I really hate myself for jinxing the journey with that prayer!

You’re probably wondering what I meant when I said that right? Well, you know how things get a bit chaotic whenever someone or something jinxes a moment? It went like that when things were starting to get calm. We were walking to the destination where Epsilon’s PipBuck was supposedly at, emphasis on supposedly.

Now you wouldn’t imagine anything wrong here right? Wrong, because we’re running away from lots and lots of raiders, “C’mere now! We’re only want t’ play with ya ‘till y’all are dead!” See what I mean?

Our old injuries were healed, but now we might get new ones from the raiders behind us. We jumped over a rock and continued running away as fast as possible. My PipBuck beeped as it told us we were in a new area. Oh, now you tell me about it now while we’re running away from raiders, jeez that’s helpful! The area in question was called Ironshod Firearms.

Raiders were still tracking behind us and I was beginning to tire out from continuous running. From the way Harmony was breathing heavily, she too was tired. I poked her as I pointed a hoof to the building. She looked where my hoof was pointing at. She looked back at me and nodded her head. We both suddenly turned for Ironshod Firearms.

The raiders did not expect our sudden turn and skidded to a stop for a few seconds before turning to our direction. The two of us kept on going as the raiders kept shooting at us. I was rather a bit surprised that we did not get hit with a single bullet there. They’re rather lousy sharpshooters if I say so myself. We managed to get to the door as Harmony went in first. I came in second as I went to the door.

I heard a ricochet of bullets hitting the steel door as I quickly tried to close the door on them. Harmony came up and assisted me in closing the heavy door. We heaved and pushed the door with all of our strength. I can hear the crazed laughter getting close as we kept on pushing. By the time we had closed the door on them in time, we heard a loud BANG! sound and the both of us jumped away from that.

I’m guessing that sound suggested someone ran headlong into the door there. That would have hurt and yet I suddenly found myself using cartoon logic as I imagined a body-shaped imprint on the door itself. I don’t know why but I found that really funny. After a few minutes of us breathing heavily, we got up to look at the interior of the building.

The building was very much something if I say so myself. The metal walkways seemed sturdy for the most part but they still looked a bit rickety. Almost everywhere, metals were used to create such a building. I looked to the right and noticed a catwalk broken down on a conveyor belt. Whatever happened here, someone else beat us here.

Harmony, being the curious one, went further ahead to check it out. I was going to regret following her but I admit I was curious myself. She looked fascinated by the numerous technologies here and wondered if there were anymore saying stuff that, although I understood, was hard to understand fully due to her speaking fast.

I expected her to be the technological genius but to talk like that would put Twilight to shame that’s for certain… We down a set of stairs to the basement floor looking at all the technology present here. We split up for the time being. While she went to look at some of the few techs, I went to check out the broken catwalk.

Harmony’s hoofsteps were getting quieter as I reached my destination looking at what caused this. Scanning the broken catwalk, I saw some of the railings that detached from the ceiling. Just seeing those broken rails made me realize an interesting detail. Something, or rather someone, walked on this and somehow made it collapsed. Whether by weight or the structure being weak, I do not know.

I heard Harmony’s hoofsteps get louder as she came forth from the corner. Her eyes were beaming with excitement as she gestured me to come forward. This was at most bizarre seeing her like this, but I had done enough looking into the fallen catwalk. I followed her as she was running ahead. She was so giddy; it was as if her energy was brimming around her body like a magical aura.

We went farther than usual, which made me slightly worried. She looked at me chuckling that I was getting nervous, “Come on! We’re almost there; don’t be nervous on me please!” I had to admit, her energy was possibly infectious as I couldn’t help but laugh hearing her like that. Continuing on ahead, we finally reached our destination as she was looking at a piece of machinery.

I was next to her side looking at what she was looking at. I was tilting my head in confusion pondering on what I was looking at, “Uh Harmony, what am I looking at precisely?”

I think I saw her mouth gaping from my question. I raised my right eyebrow in confusion as to why that was reaction. She pointed a hoof at it scowling over the fact that I do not know it, “You don’t know what this is!?” I shrugged much to Harmony’s shock. Of course, that reaction prompted her to go into lecture which while fun to hear her like that, can get very annoying…

Surprisingly, she did not go into lecture mode. She again gestured to venture further into the building. Of course, I was nervous about overstaying our welcome here. Harmony tried to push me forward as she wanted to satisfy her curiosity, “Come on Zodiac, I want to see the entire tech here! What could possibly go wrong?” Of all the times she had to say that specific phrase…

A blast of lightning fired past us, frying an old clock behind us. We were very lucky that missed us as we turned around to see a psychotic robot trying to fry us. We hightailed it out of the basement Ironshod Firearms. This whole place was a death maze full of omnicidal robots and automated turrets as we tried to retrace our steps back to the entryway.

Instead we got ourselves trapped in an office at the basement. Of course these things weren’t as smart as they expected if not for the fact that their glass dome housed real brains! I refused to think that the ponies who built them might have used other ponies’ brains in the construction. And it was very clear that years of continuous operation had a severe detriment in their sanity.

Come on out, we only want to kill you for trespassing!

I shot a glare at Harmony for a few seconds before returning my attention to the robot. She saw that glare and mouthed a simple what. I facehooved hearing her response before immediately ducking for cover as the office was filled with a rush of flames. Harmony patted her tail trying to smother the flames.

I looked forward to see it looking for us as it turned around. Weighing our options, of course the best one I can think was run to the next safest area. The robots were still looking for us leaving me to do the work. I wanted to save the ammo for the Righteous Crusader considering how scarce the stuff is.

I unsheathed my sword and immediately charged at the robot. I know I did say that I do not like to kill at all, but this is a non-sentient being (save for the brain that is) so this I don’t have to worry about my morals. The moment it saw me, it the robot raised a pulsing green weapon that looked like a unicorn’s horn.

Eldritch fire erupted from it, shooting past me close enough to singe my cheek. Harmony ducked for cover as the fire came beaming over her head. I slashed at the torso of the robot cutting through the circuitry that connected its brain. I checked back at Harmony to see if she was faring well. Before that, I saw what the eldritch fire hit. The blast hit the old clock again; it glowed a luminescent green before proceeding to… melt!?

As I stared at what I witnessed, I hear the sound of a buzzsaw. I turn to see a multi-limbed guard robot that looked like a giant spider equipped with said buzzsaw and a flamethrower… Does every guard bot here have a flamethrower in their arsenal!? I moved out of the buzzsaw attack, narrowly avoided getting burned by the flamethrower.

Harmony threw a piece of metal at it distracting it and now focusing its sights on her. I slashed from the moment it was distracted and the bot shuddered as it landed. Damn thing can fly, great. What did feel was off was Harmony. From the angle of that trajectory, it looked like she was trying to hit me instead of the robot. Could just be imagining things though.

I went to Harmony seeing if she suffered any injuries. Luckily, she only attained a burnt tail, but nothing else critical. Before she moved though, an apology came forth, “Sorry about that.”

I turned to see her rubbing her right foreleg with her left. The apology was rather sudden but I did accept if I was not baffled as to the reason behind the apology, “What are you apologizing for? I see no point in apologizing…”

She shook her head in denial, “For almost hitting your head there… I’m not so great on the throwing or firing department.” A little late there? This is rather a bit suspicious of her to apologize like this but as of our current situation I had to ask her later, we needed to get out of here.

We moved immediately to the next safe haven as the robots spotted us shooting us with lightning and that eldritch fire. The flying robots tried to move in only for them to get a bullet from my pistol. Surprisingly, S.A.T.S was working for me as time slowed down managing to one shot many of the incoming robots. Of course, it had to charge thanks to me using it up. Guess I still have a bit of unicorn blood flowing in me.

We found a big metal door that looked like it was sturdy enough to survive a bomb. Harmony rushed ahead and tried to open the door to the best of her abilities. I turned around shooting at the incoming robots, slashing at those that were a bit too close for my comfort.

Struggling to open the door, she decided to use telekinesis to open the door, it was straining considering her horn hasn’t fully healed. She managed to open it enough for a few ponies to enter. She entered first as I was shooting down five robots while they were shooting electrical blasts at me. I entered quickly before getting shocked by the lightning blast as Harmony closed the door on them.

Quick realization once we were done hyperventilating, made me realize that if this room did not offer another way out of the place we were in serious trouble. I looked to see that compared to the bright colors that Ironshod Firearms has, this one was duller like somepony abandoned this room. There was some metal that rusted which I find weird considering that metal only rusted if air from outside was penetrating this room, that gave some hope of escaping this room.

Harmony was already on the case when she saw the rusty metal trying to find if there was a secret passageway out of here. As I looked around the room we were in, I see an oversized logo in deeply tarnished bronze. The phrasing was one I was all too familiar with:

I snickered there. It felt good to read and imagine that in Applejack’s voices. It bought many fond memories of her. The room we were in had a broken-down terminal that was surprisingly still working, a safe, and many others hunk of junk this room had. Harmony had given up looking for our exit for now and decided to open the safe, then the terminal later. I decided to look for the exit as she was doing her thing. I heard a click from the safe being unlocked as she was checking through it, “Ugh, rubbish! Nothing here would be helpful to… Oh will you look at that?”

I went to the safe as she pulled out two odd hoof-strapped arcane-tech devices. It looked like they were meant to interface with the PipBuck I have. I slid it on the first one on my PipBuck as it analyzed the contraption.

StealthBuck. Invisibility Spell. One charge

Our luck was rolling on our side today!

The other one was rather interesting. The shape of it suggested that a spherical object had to be put on it for it to work. I slid on that as well letting my PipBuck analyze it.

Recollector. Allows access to memory orbs.

This one baffled me. I asked Harmony what a recollector does and she happily answered that question, “That’s easy! A recollector allows viewing of the memory orbs such as your own or others. They extract your memory and put it into a spherical orb. Unicorns can gain access to the orbs by simply using telekinesis on them. For pegasi and earth ponies however they need a recollector to access the memory orbs. Kind of like a bank.” That caught my interest there. I wonder if I could find such memory orbs from other ponies…

As I continued looking for the exit, Harmony proceeded to the terminal. I putted a hoof over my ear as I tried to see if the wind might give it away. Immediately, I heard some rustling from behind a wall. I went closer to it putting an ear on it. Eureka, I heard the sound of a gentle breeze from outside. I unsheathed my sword again and cut through the wall. Harmony jumped from surprise as the wall collapsed making a resounding thud. She scowled wondering how come she never noticed that while she was looking. All I did was shrug much to my amusement.

Harmony was aborting the terminal a few times to prevent herself from getting locked out. As she continued to crack at the terminal, the terminal opens and she delivered a squeak of joy that probably would rival those I’m familiar with. I went to her side as we discovered a mess of very old notes and messages. In addition, the terminal here had the ability to shutdown all of the guard bots. We rolled our eyes, thanking the universe for giving us this when were running from said bots themselves.

Harmony decided to leave finding nothing worth value in this terminal. I came forth and asked the terminal to open the display case. Doing so prompted a message from a mare I knew. Harmony came to my side upon hearing the message.

Is this thing working? If it isn’t, Ah going to have to report this. Hey y’all, been awhile since Ah last heard from ya gals. How are y’all doing? Remember the Righteous Crusaders Ah gave y’all? Ah hope you kept them well preserved.

I putted my hoof over one of them. Clearly one of them slipped out of their possessions, but who though is the question. The message pretty much answered that question.

If y’all did, yay because Ah lost mine. Sucks ain’t it? Ugh, this blows, Ah hope Ah can find the damn thing. Anyway, Ah’ve been keeping this a secret between just the three o’ us but there’s something very special about them pistols Ah gave you. Ah got the schematics about it an’ Ah did not want them in the wrong hooves. Who knows how much Discord it would cause… Heh, me and mah cheesy puns. Honestly, Ah doubt we’ll live through this war. It’s getting worse by the second and Ah do not have the patience fer waiting. Ah’ve decided t’ save the schematics in this ‘ere terminal due t’ obvious reasons. Ah really wish we can live our last moments together. If anyone beside my three friends finds this, y’all better be on the winning side ‘ere! Find them the other Righteous Crusaders an’ depending on y’all mood ya can create the weapon Ah’ve made fer those three and put it t’ good use. Please, Ah want t’ be together and finding those three is mah only hope that we’ll always be together. They’re mah most irreplaceable friends and Ah want us t’ be together in spirit. Well, that’s wraps this up. See y’all soon!

I looked at Harmony whose eyes were welling up with tears for a moment. I went and wrap three wings around her comforting her, “I heard about the three heads of Stable-Tec but I didn’t know that they were going through this kind of crisis, reminds me a lot of my brother lately…” Poor Harmony, I put a hoof on her shoulder.

As we stood there for awhile, the schematics that she promised appeared. Harmony looked upon it very baffled was this weapon was. Me, I was deafly silent. No… No way… Apple Bloom you did not… WHAT!?

Harmony looked at me noticing that I was stone cold upon seeing the schematics. She waved a hoof in front of my face. I shook my head upon that action, “You okay Zodiac? You spaced out on me there…”

I put my hoof on my head rubbing it like I was in serious pain, “Yes Harmony… I’m fine.”

“You don’t sound fine to me Zodiac.” I am being awkward there aren’t I? Regardless, I looked at the schematics one more time trying to assess whether what I’m seeing was true or not. The design, the workings of the weapon, the destructive power, sure enough, Apple Bloom achieved the impossible. Harmony looked at the design still baffled, “I’ve never seen a weapon with this kind of design before. What is it? Do you know Zodiac?”

Again, I was deafly silent. I did answer her question though about it, “Yeah, I know this weapon.”

That raised a few question from Harmony herself, “What? But I thought that this was kept secret from any outside sources, how do you know what it is?”

“Let’s just say that rumors began to spread about it.” I lied. In truth, this weapon was already known to me thanks to my past. Technology like that was kept a secret for fear of what the enemy might do with it. Very understandable considering how destructive it was.

Why did you think that Equestria kept itself to medieval weapons slowly growing until they wanted to release this at the right moment? I do have to give props to Apple Bloom and Applejack herself. That probably took a lot of trial and error to create this weapon. I uploaded the schematics into my PipBuck while erasing the data from the terminal so that no one finds it and uses it for evil intents.

She saw the data being deleted. She could only sigh seeing the work being deleted in front of her, “Sad to see that gone, even though it’s in your PipBuck.” She gazed at the PipBuck of mine (Again, I still think she deserves it better than me) before shifting her attention to me. She still wanted her question answered despite her bewilderment, “Hey, you still haven’t answered my question. What was that weapon?”

I stopped for a moment then looked at her. My look made her back away a bit terrified of seeing my expression. I softened a bit, knowing that she wanted it answered. I only told her a part of it not wanting to tell her the full truth about it, “I can’t go into specifics Harmony, but what I will tell you is that this weapon was known to be powerful beyond any ordinary weapon. Probably even more powerful than the balefire bombs that wrecked both Manehatten and Canterlot, at least that’s what I think...”

She was clearly terrified of hearing such a weapon. How can I blame her? She wanted to ask more questions about but I put a hoof over her mouth. She pushed eyed me as I put my hoof away from her mouth. She spat on the floor as she wiped her mouth. I did not want to tell her about it for fear of the enemy knowing it, “No more questions about it okay? I don’t want the enemy finding this out if I happen to tell you this right now. Who knows if they gain the knowledge by simply extracting the memory from your head?” She was beginning to see the picture now seeing that learning it right now could be bad news for them.

I smiled hearing that we are in agreement with the weapon at hand, er hoof... Damn it, I still got the races of hands and hooves mixed up! I did want to tell her it but not right now, “Listen, I know you’re curious so how about this? When we are confident that enemies will not know about this, I’ll tell you what this weapon is capable of?”

Her eyes gleamed at learning such knowledge but she quickly disagreed there, “As much as I want to know, I’ll pass, but thank you Zodiac.” I smiled as we double checked the whole room just in case. Having done with the search, we both left the room through the secret passage way. She still grumbled over the fact that I found it easily while she didn’t. I chuckled and we continued on to find Epsilon.

We managed to get out of the passage and outside the complex of Ironshod Firearms. I checked on my PipBuck as it pointed us to the general direction of where Epsilon’s PipBuck supposedly is. After the little adventure we had in Ironshod, we were fairly confident that we can handle it now. Not over confident though, that would be a bad idea.

I got onto the radio channel on my PipBuck to see if there was any news at the moment. So far, nothing from DJ Pon3 as of yet except for music which was somewhat soothing and has a bit of sorrow mixed in there. I was kind of hoping that she might have news that might help but otherwise nothing as of late. I looked at Harmony seeing if she was faring well. She was being her usual self meaning that she was handling the problem well or so I think.

We walked for a long while getting to our destination. I was lucky to have some fresh water here instead of the radiated water. She took a sip of water satisfied with the amount she drank. As we were at the halfway point to our destination, my PipBuck was alerting us of some activity going on.

We hid under some cover as I checked my E.F.S. There was… a lot of red. She saw it too and was a bit shocked to see that many reds. I check ahead to see a lot of slavers and slaves alike at one area. That was not reassuring for me. And sure enough it held true to the location.

I looked at Harmony who was clearly tense seeing the slaves like this. She looked at me and asked a question, “Are you thinking about it?” I looked at her trying to understand why she asked that question. She asked it again this adding more to it, “Are you thinking about rescuing them? I know you enough that you’d be willing to do so…”

She’s got a point right there. I looked back at slave camp eyeing any important details that may help. So far the buildings looked rickety looking they could collapse with enough weight. Even the reinforcing proved fragile. Many ammo boxes everywhere. Having seen enough of the camp, I looked back at Harmony. This was her decision, as much as I want to save them, I wanted to know if she agreed with me or not decision, “I want to yes, but Harmony, this is your decision.”

She looked back at me and then back at the slave city. A smile formed on her face as she returned her attention to me, “Let’s free some slaves…” Harmony, you have no idea how much am I proud of you, “But…” Damn it, she had to use that word… “How do we rescue them?” She pointed a hoof at the town seeing the condition of it. At least this question has a point with the usage of that word.

We both stared at the city for some time thinking of a plan to set the slaves free. I heard and saw Harmony facehoof, “I am such an idiot!” I looked at her quizzically wondering why she said that. She gave me an eye of deviousness as she looked at me, “I’m going to need you to be my slave for this to work.” I backed away from the now mischievous mare, oh dear this can’t be good.

I can’t believe I signed myself up for this… I was as she said herself, a slave in chains and shackles (Where did she get the chains and shackles?) following the master. Ugh, I still did not like me playing the role of a slave even if we are doing this to free the slaves actually captured. I kept my head down hoping to not get the slavers attention.

We were nearing the gate of the town when one of the guards noticed the both of us. A brown-coated stallion walked forward seeing Harmony, “Halt! I’ve never seen a slaver like you? Who are you?” The other guard, a mare to be exact, was next to the stallion looking at Harmony.

I heard a light chuckle from Harmony. Both readied and aimed their guns at her ready to shoot her. Harmony just what are you trying to do here? She eyed them both as she pulled on the chain as I was lurched forward. Ouch, did that hurt... “I’m here on transport to Fillydelphia, my transport got ambushed and me and this slave are the only one’s alive.”

The guards still had their guns locked onto her but they did look back at each other contemplating on letting Harmony in. They looked at her and me one last time before they lowered their weapons seeing that I was a pegasus. They chuckled seeing me in this condition, “Well what do ya know! A pegasus enslaved now that’ll be the day!” They kicked me hard as I fell on y back clutching my body in pain. They laughed as I looked at Harmony. Her expression was still as hard as steel but underneath all that, she was concerned for me, “Alright we’ll let ya in, but we’re going to check if yer are what’cha said. Follow us…” She gave a rather creepy smile as she was led by the two guards. The gates opened forth as the four of us entered the town. Everywhere I looked I saw the expression of the many slaves here.

Some looked to be malnourished as I can see their ribcages on their skin, their expressions showing only the loss of hope. They looked upon me with a sad expression seeing yet another joining in their torture. As sad as it was to see them like this, I kept my best expression of being mournful as possible. The sound of chains and shackles clanking with another and the occasional cracking sound of a whip was tormenting my very psyche.

The guards showed us to a prison where more slaves were gathered. The sounds of groaning were piercing my ears. So many of them here, it was… damn it, I still disliked the idea of being enslaved right now, “Alright now you two stay, we’ll go check up to see if you are a slaver or not.”

After they left and closed the door, I saw Harmony’s expression soften a lot as she returned to her helpful persona. She pulled some keys for the shackles binding me, “Sorry for all of that, hate the ponies that treat the pegasi race like trash.”

“You don’t hate the pegasi race?” I found that surprising for both me and Harmony. I still did not understand why were the pegasi so outright hated upon the people here.

She shook her head in denial, “I may hate them, but I don’t hold onto a two hundred year old grudge with them. What’s the point of it anyway?” I smiled seeing that someone doesn’t hold onto something as petty as an unsolved mystery for me.

I looked at her as she was getting to unbinding me, “Say, I’ve never ever seen you like that before when I was roleplaying as a slave. Tell me, what did you do there?”

Her face was blushing a bit from hearing that question, “Oh… um, I had to… kick in my other persona there.” Her other persona? Apparently my body language was noticeable as she answered the question, “It’s my other me, the kind when I get serious. I think my cutie mark might explain that for me.”

Her cutie mark in question was a heart with one side black and the other white with music notes of the sides respective color floating. To be honest, it does kind of answer my question but another came in place. What was her special talent to gain a cutie mark like that? I can probably guess singing if the music notes mean anything but I’ll have wait on that.

The slaves in the jail cells noticed Harmony unbinding me from my shackles. The chains fell to the ground and I was able to move freely. Goodness, never in my entire life did I realize how good was it to move your wings a lot even if it was only a tiny movement. Okay, returning back to the task at hand, I turned to see the slaves eyeing me.

I moved to their direction in front of the jail cell. They saw my sword and their first instinct was to back away from me. Figures, they think I’m an executioner. I stood where I was and extended a hoof for them to grasp onto. I decided to let them do what they believe is right. One of the slaves noticed and was looking at me. I stood there with a smile as bright as the Sun (at least enough for them to perceive me as friendly). I heard the sound of clanking metal as she came close to me eyeing me cautiously. As soon as her hoof touched mine, I was still bearing my smile.

I looked at her two front forelegs to see shackles binding them. Harmony was already on her way to helping the other slaves, healing and helping them up from the chains. I looked at the slave who was touching my hoof. Her eyes were pleading, calling me to free them. I obliged as I lifted up the chains. I unsheathed my sword and again was scaring the slaves including the one I was holding onto the chains.

I put a hoof on her head trying to comfort her as I calmed her down. She opened her eyes seeing my sword down and my hoof on her head. As her body calmed itself, I pulled my sword to me and above the chains, slashed at them, cutting through the chains. The metal went taut as some of the metal pieces fell to the ground making a clanging noise. The female slave, seeing what I did, looked at her hooves first before rushing to me and hugging me, “T-Thank…you kind sir...never has my hope been restored… like this…thank you…” I comforted her as her tears streamed down her face.

Other slaves who saw that went forward showing their shackles to me. I let go of the mare as she backed away allowing me to cut the others free. After cutting nine chains and them thanking me for staging a rescue, I gestured Harmony to come here and help these slaves out. I went to check out the slaves Harmony was helping and they too revealed the shackles to me. The same thing happened and we have managed to free some slaves but not all of them.

I looked through the window checking to see if the same guards were coming back. I did indeed see them coming back and that made me worried, “Harmony, might want to be quick because those guards are coming back!” She heard my response as she came to the window. Most of the slaves were panicking about the situation. An idea came to me but we had to be quick about this, “Harmony I got an idea but we need to calm the slaves fast!”

She nodded in agreement and went to calm the slaves as best as possible. I looked upon the chains and shackles on the floor. Ugh I am going to hate myself but at least I can loosen them enough for me to strike them down. I put them back on as Harmony managed to calm them down. I looked to see the guards coming within the vicinity. I had no time to tell Harmony my plan!

I poked her back motioning to the two guards coming in. She fell silent as I went to a corner roleplaying as a slave. I was sitting down on the floor and drooping my head as they had arrived to the door with Hamony in front of them. My one eye was opened seeing the conversation, “Well, we were supposed to have a transport here according to the schedule, if you are indeed from it, then I guess you are qualified as a slaver.”

They turned to look at me. Again they kicked at me at the chest and I was reeling in pain from that, but it was nothing I can take. They snickered seeing me in pain, “Ha, that’s what you get you stupid pegasus. So tell us, how’d you nab something like him?” They turned around as they were speaking with Harmony. Good, that’s give me some chance were I not in pain right now.

I struggled to get up from the aches as I stood up enduring the pain. No sounds were made as Harmony saw me getting up. A smile formed on my face as I pulled on the chains around my forelegs tight. Her eyes widened a bit in realization as he gave me a small smile of her own to match mine. One of the guards caught on to the smile but was too late as I hopped on him and put the shackles on his neck trying to choke him to submission.

The mare reacted and was reaching for a pistol but Harmony reacted as well and tackled the mare down making her drop her weapon. Slaves who were freed saw the opportunity of what we were doing and joined in. Obviously, the guards were outnumbered and were overwhelmed easily.  That was two down, how many left though? Never thought that the StealthBuck I have would help today. I opened the door slowly seeing the outside perimeter of the building we were in. No sign of guards coming in, good. I looked at Harmony who was binding the struggling guards with their own shackles. Heh, irony at its finest, “I’m going to go out and scout the place, never thought the StealthBuck would come in handy now…”

The guards stopped resisting as Harmony knocked them out cold. She looked at me with a sorrowful expression, “What? They deserved it for kicking you just because of your race. I don’t like seeing the pegasi race being hated just because of what happened two hundred years ago…they need to let go of the stupid grudge.”

True to her namesake, I can’t believe I found a good friend like her so easily. Suspicious I know but I can’t help but not like her somewhat for her morals if they are a bit skewed. I smiled as my head comes a few inches out of the door checking out my surroundings to see if any guards above or in front of me might pop up.

Seeing no incoming guards, I looked at the slaves and Harmony one more time before leaving. The town is relatively small but I can never tell what goes on. I heard the sounds of whips cracking the air as the sounds of groaning slaves came forth. Guess I know where to go first. I followed the sound of the whip to the central area of the town.

I hid behind a wall next to a window. I looked out through the window seeing where most slaves but all slavers gathered. Okay managing to find the rest of the slaves and where all the slavers checked. Not how do I deal with this? Obviously I could be wrong about all slavers being here, but the town is small and I doubt there’s much area in front of me to be used.

Getting off-topic here, I looked around the area scanning for anything of importance. Like what me and Harmony noticed, the structure here was rather weak, just one well-placed buck could tumble the buildings the slavers took refuge in. Guess I got my plan though I’m worried if the slaves will get caught in the debris.

My mind went into overdrive as I went to see the chances of it hitting the slaves. Wait, nobody said there’d be math! Ah whatever, I calculated the chances of the slaves being caught, from the height of the building to the power of the buck to the direction of the falling debris, my mind was going through a moment of intellectual craziness. A smile formed on my face as I finished my thought process. Okay, the chance of the slaves there getting caught would be around a ninety percent chance of nada so I got my plan then.

I felt a tap of a hoof on my back. Oh dear God, please tell me I did not get caught so quickly! I slowly turned around to look at the eyes of Harmony. Not scary in the least but that caught me by surprise, “Harmony? What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be with the slaves?”

She put a hoof over her mouth chuckling a bit, “Oh I am Zodiac, they’re right behind me…” She moved out of my way and turned with a hoof outstretched showing the slaves or rather, freed ponies standing behind her.

While I will admit that seeing them there is interesting, it begged one question, “Why are they all here?” I was looking at Harmony as I asked that question giving her a questionable gaze.

One of the slaves went to answer the question. The freed slave in question was the same mare that reached out for my hoof and hugged me after I cut the chains, “We’re here because we want to help…we want to make the slavers here pay for what they did.” Okay, that did not help me much. As much as I can understand why, I did not want them to senselessly kill them.

I looked at Harmony who eyes were pleading to let them do what they wanted to do. I let out a sigh as I looked at the freed slaves, “Alright, just don’t kill please… I know that they deserve such a fate but…” I turned my attention away from all of them looking at the slaves caught, “Once you do so, it will forever stay with you for the rest of your lives.”

I felt two hooves on my shoulders. I looked to see both the freed mare and Harmony smiling to me as they nodded in agreement to my plea. I returned their smile back. The mare in question tapped her head with her hoof. Apparently ponies here like to tap their heads if they ever forget something important, “I almost forgot, what are your names so we can remember them?”

Both me and Harmony looked at each other before shifting our attention to her still bearing our smile, “I am Zodiac, and this mare and friend here is Harmony.”

Many of the slaves whispered to one another once our names got announced. I hope news of my actions wasn’t being spread being so quickly. They stopped whispering many of them nodding their heads in agreement and looked at us with smiles. The mare leading them extended a hoof, “Welcome Zodiac and Harmony, Crescent Moon at your service.”

I grabbed her hoof and shook it. As introductions got pass with each of the freed slaves, I wanted to know a bit more about Crescent Moon but that would have to wait until this town is liberated.

I had explained the plan with the freed slaves and Harmony. Now all they had to do was wait it out until I gave my signal. That signal, being obvious, is the falling building. I had already gone ahead and was behind the building where the slavers are inside. Inside the building, I picked up sounds that I’d wish I didn’t hear.

Ignoring the sounds, I looked at the building seeing the structural collapse coming at any moment. I looked to see if any of the captured slaves have moved from their original position. Seeing them in the exact spot as I recalled, I decided to initiate the plan. I tapped the building once and saw the building sway a bit from that one touch. I turned around and delivered a solid buck to the building. The force of the buck was enough to send the whole building to collapse on itself as debris fell on the slavers inside.

They saw the collapsing building and ran out of the building in time before it fell on top of them. Slaves both caught and freed saw that. A roar of the slaves freed came forth as they charged at the slavers that escaped. I joined them trying to cripple the few slavers quickly before they withdrew their guns.

Many of the captured ponies were being freed by Harmony. As soon as they got freed, they joined their fellow mates and tried to take down the slavers. I saw Crescent Moon dispatching their weapons as they fell to the surge of the slaves they commanded.

I heard a sound of a gunshot as I turned around see more slavers coming in the direction. Many of the slaves seeing that hid away from the weapons wanting to not be caught in the crossfire. I charged at the slavers as they focused fire at me. Comparing to the raiders I fought before, these at least were good with their weapon of choice as I did get a few bullet wounds.

From the rooftops of one of the buildings, I saw Crescent jump off and land on top of one of the slavers by surprise. Many who saw that switched their targets onto her. That gave me a small opportunity as I quickened myself to close the gap between her and me. I heard gunshots as Crescent dodged the incoming fire and charged at the one shooting her first. Other slavers not focused on her were shooting at me.

She’s rather athletic and quick I’ll give her that. I dodged a few shots as I closed the gap pouncing on one of the slavers. I aimed at the forelegs crippling him from using his weapons. Crescent dispatched those using battle saddles as she removed some of them with brute strength and punched them on the face.

Getting off the slaver I pounced on, I ducked under incoming fire as they opened fired. I leaped forward as they begun reloading landing on their heads. Enough force was put into the hits to render them unconscious. A sound of clanking metal reached my ears as I looked below the both of us. Both me and Crescent reacted quickly as we tried to get out of the blast radius of the grenades.

The grenades exploded behind us as we were pushed forward, our backs hurting from the explosion. My ears were ringing as my vision was getting blurry from the intensity of the boom. Filius canis, I hate grenades so much. In my dazed stupor, I heard a barely audible sound of a gun readying itself as it reloaded.

My body was still hurting from the grenades and I couldn’t tap into S.A.T.S with a hurting body. I look to Crescent’s direction and she two was struggling to move. My vision and hearing was slowly returning as I heard a gunshot. To my amazement and horror, the slaver did not fire. I looked to see Harmony holding a lot of guns with her magic and waving a dismissive hoof as freed slaves urged forth on the slavers behind us. Harmony put the guns in her saddlebags as she came for me and Crescent, “You can thank me later for stopping that bullet in time and disarming them as well.” She gave the both of us a smile.

The three of us couldn’t help chuckle a bit from that. She lifted one of my forelegs in the air and wrapped it around her neck as she did the same thing with Crescent, “Oof, you are heavy for an Earth Pony mare Crescent.”

“And yet you’re not arguing that with Zodiac?” We laughed quietly as she carried us away from the fight. I turned my head seeing the slaves getting their wishes as they beat down the ponies they wanted to get their hooves on. Although the beating was brutal, they kept true to their promise and kept them alive albeit with a lot of physical injuries to boot, I hope. I felt my body tucker out as I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

“Wake up sleepy head!” Ugh, did I have to be woken up by Pinkie Pie of all ponies? Wait… I got out of my bed almost instantaneously seeing the pink bubbly pony hopping in front of me. How did she get in here I will never know…

I smile formed on my face seeing the active pony, “Thank you for waking me up but why did you wake me up anyway?”

Pinkie gasped hearing my question. Okay, why was she gasping about my question? From that gasp, it then turned into her adorable laughter as she looked at me with a big grin and eyes as big as the ball itself. Goodness, how does she do all of this? “Because silly, I just wanted to see you wake up is all! I got to get going and prepare for something important!” She left in a pink blur as I was about to ask another question.

Silly Pinkie Pie, I can never understand her antics well enough. Well at least she did wake me up so there’s something I should thank her for later. Getting out of my bed, I stretched my body letting myself a bit loose as I heard a few sounds of bones popping. Satisfied that I was at least active today, I looked upon my calendar seeing what today’s got in mind for me. A smile formed on my face, seeing that I get to visit Twilight today. I raised my wings up in the air as my horn glowed with magic. Surrounding myself in a magical sphere, I imagined the location of the Golden Oaks Library. As the image became vivid, the sphere around me glowed as my body moved from my home to the front of the library house in seconds.

I lowered my wings seeing the front of the tree library and house. Letting a few breaths out, I knocked on the door. I heard Spike’s voice going through as I heard his footsteps getting louder, “Just a minute!” I heard the door being unlocked as it opened. Spike was relatively surprised to see as he was just about to bow to me. He stopped himself mid-bow there as he chuckled a bit there, “Sorry, habit of mine whenever around Princess Celestia.”

I put a hoof on Spike’s head and rubbed it. He laughed as he put a hand on it and put it down, “No worries Spike, I can understand why it would be normal, so where’s Twilight? I’ve been wanting to chat with her ever since she… ascended shall I say…”

I heard a scream from up above. I moved out of the way as Twilight came crashing down next to me. Oh dear, is she still having trouble flying today? I heard her groaning from the pain as I assisted helping her up, “Thanks Spi--” From seeing me assisting her instead of her number one assistant, she too almost bowed to me before stopping the transition, “Ehehe, sorry about that.”

I did the same thing with Spike to Twilight this time. She just chuckled seeing that I did that, “No worries Twilight, guess Rainbow’s lessons are giving you trouble?”

“Actually, I was practicing myself, I’ve gotten the hang of it, but it’s still difficult to get it right.” I know the feeling there. She eyed me weirdly wondering why I was here. Before long she reacted and almost went into freak-out mode remembering what I was here for, “Oh my Celestia! I forgot that you were coming here today!”

She was about to run back inside and prep herself, but a magical aura surrounded her stopping her in place. Her eyes darted to me as I came forth with a smile, “Tranquillitas teipsum Twilight, don’t start going crazy on me please.”

I dispelled my spell as she did the breathing exercise that Cadance taught her. After calming herself enough, she let out a small embarrassed chuckle, “I almost did it again didn’t I?” I nodded while Spike snickered a bit from me stopping Twilight before she went crazy, “Sorry, you know me Zodiac…”

“I do, now let us chat, I need to be at the terrace of the Canterlot Castle at some time, you know, for a pair of alicorns as patient as they are…they can be annoying when they’ve waited for too long.” Twilight chuckle as she set herself up to begin our chat.

My eyes opened slowly as I saw a wooden ceiling above me. My eyes darted to different directions seeing that I was alone on a bed. I moved my legs to the left side as I sat up on the bed. I rubbed my face and scratched my head as I gave out a loud yawn. My body twitched in pain as I tried to stretch. Ouch, looks like my body was still recovering from the grenade.

I heard hoofsteps as I turned to see Harmony bringing up some medical supplies up. She saw me sitting with a smile. She returned her smile as she set the medical supplies in her saddlebag and checked my back, “Well looks like your back is recovering well, tell me how was your sleep?”

“Eh been better I suppose…” After she checked out my back and let me move. I stood on all four legs checking if I can at least walk. For the most, save for a few moments of pain, I can walk just fine, “So how’s every freed slave, did they keep my promise?”

I saw Harmony ears droop a bit from that question. Oh dear… “They did, but now they’re out calling for blood upon the slavers… Crescent has been trying to talk some sense into them but it’s not going well.” I let out a sigh hearing this turn of events. I knew that going through this would make anyone hot-blooded but this was making things difficult if this Wastelands moral of kill or be killed was etched into everyone’s minds.

The both of us walked out and to the central area. Already I can hear the screams of the slaves calling out for blood as we neared our destination. I saw all the slavers unconscious and brutally beaten as the freed slaves came to finish the job. I saw Crescent trying to calm the citizenry of its wrath but it was not working well. I looked at Harmony one time before I flew off.

I was over the slaves as Crescent saw me coming. Many of the slaves saw me flying over them. Any were deafly silent for finding out just now that the pony who saved them was a pegasus. Weird, they did not see my wings or something? I landed to Crescent seeing her. Her eyes were sorrowful seeing how much pain was hidden behind them and the slaves, “Zodiac, you saved us and I trust you but…”

Almost in instinct, they were beginning to rant at me for the sheer that a pegasus saved them from their fate. Crescent lowered her head seeing this coming. I only gave a smile to her as I put a hoof on her chin as raised it to my face, “Do not worry, this is something I can handle well.” I looked at the slavers seeing the condition. Looks like Harmony was generous enough to heal them as well.

Shifting my attention to the slaves, they were beginning to get a bit vulgar in their rants almost to the point of being stupid in their language. I just shook my head in shame for the fact that despite the fact that I rescued them, they cannot let go of a simple grudge. Harmony was right, ponies here will not let go no matter what. Funny, it kind of reminds of my Equestria…

I let the insults continue as I carried the slavers to my back. One insult however got to me as I stopped still, “You’d murder and banish your own kind and family just to keep your paradise!” I was silent. Was that true? The pegasi would literally banish and then kill their own race, their own kindred, just to be in paradise? Crescent saw me absolutely still. She was smart and backed away from me as far as possible because my blood was boiling right now.

Vivid memories of my past resurfaced as I slowly put down the slavers and slowly walked back to the entrance of the building that collapsed. I did not like remembering my past at all, not now, not ever again, but there are times where it would resurface and I’d have to deal with it again. I looked over the slaves, my eyes burning with hatred from that insult. Many who looked into my eyes although were deafly silent, still barraged me with insults. One stomp on the ground and the ground reverberated from the impact. That made many of the slaves quiet as they eyed me. I did not want to wait any longer, I got to the point, “I can deal with insults fine, but I heard one insult that sent my blood boiling and I want to be certain. Is it true? Would the pegasi banish and kill their own kind just to be left in peace?”

Many went still seeing that I asked that question. My blood was still boiling yet I never became angry or was calling out for blood. No I was calm and I wanted to be certain and their silence was almost close enough of an answer. Harmony came forth to answer my question. She looked terrified seeing my calm yet resolute fury. She let out one deep breath as she answered, “Yes, Zodiac that is true. They are called the Enclave and they would do that to those who help the slaves and ponies in trouble on the ground here or are traitors in general.”

So I finally found out what is this Enclave now. My body went limp yet my rage still lingered. I wanted to vent my rage on something, but it was not so easy to do so. Whether by verbal or physical release, I had to let go of the festering hatred inside me. I turned around seeing the rubble of the building I bucked down. Every slave and friends was silent seeing me walk to the center of the rubble and stop there as I stood there for Gods know how long.

My mind was thinking of the pegasi killing their own families, their own kind, without remorse. Just the thought of them doing all of that was…unbearable. I raised my head to the sky and let out a scream to the heavens and laid waste to the already destroyed building. As Crescent got the slavers away from my rage-induced destruction, many ponies were shocked to see a pegasus like me react this way from discovering what the pegasi would do. It changed many of their minds that I was one of those Enclave ponies.

My wrath still continued growing as I laid waste to the building tossing wood, breaking down some railings, and destroying concrete. The rage continued unabated for so long until I stopped and lie down on the floor letting a few tears escape. This is just not fair. Why did the pegasi have to go that far off the old Equestrian ways just to keep their so-called peace? Why…? Why…?! Stupri gehenna! WHY!?

This was just too much for me to bear! I stomped on the floor each hit getting weaker as the rage is slowly dissipating until it was gone and I was left a weeping wreck of my former confident self. I felt two hooves on my shoulders. I looked to see both Crescent and Harmony trying to comfort me. Looking to the slaves, they too wanted to comfort as they were around me.

I’m a crybaby I acknowledge that as of now, but perhaps it was best to shed my tears here. I pulled the two under my wings as I let the tears fall slowly from my face, “I… I just don’t get it… why would they do that…to their own kindred…just…why?” The answer to that question may never be answered…

After that moment of anger and grief subsided, the slaves who originally were calling out for blood and ranted about me being a pegasus, were in deep thought of my reaction to the Enclave and decided to spare the slavers if only because of my reaction.

Me and Harmony were heading out when Crescent came to see us leave. She was tired from the running but was smiling at us, “I know I said this once before, but I’m going to say it again, thank you for rescuing all of us you two. I’d never thought to have a second chance at life ever again.” Her smile was something I might never forget in a long while, “We’re going to be leaving town and for somewhere safe, I just wanted to tell you two that.”

That caught us off guard if only a little bit. We don’t know Crescent a lot so I was doubtful on her being able to lead the slaves to somewhere. Harmony mimicked my thoughts in her question, “Why would you leave this town, you could use this to your advantage. To leave it would be a waste right?”

Crescent Moon was a bit down hearing that. Her reasoning for leaving came forth when she answered, “As much as I would love to stay behind and use this town, I can’t. More slavers might come here and you know that it’s risky to stay should they come. We all agreed to leave town for now and try to relocate elsewhere, maybe Tenpony Tower if they allow us.” She continued her smile as her breathing was beginning to normalize, “Should we end up having enough forces, then we might try to take it back, but otherwise, we’re leaving.”

My mind was processing on whether this was the best plan of action or not. I can understand the concept and it making sense to an extent. I looked at Harmony wondering if she agreed to the idea or not. She eyed me and nodded her head in agreement. I looked back at Crescent and smiled, “Alright looks like we both agree. I do wish you a safe journey.” We were both turned around and were ready to leave before something came to my head, “Oh and before I forgot, the next time we meet, I want to know you full Crescent Moon.” I winked at her as we both left the town and continued on our journey. Things went very well for the two of us yet… why am I dreading the next moment?

Who would have thought that the immense feeling of dread I felt before would end up being true? We neared the destination of where Epsilon’s PipBuck is. Looking at Harmony; she had been tenser than before when we were nearing the destination. It was worrying me little by little. My PipBuck was beeping loudly as I was looking ahead. Checking on my PipBuck, there was some red ahead of us.

I showed Harmony and almost immediately tensed up even more. I’m beginning to get a foreboding feeling of dread overcome me when she finally talked, “I…I don’t want to go on ahead, maybe we should go away from the red?” In this case, I am very inclined to agree with. We did not have time to deal with more trouble than we bargained for. We turned around and were ready to leave before voices came forth, “Well, well, what do we have here?”

I looked up seeing more slavers. Oh come on! We had to run into more of them now? I pushed Harmony back a bit away slowly as more slavers came and noticed the two of us. I could probably a few rounds but the ammo was rare and I wanted to conserve it. I can’t charge at them quickly enough. Even if I did, others may catch up and we’d be surrounded in no time. My thought process was interrupted by the slavers chatting with one another, “Well will ya look at, a pegasus that will soon t’ be a slave. I’d say this is a sweet for me but somepony else already got dibs on the pegasus… Isn’t that right…Harmony?”

What? Did I just hear that right? I looked at Harmony who was sweating like crazy hearing that. Seeing her like this was enough of an answer that what that slaver said was true. But… she helped me freed slaves, that can’t be true… I was looking at Harmony’s eyes; they were desperate to deny the claim, “Harmony… please tell me honestly… are…you a slaver?”

She looked away immediately her own eyes tearing up from the knowledge being known to me. I stood as time felt like it slowed down. Her body language, the way she was reacting, all of them were telling me that yes, she was a slaver true to it all. I was deafly silent seeing her and myself like this.

She was guilty of not telling me as I can tell from her holding back her emotions in check. I too was still. I looked at one more time before she did what she wanted to. She pulled up a stick and looked at me her eyes welling in tears, “I…am so sorry Zodiac, I truly am…” That apology was the only I remember before I meet the blunt end of a stick.

I woke up from that hit to find myself in a carriage. I look everywhere to find Harmony alongside some ponies carrying me in the said carriage. She took all of the gear I had with the exception of my sword (Preparation at its finest) and the PipBuck as they were still strapped on me. I looked to see that they were talking thinking that I was still knocked out, “He sure is a mighty fine stallion you got there Harmony, never thought he would trust you so easily.”

She was very much silent, she did not want to acknowledge that I was in the carriage or even think of me being betrayed right there. I tried to stand up and talk to her but my four hooves were shackled to the floor of the carriage. The metals clanked and all three heard it. Harmony gave one glance at me before turning away from me, her eyes still wishing it never came to this. Her other slavers on the other hand were rough with me, “Well looks like the pretty pegasus woke up.” He spat on my face when he finished.

I was silent not wanting to argue back. I was too broken to hear that Harmony was a slaver, yet her reaction to her discovery was of genuine shame not of joy. In that moment, I wanted to reach out for her and ask why is she doing this, but I didn’t want to do it in front of them. I looked at her after she looked away asking them where were they taking me. It was a repeat of the last time I went through this except this time I was not going to escape so easily, “Are you three taking me to Appleloosa?”

They looked at me, back at each other, then back at me not laughing though they still had that cold stare. Harmony answered that question for me. She was clearly regretting putting me in this situation as her voice was trembling, “No… we… aren’t taking you to Appleloosa…” That perked my ears, Not taking me to Appleloosa? Then where? She answered that question again still regretful of my situation, “We’re taking you… somewhere else. Originally we were planning to take you to Fillydephia, but we changed our mind and… we’re taking you somewhere else.”

I looked away from her eyes for a sec pondering about all of this before asking another question, "What truly happened to your brother?"

She continued walking but her mind seemed to wanted to find a way to answer that question, "I…I don’t know truly... as the war intensified, he joined the army leaving me behind." I was distraught hearing that. She was not finished with her statement though, "He promised to reunite with me when after the war ended, but... they sent me a letter telling me that he was considered M.I.A."

Her brother was missing in action? But then, the war… "How are you still alive? Shouldn't you be dead considering the years?"

"During the war, I volunteered to be of one of the ponies to help in the war effort after I received the letter." From the way she looked she did not look happy to remember it at all, "Apparently it was a project that the Ministry of Arcane Science was getting ready to do. It allowed extended lifespan to ponies by putting them into a state similar to that of petrification."

I was a bit silent for myself, extending a ponies lifespan through something similar to petrification? From the ministry doing it, I can clearly tell that Twilight was the head of that one. While petrification was a bad way to face fate, it does have its perks such as a pony not aging and if one can unpetrify them, then it has its advantages, "And did it work out as expected?"

She gestured the other two to go on ahead. They went ahead as she requested. She stopped pulling the cart for now as she looked at me, "It did, but only one pony lived through it..." I did not even need to guess who the one pony that succeeded was, "I was left alone, I wanted to find my brother but… I didn’t want to give up all hope but the amount of chaos the war did, it pained me to think that my brother may no longer be alive even with your PipBuck."

I stared at my PipBuck seeing the connection, "From there on out I had to take care of myself, I wanted to stay alive for my brother’s sake, I’d know him enough to hate me see me crying to sleep knowing that he was gone." I didn't bother to look at her as she looked at me, "Do you… wish to ask any more… questions because I still am allowing you to…" I was silent. She took that as a no and looked away a few tears escaping her eyes, “I truly am sorry to put you like this... please…forgive me…”

I didn’t heed her question only thinking about what they were going to do with me; I checked the data on my PipBuck. Everything that I uploaded into it was still there lucky me. I decided to check out the radio station. It doesn’t help me much but it at least kept me busy. I shuffled through each radio station and heard DJ Pon3’s voice again talking about the usual stuff.

He didn’t give any important news, but he did help ease the pain. He was beginning to finish his part as he started up some music. Despite my current situation, I found some solace in the music chosen. Apparently it was sung by a mare though she was I’ve no clue as I was not able to hear the name of the singer.

Through the lone and lonely nights

To the dark and stormy days

From the mountains to the prairie

For every word I say…

Hearing the words for the first time, there was a hint of joy in the singer’s voice, yet there was also some sadness there as well. The song itself made me want to shed my tears right then and there as it was clearly meant to pull at the hearts of many ponies. The piano and violin didn’t help me at trying to hold back the tears.

No matter what the trouble

No matter what’s at stake

Even if the problem doubles

And I’m not so sure what to make

I’ll have you

Why did DJ Pon3 have to pick this song for me to listen to? It was out of place for his choice of music, but I didn’t care. I wanted to take out my earplugs out but the song pulled me in as soon as it started and I couldn’t resist hearing the rest of the song.

I see you flying over mountains

Leaving obstacles at bay

Living life without no worries

No matter what’s at stake

Your my all, my everything

Exactly what I want to be

One day I will fly up mountain

One day I’ll reach my peak

And I’ll have you

I was so absorbed into the song that I sang along with the mare in question. A few tears were shed but the two slavers didn’t pay attention to me as I quietly sang to the beautiful song. Harmony heard me and joined in my singing.

I looked at her and she looked at me when the song started. Was she truly honest and wanted to be my friend? Her eyes still had traces of tears as she sang. If she was lying about not wanting to be my friend then she was being terrible at it. She truly wanted to be my friend. I… I am so sorry Harmony for ever doubting our friendship.

Listening back to the song, I slowly begun to realize was that this song was made for a pegasus. There were many pegasi sure, but there was only one with wings that don’t function. I surely wondered if throughout this war, those two managed to meet up with each other one more time before they faced their demise. The last lyrics of the song proved that this song was made for her and her role model.

Soaring through the sky with the birds

In the soft embrace of clouds

With my wings stretched to the Sun

The silence roaring loud

In my mind, I’m clearly there

Reaching out to you

I open up my eyes

And I swear I flew

And I had you

Tears were being shed faster than I can hold them back as the song was reaching its conclusion. I truly wonder who the artist that made this wonderful song was. If I should ever find out, I may pay him or her tribute to it because I was weeping like a little colt at this point.

Even Harmony who was singing with me could not hold on to the waterworks as well. I… guess we both needed a song to lighten our pains huh? As the song was reaching its conclusion and we were still singing with it, my body wanted to sleep on me. I did not disobey it as my body went limp close to sleeping peacefully as the song reached its conclusion. I looked at Harmony as she was wiping her tears away.

When night is almost over

To find reality

My wings cannot be yours

But in my dreams

I can fly besides you

Together we can soar

And just ‘til I wake

I’m alone no more

My eyes closed on me as went into a peaceful sleep knowing that more trouble will brew again once I’m awake again. I was ready to face the challenges that this damn world is going to give me, and by then, it will have a hard time to break me. And hopefully, I can rekindle my friendship with Harmony once again.

For I have you…

Footnote: Level Up.

Zodiac:

New Perk: Sisters at Heart - After hearing the song bought up by DJ Pon3 you have been enlightened with the pains of the world and are ready. When critical, your defense will increase by 99%

Naturia Harmony has left your side... Next Chapter: Chapter IV: Truth or Ideals Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 47 Minutes