The city was a waste. Buildings were clad with the fungus. The scout went ahead and scoped the area.

"Clear," The scout said using the new radio communications.

"I don't understand, where are the infected?" The squad leader asked cautiously, looking up and down.

"Either piles of organs or roaming in ground zero," I replied, "These are coastal parts, even the slightest sudden noise can attract a horde on us!"

"Roger that, try to use melee everypony," The squad leader ordered. We moved forwards, the terrain was hard to navigate around. Carriages were tipped, small craters dotted the roads and the fungus itself was making it hard. It grew like grass. I began collecting my first sample.

"How is this growing so fast?" I moved it around in between my fingers. It was crisp and red dust fell off it. I picked up another and placed it into a small vial. "Sample one recorded".

We walked quietly in the alleyways to prevent a horde of infected swarming us. Several chunks of debris blocked our paths and we had to take several detours. Whatever this fungus did, it wasn't ordinary. We moved out into the main roads as every other alleyway was blocked. That's when we saw a horde of them. Hundreds of them were in one group. However they were armed with makeshift bows, javelins and clubs made from debris from former buildings.

"Contact 12 O'clock," The scout reported.

"Roger." We walked slowly through the far edge of the side walk. Suddenly a flock of infected birds came straight for us.

"HIT THE DECK"

"Airborne X-rays inbound, 11 O'clock!" We dived down into a pile of rubble and the infected birds flew straight over us. One however landed right next to us. It red beady eyes glared right at me and it's head turned. Suddenly it let out a high pitched squawk that could wake the dead, wait.

Suddenly the horde turned their heads towards and began to run at us.

"Weapons free!" The squad leader announced. Suddenly gunshots filled the silent atmosphere of the waste. Bodies fell as we backed away into the alleyways and headed for a buildings. We entered a shop and dived behind the counters. The horde stampeded down the main streets but some stragglers were left behind. One roamed inside the shop we were hiding in. It groaned and moaned as it searched hungrily for us. It readied it's club as it searched the place. The squad leader readied her sword. One chance. Wait. Wait. Perfect. The infected jumped behind the counter but landed on the sword. She finished him off in one quick swing.

"Everypony OK?" The rangers stood up but ended up finding me with my helmet detached slightly.

"Squad leader! Lucas, his helmet is detached!" I took it off and breathed deeply.

"I'm immune to it foal!" I whispered harshly, "The helmet was so I don't get my eyes clawed out by marauding infected". The rangers looked at each-other but the heavy narrowed his eyes at me.

"I'm watching you Human, I will believe you for now but if I find you nibbling on my neck I won't hesitate to turn you into soup," The heavy spat.

We sneaked out of shop and returned on our route. The horde were miles away now and we saw our next objective. A hive.

"What the buck is that?" The scout exclaimed, putting a hoof over his mouth soon after he realised how loud he was.

"From what I know, it's a hive," I stated, "It is used as a spore producer to maintain infection levels to render areas uninhabitable for ponies".

"So lets destroy the thing and get this over with!" The scout replied.

"I am collecting a sample of it, when I mean sample, I mean the whole thing".

"Are you crazy? That thing will doom us all!"

"I'll deal with the science, you deal with protecting".

Suddenly booming footsteps were heard amongst the blocks of the city. We took cover and waited for a horde to pass by. However I wish we had a horde now. A gigantic monster stomped through the town. It stood on 2 legs and was huge and I mean huge. Several cysts were dotted on it's head which barely resembled a bull. It held a makeshift flail in it's one hand and a makeshift shield in it's other. It wore armour scavenged from numerous sources, not forgetting the large number of fat on it's body as armour as well!

"Well who saw it names it," The squad leader said, "I call it a Juggernaut".

"I think naming it should be at the bottom of your list squad leader". A deafening roar filled the city as the monstrosity swung it's flail around. It began to charge at the building we hid in, we dived quickly out of the way and the juggernaut smashed into the building.

"Open fire!" The heavy shouted, firing at the juggernaut. Rounds bounced off the amour and ricocheted everywhere. The juggernaut pulled the flail out of the building and swung at the heavy. The scout dashed and knocked the heavy out of the way.

The juggernaut swiped his flail around with fury as the rangers dodged his attacks. I hid behind some rubble as I knew I would get turned into a pancake faster than you can say 'Oh god is that a giant ball heading towards me'. Of course I wasn't being totally useless, my PAD began to analyse the creatures anatomy, mostly for weak spots. Come on, come on. Work you piece of junk! Ah ha! The insides are weak unlike the outside.

"I found a weak spot and I know how to get to it!" I called on the radio.

"Well, tell us then!" The squad leader shouted back.

"Heavy and support, give suppressing fire on the juggernaut," I ordered, "Scout, get it's attention but try not to lead it to anypony else. Squad Leader and Riflecolt, cover me". I saw the scout dash across the field and began assaulting the juggernaut lightly, annoying it. It began to run at it, swiping the heavy ball in the air but landing with nothing. An array of bullets rained upon the juggernaut's back, bullets ricocheted off but some hit the soft skin below. The support fired a single round into the beasts hand, making it drop the heavy weapon in hold in it's hand. The squad leader unsheathed her sword and sliced at the kneecaps, making it drop onto it's knees. This is my chance.

I activated the jet boost module, rushing into the air. I unclipped a grenade that I had been working on for some time now. As I fell down back to the ground my momentum increased. I fell faster and faster and faster. My hand grabbed onto the creatures jaw and pulled it down. I pressed the button on the side of the button.

"One...two...five! No wait...three!" I shouted, lobbing the device into the creatures void like mouth. I let go of the mouth and ran as fast as I could.

"Run!" I shouted over the radio. Everypony began to scatter as the juggernaut regained stance. Suddenly a whirring noise filled the area. Metal plates, blood, organs and skin flew into the air like confetti, covering everything in the area.

"Yuk!" The scout said in disgust, "At least we aren't pancakes". Wiping off bits of flesh off his coat, he looked around. "Everypony OK?"

"Yeah I'm fine," The heavy reported in.

"Me too," The support replied.

"Same here," Squad leader said.

"I'm alive too," The riflecolt said.

"Where's the objective?" The squad leader asked, looking around for me.

"So you are the little group that is causing trouble," I smirked, pointing a claw at the group of rangers. Good thing that distraction allowed me to change.

"It can talk!" The squad leader exclaimed.

"Bucking great. Hunter sound good everypony?" The scout asked, looking at me. I laughed.

"I am the Master Mind. Lord of Disease." I projected, causing a winds that not even Luna's voice could cause.

"What do you want freak! Isn't this enough lives taken for you!" The squad leader spat.

"Feisty. I see you are loyal to Princess Celestia, the false leader." The squad leader snapped and attempted to buck me. Instead I grabbed her hind legs and put her face to mine. She aimed her rifle at me but I simply snatched it off the vest.

"Now that is enough," I tutted, "I want you to send a message, make it so that she can see me." I loosened my grip, allowing her to fall onto the hard, cracked ground. She limped to her group.

"Fire," She whispered to her group. I lifted my forearm towards the incoming shower of bullets. Making them hit the legs of the senders. They all fell on the ground except for the squad leader.

"I do love food, when it comes to me," I grinned. I pounded my fist into the concrete causing tendrils to burst out of my back. I consumed all 5 of the squad, leaving no trace behind.

I felt power surge through me, I began to glow. Embers began to form on my skin and fly off into the open air. It burns. I felt a searing pain in my back as my body burned. Suddenly bones emerged out of my back. Skin formed and my body stopped burning. I studied my 2 new appendages. I flexed them. I had wings now.

"That was...easy". I flew off into the distance. The sun setting on the wasteland. The deafening silence in the atmosphere filled the city. All that could be heard, were my wings flapping.

2 Days Later

Celestia's POV

I was sitting in my throne, looking upon the plans of the Grand Galloping Gala. I had to keep morale up, and it would surely plummet if I stopped hosting it. Thankfully Canterlot is in the all clear and the force fields that Lucas set up will hold back the fungus coming in. That human is a genius. I took a sip of my tea before a guard rushed into the room. He looked like he had ran for miles.

"Your Highness. We have found him!" He panted, bowing after his report.

"Really?" I asked, "How is he?" Lucas had been missing for 2 days now. Luna had not taken the news well but she always stays strong. Well tries to.

"Badly injured, I'm surprised he is alive. We have him in the hospital." I stood up and rushed up to Luna's tower. I tapped on the door with my hoof.

"What!" Luna shouted.

"Sister, it is me." I stated.

"Leave me be please".

"It is about Lucas". There was a silence but the door unlocked and opened. I saw Luna's head peer through the door. Her eyes were red with tears.

"What about him?" She sighed, wiping the last remnants of tears from her eyes.

"He has been found. He is currently in the hospital but he will be OK in a few weeks". I saw Luna's eyes widen as I gave her the news.

"He's OK! Can I see him?"

"I don't know. We could drop by the hospital and see if we can." She gasped and slammed the door.

"I'll be out in a minute!" She shouted through the door. I heard muttering and the hum of a levitation spell. I looked through the keyhole and saw Luna looking through several pieces of clothing. I couldn't help but giggle. She shot her head up and sighed.

"Fine, just let me straighten my mane," Luna sulked. After some unnecessary amount of time needed to straighten a mane, Luna came out of her room. Finally. She laughed awkwardly.

"Sorry," She smiled.

"No problem, lets go".

We walked out to the city of Canterlot. With guards of course. Me and Luna walked side by side and entered the main city centre. We were 'welcomed' by panicked citizens. Our guards managed to hold them off but the things I heard. This fungus needs to be dealt with. For Equestria. For my subjects. One mare caught my attention in the angry crowd. She held up a picture of a stallion in a royal guard uniform, and she was weeping. This cannot go for any longer! I rushed towards the hospital, swooping up Luna. I landed in an alleyway and set her down on the ground.

"Luna," I said. She looked at me in concern.

"Yes sister?"

"I fear that Lucas' intentions may not be as good as we think it is". I saw a look of disgust come across her face.

"How dare you sister! He has been nothing but kind to us. Helping our country in so many ways that even we couldn't devise! I can't believe you! A stranger helps you and you give him nothing but disrespect. I thought you were better than this sister!" She began to walk away.

"Luna," I said softly. She looked back at me.

"For once, stop having your personal feelings blind you and listen!" I shouted, flying up to her.

"It is not that I am ungrateful. Lucas has helped everypony out in this situation and I am in debt to him. It is just that whenever Lucas is gone, strange things occur". Luna then began to hover, coming face to face with me.

"Of course strange things are happening! We are on the brink of extinction!"

"I mean that there is a change in pattern!" She turned her head at me, "Just recap on the events for the past 2 days of Lucas' disappearance! When Lucas went, the patrols around the Manehatten force field reported that the infected all came together and nearly breached the field! Before, they were just in a rabble!" She looked at me angrily, I could hear her breathing much more faster.

"You are not suggesting..."

"Lucas somehow in some way, is commanding the infected. However I don't think that it is him" She began to calm down.

"Explain".

"Do you remember that we had a book on Pre-Equestrian myths in the Everfree castle?" Luna froze in thought for a few seconds but then clicked.

"Of course, I loved that book!"

"Remember the tale of Pestilence?"

"Yes, not a nice one indeed," She shuddered. I pulled out an ancient piece of paper.

"I have here, a manuscript of the myth but one bit explains the odd connection between Pestilience and Lucas,"

...and when the God of Disease, Pestilence is no longer existent on the mortal plane. Several champions shall succeed him. Nearly all shall fail, for they do not have the capacity for a God. On this world no known creature has the capacity to command Pestilence's armies. Instead, a creature from the stars themselves shall fall onto our own world and succeed the God. For that creature shall have the might to lead the forces of Pestilence.

Luna looked up at me.

"So you are suggesting that Lucas is the leader of Pestilence's army?" She asked in fear.

"Yes but it is not Lucas himself," Luna looked at me in confusion.

"How can you be so sure?" She sighed.

"If Pestilence had the ability that Lucas has too, we wouldn't be having this conversation," I looked out into the street, it was bare.

"Let us go visit Lucas now," Luna said. Moving out into the street.

We entered the Canterlot Hospital, everypony went silent as a doctor approached us.

"You must be here about the human the guards brought in," He whispered. Luna didn't look comfortable, neither was I.

"Yes, can you take us to him?"

"Of course, follow me". We followed the doctor into one of the standard recovery wards. To our amazement we found Lucas sitting upright looking at screens coming from the device. In a second Luna was near Lucas.

"Lucas!"

"Luna!" Lucas exclaimed, hugging each other lightly.

"I forgot how tall you actually are," She giggled. We looked at the screens.

"What is this Lucas?" I asked, pointing a hoof.

"Ah, I best explain what I have been doing."

"You see, I think that this fungus is artificial, or at least tempered with to make it this deadly," He explained, bringing up a screen of information that I couldn't understand.

"How do you know this Lucas?" I asked with suspicion.

"Well I'm sure you realised that I am actually alive right now instead of lying dead in Manehatten. This is because I did a bit of bio-tinkering myself," he replied, bringing out a vial of the fungus.

"Before you run, this has been tempered with so it isn't deadly. Instead it is the opposite," He held out his arm, which is what I think he calls it. He exposed a large cut on his arm. He took out the fungus from the vial and began to rub it across the cut. Suddenly it began to heal.

"The reason I think it is artificial. Is because it was so easy to temper with, nothing natural is easy to temper with." He looked at me and Luna, "I can see by your faces that you 2 suspect me in being the creator of this, no doubt from that I am actually not from this world".

"I'm sorry Lucas, but we do. However if it is you in question is debatable," I apologised.

"Ah yes, the myth of...Pestilence was it?"

"How do you know about that?" Luna asked him, going closer to him. He pointed to a wide open window.

"I should mention that I have kept an eye on you both since I was admitted to hospital," A small machine flew through the window and landed next to Lucas. He looked back at me and smiled.

"You aren't mad?" Luna asked quietly.

"Of course not," Lucas stood up and stretched himself out. He then proceeded to hug Luna, "Works like a charm".

Lucas was admitted out of the hospital soon after some tests on his body. The doctors looked at him like he was healed by a miracle. I just said I used a rare healing potion to rest their minds. He then went closer to me.

"I have to tell you something Celestia," He said quietly, trying not to get anypony else listening.

"What is it Lucas?"

"It is about my backup plan. If Manehatten is beyond saving".

"I'm afraid that as a leader, you must take everything into account. OK then let me hear it," I said, regretting it but it needed to be done.

"My back up plan consists of the deployment of an object high in the sky. So high that not even the fastest or must athletic pegasi can reach the height that this object will achieve".

"What is this object?"

"I'm sorry Princess. That is a secret that only me and my protégé can know, for safety reasons and to not worry you or any high ranks. I have a plan that has a 0.01% fail rate Celestia, which is incredibly low. This plan is last resort only. I have named it Project Sol and when it is ready, it can be deployed for your use". Such secrecy, he must take his job more serious than any being I have ever known.

"What is your next plan Lucas?" I asked, he looked at me.

"Several plans have project names". He brought up a screen with several plans of technology far greater than I have ever seen. "My next project is special as it tests the limits of what I am capable of".

"Am I allowed to know this project?" I asked suspiciously. No military ever kept information from me. I fear that he will detach.

"Yes. This new project is known as..." He said, putting up plans of...ponies?

"Project Machina".