I... Can't believe it. A few moments ago, I had thought that the girls were gone, never to return again as they spent the rest of their lives happily in their homes. Yet, here they were, staring at me in what seemed like shock, and uncertainty, while I returned what I surmised to be the exact same expression. The girls and I looked at one another for quite some time, frozen to our spots near the doorway and, in my case, on the mattress, as we struggled to regain our thoughts and bearings.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, one of us finally broke out of this gazing pause.

"Omega!" Fluttershy exclaimed, practically flinging herself at me as she quickly brought me into a hug, her forelegs wrapping around me in their warm... Soft... Silky... I have been missing out on soooooo much while I was in that suit.

Reacting to her friend's suddenness, Rarity also broke out of her own state, following suit after Fluttershy and making her way to my other side, sharing in the embrace as she also called my name in what I thought to be excitement... Okay, I really like these hugs.

Despite the pain I felt, especially now that the two were constricting me, it was nothing compared to the happiness, and the warmth, that had basically enveloped me. I rose my own two arms up, though rather shakily, and pulled the two even closer to me in a gentle embrace of my own, my hands and fingers running through their smooth, clean fur as I did do, being careful to avoid Fluttershy's wings.

Honestly, I myself thought that the way I had done that was strange, but the girls didn't really seem to mind, tightening their grip on me, rather than pushing me away, and sending another wave of warmth through my body. Though, it was this last tighten that had ended up getting to me, if only slightly, a short spike of pain passing through me and causing me to elicit a grunt. Fluttershy and Rarity noticed this and, much to my chagrin, quickly released me, looks of concern on their tearful faces.

Wait, tearful? Had I made them sad somehow?

"Oh dear, you're in pain." Rarity exclaimed, wiping her eyes off with a foreleg. "Fluttershy, be a dear and grab that medicine that he had given you before, when you were hurt. What was it called?" She asked herself, tapping her chin in thought. "'Aspirin'?" Fluttershy nodded, her wings flapping and lifting her up as she carefully, yet swiftly, flew out of the room and into the bathroom.

Rarity watched her fly off for a moment or two before turning her attention back to me, a caring smile on her face. "Now, lets get you comfortable. You must feel positively awful." She said as she began to gently push me back down to the mattress, reaching her forearm out and grabbing one of the sofa cushions as she did so. She placed it below my back and head, elevating my upper half slightly while still not disturbing my wounds.

Pulling her hooves away as she believed me to be in a satisfactory position, she started to speak again. "There we go. Now we just wait for Fluttershy and that-"

"Here it is, Rarity." Fluttershy inadvertently interrupted, flying back into the room with the familiar white container of pain pills in the grasp of her two forehooves, outstretching it to her friend, Rarity.

"Ah! Thank you, Fluttershy." She told her friend as she turned to her, taking the plastic container from her extended hooves. She then began to open up the container, having a little trouble at first, but eventually popping it open with a satisfied grunt, pulling off the lid and placing it on the floor next to her. Next she tried to reach her forehoof in for one of the pills, which, obviously, comically, provided her with little to no success, her hoof hitting against the sides of the opening to the container and keeping her from reaching in further. Like trying to fit a circle rivet into a square hole. Then again, I don't really think that the shape matters in that regard, considering the rivet usually ends up being punched through the metal anyhow.

Rather than frustrate herself any further, Rarity rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, grabbing the container in her maw and tilting it onto her hoof, gently tapping it against the flat of her hoof bottom until, finally, a single pill rattled it's way out.

Fluttershy took the pill from Rarity while she preoccupied herself with closing the container, moving to me and offering it with an outstretched hoof. "W-we're out of water." She said, glancing away from me for a moment, a slight glint of self repent in her eyes, before looking back to me. Well, that would make things difficult.

Rather than say anything... Or, in my case, groan, I reached out and took the pill, my arm wobbling as I slowly brought it closer and placed it into my mouth. Moving it around in my mouth, I couldn't help but to notice the odd texture. Hard, and seemingly inscribed with an odd shape to it. Weird. As I pushed it towards my throat with my tongue, a thought came to mind.

'Wait. How long has it been since last swallowed something agai- GAK!'

Well, apparently a long time, because, one, I was barely able to swallow that pill at all, my throat feeling extremely tight and sore, and two, I nearly choked on the god damned thing. This would take some getting used to.

I let out a breath as the last of the pill went down, though admittedly with some trouble, and left the confines of my mouth, into my stomach. Fluttershy and Rarity both smiled at this, likely happy to see me responding. It's... pretty ironic actually. I, the Big Daddy, the guardian, the caretaker, etcetera, was currently being cared for by my two charges. Definitely didn't see that coming. Then again, I didn't see a lot of things coming as of recent. Like the girls staying, for instance. I mean, what kind of reason would make the girls want to spend even a second longer in this hellho- Woah, dizzy.

My vision started to blur again as a sudden sense of fatigue came to me, my eyelids feeling heavier as I put my hand to my head and groaned. Fluttershy and Rarity seemed to notice this rather quickly, giving one another a similar glance before looking to me.

"You should get your rest, darling. It's the best thing for your condition, really." Rarity said, grabbing the blanket that had been layered on me with her teeth and pulling it up higher to cover my chest.

"Oh, yes, that's right. If you need anything though, Rarity and I will be right here, so don't hesitate to ask." I was going to raise an arm to gesture to them... Or, was I going to nod?... Too dizzy to really think straight... Wow, that pill works fa-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rarity and Fluttershy watched as their damaged guardian slowly slipped into the world of dreams, small smiles coming to their faces as his chest rose and fell in calm restfulness, and eyes came to a slow close. To say that they were happy to see that he had awoken, if only for a moment, would have been an understatement. Rather, they were thrilled.

Putting a hoof over her mouth to gesture for silence as their friend rested, Fluttershy bobbed her head to the door, hoping that she would be able to talk to Rarity, outside, for a short moment. Rarity nodded, following her friend with quiet, measured steps while Fluttershy used her wings to keep herself afloat a few inches off the ground. As they opened the door and exited the apartment, Rarity gave one last glance to her sleeping guardian, a sense of happiness coming to her before she closed the door.

It wasn't until the two were completely outside of the room, the door pushed to a close behind them, before they began to converse again, a more cheery aura to their tones.

"Oh, thank goodness he's okay." Fluttershy said, glancing to the closed door and her lips curving upwards into a smile.

"Especially after all that he's been through! My word, do you remember the condition we found him in?" Fluttershy nodded again, the memory coming to her mind as clear as crystal. It wasn't exactly a pleasant experience, but it was an experience nonetheless.

********************************************

As Fluttershy and Rarity ran to the bathysphere, the ground felt almost inexistent below them, they were running so fast. Their breaths were becoming labored, hearts beating at almost unbelievable speeds, but they ignored these signs of exhaust, their minds set firmly on one simple fact. If they made it to the bathysphere, then they had essentially also made it home.

Corner after corner, the turns seemed to get tighter and tighter, tripping the two up every now and again, only to quickly recover and continue. This went on for what felt like an eternity, but was really few mere minutes, until finally, turning past one last hall, they saw it. The bathysphere was right there, it's odd, rusted and chipped outer covering seeming more like a beacon of serenity than a machine of age as the two felt their spirits skyrocket at the sight.

Rarity was the first to jump into the machine, turning and waving for Fluttershy to hop in. "Hurry!" She cried out as Fluttershy made her way in as well, her breathing heavy and shallow as she struggled to regain her composure.

"We... We made it..." She managed through her breaths, turning her head to the bathysphere door as Omega made his wa-... Where was Omega? Her brows rose in surprise, then confusion, as she glanced around the outside of the bathysphere, her friend, Rarity, going over the several buttons that the bathysphere was internally comprised off.

"Lets see... 'Apollo square', no. 'Fort Frolic', tempting, but no... Tah, tah, tah... Ah, here we are! 'Surface'!" Rarity exclaimed, reaching her forehoof to the currently flashing red button. This was it. Their chance to head home, be with their family and friends again, and try to put this whole mess behind them. Seconds before she could push it though...

"Rarity?" Fluttershy asked, her friend pausing as she turned to Fluttershy, who was currently looking out of the bathysphere with a questioning brow raised. She turned to Rarity, giving her the same look, and asked, "Where's Omega?"

This threw Rarity for a slight loop, her head tilting and brow raising as she, giving another glance to the button before doing so, came to her friend's side and followed her earlier gaze outside of the bathysphere. "Wasn't he right behind us?" She mused, just loud enough for Fluttershy to hear.

The two were silent for a moment, waiting for the sound of the heavy footsteps and loud metallic groans that they had come to know to be customary of their friend. Sounds that, much to their worry, never came. "D-... Do you think he's alright?" Fluttershy asked.

Rarity gave a slow, unsure nod, putting a hoof to her chin in what seemed like a combination of thought and confusion. "...Yes... I'm sure he is..." She hesitantly told her friend, an ear involuntarily twitching. To her though, just as it was to Fluttershy, this was highly unusual. Omega had never left them for long, even if it was death that had forced them apart.

It was with that thought though that Rarity's eyes widened, her head shaking as she let out a chuckle, gaining a questioning look from Fluttershy. "Yes, yes, I'm sure he's fine! After all Fluttershy, this has happened before, hasn't it?"

Slowly, uncertainly, Fluttershy also nodded her head, beginning to understand what her companion had meant. "Um, right?..."

"Perhaps Omega simply got caught up with something. Or, he had another repair to do?" She assured to Fluttershy, and partly herself, as she made her way to the bathysphere control panel again, her eyes on the button that would end this mess.

"Y-yeah. I guess." Fluttershy turned and moved to one of the seats behind her, climbing up and seating herself as she continued to look to the hall expectantly.

Her hoof now on the button, Rarity looked to Fluttershy one last time, giving her another reassuring statement. "Omega is a very strong individual, darling. He's fought and... Well, died, various times, from what we've seen. What's to say this time will be any different?"

As Fluttershy heard this, a light seemed to go off, her eyes widening as she realized one single fact that Rarity, and her, seemed to have been neglecting.

"Why, I'm sure that he's-" Before Rarity could even half-complete her statement, Fluttershy bolted out of the bathysphere, her friend's eyes widening in both shock and surprise as she saw this. "Fluttershy?!?" She yelled out, watching in paralyzed anxiety as her friend rounded the corner and left her sight.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy was in a state of panic. Not for herself, but rather, for her friend. Whenever Omega would... pass on, his light would go out, and he would reappear in one of the green cylindrical chambers that they would often pass by. However, when she had last seen Omega, his light was already out, even though he hadn't been killed. Could that mean that, if he were to die, he wouldn't come back? She wasn't sure, but that was the last thing that she wanted to take a risk on, and she was prepared to run as far back as she needed to in order to her, apparently missing, metal companion.

In the end though, she didn't have to travel far, rounding only a pair of corners before, despite her seemingly hurried state, she froze, mid-gallop. Her eyes were wide as she stared down the hall, her body irresponsive as she gazed at the one thing that awaited her there. Near the end of the passageway laid the one thing that she had never thought she would see, at least, on its own. A large, metal helmet, it's porthole facing the cold floor, lifeless and dull, a blue color outlining the now emptied and split headwear. This was Omega's helmet.

Not saying a word, mostly because she found herself to be unable to, she made her way over to the lost piece of her friend's armor, her hooves half-dragging beneath her from their sudden weight. Much like her hooves, her mind was also weighed, thoughts of the worst flowing through her mind as she gradually came closer to the hollow helm.

It was but only a few mere moments before she reached the molded metal, her forearms involuntarily trembling as she reached for it and, with a considerable push on it's edge, leaned it upwards, pointing the porthole to face her. The glass was cracked right down the middle, fragmenting off to the sides and pointing inwards to the wearer, and stains of crimson could be seen staining spots of it from within.

Fluttershy's trembling grew as she saw this, tears forming in her eyes and threatening to spill as she pulled the helm in closer to her being. Omega, the one who had protected her and Rarity, who had cared for them, was... Was...

Before she could finish the thought and allow herself to break down, a familiar sound filled the hall, though only resounding as a faint echo. One that caused Fluttershy's eyes to widen and a small spark of hope to stir within her. A groan.

"Omega?" She called, her head turning as she looked around for her friend. She didn't receive a response, but that did nothing but to further spur her efforts. She was certain that it was Omega who had made that noise, and she would not allow herself to leave without ensuring that he was alright.

"Omega? Omega?!" She yelled, much to her own surprise. This time, it was not her usual quiet and involuntarily controlled yell, but a full fledged yell as she carefully placed the helmet back down and began to look around. She turned the corner closest to her, and the helmet, in the hopes that her friend would be there. "Omeg- Eep!"

She quickly retreated around the corner again as the first thing she saw was the pale, cold face of a splicer, face down and pointing sideways on the ground, a small pool of red surrounding it, and covered in... Metal? A brow of hers rose in confusion as she looked to the corner again, mentally processing what she had just seen. "W-... Was that?"

Ever the cautious one, Fluttershy slowly peaked her head around the corner once more, regaining a view of the face down figure. Narrowing her eyes for a better view, Fluttershy could make out that the metal that surrounded the splicer had been split into pieces, basically falling apart at the hinges. Each of several pieces were spread out above, to the sides, and below the splicer, seeming to revolve around the being.

Of everything, the only thing that remained attached to the being were a pair of large rubbery gloves, metal cuffs around the clothing articles, and attached to one, the left one specifically, was... An ESU.

Fluttershy gasped as she noticed the familiar piece of machinery attached the downed figure's gloves, dropping her cautious approach as she ran around the corner and skidded to a halt to it's side, the blood partially staining her hooves, the warmth of it causing a nauseated shiver to go through her. She ignored these stains and sensations as best she could, looking down to the obviously unconscious being that laid below her.

At this point however, she knew fully well that this wasn't just any splicer of sorts that she had come across. It was for that reason that the helmet was so close, the metal that surrounded it seemed so familiar, the groan that had come from so close, and the ESU, though she didn't really know what it was called, was so firmly attached to it's gloved wrist. As much as she couldn't seem to get her mind around it, if not from surprise then from utter shock, this 'splicer', as she had thought it to be, was Omega.

Though she wasn't 100% certain of this thought, she was still sure enough to give him a once over, looking him over, despite her apprehension at the sight of such blood and pain, occasionally pushing away pieces of metal to clear her view. She wasn't a medical pony, but she didn't need to be to see that the condition that 'Omega' was in seemed horrible, at a lack of better words. Deep cuts and large bruises were spread throughout his torso, some of which seeming to have gashed across him, while others seem to have impaled his chest.

It was a fairly sickening sight for one like Fluttershy, especially as she pushed aside some odd, clear tubes among the metal, fluids of unknown substance leaking out of them and adding to the pool below the two, but she persevered, continuing to shove the metal and plastic off of Omega.

By the time she had finished, she felt her heart tighten as she looked upon the sight before her, the pale figure that laid before her's every detail seeming numb. She took in a deep, shaky breath as she leaned in closer to Omega, laying her head sideways against his chest. The first thing to register in her mind was cold, the body feeling cool and clammy as she came into contact with it. The second, and much more important thing she felt though, was the faint rising and falling of his chest, a weak, near silent beat accompanying it. He was alive, but just barely.

"Oh dear." Fluttershy acted as quickly as she could, circling around Omega, desperately seeking some part where she could grab him without harming him. Eventually, she settled on his hands, approaching his right arm and gently picking up his large, gloved hands before she then gave it a pull... Only to fall flat on her back with an 'eep' as the glove slipped off, revealing his bare hand.

"Ow." Fluttershy said as she picked herself up from the floor, her wings fluttering slightly as they winced in pain from the sudden fall. Despite this discomfort of hers, Fluttershy continued on, standing once more and making her way to Omega again, lowering her head as she made to grab his hand, hopefully this time with more success.

"Fluttershy! What are you doing?!?" Fluttershy's head shot up as she turned to see her friend, Rarity, rushing to her, a look of concern clear on her face. "Get away from there! Oh, Celestia, you're covered in... Ick." Rarity said as she reached her friend, grasping and turning over Fluttershy's forehoof to reveal the crimson that stained the bottom of it. "Tch... Oh, never mind that! What in heavens were you thinking?!? Running in the manner that you did when we only have a limited time to return, let alone the fact that I found you here next to this splicer! He could've hurt you if you weren't careful!"

"B-but Rarity, I-" Fluttershy began, her voice almost a whisper as she tried to explain the situation to her friend, who would evidently have none of it as she interrupted her.

"Granted, this splicer won't seem to cause us much trouble, but you really should be more careful. Omega isn't here to protect us at the moment, after all."

"Rarity, that's what I-" she was yet again interrupted by her friend as she gave her a considerable pull, turning to face the direction that led to the bathysphere.

"Now, come along. If we hurry, we may still be able to make it back home." Fluttershy looked back to the unconscious Omega behind her as she began to be dragged by Rarity back towards the bathysphere. Seeing him there, hurt, weak... dying... something gave way. Fluttershy's eyes narrowed as she stamped her three unheld hooves firmly to the ground, nearly causing Rarity to fall due to the sudden stop, regaining her balance just in time to keep her grace. "Oh, that was close." She said with a sigh before turning to face Fluttershy. "Now, why did you-..." Rarity stopped herself as she came face to face with, much to her, and likely anypony's surprise, a seemingly angered Fluttershy, her eyes narrowed as she stared her down.

"Rarity," she began. "this splicer is Omega!" She told her in a shockingly serious tone, gesturing her hoof to the figure that laid face down in a small pool of crimson behind her. Rarity rose a brow at this, glancing at the figure before returning her gaze to Fluttershy.

"I- you- what!?!" She stuttered, flabbergasted at this seemingly ridiculous notion. "Fluttershy, darling, this is not Omega. Why, this can't be! Just look at him!" Despite her case though, Fluttershy didn't back down, her narrowed eyes continuing to look upon her companion in a serious demeanor.

"Just look at him Rarity! Look at me! I know Omega, and this is him!" Rarity wanted to say something, but she was in too great a state of shock to do so. Fluttershy normally wouldn't act like this, so for her to suddenly have this change in attitude was beyond stunning, to say the least. "I found him here near Omega's helmet!" She said, pointing to the hollow metal helm at the corner of the halls. "He was covered in metal, like Omega's armor!" This time gesturing to the metal scattered around him. "And, he has the same thing that Omega used to protect us attached to his arm!" One last gesture to the remaining glove of the figure, the familiar looking metal contraption attached, brought about a look of uncertainty to Rarity, lightly biting her lower lip as she looked over the figure.

"..." Rarity sighed, shaking her head as she looked to the floor. "Well, even if it is Omega, why should we be so worried? After all, he'll simply come back in a matter of seconds." Fluttershy's eyes seem to narrow even further at this, causing Rarity to openly flinch at her demeanor.

"That's just it! What if he doesn't come back!?! This entire time, he's always been brought back in that suit of his. Now, its broken! What if, instead of come back, he stays gone?!!" She said with one last stomp of her hoof, the sound somehow echoing through the hall and adding even more authority and emotion to it. Rarity, in response to this, simply looked to the floor, her ears flat against her head as she wordlessly stood in thought.

"... If it is Omega-"

"I'm sure it is."

"And he really won't come back-"

"I'm not going to take that chance."

"Then how do you expect for us to get him back to the bathysphere in time to return to Equestria?" To this, Fluttershy went quiet, a thought filled look on her face as she looked to her other companion.

"... I don't think we can..." The two shared a moment of silence at this, unmoving and still as they sat in deep, contemplative thought. It was but a few seconds later though that Fluttershy seemingly broke free of these thoughts. Rarity looked back up as her friend approached 'Omega', bending her head downwards and taking his wrist into her maw.

In all honesty, Fluttershy was well aware that, if she did this, she wouldn't be able to make it back to the bathysphere in time to reach Equestria again. At the same time though, she knew that she wouldn't be able to leave if she wanted to. Not without making sure that her friend, Omega, would be alright.

Planting her hooves firmly on the ground, she gave out a short grunt as tugged at Omega's wrist, his shoulder and body following along with it, but ultimately, barely moving at all. Even outside of his suit, Omega was still larger than her, and by logic, heavier too. As the worry that she may not be able to return him to the bathysphere, where the first aid kit that Omega had previously showed them laid, in time, Omega suddenly moved further, and with much more ease.

A feeling of confusion came over her as she opened her eyes, which she had inadvertently closed in her struggle, and glanced around her. Much to her surprise, Rarity hadn't left. Rather, she was opposite of Omega, his adjacent wrist in her mouth's grip, despite the glove that was still attached to his hand, and pulling along with Fluttershy.

If Fluttershy could at the moment, she would likely have smiled at the sight of her friend helping her, despite the risk, and likely the sacrifice, that she was making.

********************************************

"... Sorry for yelling at you like that Rarity." Fluttershy apologized as she remembered the events, only now realizing how aggressive she must have sounded. Rarity just waved her off however, a smile on her face as she shook her head.

"That's quite alright, darling. After all, you had your heart in the right place, and as you can tell, it paid off, did it not?" She replied, gesturing to the door where Omega was currently resting behind. Fluttershy smiled as a small blush came to her from Rarity's praise, looking downwards and absentmindedly tapping her hooves together.

"... Thank you, Rarity."

"Any time, dear."

-------------------------------------

The room was dark as three, familiar figures rested for yet another night in the city below the sea... At least, what they believed to be night. It could be so hard to tell when they're so deep under the ocean's surface.

Omega lay calmly in the mattresses that he had originally given as a resting place to his charges, enjoying a drowsy, and slightly drug-fueled, slumber through his weakness and pain.

Fluttershy rested nearby her friend, on the couch, though it only had two cushions remaining at the moment, with Rarity at her side, her quiet and peaceful breaths adding to the room's sense of serenity.

As for Rarity though, sleep had not proven to come easy. She would dose off every now and then, but she would still end up reawakening from her slumbered state. Truthfully though, the reason for this issue was well known to her, despite how much she would try to push it off. Guilt.

When Fluttershy had found Omega, she had doubted her, and tried to pull her away from her other companion and guardian, possibly leaving him to have died. She had even outright called him a 'splicer', which, looking at him now, he simply couldn't be.

Unlike splicers, he seemed more... Controlled, and normal. Not that she was that sure of what a normal human looked like, that is, but it just seemed like it. His skin was pale, but it still managed to keep, what she surmised to be, a surprisingly healthy, and flawless tone. At least, except for the odd, and attention-grabbing, sickly black collection of lines that traveled along the side of his neck, to his right cheek, and leading just to the bottom of his eye as it split and traveled along his veins.

His eyes, from what she had seen when he was still awake, were near colorless, and hazy, as if he were blind, and his hair seemed to be white. Not a regular sort of white, but, more bleached, as if the color had been burned out of it. Along with that, there was also a large scar that went around the entirety of his neck, a thought of Omega's lost voice constantly coming to Rarity's mind as she looked to it.

As she had thought before, Omega looked much more different than a splicer. In fact, he looked quite...

Shaking the thought away, she let out a quiet sigh as she closed her eyes again, hoping that she would be able to get a better time of rest this time.

In her mind though, she knew that it would prove to be more of a chore than a simple task. After all, it was because of her that Omega nearly wouldn't have been rescued. And more importantly, there was another matter that weighed her mind.

Though she hadn't told Fluttershy, the thought of what her likely angered friend would do to her if she had informed her, there was a reason that she hadn't necessarily inmediately run after her friend when she had left to find Omega.

She had, much to her personal shame, stayed behind in the bathysphere, the thought of... Leaving both Fluttershy and Omega so that she could return to Equestria more than causing a small sense of temptation. After all, she wasn't sure if Fluttershy would return in time at the moment, and she certainly didn't want Sweetie Belle, or her friends, to worry about both of them, rather than just one...

"'Element of generosity'... Why, I dare to say, I may actually be more selfish than Blueblood..."

Author's Notes:

Ok, here's a few chapter notes.

1. Omega likes hugs... Yup.
2. Apparently, Fluttershy can and will get angry if you screw with her friends... Though, had she ever actually yelled before? Man, she must really care.
3. Now we know what Omega looks like without his suit. (Cue sounds of triumphant choir.)
4. I'm pretty sure that this chapter got a little wonky near the end there. So, I'd appreciate any, if at all, tips on how to fix it.
5. If anyone actually managed to make a picture of Omega from what was read in this chapter and send it to me, they'll get a sneak peek at the next chapter, online credit, and their image shown.

So, in conlusion, I hope you enjoy the chapter, and see you all next time! :)

Omega Fan-art so far:

By: Ketvirtas
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By: Brightlight24 (Figured I'd give it a shot. :))

By: Papa Bear