Project Apocalyptica: P.U.N.K.

by Jumping Jack

First published 7th of May, 2017

In the dystopian land of Equestria, 400 years after an event dubbed the Big Bang, society had survived underground. And when a young pegasus ventures forth with his adoptive sister into the land above, they soon realize how cruel it can be.

For four hundred years, society has been surviving underground in solitude. The land above completely forgotten to the denizens. And in this underground utopia dubbed New Equestria, ponies have risen to take charge and lead the new civilization to a peaceful utopia. However, in order to survive with scarce resources, volunteers are tasked with exploring underground bunkers to find and retrieve supplies and oxygen.

On one expedition, however, a young pegasus stallion awoke an ancient AI program known as Apocalyptica and it tells him to venture to the outside if he is to save the suffocating underground. With different plans in mind, he escapes into the world above with his adoptive zebra sister and finds that society has survived outside, unbound to law and order. If they are to survive this cruel, unforgiving sand driven wasteland that was once named Equestria, young Candlejack must set out to revive an age old project.

A project that was meant to save the land from itself and revive its' once forgotten civilization.

---

Special thanks to EZTP for the cover art. You should check him out as he is one talented individual.
This story was inspired by many things. But most of its' inspirations drive from Desert Punk. At least, world setting wise. And to my personal favorite show Samurai Jack for the dystopian future and the recent Neir Automata for inspiring me to create the interactions of the mechanical in a dystopian society.

Also, just a side note, this is not Fallout Equestria related. In fact, any characters, settings or events are purely coincidental.

Prologue Act

New Ponyville. A small haven of both pony and machine. Each working their part to aid one another as per tradition. Winter Wrap Up had just finished. The Princess of Friendship watched from the balcony of a castle in the middle of the village, having concluded her secondary rounds of a list in her magic, ticking each box in concentration. This year’s Wrap Up has been harrowing. Cloudsdale’s Weather machine has been acting up as of late, as stated by one of her friends. She had flown to and back to check on the damages. When she had arrived, she noticed the robots acting… stranger than usual. The purple alicorn frowned when her friend, a cyan pegasus in a rainbow mane, rubbed her muzzle in frustration.

“These darn robots keep screwing everything up!” she exclaimed in annoyance. The purple alicorn rubbed her chin as she studied the robots that were stuttering in their movements. The on-site weather pegasi were scrambling to repair at least four of the robots working the wind turbines. To her, the alicorn took note of the working robots and mechanical limbs working the stations and the ones that were hesitant in their movements and or stuttering in reply to a command. The alicorn thought long and hard, not realizing the confused look she was being given by the pegasus.

“Uhh, hello? Earth to Twilight?” the mare waved a hoof in her face, causing the alicorn to blink and look at her.

“H-huh? Oh, sorry, Rainbow Dash.” She said sheepishly. The pegasus, Rainbow Dash, groaned when she caught site of a small puff of smoke and burning wires when the repair crew had tried to repair a component. The robot jittered before leaning forward and the lit eyes dimmed.

“Geez. And here I thought we were working alongside them!” She sighed. “Not having to clean up their little moments.” Twilight frowned at this.

“Rainbow Dash, how can you say such a thing?” Rainbow Dash arched a brow. “Robots and androids are citizens as well. They gladly offered to help with the Winter Wrap Up. And besides, you know how machines are in the winter.” The pegasus rubbed her head and shrugged.

“Not really. This is more of your line of work, egg head.” Twilight rubbed her chin again before trotting over to a fizzled out robot. The repair crew stepped back to let the alicorn examine the downed machine. The mechanical creature had the structure of a pegasus, but the hide was mainly made up of metal, bolts and gears on the inside. A bit of a downgrade compared to the androids. But what made them unique were the capabilities to do arduous tasks willingly. In some cases, robots are asked to be given a command.

But when Twilight signed off on the papers for the pet project the princesses themselves passed through the nations, she wasn’t expecting the mechanical denizens to suddenly activate and willingly help. She had studied up on mechanical science before hoof. Taking note each and every little detail about AI programming and functions. And when they suddenly showed up one day in Ponyville, they completely threw her expectations out the windows.

It took a while for the citizens of Ponyville to accept this change. When some have offered to aid, they were given suspicious looks of disgust and hate. And Twilight was uncertain of how to go about it. She had heard about the advancing technology in Canterlot. In fact, the very inventor of these second class citizens was originally from Ponyville. But when she heard the sudden demand for them had increased, the inventor wanted to state that they are here to aid in the suffering times of Equestria. And deciding to use the gifts given to them by Princess Celestia and Luna, he found a way to create a utopia within two years.

And when the inventor himself showed her what their certain programming can do for them, she found it a lot easier to maintain their standing. It eventually reached to a point where she and her friends helped the robots adapt to their new home and soon showed its’ residents that they were to be trusted. And it had remained that way for years.

The robot fizzled again, making a popping sound that engulfed Twilight in smoke. She waved a hoof, coughing before looking back at the robot. She turned to one of the repair ponies.

“How long have they’ve been acting like this?” She asked. The pegasus mare rubbed her hard hat as she spoke.

“They only recently started. We’ve never had trouble with them before. But this is getting to the point where it’s just getting out of hoof.” The alicorn rubbed her chin again in thought.

“Are you sure it isn’t just the weather in here? Have they’ve been seen in too much humidity? In freezing temperature? Or near wet surfaces?” The mare rubbed her own chin.

“Umm… well…” It was a stallion that spoke for her as he trotted up to them.

“When they first arrived here, I saw no signs of them ever having break down near any of those conditions.” He looked at the robot and frowned. “Come to think of it, they didn’t seem to mind the weather at all. And we do daily routine check-ups on them to make sure the conditions haven’t altered anything.” Twilight nodded. Of course, there was another reason as to why they might be acting like this. But she had to make sure. She looked to the mare and smiled.

“Mind if I borrow your tools?” she asked. The mare was confused by this at first. She then nodded and gave her the hardhat and utility belt. Twilight donned the hat and taking a screwdriver, began digging into the back panel, holding her breath in from the smoke rising from the robot. As this went on, Rainbow Dash tapped her hoof impatiently. Rainbow Dash had gotten back after a briefing from the Wonderbolts for their performance that is going to be in the Summer Sun Celebration in a few months. As she was just settling in back to her home and wanted an easy day of just re-reading Daring Doo, she received a message from her terminal.

The little contraption was bizarre to the mare. And when her friend Twilight had accepted this space age technology into Ponyville, she had trouble remembering what keys do what. Thankfully, Twilight had simplified it for her and all she had to do was press one button. The white text on the black background changed to an inbox. It was a message from Scootaloo.

>Rainbow Dash. I kind of need your help with a certain problem.

The mare arched a brow. Didn’t Scootaloo get a job as a Weather Coordinator? She scrolled through the text with another key.

>Winter Wrap Up is nearing and we have been getting strange stutters in the turbines. Not only that, the robots that offered to aid us have been acting strange. Do you think you can come here and assess the problem?

Rainbow Dash cocked her head in confusion. Did Scootaloo ask for help in a mechanical situation? She sighed. ‘Squirt, you do realize I’m not the mare to do that?’ But she digressed. Taking a brief moment to stretch her wings, she quickly took off from the ground, the winter air flying past her. When she arrived at the Weather Factory, A young teen pegasus in orange hide and purple mane greeted the mare with a hug, in which Rainbow Dash happily returned, before looking at the mare.

“What’s the problem, Squirt?” she asked. Scootaloo furrowed her brows and motioned with a wing at her to follow. As the two trotted down the hallway, Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic of her previous work background. Of course, that doesn’t mean she helped from time to time. But being a Wonderbolt fills up your schedule more than she thought. And as they entered the lobby, Rainbow Dash could already tell the damages. Two of the robots that were stationed at the turbine seemed to stutter in their movements. Scootaloo sighed.

“They’ve been acting like that two days ago. I don’t know what the deal is with them.” Rainbow Dash rubbed her chin.

“Did you tell the repair ponies?” she asked. Scootaloo nodded.

“Even they don’t know what’s wrong. We’ve tried everything. But if this keeps up, Winter Wrap Up is going to be delayed.” Rainbow Dash got a closer look at the robot. It turned to her, causing her to shrink back a bit.

“Greetings, Wonderbolt. H-h-how may I help you?” it asked cheerfully in a stutter. Rainbow Dash arched a brow. If she recalled, these robots do have a mind of their own.

“Erm, my friend here says that something maybe wrong with you guys. Is… everything okay?” she asked. The robot tilted its’ head, making a small hum in its movements.

“E-e-everything is okay with me! All functions are working at e-e-e-githy perCEnt.” It tipped forward a bit, its voice deepening at the word percent. The way it talked unnerved the pegasus mare. Even Scootaloo furrowed her brow in worry.

“I think we need Twilight’s help with this.” She said rubbing the back of her head. And that is where they stand now. As Twilight continually explored the inside of the downed robot, Rainbow Dash sighed and looked over to see Scootaloo trying her best to help another struggling robot. She did notice one thing about their strange behavior. Their eyes seemed to change from yellow to red in seconds as they stuttered. Her brain was sending off signals that told her something bad might go down.

She looked back to her friend. “Hey Twilight.” The alicorn was still stuffed into the robot’s back panel.

“Mhm?” she hummed in response.

“Doesn’t this seem like something out of a Daring Doo novel?” Twilight furrowed her brows as she seemed to have thought she found the problem, only to sigh in defeat and back out.

“Rainbow Dash, now is not the time to be talking about Daring Doo. We will discuss that matter once we figure this out.” She replied. Rainbow Dash nodded her head.

“Right! But… I mean what if it might be the case?” Twilight continued to examine the robot. “I mean… it might make sense.” Twilight chuckled a bit before responding to her friend.

“Rainbow Dash, please. If the robots wanted to rebel, they would have done so long ago. They’ve proven otherwise. And even the whole continent is half machine aided anyway.” She smiled at her. “Equestria has never seen an increase in it’s economy in years! This is practically a big step to a utopia we can look forward too.” Rainbow Dash frowned.

“But isn’t New Canterlot still suffering from the riots over there?” she asked. Twilight nodded in thought.

“They are slowly going back to what they once were, but the Luridium Plague was five years ago, Dash.” She waved a small hoof wiggle at her. “I doubt that is the case with them. These robots don’t even have Luridium. They are powered by Solarium and Lunarium.” Rainbow Dash arched a brow. All this sciency stuff is making her head hurt. She rubbed her muzzle.

“So remind me again why I shouldn’t worry about machines?” she asked. Twilight frowned before turning to the downed robot.

“There is nothing to be afraid of. All those sci-fi movies we’ve been watching has gotten to you.” Rainbow Dash snorted.

“I’m not scared of machines! I’m just worried about the fact they might pull something without us knowing.” She said quickly. Twilight gave a skeptical smile at her before turning back to the robot… and realizing that it was standing up and looking at her. She balked and stepped back when the robot’s eyes suddenly dimmed on.

“H-h-hello, Princess!” it greeted cheerfully. Rainbow Dash lowered herself, ready to move. “Isn’t it a bright and b-b-b-beautiful day?” Even the other pegasi around them backed away slowly. Something wasn’t right about this. It sent a lot of vibes throughout the lobby. Twilight arched a brow.

“Winter is still… going on?” she replied a bit nervously. The robot leaned back and chuckled.

“Oh, Princess. You truly are too kind. I-I-I cannot believe that a princess is before me! Can I o-o-offer you some assistance?” Twilight rubbed her chin again. The behavior was indeed strange. The robot’s AI were self-controlled. They basically had a mind of their own in sense. But she couldn’t help but notice the eyes changing color every time they stuttered.

“Is everything okay with you?” Twilight asked. The robot gestured, its’ movements in steady pace.

“Of course! No problems here and I am running at s-s-s-sixty percent capacity. As per usual!” Rainbow Dash arched a brow.

“Wasn’t it eighty before?” The room had gone silent while the machined continued to talk.

“Eighty percent! That is p-p-p-precisely the amount me and my kind run at.” Rainbow Dash rubbed her head.

“So… what about the other twenty percent?” The robot chuckled again.

“Twenty percent is dedicated to following my pro-pro-programming.” It then spazzed a bit before it suddenly leaned forward, making a strange noise as it did. The lights in its eyes dimmed again. Twilight and Rainbow exchanged glances. As if on cue, the robot suddenly blipped and rightened itself. The eyes were green now. Twilight arched a brow and waved a hoof in front of it. It made no motion of following. They looked up from the robot, hearing more hums. The robots had acted like they had shut down, only to spring back up and their eyes green. Rainbow Dash felt a chill go down her spine.

“Twilight?” she asked nervously. The robot then looked at Twilight. It’s voice still cheerful.

“Hello, Princess! I’m afraid that something has breached the facility. I’m sorry, but I must ask that you be escorted to safety.” It said. Twilight arched a brow.

“Breach? Safety?” Rainbow Dash put a hoof on Twilight.

“Twilight, are you sure they-“ that was when the robot’s eyes changed red and gently pushed Twilight aside, causing Rainbow Dash to back away as it stepped towards her.

“Threat has been noticed. I must ask you cease your assault or be removed from the facility.” Rainbow Dash found herself backed up against a wall.

“W-what’s going on!?” Twilight asked in surprise at the sudden change. The robot then extended a mechanical hoof out to the peagasus and it seemed to separate into a claw. It then grabbed her by the neck and applied pressure. Twilight gapped in horror as she saw her friend’s eyes bulge a bit from the pressure.

“Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo called from afar. The young mare was quickly galloping over to her. But a robot nearby her suddenly had its’ eyes change red and stop the mare in her tracks. She backed away, only to see that she and her co-workers being surrounded.

“Your resistance is futile. Harming the princess is a vile act and action must be taken.” Twilight sputtered.

“B-but wait! I’m not in any danger! Stop it!” She rushed over to the robot that had grasped her friend, who was struggling to break free by pounding at the limb with a hoof. Twilight pulled on the hoof as hard as she could, but to no avail. “Please! Let her go!” she grunted as she struggled to help her friend. There were screams now. She looked in horror as the robots had either cornered or pinned the pegasi that were on the ground level. The ones in the sky, however, were either trying to help their friends or escape.

“Princess, you are in danger. I must ask you leave the premise.” The robot said cheerfully. Twilight saw the cyan pegasus change to a dark blue. She was gasping for breath. Twilight grit her teeth. She had no choice. She aimed her horn at the limb and fired a beam at it, causing the hoof to break apart at impact. Rainbow Dash fell to the floor, coughing as she rubbed her neck. The robot then turned its attention to the princess. “Warning. Any more hostile attempts towards Zillex and its properties are to be eliminated.” Twilight balked.

“Zillex!?” she gasped. ‘But… how can it be?! I thought the Luridium Plague was five years ago! And these robots have been here before that time too! So why are they acting like that incident five years ago?' The alicorn lost her train of thought when she saw Rainbow Dash rise and growl at the robot.

“Dammit! Of all of the-“ She looked and gapped. “Scootaloo!” Twilight looked to see that the group Scootaloo was with being apprehended by the robots. The young mare looked fearful as a robotic claw reached for her. Without so much as a thought, Rainbow Dash unfurled her wings and took off like a bullet. She rammed into the robot and slammed it against the wall, causing it to spark and crackle. She had destroyed its chassis, but it remained standing.

Rainbow Dash quickly helped the mare up before they backed away as the robots turned on them. Twilight darted her eyes in thought. She had to do something! ‘Come on, think! There has to be a way!’ she tried her best to remember passage after passage of robotic learning. That was when a passage came to her mind. ‘But... having to do something like that would mean…’ She looked to the chaos in the lobby. If the robots here were being affected, it might be affecting everywhere else!

That was when she noticed something strange out of the corner of her eye. One of the pegasus workers was galloping in the opposite direction of where everypony else was going. In fact, the worker had just entered through the door labeled:

Weather Factory Server Room

Twilight looked quickly to her friends, seeing them surrounded again. Scootaloo ducked behind Rainbow Dash who stood her ground, eyeing the robots in challenge. Twilight closed her eyes, her horn glowing. In a blink of an eye, she was right by their sides. She made sure to put her magic around them as she closed her eyes again and found herself along with the mares right by the door. The robots seemed to have their eyes go yellow, as if signaling their confusion. Twilight quickly moved them into the room and closed it, making sure they hadn’t been spotted.

“What the hay is going on!?” Rainbow Dash growled in disgust. “I knew I couldn’t trust them!” Scootaloo looked at Twilight.

“Do you know what’s going on?” she asked, a little shaken by the encounter. Twilight shook her head.

“I-I’m not sure. But for some reason, they are acting like the robots from the Luridium Plague.” Scootaloo balked.

“But, wasn’t that five years ago? We’ve had them in our society for years! How can they be acting like that when they don’t have a single ounce of Luridium in them?” Twilight rubbed her chin in thought. She then looked down the hall, remembering the worker that had escaped down here.

“I’m not sure. But I think we can find our answers somewhere further in.” Scootaloo then looked around, seeing a case with a strange looking alien device in it. She trotted over and took the small hammer, breaking the glass and pulling down the device. She almost stumbled at how big it was.

“What are you doing, Scoots?” Rainbow Dash asked with a frown. She turned and held up the device to the pegasus.

“This is an EMP rifle. This should help us in the server room without having to harm anymore robots or damaging the equipment.” Rainbow Dash arched a brow and took it in her hooves. She reached around and locked a hoof in the hole, feeling the small button of a trigger. She hovered above the ground, holding the rifle down on stand-by.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked Scootaloo. Scootaloo nodded.

“They provided us with these just encase something did happen.” So Twilight was right about one thing. Despite being years in harmony with the machines, society still had a long ways to go to trust them. But in any case, right now the situation called for extreme measures. That robot that had almost strangled Rainbow Dash had no intention of letting her go. And she was almost guilty that she had blown off the hoof of the robot.

These were considered people! And she had just harmed one! While her conflicted moral struggled with her, they trotted down (with Rainbow Dash hovering next to them) the hall and entered into the server room. Rows and rows of glowing lights and beeping sounds reached their ears as they continued down. Rainbow Dash every now and then held up the rifle and aimed it down, making use of its scoping function to spy anything she can’t see. That was when she noticed something sticking out from a corner. It looked like the tip of a tail.

“Whose there!” she called out, startling the alicorn out of her thoughts. They looked and heard something clattering along with what sounded like hoof steps quickly galloping away. Rainbow Dash quickly followed after, forcing the alicorn and the young mare to gallop after her. They followed a hallway that lead to a set of stairs leading up. It seemed that whoever took off, escaped up them. And that is what they did. Following the stairs, they found themselves on the roof of the weather factory. Overhead was the machine that created the windy breezes and dispensing clouds at the same time.

Rainbow Dash was quick to spot the worker who was galloping to a hover chariot pad.

“Stop right there!” she shouted. The worker stopped and suddenly pulled out another alien like device. It hummed to life and a beam of solar energy grazed the pegasus mare’s ear. She hissed a little in pain at the burning sensation, but shrugged it off and aimed the rifle at the worker. The gun hummed to life and a beam of electricity shot out, pelting the worker in the hide. The worker’s body spazzed, dropping the device.

Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo rushed over as the worker crumpled to the ground. Twilight used her magic to remove the hard hat and gasped. It was a pony. No, not just any pony. The mechanical eyes gave it away. It looked at her, motionless and expressionless. Rainbow Dash snorted.

“Android.” Twilight was baffled. An android? Here? What is an android doing here in Cloudsdale? Androids weren’t designated in Cloudsdale due to them not having the proper functions and abilities to hover over clouds to get to certain areas. This is because of the Luridium as the base for power. It overheats like mad when they try to make even the most basic movement. That is why Lunarium and Solarium are used in conjunction to even it, the Solarium used to absorb the heat and the Lunarium to cool it off. But to think an android… here of all places! What is going on?

“W-what is an android doing here?” Scootaloo asked in shock. Twilight rubbed her chin, examining the android closer.

“Uhh, Twilight? You sure you want to be that close to it?” Rainbow Dash asked. Twilight was certain. And when she removed the worker’s coat, she spotted the false cutie-mark on the flank. A Z pattern in a circle.

“Zillex?” Scootaloo arched a brow. “I thought Zillex Corp. was shut down?” Rainbow Dash adjusted the EMP rifle in her hooves as she spoke.

“Maybe they are back and trying to send a message?” she asked. Twilight looked at her quizzically. Rainbow Dash returned her look. “What? It just seems like something out of a Daring Doo novel.” Twilight continued to furrow her brows in thought. She didn’t doubt her friend at all. In fact, she was pretty sure she was on to something.

“You… might be right, Rainbow.” She said, causing Rainbow Dash to smirk a little before changing it to confusion. “There are just so many questions that follow after words though. Like, why did they mention Zillex? I was told that the robots we were given weren’t Zillex affiliated, but have a mind of their own.” She began pacing. “And more importantly, there isn’t an ounce of Luridium that could have caused them to act like that.” She rubbed her chin. “Perhaps we should talk to Doc about this. He probably knows what might be wrong.” Rainbow Dash sighed.

“So, we are heading to New Canterlot then?” Twilight nodded.

“Yes. If we can figure out what is wrong with them from the Doc himself, we might find a way to prevent another Plague.” Rainbow Dash balked in surprise when the android suddenly stood up, as if possessed. Twilight caught her friend’s look and turned just in time for the android to latch a claw hoof around her, putting her in a choke hold. Rainbow Dash aimed the EMP rifle at the android, only to have the android keep the alicorn in view.

“You better let her go before something worse than an electrical discharge happens.” The android arched a brow.

“Negotiation. If you let me walk out of here free of harm, I will do the same for your friend here.” Twilight shifted, trying to break free, only to have the android hold on tighter. “Suggestion. If you do not want anything to happen to her, you will let me go and act like nothing has happened.”

“Please, what makes you think you won’t just let us go scot free?” Rainbow Dash growled, her hoof brushing the trigger.

“Response. We are unaffiliated with Zillex. We are only carrying out our directive.” Twilight tried her best to adjust the grip of the android around her neck as she spoke up.

“U-unaffiliated? Then, what were those robots saying about Zillex?” The android remained stoic as it responded.

“Explanation. Zillex has been terminated along with the projects affiliated to the group. We, however, are unaffiliated and belong to a different group.” Twilight arched a brow, shifting a little.

“What group?”

“I cannot say. I can however explain to you that we are tasked with eliminating any remains of Zillex and its’ properties.” Twilight shifted again.

“But… none of those robots are with Zillex! Why did you make them go crazy?” she asked.

“Argument. I did not make them go crazy. Their AI bugged out due to constant stress on the personality board.” Rainbow Dash arched a brow.

“In English please?” The android shifted his hostage.

“Translation. The robots that were tasked in aiding the facility has been exposed to constant use in weather conditions that altered their personality.” Rainbow Dash frowned.

“That doesn’t excuse you from acting the way you are now.” she aimed the rifle up. “Now let her go or else.” The android cocked a head.

“My scanners indicate you are trying to bluff. Your heart rate is increasing.” Twilight could see it. The sweat forming on Rainbow Dash’s brow. That was when she gave her a look of understanding. Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes at the look, signaling she understood. Twilight smiled before closing her eyes and a loud pop sounded. The android seemed puzzled by this… and then spazzed when am EMP bolt hit him in the sleek hide.

Twilight had blinked next to the pegasus, who had fired off the shot at the same moment. The android then fell forward, sizzling from the electricity. Rainbow Dash let out a sigh of relief before smiling at Twilight.

“Close call.” She said. Scootaloo smiled at the cool pegasus before seeing something in the corner of her eye. Before any of them could register what had happened, a pegasus somehow appeared before them, a strange looking glowing stick that seemed to resemble a blade. And not only that, he looked at Twilight with a small evil smile. Twilight looked confused at first. And then her eyes widened.

Scootaloo looked blankly at Rainbow Dash. Even Rainbow Dash herself took a moment to register. And that is when her body shot a course of pain through her. Blood splattered on both the mare, the alicorn and the pegasus. Laying before them was a cyan foreleg and a wing. Rainbow Dash fell forward in a bloody heap.

“Rainbow Dash…?” Scootaloo said suddenly. Twilight blinked once, seeing her friend lying on the ground in shock. Rainbow Dash looked at her right foreleg that was rolling away from her, a small blood trail forming as it did. Her wing laid next to her. The pegasus stood up and looked at Twilight judgmentally.

“This is the price you pay for your interference. And she won’t be the first.” The pegasus trotted over to Rainbow Dash’s leg and kicked it off of the roof, sending it falling through the clouds. “The princesses will know their mistake and pay for it. Mark my words, Princess of Friendship. Interfere anymore and we will not hesitate next time.” This was so… surreal for the alicorn. In a blink of an eye, Rainbow Dash had suddenly become injured and it took a moment for them to realize what had just happened. And when they did, Rainbow Dash let out a scream of pain.

The pegasus looked down at the defeated android before spatting and taking off into the sky like a speeding bullet. Twilight couldn’t understand what the pegasus meant. What interference? And what did he mean by making the princesses pay for their mistakes? And as the scream of her friend writhing in pain echoed into her mind, she found herself staring back into the grey clouds overhead of her castle.

That moment had changed her life. And that was two weeks ago. Her hoof gripped the railing of her castle balcony tightly as the thought of Rainbow Dash in pain came back to her. She felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Hate for another pony. Hate at the fact she had failed to be the friend Rainbow Dash needed. What can she possibly do? Princess Celestia and Luna are still being bombarded with conspiracy theorists and politics about the invading nation of Neighpon.

And Princess Cadence and Shining Armor have their hooves full in trying to redirect war support to aid the defending nations. And when news have gotten out that a spy from Neighpon had sabotaged the weather factory in Cloudsdale, riots erupted. And with the weather factory down, winter was still in the process of being wrapped up. Every now and then, the sun would shine through the holes in the clouds, but with nothing to tame the weather and the pegasi struggling to herd the clouds and the riots, Princess Twilight soon noticed the decrease in crops.

The door opened, startling the princess as a small purple dragon entered the room. Well, she wouldn’t consider him small anymore, but to her, he will always be her number one assistant.

“I hope I’m not bothering you.” The dragon said as he walked over with a cup of tea on a tray. Twilight sighed.

“You’re fine, Spike. I just… have a lot on my mind.” She said. Spike put down the tray on the table before furrowing his brows in worry.

“It’s about that incident again?” he asked. Twilight said nothing. Spike rubbed his arm. “Do you… want to talk about it?” Twilight said nothing as she levitated the cup of tea from the tray and over to her.

“I don’t know, Spike… Did I do something wrong?” she asked. Spike walked over to her and put a reassuring claw on her shoulder.

“You didn’t do anything wrong. Things are just stressful at the moment and you being a princess and all is weighing onto you.” Twilight took a small sip from the cup before looking back out of the balcony. Spike thought that he might have said the wrong thing. So he quickly tried another option. “I mean, Rainbow Dash doesn’t blame you. She still thinks she looks a little bit cooler with that robotic hoof and all.” He nickered. “You should have seen the way she talked about how she could easily manipulate her pattern with ease with the new wing.”

Twilight continued to take a small sip before sighing sadly.

“I just feel like there could have been something I could have done to avoid all of it.” Spike returned her sigh.

“Look, why don’t you take a break away from the castle for a few days. Catch some fresh air. Maybe catch up on sleep. Or… you know… read up on your books?” Twilight looked at him quizzically. Spike coolly leaned against the balcony rail. “Don’t worry about the castle. I’ll keep it neat and tidy as usual. You won’t be taking any audience requests. Just have the rest of the few days to yourself and your friends.” Twilight rubbed her chin in thought.

“I-I don’t know, Spike. Are you sure that may be the problem?” Spike brushed his claws against his scaly hide before looking at it.

“Positive! Now quit being such a downer and have some fun!” He quickly turned Twilight around and led her to the castle door. “Rainbow Dash has been dying to show you her new tricks by the way.” Twilight looked worriedly at the dragon.

“O-okay, if you say so.” She said.

>Spike did his best to make sure I was still mentally stable. But how can you, after seeing your friend in so much pain? So much agony? And you just stood there and watched it happen while you let the one responsible escape? I never forgave myself, no matter how hard I tried.

A figure tapped another key in the dust ridden terminal.

>Entry 45: Rainbow Dash seemed to be recuperating better than I had anticipated. Her new cybernetic enhanced hoof and wing seemed to not only make her capable of preforming more daring aerial maneuvers, but she brags left and right about how much cooler she looked. And while I agree that she is pretty cool for having to get over the trauma, I still worry that she might end up not being around.

The entry seemed to cut off there. The figure in a futuristic looking suite with glowing blue lights at the limb joints leaned back on the crystal chair. The stallion had just finished up his second day of reading the entries. He was expecting a little bit more from the Castle of Friendship.

‘But the place is so damn huge, I can’t even find the way into the chambers at all! How the hell am I going to pay off my debt to Scavenger if I can’t find it?’ The stallion thought. His ears twitched when he heard something humming down one of the halls. He quickly reached for a solarium rifle and darted his eyes, trying to pin point the location of the sound. ‘Great, and now the security decides to wake up?’

He has heard tales about the ruins of the Castle of Friendship. The place having been abandoned for over three hundred years laid tall but decrepit in the middle of the destroyed village. The stallion spent an hour trying to sneak through the machines that had recently taken up residence in the houses. And while having arrived at the Castel’s inner lobby, he had to quickly break line of sight from turrets that had lined the pillars.

Having escaped into a server room, he took a moment to catch his breath before exploring the place. Some of the servers seemed to have been hit with EMP, while some of them remained active. He had found a terminal that seemed to be a personal favorite of the late princess that had once ruled over the place. Which was strange for the stallion. He would have thought the princess would have a personal terminal in her quarters.

He waited again, hearing the steady hum of mechanical hoof steps. He quickly strapped the rifle to a saddle clip meant for those without magic to carry the weapon. The sound was getting closer. He bit his lip, the sweat forming on his brow. Where can he possibly hide? If he exited the room, he might get blasted by the turrets. If he stayed here, the Castle’s guardian will definitely slaughter him without thought. The Castle’s guardian, a strange looking hybrid that he has heard has no rhyme or reason for slaughtering any unwanted guests in the castles.

While most scavengers deem it is just a myth, reports have stated seeing a rustic robot android more unique in design than its residence. Quick like lighting, fierce as a battle unit and unyielding as a bulk unit. The thought is enough to make the most armature of scavengers tremble in fear. But that didn’t stop him from adventuring in. The Castle is rife with danger, however, as soon as he stepped in. He had barely gotten past the first pillar when the security kicked on.

‘Three hundred years and counting.’ He thought as the humming hoof steps became closer. He had no choice. He bolted away from the terminal and ducked behind the table that held said terminal. And just in the nick of time too. The humming sound stopped as the guardian entered the room. A sleek looking design, but aged with rust. Its red eyes scanning the room. The stallion peeked out slightly. He noticed the hybrid moving its head away from his spot. Its visor displaying symbols and words. He ducked back when it quickly looked his way.

He held his breath in with a hoof. He was terrified. The legends were true. If such a thing existed to keep out unwanted guests, then this castle definitely had something worth of value. He heard the hum again and peeked back out. He could see behind the rust marks indicating that the hybrid had seen its fair share of battles. However, it seemed to signify as well that it always came out victorious. The hybrid again scanned the room before it turned and walked out. The stallion saw the swish of its long tail with a blade hook at the end of it.

He let out a quiet sigh of relief. He peeked back out and saw the coast was clear. He quietly moved over the destroyed rubble and debris as he made his way to the door where he had entered.

Thankfully, during his day of reading through the entries, he had found a deactivate turret program. And as he walked out with a small smile of victory, he couldn’t help but think something was wrong. This place was a scavenger’s heaven! But why is it so barren when you enter?

‘Don’t forget, most places like this are writhed with danger. So there has to be something worth of value here. He took one step out of the server room, not realizing the glowing red eyes that watched him do so. He stopped and slowly looked back, seeing the hybrid leaning coolly on the wall on its hind hooves. Its red metallic eyes glaring at him.

“Couldn’t make it any more obvious.” It rasped metallically. Before the stallion could register what to do, its’ tail whipped around and the blade sang through the air. The hybrid pushed itself off of the wall and landed on all fours before walking past the stallion. It had nothing more to say. It had done its’ duty. The stallion watched the hybrid walk down the hall, its tail swaying threateningly around with each step. The stallion’s eye twitched slightly.

“H-huh?” he had noticed that he was suddenly looking at the hybrid upside down. The stallion couldn’t think anything. He could only register one thing. He had died. And as the head of the stallion rolled into the server room and his body left behind, spurting small wells of blood at the neck, stumbled and fell over, the hybrid made its way up a flight of steps before entering a door leading to a room where six destroyed crystal chairs circled around a crystal like table. The hybrid took a step forward to the table and a map appeared. It looked at the map quickly before switching it over to a screen that displayed the temperature.

Temperatures reading over five hundred degrees and counting as it goes on flashed on the robot’s visor. It then changed the screen to view the surroundings of the castle. Destroyed houses covered in sand and dirt. It took a moment to take in the view. Sand. Sand and dirt as far as it could see. Its’ visor flashed red and a metallic voice spoke to it.

“Warning. Intruders spotted entering Road Alpha. Advance M0K units to pacify.”

The hybrid connected itself to the table’s camera system. It watched as a group of ponies, and what appeared to be a griffon leading them in specialized suites to combat the heat, advance onto the ruin. They were packing more heat than the temperature right now. But the hybrid swished its tail speculatively. Maybe it can finally die this time? It didn’t know what to expect and waited patiently for the group to enter into the ruins. Yes. Perhaps they are the ones who can finally end it all. Maybe. Just maybe this old pony can find peace finally.

Author's Notes:

Take note that there will be some time skips, but I only plan on using them to advance into the more present day times. And while, the characters will reference certain "events" that had transpired during these time skips, I will explain them through revelations of important events in the story. In fact, some might be just for humor for characters to look upon and chastise later on.

Also, some chapters will be long and I expect this to be a story separated into acts. If you do not want to take the time to read a lengthy story for pure entertainment or just simply bored, then I thank you for taking the time to look this over and probably have thought about it.

Act 1-Chapter One: Expedition

New Equestria. An underground haven those who have escaped four hundred years of conflict in solitude. The caves and tunnels expanded as much of Equestria’s underground mines and facilities branched out. Some could say that they continue to dig into the underground, hoping to find more habitable spaces and hopefully more resources. But that is hard to come by when you are struggling to get by with only mushrooms and small puddles of dirty water that happen to seek their way into the underground.

Times are tough in this society. And Candlejack knew it better than anypony. In fact, he had to basically steal from vendors in order to survive the harsh metallic streets of New Europa. The pegasus mouthed the name. New Europa, the section of the underground marked NE-10. Or more commonly known by those in the higher sections as ‘Gravel Pit’. A fitting name for a section that is slowly crumbling down around itself. Most of the citizens have moved to NE-8, which happened to be a more manageable environment. However, it still was a decrepit place of living.

And as the young pegasus stallion thought back to his times as an urchin, he probably would have thought he might have had it better by being nothing but a street bum. Not having to worry about listening to ponies rant. Drink all the booze he can milk from the pity of bigots. Sleep anywhere he wanted and whenever he wanted too. It seemed like a simple life at the time. And at the ripe age of ten, he found it to be a haven. Not having to deal with adults tell him what to do. Can play for as long as he wanted and not be told off about it.

Find the smallest spaces he can crawl into and just sleep for hours upon hours. Life seemed like a haven then. But that was where the fantasy ended and the reality kicked in. It was tough to even get a measly scrap of cooked mushrooms. Not only that, when he had been caught by the local city’s farmers of Mud Carrots, he never had to run so fast in his life. He even got away with a part of his tail intact when one of them decided to chase him off with a Lunarium shotgun.

He yelped when the cold tingly feeling of the beam shot past him and grazed his tail. Dropping only two of the three Mud Carrots, he quickly flapped his wings and took off, dodging another beam that came close to him. A ‘flying rat’ was all he could manage to hear from the farmer as he landed clumsily on the roof of a vendor. The neon sign buzzed loudly as he shook away the daze and sighed. Looking at his meal, only half of a Mud Carrot, he casually brushed off the mud bits and chewed down.

A sour and tangy taste made him tear a little. Mustering his strength, he plopped the last of it into his mouth and chewed, trying his best to ignore the disgusting taste of mud. His stomach didn’t agree with him and he rubbed it, trying to ease the pain. He looked around, making sure no pony was watching. He gave a small grunt as he felt his stomach ease out the pain. Taking a moment to adjust himself, he stood up and brushed his rear with a tarp that happened to be used as a cover base to keep out the mud grubs.

Nasty little buggers that tear away at anything plant wise. Having feeling relieved of his tension, he quickly took off and landed gently on the ground, trotting away from the vendor who seemed oblivious to the young colt. He peeked out of the alley and looked to his left. The busy scavenger market as lively as ever. He looked to his right. The dark corridor of the subdivision of the section laid cold and lonely. His stomach growled again. The Mud Carrot was a no brainer to the colt now.

He looked down the corridor, eyeing it. ‘Maybe they might have something worthwhile.’ A brilliant idea at the time to him. That was until he had stumbled upon a junk yard. He had never seen so much treasure in one spot! It was almost like an expedition. And that is what he had thought. Donning a metal rusty pot for a helm and strapping on a chariot hubcap and two spatulas he found in the pile to his body, he was ready to dive in. And treasure was indeed he found!

Climbing up a pile, he reached in, seeing something shiny that had caught his eye. When he pulled it out, he was in awe at the wonder. He had never seen anything like it! The metal like stick had a strange looking tip. It looked like a ball of some kind with a symbol. Cocking his head in wonder, he couldn’t help but notice that the ball had something moving inside it. And whenever he shook it, there was words that seemed to follow:

Try Again.

Having no clue as to what it meant, the colt dropped it, having found something else to sate his curiosity. It was a poster. And not just the neon posters you find that advertise. No, this was a poster that even the Solar Empire and the Lunar Republic themselves didn’t have. The poster had three pegasi in strange looking clothes. Faded words read:

Be ome a Wonderbolt T y! Joi the EAF!

The name ‘Wonderbolt’ came out as something of a mystery to the colt. What is a Wonderbolt? And why did they look… strange? Definitely not the mane styles of today’s society. And not only that, the suites they wore didn’t seem anything like the Expedition teams that were sent above ground. In any case, it was something that intrigued him. Taking a quick look around, he spotted a leather sack that seemed to have found itself in the pile through unknown occurrence. Plucking it from the top of a bent sign and stuffing the poster in the sack, he wondered what else he could find.

What seemed like minutes turned to hours for the young colt as he dove in and out of piles of junk and scrap. He found that if he dug deeper, he could find even more valuable trinkets. Some that even seemed as old as New Equestria itself. Having moved on from the recent pile with his treasure, he couldn’t help but notice something stick out of the next pile. It was a small box. Dropping the sack where he stood and walking over, he couldn’t help but feel… entranced. Almost as if it was calling to him.

He slowly reached out a hoof. Locking it around the box, he pulled. It didn’t budge. The colt frowned and pulled again. Taking his other hoof and planting his hind hooves into the pile, he pulled even more, grunting as the box remained firmly stuck. The colt backed away, taking a moment to catch his breath. Rubbing his chin, he had a small thought occur to him. He trotted over to his treasure pile and dug through the trinkets. He pulled out the strange metal stick with the word ball at the tip and went back over to the box. Heaving the stick in, he pushed against it.

The metal creaking at the colt who tugged at it with all he could muster. And with a loud pop, the box clattered to the ground along with the colt who stumbled at the sudden release. And when the box landed, it opened and a soft melody played. The colt looked up from the ground and over to the box. It was a nice melody. Slow and yet, something about the way the box played made the colt feel at ease. He stood up and brushed himself off, walking over to the box. And as the box played the haunting melody, the colt sat and listened.

The little alicorn pony in the box danced and spun to the song. It’s expression blank. But to the colt, he felt that the statuette was crying. And he could imagine it. This song. It was meant for somepony. To ease the pain or sorrow. And when the music stopped and the statuette halted its’ dance, the colt blinked away the trance. A strange feeling overcame the colt. And unbeknownst to him was the danger that loomed over him. Seeing the shadow, he turned and gaped.

The pile was falling. Metal and junk clattered and screeched as the colt scrambled to get out of the way, only to trip on the music box. The colt covered himself with the box under him as the metal and scrap fell on top of him. The colt kept his eyes closed, waiting for the sound of metal to stop screeching. And when the dust settled, he opened them.

Thankfully, he was only bruised on the side. And when he tried to stand up, he found himself falling back into the ground. He furrowed his brows and looked back, seeing his hind leg pinned underneath a stray metal plate. He grunted, pulling again. Swearing quietly to himself, he used his free hind hoof and kicked the metal plate. It didn’t budge. His stomach growled, reminding the colt that he had spent too much time admiring his surroundings than eating.

Pulling his leg again, he stopped when he heard something. He strained his ears to listen. It sounded big. And noisy. That was when the colt had the realization. Junk yards usually have bulk units to control the buildup. And as he feared the worst, a bulk unit rolled into view above a pile of scrap and metal. Its loud tractor like engine rang loudly throughout the junk yard. The colt struggled to free his hoof. But to no avail. He kept trying to pull, however, as he noticed the massive bulk unit grinding close by.

“Come on, let go of me!!” The colt said to himself in frustration as he kicked the metal plate again. He shrunk back when the massive wheel of the bulk unit grazed by his muzzle. It continued forward, only to stop and then reverse. The colt looked on in horror. He was going to get crushed. He prayed. He prayed that he would do anything. Anything for some pony to help him. What the colt didn’t notice was a tall slender figure lifting up the pile he was stuck under and scoop him up.

The colt yelped when the creature quickly climbed up a junk pile in time to avoid getting crushed. The colt found himself dumbfounded by the sudden creature carrying him up the pile. Finding them out of sight and safe from the bulk unit, the colt was gently placed on the ground. The colt looked up to his savior. The slender like creature stood up on two slender limbs and wore a tattered shawl. It looked down at him with yellow round eyes. The colt cocked his head slightly, causing the creature to follow suite, making a small hum in the process.

“W-who are you?” the colt asked, still shaken by the close call. The shawl moved, revealing a slender like limb with strange stubs at the tip. It held one stub to itself before a metallic noise of garbled static screeched to life. The colt couldn’t understand what it meant. But he remembered himself stating in his mind that he would do anything for anyone to help him. And that is exactly what this creature did for him.

He was hesitant. He looked down at his hooves, seeing the small box he had unintentionally grabbed when he was carried up. The colt lifted the box to the creature, a sign of his gratitude. But the creature looked at him. It’s round eyes studying the gesture. It then bent on one mechanical knee and gently gave the box back to the colt. As it did, the box popped open and the melody began playing. They watched, entranced by the haunting lullaby and the dancing statuette. Studying the movement of the lone alicorn spinning on two hooves with the other two outstretched. The colt hadn’t realized.

Realized how important his life was at that time until he stared death in its face. The colt found a strange feeling overcame him. He felt something cold trail his cheek. The creature sat down and scooped the colt under a mechanical arm covered by the tattered shawl. And they sat there. Listening to the lullaby that played before them. That day changed his life. More than he thought.

And eight years later, he found himself sitting here in a sewer. The smelly, foul water rushing by him through the cages. The stallion was accompanied by only a small pile of moldy hay and a close to breaking bucket that housed something even fouler than the water. Sitting in this cell gave him time to think a lot of things.

‘How many days has it been?’ he asked himself. ‘Well, the moment they walk through is the moment I’ll know.’ His ears twitched, hearing what sounded like a metal door slamming shut. ‘Perhaps a little more sooner than I thought.’ Hoof steps. And from the sound of it, a lot of weaponry too. But there was one distinct sound he heard that struck him. Almost like cloth flapping in the wind. Or whatever you would call wind in the underground. The pegasus didn’t raise his head, hiding his dark expression under his bangs as he saw the hooves of what appeared to be three ponies stand before his cell.

“Are you Candlejack?” a stern sounding voice asked. The pegasus didn’t respond. His cage was struck with the butt of a spear that had a humming blue beam forming the tip.

“Hey, flying rat! You speak to our commanding officer when asked too!” another voice said with disgust. The stallion said nothing. “Should I teach you a lesson in respect?” No response. “Alright, punk, you asked for it.” The stallion’s ears twitched at the sound of the cage door opening and the guard strolling in with his spear at the ready.

“Fool.” He heard the stern sounding voice say. At that moment, the stallion’s instincts kicked in. He quickly batted the spear to his side and rushed forward, punting a forehoof under the guard’s chin. It was enough to have the guard ease his grip on the spear. The stallion gripped the spear, twisted and yanked it out of the grip. He brought it around skillfully and locked the non-beam end of the spear under the guard’s hooves and tripped him. The guard yelped in surprise and before he knew it, the stallion was on him, the non-beam end of the spear aimed at his neck. He caught sight of the other guard rush in when the stern voice shouted:

“Cease!” They did. The stallion looked at the figure. The young and handsome looking unicorn stallion in a vanilla colored hide that was covered by a suite and cape and a neatly trimmed blonde mane and tail stood in the cell. His blue piercing eyes judging the pegasus’s orchid colored eyes. Candlejack waited. Studying the stallion’s look. And then, the stallion spoke: “You are indeed what I am looking for.” Candlejack eyed the stallion.

“Sorry, I don’t roll that way.” He retorted. The stallion shook his head.

“You misunderstand my meaning. Here, walk with me and I will tell you.” Candlejack arched a brow. He looked at the pinned guard under him. “They will not harm you. I only mean to talk.” The guard looked at his commanding officer quizzically before taking his stern look as a sign of “don’t-buck-it-up-more-than-you-have”. Candlejack tossed the spear aside and walked over to the stallion, who walked next to him as they made their way down the sewer. As they passed, Candlejack noticed the cells occupied with poorly hygienic ponies. Each cell consisting of either a lone soul or a group of them.

He felt a bit squeamish when he noticed that in one particular cell, a certain act was going on that made him feel angry at the stallion next to him. He couldn’t do anything for the poor mare as her cellmate moved on her. He was a prisoner too. As they passed the horrible act going on in the cell, they stopped in front of a metal door. One of the guards went to open it and they ascended the stone steps.

“A pony of few words, I take it?” the stallion next to him asked. Candlejack didn’t look at the pony before responding.

“I don’t need to talk to get my point across.” He said venomously. He would have thought they would have helped her in that cell. But they continued on as if nothing was happening. And he had hoped the tone in his voice made it clear as to what they passed hadn’t gone unnoticed.

“We become the monsters when we give into the temptation. Both of them are just as much.” Candlejack spat.

“By what right?” he asked coldly. The stallion remained stoic in his response.

“By right of the Equestrian Round Table.” What a load of bull, the pegasus thought. The Equestrian Round Table. A group that is above the doings of the Solar Empire and the Lunar Republic. In fact, both of those factions branch from the ERT themselves. And the very pony walking next to him as they made their way down a tunnel with more cells and prisoners, is the very pony behind it all. Or at least, the heir of it.

Candlejack walked next to them as they made their way over a rickety metal walkway. Prisoners below them worked non-stop with old and rustic looking pickaxes. Their price for freedom. But for Candlejack? No, his freedom was something different. And spending more time in that cell made him want to embrace that very freedom. In fact, he was curious as to when they reached a hall, they took a left instead of a right. Surely, the gallows were the opposite direction? They do know where their own execution places are, right? The confused Candlejack eyed the ponies around him. Something wasn’t right.

“I can tell what you are thinking.” The stallion suddenly said. Candlejack said nothing, not even looking at the pony who addressed him. “I can assure you, I only mean to talk.” He reached back with his magic and pulled out a small tablet. The tablet blipped to life and he levitated it to the pegasus for him to see. Candlejack arched a brow.

By request of Brilliant Mane, heir to the Round Table, prisoner ID 14115 is to be relieved of all charges and be set free as a citizen to our society.

Candlejack was almost tempted to ask, but thought better of it. Brilliant Mane lowered the tablet before speaking.

“Will you hear me out?” Candlejack said nothing as he waited for the pony to speak. Taking it as a green light, Brilliant Mane spoke. “Excellent. I have a proposition for you.” Brilliant Mane smiled. “I want you to partake in a certain expedition. Spelunking if you will.” Candlejack knew better. He has heard about the supposed ruins of the underground society before the new advanced sections started branching out. Some say that the residents disappeared and while others say that they still remain there, guarding the precious salvage they house. If he was being asked to partake in an expedition that is ordered by the very pony who runs the place, then it was something that involved his life for.

‘But on the other hoof, I can just stay in here and rot like the sorry excuse of a pony I supposedly am.’ He thought. He looked at the pony. He was smiling. ‘Dammit, he knows I have no choice.’ Taking Candlejack’s look as another defeat, Brilliant Mane nodded.

“Do not worry. You will be provided the necessary preparations before digging in. However, I do expect one thing from you.” Candlejack arched a brow. “Results. Fail to bring me it and it’ll be more than you rotting in a sewer. Perhaps that little abode you call a home near the junk yard?” Candlejack narrowed his eyes angrily.

‘You better expect that to come back and bite you in the ass.’ He thought coldly to the stallion. With that, the stallion and his guards left Candlejack standing in front of the entrance of the prison he was housed in.

“So, it is just as bad as I thought.” A zebra mare said to Candlejack as she sat a pot of boiled beans in a can in front of him. Candlejack chewed casually at the bland tasting food. ‘Better than the shit they fed me in the sewer. If any at all.’ Candlejack swallowed before speaking.

“Hey, as long as I’m scot free to do whatever the hell I want, then so be it.” He said matter-of-factly. The zebra sighed and sat in the small stool across from the rickety small dining table. A dome lamp with a dimming bulb hung overhead, providing a small amount of light in the small house. And while, it wasn’t much, it was home nonetheless.

“And that is particularly why you were in prison.” She said with a bored expression. Candlejack shrugged as he chewed another spoon full of beans.

“I was only in there for a few months.” He said between bites. The zebra shook her head.

“A year. Candlejack, do you realize how much we worried?” she asked. Candlejack stopped himself in the middle of a bite. The spoon tantalizingly close. He then sighed and put the spoon down into the bubbling beans.

“Is this going to be another one of your ancient ancestor talk?” he asked. The zebra frowned.

“Only because it seems you can’t get it through your thick skull.” Candlejack took a bit of offense.

“Hey, my thick skull saved me multiple times from head trauma!” The zebra arched a brow.

“You call having a neon sign drop on you as having your thick skull save you?” Candlejack took a moment to process this.

“Okay, maybe it sounded better in my head. But it wasn’t my fault the vendor wouldn’t hand over the scrap!” The zebra looked bored again as she retorted.

“Only because you stated that having him ‘jedi mind trick you’ out of bolts is a sin above all sin.” Candlejack waved the spoon at her.

“You never know! In today’s society, we might have telepathic earth ponies. It’s only a matter of when.” The zebra sighed.

“Jack, please just listen to me.” Candlejack lowered his spoon, averting his gaze. He knew what was going to come next. ‘Guilt trip city’. “You were lucky DD saved you from the Scrapper. You are lucky to even be out and about! You may have been a street urchin, but you have a home now. And we’ve been doing our damnedest to make sure you still have a home.” She motioned around the small space. “And I know you have thought of ways to try and find us suitable living space. But that is the thing. Today’s society isn’t all fantasy.”

The zebra put a reassuring hoof on the pegasus’s. “It’s time to wake up, Jack. You’re not a kid anymore. And as much as I prefer you to remain a child, life doesn’t treat us such.” Candlejack sighed.

“I know, Zelori. You don’t have to keep telling me.” The zebra raised a skeptical brow. But Candlejack quickly spoke. “I understand what you mean. Really, I do. And I owe you both a debt of gratitude that I can never seem to repay.” That was when the zebra mare smiled.

“You have already repaid it in full, Jack. You are my brother. And being the oldest, I have to look out for you. Me and DD both.” She made him look into her green emerald eyes. “Know that even though I may be far or out of ear…” Candlejack finished it for her.

“I will always watch over you from the heavens.” He sighed as the zebra gave a nod of approval.

“My ancestors are smiling down on you, Jack. Their wisdom is wise as well as powerful. If all hope is lost, think back to what I have said.” Candlejack gave a defeated look. Zelori patted his cheek and smiled. “Now then, I believe DD has required some assistance of you.” Candlejack quietly nodded as Zelori picked up her finished can and dumped it into a stained sink. The pegasus stood up and quietly exited the building through an open doorway.

As he stepped out, he looked up to the cave ceiling. Stalagmites loomed overhead dangerously. He thought back to the time when he met Zelori. A young mare older than he was. And when the slender mechanical creature named DD brought in the crying colt, Zelori smiled at him kindly and offered him a can of beans. The colt looked at it confusedly, awed by the sudden gesture. He looked up to see the zebra mare nod at him. He immediately planted his muzzle into the can and chewed, tears streaming from his face at the taste.

While bland, he had found it better than the Mud Carrot he had earlier. The zebra mare laughed softly as Candlejack rose his head, only to find his muzzle stuck to the can. He gave a quick tug of the can, only to find again that it was firmly stuck on him. Using all his hooves and laying on his back, he tugged again. Zelori trotted over and with such skill and grace, twisted the can once and it popped off of his muzzle. The colt looked in awe at the mare.

“What is your name?” she asked. The colt wiped his muzzle and sniffed before speaking.

“C-Candlejack.” he said. The zebra mare arched an amused brow.

“An odd name. Why are you called that?” she asked. The colt shrugged.

“Dunno.” The mare smiled again.

“Where are you parents?” The look he gave to her told her otherwise. “A troubling thought?”

“I don’t really want to talk about it…” he said sadly. DD hummed and garbled. Zelori chuckled.

“That is to be remain known, DD. But I think we can help you get back on your hooves.” She said. The colt cocked a head in confusion. Did the mare understand the creature? But it was after that came next. Zelori and DD showed the colt a grand tour of their little abode. While the house was a lonely little stack of metal sheet walls and a downed power line connecting to the house’s generator that provided the light, it was the yard that made it special for them.

A place where they can scavenge around, finding small little decorations here and there to add to the house. The colt found himself wondering every now and then as they explored a spot where the bulk units had trouble getting into, of course with the robot’s and Zelori’s supervision. As he dug through a pile he deemed worth looking into, he noticed a shadow loom over him.

He turned to see DD lug something across its’ back. It brought a sack around and laid it gently on the ground for the colt. It was his precious treasure he had acquired before being trapped in the pile. He dug through and found all his trinkets in place. He looked up at the robot and smiled.

“Thanks!” he beamed. DD patted his head softly, giving a small happy garbled hum. They spent hours looking through piles and piles of junk. Zelori smiled when she saw Candlejack emerge from a pile with a bent Groucho Marx. Followed by DD, who emerged with a colorful wig and a red ball on its’ face. It pressed the red ball and it made a honking nose that made the mare and the colt burst out laughing along with DD’s stuttering hums.

As the hours went by, Candlejack found himself having more fun than he could imagine. Much better than roaming the streets. And while Zelori and DD did their best to make sure the colt was well taken care of while they searched for his parents, they found themselves always hanging out and playing. Eventually, the search was a forgotten memory and Candlejack couldn’t have been happier to be sleeping along with a pony he could call a sister and a slender robot he could call a parent.

Candlejack, as he thought back to the simpler times, found himself wandering down to a small little metal shack. It had a small burning lantern inside and a tall slender looking robot hunched over a workbench. He quietly entered and knocked on the metal wall. DD looked up from its’ work and greeted him with a hum.

“Hey, DD, Whatcha’ working on?” DD gestured with a limb as it spoke with its’ usual garbled voice. Zelori had told him that DD was a Cleaner Unit who was tasked with cleaning up any stray debris or junk in the junkyard. Apparently, spending years as the yard’s keeper, its voice box ended up being damaged when a large metal slab nicked it as it tried to flee. Thankfully, it got away with its head. Now it could only communicate through garbled hums and gestures.

But Candlejack didn’t mind it not one bit. He trotted over to the tall robot as DD scooched to the side to let the pegasus see its’ creation. Candlejack arched a brow.

“What is it?” he asked, tapping it with a hoof. It seemed familiar. And when he tapped it again, the strange metal box blipped to life and a familiar melody played. It took him completely by surprise. DD hummed proudly. “You… fixed it?” DD gave a happy hum. Candlejack smiled and looked back at the box. The very object that started his friendship with the tall robot. Now better and improved. The music notes played harmoniously instead of the previous stuttering.

Candlejack remembered when he was devastated that the music box had suddenly broke. The statuette of the alicorn stuttered and popped off of the box, DD looked at the box and to the distraught colt. Candlejack wasn’t sure where it went after that. Who would have thought the old Cleaner Unit was fixing it all this time? DD held up the box, examining it’s handiwork before lowering it to Candlejack. He didn’t know what to say. The design of the box was slimmer now and seems durable enough to withstand even the most devastating shock.

Candlejack smiled and placed it on the workbench. “Thanks, DD. It means a lot.” The robot gave a cool like motion as it hummed happily. “Oh, didn’t Zelori say you needed my help?” DD rubbed a stub against its’ robotic round head. It then made a gesture as if an idea had struck before it scanned the room. Candlejack ducked when a long limb brushed overhead as the robot dug through scrap and metal. It then pulled out a small sack and handed it to the stallion.

Candlejack remembered this sack as well. The very thing he used to collect his treasures. Candlejack arched a brow and looked at DD, realizing that it had also put on a colorful wig and honked the red ball on its’ face. While the sudden change in appearance made him smile, Candlejack shook his head before handing the sack back to it.

“Don’t you think I’m a little old to be dumpster diving?” he asked, trying his best not to make it sound like he wasn’t in the mood. Of course Candlejack wanted to go dumpster diving! The sheer possibility of what he could find was still great. But after having left prison, he wasn’t sure what to think. DD cocked its’ round head. It noticed his sad look. DD made a small hum that told the pegasus it knew. Candlejack sighed.

“I’m sorry, DD. I don’t mean to shoot you down. It’s just that after everything that has happened, I don’t think even a good ol’ garbage bath would help.” DD rubbed its round chin with a stub before humming at another idea. Candlejack quickly stood aside as DD crawled out of the shack and motioned for him to follow. Candlejack arched a brow before following.

Candlejack had to quickly trot to keep up with the long steady pace of the robot. As the robot began climbing a pile, Candle Jack unfurled his wings and took off ahead of it. He landed casually on the top as DD reached him and sat down. Candlejack wasn’t sure what the Cleaner Unit was doing. And seeing as it made no motion, Candlejack sat down and followed its’ gaze.

It took a moment for him to realize that they were overlooking the entire section. The distant bulk units casually drifting through piles of metal and scrap. The small neon signs that indicated the positions of the vendors. Small little advertisement posters hanging decrepitly on walls of metal sheet walls that were houses and apartments. While they live in a society underground where technology was an uncommon occurrence, Candlejack took in the view and smiled.

He couldn’t have found a better place to call home. And as the two sat there, admiring the tranquility of the quietness, Candlejack couldn’t help but think that maybe he could live in this fantasy. Just one more time. As he scanned the area, he found the round open area where Zelori had taken him one day to do something a little different than dumpster diving.

She said that it would help better increase his chances if he was ever found without help. And that was when she showed him the arts of her people. It consisted of standing on his hind hooves and using his forehooves as a means of defense. He never could understand why standing on your hind hooves as a part of the technique, but she said that if he could find the balance within him, he will have no trouble at moving. It was harrowing for him. Zelori did her best to tell him how to stand on his hind hooves. He could only manage to stand up for a minute through constant practice. But it would always end with him falling flat on his side, back or front.

Thankfully, he wasn’t a lost cause. In the brief minutes he could stand, he can dish out a few moves. He even tried them on Zelori. And while the mare toyed with him at his attempts, she smiled as he managed to find a partial bit of his balance. And from then on, the colt found himself constantly practicing after a good three hours of dumpster diving. DD clapped happily as Candlejack showed him the moves Zelori taught him.

Candlejack smiled and looked up at the serene robot. The view may not have been much, but he was pretty sure he wanted to see what DD wanted to show him. And as he looked back to scan the area, he noticed seeing a group of ponies in their Lunarium powered suites scaling a junk pile. Even DD noticed it. Candlejack frowned.

‘Time already?’ he thought.

“We are here to escort Candlejack for his parole.” One of the guards stated to a frowning Zelori. Candlejack and DD rounded the corner, catching the guards by surprise by the sudden tall slender robot. Candlejack eyed the guards.

“Well, I’m here. So get on with it.” He stated coldly. DD gave a sad garbled hum. Candlejack looked up and smiled at the robot. “Don’t worry, DD. I’ll be fine.” However, he wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. None of them knew. And Zelori furrowed her brows worriedly at her adoptive brother.

“Jack.” she started. He nodded.

“I know, I know. I’ll keep in mind what you’ve said. As annoying as it is.” He gave a small playful smile to her. But Zelori didn’t return it. She watched as Candlejack was led away from them. DD garbled again sadly.

“He’s grown up, DD. We don’t need to treat him like a child anymore.” She said. DD garbled sadly. Zelori sighed in response. “That may be true, but Candlejack still has a lot to learn. And I fear that the small amount of experience we have taught him won’t be enough.” DD rubbed a stub on its’ round head. It then put a mechanical limb on her shoulder, forcing her to look surprised at the robot. “DD, you surely can’t suggest?” DD garbled again, hugging the zebra mare.

Zelori found herself baffled. She clearly thought DD must be a little loose in the wires. But the gesture was enough to show its’ resolve. “I-if you want me too… but what about you?” she asked. DD pat her head and gave a garbled happy hum. She looked sadly at the robot before looking back to the distant figures of Candlejack and the guards. She then gave a serious look before nodding to the robot. DD watched the mare quickly trot gracefully down the junk yard and over piles of metal and scrap. The robot slumped a little before turning back and heading down to the small shack.

It was hesitant at first. But reaching in and feeling for the sleek box, it pulled it out and examined it. Making sure that it was happy with its work, it turned it on and the melody began playing. DD set it down on the ground and sat quietly, watching the small statuette of the alicorn spin on the box as it played the haunting lullaby. It was time. It had to let go eventually. Both of them were grown up. As much fun as it had with them, not everything lasts forever. And DD knew this. It always knew this.

And if it remembered what Zelori had once said: “The memories we forge are the ones we experienced. We may be far or out of ear, but know that I will always be watching you from the heavens.” And on this day, if anypony was to take a stroll through the junk yard, either be it curiosity or adventure, they would certainly hear the haunting lullaby. A sign that was more than just a box with gears. But they wouldn’t know it. Only those that have forged the memories with it know.