Chapter 15: Illusions and Confusions

I started to stir to the sound of an argument.

“It’s not healthy” Midnight argued, “She’s nineteen Alyshia. She’s not a filly anymore; you’re just wrapping her in cotton wool and teaching her to be soft.”

“She’s hurting Midnight, can’t you show some compassion? Amethyst has never known the feeling of being loved, I want to be there for her” Alyshia argued back.

“When was the last time Amethyst slept by herself without you half a foot away?” Midnight put in sounding like she won the argument.

I pretended to still be asleep wanting to know more about what they were arguing about.

“Not since I met her” Alyshia shot, “Amethyst needs somepony to keep her company.”

Midnight moaned, “And what makes you think that?” she asked heatedly.

“She’s depressed” Alyshia put simply, “I can tell she is Midnight because I’m the only pony who bothers to talk to her.”

I squinted as I wanted to take a peek; I could see that Lionel and Brax were both still asleep however I could not see Midnight nor Alyshia as the voices came from behind.

“No she’s not” Midnight put simply, “She’s just having a hard time dealing with the new environment.”

“It’s a bit more complicated than that” Alyshia said sounding resigned to Midnights ignorance.

Midnight seemed intent on continuing however “All I’m saying Alyshia is that Amethyst isn’t five, she doesn’t need to sleep in your lap.”

“I think you would find that she prefers to sleep next to me” Alyshia said with finality.

“Well… It should be discouraged” Midnight said, “It isn’t normal for a fully grown mare to be needing to sleep next to an older pony for comfort, unless she has the hots for you that is.”

I felt my heart constrict, even though Midnight said I was a grown mare which was something I had wanted her to say for ages, she was making me out like I was unstable or not normal.

“No” Alyshia said pointedly, “it is you who Amethyst is infatuated with; I’m surprised you’re not complaining about it.”

I held my breath, if Midnight was going to tell Alyshia about the night in New Appleoosa it would be now, so I shifted and got to my hooves.

“M-Morning” I muttered as I rubbed my eyes.

“Good Morning Darling” Alyshia smiled.

I saw Midnight scowl and when I looked at her she rearranged her facial expression and said happily “Morning Amethyst, what’s the plan for today?”

“Bit keen are we?” I croaked, “Let me wake up first.” I felt relieved that the discussion had stopped and that danger had been averted.

Midnight jumped onto Lionel causing him to jump about three feet into the air, “Sweet mother o’ a gun” he shouted, “Why’d ya do tha’ fer?” he said massaging his shoulder where Midnights hoof had hit him.

“Heh, sorry” Midnight said playfully, “But it’s time to get up.”

His shout had caused Brax to wake as well, “Uhh, what a night” he mumbled scratching his blue mane with a hoof and giving off a sigh. “I swear I’m getting too old for this” he mumbled.

“Nah you’re not” I said, “up you get old stallion.”

He scowled but said nothing.

“Well how are we going to get through this door?” I asked looking at the huge cog shaped door.

“Who knows you’re the egghead when it comes to this shit” Midnight said casually.

“Gee thanks” I muttered.

“Ahm sure ya c’n do it gorgeous” Lionel whispered to me. I put a hoof on his chest and pushed him away.

“I’m sure I can” I told him flatly.

I walked up to the stable door control at the back of the cave and looked at it. This one was distinctly different from stable eighty six as well as stable twenty three. It had no button, nothing except a USB Slot for a pipbuck. I facehoofed, I doubted I would be able to get in but nonetheless I plugged my pipbuck into it and my pipbuck picked up the device okay.

It gave me a variety of options such as “Open stable door” and “set alarm” etc. I hit “Open stable door” and a red “Access Denied” message flashed up on my pipbuck screen. I felt somepony breathing down my neck and turned to see Lionel looking over my shoulder. “Can you not?” I said scathingly.

“Sorry” he muttered and he back away to leave me to do my work.

I pulled out my hacking tool to try and break into the system, knowing stabletec this particular system would be hard to get into. I set my hacking tool up to my pipbuck and bought up the command system which instantly requested for a password. This password was twenty eight characters long. I felt my face heat up. Sweet fuckery, this was exactly what I needed. I shook my head and attempted to hack into the security system. I failed miserably on the first attempt of which I had to back out, as did the second attempt; third attempt was pure failure as well.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

After two and a half hours Midnight walked over and asked “Amethyst maybe you sh-?”

“Shut up please’ I said trying for what felt like the four hundredth attempt. “Fuck” I shouted, I banged my hoof on the device, I missed by one character. I took a deep breath and continued with my tongue between my teeth. I tried everything and no matter how hard I tried, with all my expertise I could not break into the system.

“Amethyst?” Lionel muttered.

I turned and shouted “Shut up for fuck sake. Can’t you see I’m trying to work?”

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

After another thirty minutes my blood began to boil as my anger bubbled close to the surface and I could feel my veins in my forelegs throb as my heart clenched. I was getting worse with each attempt now. After failing yet again I bucked the control device and shouted “Fuck it. I’m a total failure.”

I then collapsed into the dirt and began to cry, I suck at what I do best I thought. I could not break into it; this was my job, if I couldn’t do this than how could I ever succeed? I had never been denied access to anything in my life.

“Come here hon” Alyshia said as she trotted over and wrapped her forehooves around me as I moaned “I can’t get in. I can’t it’s too hard.”

“Alyshia” Midnight moaned.

I saw Alyshia shoot Midnight a scathing look, “Come on Amethyst, we can do it. Maybe I can help?”

I looked into her purple eyes, a shade lighter than my own. “D-Do you know anything about computers?”

“I know what a mouse is” Alyshia smirked, “Does that help?”

I couldn’t help but suppress a giggle, “Maybe” I said smiling slightly at her.

“Now why don’t we have another crack at it then?” Alyshia said. She let me go and I stood back up.

“I’ll help too” Brax stated.

I nodded and with the help of Brax and Alyshia I was getting better. After fifteen minutes I had come across a possible word and had gotten twenty six out of twenty eight correct. I had one attempt left and if I didn’t back out now we would lock it down.

I was about to restart when Alyshia pushed my forehoof away. I looked at her, “We’ll lock it down if we try again.” Alyshia shook her head as she looked at my pipbuck and glanced at all the possibilities.

“Nah” Brax muttered, “Let’s give this one a go.”

I nodded, I felt myself tremble slightly, if we failed we would lock the stable out and nopony would be able to get in unless we knocked the door down.

I gulped. Alyshia guided my hoof over to one word that could be the answer to my prayers to Celestia. “How about this one darling? We could try this one?”

I looked at all the letters and it contained all 26 characters that we knew were right, problem was, there were three others words with the same combination of characters in different orders. I looked up to Alyshia’s violet face and nodded. I closed my eyes and pushed the password

‘W3ar3th3CMCFr13ndsf0rl1f3SSA.’

I heard a beep and gave a sigh of relief as the console on my pipbuck lit up with “Access Approved.” I hit the option “Open Stable Door.”

The alarm sounded to indicate the door was being opened. I heard the door swing arm take hold of the door and with a loud and familiar squeal the door was pulled inwards and rolled to the side.

I let off a huge sigh and mumbled “sorry I lost my temper guys.”

“’s ok” Lionel said, “so long as we git inside ‘m happy.”

“Lead the way” Alyshia said happily indicating with her hoof that I lead the way. I walked through the stable door and up to the security door. I pulled out my magnum and loaded it with normal .44 bullets. I opened the security door which slid open quite smoothly. Without warning a metallic flying thing zoomed right in front of me and let out a loud screeching “MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPP.”

I shouted out and without thinking or looking at my EFS I shot it. It hit the floor with a metallic clang. “Wha’ the fuck was that?” Lionel shouted from behind.

“I don’t know” I muttered. I wrapped what appeared to be a flying robotic thing in my magic and levitated it into view. It was indeed a metallic dragonfly; it was about two feet long and had four wings, each wing was lined with a solar panel that ran almost length of each wing. If I wasn’t mistaken it was made out of a combination of Aluminium and Titanium. I looked at its face; it had huge lens like eyes and a cute little face. The tail was long and divided into two pieces towards the end. The machine was made with precision. I had worked on many robots but this was amazing, each detail was beautifully executed, from its face, to its six metallic legs to its tail, I would have guessed that it was made by hoof or horn.

Unfortunately I shot it, the bullet having passed through its body.

“Amethyst? What is it?” Alyshia whispered to me.

“It’s a robot” I replied as I pulled my pipbuck cable back out of my saddlebags.

“What are you doing?” Brax asked from the threshold of the door.

“I’m going to try and reboot it” I replied, “I don’t think it’s hostile.” I plugged my pipbuck into the slot in the tail and tried to reboot it. Nothing happened. As I expected, so I pulled out my screw driver and put my cable back.

“What’s she doing now?” Brax asked more heatedly.

“Don’t know” Alyshia replied.

“I’m pulling him apart so I can fit him in my saddlebags” I replied calmly as I unscrewed the wings and cut the wires so I could fit him in my saddlebags.

“Him?” Brax replied, “It’s a robot.”

“Yeah I know” I said, “I might be able to salvage him.”

“Eugh” Brax facehoofed.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

After about ten minutes I managed to fit the entire robotic dragonfly into my saddlebags which was more difficult than it looked, the body and the wings were two foot long each and could barely fit long-ways.

“Can we go now?” Lionel moaned from behind Brax.

I zipped my saddlebags back up, “I don’t know where we’re going” I replied as I pulled up a map from my Pipbuck.

“What this one’s different too?” Midnight and Brax questioned in unison.

“Uhh yeah” I said before facehoofing.

“Ah though’ you was from a stable? How do ya not know where ta go?” Lionel asked pointedly.

“This stable is built differently to mine” I told him while trying to find out where the water talisman was kept.

After about five minutes which seemed unbearable to Brax and Midnight both of whom were complaining that I was taking too long, I finally found what I was looking for; “Third floor down, second corridor to the right and third door to the left.”

“Finally” Brax growled, “Can we now move?”

“Everypony ready?”  I asked.

“Yes, yes we’re ready” Midnight said loudly as she pushed on my flanks, “Just… Let’s go.”

We set off down the forward corridor which just like the last stable did not contain the Overmare’s office. Eyes on my EFS I wondered why there was no security system, my EFS was completely free of red. Happy that our luck was changing we made our way down the stairwell to the correct floor; every now and then Midnight or Brax had to coax me past rooms that I wanted to check out. A pony skeleton lay here and there in the stable making me wonder what had happened in this stable.

When we past the maintenance office I attempted to slip through the door for parts so I could fix my new robotic friend but Alyshia caught me by the tail and pulled me back.

“I need parts” I said hotly as I put a hoof to my head because of a headache that was coming on.

“We need to get in then out” Brax said, “remember what happened last time?”

I scowled and nodded remembering the last trip into the previous stable, how I got injured and the large room of dead ponies.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

Once we reached the third floor I began to feel kind of funny, my head began to spin slightly with stars appearing in my vision. It wasn’t until I felt quite sick that I decided to say something, “is anypony feeling… funny?” I said with a slight slur to my voice.

Alyshia looked confused, Lionel was drooling slightly, Midnight was no longer with us and Brax said “Nope.”

I felt my vision go all cloudy and I almost fell over, “Whoa you alright there?” Brax asked concerned. I shook my head but didn’t say anything.

Alyshia began to talk to herself merrily; “Why yes big brother, I went to the spa with Strawberry Lemon, it was a fine day; I wish I could have stayed for longer. Did you know that Sugar Stars is dating Rocket? Nah it was quite the scandal, rumour has it her little sister walked in on them, ‘hugging’ each other tightly.”

I tried to clear my head but once again it clouded. I felt my legs give out from under me but instead of losing consciousness like I was expecting to, everything came clear again. Brax, Alyshia and Lionel were missing though; the stable floor and walls were no longer rusty they were shiny clean like my own stable. I looked around and called out “Brax? Alyshia? Anypony? Where are you?”

I saw ponies, familiar ponies walking through the corridor. I felt confused. So was this stable actually operational? The sounds of pony voices filled the corridors, the lights were buzzing over my head. I felt at home again.

“Amethyst!” called a very familiar voice.

I turned to see a green unicorn galloping towards me “Berry!” I screamed, I galloped to her and we embraced, however just as we did my vision went all cloudy again and I found Brax shaking me.

“Amethyst, what the fuck?” Brax growled.

“Brax” I shouted, “What’s going on?”

“Oh thank-“he started but his voice was drowned out by the white fog smothering my vision again. Everything went all clean and the sounds of ponies filled my ears again. Just as my vision revolved and became clear everything became misty once again and Brax reappeared in front of me.

“Amethyst? Wake up” he shouted into my face, this was followed by my vision going blank accompanied by a feeling of being sucked through an incredibly tight tube, it felt like my head was about to explode, I then lost all feeling.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

“Hey Amethyst, you ok?” asked a stallions voice.

I lifted my head from the metallic bench that I was working on; I had fallen asleep at the workbench where a large cleaning bot with five arms lay. “Sorry” I muttered, “Just tired.”

My mentor put a hoof on my shoulder and asked “You want to go home Amethyst? I could get somepony else to finish up for you?”

I shook my head and said “I’ll just finish this and then I’ll go home.”

He pet my shoulder and said “Good girl.” He then left me at the work bench. I flicked through the workbook to the correct page for this make and model. I then levitated the soldering iron and continued to work on repairing this robot. After soldering the new socket for the CPU onto the motherboard I got to my hooves and checked the store cupboard for a new processor. I opened the supply drawer and it was a mess like always. I searched through the multitude of RAM chips, wires, memory chips and many other things but couldn’t find a spare CPU.

“Excuse me sir?” I asked my mentor who was sitting at his computer, “Do we have any spare CPU’s?”

“None in the supply drawer?” he asked looking up at me. I shook my head, “Let’s check in the back room shall we?”

I followed him into the back room which was filled with all the newer stock. He levitated a drawer open and pulled out a new shiny CPU. I took it in my magic and said “thanks.”

I trotted away and when I reached the threshold my mentor said “Amethyst?”

I looked back at him and said “yeah?”

“You’re a good apprentice, you know that right?”

I smiled, “thank you sir.” It was uncommon for me to get praise anywhere, it made me feel good.

He gave a little nod and followed me out the room and went back to his computer. I went back to the work bench to continue my work on repairing the robotic device.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

When I was complete my mentor went over my work as always. “Not bad at all Amethyst, just remember to use thinner wiring between the power supply and the motherboard okay? These don’t really use much electricity and this wire is more for the larger bots.” I nodded and made a note in my apprentice log to use thin wire for class C robotics. “You’re good to go Amethyst” he finished.

I nodded and said “thank you sir” and left.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

I went to the sweet shop after work as Berry was still working. I entered the little shop and sat on the stool at the counter. Mrs Glutose came into view and spotted me on the stool ready to be served. “Hello deary” she said kindly, “Where’s Berry?”

“She’s still working” I sighed, “Could I please get a large double chocolate sundae?”

“Sure thing dear” she said preparing the ice-cream machine, “You know” she continued, “I still remember when you and Berry used to come in with Berry’s mother when you two were only four.”

I smiled remembering the good days “That was a long time ago” I muttered.

“Not really to this old mare” she replied, “You two have always been inseparable, like two peas in a pod as I always say.”

She placed the sundae on the counter in front of me and I pushed two bits in her direction. She took one and gave me the other back “I’ll give you a discount.”

“Thanks” I said taking a spoon and placing a scoop of chocolaty goodness into my mouth.

“So how’s it going at work?”

“Yeah… I fell asleep” I murmured.

“Deary me” she said, “well, let’s hope my Sundae wakes you up then, with that much sugar I hope so.”

I couldn’t help but to laugh as I stuffed my face with chocolate sundae causing the chocolate to smear into the fur around my muzzle.

Mrs Glutose put some face wipes on the bench. “Thanks” I said wiping my muzzle.

The bell tinkled and Berry walked in. I looked at her and she smiled, “Thought you’d be here.”

I gave a hazy laugh, “How was work?” I inquired.

“The usual” she said.

“The same?” Mrs Glutose asked Berry.

“Just a small for me thanks” Berry said before turning to me. She facehoofed and levitated a face wipe and wiped the side of my mouth, “there much better.”

I blushed and gave a little giggle “Ops I guess I missed some.”

“Work was alright I guess” Berry sighed, “What about you?”

I gave a laugh, “I fell asleep at the work bench.”

Berry looked a little worried, “You didn’t get in trouble did you?”

I shook my head, “Nah my mentor understood, he even said that I was a good apprentice.”

“Ahh, well… That’s good” she replied, “So you got your work all done ok?”

I nodded, “Yeah all finished okay.”

Berry’s sundae arrived in front of her and she took a spoon in her magic and started to eat. Mine was almost gone already. “So… Any plans tonight?” She inquired after she gulped down her first spoon.

I shrugged and said “not really”.

“We’ll… its Friday night, want to stay round my place?” Berry inquired.

I nodded. “I’d love to; I don’t really feel like spending the night by myself to be honest.”

My vision all of a sudden blurred and I reached a forehoof to my temple. “You ok Amethyst?” Berry asked worried.

I nodded “Dunno, just a headache I guess.”

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

When we got round to Berry’s place we decided we would play some games on the computers, I’d never been too much of a gamer but I always enjoyed the odd game here and there, some of the colts in maintenance played hardcore co-op games over the Stable LAN. Some of the mares there played too but every time I tried I got beaten.

“What game do you want to play?” Berry asked of me. “Not sure” I said, “Anything you want.”

“D3?” Berry inquired.

“I’m stuck” I laughed, “and I’m out of gold.”

At that point everything went all hazy again; I heard a distant voice calling my name. It was so very distant that it was less of a whisper. “You sure you’re ok Amethyst?” Berry asked of me.

“I just heard a voice calling my name” I told her.

“Did you get any sleep last night?” She inquired, “or did you stay up all night reading?”

I blushed. “I went to sleep at two am” I told her guiltily.

She sighed “You need to sleep more Amethyst; anyway do you want to-?”

My vision faded into pure white as if I was about to pass out, I heard my name again but it was a lot louder this time, I then heard Berry call my name too. Everything then went back to normal again.

“Amethyst maybe you should go to the clinic?” Berry advised, “You look horrible.”

I shook my head and said “No. I’ll be fine.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t be playing video games then if you’re feeling like this?” Berry suggested, “Let’s do makeovers instead?”

I nodded in agreement; I didn’t really feel like playing games anyway.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

“So anyway you gonna ask her out?” Berry mentioned while she was straitening my mane with her mane straightener.

“I dunno” I said, “She’s pretty but I’m not sure she’s really my type y’know, anyway I doubt she likes mares.”

“It can’t hurt to ask really thought can it” Berry continued, “The worst she can say is no.”

“Yeah I know” I mumbled, “It’s just that… Rejection hurts.”

“Of course it does Amethyst, I’ve been rejected loads of times but you can’t really find happiness with somepony you love without trying.”

I nodded; Berry always had a way with words. “Yeah I know” I finished.

Without warning everything went bright white again but even more so. Berry’s voice drowned out and I saw a purple pony through mists of my vision yelling my name. I didn’t know what was going on, everything swirled, as if through bad reception I heard Berry ask “Amethyst are you ok?”

However the purple pony was clearer. I felt something brush my face but I couldn’t really feel it properly. “Amethyst” she boomed.

“What” I screamed, “get out of my head” I held my hooves to my ears trying to block it out but it didn’t help in the slightest. I felt my heard spin, it span so fast that I felt my stomach contract and vomited into the unknown white mist. “Berry” I screamed, “Help me, take me to the clinic… please.”

Finally I passed out.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

I felt myself become aware; I felt a warm body next to mine. I jerked awake concerned that I was in the same bed as Berry. I awoke to not to the ceiling of Berry’s room but one of that which was rocky. I looked down at Berry and it wasn’t Berry at all, she was some random purple unicorn. Nearby were three other ponies; one was a pure white albino pegasus mare, the other two were earth pony stallions, one young and one old. I couldn’t help but scream.

All the ponies around me jerked awake. I jumped to my hooves and backed up against the cave wall looking for a way out. “Who are you ponies” I said in a scared voice “Where am I?”

“Amethyst” they all shouted out in shock. The purple unicorn pounced on me and gave me a hug. I prised her off with surprising strength which I did not know I had. “Get off me” I screamed, “Who are you all? Where am I?”

“Amethyst” the purple pony mentioned, “are you ok?”

“How do you know my name?” I asked trembling; I felt fear grip my heart. “Where am I?” I repeated.

All the other ponies looked at each other confused, “Amethyst we’re your friends” the purple unicorn said, “Midnight, Alyshia, Brax and Lionel… Don’t you remember?”

“Remember?” I stammered, “I remember enough that I only have one friend. Her name is Berry. Where is she? And why am I not in my stable?”

The purple pony who said her name was Alyshia came closer, “Amethyst you left your stable a number of weeks ago.”

“What?” I barked, “No I didn’t, why would I do that?”

“To find a water talisman” the pretty white pegasus said matter-of-factly.

“Why would I be looking for a water talisman?” I asked rudely, “You’re all mad… The lot of you.”

The purple pony looked sympathetic even motherly but I refused to accept this madness. The white pegasus landed next to me and asked “What day is it today?”

“Saturday morning” I replied.

She facehoofed, “It’s Monday evening” she said as if she was talking to an idiot.

It was my turn to laugh “No it isn’t.”

“Check your pipbuck then” said that elderly grey stallion.

I checked my pipbuck and it was indeed a Monday and it was indeed night time. I checked the date and shouted out “Sweet mother of Celestia, it’s almost January already!?”

“You see Amethyst” Alyshia said kindly, “you’re our friend; you left your stable a while ago.”

I stared at her, I still had no idea who she was “I’m sorry but I still don’t know who you are” I said sadly.

Alyshia looked like she was about to cry, “Amethyst” she said on the verge of tears, “Your from stable eighty six, you’re a fillyfooler-“

Lionel cut in “Amethyst’s a fillyfooler?”

Alyshia gave him a stern look but she continued “I met you in New Saddle; you saved me from some raiders and mended my leg. You were poisoned by a radscorpian, you were saved by Midnight when you were attacked, and you helped an entire town.”

I looked down at my own forehooves and yet still refused it, but Alyshia still hadn’t given up, “You’re a lovely pony Amethyst and you are a bright little sunshine when you put your heart to it even when you can be a depressed mess from time to time.” She pulled out a little glass spun ball and shoved it under my muzzle “Your true heart’s desire is love with the pegasus before you Amethyst” she said desperately. I saw the pegasus shift uneasily and the younger earth pony looked exasperated. I peered into the orb and I saw the same pegasus and I falling in love with each other.

“I don’t-“I began but I couldn’t say it, everything made sense but nothing could be drawn from my memories. “Alyshia?” I finally managed to say.

“Yes hon?” she asked with a little smile on her face.

“I believe you” I gasped, “It makes sense, but I still don’t remember.” I felt tears building in my eyes, I felt even more trapped now. Alyshia pulled me into a hug and held my head to her breast, somehow this felt familiar but still nothing could be brought from my memories. I cried into her breast silently, “I c-can’t remember” I murmured.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

All through the afternoon my apparent friends went over many of the things that we had shared together since I left the stable in a bid for my memory to return. They said that they believed that some kind of gas in the stable in this very cavern was what caused it.

“Do you remember Amethyst?” Midnight piped up.

“I don’t know” I said uncertainly, I raked my brains to try and remember things but everything was still very hazy. Familiar feelings kept crossing my mind as if in Deja Vu but nothing I could form into solid memories of the ponies around me.

Alyshia moved forwards and said nervously “I think I should try a spell, although it’s risky.”

“You have a spell to give my memory back?” I asked bemused.

“Well, kind of, it’s more to fix short term memory loss after severe concussion” she replied. “I’ve never cast it before” she admitted “I’m not really sure what would happen if I were to get it wrong.”

I nodded then said “what are you waiting for?”

Alyshia shifted nervously and said “You’ll probably pass out though.”

I nodded and told her “Do it please.”

She nodded and gave a small sigh before asking “Can you please lay down for me?”

I laid down as requested. “How’s this?” I asked when I laid on my side.

“I’ll need you to lie on your back dear” Alyshia said kindly.

“Oh.” I turned onto my back with my hindlegs together and my forehooves raised to my muzzle. I caught the smell of urine waft into my nose and I gagged.

Alyshia then stood over me and for some reason this aroused me. “Hawt” I said with a little giggle looking up to the older mare.

She scowled and raised a hoof to her face but it was Midnight who commented “at least we know she hasn’t changed.”

“This is true” said the grey stallion in a low grumble.

“Here goes then” Alyshia said in a worried tone and with that her horn flashed white and everything went all foggy before going black.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

I awoke feeling more whole but with the worst headache, one of which rivalled the one in the MAS building. I opened my eyes and saw a purple pony above me, she looked worried. “Amethyst?” she gasped.

“My head hurts” I moaned reaching a forehoof to my temple.

“How do you feel?” Alyshia inquired urgently.

“My head hurts” I repeated.

“Yeah but do you remember anything?” Brax asked impatiently.

“Uhh” I stammered.

“What happened to Midnight at the MAS Tower?” Alyshia asked of me.

“Uhhm” I put a forehoof to my chin and racked my brains for the right memory. “She broke her wing didn’t she?” I asked remembering.

Alyshia gave a huge sigh of relief “Thank Celestia” she sighed wiping her forehead with her front hoof. Alyshia then levitated my canteen over and pushed it into my hooves; I sat up and took a draught of water.

I gave a sigh and levitated my canteen to my side and placed it onto the rocky ground. A sudden thought entered my head “What happened in the stable?” I asked “did we get the water talisman?”

It was Brax who answered “Uhmm… You all went crazy. Alyshia, you, Lionel and Midnight.”

“Why?” I asked but I was met with stares so I shut my muzzle and let Brax continue.

“Alyshia was talking about random stuff, you kept blabbering about Berry, asking somepony out and your stable work, Lionel just drooled and Midnight passed out in the bathroom. But it wasn’t only Midnight who passed out, you all did after a while and I remained unaffected, that’s why I could only guess that it was some kind of gas in the stable that had done it. Anyway I bought you all back here and got Alyshia to wake up first. To begin with she was very confused but she came round well enough. I then left her to wake the rest of you and I went back inside.”

“And?” I blurted out unable to contain myself. This had earned a hoof in the mouth from Alyshia.

Brax grimaced and from the look on his face I knew he didn’t have it “I’m sorry Amethyst but this stable did have a water talisman but it had been exposed to some kind of acid that had destroyed it.”

He passed over a milky white and cracked sapphire; the remnants of the casing were fused to the gem. ”Damn” I muttered feeling disappointed while holding the sapphire in my hooves. I put it in my saddlebags with the robotic device that I forgot I had and the other broken water talisman. I put a hoof to my temple again as my headache throbbed, things still didn’t seem that clear and even now I was forgetting what Brax had told me.

“I think we should all head back to sleep then?” Alyshia yawned.

I nodded and right where I was sitting I laid back down on my stomach, my hind legs splayed behind me. I noticed that my socks were giving off the smell of urine, why was I even wearing these? I thought to myself. I magically pulled my left sock off, the cold air biting my foreleg and then removed the right sock and bandages covering this leg. I didn’t really remember why I had bandages on; it wasn’t until I saw three cuts and a bite mark on my leg that I remembered. I quickly re-wrapped my leg in the bandages and put my socks back on.

I noticed that everypony had gone to sleep, so I did the same.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

The following morning we left the stable and galloped to the edge of the everfree forest to avoid the horrible things that inhabit it. Thankfully we didn’t have to enter Ponyville to get through to stable two which was our next target.

“How’s yer memory at the moment?” Lionel inquired of me as we walked onto an old apple farm, the decaying wooden sign read in heavily faded letters ‘Sweet Apple Acres.’ I looked back at him and noticed that the stallion was looking at my hindquarters but I ignored this.

“Bit hazy still” I mentioned “I can remember okay I just have to think about it a bit that’s all.”

“That’s good” Alyshia said heavily, she was clearly exhausted from the walking today.

“My pipbuck thinks stable two is next to the barn on top of that hill” I said pointing a socked hoof at the barn. The apple trees on the farm had no leaves no doubt due to the fact that it was winter and the radiation that lingered in the soil. A few disgusting, diseased looking apples still hung from a few trees. Snow covered the farm lightly, an old rusted plough rested nearby no doubt never used for nearly two centuries.

“Thank Celestia” Alyshia panted.

“You want to rest first?” I asked her.

“N-No I’ll be fine” she gasped.

I felt a little tired but all this walking around lately had made me a lot fitter than I had ever been in my life.

After a few minutes we reached the old barn at the top of the hill which had a view of Ponyville, I could see a windmill blowing in the wind which was shaking heavily as it was missing a blade.

Alyshia gasped and finally said “okay, can we have a rest?”

I nodded, my own hooves were quite sore too and I needed to rest so I sat next to a large barrel that was next to the barn and gave out a huge sigh. “Tired too huh?” Alyshia gasped.

I nodded and placed a hoof on the barrel, it was then I felt something large and cold hit the side my face followed by two howls of laughter nearby.  Midnight or Lionel had thrown a snowball at me. I wiped my face and scowled in their direction.

“Hey Amethyst?” Brax began but at that point another larger snowball hit me in the side of the face again. This one had actually hurt, it was Lionel. Fuming I magically scooped up a snowball almost as large as his head and ran my hooves over it to melt the outer surface; I turned around and faced Midnight and Lionel. I slid into SATS and threw the hardened snowball as hard as I could at Lionels head.

WHACK

It nearly knocked him out. “Fuck you Lionel” I roared.

I had to admit that did make me feel better, I’d wanted to do that since I met the stallion.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

We found the entrance to stable two well enough. It was in fake cellar and like the stables before it had a cave that led to the stable door. This cave however was very ominous. It was littered with pony skeletons, some of those whose hooves were cracked or split.

My pipbuck gave a soft beep but I ignored it, “How’re we gonna get inta this one” Lionel asked quietly.

“Not sure” I replied. I moved up to the control panel at the door, I noticed a camera mounted in the ceiling was following me around. I bought up the consol of door control device. It requested for a password, unlike the last stable this one didn’t have any slots for my pipbuck so I couldn’t hack into it.

I checked my pipbuck and noticed it had bought up a new radio station labelled “Stable two radio.”

I allowed it to play, the reception was not the best but that would be because we had a twelve inch steel door separating us from the inside.

“-and remember fillies and gentlecolts that our very own Velvet Remedy will be playing live in the atrium at ten thirty tonight, the curfew is lifted for this event. Now please enjoy a piece that you will be expecting tonight. This is your overmare speaking. Thank You.”

A song then began ,a song that rivalled the beauty of a Sweetie Belle song. How long it went for I don’t know, I just listened and allowed the song to tug at my heart. What was more was that it was a song I had never heard before.

It finally ended with a high note; I then turned my radio off. “Amethyst what now?” Lionel asked.

“This stable still has ponies in it” I told him, “on to stable three.”

We left the cave through the fake cellar door. Red lights lit my EFS and next thing I knew I was being tackled into the ground by something unknown. I felt adrenaline surge through my body. “Get off me” I yelled through a mouthful of snow struggling in vain to break its claw like grip.

“Got her” my captor yelled, “then let’s get out of here” another yelled.

“No Amethyst” I heard Alyshia yell.

Rtaatttaata

BANG

“Let ‘er go ya big pigeon.”

BANG

I felt a claw grab me around my neck and l finally got a view of what I had missed. A griffon laid nearby dead, another two griffons were pointing shotguns at my companions, Lionel had been shot and Alyshia had a cut below her eye. I felt a gun barrel press to the side of my head, “Try anything and I’ll blow her brains out.”

My hind legs were dangling in mid-air as the griffon had me held a foot off the ground, the muscles and tendons in my back stretched and pain seared around my throat.

I let off a whimper and the gun was pushed harder against my head “shut up pony” he growled.

“What do you want with Amethyst?” Alyshia yelled.

“None of your business bitch” one of the other griffons barked.

I felt the Griffon tighten his grip and my breathing became strained as he squeezed my windpipe. I didn’t know what the griffons were waiting for, that was until.

“Good” stated the one of the other griffons,” now hand over all of your caps.”

It seemed that they were intent on robbing my friends before taking me away, however the claw around my neck was digging into my skin and with the pressure applied I would suffocate if I didn’t do anything. The griffon holding me did not seem to be paying any attention to me as he barked at Alyshia who was putting the caps in one by one “Just put the fucking caps in the bag you purple slut we haven’t got all day.”

Alyshia dumped her whole bag in the griffon’s bag and backed away looking hurt. I seized my advantage.

My horn flared and in one swift and powerful move I pulled the gun from the griffon’s grasp and activated my shield. The shield caught the griffon’s body and with a yell he released me of his grasp. I fell to the bottom of my shield which hung in midair as it was still being held above the ground by the griffon that was now partially inside my shield. Blood began to foam as the shield spell cut into the griffon in an attempt to become complete.

The griffon that had me screamed in pain, his companions opened fire on me and that left them vulnerable to my companions. A double green laser struck one griffon who turned to green ash before my very eyes and Midnight struck down the other griffon with ease. My shield collapsed and I fell into the snow on the ground with a dull thump.

I then shot the griffon with his own gun. I took note of his barding which my shield had cut through, blood still oozing from the large wound.

I noticed that these goons wore the same black barding as the goons that attacked us in New Saddle. This time however I noticed that their barding had a symbol emblazed on their chest. The symbol was a white X with the small o in the centre of the X; this was coupled with a single red vertical line that ran through the centre.

“Are these Xen-whats-his-name’s goons?” I asked.

“Yeah” Brax growled, “Stupid idiots.”

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

“So anyways, ah moved from Old Appleoosa ta new Appleoosa when I was a bite sized colt cuz the slavers took over tha town.” Lionel was going over his history to Midnight who listened intently, no pony else was talking so I just eavesdropped on their conversation. “Mah mum was lookin’ after me and mah sis. Mah father worked the train between New Appleoosa and Old Appleoosa.”

“How old is your sister?” Midnight asked.

“She’s eighteen now, she’s two years younger‘n me. Wha’ bout your family?”

“Only foal” Midnight said casually.

“Ya parents?”

“I-I don’t really want to go over that” Midnight sighed.

“Suit yerself” Lionel said. “What bout you Amethyst?”

“Only foal too” I muttered, “Dads dead, Mums useless, all you need to know.”

“So why’re ya a fillyfooler anywho?” he asked curiously, “Ah dunno why ponies go like tha’ ya see, kinda lifestyle ah jus’ don’t get ya know.”

I felt anger bite my insides at what he said but I maintained my cool, he was probably just ignorant. “Being lesbian or gay isn’t a lifestyle choice” I told him simply, “I was born like it; I wasn’t given a choice.”

“Well ah think ya missin’ out, ya’ll a good lookin’ mare Amethyst. Ya got a cute ass too.”

Midnight snorted and I blushed, I still didn’t have my flanker on.

“Well Midnight ah dunno bout you mares bu’ y’know checkin’ out mares is wha’ we do y’know and ta be hones’ we have three foxy mares righ’ here. Ya agree Brax?”

“Yeah” he murmured.

“I thought I told you to stop looking at my butt” I said seriously.

“Dunno Amethyst, ya’ll probably git checked out by lot’s of stallions an’ ya don’t even know it” he laughed.

“Only because they want under my tail” I said scathingly.

“Yeah we-“ he began but I was done with this conversation.

“Where are we actually going?” I said loudly as we were just walking in some random direction.

Lionel sidled over to me very dramatically and put a hoof around my neck, he then pointed his other hoof at a large mountain in the distance, one of which penetrated the clouds. “There” he said dramatically.

Midnight laughed at him but I scowled “You’re not serious are you?”

“Ah’m dead serious” he laughed, “Stable three is up there?”

“How in the hay do you know that?” Alyshia barked, “Have you been up there?”

“No but-“ he began but once again I cut him off.

“Then how do you know?” I asked.

“Ah’ve lived here mah ‘ole life” he replied, “Ah hear things.”

I checked my pipbuck not believing a word he was saying. I found the stable icon and it was indeed in the middle of a mountain.

“It is” I gasped, “Is it on the top or is it on the bottom.”

“Ahm a say it’s up tha’ top” Lionel said confidently, “Ah’ve been round tha’ mountain an’ ah ain’t seen no stable.”

“It might not be at the top” Brax announced. He had been so quite I had almost forgotten he was there, “It might be half way up or even underground.”

“Maybe” I mumbled.

“Tha’ mountain has snow on it even in tha’ summer time” Lionel said, “Ah dunno if we can climb it.”

“Sure we can” I replied.

“It goes above the clouds” Midnight stated in a scared voice.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

After some debate it was decided that we would climb the mountain and hope my pipbuck gave some kind of indication to where the stable might be.

I had fallen slightly behind my companions and Midnight had landed wanting to rest her wings, this gave me a fairly good view of her hind quarters. I really liked the way her silvery tail would swish as she walked.

“She’s has a cute ass tha’ one” Lionel said smirking at me. I coughed and looked at him reproachfully.

“Who does?” I asked covering myself.

“Midnigh’ o’ course” he muttered trying to not let his voice carry, “Ahm enjoyin’ the view.”

I scowled. “Do you not have any standards?” I growled.

He grinned “course ah do, bu’ dats one fine flank, I’d totally do her.”

I felt flame bite my stomach and for a second I wanted to attack him, he was talking dirty about my special somepony but instead I said nothing.

I trotted faster and caught up to Alyshia before looking up at the mountain we were approaching. “Hey Amethyst” she said smiling.

“Hey” I said dully.

“What’s up?” she asked softly.

“Nothing” I murmured.

“Amethyst really?” Alyshia shot.

My ears perked back “I just- It feels like Lionel is trying to take Midnight from me” I muttered.

I looked back and Midnight had dropped back so she could talk to him, I then looked at the snowy ground and felt myself feel sick.

“Alyshia I love Midnight” I whispered, “I don’t want to lose her to some sleazy colt that won’t look after her.”

“They seem like just friends to me” Alyshia said pointedly, “anyway Amethyst; you need to watch yourself.”

“What do you mean?” I asked timidly.

“If you start playing the jealousy card you might scare her away” Alyshia said quietly.

“I’m not jealous” I muttered.

“I know Amethyst I’m just warning you that’s all.”

“Alyshia can I ask you something else?” I murmured.

“Sure you can dear.”

“When was the last time you dated?” I asked feeling myself blush slightly from awkwardness.

“About three years ago” she replied, “he broke my heart like the stallions before him.” Alyshia sighed and continued “I’m not cut out for love; I don’t think I could have my heart broken again.”

“What do you do about-?” I whispered thinking I was taking the conversation too far into personal waters.

“About what dear?”

I laughed. “You don’t have to answer but…” I waved my hoof and pointed it down.

Alyshia just looked confused.

I blushed and muttered “never mind” thinking that Alyshia probably wouldn’t want me knowing such private information.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

We reached the foot of the mountain by late afternoon, no caves were to be found so it looked like we were sleeping out in the open. The place we decided to stay was near a creek that flowed nearby which was wooded with sickly trees, some of which had yellowing leaves.

“So we’re just going to sleep out in the open” I protested not wanting to do this at all.

“Yeah” Brax growled, “We are.”

“Nah we’re not” Lionel said jubilantly.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked annoyed.

“This” he said happily holding what appeared to be a small box that would hardly be large enough to fit a can of sprouts inside.

“Yeah I’m really going to fit inside that” I said sarcastically kicking snow out with my hind hoof with annoyance.

“Nah” he laughed, he then threw the box onto the ground and before our eyes a canvas like thing assembled itself, as it did so we all had to back away from it as it grew, and grew and grew. Eventually it was the size of a small train cart.

“Genius” Midnight laughed.

Alyshia smiled and clapped her hooves.

“What is it?” I asked curiously.

“It’s a tent o’ course” Lionel said happily, “Ah’ve had this one a few years bu’ it’s mighty comfy.”

“Whats a tent?” I asked stupidly.

“Look inside” Lionel replied, he opened the tent with the zip and I stepped inside. It was a sizable and comfortable home, it was larger than Brax’s place and it even had beds with foam mattresses and pillows.

“Oh Sweet Celestia” I moaned happily, “You have no idea how much I miss mattresses and pillows.”

“We last slept on mattresses and pillows in New Appleoosa” Midnight stated, “That was only a few nights ago.”

I turned to her and smiled, “I’m from a stable remember? I slept on a soft mattress and pillows for like… ever. Or have you forgotten I’m a stable filly?”

Midnight scowled then laughed “I thought you hated being called a stable filly.”

It was my turn to scowl “I do, I’m just saying - never mind.”

Midnight just totally burnt me to cinders with that. “It’s all good Amethyst” she said. Midnight then gave me a one hoofed hug which filled my nose with her beautiful and paralysing aroma; it made me forget about everything but her. If only I could bottle a cup of Midnight’s sweet aroma I thought privately.

Footnote: level up

New Perk: Shield Barrier – Your shield spell can now absorb 20% more damage and will no longer collapse when a living organism obstructs it from becoming whole.