Edited by Narlepoax III

Sarah’s first conscious thought upon waking was:

Am I... high?

The world around her was... greyscale. There was no real color. The sky was grey, the roads were grey... everything was grey, black, or white. Spread out before her was... a picturesque neighborhood.

This was quickly followed by:

And where is that music coming from?

Inside her head there was a continuous music track playing. It was jaunty and upbeat... yet maddeningly repetitive.

Her last was:

Why do I feel so much smaller?

She felt as if she were a child again and her legs swayed gently as she sat on the wooden bench. Not only that, but there was a distinct lack of weight to her chest.

Before she could get the answers to any of those questions (and before Nim who was just recovering could answer) a man in a... sweatervest walked up to her.

“Hey there sweetie! Beautiful day, isn’t it?” he asked with a wide and jolly smile, “Say, you should go talk to Betty! She’s waiting for you over on the playground! Have fun sweetie!”

Sarah simply gaped at him.

“What... what is going on?” she asked him with wide eyes, “Is... this the nightmare?”

The man just chuckled. “Sounds like you’ve been spending too much time in those darn comic books of yours sweetie,” he told her with a jovial smile, “Now, really, you should go talk to Betty.”

Sarah, do not question it, Nim suddenly spoke from within her mind, This man has not the faintest idea what is really going on here. She too had noticed that her current ‘vessel’ was different than normal. For one, she was a child (an especially adorable one in Nim’s opinion). For another she was wearing a dress... that didn’t sit right with Nim, Sarah was not the type for dresses.

I... okay... was Sarah’s confused reply.

“You okay there, sweetie?” the man asked her with a smile.

“I-yes, I’m fine,” Sarah said, pinching the bridge of her nose. She hated things she didn’t understand. They always gave her migraines. It was one of the reasons why she’d never been very good at math.

“Well that’s good to hear,” the man said, “I’m George Neusbaun, by the way.”

“Sarah... Sarah Summers,” the wom-girl replied slowly.

“Well it was nice to meet you Sarah,” the man said with a chuckle before he walked away, leaving Sarah and Nim alone.

I... this is so weird! Sarah exclaimed.

Indeed, it is strange. But you need to remember: None of it is real, Nim told her authority, You are not a little girl. You are here to find your father and end the suffering of these people.

Right... you’re right, Sarah replied then frowned, They don’t really look like they’re suffering though...

That is because you cannot see in the right spectrum, Nim replied, We can though and each resident of this place is in pain.

Sarah nodded slowly before turning her head towards the playground. There she saw a girl watering some flowers. That must be ‘Betty’, she observed, I guess we should go talk to her.

For want of a better option, we agree, Nim said with a small growl of irritation. Unfortunately... we appear to be shackled here... our powers are not working as they should.

Sarah bit her bottom lip. That’s not good...

No, it really is not, Nim agreed sourly, How are we supposed to protect you if we cannot impact the world?

Moral support and advice? Sarah suggested as she got to her small feet and began to walk towards the playground, It’s like what you do for Luna.

We suppose... but Luna is much hardier than you, Nim said with a small mental frown, We worry that you may become injured.

A small smile touched Sarah’s face. Thanks Nim, but I think I’ll be fine... this place doesn’t really look very dangerous, she replied as she neared the girl with the watering can.

On the way, she was suddenly stopped as a large dog walked up to her, the girl raised an eyebrow slightly but held out a hand for it to snif. The dog sniffed her hand for a moment before letting out a happy bark and licking her hand a few times before looking up at her with hopeful eyes.

“You’re a good dog,” Sarah said with a small smile. She may never have owned a dog before, but she had read enough books with them to know what to say and do.

The dog barked again before sitting down and wagging his tail. Sarah patted him on the head and then walked past, the dog emitted a low whine, but Sarah was too busy studying the girl ahead of her to notice.

She looked like a normal girl with blonde/grey hair and a bow in her hair. She also wore a dress like Sarah’s and was currently whistling softly to herself. Swallowing a small lump in her throat as a feeling of unease settled across her, Sarah walked up.

“Hello, I’m Sarah,” she said.

“Oh, what luck! Someone new to play with!” the girl exclaimed, “What good luck I’ve had lately! I was just starting to get bored. Oh we’re going to have so much fun!”

Sarah stared at her for a moment before thinking ‘the hell with this’ and bluntly asking.

“My father. Where is he?”

“Gee, I don’t know, what’s he like?” the girl asked innocently.

Sarah’s eyebrows narrowed, she didn’t like this girl at all.

I sense great evil from this one, Nim mentally added.

“Look, I know he’s in here,” Sarah told the girl with a small growl entering into her voice, “This is all just some weird computer simulation.”

“You mean the man who came here is your daddy?” Betty asked, her eyes widening for a moment, “And you’re only here because you’re looking for him?” Then a wide smile spread across her face, “Oh this is just too much fun! We’re going to have SUCH a good time! Let’s play right now!”

Sarah’s teeth ground together. “No. Games. You’re going to tell me where my father is right now or I will kill you,” she told Betty flatly.

Sarah... I would advise caution, Nim silently told her.

The girl’s smile turned into a pout. “Oh don’t be mean, that’s no way to start,” Then her voice turned harsher, “I said, we’re going to play a game so that’s what we’re going to do!”

“Tell me where my father is!” Sarah growled at her, glaring at the girl.

“No,” the girl replied, “Not unless you play a game.”

As much as it pains me to say it Sarah... you must ‘play’ along, Nim intoned, I do not believe she will be helpful otherwise.

Sarah wanted to punch Betty which was odd, she was not an overly violent person, as far as she knew, but at the moment the feeling was so overwhelming that she almost subcomed to it. Then, with great effort she reeled back her emotions.

“Fine, you wanted to play a game?” she asked Betty.

“I knew you would,” the other girl said with a wide smile, “It’s a really simple game. All you have to do is make Timmy Neusbaum cry.”

Sarah stared at her blankly for a moment. “What kind of sick game is that?”

“It’ll be funny. Come on, you’ll see,” Betty told her with a small smirk, “Make him cry, and then come back here, and we’ll talk some more.”

The bile began to rise in Sarah’s throat but she held it back and stalked away.

I think we found our ‘nightmare’, she stated flatly, Though I don’t see what’s so ‘evil’ about making some kid cry. Petty though it may be.

Nim was silent for a moment. This is a test, she said after a length, She wants to see if we are willing to be her pawn before she or it does anything truly vile.

You think so? Sarah asked with a frown as she scanned the street.

Indeed. It is the only thing that makes sense, Nim replied quietly, I do not like this Sarah. Not at all.

It didn’t take her long to find Timmy, he was sitting happily behind a ‘lemonade stand’ whatever that was. The boy was smiling happily and had the type of cheeks that were just begging to be pinched by elder female relatives.

“Hi! Want to play?” he asked her in a chipper voice.

Oh my God... he’s the most adorable human on earth, Sarah thought to Nim with slightly widened eyes.

I... cannot fault you for that statement, Nim agreed, Even now I feel the urge to cuddle him... and I do not have a body.

“I... I’m supposed to make you cry,” Sarah told him after a moment, “Betty told me to do it.”

“What? No she didn’t... did she?” the little boy asked in confusion, “I don’t like her. She’s creepy, and she laughs at stuff that isn’t funny.”

“Kid, I like you,” Sarah told him before letting out a sigh, “But... I’ve still got to make you cry somehow.”

Hmm... well, you could always punch him, Nim pointed out, It has been our experience that when someone is this adorable they do not have a high pain tolerance... do not ask us how we know.

I’m not going to punch him! It would be like kicking a puppy! Sarah replied, There’s got to be another way.

Very well, Nim replied, Repeat after me.

Sarahs jaw hardened and she turned to the boy. “Timmy, you are the most pathetic piece of garbage that I have ever seen. You’re scrawny, stupid, and your shirt looks horrible,” she told him with a glare, “Worse, your parents hate you so much that they’re going to get a divorce simply because of how much of a failure you are!” she exclaimed, “Do you hear that Timmy? You make your parents hate each other just by existing!”

Timmy stared at her for a moment in shocked silence before he asked in a small choked voice. “What? Did-did I do something bad?”

NO! I’m not telling him that! Sarah exclaimed within her head.

We do not like it any more than you do Sarah, Nim stated flatly, But there is no alternative; unless you’d like to resort to physical violence.

The girl let out a mental growl of irritation before she answered Timmy’s question. “Don’t you get it Timmy? Your parents never loved you! In fact, they both hate you and wish you were a rotting corpse in the back yard so that they could get on with their lives!”

Timmy’s reaction was predictable. “No, no! Not my mommy and daddy! Noo!” he wailed before he ran off, crying his eyes out.

Sarah stood there for a moment. That was... evil, she said quietly.

Yes... it was, Nim agreed softly, Yet it was not you who ordained it. That guilt lies squarely on the shoulders of Betty.

Sarah growled and clenched her hand, rage filling her once again. I’m going to kill her... she said before trailing off and striding angrily towards Betty who looked up from her ‘watering’ and smiled evilly at her.

“Yay! I knew you could do it!” the girl said, still grinning. Then, without warning, her voice... changed. It was suddenly deeper, distinctly male, and laden with a strange accent. The whole thing was so sudden and casual that Sarah’s mind was sent reeling.

“Perhaps not the most ‘inventive’ approach, but the persuasion can be quite powerful. Well done.” Sarah stared at the ‘girl’, too shocked to speak. “And for winning the game, you get a prize. You get to ask one question and receive an honest answer.”

“I...” Sarah tailed off, still staring.

“Come now, I don’t bite,” the girl said, still using a man’s voice.

This is... wrong on so many levels, Sarah told Nim as she continued to stare.

Indeed... was all Nim had to offer.

Sarah took a deep breath before finally asking .”Where is my father?”

“Ah, yes. A predictable question, I suppose,” the ‘girl’ replied with a small amused chuckle. “Your father is here, in Tranquility Lane. He is quite safe, for now. Though, he can no longer... hound me with his incessant questioning,” she continued before switching back to the voice of a girl, “Perhaps you will see more of him in time.”

Sarah’s jaw clenched again. “I want to see him. Now!” she growled.

The ‘girl’ put a hand on her chin. “Hmm... No, no I don’t think so,” she told Sarah mockingly before switching back to a man’s, “We haven’t yet plumbed the depths of your ability to amuse me. I think you’ll do a few more things for me first,” ‘Betty’ finished with a smirk.

Nim, I’m going to punch her in the FACE! Sarah exclaimed angrily, her fists clenching tighter so that her fingernails dug into her palms.

Sarah. Calm. Yourself, Nim stated flatly, What has gotten into you?

I... don’t know, Sarah said, shaking her head slightly, This ‘man’ just fills me with... rage. Pure rage.

“Have you made up your mind yet?” the ‘girl’ asked her in a slightly impatient tone.

Oh my... I should have thought about that, Nim said quietly before she ‘faded’ for a moment. Strangely, Sarah’s anger dimmed from that of a roaring inferno to that of mere annoyance as well as self-righteous indignation. Sorry about that... I was leaking my own feelings towards this being, Nim apologized.

I... it’s fine, Sarah replied before finally answering Betty’s question, “Alright, ‘Betty’. What do you want me to do?”

“Pay a visit to the Rockwells. They’re very happily married, and I’d like you to change that. Put an end to their marriage, and we’ll talk,” ‘Betty’ said simply.

“You’re incredibly petty,” Sarah told her coldly, “Do you honestly have nothing better to do?”

“No, not really,” Betty answered with a small chuckle, “Now, do as your told.”

Sarah gave her a cold glare. “How do you even expect me to do something like that when, I have no idea who these people are?” she asked, “I mean... am I going to find some damning evidence that neither has seen before or something?”

“I care not what you do or how you do it,” Betty answered in her ‘I’m an angel’ voice, “Just that you do it.”

“Fine, but you’re answering my questions when I get back,” Sarah told her with a deep frown, “Which house do these people live in?”

Betty pointed it out and Sarah trudged off, her eyes narrowed.

Nim, what did you mean that you were ‘leaking’ your feelings? Sarah asked her, Are feelings like water or something?

In a way, Nim answered before pausing for a moment, thinking of the right way to phrase her explanation.

Sarah was not stupid... but Nim highly doubted she would grasp higher level arcane knowledge and concepts simply. Most couldn’t, to be honest.

You see... our minds are like two great rivers that are running beside each other with a narrow strip of land separating them. Nim began. Occasionally, one of the rivers’ waters rises too high and it floods over the land and into the other. For example, at the moment we are currently frothing at the bit to destroy that ‘Betty’ and our ‘emotion’ flooded the bank.

Oh... alright, Sarah said slowly, nodding to herself as she approached the house ‘Betty’ had directed her at, That makes sense I guess.

Good, Nim said, We apologize for allowing it to happen in the first place. When we are with Luna, we are a part of her; so we need not worry about this sort of problem.

But what about when you take over? Sarah inquired with a frown, Does that not count?

No, that is a different type of thing all together, Nightmare replied without really answering the question, At any rate, shall we attempt to ‘break up’ this marriage?

I suppose so... it seems really petty to me though, Sarah replied before she pushed the door open and found both of the Rockwells sitting in the living room.

“Hi sweetie, what’s up?” the man asked.

Sarah let out a small sigh and walked up to the man as the woman left for the kitchen. “So, sir. I’m new in town, and I was wondering if everyone here in Tranquility Lane was happily married?” Sarah asked, giving him a fake smile.

His smile dimmed into a frown. “Now see here. That’s not anything for you to be asking about. Our marriage is our business. It’s private,” he scolded her, “Why can’t people understand that and just leave us alone?”

“I’m sorry, didn’t mean to pry,” Sarah said demurely before she took a step back and headed for the kitchen.

“It’s fine, take care now!” the man replied, his voice light and merry once more.

The people here are scaring me, Sarah told Nim, They’re all too damn nice when they shouldn’t be.

You’ve just grown used to people wanting to kill you, haven't you? Nim asked.

That could be it, Sarah replied wryly with a small shake of her head. Anyways... let’s just get through this, okay?

Indeed, Nim replied as Sarah walked into the other room to find the ‘lady of the house’ baking a pie, This should be easy enough, most mares of this age are easily susceptible to lies. Especially if my suspiscions about the wording of her husband is correct, she told Sarah.

Sarah frowned for a moment and then tapped the woman’s leg. The woman turned down to look at her. “Well hi there, little girl.”

Sarah let out a small sigh and a pout crossed her face. “I’m really sorry to break this to you Ma’am... but I saw your husband kissing another woman over by the fense. She was really pretty and I heard him talking about how much prettier than you she was,” Sarah said, her voice flushed with false sincerity.

The woman’s face grew angry. “It’s that Martha Simpson isn’t it?! I knew it! That’s it! I’ve had enough of Roger’s lies and bullshit!” she shouted. Without warning, she ran over to her husband who was sitting in the chair, and kicked him in the crotch before running out of the house.

Sarah stared, That was... way to easy, she muttered, Their marriage must not have been all that perfect... she trailed off and shook her head, And now I feel like an absolute piece of shit.

It is not real, Nim told her gently, And if we do not do this, you will never find your father.

I know... it’s just... Sarah closed her eyes and let out a deep breath, I’m okay... I’m fine... I’m in control of myself.

Yes, yes you are, Nim agreed in an encouraging tone, This will all be over soon.

Yeah, right... Sarah reluctantly replied, before she turned and walked towards Betty.

The ‘girl smiled at her. “So, you have achieved your goal. I was hoping for something a bit more dramatic, but... persuasion appears to be your strong suit,” ‘she’ said in the male voice, “And at least you are cooperative, unlike your father. I was most disappointed when he refused to participate, yet still expected something from me.”

Sarah bristled at the mention of her father, “I did what you asked me to do,” she said in a cold and level tone as she fought down both her own and Nim’s anger, “Now you are going to explain some things to me.”

“You have amused me thus far, but I still don’t think you’re quite in a position to be demanding anything,” ‘Betty’ said, still male, “Still, I suppose you’ve earned the right to further answers. Vhat would you ask of me?”

The girl closed her eyes for a moment. What should I ask? she asked Nim.

Where your father is now, Nim replied. Anything further can be gleaned from your father when we retrieve him.

Right, Sarah replied with a small mental nod.

“Where’s my father now?” Sarah asked.

“He’s here and he is unharmed. He has merely been rendered unable to bother me,” she answered.

“How do I know that you’re not lying?” Sarah asked Betty with narrowed eyes, “You could have already killed him.”

Betty pouted. “Oh, dear. You don’t even believe me? How disappointing,” she said in her faux girl voice, “I assure you, James and I talked at length before you arrived. Now, let’s continue, before I grow bored with you.”

“Great... more petty quests for me?” Sarah asked her, arching an eyebrow, “What now? Knock over that lemonade stand? Steal a pie? Kick a puppy?”

“Your sarcasm is unappreciated. This could be so much fun if you’d allow yourself to see it,” the male voice whined, though there was a mad gleam in ‘her’ eyes.

Never, Sarah mentally told him flatly.

Indeed. Never, Nim agreed... this creature... it was a grim reminder of what someone with too much power could be... and to be honest... it was an unsettling reminder. To be perfectly honest, it reminded her quite a bit of Discord in his hay day. Furthermore, she could tell that, given the opportunity, ‘Betty’ would twist who and whatever ‘she’ was given into something vile.

Meanwhile, Betty was talking once more.

“Now, Marebel Henderson needs to die,” the male voice told them, “Not just any death mind you, but an entertaining, well thought-out death. You’ll see to that,” the male continued as Sarah’s eyes hardened, “Very simple, plenty of opportunity to show me what you’re capable of.”

I... Nim... what do I do? Sarah asked the other mind frantically. If I turn her down, I’ll never find dad. I might even be trapped in here forever. But if I do it, then...

Then she will have made a murderer out of you, Nim finished flatly, Oh how I wish I was capable of using my powers upon this wretch... she would be begging for death as loudly as all those trapped here combined, she seethed violently.

I... I have to, don’t I? Sarah asked. Nim only sent a silent confirmation.

“I hate you, I hate this, but if it means that I can rescue my father... then I’ll go along with this. You evil bastard,” Sarah told Betty with a harsh glare.

“Of course you will,” the girl voice replied, “And you never know... you might enjoy it.”

Sarah’s answering glare could have made grass wither, if there was any living grass in the Wasteland that is. As it was, some of it would probably have crumbled in sheer fear. Betty however simple smirked, her eyes mad.

We will destroy you, foul creature, Nim silently promised her.

Sarah turned her back on Betty after asking for directions and entered into the house. It was... normal. The only thing out of the ordinary that Sarah observed was the robot.

I really wish we didn’t have to do this, Sarah growled, I fucking hate being that thing’s toy like this.

We feel it as well, Nim agreed as the pair began to explore the house, Do not worry Sarah... we will have our revenge. One way or another.

I hope so... Sarah murmured as she entered the kitchen. There she found what she’d been hoping/dreading she’d find. The robot control panel. With a soft sigh she quickly began to type into the keyboard, first disabling the ‘security screening’ ability of the robot. She then initiated the ‘security program’.

The robot let out a sigh of its own as it began to hover towards the woman of the house. “Why must you humans always resort to violence?”

The woman let out a scream as the robot neared her and in a single grizzly slash of its saw-arm decapitated her, the blood flowing all around.

“And who has to clean up all this blood do you think?” the robot demanded the woman’s skull.

A wordless cry of anger left Sarah’s throat and she threw herself at the floating robot. Before it could respond in kind Sarah’s nimble little fingers had found a control panel and she tore out the spark battery. She stood there panting for a moment, standing before the broken robot and the headless body before a wail escaped from between her lips.

“God damnit!” she shouted at the empty air.

Think of your father, Nim quietly urged her, He is your goal. Focus on him and only him.

He... he’d be so disappointed in me, Sarah said as a sob emerged from between her lips.

No, he would be proud that you were strong enough to do this and still feel this way, Nim replied slowly, He would be proud of how much you care about him. He... would not betray you like that.

Sarah sniffled, being in a child’s body was starting to affect her, Do... do you really think so?

Yes, yes we do, Nim replied softly, If your father is anything like you seem to think he is... then he will understand.

Sarah gave a shaky nod and then wiped her runny nose on her sleeve, I... thank you Nim.

You’re very welcome though we feel the thanks is un-needed, Nim said, After all, you are our Sarah are you not?

The touch of a smile appeared on Sarah’s face and she nodded before slowly making her way out of the house.

Sarah approached Betty who spoke before Sarah had the chance too. “Poor Mabel, killed by her own robot. I suspect she never saw that coming,” the girl voice praised Sarah making the girl quake inside, “You are most resourceful and you certainly do get results. You have exceeded my expectations!” His voice was so full of cheer that Sarah was forced to fight down the urge to throttle ‘her’. “And now, we come to the last task that I have for you. Succeed and you shall be granted whatever you wish,” he finished with a grand smile.

Sarah’s teeth were clenched too tightly for her to speak, so close was she to killing Betty.

So instead... Nim spoke for her, Sarah’s control of her jaw going slack, “How do I know that you’re being honest with me?” she asked.

“I think you’ll find that I’ve been quite honest with you thus far. You have no discernable reason to mistrust me,” the man’s voice answered easily. “In the dog house out behind the abandoned home are a mask and knife. Don the mask and become the Pint Sized Slasher! Use the knife to eliminate all the residents of Tranquility Lane.”

Even Nim was too shocked by that to speak for a moment and it was Sarah who finally answered.

“Fuck you.”

With that, the girl stepped away.

“Don’t you want your answers?” Betty called to her. In response, Sarah held up her middle finger and continued walking.

Sarah... are you sure of this? Nim asked quietly. Not that I am endorsing this... it is an evil, vile thing... but it is the only way, is it not?

We’ve been thinking about this whole thing wrong, Sarah replied calmly, her thoughts chilled as ice. This is a computer simulation, not a dream. That means that it is connected to a system of some kind. Every Vault system has a fail-safe or override of some kind, it’s how the Overseer keeps order in the event of a rebellion or other security situation, she explained, calling upon her old job, That means we just have to find it.

Okay... that makes a degree of sense, I suppose, Nim replied, puzzledly, So... where would we find this ‘override’?

Well... it would be somewhere that no one goes, Sarah replied. Somewhere that ‘Betty’ wouldn’t have to watch carefully.

So... somewhere abandoned? Nim inquired.

Yes... that sounds right; why? Sarah asked her, surprised at how fast she had come up with the answer.

Because during our ‘escapades’ here, we spotted an abandoned house, Nim answered while mentally smirking at Sarah.

Sarah stopped in her stride for a moment before stating. Nim... I love you.

We... thank you Sarah, Nim replied quietly, We are sorry that we have not been able to be of more help in this endeavor... we have been worthless as always.

Hey, you helped me with the first two tasks, Sarah retorted, If you hadn’t been here with me, I’d probably have ended up punching the kid and wasting a ton of time on the couple.

Nim preened beneath the praise. Thank you, Sarah. Thank you very much, she said.

Sarah smiled softly as she headed for the abandoned house. You’re welcome Nim... it really is a cute name, you know, she told her tenderly.

We... had not anticipated it being one... but we are glad you find it so, Nim said (a mental blush on her ‘cheeks’ if such a thing can exist). However, we should focus on finding this failsafe at the moment.

Right you are, Sarah agreed, her smile turning into a grim grin of anticipatory violence.

Her thoughts full of vengeance the girl entered the abandoned house. Unfortunately, as she looked around she didn’t see any form of computer terminal. All she saw was a smattering of garbage.

Well... shit, Sarah thought bitterly. I guess... there isn’t one.

I suppose it was too much to hope for, Nim agreed with a small sigh, I’m sorry Sarah.

Don’t be... it’s not your fault, Sarah replied as she walked up to one of the knocked over chairs and righted it. Then she sat down and looked at the radio. I wonder if that thing still works...

She reached over to touch it and to her surprise, a musical note sounded from it. Sarah’s hand froze in surprise.

Or... maybe there’s a override after all... she said slowly, It’s just hidden.

The girl quickly got to her feet and began to touch various objects around the house some made noises followed by an abrupt and harsh dual beep, which she came to associate with the ‘wrong’ choice. Soon, she had a fairly solid idea of what she was doing. The radio came first, it was the only one which did not have the ‘wrong’ noise sound following its activation.

It took her only on ten minutes of puzzling to solve the puzzle, but only because of Nim.

In the middle of one of her attempts Nim suddenly interrupted her. No Sarah, that will not work. We are on the fourth note. Tap the block, the mare instructed.

Sarah did so, and to her delighted surprise the block emitted the right noise.

Excelent, now the gnome, Nim said, Sarah did so and she was once more rewarded with the proper sound. Good. Finally, activate the bottle, Sarah did so, and the silence of the room was interrupted by a fizzling hiss. The backmost wall had vanished, to be replaced by a large computer system. The large monitor was separated from the rest of the house by… there was no other word for it, static.

I... how did you do that? Sarah asked Nim, bewildered, It would have taken me hours to think of that!

Equestria is a land of music, Sarah, Nim replied, And those objects made up the notes that create the ‘theme song’ of this place, she explained.

I... fucking love you! Sarah exclaimed.

Good, Nim replied with a small bit of smugness, We deserve all of your praise and more.

Sarah smiled softly. Well, next time Luna and I ‘experiment’ I want you to be the one in control, she replied, a tender note in her voice.

If Nim had ears, they would have perked up, Truly?

Truly, Sarah answered with a radiant smile.

That is... we will enjoy that a great deal, Nim replied, anticipation filling her voice. I do hope you don’t mind a bit of biting.

Sarah suddenly blushed. I um... I’ve never tried it, she said before she walked up to the terminal and began to type. We should probably finish this first.

Agreed, Nim said, though she chuckled wickedly at the other thoughts currently filling her head.

Sarah stared up at the computer, scanning through everything. It took her only five minutes to decide on a course... though it was not exactly a ‘good’ one.

Okay... our only way out is to activate this fail-safe, Sarah announced, her voice low.

Alright, why do you sound sad? Nim inquired.

By activating the fail-safe we kill everyone native to the Vault, Sarah explained. Only my father, Betty (whose name is Braun, apparently), and I will survive.... but there’s a bright side.

There is? Nim asked in surprise. What is it?

Apparently, Braun has been torturing these people for the past two centuries... and reviving them whenever he killed them, Sarah replied, her voice becoming dark and angry, If we do this... then he’ll never be able to get at them again. They’ll be dead. Forever.

And he will be stuck in here forever, alone. Trapped in his own mind, Nim said with a small ‘nod’. It seems fitting... reminds us of what Tia and I did to Discord.

You trapped him in a computer simulation? Sarah inquired with surprise as she pressed the activation switch.

No, we turned the bastard to solid stone and put him out where the birds could shit on him, Nim replied vehemently, He deserved nothing less.

Right... I’ll have to ask Luna about that later, Sarah said as she walked through the door.

As the pair proceeded out the door, they saw a brutal sight taking place. A dozen men in odd jackets with odd assault rifles were in the middle of firing down the residents of Tranquility Lane. Blood flew everywhere and limbs were torn off by the high caliber rounds. Sarah ignored it and instead walked up to Bruan.

“Enjoying the lightshow asshole?” the girl asked him with a smirk of satisfaction.

“Do you realize what you have done? You’ve triggered the Fail Safe! Ruined EVERYTHING!” he shouted at her.

“‘Everything’ was ruined long before I got here,” Sarah replied harshly before she stepped up and did something that she’d wanted to do the entire time she’d been there. Her fist lashed out and slammed into ‘Betty’s’ nose. The other girl fell to the ground, blood pouring from her nose, “Enjoy eternity alone, bitch.”

Sarah casually walked through the shimmering wooden door, which had appeared in empty air.

The top to Sarah’s pod rose up and she stepped out to find Luna waiting impatiently for her (as she had been for the last two hours). The moment that she hit the ground, Sarah was engulfed by a sea of feathers and found found herself being hugged fiercely.

“Are you alright Sarah?” Luna asked worriedly, “I was not able to hear much through my link with Nim but what I heard was not pleasant,” she added, still hugging the woman close.

“I... I’m not exactly fine... but I’m not as bad as I could be,” Sarah replied as she hugged the alicorn back, “It was... rough.”

Indeed, very rough, Nim agreed quietly. It was like there was a less powerful version of Discord ordering us around and we could do nothing... again.

Luna’s embrace around Sarah tightened and the woman found it hard to breathe. “Lu-Luna, I still need air,” she gasped.

Luna blushed and released her. “I’m sorry, Sarah...”

“It’s alright,” Sarah said, giving her a quick peck, “I know you only meant well.”

“Well, either Braun is still messing with me, or my daughter just kissed a winged unicorn,” her father’s voice echoed in Sarah’s ears. Sarah’s head whipped away from Luna’s and she saw her father, looking none the worse for wear, walking towards them.

“Oh... Dad... forgot you were there...” the woman said with a small blush. Then she sprinted away from Luna and tackled her father into a hug, “Thank God you’re alive!”

“And thank God you came for me... otherwise I’d still be on four legs,” James replied as he wrapped his arms around his daughter’s back. Then he turned his head to look at Luna, “And it looks like you’ve made a ‘friend’ out here, eh?”

Sarah’s blush deepened. “I... dad... this is Luna... she’s... my friend... and a little more...” she said quietly.

James looked over Luna (who was frozen in the process of stepping forward, not sure whether or not to come any closer) and then he smiled and kissed Sarah gently on the forehead.

“Well, I always knew that I wasn’t getting grandchildren,” he told her affectionately, “Though... I have to say, all those years of reading Grognak, I thought you were eyeing the half naked princesses. Not the horses.”

“Actually...” Luna spoke for the first time, causing Sarah to giggle slightly, then she began to laugh, before she finally began to cry into her father’s neck.

Author's Notes:

Well, I hope the length of this one makes up for the shortness of the last one. Also, I’m sorry to disappoint all of you who wanted Sarah to take the really evil option. Thing is, it’s just not in her character to do it.

Also, thanks to Narlepoax III for putting up with my insane writing speed.