All of the anti-air defenses in and around Oatland had been taken out, and command had ordered for all available strike forces to land and sweep for threats. Operation Cauterize was to be carried out as clean and quickly as possible. Unlike other enclave companies we didn’t have raptors to hold down the sky, but the commander was clever, and planned a one-two punch with bombers and vertabucks.

The vertabuck dropped low, nearly hitting the road as it flew between two semi intact buildings. “We’re heading to the target. No sign of ground threats on the road. Good job bombing team.” Captain Chuckles reported. Patting me on the shoulder I got up and took my position at the gunner’s seat, the captain taking the copilot seat. “Shoot anything that moves hoof shiner, we don’t need a rocket up our flank.”

“YES MA’AM!” I shouted, taking the mounted energy gatling gun in my hooves. Turning the thing on, it started vibrating and making a whining sound. I don’t know how the captain got approval to do it, but she had modified the thing into a beast.

The vertabuck shook as a payload of rockets flew off to our target, followed by two blasts of its energy cannon. Wub Wub was trying to take out the targets before I could get a chance, the greedy mare.

“On my mark.” The captain spoke, as the vertabuck lurched to its side, and quickly dropped in speed. The back door slowly opened, and I could see the targeted building come into view. Whatever it was, it wasn’t much of anything now. I aimed the gatling gun down center, waiting for the door to finish opening. “Hold” Eyeshadow and Lover pony took their positions next to me, magical energy rifles at the ready. In the rubble I could see moment, insurgents running between cover, taking position. One popped their head out, and aimed a rusty looking rifle at us. “FIRE” the captain shouted.

If I didn’t have my helmet on, the light from the gatling gun would have blinded me. It spewed a torrent of energy bolts that rained down onto the targets. The insurgents returned fired, but I didn’t even need to worry about aiming, I just pushed the barrel at them and the pony was dust in the wind. Lover Pony suppressed a few of them, calling them out for me to dust, and Eyeshadow picked off some snipers before they could take me out.

After what felt like a minute of nonstop fire, the target building had more scorch marks than ever, and the air was full of dust. “Let’s move out, Wub Wub, cover us from the sky.” Chuckles orders, as she jumped out of the vertabuck. Eyeshadow, Lover Pony and I followed.

As a team we landed right where we had been firing, scanning for any insurgents still hiding. The dust in the air was thick, making me glad that I had my air filter on, and a little sorry for the insurgents. Breathing in your own friend has got to suck.

Three shots slammed into my armor, not hitting anything vital. Looking over to my side was a earth pony mare in combat armor, welding a low caliber SMG in her mouth. She fired at me again, and I dodge, blasting at her with my rifle. Two shots were all it took, and she vaporized into dust. “Got one,” I shouted.

The zap sound of a magical energy rifle went off. “Got one too” shouted Eyeshadow.

Another zap went off. “Got one three” Lover pony spoke, sounding smug.

“That was so terrible you might get executed for that pun.” I retorted, trying to not snicker.

“Can it all of you.” The captain spoke sternly. An explosion of plasma followed, and we all looked in it’s direction. "Move in, and clear the place out.” She ordered.

The fighting wasn’t too heavy inside, A few big guns, many small, and even one energy weapon. Their main defensive force must have been taken out at the start of the assault. I worked side by side with the captain, as the other two brought up our flank, taking out any stragglers. Not that Chuckles left any.

The captain didn’t bother with fighting with her plasma pistol half the time, choosing to just throw a plasma grenade into the defended rooms if it looked too heavily defended. Her favorite trick was to cook the grenade so that when a unicorn attempted to throw it back, it just blew up in the air, doing more damage than if it was on the ground. She even had some on a remote trigger, so when it was thrown back at us, she'd just picked it up and kicked it back in, triggering it when it landed. Like a deadly game of hot potato.

We made our way to the insurgents command center, their leader waiting for us with heavy machine gun mounted on his desk. I didn’t know what looked more like an old piece of junk, the gun, or the old stallion using it. Blasting it at us, Chuckles and I dove out of the way, and returned fire. The old pony didn’t stand a chance.

“Command, this is team charlie. We’ve captured the insurgent’s command center. Now sweeping the area for leftovers, will contact when done.” The captain reported on her radio. Sweeping off the dust at the insurgent’s commander's desk, Chuckles began looking over documents that were there. “Hoof Shiner, go sweep the area.”

I saluted. “YES MA’AM!” and began sweeping the area.

The sounds of the battle echoed in the distance. Explosions, energy blasts, and the crack of surface weapons where a constant. It all felt surreal, all my training bringing me to this battle. Retake the surface and begin life anew.

The insurgents command center felt more like an abandoned home that a bunch of squatters lived in. Well worse than that, at least in the clouds there wasn’t so much trash everywhere. I found where all their weapons would have been kept, only a stray magazine of ammo left behind as evidence. Food rations were left on a table, all two hundred years old, and probably irradiated. Most of the surface ponies were probably mutated beyond salvation from consuming such tainted food.

Eyeshadow and Lover Pony joined us shortly after, reporting that the rest of the building was clear. I had nearly finished my sweep, finding next to nothing, and having only one more place to check. I found it during my sweep, a hidden door on the floor under an old rotten rug, with a few boxes placed on top.

Opening the door, a terrible smell of rot hit my nose from the darkness. Turning on my head lamp, I peered in, seeing nothing at first. The sound of something scraping on the floor below caught my ear, and I slowly leaned in to get a better look as I turned my head to see what it was.

Small little hooves came into sight, it was a unicorn colt. Next to him was a mare wrapped up in bandaging, and there was a stallion who was so thin I could see his ribs. Scanning the walls of the room, it was lined with foals, the injured, and the sick. All of them gauging the walls, staring at me with wide open eyes, and trembling in fear.

“See anything?” Captain Chuckles asked.

Pulling my head out I nodded to her, the captain now next to me. “Civilians ma’am, Foals, sick and injured.”

“I see.” Chuckles responded. “Good job.” With a movement as leisurely as a hoof bump, the captain tossed a plasma grenade into the hidden room, and shut the door. A sharp explosion came with a flash of green through the crack of the hidden door. “Objective complete, Regroup at the vertabuck.”

I stood there looking at the door, trying to process what had happened. “Ma’am, there were civilians down there.”

“Yes, and our orders were to clear the place out. Now move it soldier!” She spread her wings, and hopped out a nearby window, flying to our vertabuck.

Taking my eyes away from the hidden door, I straightened up and saluted. “YES MA’AM.” And followed her.

We all reconvened on the vertabuck, a few scuffs on the armor, and no injuries to send a letter home about. “We got new orders!” Wub Wub reported. “Heavy resistance at the old hospital, we’re the reinforcement.”

“Take us there!” The captain ordered.

With a dip in altitude, and a boost in speed, we were off. Taking a good look at the city below me, it was on fire. If the city was a near complete ruin, we had finished the job this day.

“Shit!” Cried out Wub Wub as she banked the vertabuck to the side sharply. “Who throws a sky wagon?” Before anyone could ask about what she just said, the right propeller blew up. “AW FUCK, ABANDON SHIP!” She screamed, jumping out of her seat.

We all jumped from the vertabuck as it fell from the sky, our wings catching the air. “What in Tartarus just happened Wub?” The captain sounding furious and confused.

Wub Wub pulled out her energy rifle, putting it at the ready. “Like I said, somepony threw a fucking sky cart at us!”

The captain crossed her hooves, her helmet staring at Wub Wub. “Who throws a skywagon.” A pop and a flash of purple suddenly came from behind the captain. Behind her a purple pony had appeared, twice the height of a normal pony, with gigantic wings, and a horn that looked like it could go right through a pony. It was a fucking Alicorn. Around her neck was a thick chain, and held in her magic was pole made of three pieces of rebar twisted together. “Oh…” Was the only thing the captain could say, right before the Alicorn brought the pole down onto her helmet.

We all hovered there in shock as the captain fell. Her body had gone limp, and just tumbled to the ground. Looking back up to the alicorn, we all drew our rifles, and fired. The Alicorn just glared at us, not making a move as the beams of energy bounced off a shield she had up

‘Murderers.’ She spoke to us, her lips not moving as hate filled eyes passed over each of us. ‘All of you.’ The Alicorn flared her wings and charged at me, the rebar pole winding back for another swing. With our shots having no effect, all I could do was dodge.

With each swing she would clip me, me never fast enough to fully avoid each attack. I attempt to flee, but she just teleported in front of me, and the dance would begin again. The others held their fire, more at risk of hitting me then stopping this monster. With no other direction to go, I kicked off the air, and dropped down to the ground. If I could get a wall between myself and the monster, I could have enough time to think of a way to kill it. Not skipping a beat, the alicorn teleported onto the ground with her pole at the ready. This time she didn’t miss.

Taking the hit and rolling with it, I managed to lessen the damage to the armor, but as I slid on the ground like a ragdoll, my air filter got ripped off. The smoke, I could taste it in the air, so thick and vile. Getting up, my vision was fractured, in the tumble my visor had also been damaged. Needing to see properly, I threw off my helmet, and saw the alicorn slowly walking to me.

‘We have seen your crimes, and judged you guilty.’ She swung the pole, smashing a piece of a brick wall like it was nothing. ‘Your sentence is death, and I will be your executioner.’ She teleported from where she stood to stand right over me. ‘Die’

I had no time to think, or make a plan, so I just moved. Jumping between her legs, this time she missed me completely, the pavement cracking under her heavy strike. Using the terrain to my advantage, I turned corners, and flew through ruined buildings. She was fast, and could teleport, but she was also too big to follow everywhere I went. It had become a game of cat and mouse, with my comrades as the only warning to where she would be waiting for me. They helplessly firing down at the alicorn, doing nothing but annoying her.

As I darted through the ruins, choking on smog and dust, I finally found what I was looking for. Captain Chuckles body laid out on some rubble, blood pooled beneath her, and her helmet caved in. I could only be thankful that her death was quick and painless. I quickly grabbed one of her remote triggered grenades, and the remote for it. I had one shot at this.

On que, the alicorn appeared above me, and used her falling momentum to bring her pole down at me with even more force. By a hairs breath I dodged, the pole coming down onto the captain's body, breaking her in half, and sending blood everywhere.

Whipping her pole to the side, sending the blood on it off onto the ground as a splattered line. ‘Fitting. You can die with your kind. After we dispose of you, we shall drag each of your own here and crush them under hoof. We are pleased by this.’ I would not be lying if I ever say that this bitch scared the shit out of me.

“EAT THIS” I armed the plasma grenade and threw it at her, it harmlessly bounced off her shield and fell to the ground in front of her. She looked at it for a few long seconds before looking back up to me, a fat smile on her face.

‘Accept your fate and despair.’ Her voice mockingly echoed in my head.

She stepped towards me slowly, her pole high above her head. I watched as the grenade passed under her shield, and smiled myself. “Accept yours and die!” I hit the switch. The inside of the alicorn’s shield filled with green flames and burst. There was nothing left where she stood but green goo.

My comrades flew down to me, stopping in horror at the sight of what became of our captain. We all stood in silence for what felt like an eternity, the battle could wait, for now we mourned the loss of a friend.

The moment ended when Wub Wub trotted up to me and saluted. “As the next link in the chain of command, what are our orders s.. sir.” I couldn’t see her face through the helmet, but I knew she was crying. I looked around us, smelt the air, and heard the sounds of battle.

“We are to provide backup at the hospital, correct.” Wub Wub nodded. I picked up the captains ID tag from her armor, and placed it in a storage pocket in mine. “Then what are we standing here for, MOVE OUT!” Jumping to the sky, we still had a duty to do, and comrades that needed backup. The Enclave did not train us to be cowards.

The look on Merits face was a mix of pride, and shame. It was the same for Wild, the two veterans reminding me of an old hunter who had outlived his friends and now retold their story to the next generation. Light on the other hoof has a confused look on her face, ranging from disgust to worry. It had the feeling of a pony from the Orphic Kingdom hearing a hunter’s story for the first time. The room itself felt tense as the story was told, with the Lurker Queen looking enthralled by it all.

The story itself had me filled with mixed emotions. In Orthrus we were trained to be ready for violence. If hostilities broke out between the Orphic Kingdom and the Republic, we were expected to either quell the violence, or protect the fleeing refugees. We also had to be ready if violence was directed at us, and ready to defend ourselves. But the sheer disregard for the lives of civilians churned my stomach. It was something expected of bandits, not of an established military. Well, as far as I knew.

‘Sounds like the world outside our islands is no better off.’ My sister thought to me, her voice crystal clear now, no echo, or fussy interference.

‘At least they can go around the surface without a rebreather.’ Sweet chimed in, also without interference.

‘Which is why we need to get them to civilization.’ I added.

The three of us nodded, Merit being left out simply raised an eyebrow. “So what are you three talking about?” He whispered as he leaned close to me. “Also it’s good to see that you’re ok.”

I couldn’t help it, I leaned closer to him, our heads nearly touching. It was a common joke that a mare always trotted after a pony who was like their father, but I never liked that prim and proper look. It was all about that ‘I can take care of myself’ look for me. “Same here. And it was about getting you three back to civilization alive. That’s all.”

He nodded, and we both returned to our seats. Light had leaned into Harp, and was taken off guard when Harp hugged her head and cuddled it. The princess had it bad for the enclave captain.

“Are you all done?” The Lurker Queen spoke up. Her tone demanded our attention, mixing fear with aww. She was as tall as Celestia, but had no horn or wings, just thick carapace that looked like it could stop small arms fire. It was like looking at a monster from an old horror movie, but as frightening as the book the movie was based on. “Good, now that your story is finished… is it?”

Merit nodded. “Yes ma’am.” The Lurker queen tilted her head ever so slightly, looking like she was raising an eyebrow without having eyebrows. “Yes my queen.” Merit spoke out quickly.

“Good, good. But what to do with the new ones here. And I had my heart set on one of you so dearly.” Her eyes seemed to look over at Light, the pegasus seemingly shrinking back into her chair. “But no matter, three more ponies, three more choices.”

“You mean three more ponies to eat, right?” Rototom spoke up.

The queen smiled and nodded. “Yes you are correct. A price to pay for trespassing on my territory.” She looked us over, her red glowing eyes unnerved me, making it hard to sit firm. Harp seemed to cower the most, almost disappearing behind the table. “But first introduction are to be made. Though I hate to repeat myself, Standards of education demand that I make myself known to my guests.” A Lurker came from behind the queen, holding a kazoo in its mouth, blowing into it much like a trumpet. “I am Queen Andromeda, first queen of the Lurkers, and ruler of Future land.” She lifted a hoof on her left, and motioned to the smaller lurker with the glass crown. “This is my eldest Berenices, she ensures that any trouble that befalls our queendom is swiftly dealt with.” Berenices tilted her head up, practically sticking her nose at us. Andromeda lowered her right hoof, and raised her left hoof, motioning to the lurker with the seashell vale. “This is my youngest Mayall, who leads our reconstruction of our home.” Mayall waved at us, though it was more at turnip then the rest of us. “Now who are you three?”

‘Be careful you two, the bitch is looking to eat one of us as an example.’ Sweet warned over telepathy. ‘Make yourself seem important, but not annoying to her. Or you end up in the hot seat like Light is.’

My sister was the first to speak up. “I’m Rototom Echo, Specter of Orthrus. My job is to covertly maintain the peace of the metro. Keeping to the shadows, and making deals on behalf of my ponies.” The queen nodded slightly, and shifted her eyes over to me.

“Vibraphone Echo, mercenary and bodyguard. I was hired to find and bring the princess back to civilization.” The queen slowly sat up straight in her seat, and smiled.

“A Princess?” She looked over to Harp. “Would that be you?”

Harp nodded softly. “Ye… Yes.” She stuttered. “My name is Harp Melody. Youngest of Queen Goldbrand Katana. And only Mirage Pony among the royal court.” The lurker queen nodded at Harp, a hoof to her chin.

“Tell me about this court of yours?” The Queen inquired, looking quite interested.

Looking to all of us, I gave her a nod. “Yes. Well the court is made up of three official groups. There is the crown’s council, which is made up of my mother, her advisor, and her successor. She is the highest authority, but is only the last to speak in any ruling. Then there is the counsel of defiance, their job is to shore up our border, and root out any threat. Our military is under their jurisdiction, and is made up of out five best generals. Last is the pony’s council, whose job involves taxes and public service. They balance our budget, and insure that our country does not collapse from the inside.”

I learned about the Orphic Kingdom’s political system in school. It was straightforward and efficient, but with the deep dweller population shrinking every generation, now a days it served itself more than its growing mirage pony population. A few scholars in the Republic predict that the royal council will collapse in on itself in another generation or two.

The Lurker Queen motioned to her daughters with her head, smiling. “Oh such things to learn. So similar, yet so different. It’s so sad we must still eat, our law is clear, and one of you must come forth.” She eyed Light, and she shrunk back into her seat again.

Harp saw this, and stepped onto the table. “No!” She looked at the queen, even standing on all fours on the table, she only came up to eye level to the queen as she sat. “There must be a way to negotiate the peacefully?”

The Queen eyed Harp, her carapace face preventing any emotion from showing. “Agreed, but our laws must be obeyed all the same. The Statute of Alpha III may protect those that are ignorant of our laws, but alas we are not a federation, but a nest. As Queen of this nest, I have a duty to provide for it. We have food, but not never nearly enough, allowing but one of you to feed my people is a generosity. My people would benefit more from all of you becoming food for our young and old. How would you negotiate that?” The queen’s head rose a bit, giving her a confident stare as she looked down at Harp. “Is it not the sacrifice for the many not a noble act, truly worthy of praise.”

“I…I.” Harp took a step back, looking unsure of herself. Taking a deep breath, and raising a hoof up as she exhaled. She took a step forward. “It is a noble act, I agree. But is it not a short-sighted judgment, to simply die to become food, when one can work to feed others over ten times one’s own weight?” The lurker queen rotated her hoof in a way that asked for the princess to explain. “You’re in a unique opportunity where you can earn your nest far more than one pony, far more than seven. I saw your workshop on my way here, seen your queendom. The resources you have at hoof, you can use them to trade, bring in more food for your people then the sacrifice of one pony could ever do.”

“And what pony would trade with us.” The queen retorted.

The princess opened her mouth, but no words came out. She stood there for a long moment, trying to find the words. “Somepony would.” Whimpered out.

Andromeda let out a bellowing laugh, somehow hurting my ears. “There is no somepony, never has been, never will be. Delusions is all you have, food is all you are to me.”

“We have food to give!” Sweet spoke up. We all turned our attention to her. “The canned goods, we picked them all up in the hotel. There has to be enough food in them to feed plenty. Food problem solved.” She punctuated her point by placing a can of beans on the table. “Open em up, cook em, and slurp em down. Problem solved.”

“Problem not solved, its food yes, but not a sacrifice.” The queen retorted. “A sacrifice must be made for your intrusion.”

The Queen seemed angry at Sweets outburst, her eyes on her. Harp stepped to her left, blocking the Queen's view of her. “We collected plenty of cans, see.” She pulled out four. I pulled out six. And all together we all pulled out thirty two cans of beans, trying to please the queen. “See, it’s food for us, but we are willing to sacrifice it all to you. We are sorry for trespassing, and wish to leave as soon as we can.”

Mayall leaned to her mother, whispering. The queen seemed to relax, leaning back into her seat. “Fine, we shall accept the food.” Berenices then leaned in, whispering as well, slanting her eyes as she looked at sweet. “You need not remind me my child. It is a sacrifice, but only half of what my people will accept.”

Harp straightened her back, trying to look taller. “Are you not queen, is not your word law here?”

Andromeda nodded. “Yes it is, but I have already set the law, my word carved into the stone wall for all to see. To change the law would break it, crumble it, and make it worth nothing but the rantings of a mad queen. My ideal, my queendom would crumble over but one broken law.”

“I… we…” Harp attempted to say something, but even I could not think of a counter argument.

‘If we weren’t outnumbered, and outgunned. I’d shoot the monster and fight our way out.’ Rototom thought to me.

‘Last I looked we were evenly matched. We just need to shoot all the armed lurkers, or hold the queen hostage.’ I added.

Sweet chimed in. ‘Not going to happen. The queen has some sort of sonic attack. Used it to shut Light up. They got us outnumbered, that’s for sure.’

Harp backed away, looking unsure. Andromeda laughed again. “Don’t feel sad, you did find a way to keep all of you together, we accepted the cans, no need to eat one of you. Worthy of praise even.”

“So what do you want sacrificed?” Harp asked, having lost any sense of confidence.

“A leg” The queen said nonchalantly.

“What!?” Harp spat out in surprise.

Queen Andromeda’s eyes scanned over us and smirked. “No, no. a leg will not do.” Her eyes fell onto Light. “A wing. No. Two wings will do. A reminder to why you ponies should never trespass.”

“WHAT!” Light shouted.

“It is fair.” The Queen said softly. You all live, we get food, and send a message. Fair is fair.”

Light slammed her hoof on the table, her body shaking. “THAT’S FAR FROM FAIR!”

The queen smirked, like she was gloating.

“I’ll do it!” Sweet spoke up. All eyes were on her. She herself had her own eyes closed. “I’ll sacrifice my wings.”

“What wings, I don’t see wings on you?” The queen asked, sounding a little confused and angry.

Sweet Sax responded by removing her vest. It falling to the ground with a thud. After that, she unzipped her jumpsuit, leaving the part covering her flank on, and exposing her small wings. The wings flapped a little, and stretched out. “These wings.” She stated.

I sat up in my seat, placing two hooves on the table. “Sweet!” She raised a hoof and shook her head.

‘It’s fine. We can’t risk any of the pegasus, or the princess coming to harm. Just… just trust me.’ Sweet sounded scared, bracing herself for the worst.

“Fine!” The Queen called out, and smirked. “But I’ll take her eyes as well.”

Sweet looked stunned, slowly looking over at me. “What…” One of the guards had stepped up behind her, placed a hoof onto her back, and pushed her into the table. “Why?”

The Queen giggled. “Your wings are just too small, I must have something else to balance the sacrifice.” I got onto the table, aiming my weapon. A sharp pain hit my ear and bounced into my head, causing me to fall over. “No I don’t think you should be standing right now. Stupid little pony.”

I laid there, my head pounding in pain, staring at Sweet as she looked at me in terror. Other lurkers came out of the shadows, swarming our table, and holding sweet down. I was a fool to think there were only ten lurkers in this room, the number was probably around thirty or more. My damn E.F.S. too useless to detect them.

I felt a lurker on me, rummaging through my bag. “What are you doing?” I cried out.

Queen Andromeda rolled her eyes. “Looking for useful tools. You stripy ponies always have something useful on you.” The bolt cutters fell in front of me, and I gasped. The queen giggled. “And I am proven right again you silly pony.”

“STOP THIS!” I yelled out. But as I got up, the weight of two lurkers came down one me, holding me down.

“The deal has been made. Unless you want her eaten, we can do that too?” Andromeda asked.

I looked at Sweet, the bolt cutters ready at one wing. She was breathing heavy, trying not to panic more than she was.

“Do you wish for us to eat her, it will be a painless death? Unlike what she agreed to.” I didn’t know what to do, darting my eyes between Sweet and Andromeda. “If you can’t make up your mind, I will for you!” She stated.

Looking at Sweet, she had steeled herself, controlling her breathing, and stared at me. “Fine, do it!” I said, feeling meek and helpless. All I could so was close my eye as hard as I could.

*Crunch*

Sweet screamed. It pierced my ears, and shook my soul. I could not move my hooves to cover my ears, all I could do was shut my eyes.

“Hey… Vibe…” It was Sweet’s voice. Opening up my eyes, I saw one of her wings on the table, no longer part of her. Blood was starting to pool on the table, and the lurker with the bolt cutters had moved to the next wing. “It’s going to be alright. Just get me home okay.”

“Okay, even if it kills me.” I answered.

“No, we get home together, or not at all.” She looked into my eyes, a dead serious look on her face.

“Together or not at all.” I agreed.

*Crunch*

Sweet screamed again, and her other wing fell to the table. A line of blood followed, forming a small pool next to the wing.

I was horrified by the sight, My best friend being hurt in such a way. I wanted to hurt them, kill them. I didn’t care if I was outnumbered, I would find a way to turn them to ash.

“Quickly now, we don’t want her to die before we’re done!” The queen spoke up, and a lurker stepped over with a spoon.

I could see the horror on Sweets face. We both knew what was about to happen. “STOP!” I shouted.

“A bit late for that.” Andromeda responded.

I sighed. “There’s some Med-X in my bag, use that first. It should dull the pain.” Why didn’t I ask for this earlier?

“No” The queen answered. “It’s no sacrifice without the pain. Now take her eyes!”

The lurker stepped in front of me, and Sweet began to scream like I never heard a pony scream before. All I could do was weep, and wish it was over. It felt like an eternity, but had to have been less than a minute, the lurker stood up and stepped out of the way. Right in front of me was Sweets eyes, laying on the table, still connected to her, and looking at me. It was too much, and bile fought its way up my throat.

As the bile seeped from my mouth, a blade came down and separated Sweets eyes from Sweet. A lurker picked up the eyes by their strands in its mouth, and took them to the queen. She had a smirk on her face as she held them in her hoof.

“Now that you know the price, never return. Not without approval first.” She put the eyes in her mouth and swallowed. “You may leave now. Through the tunnels was it. Yes, the worker here may take you to the tunnels.” She pointed at Turnip, who was hiding his face from the scene. “Take you all the way home.”

The lurkers on me let me go, and I jumped to Sweet. I rummaged through her bag, finding only one healing potion. Forcing it down her throat, and watched as her opened wounds closed up, stopping the bleeding. She didn’t move, so I pulled her close, my ear to her neck, hoping to hear a pulse.

*Thmp*

“Oh thank Celestia!” I held her close, hugging her neck, letting tears fall freely. “I’m so sorry, so, so sorry.”

A hoof rested on my shoulder. Looking over, it was Rototom. “Let’s get her out of here. The sooner we can get her to a hospital, the easier it will be for them to help her.” I nodded.

Merit came over and helped me hold Sweet up, as well as Wild. “We got her.” Merit said. “You take point, get us to civilization as fast as you can.” I nodded again. If we were to help Sweet, we were going to need to move fast.

“If he goes, i goeth, mother! I will not standeth f'r thou to separate us but yea a day.” We all looked to see that Mayall had her hooves around Turnip, the Lurker princess holding onto the confused lurker with all her might. “Send any worker but him ,mother. Can you not do that?

Looking at the three royal Lurkers, Berenices had a huge smirk on her face, and Andromeda looked angry. “So you did pair bond with a lowly worker. After I warned you so many times not to.”

Mayall pointed at her mother. “It's call'd loveth mother, loveth. Hast thou nay heart, nay cubiculo f'r loveth!” She then pointed at Berenices in a more accusingly faction. “'twas thy idea, thou betray'd me sister. I trusted thou and thou sendeth mine loveth to his death. wherefore?”

Berenices grumbled, and looked down at Mayall. “Always the drama my sister mine. I warned you as well my sister mine. But you prattle about love, and talk with the gibberish from book that hold no meaning my sister mine.” She lifted her head up, and ran her hoof over her neck, like she was slitting her own throat. “It’s time to grow up and let such ideas die. My. Sister. Mine.”

“Thou''r a bitch that deserves a thousand needles in the eyes!” Mayall spat out at her sister, still holding a still confused looking Turnip. Andromeda waved a hoof, and two Lurkers came and forced the two apart. “I will not standeth for this, I will not! Thou heareth me, i'll getteth thou f'r this sister.” The two Lurkers proceeded to drag Mayall away through a doorway to the side, and out of sight.

Andromeda held two hooves to her head, rubbing the side. “Now that’s over. Go, get out of my Queendom. Worker, go with them and find a place to die. Now go.”

Turnip got out of his seat. “Yes queen, I go, I not come back.” He turned to us and motioned for us to follow. “Come, follow. I take you away.”

Large blast doors closed behind us, leaving us in darkness. A Lurker with yellow paint dotted on it, and old relax wear over its chitin, waived us off before closing the door. Our encounter with the Lurkers left me with a mixed feeling, like they would be the friendliest people I ever met, and in the end they would kill me and eat me. It was strange, no malice or trickery, just it being what they were.

Light had chosen to carry Sweet, adamant that she was the one to do it. Wild held onto Sweets legs, lessening the burden on Light, and insuring we could all keep up the pace. My sister had attached Sweets back left leg to herself, allowing her to move smoothly once again. Sweet herself was still out cold, and the med-X we gave her probably contributed to her staying asleep.

I took point, with Merit right behind me to provide backup. My sister and Wild held the rear. Unless we were being hunted by a lurker we were not going to be caught by surprise. Harp, Light and Turnip were in the middle, being protected by the group.

We were unsure what to do with Turnip. Turning him over to Orthrus was probably the best move, as it was unlikely they would harm him, even if they wanted to check his insides. But that was something we would have to worry about when the time comes.

Overall I was glad to be back in familiar territory. The service tunnel looked like it was going to go on for miles, and with how well they were constructed, it was unlikely we would have to detour until we had to transfer to one of the main metro tunnels. From there, it was a straight shot to Charon's Stop. Still, the journey would take half of the day without interruption, so we marched on.

‘Vibey?’ Rototom thought over to me.

‘See anything on your E.F.S.’ I responded.

‘No.’ she answered.

‘Good, but keep an eye out for the lurkers.’ I asked.

‘I know. But well, Vibey?’ She thought to me some more.

‘If you see anything on the E.F.S. just let me know.’ I responded.

‘Fine, if you’re going to be like that, I can wait.’ Rototom spat through the telepathy.

I wasn’t in the mood for talking, I had just seen my best friend have her wings clipped, and her eyes ripped out. Talking can wait, getting Sweet help came first.

Stagnant air and rot filled my lungs as we walked, and roots from plants alive and dead poked through the ceiling, as though threatening to reach out to grab us. In the few stops we made, my pipbuck map showed that we had made good time, and we were to pass under the city soon. The tunnel itself was not in the preloaded map I had, but that was more of an annoyance than a problem. As long as we were not directly going into the city’s underground, and sticking to the metro, there was no way we would get lost.

Along our way were signs of the ponies who once lived over two hundred years ago. It was a small camp, with an aged tire used for a fire pit, and tents scattered about, all in shambles. On the other side of the track were the bones of a good twelve ponies, all lined up next to each other, and covered with a tarp each. Near the fire pit was one more skeleton, half covered in a tent, and holding a rotten plushie pony.

Lifting the tent to cover the skeleton fully, I saw one more thing on it. A pipbuck. Taking the old pipbuck, I covered the long dead pony with the tent, and gave the poor pony a silent prayer. Minerva silently beeped, and a notification popped up in the upper right of my vision. Survivor logs downloaded.

“Looks like they had a go at it, and the tunnel is clean of most radiation. Must have been dehydration or starvation.” My sister spoke up, looking at the camp.

“More reasons to keep going.” I responded. Merit put a hoof on my shoulder, but I shrugged it off.

“We’re not saying we need to stop, only slow down.” Merit spoke in a soft, in a too gentle tone. “You and your sister are the only ones with E.F.S. the rest of us are blind down here.” I didn’t care, he was right, but I just didn’t care.

I shoved the old pipbuck into Merits chest, forcing him to hold it in his fetlock. “Here, problem solved. Now get moving!” He dropped the pipbuck, and stepped up close, and hugged me. “Wha… what are you doing!”

“I want to help your friend as much as you do, but you need to relax.” He whispered in my ear. “Sweet is bandaged up and stabilized. We just need to get her to a doctor, rushing headlong into a monster is not going to help.” He held onto me a little tighter. “I’ve seen too much death here already, let’s just slow down and be careful.”

When Merit loosened his grip on me, I shoved him the rest of the way off. “Fine. We can slow down, but no stopping.” I turned around and began to move. “Stable or not, I’m not leaving Sweet like that longer then I can help it.”

With a pipbuck on his hoof, Merit took point, and was joined with Rototom. I pulled back and joined Wild at our flank. Harp and Light were quietly having a conversation. Turnip had remained quiet, sticking to the formation like we told him to.

I tapped at my pipbuck for a second, bringing up the logs Minerva had downloaded in the holographic screen. I switched the text to speech on, and had it go through my telepathy talisman. The setup would allow me to remain vigilant, but help distract my mind from wandering to Sweet.

- Day 0 log 1.

Well, Marbles was right, it’s too bad he was on the other side of the island when the bombs hit. He’s either better off, or worse off than us. Sprout and Sticks cried the whole way here, dragging Poppy along the way. Poor girl, in the panic she got knocked over and some dumbass guest stepped on her head. Really the whole thing was a clusterfuck even before the sirens went off. A Gala event for the kids, fuck me that was a bad idea. Every uptight parent and their brats was here, none wanting to spend a damn bit more than the entrance fee.

Luckily we were able to break away from the main group, like Marble said. Still think we should have locked the door shut behind us. But we found Marbles cache, enough food for the five of us. We will save Marbles rations in case he shows up, you never know. I’ll take the first watch. Fiddlesticks, she has the second. Brussel Sprout, has third. Mint Tea is too busy looking over Poppy Seed to take watch.

Apple Seed, out.

- Day 1 log 2

Poppy Seed is doing much better now, thank Celestia. Remind me to kiss Loose Marbles for storing all those healing potions here. But she’s has amnesia now. She was asking for mom and dad when she woke up, and nearly fainted when she saw me. My best guess is that she’s reverted back to when she was eight or nine, ten years all gone. I’m just glad she recognizes me, even though her brother is not as scrawny as I use to be.

The others are also relieved to see her up, though Mint took it hard when she didn’t remember him. I know I would if Fiddlesticks suddenly forgot about me. We can only hope Poppy will regain the rest of her memory soon.

Apple Seed, out.

- Day 2 log 3

We almost lost Brussel Sprouts, That idiot had forgotten to take her medication, and had a seizure right in front of Poppy. Luckily we kept her from swallowing her own tongue before the seizure passed. She had left her epilepsy medication back in the locker room, and didn’t want to worry anypony. Ya, making us panic is a lot better than worry. Stick, on a hunch rummaged through our stash and found three bottles of epilepsy medication. Sprout cried when she saw the medication, If Marbles was here, she'd mount him right then and there.

- Day 2 Log 4

Well, we’re fucked. Somepony came looking for us, and stumbled onto our camp. I don’t think they were planning on coming this far in, but must have heard Poppy scream and came to investigate. We’re moving camp, but in case that takes too long, me and Mint are moving our supplies first. There's a little hidey hole further down the tracks.

- Day 2 Log 5

And yes, we’re fucked, ram a train up my ass, we’re fucked. The fucking manager Haystack is here, acting like he is the fucking king of Equestria. Worse yet, he has a fucking revolver. He’s waving the gun around and spouting teamwork and shit. Scared my sister half to death. I don’t know what he wants, but I know I don’t like it. Right now he left his goons here to keep an eye on us. The worst part of it all, was when Haystack patted me on the shoulder like we were buddies, I fucking hate that so much, my pipbuck ticked. The asshole was irritated.

- Day 3 Log 6

Well, bust goes our plan to get away. Haystack’s goons have guns now. I don’t know where they got them, but my pipbuck ticked when they were delivered. Mint also told me that he caught Haystack leering at the girls. Ya, bad vibes. We got to get out of here, and soon. Marbles did mention that the Tran’s Island Station is our best bet if this spot fails.

Apple Seed, out.

- Team leaders Log one.

Pipbucks are the best, with this I will keep everypony alive. Now to send one of my ponies to go and bring back the slackers, trying to hide important supplies from me! No, no, they will get what’s coming to them, I’ll see to it.

- King’s log 2

The two ponies I sent after the slackers never came back, No matter. I have plenty of ponies to send!

- Sky Singer log one.

Haystacks is dead. Stuck that monster with a stick, sharpened it myself. AppleSeed mentioned the T.I.S. as a safe place. Talked with the others, and we’re heading there, this place is dead.

- Log fuck the log

Convinced the turp to give up his pipbuck, fucking Pegasus, let their whole group go, no need for pussies here, we got things going good.

- ^_^

Pipbuck’s mine now, asshole threw away the tools, so I had to saw it off the stallions leg to get it. Never felt so alive, never, never, never, never! Fuck selling flowers, sooooooo boring. All the hoity toity ponies looking down on me, fuck em, fuck em fuck em fuck em! Ohhh that felt good, so good. I think the asshole has a few more rounds in him, the med-x helps keep him up… maybe I should let him breathe… now I think I can find a way to keep him up after he's dead. I wonder what my coltfriend would think if he saw me now, too bad he’s dead, I’d love to see the look on his face.

- No food left.

Mama passed away last night, got her pipbuck as my pound of flesh. Told the rest no eating her, it just make ‘em sicker. Told em not to eat the ghouls too, didn’t listen, three died choking on their own puke. Can’t eat the roaches no more, they glow now, not good eats. We tried to go away, but ghouls block the end of the tunnel, ate one of us. Sad mamas gone, love to hear about flowers, never seen one, or sky, or clean water.

- All dead

Gave me last of good food, and went to sleep, never woke up. My job to give last rights, send them to Celestia, hope she forgives us. I know she will not.

Tunnel Tunnel out, Tunnel Tunnel sleep.

The Logs ended there, ending my distraction, and leaving me with a bad taste in my mouth. It wasn’t a new kind of story, Charon's Stop had plenty like that. But most were passed down from one generation to the next, not recorded on a pipbuck.

Even as I pondered about the Logs, I still kept an eye on my E.F.S. not seeing any red bars. My mind wandered, imagining a small army of lurkers following us, just out sight, waiting for our guard to drop.

Wild nudged me with her wing, getting my attention. “I think I saw Sweet move, she might be waking up.” My ears perked up. “Go, I got the flank covered.”

I trotted up to Light, she eyed me with some worry. “Is everything okay Vibraphone?”

I nodded, “Everything’s fine, It’s just Wild thought she sat Sweet move. I’m just checking.” Light nodded back to me, turning her attention over to Harp. “Are you awake Sweet?” I asked hopefully.

A grumble came from Sweets lips, “I could use some med-X.” She spoke suddenly. “And please tell me you have my eyes in a jar or something.”

I felt my heart grew heavy, my lips trembled. “No, she… she ate them.”

“Oh” Sweet said, futilely looking around. “What a bitch.” She rested her head back down. “So about that med-x?” I pulled a syringe from her pack, and applied it in her shoulder, sweet twitching from the needle, but soon relaxed.

“Sounds like she’s going to be okay.” Light commented, sounding sure of herself.

Sweet chuckled. “So you guys are having little miss yells a lot carry me. Not that I’m complaining, but I’d rather be riding the stallion.” I saw Merits wings pop out slightly at her comment. “But if you’re doing this, now I feel like I owe ya. How about I take you to my favorite hooficure salon, if you pay extra they give you some special treatment.” This time Lights wings flared out a little. “You know what, we all should go, what do you think Wild? It be fun.”

Wild chuckled. “I don’t think my husband would like that much, but a normal hooficure would be nice.”

“Hoof An Cure?” Turnip said, sounding, and looking confused.

“Who’s that, and why do I already not like them.” Sweet responded.

I sighed. “That’s Turnip Soup. Well that’s the name on his jumpsuit, so that’s what we’re calling him. It’s a bit hard to explain, but the lurker is part of our group now. It just kind of happened.”

Sweet huffed. “Thats… awesome.” She sarcastically said. “Just keep that thing away from me, okay.”

“Done, now get back to sleep, we’re already more than half way to Charon's Stop. Were almost to the main metro tunnel right now.” Sweet nodded, and let her head hang down. “We’ll get you home Sweets, so don’t worry.”

She chuckled. “If you’re leading the charge, then I know we will.” Her body relaxed, and she quickly fell asleep.

We came to the main tunnel not long after, the door to where we came from was locked tight, but with the door control pad on my side, it was not hard to force it open. It felt good to rip off the face plate, and manipulate the internal mechanics. With a soft hiss the door opened, and we all entered the underground station.

The first thing that greeted us was the chewed up corpse of a mirage pony. It had probably been here a month, with it mostly being broken bones and torn up barding. The pony’s metal legs also look chewed up, and showed signs of rust. I counted our blessings, the tunnel from the theme park was so closed off that we didn’t have much more then rad roaches to deal with. From here on out, I expected our guns to be used a lot more.

It didn’t take long to come across one of the more common threats down here. A pack of stalkers were in our way, eating a fresh corpse. It looked to be one of the bandits by what was left of the mane. Both Rototom and I took the first shot, taking out some of the bigger stalkers in the pack. We had fitted Harp with Sweets battle saddle and air rifle, so she got a few shots in. When the monsters got closer, Wild and Merit turned them into ash with their energy rifles. If we had time to stop, cooking the stalkers for meat would have been a good idea, but we pressed on.

Unlike when Sweet and I first passed through here, the tunnel was now buzzing with pests. The rad roaches were everywhere, and every now and then was another pack of stalkers. It didn’t take long to find out why. Every mile or so was another body, bandit normally, but scavs too. I half expected to see one of the scrappers along the way, with how many bodies we came across.

The roaches were an easy problem to deal with, even Turnip killed a few. The stalkers, and oversized flying insects were becoming a drain on our ammo. We still made good time, and after a while it looked like we were not the only ones heading back to Charon's Stop. Dead animals were becoming a common sight, as well as the odd ball bearing, which I would add to my ammo.

“Come on, let’s go!” The voice echoed around the corner. “This is bad news, so stop looting and move!”

“Now, it’s good, it’s good.” We rounded a corner to see two disheveled bandits standing over three bodies, and a shit ton of dead roaches. “Here it is, I told ya the cunt held out on us. And here you just wanted to cut and run, now we got shit to sell!” The bandit held a box over his head.

“Give me that!” The other bandit yanked it away, and looked inside. After a moment she just dropped it to the ground. “Fuck, this is not chill, it’s respiratory medicine.”

The other bandit kicked the body he got the box from, it looked like another bandit. “Fucking cunt, why become a bandit when you can’t even breathe right!”

*Crunch*

I looked over to see that Harp had stepped on a rad roach, so had the two bandits. “WHO DA FUCK IS OUT TH…” Rototom shot him in the head, blood and gore few off, as the bandits body fell to the ground spasming.

“Fuck this!” The other bandit bolted, vanishing into the darkness.

Harp looked around nervously, and scratched her head. “Sorry.”

We trotted over to the three bodies, now four. All of them were bandits, in different stages of death. We hadn’t stopped to check before, but something was bugging me that I needed to take a look. Two of them had been ripped apart, the third looked intact, though she was dirty and covered in blood. Looking at the box that was looted from her, it held four inhalers. Something clicked in my mind, and I remembered the bandit with the respiratory problem. Getting a closer look, I saw an eye looking back at me. The mare blinked.

My head shot up, and I looked around. With how the rad roaches had been in force, there had been a ton of red bars all around from the time we entered the tunnel. “What wrong Vibey?” My sister asked.

“This one’s still alive.” My head swiveled, back and forth slowly.

She stepped up to the downed bandit. “So, not like any pony is going to give a shit. I thought you didn’t want to stop?”

My tail began to twitch, and I looked over at my sister. With a slam, the large form of a Paradise dragon landed behind her. It must have been clinging to the ceiling the entire time, watching us. “Sis.” Rototom slowly looked behind her. “RUN!” Before she should react, the Monster swiped its claws at her, sending my sister flying into the wall with a crunch. The rest of us opened fire, but it didn’t even flinch.

Jumping over me, everyone scattered, as it lashed its tail at them. Harp stumbled, and Turnip took the hit protecting her. Merit and Wild took to the air, firing bolts of energy at the beast. Light managed to get out of the way, not letting Sweet fall from her back.

Over charging my rifle, I fired a shot, getting a satisfying thunk on the monster. The paradise dragon stopped its advancement on my friends, and turn to look at me. Its face was mangled, some bone showing, its eyes looked at me with hatred. It was the same goddess damn one I chucked the grenade at, and it looked like it had a score to settle with me.

“So you remember me right.” I said as I backed up, charging my rifle. The paradise dragon snarled at me. I took that as a yes. It charged, and I activated S.A.T.S. Even in the nearly stopped time, the huge beast was still moving. I selected to dodge it, and fire at its neck. The move proved successful as I managed to dodge the dragon’s teeth by a hair's breath, and sent a ball bearing into its neck with another thunk. It countered by swinging its tail at me. The large meaty whip slammed into me, sending me sliding further down the tunnel.

A warning popped into the upper left of my vision, telling me that my back left leg was heavily damaged, and I had two broken ribs. Getting back onto my hooves, the dragon was already on me, and swiped at me with its claw, sending me flying back in the other direction. It was not as bad as the tail, but Minerva warned me that I broke another rib. Lifting my rifle, I fired another shot at the dragon, only to have its air canister burst. The others fired onto the beast, but it didn’t even bat an eye, and slowly stomped towards me.

“Vibey!” Rototom stumbled over. “Take my rifle.” She had unhooked it from her battle saddle, and tossed it over to me. I caught it in my fetlock and aimed it at the dragon, firing the railgun. It made a quiet zap sound, and the ball bearing bounced off the dragon's face. “Charge it little sis, all the way!”

I didn’t have time, the beast was almost on me, and it's drool sloping on the ground as it looked at me. Merit, and Wild flew in, and landed on its head, energy rifles pushed into its eye sockets. The paradise dragon was quick to shove them off of itself, and managed to avoid getting an eye full of energy bolts. It bought me the time I needed to charge the rifle, and it lashed out at the two pegasi.

Magic shimmered around me as I focused on gather the ambient magical energy around me into myself, and from me into the rail gun. Merit and Wild were quick, but the lack of room in the tunnel quickly put them at a disadvantage. Merit managed to dodge being crushed when the paradise dragon jumped up, slamming into the ceiling. But the pressure wave sent him crashing into the ground and made him an easy target for a tail swipe. He took the hit better than I had, but it was easy to see that he had the wind knocked out of him. Wild nearly lost a hoof when the beast lunged at her. It was able to get her with its claw, but she was able to get away before it could slam her to the ground.

The rifle was fully charged, and I took aim. “If you’re so hungry, then eat this!” The dragon looked right at me, and I fired.

It.

Fucking.

Dodged.

I managed to take out a claw, only a fucking claw. The paradise dragon had jumped to the side as I fired, the ball bearing only hitting a claw on its back leg. It sneered at me, and huffed. I was being mocked, the monster was mocking me before it would kill me. It lumbered in close slowly, as though each step had purpose. Wild tried to get its attention, but her rifle had run dry and she had resorted to aerial kicks, of which the monster ignored. Merit fired at it as well, but after a few beams of energy, his rifle just clicked empty.

The paradise dragon opened its massive maw. I could see rows of massive teeth with drool lacing between them. Its breath was foul, making me wish it could breathe fire, just to get this over with quicker.

It was only a few hoof steps away from me when it stopped, and roared. It was like having the SMG near my ears again, but more hair razing. “YOU GOT THAT BIG GUN THERE, USE IT BEFORE IT BREAKS FREE!” Looking down under the dragon, blood splattered on the floor, and I could see what looked like a harpoon sticking through its back leg, connected by a chain.

The dragon snapped at me, but I was still far enough away for it not too reach me. Aiming the rifle, I once again focused magic into myself, and it into the rifle. A hoof placed itself on my shoulder, and another on my other side. Looking it was my sister and Harp, shimmering with magic.

Electricity sparked between the two magnets of the rail gun and random junk began to slide to us. I smiled as the rifle started to shake, it aimed at the dragon's head. “This time, you die.” I motioned at the trigger, and the dragon jumped back and to the side dodging, but this time I was onto it and didn’t fire. As the beast landed, getting into position to charge, I entered S.A.T.S. and aimed for it’s head. It gave me a 95% chance to hit, selecting the target, and executed the program, and fired the railgun.

This time the beast didn’t dodge, the ball bearing hit it between the eyes. It caved in its skull, sending bits of bone, brain, and blood flying onto the wall, decorating it with gore. Its massive body twitched on the ground for a few seconds before going limp, blood flowing from what was left of its head, pooling onto the ground.

I collapsed, Harp caching me before my head hit the ground. “Vibraphone, are you okay?” she said, in a squeaky voice. Tears fell onto my face as she looked down on me, her eyes puffy and red. “Please tell me you’re alright.”

I chuckled. “You better not have ruined my panties, I don’t want to give you the ones I have on.” Harp laughed as she rubbed her eyes.

“No, this time I held it together.” She said, smiling.

“SHIT, TALK ABOUT DEAD, YOU BLEW IT’S FUCKING HEAD OFF!” the voice from before echoed, sounding much closer than before. “You all alight?”

I looked over to see an old ragged looking mirage pony stallion, behind him were five others, all with makeshift armor on. “Ya, I think.” I responded, “The dragon got the drop on us, but we’re alive.”

“Hey pops, that’s her, the mare that got us out of the bandit camp!” It was a mare with a harpoon gun at her side, the harpoon long gone, with only a chain from her to the paradise dragon as the only clue of who shot the beast. On her other side was a large pressure tank that connected to the harpoon gun, which must have given it the power to punch through the dragon’s leg like it did.

The old stallion stepped up to me, looking down at me with tired eyes. “It seems fate has decided that I should repay a debt. Missy you must have gathered a shit ton of good karma to get out of this like you did.” He turned around looking at his group. “GRAB WHAT YOU CAN FROM THE CORPSE, WERE EATING DRAGON TONIGHT!” A cheer shouted out from the scrapper group, and they descended onto the corpse of the paradise dragon. Looking back at us, the old stallion winked. “The rest of the way is clear, best get going, looks like your group won’t last much longer down here if ya linger.” I nodded and attempted to get up, nearly falling over.

Merit came and helped me up, providing me with a pony to lean on. Wild helped my sister move, but another one of her legs was wrecked. Harp was helping Turnip, though he seemed just fine, despite having cracks all over his chitin. Light was still holding Sweet on her back, having kept her safe in the fight.

As we continued down the tunnel, signs of life became more and more common, until we came to the checkpoint. Groups of mirage ponies stared at us, whispering. We had put a gas mask on Turnip in hopes that he just looked like he had odd looking armor on, but it wouldn’t take long before word got around that a pony shaped lurker was in Charon's Stop. At this point I didn’t care, we just had to get to the Two Tailed Mare and rest.

“Signing in?” An Orthrus mare stopped us, and I nodded. “Should I bring the clipboard to you, or can you come under your own power?” I stared at her in annoyance. Even I was not this flippant when working at a checkpoint.

“Skip the bullshit.” My sister called out. “I’m an Orthrus specter, and require aid. I’ll see that the paperwork is filled out later, right now we need an escort.”

The mare looked confused, looking my sister over. After what felt like minutes, the mare trotted off, saying she would see her superior. After a few seconds three heavily armed and armored Orthrus troopers came running over.

They saluted my sister, and the closest one spoke up “We’ve been expecting you ma'am, how can we help?”

“My sister looked at the three and groaned. “Looks like subtlety is out the window.” She shook her head. “Take us to the Two Tailed Mare, we need rest and medical attention. Also a mechanic, we got a few busted up legs.”

The trooper laughed. “You’re in luck ma'am. Just follow us, and we’ll get you patched up.”

The trip to the Two Tailed Mare was luckily uneventful, a lot of ponies staring at us, but nothing out of the normal. Rufus greeted us at the door, sounding happy and concerned. Such a good dog. Shamisen happened to be out, so her employees provided us with rooms.

One of the troopers happened to be a medic, and looked us over, setting my ribs back in place before giving me a healing potion. Same for the others. He was shocked to see the condition Sweet was in, and let us know that he would call in a full team to pick her up. The mechanic of the three was actually a drone specialist, but knew enough about cyber legs to fix one up. So my damaged leg was popped off so that he could take a look at it.

Merit helped me to bed, I pulled him in with me. I didn’t have the energy to fool around, I just wanted some pony close to me as I slept. He responded by putting his hooves around my waist, holding me gently. It felt nice, whatever madness was going on, it could wait. Right now I had a fine stallion holding me, my best friend was going to be all right, and when I get my pay, I can leave this mess behind me. “Sweet dreams.” Merit whispered into my ear, and I smiled.

Footnote:

Quest Completed.

- My Kingdom for a Pony

- Who Dares, Win

Quest perk gained.

-The pony everypony should know- Your time with the mirage pony princess Harp Melody has given you a peek into the lives of royalty. +1 to endurance. Dialogue options are now available when talking to a member of the orphic royal family, and their servants.

-20% cooler- You helped the three wayward enclave scouts regroup and get to safety, seeing their loyalty to each other first hoof. +1 to agility. Don’t be surprised when a little filly starts following you around, cause you're awesome now.

New Quest - I like to lurk.