darkSpyro

The Sheppard placed his fiery hoof hon Patriaric's chest to push him back into the tree and held him there, "You dare not answer me?" His irises burned brighter as he gazed into the pony's eyes, "Tell me what you know about Hellena and her little pink friend," his voice filled with anger, making Ash hide himself in the somewhat tall grass.

--

"I just want this all to stop... I want to see my friends again," Rainbow Dash turned her face somewhat so that Gulaven's coat would catch her tear.

Doctor Gulaven craned his head to look to his one hoof planted on the seat, "I cannot promise you that I will find them, and I cannot make certain we will ever see them," his voice was still rather blank of expression.

"You were... worried about me, weren't you?" Loony asked quietly, turning his attention to Grey. "Didn't think you still had that in you."

"Just what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Hellena retorted.

"I'm just surprised. Surprised that you would still care, after everything I've done. Grey is a fine example; why trust someone who has no apparent intentions? No goals? Let's be straight here, I as good as let your colleagues die. I'll admit that I don't feel much anymore."

"What?"

"I've been around for the better part of two millennia. I'm older than Equestria. I watched the dreams of these ponies, Hellena. Celestia, Luna, and the rest. I watched millions of ponies. How many have I seen extinguished? How many have I been helpless to prevent as they took their own lives? At what point does it not matter anymore, when one life means nothing to someone who had seen thousands extinguished?"

He flickered, turning to face Hellena. He looked anguished, shifting impatiently, anxiously.

"How can I make a difference, when I don't even care anymore?"

Patriatic look scared, "Oh, that. About that, she may be haunted by this spirit thing." he said.

"I can see in not getting anything out of you anymore," the Sheppard pulled back to let Patriatic free, "I'll just do what I came here for then. I'll let the others decide if you know too much," his body turned into flames and it appeared to suffocate away into the ground.

Ash stayed low to wait to see if Patriatic would just leave, hoping he wouldn't be approached.

--

Rainbow Dash rolled herself to face the window, "I don't think Rarity would have been able to handle this world... I barely made it on my own, she's a little too independent. If her family was home when this all spiraled down to what it is now, there might be a chance she got out of town. Seeking refuge in either Dodge or Manehatten."

"Well, once we get this lost component, we can have it installed and start gathering supplies," he lifted his head as Cauldron came by to look inside and give a nod, "We can head out in searching if need be."

Luminia stepped up onto the train with a somewhat heavier step than what was usual of her, and without speaking, slunk down the a seat further to the end of the train. Ignoring the others, she set herself to work cleaning the still-wet blood from her spear, her expression bitter.

---

"Loony..." Hellena shook her head, before speaking more forcefully, "Loony, listen to me. You're lying to yourself, got it? You wouldn't have gotten us out of there if you, aheh, 'didn't care'."

"You were always the exception."

"Hm! There we go. An exception is an exception." Her horn flickering into life, illuminating the room. "You had brought children here. I can tell, saving them from abuse or- or topping themselves, or whatever. And then there's Rainy..."

Loony winced, but didn't speak. Hellena hobbled over to him, and dragged the incandescent being into a tight hug. She took it as a sign of good faith that he didn't back out.

"It doesn't matter," she whispered, "okay? What Mediziner did, and what happened because of it... it wasn't your fault. Please. Please, just try to forgive yourself..."

"Ain't tha'... ain't tha' touchin'..."

His voice was slurred, and he held no signs of having woken up aside from his eye being half opened, but neither mare nor dream had any doubt that Grey had spoken.

Patriatic looked at the Sheppard, "So, you want to know about that spirit?" he asked, "All I also know is, is that he's called Loony."

The Sheppard did not return to confront Patriatic,but his voice echoed out of a small fire that sprouted out of nowhere, "I know just about everything there is to know about that little punk. I'm not surprised by your naivety, you seem to miss the point of me confronting you. These are questions that determine your fate. Whether you know too much or not, that is the deciding factor."

--

Gulaven watched Luminia enter the train and seclude herself once again, "If we are going to be temporary partners, it would be exceptional for you to not make yourself unknown." Rainbow Dash did not bother to look at what was going on, but would rather take a good nap, maybe sleep the rest of the ride away.

Cauldron took his position atop the car after closing the door, while torch released the breaks on the engine to start moving again. The initial spin of the train caused the usual screech of the metal sliding against one another. There was a slight bump sensation that rattled through the whole train, it was from knocking out debris and blockage the hostile ponies had built up to try and protect their hide out.

"I know." Luminia replied, looking up. "And I'm sorry. I have never supported unnecessary loss of life, even if it's unavoidable... Ponies are scared, naturally, seeing what's happened out there. Scared, and hurt, not sure if they're going to survive or not. Why take the role of Death in this wasteland?

"It's an odd question, I know, but have you ever considered the multiverse theory?"

---

"Didn't expect you to be awake so soon." Loony intoned, though his voice was notably warmer than it had been towards Grey previously, as he pulled out of the hug. "With all the near-mortal injuries and powerful sleep music, I'd expect you to be knocked out for a day. At least."

"I'm not one fer sleepin' on the job..." Grey wheezed, managing to force out a weak laugh as he shifted his wings. "You should... know that..."

"How do you feel?" Hellena asked, her expression somewhat twisted in an abject disapproval. Saying a lot, Loony thought, seeing as what she held a reputation for. "Any... water, or anything?"

Grey had already closed his eye again, with a visible shudder. "Nah... nah, jus' more rest..."

Patriatic soon confronted the guard, "Naivety? I am NOT NAIVE!" he yelled, "I. Am. Perfect."

Jed's hooves hit the ground hard as he began coughing. As it finally settled down he opened his eyes to see a few drops of blood on the ground, and he could taste more in his mouth. 'this is getting bad, I need to finish this up before I am decommissioned' he thought to himself.

He looked to the distance 'i think I can walk the rest of the way and mam it in time, I need to rest my wings anyways. It was a far trip to canterlot. Especially in a rush.' He proceeded to walk in the direction he believed the doctor would be.

Gulaven leaned a little to better see Luminia, "We have not even attempted to study such things. Even if we managed a portal of any sort, there is nothing to say it would even be safe. Other worlds are un predictable," he rested his form again, "It is an interesting thought none the less, but would take years of research at this point, unless you are willing to offer your own resources."

--

OOC: It's not the Guard, it was The Sheppard

"Perfect?" the Sheppard climbed up out of the fire, "You are far from perfect Patriatic. You can't even focus for more than a minute," he turned to Ash, "Now if you don't have anything else to try and counter me with, then I and my acquaintance shall leave you to your... Things," he walked by Ash, stopping to tap the scared pony's shoulder, "Loony cannot have left Equestria. He must be within the Princesses domain."

Ash stood up shakily, not really wanting to go anywhere, but followed the fiery pony. He looked back to Patriatic with his usual dull sad expression. He continued on with the still strange dream world pony.

"To say we touched upon it once is a bit of an understatement, to say the least. Nothing huge, no portals or anything of that sort." Luminia stated, a wry smile managing to touch upon her expression. "Just a bit of a glimpse, some data, and a lot of guesswork.

"But, theoretically, suppose in another place... another time, come to think of it, or just less scientifically developed... a pantheon of alicorns... But just, in theory, always theory, what if your counterpart... what if you were a part of that pantheon?"

Luminia looked away, shifting her wings. "I don't know what I'm trying to get at, but I know what I saw. I- she was Music. The embodiment of Music there, as Celestia is the Sun here. And she left them behind. Her children... she just abandoned them somewhere else... Another world? Or somewhere far worse?"

With a faint little cough, she turned back towards Gulaven. "All observations, of course. A curious oddity, but it makes one think how things could be different. Not much can be set at store by alternate worlds. We never tried to do more than prove, or disprove, the theory."

Gulaven leaned back out trying not to bother Dash too much, "An interesting thought, but if there was an alicorn version of me, then that is all he is to me, but not me," his eyes watched Luminia's expressions, "Granted the other dimensions or alternate universes parallel to ours could be of great use to our current state, but even if we could, how would we know if we could keep it controlled. If we managed to get through to them, who's to say there wont be somepony to come through and start this all over again. I believe it is just too risky," he paused looking to his missing limb, "Then again, without risks, progress would be halted on this particular matter," he looked back up to Luminia, "I draw my own conclusion and will decide to stay away from those worlds, with the chance of losing ours, I cannot delve in such studies. Though if you find yourself short staffed at anytime, I know some excellent scientists that work in the black labs of my factory that would be happy to work on such research," he offered as if this whole crisis will blow over soon enough.

"An interesting notion." Luminia nodded. "As I had seen it, she was a coward. A mare who left her children behind because of what they were, because of the retribution she would have faced from the 'king' of the alicorns. Would not a mother attempt to protect them, no matter the cost? But I digress.

"Attempting the breach the worlds is something to be avoided, and I'm not about to restart that initiative. To learn, perhaps... no, no. It needs to be left alone. Not all alicorns would be so... lenient, as Celestia was.

"Phora... I suppose she might have seen what was, what is, in another reality. The idealogy of godhood would appeal to her, I think. The embodiment of Science in one dream... or perhaps the direct creation of the greatest minds of an age in another... It was all possible."

Patriatic spat where they where and wander back, "Filthy...boars." he muttered heading towards a tree.

"It does push questions, but not questions I really want answers for, for the would be meaningless to us as a whole," Gulaven added, "Excuse me if I sound rude for not caring for such matters," He turned to look to Rainbow Dash as she sat up and looked to the other side of the car. Through the windows she could see the nothingness that was Canterlot, "It would seem we have made it to our destination at last," but he recoiled at the sight, "This search is going to be harder than planned."

The train began to accelerate slowly down to a stop as they pulled up as close as the tracks would allow. The car door slid open to reveal Cauldron, "Doctor, we have arrived. I'm not entirely sure it was anything you expected though."

--

Ash was now just following a fiery wisp that was leading him toward the train tracks, "We will follow these toward Canterlot, since the other towns are further, we will start with the closest location," Ash nodded following the tracks now as the wisp would shoot from side to side to scan the area as they moved.

"Zephyr is entirely underground, in the old crystal caverns." Luminia said rather weakly as she gazed over the destruction. "There are two entrances in Canterlot itself, just in case one caved in... But whether or not they're accessible is the variable at play here."

---

Grey had already dropped off again, unable to resist the lingering remnants of the sleep spell anymore.

"Is he- Is he going to be alright?" Hellena turned back to Loony, the dream's expression frustratingly inscrutable.

"I'd say yes." Loony replied. "Perhaps. There's a lot up in the air at the moment, but something I've observed with the particularly tenacious ones is that they would never give in. You were another example. Believe me, the Nightmares aren't an easy force to stand up against."

"Hh."

---

Argaent's horn sparked with pink magic, before the silvery unicorn shook his head.

"Mercenaries," he hissed derisively to himself, shaking his head, "can't even stay out of a petty fight. And here I am, the obedient little messenger boy."

Turning back to the filly, he stated in a considerably kinder voice: "Come on. We need to get going."

Patriatic continued to wander until he saw the Rainbow Factory, a smile crossed his face, "Well well well..." he said, "looks like I found the factory."

Rainbow Dash hopped down and made her way off past Cauldron, "There is just nothing left," the stallion added backing away from the car.

Gulaven came to the door where he could see Rainbow and Cauldron walking toward the engine, "I guess it would be best to stop by Zypher labs first. If they do not have the component to offer, then we must go to the remains of the princesses castle," he turned to Luminia, "Lead the way please. I've never visited the family construct."

Torch had jumped down from the engine, carrying the mechanical limb with him, strapped to his hip plating, "This component could change a lot. It would not only advance the technology we currently have, but it could put a stop to most of the hunger driven violence that ravages Equestria now," the Pegasus had stopped to stand next to Cauldron.

--

The guard snapped awake once again, "Gah!" He put a hoof to his forehead, "These dam nightmares," he stood up sharply and marched out away from the log a little before he hit the ground. He had stop up too quickly, and cursed his weak mind for letting him drop from lack of blood. Standing up shakily he continued off into the trees. He had located a near by river and laid down at the bank. Taking a few deep breaths, he stretched his neck to the water, but was pulled back by the pain from his metal plate on the back of his neck. His skin would stretch to much and begin to separate from it, but he would recoil before it became too bad.

Raptor had awoken from the Guard's jump, "At least you can dream," she rolled over to stand up, "I think a drink is in order. Hard to keep moving if your dehydrated," her expressionless voice carried as it always did as she followed the guard's path.

Red came over to the two of them, "Hey you two, this place has Wi-Fi somewhere!" he told them.

"Wi-Fi?" The guard looked back to Red. His eyes made the load cycle, "It's weak from here, but it appears to be coming from underground," he looked about the area, "Out that way," he gestured somewhat back the way they had traveled from.

Raptor put her whole face in the water. Here she sat for some ten seconds, "R!" The guard pulled her back. She snarled baring her teeth. The guard leaned in with a without few, but with a sorrowful and loving expression, "I'll fix this. Whatever they did to you," he put a hoof up around the back side of her neck, "I promise," his blue eyes stared into the dimming hate that bordered Raptor's. Raptor's eyes softened to what appeared to be exhaustion. Going limp, she fell into the guard, who's mechanical power suit held them both up, "Not again R. Look at me R," he lifted her up, her eyes had closed and she was un responsive, "Why does this keep happening. It's like she remembers me, but then she just shuts down. When she wakes up, she's not going to remember," he let her rest down on his chest again, "I can't let her go on like this. I need to take her back to the Factory," Raptor suddenly sprung to life. Spinning and backing the Guard right in the chest, knocking him back down next to Red, "R!" But she had already run off.

Pausing momentarily to get her bearings, Luminia picked her way down the largest of the destroyed streets, saying nothing and without looking back. With a flick of her wing, she beckoned them to follow.

Luminia's gait wasn't slow, even with the frequent obstructions along the path, but her wings hung along her sides and her head was lowered as she looked out over the destruction.

A scrap of pink wool caught her eye, impaled as it was on a metal frame.

Red helped the guard up, "So, **** be crazy and I'm not sure I can help. Do you need it?" he asked.

________________

Patriatic knocked against the doors of the Rainbow Factory.

OOC: Patriatic is a unicorn, he cannot reach the Factory on his own.

The guard, with what assistance Red provided, he launched up the to follow the earth mare, "Retrieve my helmet please, I'm gonna need to dig into their files. I need to get Raptor back," he continued to trail the mare. She was running the river bank. Finding herself being followed, she turned to jump clear across the river, It seems she is still running toward Canterlot. At this rate we will end up there sooner than expected. Wonder if Red is well enough to run yet. he too glided over the water and continue to hunt the red mare.

OCC: It isn't on the ground?

Red picked it up and followed behind, still a little hurt, "So, what are the files?" he asked checking his phone.

OOC: The Rainbow Factory is part of Cloudsdale, so it is inaccessible without Pegasi help. Not to mention it is currently on full lockout

The guard was hot on Raptor's tail, "R stop, please," he had caught up and was just by her kicking hind legs as they continued to run. He had heard Red ask about the files, but it would be nearly impossible to get such information without knowing where to go, especially if you're not a registered, renowned employee. Then again, he doesn't know Red that well to say he couldn't, he could get through the programs. Even if he did it would be pointless without his helmet, the guard wouldn't be able to read it as quickly.

Raptor had made sharp left turn, right out in front of the guard, which slowed him down. She was jumping and dodging the changes in land elevation, roots, and other obstacles. The guard was swiftly navigating the same course as he caught back up to Raptor, "Raptor, we can keep going like this," he just started to fly instead, "We are leaving Red behind."

Raptor, without hitting a single thing, turned and looked back to the guard with a dull angered expression, "And what do I care? He wanted to kill me for no reason when we first met. How can I even trust you anymore? You want to take me back to the place I tried so hard to get away from. You still work for them don't you?" She turned her head back to her front.

"They saved my life after you tried to take it, which I was trying to get you out myself," the guard replied flying lower to avoid branches. Raptor took the low flight to her advantage, rapidly slowing down, she jumped up and brought the Guard down to the ground. They tumbled from the speed they were traveling, tossing them apart half way through it. They hadn't landed too far from each other, but Raptor had stood up first, "R, I didn't."

"Save it, you betrayed me. You betrayed us all," she started walking off with a bit of a limp.

"Oh. You okay?" Red asked.

Luminia prised the scrap from the frame delicately. Noting what looked to be a newly deceased foal lying within the rubble of the building the frame may have come from, the pegasus backed up.

"He came back?" she asked herself quietly, lifting her head to look out over the debris. "Would he have come looking for them?"

Tucking the fragment of scarf beneath her armour, her wings twitched, as if she were about to take flight.

Jed, having given himself sufficient time to rest, picked himself back up into the air and began searching the train tracks for the doctor. As he flew he noticed a distinct rainbow mane, he proceeded to descend towards the group.

Patriatic looked around and slowly hung his head in shame, "Huh..." he said.

OOC: do excuse my extended absence, It was not prepared for. I have started the second phase of military training, and has brought quite the limit on my internet activity time. So do not be too shocked if I'm gone for a few days here and there. Again, I will try to be on as much as possible, hopefully using my laptop more often to get better quality and speed of use.

Alexander looked quickly to Red, but did not reply, he simply started following Raptor, "Look R,"

"And stop calling me that. It's Raptor, and for good reason too," she cut him off quickly and angrily, as her mood seemed to show.

"But Raptor makes you sound like a monster... I know your not, at least... You use to not be," His pace slowed a bit, but he quickly brought it back up, "Which brings me to tell you... The Factory has changed. Gulaven,"

"Huh, Doctor G still in office I see," she butted in again. Raptor had kept cutting him of for the simple fact that she didn't want to talk anymore.

"It is a haven, R," he blatantly stated, "It has become the safest place in Equestria now. The system's defenses now target ponies remotely by the operators who built them. Making sure that anypony with hostile intentions never get in."

"Then' they'll have to shoot me too then."

Something shook beneath them. Luminia glanced back.

"Well?" she asked, not bothering to keep the hint of impatience out of her voice. "What are you waiting for?"

Gulaven and the other felt the rumble, "Could that just be some building falling or the underground caverns?" Rainbow Dash asked as she stopped his ahead of the train where Cauldron was standing.

"It may be, but highly unlikely," Torch replied walking past them all and approached Luminia, "I have a feeling you know what it is though," he stopped only a step behind her, "Would it be the Zypher labs?"

"Probably. There's nothing else down there, unless part of the tunnels down there caved in." Luminia flicked her wings. "The reactor core keeps everything together, and I doubt that it would've survived this unscathed."

"Where is the Canterlot entrance?" Torch stepped up next to Luminia, "The lab may still have the component we're looking for. It would save so many lives if we could find it."

Rainbow Dash had walked out into the ruble that remained from the... Whatever happened to the great city. She looked about with a frail expression, "What happened to them all?" She moved some debris out from in front of her to see a pool of blood that started flowing upon the release from the damming piece of material. She clenched her eyes shut to place the broken building piece back over the area it was moved from. Taking a deep breath she stepped beyond the pile.

"There are two." Luminia replied, daintily picking her way over a mound of rubble. "Judging by the state of the buildings, I doubt the main entrance is still standing. The emergency entrance is by the castle, built directly into the mountain.

"Oh... I can't believe that I've neglected to ask. This 'component', I would like to know what exactly it is we're risking our lives to look for here."

Pausing momentarily, she gazed out towards the outer edges of the city.

"A key component to a scientific miracle," Gulaven limped up with the aid of the dark armored guard, Cauldron, "As I mentioned before, with the project we have up now, it will provide us the power to alter atoms configurations, generating food and water from radiation, which with the Rainbow Factory's latest nuclear generator, an extravagant amount of radiation will be accessible 24/7," he explained as he was helped over the ruble.

Torch turned to Gulaven and produced the old mechanical limb, "I know you said you were getting a new one when we got back, but I tinkered with it and manually adjusted the parts myself. It should run as efficiently as it did a good two years ago."

Gulaven looked at the robotic limb, parts of the exoskin torn to reveal the metallic skeleton of technology, "It was my favorite at the time. I'll use it only until I get the new one," he leaned up off of Cauldron to open the area up for reinsertion. Torch brought the leg up into the shoulder port Gulaven had that engulfed a wide area, from his first rib in his stomach, to just under his neck. The adapters were magnetically attracted to their corresponding entryways. As they snapped into place, Gulaven winced a little with each clank, "That's," he grunted, "Why I hate them," he dropped to his front leg knees. The leg made a spark sound and a few gears seemed to grind for a second, "Grrnnn," he bared his teeth and clamped his eyes.

"System online," an AI like voice commented from the limb.

"Yeah yeah," Gulaven shaking stood up and snapped the mechanical limb out to calibrate it, "Hmm, you're right. It's like it was just pulled off the assembly line," the hoof sector propped put about two inches, and the plasma rifle barrel protruded out. A charging noise wizzed up, and fired a bright green bolt that flew around the same speed as any normal bullet. When it struck some debris, it put up a moderately large cloud of dust, "Still weak though," he dropped the limb down to the ground as the leg returned to its natural state, "Right, lead us the mountain side entrance please, I don't want to stay here any longer than I have too," he pushed by the guards on his own hooves.

Torch watched the doctor march by, What, no "thank you" or anything? he roles his eyes following his boss, "Come on Rainbow, we're heading out."

"I see." Luminia responded, but didn't add any of her concerns. There was no need for it now. "Zephyr... No, no. I wouldn't be surprised."

She outstretched her wings anxiously, the appendages betraying her continued restlessness and unease.

"You seem troubled, dear," Gulaven mentioned following the female Pegasus into the air, "Would you enlighten me on your thoughts? I'm not a Doctor for nothing," he glided up next to Luminia.

Rainbow Dash snapped her attention to the group as they were pressing on away from the train. Cauldron was last to follow, bringing up rear security, with Torch just ahead of Rainbow.

Luminia hesitated. "I think- no, no. There should be something like that inside Zephyr. Yes... But assuming we can find it, assuming we can find her, do you honestly believe that Phora would give it up?

"Theta, or whatever she called herself when she worked with your lot, always holds onto a grudge."

"Granted our past was not the best, but I will attempt to reason with her, as you said, if she is alive and here," Gulaven added, "And quite possibly she'd agree. There is the off chance that she doesn't even know she has one let alone what it is capable of in the right system. The component is a bit like a stabilizer, yet it harvests the specific parts of the atoms themselves in a more accurate and safe enclosure. Mind you this component may be much larger than the hologram image I produced."

Torch looked back to Rainbow Dash, "Hey Dash," he drifted back to her, "How you holding up?"

Rainbow Dash let out a long soft sigh, "I... I can't help but feel I'm alone," her pink-rose eyes went from Torch's to the ground below, "I haven't seen any of my friend's since this whole thing started, I'm just not sure they were in safe locations when it hit. The Factory and Cloudsdale seemed the least effected, but the government of it all crashed. The factory I all that stands on its own, everyone's trying to get us on their side in these ridiculous debates and fights. I don't want anything to do with politics, it's boring. I'd sooner sit through Twilight's lectures on dirt than to listen to the hammer thing flash with the stand."

Torch grinned a little, "The gavel," he attempted to ease Rainbow Dash's mind with some teasing.

"Yeah that thing," she looked up ahead of her, making sure to follow the two in front of them, "Hey Torch," how did you survive that spear?" She looked over at him, glancing at the blood stained area, "You have a gaping hole in your armor."

Torch craned his neck, as his angle changed causing him to drift a little away from Rainbow Dash, but came back, "It's a long story, involving a special person I had the honor of meeting. He saved my life, after putting it at risk of course. He had a rather... Attractive friend who apparently was not with him, if you know what I mean?" He blushed a little, cleared his throat, "Anyway, I'd rather not bore you with the details, all you need to know is... I just... Can't die," he looked about to the others around them to be sure she was the only one that heard him.

"Wow, well," Dash rubbed her head for a second, "I guess I can believe that... Does Gulaven know?"

"No, no... I'd rather not let him know that, his past was ruled by the factory's manufactures, I still fear he may have those tendencies to see what's what," Torch added, "I can't die, but pain sucks."

"You must be confident, if you think you can reason with her." Luminia replied. "I won't push this. If she's there, you two can... work it out."

Alighting around a pile of rubble, she added, "it's just up ahead."

---

A violent explosion rocked the facility.

Arlon hummed along to a familiar tune, setting off the reactor protocols. Anything to draw the CEO out. Anything to draw out Zephyr's guardian.

And she was watching. The being of wires and steel was watching the Puppetmaster, her tail sweeping across her perch.

She knew what he wanted. She wouldn't fall for his bait.

---

"Tenacity- Is it enough, though?" Hellena looked away, her horn flickering. "Loony- Loony, he can't die! Everyone else- Gale- His little brother... I promised that I would look after the kid, just before he was killed in the Factory-! And look what happened to him- He was barely a foal..."

She gulped back tears. Loony remained silent.

"I'm- I know I'm unlovable... If I wasn't I wouldn't have been in the orphanage that long- I wouldn't have been passed up, but- Dell... He made me realise that- Maybe- Maybe I was wrong... That I could have what everyone deserves. I loved! I w-was loved! I thought- maybe- maybe- maybe I could've even had- given a foal the chance I never got... with Dell..."

"Hellena..."

"And I watched him die! I watched as they- they-"

She shook her head, refusing to go on. Loony drifted over, flicking back a tendril of golden magic. He remained silent, drawing himself back into the form of a unicorn. This time, in the form of a lanky adult, rather than a chubby colt. He drew her into a tight hug, his white eyes shut.

"Grey- He's the last one left... My last friend... I don't want to lose him. I don't want to be alone again."

"So much sorrow," the echoing voice broke the silence as Ash continued down the tracks toward Canterlot. Ash had been walking this empty path for about an hour, with no other ponies to see. He must have gone ten miles by now, not stopping to take a break. He felt he didn't need it now that The Sheppard could share his energy, "It will be a pitty to take away someone so close. Then again, he was not suppose to get attached."

--

"It is all depended on her state of mind, and the state of her facility," Gulaven added as they drew near the entrance.

Torch reached out to rub Rainbow Dash head vigorously, "But besides all that," he then brushed his hoof down to her face to give it a push, making her head turn. Torch and Rainbow had known each other in the factory for a while now. Though they only met like three or four times, they were good friends at this point. They would always pass jokes or make remarks about specific events and/or incidences that would lighten the mood as they time progressed. Though the Rainbow Factory was a terrible and hellish place to be, you can always find comfort with the ones who are there.

Rainbow Dash turned with the hoof push, and made a big circle both around the group and the air space under and over them. Torch drifted out to a point that he would be in her way, but Dash just barrel rolled around him, nearly hitting him on purpose. In the quick stunt, she reached out to tap his helmet, "Tag," she then proceeded to bolt off with great speed.

"why? I deserved to die more than she did." Dusty spoke aloud "why am I left here to suffer?"

"It is real simple" a cold voice spoke behind him "spread it along, these ponies don't deserve what they have, the selfishly take with no sense of empathy. You suffer so you can see the truth, so you can teach them a lesson about self gain". "What the hell are you talking about?" Dusty said to the voice.

"face it, this has left you cold and dead inside. You cant feel anything anymore and you try to fill that void with cider and adrenaline, but it doesn't" the voice taunted on. "does that matter? I ain't gonna burden anypony else with my problems." Dusty began to become irritated.

"ah, but that is my point. You know what will make you feel better. Get angry, lash out. These ponies don't care, they are only in it for themselves. You lost something precious, so take something precious. This isnt vengeance" the pony walked into view revealing it was Sicolus "This... Is justice"

(ooc: I couldn't think of a way to write it in, but this scene took place in Dustin's head)

"Then you would remember her relative... instability." Luminia responded quietly. "Erratic, even. I'm sorry to say that I had played a part in that."

---

"If I could have done something, anything, I would've." Loony finally replied. "Believe me. It tore me apart when that- that traitor tore my sister and her kind away from us. From me. I represent happiness, and yet even I don't get that reward.

"He's not going to go down so easily, and I refuse to let him slip away. See? This time, this time, I'm in a position to do some real good. Okay? Don't doubt it. I will admit, my morals have been... ambiguous. I could've helped more. I should've split myself off into the real world earlier. Could've, should've, it doesn't matter.

"I'm not going to say that everything is going to be okay, because it's not. But, please, try to hold on."

---

Argaent pushed out into a clearing, and couldn't help but screw up his nose at the heavy scent of blood and smoke in the air. Any other would've had a more normal reaction; what the hell had happened here? Of course it would be him to be most affected by the smell.

He saw the fire, at the other end. It took him a moment to realise that wood and hair weren't the only things giving fuel to the flame.

Oh my god.

S looked back to Dusty as he was halfway through the door, "Well actually, the pony we are resurrecting... We still don't have their real body, wherever it is," he then turned back to walk into the hideout, "No matter of course, I can have them released into the system so they aren't cramped up in here until we find their body... Unless," he turned his head only this time, "You want them bad enough that the conduit doesn't matter?"

--

"If she is truly unstable, we will have to tale the component by force. I cannot let my once test subjects think that that is what they still are," Gulaven admitted, "Odds are she wouldn't even notice at that point," Gulaven seemed to become a little agitated at the thought, "Anyway," he sighed, "We will talk with her fist of course."

"Mm." Luminia grunted in agreement. "Having her agree would be much preferable, I think. Forcing her should be a last resort. Maybe stealing- no, no. She'd notice."

Luminia paused before the rock face, flicking her tail as she poked around for the entrance, with her call coming only a couple of minutes later; "Ah! There we go."

Shoving a small pile of debris out the way, and gently squeezing her way past a bent frame, she revealed a rather anticlimactic-looking door. Or rather, it would have been, if it weren't for the keypad and what looked to be hiding several inches of solid steel.

Dustin paused collecting himself from the hallucination. "anything to give her a little more freedom" he said "we will have to find her body later"

OOC: Is this going to be continued?

OOC: IDK... The masses seem to have slowed all together