My shoulder and rear end were sore as I snuck past the security guards. It wasn’t too hard, since they were sleeping. I think it was time for the clinic to get better security. Being nighttime, there had to be some kind of theft scares. I was finally out of the double doors in the front, when I heard Redd and Violet’s voices. They were around the corner of the building. I decided to eavesdrop on the conversation. I waddled over to the corner and ducked my head, twisting my ear to listen in.

“-believe you’re doing this!” Violet almost shouted.

I heard mumbling, but I couldn’t tell who it was or what they were saying.

“Ugh! What the fuck were you thinking?! You should be ashamed of yourself, Nico!”

Nico? Oh, right. They must be talking about our conversation. They don’t have to be that harsh, though.

Redd growled. “You really are a lowdown son of a bitch.”

“Stop, Redd. He won’t be sober until later.” She stared at Nico, lost in thought. “We can’t tell Sia about this. Not right now, anyway. She’s already fragile, as it is.”

Fragile?

I didn’t want my friends to be angry with each other. Especially right now. I drooped as I heard more mumbling, now knowing it was Nico. He was barely audible. I couldn’t even make out the tone of voice. It was very strange, since he was usually loud and clear. Staying out of the dim lighting, I peeked around the corner. Redd and Violet stood over Nico, who was slumped over against the wall. Something was very wrong! His eyes puffy and glazed over and he was severely pale.

Before I could trot out from my hiding spot, Redd had bowed his hoof to hit Nico.

“Stop!” I stumbled from the corner. “Stop fighting, please!”

Violet gasped when she saw me. Redd simply snorted.

“What the buck is going on?!” I shouted, galloping the best I could over to them.

I waited for a response. They just looked at each other, sympathetically. I was getting tired of this secrecy shit.

“Answer me, Violet!” I shook her.

“Stop hitting them… It’s not our fault.” Nico mumbled behind me.

I twisted around, to see his grinning face. It wasn’t even a normal grin, it was creepy!

I swallowed. “W-what’s going on?”

“Luna Stone.” Violet told me.

Darting my eyes from her to Redd I stomped my good hoof. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s… It-“

“It’s a drug, Sienna. A fucking drug!” Redd shouted. “Nico has been eating them like candy since you’ve been here!’’

I stepped back, startled by his outburst.

“That’s right, and I’m ready to tear into him. Just say the word and I’ll turn him into pony bacon!” He growled at the stoned stallion

“D-drug?” I whispered. The tears were starting, again.

My eyes ventured down to a small bag lying next to Nico. There were small, indigo capsules spilling from it. I let my mouth hang open as I let it sink in that I was traveling with a junkie. What bothered me more, was I had no idea how long he had been taking this drug and where it came from. I blinked a few times to see if I was dreaming.

“Oh, Sia. I’m sorry.” Violet hugged me.

I pushed her away. “You all knew about it, and you were going to keep it from me.”

As much as I wanted to leave, I couldn’t. My eyes rested on Nico, who only smiled as he stared into the distance, oblivious to what was going on.

“Nico…”

Just run away, Sienna.

He looked at me. “Hey, baby. Can I help you with your bags?”

Leave them all here. At least you wouldn’t have to suffer any more pain.

I shook my head. “Nico, pay attention!”

“Sorry, we’re out of carpet. You’ll have to get up tomorrow for the discount.” He giggled.

Let him go, for good.

“Take her inside, I’ll try to get something from Zangth to bring him back to reality.” Violet instructed Redd.

He nodded and trotted next to me. I didn’t fight it, I didn’t argue. I just walked alongside him, back into the small hospital. I dragged my wings at my sides. How did that manage to put me down even more? Wasn’t I already as low as I could be? Nico betrayed my trust. He broke my heart.

Even after everything that’s happened.

Redd pushed the door open farther into my room and gestured for me to go in, first. I kept my head down as I trudged to my bed. As I climbed under the thin sheet, I heard him close the door. He exhaled, clearly frustrated. I wasn’t crying. I couldn’t. There were no more tears to cry. I just lay there and contemplated my life.

“Are you okay?” Redd asked, sitting next to the bed.

I shook my head. “I went straight into something I wasn’t even sure about. I’m so desperate for love, I practically threw myself at him.”

He sighed. “I don’t blame you. I’m really pissed off. My judgement was clouded for a while, obviously.”

“Well, Nico is a mysterious buck. It wouldn’t surprise me if he killed somepony out of cold blood.” I said, quietly.

“And you aren’t bothered by that?”

“Of course, I am. I just… I thought…” What did I think? Was I really that pathetic? Oh, Luna, I’d probably let Zangth hold me if he told me I could trust him!

I groaned, embarrassed of myself.

“I’m not trying to get into your personal life or anything, but you need somepony who’s gonna be there when you go through shit like this. Somepony who’s going to hold on to your trust as if it were all they had. Somepony you can feel safe with.”

I forced a chuckle. “Is this another way of confessing you love for me?”

He blushed. “N-not at all. I’ve learned some things from being down here with you guys. Am I jealous? Yes. Am I thick-headed? Maybe, but I look at you and realize there are some things I can’t change. You love who you love, and I can’t do anything about it. I mean it, though, when I say you should find somepony who needs you as much as you need them.”

I looked away.

“You do deserve somepony like I just described, but it doesn’t have to be me.” He mumbled. “As much as I hate saying it.”

I giggled. “Redd, you’re so sweet.”

He rubbed his mane. “Well, I can be. Just get some sleep. Please. You’ve been through more than enough, today. In the morning we can focus on those pearls. Don’t let anything distract you from what you need to do.”

“I’ll just be glad when I get back home to my own bed. I’m definitely going to retire early.” I turned towards him.

He bit his lip. “Sienna, we… can’t go back.”

I paused. “Stop joking, Redd.”

“I’m not! We can’t go back. We’ve been here too long, and they are considering us AWOL. Did you forget about that?” He stared at me.

We can’t be AWOL! I was here by accident!

“Then, why did they let you come to retrieve me?” I asked. It didn’t make sense.

Redd rubbed his foreleg. “When Nico contacted the Enclave, he had to pretend to hold you hostage. He told them to send gems. The council sent me, thinking I’d be able to handle him alone. Since we’ve been here so long, they won’t let us go back.”

“He’s been lying to me since I’ve been here.” I breathed.

“I-I’m sorry, Lieutenant. We’re stuck here.” He looked on, sadly.

I wept. “Grandma… Grandpa… I’ll never see them again!”

He wrapped his wings around me. “W-we’ll figure something out.”

I let him pull me in for a hug as I sobbed. At this point, I was devastated. I’d never be truly safe, again. Where would we go? How would we survive? Violet would help us, but I didn’t want to be helpless the rest of my life. Daddy would definitely be there, and Fleece, too. At least we had some hope down here.

Stop crying before you start to panic, again.

I picked myself up and sighed. “Redd, what are we supposed to do?”

He handed me a corner of the sheet to wipe my eyes. “Right now, I have no idea. Don’t worry, though, we’ll do something. Right now we have to focus on those pearls.”

He was right. I couldn’t let the future worry me. At least until it got here. I touched the necklace that still hung around my neck. I’m surprised it was still intact. My barding was on the floor at the end of the bed.

“Rarity said Hope was sending somepony to look for them, too. I’m afraid if I don’t find them first, she’ll destroy Floater.” I hung my head. “If she gets them, I don’t know what will happen to the rest of Equestria.”

He looked at me like I was speaking nonsense, but finally let out a breath. “I’m not even going to ask why you’re talking to a dead ministry mare, but I’ll trust you. What if we evacuate Floater? Then if she blows it up, it won’t kill anyone.”

I shook my head, sadly. “She’ll know.”

He thought a little more. Then, he perked up. “We have to keep her away from whatever weapon she’s planning to use. That way, you can take away the pearls, too.”

“I don’t even know where she hides out. When she took me, I was knocked out and blindfolded. She’s playing it smart.” I said.

I heard the soft wingbeats and the door opening. Violet peeked in. “Sia? Are you feeling better?”

I took a deep breath to relax and nodded.

She closed the door and landed next to the unused IV stand. “What are you guys talking about?”

“Just trying to figure out what we’re going to do about Hope.” I rested my head on my hooves, trying not to think of anything but my objective.

“Just evacuate Floater.” She suggested.

“That’s what I said!” Redd exclaimed.

“As I said, she’ll know.” I repeated, slightly frustrated.

I closed my eyes and tried to put together a plan. There had to be a way to get to her without her knowing. I stared down at my pipbuck. She had a place marked to meet her. I doubted it was her main base. Pushing a button, the map loaded onto the screen. This thing would be useful if I could remember I had it!

“Good idea! I bet she has her evil lair marked on the map!” Violet applauded.

“No.” I scanned the entire map. “Nothing but the places we’ve been and the place she has marked to meet her with the pearls.”

“Wait...” Redd perked up. “Hope gave you that thing, right?”

I nodded.

“There should be a way to bring back the locations she wiped. All you’d need is a-“

“A terminal!” Violet interrupted. “A special one that can hack into the pipbuck mainframe and restore the data from the last time it was operated!”

“That could work, but where are we going to find one of those?” I asked.

Violet inhaled, about to say something, then stopped. She deflated. “I don’t know.”

“Thunderhead.”

Violet and I turned to Redd. I hoped he was joking.

“What? That’s the only terminal, I know of, that’s capable of that sort of thing.” He said, defensively.

Violet rolled her eyes. “Oh, sure. We should totally just waltz in there and kindly ask them to give it to us. While we’re at it, let’s ask them to arrest us! That would be lovely!”

“I didn’t say that! Besides, I don’t see you pulling a terminal from your-“

“Hey! Come on, now, we need to work together.” I scolded. “Redd has a point, though. I haven’t seen any operational terminals just lying around.”

She shrugged. “They are here and there, but I’m not sure if they can bring back deleted files on a pipbuck.”

“Maybe Zangth has one. We could try.” I told her. “I… should probably apologize for my outburst, anyway.”

“Well, that’s all good and dandy, but what are we supposed to do about that junkie?” He glared at the door.

“Tell him to leave. He’s doing nothing for us.” She crossed her hooves.

I sniffed, trying to clear my sinuses. Nico would slow us down if he were high, but sober, he was smart and knew his way around the wasteland. It was decided.

“No.” They looked at me, shocked.

“You can’t be serious! He’s-“

“Been here his entire life. Look, I know he’s causing trouble, but he knows this place better than any of us. He will know what to do in a lot of situations that we get ourselves into. I hate to admit it, but we need him.” I sighed at the last part.

“He’s just gonna slow us down, Sia.” Violet tried to be as sincere as possible.

“I know.” I looked down. “But it’s our best option.”

“I don’t like our options.” Redd snorted.

I ignored him. “What does Luna Stone do, anyway? Any long-term effects?”

Violet spoke up. “Well, Zangth said it was dangerous if taken too frequently. Overuse could cause organ failure and internal bleeding. Also, while the buzz is still going, unicorns can’t use magic. It blocks the focused energy to the horn. Taking two at once is a deathwish.”

Of course it is.

I tried to hide my worry. “But he only took one, right?”

She nodded.

“Okay, then he should be alright.” I looked between their frowning faces. “Right?”

Violet avoided my stare.

“Right?” I repeated, making her flinch.

She swallowed. “Zangth said one a day was too much. Basically, not to take them at all.”

I glared at them.

“I’m sorry, Lieutenant.” Redd drooped.

That stupid idiot! He’s going to kill himself! He’s going to die and leave me here, again!

I squeezed my eyes shut and rubbed them. I knew he was an asshole, but this just took the cake! Slowly, I calmed myself. Very slowly. Truthfully, I wanted to be the one to break his horn for being so stupid! His magic was so beautiful, and he wanted to ruin it!

A thought popped in my head. “The orb.”

The two pegasi looked at me, confused.

“The memory orb.” I repeated. “It might answer a lot of questions we have. I need to get it from Nico’s bag. Where is it?” I scanned the room.

“It’s back at the tavern with the rest of our things. Mixer said he would keep them safe.” He said.

I threw the blanket off. “We need to go, then.”

Violet held a hoof out to prevent me from getting up. “You can’t go anywhere! Zangth said-“

“I don’t care! We need to get this done so I can figure out what the hell I’m going to do for the rest of my miserable life!” I snapped.

Violet stared at me. There was a pregnant pause before I realized what I had done.

“I-I’m sorry, Violet. This is the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me and I have no idea how to handle it.” I looked down.

She sighed. “I know, Sia. I’m just looking out for you.”

“But, I don’t need to be foalsat! I want to be brave and be able to be a hero to somepony. I don’t want to be remembered as the pony who runs away from everything.” I stood taller. “I want to be courageous like Rarity and the rest of the ministry mares. I know I sound like a foal, but it’s true. I’ve let down so many of my friends and family. I’m tired of putting you all in danger just to keep me safe. I want to do this, myself.”

I looked between them. They stared, intently. Finally, my best friend broke the silence.

“Well, you definitely aren’t doing this alone.” She smirked. “We aren’t looking out for you because we think you need a foalsitter, we’re doing this because we love you. We gotta stick together.” She bumped my flank.

“If you want my opinion-“

“Not really.”

Redd glared at Violet. “If you want my opinion, I wouldn’t say you were a coward, Sia. This,” He gestured around him. “Is far from a lack of bravery.”

I sniffed. “I just don’t feel like I’m trying hard enough. We’ve been wasting time, as it is.”

I proceeded to dress myself. I figured my gun was back with our things.

“True, but haven’t you had a little fun?” Violet waited by the door. I guessed she wasn’t holding me back, anymore.

I smiled. “Maybe. So, are we really going to do this?”

They nodded, simultaneously.

Wait, I’m not… scared. I feel like I can do this. I can do this!

Redd trotted to the door. Just as he was about to turn the old knob, it flew open and hit him in his muzzle. He staggered back, rubbing his nose. It was as red as his mane, now. Zangth stood in the doorframe. The unease filled my belly when I saw his distressed face. He tried to catch his breath as he looked from Redd to Violet and finally to me.

“I need all patients to lock their doors! Visitors, keep an eye for suspicious ponies wandering around!” He yelled.

“Why?” Redd looked up, eying the zebra.

“Somepony has taken three foals from the nursery. I have the hospital on lockdown and security searching, but I’m starting to think they’ve escaped with the newborns.”

Violet gasped. “N-newborns? B-but they couldn’t possibly survive without their mothers!”

He nodded. “Which is why I need to find them as soon as possible. One of the foals are premature, so it is a top priority, now.”

“Who would do this?” Redd stood.

“I think I know.” I stomped my hoof. “Hope has something to do with this. She’s taunting me!”

The lights suddenly flickered and went out. The four of us galloped into the spacious corridor. Nurses and patients ran, frantically, back and forth. The only illumination was the green emergency lighting. I gulped as my eyes darted back and forth in the midst of the hysteria. An earth pony mare stood screaming and crying. She must have been one of the mothers! I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to think.

“What do we do?” A nurse asked Zangth.

They’re only babies. I’ve got to do something!

I opened my eyes. “We’re going to find them. Violet, you come with me.” She nodded. I looked to Redd. “You go with Zangth. He knows the hospital.” He saluted.

“What if they’ve already gotten out? They’ve disabled the power!” Zangth asked.

I flattened my ears. Shit, he had a good point! “We don’t know that for sure, right? First, we need to cover the hospital. Luckily, it’s one floor.”

“But it’s a very big floor.” Redd added.

Thanks for the information, buddy.

“Still, we have to try. Let’s go!”

Zangth ran the opposite direction with Redd flying after him. Violet and I flapped our wings and flew down the long hall. Rooms lined the never ending passage. The eerie, green glow was unsettling, since there weren’t any other ponies down this way. Violet checked the rooms on the right, while I searched the ones to the left. Each one was empty, save for a few patients cowering or sleeping. I don’t know how they slept through the noise.

After each space, I became more anxious. We were getting nowhere, and we were probably wasting time! I tore through the closet in one of the empty rooms. Still nothing! I galloped to the next. It was becoming repetitive.

Go through the closet. Nope. Tear through the curtains. Nothing. Under the bed. Not here.

I grunted in frustration as I destroyed the room, entirely. Kicking a pillow, I could hear wings flapping towards me.

I banged my head on the wall. “Violet, it’s no use. There are too many rooms! We’ll never find the foals like this!”

The click of a gun filled my ears.

“V-Violet?” I slowly turned.

I gasped. My suspicions had been right. The cloaked pony in the doorway had a revolver pointed at me. I started to shiver as I raised my hooves above my head.

“Violet!” I called.

“She’s knocked out. I don’t think you’re going to reach her.” The pony laughed. She didn’t sound like Hope.

I stared at her.

“You’re too late. We’ve found the pearls.” She chuckled.

I blinked. “B-but I still had time! You didn’t give me a chance!”

“You had your chance! Your preoccupation with other things have become too frequent. Hope doesn’t think you are able to focus on one task, so were forced to follow a series of clues left behind from the old days.”

I started hyperventilating. She has them… This is it for us! “Killing me won’t-“

She scoffed. “As much as I’d like to put a bullet in your pathetic brain, I’ve been ordered to keep you alive.”

A combination of relief and worry flowed through me. I didn’t want to say it, but it was all I could think of. “Why not? You already have them. You’re done with me.”

“Hope doesn’t see you as a threat, but mostly because she needs a messenger. You’ll deliver a message to the Enclave or she will destroy your loved ones. I admire her sinister response.” She put a hoof over her heart. “She says death would be a favor to you. Your fear of such has brought you suffering. In her own words, life for you is worse than death.”

My mouth opened, but nothing came out. I stared at her in disbelief. Hope thought I really was that hopeless. What’s worse, she was right. I found myself staring at the semi-clean floor, despite the fact there was a gun pointed at me. Now, I was more dumbfounded than anything.

Even my enemy knows the extent of my fears, and she’s using it against me. I really am hopeless.

I heard shuffling, but I didn’t bother to look at the mare.

“As for the little ones, they will be taken care of. I’m bringing them to our nursery to learn our ways. Don’t worry about them. We know how to care for the premature foal. You’ll get the message on the pipbuck to deliver to the Enclave. For now, I need to be on my way.”

After a few moments, I felt the energy in the room fade. Now, it was just an empty space. The silence was deafening. I could see the reflection of the emergency lighting on the tiles below me. My eyes were still locked on the cold floor. The questions I wanted to ask were replaced by one simple one: Why?

It felt like ages had passed before I finally lifted my head. I shook the hurtful thoughts from my head and flapped my wings, remembering my best friend was knocked out. I zoomed out of the room and into the hall, looking down both ways. It was eerie, nopony occupying this end of the hospital. I tried to beat my negative feelings down so I could focus. I built a mental fence around them to keep them at bay. Right now, I had to find Violet. Calling for her would have been useless if she was knocked out.

You’re the reason she got away.

I stopped in my tracks, almost hitting an open door. Where the hell did that thought come from?

“No, I didn’t let her get away with the foals. She had a gun on me!” I yelled at the air.

Liar. You could have stopped her. She wasn’t going to kill you, anyway, but you still stood there and did nothing.

“Y-You’re the liar! You’re insane for thinking that!”

I’m insane? You’re the one arguing with yourself.

“I…” I looked around. Nopony was there but me. I grunted, shaking my head.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” I mumbled. From the corner of my eye, I spotted Violet’s green coat lying on the floor in one of the rooms. “Violet!”

I rushed through the door, coming to a screeching halt in front of her. After a pause, I put my ear to her chest. Heartbeat, check. I watched her chest rise and fall. Breathing, check. I sat on my haunches, biting my hoof tips. I really hoped she was okay. I don’t know how she was knocked out. Hopefully, it wasn’t deadly. I wouldn’t put it past anypony who worked for Hope.

“V-Violet?” I whimpered, tapping her shoulder.

No response.

“Violet! Get up!” I shook her harder.

Then, I thought a moment. I was desperate, after all. “There’s a hunky stallion waiting for you!”

She jumped up and looked around, frantically. “Where?!”

I hugged her. “You’re okay!”

“Of course I am! Do you think somepony like her could- Wait, where is she?! Where is that bitch? We can’t let her get away!” She stood on all fours, swaying slightly.

I folded my ears back. “Violet, she’s already gone.”

She gawked at me, confused. “What do you mean? You saw her get away?”

I swallowed. What could I possibly tell her?

“Sia?”

“I-I couldn’t do anything. She had a gun pointed at me. She said… She said she would kill me if I followed her.” I lied.

“What?! Oh, that does it! We’ve got to stop her! She didn’t hurt you did she?” Violet looked over me, stretching my wing out to investigate.

I sighed. “No, I’m fine. Physically, anyway.” I mumbled the last part.

“What was that?”

“N-Nothing.”

She gave me a sad smile. “Come on. Let’s go find Zangth and tell him what happened.”

27% Until Level Up

Health +2
Speed +1
Stamina -1

Author's Notes:

Thanks to Kkat for the amazing world!!

Hello my fellow bronies/pegasisters!

I have returned from the dead! (Not really)
Actually, my charger (if you haven't seen my blog) has broken, so I can't really write as often. BUT I will soon be purchasing one! As soon as i can get over my laziness.

Anyway, This is probably my least favorite chapter, this is one that was in my draft and i wrote it word for word instead of tweaking and turning things around. I liked my ideas for the chapter, but i didnt quite know how to pick it all up at once. Not to worry though, i will be rewriting the entire story once its finished. I just want to get out the published story ASAP.
As always, constructive criticism is always welcome!! Thank you for reading!

-AP