“Intrepid.”

I look away from my leather-bound book and look around the room, wondering where the voice is coming from. Nopony seems to be in here. Just a couch, a couple of chairs, and a half empty bookcase. But it is dark, somepony could be hiding in the shadows. And the light green magical glow from my horn gives the room a very eerie feeling to it.

Thankfully, I’ve already used the books from the bookcase to create a sturdy book fort. Just as long as I stay in here, I should be safe from all the monsters that are hiding in the shadows.

“Intrepid.”

A soft violet light shines from the hallway, getting brighter and brighter with every passing second. To a young colt like myself, that can only mean trouble. Dismissing my light spell, I quickly retreat back into my fort and use the leather-bound book to block the entrance.

The sound of hoofsteps grow closer to my fortress of literature before a relieved sounding mare asks “Intrepid, are you in there?”

“No,” I answer sheepishly, honestly hoping she will believe me.

“Oh really?”

“Yes,” I say just before it dawns on me that she’s not buying it. Within seconds, the roof of my fort opens up and I look up to see the one pony I did not want to see right now.

Mom.

Using my highly tuned colt-like reflexes, I try to run from the dark grey mare, desperately trying to get away from whatever punishment is in store for me. An attempt cut short when she quickly catches my tail in her magic and pulls up into the air.

“Eep!” I blurt out before covering my mouth in embarrassment.

Now upside down and hanging by my tail in the air, I desperately try to avoid eye contact and instead focus on the purple ponytail resting on her shoulder.

“Intrepid, what are you doing out of bed? Do you know what time it is?” Mom asks with a mixture of concern and relief.

“I-I just wanted to read more about Twilight and her friends?” I say sheepishly. “I-I know it’s past bedtime but I wanted to know what happened to…” I fall silent when she sighs.

“Honestly, I don’t know what to do with you,” She gently lowers me to the floor and then points a hoof at my book fort. “Now let’s get this cleaned up before your Dad comes home from guard duty.”

With a silent nod, I move to dismantle my fort. As Mom helps me put the books away, a thought pops into my mind and I look up at her. “Mom, Dad has that robot eye because a mean pony took his real one out, right?”

She pauses in the middle of putting a book back in the bookshelf and looks back at me. “Yes, that is right. That’s why being a guard can be scary and dangerous.” She answers carefully, not really sure where I am going with this.

“But he still wants to be a guard?” I ask while putting another book away.

She nods. “He wants to keep our home safe from raiders and all the other mean ponies that want to hurt us. So that we don’t have to face those scary monsters outside.”

I ponder that for a moment before looking back at Mom with a big smile on my face. “So Dad’s brave like Fluttershy!”

Mom gives me a rather confused look, so I grab my leather-bound book and hold it up. “Fluttershy was afraid of a big dragon that was near ponyville. She didn’t want to do it because it was scary and dangerous too. But when her friends needed her she faced her fear and told the dragon to be nice and not be a bully!”

Mom chuckles. “Yes, she was very brave wasn’t she? I bet your father would have done the same thing in her shoes too.”

“That’s why I want to be like Dad when I grow up!” I say excitedly as I put my book down. “I want to do what’s right and be able to help ponies out no matter what!”

Mom smiles as she affectionately ruffles my mane with her hoof. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear that,” She says before giving me a kiss on my forehead. “And I have no doubt you will become like your father when you grow up.”

“Really?!” I ask as I beam with joy at her. A frown then forms on my face as I realise that all I’ve been doing is praising Dad this entire time. “I think you’re brave too, Mom.”

“Oh Intrepid. Come here,” Mom says before pulling me in and embracing me tightly against herself. “I love you so much.”

My smile returns as I press my head against her chest and hug her back. “I love you too, Mom.”

Sounds of metal creaking greet me as I groan and slowly open my eyes, wincing a bit as they adjust to the flickering light. My heart aches as the last bits of my dream drift away from my mind, reawakening feelings of regret over my decision to have ever left home in the first place. But I push those feelings aside and try to figure out what to do now. The facility didn’t turn out to be the treasure trove I was hoping for. And bumping into that murderous hellhound only made my situation worse. At least I managed to deal with him and escape from that pack of feral ghouls by using the elevator. An elevator that looks more like a cage than anything. Controlled by a grumpy voice who calls the feral ghouls upstairs sick…

I’m still asleep and trapped in one long, nonsensical nightmare, aren’t I?

My body aches as I sit up, telling me that I am very much awake. Rubbing my sore neck, I take a good look at my surroundings, noting for the first time just how worn out the cage surrounding the elevator looks. It’s a miracle that it withstood every attack the feral ghouls did against it.

The room lying outside of the cage is pretty spartan in design. Faded yellow caution lines outlining the elevator landing area contrast the barren concrete floor and walls. Incandescent lights line the upper parts of the walls, with one of them flickering badly above the only entrance to this room: a vault door.

Thankfully, this one is a boring square one, with metal bracings and a faded yellow line right down the middle. If it had been one of the round automated ones that mark the entrance of a Stable, then… Well, then it depends on what kind of experiment went horribly wrong here. The chances of finding a ‘safe’ Stable is pretty slim, which is ironic given its purpose of saving ponies from the apocalypse. Though, given the faded hazard sign above the control panel to the door, this place might be as ‘safe’ as a Stable.

Putting away my book that I was hugging while asleep, I stretch my legs out and then force the cage door open. Wasn’t my raspy sounding savior supposed to meet me down here? I couldn’t have been asleep for longer than an hour or so, right? Noting the intercom next to the door controls, I walk up to it, press one of the buttons, and-

“I told Bright Eyes I can handle this,” A familiar raspy stallion voice blares out of the speaker.

“I’m not saying you can’t. But there’s a reason why I have to come along too,” An equally raspy mare voice says in a notably softer tone than the stallion.

“I can handle the sick-”

“Feral.”

“Sick.”

“Umm…. H-Hello?” I say into the intercom.

The door’s hydraulics hiss to life as it opens and two ponies walk into the room: A dirty tan earth pony stallion with a balding snow white mane and a ghoulish-looking zebra mare with a well-kept black mane. Both are wearing lab coats, though the earth pony’s coat has spots of oil on his. And a standard Stable-Tec PipBuck on his left foreleg.

“Salt Cube, I am not arguing this point with you again.” The zebra ghoul says while glaring dangerously at the earth pony, the glass sphere in her left eye socket making the glare all the more unnerving.

“Fine. But I still don’t see why you need to come along, Floria,” The earth pony looks back defiantly. “I can get them back into their rooms just fine. I’ve done it before.”

“Not when they’re riled up like this!” She rubs her temples before finally noticing me. I give the ghoul a very sheepish wave as she looks up at me and smiles. “Now who is this tall unicorn over here? I take it you’re the pony that Salt Cube was talking to earlier?”

I nod. “Intrepid Scholar. It’s nice to meet you, Miss?”

“Floria, just Floria,” She says while offering her hoof towards me. Despite my desire to be polite, I stare wearily at the rotting hoof before me, the memories of nearly being eaten alive by feral ghouls still fresh in my mind. Thankfully, she doesn’t seem to take offense as she jokingly adds “Don’t worry, I don’t bite.”

“I-I beg your pardon,” I spit out and quickly shake her hoof. “I-I guess I’m still a little shaken from what happened upstairs.”

Nearly dying twice in a short span of time can do that to a pony.

“What were you doing up there anyway? You don’t look like you’re from around here,” Salt Cube looks me over suspiciously, his eyes stopping on my makeshift PipBuck. “You’re not trying to steal something from us, are you?”

“Salt Cube,” Floria warns.

“N-No I’m not here to rob you or anything like that!” I say before rubbing the back of my neck. “I mean, I was scavenging for supplies, but that’s because this place looked abandoned. Until the hellhound attacked. And killing him ended up attracting the ferals out and… why are you both looking at me like that?”

Floria looks outright shocked while Salt Cube skeptically stares at me and asks “You killed a hellhound? By yourself?”

I shrink back under his gaze. “Yes?”

There’s a moment of extremely uncomfortable silence before Floria walks over to the elevator and boards it. “I guess we’ll find out if you’re telling the truth or not soon enough. Salt Cube, keep an eye on him while I’m up there,” She closes the door behind her and presses one of the buttons before glancing over at Salt Cube. “And be nice!”

“What? Hold on! I didn’t-” Salt Cube complaint is cut short by the elevator starting up. He mutters something under his breath as we watch Floria ascend to the world above before he shoots me a dirty look. It’s enough that I get the hint and quietly sit down against the nearby wall. Pulling out the scavenged parts from the front desk terminal, I open up my PipBuck’s casing and proceed to look over the wiring underneath.

“So,” Salt Cube says awkwardly as he approaches me and points at my PipBuck. “Where did you get that... thing?”

“This thing happens to be my PipBuck,” I answer back irritably while replacing some of the old wiring in it.

“Uh-huh,” He looks my PipBuck over carefully. “It doesn’t look like any PipBuck I’ve ever seen before.”

“Yeah, well I only had scrap parts and a half of a manual to work with,” I shoot him a quick glare. “But it’s just as capable as the one you’re wearing now.”

Salt Cube raises an eyebrow at me before moving in closer to get a better view of what I’m doing. “Are you sure it works properly?”

“Of course it works properly!” I say indignantly while closing my PipBuck’s casing and turn it on before muttering quietly “Most of the time.”

I ignore whatever reaction he might have given me for that last part and go through all of the menus to make sure they still work: Map is still somewhat useful. Inventory is still depressingly small. The E.F.S. spell shows Salt Cube as a ‘friendly’ green dot, so that still works. And it seems like all of the notes and messages I’ve gathered over the years are still in one piece.

"Where did you get that?" Salt Cube points a hoof at the screen and it takes me a few seconds to realize which message he is pointing at.

"Oh, umm, I got that one from the front desk terminal in the main lobby.” I answer back sheepishly. “Don’t worry, it doesn’t have anything in it. Just a garbled mess of data and… "

My voice trails off as Salt Cube gives me a stern look. “You’re telling me you managed to get something from a terminal that has been dead for years?”

“Well, it helps when you have a basic understanding on how… terminals… work?” I say nervously as he looks me in the eyes, trying to determine if I am lying or not. And making me feel as uncomfortable as possible.

I silently thank Luna when the intercom crackles to life and Floria’s gravelly voice mercifully comes through it. “Salt Cube, are you there?”

Salt Cube walks over to the intercom and answers “Yeah I’m here. How’s the situation up there? Is Hay Bale ok? Did anything happen to her?”

“She’s fine,” Floria answers back. “But some of the others weren’t so lucky. Looks like Intrepid’s story checks out: One of the hellhounds found their way over here and went on a killing spree before our friend here blew his brains out.”

“Good,” Salt Cube says, looking visibly relieved at what Floria says. “That’s one less problem to worry about.”

“Umm, not to be rude or anything,” I immediately speak up. “But what does she mean by one of the hellhounds? Are there more of them roaming around here?!”

He glances over at me, looks me over briefly with a thoughtful expression on his face, then turns his attention back to the intercom. “Floria, can you check the receptionist’s terminal for me?”

“You mean the broken one up in the lobby?” Floria asks. “Sure, but why?”

“There’s something I want to confirm,” Salt Cube answers back. “See if anypony was messing with it recently. Please.”

“Alright, give me a minute then,” She says before the intercom goes silent.

“So, about my question?” I ask while Salt Cube taps his hoof on the intercom. After a few seconds it becomes clear that either he’s lost in his own thoughts or he is intentionally ignoring the question. Neither of those are comforting, to say the least. I let out a frustrated sigh and lie back against the wall. After what feels like an eternity of waiting, Floria’s voice finally comes out of the intercom again. “Salt Cube.”

He presses a button. “I’m here.”

“Somepony did gut the terminal up front. Strange thing is, it doesn’t look like a hellhound did it. Whoever decided to take it apart definitely knew what they were doing.”

Salt Cube smiles. “Alright, get back here as soon as you can,” He says before looking over to me. “I think Luna just answered our prayers.”

Turning the page on my leatherbound book, I glance up at Salt Cube and Floria arguing in hush tones as they lead me down what looks to be an old maintenance tunnel. Floria had said that she needed to talk with him alone the second she got back, so it’s not like they’re being rude or anything. But after an hour of this, it would be nice if they would take a break and give me some answers as to what is going on here and why they were insistent that I follow them.

From what bits I can glean from their conversation, it seems that they’re trying to figure out how to explain what happened to their leader. Not that I blame them, I’m still surprised I’m in one piece right now. But is that really something they need to keep quiet about. Then again, it’s not like being left out of the loop is anything new. At least they’re not patting me on the head and condensing telling me to ‘not worry about it’ like a certain griffon I could name.

I shake my head and go back to reading my book, trying to focus my thoughts away from Silverwing and the past and onto the story on the page. One of many about the world before the war. Back when life was simpler and peaceful. When ponies were more concerned with making friends than eking out a living from the carcass of a dead land. When having morals wasn’t a sign of naivety or weakness.

When doing what you thought was right didn’t carry unintended consequences.

“Hello, umm, Mister Scholar? What are you doing?” A colt’s voice asks in the back of my mind.

“Hmm? Oh, I’m reading ‘The Mare in the Moon’,” I say in the memory playing out in my mind’s eye. I remember looking up from my book to see a yellow pegasus colt with a red mane walking next to me, his blue eyes looking up at me.

“My aunt said you’re going to make us safe?” He asks.

“That is right,” I give him a grin before glancing at one of the ceiling mounted turrets that line the military styled hallway. “See these turrets here? I’m going to fix them so that they’ll shoot at whatever bad ponies decide to try and hurt anyone living in this bunker.”

“Really?” He asks excitedly with the biggest smile I have ever seen on a colt.

“Really,” I ruffle his mane just a little bit. “Don’t worry, once I fix these turrets, everyone will be safe.

“I promise.”

I slam my book shut.

A little too hard, it seems, as Floria and Salt Cube are startled by the sound of my book slamming shut and glance back in my direction. I sheepishly smile and quickly put my book away as Floria nudges Salt Cube and motions towards me with her head.

He rolls his eyes before clearing his throat. “So, umm, Intrepid? What’s it like, umm, serving under the New Canterlot Republic?”

I give him a confused look. “I beg your pardon?”

“You’re an NCR Ranger, right?” Salt Cube asks while quickly sizing me up. “You definitely look like one.”

My eyes widen and I quickly throw up my hooves in protest. “Oh no, no, no, y-you got it all wrong! I-I’m not an NCR Ranger! My outfit just happens to look similar to theirs! See?” I show him my shoulder. “No emblems! I’m not even a citizen!”

“Alright, alright, I get it. My mistake,” Salt Cube says. “I guess they wouldn’t send anypony this far out of their territory.”

“Right!” I sigh in relief. Although this misunderstanding may explain all the secrecy from before. What are they working on down here that they don’t want the NCR to know about? “Don’t worry, you’re not the first pony to assume that I’m a Ranger. I mean, I bet a lot of ponies take one look at your PipBuck and assume you’re from a Stable, eh?”

“I am from a Stable,” He says sharply, which earns him a glare from Floria.

“Oh! Umm,” I awkwardly say. “Which one?”

“There wasn’t a number attached to it,” He answers in the same tone as before. “Nopony knew why and nopony cared. If it had nothing to do with hoofball then it wasn’t worth thinking about.”

That piques my curiosity and quickly replaces my feelings of awkwardness moments before. “Oh really? I’ve never heard of a Stable like that before! Do you like hoofball then?”

“No, I hate it,” Salt Cube says flatly. “You would think that was a sin with the way they carried on and on about it. I swear, those idiots didn’t care that our leaky reactor turned me into a ghoul as long as I got things working for them.”

Ok, did I just hear that correctly?

“I-I don’t mean to be rude but, well, umm, you’re a ghoul?”

“Well, of course I’m a ghoul!” He says indignantly before pointing to his hairless scalp. “You think ponies naturally go bald?”

I look over the clearly not a ghoul Salt Cube and then glance at Floria. Seeing her roll her eyes is enough to assure me that I’m not the only one to find his claim to be ridiculous. Rather than point this out and risk starting an argument, I instead ask “So they eventually kicked you out?”

“No, I left,” He answers, much to my relief. “The outside world stops being scary after you’ve been dosed with as much radiation as I have. And I’m sure they were happy to see the heathen leave their little Hoofball sanctuary. We’ll see who gets the last laugh when their generator breaks down again.”

I quietly nod my head in agreement.

“Anyway I stumbled onto this place after wandering for who knows how long,” He says before his tone becomes noticeably softer. “That’s when Hay Bale found me and convinced the others to let me stay. She helped me adjust to being a ghoul until…”

“Salt Cube,” Floria finally speaks with a tender tone. “You know she’s-”

“She’s just sick, ok?!” He snaps at Floria before looking down with a pained expression on his face. “She’ll get better. I know she will.”

An awkward silence descends between the two as Flora looks at Salt Cube with solemn sadness. It drags on for a few minutes until I decide to end it by clearing my throat.

“I get the impression that you’ve been here for a while,” I say while turning my attention to Floria. “How did you find this place? It’s pretty much hidden in the middle of nowhere.”

“It’s pretty simple actually,” Floria says with a smile, probably happy for the change in subject. “I used to work here back before the war started.”

“Wait, you’re saying you used to work for the Ministry of Wartime Technology?” I ask rather skeptically. Considering the blatant racism and lies towards zebras the Ministry of Image’s spread through propaganda and literature, the idea of one working for any branch of the Equestrian Government is, frankly, ridiculous.

“This Lunar Institute wasn’t a part of that Ministry at the time,” Floria points out. “The acquisition happened long after I joined the team.”

So the Ministry of Tech didn’t make this facility after all; the Institute was just another company brought under the government’s umbrella to aid in their attempts to win the war. Or forced under it, if the hint of bitterness in the way Floria said acquisition is anything to go by.

Before I can inquire further on that topic, Salt Cube speaks up. “I still don’t get why you and the others let me join your team in the first place: I’m just a lowly engineer from a Stable. I don’t have the same type of training or expertise that you and the others must have gotten from the Ministry.”

“Just an engineer?” Floria raises an eyebrow at Salt Cube. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re just as skilled in your craft as the rest of us. You’re the only reason we got this far in the first place.

Salt Cube rolls his eyes. “You’re the only one who sees it that way. You could have easily fixed those problems without me.”

“And what, exactly, are you doing here?” I ask. Then, when the two exchange concerned looks, I sheepishly add “I-If you don’t mind me asking.”

“It would be best if Bright Eyes explains that to you,” Floria says.

I tilt my head slightly to the side. “Bright Eyes?”

“One of our leaders here in the facility,” Salt Cube answers before looking up ahead. “We’re here.”

We stop in front of another square door like the one back at the elevator room. Salt Cube walks up to the door controls and, after a few button presses on the keypad, the door opens for him.

“I’ll go up ahead and see what they want to do with him,” Salt Cube says to Floria before motioning his head towards me. “Can you keep an eye on him while I’m gone? I shouldn’t be too long.”

Floria smiles. “Of course. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get into any more trouble.”

With that, Salt Cube gives a nod and then walks through the door before pushing a button on the other side. The door creaks as it shuts itself tightly and the sounds of locks activating echo throughout the tunnel.

Between the recent experience with feral ghouls and Floria standing with unnerving stillness next to me, an uneasy silence settles between us as we wait for her companion to return. Not even my curiosity, armed with dozens of questions about this facility and life before the war, is strong enough to break through my own discomfort around ghouls of any kind.

After several long minutes of feeling uncomfortable, I finally pull off my duster, wincing a little as the leather rubs my shoulder wound, before looking at the blood-stained tears on it. Thankfully, the damage doesn’t look too bad and, with a little bit of magic, I manage to fix up my duster and make it look good as new. Relatively speaking. It would be nice to be able to make old, worn out stuff brand new again.

Satisfied with my work, I throw my duster back on when I notice Floria staring straight at me, as if she is looking straight into my soul.

“Umm, do I have something in my mane?” I ask as I run my hooves through my mane. Mostly to deal with my own discomfort, but a small part of me wonders if there really is something in my mane.

Floria blinks and then calmly shakes her head. “Oh, no, there’s nothing wrong. I was just thinking…” Her voice trails off as she glances up at my horn before closing her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she opens her eyes and gives me a smile. “Just thinking about how rare it is to find a pony who knows the mending and cleaning spells nowadays. Did somepony from town teach them to you?”

“Thank you but no. My mother was the one that taught me most of what I know. Including those spells,” I blush while rubbing the back of my neck. She’s obviously lying but it doesn’t matter since I don’t plan on staying here too long. Plus, any conversation is better than going back to being awkwardly silent again. “Speaking of town, have you ever been there? I was on my way over when I stumbled upon this place.”

Floria shakes her head. “No, sadly. I haven’t left the facility in years. However, Salt Cube goes there sometimes, when we need something and can’t wait for the local trade caravan to stop by. I’m sure he can tell you a thing or two about the place and the locals if you ask.”

She then bows her head. “And I should apologise for the way you’ve been treated so far. We’ve had our fair share of thieves and ‘heroes trying to wipe out a den of ferals’, so it’s become easy to assume the worst from strangers,” She looks up and smiles. “At least you’re not one of the Steel Rangers stationed in the area. Thankfully, they don’t seem to care about this place or what we’re doing here.”

Anger and disgust begin to burn inside of me at the mention of the Steel Rangers. Emotions that must have shown on my face when Floria asks “I take it you don’t like them?”

I look away from her. “Let’s just say there’s some bad blood between us and leave it at that.”

At that moment, I hear the door open and Salt Cube emerges from the other side. He then motions to us. “Come on, Bright Eyes wants to see you.”

Salt Cube, you couldn’t have come at a better time!

“Thank you,” I say politely and take a few steps forward before looking back at my rifle. “Do you need to take my stuff before I’m allowed in?”

He shakes his head. “No, you should be fine. Follow me.”

I nod and Floria and I walk through the door, the dull grey colors of the tunnel gives way to the bright colors of the office space I’m now walking into. It’s jarring how clean and pristine the intersection before me looks. Almost like I just stepped through a portal into the past.

As I gawk at the scene before me, Floria slightly bows her head towards Salt Cube. “If you don’t mind, I need to head to my room,” She tells him before glancing over at me. “There’s something important I need to look up.”

He nods before patting my shoulder. “Let’s get going,” He says before continuing down the hallway before us. “We don’t want to be late.”

“Umm, alright,” I say and give a quick nod to Floria before catching up to Salt Cube.

I can’t help but continue to marvel at how clean and well kept everything looks as we make our way through this mysterious place. How did they manage to do all of this? There doesn’t seem to be any rot or grime anywhere. The ceiling isn’t collapsing under its own weight. Hay, the wallpaper isn’t even peeling in the slightest. It’s like… it’s like I’m back home again.

Before my homesickness has time to set in, I notice that the rooms Salt Cube and I are passing by are full of ghouls: ponies, zebras, and even some griffons, surprisingly enough. All of them working hard on different projects, organizing charts and folders, or discussing things that just goes over my head.

Then I notice a few of those ghouls poking their heads out of those rooms and whispering to each other. I keep my head low, trying not to draw any attention to myself, only to see them leave their rooms and silently follow us. The feeling of their eyes on me only serve to make me feel even more anxious. Enough to start noting all of the possible escape routes while taking some measured breaths.

This isn’t some old maintenance tunnel and these are not feral ghouls. They are not going to attack and tear me apart. Now get a grip before I lose it and make things worse!

It doesn’t help that the group of ghouls following us keeps growing. Salt Cube looks back and rolls his eyes. “Don’t worry about them,” He tries to reassure me. “We don’t normally let non-ghouls into the facility itself.”

Unfortunately, his reassurance doesn’t quite work but I appreciate his attempt nevertheless.

“So where are we anyway?” I ask in an attempt to distract myself from the whispering behind me. “This is clearly not the museum that message mentioned before.”

Salt Cube raises an eyebrow at me. “Museum? No, this is the main office complex. The museum is over at the R&D complex. Or what they managed to set up before the bombs dropped,” He then leans in close and whispers. “I wouldn’t bring it up with them if I were you. It’s not a topic they like to talk about.”

I nod my head. So somepony was insane enough to try to build a museum out here. That just raises even more questions as to why anypony would. But if asking for more details means getting on the wrong side of these ghouls… I glance back at the small crowd behind me.

As if I’m not apprehensive enough already, now I have to be careful about what I say now or risk angering the leader of a horde of ghouls. No pressure.

“We’re here,” He says, motioning towards the turn up ahead.

Turning around one more corner, we end up in a rather large room filled with various kinds of research equipment. In front of a large vault door stands two ghouls: a rather tall griffoness and an average sized unicorn.

The griffoness’ plumage (what’s left of it. There are dead spots of skin showing through in places) is a dirt brown color with faded white feathers covering her head. Her empty eye sockets glow with an ethereal light that seem to draw me in as she speaks with an eerie echo to the unicorn present. “I don’t know why the Goddess saw fit to put this trial before us. But She has rewarded our faith in Her so far. I don’t think She will abandon us now.”

The unicorn nods and smiles. “Yes, you’re right. Of course you’re right,” he says in the gravelly voice that nearly all ghouls have. Admittedly, his appearance is peculiar: Old bandages cover up nearly all of his ghoulish body, including his cutie mark and one of his orange eyes. He brushes aside what is left of his pale light brown mane and adds “It’s just hard to wait for Goddess Luna to aid us with our problem after losing so many good ponies.”

Salt Cube clears his throat. “Prophetess, Mr. Shores,” He says respectfully before taking a step back and motions towards me. “This is Intrepid Scholar, the pony I was telling you about earlier.”

Wait, prophetess? She’s a prophetess? Of Luna? I-I mean, I know Stable ponies believe that the princesses ascended into godhood. But a griffon believing in an alicorn goddess? Enough to think that she’s been called by Luna to be Her prophetess? What in the world of Equestria is going on here?!

“Ah, the hellhound slayer I take it?” The prophetess places a talon under her beak as she looks me over. “Quite an impressive feat, even if that seems to be expected for an NCR Ranger like yourself.”

“Umm, thank you. But no, I’m not from the NCR. Just a pony from Tenpony Tower,” I say while my mind slowly makes sense of the whole prophetess thing. “And I know my gear resembles that of a Ranger, but I’m definitely not… one….”

I feel an overwhelming sense of horror as it suddenly dawns on me that I just said I’m from Tenpony Tower. A place notorious for its racism towards ghouls. To the point where they painted the infamous words ‘No Zombies!’ proudly in giant red letters across the main entrance of the tower, just to make it clear how much they hate ghouls.

And I said this while surrounded by ghouls.

“A-And I swear I have no problems with ghouls whatsoever! H-Honestly, I think you are all decent folks! A-And I definitely wouldn’t call you something as degrading as ‘zombies’ or, umm-” I bite my tongue before I humiliate myself any further.

Smooth as gravel, Intrepid. Smooth as gravel.

Salt Cube facehoofs before looking at the prophetess. “I already told you, he’s just a random scavenger that wandered into this place by himself.”

“Is it wrong for me to confirm that for myself?” Bright Eyes asks coldly as she shifts her gaze over to him. “After all, it wouldn’t be the first time you’ve fooled yourself into thinking something that wasn’t true.”

“You-” Salt Cube grows and the two exchange glares while the ghouls around me try really hard to blend into the background.

“Enough!” The unicorn slams his hoof into the ground. “Can’t we go for five minutes without the two of you going for each other’s throat?” He sighs before moving over and offering his hoof to me. “Rocky Shores. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise,” I say while timidly shaking his hoof.

“And my name is Bright Eyes,” The prophetess says, bowing slightly with a claw on her chest. “I’m sorry that we made you uncomfortable. The last few weeks have been trying for all of us.”

“Oh no! It’s fine! Really,” I try to give her a smile to alleviate her concern. But with all of the discomfort of having ghouls silently staring at me from behind, that smile must seem forced to her.

Salt Cube once again clears his throat. “Maybe it’s time we finally fill him in on what’s going on here.”

Bright Eyes smiles and gives me her full attention. “Gladly. Over two hundred years ago, Equestria was cleansed in unholy fire-”

“Are you really going to break into monologue here?” Salt Cube asks snidely.

“If we’re going to explain things, we might as well give it some context,” Bright Eyes shoots another glare at him.

“No offense, but I am well versed with Pre-War History and how it ended,” I immediately cut in before they can get going again. “What I would like to know is what brought you all here in the first place.”

Bright Eyes glances at me, then at Salt Cube, before she sighs in defeat. “Very well. By the great mercy of our goddess Luna, I have been blessed with a vision and a task to gather her chosen in preparation for our great journey to the promised land.”

“As you might be aware of, many of us used to work here before the bombs fell,” Rocky chimes in. “Though Bright Eyes, Luna promised us a way to achieve the dream we had set out to accomplish here all those years ago. The rest joined us later, when they heard about the Goddess’ plan for those of us who remain loyal to Her still.”

I tilt my head slightly in confusion. “And what is Her plan, exactly?”

“We’ll show you,” Rocky says before nodding to Salt Cube.

Salt Cube nods back and walks over to the terminal next to the door. Within seconds the door hisses to life as it opens, revealing a large room lined with terminals, control panels, and other things that clearly mark it as the control center of some sort.

And beyond the large observation windows lies a… no, it can’t be.

Running into the control room, I stare out of one of the observation windows and then rub my eyes to make sure that I’m not seeing things.

“I-Is that really an L33-742A Eclipse Missile?!” I exclaim with a giant smile on my face. “I-I saw the model of it when I was making my way over here! This is one of the single greatest finds in all of Equestria! To think that a relic like this is still in one piece after all these years! But how did it get here?! Or was it made here? If it was made here, then why was it made? Maybe to figure out the weaknesses of the zebra’s own balefire missile? But then, they would have had to have gotten schematics to make one. Unless they somehow got their hooves on an actual missile. Which would mean….”

I slowly look back at Bright Eyes as an uneasy feeling creeps into my mind. “What are you planning on doing with this thing, exactly?”

Bright Eyes gives me a smile as she walks to my side. “That, my dear Intrepid, is how we plan to travel to the promised land. That is our ticket to our dear goddess’ majestic moon.”

… What.

“We were lucky that this place was untouched after all these years,” Rocky says from somewhere behind me. “Even more so when we found that this missile was still in the silo. Of course, we had to use whatever we could salvage from-”

“Ok, stop, just stop!” I back away from the window and turn around to face the others. “Let me get this straight. You converted an L33-742A Eclipse Missile into a rocket capable of carrying ponies… so you can go to the moon?”

“Yes,” Bright Eyes says promptly.

“The same moon that Luna was banished to decades ago?”

Salt Cube nods.

“With something that can easily wipe out a city should it ever come crashing back down?” I ask, silently praying that this is some sort of joke.

“We have faith that we can pull this off,” Rocky Shores says calmly.

I slowly sit down and rub my temples. “O-Ok, let’s just set aside the idea that you converted a weapon of mass destruction into a vehicle to travel to a place that no mortal pony or being has ever been to before. That still doesn’t change that no pony knows what it is like up there! What if it turns out to just be a giant floating rock? How the hay are you planning to survive up there?!”

“We’re ghouls, we don’t need any kind of sustenance outside of radiation,” Salt Cube says without any hint of self-awareness. Bright Eyes and Rocky Shores exchange awkward glances, showing that I’m not the only one that sees the irony in him being the one to point this out to me.

“Ok, valid point,” I say before turning my attention to Rocky. “So how are you going to solve the lack of radiation then? Because as far as I’m aware, the zebras didn’t launch any Balefire missiles at the moon.”

“We found a large stockpile of Balefire warheads in storage when we came back here,” Rocky explains. “Once we reach the moon’s surface, we’ll set one off as needed and-”

I hold my hooves up and shake my head. “Wait, wait, wait, you’re telling me there’s a stockpile here?! Of Balefire warheads? In Equestria? How, how many are we talking about here?”

“Well, the last time we counted there was...” Rocky taps his chin thoughtful. “... about a hundred in total?”

My blood runs cold as I give them all a blank stare. ‘A hundred warheads? A hundred warheads?!’

“Are you all insane?!” I spit out. “Do you realize that, if you screw this up, you could potentially blow up half the moon? And that’s assuming you actually make it! If you fail and that rocket comes crashing back down to Equiss, forget about wiping out a city! At this point, you’ll sink the entire continent! Or worse!”

“I think you’re overestimating how powerful these warheads actually are,” Rocky says while taking a step back.

“Am I?” I ask skeptically.”Am I really?!”

“And what else are we to do?” Bright Eyes speaks up as she looks at me somberly. “There isn’t any radiation left in Equestria anymore. Who knows how long it will be before it disappears from the world completely? It’s a small mercy from Luna that these warheads still have radiation in them.”

I shift my gaze away from hers. Right, of course, how could I forget about that day so many years ago? When a rainbow shockwave swept across the land, taking away all of the balefire radiation and other magical effects that had turned Equestria into the nightmarish wasteland that it had been. The day when the permanent cloud cover finally broke and allowed the sun to truly shine on the land. A ray of hope to all wastelanders who have, predictably, come to call it a ‘Day of Sunshine and Rainbows.’

It didn’t occur to me that, to a ghoul who needs that radiation to keep existing, that day would be anything but.

“There is no place for us here anymore,” She continues. “And we dare not scar the land any more by setting off one of those bombs here. At least in the place Luna has prepared for us, we can get rid of these last few creations of hate and continue to live without causing further harm to others.”

A few minutes pass in silence before I finally look up at Bright Eyes and then at the ghouls hovering just outside of the door. “So why are you telling me all of this?” I ask somberly.

“That… device on your foreleg,” Rocky Shores points to my PipBuck. “I understand you used it to access the broken terminal in the lobby and download its contents without issue?”

I nod.

“On the top floor of the R&D complex, there’s a room that houses a mainframe that contains the crucial data we need to make this flight possible,” He explains. “The hellhound you killed was part of a pack that attacked us while we were wrapping up our work there.”

Ok, I think I know where he is going with this.

“Not to be rude or anything,” I speak up. “But if you’re looking for somepony to kill an entire pack of hellhounds then I’m definitely not that pony. Killing that hellhound was a simple fluke that I doubt I’ll be able to do again.”

“That won’t be necessary,” He says and I give him a confused look as he walks up and places a hoof on my shoulder. “All we really need is that data. If you can get that for us, we’ll pay you five thousand caps for the job.”

My confused look quickly turns into a more wary one as I look straight into Rocky’s eyes, err, eye. “Five thousand caps. Just to get some data from some bloodthirsty hellhounds so you can fly a rocket carrying balefire warheads to the moon.”

“So we can fly a rocket carrying world-weary ghouls safely to the moon,” He corrects, patting my shoulder before giving me some space.

On the face of it, the deal really isn’t all that bad. Just run in, avoid the murderous hellhounds, get the data, and run out with all of my limbs intact. Considering some of the things I’ve done in the past, this is possibly the most straightforward and least shady job I’ve been offered. Even the pay, which is more than most ponies see in a lifetime, seems reasonable considering how dangerous this job is.

This is too good, actually. There has to be a catch. Something that they will spring on me once I accept the job.

“And once you return with the data,” Bright Eyes says. “We’ll also need you to assist Salt Cube with launching the rocket.”

Ah there we go. There’s always a catch-

“Wait, what?!” Salt Cube and I spit out loudly and in unison.

Ok, calm down. I must have misheard what she said. That’s it. She can’t possibly have said-

“What the hay do you mean ‘assist Salt Cube with launching the rocket’?!” Salt Cube walks past me and glares up at Bright Eyes. “I’m coming too, aren’t I?!”

Bright Eyes returns his glare. “Somepony needs to stay behind to run the controls,” She says in a very measured tone. “Unless you think he can do it all by himself?”

I feel the blood drain from my face as he replies back with “Of course he can! He knows his way around a terminal and the rest isn’t all that difficult to pick up! So I can go with you while he presses the button to-”

“N-No, no no, I-I can’t do this!” I spit out. “I-I can’t help launch this thing to the moon! I-I don’t know the first thing about launching rockets! What if I miss something and screw this up?!”

“Intrepid, listen-” Rocky Shores starts but I brush his hoof off my shoulder and back away.

“No! I’ll just get everypony killed like-” I shake my head vigorously. “I’m sorry! You’ll have to find somepony else to do this!”

With a curt bow, I turn around and start heading towards the exit, wincing as Salt Cube says “Great, we scared away the only pony that could do this.”

You wouldn’t feel that way if you knew what I’ve done.

“What do you mean ‘we’?” Bright Eyes retorts, “You’re the one that suggested that a random stranger handle the controls by himself.”

“Yet you trust him enough to believe he wouldn’t shoot me and sabotage the launch somehow,” Salt Cube answers back.

And I really can’t be trusted. Not with something like this. I’ll just get everypony killed if I get involved with this. Like last time.

“Look, it doesn’t matter now,” Rocky Shore sighs in resignation. “We’ll just have to hope that Winter Rose can pull through for us.”

My ear twitches at the new name and I slowly stop near the exit. Who?

“That braggart? She said she’d take care of our problem in three days!” Salt Cube scoffs. “Now we have hellhounds leaving the R&D complex to hunt ponies in the front lobby! I knew we shouldn’t have trusted her.”

“We just need to give her more time,” Rocky says.

“But he has a point: it’s been two weeks since we last heard from her,” Bright Eyes points out. There’s a small pause before she continues “As much as I hate to say it, we should assume that she’s dead now. We can’t risk losing anypony else in an attempt to see if she is still alive.”

There’s a hint of regret in Bright Eye’s tone with that last sentence. Looking at the ghouls hovering at the exit, it’s clear to see that all of them will be dead before they take two hoofsteps into that hellhound’s den.

And if this Winter Rose is still alive-

I shake my head. ‘It’s none of your concern,’ The little pony in my head says while the trio continue to converse behind me. ‘Just keep walking. No good will come from you getting involved in this.’

But there’s one pony out there that is in danger or worse! If she is still alive, then I’m the only one here with the equipment and skills that can save her, right?

‘She obviously knew the risks or she wouldn’t have taken the job,’ My little pony points out. ‘You’ve already refused to help them launch their rocket. Why jump in now?’

Because they’re not in any danger right now! She is! I can’t launch a rocket and be sure it won’t come crashing down because of something I did. But maybe I can bring one pony back safely.

‘And what if things get worse because of you?!’ My little pony asks harshly. ‘Face it, you’re cursed! Ponies die when you get involved!’

I know! But who else can they turn to?! It’s not like there’s a line of would-be heroes right outside their door! I’m the only one they can turn to right now!

‘They’re not asking you to find her,’ My little pony says bluntly.

I know they’re not asking me to find her! But-

‘I want to be like Dad when I grow up!’ The words of my younger self echo in my mind. ‘I want to do what’s right and be able to help ponies out no matter what!’

Closing my eyes and taking in a deep breath, I say loudly and abruptly “I’ll go find your friend and bring her back safely!” Turning around, I open up my eyes to see both Salt Cube and Bright Eyes taken aback by declaration. Rocky Shores, however, just smiles at me. He must have noticed that I haven’t left yet before I spoke up.

Salt Cube shakes his head but the shock is still evident in his voice. “Really? But you said-”

I raise a hoof in front of me. “Don’t get me wrong, I want nothing to do with this rocket launch. But…” I rub the back of my neck. “Look, somepony might be in danger right now and if there is really nopony else that can bring her back safely, then I guess I’m your stallion.”

“That is rather noble of you,” Rocky walks up and offers his hoof. “Alright, I accept your offer. Thank you.”

“Oh, umm, n-no problem,” I awkwardly shake his hoof before looking towards the ground. “I am a little short on supplies, though. So I’d appreciate it if you could spare me some MFCs for my rifle?”

“We’ll get you whatever you need. Just bring her back safely,” He says to me before walking out of the room. “Alright, that’s enough gawking, everypony!” He shouts to everypony else. “Let’s get back to work!”

There’s some murmuring as the group outside disperses, save for a couple Rocky waves down to, supposively, fetch some supplies. Bright Eyes smiles and pats my shoulder on her way out while Salt Cube nods at me before quickly tailing her.

Finally alone, I turn my attention towards the rocket. It really is a marvel to behold: a breath-taking creation that really has no right to exist outside of old history books and stories passed down from since the war ended. To think that these ghouls were able to put together something like this, when everything around them is in complete ruin, is nothing short of astounding.

If only everything else about it didn’t feel like something out of a bad fever dream: the warheads, the hellhounds, the ghouls and their plan to go to the moon.

“Intrepid!” Rocky calls and I turn to see him next to another ghoul. “It’s going to take us some time to get those supplies you asked for together. So why don’t Simmer here escort you to your room and you can take a load off for the rest of the evening?”

My first instinct is to refuse the offer: I don’t want to take advantage of their hospitality any more than I have to. But the yawn that comes out of my mouth instead of my refusal convinces me that it can’t be helped. “Thank you,” I say instead with a smile and Rocky nods before leaving Simmer with me.

I take one last look at the rocket behind me before following Simmer out of the room and towards the room they’ve prepared for me here.

There’s no point in worrying about this now, I have a job to do. And once I rescue their friend, I need to get out of here as fast as possible.

Before I make things worse for them.

“Let’s try this again.”

Hovering a MFC in front of my face, I close my eyes and focus on transferring some of my magic into it. After a few seconds, the MFC starts to leak magical energy and I quickly stop the transfer. Hesitantly, I open an eye and then the other before letting out a sigh of relief.

“Finally.”

Placing the newly charged MFC into my bag, I look over at the small pile of damaged and burnt out cells on the table in front of me. It’s surprising how easy it is to overload these things and it’s taken me the entire morning just to figure out how to keep them from blowing up in my face. But now I should have an endless supply of power for my gauss rifle. That should help in avoiding what happened yesterday.

Yesterday.

I look over the pre-war style room: the comfy bed, the refurbished furniture, the bookshelf full of old trinkets. By wasteland standards, this is pure luxury right here. One that I haven’t been able to enjoy since leaving home. It honestly feels wrong to be able to spend the night here without having to do anything to earn it. Then again, I am about to run a suicidal rescue mission for them, despite common sense and past experience telling me that I shouldn’t do this.

This is probably one of those moments where I should just swallow my discomfort and wait patiently for them to gather up the supplies I asked for.

With that thought in mind, I pick out another empty MFC and-

“YOU CAN’T LEAVE US HERE!”

Salt Cube’s voice quickly drags my attention to the slightly ajar door of my room. Just in time to hear Bright Eyes say loudly and with clear irritation in her voice “This isn’t up for debate. You simply can’t-”

“I put more work and effort into making this a reality than anypony else!” Salt Cube retorts. “So did Hay Bale! We’re going!”

The hallway goes quiet for a moment. While my curiosity begs me to walk outside and ask what is going on, this really isn’t something a stranger like myself should be getting involved in. I turn my attention back to my empty MFC and focus on filling it up with magic.

As if on cue, Bright Eyes speaks up again in a very strained yet measured tone. “Listen to me: there’s nothing we can do for Hay Bale now. If we could bring her back, we would have by now! And we are not trying to exclude you: you will die if you go with us!”

“No I won’t!” Salt Cube shoots back instantly. “If it’s about the radiation poisoning then I can handle it! I’m just as much of a ghoul as the rest of you!”

“NO! YOU’RE NOT!”

Suddenly something touches my shoulder, startling me enough that I instinctively teleport to the other side of the room. Now finding myself sitting on top of the bed, I turn to see Rocky Shores standing next to my chair, his hoof still hovering slightly above where my shoulder was seconds ago.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Rocky apologizes while placing a bag on the table with his blue-tinted magic. “I guess I should have knocked louder.”

“No, no, you're fine,” I get off the bed and sit back down in my chair, placing the empty MFC on the table and a hoof over my racing heart. “I’m the one that was so focused on recharging my MFCs that I tuned everything else out.”

Or tried to. Everypony in the wasteland can probably hear those two bickering outside.

“Well, I can’t blame you. Not with those two going at it again,” He motions towards the door with his head. “Some days I wish I could tell them to knock it off, but that’s not going to happen anytime soon.”

“No kidding,” I say as the argument in question, while quieter now, still rages on outside. Then a question comes to mind. “I’ve heard him mention Hay Bale before. Who is she?”

Rocky becomes visibly uncomfortable at the question as he takes a seat on the other end of the table. “Hay Bale is… was one of the engineers working here before the war. A sweet old mare who wouldn’t stop working until the loss of her grandson drove her into depression. Things only got worse after she was turned into a ghoul.”

He slowly shakes his head. “Nothing we did could drag her out of it. Until she found Salt Cube and took him under her wing,” He lifts up a hoof and gives me a firm look. “Now Salt Cube is a brilliant pony and I’ll never regret making him a part of our family here. Honestly, we wouldn’t have gotten as far as we have without him. But as you’ve seen, he has his fair share of issues. And despite our misgivings about her humoring some of his weirder ideas, we were happy to finally see her acting like her old self again,” He sighs sadly. “Maybe that’s why we ignored the signs that she was going feral until it was too late.”

So that’s why Salt Cube insists that Hay Bale is just sick. He must have noticed that she was suffering from some kind of mental illness, but he willingly went along with it. All because she treated him better than anypony in his Stable. Hay Bale must have gone feral recently then, given how fiercely he’s fighting everyone on the topic. I don’t even want to think about how he would have acted if that ghoul I killed yesterday was actually her.

Rocky looks wistfully at the bandages wrapped around his foreleg. “It’s hard to live for two hundred years with that kind of pain eating away at your soul,” He stops for a moment before giving me a smile that poorly hides the pain he’s feeling. “It’s why I took up medicine for the first few decades of my new life: to keep my mind from thinking about the past too much.”

But those bandages remind you of something from your past, don’t they?

I keep that question to myself and instead glance over at the door. “I can understand not wanting to remember the past too much. Though… if you don’t mind me asking, is that why Bright Eyes turned to Luna then? Until now, I thought only Stable ponies seriously believed in the goddesses.”

Rocky smiles. “I can understand your skepticism. Hay, she was my second in command back in the day, so I was just as surprised to see her as a prophetess when we met up again.”

“Really now?” I look back at him and lean in closer.

“I know it may not look like it, but she used to be more stubborn than she is now. Prideful to a fault too,” He leans back in his chair. “But no matter what happened, she always had my back.”

His smile disappears as his tone becomes more solemn. “Then she lost her eyes when a bomb detonated near her. She tried to act like nothing had changed, but I knew her long enough to tell when she was suffering just as badly as the rest of us. Suicide wasn’t uncommon for ghouls in those days. So when she just disappeared one day, I thought I’d never see her again.”

“But obviously she came back,” I say as Rocky stops leaning back and gives me his full attention again. “So what changed?”

His smile returns to his face. “A miracle happened. She said Luna came to her in a dream, restored her eyesight, and told her to gather others and bring them here. Meanwhile, I got the urge to come back here with a few co-workers, just to tinker with the rockets like we used to. When we all met at the same time, it became clear that we all wanted to try to aim for the moon again. When more kept coming, all with the same desire as us, it honestly felt like we were being guided by an unseen hoof towards our goal.”

“It’s too bad that the hellhounds don’t seem to share your enthusiasm,” I say with a frown on my face.

Rocky nods sadly. “Like Bright Eyes tells me, it’s just another trial for us to face and overcome. Thankfully, Luna saw fit to send us aid in our darkest moment,” He opens the bag and fishes out a holotape. “Here’s a map of the complex. We don’t know where Winter Rose is at, but at least you won’t be completely lost as you try to find her for us.”

Despite having no reason to do so, I look at the holotape with some suspicion. Levitating it over to me, I look it over before inserting it into my PipBuck. Sure enough, a map of what looks to be the R&D complex shows up on the screen. With nothing that might look like a virus or some other malicious thing hiding somewhere in the background.

“The offer still stands, by the way,” Rocky says.

“I’m sorry, but my answer is still no,” I say respectfully before closing the map on my PipBuck. “Nothing I get involved with ends well and this task is way too important to leave with a random stranger like me. You’re better off with someone more competent at this kind of stuff.”

He frowns. “I know Bright Eyes made it sound like we’re expecting a lot from you, but all we’re really asking you to do is get some data and help Salt Cube monitor some simple things while he preps the rocket to launch. Is that really too much to ask?”

It’s all I can do to look away from his pleading eye and mutter a regretful “It is.”

How do I even explain the amount of horror and bloodshed I caused the last time I attempted to do something that was clearly over my head? I shouldn’t even be trying to rescue their friend! I’m sorry, I really am, but I’m involved too much as is.

Rocky must have caught a glimpse of how I’m feeling inside as he says “I guess it can’t be helped then. You must have a good reason for refusing to help us with this,” The words pierce through my heart as he gets up and motions towards the bag. “All of the supplies you need should be in there, along with a few extra things for Rose. Floria will be in her office when you’re ready to leave,” He then gets up and bows. “And thank you for going after Rose for us. It’ll be good to finally find out what happened to her.”

It feels awkward to say thank you after what was said, so I simply nod my head at him. Rocky nods in return and walks over to the door before stopping. “Luna made her fair share of mistakes while she was still mortal,” He says sincerely. “We don’t think any less of her because of them. Whatever you’ve done in your past, I’m sure you can overcome them just like she did.”

There’s a difference between a goddess and somepony like me.

I watch Rocky leave through the door before turning my attention to the bag he left behind. After putting away all of the MFCs I was experimenting with earlier, I open up the bag and take stock of the supplies inside: a random assortment of food items, a few water bottles, even more MFCs, quite a few .308 round magazines, and some health potions.

All I need to wage a one pony war against hellhounds. Now to find myself a minigun and some power armor and I’ll be set to go.

*BANG*

I nearly teleport again from the sound of something hitting the wall hard. Emptying the contents of the bag into my saddlebags, I quickly rush outside to see what is going on.

It doesn’t take long to find the culprit: a depressed looking Salt Cube with his head resting against the wall, with his hoof firmly planted next to it. Seems like he lost his argument with Bright Eyes.

‘You should keep walking,’ The little pony in my head tells me. ‘This really doesn’t concern you.’

Maybe it’s guilt from saying no to Rocky again about the job he wants me to do, but I find myself unwilling to leave Salt Cube alone without attempting to cheer him up. Somehow. “A-Are you alright, Salt Cube?” I ask hesitantly. “I heard that you were arguing with Bright Eyes earlier.”

“Everypony heard me arguing with Bright Eyes,” Salt Cube doesn’t bother to look up as he talks. “Now unless you need something from me, I’d like to be left alone right now.”

“Alright,” I turn around and start walking away. For about a few steps before the nagging feeling that I didn’t try hard enough compels me to look back and say “You know they’re not trying to be unfair to you or anything. It’s just that, well, you know,” I rub the back of my neck while trying to figure out where I’m going with this.

He lets out a sigh. “I am a ghoul, Intrepid. I know I haven’t completely transformed yet, but it’s just a matter of time. Hay Bale even said so and no pony was saying she was wrong back then.”

Because they thought you were helping her get better and they were willing to turn a blind eye because of that. And now they’re reaping what they sowed here.

“I knew she was sick when I met her and that might have had something to do with it. But ever since she got quarantined, the others…” Salt Cube shuts his eyes tightly “I don’t know what happened to make them doubt that I am one of them. I do belong with them, don’t I?” He gives me a look of loneliness and fear that I am all too familiar with. “After all I’ve done for them, why would they leave me behind?”

As uncomfortable as the situation is making me, I give him the most comforting smile I can manage. “Because they want the best for you.”

“Don’t patronize me, Intrepid.” Salt Cube warns before looking back at the wall.

“I’m not, honest!” I answer back with hooves raised. “I’m just saying that they do valve you here. Rocky even told me he doesn’t regret bringing you onboard.”

That little nugget of info earns me a very derisive snort from him, but I press on. “Look, sometimes you have to say and do things that might hurt the pony you care about in order for them to be happy in the long run. They know that in the, umm, state that you’re in right now, that you won’t be able to survive the trip. They’re just looking out for you, that’s all.”

I brace myself for the angry retort I know is coming from him. Instead, Salt Cube silently thinks about what I said for a few seconds before saying, “I think I get what you mean. Thanks.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I slowly lower my hooves and widen my smile more. “Just don’t let this poison your relationship with them and make good use of the time you’ve got left with them, ok?”

Taking the small nod from him as a sign that the conversation is done, I walk away knowing that I did all that I could for him… for about a few steps before a sudden realization has me looking back at him with a more sheepish smile on my face.

“Say, umm, do you happen to know how to get to Floria’s room from here?”

Call me ignorant or horribly misinformed about zebra culture, but I was expecting Floria’s room to be more… zebra-ish.

Instead of tiki masks, bone chimes, and other tribal things, her room is pretty ordinary. With a pony-styled bed and two bookshelves filled with books instead of jars of organs. On the wall hangs a couple of faded pictures of what looks to be a younger version of her and a pegasus. Along with some talismans and a signed poster of the Wonderbolts in action.

Huh, I never would have taken her for a Wonderbolts’ fan.

At a rather large study desk sits Floria, intensely focused on something that I can’t quite make out from where I’m standing. Not really wanting to give her a heart attack, I lightly knock on the open door.

She looks over at me and gives me a grin “Hello Intrepid, I was just about to come get you,” She says before she stands up and walks over to me. “Are you ready to leave?”

“About as ready as I’ll ever be,” I say while looking over her shoulder to see a rather large worn tome open on her desk. “So did you find what you were looking for?”

“I’m not sure,” She looks back at the book. She opens her mouth to continue, but hesitates and instead walks over to the wall and pulls off one of the talismans hanging on it. “This contains a disintegration spell ward on it,” She explains as she puts it around my neck. “It should help against the energy weapons some of the hellhounds used against us.”

Great, on top of getting dissected by sharp claws, I now have to worry about getting disintegrated as well. Today keeps getting better and better, doesn’t it?

“Thank you,” I nod in appreciation, though my curiosity compels my eyes back onto the book on the desk.

Floria notices and gives me an amused smile. “Are you curious about what I was reading?”

“Oh! Umm, y-yes. I-I mean no, I don’t to be rude,” I quickly look off to the side to hide my embarrassment from her.

“I don’t mind,” She reassures me before she walks back to her desk. “It’s an old book my grandmother gave me centuries ago. Since I was born and raised in Manehattan, it was her way of teaching me about my culture and such.”

That piques my interest even further, given that my knowledge about zebras comes from the rather macabre-obsessed medic I used to travel with.

The thought comes to ask her if I could borrow her tome when she carefully closes it. “I didn’t much care for it back then, I was too busy looking towards the sky and beyond,” She says before giving it a tender look. “I’ve had a lot of time to make up for that mistake.”

Seeing her treat her tome in the same way as I treat my book kills whatever desire I have to part her from it. Something that important to her shouldn’t be placed in a situation where it can be torn to pieces.

Floria brushes her mane back and I move out of the way as she walks out the door. “Well then, let us get you on your way.”

As we walk down the labyrinthian corridors that make up this complex (Honestly, how anypony can navigate this place without a map is beyond me), Floria opens up about her old life to me: First about how much of a Wonderbolt fan she is and how she never missed a chance to see them in action. Then about how she met her future husband at one of their events, a pegasus who was a sweet pony with the flaw of being a little too full of himself at times. Her glass eye was apparently a gift from him and what ultimately convinced her that he was the one.

I quietly listen while she reminisces about the past. The way she explains every detail as if it just happened yesterday, it reminds me of what a pony I once knew said about ghouls: They’re just normal ponies who just absorbed a little too much radiation.

Well, zebra in this case, but that's beside the point. To think of all that could be learned just by staying here and talking with them. All the history they could impart to me. It’s a shame that they’re dead set on leaving this world behind; Equestria will certainly lose part of its soul with their departure.

Suddenly Floria becomes silent as we approach a large vault door, the words “R&D Complex” written on a sign next to it. She walks up to the controls under the sign and stays still for a moment before asking “Intrepid, what do you know about the spirits in this world?”

I raise an eyebrow at the odd question before giving her a shrug. “Not as much as I would like. I’ve heard rumors of a group of vampire ponies that supposedly got their blood magic from an ancient spirit, but I never did find out if that was true or not. Even when my old group found their lair, we didn’t find anything outside of a few old bones and old smears on the wall.”

Floria looks back at me, her eyes piercing right through my soul again. “Are you certain you didn’t find anything else there?”

A chipped and cracked orb, surrounded by the weathered bones of ponies, flashes through my mind before I shove the memory back into its box. Though even remembering that little bit causes my body to shiver. “I’m sure,” I say calmly, praying that she won’t dig any deeper than that.

Floria continues her soul piercing gaze for what feels like an eternity. Then she looks back at the door and presses a few buttons to it. The door creaks as it slides upward, revealing the signs of age and damage of the tunnel walls on the other side. It seems the hellhounds were not driven back without a fight.

With a deep breath, I try to calm my nerves as I quickly take my first steps through the door. I then look back at Floria and give her a reassuring smile. “Don’t you worry, I’ll have Winter Rose back before you know it. I promise.”

“I have no doubt you will,” Floria says back. “Just please stay safe when you’re out there.”

I nod and start walking down the tunnel when she adds “Don’t give in to it, Intrepid. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

That word of warning outright confuses me and I look back to ask what she means by it. Only to see the vault door slide shut behind me.

Well, I guess I can get an answer to that when I get back. But it sounds like...

I shake my head and turn my attention to the long dark tunnel in front of me. A tunnel that feels much like the entrance to a dragon’s lair the more I stare at it. With no other paths left open to me, I crack my neck and begin my very ill-advised quest inside the hellhound infested complex to rescue a pony who may or may not still be alive.

Dear Luna, what have I gotten myself into?

You’ve discovered a new faction and accepted a new quest!

New Faction Discovered:

The Children of Luna - Current Status: Neutral

Quest Accepted:

Aim For The Moon.

Quest Objective Gained:

Find Winter Rose.