Stepping outside of Equestria proper felt very strange. Whatever had cleared up the radiation had really only done so for our own country. It hadn't done anything to the lands beyond our borders. There was still a wild part of our world where everything and anything tried to kill you. The Wasteland persevered.

Still, spirits were high to a point. We were able to spend time getting to know our newest companion, Click, as best as were able to communicate with his broken voice processor. It seemed as if we were starting our journey out properly, no matter how uncertain our future was.

Still, I couldn't shake the nagging thoughts in my head about Xerves. He knew somehow that we were searching for the Heartmender, and he was headed to find her before us. And yet, he had also told Iron Comet that he would be waiting for... well... me. Why was I so important to him? What compelled him to seek out this confrontation? Was it because I saved his life?

I wish I knew, but I had a feeling that I was going to find out very, very soon.

“Are you sure we're going the right way?”

“Yes.”

“Really? I could have sworn I've seen that rock already.”

“We're going the right way.”

“Are you sure? I don't think you're sure. You don't sound sure.”

I furrowed my brow and glared at Lightning. “Would you cut it out?! We're going the right way, we've been walking in a straight line for like... the past hour or so!” I shouted angrily.

Lightning grinned sheepishly. “Sorry, I'm just a bit nervous. We've... never been outside of the city before, you know that.”

“Really? You two have never been outside of Chicacolt?” Velvet said as she trotted by.

“No,” I said with a shake of my head. “Why? What about you?”

“Oh, I wasn't born in Chicacolt. I was born out here in the Wasteland,” Velvet said. “Changeling hives are rare, but we still exist here and there. There were quite a few of us before the war.”

“Hives?” Lightning said inquisitively. “You mean, like bees?”

Velvet rolled her eyes. “Yes, exactly like bees. Buzzing, yellow, bees.”

She kept trotting forward, grinning widely as she let my brother try to process her comment. I grimaced. It had been over two hours and we'd just been walking straight out into the Wasteland along the line specified on my PipBuck's map function, and there was just... nothing. No buildings, not even really a road. Just endless rolling hills and rocks.

“Rocky, can you see anything out there?” I asked.

“Negative,” Rocky said. “No sign of any activity. We are alone.”

“At least we're alone, and nopony's watching us,” Coconut said with a heavy breath inside of her armor visor. “Could be worse.”

“You do know that you're jinxing us, right?” I asked.

“What?” Coconut said.

“CLICK,” Click said loudly.

“What he said,” I said. “No, I mean... you know when somepony says it could be worse, that usually means things do get actually worse, right?”

“Oh come on, you fillies don't actually believe that, do you?” Velvet said with a guffaw. “Holy shit, and I thought the robot was stupid.”

“CLICK.”

“Oh whatever, not like you can talk back,” Velvet retorted.

“What, you don't believe in that sort of thing? It's true,” I argued.

“Please. I refuse to believe there's some sort of cosmic deity that sits around trying to make things bad for ponies who say 'it could be worse,'” Velvet said with a chuckle. “That's like... the stupidest thing that I have ever heard.”

“We should likely stop soon for rest,” Rocky said calmly, interrupting our argument. “It is going to be dark soon.”

I sighed. Rocky had a valid point. We weren't all cybernetic or robotic. We needed to eat, to refresh. The problem was... I didn't want to. I wanted to find Xerves and stop him from finding the Heartmender before we could. Knowing that I wasn't going to be able to sway the others to this goal immediately, I just nodded.

“Alright. Rocky's right. Everyone keep an eye out for some place to hole up for the night. We'll stop within the next hour so that we can eat and rest,” I said.

“I was starting to get a little hungry anyways,” Lightning said.

“You're always hungry,” Coconut replied with a chuckle.

“Hey! Not always!”

The banter continued on for another ten minutes or so while we searched aimlessly for somewhere to bed down for the night. I silently cursed at myself at the lack of any supplies that would let us camp out in the open, but those kinds of things were typically bulky and not easily carried for long term travel. We were going to have to make do with something else.

Every step forward however, proved fruitless. We saw nothing more but the rolling hills of bleak wasteland extending as far as the eye could perceive. There was nothing out here. Not even any wildlife. And yet, my PipBuck kept pointing us forward. I grimaced. What if we were on the wrong trail? What if the Heartmender didn't really exist? I couldn't accept that.

“Hey, what's that?” I heard Coconut say.

My ears perked up and I followed her motion, drawing out of my thoughts for a moment. In the distance was the beginnings of a valley, deep reds and browns overshadowing the endless gray. I squinted at something gleaming. Set inside a wall just inside the valley there appeared to be a building of some sort. The closer we got the more I realized that it definitely was a building.

“It's something at least,” I said. “But what is it doing all the way out here?”

“Who cares? It's better than sitting out in the middle of nowhere just waiting for something to eat us,” Lightning pointed out.

“Yes,” Rocky said. “However, we should approach with caution.”

I glanced over at Velvet. She looked... unnerved. She was silent. Usually she had some sort of quip right about now. What was wrong? I tapped her on the shoulder, drawing her attention.

“What?” she hissed.

“Are you alright?” I asked.

“I'm fine. We should get to this place soon. I need to feed,” she said angrily.

I nodded. Perhaps that's just it. She's just hungry. Changelings probably get upset from lack of food, too, I thought. Still... it's weird that she's suddenly just silent.

“Alright, we'll make for the building,” I said. “Everyone keep your wits about you. Click, can you alert us if you see anything?”

“CLICK,” the robot replied. His screen changed to a happy smiling pony.

“Was that a yes or a no?” Lightning asked.

“It was a yes, you goof,” Coconut said.

We kept moving forward, heading towards the strange building. As we got closer, I realized that it wasn't just the valley. The land itself was changing, the ground no longer the gray dead grass. Instead it felt more... solid, comprised of clumps of red clay and brown dirt. We were well and truly outside of Equestria.

I lifted Justice out of its holster, holding it ready in my magic. There was nothing on my E.F.S., but I didn't want to be caught unawares. Mom had always taught us to not be overly reliant on the technology and to always trust our instincts, and something about this place made me feel... strange, alien even. Perhaps that was what was getting to Velvet too. I wasn't sure.

The building loomed ahead. A sign sat out front of it, with writing in what appeared to be plain Equestrian set over some symbols. I couldn't quite make out what they said.

“Power Station ZB3X5,” Velvet said aloud. “It's an old power substation...”

“What is an old power substation doing all the way out here?” I said. “There's nothing around for miles.”

“Perhaps more will be made clear once we get inside,” Rocky said.

“Still, let's be careful. Everyone keep an eye out,” I said.

We approached the substation gingerly. I brought up my E.F.S. again, and thankfully saw nothing. No red blips, no bad things, nothing to worry about. I still worried.

I moved ahead of the others, stepping up the ramp towards the substation's door. I reached out with my magic and pushed it open, my hornlight just barely enough to see the interior of the building. The power station was bare. There wasn't even any debris or rubble. The only thing I heard was a vague clicking sound that was probably coming from the old speaker system. I found myself wondering if nopony had even been here on the day the bombs dropped, but I felt that was unlikely. It was more likely that somepony else had cleaned this place up, but who?

“Looks clear,” I said aloud. I lowered Justice back into its holster. “It's dark though. Need to see if we can turn some lights on.”

“I will locate the power source,” Rocky said. “My eyes are better attuned to the darkness. Velvet, will you accompany me?”

Velvet grimaced, but nodded.

“Alright, let's be careful here. Rotating shifts to guard the entrance. Click, you're on first rotation. You don't need to sleep, so we can all get some rest while Rocky and Velvet work on getting the power on,” I said.

“CLICK,” Click replied. His screen changed to a smiling pony.

We made our way inside and I watched as Rocky and Velvet disappeared down the hallway into the dark. I began unrolling my pack, keeping an ever watchful eye in that direction. I knew deep down that they would be fine, that if anything were to happen that they'd call us immediately, but still I worried about them.

I decided that I needed to get some sleep. My legs were tired from walking so much, and my throat was dry and scratchy. I lifted out my water bottle from my bag and took a deep draw before laying my head back against the bedroll. The others were doing the same. Click stood in front of the doorway, ever vigilant. I closed my eyes and within moments I fell asleep.

I shuffled hard on my bedroll, grunting as my dreams tormented me. I saw myself running away from Bunker City, running and watching as the city burned to the ground. I saw myself lifting Justice to Iron Comet's temple, pulling the trigger, feeling no remorse for my actions. I saw myself watching my friends dying in the ruins underneath the Hoofwich Building.

I tossed and turned until I could no longer. I shot up, my eyes wide open. It was still dark. Why was it still dark? I didn't understand. Rocky and Velvet should have gotten the power back on by then. I turned to the others, intending to say something. My eyes widened as my vision adjusted to the light.

I was alone.

“Hello?” I said as I stood, my legs shaking. The other bed rolls were still there, but they appeared to be... rummaged through. One of them was shredded into several pieces. What happened? Where had my friends gone? Why was I left behind? Nothing made any sense.

I took a few steps forward, hearing a light chuckle come from behind me. I spun about, seeing another pony standing in the shadows that hadn't been there before.

“Who are you?” I asked. “What's going on?”

The other pony shifted, saying nothing. It turned, and I could see its eyes. They were deep red. A glow of red emanated from the pony's forehead.

Another unicorn? I thought as I tried to get a better look.

The light illuminated the pony's face, and I nearly fell over as the pony made its way towards me. I closed my eyes tight and opened them again. It was still there. It was still wearing a face that was impossible.

It was me. My mind turned to the obvious answer.

“Velvet, this isn't funny,” I said. “Cut it out.”

“Velvet isn't here,” the other pony said. My own voice spoke back at me. “It's just you and me.”

“Who... who are you?”

“Isn't it obvious? I'm you, or at least, I'm the part of you that takes what she wants, the other pony said, her tone melodious and low. “The part of you not paralyzed and weak with fear.”

“That's... impossible. How? How are you here?” I said frantically.

“I'm not really here,” the other me replied casually. “Come now, Starry. You're a smart mare. Figure it out.”

I looked down at my hooves and grimaced. “This is a dream,” I said. “I'm dreaming.”

“Bravo. Like I said, you are smart,” the other me said.

“But... if this is a dream, then you're not real. I can wake up whenever I want,” I said.

“Oh, just because this is a dream doesn't mean that I'm not real. I'm just as much a part of you as the filly that wet the bed,” the other me said. “Like it or not, I'm here.”

“What do you want then? Huh?” I asked angrily. “What's the point of a dream like this?”

“We're just having a chat,” the other me said. “You've been drawing me out a lot lately. Such bad thoughts. Such... naughty thoughts.”

My face turned red. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Oh, please. I'm you, remember?” the other mare said. “I know that you've been thinking about him. Velvet was right you know. She could feel the connection. It doesn't hurt that he's cute, either.”

“Rocky... Rocky's not interested in that,” I said vehemently. “He's my friend. We're just friends.”

“Oh, but you want to be more than friends,” the other me replied casually. She sauntered around me, circling as she spoke. “Don't deny it. You want him, but you're afraid. Don't be. You must take what you want, Starry. Throw caution to the wind.”

I glanced at my hooves. She was right about one thing. I did want more than just friendship with Rocky, deep down, but I knew that it would never happen. There wasn't the time for it. Not with having to find the Heartmender. Not with having to save Mom.

I glanced back at the other me. I didn't know what was happening or why, but this felt wrong. It felt like someone else. This wasn’t me. I didn’t think like this. Or I hadn’t… until I got that knife. My eyes widened as I realized it..

“Oh, you have figured it out haven't you?” the other me said, her eyes flashing a deep red.

“You're not me,” I said. “You're that thing. The thing inside the knife.”

“Very astute, and incredibly smart,” the other me said. “That's why I picked you, Starry. You are smart and capable of wielding true power. You just need the push to take what you want.”

“No. I'm not going to use you. Never again,” I said. I closed my eyes, hoping and praying I could will myself awake. I heard the other me chuckle softly.

“We'll see about that,” she said. “Heed my advice, Starry. Take what you desire. Give in to it, and together we can make this Wasteland a better place. All’z’reth’s will be done.”

I kept my eyes shut and counted to three before opening them. My eyes opened to blackness. The other me was gone. The blackness covered everything, intensifying until I could see no more.

My eyes shot open with a jolt to a soft white light. I sat up quickly, rubbing the side of my head with a hoof. My head felt like a jackhammer was being driven into my skull. How long had I been asleep? I looked to my left, seeing Rocky propped up against the wall next to me. He raised an eyebrow.

“How long was I out?” I asked.

“A little while. Not too long,” Rocky rumbled.

“Where's everyone else?”

“In the other room. You were... tossing and turning. The others felt it was necessary not to disturb you,” Rocky replied calmly.

“But you stayed?” I said.

Rocky nodded. “I wanted to be sure that you were alright.”

“I'm... I'm fine,” I said, glancing down at my hooves. I could feel the heat in my cheeks rising. I decided I needed to change the subject and fast. “Did you find anything else in this place?”

“Unfortunately, no. It appears to have been thoroughly cleaned out. No debris, no rubble, not even a single skeleton,” Rocky said.

“That's strange,” I replied. I was starting to have a bad feeling about this place. If the station was completely clean, then someone had already been here. What if they came back? “Let's go see the others. We should leave soon.”

Rocky merely nodded as he stood and helped me to my hooves. I could feel the heat again as he touched me, my mind drifting to my dream. Was it really so bad for me to tell him how I felt? I shook the thought away as quickly as it came. This wasn't my subconscious trying to tell me something, it was that thing in the knife trying to break through, to take control. I had to keep focused on the task at hand, and get rid of that thing as soon as possible.

You could leave it here... I thought to myself. I grimaced. I really couldn't though. If I was going to do anything with it, I was going to have to bury it or figure out a way to destroy it. Letting it sit where someone else could find it didn't sit right with me.

We made our way out to the others. Click stood calmly in the doorway, keeping an ever watchful screen while Coconut and Lightning sat in the corner and chatted lightly. Velvet sat nearby, her eyes glued to some book she'd found. They perked up as we walked into the room.

“Hey Sis,” Lightning said. “Feeling better?”

“I'm alright,” I replied. “But I think we need to get going. Something just doesn't feel right about this place.”

“You're not wrong,” Velvet said, lifting the book. “I found this in one of the offices.”

I took the book in my magic. It was a journal. I flipped open the pages, reading the last entry aloud. The date on it threw me off. It was post-war, but dated about fifty years ago.

I found an old substation at the end of the valley. If I'm lucky, the insectoid bastards won't find me here. I'm low on food, water, and medical supplies. I'm nearly out of ammo too. I gotta get back into Equestria proper before they get here. They give themselves away with that damned clicking sounds they make. I don't think they realize that I can hear them. It's helped keep me ahead of them several times now.

I'm tired though, and I need to rest. This place seems clean enough. I can't bank on them just passing by though, it's pretty noticeable. I'm going to rest for a bit and then get going. They can't chase me forever.

I grimaced, scanning down the page to the end of the entry.

I can hear them. That clicking sound. They're coming. They're too close for me to escape. I'm boxed in. The worse thing is I can hear clicking inside too. A trap. I wasn't escaping, I was being herded here so they could capture me. I have mere moments... Goddesses above... if you find this, tell Sun Spark I love her...

The rest of the writing trailed off illegibly. I glanced up at Velvet. Our eyes met as we both heard it. The clicking sound that had been there before, suddenly at the forefront of our attention and getting louder. I hadn't given much thought to it earlier because it sounded innocuous. Now I knew it was a trap.

“We need to go!” I shouted, removing Justice from its holster.

The others scrambled to get their things together as the clicking sounds got worse and worse. I turned at a high pitched shrieking beep from the doorway. Click dropped back, the image of an unhappy pony on his screen. He had claw marks on his casing. A shimmer filled the air and something stepped out of it.

The creature was equine in nature but covered in black chitin, and had large insectoid like eyes. I recognized it immediately as a changeling. It held what appeared to be an energy rifle of some sorts in its green magic.

I lifted Justice and fired. The changeling ducked, my shot missing by a mile and pinging off of the metal beams behind it. The changeling clicked loudly, lifting a weapon.

“Starry, duck!” I heard a shout from behind me. I dropped like a rock as Coconut fired over me, catching the creature off guard.

The changeling yelped as the round struck it, sending it flying back into the wall where it landed in a pile of green blood. More clicking surrounded us as several more of the creatures shimmered from out of nowhere.

Click pushed himself up, aiming his laser weaponry at two of the changelings. He fired, his blasts missing as the two changelings rushed forward, knocking him over. One of them spewed some green goo out of its mouth, completely immobilizing him.

Chaos erupted all around me. Behind me, Rocky tangled with three changelings, his claws slashing wildly through the air before he too was hit by more of that green goo. To my side, Coco and Lightning stood back to back, firing their weapons at more of the insectoid creatures. They too succumbed to the green stuff. I stood tall as Velvet ended up next to me, her own weapon hovering in the air next to her.

“Can't you like... talk to them?” I hissed.

“I tried to, they ignored me,” Velvet said. “If they do understand me, they likely don't care.”

“Everyone else is down. We should try talking to them. Maybe it's just a big misunderstanding,” I whispered. I lowered Justice into its holster. “Hey! We surrender! Don't shoot!”

Several more of the changelings shimmered out of nowhere. One of them wore a sash that must have been some sort of identification, marking it as the leader. It stood over Click and opened its mouth, emitting that harsh clicking sound. Three of the others came up behind it and began to lift Click, still encased in the goo.

“Hey!” I shouted. “Leave him alone!”

The head changeling's alien eyes glanced over at me and Velvet. It growled and clicked loudly, lifting one of its legs to point at us. Two changelings walked past him and up to us.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

The head changeling nodded. The other two changelings hissed and opened their mouths, expelling more of that green goo. Everything faded to black as it covered myself and Velvet.

I blinked. I'd been to this place before. It was the void. The endless void. I couldn't remember why I'd been there, I just knew that I had.

I turned to look around, seeing nothing but vague shapes and forms. Was this death? No. The changelings hadn't killed us, they'd captured us. I struggled, trying to force myself to wake up from this awful place, this place of endlessness. I couldn't. I couldn't wake up.

“All'z'reth.”

My eyes widened as the voice rocked through my core. I frantically looked around, searching for the origin of it. In the distance, in the void I saw a form. Two blood red eyes stared back at me.

“All'z'reth.”

“What? What is this?” I called out.

“I am that which is is unfathomable. Do you hear my call? I call to you with every waking moment.”

The knife. Of course. I was knocked out, which based on my recent interaction with whatever the thing inside it was, was what allowed it to attempt to do whatever it was going to do to me.

“No. I'm not... Leave me alone... I'm not going to answer your call!”

“Oh you will. You will. You are the one. The one who has come. All'z'reth.”

I scowled. I had to stay strong, to prevent the thing from getting to me. I couldn't even understand what it wanted. It didn't want what I wanted. I wanted... I...

“You wish to save your mother. You wish revenge upon the wicked Xerves. You wish to be strong, to be powerful. I can give you all of that, and so much more. Heed my call, young one. You are the strongest of them all.”

“No. I... I can't...”

“Why not? Why shouldn't the world kneel in supplication to you? Why shouldn't you be able to fulfill your revenge? Why shouldn't you be able to save your mother? You can.”

“But... you're... it’s... its wrong,” I tried to say. I was having trouble thinking clearly. I saw flashes of Mom in my mind. Dying. Dead. Gone. I saw Xerves laughing over her grave. The dark presence in my mind was right about one thing. I needed to stop him, and I needed to save Mom.

“Is it so wrong to wish for life?”

I looked down at my hooves. No... it wasn't. I grimaced and looked back up the shadowy form, at the red piercing eyes in front of me.

“S-S-Show me.”

My eyes flickered open to varying shades of green. In fact, nearly everything in front of me was shaded in green. I tried to move my legs, but found that I was unable to. I looked down and realized my legs were stuck, encased in the same kind of green hardened goo that the changelings had shot at us.

I lifted my head and tried to take in my surroundings. I was inside a very organic looking cavern, all smooth curves and bulges. Occasional parts of the cavern glowed with a green light, which explained why I was seeing everything in shades of the sickly color. I craned my neck to the side as my eyes adjusted and I could see the others clearly. They were being held in a similar fashion as I was. They all appeared to be unconscious. I couldn't see Click among them. Where was he?

“Starry?” I heard a soft voice say.

My head craned to glance to my side. Velvet's eyes opened, flashing green. I realized that she had been reduced to her normal form.

“Velvet? They're holding you too? I thought maybe...” I started to say.

“I'm not from this hive, they don't know me,” Velvet said. “Starry, we have to get out of here. Wild changelings like this... they... they don't just devour the feelings of emotion from their victims. They devour their victims.”

I gulped loudly. “But... how? I can't move, and I don't even know where Click is.”

“They moved him. Took him somewhere. I'm not sure where,” Velvet said with a sigh. “They took us by surprise so quickly.”

“If we can get free, can you guide us around here?” I asked.

Velvet grimaced, but nodded. “It's been a really long time since I was in a hive, but they're all mostly the same design,” she said. “But we have to get free first. This stuff is as hard as a rock.”

“We're going to have to somehow make them let us go and get the drop on them,” I said softly. “The problem is, I don't know how we're going to do that.”

Before Velvet could reply I heard steps in the hallway beyond. Two changelings appeared in the entrance to our prison. One of them, much larger than the other, stepped forward, light green magic shaping its body as it walked. Eventually a rough looking unicorn stallion stood in front of us. He grinned wickedly as he looked us down and up.

“Who are you? Why are we here?” I asked cautiously.

The changeling's eyes widened. He opened his mouth and spoke. “Trespassers. Badlands belong to us.”

“If you let us go, we'll be on our way,” I said confidently. I could see Velvet's eyes in my peripheral. She was frightened.

“Trespassers do not leave. Trespassers punished,” the stallion-changeling replied. “Trespassers die.”

Velvet suddenly spoke from behind me, talking in clicks and hisses that I didn't understand. I took it to be whatever her native language was. The stallion responded in kind with harsh unforgiving clicks that made me think the conversation wasn't going well.

“What is he saying?” I asked.

“He said that his group controls this area and everything in it,” Velvet said. “We were trespassing in one of their way points. They... they don't care if we didn't mean to, only that we did. However, we did bring them a robot, which is why they haven't dismembered and eaten us yet.”

“Click,” I said angrily. “What did you do with him?!”

The stallion clicked harshly once more. Velvet hissed back before sighing.

“He said that they plan to turn the robot into a weapon of war, something they can use to unite the other tribes in the area,” she said. “Shit... Starry... these aren't just changelings... they're raiders. They're evil.”

The changeling-stallion cackled wildly and for a brief moment, I could see it. I could see the madness inside. If we didn't find a way out of this, we were done for. They were going to kill us. The only reason they were keeping us alive was because of Click. He clicked again at Violet, angrily.

“He said that he'll be back to find someone to help configure the robot,” Velvet said. “Or else we'll all die.”

I grimaced, keeping stone-faced as the changeling turned and trotted back to the entrance, transforming back into his insectoid self. He clicked loudly again and turned, spraying more of that green goop to create a barrier. As soon as it covered the entrance I felt the stuff holding me down begin to crack. Suddenly my legs were free. I fell forward, grunting as I heard the others drop as well.

“Where... where are we?” I heard Lightning say.

“Trapped, it seems,” Rocky answered. He stood shakily and looked to me, his yellow eyes narrowing. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah... I'm fine, but that's not the real problem. These... these changelings... they're raiders. They've got Click, and the only reason they haven't killed us yet is because they can't get him online,” I hastily explained.

“But... none of us know anything about robots,” Coconut said as she stood. She'd been stripped of her power armor.

“I'm the only likely candidate for interfacing with Click,” Rocky said with a grumble.

“If you... if you did it could you reactivate him? Take them by surprise?” I asked.

“And do what exactly? Get captured again? We didn't exactly fare well the first time around,” Velvet said with exasperation. “We walked right into their little trap.”

I grimaced. Velvet had a point. For all the training and all the effort Mom had put into us to try and prepare us for the outside Wasteland, we were doing a pretty poor job of living up to those standards. I had led my friends into this hell, I was going to have to be the one to get them out of it.

“Alright. Look. We've got some time before they come back. We're stuck here for the time being, so we can make a plan,” I said. “Anyone have any ideas?”

“Okay, so we build a giant wooden pony...” Lightning started to say.

“Anyone have any good ideas?” I said, cutting him off before he could finish. I sighed loudly when no one offered a reply. “Alright then. I guess I'll have to come up with a plan.”

“Starry, calm down. We'll think of something,” Coconut said softly. “But we can't do that if we're not up to strength. Haven't you noticed it? We're not well.”

Velvet grimaced. “She's right. They're slowly draining us. They can feel our emotions and they're draining them right out.”

I stopped for a moment and felt. Velvet and Coconut was right. There was something nagging on the edge of my thoughts, something alien and unknown. And yet... I wasn't feeling any worse for wear. In fact, I felt fine. Why did I feel fine when the others looked and felt like hell? It didn't make any sense.

“Alright... alright. Look. Everyone try and rest up then. I'm going to see if I can't get in contact with someone. At least we have our PipBucks,” I said, waving my foreleg holding the device in question. It seemed the changelings hadn't figured out how to remove them, or likely didn't care. “Maybe if we can send a distress call, somepony could come help us.”

Before any of the others could say anything, I trotted to the other side of the cavern and brought up my PipBuck. I tried to access the broadcaster, but all I seemed to be getting was static on the other end. I brought up the automap and it actually crashed the device, forcing it to reboot. The only thing that seemed to be working was S.A.T.S. and the inventory functionality, which only had one item listed of Unknown. I grimaced angrily after trying over and over for what felt like hours, but according to my PipBuck was only ten minutes. Of course the clock would be functional, I thought to myself.

“Starry?”

I looked back to see Rocky sitting next to me. His eyes narrowed as he motioned at the PipBuck.

“Is... everything okay?” he asked.

I looked down at my hooves and sighed. “No... I can't get out to anyone. And every time I try to bring up a map, my PipBuck crashes.”

“I see. Is there anything that I can do?” Rocky said softly.

“No... I'm going to keep trying. It's the only thing I can do,” I said.

Rocky nodded and walked away to join the others. I wanted to tell him to stay, to keep me company, but I was too focused on the task at hoof. I kept playing with my PipBuck until I found the notes tab under a sub menu I usually didn't use. One of them stuck out at me.

STARRY READ THIS!

I flicked to it and blinked as my PipBuck started connecting to an outside source. Static filled my earbloom and then suddenly... a voice.

“Starry?”

I blinked. “D-D-Dusk?” I said under my breath. “Is that you?”

“Yes. I see you found my hidden option I inserted into your PipBuck menu,” Dusk replied casually. “You sound worried, is something wrong?”

“We're... we were captured by a group of changeling raiders,” I whispered. “Just outside of Equestria... some place called the Badlands.”

“Badlands? Sweet Celestia what are you doing there? I would have thought you would have gone around the place... Okay... well... hmm...” Dusk said over the feed. “Are you hurt? Do you have anything that could be used as a weapon?”

“No... some of the others are experiencing fatigue though. Something Velvet calls emotion draining. I feel fine though,” I said with a grimace. “As far as a weapon is concerned... I don't think so. Our gear was taken when they knocked us out and brought us here. Wherever here is...”

“Listen, you need to get out of there. I don't know how much I can help you, but I'll do my best. The first priority, you need to find Click. Once you do, patch your PipBuck into him and I can direct you the rest of the way using him,” Dusk said calmly. “First things first though, you need to get out of that room. I have an idea... hmm...”

“What? What is it?” I asked.

“Well, this stuff really responds to phase harmonics, you know... sound waves. So if I can just... there. I've made an adjustment to your PipBuck and added a new radio station to it. Tune to it and it will emit a localized sonic burst that should shatter that hard green stuff,” Dusk said.

I blinked. “You did what? How... how did you do that?”

“Don't worry about that. You have no time to waste. Get going!” Dusk said.

I stood, turning to the others. “I may have a way out of here.”

“Were you able to reach someone?” Lightning said. “Who were you talking to?”

“I... I got through to Dusk,” I said, glancing down at my hooves. “He gave me a possible way to get out of this room.”

“Wait... who's Dusk?” Velvet asked.

“The pony on the radio,” Rocky stated calmly. “The one you were talking to when Miss Coconut was in trouble.”

“Right. The one and the same. He told me if we can find Click, then we can get out of here. He can... connect into him and help us,” I said adamantly. “But we need to move fast, or it'll be too late.”

“And you just... trust this strange pony?” Coconut said, her eyebrow raised. I could see that even she was doubting me. Why was she doubting me? This was Coconut! My best friend!

In truth, I doubted it myself. It all felt too coincidental, like Dusk knew more than he was letting on. What did he know about us? About what was going on? Did I really trust him? He had helped in saving Coconut's life... I knew that much to be true, and that's all that mattered to me.

“I do,” I said finally after making my decision. “Coco, he helped me when your life was in danger. You've never doubted me before, please listen to me now.”

Coconut looked down to her hooves and sighed. “You're right. I don't know why I would ever think otherwise.”

“Likely it has something to do with the emotional drain on all of us,” Velvet said calmly. “As positive emotions are drained, negative emotions run high.”

“It just means we need to get out of here, and fast,” Lightning said. “Before we all end up chewing each other’s throats out.”

I grimaced. He was right about that. “Alright then. Stand back. According to Dusk, turning on my PipBuck's radio should emit a frequency that will disrupt the wall.”

I stepped forward and lifted my leg. I browsed through the menus on my PipBuck until I found my radio. I clicked it on and waited. Then suddenly there was a high pitched whine that burst forth from its speaker. The wall in front of me began to shimmer and shake.

“Aahhh!” I heard from behind me. I turned my head to see Velvet holding her hooves to her ears. This thing was affecting her too?

“Velvet?!”

“I'm alright, keep going. It's just really loud...” she replied.

I nodded and turned back to the wall, trying to do my best to keep the PipBuck pointed at it. At first it felt like nothing was happening except for the shimmering, but then suddenly a crack burst open in the center. Pretty soon, the crack widened and fissured until the entire wall was no more. I cranked down the radio volume and clicked it off. The cavern walls shook around us.

“There's no way they didn't hear that,” I said. “We're going to have to be quick. Dusk? Can you tell us where to find Click?”

Dusk's voice burst into life, startling the others as they too were able to hear it. “Go right. I've got a bit of a bead on this place, but it's not great. I'll be able to help you more when you get the robot back.”

“Got it,” I said.

We made our way into the hallway carefully and quickly. It was long and tunnel-like in nature, kind of like an ant colony. It made sense I supposed, given the insectoid nature of the changelings. I pointed to the right and we started down it. There was no one around at all. It made no sense. The changelings had to have heard the noise. They would come and check our prison.

We rounded the only corner at the end of the long tunnel, opening up into a chamber. I glanced up at the walls in horror. Lining them were more of those green structures. Inside of them were ponies, frozen in terror. Was this what we would end up like? Frozen food for a group of changelings? I shuddered at the thought.

“What the fuck...?” I heard Lightning say softly.

“Keep moving,” Dusk's voice said. “At the end of this hallway, you'll turn left. I'm getting a faint signal from the robot.”

I nodded, pressing forward. The others followed silently, watching all around as if they expected to be attacked at any moment. We quickly found the end of the hall and turned down to the left. I stopped cold as we nearly ran into two changelings. They clicked loudly in their alien language, lifting their rifles in the sickly green glow of their magic.

Rocky snarled and leaped into action before they could fire. He grabbed one of the rifles and slashed it to bits with his claws. The other changeling growled, sending a blast of telekinesis at my friend, flinging him into the wall.

I blinked. The effects of the emotion drainage were starting to become more pronounced, even affecting the usually stoic Rocky. I had to do something and fast. I flicked up my PipBuck's inventory, hoping to find anything that could help me, but knowing I wouldn't. And yet, there was something. An unknown item? What the hell? I selected it, and suddenly I felt its presence.

The knife. How...? How had the knife gotten on me when they'd stripped us of our gear? And yet, here it was floating in the air in front of me, gripped in my magic.

“Starry? Where did you...?” Coconut said.

My eyes narrowed at the two changelings. They had stopped, looking at the knife with wide eyes. They were enthralled by it. I grinned and lifted it higher into the air. I wanted to use it. I didn't want to really, but in that moment, I hardly cared. I wasn't going to let these things kill me or my friends. I had to use what I had available to me, and what I had was the knife. In that moment, my perception of it changed. I wanted it. I wanted to use its power.

I growled and brought it across in a wild slash, tearing the unarmed changeling's throat apart. Its lifeblood spilled out and onto the ground, greenish in color, as the other changeling moved to lift his rifle. He never got a chance. I brought the knife back around, embedding it into my attacker's left eye. I roared and pulled it out, repeatedly stabbing the insectoid beast until it stopped moving. I panted loudly and looked over at Rocky.

“Are you alright?” I asked.

“I... I am... where did you get that?” he replied.

“I... I don't know, but it doesn't matter. It's a weapon,” I said. “We need to keep moving. We don't have much time.”

Velvet spoke softly. “That thing is evil, Starry. You need to throw it away.”

I glared at her angrily. “Don't tell me what to do. We don't have a choice. Now are we finding Click or not?”

“Fine, but once we get out of here, we're burying it,” Velvet said with a grimace.

I turned back to the hallway and started forward. Who cared what the other thought about the knife? It was the only way I was getting us out of this hellhole. The others followed cautiously behind.

“Starry,” I heard Dusk say.

“Unless you have something to say about where Click is, shut up.”

“...fine. I'm picking up the robot's signal clearer now. At the intersection, go right. The robot is being held in a large open room it looks like.”

I followed along until the intersection came up. I made a hard right and barreled right into another group of changelings. They were getting more frequent, likely having realized we were free. They stood no chance against me, aided by the power of the knife. I had to find Click. I had to find the Heartmender, to save Mom.

I slashed out, dropping one of them to the ground hard. The other I barreled into, growling madly. I felt rage inside me, building with every changeling I attacked. What was going on? I knew deep down what it was. The knife was driving me forward, controlling my every action. I hardly noticed the others behind me. I kept moving forward.

“Dusk, where is he?”

“Starry, you have to stop,” Dusk replied.

“Enough. Where is Click?”

“The signal I'm getting says he's just up ahead. You're nearly on top of him,” Dusk said with a sigh.

I moved forward, deeper into the room before me. This room was more... technological than the rest of the hive. There were actual walls here, like the raiders had built the hive onto the original structure. Several changelings stood around Click. The robot was hooked up to several terminals, lying on its back. The changelings turned around, clicking loudly in their own language. I growled and waved the knife in the air.

“Let him go,” I said menacingly. “Now.”

The changelings yelped loudly and scurried away. I took a step forward, ready to chase them down, but managed to stop. I turned to Click. The robot appeared to be disabled. His screen was blank.

“Starry?” I heard from behind me. The others had caught up. Coconut stood next to me. I glared at her and then back to Click.

“Dusk,” I said, ignoring her. “Can you get Click online?”

“Yeah, I can do it. Just give me a few moments... and.... done!”

Click's body started to move, his viewscreen turning back on. The robot stood, the face of a happy pony appearing on the screen.

“CLICK!”

“Dusk. You said you can interface with him, so you can see us?”

“Right. Give one second to upload that program,” Dusk replied.

Click's viewscreen began to change colors for a few seconds until static appeared. Suddenly the face of a unicorn appeared. He was dark, and I couldn't see much of his coloration as the feed was black and white. I knew it was Dusk.

“Good,” I said. “We're wasting too much time. Can you locate our gear?”

Dusk frowned. “Starry. You need to stop for a second. This isn't you. The knife, it's getting into your head. You need to put it down.”

“Dusk's right, sis,” Lightning said as he stepped up next to Coconut. “You're not acting right. Please do what he's asking you to do.”

I growled under my breath and then started shouting. “And let ourselves get captured again?! You're all being drained of your strength and I have a weapon that can get us out of here, and you want me to throw it away?! Are you all fucking crazy?!”

“No, we're asking you to trust us,” Rocky said. “Trust us that we're only trying to help.”

“That thing is evil,” Velvet interjected. “I can feel the powerful hate coming off of it. If you don't get rid of it, it will consume you.”

“I'm getting a reading. We need to resolve this now before we're surrounded,” Dusk said from Click's screen.

I looked down at my hooves and glared. I wasn't going to let anything prevent me from finding the Heartmender, from getting out of this hellhole. But... was the knife right? Was it what I wanted? I could feel it festering, feel my hate rising. I stood still, pondering my options.

“We're running out of time,” Dusk said. “Starry, quickly. Give the knife to Rocky.”

I shook my head. “No. You don't understand. I need it to save Mom.”

Coconut sighed loudly. “Look, this isn't the time to be arguing. Those changelings are going to be on us any second. Dusk, did you find our gear? If we had our stuff we could fight our way out.”

“I did, but there's no time. They're almost...”

I heard buzzing all around us. Changelings stood at every angle inside the room. They were dressed like raiders, bits and pieces of metal and leather strapped to them as armor. At the head of the host of changelings was the one from earlier that had questioned us. It transformed into a mare, a grin forming on its face.

“You all did very well in re-activating the robot,” he said. “Letting you run free lost me a few warrior drones, but it was worth it. They were barely intelligent.”

“What do you mean? We escaped,” Coconut said.

The changeling leader chuckled loudly. “Not at all. You were released on purpose. I knew you would try to escape, to try and get to the robot. I placed a few drones here and there to make you think you were being slowed down. It worked out well, don't you think? Helps when you have a little help. Isn't that right, Miss Kiss?”

I turned back and looked at Velvet. She shrank underneath my glare. The changeling leader grinned widely as Velvet shook her head violently.

“She didn't have any choice, of course. She's a drone class. She can't resist the call of a queen,” he said. “We've been using her to keep tabs on you the entire time.”

“I...” Velvet said. Her eyes widened. She took a few steps backwards, struggling to look away, but she couldn't.

“All of this for just a robot? What kind of raiders are you?” I asked angrily.

“Oh. Yes. That is what she told you. Raiders. No, I'm afraid that was incorrect. We're not raiders. We're survivors. This hive has been surviving for centuries,” the leader replied casually.

“By taking ponies from the Wasteland and draining them dry of their emotions,” Lightning said.

“Yes... well, we have to eat, don't we? But now, with this robot, we can save our tribe and become a true power in the region,” the changeling said.

“I don't think so,” Dusk said from Click's screen. “Even with the capabilities this robot possesses, it is highly unlikely it will aid your quest. I'll shut it down myself if I have to.”

“Then your little friends here will die,” the changeling said. “We have you all surrounded, and you're miles underground. There is no escape.”

Dusk grimaced from inside the screen. The changeling leader was right about one thing. There was no way out of this. We were stuck.

“Does it matter? You're going to kill us anyways,” Rocky said. “If I'm going to die, I'm going to take down as many of you as I can before I go.”

“Same here,” Coconut and Lightning said in unison.

“I don't think you quite understand. Release the robot, and I will let you go. It is that easy,” the changeling replied.

I scowled. There had to be a way out of this without giving up Click, but I couldn't see it. If we didn't give him Click, he was going to kill us. If we did... we'd be giving up our newest friend to save our own skins. It burned me up inside. I hated these things so much.

You could just always... oh... I dunno... kill them all, a voice in the back of my head said.

I blinked. What...?

You know who I am, Starry. All'z'reth. R'k'tylth. The one has come.

You... the thing inside the knife.

Yes. I can help you, Starry. You can stop this. Give in. You're stronger than the others. You don't need them. Show them how strong you are. Show them your strength.

No... I can't. They're right, you're evil. I need to throw you away.

Use me, Starry. Kill all of them. You are the one. The one who is capable of wielding our power without it corrupting you. None of them have been worthy, truly worth of the glory of All'z'reth. You are.

My mind reeled with possibility. Yes... I could see myself heralding in a new age. The age of All'z'reth, whatever that was. I would have the power to save Mom, and I wouldn't need a Heartmender to do it. The feeling of it was... intoxicating to say the least.

But... killing? Why would I?

You've already taken their blood. My body is stained in the glory of your kills. Take more of it for yourself.

It was right. I'd already killed several changelings on the way to this point in time. I blinked, not really truly realizing what I'd done. I looked down at the knife briefly, and there it was. The proof of my transgressions. Blood stained the knife, shining bright red in the darkness. Was I willing to shed more? Not doing so meant my friends could die.

Your friends must be shown your glory, Starry. They must be shown your strength.

I grimaced. It was right. I was strong. I had power. The power of All'z'reth would help me get my friends away from this place safely.

“So, do you have an answer?” the changeling leader replied. “Are you willing to comply and give us what we want?”

I responded first before anyone else could. I lifted the knife into the air with my magic, shrieking loudly as I forced it into the changeling's eye socket. He howled madly, staggering backwards. I ripped the knife out, greenish blood spurting everywhere as he fell to the ground.

Chaos erupted around me. Three changelings lifted their rifles, struggling to fire. I turned with a wicked grin and sent the knife soaring across the room, slicing open their throats in a hot second. I roared with delight. The thing inside was right. It felt good to show my strength. It felt good to show how powerful I was. I would show them all.

“Starry?!” I heard Coconut shout.

I pushed her outside of my mind and focused on the task at hand. There would be time for praise and supplication later. I snarled and pulled the knife back to me. I heard movement as several changelings that had their firearms trained on us moved to fire. I spun around and growled, sending a wave of telekinetic energy out with my horn that sent them sprawling to the ground.

“Stay down!” I roared, slashing wildly with the knife. “You will not hurt my friends!”

I brought down the knife, repeatedly stabbing at the changelings. Eventually I began to realize that they weren't attacking anymore. They were running.

Good... good... run away, scurry like the bugs you are! I gleefully thought. Run away before I stamp you out!

The hive shuddered as I felt another presence creep into the room. I heard the others gasp. I wasn't paying much attention to them. Instead, I glared right at her as she appeared.

The queen. She was enormous in size, standing several hands higher than the rest of them. Her eyes shone with green fury.

“Desecration!” she bellowed. “What is the meaning of this?!”

I turned, my face covered in changeling blood. I could feel it drying on my coat as I spoke. “All'z'reth. You will all die and face judgment.”

“Starry! You have to stop this!” I heard Dusk cry out. “That thing... it's taking you away from your friends! Remember why you are here! Remember your mother!”

“I am doing this for her, and for all of you,” I spat. I glanced up at the changeling queen. “Tell me. Do you wish to die today?”

“Abomination. My children are dead, and you claim their blood. No matter what happens, I have died. The rest of you... leave this place. Take this creature with you. You will find your belongings above in the entrance hall,” the changeling queen replied angrily.

I snarled triumphantly. I'd done it. I'd gotten us free. There was nothing to stop me now. I would leave and find Xerves and the Heartmender, and then I would return to my mother and save her! Then all would exult in the name of All'z'reth! I stalked towards the hallway leading above. I could hear the others following. Of course they would follow. I was powerful. I was strong.

The changelings scurried away as we made our way back to the surface entrance of the hive. Their eyes showed the fear inside they held for me. It felt good. The entrance was a cave mouth, the harsh Badlands lay before it. The others acquired their gear, while I stood inside of the entrance.

Xerves was out there. I had to find him, had to show him that I too was now stronger than he. We made our way into the valley, striding forward towards destiny.

I didn't hear them as several sets of hooves and a set of claws tackled me to the ground. I had been too busy reveling in my strength. The betrayers! They sought to separate me from the knife! I wrestled against their holds, trying to access my magic.

“Get it away from her!” I heard Coconut shout.

“Dammit, Starry, hold still!” Lightning said.

“Let me go!” I cried out. “Stop!”

“I have the knife,” I heard Rocky say. “Let her up.”

I growled as I was released from their grasp. I stood and leveled my gaze at the others. Rocky held the knife in his claws.. He slid it into his bandolier. I could still feel its power, pulsing and waiting for me to use it. Just because he'd removed it hadn't severed my connection to it. It was too strong now. I tried to access my magic, but found it diminished. I reached up to my horn and felt a dampener ring.

“Give it back,” I said angrily.

“No!” Lightning replied. “Sis, you have to stop. Do you know what you just did back there? You just murdered a fuckton of changelings!”

“I had to. They were going to kill us.”

“Starry,” I heard Dusk's voice coming from Click. “You need to calm yourself. The entity in the knife is feeding off your rage and emotions for your friends, for your mother. You cannot let it control you.”

“What he said,” Velvet added. “I can feel the energy coming from that thing. Its evil incarnate.”

“What do you care, Velvet? You would leave us if you didn’t have to stay.”

Velvet grimaced. “That's... that's true. I don't care. I would soon as leave. I'm here against my will, and I don't really like any of you...” She glanced up at me. “But I... I wanted to. I wanted to try to learn to be better. I saw how much you all care for each other, and I wanted to not be the pony I was before! You showed me that!”

“You are a fool. Weak.”

“Maybe I am, but at least I'm not fucking evil,” Velvet replied with a growl.

I snorted in derision. I turned to my brother, a wicked grin forming on my face.

“What about you, Lightning? Dearest brother, who would rather spend his time with his snout up Coconut's plot than learning Mother's lessons? What would you have me do? Let them kill us?”

Lightning blushed as he glanced at Coconut. He started to say something before she butted in.

“Hey! Leave him alone! He's your brother!” she shouted. “Have you forgotten why we're here?!”

“Oh, Coconut. Poor, sweet, deluded Coconut. And what exactly have you done? Oh, that's right. Nothing. You even almost died! I had to save you. To answer your question, no I have not forgotten. I am going to save Mother, and along with it... the world.”

“Starry, stop this! You can't let that thing beat you! Fight it!” Dusk said from inside Click's screen.

“And why do you care, Dusk? Why should I trust you? You know so many things, but you're powerless to stop this, aren't you? Why do you know so much? How did you know my father?!”

Lightning's eyes widened as he glanced at Dusk. Dusk stayed silent.

“We should restrain her,” Rocky said silently. “She is a danger to herself and to us. We must separate her from the knife.”

“You will give me the knife,” I said forcefully.

“What are we going to do after that? She's gone, Rocks. I can feel it. Her emotions, her positive ones, they're fucking gone,” Velvet said under her breath. I could hear her clear as day. “Not even... shit. Not even what she felt for you.”

Rocky's yellow eyes narrowed. “I am more than aware of those feelings. I... I wish we did not have to do this, but we must. It is the only way she will survive. Velvet, you will prepare the rope. Bind her and don't let her get up. Coconut, you and I must be ready to hold her.”

I growled under my breath, tensing up. I had to bide my time and wait. Wait for them to strike.

Coconut and Rocky dove in head first, likely hoping their combined weight would hold me until Velvet could wrap her ropes around me. I tried to access my magic again, trying to force it through the dampener. It wouldn't go. I growled and snarled as they tried to hold me, gnashing my teeth until I could find purchase on something tangible. Then I realized one crucial thing.

Rocky forgot to give the knife to someone else.

I howled as I reached out with my dampened magic once more. I tugged hard on the edges of the dampening field, hoping that my connection with the knife could prove stronger. The knife heeded my call, and I heard its blade find purchase.

“Ahh!” I heard Rocky shout. He stood, clutching his one clawed hand with his other.

My eyes widened. The knife had impaled his claws, cleanly through. A mixture of blood and what looked like oil ran down his arm. His yellow eyes appeared pained. I blinked. In that instant, I felt the connection to the knife began to falter.

“What... what have I...?” I stuttered.

Rocky grabbed the knife's handle and pulled it out, howling in pain as he did so. The others moved to crowd him.

I paid no attention to them, only to him. What had I done? I didn't mean to... I glanced down at the knife. I leaped forward and grabbed it with my teeth. I had to get away. I had to run. There was no way they would try to save me now. I had done the unthinkable. I'd hurt Rocky. I... I hurt him.

“Starry!” Rocky cried out in pain as I fled. I could hear his screams haunting my every step.

I ran, my blood pumping in my body. I ran until I could hear the calls of my friends no more.

Author's Notes:

And there we go. Another chapter down in the books. Holy crap, what a chapter. I had a heck of a time writing this, and I hope you guys enjoyed it. Part of one of the big things I wanted to do with this chapter was to accelerate and start resolving the “cursed knife” plotline. Who is All'z'reth? Well, the world may never truly know.

And then, of course... that ending. Chapter 9 will be interesting to say the least. How will Starry fair on her own? What will the others do in the meantime?

Super huge thanks to my editors, Wirepony/Heartshine/McMesser. You guys are the stupendously best!

Another super huge shoutout to my patrons over on Patreon! You guys are way cool, and I'm glad I have you supporting my work. That being said, if you are interested in supporting my craft, check out my Patreon and pledge!

Until Chapter 9 folks.

-V