Kicking Up Dust

I gasped and tried to sit up, only to be met with col hard steel which hit my head with a loud crack. Instantly I felt woozy and realized I was freezing cold. It was dark so I couldn't see anything as I looked everywhere I could however begin to sense things again and all I could smell was stale air and freshness like rainwater. I could feel hardly anything from the cold but realised I was lying on my side in a sleeper pod which was confusing since I didn't remember getting into one or actually being assigned one yet. Next my hearing, although somewhat hazy I thought I heard the sound of running water like a waterfall or something.

Since it was so dark I presumed the power coupling had failed to my pod so I used what little strength I had to kick at the pod's hatch. My strength was virtually nothing but it was oddly enough to kick out the supposedly reinforced metal of the pod as if it were a pillow full of goose feathers.

I wriggled out of the pod as best I could but didn't really know which limbs I was using since they were all so numb and I fell out and onto the tiled floor with a loud crack being very audible. I lay there for a moment as my brain tried to comprehend why it couldn't detect my limbs and then came up with a hazy solution… get warm fast!

So I gathered up as much energy as I could possibly muster and heated my body using and about three metes around me as well. I felt good for a brief few moments before the heat spell I performed unfroze the memories which I had lost due to the Sleeper pod and all came back to me.

I remembered the terrorists, the explosion, the sirens and the High Overseer putting me in this pod. I didn't really have it all there but I wondered if they had solved the power problem and maybe were all waking up in there corresponding pods right this moment.

I looked around to try and determine where I was but couldn't find anything of relevancy since it was just as dark as in the pod. The tiles felt cold beneath my feet and the air tasted bad but I guessed a facility unattended for a few thousand years can go into disrepair.

I still couldn't move so I made this my first priority by trying to move my right front hoof. Progress was really slow and after what was hours finally it began to twitch lightly as I got the feeling back into it.

I lay my head down, already exhausted from the over exertion and so tried to move again this time my whole front leg moved, then my other leg and soon I was standing on my own feet, although somewhat shaky like a new born baby foal.

Next I decided I should figure out the darn light problem and so using all my energy reserves I tapped into my magical power and brought an array of red light energy across the room with my horn. It wasn't very big, about the size of a standard hospital room however the light bathed things I'd expect to see in an armoury in red light; Black Strike Armour all dusty and patchy, weapons which had long since rusted, monitors with dusty and smashed screens along with their corresponding control systems. The entire place looked like an abandoned strong room with the Pod in the centre of it.

My light flickered slightly as I looked for something in which might be a way out. My eye caught a section of corroded metal plating below the monitors and I stumbled over to. There was a faint green glow coming from beneath it and I investigated trying to tear the metal away with my bare hooves.

It worked and I was met by a jumble of eaten away wires and by the looks of it two fuel rods cased in some heavy lead. I didn't want to ask about gamma rays or whatever I only wanted the power back on so I pushed one which was jutting out slightly and suddenly like a miracle two lights flickered on with bright intense light whilst another one blew out from the intense stress. The monitors flickered on, showing screens of green lettered computer coded and large error codes everywhere.

"Subject detected inside the strong room, identified as Dr Hearthfire of The Project" came the robotic female voice from what I supposed must have been thousands of years ago.

I coughed as I lent on a control panel and kicked up a hell of a lot of dust. "Computer where am I and more importantly when am I?" I asked. "Dr Hearthfire you are currently inside the Strong room of the High Overseer and you have been in suspended animation for 999,999.5 years although my system is reporting various errors so it may vary from a few degrees" said the computer flatly.

I gave an extra loud hack as I spluttered disbelievingly "wait 100,000 years"! "Yes Doctor you have been in suspended animation for…". "What the heck, where is everyone the other Alicorn the High Overseer have their Pods opened early or have they all just woken up?" I asked as I looked around the room for some water.

"I do not understand" said the VI and I asked frustratingly "where is everyone"! There was silence following my question but after half a minute the computer responded "Exactly 9999999.5 years ago a catastrophic site wise power loss occurred killing hundred from loss of energy and causing all emergency generators to be pushed to their maximum, this was caused by two Terrorists who forced Dr Hearthfire to jettison all Uranium main Power fuel rods in order to stop the Terrorists from destroying the entire base, ever since then after two weeks the Generators ran out of fuel and the ventilation systems stopped, Plague entered the base and within a year everyone working on the project was dead, although alternate ways were tried to turn the power back on it failed and currently there is one known survivor of that day" said the VI maybe with a hint of sadness in her voice although it may have been my imagination.

I stopped a moment and looked up at the various screens displaying error and failure codes across it and saw in it all the faces of the project I'd worked with. "All of them dead" I said aloud and held a hoof to my head.

"There are three messages from the High Overseer left on my database for the event of your awakening do you wish me to play them all?" asked the VI. "Yes" I said quietly as everything I'd ever done and achieved came back to me with one answer, you are alone.

I collapsed onto the floor and cradled my head as I began to weep, crying for the first time in well over 100,000 years like a foal who didn't understand.

The High Overseer's voice came on as I continued to sob but his voice didn't comfort me, it was the voice of a long dead Alicorn who sought to save his world but instead only saved me.

"Hearthfire, if you are receiving this then I assume that the automated protocol has revived your pod and that you have awakened exactly three thousand years from when I last saw you… I must say that you probably know now that I as are the rest of our race completely wiped out to oblivion and you are probably resenting me for sparing you, but this room was built in case this happens originally for me but since I am old and have nothing but you left to live for I put you into it instead".

He went on to explain the current situation on the base how power was limited and everyone was in a state of panic.

"Message one ended" said the VI "message two activated". "Hearthfire, it's been half a year now since I left my last message" "the ventilation system shut down months ago and we're all running on batteries now, we're trying to create a new fuel source using magic it's not enough and now the plague has begun killing so many, I know that we can't beat it now but I must put on a brave face for the families out there" he said solemnly.

My mind was a swirl a tragedy and loss; I was the last of my kind and would never again see another Alicorn besides myself if I looked in a cracked mirror. I then remembered what the High Overseer had said on the day when it happened, he had a gun in his desk and… it might still be working.

"Computer please open the door" I said quietly and the VI complied just as the third message began to play. I stumbled out of the door which on the outside actually the thick bookshelf was belonging to the High Overseer now just a bunch of blackened mouldy mush and into the High Overseer's office. His desk was still standing and I quickly threw open the doors and found the slightly rusted gun which still looked to be in perfect condition.

I clicked back the safety and put the barrel into my mouth and could only think with a sense of finality in my heart what a mess we'd made of it until the third message began to play. "Hearthfire I… I am sick I won't last long now, everyone else is dead, turned to vegetables and now me I-I don't want you to be disheartened by this Hearthfire because you are to do one last thing for me" said the High Overseer stuttering and fumbling over his words. "Live Hearthfire, survive and live, this isn't an order but a request from a dying Alicorn, thank you" and then the message cut off.

I looked at the gun held by magic which was in my mouth and wiped my eyes before levitating it back out and setting it on the damaged table. I walked over to the console where the message had been played and asked the computer "what are your current power levels"? "I have enough power to sustain only I for two years but even talking to you and keeping some lights on have affected that" she said.

I though briefly for a few minutes before asking "Is the route to the elevators clear"? "I can draw up and print out a map of directions to take as detect that some hallways have collapsed overtime". "Good I'll be ready in five minutes I just need to get some things" I said as I went over to what looked like a Minnie fridge and opened it.

"Are you saying you wish to go topside sir?" asked the VI. "Yes I am" I said retrieving some cans of sealed nutrients which looked airtight so I supposed must be ok to eat. "But top side could be covered in forests or be a wasteland you are weak and alone what would you do without the facility?" asked the VI ludicrously.

"Look I wanted to kill myself five minutes ago but I have orders from the High Overseer to survive so I'm going to eat my can of watery nutrients, put on the set of Armour over there which is least mouldy grab the High Overseer's gun before heading to the elevator and hopefully the sun unless it's also decided to disappear in the few thousand years I've been displaced from time!" I shouted angrily as I banged the lid off the tin and swallowed the disgusting slop.

It was bitter but it provided necessary energy which I vitally needed and if I thought really hard it tasted like peaches minus the peach.

Next I went over to the Armour and ran my fingers through the worn material. I dug through piles of Armour until I came to the bottom set which was amazingly still intact, more or less. I pulled the heavy material which could stop bullets over my head and stepped through the leg slats until my entire body was clad in protective material minus the helmets which had all rusted away.

I checked the guns on the walls but as I had inspected earlier at least one component each on them was useless however if I ever did come back then there was a possibility that I could use the pieces to forge a new one if I ever truly needed. I put the nutrient cans in my right black saddle bag and picked up a pistol holster from the pile of clothes which despite being covered with small holes still worked and fitted me.

I went back and retrieved the High Overseer's gun and holstered it checking the clip to see it was full before doing so.

"Although I am bound to this facility I wish you the best of luck Dr and I… am sorry" said the VI and something in its voice made me believe it. "Yeah well it was nice talking with you just shut down after I leave and lock this room" I told it after grabbing the small map printout and heading out of the High Overseer's office and into the facility.

A little aged would have been an overstatement the entire structure must have been on the verge of complete collapse, for a start my office was completely cave in as were various other hallways and rooms whilst plant-life had amazingly seeped into other places giving me hope that it was at least not a complete wasteland up there.

"Oh holy Spirits" I exclaimed when I reached the Lobby which used to be the decontamination room for new arrivals a wide open space now seemed to be a waterfall for an underground lake. The elevators where directly behind the waterfall but the rivers current would be too strong to swim over to so I had to use my wings.

I never actually flew when I was working in the facility and after 100,000 years my wings would probably be worthless since the rest of my body was so weak from lack of blood flow and nutrients. However I tried to make them spread out but the thin red feather just looked dull and didn't move.

I tried harder and eventually got my left wing tip to move slightly which in my opinion was a great achievement, well that was until it clamped shut and didn't move for another ten minutes. However after all my efforts in half an hour my wing unfurled and then the other followed. It felt really good to stretch them after so long but I didn't know if they would be able to support me so tried gliding first and actually got one entire inch off the ground.

I practiced another time before I officially declared myself flight capable and took a run-up towards the waterfall. However as I was halfway gliding over the river I forgot that the waterfall would put a significant amount of weight on my wings.

I crumpled onto the other side having safely made it but coming very close, I grazed one of my legs but ignored it seeing the elevators practically next to me. Limping slightly I got into the once pristine white tiled elevator now dirty with loose panels hanging off it.

I saw a nearby intercom and pressed it saying "Computer I'm in now beam me up". Nothing happened at first but suddenly one of the lift doors grinded shut and a rebellious bulb began to flicker on and off. The lift began to ascend and I could only jump for joy when it did which was dangerous considering the lifts cables could have corroded as well over the 100,000 years of non-maintenance.

However the Spirits were with me and the floors began to fly by at a gruelling five miles per hour as I ascended into the outside world. Well when the lift stopped it wasn't the outside world but instead an abandoned mine which the facility had used as a cover. I looked around it but the only light came from the elevator which was beginning to power down as the computer shut down the facility like I'd told it to.

I lit my horn and used it to illuminate the way for me. On the way I spotted minor collapses and the remains of the old mine even the end of an old pickaxe sticking out at a bent angle. I curiously touched it but it crumpled into nothingness which made me feel really optimistic about life.

I kept going finding my way through the mine's tunnels knowing it was crazy to even assume that there was still an entrance there and not 100,000 years of debris blocking the way. That is of course when I came upon said debris, mostly large boulders which seemed to grow sinister faces in the red light I bathed them in.

I opted that since I had very little else to do except die then I may as well try and blow it out with my fairly weak magic. I summoned a small explosive spell which should have been simple for me had I had full strength but was very difficult for me now.

I stood slightly back and cast the spell on the rocks however they barely moved a little as the small explosion was little more force than someone sneezing on them. I sighed and slid down the mines wall until my back wedged against something.

Sitting up I looked down to see something red or possibly bathed red staring up at me and sticking out of the mine wall. I pried it free and examined the faded letters which read "T.N.T". "Holy Spirits this is dynamite" I said aloud, hearing as my voice echoed back to me.

I looked for a fuse but it appeared to have a very short one only, possibly ten seconds a most. "Well they do say you can only live once" I said as I used my magic to form a small flame and light the fuse. I quickly threw it against the mine entrance's blockage and ran like hell (which in my state was more of a weak jog) until a huge boom sounded, echoing across the cave and a huge dust cloud enveloped me.

My ears rang but as soon as my hearing returned I was met by rumbles as the mine began to collapse from within. "Ok maybe not the best idea to light explosives in a 100,000 year old mine shaft" I told myself as I once more ran like hell towards the exit which I prayed was open.

I was met with dust light illuminating dust and falling boulders as I made my way through the exit and out into the world. When I said world I actually meant the face of a cliff which I had not known was there and had to stop myself from falling over.

I actually succeeded in stopping myself however the shockwave when the mine collapsed was enough to send me over the edge and spiralling downwards towards spirits know where. Luckily my natural instinct for survival gave some extra juice to my weak wings and had those erect and pointed outwards until the world sopped turning and everything only became blurry.

I felt sick as my vision still tumbled seeing white then black and then a multi-mix of purples, yellows and greens as I glided to who knows where. I crumpled as I landed face first into some gravelly soil and tried to focus on where on earth I was.

My vision began to clear and suddenly I saw that I was in the middle of a children's book including pop outs and colouring sections as my eyes told me something my brain knew not to be true.

I was in the middle of a cute little village with many cute looking children some missing wings or horns or both staring at me, they even looked like they were in the middle of a parade and looking closer I noticed these cute little pictures on their flanks.

They all seemed to have become stock still and quiet and I had absolutely no idea why they were all staring at me until my brain came up with a very rational answer "Congratulations Hearthfire you have finally well and truly gone insane, loopy, mental completely fruit loops".

It was actually really, really funny, so funny in fact I had to laugh at the wave of relief it was to know it was just me being crazy after all. "Oh Spirits you do not know how relieved I am to be insane, now I can just wake up and take a week's leave like the High Overseer wants me to and then get back to work I mean… Wow I did not anticipate my mind to come up with such an amazing storyline as this I mean the suicidal attempt was pretty darn amazing but the loopy ending is to die for!" I shouted quite madly as I got up and began jumping for joy (quite literally).

"Ooh wait if this is one of my own constructed breakdowns does this mean I can do anything I want, for instance can I turn that large house that looks like a cake into an office block or maybe that tree into a library" I cried joyfully like I was a colt again.

Suddenly I heard whispers from behind me and looked back to see what the parade was all about, it seemed two Alicorn one slightly taller than me and another slightly smaller than me were whispering quickly amongst each other and staring directly at me from a carriage which was pulled by some more small children clad in shiny metal.

Despite it being a breakdown I still for some reason wondered if my mane looked good before strolling over to the casually. One was white, wise looking with flowing rainbow air and a picture of the sun on her flank while the other was as black as night with a flowing dark blue mane and a picture of the moon on her flank.

Wow I can create really detailed pictures of Alicorn I should have been an artist.

I immediately flattened down my as I suspected ruffed up hair and said smoothly "the best thing about my mental breakdown would probably be the two of you right now I mean besides from the fact that for a moment I thought I was the only Alicorn in existence now I can really have some fun" I said trying to put real charm into my voice which by the looks on their faces they didn't buy.

"Ok then ladies I guess it goes to show I can't pick up women in my dreams or in real life but believe me going insane can sometimes put strain on others social capabilities so yeah, oh and where did you get this little guy here" I said pointing to the nearest child who had wings but no horn and poking him in the cheek.

"I mean really he is just the cutest thing in the world if I had one then would make him do all my paperwork, without coffee breaks!" I exclaimed truly sounding mad now.

He seemed to stare straight ahead despite my pokes so I looked around the carriage seeing six little children a purple one and a white one with a horn, a yellow one and a cyan one with wings and finally a pink one and an orange one with a cool cowboy hat on her head who had no wings and no horn.

"You know I never thought my creative side possessed such ability to be able to do this I mean I must have based you all off of something so maybe you could be my aunt" I said pointing to the cyan child who had a rainbow mane which made her look like a proper little rebel.

"You know she was a great flier, flew halfway around the world without stopping for food once, nearly broke a record held by her competitor difference only being her coat was dark blue unlike yours still I like how I captured her mane and imprinted it onto you I mean wow am I not absolutely amazing?" I asked everyone.

Nobody said anything and I gestured around at all the parade asking "what's wrong I thought my consciousness knew when to respond I mean geez it's my mental breakdown can we not make it a little bit more fun"!?

Suddenly a sole voice spoke up from the group of six, specifically the little purple one. "Err hello sir, who are you?" It actually asked me. I did briefly wonder why I asked my own name but supposed I should go along with the protocol for going insane responding "why I am Dr Hearthfire of the Advanced Research and Development Wing of the Alicorn Empire or at least I was until I joined the project but I don't really understand how that would matter to you now little one hmm".

"Now let me humour myself, who are you?" I asked. "Well umm m-my name is Twilight Sparkle I'm new here from Canterlot and the Princess has let me stay here in Ponyville" she said making about no amount of sense.

I stared at her and then at everyone around me and then clapped my hooves together furiously exclaiming "By the Spirits you've convinced me, I should become a children's author I mean if an insane me can come up with a brilliant storyline like that goodness knows what magic I can work when I'm not round the bend"!

Suddenly there was some steps taken behind me and I saw the white Alicorn get out of the carriage and face me from a few metres away. "Ok you're confused I get it but please you are scaring these people just come with me and everything will be fine" she said.

"Listen lady this is my breakdown and quite frankly I'm getting a little hacked off with the lack of fun I'm receiving so I think I'll start killing me some innocents that always adds to the destabilization of my psyche!" I exclaimed taking the High Overseer's gun out and waving it stupidly about everywhere.

Maybe saying the K word is what did it because suddenly I was hit by a knockout wave of pulsating golden energy which immediately winded me and sent me collapsing to the ground. "Ok since when do dreams hurt?" I asked before collapsing onto the floor and blacking out.

Once more childhood returned to me…

"Get him" yelled the leader of the small gang and I thought it best that I lead them to higher ground so flapping my wings hard I took off and zoomed high into the air. The others although a little slower followed me as a spiralled through the air".

Skinny was the first to catch me up, probably from being so aero dynamically thin. He caught up with me but I don't think he really thought the plan through as he threw a pathetic hit with his fore right hoof.

I looked back at him with the expression "really" etched all over my face before I kicked him square in the face with my back legs. He went spiralling out of control until he was crashing down to earth with a bleeding nose to carry.

Next came fatty, although he was really slow this time when I kicked him just like skinny he merely brushed it off and gave a small chuckled and evil grin. I responded to this by using my magic to bring down a nearby cloud and smash it into him.

His weight and the density of the cloud easily destabilised him and down he also went squealing like a little pig as he went. I chuckled but didn't see their leader come from right in front of me until he socked me square in the head.

I went for the classic "oof"! And weakly flew onto some clouds where I could get my bearings. I shook my head as the leader smugly landed next to me and asked "why is it that you stick up for her I mean she is weak and you are strong you should be on my side, making fun and exploiting the weak" he said with his childish explanation.

"You really need to shut up" I said, suddenly lunging and head-butting the brute before he could do a thing to respond. I followed up with a few swings which ruffed him up slightly but he also began laying into me. Finally he won the battle of the muscle and stood over me ready to deliver a powerful kick and end the fight when suddenly a very audible slam was heard and he collapsed onto the cloud unconscious.

I looked up through my blurry vision and wiped my bloody nose until I saw the face of the filly I had intended to save who had actually ended up saving me. Her saddle bag was on her back and a baseball bat was in her hands and she looked so innocent standing there.

I was about to say something but she interrupted me, holding a hoof to my mouth, simply saying "thanks…"