Fallout: Equestria, Darkness Falls

BEEEEP!! BEEEEP!! BEEEEP!!

“Augh!” I fell to the floor, jolted from my slumber. My eyes shot open and stared at the couch fabric as the room constantly spun in darkness and yellow.

I swear my heart was beating so fast that it threatened to burst from my chest! I scrambled to my hooves, frantically looking around the sanctum for what was happening. Everything had abruptly changed. A spinning light – which was quickly making me dizzy – bathed the room in a dark yellow.

What in the Everafter is happening!?

I cupped my folded ears as best I could, an attempt to drown out the head-splitting siren. I have never heard anything like it in my entire life!

BEEEEP!! BEEEEP!! BEEEEP!!

The door slid open. Dawn barreled in, her ears folded down as she likewise tried to protect herself.

“Silver!” Dawn shouted. “Silver! What's happening!?”

“How should I know!?” I shouted back. I am not sure what was scarier; the chaos erupting around me or the fact that my mentor did not know either.

BEEEEP!! BEEEEP!! BEEEEP!!

“Come on, get dressed!” Dawn urged me to lower my hooves and I reluctantly did so. “We have to see what is happening!”

I nodded, scrambled to my hooves, grabbed my priestess robes and donned them as quickly as I could. Outside I glimpsed ponies running back and forth as they, too, tried to sort out this madness. Dawn and I quickly joined them, though we made our way to Security with all possible haste. Many others had the same idea and we had to wade through the veritable herd that was packed in the hallway.

“Star Key!” I shouted to a mare in front of the bank of monitors that made up the far wall. Dawn had parted and was trying to soothe the panicked ponies just outside.

The dark blue mare looked up, clear panic written across her face. “P-Priestess Starlight!?”

“What is this? What is happening?”

“I don't know!” Star Key shouted back. “There was a rumble, and suddenly everything started going crazy!!”

I recalled no rumble, but then again I was dead asleep. “What do you mean?”

Star Key turned away and punched several buttons on the console. The screens lit up, some showing red areas in... oh who am I kidding? I can't read these! It was only so much red and green that I couldn’t make heads or tails of. Luckily, Star Key could.

“Ventilation is reporting smoke and damage!” she read off of the screen, but something else was obviously bothering her. “But... that's impossible! What could do this to the vents!? I check the maintenance logs every single day, and there was no mention or sign of this!”

I gulped. Nothing I know of.

BEEEEP!! BEEEEP!! BEEEEP!!

“And what about the filtration system!?” I asked, the siren still blaring. “And can we please shut that off!”

Star Key blushed and punched another few buttons. The spinning alarm lights continued to light the halls in flickering yellow, but the siren ceased. Thank Celestia.

“Sorry, Priestess.” Her ears perked back up, as did mine. Dawn joined us in the security room now that the worst had passed and everypony was under relative control. As did a few security mares.

In truth, these three -- Shield, Clover and Lock Seal -- were the only mares under Star Key to secure a Stable of three-hundred and fifty. That was how scarce emergencies were that required them to act. Until now, the most pressing concern we had ever had was a filly getting lost in engineering.

“Okay.” I sighed softly, now able to think straight without a hammer beating my ear drums. “Let's start over; what is that alarm? I've never heard anything like it before. What is this 'damage' you're talking about, and is it a threat to life support in the stable?”

Star Key rubbed the bridge of her nose, then studied the monitors for a few moments, likewise allowed to think now. “Um, okay.” She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “That alarm? I'm not sure... but it started when the vents reported damage. What doesn't make sense is that they were triggered where it's impossible for anypony to get to.”

I blinked, then shared a confused glance to Dawn as though she would have the answer. She did not, of course. I motioned for Star Key to continue for the time being.

“There is no damage to the ventilation sector.” That got a sigh of relief. “But the weird part is that it would not have blared a siren like that. If there's a problem, it gets sent to Butter's maintenance computer... not here in security.”

That did not bode well. Dawn and I shared another glance, then at the security ponies waiting for orders. Though, instead of looking to me, I noticed that they were looking at Dawn.

My mentor saw this as well, and with a confident smile she nodded to me. “What shall we do, High Priestess?”

I blinked, ears down and my mouth suddenly dry as I tried to find my voice. “W-we need to check the ventilators, just to be sure. Somepony needs to find Butter and get a report.” I blinked as Dawn gave me a side-glancing nod, directed to the waiting ponies. I blushed. “Oh!” I turned to the nearest security mare. “Shield, find Butter and get that report, if you please.”

She nodded and immediately turned on her hooves and galloped away.

I sighed, then looked to the other mares. There weren’t very many, but in this time of need there were many scared ponies out there that would need calming. “Seal, go and gather everypony, bring them to the cathedral. They will be safest there while Dawn, Clover and I figure out what is happening.”

They both seemed to hesitate and murmured anxiously amongst themselves.

“Go on then, please,” Dawn spoke up in that ever-kind voice.

That got their attention. Seal left to the intercom and made an announcement for everypony to head to the cathedral. Clover waited by the door.

I sighed heavily and drooped. I’m a failure of a leader; they listen to Dawn readily and without question. But me? They hesitate, because I’m not Eternal Dawn. I may be the High Priestess and I may wear this robe, as well as the pendant, but in their hearts and minds I am not who I need to be.

“What am I doing…?” I murmured to myself, eyes more interested in the polished floor between my forehooves.

A hoof on my shoulder, none other than Dawn’s, gave me comfort. “You are learning,” my mentor said. “Nothing more, nothing less. Take heart, my Silvie… no Priestess has dealt with an emergency like this before.”

I looked up at her, ears down and uncertain just like everypony else. Even though Dawn had no idea what was going on, she had that confidence and reassurance, that kindness, that I just lacked in a leadership capacity.

“Now, shall we get going?” Dawn asked when she felt I was ready. I nodded.

Clover and I trotted around the sector for ventilation and food production while Dawn was investigating engineering. The stable had quickly become a deserted ghost town, everypony safely tucked away in the cathedral. Or at least I hoped so. We had no idea what we were dealing with, and it showed in the way Clover moved.

Her ears twitched between listening for any strange sound, or apprehensively folded against her skull. Every step was clearly forced and reluctant, like she would rather be anywhere else but here. I didn’t blame her.

“S-Silver?”

Here we go. “Yes, Clover?” I gave my best imitation of Dawn’s soothing kindness. It was at least half bad. I was nervous too.

“Wh-what’s going on? I-If you knew you’d t-tell me, right?” she asked shakily, staring at me for some glimmer of hope in this hour of need.

I wished I had a real answer. This was a brand new situation for every single one of us. Never before has an emergency like this come up. Never before have we had a problem like this -- and we didn’t even know what was happening. Suddenly the bright, clean hallways seemed a lot less welcoming.

I took a deep, silent breath and pushed my anxiety away with effort. “I would, Clover. Rest assured I would not keep you -- or anypony -- in the dark like this. The moment I learn more, I will make sure that you’re the first to know.” Time to live up to my role. I stopped and put a robed hoof on Clover’s shoulder, an attempt to reassure the frightened mare.

“Have faith, my little pony. You are in good hooves as the Princesses watch over you. You shall come to no harm.” I may not have been as inspirational as Dawn, but I could at least reassure one pony.

That got a smile and the subtle trembles that I felt from Clover ceased. She gave me a nod. “Thank you, Priestess.”

I nodded. “You’re very welcome. Now, how about we cover some more ground, hmm?” I asked. Clover didn’t deflate, but she seemed less sure about this move. “With Dawn, yourself and I searching separately, we can discover the problem with greater haste. I am sure this is nothing.”

Clover calmed again and gave me a nod. “Yes, Priestess.” A small smile, then she started off down the next hallway that would take her closer to ventilation.

I went my own way, going back to my thoughts as I examined the vents above for any smoke or signs of damage. Surely this had to be nothing. Something, perhaps, went wrong with the ventilation equipment and soon Butter would be on the job and have it fixed in no time. Butter was good at her calling, a blessed mechanic, and the Goddesses’ charge to keep things running. There was no problem she couldn’t fix and this was no exception.

Yes, I said to myself. Things will be fine. Soon I shall convene with Clover and Dawn, find out that nothing of great concern was wrong, and we can go on with our lives.

I arrived at food production and the door slid open. Inside was the solar gardens that grew our food; fruits, vegetables and grains, along with everything needed to harvest with the Princesses’ blessings. Like everywhere else, I was alone with the long, glowing beds of plant life and dirt that stretched on in the massive room, hanging overhead were more of the garden pods to capitalize on vertical space.

Other than the hum of the machinery, the occasional hiss as the irrigation sprinkler activated, the subtle hum of the lights, there was absolutely no sound.

My ear twisted back as the door slid closed --

Bang!

Now my head twisted back, and I jumped at the sudden sound. It… was a noise like the siren, something I had never heard before. It was quick and sudden, gone as fast as it came. I stood there, stunned into inaction for what felt like an eon, questions racing through my mind.

What was that? Where did that come from? Is it… related to this disaster?

One statement made my blood run cold.

It came from ventilation, where I sent...

“Clover?” I called, turning on my heels and galloped through the door, then made my way straight to ventilation.

It was not a long gallop, just a few halls and I’d find out --

The sight before me sent me reeling, and I ground to a halt.

Clover was lying on her side, her back to me and legs crumpled underneath. Altogether my senses locked solely on her. She was still breathing, but it was interrupted with weak coughs and whimpers of pain. Clover was shivering, trembling where she lay and was trying to get to her hooves. Every move spoke of suffering, every attempt met with failure. But what froze me stiff with my jaw slackened was but one thing.

Blood. Slowly expanding around her was a pool of crimson red.

Numbness and an inability to comprehend what I was seeing held my mind in turmoil. How was she injured? I looked around the juncture; there was no damage, no fallen pieces of the hallway ceiling, no other trip hazard or… anything!

What are you doing!? I jumped at the voice in my head; my own self shouting at me to get my rear in gear. She needs help! GET OVER THERE!

I scrambled over to Clover as fast as I could.

“Clover!” I tried to garner her attention. “Clover! What happened!?”

“Sil--” She coughed blood. “--ver… I… intr…” Another cough, splattering her life fluid on my foreleg.

Goddesses!!

My rising panic took hold of me. One look at her wound and I was stumped. A hole, dead center in her chest, bleeding freely. The most I had dealt with was a deep gash in one of the engineer’s hind legs. This… was beyond me.

“Hang on, Clover!” I looked around for anything that would help, the one item that could help. “I’ll get help!”

There was one down the hall and I raced off to it. I punched the intercom button a lot harder than necessary, but what one does in a blind panic is beyond reason.

“Lock Seal! Lock Seal answer me immediately!” I shouted into the speaker.

A moment, then two…

Heat gathered in my face. This was no time to ignore the intercom!!

Just as I was about to angrily demand an answer, it came. “Silver? Silver what’s wrong? Do we have an all clear?”

I shook my head, despite the futility of the gesture. “No! Send Genesis and Doctor Gauze to ventilation immediately! Clover is hurt!”

Another pregnant silence. “What? Hurt? How?” Undoubtedly there was shock in Seal’s voice.

I growled out, teeth grit. “Nevermind how! Send them now!”

“Okay! They’re on their way!”

I ran back over to Clover. “Help is on the way, Clover… just hang on!”

Tears ran down Clover’s cheek and she tried to speak. “Sil... “ She coughed, then groaned in pain, gasping for breath that wasn’t drowned in her own blood. “S-Silver… intruder!” She barely managed before devolving into a bloody coughing fit.

Intruder?

“What?” I blinked. I did not yet understand the gravity of what Clover had just told me. The hallways bore no movement that I could see. My brow furrowed.

The only ponies down here would be me, Clover and Dawn…

This had only just happened. They could not have gotten far and I was close by when it happened. I scanned every hallway -- there were only three; the one that led directly to ventilation, and one to my left and right. They seemed to go on forever until the hall ended with a heavy metal door, with only small storage rooms on one side, the far walls bordering the single entrance room.

One caught my eye. A door that had opened but not yet closed. When I was a filly, Dawn had enacted a decree that stated no door to storage areas should close if the pony was still inside. This was because some wandering fillies had gotten locked in at one point. They were found and rescued, but the very same day Dawn had Butter modify the store rooms so that it could not happen again.

And the storeroom for ventilation was open.

That has to be it.

I made my way to the door, my eyes peeled for any other sign of movement by the entrance. Somepony was inside, and they were going to answer my questions. I stopped at the threshold, my outrage slowly built within my chest.

“By the authority vested in me by the Goddesses as High Priestess, I demand that you show yourself!” I called out to the room, then waited.

I fully expected the pony to show their face and explain what was happening.

I waited.

And waited.

And waited still…

My eye twitched. They dare ignore a direct command!? Fine! I’ll drag you out!

I glared at my pipbuck and activated the only feature I really knew how to use; the light spell. My left foreleg wrapped in a soft blue glow and I crossed the threshold.

The motion sensor light had malfunctioned, there was no other light than my own. Light from the outside hall drew my shadow long and slender into the room, then was swallowed by the darkness that could not be illuminated. Enough light poured in that I could at least make out the rows of metal shelves. Every single one was encumbered with various tools, supplies and boxes that contained Celestia knew what. I kept my ears perked for any movement as I slowly walked down one aisle.

I frowned darkly. Such impertinence! Only the guilty have reason to avoid the light, and I will get an answer out of whoever is responsible for this. Mark my words.

“Reveal yourself!” I called out again, my horn lit to give me a bit more light. I knew no offensive or defensive spells as that kind of magic was frowned upon, and least of all the High Priestess should know such spells.

Though, right now I wish I did know something at least…

The thought of Clover made me pause. I tensed, ready to react should this charlatan try to harm me in the same manner as the security mare just outside.

Noise to my right. My head whipped around to catch movement. An equine shape directly on the other side, reared up and… grunting?

I blinked. “There you are!”

Metal creaked, the shelf tipped.

Uh oh. My eyes bugged and I gasped. Objects rained down around me and crashed to the floor. Clangs and rattles beat against my ears, more than a few things pelted my back to nearly make me falter. A metallic clash above. The two shelves collided, and even more fell upon me.

Fear gripped me and I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, and I tried my best not to trip over the minefield that was now beneath me. I was nearing the end--

CRASH!

“AUGH!” My escape, stonewalled by the pair of heavy boxes, stopped short just at the end of the row. Every effort to dislodge was met with failure. I groaned and squirmed desperately to get loose. The shelf groaned with me and remained firmly in place.

No! I have to get out of here!

Hoof steps caught my attention and I looked up.

Standing above me was the intruder. Another pony with a rust colored coat. They wore the strangest -- and dirtiest -- clothing I had ever seen, they were on the verge of being rags. To add further to the list, she was more muscular than any mare I had ever seen. Her muzzle was more square-ish as well, with a brown mane and tail that was cut very short.

“How’s that fer revealin’ myself?”

I blinked at the stranger. Her voice was gruff and deep, more so than any pony I had ever heard. But it was the last detail that really struck me speechless. This pony had no horn.

What are you!?

I voiced my curiosity in a whisper, and the pony -- the thing -- merely chuckled as it leaned down to smirk at me. “Stable-dwellers… no use explainin’ to yer type. Yer all jus’ tremor bait in the end.” It stood back up. “Now if’n y’all will excuse me, Ah think Ah’ll take a gander ‘round before Ah make my departure.”

I watched the thing trot away and renewed my struggles. “No! You stay out of there! That is holy ground!” I growled and groaned as I tried to lift myself out.

I heard its chuckle down the hall as I yelled out in frustration. My rear hoof was caught on something. Urgh! I had to get free! I can’t let that… that… whatever it was enter the chambers. Who knows what it’ll do!

“Aaaaaaaaaaah!” I turned over as much as I could and pushed for all I was worth. “Goddesses give me strength!” I tried again and again, but it was no use. I could not budge the heavy shelf or any of the supplies piled onto me. It pinched my hoof pretty bad, too, and that hindered any escape attempt further as fire shot up my ankle.

Bang!

I gasped and stared at the door. That sound again.

Bang! Bang, bang!

No! It was the strange sound that I heard just before I found Clover.

There has to be a way out! I just need to find it! Come on, Silver, think!

I stared at the metal shelves and tried my hardest to keep from hyperventilating, nor let my panic sink in. The metal clasps on the end caught my eye, and my brain ran. Those hold the shelves on the support rods. Undo those, and the thing should come apart. Yeah.

I reached my hoof up and undid the middle one, though I needed to use my horn for the upper and lower shelves. With a clang, the end rods fell to the floor and the entire shelf eased up. I pushed the nearest box off of me and freed my hoof -- it had been pinned under a toolbox, the shelf itself holding it down -- and scrambled to my hooves.

Just as I did, there was a flash and a scream down the hall.

“No!” I yelled, my heart sinking as I dashed into the hallway. No, please no. Not another injury like Clover’s! Not Dawn!

I vaulted around the corner just as Gauze, Genesis and Star Key arrived. They tried to get my attention, but I had to go, and now. Time was of the essence!

“Never mind me! Help Clover!” I shouted at them as I passed.

Goddesses give me haste! I cannot fail another!

I made my way straight to engineering, as that was where I knew Dawn would have been, and it wasn’t far. I spotted Dawn in an intersection. She was upright and seemed well.

“Dawn! You’re okay!” I slid to a stop and into a hug around my mentor, relieved beyond comprehension that she was alive and unharmed.

Dawn gasped softly and then patted my back.

I parted and regarded her. “Dawn! We have a serious problem!”

“Yes Silver, I kn--”

“There’s a very strange pony running around! Clover is hurt and…”

“Yes, I know, Silver--”

“--they’re a pony I’ve never seen before and--”

“Silver.”

“--they’re after something! I don’t know what, but--”

“Silver!”

“--we have to stop them before they hurt somepony else--”

“Silver!”

I stopped my ramblings when the Stable began to shake, hooves gripping my shoulders. I stared back at Dawn, the only sound I could hear was my rapid breathing in the silence. I blinked, looking directly into Dawn’s violet eyes.

She sighed and let me go, now that I had calmed down. “As I was saying, my dear Silvie. I know all about the situation.” She smiled, but it was laced with a weariness I had never seen in my Guardian before. “Everything is under control.”

I blinked a bit slower than usual, and now stared at her like she had grown a hydra’s number in heads. “What? How can you say that? How is everything under control?” I asked, more confused than anything.

Dawn’s kind smile remained, and her hoof gestured down the hall.

I looked, and promptly gasped.

On the floor, unconscious, was the strange thing that pushed the shelf over on me. A lump on their head, a wrench slightly bent, and a… weird L shaped device next to them.

“Oh,” I said. “That’s how…”

“She’s losing blood!” Genesis worked frantically with Doctor Gauze, attempting with all their might to save Clover.

I stood off to the side against my own will.

Well, not completely. Star Key was half-heartedly barring me from the scene, insisting that the more trained medical ponies should be given room; and right now that was Genesis and Gauze. How could I argue? The most I had ever been able to heal was a paper cut compared to this.

“Gen, I need pressure!”

Genesis nodded to Gauze. “Yes, okay!”

Clover looked pale. A light sweat dampened her coat and she couldn’t help but spasm. It was too dangerous to move her. We had tried and dropped her twice. Magic was also tried, and that caused her too much pain. Mere yards into the magically assisted travel she cried and begged for us to stop.

“Uh, um… G-Genesis!” Gauze stuttered, the shake in her hooves tremendous. “W-we need a blanket! C-Clover is stone cold!”

Genesis took almost ten seconds to comprehend what Gauze had asked for. By then I shed the heavy robe I wore and gave it to them. She grabbed it and draped the robe over Clover while Gauze unwrapped several packets of sanitized cloth and pressed it against Clover’s wound. At the frantic urging of Gauze, Genesis joined in. Instantly the gauze was soaked with red.

I feel so useless.

I watched. What else could I do? I didn’t know half of what Genesis and Gauze knew.

And it was beginning to look like they didn’t have a clue either.

After the stranger had been carried away to Medical, both to have the head wound attended to and to be locked up, I stayed with the others to give what assistance I could.

Clover’s movement waned by the minute. Her eyelids were visibly drooping and her breathing became quick, short panting. A cold sweat matted her fur.

It’s bad. Oh Celestia, it’s really really bad.

Gauze was an inch away from panicking. Her trembling grew as she replaced the dirty, sullen cloth with fresh ones, and her frustration apparent when the persistent bleeding had no end in sight. Hyperventilation became normal for the time being. The fact that she kept trying different methods spoke volumes of uncertainty.

Genesis was better off, but not by much. The older mare bit her lip anxiously, trying her hardest to assist Gauze.

Right then the air grew heavy. All sound stopped. Clover went still.

A chill ran down my spine. A chill like nothing I had ever experienced before. Terrifyingly numb sensations as two simple words passed through my mind.

She’s dead. G-Goddesses, Clover is…

“No!” Gauze shouted, tears spilling forth. “No! No, no, no. No!”

She kept working, now with her horn lit as she tried to restart Clover’s heart. The only movement the ground-bound mare gave was the jostling from Gauze.

Gauze frantically worked until Genesis put a hoof on her shoulder, morose and grim. Genesis had seen death before; she brought new fillies into life when the Goddesses deemed them ready, and she helped the old mares rest into the afterlife.

Gauze recoiled in shock, staring up at Genesis as though she had just committed the act herself. She jerked away and continued to frantically work, as if every second counted now more than ever. Even though it was too late.

“Gauze…” Star Key spoke up softly, her voice hoarse. “Gauze, stop. Y-You can’t help her now.” She frowned, confusion in her tone, like she couldn’t believe what she heard or said right then.

She’s dead.

“Please Gauze…”

I heard Gauze working, but it sounded distant.

She’s dead.

I attended her cute-ceanera…

The world tuned out. I saw and I heard, but it was all very very far away. It wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be.

She’s dead.

I remember her and Harmonics fighting when Harmonics put too much lemon in her tea, a silly prank.

She’s dead.

Clover got her cutie mark for agriculture, but she wanted security. I gave her what she wanted. That was only two months ago.

A terrible tightness clenched at my chest.

She’s dead.

One of them was sobbing, hunched over Clover. The other, older one was trying to comfort her. I didn’t catch a word they were saying.

I suggested we split up.

That tightness doubled.

I sent her to ventilation. Where the stranger was.

Heat built in my face. More intense and hotter than ever before. My teeth ground against each other.

That thing killed her! Clover is dead, and that thing killed her! Before her time, her life stolen!

Hot liquid stained my cheeks, everything became blurry.

“Oh no…” A new voice chimed in, barely above a whisper, from just next to me. Though I neither made effort to notice nor cared.

Star Key did. She turned and bowed, and familiar words of not having to do that were softly spoken.

“Silver?” A voice, kind and gentle. One I had known since I first opened my eyes, but held frightening uncertainty that I had never heard in it before. “Silvie… please speak to me.”

I blinked slowly and brought my head back up. I looked to my guardian, my face tightened and grim. “Where is it?” I asked far more tersely than I meant to. A very small part of myself wanted to slap me hard for it, too.

Dawn blinked, her own smile long gone as she glanced at the deceased unicorn. Genesis was still trying to calm Gauze down. Star Key waited for us to provide guidance.

Dawn hesitated, but eventually spoke up. “The… stranger has been taken to medical.”

I nodded. I turned to leave, but… I looked back to Clover. I stared at her for what felt like an eternity, then slowly moved up to her. Clover’s eyes were still half open, glazed over and lifeless. Lifeless.

“Rest in peace under Celestia’s sun…” I put my hoof just under her horn.

I’m sorry. I lied to you, and I’m so sorry.

“S-Sleep tight in Luna’s night.” As I finished, I slid my hoof down, closing the mare’s eyes. Right then she looked like she was merely sleeping. I could almost believe it, too.

But she’s not. She’s dead.

Lastly I picked up my robes and donned them, despite the blood. Clover’s blood. I was just as responsible as the strange one I was about to go see.

Some ponies were following me as I strode along to medical. Had to be Dawn and Star Key.

After minutes of silence, “What are you going to do, High Priestess?” Star Key asked, and I could feel Dawn’s careful gaze on me as well.

That was a good question. What was I going to do?

The Princesses absolutely abhor killing and death. It was a despicable act that went against everything we were taught in Stable 46. The Goddesses also frowned upon revenge, stating that when the time comes for everypony to pass on to the Everafter, the Golden Realm, that judgment would be theirs, and theirs alone. Celestia was the keeper of the Sins, and she would read off the lifely crimes of the newly ascended. Then Luna, the keeper of Judgment, would bring those deemed unworthy and undeserving to Tartarus to carry out an appropriate sentence.

Despite this dynamic, it was inconceivable to think of anypony going to Tartarus.

Until now, that is. Of course, that’s assuming that the wretched thing I was about to go see even was a pony.

But what could I do? Nopony had ever, ever, done such a thing. I cannot let this thing go. I cannot let this deed go unpunished.

I looked to the ceiling, hoping, wishing the Goddesses would give me the answer I needed.

I sighed, my temper still red hot in my face. “Pass judgment,” I answered.

Dead silence behind me, until the sound of Dawn and Key’s hooves resumed.

I know the Princesses are the ones who judge. But I will make sure that thing cannot flee back to where it came from. I can do that much, at least.

The trot to medical was quick, despite every hoof feeling heavier than lead and my heart much the same. I spoke nothing else after my declaration, even if I desperately wanted some form of advice from Dawn. She probably did not know what to do, either, if her reactions at the scene were anything to go on.

The door slid open and I was greeted by the pristine sterile white of the medical room. It was small, yet not cramped; enough room for several ponies to move about. Stainless steel cabinets and a nearly flawless neatness. The only sign of anything out of place was one drawer hastily yanked open and its contents askew on the counter above. The apparent evidence of Genesis and Gauze’s haste to respond to my call.

And yet it made so little difference, I thought bitterly, my mouth in a thin line.

Shield stood guard over the still-unconscious thing strapped down to the medical bed. The absence of Seal suggested that she was guarding the cathedral, watching over everypony else. Lastly, there it was.

Shield gave me a quick bow, which I largely ignored.

I got a more detailed look at this stranger now that I wasn’t buried under a collapsed shelf. Rust red, brown-ish coat, like I had seen before. It had a cutie mark; some kind of square, brown bottle with three X’s on it. The short brown mane and tail, how filthy it was, and the absolutely putrid odor.

“Has it woken up at all?” I asked Shield.

“Ah ain’t an ‘it’, lady…”

That answers that.

It chuckled softly as Shield jumped, and she moved away from the bed. It opened its eyes -- a brown hazel -- and smirked. It regarded me for several seconds, then hummed. “Di’n’t make it, did she.”

I bristled as it knew exactly what was on my robes. I glared and growled out, “No. She did not.”

Shield gasped. “C-Clover… she’s…?”

I nodded somberly and sighed, any grief I should have been feeling was drowned by the outrage at this thing and its actions. I would explain to Shield later, as well as make sure everypony else was okay.

Okay? Are you listening to yourself? How is anypony supposed to be ‘okay’ after this?

Through prayer. We have the Princesses, and they’ll never leave us.

The thought gave me comfort. Our faith was unshakable. We will persevere through this tragedy as we’ve always done, even if this was the first.

I turned my attention on the stranger, glaring down at the accused. “I think I will start off with my earlier question; what are you?”

It looked at me like I was the strange one, then it frowned. “Tell me this, lady, whatever hooch yer drinkin’, Ah’d very much like some.” That frown turned into an amused smirk. I did not share the sentiment.

“Do not play games with me, demon,” I growled back.

It blinked. “Demon…?” Then it laughed. “Girl, yer a delusional one, ain’t ya? Ah’m no demon. Ah’m yer simple typical stallion merc lookin’ ta make a few caps.”

Stallion…? That was a word I had never heard of before. I glanced to Dawn and she gave me the same look. She had no idea either.

It seemed to notice our blank looks, then found amusement in this as the ‘stallion’ laughed heartily. “Oh, this is rich! A Stable full of virgin mares, Ah must ‘ave died and gone to the Everafter!” It cackled.

I growled, glaring daggers at this ‘stallion’ thing. Surely it was some different form of demon, and it was taunting us!

Dawn stepped up, not smiling but not angry like I was. Dawn never got angry. “Hmmm, a ‘stallion’. If you would be so kind, would you elaborate?”

It stopped its incessant chuckling and stared at Dawn and I. “Wait, y’all are serious?”

Dawn smiled and quirked a curious eyebrow. She was actually curious about what this stallion had to say. It baffled me and I stared at her. How can she be so casual with this?

“If you would, please enlighten us.”

My jaw dropped. Enlighten us!? “D-Dawn!”

“Yes, Silver?” my guardian asked, ever the calm and patient mentor.

“How can you just ask this thing--”

“Stallion.”

I huffed and rolled my eyes. “Fine. Stallion. How can you ask this stallion to ‘enlighten’ us!” I looked back to it. “It’s clearly evil!”

Dawn hummed and pondered my words. “Well, clearly this stallion is not how they appear. What harm is there in garnering information? After all, knowledge is the gateway to wisdom, my dear Silvie.” She smiled, one hoof raised to support her point.

And of course, how can I argue with that? I sighed, nodding.

“An’ here Ah thought y’all were pullin’ mah hind leg.” It chuckled. “Ah’m what’s called an’ ‘earth pony’. An’ jus’ so ya can stop callin’ me ‘it’, use ‘he’ and ‘him’. The name’s Whiskey Tango.”

I was confused, Dawn nodded.

“What’s a whiskey tango…?” Shield asked, just as confused as me.

Tango rolled his eyes. “It’s mah name, ya idgit! Stable dwellers, ugh.”

Dawn chuckled. “Interesting, to say the least. So, Whiskey, what brings you here?”

That got my attention. I very much wanted to know what brought ‘him’ here.

“Well,” he started in an almost business-like tone, “Ah’m lookin’ ta complete a contract. ‘Fore ya ask, honey, Ah can’t get into the details.” A brief shadow crossed over his face, like he’d seen a ghost. He glanced around the room as if looking for something, then muttered something too quiet for Dawn or myself to hear.

Dawn noticed this too. “Expecting somepony?”

Whiskey frowned and shook his head. “Ee’nope.”

My brow tightened. Yeah, right. And I’m Luna’s hoof-maiden. “You had best tell us why you’re here. And why you killed Clover.”

Whiskey blinked, looking like he didn’t know who we were talking about. “Who?”

My eye twitched as I bristled. He… forgot!? “You… what?” I nearly yelled.

His head tilted back at my volume. “Oh. Oh! Ya mean that mare that got in mah way. Yeah, Ah had ta shoot ‘er.” He shrugged, like it was no big deal.

I swear I saw red, and not the rust red that was Whiskey’s coat.

Before I could answer, Dawn spoke up. “So, then. Whiskey, where did you come from?”

“He came from tartarus! What kind of pony takes the life of another and acts so casually!” I stomped a hoof, emphasizing my point. I couldn’t keep quiet! This outrage needs to be addressed!

Dawn’s smile faded and she sighed softly.

“What gives you the right to do what is strictly forbidden!?”

Whiskey stared at me as though I had grown a second head, then answered just as casually. “Ya do or die in the Wasteland, darlin’. Yer friend? Clover? She was in mah way. An’ don’ look at me like that. You go into that hell and see how long ya last without killin’. Y’all stable dwellers wouldn’t last a day, an’ when Ah get out, it’ll happen; Ah damn-well guarantee.” It was a thinly veiled threat.

I snorted angrily. Such impertinence! Heresy! Ho- How dare he! “Monster!” I shouted. “You will never leave this place again!” I gave my final word and backed away before I did something that I would regret. Though I was sorely tempted as I made to exit medical.

“Monster, she calls me.” Now he snorted, calling after me. “Ya ‘ave no idea. No idea! Y’all know why? Because y’all stay cooped up in yer comfy lil’ stable without a care in the world!

“Ya think them Princesses will protect ya? Hell no!”

My gasket was about to blow, my pace quickened down the hall, making my way to the sanctum. The door opened and shut behind me. Once that was done, my frustration exploded, screaming behind closed doors.