Sunset didn't know how long she stayed curled up on the ground. The stone felt warm against her skin, but the light breeze that ruffled her hair felt pleasantly cool after the fury of the magical shockwave. When she was confident that nothing else was going to explode, Sunset uncovered her ears and sat up to take a look around.

The rest of the Rainbooms and the Enclave personnel were picking themselves up off the dry soil and either looking around at each other, much as Sunset was, or staring up at Raven Rock in blank shock. She followed their gaze and gasped at the incredible spectacle set before her.

The mountain had been transmuted into a towering spire of obsidian. Dozens of glassy spines and outcrops jutted out from it, each of them a different color, twisting and curling in on themselves at angles no natural structure could possibly manage. Thick veins of multi-colored crystal stretched out from the base of the spire, some of them hundreds of meters long, looking for all the world like huge crystalline tree-roots.

Dragging her eyes away from the mountain, Sunset clambered to her feet and turned to check on her friends. Tara was hovering nearby but Sunset's attention was drawn to Twilight sitting on a knot of crystal with Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy gathered around her.

"Are you all okay?" Sunset asked as she hurried over.

Applejack glanced around and nodded in greeting. "Ah sure am glad to see y'all again. We're all okay, except for Twilight; she took a nasty hit to her back when everything started going crazy in there. Doc Tara put some magic crystal stuff over the wound that stopped the bleeding, but we should probably get her to a medical doctor, lickety split."

"That's definitely a good idea," Tara put in as she floated over with Becky in tow. "Let me just renew the magic in the crystals so it'll last until you can get back to the Citadel or Rivet City."

Sunset gave her a wary look as she approached. "I think an explanation is in order, too."

"I think we'd all like an explanation," one of the Enclave soldiers said loudly. Sunset realized that everyone who had escaped from the main entrance with them was starting to gather around, all looking at Tara and the Rainbooms expectantly. Rainbow, Pinkie and Fawkes were with them too, Fawkes in particular getting concerned looks from several of the Enclave personnel and one of the power armored people removed his helmet to reveal himself as Adam.

Tara glared at the Enclave personnel imperiously, but a touch from Becky made her sigh and shake her head. Becky gave her a quick nod and stepped forward to call out to everyone. "Alright, I'll explain what I can quickly, then we need to figure out what we're going to do from here."

The small crowd listened intently as Becky outlined everything that had happened within Raven Rock. Sunset noticed that the doctor reasoned Tara's transformation on 'experimental magic techniques', but the fact that Applejack, Rarity and Twilight were missing their Geodes let her put two and two together. She had to admit that she was impressed by the ease with which Becky handled the crowd; answering or diverting questions as necessary and quelling fears where she could.

Curiously, Applejack covered her face with her hat when Becky told everyone that they had spoken peacefully with Colonel Autumn in the war room before he had followed them to see Eden, making Sunset wonder if their conversation with the Colonel really had been peaceful.

When the explanation was done the gathered personnel started grumbling and shifting in a mutinous manner, but Becky held a hand up to silence them. "Look, I understand how you're feeling, believe me. The actions of President Eden and Colonel Autumn have caused immense problems for all of us, but right now th-"

"Why did you attack Colonel Autumn?" one of the soldiers shouted.

Tara snorted and replied in a tone dripping with condescension, "In case you weren't listening, he's the one who set off the self-destruct. As far as I'm concerned, risking the lives of everyone in the facility out of spite is something worthy of a beating."

"Do we know if the elementary education section was evacuated?" one of the scientists called out suddenly. "My nephew, he's one of the elementary kids, do you think they got out okay?"

"The Maternity, Nursery, and Education sections were the first to be evacuated in the event of an emergency, remember?" Becky replied reassuringly.

"What do we do about them?" Another soldier asked, pointing at Sunset. "They're the ones who brought this magic shit here. Hell, half of them attacked the base just before everything went to shit!"

Applejack glared at him and balled her hands into fists. "Y'all were the ones who attacked us first! If your darn President and that Colonel would've just left us alone, none of this would've happened!"

Several of the soldiers called out retorts and insults, but Becky shouted over the top of them, "That's enough!" She planted her hands on her hips and drew herself up, flicking her hair back as she did so. "Applejack's right. Twice the Enclave has picked a fight with the Rainbooms without provocation, and twice it has fucked us over." She flung a hand out to indicate the crystalized mountain behind them. "Case in point. Starting another fight now isn't going to help anyone. Right now the best thing we can do is… hang on… that sound…"

Everyone looked up as a dull humming noise filled the air, slowly getting louder until it became recognisable as the sound of propellers. After a few seconds a trio of Vertibirds came into view circling the crystal spire.

Becky sighed with relief. "They must be looking for survivors."

The Vertibirds swept around and slowed to a hover in a clear space just ahead of the group before they landed, facing away from everyone. The centre Vertibird's crew compartment opened the moment it touched the ground and a man in an Enclave officer's uniform stepped out.

"Andrew?" Tara said blankly.

In response to Sunset's confused look, Becky explained, "Lieutenant-Colonel Strong. He's Tara's brother." Seeing that no-one else was stepping forward, she took it upon herself to salute. "Lieutenant-Colonel, it's good to see you."

The Lieutenant-Colonel gave Tara a dark glower before nodding to Becky and returning the salute. "Doctor Shoichet. I assume this is everyone that made it out from the main entrance?"

"Yes, Sir," Becky replied. "We were just deciding on the most appropriate course of action, but since you're the highest ranked officer here…"

Lieutenant-Colonel Strong picked up on her implication immediately and stepped forward to address the crowd. "Is anyone here injured?" A chorus of 'no, Sir', was the reply. "Good. In that case, we can fit about five more people each in the escort Vertibirds. Decide amongst yourselves who's coming, non-combatant personnel only. Soldiers, there's an outpost about 2 clicks East of here, I want you to escort the remaining non-combatants there then await further orders. Is that clear?"

Given a job to do with clear instructions, the Enclave personnel immediately set to carrying out their orders, with the scientists quickly selecting who would take the Vertibirds and the rest being corralled by the soldiers ready for departure. Satisfied that his orders were being followed the Lieutenant-Colonel folded his arms and glared up at Tara. "Alright, sis, what the hell have you gotten yourself into this time?"

"It's a long story," Becky cut in quickly. She rubbed her neck awkwardly as she added, "It, uh… it kinda ties into, well, that." She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder at the crystal spire for clarification.

The Lieutenant-Colonel groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just… just give me the short version."

"President Eden was keeping Project Scouring going in secret, and he wanted to use the Vault 101 boy to spread it around the wastes using Project Purity. I borrowed some magic from the Rainbooms so I had the power to get him to step down and keep Colonel Autumn from launching a coup. The Colonel didn't like that so he set off the base's self-destruct," Tara rattled off. "Add in the fact that Doctor Turner apparently smuggled some magic into the base, magic which replicates when exposed to high quantities of radiation, and you end up with a weird explosion and a mutated mountain fortress."

"Which explains the weird wave of multi-colored crap we saw getting launched across the wasteland." Lieutenant-Colonel Strong ran a hand through his hair nervously. "Ever since we got involved with this magic bullshit things have gone from troubling to fucking insane." He sighed again and looked over at Sunset. "So, is my little sister gonna be a permanent freakshow now, or what?"

Sunset shook her head, ignoring Tara's indignant spluttering. "She should turn back to normal as soon as she gives my friends their Geodes back. Speaking of which," she fixed Tara with a serious look, "I think it's time you handed them over."

Tara frowned and flexed her fingers, allowing a flicker of magic to play around them. Sunset saw Rainbow tightening her grip on Flashburn out of the corner of her eye and for a moment she was afraid that things were about to explode into violence, but Tara suddenly smiled and lowered herself to the ground.

"I suppose you're right. Here." Tara raised a hand to her chest. There was a flash of magic and the three Geodes appeared, separated, and flew through the air until they found their respective owners.

The effect on Tara was almost instant; her wings and horn disintegrated until nothing remained, her hair shortened and returned to its usual blonde, and her lab coat tidied itself up and bled color until it was perfectly white once again, clean as new. Tara swayed on the spot for a second and would have collapsed if Becky and the Lieutenant-Colonel hadn't darted forward to support her. "I… wow… that was… wow." she mumbled.

"Are you okay?" Becky asked.

Tara nodded slowly. "Yeah… just… tired."

Sunset glanced at Twilight, who was just slipping her Geode back over her head. "What about you, are you okay?"

"I'll be fine." Twilight shivered when the Geode settled around her neck, but nodded and smiled weakly. "My back is sore, but I think I can make it to the Citadel if we get a helping hand." She gave the Vertibirds a pointed stare.

"We can't take you to the Citadel," Lieutenant-Colonel Strong said flatly.

"Where are you going to take us?" Becky asked.

The Lieutenant-Colonel hummed as he thought. "The two escort Vertibirds are going to Project Purity, but I'll be finding the nearest outpost with refuelling capabilities before heading on to-" he paused and glanced at the Rainbooms, "-to another site."

"Take us to Project Exodus," Becky said firmly. "We can give you directions and we can drop the Rainbooms off on the way. If we can convince whatever is left of the Senate to agree to a peace treaty with the Brotherhood of Steel, then that will at least make us look a little better."

"And what if we can't convince them?" Lieutenant-Colonel Strong asked. "You know Colonel Autumn will argue against it when he wakes up."

"That asshole survived?" Becky smiled awkwardly at the flat glare she received in response. "Heh, I mean… er… well, I guess we'll just have to forget to mention that we transported the Rainbooms?"

Tara grunted and straightened herself up. "Either way, Project Exodus isn't going to align itself against the Rainbooms again. And we will not support any more conflict with the Brotherhood of Steel. Take us to Project Exodus and drop the Rainbooms off along the way. If Congress doesn't like it, then they can drag themselves to Downtown D.C. and kiss my ass in person."

Lieutenant-Colonel Strong raised an eyebrow at her, then snorted and shook his head. "You're fucking crazy. Alright, fine; as far as anyone on my Vertibird will remember, they never even saw the Rainbooms. That's as far as I'll be able to protect you, though; so I sure as hell hope you know what you're doing."

---

Two sets of footsteps echoed down the ventilation tunnel; one heavy and regular, one light and shuffling. When they reached the end of the tunnel, two mismatched figures clambered over the mangled remains of a metal grating and stepped out into the open air of the wasteland.

Doctor Turner knew that Horrigan was staring at him, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Despite the big brute's best efforts at shielding him, the doctor had still been caught by the blast and, unlike Horrigan, he lacked any form of protection from the magically charged flames. Fortunately, while extremely painful to the touch, the flames hadn't actually physically burned Doctor Turner. Unfortunately, they had affected him in a manner that was, in many ways, far more concerning.

The doctor's right arm had turned entirely charcoal black with bulging veins that pulsed a sickly yellow glow. Other patches of skin were in a similar condition where the flames had touched them.

Flexing his mutated arm experimentally, Doctor Turner sighed and looked back in the direction of Raven Rock. He raised an eyebrow as he spotted the crystal spire jutting into the sky. He hadn't been sure what he was going to see, but he hadn't expected that.

"Are you okay, doc?" Horrigan asked.

Doctor Turner nodded curtly and looked down at his arm again. "It's nothing to worry about. I've seen similar conditions on previous experimental subjects, it'll go back to normal in a month or so," he lied. The last thing he needed was for Horrigan to squash him for being a mutant.

Thankfully, Horrigan accepted his reply without question. "Good to hear. What's the plan, now?"

"That's a very good question." Doctor Turner looked up at the dark clouds in the sky as he considered his options. The top brass would probably want him to deliver Horrigan to Project Purity, but the doctor had no interest in putting himself in the path of a potential assault from the Brotherhood of Steel and the Rainbooms.

Travelling to Project Exodus, on the other hand, that sounded more interesting. Horrigan would easily be able to forge a path through any Super Mutants or other wasteland nasties that got in the way, even against a Scorchbeast such as the one the doctor spotted disappearing into the clouds, or one of the Wanamingos that had managed to escape too, judging by the tracks that led away from the tunnel.

Of course, it was almost certain that Doctor Strong would return to Project Exodus, but that was a risk that Doctor Turner was willing to take. In fact, he was positively hoping that she would be there. She wouldn't be able to run from Horrigan if she was locked in a secure underground facility. Getting access to the vast amount of magical goop still sitting in the hangar would just be the icing on the cake.

Doctor Turner grinned evilly. "Tell me, do you know the way to the old RobCo facility a few miles Southeast of the Pentagon?"

---

Somewhere underneath Raven Rock, in a newly transmuted cavern of multi-colored crystal, a faint light glowed in a wall that had once housed a large console and an accompanying monitor. A sudden crack echoed loudly in the silent cavern, and a fist-sized chunk of light blue crystal fell from the wall. The floor let out a clear chime when the chunk landed.

Eight segmented spikes unfolded from the chunk of crystal and flailed around aimlessly. With great difficulty, the spikes shifted and rolled the chunk until it finally flipped over, revealing itself to be a bizarre crystalline spider. The spider turned on the spot several times, as if getting a feel for its surroundings.

"Well now, this is irregular," Eden muttered, his mandibles glowing with a faint blue light when he spoke. "I really should listen to Doctor Strong in the future. If I ever see her again, that is."

Eden glanced around the cavern once more. Spotting a way out, the mutated AI skittered loudly towards a nearby crystal tunnel.

---

< ALERT >

< RADIATION SPIKE DETECTED: EQUIDAE OMEGA CLASS - VARIATION - >

< TRIANGULATING SOURCE >

< SOURCE LOCATED >

< SCANNING >

< SCANNING >

< SCANNING >

< SCANNING >

< COMPLETE >

< LOCALIZED SATURATION: 21.343% >

< COMPILING REPORT >

< COMPLETE >

< SENDING >

< COMPLETE >

< COUNCIL NOTIFIED >

< INCOMING COUNCIL DIRECTIVE >

< NON-INTRUSIVE ACQUISITION: EQUIDAE OMEGA CLASS - VARIATION - RADIATION - ACQUISITION AUTHORIZED >

< NON-INTRUSIVE COLLECTION UNITS DEPLOYED >

< CONTINUE OBSERVATION >

---

Princess Twilight Sparkle sighed as she trotted through the streets of Ponyville. She had just sent letters to Canterlot, the Crystal Empire, each of the old Pillars of Harmony, and Fizzlepop Berrytwist; now all she had to do was trawl through her collection of artefacts and oddities in the hopes of finding something that might allow the Diviner to open a stable interdimensional portal.

Sighing again, Twilight was snapped from her thoughts by a wet ripping sound. She gasped as the air in front of her rippled and shimmered, then split open to reveal a swirling black vortex. A palpable wave of horror and suffering poured out from the vortex, accompanied by the metallic stench of blood and a foul rotten reek that brought to mind images of death and decay.

Twilight retched and reeled back from the vortex, summoning a shield around herself to keep the awful smell at bay. As she tried to figure exactly what it was, not to mention how to get rid of it, the vortex pulsed and two familiar figures were launched out of it to sprawl on the floor.

"Discord? Starlight? What in Equestria is goi- Starlight?!" Starlight moaned incoherently as Twilight galloped to her side. Her right flank was covered in small cuts and gashes, a bloody bandage covered her left eye entirely and more blood was trickling from the corners of her mouth. "Starlight? Starlight, can you hear me?! Discord, wha-?!"

A child-like laugh suddenly echoed out from the vortex. Discord's head snapped up at the sound and he thrust his paw out, firing a ray of searing heat at the vortex that slowly welded the tear in reality shut. When nothing remained of the vortex but empty air, Discord turned his attention to Starlight.

"What's going on? What happened?!" Twilight demanded.

Discord ignored her and crawled across the ground until he reached Starlight, then gently placed his paw on her shoulder as he checked her over. Finally he sighed and looked up at Twilight. "Starlight told you that we were going to search a different world for your friends together?" Twilight nodded dumbly. "We got trapped. Sachiko, the thing in charge over there, managed to suppress even my powers, it took everything we had just to escape." Discord glanced down at Starlight uneasily. "Thankfully, I at least managed to stop the ghosts from taking her tongue."

"Her…" Twilight felt her gorge rising and clamped a hoof over her mouth.

With a hiss of pain, Discord got to his mismatched feet and stretched, revealing that he too was sporting several nasty cuts. "Get her to a hospital as quickly as you can."

Twilight nodded quickly. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to see if I can find the right world this time." Discord pulled a sheaf of parchment out of his ear, glanced at it for a moment, then swiped a claw through the air and sliced open another hole in reality; this one leading to a deserted fog-enshrouded street. "I'll keep searching for your friends and try to bring them back, then I'm going to go back to that nightmare world and burn it to the ground."

Without another word, Discord slithered through the hole in reality and closed it behind himself with a faint pop.

Twilight decided that she didn't really need to worry about Discord and getting Starlight to a hospital was more important. "Don't worry Starlight, it's going to be okay." Twilight’s horn flashed as she teleported herself and Starlight away.

The street was left in silence after the two had gone. Several seconds passed before a faint hissing started emanating from the spot where the vortex had closed. A tear slowly appeared in midair, dripping blood on the ground as it increased in size until finally a little unicorn filly slipped through and fell to the ground.

The filly had a deathly pale coat with a long black mane and tail, both of which were unkempt and dirty, and was wearing a tattered red dress. Dark rope burns were easily visible around her neck. The little filly examined her body curiously, then turned her attention to her surroundings. She took in the buildings of Ponyville with an impassive expression which morphed into a sadistic grin as her eyes fell upon the Ponyville schoolhouse off on the edge of town.

Giggling softly to herself, Sachiko lit up her horn and a crimson mist surrounded her body. When the mist dissipated she was gone, leaving behind several paper cutouts in roughly human shapes, and a single sheet of paper with strange writings scrawled all over it.

Next Chapter: Chapter 62 - Jolly Little Jukebox Estimated time remaining: 32 Hours, 24 Minutes