Snow, it fell atop me and melted on my coat. Some of the blood and ashes washed off in lines. I just sat there with my eyes closed for a moment, trying to decide what I should do next. Time was almost up, but I still wanted to talk to Selen. I got up and left, after cleaning myself off under a leaking water pipe. Now soaking wet and freezing, but clean, I made my way back from the second floor of Iron Gem to the top floor and the brothels.

Snaking through the alleyways, I avoided the market and crowds as I eventually got back to the entrance building. I strolled through, seeing Pink Thing looking at me in the kitchen. She seemed like she was about to ask how it went, but she stopped when she saw my tired expression. I then made my way through the alleyway of smut and knocked on the presumptuous doors of the main building.

An eye slit slid open and a pair of green eyes looked at me. "Oh hey, it's the feathered stallion." The slit shut and the doors began to open.

A stallion invited me in with a wave and then proceeded to try and hug me. But he stopped, sensing my brooding aura. I trotted past him, into the warm building, heading upstairs as I looked for Selen. The doors and rooms had names on them, so I just kept looking for hers. By the sounds coming from most of the rooms, this place was still quite active. Still, I didn't care as I trotted along.

Eventually, I found her room. I knocked, but there was no answer. I then tried opening the door, it was unlocked. I entered quietly, seeing the lights were off. There was, however, one light on, by her dresser. It was next to her bed, of which she was sound asleep in. I smiled as I looked down at her, contemplating whether or not I should wake her. But a glance at a clock it the room reminded me that I didn't have time.

I looked at the dresser, surprised to see my snow jacket laying atop it with a letter. I took both after I slowly look off the hoodie I was wearing. I looked at it. Three large rips across the center, the right shoulder was missing a huge chunk. The thing was worn out, stained, dirty and broken. Just like me. I sighed, looking at the Star-shaped paperclip zipper, it was fine.

I then looked at myself in the mirror, the prominent scars on my chest sticking out. The fresh deep shoulder wound wasn't bleeding, but looked very bad. The burnt mark on my wing from the plasma turret, as well as the ghoul bite mark on my other wing. The bullet mark in my gut was healed over but scarred. My hooves, one front side promptly scarred and my other with a scarred ring, showing where it had regrown.

I sighed and put the ragged hoodie and paperclip on the dresser. Before putting on my old jacket, it felt warm. Feeling something in one of the pockets, I chose to ignore it. This jacket would heal, I wouldn't. I took one last look at Selen before leaving, careful not to wake her on my way out. It was then when coming down the main staircase, I looked at the hole Bronco had made, chuckling a little as I was about to head out.

"Star," Bronco said, stepping into the doorway of the exit. His expression and body language were serious, he seemed like he already knew.

I looked away from him. "I need to go."

He stood firm. "Why didn't you talk to her?"

Still looking away, I replied, "I'm not a good pony, I don't deserve to."

Bronco sighed and stepped aside. "Nightmare will turn you into something you're not."

Trotting past him, my head hung low. "All it does is bring out what's already inside of me." Those were the last words we spoke before leaving, back into the cold.

Managing to get to the hotel room in Eleven Penny Tower, this time I opted not to use the spa feature in the elevator. I felt hollow and heavy and only warm thanks to the snow jacket, as well as the building’s active heating. At this point, I had dried off naturally. I froze before the door, remembering what Sharp said to me.

Well, that wasn't it exactly, but it was true. We didn't have time to worry about me, we still had a plan to pull off. All I knew about it was the fact it involved me, power armor and that we had to finish it before some group returned. So I put on a smile and stepped through the door.

"Oh ye,s Armoured Wall~! Harder! I've been a naughty girl! So make it hurt~"

"Ahh, you sure this is your first time, Sharp?"

In front of my smiling face was my sister and Armoured Wall. She was hugging a pillow while lying flat with her legs spread. Her face glowed with pleasure as her tongue hung out and her mane was a mess, while her tail was raised. Armoured Wall was atop her, on the couch as he thrust into her. He too was moaning and groaning as he moved his large body.

The couch creaked and shook as the room was filled with less meaty sounds and sexual noises. All of that came to a halt when they simultaneously noticed me. No one said a word as we just stared at each other. Only the audio of the radio was playing, Rose Radio. I slowly backed out of the room, closing the door in front of me.

I knocked on the door across from ours, the radio jockey for Rose Radio. The door opened a little, although a security chain kept it from opening all the way.

Through the door, I could see a stallion wearing a shirt with the Blood Skull’s icon. A baton hung from his side. "What do you want?" he asked.

Before I could answer, the door unlocked and opened.

(Center)"Help me!"(/center)

The pony turned to look into the apartment, yelling. "Sex Beach?!"

I tackled the stallion into the dimly lit apartment, the door shutting behind us. Once inside, I saw it was a mess of technology and tapes and notes. Cables ran around everywhere and there were multiple screens showing feeds from all across Iron Gem. But I had a stallion to knock out. I moved behind him before he could get up and wrapped my forehooves around his neck, while I used my hind legs to keep his forehooves from letting him get up.

He gagged as he thrashed around. "Ahh, what the fuck?!" His hind legs kicked around as he began to panic.

I pulled out my wings and wrapped them around his face to block his sight and repeatedly said, "Go to Sleep. Go to Sleep. Go to Sleep."

After one last desperate gasp, the stallion was choked out and fainted. I slowly let go of him and got up. I began searching throughout the surprisingly small wire and cable filled apartment, before coming upon the source of the distress. It was an earth mare, with a seafoam green coat, golden orange eyes and pale turquoise mane with a low number of hair spikes. She wore white and light pink striped stockings on her hind legs. Above them were pink panties with a yellow star on them. Her cutie mark was an orange-y to mango colored fruity-looking cocktail with a cherry on top.

My jaw almost dropped as I saw her shirt, it was a white tank top that read "There is a Star inside me." But the 'is a' was crossed out and above it was the text 'will be.' She also had a pair of semi-circle rose colored glasses on. The mare wore a leather collar on and was chained to a terminal, a souped out terminal. The hot mare's terminal seemed to be connected to all manner of screens and other such things by a slew of cables.

She smiled at me as she was on her rump with her legs spread. "My hero." Then she moved a hoof over her panties slowly. Her panties stuck down to her damp crotch, leaving a transparent wet mark on the fabric. I could see her seafoam green pussy lips, they were soaking wet.

That word, hero. It made me choke up a little. "No," I whispered, "I'm not a hero." I blushed and looked away.

She took off her collar and sat up straight, tilting her head. "Why not? You seem to fight for what's right?" She stood up and led me to a living room with a couch, television and camera on it. There was also a weird device with a gem in it, on a table in the corner.

I pouted and looked down as I followed her. "How would you know?" I said.

She smirked and trotted over to the odd device with a gem atop it and a sphere at the base. "Through this, I'm still looking into it. It was meant to be a magical high definition television unit to replace an inferior low-resolution model. However, it seemed to also be designed to record one's memories with a stealthy short range spell, when in use as a television. This is why some ponies complained about headaches, but the Ministries blamed it on eyesight and lighting issues. Once it reaches its quota, it’ll send the data off as a sub-level signal, it can even stream live..."

"That doesn't explain anything," I said, but then the mare, I think her name was Sex Beach, kissed me, with tongue.

She pulled away slowly, licking her lips. "The last update I did on you was less than twenty-four hours ago, from the television in your room across the hallway."

It was obvious she was in the mood, but I was not. "I was barely in the room for a few hours. I was also in the bathroom most of the time? I don’t even know what a television is?"

She went over to the television and turned it on as she seemed to be setting things up. "They have a pretty good range, as well as a high-quality fast speed stealth memory extraction spell." She seemed to be wiggling her hips at me.

I tried not to stare. "I don't know why, but there's a top priority monitoring order on you and your whole family."

I jumped forward. "Do you know what happened to my parents?! My dad wrote a message, but I couldn't read it."

Static popped up on the large screen. "Tell you what, you help me and I'll answer all your questions I can." She raised her tail, swaying it.

I couldn't help but smirk as I got her hint. "I'm not really in the mood, but I suppose I could. But you can't call me a hero."

She plugged a camera and sat it atop the television, displaying an image of us. "Okay, but I want to talk about it afterwards."

I took off my snow jacket and put it to the side of the couch. "But I need to notify my sister, but she's..." I paused for a moment. "Busy."

"Give me a moment, I'll get us some time." She trotted back to her super terminal and connected a mic. " I hope you all enjoyed that song. I kind of forgot what it was called. But it's getting late, so, um here, enjoy half an hour of songs. Oh yes, I almost forgot. Sharp, you have umm, thirty minutes, mm, no an hour."

Sex beach came back, blushing a little. "So you are the voice of Rose Radio? Why so nervous on air? You certainly seem outgoing," I asked.

She trotted up to me, smiling. "Sex on the Beach, a drink that features vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice and either grapefruit juice or orange juice. The flavour is sweet and fruity, but not overwhelmingly so. Sex on the Beach is one of those drinks that’s easy to take anytime, anyplace. I think it’s perfect for relaxing and refreshing on a hot afternoon, but it’s also great for a night out dancing. The fruit juice gives you a little bit of sugar and hydration."

I tilted my head. "What does a cocktail have to do with anything?"

Sex Beach kissed me, but this time with her tongue swimming into my mouth. "Another question, you still got to help me. Remember?"

I rolled my eyes and kissed her back. "Let's get started then."

She smirked as she pushed me on my back. Standing atop me as I lay on the floor, she slid her hooves down the side of her body. She swayed her hips and soon her panties slid down her legs before she took them off completely. I couldn't help but take a look at the mare's wet slit. Juice ran down her thighs as she too looked at my privates. I rose to the occasion as she sat atop my mask, my head rubbing her slit.

"I would have liked to be your first, but I'll settle for the first mare," she said with a luscious smile.

I moved my wings out from behind me and held her rump with them. I instinctually wanted to move upward but resisted. "So you know about that too?"

I ground my head on her exposed swollen clit, causing her to moan out. "Yes!" She took a moment, breathing, before regaining her composure. "I know almost everything you know. Except for a few memories shrouded in static. As well as your life beyond a certain age. I think the latter is classified, but couldn't find out, yet."

We shuttered together as the head of my penis went into her pussy. She was tighter than Selen, but from just the entrance, I could feel she couldn't willingly make herself tighter than Selen. I know it was kind of horrible comparing two people I've made love to, but I couldn't help myself.

My feathers rubbed and pressed into her fine rump as much as they could as I let her take the lead. "So why tell me about a drink? One I assume you are named after?"

She smiled down at me as her tail swayed from side to side, brushing my balls as it did. "Correct, it was how I was conceived. As well as what I was named after, the drink and the act." She slowly lowered herself, taking more of me in with a happy moan from both of us. "I'm timid around multiple ponies, even speaking on the radio makes me nervous. But alcohol calms my nerves, and that one just happened to be my favourite."

I gripped the floor with my forehooves, as she was almost halfway. She was taking it nice and slow, savouring the feeling for both of us. "Mmmh, why do radio then?"

"I'm a slave of Blood Rose, I'm also smart. So I made myself useful and learnt about technology. One thing led to another and now I'm a radio jockey. I'm forced to be the voice of Rose Radio as punishment for arrogance." Sex Beach was quite composed when talking, but her insides were the thing quivering now.

I tickled her rear hole with a feather. It made her squirm and tighten, which made us moan. "So why me? I'm nothing special?"

"Ahh, but you can be. You can be something we all need." She paused as she smirked, squeezed her insides, slowly rose, her insides sucking on me tightly with a vacuum grip.

I let out a loud moan as I moved my other wing to her side and moved a feather to her clit. I was careful not to block my view as I smirked. "I get it, but I doubt I'll survive the next day." I moved my feather on her clit and asshole in circles. "So do you know what my dad wrote as he was dying? Or why Blood Rose had my parents killed?"

She then slowly lowered herself, taking even more of me in. This time pussy juices began to run out of her slit and down my shaft. "There is a memory device in your home, been there before you were ever born. But it looked like something happened to it a week before the attack on your home."

"What do you know about my parents?" I gripped the floor as I bit my lip in pleasure.

She giggled as she stopped moving. "Nothing really, aside from rumours and stories about your dad. I was only allowed to watch and record your family’s memories up to a certain time, anything before that was blocked or removed from my records. I tried accessing it remotely, through your memories. But like I said, some weird static blocked your older memories from me. The focus was on you and Sharp, with general monitoring of your parents and Red Cross." I looked up at the television and saw it displaying us. "Do you know anything about a black door or nightmare?"

"No, sorry. But I have a question for you, Star. What happened in the post office? On the way back to Slave Town and in the Minute Mare's stable? Those memories seemed to be hazy or corrupt by the same static as your distant past." Sex Beach sunk lower and lower.

Dark, nightmare, all these instances were the same. It seemed like they were all connected, distorting my memories from these machines. "So who else do you watch?" I said, smirking as I avoided her question as she opened her mouth, panting.

Her insides began to move as she moaned out loud. "Oh, I'm close. I want it rough and hard."

I gripped her hips with my wings, smirking as I looked at the bulge I made in her stomach. "Brace yourself. Because I won't stop till you tell me everyone by name and title."

Sex beach giggled. "What? Is that a challenge?"

I bit my lip and braced myself as I slammed her down, hard, after saying. "Yes."

Her insides clenched tight as I felt myself hit something inside her. I could see my bulge poking in her stomach as she squealed in ecstasy. "Yes!" Her insides pulsed and throbbed as I felt her orgasm and convulsed lightly.

I chuckled as I lifted her up and slammed her back down, moaning. "Start talking." I slowly picked up the pace, not lightening up on the strength, pounding her womb.

"Agh, I just." She screamed as her tongue hung from her mouth, drooling. "Cumming!" I felt her orgasm again as I hit her womb, as deep as I could go.

I moaned out loud as I moved her up and down quicker. She forcibly bounced on my cock, but didn't resist at all. I myself was getting close as her vagina convulsed and my penis drilled her womb. "Agh, you better start talking. Before both of us lose our minds."

It was a few seconds and bounces before she managed to blurt out an answer between orgasmic moans. "Your family, Red Cross, Twin Barrel. Oh, Cadence's glory hole on Heart’s Warming Eve, yes!" Her pussy sputtered as her eyes watered up. "Some data on the city of Mare Crystal, mainly their leader."

I groaned as I began to lift her off me, as I was about to blow. "I'm going to!" Sex Beach slammed herself down, taking all of me in.

"Fury, Smelt City if possible. Any other clan leaders we could find. Oh, I want your seed in me!" Her velvety insides had a vice grip on my member as it throbbed.

I felt myself shooting hot white ribbons right into her womb. We groaned together as she creamed on my crotch. "Inside?!" I grunted in worry.

She fell atop me, embracing me in her hooves. "So warm," she said, panting as I flowed into her.

"What if you get...?" She kissed me, with tongue, again.

Our tongues swirled around for a bit before we pulled apart to breathe. "I'll answer that if you answer my question. The one about being called the thing you didn't want to be called." She rolled off of me, standing slowly as she held in my semen.

"Maybe. You know I don't know half of the names and places you told me." I stretched out a bit, feeling much better.

Sex Beach turned off the television camera and opened a drawer. "You wanted answers, I wanted the best ride of my life. I don't know about you, but I'm satisfied. Even got a great sex tape out of it."

I blushed as I sat up, before slouching. "I feel much better, but after what I did, I shouldn't."

Sex Beach tossed me a cloth to wipe myself off with, before pulling something out of the drawer. "Want to talk about it? I got something that'll help." Sex Beach pulled out two lollipops. Happy, the drug.

I smiled at her, normally I wouldn't do recreational drugs. But what did I have to lose? "Sure."

I took one and unwrapped it. Looking at the red lollipop, it reminded me of blood and my past few hours. To no surprise, it was cherry flavoured. I sucked on the lollipop, feeling better already. My mind eased and a wave of calm bliss washed over me as I smiled and relaxed. Everything felt better, even I felt better. I looked over to see Sex Beach take the other before we sat on her couch.

"I did what I thought was right, but ended up doing something horrible." I sighed as I relaxed, feeling unaffected by talking about it.

She leaned back and sighed. "I used to be a slave at Mare Crystal." She chuckled a little. "I was conceived on the beach, hence the name. Although I prefer to claim being named after the drink."

"That doesn't explain why you let be cum inside?" I asked.

"There is much use for slaves, labour, servants, sex." She paused on the word before sighing. "But not every master wants a slave to be encumbered with pregnancy."

Her words were heavy but numbed by Happy. "I fail at being a hero. A hero would be able to save people, wouldn't take pleasure fighting, wouldn't have killed a kid."

"The fact you’re trying is enough. I know you can live up to my expectations," Sex Beach said as she rested on me.

We sort of just lay next to each other as we rested and enjoyed the bliss, but it was starting to wear off. I sat up and hopped off the couch and put my jacket back on. Sex Beach stretched and stood up, before checking the time. It was a few minutes before I had to return to Sharp and Armoured Wall. But I looked over to Sex Beach's radio control terminal.

"Can you do me a favour?" I asked.

Sex beach smiled. "Round two?"

I chuckled. "No, can you send a message on the radio for me?"

"Sure thing, just let me know what it is." Sex Beach got up and went to her still knocked out bodyguard or captor, whatever his role was supposed to be. She tied him up and dragged him into a closet and locked him in.

I grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and began to write down what I wanted Sex Beach to broadcast and when. After finishing that, I left it on the table and was about to leave. But Sex Beach bit my tail and held me back.

I looked back at her and asked. "What is it?"

She let go of my tail and looked down nervously. "Star, be careful." She paused. "I don't trust Sharp. She would often go on long hunts, but she also avoided monitoring. I think she knows more than she's letting on."

I stood there, thinking for a bit. I knew Sharp, she was my sister, after all. I knew dad allowed her to go on long hunts, while I was restricted to Frost Crystal. I trusted her with my life, so I was going to stick with her until the end.

I turned around. "I trust her, which should be enough." I kissed her cheek, smiling.

Sex Beach blushed, before sighing, turning around. "Fine, but ask her about Watcher."

I sighed. "Okay" I then left and she closed the door behind me.

I gulped as I knocked on the apartment hotel room door. I got no reply, so I tried opening the door. It was unlocked, so I entered slowly. The shower bubbled behind the wall, Sharp must have been using it since Armoured Wall was sitting on the couch opposite to the recently used one. I cringely smiled at him as he looked back at me and sipped on some tea. I sat down next to him as I saw he had two more cups set out.

I took a sip of warm berry tea, before breaking the awkward silence. "So, tell me about Sex Beach."

He almost choked as he coughed up some tea. "How did you? Never mind, I guess you found out about her?" He groaned. "I know her, I know it's her job to monitor high-value entities and run the radio. I also know she's obsessed with you, I've seen her shirt."

I blushed as I avoided his judgemental gaze. "Why didn't you tell me my family was being watched? I know my dad was part of the Immortals."

He took a long sip of his tea, before answering me. "Because you didn't ask. That and I didn't think it was important. Although I do know a good place to bunker down in case all this goes south."

"Oh, what do you have in mind?" I asked, curiously, letting him avoid the subject of surveillance.

Armoured Wall smirked at me. "I know of a place, Wild Rabbit Vineyard in Iron Palm's territory."

"Vineyard? As in wine and stuff?" I said.

Armoured Wall let out a long, "Eeyup."

I looked at him, he was grabbing a Happy lollipop. "Might as well drink when you bunker down. Because whatever happens tomorrow, it'll never blow over."

"Interesting, think there'll be peace after all this?" I said, optimistically.

Armoured Wall chuckled. "Ha-ha, you really are naïve. Let me tell you something, kid. Peace, peace is written in blood."

I rolled my eyes at his answer. "What you expect from someone who lived in a cage? Anyway, about the Ninety-nine? Tell me about them."

He chuckled lightly. "The Ninety-nine, a small army of warriors wielding katanas and executioner semi-automatic pistols. They wear tuxedos, are shaved bald and all their katanas are crafted by the clan's blacksmith in the north. Luckily for us, they were sent out two days ago and won't be back for three."

My eyes went wide with sparkles. "That sounds so cool."

"Won't be so cool if they cut off your head," he said with a cheeky smile.

"Fair enough." I finished my tea and placed it down. "So what's so special about a vineyard?

Armoured Wall sat up. "Well, aside from a lifetime of alcohol, it's also heavily guarded by turrets. Luckily I know not only a way past them, but the access code for the security system."

"So if this place is so heavily guarded, then how do we get in?" I asked.

He rubbed his chin. "I left it in lockdown. So the storage and booze are safe, turrets are on though. But if you use the code eleven, four, two, then you can get into the facility without worrying about turrets."

Good to know Armoured Wall had a plan form himself in the aftermath of all this, but I wondered. "What happens to the Crystal Wasteland if we fail?" I asked.

Armoured Wall rubbed his chin for a moment. "The Blood Skull clan supports the eastern three out of four clans with protection. In fact, that’s where most all the slaves go as the forge houses multiple old-world rock farms. They'll submit to Blood Skull."

"Rock farms?" I asked, confused by the concept of farming rocks.

Armored Wall rolled his neck. "Eeyup, they generate crystals for weapons and tech use, somehow."

I rose an eyebrow. "Okay? So no war?"

Armored chuckled. "War is inevitable, the only thing Blood has been waiting for is some super weapon key that's locked away. Blood is obsessed with it, although he would never admit it."

I shrugged and moved on. "I want to ask about Iron Hoof."

Armoured Wall slowly finished his tea. "No," he said firmly.
The shower stopped and soon Sharp came out with a towel around her head, all dried off. "Star, welcome back," she said, smiling at me as if nothing happened.

"Hey, Sis," I said, smiling at her, as best as I could.

She sat on a lounge chair. "How did you manage to get a message on the radio?"

I blushed a little. "I’d rather not say."

Armoured Wall chuckled at my answer. "So is question time over? Because we are still on the clock."

"I have one for Sharp." She looked over at me in surprise. "Who is Watcher?"

Sharp seemed to be taken aback by my question. "Where'd you hear that name?"

I leaned forward as I looked at her. "So you have heard of it?"

"Watcher," Armoured Wall interjected. "I know of him, or her. Someone who hacks and talks through sprite bots, little flying speakers."

"So Sharp, what's your connection to Watcher?" I said, pressuring her for an answer.

She sighed. "Some voice on the other end of a sprite bot. We talked every now and then, he had a lot of advice that helped me get so charismatic. It's no big deal."

"But why not tell me about it, or the fact we were being watched?" I said, glaring at her.

She raised an eyebrow. "What? Being watched? What are you talking about?" she said, quite surprised. I couldn’t tell if her confusion was genuine.

Armoured Wall cleared his throat. "I think we should move on, you know, time limit and all."

Sharp's gaze shot over to Armoured Wall. "Did you know about this?"

We both stared at him. "Yes, okay. I don't know why, but yes, your family was being monitored. Can we please move on?"

I groaned. "Fine, what's the plan?"

Sharp pulled out some blueprints of Iron Fort and markers. She then circled parts of the bridge connecting to Iron Gem with a red marker. "Star, we need you to plant the explosives we made on key locations."

Armoured Wall grabbed a blue marker and began to draw lines, along with time stamps. "This is the Griffin patrol flight pattern. But they are most likely changed by now. Although the blizzard might help."

I looked out to the raging storm. "And how am I meant to fly through that without being weighed down by heavy snow gear?"

"I've got you covered," Armoured Wall said as he grabbed something. It looked like a ripped up orange herb in a little bag.

I learned in and smelled it before rolling back and shaking my head as the smell of strong spice hit me. "What is it?"

"It's Burn, a natural herb made from a plant called a fire flower. It'll make you feel like you’re on fire. Helps make you stronger, resist fire damage, resist hypothermia and makes your heart pump blood faster. It's relatively safe, in short uses, low addiction rate too," Armoured Wall said.

"Where'd you get it?" Sharp said as she covered her nose with a hoof and closed the bag with her magic.

"Made by some fire loving clan that Blood Skull assimilated during the war of thirty-two. Blood Skull still grows the plant. Mainly uses it for slaves working in cold areas, or cheap labour pulling wagons in the underworld," Armoured Wall said.

"What about frostbite?" I asked, knowing frostbite and hypothermia was not the same thing.

"It's a cheap solution to those who don't have the right clothes. I mean, it helps prevent frostbite, but not by much," he said as he looked at my jacket.

"Okay, guess I'll have to work fast. Anyway, I know the current flight patterns, as well as the gunner positions and blind spots," I said, thinking of what I learned from Chief Head of security, Miss Grumble. Although they weren't my memories, I still remembered them crystal clear. Armoured Wall and Sharp sat forward as they looked at me, I avoided their eyes. "Trust me."

Sharp sighed and smiled, but Armoured Wall wasn't satisfied with that answer. "How? Only Grumble would know that?"

I looked out the window at the cold stormy night. "She's dead." I saw her shadowy figure in the corner of the window. Next to her was a figure of Akira, staring at me, a large hole in the zebra's body.

Armoured Wall groaned as he took another Happy lollipop. "Fine, it shouldn't affect plans too much. The protocol is to wait for twenty-four hours before they lock down Iron Fort. Then they'll try to find answers, as well as impose a temporary Chief of security, again."

Sharp picked up a satchel that must have been behind her chair and dropped it on the table to draw my attention. "Carrying on with the plan. Star will plant explosives to disable the bridges."

"What about the guards stationed in the fort?" I asked.

Sharp pulled out a large container. "Nightmare."

Armoured Wall and I perked up. "How did you get that?" I asked.

Sharp smiled. "A girl has her secrets."

Armoured Wall smirked. "You're going to poison the water with something that a water purification gem can't remove."

I stared at the container. I didn't know what it was, but I still wanted to take some. The thought of just letting Dark run the show was tempting. "Won't they go into lockdown if some ponies go crazy or worse?"

"Worse?" Armoured Wall asked in confusion. "Don't tell me you believe in the legend of Nightmare?" he said, before chuckling.

"Anyway," Sharp interjected. "No, I got the nightmare magically frozen with a preservative spell. It's set to de-activate and release consumed nightmare particulates. It was actually hard to find a merchant strong enough to do it, cost a lot too." She picked up the container and put it next to her.

"There's a hatch to the underside of Iron Fort's water tanks." Armoured Wall then grabbed something from the side of the couch and placed it on the table.

"Where did you find one of those?" Sharp asked, with stars in her eyes.

I had never seen this thing before. It looked like a boxy bag with a flap and clip. Inside said brown bag was a technological device with a counter, gems, some buttons, and switches. "I give up, what is it?"

Sharp leaned forward to look closer at it. "That is a Stealth-buck, some of Equestria's finest technology. It generates a stealth field around the user for a certain amount of time."

Armoured Wall swirled his lollipop around for a bit. "Perks of an old job."

I looked at it and nodded. "We still need a distraction to draw the attention of the city guards and Griffins," I said, leaning back and feeling something in my pocket.

Armoured Wall pulled out a lollipop-less stick and put it on the map. "I have a big robot and some fireworks, so leave the griffins to me. But I'll need one of you to lower a private elevator into the underworld for me."

I unzipped my pocket and pulled out what Selen left for me. "What's that?" Sharp asked as I set some kind of trigger down on the table, thinking about pressing it.

"I'm not sure?" I pulled out a note and opened it up and began to read it aloud. "Dear Star, this is a gift for being such a good pony." My heart panged as I read that, knowing it wasn't true. I chose to skip over the sex joke. "When I got your jacket back, I left a naughty present in the bar’s safe."

"A bomb?" Sharp suggestively asked.

Armoured Wall smiled. "Guess we have distractions all set."

I picked up the letter and left the detonator on the table. "So what's stage two of the plan? You know, the part where we get inside.”

Sharp took the detonator. "Let's just get through stage one first, then we'll talk."

"Okay," I said as I grabbed the satchel of explosives, Burn, Stealth-Buck and Nightmare container and was about to head out the door.

"Star, be safe," Sharp said as I left.

A strong blast of icy wind blew into the elevator as it opened up on the roof. I only now zipped up my jacket with a wing and pulled down my hood. The cold was too much for my natural resistance from growing up in this climate.

I used my wings as guards as I left the elevator and stepped into the blizzard. There was a fair amount of snow on the roof as I walked to the edge of the building. Visibility was quite poor and the wind was hectic, snow and ice pelted me as I was about to stupidly fly through a blizzard.

I began to shiver as the cold sank through my jacket and up my exposed lower half. Turning my back to the wind, I pulled out the Burn herb. Even with the frigidly cold air, I could still smell its heat.

I took a breath of cold air before digging my muzzle into the pouch of Burn. Taking a large bite and pulling my mouth out of it as I chewed on it. Gagging as a blaze of heat hit me. But I quickly swallowed as my eyes teared up.

My mouth felt like it was on fire as my tongue was melting. I no longer felt the cold, in fact, I felt like I was on fire. My insides burned as I panted heavily. Every part of me wanted to strip off my jacket and eat snow. But I knew that I was not actually burning and in fact needed to stay dressed for protection.

I turned to the wind and stood my ground, opening my wings as I braced. Sliding back a little, before stopping. Trotting forward slowly and taking off. I shook in the air as I fell forward, not feeling cold at all.

Making my way towards Iron Fort, above Iron Gem. Flying down as I could make out the bridge and then followed underneath it to Iron Fort. I planted a few bombs on the rough location I was told to, making sure they were out of sight.

I then approached Iron Fort, mindful of the many gun and guard placements. Some of them had thermal optics and others had night vision. Not that either of those would be much help.

I stuck close to the building as I waited to see the silhouettes of what could only be a Griffin patrol. The patrol routes were in sync with each other. So with this information, I should know where the Griffins would be and when.

I proceeded to avoid detection as I planted bombs on the rest of the bridges. But I must have been too slow. On my way back to Iron Fort I saw two shadows approaching me. I quickly activated my Stealth Buck and stuck to the underside of the bridge.

The device made a low buzz sound before I began to tingle. I watched my body and clothes become transparent as I stayed quiet. Not that noise in a blizzard was a real issue, with the whirling howls of the wind and all.

Two armed Griffins in heavy snow gear flew under me and stopped right below me. "I swear I saw something," one of them said.

"It's just the storm playing tricks on you. Let's hurry up and get back on route, or Grumble will be pissed," the other said.

"Yae, wherever that high horse riding bitch is, I bet it's warmer than here." With that, the two continued with their patrol.

I moved to return to my mission. Now no longer concerned with being visibly detected, I moved to the lower level and past some more Griffins to the water tank. This was the main water tank, providing water to the whole base.

I got to the hatch and opened it. The tank was connected to a water purifier gem device. From Grumble’s memory, the fort would use bottled water and canned food in the event of a lockdown. They had enough supplies to lockdown indefinitely. Iron Fort was essentially a Stable.

I took out the Nightmare, looking at the content with a thirst. I slowly poured it into the tank and closed the hatch. Then I disposed of the container.

I saw the stealth field grow patches of uncloaked areas. It was out of time as the display read low power. I was also feeling the cold return as my body chilled once again, as Burn wore off.

So flying low, I made my way back to Iron Gem and the roof of Eleven Penny Tower. I entered the elevator in a shiver as I returned to the hotel room, it had only been less than two hours.

I knocked before entering, feeling exhausted. I entered the room, finding no one inside. There was a note on the table, so I trotted over and read it.

'Star, gone to bed. You should too, love, Sharp.'

I yawned and took off my jacket, too tired to question it. I trotted over to the bedroom, sliding the door open a little as I saw Sharp sound asleep in the single queen sized bed.

I decided to let her have it as I trotted to the couches. I turned off the lights and lay down on the couch on the left. But shortly after I did I groaned and remembered what had happened on this couch.

So I got up and moved to the other double couch. I groaned during a final yawn. "I guess tomorrow is the day." I was aware that it was in fact about two thirty in the morning, but I didn't care. I dozed off into a black slumber, fearful of my nightmares.

My world was black static filled with otherworldly screams. Then I saw them, my victims. They were outlined in white scratch-like lines as they smiled. Their eyes and mouths hollow voids as tears streamed down their faces. They opened their mouths to speak as one, they said something inaudible as it crippled me.

I awoke in a sweat and flustered panic. My eyes shot open as I tried to move, but was paralysed. I saw two eye holes, seeing white in front of me. I calmed a bit and realized I was in fact not paralysed, but contained in something. I could hear the sounds of a cart, it seemed I was being taken somewhere.

I was about to yell for help when I saw Sharp appear in my view. "Shhh, this is part of the plan, stay quiet." I went to nod but was unable. "Good," she said.

Eventually, the wagon stopped and I heard an announcement from outside. "The guests of Mr. Luck have arrived, open the gate!"

There was a rumble as I assumed we moved into the courtyard of Iron Fort. I watched as a guard opened the back of the wagon. I could see the countless guards in the yard, practicing and standing guard. They watched as I was unloaded on a smaller wagon, down a ramp. I could see them, but thanks to the one-way black visor, they couldn't see me.

Guards from the top of the wall looked down at us through the chained net ceiling. They moved us to face the fort’s Stable door. Sharp stood in front of me, to the side. The guards stood in line as the door groaned and opened slowly with a hiss of steam. It rolled into the courtyard floor, before being sucked into the warm building’s inners.

Four guards in painted heavy armour with anti-machine guns stepped out, a pipe pistol on their side. The guard with the bullet dent from Blom’s execution was in the group. Blood Rose stepped out of the Fort, his presence flooding the courtyard. Everyone tensed up, myself included. The only one unphased by his aura was Sharp.

Blood Rose wore an old military black and silver cap with a rose on it. This managed to impressively hold down and contain his hair. He also wore a red tie, clashing with his dark pink mane.Behind him were four heavily armed Griffins. They walked out in unison as they encircled their leader, keeping an eye on us and their surroundings.

The front two guards stopped and let Blood step forward. "Welcome, Miss Sharp. I've been expecting you for quite a while," Blood said with a smile.

Sharp bowed her head. "Pleasure to meet you, Sir Blood Rose.” Blood trotted over to the power armor and looked closely at its eyes, into my eyes. Luckily these visors were one-way bullet resistant glass. "Oh, please, call me Blood." He started trotting around the armor. "T-45 power armor, recently repaired, built in mega power hoof on the right fore-hoof. Very impressive."

"Thank you, Sir, it was quite hard to obtain," Sharp said.

Blood Rose rubbed the claw marks on the chest of the armor, "Quite ingenuitive, you must take after your father. Speaking of family, where is that brother of yours?"

"He's around, shall we step out of the cold?" Sharp suggested.

Blood rubbed his chin. "No, I'd prefer we stay out here."

Suddenly, out of nowhere, there was a rumble like thunder. Everyone pointed a gun at us in panic. Blood Rose's guards surrounded him in a protective circle. "Report!" Blood yelled out.

"There's been an explosion in Iron Gem, looks like Three-Stories Bar is on fire!" A guard from up top yelled out.

Blood and his posse stepped towards the door. "Half of you, support Iron Gem's division, stop the blaze! Lockdown Iron Gem and~" An exploding sound and rumble ran through Iron Fort. Before it even stopped, Blood Rose gave another order. "Griffin division, investigate the source of that explosion!"

They stepped into the doorway and the door began to close. "What about the guests, Sir?" The guards who were pointing a gun at us asked.

"Keep an eye on them, you just say still while we sort this out," he said to Sharp, as the two stared at each other. "We'll meet again, soon." The large Stable door closed and locked shut.

A siren began to blare throughout the fort. Explosions and rumbling shot into Iron Fort as Armoured Wall commenced his part of the attack. Sharp stood next to me and pulled out a power core from her saddlebag. "Any second now," Sharp whispered to me.

"Hey! You there! What are you doing?" a guard said as the gate rumbled and closed shut.

Sharp put the power core into the armor and dove behind me as the guard opened fire with a pipe rifle. The shots bounced off the armor but got the attention of the rest of the dozen or so guards in the courtyard. With our backs to the shut gate and the guards encroaching on us, things seemed bad. The power armor Hud lit up as the system was booting on, a logo of M.W.T. appeared on screen.

Five guards approached us, one less than two hooves away from me. "Step out, slowly."

All the icons of the E.F.S. Lit up and dozens upon dozens of red marks indicated the enemies around me on the bottom compass bar. The armor relaxed as I was in full control. I looked down at the guard in front of me. "Oh Shit!" he said before I jumped up and my mega power hoof and weight came down onto him.

His body turned into a pancake, as blood, bone, and gore shot out. It was like stepping on a juicy Tato, red splattering on the guards around him. A light indicated that I had used one out of five charges of the mega hoof.

The guards were stunned as they looked at me with horror. From the back of the wagon, Sharp stepped up and pulled out my SMG and mare rifle. She swept the guns around the field as she opened fire on them. The guns held firm in her magic as the guards dropped dead. She lowered the guns to her side, but before she hopped down, the sounds of dozens of guns cocking ran through the courtyard.

I looked around to see everyone on the wall pointing guns down on us. Unlike the five that went to surround Sharp, these ones had guns that could penetrate power armor. "Sharp," I said, nervously.

"Any second....now," she said as more guards on the courtyard approached.

"AGHH!" All the guards screamed and dropped to their knees as they gripped their heads.

Sharp hopped down. "Bingo." She then went to grab something from the wagon I was on. "I hid our gear and weapons under here." She then pulled out her crank rifle, a bag of EMP grenades, a bag of explosives and a detonator with two out of three lights on.

I looked to the thriving, screaming guards. "How long till they succumb to the drug?"

Sharp pushed the detonators trigger and one light went out. "Anywhere from five minutes to a few hours." There was a loud blast as the whole fort shook violently.

Sharp attached my mare rifle to my power armor battle saddle, after the shaking had stopped. I could see mushroom clouds rising around Iron Fort as Sharp put some ammo in for me.

She then went to attach the SMG, when I put a hoof out. "Sharp, you take the SMG," I said.

She pulled out a holster and attached it to her side. "Sure, we better hurry. I’ll get in the security control room and deactivate all the turrets. I need you to free Silver. "

We trotted to the stable door and I started entering the code to the stable terminal. "Do you have the code to the security system?"

The door began to hiss and groan as it once more began to open. "I've got it covered, I'm going to fry the system whole."

I was about to speak, but then a pony jumped on my back. I bucked her off with ease, seeing some of the guards standing and growling in a psychotic animalistic state. "Inside. Now."

We stepped inside and the door began to close, but not before the guards charged at us like feral ghouls. Sharp started taking shots at them with her crank rifle as I started punching the ones closing in. With the added power of hydraulic hooves, I send them flying out. A feral guard lunged at us and I gave him an uppercut with a power hoof.

He went flying into the mesh wire ceiling. Three charges left. Half his body turned to a pulp as he splattered onto the ceiling. His body didn't fall down, instead, his lower half just hung from the wire mesh. Distracted by the demonstration of the guard, we didn't notice another lunge attack. He tackled into my side, but I didn't budge. Instead, I pushed the crazed guard onto his back and the stable door pinned his lower half under it. He screamed in agony as his lower half became flatter than paper.

He screamed and cried in agony, yet he still wanted to attack us as he flailed his hooves at us, trying to bite us. I put my armored hoof on his head and began to push down. I could hear the creaking on his skull as blood started to leak out. With one hefty step, I put my weight down onto his head. With a wet pop, his head splattered across the floor, his forehooves still twitching.

I looked over, having forgotten about Sharp. She was taken aback at what I had done. But if she could see my smile under this armor, well, then she would be horrified. Turning, we saw the elevator was on the top floor. After pushing the button, nothing happened. Sighing, we looked at the stairs.

"Oh hush, you're in power armor. Anyhow, the elevator on the bottom floor should be able to be remotely controlled from the security room. I'll be able to let Armoured Wall up and the prisoners out. He'll enter the courtyard and plant the rest of the explosives."

I'd forgotten about the prisoners, we couldn't let them just die, some mustn't have been that bad. I was glad Sharp had that in mind. "Sharp, won't shutting down the fort’s system lock Blood Rose in his office?" I asked.

"No, his office is on a closed system, separate from the fort’s. We need to move, they'll send a distress signal out. We'll meet up at Blood's office. I'll activate the central elevator, the code will be four-seven-nine-zero," she said as she cranked her rifle up.

We made our way to the lower levels together, until we had to separate. The first floor we had to pass through a heavily populated Griffin area.

The building was on emergency power. Only red low power lights lit the halls as a siren echoed throughout. As we moved through the area, we noticed a lot of dead Griffins. Some were groaning, on the verge of dying. The whole place had an eerily creepy vibe to it. I couldn't help but wonder how many we had killed in search of vengeance.

We stopped as we heard noises coming from what seemed to be a mess hall. We entered it, it was completely dark, only the crank musket illuminating the way. I turned on my headlamp. There was a dozen feral Griffins on all fours in the dining hall. "Shit," I said as I turned off my lamp before we slowly backed out of the room. We got a few feet away before the crazed Griffins gave chase. I slid around a corner, ahead of my sister.

A light showering of what I assume was a nine-millimeter round peppered me from a small dome turret.

I heard Sharp's crank rifle go off behind me, as I took aim. I entered the S.A.T.S. Before targeting the turret's gun, a ninety-five percent hit chance. Taking the shot with the Mare-leg rifle, the turret exploded and bits and pieces raining down onto the floor. Sharp ran around the corner behind me and when I looked back, I saw one Griffin simply drop dead. The group was, in fact, closing the gap, but a few sweeps of SMG fire managed to mow them down.

With that, we got into a rhythm of me taking on turrets made for non-power armored invaders, while Sharp guarded our back. On occasion, I had a few Griffins and ponies ahead of me, which we gunned down together. Sometimes the crazed feral Blood Skull soldiers managed to accidentally shoot randomly.

Managing to make it through the storage level, I was quite surprised with the amount of stuff down here. Supplies, material and junk, shelves upon shelves of food, water, Rad-Away, drugs and so on. Unfortunately, we couldn't stop to fill our bags, moving through to the third lowest level.

We stopped, managing to find an unlocked armory, with a four-barrel missile launcher and some ammo inside. I had Sharp help me equip the new weapon, avoiding all the fresh corpses. We got to the point where Sharp and I had to split up. We didn't part with words, but just a simple nod to each other. Although not before she gave me the bag of explosives to deliver to Armoured Wall.

I got to the prison level, finding that most of its occupants were in fact still locked up and alive. They were quite noisy as they demanded to be let free, or to be told what was happening. I went down the hallway, to section A-8. Passing the torture room, I stopped and back treaded as I saw the torture Griffin hurled up in the corner. I smirked and walked in slowly.

"My head, my body, it hurts," he whimpered as he still faced the corner. There was a small pool of vomit and blood on the floor in front of him, running down the wall.

I chuckled as I approached him. "It'll only hurt for a moment."

I grabbed the Griffin and pulled him towards his chair. He thrashed and struggled, to no avail. "No, let me go! It hurts! I can feel it! Their pain!"

I strapped him into his chair, restaining his body and head as he thrashed and struggled. I saw that his eyes were, in fact, purple now. I wondered if this was the power of Nightmare, or simply his madness. I myself wasn't too sure if my fight with Akira was in my head or not. Although the ability to view other's memory was definitely not a figment of my imagination.

I took off my helmet and put it down, looking at the scared Griffin who had scarred my chest. "After all, I have a promise to keep," I said, as I went to his work table and looked over the tools before stopping at the blowtorch. "Luckily for you, I'm short on time." I grabbed a cloth and some tape and gagged the Griffin.

I then picked up the tool and turned it on. A steady strong blue flame came out of the end. I could feel the heat on my nose as I smirked and trotted over to the Griffin. He shook as he tried to escape, fear filling his face. He groaned and whimpered in pain as the jet of burning gas drew closer to his feathered neck. His neck feathers soon smoked and blackened as the flame was close.

Tears rolled down his face as I could hear his muffled moans of pain. The feathers on the side of his neck caught fire as I moved the flame across his throat, before burning out. It scorched through his feathers and flesh, as he was ravaged by the pain of the flame. The jet slit his throat in one slow movement. His flesh crisped, before giving way to the flame, deepening and crisping again and again.

It took a few seconds to move across his whole neck, the jet cutting into it slowly. The sound of sizzling flesh hung in the air much longer than the Griffin’s gag-filled scream. Smoke coming off his flesh, foul smell filled the room. The wound was fatal, not just in the amount of pain, but the fact I had cauterized his neck in two. I simply turned the torch off, as I put it down and grabbed a machete, swinging it hard into his neck's crispy deep wound.

Blood sputtered and sprayed as I hit an artery and severed his head. His head came flying off, landing in the corner of the room, in the vomit. The spray of grime hit the ceiling, before setting down to a drizzle. Blood rolled down his body in great amounts, as it extinguished the burning embers on his body. I wiped the fresh blood off my face and put my helmet back on, turning off the light and leaving the door open as I went on my way. That was how I left him, before heading deeper into the prison of Iron Fort.

I shot down another turret before I ended up finding the Griffin guard from last time. He was at a little midway desk in the hall. The Griffin seemed to be unaffected by the Nightmare. He was hiding behind his desk of dirty magazines, a pipe rifle pointed at me. "You there! Halt!"

I did not in comply, instead trotting right up to him. His rifle fire did little to no damage as the rounds bounced off me. I backed him up to the wall and placed my mega hoof next to his head, leaning in close. "Open the cells," I said.

He blubbered nervously, "W~ which ones?"

I smirked inside the helmet. "All of them."

We moved to the control room of the prison, finding the guards dead. "So why did you not drink the water?" I asked as he went to the terminal.

He accessed the terminal as I watched the screen. "Water? I thought they just contracted some brain disease, like Curt. They use to say, C is for Curt with disease in the brain. There was a whole song about it."

It was then that the P.A. System in Iron Fort cracked to life, Blood Rose on the other end. "Attention Iron Fort, we are currently under attack by unknown forces. Any soldier not currently crazy is to report to the lower levels, we have intruders! Also, there is no report from the Griffins. We are to hold out until reinforcements arrive." After that, an emergency siren sounded.

I chuckled, amused by the frozen wasteland’s humor. "Nope never heard of it, anyhow, we poisoned the water supply. But by the sound of it, prisoners don't get access to your water."

He paused at the release all cells option. "Prisoners are only given water once every two days."

I poked him with my rifle. "Interesting, now let them out."

Once again the P.A. system came to life, the sounds of Blood Skull laughing could be heard. “Star Shot, Sharp, children of Black Pot. If it is indeed you assaulting my home, then I must say, well done! I knew you were coming for me, I even set up some fresh glasses of milk in my office. But as fun as this was and as much as I’ve allowed your little pointless crusade, it’s time to stop. Both of you are currently about to cross the final line. Surrender and be forgiven, or else.” The P.A. system returned to the emergency siren sound yet again.

The Griffin looked at me and gulped. "Are, are you sure you want to do this? Some of these prisoners are dangerous?"

"Do it," I said firmly, Blood’s message had done nothing to deter me.

There was a beep as he pressed the 'Open all cells' button. A secondary alarm began to sound as orange lights in the halls began to flash and spin. He moved to the side as I stepped up to the terminal. I saw that there were dozens of files on the various inmates, but I didn't have time to read them. I found a P.A. Option and activated it, unsure how well I'll sound through the helmet.

"SKREE~ Attention!" Audible, a bit of feedback, but good enough. "Attention prisoners, this is a breakout. Please make your way to the lowest level. There will be an elevator waiting to take you to the Underworld, from there you can take the elevator up to Iron Gem." After my speech, I raised a hoof and began to smash the Stable-Tech branded terminal screen. To Stable-Tech’s credit, it took more than one power armoured hoof strike to break it.

I went to the door, looking back at the scared Griffin. "I'd recommend locking the door behind me." He nodded nervously as I closed the door.

Most of the prisoners were, in fact, heeding my advice as they ran past me and down the stairs. The fact that no turret was gunning them down meant Sharp had succeeded in her end of the plan. Some prisoners were fighting with each other, but none seemed to be stupid enough to get in the way of their power armoured saviour. I made my way to the end of A-8's hallway.

I saw three stallions enter the cell opposite of the one that was mine. I stopped as I watched one fly out with a pillowcase over his face. There was a scream and the sound of a scuffle. Stepping forward quickly, I was quite surprised at what I saw. One pony was dead on the floor, what appeared to be a spoon sticking out of his neck as he twitched.

The third stallion was currently being strangled by a rolled up bed sheet, by who I assumed was Silver. The mare with the eye-patch on her right eye and a silver rose cutie mark currently stood on the stallion’s back, her magic, hoof, and mouth working to choke the final assailant out. She held his head down as she pulled the sheet tighter. The stallion's eyes watered and rolled back as he succumbed to the lack of oxygen.

"I'm nowhere near weak enough to be messed with by you fuckers!" Silver yelled, before letting go.

The pillowcase stallion pulled the bag off his head. "Bitch, we were going to just fuck~" It was at that point he realized his comrade's predicaments and simply ran.

Silver stood and regained her composure. "What are you? My knight in powered armor?" she said as she walked out of the cell.

My jaw dropped as she was quite impressive. "I guess so," I said.

She smirked and took the lead. "Good, let's go."

Less than five steps after that, she collapsed. "Silver?" I said in a panic as I came to her aid.

She groaned. "Guess Grovis took a toll on me. I'll be fine, just tired."

I picked her up and put her on my back, by her grumbling, she found it annoying. "Your knight in powered armor is here to help." I mentally facehoofed at the cheesy line.

It just made her groan louder. "You are worse than quesadillas. So cheesy." She chuckled.

When we got to the end of the prison section, we found a few ponies surrounding someone. "Out of my way, I've got to get to Miss Silver!" Armoured Wall? He was fighting some of the prisoners.

They threw insults at him as they tried dog piling the massive pony. But he simply stood with them all on him, shaking them off easily. His eyes lit up as he saw us. Well more at seeing the mare than me. "Silver!" he yelled out in joy.

"Armoured Wall!" Silver cried as she leaped off my back and into Armoured Wall's embrace.

The two of them hugged each other with tears of joy, it brought a smile to my face. But a prisoner lunged at them with a shiv, so I shot him down. Armoured Wall put Silver down and she shakily leaned against him.

"We need to go." More and more prisoners stood up against us. I handed him the explosive saddle bag.

Armoured Wall nodded, picking up Silver and put her on his back. "We need to get to Silver's room before meeting up with Sharp."

Silver looked to the torture room's closed door with pain and anger. "He's dead," I said as we passed it.

She sighed and spoke out, "Grovis? Good." Her pain seemed to diminish and she even smiled a little.

We managed to get to the stairs with minimal effort. I shot any pony foolish enough to try and mess with us. I did see a few ponies heading upstairs. I sighed as I knew not everyone would listen to us. We stepped around a corner and found ourselves under fire by some prisoner behind a barricade. Armoured Wall took a step back and I obliterated the nuisance with a well-aimed missile.

"What's going on here?" Silver asked, looking at the inactive turrets and dead bodies.

We kept moving forward until I stopped at a weapon cash room, yet to be looted. "We're assaulting Iron Fort, we've already dealt with the guards."

Armoured Wall put Silver down and he look for some armor to don. Although there was nothing fancy here, just scrap metal armour. He then turned to me. "I used EdI, my brain bot sentinel and some fireworks to wipe out the Griffins." I was surprised that there was armor in his size. But more so about the concept of a brain bot.

Silver put on some armor as well, although she went for leather. "Impressive, I take it that the Ninety-Nine went to Neighbourton?"

"Eeyup," Armoured Wall replied, getting a new Happy Lollipop.

I reloaded my missile launcher. "What's a brain bot?" I asked, imagining a brain robot.

Silver strapped multiple combat knife holsters to herself, all with knives in them. "What? Are you new to the wasteland?" she said.

Armoured Wall chuckled. "He may as well be, but damn if he and his sister aren't capable."

I sighed. "Yeah, I get it, I don't know much. Now, what's a brain bot?" I asked again, rolling my eyes.

Armoured Wall pondered the answer to my question. "A robot that's primary control unit is a living brain in a dome."

I stopped. "That's horrifying."

Armoured Wall stopped as Silver shrugged. "Try not to think about it."

It was at that point we made it to the elevator. We had to throw off two rowdy prisoners, hardly noteworthy. I then proceeded to enter the elevator code Sharp told me to use. After unlocking the elevator we made our way to the private floor, bypassing an assumingly crowded mess hall and living quarters.

"So, what's the plan?" Silver asked.

I looked to Armoured Wall, letting him answer her. "We're going to retrieve the item from your room. Star here will meet up with his sister, then we'll all regroup at your father's office."

The plan seemed to trouble Silver. "Why not simply escape? I'm sure the prison escape will distract the guards. Speaking of guards, it seems like you did well to disable the security system."

"My sister and I aren't here for a rescue mission, our goals simply aligned. We're here to kill your father and avenge our parents," I said firmly.

A sad smile crossed her face as she looked down. "Blood Rose stopped being my father a long time ago." She then chuckled lightly. "Besides, you'll need to polish your armor a bit more if you want to make a good hero."

The word almost made me choke up. "I'm not a hero."

The elevator doors opened as we reached our destination. I stepped off first and began to walk to were Sharp was waiting and Blood was hiding. Armoured Wall and Silver went their own way to retrieve some item from her room. I soon saw Sharp standing in front of the Stable door of Blood's office. Almost all of his guards were dead, some had the bullet wounds from the Sydney SMG and others from the crank rifle. There was even a pile of glowing pink ash on the ground.

"What took you so long?" Sharp said, smirking at me.

"Just a little personal matter," I replied.

"Ah, little colts’ room? Or did you found out that power armor has a built-in filtration system?" she said sarcastically.

I chuckled and shook my head. “What, no, I just, never mind."

"Anyway, glad you made it. I take it Armoured Wall and Silver will be along shortly." She walked over to the intercom system, before pausing. "Star, I need you to trust me."

"Trust you with what?" I asked, tilting my head.

"I need to talk to Blood, alone." She pressed the intercom button before I could reply. "Blood, it’s Sharp Shot, open up."

"Sharp, I don't think he'll just~" I was interrupted by the door’s rumble and groan as it opened. My jaw dropped inside the helmet.

I could see Blood sitting at his desk, unarmed and completely open. I took a step forward, but Sharp put out her hoof to stop me. "Please Star, this is something I have to do, alone."

I begrudgingly accepted as I gave her a nod and watched as she entered the room with only the SMG. The door closed behind her as I was left behind. I was worried, not really worried about Sharp or Silver or Armoured Wall, no I was more worried about how we were all going to get away. Everything seemed to be going according to plan, but we still had to worry about the Ninety-Nine and the fact time was running out for us to escape.

Shortly after that Silver came hobbling around the corner, alone. She appeared to be doing a little better, some of her wounds were healed while others were bandaged up. Probably found a medical kit. She pulled out a knife with her magic and threw it at me. I was quite surprised but didn't have time to react.

The knife went flying past my head. I turned to see a now dead feral guard a few feet behind me. "You told me everyone was dead, not fucking crazy." She hobbled over and pulled out her knife, before sitting next to me.

"Where's Armored Wall?" I asked.

Silver put the knife away with the dozens of other ones. "The south bridge didn't collapse, he's currently holding off a wave of reinforcements." I stood up, wanting to help, but Silver stopped me. "He'll manage, besides, he has the item with him. So where's your sister?"

Silver wiped the knife off on the dead guard. "Where's your sister?" she retorted.

Resting a bit on the wall, I said, "With your father."

I pointed a hoof to her father’s Stable tech security door. When I did she went to stand up, but I stopped her. "She'll manage, besides, she is the daughter of Straight Shot," I said.

Silver leaned back, resting her head on my shoulder. "My father.” She said, scoffing. “Armoured Wall is the closest thing I have to a father. Blood Rose stopped being that a long time ago."

I looked at her. "Why? What happened?"

She sighed. "There was an accident, well, an attack really. My mom, Blood Rose's second wife, died. After that, he's kept everyone close to him at an arm's length." She gave a little chuckle. "Before that, he was a great dad. Silly and full of cheesy jokes, so childish." Her fond smile faded.

"I'd seen how intimidating he could be, towards others. But he never used to be towards me. Now, I'm looked at with disgust." Silver pulled out a knife and began to carve something on the floor.

"I found my parents dead and a cryptic message. Everything keeps pointing to Blood Rose, but everyone says it wasn't him. Would he really send raiders to kill my parents and kidnap Sharp?" I asked, not sure if Blood was the real culprit.

Without even looking at me, Silver replied. "No, not his style to hire raiders. What did the message say?" she asked.

I had to think back a bit, remembering dad, the image of his corpse unfasing to me now. "Can't believe…. .killed… .mother… … … … ..Blood Rose… …, crystal… … There were a few words destroyed by the fire."

Silver was still focused on her carving. "Crystal? Maybe the Crystal City. Blood Rose has been obsessed with the post-war settlement for ages, believing that it would grant him power. But there is no Crystal City anymore, just a giant crater and hole where it used to be….” Silver seemed to pause for a moment, in thought. “Although I heard rumors of some legendary post war vault deep in the Underworld. Those same rumors drive some to delve into the darkness, seeing fame, glory and post war treasures."

I looked at her, confused by her sudden off-putting transition of dialogue, failing to see the connection. “What does that have to do with the Crystal City?” I asked, a little confused.

She seemed to have a adventurace smile for a second. “A while back a group made there way down the hole left in the Crystal Empires heart. It’s said that they found a lumisesant forest at the bottom. But beyond that was darkness and cold, but also a dream for something. Few who return from the darkness reported death-claws and other monsters. But one, one returned with a legend.” I was on the edge of my hoofs as she smirked like a mad mare.

“Go on!” I said, impatiently waiting to hear the rest.

She posed herself, clearing her throat. “A stable door unlike any seen before. This one was black and gold with four gold stars on the front. Instead of a number it was blank, but even odder then that was the fact it allegedly spoke. It demanded four keys, before breathing a column of flame.” She started snickering. “But that’s just a mad ponies wild dream.” Her smile soon sank. “Or so I thought. Until I found a very special Pip-Buck.”

I thought back to the house and any relating information. "My dad's Pip-Buck, the raiders who killed my parents left a note demanding I bring it. It has a program called '1st Key.' My dad kept it hidden in a safe. It wasn't even the Pip-Buck he used to wear, could it be connected to this legendary vault?" I said, scratching my metal chin.

Silver leaned down and blew away some dust from her carving. "Blood doesn't like telling me things, but he once had me retrieve a locked Pip-Buck. Later I managed to find out it contained a program called '4th key'. That fucker was in Fun-land." She almost growled as she said that.

I was going to ask what the key’s unlocked, but based on her expression, Fun-land sounded rather interesting. "Fun-land? That doesn't sound so bad?" She looked at me like I was an idiot.

She then went back to carving up the floor, a bit more aggressively. "Fun-land was an old world amusement park. Now it's a haunted death trap filled with uncountable robots. We raided it with the pretence of finding a key, best guess is that it unlocks some super weapon."

My mind recalled the fact that Blood was building a army. For what I assume was the desire to conquer the frozen wasteland. "Even with an old world superweapon, Blood Skull isn't strong enough to take over the Crystal Empire, is he?"

Silver took a deep breath, before. "Steel Teeth, a blade fanatic psycho filled clan. The pill, a bunch of drug obsessed chemists. Brainpower, the creepiest in my opinion, they somehow make Robo-brains. Finally there’s White Snake, a clan that uses slave labour to farm crystals from rock farms.” She paused to catch her breath.

“All of them are to the east, most or all of them would willingly give themselves over to Blood Skull. Blood Rose does provide them with their slave work forces after all. With their combined might, they can conquer the frozen wasteland or most of it. But a super weapon would all but guarantee victory, from the remaining clans in the west." Silver explained.

"Wouldn't the other clans be able to stop Blood Rose? Why not just band together?" I asked.

She chuckled. "You don't know about the clans, do you? After the war of thirty-two, there is currently." She paused to take a big breath. "Blood Skull, Steel Teeth, White Snake, Yellow Bees, Black Hawk, Boom, High Gear, Iron Fist, Diamond, The Ghoul Alliance, Arrow, The Pill and Brain Power remaining."

I was taken aback. The wasteland, well the crystal wasteland at least, was bigger than I expected. "I've only heard of a few of them."

Silver chuckled. "What are you, a stable dweller?"

I shook my head. "Nope. What was that item you and Armoured Wall had to get from your room?"

Silver pulled out a note from her pocket. "We tricked Blood Rose into sending the Ninety-Nine to Neighbourton. The Star Core was hidden behind my mirror in my room. Now Armoured Wall has it." Sharp proceeded to hand me the folded piece of paper.

It was a drawing from Last Meal. I froze as I saw it had a number two. I now had one, two and six. I opened it and looked at the drawing. It was another child's drawing, this time it was of Silent time with a stick figure gun and Last meal and her mom to one side. 'Daddy has to go away to fight the bad stripes. Mommy is sad, but said it’s to keep us safe.'

"Why give this to me?" I asked, remembering Last Meal’s fate.

Silver shrugged. "Armoured Wall said he saw one in your bag, thought you might be collecting them? I just happened to have stumble upon this in the past, saw it was numbered and thought I might as well keep it."

I looked at it and smiled. "Thanks." Then I put it away.

I proceeded to pull out the radio I had grabbed. It was banged up, but it seemed to be working. "Rose Radio, this is my last broadcast. This is a message from the ponies who just killed Blood Rose, the head of the Blood Skull clan." She cleared her throat. "You may not know me, but my name is Star Shot. I am the son of Straight Shot and." She paused. "That can't be right? I'll just skip ahead."

Sex Beach cleared her throat and kept reading. "I alone have just killed Blood Rose, as revenge for the murder of my whole family. So now that I've had my revenge, all I can say is: catch me if you can." The broadcast ended. A song was left to play on loop, titled, 'Sit and Dream.'

Author's Notes:

Don't worry, This is not the end. I have decided to release this chapter alongside chapter 14. But due to college, I find myself struggling to write.

Edited by the amazing, awesome and wonderful:
https://www.fimfiction.net/user/275628/EverfreePony