Power. Despite what many ponies will tell you, true and absolute power corrupts everything. There is no escaping the lure of power. Power is addictive, desirable, and destructive. I had power... once. The ultimate power of the Element of Magic resided in my mind. If truth be told, I had almost given in to Spark's lies. I almost let her win, and that would have destroyed myself and Violet.

Looking back, I realize that Twilight herself struggled with the lure of power. She failed, and in the end gave in. Spark had controlled her life with the lurid promise of Shining Armor's revival. In short, Spark won and survived to this day using her forbidden magic.

Looking ahead, I face the ultimate confrontation with Spark and Pride. Will I be able to resist the temptation of the power they offer?

Filly's Tower.

It loomed over us like a monolith, taunting us. Mocking us openly as we stared at it. I scanned the surrounding area, looking for a path towards the building. Blackened and burned debris littered every inch of the streets. Every building nearby was flattened as if they had been struck by a force of epic proportions. It was like that everywhere I looked. It was strange. This entire area felt... dead. It felt like there was nothing here. No life lived here, not even the radroaches and vermin that infested the rest of the Wasteland. The desolation was complete, the silence eerie.

I took a step forward, walking into the ruined area. I narrowed my eyes as I gazed upon the tower, wondering briefly what we would find there. A grating noise erupted from the area around us, causing me to stop cold in my tracks. There was something... something there that I was missing. This was too easy. There was no way we would be able to just waltz right into the tower like this.

“Star?” Violet said, looking up at the blackened building. “What's wrong?”

“Something's... something's not right,” I said. “Don't you guys feel it?”

“I don't feel anything,” Lust said.

“Exactly! There's nothing here. This entire area feels lifeless. It's... wrong,” I said, the panic I felt making my voice jump and quiver.

“Star, it'll be fine. There’s nothing to be afraid of, we just need to keep going,” Violet said, placing a hoof on my shoulder. She smiled, looking up at me with concern in her eyes. “Once we're inside the tower, we can --” A loud whining noise interrupted her. I looked up at the Tower. The cloud cover surrounding the top of the monolithic building was glowing and crackling with energy.

“Then what is that?” I said, pointing up. A shaft of blue light shot forth from the cloud, striking the ground before us. My eyes widened. “Run!” I shouted.

We turned away from the shaft just as a pulse of energy slid down the beam. It exploded when it landed, the intense blast knocking us to the ground. The shaft of light disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, the whining noise dying down. I groaned as I pushed myself up, feeling rock and other rubble embedded in my hind quarters. My friends were in a similar predicament. Another whining noise erupted from the Tower above, another shaft of light centering directly on us.

“Fuck!” I heard Lust shout. I barely had enough time to think as I flared my horn, wrapping myself and my friends in an aura of magic. There was no time for teleportation, so I sent a silent prayer to Luna as I gripped my friends as hard as I could and shoved. Moments later a second pulse of energy floated down the shaft of light, blasting another crater out of the ground beneath it. I kept pushing on my friends until we were back on solid ground. I stood shakily as I looked down, hoping that we were beyond the borders of the Tower area. Unfortunately, we weren't. The whining noise started up again, and another shaft of light appeared a short distance away from us.

“Everypony up and at it!” I yelled. “Head for the perimeter!”

We scrambled to our hooves as another pulse of energy struck, shaking the ground beneath our feet and blasting rubble into the air. I glanced back quickly as the shaft of light receded. The concrete below where it had struck had been destroyed, leaving a dished crater and a cloud of fine dust. I realized that none of us really wanted to get hit by one of these things. I kept rolling around what it could be in the back of my mind. I had never seen a weapon like this before in my entire life. My eyes widened as we ran, another shaft of light appearing in front of us. Not only is it targeting us, but it is following our movements and predicting where we're going to go, I thought, shouting out at my friends to make a hard left. We turned, nearly skimming past another shaft that popped up to our side. Luckily, we made it past it before the energy struck ground.

“Where did we come in?!” Violet shouted.

I glanced ahead, seeing normal buildings in an almost sort of... ring around the Tower itself. I pointed as another shaft of light came down on our tails. The energy pulse came much quicker this time and we barely were able to keep going before it hit the ground. I snarled and flared my wings out. I'd had enough of this thing, and hoped to maybe buy my friends some time to get out to the perimeter. It was the only way I could think of that they could get to safety.

“You guys go! I'm going to draw it's fire!” I called out.

Violet looked at me with fear in her eyes. “What?! No, you can't Star!” she yelled back.

“Don't worry! I'll be alright! You guys just get your rears in gear!” I replied with a wink, giving my wings another flare.

Violet sighed for a moment and turned back to gallop after the others. I could have sworn I saw a tear forming in her eyes when she did. I spun about, bringing out Stargazer.

“Alright, you've got me here! Show yourself!” I called out. The whining noise started up again, bringing down another shaft of light, this time immediately upon me. Shit! I thought as I tried to move.

I didn't have enough time. In my haste, I did the only most logical thing I could think of. I lifted Stargazer above my head, hoping that at the very least the pulse would strike it first and give me enough time to move away. I didn't want to do it, I loved my gun very much, but if I had to choose... I had to choose my friends. If this doesn't work, I'm sorry Violet... I thought. I wish I had been just a little smarter.

The energy pulse came down in a flash, striking the minigun in its bluish embrace. Then something... unexpected happened. I had started to move to avoid being made into paste on the ground before I realized that the energy pulse had actually stopped at hitting Stargazer entirely. The gun floated there in midair and did absolutely nothing. I blinked. What...? I thought as I moved beyond the range of the shaft of light to get a better look. Stargazer's casing wasn't even bent by the force of the pulse! I prayed thankfully to Luna that her weapon of choice had been made so strongly, but it raised new questions as to the weapon's construction. How was it capable of surviving something so powerful in the first place? I shook my head, clearing my thoughts as I realized this exactly wasn't the time or place to be pondering Stargazer’s secrets.

The energy pulse finally dissipated, leaving Stargazer floating there, untouched. I grabbed the gun with my magic and began to run as the whining noise waned, the shaft of light receding. I flapped my wings hard, bringing myself into a flying gallop as I weaved in and out of the new shafts of light that had begun to appear. I only hoped that my friends had made it to safety. A flash caught my attention. Violet was waving her metal hoof at me from just outside the perimeter. I grimaced as I flapped my wings hard, finally coming to rest amidst her and the rest of my friends.

“Star! You're alright!” she exclaimed as she trotted up to me, burying me in a mound of green mare-y goodness.

I leaned into her embrace, but all the while I kept my eye back on the Tower.

“I'm... I'm fine,” I said quietly. “You didn't have to worry.”

“I know, but I still worried anyways,” she replied, looking up at me and then back at the Tower area. “So what do we do now?”

“I don't know... Dammit!” I shouted as I looked around. All of the shafts of light had retreated, and the grating noise trailed off into silence.

“What the fuck was that?” Lust said. “Somepony attacking us?”

“I thought you would know, haven’t you been here before?” I asked, shaking my head.

Lust pondered my question for a moment, and shook her head. “No, now that I think about it. At least, never above ground,” she replied. “But that doesn’t answer my question - what was that?”

“I think... I think that it’s the megaspell,” I said.

“Megaspell?” Lust said. “I may never have been to the tower above ground, but I’ve lived here all my life and I’ve never heard of a megaspell in Filly’s Tower.”

“This city died because of a defense megaspell located in the Tower,” I said, looking up from our hiding spot up at the Tower. The clouds shrouding the top of the tower glowed with arcane power, almost as if they were waiting for us try and chance another run at the dark building. It mocked us once more, and I growled. “Fuck!” I shouted. “We're so close too!”

“Star, come on. We'll find another way in,” Violet said. “Just calm down.”

“Calm down?! Calm down?! Fuck, Violet! She's there, right there!” I shouted at her, not lowering my voice in the slightest. “I can feel her. She's mocking us. Sitting in her safe spot, she's laughing.”

My marefriend sighed and grabbed onto my, pulling me close into her embrace. I broke down in front of her and the others, falling into her as I started to sob. A quiet cough interrupted us. I looked up at Danish, who stood sheepishly in front of us.

“There... there may be a way in from the underground,” he said. “I can't make no guarantees, but it’s decent odds that my boss might know a way in.”

“Why would your boss know how to get into Filly's Tower,” I asked. “What are you not telling me, Danish?”

“Alright, look,” the cream-colored unicorn started to say. “You're probably going to be angry with me about it, but...”

“But what, Danish?” I said, frustrated tears springing into my eyes. “What is it?”

“My boss. His name is Gluttony. And he knows how to get into Stable 180,” Danish muttered.

I blinked again, before launching myself at the stallion. “You son of a bitch!”I shouted, grabbing ahold of him. “All this time, you had a lead into the Tower?!”

Danish struggled against me, and I growled, staring into Danish’s terrified eyes. I didn't get far, however, before a green shimmer surrounded me and separated me from the unicorn. I looked up, seeing Violet's horn flaring.

“Look, I'm sorry alright?!” Danish shouted back as he regained his breath. “I wanted to tell you, but the boss... he told me not to. He wanted to see how you'd handle Wrath first. Truth be told, I think he kind of likes you. Why else do you think the MMMM is backing the Ministry Mare?”

“Violet, let me go so I can murder this deceiving bastard,” I said coldly, glaring at him. “He's been playing us right from the start.”

“No. Not until you can calm down and think rationally,” Violet said, shaking her head.

“Oh, I'm quite calm. And I’ve rationally decided to rip Danish’s head off and pour the lies out,” I said.

“Star, cut it out, would ya?” Danish said, snorting. “I like you. I really do. Why else do you think I'm telling you this shit now? You want to get into Filly's Tower? Stable 180? I can help you with that.”

I glanced away from the stallion, seething with rage.

“I don't like this anymore than you do. If I had a fucking choice about all of this, I would have told you the first time I met you. But I don't,” Danish continued.

“Wait... your boss is Gluttony?” Lust interjected.

I thanked Luna for the pegasi's interruption. I was mad, madder than I'd ever been. Somepony I had considered a friend had lied to me, and I kept trying to work out in my mind why. Danish nodded.

“What do you know about him?” I heard Violet ask.

“Back in the day? He used to be a big time gangster buck. On occasion he and I would take a ‘roll in the hay’, if you get my drift,” Lust replied. “After Pride though... he disappeared. I wish I knew more, but I just can't remember anything else. It's like there's something there, blocking my mind out.”

“That's fine, Lust. Thank you,” Violet said.

“I sure as hay don't remember you,” Danish said, glaring at Lust. “Before the boss became the boss, he was just a regular MMMM enforcer.”

“You probably wouldn't remember me,” Lust said wistfully. “After all, I was... different back then.”

“What do you get out of helping us?” I said quietly, interrupting the two.

“I get my boss back,” Danish said, looking back at me. “I meant what I told you before. Things aren't good in the MMMM. Several of the groups are even talking about overthrowing Gluttony. He's not a bad pony. He just... needs a little help, is all.”

I looked away again, thinking about what the unicorn had said. I felt like I had been betrayed, but I couldn't blame the stallion, not really. Danish’s boss wasn’t just his employer, he was his friend. The threat to the MMMM as a whole and to him was definitely enough to keep him from revealing his true boss. I sighed, looking back at Danish.

“Fine. Violet, you can let me go now,” I said calmly.

Violet nodded and released her magical hold on me. A smile crossed her face.

“Danish. I'm still not happy with you. But... but I understand. You're trying to protect a friend, am I right?” I said.

The stallion nodded. “Gluttony never used to be the big boss. At one time, we were best friends. I just want to help him,” he said, his eyes pleading with me.

“Then we'll help,” I said, sighing loudly. “We'll meet with this Gluttony, and see what we can do to help the MMMM. After all, I really do owe you one for saving our lives at Colter Field.”

“Nah, you don't owe me for that. I'm only asking you to help me... because I really do consider you a friend,” Danish said with a chuckle. “And not just a friend of the MMMM, but... my friend.”

I groaned audibly before grabbing the stallion into a fierce hug. “Do anything like that ever again, and I really will rip your head off,” I said, smiling.

“Deal,” he said, pulling away. “Alright then, everypony. Follow me. We'll be there faster than Celestia can eat out a full grown filly.”

“I like him,” Lust said, winking at me.

I shuddered at the thought of one of the Goddesses doing... that. I shook the thought away and stood. I looked back at Filly's Tower, looming over us. I'll be back, I swore silently. I'll be back before you know it, Spark. And when I find you. We'll end this silly game between us.

“Star? You coming?” Violet called to me.

I looked back at her and smiled. “Yeah, I'm coming,” I said, trotting along after her.

Spark and Pride would have to wait once more it seemed. Just another thing getting in my way, I thought. I just hoped and prayed that Pride wasn't stupid enough to unleash Spark upon the Wasteland. And even further... I wondered if Lucky was there too. I found myself missing the green mare terribly, even though she was just a figment of spectral pony-ness. I mulled things over in my mind while we walked, staying deathly quiet. The rest of the group was chatting idly as Danish led us from street to street. We began to move farther away from the Tower, as I could feel the utter lifelessness that the place exuded lift off my shoulders like it was some form of burden.

We walked along the streets of the ruined city for what felt like hours. Danish led us down alleyways that he had indicated were marked safe by the MMMM. I wasn't exactly paying attention to how he knew, and quite frankly I didn't care. My mind was still stuck on what I was going to do about Spark. I knew that somewhere beneath her harsh exterior, there had to still be something good. But how was I going to pull it out? Was that really what I wanted to do? Spark had caused so many problems for me and my friends, from attempted bodily takeover to almost murdering my love. I seethed with hatred of the spirit of Magic. It had tried to turn me into that which I feared the most... another Goddess. That wasn't what I wanted. I just wanted to be... well... me again. A tap at my shoulder brought me out of my stupor. I looked down and Danish was standing there. He had a sharp grin on his face.

“We're here,” he said as he pointed up the street we were now occupying. Situated just several feet away was what looked like an old abandoned factory. A symbol of a donut emblazoned the door leading into the factory's shipping dock. “Follow me, and keep quiet. Let me do the talking and you'll be alright.”

“Expecting trouble?” I asked casually.

The cream-colored unicorn snorted. “Don't think so,” he replied. “Boyos know better than to fuck with me.”

I nodded as Danish stepped up to the door and knocked in a rhythmic tone. The door opened slightly, revealing a dirty brown earth pony stallion standing behind it.

“Password?” the guard said.

“Con Mane,” The unicorn answered with a grin.

The guard simply nodded and pushed the door open. Danish stepped in past the guard, waving for us to follow.

“Good to see you, Boysen,” Danish said.

“You too, Danish,” the guard said. He looked up at me and his eyes widened. “Umm... does... does the boss know you're comin'?”

“I'm on my way to see him now,” Danish replied. “He in his usual spot?” The guard, Boysen, nodded. “Righty-o then. Take it easy there, Boysen. Don't work too hard, aight?”

“S-S-Sure thing, boss man,” Boysen said, still trembling with fear as we trotted up behind Danish and into the halls of the factory.

I stepped up next to the unicorn and spoke quietly. “What's up with him?” I asked.

“Oh, you know. You're the Ministry Mare. Not every day you get to see a radio celebrity,” Danish said, chuckling. “Boysen's a good buck, though. Not too bright, good for guard work at least.”

We continued along as we made it into the factory proper. I looked around in wonder at the operation that the MMMM had here, which I assumed was the gang's central headquarters. Ponies of all shapes, colors, and races fluttered to and fro, attending to the factory's various pieces of machinery. Everything from donuts to cupcakes and even more specialty desserts such as apple strudels and chocolate moose mousse was being made here. I couldn't help but be amazed at the amount of sweets and confections the MMMM was putting out. I also couldn't help but notice the stares. Everypony continued working, but I could see that while they did they were staring at us as we walked through the factory. Am I really that famous? I thought as Danish led us to a section of the factory that was the office department. At the far end of the cubicle farm were two guards in front of a large door.

“Oy! Danish!” One of the guards, a pale blue unicorn stallion with a frizzy dark blue mane, shouted. His horn glowed, tossing a knife through the air at the cream colored stallion. I almost moved to break into a combat stance and grab the knife before I saw Danish's familiar colored magic take the knife.

“Blueberry,” Danish said calmly, sending the knife to the ground in front of the other unicorn. “I need to see the boss.”

“Bullshit, you do,” the blue unicorn said. “He's busy.”

“No, I really need to see him. It's important,” Danish said angrily. He motioned at me with his hoof. The other unicorn sneered at me and looked back at Danish.

“Oh, that. Fuck, Danish, you got a death wish or something? You know the boss ain't gonna be happy 'bout you bringin' her here,” Blueberry said.

“Don't care. She needs to be here. Now you gonna let me through, or are we gonna have words?” the cream-colored stallion said, stomping a forehoof to the ground.

“Ugh. Fine. You can go in, but just you and her. The others stay out here. Got it?” Blueberry said. Danish nodded. “Good. I don't wanna hear you cryin' to me when you get sucker-punched like a little bitch in there, Danish. You had better have a damn good reason for this.”

“Trust me, I do. I do,” Danish said, looking up at me. “You ready for this?”

“Ready as I'll ever be,” I said nodding. I looked over at Violet and the others. “I'll be fine. You guys just hang out here, and we'll be right back.”

I trotted behind Danish as he passed by Blueberry and opened the door for me. The blue unicorn continued to sneer at me as I stepped inside the office. Except this wasn't exactly an office... it was like one huge part of the bakery. Kitchen ovens lined the walls like some sort of strange art display. In the center of the room was the largest mass of... flesh I had ever seen in my life. It was surrounded by food of all shapes and sizes. It was vaguely earth pony-shaped, and it took up nearly half the room. Veins popped out from all over the creature as it turned to a rather large banana cream pie and began devouring it without even batting an eye. It turned about and regarded me for a moment. Its eyes were black as night. I couldn't even begin to understand or read them. It turned back to its banquet and spoke, its voice sounding like metal grating upon metal. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped.

“So you finally came,” it said. “It's about fucking time.”

“Well, don't just stand there with your jaw hanging out like an open door, you gonna say something?” the gargantuan beast muttered.

I slowly closed my mouth and looked away for a brief moment. I couldn’t even believe what I was seeing.

“Hey!” The creature shouted, drawing my attention back to it. “Don't look away when I'm talkin' to you! You're the Ministry Mare, aintcha?”

“Y-Y-Yes,” I said shakily. This is Gluttony? Shit... I thought as I looked up and down the MMMM boss pony. Danish wasn't kidding when he said he was huge.

Gluttony rumbled with laughter, his fleshy sides shaking and quivering as he did.

“Good, good. I've been expecting you for some time, Ministry Mare,” the giant earth pony said, before looking down at the cream-colored stallion next to me. “Danish. I assume that this mare has some friends with her?” My friend nodded in response. “Excellent. Put em up would ya? We don't wanna be ungracious hosts. And leave us be for a while. I've got business to discuss.”

“Sure thing, boss,” Danish replied. He looked over at me and winked. “I'll be waitin' for ya when you get done talkin'.” He turned and strutted out the door past Blueberry Pie, who merely looked on in confusion as the door closed again.

I let my gaze drift up to Gluttony, who was now staring at me with his giant, soulless black eyes.

“So... you've been expecting me?” I said, trying to sound at least somewhat confident in my ability to speak to this thing.

“Indeed I have. As I understand it... you've been tearing this city a brand new plothole,” the grating voice of the beast echoed throughout the kitchen.

“I wouldn't say that,” I said, chuckling nervously.

Gluttony rumbled again with laughter. “Please. You've taken on the Cult, the Triad, and you even put that old cow, the Bullfather out of commission,” He said. “But the gangs aren't really why you're here, am I right?” I nodded. “Thought so. You're here for Pride.”

“You know a way to get into Stable 180?” I asked.

“Of course, I do. I was fucking born there!” Gluttony erupted. “That is, I was an original inhabitant of the Stable, before I became as you see me today.”

“And why would you wish to help me?” I said. “After all, Wrath wanted to help me too by killing me.”

“Wrath. That fucking cow is so stuck in his Iron Will bullshit he doesn't see what's really going on around him,” Gluttony said. “Pride is poised to fuck this city in its proverbial asshole, and to be perfectly fucking honest with you... I like it here. I'm comfortable. And I don't want that comfort to go bye bye.”

“I... I see,” I said. “So you want Pride out of the picture so you can be comfortable?”

“Fucking right you are!” Gluttony laughed. “I'm not much for this shit anymore to be honest, Ministry Mare. Even running the MMMM is a lot of work, juggling the goddess loving companies. I’m tired, Radiant Star. I want to retire. But if Pride gets her way, I won't be able to do that, now will I?”

“No... you certainly won't,” I said. “So then, how do I gain access to the Stable?”

Gluttony chuckled loudly before pointing with a giant fleshy hoof at a cabinet on the left side of the room.

“In there you'll find a map of the sewer complex of Chicacolt, along with a memory orb. You need to watch that shit. It will put a lot in perspective for you about Pride, and what you should expect when you finally find the bitch,” he said.

I trotted over to the cabinet and opened it up. Sure enough, there was a detailed map of the entire sewer system in the city, the Stable clearly marked. Next to it was a swirling grey and black memory orb. I swept it up into my bags and looked back at the gargantuan beast.

“Thank you,” I said. “I will make sure Pride is stopped. You can count on that.” I started trotting back towards the door, stopping for just a moment to look back at Gluttony. “You know... you're not what I expected.”

“Oh, and what did you expect?” Gluttony replied, chuckling.

“To be truthful, I sort of expected you to try and kill me,” I said. “Seems like every one of your little group has tried that at least once. Even Lust, despite the fact that even she is starting to turn herself around.”

“Not my style, sweetheart. Besides... I think if I had to fight you, you'd probably win. I mean, fuck... you beat Wrath,” he said. “And as far as Lust is concerned, I always knew that mare had it in her to be better.”

“She told me that she knew you,” I said.

Gluttony nodded, his large form shaking in the cold lighting. “A long time ago... when I didn't look quite like this...” he said, sadness twinging the edges of his voice. “But that's neither here nor there now. She's got her own destiny, as do I.”

“I suppose I should tell you, Pride is in a position to absorb a power that will allow her to realize her dreams,” I said.

“I've suspected as much since I had Danish break you out of Colter Field. She came to visit me, said that something big had happened,” Gluttony said.

“Did she say anything about Spark?” I blurted out.

Gluttony looked at me curiously. “I apologize, but no name like that came up in our conversation. She seemed... excited though,” he said.

“I need to get to Stable 180 then as quickly as possible,” I said with a determined grimace.

“Then Luna be with you, Ministry Mare,” Gluttony said. “If you do manage to kill my dearest sister, bring me her head. It shall be a pleasure to... devour it.” He grinned, his teeth gleaming in the light.

I shuddered and turned about. The gigantic... thing went back to gorging himself on sweets and pie. I sighed. I could see why Danish wanted me to help so badly. He was watching somepony who was his best friend slowly become a horridly obese creature who simply didn't care about anypony else around him. I pushed open the door, seeing Danish waiting for me. He smiled.

“So, what do you think of the boss?” he said as I fell into line next to him. We trotted along down the hallway, which was now empty of any other guards.

“I'm... I'm not sure to be honest,” I replied. “He gave me the information on how to get to Pride... but there was no trade-off.”

“That's because I'm the one making the deals,” Danish said, nodding. “I'm calling together a meeting of the companies of the gang. You're gonna help me fix things for the boss.”

“You want me to mediate a truce? Me? What am I going to say that will sway the companies to cooperate?” I said.

“Don't worry. Hopefully you won't have to say a thing. You just need to be there. All of the MMMM, Gluttony included, think you're one amazing mare, sugar,” Danish said. “All the things they've heard on the radio... you taking down the Cowpones, the Triad, Wrath. If they aren’t impressed by you, they’re afraid of you.” He continued, grinning like his boss. “But the MMMM is fractured right now. Gluttony's in there eating himself to death, and the rest of the boys are wondering where this is all goin'. They're scared, and rightly so.”

“And you don't think Gluttony is going to do anything about it?” I replied.

Danish shook his head feverishly. “No. The boss doesn't have the focus on the gang he once did. But we have to try to unite anyways. If we can, we can show him just how in control we can be,” the stallion said as we exited the long hall. We were in what appeared to be an apartment complex now. A few short feet away was a door that stood halfway open. I could hear our other friends' voices drifting out from it. “Now, you all should get some rest. I'm setting up the meeting for tomorrow.” I nodded and pushed the door open. Violet looked up at me as I stepped inside. The others were sitting quietly, talking amongst themselves.

“Danish said that there was some complicated business happening here, Star. How did your meeting with Gluttony go?” she asked.

“He's... interesting. He gave us this map to get into Stable 180 through the sewer system,” I said, pulling out the map and handing it to Violet with my magic.

She took it and quickly scanned it before handing off the scraps of paper to Nixis. The hellhound grinned as he handled the ancient map, using his intelligence to quickly determine where we had to enter the sewers from.

“There's... something else. Danish has asked for me to attend a meeting of the MMMM companies. He wants to unite the gang again, stop the in-fighting.”

“What's stopping us from just leaving that fucker here and going to the Stable?” Lust interjected.

“Because like it or not, I owe Danish for saving our asses at Colter Field. And having met Gluttony... I can understand why he wants to help so badly,” I said.

Lust's eyes narrowed at me. “So, the old bastard really is still alive? I'm gonna have to stop in some time and say hello.” Lust purred.

“I don't think you'd be that interested in him now, Lust,” I said with a shudder. “He's about five times your size now... at least.” Lust looked to be deep in thought for a brief moment, before finally shuddering herself. I chuckled. “Anyways, I think it's high time we got some rest. We've got a big day tomorrow.”

“I thought Danish said that he only wanted you there?” Patch said.

“I think if things are as volatile as Danish is making them out to be, then we had better be prepared for the worst, and that means bringing all the security we have,” I said, taking my bags off and setting them next to our bedroll.

I laid down, feeling very morose. I had been so close to the Tower, and yet now it felt so far away. My mind whirled with thoughts of Pride, of Spark, and of Gluttony. I felt bad for the poor... thing. He was a victim of power. A victim of the insanity that was Pride. I wondered what would happen afterwards, for all of us. Violet and I would probably go back to the Followers, but what about Steeljack and Patch? What about Nixis, Lust, and Gluttony? What would these ponies, no, these people do without Pride meddling in their lives? I sighed and buried my head into Violet's neck, trying like hell to get some form of sleep. My eyes closed finally as I allowed my mind to drift into dreams.

I groaned. The endless hallway stretched out before me in both directions, just like it had for so many months. Why can't I have normal dreams for once? I thought. I sat in front of a pair of white double doors with a green and red flame above it. The fire went out with a *fwoosh* and the doors swung wide open with a *creak*. I stepped through the doorway, leading into a long grey metal hall. I trotted along, wondering where I was going to end up. The hallway finally opened up into a large cylindrical room I had seen before. It was the room where I had left the Book. The room with those freaky little statues in the Museum. In the center of the lab stood a purple unicorn with... two heads? The unicorn turned about and grinned widely with its two heads as it took notice of me.

“She's here,” the left head said.

“Yes, she is...” the right one replied, nodding. The two heads smiled again and began speaking in unison.

“Welcome, Radiant Star,” they said. “We are Avarice.”

“Avarice? What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I said, stepping up before the pony-shaped thing.

“Avarice is the pursuit of all things. Power, fame, fortune. We are the center of Twilight's emotions associated with greed,” the thing said.

“Greed. What was Twilight greedy for?” I said.

The two-headed unicorn laughed heartily. “Twilight was greedy for many things... her greed for power consumed her, as did the love of her brother,” it said. “It was this greed that allowed Nightmare to corrupt us so.”

I pondered the thing's words. How far had Twilight been willing to pursue this to save Shining Armor?

“Nightmare. She was around during the war. How was it that Twilight didn't recognize her?” I asked the thing.

“Twilight was too consumed... too ingrained in the promises of Spark to even care,” it replied. “But we are not here to hear your questions about Twilight. We have questions for you.”

“For... for me?” I said. “What do you mean?”

“We wish to know what you are going to do to Magic,” the amalgamated being said. “You have a choice to make, after all.”

“I'm aware,” I said, narrowing my gaze at the thing. “I... I haven't decided yet. Furthermore, I still haven't decided what I'm going to do afterwards.”

“That choice remains unspoken... for now. You must decide what you will do with the Element of Magic. We remind you that much hangs in the balance,” the thing said. “Without Magic, the spark that drives the Elements of Harmony will not exist... and this puts the world in far greater peril than ever.”

“I know, I know!” I shouted at the creature. “I don't know what I'm going to do yet, alright? It's all I've been thinking about.”

“We urge you to think harder,” the thing said. “Your decision will affect more than you know.”

I sighed and looked down at my hooves. What was I going to do about Spark? Discord had let on that I would be making a choice that would affect the world. Did that have to do with the corrupted Element of Magic? Or was he talking about something else. I couldn't figure it out. I looked back up at Avarice. I had more questions that needed to be answered.

“While I was out of my body, I was visited by Twilight. I need to know... where is she? How did she contact me?” I said.

“Twilight is not here right now,” the thing said. “We are not at liberty to tell you any more.”

“Why not?” I said angrily.

“Because you are not ready,” the two-headed unicorn replied coldly.

“What do you mean? I'm ready for... whatever it is I'm supposed to be ready for!” I shouted.

“If you don't even know what it is, how can you be ready?” they said with a grin.

I groaned in reply. I hated mind games like this. “Fine,” I said, gritting my teeth. “Then I've got a message for Twilight I want you to pass on: After I take care of Spark... we're done. I want my old life back. I don't want to be her. I want to be me.”

Avarice's heads glared at me. They clearly did not like my answer.

“We’re not a messenger service, Radiant Star. Make your choice. Only then will you be ready to face the end,” they said as things began to fade to black.

I awoke, much as I always did, to darkness. As my eyes refocused on the room, I shivered. A draft had begun blowing through our living quarters in the night. I felt instant warmth as Violet snuggled closely next to me, murmuring in her sleep. I quickly realized that I had woken up when everypony else was still asleep. Everypony... except for one. My eyes widened when I counted the others in the room. Lust was... gone. I carefully extricated myself from Violet's embrace, leaving her grasping at the blankets in a sleepy attempt to recapture my warmth. She looked so adorable, I almost couldn't pull myself away, but I had to. I had to know where Lust had gone off to. I made my way through the dark room, peering out into the hallway. No sign of her there, I thought. I was about to turn away when I heard a voice.

“Star?” the soft feminine voice reached my ears.

I perked up instantly, craning my neck around to see where it had come from. Standing outside the window of our quarters on the fire escape was the pony I had been looking for. She also appeared to be the reason the draft was now making everypony shiver. I sighed as I stepped out onto the cramped fire escape and sat down next to her, sliding the window closed behind me.

“Everything alright?” I said.

“I just... I'm frightened,” Lust said quietly, shaking her head.

I couldn't believe my ears. “You're shitting me,” I said incredulously. “The great and powerful Lust, afraid?”

“Har, har. Laugh it up,” she said, sticking her tongue out at me. “I'm serious. I can feel her Star. Pride. She's just waiting for the right time to strike. To turn me back into what I was before.”

“I thought you had broken free of her?” I asked.

Lust shrugged. “I don't know that I will ever be able to fully break free of her until she's dead,” she said.

I looked out upon the city of Chicacolt. The MMMM’s base wasn’t terribly high, but even three stories was enough that I could see a large part of the city. Campfires and the odd streetlight glowed against the velvety dark, Chicacolt in all its faded, musty glory.

I don’t think I had ever considered Lust a true enemy. Even when she was trying to kill us, she had been playful. She’d enjoyed the fight, enjoyed the teasing. This wasn’t that mare. Lust was nervous and unhappy, and now I considered her a true friend.

“Lust. Trust me when I say... you can do it. You just need to be stronger,” I said.

“You think I don't know that? You think I liked what I was before leaving her?” she said with a groan. “I was an assassin. Pride’s sword. Sure, I had fun with the job, Star, but I was a weapon. Some of the things I did... I don't know that I can ever be stronger than that.”

“But you can. All you have to do is trust in me. Trust in your friends. You do know that we are your friends, right?” I said, trying my best to console the poor mare.

“I... I know. Even... Even Patch, despite the fact that she doesn't like me very much,” The black mare said.

“Patch does like you... you two actually have a lot more in common than you think. You're both intelligent, strong mares. I don't doubt for a second that she wouldn't have your back in a pinch,” I said.

Lust looked down at her hooves, clearly mulling over what I was trying to say. She nodded finally and smiled.

“I suppose you're right. I guess I would too...” she said, grinning. “However, we've got one problem.”

“Problem?” I cocked my head.

“Yeah. If we're gonna be facing Pride, we're gonna need some extra guns. I'm going to need new power armor,” she said. “I've been able to survive so far on my wits, but that's not going to help me in a real firefight. I need firepower, and I need it bad, sister.”

“How do we handle that?” I said, feeling very confused. I wasn't even remotely sure how one acquired pegasus power armor like I had seen Lust previously wearing.

“You don't have to worry about anything. I just need to have a little chat with Gluttony, and possibly Patch. Gluttony has one of my old suits stashed away, just in case he ever got to rip another one off of me,” Lust said, pausing to draw a happy sigh. “Good times. Anyway, Patch should be able to help me upgrade my arsenal, once I get some armor together.”

I nodded, and then shivered once more. “That's great... but I'm a little cold. Can we go back inside?” I chattered.

“Oh, what's the matter? Don't wanna stay out here and let me warm you up?” Lust cooed with a grin.

“Once again Lust, marefriend. Have one. Sorry,” I said flatly

“Still got it though,” Lust replied, rubbing a hoof on her chest and blowing on it. She started to head back into the room, before stopping once more and looking up at me. “Star?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks again,” she said, disappearing back into the room.

I grinned. No matter what hold Pride had on her, she would not have it any longer. I would personally see to it that the black mare would get to live her own life. I looked back up at the sky. Luna's moon held high in the air, fuller than I had ever seen it. I gave up a short prayer to the Lunar Princess, and stepped back into the room myself, closing the window behind me as I did. Violet was still curled up in our bedroll, looking as adorable as ever. Lust smiled as she stepped out into the hallway. Knowing where she was headed, I paid no mind as I laid back down next to Violet and curled around her.

At some point I must have fallen asleep, because I distinctly remembered being awoken to a cold metal hoof poking me in the side. I groaned and rolled over.

“You know that thing kind of hurts,” I said, opening my eyes to see Violet standing there. She had a concerned look on her face. “What? What's wrong?”

“Lust,” she said quietly. “She's gone.”

I laid my head back, a chuckle escaping my lips as I looked back at Violet, who cocked her head with a confused expression.

“What? What's so funny?”

“It's fine. She went to go see Gluttony,” I said. “She'll be back soon, trust me.” Violet looked at me funny. “What? I woke up in the middle of the night and she was out on the fire escape. We had a bit of a chat, and she's going to go procure some new power armor for herself.”

“I... I see,” Violet replied.

I snickered as I sat up on my haunches. “You're cute when you're asleep, by the way,” I said.

Violet's cheeks went red immediately. I grinned, reaching forward and stealing a soft kiss on her cheek. I looked around the room, checking on the others. Patch and Steeljack were still sleeping somewhat soundly in the far corner, while Nixis was sitting in the other corner. He was back to poking away at the map we had received from Gluttony. I stood and trotted over to him. He appeared to be stuck deeply in thought as I came up behind him.

“Find anything?” I said, startling him. He let out a snarl and I gave a sheepish grin. “Oh, sorry about that.”

“It's alright. I haven't been sleeping too well, I guess,” the hellhound replied. “The map seems rather straightforward. This particular entrance to the sewers is going to take us down through what appears to be a Ministry Hub.”

“A Ministry Hub?” I said. “Does it say which one?”

The hellhound shrugged. “I'm not too familiar with the area, but it looks to be a Ministry of Peace Hospital Hub,” he said.

I nodded. At least it would be a nice change of pace from the insanity of the other Ministry Hubs I'd been in before. Having nothing better to do, I opted to sit down next to Nixis and look over the map with him. There was an extensive network of sewers beneath the city, but this particular set of tunnels only ran between the Ministry Hubs and Filly's Tower. Must have been some sort of secret passage for the Ministries, I thought.

The rest of the morning came and went with little to speak of. We had breakfast, and took stock of our supplies. With the company meeting not scheduled until that night, there simply wasn't much we could do other than wait. Danish stopped by at some point during the morning, and he had agreed with our decision to secure and enforce the meeting. Eventually, I just sat, thinking about things until a knock at the door brought me out of my stupor. I looked up as the door opened, and a vision of cold, black metal filled my eyes. Lust grinned, stepping into the room to show off her new power armor. It shone like black diamond. The carapace-like material the armor was made of snugly fit the sleek powerful mare well. Her visor was pulled back, revealing her trademark grin.

“Still fits!” she said happily, trotting around in the armor. Uncannily, she barely made a noise as she pranced and fluttered about. Must be a pegasus thing, I thought. The black mare posed for the others as they came up to greet her.

“Wow. That's... actually kind of nice,” Patch said, letting her gaze drift up and down the armor.

Lust grinned even wider. “Thanks...” she said, trailing off before looking over at the green mare. “Umm... gee... I'm not good at this, but I was kind of... kind of hoping that you would help me with the weaponry, Patch.”

“Really? You... want me to help you? Is this some sort of trick?” Patch said, her eyes widening with glee.

Lust shook her head nervously. “No... I really want your help. I've seen how good you are at repairing things and this other stuff, I was hoping you could help me come up with something really good,” she said.

Patch lit up with delight as she launched herself forward at the other mare, grabbing her into a hug.

Lust chuckled. “Umm... ok, you can let go now, greenie. We got some work to do remember?”

Patch laughed as she pulled away and dragged the black pegasus away to the far corner of the room. I smiled. Finally, those two found something they both enjoyed and were able to connect on. I couldn't be happier. Eventually, the two left to go find somepony to barter with for materials. I went back to having a nap, thinking about the night ahead of me, of Spark and Pride, and of a decision I had yet to make.

I was pacing. The meeting was in an hour, and neither Lust nor Patch had made it back to our room yet. I was getting nervous, even though both Violet and Steeljack kept telling me that I had nothing to worry about. Still, I worried for the two mares. I don't know exactly why, I knew in the back of my mind that the two could take care of themselves, but I still worried.

“Star!” Violet shouted, breaking me out of my pace. She glared at me. “Sit! You're wearing a groove into the floor!”

I complied, plomping down onto my haunches. “Sorry... I guess I'm still worried. It just reminds me of when you and Patch were kidnapped by the Triad,” I said.

“That was in the middle of Triad territory. We're among friends here, remember?” Violet said, rolling her eyes.

I sighed and nodded. With Gluttony and Danish on our side, the MMMM had been respectful, if not terribly friendly. I was about to stand and pace once more when the door opened, revealing Patch and a very weary looking Lust. The green mare was wheeling in something on a cart that was covered up by a tarp. I couldn't quite tell what it was. The black pegasus next to her had a very annoyed look on her face.

“Why can't I see it yet?” Lust whined.

“You have to wait. I wanted to reveal it to everyone at once,” Patch said.

Lust pouted in the most adorable way ever and sat down next to us.

“I take it you two got along well?” I whispered to her, earning myself a grin from the mare.

“Yeah, but once she started building it she kicked me out of the room and wouldn't let me see it! Said she hit some inspiration and wanted it to be a surprise,” Lust said.

Patch meanwhile was humming to herself as she positioned the cart and the tarp just so. “Alright, so... I really really hope you like it,” she said. “The idea was almost as tough as the build, but I’m happy with it, and I think you’ll like it.” She stood back, ripping the tarp away from the cart.

The device sitting on the cart was sleek and black, just like Lust's power armor. Three broken red hearts had been painted on the side of the barrel, arranged almost like a cutie mark. It took me a few moments, but I realized that it was some form of missile launcher. A rotating cylinder held several missiles that were prepped to load immediately into the device. Patch grinned widely as Lust's eyes lit up like it was Hearth's Warming Eve.

“Like it?” Patch said. “I had a hard time thinking of a good name for it, so I picked one that I felt fit you the most.”

I smiled. Surely Patch had finally come around to seeing what good there was in Lust?

“I want you to meet... The Bitch.”

I blinked. What? I thought. I looked over at Lust, expecting the mare to come up with some snarky comment in response. Instead the mare appeared to be... crying?

“Oh... Oh wow,” she said, choking out her words through her tears. “You... you really do understand me!” She rushed forward, locking the green earth pony into a spine-crushing hug.

“Oww, okay you can... you can let go now!” Patch said, wheezing. Lust chuckled and pulled away. “It's all ready for you to go, and it's battle-saddle mounted. It can cycle in several different types of missiles at an activation in your power armor, but unfortunately the only ammo I could get my hooves on was plain old frag missiles.”

“That's fine. I love it, thank you so much,” Lust said as the other mare hooked the missile launcher to the power armor's battle-saddle. Lust flexed her wings experimentally and hovered in the air.

“Doesn't seem to be that heavy either,” she said. “I can get used to this kind of firepower. Watch out Wasteland, The Bitch is back!”

“Wanted to try my hoof at explosive devices,” Patch said, looking up at me and chuckling. “I think it turned out pretty good.”

I nickered and smiled at the two mares. “I think so too,” I said. “I'm very proud of you two, but we need to get going here. The meeting will be starting soon, and we need to be in place.”

The two nodded, and Patch went to collect Para Bellum. We made our way out of our room, intending to meet with Danish at the meeting location. Danish had purposely chosen to have the meeting outside of the MMMM headquarters in a nearby abandoned park. Along the way we discussed who would be where for security purposes. Lust and Patch would be our eyes in the sky, positioning themselves in higher vantage points where the two could maintain watch. Steeljack and Nixis were the brute force, watching the meeting from the sidelines in case any trouble arose. Violet and I were going to be at the head of the meeting table, quietly watching Danish as he addressed the companies of the MMMM.

The sun had begun to go down, allowing Luna's moon to take its rightful place in the night sky by the time we arrived in the center of the park. Patch and Lust split off, the two mares chatting animatedly about weapons and armor. I smiled. I was happy those two were now hitting it off. Steeljack and Nixis peeled off into opposite directions, taking their places at each end of the meeting area. Violet and I continued forward, meeting Danish at the head of the large slab he had just finished moving into place with his magic.

“I'm glad y'all are helpin' me out with this,” he said. “I really appreciate it.”

“No problem,” I replied. “When are the companies supposed to arrive?”

“Any time now,” Danish said, his eyes intent on the park entrance.

Within a few moments, ponies of various colors and creeds began to filter into the entrance. However, each group was distinctly separated by their chosen style of dress and it was very easy to determine who was with what company. In all, eight companies sat down at the massive slab, each one represented by a single pony who was to act as that company's speaker for the meeting. The crowd of ponies was murmuring loudly at the sight of me. I could tell that none of them were expecting me to be there. Danish stood up on the stone slab, placing a hoof in the air and magically amplifying his voice with his magic.

“Alright! Shut yer yaps!” the cream-colored stallion said. Everypony that had been chattering looked up at the unicorn. “I now call this here meetin' of the eight companies of the MMMM to order! As y'all know, my name is Apple Danish, and I represent the Applebuckers. Settle down, you rowdy lot, and let’s do the roll call!”

At once, the seven other representatives stood. The earth pony left to Danish stepped forward. He was dark brown colored with a slick black mane. His outfit was reminiscent of a Prench waiter. His high pitched voice made me hold a hoof to my muzzle to hide my grin.

“I am Horte Cuisinart, and I represent 'ze Prench Inquisition!” he shouted. His entourage, a snooty group of high class pastry chefs, yelled in what I assumed to be Fancee. Danish thankfully had taken the time to explain to me and Violet about the different companies and their heads. Horte Cuisinart's ancestors were supposedly Prench immigrants to Equestria. The group was well known for their Prench desserts and pastries and also acted as public faces of the MMMM in the various settlements ran by the gang. Next to Horte I recognized the blue unicorn Blueberry. He stood forward, grinning.

“I'm Blueberry Buckle, and I represent the Buckleberry Boyos,” he said. His group consisted of unicorns and earth ponies, each one of them dressed in smocks that were so filthy they couldn't even be called white anymore. Blueberry was a serious contender for the title of leader of the MMMM. He also didn't get along too well with Danish. The cream-colored stallion hadn’t wanted to discuss what had soured their friendship. The Buckleberries handled most of the fruit-based buckles and pastries. They also acted as guards in the MMMM headquarters. Next to Blueberry, another unicorn stallion stood. This unicorn was white as snow, and had a light blue tinged mane.

“My name is Whipper Snapper, and I represent the Whipped Cream Royalists,” he said. The group behind him wore royal blue traditional suits and jackets. Whipper Snapper was a business first stallion, and his company ran most of the cream-based bakeries and whipped topping plants. At the far end of the table, a pinkish earth pony with a dark black mane stood. I almost swore that it was a mare, but I couldn't tell. Even the voice of the pony left me feeling unsure of myself there.

“I'm Piña Colada, and I'm representing the Buttercream Boys,” the earth pony said, glaring at the titters and giggles that he received on announcing his name. His group appeared to consist solely of cake bakers, the telltale signs of cake frosting covering their work aprons. Piña especially glared at Whipper Snapper, and I remembered Danish's words about how the two factions had nearly come to blows against each other. Piña, Danish had told me, was often made fun of because of his feminine coloring and name. Still, his group was powerful, single-hoofedly responsible for keeping the cake factories they ran on track. On Piña's left, a red pegasus with a brilliant yellow mane stepped forward.

“I'm Electric Red, and I represent the Cherry Chimichangas,” he said. His entourage howled in reply, flaunting cutie marks that mostly related to cherries. Electric Red was the only pegasus of the entire group. Danish told me that he was Wasteland-born to a family of cherry pickers. The Chimichangas were responsible for much of the food growth that the MMMM depended on. Growing food in the Wasteland was difficult, but somehow the gang managed. Next to Electric, a unicorn stood forward. The stallion was cream-colored in nature, almost like Danish, except that he was more... gruff looking. His mane was a dark muddy brown.

“Yo, my name is Donut Don. I represent the Sprinkle Seven,” he said. The six stallions behind him all appeared to be roughly the same, each one with some sort of donut based cutie mark. They cheered loudly for their leader. Donut Don and his group were the elite enforcers of the MMMM. They were the ones called in if legs needed to be broken and debts needed to be collected. Finally, at Danish's right, a murky green colored earth pony stood forward. He had a dark brown mane.

“I'm the Moose.”

Silence reigned at the big table for long moments, before Danish stepped forward, placing a hoof on the pony’s shoulder.

“The Moose represents the Chocoholics,” he announced, to belated cheering from the Moose and his group, who were a frayed and ragged looking bunch. Stepping back to the center of the table, Danish nodded at the seven pony representatives and spoke again.

“Alright, boyos. Take a load off would ya? Y'all are welcome to the table,” he said, clopping his hooves. Two of his entourage that had shown up stepped out, bearing several large platters in their unicorn magic. The platters floated along, landing on the slab table as they opened up, revealing a veritable feast of cakes, pastries, donuts, and other various bakery fare. Danish grinned.

“Dig in boys. After we eat, we'll get down to business.”

“So I says to the guy, 'Hey guy, that ain't no guy, that there's a lady!' And he goes 'Well how am I supposed to know! He's pink!'”

“Oh ho ho! You do crack me up, Danish!” Horte Cuisinart replied to our host's joke.

I looked down at the half eaten piece of pie on my plate and then over at Violet. I hadn't exactly been that hungry, and now I was merely picking at my food. Violet smiled as she slurped down a third piece of pie. I shuffled myself next to her and spoke quietly.

“You know you're gonna get fat off of this stuff, right?” I said teasingly.

Violet blushed fiercely. “Just more of me to love!” she replied. I giggled in response. “So what do you make of all of this?”

“I don't know. I guess we can't really get a good idea until the meeting starts up properly,” I said.

I looked over at Danish. The cream-colored stallion was still engrossed in conversation with Horte Cuisinart. I guess I should have known that the meeting would have consisted of a feast, given the MMMM's members. As I pushed my plate away, I found myself being tapped on the shoulder blade by a familiar blue unicorn. Blueberry Buckle leered at me as I looked down at him.

“So, you're the Ministry Mare. Funny, I expected you to be a little bigger,” he said.

“Are you implying that I'm fat?” I said, snorting.

“Not at all. You're just not what I expected,” The stallion replied with a chuckle, still leering at me. “So, you got to meet 'da boss? That must have been real excitin'.”

I glared at the unicorn. I realized that he was just trying to prod me into doing something to disrupt the meeting.

“It was fine, thank you. I believe the meeting is about to begin though,” I said, letting my gaze drift up to Danish.

Danish nodded at me and stood, hopping up on the table and flaring his horn. Magic amplified his voice as he spoke.

“Alright boyos. If I could have youse attentions, we'll kick this meeting off right,” he said loudly. “The issue at hoof, boyos, is tha' future of the MMMM. We all know that shit has been going down in this city, and now more than ever we need to stick together. Gluttony is still our boss, and as long as he is we need to respect that.”

“Gluttony’s leadership is as stale as week-old crust, Danish. His time as leader is done,” Blueberry piped up. The stallion glared at the other unicorn. “We need somepony who's going to take charge of this group, and keep us going.”

“Yeah! As it stands, we barely have enough money to cover operations, let alone keep the outlying settlements afloat,” Whipper Snapper said.

Piña Colada snorted. “Please, if you stupid fucks would stop spending so much money on stupid shit like fancy prewar tech, maybe you'd have enough to cover,” the pink pony said. With a pause for a deep sigh, he continued. “I agree with Danish. We need to stick together. With the Triad a threat, and the Cowpones stepping up their slave ops, we have to protect our settlements.”

“And how are we expected to be able to do that if we are spending all of our money on Gluttony's insane feedings?” Whipper replied curtly. “Besides, the investments we've made towards better production have really made things work a lot better for us, Piña.”

“Pretty colors,” the Moose interjected. The strange jittery pony was looking at his hoof. It looked like he had just a little too much sugar in his system.

“Oh, shut up Moose. Nopony's talking to you anyways,” Piña Colada said.

“Look, all I'm saying is that Gluttony isn't doing his job,” Whipper continued. “I agree with Blueberry. We need somepony who is going to put the gang first.”

“And who the fuck do you think that should be Whips?” Danish piped up. “Huh? You? Are you gonna be the big bad boss?” Whipper Snapper went deathly quiet. “Didn't fuckin' think so. You're not leader material.”

“And what? You are?” Blueberry replied. “Fuck you too, Danish. You ain't got tha' balls required to run this shit either. You're just Gluttony's little lap pony.”

The civilized meeting had just gone out the window. Ponies from all of the companies yelled at each other, brandishing weaponry and making threats. Danish and Blueberry were glaring at each other. I could see Steeljack and Nixis getting nervous. If something wasn't done fast, this would escalate into an all-out civil war.

“QUIET!” I shouted loudly, using magic to force my voice over the shouting ponies. The effect was immediate. The companies stopped as one, staring at me. I coughed. “Now then... If I may have your attention please?”

“Oh, nice one Danish. Having the Mare talk for you, are you? Fucking coward,” Blueberry snarled.

I spun about, glaring at him with daggers in my eyes. The blue stallion shut up as he saw my eyes.

“I know you're all upset,” I said loudly, so that everypony could hear me. “I know that things look bleak, but you're all here and you're all together. That alone is more powerful than any of you know. You have a golden opportunity here, to make this city a better place. I believe that you can do it, but fighting amongst yourselves isn't going to help!” Everypony was deathly quiet. I was about to continue before I was interrupted by gunfire. The crowd began to shout and cry out.

“Attack!” Danish shouted. “Everypony scram!”

More gunfire scattered across the park, hitting several ponies at the back of the crowd and turning them into little more than squishy pincushions. Where is it coming from? I thought as I levitated Stargazer in front of me. Violet stood next to me, brandishing Thunder Flash. The companies of the MMMM were rife with panic. Only the leaders of the companies remained as the rest began to flee. Blueberry Buckle moved up next to Danish, levitating out his own rifle. The gunfire subsided as we took cover beneath the stone slab.

“Great job, Danish. Gettin' us shot at? Real fucking cute,” Blueberry said.

“Shut the fuck up, Blueberry. You heard what Star said. Fightin' ain't gonna get us anywhere, we've got to stick together if we wanna get out of here alive,” Danish replied angrily.

From above, I heard the sharp retort of Para Bellum. Whatever was out there firing at us, Patch was trying to fire back. I looked out from our hiding place. While most of the gang had managed to move away from the firefight, there were still plenty of ponies out there bleeding to death. I scanned the haze of dust that the gunfire had kicked up, searching for Steeljack and Nixis. I couldn't see them. I looked at my E.F.S., hoping that there was some indication of who was attacking us. Red blips scattered the park area, and I blinked. How had I not noticed them before? They were right on top of us! I peered out again, seeing the reason why. Shimmering images littered the park area as unicorns bearing the familiar style of dress of the Lotus Triad appeared. Thankfully, I could still see the green blips belonging to my other friends. From our vantage point, I could see that most of the groups of enforcers were busy tracking down the fleeing companies.

“Shit, it's those Triad bitches!” Whipper Snapper yelled. “They got the fuckin' drop on us!”

“Alright, everypony... calm down. We can get out of here, we just need to work together,” I said calmly. “Steeljack and Nixis are still out there. So we have a chance.”

“Work together? Fuck that shit,” Whipper replied, levitating out twin pistols. The unicorn snarled and rolled out from our vantage spot, firing blindly at the nearest enforcers. His shots went wide, missing as he pushed himself up from the ground and ran for the nearest dead tree. A shot from behind caught him in the shoulder, putting him to the ground immediately. The stallion howled in pain before a bullet caught him in the head, splattering his brains all over the ground. Again, above me I heard Para Bellum opening fire, along with a sharp whining sound that could only be The Bitch.

“Anypony else want to argue against working together?” I said flatly. Nopony else said a word, except for the Moose.

“You're pretty,” he blubbered.

I groaned. Danish floated out his carbine rifle, grinning widely.

“Alright, here's the deal kiddos,” the cream-colored stallion said. “Star and Violet are gonna lay down some cover fire while we move out. Everypony sticks together and nopony gets hurt. Take your shots wisely, and make them fucking count.” The rest of the heads nodded solemnly, looking out from our cover at the limp body of Whipper Snapper. Nopony wanted to end up like him. “Alright, let's get a move on boyos!”

We emerged from our hiding spot into pure hell. Dust filled our noses as we moved through the battle, which seemed more like a slaughter. While many of the company ponies were trying to fight back as they were running away, many more of them didn't even have weapons and were just being killed mercilessly. I spun about, laying down a stream of fire into a group of enforcers that had spotted us, ripping the head completely off one of the unicorns while severely injuring another. I grimaced. While this wasn't what I wanted, I had no choice. This can't be a coincidence, I thought. Lotus Petal must be really pissed off to want me this badly. A sharp *crack* rang out ahead of us and I could make out the forms of Steeljack and Nixis fighting a nasty group of enforcers that were wielding beam rifles. Nixis bounded along, leaping through the air and latching onto one of the earth pony enforcers. His claws shredded the mare to pieces.

“Star! You're alright!” I heard Steeljack shout.

I nodded as I galloped up to him. “We're fine! What about you two?” I replied.

“About as good as anypony else,” Steeljack said with a shrug. “Have you seen Patch or Lust?”

I shook my head. Another powerful retort from above us told us that Patch was still up there somewhere, and that nopony had managed to hit her yet. We were broken up out of our reunion by an explosion nearby that nearly knocked us to the ground. I looked up, seeing a clump of black-clad unicorns that were firing grenades from launchers throughout the park. I snarled, latching onto the next wave of the explosives with my telekinesis. I held them there until they exploded, scattering the enforcers and destroying their magically held weapons.

“Alright, everypony! We need to keep moving and keep together!” Danish yelled. “Let's show these fucks what it means when you mess with the MMMM!”

A spotty roar of agreement came from the leaders of the companies. Even Blueberry couldn't help but chime in, even if he followed it with a stream of profanity about Danish. We moved forward through the park, taking care of any pockets of enforcers as we went. There didn't seem to be any end to the assault. I was honestly surprised. I didn't know that the Triad had such numbers. As we reached the center of the park, I realized that the Triad had set up shop here beforehand. An encampment stretched out before us, filled with Triad enforcers.

“Fuck... they knew we would be here. They fucking knew!” Blueberry said. “How the fuck did they know!”

“Maybe because... I told them,” a voice from behind us said. We looked back, seeing Piña Colada standing there, a smug grin on the pink stallion's face.

“You what?!” Blueberry shouted. “What do you fucking mean, you told them?!”

Piña snorted. “Money makes the world go round, you stupid fuck. What, you think I was gonna sit around here and put up with your shit forever? You fuckers can go fuck yourselves,”he said.

“Your money ain't gonna do you no fucking good when you're dead,” Blueberry shouted, levitating out his rifle.

The other stallion chuckled as Blueberry took his shot. The bullet pinged off of something insubstantial. “Pssh. Did you really think I'd reveal my duplicity to you without some form of backup?” he said, pointing to a device on his foreleg. “Best thing about pulling some weight for the Triad? The perks. Personal shield generator.”

“Yes, you've done quite well, Colada,” a new voice said. A light blue earth pony mare stepped up from behind the stallion, a grin on her face. “Ahh, the Ministry Mare. We finally meet. My sister was right, you are a hard mare to catch.”

“Sister? Who are you?” I said.

The mare chuckled, revealing her rump. Her cutie mark was a lotus flower blooming.

“My name is Lotus Blossom, and I'm one of the leaders of the Lotus Triad,”she said. “And you all are now my prisoners.”

“Fuck you man!” the Moose shouted, pulling out his pistol and pointing at the mare. “I ain't goin' nowheres with you!”

Lotus rolled her eyes, stomping her hoof. All around us, the shimmers of dropping stealth fields revealed unicorns and earth ponies, heavily armed. Every weapon they had was trained on us.

“What do you want with me?” I said calmly, lowering Stargazer. The others followed suit as I addressed the light blue mare.

“Oh, you know. Fame, fortune, all of the above. But really, I came for your friends. I will be heralded as the pony who took down the MMMM, after all,” she said.

Danish glared at the earth pony. “I don't think so, darlin'. It's gonna take a lot more than a little raid to keep us boyos down,” he said.

Lotus Blossom tittered with laughter.

“Please. My enforcers are hunting down the rest of your pathetic gang’s hideouts as we speak. The MMMM is done for, you stupid fuck. We won. Get over it,” she said. I snorted, drawing her attention to me. “You... You’re different. My sister has a bit of a revenge complex against you. I think she will quite enjoy you, wrapped up on a silver platter just for her.”

I glared at the mare, when my E.F.S. was suddenly filled with one large red blip. It was... Oh shit. That could only be... I thought as my eyes widened. I scrambled to move backward, drawing the surprised stare of the mare. Instinctively I threw up a shield around myself and the ponies around me as quickly as I could.

“What the fuck are you --” the mare started to say. I could see her looking up through the haze of my shield.

A massive hoof shot down behind her, knocking the mare to the ground. Flesh rippled up it as the mare quivered in fear. The massive form of the beast above her snarled in anger. The MMMM company leaders shouted as their glorious leader appeared. Gluttony's eyes were black as night, but I could still feel the rage emanating from them.

“So, you stupid bitches think you can just rip the MMMM a new asshole, and we won't retaliate!?” the gigantic creature roared, stomping a hoof and flattening several of the Triad's enforcers that were surrounding us. Flapping her wings proudly next to the MMMM leader was Lust. She had a grin on her face. Of course you would, I thought, thanking Celestia for the pegasus mare's quick intuition. The meeting had been doomed from the get go, but Gluttony would be the one to ultimately rein in control once more by saving his wayward company ponies. “I don't fucking think so!” The giant earth pony reared, letting loose a thunderous shout of rage as he slammed into the ground with both forehooves. Lotus scrambled to get away.

She never made it. A wave of earth kicked up by Gluttony's attack struck Lotus Blossom, burying her in an assault of dirt and rocks. She lay there, unmoving. Gluttony roared once more as bullets pelted his fleshy hide. He spun about, his tough hide ignoring the small-arms fire. Danish grinned as I lowered my shield.

“Alright boss!” he shouted. “Come on, you lot! Get on out there and support your companies! Show those Triad bitches they don’t belong in this town, and make the big boss proud!”

The MMMM leaders shouted and yelled, galloping into the fray, leaving Danish and Blueberry facing down Piña. The pink stallion looked scared as I stepped up between the two unicorns.

Danish shot a hoof out. “Star, you're gonna have to stay out of this one. This fuck is a traitor to the MMMM, and that makes him our business. And there’s only one way the MMMM can take care of this business.” His horn glowed as he muscled through Piña's shield generator, ripping it from the other stallion's hoof in an impressive display of magic. Piña immediately fell to the ground, begging for his life.

“Please! I didn't mean to! I just wanted what was best for the MMMM!” he shouted.

Danish snorted, lifting his carbine rifle. “You mean, you wanted us to end? Fuck you,” he said, pulling the trigger.

Piña's body slumped to the ground, a large hole in the side of the stallion's head. Danish and Blueberry looked at one another, and nodded in silence before they moved to help their brethren. Another roar from above us drew our attention to Gluttony, who had moved forward and was now obliterating the encampment. A whining noise erupted from The Bitch as Lust fired the missile launcher. Explosions littered the camp, the pegasus moving to and fro to pick her targets. We were about to go assist, when a bouncy green earth pony mare came galloping through the hazy clearing.

“Patch!” I shouted. “Good to see you, sister!”

The green mare grinned widely as she spun about, firing point blank at the enforcer that had been chasing her. Her bullet tore through the other mare's eye, dropping her to the ground instantly. Patch panted hard as she pulled herself up from the ground, meeting our gaze.

“About damn time! I've been trying to catch up with you guys since the attack started,” she said, huffing. “Lust took off to go get Gluttony. She figured that it was the best that she could do.”

“Well, she certainly helped. I believe the MMMM has things well in hoof now,” I said, looking over at the unconscious form of Lotus Blossom. I trotted over, lifting her out of the dirt with magic. I thought for a moment as I stood over her. “You know... I could do it. I could kill her. And I would have no problem with it at all.” I nearly jumped when the mare coughed.

“Then... fucking do it already, coward,” she choked out.

I stood there and closed my eyes for a moment, thinking about it. I opened my eyes and looked back down at her. “No. Because that would make me a worse pony than you. Valuing life, even the life of an enemy, isn’t cowardice. It's called mercy. Look it up some time,” I said, dropping the light blue mare and turning away from her. I looked over at my friends. “Let's help clean up, shall we?”

An hour later, the dregs and remnants of the MMMM had managed to finally return to their headquarters. Gluttony's steps caused small craters to appear in the street as we followed behind. Danish and the other leaders of the companies were behind us, talking amongst themselves. The cream-colored stallion trotted up next to me, smiling.

“Everypony alright?” I asked.

Danish nodded. “We lost a lot of good ponies out there, but we'll be able to rebuild. It's going to be tough, though,” he said. He looked... sad. I could empathize. I'm sure that many of the ponies that were lost were Danish's friends.

“Listen... Danish. I would totally understand if you wanted to stay here. You don't have to come with us to Stable 180,” I said quietly.

Danish was about to reply when we were cut off by a loud voice above us.

“No,” Gluttony said simply, stopping to regard the both of us. “Danish will go with you. I owe you that much... Ministry Mare.”

“Me? What do you owe me?” I said, feeling very confused.

The gigantic beast rumbled with laughter. “If it was not for you, and for Danish here... I would have stayed in that room forever, force-feeding myself to my eventual death,” he said. “I realize now, that I can’t quit. The MMMM is mine, and I can’t let it fall apart. Even if I have to deal with the companies squabbling like children, they are MY children. You and Danish helped me see that. Thank you, both of you.”

“Shoot, boss. It weren't nothin',” Danish said humbly. “We were just worried 'bout ya. I was worried 'bout ya.”

Gluttony's eyes, although black as night, appeared to be sad. He nodded. “No matter now. The MMMM shall remain under my protection. United under my rule, the companies of the MMMM will cooperate. We will defend our settlements, and the ponies of this city,” he said loudly, so that the company leaders behind us could hear him.

They cheered for their wayward leader, and I couldn't help but smile. Gluttony was back in the harness, and the rank and file of the MMMM were aware of how much they needed him. This crazy bunch of ponies had learned to work together. Whatever happened in my future, the MMMM would thrive thanks to the magic of friendship.

Several hours later found our group back in our room at the MMMM headquarters, preparing to make the journey to Stable 180. Nixis had enough time to finally finish going through the map and had come up with a good route for us to progress through. I sat next to Violet, cleaning Stargazer and humming to myself.

The aftermath of the Lotus Triad’s assault wasn’t pretty. The MMMM had lost between forty and fifty of their own, including the leaders of the Whipped Cream Royalists and the Buttercream Boys. Ponies had already stepped up to fill these positions, though.

Gluttony had taken charge of the MMMM as a whole with a fervor the gang hadn’t seen in ages. He was everywhere, his massive form surprisingly silent when he was sneaking up on a slacker or miscreant. It was a good time to be a member of the MMMM, and I was proud to have played a part in the revitalization of the group.

After getting some rest, I made my way down to speak with the leader of the MMMM once more. I knocked on the door to his sanctum, hearing him call for me to come in. I stepped inside, seeing the massive beast bustling busily in his colossal kitchen. The filth and stacks of food were gone, and Gluttony was just finishing loading an oven into a cart. A scrawny young earth pony buck drug the cart off, and Gluttony turned, acknowledging me with a nod.

“Ministry Mare,” he rumbled. “I take it you are ready to leave?”

“We are,” I said, nodding. “You know... it's funny. Danish told me that you two were once best friends. And last night, I could really see that.”

“Danish speaks the truth. We were once very close, before I became the thing you see before you today,” he said.

“So you... you remember?” I asked.

“I remember what I was like before her. I remember what she did to me, to us,” the beast replied. “I do not know why I remember, but I remember.”

“And what did she do to you and the others?” I said. It was time to get some answers. If I was going to be storming Stable 180, I was going to need more information on Pride, and now was good as any time.

“She changed us. Pure magic, compressed into solid form. It turned us into these... things,” Gluttony said.

I sighed, looking at the floor with sadness in my eyes. I looked back up at Gluttony, tears beginning to form as I spoke.

“Who... who were you? Originally?” I choked out.

“I was a friend. I was a brother in arms. I was a father... once,” Gluttony said. My tears began to flow freely and I slumped to the ground. Gluttony rumbled. “Do not cry for me Radiant Star. My path is set in this life. I am what I am, and there is nothing I can do about that.”

“It's just... just so messed up!” I exclaimed through the tears. “I can't believe somepony would even do such a thing! And not just you... but Lust... Lust...”

Gluttony nodded. “Lust will remember, in time. She will eventually reconnect with the kind pony she used to be,” he said. My eyes widened, catching the giant earth pony's interest. “Yes... Lust was not always the sarcastic and snarky little mare she is today. She was a lover and a fierce friend.”

“I...” I started to say. I paused for a moment to gain my composure. I looked up at Gluttony. “I will defeat her. Pride will be stopped. I will do this for you, for Lust, for Cranky, and even for Wrath, Envy, and Greed. You deserve no less.”

“I thank you, Ministry Mare, for your promise. May Luna protect you,” Gluttony said.

I stood and wiped my eyes before trotting to the door. I stopped and looked back at the leader of the MMMM.

“May Celestia bless you,” I finished for him as I pushed open the door and trotted out.

I made my way back towards where we were staying. Too many thoughts swam through my mind. Pride. Stable 180. Lust and the others. I was lost, I didn’t have any idea what to do. Plus, there was still Spark to deal with. What if Pride had already joined with the Element of Magic? Were we already too late to stop them? No, I thought. If that had happened she would have made herself known by now. She wouldn't be hiding in Stable 180... A nagging thought itched the back of my mind. There was something I was still missing. My eyes widened when I realized what it was. The memory orb! Gluttony had given me the orb with explicit instructions to watch it. I pulled the orb out, finding a nearby abandoned room to hole up in until the memory was finished. I knew Violet and the others might be worried for a bit, but I needed to see this thing. It felt like there was some crucial piece of information that this orb held that I would need to know before we entered Stable 180. I latched onto the device with my magic, feeling my world fall away into nothingness.

I’d been stallions before, in memories. The different configuration was almost familiar in a way. I was in Chicacolt. The familiar city stretched out around my host as he trotted along. I was also distinctly aware that I was a unicorn. A shotgun levitated in the air next to me as I glanced about shiftily. There was nopony in sight as I moved around a ruined building and saw my host's intended destination. It was a small settlement just outside the city, one that I had not seen before or recognized. Colts and fillies played on the outskirts of the settlement. The shotgun came up as I realized with fear what my host was intending to do. Before my host could move however, the glow of his magic was replaced by a dark blue glow, preventing my host from moving the shotgun further.

“So... this is what you have been reduced to,” a voice said from behind my host. A voice that made me shudder with fear.

My host turned, seeing a midnight colored alicorn hovering behind him. Pride. The alicorn looked sad, her eyes bright with unshed tears as she met my host’s gaze.

“Piss off, Diamond,” my host said. My eyes widened as I realized that I had heard this voice before. It was Greed. Oh no, no no no no, I thought as I wished for the memory to end right then and there. However, it continued on much to my dismay. There was something... off about the unicorn's voice though. It didn't sound like the Greed that I knew. My host glared at the alicorn.

“Please... Cutter... don't do this. You don't need to do this,” the mare said, pleading with my host. I felt... confused. This wasn't like Pride. Was this somehow before Pride became who she is now? Why would Gluttony even have this memory?

“And I said to piss off. Diamond, you don't get it do you? I have to do this. They’ll kill her if I don't do it,” my host said with a snort.

Pride sighed and put her hoof on my host's shoulder. “Look, I know we're just friends, but I care for you. We'll get her back. Lilith will be fine. I promise you,” the alicorn mare said. “Just please, don't do this. There's a better way.”

“And what way is that, huh? Those statues you keep going on about that you think you found?” my host shouted. “They aren’t real! You don't get it! You keep stuffing your head into those books of yours, you're too busy to notice that your friends are in trouble!”

“They're real!” Pride replied angrily. “They are! I can prove it to you! You have to trust me! We’ll show those fucking raiders that we mean business - we can TAKE Lilith back!”

“It's too late, Diamond. I made my deal with the devil. I'm doing this, and you're not going to fucking stop me,” my host growled angrily, ripping the shotgun away from the alicorn with a flare of magic. I turned about, ready to start down the hill towards the settlement as the mare spoke once more, stopping my host in his tracks.

“Wait!” she called out. My host turned back. “If you really are set on doing this... Then let me help you.”

My host's eyes widened. “Diamond, you... you can't help me, you don't have it in you. What are you gonna do? Help me slaughter this whole town?”

“Do... do you trust me?” Pride said quietly.

“What?” Greed replied.

“I said... do you trust me?” the mare asked. My host paused for a few moments and then nodded in response. Pride smiled. “Then come with me. I want to show you something.” Her horn glowed brightly and within the span of a second my host's vision went black. Seconds later, the world around me reformed and we were in a different place.

“What the hell? Where are we?” my host said, looking around the dark tunnel. He turned and glared at the alicorn. My host's eyes drifted down past Pride, finally coming to rest on a large gear-like door. The number 180 emblazoned the front of it. “The... Stable? What are we doing here? I thought we were told never to come here, Diamond.”

“I know. But trust me, alright?” Pride replied, leading my host past the door and into the Stable. The dark gray walls felt like they were crushing me as we trotted along. We stopped eventually at what appeared to be a large medical bay. “Alright, we're here.”

“Medical? What are we doing in Medical?” my host said.

“I've told you before about the research I've been looking into,” she said with a smile.

“Those statues? Damnit, Diamond, we just talked about this,” my host replied.

“Yes, well... You’ve forced my hoof. I wanted to wait, to make sure they were safe,” she said, igniting her horn and opening up a cabinet at the far end of the room. “But you have left me no choice.”

A bluish light began to fill the room as my host looked over at the cabinet. Inside of it stood several tiny statues, carved out of bluish metal and into the shapes of various races. There were seven of them in all: unicorn, pegasus, alicorn, earth pony, donkey, minotaur, and zebra. I blinked. These things... they keep showing up. What the hell do they mean? I thought as my host stepped up to inspect the figurines.

“What do they do then? How is this going to help me get Lilith back?” my host asked.

“I found these statues in an old Ministry of Arcane Science hub. The history behind them is quite... amusing,” Pride replied, ignoring my host's question. “You see... the audio logs I found with them indicated that they were some sort of artifact that had been dug up by a famous archaologist during the war. Her name was Daring Do. The Ministry Mare Twilight Sparkle seized the artifacts to study them. The log didn’t say much more than that. I’ve had to piece together what these things are capable of on my own since then.”

My host glared at the alicorn once more. “So these things are some ancient artifacts dug up by some famous pony, big deal. How does it help me?” he said.

“Tell me something Cutter... what do you want most in life?” Pride said, sparking her horn. “What do you desire, more than anything?”

My host narrowed his eyes. He looked away for a brief moment, before looking back at Pride.

“Power,” he said. “I want power. I want to protect, to destroy. I want it all.”

“And you shall have it all,” Pride replied as her horn glowed brightly, wrapping its magic around one of the statues. It was shaped like a unicorn. The statue lifted into the air and floated up to my host's face. “Touch it. Touch it and you will be reborn. You will be given everything that you desire...”

My host looked down at the tiny statue. “Diamond? Are you sure this is safe?” he asked, his voice now sounding... scared.

Pride grinned widely, her eyes flashing red. I realized that she had already undergone her transformation. She was no longer the Diamond that my host knew. She had become Pride. My host shook off his fear, and touched the statue with his hoof. A jolt of electricity shot throughout his body and it shuddered, falling to the ground. Energy crackled along my host's skin as it began to react to the arcane magic. He screamed loudly as joints began to grow and muscles began to stretch. After several moments of agonizing and terrifying pain, my host's body gave out completely and he slumped to the ground. His vision went dark.

“Cutter?

A voice cut through the darkness, forcing my host's eyes open once more. My host's body had changed. It felt... stronger. My host stood, facing the alicorn mare. A sly grin crept across his face.

Pride smiled widely. “Welcome back, my dear friend. It seems that it worked.”

“Yes...” my host erupted. That voice... I thought. The voice was definitely the same. My host was no longer Cutter. “It worked perfectly. I can feel it. The power. It's running all through me.”

“Excellent. And what will you do with your power?” Pride said, stalking around the stallion. “I've often thought about what I would do with such power...”

“I will crush them,” my host said. “Those stupid fucks who think they can keep my Lilith from me. I will crush their skulls beneath my fucking hooves like paste.”

Pride turned, facing my host. An evil grin emerged on her face. Her eyes flashed an evil red.

“And you will get your chance to do so,” she said, stalking in a slow circle around my host. “But now that you have this power... you can no longer rightly consider yourself Cutter. Cutter was weak. He was a fool. You... are not. No... you must have a new name, a name that truly fits the desire for power you so seek.” She stepped past my host and drew close, whispering in his ear.

“Greed...”

I lifted my head, letting my eyes refocus onto the room I had stopped in. I stood and tucked the memory orb back into my saddlebags. My mind mulled over what I had just witnessed. It was the creation of Greed. Greed had once been normal. He had friends, it seemed. He was friends with Pride... and she had tricked him, hadn't she? Had she made him into Greed because she was already so twisted inside that she needed to turn others into what she had become? I thought about the statues. We had seen them at the Museum. What did they all mean? Were they really the reason behind their whole transformation? My mind swam with thoughts and I sighed. Both Greed and Pride had mentioned a Lilith, and that she had been in some sort of trouble. My eyes widened as I realized that in some strange way... I already knew who Lilith was.

Lust.

I shuddered at the thought of it. Had Greed gone and saved his lover, only to convert her into a killing machine? If Pride had kept his mind intact, why would she have needed to wipe Lust's memory? I trotted along, trying to process what I had seen. I stopped once I arrived back at our room, dreading pushing the door open. I didn't know if I could look at Lust, knowing now what I knew. I didn't have much of a choice though, as the door opened and Violet peered out at me.

“Star?” she said. “You alright? Where the hell have you been? We're getting ready to go.”

I smiled nervously. “Sorry, sweetheart. I was talking to Gluttony and lost track of time,” I said. “Are we all ready then?”

“Nixis has got the map all sorted out,” she said as I followed her inside.

Everyone waved as I smiled. Lust sat in the far corner, chatting idly with Patch as the green mare finished working over her power armor. Eventually, everything was ready to go. We exited the room, finding Danish waiting for us.

“Darlin',” he said, tipping his fedora. I noticed he was wearing a brand new one. His carbine rifle slung off of his side. “We all ready?”

We nodded and we began to move as one, heading out of the MMMM Headquarters. Once out on the streets, Nixis bounded up next to me and pulled out the map. I looked down at the route marked on it and nodded. As we walked along, I kept silent, letting the others talk amongst themselves. All of this new information that I had seen was still running through my mind, along with my continuing inner conflict concerning Spark. I didn't even bother to click on the radio to see if the Minotaur had something to say about the Triad and the MMMM. I didn’t think the Minotaur would have anything to contribute that wouldn’t just piss me off. I had enough on my plate.

Instead, I just walked. And walked. After what felt like forever (in all reality it was only around an hour according to my PipBuck, but it felt like much longer), we arrived in front of the decrepit remains of what appeared to be a Ministry of Peace hospital. It was beginning to get dark again, bathing the front of the ruins in an ominous gloom.

“Where's the entrance to the sewer supposed to be at again?” Patch said, visibly shaking.

“Inside there,” Nixis said, pulling out the map. He put it away after studying it once more, and we moved forward, heading into the courtyard of the hospital. The stench of death hung in the air around us. Skeletons and debris littered the courtyard. It appeared that nopony had been here in quite a while. The doors to the hospital hung drunkenly on of their hinges, falling off easily as I pushed on them with my magic. The lobby was just as cluttered.

I brought up my E.F.S., looking for any signs of hostile activity. Nothing. I motioned to my friends and we pushed forward, following the halls towards the maintenance stairs. The map had stated the entrance to the sewers was below the maintenance section of the hospital. The long halls were a little... creepy.

“Is anypony else a little freaked out about this place?” Lust said nervously. “Or is it just me?”

“No, you're not the only one. There's something... just not right here,” Steeljack replied.

I nodded in agreement. Something was off here. It didn't feel right at all. We eventually found ourselves at the end of the longest hall, faced with a door that was locked. I poked at it with my magic, hoping to open it easily. Of course, as was par for the course... the door resisted. I snarled, pouring more energy into my horn as I ripped the door from its hinges. I panted as I lifted the metal door, setting it off the side. On the other side of the doorway was a large wide room with a massive set of stairs leading downwards. We started down the stairs, hoping that the map was right and that we were on the right track.

The stairs stretched down several stories below the hospital itself and eventually we found ourselves in a large underground complex. A grated entrance appeared at the far end of the room. It was the entrance to the sewer as indicated on the map. It was locked, and it appeared to be electronic in nature. A terminal sat next to it. I tapped a bit on the keyboard, trying to break my way in. Nothing seemed to work. I sighed, as I realized I knew what I needed to do. I reached out and touched the door with an application of telekinesis. The door flared to life and opened immediately.

“Whoah,” Danish said. “I dunno what it is about you and doors, sweetheart, but they sure do like you.”

“I... I don't know why,” I said. A shimmering light caught my eye as the others stepped into the entrance to the sewer. I stopped for a brief moment as a holographic image flickered to life in front of me. An image of a mature pegasus mare with a pink mane appeared. Her yellow coat shined and her blue eyes glimmered through the image of the hologram.

“Oh. Umm... Hello Twilight. It's me... Fluttershy.

I know that what we did was wrong. We tried our best, but in the end it all went wrong. Where did it go so wrong?

I always thought that I was doing my part to save Equestria by giving the megaspells to the zebras. That if we were at a standstill, nothing bad would happen and we would make friends.

I was so wrong. I think I... I think I made it worse...

Oh Twilight, I'm so sorry. I know I shouldn't blame myself, but I can't help it. And now it's all over... and this is my penance for the sins I committed. I wish I had done better. I wish I could have believed in myself like you always believed in us.

I wish we could have been together again, just the six of us... like old times. I miss those days. I miss when the only things we worried about was Winter Wrap Up and whether or not my animal friends would enjoy flying through the air on one of your spells.

I deserve whatever fate is in store for me. I truly believe that. I'm sorry.”

I felt a tear roll down my face as a stray memory shot into my mind. Memories of the yellow mare erupted from Twilight's thoughts and I did my best to fight back the tears. I looked back at the entrance, where Violet was waiting for me.

“Star?” she asked. “You okay?”

“Yeah... I'm fine. Just a little... shaky is all,” I said with a nod.

“You want to talk about it?” she said.

I trotted next to her as we made our way through the grated entrance. “No... I'm fine, really. I've just got a lot on my mind,” I said as we finally caught up with the others.

Nixis was busy studying the map. He pointed down the nearest tunnel. The smell of rotting flesh assaulted our senses as we started trotting down it. I looked down at my E.F.S. again. Still nothing. And yet... there was still something there. The back of my mind and the back of my neck agreed - we were being watched. A low growl emanated from further down the tunnel.

“What was that?” Patch said.

I flared my horn, casting a light spell. I sent the ball of light down the tunnel, seeing something slithering along the walls. Another growl erupted from whatever it was that was making it. I was still see ing nothing on my E.F.S. Whatever this thing was, it was either non-living or it was just too fucking big to show up.

“Shit!” I shouted, pulling out Stargazer in a flash. I stepped back just as a slimy tentacle wrapped around my leg. It yanked hard, knocking me to the ground. It pulled me along, stopping abruptly as the tentacle was ripped away by a flare of silver fire. I looked up to see Violet floating Thunder Flash along in her magic, a determined look on her face. Gunfire lit up the tunnel in front of me as Steeljack and Danish opened up, slamming into the tentacle thing. The beast roared in pain as tentacles shot out of the darkness to meet the gunfire. Another slimy one grabbed onto my leg, and I yelped as it lifted me into the air. As it pulled me closer, I was able to get a better look at the thing. It was some sort of giant sucker monster. I realized that the thing was unable to actually move from the top of the tunnel as it was fused into the ceiling. In the center of the amorphous thing, rows upon rows of jagged teeth sat in a large circular mouth. Some of the tentacles were even coming from there!

“Fucking piece of shit! Let me go!” I shouted, as I reached out with my magic for Stargazer. The minigun appeared next to me as I unleashed a torrent of bullets at the tentacle holding me, spraying greenish blood everywhere and forcing the slimy appendage to release me. I flapped my wings, holding myself aloft as I regained my composure. I slipped into E.S.A.T.S., queuing up several shots towards the center of the creature's giant mouth. The spell released and Stargazer unleashed its payload, hitting home as the bullets slammed into the beast's mouth. The thing roared in agony, drawing its tentacles back inward as blood spurted from the orifice. The silvery streak of Thunder Flash’s shot and the gunfire from my other friends finally did the work. The monster’s screams echoed across the tunnel as it finally died, its slimy body hanging limply from the ceiling it was cemented to. I panted hard as I dropped to the tunnel floor.

“What in the flying fuck was that thing?!” Patch exclaimed.

I looked back at the rest of my friends. They too, were visibly tired. I groaned, looking forward again and further down the tunnel. I sincerely hoped that this was the only one of these crazy ass things. Of course, this being the Wasteland... I was quite sure that something else would rear its ugly head before we got to Stable 180. I suddenly found myself wishing I could just teleport there like Pride had in that memory orb.

We cleaned up, and began to move forward once more. After our encounter with the tentacle thing, we were on high alert, all us keeping our respective weapons at the ready as we trotted down the dank tunnel. The further in we moved, I knew we were getting deeper as the floor became saturated with dark water. My PipBuck began to click, indicating varying levels of radiation. Those of us that needed it silently took a Rad-X and RadAway. I looked into my saddlebags and sighed. We didn't have much of the stuff left, unfortunately. It had been one of those things we hadn't thought of when left the MMMM headquarters. I hoped it wasn't going to be a problem.

A few moments later we found ourselves in a large cylindrical area with three different tunnels in three different directions. I looked over at Nixis, who was already pulling out the map. He was muttering under his breath as he tried to locate where we were.

“Everything alright?” I asked.

“This... this room isn't on here,” Nixis said, shaking his head. “I don't know where we are.”

“Do you think we got the wrong map?” I said, narrowing my gaze at the hellhound.

“I... I don't know. I don't think so. Unfortunately... until we can get somewhere I recognize on here we won't know for sure,” he replied. “Which means we have to pick a direction.”

“Nixis, let me take a look at the map while they go checkin' around,” Danish said, trotting up. “I'm sure you're right, but I know Gluttony. He wouldn't lead us astray.”

Nixis nodded, handing over the map to the cream-colored unicorn. As the two began to pour over the piece of paper, I trotted around the dank cylindrical room we were now in. Pipes and boiler units grew thicker on the walls as I came to the right tunnel entrance. I peered down the dark tunnel, not seeing much of anything. I grimaced. If there was something down there, I would just draw it to us if I cast a light spell. Steeljack stepped up and tapped me on the shoulder.

“Yes?” I asked, looking down the tunnel some more.

“The other two tunnels look exactly the same,” the stallion said. “And worse, they all appear to go down. I'm at a loss, until those two figure out the map.”

“Well then, I think perhaps we had better take a rest then,” I said loudly enough that the rest of them could hear me. “We'll set up shifts for watch. I'm not too keen on rushing down there without being ready. I have a feeling we won't have time to rest once we get there.” Violet nodded as the others agreed with my assessment of the situation. Steeljack volunteered to take first watch, and as always I volunteered for the last position. I shuffled myself onto my bedroll, yawning. I wasn't sure why, but I was really tired. I looked over at Violet laying next to me. I smiled as I closed my eyes and rested my head, falling asleep instantly.

While it wasn't the hallway with the doors, it was still a very bad dream.

I was running down the dark gray halls of Stable 180, and I wasn’t alone. I panted hard, trying to find a place to hide. Something shadowy and dark was chasing me. I cringed in fear as I found myself in the Stable's Atrium. The rotting corpses of long dead ponies lay strewn about the wide open space. I pushed forward, moving down the next hallway. I took a moment and glanced backwards, not seeing the shadow still on my tail. I dipped into a nearby room, closing the door behind me and hoping to Luna that the thing hadn't seen me.

“S-S-Star...” a voice called out behind me. I spun about, seeing... Lucky! She was being held against the wall by some form of spectral chains. Purple lightning arced across the chains and the green mare groaned in page, her eyes meeting mine. There was sadness there, mixed with genuine concern. She tried to smile, wincing as she did.

“What... what happened? What are you doing here?” I said, trying to process what I was seeing.

“Star... you've gotta get out... save yourself...” Lucky replied. “Please... I'm not worth it.”

“No... no. I failed you once before, I'm not going to fail you again!” I shouted, reaching out with my magic to try and remove the chains from the mare. Nothing happened.

“Star... it's... it's okay. I'll be fine. You need to go,” Lucky said, wincing again as purple lightning punished her again.

I slumped to my haunches, tears filling my eyes. “It's just a dream... it's just a dream...” I began to say, repeating it over and over to myself.

“If only...” Lucky said wistfully. “Star... you can't come to Stable 180. Please, turn back. Spark... she's here. She's trapped too. I followed her here, hoping that I could stop her... but Pride trapped us both.”

My eyes widened. “It's... it's really you?” I asked.

“It's me,” she said.

“Goddesses, I missed you,” I said, chuckling. “Don't worry Lucky. I'll save you. I'll get you out of there...”

“Star... don't. As long as I'm here I can do my best to keep Spark under control. It's like I have some sort of... effect on her. Like I counterbalance her or something. It was how Pride was able to stop her,” the green mare said.

“No, Lucky. I can't do that. I have to face Pride and Spark. I have a choice to make. I need to do this,” I said determinedly.

“Why? Why do you have to do this? Why can't you just go home and leave well enough alone?” Lucky said.

“Because if I don't do something about this, no one else will,” I said after a moment's pause. A grin onto along my face. “Nice try though... Pride.”

Lucky rolled her eyes as the chains dissipated. The mare's coat changed color as it went from green to midnight blue. Pride's red eyes smoldered in the darkness of the room.

“Hello, sweetie.” the alicorn said, grinning. “Your dreams have become more interesting since we last faced each other. This Lucky... you feel very bad for having caused her death?”

“More than you know, you psychotic bitch,” I said flatly.

“I do have her... and your little friend Spark. It was amusing when she came to me, and told me everything. Of course, she also tried to assume control of my body. The fool, she didn't know what she was getting into. I'm not a normal alicorn by any means, so there was no way that she could ever hope to take me over,” Pride replied nonchalantly.

I narrowed my gaze at the mare. “So what, you just thought you'd try to convince me to stop coming?” I said angrily. “I hate to tell you, I'm right on your door step now.”

“I know. And I'm waiting patiently for you to get here, but not until an old friend of ours says hello,” she said with a grin. “Knock loudly when you arrive. I would hate to be an ungracious host.” She waved a hoof, the walls of the Stable around us dissolving into nothingness. She started to fade to black. I growled.

“Wait!” I called out, catching her attention. “Diamond... you loved Cutter didn't you?”

Pride snorted. “I see you've been to see Gluttony,” she said. “No matter. Whatever you think you saw... was a long time ago. Diamond is long gone... there is only Pride.” With that, she faded completely away, leaving me to wait to wake up.

I awoke in a cold sweat. What a dream, I thought as I pushed myself to my hooves. Violet and the others lay sleeping around me, except for Lust who was patrolling the perimeter of our camp. I sighed, stepping forward and tapping the black mare on the shoulder. She smiled as she looked up at me.

“Hey,” she said.

I tried to smile, but failed horribly at it. “Hi,” I replied in a low monotone voice.

“You alright?” Lust asked.

“Bad dream,” I said, shaking visibly. “I have a really bad feeling about this.”

“Me too,” Lust said with a nod. “It's weird... I know I've been here before... but I just can't... I can't remember any of it.”

“What do you remember?” I said.

“Not... not much, really. Just feelings, here and there,” she said. “I wish I could remember more. I wish I knew who I was, really.”

I swallowed hard. I knew already who the mare had been. She was Lilith, lover of a unicorn stallion named Cutter. Cutter... who became Greed. Greed... whose death I was ultimately responsible for. If Lust ever found out... what would she do? Would she be able to forgive me? I put a hoof on her shoulder, smiling.

“It'll be fine, okay?” I said. “We'll help you remember.”

“Thanks,” she said. By this time, the others had begun to awaken. Nixis and Danish began to look over the map once more, this time looking a little more optimistic as they appeared to be rested better. Within a few moments, the two looked to have some form of an answer.

“I believe that the tunnel to the left is where we need to go,” Nixis said as he brought the map over to me. “Danish and I both agree on this.” The cream-colored stallion nodded his agreement.

“Alright, then. Left it is,” I said as I helped Violet pack up our things. We headed into the left tunnel, the floor sloping downwards as we carefully walked down the slippery and wet surface. Water dripped around us and the stench of sewage assaulted every one of our senses. The tunnel ended in another long sewer tunnel, this one much larger and more open than the others we had been in. Tunnels branched off from it on each side. Danish and Nixis assured me however, that the correct way was to keep heading straight. As we moved, I glanced at my E.F.S., seeing several blips of red there. I perked my ears up, listening for any signs of what it could be. Probably radroaches, I thought as we moved forward.

Of course... life is never that simple. The cold, wet, sucking sounds filled my ears before I saw the first ghoul. It leaped out of one of the side tunnels, growling as it tried to latch onto its nearest target, which just so happened to be Lust. The black mare spun about, slicing the creature in half with a quick slash of her wings. The thing gurgled as a pink substance emanated from its dying body.

“Fuck! Pink Cloud!” Lust shouted as she leaped back, taking wing and flapping away from the dead ghoul. More sucking wet sounds echoed throughout the tunnel.

“Canterlot ghouls?” Danish said, his eyes widening. “What the fuck are they doing down here?”

“No... they're not Canterlot ghouls. They'd be a hell of a lot harder to kill if they were,” I said. “It's Cranky. He's fucking with us. Trying to keep us from reaching the Stable.” I spun about as another ghoul popped out of a tunnel. I lifted Stargazer and fired, tearing the head completely off the creature's body. More pink substance flowed from the stump where the head had been. Where was Cranky hiding at? Was he nearby? Or did he leave this little gift just for us?

Lust snarled as she landed next to me. “I recognize this shit... Sloth, right?” she asked.

I nodded, glancing down at my E.F.S. Again. More red blips began to appear. We were surrounded by them. And if we killed them... eventually this whole tunnel would be filled with the Pink Cloud. I had to hoof it to Cranky. The donkey ghoul was definitely smart. There was really only one option.

“Run!” I shouted.

We began galloping down the tunnel as hard as we could. So much for being rested when we get there, I thought as ghouls began to pour into the main tunnel, gasping and sucking and groaning as they chased after us. My E.F.S. was lighting up like a pre-war Hearth’s Warming tree as we pushed our way through the throng of undead monstrosities. The ghouls weren't trying to slaughter us though, merely slow us down. Cranky was pulling his punches. In some sick sort of way, I wondered if he wanted us to reach Pride. A small group of the beasts appeared in front of me. Rather than kill them, I reached out with telekinesis, knocking them over to the ground. At the far end of the tunnel I could see the entrance to the next section. We reached the entrance a few moments later and my friends barreled through.

“Keep going!” I yelled, stopping on a dime and pivoting around to fire behind me with Stargazer. My bullets ripped through ghoul after ghoul, spraying more of the pink substance about. I roared as I kept firing, destroying as many of the beasts as possible. I leaped back into the next room, trying to think of some way around these damnable things. I looked up, grinning as I saw that the archway of the entrance to the next chamber was made of solid stone. I latched onto the stonework with magic, ripping a block from it. That was all it took. The ceiling came rumbling down, slamming onto those ghouls that were unfortunate enough to wander in its path. I turned about, seeing my friends looking down the next tunnel. At the far end of it was a large gear-shaped door.

“Is it...?” I started to say as I stepped away from the landslide that had both trapped us and saved us. I pushed past Violet, inspecting the door in front of us. A large yellow 180 was emblazoned on the side of the ruined door. It lay next to the entrance to the Stable, a dark gray hallway extending deep inside the underground complex. I floated out Stargazer, and narrowed my gaze at the Stable door.

Pride... Here I am. I'm ready for you... are you ready for me?

Author's Notes:

This chapter moved right along a lot faster than Chapter 18 did! I had a lot of fun with this chapter. It was great getting to give a little more information on the MMMM and how its subfactions interact with each other. Plus Gluttony! Gluttony was always meant to be the straight one of the seven, the only one of the group who absolutely had no reason to hate Star or want to kill her.

Onto Chapter 20! While we're at it... the title of the Chapter is....

“The Sins We Commit”

Onto the rest of our notes! As always, you can continue to ask Star questions over at http://askradiantstar.tumblr.com! The ask box is always open!

My story plug of the week goes to the ever-interesting Nyerguds for his story “Fallout Equestria: The Daily Unlife”. While his story is currently on hiatus, it's an interesting read as its about a Canterlot ghoul and the mare who loves to poke him! So go check it out!

Once again, big thanks to Wirepony and Vieral for their hard work on this. I wouldn't be able to do this without you guys!

Big thanks to the peeps in the FoE IRC chat. McMesser, Julep, Mad_Modd... you guys keep things mucho interesting!

As always, big thanks and much love to Kkat for creating this crazy little sandbox!