Fear awoke with a powerful, eyecrossingly startling jerk. Fear’s mind underwent a swift diagnostic. Every breath through his snout came with a quiet whistle that only he could hear, an annoyingly high pitched one that caused his face to wince. His snout was swollen, possibly broken, hopefully not cricked for good.

Instead of breathing through his snout, he did it through his maw.

Second thing that occurred to him was his face and head was incredibly sore, he had a dull throbbing headache that was more inconvenient than incapacitating.

Third thing he noticed was that he was in a prison cell, laying on his side, unequipped of everything he owned. One eye was at half mast, the other wide open, his breathing quickening. Shaybna wasn't with him. His Garand was destroyed.

Memories returned in a flurry.

Numb shock crossed Fear's features.

Fear squeezed his eyes shut, his head panging like a cancerous throb. “Ooogh.” He lifted a forehoof to his head and tried to calm himself down, having to breathe through his muzzle feeling uncomfortable and unnatural after spending so long teaching himself to aspirate alternately. He sat up, bringing his forehooves up and holding them over his snout, carefully testing it to see if it needed to be cricked back into place. Realizing it did need a slight adjustment...

POP

He jerked his snout to the side, aligning the bones and in the process sending a snapping pain twisting through his face. He slumped back to the ground, muzzle throbbing.

Next up was to examine his surroundings. At least there wasn't as much of a whistle anymore. And he could breathe more effectively.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA3qjX-sKHc

A heavy storm cloud settled over Fear's mind as he fully, entirely realized where he was, breath hitching in his throat with a sharp inhale. His head rung, possibly signs of a concussion? There was a low humming coming from his cage. A very, very small cell being guarded by a satyr guard, the entrance being not bars, but a field of green effervescent energy, broiling at every location it touched something else. He reached out with a hoof, carefully touching the screen of emerald energy and yelping as a sudden, persistent shock zapped through his system and caused every muscle in his body to spasm and seize nearly to the point of tearing.

Fear yanked his hoof away, falling against the ground again with a grunt. He almost got back up, recklessly, to throw himself back at the cage in a sudden influx of panic.

And that's when he realized, everything becoming clear, that he couldn't sense the emotions of the satyr ahead of him.

And then he realized, surrounded by dense black metal, that he couldn't sense anything. The ringing sensation wasn't just from a possible concussion...

It was because he couldn't feel!

Fear screamed out, rapping his hooves against the walls, trying to climb up them, trying to get out, going into emotional overload within the span of seconds. “HELP! SOMEBODY HELP! SOMEBODY SAVE ME!” Fear's voice tried to erupt again, but only choked in his throat his eyes wide, dilated and frantic.

He fell to the ground and pounded on the floor numerous times to the point his hooves were sore, and still he kept doing it, letting out a burdening amount of energy that amounted to something akin to severe acid reflux bubbling up his throat and overwhelming him. His eyes quivered. Fear threw himself against the energy cage again.

Fear's side rammed against it, only for the energy to course through his body and electrocute him so hard his heart nearly stopped, every muscle in his body jerking as he contorted and fell to the ground, frothing from the mouth and groaning, every muscle aching.

So much energy, he rolled around on the ground, holding his head, realizing how much he'd fucked up. He groaned harder, crying out to the world. No one could help him. There was a magic barrier around him. Zetta hadn't been bluffing. Fear's eyes, bloodshot, took on a far away glaze.

Are my friends stuck in a similar situation?

Can Acrid not use his earth manipulation?

How are we supposed to get out of this?

Just like when I lost to Linebreiker.

Worse.

I'm actually aware of it.

Fear's thoughts pounded against his brain, coming from every single different direction as if from a different voice each time, as if his psyche was scattering and tearing apart into multiple personalities, multiple inner voices.

Panic barfed out of him. It felt like vomit coming from every pore in his body as he rocked on the ground, drooling on the floor.

How many of these cages do they have?

Where is my family?

Luna! The others on the moon! What'll happen to them!?

Shaybna! What'll happen to her!? Is she going to be used as fuel?

NO! This is horrible! What have I done!?

Bubbles formed at Fear's mouth, a constant high-pitched sound emitting from his lips until he ran out of breath, inhaled deeply, and did it again.

I've lost!

I can't get out!

What do I do!?

Zetta said he'd keep me in here!

Kill everyone!

Fear's mind blanked out, his eyes crossing over his snout.

Amelio said I had the weight of the world on my shoulders!

The satyrs are going to take over the world!

They're going to enslave everyone!

Why in Tartarus did I have confidence in myself!?

Why wasn't I more panicked earlier!?

WHAT HAVE I DONE!?

Fear was hyperventilating by this point, his mind tunneling down deeper, into the darkest reaches of his psyche, old insecurities that had never taken hold, bubbling to the surface. He jerked his head back and forth, trying to gain a handle on anything, trying to claw to the surface of his deadly spiral.

What was my purpose if not this!?

Why did I have faith in my own abilities!?

I didn't work hard enough!

It wasn't enough!

This is the end!

How is my family going to get out of this without me!?

A terrible, horrible knot formed in Fear's stomach like a cancerous lump, sickening and nauseating. Enough to make him feel like he was going to churn and throw up his organs. It twisted, then contorted, Fear writhed on the ground. Eyes shifting to crimson, glowing eerily.

Marvelous Spiral!? And here I was thinking I'd earned it!

That name means nothing anymore!

It doesn't give me strength!

I am an impostor! I was never a hero!

I didn't even dream!

What am I saying!? There's nothing they could've done!

Fear's saliva dribbled from his mouth onto the floor, forming a puddle beneath him as his body twitched uncomfortably, his healthy hindleg kicking out and straining. His ruby eyes deepened.

First my leg...

Now this...

What am I doing with my life?

What did Discord expect of me?

Fear bolted upward, putting his forelegs under him and sitting up, lame leg splaying away from him.

“Discord!”

The satyr glanced behind him curiously, before returning to his guard. “Sorry kid. No one's coming for you.” The voice was tinny, lacking bass, coming from the mask.

Fear ignored the idiot on the other side. Didn't trust him. Didn't care about him. Didn't wanna kill him, but didn't wanna save him either. He was the enemy, and right now he was feeling a very extravagant loss of forgiveness in his aching, nearly frozen heart. Discord was his only chance. Sure he could pick the lock of the cage if it was normal and his magic wasn't being inhibited, but...

But...

As Fear realized he was useless without any magical abilities, eyes going dull and exhausted from the brutal wrench in his soul, Discord's voice sounded in his head. Well hello there Fear, how goes it?

How goes it!? How do you think it's going!? I'm having an existential crisis! I can't think of a way out! I'm panicking! I can't brainstorm! What am I supposed to do! I called you to help me! This is the end of the road!

Was there a way out? Fear hadn't really considered it.

His magic wasn't working. There was nothing in his skill set that could get him past an electrocuting cell.

Discord's response made him sound like he was waggling a paw around dismissively. I don't have enough power to help, Fear. I'm sorry. That was even if my will could get past these state of the art magic inhibitors. It's hard enough to be in your head right now. Anything made out of pure discord wouldn't be able to function here anyway. Discord paused.

I should be honest with you, Fear. Discord's voice grew more sullen. And Fear couldn't tell whether it was genuine or not, whether Discord was hiding it or not. Even if I could, I wouldn't do it. You've been bailed out too many times, it's time you did something for yourself.

Fear screamed and jumped to his legs. “Discord! What are you talking about!? I can't do anything in here! Why wouldn't you help if you could!?” It felt like a betrayal, putting aside the fact that Discord genuinely couldn't do anything. Could Discord do anything? Fear couldn't tell if he was lying. His mother's paranoia surfaced and his face twisted into a suspicious scowl. “You're not telling the truth, are you! You're just saying that! You're tricking me! This is a trick! You're gonna help right!?” Fear's voice was full of hope and denial.

“Shut up kid. No one's coming to save you. And to be honest if you're so crazy you're talking to a dead man I don't really want you out.” The Satyr gruffed.

No. Discord stated simply. I'm not tricking you. And with that he left abruptly. There was no sense of him in Fear's mind.

“Discord!? Discord! No! Don't leave me! Please no! No no no!”

Fear fell to the ground, sobbing to himself, openly weeping and sniffling. “No! Please no! Not like this! I don't want to be alone! Please don't do this to me! Don't leave me alone! Not again... please! I can't do this! I'm not strong enough! I'm just a colt! Just a... just a colt...!” Fear mourned into his hooves, his eyes becoming like faucets as he squeezed them shut. “I let down the Abyssinians! I let down everyone! No... please...! I'm no hero! I don't care. I'll give up the title. I'll give up everything! Just please let it be okay!”

I'm useless. The thought thundered in Fear's head over and over again like lightning striking the same place repeatedly. I've let down the wasteland. I've let down my parents. My Mom was wrong

Fear looked up at the ceiling with dead eyes. I deserve it. To suffer, to die. I tried to intervene too many times. I killed so many. I did so much wrong. There was so much I could've done better if I'd just trained myself harder! Tears leaked from his eyes. The umbrans were living creatures too. I could've tried to reason with them! My mother's rifle? I couldn't protect it. I couldn't protect her, or anything else.

Storm's voice probed Fear's mind. Fear. The voice of his tulpa. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you Fear. So many were against you, against us. There was no way we could've won. There was too much burden, too many odds. It was all against us.

Fear's head twisted to the empty space where he felt his tulpa's presence from in his mind. No. That can't be. It couldn't have been that bad. We weren't hated. Ponies loved us. Right?

I loved you Fear. I guess... I guess maybe the others did too? But... but you have to admit. They never did enough for us did they?

That suspicious paranoia. Fear recognized it. He shut his eyes tight and pushed his tulpa away from him in his mind's eye. “No! They didn't hate us! They did enough! They were always there for us when we needed them! I just... couldn't... be there for them. Because I was too weak!” He knew where this paranoia came from, the assumption of the worst, irrational anxiety, bad outcomes, trauma that went beyond the mind.

Honey. It's no use. We weren't enough. They weren't enough. No one will ever be enough. They will always betray you in the end, even if they don't mean to. We betrayed them too. We were too confident. We didn't prepare enough. There was not enough time. There will never be enough time.

Fear stamped his hooves on the ground and screamed at the ceiling.

“Kid! Fucking shut up!” The satyr exclaimed, rolling his eyes in his helmet. “Ugh. Stupid foals. This is what Zetta was so afraid of? Psh.” Still, best to keep him in his containment. No point risking the worst case scenario.

Mom! Fear furiously shouted in his mind. We can't always be in control! Having his tulpa panicking almost gave him the strength to pull himself back from the brink. With both of them spiraling down he could at least see what was happening to him. Be there for others, even if not for himself. We can't control everything! We can't always be in control! Amelio and Acrid helped us realize that! So calm down! We need to calm down! Fear tried to take a deep breath through his snout, tensing his aching muscles, holding it in his lungs, and then slowly letting it out while releasing. Both of us. Just. Relax... The others from his dream had taught him this.

“You okay?” A bubbly, sort of tentative voice erupted from the other side of the train.

“Oh for fuck's sake,” the satyr proclaimed, rolling his eyes and bending his head back. “Both of you shut up. I don't want to deal with either of your voices right now.”

The voice, Eden, whimpered slightly and there was a sound of shuffling.

Fear narrowed his eyes, shivering on the ground, sitting against the wall, trying to see through the energy field. His eyes adjusted a bit to the beams and he was gradually able to filter out a cell across from him, and what he saw almost... made his heart stop. It was an avian, though the colors were hard to make out. All he could see were the horizontally ribbed bird legs and talon-ed feet, with plumage on the thighs, shoulders, and head, a slight mismatch in leg size that would likely, Fear figured, lead to a limp. Either way, the avian was nearly Gentler's size. He cocked his head to the side a bit, studying the lean, semi-tall bird. Something shuddered through Fear, a power coalescing in his chest as he shut his eyes. “Yeah I am, who are you?” His wit came to the surface as his voice trembled from his previous emotional breakdown, still suffering from some of it.

“I said shut up! Both of you! If you speak, Eden, I'm coming in there and tasing you!”

“Wouldn't dare,” Fear muttered. “If you did he'd have an opportunity to weave past you and open my cell. Then where would you be? Dealing with me, that's what. Let us talk, or it's your death.” There was a violent, calm, succinct undertone to his voice. A sort of non-chalantness that it was the way life was and he better expect it. His family's charisma seeped from him in that moment. Not magic, just social.

Eden squawked behind his cell door, flailing his wing-like arms a bit. “Wow!” There was a jumpiness to his behavior and words, a little all over the place. “You're pretty good at that!”

The satyr merely bit his lip, causing Fear to grin and huff. “Sorry if I worried you. Just a little existential crisis.” Fear's voice cracked, still in the thick of it.

“That's fine! We all go through those from time to time. What's your name?”

Fear bowed his head, smiling a bit. The creatures he met on his journey never ceased to amaze him. “Fearei Shatter. Just call me Fear though. The guard said your name was Eden, but why are you here? How'd you get caught up in this mess?”

“Oh! Me?” Another squawk. “Well... I'm a slave. Kind of. I don't dare try to outrun them normally. Unless I wanna make things harder on them.” A sort of depraved tone twitched in his voice. “I don't wanna go into it though, not with someone I just met.”

Fear lifted an eyebrow. A slave. He twisted his head to the side and expelled air between his lips, making a frustrated purring noise. “I won't push it. I feel for you though. I don't relate, but I feel.” He's my next responsibility. Gotta focus on getting him out of here. Give him a place to go to. Give him equipment. Maybe he can take some sunflower seeds from one of my family members? If I can get out of here... it was hard to have confidence, and it was shaky. But in this moment, with someone in need, it was either have confidence and pretend to have all the answers or let hopelessness spread.

And the latter was not an option.

Even fake hope could become real hope with enough action, smarts, and belief. His novel had said so. But... his body still shook violently from anxiety.

“You're clearly not okay,” Eden squawked nervously. “What's wrong?”

“I don't wanna worry you...” Fear twisted his head down and to the side.

“Doesn't matter. We're cell mates. Might as well get to know each other. Besides, I've been in this rigmarole many times. This is your first dance, right?” Eden's bubbly tone returned, he was leaning on his knees.

Fear couldn't help but smile a bit, flicking his lips upward. Eyes gradually shifting, like a mood ring, to a neutral, furious violet. “Yeah I suppose it is. But I'm not here for the same reasons as you. I'm not a slave. ...Just a prisoner, for better or worse. I'm here to be tortured and eventually killed when all is lost.”

“Pfft!” Eden bat a feather-clad wing. “It can't possibly be that bad!”

“It is...” Fear said sullenly, burying his face against his chest, ears flicking. “Zetta and Seele are going to take over the wasteland and more. They're going to exert their will over it. Use creatures as batteries for their kind. The umbrans are going to be unleashed. A kingdom of despair, a kingdom of slavery the likes of which no one has seen.” Fear hesitated, and let out a shuddering sigh. “And once again I'm incapable of saving my loved ones in a crucial moment, just like I couldn't save my mother.”

Eden shrugged a shoulder. “Well what'd you do last time? You clearly made it this far.”

Fear looked up, wobbling back and forth. “Well...” He cast his gaze toward Eden. “I had friends there to pick up the slack.”

“Whoof! Friends!” Eden whistled. “That's something I haven't had for a long time. But I mean, you still have them right? They're not out for the count yet. Sure you might not be able to do anything but that doesn't mean they can't!”

“I don't know...” Fear reluctantly uttered. “I can't think of anything they might be able to do in a moment like this. They don't have a lot of abilities, and if they're trapped in magic inhibiting cells like mine then there's no possible way.”

“Hey.” Eden tilted his head up for Fear to see. “Look at me.” It was the first fully aware thing he'd said.

“What is it...?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow7nV7rVQgU

“Even if your family can't do anything, they're relying on you to hold it together for them, to show them strength in the face of tragedy.” The bird's beak tilted. “Like me? There's nothing you can do sometimes. But just accepting it and being happy anyway is something no one can take away from you. Even this Zetta you speak of. Even if he tortures you, as long as you can be consistently happy, what can he really do to you?”

Fear couldn't help but grin. “It's not over til it's over yeah?” Acrid's gone through that too. Losing everything he loved. And he kept going anyway.

“Exactly!” Eden squawked. “Don't give up! There's still hope! Even when all fails, even when you've lost everything you can imagine. There's still a chance to pick up the pieces and make a new life. Even if that new life is in the arms of those who abuse you.” He leaned from side to side, rocking a bit. “So perk up, okay?”

“I'm gonna get you out of here,” Fear suddenly stated. And that's when he felt the sensation of motion under him. The train was on the move.

Eden shrugged. “Even if not, there'll be other opportunities.”

“Hah!” Fear chortled. “You sound like my sister!”

“It's true isn't it?”

“Huh.” Fear huffed, his heart dense and heavy with the upcoming tragedy. “To be honest I can't tell whether you're just being strong for my sake or what, but either way, thank you. It helps. It's just words, but it's words I need to hear and keep in mind. A perspective I need to claw at and embrace. Never let go of. Even if everything goes to shit... I'll find a way to overcome and set things right.” My sister once told me I was the type of pony who'd find a way to live even in death. I have to trust she was right about me. Fear rubbed the back of his neck. I should be handling this situation better, like Eden. Failure is just another thing to learn from. It's not whether or not I fail, but how I handle it. Gotta unlearn these tendencies of mine. All these routines and methods.

“I'm actually incredibly sad!” Eden admitted with the same bubbly voice from before. “But that doesn't mean I can't try to be happy!”

Fear's grin only widened. Eyes morphing to their inspiring, blazing sapphire. I'm going to have to be careful not to be traumatized from this, once I'm out. Things will work out, one way or another. Even if everyone dies, as long as I still have myself I can keep gathering allies and... eventually... Fear breathed deeply in through his snout, his face setting into a concrete, determined scowl. I'll win. One way or another. I've gotten this far, right? He couldn't help but feel akin to a fool, deciding to just wait, bide his time, and steel himself for whatever may come. I told myself I wouldn't falter again, but here I am. Everything I felt when I fought Breiker just... lost. Oh well. Beating myself up over it will just cause another spiral.

Something strange occurred to Fear, a sensation that, in the midst of everything going on he hadn't noticed. He looked down at his chest and was... startled when he felt the sensation of the screw necklace pricking against his chin. It was something he rarely thought about, rarely became cognizant of, but it reminded him. Luna had faith in him. Everyone had faith in him. Zetta hadn't taken it away from him, as if completely going unnoticed too. But it was a symbol of his ability to fix things.

Fear's muscles flexed.

That was encouraging.

And that was when the unthinkable happened.

The sound echoed through the carriage before Fear even saw what happened.

SLAM.

CRACK.

One second the satyr was standing there and the next he'd been dive kicked in the skull, staggered, grabbed by the throat, and then slammed into the ground hard enough to leave an impact crater in the metal.

Fear leaned forward, eyes wide. There was only one single creature he knew that could possibly do that kind of damage, with that kind of speed! It was impossible!

Gentler stood in front of the energy cell, clapping his gauntlet-ed paws together with a sour smirk spread across his face, eyes lidded. Cloak rustling behind him. There was a gash on his forehead, and liquid had been gushing down his face and staining his clothes. Fear couldn't see the color yet but he knew from experience it was blood.

Fear wasn't sure what had just happened, but during all of it Eden had started squawking in alarm.

“Hey there Fear. Miss us?” Gentler's voice was a low purr.

“Gentler! How'd you get here!? How'd you escape!?” Fear stood close to the energy door as Gentler took his gauntlet and rammed it into the control panel with the same magnetic pulse he'd used to take out the guard. SHUNK. And then a second later Gentler yanked out the wires with barely a care in the world, causing the beams to shut off with a worble.

Yeah, that was blood. A lot of it.

Gentler cracked his knuckles a few times, his muzzle dipping and wiggling. “Wrestlers have a special trick they use to hype up the audience called juicing. All I had to do was slice a claw across my forehead and bleed out until the guard assigned to us patrolled past me. Catch him by surprise. No big deal, Fear.”

A little spectral energy flowed through Fear's wide eyes, shimmering in his pupils for a split second as he stared at Gentler with gaping maw. He then pouted, jutting out his lower lip and thrusting his forehooves against the ground. “Damn! I really have to give you guys way more credit. You're amazing!”

Gentler cracked a grin, an arm across his chest and the other hand near his face flicking his fingers. “Oh ye of little faith. We have a pony in our party named Faith, how are you giving up so easily?”

Fear grinned forlornly, shaking his head wildly with twisted shut eyes. “You're right!” Fear clapped his forehooves against his cheeks and slapped himself a few times. “Let's get out of here! But first!” Fear stepped out from his cell, on top of the soldier, immediately sensing things all over again. Gentler's smirk was everywhere in his body, though there was a little concern etched in there too. Seemed he wasn't a hundred percent sure how they were going to get out of this either, if his deduction was right.

But Fear had a plan.

“Hey, Gentler,” Fear stated. “Can you please open this cell?” He pointed to the one across. “Were there any cells with occupants on your way here? And where are the others?”

Gentler shrugged his shoulders, hands in the air, and then slammed a fist through the control panel of the cell, all as Eden finally stopped squawking and shivered in his cell from the sudden changes going on around him. He yanked out the wires, causing the energy to dissipate immediately. “Faith is gathering the rest of your gear, Acrid is testing something. And no there weren't. You're near the very back of the train, Fear, next to the engine.”

Fear cocked his head at Gentler, and then winced in surprise when Eden threw himself at the little equine, wrapping him up in a giant hug, smothering him in chest plumage. Fear fell backwards, squeaking and barely kept from falling off the soldier to the floor from the bird's attack. “Thank you! Thank you thank you thank you! I don't know how I'm going to get off of here, or what I'm going to do, or anything like that, but... but it's a step forward!”

Gentler stared down at Fear with a raised eyebrow, arms crossed over his chest, smirking a tad. “New friend, Fear?”

Eden was squawking and crying, but also cold and numb all over. It was now apparent he was a mix of blues, blacks, and whites, with fantastical designs on his legs like tribal tattoos.

Fear merely pat him on the back a couple times, still wincing. It hurt a little to be touched. A gentle hiss escaped his lips. “Something like that, Gent.” He twisted his head. “Eden. Can you get off this train from the back? Maybe... I don't know. Fly away or something?”

Eden pulled away and stood up with only a slight limp, flexing his arms. “Yeah! You don't worry about me Fear! Just do what you have to do!”

“Hey Gentler?” Fear turned to look at his family.

“Yeah?”

“You still got that box of sunflower seeds in your backpack?”

Gentler's eyes widened slightly and he uncrossed his arms, yanking his backpack off and setting it on the ground. “Yeah, some. You want me to give them to him eh?”

“We got more than enough to go around,” Fear shrugged. “Right? And they last awhile.”

Eden was glancing between the two in confusion. “Sunflower seeds? I haven't eaten those in forever! You really have some?”

“Yeah,” Fear responded.

Gentler finished rooting around in his pack and pulled out the small box. It was actually an old cigarette container with a poppy on the cover but it worked for what they needed. He handed it off to Eden. “Here take this. Head for the rock farm, avoid the minefield, then go west til you reach Panthera if you can.”

Eden's eyes welled up with tears as he gripped it. “Really? For me? How can sunflower seeds be enough to last me that long?”

“It will, don't worry. You won't feel full naturally but it'll keep you strong,” Fear reassured, putting a hoof on his abdomen. Fuck it sucked to be small sometimes. Only reason he could reach that far was due to standing on the guard.

Eden juggled the box in a 'hand' a few times, tilting his head to the side. “Okay!” He nearly squawked. “I'll do it! Leave it to me!”

Fear smiled from ear to ear, letting his eyes fall shut and cocking his head slightly, pulling his forelegs together. “When you get to Panthera look for Clairity and Salmon Stoic. They should be able to help you out at least a little until you can find a home of your own. I'm sure there are places around there that might warrant your services. For now though...” Fear's stance returned to normal, a determined glare forming on his face as he looked down the way Gentler had come. “It's time for us to finish this for good.”

“By the way,” Gentler stated, rolling a paw. “Your Garand wasn't there. Faith stayed behind to keep looking for it in case it was under one of the other things there. I'm sorry.”

Fear shook his head again. “No. It's alright. I know it's gone. The memories are vague but I know Zetta destroyed it and left it behind.” Eden was busy heading for the back of the train to make his escape.

Gentler's eyes took on a pitying gaze. “Alright then. Well I guess we have an umbran to give Tartarus.” His voice was calm, even, with a bit of a dark undertone. He cared a lot for Fear, Fear could tell.

“I still have the weapon care kit in my saddlebags. It sucks but I'll get over it.” Fear puffed out his chest confidently, giving a strained smile. Gentler merely tsked with closed eyes and a smile and spun around, cloak billowing behind him as he put back on his backpack, heading for the front of the train.

“Time to make tracks, Fear!” Gentler's voice bellowed.

Fear chased after his friend and family member on three hooves instantly, still a little uncomfortable about Gentler's cascade of blood. He'd check on Eden later in his dreams, if possible. For now... they had to get this train stopped. Passing from car to car was uncomfortable because of all the terrain speeding past them.

==========================================================================================

On the way to meet up with Faith and Acrid, passing by multiple knocked out satyr soldiers along the way (Fear was impressed, to say the least) there were many rooms. Cabins to relax in, battery rooms that powered the rest of the train and kept a constant conduction of soul power pumping through the entire thing, humming constantly, working efficiently. That and also rooms that were merely filled with weapons (though to be fair that was nearly every room, some just more than others). Every carriage had a very large hatch on the ceiling leading to the top in order to provide maintenance to that particular train car, and alongside that the weaponized carriages had multiple turret bubbles inset the walls and ceilings, made of plexiglass and Antithaum Steel alloys (which Fear only knew the scientific name due to Gentler using it in passing at one point).

It wasn't long, though it was after zooming through multiple carriages, that the group met up in the middle.

Faith moved to launch herself at Fear and pull him into a motherly caress, only to be beaten to the punch by a wild and crazy Acrid.

Acrid's dreads rustled as he slammed home into Fear. Fear for his part tried to push back against Acrid but with his lame leg and small size just ended up with him being tackled backwards to the ground and pinned under the somewhat larger young stallion. Acrid was grinning from ear to ear. “Fear! I can't believe you're okay! I tried to help you! I tried to seal away Zetta...” There was an unnatural hesitance in Acrid's voice and aura.

Fear assumed it was due to his guilt and the lingering bits of cowardice.

“I wanted to escape, I really did. I'm sorry Fear,” Acrid apologized pathetically. “Gentler saved us all.”

Fear rolled his eyes and simpered. “It's fine. You did your best. It'll be okay! I promise. We're gonna raise Tartarus on this train. Though...” He looked around a bit. “Looks like you lot already did just that without my help. Wish I could've seen it.”

Acrid buried his face into the smaller stallion's neck. Both of them still had blood staining their muzzles though it was dry. “Still! I'm sorry! I wasn't enough help! I almost lost everything again because I wasn't good enough!” There was an almost subdued sense of panic emanating from him.

Fear calmly reached around Acrid's back and gently stroked over his spine. “Shh... it's okay Acrid. I know what you're going through.” Then something clicked. Discord... he was trying to establish a point. Fear's eyes narrowed. He wanted me to rely on more than just a demigod. I did a lot for myself. I made so many connections and I'm still making more. I did all of that. I made these friends, this family, and we help each other. We are not independent, we are interdependent, like Dad said. “Listen, Acrid. We're a family okay? We pick up each other's slack. There's no shame in relying on those who have different skills sets than each other. We're not literally capable of everything. We'll succeed when it counts. Trust me?”

Acrid pulled up, looking down at Fear with watery eyes. For a moment Fear thought he was looking into his mother's crying eyes with how green they were. A shade darker, sure, but still very, very green. There was something also strange. Fear tilted his head a little, analyzing Acrid with a suspicious expression. He looked like a radioactive moon in some ways. “Thank you Fear. I guess... I'm just having a hard time. I don't show it...”

“But you've been experiencing a lot of depression and anxiety from the death of everything you loved, right?” Fear finished with a caring look in his eyes, almost fatherly or motherly.

Acrid nodded once, his lips straining. “Yes. I try not to burden you all with it, I'm always trying to push it off and cope. But it's a little too much sometimes.” It was one of the few times Acrid made himself so vulnerable, so much so it almost seemed out of character.

But this was a closer call than usual.

Fear reached up and did what had at one point been unthinkable. He muzzle nuzzled into Acrid's snout. “Don't worry. We've been through some traumatizing stuff. I'll ask Meels to come help you with it all if she can. Alright? We're not out for the count yet, as long as we can still heal.” Fear pulled away, tearing up a bit too.

Acrid's tail whipped to the side and he stood up from Fear, moving off to the side and wiping his eyes with a foreleg. “You're right. I'm sorry. This isn't the time. We have a satyr to kill.” Acrid looked down at the floor, then looked up with steeled features. “Let's do it.”

Faith approached Fear next while pushing his saddlebags and sword forward, Gentler in the corner with arms crossed and sassy smirk spread across his face. “Fear... I'm sorry.” She bowed her head and shook it. “I couldn't find your Garand. I think it's gone for good.”

Fear shrugged a shoulder, before reaching out with a hoof and tilting Faith's head up by the chin. “Look. I'm not going to lie. It's not fine. But we've got bigger things to worry about than a sentimental object with a bunch of memories attached to it. Mom will always be in my heart, and while it sucks to have a piece of my arsenal eliminated... that's what all you are for.”

Faith couldn't help but smile slightly. “You're a strong colt, Fear. You always have been.”

“Pssh. Not even slightly. Thank you though Faith.” Fear chuckled sourly to himself. “Now let's get going.” He looked between his four comrades and held a foreleg in the air, leaning on his splinted dead leg. “To the future, right?”

“To the future!” The other three called out.

And then they were off for the front of the train after Fear gathered up his things.

As they walked calmly, in no rush and saving their energy, Acrid punched Fear in the shoulder. “By the way, Fear.”

Fear glanced at Acrid with curiosity.

“While I was having a... sort of breakdown in my cell I remembered something.” The only thing that filled the air was clacking of hooves and greaves, everyone carrying their gear.

“What'd you remember?” Now Fear was really piqued.

“The scientists used to theorize around me, and try to get me to do it... to manipulate solid carbon, things using it. One of the fundamental aspects of steel and oil, y'know?” Acrid occasionally looked to Fear, before staring at the ceiling, shrugging a shoulder, the dreadlock that hung over one of his eyes bobbing with every step. “I've also considered whether or not, like they said, I could manipulate sand and glass. I'm going to try using it in our fight with them, if there's any plexiglass in the carriage. When I used to do it in the labs it was impossible and it felt like I was splitting my ability in twain, but I think...”

Fear's grin reached untold proportions. It was amazing to see Acrid so inspired.

In a way, it was also arousing.

“I can do it now. My feeling's at an all time high, and I'm not letting anything stand in my way.” Acrid finished.

“I like that idea,” Fear purred, “Princess Luna told me something similar. That I should be trying to take a harder stance, make firmer boundaries. Push my boundaries and not let anything stand in my way.”

The two simpered at each other, their gazes meeting for the briefest of moments. Fear then looked to the others, his gaze lingering on each in turn. “I love you guys.”

Gentler leaned forward, shrugged with a huge grin, then returned to his normal position, while Faith bowed her head and tried to suppress the giant smile edging across her face. Acrid looked calm and content. “We love you too,” Faith responded.

Splitting this once whole chapter into two chapters because of how long it was getting. :P Also feels nice to end on a cliffhanger again.

Fear using his friends to win. Courtesy of my friend.

BR asks Drax: Are dragon scales dragon proof? how do you scratch without hurting yourself and what do you do if your back itches?

Drax: Short answer? No. With enough clawing, scratching, and tearing claws will eventually rip through scale and hide. All you have to do is scratch gently to not hurt yourself, just like anyone else with sharp nails. As for back itching, usually we find a rock or something to grind ourselves against. Depending on how tough the rock is and how you rub yourself against it, you might end up sharpening or dulling it.