Chapter 16pt2: Depths of Stable Twenty Three

The inside was perfectly rounded; the walls of the cave had hundreds of spiralling lines, no doubt created by some gigantic earth boring machine. At the end of the cave was that of a familiar cog shaped door, emblazoned across the centre was the number “23.” I switched my pipbuck light on which threw everything into greater perspective. The stable door was missing chunks of steel that had been blown away completely; black scorches covered the door where explosives had been detonated against it.

“Wha? What happened here?” I gasped as I stood still.

“Probably enclave” Midnight whispered, “they probably want the items inside.”

“Looks like they got in too” Brax observed. He pointed a hoof at a portion of the door that had been blown away completely at the bottom of the door.

The hole was large enough for a large pony to fit quite easily. “What weapon did they use on it?” I gasped. The walls of the hole that was carved into the twelve inch steel door was blistered and black.

“Dunno” Midnight whispered.

“So are yeh gonna go in or what?” Lionel pushed.

“Yeah” I told him with a stab of venom. “We just didn’t climb this mountain to give up, unless you want to go first?”

“Ah’ll be fine” Lionel nickered waving a hoof.

I walked up to the hole, a cold draught coming from within. I lied on my stomach and with the help of levitation; I pushed myself through to the other side.

Rtatatata

The sound caught me off guard; I activated my shield just in time for bullets to spark off its surface. When my shield collapsed I was yanked back by an unknown force and found myself back in front of my companions.

“Amethyst” Alyshia barked, “Did you get shot? Are you hurt? Where did it hit you?”

“For the love of all things“ Midnight moaned a hoof over her eyes, “Alyshia she’s fine. Seriously.”

“I-I didn’t get shot” I stammered, “You pulled me back through, didn’t you Alyshia?”

She nodded with a blush appearing on her violet face. “Sorry” she muttered, “I didn’t mean-“

“Its okay” I laughed, “I mean. I probably couldn’t have pulled my gun out in that hole anyway.”

I pulled out my sniper rifle and pushed it through the hole. I followed. When I poked my head through the other side I activated SATS and fired a single round into the casing. The turret exploded, showing the ground in sparks. I pushed myself through the hole and into the freezing dry air within.

I took a quick look around and when I was adamant it was safe for everypony else to come through I called, “All clear everypony.” As I said it my breath fogged in front of me.

Midnight was the first pony through, followed by Brax, and then by Alyshia, finally and personally wishing he wasn’t, Lionel came through.

“Sweet Celestia, is it me or is it cold in here?” Alyshia nickered, a cloud forming in front of her muzzle.

“Yeah” I said absentmindedly not really caring about the temperature at this time. “Ready?” I called with my sniper rifle raised.

Midnight and Lionel kicked their battle saddles and said “Ready.”

Alyshia said “I’m ready.” And Brax merely grunted.

We made our way to the first security door. The bullet proof glass however was lying in fragments all over the tiled floor, the doorframe twisted and black.

We stepped through the door and into the stable. What I saw made my jaw hit the ground, the corridors were massive, the ceiling was at least four times higher than the one in stable eighty six and the corridors were at least three times as wide. “What’s the point of having such a high ceiling?” I burst out. “Why would stabletec do that?”

“Amethyst?” Midnight snapped, “Who cares?”

“I do” I seethed, “Our ceilings were so low that the larger stallions had to duck their heads so they don’t hit their head on the door frame. Why didn’t they give us high ceilings?”

Midnight facehoofed and didn’t say anything.

“Anyway” I said heavily, “and this time. We are taking our time.” I checked my pipbuck and saw a number of red blips.  One of which was right in front of us. “Hold on, I just need to take out this turret.” I levitated my sniper rifle and put my eye to the scope. I scanned the high ceiling and found it. The turret was encased in about an inch of ice, I pulled the trigger.

BANG

The turret exploded, causing ice to splinter everywhere. I felt shards hit my face and a chunk struck my horn.

“And… We trust tha’ filly with the gun?” Lionel stated as he brushed ice out of his mane, “She’s gonna blow us up ah swear.”

I opened my muzzle to argue but Alyshia put a hoof on my shoulder. “Ignore him” she soothed. I bit my lip and didn’t say anything.

“Where to?” Brax growled.

I pulled up my pipbuck’s map and drew a route to the bottom floor, this proved difficult, the stairs were hard to find on the map and the stable had ten floors, not five or six like the stables we had been in so far.

“Ameth-“ Brax began impatiently.

I dropped my foreleg, a sudden stab of impatience and anger hit me. “I’ll be ready when I’m ready Brax” I shot. “I don’t care if you’re impatient; if we plan this properly then no pony will get hurt. We’re not doing your stupid, rush and die plan like last time. Understood?”

Brax took a step back, his stupid helmet hiding his expression. I lifted my foreleg again and plotted way points, if only the map could tell me where the turrets were. My hoof froze over my Pipbuck on the floor plans of level eight at the second turn off; it was a T Section with stairwells on either side. I looked at the quickest path.

“For the love of all things“ Lionel muttered to a pony I could not see, “What the fuck is she doing?”

My hoof came down on the tiled floor so hard it echoed throughout the corridor. I felt lava enter my veins; I turned to face the brown stallion. “Shut up Lionel” I growled, trying to not let my anger burst forth.

“Or what?” he snapped, “You’re just standing there like some statue. My legs are sore and I just want to-“

“Want to what Lionel?” I yelled, my voice echoing through the freezing stable. “Want to what exactly? You have a problem with me? I don’t give a shit Lionel. I don’t care, when we’re done in here I’m giving you your sack of caps, then you fuck off. Got me?”

“Come on Amethyst” he said calmly, “I don’t have a prob-?”

“Yes. You do” I shouted. “You have had a problem with me since the first stable. You have been no help. You’re useless, you’re lucky I’m even paying you.”

“Amethyst” Alyshia yelled, “Stop.”

I looked at her and sneered, “Why?”

“Amethyst” Midnight shot. “Enough.”

I gritted my teeth then opened my muzzle one more time. I then growled, “If any of you are going to complain, whine, belittle me or anything. I suggest you wait outside.” I pointed a hoof back at the security door.

Nopony moved.

“Good” I said, my voice breaking slightly. I then lifted my forehoof and continued my work.

          *                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

When we turned down the first corridor we discovered the ponies that broke in. They were wearing heavy armour similar to that of Brax, the only difference was that they had wings, and they were dead.

Black scorch marks covered the cracked floor.

“What happened here?” Midnight whispered.

“Not sure” I whispered back. “Doesn’t look good does it?” I checked my pipbuck and no hostile lights were showing. “Odd” I whispered. “No hostiles.”

“They didn’t just drop dead, did they?” Brax growled.

“You don’t think I know that?” I snapped, glaring into the dark visor that Brax was seeing through.

“Amethyst” Alyshia burst. “Enough.”

“Fine” I moaned. I stepped forwards and walked up to one of the mare shaped bodies. The armour was ripped apart at places; it looked like they were blown up. I pulled the visor back and it revealed a mare’s face. Frozen in place in an expression of pain, maroon ice had formed around the muzzle and her eyes glinted in the light. I shut the visor feeling a little upset.

wooosh

“Amethyst. Look out!” Alyshia bellowed.

I looked up in time to see a ball of fire coming right at me. My shield spell activated without much thought and I jumped away.

BOOOOM

White light obscured my vision as the missile hit my shield causing it to ripple heavily. The dry heat radiated through the shield and it felt as though I would catch fire.

As quickly as it had come, the light vanished, my shield collapsed and the freezing stable air returned to me. I adjusted my bandages as they had come loose; my leg began to feel painful again. I fell to my haunches.

“Amethyst? Amethyst are you okay?” Alyshia fretted.

“I’m- Fine” I gasped. “Sorry it was stupid.”

I picked up my sniper rifle in my levitation field but Alyshia pulled it away. “It’s fine. Midnight took it out” she advised. “Is there anything I can get you?”

“Some painkillers would be nice” I gasped. “And some Buck please”

Alyshia administered the painkiller without question causing the pain to subside significantly.  She would not however give me any Buck.

“You forgot the Buck” I told her.

“I’m not giving you any drugs Amethyst” she snapped. “Buck is addictive.”

“What were the Pain Killers then? Injectable sweets? Just give me some” I moaned, “I can’t do this like this Alyshia, I’m a half dead pony as it is.”

“Buck isn’t that Addictive” Brax put in. “You need to take a lot, or take it over a period of time to become addicted to it.”

Alyshia gritted her teeth and pulled out the bottle. “Here” she said defeated throwing a tablet at me. “But you’re not getting anymore.”

I took the tablet and washed it down with my canteen. I felt my body power up the moment the tablet hit my stomach. I felt stronger and the lingering pain that the painkillers didn’t kill vanished. I got back up. “Okay” I sighed, let’s do this.

                       *                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

“Really?” I said exasperated as I stared at a large square hole in the floor that was meant to be the staircase to level two. “Who in Equestria came up with this shit?”

“No stairs” Brax laughed, “Oh wow.”

If it was a normal stable we would have just been able to jump to the level below, however the higher ceilings didn’t make this possible for the majority of us to do that. “It’s okay” I said, “I’ll just levitate you lot down.”

Before anypony could say anything I wrapped myself in a levitation field and jumped down the hole. I dropped to the floor lightly and collapsed my levitation field. Midnight then flew down after me. I wrapped Alyshia in my glow causing her to squeal slightly. “I’ll be careful Alyshia” I reassured. I levitated her down and placed her on the ground. Next was Brax and his heavy steel armour.

I wrapped him in my magical field with strain; I levitated him and guided him down the hole hoping that I wouldn’t drop him. With relief I placed the heavy stallion onto the steel floor. As much as I wanted to leave Lionel up there, I wrapped him in my magical glow and levitated him down as well. For good measure I released my magic when he was still about a meter above the ground, he fell into heap on the freezing floor.

“Fuck you” Lionel said getting up.

“I could have left you up there” I said with a grin. “You should be thankful.”

“Fucking mares” he mumbled.

I ignored him and it seemed the others did too or they didn’t hear him.

“Is it me, or is it a little colder down here?” Alyshia stated as she tightened her scarf. I myself felt a little cold too.

“Yeah it is” I said. I glanced at my pipbuck and bought up the “Environment” Tab.

‘Temperature: -18.7C’

“Hmm, negative eighteen” I said out loud.

“That’s cold isn’t it?” Alyshia asked.

“It’s quite cold yes” I said putting my hoof back onto the ground. “Let’s go.”

                       *                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

Level three was the top floor living quarters according to my pipbuck. I wasn’t prepared for what was seen on this floor. We turned along the first corridor on the third floor after having to drop down another stairless hole. What I saw made me freeze in my tracks. Pony shaped figures lay in groups along the wall; each group was under a heat vent. I walked as quickly as my sore and battered body enabled me to the nearest group.

“Amethyst stop” Alyshia called. “No Amethyst.”

I ignored her. I came to a stop before what appeared to have been a family, completely frozen to each other; they looked so peaceful, they could have been sleeping. All four were pegasi, this answered my question on the stairless floors, high ceilings and wide corridors. The mare was holding what appeared to be a foal, a little filly judging from the eyes, her little wings poking out from under her mother’s forelegs. The stallion was holding an older filly of around eight. She was deep green, almost the same shade as Berry. Her feathers were fused from the ice.

I felt a lump rise in my throat, followed by the sudden surge of tears that followed. My heart broke and I fell to my haunches. I looked up the corridor through my watering eyes and at every heat vent were other groups of ponies, doubles, singles, triples and large families alike.

I pushed my hooves to my eyes and I began to cry, hundreds of horrible thoughts buzzing inside my head. What about my home? What if I get back and Berry, mother and all the ponies I knew were dead? My stable was the same as these, it won’t be long and my stable will be a soulless cave filled with corpses.

“Amethyst?” Alyshia whispered. “We need to move on; it doesn’t do good to stay here.”

“No” I sobbed, my brain still whirring.

“But Amethyst-“ Alyshia began.

“I said NO” I shouted at the top of my lungs.

I didn’t care, a family sat before me dead. I had no family; my own family was shattered and gone. Just like these families. They froze to death inside a mountain, I can tell that much. My dad died, my mother has no soul and is as good as dead. I’m nothing but a filly that’ll die trying to prevent the fate of stable eighty six.

“Look Amethyst” Midnight said cautiously. “We can’t stay here.”

“I’m not moving” I growled, “Just… Can you all leave me alone?”

“What?” Lionel said, “What tha’ fuck Amethyst? What’s with this emotional shit, stop crying and get up.”

I ignored him, my tears leaking down my cheeks as I tried to calm myself.

“Is she on heat or something? Is tha’ wha’ this is?” Lionel asked.

I felt something give in my head, rage ignited inside me like a huge bonfire. Before I knew it I had launched myself at Lionel, knocking him to the ground, my strength increased from the buck I had taken earlier. I stood over him, my sniper rifle barrel inches from his face.

“Wha’ Wha’ the hell?” Lionel babbled. “You’re crazy.”

“Am I?” I roared. “Am I you fucking piece of shit. I should kill you right now for what you said.”

“Amethyst get off him” Alyshia screamed.

“No” I roared. “No. I’m sick of this. I’m sick of seeing this shit. I’m sick of being picked on and humiliated. I’m sick of seeing dead ponies everywhere, I’m sick of him.” I nudged the gun against his head.

“Don’t shoot me” Lionel gasped. I looked down at the brown stallion hating him.

“I’m sorry Amethyst” Alyshia said softly. I turned my gaze to her just in time to see her horn glow. I lost feeling to my entire body, my legs gave out from under me and I landed on top of Lionel.

Lionel pushed me off him and I slumped onto the floor. “Crazy Bitch” Lionel spat.

“Lionel” Alyshia scolded, “Don’t you dare speak to her like that.”

“She pointed a fuckin’ gun at me” he blabbed. “She cracked the moment we got here. She’s coocoo, crazy. Lock ‘er up ah say.”

“That’s out of line Lionel” Midnight said hoarsely. “Amethyst isn’t crazy, she’s just upset. You see those ponies over there? I think Amethyst is afraid her mum and friends are going to die. What’s more, you threw an inappropriate comment at her while she was crying and upset. She shouldn’t have pointed a loaded gun in your face though.”

Lionel muttered something inaudible, he was however ignored.

I tried to move but I couldn’t, I just lay on the icy ground wishing that I would just melt into the floor and never be seen again. I felt myself lift into the air as Alyshia picked me up and placed me onto her warm back.

“Seeing as Amethyst can’t move and won’t be able to move for a while, we should find someplace to settle down for the night” Alyshia stated.

                       *                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

Alyshia found a room with no frozen bodies inside, the rooms were similar to the ones in stable eighty six, just with higher ceilings. The one we had taken refuge in was small, like my own room back in my own stable. The room made me feel horribly home sick. I could see the doors that lead into the bedroom and into the toilet; this room also had the same floor plan as my own. Unfortunately I still couldn’t move so I couldn’t get a good look around.

Alyshia placed me onto the cold couch that lay in front of an old dusty television, she allowed me to face them, but still paralysed I couldn’t do anything but stare straight ahead. Alyshia removed my saddlebags and placed them on the ground.

“Well then” Alyshia piped up, “Here we go.”

“How long will she be like this?” Midnight asked looking into my watering eyes.

“Few hours I think” Alyshia replied. “I think the spell I gave her was a little too potent.”

“Why? What did you do to her?” Brax growled from nearby.

“I… Umm. I shut the somatic nervous system down” she replied as she ran a hoof through my mane.

“Can you say that again? But in English” Brax grunted.

“Amethyst cannot make any voluntary movements” Alyshia sighed backing away from me, “I should have just stunned her instead.”

Alyshia walked out of my vision leaving Lionel’s tail and the TV in my line of sight.

“Where are you going?” Midnight burst out.

“I need to find some medical supplies, I almost have nothing left” Alyshia replied from somewhere behind me.

“Not by yourself” Midnight said, “take Lionel and Brax.”

“Umm, okay then” Alyshia said, “I guess I might need some protection.”

“Ah wanna stay ‘ere” Lionel moaned. “Mah hooves are sore.”

“I guess the colt can stay behind” Brax muttered, “I’ll be fine.”

“Wait jus’ a sec, Ah ain’t no colt” Lionel scoffed. “Fine ahm comin’”

With that Alyshia, Brax and Lionel left and Midnight remained behind. This was odd, I was surprised that she would stay behind, Midnight normally wanted in on the action. Instead she was going to stay here with a pony that couldn’t move or talk.

Midnight went off somewhere and left me on the lounge alone. Even in my paralysed state I felt my eyes burn as they began to tear up, I hated being alone. I felt so helpless in my limp body, I wanted to shout out to Midnight to come back, but all I heard was the sound of the buzzing lights and the air in the ventilation system.

It wasn’t long however until Midnight came back and sat in front of me, her eyes bloodshot which mixed terribly with her scarlet eyes. “Hey” she croaked.

I had a feeling that Midnight had been crying, not that I was in a position to comfort her. Midnight leaned over and despite being covered in blood she leaned over and hugged me. “Amethyst, I understand now” she sobbed. “I understand what you’re going through.” Naturally I did nothing as I couldn’t move. Even if I could move I didn’t really know what to say. “I want to let you know that I’m always here for you no matter what, I almost cried when I saw you with the dead ponies. I saw the pain on your face, it was horrible.”

Midnight pulled away, her eyes watering. Midnight let off a huge sigh and looked at me. “I’ve always avoided telling you Amethyst but… As you already know, my parents are dead. They were killed by the enclave right in front of me, before I could even fly.”

That I didn’t know. Midnight however ploughed on, “I knew the love of a family. When my parents were killed, I was moved to an orphanage in Friendship City. Even though the ponies were kind, they were not my parents and they never showed the love or compassion of my parents. I will always however be grateful to Friendship City; they allowed me to grow up in a safe environment away from the horrors and danger outside the city walls.”

I could see that what Midnight was saying was hurting her; she was trying her best not to cry. Midnight wiped away a stray tear with a hoof and continued; “When I met you, you were a young filly fresh out of the stable. You loved your home, you had ponies that you cared about and even though your mother wasn’t a nice pony or treated you as her daughter you still love her, you still love your friend and the ponies that you shared the stable with. You’re loyal to your home Amethyst and I want to help you in any way I can.”

Midnight paused and hugged me again. As much as my love for her burned inside me, I wanted to comfort her; I wanted to hug her back to tell her that I’m fine and not to worry about me. I wanted to tell her that I’m sorry for hearing about her parents.

“You’re my best friend” Midnight said during the hug. “Sometimes I treat you like a little filly, but it’s all fun and games. I don’t like seeing you upset.”

                       *                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

Midnight had fallen asleep on the floor and roughly and hour later Alyshia and the stallions had returned causing her to stir. Midnight rubbed her eyes and yawned before asking “H-how did you go?”

“Good” Alyshia said happily, got ten healing potions and two extra strength potions. I also managed to get plenty of painkillers and bandages; I’ll need to fix Amethyst up a bit more now while she is still unable to move. She can be such a difficult patient sometimes.

I didn’t like the idea of being touched and prodded by Alyshia while not able to talk or move but it wasn’t like I had any choice, I couldn’t decline or consent either way.

“Isn’t it a little cold to be fixing her?” Midnight asked, “Won’t you have to take her barding off?”

“Yeah” Alyshia stated, “but it won’t be for long.” Alyshia moved in front of me with her medical bag bulging. “Come on Amethyst, up you get.”

I felt myself become weightless as Alyshia levitated me onto the hearthrug. Alyshia took my socks and bandages off, exposing my hooves to the cold air, she then took my flanker and my barding off before taking the bandages off my body which exposed me to the freezing air. For the first time in ages I could see my body and it was a mess. I was covered in blood, I had lost a lot of weight and my ribs were showing, I had lost fur in places and I had all kinds of wounds all over me, the worst being the one on my foreleg where my bone had splintered through the skin.

Midnight looked down at me and cringed. “She’s a mess Alyshia.”

“You don’t think I know that?” she snapped. “She’s lucky to be alive let alone walking through stables and getting shot at. Could you all please just make yourselves useful and leave me alone to deal with Amethyst. I felt myself begin to shiver as the cold dug into me. “It’ll be okay Amethyst, I’ll be quick” Alyshia whispered.

Alyshia began to dab ointments onto my wounds and bandaged them back up. Alyshia spent some time on one wound and sighed. She then bandaged it up and got me back into my bloody and torn barding. Alyshia sighed, “I can’t do anymore Amethyst. We need to get you to a hospital to bring you back to full health.”

I knew that much, but I wasn’t going to leave this stable without looking for the talisman first.

                       *                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

About two hours later I had regained most of my movement and thankfully could talk again. When I was able to walk again Alyshia dragged me into the bedroom to “Ask me something.”

Alyshia turned to face me and said “I know this is a private question, however it is medical related and I need you to answer it okay?”

“Uhh okay?” I agreed.

“When is your next heat cycle?” Alyshia asked.

I stared at her. “Why do you need to know?” I inquired trying to not sound rude.

Alyshia sighed. “Well. It’s entirely possible that you may miss your next estrius, your body is… quite stressed, if your heat cycle is soon then don’t be surprised if you miss it.”

I blushed and answered the question. “In about four weeks” I muttered. Each heat cycle occurred once a year, for me it was fifty one to fifty three weeks and lasted about twenty days. Going on heat was an embarrassing process and I hated it, my emotions go all over the place and I get sick. I normally took time off work for most of it.

Alyshia grimaced, “Just don’t panic if it doesn’t happen okay?”

“Why would I panic?” I laughed, “Missing a heat is good for me. I don’t care.”

“Missing a heat is bad” Alyshia told me seriously, “It means your body is stressed, I don’t even know if your reproductive system would function given the stress your body is under. We’re taking you to Hospital in Manehattan the moment we get out of here.”

“Does it matter if my reproductive system is working or not?” I asked. “It’s not like I want any foals anyway, shouldn’t you be more concerned about my heart or how much blood I’ve lost instead?”

“Amethyst, you have to understand” Alyshia begged. “It’s you that I’m worried about; it’s the amount of pressure your body is under. I’m just warning you that you may miss a heat because of what has happened to you. If I had it my way, we would be on our way to Manehattan right now, you’re in a delicate situation and I don’t want you getting into anymore danger, one mistake Amethyst, even if you get shot once, you can die.”

                       *                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

We continued our progress through the stable the following day, Alyshia would not allow me to walk at all so I was on Brax’s back today, Brax was barred from entering combat and Midnight, Lionel and Alyshia (With my sniper rifle) had taken the lead.

Alyshia was hesitant about taking the rifle claiming that she was bad at shooting, she was much better than she made out to be and when I questioned that she was good at shooting she merely said “This gun has a scope so I can shoot it okay.”

As we descended further into the bowels of the stable it got colder and the air became moist. By the time we were on the ninth floor the temperature had dipped to a chilling negative thirty and was causing me to shiver profusely; my barding not designed to keep me warm in this kind of cold, it didn’t help that Brax’s armour was like ice.

“How’re we getting to Manehattan” I asked, my heavily bandaged forelegs around Brax’s neck.

“I found an old carriage outside when we were looking for the stable door” Midnight said. “I should be able to pull it.”

“We got another turret up ahead” I mentioned taking note of another red blip that had appeared.

“I see it” Alyshia said. The little turret descended from its casing and began to fire.

Rtatatatata

Alyshia threw a shield up directly in front of us that took all the hits, when the turret stopped firing to reload Alyshia dropped the shield and Midnight took it out.

“I hope none of those rocket ones are here” Alyshia said worried, “I don’t think I could stop one of them.”

“If we come across one then run to me and I’ll throw my shield up” I suggested. My shield spell, while only very temporary had grown quite powerful. It was a shame that I couldn’t place it as Alyshia could with hers, or for that matter have it up for longer than a few seconds.

I checked the map and saw the maintenance wing was just to the left. “Can we please go to the maintenance wing for a sec, I need parts” I asked hopefully.

Alyshia looked at me with an impatient expression. “Okay then Amethyst but be quick.”

We took a left and under my guidance we made our way to the Terminal and Robotics section of the Maintenance wing, this was the office that I worked in at my own stable.

When we entered the wing, I found that it had a different layout, it was very organised. My mentor was messy but whoever had run this maintenance wing must have been very anal. The drawers were organised in alphabetical order, each containing parts for robotics and terminal computers.

I jumped off Brax and looked for the drawers for parts that I needed. I pulled open the drawer containing “electrical wire” and the box was divided. On the left was “New Wire” and on the right was “Used Wire.”

I pulled out a roll of new wire and put it in my saddlebags. I got a box with a new processor, a box containing ram modules, a nano spark battery as well as some large capacity memory chips.

“Is that it?” Alyshia asked patiently.

“Yeah that’s all” I replied as I clambered onto Brax’s cold back.

We left the maintenance wing with my saddlebags bulging.

“What’s the techno stuff for?” Midnight inquired, her wings flapping to remain airborne.

“I got a robotic dragonfly in my bag remember? I’m going to fix it” I replied.

“So. Like a pet?” Midnight asked.

“I guess” I chuckled, “Hopefully I can fix it, and if I can fix it, hopefully I can have it under my control.”

                       *                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

“You alright back there filly?” Brax muttered as we continued to walk through bowels of the still, cold stable. I had not spoken at all for a while.

“I’m fine” I whispered, “Just a little cold.”

“I’m up for a mug of hot coca when we get out of here” Alyshia said from nearby. “My hooves are all icy.”

I couldn’t look at my hooves; they were in bandages with the rest of my legs, my hooves were however numb from the cold.

“Alysh-“ I began, however there was a loud bang followed by a sudden jerk. The ground beneath Brax and I had given way under the stallions heavy weight. Brax attempted to jump onto firmer ground before it gave way completely, but all it had managed to do was unseat me.

The feeling of weightlessness had taken me by surprise. I attempted to catch myself magically however before my levitation could activate, I hit the floor below with a sickening and excruciatingly painful thud. The sound of my breaking bones echoed throughout the stable. Brax landed next to me with a loud metallic bang.

I attempted to get up but my legs moved no more. My right foreleg had splintered again and the bone had breached the skin, but not as horribly as before, my left foreleg was bent at a strange angle. My breathing had become painful, as if I had something wedged in my side, I assumed I had either fractured of broken a rib.

“Amethyst” Alyshia screamed, “Amethyst are you okay?”

I tried to call back however the wedge in my chest caught me and nothing came out.

“Amethyst!?” Alyshia screamed again, her voice echoing. “Midnight fly down please. Please bring her back.”

Brax began to shift as he attempted to get up; he was clearly dazed after the fall.

Fwooosh… BAAANGGG

I heard Midnight scream and I looked up to see the white pegasus retreat back into the hole in the ceiling before a ball of fire erupted above, bathing my body in dry warmth.

“I got her” Brax yelled above, his deep voice reverberating through the stable.

“Is she okay?” Alyshia shouted. “Is Amethyst okay?”

I looked at Brax and he quickly examined me, he touched my right forehoof and I snatched it back and moaned “Oww.” I felt my lung catch onto something and I let off a loud and violent cough, bright red blood sprayed from my mouth and onto the shiny floor.

“Brax?” Alyshia shouted. “Tell me Amethyst is alright.”

Brax was looking at me and I blinked. “She’s uhh, she’s conscious” he replied clearly not wanting to tell Alyshia the full truth, “but bleeding heavily.”

“Get her to me Brax, please get her up here” Alyshia called desperately. I felt my heart tear for her. I wanted Alyshia to not worry. I wanted to shout out but the moment I drew breath I coughed again.

“Come on filly, don’t worry. On you get.” Brax growled. Brax lowered himself for me to get on, I however couldn’t move.

“C-can’t move” I coughed, my vision starting to tilt towards the side.

Brax got back up and put a giant metal forehoof around my body and painfully threw me onto his back. I howled and coughed up more blood.

“Midnight try go down again please?” Alyshia moaned from above.

“And get my face blown apart, no thanks” Midnight argued, “Brax’ll get her back.”

“Brax come to the hole please” Alyshia begged, “I have some medicine that will make Amethyst feel a little better.” Alyshia dropped something down the hole and it clattered to the floor. “Give her a tablet of Buck and two shots of Painkillers, it’ll keep her conscious. At least I hope it will.”

Brax threw the tablet down my throat, I swallowed it. My vision cleared and stopped spinning, but that’s all it did. He then administered two shots of painkillers causing most of my body to go numb, I could however still feel some of the pain in my legs.

“You ready?” Brax asked his face turned to me.

I nodded, my neck feeling very stiff. I gripped onto Brax’s neck with my left hoof the best I could and braced for him to move.

“Be careful with her” Alyshia called.

“Do you still want your water talisman?” Brax whispered so Alyshia couldn’t hear.

I nodded, despite my poor condition I wanted what I came here for, I wanted it even if it killed me.

Brax moved as quickly and careful as he could, I was trying to listen for turrets but his hoof steps echoed through the corridor so loudly it was impossible. I couldn’t talk, move, or for that matter concentrate on what was going on. All I could do was listen and hold onto Brax with my least broken forehoof.

Rtatatata

Bullets sparked off Brax’s helmet as a turret opened fire on the elderly stallion. Brax kicked his battle saddle into action and fired green lasers at the metal casing. The lasers hit the turret and the casing melted. I heard the turret reload and clearly Brax did not.

Rtatatatatata

I felt a bullet hit me in the flank and I screamed, my lungs feeling as if they were filled with glass.

Btttzzz

The rest of the turret melted and fell to the floor with a heavy clang.

“Amethyst you okay?” Brax asked concerned looking back at me.

My eyes were full of tears and I shook my head, pain throbbing from my flank. I began to shake, from fright or the fact that I was going into shock I did not know. I was in a bad way and I knew it, I needed to get out of here but not without my talisman.

Brax galloped forwards once again, pain now throbbing from my flank which now had a ball of metal inside it. I held on for dear life, I wanted this. I wanted the talisman from here and I had a feeling it was here.

Brax turned a corner and shot another turret before it could open fire on us. “Almost there” he mumbled, whether to himself or to me I had no idea. Brax then galloped down the corridor and barged into a large door, inside was the talisman room. Brax carefully trotted in, his heavy hooves audible over the silence, the water wasn’t running and that much was made clear by the fact the water pipe had icicles dripping from it.

Brax opened the cabinet and inside was the little water talisman, frozen to the pipe but in perfect condition. “I see it” Brax whispered. “I just need to-“

Brax cut off. I had heard it too, a robotic like sound. Almost like a turret descending.

Chhhhh FHWOOOSH

I tried to activate my shield but nothing happened, I was too injured to use magic. Brax jumped to the side just in time to dodge the missile.

BOOOOOM

The missile hit the cabinet which sent me flying from Brax’s back, flames licked at me as my body flew through the air. I felt my back hit the wall and my body exploded in unendurable pain. I slid onto the floor screaming, my head swimming uncontrollably. Brax lay nearby after narrowly missing the flying explosive projectile, he was unmoving. I felt the world rock around me and white began to obscure my vision. I tried to prevent myself from passing out knowing that there is the very real chance that I may not wake up ever again. My attempt to remain conscious was futile as I felt the pain leave me followed by the feeling of being sucked down a tight tube.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

I was lying in a nice warm bed, the sheets drawn to my chin and I felt very comfortable. I didn’t have the weight of my barding encumbering me, yet I could still feel that I had some form of clothing on.

“Amethyst?” a voice echoed, “Amethyst are you awake? Are you okay darling?”

I opened my eyes, the lights above blinding me. I felt panic surge through my body and I sat up, adrenaline surging into my veins. Alyshia’s hoof quickly pushed me back down again. “No Amethyst’ Alyshia said softly, “It’s okay, just stay down.”

I blinked, the sudden surge of panic ebbing away. I was in a small room with another hospital bed; It looked like a stable clinic. “Where am I?” I croaked, my ribs were still very sore but they felt mended.

“You’re in the stable clinic” Alyshia whispered. “Now just try and rest, we need to leave soon and get you professional medical treatment.”

“You are a professional” I gasped feeling short of breath.

“You are kind Amethyst; however I am not professional enough to deal with your injuries. It is my talent and I am qualified but I’m not a surgeon nor am I a professional hospital grade doctor. I’m just a medical pony Amethyst. I fix broken bones, moderate grade injuries and bullet wounds. I can’t fix serious injury and shattered bones.”

“I can’t walk can I?” I asked nervously.

“Your right foreleg is still broken because I can’t fix it” Alyshia sighed. “You still have serious injuries because I can’t give you healing potions.”

I raised my right foreleg and it was covered in thick blood stained bandages, as was half my body. “Where’s Brax?” I asked remembering that the stallion was hurt. “Is he okay?”

Alyshia nodded, “He brought you back, he has a sore leg but apart from that he’s fine.”

“Did we get the Talisman?” I asked hopefully, despite the fact that deep down I knew it wouldn’t have survived.

“Umm. No, Brax said it was destroyed” Alyshia told me dully. Alyshia’s tone changed to that of anger. “Can I ask why you didn’t come straight to me instead of going on your deathly mission of recovering a water talisman while your body is half dead?”

My ears perked back. “I- I didn’t want to come back without it” I replied.

“And what if you died?” Alyshia said angrily. “You can be so stupid sometimes Amethyst. I don’t know if that hot head of yours is caused by your teenage brain telling you to be stupid or if you are just plainly stupid. Do you want to die Amethyst?”

I felt offended. “I turn twenty soon” I gasped, “I’m not a teenager.”

“Then act like an adult Amethyst” Alyshia scolded. “This stupidity has to stop. And before you ask, yes I have had the same conversation with Brax.”

I looked down at my chest, one of the only parts of my body not covered in bandages. “Sorry” I muttered, “I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

“You’re not just saying that are you?” Alyshia asked seriously.

I shook my head.

“Good” Alyshia said a little happier, “get some rest because we need to go soon.” Alyshia got up; with a flash of her horn she turned off the clinic lights and left me to get some sleep.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

The sound of an argument caused me to drift out of my sleep. My ears perked and it sounded as though the argument was happening just outside the clinic door.

“-Told you before Alyshia, you get too involved” Midnight said in a raised voice. “She’s not yours; she’s not your daughter.”

“She’s as good as” Alyshia said angrily. “I don’t get too involved either Midnight, if anything I need to be more involved. She nearly died, what don’t you get about that?”

“It’s one thing fixing Amethyst from serious injury but to go as far as calling her your ‘baby’” Midnight argued.  “She’s twenty years old Alyshia, at her age she would be looking for a lifelong partner, not an overprotective mother.”

“I’m not being-“ Alyshia started.

“Will you two shut up” Brax roared, “I bet five hundred caps that Amethyst is behind that door awake and eavesdropping on your argument.”

I dropped back into my pillows and pulled the blanket back up with my hooves and pretended to be asleep.

I heard the door open, a brief pause and it was closed again.

“She’s still asleep” Alyshia stated.

“Yeah right” Brax growled. “So are we going to go soon or not?”

“Yeah” Midnight put in. “I want to get to Manehattan before sundown; I don’t want to be flying at night.”

Alyshia said something but it was too quiet for me to hear. I sighed and looked around the dark room, the clinic was exactly the same as the one at stable eighty six. In fact I could almost imagine my doctor back in my stable to come out from around the corner and give me a lollypop, that however hadn’t happened since I was about twelve, but the thought was nice.

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

Some ten minutes later Alyshia came in again. “Amethyst?” she whispered.

I decided it would be useless to pretend to be asleep, so I replied “Yes?”

“We’re going to go now hon, we need to get to Manehattan before sundown. Midnight will be carrying you until we get outside.”

Alyshia pulled back the sheets, the cold air hitting my body. I had what appeared to be Alyshia’s bath robe on for clothing. “Where’s my barding?” I asked.

“Gone” Alyshia said simply. “It fell apart when you got back, the barding had torn and the armour plates were falling out.”

“Right” I muttered. Why was it that I had gone through three sets of barding yet I wasn’t the one to dispose of it? “I’ll get another set in Manehattan then.”

“I hope you can afford it hon, it’s awfully expensive at Tenpony Tower” Alyshia stated.

“We’ll manage” I sighed.

Midnight and Lionel came through the hospital door. Lionel wasn’t looking very happy for some reason, but that would probably be because his journey with us was coming to an end.

“Ready?” Midnight asked.

I nodded. Alyshia levitated me from the bed and onto Midnights back. “Be careful with her” Alyshia said, “Her forehoof is still broken so she can’t grip very well. Just be careful until we get outside. That means no flying.”

“Aww come on Alyshia?” Midnight said, “Flying won’t hurt.”

“If you drop her Midnight… I swear-“ Alyshia said struggling to find a word to use.

“I’m kidding, really” Midnight laughed. “No need to get your socks in a knot.”

“But I don’t wear socks” Alyshia said confused.

Midnight facehoofed. “Never mind.”

*                                        **                        **                      **                                                *

We managed to exit the freezing stable without any major issues; we managed to get the door of the stable open so I wasn’t forcefully squeezed through the small hole. We stepped out of the cave and into pure sunlight, it was clam and not a breath of wind was to be felt or heard.

“Okay now wheres that cart?” Midnight said. “I think it was over there.” Midnight galloped over to an area behind a large rock with me on her back and everypony else following.

An old rusty family cart lay in the snow, the windows shattered. The skeleton of a pegasus within the reins. “Creepy” I whispered, “You sure this’ll get us to Manehattan safely?”

“Yeah, I’m positive” Midnight said, “I just need to strap myself in, you four get in and-“

“Is Lionel coming with us?” I asked.

“Ah sure am” Lionel stated, “Midnight reckons if ah want ta come, then ahm comin’.”

I glared at Midnight and she blushed, “I thought you’d be okay with it.”

“We’re going to talk about this” I whispered to her. “Fine” I growled, “But I’m not giving you any extra caps, or for that matter you won’t be getting the caps till you leave. Got it?”

“Yeah, Midnight said ya migh’ say that but s’all good, s’long as ah get mah caps when ah go. S’all good.”

“We had reports of tribals above the cloud layer” an unfamiliar voice from behind said in quite a demanding tone, causing all of us to jump in surprise.

Three pegasus ponies in heavy armour stood before us, the larger pony on the left had large brown wings poking from his suit of armour, the top of his wings cased in steel. The pony in the middle was smaller but stood in a way that told me that she was the leader. The pony on the right was smaller than the other two and her wings were of a charcoal colour, the tips coloured white. She stood to the side slightly away from her leader.

When we had recovered it was Midnight who replied. “We’re not Tribals” she scoffed, “We’re from the ground.”

“Tribals are from the ground” the pony in the middle stated as if she was talking to children. “You are in the territory of the enclave.”

“Enclave? Midnight roared, “This is the ground, this mountain belongs to the Earth Ponies and Unicorns.”

“Midnight shut it” I hissed.

“That you are wrong-“

Midnight opened her mouth but Alyshia shover her hoof in it. “We’re awfully sorry for coming here, we didn’t know” Alyshia said innocently, “I’m trying to get my foal back down the mountain and to a hospital. She’s really injured.” Alyshia pointed a hoof at me.

“Captain” the pony on the right said, “may I speak?”

“You may” the pony in the middle said.

“I think they might be right, the pony on the back of the albino one is really injured. She’s covered in bandages and she-“

“I can tell corporal” the leader pony said dully. “How old is your foal?”

“She’s sixteen” Alyshia lied, “we we’re looking for food in the stable but she fell and got shot. Midnight here was going to use that cart to get back to the ground and fly us to a hospital.”

I personally thought Alyshia was doing very well, in reality our ages were less than ten years apart and yet she was pulling off the lie quiet easily.

“Look” the leader of the three pony squadron said, “we’ll let you off with a warning, just get the cart and fly below cloud level and get her to a hospital.”

“Which hospital are you going to?” the charcoal pony asked.

“Tenpony Tower” Alyshia replied.

“Corporal, do not talk when not instructed” the leader pony said angrily. “Move out.” The trio took off and left us…

“Fucking assholes” Midnight growled, “stupid fucking enclave.”

“I think they were nice enough” Alyshia stated, “they asked why we were here, we told them and they were okay with that.”

“This isn’t their land” Midnight growled, “They show up as if they owned the place and demand questions.”

“They were just doing their jobs” Alyshia stated. “They could have killed us if they wanted to.”

“I liked the one on the right” I said to nopony in particular.

“Not you too” Midnight moaned. “They were thick as a rock, who would honestly believe that you were Amethyst’s mother?”

“Amethyst is half hidden and heavily bruised, unless they actually took a closer look at her then nopony was going to question it” Alyshia replied scathingly. “You’re just prejudiced because they are part of the enclave.”

“I’m not prejudiced” Midnight started.

“Would you two please cut it out” Brax growled, “I’m sick of the arguing. Will you fillies just stop?”

Midnight and Alyshia looked at each other then turned away pissed off at one another.

“Can we go please?” I asked, “I thought we were in a rush.”

“Yes hon” Alyshia said caringly, “We just need to strap our taxi to the wagon.”

Midnight glared at Alyshia. “Yes we need to go, lest the enclave return.”

Alyshia rolled her eyes and opened the door to the cart. The seats were of leather, but they were patched, frayed and covered in glass. Alyshia levitated all the glass out as well as a pony skeleton, she placed the skeleton and the glass on the snow and levitated me off her, she then placed me onto the leather seat at the opposite end of the wagon.

“I just need to help Midnight into her harness” Alyshia informed.

I nodded and moved so I was more comfortable, the inside was still in rather good condition, the sides and the roof were decorated with timber, I looked into the back and there was plenty of room for Brax and Lionel. The cart had four windows and a windscreen; the windscreen had a single crack that ran half way across it. All four windows were shattered and had no glass left in them.

“It’s too tight” Midnight grunted from outside.

“Fine I’ll loosen it” Alyshia stated. “Would you two stallions get into the cart please?”

The back door opened a few seconds later and the two stallions stepped into the back of the cart before closing the door.

“Ya know, how is Midnight goin’ ta pull the giant chunk of steel with four ponies in the back?” Lionel asked.

I was wondering the same thing, Midnight pulled the old wooden cart near Cantal but this was quite different.

“These we’re built to be lighter, they use a spark battery and earth pony tech” Brax replied, “assuming the spark battery is still okay and the device built into this isn’t damaged then this will fly well.”

“Do we know that this is mechanically sound?” I inquired, “What would happen if it was broken?”

“If it was broken then Midnight will find it very difficult to fly” Brax replied simply, “Do we know if this is mechanically sound? I don’t know, maybe you should ask Midnight? She found it.”

“Hey Midnight” I said loudly so she could hear me.

“Yes?” Midnight replied loudly.

“Is this safe to fly?” I asked.

“Yes” Midnight replied, “I checked it when I found it. I’m not stupid.”

“Okay” I finished loudly.

Alyshia had finished getting Midnight into the harness; she opened the door and sat next to me. I could see Midnight outside the windscreen, her harness clearly visable on her body. She turned and looked through the windscreen. “Are you lot ready?” She asked.

“Yes” We all said together. Midnight turned away from up and extended her wings, she trotted forwards and the cart moved, probably for the first time in nearly two hundred years. Midnight built speed until she reached the cliff face of the mountain peak, when Midnight ran out of land she jumped off the cliff her wings extended and the cart quickly followed.

Foot Note: Level Up

New perk: Advanced cold resistance – You have additional resistance to the effects of the winter. You gain a further 15% cold resistance.