"Ellie!" They all called out through the snow.

They had passed the ship wreckage, Babs Seed still passed out on her cousin's back.

"Isaac," Scootaloo panted. "I don't think she's over here. We've been calling out for who knows how long."

"Fine." He grunted. "I guess you’re right. She would have responded if she was." He said walking through the snow as the others had slight trouble going through it.

"So, what was that bout' the source?" Applebloom asked.

"Oh, me, Ellie and the guards found the source of all the Markers. The black Marker. It was the original, the one that should be connected to the others. So, destroy that, we destroy the other Markers."

"All of them?" sweetiebelle asked. "What about a Marker made from magic?"

"Made from..." he stopped and looked at her. "You didn't."

"My magic just took control! I swear!" She said. "But, it's not like the other ones. It's a good Marker."

"Good Marker. Yeah." He scoffed. "How many of you did it make go crazy the fastest?"

"I'm serious!" She said angrily. "It helped me when I beat the Ubermorph!"

"That thing followed you back?" He asked worriedly. "It didn't hurt anyone, did it?"

"No, Sweetiebelle ate it." Applebloom said. "We even got our own organization and a window in the throne room!"

"An organization? You three? Oh god, what sort of chaos did you three cause?" He laughed.

"The E.E.B." Scootaloo said.

"Equestrian." Sweetiebelle said.

"Engineering." Applebloom

"Bureau" Scootaloo finished.

"Do you have to say it like that?" He looked ahead and made out a fence coming up. "Hang on, were near some sort of building or structure. How are you three... or four, doing?"

"I'm fine. It's hard to see though." Scootaloo said.

"Ah can't see and ah'm cold." Applebloom grunted.

"I feel fine." Sweetiebelle said.

They all, minus Babs, stared at her before continuing on.

The gate was merely a crossing of straps, but it served its purpose. Small rocky cliffs jutted out to the right while a trailer was coming up from the left.

"We’ll have a little more cover over there." Isaac said moving toward safety.

And before he went in, a hooded figure came out dual wielding a pair of axes.

"Holy shit!" Isaac yelled as he held the blades back. "Get off!" With a final shove, he kicked it away before taking its arms off.

Only for the upper part to fall away, leaving three tentacles.

Before they could arch back and fire a set of barbs, they were cut off by a blast from Applebloom's Line gun.

"You still have all of your weapons?" He asked. "I would have thought your parents or whoever would have taken them."

"They wouldn't dare." Scootaloo said. "They'd have to go through us to get them. That and we practically have an entire armory of weapons."

"Damn. Where did you get all the stuff for that?" He asked peering inside. "Answer later; we should go before more of them show up."

"So Isaac," Sweetiebelle said. "What kind of weapon is that? Is it a new brand of automatic or Force gun?"

"It's both. I learned a few tricks over the last month. Including how to combine two weapons."

She thought about that while looking around.

They were in a trailer by the looks of it. The walls were riddled with holes, rock began to pour in and soon the only light was from behind them or ahead.

"I hate caves." Scootaloo said. "Stupid nightmares."

"What... what's the big idea? Put me down." Babs muttered rolling of Applebloom's back. "Weird." She shook her head and saw her cousin looking at her guiltily. "It wasn't a nightmare, was it?"

"Ah'm afraid not." Applebloom said. "Ah'm sure we won't run into anymore Necromorph's on the way."

A Waster jumped up from its back and started toward Sweetiebelle. It was followed by two more.

Applebloom fired another shot from her Line gun, severing the first in half before freezing it in stasis.

"Babs, get behind me and close ya eyes until ah say so." Applebloom said.

Babs did, but still saw a glance of when the Waster's upper torso fell off and three tentacles came out.

"Why does the universe hate me!?" Isaac yelled as it emptied a round of bullets into the other Waster's. They both turned to him. "Oh fuck my life."

Scootaloo grabbed both of them, quickly brought them over and had them face her. They writhed and squirmed as they felt their very essence torn away, leaving them as empty shells. She let go and they both stood in attention.

"Babs, ya can look now." Applebloom said.

She looked up and saw the two Waster's facing away, staring at the wall.

"Why aren't they trying to kill us?" Babs said staring at the two Necromorph's. "Aren’t any of you gonna, you know."

"About that..." Scootaloo said.

The two Waster's turned around their yellow eyes looking directly at her.

"K-Keep them away!" Babs said erratically backing away.

She bumped into the wall but watched as one of the Waster retrieved a back pack from a corner and put it on the other. She started to freak out when the pack-less one came towards her, arms open, axes still in it's hands.

"Applebloom! Get that thing!" She yelled. She froze when it picked her up, clenching her eyes shut she waited for the blades to cut into her at any moment.

Only, she found a slight warmth around her.

She opened her eyes and saw she was in the back pack of the Waster. She looked at her friends, Isaac was just staring outside, her cousin gave a small nervous smile, Sweetiebelle was whistling a small tune and Scootaloo was looking at her.

Only, she had no eyes.

"Applebloom... why does Scoot's not have any eyes." Babs pointed a shaky hoof at the small pegasus as she changed into a tall, white coated face-less legend.

"Bab's..." Applebloom started. "We need to catch up on a few things. Now."

"L-Like that?" She looked back over at Slenderloo.

"Yeah... Babs, we all have our secrets now. Ah think ah'll start."

"You’re not gonna turn into anything are ya?" Babs asked slinking further into the pack.

"No, but ah have a split personality." Applebloom said. "When ma'h friends get hurt, ah sorta... blackout."

"Blackout? What's supposed that mean?"

"She loses all memory of a fight and completely goes berserk." Sweetiebelle explained. "She's taken on entire hordes and won without a scratch."

"Bloom, is that true?" Babs asked.

Applebloom gave a stiff nod, lowering her head to let a few tears fall freely.

"W-What about you?" She turned to Sweetiebelle, blowing her hair out of her eye.

"I'm a hybrid. I'm half Necromorph and half unicorn."

"But she's completely fluffy." Isaac said laughing. "I wish I had a pillow to sleep on before the ship blew up."

"A-and your..." Babs trailed off as she looked at Slenderloo.

Slenderloo was getting scratched behind the ear, very carefully with her second Waster's snow axe. She saw Bab's staring and politely coughed into her hoof.

“I’m a slenderpony. An no, it’s a family name. And no again, my dad is going vegetarian. He seems to like animal souls better than pony souls. And yes, I’m also a vegetarian.”

"Some things never change." Isaac snickered. "Don't worry Babs, as long as you’re with us, you'll have nothing to worry about. Mainly if you stick with them, I'm more of a hammer." He glared at Slenderloo as she shrugged her wings.

"Come on, the sooner we get going, the sooner we can get inside an actual building." Sweetiebelle said. "Let's try that latter over there." She trotted briskly over to the latter and climbed up, one rung at a time.

Literally, she had to stand on an individual rung to get to the next.

Isaac shook his head and helped Applebloom up and went up himself before the two Waster's climbed up, followed by their master.

The wind up above was even worse; all of them except the Waster's had trouble keeping their balance. When they stepped onto another platform, it gave a groan before shaking.

"Careful where you step." Isaac said going forward.

They all went along a small ridge, the bottom shrouded by snow. When they stepped onto an area next to a crane, the rock gave out and they all went tumbling down.

Isaac grabbed onto the side, Scootaloo carrying her friends while the Waster's hung on by their axes.

"You all go ahead!" Isaac yelled. "I'll catch up!" He climbed onto the treads, watching them leave out of the corner of his eye.

He grabbed the door handle, opened it and swung back as a body came rolling out.

He climbed up, further still as the machine rocked and forced him back slightly. He hung onto a lever and reached for the other door handle.

He rammed into the door, shattering the glass. It budged slightly but didn't open. He did it again and the same result. With a grunt and a third push, the door came open and he crawled onto the side. Jumped and landed on the other side of the cliffs.

"Bout' time ya got here." Applebloom said. "We were freezing our tails off."

"I almost die and this is what I get." He sighed in his hand.

"It's not the first time." Sweetiebelle said.

"And it won't be the last." Scootaloo added.

"Gee, thanks. I feel so loved." He rolled his eyes behind his face-plate.

As they walked, Babs relaxed slightly. Looking out over the ridge, her eyes widened.

A large mountain, with a single arch and a wave like patter jutted out from the flat land. All the rock faced only one way, each tip ending in a round or very sharp point. The system's sun shining through the arch, illuminating a closer planet around the edge. And down below, sat a large facility, with no visible signs of life.

The Waster's kept walking, obscuring her vision as they entered a cave.

It got darker and darker until it was hard to see what was in front of what. The only light being cast out was from the groups helmet's or Sweetiebelle's horn.

They turned a corner and out from under a blanket of snow, jumped a Slasher.

Sweetiebelle screamed in surprise and shot a stray bolt of energy out. It ricocheted around the walls and ground, melting the snow and ice. The Necromorph stood there, watching them jump around to avoid the bolt.

Applebloom ducked under it before looking at Sweetiebelle, she caught her glance and gave an embarrassed smile.

"Scootaloo! Use your damn Necromorph's!" Isaac yelled.

The one carrying Babs Seed set her down; the bolt struck the strap leaving only a one strapped back pack.

The Slasher was moving forward but stopped in confusion when the Waster’s got in front of it from both sides. They stood, side by side, their yellow eyes staring at the confused Slasher. They were unmoving, both of them just staring down at it, their arms hanging limply next to them.

It never figured it out they were enemies before they brought their axes down on it. They forced it onto the ground where they began cutting chunks off.

Two more Slasher's came out, Scootaloo grabbed one and the other was about to Slasher her when Isaac jumped and dragged it down by its feet. He held its arms back and waited for Scootaloo to finish off the one she had.

"Here, let them." She said.

He let go as the two Waster's grabbed the Slasher by the arms. They forced it onto its knees and held its head level with hers.

Babs watched the whole thing in wonder and horror.

The red light's, the creature coming out from itself, and then the Waster's let it go. It stood up and got in row with its other three comrades.

"Hey... uh. Mind if I just walk?" Babs asked.

"Your choice kid." Isaac said. "Hey, Scootaloo, can I ride in the sack now?"

"No." She said bluntly.

"It was a joke. You need to lighten up; what's the-"

Sweetiebelle shut off his transmitter and waited for him to realize no one could hear him.

He stopped and crossed his arms, staring at Sweetiebelle. She turned his transmitter back on.

"The hell was that for?" He asked.

"Remember the last time somepony said that?" Applebloom asked. "Like when ah finished what Scootaloo said on the Sprawl?"

"I think I remember that. She was about to say what could go wrong?" He stopped as three of the crusaders glared. "Shit..."

They all huddled into a corner, all except Babs Seed who had jumped back into the sac and was peering out over the edge.

"Well look at that," Isaac said. "Nothing happened."

"Give it a minute." Applebloom said flatly.

"Well aren't you a big ball of joy. Can't we just enjoy the peace and quiet before having to go and face death defying odds?" Isaac said.

"Hey," Sweetiebelle said, ears perked up. "I hear somepony! They're down the tunnel!"

They all hurried down, slowing to a walk when they saw the exit.

They saw the facility from before, now up close, they saw a man up on a wall to the left.

He raised his gun at them before noticing the Necromorph's weren't attacking.

"Carver! Down here!" Isaac called out.

"Clarke!? How the hell-" He paused and looked out behind where he was at. "Never mind! Come on-" He paused again before lifting his gun. "Oh shit! Langford! Their coming over the outer wall!" He ran out of sight but his yelling could still be heard. "Do you hear me!? They're heading your way! Dammit! Were in central command! Get up here!"

As he finished, gunshots were the only noise before Slasher's appeared on the walkway.

"Come on!" Isaac yelled running towards a door to the right. "The generator to the lift should be in there."

He went in and saw the generator. He stuck out his palm and enveloped the motor in kinesis; it began to spin rapidly before lighting up.

He ran out and went onto the lift, the crusaders and the Necromorph's following shortly after.

Before they reached the top, something climbed onto the top, and tore open the top. A bony tentacle lashed out, bending one of the sides.

"Everyone jump!" Isaac yelled as him and the others quickly jumped over the rail with him.

They all rolled in the snow, looking back they all saw a large, but not giant Necromorph climb down after destroying the lift.

"Scootaloo, get the Necrmorph's to protect Babs. Isaac, you too!" Applebloom yelled.

He gave a salute, grabbed Babs and set her to the side, Necrmorph's surrounding her.

"Why aren't you helping them!?" She asked. "That thing will kill them!"

"That?" He half sputtered half scoffed. "Please, you don't know those three. That thing's nothing."

The Crusaders were at the ready, facing the creature.

It walked or scuttled would be the better word, on four legs. Two smaller ones underneath. Its mouth was split into four parts like a beetle. Its legs were covered in nets, axes, spears and the occasional body part.

Three tentacles came out of its back, all of them as thick as a man's arm with a yellow sac in the middle of each.

"Aim for the yellow!" Applebloom yelled firing away with her Pulse rifle.

Scootaloo was shooting Ripper blades at it, grabbing them with her tentacles as her faceless muzzle stared in concentration. She aimed for the eyes, but stopped and went for the tentacles again, sinking each one into a tentacle. Sweetiebelle was sneaking behind it.

It charged forward and before it hit any of them, turned and went for Isaac and Babs Seed.

The Necrmorph's all jumped onto it, the Waster's hacking away the tentacles while the Slasher's cut its mouth to bits.

It grabbed the Waster's and threw them down before biting into the Slasher's, killing them. It raised up onto its back legs and pushed the front ones into the waster's, killing them.

It turned back to Isaac, who was shooting at it. It rose onto its back legs and opened its chest exposing a new set of tentacles.

One of them lashed out and struck Isaac, knocking him back towards Babs seed. She got behind him, looked at his face and saw him smirking as he wiped away a bit of blood.

Before Babs knew what happened next, her cousin was on top of the thing, firing away at the tentacles.

She had a maniacal grin, her eyes wide even though her brow was furrowed. And she was laughing.

She stared in horror at her cousin as she effortlessly fought it.

She grabbed onto a tentacle and held it down before firing her Line gun directly on its back. Cutting it from the base. It shook and threw her off. She tumbled and was pinned down when it knocked her down.

As it brought down a leg, it stopped. Looked up and saw Sweetiebelle's spinal tail hit it.

It went flying into the wall behind it. It got up and looked between her and the wall.

She had all of her weapons out. Her Stalker claws on her hooves, the Puker acid dripping out from her mandibles, the long teeth on her upper jaw, the collar of Lurker tentacles, the spinal tail, the Slasher blades standing on her back, the Drag tentacles waving around, her armored head and legs, her legs also sporting Cyst's and her bone pleated head with her horn raised on a Tripod stalk.

She was atleast eight times its size, just one of her hooves was as big as it was.

It fled quickly over the wall, knocking a part of the walkway down as it did.

They all watched it retreat, all of them careful before the crusaders turned back to Isaac and Babs Seed.

Her mouth was hanging open, her eyes were wide and red, she had her hooves over her ears as a few ice flakes came off from her fearful tears.

Applebloom slowly approached, careful to not upset her anymore.

"Babs? It's aright' now. It's gone. Babs?" She waved a hoof in front of Babs Seed’s face.

She remained still.

"I think you all broke her." Isaac said walking over.

"Babs...?" She poked her cousin and gasped, covering her muzzle with a hoof as her cousin fell backwards into the snow.

"Oh yeah, that's unfixable." Isaac said. "I'll get the back pack."