Episode 3

Rapture
The Nightmare Chronicles
Chapter VII
After Dark

Derpy and Octavia followed the path of the river until if dropped into a vast reservoir. The drop was only fifteen or so feet onto a sandy beach, but Derpy was very tired from carrying Octavia, so they camped on the rim for the night.
Next morning Octavia awoke to a familiar voice speaking into her ear. Vinyl Scratch.
"It works!" Octavia called back over the quantum radio derpy had made. There was an addible sigh from the other end.
"Its a complete mess over hear, Finally got a chance to sneak into the den. Been hooking up all the funky stuff derpy gave and integrating it with the soundcode stuff we use. The whole system has been rendering for the past five hours. Got about another ten before everything is online. But the comlink works and we can start recording for the self adapting soundcode we spent the past five years developing. How goes it on your side?"
Octavia took a moment to respond.
"Vinyl, the decompression spell did not manage to take. I am still mostly dumb and blind. As to this place, it seems to be a gigantic overgrown city. If I were to hazard a guess, this city could be almost five times the diameter of Manehatten. Quite the impressive sight. Derpy's alright too. It is morning over here, instead of night. It would be best if you reorganized your schedule."
Vinyl, chuckled, the put on some groove beat as background music. "No problem there sis. My faculties are yours to command!"
Octavia and derpy made their way down to the sand. The beach was around 500 feet wide, with a very shallow incline. Most of the sand was piled into wind blown dunes. As far as either pony could tell the beach encircled the entire lake.
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Dash was alive. But barely.
By some miracle she hadn't died of blood loss or trauma to internal organs. Her heart stopped several times over the first hour. But between skylark's medical supplies and Junes creepily innate knowledge of medical surgery and the inner workings of pony anatomy. Dash managed to hang on through the first critical hours. During the first day Doc June made three separate surgical operations: setting broken leg bones, removing a dangerous jaggedly broken rib and removing an embedded arrow head just above her cutie mark. Along with sowing up her many cuts, gashes and other injuries. Dash was a strong pony, her intense competitiveness and general superb health save her life in the end.
Sapphire on the other end was nearly destroyed from the ordeal. She had no control over her magic or her inner sense. She still felt everything those around her felt. It became overwhelming every time she closed her eyes, so she didn't get any chance. Rarity found a new lease life when Sapphire arrived. Taking the moonmare into her care and generously donating every waking moment to tending her charge.
Pinkie Pie somehow found herself in a position of leadership. Rarity, Sapphire and Pinkie didn't know and completely trust their companions. June owed them his life and Sky was glad to hang with anypony who was a centaur killer. This party had three. Besides, she had halfgore to play with. Who helped them with choosing a nearby location to hide out while Dash healed and everypony recovered.
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Sapphire was now a week old by one form of reckoning. Sapphire was back from deaths door, Rainbow Dash was back from beyond it. Dash was conscious, if somewhat incoherent and delirious. Rarity shifted her focus from one charge to another, giving Sapphire a window of opportunity to go hunting.
While her stomach was full of scavenged vegetarian meals, the hunger within desired a different form of nourishment.
With cat like grace and agility, Sapphire tracked down a family of wild boar. She followed them for several miles before the opportunity to seize a straggling piglet. Sapphires keen senses made a final sweep of the surrounding jungle. Her incredible night vision beginning to take over in the gathering darkness. Her broad spectrum night vision spotted several figures conversing a mere thirty yards away.
Sapphire was torn but the desire to snoop won out over that of hunger. With practiced ease she silently slipped into the ideal listening position. Within a minute Sapphire recognized one of the voices, it was Skylark. Skylark had left camp numerous times to "patrol" for any incoming danger. As the conversation continued Sapphire uncovered the real reason for Skylark's many absences.
Trading unicorn horn tips...
Sapphire edged closer to get a better view Skylark's companions. Both were unicorns, and both had complete horns. These were the first ponies in this world Sapphire had seen with complete horns. They could use magic, she coundn't, she wasn't even strong enough to fly again, hell she could barely run right now. Warily Sapphire broadened her perspective, she tasted danger in the air.
Sapphire was right, a third unicorn hiding across the clearing on Skylarks left, poised to strike. It was then that Sapphire noticed the trio had broken out into argument while she had scanned the area for danger. Sapphire watched with a mix of joy and horror as the third unicorn lifted a recurved knife in the faint glow of levitation magic. Before she could react the blade shot out handle first, before spinning in an expert flick through Skylark's throat. The confused pegasus died in a messy gurgle of blood.
The trio of murderous unicorns began to gallop in the direction of Sapphires friends at camp. As she turned to race back to camp, Sapphire felt the pent up desire to kill lessen as a trickle of new energy dripped into her. The new energy wasn't much, but Sapphire could now match pace with the unicorns. And Sapphire had a huge advantage in this race. She could see vivildly, especially durning the darkest nights.
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Octavia and Derpy wondered along the beach, the going was easy and they made good time. Octavia and Scratch spent the next few hours trading mystical soundcode, which she wove into her attire. Their combined effort better adapted her suit for the strange environment in which they found themselves.
The day long trek was largely uneventful until, they neared the far end of the shimmering lake. As the rolling breadth of sand curved back toward the towering and impervious outer wall, strange shadowy figures began to mirror their movements from the edge of the forest above. Soon though, the figures were lost to view as a gigantic overhang loomed overhead.
Broken pipes, wires and crushed metalic support beams stabbed out from the dark bank above them. There was no earth or rock to speak of, no roots hanging down, just twisted metal and a obsidian like substance with intricate carvings across its surface and even more strange blue-white symbols glowing from within. The beach was quickly entirely covered by the monstrous overhang. Within 500 yards the outer lip had reached down to the waters edge. Octavia and Derpy forged onward into the tangled maze of broken black stone, twisted metal and frayed wires. A gentle breeze to guide them toward the other side.
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As Sapphire continued running she found another advantage to unfurl, she had wings. She was still too weak to utilize flight magic, but as simple airfoils her leathery appendages provided enough lift to glide over logs and float atop her pounding legs. This translated into better speed and endurance, two traits she desperately needed. For the unicorns were now behind her, following her every step, even lashing out with magic in an attempt to stop her. Stride for stride wasn't good enough, she needed to put minutes between them and her. A welcome voice echoed throughout her head.
"Little one, We are still to weak to summon the darkness, but we are not alone."
Confused, Sapphire asked. "Who? Everypony at camp is too weak to fight."
The ancient spirit shifted from words to feelings, directing Sapphire's inner consciousness toward two figures wandering along the edge of a shimmering lake. Sapphire could feel the strain this put on her counterpart. They were still very faint from the attack on the feathered centaurs.
"Those unicorns are chasing after YOU, let them do so."
The voice faded, and the dark power drained away, leaving Sapphire with a empty feeling. But she didn't dwell on that, her dominant thoughts were of plans that needed forming.

Rapture
The Nightmare Chronicles
Chapter IIX
All Comers

It quickly became apparent to Octavia that the intricate maze of crushed and twisted tunnels had once been inhabited. The beautiful glowing runes buried inside the glassy stone provided the luminosity the duo required to see.
As they traveled deeper into the leviathan, Octavia and Ditzy uncovered ever more interesting and impossible relics. First they entered something resembling an atrium. That, after wading carefully through the skeletons of long deceased ponies, was once meant to hold hundreds of mechanical warriors. These machines were frozen, mid stride in battle stances. Dealing death to these long-dead corpses with now lifeless weapons. Octavia inspected the weapons. Although lacking the digits the machines had to operate them, Octavia bet that, with a little practice, she could operate the weapons with her mouth and tongue. Something to experiment with at a later date.
The door to maintenance was closed and wouldn't budge. Octavia was somewhat shocked at she could read the sign above the door. (denouncing the space beyond as maintenance) the script was slightly more Cyrillic than the ones ponies normally wrote in but she recognized most of the characters.
Instead the two ponies followed the breeze and entered the spacious air ducts. Octavia soon realized she had been wrong, a powerful fan, not a shore breeze was responsible for the motion of air within the vessel. It was a vessel of somekind, the engine room that Ditzy somehow found a way into was confirmation.
The engine room was HUGE, you could have fit ponyville into the gigantic cavity three or four times. But even with its gigantic size, The engine room was mostly flooded with the continuous seeping from the body of water above it.
The two traded the constant wet drizzle of the engine room for the warm, smelly comfort of the upper bilges. Once they passed the bulkhead, the ponies were forced down nearly ten stories by several deck being crushed together, titanic forces crunching together to a impenetrable wall of destruction.
After forging forward for several and slowly following the angle of the ship downward, the duo returned to the surface after nightfall through a portal made from several stairwells crushed together, lining up one on top of the other.
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Sapphire was running scared, heart pounding, adrenaline screaming, flanks covered in scrapes and bruises, Sapphire was nearing the edge of collapse. Her body and mind strained to the utmost, any attempt at coherent thought forgotten in her headlong mad rush to escape.
The murderous unicorns failed to tire after nearly one hour and forty minutes of hot pursuit. In her weakened state, Sapphire was flagging long before the turn of the glass. Her only saving throw up to till now came from the ability to glided over hazards the unicorns had to combine their magic crossing one by one.
By the time they reached the jagged overhanging canyon lip, even Sapphires vision was fading into darkness. She could see the shimmering of broken moonlight on the placid tabletop lake. Then she remembered how thirsty she was, a burning throat that was now so dry it began to choke off her airways. Sapphire had drained the last dregs of her reserves long before she saw the lake, before she reached the edge Sapphire was sure she was going to die. The unicorn with the deadly recurved blade was close enough to flick it at Sapphire's flanks. The bitting blade cutting skin and muscle mostly failed to register she was so far gone. Sapphire limped the last fifty meters to the edge, her crooning tormenters slashing her with knives or throwing rocks with magic. They knew she was trapped, they just wanted to play with her before the end.
Sapphire felt her way to the edge, her vision now completely gone. She reached out with her inner sense, trying to find the two ponies she had bet her life on. Sapphire had collapsed to the ground, at last unable to stand. Sapphire felt the twisted grins on their faces and the raging insanity within their hearts. She also felt Rarities horn tip, carried by the rabid leader with the merciless knife. As that unicorn approached Sapphire to slit her throat, Sapphire prepared herself for one final lunge.
Using the weak filaments of energy that accompanied the flood of madness swirling around her, Sapphire leapt forward snagging the necklace with her teeth. Sapphire felt a sharp, excruciating pain blast from her shoulder as the flying blade went wide. She threw open her wings as her tore through the twisted fibers of the necklace, encasing Rarities hornlet with her mouth. As Sapphire drifted over the edge, shrieks of rage and confusion assaulted her ears. She smirked, in the murky darkness the trio of unicorns had failed to realize her shimmering wings. However, the smirk faded when several more stabbing blades embedded themselves across her flank.
Sapphire was too far gone to feel the pain, but she felt the paralyzing poison carried by the weapons as it pulsated through her vains before she tumbled from the sky, unconscious.
/)(\
They were safely on the beach, and after navigating and battling through the twisted innards of that crashed vessel behind them, Octavia and Derpy were quite relieved for it to be so. But the events that transpired in the next minute shattered that small shred of ease.
The first occurrence was the complete decompression of her primary information nexus soundcode. Within seconds her entire field of vision was overloaded with a myriad of: symbols, dots, soundcode, warnings, vision filters, targeting arrays, and many other formers of user interface communication. Within ten seconds the influx of data began to slow, within thirty her forward view screen was feeding her telemetry on near by lifeforms. The upgrade was truly awe inspiring, and completely worth the wait.
The system locked onto four figures approaching the overhanging rim that still loomed above the majority of the beach. The EFS tagged one of the ponies as originally coming from equestria. The biometrics proclaimed her dead seconds after she glided out into the night sky. Almost instantly she dropped, plummeting earthward.
Three cross hair popped up, tracking the figures topside long after they disappeared from view. When Octavia and Ditzy, as she sometimes fondly called her friend, reached the fallen pegasus, biometrics stated that likely cause of death was heart attack. Seconds later following up that the fall had somehow revived her weary heart. The pony they were with, who Octavia recognized as Sapphire luna's long lost pupil, came to within moments.
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Tearing the embedded knife from her bloodied shoulder, Sapphire brandished the wicked blade against all comers. She couldn't stand but she would fight to the death. Around her were two blurry figures, Sapphire crawled closer to attack but they somehow stayed out of reach. Sapphire cried out, tears of frustration rolling down her cheeks. After all of what she been through she was going to die as her enemies watched, well out of harms way. This lasted for a minute before Sapphire opened her eyes again, clearly seeing two friends in place of blood thirsty monsters.
Once hurried introductions were made, (Sapphire knew neither of them personally and Ditzy only knew the moonmare from what Octavia had overheard.) the relative newcomers field dressed patchy first aid on Sapphires many grievous wounds. The magical poultices instantly closing Sapphires many wounds and jumpstarting the healing process. Octavia took Rarities hornlet for safekeeping while also inspecting the several blades thrown into Sapphire. Ditzy made a sling and flying harness from some tactical rope. She couldn't carry Sapphire, but she could take most of the weight off her legs. Sapphire tried not to pass out again. They were ready to move before ten minutes were up. Now it was a race between them and the three unicorns who had found a way down almost two miles further down the beach.

Rapture
The Nightmare Chronicles
Chapter IX
The Subnet

Sapphire recovered self locomotion surprisingly soon after dying. Giving Ditzy some much needed mobility in the battle. Sapphire's recover did not stem from personal resilience but instead a new and powerful thread of magic from within the vessel. Sapphire was glad the combat forced them closer to her new source of strength.
Combat was pushing it, standoff was more accurate. Between Octavia's skill and magically enhanced sight and reflexes, the three unicorns didn't dare approach her. But they kept up a steady barrage of flying blades, forcing Octavia and company ever deeper into the dark interior. Using their magic as leashes, the unicorns had an infinite supply of firepower. This was not a comfortable situation to be facing, even for Octavia.
Ditzy would fly ahead to preview the available routes, upon picking one Sapphire and Octavia would follow. Because of the auto writing map system in her HUD Octavia never had to take her eyes off target. They were almost out of the worst of it, Ditzy having discovered a route to the surface that was easily defensible from the other side.
But before Octavia could as much as take a step up the final ramp earthward, Sapphire darted past her and raced down a long and narrow side passage, the Unicorns followed suite. Retracting her bow-blades, Octavia dropped to all fours.
"Fuck, stupid filly. We'll never be able to catch them before its too late."
Ditzy smirked her lopsided smile. "You the know forbidden words?"
/)(\
Sapphire was compulsively driven to find this new source of magic, something about it, brought back ancient memories. She had been here before in a long past life, or at least it felt familiar. Sapphire followed the trail of energy down the passage way toward the bow of the gigantic crashed starship. Sapphire felt the emptyness of space ingrained into every fiber of the broken vessel. It was the same nothingness she had felt for an eterinty before this, but that was not the familiarity that drove her.
Sapphire's effort lead her to twin doors constructed of the same translucent obsidian like black stone. Sapphire closed her eyes and reached out with her inner feelings. The message glowing within the stone unvailed itself to her. The same technique of comprehension she had used on Rainbow Dash, withdew the meaning behind the magic runes entwined with the glowing energy within the stone.
/aperture sanctuary/
The runes carried much more information, but none which Sapphire could understand. With agonizing slowness the megaliths slid backward into hidden recesses, revealing the inside of a black globe the walls were made of the same black stone, but instead of blue-white symbols, the ominous glow of red greeted Sapphire's keen nocturnal vision. Sapphire stepped inside and the doors shut with shocking speed. Moments later several flying blades thudded harmlessly into the impenetrable stone, frustrating a few unicorns to no end.
A strange mechanical voice greeted Sapphire.
"Welcome Akleipsa, We are glad you have arrived so soon. Your haste pleases us."
"Hello." Sapphire asked nervously. She wasn't used to hearing voices and not seeing the speaker, especially in the dark.
"Welcome to the Aperture Subnet, We require your assistance in realigning the Aperture Sanctuary Subnet."
It took Sapphire a moment to locate the source of the voice, it cam from the terminal at the center of the sphere. Cautiously she approached via the narrow gang plank connecting the terminal to the doorways.
"Do you accept your task, Lipsi?"
This time the voice held a slight hint of affection? In it, if that was possible."
"Why?"
Was all Sapphire could think to say.
"We are the Aperture Subnet, we run Alquestria and prevent the inhabitants. Recently the Subnet was taken offline. Without the Subnet online all of Alquestria could fall into decay and disrepair, the result could be catastrophic."
Sapphire was somewhat confused, everything she had seen WAS decay and disrepair. But before she could ask, the computer continued.
"As payment for your assistance, and due to your rank, we will upgrade your physical being to C. A. K. E. (Combat Authority Keystone Expedition) status."
The red symbol all across the surface of the sphere glowed with insane brightness, Sapphire shut her eyes tight to block out the brightness. Sapphire felt an intense beam of magic encircle her entire being, Soaking through her and returning her lost energy and strength. As Sapphire felt herself restored, she also felt changes being made, her mane and tail changed color and consistency. From their original dark amber an silver to midnight blue with streaks of yellow-gold. Instead of one atmospheric solid mass of hair, Sapphire almost had pony dreads. Ribbons of dark blue broken up by narrow bands of gold or separated by nothing but a lack of cohesion.
Her wings changed too, a soft gray-blue down covered every surface, her wingbeats would be nearly silent as the soft down would muffle any sound. Lastly, four complex device of arcane magic was bound to her each of her hooves at the ankle.
"This iPip shall give you access to computer terminals, it is up to you however to splice and hack into the network and find the brake points. The other stations contain weapons and other useful tools, use them wisely. Good luck."
With that the voice shut off and the doors began to open. Sapphire opened her eyes, remember her assailants had tracked her all the way down here. Sapphire prepared to pounce on the first pony through the door, but before the doors were open a familiar voice spoke.
"Sapphire, are you in there?" Octavia had a twinge of concern in her voice.
"Yes. Im here." Sapphire paused for a brief moment. Ancient darkness within her soul stirred.
"Little one, it seems We have a new task for you, to learn of this Akleipsa we have been mistaken for. It would be well to keep this development to ourselves for the time being."
With that the aperition faded away, leaving Sapphire with even more unanswered questions. Speaking to Octavia, Sapphire continued. "What happened to the crazy unicorns?" Sapphire had an inkling of what had happened, but she didn't feel anypony die while she was within the chamber.
"Ditzy and I decided to come down here and finish these monsters off, but we didn't expect to find you alive."
Sapphire emerged, strutting proudly at her recently modified coloration. Ditzy spoke up, although a genius at many things, Derpy found language extremely trying. "How you have a new mane?"
Sapphire shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh that, I have a special talent for changing colors all the time it seems."
Sapphire noticed her voice carried more inflection than it had before, perhaps she was truly becoming more pony than shadow.