures that could see them.

Twilight's head was on a swivel…..if they were attacked she’d grab Trixie and run as everyone else could run but the mare was in no shape to do anything except be carried, Twilight wasn't even sure she was conscious at this point.

Despite Twilight’s fears though the group soon reached the barriers and Gilda entered the station followed by everyone else. “Everyone to the back.” She ordered and they all dutifully followed as she went to a panel and opened it.

She flipped a few switches and within seconds the main room lit up and she ran for the front and hit a button behind the counter.

Twilight watched as heavy shutters started going down over the windows and a massive door closed over the entrance and she came back looking far calmer as the entire group relaxed.

“Okay, doubt those bastards can get through that.” She said and looked at the trio. “Thanks for the help….not sure what we will do now but we got emergency supplies and protection so should be fine for a while while we figure out how to get the hell out of here.”

AJ nodded. “Glad we could help.”

“We should contact Rarity.” Pinkie said.

Twilight checked and saw her uplink was fully working with the station powered again.

“Rarity?” Gilda asked.

“Corporate investigator, she sent us here to Entertainment to restore power.” AJ explained.

“Corporate eh? Guessing about that accident huh?” Gilda asked dand AJ nodded. “Yeah, I heard it was bad, no clue what happened, just know a lot of people didn't make it.” She shook her head. “Anyways i’ll leave you to your call.” She said before walking off to check on the others.

With that the three mares opened their uplinkes and sent a ping to Rarity.

They didn't get a response. AJ frowned and tried again but same.

“Maybe she's in the bathroom?” Pinkie suggested a hint of hope in her voice.

A moment later they got a ping from a different signal and they opened it and saw an older unicorn stallion with charcoal fur and a gray and yellow mane. “Hello? Is this thing working?” The stallion asked.

“Dr….Eclipse?” Twilight blinked recognizing him in an instant.

“Ah good, you are reading me, I saw an emergency generator turn on and had hoped there were others.” He said, smiling warmly. “Who might you three be?”

“Engineer Applejack, the others are Dr. Pinkie pie from psychology and Dr. Sparkle who I think was on her way to your team.” AJ said.

“Dr. Sparkle….ah yes i've heard a bit about you and was looking forward to your arrival, though i had hopped to be under better circumstances….”He said

Wait, Dr. Eclipse knew about her? He was looking forward to working with her? The only thing that kept Twilight from squeezing and fanfillying was the citation they were currently in.

“Anyways, glad to see others made it, I’m trapped in my lab by the lock down but I seem to have access to some systems.” Dr. Eclipse said.

“Forgive me sir, but we were trying to contact someone else.” AJ said.

“Do you mean Rarity?” He asked and AJ nodded. Dr. Eclipse gave a sigh. “Nice mare…we were trying to coordinate things…i….those things got into where she was…..i don't think her and that guard made it….it sounded bad before our connection was lost….” HE said gravely.

“Damnit….”AJ said.

“What was she having you do?” Dr. Eclipse asked.

“She was having us trying to restore power to The Entertainment Section by rerouting power past damaged systems.” AJ explained.

“Ah so you were them, she mentioned working on that….good news is i've managed to figure out where you need to go to do that, i’ll send it to your uplinks.” He said and a moment later they got an update showing them a ping where the bad system was.

“Isn’t that in the Neon East club?” Aj asked concerned.

“Yes, i know it's not a good place in all of this but I've been able to check over things and it's where you need to go to get power restored.” Dr. Eclipse said. “You three made it this far, I know you can do this.” He smiled at them.

AJ sighed and nodded. “Alright sir, thanks for the info.”

He nodded. “I’ll let you three rest as you probably need it.”

“Yeah, we just managed to save about 20 others by getting them here to the station.” AJ informed him.

“Ah, excellent. Very good. There are probably more people scattered around as I doubt we are the only ones who are still alive.” Dr. Eclipse said. “Anyways rest up, it's a bit of a trek to the power system. Just remember we are in this together and we can get through this.” He said smiling. “See you when power is restored.”

With that the call was terminated and the three mares sighed and went to find seats. “I can’t believe she didn't make it….”AJ said.

“We had some close calls too….”Pinkie said. “I don;t think we will get out of this without some casualties….”

Twilight nodded. “Unfortunately…but…”

“We shouldn't dwell on it.” Pinkie interjected. “There is nothing we can do about it and we should focus on what we can do, like getting the power back on.”

AJ nodded. “Agreed….we should rest up a bit before heading out.

The others nodded and they found some place to fit to take a break.

Author's Note

I can say I've not felt this level of passion for a book in a long time and I am amused it's horror of all things as I am not the biggest fan of horror.

But I am enjoying writing this and I hope you are all enjoying it as well.