Last time on “Darker And Edgier” Quest:
>Slid into a giant metal wall.
>Everyone was OK, except for Twilight who hurt her leg.
>Explored around until you found a screen set into the well.
>It seemed to be damaged and malfunctioning.
>As the flood water was rising, you were able to beat a puzzle game it prompted, making a large door open. It automatically sealed behind all of you.
>Found yourself in a large garage type area, with lots of vehicles and tools. Took and put on some safety gear.
>Satisfied, decided to explore deeper into the facility, only to be horribly surprised to have a bunch of dead human bodies tumble out of the door.
>In shock, you and the ponies backed away, trying to decide what to do.
>Unable to leave, you decided to go on ahead on the catwalks with Pinkie while the others recuperated.
You are Rusty Shackleford, a human who has found himself lost in Equestria with no memory
Currently, you are deep underground, exploring some kind of strange human complex via some maintenance tunnel with Pinkie Pie. She still has magic wings Twilight cast on her a while ago.
Things are dimly lit, but you can see the walls are lined with various pipes. After a bit of walking, you come to a fork in the tunnel, branching off left and right.
"Well Pinkie, looks like we have two choices. We can go left, or we can go right. What do you think?"
"I dunno," She says, shrugging in midair. "You're the huemon. I thought you'd know what to do."
"We've been over this already. I don't remember anything. You're guess is a good as mine here."
"Hmmm," Pinkie looks thoughtfully down both passages, then starts waving her hoof back and forth between them. "Eny meeny miny mo, this is the way we should go!"
Pinkie has expertly decided you should take the right path and, seeing no better idea, you follow along beside her. After a bit more walking down featureless tunnels, you come to large metal door that's slightly ajar. As the two of you get silently closer, you can hear something rustling around inside.
Heart pounding, you steel your jimmies and creep forward, silently giving Pinkie the sign to keep quiet. She wipes her hoof across her mouth like she's closing a zipper and nods. Back to the door, you hold your breath and look inside.
It's a small, mostly empty room with some lockers set in the walls. There are a few buzzing florescent lights on the ceiling.
And with their back to you is a man sitting in a chair.
You stand there, watching. The man keeps sitting there facing the wall, as stock still as you. He doesn't move or make a sound for a long while, so you back up and run into Pinkie, who was floating directly behind you. The two of you silently scare each other by accident, waving your limbs at each other in surprise, but other wise keeping completely silent.
Finally calmed down, Pinkie motions to the door. You shake your head and mouth that you see a person in there. Pinkie points to her eyes and then to the door again. You shake your head firmly and firmly point back down the tunnel. She frowns and mouths "Why?"
You gently grab Pinkie by the ear and drag her through the air to you and whisper in her ear.
"There's a man in there. Probably something else."
Pinkie grabs you by the ear and whispers.
"I wanna see."
The two of you have another silent argument again. Pinkie seems interested in wanting to look in the room herself, despite your warning.
Rolling your eyes you relent and motion for Pinkie to go ahead. Curiously she hovers over to the door and peeks through the crack. You stand behind her and look in over her.
The guy is still where you saw him, staring unmoving at the wall. Both of you continue to watch in silence for a bit more, then turn back. Facing you, Pinkie gives you a shrug.
"What do we do?" She mouths.
You watch the sitting man one last time then give up. He might be dead, but something made that noise and you don't want to risk running into something that's alive in a place where everything else is dead. Motioning quietly to Pinkie, the two of you head back.
Seeing no other alternative, you take what was the left path and come to another door after a few twists and turns. This one is completely closed, but has a simple handle. You open it, as cautiously and quietly as you can manage, Pinkie by your side.
It opens to a massive expanse of darkness and empty space extending out high above and to both sides, with distant opposite wall. Above, you see more levels of catwalks. Before you is another catwalk and below you can see the bottom floor. Everywhere in the low light you can see crumple forms of people laying on the ground.
You don't like this. Something doesn't feel right. Pinkie flies past you to go off ahead, but you hold her back, grabbing her by the tail.
"What is it?" She whispers, looking back at you.
"I don't like this. Let's go back to the others."
"...OK."
You both head back in to the tunnel, closing the door behind you. It doesn't take you long before you reach the garage. Below, you see the other ponies. Some of them are over by the bodies with those large grates you saw before, laying some of the clothing inside over them like sheets. They all look up at the sound of you opening the door.
"Rusty! Pinkie!" Twilight calls over where you left her. It looks like someone wrapped something around her hurt leg. "Is everything OK? What did you find?"
"We're fine." Pinkie says, fluttering over. You and the pink pony inform the others about the two areas you found.
"This is bad," Twilight says. "What could have done all this...."
"How are you, Rusty?" Rarity asks, looking up at you with concern. "I can't imagine how awful you must be feeling."
"I'm OK," You say. "Twilight, I'd really like to see what's in that room. Do you think you'd be willing to come up here and do that X-ray magic thing in there?"
"I... guess I could." Twilight says, standing. She's still heavily favoring her one side, but seems able to limp along.
"Hold now, why don't we ALL go?" Applejack says. "Between Pinkie and Fluttershy and Twilight's magic, we can all get up there. It'll be much safer if we're all together."
You all agree staying together is the best thing to do. Twilight uses levitation magic on herself to the catwalk without an issue. With some help, the other earth bound ponies are brought up with you. As a group, you all go back down the tunnel and return to outside the room with the sitting man.
You motion for everyone to keep quiet and for Twilight to go ahead. She nods and casts the magic to one side of the door turning a small circle spotlight partially translucent, only to realize too late that Twilight's spell is casting light and anything inside would see the illumination.
But it seems the room is completely empty. The room isn't much larger then it seems when you peeked in the door, but on one wall you can now clearly see another screen and come heavy looking electrical breakers.
Friends at your back, you cautiously go inside. The sitting man doesn’t react to the sound of you pushing the door open, so you slowly go over to him.
As you suspected, he's dead like the others, apparently having died in this position. His skin is dry and taught like leather, with his mouth set slack. He's also wearing one of the safety jumpsuits like you have, but with a tool belt. At least you think it was a he, its hard to tell. Seeing no danger, you wave the others in.
"This is really creepy," Applejack states the obvious, looking around the room.
"Why were you two so scared to come in?" Twilight asks.
"We heard a noise and weren't sure what made it." Pinkie explains.
"But... there's nothing in here. What could have made a noise?" Rarity asks as you open on of the lockers to check inside, only to have something jump out at you.
You fall over backwards in surprise, shouting something to the others and knocking over the dead man in the process. Heart racing, you look around for your assailant and find a big brown rat skittering away across the room. All of the ponies shriek and hope on their hooves as it darts around madly, until it shoots out the door.
Awkwardly, you all sit there in silent embarrassment.
"Hehe, just a rat." Applejack laughs nervously. "Everyone OK?"
Everyone gives an all clear and you get back to your feet. Inside the locker is a dirty little rat nest of bits of fabric and junk. In the side is big piece of green plastic that catches your eye. Hanging from pegs on the wall are various tools, including varying sizes of wrenches and screwdrivers, as well as a crowbar.
You take the thing of plastic. Turns out to be some kind of card. Laced through it is all sort of circuitry looking things and in big bold black letters it says "BIO". You pocket it and take the crowbar, giving it to Applejack, who accepts it happily. You search though the other lockers, thankfully free of rats and also score some heavy composite insulating gloves. Donning them, you take a look at the big circuit breakers.
You... have no clue what you are looking at. There's a bunch of big and little wires with a variety of colors going this way and that. But you don’t see any cut wires or anything obviously broken.
You take out the card, but there doesn't seem to be any place for you to use it. No card swipes or inserts or other things like that. Giving up, you check the dead guy.
His tool belt has more tools, like hammers and pliers. And, what appears to be a little case, containing a pair of big sunglasses. Stylish.
The ponies all watch you, looking a little disturbed.
"Sorry," You say to everyone, leaving the dead guy alone. "I had to check. Anyone know anything about electronics?"
Twilight steps over to the circuit breakers, looking it over, but careful not to touch it.
"I'm hardly an expert, but this looks OK to me. Besides, the lights are on in here."
"What about this thing then?" You show Twilight the green card, who inspects it closely.
"Looks like a key card. I guess for whatever 'BIO' is."
"Hmmm," You also take out the sunglasses. "Any of you know of something that can hypnotize with eye contact?"
"Oh oh, Fluttershy can!" Pinkie says, elbowing the yellow pony. "Show him The Stare, Fluttershy."
"I'd... rather not."
"Errg, let's not," You agree with Fluttershy, pocketing the glasses. "These might come in handy later. Come on, let's check out the other area."
You leave the room with the dead body and make it back over to the much larger area with the ponies. It's exactly the same as you saw it a few minutes ago, though now you're getting a better look standing on the catwalk instead of cowering in the doorway. You can see the catwalk both goes across to the other wall, but also follows along side the walls, with periodically placed ladders leading above and below.
"This place is huuuge." Pinkie says, flying around, her voice echoing a little in the expanse.
"Think you can shed a little light, Twilight? Rarity?"
The two unicorns combine effort and shine spotlights around in the darkness. Mostly, they reveal much of what you saw before; more dead people. But you also have a sense for how large this are really is. Huge doesn't begin to describe it. The magic light from the two ponies doesn’t seem to reach far at all in here, the two walls seeming to bend in a circular way, like the inside of a giant doughnut. You also notice the very center of the ground avenue below has some kind of tack set into it.
You tear off the lid with the others watching closely. Inside is some kind of thick white pudding. Cautiously you dab a finger in it and taste.
You remember this.
Not a specific memory, but the taste. The texture. It's one of your favorites. Since you are a little hungry, you eat all of greedily. As you lick your fingers, you notice everyone is staring at you with different expressions.
"Those must be good!" Pinkie says, diving down and scooping up some more unopened cups. She tears one open, stuffing it's contents into her mouth. Her cheeks extend briefly as she chews the food in her mouth, her expression steadily changing negatively. With a sour gulp, she finishes and starts wiping her tongue with her hoof. "Blegh!"
"Guess it's human food." Applejack comments.
"Twilight," You try to change the topic while Pinkie keeps attempting to wipe her mouth clean. "Can you find that magic thing again? See if it's near by?"
Twilight nods and preforms the spell she did in the cavern a while ago. At the far wall opposite the one you came through, a significantly large green oblong object seems to be glowing outlined in the wall.
"Whatever it is, it's a lot closer now." Twilight says, rubbing her head. "And is giving me a headache."
"Anyone else have a headache?" You ask. "It might be what did that thing to Celestia and the others."
"Well..." Fluttershy says, not looking at anyone specifically. "I wasn't going to say anything... but ever since we got here I've been hearing a ringing in my ears. Not badly, but noticeable."
"Yeah, me too." Applejack says.
"Me three!" Pinkie yells from below. Apparently all of them are hearing it.
"Strange," You haven't been hearing anything liking ringing. "But I guess we know what's causing it. Let's see if we can get to it."
You and the others continue to explore, trying to find a way that leads towards the center of the inner curve. But the large expansive avenue doesn’t seem to bend at the strong an angle. This place is so large it seems like it would be easy to get lost.
"I found something!" Pinkie calls out from the ground floor. She's standing next to a large pedestal sticking out of the floor in the middle of the street. "I think it's a map!"
You and the others climb down to the ground floor and join Pinkie around her discovery. It's definitely a map.
The entire facility or whatever this place is seems to be composed almost like a big smiley face divided into four main section. It says you are currently in the large mouth part of the smile, labeled HAB. Listed in detail all along it are various locations, including restaurants, stores, apartments, even a park. This place really is huge.
At either end of the smile are two large round sections, sorta like the eyes of a face. One is labeled BIO, the other SEC. In between both these and set in the center of HAB is the fourth section called COM.
"Where do you think that magic thing is, Twilight?"
"Well, if we're here, and it seems to be in the inner curve, I would guess that it's probably here, in this part." Twilight taps the section that is labeled COM.
"Hmmm," You think about all this for a moment and voice a concern you've been having. "Listen, everyone....if we end up having to go there, I don't think you should come with me. It's already affecting all of you. I don't want you to end up like the other ponies."
"With all due respect, it's a little late for that, Rusty," Rarity says flatly.
"Mmmhmm," Applejack nods in agreement. "We not exactly know for running away from danger. Besides, you're our friend. We're going to see to through together."
"Together!" Pinkie echoes, flying onto your shoulders. Everyone nods in agreement. "All for one and one for all!"
"Thanks guys," You say, your face feeling a little hot. With a little cough, you try to change the subject. "Anyway, where do you think we should go first?"
"BIO, I guess," Twilight says. "You have that card key after all."
"Right. Se we should go..." You consult that map. "...that way."
Together you all continue along, following the curve of this area to the next. Along the way you pass by a number of sights; towering apartment blocks that look like they could hold thousands of inhabitants each. A large ornate metal fountain of a nature scene, but the water seemed to be off. A large crudely painted mural along the wall of people dancing together.
And more bodies. Bodies everywhere. You stopped counting them, they're so many. Here laying in the street, there slumped against the wall, laying on benches, hanging from the catwalk above. It's horribly off putting, but the initial horror seems to have thankfully lost its edge from over saturation.
Eventually, the curve suddenly comes to a end. In letters bigger then you, this new wall says BIO in big bold green letters, just viable in the light of Rarity and Twilight's magic. Directly in front of all of you is another set of automated doors with a flickering screen set in the wall next to it.
You go up to the screen. It's off, but you see card reader slide so you give it the green card. Nothing happens at first, but swiping a few more times the door slides open with a little chimes. You and the others enter cautiously.
Inside you are in some kind of rounded hub area. In the very center of the room is a giant statue of a double helix reaching to the ceiling. There's a reception desk (with more bodies slumped on it), as well as lot of padded chairs and tables, like a waiting area or lobby. There are three main hallways, with large clear labels and lines painted on the ground. From left to right they read Med, Agri and Lab.
You decide to head down to the medical area. With some luck, you'll find some supplies, maybe something for Twilight's leg.
It's very much like a hospital. Set aside to one area is a pharmacy with heavy duty looking safety glass. Directly ahead are swinging double doors, but for some reason are oddly propped open with stretchers set on their sides. There's a little map on the wall here, outlining the medical wing, showing where you are, as well as facilities like an operating theater, intensive care, recovering, etc etc.
"AGH!" Rarity screams and jump into you, nearly knocking you over.
"Rarity? What is it?!"
"Something just touched me!"
"There it goes!" Pinkie points towards the double doors where you just saw the briefest glimpse of something scurry away close to the ground and around the corner.
"Here, let me see," Fluttershy says, coming to Rarity's aid.
"It's awful! Simply awful!" Rarity cries as Fluttershy inspects her inflicted hoof. "Some horrible little monster with glowing red eyes! It's probably covered in parasites and given me some disease ridden bite!"
"You're OK, Rarity." Fluttershy says.
"No, give it to me straight Fluttershy. How bad is it? I can't look."
"No, you're OK. It didn't touch you."
Sure enough, when you look at Rarity's leg there's no wound. Just a little dirty like always.
"Oh. OK then." Rarity says, getting up and brushing herself off.
"Lets see if we can find some bandages and stuff anyway," You say. There's no door to the pharmacy on this side. "You still got that hatchet, Twilight?"
Twilight nods and pulls it out of her saddlebag and hold it in her teeth, at the ready. Applejack does the same with the crowbar.
"OK, let's go."
You all go past the double doors into the main wing of the hospital. All along here are branching corridors and rooms with beds in them. Rarity screams, jumping into you again.
"There it is!" She yells, point an accusing hoof down the hall. A few feet away a little rat is looking up at all of you curiously, on it's hind little legs.
"Oh, it's just a little mouse, Rarity," Fluttershy says. She' flutters over to the creature, speaking softly. "Hello little guy. How did you get down here?"
"Fluttershy..." You caution, but the little yellow pegasi ignores you.
"What's your name?" She asks the little rat, holding out her hoof to it. It sniffs her curiously. And then makes an immediate 180 and scurries off down the hall.
"Wait!" Fluttershy chases after it.
"Fluttershy don't!"
You all chase after Fluttershy, hot on pursuit of the little rodent. A few twists and turns down, almost losing sight of her at times, you see her swing into a room and follow in after her.
It's one of the many patient wards, but different then the others. For one, there's a lot more medical supplies here, haphazardly stacked up against on wall. There's a pile of books resting next to the bed, witch has messy sheets and a few burning candles on the near by table. Fluttershy is looking under the bed, trying to goad the little rat to come out of wire cage lines with fabric. It's ignoring her, sniffing at a little empty bowl.
You quickly grab Fluttershy and pull her away.
"Hey!"
"Fluttershy, stop," You say gently, but firmly. This is bad, you shouldn't be here. "That rat. I think it's a lab rat. It could be infected with something. With so many dead people down here, there's a good chance it might be involved."
"But it's just hungry. Look."
"Rusty's right, Fluttershy," Twilight backs you up, limping over. "And I think someone's been living here."
"Those candles couldn't have been there long," Applejack mutters.
"Let's just leave it alone for now, ok?" You ask Fluttershy, who reluctantly agrees. "Fine. Pinkie, Applejack, you two stand guard while we take a quick look around."
"Right." They say at the same time and stand looking out the door. You and the remaining ponies rummage around.
"It's smells awful in here!" Rarity exclaims, wrinkling her nose. She right. The rest of the places you've been to had a noticeable dry musky odor, no doubt from all the cadavers, but here its really pungent sour smell mixed with rat smells. You do you best to ignore it and inspect the medical supplies.
A lot of basic supplies. Bandages, alcohol, band aids. Also lots of pill bottles that are full of... multivitamins? Weird. You help yourself to the lot, stuffing what you think you will need in Twilight's bag while she inspects the books.
"Look at all these," She says, going through all the titles. "Novels, self help, how two manuals, do it yourself, survival guides. Who would read all these?"
"You?" Fluttershy says.
"Well... yeah. I guess I would."
You pocket a few fresh candles, just in case. And....a thought occurs to you. Slowly, you kneel down next to the rat cage and extend your hand into it, holding your hand open to the rat.
"Rusty, what are you doing?" Twilight says. "Didn't you just say th-"
"I know I know, but I have an idea." The little rat looks at your hand and sniffs it curiously, giving a gentle nibble on your fingers. Could it be...
"Someone's coming!" Pinkie whisper loudly to everyone. You turn your head around to her and are immediately bit on the finger by the rat. Sucking in a breath and trying not to yelp, you pull your hand away. The rat is still sitting there in the cage, sitting in it's little food bowl.
But that's all the time you have for it. You can hear what Pinkie's warning was about. Some is coming. From the room, you can hear the soft sound of foot steps.
No.
Hoof steps.
Ignoring your finger, you frantically motion for everyone to get out of the room as silently as you can. Without a word and with surprisingly little sound, everyone zips out of the room and piles into the one directly across the hall. You go in last. They all have their backs to the wall adjacent to the door and you do likewise. With your heart pounding in your ears and your friends silently quivering by your side.
The hoof beats get closer and closer, which is insanely scarey to you. Standing there, barely out of sight from who or what ever is getting closer.
"Nibbles!"
That voice.
"Niiibles! Food!"
It's her.
Next to you your friends are rustling around quietly.
"Here you go. You're hungry today, aren't you?"
In the corner of your eye, you see Applejack keeps shaking her head. You're all packed together so closely, Pinkie magic wings keep rubbing her nose, making her flinch away from it.
"Huh... Could have sworn there more candle left..."
Applejack opens her mouth, taking in a breath...
You quickly cup Applejack's mouth with your hand, stopping her from sneezing.
"It's her." You mouth to them.
"And these books... was... was some one here, Nibbles. Was it him?" You can hear the rat squeaking and something being moved around. You feel sick to your stomach.
"Come, let's get out of here. Trixie knows another place we can hide."
You take a step closer to the door. Then another, in the doorway. Fluttershy is pulling on you, trying to draw you closer, but just ends up getting dragged along with you.
All of your friends are tugging against you now, but they're not strong enough. You step into the door way. Across the hall, close enough to spit on. The blue unicorn. The one that's been haunting you. Standing there, in the opposite doorway. Face to face.
She reacts first, dropping a bag of books and supplies, having it fall to the ground with a clatter of broken glass.
"Y-you!" She says, gritting her teeth.
"Rusty, stop!" Twilight pleads. "What are you doing?!"
"And you!" The blue unicorn says, breathing harder loudly. She's backing up, deeper into her room. "S-stay away! Come no closer to the Great and Powerful Trixie!"
You take another step closer, dragging all of your friends out into the hall with out. You can't stop.
"Rusty! Stop!"
"Don't!" Trixie commands, backing all the way up into the wall in her room. She uses magic and the bed slams into the doorway. "I-I mean it!"
You push the bed aside like its nothing. Trixie is cowering in a corner. Your friends are in the door way, all pleading for you to stop.
"Absolutely pathetic."
That voice...
Suddenly, your stomach! Pain! The worst pain you've ever felt. It sends you to the ground on all fours and you start retching.
"Rusty!" Applejack is at your side. "What are you doing to him?! Stop it!"
"Stay back!" Trixie's voice is cracking. You're only vaguely aware she's in tears.
You, very shakily, get up to your knees. Immediately your friends are by your side, holding you.
"Rusty..." Twilight whispers. You don't say anything. You don't think you even can.
The darkness fully absorbs into Trixie. She's... different now. Ever so slightly taller. A shade darker. A wicked smile.
She's the crazy unicorn in your dreams.
"Ahah, I love doing that," She giggles to herself, cracking her neck. She takes notice of you and your friends, sitting there in the doorway. "Hello again, Twilight Sparkle. It's been a while."