Glorious day for me to go crazy…

I was suddenly woken up with pain on my head as the wagon was getting very rickety from a bumpy ride. Rubbing my head, I looked ahead to find we were nearing our destination. My PipBuck named the destination we were heading for, Baltimare. The city was worn down from age and comparing that to other cities that seemed to have collapse, this city looked rather untouched by the ravages of war.

As we begin to pass through the front gates, the guards check up on their new addition to the slave pit. Of course, they ranted to Harmony. She explained well enough about why she can’t pull the sword from me. She didn’t mind the idea of leaving it with me though as she shot a small smile at me. I returned it in secret.

This was leading to some hilarious moments again… One of the guards removed the belt around my sword as he pulled it away. He was beginning to mock on Harmony until it dematerialized from his mouth and back to my side. Both of us chuckled seeing their reaction from that. The other guard tried as well and the same thing happened. Unlike the last slavers I had to deal with, they realized fairly quickly that they weren’t able to keep it away from me. Deciding to leave it be, they put hoofcuffs on me. They didn’t want any nasty things happening around me with a dangerous weapon and she pulled the carriage inside.

Outside, you would rarely notice it but when you get inside it tells a different story. There were many slaves hanging around Baltimare. Apparently, here it was a mining town as I see a large pit with slaves working on the mining probably days until they gave out or died. Many landmarks of the city were broken down, such as a plaque foretelling the creation of Baltimare, to the Baltimare hospital known to treat soldiers during the war or at least I think it would have.

Harmony pulled the carriage to the town jail, now being used as a slave holding facility. Guards came by to pick me up from the carriage. They were about to ask about leaving my weapon but seeing the hoofcuffs, they decided to forgo the question, “Come on slave, we don’t have all day.”I looked back at Harmony who waved back at me with a smile and gave a wink. I’ll be honest; I truly want to rekindle our friendship if she is doing this to me. I waved back and went ahead with the guards.

I followed them to the interior of the building. They opened the doors as I walked ahead with them behind me. Looking at the town jail, the inside was eerily clean of gunk. Some of the wood holding the walls were starting to rot but that was the only thing the building has. No stench, no blood stains, no anything to compare it to the outside. It was starting to creep me out. They bought me to my designated cell as I entered it. They closed it as I turned back to look at them, “Tomorrow, your shift starts…” They left me be as they returned to their duties.

The cell I was inside again was eerily clean like the rest making me wonder why keep it clean when you run a slave business. I sat down on the bed as I shuffled through my PipBuck looking for anything to keep me busy for today. Finding only the schematics for the weapon that Apple Bloom somehow took time and effort to make, I decided to drift off into sleep for now. Tomorrow is the big day…

Why did this have to happen? My name is Naturia Harmony though all of you probably already know this. I did fell into a state of stillness for two hundred years having been a part of the project with the M.A.S. I’d just never thought that not only that I’d be the only one to survive the whole two hundred year sleep but also find the Equestria I remember the same years back to not ever be the same again.

It broke my heart to see the Equestria I knew to be like this. My brother would agree with me that I am for certain. Back to the current situation at hoof, I just got my first friend in this forsaken Wasteland sent to be a slave for his life. You have no idea how much it pains me to get my first friend like Zodiac to be a slave. I had no choice when those two discovered me with him, I wasn’t thinking straight.

That said, after hearing him sing (I’d never thought to find another singer like him…), we both made eye contact and even after what I did he still trusts me. I…I don’t want to ruin our friendship like this. I want to help out somehow but what can I do?

I bet you’re all wondering why I’m a slaver aren’t you? Well, it’s rather complicated but… “Hey! Come over here Harmony and get busy!” Darn it, can’t speak about it right now then, don’t want to rouse suspicion on me. I walked to where the voice was coming. Apparently she was checking on attendance and I was a little bit late there. Not that it matters much here, “You’re late, get going and get those slaves to push the cart; we ain’t got all day here!”

Well, time to kick in my other persona then. I cleared my throat as I let my persona control my actions for now, “Don’t remind about it Whiplash! I don’t need to be told about it or would you like a little chat with Bloodedge here?”

Whiplash as I called her was one of those slavers who would utilize whips. Every slaver uses whips yes but her? She gets a sadistic glee with using hers to the point where I think she might rut with one. Yeah, call me crazy with I said there but I honestly think she does so, “Just because you’re Ace Bloodedge’s second-in-command doesn’t mean you get to boss me around Harms! Now get to it!”

“Tch, fine, but I’m not forgetting this Whiplash…” Whether I managed to intimidate her or not, I got the message delivered. I can hear her grumbling to herself as I got far enough to not hear her. A smile formed on my face from just hearing her grumble. She and I have a bit of a rivalry going though I don’t acknowledge it much.

I went to the mine pits and towards my section. You know that slaves tend to fear their oppressors like what me and Zodiac went through when we rescued that town? Well… let’s just say that I’m not one of those oppressors. As I neared my section which is underground by the way, the slaves who saw me rejoiced in seeing me again, “Miss Harmony is here! The kindest slaver in the Wasteland is here!”

Perhaps I’ve got a bit of explaining to do? Yes, I am a slaver but comparing to others, I’ve earned a title that only Ace Bloodedge and Red Eye himself knows. I did hear that Red Eye took upon someone to take under his guidance, an apprentice I think. I believe his name was Protégé (isn’t that a convenient name?). If it is true that he does have an apprentice like Protégé, then he too would know about my little secret which I don’t mind, he is under Red Eye’s watchful protection and knowing Red Eye, he taught him well.

Anyway back on topic, you heard the slaves call me the Kindest Slaver in the Wasteland right? That title could not be more true to me than to them. I am indeed the kindest slaver you might ever meet probably enough to rival the Head of the Ministry of Peace, Fluttershy, at least in terms of kindness. I give the slaves a well-deserved break should their bodies be at their breaking point, I give them good food within their breaks, and I help them with their injuries so they keep on going. All of this is done in secret so only the two I mentioned (and Protégé, but I’m not so sure if that’s true or not… I’d have to meet with him to believe it otherwise) know about this and they accept it.

I do admit that I find it very suspicious that they’re willing to allow what I’m doing with the slaves of my choice but if they allow it, I’m not arguing. As the slaves cheered died down, I pulled out some of the food I had scrapped giving it to the slaves. One of the slave children came forth and hugged me, “Thank you Miss Harmony! You are the best slaver ever!”

I know that idea of being the best slaver would be a bit misleading but you know now so I suppose it makes sense in a way. I put a hoof on the child’s head rubbing it, “You welcome but don’t say that out loud, we wouldn’t want the other slavers to know and be jealous about it right?” The filly nodded to the question as she returned to her mother.

It’s sad to see children like this at least here, but in Filydelphia they’re away from their parents and in a location where they don’t see all of what’s happening. While that’s nice of Red Eye to seclude them away from all the strife, taking them away from their parents… I don’t like that idea at all. Immediately my thought process by Whiplash screaming, “What is taking those slaves so long Harms!? I ain’t got all day maggot!”

You always say that you dope… I looked at the slaves gesturing them to hurry up and finish their food. Many of them did finish their food and went ahead of me. They acted the part of hating this well thanks to me teaching to do their acting well. By the time all of us were ready to go; I had already kicked on my other persona of mine as I grabbed my whip.

Whiplash was about to scream one more time before she heard the sound of the whip cracking the air as the volunteered slaves came out sluggishly like what they would do. I came out last cracking my whip at them, “Come on you sluggish maggots! Get moving or no food for any of you at all!”

“Harms! What took you so bloody fucking long to get them out!?” She cracked a whip on her slaves as they were struggling to push their cart up. The poor slaves that are not under my jurisdiction, I pity anyone’s life if they were living their lives in this condition.

Getting off-topic here, need to keep up my part of the play, “Blame the fucking slaves here Whiplash, not me you idiot!” I whipped at them, hard enough to draw a bit of blood. Good thing I learned how to utilize telepathy because I was apologizing to them in their minds, I’m sorry for the hard lashing there!

While the slaves were still playing the part on the outside, in their minds, they were laughing with my apology there, No worries miss, this is something we have to deal with, no need to apologize.

My persona was still going strong but my heart was fluttering hearing that remark, Thank you, come on everyone! We can do this, just keep it up! “Come on you fucking faggots, get moving!” Probably was a bit much with my language there but I had to keep going. All the slaves kept on pushing the cart to the best of their abilities as I kept up the façade.

We were the first to push our cart up to the top. The slaves were tired and needed to be healed up but for the most part, we did it. I saw Whiplash coming to our direction. I hope she isn’t going to say a really weird remark, “Harms, you’re needed by Bloodedge’s office stat… ya know he doesn’t like to wait on ya.”

This was rather a bit surprising. I looked back at the tired slaves and secretly gestured them to return back. They did not nod as to avoid being caught in a ruse but they did as I suggested. After they left, I returned my gaze at Whiplash, “Sure I’ll be there then, good luck on yours Whipster.”

That nickname of hers was something she hated being called by. I only use it once a while but I do love to see her reaction every time I call her that, “Don’t call me by that nickname you…!” I had already left the scene and headed for Bloodedge’s office. That sent anger boiling as she was ranting like crazy; you can find fun in the most unexpected of things.

The walk to his office was rather uneventful save for a few sounds of whips cracking the air. I managed to find the building I was looking for. The building in question wasn’t so different from the others. The only noticeable thing about it is the fact that it has guards around so that’s a giveaway.

The guards looking at me moved out of the way and then saluted to me as I entered. I was walking through the doors heading through the main hallway to the office. The lighting was a bit faulty though what would you expect from a building that’s very old? I was in front of the door to the main office. I let out a deep breath as I opened the doors to the office, “Sorry that I’m a bit late sir…”

The chair turned around to reveal a rather young looking pegasus stallion. He was wearing an armor I’m not familiar with. The colors dulled from being aged. He didn’t don a helmet but how should I know if this armor had a helmet to begin with? His coat was a light brown with a white and black mane and tail in a checker pattern. The cutie mark was a sword coated red from the tip almost to the hilt, leaving the remaining white there, “You can relax around me Harmony, do not worry.”

I did indeed relax around him. I can’t help but be tense at times even when I’m around Ace; his metallic wings were probably my main concern. As someone who is decent with tech, I’d say that the wings are amazing. Having been made after he lost his wings during a fight, he couldn’t be able to fly until Red Eye used cybernetics to give him the ability of flight again. Again, Red Eye sure gains some respect from me to give Ace back the ability of flight once again, “Sorry if I were to call you in the most unexpected of times Harmony but I have a question for you.”

My ears perked as I looked at him, “I saw you bringing in a pegasus, one I’ve never seen before during my time in the Enclave. Now you know that I have photographic memory of all current members of the Enclave, so let me ask you, where did he come from?”

I fell silent. I’d never thought where he came from only that he managed to save me from the raiders and I was happy about that, but now that Ace bought it up… I honestly have no idea where he came from. The way he reacted when I told him about the Enclave definitely tells me that he’s not a part of them, “Ace, I have no idea where he came from in all honesty. I just met him after he saved me from some raiders. I owe him my life for saving me…”

Okay, maybe not really, but he saved my life once. I do want to be with him but the ponies here… I don’t want them to suffer at the hooves of a different slaver. I looked at Ace who was scratching his chin possibly pondering upon what I said, “So… this pegasus just happened to save you from the raiders and you asked for his assistance not bothering the fact that he could be a new Enclave?”

I actually expected that question to come from him. He is one to always be certain of things he might have missed, “No sir, he’s definitely not Enclave. A pony from back when I was with him mentioned about what the Enclave did.” I shuddered seeing the rage being held back when I looked into Zodiac’s eyes. Rage formed into a still calmness like that terrified me the minute I begun telling him about the Enclave, “He was very curious about what that pony said and I described to him what the Enclave are. His reaction was something I did not expect from him, one of absolute fury.”

I saw Ace’s ears perked from that. Apparently he caught on to it as well, “He reacted to what he learned with anger? No pegasi would react with rage to the Enclave unless of three things, one would be how I found you in a stasis pod, the other would be that he’s from somewhere not Enclave, and the last is that he’s a Dashite.”

No he’s definitely not a Dashite. I did not see the mark of one on him; I found the possibility of him to be from somewhere else to be more so then the other two, “Ace, I think him being from somewhere else seems more possible than the other two. I mean if he was to be in a pod, he would have been found with me but I was the only one alive within the pods. That and I did not see the mark of a Dashite on him so he’s not a traitor, at least he doesn’t know about the Enclave until now.”

I saw Ace coming out of the chair and walking back and forth. He looked upon a picture of the old days where the Enclave was proud of its tradition and did initially help out the ponies on the ground. When he discovered that they strayed from the old Equestrian ways, he separated himself from the Enclave, “I miss the old days of the Enclave.”

I came up and put a hoof on his shoulder. I looked on his flank seeing the sign of a traitor to the Enclave, the cutie mark of Rainbow Dash. He gave a smile as he returned back to his seat, “I am sorry about that, some fond memories came to me…” I waved a dismissive hoof at him. I did not mind it at all for him to recall memories. He chuckled and we returned back to the topic at hand, “So this pegasus, it seems you have grown a liking to him Harmony.”

I looked away as my face begun to have some traces of red showing up. I heard Ace chuckle again seeing my reaction to the statement. I’d forgotten that he noticed these kinds of things fairly quickly. I let myself laugh a bit, “I guess you could say that…”

A grin appeared on Ace’s face. Oh dear, please tell me he’s not thinking about it right now, “So you admit to liking him what? In an intimate kind of way?”

I looked back at him, my mouth gaping that he would suggest such a thing. I think I might have felt my face gain some new shades of red alongside me being shocked, “W-Why would you suggest that? I-I only like him as a friend!”

“Ho ho ho, oh sure you would…” Ace put me in the most embarrassing situation I could be put in. I covered my face as he continued on; my face getting hotter from this. Please don’t continue this further Ace… That was never answered as he went on, “He has the qualities of a fine stallion just from seeing him. He helped you without needing anything in return, he looks rather handsome if I do say so myself, and he’s has a rather nice charm… I’d say I’m a bit jealous he found you in need of help.”

Oh my goodness, Ace why? I was curling into a ball of embarrassment rocking back and forth on the chair I was sitting on. I can imagine Ace with that devious grin of his etched on his face as he saw rock back and forth. Through my state, I heard him talking, “But enough of that, I think we strayed off the topic now.”

I stopped and sat normally even with my face still blushing from the moment. It took me a while to look at him properly without me going into a ball again, “S-sure what did you need me for?”

“I need you and that pegasus, Zodiac was his name right? Anyway, I need you and Zodiac to check out the Stable we have here.” This request was rather sudden, but a chance to talk it out with him does help me out. I did initially give out a smile before he continued on, “This task will be done by tomorrow and Harmony… if you have knowledge about his life, I suggest you tell some of it to me before we start…” Well, I did gain Ace’s trust and bond of friendship during my stay at Filllydelphia, might as well. Tomorrow is something I don’t want to ruin for me and Zodiac.

I wake up relatively well for the most part. The Sun was shining through the windows as it brightened the cell. I get up scratching my eye as I see two guards waiting for me, “Today is the day slave, you were originally planned to work at the mining pit today but the boss looks interested in you…” Hearing that did not help me in the slightest. They opened the door allowing me to leave. I was still hoofcuffed and compared to the last one, these were well-polished and not rusty. Doubt I can simply brute-strength it this time.

The walk to wherever this boss was went relatively quick as we reached the destination. The building in question was a tall building that didn’t stand out from the others. The only noticeable difference was that this one has guards all over it. The other guards saw me and eyed me cautiously.

The ones that were escorting me were showing me the way to the main office where the boss was supposedly was. Lights were flickering, each one broken from something. They bought me in and left me in the room. The office was rather spacy, there was décor I was familiar with such as the Equestrian emblem, the armor knights used during the medieval times, and much more. Again the room was rather clean creeping me out. Sure it was an office but it still didn’t feel right to see a clean room at all. As I stood there for a while, the ‘boss’ finally spoke, “So you’re finally here…”

The voice was rather young, but clearly had an air of authority to it. The chair turned around to reveal a rather young looking pegasus stallion. He was wearing an old Knights armor (old in this time at least) with colors that dulled from being aged. He didn’t don the helmet to complete the set but he seemed uninterested to wear it. His coat was a light brown with a white and black mane and tail in a checker pattern. The cutie mark was a sword coated red from the tip to almost the hilt, leaving a bit of a white color on the hilt, “I’m here, what do you need of my assistance?”

He pointed to my PipBuck, “That thing you have there allows you to see the enemies’ location and how hostile they are correct?” I nodded. Please tell me it doesn’t involve what I think it is… “I’m going to need some assistance…”

And it does go where I thought it would be, damn it all, “Why me though? Wouldn’t anypony else do it for you mister…?”

“Bloodedge, Colonel Ace Bloodedge…” Well he answered that question for me, “I am one of the high ranking members of Red Eye’s Army assigned here to keep watch of Baltimare. Of course, sooner or later these slaves will rebel in time comparing to Fillydelphia…” He seemed confident about the rebelling despite the few numbers of slaves here. I was more focused on who this Red Eye is.

He stood up and I got to see that he had some cybernetic upgrades to his body with metallic wings. Cybernetics? That’s something you don’t see everyday… “You’re rather silent today…” He looked at his metallic wings noting that I was rather in awe of them, “Impressed by the cybernetics?” I can’t deny and admit that I am impressed with the technology. Seeing this made me want to go through the process if out of morbid curiosity.

He walked up right to my side as he was showing off the cybernetics, “Yes I will admit the process was very painful, but for all its worth, I’m glad to be able to be able to fly again.” Okay, take that back about going through the process if it involves a lot of pain, I’d rather be able to go away from it without pain please. I looked at him still as we walked out of his office, “Come with me…”

During the walk to the destination, I was curious as to why he thought he thought that these slaves will rebel, “Colonel Bloodedge, why do you think the slaves are going to rebel?” He was leading pass the mining pit where a few of the slaves were eyeing me. Did I really draw that much attention? My wings would answer that but they were folded so not a biggie.

Colonel Bloodedge only chuckled from hearing that question. He clearly was not so surprised to hear that question, “Don’t ask why because I already know they are going to rebel.” That rubbed me off the wrong for some reason, “I can see it in their eyes, they want to rebel but they don’t know when to strike. Comparing myself to my leader Red Eye, I lack his charisma with his slaves at Fillydelphia.”

A charismatic leader where even the slaves like the pony? Seems a bit farfetched for me at least, I would only believe it until I actually see him. We entered from behind the mines. It struck me as odd to have to walk around the mine itself. As were out of the line of sight of the miners and guards, I was met with a huge metal door. I looked at it weirdly wondering what it was. Of course Bloodedge answered that for me, “This is a Stable, specifically Stable 150.” There were that many Stables? Just what are Stables is the better question…  “The reason I’m specifically asking you is because of what you have.”

I looked at him then back noting the craftsmanship to creating one of these, “Red Eye sent me here to originally get something of importance here but unfortunately many of his forces did not make it out of this stable.” I gulped a bit from hearing that. How was I supposed to go through this? “He didn’t give up on this stable revealing its secrets but decided to put it on hold for the moment.” I hated where this was going right now, “That’s where you come in, if you can reveal the Stable’s secrets I may let you go free.”

Yeah that may is not going to happen ever, but again with my morbid curiosity I wanted to know what was inside this Stable. I reluctantly accepted his offer, “Sure, but if I’m going in this… I’m going to need better utility.”

He gave a smile. Interestingly, this smile was rather genuine, “Of course, we’ll give you back everything but not only that you’ll have someone to join you.” I raised my eyebrow, who would this pony be per chance? I saw Ace turn around and gave out a whistle as someone came forth. The color of her coat and the mane and tail very much gave away who was joining with me, “You already know my second-in-command and friend Harmony correct?”

I nodded to his answer and although was not quite pleased that Harmony was joining with me; I couldn’t help but smile back at her. She returned the smile back. Ace chuckled seeing us doing that, “So I was correct, Harmony, he does look like a fine stallion.”

I saw her face blushing as she retreated a few steps away from Ace Bloodedge, “Ace! I thought you wouldn’t bring that up again!”

He covered his mouth as he snickered a bit from that. This was rather odd of me to see this kind of interaction between higher-ups. In any case, Ace returned back in the topic at hand, “Ahem, yes, Harmony is coming with you to assist. I hope you don’t mind that?”

“No not at all, I’d like a few extra set of hooves to help me here.” I get the chance to chat with Harmony and ask her a few questions of my own. That and I get to rekindle our friendship; at least I hope I can before the two of us die in the Stable.

Some decent barding, an energy weapon to which I have no knowledge of how to use though Harmony does, and some grenades, I’d think this might help prepare for the worst until we took our first step into the Stable… I was beginning to hate Stables right now if they’re all like this. I slashed at one of the messed-up parasprites that was trying to eat me. These things now were carnivorous!? I am going to hate this a lot now… Thanks to my E.F.S., I was able to tell where the nasty buggers were hiding for the most part.

There were some turrets on the main hallway entrance aiming for me as the two of us were within their range. We retreated back for cover as beams of bright magenta magical energy lanced through the Stable entryway. It didn’t blast through the entrance as they now went rouge aiming at random spots. I unsheathed my sword and tossed it at the first turret before I got hit by the beams. I touched my face finding only a burn on it. Thank God that I was evasive. Sparks were flying as the first turret went down.

The second turret was gaining some intelligence as it shoot at where I was taking cover, the beams disintegrating the table with each new hole made. I bucked the table to the turret hitting it square on. It didn’t faze but it sure gave me time to move.

I saw Harmony pull out the laser weapon and fired at the turret. She missed three times the shots as the fourth one hit it directly as it sputtered. I went to the other turret and pulled out my sword. I was not skilled in energy weapons as of yet, hopefully I can get accustomed to them sooner or later so that I don’t have to rely on Harmony to use them. “We’re in trouble here…”

Harmony just glared at me for saying that as she countered that back, “Oh you don’t say Zodiac? It’s not like it couldn’t get any worse can it?” Oh Harmony why did you jinx this again? Ever since entering Stable 150, parasprites were coming in more and more. My E.F.S. noted about a hundred of these critters roaming around and soon more was coming here thanks to the smell of burnt flesh I was emitting. Harmony tried to make it go away but the scent was already in the air.

So far we managed to take out thirty of them leaving seventy more to go. I needed to go to the main room but that area was infested with them. I saw Harmony checking the magical spark pack of the energy weapon. She only had about twenty shots left, “Uh oh, major trouble…” See what I mean when you jinxed the moment Harmony?

Five parasprites flew into the room, drawn by the smell of burnt flesh. “I hate the Wasteland!” Harmony nodded to my rant there. I slid into S.A.T.S slowing down time as I made minced meat of three of them. One was wounded as one of its wings was cut off. The other dodged and proceeded to get one bite on my torso. I screamed out of unbelievable pain. I rammed the parasprite that bit me onto a wall squishing it until it was mush.

Overkill for me but the amount of hurting I was in now just got doubled. I checked the bite mark and froze in pain as the flesh was gone revealing only muscle and ribcage while it was bleeding to add insult to injury for myself. The thing literally ripped my coat and flesh off and the barding did not stop the fully stop the bite from sinking in. Harmony saw the condition of the bite and went to try to patch it up as quickly as possible.

That did not help me in the slightest. That’s not good… Checking on my PipBuck, it alerted me of the condition of the bite mark as critical. Considering I just felt it, that was believable. My E.F.S. alerted that many were drawn by my burnt flesh and now my blood. I stood still hoping that Harmony can patch it up fast enough.

As soon as she was done, I went to check out the cabinets to see if any medical supplies were here. Only five bottlecaps throughout my search… Not really in the mood for this! I did see Harmony gather those five which confused me there. She my expression and answered it somewhat for me, “What? You didn’t know that bottlecaps are the currency now?”

Seriously? They were? Wait... Damn it, I just remembered that they were the currency here now. Regardless, I was having difficulty breathing from the bite as two flew in slurping their mouths seeing me bleeding. Not in their dreams are they all going to have another bite of me! “You critters want my hide badly!? You’re going to have to get me!” They went charging, wanting a bite out of my hide. I proceeded to slash at them leaving the main room with the critters.

Harmony moved out of the way of my crazy slashing at the parasprites. I do hope the situation is over, I really don’t want to deal with these guys.

I was getting worse with each passing second. The bite seemed to have hampered me more than I had intended as I was now limping from the pain. Through the way to the main room many parasprites came at me trying to get a nibble out of us. So far, more major injuries besides the bite, from my wings having a hole a size of a close-range shotgun, to my stomach almost chewed open, sooner or later I was going to pass out from blood loss or a stroke. Harmony tried her best but she was running out of medical supplies. She got bitten but not by much comparing that to me.

We managed to kill forty more of the nasty buggers alongside a few out-of-control turrets leaving about forty if I was keeping track. No luck on finding the medical room and especially no luck on finding more bandages to slow the blood loss or cover my wounds.

I check on the PipBuck seeing that the last forty or so of the parasprites are in the main room. I told Harmony of this news and she nodded. I still have the grenades with me; I might be able to end it quickly. I look in the window of the main to see all of them gathered there eating a corpse.

Nausea fuel there, I was sick seeing that. Harmony backed away and proceeded to empty out her lunch seeing that. My vision was getting blurry and soon, passing out was creeping up to me getting closer and closer. I pulled out a grenade slowly getting to the main room entrance. It was closed, but I didn’t want these critters swarming over me once I opened the door. I gestured Harmony to get ready as she was done emptying her lunch.

As she readied herself, I pulled the pin of the grenade and she opened the door immediately, “Eat this you sick parasprites!” I tossed the grenade as she closed the door immediately once they noticed me. The grenade exploded making a very loud bang.

There was enough force in the grenade that I was sent flying from the recoil hitting the wall. I was really in pain now and was getting ready to pass out. I checked on my PipBuck to see if there was any more left from that explosion. My PipBuck checked out that all of the parasprites were taken cared off.

I went all smiles as my vision was going dead on me, “Well, at least that takes cares of the pest problem… Haha…” I passed out as Harmony tried to patch up my wounds right now. I’d be happy going to one of those extra-special parties that Pinkie gives out on rare occasions.

I stood at the terrace of the Canterlot Gardens overlooking Equestria. The view here was simply marvelous. The wind was flowing through my mane, birds were chirping and attending to their young ones, foals playing around the park with one colt playing a game of tag with a filly, and Twilight and her friends eating a picnic on their special hill. The terrace was a perfect area for me to relax and take in the world surrounding me.

I had received a letter that Pinkie was going to throw one of those extra-special party for everyone. Twilight and her friends warned me about her drinks on these kinds of parties which made me more and more curious. Pondering about that, I heard two voices coming at this direction and I smiled as they sat beside me, “The terrace here is perfect for seeing the world we struggled to build isn’t uncle?”

I was taken a bit from that. I was still not use to her calling me uncle. It passed but I thought that now might be a good time to talk about it, “Celestia, you don’t have to call me uncle you know. I’m not born from your bloodline…”

The sun princess chuckled hearing that from me. I only smiled turning my attention to the world, “Even so, our father and mother called you family ever since you accepted their offer to be their personal guard. It is only fair that we call you uncle since they treat you as family, right Luna?”

Luna smiled to that as well having a rough road to recovery, “Tis true, you treated us like family when they left to end the Great Alicorn War. You were our only alicorn that we trusted truly due to our mother and father treating you like family.” I already knew about this many times and sometimes it made me happy to have them as something more than ponies I need to protect, “Besides, calling you by your name does not roll with our tongue uncle.”

I tried to stifle a laugh there when she said that. Luna took that with stride, “Huzzah! I have made uncle laugh with joy!”

Celestia did a light chuckle hearing that as well. She was truly happy to have a real family as we were, “Congratulation Luna. Now if only I can make him laugh…” She was smiling clearly wanting to do it badly.

Not on my watch Celestia! “Oh really? Then let me see if I can make you laugh harder than your usual light chuckles!” Celestia immediately flew away smiling at playing a bit of a game. I followed her trying to get her. Luna followed me as we were playing a game of run away, “Come back here Celestia!”

We were all laughing as we flew around like crazy avoiding some objects and some ponies here. The gentle wind was blowing at our manes as we continued to chase each other back at the terrace. We were acting like silly kids playing around as we crash landed onto the garden, “Haha! Well that was fun while it lasted…” I stood up using my wings to clean myself up.

The two princesses followed as well and we returned to our original seating spot. Both Celestia and Luna began doing their duties as they lowered the celestial bodies of the Sun and Moon. I smiled seeing the beauty of the sunset and the raising moon, “It is very beautiful to see the two of you doing your duties.”

I wrapped them in my six wings as they finished raising and lowering the Moon and Sun. They scooted next to me putting their heads on my shoulders. Luna spoke first before Celestia had a chance to speak her part, “Tis was a fun dusk. With you around as our family, we truly do not feel lonely here.”

Celestia smiled hearing those coming from her sister, “Yes Luna. You are right; we do not feel alone any more. But do not forget that you have friends now besides uncle.”

Luna stood up raising her hoof in the air, “Huzzah, I almost forgot! Uncle, are you planning on attending Pinkie’s party?”

Both Celestia and I were surprised about her knowing about that party although I didn’t see Celestia’s reaction until she spoke, “How did you know about it? I was going to ask him that!”

Luna sticks her tongue at Celestia smiling that she caught her off guard, “Too late, the moon princess beat you to it!” Definitely got that from Trixie no doubt about that…

Celestia, however, saw this as an opportunity to tease, “Really, did Trixie tell you about it? Or were you eavesdropping on uncle when he first received that letter?”

Luna was abashed from that her face blushing from that, “I-I did not eavesdrop on him!” The way you are looking Luna, you’re not hiding that fact well, “I-I just, happen to stumble upon the letter is all…” She looked away clearly forgetting that Celestia liked to tease at times.

I was just watching the events unfold as they continued getting at each other. It was fun seeing them be like this despite their age, “All right, I wanted to tell all of you about it but since both of you already know, I can just say that I am planning to bring you girls with me.”

Both smiled hugging me as a response to hearing me say yes. Of course, it ended awkwardly for the three of us, “You all are coming to the party!? Eek, I better get going and get special drinks for the three of you!” She left the garden through unnatural means leaving us bewildered as to how she got here. After a few seconds, we laughed like never before thanks to Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie. Tonight was going to be great…

I was alive! I woke up taking a deep breath of air jerking out of my bed as I was surprised that I was very much alive! I looked around to see that I was in the medical center of the Stable. I looked at my PipBuck noting me that I was in stable condition. I saw Harmony sleeping by my side as her hooves had some medical supplies on them. I couldn’t but smile seeing her sleeping like that. She saved me again. I really should try to not be reckless now.

I looked at where the bite was and found that it was stitched back together with my flesh while covered in bandages. Same thing with my almost chewed abdomen, stitched back together. She managed to stitch the wounds and heal me to normal? Well, normal enough… Well if I want to leave might as well wake Harmony up, “Harmony? You awake? Harmony…”

I saw her eyes flutter a bit seeing me awake, she gave a smile to me as she let out a yawn covering her mouth a few times, “Hello Zodiac…” She went back to sleep again her head resting on the pillow. I was about to wake her up again until her eyes opened suddenly and she jerked herself back up, “Oh my goodness! I fell asleep next to my friend and patient!”

That was the most unexpected reaction. Yet still I can’t help but be happy for her to be worried about me, “Harmony, don’t fret, I’m fine for the most part thanks to your efforts.”

She looked back at me seeing my smile there. I heard her sniffling as she hugged me almost immediately and although I cringed a bit in pain, it was the kind of pain I can deal with. I hugged her back with my forelegs and my wings, “Zodiac! Don’t ever scare me like that ever again! I thought I might’ve lost you when I started doing medical procedures to help you recover! You had very serious injuries on you!” She tightened her hug and again I cringed in pain from the strength of her grip, “Don’t do that again please.”

I let a smile form on my face again as she let go wiping a few fresh tears on her eyes. I put my hoof on her shoulder, “I can’t promise that I might not do that again, but I’ll promise to try my best to not be reckless again.” She returned her smile as she stood back and let me stand. She assisted me on getting on all four of my legs. It was a painful experience but it was worth it.  

We left the clinic and went to the office again. I double checked to see if there were any more of those carnivorous parasprites left. My PipBuck confirmed that there were no more. We both felt a slight bit of relief. I did not want to go through one death experience again. As I went inside the office, my PipBuck gave me a name of the office, Overstallion’s Office What the hell is an Overstallion?

Harmony answered that question for me, “An overstallion is basically the one who’s in charge of the Stable they were assigned to. But…” Again with that word, does everything have to have something I don’t know about? “Normally, it’s an overmare that’s take control of the Stable not a stallion.”

Really? Were they gender concerned or something? I let that pass as I looked at the terminal. Harmony went ahead and tried to unlock the terminal. I was watching Harmony, learning how to crack at a terminal. She won’t be around for so long so I might as well learn how to open one. From just seeing Harmony trying to open one, it’s to close the terminal every now and then to be certain that I don’t get locked out.

I was about to pull an apple out only for me to remember that not all of my gear was with me including the apples. I silently cursed myself for that. My stomach was growling at me for the lack of food lately. My mind was suddenly flooding itself with the images of delicious food… Okay got to stop before I get crazy for food…

After about fifty tries of Harmony trying to guess the password, she finally got into the terminal. Her body froze as she finished the password. The password was Harmonia, “That’s… what my brother would call me…” Oh no… Checking through the terminal, there were recorded messages in the terminal. I decided to hear through them seeing if there was anything important and so that Harmony might hear her brother’s voice again. What I didn’t expect was that this was these were going to be one of those that might tug at our hearts.

Day 1: Being an Overstallion

Hello is this working? Damn it, I was supposed to be at the battlefield but instead I’m stuck here. Aw well, at least the stable is home to many an injured soldiers who can’t fight due to permanent injuries, not that I blame them, them calling this paradise which is true to an extent. The nurses are treating the wounded well and many wanted to stay here for a long time. I just hope they find a replacement for me to get back on the battlefield, I’m itching for some action! I also heard rumors that there was some experiments going on down in the basement where the Ministry of Arcane Science are making some pods that allows ponies to extend their lifespan allowing to live almost forever. I could use that! That way, me and my sis could see the world recover from this fucking war! Wonder if it might be a success?

Pods that allow ponies an extended lifespan? Twilight was really stepping up her a-game if she were to try something like that. That feat itself would be very difficult for a normal intelligent pony to give up immediately on. Twilight was not one of those ponies. If I knew her, she would continue to research day and night until she can finally get it working… And possibly be sleep-deprived and going crazy from the amount of failures she racked up. I really hope she at least managed to relax a bit from time to time when she started that project.

I looked at Harmony who put a hoof over her mouth hearing her brother’s voice through the terminal. She was trying to hold back her tears hearing her lost brother’s voice coming through, “So… he was here when… I got the letter that he was M.I.A.” I stretched out a wing and pulled in my embrace. She put her head on my body as she was absorbing this knowledge. I continued with the messages.

Day 2: Stuck here forever…

I call bullshit on the message I was given. Apparently the Ministries could not find a suitable replacement for somepony to replace the Overstallion or Overmare’s spot. Are you fucking kidding me!? There are like a bunch of ponies I can think that can fulfill this role than me! Ugh, I’m missing out on the action out there! This is my country I’m fighting for and they’re leaving me here! Stupid Ministries, can’t find a good pony to replace my spot… Okay, I think that rant was a bit much. I almost forgot that the head of each Ministry are the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony. I shouldn’t be thinking low of them. They’re a good bunch of ponies and I respect their choices, just I really want to fight out there… My sis is my only family I have and I want to protect my family with all I got. *sighs* Well, decisions been made already and I can’t go against their orders.  Just wish there was a better decision than this…

There was a bit of heartache in his voice. To stay here leaving behind what you are fighting for, it was a very understandable moment of anger there. Suddenly, I felt some tears on my body as I looked at Harmony who was crying hearing her brother’s concern for her. She reached out a hoof touching the terminal, “I…want…to see you again…just this once…”

Damn it, now I’m not so sure on whether to continue the messages or not. My body went on to continue as my mind was pondering on what the next message was.

Day 3 : About the Rumors

Remember about the rumors I mentioned about the Ministry of Arcane Science making pods that expand your lifespan? Well those rumors ended up becoming true! I managed to get private access to the basement of Stable 150 where I saw many engineers working on the pods. Even better, the head of the Ministry working on these pods, Twilight Sparkle, came to check up on it! I was probably having a fangasm upon actually seeing the Twilight Sparkle! God fucking damn it; everypony noticed my fanboying even Twilight Sparkle! I’ve become the laughing stock for today damn it! Despite my embarrassing moment, I saw that Twilight Sparkle didn’t even laugh at all. I found that odd, I know she’s a bookworm but to not laugh? It didn’t feel right for me. Anyway, I heard that they’re going to move some of these pods to Stable 112 and leave a few here should they work properly. Color me curious but I want to try them out!

I was stifling my laughter when I got to reading Harmony’s brother having a fanboying moment upon seeing Twilight Sparkle. Harmony too was stifling her laughter hearing that, “Haha, that’s my brother there alright… Stable 112 was where I woke up within the pods…”

I looked back at Harmony and then back at the terminal. I was able to make the connection fairly quickly about the pods. Interesting… but back on the topic of Harmony’s brother fanboying, guess even during the war, there are going to crowning moments of funny even if the situation has gone dire. Twilight not laughing did throw me off. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was treating the war seriously or as a way to please Princess Celestia despite the circumstances. I continued reading the messages from the terminal.

Day 8: A Break!

I pulled off my best impression of Luna’s voice while saying huzzah! Why, because I get the chance to see my little sister! The Ministries decided to cut me some slack and allow me to see my sis for one day! One day is enough for me to do all the things I want to do with her! I never felt so happy in my entire life! My sister on the other hand does not share the same sentiments like me… She should be happy to see me for once! Why isn’t she happy to see me? I want to talk it with her once I see her. I just hope it is not permanent…

A broken family bond… I’d seen the result of that with Celestia and Luna. A bond like that broken will have a very hard time recovering even with time. It may never even be repaired if the abyss separating them is too wide for them to jump over to their side.

I looked at Harmony who was visibly hurting hearing that, “I remember that day… I was so silent that even my brother coming home did not ease my pain. I was so detached from my own brother that I rarely talked with him but now… I miss him so much…” She was hugging my body tightly again as she tried to fight back her emotions. I pressed the button and the last message came forth.  

Day 15: Balefire Bombs…

Shit, the explosion from Manehatten managed to reach to Baltimare spreading the radiation to the nearby city. Many of the ponies managed to get inside Stable 150 in time as I closed. Some were not as lucky as the radiation was getting close and I had no choice but to close the door on them. I regret that choice but for the safety of the others here I had to do so. My sis is still out there and I fear that she has radiation sickness if she was within the vicinity of the balefire bombs. Please let that not come true, I don’t want to lose my only family member… Remove that, and I would have lost all reason to continue my fight and I can’t allow that. Please, if anyone out there manages to read this, I want to know the condition of the current world out there and to know if my sister is still alive. Her name isbzzzt and I’ll probably in one of those pods just to keep myself alive. bzzzt Aw shit, the thing failing on me… I hope those things work because if not, well, I’m out of options… Wish me luck because this will probably be my last message.

Although I did not get the name of the sister and the Overstallon, I was able to connect the dots fairly. Harmony’s reaction upon hearing that her brother was using one of those stasis pods filled her with newfound hope as her cheery disposition in her voice can attest to, “My brother used those pods!? He…he could still be alive!”

I stored the messages into my PipBuck. I checked to see if there was anything else important in the terminal. Besides the use of pods like that, nothing else that might be useful. Returning my focus to Harmony who was all giddy at the possibility of finding her brother alive and well, I stopped her giddiness with my hooves, “Alright, I agree that this is amazing news for you, but remember, let’s prioritize over the current mission. We’ll find him Harmony, I know it.” Just saying that to her made all the happier, I was doubtful I can find the pod that were left here but who knows?

We left the Overstallion’s office and did a thorough check of the whole Stable 150 seeing if there were any hidden rooms or something that the PipBuck did not track on. In fact, I checked up on my PipBuck once to see if Epsilon’s signal that Harmony put in here. Unfortunately the signal was being scrambled by the underground walls so I can’t use that to my advantage.

After a full three hours scouring every room wondering if there was a secret room, no such luck there. I felt a bit distraught about that. Harmony was more distraught about not finding it but she had hope that we can find it. We were retracing our steps heading back to the entrance of Stable 150. I inputted the code that Bloodedge shared with me pulling on the switch with all of my strength.

A loud clanging filled the air, followed by a hissing of steam and a great rumble that shook the room.  As we watched, the massive bolt that held the door from Stable 150 shut slid back.  A huge hinge-arm swung down attached itself to the door, and with a teeth-hurting squeal, pulled the massive steel door out and away. If I came from a Stable itself, this would be the point of no return. I took my first step out of the Stable and into the broken world.

The light was very bright as my eyes were adjusting to the Sun. In front of me was Bloodedge with a pack of guards. They were sure patient, as they stood here for six hours if I was right? Bloodedge moved forward with a look of curiosity etched on his face, “Well? Were you able to find anything useful in there? Is there anything that was worth our attention?”

I looked at Harmony wondering whether it was right to tell him or not. She gestured me to tell him everything we discovered so far. As much as I hated all of this, if Harmony trusts this guy then I should trust him as well, at least for now, “Yes we did but we had trouble finding anything about it, all I found there was a bunch of carnivorous parsprites trying to bite me.” I lifted my wings to prove my point.

Bloodedge backed away absorbing the current knowledge we attained, “So… you two did indeed find something of importance but you are having trouble finding it right? And the carnivorous parasprites, were they any trouble?”

I fell a bit silent upon mention of those fiends but Harmony answered that question for me, “They gave Zodiac a lot trouble as you can tell from his injuries, it took me probably the whole night to patch them up. I’d thought I lost him when I finished.”

I looked at Ace Bloodedge and surprisingly again, he had a genuine smile. Was he concerned for me and Harmony’s well-being? If so… goodness I might be meeting ponies that may end up being my friends in the most unexpected of places, “I see, I’m very glad to see Zodiac alive and well, I’d like to speak with the both of you privately actually. But first…” He called upon his guards commanding them to check inside the Stable to see if they can find anything off. They saluted as they opened the Stable door.

Ace was in front of the both of us as he gestured to us to follow, “Come, we do not have all day here.” We followed him back to his office. He gestured me to sit down as Harmony closed the door behind us. I wonder what he wanted to chat with us. I saw clear his throat as he eyed me carefully, “I’m going to cut to the point. Harmony has told everything about your life.”

That threw me off; I looked at Harmony who looked away with guilt in her eyes. She expected this to come when she had told Ace of all of my life. This was a stab behind my back yet I did not mind. I smiled back to her once before returning my focus to Ace, “Alright, so you know about my life, anything else?”

He fell silent as he put his two hooves down from his face onto the desk, “Yes there is something else…” He gazed steeled itself as he looked at me with concern, “This private chat I’m having with you involves your reaction to the Grand Pegasus Enclave…” My body felt like it stopped functioning for just a second. This whole chat was involving my reaction to the Enclave? I was silent for some time as he continued, “I can see in your body language that you did not expect this so I will cut again to the point. Tell me; are you a new member of the Enclave?”

Almost from out of nowhere even for me, my anger boiled right then and there. Harmony saw me in this state and looking at Ace, was ready to take me down should I go there. I did try my best to be calm but it was not so easy, “Why would I be a part of any race that would banish and then kill their own kindred? I find the idea of doing such a thing repulsive.” The words I said were said with a venomous hatred for the Enclave above the cloud cover. Not all pegasi are like them true but it still did sit idly by with me, “What about you? Why are you asking this question?

He let out a sigh as he stood up. He looked at Harmony and motioned her to calm herself. She did oblige but she was still tense about this, “Look at my cutie mark… that will answer your question.” I raised my eyebrow there. How can his cutie mark answer my question? I did indeed look at it and the anger I had somewhat subsided replaced with confusion over what I was seeing. There was a scar branded over and covering his cutie mark showing that of… Rainbow’s cutie mark.

I looked at him with a questionable look wondering what this had to mean for me. He looked at me once and I saw for the first time, I saw a swirling whirlpool of emotions within his eyes when he looked at me. Anger, grief, melancholy, and sadness were all the predominant emotions within that whirlpool. He looked away from me, “This mark you see is the mark of the Dashite. To the Enclave, being branded a Dashite means you are a traitor to them and their morals.”

I was agape seeing what this mark meant to the Enclave. But something did throw me off, why base it after Rainbow? Almost immediately an idea to me and I did not like it one bit, “This Dashite mark, was the cause of it from Rainbow Dash herself?”

He fell silent for some time before answered my question, “Yes, this mark was the result of Rainbow Dash, the first Dashite to the Enclave. She left because she called out on the pegasi race for closing themselves off the face of the world after Cloudsdale got blasted with a balefire bomb.”

Despite that small information, I was able to connect the dots with the cloud cover above us and why the people on the ground hate the pegasi. Cloudsdale gets caught in the balefire explosion, Dash calls them out, everything from then on out went from bad to worse and as a result made the Enclave. I sat down on the floor a look of surprise etched on my face. All of this happened because of that fated day and of Rainbow calling them out (I did find that funny but it did not ease my shock).

Both Harmony and Ace saw my reaction to all of this newfound knowledge. Both put their hooves on my shoulder trying to ease my shock. I appreciated their efforts but it did not help me in the slightest, “I thank you two for helping but this newfound knowledge is a lot to consume.”

“I can understand why…” Ace returned back to seat deep I thought, “You reaction was genuine, you’ve never heard of the Enclave or learned about anything about what happened two hundred years ago. That though makes me curious.” He put a hoof down on the desk with one on his chin as he was eyeing me, “Where did you come from? Having no knowledge of the past, I can only see that if you’re from somewhere not within the Wasteland.”

Damn it, he caught onto it. Harmony was also curious about it as well. What do I do? I don’t want to tell them where I truly came from or what my true origins are. I’m doomed; I’m caught in an inescapable situation. I looked at the both of them contemplating my thoughts. I let out one sigh as I glanced at Ace Bloodedge. There was one idea but even I’m not so certain if it might work, “Let me ask one more question before I answer…” Both were gazing at me curious, “Are there any other countries besides Equestria?”

Though the question was rather an awkward for Ace, he answered the question for me, “Yes there is actually, besides the Zebra and Griffon Empire though, there’s not another in my head that I can recall.”

That gave some sense of hope of keeping my origins a secret, “Truly? Are you sure there isn’t another country beside the two you mentioned?” Both thought about for some seconds before shaking their heads. I think I may have found a way to keep my secret, “What about Concordia? Henosis? Any of those ring a bell?”

Though Ace shook his head in disagreement, Harmony actually thought about it for some time before responding, “Actually, I’ve heard of those countries before…” Both me and Ace looked at her. She knew the look well enough as she continued, “Zodiac is right, there are other countries but not a lot of ponies in Equestria know about them, only like a select few know of it.”

Now Ace was curious about these other countries, “And what of these countries Harmony? How come you know about them?” I hate to say it but thank you Harmony for unintentionally saving me there though I too was curious.

She was scratching her head sheepishly, “Because…I took a chance to visit these countries, well, before this whole war begun.”

The high-ranking Ace scratched his chin. Clearly he was connecting the dots seeing the possibilities of me being in a different country. After pondering about it, he stopped scratching his chin and looked at me, “Is it true? Are you from a faraway country?”

I raised myself up standing on all four legs proud that I was able to save my secret, “Yes I am from outside Equestria. I wanted to take a visit to the country, but I didn’t expect this mostly because they cut off all contact with Equestria before the balefire bombs launched.” I hope I was correct on that, but that seemed very likely now that I think about it.

Both looked at each other for some time before accepting what I said, “Okay, we’ll trust you on that knowledge. It at least explains how come you do not know of the past and present events of Equestria. What is doesn’t explain are the griffons that come here.”

Harmony waved a dismissive hoof at her leader, “Come on Ace, I think that’s enough for Zodiac now. We can come up with many possibilities as to why griffons are here anyway.”

Ace let out a sigh and just shrugged from all of this, “Fair enough, I do think that this chat went well for the most part and besides…” He looked out the window seeing that the Sun was on the horizon, “It’s getting night time and I believe our guest here needs some sleep. Harmony as much as I hate to say this but can you take him back to his cell?” She nodded to his question as she led the way back.

Night was falling upon the Wasteland as Harmony escorted me back to my jail cell. She pulled out the keys for my hoofcuffs on me as I entered the jail cell, “Sorry for all of that, I hope you can forgive me for what happened the day before yesterday.”

I gave a smile to her as she unlocked my hoofcuffs. I think I can forgive her now after today, “I am willing to forgive, after what you did when we were together, I think that deserves my forgiveness.”

She returned my smile back as she closed the door of my jail cell, “Goodnight, Zodiac. I…hope to see you again.” She left the cell as her hoofsteps got quieter. A smile formed on my face seeing that today went well surprisingly. I checked on my PipBuck to see if the message was there still. Happy to see that it was still I was about to fall asleep when I decided to check up on the radio station. Switching through each radio was annoying as I found DJ Pon3’s radio station.

There was some news as I listened to the DJ, “Good evening wastelanders! How’s every pony doing out there? Got some amazing news today! I just got word that somepony saved a little quaint town from slavers not far from where Tenpony Tower was at! And guess what!? The pony who rescued those slaves happened to be the pegasus that escaped the slavers! Looks like Stable Dweller and Security got some competition here!" Wow, he managed to see me do all of that again. How does he do that? And when was there another pony who does saving ponies? I continued listening to her news, "Well that's all I got I do wonder if I might get the chance to see those three together or something? This is DJ pon3 signing off the radio waves! Here's some music for all of you to listen too!" She left the radion wave leaving just the music choices from her. I still wonder how the heck does he see all of what I was doing...

I was about to fall asleep when I heard some sounds coming from behind me. I turn around seeing nothing and was going to sleep again when those same sounds came back again. I got up this time to check it out. I soon as I neared the back wall, a piece of brick fell out of its foundation leaving a small hole. I looked through it to see a pony looking back at me, I I jumped from that going back a few steps from seeing him. He saw me and was a bit too happy to see me, “Sorry there mate! Ah was afraid that Ah got the wrong cell!”

I looked behind me checking if there were any guards. None whatsoever around the perimeter as I went back to the pony that was trying to rescue me, “Who are you and what are you doing?”

The pony gawked at me like he was offended from the question, “What am Ah doing? Boy, do ya see what Ah’m trying t’ do here!?”

Case in point, “Sorry there, I’m just a little sleepy is all.”

He smiled giving a quiet and hearty laugh, “’Ey no worries there mate, just let me widen this ‘ere hole an’ then after we escape, then we can talk.”

I smiled as he did his thing widening the hole little by little. With time, he managed to make it big enough for me to crawl through with relative ease. I squeezed through the hole as silently as possible hoping not to attract any guards. As I moved my back legs through, I looked at my helper who left ahead of me as I was about to thank him, “Well, ya coming mate? Ah ain’t got all day…”

I chuckled and followed him to an inaccessible area of Baltimare. As he stopped I was about to ask until he knocked on a rock. I was baffled as to why he did that until the rock moved much to my surprise. An earth pony was behind it as she moved the rock, “Took you long enough to get him…”

He smiled as he motioned me to enter while talking to the mare, “Ey, at least Ah rescued him right?”

She punched him on the torso just happy to see him. I just watched as they talked. As we reached the deepest point of the cave we were in, I saw many slaves here gathered. It surprised me to see this many of them here. I looked at him and he smiled back at me, “Welcome to the Slave’s Cave!” The same mare punched him in the torso this time putting more force into that. He rubbed it as a reaction, “Ow, what you did that for?”

She was giving my rescuer a look of disappointment, “A bit much on the greeting there don’t you think and really? That's the name you decided to give our hideout?”

“What, were ya expecting me t’ be formal? Hay no! Ah’d rather be speaking in ‘ere dialect than being formal!” He stared at her for quite some time, She gave him a look that suggested otherwise before laughing heartily, “Ey, don’t give me that look…”

She just shook in disagreement shifting topic to me at hand, “Sorry about Lycan there, he likes to be informal a lot when he should be with ponies.”

Lycan as the mare named him took offense to her response and began an argument, “Ah should be saying the same with ya Liberty!”

Liberty as Lycan named, looked at him sternly, “You take that back Lycan!”

Another slave decided that enough is enough and decided to split them up for now, “Now, you two, we can settle this dispute later. Honestly I don’t even know why or how you two got married.” He looked back at Lycan thankful that he did his job well. Lycan saluted to the supposed leader with a smile. He looked back me. He has a pure white coat with a glamorous purple mane and tail. I almost mistook him for a male version of Rarity. His cutie mark was a sigil of the Royal Guard with the Sun and Moon as the centerpiece. He has an aura of supremacy with a gentle kindness for his allies to boot. You rarely ever find a rare combination like that nowadays, “Sorry about that, those two can get into disputes so easily…”

The both of them took that as an offense screaming at him for saying that leading to some hilarious moments and they were saying this simultaneously. “We do not bicker! You bicker! No you do! Shut up, you take that back!” They charged at each other fighting each other. If I was in a show that put emphasis on the reaction of people right now, I’d be having one huge sweat drop slipping from my head seeing them fight and bicker.

The de facto leader facehooved hard there probably regretting his choice of words involving those two, “Could someone here separate those two apart please?” Other of the supposedly free slaves obeyed his command and tried to separate the two lovers apart. Some received injuries from that requiring their two doctors to help them out from a black eye to somepony here having their ballsacks bucked hard. Admittedly, that poor pony must be in a whole world of hurting, trust me I’ve been through it more times than I can count and boy does it hurt like HELL. He put his hoof on his face shaking his head from that, “Again I am very sorry for them, it is hard being the de facto leader of this here group.”

“I can relate there,” was all I said as I see the two of them finally breaking it up. The one pony that got his ballsacks bucked was apologized by Lycan for that. Shifting my attention to the leader, I introduced myself to him, “I am Zodiac, please to meet you.”  

I stretched a hoof in acceptance. He reached for it and shook my hoof as he introduced himself, “Please to meet you Zodiac, I am Luminescence Star, a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He introduced me to the numerous slaves here that decided to take upon, whatever they were here for. So far, I managed to learn two members those being Liberty and Lycan.

Liberty was an Earth pony mare with a brown coat. Her mane and tail were a luminescent gold with red stripes from the head to the tip of the end. Her cutie mark was a hoof holding a torch. She was a feisty mare as she loved to be a part of the action much like her husband Lycan. But comparing each other, she was the brains of the battle couple.

Lycan on the other hoof used brawns over brains. I can see why they get along so well at times. He has a turquoise coat with a brown mane and tail. He wore his name well as his cutie mark was two wolves howling to the moon above them.

The many others introduced themselves to me looking pleased with introducing themselves to me. The last ones to introduce themselves were the doctors that were attending to the slaves that got hurt during the separation. They were twins as they were unicorns, their coats matched each other having a light red and their mane tail having the exact shape and color being a bright yellow color.

Their cutie marks is what separated them. The first twin, Gemini, has a syringe with what looked like space oozing out. I don’t know what to say about a syringe oozing that. The second twin, Pisces, has two stars orbiting a medical symbol of the plus. It strike me that their names are after the two constellations where both have two entitles representing the constellations. I find it quite fitting for them.

As introductions passed, Luminescence bought to his room where he and I had a private chat. The room was no different from the rest of the cave, though it was carved from the rock itself. Before I went ahead with his plans, I asked him if he was worried that I might betray considering that I helped Ace Bloodedge. He looked at me oddly only for him to chuckle which I found odd, “Ace? No worries, he’s actually a friend of mine.”

That caught me off guard by a lot, “Wait, he’s your friend? Then how do know where I was or who I am? Does Ace even know all of this?”

He rubbed two hooves together seeing what I was saying, “To answer your first question, remember those slaves that were eyeing on you?”

Suddenly I remembered to yesterday with the slaves eyeing me, "You mean...?"

He nodded to my almost finished question, “Yep those were the slaves I've recruited no thanks to Harmony. To answer you second question, yes he does know this. ”

Don’t ask why because I already know they are going to rebel. I can see it in their eyes, they want to rebel but they don’t know when to strike. Comparing myself to my leader Red Eye, I lack his charisma with his slaves at Fillydelphia. So he knew about this rebellion thanks to his friend Luminescence… They had this all prepared in mind. As much as they gain my respect for this, I had to ask, “While gathering all these freed slaves is something, why did you not attack?”

“I can explain that in a few words, we’re not prepared yet.” I was confused on what he meant until he pulled out the schematics of Baltimare with pins on them, “Since now you managed to get yourself acquainted with everypony here. I wanted to ask something. See these pins?”

I nodded eyeing the pins; there were certain areas that I did not go to but I can make a few guesses where some of them are. I pointed to the big one at the center of the town, “That right there… That’s where Ace Bloodedge’s office is, am I correct?”

Luminescence smiled seeing that I was learning, “Yes, that’s where Ace’s office is. The other pins are key points.” He pointed to the one farthest away looking like it was on the border of the city, “That right there is the communications tower. If we can take that we might have a chance, but there a problem.”

I was not liking the sound of that, “According to Lycan, that place is heavily protected. Most of Red Eye’s best guards are there. We’re all skilled but we do not have the chance against his best guards. That’s where you come in Zodiac…” My ears perked upon hearing that. This ought to be good, “Since you seem to have the most battle experience and are leaving, you have the chance to attack the tower without you drawing suspicion.” I still did not want to kill the ponies here... damn it all why did my non-killing moral was so difficult to keep here?

Luminescence continued his plan as he described the rest of the key points, “Our numbers are few so they have an advantage in numbers, but we do have the advantage in agility and surprise.” I looked at him wondering how they were able to train in speed. He saw me looking at me oddly. He smiled noting that I was silently asking a question, “You’re wondering how we trained ourselves huh?”

My smile was enough of an answer for Luminescence as he pulled out two books from his saddlebag. I eyed the books, one was called Zebra Infiltration Tactics. I open it to see that it teaches various kinds of fighting style alongside things such as stealth and what not. Some of the fighting styles scared me such as the Fallen Caesar Style.

What caught me off guard was that there was apparently a fighting style called the Doombunny Style. I tried to stifle a laugh seeing that there was a name called that, it even showed a picture of the supposedly Doombunny. To my amount of laughter I had in me, the picture was that of Fluttershy’s pet rabbit Angel Do zebras seriously fear Angel that much they gave decided to create a fighting style of him and give him the nickname Doombunny?!

I gave the book to Luminescence quickly as I was rolling on the floor laughing myself until I was almost out of breath. He smiled seeing the page that I was on was of that specific fighting style. Both Lycan and Liberty barged inside wondering what was causing me to laugh. Luminescence showed them what made me laugh. They chuckled seeing that, and left knowing what made me laugh my ass off! I pulled up on the table breathing heavily, “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?”

All he did was shrug with a smile, “Hey, you’re not the only one to laugh at that. Many of the ponies who saw that laughed their asses off until they were heavily breathing much like you.”

I pulled myself up sitting on the chair as I wiped a tear away from all of that. I’m going to have to give credit to Angel if he can literally make the zebras fear that little rascal. I pulled out on the next book he showed conveniently called the The Wasteland Survival Guide. It detailed about the many things about the Wasteland itself from the raiders to cities, to the effects of radiation and taint (which scared me reading the effects of taint) and more. This book literally has everything a beginner would love. When I closed the book and checked up on the author, I was stunned.

Upon reading who the author was, I probably had a BSOD for a second there before getting my act together, Ditzy Doo!? She’s alive!? What in Equestria!? I gave him back the book as I was changing topics in my mind, “I’m very impressed… With just those two books, you probably learned every essential thing you needed to learn.”

“Thanks for the praising. Now where was I?” He pointed to the original pin he was pointing at, “That’s the Baltimare hospital, Stable 150 was used as a secondary hospital when the main one had too many wounded. According to our twins Gemini and Pisces, there is a lot of healing potions here that can benefit a while cities worth. Take that and we can assist in healing the wounded.”

After the whole briefing with Luminescence, we had boiled down to one thing, whether I agree to this or not, “I told you our whole plan so now it is your turn. Will you side by us and take back Baltimare?”

Of course I wanted to side by them, their plan was well-thought out and they actually might have a shot at succeeding, but there were a few things that gnawed at me. I asked them the two questions that lingered in my head, “I’ll gladly accept, but first, two questions…” Luminescence was all ears as I asked him, “How long did it take to prepare for this? If you had this planned out by now, you could’ve taken it back now so why the wait?”

Luminescence looked away for a second as if pondering on how to answer this question, “The answer is rather complicated Zodiac, but…” He was silent for a few seconds more before going back to his saddlebag and pulling out something as he putted it in front of me. It was a picture of a mare and stallion with a young Luminescence in between them. They looked very happy despite the conditions happy to have a family, “The last time us slaves rebelled, I lost my parents during the rebellion.”

Those words made me go cold. I hadn’t expected this rebellion to be a personal one with Luminescence but with the picture at hoof, it was made very clear, “When I heard the news of my parents’ deaths from some of the slaves, I was devastated.”

Tears were beginning to well up in his eyes. I really wished I hadn’t asked him that question but it was already done, “After that rebellion, many of the slaves did not want to rebel ever again. But me, I continued to hone myself to avenge my mother and father.” He pulled out the two books I read, “I eventually found these books and learned everything from these.” He put them away and wiped away the tears as he finished his discussion, “From then on out, I gathered slaves that were willing to rebel again in the hopes of having a free Baltimare. It’s nothing comparing to the Wasteland, but it is a small step to that goal.”

As he was wiping the tears away, I embraced him in a hug with my forelegs and wings as he bawled quietly on me. I rubbed his head trying my best to sooth him. He backed away sniffling, but he was smiling, happy that he shared this knowledge to somepony so that he they can understand his pain. I putted my hoof on his shoulder as I gave him some encouraging words, “I don’t know about this, but I know one thing. If your parents were to see you now, they would be proud to have you as a son.”

He gave himself the biggest smile he can offer to me. Seeing that bright smile on his face was worth all of the pain. He went back to his serious self as he recovered, “Now, that’s all and done, what was the second question?”

I let out one deep breath, “Is your friend Ace Bloodedge and Harmony joining in this rebellion?”

He fell silent with that question. After some time has passed, he answered, “As much as I would love to have my friend to join in this rebellion, he told me that he’s going to stay with Red Eye and slowly but surely free the slaves inside Fillydelphia.” I backed away a bit from that. The decision was at most bizarre for Ace but I can understand why, “As for Harmony, she hasn’t decided yet…”

Okay then, I can see that but I wanted to learn more about Luminescence. I was about to ask him more questions but he already left ahead of me. Guess this will have to wait then.We walked out of his private quarters to address the ponies here. I was on standby as he delivered his speech, “My fellow ponies! I am here today to deliver a message!” Everypony stopped what they were doing paying attention to their leader. He was exuberating a charm that many would dream of having including myself, “I stand by to tell you that tomorrow! Tomorrow, we will begin our rebellion!”

Everypony cheered loudly hearing that as I smiled to see him do his speech, “After a year of training learning every essential thing from the two books I obtained… It is that time to strike back at Red Eye’s forces. No longer will be enslaved by Red Eye’s Army, together, we will be free!” Everypony stomped the ground applauding their young leader, “But we all know that liberating ourselves will be a daunting task. I ask that everypony give their best to the cause even if it is only a little.” He looked at me as I walked up to him looking over the audience, “We have a pony that is willing to help us in our time of direst need, as he fights to regain the communications tower.”

There were many ponies whispering to each other about me if I have what it takes to take the communications tower. One of the ponies raised their hoof in the air. Luminescence called that pony as she asks her question. Surprisingly, it was Lycan, “Leader, I do not want to judge your plan, but we lost many of our ponies trying to retake the communications… Are you certain that this one pony can take it back alone?”

There were many agreements to the question. I gestured Luminescence to allow me to take the stand. He moved out of the way as I made my way to the stand, “Lycan is it? To be fair, even I don’t know if I can take it back so easily.” Many ponies whispered to each other again.

“But…” They immediately stopped whispering as I said that word, “I will not hold back on those ponies should they try to fight back. Before, I lacked the knowledge of what happened to my homeland. I was gone to a different country living in peace for the time, but this was before I learned of what happened.”

Though I lied from there, the rest of the speech was the absolute truth of how I felt about the Wasteland, “When I saw the Equestria that I strived to protect gone into this condition, it broke my heart to see it like this. I had almost lost all hope of seeing this rebuilt until a fellow friend of mine restored that faith that I continued to fight. I was a pacifist; I did not like to kill ponies because it was against my nature only maimed.” I remembered the one pony who I buried. It was a stigma I will never forget, “Ever since I saw the deaths of many killed in the vilest ways possible, I decided to forgo my no killing code and kill only those with evil intentions.” Everypony was listening to my speech beginning to see why I struggled to fight, “The task will not be easy as Luminescence has said but do I fear it? Yes, I do but the fear will be conquered if you rise up to it!” Everypony was stomping the ground applauding my speech now. I smiled as I looked at Luminescence.

I let him get up as he finishes the last of the speech given by me and himself, “As Zodiac has said, we all fear the idea of facing the challenge head-on but that’s what makes us special. Each one of us is willing to reclaim our lost city from Red Eye even if all perish. That is why I rise! Now we shall all rise as we reclaim what was rightfully ours!” He raised his hoof in the air as the others slaves applauded while raising their hooves in the air as well. He looked at me as he asked the question he wanted to know answered, “Then I ask you Zodiac, will you fight by our side!?”

I was about to answer his question when I heard some rocks moving. I looked at the crowd wondering where that sound coming from was. It wouldn’t be much of a worry but it was rather out of place. Luminescence was asking me again when he noticed me alert, “Zodiac, what’s wrong?”

I unsheathed my sword and tossed it at the entryway. Many of the ponies were wondering what caused me to do that. I flew above the ponies and in front of the entrance pulling my sword as I ponypiled on from the ponies’ perspective, just ground, “Zodiac what has gotten into you?”

I looked at the ground as I shut my mouth on it Knew it… I pulled the cloak my mouth felt and revealed  to everypony what I saw. Everypony gasped when they saw a spy, “A Spy!” said Luminescence who was shocked like everypony else. Liberty and Lycan ponyplied on the spy as I moved out of the way. This prevented him from escaping or using his weapons.  Luminescence walked to the spy clearly pissed off seeing one here, “Talk! How did you know about this place and how much do you know!?”

Stupid question aside at least for the spy, she groaned from the weight of the battle couple, “Like I’ll tell you anything slave!”

I pulled up the cloak he used. Liberty almost instantly recognized the cloak, “That’s a zebra stealth cloak!” There are cloaks like this? I looked at the cloak, it was designed to fit to a mare’s body which made me sad to see it, but it also didn’t cloak anypony. It was also heavily armored despite it being a sleek dress giving the wearer protection as well. I gave it to Liberty who seemed interested with it, “Thank you Zodiac.”

I smiled at her then shifted my gaze to the spy, no expression of anger on my face. I grab the pony on the neck letting Lycan and Liberty get off the spy. I withdrew my sword putting it close to her neck “I don’t like to kill my opponents, but I will not hesitate to do so if they do not cooperate. Talk or I’ll cut that neck off.”

This was very much out-of-character of me to do something like threaten a pony, but there are times where it is best to be out-of-character, “I will not tell you anything slave. Go kill me, I won’t tell you anything…”

I tossed the pony to the wall almost breaking her spine. She was still breathing heavily from that collision coughing out blood as she tried to get up. I neared her again with a grenade in my hoof. She saw it as I looked at her, “Now, you will talk or this grenade goes into your stomach.”

She was terrified of me. She tried to back away as I got closer and closer to her. I was like death looming over a poor pony, “Get away you freak!”

I laughed a bit hearing that from a spy, “I am not the freak here. I am being brutally honest here…” I loomed over her head as she was whimpering, looking like she was begging for life, “Talk or you will perish here.” She was coughing blood as I got close looking like she was going to pass out. I backed away from the spy, “Gemini, Pisces, think you can heal her?” As I asked that question, she went limp. I checked her pulse only to find out that she is dead, “Damn it, she’s dead.”

All the ponies looked at each other realizing that one dead pony not returning was a very bad sign for them. I looked at Luminescence, she too realized what will happen if one pony did not return. However, what everypony saw as a panic attack, he saw it an as an opportunity. I saw the glimmer in his eyes. Those kinds of glimmers I've only seen in smart ponies and I smiled see that glimmer, "You got an idea Luminescence?"

He looked at Liberty who was cherishing the cloak. She looked to see her leader looking at her and was baffled as to why he was staring at her. Luminescence gave a smile that Liberty knew that all too well and she was enjoying whatever idea he hatched up, "Yeah and it involves our lovely Liberty..."

Lycan bought me back to my jail cell. I crawled through the hole he put back together when we escaped. He looked back at me as he was closing up the hole, “Thanks Zodiac, for helping us slaves you know…”

I smiled as I was getting ready to sleep preparing for tomorrow, “It is alright Lycan no need to thank me yet.” He smiled as he closed the hole. Before he left I asked him a question about his wife going into the fray, "Hey Lycan, how do you feel?"

"Come again?" He asked.

I thought about this for a sec before asking it away, "About Liberty doing the... you know..."

He went silent. I thought that he hated the idea of leaving her ahead, but all I saw was a smile, "No worries mate. I've seen my wife do crazy things and this would definitely come as one of them." He turned his back as he was about to return back to the hideout, "Ah am a bit worried about her but... it is her choice and if she wishes t’ go for it, then all Ah can do is support her decision as a loving husband."

I smiled. Love goes both ways huh? I put my hoof on him as what a friend would do, "You are a loving husband Lycan and I respect you for that."

He smiled again, "Eeyep, everypony says that about me! But... thank you Zodiac." I move my hoof from his shoulder as I see him running back to the hideout. I fell asleep with music chosen from DJ Pon3.

I woke up somewhat drowsy from the sleep. Ace was in front of the jail cell waiting for me to wake up. I stood up looking at him. He opened the door as he came in, “I’m going to escort you personally. No worries friend.”

The walk was long as I reached the front gate of Baltimare. He unlocked my hoofcuffs as the guards gave me my saddlebag. I checked to see if all of my belongings were there. Each one was accounted for and no sneaky tricks involving like say a mini explosive. I looked at him one last time wondering if he had a question. I was right about the question, “Say do you know what happened to one of our guards? I sent her to check up on some slaves but apparently, she has not returned…”

I stood there eyeing him, “No, and I really do not care about your worries Bloodedge.” I saw Harmony connecting our thoughts as she used telepathy, In truth Ace, she perished in the hideout of Luminescence.

Although he acted as if he was rather taken by my bold comeback there, his mind was still shocked as well, Shit, if that’s true…Harmony, connect me to Luminescence, I want to speak with him in thought She nodded as Ace backed away as the gate closed on me. He acted as if he looked disgusted for being talked down. I left the perimeter of Baltimare putting enough distance between the lookout towers. When I was confident that I was out of their line of sight, I flew to where the communications tower was. A beep sound occurred on my PipBuck. I checked to see an objective was on it, Take control of the communications tower and liberate Baltimare from Red Eye’s control That was the signal Luminescence said she would give. The Battle for Baltimare has begun...

Footnote: Level Up.

Zodiac:

New Perk: Liberation – Assisting the liberating slaves, you do 10% damage to slavers

Naturia Harmony has rejoined the team!

New Perk: Telepathic - With the ability to contact each other in thoughts, you can utilize stealth much easier. Three points added to sneaking skills Next Chapter: Chapter V: La Nascita di un Sogno Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 37 Minutes