Chapter 19: And You Shall Know The Truth...

“Ah! Aiiee! Argh!!!” Hans cried in agony from behind the boulders where he did his business. Artemis was quick to jump to her friend's aid. Wasting no time Artemis flapped her wings but just as she landed over the boulders Hans trotted wearily out of the crevasse.

“Oh, hey Arty girl what're you doing here?” Hans inquired as he took deep breaths and gave a fake smile.

“You were screaming, I heard it.” Artemis declared not falling for Hans's facade.

“What screams? Oh! Err no I was just giving myself a quickie and it was a real climax I guess. Didn't mean to worry you. What say you we go ahead and get back to the others eh?” Hans explained nervously hoping that Artemis would believe him or at least leave it under the carpet. He would be sorely disappointed.

“Hans..” Artemis pried like a parent trying to get their child to confess to stealing a cookie. “Are you sure your not having trouble.. down there?”

“What!? Why would you even think that? I may get around Artemis but I make sure my men are clean first!” Hans denied defensively.

Artemis narrowed her eyes at her unicorn friend. She had put him on the defensive, she would need a different approach was in order get him to confess. With his hedonistic lifestyle it wasn't terribly uncommon to contract a disease or two hell, Artemis had helped him recover from a few back in the day but Hans was a prideful pony and we would often ignore the symptoms until he was in peril.

“Hans.” Artemis said softly. “You know you can tell me besides I can tell when you're sick, I just want to make sure you're okay.”

Hans lowered his head a little. He brushed his mane and sighed. “Uhh maybe there was some blood in my urine. Just a little! But can we not talk about this right now? Maybe some other time, please?” Hans admitted with a hangdog face.

Artemis had got him to half confess but she would honor her friend's request. They would discuss it later though, cause' blood in your urine was never a good sign. Maybe he contracted this from his years with Red Rope.

“Sure thing Hans, til' later.” Artemis agreed to him. He sighed with relief.

“Thanks baby girl, and could we keep this from the others as well?” He amended.

“Of course, although maybe we could find some Followers to help or maybe Alpha could give you a diagnosis.” Artemis suggested casually even though she expected Hans to reject it but it was good to have it on the table.

“No, maybe but let's just wait for now.” Hans followed suit with her guessed response.

Artemis nodded and gave a smile. Together they walked back to the wagon. The sun shone brightly down on the sand dunes cooking the sand to a golden dust. Artemis's black coat absorbed much of the heat making it to be put quite simply “hotter than hell”. The outskirts of the NCR still matched the geography of the San Palomino deserts, sandy dunes with red rock mountains rising out of them like the dorsal fin of a great red shark. However there was a difference between the wasteland and the desert: the wasteland retained many of the common features of any war torn post-apocalypse realm while the desert was simply great sand dunes spanning as far as the eye could see. The dunes were sparsely traveled by only the bravest and craziest wastelanders, many never returned. Artemis had only traveled the outskirts of the dunes a handful of times to be honest. Back in the day with Hans they would sometimes plan a safari into the desert in the hopes of finding the untouched treasures that lay out there half buried in sand, but in the end those plans never came to fruition. Maybe it was for the best.

The wagon was stopped on a mountainside road. Hans had requested that they stop so he could tinkle but could only use the bathroom off the road down in the dunes obscured by several boulders. Verity commented that Hans was being frivolous for causing such a bother by needing to go off road to do his business. But Hans had known he would scream and didn't want the others to hear.

“Artemis..” A ghostly voice whispered in her ears and her ears alone. Her blood became ice, her neck hair stood on end. Hans didn't seem to hear anything as he trotted off towards the cliff to the road casual as ever.

“Hans!” Artemis yelled to him. But he didn't respond, in fact it seemed as if he was still moving his lips like he was speaking to her.

“Hans can you hear me!” Artemis yelled even louder for good measure, but sadly in vain. Her heart began to race. What was wrong, was it a creature or something worse!?

“Miss us, Artemis?” A female voice asked and right then Artemis knew who exactly that voice belonged to, and it was worse than any creature.

“Hehe, I've been really busy of late. I actually began to question if you guys were just figments of my imagination.” Artemis remarked snidely trying to sound confident as she turned to meet them.

To no big surprise Artemis was right in her suspicion. There on top of the boulders stood the green mares, they wore the same businesspony attire as last time and levitated petite parasols over their heads. Artemis double checked herself to make sure they were really there. That feeling of misplacement crept up over her. Those ghost, phantasms or demon that those twins were not of this plane.

“I think Artemis doesn't think we're real.”

“Oh, but we are very real Artemis. You should be thanking us.”

Artemis narrowed her eyes distrusting what the twins were suggesting. “Why? You never appeared after White Tail?”

The twins gave each others a sly glance. “Oh but do you remember the little gas station/secret laboratory you took false haven in?” The left mare inquired with a sophisticated but poisonous tone.

Artemis was quiet for a minute. She just realized that this was the first time the twins had really spoke “to” Artemis and not “at” her. Now Artemis began to recount the fright night at the gas station/- wait? Laboratory?! So there was more to the little roadside store than met the eyes...

Artemis recounted her night there but found no presence of the twins. “No, I can't say I do remember you two being there.” She answered in a puzzled tone.

The twins look at each other again before turning back to Artemis. “You see, when your little friend Aromatherapy shot that ghoul in the vents, the vent collapsed. You see, in this universe Aroma was supposed to die there but we intervened just like how Valiance was supposed to kill Verity in White Tail Park, but thanks to us they are very much alive.” The right mare explained.

“What!?” Artemis exclaimed in fear and confusion.

“Yes Artemis there are an infinite amount of dimensions, universes and outcomes. This universe is one in an infinite sea.” Left said awestruck but with a hint of pride.

“Yes Artemis, there's a universe for every possibility.” Right backed up Left's declaration.

“There's a dimension where you are a boy.”

“There's a dimension where you have a heart attack right now.”

“There's one where you are all humans.”

“Sister I don't think she knows what a human is besides I don't even think she's listening.” Right told her sister gingerly and stopped their reciprocating sentences.

She would have been buckled by the ideas they were hypothesizing but Artemis was frozen in shock, fear and disbelief but the pieces fell into place. She remembered in White Tail Park, Valiance had cut Verity up the side of his chest and it was looking grave for him but the twins had gave her a mass regeneration potion not thirty minutes before. Because of them, Verity was alive today and if what these twins said was true then they saved Aroma's life as well. Not that Artemis wasn't grateful, but why? Why did they save them?

“I.. I ..” Artemis shuddered.

“We gave your orange friend a hyper mint-al to boost her mind enough to get her out of the basement.”

“We even gave her a nice card.” The left mare said continuing her twin's sentence. She threw a card with a deft wave of her hoof. Artemis yelped as it delivered a small paper cut the size of a hair directly under her left eye. She pressed her hand to her eye and picked up the card with the small red stain.

“Dear Aromatherapy,

These will help, put one and one only in your mouth. Then proceed to swallow it by drinking the water provided. Take the fire escape stair case to your right. The code to the door is 0451. Best of luck.

Love,

G & M

P. S. Hurry.” Artemis read the card in disbelief.

“So where's that thank you now?” Left asked expectantly.

“.....But why? Why did you save them?” Artemis asked dismayed.

The twins looked at each other again, their movements seemed to mirror one another. “Because, we knew you would need them and had already made ties to them. Helping you furthers our goal.”

Artemis released a breath and breathed nervously. “What.. is your goal?” She asked almost afraid of the answer.

“....” The twins were silent.

“That is irrelevant, but all you need to know is that our goals lead to the number station and it's destruction.” They said together in unison, foreboding a malevolent cause to their actions.

Artemis was stuck between a rock and a hard place. She knew better than to see these phantasms as allies and they were far from benevolent. But they seemed to know everything, and could materialize anything with the flick of a wrist. Artemis knew she was being used, a pawn for these twins but they were the only ones with a path to the number station and she needed to destroy the station before the Legion could use it for evil. But will the ends justify the means? Will Artemis remove the threat of the Legion only to be replaced by these god-like twins and whatever twisted plans they had? It's like disarming a bomb strapped to your chest only to realize you have an extremely deadly poison killing you in seconds. It felt all for naught.

“Oh sister look at how she gets lost in her thoughts.”

“I find it endearing, Artemis thinks and this is not a war where you can just shoot like Littlepip and call it a day, there will be no sunshine and rainbows ending to this tale.”

“Ooo yes you are right sister. This will not be a gallant crusade against evil, this will be an invisible war fought behind the noise of nations and mere mortals. We-”

“Hey.” Artemis said and stopped the twins conversation. “If you two are so powerful, then why can't you just use your power to just teleport me to the number station or something?” She asked shakily.

Left snickered. “All in due time Artemis, all in due time. But for now you must get to New Appaloosa.”

“And a little tid-bit from G and M. You don't want what Calamity's selling, he's using you and his friend's are using you to further their own agendas. If you're smart then you'll forget about that closet.”

“Ta ta Artemis!”

Before she could speak they were gone in an instant. Almost like they were never there, the card in her hand was gone as well or maybe it to was never there. That couldn't have been a hallucination! Couldn't it? Artemis's thoughts began to spiral, she felt like she was going insane, losing touch with reality, what was real and what was not. The world began to spin into a mass of colors as they blended into one ugly brown.

Then Artemis fell back into the void... she screamed as her wings froze and she fell helplessly into the vortex, but no one could hear her.

“Artemis.... Artemis... Artemis.. Artemis! Get up baby girl!” Hans's voice faded in from oblivion.

Artemis opened her eyes. Her vision was fuzzy. She made out the pink form of Hans and Verity's white feathered head. She noticed Hans was waving a small green stick no bigger than a cigarette by her nose. Artemis felt Verity's hand holding her head off the ground. They were both huddled over her and Aroma's voice could be heard in the distance. She was confused and groggy, at some point she had passed out and fell down. But what about the vortex, or the twins?

“Errrr...” Artemis groaned unable to form any words.

“Aroma, she's alive!” Hans yelled to Aroma then turned his attention back to Artemis. “Baby are you okay? You took quite a spill.” He asked concerned.

Artemis heard him and tried to answer but she was in a heavy fatigue. She had to muster her strength to answer Hans. She took several deep breaths in succession which elicited looks of worry from Hans and Verity, although the griffon masked it well.

“What, happened?” Artemis asked weakly. Verity and Hans exchanged glances before the unicorn spoke.

“Well baby girl I was walking back to Hayseed's van when I noticed you weren't responding. I turned and saw you back here staring at that boulder with a thousand yard stare and when I touched you to get your attention you started screaming your head off, the others heard you from the wagon and rushed over here.” Hans recounted in a worried but thankful tone.

Artemis raised her head when she heard the soft pitter-patter of hooves on sand. Aroma walked up to them and slung her shotgun over shoulder. She was beginning to develop that wasteland look with her dirty Stable G jumpsuit, olive saddlebag, her weapon of choice and her bandoleer with a few spare shotgun shells. “I didn't see anything and I didn't find any hoofprints...”

Artemis sat up slowly, her brain pulsated violently. Just as Artemis wished for her painkillers Aroma pulled out her bottle of pills. “Lady said you might need these.” Aroma commented as she tossed Artemis her bottle.

As Artemis swallowed three or four pills she wondered if her need was that obvious that Lady could've reliably guessed she would need them. But then again Lady could have been under the impression that she had been attacked and was injured, which would green light the usage of her painkillers. Once the pills dissolved into her system Artemis rolled over and stood to her feet. She didn't feel weak or exhausted, she just felt dazed. Like how one feels after they wake up from a deep sleep. Verity and Hans both helped her stand.

“What happened Artemis?” Hans asked.

Artemis ran her fingers through her hair. “I, don't really know..” She lied. The expressions of the others begged to disagree with her statement.

“Now Arty I saw you, you just looked at that rock even though no one was there. Now you're either lying or you've been hiding a secret game where you scream bloody murder at rocks.” Hans scrutinized . He wouldn't buy the “nothing” idea. Funny though, the tables had turned so quickly.

“What's going on Artemis? We need to know what's happening.” Verity joined in with Hans's interrogation.

Artemis felt sick again. She hated lying to her friends but they wouldn't understand the twins and hell, neither did Artemis. But if she told them they might think she's crazy and call the quest off and then the Legion would take the number station and maybe the entire continent. If sticking to a little white lie prevented that then that was the future Artemis was ready to endure.

“It's nothing you don’t' have to worry yourselves about it. It's... woman stuff, you know how it is.” Artemis blamed menstruation for the incident. She couldn't tell if it woul work but that kind of thing did have a way of shutting men up.

“Oh, that makes sense. Shoot, you had me worried Artemis. I'll go tell the others you're okay.” Aroma said gingerly as she trotted off to tell the others back at the wagon. Little innocent Aroma was the easiest to fool, now would the others buy it?

Hans, not having any knowledge about women could only believe her story however reluctantly. He looked a little more relieved than Verity. The griffon centurion seemed less than convinced but he could swallow the “period” tale better. Besides it was better than the “nothing” story. After an hour long minute Verity slightly nodded.

“Very well.” He muttered in his steely voice. It didn't seem like he bought it...

“I'd talk to Lady about that then, sorry Arty.” Hans apologized he seemed a little embarrassed. With that he eased his way out of the conversation and made his way back to Hayseed and Lady. That just left Artemis and Verity. Just as she was flapping her wings to fly off Verity began to speak.

“I guess you ain't given to relying on others for support huh Artemis.” Verity said stoically, he didn't make eye contact. Artemis cringed inside, he hadn't bought the story. Crap.

Artemis delayed her takeoff. “I told you, it's a bad time for me..” She reiterated. Staying true to her story.

“I don't appreciate being lied to Artemis. Am I not worthy of your trust?” He rumbled, she could feel him using his charismatic tone now.

If she wanted to drive this lie home then she'd have to act serious. Artemis stopped her wings and looked Verity almost in the eye. Almost though...

“I've been under an incredible amount of stress these past few weeks, all this stuff's happening what with the dam, the Legion and NCR dust up, and this damned number station. So if I just need to scream out here then I should be able to.” Artemis persisted her lie.

Verity seemed to back down. He scanned her expression, whether he still saw through her lie or not could not be decided but Artemis wore a serious face to accompany her story. Goddesses she hated this. Lying to her friends was bad, but having to persist with it was worse than any wound one could endure. They trusted her, and now she was lying to them. She wished she could tell Verity the truth, the whole truth, but the risk was too great and just couldn't be done. Fear won this battle.

Verity released a breath but just as he began to speak Artemis flew off to the wagon. It took ever fiber of her being but she had to. This felt like her lowest point, she had blatantly lied to her friends and defended her lie to make matters worse. It was all those twins fault!....And hers as well. She was not without blame. All she could do was hope Verity forgave her and would understand, but could Artemis forgive herself? Should she? The daughter of of Time is Truth, eventually everything would come to light.

After flying up the red rock wall Artemis landed by a parked wagon. The blacktop was warm under fiery sky’s light but it was a little past noon so the heat would subside before long and bring the cold of the desert nights. Alpha lorded over the others from his position on top of the wagon, constantly scanning for hostiles. Hayseed watched his foals emulate gunfights with sticks, one would fall back dead or they would argue about who killed who. It was endearing if a bit sad.

“Announcement: User Artemis has returned!” Lady and Hayseed perked up as they noticed her landing. Verity followed not long after, before long everyone was assembled.

“Are you okay Artemis? That scream had us so worried.” Lady said worriedly.

Artemis deflected her compassion so as not to get tangled in another incident and have to lie again. “I'm fine, it was.. girl stuff.” She admitted and nothing else.

Hayseed awkwardly averted his eyes but Lady looked relieved. “Oh, good. I hope everything's alright do you need-” Lady was interrupted.

“I'm fine Lady, thank you but I would really just like to leave this place.” Artemis cut to the point bluntly.

“Well, I, uh. Alright. Hayseed let's get back on the road.” Lady told her husband after stammering off the last conversation.

Hayseed stood up and stretched and arched his back. It popped and cracked in several places. “Mmmm it feels like all we do is travel, it'll be nice to get to New Appaloosa and sleep in a real bed for once.” He commented with a few more back pops.

He was right, Artemis had put them through a lot, pretty much commandeered their wagon and turned them into work mules. “I know we've been through a lot but if can get to Appaloosa we can all take a much needed break.” Artemis reassured them trying to inspire them or at least sound apologetic.

“Who knows, maybe we might do well in NCR markets. We do have foreign goods that aren't readily available here.” Lady proposed to her husband trying to find the positives of their precidament.

Hayseed herded his foals into the vehicle and him and Lady got in their seats up front. Lady was riding shotgun. Alpha flew over-! Flew! Alpha could fly?! Sure enough their metallic companion sprung into the air as he flapped his holographic wings. He landed with a metal clang of his hooves and folded his wings just like any Pegasus would. He paid no mind to the others and entered as if everyone knew he could fly.

“Whoa... I didn't think he could fly.” Aroma said amazed. She took the words out of Artemis's mouth.

“It would only make sense. Alpha's an HK after all.” Verity grumbled.

Aroma looked at the cornflower blue griffon. “HK as in Hunter-Killer like a UAV right?”

Verity was silent. It appeared Aroma had surpassed his vocabulary for machines. “Yes, something like that.” He murmured.

~Later back on the road~

A pleasant song played on Artemis’s pipbuck but the song only masked her glum inner feels. Inside she felt messed up, she lied to her friends and each second she let her friends entertain that lie the worse it felt. Was she being over emotional about this? But regardless she felt stained because of this lie. She wanted to come clean but her mind made one thousand and one different excuses for why this was a bad time to do so.

The hatch to the drivers seat opened up and Hayseed spoke with an alerted tone. “Uhh you guys are gonna wanna see this..”

Artemis would have ignored him for her self loathing but she felt the van's wheels churn to a stop. Guess it was time to see what... the.. big deal was...whoa.

Everyone was stunned by the landscape. Lush green hills, healthy brown dirt and steadfast trees. The concrete road had turned to a dirt road once they had ventured so far into the NCR. It was beautiful, like White Tail, nature was alive and well in the NCR. Birds chirped and flew about the trees. The twilight sky painted the land as mysterious as it was majestic. Sure the Legion had plant life and the such but not like a scale of this magnitude.

“Sweet Luna, it's beautiful.” Aroma commented almost in tears.

Artemis touched a tree and felt it's thick bark. This was no wasteland, far from it. “This place, it's like a lush green heaven.” Artemis said and continued to examine the other plants.

Everyone was enamored by the botanical wonder of the New Canterlot Republic. Even Verity seemed to be in a reserved awe. Why wasn't all of Equestria like this? It made no sense.

Artemis put her talons in a small puddle off the side of the road. She lifted a small pool of water in her hands and gently put her lips to it. She drank the clean water and to her amazement her pipbuck did not click and her Geiger counter remained still. Clean and radiation free! Hot damn! If a dirty puddle on the side of a country road was clean of poison then this boded well for the cities of NCR.

One thing did obtain Artemis's attention. Her reflection. Once the ripples in the water cleared Artemis gazed into the small puddle and saw her face. She looked tired, like she had been fighting an internal war inside for a long time and she was. There right under the red eyeliner of her left eye was a small line, a scar from the paper cut. It had left a scar, something she'll see for the rest of her life. But this also told Artemis, if she ever doubted the twin's existence then this scar was evidence. She ran two fingers over it. Part of her wanted to cry but she was too tired to cry, self-loathing was making her haggard.

“It's time they know, I can't lie anymore. The truth will set me free.” Artemis thought to herself. New Appaloosa is where she decide she would come clean.

After her reflection ended and the others had their fill of the landscape they returned back the path to Appaloosa. However everyone was still amazed by it all, sure there was plant life in the San Palomino but again not on a scale like this. This seemed like how pre-war Equestria would have looked.

“This place is perfect.” Aroma was in awe. She sniffed several flowers before biting their heads off. “It's just like the Equestria from my books back home.” Aroma seemed to hesitate when she remembered Stable G.

“But this doesn’t add up! Everyone in Stable G believed that the outside was a barren toxic wasteland. This place is nothing like I expected.” Aroma sighed befuddled.

“That doesn't mean this place is any less dangerous or the populace is any more friendly.” Verity told her in his deep voice.

“I guess but, Alpha, why isn't all of Equestria like this again and what happened to do this?” Aroma asked. Alpha thought upon the question before he gave an answer.

“Conclusion: I cannot determine the cause of of this phenomena perhaps, a mass terraforming spell. As for why the San Palomino was not changed, it is most likely because the San Palomino was a desert even before the war therefore it would not change biomes due to a terraform spell.”

“This is well and good but we'd better keep traveling if we hope to reach your city Artemis.” Verity interrupted.

~Later that night~

A heavy harmonica song that had a dreary but oddly upbeat tone played on Artemis's pipbuck. It passed the time, everyone onboard was beginning to tire Hans had even decided to curl up into a ball and shut his eyes. Aroma's fatigue was prevalent but still she persisted to stay awake. Alpha just sat in a still position, but he did have the decency to turn down the brightness of his eyes.

“Hey Artemis.” Verity whispered casually. Artemis looked at him as he sat down by her.

He handed Artemis a small blue flower with a crisp green stem. The petals felt lively and soft. “Here, I thought you'd might like it.” He said in his steely voice. His voice just dripped with emotion, but Verity always sounded somber with his tone so Artemis knew this was his way of being a sweetheart and she found it endearing.

Wait a minute. What if this was some way of him implying that he still didn't believe her story and that he was going to push and pry for the truth right now?! Dammit Artemis, quit over thinking this and just accept your boyfriend's gift with a smile.

“Oh thank you Verity it's lovely.” Artemis smiled and took the flower.

Verity nodded. “I am glad you like it.” He said holding a silent cue for Artemis to come clean with him. But she had to ignore it and pretend she hadn't caught it.

But, Artemis remembered earlier today when she made Hans come clean about the blood in his urine. Hans didn't want to tell the truth, he just wanted it to be ignored but still Artemis pried and he confessed. Hans didn't lie when asked at least not to her. Now the tables were turned and Artemis was on the pry-ee end of the inquisition. Would she lie to Verity? Could she tell herself that now wasn't the time and to wait for a better opportunity? Dammit, looks like the game was over... they're going to send her to an asylum after this weren't they?

Artemis sighed heavily. “Verity, if I tell you promise me you won't think I'm crazy okay?” She asked nervously. Was she actually going to do this?

Verity nodded. “Okay.” Was all he said in his steely tone. Artemis would have preferred a more reinforcing affirmation but that was probably the best she'd get out of Verity wouldn't she?

Artemis paused. “Verity, I've been seeing ghosts.”

“Ghosts?” Verity said raising an eyebrow. He wasn't believing or disbelieving yet.

“Yes, ghosts. I've been seeing them ever since White Tail Park. I, I think they have something to do with the number station like they're somehow tied to it.” Artemis finally confessed. Even though her confession was far from over she looked to Verity to see if he would hear anymore or if he would completely disregard her.

There was a silence before he spoke. “...” But Verity didn't speak. He seemed as if he was looking for the right words to say.

“Tell me about these... ghosts. How many are there? Do they talk to you, tell you to do things?” He asked in small worried tone.

Artemis brushed her feathers and sighed. Thinking back now, she could only remember vague traits about the twins. Their clothes, their odd behavior, attachment with the number station, and how they saved Verity and Aroma. Artemis wondered if she should tell Verity that part. How would someone react if you told them that they were supposed to die at specific point in time but somehow changed it? Like changing Fate's painting of one's own demise.

“They, they tell me that we need to find the number station and that our goals are similar. But Verity, they're evil. Deep down in my gut I know they aren't benevolent, whatever we do to the number station in the end only serves their ultimate goals. I feel like we're all helpless to be their pawns.” Artemis despaired continuing her confession.

Verity slowly processed her words. “But Artemis, they're only ghosts. They can't do anything in the real world.” He countered.

“Well, when I say ghosts I mean that's the only way I can describe them. They have these god-like powers and they seem to know everything. If it wasn't for them you and Aroma would be dead.”

Verity blinked and looked away, disturbed by this information. “Do you mean that they saved my life?”  He asked in coldly.

“I mean that, you were supposed die in White Tail but they gave me a potion minutes before and I used that potion to save you. Valiance's blow was supposed to kill you.” Artemis divulged and recounted the blow that was supposed to be Verity's end...

-- Verity met Valiance's charge with his own. He easily sidestepped Verity with lightning fast reflexes, kicked him and cut Verity down the side of his torso. He let out a pained cry but Valiance just pushed him aside –

Verity rubbed his eyes with his palms and sighed with the shock and awe of this revelation. “So... I cheated death, that was supposed to be my end after all.” Verity said. He turned back to Artemis and raised his wing to reveal a scar.

Running up nearly the entire right side of Verity's torso was a long scar that made hers look like a small scrape. A thin jagged trail of fur-less skin ran up his torso and ended just under his wing. That was the wound that was supposed to have been his doom. It appeared that the wound didn't cause him as much pain as it used to although it looked like it would never heal. It made Artemis feel ashamed for fretting about her scar the way she did.

“Goddesses...” Artemis whimpered at the sight of his scar.

Verity slid his folded wing back over his scar. “It's better now, although I'd still be wary of strenuous activity.” He said nonchalantly trying to deter sympathy from Artemis.

“Hehe like destroying a tank?” Artemis asked with a down chuckle. She wished Verity would have told her he had a big scar that may or not have been fully healed before taking on a tank!

“Mmm we didn't have a choice back in Clopton. Either we fought that tank or died so don't beat yourself up about it.” Verity told her

“Besides, there's something about griffons and scars right? What about that one under your eye?” He added raising a finger to the cut under her eye. Artemis flinched and retracted her head before he could touch it.

Artemis was quickly tempted to nonchalantly call it an odd scratch but she remained strong to revealing the truth instead. “Believe it or not it's a paper cut.... in a sense. When I was talking to those ghosts today down at the boulders one of them threw a card at me and it cut my face.” Artemis explained with a sincere smile and tried to deter sympathy from him.

“Well if it's any consolation I think it's cute.” Verity said endearingly as he sat back down.

“So today you were talking to the twins down at the boulders after all.” Verity proclaimed. That was it, everything was out in the open now wasn't it.

“Yeah, that was them. It wasn't a menstruation thing.” Artemis confessed ashamed.

“Can you ever forgive me?” She asked.

Verity cracked his knuckles indifferently before he answered. “If this was the Legion I would've snapped your neck for lying to me....” He said coldly no anger in his voice

Okay not the answer she was expecting however it did sound like one of the Legion's brutal laws. Artemis tried to see Verity's side of this; his partner had just admitted that she consciously lied to him but still that felt a little too harsh of a response. Artemis wouldn't cower down to any kind of hurt he might be feeling, she was just going to be nice about it and try to get him to forgive her.

“So I take it that's no then huh.” Artemis said in a down tone. Verity was quiet and stoned faced as he glared away from Artemis.

“Huhhh.” Verity sighed. “I will forgive you...” He whispered in his low voice. Artemis sensed there was a “but” following his next words. “Just, understand if I don't trust you wholeheartedly okay.”

That was it. He had forgave her but he would wary of trusting her in the future. This was the future she had created by lying and now it would have to be the present she lived in. But maybe she could earn it back, one day.

“I guess that's all I could ask for.” Artemis replied calmly.

"And you must confess to the others as well." He added. Artemis nodded agreeing.

Verity moved his vision to look at her. His eyes were tired and maybe even sad however he only looked for a few second and sat back up in his seat. “Tell me, what did that paper they gave you say or did you read it?” Verity asked in a weary rumble.

“Yes, that.” Artemis started to whisper so Aroma wouldn't hear if she was still awake. “It was about how Aroma was supposed to die.” Artemis said in a hushed voice. She knew Aroma had some mettle about her but doubted she would able to overhear something like this?

“Apparently Aroma was supposed to die back at the fueling station. After she killed a ghoul and blew out her eardrums the vents collapsed and Aroma wasn't supposed to make it out but they gave her a card and a mint-al to give her the boost to get back to us.” Artemis explained in her whisper. Then she remembered something important! It had almost escaped her.

“The card! It had a name on it, G & M. Initials no doubt.” Artemis whispered ecstatically.

“G & M?” Verity wondered aloud. That meant those initials meant nothing of importance in the San Palomino, damn. Guess it was too much to hope they were renowned scientists, soldiers, or politicians .

“So do you see what I mean? This is why I've been so stressed out. These phantasmponies obviously need us for something that's why they saved you guys. But what I'm afraid of is what they plan to do once we destroy the station...” Artemis admitted ominously.

Verity rubbed his chin. “I think I'm more afraid of what they'll do when they no longer need us.” Verity responded. Artemis hadn't thought of it like that, what good was a tool that had served it's purpose? Artemis and her friends were of little utility to those twins.

“But let's focus on the now.” Verity suggested calmly seeing that Artemis was on the precipice of getting lost in her speculating thoughts.

“But Artemis why did you hide this?”

Artemis began to think why she had kept it a secret for so long. But now that she had confessed it seemed like telling the others was the only reasonable course of action. Going to her friends when she needed help, stubborn pride and illogical fear kept Artemis from going to the only people she could for help. She had been too vain to admit she needed help and to fearful that the others would doubt her mental integrity but after confessing to Verity she saw how ridiculous those thoughts were. G & M were very real and very dangerous but from now on she would go to her friends when things got rough, no more weathering trouble alone.

“I guess I thought you guys would think I'm crazy and that this quest has been to much strain on my psyche.” Artemis admitted sheepishly as she crossed her fingers anxiously.

Verity shifted. “That may not be too far from the truth. We're into some serious stuff, NCR and the Legion, the battle of Hoofer Dam, this number station and who knows what else. It is a lot to bear but...”

“But what?” Artemis asked in a small voice.

Verity sighed. “I don't want to sound cheesy but we don't have to bear this alone. Don't be afraid to turn to the others when you need help.” He said trying hold the steel in his voice.

Artemis had learned an important lesson: You never have to endure something alone when you have friends at your back, never be afraid to go to them in your time of need. She just wished she had learned the earlier then maybe things wouldn't be so abysmal now.

Their conversation slowly retired and soon all was quiet. The only sound one could hear was the rumble of the wheels barreling on the road and the noises of the night. Artemis bobbed her head as she began to doze off. The van turned slightly to the right and came to rest on the side of the road.

Hayseed opened the slot to the back where the others were sitting. “Guys, we have to stop here for the night. I just can't drive any longer. Lady and the foals are asleep so I'm gonna close my eyes as well.” Hayseed proclaimed with fatigue in voice.

Artemis was disappointed that they would not be reaching New Appaloosa tonight but she could see Hayseed's reasoning. They had been running him and his family like slaves, mushing them across the continent. The hour was late and they had been on the road all day besides it was very probable that New Appaloosa was closed to visitors until morning anyway.

Artemis nodded with a sigh. She to was falling asleep. “Okay, maybe we should call it a night.” She said with a yawn.

It was a good thing Artemis agreed to call it a night because whether or not to continue was a moot point. After Hayseed made his proclamation he had promptly closed the slot and went of to dreamworld. Artemis looked to Verity who was preparing to sleep as well.

“I stand with Hayseed. We rest. Goodnight Artemis” Verity said laying his head and closing his eyes.

Artemis laid back in her seat. One more day, one more day and things could really begin. Not even one more day, just a handful of hours and they could arrive at Calamity's apartment and finally get some real answers. Then again maybe there were no real answers but this mysterious closet gave them direction, an objective and that was more than they had in a long time. Then again, Skipper himself said to go to Fillydelphia and find the pink ones lair and so did the twins. Maybe there was more truth to their words than their malevolent dispositions let on about. Skipper said nothing about this closet. She wished Skipper was still alive, he seemed to know what he was doing with the number station and Grandpa as well, he always seemed happy and always looking for the best in everyone.

“Query: User Artemis, why do continue to lie awake?”

Artemis rolled to her stomach and stared at the two yellow eyes piercing the darkness of the wagon's interior. “Shit, you scared the... well, crap out of me.” Artemis complained in a hushed whisper as she rolled back over.

“Well, why are you awake?” Artemis asked defensively.

“Proud Answer: I have no need for sleep, I am solar powered.”

Artemis blinked and indulged the robopony. “Ah, so I imagine you couldn't be activated before the day of sunshine and rainbows then right?” Artemis asked and rubbed her eyes. If she couldn't fall asleep then why not talk to the robot?

“Reluctant Answer: I am afraid so. Even then I needed repairs to restore functionality.”

“Interjection: But that is beside the point of our exchange.”

“Confession: My receptors overheard you talking about ethereal apparitions.”

Artemis's ears perked up. She rolled onto her side to look at Alpha with a quizzical look. “What about them?” What was going through his little robopony mind?

“Request: I wish to be present with you so I may capture images of these apparitions.”

“Prideful Proclamation: I am equipped with sensors and photo recording technologies. I believe I may be able to capture images, sounds or even videos of them.”

Artemis's mind raced with delight. If she could capture images or any kind of evidence of the twins then that would be a big victory for her! Finally something that she could do of her own volition, no strings attached!

“How do you suppose we do it?” Artemis asked him.

“Suggestion: I say we try to recreate an environment in which you may experience this phenomenon. New Appaloosa will be unlikely due to its population, perhaps somewhere more isolated.”

Artemis's fervor was halted by the idea of recreating a scenario to trick the twins and being alone with Alpha. It's not that Artemis feared him but could he be trusted? Machines could lie couldn't they?

Artemis pondered the situation. “Tell you what, I imagine we'll be in Appaloosa for a little bit so when we get to the apartment and get settled in we'll look into that.” She declared with a yawn.

“Statement: Very well. Goodnight User Artemis.”

Artemis looked curiously at Alpha. “Yeah, goodnight to you to...” She trailed off before rolling over to go to sleep. Alpha seemed strange, it seemed at times he was a normal machine but other times he seemed like an actual person. What kind of robot would voice his own opinions without being asked? Then again, why was he even forming opinion? Machines weren't like that.

However it did feel good to finally be on the offense with the twins and telling the truth. She planned to tell the others once they got to Calamity's apartment. If she could get photos of the twins then maybe she could get an insight into who they are. Artemis drifted into her dreamworld and left Alpha all alone to stand guard.

Next Chapter: Chapter 20 - And The Truth Shall Set You Free Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 45 Minutes