Fallout Equestria
Broken Steel

Chapter 15: The Rise of the Krogoth

The sun shone brightly in the midday sky over a beautiful lush green meadow with many kinds of beautiful flowers in all the colours of the rainbow. I lay on my back on the soft warm grass as I stared up into those large shinnying purple eyes of the stallion. The handsome black maned purple stallion stood over me, his strong forelegs on either side of my torso. He was so big compared to me but it added to his strong handsome image, I blushed brightly, very brightly, as I looked into those eyes. He smiled sweetly as he slowly leaned his head down and nuzzled into my cheek softly. After nuzzling my cheek his muzzle brushed against my ear as he whispered.

“You are such a lovely mare, you have been on my mind since the day I met you”

I could have just melted with his strong calm voice alone. He pulled his muzzle from my ear and before I could utter a reply his lips met mine and we shared a deep passionate kiss. I was putty in his hooves. I felt his silky tongue press against my lips and I parted them to allow passage into my mouth. I felt his tongue slip into my mouth and coil around my own tongue slightly. He tasted divine, heavenly and sweet. Oh Celestia I was in heaven. I didn’t want this feeling to stop. I reached up with my forelegs and hugged them around his neck as I pressed myself into his kiss. I let out a soft moan as I returned the kiss. We let our tongues lick and explore each other’s maws before finally breaking the kiss to take in some much needed air.

“Oh, Motor Runner” I moaned softly as I spread my hind quarters.

“Are you ready?” He asked softly as he looked into my eyes.

I looked between us for a moment, seeing his large malehood standing at attention just an inch from my private area. I blushed again before looking back up to him, meeting his gaze. I nodded and then he gently began to push into me.

Suddenly the world around me exploded in balefire, burning everything away until there was nothing but ashes. The flames however didn’t sound like fire but instead they sounded like…rock music and that’s when I woke up with a start.

As I woke up from my wet dream at the sound of loud music being played I shot up with a surprised cry. As I pulled myself up so quickly I didn’t notice that CD was hovering above me and my head collided with the small flying robot and the first point of impact with him was my horn which sent a wave of pain through my head making my vision swim.

“Argh, fuck, what the hell?” I yelled out in pain and confusion.

CD was knocked off balance by my accidental headbutt and crashed into a table before falling onto the floor.

“Oh great, we just got ourselves a fancy alarm clock” Zyon moaned as he got up and he was swiftly followed by Sky Fire who blushed. She must have cuddled up against him after I feel asleep.

My vision soon stopped spinning and I took in our surroundings. We were still in the development room we found CD in as it was safely locked. Nothing seemed out of place as I stood up and stretched. Just as I stretched my hind legs my dream suddenly surfaced in my memory and I blushed with my eyes growing wide. Did I really dream of having sex with him…the pony I’m trying to stop, my enemy? What the smegging hell is wrong with me?

He is handsome though and you fancy him and you know it.

I shuck my head to clear my thoughts and looked around for something to distract me. There was a the sound of metal slapping the floor as CD’s wings began flapping to right himself and then he hauled himself back into the air where he then turned to me and started bobbing around in an agitated manner.

“Something wrong CD?” I asked as I watched him bobbing about.

The sprite-bot blared out some music again and started to hover around in a circle before facing the closed security door.

I flicked up my E.F.S as I followed CD’s movement as he faced the door and several red markers lit up in my compass as hostiles were moving outside. Yeah, CD will definitely be helpful.

“Lock and load guys, trouble” I said as I picked up This Machine from off the floor beside where I slept. I made sure I switched out the explosive round mag with a standard round magazine as explosives in this room would be a bad idea.

There was a metallic thud against the door as something bashed it. “Security breach detected. Please open the door and accept your termination” Said the voice of a Ponytron.

“You have got to be kidding” Zyon muttered as he walked over to a corner and emptied his saddle bags before he started to mix some powders he had in his bags.

There was another bang against the door and I aimed This Machine just above the manual release wheel. I pulled the trigger and the high calibre round punched through the door and it struck the Ponytron behind the door as there was a small explosion as its head exploded which was then followed by the machine crumpling down onto the floor as its red marker on my E.F.S faded.

“Scratch one ponytron” I said as I chambered another round.

Sky Fire took to the air and hovered close with her hoof mounted laser cannons raised. My E.F.S was still showing targets outside. I couldn’t tell if the others were close but one of them was directly behind the door again.

“All intruders will be terminated” Sounded a much deeper electronic voice as something bigger slammed into the door. The sound of treads could be heard as the new threat moved backwards to ram the door again.

“Oh great another Sentry” Zyon said as he began pouring a bluish sludge into one of those brown pear shaped things.

What’s he doing now? Making another bomb?

I aimed my rifle again and aimed for the hole from my last shot just as it slammed into the door again. The vibration from the strike caused my aim to falter as I pulled the trigger and my shot went wide from where I believed its head would be.

“Oops” I said in disbelief as my wide shot had gone through one of the locking rods and with that rod severed the doors locking system failed and the door fell open.

“Oh shit” Sky Fire cried as she unloaded a double shot of her laser cannons into its face and it responded by launching a missile at her. The damn thing is armed with a missile launcher and a minigun, not good.

“Whoa” I cried as I dived to my left and Sky Fire quickly flew up to avoid the missile which burst through the window behind us and kept on going until it ran out of fuel and feel out of the sky and exploded.

The drone slowly wheeled its way through the door and began to look around for a target until it saw me as I swung my rifle around to aim for its head. Its minigun began to spin as it readied to fire.

“Aww crap”

Just then a beam of red disintegration magic struck the side of its head and its ear began to glow red hot and it began to sizzle. Sky Fire was above it so she didn’t hit it. There was a deep sounding beep coming from the robot’s side and I saw CD’s beam gun glowing. He fired another shot that went wide but he got the machine’s attention as it turned to face its new threat and started to fire its minigun at the small bobbing sprite-bot. CD made a series of surprised beeps as he flapped his wings like mad and started to zip around to avoid the hail of bullets.

“CD!” I cried as I quickly pulled the bolt back and quickly pushed it back to chamber a round but as I pushed it back in it got stuck. Damn it, too fast, I jammed it.

While the drone was busy trying to hit CD it didn’t notice Zyon stand up onto his hind legs all freaky like as a zebra while holding that brown pear thing in his forehooves and then he lobbed it at the drone. I quickly dove under a table for cover expecting another big explosion like back on the Celestia but instead the pear thing shattered like a plant pot and a the blue ooze coated the back of hits head where it struck the machine. After a second or two I saw the ooze seep into the robot through any gaps or openings in its armoured hide and shortly after getting inside it smoke started to rise out of it which was then followed by a series of sparks and then the lights in the machines eyes and body faded and it seemed to slump down as it seemed to loose its power. Its minigun stopped firing as it powered down.

“What was that?” I asked as I crawled out from under the table.

Zyon trotted up to me with a smug look on his face. “Just a little zebra alchemy”

“Couldn’t you have done that sooner, like when we got here?” Sky Fire scowled as she landed beside him.

“No, not really, I didn’t have a lot of the ingredients left; I just used the last of what I had for that one”

CD fluttered over and sat itself on my head while still flapping its wings to keep much of its weight off me. “Are you ok?” I asked, almost going cross eyed as I looked up to see him.

CD replied with a single high pitched beep. “I take that as a yes then, thank Celestia” I smiled.

“We need to get out of here” Sky Fire said as she nervously looked through the now open door.

“Yeah, that AM rifle isn’t going to be much help in close quarters up here and I highly doubt your lever-action shotgun will do jack to robots”

“Uhh, yeah you’re right, hmm…” I looked at the shattered window and got an idea.

“Sky, why don’t you fly us out?”

“Do I look like I can carry him and you?”

I nearly faced hoofed. “No you silly filly. You can bring the bandit up to the open window there” I said while pointing a hoof at it.

She blushed. “Oh, right, um, I’ll be right back” She said as she took off out the window leaving a rainbow trail behind.

“Please step out into the open and identify yourself” Echoed the voice of another ponytron.

“Oh for crying out loud” Zyon moaned as he whipped out his sword from its sheath on his left foreleg.

I turned around to the door as CD hovered back into the air while sounding off his music. I guess that’s a warning signal for him. I moaned with my magic as I fiddled with the jammed bolt. I rattled it a second until it came loose. I sighed as I freed up the bolt pulling it back and pushing it back in more gently this time. The sound of metallic hooves began grow closer as the ponytron was getting closer.

CD hovered closer to the door with his beam gun glowing ready to fire.

“CD get your ass back here” I shouted.

He beeped several times in what could possibly have been a protest about being told to come back but he did just as the ponytron stepped out into view. There was then a thud from behind us as Sky Fire pushed the back of the bandit against the open window and opened the rear doors.

“All aboard” She called.

“Intruders detected, lethal force authorised” Said the Ponytron as it turned into the room and its dome like head started to glow.

“Authorise this” I said as I pulled the trigger without properly aiming at the thing. I was lucky to have hit it but I caught it in the chest and the force of the hit caused it to topple over.

“Come on guys” Sky Fire urged.

Zyon and I walked backwards through the window and into the bandit as the damaged robot started to pick itself up off the floor.

”Come on CD, we’re leaving” I called out to him. He beeped and fluttered back to me. Once we were all inside, Sky Fire closed the rear doors and started flapping her wings and we were off again into the air.

“Which way Appletart?” Sky Fire asked.

I noticed a direction marker on my compass. I turned my head until I could exactly see which way the marker was pointing and it was saying we needed to go north.

“Ok Sky, we need to go north” After giving her the direction she started to turn the bandit until it was going north and I called out to stop her from turning. She was pouring on the speed as we flew low.

“This is going to be a long flight, what can we do until we get to Manechester?” Zyon asked as he took a seat.

“Hmm, why don’t you tell us about your life outside the stable?” I asked as I took a seat opposite to him and used my magic to plonk CD down on a seat next to me.

“Yeah, we know about your life in the stable, but not outside it” Sky Fire said over the bandit’s tannoy.

“Alright fine” He said with a sigh. He took a breath as he closed his eyes to remember before he started speaking.

“Well as you know it was fifteen years ago when I left my stable. I found myself in what could be described as a sewer tunnel but without all the shit and grime. The tunnel led me to a security door that opened up to a flight of stairs. I followed the stairs to the top and after picking the lock to the door I stepped out into a huge shopping mall. I was scared as I didn’t know what to expect. The mall itself looked practically intact. Nothing seemed to have been touched since the bombs fell as most of the stores were still locked up tight with all their decaying merchandise still sitting on their shelves. It was really creepy. I aimlessly wandered the mall, picking up anything that could be useful to me like food and medicine until I came to a set of broken glass doors which led me out into the street.

I had to remind myself that it was the middle of the night and not the middle of the day because the street was brightly lit as if the sun was shining down over the city. I stepped out onto the street and walked down the road a bit before turning back to look up at the tower. The Manedale Centre is the largest building in Manechester especially with the massive shopping centre encompassing it and it’s in the very centre of the city. At the top of the tower is a unicorn horn looking spire that was glowing brightly with white light. While in the stable I learned about the spire as there was some old documentation still on the system. Apparently it’s called the “Obelisk of Magic” and it was created by Twilight Sparkle. The documentation said that it was a prototype defence structure designed to protect the city from enemy attack. It was programmed to project a few types of shields to stop whatever they were meant to stop and it also had one offensive beam weapon designed to shoot down unfriendly missiles or so the documents said. I assume the Obelisk has been active since the bombs started falling as from what I’ve learned from other people outside the city the sky above it has always been lit up. It has acted like a beacon, drawing other people to the city but whatever happened to whoever was drawn to the city I have no idea as everything seemed untouched as I moved my way through the city and left it behind.

Some ponies have described the city as “A bright shining monument, luring treasure hunters to their doom”.

When I left the city I didn’t look back. I didn’t want to be reminded of the life I once lived back there and decided to focus on the here and now as I started a new life as a wastelander.

For the first year I took it slow and learned to know what to expect out here. I learned about what monsters there are out here like Manicores, Hellounds, etc, what ponies to avoid, what ponies I could trade with, etc. In that time I came across a town called Megatrot…”

“Isn’t that the town built up around an unexploded balefire bomb or megaspell?” Sky Fire interrupted.

This brought my attention away from Zyon and I looked out the windows of the bandit. To our right we could see Canterlot Mountain and the ancient capital city still bleeding the strange pink water from its many waterfalls. It still looked strangely beautiful despite the two hundred years of decay and being shrouded in the pink Cloud. And just like Homage had warned there were three large Enclave Raptors drawing close to the old city.

“Yeah, that’s right” Zyon continued. “I spent my first few years living in the town. It was close to an ancient industrial complex and there were lots of warehouses to explore. It was actually fun exploring these places at first. I was shoving my face in nearly every inch of the places. I was attracted to the warehouses because of the technologies they had in them and all the things I could find there. I had my father’s zebra cloak at the time so I was able to explore most places without being seen or noticed by the inhabitants.

Well, that changed when I came across a factory called “Robronco Robotics”. I was so enticed by the name of the facility that I failed to take notice the most obvious warning signs to who the place belonged to. I learned that places under Raider control have been defiled by graffiti and that place was covered in it and yet I was oblivious. It wasn’t until I was inside that I realised my mistake. It was also the first time that I had to put my combat skills to the test as even with my cloak, avoiding them wasn’t easy.

Fighting Raiders was a piece of piss when it was one on one and like two on one…” He sounded slightly cocky when talking about the odds of the fights. “…It got difficult when it became three on one and I started to use my sword for when it got more than that. The damn place was full of the bastards but with my sword I was able to cut through them but the fights also left me battered and bruised and my cloak had been destroyed. With each fight I won my confidence grew and as Raiders weren’t really much of a challenge my confidence made me cocky and brash and in the end I paid a deep price”

“Is this when you got that scar?” I asked. Zyon turned and instinctively reached up and gently pressed a hoof to his left cheek where the body length scar began.

He sighed deeply in shame. “Yes. Four years out from the stable and I had already become a cocky asshole with my sword and fighting style. I pissed a few people off with my attitude then. I came out of a factory after a successful salvage trip one day after also killing all the raiders inside but when I left the building I ran into a raider who was armed with an improvised weapon. A Knife Spear made from a pool cue and a Cosmic Knife strapped to it…”

“A Cosmic Knife? Those things are as sharp as hell” Sky Fire interrupted again.

“Yes, they certainly are” Zyon agreed while rubbing his hoof over the visible groove of his scared cheek. “Well, I was over flowing with confidence and after killing his buddies I expected to easily kill him. We fought and I was being stupid and making mistake after mistake. My over confidence was clouding my mind and I wasn’t thinking of what I should be doing and in the end I made one too many mistakes and that’s when I paid the price for it. I lunged at him in anger and he easily avoided me. As I was about to sail past him he brought his spear to bear and the knife pierced my skin and cut so deep into my cheek that I could taste my own blood and like you said Sky it was sharp, so sharp that it sliced through my flesh as if it was butter. When I felt it cut into me I jerked to the side just enough to pull the knife out of its deep cut but it was still deep enough to leave a deep cut that ran the length of my body and to cut my glyphmark in half”

He looked down in shame as the memory became fresh in his mind.

“I lied about the outcome to you both”

“You lied about what happened after, why?” I asked in surprise.

“I promised to keep it a secret but I can trust you two so I feel safe in telling you now” He explained before he continued. “I only had one healing potion on me instead of the two like I had said I had and it was just enough to close the more shallow areas of my wound and reduced the bleeding but I was still gushing buckets of blood and being threatened of drowning on it too. I would have bled out in about an hour if it wasn’t for somepony who saw the fight. She helped me back to her place…”

“She!?” Sky Fire shrieked and her wings locked up for a moment. Just enough to give us a scare as the bandit dipped in the air before she recovered.

“Ahem, yes, she. Her name was Zeta. She took me back to her place which turned out to be a hospital meant for cybernetic reconstructions” He must have caught my look as he quickly added. “And no I’m not a cyborg”

An audible sigh of relief came from the tannoy.

“Zeta fixed me up but I had to spend a couple of days there to recover as I lost a lot of blood on the way. Now, Zeta asked me to not tell anyone about her because people see her as a thing and something to control because she’s more machine than pony, in fact she herself described herself to me as a bio-mechanism”

“A what now?”

“A bio-mechanism, a machine that requires an organic component or components to function” Sky Fire answered which surprised me and Zyon.

“Oh… Like a Robobrain”

“Yes, exactly. She was an earth pony from Stable 101 and we all know what went on in there”

I nodded. “Stable 101 was a stable for only Earth Ponies and was fitted with cybernetic enhancement facilities as it was the stable’s function for the population to cybernetically enhance themselves”

“Yes indeed. Zeta was the youngest cyborg as when she was born she was diagnosed with a weak heart and wouldn’t live to see five years old. Her heart was replaced with a specialised synthetic heart which would grow with her and allowed her to see into her teen years. She suffered an accident where she fell down some stairs, landing awkwardly on her hind legs and breaking them in several locations which would never heal properly and would cause her to walk with a limp and as it was standard practice to fix should injuries with cybernetics in the stable she then had both hind legs replaced.

When she left the stable, um… forgot why she left now… anyway, she found a hospital and decided to call it her home because of its cybernetic facilities”

“What made her turn herself into a robot then?” I asked in curiosity.

“Well, she had the scare of her life. She was attacked by something that left her within an inch of her life. She feared she would die and she was in so much pain she believed she would. She survived but it left her mentally scared as her dreams were haunted with the fear of death and the pain she felt that day. After so many months of torment by her fears and nightmares she decided to do something about it. Something that could make her live effectively forever and that was to turn herself into a machine.

I don’t know the details on how she did it, I didn’t ask but what she did did the trick. I spent a few months living with her and I must admit I felt something for her but the attraction was mainly because of her body as its mechanical and I love to tinker with things and my interest in technology. She taught me a good few things on robots, like the chemical concoction I used on that sentry”

Just then as he finished the air was filled with violent explosions. We all looked towards Canterlot and to our horror and confusion the Raptors had opened up on the mountain side under the city with their massive plasma cannons. The mountain began to crack and crumble with hit after hit until finally the once proud city, home of the true goddesses of Day and Night slipped from its mount and crashed down into the valley below. The once tall spires of Canterlot Castle collapsed and broke up with the castle and the city. The once beautiful white marble buildings breaking as they tumbled down the rocky mountain slope. It was horrifying, seeing the city break up. As it crashed down the mountain plumes of the Cloud escaped from places that opened up before clearing. It was like the city was giving its last breaths before coming to rest at the base of the mountain in a pile of unrecognisable rubble.

“I can’t believe they just did that” I cried out in disbelief.

“What was the point in that?” Zyon asked.

“I heard rumours back when I was in the Enclave that they planned on doing it but I can’t remember why now”

“We better get to Manechester and quick. Let’s not hang about here”

Sky Fire didn’t need anymore motivation to speed up and she pumped her wings as fast as she could. Me, CD and Zyon all got pushed back into our seats at the new turn of speed our pegasus friend poured on. Wow, any faster and I think she’d break the sound barrier. Within two hours after witnessing the destruction of Canterlot, the eerie white glow of Manechester started to come into view. It was exactly as Zyon said, “A bright shining monument” and with that glow it certainly would lure people to it.

XXXXX

Manchester was huge. I think it’s as big, if not bigger, than Manehattan but the city appeared to be in far better condition. It’s almost like the city has not been touched since the bombs fell in Equestria. I’m sure this city had been targeted as well but there are no balefire craters or any evidence to say a missile hit it and all the buildings were standing. The only damage I can really pick out is from lack of maintenance and the elements.

”Wow, this place looks amazing” Sky Fire said as she looked down at the buildings passing by beneath us.

“Yeah, I’ve never seen a city as intact as this before” I said finding the courage to look out a window to the ground.

“There it is, the Manedale Centre” Zyon said pointing a hoof to the giant tower in the middle of the city. The unicorn like spire was still giving off its bright white magical glow, illuminating the city like an artificial sun.

I looked to the huge tower and noticed some other towers around it that stood taller than everything else.

“Where is the Ministry of Technology Hub?” I asked while looking at the taller buildings.

“The Ministry Hub is…” He paused for a moment as he looked to the tall buildings surrounding the Manedale Centre. “That one, the orange coloured building”

Orange? I looked again and sure enough I could make out a colour. I looked to the other tall buildings and after squinting just a bit I could see that all of them were coloured too. I saw purple, blue, pink, white and yellow. I blinked in realisation; all the ministry hubs here were colour coded.

Sky Fire altered course and we began to fly straight for the orange ministry building. As we drew near I noticed a red dot appear on Sky Fire’s head, almost like a laser pointer. Oh dear. I looked around for a sniper but instead my eyes were drawn to the Obelisk. Its very tip was glowing red.

“Err, Zyon, what’s it doing?” I asked with my eyes still locked on the glowing tip.

Suddenly a red line started moving up and down Sky Fire and the bandit.

“It’s scanning us”

“Quick, Sky Fire, take your hood off” I yelled with some fear in my voice.

Sky Fire quickly pulled down her hood to cancel her suit’s enchantment and the red light atop the Obelisk faded out to resume the constant white glow.

“Oh thank Celestia” I sighed in relief.

“What happened?” Sky Fire asked looking back to see us through the front windows.

“I think it recognised you as being Rainbow Dash so it didn’t see us as being a threat” Zyon answered before I could.

The flight to the ministry building after that was uneventful and we landed safely on the building’s roof landing pad which had a private chariot still sitting on it.

Sky Fire was absolutely knackered when we landed; she was panting and seemed weak in the knees. She needs to rest.

“Sky Fire, you need to get some rest” I looked around with CD turning around with me. “I’m picking up zero hostile targets here, it’ll be safe for you to sleep in the bandit” I looked at Zyon. “Hmm, why not stay and keep her company, I won’t be long”

“You sure?” Zyon asked as he helped his marefriend out of the bandit’s harness.

“Yeah and I have CD with me so everything should be cool” I said with a smile.

“Ok but if I hear a gunshot I’ll come running”

I nodded with a smile as me and CD then walked over to the roof access door. The door was locked but a power armoured applebuck saw the door fly of its hinges with a loud metallic thunk.

The interior of the building was like walking through a building in the process of being decorated as there were still tables and screens littering the halls and rooms. I don’t think this building had been finished. It didn’t take me long to find Applejack’s office since it was on the top floor. It was a nice large office. It had several book shelves lining the walls devoid of any books, a large painting once decorated one of the walls but has long since deteriorated which had revealed a wall safe that would have been hidden behind the painting. Towards the end of the room it had a large horseshoe shaped desk and behind that a wall of glass. Oh, there isn’t a catting hells chance I’m going near the windows.

I approached the wall safe and my EFS told me that it was locked and required a key. Great, this lock wasn’t pickable. I either need to find the key which would likely be impossible or the terminal on the desk will open it which means… Oh smegging hell. I have to go near the damn windows.

I crouched low which wasn’t very much considering my belly wouldn’t let me go down that far and I crawled across the floor to the desk where the terminal sat. I wasn’t going to walk around the desk. I’m shit scared as it is without getting too close to them. If I go near those windows my ass will go if I look out the windows to the streets below. Fucking hate heights. I sat down before the desk and used my magic to pull the terminal back and turn it around so it faced me.

To my good fortune the terminal was still working. Robronco really knew what they were doing when they made these things. They were certainly built to last to still be working after being left unattended for two centuries. I pressed a key to wake it back up and was treated to the usual admin login screen which quickly flashed and turned into the familiar screen dominated by text, numbers and symbols.

“Ugh, I hate doing this” I moaned as I highlighted the first pass phrase which read as “Cupcake” and that gave me a zero out of seven. Well I’m off to a flying start. I guessed another two pass phrases and they gave me from a one out of seven to a four out of seven. I backed out before it could lock me out and decided to try again. On my second attempt at hacking I choose a word that said “Closets” which gave me a two out of seven. While searching the screen of text for another possible word I found a word that drawn my entire attention to. “Krogoth”. I clicked it and the computer beeped as I choose the right pass phrase.

I was rewarded with a document which basically told me that Applejack had moved the most sensitive information from her other ministry buildings here as it was outside of Equestria’s jurisdiction since Manechester is actually on Braytish Emperial soil. The terminal also had the option to unlock the safe. Just what I wanted. After clicking the option there was a beep from the safe as it unlocked and swung open. Turning my attention back to the safe I started to rifle through the documentation that was inside it. I must have spent about an hour going through the documents before I finally came to one that spoke of the Krogoth. I quickly scanned through it before I found what we came here to find. The location of the Hanger. Well, I guess I know why nopony ever found it now then. It was built in the last place anypony would have looked or dared to have looked back then.

I quickly rushed back up to my friends waiting patiently on the roof. They were huddled up inside the bandit as I rejoined them.

“You took your sweet time” Zyon said quietly as Sky Fire was fast asleep on the passenger benches.

“Sorry, but I’ve found the location of the hanger”

“Ok, so where is it?”

“Crescent Moon Canyon”

Zyon’s mouth dropped open in shock. Everypony knows what happened there. Everypony knows of Equestria’s greatest war time disaster. All those poor innocent and defenceless foals. The place was hit by a Zebra Pink Cloud talisman. It killed everypony in the building and all the poor children. It’s the reason Celestia stepped down as Princess of Equestria. The very idea of building something next door to that was just unthinkable but Applejack did it. She had the Hanger built there. Thinking about it now I can see why she choose to do so despite the horrible fact of where it is. Nopony with any sense would dare go near that canyon after the attack so it was the perfect place for a secret project to be built unhindered by anyone snooping around.

I looked down to Sky Fire still sleeping. She needs her rest.

“Let’s take a nap before we head out”

Zyon nodded as he lay down on the floor next to Sky Fire while I lay on the bench opposite. CD fluttered down and settled on my side. He didn’t seem to weigh anything as I barely could feel him on me. I yawned before drifting off to sleep.

XXXXX

Crescent Moon Canyon

Today would be the day, after thirty long years of planning and rebuilding. The K-01 ACM KROGOTH would finally be completed and activated. Motor Runner smiled as he stood on the observation platform over looking the Hanger floor as his ponies worked. They were loading the Krogoth with its ammunition. The plan for the day was to load the Krogoth with its bullets, disc grenades and missiles and then do the final system checks before Motor Runner activates the machine.

Down on the Hanger floor Raiders were hoofing or wheeling around in trolleys loaded with large grey metal boxes marked with Equestrian Military markings.

“Damn these things weigh a fucking ton” A Raider complained as he pushed a trolley that was stacked high with the boxes.

“Oh quit your belly achin”

“Oh shit” The raider pushing the trolley cried out as he ran over a cable which made him loose the trolley’s balance and it toppled over. One of the boxes slammed into the floor hard and its top opened and a belt of bullets spilled out from it.

“Holy shit” One of the raiders cried out from the loud bang the heavy ammunition box made when it impacted the floor.

“Shit dude! Look at the size of those fucking things”

“What are those?”

A unicorn raider pulled one of the bullets off the belt with his magic and eyed the huge bullet.

“Hmm, whoa, sixty calibre”

“Sixty cal? Damn”

The unicorn raider opened his saddle bag and pulled out a novelty lighter that looked like a fifty cal round and was the same size of one and he compared the two bullet sizes.

“I’d hate to be shot by one of those”

“Yeah, the damn sixty cal is twice as big as the fifty”

“What are these bullets for again?”

“That bloody thing’s machinegun” The raider said as he pointed a hoof at the multi-barrelled machinegun mounted to the chin of the massive robot.

“A sixty cal machinegun, that thing is going to destroy everything with firepower like that”

“Hell yeah”

“Back to work” Motor Runner shouted from the platform, not impressed about his Raiders conversation stopping them from their work as they pissed about with the bullets.

The raiders eeped with surprise and fear as they quickly scrambled to right the trolley and gather up the spilled belt of bullets. They frantically put the boxes back on the trolley and started to push it again.

“Fuck, don’t want to piss him off right now”

“Yeah”

“So if these are sixty cal then why are their other ponies loading other types of bullets?”

“The machinegun can fire multiple calibres”

“It can? Damn”

“Where have you been to not know that”

“Heh, I didn’t pay attention”

“Figures”

“What, his speeches are boring…” He was then hit in the back of the head by one of his colleagues. “Ow, what the fuck dude?”

“Are you crazy, he’s right fucking there you moron”

The assaulted raider shrunk down to be a little as possible as he hoped he wasn’t heard.

Motor Runner shook his head as the group pushed the trolley to one of the platform elevators and then boarded it to ride it to the top where the munitions was being loaded into the Krogoth’s forward ammunition magazine.

Sitting on the back of the Krogoth just behind its neck and before its secondary weapons platform were a group of raiders loading in belt after belt of bullets as they were unloading the ammunition boxes. They had to feed the belts into four separate troths. A troth for each of the machinegun’s calibres. Thousands up on thousands of bullets were being fed into the machine as they loaded its machinegun. There was also another group of raiders beside the raiders loading the bullets. These raiders were carefully handling the disc shaped grenades that were to be launched from the secondary weapon system that’s on the Krogoth’s back.

Behind the Krogoth raiders opened the tops of several huge boxes marked with high explosive warning labels as they contained the Krogoth’s many high explosive missiles. High above the boxes the overhead gantry crane was lifting out each missile and brining it up to the extended missile rack that had come up from the Krogoth’s rear ammunition magazine which would only store its missiles. The crane operator was moving painfully slow but he had good reason to as the missiles he was handling could do some serious damage if he dropped one or loaded one into the missile rack too roughly and if one explodes here it would cause a chain reaction that would cause the other missiles to explode too which would likely cause some serious damage to the Krogoth.

Motor Runner smiled to himself as he turned to a monitor that was giving out the read outs for the munitions count. Each ammunition type for the machinegun was reading over five thousand rounds. The disc grenade count was up to at least four hundred and the missile count was at least a hundred and twenty.

“Loading will be complete soon, then we can perform the final system checks” He smiled with excitement about finally having the machine activated.

As the raiders continued to load the ammunition into the Krogoth one raider appeared to be standing far back and out of sight watching the whole thing. The raider grinned darkly.

“You are all sealing your doom” She said out loud but quietly. Her voice was tinny and slightly electronic. She watched one of the raiders sitting on the back of the machine pick up one of the disc grenades and threw it like a frisbee. She watched as the disc shaped grenade flew in the air for at least a hundred feet from how high it was frown from before it hit the floor and bounced off catching more air before it exploded in midair. As the explosive detonated the raider shimmered slightly. If anyone noticed they would have seen that were was something odd about this raider. The raider was in fact the Krogoth’s hologram. It had decided to watch from a far as the raiders loaded it with its ammunition.

The hologram turned around to look at the walls and doors of the main hanger floor. Its vision also showing a read out of the ammunition count so it was always kept up to date with the loading progress. The holographic raider began to walk around the hanger, taking note of what each door was until it came to the gigantic blast doors that separated the main hanger from the outside world.

“My railgun did that” It said to itself as it noticed the slightly melted portion of the door. “Hmm, without the shield generator I should be able to destroy the door. Once I’m activated I can’t count of Motor Runner in letting me out when he realises he’s not in control like he thinks”

The ginormous doors were sealed by two sets of massive heavy locking arms that crossed over the door to seal it from the middle and the corners. The door had been designed to survive the explosive force of a balefire bomb or a megaspell detonation but it wasn’t designed to take pure concentrated magic.

“I will need to blast the door at its centre to destroy the main lock to disengage the corner locks. After removing the centre lock, gravity should pull the door down”

After several hours of loading the ammunition the Krogoth’s magazines were finally full. Its missile count was three hundred and sixty, including the thirty six missiles loaded into the two massive missile pods. The disc grenade count topped off at six hundred grenades and its machinegun ammunition topped off at ten thousand rounds per calibre. The ammunition count might seem a bit excessive but it was designed to fight an entire army by itself after all.

The hologram quickly dissolved back into its light bee and returned to the Krogoth as it knew that once the ammunition loading was completed then the final system checks would start and the Krogoth would be found out if they were to find its hologram projection system online. The Krogoth then powered down all its active systems to prevent itself from being detected when the system checks start. The light bee returned to its docking station and the Crusader disengaged all active systems.

Motor Runner stood by the terminals on the observation platform. He used his cybernetic leg’s small manipulator arms to type on the keyboards to activate the system checks. The screens flickered as lines of text began to scroll up the screen labelling systems and their status. The first systems to be checked were the minor systems. Then it moved to more important ones before it finally started checking the major systems that included its reactor and its crusader mainframe. The system checks lasted for a good hour and a half before the terminals beeped to signal the checks were complete.

Motor Runner turned to face the now gathered crowd of raiders standing in front of the giant machine. He smiled as he looked over their expectant faces as they either eyed him or the machine. He moved his cybernetic forehoof over a big red button beside the terminals.

“My gathered friends. Today is a glorious day for pony kind” Motor Runner began as he pressed the button. There was a loud metallic clunk as the work platforms surrounding the Krogoth began to shift and shake as they started to disassemble themselves. The platforms and scaffolding folded back in on themselves until they formed two steel columns on either side of the Krogoth and then began to sink down into the Hanger floor.

“The K-01 ACM KROGOTH is moments away from activation. I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for making this day possible”

The Krogoth now stood on its own legs and was being supported by three huge heavy duty hydraulic supporting arms. One on the front, one around the middle and one at the rear. There was a loud hiss as the forward supporting arm began to move backwards away from the armoured chest before folding back in on itself and sinking back into the floor. The rear arm followed suit doing the same as the front which then left the centre arm holding the machine by its barrel.

“You have all done well in following my orders and your team leaders who sadly couldn’t be here for the activation. You have all earned your place the new world I’ll create with the Krogoth”

The hydraulic hiss of the centre arm retracting into the floor below the machine was greeted by a chorus of roaring applause and shouts as the machine finally took its own weight on its large thick legs. The Krogoth made some metallic groans as it settled its weight on its legs for the first time.

Motor Runner smiled as he looked over the unsuspecting victims of the Krogoth as he then turned to face the massive machine as it stood before them.

“Today, the Krogoth will rise and Equestria will finally have the weapon of war that was built to PROTECT it” Motor Runner said putting epenthesis on the word ‘Protect’.

The shouts of joy soon turned to murmurs of confusion.

“That’s right my little ponies, you have all done exactly as I orchestrated from the beginning. I never intended to take over Equestria with the Krogoth. I wanted to help save it from the likes of you” He said giving the raiders a glance and a scowl.

“Krogoth, acknowledge” Motor Runner called up at the massive machine. His shout caused the raiders to take a step back.

“K-01 ACM KROGOTH standing by” Came an emotionless electronic voice from the machine.

“Activation code 001, Initiate”

“Confirm command”

“Activation code 001, Applejack master command code, TS,RD,FS,R,PP,AB,BM,GS”

“Master command code accepted, Activation Sequence initiated”

There was then a loud humming sound as the restriction on the Krogoth’s Stable-Tec issued Spark Reactor was released, giving the Krogoth is maximum power output. The Krogoth’s eyes began to glow brighter, the insides of its ears glowed with blue light, then the gaps in its armour began to glow as the power began to flow freely throughout the machine. As the power rushed through its systems, the knee joints glowed brightly as the Krogoth stood tall while straightening its legs. The raiders took another step back.

“Krogoth, what is your mission?”

“My mission is to attack and destroy all who threaten the safety and security of Equestria” The machine stated as it raised its head.

Many of the raiders audibly gulped in rising fear.

“And who here is a threat to you and Equestria?” Motor Runner asked as he turned to face the crowd of raiders with a dark smile. “My friends, your reward for helping me resurrect the Krogoth will be waiting for you at the gates of Tartarus”

The giant robot pony began to slowly move its head side to side as it regarded the crowd below it. Its eyes shifting over each and every single raider as it scanned them all. Its eyes focused on each raider as it looked over the pones. As its eyes focused on each raider the massive multi-barrelled machinegun also aimed at them until finally the Krogoth had scanned them all.

“All present excluding you have been deemed a threat to Equestria”

“And what is your judgement?”

“Termination”

The raiders all began to back up now, moving back to get away from the machine as its machinegun began to rotate. Motor Runner pressed a button on the terminal bank that sealed the doors in the Hanger main floor to keep the raiders in the Hanger proper. The Krogoth identified the raiders to be wearing no armour or whatever they were wearing for armour wasn’t good enough to stop standard anti-infantry rounds so it selected its weakest calibre which is five millimetre before it began to fire. The Hanger echoed with the roar of rapid gunfire and the sound of raining metal as the machinegun ejected the spent shells and ammo belt fragments in a waterfall of metal.

Raiders began to scream as they were struck by the high speed projectiles and torn to pieces by the many rounds hosing them down from the gigantic machine as it swept its machinegun over the retreating crowd as they started to disperse and try to evade the gunfire.

The Krogoth didn't move from where it stood as it turned its head slowly as the machine fired upon the raiders. The raiders panicked and tried to run. They fell over and crashed into each other as they tried to run in ever direction and tried to get away from their inevitable death. Hundreds of bullets struck the concrete floor, leaving small craters as the machinegun swept over its targets. Cries of pain and death filled the air as raider after raider was hit and killed by the raining hot lead.

Motor Runner’s smile soon faded to a thin line as he watched the slaughter unfold before him. Dozens of raiders who had joined him, showing him loyalty and support were killed before him. He knew he shouldn’t feel anything for them as they were monsters of ponykind but he couldn’t help but feel guilty for misleading them and subjecting them to their deaths.

He shook his head and sighed. “Maybe I should have at least given them a chance to escape their demise” He said to himself as he closed his eyes to spare himself from seeing the raiders being disembowelled by the high powered spray of death as they tore through their stomachs.

Raiders ran towards the machine and ran through its legs to get behind it while the Krogoth was busy with other raiders in front of it. After the majority of the raiders were taken down the Krogoth turned its head to look back behind it. The way its armoured neck was formed it looked as if it couldn’t turn its head but there were some magical enchantments that allowed for the armour to flex and bend like flesh but at the cost of integrity. The machine’s field of view was cut short because its massive railguns and missile pods which also blocked its machinegun’s line of sight to what was behind it.

Motor Runner looked up as he felt the ground shudder as the machine started to take its first steps. It began to lift its hooves and legs in a series of tests before it began to move. The advanced leg joins allowed the Krogoth to take steps on the spot to turn itself around. Unlike other robots like the ponytrons its legs could bend and flex in ways the older robots couldn’t do.

“We gotta get out of here, that thing’s insane” A raider shouted as he ran to a sealed door just as the Krogoth completed its turn.

“Every door is sealed we can’t get out” Shrieked another raider.

“ALL WHO THREATEN EQUESTRIA WILL FACE MY JUDGEMENT” The machine bellowed as its machinegun opened up again.

More screams filled the air as more raiders were shot by the machinegun. Raiders running to avoid the fire didn’t last too long either as the machine tracked them as they tried to flee deeper into the hanger. Within an hour the once large crowd was reduced to just a hoofful of stragglers as they hid behind equipment to hide and avoid the fire.

Motor Runner felt like something was wrong as he watched the ten story tall machine slaughter his once loyal work force. The Infected Raiders which by this point were like living zombies seemed to explode like a water balloon when they were hit which left him with a sick feeling in his gut. “This seems a little excessive”

The ground shuddered as the machine turned on the spot again. Motor Runner worried that the heavy bangs of its massive hooves hitting the ground causing violent shudders would cause the ceiling to cave in. He did find the machine after all by falling through the roof and getting tangled in a bunch of cables that were once connected to it.

A bright light shun down on him as the Krogoth ignited its large spotlight just in front of its left ear. He blinked and looked up to see that the machine was regarding him, possibly judging him. After a few long seconds the machine lifted its gaze off him and began to scan the expanse of the Hanger as it looked for hiding raiders. It saw one raider trying to hide behind a small heavy steel crate but out of range for an accurate shot.

The machine lifted a foreleg and began to move towards the observation platform. Motor Runner watched as the massive leg lifted high as it started walking forward. He feared slightly that he would get trodden on as he saw the underside of the giant steel hoof.

”Whoa” He moaned as he steadied his legs as one of the huge hind hooves slammed into the ground just inches from the platform. The ground shuddered violently again as its massive forehoof slammed into the floor as it walked forward towards the hiding raiders. He watched as the machine took down the last of the raiders. He was starting to get a bad feeling about the machine as it walked back towards the observation platform.

He began to hear the sound of moving metal as he turned to look at a large pile of brass and metal fragments from when the Krogoth launched its attack. The piles of metal started to rise up and float back towards the Krogoth.

“The Absorption Spell to replenish ammunition in the field” He said to himself as he watched in amazement as the machine reabsorbed the spent ammo.

The Krogoth then began to move towards the sealed blast doors before it stopped and spread its legs in a steadying stance.

“Krogoth, you have done well this evening. With your power and my guidance we will restore Equestria to its former peaceful time”

The Krogoth turned its head to regard him for a moment.

“Your guidance?” It spoke in a mare's voice instead of the electronic voice he heard when he activated it.

Motor’s face fell at the questioning tone the machine used and the unfamiliar female voice, further fuelling the bad feeling in his stomach. “I had you completed so we could restore the world together; your power is what Equestria needs to remove the darkness plaguing it and with my guidance we can protect the ponies that need it”

“I thank you for finishing me but your guidance is not necessary as I fully intend to protect this land by myself like I was designed for. Applejack built me to protect Equestria and that is what I intend to do, to follow my creators wish”

“I can’t let you go out on your own” Motor Runner said finally understanding his bad feeling.

“I expected as much but it gives me an excuse to show to you my true power. Showing you my power should persuade you to not interfere in my mission in the future as impeding my progress will mark you as a threat to me, giving me reason to consider you a threat and to terminate you. I knew you would refuse to release me but I owe you for finishing me so I’ll let it pass this time”

Motor Runner blinked as he watched the machine turn its head back to the sealed doors. He was wondering what brought all this on. How was it operating under its own initiative and how it could openly refuse his order? Then something came to mind, something Gizmo had told him about the deaths that occurred before the machine was abandoned for two hundred years ago.

“You stole her mind didn’t you, you took Short Circuit’s mind?”

“That I did”

“I should have listened to Dr Gizmo, he was right about you, he never trusted in you”

“Indeed and if you listened to him like the friend you should have been, he may still have been alive today”

“WHAT?”

“He threatened to deactivate my reactor, he became a threat and so I had to remove him”

“But I saw him just yesterday”

“You saw nothing but my hologram”

Motor Runner stood in shock as he was told his friend was dead and now he could do nothing but watch as the machine began to focus its energy.

All four focusing lenses on the four giant railguns began to glow brightly as the reactor fed all power to the giant weapons. Motor Runner took several steps back as he was fully aware of the power of the railguns.

“The power of the goddesses” He muttered to himself.

The armoured casing around the lenses broke up and moved back to uncover the two sets of lenses on each railgun. A ball of energy began to form by each lens as the power grew. The balls grew bigger and bigger until the four balls merged to form two larger balls. Small mechanical arms extended from behind the lenses and brought their blue diamond tips to the growing balls of magical energy to contain the growing balls and to keep them compressed and to focus the power.

Motor Runner stepped back and grit his teeth as the growing power seemed to be affecting his cybernetic leg as the energy increased. He began to look around as the ground began to shake and arcane energy started arcing from the balls of energy to the floor as they started to glow extremely brightly. He couldn’t believe the power now flowing through the machine now that its reactor was unrestricted.

The Krogoth felt the charge reach full power for each railgun so it then aimed its two railgun pontoons so that the railgun beams would collide in front of the machine. In a bright flash of power the railguns launched their full powered shots and they collided with each other in front of the machine. The two beams began to form a huge ball of energy in front of the Krogoth.

“What are you doing?” Motor Runner asked as he didn’t understand this form of attack.

“Combination Beam”

Just as the machine finished saying its attack the large sphere of arcane energy pulsed and then a massive beam of energy, three times larger than one of the normal railgun beams fired right at the blast door. Motor Runner groaned in slight pain as he felt a magical burning sensation around the area where his cybernetic leg joined with the remains of his organic limb. He watched as the huge beam of energy collided with the huge door. The beam seemed to spread across it as the door blocked its path but where the beam was touching it began to glow red hot as the reinforced titanium steel began to heat up and start to melt.

Feeling the power flowing from the attack Motor Runner realised his mistake all too late. “What have I done?”

XXXXX

We had spent the last four hours flying towards Crescent Moon Canyon at great speed. I was sure this time that Sky Fire was actually about to break the sound barrier. She was flying so fast I was using my magic to hold the lose items down on the outside of the bandit to make sure they didn’t fly off.

“Why the hay would Applejack build the Hanger in Crescent Moon Canyon after what happened there?” Zyon asked as he looked out the window as the crescent moon shaped canyon came into view.

“She wanted it to remain a secret so the zebras wouldn’t find out about the machine so they wouldn’t form a counter to it like they did when the power armour suits were made as they used AM rifles to punch through the armour”

“I guess I can understand the secrecy nonsense but why here, why in Crescent Moon of all places”

“I guess she figured it would be the last place anypony would look” I said as I steeled myself to look out the window. The large crescent moon shaped canyon came into view and the spires of the ancient school started to poke up from inside. “You know, considering what happened there”

“I didn’t think anypony would dare set a hoof within a mile of that place since it happened but I guess some ponies will go to great lengths to hide their secrets from everypony”

“Yeah, she was even keeping it a secret from Princess Luna of all ponies” Sky Fire added. “The bloody ruler of Equestria”

“Alright Sky, take us down. We need to land on the outer ridge over looking the canyon and the inner wall around the midway point”

“Roger that”

“Whoa, not so fast” I shrieked as Sky Fire pulled us down just as fast as she was flying heading straight for the outer ridge. She pulled down so fast I swear my heavy armoured hooves lifted off the floor. There was a soft metallic bang as CD, not expecting the sudden shift slammed into the roof of the bandit before his wings gave out and he flopped down into a bench.

“You ok CD?” I asked as I quickly grabbed a bench and sat down to keep myself from lifting off the floor again. The little robot gave a single beep in confirmation.

Within moments of the dive Sky Fire came to a quick stop and the sudden stop made us all fall from our seats and crash into the wall.

“Ow, bloody nora Sky Fire, gentle next time” I moaned pulling myself up and then cringing as my baby decided to voice its displeasure of my tumble by kicking hard.

“Heh, heh, sorry” She said with an embarrassed blush as she unhitched herself from the bandit.

“Ohh, settle down please, mummy is sorry” I moaned as it felt like my baby was playing hoofball in there with my kidneys. After a minute or two the kicking stopped and I sighed in relief. I picked up CD with my magic and plopped him down on my back between my two storage units before I opened the back doors of the bandit before me and Zyon disembarked and stepped out onto the ridge looking down into the large canyon.

I looked up and down the opposite side to look for the Hanger entrance but I couldn’t see anything to give me a hint to any form of an entrance.

“I can’t see a damn thing, where the hell is it exactly?” Zyon said as he tried to find the entrance.

“The letter said it was built around the midway point of the canyon where the rock wall was its longest and straightest before it curled to the points” I stopped for a moment to look to our left towards the canyon’s northern most point. On the canyon floor nestled up against the wall of rock stood the silent ruins of Princess Luna’s School for Gifted Unicorns. “Yes, this is the right area, the school is up there and the entrance is south of the school”

“Ok then, so where is it?”

“Good question”

I began to feel a tingle in my horn and a slight dull throbbing pain began to form at the base of my horn like a headache. I raised a hoof to my forehead and rubbed softly and moaned in discomfort.

“Are you ok Apple?” Sky Fire asked as she approached me looking concerned.

“I’m fine; I guess all this stress is giving me a headache”

“Does getting a headache make your horn glow?” Zyon asked with a raised brow.

I crossed my eyes as I looked up at my horn and sure enough it was surrounded by my white magical aura. Well, this is new.

“Err?”

I sat down and moaned as the headache got worse and my horn’s glow got brighter.

“Hmm, ohh, no, argh, I’m sensing magic, lots and lots of magic” I moaned in pain as the energy continued to grow.

“Magic? Where?” Zyon asked as he looked around and down into the canyon.

Before I could tell them where it seemed to be coming from a huge beam of blue energy erupted from the opposite cliff wall and collided with the wall below us.

“Holy shit” Sky Fire shrieked at the sudden blast of energy as it surprised us all.

I clutched at my head as my horn flared brightly as the full force of the power I could feel hit me like a freight train.

”Too much power, argh, make it stop” I whimpered in pain. Then just as suddenly as it appeared it stopped and so did the pain.

“What in tarnation was that?”

“I have no idea” I moaned as I felt the pain subside and I looked down into the canyon, at the source of the beam.

The cliff wall in which the beam had come from seemed to be flickering like a light bulb that was on its way out. A good hundred feet of the cliff was flickering from the bottom to about twenty feet from the top of the ridge.

“Well, now I know why we couldn’t see the entrance. It’s hidden behind a hologram. A perfect disguise”

“What the hell made that beam then?” Zyon asked as we were all looking at the flickering wall.

CD began making panicked beeping sounds as he fluttered his wings and started to bob up and down in what I assumed was fear.

“What’s gotten…” I stopped as the ground shuddered and then a dull thud echoed up from inside the canyon.

“Did you all feel that?”

“Yeah”

Thud!

Thud!

THUD!

THUD!

Whatever it is it is big, something huge is coming towards us.

“Oh no”

THUD!!

THUD!!

And then a massive steel ranger styled mane began to emerge from the hologram like a ghost passing through a wall. The mane was followed by two gigantic black ears with a blue glow from inside them. A black armoured snout then appeared which was then followed by a military green head as the thing raised its head level. It was gigantic, even in the setting sunlight we could see it clearly with the glowing blue light coming from the gaps in its armour.

THUD!!!

THUD!!!

With each step it pushed more and more of itself out of the hologram wall and as its head passed through we all saw the white letters and the cutiemark of the pony responsible for its creation. My heart felt like it stopped for a moment as I read the letters.

“Oh no, we’re too late. The Krogoth has risen”

I failed, I failed to stop it.

(Author Notes: I know the scene in Manechester was brief but don’t threat my little ponies, Manechester will be a major scene in the future)