“Mom, what would I do know? I’m lost...lost in this world. Without both of you...I just don’t know what I’ll do…”

I stared at my last remaining family portrait; A picture of me, Mom, and Dad. I sighed and placed it back on the top of the desk.

“I miss Dad too. He never came back...I don’t want to think that he’s dead but...It’s more likely he’s with you too. And the conflict between us and the zebras is just getting worser. I might have to follow Dad’s footsteps too if I needed to.”

I felt myself becoming more depressed. It’s been days now since I’ve met with anyone else and I’m not planning to anytime soon.

“But now, I’m just living in this cheap apartment, trying to support myself. Our old house had been demolished by some construction crew for Celestia knows what but at least they gave me a good amount of bits for it.”

I laid down on my bed and closed my eyes. Today was just like any other day, just trying to make ends meet with the bits I have left.

“Mom, Dad...wherever you both are right now, I just want you guys to know that...I love you both and I hope I’ll see you guys again very soon…”

I meant the last line very well. I was tired of what has happened to the world, tired of all the sufferings I had to endure, tired of the loneliness I experience everyday. If I’m ready, I know where my razors are placed.

“Maybe...Maybe I should try one more time...Even just to see them one last time…”

It’s been a long time since I talked with a any of the six mares: Dash, Pinkie, Rarity, AJ, Twilight, and Fluttershy. I know that they now have important jobs but it seems their friendship is being damaged by the stress of everything that’s happening. It’s kinda sad to see their once lovely talks turn to a heated debate. That’s why I stopped seeing them.

I suddenly heard a shout and a few screams on the lower floor. It got my attention so I strained my ears to hear what’s going on. There were a few more shouts and then a bang that left me frozen in place. There were suddenly footsteps going up the stairs and I started panicking.

“Everyone get out of your rooms!” Someone outside ordered. I quickly got up and debated with myself if I should get out or not.

“Last warning! Get out now or else!”

Forcing my body to move, I opened the door and reluctantly walked out. I saw my next-door neighbor coming out as well, a kind mare who apparently has a little filly in her care. She gave me a worried look and I gave her a forced smile. We both turned to look at the one who ordered us and my blood ran cold when I saw who it was. It was a zebra, a dangerously armed zebra.

“Where are the others? I still see closed doors!” He demanded.

“We’re the only ones in this floor. The rest of the rooms here are empty.” The mare answered him calmly. The zebra looked at me.

“Is she telling the truth!?” He asked.

“Y-Yes.” I stammered out.

“If both of you are lying, I’m going to kill everyone in this floor without hesitation,” He threatened before going to the other doors, kicking them open to see if it’s empty or not.

While he was inside one of the rooms, I turned to talk to the mare in front of me.

“Are you sure it’s just the two of us?” I worriedly asked her.

“I’m not sure, I don’t see too many ponies in this floor,” She replied. “Hopefully we’re the only ones in this floor. I don’t want my little filly to be a part of this.”

I looked at her foal who was cowering behind her. I hoped that both will survive this zebra encounter.

“It seems both of you are indeed telling the truth,” The zebra appeared once more. “Which is disappointing. I expected more than two ponies in this damn floor. I knew I shouldn’t have killed the one downstairs.”

I gulped and tried to keep myself from shaking. He continued to look at us, as if he was studying us. His eyes then rested on the mare. By the looks she’s giving her, I know what he’s intention were...and she knows as well.

This must be the most fucked up situation I got myself into. A zebra who possibly killed our landlord who lived in the first floor and now...

“Maybe it’s a good thing too that there’s only two of you here…” He hungrily licked his lips while staring at her. “It won’t be hard to...Mmm, yeah.”

She quickly looked away, tears in her eyes. My mind was rushing to think of a way out for both of us.

“You know, I never tasted pony before...heheh,” The zebra took a step closer to her. “Well, there’s always a first time for everything.”

“Y-You don’t want to do that,” I quickly stammered out. He arched an eyebrow at me.

“And why is that, my friend?” He asked. He then placed his hoof under her chin and gently turned her head to face me. “You think you can protect her from me?”

“Maybe...Maybe not,” I gulped. “B-But still, keep your hooves away from her.”

“Oh, now you’re threatening me?” He chuckled and leaned closer to her. “My, my...Darling, it seems this stallion wants to save you.”

I looked at her, her eyes begging to be free from this madness. I took a deep breath and made a decision. Today wouldn’t be the day I see my parents.

The look the zebra gave me when I tackled him was filled with surprise and anger. I looked at the mare and the little filly while his still pinned down.

“Run!”

The mare quickly grabbed her filly and ran straight for the stairs. While I was looking at them go, the zebra took his chance and kicked me off him. I landed on my back with a thud and groaned in pain. Meanwhile, he got back up and aimed his pistol at me, ready to shoot.

“You fucked up big time, hero,” He growled. “You have no idea what great demise you brought upon that mare of yours. Too bad you’re not going to live to save her this time.”

He fired but I managed to roll out of the way quick enough, the bullet whizzing past my mane. Grabbing the chair nearby, I quickly threw it at him. The chair hit him square on the face, knocking him out. With the zebra’s menacing words still lingering in my mind, I quickly got up and grabbed the weapon.

“Let me go!” I heard her scream downstairs. With my body filled with adrenaline and my mind set to saving her and the foal, I quickly headed for the first floor.

2 stallions were blocking her from the exit. I couldn’t believe, these two ponies actually teamed up with a zebra. Blinded with rage, I shot one of them in the leg.

“What the?!” The other one looked at me. “Who’s this squirt?!”

“Shit man, we don’t have time for any of this!” The one I shot said. “Let’s blow this place already before the cops gets here!”

Fire, fire everywhere. The thick smoke is making seeing and breathing harder to do. I crouched and started to navigate my way out of the burning apartment.

“Help! Anyone please help me!” I heard a cry nearby. Straining to hear, I managed to to find out who was pleading for help. It was a mare and she seemed weak. She looked at me and her face filled up with hope.

“Please, take my filly. Get her out of this mess,” She pleaded as she slowly shows me the young pony between her forelegs.

“What about you?” I asked her. “I can’t leave you here.”

“It’s too late for me...now…” She proceeded to show me her wounds. I gasped and shook my head.

“We-We can find a way out of this mess, I mean-”

“My magic can’t stop the flames from reaching us forever…” She interrupted weakly. “So please, just take her and go...Please…”

“O-Ok...Ok…” I finally agreed. “Do you know anyone that can take care of her?”

“Sadly...no…We’ve been both abandoned,” She slowly smiled, tears streaming down her eyes. “May you please take care of her? Though we’re not….that much of friends...will you…?”

I could see that she’s slowly slipping away. She stared at me, her eyes filled with pain but a small ray of hope

“I will...I will, I promise you…” I told her assuringly. Using my mouth, I gently grabbed the filly by the neck. It may be problematic but it’s the only way I can carry her for now. She squirmed and sounded like she was about to cry.

“R-Raindrops...her...her name…”She stuttered as she looked at her foal one more time. “Raindrops...I love you…Don’t cry...you’ll be safe now..”

I slowly looked away from her, looking at her as her eyes followed me, before breaking into a run. I really wanted to help her,I really did, but knowing the circumstance...I mentally swore at myself. As I continued to navigate through the dangerous obstacle, trying to look for a way out, I noticed the fire that dared not too touch me or Raindrops.

My magic can’t stop the flames from reaching us forever…

I finally found a window and there was barely any obstacles blocking it. The only problem is that it’s closed. That means I can’t just jumped out unscatched. I stopped for a minute, thinking of a solution and weighing the odds and the risks. Finally, I made up my mind and quickly ran for it.

Take care of her..

I jumped and quickly turned, my back facing the window. I switched from mouth to legs in holding the filly, making sure that I won’t accidentally bite her when the pain hits. I closed my eyes and braced myself, holding the filly close to me.

The sharp pain that immediately shocked my body was unbearable, the glass shards embedding itself deep within my back. I bit my lip to stop screaming and prepared for the worst part.

Thud!

I gasped, the fall knocking the air out of my lungs. I wiped the tears that started to form on my eyes and looked at the burning building. It let out a loud groan and crack, the foundations of the building slowly being burnt away. Suddenly pulled me and Raindrops out of danger before the building collapsed. I could hear the gasps of the many behind me, watching in horror.

“Quick, someone bring him to the nearest clinic or hospital, he’s bleeding!” The one who pulled us out of the was yelled.

“How about the little filly?” I heard one ask.

“Bring her with him too, she might be injured,” Came the reply.

With the remaining strength I have left, I looked around. There were other building that have been destroyed and still smoking. This time, I couldn’t hold my feeling back. I cried and hugged Raindrops, and we both cried together. Crying for what we lost this day.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine...Nurse…”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes…”

I looked at the pink-haired mare, observing her actions. It’s been days since the incident and I’m still at the clinic of this town. On the other hoof, Raindrops was placed on an orphanage for now, despite my objections. They told me I could get her back once I’m in stable condition.

My stay at the clinic wasn’t that bad though. There was only one nurse assigned to me when I was confined to a bed, for some reason. The nurse was a bit strict to me on the first few days, sometimes rude when it’s a bad day, but she eventually softened. I can finally start a conversation with her without any awkwardness, which was a relief for me since I’ve been so lonely in the room I was placed in.

“Are you really sure?” She asked once more. I just sighed and nodded.

“Why so worried so suddenly?” I asked her.

“Worried? No, I’m not worried,” She answered, eyes moving around the room.

“Come on, you can tell me,” I told her. “We’ve been here together for days now, you know me well at this point, right? So, what's bothering you?”

She sighed and sat at a chair next to my bed.

“I guess I can tell you,” She muttered. “It’s about a...project.”

“What about it?”

“Well, one day, somepony walked up to me and asked if you were here. I told him that you were still here and asked him why he wants to know. He answered that he’s a part of a group of scientists that works under the Ministry of...Arcane Sciences, I think. He wanted you as their test subject and said that it will be worth it since all of the results they take will be used in improving Equestria’s...uhm...technology.”

I looked at her with a questioning look on my face. She stopped to breathe and looked backed at me.

“I said to him that I can’t simply let him just whisk you away from here just for that since you still have that filly to take care of. He just chuckled and told me that it will taken care of. Confused at this stallion, I demanded to know what kind of experiment he’s conducting with his so-called “scientists”. Apparently, he can’t answer the question because it’s classified and stuff like that. So, I told him that I’ll talk to you about it and ask the director of this place about it and that he should come back tomorrow if he wants to know if he can take you or not.”

I just stared at her, mouth agape. It took me awhile to process everything she just said.

“What happens to the filly, Raindrops?” I quickly asked her.

“I’m not really sure...But he said something about her being one of the first residents of the newest shelter they’ll build in case of emergencies,” She replied.

“What about me?”

“Well, that is up to you at this point, really…” She answered. “The director said I had no choice but to comply, whether you like it or not. I...I tried but...I’m in no position to decide what will happen to you. All because that stallion works for the Ministry of Arcane Science.”

She reluctantly brought out two things from her coat pocket: A syringe and a roll of duct tape. I looked at her with disbelief and slowly shook my head.

“Sorry that I have to do this but...I’ll guarantee you that you won’t get hurt by them,” She told me.

“How?” I asked.

“Because I’ll be one of the medical staff that has been hired to be a part of this project,” She answered. “So it’ll be alright, I’ll be with you till the end. And the filly...I thought ahead and assigned her a personal caretaker. Don’t worry, the caretaker is a good friend of mine, she’ll make sure the filly will be fine and well.”

She then placed the tape on the tape player on top of the bedside table.

“One more thing, I managed to hear what the stallion said while he was talking to the director. Something about messing with your memory. So I made this tape so that you can decide whether this scenario is real or not. I am certain that they cannot change what you hear from a recording,” She told me. “Ready to hear it?”

I nodded and calmed down a bit. I heard the familiar click of the player and the sound of her voice followed.

“Testing, testing...Finally got it to work. Ahem, hey! Just wanna say hi before starting this message...though I am with you at this point, heh heh…”

I slowly shook my head and looked at her. She blushed and gave me a small and awkward smile.

“Anyways, I kinda lied about that ‘can’t change recordings in memories’ thing. That’s not really possible. What’s possible though is blocking your memories, keeping it locked up deep within your mind. It sounds impossible, I know, but with enough magic experience, one can actually do this amazing feat! After reading and trying and testing this skill so many times, I am certain and confident that I can do it without any problem.”

I felt a sharp pain at my neck and immediately my vision was gray and blurry. I began having trouble breathing and my body stiffened.

“I’m sorry that you have to go through this…” She whispered, removing the syringe needle from my neck. “But I have my orders. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you during the experiments. I will be with you...for as long as I can…”