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The After Party | XVI: Changing Fate | Rocket yawned and shook his head as he got out of bed. He looked outside and stared at the position of the sun, seeing that it was just after seven in the morning. Ponies were out and about while he just woke up to face the day. The Princesses were out and about doing their duties, so he figured he might as well get going. Besides, he had plans with Rose today.
He looked at his hooves and noticed that he was still wearing the blasted chains that he had woken to find not a few days ago. The same blasted chains that were supposed to keep Dark Sky imprisoned in the secret prison of Canterlot. The same chains that allowed him to be himself and not worry about Dark reappearing. The same chains that Princess Celestia had forbid him to remove, claiming that it required too much magical energy to shatter the magical infused iron. She was scared that Dark would return and beat her into submission.
Rocket sighed and watched Twilight walk past him, going up the stairs to her room before closing the door behind her. Ever since Dark had made himself known none of the Royal Alicorns would so much as look him in the eye when he talked to them. Well, Luna actually did several times just to annoy her sister and silently say that she was supporting him. He wasn't sure if Cadence supported him or was against him, but he knew Celestia wasn't supporting him. And Twilight...he honestly didn't know where she stood in all of this.
He closed the door of the library behind him and walked out into Ponyville, his eyes looking around for his friends. From what he already knew Tick was likely practicing with Octavia and Vinyl while Wisdom was hanging with Pinkie Pie doing who knew what. Peachy was with the Crusaders, trying to figure out what her Cutie Mark was. Rose, however, had cleared her calender so they could spend some time together and get to know each other better.
"Are you sure your friend minds that we're spying on him?" Pinkie asked Wisdom, despite the fact that they were both dressed in spy suits and were sitting on top of a building that Rocket had passed, "I'm all for spying on Chrysalis, but where's the fun in spying on Rocket?"
"Something is going to happen, I just know it," Wisdom said, finishing off one of the special drinks Pinkie had ordered, "So if we follow Rocket we should be able to stop whatever it is in time."
Pinkie smiled. "Its our Pinkie Sense," she commented, looking through her binoculars, "Not even I completely understand it sometimes."
"Here comes our friend Salad Top," Wisdom warned, spotting the mare just down the same street that Rocket was on, "and it seems that she's got company this time."
Flanking the mare were thirteen other ponies, five of them being unicorns while another five were pegasus. The remainder were earth ponies, but none of them looked happy at all. Salad Top looked like she was in command and had somehow brainwashed the poor ponies to do her bidding.
"You ready for this Pinkie?" Wisdom asked, looking back to see the mare holding what looked like a missile launcher.
"Of course I'm ready silly," she answered, "If anything happens I'm ready to go to town on them."
"Hey Rocket, what's up?" Rose asked, walking beside the stallion as they continued down the street, unaware of the advancing ponies.
"Nothing much," Rocket answered, smiling at the mare as they walked, "Just staring at the chains and wondering if any of the other Princesses will accept me now that Dark has been vanquished. I know Princess Luna does, but it will take a lot more to convince the other three that I'm not the monster. But other than that I just got up. What about you?"
"Not much for me either," Rose admitted, shaking her head, "By now my mother and her guard should have returned to Ponyville and they should have resumed trying to capture you. If they have returned then I wonder why I haven't been notified by any of the guards so i could have prepared my house. But knowing my mother she doesn't want me to know so she can catch me unaware and off guard. Only this time she'll find that I finally made a friend that accepts me for who I truly am and not who I'm pretending to be."
"Hey, you accepted me and my dark side," Rocket countered, "it only makes it fair that I do the same. Besides, you aren't one of the Changelings that chased me into the Everfree forest and you don't want me enslaved."
"I know," Rose sighed, "It just feels like my mother is planning something big and I have nothing on it."
"Tell me about this Elder Council," Rocket said, changing the subject on her, "You mentioned that your father was one of the members, but not much else."
"Essentially they keep the Hive together when there's no official ruler," Rose explained, taking a seat at a coffee shop so they didn't bump into anypony while they walked and waited until Rocket followed suit, "There are six other members of the Council that work with my father Zircon. Some Changelings call them the Seven Masters, as each of them are the best of whichever field they worked in before they became Elders. My father is the Elder of Wisdom and he knows things that others do not even comprehend. Kind of like Pinkie Pie.
Basically when a Queen or King wants to invade another place, such as Canterlot, for love and such, they have to ask the Council for permission. If the Council says that they're allowed to do so then the entire Hive marches out to go to war with the Ruler and the Council at the head of the army. But if the Council refuses to allow it then the rest of the Hive should, as a rule, stay behind and not invade the desired location.
My mother broke that rule when the Council told her that she couldn't invade Canterlot and would lose to the very thing she went to obtain. She defied the Council, gathered a small army, and marched on the city and nearly had it during the wedding. That was cut short by the love between Shining Armor and Princess Cadence that flung them out of Canterlot. If I had been of age after the failed invasion the Council would have insisted that I take over and would have tossed my mother off of the throne.
I fear that my mother might have defied the Council again and might have marshaled the whole of the Changeling Hive to take you alive. She has seen your power, has felt the darkness in your heart, and she wants it so she can topple Princess Celestia. What she doesn't know is that the Council will travel to Canterlot and explain the situation to the Solar Princess, who will bring her army to you to make sure you aren't taken. I'm afraid that no matter what the Council decides war is coming to Ponyville."
"My Queen," one of the guards said, "Your daughter, 067, is revealing everything about the Hive to the stallion. What will you have us do?"
Chrysalis was pissed, but never had she done something so drastic before in her entire life. Her disguise literally fell apart and she returned to her true form before she gave the order.
"Issue the charge," she ordered, "and chase that stallion into the forest. We'll deal with him there."
"Yes my Queen," the Changeling said before blowing into a horn.
The ponies around them were shocked by the appearance of the Changeling Queen, for real this time, but they thought it was foolish to blow a horn when it would likely attract the Elements of Harmony.
"We will send them to their doom with the beauty of our new firework technique," Pinkie said, smiling as she aimed at Chrysalis, "Flame Cakes."
"I think you meant Fu," Wisdom corrected.
"Oh, well then. Flame Fu," Pinkie corrected herself and pressed what looked like a trigger.
A cluster of fireworks shot out of the launcher and barreled right into Chrysalis before exploding into a fury of lights. Citizens ran as the Changelings zoned in on their location, but upon arrival they found nothing on the roof top. One of them hit the roof as Wisdom appeared above him, a wooden staff in hoof that he used to beat another into submission. He spun it around and hit another in the shin behind smacking the staff on his head, crashing the Changeling into the shop below.
"What's going on?" Rocket asked as the two noticed the fighting going on.
"Its my mother," Rose answered, "She's returned and she's brought the army with her. That horn was to bring them all in, not a warning call that alerted the Elements of Harmony. See that black cloud approaching? Its them."
Sure enough a huge black cloud appeared overhead, swarming with a vast quantity of Changelings just waiting to capture Rocket. Changelings descended on the town, breaking into houses and scaring the citizens as they searched for him. Then a lavender form took to the skies and began blasting the cloud, Changelings falling to the ground as they were hit in rapid succession. Princess Twilight Sparkle had arrived.
"Its you there after isn't it?" a voice asked from behind Rocket, making him turn around to see Applejack standing there, "They're here for the beast aren't they?"
"Yeah, they are," Rocket admitted, "but that doesn't mean I wont stand and fight them."
The farm mare flipped around and brought her left back hoof into the face of a Changeling that was trying to surprise her, but failed.
"I'm getting my sister and her friends to safety first," the farmer stated, "Have either of you seen them?"
"I think they're with Peachy at the Boutique," Rose said, "If they aren't then I have no...idea?"
What rolled past them was a huge wagon with a wooden cover and long tubes that fired fireworks. The top opened and Applebloom popped her head head while she waved at the three of them. Then she got back in and closed the top as the wagon rolled off, firing at the Changelings on the ground.
"I guess that answers that question," Rocket said, "but it raises more and i think Pinkie was somehow involved with this."
"Open fire on their flanks," came a voice inside the wagon that sounded like Peachy.
"Or not..." Rocket sighed, spotting Tick with the other musicians, "Now what?"
Tick picked up a metal guitar and slammed it into a Changelings head, knocking the poor thing out in an instant without shattering the instrument. Vinyl carried what looked like a speaker, but it spread out and became her infamous bass cannon, which she used on the Changelings in the air. Octavia, however, preceded to beat several Changelings down with just her bare hooves, punching her foes into submission.
The rest of the Elements of Harmony fought on the ground, mostly punching their foes while Fluttershy cowered and tripped them. Course Pinkie brought out a cannon and blasted her foes with party supplies, but it didn't seem to bother anypony at all. Rarity hit foes with diamonds while Rainbow hit them before they could even get to the ground. Rocket was going to say something until he heard the sound of a very different horn and noticed another cloud approaching.
Soldiers from the Solar Guard, the Lunar Guard, and the Crystal Empire crashed into the Changeling army and the fighting turned harsh. Luna smashed opponents under her hooves while her sister merely blasted them out of the sky and Cadence roped her with magic. Shining bucked his foes and defended himself while he looked for Chrysalis. Rocket could have sworn that Discord was here as well, raining lightning on the Changelings, but he wasn't sure.
"Sad isn't it?" a voice behind them asked, causing Rocket to turn around to find Applejack gooed to the ground.
"Chrysalis," Rocket said, taking a step back.
"I brought an army and yet they decide to fight anyway," the Queen continued, "They know that I will succeed and take the key to destroying them all. The Council was wrong, I will be victorious and Celestia will fall."
"You can't do this," Rose shouted, receiving a smack to the face that knocked her to the ground.
"She's your daughter, how can you do this to her?" Rocket asked, almost yelling at Chrysalis.
"I don't care if she's my daughter," the Queen spat, "I AM THE QUEEN. I can go anything to any of the Changelings under my rule. I am better then any of them and I will not be overthrown by a daughter who doesn't want the throne. I will waste no words on you, Rocket Sky, as you will soon be joining me in conquering everypony that opposes me."
"Go buck yourself Chrysalis," Rocket countered, "I won't be turning against Celestia and the Royal Family."
"Oh you will," Chrysalis said, baring her fangs as she pinned him against a wall, "You'll turn against them all."
She bit into his neck and drew blood, but that was natural when a Changeling did this. Rocket screamed and threw the Queen off of him with his magic, which resulted in him hitting the ground hard. His hooves hurt and he could have sworn that he could feel holes growing in them. His vision was blurred and he couldn't tell if he was staring at Chrysalis or another Changeling. His magic overtook him and ascended into the sky as he eventually faded out.
Celestia noticed the pillar of blue energy nearby and realized that the worst had come to pass; Chrysalis had obtained the power of Rocket Sky. The way she saw it they were all royally bucked unless the stallion could control himself and defeat the Changeling Queen. Though it didn't look like they were going to win anytime soon. |
The After Party | XVII: The Monster | Dust kicked up as the energy built, blowing over stands of the Ponyville Market and knocking some unfortunate soldiers out of the air. The fighting halted as the wind churned and blinded the majority of them who couldn't use magic to shield their eyes. Most of the unicorns knew that something had happened and they didn't like it. Besides, the Royal Family, including Princess Twilight Sparkle and Discord, were facing the maelstrom that was causing the disturbance like something evil was going to emerge. Well, more evil than Discord anyway.
"What the BUCK was that?" Tick questioned after getting up from being thrown to the ground. "Whose the wise pony who summoned the dust devil in the middle of a battlefield?"
"Dude, I don't think anypony summoned it," Vinyl commented, thankful she always wore her glasses as she pointed at the devil in question, "Whatever that Changeling Queen did is causing this."
"I hate to agree with the mare who sleeps during the day," Octavia said, slamming her hoof into the face of the Changeling she had been fighting before the devil had appeared, "and I hate pointing blame at anypony, but this madness is all her fault. "
The Crusaders' tank-wagon blew over and the top popped off as a firework hit a knocked over stand.
"What the..." Peachy said, rolling out of the contraption and staring at the sky, "What's causing this chaos?"
"Don't look at me." came a voice as Discord appeared behind her with a cup of tea in hand, claw, whatever he called his limbs, "I'm not the one causing this chaos. Chrysalis is seriously messing with the fundamentals of the world."
"Mister Discord," Sweetie Belle asked, pulling herself and her friends out of the wreckage, "aren't you the one who is usually messing with the fundamentals of the world anyway?"
"I have no idea what you just said," Applebloom commented, pulling out some fireworks, "but we have to get back to blasting those Changelings. Come on girls, let's give them a beating and get our Cutie Marks."
The energy suddenly dissipated and the air rippled, causing the dust to quickly gather and then burst outward, allowing everypony to see what rested in the center of all the dust. Gooed to the ground, with her hat covering her eyes from the dust, was Applejack, who moved her hat out of the way with a quick move of her head. Laying in front of Chrysalis, who had a big toothy grin, was Rose Petal, who looked like she had been smacked in the face. Standing next to the Changeling Queen was a stallion who seemed to radiate power.
The stallion's hooves and legs were riddled with holes, as was his mane, tail, and wings. He had a jagged horn, colored black like the rest of his body, and the same strange wings that Chrysalis had. The more Peachy stared at the stallion the more she noticed the fading Cutie Mark that resembled Rocket's mark and when the stallion opened his eyes she knew exactly what had happened.
"Dark Sky," Peachy whispered, unaware that the God of Chaos could hear her regardless of how soft she spoke, "Chrysalis has crossed the line this time."
"I don't see what the deal is with this stallion." Discord said, sipping from his cup as lightning arched around his unoccupied hand, "Celestia says that she's frightened of the power that this stallion contains. I honestly don't see what the big deal is."
Before Peachy could react the God of Chaos blasted her friend with lightning, straight into the town hall building not too far away. Then a meteor hit the wreckage of the building, exploding the ruins in a fury of fire and earth.
"Are you insane?" Peachy asked, fully aware she was asking the most insane creature if he was insane, "That's my friend you just blasted. You can't just toss meteors around like that."
"Where's the fun in following the rules?" Discord asked, taking another sip of his tea as he talked to the mare, "Its boring to follow the rules. Only certain mares follow the rules and those just happen to be Alicorns who everypony knows. And that includes a certain evil stallion and Changeling Queen..."
Peachy couldn't catch the last past as a beam of energy hit the God of Chaos into the building behind him, which preceded to explode. She looked back and felt her heart slow down as she saw the monster emerge from the burning wreckage. She could literally see the hatred burning in the stallions eyes and wondered how much of her friend remained.
"Now I understand," Discord groaned, emerging from the building with some cuts and scrapes, "Now I see what makes this stallion so special. Let's dance."
The monster roared as the God of Chaos raised into the sky, quickly following suit. Discord smiled and charged his hands with pure lightning, something he could use now that both sides weren't in the skies. They were grounded so to speak, which was mostly due to his chaotic nature. Only he allowed the Alicorn mares to join him, if they wanted to fight the monster with him.
The monster stared at him and he at the monster, both daring their foe to make the first move. The monster lowered his head and Discord blasted him with the pure power of lightning, literally opening the sky and raining over ten thousand volts on the stallion.
"He's going to kill him," Rainbow shouted, realizing exactly how much power the God of Chaos was using, "Nopony can withstand that much power without being fried alive."
"I'm not done yet," Discord said, unleashing a wave of fire behind him as the stallion appeared behind him, "and you wont get away that easily."
The sky exploded as another beam of energy connected with Discord's attack, whose eyes were looking for the stallion. The next thing he knew he was tackled right to the ground, blowing a crater in the ground with the stallion standing over him. Discord began to sweat as the stallion prepared another one of his strange energy attacks, this one aimed right at his face.
A wave of darkness bashed into the stallion's side and tossed him off the God of Chaos, but Discord was surprised to see who his savior was. Standing on top of a crystal pillar was none other then the King of Darkness and Tyrant of the Crystal Kingdom, King Sombra. The armored stallion growled and darkness flew over Discord, hitting the monster before he could get back up.
"Sombra," Discord said, getting up as his new ally prevented the stallion from getting up, "To what do I owe the pleasure of being saved by you?"
"Be thankful I even overheard that this stallion even existed," the dark king answered, which was strange since Discord remembered him speaking about crystals and slaves the last time they saw each other, "Otherwise you would not be here right now, asking me why I bothered saving the God of Chaos and ruining my element of surprise early."
"What do you see?" asked a voice as Celestia and the Royal Family joined them.
"Nice to see you too Celestia," Sombra smugly said, smiling at the alicorn mare.
"Be thankful we haven't blasted you into next week yet," Luna stated loudly, her eyes never leaving the Changeling stallion in front of them.
"True," Sombra said, "but that doesn't matter right now. All I see is the chains of darkness that have wrapped around this stallion, allowing his darkness to overtake him and emerge fully. In the case of Luna here it resulted in the appearance of Nightmare Moon, but right now it means the monster known as Dark Sky."
"I thought we were all going to forget about that," Luna grumbled, handing her head a little low.
"How do we stop him then?" Shining asked, preparing a shield spell in case the stallion attacked them.
"You can't hit him with the Elements of Harmony for one thing," Sombra answered, "It would likely either destroy him, send him to some far off prison, or have absolutely no effect on him. You could always try using love on him, but seeing how much anger and hate he has I would advise against it. So hit him hard and maybe that will break the bonds holding him."
"I doubt it will be that easy," Chrysalis mocked, "after all, he's withstood the power of Discord and is still standing. What are you going to do? Hit him with the full power of a sun beam and fry him and everypony else alive? Or will you lower the moon on him and crush everypony around him as well? Face it, none of you can unleash your full power without killing everypony in Ponyville in the process."
"She's right you know," Cadence said, surprising them all and herself, "No matter where we would end up fighting Rocket, or Dark or whatever his name is now, we'd still run the risk of killing hundreds, if not thousands of innocents. We could fight him between here and Canterlot, but I'm sure he'd come back anyway just so we couldn't use our full power on him. We have to find a way to shatter her hold on him before he destroys all of us."
"Incoming," Shining shouted, throwing up a shield in time to somehow bounce the stallion's attack into the empty sky.
The monster appeared right in front of him, somehow bypassing the shield, and bashed his head with his own, effectively cutting the shield off. As Shining went down the monster approached them, unaware of something happening behind him.
"Hey you big meanie," Pinkie Pie shouted, holding her firework launcher right at the stallion as he turned to face her, "I'mma Firin Mah Lazar."
Pinkie launched a gigantic firework that hit the stallion and dragged him into the sky, where it preceded to explode into a fury of lights. She quickly threw the weapon into the air and moved as the stallion cut through it with his horn, which was covered in energy. He swung and found his horn stopped by the staff of his friend Wisdom.
"Snap out of it Rocket," his friend said, "This isn't you. You aren't a monster."
The stallion roared as Tick smashed his guitar on his head, which only made him kick his other friend in the face. So hard that he was thrown into a wall and his guitar in the building behind him. Wisdom took the opportunity to move before his staff snapped in half, which made him discard the pieces anyway. Then he fell from the sky after receiving a hoof to the face, though he landed on a huge pile of hay.
Celestia was horrified, she couldn't believe that the stallion would even harm his own friends like that. He needed to be stopped, that much was clear, but how to stop him was proving to be a challenge.
"Move," Luna shouted, causing the five to take off into the sky, and dodging in Sombra's case, before the stallion's attack hit them.
"Let's focus our magic," Cadence shouted, surprised that the dark king had saved her husband, "Maybe if we combine streams we could beat him."
"Or destroy ourselves in the process," Twilight warned, fully aware of what the combined force could do to them, "But I'm betting that we'll defeat this monster."
With no argument from any of the others they combined all their magic's together, allowing the pressure to build. The monster noticed as they raised into the sky, Sombra on a crystal pillar of course, and roared as he rose to met them. With his horn alight energy gathered to form the infamous energy orb that heralded the most powerful beam of energy that they had all seen in their lives. Without a second to chance their minds the combined magic was released, colliding with the energy from the monster's attack and lighting the sky up brighter than before.
Peachy watched as six forms fell out of the resulting cloud of smoke, each of them familiar to her. Sombra, armor cracked and crown shattered, lay broken on the roof of a nearby building. Discord lied on the ground, all rolled out and flattened between the forgotten stands. Cadence landed near Shining, her mane a mess and some patches of her coat turned black. Celestia and her sister landed on top of each other, both of them bruised and beaten by the magic they faced. Twilight landed in her tree, blasting another hole in the roof that would eventually be prepared.
"Is this what you wanted mother?" Rose shouted at Chrysalis, "The destruction of everything in Equestria?"
"Foolish daughter, I care not for Equestria at this point," Chrysalis said, picking her disobedient daughter up with magic, "I care about destroying those that would dare to oppose me, starting with Celestia and her troublesome sister. Now that all my major foes are here I'll have my new soldier waste them and his friends before I take over."
Rose was tossed to the ground and she noticed Peachy, standing scared as the stallion approached from behind her. Though she had no idea that the monster was closing in on her.
"Peachy," Rose shouted, getting the mare's attention, "Behind you."
As Peachy turned around she was forced to the ground by magic, followed by a hoof to the chest to keep her pinned where she laid. Standing over her was the Changeling monster that her friend had become and she was scared. Energy began to gather above his horn, which was pointed directly at her.
Rose knew she had one shot at saving Peachy's life, maybe everypony else's life in the process as well. She got up and basically ran over to them, surprised that her mother didn't stop her this time. She raised the stallion's head and kissed him, hoping that it would override the monster.
Then Rose Petal closed her eyes and waited for sweet death in case she was wrong. |
The After Party | XVIII: Good vs Evil | The first thing Rose felt was the magic dispel from Rocket's horn. The monster roared and backed up, holding its head as if it was fighting itself now. Almost as if Rocket was trying to regain control and the monster wanted to remain in control. Then she noticed something that made her heart skip a beat; the skin surrounding the stallion was beginning to crack and light was beginning to shine from within.
"A simple kiss cannot break the power of darkness," Chrysalis shouted, facing the stallion, "His darkness has him and he will not easily give him up. Face it 067, you have failed."
"Something is clearly happening," Sombra coughed, getting out of the rubble slowly, "Whatever that mare just did is working."
"Its the power of Love," came Cadence's voice, "Never doubt the power of pure love."
"CHRYSALIS."
The Changeling in question was surprised, the stallion hadn't spoken a word since his transformation, mostly just raging and screaming, but now he had actually said something. He had said her name, but not with the friendly vibe she was expecting. No, she could feel the anger rolling off of the stallion, only to be replaced by something more. Something almost peaceful and accepting. Or maybe she was imaging it and the monster was pleading for help.
Smoke began to emit from the stallion's body, almost as if Rocket and Dark's fighting was tearing the poor thing apart from within, and the power was seeking to escape. The stallion continued to back up as the rest of the Alicorns and Discord began to awaken, getting up and watching the stallion with curiosity. The air rippled as energy began to spill from the stallion, who began to scream as he thrashed around, trying to cure himself of the fighting within.
Twilight's eyes widened in realization as she figured out what was going to happen.
"Get everypony to safety NOW," she shouted, working her magic to move her friends out of the way, "At the rate he's going he's going to explode and take all of us with him."
That kicked Celestia like a ton of bricks and she began moving ponies at rapid speed, hoping that whatever was happening didn't result in the explosion her student warned them about. Discord and Sombra, both wounded beyond belief, were helping out, moving what ponies they could with their limited power. Luna went on the offensive and attacked Chrysalis while Cadence moved Rocket's friends and her husband away. The only one that hadn't been picked up was Rose, who was watching the stallion.
Then a second energy pillar appeared in their field of vision, consuming the stallion and blocking him from their view. This time energy seemed to gather around the pillar, spilling into the core and whatever was happening on the inside. Luna flew to where the Royal Family was and expected the worst to happen; the explosion of such terrible power. Though Chrysalis watched with glee, as if making the stallion die like this would aid her cause.
"What's going on here?" Discord tiredly asked, breathing hard as he noticed the magic from the monster's attacks linger in the air, "Either he's going to blow or something else is happening here."
The air rippled and the pillar dissipated into nothing, leaving a cloud of dust behind. It took just a minute for enough dust to clear so they could see what had happened, but what everypony saw shocked them to their cores.
Standing in the direct center of what could have been the blast center was a stallion with a light blue coat and Rocket's Cutie Mark. His horn, hooves, legs, mane, and tail had been cured of the holes that had covered them earlier, except that his body was the same size as Chrysalis' or Celestia's body. His horn was the same length as the Solar Goddess and he had wings as big as her's as well. Oddly enough the stallion's mane and tail were now golden colored and were definitely longer then they had been before Chrysalis has bitten him. When he opened his eyes everypony noticed that his eyes were now silver colored.
"He's an Alicorn," Discord grumbled, "That's just great. And its also impossible to have forced such an evolution."
"Your impossible Discord," Celestia sighed, knowing it would be difficult to reason with the God of Chaos, "I allowed Twilight to ascend to Alicornhood, so it clearly isn't impossible. But to cause a forced one should be nearly impossible."
"What now?" Twilight asked, wondering what they were going to do with another member to the Alicorn family.
"We wait and see what he does," Celestia answered, "Who knows, maybe he'll revert to a unicorn soon."
"Come now Rocket Sky, obliterate these pathetic Alicorns," Chrysalis shouted, hoping that the stallion would still follow her commands, "and we will rule Equestria together."
"Shut the buck up Chrysalis," the stallion said, sounding older as he stared at the Changeling Queen, "I've had it with you, planning on using me against Celestia and her family. I am not some puppet for you to command."
Chrysalis screamed and unleashed a barrage of magic missiles at the stallion, who preceded to throw up a barrier around himself. Before she could react he emerged from the smoke and blasted her at point blank range, tossing her into a tree. She groaned and flew into the sky, turning to look down at the stallion as she sent two more waves of missiles at him, blasting him and the area around him.
Energy gathered around in the smoke, but it was far different then the attack that Dark had used to save Rocket's life countless times. This time the orb gathered around in front of his hoof, spinning around at such high speeds that not even Chrysalis could follow it. Before she could even take her eyes off the stallion he was in front of her, with the orb firmly connected to her chest. it exploded and tossed her to the ground, where she stared at the stallion as she hit the ground with a hard thud.
"You win," Chrysalis admitted defeat as the stallion appeared above her, looking down at her with pity in his eyes, "Don't look down on me."
"You are relieved of your Queenship," Rocket said, nodding to Rose, "and your daughter will be taking over. Maybe this time Changelings and Ponies can get along without trying to kill each other."
"Chrysalis smirked and closed her eyes. "Whatever," she said, "I have served my Hive for too long and I will go into exile for the time being. But mark my words, one day I will return."
"I'll be ready when that day comes," Rocket promised, receiving a surprise hug from Rose, "See you around Chrysalis."
"So what now?" Rose asked, curious as to what the stallion would be doing with his life now.
Rocket sighed as they walked away from the broken Changeling, his mind already racing. His friends smiled and nodded at him as they approached, though Celestia was shaking her head and Luna was extremely cheerful.
"I guess if my form remains unchanged I'll be included in the roster of Alicorns," he admitted, "but either way I do believe you and I will be living our lives together."
"Ooh, a marriage is it?" Pinkie asked from behind them, "I call dibs on planning the party."
Rocket shook his head and smiled, that was so like the Pinkie Pie that he knew. He only hoped that everypony else was comfortable with his current form if it didn't change. |
The After Party | XIX: Surprise | One week after the events of Ponyville Rocket Sky was still trying to revert his body back to his natural unicorn form, but as usual he wasn't having any luck. He looked out of the window of Canterlot Castle that had been designated to him and Rose, mauling over the events that had transpired after his sudden and unexpected ascension. None of the events had made much sense, but granted that Discord was hanging with him and his friends he really thought things would have been more chaotic.
Shortly after finishing the fight with Chrysalis he, Rose, and his friends had been whisked off to Canterlot by Celestia, though he could have sworn it was Discord doing to deed. All of the Alicorns and the villains were weakened from their fight with his power, the evil Changeling monster he had become when Chrysalis had bitten him. Yet there they were, still taking the four of them away when they should have been rebuilding Ponyville. Last he heard the town had been reconstructed and Chrysalis had vanished as she said she would.
Once they had arrived in Canterlot the guard had immediately noticed that he had wings and a horn, marking him as the fifth Alicorn in existence at the moment, and had knelt to him. Before he could even say anything Celestia had them all taken to the hospital, where their injuries were taken care of for the remainder of that day. The nurses knew how to deal with small cuts and burnt fur, so it was no surprise that they were discharged so quickly.
Their second day back in the center of Equestria consisted of the four Princesses talking to him about what it meant to be an Alicorn and what his official role was going to be. The sun and moon had been called for well over a thousand years, love was off limits to him, and magic and friendship, Twilight's part, were taken. At some point while the four discussed what his particular role was Rocket looked out the window and stared at the clouds, focusing his mind on outside the room and not the inside.
His own mind mauled over the thoughts of what his position would be, but he knew that it wouldn't be anything as glorious as the sun, the moon, love, or even magic. He was more focused on planning a wedding then bothering to be crowned prince of something. Every Alicorn was a prince or princess, that he understood, but eventually there won't be anything left to crown them under. Though, as usual, Rocket sighed and continued staring out of the window, letting the other four continue their bickering as they tried to decide between some options like Darkness, Light, and he could have sworn he heard one of them mention Power for some reason.
"How about Harmony?" Rocket asked, not a moment after the words left his mouth did he wish he had never uttered them to begin with, "You know, like balance between Light and Darkness?"
"I'm thinking more of Balance," Cadence said, "Considering both his sides make a whole like this."
Yeah...Rocket just decided to ignore them some more and go back to staring at the clouds, not really interested in listening to their chatter anymore. Of the four remaining Alicorn's in the room he had told Luna and Cadence about the impending wedding and he had asked for their help in the matter. Luna was glad to finally have something that didn't involve getting blasted and beaten while Cadence had to inquire who the lucky ponies were. Rocket just told them that the couple was a secret and they would find out when the time came.
He imagined the dresses that Rarity was designing for the Coronation and wondered if she was also working on the dresses for the wedding he had planned. As far as he knew Twilight's friends and the two Princesses were the only ones who knew about the event and he was actually surprised that Pinkie wasn't announcing it to the world. Eventually he had to come back to the chatter behind him and that was when he learned that he was going to be designated Prince of Balance, which was as good as it was going to get for him.
The third day was boring as heck...so Rocket decided to take the day off from following the Princesses around and flew to one of the places he had always wanted to visit, but couldn't do to his original form. A place he had seen and heard about, but never had the opportunity to go since he had been a normal unicorn. Now that he had wings he could easily get there and wonder around, provided he hide his horn so he wasn't bugged all the time. Of course he had to ask a certain pegasus where the location was to be sure he didn't get lost.
Yeah...he was heading for Cloudsdale, home to both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash and the location of where the Spectrum was made.
Almost immediately after he asked the speedster directions he regretted it, because she kept talking about how great the place was and everything that had happened to her there. So after about two hours of getting useless information from the pegasus he finally got the directions he so desired and the exact location of Cloudsdale at the time. He bid her goodbye and began his journey towards the city, which was supposed to be between Canterlot and Ponyville.
Unfortunately he was stopped multiple times by both the Solar Guard and the Lunar Guard on the ground and in the air, so he figured it wasn't meant to be. He seriously didn't want to resort to using magic on the guards, but they were doing their job that Celestia had assigned to them; don't let him leave Canterlot and make sure he stays safe. So he really spent the majority of the third day playing hide and seek with the guards, trying to escape them and they kept finding him regardless of where he chose to hide.
The next day was similar to his third day, being chased around Canterlot by the guards so they knew he was safe and not being harmed by anypony. Eventually he got tired of it and hid in the one place that he knew they would never find him, the Crystal Caverns below the castle. It was the perfect place to hide according to Cadence, the guards would never think to check down there and he would have all the time he needed to find a way out of Canterlot without the guards knowing.
So that was what he did for the rest of the fourth day and the majority of the next two days, exploring the entire network of caverns while he searched for a way out besides the one he knew about. He moved crystals and created bridges while he searched, creating a vast network of elaborate pathways throughout the entire place. Try as he might he could not find a second way out of the caverns, short of blasting a second hole out and alerting Celestia to his work. Cloudsdale, he decided, was going to have to wait for another day.
On the seventh day he waited in the castle, not really bothering to visit the caverns since he had already done everything he could think of to it. Archways, pillars, bridges, rooms, you name it and he had done it. The caverns were like a mini Crystal Empire that rested below Canterlot, but he figured that if Rarity found it she would demolish it and use the crystals for her own personal uses.
So on the eighth day, the current day, he found himself standing between the four Princesses and a room full of ponies he either knew or didn't know. He knew many of them from before and his friends were there, but there still were a lot of ponies that he didn't know the names of. Rocket wore aquamarine colored jewelry that looked similar to Celestia's royal jewelry, except that his had no markings and a simple crown of similar color to his other pieces. He was even dressed up in a Prince's outfit, which seemed similar to the suit that Shining Armor had worn on his wedding day so long ago.
Princess Celestia was talking to the crowd of assembled ponies, saying how Rocket Sky had managed to save the whole of Equestria from disaster with the help of the Changeling Princess Viscarias. How he had tamed the Darkness in his own heart and had become an Alicorn that could stop Chrysalis from winning her war with Equestria. And now here he was, being crowned the fifth Alicorn and Prince of Balance, the line between complete darkness and complete light. Little did Celestia know that Rocket had a trick he had yet to play on her.
"Stand aside sister," Luna proclaimed, surprising her sister by her outburst, "There is a wedding to be had."
The assembled group, excluding Twilight's friends and Cadence, were shocked by the sudden announcement that there was going to be a wedding along with the coronation of a new Prince. The doors opened and in came the Cutie Mark Crusaders, including Peachy, all dressed up for a wedding like they had been when Shining and Cadence had gotten married. Walking behind the four of them was Rose Petal, dressed up in a wedding dress Rarity through together that went together well with her natural Changeling Princess form. She walked up to where Rocket was and smiled at the assembled Princesses, though only two smiled back at her.
"Mares and gentlecolts," Luna began, raising her voice just a bit so she could be heard by everypony in the room, "we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Princess Viscarias of the Changeling Empire and Prince Rocket Sky of Equestria. The power of their love, while not as powerful as Princess cadence and Shining Armor's, is undeniable. May we have the rings please?"
Wisdom, dressed up almost like Shining during his own wedding, appeared beside the Lunar Princess and presented her with two golden rings. Luna accepted them with her magic and placed one of them on the horns of both Rocket Sky and Viscarias.
"I now pronounce you mare and colt," Luna concluded, "you may kiss the bride."
And that was Rocket did as he leaned in and gave Rose Petal a kiss. The two smiled at each other and nearly laughed when they saw that Princess Celestia was still shocked by the fact that there had been a wedding after the Coronation. Peachy wiped a tear from under her eye and smiled as Wisdom gave a nod of approval, though Tick was setting up for an after party.
About an hour later the assembled ponies were partying and wishing the newlyweds well, though Rocket continued to smile the entire evening.
"So why weren't we told that the couple would be you two?" Peachy asked, "We could have kept it a secret."
"I wanted almost everypony to be surprised," Rocket explained, "but it was worth it."
"So sister," Celestia said, watching over the party while the other Princesses sat near them, "Why wasn't I informed of this wedding?"
"You had your fun the last time there was a wedding," Luna laughed, "and I was asked to keep it a secret from everypony except for Twilight's friends and Cadence. Besides, you clearly have overlooked something."
"And what is that?" Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow at her sister.
"Princess Viscarias is Queen of the Changeling Empire now that her mother has been banished by the Elder Council," Luna explained, "and technically that makes young Rocket Sky King of the Changeling Empire. Face it sister, he played you on that one."
"Faust almighty your right," Celestia said, sighed to herself, "but this also means that we'll have another faction to add the next time we have a war game."
"True," Luna replied, staring at the happy couple and their friends, "but for right now let them enjoy their victory. We'll tell them about the war game later and then we'll see how far they can get before the game officially starts."
Twilight and Cadence sighed, but they knew what was to come if the Changelings were accepted into the war games; it would give the four Princesses an extra foe to best when the time came. |
Remnant | pre | Dash turned towards Rarity with a perplexed expression. "The day? Rarity... it's really too much."
The unicorn shook her head before pushing Dash onto the carriage. "Sweetie! It's your day! Now go and have fun; do not think any of this!"
"Bu-"
"I won't hear anything of it!" Rarity proclaimed while pushing Dash forward.
Stumbling into the carriage, Dash sighed before she heard the door shut behind her. She looked out the window and waved hesitantly to Rarity who beamed towards her. A sharp pull signaled that the carriage was starting to move. Quickly, she sat herself down in the corner. The inside was designed with a crimson red tapestry, and bright gold stripes in between. In the middle stood a table in faded black color, with small hinges to put glasses on. The cushions had a pearl white color with a velvet fabric. Dash leaned back resting her head on the wall behind her. Closing her eyes, she let her mind wander. I feel like I have seen the driver before, but where? she thought, before opening her eyes and watching as the town drifted past her.
A careful smile came to Dash's lips as she spotted a couple of ponies sitting on a bench, carefully nuzzling each other. Just like Fluttershy and Caramel did when she caught them in the woods. Caramel just shrugged it off with a smile, but Fluttershy almost died of embarrassment. He was her first proper coltfriend; when the topic came up at one of their get-togethers, Fluttershy had spun stories about old coltfriends. They first started innocent, sounding like nothing more than a schoolyard crush, but as time went by, her stories had become a little more extravagant, sounding like something that could be found in a romance novel. And right before she met Caramel, she was so lost in her made up stories that she almost ignored the colt completely. Dash laughed; Fluttershy had almost broken into tears as she told Dash she had never been with anypony before, and how sorry she was for lying about it. All she had wanted was to fit in...
It wasn't like that with Pinkie, though; she strutted around like a proud peacock once she got her pink hooves on Mac, almost as if she was rubbing it in Applejack's face. By the looks of it, though, the farmpony was more than okay with her brother finally finding somepony. But it raised the question to why they got together: Mac was the complete opposite of Pinkie, calm and subtle. Pinkie had explained in her own way that he made her relax; they rarely spoke much, and it was nice for a change for her to just be calm. Applejack was swelling with pride once she told Pinkie that she was the one who pushed Mac to ask her out. The poor stallion had been so nervous that he had lost his ability to speak, more so than usual when he told Applejack that he had a crush on her friend. The day after, Sweet Apple Acres had been in chaos after Pinkie Pie had woken them all up with a party especially for Applejack; Pinkie wanted to properly thank her for what she had done. Dash chuckled. Applejack had been pretty mad, as Pinkie almost gave Granny a heart attack from the sudden wakening. But, as always, Pinkie was hard to stay mad at for long.
Applejack was a chapter of her own; she proclaimed that she had not time for such things. But apparently she had something with a stallion named Lucky Clover. He was a somewhat careful stallion, always mindful of others. Dash put a hoof to her muzzle. What is it AJ had said? 'Ah might not 'ave time for a relationship, but, gosh darnit, Ah'm a mare an' a need some rough-housing now an' then.' Dash had seen them on some of the get-togethers, and, no matter how much Applejack insisted it wasn't something serious, the giggles and small nibbles on his ears, the long stares when he rose to get something for them, and the fact that Applejack took some days off to be with him said otherwise.
Rarity had found Hoity Toity. She seemed happy enough. Dash found it a bit strange that he wanted to keep it a secret for so long. She sighed; for some reason, Hoity made her ill at ease, and an uncomfortable feeling rose every time his name was mentioned, like there was something she was supposed to know. Dash sighed again. Rarity seemed so happy about it all, getting together with somepony, sharing everything with him. Just like a friend, but more.
Dash snorted. Who would bother with that? she thought while resting her head on the table. She bit her lip, But who am I to talk? I'm going down the same road. She banged her head down at the wooden surface, before looking out the window and up to the sky. Why must everything be so damn complicated? I'd much rather be up there flying right now, instead of going to this stupid date. She never would have believed that she would get into the romantic scene before Twilight. If anything, she was sure to be the last by a wide margin. Leaning back against the wall, Dash stared at the waved pattern of the roof. I wonder what she's doing now? She smiled, thinking back to their nights of reading together, how at ease everything felt when they were together. The two of them just sitting back on their pillows, giggling at jokes made at the author's expense. And that one night when they sat together under the blanket, sharing the same book, reading the same lines over and over again because they kept interrupting each other. Dash sighed. That night was special. She never felt at ease around anypony that close, but with Twilight it was something else. Maybe it was her smell, or even just her calm nature, that made it so easy to accept the closeness of it all...
Dash sighed. Again. I really need to talk to her, maybe tomorrow? Dash felt her eyelids getting heavy as she finished her thought, before she felt the world slip away from her, followed by darkness.
~~~~
She was gently awoken by the motion of the carriage slowing down to a halt. Rubbing her hooves in her eyes, Dash struggled to adjust to the sudden bright wave that beamed in as the door was opened. We're here already?! The thought screamed at her; she jolted up and fumbled with her mane, making sure nothing flared out from it. Halting her motions, she thought, What are you doing Dash? Since when do you care how you look? Taking a deep breath, she stood up and stepped towards the opening.
Dash cocked her brow up as she saw the drivers head poke in through the opening, with a devious grin on his face. He chuckled towards her and said. "Yer a li'll nervous, aren't yeh, lass?"
She scoffed towards him, and pushed herself forward while she growled at him, "No, and not like it is any of your business if I were!" Dash glared at the unicorn in front of her. "Who are you anyway? I know I've seen you somewhere," she said while poking a hoof at his chest.
"Rainbow?"
The Pegasus turned, and her cheeks quickly bloomed bright red. Soarin' was standing only a few feet away. His hair was combed slightly to the side, glistening softly in the midday sun from the gel he had used to fix it. He had a dark blue jacket adorned with buttons, each shaped like the Wonderbolts logo. From his neck hung a black tie, loosely knotted, held in place by a golden clip to the white shirt. Behind him stood a throng of paparazzi, all scribbling notes and taking pictures of Rainbow.
He smiled curiously while looking at the driver. "What did he do?" he said and pointed.
"I don't know; he's just familiar and way too curious." She turned to finish her questions, but stopped at what she saw. In front of her stood a brown earth pony with a handlebar mustache, his yellow eyes shifting from her to Soarin'. Dash stared perplexed for a while before slowly saying, "I-I... sorry, I was sure you were a unicorn."
The earth pony nodded, before he said in a deep voice, "Whatever gets you going, Miss. I will be here waiting for you once you are done with your dinner." He bowed slightly and jumped up on the driver cushion of the carriage, leaned back and pulled out a paper.
"I hate to rush you, but I'm famished and the food here is great!"
Dash lingered a little before she turned and made her way over to Soarin', "Y-yeah."
The road in front of the restaurant was made of gray cobblestones, she stepped up on the heightened path and looked around. A red arch was stretched out from the entrance, on the front of it was the title 'Equestria Exquisite Dining', embroidered in delicate golden writing. Under it a crimson carpet was laid out, the velvet fabric tickling softly under her hooves. A strip of wood beneath the walls was painted in a black color, contrasting a little from the gray stones of the pavement. The white themselves walls bathed in the midday sun, gleaming brightly, enclosing the huge windows in a wall of moving light.
He flared his wings as she passed him and turned to the horde of paparazzi; he scowled at them and said. "Please, take a few pictures now, and leave us at peace for the rest of the night." He folded his wings and walked up to the door of the restaurant, he smiled at Dash while opening it. "After you,"
The smell of burnt wick and scented candles tingled in her nose as she entered. It was slowly followed by the delicious smell of the various meals being prepared in the kitchen. The interior of the restaurant had a delicate mix of black and white on the walls; intricate lamps were fastened to the walls together with paintings. From the roof white lamps formed as a circle hung with a good space between them. In the very middle of the room a brazier stood lit, burning strongly, draping the surrounding area in an orange glow that flickered as the fire danced. Throughout the restaurant were little tables of dark wood, each surrounded by white-cushioned chairs.
Dash stood in awe. She had never been in any sort of fancy restaurant, just sometimes flown past them. Thinking back, the fanciest place she had been to was Sugarcube Corner. The food there was great, but it could not compare on visual basis. Her imagination had sometimes given her the thought of being in such a place once she became a famous Wonderbolt, but this place was amazing beyond her wildest dreams. At the end of the rug stood a brown pony dressed in fine black linen cloth, his chest adorned with a white silk scarf tied in an elegant knot. In front of him stood a wooden pillar in light wood, flower petals engraved on the surface in a circling pattern. Dash shifted quickly in place as she felt his eyes rest on her figure, waiting for her to say something.
Soarin' walked up beside her and addressed the pony behind the pillar. "Soarin', table for two, and put all expenses on my tab here." He turned to her a gave a sheepish grin. "I'm very sorry about that outside there. The paparazzi can become a little intense sometimes. But for some reason the paparazzi in Phillydelphia are much more intense; they don't leave you no matter what. Here they at least respect my... our privacy to some degree."
She smiled at him; she was used to attention, and quite frankly relished in it. But this attention made her a little ill at ease. It was not for something awesome she had done, but for just agreeing to go on a date with a Wonderbolt. It would be different when she was the reason for the ruckus, when something was done to deserve it. "It's okay, I'm used to a little attention, and I have my own fanclub y'know." Dash felt her cheeks start to burn as the word slipped from her lips; a little fanclub probably didn't mean anything for a Wonderbolt.
The head-butler scribbled something quickly in the book that nestled on top of the pillar, before nodding and indicating them to follow him.
"Really?!" Soarin' looked at her with amazement while they were guided through the restaurant to a table in the far corner by a waiter. Soarin' leaped forward and intercepted the other stallion, pulled out one of the chairs and waiting for Dash to sit down before he pushed her forward. He quickly sat himself at the other side and looked at her. "That's amazing, tell me more!"
Dash cocked a brow up and stared at Soarin'. "You care about that?" she exclaimed.
He nodded rapidly, like a foal would when faced with something it really wanted as he answered. "Mhm! That's incredibly awesome, nopony knew who I was before I joined the bolts."
She almost let go of a giggle at the sight of this full grown stallion that looked at her like she was the newest wonder in Equestria. Dash was about to reply when a waiter came for their order. She quickly skimmed through the menu and ordered a plate of creamed hay along with a glass of cider. The waiter took the menus and folded them under his jacket, poured some water in two glasses that stood on the table, bowed slightly and left.
Dash grinned sheepishly at Soarin. "I had a period when I went out of my way to get attention for my actions; like saving ponies from danger and such. As I said, I relished in the attention, but my friends thought it went a bit overboard."
Soarin' looked at her with a quizzical stare. "Oh? How come?"
Her cheeks heated up, "I... kinda made sure there were ponies around to see me before I saved somepony... once..." the words passed her lips like poison to her very core.
Soarin' leaned on the table and looked at her. "So what did your friends do?"
Dash took a sip of water before she continued. "Well... you ever heard of Mare-do-Well?"
"Yeah, I remember reading something about her in a paper a while back," he said while nodding slightly.
"That was them." She smiled and stared without aim through the glass she held in her hooves. "They went out of their way and created a mare that could do anything; they made sure to switch around so they do magic, fly and even use the Pinkie-sense."
Soarin' stared at her as if somepony had slapped him with a questionmark. "Pinkie-sense?"
She smiled as her eyes saw the look of complete confusion on Soarin'. "Eh... it can't be explained, it just is. But the important part is that I got a lesson in humility."
A smile drew itself over his lips. "It sounds like your friends care a lot about you"
Dash nodded. "Yeah..." but it wasn't over her friends she felt bad, her guilt was lingering at a little filly. She may have come to her senses thanks to them, but the more she thought about it, the more it dawned upon her that she never had apologized to Scootaloo. After all, Scoots believed in her; she always did. The pegasus felt a void grow in her stomach every time she thought of it. Giving Scootaloo flying lessons was a good start, but she always felt she could do more. The thought of adopting her had crossed her mind, but always shaken off as uncertainty crawled over her questioning her maternal instincts, or just family instincts in general. "But..."
She snapped out of her thoughts, noticing the food being placed in front of them. She smiled quickly at the waiter and took a mouthful of cider. Her lips tugged into a grin as she felt the fruity brew tingle down her throat. She looked at the now half-empty glass and exclaimed, "Almost as good as Applejack's!"
Soarin' gobbled in a big piece of pie while he smiled towards her. "You were saying?"
She blinked at him, not saying a word for a few seconds before her train of thought caught up with what he was hinting at. "Oh! I was just thinking about Scootaloo, the founder of my fan-club. I never got around to apologizing to her..." Dash took a bite of food, and quickly said, "What's up with Spitfire? I never imagined her to be like that," before Soarin' could respond.
Soarin' swallowed a piece of pie with a mouthful of cider and answered hesitantly, "Yeah... Seeing as you will be meeting her again in a few days, it's only fair that you know a little I guess." He turned his eyes and stared at Dash with a face that could only be compared to stone. "I have known Spitfire since we were just small foals, and I can say that a lot of what you witnessed at the gala comes from her childhood." He swallowed and shifted his plate before he continued. "I have lost count on how many nights I have been sitting with her because she was afraid of being alone, or how many times she has awoken me because of her nightmares just to have a safe shoulder to cry on..." He shuddered. "She handles confrontation badly; it gives her a need to prove herself. All of this comes from..." He shook his head. "It's not for me to say... But promise to not think too badly of her, okay?"
Rainbow Dash nodded and they fell into a short silence. After a while, Soarin' shifted the conversation to familiar ground, seemingly wanting to forget the part with Spitfire. All the time while they ate, he sat and listened to her intently when she spoke; even if Dash was unladylike--as Rarity would call it--she didn't mind talking about herself, much like all other mares. The evening dragged on while they enjoyed each other's company; they talked mostly about flying techniques and how Dash always wanted to be a Wonderbolt.
The only interruption was when somepony occasionally came over to the table for an autograph. Rainbow was surprised of how kindly Soarin' took to all the commotion and interruptions. He never once turned away a fan, foal or grown-up. He allowed parents to take pictures of him and their foals without even thinking of it; he beamed up as they asked, almost as eager as them. She sat still and watched. The smile he gave of was something unique; it was genuine, she concluded to herself.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have somepony to be more than a friend with? She thought, before quickly shaking it away. That is something Rarity would say, not me! Her eyes wandered over the room and back to Soarin'. But still...
Soarin' looked at his watch and said, "I'm terribly sorry little ones, but my friend and I must get going." He stood up, placed a hoof of bits on the table as tip to their waiter and made his way over to her and pulled out her chair.
It took Dash a few moments to grasp what occurred, and stood up with a slightly annoyed smile. She didn't know if he just wanted to be nice, or if it was a show he put up for those around, but it was not normal for her to have her chair pulled out for her.
As they made their way out of the restaurant more ponies crowded around, eager to get an autograph or a hoofshake from Soarin'. He gave a few of them autographs and a pat on their shoulder, but started to decline them as they neared the exit. He skipped forward a few paces and held the door open for her with a smile.
Outside the carriage waited for them, with the driver patiently holding the door open. Dash entered and sat herself close to the window at the opposite side. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she felt her body sink down in the fabric. The amount of attention was constricting at times, especially when it wasn't for her; she was just there on the side.
Soarin' leaped in and sat down next to Dash. The interior faded along with the light as the driver closed the door after them. He turned to Dash with a childish grin over his lips. "Ho-boy! Many ponies out here today. I'm really sorry, it's normally not this bad. But I want you to know, I'm having a great time with you," he said, while knocking the roof of the carriage, signaling for them to leave.
She smiled at him and said, "Yeah, so am I. Thank you." Dash closed her mouth and moved her eyes to the other side of the carriage. She did actually mean that. She always thought of dates as boring events, but today was a lot of fun. Her eyes moved to him and rested on his figure. He sat still looking out the other window, smiling at the last of the daylight. Maybe it's time to grow up? she thought to herself, before looking out the window at her side. It was nearing twilight hour, the light started to fade slightly.
The ride was short and uneventful. They sat still, not saying much. Dash looked out the window at the gleaming orange sunset, the very last beams of light before the night would close in. The silence between them didn't feel uncomfortable, but rather odd and yet appreciated. After a while the wagon slowed to a halt and Soarin' sprung up to open the door. He almost leaped out and landed with a thud outside; Dash withheld a giggle and followed him to the door. Looking out, she saw the day slowly turning into night.
Soarin' smiled towards her as he stretched out a hoof to help her out the carriage. As Dash accepted the offered hoof, he said, "Did I mention that you look stunning tonight, Rainbow?"
As she stepped down a tint of red emerged in her cheeks, while murmuring a thank you. The carriage had stopped in front of the Canterlot Gardens; the early night moon bathed the streets before it in a white, almost magical glow. She could see cats crossing the streets while avoiding the light that cast itself from the lanterns down on the road and left huge circles of almost complete whiteness. The creatures of the night slinked themselves through the fences between some of the houses close to the edge, finding their way through various places that would be inaccessible for any creature of lesser grace.
She closed her eyes as she felt the warm night air play with her mane, imagining her previous flight. Dash often flew at this hour. It started out as something she did to burn energy once when she couldn't sleep, trying to find a nice cloud to sleep on instead of her bed. All it took was a turn of the head for her to see Ponyville embraced by darkness; the small sources of light enraptured her. She stayed awake until sunrise, just looking. Now she took a night flight--as she called them--every time she had trouble sleeping, or just needed to think.
"It's a beautiful evening, isn't it?"
She turned and faced him with a smile. "Yeah... I guess."
He walked towards the entrance of the gardens, returning her smile with a big grin. "Come, I got something to show you."
She chuckled at the sight of Soarin' almost tripping in place as he waited for her to get next to him. He joined her as she passed him, walking beside her with a big smile drawn on his lips. Dash took a deep breath as she felt a wing carefully nestling itself on her back, the sudden touch catching her by surprise. She closed her eyes, feeling his wing tapping on her back with every step taken. She forced away the wish to shrug it off; the closeness felt strange, yet comforting.
The Canterlot gardens basked in the white, dim light from the moon, giving it all a magical essence. The only hint of noise in the garden that night was the light clacks of their hooves hitting the stones of the walkways, and some chirps from crickets. Huge green walls made from entwined vines towered next to them. A short breath of wind cast itself between the walls, the leaves shifting as it passed, making the walls seemingly move as the light flickered across them. Small white arches hung over the stone path, with vines hanging down from them, which gently brushed their manes as they walked under them. On the ground next to the tiles, long grass stretched itself up towards the sky, with tiny pods of Nightflowers in between.
After a short walk they rounded a corner. In front of them stood a fountain, and a round white table with two chairs of the same color. In the middle of the table stood a set of candles, with tiny flames flickering in the small gusts of the night. Soarin' withdrew his wing from Dash's back and rushed over to pull out one of the chairs for her. She sat down and looked at the dessert placed on the table as she felt her chair getting pushed in place. Two bits of rainbow colored spheres of ice-cream nestled on the plate, and a tall bottle of champagne with two glasses stood next to it. She picked up the spoon and took a small bite. The taste of it was inconsistent, not staying the same for more than a few seconds of the time, going through all sorts of berries and fruit.
Dash swallowed and felt her eyes glimmer as she looked at Soarin'. "Is this real Zapp-apple ice-cream?" she squeaked, while the tastes tingled down her throat.
Soarin' poured some champagne in their glasses, sat down on the other side of the table and smiled at her while he took a bite himself, before he nodded and said, "Yupp! I got your friend Applejack to make it for tonight. She said you loved Zapp-apple, so I thought that ice-cream made from it couldn't be that bad."
Her eyes glimmered while she stared at the plate. "I-it's awesome! Thanks!" she almost growled the words before she threw herself over the plate and began to devour the ice-cream, scooping it into her mouth with greedy motions. Her head jolted back as a freezing sting shot through her forehead. She held both her hooves on her head and winced. "That stings!" Dash slowly opened her eyes as she heard a bellowing laugh coming from the other side of the table; her cheeks flushed into a red color as she licked around her mouth and turned a sheepish grin towards him.
"Here, you have a little..." He took a napkin over his hoof and leaned over, gently wiping her mouth. Soarin' held his hoof still in front of her, he stared at her while a shade of red sprung to his cheeks. Without moving his eyes, he slowly said, "There... much better."
Dash cocked a brow and looked at the napkin in front of her, smeared with Zapp-apple ice-cream. "Gee... thanks, I'm clean now."
Soarin' sat back down with a faint blush in his cheeks. He took a sip of his champagne and smacked his lips before he asked, "Say... if you don't mind me asking, who is this Scootaloo?"
"Why do you ask?"
He smiled at her. "It's the way you said her name. You care a lot for her, don't you?"
She stared at him, taken a bit aback from the question--or more, the truth to it. The flight lessons with Scootaloo and reading nights with Twilight were the things she looked most forward to. She enjoyed seeing the smile on the small filly's face every time they got together, or even just the beaming grin she had whenever she rode on Dash' back.
"Yeah, I do." Dash felt a warm sensation grow in her stomach. When did I become this sappy? she thought before she continued, "She's an orphan down in Ponyville I spend some days with, teaching her how to fly and whatnot, or just... being there for her. I have been wondering about making the whole 'under my wing' official, like... adopting her as my sister."
"What's stopping you?" Soarin' asked with a quizzical expression.
"I don't really know... What do I have to offer her? I have never been good with any of that girly stuff. I have a steady job, but that's it. I have never had any experience with taking care of anypony before," Dash answered, feeling the regret of the words build up in her.
"I think you're wrong," he retorted.
Dash stared at him. "What do you mean?"
Soarin' smiled and pointed a hoof at her. "Do you know what I see? I see a mare that has more to offer a small filly than she might realize. I think you already see her as a sister; you're just a little afraid of taking the last step. But who else is better to teach a small filly about values than the Element of Loyalty herself? I'm certain you would make a very good role-model for her."
Dash snorted a little. "Yeah, if you take away all the times I buck up."
"From what I've heard from you today, you learn from your mistakes. And if you, for some reason, do make a mistake or two, I'm sure she would understand," he quickly offered.
"You think so?" Dash asked.
Getting a quick nod in answer, she leaned back and took a few sips of her champagne. Maybe he was right? Scootaloo would be overjoyed. I might have more to offer, she quickly thought as a smile formed on her lips. Tomorrow, she would be together with Scootaloo again; Dash looked forward to those days more and more. She took a small bite of cream and relished in the calm silence that fell over the garden as they continued their dessert.
The silence was broken by Soarin' clearing his throat and rising up. He moved a little towards the fountain and said to her, "Come, I have something else to show you."
Soarin' led her to the other side of the fountain and picked up a small cage. His lips tugged back into a smile, as he stuck a hoof into the cage. "I did ask a favor from your friend Fluttershy as well." He slowly pulled out the hoof and gently lowered the cage. He sat on the edge of the fountain and stared at a small creature that now nestled on the tip of his hoof. Without moving his eyes from it, he whispered just loud enough for Dash to hear. "Come closer, but be careful; Lunaflies are timid creatures."
Dash slowly closed the gap between her and Soarin', her magenta eyes fixated on the small being that rested on his hoof. Enraptured, she did not notice how close she came to it. Her breath caused its wings to flicker. The Lunafly turned to face her and played gently on her snout with its feelers; she resisted the urge to sneeze as the Lunafly tingled on the hairs on her muzzle. The small creature climbed on to her and flapped out its transparent purple wings in the process, giving Dash a violet tinge to her vision as they covered her eyes. Seeing it so close, she noticed the dark purple pelt on its body with a back that looked like a glass cocoon.
Soarin' moved closer to them and whispered. "They only come out at night, and if you manage to see them just after the twilight hour they will give you a magnificent view." He moved his muzzle close to hers and blew carefully on the creature, causing it to fly off. "Just see now," he said and turned a smile to Dash.
Her eyes followed the Lunafly while it flew away only a few feet, landing on a Nightflower that had sprung to life as the night drew closer. Its dark blue petals spread out in a lotus, and on the tip the color was broken by a black half-moon. The center of it resembled a full-moon, a bright white circle that stood in contrast with the rest. The Lunafly dipped its snout down in the circle and drank the nectar, causing the cocoon on its back to light up with a light violet hue.
Soarin' stood next to Dash and smiled while he looked at it. He chuckled and said, "You know, I never wanted to be a Wonderbolt."
"You... didn't?" Dash's mind never strayed far from the color that danced in front of her, reminding her of something she held close to her heart.
"No. I was never one for fame or glory; I never appreciated the fact that everypony wants to know what you are doing once you are famous. I just wanted to enjoy life."
"Then why did you?" she asked while slowly moving her eyes to him.
"It's my talent; what you're good at isn't always something you desire most," he said, as he smiled, made his way over to the Lunafly and picked it up. He stared at it for a little before gently tossing it up in the air. "I just wanted to float through life, like a butterfly... I guess that's why they fascinate me so much." He moved back next to her and whispered close to her ear, "Watch."
The Lunafly flew up with erratic motions, while sending out a calming tune for the night. The light that embraced it pulsated with the song, going back and forth in intensity. While Dash watched, a shiver went down her spine, causing her to shudder. She quickly felt a wing laying itself on her back, folding around her body. She turned and looked at Soarin', who smiled towards her; he must have thought that she was freezing. A shade of red sprung to her cheeks; the shudder was not from cold, but from the sheer beauty of the tune played by the Lunafly. It reminded her of when Twilight had to put the Ursa Minor to sleep when it had been dragged into town by Snips and Snails. She swallowed as she felt Soarin' move closer, wrapping his wing around her even tighter. It didn't feel great to have him this close, but it felt good. But Rainbow didn't have the heart to tell him that she wasn't freezing. Besides, as much as she hated to admit it, tonight had been fun. Not normal fun, but--she giggled inside her mind--as Rarity would have said it, 'Delightful'.
Soarin' made her feel different, appreciated in a new way. All other stallions treated her like she was just another of the guys, but Soarin' made her feel... special. Her heart skipped a beat as she caught herself leaning over on his neck; it was almost constricting, followed by a warm tingle in her stomach.
He whispered softly to her, "Listen... the Lunafly sings to the others, calling them here for the blossoming of the Nightflowers."
She raised her head a little, looking out over the field in front of them. "I don-" Dash halted her sentence as small orbs of violet light started to emerge over the grass. First a few, then they appeared everywhere, pulsating in rhythm with the tune that grew in intensity, as some of them flew in erratic movements over them. The motions made it seem like they danced together in the night. As more Lunaflies arrived, the grass in front seemed to be put under a blanket of tranquility with small orbs of purple flickering light placed on top.
"I-it's awesome... no, it's beautiful," she said, without her eyes leaving the sight in front of her.
Feeling a hoof touching her chin, she turned her head and looked into his light blue eyes; they sparkled with a brilliant luster in the dim light from the Lunaflies and the moon. He slowly lifted her head up and pressed his lips to hers. Dash felt a warm sensation ripple through her body. Her eyes almost glared at his, only to be met with two eyelids. As the surprise of his action faded, she slowly closed her eyes and returned his approach. For a short while, she felt as time stood still while standing in the warm embrace. His wings enveloped them, creating a place just for them, where nothing else but this moment mattered. |
Remnant | Ties | Ties
"Tha new me looks sassy, an' she got a bite to 'er as well."
"Stop it!"
"Ouch! Wha' was that for?!"
"Well, for starters... stop eyeing yourself in a dress, and, secondly, how come you have never taken me on such a date? We've been married for almost six hundred years."
"Ah... c'mon love! Don't be like that; yeh know I love yah. Besides, she's not me, just tha continuation of tha Loyalty line."
*~*~*~*
Dash was awoken by a nuzzle on her cheek and a small whisper of "good morning" in her ear. She squinted as she felt the morning sun glare in through a window; after a moment, her eyes adjusted and scanned the room. It had light blue walls, with one big window in the middle of the wall opposite the bed. The roof was of an egg-white color, and a chandelier made from glass crystals hung in the center. On the wooden floor stood some simple furniture made of dark oak. She tugged the blanket and dove under it, making a cocoon, enveloping herself in complete blackness.
"I made breakfast."
Dash answered with something that only could be interpreted as a grunt, "Wha..?" quickly followed it.
She pulled down the blanket and poked her head out. Soarin' stood next to the bed in blue pajama-shirt with yellow bolts spread out in a pattern on the fabric. He gave her a goofy smile and placed a tray over her in the bed. The breakfast consisted of a hay sandwich and a glass of juice. On the left part of the tray a warm pie was cooling off.
He chuckled and said, "I have never been much of a cook, but I do know how to make pie, so I hope at least that tastes good."
Dash pushed aside a strand of her mane and cocked a brow towards him. "You're wearing pajamas?" she noted while stifling a laugh.
He stretched a hoof out at her and said, "Not just any pajamas! They're the official Soarin' pajamas from the Wonderbolt merchandise shop! Just feel how soft this is!"
She hesitantly touched the fabric and smiled at him. "Heh, it is soft."
Turning her attention to the food in front of her, she took a bite off the sandwich, quickly feeling a burning sensation in her mouth. As she chewed the spice scorched her tongue, and the lumpy paste seemed to grow in her mouth.
Suppressing the thought of furrowing her nose she turned and asked "Hey, what time is it?"
"A little after eight, why?" Soarin' answered quickly with a smile.
Dash swallowed the contents in her mouth and jumped out of bed; the food burned and sent shivers down her spine as it traveled down her throat. "Shoot! I gotta go!"
"Oh... already?" Soarin' responded with a heavy voice.
"Yeah, I promised Scootaloo I would come early today," Dash replied as she pushed past Soarin' through the bedroom door.
Dash rushed down the stairs and leaped through the kitchen. It was built in the same design as the bedroom: oval with light blue walls. The smell of burnt food played in her nose; upon the counter a few pieces of blackened loaf rested on a plate. Light wooden furniture stood at the side of the kitchen, placed so that when one ate breakfast there they would see the sunrise over the rooftops of the city through a small window. The kitchen wall was right next to the street, making the sound of the morning buzz easily audible in the room.
She opened the kitchen door and felt the morning sun wash over her fur. She flared her wings and bent her legs, tensing every muscle in her body. Her whole form was like a spring ready to bounce at any second. The tension in her muscles tightened as they got warmer.
"Wait!"
The voice shrieked through her trance, causing Dash to only launch her rear end. After almost crashing face first into the ground, she folded her wings and snapped her head back, spying Soarin' fumbling down the stairs.
"What?" she yelled, irritation weighing down her voice.
A shade of red emerged in his cheeks as he reached the door and said to her, "I was just wondering when I could see you again..."
"Tomorrow, I guess? I'm meeting Spitfire then, at least. I assume you will be there?" she offered hastily.
"Well, yeah..." Soarin' muttered in response.
Dash looked at the blue Pegasus that stood in the door, with his ears now flopped back and eyes drilling a hole in the ground. A turmoil appeared in her stomach as she realized what the question entailed. Sure, she did have a good time last night, even went home with him. The thought of sharing everything with somepony scared her, but Soarin' gave some sort of comfort on those thoughts. Dash had never been told what falling in love felt like, nor did she care much to learn how it felt. Being able to trust somepony of the opposite gender completely must be part of it, she reasoned to herself. What little she had heard from Rarity was something she didn't really believe; the white fashionista had a tendency to exaggerate on this sort of things. And when it came to love she had said something about the pony in question would give off an aura that just you could see, nothing around him would matter, and his embrace would be all that counted.
Dash laughed to herself at the thought. Still... another night with Soarin' wouldn't hurt. His gentle nature, how easily he got embarrassed and how he stumbled when he got nervous. All those things made him... cute, and maybe a little handsome.
Dash leaned forward and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Hey... thanks for last night..." She felt her cheeks burn and raised a hoof to scratch the back of her head. "I... wouldn't mind doing it again sometime." She turned and flared her wings; with a glare she said, "Don't tell anypony I just did that."
With a leap she was up in the air; a grin appeared over her face seeing Soarin' beam up from the little gesture. Dash sailed away on the currents that rushed between the gates of Canterlot, passing market stalls that were being opened in different manners. Some required just sliding a wooden plate to the side while others required to open up locks, put out posters and set out merchandise for display to lure the many customers of the day in. The closer to the landing platform she got, the louder the common buzz of the city grew. At its worst it was almost like a beehive; no distinct sounds, just a loud buzz.
Dash furrowed her brows and looked up as she glided forward. The Royal Guard was patrolling over Canterlot. She grumbled for herself, wishing that she could pick up speed to get to the outer area of Canterlot, where the flight platform was located, more quickly, but seeing the guards around made it impossible to do so.
Regulations in Canterlot required all pegasi to fly in a slow pace and, if it could be avoided, stay clear of the air space above the city entirely. It were to be kept clear for scheduled flights and emergency transportation such as ambulance or royal duties. Normally, if you broke the flight rules, nothing would happen; you would get a stern talk and then be sent on your way again. But if for some reason the guards saw it necessary they all had a grounding spell; it forced a pegasus' wings to clasp to their sides, rendering them unable to fly. This solution wasn't perfect; after a few unfortunate accidents with Pegasi getting injured upon impact with the ground, thanks to an over-eager application of the spell, the unicorns made a staff to attach to the armor of the pegasus guards that allowed them to levitate the affected equine.
An arch of white stone greeted her as she reached the entrance to the landing platform. Her hooves touched the warm cobblestones and clacked as she walked through the arch. The hallway leading to the area designated for takeoff curved away into multiple paths, each leading to a different zone. Dash swerved to the right, trotting down under the sign that read 'Ponyville'.
Dash raised a hoof fending off the glaring sun as she entered the outside area for flying. On the ground was painted an enormous red circle, with a mix between orange and white inside it, and at the very center the mark of the sun goddess was emblazoned. Right next to the center a black pole stood with two lights, one red and one green, to signal when it was clear to take off. The outer area of the landing platform was decorated with bright green grass and a few trees, with benches placed in the cooling shadow for anypony that needed a rest after a long flight.
While standing in line, waiting for the clearance to take off, Dash spotted a familiar gray mare with a golden mane that shone brightly. Ditzy was gathering up few papers that riddled the ground from her latest crash. After she had picked up the mess, she turned and apologized to a stallion who stood near her before she started to walk away. Dash couldn't help but to smile towards her; everypony knew what Ditzy was doing in Canterlot during this time of the year, at least everypony from Ponyville.
Right after the birth of her daughter Dinky, Ditzy's mother fell ill with a sickness rendering her unable to walk, so Ditzy had used all her savings to buy her mother a spot in Canterlot's finest hospital. She was still paying for her to stay there. She always visited her mother a couple of times a month, but around this time she stayed longer for her mother's birthday. Seeing how the gray mare struggled to make ends meet, while having only the post office job, the mayor made a fundraiser for Ditzy, gathering bits for the downpayment on their house. Dash smiled, remembering Ditzy's face once the whole town surprised her. Probably for the first time in her life, she looked straight ahead, focusing both her eyes at the crowd gathered outside her house, and, for the first time since the birth of her daughter Ditzy, cried, thanking everypony for their generosity.
Dash watched Ditzy run into town; she swallowed, a lump growing in her throat. A shadow lingered in the doorway, a grey Pegasus with the same color on his mane as her own. As quickly as the shadow appeared, it vanished like dust in the wind. Just like he had done earlier from her life, just vanished...
Dash snapped out of her thoughts hearing her name being called up, she placed herself in on the mark of Celestia and stared at the red light, tensing every muscle in her body, strung like a spring waiting for it to turn green. With a loud ping the light switched color and she shot herself away, batting up a huge cloud of dust in her wake. Hearing the coughs from under her, she grinned as big as her mouth allowed.
The wind whipped through her mane. Her smile grew bigger as she felt the rush she had been longing for since the day before. Crashing into a few clouds she completely diminished them. Canterlot quickly faded behind her as she upped the speed of her flight. Under her, she saw the train going between Ponyville and Equestria, spewing grey smoke as it chased forward. She dove down as she spotted a green mire filled with lakes of murky water here and there. With her hoof, she brushed the tufts of grass, feeling the coarse sprouts swat upon her fur. The blue Pegasus that soared over the ground like a bolt was the only sign of life upon this wasteland; even with all the water that resided here, not a single creature was to be seen, and with the layer of thick fog it looked like a place no pony would be able to live. Even so, it was rumored that an old race of ponies lived here that somehow managed to live out of what little resources that was to be found. The water in this area had been polluted by creatures venturing here at the end of their lifespan; for reasons unknown, the animals decided to drown themselves. Each race had its own lake so that the gasses created from it weren't only held at one place; rather, they spread around, killing everything else and slowly turning the lush green area into a land of famine.
It was on trips like this that she felt alive, alone with her thoughts. As she flew forward the turmoil in her stomach grew; the feeling from the platform lingered even as she tried to enjoy her flight. It had been with her since the gala, just not this strong; the shadow of a certain pegasus and the action of a unicorn sat sharply in her memory.
Trees grew at the edge of the mire, signaling that a traveler would have passed the land where no creature lived, or marking their entry to it. The area on the other side stood in stark contrast of the mire. Instead of murky waters, travelers were met with a sight of crystal clear lakes which the rays of the sun played on, gleaming off in a warm welcome to any creature that would venture here. The grass wasn't coarse, but soft, as if it was inviting you to lie down and relax while enjoying the warmth of the green valley. Here, creatures were in abundance, flocking over the fields in packs or traveling alone. As if a mutual treaty between carnivores and herbivores had been created, not a single animal seemed afraid of getting near any source of water.
She pushed back the thoughts and let a grin draw itself over her mouth as she spotted the perfect lake; the moment she was over it, she folded her wings to her side and dived. The cold mountain-water enveloped her body as she crashed into it, and after a few seconds she emerged at the surface and laid back so her body dipped in the surface. With her eyes closed she felt the wet fur on her stomach being heated by the warmth of the day, while her wings were spread out below her in the cold of the lake. She shuddered in delight; the contrast of temperatures gave her a unique feeling.
Lifting up a hoof, she found her herself smiling as her eyes followed a drop of water that ran down her fur. She moved it slightly to the side, letting the sun gleam through the pearl of liquid that dribbled over her. Dash couldn't shake the feeling she had of doing this before; she knew something would happen soon, just not what specifically. Shaking the thought away, she let her hoof fall in the water causing a faint mist to douse her face.
A frown grew on her face. Rarity had arranged a get together this afternoon at the spa of all things. But seeing that it was Rarity it was no surprise; after all, she had to keep her fur posh. She would probably want to hear everything that happened last night. Dash snickered at herself as she mimicked the white unicorn's voice in her head. 'Darling, do tell, what happened last last night?' She shrugged and continued to drift lazily in the lake.
She submerged herself one last time and leaped out of the lake. Her wings were cooled down to such a point that it almost stung with every stroke of her them, just enough to give her that extra kick as she dived over the vast green landscape dodging thin trees and bushes as she flew.
Dash grinned as she passed the white-tipped mountains that boxed in the green valley. Yesterday's events had sparked something in her: a sense of accomplishment she had never felt before. Her decision was final, and the more she thought about it the better it felt. The adoption of her number one fan. With the support of her friends nothing could go wrong. Sure, she wasn't the best at this family stuff, but being a good role model was something she could do pretty well. It couldn't be that much different, could it? She dove again, touching the snow briefly with her hoof before shooting up into the air again. She closed her eyes and imagined the smile on Scootaloo's face once she told her about this.
She opened her eyes again, and her grin disappeared. First there was a certain unicorn she needed to confront. The uneasy feeling she had had in her chest since the gala; the feeling that wouldn't go away no matter how much she focused on different things. The same sorrow she had been feeling for many years after her father left her; the same pain that pierced her heart at the platform.
Dash never knew why her father left. He just did. She sometimes woke at night after dreaming about that day, the day her father stood in the doorway of their house whispering a quiet goodbye and sorry to the filly he left behind. He was the reason she had such a hard time letting anypony close. She swallowed; when she finally did let somepony close, she had left as well. Dash clenched her teeth and pressed back the water welling up in her eyes. Twilight had a reason, and, unlike her dad, Dash knew exactly where she was.
As Ponyville drew closer over the horizon, the familiar colors and shapes started to spring forth. She flew straight for the library, passing by Rarity's shop and Sugarcube Corner in a flash. Dust whirled as she landed on the road; she waited for it to settle and took a deep breath.
Dash approached the library; the large hollowed tree towered over her in the sun, draping the green grass around it in a black shadow. The leaves on the branches crackled as they fluttered in the wind. Small bugs sat still on the walls, basking in the warmth of the day. At the end of the road a red door was embedded to the tree, the golden hinge of it gleamed in contrast with the rest of the building.
She stared at the door for a short while, contemplating what she would say once Twilight came out. Her neck tingled with warmth while she held her hoof in mid-air. Twilight had done just like her dad and left her alone the moment it became difficult, alone and wondering why. She felt her chest contract as she remembered the faint whisper of goodbye from her father. Like that was going to make up for the fact that he left. Dash forced away the painful lump that started to grow in her throat like a balloon and jabbed her hoof forward, getting a loud thud in response. Only a few seconds later, annoyed grunts and the sound of hooves hitting wood could be heard inside, followed shortly by the scraping from some locks being opened.
Twilight emerged from the doorway, squinting at Dash with a perplexed expression. Her violet eyes had huge bags of dark fur under them, and her mane shot strains of hair in all directions, almost giving Twilight a purple halo as the sun glared into the dark library through the messy mane.
Dash forced an awkward smile. "Hi..."
Twilight furrowed her brows and glared. "What are you doing here?"
Cocking a brow, Dash snarled, "I came to talk to you, and what's with the attitude?"
"Like you wouldn't know..." the unicorn said with a heavy voice, as she started to slide the door shut.
Dash slammed her hoof on the door and stared at Twilight. "No, I don't know! And I'm not leaving until you tell me!"
Twilight's ears flopped back while her eyes bored a hole in the ground. "Let go of the door, Rainbow."
"Are you afraid that just because I went on a date I'll stop hanging out with you?! Is that it?!" Dash felt her eyes burn while she glared at her friend.
Twilight turned her eyes at Dash with a defiant stare. "No! You wouldn't understand anyway!"
"Then what?! Help me understand!" Dash bellowed.
Twilight hissed back, "No! And you know what, you don't deserve to know!"
Dash snarled at Twilight, "Have you gone insane?! I didn't run away, you did!"
"So?!"
"So? That's all you have to say?! Did you get hit on the head with one of your stupid big books or something?! I have no idea what's going on and you try to put the blame on me?!" Dash shot her wings out with the response.
"You hurt my feelings, alright?!" Twilight growled. "I helped you get that appointment with the Wonderbolts, and all you do is to go get a date!"
"Your feelings? Did you ever stop for more than two seconds and think about how it felt for me?!" Dash yelled and clenched her jaws together.
"Felt for you? Aren't you awesome and all that stuff? Can you get hurt? I didn't think you could; you're too absorbed in yourself to be hurt or have proper feelings!" Twilight said, as she mimicked Dash with a flex of her hooves.
"You're wrong! Watching you run away hurt... hurt more than I can describe..." Dash felt the lump in her throat return, painfully pressing inside her and making her voice crack. "How could you...?" She tilted her head down, letting her tears fall from her chin, making dark circles on the ground.
A deafening silence occurred between them; only their breaths could be heard, amongst the gust that entwined itself in the leaves of the trees scattered around in Ponyville. Time passed as Dash sat on the ground, trying to contain her sulks, flinching every time one escaped her lips. After a few intakes of breath, an audible gasp came from Twilight.
Twilight pushed forward and lifted Dash's head with her hoof. "Rainbow... why are you crying?"
Dash blinked away the veil of water in her eyes and looked back at Twilight's violet eyes. Her voice came as a hoarse whisper, "You left me... just like he did... Why would you do that?" Dash felt every muscle in her body tremble as she slumped down. She jerked her head away from Twilight's hoof and wiped away the rivers that ran down her cheeks away. "I thought..."
Before she could continue she felt a pair of hooves embrace her, Twilight whispered with a shaken voice. "I... I didn't think..."
They sat in each other's embrace for a good while, not saying anything. Dash felt Twilight's hoof run up and down her mane. The tension she had carried in her body since the gala ebbed away with each sob that jolted through her body. As if her body moved on its own, she clasped her hooves around Twilight and pressed her muzzle harder into the purple fur, letting out muffled sobs.
Twilight leaned down and whispered, "Would you like a cup of tea?"
Twilight grabbed hold of Dash and guided her towards the red bench that stood by the side of the tree and disappeared inside.
She sat down with a sigh, wiping away tears that trickled down her chin. Dash leaned back and closed her eyes, her mind falling back to the last weeks: the feeling she had gone with all this time, the feeling of abandonment. The void in her stomach slowly disappeared as the minutes passed, and her limbs felt unusually light as the tension slipped away from her body. Her ears picked up the sound of ponies walking by on the road that went past the library and continued into Ponyville. Some stopped and assumingly looked at the blue pegasus that sat alone on the red bench. One side of her mouth pulled back into a half smile. Right now, Dash did not care if ponies looked at her; she had a sense of relief washing over her and nothing could take that away right now.
She slowly cracked her eyes up as she heard the sound of cutlery being placed in front of her. Twilight poured some colored liquid in the two cups that stood ready and lifted them up with a violet-hued glow.
Accepting the cup floating in front of her, she smiled weakly. "I-I don't know what came over me, Twi--"
"Don't..." Twilight said as she sat down next to Dash.
"Don't what?"
"Don't say that you're sorry... or anything like that. I'm the one who should be sorry... I panicked and ran away from a tough situation, which obviously was something I shouldn't have done. I didn't realize how much it would upset you..." Twilight turned towards Rainbow, her features were drawn and pulled together in a stern frown as she continued, "I'm truly sorry. Can you forgive me for being such an idiot?"
"Of course I will; everypony can panic now and then... Just promise you won't do it again," the blue pegasus said before taking a sip of the tea.
Dash let go of a hum while she felt the soothing warmth of the tea tingle down her throat. A careful smile tugged on her lips as she felt the taste of cinnamon and other herbs dance on her tongue. It was the same brew Twilight had made them on their first reading night. She had heard something about a tea that soothed a stressed mind, and, seeing as she had been under a lot of stress that week, Twilight had decided to try it out. Dash had always wondered how a smart pony like Twilight could have such trouble following the recipe for a simple tea; the first attempts had been a disaster. After the whole evening with her nose stuck in a cookbook, she finally managed to get it right, just like now.
She turned to Twilight and continued, "Why did you panic, though? It wasn't like I told you anything that'd cause your world to crash down."
"Well..." Twilight dragged her hooves through the grass, before quickly shaking her head. "Never mind. Tell me, how did your date go?"
Dash felt her cheeks burn. "I-I don't wanna talk about it."
"Oh?" Twilight exclaimed with a faint smile curling at her lips.
"It's just... he's a decent guy and all that, but he just seems so... happy. In a childish sort of way, though," Dash answered, waving her hoof in dismissal.
They sat still and enjoyed their tea in the sun, not saying anything at all. A gust cast itself over the plains in front of the library causing the leaves to whisper a subtle welcome. The smell of the tea rose and entwined itself in the wind, tingling softly in her nose, not too strong, just as a reminder that it was there with the smell of the flowers that followed the gust. In a bush nearby, crickets chirped their songs; joined with coos of the birds, it painted the perfect spring morning. Dash smiled to herself; this was exactly what she had missed: being able to sit in silence without it being weird. She leaned her head back, feeling the sun warm up her wet coat. Dash turned and opened her eyes again as she heard Twilight clear her throat.
"Rainbow... if you don't mind me asking... what did you mean by 'You left me like him'?" Twilight said as she fixed her gaze at Dash.
Dash spun the cup between her hooves and said hesitantly, "I'd rather not talk about it..."
Twilight rested a hoof on Rainbows shoulder and smiled reassuringly. "Are you sure? I did something to upset you, Rainbow. I know what it was, but help me understand why. I only want to help anyway that I can."
A sigh escaped her lips and she swallowed. "Fine..." Dash turned to face the sun. "You know how I never talk about my father?"
"Yes?" Twilight quickly nodded.
"Well, I don't know when it was exactly, but a few months after the Equestria Games judge was in Cloudsdale..." She swallowed, struggling to keep her voice from breaking. "I came home one day, having just aced the flight speed test; I was super excited about it and wanted to tell my dad." A tear trickled down her cheek as she swallowed, "But once I got home... I found him standing in the doorway, whispering a goodbye... that's the last time I saw him."
"I..." Twilight exclaimed while putting a hoof over her muzzle.
"Who does that to a foal? I was Scootaloo's age for crying out loud! And with my mom gone... he left me as a filly to fend for myself alone!" Dash felt her hooves shake as she clenched her teeth together, feeling streaks of water flowing down her cheeks. "I was just a foal, dammit! How could he..."
Twilight laid a hoof on Dash's shoulder. "I get it; you don't have to explain anything more to me." Her eyes got a veil for them while she continued, "If it is any comfort, I promise that I will never put you through such a thing again."
Dash smiled weakly towards Twilight and nodded. An appreciated silence grew over the library yard again, letting only the faint chirp of the birds nestling in the branches above sing through. Dash's ear flicked as the short snores of a sleeping dragon joined in on the morning choir.
"I'm going to adopt Scootaloo..." Dash said while grinning at her own reflection in the colored liquid in her cup, breaking the silence.
Twilight sprayed the contents of her mouth forward, creating a mist in front of her. She turned and exclaimed to Dash, "You're what?!"
"I'm ad--"
Twilight put a hoof up. "No, I heard you, I just find it... odd. What made you decide this?"
Dash took a deep breath and chuckled. "Why not? I'm spending all my free time with her, anyway; we are more or less like sisters." She lifted her head up and felt the warmth tingle on her fur.
Twilight took a sip of her tea and responded, "It's a huge responsibility, Dash, have you ever thought about that? As it is now, you don't have to make sure she has food or anything like that. Now you're just there whe--"
"I know, Twilight... I know how it is not having anypony to rely on." Dash swiped away a tear and smiled towards Twilight. "I don't want her to grow up like me, having nopony around, nopony to turn to if it gets difficult, growing resentful and unable to let anypony truly close... She deserves better, Twi, and I can give it to her."
"But are you sure you're up to the task?" Twilight quickly asked.
Dash snorted. "You managed to take care of a dragon; I'm sure I can manage a filly."
"It's a bit different..." The unicorn answered with a wry smile.
Dash rose and flared her wings. "I'm the best flier in Equestria, and soon the best role model and sister ever! You just wait and see!"
"As long as you're sure about it..." Twilight said, with a hint of reluctance weighing in her voice.
"I am." Dash grinned.
Closing her eyes, she leaned her head down a little; it had been a long time, too long. Dash opened one of her eyes and turned to face it at Twilight, "Say... could we read together again soon?"
Twilight hesitated and bit her lip while her eyes focused away from Dash, after an audible sigh she answered "Sure, I'd love to."
"It doesn't have to be at once; just so I have something to look forward to again," she said, still with only one eye turned towards Twilight.
Twilight took a deep breath and huffed, "Say in a few days?"
"Awesome! See you tonight at the spa, then!"
With a strong bat of her wings, she took off into the air and made haste to the orphanage. Dash felt an inner warmth while she flew forward; Ponyville passed like a fast blur.
Seeing the orphanage rising in the distance, she grinned at the little orange dot that sat and waited for her at the stairs. The house had an almost black color on its walls, and the windows had a bright red color on their frames that matched the color of the huge wooden door to the entrance. A cloud of dust rose as she landed; before it could settle, Dash got tossed backwards and felt something cling onto her neck as she tumbled backwards.
"You're here!" Scootaloo said with a big smile etched in her face.
"Of course I'm here, Squirt. Ready for some fun?" Dash said, patting Scootaloo on the head.
"You bet! I've been waiting for this the whole weekend." Scootaloo jumped over and headed to a pile of gear that consisted of a purple helmet and four orange kneepads.
"Say... Scoot, would you like to ride on my back today? Y'know, just fly and relax?" Dash asked while looking at Scootaloo, as she struggled to put on the kneepads.
"Really? Can't we just train some more? Then I can fly with you, instead of just sitting on your back," Scootaloo said as a perplexed expression came over her.
A careful smile came over Dash's face. "I want to show you something, and wouldn't it be awesome to just have a day with me?"
"A day off couldn't hurt, I guess. We can train extra hard next time!" Scootaloo bellowed while jumping down from the stairs.
The orange filly fumbled towards Dash as she attempted to walk while taking off two of the kneepads she had put on, failing at it halfway, losing her footing and fall chin first onto the ground. She let go of a giggle, quickly stood up and headed towards Dash.
Dash kneeled down and spread her wings; feeling Scootaloo getting in place after some struggle, she smiled. Scootaloo's hooves encircled her neck and clamped a tight hold.
"Hang on tight then, Squirt!" Dash yelled as she jumped up from the ground, following with a strong bat of her wings.
Ponyville quickly faded behind them as they soared upwards in the shifting winds. They broke the sky layer through a gray cloud, creating a thin veil of water on their coats that gleamed in the sun as they flew over the cloudbanks. Rays broke through the clouds and shot down as beams of pure orange.
They flew around for a good time, skipping between clouds and making the puffy balls spin as they passed by. They soared up to the highest layer of the sky and were met with a rare sight. The clouds layered themselves together, entwining into each other to create a landscape of white clouded hills, divided by lines of shadow, with small slits of light between them. Over the horizon the sun rose slowly like a fiery red gem, shooting out an orange glow to engulf the area nearby in a bright light.
Spying a big white cloud that floated a little over the rest, Dash flew higher with a strong flap of her wings. As they landed, small puffs of white floated up around them creating a barrage of tiny cloud fragments. Scootaloo jumped down and rolled around on the cloud instantly after Dash folded her wings.
Looking at the filly, Dash remembered the first time she brought Scootaloo up on the clouds. Never being able to feel the clouds before left Scootaloo terrified; so terrified, in fact, that, no matter how much Dash reassured her that it was okay to jump on them, she refused to let go of the blue wing she held on to.
After a few times it became easier, and, just like now, Scootaloo started to jump off her back instantly after the landed, longing after the feeling of clouds more and more.
"It feels so nice!" Scootaloo said quickly following it with a grin.
Dash looked as Scootaloo ran around on the cloud, taking in the sights below from every angle the filly could. Well, it's now or never... she thought, swallowing heavily.
"Hey... Scoot, come and sit down for a minute, will yah?" Dash said while she flinched at her own uncertainty that weighed in her voice. Dammit... get it together, there's no going back now.
Scootaloo jumped around and landed in front of Dash with a huge grin; she sat down and squeaked. "What is it?"
Dash tapped a hoof on her chin, thinking of how to formulate what she had to say. Taking a deep breath, she slowly spoke up. "Well... I sorta took you up here for another reason..."
Tilting her head, Scootaloo responded, "Oh? What for?"
"It's just... err..." She tapped a hoof to her forehead and swore at herself. "Ok, let's try again. How do you like the orphanage?"
"I like it there!" Scootaloo chirped. "But... sometimes, I wonder how it would be to have a room of my own. Or just have a house to call home..."
Dash looked at Scootaloo while she smacked her lips, as she tried formulating the next question. "Don't you ever feel... alone?"
Scootaloo nodded slowly. "I do, but it's not so bad."
"Oh? What makes you say that?"
"Cause I'm not alone. I have Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to play with all the time." She stood up and walked over to the edge of the cloud and stared down at Ponyville. "And I have you..." Scootaloo turned and smiled at Dash. "I don't know who my parents are, and I may never know, but I know you'd never leave me, so I don't worry so much about it. When I'm not with you or Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle I just have breaks."
Dash smiled and quickly offered, "Well... what if you didn't have those breaks?"
"What do you mean?" the filly said, as she turned to face Dash with a brow cocked up.
"Heh, I been having this crazy thought for some time now, seeing as I'm with you every time I have the chance... I was thinking that maybe... you know..." Dash cursed at hearing herself speaking this awkwardly. "How would you like to move in with me? Like a real sister."
Dash watched as Scootaloo stood frozen in place, staring directly at her. It looked like somepony just had struck her with an electric shock, a little twitch under her left eye was the only thing that moved. Scootaloo's eyes widened as the words slowly dawned on her.
Waving a hoof up in front of her Scootaloo's face, she said in a low whisper, "Scoots... you there?"
A small tear trickled down Scootaloo's chin, she blinked at Dash and stuttered, "I-I... you would...? I mean... really?"
Dash nodded, placed a hoof on Scootaloo's mane and ruffled it. "Yeah. I may not be all that good with this kind of thing, but I want to try being there for you, Scoots." Her lips tugged back into a careful smile. "You've been alone long enough, Scootaloo, don't you think?"
With a strong leap, Scootaloo tackled Dash sending them tumbling down from the puffy cloud. Dash flared her wings and sailed down, landing on a cloud further down.
Still having the small filly clutched around her neck, she chuckled. "You still gotta be careful up here, Squirt." Turning to face the orange orb in the sky, Dash smiled. "One day, though... you won't need to; I'll make sure of that."
Scootaloo pressed her muzzle into Dash's coat, shouting into it. "Thank you!"
With a hesitant motion, Dash folded her wings around Scootaloo, grinning as a warm sensation spread from her stomach and out to the tips of her wings. They sat still like that for a short time, Dash with her head resting on top of Scootaloo's, staring out over the grand cloudbacks of the sky. Light streamed through and shot like beams from the slits between the clouds.
Seeing the birds dance over the clouds, a realisation dawned upon Dash; she felt more happy now than what she did when Spitfire told her that she could try out for the Wonderbolts. The thought of being a pony Scootaloo could rely on excited her more than the thought of being a Bolt. Dash almost let Scootaloo go in panic of this realisation, but instead took a deep breath and let a smile grow on her lips. She let her eyes close and thought of her future as an adult family member and a pony of trust for Scootaloo. The more she thought about it, the less the thought scared her.
Dash opened her eyes and pushed Scootaloo at a hoof-length. "It won't happen at once, though. I will fill out the papers tonight, and then some time after that it will be done."
Scootaloo's small wings swatted in a furious tempo, causing her to float a little above the cloud. Completely ignoring it, she yelled towards Dash. "I can't wait to tell Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle! This is so awesome!"
They sat on the cloud talking about what they would do once they moved in together. The ideas went from building a ramp in the living room, to having sword-fights during the night when they both should be asleep. But the most important subject was how they would solve the living conditions, as Scootaloo couldn't stay at Dash's cloudhouse. After some quick thinking, Dash concluded that they could rent a house down in Ponyville till Scootaloo managed to fly.
Dash looked at the sky, seeing the sun almost right above them. "I'm afraid we have to cut it short here, Squirt. I'm meeting Twilight and the others at the spa."
Scootaloo snorted before bursting out into a laugh. "You at the spa? Isn't that a bit girly for you?"
"It's not like I do all those girly things, but they have a very nice hot-tub there," Dash said as she bumped Scootaloo on the side.
"I'm sure they do," Scootaloo said, as she climbed up on Dash's back with a giggle and tightened her hooves around her neck.
"Hey, I'm the bigger sister, so I'm the one who's supposed to make fun of you," Dash retorted and jumped down from the cloud.
The wind whipped through their manes as they dived towards Ponyville. As the ground drew closer they dodged small birds that flew lazily forward, not expecting a blue Pegasus with an orange filly on her back to almost crash into them. Some of the birds let out a high pitched chirp, before they bolted off in another direction. For them, it was a close call with their certain doom, not just a meeting with a daredevil of a Pegasus.
They landed outside the orphanage and headed towards the stairs, with Scootaloo jumping forward in lead. She disappeared through the door before Dash could say anything.
The door closed before Dash could reach it, giving a loud bang as it shut. Each step she took up the stairs felt heavy, almost like she was walking with weights. Her eyes rested on the handle of the crimson colored door; it seemed bigger than before, almost like it towered over her. She slowly raised her hoof towards the handle, feeling her heart beat faster the closer it got. Dash swallowed hard and yanked the door open.
No going back now; she deserves it, Dash thought to herself as she passed through the doorway in front of her.
The insides of the orphanage had a lively yellow color on the walls, adorned with small red swirls in line down to the floor, which was laid in a gleaming light wood color. The roof was, in contrast with the floor, a dark oak color. Lamps hung from the huge support beams that stretched all the way over from side to side, and on the beams farthest away a sleeping chamber had been made on top.
In the myriad of foals that ran around on the floor giggling loudly as they chased each other for some game they played, Dash spotted Scootaloo jumping up with her small wings buzzing with excitement, causing her to hover for a second before dropping down in front of the head nurse. She ran around in a circle and bolted off towards her room.
The nurse turned and headed towards Dash with a smile. She had luminescent white fur, with a mane and tail of bright red; her eyes had a golden gleam to them and her cutie-mark resembled a baby's rattle. Dash felt a twitch in her right wing as the white pony came closer; she had an uncanny resemblance to nurse Redheart at the hospital where Dash was when she had injured her wing.
As she reached Dash, she stuck out a hoof and smiled a little wider. "I don't believe we have met properly. I am Kindle Heart, but you can call me Kindle."
Dash took the offered hoof and shook it. "Rainbow Dash."
"Scootaloo just told me that you have decided to adopt her. Is that correct?" Kindle asked with a quizzical expression.
Dash nodded quickly and said, "That's right."
Kindle clapped her hooves together and squealed, "You have no idea how glad I am to hear that, Miss Dash. Now, would you like to join me in the office so we can set up some papers for you to fill out?" she finished as she started to walk towards a door that hid in the back of the room.
The little room beyond had little special about it; the floor and roof were the same as the bigger room, and the walls had a boring white color. In the middle of the room a small, round glass table with light grey legs stood, while next to it a couple of light blue pillows with yellow flowers embroidered into them rested on the floor. Dash sat down on one of the pillows and looked as Kindle shuffled through the dark wooden bookshelves in the back of the room, tossing books to the side or sending paper out flying. With a happy little squeak, she nibbled out some papers and turned to give them to Dash, as she sat down on the opposite side of the table.
"Here are the required papers for the adoption of Scootaloo," Kindle said as she slid them over, giving a smile at Dash before she continued, "I've got to say, Miss Dash, that I have been hoping and looking forward to this day for quite some time."
"You have?" Dash responded while she read through the papers.
"Yes. Ever since you started coming here to be with her, it's all she ever talks about. If she isn't out with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, she waits for you to come around." Kindle giggled. "So I think with this around the corner for little Scootaloo, I will see that happy smile of hers every day."
Dash retorted with a laugh, "Yeah, I bet!"
Kindle's face got stern and she leaned over the table, "I assume you have taken into account what a huge responsibility this is? She needs food, a ro--"
"Relax, Kindle," she interrupted, with a smile drawn on her mouth. "I have given it a lot of thought. I know I'm ready for this, and I will be sure to give Scootaloo everything she deserves," Dash said as she folded the papers together and picked it up with her teeth.
The smile returned to Kindle's face, and she stood up. "I'm glad to hear it. I think that that is all you need from me, for now. Be sure to fill those out accordingly and return here once you're done."
Dash and Kindle walked towards the door, crossing paths with dozens of the small foals that ran around yelling happily at each other. At the end of the room, Scootaloo sat on a small white bench and waited by the door with a huge grin plastered on her face.
Kindle tapped Dash on the shoulder and whispered, "I'll leave you two alone. I'm over here if you need me."
Scootaloo jumped up as Dash reached her and bounced up and down. "Are those the papers? Yes! This is so awesome!"
Dash placed the paper on the bench next to them and smiled. "Yupp! Soon it'll official that we're sisters, Scoots!" She ruffled Scootaloo's mane. "But now I gotta go; the others are waiting for me. I'll be back in a few days, though, with these papers all filled out."
Scootaloo turned around and dived under the bench; she returned with an old grey saddlebag. She placed it in front of Dash and said, "I want you to have this."
Dash picked up the bag and looked at it; the fabric was worn like one would expect from a saddlebag of a traveler. At the bottom of one of pouches, a red cluster of crudely done threads was visible, as if a foal had sewn together a hole that had been there. The seams on the rest of the bag were done with a light orange thread, and on the front flap it had the markings of the international mail guild, an envelope encircled by two pegasi.
A stutter escaped Dash's lips, "I-I... I can't take this, Scoots. It's the only thing you have left from your dad."
Scootaloo shook her head. "Take it." She smiled and continued, "I want you to have it; it will be a new start for both of us."
The filly leaned forward and embraced Dash's neck, quickly whispering something barely audible before she let go and started to walk away.
Dash's eyes followed Scootaloo as she walked away. "What was that, Scoot?" she asked shortly after.
Scootaloo's body stiffened like a bolt of lightning went through her and muttered, "Nothing..."
A smile formed itself over Dash's face. She stood up and caught up with Scootaloo. She grabbed hold of her and pulled her close, placing a soft peck on her forehead.
"I love you too..." she said as she felt her eyes well up.
Sitting like that, she felt the filly's mane tingle on her snout. Her eyes wandered down and saw a tear trickle down from Scootaloo's eye. She blinked as she felt moisture run down her own chin.
When did I become this soft? she thought as she sniffled and croaked, "Hey, Scoots... let's make it less sappy when we tell this to the others, alright?"
Scootaloo nodded quickly and answered, "Yeah..."
After some time had passed, they said their goodbyes and Scootaloo ran down to her room. Dash walked over to the saddlebag that lay on the ground and picked it up. The bag was a few sizes too big, but not too big to be used. Picking up the paper, she placed it down in the bag and closed it.
Exiting the orphanage, she felt the midday sun play on her fur, warming her to the very core of her body. She opened her eyes, looked towards Ponyville and chuckled.
It's going to be alright, I know it... she thought to herself as she jumped up and flew away towards the spa. |
Furry Contraband: Of Ice and Ivy | pre | "That's kinda our job, so..."
The young mare took a tentative step, only for her hoof to suddenly slip forward. She let out a grunt, but managed to retract her leg and stay upright. "Whoa be careful! Are you sure you wanna..."
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine!" the unicorn replied. "I can do this." She took another step, this time able to find some stable footing. Her hooves clacking on the frozen bridge, Ivy started to slowly march across, with Fluttershy carefully fluttering close behind.
Rainbow Dash watched the young mare make her way to the other side, and rolling her eyes, mumbled, "That stubborn kid."
After a couple of sudden slips, Ivy was able to find a rhythm and started to pick up her pace. She made sure not to look down on either side of her, instead keeping her eyes locked on the exit ahead. Inch by inch, she thought, breathing in slowly.
"Already halfway across," Fluttershy remarked. Ivy turned her head to look back, surprised to see the chamber's opening so far behind.
With a chuckle, she said, "See? Not too bad." But when she placed her gaze back on the exit, she found something strange on the back wall. It looked to be a shadowy figure; Ivy rubbed her eyes in case it was a trick of the mind. But sure enough, there was some kind of thing at the entrance...and it seemed to be getting bigger. "Uh, Dash? Do you see--?"
A booming roar echoed throughout the cavern, making the water fly off the icicles and rain down upon the trio of ponies. Out of the exit came a pair of large grotesque creatures, causing the entire room to rumble. Their bodies were covered in thick white fur, with a small head with red eyes and a misshapen nose. With every roar, they bared sharp yellow fangs, with bits of their last meal still stuck to their gums. Each creature had a pair of oversized arms which they used to move, although at the moment, they were using them to pound on the ground, shaking the bridge.
Ivy crouched low, doing her best to keep her footing on the smooth frost. Fluttershy's eyes widened, trying to say over the roaring, "Those must be the things I heard further back!"
"And the ones who made the cave collapse!" Dash yelled. "What are those things?"
"Trolls! Mountain trolls!"
A troll began to climb along the walls of the cavern, its strong arms punching holes into the ice to grab onto. The other blocked the exit, snarling at its prey. Then, with a bloodcurdling cry, they began to lob large pieces of rock and snow at the trio before them.
"Whoa!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, narrowly dodging a projectile zooming past her head. "Get back to the entrance!" They quickly turned around, only to find two more trolls waiting for them, readying their own ammunition.
The four mountain trolls furiously tossed boulders of rock and ice at the trio of ponies, who remained trapped right in the center of the chamber. Rainbow Dash stayed in the air, attempting to draw the creatures' fire. Despite the water droplets stinging her eyes, the confident flier nimbly weaved around the zooming missiles, smashing a couple with some well-timed kicks. "Is that the best you smelly freaks can do?" she cried, swatting a rock away. "A filly could throw better than you!"
"Are you trying to get them angrier?" cried a frantic Ivy, who was doing a dangerous dance on the ice. A particularly large boulder shot towards her, whizzing so close to her head, strands of her magenta mane shot backwards with it. The rock thumped against the ice behind her with a crack, and Ivy turned to find a noticeable dent in the bridge. "Uh oh..."
Just a single second--the second it took to turn her head--was enough time for things to go to hell.
A well-placed block of ice banged against the back of Ivy's head, clouding her vision with stars, sending a jolt through her cranium. The mare toppled over and slid across the ice, the back half of her body dangling over the edge. Through her clouded vision, she could see a yellow figure reaching out to her, a muffled voice crying out, "Ivy! Grab my hoof!"
But a grey blur slammed into the figure's side, causing her to fall off the platform and out of Ivy's vision. "Fluttershy!" another shrill voice shouted.
She could hear her own heavy breathing and racing heart amongst the ringing in her ears. As her vision began to clear, she managed to spy a large creature making its way across the ceiling, swinging along the ceiling of icicles like it was a jungle gym. Suddenly, the monster stopped, poised directly over the bridge. It wasn't until the troll let out a roar and began to sway that the mare realized what it was about to do.
It realized its grip, a muscly projectile set to collide with the frail bridge. Ivy's eyes widened, as the troll slowly fell--it least it felt so slow. As he got closer and closer, she could see the tiny details of its ugly maw. The blood-red eyes, the wrinkled face, the pointed teeth ready to gnash her bones. When the colossal arm began to reach for her, there was no more time to think. She sucked in a breath, and let herself slip away.
The troll smashed through the center of the icy bridge, sending thousands of dazzling shards into the air like fireworks. The rest of the platform started to collapse as well, already cracked and weakened by the numerous missiles.
Luckily, the troll's reach was not long enough to grab onto the young pony, and the creature descended into the blackness with a final defeated roar. However, Ivy could feel the wind rushing past her face, her insides being pulled upward as gravity pulled down. Finally, flailing her hooves, she began to scream.
"Rainbow!" Fluttershy shouted, doing her best to dodge the remaining trolls' attacks.
"Yeah yeah I got it!" Dash replied, spying the falling unicorn. The pegasus began to nosedive into the chasm, dodging the projectiles coming her way. Channeling her energy into a quick burst of speed, Rainbow Dash closed the distance between her and the screaming mare.
She first grasped the unicorn's hood, but when she tried to pull, the only thing she found herself holding was the torn hood itself. "Aw crud!" she cried, shooting down again toward the still-screaming mare. This time, she hooked Ivy's hoof, carrying her up to where Fluttershy was still dodging rocks.
"I know you're not good with magic, but if you could--unh!--keep these rocks off me, that'd be--whoa!--really helpful!" Dash yelled. Ivy's horn lit up in response, but only a tiny blob of purple magic came out, fizzling after a few inches. "Well...nice try I guess."
"S-sorry!" the younger pony piped, frantically swatting away a stone.
Dash found the chamber's exit unobstructed, the frost troll perched on the wall above it, and seizing the opportunity, she shot towards it. "Alright kid, looks like I'm gonna let you go!"
"Wait whaaaAAAH!" Rainbow Dash released her pony cargo, flinging her perfectly into the chamber exit. When Ivy hit the ground, she let out a yelp of pain, sliding until her back thudded against the wall. In one fluid motion, Rainbow cocked back a foreleg, letting out a vicious haymaker, which connected against the mountain troll's already mashed face. Its head shot back before going limp, and its body careened into the abyss below.
"C'mon Fluttershy!" she beckoned, waiting for the shy pony to hover over. The pegasi retreated into the tunnel, and after helping Ivy to her hooves, they galloped down the corridor while furious howls sounded behind them.
"Wow, you really hit that troll really...really hard," Fluttershy muttered, flinching at the mere memory.
"'Shy, that was nothing! I know you're soft with the animals, but come on those things were gonna kill us."
"I know. It was just maybe...a tad bit harsh."
Soon the roaring died away, and the ponies finally paused, their chest heaving and their foreheads slick with sweat. Fluttershy leaned against the wall, a burning ache spreading through her wings and legs. She glanced back to see that Ivy had fallen behind, and as she got closer, Fluttershy realized she was limping.
"Ivy! Are you okay?" the pegasus asked, quickly making her way to the injured mare.
Sitting back on her haunches, the unicorn held up one of her forelegs, replying, "My leg hurts, I think I sprained it or something." Hardening her voice, she turned to a certain cyan pegasus and added, "Probably when Dash threw me into the freaking wall."
"Hey, I saved your butt too! Don't I at least get a thanks for that?"
"Yeah...thanks."
Before either pony could say anything particularly venomous, Fluttershy carefully took the injured hoof, causing Ivy to bite her lip in pain. The pegasus already held bandages in her mouth, saying through clenched teeth, "Don't worry, Ivy. I think I can help."
She started to carefully wrap the bandages around the injured joint, and Ivy looked away, ready for another shot of pain. However, before she knew it, the pegasus whispered, "Okay, I think that's good." The young mare opened her eyes to find her leg already taken care of, leaving her mouth slightly agape. When she pressed her hoof on the ground, her leg felt completely fine, with only a slight discomfort in the places where the bandage was a bit tight. "Don't put too much pressure on it, but other than that, you'll be okay."
"Whoa. Um, thanks...Fluttershy," Ivy said with a hint of smile, out of both gratitude and shock.
"You good to go, kid?" Dash called impatiently. "Good. I think I've seen enough of this bucking cave."
"Language Rainbow," Fluttershy chided.
"Oh it's okay," Ivy assured. "Hear it on the ranch all the time."
"Oh....ranch?"
"Wha--oh, yeah...the ranch, I, well back where I lived, there used, I used to...n-nevermind." She instinctively reached for her hood, only to paw at the torn cloth tucked behind her neck. Without another word, the young mare ambled past Rainbow Dash, who looked at her through narrowed eyes.
The pegasus then turned to Fluttershy, giving a glare that asked, What's her damage? But the yellow mare timidly shook her head and followed Ivy, giving one more cautious look at the bandage.
"Can't believe I'm sayin' this," Rainbow Dash began, gazing down the long, dark, seemingly endless passage. "But I can't wait to get back into that blizzard." |
Acceptance and Recovery | pre | "How?!"
"You were right, Celestia betrayed me. You warned me, and I didn't think it possible."
"I-I'm actually really sorry to hear that mate, what about Luna?"
"She's fine now, she didn't know about it either. She returned from banishment shortly before I broke out."
"Banishment?! WRY'KIN! When did all this happen?"
"This is why we need to be involved with the world Dad," groaned Ember ignoring her father's ancient swear. "Also who is this?"
"Aye, you might be right about that," grunted Torch with a frown. "This is Artemis, King of the Wolves, Ruler of Lupinia, and basically your Uncle. I didn't think he was dead, just an ass for disappearing."
"Ruler of Lupinia? Uhhh Dad, hate to break it to you but,"
"Lupinia is no more; I am a King without subjects. The wolves are all but extinct."
A roar unlike any either of them had heard recently erupted from Torch as he threw his head back unleashing a massive jet of flame. Though they all recognized it for what it was, a war cry. Artemis saw Ember retreat back a step, Dragon Lord or not Torch was still one of strongest dragons and his fury was not something be taken lightly. Though he couldn't help but appreciate that Torch mirrored his own rage.
"Who?" growled Torch with fire in his eyes. "Who did it, Artemis? The full fury of the dragons will destroy them, the skies will rain fire the likes of which they cannot imagine."
"No, they won't," responded Ember quickly sternly before Artemis could respond. "I am Dragon Lord, and the dragons are not going to war."
"Bagh like I need them, we're more than enough to raze them to the ground."
"No, you are the former Dragon Lord. Your actions reflect on our race almost as much as mine."
"Are you ordering me not to Ember?" growled Torch in a dangerous tone.
"No, because of all Dragons I would hope you wouldn't try to undermine my authority as Dragon Lord. But I will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety and survival of the dragons, including forbidding you from acting without my consent if it comes to that. If you want to go start a war, you're going to have to pry the scepter from me." Ember was calm but resolved even in the face of her enraged father.
"It's alright Torch, It's enough to see you just as enraged as I was," sighed Artemis trying to prevent Torch from making the wrong decision.
"No, it's not. Whoever did this needs to be made an example of, teach the whole world a lesson about crossing us," grunted Torch as he looked at his daughter. "If it were me I would make my power known so that no one would forget it, but she has other ideas about friendship."
"Yeah I do, you both did things your way and look where it got you. The building resentment meant that as soon as they were sure he was gone, the Griffons took their revenge, while we were so isolated and aloof your best friend's country was wiped out and you didn't even notice!" snapped Ember as she looked between the two. "I'm not saying your way was bad, but both had some pretty bad consequences."
"So what would you do?"
"Something different at the very least, it's never too late to try a different approach. Just because you've done something one way for centuries, doesn't mean it is the right or best way." explained Ember. "Look at me, up until now it was always the biggest and strongest dragon that was Dragon Lord. That's not a bad thing, but neither is change."
"Wouldn't you want revenge?"
"Of course, but instead of stomping in and turning the land into a burning hellscape I might try something more subtle. Turnabout is fair play so why not try to plant the seeds of rebellion among their poor oppressed lower class and use the ensuing chaos to conquer them and retake your land. Or you could try the friendship route, its up to you."
Both Artemis and Torch were stunned. It wasn't a plan they hadn't heard before, it just wasn't what they were expecting from her. Though Artemis did notice that Chrysalis had been listening the entire time, but hopefully she didn't take that suggestion too seriously.
"What? I said try something different, not give up on your revenge. Just because I think that the dragons should make more friends and take some lessons from the other races, doesn't mean I've forgotten that we're dragons."
"THAT'S MY GIRL!" bellowed Torch as he snatched Ember into a warm embrace. "This is but the first of many trials as Dragon Lord. You stood up to me, and showed you are strong in your convictions. I'm so proud of you!"
"She's going to be a great leader, Torch. I know she didn't get her brains from you though, her mother must've been something else," chuckled Artemis sadly. "I'm sorry missed so much."
"Don't worry about it Artemis,"
A roar of pain broke the silence as Garble tumbled into the crater, writhing in pain. Artemis watched him and looked towards Ember with high expectations; the competition would do them both a world of good.
"Oh, right. Garble," sighed Ember flatly. "I was called out here because I was told you were torturing Garble. That true? Why? I mean he probably deserved it, but I feel I should ask as Dragon Lord."
"I needed his lackies to get Torch in a hurry, and I saw potential in him despite his idiocy," explained Artemis as he pointed teenage dragon. "He has the potential to be a great leader as well; he just needed a kick in the right direction. Torture is a strong word, but somewhat accurate. I broke a few bones to brace him for the pain he is feeling now, but they will mend stronger and he will be better for the experience."
"What did you carve into him?" questioned Chrysalis as she slid down the crater walls landing next to Artemis.
"Ugh a changeling," grimaced Torch.
"Ugh a dumbass," countered Chrysalis
"This," said Artemis plainly as he ignored them, turning his back and flexing to reveal a rune of scar tissue in-between his shoulder blades. "This rune teaches one the cost of cruelty; it makes the bearer experience all the pain they've caused others. So right now the agony he is feeling is all the pain and suffering he has inflicted on every living creature. The first time is the worst because it's going to have to catch-up to present time, then it will stop."
"Why?" asked Ember confused and slightly disturbed.
"He could be a ruler, and the harsher rulers especially need to know consequences of their actions. He will awake from this and be a kinder leader or he will endure and be far stronger for it. Either way he will be better for the experience, and if he does go the cruel route it will likely drive him to seek me out someday. In which case I could end him if need be, but until then the competition will be good for you."
"Wait, how long have you had that? You felt everything you inflicted on others? EVERYTHING?!" asked Torch incredulously.
"Not in that moment, I activate mine every few years, but I felt it eventually. I got it shortly after met Luna and attempted to mellow out. That's why my kills became more quick and painless. That first one, that was something else," chuckled Artemis.
"Metal" said Ember impressed.
"Well what are you doing now? You staying? Dragons rarely throw feasts but this might be a special occasion."
"Save the feast for later, we'll do it when I return. Right now I'm a wanderer in search of himself, and when I find him I'll return both home and here."
"And you're traveling with her because? I'm sure you could have better company, like Luna. Bring her around next time."
"I don't often leave creatures to die on their own, and despite what she has done I thought we might get along. I'm a monster though, so probably not. And Luna? Luna is why I'm on this journey."
"Ah kicked out? I understand entirely, one time Bris kicked me out f-,"
"I wasn't kicked out, we couldn't agree on what to do about the Griffons. So I left to figure out what I wanted."
"Oh never mind then, well whatever you do you have my support," beamed Torch nudged his daughter forward.
"Whatever it is, I hope to be able to put the full support of the dragons behind you, that's not a promise. Whatever you do make sure your friends and allies can back you up on it and feel good about it," smiled Ember.
"I'll keep it in mind, but before we go," smiled Artemis as he concentrated some magic into a small ball above his claw. "You are the daughter of my rival and dear friend, he would give his life for you without hesitation. As such I would do the same, he is family and so are you. Would you accept my blessing?"
"Are you serious Artemis?" questioned Torch surprised and a little touched. "You would offer that to her?"
"What is it?"
"It's a pledge. If you accept, it's a promise that he will do everything in his power to protect you. I've seen him rip armies apart, intervene in conflicts between other countries, consequences be damned to save someone he had marked. It's not something he offers often, I would accept it."
Artemis wasn't sure what she was thinking, he just watched as she turned from Torch to the ball of magic, and back out to the countryside. She spared Garble a look at one point before she settled on an answer.
"Thank you for the offer, but I have to say no."
"B-but are you sure?" questioned Torch. "It would make su-"
"Yes, I'm sure. I appreciate the offer, but I can't have you and my dad as a safety net in case I mess up. I have to be accountable for my actions; it will make me a stronger and better leader."
"Hmm she already recognizes Garble as a threat and is seeking to better herself, she is nothing like Torch was. But maybe that's for the best," thought Artemis. "Very well, I can respect that. Good luck Dragon Lord"
Closing his fist, he turned to walk away not waiting for Chrysalis. She had stayed quiet since his comment about being a monster, but this time he was ok with that. He had hoped in her listening to their conversation she had learned a bit more about him, and maybe eventually she would open up more. Until then he would be content, both Ember and Torch had given him plenty to think about. He had no idea where he was going next, but it didn't matter until he heard a deep voice echo through his mind.
"I stir, but I will awaken in six of your months. Summit then, Sine Fine Tempus." |
human of the everfree | pre | I answered: "Why should I come closer when I can't even see you?" I started feeling a burning sensation on my tongue, as I poured magic into my words, but ignored it for the moment as it wasn't terribly painful.
The tree seemed put off by my opposition to it's request. Then it started laughing. It took a while, but finally it calmed down, and a humanoid shape pealed off the tree and started walking towards me. Soon I could clearly see the person in front of me.
She, judging by her bosom, looked like she was made out of wood with several kinds of leaves in place for her hair with the occasional flower among them. Covering her back and hips were woven grass clothes that left her front exposed. Her privates were just barely hidden from sight by a thick layer of moss. I forced myself to look away from her exposed thighs and towards her face. Her eyes were, in complete contrast to the rest of her, a bright violet. She wore a necklace with a leaf shaped green material at the end.
It took me a bit to remember what mythological creature she looked like, but I finally recalled. A dryad. A being known for seducing men into giving it their life energy through sex.
If I wasn't entirely on guard before I was in full panic mode now. Judging by the amount of magical energy I saw before, she could easily overpower me and I could hardly do anything about it. There were two ways of me getting out of the situation. Either I try talking to her and hope she won't take me as prey since I am now female, or I run and hope that the rule of a dryad not being able to go too far from it's tree is true.
I decided with the one that was less likely to get me killed, but the moment I turned around to run I was stopped with a tall wall made from wood. I slowly looked at the dryad behind me and she just smiled at me. I fully turned towards her and put myself in a battle ready stance, like Zero thought me. Then I asked: "What do you want?"
Her smile widened and she answered: "I want... you." |
human of the everfree | Chapter 17: A dryad's hate | "I want you."
As soon as the dryad said those words I tried to lunge at her, seeing fighting as my only option. Emphasis on tried, as I didn't make it even a step, before vines and roots curled around my legs, making me trip and then pinned me to the ground.
"Now, now, there's no need for violence, although it probably would have helped if I didn't word things weirdly." The dryad said at first with a smile of amusement and then a contemplative gaze.
She continued, her eyes once more focusing on me: "Well, no matter. You are here now and I will only allow you to live under one condition."
I was afraid of what was coming, but just to be sure I asked: "And what might that condition be?"
She smiled brightly, like I had made her day and with a happy go lucky attitude answered: "Why, to show those damn ponies that nature is not to be fucked with, of course."
It took me a while to comprehend what she had just said and after I sorted through the information, I couldn't help but yell at her: "Well, couldn't you have just said that in the first place!? I would have easily agreed and that would be it!"
She looked at me in surprise and then just started laughing.
"Well, of course I could have, silly, but where would be the fun in that? I found this way much more amusing." Somehow her laughter was still echoing through the forest as she spoke. This being was powerful enough to make an entire forest echo on a whim. And it terrified me, so I decided that it would be a good idea to shut up and just let her speak.
"Anyhow, now that I know that you are on board, I first have to tell you my story." And tell me she did. The story itself wasn't long, what was long was how she cursed the ponies in more and more innovative ways, every time she could.
It went something like this, without the unnecessary stops to curse of course:
The dryad was born when the forest consisted of only about 30 trees. She didn't yet understand her existence but other dryads from other forests helped her. She learnt a lot from them, how to talk, attract animals to her forest and prevent tree diseases from spreading. It was a wonderful time, when the dryads could walk outside their forests by spreading the roots of their trees along a set path.
And then, a few millennia later, the ponies came. With them they brought a horrible winter, that killed a lot of animals and even more trees, that weren't prepared for the sudden snow and thus broke under the weight. And all the dryad could do was watch as her forest slowly started dying, the frozen ground preventing the growth of any plants. All sources of water froze over and thus the number of animals plummeted. The trees that didn't die from the initial snow were frozen under a deep layer of ice and some of the animals that had burrowed under the ground for shelter were now starving to death as they couldn't get through the frozen soil and the mass of snow on top. For 4 days the forest was in disarray and on the fifth day, the dryad wept. The whole forest was completely silent as their protector cried and wailed, unable to do anything to save what she spent thousands of years creating.
But then, when almost all hope was lost, the sun's rays tore through the thick clouds and started melting the snow. The dryad was overjoyed and helped thaw the snow with her magic, something that had previously failed. With the dryads magic it took no more than a day to melt all of the snow in the forest allowing the animals to drink again and a day after that she used her magic to speed up the growth of the plants, so the next day the animals could eat. In a week the damage, while still visible, was mostly nullified. The dryad was happy to see her forest prospering again and was thankful to whomever it was, that stopped the sudden winter.
After a few months she got bored of just overseeing her forest day and night and started making a root path to get to one of her friends. But the roots would stop at one point and no matter how much she asked them, they wouldn't move. When she asked the trees they told her, that the magic there is forbidding them from going through. The dryad was reasonably confused, as there shouldn't be anything between hers and her friend's forest. So she went to see, what was preventing her from making a root path. And what she found made her even more confused.
Multiple houses stood there, right in the middle of the clearing between their forests. And a bit away form the houses stood multiple apple trees in neat rows. She tried asking them if they could extend their roots to her, but they ignored her, so she had to leave. Back in her forest she made a pond and cast a spell that would allow her to see anywhere she had already been. Looking through her friends forest it was in a similar condition to her forest and she could see her friend helping animals and talking to trees. Everything was fine.
And in that way a hundred years passed. The houses evolved into a proper village and the amount of apple trees increased exponentially. The dryads forest too had gotten bigger, but was still smaller than most of the others. She tried to get to other forests too, but every time the roots tried going more than 100 meters out of the forest they would stop and wouldn't go forward even if there was no village in the way. It baffled the dryad, but she was patient. Sooner or latter things would return to how they always were.
Then her forest got visitors. A pair of ponies, bigger than what she had seen before, entered the dryads forest and started to look around. When they came to her favorite lunging spot, with a ravine on one side and a river on the other they stopped and used their wings to fly down into the ravine and into the cave the dryad had made for one of her boredom projects. How they knew it was even there she didn't know, but what they did there scared her. They took the fruits of a tree she made, that would allow her, to store power and then pull on it when she needed to. The idea came to her soon after the surprise winter. The problem was that the stored power was in the fruits and since the two ponies just took them, she wouldn't be able to draw on their power.
And that is when things started going wrong. The first thing that happened was, that black pellet like seeds rained down from the sky all around her forest and she had to use a considerable amount of magic to prevent them from sprouting right away, like some kind of parasite. Then, because she used so much magic she wasn't able to prevent the two bigger ponies from building a castle on her favorite spot. After them came other ponies and suddenly there was a town in her forest and she couldn't do anything about it, as she had to keep using a lot of magic to stop the black seeds.
Then years later the two ponies fought and the white one banished the black one to the moon. That gave the dryad the opportunity to take back some of the energy from the fruits of her tree, with which she then tried to destroy the town and castle in her forest, since at that point she had enough of them. She created wooden wolves and dangerous, but beautiful flowers, that would harass the ponies. The now lone bigger pony and the other normal sized ones escaped from the forest, but left the fruits there. But the fruits were locked in some kind of shell that the dryad didn't have the energy to break.
And so passed 1000 years in which the dryad had to use up more and more energy to prevent the black seeds from sprouting. She almost didn't notice when the black bigger pony came back, the only reason she did, was because she got a temporary magic boost when her fruits were used. then another two years went by and she lost control. The black seeds sprouted and took over her forest and there was nothing she could do. Then the ponies came again and returned the fruits to the tree. With the boost in power she destroyed the black seeds, but some of the power of her fruits had rubbed of on the ponies since they were able to use the same connection to them as her. She has been trying to remove the connection, but has been unsuccessful.
Anyway, as soon as she could she checked on her friends and what she found is the main reason for her hate of the ponies. Apparently the ponies lacked a resource called wood and decided to use the many forests around as sources of said resource. After a few hundred years of doing so most of the dryads couldn't handle the stress of parts of their forest being slowly cut of and decided to fuse with the tree, that they had been born from, effectively abandoning the forest to the ponies and killing themselves.
The dryad was enraged, but couldn't do anything. So she waited for her opportunity.
It was a sad story, that made me hate the ponies even more. I understood it was unreasonable to hate the ponies for cutting down trees that they needed, but it certainly wasn't unreasonable to hate them for meddling in things they obviously didn't understand, like those fruits. Even worse was the fact that a lot of the animals from the dryads forest had been influenced by the ponies magic, while she was occupied, and can't live by themselves.
I was positively fuming. I wanted to punch someone so badly, but I was still pinned to the ground. The dryad smiled at me, like she had been doing the whole time while telling me her story.
"Now then, dear, I have a question for you." She said.
I looked at her, still trying to calm myself down, and asked: "What?!"
"Are you willing to learn from me, and exact my revenge on the ponies? I can help you get your magic under better control. I can teach you other kinds of magic, with my help you could bring the sun down if you wanted! So, what do you say?"
It was a temping offer. She would be able to tell me a lot of things that Zero couldn't. Yet I wasn't sure if I was prepared to trust something powerful enough to promise me what she did. Then again, our goals were pretty close together, I just had an additional one, that I could do after I exacted our revenge.
"Well, it's a tempting offer, I'm going to have to say -" |
human of the everfree | Chapter 18: Battle between gods | "... no, thank you." I finished.
"Well, of course you would agree, after all, who would- " The dryad who was pacing stopped and focused her eyes on mine.
"What did you just say? Did you, a filthy animal just disagree with me?! The most powerful being on the planet?! The one who has the power to destroy the Sun?!" She was absolutely livid, as I thought. She was just trying to manipulate me to do as she said.
"Yes, I disagree with you. Personally I would rather not work with someone who sees me as an animal, that just needs sweet words to be persuaded." While I talked I was putting the finishing touches of my escape plan together.
But as they always say, no plan survives contact with the enemy. Except in this case, there was no contact, just a sudden blinding flash, followed moments later by a shockwave and a thundering boom. I probably lost consciousness for a few seconds and when I finally managed to blink the spots out of my eyes I noticed I was lying on the far side of the clearing, some 20 meters from where I was pinned by the dryads roots.
Looking towards the spot, where the dryad previously stood, all I could see was a dark green globe, that stood in the middle of a crater, at least 2 meters deep. The dome disappeared in a shower of green sparks, revealing the dryad, her face contorted inhumanely in her fury. She started yelling something towards the sky, but my ears were still ringing from the deafening explosion, so I couldn't hear anything. I wanted to move, but my body just wouldn't obey me, either from the physical trauma of accelerating from zero to a hundred, or because I broke my spine when my body hit whatever prevented me from being blown further back.
As such all I could do, was observe as the dryad finished yelling and just stood there. That gave me the idea of using my magic sight. When I turned it on, I felt like puking my guts out as I looked at the monstrous amounts of magic the dryad was pulling from every plant around her. I tried to stop using it, but the amounts of magic going through my eyes stopped me from doing so, I wasn't even able to close my eyes.
Just when the pressure rose from physically painful to, oh my god I want to gauge my eyes out, make it stop, the dryad released all of that magic through her hands in a smooth beam of pure magic, only a few centimeters tick. But through my eyes I could see, that the magic in the beam was so tightly packed together, that I wouldn't be surprised if it collapsed into a black hole. The beam lasted only for a second, but whatever she was aiming for, was bound to have a gaping hole wherever she hit it.
At that point my body had finally decided that being able to move might be a good idea. But then it decided that it should probably activate my nervous system first, and I was genuinely surprised when I didn't immediately start screaming in pain. At the least I knew that one of my arms was broken, my other shoulder was dislocated, at least one of my ribs was broken and poking at my lungs, since it hurt whenever I inhaled too deeply, and one of ankles was either sprained or strained.
I felt like fainting was a good option, but as I closed my eyes I noticed flashes of light accompanied by muted sounds of explosions, that were the first sign of my hearing coming back. I fought through the pain to stay conscious, tilted my head just slightly upwards, and was pleasantly surprised when no new pain came, and strenuously opened my eyes to an incredible sight.
About 100 to 200 meters above ground, were three creatures, two, I believe Zero called them alicorns, and the dryad in a fight that truly displayed their superiority to any normal being. The white alicorn shone like the sun and wielded a giant gold one handed axe in it's magic, swinging at the dryad with enough power to blow away the clouds for miles. The dark blue alicorn looked like it was sucking in the light around it, producing a black spot in the sky, and held 5 black claymores in her magic, using them like remote controlled arrows that flew from one end of the celestial battlefield to another in an instant, always covering for the white alicorn if she overextended.
And then there was the dryad. She levitated in the air and didn't move an inch, yet none of the attacks from the two alicorns ever hit her. Then came the counterattack, she rose her hands so the each pointed at one of the alicorns and in an instant sent two devastating beams of pure magic flying towards them. The alicorns barely had time to get out of the way of the beam, when it imploded and then exploded with enough force that I, sitting on the ground, felt it.
Yet the alicorns seemed no worse for ware, than before the death beam and just continued their deadly dance. After all, sooner or later, the dryad will run out of magic and whatever she is using to protect herself will probably fail soon after.
'Did I seriously think about revenge just minutes before? This is completely impossible! Fuck it, I am giving up on revenge if I get out of here alive. There is simply no fucking way, that I can even come close to that. I mean, the blue one is casting a spell, that would probably kill me the moment I tried to use it!' I thought, as the blue alicorn used magic to shot thunder bolts at the dryad through the swords.
'I have to get out of here and hide! But in this forest I will surely die with my wounds. I have to think of something!'
And so, I was desperately thinking of a solution to my problem as a battle between gods raged in the sky above me. |
human of the everfree | Chapter 19: Battle between gods part 2 | While I was desperately thinking of a way to turn this situation in my favor, a fierce battle raged in the sky above me, as beams of magic were shot left and right from the dryads hands and earth splitting blows were delivered by the alicorns' weapons.
Then, only minutes after the start of the battle, something changed. The dryad had started dodging the alicorns' attacks and her beams were much thinner. Those were fairly obvious, but another indicator of what was going on were the plants around me, that were slowly wilting, the longer the fight went on. The dryad was obviously running out of magic and was taking it from the plants of her forest.
It wasn't long after that, that the dryad got hit by the white alicorns axe. The hit sent her flying for a few dozen meters, before she forcefully stopped herself. For a second time stopped as I gazed at her expression of fury, before she disappeared and reappeared next to the white alicorn, delivering a vicious dropkick to it's head. The alicorn was shot towards the ground at the speed that would surely kill me three times over, but with only a single flap of it's wings it not only stopped, seemingly completely unfazed, but also propelled itself upwards towards the dryad at an even higher velocity.
The dryad for her part didn't get a chance to be surprised at the impossible feat the white alicorn achieved, as she was locked in a hand to hand with the blue alicorn, who, in an astonishing display of hand to hand combat and magic, was steadily landing hits on the vital areas of a humanoid body, that the dryad possessed.
Her concentration on the fight proved to be a mistake, as the white alicorn teleported into her blind spot and, if not for her astounding reflexes, would have beheaded her. Instead she lost an arm.
If it wasn't obvious before, that the dryad would lose, it certainly was now. Apparently she realized that too, as she started descending while trying to keep both alicorns at bay. Even to my amateurish eyes it was obvious she was trying to get closer to her source of power, the plants and animals of the forest. The alicorns knew it to, as their attack became faster and more unpredictable, until the dryad made a mistake.
Using her downwards momentum, she dodged a spinning kick from the blue alicorn, then blocked another beam of magic from her left with a compact magic shield while at the same time blocking the white alicorns axe with her remaining arm coated in magic. Then, suddenly the white alicorn disappeared. It's horn wasn't glowing to indicate a teleportation spell and there was also no shower of sparks. The only thing left of the alicorn was it's giant one handed axe.
As an outside observer I of course noted that the blue alicorns horn was glowing, and my suspicions of an illusion were confirmed, as the white alicorn popped out from thin air behind the dryad and sent her flying with a punch it put it's full body into.
The dryad flew parallel to the ground, in my general direction, her body twisting and turning in the air, until I could just barely see her in the upper peripherals of my vision from the angle I was looking at. At that point the blue alicorn appeared above her and sent her shooting at the ground with a perfectly timed and vicious axe kick.
At that point a stunning realization came to me. The dryad was shooting towards the ground at speeds that would make rockets jealous and I was fairly certain that she was more or less above me when the axe kick was delivered. In conclusion, the next few moments would hurt. A lot.
Not even a moment after the dryad hit the ground about a meter in front of me, did the shock wave hit me, sending me flying.
'All I see is darkness. Is this death? It feels so peaceful I could jus-' At that moment the nerves in my body decided to inform me, that I am in fact not dead. My distinctly not girlish scream of surprised anguish echoed around the forest as my eyes shot open to a starry night sky.
'Ugh, my everything hurts. I was probably unconscious for only a few hours, otherwise some kind of deadly animal would already have come and started eating me.'
For some reason lady luck decided to come back into my life as my head was propped up on a fallen tree trunk and my neck was not broken because of it.
Careful observation of my surroundings, or at least as much of my surroundings as I could see without moving anything except my eyes, didn't reveal any kind of animal footprints or any other signs that a predator was lurking in the bushes, so I focused on the bigger fish in the pond.
'How the hell am I going to survive in this forest with my body broken to pieces like a fucking puzzle? Maybe if I just stay quiet I can survive the night and then drink the morning dew to prevent myself from dehydrating?' Apparently fate decided to help me answer that question as a deer with crystal antlers jumped over the bushes.
'If I remember correctly that is a crystal deer. It's one of the more dangerous animals in this forest as it appears to be docile until you come close enough. At that point it will bite you and the poison on it's teeth will crystalize most of the blood in your body in a matter of minutes. If you somehow survive to that point it will crush your head with it's hooves and then feast on your body as it is in fact a carnivorous animal.' While that information shot through my head the deer came ever closer.
It's front hooves were only centimeters away from my legs. It calmly lowered it's head as if to nuzzle my right leg, but I knew better, not that I could do anything about it. It's head was millimeters away, when something shot from the underbrush to my left and crashed into the crystal deer, sending both, the crystal deer and the unknown attacker flying into the bushes, that the deer jumped over to get to me.
The sounds of fighting only lasted for a few seconds before a loud sound, similar to the sound of a thick branch breaking, echoed through the forest. Seconds later the black panther, that lead me to the dryad, came out of the bushes, the deer with a clearly broken neck being dragged behind it.
The panther set the dead deer next to my stiff and pain riddled body and looked at me, like it was waiting for me to say something.
"Uh, hey there. You wouldn't happen to know of a way to heal me, would you?" I wasn't really sure why I was asking an animal for help, but something in the panthers eyes told me, it was far more intelligent than it let on. So when I asked, I was both happy and weirded out when the panther nodded and shot out of my view.
Since I had nothing else to do I once again checked the condition of my body. Apparently it's funny playing with mortals for lady luck as I found I was both lucky and unlucky. The lucky part was, that my shoulder that was previously dislocated, popped back into place when I was blown away for the second time. The unlucky part was, that one of my legs was most definitely broken, the broken rib was joined by a few others, but I was pretty certain it actually put a hole into my lungs as I had been coughing up blood since I woke up.
Soon after I finished my self analysis the panther came back and put two green gemstones that were about as big as pills. I really had no idea what to do with them, so I decided to ask the panther: "So, should I like, eat these, or something?"
The panther made a motion that resembled how a human laughs surprisingly well, before it shook it's head and nudged the two gemstones closer to my good hand. I decided it wouldn't harm me to touch them, so I took one with my good hand. It was smooth and the light from the stars fractured beautifully in it's green hued interior.
'It's like it was enchanted. Wait. Of course! Magic!' Immediately after my late realization I put down the gemstone and tried to use a standard healing spell that Zero thought me, but the moment the magic started flowing through my hand it started stinging and the longer it went on the more it hurt. A few seconds in the skin on my hand started peeling off like it was burned. Safe to say I only kept the spell going for about 5 seconds, before I quickly decided that I was doing more damage than I was healing.
'If only using magic didn't damage my body. Hmm, a magical foci ...' As I looked around me for anything that cold transfer magic instead of my body, my eyes fell to the gemstones still siting in the grass.
'Zero told me about enchantments. If I remember correctly, he said that to enchant something you must make a spell matrix and then instead of using magic to cast it you must focus it into an object. If you do it correctly the object will then use the magic source you specified to cast the spell. Whelp, why not try it, after all it can hardly get wo-. No. Stop. Do not think that. Just try enchanting.'
And so after I got my thoughts under control I again picked up one of the gemstones with my good hand and focused on a simple healing matrix, with the specified source being the magic of the thing holding it. When I had a clear image of the matrix, I imagined inserting it into the gemstone, like you would a book into a box. Throughout the whole process I had my eyes closed in concentration. After I finished I felt a bit lighter and some of the previous pain was gone, so I opened my eyes and looked at the gemstone that was shining with a dull green light. |
human of the everfree | Chapter 20: Aftermath | Feeling the subtle drain of magic from the gemstone in front of me I would have jumped around from happiness if I wasn't badly hurt. My thoughts, of course reflected that: 'I did it! First try bitches! Who's the best? I'm the best. And it didn't even hurt like magic does normally for me! Maybe I can use stronger spells with this? Haha!'
After I calmed down somewhat, I decided to try to put some stronger healing magic into the other gemstone, after all, why would I destroy something that is already working, when I don't even know if the thing I will replace it with will work.
I laid the enchanted gemstone down into my broken right hand, so it was still touching my skin, and then picked up the unenchanted one with my left hand.
Like before, I closed my eyes and carefully pictured the matrix for the advanced healing spell in my head. When I was done I just imagined it being packed into a box that was the unenchanted gemstone.
This time the effects were far more obvious. The pain was receding at an incredible pace and when I opened my eyes I could see the the swelling in my previously broken hand and leg was practically gone. The only problem was, that I could feel my magical reserves running out. But because my body was being healed at such an incredible pace I decided to let it run for a little longer to finish healing me.
Minutes later I couldn't feel even a speck of pain and after a quick test I confirmed that all of my broken bones were healed. But the stone was still sucking up my magic like a sponge, so I made a quick decision and let it fall onto the floor. There the grass it landed on first got greener than before, but then suddenly in a matter of seconds wilted and turned to dust.
It took me a few seconds to comprehend what just happened, as I was fairly certain I put a healing spell into the gemstone and it wasn't meant to do whatever it did to the grass. As a test I put the gemstone with weaker healing magic from my hand into a new patch of grass. After observing how the grass did the exact same thing again, albeit much slower, it came to me: the healing magic in the gemstones was made to always run as long as the user had magic, but that included the magic that kept the user alive. Meaning, that after you were drained of the usual reserves of magic, it would literally squeeze you dry of the rest.
It didn't take me too long to think of how to change the matrix for the weaker gemstone, so it would only activate if the user had the magic in their reserves to activate it, but it wasn't really what I wanted. What I wanted was that it would heal me, only if I was injured.
I was woken up from my thoughts by the panther sliding under my left arm. Finally awake to my situation I carefully scooped both gemstones into the pockets of my pants and got up on my feet. The headache and sudden dizziness reminded me, that I was still low on magic, which I quickly nullified by using my magic sight.
But what I saw when I activated it actually disturbed me a little. Before when I used it in the forest I could see the magic in the plants and the earth like small light green rivers that together flowed deeper into the forest, but now there was no previous order, the rivers all had different directions, some just cutting off in the middle of nowhere and some flowing into others. Lastly everywhere around me I could see white dust like particles falling, what I imagine using immense amounts of magic would leave behind, a kind of magical fallout.
But what terrified me the most was what I could see in the direction of the previous battlefield. An unnatural whiteness, like a fog or a cloud, but more solid like paint. Unsure if I was seeing right I walked towards it like in a trance. When the dust like particles started becoming more and more frequent I finally realized the whiteness was made from them. But I wasn't dissuaded from taking a look at the actual place, so I turned my magic sight off and continued on my way.
Arriving at the glade I was meet with a horrifying sight, the ground was just a lake of lava, slowly cooling down. All of the trees in the surroundings were burned to a crisp and the trees farther than that were dead and withered. Of the mighty tree in the middle of the clearing only the burning stump was somehow resisting the lava. Everything in a 1 kilometer radius was dead, simple as that. And I dare say it was a contained battle as most of it happened in the air kilometers above ground.
Taking in the sight around me I shivered at the thought of what would have happened if I wasn't blown away when the dryad landed. Then I turned around and tried to walk away, only for my legs to lock up, causing me to fall to the ground.
Finally the stress had reached me and I curled up into a sobbing ball. I stayed like that until a paw touched my back. I shot up, fully prepared to defend myself, only to be met with the black panther that had saved my life more than once. And the dam shattered to pieces. Using both my arms I grabbed the panther and pulled it into my lap, where I then cried my eyes out into it's soft coat.
I'm not sure how long we stayed that way, but the next morning I woke up in another clearing, from where I couldn't even see the magical fallout, and the panther was nowhere to be seen. So I decided to think about something else other than how miserable my life is and stood up thinking about what I should I do now. I had quite a few options but the one I liked the most was a normal life in seclusion, where I wouldn't have to deal with crazy pony gods, or ponies, or any kind of self centered magical being with a huge ego in general.
There in the back of my mind there was still the thought of revenge against ponies for what they did to me, but my fear pushed it into the depths of my mind. I was afraid, not so much of ponies, not of their magic or their intelligence. No, what I was afraid of, was that I couldn't understand what they were thinking. I was always good at telling what the other party was thinking, but the inhabitants of this world were a mystery to me. I could play poker with a human and rob them blind, but these ponies, these mythological beings, including the dryad, to me, they were an unknown. And so my fear of the unknown prevailed over my wish for revenge. |
human of the everfree | Chapter 21: The Sun has died and she killed it | Celestia pov
Today like any other day I had woken up before dawn and did my duty of raising the sun, while my sister lowered her moon. It had always been a calming experience for me to raise the sun. The strain on my magic, the warmth of the star, it gave me a sense of peace, of permanence, everything else had always been ever changing, evolving, but the sun stayed as it was, for it was already perfect.
After I was done I took a shower and put on clean regalia, that I had polished the day before, after me and my sister fought against the Entity.
Even after hundreds of years of training to not let my emotions show on my face, the thought of the Entity easily broke my facade of a serene smile, only to be switched with a muzzle scrounged in disgust and eyes full of hostility. It took me a moment to calm myself enough to put the facade back on, but the memory still lingered.
After a few more minutes of thinking I trotted towards the dining hall, where my sister was already waiting for me to arrive with a plate full of pancakes in front of her.
"Good morning, sister." we said in almost perfect unity, before Luna attacked her pancakes with reckless abandon, not sparing a single one. I just observed her for a few minutes, with a rather rare for me, genuine smile, before I too started eating the pancakes the waiter brought before me.
When we both ate our share my sister went to sleep, while I made a heavy sight and headed towards the throne room. I was tired from the fight the day before and I really didn't want to deal with the nobles' babbling about matters that didn't really matter or worse, thinking they have the right to try marry me. Seriously, sometimes I worry their stupidity is genetic and grows through the generations.
In any case, I had arrived in my throne room, where I sat on my throne and after another long sight gave the guards the go ahead sign, to let the first pony in.
It only took the nobles 3 hours to bore me to death and I still had 2 more. While I was thinking about just adjourning the court and saying it was because of personal matters, I was surprised by a bright flash of lavender light, a telltale sign of the teleportation spell of my student.
Focusing my look towards the spot where the flash originated, I dismissed the noble that I was 'listening' to with a wave of my hoof.
"Court is adjourned for today." was all I said, before the guards had to drag him out, because he didn't want to leave, big surprise. Bringing my attention back to my student I was happy to see she was taking care of herself. The first time she had to preen I had to guide her through it, but like with all things she had to learn she picked it up incredibly quickly. Yes, Twilight was truly a one of a kind genius, she overshadowed even Sunset Shimmer, that had been a one in one million talent.
Twilight looked around, presumably to confirm her surroundings, like I had taught her to do after every long range teleportation spell, before she glared at me and said: "Princess Celestia, why have you not replied to my messages?"
It took me a second to realize what she was talking about, before I looked her in the eyes with a serious and tired look, and said: "Twilight, what I told you the first time that you sent the message still stands. I will not risk the safety of my guards and much less my army, because you would like to find a single human that had escaped into the Everfree, due to your negligence."
But I knew Twilight wouldn't give up with just that and she confirmed it by repeating what she told my in one of her letters: "But, the human hurt me, causing me, a princess, an injury is a grave offense punishable by a lifetime in the dungeons or in some cases even death! The girl is a criminal on the loose and as a princess I demand that she be caught and executed!"
The longer she talked the louder she got and she was pretty much shouting the last sentence, making me cringe at the volume. Trying to calm her down I asked with a calming voice: "Twilight, maybe we could go to my study to continue this talk. I believe the guards are uncomfortable with it. I can also get you some tea and biscuits to cal-"
To my surprise Twilight, my student, who had always listened to every word I said till the end, interrupted me with an angry screech: "NO! I DO NOT WANT YOUR BISCUITS OR TEA AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT HOW THE GUARDS FEEL, THEY ARE NOT IMPORTANT! I AM IMPORTANT! AND I! DEMAND! THAT! HUMAN'S! ..."
She took a deep breath and I tried to cast a silencing spell on her, but was too late: "HEAD!"
Her shout shattered any glass in a few meter radius and you could practically see the eardrums of the closest guards bursting as blood sprayed out of their ears and they fell to the ground unconscious. Twilight's mane was disheveled, her wings were spread wide, but to me the most striking feature and the one that hurt me the most, was her death glare, directed at me.
It reminded me of the look Sunset gave me, the day she went through the mirror. As Twilight turned her back to me and ignited her horn a single tear fell from the corner of my eye and before it could splatter on the ground Twilight was gone. For a moment everything was still. Then the throne room exploded with activity. Medics were called, reports were being made and magical traces were being scanned.
But in all that chaos all I could thing about was the glare Twilight gave me, before she teleported away. It hurt me more than any dagger and when I was finally brought back to the real world my sister was sitting bon a chair in front of me with worry written all over her, while I was laying on a bed in my room.
I gave her a weak smile and said: "I am fine, sister."
She looked me in the eyes and answered: "physically yes, but what I am worried about sister, is your emotional state."
I knew she could see right through me, yet I still lied, to this day I don't know why. "I truly am fine, sister. I... I will manage." I said, this time I forced myself to give her a bigger smile.
"Very well then. If you need to talk you know where to find me." Was her answer that was accompanied with a sight and a serious look. She then walked out of the room, leaving me alone to contemplate, what had gone wrong. I was certain Twilight had a better reason for her actions. She was always kind and friendly, even after she became an alicorn that hadn't changed. She wouldn't do something like this just because I refused to endanger my subjects.
Looking outside the window I noticed it was almost time to lower the sun and raise the moon. Yet this time the feel of the sun didn't calm me like it usually did. There was no usual warmth, it felt almost like the sun was dead.
As I stared at the slowly appearing stars I remembered an old poem:
"The sun shined bright, just the day before"
"I waked under it for hours"
"and basked in it's warm and calming light."
"But today the warmth is gone"
"the calming light has disappeared"
"for the sun was betrayed"
"they killed it and now it is no more."
"The sun is dead and all that is left,"
"is a dark, cold world." |
Daedalus' New World | pre | "Guess I'm last," The thestral said as she gave him a small smile. "Second Lieutenant Glimmering Moonbeam, but I just go by Moon or Beam. Second in command of our little corner of the Hunters, I'm a dine and dash kinda pony. Knives and poisons are my forte and just a couple pricks can weaken or even incapacitate my foe. I've turned quite a few pitched fights into just putting down a pained animal, as I'm sure Iron can attest."
When they all turned to him, he gave a light shrug. "Daedalus, Greater Evolved. Call me Jay if you want something faster to say since that's my real name. Not really a part of the military, I don't have a rank. Skill sets are... pretty much everything. I can shapeshift to a perfect mimicry of anything whether it's my body type or not. Bladed and blunted are just fine for me, and I'm nigh unkillable with the only weakness I'm aware of is high-powered magic. Luna-level magic, since it left her exhausted for like three hours after. I can synthesize or cure basically any poison or disease I have a sample of and heal practically any physical injury as long as I understand your body on a genetic level. However, I'm unable to use even a shred of magic."
"Oh, I think we'll get along just fine, Jay." Beam said, licking her lips as she gazed at him. "I feel like you'll make things so much better around here." |
Daedalus' New World | (9) Tartarian Hunters Pt. 2 | "Like Sparky said, our formal name is the Tartarian Hunters. The name originated from our founding a little over two millennium ago after the six of them banded together to hunt and kill a relatively large band of demons that escaped Tartarus. Nowadays, Tartarian threats are pretty much nonexistent except for the occasional summoner who wanted to summon a succubus, so we mostly just go by the Hunters." Wrought Iron chuckled softly as he brushed off what Beam had said. "We also serve as personal bodyguards toward the Princesses. While Luna is our only direct superior, she will occasionally 'loan' us out to the other alicorns as protection, security, or for a job or two. That includes you, too. Also, even though only Luna is in our chain of command, if one of the alicorns gives you an order, you do have to follow it as long as it doesn't contradict one of Luna's standing orders."
"Our direct boss or not, the alicorns are still princesses." Jay surmised and received a nod from the elder Hunter.
"Normally, a new member comes to us through an apprenticeship. A full-fledged Hunter will find somepony who shows promise and interest in the profession and take them on an as an apprentice. The master will teach the apprentice all the tricks of our trade. They learn everything from how to actually protect a VIP, what kind of monsters we face and their strengths and weaknesses, civilian rescue and deescalation, first aid, and generally some side skill that the apprentice chooses for themselves. At some point, either your master or Luna herself would feel you're ready to become a full master. You meet Luna in a duel. You don't have to win or even come close, but if you manage to impress your master or Luna- preferably both- you become a full fledged Master Hunter and can take on your own apprentice whenever you feel you've found one. Being a master does not mean you're done learning, either. It just means you've learned enough for us to trust you to bring somepony else in."
The captain paused to collect his thoughts. "Out in the field or informal situations like this, we don't use ranks or titles. Second Lieutenant is the second in command of our sect, but if Sergeant here's got an idea that might save a few lives or make our missions easier, he's expected to speak up and share it. Listen to your superior of course, but don't be afraid to speak up and share an idea. If you don't, you can't learn whether it was a good one or what you thought wrong. And like I said, even off the field we don't particularly care for ranks or formality. In our halls, Luna is just Luna. Beam is Beam, not Second Lieutenant Glimmering Moonbeam. If you're ever put with some other branch of the Guard, you best pick up those formalities you left behind though. Don't give us a bad name for being too 'lax and lazy.' We're outside the command chain for the Royal Guards and don't often work with them, so the only impression they get of us is what we give them, and we don't need a bad reputation going back to Luna."
"That brings up a question I have about the military here." Daedalus stated when there was a pause in conversation. When Iron gestured for him to ask, he continued. "How many branches of the military are there and what purpose do they serve?"
"I've got this one." Aqua interrupted. When Iron didn't stop her, she answered Daedalus' question. "There's five branches total. The 'Royal Guard' comprises of the Solar, Lunar, and Heart Guards. Each one takes their orders directly from their alicorn and usually double as their personal guard as well, only Luna does things different with the Lunar Guard and the Tartarian Hunters. The Royal Guards function as a police force first and personal guard second, but can also double as a military in extreme situations. Then we have the Hunters. We focus primarily on keeping the populace safe against natural and supernatural threats. Everything from demons to spirits to wild animals. Finally, we have the Equestrian Rangers, the largest branch by far."
"Since the Solar and Lunar Guards are focused in Canterlot, the Heart Guard in the Crystal Empire, or wherever their Princesses are, that leaves most of Equestria undefended. Instead, the Equestrian Rangers take the place of the primary military and police force in the nation. Every town or city with a population over ten thousand has a recruitment center and permanent garrison, and any village with less than that has a rotating temporary garrison." Aqua finished. It wasn't the most detailed explanation of the five branches, but it answered his question just fine and told him what he needed to know.
After a second, Iron picked up where he left off. "It goes without saying that as a Hunter, lives come first. If it comes down to it, we're all prepared to give our lives to save innocents as is our duty. Just, it's better to kill the monster, save the ponies, and save yourself. You can go kill more monsters that way. Though, if you're as immortal as you say you are, that won't be a problem. Any questions?"
"How often do we get deployed and what do we do in between?" Daedalus asked and leaned against Beam's couch as he stretched out his legs. To his surprise, Beam took the chance to just roll off the couch and land on his legs, resting her head on his thigh as she stretched out her leathery bat wings and gave a clearly fake yawn."
"Man, you're warm. I definitely think you'll do just fine here."
"Just ignore her. She does that to everypony. Beam flirts so much you'd think she's bedded every stallion in the castle but I'm almost certain she's never been laid." Aqua commented with a smirk toward her fellow Hunter. For her part, the thestral just stuck her tongue out without even opening her eyes.
"I wouldn't mind if a certain handsome human were to change that~" Beam teased with a smirk up toward the virus, her playful eyes meeting his amused stare.
"No thank you. I'm already taken by a mare."
"So?" Daedalus paused at the honest confusion in her voice and he felt like she wasn't just insinuating that he cheat on his potential partner.
"Beam's shamelessness aside," Iron interrupted with a chuckle. "We get deployed whenever something happens. We do have scheduled hunts in the Everfree Forest, Shallow Swaps, and Winding Woods to curb predator population growth near populated areas, but we otherwise might get called to a hunt every three days or three months. If we're really unlucky, we might even have to split our sect to cover each hunt in our location. That usually happens once or twice a year. In between deployments, we practice, train, and bond with each other. Pretty much, you do whatever you choose when we're not out on a hunt provided its, you know, legal."
"How many Hunters are there in total?" Daedalus asked as Beam's muzzle insistently poked his hand. After a mental shrug, he started to run his hand through her mane as she closed her eyes again and gave a satisfied hum. Whatever Aqua said about Beam's constant flirting, she definitely got what she wanted.
"We have eight sects scattered across Equestria. We're the largest with you making our sixth member. We have two sects with five, four with four, and one with three. Overall, we have thirty five members across Equestria. Absolutely minuscule compared the the Solar Guards who number about four thousand, or the Rangers with thirty three thousand."
"Quality over quantity." Daedalus said with a nod.
"We'll definitely get along just fine." Iron echoed Beam's earlier statement with a smirk. "Now for what I'm sure you're most interested in, pay and housing. Are you familiar with our economy?"
Daedalus shook his head. "No, I'm not. I've got some bits that were given to me to hold me over for some time, but I haven't even looked at them yet."
"Alright, Beam, you're our treasurer so you wanna explain everything?" Iron said as he looked down at the happy pony.
"Mm, sure. So we use bits as our currency. Most are gold but the higher denominations are platinum. The gold bits are one, five, ten, twenty five, and fifty. Platinum ones are hundred, two hundred fifty, and five hundred. Your brand new Private gets paid three bits an hour and works thirty hours a week. Monthly, that's about three hundred sixty. If you rent a place in Canterlot- trust me, don't- you'll be spending about eight hundred a month. However, if you live in the barracks you're provided that drops from about eight hundred to about two hundred a month. More if you eat out a lot, less if you buy bulk food and cook for yourself. Rank increases with pay, of course."
"As a Hunter, you don't guard doors and halls and occasionally arrest a petty criminal. You also don't have a 'shift.' You risk your life for the citizens of this country and are expected to give that life to save others. You're always on call. When you receive the order to deploy, it doesn't matter if you're bored and waiting for it or rutting your marefriend, you need to be halfway here before you even finish reading the scroll. As such, your pay will be higher. You'll be starting out as a Lance Corporal, the lowest rank we allow in the Hunters. Your pay will be twenty a day. About six hundred bits a month, but then you got taxes. The griffons have this weird thing called sales tax where you get taxed on every single item you buy plus your income. We don't have that. You pay taxes on your income and taxes on any purchase over five hundred bits, and it's ten percent either way. That's it. In Canterlot and Cloudsdale, your taxes go to Celestia and Luna. The other two Princesses have their own areas they get taxes from, and if you live in any area outside the crown realms but inside Equestria, your taxes get split evenly between all four. So the three hundred bits I hoof you every other Friday is more like two seventy. For now, I'll hoof you your bits in coinage on payday but if you get a bank set up, let me know and I can get your pay deposited from the crown to your account instead. I recommend the coins though, they jingle nicely. Any questions yet?"
"You mentioned I'll be a Lance Corporal, but ranks don't have much meaning here in the Hunters and Iron also said our command is separate from the others. How does a rank hold up to the other branches in Equestria?" Beam smiled as he asked that, happy he was paying attention.
"For the other four branches, it doesn't. Until you're a Sergeant Major or higher, your rank doesn't mean jack in another branch. A Solar sergeant has no authority in the Lunars, and a Heart Private doesn't take orders from a Lunar sergeant first class. Once you get to SGM, the ranks transfer between the four branches but local ranks override foreign. So, if a Solar and Heart SGM gives an order to a Solar Guard, he'll listen to his own superior before he follows the Heart Guard. As a Hunter, though, you don't take orders from other branches period, and can't give orders to other branches either, unless you're directly on loan to that branch. So even a captain from the Solar guard can't order you around unless you're on loan to Celestia." Beam explained quickly with a chuckle. "The Captains don't really care but it really gets on the nerves of sergeants and first classes, the newer officers who are in the middle of a power trip from their promotion."
"Now, onto benefits. You'll have the standard Palace package but it won't really do you any good. Don't get me wrong, you get medical, dental, and life insurance as long as you're employed by the palace no matter what your job actually is, but it won't do you any good with what you said you are. It all comes out of Celestia and Luna's personal pockets to boot. Something about nobles nearly rioting six hundred years ago over it or something, I don't really know the details, so they just pay it themselves and it doesn't cost you a bit in taxes. A little 'thank you' from our local pegacorns for keeping their home and capital city running. I know the Rangers get some good benefits too, but I don't know them off the top of my head or what pays for it."
"Moving on, you're provided housing here but are welcome to rent or buy wherever you want provided your in our sect's region, which is pretty much just Canterlot, Cloudsdale, and Ponyville. At the end of our hall, the last four doors are barracks, though I call them that loosely. They each lead to other halls and every member has their own room complete with a small kitchenette, bathroom, and bedroom. Food's your own problem though but we usually have 'family dinners' once or twice a week I hope you'll join. Anyway, the back two doors are for those who are permanently stationed here, and the closer two are for any Hunters visiting Canterlot and aren't quite as nice as ours- they get the good rooms back in their own sects. Oh, and the mare side is on the left and the stallions on the right. There aren't technically any rules about going into the opposite gender's area, but if you decide to get intimate with somepony then you're expected to either keep it quiet or take it to a hotel- nopony wants to listen to that."
"Now, I'm tired of talking so if you don't have any questions, Iron's prolly gonna give you a tour of the place." With a teasing smile, Beam finally climbed off of him and stretched. Her tail flicked him in the face playfully before she hurried out the door with a smirk toward him. "If you actually end up needing me, I'll be napping in my room."
Once Beam was out the door and it closed, Star gave a small chuckle. "You did good putting up with her, Jay. I could barely stand her when I first got taken on as an apprentice, but you didn't seem to care at all. Just don't go getting your hopes up if you want to actually try to bed her. Aqua wasn't kidding when she said she's pretty sure Beam's never been laid."
Iron rose to his hooves as well and gave Daedalus a respectful nod. "Officially, welcome to the Tartarian Hunters, Capital Sect. Now c'mon, I'll show you around. Once you get past the main door, we offer functionality, not lavishness."
The Evolved gave a parting wave to the other ponies in the room, not surprised to see that Aqua had literally been bored to sleep as Kin and Lightning returned his wave. Daedalus stepped out into the hall and followed Iron straight across into the room opposite the common room. He wasn't surprised to find that it was a large kitchen and dining room combo. With three ovens, each with four stove-top burners, and various other kitchen appliances, it was easily able to handle the entire sect plus any visitors. Off to the right side, there was another large and low table surrounded by cushions for them all to sit at and eat. "Here's the main kitchen. When we have those 'family' dinners Beam mentioned, this is where we all cook and eat something together. You aren't required to join us obviously, but it would be greatly appreciated. It's a good way to bond and get to know the ponies you're risking your life with."
"I'll be joining everyone, don't worry." Daedalus said with a smile with a soft chuckle. "I won't argue about having some more friends."
"Good, we may not be 'traditional' ponies what with being hunters, but we still love a good friend or twelve like anypony else. This kitchen isn't stocked so if a bunch of food suddenly shows up, don't touch it. It's either another Hunter coming to Canterlot for a time since the guest barracks don't have kitchens, or it's food in preparation of a group dinner. Other than that, it's, well, a kitchen and dining room. Not much to be said." They left the kitchen and headed toward the next room as Iron stopped just outside the door. "It completely slipped my mind earlier, but the main door is reinforced. It's made of lunar iron, a special alloy on Luna can make, and very heavily enchanted. On top of all the strengthening enchantments and counterspells weaved into it, it'll also disrupt the illusion magic of changelings, incinerate any undead, and halt any cursed that try to walk through it. Normally, that would mean you also couldn't enter here either if you get cursed out in the field, but you'll be receiving a special token from Luna that'll allow you to bypass the defenses so even if you're cursed you can enter. The token won't work for anypony else either, not even another Hunter. It'll work for you and you alone."
That said, he pushed open the door and they quickly entered. This room varied from the others in the sense that it clearly wasn't a quality of life room. It was large, easily a hundred feet wide and long with a variety of training equipment on the left side. Everything from targets to strange, ponified exercise equipment sat on the left side of the room. On the right side was a shimmering orange barrier identical to the one he had fought inside already, as long as the room and a third the width. "This is the exercise and training area. It's got targets, equipment, and even our own miniature arena. If you enter with two ponies, it works exactly like the one you used with Luna. However if you enter alone and say 'Discordian Arena, activate,' then it'll begin creating hard magic constructs to combat you. Based on your thoughts, it can create anything from demons to timberwolves to chimeras to other ponies, though it won't live up to the real thing. It's also the only one with this feature."
"Discordian Arena?"
"Discord wanted to make sure we all knew who made it." Iron chuckled.
The next room sparked Daedalus' interest far more than the previous as it seemed to be some odd combination of lab and metal workshop. In the far right corner, a dimly burning forge sat encased in a magical barrier that blocked the smell of the smoke and the heat of the fire. Chemistry equipment sat on the left side of the room, and what seemed to be stereotypical alchemy equipment sat on the close right, over complicated tubing included. "I think I'll be most interested in here."
Iron chuckled, nodding. "You seemed like the type. As a whole, we've got poisons covered but Beam only really dabbles in other types of potion making. Of course, what you choose to learn is whatever you choose, but we'd appreciate a potion maker if you find somepony who can teach you. Most of our armor is custom made by Luna and enchanted by Aqua, but you're also free to use the forge whenever if your built in weaponry won't cut it. I expect you to have at least one silver and one sunsteel blade for creatures not affected by mortal iron or steel, or whatever yours are made of. Until you learn how to make them, we'll be able to cover you pretty easily. Everypony keeps spares of pretty much everything."
They skipped over the second to last doors on each side and the last door on the left as Iron led him to the stallion's permanent barracks. This door led to another, even smaller hallway that had eight rooms, four on each side. Iron led him to the second one on the right. Like Beam had said, this was going to be his bedroom. When they entered the room, the door led immediately into a small kitchenette furnished with an oven, a toaster, a small table, and two cushions side by side. Past that, there was a short hallway with a door on either side. Right led to a small bathroom that was pretty standard to what he expected, if a little ponified in height and shape, while the left led into a simple bedroom. A bed just big enough for him dominated the center left of the room with a single dresser at the foot facing out. There was also just enough walking space for a large pony to loop around the bed and to a small closet. "It's not much, but hey, it's better than sharing a room with eleven other stallions plus it's free. Everypony's got the same size and space, so if you want or need something bigger you'll have to rent or buy elsewhere. Otherwise, it's yours. We don't care what you do with it, just keep it clean. Nopony wants to walk in and smell mold and sex or kick away a dozen cider bottles on the floor. Anything you want to ask?"
"Nope, none at all. Thank you, Iron, and I look forward to working with everyone. I suppose even Beam, too."
Iron smiled a little at his joke. "You'll get used to her. She grows on ya, and it helps the younger ones who come through here feel more confident when they have a pretty mare flirting with them all the time. I can never tell if she's ever serious, though. Anyway, you have fun and get settled in, we'll be around if you ever need to speak to one of us. Once Luna's free of most of her duties, she'll stop by and get you set up with a calling card and Hunter token and you'll be officially officially a part of us."
With a final nod, Iron turned and left the room. Daedalus sat down on the edge of his bed and found it could easily support his weight, diminished though it was. He was slowly recovering biomass from filtering the air of particulates, but without a proper 'meal' it would taken him about a week to go from human-level density and weight to his standard. Thinking of his genetic abilities reminded him of the DNA sample of Starfall he had taken and stored, but not yet examined. After a second, he turned his attention inward to examine the genetic sequence of the unicorn only to freeze in his track as something decidedly not right became apparent.
As a general rule, DNA didn't change. The genetics you were born with were the genetics you lived with and for the most part it was as simple as that. Unless you brought it advanced procedures like gene therapy or exceptional circumstances like radiation exposure, your DNA remained as it was from your birth. Maybe different genes triggered in different points of your life, but those inactive genes were already there since before your birth. Starfall's genetic code seemingly did not follow this rule.
Try as he might, he couldn't really see her DNA, though he couldn't precisely tell if it was changing either. He could detect that the DNA was there. He could detect that she had forty two pairs of chromosomes, ten more than a horse from Earth. He could detect that the actual structure of the DNA was the same as he expected. But it was as if the DNA was blurry somehow. With no defined edges, he couldn't exactly tell what did what or went where. Willing himself to consume it as he assumed he was experiencing something akin to genetic blindness due to magic, he was shocked to find that his virus didn't even recognized the material as organic. Just as he couldn't consume rock or metal, he couldn't consume this DNA sample either.
Magic, He thought with a derisive sigh. For whatever reason, he was blocked from even examining the unicorn's DNA and the most likely reason, as much as he hated it, was magic being the cause. Laying back on his bed, he thought of what he needed to take care of next.
Next on my list, Cadence. I need to talk to her about Starfall before she heads back to the Empire. |
Daedalus' New World | (10) A Talk with Love | It seemed that pink hearts and clear glass was Cadence's preferred decorating palette. To be fair, it fit her. Her dresser had a collection of glass figurines of what appeared to be her friends and family all set around a heart shaped mirror situated in the center of the vanity. A glass coffee table was in the center of the room with a large glass vase full of pink flower, with two large pink cushions were on either side of the table. A glass chandelier hung from the ceiling far above with wax candles burning with merry pink flames, somehow. A large pink and blue canopy bed dominated the far corner, clearly what she shared with Shining Armor when they were here instead of the Empire.
Cadence, the ever pink alicorn, was laying on one of the couches across from him as she drank from her cup of tea and gave him a knowing smile. Daedalus returned her look with an exasperated one as he realized she already knew what he was here for, why, and for who. He was proven right when she spoke. "Sooooo~?"
"So?" Daedalus asked with a convincing level of confusion. She gestured for him to take a seat so he did as he settled into the surprisingly plushy cushion.
"How far did you two gooo~?" Cadence teased with a bright smile as she waggled her eyebrows at him. When he didn't respond to her teasing, she just sighed and levitated a steaming cup of tea over to him which he gratefully accepted. "You're no fun."
"She doesn't agree." Daedalus let up as he smiled softly. Her eyes went wide for a second before she understood, then gave him a sad pout.
"You're mean." She whined softly. She held it for a second as Daedalus just smirked at her before she broke, soft giggles filling the room as she smiled widely at him again.
Daedalus nodded and returned her smile with one of his own. "Teasing aside, I honestly did come here for your advice with Star."
"I assumed as much." Cadence said with a grin. "Tell me about her~"
Daedalus set his cup of tea down as Cadence leaned toward him, eager to hear what he had to say. "Silver Starfall, one of Celestia's lance corporal's. A tall mare with a pretty silver coat and blue mane. When I was going to meet with Celestia and Luna and told them about what I was, she gave me some good advice and helped me relax. Then, after everyone left the room after my duel with Luna, she met me outside and asked to keep me company as I explored Canterlot. We got a little off track though and just ended up eating out at some restaurant I never got the name of and had a pretty good time."
"Oh." Cadence said with slight disappointment that it wasn't some whirlwind story about one of them sweeping the other of their feet or hooves. That disappointment lasted only a second before she perked up again. "Oooooh, her! I know Starry, she's a very sweet mare. I can definitely see why she'd be interested in you. How did she go from your tour guide to a possible partner in a single day, other than what obviously turned into a date?"
"She was very forward in her interest with me. In all honestly, if she hadn't, I wouldn't even be thinking about a possible partner for probably years in this world." Daedalus explained with a chuckle. When she gestured for him to go on, he explained more. "After we left the restaurant, we started to head back to the castle since the sun was setting. When we passed one of the gardens in the street, she offered me a rose."
Daedalus would have said more but he was interrupted by a flash and crack of magic as Cadence teleported across the table to his side. With a very serious expression on her muzzle, she pressed her hoof to his chest as she spoke sternly. "What did you do? Leave absolutely nothing out, this is very important."
"Before I even could do anything, she pulled it back and asked if I knew what that gesture meant. I told her what it meant to humans but it wasn't the same, so she told me what it meant here in Equestria. After she explained the different ways a stallion could respond, I took the rose, put it in my hair, and then kneeled down and hugged her." The Evolved explained as he gently grabbed her hoof and pushed it back from him. She let it fall to the side and gave him an approving nod.
"Good because I would have beat you black and blue if you had refused to take the flower. Now, I'm guessing you're here for advice from me on where to go from here?" Cadence inquired as she leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Well, more than just that. I need to know about pony culture in general and you seem like the best person for me to go to. Like, this right here? Your head on my shoulder? Not always, but in most cases that's romantic. If I'm going to actually do this with her, I need to make sure I do it right. So, honestly, I need to know everything." Daedalus explained sheepishly as he gave Cadence a smile. "I hope you don't mind helping."
With a bright smile, the Alicorn of Love leaned in and nuzzled Daedalus gently. Then she placed a hoof on his chest again and slowly pushed him. "Lay down."
The Evolved just mentally shrugged and went along with it as he turned and laid down on his back on the cushion. Cadence quickly settled down next to him and rested her head on his chest just before she draped a wing across him. "What does a position like this mean to you?"
"It's pretty much something only partners would do for humans."
Cadence shook her head. "Not what it means for humans. You aren't human. What does it make you feel?"
Daedalus hesitated for a moment before he brought up his hand and gently began to run in through her mane. She gave an approving hum before he slowly answered her. "...It's comfortable. It doesn't feel romantic, and it's not awkward even though I think it should be."
Cadence giggled and nodded as her mane brushed against his face. "It doesn't feel romantic because it's not, even though that's what you're used to. It doesn't feel awkward because there's no reason it should. Ponies are very physically inclined. Although words are always nice, a snuggled pony is a happy pony. We look for little bits of physical affection from friends and family. A hug here, a cuddle there, it all means so much more to us than just nice words. Humans are not the same?"
"My culture wasn't, but I'm sure some were. Where I was raised, physical affection was primarily between family and that was mostly hugs. Something like this was reserved for romantic partners."
"There's a lot of physical contacts that can occur between friends. It's a pretty good idea to always give your friends a nuzzle, boop, or hug whenever you feel like it. Even a pony having a bad day wouldn't say no, they'd probably want it more. Even snuggling like we are now, if you're just relaxing or spending time with a friend. There's no romantic undertone to any of it, it's just something that's comfortable and helps you feel closer to your friends. I think we also mentioned that friends will help preen wings as well. In general, a pony is always happy to receive a little bit of affection. As long as you keep your hands away from flanks, back legs, and tails, then you're pretty much safe to touch any part of a pony's body without it being taken the wrong way. The only other spot to worry about are teats on a mare, but they're easy enough to avoid as long as you stick to the front of a pony's barrel." Cadence explained as she purposely fluttered the wing draped across his body. He took the clear hint and gently grasped it as he ran his fingers across her extra soft feathers.
"Just like that." Cadence sighed happily as she snuggled further into his surprisingly warm body. "When you find a feather that's bent, pluck it out. You probably won't though, I keep my wings in good shape and don't fly a lot. Now, just as physical contact is an integral part of pony culture, so is love. Romantic love is an absolutely magical thing that everypony wants to experience. I'd even say it's a driving factor of Equestrian society. As a general rule, ponies are extremely trusting but also trustworthy. Cheating is incredibly rare and relationships rarely end badly. When a mare knows who she wants, she'll go for it because there's very little risk. Sure, the couple might not work out. Maybe they don't have much in common, or one partner has a habit that is troublesome for the other, but it almost always ends mutually and the two part amicably, a little more experienced and a little wiser."
"That's the case with Starfall. She knows she's interested in you. I doubt she's in love with you but she is interested in you, so she's pursuing you. Now, something to keep in mind is that when you took that flower and hugged her, you didn't commit to a relationship with her. I'm not suggesting you go bar hopping looking for another mare, but you asked me to explain everything so I am. You told her you were interested in her and wanted to see where things went, but you didn't commit yet so don't go thinking you're in a relationship with her. The next few weeks will be the two of you spending time together, getting to know each other, and learning more about the other. When one of you feel like you're ready to commit, you'll ask the question."
"The question?"
"'Will you be my mare/coltfriend?'" Cadence answered with a smile. "Until one of you ask that question, you're not dating. Until then, she's going to pursue you pretty hard. Mares are pretty competitive when it comes to claiming their stallions and she's going to do everything she can to make sure your eyes are on her alone, at first."
"...At first?" Daedalus asked hesitantly. He wasn't sure he liked the sound of that.
Cadence rolled over onto him as she rested fully on him. She wiggled in place for a solid minute as she struggled to get comfortable on him, something that was made much easier when he lowered the density on the front of his body. "The gender skew. Stallions are outnumbered three to one, so a mare that's slow to act is a mare that risks losing their stallion to another. Of course, once she's got her claim on you, she'll probably want a second or even third mare. Most mares like the idea of a decent sized herd though maybe Starfall will want to be exclusive."
Daedalus sat straight up, forcing Cadence to roll off of him as he gazed at her with a deeply confused and concerned look. "What."
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
Daedalus rubbed his forehead as he tried in vain to dispel a mental tiredness. He was sitting up now and leaned against the table as he ran his hand through his hair. He stared down at the pink alicorn now sitting in his lap as she gave him a suspiciously innocent smile. "Cadence, humans are monogamous so the idea of polygamy not only being common but expected is a very big change for me."
She gave a little shrug as she leaned further into him and rested her head on his shoulder as her wings wrapped around him. As she held him, she continued with a small hum. "When a mare finds a stallion who she truly loves, it's an instinct to share that pony with others she cares about. Whether it's an old instinct from before we were sapient or some form of love magic isn't known, but it's pretty common. But although it's common, it's not the rule. Shining and I are exclusive to each other, after all. Nothing says you have to have a herd."
She gave his cheek yet another soft nuzzle. Daedalus couldn't help but think ponies were onto something with physical affection, the soft fur of her muzzle rubbing against the bare skin of his cheek did feel pretty nice. "However, Starfall may choose to follow that instinct. While the decision is ultimately yours just as much as hers, if I know Starfall at all then I know she's going to want a herd. I know polygamy isn't something you can just adjust to overnight, but I'd like you to at least consider it. A herd is a wonderful thing, Daedalus. It can bring ponies together into such an expression of honest, pure love. If Starfall does approach you about a herd, can I ask you to consider it?"
Daedalus wrapped his arms around the alicorn and hugged her softly and she gave him a little squeeze with her wings in return. Silence reigned between the two of them for several minutes before he quietly answered. "Yeah, I can promise that, Cadence. Besides, I'll have plenty of time to talk to her about it and come to terms with it. It'll just be another thing for me to talk to her about. Polygamy isn't as much as a jump as being a sapient virus."
Cadence giggled and nodded softly. "Yeah, you're right. And don't worry too much about how she'll react when you tell her what you are. Starfall is a sweet mare who's very understanding. She won't be upset with you."
"Thank you, Cadence. Honestly, I really appreciate your help and advice." Daedalus said honestly, gently rubbing the side of her muzzle and earning an appreciative hum.
Then she sat up, giving him an excited smile. "Of course, we're not done yet, Daedalus. I've still got plenty to teach you about pony courting~ You're going to be doing a lot of listening for the next couple of hours."
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
It took three hours until Cadence was satisfied he knew enough to not screw up and hurt Starfall's feelings. Thanks to his perfect memory, he wouldn't be forgetting anything he had been told, and he had been told plenty. Cadence had taught him everything from how to properly take a mare out on a date to how to ensure everyone in his herd was content. She had even told him the signs of heat, little tricks to resist the tempting pheromones, and how to properly satisfy his partner without risk of pregnancy. Frankly, Daedalus had learned a bit more than he had cared to but he supposed it was a good thing.
Cadence gently tapped her nose against Daedalus' as she nudged him toward the door. "I think we've covered everything you need to know and more. Why don't you head to one of the courtyards and get some fresh air, hmm? Warm up in the sunlight, relax, and think on everything I've told you."
"Yeah, that does sound good. I think I'll take that advice, Cadence." Daedalus gave her a gentle hug as he put his newfound knowledge on pony affection to use. "Oh, and call me Jay."
"Jay?" She asked as she tilted her head slightly in confusion.
"My real name. Jay Fontenot. I took the name Daedalus after I became what I am to avoid people tracking me back to my family. I figured now that I don't really need to hide anymore I could go back to using my actual name." He explained and briefly ran his fingers through her mane as she smiled brightly at him.
"Okay, Jay. Have a great day and don't forget what I've told you here~"
"Trust me, I won't. I couldn't even if I wanted to." Jay said with a small smirk as she chuckled understandingly. He turned and made his way out of her room and back into the hallway. Just as when he entered, two Heart Guards stood outside the entrance to her chambers and they both turned and gave him a respectful nod. He left that segment of the castle and made his way back toward the Hunter's barracks only to stop a few hallways before the entrance as a sudden thought caused him to turn right and slip out a side door and into a large, open air courtyard. It was a peaceful area with a large gazebo in the center of the area. A little stream burbled merrily through the area as wild flowers grew all around. A layer of cool grass made even the ground comfortable.
Daedalus ignored the gazebo and instead moved to where the stream flowed out from a small grate in the wall. The soft splashing sound was soothing to his jumbled emotions and as he worked to get them under control, he found himself more and more relaxed as he sorted through his feelings. I've been here like three days. I've already been employed by prestigious monster hunters, met a mare who's interested in me and wants to see where things lead, and been exposed to raw magic that apparently tied my emotions to my soul.
That had been part of his lessons with Cadence. He hadn't brought up his dream to her or even told her after she had described what he had seen perfectly, but it added up. The reason why ponies were tied so closely to love and friendship unlike other species such as dragons, griffins, and diamond dogs was literally because of magic. The 'magic of emotions,' as Cadence called it, was so imprinted into Equestria that the very land and air was imbued with it. Any foreigner who came and stayed in Equestria would soon be connected to the magic. She had said it was why most griffins in their homeland were rude and brutish, but Equestrian-born griffins or ones who had moved to Equestria were generally far nice and friendlier.
Almost everyone who described it had described a dream where they were suspended in a viscous pink fluid. As the dream progressed, the gel would stream into the dreamer until it was all gone. When they woke, they would feel all their emotions so much stronger and clearer than before. It also apparently made it very difficult to go home as the magic would fade with distance from Equestrian shores until everything felt grey and lifeless. It was apparently something Celestia and Luna had mixed feelings about as it helped keep Equestria the peaceful and friendly love it is, but they felt it was a dangerous thing to change the feelings of creatures that come to Equestria. Apparently, any visitors had to go through a small class warning them of the the magic of emotions and that if they stayed too long in Equestria, they likely wouldn't want to go home.
After he heard this straight from the Alicorn of Love's muzzle, he understood he had most likely experienced the same thing. The ambient magic of Equestria had tried to boost his kinder emotions only to find none and instead tied them to his very soul, and no amount of viral control over his physical body would allow him to affect his soul. However, he would be lying to himself if he said he was unhappy with the change. He could truly care for others now, not just the synthetic care he felt before. Although, the Princess had described that the dreamers only saw pink, not the kaleidoscope of colors he had seen during his dream.
A weight settled on his legs and snapped him out of his thoughts as he tuned back in to the world around him. A pair of familiar pink eyes gazed out from under a Solar guard helmet and met his own. Whether she was shirking her duty, on break, or had just gotten off work, Starfall had found him and decided to join him. She pulled her helmet off and dispelled the disguising enchantment just before the Evolved reached out and cupped her cheek and gently brushed her fur with his thumb. She returned his smile with one of her own and nuzzled into his hand as she answered his confused look. "Princess Cadence told me where you'd be, and I'm on lunch right now."
He nodded in understanding before he reached down to wrap his arms around her barrel. Starfall gave a surprised squeak at being suddenly picked up but relaxed quickly as he held her close to his chest and began to run his hand through her mane. A content little coo sounded from the happy pony in his arms as she rested her head on his shoulder and got comfortable, ready to spend her break in the best way she could think of. Daedalus couldn't help but notice the warmth growing his chest as he held the soft mare and gave a pleased smile as he rested his head on top of hers, carefully minding her horn. |
Daedalus' New World | (11) Heart to Heart | Some time later, Daedalus became aware of Starfall shifting on him as she let out an unhappy noise. After a moment of procrastination, she slowly rose and stretched as she arched her back and let out a happy little coo. As she stretched, Daedalus couldn't help it as his eyes roamed over her form, taking in the sight despite her shiny armor. Even without being a pony, he knew she was attractive. Tall among ponies, she easily matched the height of Twilight and came just up to his chest when they were both standing. Her silver coat gleamed in the sunlight and, as he knew from the experience, was carefully cared for and incredibly soft to the touch. Her midnight mane framed her head in a short, simple curls that kept it out of her face when it was in her helmet. She opened her eyes and caught him blatantly staring with a small smile on his face as her eyes met his own. A deep care glimmered in those gentle portals, not yet love but not far from it either.
He could see it on her face, she had considered teasing him for staring for a second before she changed her mind. Instead, she leaned in close and planted a soft kiss on his cheek as he reached up and gently cupped her muzzle, his thumb caressing her own cheek in return. "I thought you had fallen asleep."
"I wasn't far from it, Star. You're comfortable." Daedalus said truthfully. It had been very tempting to just fall asleep as he had held her.
"Pot to the kettle." She retorted as she smiled happily at him. "You're surprisingly warm for somepony with no coat. I could sleep all day if I'm not careful, even if you are a little hard to lay on."
"Could make it a day just for us." Daedalus offered as her face lit up in excitement.
"That sounds wonderful. It'll have to be another day, though. I've got to check back in with my corporal and then get back on my patrol."
Glancing up at the sky, Daedalus saw the sun was about halfway between noon and setting. "You won't be off until after dark, will you?"
"No, I won't. Then I've gotta polish my armor and clean my bunk for inspection tomorrow. Will I see you tomorrow?" She asked as her eyes drifted shut. She leaned into the hand that cupped her cheek with a content little smile.
"I'd like that. Today's Friday, right? When's your next day off?"
"Sunday." Starfall answered an quickly gave him a gentle boop before she stepped back. "I've really gotta go back. If I don't, I'll stay here with you all day and get fired."
"I know. I would too. Have fun, Star." Daedalus said, giving her a playful smile.
She snorted and returned his smile. "Fun, sure. Walking through the halls for another six hours before heading back to clean a room I share with eleven other mares. I'd prefer to stay with you but I rather like being able to buy food and take you out sometimes~"
She levitated her helmet back up to her head as the illusion quickly took hold. Her colors changed back to the pure white coat and lighter blue mane that was standard for the guards. Giving him one last smile, she turned around and exited the courtyard as she returned to her duties. Letting out a contented sigh, Daedalus let his head rest back on the grass. He really had been on the edge of falling asleep with her. Despite not needing sleep and having nigh-infinite stamina, he felt tired. Not physically of course, but more mentally from the busy day. He had met his sect of the Tartarian Hunters then had a several hour long talk with Cadence. While he truly did appreciate all of it, her lessons had shifted from pony love to pony sex far quicker than he had anticipated and it had been pretty embarrassing when she got to heat. Not to mention, laying there for what was probably nearly an hour with a warm feeling in his chest hadn't helped his tiredness at all.
"Somepony's been busy~" Daedalus heard a familiar voice call out teasingly. Opening his eyes again, he looked toward the entrance to see Celestia entering. Giving her a small smile, he beckoned her over to him. Walking over with a serene smile, she took a seat next to him. "First you get introduced to the Hunters. Then you have the talk with Cadence, probably learning more than you ever wanted to this quickly. And finally, I find you out here snuggled up with one of my Guards who's acting like a filly with a crush~"
"Things are happening far too fast." Daedalus answered honestly as he stretched. Celestia paused, having expected him to tease back like he did before. Celestia instead wrapped her wings around him and gently pulled him into her. When her large wings wrapped around him, he chuckled softly. "Though not in a bad way. It's just hard to keep up with all that's happened today and yesterday."
She giggled softly and gently nuzzled her soft muzzle into his cheek. "Talk to me, Jay. It doesn't need to make sense, just air out some of those silly thoughts in your head for me."
"I've only been here three days now." Daedalus explained as he leaned his head side. "I think I'm adapting well and Cadence helped a lot in that regard as she taught how important physical affection is for ponies. She calmed a lot of my fears with Starfall but, still. Everything is happening so quick. Then there's my emotions."
"Your emotions?" Celestia asked curiously.
"I'm a virus. I don't have natural emotions. Everything I felt was because I decided I wanted to feel it. But after a dream I had last night, I can't control my emotions. I'm not unhappy with that change, but it's something I'm having to adjust to." Daedalus explained.
"Pink gel flowing into you?" The white alicorn asked as her muzzle softly brushed through his hair as she nuzzled the top of his head again.
"Yeah. I didn't tell Cadence about it but she mentioned it as part of her 'talk.' I know it's the ambient magic in Equestria connecting my emotions to my soul." As he nodded, she squeezed him tighter with her wings before pulling back. A hoof touched his cheek, turning his head to look at her.
Her magenta eyes met his light blue ones and he felt her aura surround him. As the sense of belonging overcame him, he found him wild emotions calming as she continued to look into his eyes. She gave him a moment as she watched the stress in his eyes fade before she spoke. "Oh, you sweet, silly man. You have nothing to worry about. Yes, things are progressing quickly, but can you look me in the eyes and say it's bad?"
"No, I really can't. Starfall... I like her. I definitely do. Being part of the Hunters will be good, too. I'll be able to help a lot of ponies and save lives." Daedalus explained. The white alicorn smiled softly and gave him a third nuzzle as her nose gently rubbed against his own.
"Then don't worry about it, Jay. If the changes aren't bad, let them come. Take them in stride, trust your friends, and enjoy life. After all, I don't see why you wouldn't be happy with a pretty mare crushing on you and an attractive goddess hugging you~" Celestia said, ending with a teasing smile as mirth twinkled in her eyes. Reaching up and cupping her muzzle, he gently caressed the short fur with his thumb.
"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were flirting with me, Celestia." He said with a small smile.
"Who said I'm not~?" She cooed with a light pink blush on her muzzle, closing her eyes and leaning into his hand. Feeling him freeze for a second, her smile widened as she giggled. "Don't worry, Jay, I'm not going to make things harder on you. Once you're comfortable with Starfall, though, I make no promises~"
"A-ah." Daedalus said, not quite sure what to say to that. It didn't help when she gave him a knowing smile, winking playfully. "You're horrible."
"I make things fun." She said confidently. Pushing him back onto his back, she followed him soon after and folded her legs under her, resting part of her upper body on him. "Half teasing aside, how do you feel about Equestria now that you've met some other ponies?"
"Half teasing?" He asked her and only received an innocent look in return. "Anyway, I like Equestria. I've already told you that I think I could come to see this place as home and that's completely true. More than that though, I enjoy the ponies here too. All the physical affection isn't something I'm used to, but it's nice."
"I bet it is." Celestia smirked, leaning further onto him. "Especially when you're surrounded by pretty mares~"
"Hush, Celestia." Daedalus said with a chuckle and reached up to run his hand through her hair. Despite the magical appearance of her mane, it only really felt like tingly, soft hair.
"Nah, I know you enjoy it." She giggled softly. "I know I would."
Falling into a comfortable silence, Celestia hummed happily at his attention. With her soft fur brushing against his skin and a pair of warm wings draped over his body, Daedalus couldn't help but think how lucky he was. Of all the worlds he could have been brought to, this was the one. It could have been a corrupt nation, a place of greed, or horrors even worse than the Evolved. Instead, he got very snuggly ponies.
"So about that flirting." Daedalus said after a moment as he looked down at the alabaster alicorn.
Looking back up at him from where her head was resting on his chest, she gave a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry if I bothered you with that, but it wasn't just a tease."
Letting his head fall back to the grass, he sighed softly before he started to slowly chuckle. He felt her muzzle maneuver its way into the crook of his neck as she continued. "The life of an immortal is lonely, Jay. There aren't a lot of male immortals on Equis and none of them are not what I would call 'friendly'. The only one I could name is Discord and I shudder to think of a relationship with him. Then you come along. Calling it a rocky start would put it lightly, but the Elements resolved the issue, and then you came here to Canterlot. You show my sister and I complete trust by telling us what you are and what your past is, quickly cementing yourself as a friend. You befriended my sister almost instantly and get along with her well. Despite the fact that you could literally do nothing for eternity since you don't need food, you instead decided to join the Hunters to help ponies. You could argue that it was Luna's boon, but you could have easily had it considered unfair since you'd be risking your life."
"Then you meet Starfall and she becomes interested in you. Instead of rejecting her, you go out of your way to learn how courting works in our society. Then when you learn how much ponies rely on physical affection, you immediately start showing it and making those close to you feel more cared for. Even in a completely strange world out of your element in a hundred ways and with your entire life changing overnight, you focus on fitting in with those around you. I can't help but find you attractive." Celestia said honestly, reaching up and pressing her hoof against his cheek. Her pink eyes shone with something he couldn't quite identify, simultaneously looking so confident yet so vulnerable. "Truth be told, I probably shouldn't have said anything. You have enough on your mind with Starfall and learning how to show love like a pony and you don't need to worry about anything else. But I had already stuck my hoof in my mouth and I wasn't going to back down. For now, just focus on Starfall, Jay. Once you're settled with her for better or for worse, then we'll talk."
Reaching up and gently grasping her hoof, he stroked the silky fur as he met her eyes, the same powerful calm helping him keep his head on straight. "Truth be told, it's not as bad as you might think. If I had been a normal human, I think I'd be struggling a lot more than I am now. Celestia, I was a slave to a genocidal god who used a mutant zombie apocalyptic virus to try to destroy the world. Going to a world where ponies are very open about what they're looking for is a cakewalk. I had years to adapt to what I had become, what my world had become, and having it change again is nothing strange to me. Especially since it changed for the better. My virus ensured my emotional state never changed because I didn't have an emotional state."
Resting his forehead against hers and minding the large horn, he closed his eyes and sigh. "Mentally, I'm a Greater Evolved. Emotionally, though, I'm still a human. That comes together into a complicated mix of 'I don't know what I'm feeling.' Side by side, I simultaneously have no issue with dating a pony but I'm scared of the idea of polygamy. Like you said, a part of me is okay with it. After all, the idea of having two attractive mares interested in me sounds nice. Another part of me finds it terrifying. I could screw up twice and hurt two people I care about, not just one."
Nodding in understanding, Celestia leaned in and gently nuzzled her nose to his own. "Then don't worry about it. Maybe in a year you'll have no issue with it and think you're being silly now. In my opinion, just focusing on yourself and Starfall is the best thing you can do for now. Okay?"
Giving her an appreciative smile, he nodded. "Okay. I'll try not to keep you waiting, though."
"I've waited two thousand years for a good stallion. Even a hundred more is nothing in the grand scope of my life." Celestia said with an honest smile. "For now, just get comfortable and keep brushing my mane. I'm still free for the next twenty minutes."
Laughing, Daedalus nodded as he brought his hand back up to her mane. "Alright, Celestia."
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
Celestia was startled as the door to her bedroom was suddenly flung open as Luna entered with a happy smile on her muzzle. Gently closing the door behind her, she hurried over to Celestia's bed and climbed in, the plush mattress easily able to handle their combined weight. She scooted closer to Celestia until their sides were touching and gave her older sister a hopeful look. With an understanding smile, Celestia draped a large white wing over the midnight blue alicorn and softly nuzzled her. "Why, hello there my little Moon~"
"Fancy meeting you here~" Luna responded playfully, snuggling deeper into her sister's embrace as she rested her head on Celestia's outstretched hooves. "How was thine day?"
"It was a good day. I caught up on about a tenth of my paperwork and released a statement on Jay, so hopefully he won't receive as much staring next time he goes into Canterlot now that ponies know about him. Although, I did buck up." Celestia said, giving Luna a sheepish look as the smaller alicorn looked up at her, eyes narrowed. "I maaay have mentioned that I was attracted to him and considering pursuing him."
"Sister." Luna gave an exasperated sigh but couldn't hold it against her, instead leaning in to nuzzle Celestia's neck. "Why did you do that? You know we were going to wait to avoid overwhelming him, especially after Starfall beat us to it."
Celestia gave an embarrassed whine, a pink dusting on her muzzle betraying her feelings. "I know, little Moon, but we were talking in one of the courtyards and he was confiding in me and we were holding each other and then a tease just slipped out. I already stuck one hoof in my mouth and I didn't want to try to play it off in case I made him think I was incredibly not interested in him, so I just told him the truth and explained it, and promised that I wouldn't pursue him until he was comfortable with Starfall."
"Did you tell him about us?" Luna asked, giving her sister a look. "We agreed we'd both be there for that."
She shook her head. "No, I didn't. I didn't want to give him even more to think about. We had a heart to heart, though, and he's not as overwhelmed as we thought he was. The ambient magic of Equestria has already touched him and his emotions are far stronger than before, but he said he's happy with the change."
Luna glanced down, a small smile coming to her muzzle even as it tinted red. "I imagine he'll be quite happy when he finds out he has both of us pining after him."
Celestia giggled, nodding her head. "Well, once he's gotten used to the idea of a herd. He was raised to be strictly monogamous and, though a lot of who he was has changed, he's still emotionally the same as he was before he became what he is."
Nodding her head, Luna sighed. "I suppose that is going to be hard to adjust to. Do you think Starfall could do it?"
"Absolutely. That mare has always wanted a big herd. She's a force to be reckoned with when it comes to getting what she wants. And she'll have us helping her." Celestia giggled, thinking about the Solar Guard. "He won't stand a chance."
"What do you mean, sister?" Luna asked, looking up at her sister with confused, innocent eyes.
Celestia gave her sister an alluring smile, making Luna blush heavily as she realized what her sister was getting at. Celestia leaned in and gently nibbled on the tip of Luna's ear and gained a small squeak before whispering softly. "With the three of us teasing him, no male could ever resist us for long~ By the end of the year we'll have Jay between the three of us."
Blushing hard, Luna turned her muzzle to catch Celestia's, turning the little tease into a gentle kiss. |
Daedalus' New World | (12) Zuri | The next few days flew by in Jay's opinion. Nothing in particular happened. No special events, nothing really exciting, it had just been a week of settling in. Truth be told, he loved it. It was a far cry from before where a special event was destroying a city and killing millions or where something exciting was a fight for his life. Each day, he stayed with Starfall during her lunch in the same courtyard. Sometimes she ate before coming, other times she brought food with her. He had even ordered takeout from Genevieve's restaurant to surprise her, something that had made her really happy as they ate together and snuggled in the shade of the high walls with clear blue sky far above them. For the first few days, he didn't see much of Celestia or Luna and assumed Celestia was keeping her distance out of worry of making things harder on him. Though he had ended up finding out she had just fallen behind on paperwork as she focused on helping him settle into his new home and it had finally caught up to her to the point she couldn't delay it anymore. To make up for it, he started keeping her company while she did said paperwork, though he obviously couldn't help as it was all classified to him. He had also chosen not to watch her hold court, but instead joined her and Luna for dinner.
On Luna's hoof, she had gone back to a night routine as she cited something about guarding dreams, but he hadn't asked for clarification at the time. She had also given him his calling card and Hunter's token and was told to keep them both on him at all times. As long as he kept his calling card on him, he would be able to receive letters from any of the four Princesses or any of the Hunters in his sect. Truthfully, he had been told anyone could send him a message as long as they knew his magical imprint, something all living creatures in this world had and something he had gained after he had been exposed to the emotion magic permeating Equestrian soil. However, that meant nothing in the realm of using magic and he still needed to rely on the enchanted Hunter's token, which Luna had slightly modified to allow him to send messages. 'Stored inside the latent matrices of the spellweave' as Luna had put it, the imprints of the Princesses and Hunters were stored. All he had to do was think of who he wanted to send a message to and tap both his token and his calling card to the scroll and it would dissolve into smoke and fly away.
The token itself was actually very well designed. It was made of a silvery metal that Luna had called moonsilver, an alloy that she and select few others could create. Engraved on both sides was a large manticore in the center of a triangle with each point comprised of a dive bombing pegasus, a bucking earth pony, and a casting unicorn. Behind it all was a stylized representation of Canterlot Castle which signified that the token belonged to a Hunter of the Canterlot sect. The medallion normally only had two spells enchanted into it normally. The first was a simple enchantment that would cause the moonsilver to glow when held and focused on by the Hunter it was attuned to, which ensured no one could pose as a Hunter successfully. The second spell allowed him to enter into any of the Tartarian Hunter compounds across Equestria. Each one had the same protective enchantments on the sole entrance and could not be physically opened by any means, and took the presence of a token or the might of an alicorn to open magically. Beyond that, Luna had claimed nothing less that the force needed to turn steel to sand would be needed to force the doors open and Jay found himself tempted to test that claim.
His time with the Hunters hadn't been wasted, either. Among their sect, he had almost immediately become the favorite sparring partner for everyone except Aqua Dome. For almost everyone, his ability to rapidly shift between various methods of attack and defense made him great practice for them. He could go from fighting Iron with a sword and shield to wildly swinging massive, nigh-unbreakable claws in seconds and forced them to become more versatile. Beam had even said it was some of the best practice she had gotten in years, far outmatching the hard magic constructs the arena could summon. For Aqua, dueling him was good practice for if her magic ran out but was otherwise useless. Lack of magic of any sort had made him incredibly susceptible to even the most basic of telekinesis. Strength great enough to crush steel could be immediately halted by a telekinetic grip, though Aqua claimed it was far harder to stop him if he was already moving. She had even figured that if he was moving at full speed and swinging as hard as he could, it was possible Twilight couldn't even stop him with her magic. For his part, he had learned that being completely restrained in a telekinetic sheet didn't stop him from creating new limbs, but Aqua had wizened up to that trick and started to catch his newly formed limbs before they could hit her.
Jay had even made the decision to write to Twilight and ask why the emotional magic that gave him his imprint hadn't helped him overcome his natural weakness, but that had been a mistake. One long range teleport and three hour lesson later and even his photographic memory didn't help him understand everything she had seen, even if he could repeat it. The only thing he took out of the session was that there were three classes of magic called active, passive, and ingrained, and that emotional magic was ingrained and the weakest type but also somehow the strongest, and that he would need active or at least a strong passive to fix that particular flaw of the virus.
Either way, the constant dueling kept them all at the ready. Not having a hunt for nearly a week was rare to the Canterlot Sect, but far from unheard of. Even if they didn't get called out soon, one of their bimonthly hunts was coming up anyway. Specifically, it was one scheduled in the Everfree Forest. One way or another, he would be attending a hunt in a few days. On another, unrelated note, he had even gotten everyone caught up on his name and explained that Daedalus was just a pseudonym he had taken to protect his family after his infection- though he had kept that little tidbit to himself when he had told Starfall. Either way, he had finally fully changed from using Daedalus to using Jay Fontenot.
Lastly, Jay had taken to exploring Canterlot in his down time, something he had a lot of. A few shops here and there had caught his attention, including one little alchemy shop on one of the larger streets just four blocks down from the restaurant Starfall had taken him too. He had been walking through the streets and almost hadn't even noticed the building before his eyes had caught the 'Help Wanted' sign hanging in one of the windows neatly framed by vines that were coated in pretty orange flowers. When he remembered the Hunters were looking for a more well-rounded potion brewer than Beam, he had given a mental shrug and entered Zuri's Balms, Tonics, and Droughts.
Jay had come to find out that the shop was run by a zebra named Zuri, a young girl in her early twenties who had left her homeland of Zebrica to make a name for herself selling potions in a land that didn't have many alchemists. According to her, it had worked far better than she ever imagined. As the only potion maker in Canterlot, she had more customers than she ever expected. So many, in fact, that she could no longer keep up with the orders even after rejecting about a third of her customers, mostly stallions coming in for potions to make mares fall in love.
The Evolved had explained that he was a new Tartarian Hunter and was interested in learning alchemy to assist the rest of his team. He told her that his schedule was very flexible but whenever he would be called to deploy, he would have to drop everything and go no matter what he was doing. She had thought about it for a minute then, after a moment, decided to accept his apprenticeship, and requested that he bring back any reagents he happened to come across while out in the field. Jay had accepted it and they came to an agreement. At first, she began to discuss pay only for him to dismiss it, citing that his pay from the Hunters was enough for him to live comfortably. Instead, he considered the apprenticeship payment enough for helping the store in his free time. His apprenticeship began the next day.
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
"Alchemy is an incredibly versatile skill. The amount of potions an alchemist can create is theoretically infinite with no known limit on what kinds of effects you can create through them, it's just a matter of discovering recipes. There are books that contain exact recipes for alchemy, but not many. Most alchemists choose to keep their recipes to themselves and only pass them down to their apprentices. I don't publish my recipes but once I've taught you all that I can, whether you choose to publish or keep them to yourselves will be your own." Zuri had closed the store only twenty minutes ago but appeared as eager to get started as he was to learn.
"All potions are created through two or three parts; the base, the primary reagent, and the secondary reagents. The base is the primary liquid needed, most commonly oil or water, and must match the desired potion's properties. Alchemist's fire, for example, is made with cooking oil as a base. Nothing else will work. Nature's growth, on the other hoof, is made with any natural juice as a base." Zuri explained before she glanced to Jay to ensure he was still awake. It would not be the first time an 'aspiring alchemist' fell asleep on her. To her satisfaction, he was very much awake and focused.
"The primary reagent is what truly gives a potion its effect. The method of application varies greatly from pouring in carefully measured powder to just dropping in a few stems or leaves. The most effective method will vary potion to potion and will be one of the many things you need to discover to truly 'master' a potion. For Rest of Mulbane, thirty grams of powdered dream thistle is the most effective method and will put you to sleep for twelve hours, but any other method or amount will work."
"Last comes the secondary reagents, which themselves are divided into two categories; reactive secondaries and additive secondaries. Reactives are reagents that can be used to change the effect of a potion. Magnolia buds can be used to make Mulbane's Late Night, though it's not the most effective and you can't buy magnolia's year round. It's cheaper and more efficient if you brew a Rest of Mulbane first, then add two and a half grams of rose petals and a gram of dandelion stem instead." Zuri paused and glanced at Jay again.
Maybe it would look better if I was taking notes instead of memorizing this on the spot.
"Then there are the additive secondaries. Additives aren't very well documented, but it's widely agreed upon that there are a plethora in nature. These ingredients will add additional affects when mixed with the proper potion, but the requirement of mixing the right potion with the right additive in the right amount is why these are difficult to discover. They can result in anything from increased shelf life, higher potency, longer duration, better taste, and so much more. Alchemist's Fire is a viscous oil that burns hot and long, but is pretty easily snuffed out and doubly so with magic. Add in wood charred by dragon fire and alchemist's now call it Burning Jelly. It'll stick to anything and needs to be completely snuffed of all air and fuel before going out." That earned a look from Jay as she described something similar to napalm, though she didn't notice his concerned gaze on her back.
"Now, more advanced potions get much harder to make. They'll require special equipment, rare ingredients, extra preparations, and a tinge of magic. Most of the simpler potions are created using the innate magic of the plants and ingredients you gather, but thesepotions will need a guiding touch of magic to really bring out their effects. Lover's Endurance won't work if you just throw the ingredients together and bottle it. Not only does the lover's leaf in it need to be steeped in a potion of Lover's Desire, it must also have an imprint of magic from someone who's been intimate with another." Zuri said, smirking softly.
"So to make a sexual stamina potion you have to let the main ingredient soak in an aphrodisiac, then have the potion itself be made by someone who's not a virgin." Jay spoke up finally with a soft chuckle as he shook his head. "Now, what about someone with no magic at all, not even passive magic like an earth pony?"
"Yes, exactly." She laughed, completely unaffected by his blunt way of saying it. "You'll be unable to make some of the higher tiers of potions, but all life contains imprints of magic and that is all that's needed for most. No active spell and no passive channeling is needed, only the barest shred of ingrained magic. Any other questions so far?"
"You mentioned that most plants have innate magic to them and that alchemy can help draw that power out and refine it. How do you know what effects a plant will have?" The Evolved asked, smiling softly.
"There are two ways. Of course, you can always just throw ingredients together and find what works, although this is not always the safest. Most of the time, your potion will just turn into a nasty smelling sludge. However, some ingredients do not like being mixed without proper stabilization and have very messy results, ranging from fire to ice and everything in between. The safer way is a potion called Insight, a simple tonic made from oak bark, grass clippings, and ground up rubies. Drinking this potion will give you alchemical knowledge on any reagent you are holding. Be warned, though, that it'll only last a few seconds. Whether you've randomly discovered something or used a potion to, make sure to write it down lest you forget. There is much more for me to go over such as using enchanted gems to simulate conditions you cannot meet but that is for later."
Rising to her hooves, she took another sip of water before she gestured for him to stand. "Come, I'll have you make your first potion. We'll start with Insight since the ingredients cannot react badly under any condition, even if you completely buck up. It's a very cheap potion but thanks to the time it takes to make it and it's duration, it ends up being a waste to use often. I recommend relying on it only when you must. As you become more experienced in the field, you'll be able to guess at what most plants will do just by your gut feeling. Whenever your gut fails you or you believe a reagent to be volatile, Insight will be your friend."
Following her downstairs from the second floor that served as her living space and into a back room, he found himself in what was clearly her workshop. There was no stereotypical cauldron present which made sense to him since a cauldron like that would make hundreds of potions in one sitting. Instead, the lower marble counters were covered in beakers and flasks with a large six door cabinet on one wall holding many more. Various lengths and shapes of glass tubing sat carefully contained in felt-lined boxes, creating an easily customizable network that could be used for a variety of processes. Another large cabinet and shelf system contained a large mix of materials, nearly everything from wood to clay to drying plants and more. Finally, a long series of shelves spanning half of one wall held a large variety of potions, all neatly labeled. Jay moved over to one of the counters at her insistent nudging, finding himself suddenly nervous.
"Before we continue, is your special talent alchemy?" Zuri asked, turning slightly and nodding toward her cutie mark. It stood out cleanly against her striped fur, being an open-topped red bottle with several green drops falling into it.
Jay shook his head. "No, my kind don't get them."
"That is not an issue. Now Insight uses a base of boiling water. Three strips of oak bark will make the potion itself. Crushed rubies and grass, while not necessary, will improve the effects of the potion and so you'll be using them too. First, start with the base." Zuri directed, beginning the process of guiding him through his first potion step by step.
Jay fell into an easy rhythm as he worked, following her directions to the letter. While the end goal and materials were utterly new to him, the process was very similar to working in a lab as he had done before his infection. Setting up the pony version of a Bunsen burner, Zuri explained to him that an open flame must be directly on all potions that required heat. Boiling the water separately and then adding it to the flask would not work, and as such all alchemical equipment was enchanted to resist high heat. The water soon came to a boil as he stoked the coals, then followed her next direction. Three strips of bark, each three inches long and one inch wide, were cut from a small oak log that had about half the bark missing already and maybe a tenth of the inner wood gone. He dropped the pieces into the glass and expected them to float around, but was shocked as the bark instantly dissolved with a small glimmer of magic and the boiling water turned into a boiling brown liquid.
"That is how you know the ingredient you used will work. Had you added a primary ingredient that did not work with a water base, the magic of alchemy would not have functioned and you'd have soggy reagents. However, this only applies for the primary reagent of a potion. From this point on, you can throw almost anything into the potion and it will accept it. However, results may vary." Zuri said, a wide smirk on her muzzle as she gestured toward the counter itself. When he looked closer, he could just barely make out little cracks in the marble that hinted at breakages and repairs.
Jay nodded and followed her next step. He grabbed a jar that was half full of grass trimming that was somehow neither brown nor mushy, almost appearing as if they were cut that morning. He made his way to one of the smaller balancing scales and set a fifty gram and ten gram weight on one side and began to slowly add grass to the other tray until it was perfectly balanced, the carefully maintained measurement lines on the top matching perfectly. Zuri nodded approvingly as he carefully collected the measured grass and added it to the potion. Again, the grass dissolved with a little glimmer of magic as the water turned a shade of bubbling red. "Keeping your equipment clean and in good condition is of utmost importance as an alchemist. A variance of only a single gram will cause some of your potions to come out fine and some to come out too weak, not even mentioning the risks of a potion violently failing as the wrong ingredient amount is added. Now, five grams crushed rubies."
He returned the jar right where he had found it and earned an approving hum from Zuri. Then he grabbed another sealed jar labeled 'powdered rubies' and was stopped. "No. Crushed rubies. The difference matters."
With a nod of understanding, he placed the jar back in the cabinet and browsed more, soon finding the right jar. Instead of sparkling powder, this jar was full of gemstones that looked as if they had been beaten with a hammer. Crushed, indeed. When Zuri didn't say anything, he took the jar back and carefully measured it as well, adding it to the potion. Immediately, the potion changed from a clear grey to a cloudy orange and he heard Zuri trot over to him.
"Now, the potion is nearly complete, you only need to seal it. Right now, this potion can be safely bottled, sold, and used and will work exactly as intended. However, if you sell this and a pony takes it home and boils it again, they can add their own ingredients to it and it will continue to accept them. That can spell much trouble for an alchemist. If the potion ends up exploding, there's no way to prove whether we sold an unsafe potion or if the customer changed it themselves. As such, you must ensure you seal all potions you make before you sell them. While you are here in my shop, you will leave no unsealed potions, understood? If you do not have the time to finish them, you will not 'start them and come back later.' You will not start them at all. Once you have your own place of work, then you may start and finish potions whenever you like. Clear?"
"Completely. How do I actually seal the potion?"
"The method to seal a potion depends on the base. For boiling water, you will stir it until it changes color one final time. Then you will quickly remove it from the heat and submerge it in water, it doesn't need to be cold but can't be hot. Do not worry, the glass will not shatter. Any alchemically rated glass will be safe." Zuri explained and dispelled his worry about the glass shattering in his hand from the sudden temperature change.
Jay grabbed a dipstick and spent nearly ten minutes stirring the liquid. Eventually, the color changed from a cloudy orange to a cloudy yellow. Unnecessarily using a pair of tongs, he picked up the heated glass and took an offered cork from Zuri, plugging the top. Then he dunked it into a mostly full basin of water at the edge of the counter as it hissed loudly from the heat. When the noise died down, he removed it from the water and grabbed it with his hands. It was still warm, which was not a surprise to him, but not at all hot. One final observation of the potion was that it was no longer cloudy but instead a solid yellow color.
"Good. Now, cork the bottle and store it." After Jay had done so, she continued. "Glue a paper to the bottle and write your name and what the potion is. Ensure you use the blue ink, it is of my own creation and completely erasable. It helps me save on paper and glue."
Now clearly labeled with his name and 'Insight,' Jay set the potion in an empty spot on one of the shelves. "That is your potion. I will not use or sell it without your express permission, and as such it will sit there until you need it. All potions you make will follow the same rules. If you do not label it, I will dispose of it. If you label it and don't put your name, I'll know it's yours but sell or use it anyway. Be responsible. Not all potions are safe and I do not want to hear that you set a filly on fire because you gave her the wrong potion."
"I understand. I'll be careful, I promise."
"Good. You did very well, be proud of that. My first Insight potion was not so quick. I did not mess up, but my measurements weren't so exact. The further you are from the 'proper' ratio and states of the ingredients, the longer it takes to make. I had to stir mine for two hours. Of course, it helps having a calibrated scale instead of guessing." Zuri said, giving a goodnatured nudge to his side. "Now, leave. I want to eat, bathe, and sleep. Your next lesson will be in three days, though you are welcome to come back any time. Even if you only watch, you can learn a lot just by paying attention." |
Daedalus' New World | (13) From One Nightmare to Another | Daedalus was in New York City. He was certain of it. If the massive skyscrapers, the streets full of cars, or the clusters of trash lining the edges of the road didn't give it away, then the utter state of ruin and infection it was in did. The city was once full of life with millions of residents all from various cultures around the world. Yet now it was an utter ruin. The once strong cement buildings were now broken down and crumbling to pieces. Those that hadn't been impacted with massive force or shelled into oblivion by VRF artillery were now host to Hives with giant viral pods hanging off the sides. Though they weren't visible, Daedalus knew that the interiors were full of man-sized pods that served the same purpose - growing the various monsters that Mercer used as his army. Though not as fast as the mutation templates the Greaters could use, the pods were entirely self sufficient and able to produce near endless armies as long as they had access to biomass, and with the amount of dead Blacklight left behind there was plenty to go around.
He felt eyes on him as he gazed across the ruin. It wasn't a surprise. Mercer was usually somewhere near one of these raids.
Even as he watched, one of the large pods hanging off the side of the building began to rip open. It was the last one he was waiting for. The great beast fell from the pod, impacting the ground with an earth shattering thud that rumbled every building within four blocks. As it stood up, Daedalus examined it with an appraising eye. This was the first time these new beasts were being used in battle and Mercer had tasked him with ensuring they had developed properly, as well as stress testing them out in the field.
The beast was massive, easily sixty feet long and twenty feet tall. It mostly appeared like a beetle as six giant legs supported the monster, each one three feet thick and ending in hooves. A small, narrow head turned side to side, taking in the sight of its corrupted world as eight beady black eyes adjusted to the light. Thick, pure white plates of chitin formed a hardy exoskeleton around the monster, protecting it from small arms fire and emplaced weapons. Supposedly. Finally, four giant and razor sharp tusks extended from the beast, capable of impaling just about anything. Daedalus stood up, reaching out across the hivemind and willing the Behemoth to the waiting point where it would join three others of its kind. As its primitive mind received its orders, a great bellow shook the air and Daedalus imagined the sound would be rumbling his very bones had he had them. A few seconds later, the roar was echoed by three more and Daedalus allowed himself a small smirk. The VRF would definitely be scrambling to get ready, though it wouldn't help. Then he stepped off the edge of the building, plummeting to the ground three stories below.
The Greater Evolved impacted the ground hard, shattering the already cracked asphalt under his immense weight. Taking off into a sprint, he connected to every monster he passed and urged it to join the massively growing horde that was beginning to wander after the Behemoth. The slow Walkers were often simply thrown aside by the large Gladiators, each one standing eight feet tall and covered in the same viral plate armor that Mercer himself could use. Every single one of them had a deformed shield of bone on their left arm with some crude variation of a viral weapon on their right. As he ran, he saw claws, tendrils, blades, and even giant fists yet all were crude, imperfect versions of the weapons the Evolved used.
From a collapsed building, a veritable horde of Warpers took to the air, banking hard and flying to land on the Behemoth's back. His viral eyesight allowed him to easily make out the small dog-sized monsters. Canine in nature, each one was equipped with large, scaled wings that allowed them to fly. Because they were physically weak due to a need to keep their weight light, they were best as swarm creatures. With short, spiked growths on their body similar to what hedgehogs had, each one was capable of killing a man in kevlar simple by body slamming him. Further than that, they were able to easily throw a helicopter off balance and causing it to crash just with their numbers.
Two hours later and Daedalus was ready. His 'loyal' army awaiting him, he quickly scaled the side of a tall building and walked to the edge. On his right were six people, all Lesser Evolved. Truth be told, he couldn't be bothered to remember their names. Most were probably going to die here anyway. Turning his attention back to the large, ruined park in front of them, Daedalus couldn't help but smile. All around the trampled trees, rocks pulverized into dust, and the remnants of burned out APCs scattered here and there, a massive viral army awaited. Connecting to the infected, he took a quick head count. "Six hundred Warpers, six hundred Gladiators, four Behemoths, and three thousand Walkers. This'll be easy."
"What are your orders?" One man asked nervously, swallowing as Daedalus turned to regard him with icy eyes.
The Greater Evolved shrugged lightly. "Split the Gladiators, Warpers, and Walkers between all of you evenly. One hundred of the two former and five hundred of the last side by side. You already know what to do and how to do it. With the outpost so heavily outnumbered, there won't be a need for any specific strategy. Just let my Behemoths break the walls and then pour in. Any questions?"
When no one spoke, Daedalus gave the command. Each of the four great monsters began to walk through the streets, two on either street that headed toward the VRF outpost. Jumping away, he felt the smaller monsters form up into something approaching ranks behind the Behemoths as they were directed by the Lessers. A few minutes later and Daedalus found himself on the edge of a large clearing, gazing at the outpost that signified the edge of the infected quarantine zone. Normally, the edge of Blacklight controlled territory would have been unimaginably reinforced. State of the art weapon emplacements, squads of augmented super soldiers, armored and air assets, and enough munitions to flatten the Rocky Mountains. Six months ago, that was the case.
But the VRF were practically in the closest thing to full retreat as they could get. Daedalus knew that twenty miles out a new Red Line was being built, the VRF pulling every trick in the book to anti-virus their defenses. This was just an outpost, the scraps of the scraps that either couldn't have been evac'd fast enough or were chosen as unfortunate sacrifices to slow down the ever expanding tide of Blacklight. A few APCs, an IFV, and a few hundred soldiers. Daedalus saw two manned emplacements totaling four fifties, but that was about it. The only thing that was operational was the wall itself and his Behemoths would soon fix that.
Alarms sounded as VRF scouts spotted the Behemoths that were still a few blocks away. Daedalus frowned but in the end, it wasn't a major issue. The Lessers had just missed at least one man. That, or they had killed the scouts too early and so the lack of a check-in alerted the enemy. Rising, Daedalus gave the attack order to his army of monsters.
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Daedalus was not happy. The attack hadn't gone to shit, necessarily, but it wasn't going flawlessly either. When the Behemoths were just a block away from the outpost, entering into the leveled no man's land that surrounded it, a fast mover had passed overhead. Series of small cluster bombs had been dropped, decimating a portion of his horde and killing one of the Lessers. It would have been worse had his infected been clear of all the buildings as they absorbed a decent portion of the damage, but it had still cut his numbers down by about a fifth.
The walls had been breached just fine, the Behemoth's large tusks and gargantuan strength easily ripping apart the concrete and rebar in mere moments. Hordes of Gladiators tore into the infantry, leaving behind piles of slashed, impaled, and pulverized corpses as standard kevlar armor did nothing to stop the infected. The sound of helicopters in the distance filtered in through the gunfire, screams, and roars. Only a moment later, four Blackhawks crested the no man's land as eight door guns began firing at every non-human thing they could see. With a mental command to the Warpers who no longer had a Lesser, one hundred black beasts filled the air as they swarmed toward the helis even as the door guns turned skyward, each heli taking a different elevation to reduce the risk of friendly fire. Scoffing, Daedalus turned his attention back to the ground as he heard the sound of screeching metal. To his surprise, one of the Behemoths had impaled the IFV on it's tusks then began to use it as a weapon against the APCs. Reaching out to it, he felt that no other Evolved had given it an order since his last one and nodded approvingly. Mercer was right, these things would have higher intelligence than the other monsters they had.
Finally deciding it was time to join the fight, Daedalus passed on his intentions to the rest of the Lessers before leaping forward. Impacting the ground with an earth shaking thud, he grabbed the burned out husk of a civilian car before hurling it at one of the Blackhawks. The heli, nearly blinded by all the dog-sized monsters around them, hadn't even noticed the impromptu projectile. It impacted with a horrific sound, an explosion following soon after as the heli detonated into a fireball, everyone aboard most certainly dead. The pressure wave destabilized one of other air assets, apparently knocking one of the gunners either over or out as a door gun stopped firing. Seconds later, that door was utterly swarmed as Warpers entered the heli, ripping apart it's occupants before the whole thing began to fall out of the sky. With half the air support already destroyed, Daedalus paid them no mind as nearly four hundred Warpers were more than enough to take out the last two.
Charging in the breach in the walls, Daedalus quickly grabbed a disabled APC that looked to had been in the process of repairs. Aluminum alloy crushed beneath his fingers as the M113 buckled, the hull immediately compromised as he heaved the twelve ton vehicle into the largest clump of soldiers he saw. Seconds later, his massive claws bisected an unfortunate soldier who happened to just be vaguely near him. From there, he turned into a whirlwind of death. Every slash ripped soldiers to pieces, every kick pulverized bone underfoot, and every drop of blood and corpse was consumed as he became a whirling mass of tendrils. Human form falling apart, all that was left was a corrupted god of war as dozens of spiked and bladed tendrils lashed out at anything near him. Both humans and infected were destroyed, biomass replenished faster than the fifties could tear chunks through his flesh. Eventually, the twelve point seven millimeter guns ran dry of ammunition, the gunners soon joining their comrades as they were overwhelmed by Walkers.
Twenty minutes. Twenty minutes from the alarms going off to the last heli being knocked out the sky was all it took to completely overrun the outpost and kill every last man there. Daedalus allowed himself to smile, then reached out across the link. Not to his surprise, the Lessers had all been killed. He didn't know when or how, nor did he care, so he just gave the order to start collecting bodies. Those who were still mostly in one piece would be infected by the Behemoths, regurgitating a vile red fluid that rapidly set on mutating the still living tissue. There were not many of those. The rest would be brought back to the hives to be recycled into biomass. Still, it was a good sign. One of these outposts used to take days to fall. Now it only took minutes. The new Red Line that the VRF were setting up would be much harder to break, but with the new creations he knew it was only a matter of time.
Something touched his shoulder.
The Greater Evolved spun around, reflexes kicking in as he kicked whatever had touched him in the chest. Bones cracked under his force, launching it back at astounding speed. Daedalus only really got a sight of something blue before he punched the ground, tendrils spidering through the weakened asphalt ready to impale his attacker in a hundred places.
A pulse of a strange presence and suddenly Jay realized what he was doing. He gasped, snapping his connection to the tendrils in an instant, just seconds before he killed Luna. Bounding forward toward her, he dropped onto his knees next to her as the sounds and smells of the dream faded into the background, the world dulling as the dreamer was no longer focused on it. To her relief and amazement, Luna was alright. Bones that should have been naught but dust were perfectly healthy and she didn't even have a pained look. Instead, she had a look of concern and horror on her muzzle as she gazed around what he realized was a dream. No, not a dream. A memory.
"Sadly, thy Lady of the Night must leave." Luna said teasingly, giving him a short nuzzle. "I must return to my duties as the Guardian of Dreams. Perhaps I'll meet you there one night."
It clicked then as he understood what she meant. Jay flinched as she turned her attention to him, his eyes straying away from hers. Unable to bear the veritable waves of worry emanating from her, he stepped back as she stepped closer to him.
"Jay... what is this?" Luna asked, her voice full of pain. Not for what she had no doubt seen him just do, but for what he had to go through if this place was what she thought it was. Jay was silent for a long time, unable to meet her gaze. Finally, he looked up. Icy blue eyes that seemed so vulnerable met her teal ones, nothing but concern for him in those beautiful portals to the soul.
"It was my home."
That was all she needed to hear. Somehow closing in on him faster than he could react, her hooves and wings wrapped around him together as they fell to the ground, Jay not even trying to remain standing as she leaped on him and instead just hugged her back. Burying his face in her mane, he held her as tightly as he dared to avoid hurting her anymore. She hummed softly, a wordless tune that she new quite well as her soft voice filled the air, drowning out the last sounds of the Blacklight around them.
"I tried to hurt you, Luna." Jay said quietly, his voice heavy with emotion.
Luna responded just as quietly, nuzzling the top of his head. "You can't hurt me, not in a dream."
Jay nodded slowly, relieved to know that. The two stayed quiet for a long time as Jay slowly calmed, Luna's continued humming helping him relax. Luna, for her part, felt so very sad. She had seen Jay do some terrible things just now, and despite knowing that he only did it under Mercer's control, she still felt a pang of fear. The man in her grip had told them what Blacklight was, what it could do, but seeing just what Jay was capable of, seeing humans wielding weapons and machines she could barely comprehend being ripped apart like paper, the alicorn couldn't help but think just how lucky she was that Jay wasn't truly evil like Mercer. After Jay seemed calmer, she pulled back from him and gave him a reassuring smile, receiving a weak one of his own in return.
"I'm sorry you had to see this." Jay said, glancing around at the ruined outpost. No longer in sync with the memory, he couldn't help feel disgust at his actions. "That you had to see the monster I am."
"What you were forced to be, Jay. Something that was forced on you by a truly evil monster." Luna disagreed, wrapping her wings around him tighter as she rested her head on his shoulder. The Evolved let out a shaky breath as he wrapped his arms back around her, seeking comfort from the soft blue pony. "You are not a bad pony. You were controlled by someone who is a bad pony."
"That doesn't take back what I've done." Jay said quietly as he rested his cheek against hers. A second later, he opened his eyes as a cool breeze touched him. The outpost, and all of New York, was now gone entirely. Instead, the two of them were now on a green hilltop beneath the stars. All around the crest of the hill were thousands of flowers, each one a different shade and shape than the last. Jay had to admit, Luna knew how to pick a spot.
"No." Luna quietly agreed, nuzzling into his cheek. "It doesn't change what happened. But it also doesn't make you evil, only another victim in a different way. The only thing you can do is live your life and do everything you can to make sure nothing like this happens again."
"I just don't know if that's enough for everything I've done." Jay said softly, receiving a firm nip from Luna. He turned to look at her in surprise as she continued.
"It's all we can do. We can't bring back those we've hurt or fixed the scars we've caused, only move on and better ourselves." Luna said, making Jay pause as her phrasing.
"Have you..?" Jay asked, not finishing the question.
"Have you heard of Nightmare Moon?" Luna asked, answering his question with one of her own.
"Only the name."
"A thousand years ago, I gave in to my jealousy and anger. I rebelled against my sister, tried to overthrow Equestria, and nearly brought about an eternal night. I was only stopped when my sister was forced to use the Elements of Harmony on me, banishing me to the moon for a thousand year stasis." Luna explained, gently rubbing her nose against his as the dream around them began to change. |
Daedalus' New World | (14) From One Nightmare to Another Pt. 2 | Jay recognized where they were. The last time he had seen this room it had been nothing but crumbling ruins, and the thrones he recognized were now whole instead of shattered remnants, but he knew he was in the ruins of the old castle. Only it was no longer a ruin. While not as opulent as the artfully built marble halls of Canterlot Castle, it was still beautiful in its own right. Carved stone brick was the most predominant building material, designed less like a palace and more like a fortress. The thrones were far less expensively made than the ones in Canterlot, one made of marble and one made of onyx with the simple emblems of the Day and Night on them. Jay glanced around the room as he took in the rows of tall pillars supporting the intact roof, then noticed the guards situated at the entrance.
The Evolved openly stared at the guards that looked nothing like any of the branches of the modern Royal Guard. The modern variant of shiny gold armor that looked pretty but provided next to nothing in the way of protection was gone. Instead, these Guards looked more like Hunters with their arms and armor. Heavy plate mail covered the most vital parts of the body as chainmail extended from underneath the plates and covered more. Weapons varied heavily as Jay spotted a maul, swords, spears, hammers, and more. Only the two guards at the door wielded the same weapons, two great bardiches that were slotted into special mechanisms in their armor. These were soldiers ready for war, not fancy law enforcement.
A large stone side door was swung open as a familiar face entered. Princess Celestia, Alicorn of the Sun, looked both the same and so very different than he remembered. Her great golden peytral was cherry red, appearing to be superheated just like her crown and horseshoes. An extra plate of golden metal also sat on her flank seeming more like armor than jewelry as it followed the curve of her admittedly shapely flanks. Her mane and tail that normally waved calmly in an ethereal wind instead billowed about wildly, small flares of light appearing deep within her hair and reminding Jay of supernovas. Even her aura was different. The calming effect was replaced by a sense of pride, and the feeling of belonging that inspired feelings of home was gone, instead filling him with a confidence that caught him off guard. If the diarch's aura really represented who they were on a personal level then the term 'hot headed' definitely fit this younger version of Celestia.
The alicorn took a seat on her marble throne as she quickly levitated a large stack of papers from her secretary, a young unicorn mare who quickly retreated into the shadow of the thrones after being released of her luggage. For what seemed to be an hour or two, Celestia leisurely perused the various files as the steady rasp of papers filled the throne room. Waiting was something familiar to Jay and he had no issue simply standing patiently as he watched. Eventually, she levitated the stack of papers out and around her in a field of files as she nodded to the door guards. When Celestia spoke, her usual motherly tone was far from present; instead, her voice was laced with boredom as she addressed the two ponies. "Let the day court commence, gentlestallions."
As the great stone doors swung open effortlessly under the shoves of the guards and aided by magic, a thousand year old session of day court began. Even though Jay had never sat in on Celestia's modern court, he knew within minutes that things had worked very differently in the past than they did today. Throughout his time in the castle and exploring Canterlot, he had overheard many conversations about the goddess of the sun. Whenever Celestia was brought up, it usually involved her patience, caring demeanor, or kind heart in some shape or form. Ponies spoke of her with reverence, of how her day court changed the shape of Equestrian history and how royalty the world over acted. Everypony whether they were a lowly traveler or a high born noble could petition her personally in her court and receive equal treatment. Despite already knowing all the details of every case that came before her, she allowed everypony the chance to state their case before giving her verdict. Everypony who was literally anypony could go to the Solar Court and gain the full focus of Celestia's attention, and her aura, for at least fifteen minutes.
This was not what Jay saw. While it seemed to remain true that anypony could petition Celestia, that was where the similarities ended. Celestia, in truth, didn't seem to be cruel or even angry with those around her. She just seemed to care about her ponies less personally than she did in the future. The ponies of the old city came in with nervous looks on their muzzles, avoiding her hard eyes as they shuffled slowly in escorted by guards. They would state their names and that would be it at times. Celestia would glance at one of the dozens of papers she was levitating, then state her verdict. The pony would be escorted out and a new one brought in. It continued this way for an hour as Celestia gave her verdicts in a quick and efficient manner, though with all but faintest traces of her future love and care gone.
Eventually, court ended. The last pony was calmly escorted out after having his request approved by the Princess, every last Guard in the room soon following him as they were dismissed. Celestia took a moment to organize her papers before passing them off to the secretary who had still been standing in the shadow of her throne, the young mare leaving soon after. Only Celestia remained. For a second, Daedalus wondered how Luna knew of this if she wasn't even present only for that question to be answered a second later as Celestia spoke. "Luna."
Metallic hoofsteps clopped against the stone floors as Luna walked out from behind the raised dais, coming to stand at the base of her elder sister's throne. Jay was surprised when he saw her, looking almost as she did in the present. In fact, the only real difference that Jay could see was that she appeared smaller and that he could not feel her aura, as overbearing as Celestia's was. Celestia glanced down at her younger sister, the ever present love that Jay was familiar with absent. "Have thee learned anything from watching mine court?"
With a mildly annoyed snort, Luna stamped her hoof. Her onyx peytral shifted on her barrel as it seemed a bit too large for her as she addressed her elder sister. "We art aware of how to hold court, dearest sister. We have been doing so for nigh on two hundred years now and have had plenty of experience. We still do not understand why thou have asked us here to watch thine court."
"We simply believe that thou would appreciate mine advice. Thy court does not serve the number of petitioners our own does, and we feared that thee were making a simple mistake that was driving away thy ponies. We believe that viewing how we hold our court would benefit thee." Celestia stated with an easy smile on her face that was neither malicious nor mocking, but Luna bristled anyway. Jay couldn't blame her, that would have pissed him off too.
"Driving away- Sister! Thy ponies shun our night and choose not to attend mine court. We hath even compromised, changing the time to bring it an entire four hours earlier to ensure ponies would not have to miss vital sleep to attend. Even still, the only ponies who show are those who could not attend yours." Luna huffed and shook her head, her nebulous mane flinging wildly as her fur bristled. A second later, she stomped out of the throne room as her wings fluttered at her sides betraying her aggravation. Celestia stared at the retreated princess with a conflicted look before her eyes hardened, a condescending scoff echoing through the empty room as the dream began to blur and change.
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The dream reformed around him as the world rapidly snapped into focus as sharply as putting on a pair of glasses. Although he wasn't sure how he knew, Jay recognized this scene as taking place several decades after the previous one- perhaps the information was ingrained into the dream itself, or Luna was feeding him the knowledge. Either way, a significant change took place in the previous years. The two sisters were sharing a meal, though it was far from the friendly and familiar events he shared with them often enough in the modern day. Examining them quickly, both alicorns appeared differently than they did in the last dream. Celestia was closer to what she was now, as her mane and tail now flowed far more calmly than the wild whipping in the past, and her regalia was no longer treading the line of molten. He also noticed he could no longer feel her aura, though he most certainly felt Luna's. When his eyes drifted over her down-turned face, an intense conflict of emotions hit him like a sledgehammer. Guilt and shame warred with righteous anger and indignation, with pride driving everything to new heights. Her coat was darker now, a very dark blue bordering on purple. Her mane and tail seemed unstable, almost as if the clearly defined and visible edges were at risk of falling apart and letting the whole mane go up in smoke. A nearly perpetual frown sat on her muzzle as she ate her stew, clearly refusing to look up and meet Celestia's eyes who was doing her best to do the opposite.
For a time, the two ate in complete silence with the exception of the sound of metal meeting porcelain or the occasional slurp. With each glance Celestia shot toward her younger sister, a painful pang of sorrow filled Jay's heart so powerful that he wanted to reach out and hold her close, despite knowing that these events had happened over a millennium ago. It didn't make the sadness and regret in her eyes any easier to bear. Eventually, Celestia pushed the remaining half of her stew away and set aside her utensils as she fully turned to her sister. "Luna...?"
If it weren't for knowing that both mares were so, so very different in this day and age, Jay would have been flabbergasted on Luna's reaction to just her name being said. The midnight alicorn sighed in a deep seated aggravation as if Celestia's very presence annoyed the hell out of her. The magic around her horn faded as she set aside her meal as well and turned to meet her sister in gaze. "We do not wish to hear it, Celestia. Thou have done enough."
The elder sister stared at the younger, tears welling in her eyes as her breath caught in her throat. After a moment, she spoke slowly with a choked up voice. "We hath apologized so many times, dearest Luna. We were a fool, hurting you as we have done. Thou showed me what I was doing and I improved myself, I changed for the better as you requested. We doth not know how to fix the rift between us when thou refuses to talk to us or offer the chance to accept our apologies."
"Thou treated us as a foolish filly for centuries despite barely being my senior. Thou refused to allow us to take on more responsibility, limiting our connection to our little ponies to the occasional official appearance. Our night court is cancelled in all but paperwork as nopony shows up anymore. Our ponies ignore the stars that we pour our heart and soul into and even shun us directly. Thou ignored our attempts to make amends for years, and now there is little that can fix the rift thou created. Even if you are a better pony than you once were, there is no undoing what you have done." Her cold, empty voice that belied neither the flames of anger nor the sting of regret seemed to hit Celestia harder than if Luna had been screaming, and the tears that were building began to fall as she made one last desperate attempt to reconcile.
"W-what of our love? You promised w-when I was no longer arrogant..."
"You are still our family, sister, and always will be. In that regard, I will forever love you no matter how it pains me. However, the bond we had and the love we shared for each other is extinguished. Truly, I do not believe I could ever love you the same way again." Luna simply said, as if explaining a particularly unpleasant detail. Just after she finished speaking, she rose to her hooves and left. As Celestia's tears began to splash on the table, she sagged as all energy seemed to leave her and left behind the image of a broken, sobbing mare. As the dream began to twist and fade again, Jay couldn't help the thought that ran through his mind.The love we shared for each other?
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Jay could tell this would be the final scene he saw, one that was taking place a century after the last, and twice that since the first. Tension was thick in the air as all around the large room, small groups of lower ranking officers held quiet conversations. Celestia herself stood in front of her throne as she held a hushed conversation with several high ranking guards, each one armed to the teeth and heavily armored. Her magenta eyes glanced toward the window where moonlight streamed in, the worry in her eyes growing each time as her eyes swiveled around and wings twitched nervously. Her horn adjusted a sword strapped to her flank, clearly nervous of the possibility of using it. Eventually, the doors to the throne room were shoved open none too gently as Luna walked in, though looking completely different than he had ever seen her before.
Her blue coat was now so dark it appeared as black as her destabilized mane and tail, each of which were now nearly as large as her whole body. They billowed wildly around her body as stars flared deep within, and her once black peytral was now replaced by dark blue armor that, truthfully, did little to protect her. They even capped her hooves and extended up her legs, a snug fit on her new form. Her slitted, teal eyes stared at Celestia with such an ingrained hate that Jay had a flashback to one of his many meetings with Mercer. As the lunar alicorn approached the throne with a measured gait, she passed where he was 'standing' and he realized she was also much taller than previously, easily matching Celestia in height. And when she smiled, razor sharp fangs flashed in her muzzle.
A small part of Jay couldn't help but admit that she was damn attractive.
When the Guards surrounding the throne drew weapons, Luna's horn flashed once as they all vanished with a violent crack of displaced air. Celestia, her eyes widening as her fears came true, stood up quickly as she spoke. "What did you do to them, Luna!"
"They are home safe. Even with hate in our heart, we will not harm our ponies so directly." She snarled, baring her fangs at her sister. "And our name is not Luna. We art Nightmare Moon, and you will call us such."
"Why have you not set the moon, sister? Sunrise is well over an hour late." Celestia demanded as she avoided the name 'Luna' chose, her eyes narrowing.
"Our ponies shun the night and worship the day. We are neglected, left to become naught but dust by our citizens. We art feared, and so we set to fix this grievous error. The sun will not rise until our night is admired as greatly as thy day." Nightmare Moon said simply. Celestia's eyes widened in horror as she shook her head.
"Luna, y-"
"NIGHTMARE! MOON!" Nightmare screamed as her composure broke, her eyes growing wild with madness as she stomped her hoof hard enough to crack the floor. "You have no claim to that name!"
"Nightmare, the world will die without the sun! Both are needed to keep the world alive!" Celestia begged as she tried to reason with the shadow of her sister.
For a moment, Jay thought the pretty accurate reason would work as Nightmare fell silent, taking a moment to get her breathing under control and straightening her bristled feathers with a pass of her magic. That hope was dashed when she spoke. "Then our ponies should see to correcting themselves rather quickly. If not, I can simply rebuild from what is left."
Celestia's eyes, once full of desperate hope and fear, immediately hardened at Nightmare Moon's words. Though she loved her sister with all her heart and wanted nothing more to right her past wrongs, there was a line that all royal families had; a line that separated issues that affected family from issues that affected the world. Luna had crossed that line and the solar diarch knew what she needed to do, as much as she feared it at the same time. "I can't let this happen. So be it, sister."
That was all Nightmare needed to hear. She didn't say anything, she didn't make any threats or promises, or even make a snarl of anger. She wrapped Celestia in her telekinetic grip and launched her through the roof, shattering the ceiling completely as pulverized stone began to fall from the sky. With a magically empowered flap of her wings, she took off after her sister as the battle began to rage overhead. In the few glimpses he could see through the windows and broken roof, violent spells began to pummel the city as quickly as hail while matching beams speared toward the sky like a reversed meteor shower.
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
One last time, the memory- for that is what it clearly was, not a dream- collapsed around him and left him floating in a void. Only moments later, he now sat on the hilltop again. Luna leaned against him as she buried her muzzle in the crook of his neck, tears wetting his skin as she sobbed quietly. Jay reacted without thinking, immediately wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his lap as he held her close. It was clearly the right thing to do as she latched onto him, squeezing him like he was her lifeline as she found the crook of his neck again. Jay didn't mind. Her cool fur felt nice against his body as he ran his fingers through her coat. She needed him and he wasn't going to disappoint. Slowly, he began to hum the same, soft melody she had hummed to him just a short time ago.
Eventually, her light sobs turned to quiet cries, which faded into sniffles. In time, she pulled her muzzle away from him as her ashamed eyes met his understanding ones before she glanced away in embarrassment. In response, Jay just reached out and cupped her muzzle as he gently wiped away her tears with a thumb. That earned him a more honest smile before she sighed. "Just as you relived your memory, I did mine as well. I did not wish to experience the final fight with Celestia again, nor my banishment to the moon and subsequent hopelessness I felt as I realized I would spend an eternity on the moon. I cut it short."
"Why did you put yourself through that, little Luna?" Jay asked, using the nickname to try to cheer her up some.
It worked, albeit slightly. A small smile made its way onto her muzzle as she looked at him. She reached out with a wing that soon wrapped around him before she leaned in, resting her cheek against his. She whispered quietly as she softly nuzzled him, speaking through small sniffles. "So you know that you aren't alone. You aren't the only one who has been in a bad place, and you will always have somepony to confide in should you ever doubt yourself."
Jay leaned into her as well as the short, smooth fur of her muzzle brushed against his cheek and he felt the same warmth he felt with Starfall fill his chest. A small smile came to his face as he thought that maybe it wouldn't be so hard to adjust to this world and it's strange cultures before he put that thought out of his mind. Instead, he gently grasped one of her hooves and spoke just as softly as she did, though much more collected. "The same goes for you, Luna. No matter where I come to live in this world, or what place I carve out for myself, you'll always be welcome with me."
Luna's small smile widened as she nuzzled him more firmly before he shifted and pulled away slightly. A spark of longing shot through her as she almost snapped out and grabbed him again, but that spark faded when he squeezed her hoof gently. Her cyan eyes met his icy ones as he gave a curious hum followed by a sly smirk that made Luna shiver, though whether in concern or something else, she wasn't sure. "So, something that was said during one of those memories made me a little curious."
Dread. Yeah, it was definitely dread. She was pretty confident she knew what he meant, and that was proven right a moment later as he quoted her. "'The love we shared for each other?' What did you mean by that, little Luna?"
Luna swallowed nervously as the previously warm heat of his body became sweltering, and her mouth was too dry to speak. She opened it only for a dry croak came from her as she stopped and swallowed reflexively. "Well, uh, t-the thing about that i-"
Jay snapped awake as something pushed into his side, old instincts lashing out as he grabbed the offending hoof. Fortunately, his conscious mind took over before the viral claw followed his first hand. His eyes followed the chainmail-coated hoof up to meet the grim look on Beam's face, the thestral fully donned in her silver chainmail. "Get up, Jay. We've been called on a hunt. We leave in ten."
The dark mare had to step away as he rolled out of bed, immediately ready as he needed no real preparation aside from getting the extra swords from another hunter. His thoughts strayed to Luna for a moment and what she had nearly said just before he had been woken up, but he pushed those aside for the moment. He needed to focus. "Let's go."
Beam gave him an approving look as she noticed the complete lack of grogginess as well as how quickly he was up and ready to go. "Right." |
Daedalus' New World | (15) The First Hunt | They had boarded an airborne carriage in less than twenty minutes, a vehicle that was large enough to match a large van on Earth. It was made of white wood with what appeared to be steel reinforcements and carried an overall framed design. The four corners of the carriage supported the roof above their heads, and the back wall was one solid piece as well. The other three sides of the carriage were open to the air though and he was sure the ponies were thankful for the wind cooling down what would no doubt be a hot ride otherwise. He had also overheard Star and Beam talking about something called a weight reduction enchantment. He could guess its use.
Visibility would be low during this hunt, but not incredibly so. He had been woken up some time around two in the morning for the hunt and the moon was still shining brightly above them. Apparently, Luna had changed the moon's phase to full once the Hunters were deployed, but a lot of the light would be filtered out once they got into the Everfree. Turning his attention to his companions, he took in the sight of all their armor and equipment. Lightning Star and Glimmering Moonbeam were pulling the carriage, their shimmering chainmail glittering in the moonlight. Star's wings sparked with every wingbeat, electricity crackling through his enchanted wingblades as a belt of small red crystals crossed over his chest. Beam chose not to wield wingblades and instead wore a bandolier of knives across her chest in easy reach of her hooves. He knew that the knives in specific spots on said bandolier were treated with special concoctions that ranged from paralytic to neurotoxic.
Looking back into the carriage, Aqua was clad in a white robe that matched her coat color. Runes appeared to be emblazoned on the fabric with ethereal energy, likely enchanted to boost her magic or something along those lines. Her horn was alight with blue magic as she passed out red crystals matching the ones Star carried. She also gave him specifically another blue gemstone on a chain meant to go around his neck. Seeing his curious look, she explained what they were. "The red crystals are explosives. Everypony gets two except Star who acts as our strike bomber. Activate it with magic and an orange light will flare inside of it, then you've got five seconds to throw it before it detonates. The blue crystal is your communication crystal, it'll let you speak to anyone of us within a league, and can also function as a tracker within the same distance. You can receive communications at any point, but if you want to send an outgoing message you'll have to use your token since you don't have your own magic. Same with the bombs, actually. Oh, and only myself and Iron can using the tracking enchanted into it, it requires a spell."
Jay's gaze drifted to Kin next, to the giant earth pony adorned in black plate armor that flexed with his hide as he moved. The gaps were protected by a shimmering cobalt magic similar to Wrought Iron's own armor. Two axes were crossed on his back with a third strapped to his side. The two on his back were large double bladed battleaxes, both identical in design except for the material of the blades themselves. One axe was forged of steel or iron, Jay wasn't quite sure which. The other, though, had mismatched blades- one was a bright golden metal and the other a shiny silver. It didn't take long for Jay to realize that the axe was made of sunsteel and silver.
I don't think making a weapon out of two separate metals is a good idea. Then again, it could be reinforced by magic.
Kin's last axe was strapped to his side, a smaller one with a single blade most likely meant to be used in close quarters when the large pony was unable to grab and swing his larger blades. All in all, he looked pretty damn well equipped and like he could handle just about anything the forest could throw at him. Hopefully, that remained true.
Lastly was Captain Iron wearing the same armor he wore when they first met. The only real difference from Kin's heavy armor was that it was a dark shade of grey rather than black, otherwise the two sets of plate mail were near identical. A large warhammer rested on his back with a flat steel head on one side. Opposite the flat head was a dual set of spikes, again made of silver and sunsteel. As he looked, Iron's horn lit up with a dusty aura and two greatswords were levitated over to Jay. The Evolved took them both, slightly unsheathing the blades as he examined them. They were simply designed, straight blades meeting large crossguards that would protect his hands. While the blades were definitely greatswords to the generally smaller ponies, they were closer to what one of his memories called a 'hand and a half' with a blade of about three and a half feet in length. The simple design and plain leather sheathes clearly identified these as the backups Iron mentioned before as the pair shared the two metals he was told he'd need. "Just in case, Jay. From what our info is, we won't need silver or sunsteel but it's better to carry an extra blade than to die."
"What are we hunting, anyway? Beam didn't tell me." Jay asked, giving Iron a curious look. Whatever it was, it likely wasn't magical if plain weapons worked just fine.
"Cause I didn't know!" Beam interrupted, her voice emanating from the crystal around his neck and slightly muffled by the sounds of rushing wind. It was good to have confirmation that the crystals transmitted all sound around the user, not just what the user was saying.
"Right, normally you won't get your briefing until we're actually en route since the faster we get there, the less ponies die. It's why we say to keep your kit fully prepared at all times and in a place you know well so you can get to it fast." Iron explained, adjusting his warhammer as he made sure it was strapped in place properly. "Those two blades are yours from now on. Keep them on you as much as possible. Like I said, you probably won't need them. Better safe than sorry, though."
As Jay nodded and formed two false-leather straps on his back to hold the swords, Iron continued. "The situation is about as cut and dry as it can get. Three fillies from Ponyville got it in their heads to go explore the Everfree, and to nopony's surprise, they ended up getting lost. This isn't a rescue mission though, everything ended up turning out alright. The fillies were chased by a pack of timberwolves, but ended up running into a small search party lead by the Element Bearers. The wolves got scared off and the fillies only had couple scratches. That's as much as we got details-wise."
"Our job is simple. The wolves might get more bold now that they've had a run in with a group of ponies and got away uninjured. It'll be twice as bad if they got a taste for pony blood. We can't have that. We're also going to be taking care of a hydra that's causing a couple problems for the locals. It's driving predators out of the forest, which is increasing competition and making predators roam wider. The fillies probably wouldn't have even run into wolves if it weren't for the hydra. As such, we'll be splitting into two teams once we're on the ground."
"Secondary team will be tasked with dealing with the wolves, and it'll comprise of Star and Aqua. Star can move fast enough to catch up to the wolves just fine, and he's strong enough to carry Aqua on his back. Aqua's fire will let her make short work of the timberwolves, too. Jay, for you to know, you have to burn the bodies of timberwolves. Once they're destroyed, magic will just collect in the wood again and reform the wolf. Burning the wood disperses the wild enchantments and kills it for good." Iron explained and received a nod from Aqua just as Beam's voice came through over the crystal, sounding in agreement.
"Primary team will be dealing with the hydra. It'll consist of me, Kin, Beam, and Jay. Beam, you'll be our aerial scout. Stay below the canopy, keep a steady speed, and find the beast. We know it's on the move, so it shouldn't take too much to hear that big thing stomping around. Obviously, me, Kin, and Jay will move in on the ground. Jay, how fast can you run?"
While Jay didn't exactly have an accurate speed, he had a rough idea of how fast he could move at his top speed. He was slightly slower than Mercer who he knew could outrun a Blackhawk heli, and thanks to the memories of the thousands of soldiers he's consumed he knew that the VRF Blackhawks stayed around two hundred miles per hours but could top out past that. Since he was slower than Mercer, he had a pretty accurate guess of how fast he could move. "I'd say somewhere around one hundred fifty miles per hour is my max, faster if I change to a quadrupedal form."
Iron shook his head. "I don't know what a mile is, Jay. How many leagues is that?"
"How far is a league?"
"Three thousand hooves." Iron answered. Knowing that three hooves was about a foot thanks to Celestia during his duel with Luna, he did some quick mental math. At one fifty miles an hour, he could cross a league in about five seconds.
"Roughly, I can cross a league in five seconds once I get to top speed." Jay answered to wide eyed looks from the non-pegasi, which didn't surprise the Evolved at all. From something on foot, that kind of speed was ridiculous.
"Alright, you're gonna be working with Beam. Find the hydra and call out on the comms crystal when you do. Once it's found, all of the primary team will regroup and assess. The primary threats to look out for on the hydra are it's heads, tail, and corrosive bile. The first two are obvious why, you don't want to get bitten in half by a head twice your size or crushed by a tail the side of a shed. Hydras are also able to vomit on command and their stomach bile is highly corrosive, allowing them to eat almost anything safely. Beam and Jay will keep it's attention on the air and ground while me and Kin strike it to wear it out. Jay, hit it hard every chance you get. The more you make it work it's natural regeneration the slower it gets. Once we hurt it faster than it heals, we'll start cutting off heads and detonating the crystals to burn the stumps. When it's down to the final head it's going to become very defensive. It'll keep it close to the body and not attack as much but we need to cut it off."
"Leave the final hit to me. Worst comes, I think I can just rip it off once it's weakened." Jay said earning nods from those around him.
"Good, any questions?"
"What's the terrain like in the Everfree?" Jay asked, wanting to know what kind of areas he'd have to search. "I'm not going to be able to move at my max because of the trees but I'm even slower in mud."
"Not an issue." Aqua answered. "We'll be operating in dry forest. The only swamp in the region is the Froggy Bottom Bog and it has its own hydra that doesn't really bother anypony."
"Alright, if nopony else has another question..." Iron trailed off, waiting to see if anypony would say anything. When nothing came forth, he continued. "Get some rest, we all got woken up early. Just don't fall asleep."
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
When they landed in Ponyville, Jay was surprised to find Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash waiting for them just outside the carriage. While Aqua moved to help the two pegasi unhook faster, Jay approached the three Elements with Iron. Jay couldn't help but notice that both Applejack and Rainbow were bandaged and as they approached, he turned to Iron. "Do we have a few minutes for me to heal those two?"
"Yeah, go ahead. I'm going to find out what I can from Princess Twilight." Iron agreed, approaching the alicorn. Jay walked over to the two young ponies.
When the two seemingly injured ponies noticed him approaching, they gave him small smiles as they wrapped up whatever they were talking about in hushed tones. Jay took a moment to take in their appearances. Both of them were pretty disheveled, a little banged up, and more than a little dirty with twigs tangled in their fur with mud and sweat soaking them both. Applejack's hat was missing and her matted mane looked like it had a few chunks torn off, which had definitely hurt. A deep bruise was slowly forming on her muzzle and a lightly stained bandage was wrapped around her barrel, the white cloth slowly turning red. Rainbow wasn't really any better off. The feathers on her wings were bent askew and it looked like a few were missing, but nothing appeared broken. Instead, one of her hooves was wrapped up in a slag that held it close to her chest, making her hobble around on three legs. When Jay came to a stop in front of them, he sighed and kneeled down next to Applejack. "You two should be resting in a hospital, not out here. You look like you've been through enough."
Applejack just gave him a soft smile. "Yer right, but we couldn't. Not while knowin' that those timberwolves could end up coming here after they got a bite of us. Twi had mentioned you were a Hunter now, so it's darn good ta see ya. We wanted ta go back out there with y'all but Twi won't let us. Rightfully so, probably."
"Yeah, at least with you here, we know the wolves won't stand a chance." Rainbow said, giving him a confident smile. Then it turned to a sheepish look. "And, uh, while you're here, do you think you could heal us?"
"Yeah, that's what I came over here for. Applejack, you first. You look like you're still bleeding." Jay said, giving the two an understanding look as he reached out to her. Pressing his hand against her side lightly, his viral tendrils reached out and into the wound from the palm of his hand, unseen to the ponies. Through the bandage, he could tell it wasn't as bad as he feared. She had three long but shallow claw marks running across a portion of her barrel from the bottom to the side. The wolf that had gotten her apparently hadn't gotten a good grip, fortunately. Localized anesthesia was injected into the site with a relieved sigh from Applejack confirming his suspicions that they hadn't actually gone to the hospital and just bandaged themselves. Viral tendrils knitted living flesh and, after a moment of consideration, he examined Applejack's gene sequence. To his surprise, he could view it perfectly fine. Taking a sample to consume later, he quickly finished healing her injury before turning to Rainbow.
Gently grabbing her hoof, she flinched lightly in his grip. Jay glanced up at her in slight concern. "Broken or sprained?"
Her muzzle tinted a light pink as he heard Applejack start to laugh before Rainbow answered him. "N-no, I just don't like my hooves touched."
"I'll be quick." Jay promised, turning his attention back to her. Again, painkillers were injected into the wound as he examined it. She had been bitten, wood fragments still buried in her flesh as the teeth splintered. The injury was deep and Jay couldn't help but be surprised at how well she was hiding the pain. He quickly extracted and consumed the wood, then began to repair muscle and tendons. The Greater Evolved detected a strange concoction in her body that he couldn't identify, but could see that it was clotting her blood and preventing her from bleeding. "Did you take some medicine to clot the blood?"
Rainbow nodded above him, a lot more at ease now that the pain was gone. "Yeah, back in the Forest. I got bit first so Applejack gave me one of her potions she got from Applebloom that stopped the bleeding. The wolf that jumped her crushed her saddlebag though so she couldn't do the same for herself."
Finishing up, he pulled back from Rainbow and helped remove the sling from her. Tentatively, she pressed her hoof to the ground and sighed in relief with no pain came with it. "Thank Celestia. You're a lifesaver, dude. I didn't wanna be stuck in a hospital for a week. Kinda numb, though."
Removing the bandage from Applejack, he visually inspected the area and confirmed that no scars were left behind. "Yeah, that's the anesthesia. It's short term but powerful, so it'll wear off in a few minutes and you'll be fine. Same with you, Applejack. Also, the wounds won't scar so you don't have to worry about patchy fur."
"Wouldn't o' mattered none, as long as I can still help my family on the farm, I'd a' been happy. Still, thank ya, Jay." Applejack said, wrapping a hoof around him and giving him a hug. He returned it for a second, then let go as the three of them walked back over to the rest of the Hunters.
Aqua was climbing onto Star's back, the little unicorn easily able to fit in what appeared to be a specially-made attachment to his chainmail. A few clips on Aqua's robes slotted into the metal addition and Jay realized this was probably a duo that worked together often. Iron gave Jay a curious look to which he nodded toward the ponies, and then the large unicorn turned back to the rest of the Hunters as the three Bearers listened in. "Alright, you know the plans. Aqua, you and Star are heading toward the timberwolf pack. Between your fire and Star's crystal bombs, you should make short work of them. If something goes wrong and you need backup, use the comms and we'll send Jay, Beam, or both to reinforce you. The rest of us are heading for the hydra. Last chance to ask any questions. If not, get going."
A second later, Aqua and Star took off in a burst of speed as Rainbow looked on in surprise, then gave an excited grin as she realized Star was fast. Jay could easily agree, he had to guess the little pegasus could fly at least triple his own speed. Beam whistled to catch Jay's attention, then nodded in the direction of the Forest. Jay returned her nod and the two took off into the Forest, traveling together for the first two leagues then splitting off as they searched for the Hydra. The Forest was darker than he last remembered, but that was expected. Last time he had been here it had been the middle of the day, somewhat closer to the edge in the makeshift clearing of the old castle. Now it was the middle of the night, deep in the forest, and with an unbroken canopy high above him. Jay didn't have night vision any better than a human as it was something he never needed in New York- the VRF lit their bases up just fine with floodlights. No, he had something better.
Everything turned red as his sight dulled, specific details becoming harder to make out. All sounds became muffled as he tuned out every other sense, focusing on the innate viral sight that any infected with a hive mind could access. Glancing down at his hand as he ran, he saw his own body emitting a bright white glow that he knew belonged to those who were heavily infected. Glancing around, he saw that all life had gained a very dull red color and the occasional animal his sight picked up were orange. He nodded in approval, his speed picking up as the ground beneath his feet cracked and buckled from his weight. In truth, he was excited for this. Iron had mentioned the hydra had regeneration and he dearly hoped it was biological in nature, not magical, so he could improve his own regeneration. The acidic bile would be useful too, allowing him to create a non-viral ranged weapon he didn't have to worry about retrieving later.
His comms crystal lit up in a dim blue glow, Aqua's voice coming through muffled but still audible thanks to its proximity to him. "We've found the wolves. There's about twenty of them heading for Ponyville but we've caught up to them with plenty of time to spare. We're engaging now."
Iron's voice followed behind a moment later as Jay's keen hearing picked up the very distance sounds of roaring fire. "Copy. Our scouts are still searching for the hydra. Jay, Beam, how's going?"
Jay waited assuming Beam would transmit first and was proven right a few moments later as Beam's voice came through the crystal. "Nothing so far. No stomping marks, corrosion, or slime. I don't think it's in my sector so keep an eye open, Jay."
Reaching down, he touched his token to the communication crystal and, when it lit up green, he spoke. "Same as Beam over here. I've got nothing so far but as I'm going further the animal population is dropping. I think Beam's right, it might be near me."
"Copy. We're going to shift and head your way, Jay. Beam, turn east and start making your way toward him." Iron responded.
Before Beam could say anything else through the ponified radio, a reverberating roar cut through the night air coming from about a mile in front of him. At first, Jay had thought the roar had somehow echoed through the trees as it was nearly perfectly mimicked a few seconds later only to realize it was most likely another head roaring. Speaking through the crystal again, he informed the rest of the Hunters. "Yeah, it's ahead of me by about two leagues. I'm going to continue forward a league and then wait for the rest of you."
"Copy, I'm inbound from your southwest." Beam said, the sound of rushing wind signifying her picking up speed toward him.
"We're ten out." Iron responded, heavy thumping coming through the crystal as the two heavy plated ponies galloped toward him. "Don't engage and pull back if it starts to approach you."
"Will do." Jay said, letting go of the token and cutting off his transmission. Soon enough, he would fight his first monster in this world and see how it compared to the monsters he knew. |
Daedalus' New World | (16) The First Hunt Pt. 2 | It hadn't taken the rest long to catch up to him. Beam was just faster than him and had caught up just after he reached the one league mark, landing next to him and seeming to be completely at ease. While they waited, they could both hear the heavy footfalls of the hydra ahead of them as it stomped through the forest. Each heavy thud shook the ground, mild tremors shaking the earth beneath his feet as Moon shifted nervously. As far as Jay could tell, though, it wasn't coming towards them. With that concern abated, Jay glanced to his partner. "Nervous?"
The little thestral mare gave him a hard glare and indignation sparked in her eyes as she bared her fangs. The little show of aggression only lasted a second before she deflated with an irritated huff. That, too, faded soon after as she slowly nodded. "A little. There's never a guarantee to return from these hunts and even the simplest hunt can kill, but hydras are really bad. Pretty much anything they can do will kill a pony in a single tap. The tail will break every bone in my body, a stomp would flatten me to paste, a bite would cut me in half or swallow me whole, and the acid would just leave bones behind. The only way to fight a hydra and live is to never be hit."
Beam glanced away as her hoof pawed at the ground slowly, betraying her nerves. "I've... got a bit of a track record for getting hurt on our hunts. It's usually minor, but with a hydra... there are no minor injuries. I'm worried because getting hurt is death during this hunt, and I pretty much always get hurt. We're Hunters and it's our job to give our lives to save the innocent. I'm prepared for that and accept it. But..."
"Just because you're prepared to doesn't meant you want to." Jay responded as he nodded in understanding. After a second of consideration, he reached out and began to run his hand through her mane gently, earning a soft sigh from her as she leaned into his touch. "Like you said, there's never a guarantee. But I'll do my best to keep you safe, alright, Beam? Let me take the hits. I don't really feel pain, and it can't kill me. I'm built different."
She snorted softly at the cheeky tone he had and looked up with a soft smile, her slitted teal eyes shimmering lightly in the faint moonlight. "Yeah. Just, make sure you stay safe too, okay?"
He gave her a toothy grin. "Don't worry, I've got reasons to go back home."
She returned his grin with a smirk of her own, feeling a little better as she talked with him. "Let me guess, Starfall~?"
Jay coughed suddenly, not realizing she knew about that. Her grin only widened at his reaction as she realized she was right. After a second, Jay gave a nod and moved to speak only to stop, the heavy hoofsteps of two ponies approaching them rapidly from the distance. He nodded his head in that direction as Beam hummed in agreement, her ears already perked. After hearing them, it only took a minute or so for the two large ponies to arrive as they slowed down. Iron gave the two an expectant look and Beam spoke, already knowing what he was about to ask. "The hydra is about two and a half leagues ahead. It's stomping northwest but doesn't seem to be chasing anything, more just making a lot of noise and trying to drive away competition. Jay and I are ready to run interference while you and Kin hit it hard."
"Good. We'll move in and get going. Jay and Beam, you two pull ahead and get eyes on the hydra. Do not engage yet. Keep in the underbrush and in the canopy respectively. Once Kin and I are in position, we'll attack it together. Beam, stay evasive and make sure you don't get touched. I hate to say this, but if anypony gets hit, it needs to be Jay. He can take the force and be alright, but the rest of us aren't so lucky. Aim for the eyes and necks as much as you can. Jay, stay aggressive and stay in its face or at its feet. Keep its eyes on you and make it forget we even exist. Kin, me and you will be darting in and out and striking its legs. Aim for the arteries and try to make it bleed as much as possible. The more we work its regeneration, the weaker it becomes and the faster we can kill it for good. Any questions?" No one said anything. It wasn't a complicated plan and left it open for everyone to decide how to get their own job done in whatever way was safest for them. "Alright, head out."
With a mix of nods and sounds of conformation, the squad of five took off. Jay sprinted along the ground as Beam shot skyward, flitting in and around the canopy to keep her visibility as low as possible. The two ground bound ponies fell behind rather quickly, though they stayed within earshot the entire time as the two scouts had to move slower- Beam didn't want to strike a branch at full speed and Jay wasn't sure how good a hydra's hearing was. It only took a couple minute or so for them to cross the distance as Jay caught sight of it and let his form unravel, becoming little more than a viral mess blending into the wild shapes of the trees and underbrush.
The great beast was large. Very large. It was easily eighty feet tall and about twenty feet thick at its torso and entirely orange. He had half expected some shade of green or brown. The reptile was bipedal as it stomped around on two large flat feet with three large claws on each. It's torso quickly extended into a long, thick tail and on the other end, the torso quickly shifted into four necks each about five feet thick and tipped by a snake-like head. From the tip of the tail to the top of the neck, multiple rows of bright red and razor sharp spines covered the hydra. The four heads were swaying around independently as eight sets of green eyes looked for the next meal. As one glanced in his general direction, he noticed that it's mouth and teeth were covered in dried blood from what was no doubt a recent meal. Overall, while the hydra was still an intimidating sight, it seemed more squat and fat that what he was expecting.
Just like Beam had said, the hydra was deeper into the forest to the northwest, and it was clearly intentionally making as much noise as it possibly could. Every heavy footfall came down with more force than seemed necessary for its assumed weight, and its heads were busy biting smaller trees in half around it and throwing the shattered logs around with powerful flicks of its necks. Iron's briefing about it driving predators out of the Everfree came back to him and he had to admit that was definitely the case- if he was a wolf or manticore, he'd be running away from this thing too.
Jay heard the underbrush next to him very lightly rustle over the faint undertone of breathing and glanced over his shoulder. Kin and Iron were approaching him as they kept low and moved slow. He pointed up toward Beam and gave them a nod that was returned then turned his attention back to the hydra. The two ponies laid down on their bellies as they peered at the hydra.
"It's a large one. Easily sixty hooves taller than average." Jay heard Kin's rumbling voice whisper.
"It's ancient and probably about to die. I didn't consider this. The last record of a hydra dying of age was nearly three hundred years ago. They tend to drive off as many predators and carrion scavengers as they can in the last few weeks of life so they can die in peace and not have to fight. This changes nothing, though." Iron explained with a slow nod as he put the information together and realized why it was acting this way. "Jay, Beam, are you two ready? We'll help it die a little earlier than it planned."
"Yep." Jay said simply at the same time Beam voiced her assent.
"Start. Keep its attention away from us and we'll hit it when we can and wear it down. Our axes and hammer will cut through the flesh and into arteries and veins pretty easily." Iron gave the order. As soon as he finished talking, the two scouts burst into action.
Beam kicked off her branch and darted toward the hydra, staying high in the canopy. When she neared the hydra, she veered upward sharply and ascended the last twenty feet to the hydra's head and darted between two necks as her wingblades lashed out. The glimmering metal carved a thin line in the orange scaled flesh of the beast but did little else, the masses simply too thick for the small blades to cut deeply into. Still, the hydra roared more in fury than pain as all four heads turned toward Beam. Taking the opportunity for what it was, Jay ran forward only a few feet to get clear of his two companions before kicking off the ground as the dirt beneath his feet cracked and buckled. Midair, his right arm shifted into a massive collection of tendrils, each one rapidly coiling around itself into a viral approximation of a giant fist as large as his torso. An instant later, the hammerfist violently ejected biomass and increased how fast he leapt through the air. He impacted the hydra's gargantuan torso that the densely packed flesh and muscle rippled away from the point of impact, staggering the beast as it stumbled back several steps. Jay felt at least one bone splinter underneath his strike as the monster roared, this time with pain just as much as agony. He saw a flicker of movement before the beast's tail whipped around and impacted him, utilized more like a whip than a club as only the last foot of the tail hit. The hit damn near bisected him, ripping through two thirds of his torso and sending him flipping end over end as he was launched away. Three heads roared in triumph as the fourth tried to catch Beam, foolishly believing him to be dead.
It was foolish because the hydra did not fight with magic. The injury it dealt Jay had been fully healed before he even hit the ground. As he took a second to stand, he noticed that the many small cuts Beam was leaving on the hydra were bleeding far more profusely than he'd expect from what was essentially a paper cut to the beast. Eyeing the little mare that was evading the heads with experienced ease, he saw that she now had two daggers slotted into locking mechanisms on her hoof caps and came to the conclusion she was utilizing some type of anti coagulation agent to encourage bleeding. If they were trying to wear out its regeneration, forcing it to replace blood was just as good a way to do it as replacing flesh. Then his gaze shifted to the two ponies weaving around the hydra's feet. Even Iron was striking with the spikes of his hammer instead of the blunt end as Kin's axe left deep gashes in the flesh that just poured blood out. With that in mind, he decided to forgo the blunt approach as his hammerfist disappeared in a shifting mass of viral flesh, quickly replaced by a pair of thorny claws that glowed an eerie red sheen.
Jay sailed through the air, again bleeding biomass. Evolved, while amazingly agile on the ground, had little in the way of airborne mobility. As such, Mercer had long ago discovered how to eject biomass from his body to increase the distance of his jumps, keep him in the air longer, and even allow him to mimic a sort of gliding. Later, he had adapted the same effect to eject biomass out of his hammerfists, allowing him to strike harder and faster than ever before or even change directions in mid air. Eventually, he had passed on the same technique to the Greaters under his control and Jay was now using that to his advantage, able to easily leap two hundred feet with every jump though at the cost of his slowly trickling supplies of biomass. As he neared the hydra, he yelled to the little thestral that was busy giving it a death by a thousand cuts. "Everyone, get back!"
Set on replenishing his biomass reserves, Jay again impacted the hydra's torso, though this time without a strike. Instead, he buried his left claw into the hydra as dozens of viral tendrils immediately began burrowing into the beast's flesh and anchoring him in place as it tried to throw him off. With his right claw, he began to tear into the hydra with extreme prejudice, digging the unnaturally sharp blades into the hydra's flesh and ripping chunks out before rapidly consuming it and assimilating the new DNA. Integrating new genetics always forced him to undergo a metamorphosis and resulted in a massive burst of kinetic energy. Jay was, honestly, counting on it. He just hoped the others made it clear in time, but they shouldn't have any trouble getting away from the hydra that only cared about the creature on its side and ripping it apart.
Deep within his internal system, the virus quickly isolated the new genetic sequence it had been provided. Identifying which genomes would be useless to the Evolved, it rejected them for integration and instead catalogued them away for future use. Orange melanin, scales, green pupils, spikes- it already had those. Even more were rejected and outright discarded. Then it separated things that would be useful to the virus, rapidly modifying the genes before integrating them into Blacklight itself. The coding for bile production evolved into a powerful acid coating that could be secreted from his body. The hydra's ability to efficiently digest anything living into energy improved Blacklight's assimilation, streamlining the process that broke down organic matter into base nutrients and allowing the virus to gain additional biomass from anything it consumed. Finally, the hydra's natural regeneration was modified into an increased passive biomass production. Before, the minuscule trickle of biomass that took a month to return Jay into his standard state was exponentially improved, cutting the time down by sixty percent as better collection methods and improved efficiency were implemented.
Then Jay felt the pressure begin to build up. The Blacklight virus now had to implement the new viral strain into every cell in his body. There were two ways to do this. The first was only possible if the virus had a few days to individually insert the new strain into every cell in his being. Being that the virus almost solely gained an improved strain during some form of combat, this was never an option. Instead, the virus would quickly shed a layer of its body before rapidly replacing it with cells containing the new variant before moving on to the next layer. The process from the core of his being to the external 'skin' would only take thirty seconds, but something needed to be done with all the excess, outdated cells. Instead of consuming it for biomass, the virus would instead violently eject the old cells. This was, in truth, the core process that Mercer had redesigned for greater air maneuverability. Using only a pound or two of biomass over several seconds, this ability could be used to increase the force of blows or change directions in the air. However, ejecting nearly a quarter of a ton of viral material in an instant amplified the effect over thousand fold. Finally, small tendrils connected to the shed cells would command them to consume every bit of flesh they touched and feed the newly gained biomass back to the source before detaching and allowing the shed cells to die. All together, a metamorphosis invariably resulted in a kinetic explosion that would simultaneously pulverize anything nearby and consume any and all organic matter, resulting in one of the most devastating effects the Evolved could ever do- albeit one they could not do on command.
To the ponies that had backed off from the hydra, it was hard to tell what had happened. It appeared as if Jay had just dissolved into a mass of formless tendrils before what appeared to be a black and red mist began to coalesce around him. The hydra roared in pain and fear as its instincts screamed at it, and it tried to stagger away as the mist began to thicken and pulse. Each of the three Hunters had just enough time to fold their ears back in concern when Jay seemed to detonate. The mist around him expanded rapidly as a small, fast pressure wave shook the air and ground as two objects came flying out the mist too fast to be identified. Half of the hydra's torso was completely consumed by the mist as roars of absolute agony shook the earth and nearly deafened the ponies. The great beast stumbled as one of its legs fell completely free of its body, hitting the ground with a wet squelch as the upper quarter was just gone. Seconds later, the rest of the hydra followed its leg as it hit the ground. A moment later, the black and red mist faded as quickly as it had appeared as Jay leaped away from the beast, revealing just what had happened to the hydra.
The Hunters couldn't help but stare in unabashed awe as a massive crater easily twenty feet tall and six feet wide had appeared in the hydra's lower torso where Jay had been. At first, the visible bones and torn flesh were unnaturally clean without even a splotch of blood, but that soon changed. The hydra began to bleed horrifically as its natural regeneration just could not keep up with such terrifying damage that had appeared in an instant. Iron even noticed that there were no chunks of flesh or blood stains around the beast or even on Jay, as if all the missing flesh and blood had just been erased instead of torn or blown off. As the Hunters collected themselves, quiet and pained whines were the only sounds that filled the air before Beam darted over to Jay. "What the BUCK was that! That was amazing! Why didn't you do that from the start?"
Jay gave Beam a small smirk. "It's a bit risky to do that and I can guarant-"
Iron's voice interrupted Jay as the older unicorn shouted. "Look out, Beam!"
Both of the scouts snapped their head toward the hydra, the monster clearly not as stunned as they thought. Though still knocked over and grievously injured, the great beast was not done yet as the four heads rose and faced them, great mouths opened wide as muscles contracted and flexed, almost appearing as if they were about to vomit. It only took Jay a second to realize what they were about to do. His head snapped to Beam hovering a foot above his head, her teal eyes wide in fear and realization even as the first pressurized jet of green bile shot out of the leftmost head aimed directly for the thestral. The Greater Evolved reacted quickly, snapping his arm up and grabbing Beam's leg. With a heave and a pop, Jay launched the thestral out of the way even as her shoulder dislocated from the sudden acceleration. Jay only had a second to hear Beam's pained cry as four jets of potent acid impacted him.
Though he had gained the ability to produce the hydra's acid the virus had not subconsciously collected the genetic code that allowed it to produce the secretions that made it immune to its own bile. As such, Jay himself was not immune to the acid that stuck him in four simultaneous splashes pressurized enough to become beams. Instantly, Jay lost an arm and half of his head as the jets punched straight through the compacted flesh and severed one limb. The jet that had been aimed at the thestral didn't directly impacted him, instead splashing him with acid as the outer layers of his skin began to dissolve. The final stream of acid had barely missed him but blinded as he was with half his head gone, he jumped straight through it as he tried to retreat out of the way of the attack. Impacted the ground with a thud as he lost his legs below his knees, Jay was very grateful that he only felt pain from magic as his body rapidly shed the damage cells and repaired him. It took several long seconds as the acid kept eating through the newly formed cells but eventually the bile was rendered inert and he healed. Rising to his feet, he first looked toward where he had thrown Beam. To his relief, he had successfully cleared her of the acid and she was fine if favoring one leg now as she took to the air again.
"Jay, start cutting heads off!" Iron yelled to catch his attention. He looked over to see Beam land near him and start taking their explosive crystals and realized he had lost his own and was surprised they hadn't detonated when he did. The Greater Evolved nodded and leaped toward the hydra again, the great beast now seeming to be entirely spent of energy. Even its regeneration had slowed having healed half of it's wound but now seeming to barely function. Jay landed next to one of the heads as it weakly snapped at him. He stepped back from the admittedly pathetic attack and shifted his arm into a blade, extending it more than normal to be able to slice through the thick necks in one swipe. Beam, above him, readied the first crystal just as he decapitated the first head.
Jay jumped back as he watched in mild interest as the stump of a neck bubbled and began to extend but before it could do repair any more than a few inches, the red crystal tinked softly as it hit the ground next to the stump. A second passed before it erupted with the roar of fire matched by a roar of pain as heat blasted the front of Jay's body. When the flames had faded, the stump was very clearly cauterized and no longer attempting to heal. Together, the two scouts made very short work of the remaining three heads as the hydra was too exhausted and injured to even try to run or fight back. When the final head had been cut off, Beam awkwardly landed next to him without cauterizing the last stump. Seeing his confused look, understanding dawned on her face as she spoke. "Oh! The last head doesn't need to be burned. Once its cut off, the hydra dies."
Jay nodded and turned to her as he knelt down. "Sorry I hurt your leg but I didn't have time to be gentle. Just stay still and I'll take care of it."
The little thestral just gave him a grateful smile. "Nah, don't worry about it. I'd, uh... well, I'd probably be dead if you hadn't. I kinda froze up there."
When he touched her leg, she sighed softly as it quickly went numb as nearly microscopic tendrils extended into the flesh and knitted together the torn tendons and reset the bone. Once it was done, he started to stand back up before stopping as he looked at Beam. Her tufted ears were folded back and her tail flicked slowly as she looked away from him. Giving a nod as he decided what to do, he instead scooped her up before standing. Beam squeaked in surprise as she was suddenly picked up, her ears perked and muzzle tinted red as she looked up at the faintly smiling man holding her. "W-what are you-"
He interrupted her. "Your leg will be numb for a bit and I'm sure your wings are tired. I'll just carry you back to the carriage so you don't have to try to walk on a numb leg or fly with sore wings. I want to get out of the forest before something else decides to try to attack us."
"Smart call." Iron said, smirking at Beam's blushing face as he and Kin approached. "And once we're back at the carriage, I want to know just what that was that nearly obliterated the hydra. Not know though."
As Beam hit her face in her front hooves, Iron's horn lit up in that now-familiar miasma of energy as he activated his communications crystal and his voice came through all of them, wonderfully devoid of horrendous feedback. "Aqua, Star, status? We're done here, the hydra's dead. Minor injuries but Jay already fixed them."
A second later and Aqua's voice came through the crystal faintly muffled by wind. "We're done here too. We were on our way to you but we'll head back to the carriage again. No injuries here."
"Copy, see you there." Iron said as he cut communications and turned toward the way they had come. "Let's go. Jay, you did well on your first hunt. We'll celebrate once we're back in Canterlot, I hope you like cider." |
Daedalus' New World | (17) Return to Canterlot | The return to Canterlot passed quickly enough. After collecting his swords from where they had been launched during his metamorphosis, the party of four made their way back to Ponyville uneventfully. Jay was sure that Rainbow, Applejack, and Twilight had wanted to wait for them to return but it had taken several hours to find and then kill the hydra and it was now nearing sunrise. Instead, it seemed that Rarity and Pinkie Pie were waiting for them with Aqua and Star, apparently having a very early picnic. From the amusement his squadmates felt he figured it was more Pinkie's idea than Rarity's.
When the four Hunters approached the rest of their group and the two waiting mares, Rarity looked up and gave a tired smile. "I'm so very relieved to see everypony okay. Miss Aqua already told us that the timberwolves and hydra have been taken care of."
"Yes ma'am." Iron said as he gave the pretty unicorn a smile. "The wolves won't be coming for the two Bearers who were bit earlier and, hopefully, predator incursions will drop in this region now that the hydra is gone."
Rarity nodded happily as he explained the results. Idly, Jay picked up the sound of Pinkie talking Star's ear off and glanced over, seeing the brightly colored pegasus giving him a pleading look. Jay just smirked and shook his head before looking back to Rarity as she spoke sheepishly. "I'd offer you all tea but, in truth, I just want to go home and get back to sleep."
"That's perfectly fine, ma'am. A lady as brilliant as you must keep up with her beauty sleep." Jay almost laughed as Iron shamelessly flirted with the mare who had to be at least ten years younger than him. In his arms, Beam gave a quiet giggle as Jay started to walk away and toward the carriage as Star took the opportunity to follow him and leave Pinkie behind. For her part, Pinkie took his sudden departure well and instead turned to Aqua as Jay tuned them out.
"Go ahead and let me down, Jay. Me and Star need to get hooked up to the carriage." Beam groaned softly, clearly reluctant to be let down. While she had halfheartedly protested on and off through the walk back to Ponyville, she had quickly come to accept that he was carrying her and just made herself comfortable.
"Nah, you stay comfortable there, Beam." Star chuckled as he walked past the two of them. "I heard you almost took a pretty nasty hit and got hurt getting out the way. You just rest easy on the way back and just buy me a cider next time we all go to a bar."
The young thestral gave Star an ineffective glare, the slightly red fur on her muzzle ruining the effect as Kin helped Star hook up to the carriage. Jay climbed into the carriage and took his previous seat as Beam wiggled in place and got comfortable, resting her head on his legs as she stretched out on the bench next to him. Jay gently ran his hand through her moonlit mane as she sighed in relief, happy to be on her way back to Canterlot. "Feeling better, Beam?"
"I'd say she is!" Aqua cut in with a smirk as the tiny unicorn climbed into the carriage and gave her companion a cheeky smirk. "I've never seen her look so relaxed and comfortable."
Beam just cracked one eye open and frowned at the foal-sized mare, huffing softly. "Mm, 'onna beat you up."
"Naw, you'd have to get off Jay to do that." Aqua continued as Kin and Iron climbed into the carriage just behind her. Jay couldn't help but notice the almost imperceptible blush Iron had as he removed his helmet and smirked, wondering if just maybe the flirting had gone somewhere. At Aqua's tease, Beam just groaned in annoyance and turned her head, subsequently snuggling further into Jay as he chuckled softly.
"Teasing Beam aside, everypony did very well tonight." Iron said as he looked around his Hunters. "Aqua and Star handled a large pack of timberwolves without a single injury or issue to show for it and the rest of us took on an ancient hydra with only one minor injury. Most of it was thanks to Jay, our newest Hunter. I'd say he's definitely earned himself the title of Master Hunter and a place among us. Any complaints?"
Unsurprisingly, no one disagreed with Iron's statement as all the ponies in the carriage nodded. "Good. Then let's get back to Canterlot and show Jay a true welcome. Star, take us off!"
That got smiles from everypony as the carriage started to pull forward before it lifted off and took to the air, easily carried by just Star. Jay leaned back in his seat as he realized he was looking forward to being back home. Home. It's been a while since I've had a place I called that. Though, with Starfall and all my friends there I don't think I could call anywhere else home.
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They arrived back into Canterlot just after the sun cleared the horizon, landing in the sky docks and leaving the carriage for the Guards there to check in and store. To Beam's silent happiness, Jay had opted to just pick her up and continue to carry her the rest of the way home. After a bit of teasing, the six Hunters made their way to their compound in silence, tired but excited to celebrate another successful hunt. When they opened the door to the compound and entered, only Jay was surprised to find Luna waiting for them. When the alicorn saw him holding the little thestral, her smile widened as she gave Jay an approving look. "Ah, young Beam and friend Jay. That is most certainly a wondrous way to celebrate a successful hunt. Perhaps I should delay the celebration until the two of you have had your fun?"
Beam's muzzle erupted into a bright red blush and Jay couldn't help but find it amusing that the little pony who had teased and flirted with him on his first day in the Hunters was now the target of the same teasing. The rest of the Hunters found it amusing as well, chuckling and giggling as Beam couldn't find the words to defend herself. Eventually, she just huffed at her boss and buried her muzzle back into Jay's arms. Luna giggled as well and Jay couldn't help but smile as he gave the little thestral a teasing squeeze before Luna continued. "Teasing my little thestral aside, I've taken the liberty to ensure that plenty of good food and good drink are waiting for you all. Of course, I'll be joining you as well."
Aqua snickered as she entered, playfully bumping Luna's leg. "Of course the Mistress of the Night won't pass up some good food."
Smiling warmly at the little unicorn, Luna agreed. "And good company. Now, let us make way to the dining room and fill our bellies with food and cider!"
The ponies cheered as they all moved to the kitchen. When Jay started to go with them, Beam bapped his face with her wing. "Hold on."
The little thestral gave Luna a look and she nodded with a small smile, continuing on into the kitchen and dining room combo. Once only Jay and Beam were left in the room, Beam hopped out of his arms and stood in front of him, gesturing for him to kneel down. The Evolved did, getting down on his knees to be about the same height as the pony. Beam gave him a warm smile with her teal eyes glimmering in gratitude. Stepping close, she wrapped her hooves and wings around him and gave him a tight hug. Her voice, heavy with emotion, spoke quietly as she gently nuzzled his cheek. "Thank you for saving my life, Jay."
"You're welcome, Beam." Jay said softly as he wrapped one arm around the thestral and cupped her muzzle with the other, gently holding her. "I couldn't let my favorite thestral die, now could I?"
She giggled softly, leaning into his touch. "I'm the only thestral you know."
"That makes you the favorite." Jay said with a small smile, pulling back to gently touch his nose to her muzzle.
Beam blinked in surprise for a second then smiled wider. A second later she leaned in and pressed her soft muzzle to his cheek, giving him a gentle kiss. Pulling back with a red tinted muzzle, she quickly hurried into the kitchen with a soft "Thanks, Jay."
Blinking in surprise, Jay reached up and touched his cheek as he stared at where she had been in front of him. He wasn't sure how long he was there but soon felt a wing drape itself over his shoulder. Looking to his side, he saw Luna smiling down at him as her wing gave him a little squeeze. "Enjoying yourself?"
"I, uh... I don't really know what to think." Jay said honestly. The lunar alicorn just gave him a knowing look.
"Then don't. Just come on and have a good meal with your friends."
Slowly, Jay nodded in agreement as he rose to his feet with Luna before following her into the kitchen. When they entered, Beam quickly glanced away with uncharacteristic shyness. Though to her credit, Luna hadn't been kidding when she mentioned good food and good drink. The counters were full to the brim of platters and bowls of various dishes. Everything from breads and salads to soups and cakes lined the counters in a buffet-style spread. Set up on the far back counter was a series of labeled kegs, no doubt various kinds of alcohol. Kin and Beam were both at the counters filling up plates of the offered meals with the large earth pony piling his plate up as much as he could. Iron and Star had already broken into one of the kegs and sat together drinking just as much as they were eating. Finally, Aqua sat in front of a bowl of stew almost as large as her. In front of the seat next to her was a set of bowls and plates holding a little bit of everything and he watched as Luna quickly hurried back to her food.
Jay smiled softly as he made his way over to the counters full of food and began to follow Luna's example, picking up a little bit of everything. He was sure the castle chefs had made this food and, as he usually shared a meal with Celestia and Luna in the evenings, knew that it would all be good whether it was something he was familiar with or not. Taking a seat on the other side of Luna, the two of them shared a small smile. A second later and Beam sat next to him with a warm smile that he happily returned as they all began to eat- not that Kin, Iron, Aqua, or Star had waited for them. Yeah, I could definitely call this place home.
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The celebration had lasted three hours well into the morning. Everyone had ate, drank, and celebrated to their heart's content. Luna had drank Star under the table with ease just to turn around and do the same to Iron back to back. Aqua had eaten enough that she was noticeably more round than before much to Jay's amusement as he poked her distended stomach several times throughout the night. Kin had spent most of the night just eating as much as he could and, in the end, had been the one to beat Luna at her drinking game and downed an entire keg himself. The only two who had been somewhat reserved in their drinking or eating had been Jay and Beam, who had never really left his side. Jay couldn't lie to himself and say he didn't enjoy the cute thestral sticking close to him but her actions had done nothing to help with his cultural shock.
Eventually, the Hunters had retired for the night to catch up on the sleep they had missed out on and returned to their various rooms- though Jay and Kin had needed to carry Star and Iron to their respective rooms on the stallion's side. At first, Jay had been considering carrying Luna back to her room as she dozed on the giant cushion with a half empty keg next to her. In the end it hadn't be necessary as several Lunar Guards had arrived to take care of the Princess of the Night, teleporting her back to her room so the average pony didn't see her passed out drunk.
Finally, Jay had retired to his own room to examine the genetic samples he had received from Applejack, Rainbow, and Beam. The Evolved lied down on his bed and relaxed, sighing softly. Before he began to examine the genetics, he began to fix something that Starfall had called out a little over a week ago. "I could sleep all day if I'm not careful, even if you are a little hard to lay on."
Though she hadn't know why, she was absolutely correct. At the time, he had only changed his body to have a heart and lungs and nothing else. His 'skin' was incredibly dense and tough with no give to it, pretty much the equivalent of laying on a block of steel. He figured it was about time to fix that. Jay could argue that making his body less dense and heavy was a good move to retain his mostly undercover status, the truth was that it was purely for Starfall's sake. Being lighter would just outright be safer day to day. As it was, if something did manage to knock him over and onto a pony then there was a very high chance that the pony would no longer be among the living. On the other hand, reducing his density would be a defensive downgrade as his flesh would be far easier to pierce or rip out but, in Jay's opinion, it wasn't as bad of a risk as he expected. Even if something was tearing off his biomass, the hydra's upgrade to his own production would potentially offset it.
In the end, being less dense and lighter would make Starfall more comfortable. That was worth it all risks aside.
I know you said you don't care what I do in the room as long as its clean but I doubt this is what you meant when you said that.
Opening the small closet door, the Greater Evolved sat down and crossed his legs as he prepared to offload a very large portion of his biomass. If he was going to do this, he supposed that the hardest to infiltrate place he had access to do was the place to do it. Thick, black tendrils extended from his back as they weaved over the ground and into the corner of the closest. There, the tendrils formed the frame of a large, thick oval shaped vaguely like a giant egg as the growths thickened. Then red light pulsed along the lengths of the tendrils as biomass began to accumulate inside the 'egg.' As the object continued to fill with biomass, Jay's own weight and density began to reduce rapidly until he was slightly denser than a normal human, weighing about two hundred fifty pounds where the average for his frame would be two hundred. Then he disconnected the tendrils from his back and left the frame behind, opening his eyes soon after.
The 'egg,' which he decided to simply call a biomass cell, was about five feet tall with the solid, thick black frame of viral tendrils. Inside the frame, black organic matter filled about a fifth of the volume as bioluminescent orange light pulsed within. Jay placed a hand against the frame, giving a few command and deactivation sequences to the virus within and rendering it completely inert as the glow died out. Technically, this cell was alive in the same way that a hunter or warper was and, as such, was connected to his Hivemind. Completely inert as it was, he couldn't do anything more than sense that it existed and whether or not it had been tampered with but Jay considered that pretty good. In the event that he felt the biomass cell being tampered with, he could send an 'activation code' to it and it would react, repelling whatever was messing with it non-lethally and then burrow through the earth to reunite with him. Even if this compound was as safe as could be, there was no such thing as 'too much security' when it came to keeping Blacklight contained. Though, being that it was his own strain, it could never go rampant without another Evolved causing it.
That settled, Jay moved back to his bed and settled in before undergoing one more biological shift. If he wanted to be as 'normal' as possible, he was going to go the full route. Rather than his entire system being made of perfectly identical cells, his body now began to specialize just as living organisms did. 'Skin' and 'muscle' were no longer made of the same material and served the same function, now they were different. Instead of psuedo-nerve receptors on his external layer of virus, he now had a fully functional nervous system, brain included, that was responsible for controlling his muscles. More changes came as his body restructured itself into an identical replica of how he had been before his infection. He was still Blacklight- that was impossible to change with a simple shapeshift- but he was the closest to 'alive' he was ever going to get too. Lastly, he created a form of faux-cloth over his body then disconnected it from the rest of him, creating a fake set of clothing that was no longer attached directly to him- though he would need to see about getting some actual clothes.
Finally, nearly an hour after getting into his room, he set to do what he had planned. Mentally reaching inside his system, he found the isolated sequences he had obtained from the three samples and began to examine them. It was precisely what he expected. For some reason, the strange DNA obscuring effect that had prevented him from examining Starfall's genetics was unique to her and her alone. He supposed he could argue that the result was possibly caused by the increased magic inside a unicorn, but he now had samples of a thestral, earth pony, and pegasus and hadn't experienced a slight symptom of what he had come to call genetic blindness. If magic was the cause then surely the other three tribes would show at least a little of it.
Additionally, he found that he couldn't identify any traces of genes that spoke of 'magic.' It wasn't that he couldn't see them but that they weren't there at all. Honestly, that didn't surprise Jay at all. He had assumed from the get go that magic was something either mental or spiritual, not physical, and that there wouldn't be any genetics that simply 'made' magic. Sure, he had found the genetic composition of the bone-like material called alicorn that made up a unicorn's horn, the recessive genes lying dormant inside Beam's DNA from an old ancestor. Sure, he had found traces of that same alicorn inside the sequences for a pegasus' wings or an earth pony's hooves, but he hadn't found the coding for magic itself simply because it wasn't biological in nature.
Resting his head back on his bed, Jay let his thoughts stray. For better or for worse, it seemed as if the genetic blindness was specific to Starfall alone. Magical disease? Curse? Alchemical effect? He had seen and experienced so much in this world that he wasn't even sure where to begin identifying the underlying cause. He was going to see her tomorrow anyway. It was one of her days off and she had asked him to come do something with her in the afternoon though she hadn't said what. Jay had readily agreed, of course, but it now provided an opportunity to try examining her genetics again. If ponies were anything then they were predictable about wanting to cuddle- not that Jay minded. Starfall was as easy on the eyes as she was friendly and charming.
As Jay's mind wandered he couldn't help but keep coming back to the same thought. He really hoped she wasn't afflicted with some magical disease or curse. |
Daedalus' New World | (18) Royal Training Grounds | Jay hadn't meant to fall asleep. Whether it was a sign that he was comfortable in his new home or was adapting to 'normal' life again he wasn't sure, but either way he had unintentionally fallen asleep in his bed only to be woken up seemingly soon after by the sound of a scroll materializing from his calling card. Jay grabbed the scroll from where it had fallen onto his bed and unrolled it, idly noting the shield and star emblem on the ribbon that had held it shut.
Daedalus,
Firstly, I'd like to congratulate you on your first hunt. Not many ponies- or evolved- can claim to have killed a hydra. Second, I'd like to apologize for contacting you so early in the morning and on such short notice. However, I have a favor to ask of you. If you are available today, I'd like you to come down to the royal training grounds at the base of Canterhorn Mountain. Myself, as well as many of my higher ranking guardsponies, would like to discuss with you efforts we should take in the event a more hostile evolved were to somehow arrive in Equestria. If you are free and willing to help, just head out the main gate to the city and follow the cobbled path on the right. You can't miss it.
Captain of the Combined Royal Guards
Shining Armor
P.S. I'd also like to talk to you in private.
Jay rolled out of bed and opened one of the drawers on the desk he had been provided, removing a scroll. He grabbed an ink well and quill and quickly wrote out a quick, albeit messy, reply.
Shining Armor,
Thank you for the congratulations. It had been an eventful night that nearly ended badly for one of us, but fortunately we made it home with only a minor injury among us. Secondly, there's no need to apologize. An early scroll isn't an inconvenience at all. Of course, I'd be more than happy to help the Guards prepare for such an event, though I dearly hope any training or preparation goes unneeded. I will be there shortly.
Lance Corporal Jay Fontenot
P.S. My real name is Jay Fontenot. I'd also like to talk to you in private as well, so that works out for me.
Thankful that Aqua had added other important imprints to his token, Jay held his calling card and Hunter token together before he tapped the rolled up scroll to them as he thought of the Captain. Immediately, the scroll erupted into a heatless fire before blowing away in orange wisps of smoke. The Evolved quickly grabbed his two swords and strapped them to his back using a copy of the original false-cloth strap formed out of his viral cells and then opened the closet door. If Shining had wanted to test things to find out an effective defense against Evolved, it would be best for him to come equipped like an Evolved. He quickly connected to the biomass cell and absorbed all except the frame, increasing his weight to five hundred five pounds. He hummed slightly as he realized that he had collected five pounds of biomass overnight, not quite sure just how the virus did that.
Now fully prepared to beat around some Royal Guards, he exited the room and made his way toward the royal training grounds. Once he exited the main door of the compound, he started heading toward the main entrance to the city. According to the letter, the grounds were at the base of the mountain beneath the main entrance yet he didn't remember seeing the area on the way to Canterlot either time.
Once he had made his way out of the castle and into the very early dawn, Jay picked up speed as he started to jog through the city. As he made his way toward the front gate of the city, he received quite a few waves and nods from the various ponies who were out and about, overall just having a more welcoming experience than he remembered last time he had walked through the streets. Then he smirked as he realized the myriad of pedestrians, while certainly not poor, also weren't coated in tens of pounds of jewelry. It seemed the nobles didn't quite like waking up at the crack of dawn.
Once out of the city, he spotted the cobblestone road easily enough. Shining had been right, he couldn't miss it. It was easily ten feet wide and had a gentle, winding slope that slowly angled down. Once he was on the path, he picked up speed even further as he followed the road at a calm speed of sixty miles an hour, soon finding out why he hadn't spotted the area yet. Situated in a natural alcove between two of the smaller peaks of the mountain range, the training grounds blended in quite well with a natural stone wall extended thirty feet up. Idly, Jay considered just leaping over the wall before deciding that just maybe giving the guards a heart attack wouldn't be the best idea. Instead, he just stopped just outside the closed gate. Before he could knock, a large slit opened in the gate as two Solar Guards gazed at him. "Good morning, Mr. Daedalus. Please present your Hunter token."
With a nod, Jay pulled the medallion from underneath his shirt and showed it to the gate guards. In his grip, the token gave off a soft silver glow as it reacted to the touch of the Hunter it was meant for. With a nod, the two Guards accepted the authenticity of his identity. Silently, a small door concealed within the large gate swung open on silent hinges and he entered the training grounds only to stop just inside, momentarily caught off guard by the sheer size of the area thanks to the tall walls hiding the inner view.
Based inside a large, walled in compound spanning what Jay estimated was easily fifteen square miles, the guards clearly had all the space they would ever need to form, train, and maintain their forces. The compound consisted of a grid of large barracks that Jay figured could easily hold the entire Combined Royal Guards as each barracks was emblazoned with the emblem of either the Solar, Lunar, or Heart Guard. Situated in equal points in the grid of buildings were two larger open air mess halls that didn't seem to be divided into certain branches, instead allowing any Guard who was waking up or coming off a shift to get a hot meal. Next to the barracks was a collection of large, multistory buildings. If the number of windows was any indication, they were probably apartments for the higher ranking members who didn't stay in the barracks. In between the barracks and apartment complexes was another low, long building that Jay wasn't sure the purpose of but could guess was recreational in purpose.
Finally, the actual training grounds took up the rest of the rather large area. Jay took a quick glance across the place and saw a myriad of things. Six training courses of varying lengths and design curved slowly to match the outer curve of the far wall, some of the courses actively in use. With a few hundred foot buffer zone, a small group of Solar unicorns were practicing magic against both dummies and other Guards, seeming to be training unicorns on combat magic just as much as training non-unicorns on how to resist combat magic. Next to that, he could see Lunar Guards of varying races practicing with modified crossbows that seemed to connect to a special slot in their armor. A large collection of mixed unit guards were also practicing hoof to hoof combat and weaponry duels with wood replicas. Finally, Jay noticed a set of four familiar arenas set side by side next to a small building. Apparently, even the Royal Guard had a set of Discord's arenas to play with.
Even in the early hours of dawn, the Guard was active. Not even counting the number of ponies eating or practicing, there were also a large number of stallions and mares relaxing, chatting, walking, or flying about the area. Surprisingly, Jay didn't garner much attention as he made his way deeper into the grounds before a pegasus Solar guard caught up to him and hailed him. "Good morning, Lance Corporal. Captain Armor is waiting for you in the private arena."
When the pegasus gestured toward the small building next to the arenas, he was glad he chose to return to his usual density if they were going to through some practical tests into the mix with the discussions. With a quick "thank you" to the pegasus, he quickly made his way to the enclosed arena and entered. Inside, he found Captain Armor laying on the ground in his armor. The unicorn looked up when the door entered before he gave Jay a nod, then gestured next to him. The Greater Evolved made his way over and took a seat on the floor, crossing his legs. Shining Armor spoke first.
"Thank you for coming, Jay."
"It's not a problem, Captain. I'm more than happy to help out."
The unicorn nodded. "The others will be joining us in twenty. I wanted to talk to you before."
"I did as well." Jay agreed, nodding his head as he met Shining's eyes. "I wanted to apologize for attacking your sister."
Shining sighed softly as Jay accurately guessed at what he wanted to talk about. "I don't blame you, Jay. I know you weren't under your own control. It's just..."
"That's your sister." Jay continued when Shining trailed off. "Whether I was in control of my actions or not, she could have gotten hurt and that's weighing on you."
The Captain gave him a weak smile. "Well, hearing you apologize does help."
Jay chuckled softly. "I may not have a sister but I have a lot of close family too. I know the feeling."
The stallion's head tilted in surprise, looking at Jay. "I, uh, didn't want to ask."
The Evolved nodded. "Yeah, I get that. No siblings but I do have a mom, dad, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I grew up knowing all my extended family and cousins were no different to me than brothers or sisters."
When Jay didn't continue, Shining was quiet for a moment with a pensive look on his face. Then he continued, his voice quiet and tinted with concern. "If it doesn't bring up bad memories, what happened?"
Jay sighed softly. "They're alright, as far as I know. They were halfway across the country from where Blacklight happened, so they weren't at risk. They think I'm dead, though. When I got infected, I changed my name to Daedalus so that people couldn't link me to them and hurt them for what I was. I wish I hadn't needed to but, well, I'd rather my family be safe and think I'm dead than be in danger."
"Yeah, I get that." Shining nodded in understanding, glancing at Jay as if looking at him in a new light before the Evolved continued.
"I haven't talked to you much and for that, I'm sorry. You're the Captain of all the guards from what I understand. No doubt, you care deeply for your country, your ponies, and your family and I've already tried to hurt the last one. I promise you, Shining, that I'm not an enemy. I've come to see this place as home, something I thought I lost the right to when Mercer made me a monster. The ponies here have shown me nothing but acceptance and friendship. I'd never do anything to ruin that. Even if somehow Mercer himself were to arrive, I wouldn't turn. He doesn't have sway over me anymore."
Shining didn't say anything after that, thinking over what Jay had said. Though he didn't say it, the Evolved knew his words were just what the Captain had wanted to hear. Jay didn't feel a need to push anything, either. He just waited in a comfortable silence with the younger stallion.
It hadn't taken long for the others to arrive as the door to the private arena opened right on time and three ponies entered, one for each branch of the Royal Guard. All three Guards were fully armored, their colors matching their respective branches. The Solar Guard was a young, white coated pegasus mare. The Lunar Guard was an older looking earth pony stallion. The Heart Guard was a pink pegasus stallion. Each of them wore the dual silver stripes denoting the Captain rank. As they neared, Shining spoke. "Jay, these are the Captains of the branches of Equestria's Royal Guards who each run a branch mostly self sufficiently with only the barest oversight from me. The Solar mare is Captain Dawn, the Lunar stallion is Captain Azure, and the Heart stallion is Captain Break. Captains, this is Jay. I trust you three know why we're all here?"
As Captain Armor introduced each of his subordinates, they gave him a nod as their name was called. Once Shining finished speaking, Break spoke. "Yeah, we're here to figure out exactly what we can do to defend against any more Evolved showing up who aren't as nice as Jay."
"Right. Jay's agreed to give us some pointers on how to combat Evolved with the least amount of casualties. If he's feeling up to it, we may move on to some practical demonstrations." Shining explained as the everyone took a seat again. "Jay, the floor is all yours."
"Alright, I'm just going to start off blunt. Anyone who isn't a unicorn or alicorn won't stand a chance." Jay said honestly, immediately getting frowns at that. "Earth ponies, pegasi, and thestrals will be better off focusing on the horde."
"Horde?" Dawn interrupted him, her frown shifting into a concerned look. "How big are we talking?"
"Blacklight, depending on a variety of factors, can result in different Blacklight creatures. The Evolved are the rarest kind. The most common are the Walkers. Walkers are the result of the Blacklight being injected into a creature and then left to do whatever it wants to do. The victim invariably dies and then becomes Blacklight, usually mutating into some monstrosity before attempting to murder and devour those around it. These things have strength, speed, and resilience to the extreme but the average earth pony hits much harder than a Walker." Jay explained, leaning back against the wall as he sighed softly.
"Wouldn't earth pony Walkers hit even harder, then?" Shining asked. A heavy frown creased his brow as he started to understand the threat Blacklight held.
"Yeah, but not as strong as an earth pony. Biologically speaking, earth ponies aren't that strong. Would you consider Applejack to kick hard?" Jay asked, looking between the Captains and receiving nods all around. "Applejack can kick hard enough to crack iron. I would know, she split an iron horseshoe on my chest when we first met. If I remember right, cast iron takes about twenty thousand psi to break- don't worry if that measurement doesn't mean anything here. What's important is that just based on muscle strength, Applejack should only be able to kick at about two thousand psi, a tenth of the force needed."
"What does that mean?" Azure asked from where he was resting his head on his legs.
"Almost ninety percent of an earth pony's strength comes from their passive magic. As far as I can tell, all Blacklight including myself are completely unable to harness magic. With earth pony Walkers not having their magic, but still stronger than average, I'd say one of them would kick about a third as hard as Applejack would. Overall, an earth pony Walker would be significantly weaker than an earth pony. Now, moving on, there are the actual Blacklight beasts."
"Other than Walkers, there are three main types of Blacklight beasts. None of these develop as a natural form the virus makes and instead must be created by an Evolved. The first is the Gladiator, a large humanoid creature covered in viral plate armor and wielding a shield as well as a weapon. Usually bladed, these weapons can also take the form of hammerfists or whipfists. Overall, these things are very strong. Unlike the warpers and walkers, they don't have any particular weakness. They're surprisingly agile for their weight, incredibly strong, with fast reactions and tough outer layers."
For the next two hours, Jay explained every type of creature the Blacklight Evolved used from the simple Gladiator to the terrifying Behemoth, and even going so far as to detail the old gen monsters that were no longer in current use by the Evolved. He detailed their strengths, their weaknesses, and his suggested tactics for fighting them. The Greater Evolved told the four Captains of how the beasts can be made from a freshly killed or still living body or even grown from a sac using raw biomass. He explained how a few Behemoths and a horde of Gladiators can be used to create a self-replicating Hive, bringing back biomass to create more and more creatures.
Jay went on to explain how Blacklight had a massive weakness to magic as even the lowest powered of stun spells would burn a hole into his body. He told them of the difficulty he had healing magically-inflicted wounds and how enough damage could cause his body to destabilize. Eventually, the conversation moved onto practical demonstrations and the four Captains began testing strategies against the Evolved. Jay demonstrated the physical strength that he had by throwing Azure around with one arm. He demonstrated his speed and reactions by catching Dawn out of the air, and even caught Shining off guard. The unicorn had grabbed hold of his arms, legs, and head in a telekinetic grip and smirked as if he expected that to be the end of it. The Captain hadn't expected a thick tendril to erupt out of Jay's chest but reacted impressively quick, catching the giant spike. Only, a few seconds later he lost the duel as another tendril split off of the first one and 'impaled' him. "Keep an Evolved away from you. The amount of limbs we can produce is limited only on our biomass and the more we get to consume in a fight, the more biomass we have to use. Even as I am right now, I'm just over five hundred pounds. I consider my minimum threshold to be three hundred so that gives me two hundred pounds of biomass to play with. If Mercer had just recently gorged himself on the various citizens in Canterlot, he'd easily have a few tons of organic matter to chuck around. Keep your distance and remember that even the weakest spells are damaging to an Evolved." |
Quantum Bright Lulamoon | pre | "Bright!" Oak yelled. He was on the frame of Melody's sunglasses. I then saw Melody reach for her sunglasses. He was frozen in some deep shit. Something needs to be said about my friend. He is afraid of heights and Melody's unaware actions were not helping at all. That's why I quickly glided onto Melody's black glasses frame to help a friend in need. By the time I got there, he was scared shitless.
"Oak, calm down. Okay?" I told him.
"How can I be calm at a time like this?" He asked.
"Listen, I know you're scared. But you need to be brave. Girls love a brave boy." He still continued to whimper. This was going to take a while...
"Oak, who at our high school do you love the most?" I asked.
"Melody." He answered. I'll be honest, I would love to be the brother-in-law to Oak. Hell, we treat ourselves like bros already.
"Why is that?" I asked.
"She's beautiful and caring. I remember this one time we were both getting bullied and she came to our rescue. She became more than a popular girl to me that day." He said. This is actually true. But what pisses me off is the fact that she didn't even stop the bully. She just gave a simple "leave them alone" look. All because of her beauty.
"Okay. Think about her for a moment. Try to be brave for her." I told him.
"Okay. I-I'll do my best." Oak said as he calmed down. Melody then tried to make a call and my phone rang. Why me? What could she possibly want?
"Hey, Melody. How's the party?" I asked.
"I'd like you to tell me yourself. Better yet, you and Oak should tell me what think so far." She said. Keep in mind, microscopic size is not visable by the naked eye. How the hell was she able to see us? That is a good fucking question.
"Melody, can you see us?" I asked.
"Thanks to my magic, I can see and hear you." She answered.
"Then what the hell are you calling me for?"
"Unlike you two, I care about my public image." This offended me. Oak as well.
"Unlike you two? UNLIKE YOU TWO!? After all the trouble we had to go through just to save her, she says that shit to us!?" Oak said with anger.
"Save me? What is the hell is that all about?" Melody asked.
"Melody, this is a goddamn organized party! We came here to save you!" I yelled with anger.
"This party isn't organized, dibshits. The mayor made sure of that."
"What!? Oak, you said this was organized!"
"I know what I said! It must've been a last minute change." He explained.
"Yeah, he's right. It was." Melody said.
"Oh, okay. Well in that case, sorry for bothering you during the party." I said.
"Don't be sorry for acting with good intentions. Also, Oak, do you actually love me?" She heard the whole conversation. I could tell this was embarassing for Oak because he blushed red.
"Yes, it's true." He said. Well, at least he admitted it.
"Okay. Well, can you both do me a favor?" Melody asked.
"Sure. What is it?" I asked.
"Go home. Especially you, Bright. Pretty sure you don't want to endure mom's wrath." She didn't get nicknamed "The Great and Powerful Trixie" for nothing. Me and Oak then ran home. When I got home, I saw both adults were asleep. Going back to my bedroom was a breeze. I was about to go to bed, until I heard a yelp for help outside.
"What the hell?" I asked myself. I then looked outside and saw Blue being harrassed by a group of boys. "Oh hell no!" I said as I swooped down and kicked their asses with super speed. I then checked on Blue to see if she was alright. "Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you." She said.
"Your welcome." Another group of boys then approached us.
"You beat those guys up? How embarassing." One boy said.
"Get her!" Another boy yelled. Blue then covered her face and screamed. That's when I grappled them together and threw them into a trash can. I was taking out the trash after all.
"Why aren't you fighting?" I asked.
"Because fighting is wrong. There are better ways to resolve conflict." She said.
"You do have a point, but unfortunately the world doesn't work like that. If you don't fight back, they'll just keep walking over you. You need to stand up for yourself." She then smiled.
"You remind me of a certain friend of mine. He would want the same thing." She said as another boy approached us. He was wearing a white coat, golden necklace, and golden brass knuckles. Who the hell is this guy? Bling-Bling boy from Johnny Test?
"What's up, bitch?" He said. This caused Blue to get angry. She then used super speed to knock out the Bling-Bling boy cosplayer. If you couldn't tell, I was getting a real good kick out of this.
"Your right. I am a bitch. But I'm not your bitch. I'm the Head Bitch in Charge of your lame ass." She said. She then spat on his face and put him in the same trash bin I put the group of boys in. While they weren't looking, I shrunk down to microscopic size and left a note. When Blue went to find me, she got confused. "Where'd he go? Did he run off? That's too bad. I never caught his name." She said. She then looked down and picked up the note I left. "Time Shift. I like that name. Has a ring to it. Other than that, he might just bring justice to Lancerlot City. He was also kinda attractive." She said. She then walked off.
"Attractive? Is she crushing on me?" I said to myself as I ran back to my room and into my bed. I had so many mixed emotions at that moment. Blue was in love with me. The other me. The hero me. I loved Blue as well and now I can show her. But she must never know my true identity. That is a must. |
Quantum Bright Lulamoon | Chapter 6 - Beneath the Mask | Since the event that just happened in the previous chapter, I've been keeping my identity a secret. No one can know who I am. Even though masks are for pussies (in my opinion anyway), I must wear one to hide who I really am. The last thing I need is an Iron Man 3 scene. Remember when Tony's mansion got destroyed. Yeah, I'm trying to avoid that.
The next day came and I went to school. After last night, Blue was acting...weird. "Hey Bright. How was last night?" She asked me before entering school. Normally, she's not this invasive. Did something happen on the way back?
"Uh...why?" I responded.
"No reason. Just keeping my eye on you. There was a mysterious super hero named Time Shift who saved my life from a bunch of thugs near your house." She explained. I had to act like I didn't know shit or she would know. Timing just wasn't right.
"What? Why would they be near my house? And who is this 'Time Shift' person?" I asked.
"Not sure, but I learned how to control my..." Blue was interrupted mid sentence by a car horn.
"Hey lovebirds, go to class!" Olivia yelled. What a dick.
"Don't worry, Blue. We can finish this at lunch." I told her.
"Okay. Well, see you later." She said as we went to diffferent classes. After five periods of boring events within school, the day finally got interesting as I was walking to my locker. I had better ears thanks to the incident.
"Did you hear about the fight happening in the bathroom during lunch?" The red head said.
"Yeah, is she really going to kick her ass?" The blue girl asked.
"We'll just have to see. I can't even imagine someone who would want to hurt Blue Sentury of all people." Blue Sentury was about to get her ass kicked by someone. That is not only stupid, but it is also dumb. Who the fuck messes with the bully of the school, let alone her sister? Olivia will have to thank me for this later. When no one was looking I shrank down into the fabric of the red head's skirt and enjoyed the ride.
During the ride, something hit my mind. If I didn't help, Blue would expose her own powers. Blue would also be feared among people which is a fear for her. I just hoped that my ride was on time. When I reached the bathroom, I saw it all. Blue Sentry was getting beat up by a rich girl. "Please, just leave me alone." Blue said. Her nose was bleeding.
"Aww, isn't that sweet. The bitch wants me to leave her alone." The girl said. Introducing your cliche snobby rich bully, Garnet Tiara. She has orange skin and wears a red tiara. If you didn't pick up on it yet, she's the daughter of another reformed bully, Diamond Tiara. Her father, Snails, would maybe fit under the bully category if he wasn't a foolish henchman like his partner in crime Snips. While this was all happening, I couldn't just stand there and watch as the girl I loved got beat and laughed at. So, I gave Garnet a punch into a wall and she couldn't get up. As if on time, the school bell rang and Blue came out the bathroom limping. I ran out and reverted my size near a locker. I then walked up to Blue and tried to act like I knew nothing.
"Holy shit!" I yelled as I sped up. I hate people that bullshit like I was doing, but this was necessary. I then picked her up and took her to the school nurse. "Hi, nurse. How ya doing?" I asked as I held Blue up.
"Bright, what happened to her? Did you do this?" She asked. I was a trouble maker, but doing this? That's fucked up!
"No, I just found her like this in front of the bathroom." I replied. The nurse then shook her head while holding the bridge of her nose. If you went to my school, you'd be tired of this shit too.
"Olivia Sentry, Oak Wood, and Melody Lulamoon. Please report the nurse immediately." She said over the intercom. When they came down they saw Blue's...condition.
"Blue? What the hell happened to you?" Olivia asked.
"Tiara...Tiara..." Blue said.
"Tiara? Who's Tiara?" Oak asked.
"Garnet Tiara. She did this, didn't she?" Melody asked. Blue then nodded. "Come on, Olivia. We're going to have a little 'chat' with your friend." Notice the way she said chat. Yeah, real shit was about to go down.
"Melody, can I come? I want to avenge Blue." I asked. She then shook her head.
"If you want to help, stay here with Blue. This is something we must do on our own." She said as they went to go find her. I then went to go comfort Blue.
"Oak, can you give us a minute." I asked him.
"Uh, sure. I'll just be in the reception room." He said as he closed the door. I then grabbed Blue's hand.
"Thank you so much for helping me back there." She said to me telepathically. Yes, I said that right. Like mother, like daughter I guess. What was more surprising was the fact that she knew.
"You knew?" I asked. She then nodded.
"I just regret not being there sooner." I said.
"I know you do. But something tells me there was another reason." She told me telepathically. If you looked at my art on my creator's DeviantArt, you would know exactly how we feel about each other.
"Listen, if I don't say this now then I won't get another chance like this in the future. I...I...I like you Blue. Not like a friend, but like-like you." I said as Blue smiled.
"I love you too, Bright. After this is all over, let's go out to dinner with all five of us." She said telepathically.
"Really? That's great! Where do you want to go?"
"Sugarcube Corner. Let's eat on the rooftop." I then nodded and the school bell rang. I'm pretty sure Fire Emblem S supports don't work in real life. Blame my creator for his laziness. Almost more lazy than the guy who created the Japanese Flag.
"See you after school. Take care and don't forget to ask the nurse if you need anything." I said as we both shared a chuckle. I then walked off to seventh period. After school ended, I found Blue outside with everyone else. "Hi everyone." I said.
"Hey, Bright." Oak said.
"We just finished our little chat with Garnet. She won't be hurting anyone else for a while." Melody said.
"Blue also recovered fully and were all going to Sugarcube Corner to celebrate. Wanna come along?" Olivia asked.
"Sure, I would love to." I said as they all got in the car. We then drove off to Sugarcube Corner. In the future, Sugarcube Corner is now a skyscraper with a full menu instead of sweets. Pinkie Pie is also the new owner and promises good taste at a value. Damn, she was right.
When we got there, everyone got out except for me and Olivia. "I know what happened to Blue and what you did. Thank you." Olivia said.
"Your welcome. By the way, what the hell did you do to Garnet?" I asked.
"How do I say this? 'This certain gem lost most of its value. I'll have to dump it. Maybe then it will become valueable again.' " She basically threw her into the closest landfill. Goddamn!
"Holy shit. Whose idea was that?" I asked.
"It was Melody's. If we went with my way, there would've been a recreation of 'A Grave Situation' from The Godfather video game." She answered. I just sat there stunned. If you don't know what happened, basically two boys assault the undertaker's daughter. The main character then helps two mobsters named Monk and Paulie Gatto knock out the boys. They then 'bury' them into two separate graves. Like I said before, "Holy shit".
Me and Olivia then joined our friends for dinner. As we were ordering, my time radar was going off. Y'know, my "Spider Sense". I saw a theif about to come in, but before he could come in, I stopped time and put him inside the police office. Nothing was going to ruin tonight. Not even a goddamn theif. "What would you like, sir?" The waitress asked.
"I would like Lanterlot Special with extra nuts, no homo." I told her. This caused me, my friends, and the waitress to laugh.
"You have quite the sense of humor. You should join the Pinkie Pie Stand Up Session. She would love to hear your jokes." The waitress said. I don't live to say no.
"Sure, sign me up." I said. She then signed me up and walked away.
"What are you going to joke about?" Melody asked.
"Sorry, I would hate to ruin the surprise." I said. I almost forgot to tell you, reader. When you say surprise at Sugarcube Corner in the future, Pinkie blasts her Party Cannon in your face. That's probably why there's a sign outside that says: DO NOT EAT HERE IF YOU HAVE HEART PROBLEMS.
"Surprise!" Pinkie said.
"Oh shi-" I was interupted by confetti in my face.
"I heard you're going to join the stand up today. Lucky for you, there are no restriction on jokes."
"No restrictions?"
"None! So go all out! Also, it's about to start! Are you ready?"
"Sure! Let's do this!" I then went with Pinkie to the stage. Pinkie then started to drumroll.
"Ladies and gentleman, Bright Lulamoon!" Pinkie said as the curtains lifted.
"Sup everybody! How ya doin?" I asked as everyone clapped their hands. "I'm gonna be straight with you, I'm confused on what to joke about. So, here's what I want you to do. Give me a subject and I'll create jokes about it." Someone then raised their hand. "You there!"
"The Government!" He said.
"The Government? No need. Celestia and Luna are already a bigger joke than Donald Trump." I said. Laughter then filled the air. "Let's also not forget that they made the mayor the former president of CPA. I mean c'mon, her of all people? We might be better off with George Bush." The laughter continued.
"Who's George Bush?" A lady asked.
"George Bush? Thanks for asking, I'll gladly tell you. He's the clown of a president who did 9/11." I said. The Laughter dimmed down a bit. "Yeah, it wasn't that good of a joke. It's been proven that using that joke in 2041 makes you lazier than the guy who created the Japanese Flag." The Laughter then rised. "There we go. Much better." A hand then raised. "Yeah?"
"How about yourself?" A man asked.
"Myself? Well, now that you mention it, I had a dinner experience when I was younger." Oak then giggled loudly. "As you can see, my best friend back there already knows where this is going. So, I was at Sweet Snacks Cafe with my friends and the diner had a jukebox. So me and my friends had this funny idea to play Under Our Spell by The Dazzlings twenty-one times in a row. Remember that classic?" The whole crowd went escatic. "Yeah, well Oak had this great idea to put Awesome As I Wanna Be by The Rainbooms in after the seventh time for comedic effect. So we put in the songs and waited. The thing that most people don't realize is that on the second time listening to Under Our Spell you don't hear it restart, you just hear it go 'ooh-woah-oh, ooh-woah-oh'. But the funny thing happened on the fifth time it played because just before it played, a man was about to lose it until he heard it play again and literally flipped over a table and ran out." Laughter began to fill the room. "After it ended on the seventh time, the whole place went silent and the whole cafe was about to lose it until 'daah dah dah dah, daah dah dah dah, daah dah dah dah, awesome as I wanna be' and the sigh of relief that swept through the diner." The laughter became louder. "For years, scientists have wondered 'Can you make grown men and women happy when you play Awesome as I Wanna Be by The Rainbooms?' and the answer is yes my friends. But after the song ended with that sick guitar rift...Holy shit. 'ooh-woah-oh, ooh-woah-oh, you didn't know that you fell' and everyone went fucking insane." Again, more laughter. I was on a roll that night. "So, what exactly was our reward? We got to see someone unplug the Jukebox and smash it with a hammer. And that was the story of one of my best dinners ever. Thank you and good night." I then walked back to my seat and everyone clapped.
"Never thought I would have to hear that story again. Thanks for the laugh." Melody said.
"Your welcome." We then finished our meals and walked home. On the way back, we went pass the diet building and my time sense started to tingle...again. But it wasn't just me this time because when looked at Oak, he was looking like he was getting mind fucked. "Oak, you okay?" I asked him quietly.
"Yeah, just got a headache." He lied. In case you didn't know, nothing gets past a Lulamoon. Especially if his first name is Bright. And Celestia God bless your soul if you lie to a female Lulamoon.
"You feel it too, don't you?" I asked. He nodded. What we sensed was a weapons cache deep beneath the diet building. From an outsiders point of view, this is regular for government right? Fuck no. Mayor Cinch was down there giving it to thugs. This was a black market sale.
"Boys? You good?" Melody asked.
"Y-Yeah, why?" I asked.
"No reason. Can we go home now?"
"Sure." Home. That's a great idea. When I get home, I'll dawn my other self and kick her ass. But first things first. I got my phone out and texted Oak.
ME: Oak, when you get home, get the lab ready. We're going to kick some ass for Lancerlot.
OAK: Okay. Come meet me as soon as you can.
We then got to our homes and donned our uniforms. Tonight, we fight! No, I can't say that. Too western. Hmm. Oh wait, I got one. But I'll tell you in chapter 7. Times up for right now. Speaking of time, the creator is a bit tied up. He's making my story take so fucking long. This is Persona 3 Abridged all over again. Well, were not at that point yet considering that the series is started in 2016. Also, he's trying to focus more on college too so just bare with him, alright? |
The guest | pre | "We were talking about how ugly your mother is," exclaimed one of the goons.
Pound Cake winced. "Yes she is rather... old."
"I bet she's a bitch to work for too," Buck offered.
Pound Cake sunk even further into his chair. "She can be kind of demanding."
Shaka stewed silently, reminding himself to remain patient and wait for a better opportunity before interjecting.
"At least your sister's kinda hot," remarked another.
"How can you tell from under all that hair?" Buck asked, causing another round of laughter from the other stallions.
"She must have some horrible disfigurement though right? I mean what else could it be?" jabbed one of the stallions.
"She's just shy," Pound Cake whispered.
"My bet is that one of her eyes is way bigger than the other," Buck exclaimed, narrowing one eyeball while opening the other as wide as possible.
"That would be pretty weird," admitted one of the stallions.
Shaka cast a curious glance to Pound Cake who had sunk as far into his seat as he could manage.
"It's no wonder their dad is off railing some Canterlot slut seven days a week," Buck declared.
Pound Cake stood awkwardly and began to shuffle away.
"Hey where are you going?" Buck asked, turning to Pound Cake.
"I was just going to use the washroom?" Pound Cake whispered.
"And who said you could do that?" Buck retorted.
"Um, can I?" Pound Cake replied.
The unicorn rubbed his chin in a dramatic fashion, making a show of considering the other stallion's question. "Of course, but before that why don't you suck me off hmm?" Buck replied, spreading one leg so it peeked out the side of the table.
"w-what?" Pound Cake muttered.
"You heard me. Thinking about plowing your sister got me all hot and bothered so why don't you suck my dick," Buck stated.
"Still sounds gay to me," muttered one of the other stallions.
"It ain't gay," Buck exclaimed. "Now come on, get down on your knees and suck this fat cock of mine."
Pound Cake hesitated, glancing beneath the table and then up to the curious stares of the other stallions. "I really don't want to," he whispered, only to be ignored.
"Yeah and when your done you can shuffle one over and do me," added another.
"Why don't you just stay down there for the rest of the night. Those lips of yours would be better put to use sucking dick then drinking those girly things," stated a third.
"I-I don't-" Pound Cake gulped and seemed ready to agree only for Shaka to stand suddenly.
"You heard him, he doesn't want to do that," Shaka declared.
"Oh come on. Don't be a spoilsport Shakes!" Buck exclaimed. "We'll let you use him too, but you'll have to go last."
"He said he's not interested," Shaka reiterated. "Come on Pound Cake let's go home."
Pound Cake sputtered but ultimately allowed the zebra to move him away from the table. "O-okay," he murmured.
"Hey come on man that's our entertainment your making off with!" shouted one of the stallions.
"Come on boss. Lets teach this striped loser a lesson," added another.
Buck merely shook his head. "Don't worry about it boys. Pound Town will be back for more soon enough. Won't you girl?"
Pound Cake blushed and looked down, unable to meet the unicorn's gaze.
"Come on. I'll walk you back," Shaka encouraged, gently guiding Pound Cake towards the door.
The demure stallion merely nodded and followed close behind Shaka as they made their way out of the bar. Now standing in the cool night air, the zebra gave his charge a quick look and noted the tears at the edge of Pound Cake's eyes. His shoulders were also slumped, and he stared down at the ground unblinking, a blush remaining firmly plastered to his face.
Minutes passed with the pair walking in silence, Shaka leading from the front and Pound Cake following silently behind. So focused was the young pegasus that he didn't even notice when Shaka turned down an alley and led them away from prying eyes. Only when the light of the moon and the bite of the northerly wind vanished did Pound Cake look up to find Shaka staring down at him.
"Take off that jacket," he commanded.
"W-what?" Pound Cake muttered.
"You aren't going back there again. Take off that jacket," Shaka stated.
Pound Cake looked down at himself. "But I can't. They said they would know if I got rid of it."
"They won't," Shaka replied.
Pound Cake hesitated. "But what if I go back and don't have it?"
Shaka merely raised an eyebrow. "You would go back after they did that to you?"
Pound Cake sighed. "N-no. I shouldn't."
"You won't," Shaka repeated.
"But what if they hurt me? Buck's dad is the police chief, and-" Pound Cake continued, growing more panicked by the second.
"I'll protect you. Don't worry. Now-" Shaka extended a hoof. "Give me the jacket."
Pound Cake hesitated one final time before reluctantly sighing and taking off the leather jacket. "H-here."
Shaka took it, walked over to a dumpster and threw it in. "There."
"Wait a second you can't do that!" Pound Cake pleaded.
"I already did," Shaka replied simply.
"You can't just throw it out! Buck will kill me!" Pound Cake pleaded, trotting towards the dumpster.
He didn't make it very far however, as Shaka grabbed the smaller male and pinned him against the wall. "I know that look," Shaka declared.
Pound Cake blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"That look you had back there at the bar," Shaka explained. "The look you had when they demanded you give them all blow jobs."
"I don't know what your talking about," Pound Cake muttered.
"You were thinking about it," Shaka exclaimed.
"I wasn't," Pound Cake whispered.
"You were and if I hadn't stopped you'd be under that table right now," Shaka pressed.
"I w-wouldn't," Pound Cake replied in a soft tone.
"You would," Shaka declared. "But that wouldn't have made you happy. Would it?"
Pound Cake remained silent, glancing over the zebra's shoulder as tears built in the corner of his eyes.
"I thought so," Shaka stated. "You want to be bullied. To be commanded, but you also want the respect and dignity that comes with being ordered around by someone who has your best interest at heart."
"I..." Pound Cake bit his lip.
"You know what I'm saying is true. Don't you Pound Cake?" Shaka pressed.
Pound Cake inhaled another lungful of the zebra's scent, unknowingly helping Shaka's case. Already the young stallion could feel something hot begin to burn way down in his core, his cock beginning to harden for reasons he couldn't fully explain. Maybe it was how wonderful Shaka smelt, or maybe it was how domineering the zebra was, either way he was entranced.
"I do," Pound Cake whispered, surprising even himself with his admission.
"Doesn't that feel good? To live authentically and to be true to yourself?" Shaka continued.
"It... it does," Pound Cake replied, unconsciously leaning against the zebra for support.
Shaka ran a hoof down the pegasus' side, smiling confidently to himself. "It's okay to want to give up control to someone else. It's okay to let others make decisions for you. Its okay for me to tell you what to do."
"It's okay to let you take control," Pound Cake finished, a hoof wrapping around Shaka's midsection.
"You know why it's okay for you to serve me?" Shaka whispered into the stallion's ear.
"N-no," Pound Cake admitted.
"Because I will do what's best for you. I will make you experience pleasure the likes of which you have never dreamed of," Shaka continued, nipping at the other stallion's ear. "I will leave you a quivering, shaking mess of uncontrollable joy."
Pound Cake shuddered as a moan slipped from his mouth, his entire body aching for the zebra holding him tightly. "Oh yes please," he murmured.
"Gladly," Shaka declared.
The zebra pulled back and mashed his lips against Pound Cake's, pressing the smaller stallion's head against the wall. Another moan slipped out of Pound Cake's mouth, his hooves wrapping around Shaka's midsection. The more dominant stallion pulled back a second later before pressing right back in.
This time Pound Cake couldn't help but relinquish control of his body, opening his mouth and allowing Shaka's tongue entrance. The kiss was deep, but brief, leaving Pound Cake quivering and wanting nothing more than to feel the zebra's embrace once more. Shaka however, only pressed forward for brief bursts, drawing out Pound Cake's desire until he could barely contain himself.
His cock twitched needfully, trapped between their stomach's while Shaka's much larger appendage dangled between his legs. The soft touch that had ignited Pound Cake's desire quickly became teasing, making him want more and giving him little. The tentative brush with Shaka's tongue sent bolts of lighting down his spine yet never lingered for long.
"Mmmf," Pound Cake murmured.
Shaka moved down and nipped at the other stallion's neck. "Does my little pet have something to say?"
"P-please, m-more," Pound Cake whispered.
"Oh do you want something?" Shaka continued, kissing up and down the nape of Pound Cake's neck.
"I want you," Pound Cake declared.
"You want this don't you?" Shaka asked, shifting his hips so his enormous shaft pressed against Pound Cake's ass.
The young stallion gasped in surprise, startled by just how massive it was. "Yes. I want it," Pound Cake replied, shocking himself with how bold of a declaration he was making.
"Suck it," Shaka demanded, shifting back just enough to give Pound Cake the room he would need.
This time there was no hesitation, no regret and absolutely no shame as Pound Cake fell to his knees before the zebra. In an instant his every sense was occupied by the bobbing horse cock waiting mere inches from his muzzle. The scent of a more powerful, and more dominant male filled his nostrils, the faint taste of something salty lingering on his tongue. The thick appendage's every twitch and movement was observed closely by the increasingly lusty young pegasus.
"Take it. Do what your heart demands of you," Shaka encouraged.
Pound Cake didn't need any additional prompting, swiftly taking hold of the mottled black and white cock before opening his maw wide. Though a small part of him wanted to lick and worship the stallion's cock affectionately, Pound Cake couldn't resist the temptation anymore. He needed it inside of him, and he didn't care what hole Shaka filled, only that Pound Cake took as much of it as possible as quickly as he could manage.
His jaw creaked as he desperately wrapped his lips around Shaka's length, yet the young pegasus didn't give up. Only when the enormously thick head of the zebra's cock was in his mouth did Pound Cake feel his urges begin to let up. That was until he tasted Shaka's cock for the first time, then those same desires returned tenfold.
With Pound Cake's mind now clouded by an almost overwhelming amount of lust, the young pegasus found himself totally focused on his partner. All thoughts of the embarrassing event that had occurred only a few minutes ago was gone, as were his worries about the zebra. There was only a white hot need which burned in his chest, demanding him to service the creature before him to the best of his abilities.
And so he did, reaching out with uncoordinated, and inexperienced hooves, Pound Cake pulled the other stallion forward. Inch after throbbing inch slid into the pegasus', until finally the midring bumped into his lips, startling him out of his trance. It was only then that he realized he had swallowed over eight inches of cock and still had a lot more to go.
Shaka noticed his partner's panic and pulled back slightly, his dick slipping out of the other stallion's throat but not his mouth. With space to breath, Pound Cake quickly stopped panicking and refocused himself once more, this time more mindful of his partner's size. So when he dove back down a second time, the stallion paid closer attention to the amount of air he had left in his lungs.
Watching the pegasus work his cock so expertly made Shaka grin excitedly, and a deep primal part of him to demand that he take Pound Cake at that very moment. Stifling that urge was hard to do, but ultimately necessary, as it was still too soon to move so quickly. Shaka had to lay the groundwork and plant a metaphorical as well as literal seed in the stallion before the zebra's plan could truly bear fruit.
Until then he would simply have to enjoy the feeling of a slutty young stallion slobbering all over his cock.
A gasp followed by a sharp intake of air drew Shaka's attention down to where Pound Cake had popped off the end of the zebra's cock. Though his inexperience was certainly making the event not quite as enjoyable as it could be, Pound Cake's incredible desire made up for any failings. For even when Pound Cake screwed up, it was due to his goals overreaching his ability, which was easily forgiven in Shaka's mind.
Who didn't even mind the fact that he was getting a blowjob in some dank alley and probably being watched by a pony or two. Pound Cake on the other hand was so focused that he likely didn't even notice his surroundings. He just kept bobbing his head on Shaka's cock, swallowing the zebra's dick and taking it as deep as he could manage.
It was a difficult process, and Pound Cake gagged more than a few times during his descent to the bottom of Shaka's appendage. Yet no matter how hard he struggled and failed, the stallion just kept going, a manic energy driving him ever onward. Over and over he pushed forward only to inevitably end up stifled by his own poor experience, but that didn't matter to him.
Watching the young pegasus debase himself so thoroughly was almost better than feeling that same stallion's tight throat wrap around Shaka's cock. Indeed there was an almost primal thrill to making the pony serve him in such a physically demanding way. In time Shaka was even surprised to feel a very powerful surge of pleasure begin to well from way down inside of him.
"Thats a good boy. Keep it up and I'll reward you properly," Shaka purred.
Pound Cake looked up at him, his eyes watering slightly as he struggled to stay so far down Shaka's cock. Within the young pegasus' expression was a longing so powerful Shaka couldn't help but feel a little proud.
Truly the seed had been sown, and now all that was left was to water it properly in order to make it grow. Though to get there he would need to take things into his own hooves for a few moments at least. A shift Shaka was certain Pound Cake would enjoy almost as much as he would.
"Deep breath now. I'll be taking it from here," Shaka exclaimed.
Though it was clear Pound Cake wasn't sure what Shaka meant, he quickly nodded, giving permission for the zebra to have his way with him.
Seeing this, Shaka quickly reached down and grabbed hold of Pound Cake's head with both of his forehooves. He then pulled out just a little more, allowing the young pegasus to fill his lungs with oxygen before Shaka stuffed his throat with dick. Which he did only a moment later, his hips lurching forward and forcing his member deep into Pound Cake's throat.
The pegasus couldn't help but moan whorishly as he laid there limply, merely allowing his body to be used by the powerful male. And use certainly was the correct description of what happened, as Shaka quickly began to thrust in and out of the pony's mouth. Spit dribbled down Pound Cake's chin as tears trickled down his cheeks which puffed out occasionally as he gulped down what little air he could.
Shaka pulled the stallion forward, shifting the pegasus' body and allowing the zebra to drive his cock straight down Pound Cake's throat. Each thrust made the other stallion's neck bulge as Shaka's monster cock plowed deeper and deeper. A few seconds later and his midring had slipped past Pound Cake's lips, signalling that there wasn't a lot of dick left to swallow.
Pound Cake himself seemed to have adapted quickly as well, gulping air whenever possible and absolutely reveling in the experience. His throat ached, but despite the discomfort he didn't utter a word, merely laying against the cold stone wall. His cock even twitched whenever Shaka's thrust ended, Pound Cake's body instinctively yielding to the more powerful male.
Over time Pound Cake even felt his orgasm begin to grow closer, the feeling becoming more powerful the nearer he got to the zebra's crotch. Then he made it, with Pound Cake's nose pressing firmly against Shaka's fur, the zebra's balls resting on the pegasus' chin. The sensations which coursed through Pound Cake's body were unlike anything the young pegasus had ever experienced.
It was like completing a really hard puzzle, coupled with jacking off and performing a particularly difficult aerial trick. It was joy, it was a revelation, it was everything the stallion could have ever dreamed of. It also went a long way to making him trust the zebra who had dominated him in such a raw, physical manner.
So powerful was this emotion that the pegasus barely even noticed his own orgasm even as it splattered all over his chest. Though he certainly noticed Shaka's as the zebra came so hard and so forcefully that there was no way to ignore it. The first spurt easily outdid Pound Cake's entire eruption, and landed in Pound Cake's nearly empty stomach with an audible splorch.
The second was the same as the first, as were the next twenty nine that came right after. Throughout it all Pound Cake lay there limply, his body twitching each time another healthy dollop of zebra jizz landed in his belly. Each dull thump felt like a nail in the coffin that was Pound Cake's heterosexuality, though in the end it wasn't quite gone completely.
He still felt some lingering desire for the opposite sex, though it was clear that the pegasus was not straight. This realization came at about the same time that his lungs began to burn, and his pleasure was slowly losing out to his panic. Shaka didn't let this feeling consume his young lover though and the zebra pulled back just when Pound Cake began to truly worry.
Pound Cake gasped several times, filling his senses with the heavy aroma of his lover's cum. Inadvertently making some of it dribble out of the sides of his mouth and land on his already jizz covered chest. After the panic was defeated, Pound Cake immediately got to work slurping and licking away at the head of Shaka's cock.
Gobbling down every last bit of wayward sperm, Pound Cake slowly came to realize the situation he was in. He was cold, his stomach and chest were covered in both his and Shaka's cum, and they were in the middle of an alley. Not only that but it was getting late, and Pound Cake had no idea how long he had been sucking dick and moaning like a whore.
"Just realized where you were didn't you?" Shaka replied. "Don't worry. Just finish cleaning me up and I'll get you home safe and sound."
Pound Cake nodded before quickly swirling his tongue around the zebra's tip and swallowing the last remnants of Shaka's orgasm. With that done, he pulled back, and was about to let the zebra's cock slip from his mouth when a moment of hesitation struck him. All of a sudden he couldn't help but wonder what this meant for himself, his sexuality and the gang he had been so desperate to join.
Then he inhaled another lungful of potent zebra musk and those worries didn't seem so pressing.
"W-was I good?" Pound Cake inquired, gently allowing Shaka's cock to fall between the zebra's legs.
"For your level of experience? You were amazing," Shaka replied, helping the pegasus stand on shaky hooves.
"I- whoah that's a lot..." Pound Cake murmured, noticing the way his belly sloshed when he stood up, a hoof going down to his slightly rounded stomach.
"Is it too much for you?" Shaka gently inquired.
"No!" Pound Cake replied. "I mean no. I can handle it."
Shaka chuckled, and bumped the other stallion with his shoulder. "Then come on. I'll let you clean up in the basement so you don't have to worry about anyone seeing you like that."
Pound Cake sighed, and leaned against the zebra as they walked out of the alley. "That would be wonderful. Thank you."
"Anything for my family," Shaka whispered. |
The guest | 4 | Shaka breathed a sigh of relief as he placed the final plate on the now full drying rack next to the sink. He then dried his hooves and looked out over the kitchen, his gaze immediately settling on Pound Cake. The feminine stallion was humming some tune the zebra had never heard before while he swept the floors.
Unlike before, this time the pony worked quickly and diligently to sweep up the day's refuse. He also sashayed his hips, showing off his generous flanks and making a heat begin to bloom in Shaka's loins. The zebra stowed that feeling away for a moment, simply observing the other male as he moved across the room.
Upon dumping his load of detritus into the trash, Pound Cake turned around to find his zebra lover staring at him.
"What are you looking at?" Pound Cake asked.
Shaka took a step forward and ran his hoof down the stallion's neck. "One of the most beautiful creatures to grace Equestria."
"I- you..." Pound Cake's mouth opened and closed several times while a blush spread across his face. "I'm not beautiful."
"Aue contraire. You are gorgeous," Shaka whispered huskily.
"I... Thank you," Pound cake muttered, looking away from the lusty zebra.
Who smiled. "Have you seen your mother by the way?"
"I think she went out back for one of her less than secret smoke breaks," Pound Cake offered.
"I'm going to step out for a second and get some air. Make sure to help your sister in the front," Shaka exclaimed.
Pound Cake sighed. "Do I have to?"
Shaka raised an eyebrow. "You do want to be a good boy don't you?"
The stallion hesitated a moment before nodding his head.
"Then you will help your sister," Shaka replied before turning away.
The zebra didn't need to wait for a response to know that the other stallion would do it as Pound Cake's body language was more than enough to go on. Not only was he steadily becoming more differential to the zebra, but Pound Cake's body had also begun to change. The alterations were small and were likely barely noticeable to most, but to Shaka the increased weight on Pound Cake's hips was easily spotted.
The sight made Shaka wonder just how far his newest pet would come given the appropriate amount of prompting and training. Pound Cake's femininity was already quite pronounced, and with only a small amount of prompting he was already acting much girlier. After a few more days of submitting himself to Shaka's desires, the zebra was certain Pound Cake would be able to pass as a mare.
An enticing thought, though one that the dark voodoo practitioner warned himself against entertaining. Such changes would be noticeable to anyone, and might ruin the plans he had in motion for the rest of the family. Plans which would require that he not reveal his hand too quickly, or too early lest he lose what little trust he had managed to garner so far.
Brushing aside those thoughts for the moment, the zebra trotted out the back door of the bakery and into the alleyway behind the store. A gloomy, smoke filled place, where Mrs Cake stood silently, the mare staring up at the cloud covered sky. Noticing that he had yet to be spotted, the zebra kicked the door shut behind him, prompting the mare to blink in surprise.
"Oh dear, you startled me," Mrs Cake exclaimed, the mare quickly removing the cigarette from her lips and trying to hide it from the zebra.
"I wouldn't waste a perfectly good smoke for nothing you know," Shaka remarked, striding up next to the mare.
Who winced, and resisted the urge to drop her cigarette on the ground.
"Well I suppose you already caught me so it's not like it matters now," she muttered somewhat bitterly.
"I'll make you a deal," Shaka began, flashing the pony a wide smile. "Toss me one of those things and I promise to keep your secret."
Mrs Cake eyed the zebra closely for a second before reluctantly sighing. "I suppose you have a deal. Though I should warn you that I smoke menthol."
"Mint is one of my favorite flavors," Shaka stated with a smirk.
Mrs Cake blushed briefly before turning away from the stallion and retrieving her pack from somewhere within her mane.
"Here you go dear. Though I think I left my lighter inside," Mrs Cake explained.
"It's no problem at all," Shaka replied, putting the cigarette in his mouth and stepping forward. "Just hold still a second, would you?"
Mrs Cake blinked in surprise when the zebra walked right up to her, as if he had been intent on kissing her. Then he stopped, and pressed the end of his cigarette against hers, lighting his own using the heat from hers. The process took several rather awkward seconds, though Shaka didn't seem to notice how startled Mrs Cake had become.
"There we are," he exclaimed, puffing on the thin tube and taking a step back. "Not bad. You taste excellent."
"I- what now?" Mrs Cake muttered.
"I said you have excellent taste," Shaka repeated.
Mrs Cake blinked. "Err right of course."
"Why, what did you think I said?" Shaka inquired, the zebra puffing silently on his cigarette.
Mrs Cake shook her head. "It was nothing."
"If you say so," Shaka remarked.
Together the pair stood in silence, both casually enjoying the burning tobacco they were puffing away at. Shaka was doing his best to inspect the pony as close as he could manage without drawing suspicion, watching for any errant glances sent his way. Which happened several times, though those looks didn't have the heated, somewhat guilty expressions he had been hoping for.
The mare was still a little flustered, though it was clear that she had put the oddly intimate moment behind her and was considering something else. Shaka wondered what she was thinking of, and why she looked like she wanted to say something but didn't seem able to do so. It took almost a full minute, but in the end Mrs Cake seemed to find the words she was looking for, and turned to face the zebra.
"Did you have something to do with that dreadful gang not showing up anymore?" she inquired somewhat hesitantly.
Shaka raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"
"It's just that they haven't showed up again since you went with my son the other day," Mrs Cake explained. "He hasn't even mentioned them since then, nor has he asked me to wash that dreadful jacket of his."
Shaka inhaled slowly, before letting out a long, slow exhale of smoke. "I may have exchanged a few words with Pound Cake," Shaka admitted.
"What did you say?" Mrs Cake inquired, only to back up suddenly. "Not that I don't appreciate you steering my boy away from such dreadful company, but his behavior has taken quite the turn."
"I merely pointed out what his friends have been doing to your family, and asked if he was really okay with that," Shaka exclaimed with a shrug. "It was no big deal really. Pound Cake is a really empathetic pony."
"That he is," Mrs Cake admitted, a frown crossing her face. "You didn't have to fight anyone did you?"
Shaka shook his head. "No violence required. Just a few casual words."
Mrs Cake released a short sigh, the mare ashing her cigarette on the ground. "I am very glad to hear that. I am also glad to see that you and Pound Cake have become such fast friends."
Shaka smiled. "It is my pleasure Cup Cake. In my experience such camaraderie makes the work day go by a little quicker."
"That it does," Mrs Cake murmured. "And call me Mrs Cake please."
"My apologies," Shaka quickly replied. "The custom of using last names in common speech is not common back home."
"That's perfectly alright dear. It just feels a little odd to have anyone other then my husband call me that," Mrs Cake explained.
"Speaking of which," Shaka exclaimed. "Where is the old ball and chain anyway? I thought he was supposed to be back already."
Mrs Cake frowned, the embers of her cigarette glowing brightly as she inhaled deeply. After blowing the smoke out of the corner of her mouth, the pony seemed to relax ever so slightly.
"He has been delayed... again," Mrs Cake replied after a long pause.
"Oh?" Shaka offered, raising an eyebrow. "Nothing serious I hope?"
"One of the ovens supposedly went," Mrs Cake replied, a frown crossing her face. "Might not be back for a few days."
"And why would that need his attention?" Shaka questioned, only to raise a hoof. "Not that I'm insinuating anything mind you. It just seems like something a worker could handle, is all."
"He is still training the other location's employees," Mrs Cake answered, her tone making it clear that she didn't truly believe the words she had just uttered.
"That is odd. Well it is not my place to question such things," Shaka stated with a shrug, the zebra ashing his cigarette on the ground.
Mrs Cake said nothing, the pony merely staring off into the distance as her smoke slowly burnt down.
"A penny for your thoughts," Shaka offered, bumping the mare with a hip.
Mrs Cake jumped. "I was just thinking to myself that it would have been nice if Pound Cake's father had given him the lesson that you have."
Shaka smiled. "I'm sure he would have if he had the time."
"Or if he cared," Mrs Cake murmured.
Shaka pretended not to hear the comment, and merely smiled. "I should mention that Pound Cake and I were going to hang out for a bit after work."
"Thats nice," Mrs Cake muttered to herself.
"I'm hoping I can teach him to have a little more confidence so he doesn't need anyone to stick up for him next time," Shaka continued. "You don't mind do you?"
Mrs Cake blinked. "Oh no. Of course not."
"It's just I don't want to step on anyone's hooves as it were," Shaka pressed.
"Not at all dear. I wish you the best of luck in that regard. Heavens know I've tried to get him to stand up for himself more than a few times," Mrs Cake remarked with a hint of bitterness.
"I appreciate the vote of confidence. Maybe I might even be able to help Pumpkin get out of her comfort zone as well," Shaka mused.
Mrs Cake snorted. "If you could manage that I'd make you employee of the month."
"You don't think I'm putting my nose in your business too much am I?" Shaka asked, a small frown crossing his face. "Back home where you worked was a second family, but I know that isn't necessarily the case here."
"I admit it is a bit of a surprise but you've been nothing but helpful," Mrs Cake answered, humming briefly. "Just try not to get too attached to them. I would hate for there to be any hard feelings if things don't work out."
"Why would things not work out? Have I done something wrong?" Shaka pressed, the zebra glancing curiously at his employer with a concerned expression on his face.
"No no, nothing of the sort. My husband is simply..." Mrs Cake paused, biting her lip for a moment. "Particular over his employees."
"I thought you were partners," Shaka posited.
"We are," Mrs Cake quickly answered. "He is just a bit fussy when it comes to the new hires is all."
Shaka hummed thoughtfully before nodding his head and stomping out his cigarette. "That's fair. Now I'd love to stay and chat a bit more but I would hate to leave the twins with all the clean up."
"Wait a moment," Mrs Cake interrupted, catching the zebra by the forehoof before he turned away. "I should warn you that those stallions won't be gone forever."
"The gang members?" Shaka replied, lifting an eyebrow.
"Yes, them. They have been scared off by the police before but always come back," Mrs Cake stated in a hushed tone. "If they do return, leave it to me please. I don't want there to be any trouble."
"I promise that no such trouble will come to you Cup Cake," Shaka stated, patting the mare's hoof. "Now then I really must go. I would hate for Pound Cake to think that I have abandoned him."
Mrs Cake opened her mouth to respond, but the zebra stallion was already gone, having disappeared back into the bakery. For a moment she merely stared at the now closed door, and wondered if it had been such a good idea to hire the zebra. He was competent, that much was obvious, though perhaps he was a little too good at his job.
"There is no way Carrot is going to let me keep him," Mrs Cake murmured to herself.
With a sigh, the pony dropped her cigarette and stomped out the dying embers, her head awhirl with strange thoughts. Emotions she had pushed to the back of her mind for years now returned with a vengeance, demanding they be dealt with. It was clear that things were going to come to a head the moment her husband returned and with each passing day she was less sure of what she would do.
Firing the zebra was almost completely out of the question, but she knew that saying no to Carrot would start a fight. Which in turn would inevitably cause tempers to flare, and things to go rapidly off the rails as they became more emotional.
"Maybe I should have gotten that divorce all those years ago," Mrs Cake whispered, only to shake her head. "Don't be silly Cup, you love your husband. He is just... difficult sometimes."
The words hung heavy in the air for several seconds before at long last the earth pony brushed aside her concerns for the moment. Instead of the future possibilities, she focused on the here and now, mentally constructing a long list of things she had left to do. With such a busy evening now set out before her, Cup Cake was certain she wouldn't spend hours thinking about her newest hire.
Or at least, that's what she hoped anyway.
"Watch that last step," Shaka offered, extending a hoof.
"Oh, right. Thank you," Pound Cake replied, taking the offered limb and stepping down the final steps into Shaka's basement suite.
"It is no problem at all my dear," Shaka exclaimed, stepping back. "I'm glad you accepted my invitation."
"You were rather vague about what exactly you had planned," Pound Cake muttered. "Something about building confidence?"
"In a way," Shaka replied. "But first I was thinking we could just enjoy ourselves a little."
Pound Cake let out a surprised yelp as the dominant zebra grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him close. A second later their lips met, and Pound Cake felt a brief shock of pleasure shoot down his spine. Pound Cake's thoughts fled his mind as his body was overwhelmed with strange new feelings he had never experienced before.
The stallion felt himself lean forwards, unconsciously submitting himself to the more dominant male. A gentle hoof caressed Pound Cake's neck, and a shiver ran down the pegasus' back. His wings itched, and as Pound Cake's nostrils filled with the unique aroma which wafted from the zebra, the stallion felt a heat begin to bloom from within him.
This burning sensation pushed against his fragile hetrosexuality, and made him begin to wonder what it would be like to be taken by the zebra. To feel his weight press down against the pegasus' back, and to be fully made into the other male's subservient slave. Then his thoughts returned to him, and Pound Cake gently pushed Shaka back, stumbling away from the other male.
"W-wait a moment," Pound Cake exclaimed, breathing hard.
"Oh? You don't still think your straight do you?" Shaka teased. "Or do I need to remind you just how much you enjoyed sucking me off?"
Pound Cake gulped, a fierce blush now dominating his face. "I admit that I may not be straight but I still think I like mares."
"Oh really?" Shaka pressed, stepping towards the other stallion and wafting his unique scent in the process. "Have you ever came that hard with a member of the opposite sex before?"
"I-" Pound Cake hesitated.
"No. You haven't," Shaka stated firmly. "I could see it in your eyes and the way you move. You are scared to continue because you know that if we do you will give yourself to me more fully then you could any mare."
Pound Cake's knees trembled, and though he wanted to offer a retort of some kind it was becoming harder to even open his mouth. With each breathe he took that fire smoldered hotter still, until the stallion was barely able to even stand on his own four hooves.
"Feel how badly your body wants to submit itself to me?" Shaka pressed. "How it urges you to simply give in and to follow my every command."
The pegasus only became aware that he had been subconsciously backing away from the zebra when his butt hit the wall. A second later and a striped hoof was running down the male's cheek, coaxing forth a tiny, almost impossibly quiet moan.
"See? Your body knows what it wants. Why not just give in?" Shaka teased.
"Wh-what should I do exactly?" Pound Cake stuttered.
"Whatever I tell you," Shaka whispered.
Pound Cake trembled like a leaf, his mind awhirl with possibilities and questions.
Shaka pulled back and flashed the other male a smirk. "It's what would be best for you after all. Every time you try to think for yourself you just make things worse."
"N-no. I-" Pound Cake tried to reply, only to be cut off.
"You terrorized your family by joining a gang that didn't value you as anything more then as a waitress and piggy bank for them to plunder," Shaka stated, his tone strong and unwavering.
"They didn't-" Pound Cake began.
"Look me in the eye and tell me that they actually treated you like an equal," Shaka demanded.
"They..." Pound Cake felt his throat close, and for a moment no words came out. "Didn't."
"Exactly," Shaka proclaimed. "To them you were nothing, but to me you will be so much more."
Pound Cake shuddered, only just barely resisting the urge to throw himself at the zebra's hooves and beg to be taken. He had at least some dignity, even if the pegasus knew he was agreeing with the zebra's words more with each passing moment. When his mind conjured images of his mother being shaken down by the ponies who had claimed to be his friends, that pride took a hit.
"Think about it my young friend," Shaka began, breathing hotly on the other stallion's neck. "As my pet you will be fed, loved, and taken care of. Isn't that what you want?"
"I do want that," Pound Cake reluctantly admitted.
"You just want to know that I won't take advantage of, or do something you wouldn't want," Shaka inferred.
Pound Cake nodded weakly.
"Then I will promise you here and now that I wont do anything you don't want me to do to you," Shaka claimed, the zebra placing a hoof over his heart.
Pound Cake felt a weight fall from his shoulders and he couldn't help but feel a smile slowly growing on his face.
Shaka smirked. "But I have a feeling that you have no complaints about following every order I have in mind for you."
"M-maybe," Pound Cake murmured, averting his gaze towards the ground.
Just a little more pressing and he'll be nearly mine. It may take one last push to make him fully give himself to me but after today he will be almost there. Shaka thought to himself.
"Today you will be learning to take commands, and to serve me properly. How does that sound?" Shaka asked.
Pound Cake bit his lip and nodded. "Y-yeah that sounds okay."
"Good. First we will need to improve your trust in me," Shaka began. "We have not known one another for long, but I can already tell that you know that I wouldn't betray you."
Pound Cake hummed briefly. "It does kind of feel like we've known each other for a lot longer than we have. It's really kind of... strange."
Shaka smirked. "That is because you are attracted to me."
"I'm-" Pound Cake chuckled. "I guess I am a little turned on by you."
"Only a little?" Shaka teased, leaning in close.
"You do smell really nice," Pound Cake admitted, filling his lungs with the zebra's potent musk.
Shaka's smirk grew. "Good. Now then let us begin your training with something simple."
The zebra trotted over to his small collection of belongings and began to root around within the chest. Pound Cake followed close behind him a second later, peeking curiously over the other male's shoulder.
"What are you looking for?" asked the pony.
"Just a little tool to help things along," Shaka replied.
Pound Cake was about to inquire further when Shaka stood up with a triumphant look on his face.
"Aha, here it is," Shaka exclaimed.
"What is... oh my," Pound Cake murmured.
Shaka straightened the leash and collar, inadvertently displaying the metal plate on the front which said 'Shaka's Bitch' across it.
"You aren't having second thoughts are you?" Shaka asked.
Pound Cake mutely shook his head, cheeks glowing hotly due to the embarrassment he now felt.
Shaka smiled. "Good, now come here."
Pound Cake eagerly trotted up to the other stallion, straightening his back and extending his neck in the process.
"Now just hold still while I-" the collar slipped around Pound Cake's neck, tightening securely around his throat. "-there we go."
Pound Cake ran a hoof across the fake leather which was securely bound about his neck. "This doesn't feel half bad," he murmured.
Shaka laughed aloud. "I'm glad you think so as you will spend every moment we are training with this collar around your neck and this-" Shaka clipped the leash to the ring on Pound Cake's collar. "-attached to it."
"I..." Pound Cake hesitated, his mind caught at the precipice of giving in or resisting.
And then a tug caused the stallion's lips to meet his lovers, dismissing all the worry in his heart. For a moment the pegasus felt like he was in free fall, but the feeling of Shaka's tongue slipping into his mouth returned him to earth. This odd sensation was replaced by white hot passion which melted away the last of his resistance and left Pound Cake a quivering mess of a pony.
Shaka merely grinned as he kissed the stallion hard, observing as the pegasus shuddered, and shook with lust. It was obvious to the zebra that his target was nearly there, and that full submission would come soon enough. He just needed to keep on pushing, slowly but surely and in time Pound Cake would be completely conquered.
The zebra enjoyed the thought of claiming the first of his targets, but he also enjoyed the physical sensations coursing through him. For though this was part of Shaka's grand plan to claim the family for himself, that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy himself.
A gentle push put Pound Cake back into his place, a longing expression on the stallion's face. Already the zebra could sense that his lover was rock hard, and eager to follow Shaka's commands in order to prove himself. Though slightly more reserved, Shaka was still incredibly aroused himself, and so he swiftly crawled atop the bed before reclining with his back to the headboard.
With the leash still in hoof, Shaka tugged. "Come, worship me," he commanded.
Pound Cake could hardly take his eyes off the zebra's budding cock, or massive musky balls. A second firm pull at his collar was enough to remind him of the command he had been given, and he eagerly trotted forward. So excited was the male that he nearly tripped while climbing atop the bed, though he quickly righted himself a second later.
"Don't go too fast. You don't want to fall," Shaka chided.
Pound Cake nodded, slowing his pace, and coming to a stop when his muzzle was a few inches from the zebra's cock. The pony knew he should feel a little nervous or at least unsure if he should follow Shaka's orders yet there was none of that. All he felt was a barely restrained desire to bury his muzzle in the zebra's balls and to worship them like he knew he should.
Which was exactly what he did, pressing his muzzle between the two pendulous orbs and breathing deep of their potent scent. That in turn washed away any thought that did not begin or end with his amazing lover and his massive cock or titanic balls. This musky aroma soon covered the male to the point that it was nearly impossible for him to detect anything else.
Not that Pound Cake minded, as by that point he had become so engrossed with it that he wanted everything to smell like it. He wanted it to be the first thing he woke up to in the morning and the last thing he smelt before he went to bed. For a moment he thought this was a little strange before that thought was banished along with the others.
With his cock now throbbing constantly against his chest, Pound Cake hungrily lapped away at Shaka's balls. The taste immediately hit the pegasus like a ton of bricks, making him fall in love with the odd saltiness of it. Pound Cake knew it would only get better when he took Shaka's cock into his mouth and so with that thought in mind he began to move things along.
The pony's hooves caressed his lover's sack as he lavished it in a constant stream of kisses. Which were more passionate than any he had shared with a mare, the pegasus quickly realized. He didn't ruminate on this for long, as he heard a small shuddering moan come from the zebra male he was servicing.
The sound was akin to the nicest compliment he had ever received, and it emboldened Pound Cake to go further. Lavishing the zebra's sack with long licks, Pound Cake fully embraced the hedonistic desire burning hot in his breast.
Shaka meanwhile was a little shocked by just how fast and how far the young stallion had already fallen. He had known of Pound Cake's more feminine tendencies and unspoken homoerotic desires, but Shaka had assumed there would be more pushing needed. Yet here Pound Cake was, madly lapping away at Shaka's balls like it was the last oasis in the dessert and he, a thirsty traveler.
It was enough for Shaka to grow well and truly aroused, his cock emerging fully from his sheethe and settling across Pound Cake's face. The shocked, and incredibly aroused look that spread across the pegasus' features made Shaka grin. It was obvious that it wouldn't take more than a few days to well and truly break the stallion, and fully enslave him.
Soon. Shaka thought.
Seeing his lover's cock fully erect, Pound Cake shifted his attention, moving up to the base of Shaka's dick. Once there Pound Cake swiftly began to pepper the appendage in a stream of sloppy wet kisses which slowly worked up from the bottom. While he moved his way to the tip, Pound Cake continued to molest the zebra's balls with his hooves.
Until at long last Pound Cake reached his objective where he stopped for a moment to inhale more of the zebra's potent scent. He didn't make Shaka wait for long though, as the pegasus wrapped his lips around the massive cock, taking it deep into his mouth. He wasn't exactly experienced however, and had to stop after a few inches, nearly choking after only getting halfway into his mouth.
The sudden stop might have irritated Shaka most other times, but at this point he still had patience to spare. Sure enough Pound Cake recovered quickly, adjusting the zebra's cock and doing his best to open his mouth even wider. It was a difficult process to actually accomplish, but what the pegasus lacked in experience he more than made up for in enthusiasm.
In a few seconds he was already back at it, with Shaka's cock pushing its way deeper into his mouth. Pound Cakes' tongue flattened, and his jaw was pushed to its limit as the pony willingly impaled himself on the massive appendage. Unlike the time in the alley, this time Pound Cake was in control, or at least it looked like he was.
In truth he was so slavishly devoted the zebra's cock that he could do nothing but service it. Which was exactly what he did, starting by pushing the thick head of Shaka's dick into his throat. The process wasn't an easy one, and twice Shaka thought his lover was about to gag only for the young pegasus to surprise him.
With tears budding in his eyes, Pound Cake pushed forward, taking another few inches down his throat before pulling back. A flash of discomfort crossed Pound Cake's face before it was swiftly replaced by a lust filled look of desire. One which told the zebra that his lover wasn't about to give up no matter how big Shaka was, or how much Pound Cake had to suffer to succeed.
Over and over Pound Cake pushed himself, taking the zebra cock deeper and deeper only to come back up. Sometimes he gagged other times he coughed, yet he always returned, his growing experience allowing him to go further still. Throughout it all Shaka remained calm and impassive, offering a few teasing words of encouragement, though he knew doing so wasn't necessary.
It was clear that Pound Cake was determined, and that nothing short of receiving a belly full of cum was going to stop him.
Tears stained his cheeks, his jaw ached, and a thin river of precum had dribbled between Pound Cake's legs. Yet he continued, pushing himself over Shaka's medial ring and towards the base of the zebra's dick. With victory in sight, the pegasus pulled back one last time, filled his lungs with oxygen and then filled his throat with cock.
The feeling of having the young stallion wrapped around his dick was unlike anything Shaka had experienced. It was intensely arousing, and quite physically pleasurable, but it was also an intense act of submission. The male who had thought himself straight up until a day ago had now fully impaled himself on the zebra's dick.
Without pushing, force, or any kind of coercion Pound Cake had bottomed himself out on Shaka's cock. It was everything Shaka had hoped and more, for not only was his plan going well, but the Pound Cake was every bit the slut the zebra had wanted. The only possible way it could have been better is if Shaka could see the massive bulge his dick made in Pound Cake's throat.
The pegasus meanwhile was in heaven, his eyes rolling briefly into the back of his head as he sucked hard on the zebra's throbbing appendage. Pound Cake remained there for as long as he could manage, relishing the intense feelings of submission and desire. Until his lungs began to burn, and he could take it no more.
With a gasp, he pulled back, even though he had been seconds from orgasming completely hooves free again. Hoping desperately to keep riding that high, Pound Cake threw himself forward, impaling himself on the zebra's dick. With his growing experience and burning lust, Pound Cake was able to take everything Shaka had once more.
This time he kept his lips locked around the zebra's dick for much longer, while also keeping his body in motion. Shifting back and forth, Pound Cake had to move his entire body in order to bounce on Shaka's dick. Not that Pound Cake cared though, as the stallion relished the sheer, mammoth size of his lover.
The result was immediate, as a hearty moan spilled from the zebra's lips and into Pound Cake's ears. Surprised and remarkably close to his first orgasm, Shaka wondered how best to continue their little moment. While Shaka considered where to go, and what to do, Pound Cake was busy doing his best to ignore the orgasm rocketing through his body.
It was the most intense moment of his entire life, and the pegasus's wings flapped randomly as his entire body trembled. Yet through it all he continued to suck away, doing his best to pleasure his lover despite how hard he was cumming. As the pegasus's watery cum stained his belly, Shaka's thick, verile sperm churned audibly within his enormous balls.
The zebra had made up his mind however, and after Pound Cake pulled back to take another breath, he found himself stopped dead in his tracks. A hoof held the eager pegasus at bay, and Pound Cake stared nervously up at his lover, wondering if he had screwed up somehow.
"I'm going to fuck you now," Shaka declared in an uncharacteristically deep voice.
Pound Cake's eyes went wide, and he quickly scrambled off the small bed. "Are you sure I'm ready?" he whispered.
Shaka nodded. "I am, now lay down with your face down and ass up."
The cold, calculating tone made Pound Cake shudder in pleasure and the stallion quickly crawled up the bed. He hardly gave a thought to the puddle of cum he had left behind from before, or the revealing position he now found himself in. Not even the hungry gaze of his zebra lover distracted the young pegasus from the intense desire he felt in the base of his soul.
Only the soft squeak of the bed as Shaka mounted him was enough to make Pound Cake consider what was happening. Though that consideration only made him even more aroused, as felt a familiar weight settle between his ass cheeks. The massive, rolling pin sized cock was intimidating enough to make Pound Cake wonder if this was indeed a good idea.
"Hold still a moment," Shaka commanded, the zebra not waiting for a response before shifting back in order to drizzle something against Pound Cake's hole.
The liquid was warm, and weirdly slippery, sliding its way inside of the pony and completely lubricating his hole. He didn't have time to question what had been poured inside of him as Shaka quickly shifted his hips. With his cock lined up with Pound Cake's ass, the pegasus expected something slow and steady, with his lover working up to the point he could take his cock with ease.
It sure started that way, with Shaka pressing his hips forward and slipping his cock inside of Pound Cake's ass. Though once he managed to jam the enormous head of his cock into the other stallion's surprisingly pliant hole, things changed.
"You might want to put a hoof against the headboard," Shaka offered.
"What, why?" Pound Cake asked, only to have his question answered when he felt his ass get stuffed full of more dick than he had thought possible.
Pound Cake's ass stretched wide, as nearly half of the zebra's cock was rammed up the pegasus' backside. Yet despite the massive amount of stretching, Pound Cake felt no pain or even discomfort. Only a warmth that bloomed from deep inside of himself, radiating outward and soothing any undesirable feelings that may have arisen.
Shaka knew he shouldn't be quite so impatient with his pets but he couldn't stand it any longer. He needed to fuck the pegasus right that moment and truly cut loose for once. The zebra was just glad he had made some of the lube he had initially dismissed as unnecessary.
Within seconds Pound Cake was lost in a haze of pleasure, overwhelmed by having his organs rearranged by Shaka's enormous tool. Not only that but his tight ring was quickly altered so that it could take such a massive appendage which would have normally taken a considerable amount of time. Yet with a bit of applied zebra alchemy Pound Cake was able to take every last inch Shaka had to offer in under a minute.
The pegasus wasn't even totally aware of this however, as he was busy moaning whorishly and barely staying conscious. Shaka made a note to drill some more commands into the pony's head, but for now was content to merely use his lover as he saw fit. Which he did with gusto, immediately speeding up until his hips became a blur of motion, and the clap of his balls was constant.
Pound Cake might have been ashamed by the feeling of his lover's balls slapping against his ass with such force. Yet in that moment he was too far gone to do anything but mutter gibberish and continue to orgasm every other minute. Not only could he barely think but Pound Cake had lost feeling in his back legs, and the pegasus could do nothing but tremble as he was ruthlessly fucked by his zebra lover.
Over and over Shaka drove his hips forward, snorting like a raging bull the entire time. All of the months spent planning, and generally being blue balled having come rushing back to him. His body demanded that he act on those feelings, and Shaka could do nothing but submit himself to those more base impulses.
Muscles bulged, nostrils flared, and the zebra drew close to his first true orgasm. For a moment he was tempted to hold it off, to slow down and edge things out a little longer, but that was quickly dismissed. He needed this moment of relief more than he needed to train Pound Cake, besides, the zebra thought with a grin, there was always round two.
With a grunt, Shaka threw himself forward one final time, grinding his hips against Pound Cake's in order to ensure every last inch made it inside. In response the pegasus moaned louder, his voice becoming so high that he sounded almost like a mare. If Pound Cake noticed this he didn't make note of it, though he could feel as his belly bulged obscenely, the zebra's cockhead visible through his flesh.
Shaka felt the strange bit of resistance as he pushed against both Pound Cake's hole, as well as the bed itself. The zebra ignored this sensation though, and leaned down, biting down on the pony's exposed neck. A move which would have made the old Pound Cake annoyed but made this new version of him moan louder still. Beneath them Pound Cake's cock continued to erupt over and over, though even his considerable emissions paled in comparison to Shaka's.
Which was so titanic that Pound Cake could actually feel his hole be stretched extra wide when the dollop of cum entered him. With an audible sploosh the first deposit splashed inside him, followed closely by a second, and a third, each in rapid succession. It was hard to keep track of where one began and another ended, and Pound Cake quickly lost himself to the pleasure.
His already straining mental ability slipped completely, leaving the stallion a drooling, twitching mess.
Shaka meanwhile held on tight, biting down on Pound Cake's neck to the point that he almost left a mark. While he held on, the zebra continued to pump the other male so full of cum that it began to make Pound Cake's stomach slightly rounded. This continued until Pound Cake was fuller then he had ever been, and the zebra was at long last satiated.
By then minutes had passed, and Pound Cake continued to lay there, jaw hanging open as he panted weakly. Shaka was less affected, and he reluctantly let go of the leash before breathing deeply, steadying himself. As his faculties returned, the zebra let out a bitter grunt of anger, more than a little annoyed for having lost his cool.
"You alright?" Shaka asked, glancing down to Pound Cake.
"Jusht fine," Pound Cake slurred.
Shaka smirked. "What do you think of going for another round?"
"Do whatever you want to me, just don't shtop," Pound Cake replied.
Shaka hummed thoughtfully, briefly wondering if it was a good idea to push his pet so hard so quickly. Then he shrugged.
"Trial by fire it is," he remarked before drawing his hips back once more. |
The guest | 5 | Shaka pushed open the back door to the bakery, and strode confidently inside, kicking the portal closed behind him. Normally he wouldn't quite be so bold with his morning entrance, but after a long night spent fucking Pound Cake's brains out, he felt confident. Powerful even, with the zebra's muscles bulging whenever he flexed his newly empowered body.
Memories of the night before flitted through the stallion's mind, and he for once didn't dismiss them out of hand. They were, after all, quite good, and had also been incredibly useful in regards to his grand plans. Pound Cake had come a long way during that time after all, and though the young stallion hadn't given in completely, he was close.
Just one last catalyst and he will be all mine. Shaka thought to himself as he turned the corner and began to trot up to the second floor. I should probably start working on one of the others though. I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket.
With that idea now simmering at the back of his mind, Shaka entered the Cake residence with a smile on his face. One that faltered somewhat when he noticed that it was only Pumpkin sitting at the breakfast table. The absence of Pound Cake made sense as the stallion was likely exhausted, but Mrs Cake not being there was a bit more concerning.
Clearing his throat, Shaka strode over to the table and pulled up a chair. "Good morning Pumpkin. Did you sleep well?"
The slightly disheveled unicorn shook her head. "N-no. I'm afraid not."
"Oh? And why is that?" Shaka inquired as he grabbed himself a pair of leftover bagels they hadn't sold the day before.
"I uh probably shouldn't say," Pumpkin muttered, only to perk up. "Pound Cake seemed to have a good sleep though. He told me all about the good time you two had."
Shaka stopped mid spread of peanut butter and glanced curiously in Pumpkin's direction. "What did he say? All good things I hope."
Pumpkin bobbed her head eagerly. "Very much so. He said he feels much more confident and that he really likes hanging out with you. He also said that you smell really nice and told me to sniff you but I don't think I will."
Shaka chuckled as he finished making his breakfast and sat across from the mare. "I'm glad he appreciates the cologne I made before leaving home."
"Why did you leave home anyway? If you don't mind me asking of course," Pumpkin quickly added, shrinking slightly into her seat.
"It's a long story," Shaka remarked. "Maybe I'll tell it to you another time."
"Oh, okay. I hope I wasn't too nosey," Pumpkin muttered.
Shaka flashed the pony a wide smile. "You were just being curious. It's quite alright."
Pumpkin breathed a sigh of relief and dunked her spoon into her cereal while Shaka enjoyed his own breakfast.
After he had finished one of the bagels, Shaka cleared his throat. "Say. That bunch of losers that harassed the store the other day didn't come back last night did they?"
Pumpkin blinked. "No. Why do you ask?"
"Well you said you had trouble sleeping, and I was just worried they might have shown up again," Shaka exclaimed with as much honesty as he could muster.
"I..." the mare hesitated a moment before leaning in close. "There was a fight last night and I think-"
Pumpkin's explanation was cut short when the door to Mrs Cake's room opened to reveal a mostly orange stallion with a greying carrot colored mane. His features were sharp, angular, unlike his slightly bushy, unkempt mane and tail. The stallion's bloodshot eyes took in the room before almost immediately settling on Shaka.
"What are you doing here?" barked the stallion.
Shaka raised an eyebrow. "Were you not informed of my hiring?"
"I was told that my wife made a poor decision but she did not tell me that you were allowed into my home," retorted the earth pony, who stressed both instances of the word my quite a bit.
Shaka smiled innocently. "Well she did and your wonderful wife even offered to feed me while I wait for my first paycheque."
Mr Cake ground his teeth together in silent rage. "Well consider that part of the deal revoked."
"So your not firing me then?" Shaka remarked before biting into another bagel.
"I-" the stallion bit his tongue and slowly breathed out. "I am not firing you, yet."
"Oh great. Though can I at least negotiate an advance on my paycheque then? I'll need bits for food, though whatever I purchase wone be nearly as good as your wife's delicious pies," Shaka inquired.
At the mention of Mrs Cake's cooking, Carrot nearly burst a blood vessel. "You will call her Mrs Cake when you speak of my wife. Furthermore you can forget about any kind of advance."
"Oh, and why is that?" Shake replied in faux shock.
"I know your type, zebra. You'd just take the money and run. Leaving us high and dry!" Carrot declared, stomping his way up to the table.
"I would never do that to the twins or your wonderful wife. They have been nothing but kind and accommodating to me," Shaka continued.
"I told you not to call her that!" Carrot barked, jabbing a hoof into Shaka's chest. "She is Mrs Cake to you."
Shaka blinked. "Oh I'm terribly sorry. I'm not used to pony names."
"Of course you wouldn't, you striped idiot," Mr Cake barked.
"Dad!" Pumpkin exclaimed in shock.
"Its true and I'm tired of pretending that it isn't," Carrot Cake retorted. "If you can't grasp something so simple then your too stupid to work here!"
"Are you saying I'm fired?" Shaka asked, placing a hoof over his heart.
"I am!" Carrot Cake screamed. "Get out of my house!"
"Carrot Cake, what in Equestria are you doing?" Exclaimed the familiar voice of Cup Cake.
Carrot spun towards his wife, eyes blazing like twin pools of fire. "I'm firing this useless moron you hired."
"Why would you do that and after our little discussion last night no less?" Cup Cake retorted.
"Because he demanded an advance on his paycheque. I can't afford such an expense right now, besides. He's just going to spend it on booze and drugs or whatever," Carrot dismissively exclaimed.
"Is it true you demanded an advance?" Cup Cake asked, turning to Shaka.
Who shook his head. "Carrot here told me that I was no longer allowed to eat with you. Thus I asked for an advance of bits so I can purchase my own food. I didn't think such a request was terribly unreasonable."
"Really Carrot? That's all he said?" Cup Cake asked.
The stallion let out a frustrated groan. "No that wasn't it. He also refused to call you by your name, and continues to insult me."
"If I did so then I do apologize. Like I tried to explain, pony names are different then the ones I'm used to," Shaka interjected. "Pumpkin can confirm that it is not my strong suit."
Pumpkin shriveled under her father's intense gaze.
"I've got a better idea, Pumpkin. Why don't you tell your mother how rude this inconsiderate zebra was being just now," Carrot Cake declared.
"I- I don't know- he was just- but then you-" Pumpkin started to gasp, breathing hard as she clutched her chest.
"Now look at what you've gone and done," Cup Cake declared, throwing up her hooves. "You just had to drag your daughter into this."
"Where ismy inhaler?" Pumpkin asked as she gasped for breath.
"Don't worry, I think I saw it over here," Shaka offered, getting up from the table and going over to the cabinet above the sink.
The zebra's hoof was smacked away at the last second, a snarling Carrot Cake looming over him. "Don't you dare touch my daughter's medication. Go sit in the corner while I deal with this."
"Just get the damn inhaler already," Cup Cake barked.
Carrot Cake opened the door and began to rummage around while Shaka did his best to hide a smirk.
"Sorry about that Pumpkin, here. It was on the counter," Shaka offered, extending a hoof.
Pumpkin swiped her inhaler from the zebra and quickly used it, her breathing rapidly slowing down before finally returning to normal. "Thank you Shaka."
"Are you deaf as well as dumb?" Carrot barked. "I thought I told you not to touch that."
"Pumpkin was in trouble. I couldn't just look the other way," Shaka replied, shooting the young mare a small smile.
"Why you-"
"Carrot Cake that is quite enough," Cup Cake shouted. "We can discuss your behavior later. Right now why don't we all just take a breath and relax?"
Carrot growled, and turned to the door. "I'm going down to the shop. You're low on flour."
"Wait a second. We should talk about-" Cup Cake's concern was cut off by the slam of a door. "The financial issues you mentioned. Damn."
"Are you having money issues Cup Cake?" Shaka asked. "If you are. I wouldn't mind taking a delay on my first paycheque."
Cup Cake smiled. "That's sweet of you but I'm sure it's not that bad. Or at least I hope not."
"But I thought the other shop was making plenty of bits," Pumpkin offered.
"I thought so too," Mrs Cake remarked, only to shake her head. "That's a concern for another time. Now how about we all just enjoy a nice, quiet breakfast. Hmm?"
"That sounds lovely," Shaka exclaimed, seating himself next to the older mare.
Pumpkin's gaze lingered on the closed door. "I wonder if dad knows that the store isn't open yet."
"I'm sure your father will figure it out," Cup Cake remarked, sniffing the air curiously. "What is that smell?"
"Oh, do you like it? It's my cologne," Shaka offered. "I'm told that ponies find it quite enticing."
"It is quite... exotic," Mrs Cake murmured almost dreamily.
"Err shouldn't someone tell dad about the store? I don't want him to get any angrier," Pumpkin remarked.
"I suppose I should," Cup Cake exclaimed.
"Must you?" Shaka inquired.
Mrs Cake stood slowly. "I need to speak to him about the other store's finances anyway."
"Do try to eat something soon then," Shaka encouraged.
Cup Cake chuckled and poked her stomach. "I think I can afford to skip a breakfast or two."
"And lose your amazing figure? Why would you want that?" Shaka declared in a shocked tone.
"You're such a charmer," Cup Cake exclaimed as she trotted towards the door. "Oh and I'm sorry you had to go through with that. I'm sure after Carrot has had a chance to calm down that he will apologize for being so rude to you."
"That's not necessary at all Cup Cake, your concern is more than enough," Shaka replied.
Cup Cake seemed about to remind Shaka not to call her that only to sigh. "I'll be back soon. Try not to burn the house down while I'm gone."
"Don't worry. I'll keep Pound Cake far away from the ovens today," Shaka exclaimed.
Cup Cake chuckled as slipped out the door, leaving Shaka alone with a slightly nervous looking Pumpkin Cake.
"Well that was quite the bit of excitement," Shaka remarked.
"Dad usually isn't quite so mean to new hires," Pumpkin murmured.
"Still, that was quite rude," Shaka retorted.
Pumpkin winced. "Yeah that was a bit more than normal."
"It's fine Pumpkin. I'm just sorry that you had to be a part of that whole thing," Shaka replied.
The unicorn blushed. "That's very nice of you to say."
"I mean it," Shaka stressed. "I shouldn't have drawn you in like that. If I had known your own father would turn on you like that I wouldn't have included you at all."
Pumpkin's features grew redder still and she looked down while muttering to herself.
Shaka smiled. "Say. Why don't I make it up to you? I heard there is a new movie playing at the theatre today. We could make a day out of it."
"Getting out of the house would be nice..." Pumpkin blinked, her eyes going wide. "W-w-wait. Are you asking me out on a d-d-date?"
"It can just be a practice date if you would like," Shaka offered.
"Y-yeah. A practice date," Pumpkin muttered. "That sounds... great."
"Say, have you ever had a boyfriend before?" Shaka inquired, pointing the last of his bagel at the unicorn. "Because you sure seemed surprised that I invited you out."
"N-no. Why do you ask?" Pumpkin replied in a low tone.
"Well I figured since you are so pretty that you would have a line up of stallions waiting to ask you out, and maybe even a few mares too," Shaka teased.
"N-no. No one has ever asked me that, mare or stallion," Pumpkin murmured.
Shaka gasped in shock. "Really? But you are so beautiful and kind. How is this possible?'
"Because I'm neither one of those things," Pumpkin whispered.
"Nonsense," Shaka declared. "You are incredibly beautiful, and one of the nicest ponies I've ever met."
Pumpkin hid her blush behind a wall of hair and stared down at the ground, unable to meet Shaka's gaze. "T-thank you," she stuttered
"Come on, let's get out of here before your parents get back and the drama begins again," Shaka encouraged.
"W-wait. I thought you said you didn't have any bits. How are we going to pay for the movie?" Pumpkin questioned.
"I did have a few saved up for emergencies, and making a beautiful mare smile after an unpleasant breakfast definitely counts as an emergency," Shaka replied with a wink.
"So long as your sure," Pumpkin muttered.
"I am, now come on. I know this great spot near the Everfree which should be filled with butterflies at this time of day," Shaka exclaimed as he trotted to the door.
"R-right now?" Pumpkin asked as she stumbled after the male.
"Of course. No better time than the present right?" Shaka replied.
"I suppose," Pumpkin admitted. "Though shouldn't we clean up breakfast first?"
"Oh right. I'm sure your mother would appreciate coming back to a clean kitchen," Shaka exclaimed.
"She probably would," Pumpkin agreed, hiding the small blush which remained on her cheeks.
"That was amazing," Pumpkin gushed as she trotted down the street. "I never would have imagined that a bunch of insects could be that beautiful."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Shaka exclaimed with a smile. "It's something of a secret of mine since it's so close to the Everfree."
"That part was kind of scary," Pumpkin admitted.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you," Shaka remarked, bumping his hip against Pumpkin.
"T-thank you," murmured the mare.
Shaka grinned as they trotted down the small Ponyville street, his head held high. The various hustle and bustle of the town surrounded the pair, giving them a strange bit of privacy amidst all the other people. Noone glanced their way, but nor was it so busy that the sidewalks were congested with traffic.
Anonymity without a crowd, perfect for what he had in mind.
"What did you think of the short hike? It wasn't too demanding was it?" Shaka inquired.
Pumpkin shook her head. "No, it wasn't bad at all. Pound and I used to hike a lot before he got a little older. Then he decided that it wasn't cool to hang out with me."
"But he's come around recently right?" Shaka inquired.
Pumpkin sighed. "A little. He still doesn't like talking to me for very long though."
Shaka hummed to himself, silently making a note to remedy that particular issue as soon as he got back home. "Don't worry about it," he began. "I'm sure now that he isn't hanging out with those guys that he'll come back around."
"I sure hope so. Oh and thanks for that by the way," Pumpkin exclaimed with a smile. "Those jerks always made trouble for mom, and got free stuff from Pound."
"Well don't you worry about them. I'm sure they won't be a problem anymore," Shaka stated confidently.
"Good. I hate those guys," Pumpkin muttered to herself.
"You know, you've been very talkative during our little outing," Shaka pointed out.
Pumpkin blanched and looked down at the ground. "Was it too much? I can stop if you want."
"Oh not at all. It's actually quite nice," Shaka professed. "I am just surprised you've opened up to me so much."
Pumpkin blushed even harder. "Maybe it's that cologne of yours. It is really quite something."
"Or maybe you like me," Shaka replied, smirking at the mare as he subtly walked a little closer to her.
"I..." Pumpkin gulped, filling her lungs with the male's potent scent. "I might."
"I'll take that as a yes," Shaka exclaimed, flashing her a wink.
"I didn't say that!" Pumpkin shrieked, her face now beet red.
Shaka chuckled.
Pumpkin continued to blush furiously for several seconds before a wide smile spread across her face. It was then that Shaka noticed that the movie theatre was beginning to rise in the distance, its gaudy facade standing out from the normal houses and shops around it. Shaka himself found the entire thing rather garish, and the entertainment offered within to be hit or miss at best.
Yet upon seeing it, he couldn't help but smile.
"Say, are you about ready to see a movie?" Shaka inquired.
Pumpkin bobbed her head excitedly. "I would love to, though I don't know what's playing."
"I'm sure there is something halfway decent," Shaka exclaimed.
"Hmm, probably," Pumpkin murmured, her blush returning. "I don't care what we see though, so long as I'm with you."
Shaka's grin grew larger still, and he subtly took a step closer to the mare, wafting more of his unique scent towards her. Though Pumpkin stiffened briefly, and seemed about to step away, she quickly relaxed, releasing a long sigh. It was exactly the response Shaka was hoping for, and it took all of his will power not to pump a hoof in the air.
Together they walked side by side to the theatre, their coats occasionally brushing against one another in the process. Though silent for the last bit of the way, Shaka could tell that everything was going according to plan. The mare breathed heavier, her body leaned towards his own, and her eyes occasionally glazed over when she took a particularly deep breath.
It wasn't long before they reached the counter, though Pumpkin didn't even seem to notice this until Shaka spoke.
"So, see anything interesting?" he offered.
Pumpkin blinked and looked up at the large sign displaying all the movies playing, and the times they were being shown. "Oh I uh... I'm not sure," she murmured.
Shaka scanned the board, resisting the urge to groan at the sheer number of sequels and reboots he saw. His own experience with cinema was minimal, but even that was enough to make the zebra detest most modern films.
Thunder Lizard vs the king of New York. Thrill Kill, the movie. Thomas and Gerald take New York. Wow they really like this new york place. Shaka thought to himself. Ahh here's a good one.
The zebra cleared his throat and approached the bored teenager sitting behind the oval shaped ticket booth. "Hello, I would like two tickets to Boogie," he declared.
The brown coated earth pony blinked. "Are you sure? I've heard it's a bit of a snoozefest."
"I have never seen a movie about a sport before. It sounds like it could be fun," Shaka replied.
The kid chuckled. "You do you man. That will be thirteen fifty, and the show starts in twenty minutes."
"I hope you don't mind indulging my curiosity," Shaka remarked to Pumpkin as he dug out his bit bag and retreived the correct amount.
Pumpkin shook her head. "That's fine. So long as I'm with you I don't care what we do."
Shaka grinned and placed the bits on the counter before retrieving the tickets. "I appreciate it, Pumpkin. Come on, I think I've got enough left over so we can share some popcorn."
As they walked away Shaka could hear the teenager mutter. "Lucky dog," under his breath.
Stifling a snicker, the zebra opened the door for his date. "Beauty before age," Shaka offered while bowing slightly.
Pumpkin giggled. "You are such a charmer."
"I try," Shaka replied.
Pumpkin sighed, and leaned her head on Shaka's shoulder, prompting the stallion to raise a curious eyebrow.
"Not the most entertaining, is it?" Shaka prompted.
Pumpkin blinked, sitting up a little straighter in her seat. "N-no I'm having fun."
"You can say it's boring," Shaka replied, leaning in close. "It seems as though everyone else agrees with you."
Pumpkin glanced over the mostly empty theatre, and down to the sole other group seated far below them. The small gathering of teenagers had yet to even glance towards the screen as they were busy talking, and or making out. The three couples were quiet for the most part, but it was clear they cared very little about the film they were watching.
"Maybe it is a little... dry, but I don't mind," Pumpkin quickly claimed.
"You know, we could spice this up the same way they are," Shaka whispered, directing his date's attention to a pair of mares furiously making out several rows below them.
"I..." Pumpkin bit her lip, and inhaled deeply, inadvertently filling her lungs with Shaka's potent musk. "Are you sure? What if someone sees?"
"Noone but us has seen them, and they certainly won't bother to look up here," Shaka retorted.
Pumpkin nodded slowly, pressing her forehooves together. "I don't know Shaka. This is just supposed to be a practice date."
"Well your going to need practice kissing right?" Shaka pressured, the stallion leaning in close enough to whisper directly into the girl's ear. "And what better pony to practice with then someone you trust?"
"I..." Pumpkin bit her lip. "I'd like that."
"Mmmm good," Shaka purred. "I'll make sure it's as pleasurable as possible for you."
Pumpkin Cake didn't have a chance to ask what he meant by that before his lips met hers. The first thing to hit her was just how good her partner smelled, and she eagerly breathed deep of his strange, pleasant scent. It was enchanting and was almost as good as the actual embrace itself.
Which only became deeper, and more intimate as time passed, with Shaka leaning forward, all but pinning the girl against her seat. A strong striped hoof pressed against her shoulder, while the other landed just above her knee, adding a strange air of excitement to the kiss.
Then he pulled back, giving Pumpkin enough time to gasp for breath before she felt Shaka's lips once again. This time it was even shorter, with the zebra slowly recoiling and leaving Pumpkin leaning toward him, desperate for more. He repeated this move several more times before Pumpkin mewled needfully, pawing at his chest.
"Don't tease me," she whispered.
"If you insist," Shaka replied.
When their lips met again, Pumpkin Cake felt her senses light up and a white hot desire coursed through her entire body. A masculine hoof ran down her chest as another drew lazy circles on her inner thigh, all while Shaka kissed her with more passion than ever before. She could feel his desire, and it electrified her, exciting the mare to the point that she had to grip her hoof holds.
It was like she was on a wild, intense ride and she could only just barely hold on lest she lose herself. A struggle that became more difficult when she felt her lips part as Shaka did the same. Her body eagerly obeyed the zebra's whims yet Pumpkin herself was barely even aware of what was happening to her.
Then she felt his tongue enter her mouth, darting in only to retreat a moment later, the kiss ebbing and flowing. Back and forth they went, as if in a dance, with Shaka leading the entire time. As they moved, Pumpkin could feel herself grow hotter and hotter, until it felt as though she may burn up at any moment.
Only for something to touch that raging inferno and startle her out of her trance. Glancing down, Pumpkin saw that her date's hoof was now nestled between her legs. There it worked in slow, exaggerated circles, teasing the earth pony's folds and drawing forth a surprised moan of pleasure.
Questions began to swirl within the mare's mind and just as she was about to give them voice, Shaka pulled back.
"Would you like me to stop?" he whispered huskily.
The mere notion of stopping at this point felt like agony to the mare, and she immediately shook her head. "N-no," she stuttered. "It feels nice."
"Mmm good. Trust me, it will only get better," Shaka whispered back.
Then the kiss resumed, and this time it was joined by his hoof which moved a little more forcefully then before. Her folds parted, and she felt a bit more of his hoof enter her pussy, with Pumpkin's legs parting on reflex, allowing him better access to her body. Over and over again they kissed, with Pumpkin struggling to contain her desire to cry out in ecstasy.
It was just so good that she silently wondered if they could do this all the time, or at least again after they left the theatre. Her thoughts were interrupted by a gentle yet firm hoof grabbing her own and placing it on something warm and hard. Pumpkin's eyes went wide, though she quickly reigned in her panic as Shaka moved her hoof up and down.
The earth pony understood immediately what was happening and though there was a moment of hesitation it quickly vanished. It was only natural to return the favor she figured, while pumping the stallion's cock. Her movements were inelegant, and she used a bit too much force a few times, but Shaka slowly taught her what to do.
While she was learning how best to give her date a hoof job, the mare was marveling at just how big he was. No magazine, or awkward encounter at the beach could prepare her for the zebra's titanic size. It felt like it was as big as her leg and almost as wide, though Pumpkin realized that probably wasn't quite true.
Throughout it all she barely gave the other patrons a second thought, her mind slowly focusing on only Shaka and his needs. Which aggravated the mare, as Pumpkin Cake wished she was better and yearned to give him the same pleasure he was giving her. A desire which became even stronger when she felt a strange sensation suddenly overcome her entire body.
The pleasure peeked, and the young mare began to writhe as her first orgasm overwhelmed her body. A steady hoof held her against the seat while Shaka's lips contained her fervent cries of joy. All while the zebra continued to work her folds and assault her love button vigorously.
As she came, her legs spasmed and her heart thudded in her chest, the experience electrifying the mare's body. It was the single most intense moment of her entire life, and as she felt it slowly begin to die down the pony began to grow tired. That was until she felt Shaka begin to use her hoof to stroke himself, then she was wide awake and alert once more.
She wasn't done, it wasn't truly over. She still needed to give what he had already given her.
Pumpkin Cake sat up, her hoof moving on its own, no longer needing Shaka's guidance anymore. Though it pained her to feel his hoof move away from her now drenched pussy, Pumpkin welcomed the change. For it allowed her to lean into the kiss, and stroke her partner with both of her forehooves.
Again it was awkward, but again Pumpkin improved rapidly, the hunger within her burning brightly once more. She needed to do more, to be better, and so she began to move faster, to work harder. The raw intensity of her own emotions startled the mare, yet she brushed past that concern as quickly as it came.
It was only natural to give back, she reasoned, and this was the perfect way to do so. Pumpkin only wished that she was as skillful as he was.
Up and down her hooves went, lovingly stroking the zebra as they continued to kiss passionately. This time she pushed back, going on the offensive as she worked his cock with everything she had. Each small moan and subtle twitch was a victory to the mare, who only became more emboldened as time passed.
Then she felt his cock twitch, becoming harder, and somehow even longer then before. He was close, and it wouldn't be long before he came, a realization that made Pumpkin want to let out a cheer. She wasn't able to do so however, as Shaka pulled back suddenly before firmly grabbing her head and pushing her down.
Again she considered resisting, but that urge was gone a second later when her senses were overwhelmed with musk. It was stronger than ever before, and for a single moment Pumpkin Cake lost herself utterly within her own intense desire.
As Pumpkin fell into her role as a cum dump, Shaka's cock slid past her lips and filled almost the entirety of her mouth before releasing a heavy glob of cum. The zebra's seed was hot, and the flavor immediately made Pumpkin desire more of the delicious liquid. Gulping it down, the earth pony quickly got her wish when a second dollop of the stuff landed on her tongue.
More followed, and though she swallowed as quickly as she could manage, there always seemed to be more. Soon Pumpkin realized that his ejaculation was so powerful that she couldn't keep up with it all. Cum shot out of her nose, and filled her mouth to the point of bursting.
Then it stopped, petering off and leaving the mare with a mouth so full of zebra jizz that even her cheeks were stuffed. She struggled to swallow for several seconds before eventually managing to take it all, adding another heaping helping to the mass she had already consumed. The second this happened, Shaka released the tight hold he had on Pumpkin's head, allowing the young mare to pull back.
Gasping for air, the pony wiped her lips and cleaned her muzzle of cum, only now remembering that they were still in a public place.
"Sorry about that. Didn't want to make a mess," Shaka apologized.
Pumpkin coughed, and awkwardly blew her jizz filled nose on the empty bag of popcorn.
"That's okay," she whispered. "It tasted really.... Really good."
"I'm glad. So does that mean you enjoyed yourself?" Shaka inquired.
Pumpkin nodded her head, the mare hiding behind her mane. "It was amazing. For a moment I almost wished it would never end."
"You know it doesn't have to," Shaka prompted, wrapping a hoof around Pumpkin's shoulders. "We could have as many practice dates as you'd like. Unless you don't want to practice anymore?"
Pumpkin bit her lip, and spared a nervous glance down at the zebra's still partially hard cock. "I would like that," she replied after a short pause.
"I thought you'd say that," Shaka exclaimed with a grin. "And don't worry Pumpkin. I'll make sure you feel that good every single time." |
The guest | 6 | Shaka sat at the table with a wide smile on his face and a spoon in his hoof. He chewed noisily, enjoying the simple oat based cereal more than he normally would. It wasn't due to the flavor though, no it was the ponies sitting across from him that made the meal so pleasurable.
Pound Cake slowly chewed on a bagel, his shoulders slack, and a blush still evident on his face. Small dark rings were visible under his eyes, and Shaka could tell that he was having trouble sitting properly. It was no surprise to the zebra, given all the 'training' they had done the night before.
It might have even been a bit too much for the young stallion, but Shaka didn't really care. Both Pound and Pumpkin had left immediately after work on monday the day before, inadvertently screwing up his plans. Their impromptu visit had been a small road block, though one that might have potentially ruined his entire plan if things had gone differently.
Thankfully the twins hadn't spoken about Shaka very much, allowing them to remain relatively ignorant of their shared fascination with him. Though it was becoming more and more difficult to hide their feelings, as even the ever reserved Pumpkin was constantly trying to make out with him. Their cultivated emotions were coming along nicely despite how little time had passed, and Shaka estimated that they would both be under his thrall soon enough.
The mere though of which nearly made the stallion pop a boner right there at the breakfast table. One servant was hot, but two, who were twins of either gender, now that was downright perfect. It was such an enticing thought the male had to stop himself from taking them both right then and there.
Stifling his lust with a spoonful of dry, slightly tasteless oats, Shaka went back to observing and planning. Pumpkin was eating quickly, and quietly, the mare casting the odd furtive glance in the zebra's direction. The earth pony evidently still wanted him despite the sneaky good morning blowjob she had given him less than an hour earlier.
Shaka bet that she could probably still taste his jizz even now.
The thought enticed the stallion, and he had to push those feelings down by reminding himself of his goals. He wasn't just here for Pumpkin or Pound after all, but rather the entire Cake family, minus a certain ornery old stallion. Who had thankfully stayed out of his way, though it was clear that the patriarch of the family wasn't about to go down without a fight.
Yet he hadn't made his morning appearance yet, a curious change as he liked to glare at the zebra every chance he got. His disappearance was a relief, though it also made Shaka wonder if he was planning something. The dark shaman's concerns lay elsewhere however, namely with where Cup Cake was, and why she hadn't shown up yet.
"So Shaka, what do you want to do after work today?" Pumpkin asked hesitantly.
The zebra shrugged. "I'm not sure yet."
"Well I was thinking we could uh... hang out again," Pumpkin half asked half stated.
"W-what but I thought we were going to go visit Pinkie Pie again? We always go over to her place for a sleep over after the running of the leaves," Pound replied.
"We don't have to," Pumpkin offered with a hopeful shrug. "Aunty Pinkie is nice and all but we have everything we need right here."
Pound cake bit his lip and eyed Shaka with naked lust. "I suppose we have plenty of fun things to do around here already."
"You should visit Pinkie Pie again," Shaka encouraged. "After all. We can all hang out whenever, but the running of the leaves happens only once a year."
"But we just went over there yesterday for Chili Cheese's birthday party," Pumpkin replied.
"It would probably mean a lot to her if you went," Shaka proposed.
Pumpkin Cake sighed. "Yeah I guess it would."
"And I'm sure Shaka will spend some time with us soon," Pound Cake added.
"I get him first though," Pumpkin exclaimed, jabbing a hoof into Pound Cake's chest.
"Hey no fair. You got to hang out with him last time!" Pound Cake whined. "It's my turn."
"Don't you think that should be up to me?" Shaka interrupted.
Pound Cake blushed and quickly looked down. "Y-yes sir."
"S-sorry Shaka," Pumpkin Cake added.
Shaka grinned, and reached across the table, patting their hooves lovingly. "Don't worry. I'll make sure to spend plenty of time with you guys soon."
The creak of a door stopped the conversation dead in its tracks and everyone turned toward where Cup Cake stood. The older mare appeared to have aged a decade in the course of a mere two days, and wore a deep scowl as well as a ratty bathrobe. In an instant the temperature of the room plummeted ten degrees, and the twins quickly averted their eyes while their mother shambled toward the coffee maker.
"Why don't you two start by getting the shop ready early?" Shaka whispered, the zebra leaning across the table.
The twins both nodded.
"That sounds like a good idea," Pound Cake murmured.
"Mom looks really angry," Pumpkin Cake remarked.
"You guys go on. I'll talk to her," Shaka encouraged, leaning back once more.
The pair nodded before quickly getting up from the table and slipping out the door. If their mother saw them leave she didn't make a note of it, and dutifully went about making herself a strong cup of coffee. Only after taking a sip of the dark black roast did the older mare even seem aware of her surroundings.
"Where did Pound and Pumpkin go?" she asked while ambling over to the table.
"They offered to get the store open early for you," Shaka replied, rising from the table. "Would you like some of your diet brand cereal?"
"No," Cup Cake quickly replied. "I was about to make a bagel with cream cheese for myself."
"Allow me," Shaka exclaimed, the zebra already trotting over to the counter.
"Oh no you really don't have to," Cup Cake replied. "I'm quite capable of making it myself."
"If I'm being frank with you Cup, you don't look like you could. Please, allow me," Shaka stressed.
The mare seemed ready to argue for a few seconds before releasing a long sigh and sitting back down. "Fine. I suppose I probably do look a bit disheveled," she admitted.
Shaka gave the mare's wild bed head a brief glance before getting back to his self appointed task once more. He retreived a plate, bagel, and cream cheese in silence, giving Cup Cake the chance to drink most of her coffee. Only after he heard the sound of a relatively empty mug hit the table did the zebra turn around and deliver her meal.
"There you are," he greeted, placing the plate before her. "Feel better?"
"At least half alive now," Cup Cake muttered, the mare picking up the bagel before pausing. "Thank you Shaka."
"It's no problem at all," replied the zebra, as he sat down across from the pony. "Did you not sleep well?"
Cup Cake grunted and swallowed. "You could say that."
"I hope at least Mr. Cake had a good rest," Shaka offered.
The mare grunted bitterly. "He left late last night. Apparently they caught someone stealing from our store in Canterlot and they needed him to make a statement."
"That is... Interesting," Shaka murmured. "Strange though. Couldn't he just give a statement to the local guards?"
"You'd think that wouldn't you," Cup Cake angrily muttered.
Shaka rapped his hoof against the table. "You don't suspect that something more serious is happening up there do you?"
Cup Cake paused, and eyed the stallion closely. "What do you mean?"
"Well it doesn't make a lot of sense though does it? Seems to me like something is going on," Shaka continued.
"What exactly are you insinuating?" Cup Cake inquired, her tone growing tense.
Shaka shrugged. "Just that it might be a little more than simple theft. After all, if they caught the pony then why would they need Carrot so soon?"
"Oh... I guess that makes sense," Cup Cake admitted, biting into her bagel.
Shaka smiled to himself and watched as the pony's expression became deeply introspective. It then shifted to one of anger, before becoming neutral once more as she contemplated the matter more intensely. It was the exact series of expressions that Shaka was hoping for, and he rose from the table with a small smile on his face.
"I think I'll join the twins now," he offered.
"Oh uh sure. Thank you again Shaka," Cup Cake muttered.
"Not a problem Cup," Shaka replied before turning around.
"Please remember to call me Mrs-" Cup Cake began, only for the door to close behind the zebra. "-cake."
She sighed, looking down at the half eaten meal her newest employee had made for her. "That stallion is a miracle worker. Maybe I should tell Carrot that I intend on keeping him on permanently after all," she muttered to herself.
The pony sighed. "I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it."
"I see you all are ready to go," Shaka offered, eying the twins as they assembled near the back of the bakery.
Pound Cake struggled briefly as he heaved a pair of saddle bags onto his back. "Tell me again why we need so much stuff for only a single night?" he groaned.
Pumpkin Cake giggled. "You know, Pinkie Pie. She always throws us a party when we come over, so I brought along a few outfits in case it's formal."
"Pinkie wouldn't..." Pound Cake paused, only to groan. "Actually yes she would."
"Oh don't be such a stick in the mud. That fancy ball she threw was actually pretty fun," Pumpkin offered.
Pound Cake hummed. "I guess it wasn't bad. She really knows how to keep us guessing."
"Did either of you see your mother leave early today?" Shaka inquired.
Pound Cake shook his head. "No. I was up front for the last few hours."
"Oh yeah I saw her sneak upstairs with a few bottles of wine after getting a letter," Pumpkin replied.
"A letter?" Shaka pressed.
Pumpkin shrugged. "I didn't read it, and mom ripped it up right away."
"Is she going to be okay? Maybe we should cancel our sleepover with Pinkie," Pound Cake murmured.
"I'll take care of her. Trust me," Shaka exclaimed.
"That's so sweet of you," Pound Cake purred.
"Before I forget, Pound Cake," Shaka began. "Did you remember to close the till?"
The feminine male blinked. "I can't remember. One second."
When the young pony left the room, Shaka leaned in, and clasped Pumpkin on the chin, drawing her into a brief, but passionate kiss. One that he deepened immediately, the zebra's hoof caressing her soft features for several long, intense moments. Then they parted, and he leaned towards her ear.
"Remember. Keep us a secret for now. I promise to tell everyone soon," Shaka whispered.
Pumpkin Cake shuddered. "Yes Shaka, whatever you say."
"Why don't you wait outside? I need to ask Pound Cake something before you guys go," Shaka offered.
Pumpkin nodded eagerly. "Of course. Just... nevermind."
The female pony turned and departed, leaving Shaka with a hint of worry that wriggled angrily at the back of his mind. Then Pound Cake returned, and Shaka reminded himself of the plan, as well as what he needed to do next.
"It was closed, I made-" Pound Cake began.
Only for Shaka's lips to meet his own, causing the pony to melt into the embrace, moaning softly as the zebra's tongue darted into his mouth. Though it didn't last long, it was enough to make Pound Cake begin to grow hard, and for a powerful heat to bloom within him. When Shaka took a step back, Pound Cake nearly followed him, desperate to feel his lover's touch for even a moment longer.
He stopped himself though, and swallowed his lingering desire dutifully.
"Remember, don't tell anyone about us," Shaka reminded. "I'll tell the others soon, but for now let's keep it a secret."
"Yes Shaka. Anything for you," Pound Cake whispered huskily.
Shaka smirked. "Oh and enjoy your time with Pinkie Pie."
Pound Cake bobbed his head eagerly. "I will Shaka. See you soon."
"See you soon, my pet," Shaka replied with a slight smirk.
The zebra watched the demure stallion go, his gaze lingering on the pony's backside just long enough to make his cock stir within its sheethe. Tearing his eyes from the other male's ass, Shaka waited until Pound Cake was gone, and the door was closed firmly behind him. With that done, he made sure to lock it firmly, then he trotted over to the garbage can nearest Cup Cake's office.
Fishing around in its contents, the zebra quickly found his prize, and gathered up the tattered remnants of a letter. Carefully cupping the shredded paper, Shaka dumped it into the staff toilet and flushed it down without a second thought.
Now that he had handled everything that he needed to, the zebra began to trot towards his final destination for the night. His steps were light, and he carefully walked up the stairs, stopping only when he had reached the door at the top. Opened only a few inches, Shaka peered intently into the space beyond, his gaze immediately settling on the couch.
The small sitting area across from the kitchen wasn't overly large, but it was enough for the small family. Or a single mother who was listening to a slightly upbeat record talking about how into each life some rain must fall. On the small coffee table in front of her were several empty wine bottles, and a single quite full glass resting on its edge.
Cup Cake herself was only half aware of her surroundings, the mare bobbing her head to the tune with her eyes closed. It was a hard sight, and it made Shaka feel a bit guilty about what he was doing, but he pushed that feeling deep down inside of himself. With that nagging sensation gone, Shaka took a step back and cleared his throat before raising his hoof.
Knocking twice, the zebra waited patiently for a response that came only a few short seconds later.
"Come in," offered the mare, her voice only slightly slurred.
"It's just me," Shaka greeted.
The zebra pulled open the door, and shut it firmly behind him, subtly locking it just to make sure they werent interrupted.
"Oh Shaka, just the zebra I wanted to see," Cup Cake exclaimed, scooping up her glass of wine and downing it in a single titanic gulp.
"What did you want to see me for?" Shaka offered, the zebra stopping at the end of the couch.
Cup Cake awkwardly shifted into a sitting position, swaying briefly as she set the cup back down.
"I wanted to thank you again," Cup Cake began. "Things have been really turning around lately, and it's all because of you."
"Oh I wouldn't take all the credit," Shaka quickly replied. "Pound and Pumpkin have both been very receptive to my suggestions."
The mare sighed, and flicked a hoof against the cup, causing the crystal to ring faintly. "At least they listen to someone in this house," she muttered.
Shaka frowned. "That's not what I meant."
"No, it's fine," Cup Cake interrupted. "I'm just a tad bitter about you doing a better job raising my kids than I have."
"I'm not raising your kids. I'm merely... pointing out some small ways that they can be better. That's all," Shaka exclaimed.
Cup Cake snorted. "Then what do you call setting that gang packing? Cus that seemed pretty big to me."
Shaka sighed. "It really wasn't that big of a deal. I just exchanged words with a few of them."
Cup Cake shook her head. "You are too modest for you own good. It's kind of infuriating,"
The mare fell sideways back onto the couch as the music shifted, and a soft, southern voice began to sing about the end of the world. The singer asked why her heart still beat, and why her eyes cry, drawing the mood even further towards the gutter. Shaka trotted over to the back of the couch, and laid a hoof on the mare's shoulder.
"Would you like me to make some tea? It will help with the hangover tomorrow," Shaka offered.
"I haven't drunk that much," Cup Cake muttered, only to notice the empty bottles before her. "Well, maybe a little chamomile might be nice."
"I have something much better," Shaka replied as he trotted away.
While he busied himself making tea, the zebra couldn't help but notice that his host was eying him curiously. Making sure not to give any indication that he knew about her quiet inspection, Shaka subtly flexed while he moved around the kitchen. It made him feel rather silly, but the zebra could tell that his little display was having the effect he hoped it would.
Her breathing grew somewhat quicker, and when he finally assembled his drink she had turned all the way around. Clutching the back of the couch tightly in her hooves, the mare looked like a child waiting eagerly for a treat. Flashing the female a smirk, Shaka trotted back over to the sitting area, and sat a respectful distance from the mare.
Setting the cup on the coffee table, Shaka flashed the marte a wide smile. "There you are. That should help."
"Thank you dear," Cup Cake muttered, a blush remaining on her cheeks even as she reached for the tea.
The zebra smiled. "So is there a reason you're enjoying such a fine vintage so early."
"Ahh yes, the fine vintage of last year," Cup Cake muttered, sipping her tea.
"You're dodging the question," Shaka accused, jabbing a hoof at the mare. "Surely if this was a celebration you wouldn't be quite so dour."
"I also would have invited someone else to this little pity party," Cup Cake murmured.
"So what's the matter?" Shaka pressed. "More issues at the other location?"
Cup Cake sighed, cradling the tea cup between her forehooves. "Carrot won't be back for a while. Apparently he has a lot of business to attend to."
"And that's enough to warrant all this?" Shaka inquired, gesturing to the table.
"No," Cup Cake admitted. "He also asked to 'discuss our marriage' once he came back. He told me all this in a letter no less."
Shaka sighed. "I'm sorry about that. Your husband seems to demand quite a bit of you."
Cup Cake squeezed her drink tightly, her brow knitting furiously. "I hate it. I hate what our family has become and I hate that I'm the only one who is expected not to have any secrets."
"Surely Carrot isn't cheating, right? I mean why would he do that," Shaka offered.
The mare stared off into space for several seconds before taking another long sip and setting the cup down on the table. She then turned to Shaka and fixed him with a strangely intense gaze, her forehoof resting on his lower thigh.
"What do you want out of life, Shaka?" she asked in a low tone.
"I want what you want," Shaka quickly replied. "A loving family, a partner, children. A business would be nice but none of that really matters as much as having people who love me."
"That is..." Cup Cake bit her lip. "Your everything my Carrot used to be."
"The real question is what do you want Cup Cake?" Shaka asked, laying a hoof over the mare's.
"I..." the earth pony hesitated "I want what you want, and I also..."
"Tell me, Cup. Tell me what you want," Shaka whispered.
"I want you," Cup Cake muttered, a guilty blush crossing her face. "I want to get back at my husband. I want to be loved by someone who doesn't reprimand me for every decision I make."
She sighed. "Even if it's only for tonight."
Shaka smiled. "I wouldn't mind doing that for you."
Cup Cake shook her head and rose suddenly from the couch. "What am I saying? I'm your boss. You're staying in my house. I can't just do that with you it's wrong. I'm-"
The mare's runaway thoughts were stopped dead in their tracks when Shaka kissed her suddenly. For a moment the pony was too shocked to move, then she realized what had happened, and felt the urge to pull away. That feeling faded when she took a sharp breath and the heat in her loins grew considerably in mere moments.
Shaka smiled as he pulled away, running a hoof down the pony's cheek. "Still want me to go?" He asked in a low tone.
"I..." Cup Cake shook her head. "No. I want- no, need this. But you can't tell anyone."
"What do you ponies say? Scout's honor?" Shaka replied, pressing a hoof over his heart.
"I'm serious. Not the twins, not the grocer, nobody," Cup Cake stressed.
"I get it Cup," Shaka replied. "I swear that I won't ever tell a soul."
The zebra leaned in and stole another kiss, but was cut off when his partner gently pushed him away.
"And this is only one time," she stated. "I just need a little relief is all. Carrot left before we could even make love."
Shaka smiled. "Of course. You aren't in heat are you?"
"Definitely not," Cup Cake quickly replied, stopping herself before she could add. But it sure feels like it. To the end of her sentence.
"Good," Shaka exclaimed, leaning in close. "Because I want to fill you to the brim."
"Oh Shaka," Cup Cake moaned.
The mare was immediately overwhelmed by her lover's lips, a hoof tenderly holding her chin. His touch was soft, yet firm, all while containing a level of lust the mare has not experienced in years. It was clear even from the brief meeting that he yearned for her in a way Cup Cake didn't expect.
It was enticing, and the mare felt her body yield to his desires, allowing the stallion to deepen the kiss. While at the same time he ran his hoof down her cheek to her neck before finally stopping at her chest, where it remained for the moment. Though his hoof may no longer have been in motion, his lips and tongue never slowed, repeatedly meeting their counterparts.
Each embrace was short, tender, and it made her want the stallion even more than she already did. A soft nip, a gentle bite, and the pony felt as though her partner had ignited a fire in her belly. Cup Cake needed him more than anything, and she could barely stop herself from breaking the kiss in order to spread herself for him.
Then a shove, and she felt herself fall into the couch, the brief moment of weightlessness making her heart quicken. Her fear was gone as quickly as it came, and she couldn't help but giggle excitedly as the zebra stepped onto the couch. Smiling coyly, Cup Cake kept her knees together, forcing Shaka to gently pry them apart and slide between them.
"You are so very beautiful," Shaka whispered as he crawled up her body.
"Oh stop. I'm no such thing," Cup Cake muttered bashfully.
"lies," Shaka retorted, planting a kiss on the mare's stomach. "Every little part of you is perfect."
Cup Cake wanted to deny it, to remind her young lover of her age, but no words came out. Her response cut short but a rapid series of soft kisses that ended on her right nipple, causing the mare to gasp out loud. Shaka didn't stop there however, ruthlessly teasing the pony by kissing his way back and forth across her plump teets.
He didn't linger for long, and only a few seconds later he had returned to making his way back up her body. Another line of kisses, peppered the mare's stomach and neck, ending only when their lips met once more. This time when they kissed Cup Cake matched her partner's intensity perfectly, writhing and moaning as they made out.
His tongue entered her mouth, then slipped away, chased closely by the mare's own slippery appendage. Darting back and forth, the two lovers kissed and caressed one another, exploring the other's body with a heated, intense desire.
Cup Cake's hooves lingered on the zebra's prominent stomach muscles, before slowly slipping to his upper legs. Everywhere her touch lingered, the pony felt a youthful, well defined physique that served to further entice the already lust addled mare. In contrast Shaka's hooves stayed close to his partner's face, caressing her cheek, and running through her mane.
While the pair mapped out the other's naked form, Shaka's now rock hard cock came to rest just outside of Cup Cake's dripping pussy. The throbbing appendage twitched needfully, though Shaka dared not rush things, even if he could feel his partner's need. It wasn't enough that she wanted him, Shaka needed her to yearn for him, to beg for his cock and give in to her desires.
That didn't take long, as Cup Cake's frequent soft moans had already grown louder and more prominent. In only a few minutes she was pushing back against the zebra's touch, pressing herself into every kiss and pulling him closer when he tried to shift back. Until he moved a little too quickly, leaving Cup Cake feeling empty, vulnerable, and desperate for his touch.
"You want it don't you?" Shaka whispered, leaning in close to the mare's ear.
"Mmm yes," Cup Cake moaned, her body wriggling as she tried to contain her lust. "I need your cock."
"Tell me how badly you need it, and I just might give it to you," Shaka replied.
Cup Cake bit her lip before releasing a sharp sigh. "I need it so badly that it almost scares me. Please Shaka, fuck me."
The zebra wanted to make her beg a little more, to debase herself even more, but he was just too turned on. Enough time had passed after all, and with his tea now in full effect Shaka knew he didn't have to hold back. All he had to do was fulfill his lover's desires and he would have everything he wanted out of life.
To that end he drew back his hips, leaned forward, and just as he thrust, planted his lips against hers. Though stifled, he could still hear, and taste the moan as it slipped from Cup Cake's lips. Wide and flat, the head of his cock only just barely managed to penetrate her, though thankfully his next push had help.
Copious amount of liquid excitement coated the tip of his cock, and ran down the insides of Cup Cake's legs, pooling on the couch. A little extra power was all it took to enable Shaka's stallionhood to begin sliding its way deep into the mare's dripping pussy. He didn't rush it though, and after he had managed to get a good third of his cock into her, he stopped.
Their lips parted once more, though this time Shaka did not embrace her again only a few moments later. He took a detour, trailing kisses down her cheek and across her jaw before coming to rest at her neck. There he nipped and nibbled at the soft flesh, teasing out a few half giggled moans before kissing her once more.
When the embrace deepened, Shaka pushed his hips forward, his cock gliding into his partner's pussy. Though she had experience, and two kids, the pony wasn't loose, and it took until Shaka was nearly half way inside before he met resistance. When he did, Cup Cake recoiled, and released a soft gasp of pleasure as well as surprise.
"You're so deep inside of me," she whispered, her hooves twitching. "Please give me more."
"As you command," Shaka whispered huskily.
The zebra redoubled his efforts, drawing his hips back before thrusting forward with far more force. Cup Cake moaned loudly, her inhibitions loosening to the point that she even whispered her lover's name. It was a small thing, but for some reason it felt more like cheating than even letting the young stallion inside of her.
She didn't linger on the subject for long however, as another thrust filled her mind with ecstasy and her pussy with cock. He was big, Cup Cake quickly realized, big enough that her husband simply couldn't compare in length or width. In fact she hadn't been stretched that much since giving birth, and that thought excited her for a reason she couldn't quite explain.
It was a deep, dark realization, which she quickly buried along with the rest, relishing purely in the more earthly desires of the flesh. In seconds all such worries were gone, washed away in a seemingly endless tide of pleasure. Her pussy stretched, the walls of which were pushed wider then they had been for a long time, adding even more fuel to the flames of her lust.
On and on Shaka pressed, pouring more of himself into her, until Cup Cake swore that she had taken it all. Only to be surprised when she felt another inch cram its way into her now tight pussy and drawing forth a loud moan. Her forehooves gripped around his midsection tightly, and she had to stop herself from scratching her way down his back.
"Fuck that is good," Cup Cake cursed.
"Watch your language. Otherwise I may have to punish you," Shaka replied, nipping at the mare's neck.
"Oh stars above. Please punish me. I've been a bad, bad mare," Cup Cake muttered huskily.
"If you insist," Shaka exclaimed.
Cup Cake didn't have long to consider the zebra's words, as he pounded his hips against her own, unceremoniously burying himself in her. Her lustful moan turned into a sharp cry of surprise, though not of pain, the shock of the penetration quickly being overwhelmed with pleasure. He was just so large, that it felt like the zebra had managed to fill the entirety of her pussy from lips to cervix.
She knew that wasn't possible, but it still felt like it, which only turned the mare on even more. Cup Cake didn't get the chance to contemplate that feeling for long however, as Shaka's hips were already in motion. Pulling back, he slammed into her with enough force to make the couch squeak as it shifted across the floor.
Cup Cake's entire body trembled under the force of the thrust, and she tightened her grip on Shaka even more. Holding on for dear life, Cup Cake rode out a ruthless pounding that made her eyes roll into the back of her head. Her moan grew long, her voice going up and down octaves depending on if Shaka was pulling out or thrusting forward.
Then his teeth met her neck, and Cup Cake felt a small twinge of pain shoot through her. This tiny point of agony added to the roiling wave of pleasure coursing through her, somehow making the experience even more powerful. His bite didn't last long, and the zebra planted a kiss on the same spot before nipping at another spot and repeating the process.
It was all too much for the love starved mare, and all at once she felt her body begin to shake as a powerful orgasm overtook her. She had felt it coming a few seconds earlier, yet the pony almost didn't believe what her senses were telling her. It was too soon, and he was being far too rough, or at least that's what she tried to tell herself anyway.
She liked the slow passionate sex that her husband was known for, not this rough, intense experience she was now a part of. Yet even as she told herself that, the words rang hollow, and she knew they werent true. She yearned for this moment, needed to feel her mind drift away as it was lost in a sea of passion that she had not braved in years.
All at once she felt young, powerful again, and she loved every second of it.
"Oh yes, give it to me, Shaka. Fuck me like I'm yours," Cup Cake exclaimed.
The zebra grinned, and began to move faster, his hips becoming a blur of motion as he pounded the hell out of his lover. It wasn't quite what Shaka had planned, but who was he to deny a mare in need? So he continued, edging himself closer and closer to orgasm as time ticked by.
The mare's grip was like iron, and soon the only thing between them was a bit of fur, and a fine layer of sweat. The kiss began anew, and this time Cup Cake was the passionate one, holding Shaka tightly. Awed, and aroused by the sheer intensity of the embrace, Shaka could feel his own orgasm begin to creep up on him.
As he contemplated holding it off through a few mental tricks, Shaka felt Cup Cake's pussy tighten suddenly. Then it was gone, though her moans had raised several octaves, indicating that she was nearly as close as he was. That was all the zebra needed to know, and with a savage intensity, he brought every last bit of strength he had to bear.
The clap of her ass cheeks grew loud, as did the lusty moans which now spilled constantly from the mare's lips. Too intense to maintain the kiss, Shaka pulled back, and stared down into the mare's eyes, meeting her lusty gaze with one of his own. For a moment they felt as though they were connected, a bridge briefly connecting their yearning souls.
Then it was gone, and Cup Cake squeezed her eyes shut, her body trembling with an almost violent intensity. Shaka didn't mind, and though he suspected she was thinking of her husband at that moment, he knew that would change.
Drawing his hips back one final time, Shaka buried himself in Cup Cake's pussy, stuffing her to the absolute brim. The pony's bottom lip trembled, and Shaka could feel a surge of mare cum coat his twitching cock. With a grunt, the zebra mashed his hips against his partner's, desperately embedding every last millimeter he had.
"Oh fuck, oh fuck," Cup Cake repeated, her hooves squeezing so tightly that Shaka doubt he could have pulled away even if he wanted to.
Shaka desired no such thing, the zebra remaining as close as he could manage for as long as possible. Deep within the mare, piping hot zebra seed was being funneled directly into her womb, the virile cum filling her in seconds. It was altogether too much for the mare, who had never experienced something so powerful in her entire life.
Nothing could compare to the feeling of having her body flooded with the cum of a creature that she was not in a relationship with. This rough, dirty fuck on her couch eclipsed everything from her first time with Carrot, to even her honeymoon. It was a realization she desperately wished to avoid, yet try as she might, the pony couldn't help but contemplate it.
She wondered what it would be like to experience such ecstasy every day, and to wake up knowing that it was coming. Desperate to rid herself of such cloying thoughts, the mare released a shuddering sigh and opened her eyes. Meeting Shaka's inquisitive gaze, Cup Cake felt her heart skip a beat, though thankfully no more than just the once.
"That was wonderful," Shaka whispered.
Cup Cake blinked. "Oh uh yes. It was... amazing."
Shaka smirked at her lover's hesitancy, the zebra easily able to tell that she wanted to say perfect, but had resisted the urge. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," Shaka remarked.
"I guess we should get up then," Cup Cake remarked somewhat hesitantly. "You have finished, right?"
"Just a second more here and yes. I'll be done," Shaka declared.
Cup Cake bit back the urge to compliment the zebra's endurance. "Thank you by the way."
"Oh? You're done already? I thought you wanted to move to the bed for round two," Shaka replied.
Cup Cake opened her mouth to respond, only to find no words. "Round two? But Carrot-"
"I am not Carrot," Shaka quickly interjected. "If we are only going to get one night together then we should enjoy it shouldn't we?"
"I..." Cup Cake didn't know what to say.
"Or we could just stay here, and move to the bed for round three," Shaka offered.
"Round three... You can do that?" Cup Cake muttered.
"I can do that and so much more," Shaka whispered.
Cup Cake bit her lip briefly. "Show me. Show me all that you may offer so that I will be satisfied with only this night."
"It would be my pleasure," Shaka cooed. |
The guest | 7 | Shaka hummed to himself as he chewed on a sandwich of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and ranch dressing. It wasn't exactly his favorite, but it was filling, tasted pretty good, and was made by Cup Cake while he had been fucking her from behind. Why just thinking about that moment made him even more excited, and the zebra recalled the experience in vivid detail.
Cup Cake's hoof quivered as she sliced the cucumber for his sandwich, the mare moaning long and hard. Her entire body trembled as Shaka continued to slam into her, his heavy balls slapping audibly against her teets. With her forehooves on the counter in front of her, the pony struggled to stay upright while continuing to get fucked.
"R-remember. After tonight that's it, okay?" Cup Cake half asked, half declared.
"Of course," Shaka agreed. "And if you ever change your mind and need a bit more relief please let me know."
Cup Cake shuddered as a particularly powerful surge of pleasure nearly overwhelmed her, forcing the mare to put down the knife. Clutching the counter tightly with both forehooves, she rode it out until finally she could focus enough to continue cutting away. Shaka meanwhile, merely smirked to himself and redoubled his efforts, intent on filling her womb before she could complete her job.
"Do you think you c-could keep it down?" Cup Cake asked. "The twins might be on their way by now."
"They are covering the lunch rush. Trust me, they won't come up here," SHaka replied.
Cup Cake stifled a moan by biting her bottom lip, and nodded.
As she assembled the pieces of his sandwich, Shaka began to speed up, pounding the mare's pussy ruthlessly. Intent on leaving her walking funny for the rest of the day, Shaka fucked her with every ounce of strength he had left in him. Until he unloaded into her with a deep grunt, his cock pressed firmly against the very entrance to her womb.
With a muffled moan, the stallion stifled the urge to cum and glanced down to where Pumpkin was knelt between his legs. Her head bobbed up and down on his cock, swallowing his dick with the practiced ease that Shaka expected of her. The unicorn had certainly gained somewhat of an oral fascination, and Shaka did everything he could to encourage that.
With his own orgasm edging closer, Shaka quickly stuffed the last of his sandwich past his lips, chewing noisily. It wasn't the most polite thing to do, but he was nearly there, and he didn't want to miss this chance to really enjoy himself. So with a mouthful of food, Shaka grabbed his partner's horn, and took control of her with merciless efficiency.
With the spiraled appendage held tight in his grip, Shaka used her head like a sex toy, dragging it up and down her cock as fast as he dared. Rather than be annoyed with the change, Pumpkin Cake moaned lewdly, her eyes rolling into the back of her head. Her own hoof worked rapidly between her legs, assaulting her pussy with an almost manic intensity.
As is in response, the music in the background switched from some quiet song Shaka hadn't been paying attention to something much more upbeat. Though still a little too pop for the zebra's liking, the beat was solid, and he found himself matching it with his thrusts. Which only grew faster as time passed, until at long last he came, and came hard, dumping a veritable ocean straight into Pumpkin's stomach.
Holding her head down firmly against his crotch, Shaka released a long, shuddering sigh of relief. He was a little surprised he even had anything left to give if he was being honest with himself. Given that he had spent almost the entire night as well as most of the morning dumping load after load into Cup Cake's willing pussy.
Releasing a sigh, Shaka laid down on the bed, letting go of his partner's horn. Pumpkin Cake didn't initially pull back, the mare sucking and licking down the last remnants of Shaka's orgasm. With every last drop of zebra seed now resting in her belly, Pumpkin pulled back and gasped for breath.
"You're getting really good at that," Shaka remarked with a smile. "It's actually quite impressive, you know."
"Th-thank you Shaka," Pumpkin replied, swallowing one final time. "Thanks for lunch by the way. It's surprisingly filling."
Shaka smirked as he noted the small bulge in his partner's midsection, a sense of pride welling in his chest. Evidently his conquests were already bearing fruit, and he couldn't help but wonder how strong he had gotten. Pushing such considerations from his mind, Shaka rose from the bed and glanced at the clock expectantly.
"Only a few minutes left before our break is over. Did you want something else to eat?" Shaka offered.
Pumpkin blushed and shook her head. "I don't think I could even eat anything more if I wanted to."
Shaka chuckled. "Very fair, perhaps a bit of water then? Unless you enjoy having my taste on your tongue throughout the day."
Pumpkin Cake bit her lip and nodded slowly. "It is rather... arousing. I must admit."
"Mmm and soon you'll be carrying more than just a belly full of cum around with you," Shaka exclaimed.
"What do you mean?" Pumpkin questioned.
Shaka hummed while tapping his chin, pondering whether or not to give the next part of his plan to the mare. It wasn't terribly far-fetched, and she was very loyal to him, but the zebra still wasn't sure if that was a good idea. After all, it was one thing to have sex with him, it was another to carry his foal, or if lucky, his foals.
"You will see, soon," Shaka replied after a short pause.
Pumpkin pouted. "Aww come on Shaka. Could you tell me, please?"
Shaka chuckled at the cute expression on his pet's face, silently quite proud that she was growing bolder.
"Soon," he exclaimed. "Soon you will know all about what I have in mind for you, as well as the others."
"Others?" Pumpkin asked, cocking her head.
"You'll see," Shaka declared, patting the mare on the shoulder before rising from the bed. "Now then. We should probably be getting back down to the store, your mother-"
Three rapid strikes against the door stopped Shaka dead in his tracks.
"Who's there?" he called.
"It's Mrs... its Cup Cake, are you decent? We have a bit of a situation on our hooves," Mrs Cake answered in a high pitched, and panicked tone.
Shaka nodded to Pumpkin and gestured towards the bed.
The mare dutifully ran over to the other side and hid herself away from sight while Shaka approached the door. After pulling it open he was greeted with the wild, nervous eyes of a frazzled Mrs Cake. Looking her up and down, Shaka immediately got a bad feeling, and the zebra steeled himself for any potential unpleasant news.
"What is it Cup Cake?" Shaka inquired.
"That gang. They showed up again. It was bad Shaka, really bad," Mrs Cake murmured.
Shaka put his hoof on the pony's shoulder and whispered in a low tone. "What exactly happened?"
"They..." Mrs Cake took a steadying breathe. "They took all the money in the cash register but even worse they took my son. They said that Pound Cake was there's, and that if we told the guard they would..."
The mare bit her lip, tears springing to her gaze.
"They would hurt him," Shaka reasoned.
"Worse," Cup Cake exclaimed.
Shaka shook his head. "That is unfortunate. I had hoped that they were smart enough to avoid confrontation."
"What do we do?" Mrs Cake murmured. "I can't just leave him there. He's my baby Shaka."
"Focus Cup Cake," Shaka declared, squeezing the mare's shoulders. "We aren't going to get him back by panicking. Tell me, how many were there?"
"Just three," Mrs Cake muttered, small tears dripping down her cheeks. "Two of them cleared out the store while the last one came up to the counter and drew a knife. He pointed it at Pound Cake and told him not to fight it."
"Good. Now, what else happened?" Shaka asked.
"They just left," Mrs Cake remarked. "Pound Cake didn't even look like he that scared. He was convinced that you would save him."
"And I will," Shaka declared. "Are they using the same hideout?"
Mrs Cake shrugged nervously. "I can't be certain but they certainly smelled like that crummy dive bar of theirs."
"Good. Now I want you to go downstairs, close the shop and wait for me to come back," Shaka exclaimed.
"You can't be serious. They had knives, and I think one of them even had a sword," Mrs Cake whispered, her eyes growing wide.
Shaka chuckled. "Don't you worry Cup Cake. I have a couple tricks up my metaphorical sleeves."
Mrs Cake shook her head, and took a step back, forcing Shaka's hooves to fall from her shoulders. "This isn't like before. They are serious this time, and they won't take no for an answer."
"And I'm serious when I say that it won't be a problem," Shaka retorted.
Mrs Cake remained in the doorway, a firm expression on her face. "I can't let you do this, Shaka. There has to be another way."
Shaka smiled, and ran a hoof down the mare's cheek. "Cup Cake. You know I wouldn't lie to you, right?"
Mrs Cake hesitated a moment before sighing. "No. I know you wouldn't."
"Then believe me when I say that I will not be harmed if I leave," Shaka pressed his hoof against her lips, cutting off Mrs Cake's response before it could be uttered. "And. I will return with your son, safe and sound."
"How?" Mrs Cake muttered.
"We zebras have many secrets," Shaka replied cryptically before leaning forward and planting his lips against Cup Cake's.
Then before she had a chance to recover from the sudden intimate moment, Shaka brushed past the mare and trotted over to the exit.
"Wait!" Mrs Cake shouted, running after him a blush still on her cheeks. "What do I do if you don't come back?"
"I will," Shaka declared.
The zebra then turned, and walked out the door, leaving Mrs Cake standing there, silent and stunned. Shaka didn't give the female a second thought however, as his mind was already running through the processes he would need to go through to activate his powers. Powers which were likely boosted considerably from his partial subjugation of almost the entire Cake family.
As he walked out into the back alley, Shaka paused to flex his forehoof while calling forth the deep well of energy located at the base of his soul. In response a flicker of green lightning crackled up the limb, seemingly empowering it and nearly doubling its muscle density. With a crack, he brought his hoof down hard against the ground, shattering cobblestone and sending shards of rock shooting in all directions.
"Well then. This should be interesting," Shaka remarked.
Pound Cake sat quietly on the dirty floor, right forehoof raised above his head, where it was handcuffed to a pole. The long silver cylinder had thankfully been cleaned recently, unlike the small stage located at the back of the grungy bar. Which was filled with nearly every single member of the gang that Pound Cake himself used to be a part of.
Including Buck Private, who was the only pony sitting in front of the stage, a drink in one hoof. "You know Pound, you really should be thanking us," he began, swirling the bourbon around in his cup.
"Oh really, and why is that?" Pound Cake deadpanned.
"We saved you from an abusive household," Buck Private retorted, downing his beverage before standing and trotting over to his captive.
"What are you talking about. No one there was abu-" was all Pound Cake could utter before a hoof cracked against his cheek.
"It's a real shame that your mother's pet zebra did this to you," Buck Private continued, rotating his hoof. "And to think she could have stopped it at any time, yet refused to do so."
Pound Cake spat a wad of blood on the floor and glared at the other stallion. "You're insane. No one would fall for such a story."
"Oh they will," Buck Private retorted, pounding a hoof into Pound Cake's cheek for a second time. "In fact when my father gets here with the guard you'll tell them this exact story."
"I'll never-"
The towering unicorn brought his hoof down again, knocking Pound Cake to the ground and causing a tooth to bounce across the stage.
"You will. The only question is how bad they will have treated you. After all, I'm not the one hurting you. They were," Buck Private retorted, leaning down and grinning in the other stallion's face.
"F-fuck you," Pound Cake muttered through a blood filled mouth.
"I should thank your family's pet zebra. He seems to have put some fire in your belly. As well as some really fatty foods," Buck Private snickered. "I mean damn Pound Cake. You always did have a fat ass but I bet you'd put my own whore of a mother to shame by now."
Pound Cake spat a wad of spit, blood and phlegm onto the stage. "You won't get away with it," Pound Cake exclaimed.
"Oh that's cute. Do you still think your boyfriend is going to save you? Face it Pound, that guy was a dumbass and the sooner you realize it the sooner you can get with a real stallion," Buck Private declared with a wide, confident smirk.
"A real stallion?" Pound Cake scoffed. "Shaka's cock makes yours look like a pencil worn down from a dozen years of schooling."
Buck Private's face contorted into a vicious scowl and he raised his forehoof once more. "I'll make you eat those words, slut."
Before he could exact his bloody vengeance, the door to the bar suddenly exploded inwards, the body of his bouncer flying through the air. The bulky earth pony didn't make it far before slamming into a table and hitting the ground hard. Instantly the small conversations and general chatter faded away, leaving only a pregnant pause as everyone stared at the entrance.
Where a monstrous zebra stood, his body rippling with muscle, and the occasional flicker of greenish lightning. Standing taller than even Buck Private himself, the creature was bigger than the largest earth pony sitting in the bar. Not only was he taller, wider, and more muscled, but the zebra also sported glowing emerald eyes, as well as what looked like black face paint resembling a skull.
"Who the fuck are you?" Buck Private shouted.
"Your worst nightmare," Shaka muttered, his voice so deep, and grating that it made all who heard it quail in fear.
"Yeah fucking right. Its that dumbfuck zebra. Get em boys!" Buck Private shouted.
For a moment it seemed like his order was going to go unanswered, then the collective throng of ponies glanced at one another. Having reminded themselves of their sheer numbers, the gang members collectively stood a little taller. They then reached for whatever weapon they had handy before charging Shaka as he strode into the bar.
The three sitting closest were the first to reach him, the two earth ponies and their pegasus friend meeting Shaka with only hoof and wit. The pegasus, predictably, was the fastest of the bunch though Shaka didn't flinch as he flew directly at the zebra, hoof raised. The towering mountain of muscle merely wore the same confident grin, unflinching until the very last second before impact..
Then he ducked, delivered a bone shattering punch to the pegasus' bread basket, and didn't even glance back to see if his opponent was down. Not like he needed to, as the winged stallion slammed into the wall and then slid to the ground, alive, but gasping desperately for breath.
This little display shook the earth pony's faith in their strategy, and for a moment they considered turning tail. Then they heard the valiant war cry that had wrung throughout the bar, and raised their hooves, confident in their actions.
Shaka, again, wasn't surprised, and merely rose up onto his back legs just as the first of his foes swung at him. Dipping to the right, Shaka jabbed the first stallion in the stomach before lurching back in order to dodge a left cross from his second opponent. Which opened that stallion up to a powerful strike to the elbow, breaking something in the limb and causing him to cry out in pain.
The first stallion's confidence was waning, but he didn't give up, feinting with his right before attempting to deliver a cross to Shaka's cheek. The blow never landed however, as Shaka pulled back, grabbed the other male's extended limb and threw him into his ally. Together the dou landed in an awkward heap, both attempting to disentangle themselves from one another at the same time.
Neither managed to do so before Shaka spun in place and bucked them into a booth with enough force to shatter the table therein. Bloody and broken, the pair groaned in pain but did not raise.
The next group of foes were smarter, and consisted of two unicorns wielding light handless daggers. The pair looked nearly identical, and Shaka knew immediately that they were twins, with both having the same special talent for levitation.
"It's self defence. Go wild Slice, and Dice," Buck Private shouted before sprinting out of the room.
"What do you say brother, should we toy with this one?" one of the twins remarked, weaving his dagger menacingly through the air.
The other smirked, and weaved his weapon through the trail of his sibling's, creating a constantly shifting figure eight.
"Nah," he replied with a chuckle. "I got a drink to get back to."
"Then let's skip the foreplay than," Shaka exclaimed, rising back up onto his back hooves.
"You heard him Slice," Dice declared.
"Let's get him, Dice," Slice replied.
The pair spread out from one another, their daggers constantly twisting and shifting in order to always stay in motion while defending their owners. Like two of vipers circling their prey, the stallions seemed intent on boxing Shaka into a corner before striking. The zebra however, wasn't about to let this happen, and before they could move into position, Shaka suddenly launched himself at Slice.
Floor boards shattered under the explosive force, and Slice could only gape in silent confusion as Shaka tackled him into an ill used slot machine. His dagger was immediately dropped, the unicorn's magic flickering away the second Shaka's shoulder hit his chest. The pony then lost consciousness when his face went through the screen, his horn somehow getting jammed up into the circuitry.
The ensuing electrocution left Shaka unharmed, as the zebra had already managed to step away from his foe. A foe which was now convulsing violently as his coat came alight, and the machine started to flicker.
"You son of a bitch!" shouted the remaining brother.
Shaka smirked as the now enraged unicorn sprinted directly at him, dagger flying overhead. The short, well maintained blade stabbed into the zebra's shoulder once, twice, then a third time, blood oozing from the wounds. If the injuries bothered Shaka, he didn't show it, as the stallion simply caught the weapon on the fourth downward stroke.
How you may be asking yourself? Well it's simple, he stuck out his hoof and let it slam sink deep into his flesh. Then before it could be pulled back, Shaka grabbed the weapon, ripped it from his body then bent it in half with his bare, bloody hooves.
"Oh fuck," was all the pony could mutter before a hoof slammed into his chin.
Launched several feet up by the blow, Dice didn't make it far before having his trajectory dramatically altered. For the moment after sending his foe into the air, Shaka then pivoted on a hoof and bucked the stallion clear across the room. Glass bottles and flimsy wooden shelves exploded, sending a river of brownish liquid cascading onto the floor.
"Down!" Buck shouted, the semi armor clad stallion having appeared in a doorway.
In response his remaining friends leapt to the ground a second before a loud twang filled the air. Shaka twitched his head back and to the side, his entire body lurching strangely in order to catch something between his teeth. Turning back to the gang members, Shaka revealed that within his mouth was the long shaft of a steel tipped bolt.
"What the fuck?" someone muttered.
Shaka bit down, shattering the wood before spitting the remnants onto the ground in a puddle.
"Fucking kill him already!" Buck Private shouted, looseing a bolt of magic at his foe.
Shaka backhooved the shimmering projectile out of the air and into the wooden floor where it turned into a shower of sparks. Though ineffective, the attack gave enough of a smoke screen to Buck's friends that Shaka was finally put on the back hoof.
Coming in from the right was an earth pony wearing a pair of steel shod shoes on his forelegs and a wicked glint in his eye. Striking fast, and without mercy, Shaka's newest foe delivered several rapid blows to the zebra's ribs, driving the wind from his lungs. Shaka stumbled backwards, and took a baseball bat to the knee, nearly breaking the limb in the process.
A pair of pegasi who held collapsible batons then rushed in, slamming their weapons against Shaka's shoulders and back. Forced to cover his head with his forehooves, Shaka bought him only a few moments to think of a way out.
Thankfully that was all he needed.
As the next series of blows were coming, Shaka extended his forehooves and wrapped them around his foe's. He then twisted, shattering their forelegs, before pulling them into a brutal double headbutt that knocked one out and left the other reeling. Shaka's attention shifted before he could deliver the knockout blow to the other however, as the slim baseball bat wielding stallion had aimed at the back of Shaka's already injured knee.
This time he didn't hit his target however, as Shaka shattered his weapon with a powerful kick from one of his back legs. With his foe reeling from the sudden loss of his weapon, Shaka turned towards the earth pony who was even now bearing down on him. Right cross, left cross, uppercut, the earth pony continued to keep Shaka on the ropes, yet few of his strikes were landing.
Without the distraction, he simply didn't have the strength or speed to match the zebra, who suddenly blocked two of his blows with a pair of strikes. Hoof met hoof with enough force to send dust and debris into the air. Steel cracked, and hooves shattered, the earth pony immediately launched onto his back where he lay screaming and cradling his ruined limbs.
Seeing that his foe was down, Shaka spun towards the bat wielding stallion, though the male had already tossed aside the useless weapon.
"I give up!" He shouted, raising his forehooves over his head.
Shaka chuckled. "Your smarter than you look."
"I uh, don't suppose I can just leave then eh?" asked the other stallion.
Shaka nodded, and waved towards the scattering of ponies laying on the ground in various states of injury. "You and the rest of your friends may leave. Though I should warn you that if you decide to tell the guard about what happened here, I will find you and I will do terrible things to you."
Shaka stared out over the small crowd of ponies with an intense, powerful glare.
"Deal?" He asked.
For a moment there was silence, then a nod, followed by a muttered affirmation which quickly became a cacophony of agreement. As the last stallion present voiced his acceptance, a flash of green filled the bar, and every pony present gained a vacant look. They then robotically trotted towards the exit, picking up their fallen friends and departing in an orderly fashion.
All save for Pound Cake who was still handcuffed to the striper pole, a wide, confused yet elated expression on his face.
"How did you do that?" Pound Cake muttered.
"I'll tell you when we get home," Shaka replied, raising an eyebrow. "Right now I got a scared little colt to put in his place."
The sound of clanking footsteps drew their attention towards the back room where a now fully armed and armored Buck Private stood. Outfitted with full plate mail, and wielding a longsword in his magical aura, the unicorn scowled at Shaka with naked scorn.
"I don't know what you've done to my ponies, but after I cut your head from your shoulders, I will find out," Buck declared before pulling the grille down with a grim clank.
"You will try," Shaka replied, stepping away from the stage.
"What are you doing? That's royal guard armor. You can't beat that!" Pound Cake hissed.
"Oh Pound Cake," Shaka turned and flashed Pound Cake a smirk. "Don't you get it by now? I never turn tail."
Buck Private lurched forward, an indignant cry of rage on his lips as he brought his sword down hard at Shaka's head. The strike was swift, and strong, but Shaka was faster still, leaping to the left, narrowly avoiding the attack. So close was the blade that Shaka could hear the dull whoosh as the weapon streaked past him and nearly hit the ground. To Shaka it was clear that the longsword was clearly too heavy for the other male, as he only just barely kept it from slipping from his grasp.
With such a wide opening, Shaka was able to repeatedly slam his hooves against the pony's shoulder and side. Sure enough the strikes, though strong, did nothing, having been dissipated by the enchantments and stopping Buck from feeling them. There was only the soft dinging as Shaka's powerful hooves struck metal and Buck Private's heavy breathing as he hefted his blade.
With a grunt, the unicorn swung the sword horizontally in front of him, attempting to decapitate the zebra in a single stroke. Shaka was faster still, though he did lose an inch of hair in the process. Ignoring the damage to his glorious mane, Shaka delivered several fast, hard blows to the pony's midsection.
Again, this did little, save for making Buck backpedal as he brought the heavy sword to bear once more. A pulse of magic and a grunt of exertion signalled another swiped, this time sweeping diagonally from the upper right. The swiftnes of the strike meant that Shaka had mere moments to roll out of the way, once again narrowly avoiding what was likely a killing blow.
This short song and dance repeated itself over a dozen times, with each swipe being met with a flurry of fast, yet ultimately useless blows. Even after Shaka switched to striking the pony's face and neck, his attacks did nothing but cause the armor's enchantments to flare. Yet despite Buck Private's apparent invulnerability, it was clear that he was beginning to slow while Shaka was not.
"Just die already!" Buck shouted as he brought his sword down in what he hoped would be the final blow.
In a way he was right, as Shaka had baited him into overcommitting and in the process burying his sword not into the zebra's flesh, but the ground. Wood parted, and the weapon was swiftly stuck fast, the unicorn's vain attempt to remove it doing nothing. Shaka didn't allow him to try this for long however, as he put his shoulder down and tackled the pony over the bar and against the ground.
Wild mana bolts shot from the unicorn's horn, each one splashing harmless against the ceiling and leaving behind a small scorch mark. As he fired off as much magic as he could muster, Buck also attempted to punch, kick and even headbutt his foe. The stallion's movements were weak, and easy to predict however, and soon Shaka had the other male's forelimbs pinned.
"Get off of me you smelly zebra. Do you know who my father is?" Buck spat, twisting and thrashing beneath Shaka's grip.
"I know and I don't care," Shaka retorted.
"Well then I guess you know that you'll be seeing the inside of a cell within a week. The trial will be short once they hear about what happened here after all," Buck spat.
"Yeah I'm sure everyone will love to hear about how one zebra beat up your entire gang and even bested you while you were wearing daddy's armor," Shaka retorted, his lips curling into a vindictive sneer.
Buck was silent beneath his helmet.
"Go on. Tell me how you are going to lie about it. That I had a sword, or perhaps that there were a dozen of me. I'm sure Pound Cake will back you up," Shaka exclaimed, glancing back to the demure male.
Who chuckled. "Oh yeah totally. You definitely didn't get your ass whooped by one super hot zebra."
"N-no wait. How about we come to some kind of arrangement, huh?" Buck quickly interjected. "I'll give you back Pound Cake, and we can just pretend this entire thing didn't happen."
"Not good enough," Shaka retorted, his gaze narrowing. "I will take Pound Cake back, you will also not bother the Cake family ever again and..."
Shaka hummed and glanced back at Pound Cake. "What else do you think I should demand?"
"Oh you should make him agree to let anyone who asks to fuck him in the ass," Pound Cake replied.
"Oh now that's good. What he said," Shaka replied.
"What? I'd never..." Buck chuckled. "Yeah sure, whatever. I totally promise."
Shaka extended a hoof. "Do we have a deal then?"
Buck snorted, and bumped his hoof against Shaka's. "Yeah sure man."
Shaka stood up and took a step back, a wide smile on his face. "It's a deal then."
Buck chuckled as he began to stand up. "Whatever dude it's not like I'm actually going to-"
A green flash cut off Buck Private's response, and his expression quickly became utterly neutral.
"It was a pleasure doing business with you," Shaka declared.
Pound Cake raised an eyebrow, and glanced expectantly up at Shaka as the zebra approached him. "Your not secretly a changeling or something, right?"
Shaka stopped for a moment before erupting with laughter. "No, nothing like that. Voodoo magic has many uses, and has inspired other races to attempt to replicate our power."
"Huh," Pound Cake muttered.
Shaka struck the pole with enough force to shatter it in the center, allowing the zebra to pull the handcuff from it. He then gripped the double rings tightly in his hooves before slowly, and carefully pulling them apart. The metal groaned briefly before snapping, and finally coming apart at the bolts, a spring shooting off into the distance.
"T-thanks," Pound Cake muttered, rubbing his hoof. "I'm not sure I'm a fan of being chained up by anyone that isn't you."
Shaka smiled and leaned close, planting a brief but passionate kiss on the other stallion's lips. "Good," Shaka whispered huskily. "Because from now on you are all mine."
Pound Cake shuddered. "Stars above, that feels good to hear."
Shaka's smile grew, and he gestured towards the door. "Come on. Let's go home and celebrate our victory."
"What about your shoulder?" Pound Cake asked, his statement turning into a question the second he noticed that the wounds were completely healed.
"A bit of zebra magic. In about twenty minutes I'll be in for a world of hurt though," Shaka replied.
"Oh you poor thing. We should hurry home," Pound Cake exclaimed.
"That we should," Shaka agreed. |
The guest | 8 | "Woah are you alright there Shaka?" Pound Cake asked, the stallion hesitantly trotting towards the zebra.
Who stumbled briefly before catching himself and holding out a hoof. "No, I'm fine. That whole debacle just took a bit more out of me then I had first anticipated," he retorted, biting his lip to subdue a grunt of pain. "Damn that stings."
"Is there anything I can do?" Pound Cake asked, blushing slightly.
Shaka chuckled and shook his head. "No no. At least not yet anyway."
"Are you certain? Because at this point I'm fairly certain I owe you my life," Pound Cake exclaimed.
"That you do, and you will have a chance to pay your debt shortly. Just give me a moment," Shaka replied.
Pound Cake stood nervously near the bottom of the stairs, furtive glances getting cast this way and that. Shaka's basement abode looked the same as it usually did, with only a few potions, and a bag of ingredients noticeably absent. Other than that, a small altar covered in mostly unlit candles stood out of place near the center of the room.
Shaka breathed deeply, and rose to his full, albeit slightly reduced, height. Without the adrenaline of the fight, or the necessity to empower himself, the zebra's body was now its usual size and width. Or close to it anyway, as Shaka was still slightly taller than normal, with a bit more density around his shoulders and midsection.
"Did you tell your mother what happened?" Shaka asked.
Pound Cake nodded dutifully. "I informed her that you dealt with them yourself, and that everything was okay now."
"And?" Shaka prompted.
"And that you needed me to help you recover, and for them to give us some space for the night. Just like you asked," Pound Cake replied.
Shaka nodded slowly. "Excellent work."
"So what exactly do you need help with anyway? I don't see any injuries," Pound Cake remarked, inspecting the zebra's body carefully.
"I more so need you to pay me back for what I've done," Shaka exclaimed.
"Anything," Pound Cake immediately exclaimed, stepping close to the stallion.
Shaka smiled. "That's what I like to hear. Though I warn you, this will be a big step in our relationship."
"Our relationship?" Pound Cake gasped. "So you mean we are going to be boyfriends?"
"In a way we will," Shaka replied. "And in a way we will become something so much more."
"What do you mean?" Pound Cake asked, cocking his head.
"There is a ritual, one that binds you to me," Shaka began, rising up and making his way over to the altar. "It is a zebran tradition done when one owes another a life debt."
"What do I have to do?" Pound Cake offered.
"You just need to stand next to me and repeat what I say. Though I warn you this is a very serious event. One I cannot force you into," Shaka exclaimed.
Pound Cake nodded eagerly. "I trust you Shaka."
"Good," Shaka declared as he lit the last of the candles and took his position next to the other stallion. "Now then, take my hoof."
Pound Cake immediately complied, placing his much smaller hoof in Shaka's grasp.
"Good, now wait a moment," Shaka warned.
The zebra didn't wait for a response, and closed his eyes before bringing forth a surge of greenish energy. This ethereal magic took the form of an emerald smog which gathered around their hooves and slowly blanketed the floor around them. As Pound Cake was marveling at the strange smoke, the stallion felt his hoof start to grow heavy, the limb seemingly sticking fast to Shaka's.
"You have lost your way, son of Cake," Shaka exclaimed in a deep, baritone voice. "You have been left without destiny, or companions, but all that shall soon change."
Pound Cake remained silent, his gaze fixing on Shaka's glowing green eyes.
"When this ritual is complete you will know what you were meant to do. You will know your place in this world, and you will have gained a companion who will be with you for the rest of your life," Shaka declared.
"Yes, yes!" Pound Cake eagerly agreed.
"You have already submitted yourself to me, but now it is time for you to become mine in both word and blood," Shaka declared, his gaze intensifying. "Are you ready to truly give yourself to me?"
Pound Cake nodded without hesitation.
"Then repeat after me," Shaka cleared his throat. "I take you, Shaka, as my lord and master."
"I take you, Shaka, as my lord and master," Pound Cake declared.
"I swear to accept all commands without question or hesitation," Shaka continued.
"I swear to accept all commands without question or hesitation," Pound Cake repeated.
"I swear to serve until my dying day, and give everything I have to my new master," Shak pressed.
"I swear to serve until my dying day, and give everything I have to my new master," Pound Cake exclaimed, his eyes glowing faintly with the same ethereal energy that Shaka's did.
"On my honor, and my blood, do I assert that all I say is true, and that none will ever come before you," Shaka exclaimed, his voice wavering slightly as the energy grew stronger, and the pivotal point arrived.
His worries proved to be unfounded as Pound Cake immediately repeated the words. "On my honor, and my blood, do I assert that all I say is true, and that none will ever come before you."
"Then it is done," Shaka declared.
Pound Cake's eyes opened wide as a surge of greenish electricity traveled up Shaka's hoof, and continued into Pound Cake's body. There it spread out, shimmering across the pony's fur before gathering behind his eyes and briefly making them glow brightly. After a moment of quiet Pound Cake smiled blissfully, his entire body relaxing even as it began to contort and shift.
Then his already prodigious posterior grew even larger, as did his hips as well as his lips. The rest of his body narrowed, becoming more lithe and feminine, until the pony looked more like a mare then a stallion. After his hair had finished growing an extra few inches, Pound Cake's changes came to an abrupt stop, and he stood there in silence.
"How do you feel?" Shaka asked.
"Amazing," Pound Cake whispered, his voice having risen several octaves. "I feel like I've become the person I was always meant to be and it is all because of you, my master."
Shaka smiled. "I am glad to hear it. You are even more beautiful than before."
"You flatter me," Pound Cake muttered, glancing away and batting his long eyelashes.
"What about you, my master? You look... taller," Pound Cake remarked.
"Are you sure it's not just you having become shorter?" Shaka retorted.
Pound Cake giggled. "That too, but you really do look bigger."
Shak straightened his spine, and rose to his new maximum height, taking a moment to flex each of his limbs in turn. Each one of which was now far larger, and more powerful, rivalling even his overcharged form employed when saving Pound Cake. Though not quite that big, his new body took no effort to maintain, nor did it draw on his reserves of stolen energy.
With Pound Cake's soul now made thrall to his will Shaka had gained an incredible boost, but not only to his physique. Already the stallion could feel that his senses had become more acute, his mind sharper, and his reflexes faster. More than that, he now also had more magic at his beck and call then at any point in his entire life.
"You're huge," Pound Cake muttered, briefly biting his lip. "I wonder if the rest of you gained a few inches as well."
Shaka chuckled. "Oh you'll find out soon enough, though now that I've brought you fully into the fold I should also tell you the rest of my plans."
"If you deem it necessary, my master," Pound Cake humbly replied, bowing his head.
"I do," Shaka replied, the zebra finally releasing Pound Cake's hoof and making his way over to his bed where he lay on his side. "Before we get to that I must inform you of your new responsibilities, and commands you must follow."
"Forgive my impudence master, but does it have to do with my sleeping arrangements? Because I would very much enjoy becoming your nightly cock sleeve," Pound Cake purred.
"Not yet," Shaka replied, patting the empty spot on the bed.
Pound Cake pouted, but ultimately laid next to the other stallion. "Oh pooh," he muttered.
"When the time comes you will service my hourly, spend your nights with my cock inside of you, and will submit yourself to my every desire," Shaka whispered into Pound Cake's ear.
"How can I help make this a reality?" Pound Cake eagerly inquired.
"Restrain yourself, my pet. I will explain all in due time," Shaka warned.
Pound Cake wilted, nodding meekly. "My apologies, master."
Shaka waved a dismissive hoof. "For now you will warm my bed when I ask, and when alone you will refer to me as master. When around others, including your family you will continue to speak to me casually, while also hiding your new feminine physique."
"But I like being your mare," Pound Cake whined.
"And soon you will be able to do just that day and night, but first I must complete my quest," Shaka exclaimed.
"How may I serve?" Pound Cake asked, bowing his head once more.
"You will aid me in claiming your sister and mother," Shaka declared.
Pound Cake's jaw hung low, and for a single terrible instant Shaka wondered if the ritual had failed, then the demure stallion grinned from ear to ear.
"Oh that is just lovely," Pound Cake purred. "I yearn to bring others into the fold so that they too may know your glory."
Shaka grinned, and patted the other stallion on the head. "Good answer, my pet."
Pound Cake shuddered in ecstasy, his tiny, nublike cock twitching excitedly.
"To do so you will first aid in bringing your twin to my side after which you will watch as I put a whole litter of foals into her belly," Shaka declared.
"I'm already jealous," Pound Cake muttered, a hoof rubbing his stomach in a slow, sensual circle.
Shaka chuckled. "Maybe in time, and after a few alterations you will have the same honor, but that is not now."
"I would relish the opportunity to serve you in such a matter," Pound Cake reverently declared.
"First we must end the reign of your wretched father, though again, that too will come with time," Shaka declared, leaning over and planting a light kiss on Pound Cake's lips. "First we must celebrate your new position, and teach that slutty body of yours what its new purpose is."
"Oh yes master. I yearn to be filled with your magnificence once more," Pound Cake muttered.
"Magnificence, that's new," Shaka remarked with a snicker.
"Well I mean. You can only say dick so many times before it doesn't even sound like a word anymore," Pound Cake replied, the stallion barely withholding a giggle of his own.
"Very true, and that was very cute, just like you," Shaka exclaimed.
"Thank you master," Pound Cake purred.
"Now lay down and put those knees up around your ears," Shaka barked, rising up from the bed.
"Yes master," Pound Cake eagerly replied.
The stallion then deftly twisted his body so his back legs were on either side of his head, and his forehooves held his butt up into the air. Giving Shaka a clear view of the feminine stallion's backside, and his well trained hole that was just sitting there, waiting for him. Standing atop the end of the bed and looking down at the pony granted the zebra a sense of pride and accomplishment he had rarely ever felt before.
He could demand that Pound Cake do all the work and bounce on his drooling member for hours and his new pet do just that. If Shaka told Pound Cake to beg like a dog, and only speak in barks or whines Pound Cake would comply without question. Any demand large or small would be met with the same unthinking enthusiasm and eager desire to please Shaka.
This thought coupled with the view made Shaka's heart swell with joy, and his cock with blood. Allowing the pillar of stallion meat to reach new, hitherto unprecedented lengths as it topped out at just over a full foot and a half long. Not only that but it was thicker and more musky than ever, quickly filling Pound Cake's nostrils as it bobbed beneath Shaka's torso.
"You are so big," Pound Cake murmured reverently.
"Still think you can take it?" Shaka replied, stepping over the stallion and allowing his cock to rest between Pound Cake's ass cheeks.
"If not then feel free to fuck me until you've rearranged my insides to your liking," Pound Cake exclaimed.
Shaka grinned as he dragged his cock back and forth across Pound Cake's much smaller set of privates. There was something strangely pleasant about this action, as it felt almost like Shaka was covering the other stallion's scent with his own. No longer would the feminine male be able to claim ownership of anything, as he was now just an object for Shaka to use in satiating his lust.
"That's what I like to hear, my pet," Shaka muttered.
"My body is yours after all. Use it as much as you would like and know that I will revel in each moment spent with your cock inside of me," Pound Cake murmured, the demure stallion twitching in barely contained excitement.
"Mmm better," Shaka remarked, the zebra slipping into a better position with his forehooves above Pound Cake's head, utterly dominating the smaller male.
Pound Cake shuddered in pleasure as his master draped his massive form across Pound Cake's much smaller body. That wasn't the only thing he enjoyed about it however, as this new position put the tip of Shaka's cock right near Pound Cake's face. Inadvertently forcing the submissive slut to inhale a potent whiff of the zebra's scent and turning him on even more.
"Well, go on," Shaka encouraged. "I like where you were going with that and want to hear more begging. I must test how bad you want it after all."
"Oh yes master," Pound Cake eagerly replied. "There is nothing I want more in this world than to feel you inside of me. The way you stretch my slutty little hole makes me feel complete. Every moment without your massive, throbbing cock filling me to my limit is agony and I would do anything for you to fuck me even a single time."
"Anything?" Shaka asked, punctuating his question with a thrust of his hips that pressed his cock briefly against Pound Cake's lips.
"Oh anything," Pound Cake quickly exclaimed. "I would sell everything I own and give all the money to you. I would spend days begging and worshipping the ground you walk on, all just to receive another load of your precious cum inside one of my slutty holes."
Shaka grinned from ear to ear as he shifted his weight back and forth, noting the small, almost imperceptible moans of pleasure that slipped from Pound Cake's lips.
"What a perfect pet you've become," cooed the zebra. "Such a perfect, submissive and breedable little slut."
Pound Cake gasped as Shaka dragged his monstrous cock against the other stallion's ass. "Oh yes, breed me, please," Pound Cake whispered. "I yearn to feel your cum fill my belly."
"Soon," Shaka promised in a low tone. "Now prepare yourself, for your wish is about to be granted."
The zebra didn't wait for an affirmation from his partner before drawing his hips back and dragging his dick across Pound Cake's body. With his cock head pressed against the demure stallion's hole, Shaka paused for just a moment to appreciate the moment. He was standing atop the first of three hills, and now it was time to enjoy the fruits of his labor and truly take Pound Cake as his pet.
Then with a thrust, Shaka spread Pound Cake's ass wide, forcing a shocked gasp from the young stallion's lips. A gasp which swiftly became a long, high pitched whiny of pleasure as Shaka slowly sunk inside of Pound Cake's hole. Which somehow managed to stretch around the enormous width of Shaka's penis with surprising ease.
Though slow going, Pound Cake kept his hole loose and relaxed as he felt his orifice get stretched far beyond what should be possible. Near the thickness of a pony's hoof, Shaka's cock pushed even Pound Cake's inner size queen to his absolute limit. Nothing of such impressive girth had ever entered him before, and though his partner's size was titanic Pound Cake felt no pain.
There was only the incredible ecstasy of complete submission, and the delicious sensation of having his hole ruined by fat zebra cock. Pound Cake knew in that moment that there was absolutely no way that any other potential partner would ever be able to satisfy him. No stallion could hope to reach the zebra's length, nor rival his incredible girth, narrowing down the list of potential partners to just one.
Only Shaka could ever make him feel this good again, a thought which may have made the old version of himself scared or at least hesitant. Not anymore however, now Pound Cake only felt an incredible sense of pride, and utter contentment as he served his zebra master. Damn whatever his cutie mark was, Pound Cake knew that he was destined to be exactly where he was at that very moment.
His ass up into the air, his body folded inward so as to better service the stallion who had claimed him, body and soul.
Shaka snorted, interrupting Pound Cake's silent epiphany with a thunderous thrust of his hips. The slow stretching, and glacial pace was forgotten in an instant, forcing another girly moan to spill unbidden from Pound Cake's lips. It also drew the femine stallion's attention towards his stomach and the massive bulge visible in his torso.
Each bump, and vein of the first three inches of Shaka's cock could be seen clear as day through Pound Cake's belly. Already that bump was larger than Pound Cake's soft, nublike cock, dwarfing it in every single metric imaginable. It was yet another reminder that Pound Cake was barely even a stallion anymore, his entire body having been altered to better serve Shaka's whims.
The zebra didn't consider any such high concept notions, and merely grunted like an animal as he shoved his way deeper. Pound Cake was tight, exceptionally so, yet already he was beginning to loosen up as Shaka ruined his tender boy pussy. Each push stretched another part of Pound Cake, further making him into Shaka's perfect slut.
Hot air burst from Shaka's nostrils like twin jets of steam, the zebra barely able to contain his runaway lust. With new growth came new nerves, new muscles all of which had yet to experience the pleasure of insertion. In some small way Shaka was a virgin all over again, and now, like before, he felt an insatiable urge to bury himself in his partner.
This urge soon grew so strong that the zebra threw caution to the wind and flexed his new muscles. He then slammed himself downwards with all the force he could muster, ramming Pound Cake's ass with the strength of a hammer blow. Pound Cake responded to receiving an almost full foot of zebra dick rammed himself of him by gasping in shock.
Then his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and the young stallion came as hard as his tiny cock was able. Thin, watery ropes of jizz splashed against his face as the pony's body trembled in a full body orgasm. Despite the sheer power of the ejaculation, Pound Cake continued to hold his legs in position, unwilling to fail his master.
"S-s-sorry," Pound Cake stuttered through a trembling jaw. "I couldn't s-s-top it."
"Worry not my pet. For this is the one time I will allow you to cum as much as you like," Shaka replied, pausing his advance for a moment.
"Thank youuuu!" Pound Cake cried as he came even harder than before.
Shaka didn't remain motionless for long, and quickly returned to thrusting forward, his every push causing another jet of milky jizz to shoot from Pound Cake's cock. The zebra continued to milk the poor girly male for everything he had, racking his mind with more pleasure than Pound Cake had ever felt before. Leaving him barely able to think of anything save for his master's perfect cock, and the almost spiritual relief he now felt.
Only when Shaka's medial ring slammed against Pound Cake's asshole did the pony finally stop cumming. Laying twisted into a pretzel, Pound Cake gazed in wonder at the bump which had traveled almost all the way up to his ribs. There was little doubt in his mind that his organs really had been rearranged into a new, and altogether permanent position.
All to make him a better fuck pet for Shaka to satiate his lust with.
With a growl, Shaka pushed even harder, and for a single horrifying instant, Pound Cake was certain his body wouldn't be able to take it. Then with a soft slurp, his ass stretched even wider still, somehow managing to defy biology to take something it shouldn't physically be able to. Again there was no pain, only the incredible, mind bending pleasure of being stretched to his utter limits.
Though his body wanted to orgasm, Pound Cake found himself unable to do anything but twitch and moan. Shaka however, had to bite down on his lip in order to stop himself from finishing before he could even get balls deep. Thankfully that feeling passed quickly, and soon Shaka was certain that he could last long enough to at least get a good rutting in before he blew his top.
Shaka grunted, and after shifting his hooves back into the position they had just slipped out of, thrusted once more. This time he didn't stop, nor did he slow, his hips slamming into Pound Cake's plush flanks until at long last he was as deep as he could go. The feeling of utter contentment didn't last long, though while it lasted, Shaka glanced down at his pet.
Pound Cake's eyes were glazed, his long mane frazzled, and sticking up at odd, random angles. His tongue hung from his mouth, and his fur was matted due to cum as well as the sweat pouring down his body. His slim, petite stomach was marred by a large, noticeable bulge that ended right under his ribs, dwarfing the pony's cock by several orders of magnitude.
Breathing deeply, Shaka reveled in the taste of victory, as well as the incredibly pleasurable sensations coursing up his shaft. His newest sex slave was tight, incredibly so, yet despite it feeling almost like he had put his dick in a vice, Shaka couldn't complain. For already Pound Cake was beginning to relax, the pony's muscles clenching and unclenching in a sporadic attempt to milk the zebra's dick.
"I'm going to enjoy this," Shaka muttered to himself.
Before his partner could even regain his bearings, Shaka drew his hips back and slammed forward once more. This motion was repeated over and over again, his pace slow, yet steady as Pound Cake's hole stretched around his length. Each time their hips connected Shaka could feel the desperate hold Pound Cake had on him decrease.
Seconds turned to minutes as Shaka's hips slowly picked up pace, and he finally finished pushing Pound Cake's organs around with his dick. During this time the demure stallion came nearly constantly, pausing only just long enough to catch his breath and wait off the refractory period to pass. Rather than be annoyed, Shaka found himself grinning from ear to ear as Pound Cake came for the sixth time in less than an hour.
Though the young pony tried to look up at his master with longing, lusty eyes, Pound Cake's gaze often fell back to his stomach. Where he watched the enormous indent appear, then disappear at a slowly increasing pace. Seemingly hypnotized by the back and forth, Pound Cake didn't even notice Shaka shifting his hips around until it was too late.
A snort, accompanied by a grunt of exertion was all the warning Pound Cake got before he found his ass yanked straight up into the air. Though this forced the pony's neck into an odd angle, Pound Cake didn't care, and moaned whorishly as he was fucked into the bed. Strange angle or not, this direction seemed specifically designed to ruthlessly assault his prostate which Pound Cake loved every second of.
"Holy fuuuck," Pound Cake muttered.
Shaka merely grunted as he started to increase his pace, as both he and his partner adjusted to the increased leverage the zebra had. Pound Cake wrapped his hooves as best as he could around Shaka's torso, while the more dominant male shifted his own hooves slightly. In seconds they had both reached a perfect spot that made everything feel that much better for the both of them.
After that it wasn't long until Shaka's hips were a blur, his pace picking up to the point that Pound Cake could just barely hold on. To the submissive pony it was like he was clinging to an enormous muscular rock while being battered by a veritable ocean of pleasure. Shaka meanwhile was enjoying the best goddamn hole he had ever fucked in his life, and could already feel his orgasm looming.
He wasn't going to let himself be paranoid about holding it off for long however, and focused merely on enjoying himself. From Pound Cake's cute moans, to the velvety embrace of his tight yet now welcoming hole, it was perfect. Even the faintly sweet scent of his lover smelt good to the zebra, who grinned wide, his stoicism melting away at least temporarily.
It wasn't long before Shaka was snorting like a bull in heat, his enormous balls slapping Pound Cake's ass with enough force to be audible over their moans. The pleasure peaking until the entire world fell away into nothing, leaving only Shaka, and his newest pet alone. Only the ecstasy of sexual dominance, and the flesh remained on the zebra's mind.
Then, just as Pound Cake was coming down from his tenth orgasm of the night, Shaka could feel his first slowly arrive. Though not nearly as quick as his partner's, Shaka's orgasm arrived like a freight train overladen with goods. First his balls swelled, seed building for the coming inevitable explosion.
As he felt his cock begin to twitch and his entire body tense, Shaka thrust his hips forward one final time. The zebra used every last bit of strength he had to ensure that each throbbing millimeter of dick was inside his sex slave. Now kneeling on the bed, Shaka looked down to find that Pound Cake all but curled into a ball, all four hooves wrapped tight around his master's torso.
Shaka growled animalistically as he emptied his balls into Pound Cake's body, the head of his cock flaring wide. The pony's already ruined hole somehow managed to stretch even further in order to accommodate the massive flare. Not only that but his stomach also started to balloon soon after Shaka's orgasm had begun to pour inside of him.
Though struggling to even stay conscious, Pound Cake counted each spurt of jizz that erupted into his guts. Four, ten, fifteen, thirty. It seemed to go on and on forever, until at long last Pound Cake lost track at fifty.
Lost in a blissful state so powerful that Pound Cake was certain he was in heaven, it was left to Shaka to watch as the pony's stomach grew. And grow it did, becoming so large that even the massive indent of Shaka's cock vanished amidst the seemingly endless torrent. It was not, however, infinite, and soon Shaka released a long, shuddering sigh of relief as his body started to relax.
Glancing down once more, the zebra was amused to find that partner had regained at least some of his senses. Pound Cake grinned drunkenly, his forehooves drawing tiny circles on Shaka's back as the last few spurts of cum erupted into his belly.
"Have fun?" Shaka asked.
"I fucking loved it," Pound Cake slurred.
"I knew you would, though I admit there is one thing I am surprised about," Shaka remarked.
Pound Cake blinked. "Oh, and what's that?"
"That you took it all," Shaka exclaimed, tapping Pound Cake's cum filled belly.
Pound Cake's eyes widened as he stared down on his deformed torso which sloshed with each subtle movement.
"Wow," muttered the pony. "I'm kind of amazed as well. Yet even still, I know I can take more."
"Are you sure? You look damn near ready to pop out a foal," Shaka teased.
"My purpose is to serve you with my body, and in order to do so I must be able to take more than just one measly load," Pound Cake exclaimed, fixing Shaka with a determined stare. "I'm ready for another."
Shaka raised an eyebrow. "Are you certain, my pet?"
"I am," Pound Cake declared.
"I was going to give you a moment to expel that first load before launching into round two, but if your ready then we can continue," Shaka remarked.
"Yes please!" Pound Cake eagerly stated. "I love feeling your heavy, potent load swirling inside me."
Shaka chuckled. "Let us see how much you can take then," Shaka replied.
"I won't let you down, master!" Pound Cake replied.
Shaka hummed an upbeat song he had heard a passing musician play, a forehoof running through his mane. The male paused, twisting his head this way and then that, peering intently at his reflection.
"Still a bit disheveled," he muttered to himself. "Ahh nothing I can do about that without a shower."
The zebra grabbed a comb and fixed a few stray hairs sticking out at odd angles before turning his attention downwards. After correcting a few odd patches of unkept fur, Shaka smiled at his reflection and put the brush away.
"What do you think, Pound Cake?" Shaka asked, turning back to the bed.
Or at least it looked like a bed, as it was now completely covered in cum, as well as a single occupant. One who had a stomach so bloated with zebra jizz that he appeared pregnant with triplets and ready to burst. His fur was completely matted, his mane flat, and not even his cutie mark was visible due to the sheer amount of seed covering his form.
Cracking an eye open, the pony turned to Shaka and glanced over at him for a second before smiling.
"Ya look great master," Pound Cake muttered, his voice cracked and hoarse from all the hours he had spent getting throat fucked the night before.
"Thank you, my pet. I certainly feel fantastic," Shaka declared.
"Dead sexy," Pound Cake remarked.
Shaka chuckled. "You don't look half bad yourself, though I don't think your mother would agree."
"I'll clean up. Don't worry," Pound Cake murmured.
"See to it that you do. I can handle opening the shop just fine but your family is going to become inquisitive when you don't make it for breakfast," Shaka replied.
"Just a second," Pound Cake muttered.
Shaka turned away and began to walk to the exit, though he didn't make it far before a girly scream stopped him in his tracks.
"Oh fuuuuck," Pound Cake cursed before tumbling over the edge of the bed.
Shaka glanced back just in time to see the pony land on his stomach and cause a massive jet of zebra jizz to erupt from his ass.
"By the spirits," Shaka cursed. "That is going to take forever to clean." |
The guest | 9 | Shaka wiped his hooves off on a nearby dish rag, removing the flour which clung to his limbs. With that done he looked around the kitchen, his gaze going from one workstation to the next. Each one was clean, and orderly, ingredients and toppings set out, ready to be used the moment they were needed.
With all that complete Shaka nodded confidently to himself, and was about to head upstairs when he heard a door open. Turning to the back exit he saw Pound Cake slip inside the bakery, a nervous smile on his feminine face. The sight was an unpleasant one in Shaka's opinion, given that the other male had hidden his more attractive features. For example, his hair had been tied back so it didn't look quite as long, and Pound Cake had even changed how he walked to ensure his flank bounced less.
"All cleaned up I see," Shaka remarked.
Pound Cake nodded submissively. "It is. Though it took a bit to clean your sheets."
Shaka chuckled. "That's fine. We have all the time in the world to deal with such small issues."
"That's good to hear, my master. Are you all done here?" Pound Cake inquired as he looked around.
"I am," Shaka replied, gesturing to the stairs. "Please, join me for breakfast."
"With pleasure," Pound Cake replied.
The feminine stallion took the lead, enjoying the fact that he could let his body jiggle and bounce the way it normally would. The jog up the two small flights of stairs was short, yet was still long enough to make Shaka begin to grow hard once more. All he had to do was reach out and take the other male and he could satisfy that lust, though he refrained from doing so.
Shaka had work to do, and others to bring under his sway, after all.
As they neared the entrance to the family's private abode, Shaka took the lead, striding confidently into the room. There he looked around to find a slightly bored, and tired looking Pumpkin Cake sitting alone at the table. A single bowl had been set out and filled with cereal which the lone pony poked at as Shaka entered.
"Oh Shaka!" Pumpkin muttered, hastily chewing and swallowing her food. "Are you here alone or is... ah there's my brother."
"Try to seem at least a little happy to see me," Pound Cake remarked as he walked over to the fridge and pulled it open.
"It's not like that. I was just hoping that..." Pumpkin Cake bit her lip as she glanced furtivly at Shaka. "Nevermind. Its nothing."
Shaka smiled as he sat next to the mare, immediately leaning to the side and stealing a kiss the second Pound Cake looked away. Not like he needed to hide his relationship from the other stallion given everything, but Pumpkin didn't need to know that. Either way she didn't seem to care and eagerly indulged in the physical affection, hooves caressing and touching Shaka's side.
Then they parted, and Shaka smiled faintly, a hoof reaching down to squeeze her ass. "It's good to see you," he whispered.
"It's good to see you too, Shaka. I'm glad you made it out of there safe and sound," Pumpkin whispered back.
"I'm fine too ya know," Pound Cake sarcastically remarked.
"Yeah whatever," Pumpkin retorted with a smile on her face.
Shaka chuckled. "I had a few bruises but your brother helped me."
"Who would have thought he'd make such a good nurse," Pumpkin teased.
"I am an excellent nurse," Pound Cake retorted unashamedly.
Pumpkin blinked, quickly adjusting to her brother's sudden acceptance of his own femininity.
"Shaka is probably just being nice. You couldn't bandage your own skinned knee when we were kids," Pumpkin Cake shot back.
Pound Cake giggled. "True. I was a bit of a wuss when it came to blood."
"Or dirt, or just being outside, or anywhere that wasn't our mother's shadow," Pumpkin Cake exclaimed.
Shaka gently elbowed the mare in the side. "It's great to see you coming out of your shell," he whispered.
"Quite. I didn't think I'd ever see this side of you again," Pound Cake added.
Pumpkin blushed, and looked away. "Well I've had help," she murmured.
Pound Cake sat down across from the two, placing a plate of toast in front of himself, and a sandwich before Shaka.
"Enjoy," Pound Cake declared.
"Thank you Pound Cake," Shaka replied, only to pause. "Say, where is your mother this morning? I would have assumed she wanted to see you the second she woke up."
"Oh uh. She's out," Pumpkin Cake muttered, subtly shifting away from the zebra.
"Out? Mom never goes anywhere this early," Pound Cake wondered aloud.
Shaka hummed thoughtfully. "That is indeed quite strange. Has something happened?"
Pumpkin quickly shook her head, her gaze remaining on her cereal which she gently stirred with a spoon.
"N-no. She just... had to go," Pumpkin Cake cleared her throat. "Probably something to do with dad coming back in a few days."
"I suppose," Shaka muttered, nodding absently.
The zebra had to contain his excitement at hearing those words, as it meant that his plan was going perfectly. A few subtle adjustments was all he had needed to ensure that everyone believed Carrot Cake would return later then he was supposed to. With that in mind Shaka just needed to talk Mrs Cake into one last round of mind blowing sex right when Mr Cake was returning home and everything would be perfect.
With nowhere else to go, and having been shunned by her husband Mrs Cake would be an easy target. A few kind words, and the mare would no doubt rebound right into Shaka's waiting embrace. From there it wouldn't be hard at all to make sure that she was his in both body as well as soul.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Pound Cake asked before munching on a peice of toasted bread.
Shaka raised an eyebrow. "Is she throwing some kind of party for him?"
Pumpkin Cake bit her lip and shook her head. "N-no. She just... is out. That's all."
"That doesn't explain much," Shaka pointed out.
"Yeah, what's up with you today Pumpkin?" Pound Cake pressed.
Taking this as a sign to apply more pressure, Shaka leaned in close, making sure the mare got a solid lungful of his mind altering scent.
"N-nothing," Pumpkin Cake stuttered. "I just uh... I'm not hungry anymore."
Before the pony could rise from her seat Shaka caught her by the leg and gently, yet firmly, pushed her back down.
"Why don't you tell us what's going on?" Shaka half asked, half commanded.
Pumpkin Cake seemed ready to resist, but after a moment of quiet, she sighed deeply, as if a great weight had fallen from her shoulders.
"Mom had cervix cancer when we were really little," Pumpkin Cake began. "Every month she goes to the doctor to get herself checked in order to make sure it doesn't come back."
"Why would she hide that?" asked Pound Cake.
"She's an earth pony," Pumpkin Cake replied with a shrug. "I've heard it's a mark against one's honor if they end up with some affliction that renders them unable to have kids."
"She can have kids though, right?" Shaka asked somewhat nervously.
Pumpkin Cake nodded. "They got the cancer in time, but apparently due what kind of cancer she had, mom has to keep going back to make sure it doesn't become a problem again."
Shaka breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good."
"Why do you ask?" Pumpkin Cake inquired.
"No reason. Simple curiosity," Shaka quickly replied, waving a hoof in the air.
Pound Cake raised an eyebrow curiously, as if offering to do something to help his master without actually uttering a sound.
Shaka nodded before turning back to Pumpkin Cake.
"How long ago did she leave?" Shaka inquired.
"An hour or so? I'm not sure. I was barely awake when she left," Pumpkin Cake admitted.
"That is unfortunate... Could you two perhaps get ready for the breakfast rush without me?" Shaka asked.
"Are you-" Pumpkin Cake began.
"Sounds good, Shaka. Come on Pumpkin, let's go," Pound Cake interrupted.
Pumpkin Cake gave Shaka one last confused look before being reluctantly dragged from the room by her sibling. The zebra remained at the table for nearly a minute longer, waiting until long after the sound of hooves departed before he rose from his chair. Shaka then grabbed an empty plate and very nearly threw it against the ground, the stallion barely able to contain his anger.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," he cursed under his breath. "How did I miss that?"
He began to pace, occasionally biting or chewing on his lip.
"If she finds out what I'm planning then it's over, and I can kiss what gains I've made goodbye," Shaka muttered to himself. "No. I still have Pound Cake. Perhaps I could retreat to the Everfree or make a request for assistance from Zecora."
Shaka stopped and shook his head vigorously. "No. Things haven't unraveled quite yet. In fact I might even be able to use this to my advantage. If she knows then she may very well abandon her worthless husband without prompting."
The zebra grabbed the peanut butter and jelly sandwich Pound Cake had made him and eagerly bit into it. As he chewed Shaka continued to walk back and forth, his mind churning with possibilities. Most werent good, but he still gave himself a good chance of completing all of the objectives he was hoping to accomplish.
It would take luck, and a considerable effort on his part though.
Shaka swallowed the food and stood facing the door.
"Right. It's not over yet," he told the empty room.
Angry stomping hooves heralded the arrival of Mrs Cake who emerged into her family's home like an angry bull. Immediately her gaze swung left, then right, searching for the source of her ire, whom upon being spotted, smiled widely.
"Ahh Cup Cake. How are you? I didn't catch you at breakfast this morning," Shaka remarked as he scrubbed a plate.
Mrs Cake kicked the door closed behind her, and trotted up to the male.
"Cut the act," she demanded.
"There must be some manner of mistranslation. You want me to drop this?" Shaka asked, waving the dripping plate above the sink.
"No not that. It's a metaphor," Mrs Cake sighed and ran a hoof down her face. "I know what you did to my tea the other day."
"Your tea?" Shaka smiled. "Ahh so it worked. You must have slept very well."
"Why would I..." Mrs Cake groaned. "I know you did something to make me ovulate."
"No no no. My tea helps calm the nerves and aids in sleep. Despite pony propaganda it's not some kind of aphrodisiac or the like," Shaka corrected, quickly finishing his dishes and wiping his hooves before reaching into the cupboard. "Here, you may see for yourself."
Mrs Cake was about to offer some kind of retort when she noticed that the box of tea bags was branded. Not only that but the words were all in common as well, meaning she could read the many declarations of its effectiveness. Claims that it would help the drinker get to sleep faster, fall into a deeper slumber, and aid any troubled nerves were displayed next to its name.
Sleep Eze Brew.
"Oh," Mrs Cake muttered. "I must have been mistaken."
"It's quite alright though I'm wondering what you meant by ovulating. That does have something to do with fertility right?" Shaka replied.
Mrs Cake sighed. "It means that on the night we well... had sex," Mrs Cake whispered before standing straighter. "I had a viable egg, so when you finished inside of me you knocked me up."
"Knocked..." Shaka's eyes went wide and he grabbed the pony around the shoulders. "Oh this is most wonderful news! Truly our ancestors are smiling down on us both!"
"No this is not a good thing, can't you see!" Mrs Cake exclaimed, struggling in the zebra's grip. "I'm a married mare, and your the employee I brought on to help me."
"I do not understand," Shaka muttered, placing Mrs Cake back on the ground. "To have a baby outside of your heat is considered a great omen. Our child will have a powerful, important destiny."
Mrs Cake roughly pushed the zebra away, allowing her to stand on her own four hooves once more.
"It isn't ours, it's mine. I can't just leave my husband," Cup Cake declared.
"Why not?" Shaka retorted. "This seems like a sign. We were meant to be more then what you ponies call 'fuck buddies'."
Mrs Cake blushed and looked away. "That is not what we are," she muttered angrily.
"So you do want to be more!" Shaka declared, his eyes widening. "How wonderful it is to hear you say that. Perhaps we can start by going on a date. That is how you ponies do it right?"
Mrs Cake groaned. "No, that's not what I was thinking at all."
"But our child-"
Mrs Cake stomped a hoof. "It isn't yours."
Shaka frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that as soon as Carrot returns I will have sex wth him, and convince him that its his. I'm fairly certain he has some zebra ancestors somewhere so it shouldn't be hard," Mrs Cake remarked.
"But, that would be a lie," Shaka pointed out.
"Oh it would, and I don't like it but I have to think of my family," Mrs Cake murmured, her features softening. "Which is why I'll have to let you go in a week's time."
Shaka's jaw fell open. "What do you mean?"
"I mean just that," Mrs Cake whispered, placing a hoof on Shaka's shoulder. "You have been a wonderful help, a fantastic lover and we owe you so much, but so long as you are around we'll both be tempted to continue our relationship."
Mrs Cake shook her head. "And I can't have that. Not if I hope to keep this family together."
"But Cup Cake, we had such fun. Did you not enjoy yourself?" Shaka whispered, running a hoof across Mrs Cake's cheek.
"I did. Truly I did," Mrs Cake muttered, clasping the zebra's hoof. "You've been the best partner I've ever taken, and I wish I didn't have to do any of this but again. I have to think of my family above all others."
Shaka took a step back and nodded. "I understand."
"Y-you do?" Mrs Cake replied.
"I do," Shaka answered. "I believed taking me into your bed was a sign that we would become more but I was wrong. You were using me."
"Oh no no no," Mrs Cake quickly stated. "It wasn't that at all. It was... an accident. A breach of oversight."
"And the morning after?" Shaka retorted.
"Another accident," Mrs Cake muttered, unable to meet the zebra's gaze.
"And the afternoon, then that evening and the day-"
"I get it," Mrs Cake interrupted with a hiss. "That, all of that was all a mistake and it won't happen again."
"Not even one more time?" Shaka asked.
"I..." Mrs Cake bit her lip. "No. We can't."
"Surely one more time wouldn't hurt?" Shaka pressed, a soft smile crossing his face. "I mean we already did it way more than once already."
"That wasn't-" Mrs Cake bit her lip and took a breath. "I can't. I've made too many mistakes already."
"Don't think about this as a mistake. Think about this like a goodbye," Shaka continued, stepping a little closer to the mare.
Mrs Cake took a slow, steady inhale, the action seemingly robbing her of the last bit of resistance she had left.
"Okay," she whispered. "But just one more time and after that we should go help the twins with the shop."
"I wouldn't worry about them. I've got everything set up already," Shaka declared, leaning forward and planting a kiss on Mrs Cake's lips.
Mrs Cake moaned softly, unable to resist the zebra's powerful aroma and tender embrace. Seconds ticked by as his hooves caressed across her body, further igniting the flame of passion deep in her heart. Until finally she could take it no longer and gently pushed the stallion away.
"We should head to the bedroom," Mrs Cake murmured.
"Go on then my little lamb. I'll be right behind you," Shaka whispered into the mare's ear.
Mrs Cake giggled excitedly, unable to stop herself from all but prancing towards the bedroom door. As she walked Shaka hounded her constantly, smacking her flank, caressing her side or enjoying the pleasant view of her visibly wet pussy.
Despite his recent failing Shaka felt confident, for although he would need to break out all the stops, victory was still possible. Already Mrs Cake's pussy was well broken in, having been forced to conform to Shaka's titanic length on nearly a dozen different occasions. Another marathon fuck session would all it would take for her cunt to be stretched beyond the point that her husband could ever hope to pleasure her.
Not unless Cup Cake grew an extra foot of dick out of nowhere anyway.
Shaka kicked the door closed behind him, trotting excitedly up to the bed the moment Mrs Cake had stepped hoof on the plush surface. She could barely even turn her body before Shaka was upon her, lips pressed tight against her own while his hoof pushed her down. Gentle yet firm, Shaka subtly reminded the mare as to who was in charge at that moment while making sure she enjoyed herself at the same time.
Mrs Cake responded wordlessly, merely allowing her zebra partner to do what he wished while she enjoyed the embrace without complaint. Their mouths opened, and once more Shaka's dominance was reaffirmed as he controlled the kiss completely. She could barely do anything but lay there and take it, letting Shaka hold her down while they made out for nearly a minute without pause.
When the kiss broke, Shaka recoiled, pulling back far enough that Mrs Cake began to wonder what he intended on doing. Then he grabbed her flanks, and pulled her entire bottom half up into the air, causing a startled eep to escape her lips. The pony didn't even have the time to ask what was going on before Shaka answered her in a more physical manner.
His lips pressed against hers, deepening a very different kind of kiss as the zebra's tongue slipped into Cup Cake's pussy. The ensuing assault of pleasure made Mrs Cake moan in ecstasy, and release the wave of tension that had built up in her body. In seconds she was a moaning, writhing mass of utter joy, her eyes rolling into the back of her head.
Shaka smirked to himself as his tongue snaked its way deeper, deeper, and somehow even deeper still. The zebra shaman conjuring a bit of his own internal magic to make the snakelike appendage longer than what should be possible. The effort was immediately deemed worth it as Mrs Cake sprawled out onto the bed, her entire body twitching sporadically.
The stallion didn't rest on his laurels however, as he continued to push his tongue to its limit, stopping only when he hit her cervix. There he paused, flexing the muscular appendage, twisting it this way and that, driving even more moans from the mare's lips.
With his hooves gripping Mrs Cake's flanks tightly, Shaka plundered her pussy, plunging deep before pulling back and starting all over again. Occasionally he would stop, and focus all his attention on her engorged clit, licking, and briefly sucking on the delicate nub. His ministrations though direct, and not the least bit subtle, had an immense impact on the mare, who began to cry out.
"Oh Shaka," she muttered, forehooves going to the back of the zebra's head.
The stallion grinned to himself, noting that she seemed nearly ready to cum after less then a full minute. He intended on breaking a record however, which meant he wasn't about to let so much as sixty seconds pass before she came. So with a chest filled with determination, the zebra pressed his muzzle firmly against the future mother of his child's nether lips.
In and out, twist and flex, push deep then pull back, Shaka used every trick in the book one after another. Never sticking with one for long, the male pushed his partner to her limit and over it before she even knew what was happening.
"I'm cumming," she muttered, jaw clenched tightly.
Shaka didn't utter a sound, remaining fixed entirely on giving the pony a mind blowing orgasm. Her pussy spasmed, her body twitched and her legs occasionally bumped the male's head but he didn't mind. She was already in the throws of ecstasy, and Shaka counted that as a victory.
"Hrrrngh," Cup Cake grunted.
Her hooves gripped tight the zebra's head, holding him down as she came harder then she had thought possible. Hot mare cum splashed against Shaka's lips and covered his tongue completely. Within seconds a good chunk of his face was soaked in her juices, a move which would have irritated him most times.
Now however, it was acceptable, even enjoyable.
As his partner came, Shaka continued to lick, nibble and occasionally suck at her clit, drawing out Cup Cake's orgasm for as long as possible. While he continued to work, Cup Cake continued to writhe and twitch, her tongue falling from her mouth. Then it was over, and her entire body fell slack like a puppet with its strings cut, too overwhelmed to move.
"That was amazing," Cup Cake muttered.
Shaka pulled his tongue back with an audible slurp, ignoring the oddly sweet taste of the older mare's pussy.
"You haven't seen anything yet," Shaka declared.
Cup Cake giggled somewhat nervously. "You seem really energized today."
"I am," Shaka replied.
"Just remember, this is the last time, then that's it," Cup Cake declared.
Shaka shifted back up the bed, and pressed the head of his massive cock against her pussy.
"Of course. We can go multiple times though right? I know how much you enjoy getting stuffed full of my seed," Shaka teased.
Mrs Cake grunted, a slight blush coming to her cheeks. "I don't... you shouldn't say things like that. Nevermind all that, did you get bigger?"
"I am energized as you said. Is that a bad thing?" Shaka asked innocently.
"No I just..." Cup Cake bit her lip and whispered under her breath. "Hes nearly three times the size of my husband."
Shaka smiled. "Are you ready to get started?"
"Oh um yes. We should hurry so the kids don't have to work alone for long though," Cup Cake muttered unenthusiastically.
"Yes, yes of course," Shaka dismissed, hefting Cup Cake's hips from the bed. "Let us not focus on them right now. This is about you, and me."
Cup Cake shuddered. "Absolutely Shaka I'm ready when you aRE!"
The mare let out a yelp as a cock head nearly the width of her hoof plowed full force into her pussy. Despite the immense size and raw, unprotected girth, Cup Cake somehow managed to swallow up several inches of her partner's cock. She felt stretched yes, and there was even a bit of pain but it was completely overwhelmed with pleasure.
Shaka was bigger than her husband, bigger even then any partner or toy Cup Cake ever had or even seen, the mare realized. He was longer, wider, had more endurance, came harder, and was more attentive than anyone else. By every conceivable metric Shaka was the single best lay of her life, yet Cup Cake resisted the urge to let her feelings run away from her.
Even as Shaka's massive dick pressed against her clit and sent shockwaves through Cup Cake's body, the mare held on. She thought of her family, of her husband, and though fleeting, those images were clung to with increasing desperation.
Shaka didn't know any of this however, as his partner looked like she was enjoying herself the same as always. The stallion didn't focus too long on her face for long, adjusting his hips while he continued to thrust forward. His charge was hard, fast, and barely paused long enough for Cup Cake to even adjust to his increased size.
The intention was clear, Shaka was going to remind the mare of who had laid claim on her body. With powerful thrusts Shaka forced the mare's pussy to stretch to accommodate him, the zebra pressing forward relentlessly. He hardly even uttered a sound as he moved, with the only noise being the hot puff of air as it burst from his nostrils.
Mrs Cake on the other hand was moaning, squirming, and occasionally muttering Shaka's name under her breath. The words were half hearted however, lacking the same conviction Shaka had heard from her only a few days earlier. He aimed to change that, and soon, starting by kissing her passionately, and claiming her lips for himself.
The kiss was rough, passionate, and domineering. Like every action Shaka took it was done for one purpose. To remind the mare that she was his, and that only Shaka would ever be able to bring her to such incredible heights of pleasure again.
Then with a thump, he bottomed out inside of her, his unflared cockhead smacking against Cup Cake's sealed cervix. With a grin, Shaka gripped his partner's hips slightly tighter, lifting her a bit higher and giving her a pleasant view.
Of her own large teets, as well as the enormous bulge that traveled from her crotch, up past her belly button and almost to her ribs. He was massive, to the point that even Cup Cake's slightly chubby midsection couldn't obscure the indent Shaka's cock made. It also reminded her that the zebra had impregnated her, and that the father of her next child was now balls deep inside of her.
All such high minded considerations quickly fled the mare's mind as they were washed away with pleasure. Shaka's thick, veiny cock pressed firmly against her love button, the small gyrations of his hips sending electricity arcing up her spine.
"Oh fuck Shaka thats so good," Cup Cake muttered, unable to stop herself.
Shaka grinned. "There is more coming my little lamb. I promise you that."
The zebra didn't waste a second before immediately proving his point by grinding his hips firmly against his partner's crotch. From left to right he pushed his cock deep, shifting it around inside the mare and drawing forth a seemingly endless well of ecstasy. Each tiny shift and subtle movement made Cup Cake twitch excitedly, her partner penetrating parts of her she didn't know she had.
More enticing still was the way that his cockhead shifted around on her belly, his movements clearly visible through her flesh. She couldn't stop herself from reaching out and caressing the powerful, almost supernatural cock wedged firmly inside of her. The ensuing twitch that ran up his length could be felt both inside and out, with Cup Cake silently marveling at its huge size.
She wondered if she would even feel Carrot Cake enter her, or if she had been completely ruined by the zebra. Such thoughts were unpleasant, and soon dismissed, replaced by the incredible joy she felt as Shaka began to move his hips.
Back and forth he moved, punctuating each time he bottomed out with a tiny wiggle from left to right. It was a small thing, but it helped to elevate each thrust with an extra bit of pleasure. Pleasure which soon left Cup Cake panting and wheezing, the mare struggling to keep up with Shaka's breakneck pace.
He didn't seem to mind her more or less non-existent participation however, maintaining his rapid pounding without sign of stopping. The rhythmic thumps of their hips meeting was punctuated by the audible slap of Shaka's balls impacting Cup Cake's ass. The massive pendulous organs had grown larger still somehow, Cup Cake realized to her own mounting curiosity.
She would have thought it was impossible, but Shaka had done the impossible already after growing longer than ever before. It was a startling realization, and one that made Cup Cake idly wonder how much cum he could produce now. The zebra had already been capable of filling her womb, pussy and stomach with cum to spare, but now... now Cup Cake doubted if she even had room in her entire body for it all.
Cup Cake quickly pushed such an intrusive thought out of her head, focusing instead on gripping the bed sheets in order to keep from being shoved back. Already she could feel the top of her head occasionally bump against the headboard, Shaka's powerful thrusts slowly pushing her back. She also realized that the sound of their love making was incredibly loud, and not only because of her lewd moaning.
Each thrust caused the bed to pound against the wall with enough force to be clearly audible throughout the entire second story. This made Cup Cake feel bad for all of a second before Shaka bottomed out inside of her yet again. Then a spike of pleasure shot through her brain, and the only thing she thought about was her lover's enormous zebra cock.
Shaka's grin grew wide as he watched Cup Cake's jaw hang open, her body relaxing despite her own lingering regrets. He knew he hadn't won yet, but it was a sign that he was getting close to truly breaking her mind and making her his own. Not a stallion to rest on his success, Shaka continued to press forward, pounding his cock into Cup Cake's pussy.
As the signs of Cup Cake's second orgasm slowly became apparent, Shaka could feel himself start to draw close to that peak. He wasn't about to lose that race however, and really pushed himself to go faster, harder and with even more powerful thrusts. He would remake her by the end of it, whether she wanted to be his or not, it would happen.
"Oh stars above," Cup Cake muttered. "I'm getting close."
"Cum for me Cup," Shaka whispered with a smile. "Cum for your lover."
Cup Cake bit down on her lip, her pussy clamping around Shaka's length like a vice. Her expression was mixed, though given how much of his musk she had likely breathed in Shaka believed it was a good sign. She couldn't resist him forever, especially not now that he was beginning to sweat, and fill the room with his unique scent.
Shaka grunted, his grip tightening on the mare's soft, plush flanks. "Cum for me!" he shouted.
"Y-yes sir!" Cup Cake yelled, her body already trembling.
Shaka grinned wider still, his hips becoming a blur of motion as he poured on the speed. Over and over he slammed into her, his cockhead pounding against her cervix each time he bottomed out. He also lifted her back end slightly higher, allowing his medial ring to brush against her clit with every single one of his many thrusts.
"Oh gods," Cup Cake murmured as she began to orgasm.
For a moment the mare saw white, her entire body shaking as she struggled to even stay conscious. Pleasure assaulted her mind in such great amounts that she felt high, or possibly drunk. Her body became distant, her twitching hooves, and her trembling form separated from her mind somehow.
Then she fell back into her mortal body and was awash with joy as well as a strangely conflicting set of other emotions.
Shaka didn't notice any of this as his eyes were screwed shut, his entire body rigid with his cock pushed as deep as it could go. Entire litres worth of cum burst from the tip of his cock and splashed against Cup Cake's cervix. The flared head of Shaka's dick stretched Cup Cake's pussy wide, though it did not keep an ounce of his seed inside.
There was simply nowhere else for his jizz to go but out onto the bed where it formed a pool, and eventually a lake.
Shaka remained still and unmoving for the entire experience, unlike Cup Cake who writhed, twitched, and shuddered. Her entire body felt like it was on fire, yet in a way that was strangely good. The mare couldn't put words to her experiences save for 'simply amazing'.
Then it was over, and Shaka let out a long sigh.
"That was a great first round. How about we switch to anal for the second one though?" Shaka offered.
Cup Cake felt her lips begin to move before her brain even recognized what the zebra had said. "Of course Shaka," she muttered.
"Awesome, because I know how much you enjoy feeling my cum swell your insides and leave you with a belly," Shaka sighed. "It's too bad I can't fill every one of your holes like before. Oh well."
With a shift, tug, and a wet splash, Shaka pulled from the depths of Cup Cake's now gaping pussy. He then pressed the head of his still hard cock against his partner's asshole, taking a second to shoot her a smile.
"Ready, Cup Cake?" he asked.
Cup Cake wanted to tell him to stop, slow down and at least give her a minute but that wasn't what she said. "Yes Shaka. My body is ready," she replied.
"I'm looking forward to this," Shaka declared.
Cup gripped the bed a little tighter, preparing herself for what was coming next while wondering to herself. Can I resist him?
Should I?
Shaka took a moment to wipe his brow free of sweat before placing his forehooves on his back and pushing. The ensuing cacophony of cracks, and pops drew a smile to the zebra's face. With a twist of his neck, the young stallion set his body back in order, though he would need a long shower before that statement became completely true.
"Urgh," Cup Cake groaned.
Shaka smiled as he gazed down at the mare, idly noting that she was laying crossways on the bed, legs spread as wide as possible. Cum dripped from nearly every orifice, especially her asshole, which sported a small river of white that flowed out onto the bed. Despite this, Cup Cake sported a huge belly filled to the absolute brim with zebra jizz.
So massive was her midsection that the mare's head wasn't even visible anymore and she appeared pregnant. Not just pregnant though, pregnant and ready to burst with twins or perhaps even triplets. The sight stirred a sense of pride in the stallion's chest, and he stood a little taller on the jizz encrusted bed.
"Have fun?" Shaka asked.
"Yesh," Cup Cake slurred, her voice slightly gravely due to all the times Shaka had fucked her throat over the last six hours.
"Good, because for round eleven I was thinking that we could-"
A knock on the door stopped Shaka's train of though dead in its tracks and he turned towards the disturbance.
"What is it?" he barked.
"Oh um I was just wondering if we could get a little help. The supper rush is nearly here," the soft, gentle voice of Pumpkin Cake replied.
Shaka was about to command him to go away when Cup Cake spoke up.
"We'll be there dear!" she called in a slightly gravelly voice.
"We will?" Shaka asked.
The pony pushed herself up on her elbows and nodded at the zebra. "We will," she declared.
"But I have more love to give," Shaka began, already formulating his smoothest pick up line.
A hoof held him back.
"I'm sorry Shaka but I have to decline. We have work to do and I can't leave the kids," Cup Cake declared.
"What about our fun?" Shaka asked.
"It's over," Cup Cake declared somewhat hesitantly. "It was good, but now it's done. This was it."
Shaka was glad that Cup Cake couldn't see his shocked face or hanging jaw.
"Go get cleaned up. I'll need a minute to deal with... this," Cup Cake gestured to her own bloated belly before unexpectedly belching.
"We can go a little longer. I sure can," Shaka exclaimed.
"No," Cup Cake stated firmly. "Go on Shaka."
Hanging his head in defeat, Shaka crept off the bed and walked over to the door.
"Oh and please give the kids some space. I don't want them to get too attached to you before you leave," Cup Cake added.
Shaka had no words, so he simply turned and left.
Cup Cake remained there for a moment, gazing sidelong at the door until she heard Shaka's hoofsteps vanish.
Then with a sigh she fell back to the bed, a hoof going to her forehead.
"Stars above I nearly told him I loved him," she whispered to herself. "I can't believe I considered leaving Carrot Cake. I even thought about how I would tell my husband that I wanted a divorce."
The mare groaned as she struggled to sit upright in her bed, belly wobbling and sloshing with each movement she made.
"I can't believe I did that," she muttered, the mare ignoring the cum shooting out of her ruined asshole. "I can't believe I nearly threw everything away for him."
"I mean... it's not too late to change my mind," Cup Cake remarked, glancing over her shoulder at the door. "I could probably catch him in the shower and-"
The pony shook her head.
"No. I need to think of my kids. I can't break up a family for a good fuck," she paused, a frown crossing her face. "Even if it's a really, really good fuck." |
The guest | 10 | "I can't believe she shot me down!" Shaka shouted, grabbing and throwing an empty bottle across the room.
The glass container shattered into a thousand pieces, sending shards clattering across the ground. Pound Cake stood nearby, unfazed by the projectile, merely watching as Shaka continued to break things. Until at long last the zebra fell upon his bed with a deep sigh, his entire body deflating like a spent balloon.
"What exactly happened?" Pound Cake inquired, trotting up to the end of the bed.
"Your mother. We had sex again and it was... great. Mind blowing even," Shaka remarked. "She took so much of me that I genuinely began to worry that I may hurt her due to just how much jizz was pumped into her."
"And?" Pound Cake pressed, doing his best not to be jealous.
"Then she said it was over, that I was going to be fired and that I need to keep my distance from you and your sister," Shaka muttered.
"Well that won't be happening... right?" Pound Cake asked.
Shaka snorted. "I will never let you go, Pound Cake. You are mine through and through."
The effeminate male released a small sigh. "That is good to hear. Sorry if I am being demanding but I was... worried."
"It's fine, Pound Cake," Shaka remarked. "I'm just angry because now I won't be able to complete my plan. Worst case scenario we'll have to return to my little cave in the Everfree, but even then your mother would likely try to get you back, complicating the matter."
Pound Cake hummed as he paced next to Shaka's prone form. "I don't mean to be presumptuous my master but are you sure you are defeated?"
"I suppose there is still a chance," Shaka admitted. "But it is slim, and would require a drastic move on our part."
"If you were more powerful could you possibly bring her over to our way of thinking?" Pound Cake offered.
"It's... possible," Shaka muttered, the zebra sitting upright and scratching his chin. "I could feel her will slipping away, but she never quite let go completely. Why?"
"Well you do have another iron in the fire as it were," Pound Cake exclaimed.
Shaka's eyes shto open and he sat upright on his bed. "Pound Cake you're a genius!'
"Thank you master," Pound Cake muttered, the male shaking from the compliment alone.
Shaka rose up from the bed and began to slowly trot across the room. "It is time to bring your sister into the fold. With her submission I will hopefully have the strength to convince your mother to join her children in servitude."
"Is Pumpkin ready for such a leap?" Pound Cake inquired.
"She was close," Shaka replied, a hoof scratching his chin. "I planned to work on her a few more times before finally popping the question as it were, but that is no longer feasible."
"She seems to really like you, master," Pound Cake offered.
"She does," Shaka admitted, the zebra stopping to glance down at his pet. "We will have to move up the timetable, and rework my plans somewhat."
"Just tell me what needs to be done, master!" Pound Cake happily exclaimed.
"You will need to take a bigger role as well," Shaka muttered, his mind elsewhere. "I'll also need to distract your mother somehow, as she will be wary of any extended interactions we have."
"I assume she's busy at the moment?" Pound Cake asked.
Shaka grunted. "I told her we needed more ingredients for tomorrow."
"Ah," Pound Cake murmured.
Shaka nodded slowly and began to pace once more. "I don't know how I'm going to be able to get everything else ready while also getting your mother out of the house for a few hours."
"What about a forged letter? Perhaps we could say that Carrot Cake requires her presence in Canterlot for some reason," Pound Cake offered.
"Possible," Shaka replied. "Though that would be a difficult sell as Carrot is already on his way back and if we raise her suspicions even a tiny bit it will be much harder to bring her over to our side."
"Perhaps some third party then? Like an old friend of hers who you could talk into distracting mom," Pound Cake continued.
Shaka nodded slowly and deliberately. "I like it, though I don't have quite enough information on her circle of friends. There is one person I could call in."
"Oh, who is that?" Pound Cake asked curiously.
"Zecora! I've come to bargain with you!" Shaka shouted as he pounded his hoof against the other zebra's front door.
Shaka took a step back, and waited as patiently as he could, a task made difficult by the embarrassment coursing through him. Asking for help was not something he ever enjoyed doing, especially when he was asking a fellow practitioner of the darker arts. His only hope was that the other zebra had grown soft due to her years long exposure to the ponies harmonious nature.
Looking up, Shaka busied himself by inspecting Zecora's home, noting that there were many charms and wards covering its exterior. Such potent magic could keep out an entire army while also being completely unnoticible to all save for those trained to spot them. To all others, the numerous masks, beads and symbols were just a potent warning to keep your distance.
"Who is knock knock, knocking on my door?" Zecora shouted from inside. "It had better not be another bore."
The heavy oaken portal opened wide, revealing a sweat stained Zecora standing in the entryway. Behind her, visible for only a few seconds, were a trio of young ponies, each one of which were extremely heavy with child. And not just a single foal either by the looks of it but up to four or maybe even five given how low the white one's belly hung.
Then Zecora pulled the door partially closed, and glared at the male.
"My apologies," Shaka began somewhat shakily. "I was hoping to speak to you, if you have a moment to spare."
"The moments I have are winding down so hurry up before I send you back to town," Zecora spat.
"Right. I'll cut to the chase then," Shaka muttered, drawing himself up to his full height. "Your charms are legend back home, and your experience with the ponies of Ponyville is considerable."
"You had better pick up the pace, or it will be you who my dogs do chase," Zecora interrupted.
"R-right," Shaka cleared his throat. "I was hoping to enter into a bargain with you, Zecora."
The female's eyebrow rose. "Well go on young one. I have much that needs to be done."
"My plans to ensnare and enslave the Cake family have hit a roadblock. All I need is some time to work my magic without the presence of Cup Cake however," Shaka began. "As such I was hoping you could provide a distraction for me."
"And what pray tell would I get in return? I doubt from you there is much to learn," Zecora replied, the mare clearly intrigued yet was still guarded.
Shaka briefly considered attempting to blackmail her, or tell everyone of what he had seen here but discarded that idea. Any attempt at blackmail would quickly backfire, especially if it came down to his word against her own. As she was a trusted member of the community while he was a strange temporary worker who had made more enemies than friends.
"I have mastered the technique of Varin-ya," Shaka exclaimed.
Zecora seemed genuinely surprised for a moment before quickly stifflign her curiosity. "That is indeed a quite rare skill, though I will need more still."
Shaka ground his teeth together, well aware that such an ability was worth a considerable amount more than a simple distraction. Still, he was depserate, and failure now would mean over a year of planning wasted. Something which Shaka would never allow to happen.
"What is it you want?" Shaka muttered, shoulders slumping in defeat.
"As is custom I will take what you know, but that is not all though," Zecora began. "From the profits of the bakery I want a cut. It is bits I want, not a gut. For ten years you will give some to me. And in return I will give unto thee. The Cake family, all three."
Shaka was about to angrily agree to the terms but was interrupted when Zecora raised a hoof.
"There is one last task which I will ask of you. And it has to do with Cup Cake's boo," Zecora continued.
"What exactly did you have in mind for Carrot?" Shaka asked.
"I want your help to drive him mad, do that and I will be most glad," Zecora finished, smiling widely.
"I hold no qualms with that final bit, though I'm curious as to your reasons," Shaka offered.
"Before I met my cute sweetie Belle, that male did make my life a hell," Zecora explained. "His words like venom spread from house to house, like some manner of quick legged diseased mouse. His hatred for our kind was blatant and bold. So I want him to suffer a fate most cold."
Shaka chuckled. "That is acceptable. Though this seems rather steep."
"That it may seem, my young friend, but it is not you who's getting the short end," Zecora replied. "You will give life, while also twisting the knife."
"Perhaps in time this arrangement could become something more. I would love to learn of your charms," Shaka offered.
"In the future we will see, though pardon me if I don't offer you tea," Zecora replied.
"In time I believe a mutual understanding could be achieved, though for now let us settle our current business," Shaka declared.
"Of that I agree. First we must deal with your plea," Zecora stated, her posture relaxing somewhat as she leaned against the doorjam.
"Obviously I have laid claim to the twins and Cup," Shaka began, his gaze narrowing.
Zecora snorted dismissively. "My hooves, they are full. No shenanigans will I pull."
"As such I just want Cup Cake out of the house for an evening. How you do so without drawing any attention is up to you of course," Shaka exclaimed.
Zecora nodded and rubbed her chin. "I have several tricks up my sleeve and plans which I may weave."
"Excellent," Shaka stuck out his hoof. "Then I believe all we need to do is shake on it."
Zecora clopped her hoof against the offered limb, sharing a smile with the other zebra.
"Before you go, a question please. What drew you through these dreadful trees?" Zecora asked, gesturing to the Everfree around them.
"Was it the twins, the business, or a broken home? Or perhaps you simply no longer want to roam," Zecora theorized.
"If you're wondering if my aspirations are greater than just the Cake family then you need not worry. I've been poor, I've been hungry, I've been alone. I just want all that to change and not come back," Shaka answered.
Zecora smiled and nodded knowingly. "Perhaps there is something in common between you and I. You don't seem as stuck up or conceited as every other guy."
"I try not to be," Shaka replied, giving the mare a small nod before turning away.
As the male trotted into the woods, Zecora remained at her door, her gaze fixed on the shadow Shaka had disappeared into. She was joined a few seconds later by a rather sheepish looking Sweetie Belle who awkwardly trundled up to the entrance.
"Were sorry he saw us. Apple Bloom was having a little trouble," Sweetie Belle murmured.
"It is no problem at all, my pet. Please do not fret. That male might be a fool but he is definitely not cruel," Zecora exclaimed, turning back to the heavily pregnant young mare with a smile on her face. "Gather the others with foal, I want you all to worship my pole."
"Yes, my mistress," Sweetie Belle dutifully replied.
Shaka paced back and forth in front of his bed at a slow, steady pace. His gaze drifted over the few bits of shattered glass he had yet to clean up, and though tempted, he didn't bother doing so. His mind was too occupied with his plan, and how it now hinged completely on another dark practitioner.
He wondered if Zecora was going to try to use him, or trick him in some way. His technique was rare and valuable though, meaning that if she were going to stab him in the back it wouldn't be until after she had learned it. With that bitter yet calming thought in mind, Shaka turned towards the exit, his irritability prompting him to move.
Pound Cake had yet to seek him out, meaning Cup Cake had yet to leave, and though he knew it wasn't advisable, Shaka was too antsy to stop himself from leaving. He needed to be doing something, anything, even if that meant scrubbing the floors or helping cash out the register.
Putting one hoof in front of the other, Shaka made his way swiftly up the stairs and out into the back alley. From there it took only a few steps until he reached the back door and was in the kitchen. Though intent on heading to the front to check on how everything was going, Shaka barely made it a few steps before he was interrupted.
"Ahh Shaka, there you are. Wonderful timing," Cup Cake exclaimed, the mare having appeared at the bottom of the stairs leading to the second floor.
"Oh, what did you need?" Shaka replied.
Cup Cake winced. "I hate to ask this of you especially given... well I need someone to look after the bakery for a little bit."
Shaka took some silent joy at how awkward and forced the pony was, though he didn't revel in that for long. Pushing such thoughts from his mind, Shaka reminded himself that soon she would be completely under his thrall. When that happened this would be nothing more than a tiny speed bump. Something to laugh at after Cup Cake had shackled herself to Shaka's will.
"For how long?" Shaka replied with a placating smile.
"Not long I think. Until tomorrow afternoon maybe?" Cup Cake replied.
"Off to see Carrot, I presume?" Shaka offered, hoping to tease out an answer.
"It's the strangest thing," Cup Cake began. "Apparently the cutie map has called both Zecora and myself to manehatten for some urgent mission."
Shaka resisted the urge to act surprised, though internally he was both impressed and a little shocked. To have such pull over even the elements of harmony was not something to be scoffed at, nevermind Twilight Sparkle herself. Keeping his face carefully neutral, Shaka smiled and nodded plainly.
"Then you had better get moving. You wouldn't want to leave such an emergency undealt with for long," Shaka replied.
"I suppose," Cup Cake muttered. "I just assumed that the map was no longer active given how long it has been since I've heard of someone going on one of these missions."
"This must be very serious," Shaka reasoned aloud.
Cup Cake nodded. "I suppose it must. Let us hope I'm up to the task."
"I'm sure you will be," Shaka exclaimed.
"Thank you Shaka. Take good care of the place," Cup Cake called, hefting her saddlebags higher on her back before trotting out the door.
Pound Cake deftly slipped in from the front half of the store, trotting eagerly up to the other stallion.
"So. What's the plan?" Pound Cake asked in a low tone.
"Simple," Shaka began. "We wait until the end of the day, get your sister to join us in your parents room, and have a little fun."
"Together?" Pound Cake asked.
Shaka nodded. "Together."
"Sooo..." Pumpkin Cake murmured as she glanced from her brother to Shaka and back again. "Why exactly are we standing in my parents room again?"
"Because we are going to have a little family bonding experience, dear sister," Pound Cake replied.
"Err okay?" muttered the mare.
"With your mom gone we can do whatever we want, so we figured something enjoyable was in order," Shaka declared, hopping onto the bed.
"But why is my brother here?" Pumpkin Cake demanded, jabbing a hoof at the stallion in question.
"You don't mind if he watches, right?" Shaka casually remarked.
"Well I..." Pumpkin Cake murmured.
"I'll just be observing. Come on Pumpkin, don't make it weird," Pound Cake pressed.
"Look, I just don't know why you want this all of a sudden," Pumpkin snapped.
"Well Pound Cake heard about our little relationship, and was feeling jealous. Isn't that right Pound Cake?" Shaka stated.
Pound Cake bobbed his head eagerly. "I have a bit of a crush on your boyfriend, and wanted to be a part of the fun."
"M-my boyfriend?" Pumpkin exclaimed in shock, her eyes widening. "I suppose you being here wouldn't be too bad. No touching though, Shaka is all mine!"
"Of course. I know better than to come between you and something sweet," Pound Cake remarked with a giggle.
"Just relax. This is all totally normal back home," Shaka began. "Besides, it's just for this one time."
"I suppose one time couldn't hurt," Pumpkin all but whispered to herself, the mare pausing to breathe deeply of Shaka's scent. "So long as it's with you."
"Just focus on me and you'll soon forget Pound Cake's even here," Shaka whispered, beckoning the mare with a hoof.
"Okay Shaka. I can do that," Pumpkin Cake exclaimed.
The mare trotted over to the bed, and clambered on top, eying her brother cautiously as she did so. The stallion didn't move however, merely remaiuning next to the bedside table, a soft, pliant smile on his face. Putting her brother's presence from her mind, Pumpkin Cake looked down to find that Shaka was reclining with his back to the head board.
"You want me on top?" Pumpkin Cake asked.
"You don't mind, do you?" Shaka replied, gesturing to his semi flaccid cock. "I'm just a little tired at the moment but I'm sure I'll find my second wind in a few minutes."
"I suppose," Pumpkin Cake murmured.
"Think of it like a test," Shaka exclaimed.
"How so?" Pumpkin countered.
"To see if your skills are up to snuff, duh," Pound Cake interrupted, leaning on the edge of the bed. "I could take that fat cock with ease, but can you?"
"I can, and have before!" Pumpkin Cake declared.
"Then prove it," Shaka countered. "But remember, this is a two parter. First you have to get me hard."
"Just pretend it's a big, fat lollipop," Pound Cake added, popping his lips and flashing his sister a smirk.
Pumpkin snorted. "I'll show you," she muttered.
Hastily crawling her way up to the stallion's crotch, Pumpkin Cake paused only briefly to inhale a lungful of delicious musk. Doing so always gave her an odd sense of confidence, and a deep burning need that was impossible to extinguish. Without of course stuffing herself silly with zebra jizz, and fulfilling her partner's every desire to the letter.
For a moment her imagination nearly got away with her, but Pumpkin reigned in that urge and focused on the task before her. First thing was first, she needed to get closer, and wrap her lips around that remarkably fat cock waiting for her. To that end she started to shift further up, a hungry glint in her eye, and a deep yearning growing in her belly.
"Go on, taste that fat fucking cock," Pound Cake urged.
"Quit interrupting me so I can," Pumpkin Cake shot back.
"Girls, please," Shaka urged. "Pound Cake, quit antagonizing your sister. Pumpkin, stay focused and ignore him."
Pumpkin Cake was about to make some angry retort, but bit back that urge the second she caught another whiff of zebra dick. Thankfully Pound Cake didn't press things any further, merely sharing a smile with their mutual partner. Who laid back, forelegs laying slack at his sides as he gazed down at Pumpkin Cake as she moved closer.
Her nostrils flared, her mouth salivated, and with a gentle caress of her hoof, she brought the tip of his cock to her lips. Only to immediately be surprised, her eyes widening when she realized just how thick Shaka's cock had become. It was almost too wide for her mouth, and she had to open her jaw as wide as possible just to get it inside.
The second she accomplished this, the mare released a soft sigh, and wiggled forwards on the bed. Now in prime position to continue, she ran her tongue around Shaka's cock, slurping up any errant pre and swallowing it. After making sure the thick appendage was well lubricated, Pumpkin Cake pushed onwards, swallowing several inches.
"Come on Pumpkin, you can do it," Pound Cake whispered.
Pumpkin grunted, doing her best to ignore her brother's presence and his words of encouragement. Focusing utterly on Shaka's dick, Pumpkin Cake forced herself deeper, crawling up the bed as she swallowed more of him. She tried to move quickly, but it was difficult to do given just how large her partner's appendage had become.
Where before it gave some minor difficulty, but was easily taken within only a few seconds, now it was giving Pumpkin some trouble. It was just so thick that its passage flattened her tongue, and filled her mouth to the point that there wasn't any room left. When finally it hit the back of her throat, Pumpkin's mouth had become just another hole for Shaka to fuck, and nothing more.
"There's so much left, hurry up," Pound Cake urged.
Pound Cake wanted to tell him to shut up, or at least to stop distracting her, but she couldn't exactly do that with a mouth full of dick. Worse still, he didn't stop at just verbally egging her on, as his hooves gripped the back of her head and began to push. The movement caught her off guard and she couldn't even react before over a half dozen inches of zebra cock rammed down her throat.
The sudden penetration left Pumpkin Cake reeling, and only Shaka's medial ring stopped her from getting any deeper. That fat lump of flesh bumped against her lips, and gave her a moment to gather herself and ascertain just how far she had gone. An assessment which wasn't easily done with only her eyes, as there was a surprising amount of dick left unsucked.
Yet despite that fact Pumpkin Cake felt as though her throat had been completely stuffed full. Not only that but breathing was difficult, and the head of his cock was resting at the entrance to her stomach. Pumpkin Cake knew that was impossible, but just the mere thought excited her for reasons she couldn't quite put to words.
"Not bad, but you got a lot further to go," Pound Cake exclaimed.
This time when he pushed on the back of Pumpkin's head she was ready for him. Rather than fight however, she opened her mouth wider still, causing her jaw to creak and her throat to tighten. The effort was herculean, but brief, and soon Pumpkin felt herself get almost completely impaled on Shaka's cock.
The sensation of fullness was immense, and nearly all consuming. Pumpkin's loins trembled, her pussy spasmed, and mare cum dribbled from between her legs in a slow trickle. The pleasure was immediate, and so powerful that she didn't even notice how hard it was to breath.
There was only her, and the dick occupying mouth, as well as the complete entirety of her throat. Empowerment raged against a growing urge to submit, leaving Pumpkin so awash in conflicting feelings that she could do nothing. Save to lay there, eyes rolling around in their sockets as she tried and failed to get a handle on herself.
"Great job Pumpkin. Shaka's as hard as a rock!" Pound Cake cheered.
Pumpkin blinked, and glanced down to find that she had crawled forward without even thinking. With those last few inches of zebra cock stuffed into her, she had taken everything he had to offer. The effect had been immediate, and Pumpkin Cake could feel Shaka's cock twitch inside of her.
"Now come on back and ride that big boy," Pound Cake encouraged, the stallion gazing down at the bulge clearly visible in his sister's stomach.
Something about the stallion's words emboldened Pumpkin, and she began to quickly crawl backwards. Simply pulling her head back wasn't an option after all, as he was too big and too deep. Doing so would hurt them both, which meant that she had to take her time and extricate his cock patiently.
A process which she found aggravating, as the mare wanted nothing more than to fill her womb with zebra jizz. The mere thought of feeling her belly grow full, and hot with her partner's spunk made cunt ache to be filled.
With a pop, the unflared head of Shaka's cock emerged from Pumpkin Cake's lips, a sheen of spit covering his now hard length. The sight of which made Pumpkin Cake's eyes grow wider still, and a tiny bit of fear to settle in the pit of her stomach. He was just so... huge, that she wondered if he would even fit inside of her delicate flower.
It wouldn't be so delicate after he was done with her, though that didn't bother the pony one bit. He was hers, and if being Shaka's partner meant having her hole ruined for any potential lover then she would just have to accept that.
Pumpkin Cake gasped for air, filling her lungs quickly and efficiently before shakily standing up. She then trotted further up the bed, her body hovering over Shaka's larger, more dominant form. He even felt domineering to the mare, even while she was standing astride his torso.
She didn't think about that for long, and swiftly began to lower herself down, hooves settling into comfortable positions.
"Mmm I can't wait to feel you inside me again," Pumpkin Cake murmured.
"And I can't wait to stuff you full of my seed," Shaka hissed.
The words sent a bolt of lightning up Pumpkin's spine and she couldn't help but move a little faster.
"Allow me," offered Pound Cake.
Before Pumpkin could ask what her brother meant, she felt Shaka's tip rest against the lips of her pussy. A small part of her mind told Pumpkin that this was at least a little weird, if not outright wrong but she ignored that. Shaka wanted Pound Cake here, and so long as the feminine stallion didn't get in the way, then Pumpkin wouldn't mind.
Such considerations melted away the second he felt Shaka's slick tip begin to press inside of her. The sensation was familiar, almost routine at this point, yet with his strangely improved cock it felt new and different. It was like she was losing her virginity all over again, which was a thought that only turned Pumpkin Cake on even more.
Giving Shaka her every first wasn't enough, not her virginity, not her first kiss, or being penetrated in either of her other holes. She wanted to give him more, to give him something only she could, yet Pumpkin didn't know what that was. In time that would change, but for now she just wanted to ride him hard and give him the best orgasm her body could possibly give.
With a grunt, she threw herself back, pushing through the wave of pain and discomfort which came from being stretched so wide. She didn't care, nor did she care that her body was struggling to accommodate over half of his length. Pumpkin merely focused, and urged her body to relax, or at least she tried to anyway.
Shaka grunted, his face twisting up as she felt the vice-like grip of Pumpkin's pussy wrap around his cock. To say it was tight would be an understatement, but the zebra wasn't concerned, as he could take it. Pumpkin Cake however, that was a little more up in the air, and he didn't want to break her, at least not completely.
"Relax sister, breathe in, and out," Pound Cake whispered.
The stallion suddenly appeared behind Pumpkin, his hooves caressing her back, and circling her shoulders. Pumpkin want to dismiss him, and tell her brother to go away, but his efforts were working. Her body relaxed, her spine tingled, and she felt her cunt mold itself around the zebra's thick shaft.
It was like her body was being remade, altered once more, and created into a more fitting partner. The sensation was incredible, and all at once Pumpkin accepted her brother's presence completely. Even when his hooves began to gently press against her shoulders, driving her deeper on Shaka's length.
"That's a good girl. Take all of the master's cock. Just like that," Pound Cake whispered.
"Feels so good," Pumpkin Cake muttered dreamily.
"Mmm I know. Just wait until you feel his balls rest against your ass," Pound Cake whispered.
Pumpkin wanted to ask her brother how he knew what that was like, but couldn't manage to utter a sound. Save for a dull, low moan that spilled from her lips.
Shaka smiled as she watched the twins begin to work together in order to take the entirety of his monster cock. Pound Cake massaged his sister's shoulders while the mare did her best to relax her body, and allow herself to stretch around his length. It was a quick process, though it still left Shaka with plenty of time to simply lay there and enjoy the view.
He could see and feel their connection strengthening, not only that but he could feel Pumpkin's admiration for him spiking. A few honeyed words from Pound Cake and the girl's lust flared to new hites, with most of it being directed at the zebra himself. The last little bit that wasn't made Shaka curious, but he chose not to explore that particular aspect at the moment.
He had a beautiful mare riding him, and he simply wanted to bask in the pleasure of that moment. The tight, yet quickly loosening sensation of her pussy, and the way his bulge traveled further up her body. It was delicious, but not quite as delicious as the pained, yet pleasurable expression on Pumpkin's face.
It was perfect, and made only sweeter by Pound Cake's hungry eyes which bored constantly down at the zebra. Confidence returned to the stallion, and he began to feel as though his plan was about to work. All he needed to do was give Pumpkin one final push and the power of her submission would be all his.
A simple nod to Pound Cake was all it took to signal that the last part of their plan was soon to reach fruition. The feminine stallion smiled, and returned the nod, his hooves positioning over his sister's shoulders. Then with one final, firm shove, Shaka's cock had plunged all the way into Pumpkin's pussy, spearing her on its length.
The mare gasped in shock, her eyes opening wide as her mouth hung open.
She was full, no she was beyond full. She had been stretched beyond what she would have believed possible. Yet here she was, with the biggest cock she had ever seen currently stufed completely inside of her. It was beyond imagining, yet with each tiny twitch of his dick Pumpkin was reminded that this was real life.
"Feels good doesn't it," Pound Cake whispered, the male leaning down and running his hoof over the large, noticeable bulge in Pumpkin's midsection. "I bet our master's cock is sitting right at the entrance to your womb."
Pumpkin couldn't mutter an agreement, she couldn't even nod her head. All she was capable of was a slightly wet grunt of affirmation.
"And soon he's going to fill that pretty little belly of yours with so much zebra jizz," Pound Cake continued, his hooves pressing down on the tip of Shaka's dick. "Make sure to take it all. You wouldn't want to disappoint him now would you?"
With those final words resonating in Pumpkin's head, she threw herself into the act with such gusto that she startled her brother. Her hips flexed, her legs pushed and she all but leapt up, only to slam back down a moment later. Reconnecting with a solid thwap of flesh meeting flesh, Pumpkin was imapled once more.
Using strength she didn't know she had, the mare began to jump up and down. Pulling all but a few inches from her cloying depths, she began to ride the zebra at a breakneck pace. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep up such a speed for long, but she didn't care one bit.
"I'm so proud of you," Pound Cake exclaimed. "Keep it up. Work that cock!"
Pumpkin grunted, her hooves twitching as she grappled with the compliment. It was a small thing, but it alleviated the already enthralling sex into a whole new category. Something about Pound Cake just being there was tantalizing, and Pumpkin almost wished that he would do more.
As if reading her thoughts, Pound Cake leaned forward, and wrapped a hoof around her midsection. Without breaking stride, the feminine stallion began to move in sync with his sister, offering her what aid he could. It wasn't much, but his mere presence, and soft, gentle touch was enough to empower the mare to even greater heights.
Her muscles flexed, her already tight pussy grew tighter still, the hole rippling along Shaka's length. The physical sensations were amazing, but Shaka was truly captivated by the sight before him.
Or more specifically the way that Pound Cake pressed himself tight against his sibling's back. It almost looked like the diminutive stallion was fucking Pumpkin alongside his master but Shaka knew that was impossible. The angle was wrong, and not only that but Pound Cake was incapable of getting hard anymore. He was a fuck hole, a toy, and a cum dump for the zebra, nothing more.
"Damn this is hot," Shaka muttered.
If the twins were even capable of hearing the zebra they would have agred, but they were too lost in their own world. There was only the soft caress of Pound Cake's hoof as it traveled across his sister's chest. The occasional drip of sweat which fell from one of them and landed on the other. Pumpkin's hot breath tickled Pound Cake's cheek, and in turn Pound Cake breathed right back.
Together the twins inhaled Shaka's potent scent, filling their lungs with the strong, masculine musk of a true alpha. Both wanted nothing more than to bathe in that smell forever, and revel in it for the rest of their lives. It was somehow as captivating, and addicting as the raw physicality of the rough bout of intercourse all three were now a part of.
"You'r so beautiful Pumpkin. I'm almost a little jealous," Pound Cake whispered. "I'd love nothing more than to be able to bear our master's foals."
Pumpkin had long since stopped caring about the odd way her brother referred to Shaka. She barely even noticed the reverent tone of voice he took, or the reference to foals. Especially that last one.
Foals, the word had ignited a spark in the mare, and she pushed herself even faster then before. Her muscles flexxed , and she began to push herself harder, all but jumping up and down on the bed. The aged furniture squeaked, her legs began to burn, and her pussy trembled under the intense abuse she was putting it through.
Pumpkin Cake didn't care. Not about her legs, or her pussy, or her body in general. All she had was his, and if he enjoyed ruining her, then she enjoyed it by mere extension.
"Faster, faster, your getting so close aren't you," Pound Cake asked, his lips pressed tight against Pumpkin's ear. "You can feel it coming, but you know you can't finish."
"Not without Shaka, not without... master," Pumpkin finished, a glazed expression crossing her face.
Shaka grinned from ear to ear, and though tempted to offer some words of encouragement, he resisted. This was no longer even about him, this was between the twins, and Shaka had absolute confidence in his pet.
"That's right., he's our master, and we are his pets," Pound Cake pressed.
"Pets," Pumpkin murmured between bounces.
"You can hold out a little longer can't you? It wouldn't be right if you finished before he did," Pound Cake continued.
Pumpkin Cake grunted, biting down on her bottom lip in a bid to hold off the ever present wave of pleasure.
Her internal muscles flexed, her hooves started to tremble, but Pumpkin resisted. With her gaze fixed on her brother's soft, alluring eyes, Pumpkin fought back with all her might. Her orgasm stopped dead in its ttracks, sitting just within reach, yet not quite there.
She was a toy, an object, a thing to satiate Shaka's desires and in that moment Pumpkin felt exactly like that. Her entire body had been made to serve him, and now she was almost there. With this final act of devotion she would seal the deal and be made a true servant, or at least close to one anyway.
Some small part of her held out, not in resistance, but rather it latched onto Pound Cake, and his adorable face. She didn't even question why he had suddenly become so much more feminine, it was fitting. Shaka had probably willed it after all, and beyond that it suited Pound Cake. Almost as much as having her pussy ruined suited Pumpkin Cake.
Thankfully for Pumpkin's sake, she could feel Shaka begin to draw close to the end. His cock twitched more erraticly, his jaw tightened, and his balls started to churn with seed. Yet Pumpkin Cake didn't look down at him, but rather she stared into the gentle brown orbs of his brother.
Within those twin pools she saw complete devotion, and she yearned to feel the exact same way.
"I'm coming," Shaka muttered.
In an instant Pound Cake took over, dragging Pumpkin down to the bed and forcing every last inch of Shaka's cock into her. A hoof wrapped up and across her chest, keeping Pumpkin's body locked there. She wouldn't have tried to move regardless, but feeling that close embrace as her orgasm rose was enough to make Pumpkin Cake do something she had never imagined before.
She leaned in, and planted a kiss on her brother's lips. This was no chaste embrace however, this was passionate, erotic, and contained all the lust built up over the last ten minutes. Pound Cake didn't hesitate, and merely kissed the other pony back while rubbing the bulge in her midsection.
He felt Shaka's flare as it spread wide, opening Pumpkin's womb to the torrent of seed destintied for it. Mere milliseconds later and this promise was fulfilled, as a tidal wave of zebra cum shot into her depths. Yet even Pumpkin Cake's stomach began to bulge, and her womb was stuffed well past capacity, she didn't look down at him.
Her gaze remained fixed on Pound Cake's, who returned the affection whole heartedly. Their tongues brushed against one another, darting back and forth from their mouths to the other. Though dominance was shared, they didn't break away from one another, not even for a minute.
Only when Shaka's balls had finished churning, and his body began to relax did Pumpkin pull back. Gasping for breath, she was amazed, not only for the actions she had taken while in the throws of passion but from how full she felt. Not only had she came harder than ever before, but she was also so stuffed with jizz that she looked and felt pregnant.
"Woah," Pumpkin murmured, a hoof prodding the gently sloshing belly she had just gained.
"Mmm just wait until he gives you load number two, and three, and four," Pound Cake whispered.
"W-wait. Pound Cake! I didn't... I mean it wasn't my intention-" Pumpkin stuttered.
"Don't worry about it. I feel the same way," Pound Cake replied, pecking the pony on the lips.
"Adorable," Shaka exclaimed. "Do you mind?"
Pound Cake nodded. "It would be my pleasure master."
"Oh um, what's happening?" Pumpkin asked, the pony attempting to stand only for her legs to give out from beneath her.
"Relax, just sit right there," Shaka murmured in a low tone.
The zebra's gentle hoof guided Pumpkin down so she was resting on her lover's crotch, a pillow between her head and Shaka's chest.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"No problem dear," Shaka whispered. "Though as much as I wish to let you lay there and recover your strength I need to ask you something."
"Anything," Pumpkin whispered huskily.
"Would you bear my foals?" Shaka asked.
"Yes! I mean this is so sudden, and I had hoped to be married first but yes!" Pumpkin cried.
"That's wonderful to hear," Shaka replied.
Pumpkin frowned. "But I'm not in heat, nor will I be for months."
"I have something for that," Shaka exclaimed, glancing at Pound Cake.
Who approached the bed with a steaming cup of tea in one hoof.
"Here you are," he offered.
Pumpkin Cake took the mug and looked at it curiously. "Will this make me... you know?" she asked, glancing down at Shaka.
Who nodded.
There were no further questions that needed to be asked, nor answers given and she eagerly gulped down the liquid. Even the slight burning of the still hot water couldn't stop her from downing every last bit of it. When its contents were gone, Pumpkin released a long sigh, her body shuddering as its effects already began to take hold.
"What's next?" she asked.
"Next we get married," Shaka declared.
Pumpkin's eyes opened wide. "Really?"
"Really, but it is a zebra custom," Shaka cautioned.
"I don't care what custom it is lets do it!" Pumpkin shouted.
"Good, now wait just a moment," Shaka warned.
The zebra's eyes closed, and after a moment of nothing happening, a sudden fog appeared all around them. His hoof grabbed hers, gripping it so tightly that Pumpkin knew that she would never be able to escape. Though She would have never tried, as her gaze had latched onto Shaka's own the moment his eyes opened.
"You are adrift on the winds of fate, daughter of Cake," Shaka began, his voice reaching an unnutarally deep tone. "You have been searching for meaning for a long time, and soon your long hunt shall be over."
Pound Cake held his breath while Pumpkin continued to stare silently into Shaka's swirling eyes.
"When this ritual is complete you will know what you were meant to do. You will know your place in this world, and you will have gained a companion who will be with you for the rest of your life," Shaka declared.
"Yes please, what do I do?" Pumpkin eagerly whispered.
Shaka smiled. "You have already given yourself to me, and become mine in both word and blood. All you must do is answer me this simple question. Are you ready to give your very soul to me?"
"Yes!" Pumpkin shouted.
"Then repeat after me," Shaka began, clearing his throat. "I take you Shaka as my lord and master."
"I take you, Shaka, as my lord and master," Pumpkin Cake declared.
"I swear to accept all commands without question or hesitation," Shaka continued.
"I swear to accept all commands without question or hesitation," Pumpkin Cake repeated.
"I swear to serve until my dying day, and give everything I have to my new master," Shaka pressed.
"I swear to serve until my dying day, and give everything I have to my new master," Pumpkin Cake exclaimed, her eyes glowing the same color as Shaka's own.
"On my honor, and my blood, do I assert that all I say is true, and that none will ever come before you," Shaka exclaimed, his voice remaining strong as the energy swirled around them.
"On my honor, and my blood, do I assert that all I say is true, and that none will ever come before you," Pumpkin Cake immediately repeated.
"Then it is done," Shaka declared.
The energy flashed briefly, blinding everyone, and vanishing by the time they were able to see once more.
"I feel... wonderful," Pumpkin whispered.
Shaka smiled as he gazed down at the mare still impaled on his cock. Every last one of her features had become more prominent, most notably her breasts, and her hips. The twin orbs had tripled in size, allowing the diminutive teets to now sit comfortably on Shaka's crotch.
She also had the child bearing stance of a mother thrice over, and more important still were the internal changes. Shaka wasn't sure how, but he could just tell that she was now capable of bearing numerous children with remarkable ease. Her body had been made into a breeding machine, but her beauty had also been enhanced by the ritual.
Her hair was slightly longer, her features slightly softer, with her feminine charms accentuated in a strange way. Shaka struggled to think of clear exact differences, but it was obvious to any passive observer that she was prettier. Everything about her was just made even more attractive, and perfect.
"Your beautiful," Pound Cake murmured.
"I feel like a new mare," Pumpkin whispered in a low tone, her voice having lost some of the high pitched timbre it had a moment earlier. "I even sound different."
"So... sultry," Pound Cake muttered.
"And with such a wide set of hips," Shaka pointed out. "Why I bet you could bear me a whole litter of foals at once without a problem."
"And you could feed them all easily," Pound Cake offered, hefting one of Pumpkin's tits and letting it fall once more.
Pumpkin's eyes shot open. "We must do it again. I need to make sure I'm knocked up!"
"I'm pretty sure your about as knocked up as your going to get," Pound Cake pointed out, prodding Pumpkin's stomach in emphasis.
"No, I need more," Pumpkin Cake demanded.
"Woah there, your brother has been waiting patiently for a while. Why don't you give him a turn?" SHaka offered.
"You'll fuck me again right after though, right?" Pumpkin asked in a soft, pleading tone, lip quivering.
Shaka chuckled. "Yes, of course."
"Heck yeah! Come on little brother, help me get off so I can help you get off," Pumpkin Cake exclaimed.
Pound Cake smiled. "Right away sister dear." |
The guest | 11 | Shaka paced back and forth in front of the entrance to the bakery, the sound of his hooves growing louder with each pass. Only when he was starting to stomp around the storefront did the zebra stop himself and really take a breath. A long, slow inhale followed by an equally as lengthy exhale helped to set his mind at ease, though not completely.
"Come on, where are you?" Shaka asked the empty room, glancing at the clock and finding it was only three minutes since the last time he had looked at it. "It's nearly eleven already. What is taking you so long?"
Shaka put a hoof against his chest, slowing his heart, and causing his body to shrink back down to its usual size. A process which took a good few minutes as he was nearly twice as tall now from before he had taken the Cake twins. Heck he was tall enough to bump his head against the ceiling if he stretched a little, and he had the muscles to match.
The zebra didn't concern himself about such details at the moment though, as he was focused entirely on his plan. Or more specifically, about how it was all about to unravel if Mrs Cake didn't get home within the next hour.
"She was supposed to be mine by now. This shouldn't be happening," he muttered.
All at once, Shaka began to question if his overconfidence was going to be his undoing. The memory of tampering with Mrs Cake's mail in order to give the wrong date of Mr Cake's return came to mind.
It would have been perfect. Shaka thought to himself as he chewed on his bottom lip. Seduce Cup for one final round, then have Carrot walk in, freak out and divorce Cup. With that relationship destroyed she'd have nowhere else to go but back to my waiting hooves.
"It had all been so easy. Seduce them, play innocent, then in a single blow remove my only real competition," Shaka remarked to himself. "I should have told Zecora to have her back sooner, I'm so stupid."
While he was busy cursing himself for his foolishness, Shaka heard the distinct clop of hooves approaching the door. Based on their cantor, they were a female's which meant that his target had finally returned from Zecroa's little trip.
Shaka swiftly ensured he was presentable, and made sure to stand directly below the lone light he had turned on. With the curtains drawn, he would look like a shining beacon to the mare the second she walked inside. Or at least that's what the plan was, though Shaka had to admit that he might be overthinking things just a little bit.
As the doorknob turned, Shaka shrunk his height down another few inches, ensuring he was as tall as when he first arrived at the Cake household. This close to the finish line he didn't want to elicit a single iota of suspicion, that was until she was his in body and soul.
The door pushed itself open, and Mrs Cake stepped inside, unslinging her saddle bags and setting them aside.
"Good afternoon," Shaka greeted.
"Oh my!" Mrs Cake yelped, stumbling back a step and looking up at Shaka. "You startled me dear."
"My apologies," Shaka quickly replied. "I was just doing a little cleaning when I heard you coming up to the door so I thought I'd welcome you home."
"Oh uh that's very kind of you," Mrs Cake murmured. "Though I'm curious as to why it was locked in the first place."
"It's a holiday, remember?" Shaka replied, cocking his head.
"Oh right," Mrs Cake muttered to herself. "I suppose that explains why the curtains have been drawn as well."
"I didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea," Shaka exclaimed.
"That means I didn't really even need you to look after the place," Mrs Cake clopped a hoof upside her skull. "Where has my head been these past few days?"
"You've been busy, and dealing with a lot. It's perfectly understandable," Shaka offered.
"You're... too kind," Mrs Cake remarked.
"So," Shaka began. "What kind of grand adventure did you get called to?"
Mrs Cake shook her head. "You wouldn't believe it, Shaka but there was a young colt who was sick with some terrible infection and Zecora needed me of all ponies to help her make a cure."
"But you did save him, right?" Shaka pressed.
Mrs Cake nodded. "Oh yes. It was a little touch and go for a bit there but between Zecora's potions, and my own baking skill which somehow came in handy, we did it. I don't think I'll ever forget that moment."
Shaka smiled and took a step forward. "It sounds like quite the adventure."
"Oh yes," Mrs Cake murmured, glancing down and away from the stallion. "It was a delight to help someone in need."
"I know the feeling," Shaka whispered, a hoof caressing Mrs Cake's chin. "Helping you with your desires has been the highlight of my time here in Ponyville."
"What are..." Mrs Cake bit her lip as Shaka's potent scent washed over her. "What are you talking about?"
"Let's quit the games hmm?" Shaka offered, gently forcing Mrs Cake's eyes to meet his own. "You were lonely, frustrated, and desired the company of a true stallion, one who could satisfy the urges that had for so long gone unfulfilled."
"That isn't... I wasn't... I'm not," Mrs Cake muttered, her gaze becoming distant as her lungs continually filled with the stallion's potent scent.
"Can you really say that Carrot was able to give you the pleasure I did?" Shaka demanded.
Mrs Cake clamped her mouth shut and seemed to be resisting the urge to utter a sound. Then she inhaled, and her shoulders slumped, her gaze falling to the floor.
"No," she admitted.
"Can you say that your useless husband was as good to your kids as I have been?" Shaka pressed. "Me, who helped get Pound Cake out of that gang, and assisted in Pumpkin escaping her shell in a fortnight."
"N-no," Cup Cake stuttered.
"I've given you pleasure the likes of which no stallion had ever been able to. I've helped set your children on the path they were destined to walk. Face it Cup Cake," Shak continued, his firm tone demanding that Cup Cake look him in the eye. "I'm a better partner than Carrot and the competition isn't even close."
"Yes you're a better lover, but..." Cup Cake muttered, her brow creasing with strain.
"But what? What could he possibly do better than me?" Shaka pressured.
"I don't know," Cup Cake admitted with a huff. "But there must be something. Some reason I've stayed for so long."
"It's been nothing more than momentum," Shaka explained, running a hoof across the earth pony's cheek. "You've been living with that miserable male for so long that you can't see a way out, but I'm here to tell you that there is an escape."
"What do you mean?" Cup Cake whispered, her eyes peering intently into Shaka's twin orbs.
"Cup, you're already there," Shaka replied. "You carry my foals, you warm my bed, I'm loved by your kids and I know the business. I'm already your husband, the only thing left is for you to make it official, and for you to admit what you already know to be true."
He leaned in close, wafting another wave of potent pheromones into the earth pony's nostrils.
"You need me," he whispered.
Cup Cake shuddered. "I-"
Shaka held his breath, his entire body tensed as he pulled Cup Cake close to him. Her lips were mere inches away, ready to be kissed the second she uttered the words he so desperately wanted to hear. All she had to do was give in to what her body was no doubt screaming at her to do, and it would all be worth it.
The sudden click of a door made them both turn to Mr Cake as he was walking into the room. He had taken a single step inside and had been ready to call out to his family when his eyes locked onto Shaka.
"What the fuck is going on here?" Carrot demanded.
"It's not what it looks like!" Cup Cake quickly exclaimed, stepping away from the zebra and putting herself between the two males. "I can explain."
"Then do so, and quickly," Carrot Cake demanded, stomping up to the mare and glaring past her to Shaka. "Before I gut this stripey cunt."
"You couldn't," Shaka countered without missing a beat.
"Excuse me?" Carrot retorted. "I very much would."
"You misheard," Shaka corrected. "I said you couldn't. As in it would be physically impossible for you to do such a thing."
Mrs Cake pushed Carrot Cake back before he could make another remark.
"Please Carrot, give me a moment," Cup Cake pleaded.
"You have ten seconds before I send this striped demon straight to hell," Carrot retorted.
"I... well," Cup Cake grit her teeth. "I gave into his charms. You were gone so long and it was just... a one night thing."
"A one night thing, then a next morning thing, then an afternoon thing, and then a second night thing," Shaka retorted, tapping his hoof with each addition he made. "She loved every minute of it too. Even told me that I was twice as big as you."
"You are not helping," Mrs Cake hissed.
"Is that true? Did you really fuck this psycho?" Carrot shouted, waving a hoof in Shaka's face.
"It wasn't that many times," Cup Cake tried to explain.
"Twenty six times in total," Shaka interrupted. "Or if were going by your orgasms, then it was a little short of a hundred."
"WHAT!?" Carrot Cake shouted, veins bulging in his face and neck. "How dare you do this to me Cup! I demand you kick him out of our house this instant!"
"Are you really going to listen to this racist nutjob?" Shaka retorted. "You know the things he said about Zecora, about me. You know that's not the kind of influence you want around children."
"It's not racism if I was right all along!" Carrot bellowed. "I told everyone that your kind was coming here to take our jobs and our women and here you are. With my job, and my wife!"
"I..." Cup Cake bit her lip.
Shaka took the chance to fire back, and jabbed a hoof at the other stallion. "Carrot is secretive, coniving, and lies to you regularily. Do you really think a stallion who'se willing to hide things from his own wife is truly faithful?"
"You haven't been cheating, have you, Carrot?" Cup Cake asked.
Carrot snorted. "I admit I haven't communicated enough, but I have not been cheating. The new store really has been a bit of a shit show and I think there is some kind of sabotage effort going on."
"Are you really going to believe that?" Shaka retorted. "That some kind of perfectly orchestrated espionage is going on in order to keep this worm away from your home? Doesn't that all sound a little too perfect?"
"It's the truth!" Carrot yelled back, spittle flying from his open mouth.
"You're not making a great case for yourself dear," Cup Cake whispered.
Shaka had to restrain the urge to grin like a mad stallion as the dynamic of the room shifted once more. Cup Cake had swayed back and forth, but now with this most recent bombshell Shaka could sense she was on his side. All that needed to happen was for Carrot to explode in an expectedly dramatic fashion and Shaka would have it all.
Rather than erupt with rage though, Carrot Cake took a long exhale.
"I didn't cheat on you," he declared in a soft tone. "I may be a bit of an ass sometimes, but I'm stressed. This whole second bakery thing has been my dream, not yours and I know that. Which is why I've shouldered so much of the burden."
"Oh Carrot," murmured Cup Cake.
"So let's just get rid of this..." Mr Cake bit his tongue. "Individual. Then we can chat about things."
Shaka stood there dumbfounded, his entire plan falling apart around him. His fears grew as Mr and Mrs Cake turned to him as a seemingly united front. Though temptation remained in Cup Cake's eyes, it was subdued, and would be gone soon if Shaka didn't act. Yet when it came down to it, he didn't have the words, nor could he come up with anything to save his plan.
"You're lying," muttered a voice.
Shaka spun around to see Pumpkin Cake standing in the doorway.
"You've been having sex with the cashier, and the assistant baker," Pumpkin pressed. "You're lying."
"I am not," Carrot Cake shot back. "Furthermore this is a discussion between your mother and I. Not you, so why don't you go back upstairs?"
"What, so you can yell at us the moment mom leaves the house?" Pound Cake added, the young stallion slipping up next to his sister.
How did I miss that detail? Shaka thought to himself. I can't believe I've been so blindsided recently. I'll need to consider this in greater detail once everything is over.
Carrot Cake chuckled mirthlessly. "That didn't happen. These are all just lies put in their heads by this striped demon."
"I didn't even know that," Shaka admitted, glancing back at Pound Cake. "Though I wish someone had told me earlier."
The feminine stallion winced slightly, giving his master an apologetic look before continuing.
"I didn't want to worry you. Plus we were..." Pound Cake exchanged a glance with Pumpkin. "We were kind of hoping Carrot wasn't going to come back."
Cup Cake gaped in shock. "Is this true? Were you two truly hoping that your father stayed in Canterlot permanently?"
"How can you even entertain this nonsense?" Carrot Cake exclaimed, gesturing to the twins incredulously. "This is clearly a ruse made up by that zebra in order to drive a wedge between us."
"Let them talk," Cup Cake retorted.
"It's true," Pumpkin pressed, giving Shaka a small nod. "We had hoped that mom would find someone who truly made her happy."
"She hasn't smiled like that in years, and it's all thanks to Shaka," Pound Cake added.
"How dare you say such things about your mother!" Carrot hissed. "Our marriage has been perfect. Tell them dear."
"I..." Cup Cake hesitated, glancing up at Shaka expectantly.
Shaka smiled warmly, and apologetically, doing his best to convey his remorse through his eyes alone.
"It hasn't been perfect," Cup Cake admitted, turning to Carrot. "You've been distant for years, and I've felt alone for longer still."
"We can go to couple's counseling. I can spend more time at home," Carrot offered.
"Will you give up on the second store?" Pound Cake inquired.
"Never," Carrot hissed. "But I'll do anything else you hear me? Anything at all."
"But that's what's tearing this family apart. Your desperation to have an entire chain of stores," Cup Cake remarked. "Everything else stems from that."
"You can't be serious! You knew that's what I wanted for nearly ten years now! That can't be the reason this family has been falling apart. It's all this zebra's words poisoning your mind! Don't you see?" Carrot Cake exclaimed while gesturing wildly.
"You're right actually. The store hasn't been what's been tearing our family apart," Pumpkin Cake picked up. "Because we've been a family without you for a long time now, dad."
"Shaka just woke us up to how it's already been," Pound Cake continued.
"This is ridiculous. Come on Cup Cake, let's go up to our room and have this conversation somewhere private. Where certain people can't influence you," Carrot Cake demanded, grabbing Cup Cake by the shoulder.
"No," she replied, brushing off his hoof. "I see now that this has been over for a while now and that I just haven't been strong enough to see it."
"But now you are," Shaka finished, flashing Cup Cake a wide smile.
"I am," Cup Cake murmured.
Carrot Cake gaped openly, his jaw hanging open as he gasped like a fish. "This is insane. You are really going to throw away nearly two decades of marriage all for some random zebra who gave you some cock?"
"That's not it," Cup Cake retorted, stepping forward. "Shaka has been nothing but good to us, even when we didn't deserve his kindness. Yet unlike you, he never lashed out at us, and just kept on doing what was best for us all."
"Pound, Pumpkin," Carrot began, his wrathful demeanor falling away. "My babies, please help your mother see reason. You can't let her tear this family apart."
"We told you. We are a family," Pumpkin Cake began.
"And you're not a part of it," Pound Cake finished.
Shaka stepped forward, placing himself between Carrot Cake and the rest of the ponies. "I think you should go," Shaka stated in a low tone.
"This is ridiculous. This is insane!" Carrot continued, puffing up his chest and standing up tall. "This is my bakery, and I will not be kicked out of it. Certainly not by some filthy zebra."
"It's not yours," Cup Cake interrupted. "It's ours, but when the divorce procedings go through I'm sure it will be mine."
"Then you can stay in Canterlot all the time. Just like you always wanted," Pound Cake offered with a smirk.
"No! I refuse! You can't do this to me!" Carrot bellowed.
"Please don't make this any more difficult than it needs to be," Cup Cake exclaimed.
"It doesn't need to be difficult at all!" Carrot retorted, gesturing wildly towards Shaka. "Just tell this invader to get out and leave our family alone. Then we can all go on with our lives."
"It's not your family. Not anymore," Pound Cake exclaimed.
For a moment Carrot Cake stood perfectly still, then with a scream he all but threw himself towards his son. Shaka was quick to step between them however, his suddenly iimposing figure causing Carrot Cake to stop in place. They then entered into a brief stalemate, where the pony stared up at the zebra, Carrot's nerves slowly fraying as the seconds ticked by.
"Whatever. You're not worth it," he muttered, turning his back on the group. "You better have a damn good lawyer, because I intend on keeping my business."
"This hasn't been your bakery in a lot of years," Cup Cake exclaimed. "I'm not worried."
Carrot Cake never heard this however, as he had already left, leaving the small group to immediately erupt in celebration. Pound and Pumpkin threw themselves on Shaka, hugging the zebra as he altered his height back down to the normal level.
"I've been dreaming about this day for years," Pumpkin gushed.
"Thank you for saving me," Pound Cake added, before lowering his voice. "And sorry for not telling you about... all that."
"It wasn't a pleasant memory. I know that bringing it up was painful for you, so it's quite alright," Shaka replied, patting the other stallion on the shoulder.
"When I woke up today I sure didn't expect for things to play out like this," Cup Cake exclaimed.
"But?" Pound Cake pressed.
"But I must admit it feels like a weight has been removed from my shoulders," Cup Cake murmured, her firm gaze reaching Shaka's eyes. "Don't think you're off the hook for your earlier behavior though mister. Riling Carrot up like that didn't help anyone."
"I'm sorry," Shaka murmured. "After hearing about his racism from Zecora I've had trouble holding my tongue."
"Still," Cup Cake warned. "You could have handled that a little better."
"Pfft who cares?" Pound Cake interrupted. "We got rid of that stuffy old jerk and got a new, cooler daddy."
"Hey, he is not your new dad," Cup Cake stated.
"Why not?" Pumpkin Cake countered. "Haven't you already been knocked up by him?"
"You heard about that?" Cup Cake exclaimed in shock.
"Shit, sorry. I knew I should have checked to see if someone was listening to us," Shaka murmured, flashing Pumpkin a sly wink of thanks for the assist.
"It's... fine," Cup Cake murmured after a short sigh. "And regardless of my... pregnancy. I don't think I'm quite ready to start dating, especially considering your father and I aren't even officially separated yet."
"Who cares about all the paperwork? You like him, he seems to like you. I say go for it!" Pound Cake encouraged, slapping his mother on the back.
Causing the mare to yelp and stumble forward into Shaka's waiting forehooves.
"Come on Cup. I know you were thinking about it before Carrot walked in," Shaka offered. "We're pretty much dating already. What's a silly little label like that after the things we've done to one another?"
Cup Cake hesitated, her posture shifting when she inhaled another lungful of Shaka's scent. "Maybe... maybe you're right. It feels like I've been single for years anyway."
"That's the spirit, mom," Pound Cake encouraged.
"Bag that young stud," Pumpkin Cake pressed.
"Oh hush you two," Cup Cake whispered, a blush crossing her face.
Shaka stepped forward, and caressed the mare's chin lovingly. "So, what do you say, Cup? Would you like to be mine?"
Cup shuddered. "I would," she whispered.
"Then we have a lot to talk about," Shaka exclaimed, glancing to the twins. "If you two don't mind, i was hoping to have a private discussion."
"Thats totally cool. You two probably got a lot to figure out now anyway," Pumpkin replied.
Pound turned the lock on the door. "Just don't take too long okay? We want to celebrate as a family."
Pound, Pumpkin, and Shaka exchanged a knowing smile, one that was completely missed by Cup.
"Yes, a little cake or something would be nice right about now," she remarked.
"Run along. I'm sure we won't be long," Shaka pressed, shooing away the dou with his hooves.
"Right. Come on Pound, let's get everything set up," Pumpkin exclaimed.
"We'll meet you two upstairs," Pound added, flashing the zebra a wink before departing.
Shaka smiled faintly as he watched the pair go, only to be reminded of his company when Cup cleared her throat.
"I uh. Should apologize to you," Cup all but whispered. "At first I desperately wanted to keep you as an employee and lover, but that wasn't fair of me. You aren't a thing, nor should I have thought of you in that way."
"Shhh," Shaka interrupted, stepping up to the mare and pressing a hoof against her trembling lips. "You tried to balance what you thought you needed and what you actually needed."
"But I screwed up," Cup murmured.
"You only screwed up because you were trying to do what you thought was best for yourself and your kids," Shaka exclaimed. "But now that's all in the past. You've realized what was best for your family and yourself."
"I just hope I wasn't too selfish," Cup whispered, her gaze falling to the floor. "Taking away their father all because I wanted a new, younger lover."
"You heard what they said back there, didn't you?" Shaka interrupted.
Cup nodded slowly.
"Then you know that this was the best for all of you, not just yourself," Shaka continued.
"I suppose..." Cup inhaled deeply. "I suppose that it was all for the best."
"Exactly," Shaka continued, stepping closer to the mare, and running a hoof down her face.
Cup leaned into the touch, sighing contentedly. "Stars above I missed this. To be touched by someone who genuinely wanted to touch me and who didn't feel obligated to do so."
"And I promise to you Cup, I will always want you," Shaka exclaimed in a low, husky tone. "No matter how old you get, or how pregnant you are. I will always yearn for you."
"I believe you," Cup replied, her face lighting up with a blush. "I can't believe it but you genuinely mean what you said."
"Of course. I don't lie, or cheat, or go behind people's backs," Shaka stated. At least, not anymore.
"That feels so good to hear," Cup gushed, her hoof holding Shaka's against her cheek. "It's almost enough to make me all hot and bothered."
"Almost? Well then, I guess you won't mind if I push things a little," Shaka half asked, half stated.
"What do you-mmph!" Cup muttered, her reply muffled by Shaka's lips.
As she kissed the mare, he also lifted her off the ground, and carried her over to the door. Now with her back against the wood, Cup felt a spike of panic shoot through her though it quickly vanished. Washed away by the wave of arousal that came from being all but pinned against the wall while Shaka's tongue invaded her mouth.
All Cup could do was moan and wrap her forehooves around Shaka's neck in an effort to keep him close. Not like he was going to make any attempt to the contrary, as he continued to kiss the mare passionately. Back and forth they went, with their tongues slipping past one pair of lips and then another before stopping for a short break.
Throughout it all Shaka remained the dominant force, guiding everything and setting the pace for the make out session. His hooves caressed the mare's body, drawing forth more moans, and an even greater font of arousal from the pony. Arousal which soon made itself known when it drifted across his nose, and alerted him to the pool growing between Cup's legs.
Shaka pulled back, his tongue slipping back into his mouth with a wet shlorp. For a moment he merely stood there sileently, observing as Cup panted, her face bright red and her cheeks flushed. Her body trembled beneath Shaka's touch, and her breathing came in short, rapid bursts.
"We should celebrate," Shaka exclaimed.
"C-celebrate? How?" Cup asked.
"I think you know how," Shaka replied with a pointed smirk.
"Right now, right here?" Cup muttered, glancing over her shoulder and to the mostly empty street beyond.
"Right here, right now," Shaka exclaimed. "That is unless you can wait until tonight when the kids are asleep?"
Cup grunted, biting down on her lip as she squirmed in Shaka's grip. For a moment she seemed ready to dismiss his urges, but a quick glance out the window assuaged her worries.
"Okay, but let's make it quick," Cup whispered. "I don't want the kids to walk in on us while we do it in such an open place."
"Don't worry. They'll be handling the setup for a while," Shaka exclaimed.
That and they already know what I intended on doing the moment I seduced you. He thought, though did not utter.
"Hrrngh," Cup grunted, biting her lip. "Just hurry up. I don't know why but being around Zecora reminded me so much of you. I couldn't stop... leaking."
Shaka grinned, though a small part of him was both annoyed at, and appreciative for Zecora. She could have probably seduced Cup herself, if the other zebra had wanted, yet he couldn't detect a hint of Zecora's scent on the mare. Yet the mere fact that Cup had been that aroused around someone who isn't him set off alarm bells in the zebra's mind.
He ignored those thoughts for now, and focused on what was more important.
The first of which was hooking a forehoof under Cup's butt, and lifting her up to Shaka's new height. Which was much taller then normal, giving him the strength necessary to carry Cup around with ease. He then fixed her with a wide smile, his cock emerging into the air and rising up until it rested against the pony's stomach.
"So," Shaka began. "Did you miss me, or were you just missing this?"
He gave his hips a little wiggle, smearing precum across Cup's stomach.
"Mmm, both," Cup whispered huskily.
"Oh? Do go on," Shaka urged.
"I missed your warm, comforting presence," Cup began, her words flowing faster and faster until they were nearly a stream. "I missed your strong hooves, your kind words, your loving embrace. Even at our most frantic I never felt likt you were just here for my tits, or my pussy."
The mare big back a moan.
"B-but I also missed just how big you are," Cup continued. "Your cock is four, maybe five times as big as Carrot's and I knew that if I went back to him that I would never be able to enjoy his needle dick again."
"That's what I like to hear," Shaka exclaimed. "Keep going."
"Your so much stronger, and bigger than my hu-ex husband," Cup corrected. "You've filled me in ways that other stallions could never dream of, and made me experience pleasure no other could hope to replicate. You've been the finest lover I've ever taken, and a joy to lay with."
"I look forward to fucking you multiple times a day for the rest of our lives," Shaka whispered, nipping Cup's neck.
Cup bit her lip as her body trembled, a fresh wave of liquid arousal pouring down from between her legs.
"You have no idea how good it feels to hear you say that," Cup whispered.
"And don't worry, after today I'll share everything I have with you," Shaka continued. "My dreams, my hopes, my loves. I want you to be a part of them all."
"Oh Shaka," Cup murmured, her hooves weaving through the zebra's mane. "That sounds wonderful."
"Because I want you to be mine, in body and soul," Shaka remarked. "Doesn't that sound nice?"
"It sounds... amazing," Cup replied, pausing long enough to shudder in anticipation.
"Then let's take that next step, together," Shaka exclaimed, drawing his hips back and aligning his cock with the lips of Cup's pussy.
"Yes," Cup began, tightening her hold on Shaka's shoulders, and adjusting her own hips to better accommodate the zebra's truly titanic length.
"Ready?" Shaka asked, though he knew the answer.
"Ready," Cup replied.
Together they thrusted up, or pressed down, allowing the head of the zebra's cock to push its way all the way inside in a single short motion. That was as far as he made it however, as his length was too great even for Cup's already well loved pussy.
"Are you... bigger?" Cup exclaimed in shock, her hoof going down to rub the bump Shaka's dick made in her midsection.
"Slightly. I used a little magic to intimidate Carrot and I guess it never wore off," Shaka lied. "Is it too much?"
"N-no!" Cup replied immediately. "I love it. In fact I want you to ruin my cunt. To leave me so stretched and broken that only you will be able to pleasure me."
"By the spirits you are one hungry slut," Shaka exclaimed. "Since when have you been so needy?"
"Ever since you opened my eyes," Cup replied, caressing the side of Shaka's face and flashing him a smile. "And revealed to me that there was a whole world of pleasure out there which I had denied myself of for too long."
"Don't worry. When I'm done with you, you'll feel like your on a whole nother planet," Shaka whispered.
"Don't just talk about it then, do it," Cup urged.
Shaka grinned, his pride swelling as he realized just how deeply his powerful pheromones had already changed the mare. She wanted more, and though there was still a small part of her that was worried about decorum, Shaka could tell that was shrinking. Soon she would emerge fully from the subdued, and nervous housewife persona she had worn for so long.
Allowing the unfettered slut to emerge from beneath the mask like a triumphant butterfly. An event Shaka looked forward to immensely. That would come soon enough, all Shaka needed to do was give the mare a firm push and she would become exactly what he wanted.
With a snort, he threw himself forward, pressing Cup against the door with enough force to make the wood groan and the mare moan.
"Oooh sweet stars above," Cup murmured. "Fuck I missed this."
Shaka's grin grew ever wider, and he quickly threw himself forward once again, pressing deeper still. The throbbing bulge in Cup's midsection travelled further and further up her body, the zebra's shattering what resistance her body put up. The lingering tightness of her pussy was ignored, the occasional scratch of Cup's hooves as they squeezed Shaka's shoulders, relished.
Despite his cock feeling almost like it was being rammed into a vice, the zebra pressed on with Cup's blessing. Who continued to moan, and rock her hips as best as she could while remaining being held aloft by Shaka's strong hooves. The position was slightly awkward, but neither complained as the raw intensity of it all washed away any opposition.
There was only their partner, and the pounding thump of their hips desperately seeking each other out. Cup pressed downwards, using her weight to further impale herself on the zebra's length while the male thrust up. With such titanic forces at work, there was little Cup's now rather loose pussy could do to resist the titanic tool sliding into it.
Though calling it loose wasn't quite true, as it would be loose for anyone who didn't have a cock as monstrous as Shaka's. Something which should be nearly impossible, Shaka reasoned, as he was larger than any pony could grow to through natural means. And even if they used potions or spells, Shaka doubted they could reach his titanic length of nearly two feet.
Thicker than even an earth pony's hoof, Shaka's dick was wide enough to utterly annihilate Cup's cunt. Forced to adapt to such a massive cock, the formerly tight canal had been stretched beyond the point of what should be possible. Aided by chemically enhanced pheromones, and the potion he had slipped her not long ago, Cup could take it.
Not only could she take it, but she revelled in the feeling of stretching, of having what felt like her entire body remolded. Her already warped insides expanded to accommodate his length, shifting to better suit the zebra's all consuming lust. The changes didn't stop there however, as at this point she had filled her lungs repeatedly with his potent scent.
Her mind was hazy, her desire burned white hot, and even the fact that she was currently screaming in ecstasy didn't bother. She didn't care that others might be able to hear her, even her children or the neighbors there was only Shaka's cock. That hyper focus only became even stronger when she felt the lips of her pussy slip over Shaka's large medial ring.
"Oh fuck!" She yelled, her hooves tightening around the zebra's neck.
Shaka didn't mind though, merely grinning as he felt all four of his partner's limbs wrap around him. Every last bit of her earth pony strength had been poured into keeping them locked together as her pussy spasmed. A sensation which made Shaka's smile and lean down to bite the mare's neck hard, but not so hard that he broke the skin.
"I'm cumming," Cup muttered, her entire body shaking violently.
"Cum as hard as you like as often as you like," Shaka whispered. "And remember, you can look forward to feeling this good every single day for the rest of your life."
Cup shuddered, her grip tightening as hot mare cum drenched Shaka's already sopping wet tool. That wasn't the only thing Shaka enjoyed however, as she also squeezed down on his length, massaging it like only Cup seemed able to do. That didn't last long however, as her orgasm quickly faded, allowing Shaka to begin moving once more.
With the mare's grip relaxing somewhat, Shaka drew back his hips and slammed forward. The back of Cup's head bumped against the window which occupied half the door but neither she nor Shaka noticed. Their eyes remained locked on one another as they both started to move in tandem with one another.
Shaka thrusted while Cup bounced, the pair reaching a perfectly harmonious state within seconds. There was barely a second wasted before they matched one another in a deeply intimate manner. This time when they began to move no longer was Shaka the most aroused of the two of them, as that two was equal.
The wet slap of Shaka's cock bottoming out in Cup's pussy had a strangely musical quality to it. They shifted left, then twisted right, dexterously managing to hit each and every pleasurable spot the other had without speaking a word. They no longer needed to, for like the others Shaka had created a connection that bound them to one another deeply.
The only thing he needed to do next was to make it official, but before that happened he wanted to ensure Cup was truly his. And that meant absolutely blowing her mind using every single trick he had up his sleeve. A tactic he had used before, but now that she was willing, and no longer guarded, was sure to be a success.
Once more his hips began to pick up speed, his grip tightened, and he was about to throw himself into it when he realized something. Releasing Cup's ass, Shaka allowed her to dangle from the end of his cock, suspended only by his titanic tool. Though heavy, it was acceptable to the zebra, especially since her moans became even louder and constant.
"Oh holy fuck. How did you do that? Your amazing," she muttered between cries of pleasure.
Shaka merely grinned, allowing his hips to speak for him.
Though he could no longer pull out very far, he didn't need to, not any more. All he needed to do was to extract a few short inches of dick then ram it back inside of her with all the force he could muster. An action which allowed his cock to slam into her cervix like a battering ram, prompting the mare to scream in ecstasy.
"By the stars that feels- oh fuck- so good. How does that feel good?" Cup exclaimed in shock.
Shaka didn't stop long enough to reply, merely continuing to keep his hips in constant motion. He never slowed in his jackhammer thrusts, his balls continually smacking against Cup's ass. Each wet thump made her ass jiggle, and added an extra wave of pleasure which radiated up her body.
Her face contorted with pleasure, her frequent moans turning into untilegable gibbering as she came yet again. Over and over she continued to squirm, writhe, and scratch the zebra's back as she had one orgasm after another. There didn't seem to be an end to it, and with Shaka taking out all the stops, Cup was soon so awash with pleasure that she couldn't see straight.
The zebra bit her neck, nibbled her ears, and occasionally planted a brief kiss on the mare's lips. He wanted to linger there and perhaps make out with her, but the pony was too lust drunk to even manage that. All she was capable of was having her tongue hang out of her mouth as she continued to moan, and scream the stallion's name.
The feeling of utter dominance that gave Shaka was unlike almost any other sensation he had ever experienced. He had achieved it all, seduced the entirety of the Cake family minus Cup's worthless, soon to be ex husband. Furthermore, now the whole neighborhood would know that he was his, and he wouldn't even have to say a word.
His nostrils flared, his muscles flexed, and Shaka poured himself into the act with every last bit of gusto he had. Minutes continued to tick by, passing the nearly fifty minute mark, as well as the fortieth orgasm mark. The sense of accomplishment along with the physical joy was enough to push Shaka near the edge and he knew it wouldn't be long before he fell over the other side.
He was determined to enjoy it however, and only one thing could possibly make that moment any better. Officially adding Cup to his small, but perfect harem of slutty ponies.
"Cup," Shaka stated in a low, commanding tone. "I need you to say something."
Shaka's body lurched to a stop, his pulsating cock positioned at the entrance to Cup's womb. He wanted nothing more than to push forward, to keep pounding her ruthlessly, and bring her to another orgasm. But he stopped himself, and allowed Cup to gather her wits, as well as her breathe.
"W-what is it?" Cup asked. "Why did you stop?"
"Will you marry me?" Shaka asked.
Cup blinked, and for a moment Shaka wondered if it hadn't quite been enough. Then her eyes began to water, and she responded with an enthusiastic.
"Yes!"
Shaka grinned. "Wonderful, now wait just a moment," Shaka cleared his throat, his eyes glowing faintly as a thin fog billowed throughout the room. "You strode down the wrong path, sweetest Cup. You Tied your lot to a stallion who had never truly given himself to you. Now that changes."
Cup gaped silently, staring intently into the zebra's swirling orbs with rapt attention.
"You bear my children, your body has been changed to better suit my lust. You are already mine, and soon we shall make that more true than you can imagine," Shaka continued, punctuating his sentence with a firm thrust of his hips.
"Oh stars above, yes," Cup muttered.
"When this ritual is over and I flood your pussy with my virile seed you will know what it means to truly stand beside another. Yet even as you serve as my wife, I will also serve as your master. Before that happens, do you hold qualms with this?" Shaka asked, an eyebrow raised curiously.
Cup's response was immediate and confident. "No." she uttered.
"Then repeat after me," Shaka began, adding another jackhammer-like thrust at the end of every sentence.
"F-fuck," Cup muttered under her breathe.
"I take you Shaka as my lord and master," he began, the last word accompanied by the wet slap of his balls thumping into Cup's generous posterior.
"I take you Shaka as my lord and master," Cup replied, receiving another powerful thrust for her response.
"I swear to accept all commands without question or hesitation," Shaka continued.
"I swear to accept all commands without question or hesitation," Cup replied instantly, the last word coming out several octaves higher than usual due to the sudden impact of Shaka's cock hitting her cervix.
"I swear to serve until my dying day, and give everything I have to my new master," Shaka pressed on, his confidence growing with each word Cup spoke.
"I swear to serve until my dying day, and give everything I have to my new master," Cup replied, her hooves digging into Shaka's back when he pushed her ever closer to yet another orgasm.
"On my honor, and my blood, do I assert that all I say is true, and that none will ever come before you," Shaka prompted.
"On my honor, and my blood, do I assert that all I say is true, and that none will ever come before you," Cup exclaimed in ecstasy, her reward thrust joined by a second, then a third, building them both up to another incredible high as the magic built.
The fog swirled around them like a tiny hurricane, and Shaka's eyes glowed bright enough to light up the room. Strength surged through his body as the binding ritual latched onto the mare's soul and began to do its work.
"It is done," Shaka declared a moment before a flash of light nearly blinded them both.
They didn't need to see in order to keep fucking though, as Shaka countinued to pound into the milf until finally they came. Both zebra and pony alike lurched to a sudden stop as Shaka's cock flared. A moment later and another wave of cum erupted from the titanic tool, splashing against Cup's sealed womb.
"Here it comes," Shaka muttered.
"Yes, yes yes, by the stars this is the greatest moment of my life!" Cup screamed to the heavens.
Cum exploded inside the pony, shooting out of her pussy and splashing against the hardwood floor. Neither cared about the mess they were making however, as they were already making out with all the intensity and finesse of teenagers. Their lips mashed against one another, and their tongues slipped from mouth to mouth without rhyme or reason.
Neither spoke a word, but both knew that they were currently experiencing the most mind blowing orgasm of their life. They rid that high for what felt like an entire hour, relishing the sensations until long after they had started to dull. Then when it ended they continued to stay locked together, neither willing to part just yet.
Only when Cup began to run out of air did she finall pull back, gasping desperately as she stared into Shaka's eyes.
"By the stars dear. That was... there are no words," Cup muttered.
"You don't need any," Shaka replied, planting one final kiss on her lips.
"No. No I don't," Cup replied, a soft, content smile crossing her face.
Shaka returned the expression with a grin of his own, though his was a bit more devilish. "I'd love to stay here all day, but I think the twins have finished setting things up," offered the zebra.
"Set up what exactly?" Cup replied.
"The studio we'll be using to make a video. One we'll send to your ex husband along with the divorce papers," Shaka answered with a grin.
"Ohoho. How devilish," Cup playfully batted Shaka's chest. "How did you convince the twins to do that for you, hmm?"
"They are my wives along with you," Shaka replied, wincing slightly. "Though you would still be the most senior among my pets."
"I don't care one way or the other," Cup stated earnestly, rubbing her nose against Shaka's. "I'm just glad that they can know this same joy that I have become so familiar with."
Shaka breathed a sigh of relief. "So, ready to start your film career?"
Cup nodded eagerly. "Of course, my master. Anything for you."
Shaka grinned. "Damn do those words sound good coming out of your mouth. Come on, let's go complete my obligation to Zecora."
"Anything for youuuu-" Cup exclaimed in shock, startled by the hoof that held her tight against the zebra's chest as he walked towards the exit. "Oh my stars this feels great."
Shaka merely chuckled as he awkwardly trundled up the stairs, his partner pressed against his belly. Cock wedged deep inside the pony, Shaka made sure to use his powers to keep himself from softening completely.
"Nothing's quite as sweet as pony pussy," Shaka paused. "Though the look on Carrot's face is going to be a close second." |
The guest | 12 | Carrot Cake sighed after plunking down into the slightly ratty break couch he had placed in the back of Sugarcube Corner. Though the store bore the same name as the one in Ponyville, it was located in Canterlot, it was also slightly smaller. Instead of a house big enough for an entire family to live in, attached there was only a small one room bachelor pad. Thankfully for him, after the store closed he could pretend like the rest of his business was a part of his home.
"Lets see what was in the mail today," he muttered.
Sifting through the pile of paper, Carrot Cake noticed that the majority were bills and fliers. At the bottom of them all was a letter taped to a small cardboard box simply labeled.
"To my ex husband."
"What the fuck," Carrot Cake muttered.
Sliding a letter opener through the top, Carrot Cake retreived the contents and read aloud.
"Dear Carrot Cake. I'm writing to inform you that I am divorcing you. Contained you will find all the necessary paperwork. I expect you will sign it quickly, or don't. I would love to face you in court. Either way, I anticipate you will mail them back soon, and in thanks for your quick response I have enclosed a gift. Enjoy," Carrot Cake muttered.
Though he wanted to tear the letter in half, and to throw the pile of paperwork that it was attached to in the trash, he didn't. His curiosity was getting the better of him, and there was an odd scent on the breeze. One which seemed to urge him to open the package and see what was inside.
"Lets see here," he muttered to himself.
Cutting the slim square of tape off from one end, the stallion pulled open the box and peered inside. There he found a vhs tape marked simply as 'your just deserts'. Though ominous, it was just a tape, and not intimidating in the slightest, though the inside of the box did smell a little weird.
Brushing that strange throught aside, Carrot Cake stood up and trotted over to the small T.V sitting across from him. Pushing the tape into the attached VCR, the male pressed play, and then sat back down. He watched the screen with a strange intensity, his eyes unable to look away from the flickering black and white box.
"Is it on?" muttered an overly feminine version of Pound Cake's voice.
"The light is on," replied Pumpkin Cake.
"You left the cap on it," Shaka pointed out.
Strangely enough, the sudden interruption of his most hated enemy's voice did not bother Carrot Cake. In fact he felt completely relaxed, so much so that he couldn't even move from his spot on the couch. Not like he wanted to though, as some part of him all but demanded that he continue to watch until it was over.
"Ahh, there we are," Cup Cake exclaimed.
A second later and the screen was no longer black, having been replaced by what looked like his old bedroom. Only now the queen sized bed had been replaced by one big enough to easily allow his entire family plus Shaka to sleep comfortably upon it. Though this information angered the hyponotized male, he was helpless to do anything but keep on watching.
"Welcome welcome Carrot Cake," Shaka exclaimed, striding back and forth across the screen. "I hope you found somewhere comfortable to sit before the paralysis agent set in. Don't want you get a backache or something."
Pound Cake snickered.
"A few things before we jump into it though," Shaka continued. "You will be stuck there for about five or so hours, but the tape will be over before then. At which point it will combust, leaving no evidence behind. Oh and don't think they'll take your word for it either, as the toxin will show up in your bloodstream as if you had been drinking heavily."
"So don't even think of fucking with our family," Pumpkin declared, jabbing a hoof at the screen.
"Now now Pumpkin. We don't have to worry about that now do we, master?" Cup Cake exclaimed, turning to Shaka.
"Nah. I've been studying him quite intensely over the last month or so just to make certain," Shaka replied.
"Are those all the things you wanted to say? Because I really want to show off now," Pound Cake exclaimed.
"Patience, I just had a message to deliver and then we can get things started," Shaka answered, clearing his throat and turning to the camera. "Zecora wanted me to relay to you these words."
The zebra cleared his throat. "You thought I wished to greet your wife with a kiss. So you met me with angry yellow piss. Now the grim specter of revenge has come to roost. And it is one of my kin who your wife was seduced."
"Fitting," Pumpkin remarked.
"And seduced I was," Cup Cake purred, leaning heavily against the zebra. "There is no way I could ever go back to that limped dick ex husband of mine."
"For more reasons than one," Pound Cake murmured.
"Which brings us to the next part of our little event," Shaka exclaimed, stepping aside and gesturing to the three ponies. "Now that the blurriness has cleared from Carrot's vision, let's show him what's changed. I'm sure he's dying to see how things have been going in his absence."
"With pleasure," purred Pumpkin.
Who eagerly stepped to the forefront of the scene, and revealed that she was quite different then expected. For one she wore more clothes then usual, though in this instance clothes probably werent the best word for it. As the young mare wore a golden saddle rimmed with black frills, from which was attached a garterbelt that held up the long black socks.
That wasn't all she wore though, as she also had on a thick, black leather collar adorned with golden spikes. It also had a golden plaque on the front which displayed her name and the words 'property of Shaka' underneath. In addition her front two stockings were also a lustrous gold collar, and rose up nearly the complete length of her legs.
"Looks good on her, doesn't it?" Shaka pressed.
Carrot Cake couldn't help but agree, though he couldn't respond verbally due to his lips being locked closed.
"That's not all though. The changes are more than just skin deep, though there are plenty of superficial alterations," Shaka explained.
Pumpkin Cake turned in place, revealing that she was wearing two final items, one of which was a black tail binding. This kept her tail permanently raised, while also displaying the very thick butt plug jammed inside of her. That wasn't the only hole to be stretched though, for as Carrot watched, he saw that his daughter's pussy winked. When it did so, the opening widened far enough that he could see all the way to her cervix.
No normal pony could ever please her properly again. Carrot Cake realized.
But the changes continued, as Carrot noticed she wore black eyeliner, bright gold lipstick, and her mane had been done in a more aggressive style. Though more beautiful, Pumpkin Cake was also more masculine in a way, and far more dominant then the shy mare Carrot knew.
"Let's make sure he knows about the most important change," Shaka prompted.
"Of course master," Pumpkin replied.
She then walked closer to the camera, turned to the side and ran a hoof across her stomach for some reason. It took a moment for Carrot Cake to realize that his daughter was pregnant, and probably carrying more than one. For despite it only having been a month and half since they had last seen one another, she was already showing.
"She's carrying twins. Fitting, isn't it?" Shaka teased.
"Hmmph. Mother is carrying more," Pumpkin declared, huffing irritably.
"It's not a competition dear," Cup replied.
"But if it was you'd be winning," Pumpkin shot back.
"And I would be losing," Pound interrupted.
"Don't you worry, Pound. I'll make sure to get those potions cooked up soon so you may experience the same joy as your sister and mother," Shaka exclaimed.
"I look forward to it," Pound Cake proclaimed.
"Speaking of which," Cup offered.
"Right, which brings us to Cup, who is pregnant with not twins, not triplets, but quintuplets!" Shaka exclaimed.
Cup walked up to the camera and revealed her noticeably bulging belly, and large, milk filled teets. The pendulous orbs were cupped within a pair of lacy black lingerie which left her privates, including her nipples, exposed. But Carrot didn't even look at what she was wearing, as his ex wife's stomach, marveling at just how big it was.
There was no doubt in the stallion's mind that Shaka was telling the truth, it was just so large. Not only that but Cup was already producing milk, made evident by the occasional drip of white that leaked from her nipples. There were other changes as well, like how Cup seemed younger, more feminine, and was more curvacious but those were minor. Especially when they were compared to her frankly huge teets, and bulging foal filled belly.
Yet Carrot managed to look away, but only after he had been staring for almost a full minute at that point. Cup was turning in place, showing off her black lacey lingerie which hugged her form the tip of her tail to the base of her neck. Stopping only at a slim, narrow collar that displayed her name, and included the words 'Property of Shaka' under it like Pumpkin had.
Cup also wore stockings, though these were see through, and were held up by a frilly garter belt. The rest of the alterations were small, like how her mane was larger, she had hoop earings instead of her usual gumball shaped ones. She also wore bright white lipstick, and had white eyeshadow as well as eyeliner.
"Oh, can we do me now? Please?" Pound Cake urged.
"One last thing dear," Cup replied, before turning and displaying her backside to the camera.
Revealing that she had a thick buzzing vibrator wedged inside her visibly stretched pussy. The earth pony's ass was also occupied by a thick toy nearly as large as the one inside of her cunt. As Carrot watched he noticed that she was leaking, a steady stream of girl cum dripping from her aching sex.
"That's all," Cup declared.
The older mare trotted away, and Pound Cake eagerly took her place.
"It's about time," he declared.
Shaka chuckled. "As you can see your son is different. Though perhaps son is not the correct pronoun anymore. She sure does enjoy being called a slutty little mare cunt."
Pound Cake moaned loudly. "Yes master, I do."
"Lets show you off hmm," Shaka encouraged.
"With pleasure!" Pound Cake declared.
The young stallion then stretched his long, oddly feminine, legs out like a cat after waking up from a nap. This action inadvertently displayed the tight black leather stockings he wore which went all the way up to his strangely wide hips. Connected by a garter belt that was as black as his stockings, the stallion also sported a tight chastity cage around his cock.
This small metal contraption was mostly covered by an obsidian assless thong that had bright pink bows attached to it. These pink bows also adorned his socks both back and front while also being visible in his mane. The thong grabbed Carrot's attention however and was tight enough that Pound Cake's dick was almost completely invisible to the passing observer. Even Carrot could barely see the small nub, making the younger stallion look like a mare.
This comparison was made even more prevalent by the thick make up he had caked across his face. Which was only partially visible, as the stallion's mane had been straightened and hung down over one side of his face like a wedding veil. Carrot could still see the long carefully curled pink eyelashes beneath however, as well as the effeminate cotten candy eyeliner he had on.
Pound Cake also sported a pair of glossy pink lips the same color as the large bow in his mane. This hairpiece kept the stallion's long mane from getting in his face, and tied the back half into a girly ponytail. All and all, Pound Cake's clothes, make up, and accessories combined to make him appear as more of a mare then his sister.
It was oddly arousing in Carrot's mind, though he quickly put an end to that thought. Even still, it burned at the edge of his consciousness, reminding the stallion that it was not going to leave him any time soon.
Carrot was drawn from his thoughts when Pound turned around and revealed he had a sex toy jammed up his ass. The thing was the largest one yet, and was easily bigger then Carrot's hoof, maybe even two of his hooves. Yet Pound walked around with an ease which suggested that this was a routine thing for the young stallion.
"Show off that belly," Shaka encouraged.
Pound Cake giggled. "Yes of course master."
The effeminate male then turned to the side, and ran a hoof over his belly. Which was slightly larger than normal, and was oddly jiggly for some reason. Realization struck Carrot almost immediately, and he silently gawked in a mixture of envy, and jealousy.
"This isn't even the biggest I've stuffed him," Shaka exclaimed, walking up next to Pound and nipping the other male's ear. "You should have seen him the night you left. I dumped nearly nine loads into that hungry, tight little ass of his."
"It was one of the best nights of my life," gushed Pound Cake. "Every moment I spend serving you is ecstasy."
"Which reminds me," Shaka exclaimed. "Why don't you take turns telling dear old Carrot how you plan on spending the rest of your life. Starting with Pound."
"I wish only to serve," Pound immediately replied, bowing slightly. "To make my holes available to my master, and to carry out his every command without question or hesitation."
"Kiss ass," Pumpkin shot.
"If my master wills it," Pound replied with a smirk.
Shaka chuckled. "Pumpkin, why don't you go next."
The young mare tossed aside her mane. "I want to carry as many of my master's children as possible, while also making sure I milk that fat cock of his as often as possible. That's pretty much it."
"And you, Cup? What do you hope to spend your days doing?" Shaka inquired.
"Giving birth, getting knocked up, and taking care of the many, many foals we will bear for our master," Cup replied, smiling contentedly with a hoof wrapped around her belly. "There is no greater joy than to carry his foals, and to be made fat by his children."
Shaka hummed contentedly while he rubbed up beside the mare. "And I promise to keep you pregnant for the rest of your life so you can bear dozens and dozens of my kids."
"Stars above, yes," Cup muttered. "You have no idea how happy that makes me. Though I worry I may become barren."
"Don't," Shaka stated. "With my potions you will stay incredibly fertile, so much so that I will be able to breed you for another four decades."
Cup bit her lip, and grasped Shaka by the shoulder, her entire body. "Fuck that feels good. I nearly came just at the thought of it."
Shaka chuckled. "Did you hear that Carrot? Your ex wife experienced more pleasure receiving the knowledge that I'm going to be impregnating her for decades into the future then she did when having sex with you."
"How does that feel, dad?" Pumpkin asked, the mare trotting up until her face was right in the camera. "Does it hurt like when you called me a stupid shy bitch?"
"Now now, insults aren't necessary," Pound Cake exclaimed. "I think we've got him back for every slight he's ever done unto us."
"Not quite yet," Shaka interrupted. "Though by the end of this tape we will be even."
"Should we get to the fun part now? I am getting rather warm," Cup whispered steamily.
"Soon. First we have to get our camera operator ready and you both in position," Shaka replied.
"On it master," Pound Cake eagerly declared.
Carrot watched as his effeminate son trotted up to the camera and plucked it from its mounting. It then turned around, and was strapped to Pound's hoof before being pointed back at the bed. Just in time to see Cup lay almost comeltely on the bed, with only her back legs dangling over the side. Pumpkin then swiftly clambered atop her mother, and lining their backsides up so they were directly atop one another.
"Mmm I'm really starting to enjoy being on top," Pumpkin murmured.
"I like this side of you as well- yipe," Cup jumped when her daughter nipped her ear. "Oh-oh my."
Shaka chuckled. "As you can see my family has fallen into their roles quite well."
"I rather like being more outgoing. Especially considering its what my master desires," purred Pumpkin.
"Mmm seconded," added Cup, who nipped at the underside of her daughter's neck.
"Now then," Shaka began, rising up onto his back legs and planting his forehooves on Pumpkin's back. "Whose first?"
"Oh me, please let it be me," Cup exclaimed. "I've gone so long without your big, fat zebra cock."
"It's only been a few minutes," Pumpkin shot back. "If anything I deserve it."
Shaka laughed heartily. "First we need to get these pesky toys out of the way. Would you do the honors Pound?"
"Of course my master," Pound replied from behind the camera.
Carrot was then given a perfect view of the zebra's fat balls and the enormous cock resting between his daughter's ass cheeks. Though difficult, the stallion tore his gaze from the much, much more impressive male, and down slightly to the first toy. Which seemed to be so big that Pound struggled to remove it by tugging with a single hoof.
"I always knew you were a tight ass, but this is ridiculous," Pound muttered, grunting as he tugged on the thing.
"Maybe if you werent such a girl you'd be able to get it," Pumpkin shot back.
Pound stifled a moan as he continued to pull on the toy. His efforts were rewarded a second later when the huge object dislodged itself from Pumpkin's hole and popped free. The removal of the plug heralded a gush of zebra cum, and a loud, cry of pleasure from Pumpkin.
"I feel so fucking empty," Pumpkin muttered.
"Here let me help you with that while Pound keeps working," Shaka offered.
"What do you- oooh fuck yeah," Pumpkin muttered as Shaka's cock slipped inside of her destroyed asshole.
The gaping, cum drenched orifice was quickly plugged by the fat head of the zebra's dick. Which swiftly pushed its way deeper, with a surprising, and almost disturbing level of ease. It was clear at that moment that Pumpkin had a considerable amount of experience when it came to getting ass fucked.
Not only that but Shaka was huge, and not just in length either, but he was a good three to four times wider than Carrot. Whose own relatively average dick sat upright on his crotch, the length twitching as he watched his daughter be penetrated. By an appendage wider than Carrot's hoof and nearly as long as one of his legs.
"There we go," Shaka murmured, his pendulous balls resting against Pumpkin's plush ass. "Keep going Pound."
"R-right," stuttered the effeminate male.
The camera shifted down, past Shaka's balls before resting on Cup's holes, one of which was plugged. The other was more easily freed up, with the vibrator only requiring a slight tug to free from Cup's pussy. Pound giggled as his mother moaned, and the girly stallion held up the very long, and still loudly buzzing toy.
The camera then extended, allowing Carrot to watch as his son dropped the toy into his mouth and past his tonsils. He didn't even gag or slow until his lips closed around the end of it, his throat bulging just enough that the fake dick was visible. Pound then pulled the toy back, slurping up any leftover juices that still clinged to it before returning to his filming duties.
When the camera faced back down once more, Carrot saw that Pound was reaching for Cup's other toy. While at the same time Shaka was grinding his cock inside Pumpkin's ass in a slow, circular motion. The action was apparently immensely pleasurable, as Carrot noticed that his daughter's pussy was winking occasionally. She was shooting small jets of girl cum whenever Shaka hit a particularly enjoyable spot inside of her butt.
"Don't get too into it now," Pound warned, giggling at his own comment.
"You may wish to hurry dear," Cup replied. "Shaka may be able to hold back but I don't know if I'll be able to."
The zebra chuckled. "I'm sure you'll manage not having your holes stuffed full for a minute or so. Now, almost done back there?"
"One last one," Pound replied.
A hoof then extended from behind the camera, and grabbed the toy still wedged in Cup's asshole. It was tugged rougly, then a second time, before finally a third harder yank managed to dislodge the massive hunk of plastic. The huge vaguely cone shaped plug slurped audibly as it slipped out of Cup's hole and landed with a clunk on the ground.
"Damn that thing is heavy," Pound muttered.
Carrot ignored his son's words however, and merely watched as heavy, creamlike zebra cum flowed from his ex wife's ass. The stuff trickled like a river in slow motion, the viscous liquid dripping down the mare's legs. It clung to her formerly pristine fur, creating clumps that flowed leisurely towards the distant floor
"Hnnngh," Cup grunted. "This emptiness is horrible."
"Ahh, don't you worry, my pet. I'll take care of you," Shaka replied.
The zebra then pulled out of Pumpkin's ass, lowered his hips, and sunk his cock balls deep into Cup's tight anus. Once more that seemingly endless pillar of zebra dick pushed its way inside with almost no resistance. He barely even had to slow down, or even use much force. He simply gently thrust his hips forward a single time and he hilted her completely.
"I'll never get tired of this feeling," Cup murmured.
"Oh? And how do I compare to your ex husband, hmm?" Shaka pressed, glanced over his shoulder to the camera.
The bottom of Carrot's stomach fell out, and somehow he knew exactly what Cup was going to say.
"There isn't one," Cup replied simply. "He was a limp dicked loser who lasted at most twenty minutes. He barely even stretched me, never fucked my ass and was the most demanding lover imaginable. While you, my master, are huge, have endless endurance, and have ruined my holes so thoroughly that no one else could please me."
"Damn mom, language," Pumpkin remarked.
Cup giggled. "Well it's true. Even if I went back to him, Carrot wouldn't have a hope in hell of giving me an orgasm. Not like he ever managed to that in the first place."
"Ooooh snap!" Pound shouted, twisting the camera around to point at Carrot and laugh.
"Now now, don't tease him too badly," Shaka cautioned. "We have a couple hours, so we gotta spread it out over the entire battery life."
"Good point. Though are we going to fuck now or what?" Pumpkin pressed, wiggling her hips.
Shaka nodded. "Make sure to give a nice, close view of the action Pound. Oh, and don't worry. We'll be focusing purely on you next."
"Thank you master," Pound whispered huskily.
"Now then," Shaka wiggled his hips, the zebra subtly growing tall enough to stand astride the two mares with ease. "It's time to show Carrot just how well I've trained these holes of yours."
"Yes master!" shouted the clearly eager females.
Cup raised her hips, and stood a little taller, jostlying her daughter slightly though she soon adjusted. Together they readied themself while Shaka and Pound got themselves into the perfect position. The zebra stood tall over the stacked set of mares while Pound knelt down, aiming the camera squarely at their privates.
Carrot couldn't help but stare at both his ex wife's as well as his daughter's genitalia were put on display. Though that display was marred somewhat by the enormous pillar of zebra meat dangling dwon over them. Shaka's monstrous balls only further obscured the glistening folds of Pumpkin and Cup's pussies.
"Now then, let's give him a show," Shaka declared.
A second later and Carrot's curiosity was answered when Shaka drew back his hips in a long, exaggerated motion. Upon pulling all but the tip from Cup's hole, he then plunged forward, pulled all the way out and thrust into Pumpkin's ass. He then repeated this motion, only this time he slid all the way into Cup's cunt, before again retracting his cock.
Over and over he slipped from one hole to another, somehow managing to not miss a single time, no matter how fast he went. And he did go fast, thrusting in and out of one hole to another immediately after bottoming out inside the first. The zebra's thrusts were quicker then what Carrot was even capable of managing, and Shaka was switching partners constantly.
Shaka was fast, dexterous, and strong, way more so then what Carrot could ever hope for even if he trained. The male instinctively knew that there was simply no way of getting around it, Shaka was better than him. Raw power, skill, sexual prowess, every aspect of Shaka's person was greater then Carrot by several orders of magnitude.
Carrot was drawn from his thoughts by the sound of Cup and Pumpkin's loud, unashamed moaning. Somehow Carrot had been hearing the sounds for several seconds but his brain simply refused to acknowledge it. When he clued into what was happening though, Carrot couldn't help but feel even more inadequate than before.
His ex wife was moaning louder and more earnestly then on their wedding night, when Carrot had been a truly altruistic lover. Since then he had grown selfish it was true, but back then he considered himself a skilled partner. Or at least he used to anyway, as now he knew that compared to Shaka, Carrot was amatuer at best.
Cup wasn't just moaning though, she was also whispering Shaka's name with a reverence usually reserved for the divine. Her body twitched, her pussy gaped and spasmed when it was empty, displaying a hunger that she had never shown Carrot. Yet here Shaka was, fucking both Carrot's ex wife, as well as his daughter with a skill that the earth pony could only dream of.
Carrot continued to watch as Shaka's cock slurped out of one hole, then plunged ruthlessly into another. The image filled the screen as well as Carrot's mind, dominating his thoughts as thoroughly as Shaka was dominating his wife. Pumpkin joined her mother in their shared pleasure, bodies pressed tight against one another in order in ecstasy.
He could almost smell it, the scent of sex, and musk that Carrot couldn't help but imagine was billowing out from the screen. The captive stallion felt as though he was in the room with them, his face pressed close to Shaka's balls. The perspective was demeaning, but Carrot was incapable of looking away, of escaping the video.
As the seconds ticked by, Carrot thought he was growing numb to the feeling of inadequacy. Then Cup began to twitch, and her psusy started to spasm with an almost violent intensity. When Shaka pulled out of the mare's hole, Carrot saw a small squirt of feminine cum erupt from her cunt.
She had finished, in under a minute and with very little effort on Shaka's part. To say that this beat Carrot's record would be the understatement of the century and it drove home just how deep the divide between the two males was. Shaka was simply on another level, while Carrot was looking up from below, helpless to do anything but gawk.
And gawk he did, Carrot's eyes never once leaving the screen or even trying to resist the poison. He was cpative, but he was also no longer even attempting to escape, and had seemingly accepted his place. At least for the moment.
Carrot wasn't even surprised when Pumpkin came not long after, the young mare orgasming from having her ass fucked. The stretched hole gaped and twitched when Shaka pulled free of it, the zebra lifting his cock for a second in order to give Carrot a look. The captive male watched with strange fascination as his daughter orgasmed right in front of her.
Then it was gone, and Shaka had returned to fucking the two mares like they were in heat. Pounding away from one hole to the next, jackhammering their backsides like he was drilling for oil. Yet the only thing the zebra was able to pull forth was a seemingly endless torrent of marecum that spurted forth from the depths.
"Why don't you grab the toy and show off how well trained their other holes are?" Shaka offered.
"Yes, of course," Pound quickly replied.
The camera then pulled back before bobbing up and down as Pound trotted across the room. Upon reaching the dresser where Carrot had once stored what little clothes he owned, Pound pulled open the top drawer. Reaching inside, Pound pulled forth a truly mammoth plastic cock the same colors as Shaka's real dick.
IT was the exact same length, Carrot realized. Even the veins were in the same spot, the toy a clear and perfect replica. One so masterfully made that Carrot half expected the thing to pulse needfully in his son's hoof.
The toy did not, however, twitch, and Pound closed the drawer before hastily trotting back to the bed. Which he mounted deftly before clambering over to the front of his sister and mother.
"Oh me first," Pumpkin exclaimed. "I wanna show that stupid old shit that I'm not his cloistered little girl anymore."
"If you insist," Pound replied.
The young stallion then gripped the fake plastic dick, and placed the head of it at Pumpkin's lips. Then with an ease that suggested vast experience, Pumpkin swallowed the entire thing in a single massive gulp. Pound put little effort into pushing the toy down, nor did he have to use a lot of strength to retrieve it either.
In the background Carrot watched as Shaka lifted up his hips and inserted himself into Pumpkin's pussy. Which he then began to fuck exclusively while the mare was repeatedly throat fucked by the fat plastic cock. Which slammed down repeatedly into Pumpkin's mouth with a speed that Carrot would normally consider cruel.
Yet Pumpkin took it all without complaint, or seemingly any discomfort either. She even made sure to lick the tip each time Pound pulled it back until only the end was left in Pumpkin's mouth. Then it was down once more, the incredibly long phalus descending into Pumpkin's throat.
Again, Carrot was struck by the realization that Pumpkin must have done this quite a bit. She must have spent hours upon hours getting throat fucked by the monster zebra cock. He didn't know exactly how many times she had done this, but it had to have been a few dozen at least.
Thankfully this didn't last long, though during those few minutes Pumpkin visibly orgasmed several times. This didn't bother Carrot, but his numbness did vanish when it was his ex wife's turn to get throat fucked. The mare was eager, so much so that she was licking her lips while the toy made its way over to her.
"Show him how much of a good girl you are," Shaka whispered huskily.
"Yes master," Cup breathed.
A moment later and the mare was getting her throat filled like she was a prized whore. Just like Pumpkin, Cup swallowed it all without complaint, working and licking the shaft as though it was a real dick. Her skill didn't bother Carrot nearly as much as her eagerness did, as clearly loved the act of fellating a fake dick.
Carrot noticed Shaka switch holes and start fucking Cup, but even before that the mare was enjoying herself. Just the thought of sucking Shaka's cock was enough to send her nerves alight with pleasure. Which only became even greater when Shaka inserted himself into her audibly wet pussy.
Throughout the display, Cup stared directly at the camera, as if locking eyes with her ex husband. She came nearly constantly, the thought of degrading Carrot clearly driving her over the edge. This ecstatic display lasted as long as the first one, though it felt as though it took a short eternity to complete.
Once done, Pound pulled the toy from Cup's lips, though the mare grabbed the fake dick at the last second. Holding it tight in her hoof, the mare kissed its tip, and gave the camera a wink before Pound pulled the plastic cock from view.
"Wow mom. I never knew someone could say 'fuck you' without ever having to say the words," Pound remarked with a girly giggle.
"It's a skill," Cup replied simply.
"Now then. I think were just about ready for the grand finale of our first act," Shaka declared. "Why don't you come back ehre and get a good view of the action."
"Right away, master," Pound eagerly exclaimed.
The camera then shifted, its wielder clambering back across the bed and taking position between Shaka's legs. There it focused briefly, before settling onto a familiar view of the mare's privates as well as the zebra's dick. Which was now moving from one hole to the next as before, only this time it was somehow even faster.
The wet slurping noises mixed with the sound of Pumpkin and Cup's constant moans to create an unpleasant dirge. One which marked the end of many things for Carrot, such as his marriage and his children's innocence in his mind. His dour wonderings didn't last long however, as soon he noticed something odd, namely the way Shaka's balls were visibly twitching.
A potent load was being prepared, one Carrot knew was destined to end up within his wife and daughter in equal measure. Sure enough, Shaka grunted, and muttered something the camera didn't pick up before suddenly thrusting forward with far more force. Once he had bottomed out a final time, he came, or at least he started to do so anyway.
As he remained there just long enough to begin visibly inflating her stomach before switching. To her pussy, which Shaka pumped full before moving on once more, with no end in sight. The next time Shaka thrust forward he entered Cup's ass, which he pumped full along with her pussy.
When finally he was done after what felt like a good five minutes, Shaka pulled back. He then trotted off to the side, and gestured towards the cum stuffed holes he had just finished fucking.
"Not a bad view huh?" Shaka offered. "I bet you wouldn't have a hope in hell of replicating such a performance."
"N-no way," Cup slurred, the mare seemingly drunk on pleasure alone. "That deadbeat ex husband of mine could barely fill a thimble with his cum and he would be lucky to be half as virile as you."
"If half of what mom said is true I'm surprised we even exist," Pound remarked.
That got a chuckle out of everyone, save for Carrot himself. Who merely languished on his couch, cock still twitching needfully with no hope of being touched.
"Get a shot of their bellies," Shaka encouraged. "I wanna show off just how productive a zebra can be."
"With pleasure," Pound replied.
The stallion then panned around to the side, showing off Pumpkin and Cup's bloated bellies. Bigger even then earlier, it was clear that despite some of his cum leaking out, that much had stayed inside.
"That's good. Now, I don't know about you but I think Pound deserves his just deserts," Shaka offered.
"One second. I think I lost feeling in my hooves again," Cup murmured.
Shaka stepped away from the pair of mares, who promptly collapsed into a heap on the bed. They swiftly pulled apart from one another, though not without losing a good amount of cum in the process. They didn't seem to mind, and swiftly moved about the room while Pound returned the camera to the stand.
By the time it had focused itself once more, Carrot realized that it had changed positions. Now it was looking at the side of the bed, and had been focused near its middle. Where Pound Cake was eagerly crouched, the lingerie clad male licking his lips with naked anticipation.
"Oh I can hardly wait. You always cum buckets when we do something particularly depraved," Pound exclaimed, glancing over his shoulder to the lone zebra in the room.
Who laughed aloud. "What can I say? The thought of further debasing you is a fun one."
"Sexy too," Pumpkin added. "I especially like it when I get to eat mother's delicious pie."
"What a great suggestion. Cup, do you approve?" Shaka asked.
"I do indeed," exclaimed an eager Cup.
"Well then, let's get to it," Shaka exclaimed.
With that being said, Cup walked over Pound, her butt hovering over his head. While this was happening, Pumpkin was busy hooking up a strap on, and attaching the fake replica cock. Once that was done, she too hopped atop the bed, only this time she mounted Pound Cake's face and hovered her dick over his lips.
"Perfect," purred Shaka.
Who had slipped between the feminine stallion's back legs, and placed his cock betwixt his butt cheeks. The four of them then shifted around, and swiftly found their preferred positions.
"I hope you enjoy your gift, my pet. You've earned it with all you've done," Shaka exclaimed.
"I will. I already know it," Pound replied.
"Before we continue. Maybe you should remind our dear viewer the point of this particular lesson," Cup offered.
"Ahh yes. We can't exactly trust that dumbass to remember something that happened only a minute ago," Shaka declared, the insult earning a round of laughter from everyone. "This is a show of how far you all have come, and what levels of degeneracy you have willingly sunk to."
"Fuck this is hot," Pumpkin murmured.
"Please hurry, master. I can't bear to be without your cock for even a moment longer," Pound whined.
"Ask and you shall receive, my eager little slut," Shaka declared.
Shaka then thrusted forward, pushing deep into Pound's eager asshole in a single firm shove. The powerful thrust was enough to brush aside what meagre resistance the male put up. Allowing Shaka to glide all the way inside of him without any push back whatsoever.
Like Carrot and Pumpkin, Pound had been made into the perfect little zebra slut. This was further proven when Pumpkin pushed her plastic cock all the way down Pound's throat. The huge toy easily descended down to the fake balls which now rested against the young pony's chin.
In an instant, any lingering hope that Pound had resisted the zebra's efforts was dashed. As were any hopes that Carrot's wife or daughter were anything but wanton degenerates. This was proven by Cup eagerly making out with Shaka while having her pussy eaten by Pumpkin.
Who seemed quite skilled at this particular maneuver, as she was able to thrust into Pound's face while licking her mother. Though licking wasn't perhaps the best word for it, because Carrot could see that Pumpkin was extracting mouthfuls of zebra cum. Which she swallowed without hesitation, unbothered by the fact that it had just been inside of her own mother's pussy a moment earlier.
Over and over she dove into Cup's generous flanks, while at the same time gripping Pound's head. Her hips moved quickly, with Pound requiring mere seconds to adapt to getting both of his holes plundered by Shaka's cock. Pumpkin seemed to enjoy this immensely, as whenever she pulled back for air Carrot could hear the mare moaning aloud.
Though not nearly as loudly as Cup, who seemed to take immense satisfaction from the lewd act she was engaged in. With her daughter's muzzle buried in her snatch, and Shaka's tongue exploring Cup's mouth, the older pony was visibly shaking. Making Carrot realize that she was enjoying this more than anything he had ever done in their time together.
This realization was quickly becoming a common occurrence for the paralyzed male. Who was increasingly being forced to grapple with the fact that he was nothing compared to Shaka.
The male in question didn't seem to give Carrot a second thought either, and was focused utterly on Cup. With one hand on Pound's rear, and the other gliding through Cup's long mane, the zebra was supremely confident. Wearing a wide smile, he quickly showed himself to be the superior kisser, and overall better lover.
Though none were enjoying themself quite as much as Pound himself, who was moaning, writhing, and squirting constantly. His tiny caged cock spurted cum every single time Shaka's monstrous cock pressed against prostate. As if milking the diminutive dick through sheer force, the male came almost constantly, creating a small pool of watery liquid on the bed.
Carrot's attention quickly went from his son's dick, to Shaka's which was visible in Pound's midsection. Why the paralyzed male could swear he could see every vien and bump in the titanic appendage. It even looked bigger than before, as if Shaka had increased the size of his cock just to flex on Carrot even more.
Either way, he tried to look away, but found his gaze drawn back to Pound almost immediately. Who Carrot noticed was twitching, and moaning even while his mouth was stuffed full of fake zebra dick. The feminine male's limbs quivered, his eyes rolled into the back of his head, though he still remained active in the act.
Pound pushed back to meet Shaka's thrusts, while slurping and sucking on the fake dick as if it were real. He even reached up and began teasing his sister's pussy, pressing the tip of his hoof inside before pulling it out soon after. Matching the speed of her thrusts, Pound soon pressed forward until his entire hoof disappeared into Pumpkin's cunt.
"Fuck yeah, stuff me full!" Pumpkin shouted aggressively.
Pound seemed eager to do just that, and all the way up to his elbow had disappeared inside of Pumpkin. This seemed to be the tipping point for the young girl, as she came hard, though while still fucking her brother's throat. She also eagerly delved back into her mother's pussy, eating her out with a frenzy that would have been intimidating to most.
Cup however, reveled in it, orgasming almost immediately, and holding Shaka's face while she did so. The zebra was eager to deepen the intimacy of the moment and leaned in close, making out fiercely with the mare. Together everyone but Shaka shook and came, spilling their juices over, into and all over one another.
The zebra however, merely smirked, and glanced towards the camera. Locking eyes with Carrot through the screen the two males stared at one another. Until the moment had passed and Cup had finished cumming all over her daughter's muzzle.
Then they continued to fuck, going on like nothing had happened without pause. Pumpkin fucked Pound's face and ate her mother out while Shaka fucked the feminine male's ass and made out with Cup. Stride unbroken, they continued to speed up, slow down for nearly twenty minutes without stopping.
Only after Shaka had lasted longer then Carrot had ever managed did the zebra seem to slow. Some unseen signal passed between them, and Pound braced his hooves while remaining motionless. Pumpkin watched her zebra lover closely, and waited until his hips stopped moving before also stopping herself.
A muffled grunt was the only sign Carrot got that Shaka was cumming, that was until he saw Pound's stomach begin to bloat. The clear indent Shaka made in the other male's stomach was gone, washed away by an ocean of hot zebra jizz. Though the huge bulge in Pound's throat remained constant, the feminine male didn't seem to mind having his oxygen completely cut off. In fact, something told Carrot that Pound enjoyed that, as his tiny cock came harder than ever before.
Shaka intensified his make out session with Carrot's ex wife, gripping her head fiercely and kissing her passionately. Far more so then what Carrot himself had ever managed to muster, that much was absolutely certain. All while Shaka's dick remained steadfastly planted in Pound's plush posterior.
Cum pumped into Pound at an alarming rate, and Carrot could even hear it sloshing around inside of his son. It got to the point that Carrot began to wonder if Pound was going to end up getting hurt. But the feminine male showed no signs of discomfort, and even rubbed his growing cum belly affectionately with the hoof he had pulled from his sister's pussy.
Eventually, after what felt like ten uninterrupted minutes, Shaka finally stopped orgasming, though he remained inside Pound. There he waited until everyone else rode out their pleasure and either collapsed to the bed like Pumpkin, or stood there panting like Cup. Only then did Shaka seem ready to pull out, though he didn't do that, and instead gripped Pound by the torso with a single forehoof.
Shaka then carried Pound under himself, and trotted over to the camera, with the other ponies falling dutifully in behind.
"So I think you'll see that everyone quite enjoys their place," Shaka declared.
"Me especially," Pound murmured, the male affectionately nuzzling the underside of Shaka's chin.
"I rather enjoy the role our master has given for me," Pumpkin exclaimed. "I always felt the urge to be more outgoing and Shaka has helped me become that person."
"It suits you perfectly dear," Cup added, planting a firm, wet kiss on Pumpkin's lips. "You also eat like a true member of our family. Make sure to fix you up with something else after all this."
Pumpkin wrapped a hoof around Cup's neck and whispered hotly into her ear. "And what if I want another cream pie?"
"Then you will have to ask Shaka," Cup replied, nipping at her daughter's throat and causing the other mare to giggle.
"Aren't they perfect?" Shaka asked the camera. "Perfectly subservient, utterly devoted, but not broken, just molded into the perfect partners."
"I never want to go back to how things were," Pound added. "Just thinking of it makes me shudder in fear."
"Don't you worry," purred Shaka. "You three will spend the rest of your lives with me. Of that I promise."
The cry of joy that rose up amongst Carrot's ex family made him disassociate for a moment and stare off into nothing. The ensuing flurry of declarations of love from everyone involved was the final nail in the coffin for Carrot. He was never getting them back, and any hope he had for such a possibility died completely, never to return.
"But that's only part two," Shaka exclaimed, grabbing Carrot's attention. "And we have many hours to go."
"Oh oh, can we triple team mom again?" Pumpkin offered.
"I kinda want you to double stuff my ass," Pound whispered huskily, the male still impaled on Shaka's apparently rock hard cock. "I love it when you really stretch me."
"I'd be happy with anything, so long as we do it as a family," Cup finished, leaning against Shaka and smiling happily up at the zebra.
"We can do all of those things," Shaka exclaimed. "After all, we have all the time in the world." |
An Alicorn Learns to Fly | pre | Pinkie Pie nodded, her face blank. "Most days. With time, you start to realise that you are who you are, and that's enough. You don't have to be perfect or fit into any mould. You just have to try to be yourself."
Twilight considered Pinkie's words, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Thanks, Pinkie. I'll try to remember that. I may not have all the answers right now, but with friends like you, I know I'll find my way."
Pinkie Pie's comforting presence and her understanding of feeling like an imposter provided Twilight with a sense of reassurance. As they continued their conversation, the weight of her new princess role seemed a bit lighter, knowing that she had friends who accepted her for who she was.
Twilight looked at Pinkie with a touch of anxiety in her eyes. "Pinkie, will you come to my coronation? I don't think I can do it if all of you aren't there with me."
Pinkie Pie grinned, her laughter returning as she responded, "Twilight, you think I'd miss the biggest party Equestria has seen in centuries? Not a chance! I'll be there, and we'll celebrate together!"
Twilight's heart warmed at Pinkie's response, feeling reassured by her friend's unwavering support. With her friends by her side, including the ever-enthusiastic Pinkie Pie, she knew that her coronation would be a momentous and joyous occasion.
There was a loud gurgle from Twilight's stomach, and she looked a bit sheepish as she admitted, "Pinkie, I'm not used to this alicorn metabolism yet. I seem to be hungry all the time now. Could I have something packed full of calories to go with my tea?"
Pinkie Pie beamed and said, "Of course, Twilight! You're in the right place for that." She brought out a plate of delectable double frosted cupcakes and set it on the table. "Enjoy!"
Twilight picked up a cupcake, her eyes lighting up with anticipation. As she took a bite, she savoured the sweet treat and then chuckled. "We might be onto something, Pinkie. Maybe I'll finally be able to eat what I want without it ending up on my haunches!"
Pinkie giggled, "See, I knew there had to be a good reason for all this!" The two friends shared a laugh, enjoying their tea, cakes and the reassuring presence of one another.
The morning had arrived for Rainbow Dash and Twilight to leave for Canterlot. As they prepared for their journey, Twilight couldn't help but reflect on the fact that the last time she had travelled by pegasus chariot was when she first arrived in Ponyville as Princess Celestia's emissary for the millennial Summer Sun Festival. It felt like a lifetime ago. She turned to Rainbow Dash and said, "You know, Rainbow, it's incredible how much things have changed since that first day in Ponyville. Back then, I was just a unicorn with a lot to learn about friendship."
Rainbow Dash, securing the last of their luggage, smiled warmly at her friend. "You've come a long way, Twilight. You're not even a unicorn anymore, which is pretty wild. It's been quite a journey."
Twilight nodded in agreement. "Yes, it has. And you, Rainbow, have been an essential part of that over the last couple of days."
Rainbow waved her hoof in an ah, you're making too much of this gesture.
Twilight's eyes sparkled with gratitude as she continued, "And you know, it still amazes me that all the right ponies were in Ponyville when Nightmare Moon returned. If it weren't for our friendship and unity, we might not have been able to defeat her and bring back the sun."
Rainbow Dash nodded, her expression reflecting the same sense of wonder. "Yeah, it's like destiny brought us together, or some other guiding hoof. We've faced so much since then, and every challenge has only made us stronger."
Twilight smiled, feeling a deep sense of camaraderie with Rainbow Dash and the rest of her friends. "Absolutely, we've overcome every obstacle, and I have no doubt that we'll face whatever comes our way in Canterlot, too."
"This is your moment though, Twi," said Rainbow, "you're the new princess, don't forget that."
"It certainly wouldn't be the same without all my friends there with me," protested the alicorn, "I'm glad I was able to convince Pinkie to come too."
Rainbow Dash's face fell at the memory of recent events. "Yeah, that was pretty dark for a while. Do you think she's really okay now?"
"Honestly, no," confessed Twilight, "but I think she's on her way. I just wish there was some way to help her not get so trapped by her thoughts."
Seeking to lighten the mood, Rainbow smiled and changed the subject. "At the castle we're finally able to start practising your flying. No more boring theory!"
Twilight sighed, "it will be nice when I don't have to hide anymore, although the thought of being up in the air scares me."
"Relax, we'll keep near the ground to start with," her friend reassured her, "although pegasus foals start off at cloud level."
"Didn't Fluttershy fall from Cloudsdale when she was a filly though?" Asked Twilight.
"Kinda," admitted Rainbow, "but she never has been the strongest flyer. You'll do fine with that alicorn strength."
Twilight wriggled and fidgeted in the heavy cloak she'd put on for the journey. "I will be glad to take this off as soon as possible. Rarity did a good job, but I'm already getting pins and needles in my wings."
Rainbow Dash, reminded her friend to focus on the hazards of the trip. "Twilight, we need to be really careful when we leave Ponyville. We can't have a crowd forming or anyone seeing your wings, so that cloak will have to stay on for now."
Twilight nodded, her expression serious. "I understand, Rainbow."
"You're sure the chariot team knows where to meet us?" Asked Rainbow Dash anxiously.
"Absolutely, they were instructed to land by the Everfree Forest and canter the rest of the way to Fluttershy's cottage," replied her friend, "we're to board the chariot there and depart for Canterlot without causing a scene."
"Ok, there shouldn't be anypony there to cause a fuss," confirmed Rainbow Dash, "and you've warned Fluttershy to expect them? We don't need her freaking out when the royal guard turn up at her doorstep!"
"I sent Spike to let her know," Twilight said, to calm her friend's nerves, "and she agreed to suspend her pet care services today, so we shouldn't have any interruptions."
"Will there be time for me to see Tank?" Asked Rainbow hopefully.
"I'm sure you'll get a little time to play with your pet," Twilight smiled.
"Well I'm ok, it's only for him really," protested Rainbow, "I just wouldn't him missing me too much whilst we're away."
"Of course, Rainbow," chuckled Twilight, "we have to make sure Tank's feeling ok."
"And the rest of the fillies know what to do?" The cyan pegasus asked, still obviously nervous.
"Absolutely... Applejack and Rarity will accompany Pinkie on the train," replied Twilight, "Fluttershy will follow on with Spike, as soon as she's handed over the critters, including Tank, to Mane Goodall to look after whilst we're away."
"Okay then, no point in delaying things," Rainbow declared, "time to hit the road."
Twilight took one last look around the library that was her home in Ponyville. She hoped it wouldn't be too long until she would be seeing it again, but couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled over her like a heavy shroud. As an alicorn, her life was headed down an uncertain path filled with responsibilities and obstacles she hadn't anticipated and was going to change in ways she couldn't imagine.
The dangers that lurked around her and her friends seemed to escalate with every new challenge, making her genuinely anxious about what might befall them. With the weight of a new public role pressing down on her and the unending turmoil of her newfound abilities. She couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia for the simpler times, when her biggest worries revolved around exams and term papers. Back then, her dreams were filled with the pursuit of knowledge, not the weight of a kingdom on her back.
Every adventure seemed to be pushing her further away from the life she had envisioned for herself. The bonds with her friends were her greatest treasures, but even those relationships had evolved into something more complex. While she cherished the deep connections she had forged, the pressure to maintain and protect them was sometimes threatening to suffocate her. Amidst the chaos, she longed for the days of youthful ignorance when her biggest concern was the next magical theory to explore, not the safety of her friends and the fate of an entire nation. Twilight found herself momentarily questioning the path she was on, wondering if the destiny she had been thrust into was truly the one she desired.
Twilight's mind drifted to the idea of escaping her current path, of fleeing from the looming coronation and the grandiose future that awaited her. But deep down, she knew there was no turning back the clock. The simplicity of her life as a naive young unicorn was forever lost to the sands of time. She had come too far, seen too much, and grown to ever regain that innocence. The responsibilities and expectations that now rested upon her shoulders were inescapable, woven into the very fabric of her being. And though the weight of it all seemed overwhelming, she recognised that this was her destiny, and there was no choice but to embrace it.
She turned to her friend with a warm smile, displaying none of the turmoil and dread she was feeling inside. "Yes, Rainbow. Let's go." |
An Alicorn Learns to Fly | Behold, Behold | "So Twilight, you gotta be super careful when you're flying in icing conditions. Feathers are pretty amazing but ice still messes with them," Rainbow Dash cautioned, "your primary feathers will shake rime off, but you gotta pay attention to those secondary and tertiary ones or you start losing lift. You don't wanna end up on the Ponyiac."
Just as they were deep in their discussion, the tranquillity of their luxurious suite at Canterlot Castle was shattered when Rarity burst through the door, her eyes gleaming with excitement. She immediately started taking Rainbow Dash's measurements for a dress, her magic moving the tape measure with precision. It seemed that a whirlwind of excitement and fashion had descended upon their otherwise tranquil day in Canterlot.
"Oh, Rainbow Dash, dear, you simply must let me craft the coronation dress I have in mind for you! You'll look positively stunning in it!" Rarity exclaimed, her creative energy practically palpable.
Rainbow Dash reared up as a tape measure snaked around her barrel. "Hay, what gives Rarity! You kinda need to warn a pony before invading their space like that."
Rarity, still engrossed in her work, replied without missing a beat, "Oh, darling, I had a brilliant idea for a dress for you, and I couldn't wait another second to get started!"
Following closely behind Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie entered the room, looking somewhat amused by the sudden flurry of activity. Applejack headed over to give Rainbow a hug, whilst Twilight attempted to catch Pinkie's eye with a warm smile.
Applejack couldn't help but tease Rarity about her unbridled enthusiasm for the coronation dresses. With a sly grin, she quipped, "Rarity, y'all been talking nonstop about dresses all the way to Canterlot. You're more excited than a filly at a candy store!"
Rarity laughed, her passion for fashion undiminished. "Oh, Applejack, it's not every day we all get to attend a royal coronation! A little enthusiasm is only natural."
Applejack playfully raised an eyebrow, her tone lighthearted. "Well, Rarity, if it were up to me, I'd just want something plain and simple for the coronation. Nothing too fancy or overly decorative, now."
Rarity gasped in horror, her hoof to her chest. "Darling, plain and simple? At a royal coronation? You cut me with your simplicity!"
The friends shared a laugh, knowing that Rarity's penchant for drama was part of what made her so endearing, even if she was surreptitiously looking around for a couch to swoon on. While Applejack may prefer a more down-to-earth approach, Rarity's passion for fashion and attention to detail always added a touch of glamour to their group's adventures in Canterlot.
Applejack raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's all the fuss about? Ain't like it's going to change anything with Twilight here."
Rainbow Dash exchanged a glance with Twilight, who winced and looked at Pinkie. The earth pony seemed unphased by Applejack's careless turn of phrase. Twilight truly hoped that her friend was past her traumatic reaction to seeing Twilight's ascension.
Rarity continued to take measurements, nearly hyperventilating with the thought of creating coronation dresses for all her friends. She expressed her determination for them to look their absolute best on such a momentous occasion, her voice tinged with a hint of urgency.
"Oh, my dear friends, I simply must design your coronation outfits! I want each of you to look absolutely stunning, and you must let me take care of the style."
Twilight Sparkle, recalling the fashion disasters that nearly unfolded at the Grand Galloping Gala, nodded in agreement. "Rarity, we've learned our lesson from past experiences. We trust you, and we know you'll make us all look fantastic."
The rest of their friends voiced their agreement, acknowledging Rarity's talent and design expertise. Rainbow Dash, added, "As long as I can still fly comfortably in it and look totally cool, I'm all for it."
Rarity's eyes sparkled with appreciation, her artistic spirit reinvigorated. "Oh, you have my word, darlings. You'll all be the talk of Equestria with the dresses I'll create for you!"
With their trust in Rarity's creative talents, they knew that their coronation attire would be nothing short of magnificent once she'd worked her creative magic. For the time being that meant Rainbow Dash rolling her eyes and putting up with Rarity fussing around her whilst Applejack tried to hide her giggles behind her hat. Twilight took the opportunity to sidle up to Pinkie Pie and gently usher out onto the balcony whilst her other friends were distracted. With a caring expression, she asked, "Pinkie, how are you feeling? Are things any better?"
Pinkie Pie sighed, looking out at the view of Canterlot before responding, "things are a bit better, but I'm still feeling all mixed up. Part of my mind keeps replaying those paranoid thoughts about you being replaced by an impostor. It's like I know it's not true, but it's hard to shake off. And then there's another part of me that feels so humiliated by my breakdown."
Twilight placed a comforting hoof on Pinkie's shoulder and spoke gently, "Pinkie, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Your emotional volatility is something that deserves sympathy and understanding, not stigmatisation. We all go through tough times, and you should never feel ashamed that you struggle more acutely than most ponies."
Pinkie Pie took a deep breath and looked at Twilight, her expression a mix of vulnerability and sincerity. "You know, Twilight, I think I have been dealing with something chaotic for some time now. It's like the world is always on the edge of lifting a veil away if I could just focus on my peripheral vision. Sometimes I just can't control my thoughts and feelings. It's a rollercoaster, and it's been happening more as I get older."
Twilight listened attentively, her concern growing as she absorbed Pinkie's words. "Pinkie, I'm really sorry to hear that you're going through this. It must be so difficult."
Pinkie Pie nodded, her voice a little shaky. "It can be Twilight, but it's a part of me, and I've learned to live with it. I just hope it won't get much worse. Sometimes my mind goes to some pretty dark places, and I'm worried about what I might do to stop it."
Twilight was shocked and didn't know how to respond to such a revelation. She simply wrapped her hooves tightly around Pinkie, offering the comfort of her presence. Tears welled up in Twilight's eyes, and she began to cry at the thought of this pony, so we'll known for spreading joy, having such a hard battle with her own thoughts.
Just then, Applejack wandered out onto the balcony and saw the two friends embracing. Assuming that Twilight had been overcome by the emotions surrounding her coronation, Applejack quietly approached them, her expression one of concern. "Twilight, are you alright? I know this is a big occasion an' all but we're here to support you, sugarcube."
Pinkie and Twilight exchanged a brief glance, both choosing to play along, not wanting to reveal the true reason for their emotional state. "I'll be okay, Applejack," Twilight assured, giving Pinkie a supportive squeeze.
Pinkie Pie nodded, her eyes also glistening with tears but a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, we've got each other's backs, just like always."
With the secret of Pinkie's true struggles kept between them they shared one last embrace, finding mutual solace before returning to join their friends. They were just in time for Rarity to begin advancing on Applejack with her magically animated tape measure, and soon the suite was filled with the sounds of laughter at the farmer's discomfort.
The day of the coronation had finally arrived, and Canterlot Castle buzzed with activity. The magnificent grand hall was adorned with elegant decorations and tapestries, as ponies from across Equestria gathered to witness the ascension of Princess Twilight Sparkle. The anticipation and excitement in the air were palpable, as this was a less than once in a lifetime event. No pony in attendance would ever see another coronation of a brand new alicorn.
Rainbow Dash knew that Rarity had made her a chic dress and hat for the occasion, but she couldn't help but feel somewhat self-conscious. She tugged at her dress and adjusted her hat, her wings twitching nervously. She had always been a pony of action and adventure, and the world of formal ceremonies and regal appearances was a far cry from her usual comfort zone. Nevertheless, she was there to support Twilight and celebrate this momentous occasion, no matter how conspicuous she felt in her elegant attire.
In these regal surroundings, despite wearing the finest clothes she'd ever had, she couldn't help but still feel rather modest in comparison to the grandeur of Princess Celestia's towering formal crown or Princess Cadance's mane, which had been styled in the ornate fashion of the Crystal Empire.
The Sun Princess, her imposing presence radiating power and beauty, approached Rainbow Dash. With a warm smile, she said, "Rainbow Dash, Princess Luna and I would like to speak with you privately. Please follow me."
Rainbow Dash nodded, her curiosity piqued but a touch of anxiety lingering. She followed Princess Celestia to the designated antechamber, wondering what they wanted to discuss in private on this momentous day. Surely there couldn't have been more they needed her to do. She'd expended so much energy getting Twilight to this point, so much of it worried and second guessing herself.
The smaller room provided a quiet space for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to speak with Rainbow Dash in private. Celestia smiled warmly as she said, "Rainbow Dash, thank you for your dedication in coaching Twilight through these physical changes. How are the flying lessons progressing, this last week at the castle?"
Rainbow Dash returned the smile, her eyes shining with pride. "She's doing great, princess. I think she might be able to make a few circuits around the castle grounds now, and with practice she's not far from flying unescorted."
"How is Twilight adjusting to the pegasus additions to her anatomy?" Enquired the princess.
Rainbow Dash, always candid and straightforward, responded, "At first, she was a bit freaked out, to be honest. I mean, who wouldn't be, right? But she's been doing great lately. She's getting the hang of caring for her wings, and I think she actually enjoys preening."
Celestia nodded her approval, appreciating Rainbow Dash's support and guidance for Twilight. "Thank you, Rainbow. Your help has been invaluable to her. I'm glad she has such good friends to lean on during this transition."
"I'm not sure she's enjoyed all of it," countered Rainbow Dash, bashfully , "I had to tell Twilight to stay off the coffee for a while. It's been a bit tough on her since she's not used to the new fast heartbeat and metabolism that comes with her alicorn transformation, and we didn't need her getting even more hyped up."
Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, her expression curious. "No more coffee for Twilight? I'm sure that's been quite the adjustment for her."
Rainbow Dash chuckled, nodding. "Oh yeah, she's been quite grumpy without her usual caffeine fix. But she's determined to adapt to her new body and get used to her higher energy levels. I've said she can start back on her morning brew in a few months."
Celestia smiled mischievously. "I have no doubt she'll manage it in time. She's always loved coffee, almost as much as books."
Rainbow Dash nodded, confidence in her voice. "That's our Twilight, always eager to rise to the occasion."
Next Luna stepped forward, her expression kind and appreciative. "And thank thee, Rainbow Dash, for ensuring that Twilight did not slide into madness at the changes that have befallen her."
Rainbow Dash accepted their thanks with a nod, but then her gaze turned thoughtful. "Actually, Princess Luna, I think something happened between Pinkie and Twilight that really helped her find perspective."
Luna raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Pinkie? What doth thou mean?"
Rainbow Dash recalled the heartfelt conversations between Pinkie Pie and Twilight, where both ponies had revealed her own struggles and feelings. "Well, it was hard for Pinkie to accept the changes at first, and I know that Twilight was also feeling... sorta wrong in herself. They've had some pretty intense talks. I don't know all of it, but Pinkie's words seemed to really resonate with Twilight, and I think it made her feel less alone in all this. It was like a turning point for her."
Celestia and Luna exchanged a knowing glance, recognizing the profound impact of friendship and shared experiences. Luna said, "It seems that even in her darkest moments, Twilight can find solace in the bonds of friendship. Thank you, Rainbow Dash, for helping our dear Twilight through this time of transition."
Rainbow Dash nodded, humbled by their words. "It's what friends are for, Princess. We're always there for each other."
Celestia spoke again, "Indeed you are, my little pony. My sister and I are in your debt, for the dedication you've shown. We believe that Twilight will be okay without constant monitoring now, you may return to your life when not directly tutoring her."
Rainbow Dash bowed, "thank you, your highnesses."
"Now canter along," replied Princess Celestia, "stand with your friends, for the ceremony is about to start."
Rainbow Dash rejoined her friends in the grand hall, a sense of excitement and camaraderie filling her heart. As she took in the grandeur of the hall, her eyes landed on Twilight Velvet and Night Light in the audience, Twilight's proud parents. Their expressions were a mix of joy and love, their presence a testament to the support and encouragement Twilight had received from her family.
Surveying her friends, Rainbow Dash couldn't help but admire how stunning they all looked in their elegant coronation gowns. Rarity's impeccable sense of fashion had ensured that each of them shone in their own unique way, reflecting their individual styles and personalities.
However, as her gaze settled on Applejack, a pleasant surprise took her aback. Rainbow noticed a subtle yet lovely addition to Applejack's appearance - a touch of mascara, a detail that Rarity must have convinced her to wear. Rainbow couldn't help but sigh, utterly captivated by how beautiful her secret crush looked, the newfound elegance adding a soft femininity to Applejack's natural charm. She kept her admiration to herself though, not wanting to draw attention during this important moment, but her heart raced as she stole glances at the earth pony.
Just then, the regal sounds of the honour guard playing their trumpets echoed through the hall. The group turned their attention toward the massive doors at the other end of the hall, which began to open, heralding the arrival of Princess Twilight Sparkle and the beginning of the coronation ceremony. A chorus of heavenly voices filled the air, and their hearts swelled with pride for their dear friend. |
Put it to Rest | pre | James began to talk once more. "I couldn't sleep too much that night. My thoughts were dominated by the questions Miller had asked me a few hours before. The next day, I would finally see combat and with that realization, my life had now become a treasured luxury rather than an ordinary commodity."
A dark morning replaced the black nothingness, the sun barely cresting over the Pacific horizon. The ocean lapped at the shore, pulling some sand into it as it gradually rose up the small slope. Hundreds of men were donning gear, each one helping the other put his pack on. Some who were ready were lighting smokes and waiting for their officers or NCO's to give the pre-assault briefing.
Luna felt her hand being pulled. James had taken it in his own and was pulling her along, likely trying to find himself among the crowds of men. They effortless phased through the crowd, this being a memory after all, until James stopped in front of himself and Miller, helping each other don their gear.
The two men were silent and didn't look very in the mood for a conversation. Their faces wore grim, determined expressions, their weapons and gear clinked and clanged as they jimmied and rustled it onto their persons.
A large intercom buzzed letting out an announcement, "Now hear this. Now hear this. All troops to the beach. All troops to the beach."
The officers and NCO's of the company parroted the order from the intercom, some of the men grumbling and some others looking scared out of their wits, but the order was followed swiftly and without hesitation. A testament to the superb training of the Marines Luna supposed.
"Our father, who art in heaven,"
"If I don't come back, will you give this to my wife?"
"Fuckin Japs...,"
Her ears swiveled and swerved, picking up the whisperings of the other men in the company accepting their fate as they trudged through the sand. Her heart sank a little.
The Marines reached their destination, stopping in front of the large landing boats which would ferry them over to the island. She looked out onto the surf only to see a MASSIVE amount of enormous warships, all 10 times bigger than any in the Equestrian fleet. The long guns gracing its deck jutted out proudly, firmly aimed at the island which was about to assaulted. Two, in particular, seemed to lack these massive guns, instead havnig a flat deck with almost no batteries at all. However, the ship seemed to be launching tiny flying contraptions in great number, all of which were heading straight towards Cape Gloucester. She assumed those were those "planes" she and James had talked about in a previous conversation.
"My word, any navy who possessed ships of that magnitude could conquer nations!" Luna marveled at the sight.
"The US Navy. The king of the seas only rivaled by the Japanese. The Marines and, sometimes myself, may have kidded the squids working on those ships, but when it came time to assault something, we were always whooping and cheering as they poured on their pre-assault bombardment," he explained.
"Men," Mad Dog grabbed the attention of the Marines, "Command says this should be a long one and I'm sorry to say it. Intelligence says a small garrison of 2000 Japs are in this island preparing to defend it to the death. Most are holed up at Rabaul, but we should expect a lot of resistance."
"When you land, get off the beach as fast as you can. We're expecting the Japs to pepper it with everything they've got. Meet up with your platoon commanders and head inland. Our objective is to hold our position and protect the 1st Marines landing, link up with them, and move on to take the airfields. Good luck men! When you see the Japs, kill 'em all!" the men and him cheered, a vigor etched into the men.
"Alright gentlemen, you know how I feel. Get to your LCT's. I'll see you on the beach. That's all," he waved his hand and turned away, heading towards his respective LCT. The rest of them did the same.
Luna and James followed the younger one into his landing craft, she and him phasing through the rest of the crowded compartment. James jumped up on the side of the boat and sat on the rim. He offered his hand to her and gently pulled her up with him. She tripped a little and fell into his side a tad, blushing a little at her compromising position.
"Sorry James," she blushed.
"No worries," he smiled, a tad red in the face.
The boats were soon full. "Shove off boatswain! You're full," the order came.
There was a WOOOOOSH and BANG off in the distance. The Navy had just begun its pre-landing bombardment and the trees were beginning to pay for it. The island quickly began smoking, the black plume rising high and touching the clouds. Fragments of trees rocketed into the sea and into each other and small bits of leaves fell from the sky, completely on fire. Anything presently on land was soon obliterated, as if they had never even existed.
The metal planes that had launched off the flat-top decked ships dove towards the island and dropped their ordinance onto the smoking trees below. Their payload exploded with a loud BANG, the shockwaves sprinting across the water and rocking the ships a little. The fireballs from these bombs rose into the air, adding even more smoke and ash to the already massive amount in the sky.
It was the greatest demonstration of concussive, absolutely dominant firepower Luna had ever seen, and she soon decided to never piss off James' countrymen if any more ever came to Equestria.
The men in the boat were beginning to become restless. The tension was palpable. Some muttered prayers to themselves, some took swigs from their canteens, and others, mostly veterans, seemed mostly at peace. One young private was so overcome with dread he unloaded his stomach contents on the floor in front of him. Thankfully, he was in the front of the craft, so he didn't upset the other Marines too much with his sickly projectile.
The shore was starting to grow near, the bombardment having ceased and the jungle growing closer and closer. Luna's ears were folded back, her heart sinking for the Marines as they approached their destination.
They felt a jolt as the driver hit the brake on the craft, stopping a distance of a small walk away from the shore and laid anchor.
This was it. Luna couldn't bare to watch as she closed her eyes and heard the slow clinking of the front door opening.
And, ... ...
Nothing.
No gunfire, no enemy, no enemy counter-bombardment. Nothing. Luna breathed a huge sigh of relief as she watched the men wade onto the shore unopposed. The men of B company began meeting up with their platoons and began their trek into the heavily vegetated jungle. The young James was running with the 1st platoon and was standing next to Howard.
"Alright Marines, form up and move out. We've got a lot of ground to cover and hold until the 1st Marines land, so ruck up. Let's go," an NCO ordered.
James looked up at the vast jungle in front of him, eyeing it much like a hiker eyes a mountain. As soon as he stepped into the trees, the next great chapter of his life would start. He would go in as one man and come out a completely different one. He seemed to hesitate to follow the Marines in.
"Jim, you coming?" Howard pulled the man out of his stupor.
It seemed time would wait for no man, especially a corpsman for the Marine Corps.
"Yeah, let's go," James answered.
The corpsman adjusted his gear and began to walk into the Gloucester jungle along with Howard, with Luna and James following close behind. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.3: Into the Jungle | The jungle had been quiet for the most part, well, as quiet as a jungle can be. Of course, the wildlife was very active, what with their homes having been leveled to the ground. Monkeys chattered to each other up above the Marines and the birds rang out their calls. Luna saw some grotesque spiders and insects crawling around on the thick shrubbery and tree trunks. For an island that was about to become a graveyard of soldiers, it sure was teeming with life.
A silence pervaded all the men of 1st Platoon which James had been assigned to. 1st Platoon primarily was responsible for the heavy machine guns of the company, though there were heavy machine guns in each one. Aside from their machine gunners and riflemen, they had a BAR, Browning Automatic Rifle, man, and a bazooka crew who, when not engaging an armored vehicle, were simple riflemen as well.
James only interpreted this to mean there would be a lot of fighting with the Japanese with all the firepower they were bringing.
The only sounds being made at the moment, aside from the animals, was the CRACK, POP, and CRINK of the dead branches, leaves, and plants the Marines were trampling over. All eyes were alert for anything out of the ordinary, that being the Japanese.
After about 400 yards inland, the pointman called for a halt, holding up his right fist in the air. All Marines behind him quickly crouched down to the side of the column and took up a position, each eye and ear alert for a rifle shot they believed would ring out at any second. The platoon commander, a spiffy young West Pointer, and the platoon Gunnery Sergeant, E.B. Salt, ran up the middle of the line towards the pointman. The young James sat on a slight incline, barely more than a few inches higher than the rest of the men, but was able to see the pointman talking with the Gunny and the commander.
Luna also strained her neck to see what the fuss was about. In front of the column lay a Massive mangrove swamp, right in the charted path that the Marines needed to take. The three men up at the front of the column began pulling out maps and rustling around with them, trying to find a correction in their course.
"Oh goody, Lieutenant's gonna get us lost. Bet my folks will love hearing that I died from exposure out in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere in the Pacific," one private grunted.
"Knock it off, Douglas," a corporal said, but his facial expression betrayed that he agreed with the private's sentiment.
The lieutenant started to put away the map and the Gunny came running back, crouched down to avoid exposure.
"1st platoon, move out across the swamp. There's some dry, elevated ground a small ways up through this swamp. We'll be taking a position there and holding it until the 1st Marines land. Move out!" the Gunny ordered.
The command was swiftly followed by the junior riflemen, although, Luna picked up no shortage of grumbling from the Marines. She looked to younger James to gauge his reaction and found a small scowl, but he too was starting to wade into the swamp, his .45 in his right hand held above his chest.
"That swamp run was not fun. Whole time I thought I was gonna get leeches on my dick," James remarked to his companion.
"Eww," Luna grimaced, imagining the ghastly sight and quickly regretting it.
"Yeah, it was just apart of life here in the lovely Pacific islands. Trust me though, leeches were the least of our problems on this island. At least I could get them to surrender their holds with a little ice or flame. The Japanese, not so much," he sarcastically quipped at Luna.
The platoon continued on through the swamp while dodging through the coarse, rough mangroves. The water had a brown, murky look to it due to the ground being turned and disturbed by the Marines stomping through it. The men seemed to have a great deal of trouble walking through the swamp, the mud impeding their ability to take another step. One man fell forward into the swampy water, the mud having held onto his foot and causing him to slip and face plant into the water. Thankfully, his buddies were nearby to help him up, not without causing a large amount of noise. If a Japanese patrol were near by, all of them would certainly meet a swift end.
"Leave it to the Lieutenant to make us sitting ducks for those slant-eyed SOBs," one man muttered to his comrade. "Not even an hour into the campaign and we're already cannon fodder for the Japs. Why aren't we just going around this damn thing?"
His friend nodded in agreement, his face grumpy and grumbling. Luna turned her attention from the two of them and focused on James wading through the water himself. He was still holding his .45 out of the water with his right hand, but had maneuvered his left hand underneath his pack where a large part of his medicines were kept. He was holding these up to prevent water damage.
To the shock of many of the Marines, all had made it across the vast swamp without so much as a peep from the Japanese. The men began to form up at the shore and resumed their walk in their formation. A few were chattering with one another, but most were quiet, not wanting to alert their enemy if he was around.
The walk for the most part was uneventful and boring. Much of the noise being made was still the various animals and birds native to the island. The only thing that would break up the monotony of the walk was stumbling across the assorted "dummy" artillery and AA positions the Japanese had set up to fool American pilots and abandoned defensive positions that showed signs of a hasty retreat, likely closer to Rabaul. The dummy men and guns reminded Luna greatly of the fake defenses the Changelings would make to fool her batpony and pegasus scouts during the hunt for Chrysalis. She certainly wasn't surprised that humanity was practicing the same tactics, given their new found ability of flight.
Finally the Lieutenant called for a halt. "1st Platoon, make camp here. We are to hold this position until the 1st Marines land and link up with us. I want machine guns covering that hill and patrols around the area," he ordered.
The position the platoon had taken was certainly an advantageous one. It was an elevated area, with a long, sloping hill descending down into more jungle towards Japanese occupied land. The jungle was a little less thick here, making a broader, easier sightline for the machine guns to take out any attackers. Behind them was the beachhead about 900 yards back which was covered with less deep swampy ground. This made it harder for the Japanese to flank around them, but at the cost of an easy resupply route and access to tanks. The land where they were standing was dry, which would prevent them from grabbing any fungal or bacterial diseases from the swamp water.
Men began to break off to follow the order. The machine gun crews began digging out a trench and assembling their Browning M1917 water-cooled heavy machine guns in the position the Lieutenant ordered, while some other men were beginning to dig foxholes for the night and prepare their defenses. Luna spied James currently doing just that.
"We dug out defensive positions for the night and prepared ourselves. Much of us tried to get some shut-eye or eat something afterwards. For the most part, my introduction to the war had definitely not been what I expected," James told her, the memory began to fade out.
"We held that position for a couple hours. Salt sent out some patrols around the area, but I stayed behind. For the most part nothing really happened, but soon, that peace was quickly killed.
The next memory began to materialize. It was now a little after midday, the sun shining through the trees still and the humid air blowing through the leaves.
Most of the men at camp were sitting around, conversing with each other quietly. A few were eating K rations while others were napping in their foxholes, their helmets over their heads while their buddies were keeping alert. Each machine gun crew manned the gun and kept watch out towards the jungle. While one might expect them to be alert, their eyes betrayed an extreme boredom natural to war, their faces reflecting this notion as well. One man was resting his head on the gun while his assistant was flicking his lighter on and off in an attempt to entertain himself. Another was drawing figures in the dirt with his finger.
Luna saw a young James crouched down, walking over to the gunners position and sitting down with them.
"So," he muttered, "How you guys holding up?"
"Oh," one of them sarcastically uttered, "Just peachy, Doc."
James laughed at the sentiment. "Yeah, I'm bored too," he smiled at them, "At least the Japs ain't bothering us, so we have that."
The man chuckled at the comment. "God, I hope they do bother us, Doc. Sooner we kill all them slant-eyed bastards, the sooner I can get out of here and back to Australia," he shook his head.
He nodded. "I suppose so,"
The men were quiet for awhile, not having too much to say while they held their position. Off in the background, they heard the BOOM and BANG of the Navy out on the sea and what sounded like plane engines far off in the distance.
"Looks like the Navy pissed off Tojo," one veteran said, "I bet them Japs are bombing the carriers right now and routing the Navy like at Guadalcanal."
"Ah, them Japs ain't doing shit. I bet the Navy is pummeling those Nips back to their islands," one man tried to keep the mood up.
As soon as he said that, they heard the distant drone of an engine. The men looked up to the sky and saw a Japanese Zero far up in the sky, but close enough to identify. The Zero was heading towards them, but took a swift 180 and hauled back out to sea, precisely where the carrier group was anchored.
"Japs ain't doing shit my ass," the veteran mumbled.
A patrol of riflemen came back, having been out for a few hours by now. They looked incredibly tired, but showed no signs of battle or combat. Most of them broke off while the lead man went to report his findings to the Lieutenant.
"Hey, what's the hot dope?" James asked of Howard, who was one of the patrolmen returning.
"Navy's being bombed. A destroyer got sunk and two more are damaged, but the Japs are losing. AA gunners knocked most of 'em down before they could reach the carrier," Howard explained. He sat down next to James, took off his helmet, and wiped his brow. The sweat gleaned on his tan, smooth skin before he shook it off onto the ground. "Otherwise, no Japs at all. Just abandoned positions. Looks like they hauled ass as soon as the Navy started their bombardment."
"Damn," James whined, "Well, least we're winning. Hope those sailors are okay."
"Ah, those squids'll be fine," The Texan responded in his usual warm drawl, "How have things been here?"
"Well in the span of waiting here, I counted that there are 134 trees in my field of view and being wet sucks," James snarked, causing a small chuckle to rise out of Howard.
"That bad huh?" he replied, taking a swig of water from his canteen.
"God, I think I'd enjoy watching grass grow," he continued, "Although, I suppose that's really what we're doing," gesturing to the vast amount of plants in their view.
Howard laughed heartily, taking another drink from his canteen before strapping it back to his belt. "Well, it is what it is , I suppose."
Something grabbed the attention of the gunner next to them. He quickly hit his assistant on the shoulder and pointed out to the bottom of the incline. James and Howard exchanged glances before quickly getting up, taking their positions at the line with the gunners. The two of them were cautiously looking out at the trees, the gunner's finger out of the trigger but very close by. His assistant had already began to grip the belt, ready to feed it on his partner's order. Howard had brought his M1 Garand rifle up, not aiming it yet and gripping it with both his hands as he scanned the thick brush. James had pulled his .45 out.
There was a rustling in the trees that didn't sound like an animal. The leaves were being moved around, disturbing it by hitting the stem connecting it to the plant. Something was definitely out there and it knew that they were there.
Luna held her breath, not daring to move. The tension of the area was palpable and Luna feared if she dared move, she'd break it open like a water balloon. Next to her, James brows furrowed and his face was that of a deep frown, which did not put her worries to rest.
"JAPS! THEY'RE COMING!" The gunner quickly yelled to their comrades behind them. Many began to frantically grab their rifles and poured over to the line, taking up positions and ready to fire.
The rustling continued for a few seconds before stopping abruptly.
"TENNOHEIKA BANZAI!"
All hell began to break loose. The machine gunners began opening fire as WAVES of Japanese poured out through the trees. Most wore leaves and brush from the jungle around their shoulders and chest, a crude form of camouflage blending slightly with their beige, brown uniforms. Many were charging straightforward, their bayonets fixed to their rifles, right at the machine guns. Others crouched and fired back at the Marines. A few had grenades in their hands and were trying to throw them into the trench or up to the foxholes. A line of Japanese knee mortarmen were spotted still concealed in the treeline, only seen because of the smoke and flash from their weapons. These men were swiftly cut down by the riflemen that had joined the line.
Mortar shells began falling on the battlefield, the 60mm mortarmen having heard the skirmish and adding their influence to the fray. Japanese 81mm and heavy mortars began to salvo back with them, battling with the Marine mortarmen for control over the battlefield.
The battlefield was so intensely loud that Luna was clutching her ears against her head fiercely, trying desperately to block the cacophony of explosions and BANGS of rifles out of her ears. Bullets flew by her with a THWANG and THWOOM, frightening her even though she was in no danger. Those that didn't fly by were stopped by dirt with a THUCK!
The gunners continued their hail of fire, cutting down the Japanese counterattackers mercilessly. Luna saw nothing but hate and anger in their eyes, the gunner gritting his teeth as he poured out lead. Most of the attackers didn't make it to the line, being shot down by the heavy fire the gunners gave. Luna spied a Japanese run out of the trees at them only to be cut in half by the BAR man's burst. His top half fell to the ground, his intestines and organs splayed out all over the dirt and bleeding heavily. It was an absolute massacre.
She nearly barfed as she saw this exchange, but held it together, tearing up slightly with a horrified expression painted across her face. She was about to turn away to spare herself the sight of bloodshed, but James came next to her and put a hand over her shoulder, trying to comfort her in his own way. Under his protection, she resumed watching the carnage as best as she could, paying attention to James.
Younger James was currently okay, but looked very afraid. He frantically was running up and down the line, checking for any wounded or dead Marines. HIs .45 was out, but he did not participate in shooting the attackers, opting to use it only if he needed to.
"CORPSMAN!" the shout came. James head whipped to where the shout came from and sprinted over, crouched down to avoid any fire.
He reached the scream to find a fallen Marine with two of his buddies standing over him . Another Marine was next to the three, firing at the Japs and covering them as best he could. The fallen Marine had a large, gaping hole in his chest cavity near the left arm pit and about 2 inches from the nipple line, the wound bleeding steadily down into the dirt. It didn't seem like a sucking chest wound from what James could see, thankfully, but he suspected some rib fractures. The Marine's two buddies had cut open his jacket with their KABARS and we're putting pressure on the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.
"AHHHH! DOC HELP ME! IT HURTS! AHHH!" the man clearly was NOT having a good day and was thrashing in the dirt, being held down by his friends and adding more to the pain.
James quickly put his .45 in his holster and whipped out his medical pack. "Keep the pressure on that wound," he ordered the two.
With a swiftness Luna hadn't seen before, James whipped out a dressing and the Sulfa powder, quickly ripping open the package and shaking it down into the entry wound. He rubbed it into the entry, much to the dislike of the injured man, and turned the man onto his uninjured side to assess the exit point, ordering the two to hold the pressure while he did.
The exit wound was MASSIVE, approximately a half an inch in size. This was also bleeding and James quickly laid pressure down on it, the Marine giving out a scream. He spied a few bits of his bones lying on the ground, splotches of blood and flesh still on them as well as the rifle round that had pierced him. Its tip had broken off and the round itself was slightly bent from the impact. James cursed at the sight.
He quickly began to shake Sulfa powder into it, as well as a hemostatic powder to try to stop the bleeding. Immediately after, he began to wrap the battle dressing around the man's chest, only letting up on the pressure to continue wrapping it around the impact area. He gave the man a few pain meds to help him. By this time, a stretcher team had crouched their way over, a Marine having seen the commotion and called the team for Doc.
As the men began loading the man into the stretcher as best as they could, James treated the man for shock.
"Doc," the man asked him, looking up at James, "Am I gonna be ok?"
James really didn't know, not having extensively examined what the inside of the wound looked like and how much damage the bullet had done to his bones.
"Oh sure, Marine. You're gonna make a full recovery. You'll be just fine," he reassured him, putting on a smile for him. "Hey, why don't you take this? A little souvenir from your time in the war," he picked up the bullet that had hit him and softly placed it in his right hand.
"Heh," the man laughed a small bit, "Thanks Doc," the stretcher team began to carry him away, likely back onto a hospital ship or to the battalion surgeon for surgery. The war was likely over for him, whether in death or in a discharge, James didn't know.
The battle had still been going on around them, the Japanese still not giving up despite a massive amount of their numbers lying on the jungle floor. The machine guns were hot, the steam from the intense heat of their barrels steadily rising into the air. Body parts lay all around the ground, having been ripped apart by the heavy artillery that was being poured onto the battlefield. Even after everything the Marines had done, the Japanese KEPT coming.
Luna just couldn't believe how dedicated these men were, even after everything that had happened. Their blind charge into certain death, she almost admired them in a sense.
She saw James, having finished with the casualty, start to sprint crouched down back around the line looking for injured men who needed him. He stopped approximately 10 feet next to a machine gun crew and took a position there.
"Damn, they just keep coming!" the assistant shouted to his partner, "You think they wou- SCHUCK!"
A round pierced straight through the man's neck, shattering his trachea and splattering the matter all over the ground behind him. His blood splashed in James face and eyes, making him sputter and spit onto the ground, horrified at what had just happened.
"CARVER NO!" the gunner screamed. "DAMN YOU! SLANT-EYED FUCKS!" he hollered, feeding the belt himself now and angrily firing his gun in retribution.
James rushed over to the fallen man, but he was already dead. Nothing could be done.
"Damnit all...," he whispered to himself.
He began to move on down the line and looked for more wounded men or calls for him. However, the offensive finally seemed to die down and the remaining Japanese began to retreat.
"DIE YOU JAP FUCKS! FUCKING DIE!" a Marine and his squadmates were plastering the retreating Japanese with rifle and Thompson fire.
The firing from the Marines continued for awhile until no Japanese were in sight anymore.
"Cease fire on the line!" the order was given. All fighting ceased and the Marines stared at the carnage before them.
Hundreds of dead Japanese were lying in the trees, brush, and grass of the Gloucester jungle. The smell of decaying flesh was already starting to settle in, as the flies quickly began to coalesce around the dead. Many of the Japs were torn apart, cut in half in various places. Assorted body parts were lain around them all decaying and rotting in the intense heat. Luna saw a hand nestled comfortably on a tree branch, the blood that was circulating to it steadily dripping out down onto the dead below. A piece of leg was splattered onto a tree trunk, the extreme force from an artillery shell plastering it out on the bark.
The floodgates finally let out as Luna vomited on the ground.
Shrapnel and craters were present, some of the dirt still smoking from the recent detonated shells. The Browning guns were still steaming, the sizzling from the water cooling the barrel loud and hissing like a snake. Most of the Marines stared out at the scene, sharing the same 1000 yard stare that James had.
"They just wouldn't stop," cried one young replacement private softly.
"Serves 'em right for Pearl," one man spat on the ground as he shakily began to light up a smoke.
Luna spied the machine gunner from before, kneeling in front of his assistant's body crying his eyes out. A few men were next to him, trying to console the mess of a man.
"Alright," yelled the Lieutenant, "let's clean this up. Jenkins, take some men with you. You're on body patrol. I want a round through every Jap corpse no matter how shot up they are. The rest of you, restock your ammo, go see Doc if you're injured, and start burying those bodies."
The men began to carry out the order swiftly. A few minutes later, Luna picked up a few isolated rifle shots, indicating Jenkins following his orders. Soon, the memory began to fade away.
Upon the darkness reclaiming the scene, Luna collapsed into James' arms, the tension, fear, and sadness overtaking her at once. Her ears folded back as she ugly cried into the man. James put his arms around her, placing his right hand on her head and pushing it softly into his chest.
"I know, Lu. I know," he comforted.
"How can you live with this?" she whimpered to him, her head still thoroughly buried in his chest.
"I don't," he replied, "It doesn't go away. Just some days... it's easier to deal with."
He continued narrating, "The war was such self-defeating brutalized, wasteful chaos, the way it destroyed the nation's very best. Carver had wanted to be a surgeon after the war, maybe a pediatrician. Such a bright young mind wanting to alleviate human suffering had itself been sacrificed to the maelstrom of war and suffering. What a waste..."
Luna nodded her head a little, her tears starting to subside a little. " Did that man you treat survive?"
"I don't know honestly. Once they're out of my care, if they don't come back, they either were sent back home to the States or...," he paused, "Were dead. I never heard from him again. I went back to check on the rest of my patients, but he wasn't there."
She fell silent at that, not having any more questions for him, just content to stay in his arms. She couldn't believe the destructive power that she had just witnessed. If this is what James had to struggle with everyday, she understood why he was always so upset.
"How did you feel?" she asked of him.
"I was...," he paused a little, looking for the right word for it, "exhausted. Both physically and emotionally. I spent much of the rest of that day treating small wounds and bringing some men back to the aid station. Each one had something different. A broken finger, shrapnel in the face that scarred them for life, one man had burns all over his body and shrapnel in each limb from a grenade."
"I just, couldn't bear to see all the suffering that this war was causing us, causing MY Marines, and it was only my first day," he explained, "It disgusted me and made me want to cry. But, I didn't. Everyday I'd put a brave face on for my boys to give them hope. The way I thought it, if Doc was happy, then everything was going to be alright. I had no time for sadness because my men came first in my mind, ALWAYS," he emphasized the last word.
She began to hug him strongly, not to comfort herself, but to comfort him in his sadness. James returned it, resting his chin on the top of her head. The two of them stood there for awhile, content to hold each other in their sadness.
Soon, though, James broke away from the hug. "I don't know about you," he spoke, "But I am hungry. Why don't we break for a little bit and I'll cook us something nice?"
"Mmm, that sounds lovely James. I'm eager to see how the mighty James Milligan conquers his kitchen," she laughed, trying to lighten the mood more.
"Sure thing. Now, how do we get out of here?" he asked her.
"Just close your eyes and I'll take care of the rest," she explained, taking his hands in hers.
Soon, the two disappeared back into the real world. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.4: Securing the Island | OPTIONAL BACKGROUND MUSIC: Not needed to understand the story, but if you're interested in what James is playing, I figured I'd link it here. Some of you may know what piece of media this was featured in (Would you kindly find the series this is from?). The part you'll know it from is near the end of the composition around 4:00. And for those of you who play piano like myself, TRY this piece! It's actually a lot of fun!
Luna had not heard human music before, but from what James was showing, she thought she could get used to it.
The two of them were currently in James' study, the room that she had noticed left of the front door. Both had finished their dinner, an excellent potato and egg casserole prepared by James, and were happily sitting in the room, Luna laying down at the couch, and James playing his piano.
The mess that was on the piano when she came in was cleared away, leaving only a neat pile of music sheets stacked to the left of the music rack. The piano was well-polished and clean, the black paint gleaning in the small amount of light coming in from the sun.
She had asked him to play music from his country, perhaps as a way to peer into how they felt about life or what their culture was like outside of the war. He hadn't really talked about his nation all that much outside of today. In response to this request, he had pulled out a large book, approximately an inch thick, put it on the music rack and began playing.
What she heard didn't blow her mind, but it was peaceful, tranquil, and at times melancholic. It was like a quiet summer's evening, being shared with a friend or lover. She relaxed herself, letting her arms and limbs lie down on the cushions, and shut her eyes, enjoying the soft tune and gentle taps of James' fingers on the keys. It inspired a serene peace in her, a far cry from the events she and James had experienced together.
He made an occasional mistake here and there, obviously not having mastered its tune, but she didn't mind. She smiled to herself, so happy that James was willing to share a wonderful part of his life with her.
The two laid there for awhile, each enjoying the company of each other, and spoke nothing. Neither wanted to disrupt the peace that had befallen the room, a luxury each knew wouldn't come easily due to recent events.
James played the final notes of the composition, playing it a bit louder and more forcefully than before, but soon ended it, playing the last key softly before closing his music.
"Mmm, that was lovely, James. Who wrote that piece?" She asked, smiling up at him.
"A colored man named Scott Joplin. Think he was from Missouri? I can't rightly remember, but I will say that I loved his music," the man replied, gently placing the book back on his shelf with the rest of his music. "That piece specifically was called Solace."
"I can understand why," she chuckled to him, "It sounded very nice."
"Thank you. I've been practicing that for about a year now," he sat down at the couch next to her, his right ankle resting on his left knee at a semi-right angle.
"It's certainly paid off," she replied, scratching an itch on her ear. The two were silent for a few seconds, not knowing what to say to each other.
"Well, I've barely scratched the surface of my time in the war. That being said, would you like to keep going, or do you want me to take you home?" he inquired, almost sounding a little concerned for her.
"Yes, I want to keep going. I promised that I would help you through this and I will continue to do so," she firmly responded.
"I'm just warning you now. What you saw was just a taste of the war and what it was. You can turn back still if you're having second thoughts. So I must ask you again, Are you sure?" he emphasized the last words, eyes widened very slightly as he spoke them.
She pondered what he had told her, but remained stubborn. "Yes, I'm sure."
He looked at her for a moment, sighed, and said, "Ok.... We'll keep going. Will you join me outside and enjoy the view?"
"Of course, James," she smiled.
The two removed themselves from the couch and calmly strolled outside, sitting down in the wooden rocking chairs he had purchased at the market.
"It's been nice, being able to tell somebody about this," he muttered to her softly.
"It's been... interesting to listen to it," she calmly put it, euphemising the horrific experiences she had seen with him.
He grasped her hand, her horn starting to light up.
"If you can't take it, don't hesitate to pull us out. You hear me Princess?" he ordered.
"Crystal clear, James."
With a flash, they were off.
Once again, Luna found herself floating in the void of James' mind, not feeling weightless, but certainly not standing on solid ground either. She saw James in a similar situation, "standing" right in front of her.
"So, we had our first contact with our enemy and we lost a few men. Not a whole lot happened after their attack and our first few nights were quiet and undisturbed, aside from a few harassing shells being thrown our way. We had linked up with the 1st Marines and had taken the airfield successfully with minimal casualities. Afterwards around January, we had pushed south towards Borgen Bay, encountering some resistance from our gracious hosts. Finally, we came to a little area called 'Suicide Creek'. And, let's just say, Tojo didn't like that," he chuckled half-heartedly.
Trees began growing, the canopy quickly engulfing some of their natural light. Thick, green grass and leaves growing up to her waist replaced the dullen blackness of James' mind. A few foot long puddles lay lazily to her side and the ground was thick with mud. The heat was happily drinking up the fallen rain, a steady source of humid steam rising off of the ground and baking the Marines' faces. The men, who were now walking past her, trudged through the mud with a loud schlop.
She began walking with them, though, unimpeded by the wet mud and listened in on the conversation.
"God damn these Jap SOBs for making me endure this shit," a man from New Jersey grumbled.
"Amen," another man replied.
Young James was walking quietly, a few feet away from the men in front of him, as was every man to avoid causalities from artillery. He seemed lost in thought, his brows relaxing in a way that made him look angry. His personage, as well as every other man's, was filthy. He had a stubble beard that was starting to grow, though not mangy yet. Dirt, grime, oil, and other sorts of filth seemed glued to his face, only being dislodged when an occasional sweat droplet washed it off of his cheeks. Many of the other Marines possessed the same dirty, muddy faces as he, likely a byproduct of their time in the field. His clothes were in similar condition to himself, brown stains adorning his dungaree jacket and wet sweat marks nestled comfortably in his armpits and the collar of his shirt. His boots were caked in mud and dirt, looking like he had run through a swamp, which Luna reasoned, probably was the case.
He had nothing in his hands at the moment, his .45 nestled comfortably in his holster.
Unlike the terrible condition of the Marines, their weapons which many of them had in their hands or slung across their shoulders looked like they were in mint condition. Their barrels gleamed, reflecting the sunlight into her face, and the wood of the carbines and rifles had absolutely no mud on it. The men seemed to have neglected their own sanitation, but their rifles certainly did not share in that decision.
She assumed it was something to do with their training and their proximity to a war zone.
The men occasionally strained and adjusted their heavy packs every now again, especially the machine gunners, but otherwise, nothing happened.
Eventually the silence was broken.
"So, what are you going to do after the war, Jenkins?" James asked his friend.
Luna had heard of Jenkins from the last memory, but had not paid attention to him, being caught up in the excitement of the battle and concerned for James' safety. She looked towards where James was talking and found a thin, lanky fellow walking with the group.
Jenkins possessed a ruddy complexion, his brown hair dirty with small pieces of mud parted to his left. He was a thin man, not necessarily skin and bones, but certainly looked like he lacked a great amount of bulk as some other men had. However, he seemed to lug his rifle and pack effortlessly through the jungle, having no problem with it or adjusting it like some other men. His face was cleaner than others, although a small amount of fuzz was beginning to grow on his lip and chin. His eyes gleamed an emerald green and his face looked rugged, his jaw clenched and tight as they hiked.
"Me? I'm gonna marry my girl, work on my dad's ranch, and drive cattle like my granddaddy and his granddaddy. I'm gonna make something out of that ranch, ah tells ya," He crowed. "How bouts yaself?"
"I dunno," James reckoned, "Got no girl, got no opportunities, got nothing. Don't know what to do with maself."
"I suppose I reckoned the war would help me figure it out," James answered in his warm mountain accent, "How foolish it seems now..."
Jenkins pursed his lips and looked down. "Yeah, real adventure we got going here," he crooned, gripping his rifle with his right hand letting it lazily hang.
"Well, I dunno bout y'all. But I'm gonna go back to my home in Oregon and run my uncle's lumber business. I wanna be back amongst the trees," a new man cut in.
"Bet that ain't the only wood you'll be gettin, Dane," Jenkins snickered back at him.
"Hey, Fuck you J!"
Luna looked in the direction of the new voice that Jenkins was talking to, spying a tall, bulkier man with a tan glazing his skin. His shadowy, black matted hair also contained bits of grime and dirt much like the rest of them, but it didn't seem to bother him too much. A small smile was on his face, tempered from the constant fear and depression of being in a combat zone, but it was there nonetheless. He was lugging the tube of a 60mm mortar on his back, dubiously strapped to the top of his sack and jostling with every step he took.
The men grew quiet after that exchange, remembering that they were in fact in a war zone and were surely not welcome by their ever so gracious hosts. They continued to walk in silence, until the sound of a flowing creek began to hit the ears of the patrol.
Up ahead lay a vast amount of jungle growth that was covering the Marines view of the creek in question. Not only could they not see out into the creek, but the foliage on the other side was just as thick, blocking their vision and obscuring everything behind it. Muddy land lay all around it, seeping into their boondockers as they trudged ever closer to the shore.
RATT RATT RATT RATTA TA TA
A flash and burst of machine gun fire ripped through the trees as each man swiftly hit the deck. Aimed rifle fire began to join the cacophony of heavy gun as Japanese riflemen began to add their volleys to the fray. The scene was violently thrown into chaos as the Marines began to open fire on the assailants, wildly firing into the mass of jungle and hoping for the best.
"Goddamnit! We just walked right into the entire Jap army!" one man screamed, his M1 pinging as he ran out of ammo.
"How many of 'em can you see?" James yelled back.
"I don't know! I can't see through all this damn jungle!"
More Type 96 fire ripped through the trees, a burst hitting two Marines on the ground. One man met a swift end, a round cleanly taking the top of his skull off, his brain matter splattering all over the Marine behind him. The man receiving the matter looked on in horror as the realization of what had just happened hit him and he began to violently throw up into the dirt, frantically wiping at his face to dislodge the fallen Marine's brain from himself.
The other man next to the fallen Marine was not so lucky. The burst cut straight through his femoral artery and hit the femur, bending the bone out of shape towards his left leg and opening the artery into the ground. Spurts of blood flew into the creek and all over the platoon as the man violently thrashed around clutching his leg.
"Oh Jesus let me die! It hurts so bad! For Christ sake Jesus, kill me!" the man screamed to God.
James had already noticed the bleeding man and was frantically crawling over to him, hoping to save him before he bled out his femoral. But, as he approached, it seemed that Jesus had answered the man's prayer, as James watched him topple over dead.
The fight still going on, she saw him crawl off to treat the next casualty, a trail of slightly damp mud being left in his wake. The usual TWANG and THOOM of bullets flying past her rang out around her, many hitting the water and dirt near the Marines position. She was able to make out a few flashes of light across the creek, quickly lighting up and dying down. Infrequently, other flashes, firing much slower, would also rocket out of the stone enclosure that the enemy was holed up in.
By now, the 60mm mortarmen had hastily set up their gun and began firing as fast as they could onto the other side of the creek. Each time the shell landed, the firing from the bunker seemed to stop for a bit, the gunners likely taking cover from the blast. This, however, resulted in even more ferocity of fire from the gunners in the bunker, anxious to take out the mortarmen threatening their lives.
Luna could see the still remaining Marines begin to dig into the earth with their entrenchment tools. The NCO leading the patrol had ordered them to dig foxholes for cover, probably anticipating a long drawn out skirmish with the Japanese. Those who weren't were still firing their weapons like their lives depended on it, which was certainly the case.
She hadn't noticed James crawl up to his NCO and crouched down to listen in on the conversation.
"I gotta get our wounded out of here!" James screamed over the noise.
"You can't! You step foot out of this position, you'll become a Jap bullet pincushion! If we get a stretcher team down here, they're just as fucked!" his sergeant yelled back.
"I got critical patients here! Uler's got a tourniquet on him now and he's lost a lot of blood. If I don't get him to the aid station, he's done for!"
The sergeant looked hesitantly out behind them, gritting his teeth as he pressed his back into the dirt incline they were resting on. He yelled, "If I let you out there, you're dead. How long does he have?"
James furrowed his brows and shakily replied, "Maybe a few minutes if I keep him here."
The NCO grimaced and squeezed his eyes shut, like swallowing a bitter drink. "Give him some morphine and make him comfortable."
The sergeant physically shivered as he gave the order, sentencing a man to his death, but he did not back down. James recoiled back, his mouth agape and his eyes horrified. He sat there, only a spilt second, before slowly crawling back to his wounded. Luna followed him, her eyes wet.
James reached Uler and the other wounded, wiped his face, and began to open up his pack. Uler hadn't noticed James crawl up next to him. He seemed entranced by something in the sky and paid no attention to his fatal injury, his eyes vacant and his breathing steadily declining.
"Hey Uler, I'm gonna give you a little something for the pain," James shakily cried, plunging the needle into his forearm and depressing the plunger.
Uler seemed to relax himself immediately, a dopey, grinning smile replacing his vacant look. His eyes softened themselves as he sighed and giggled, his large dimples spreading themselves on his cheeks.
"Thanks Doc," he lazily spoke, "Do you think they'll let me go home for this?"
James showed no reaction, likely trying to keep the man's spirits up. "Oh sure. They'll definitely send you home for this," he reassured the man, patting him on the shoulder, "You got the real million dollar wound."
His eyes lit up at the answer. "Wooow," he offered, laying his head back into the dirt and looking up to the sky.
He stayed like that for awhile as James sat with him. Before long though, his face saddened a little. "Doc...," he paused for a long second, "I'm afraid..."
James looked as if he had been burned in his heart. "I'm afraid too, Uler," he paused for a moment, "Will you help me not be afraid?"
The man perked up again, looking a tad worried for Doc. "Yeah, course Doc." He stretched out his hand and patted James on the shoulder, shakily and weakily, and tried to comfort him. The men said nothing, but they both got the message.
The two were silent for awhile, ignoring the chaotic screams and blasts of gunfire around them.
"Doc. I think, I think I'll sleep for a little while," he began to close his eyes.
James didn't reply back for a few seconds, his face in a frown as he tried to hold it together. "Ok, Uler. I'll wake you in a bit."
"Night Doc."
"... Night, Uler."
He waited for 20 seconds, straining his ears to listen for breathing. Short after, he put his fingers on the man's neck, checking for a pulse, and found none. He was dead.
Luna expected an outburst. She expected him to weep, to hit the ground with his fist, to curse the enemy for what they had done.
Instead, she saw nothing. James betrayed no emotion, no life, no feeling. He patted the man's shoulder softly, looked away, and crawled away to treat more casualties.
Everything began to fade into black.
Luna was stunned by what she'd seen, that familiar twang of anguish stabbing her in her heart. She slowly turned to her left to gauge how James was reacting, hastily trying to think of what she would say to him.
"Maybe... Maybe if I got Jenkins to throw a smoke, maybe I could have got him out," James bargained with nobody, quietly muttering, "Japs can't get me if they can't see me."
Luna struggled with the right words to say to him, her mouth slightly agape as she looked at the man. "Oh James, there was nothing you could do."
"It's not your fault James," she sniffed.
He said nothing as he stared into the inky blackness. "I know..." he whispered back, barely holding on.
Nothing was said after. James didn't seem all that enthusiastic to talk about the experience nor did Luna wish to provoke the man with more thoughts of the unhappy memory. But eventually, the silence came to an end, James signaling he was ready to keep going.
He cleared his throat a little, his fist up at his mouth to cover it. "We dug foxholes for the night and let some men slip out under the cover of darkness. I holed up with Howard and tried to forget about the day as best as I could. But, misery wasn't done with me yet and it was soon I had another problem to worry about that night."
The jungle was still, a small sea breeze blowing through the trees as the creek softly flowed out to sea. The moon was covered partially by the clouds, a little light peaking out through the trees, but not enough to see well. Frogs and other nocturnal creatures spoke calls into the air as the Marines lay themselves down for a bit of sleep.
She spotted James and Howard sitting quietly among the darkness, laying in a foxhole about 6 feet wide and 2 feet deep. Howard was softly dozing, laying back on the incline and facing the creek, clutching his M1 with his hands with his finger out of the trigger. James was laying back left of him, watching the creek solemnly and attentively keeping watch for infiltrators. His right hand was clutching the large .45 Automatic that he was issued while his left hand sat lazily on the ground. She noticed that he had stuck his KABAR into the ground to his left, the handle sticking upright out of the dirt while the blade sat sheathed in the soil.
She gulped at the realization of why he had left his KABAR in such an easy to reach position.
James himself looked exhausted, small bags under his eyes and his beard scruffy with dirt. His mangy hair had been rangled into his helmet and his clothes were still dirty from the day's fighting.
But his eyes showed the real exhaustion that he was feeling and Luna was certain it wasn't physical. His eyes looked sullen, tired, and his cheeks drooped slightly. His face betrayed a quiet misery, a battle going on within himself, only coming out because no one could see it.
It broke her heart to see him like this.
Suddenly, there was rustling in the leaves, sticks crackling and dead leaves popping. James perked up, attentively listening for the noise. There was silence after the initial sound, but then it happened again.
Silence.
More shifting.
Silence.
Crackling and crinkling again.
Someone was sneaking towards the line and was trying to hide it by pausing every few seconds. It sounded like he was coming straight towards their foxhole!
James aimed his .45 and sat up straighter, peaking over the crest of his foxhole more to see better. His finger sat comfortably on the heavy trigger, ready to apply the pressure and fire the weapon.
"What's the password" he challenged the intruding body.
No response. The leaves fell silent for a second, but the noise continued again.
"Password," he challenged again, louder this time.
No response still.
His finger applied more pressure, so close to firing that a slight twitch from him would set the handgun off. His hand shakily held the pistol as he aimed down his sights towards the foliage. His left hand began to grip his KABAR, ready to pull it out of the earth and jab it into the infiltrator.
"Shinu, buta!" a voice called out.
A Japanese burst through the jungle, a saber in his hands raised ready to strike the unfortunate Marine laying in the foxholes. He wore branches and leaves on his shoulders to camouflage himself better, much similar to the attackers during the first assault. His face looked enraged and fanatical, ready to strike down the American dogs for his emperor.
BANG BANG BANG!
James, almost on autopilot, squeezed off three incredibly quick shots into the mans chest as he swung his knife into the Jap's stomach, stabbing him.
The infiltrator's face contorted into an agonized look, his brows furrowing and his teeth gnashing. He had dropped his saber and was clutching his stomach where the KABAR sat nestled. Before long, he dropped to the ground behind him, dead.
The young James stared in disbelief, crouching down in his foxhole and eyeing the corpse.
Soon, he turned his head down and looked at his pistol, looking locked in sober reflection. He had just killed a man in close range, seeing his face contort in agony, and fall by his hand. Still in a sober trance, he plucked his KABAR out of the man's stomach, blood draining from the corpse, and cleaned it with a piece of cloth, sheathing it when he was finished.
"That sounded like it was from Doc's foxhole," Luna heard some of his men chatter.
"DOC! You ok?" One man shouted.
James didn't respond, still processing what he had done. Howard, who by now was wide awake, answered for the frazzled corpsman. "We're fine! Doc got the Jap bastard," he called back before nestling down in his foxhole again. The air was quiet once more.
Howard eyed his friend worryingly and patted him on the shoulder. "You saved our lives. He would have got both of us if you weren't here," he reassured, "You did what you had to do, Jim."
"Yeah," he responded quietly, "Go back to sleep Howard. I'll keep watch."
Everything faded to black, the two once again standing in limbo.
"That was the first time I'd ever killed a man," James started, Luna about to say something, but staying silent, "It came as a... jolt, seeing clearly, the pain I had caused that man when my bullets and knife hit him. It suddenly made the war... a very personal affair. The expression I'd seen on him filled me with shame for my actions for awhile, then disgust for the war and the misery it caused us all. But, that didn't stay long either before it was replaced with a hatred for the Japanese soldier and his emperor. It filled me with anger that I was going to have to fight on every God-forsaken piece of dirt in the Pacific and kill every last one of them before I could go home."
He took a breath and continued, "We thought they would never surrender and we'd never go home. Sitting there, I remembered the dead. So... so many of them. So many maimed for life. So many bright young men consigned to the ashes of the past, to be remembered no more. It disgusted me to my core," he scowled.
Luna sat in silence, just drinking in what he was telling her. In her many years of life, she had not met a creature who had been so accosted by such an experience and it broke her heart, especially since she had feelings for said creature.
She grasped his hand softly and rubbed it a little, trying to comfort him as best she could.
James didn't respond positively at the action, but he didn't try to stop her.
"After that night, the boys came back with a Sherman who pumped 3 shells into the bunker and wiped out the Jap emplacement. Soon, the Cape Gloucester portion of the island was declared secure and the real fight began."
"The real fight? How was that not the real fight?" she asked, extremely confused.
"We stopped fighting the Japanese, but we stayed on the island for another 3 months, taking out pockets of resistance and occupying. We camped in that jungle for the whole time where we met our real enemy,"
"Rain... and ourselves." |
Put it to Rest | Ch 5: This Miserable Jungle | "The worst part of being on Cape Gloucester was not the Japanese nor was it my friends dying, although that was incredibly painful. No, the worst part was the RAIN."
The scene generated, a torrential downpour quickly overtaking the inky blackness. They were back in the jungle, however, the foliage was demonstrably less thick. The trees were more spread out from one another and the thick-leaved bushes were much the same. There was more walking space throughout the area and the ground was no longer completely covered in dead leaves or branches. It resembled more of a forest now than a thickly vegetated jungle like it had before.
The atmosphere of the environment, now, that was definitely different. A steady falling of rain had drastically altered the once serene, sunny jungle landscape. Channels of water washed dirt and mud down the slopes created by its flow, each drop falling onto the ground coalescing into it like a river. Some rain lazily ran down the leaves, some smacking into a Marine's helmet and others pooling in the foxholes and craters dotting the surface of the jungle. A steady, loud THOOM, accompanied by a brilliant flash out in the distance, boomed out at sea, illuminating the area around them for a few seconds.
She looked at the sorry state of the men standing, sitting, and grumbling in front of her. Their position was more established than the others she'd seen. There were a few lean-to's standing out to her left, containing ammunition and firearms, food, and other supplies as well as another one she could see farther back holding the company headquarters, a few runners and aides going in and out periodically. Some Marines were still in their foxholes while others were standing inside of the wooden, tarped over structures, attempting to keep themselves somewhat dry. Her eyes popped out in shock as she walked by a hole with a man dozing inside of it covered up to his chest in muddy, cloudy water. His helmet was over his face and he was using his pack as a makeshift pillow, somehow finding a way to sleep through the misery going on around him. In a strange way, it looked like he was using the rain water as a blanket of some sorts, though Luna couldn't imagine it was as comfortable.
Those that were awake weren't much better. Some were simply leaning on the wooden beams holding up the lean-to's, staring out at the rain furiously pelting their position. A few had lit up smokes to occupy themselves, their drenched fingers staining the paper as they struggled to keep their freezing hands steady to light the cigarette. They said nothing to each other, the pervasive boredom and misery locking their faces in a small frown as their eyes drooped. She saw one man sitting on a wooden ammo box who, with his boondockers off dripping on the wooden platform they were standing on, was picking pus-filled, white blisters off from between the crevices of his toes, each one spraying a small bit of gooey pus onto his foot as he popped and wiped them up with a bit of poncho. He cursed each time he picked at them, a small bit of pain spreading across his face as he picked the sores off himself.
Truly, in Luna's eyes, the Marines looked like they wanted to throw themselves off of a Manehattan skyscraper and they were climbing up to the edge at the moment.
An NCO passed by, his boots making a loud SCHLOP as his foot sank into the ground with each of his steps. "Oh God," the man prayed out loud, his deep voice piercing into the tent they were standing by, "Please let someone shoot at me today."
"Amen," one of the Marines muttered in agreement.
Luna cocked an eyebrow and turned her head a tad in confusion. Why would anyone wish for the Japanese to attack their position?
"I think the Corps forgot where Cape Gloucester is and left us here," one man jabbered to another.
"I think God has forgotten Cape Gloucester, this miserable piece of shit island," his companion griped back.
"Damn stuff isn't coming out. Can one of you call the doc?" the jungle rotten Marine asked.
"DOC!" one of them yelled, waving his hand to grab James' attention.
The young James came trudging over, his boots sinking down equally as much into the mud as the NCO's did and landing with a thunderous SCHLOP!.
Luna was graced with a SOAKING wet James looking incredibly grumpy, his face in a small scowl. His gear and boondockers were drenched with water, the packs and pockets having a small bit of poncho over them trying and failing to keep them dry. Dirt and mud no longer clung to his face as before, rather, it was replaced with drops of water and condensation dripping down his cheek onto his dungaree shirt or into his mouth. His boondockers made a squelch every time he took a step, pools of water being rung out of the dirt like a sponge coalescing in his footprints. He only wore his closed dungaree jacket, pants, and boondockers, the rest of his backpack left in his dwelling. Loud PLOPS arose from his helmet as the fat, lazy drops of rain fell onto him.
In short, he looked incredibly soaked and even that was the understatement of the century.
He stepped under the tent canopy and shook some of the looser drops off himself. He placed his hands into his armpits as he crossed his forearms over each other, shivering a little as he did.
"Jungle rot?" James asked.
The Marine with the ailment was about to say something before he was cut off by the question.
"Yeah, you got anything for this Doc?" he laid back, propping his hands up on the wooden box as he held out his rotting foot.
"Yes, hol' on a second," he drawled, reaching into his pocket, emitting a large squelch as he did and pulled out a violet ointment. Its color was similar to that of a royal purple that Luna and Tia had worn for formal occasions, only this purple was a little less bold and more drab.
She watched as the corpsman squirted some of it into his hand, his flesh quickly staining with the purplish liquid, and began spreading it all over the man's foot and ankle, covering every spot with the regal ointment. He massaged it into the sores and wounds, a few men wearing disgusted expressions as they watched the gross sight. James didn't seem to mind the dirty nature of his job and appeared to take it on the chin. If he was uncomfortable with what he had to do, he certainly didn't show it to the rest of the men.
"Alright, try to keep your foot dry while this does its work," he began wrapping up.
The Marine chuckled and shook his head, "Sure Doc. I suppose I'll just kick up next to the fire and dry myself?"
"Very funny Marine. Just try your best unless you want me amputating your foot at battalion," he brandished his KABAR jokingly at the man as he turned to walk out of the tent.
James' arms shook in a violent shiver, standing on the edge of the platform. He felt a hand grasp his shoulder loosely.
"Doc, you look like you're about to freeze your dick off. Here, at least take this if you're gonna leave," he thrust a moderately dry poncho into James' hands.
The poncho was slightly damp, the water resistant fabric holding onto a few drops coagulating on its surface. A few holes could be seen in it as well, the fabric obviously seeing its fair share of use during the campaign. Vacant, idle strands of woven fabric poked out at the men, pulled out and ripped apart from the weaving.
James genuinely smiled happily, something she hadn't seen him do at all for awhile. "Thank you!"
He unraveled the poncho, shook it a little to dislodge any water, and donned it over himself, the fabric covering his body in camouflaged fabric like a cloak. His rain gear properly adorned, he jumped down from the mildly damp wooden platform of the tent and began walking around camp.
The rain had not let up during the small pause in the tent, in fact, it seemed even more ferocious, the rain hitting the earth deafeningly. A violent wind blew through the trees, tossing the tree leaves and bushes in all directions. James quickly poked a hand out of the poncho and held onto his helmet, placing his palm at the apex of the steel.
He passed by the man still dozing in his foxhole, surprisingly still not awake. The water was now up to his neck, near his Adam's apple and was becoming higher by the second. James walked up to him and tapped him on the helmet.
"Treman, you better wake up before the Navy recruiters come to get you," he sarcastically remarked to the man.
Treman opened his eyes groggily and quickly shot out of his hole, cursing as he looked down at his dungarees and uniform.
"God damnit! Dahh, gross," he shook his hands, throwing some of the water clinging to him off.
"You were sleeping in that filth for awhile Treman. Why didn't you wake up?" James inquired of the impromptu scuba diver.
"Dunno... guess I'm just a heavy sleeper," he wiped his face, trying to wipe the water off of it, but only succeeding in putting more on it from his hand.
"Alllright, well, let's get you back to battalion for some new dungarees. Make sure to get checked out by Doc Hallsey for the rot or trench foot, that's an order," he giggled.
Treman laughed, finding a little humor in his horrid living conditions. "Sure thing, Doc," he chortled, walking off towards the battalion aid station.
Satisfied, younger James resumed his patrol around camp, visiting various men, checking on them, and treating their injuries.
Luna heard him shuffle next to her. "Now that the Japanese weren't really a massive threat anymore, my enemies were no longer bullets, shrapnel, and a banzai charging Jap, but disease. The rain and muggy atmosphere nurtured all kinds of horrid, disgusting diseases, as I'm sure you've seen," he gestured back to the tent holding the jungle rot Marine.
"Dysentery, pneumonia, jungle rot, and dengue fever battled me for the lives of my Marines and many times it was too much for me to handle," he reminisced.
"But, the worst disease wasn't one that I could treat with an ointment or medicine. I could hardly treat it at all and it came for all of us on the island eventually," he pointed over to his younger self, walking up next to a Marine in a foxhole.
The man occupying the foxhole was staring intently at something in his hand. What it was, Luna couldn't see as it was blocked behind the man's back. Younger James was strolling alongside the foxhole to the man's right and peered in. She got closer to them to see what was going on.
The Marine didn't notice the corpsman stop beside him, still staring at what he was holding. His face was glazed over, hosting that ever-present stare, and looked as if he was contemplating something. James seemed to notice what was in his hand and calmly walked over to him. Luna followed, stood on the rim of the foxhole, and looked down.
The man was cradling a .45 cal. M1911 in his hands, his left hand holding the barrel while his right was clasping the handgun's grip. The silvery sheen looked dull, the rain splashing off the weapon and dripping idly down into the hole. Her eyes widened at the realization of what the man was thinking of doing.
James frowned, looking a slight bit sad. "What are you gonna do with that?"
The Marine jumped a little, whipping his head to his right, and saw Doc looking down on him. His eyes widened as he nervously looked off to the side, likely trying to think up some excuse that would explain his behavior. After a few anxious seconds, it appeared he found one.
"I was just checking for rust, Doc. You know, the rain can really mess up the metal," he forced a happy tone onto his speech, but James could see through it.
The corpsman didn't say anything to him, just staring down at the Marine as he thought of what to do.
"I've got a detail for you," he finally spoke, holding out his hand to pull him up.
"Sure Doc," he took the man's hand and stood up.
"I," he paused for half a second, squinting his eyes as he thought of something, "Need some help grabbing more medical supplies and seeing how you're just lazing about in your foxhole, I think some work would do you good," he chuckled to the man.
"Sure, lead the way," the two began sloshing through the thick mud back towards battalion.
"And maybe once we're done, you can go grab some hot chow and hang around for awhile. Get out of the rain for a bit," James offered.
The Marine looked slightly to his left. "I don't know if I should go off the li..."
"HUP! Doc's orders, Marine," he cut the man off before he finished his sentence, holding up his hand in front of the Marine, "You look like you can use some time off the line."
The Marine looked a little bewildered, but soon softly smiled, the two of them walking off into the thick brush of the Cape Gloucester jungle and disappearing.
The memory faded away, leaving the two of them standing in the void.
"Goddess, it's a good thing you were there in time," Luna remarked, looking up at the tall, young gentleman.
"Yes, indeed. Every man contemplated doing what he was about to do. After 3 long months of being on that God-forsaken island, we thought we'd never go home. Every day, we prayed for relief and rest from the seemingly eternal rain, but it never came until we left Cape Gloucester. Getting killed or receiving the million dollar wound appeared to be the only way out to freedom. And unfortunately, some men acted on that principle, paraticularly a few weeks later."
The scene began to play again, the rain quickly overtaking the still silence of the void. Cape Gloucester had not changed a bit in the weeks after. The torrential downpour was as powerful as it was oppressive. However, what had changed was the structure of the encampment the Marines were living in. More fortified and erected structures had replaced the foxholes, more tents and tarped buildings dotting the surface rather than hollow holes dug into the earth. Small, netted hamocks with tarps over them swung quietly in the rainy breeze, a few men dozing inside them.
The men camping here looked just as gloomy, dejected, and miserable as they did a few weeks before, if not worse. Frowns adorned their faces as rain whipped and struck the structures they sought reprieve in. Their eyes, glazed, gloomy, and hopeless scanned the sky for some sort of pause in the rain, but it never came. A few men in another tent had started a game of pinochle, the NCOs turning a blind eye to it and some even joining in. Another was playing with a lighter inside of his hammock, idly swinging in the rain as he bundled up as best he could in the cold weather.
She spied James sitting in his own hammock, silently writing in a small booklet she couldn't make out in the distance. She motioned James to accompany her and they walked towards the corpsman.
Inside, she could make out the small, printed letters of a book of some sort. The man's left hand was placed between the pages of the book, resting on the spine, and was shielding the text with his palm and fingers from the stray droplets that threatened to peek through the cracks of his hammock. However, he wasn't reading the text, but was rather writing over it with a fountain pen.
From the looks of it, it closely resembled that "Bible" James was so protective of a few days back.
"James, is that the little booklet that fell out of your briefcase?" she inquired of him.
"Yes, very perceptive of you," he replied. She grinned at the compliment.
"We were not allowed to keep journals or diaries on the front lines. The brass up top believed if we got killed, the enemy might loot us and get valuable information out our journals," he mocked, "I thought it was a load of crap. But, to get around it, I used my little Bible Mad Dog had given me on the first day as my journal. I'm sure the big Man will probably have a few gripes with me over it, but I think He understands," James chuckled.
"I'll let you read it sometime, when I'm ready," he said.
She nodded, smiling up at the man before peering back into the hammock again, much like a peeping Tom she reckoned.
James noticed something off to his left, swiftly beginning to put away his Bible and unzip his hammock. A man, naked except for his underwear, had sprint past him and was currently heading straight towards the line which held small pockets of Japanese resistance. He was carrying a .45 pistol in his hand and was his pale, white skin was dirtied with mud, like he had faceplanted into the sopping wet earth.
The corpsman whipped his legs out of the jungle hammock and began to run after the man, looking exceedingly worried. He had adorned his poncho and dungaree jacket, but had left his supplies and gear back in his hammock.
The almost naked man stopped at a small incline, his right hand firmly gripping the pistol. His eyes were wet, teary as his mouth hung open in a desperate frown.
"LETS GO - SHOOT ME!" he yelled in succession, "SHOOT ME! SHOOT ME! SHOOT ME! - END IT!" he continued screaming into the thick jungle foliage.
"What the hell's wrong with him?" one man asked.
"Dammit, he's cracked. Get him down from there, quickly boys!" an NCO ordered.
Two Marines hastily began to carry out the order, both of them sprinting towards the man, and swiftly ripped the gun out of his hand. The man began to break down, weeping into his hands as the two Marines flanked him on both sides, escorting him away from potential danger.
"Take him back to the battalion aid station," the sergeant ordered them.
"I'll go too," James piped up, adjusting his helmet and wiping his face.
"Alright Doc, hurry back when you're finished," he replied, walking away towards the ammunition depot.
The memory began to fade with the four of them walking off towards the aid station. Soon, the two of them were left in the void again.
"Oh that poor man," she sighed.
"Poor man indeed. I dunno what happened to him, but I hoped he got better after some time off the island. The hopelessness we all felt had gotten to him, and many of us had almost heeded the call of the void as he did. I thank God that I didn't end up like him," he crowed.
The two stood for awhile, contemplating the sad sight for which they had been witness to.
The void began to shift away to reveal a quiet, sunny Pacific day. The two of them were now standing on the stern of a metal ship, likely one of the troop transports James had been talking about previously. The wind blew passively over them, the warm air kissing the skin of their arms. A pleasant smell flooded into her nostrils, tasting the cool sea air as they began to sail away from an island.
"We were relieved on April 23, 1944 and finally left the island," he took in a deep breath and smiled, "It was so good to leave, to smell the sea breeze, and for once, not get rained on."
He turned to her, looking down to meet her eyes, "So, what did you think of the whole experience?"
She paused for a moment, looking back at the island, and leaned on the rail, "I think I need a cuddle."
"Well umm..., I'm available," the man's face began to blush heavily, his inexperience with women furiously being shown through his embarrassed expression.
Luna too began to blush, soon starting to giggle softly. She found the sudden decomposition of his stoic nature positively adorable.
"If you'll have me," she replied, taking his hands into hers and warping them out of the memory, back into the real world. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.6: Propane Nightmares | Luna truly had never been more happy than she was at this moment.
Any onlooker that might happen upon them definitely would get the tabloids, gossip magazines, and nobles seeking political power up in a tizzy. For here she was, the Princess of the nation of Equestria, co-ruler of one of the greatest countries on Equus, the mover and mistress of the moon, spooning with an alien commoner from the university.
Truly scandalous!
Thankfully, no pony was here to see them. The two of them were quietly laying in his bed, the soft fabric enveloping them in a crisp warmth, as James had his lean, pale arms wrapped around her midriff, softly stroking her with his thumb. She, in turn, was gripping said arm with her own, leaning into him with a contented smile adorned across her face.
If this didn't announce her affections for the man, he certainly must be the densest male she'd ever come across!
"This is nice," he spoke soothingly, nestling himself into his pillow. "Beats sleeping in a hole," he chuckled, a small grin on his face.
"Mhm," she hummed back, her eyes closed.
The two stayed silent for a few minutes, content to enjoy each other's company and warmth.
"Hey Luna," James asked, "Are you interested in me?"
"Well, of course I'm interested in you. You're the first alien to ever land in Equestria and you have knowledge of wonderful machines and sciences," she conceded, slightly bending her head to look at him.
"No, I meant, like, romantically," he clarified himself.
Hook, line, and sinker. I got him! she cheered internally.
She was silent for a few moments, perhaps to build a sort of pressure in the man eager for an answer.
"Yes, James. I am," she confessed.
He turned his head for a moment, not really knowing what to say, before continuing.
"I figured. I can't imagine you kept showing up to my classroom merely because you wanted me to tell you about chemistry,"
"I came to visit you because you were my friend first and foremost. I loved being around you because you accept me for who I am and you like me for who I am, not because you sought some political position or were afraid of me," she had by now turned herself around to face him and was softly poking him in the chest with her finger.
"And the more I got to know you, the more I realized what a lovely man you are and how much I really liked you," she revealed, a small blush painting her deep blue cheeks. Her eyes couldn't meet his, too anxious to see his reaction.
He said nothing for awhile, his face contorted into a deep, thoughtful expression. The silence was agonizing to the both of them, feeling like a lifetime, but in reality only a few seconds. Her hands began to feel clammy and cold as she anxiously waited for his answer to her confession.
"I feel the same way, Luna," he revealed. She let out a HUGE internal sigh of relief and her muscle physically relaxed themselves again.
"You've been so good to me from the moment I met you that day in the gardens," he tenderly spoke, "Hell, you were willing to slog through my entire memory of the War just to make me feel better. If that doesn't get you to like a person, I don't know what would."
She beamed at him, her smile the widest it'd ever been in her years and years of life.
"So, uh, where do we go from here," the man asked, a large blush and small smile painted on his face.
"Well, fortune favors the bold as they used to say in my day," she quipped, grasping his cheek, leaning forward, and kissing him.
His eyes widened at the sudden escalation of affection, but soon leaned into it as well, his eyes closing and his arms reaching under to pull her closer to him. Luna was internally squeeing at finally being able to kiss the handsome chemistry professor, leaning more into as they passionately kissed.
Their embrace soon came to an end as they came apart, gazing at each other both with passion and a small bit of surprise.
"Wow," exclaimed James, finally breaking the short silence, his eyes wide, "We... uh, we should do that more often."
She giggled, her white teeth glistening in the small amount of light from the sun shining through, "I'd like that a lot."
"So, umm, might I take you out into town sometime?" he bumbled his words slightly, "I think that would be pretty girl - Great! Pretty great."
She laughed heartily at his little slip-up, "Yes, I'd love too!"
The two lay there for a bit before the sun steadily and slowly go down towards the horizon.
"Looks like duty calls for me," she glanced outside, watching the sun softly set, "Would you like to come watch me raise the moon?"
"I'd like nothing more," he softly smiled, following her out onto the small balcony he had jutting out from his bedroom.
Luna took a position in the middle of the pavilion, while to the left James jumped up onto the railing, sitting down as he rested his back on the wood of his two-story cabin.
Her horn lit up its characteristic soft blue color as she began reaching out with her magic towards the moon. Gently grasping the celestial body, she slowly and steadily began to raise it above the horizon, its timid rays peaking through the few clouds present in the Equestrian sky. Soon, it rose high into the sky where she finally let it go, settling it into the sky until she would lower it in the morning.
She hadn't realized she had been flexing her wings out and soon relaxed them into a folded position.
James looked positively dumbfounded by what he had witnessed.
"I always had my doubts that it was you and your sister who actually raise the sun and moon. Boy was I wrong," he laughed, "That was amazing."
She blushed, "Aww, thank you," enjoying the attention she was receiving, "Would you like to pick which constellations I adorn the sky with tonight?"
James did a small double take. "You move the stars too? Goodness woman, what don't you do around here?"
He got up from his lounging position on the rails and put his hands into his pockets as he looked up into the sky.
"Could you... could you do the night sky from home?" he asked, glancing over to her.
This intrigued her. There had a few times that she and him had discussed the constellations and astronomy of his world, but she had never actually seen them.
"Of course, give me your hands, close your eyes, and imagine the sight of them. I'll glean what they look like off your memory of them," she informed, grasping his hands and closing her eyes.
A short moment was all it took for her to get the image in her head. She gasped in awe of what she looked upon in his mind.
"Goddess!" she exclaimed, her mouth open in wonder.
She opened her eyes and looked James in his.
"You get to see that every night on Earth?" she asked, a starry glint in her eye and her mouth slightly open in awe.
"Not always at home, but sometimes. You'd have to go to the open country to see it like I did," he answered, "What you saw was my memory of the sky during the war."
"During the war, when the smoke, clouds, and rain would clear away, I'd get to gaze at the beauty beyond the maelstrom of warfare and pain I'd found myself in. Sometimes, I'd wonder if my family were looking at them when I was, and maybe, in some spiritual way, they'd know that... I was ok. That their son was well and trying to come back," he spoke somberly, "Even now, when I gaze at the stars, it always reminds me of home. The people I left behind. The good friends I've lost. The... the dead and my family."
She stood silently, taking in all she was hearing, before lighting up her horn, anxious to paint the canvas of the heavens with the sky of his homeland.
What was being done was certainly a sight. Pinpricks of light danced across the sky, elaborately twirling in a free, unhindered fashion. Clouds of brown, white, and salmon pink coalesced into each other, accentuating the atmosphere around it and popping out the colors.
Millions of stars now hung on nothing in the sky, shining as beacons in the empty shadowy void of the night. A band of light stretched across the middle of the canvas, some of the astronomical clouds basking in its light. Various blues, blacks, light greens, dull oranges, and pinks popped out at her eye, adding a vibrant life to the overall "painting".
Nothing she had created could ever top the beauty of what lay before her. It was truly her magnum opus, and it wasn't even hers!
"Brings back memories," he reminisced, speaking a little slower, "It's so good to see this again."
"If I had made heavens like this, no pony would ever had neglected my night," she gazed with him at the majestic sight.
"Truly magnificent work Luna. It looks just like home," his eyes were a tad wetter than normal, smiling that big stupid grin she loved.
"What do humans call this?" she asked.
"This is the Milky Way, our galaxy. Home," he spoke, turning his head to face her, "Thank you so much Luna. For doing this. For everything."
She smiled back at him, "You're very welcome."
Silence pervaded once more as the couple continued their observation of the Milky Way. The crickets, rustling from the deer, and cicadas occasionally broke the silence, sounds off, before gently letting the quiet permeate once more. They stood there for awhile, Luna and James content to watch the sky. He had taken his position on the stone balcony once more resting his back, while she leaned forward and laid her arms on the railing. Every so often, in the dim light, she spied James trying to sneak a few glances at her butt, but utterly failing to hide it. She giggled softly, glancing back on him with a sly grin.
"Like something you see?" she jested, a slight seductive tone to her voice.
"Duhh, uhh, uhmm, ahem, yeah," the man fumbled with his words, caught red-handed in the act and looking away.
"I didn't tell you to stop," she continued, her words dripping with a flirtacious tone, and gave her butt a little wiggle, enticing him back.
The ambience soon returned, enveloping them in a warm spring night again. They continued to watch the stars and silently enjoyed each other's company for some time.
James let out a yawn behind her, "Well, I don't know bout you, but I'm pooped. I'd like to turn in for the night."
She nodded back to him, following him back into his home, and shutting the door behind her.
"Might I spend the night here, James? It's an awfully long walk back to the castle," she asked of him.
She, of course, could teleport herself back into her room at any moment she wanted,. Being a powerful alicorn allows you to do such things. Regardless, she wanted to spend as many moments as she could with the man, so she hoped he momentarily forgot she could teleport.
"Sure, go right ahead," he went into the bathroom to change into his bedwear.
She followed in his example, banishing her current clothing back to her dresser in her chambers, and teleporting her nightgown onto her person. Coming over to a small mirror he had on his dresser, she checked her hair, groomed herself, and made herself presentable, ready for any intimate interactions if such were initiated.
Hearing the door open, James stepped out into the room wearing clothes suitable for bed before climbing under the sheets. He patted the other side of the bed, looking at Luna.
"Well, you comin'?" he smiled.
She sauntered over to the mattress before getting in alongside him, nestling herself in next to him. He turned out the lamp on his nightstand, bathing the room in darkness as he laid down with her.
"Night Lu."
"Good night James. Sweet dreams,"
A few moments later, both were whisked away by a slumber and the room fell quiet.
It was too early to be stirring already.
Her eyes felt crusty, wrinkled, and achy as she lethargically opened her eyes to a squint. Through her blurred vision, only the dark graced her eyes with its presence. No rays of sun peaked through the windows for she had not lowered the moon yet and no early birds chirped outside.
In her tired, drunken-like state, she felt around for the other occupying body of the bed, hoping to wrap herself around him and huddle back into her slumber, but felt nothing but sheets and fabrics.
That's odd.
Her eyes opened fully now, taking her hand and wiping them to clear her vision. Surely enough, he was absent from her side.
Yawning, she swung her legs off of the bed and got to her hooves. Wiping her eye again, she slowly began to trudge out the room and began to search for the man. Seeing a light on downstairs, she awkwardly began "clopping" down the stairs, her hooves generating a great amount of noise on the polished wood stairs.
Stepping off the last stair, she shuffled over to the lit room, standing in the doorway.
It was a somewhat messy room, papers and other documents scattered across the various counter spaces. Big steel cabinets and cupboards lay on the ground, large warning signs painted across the doors.
Warning! CONCENTRATED Acids!
ABSOLUTELY DO NOT MIX WITH BASE
CORROSIVES! FLAMMABLE!
Across from these chemical storages, a large chalkboard hugged the wall. Chemical reactions were written all over it, the handwriting hastily written in a slightly sloppy fashion. A few notes were written next to these, detailing how the reaction would proceed and other sorts of notes.
A small hood was installed into the side of the wall, a small ventilation tube running to the outside of the house. Standing at this hood was James, wearing a white coat and working with his hands in the hood.
She heard the scraping of glass on glass, the shaking of some solid, and the low buzz of the vent. She stepped into James' "lab", rubbing her eyes a bit and shaking the sleepiness out.
"James, what are you doing up at this hour? It's not even past 4," she groggily sighed.
"I," he paused while concentrating on what he was working on, "Had an idea and wanted to see if it would work. Might be able to talk about it in class next week."
She studied the man for a few moments, squinting her eyes a little as she did. Something was off about his tone and, she supposed, his logic. Why not just wait until the morning to test his idea?
"I don't believe that for a second, James Milligan," she argued, "Why are you really down here?"
She started to walk towards him, wrapping her arms around her midriff to warm herself in the cold night. More of the man was coming into focus as she got nearer. His hands were covered in a white, stretchy glove, snugly fit around his fingers and hugging his skin. A pair of thick goggles protected his eyes from any splashing or explosion that might generate.
By now, James had put his glassware down, leaning against the rail of his makeshift chemical hood, clutching it with his hands. He had removed his goggles, hanging them lazily around his neck as he looked at the Lunar Princess who, by now, was standing to his left.
"Just nightmares, Lu. Wasn't anything big," he answered very nonchalantly, his voice low and tired.
"If you had a nightmare, why didn't you tell me?" she asked, a slight motherly tone sneaking into her voice.
He turned around, his back now facing the rail of his hood as he leaned on it for support. He crossed his arms across his chest defensively.
"You've done so much for me. I just, didn't want to be more of a burden on you. I'm sure you've got other things to do then listen to your friend rattle off about his past," he was looking away from her, suddenly finding the wall very interesting.
She felt her heart break a small bit, "Where did you get it in your head that you were a burden?"
She paused for a second, but continued, "You have never been a burden on me James. I asked you to tell me about your experiences. I wanted to know. And I still do!"
She poked him with her dark blue finger and smiled a bit, "If you're trying to get rid of me, well, I hate to tell you, that ship has sailed. You're stuck with me, James Milligan, whether you like it or not," she giggled a little at the last comment.
The man joined in with the laugh, the newfound mirth permeating the two of them and lightening the mood.
"Now, willst thou tell me what troubled you in your slumber?" Luna slipped into her old formal tongue accidentally.
He looked away a little, his face betraying an internal struggle within him. Soon, he turned his face towards her.
"I... had a dream about being shelled by Jap artillery on Peleliu. We were in our foxholes and I was hugging Howard as we prayed to God to deliver us," his composure dampened a little, "To be shelled is, in my opinion, the worst part of war. Well, aside from machine guns, or mortars, or riflemen, or snipers, or dysentery, or dehydration, or hunger, or not bathing for months, or the flies, or the land crabs, or planes. But aside from those, artillery is the worst experience a soldier can face in a war."
He wiped the growing exhaustion from his eyes and continued, "To be at the mercy of chance is something that was so... disheartening. My complete lack of control under artillery fire haunts me to this day," he reminisced.
"When was the last time you had a nightmare of the war before this one?" she murmured.
There was a long pause from James, "Last night."
She frowned, "How long have these been happening?"
"Since the war ended. Not a night goes by where I don't wake up back in the Pacific," he shook his head and grimaced, "When I have them, I come down here and distract myself with mah work. Chemistry helps me forget. It's easy for me to lose myself in. But, if that doesn't work and the war creeps back in, I try to force myself to think of the wonderful friends and some experiences with them that were funny."
His face drooped, his eyes becoming sadder, "But, inevitably, you also remember the dead... and...," his voice was starting to crack, "How many of them there were. And, they were just gone. It's... not something you can ever forget. Some things that you do and see, no matter how hard you try to forget," he closed his eyes, a small tear running out the side, "They don't ever go away."
Silence pervaded the room before James cleared his throat and wiped the tear, "Hmm, well, there it is," he mumbled out.
She said nothing at first, drinking in what he had poured out to her. "James, if you have these nightmares, please tell me. I am the overseer of dreams in the land for all my subjects which includes you," she pointed a finger at him, "I've seen what causes them and I understand now. I can help you, only if you'd allow me."
He frowned, turning his head away from her, "We'll see."
"Then please. Come back to bed. You need rest. Goddess, your eyes are practically falling out of their sockets they're so heavy," she caressed his shoulder.
He sighed, "Ok, ok, you're right," he began to take his goggles off his neck and hung up his lab coat on a coat rack. Slowly, the two walked off, back up the stairs, and hopefully, off to sleep once more.
Golden rays of sun peeked through the clouds of Canterlot, silhouettes of young pegasi mares casting shadows down on the city. A warm breeze blew through Luna's hair as she stepped out onto the porch of James' home. The weather was wonderful, the kind of day to sit back and relax under the sun while reading a book. The birds chirped, the plants blew in the wind, and all seemed right in the world. A far cry from the horrid sights she had been witness to the past couple days.
She stopped at the edge of the stairs, twirling around to give him a goodbye.
"It's been.... interesting to say the least, Lu," James joked, "I hope to see you again soon."
"As do I. I know where to find you," she giggled. James leaned down to kiss her cheek, pecking her on her deep blue fur.
"You missed a spot," she laughed, closing her eyes and puckering her lips.
She heard him chuckle before feeling the soft skin of his lips on hers. She leaned into it, letting off a small grunt of approval, before letting go with a very exaggerated smack.
"I hope that'll hold you over till next time," she seductively whispered in his ear. The man responded with a small shudder.
Soon, she turned around and began to walk down the stairs.
"James," she turned around and called back, the man looking back, "If you have a nightmare, call for me. I'll come to help you. I guarantee it."
"Thanks," he responded, going through the door and shutting it.
She began to walk down the mountain path, fighting the urge to let out a girlish "squee" from the kiss they shared.
"What an adventure," she muttered to herself.
Soon, she left back to the castle, eager to tell Celestia all she'd seen. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.7: Rest and Relaxation | The loud clip-clop of Luna's hooves permeated the hallway as she calmly walked through the, as of now, vacant hallways of the science wing of Canterlot University.
It had been a week since that night she spent with James. They hadn't seen each other since then, both having their duties to attend to. The mountain of paperwork that had accumulated at her office in her absence had induced no shortage of groans from her, but she had finally made it through. Tia was more than happy to handle the rest of court today to give her time to spend with her "coltfriend".
She scoffed. The mere mention of the phrase reminded her of the extensive teasing Tia had given since she told her of her date with James.
I hope he's good, Tia gave a wink at the end.
"Goddess," she groaned, before chuckling a small bit at her sister's antics.
Her ears soon picked up the pleasant, deep mountain voice of her romantic interest, knee deep into a lecture.
"We're starting labs next week, so I figured I'd briefly introduce some lab safety before the real safety lecture come Thursday," his cool voice spoke, "When you're running these experiments, always keep in mind what you're working with. Later, if you all take organic chemistry with me, we'll do a nitration of toluene; we'll learn what that is later. Normally, it's a very safe, easy procedure that makes two products which are mostly safe to handle. But, if you're not careful and you let it react too long, you make a little compound known as trinitrotoluene. Does anybody know what that colloquially is known as?"
A silence pervaded the room, no one answering the man's question. She found herself internally scratching her head as well along with the students.
She heard him chuckle as she leaned on the wall outside of the lecture hall, "Right, I forgot you guys haven't discovered it yet. My apologies. Trinitrotoluene is commonly known back home by its acronym TNT. It is the quintessential high-explosive. If you want something blown up or wiped off the face of Equus, you use TNT," she heard him pause slightly before continuing, "So, I want you all to be careful when you're handling your chemicals. Follow the procedure and my instructions. Cause if you don't, you may end up making your lab space into an unintentional bomb!" he laughed at the end of the statement, chuckling to himself. No students joined in the jovial mirth and the room was soon awkwardly quiet.
"Huhp, would you look at the time... All right, I'll see you all tomorrow! Class dismissed!" the sounds of rustling of chairs, desks, and ponies getting to their hooves filled the room.
Young college-aged ponies began filing out of the room, all bowing or waving as they passed her. While put off by the Lunar Princess' presence, the students seemed noticeably more relaxed now, many giving curt bows or smiles to her. As they walked past her, she could hear many of them whispering and muttering to each other.
"I bet they've got a secret romance," she heard a melodic Fillydelphian excitedly mutter to her friend.
"I dunno. Maybe the professor and the Crown are working on something together?" her friend replied.
"That doesn't make sense! Why would Princess Luna just keep showing up outside of our class if it was some official royal business? He would get summoned to the castle if that was the case. No, I'm convinced. The handsome alien serenading the returned lonely princess! It's straight out of a romance novel" a dreamy tone escaped with the last sentence as the mare clutched her hands together.
She watched the two of them walk down the stairs, smiling at the exchange she'd eavesdropped on. She pressed down her skirt, picked a few fallen hairs off her shirt, and waltzed into the lecture hall.
James' brown jacket was the first thing to cross her vision, the chocolate fabric accentuating his lean physique. His pants were, as usual, covered in chalk stains from the day of writing and teaching from his blackboard, the white dust contrasting heavily with his khaki pants.
A small, chipper smile was upon his face and a subtle skip was in his step as he erased his chalkboard. Looking to his right, his grin got even wider as he noticed her presence.
"Well, if it isn't the most gorgeous pony I've laid eyes on," he complemented with a warm smile.
She blushed and waved her hand at him, "Oh stop it," she giggled heartily, the feeling of butterflies in her stomach taking over.
"How was your day today?" he inquired of her, packing his things into his briefcase.
"Oh you would not believe it, James! Paperwork galore, a trade dispute with the Saddle Arabians, and even worse, no hashbrowns during breakfast!" she sarcastically gasped and dramatically posed. James laughed at the exchange.
"Oh the horror!" he jested, striking a pose with her, "Not the Royal Potatoes!"
The two held their poses for a moment before devolving into a fit of giggles and laughter.
"No really, how was your day, Lu?" he soothed, embracing her.
"Wonderful, because I get to see you," she smiled back, returning the hug.
They broke the hug, James walking over and grabbing his briefcase of lessons and paper.
"Well, shall we hit the town?" he held out his hand to her.
"I'd love to," she grasped his hand with her own, before leaving the building with him, eager to see where the night would take them.
Canterlot Park definitely suited the mood right now.
It was a quiet Wednesday evening, the two passively strolling along the paved dirt road through the exquisite communal gardens that had been planted. A flower from every country had been planted here, earning it the title "The Garden of Equus". Vibrant colors and patterns assaulted their eyes as flowers of all kinds blew in the lazy breeze that the pegasi had brought in.
Tulips from the Griffins, camellia from the Yaks, impala lilies from the Zebras. All nations had a bit to contribute, a testament to their culture and showed pride for their land.
The two had made a stop at the man's home, both deeming necessary to change into more appropriate attire for the evening. Luna wore a very lovely, elegant dark navy dress over a long-sleeve shirt, the band of the shirt coming just below her shoulders, giving an inviting atmosphere to her figure. The navy blue satin dress skirt flowed steadily in the wind, resting below her knees. Her moon pendant, a gift from her mother, hung charmingly on her neck and inviting a few glances from her man. Her wings hung idly on her back, the tips close to dragging across the dirt road, but never connecting with it. Her starry mane and tail twinkled like the spiral arms of a galaxy, its beautiful locks flowing in the soft breeze.
James had selected a striped dress shirt with jean bottoms, a much simpler look as compared to Luna. A black leather watch was firmly strapped to his wrist and his hair was styled back with a mane gel. The soft tapping of his brown leather shoes slipped into her swiveling ears as she glanced down at them for a moment; it added a much needed bit of contrast to his outfit. Overall, it was a notably business casual kind of look, but added a bit of intrigue to him, something Luna simply adored.
A pleasant aroma flooded their nostrils, the blooming buds releasing their scents to attract the humble pollinators. The sun shone through a few clouds, providing a mild warmth to the already amiable mood of their walk. Luna hummed a tune quietly to herself, a small smile on her face as they strode through the park.
"What lovely looking flowers!" she heard James exclaim next to her, "Why, I've never seen such a lovely bouquet before. My mother would be hideously jealous of this place!" he laughed.
"Did your mother garden much?" she inquired.
"Yes! She was crazy about her garden and wouldn't tolerate anything running through there at all! I'm sure if she could have, she would have mined the entire bed to keep her precious tulips safe. Lord knows those rabbits could've used a thrashing like that to discourage them," he shook his head in remembrance.
"What was your mother like? I don't think you've mentioned your parents too much," she smiled up at him.
The two came to a park bench nearby the ornate fountain in the central part of the park. The man gestured to it, inviting her to sit down next to him and watch the water.
"Ma was wonderful. Kind, compassionate, everything you'd want out of a mother. But, she was a lot different from the other wives of Canton. What you'd notice immediately upon meeting her is that she was a lot less," he paused, putting his fingers under his chin to think of the right word, "Submissive, I suppose."
"She wasn't afraid to be combative with my dad if she disagreed with him. When they fought, woof, I expected earthquakes to erupt from the clash of their two stubborn attitudes," he chuckled, "But, they'd always make up in the end."
He shook his head, holding up his hand defensively, "I don't want you to think I grew up in a bad home. My parents fought sometimes, much like any couple, but they truly loved each other. They both found the middle ground and the fighting began to stop for the most part," he confided.
"My parents were a couple that actually loved each other. They didn't put on the façade of a happy couple like I knew some families in my neighborhood were. My parents lived it and I'm happy that I was able to grow up like that," he sighed, "Wish they could see me now. Dad would be proud."
Luna looked at the fountain, folding her hands and crossing her legs as she idly watched the spout spew out water, "I'm sure you miss them greatly. I understand the feeling all too well."
That grabbed his attention, provoking a glance at her. "Are your parents no longer with you?"
"Nay, they passed to Faust's Realm," Her voice sounded a little more somber, less cheery than it was before, "They were good parents. Tia and I miss them dearly."
The mood was visibly dampened by the discussion, the two of them averting their eyes from each other.
James, unable to take the diminished mood, clapped his hands together with a grin, "Alright, that's enough sad talk for now. We're on a date after all!" He held out his hand to pull her up from the bench.
She accepted it readily, grabbing his hand and getting to her hooves.
"Hey what's that on your shirt?" he gestured to her chest.
"What? What's on my shirt?" she exclaimed.
She was greeted with a tap from his finger as she quite literally took it on the chin. When she brought her head back down, James had a stupidly large grin plastered all over his pale face.
"Gotcha!" he laughed.
A devilish grin appeared on her face. Oh, he wants to play it like that; she thought to herself.
Luna wiggled out of his grasp and strolled over to a pile of mud, collecting on the outside of the fountain. Bending down and taking a small handful of it, she looked over to the clean, innocent looking man with a wicked glint in her eye.
"What are you doing with that?" an oblivious James shivered.
The mud became a projectile, finding its mark on his collared dress shirt, caking it in dirt as it slowly dribbled down the fabric.
James' mouth was open as he stared down at the impact site in shock. But before long, his grin came back soon after.
The war was on.
Luna, realizing her bad position, her eyes widening a little, unfurled her wings to take flight and gain the high ground, but surprisingly enough, James had already sprinted towards her and firmly grasped around her waist, pulling her down. She desperately flapped her wings, the tips tapping him near the eye and nose, but his weight was simply too much.
While she was distracted, he swept her legs with his own, catching her with a hand on her back as he hoisted her up effortlessly in a bridal-style carry. She felt rocking as James took long heavy steps towards the fountain, eyeing it with a hungry glint in his eyes. Her own eyes popped to the size of dinner plates as she frantically looked back at the man in a pleading fashion.
"Don't you dare!" she hissed.
"Oh, I dare! In you go!" as he casually dropped her into the water.
The cold bite of the clear water nipped at her skin as she screamed. Quickly popping out of the water, she spat and sputtered as water drained and drizzled off of her face like rain. Using her hands, she wiped her now soaking wet hair out of her eyes and angrily glared at the man. James was losing his mind in uncontrollable laughter, clutching his side and tearing up a bit from the exertion.
Not to be outdone, her playful smile soon returned as she unfurled her wings again, shook the water from them, and took flight. That got his attention, ceasing his laughing as he began to run away down the park path. Occasionally glancing at her target, she spied a few pegasi in the sky, their hands pushing grayish clouds through the air for the next day's storm.
One of them noticed the fast-approaching Night Princess and gasped. "Prin... Princess Luna! What can I-"
"Are these rain clouds for tomorrow?" she huffed from the exertion of the quick flight.
"Yes, yes your Majesty."
"I need to take this for a second. Official Royal Business," she explained, swiftly taking it from her grasp and pushing it away.
Now pushing a heavily rain-impregnated cloud through the deserted Canterlot sky, she gazed down at the road like an eagle sizing up its prey, searching for her target. Spying him currently using the patented "run like a bitch", she carefully grasped the fluffly cumulus cloud within her hand and maneuvered it over to her fleeing target.
Giving it a swift punch, the cloud began to unload its contents all over the poor man.
"Augh! Dangit Luna!" he continued fleeing, wiping his quickly dampening face from the rainwater, back towards his home. She, not letting him off the hook, pursued once more.
All of Canterlot could hear the cackling and laughter of their Princess as she chased him on a raincloud all the way back to his house.
Two dripping wet figures stumbled their way into the clean wooden cabin, smiles plastered across their face.
"Freakin blue pony horse who controls the weather" a sopping wet James muttered to himself as he threw his soaked dress shirt into a laundry basket.
"I heard that!"
He laughed heartily to himself at her expense, "Well, I'm gonna go change. Do you need a spare change of clothes as well?"
"I'll teleport to my chambers and change," she replied back, wiping a droplet of water away from her eye.
"Ok, go ahead and change, then we'll meet back in my study for some drinks," he remarked.
"May I see more of your time in the Pacific?" Luna added.
He paused for a moment, stopping at a step on the stairs, "Sure," he gave his response swiftly and proceeded up the stairs.
Soon, she teleported away, both eager and unnerved to learn more of his story.
The two of them were once again standing in the void of James' mind, the inky blackness overtaking their senses as usual.
"Now, where did we leave off last time?"
She spoke, "You were leaving Cape Gloucester."
"Ah, yes," he agreed, a scene slowly generating itself and replacing the void with the pleasant rocking of a ship sailing towards an island.
"After being relieved off of Cape Gloucester, most of the veterans, myself included, figured we'd be heading back to Melbourne, Australia for a much needed rest. I can't lie. I was pretty relieved that we were finally going to be back in the comfort of a first-world country. Hot showers, good chow, girls," his face contorted into a heavy frown, "Instead, we got Pavuvu."
The view of the island they had from the ship was quickly wiped away, now placing them onto the shore they were overlooking.
What she noticed immediately upon coming to her senses was the HORRID, rotten smell that permeated the air. It reeked of rotting fruit carcasses and plant matter, the smell itself causing her to gag. James gestured to her to walk with him where she discovered the culprits of the hideous odor.
A plentiful number of unharvested coconuts littered the coral gravel floor of the island, a visible steam coming off the decaying plant matter from the blazing sun beating down on them. Idle strands of brown coconut fibers stuck out from the hard, spherical shells, some looking like they had been dissolved in a concentrated acid and dripping into the sand. The fibers and milk of the coconut had been washed out of the hard shell, completely covering parts of the ground in a gooey, white mush that looked deep enough to suck an entire pony into its depths.
What was even more unsettling was the MASSIVE land crabs that were scurrying over the disgusting white mush. Their size overall was about the full length of James chest and torso. Brown, long legs extended out from their carapaces and made an unsettling quiet THUNK each time they took a step. Many had wide abdomens with white stripes going horizontally across them like a zebra. Beady, black eyes rested at the front of their thoraxes as their skinny antennae felt around for the best patch of coconut to eat.
Luna recoiled back upon seeing the disturbing little crabs. James face looked like he had seen an old adversary on a morning's day walk.
"Land crabs, we meet again," his voice hissed with a venom she hadn't heard many times before, "I hate these damn things so much."
She was almost too afraid to ask, but she eventually did, "Why?"
"These damn crabs were nothing short of the biggest nuisance I've ever had to deal with. They'd scurry into your tent, steal your food, and-," he cut himself off, "Well, it's just best for me to show you later. For now, let's just keep going."
The island faded away before reappearing again, this time planting them into a well-lit, sunny tent near the hours of noon.
Cots, mosquito nets, and other compartments had been laid aside in anticipation for the arrival of B company. Soon enough, a stream of corpsmen stepped through the large flaps of the tent, looked around for a little bit, and began stowing their gear onto bunks they chose for themselves.
She observed them struggle to shake off the mushy coconut matter from their boots they no doubt had to walk through to get here. Grumbling and complaints were swiftly heard as many grabbed their KABARS, taking the dull side, and began scraping off the matter while sitting in their cots.
"Can't believe the Marine Corps making us live in this shit," she heard Miller grumble quietly.
"Yea, this blows," James parroted back, also wiping away the coconut from his boondockers.
"First we got this fucking stuff on our boots and now we don't get showers or a chow hall? I mean what are they thinking?" Miller yelled, "We just fought for our lives on some miserable piece of shit island only to live on yet another miserable shitty island. It's fucking fucked!"
Luna recoiled at the insane amount of profanity Miller was using. She didn't remember him cursing much at all the last time she saw him and now, he was profane enough to make a sailor blush.
"It beats getting shot at by Japs," James interjected, trying to inject some sort of positive trait to their depressing situation.
She heard the high-pitched squealing and a quick scampering of paws before spotting a fat rat fall out of the ceiling of the tent. Miller, upon seeing the rat, took his KABAR and began swinging at the intruding rodent, murder and frustration in his eyes. The rat, not wanting to become mince meat for the slaughter, took this moment to scatter out of the tent flap, disappearing into the long, overgrown grass near the end of the company street.
"I think I'd rather get shot in all honesty," Miller deadpanned before sheathing his KABAR and stepping out of the tent to get some air. James, finishing stowing away his gear, turned away from his cot and followed him.
Stepping outside into the hot sun, he adorned his blue cap and unbuttoned his dungaree jacket, letting his now sun pink skin peek out into the sky. His eyes squinted and he brought his hand up to shield his face from the oppressive rays.
"How'd the campaign treat you?" he asked Miller as he trotted up to him.
"Well enough. Ain't dead yet," Miller nonchalantly stated, his grizzled face squinting as well now.
"Amen," the two stopped short at the end of their company street, gazing out into the sorry home they now occupied, watching other companies hustle and bustle preparing their tents.
"Guess this is home sweet home," James sarcastically chuckled, slipping his hand into his pocket and grabbing his pack of smokes, putting one into his mouth and lighting it up.
"Thought you didn't smoke," Miller laughed, taking a cigarette offered by James.
"I don't."
The two shared a knowing chuckle between each other before walking off into the distance, cracking jokes with one another and trying to stay positive about their unfortunate situation.
"Our first introduction to Pavuvu wasn't exactly the greatest, but we made do with what we had. Lord knows we couldn't get off it if we complained, so we embraced the suck as best we could," James divulged, "But, even with this attitude, life on Pavuvu was taxing and reminded me of my complete separation from the world."
"Any person who stepped on the beaches could smell the loneliness eminating from its sands. At least in combat, the constant threat of the enemy kept us from thinking of our homes, our lives. But now, with no enemy to fight, with no family, no girls, no showers, no... dignity, the incredible cascade of homesickness, boredom, and trauma we had experienced fighting crashed into us like a cargo train. The only relief from these existential feelings was the bonds we had with each other. Me, Howard, Miller, Gates, we stuck together and were able to survive, just like we always had," he admitted, watching the two corpsmen step into another's tent.
The scene faded away.
"Your commanders ought to have been demoted for subjecting their soldiers to such horrid conditions after having fought such a laborious campaign," Luna indignantly piped up.
"Somedays, I wished that and more upon them," he agreed.
"Well, what did you do to keep yourself sane on this Goddess-forsaken island?" she inquired.
The man put his finger to his chin, trying to remember. A smirk came to his face before he spoke, "I think this should explain that,"
James' tent began to materialize around them. It was about sunrise, the rays peaking in weakly through the fabric of the tent. The cots were completely empty and the living space was cleaned, organized, and proper. Socks, jackets, and pants were all neatly folded into seabags and stowed under each man's respective bunk. Their boots sat idly in front of them, laced and tied neatly in wait for use.
The flap burst open before a mass of sweaty, heavy breathing men shuffled in, each one to his own bunk.
"God, I always hated PT," one man spoke to his comrades.
"Ahh, shut up you big baby," Miller snarked, taking off his PT boots and changing into his dungarees, "You're just mad cause you fell out on mile 4."
"Hey, fuck you Miller," the man laughed, putting on his boots.
Miller reached for his own issued boots, grabbing one by the tongue and tried to slip it on. He let out a scream before throwing his boot a foot away from him.
"Goddamn those fucking things!" he hissed, "I can't take 'em anymore."
"What? What is it, Arthur?" James asked, the rest of the tent occupants now gazing at the two.
Miller didn't answer his question. He had pulled out his seabag and was furiously rifling through the contents, gritting his teeth as he searched through his belongings. Finally finding what he was looking for, he slyly grinned before grabbing his boot and the item he held and stepped out into the sun. James and the other boys followed him out.
Grabbing his boot by the heel, he shook it fiercely and forcefully. A smaller, but still very big land crab, awkwardly flew out, hitting the paved coral gravel road with a loud PLOP!. It slowly tried to crawl away, its hiding spot now revealed. Miller, however, had other plans for the unfortunate coconut crab. He brandished a small bottle of lighter fluid in his right hand, unscrewed the cap, and sprayed a hefty amount onto the fleeing crab. Flipping his lighter open, he reached down and lit the poor crab on fire.
It scurried around frantically, the flammable liquid clinging to its hard shell, for a good while, the orange red flames not budging at all.
"Hey, that crab kinda looks like a burning Jap tank," one of the men laughed.
"Yeah! Yeah it does," another man gruesomely smiled.
It seemed to Luna that the men were taking great enjoyment watching the ugly, brown crab burn to death and it unsettled her. Large grins were plastered across each man's face, including James', as they cheered, cursed,, and hollered at the sight of the incinerated crustacean.
Before long, the ten-legged creature ceased all movement, dead on the spot.
"Wow, let's go do that again!" one man raced away towards the PX. Each man followed, likely to grab their own vials of lighter fluid to repeat the violent action. The memory began to fade away.
"My goodness, that can't be a healthy way to spend your time," Luna said, her mouth slightly open in shock.
"Well, it's all we could do aside from do PT, drill, eat, and jack off," he shrugged, "Boredom bred unhealthy hobbies. And believe me, boredom was in heavy supply here on Pavuvu."
He wiped his forehead and began speaking again, "Before long, we were starting maneuvers and drills for our next campaign on the list. According to our lieutenants, MacArthur wanted to invade the Phillipines and needed his right flank secured for it. Soon, we learned of our next target, a small, horseshoe shaped island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean."
"Peleliu." |
Put it to Rest | Ch.8: Intensifying the Fight | "Peleliu. It sounds so nice when you say it - just rolls off the tongue like a sweet melody," James muttered bitterly, "It was the only thing nice about that miserable island."
Gravel materialized around them, replacing the black floor with stiff, jagged coral rock. Ridges of the abrasive, craggy material loomed over them, providing a bit of shade from the sun. Idle sticks, branches, and twigs poked out of the dead coral, scraping against anything that crossed its path. Hideously deformed trees were scattered few and far between, small patches of moss and other plant matter hanging off their branches. Much of the trunks were smoking from recent shelling and artillery, blackened and burned from the intense heat of the explosion. A few had been furiously ripped from the soil from the cacophony of fire, some having been completely inverted, standing roots up vertically. As for the others, most were now neighbors to massive holes in the earth, coral dust that was kicked up sticking to the chocolate bark of their trunks.
The heat from the sun was oppressive. Luna quickly found her fur quite wet from sweat, a small pant in her mouth as she brought her hand up to cover her eyes from the blinding rays of sunlight.
"Goddess above, it's scorching here," she whistled.
"Part of the job here on Peleliu. Not only did we get shot at, blown up, and stabbed on this pile of coral, but we also got to sweat our asses off free of charge," James sarcastically muttered, scoffing while kicking some gravel.
Luna thanked the Goddess that she had a sister who controlled the sun, unlike her human companion. She should really get Celly a gift for all the hard work she puts in to keep Equus from turning into a hellscape like this. James spat on the ground, the saliva instantly steaming and evaporating away.
"Gloucester was a wet, heavily vegetated jungle island that would be teeming with life if we didn't blow it to kingdom come," he rubbed his jaw before stretching it out and then settling it again, "Peleliu was a hot, steaming pile of coral gravel that I'm sure only Satan and his demons would ever want to live on."
She did a 360 of her surroundings, doing a little twirl as she looked, and found his statement more truthful by the second. The incredible heat, the smoking trees, the craters, the INTENSE heat again, she couldn't imagine having to live here. While Pavuvu and Gloucester had their fair share of sea crabs, birds, bushes, green trees, and other tropical sorts of life scurrying around away from the eye, Peleliu seemed empty of life of any sort. The only activity she could sense was the steady, soft sizzling of the quickly smoldering, smoking trees that had been blown apart.
She reached down to the ground, idly grabbing and shuffling a few of the coral pebbles in her hand. "This land is useless. How could you grow anything here? And why would you want this island?" she asked confusedly.
"Well, we weren't capturing islands to grow corn," he snarked, "Peleliu had an airfield that McArthur believed would be useful, or at least, so I was told. They wanted to use it as a staging area for the invasion of the Phillipines, another big set of islands, but whether that came to be, I'm not certain. S'far as I'm concerned, Peleliu was, well, we'll get to that later. For now, let's keep going."
The scene changed around them from the burnt, smoking beaches of Peleliu to a large, gray metal troop transport ship, depositing them on the deck near the railing. Looking out over the railing, Luna could see Peleliu staring back at them, this time not smoking and pristine looking. From afar, it actually looked quite serene, something you'd see in a postcard or promotion.
"We boarded ship in August, sailing for the Palau islands from Pavuvu, and arrived in early September, the 14th if I'm remembering correctly. D-Day was the 15th. We were gonna hit the beach at 0800 approximately and, hopefully, be done in 4 days. Well, I'll say, it didn't exactly go as planned."
A loud, scraping of metal assaulted her ears, swiveling around to locate the noise. Peeking their heads out of a door, she saw James and Miller scan the deck for any passerbys before slinking out onto the gray metal floor, walking over to the stern of the ship. The soft sea breeze blew their hair around as they gazed out at the Pacific sunset, leaning against the rails as they did. Miller was tapping the metal bars while James scratched his neck.
There was something different about James that she only noticed now. Thinking back, he had been this way on Pavuvu, but only now was she realizing what it was. His jaw was more developed, the line not piercingly strong, but more mature. His shoulders were broader, his arms, while still lean, packed more muscle on them, and his face had filled out. The air he gave off around him commanded respect, vastly different to the semi-boyish, inexperienced character he had given off the day before Cape Gloucester.
He looked physically aged, a mild, salty grimacing expression resting on his face as he leaned against the rails. He was one of the "Old Salts" now, no longer the meek, fearful replacement that he had been. A combat veteran who knew what to expect the next day. Scared, but no longer gripped by the internal panic that any first-time combat Marine knew.
"So, tomorrow, we'll be in it again, friend," Arthur spoke up.
"Yup," James poignantly replied, "How do you feel about the new replacements?"
Miller sighed heavily, shaking his head, "I'm not gonna get too attached. They're so young," he emphasized the last word.
James nodded his head in agreement. "Beach is supposed to be hell tomorrow. Least that's what I've heard from Salt."
"Don't remind me," Miller shakily tried to light up a smoke. James reached into his pocket and pulled out his lighter, striking the flint and lighting his friends cigarette. He blew out a heavy plume of smoke, gripping the wrapped tobacco between his index and middle fingers.
"Well, whatever happens, happens," he concluded, taking another puff.
The loudspeaker jolted to life, a piercing noise sounding before making its announcement, "Now hear this. Now hear this. All troops lay below to quarters. All troops lay below to quarters."
"Ah dammit. I didn't even get to finish my smoke," Miller grumbled, taking another puff before tossing the half-used cigarette out into the sea. He began strolling back to where they came out, gripping the handles of the door and turning it open, the loud metal cranking as it opened.
"Well, get some rest, James. I'll see you on the beach," Miller sounded dejected, defeated.
"See you on the beach. God be with you," James replied, nodding his head towards his friend.
James had nothing to say at the end of the memory, content to let it speak for itself. He looked to Luna for confirmation before recalling the next memory.
The two of them were standing in a dark, dimly lit room, the only light source being the few side lights built into the wall of the naval vessel. She felt the presence of hundreds of young men, packed together like sardines, shrugging, grunting, and putting packs on their backs, preparing for the invasion. James stood next to her, scanning the faces as the scene played out.
The tension in the room was palpable. Many new faces were amongst the old ones from Gloucester, replacements for the causalities during that campaign. Her face recoiled a bit at the sight of their incredibly boyish, young faces staring back at her, boring into her soul like a drill. These "men" wore expressions of great dismay, the realization of what they were about to face hitting them like a bag of bricks. One gripped his weapon around the barrel so tightly, his capillaries looked as if they would rupture from the extreme tension. Another was muttering some prayer under his breath, quiet enough for no man to hear him and single him out as a yellow coward. Another replacement's leg was trembling, his eyes boring into the floor.
The veterans didn't look too much better, although, they hid their fear in different ways. She overheard Jenkins, still skinny even after his time on Pavuvu, try to crack a few jokes with his buddies to ease the mood. Howard was shakily lighting up a smoke, his thumb missing the striker a few times before finally igniting the fluid. Another veteran from Guadalcanal took a few swigs of his brandy ration, slinging his M1 over his shoulder nonchalantly.
She spotted James straining his pack on before pulling his handgun from its holster, loading it, and flipping the large thumb safety on as he holstered it. His face bore no expression, no sign of fear, but a few trembles betrayed his true feelings to her.
"B Company listen up!"
The loud voice of the Skipper quickly quieted all small talk. All eyes were upon their well-liked company commander, Mad Dog.
"Men, I won't lie to you. This battle is going to be tough. Intelligence shows we got a lot of Japs on this island and they're hankering for a fight with us. Brass says this campaign will be tough and brutal, but quick. Should be about 4 days of hard fighting, similar to Tarawa."
"Four days for a battle star? I think I could put up with anything for four days for another campaign star," she heard a veteran mutter to his friend.
"We have the support of the Navy, the Marine Pilots, and the hearts of our wives and families. These Japs don't stand a chance against us!" he continued, his voice trying to sound happy in an attempt to boost morale. "Men, we stand at the precipice of one of the 1st Marine Division's finest hours. I know that you will all do your duty. I'd expect nothing more," he warmly added.
"Load up into your landing crafts! Get off the beach as fast as you can! And when you see the Japs, KILL EM ALL!"
The Marines gave a cheer before shuffling off to their respective AMTRAC landing crafts. A clambering of metal, gear hitting cloth, and rattling of hooks filled the room as the Marines began ambling into their AMTRACs, packing together like sardines.
James offered his hand to Luna, leading her to the AMTRAC he was currently climbing into. Jumping up onto the edge of the metal lining around the craft, he held out his hand again and pulled her up with him, seating herself comfortably on the side of the AMTRAC next to him.
Two Marines sat in the front of the craft behind two Browning heavy machine guns. Their hands were not currently gripping the trigger or the handles, but Luna knew that would change in the next few minutes. Men packed themselves together tightly with their camouflaged helmets covering their faces from her. The soldiers gripped their rifles firmly as many anxiously waited for the ship to drop open the door to the unknown.
A roar of an engine bounced off the sides of the metal ship as the driver willed the AMTRAC engine to life, the loud rumbling momentarily deafening her ears as they adjusted. A creaking of a gear turning and a metal door opening flooded her ears before the first rays of sunlight began to peak their way into the craft. She held up her hand, shielding her eyes from the oppressive rays of Earth's sun. The Marines followed in her example, trying to adjust to the new light. With a lurch and roar, the AMTRACs tracks inched forward down the ramp, the lapping sea eager to meet the craft as it flooded into the compartment.
The craft met the sea, a lurch and spray of water drenching the two squinting gunner's faces and collecting in the troop compartment behind them.
"A machine that drives on land and sea? Humanity's inventions never cease to amaze me, James," she remarked to the man, rubbing the side of the metal AMTRAC as it slowly floated through the calm sea.
A grand sight greeted her vision as she took in what she saw. The once peaceful, serene looking island now lay smoking and leveled. The vegetation that had populated the edges of the islands burned fiercely, the smokestack rising high into the atmosphere and blocking out some of the sky. Hundreds of other landing crafts dotted her left and right, each filled with a platoon or two of men. She was awed by the sheer numbers that the Marines had on their side. Any nation on Equus would fear the sight of an invasion force like this on their shores.
BANG BANG BANG - THWOOM NEEARRROOM NEEAROOM
Her head whipped around to the source of the sound. A massive, gray hunk of a warship filled her eyes, grayish black smoke softly rising out of its long guns. She heard a loud BOOM in the distance as the shells of the battleship found their mark. Other ships, some as large as this one and others considerably smaller, joined in the salvo, firing off every gun on their deck as they poured on ordinance of any kind onto that beach. Huge streaks of yellow, red, and gray pelted the island mass with a ferocious power. The loud, deafening noise of the Navy's bombardment pierced her ears as she held her hands over them.
"That's the USS Pennsylvannia. It was one of the ships that was bombed that started this whole war," James shouted over the noise of the bombardment, "It's ironic, isn't it? One of the targeted ships that caused this war now getting its revenge."
In a cosmic sort of way, it was.
There was a pause in the bombardment as the guns of the Navy fell silent. This silence didn't last long as a drone of engines soon filled her hairy ears. Looking up, there were large squadrons of those flying machines, "planes", screaming towards the island. Their color was a deep, dark blue with a bright star painted on their sides. Straining her eyes, she was able to make out cylindrical devices hanging off of some of the aircraft's slightly curved wings. "Bombs," James told her.
"Go get 'em boys," one of the veterans gazed up at the aircraft as they sped towards the smoking island.
The planes broke off their formation and began diving at a steep angle towards the land, dropping their ordinance into the hellscape below before pulling up just as steeply.
BOOM BOOM THOOM! The planes hit their marks as the heavy bombs went off.
"Yeah! Get some!" a Gloucester veteran whooped and hollered.
The planes, now having emptied their arsenal, did a swift 180, turning back towards their carriers and speeding off.
BANG BANG BANG - NEEEEARRRROOOM NEEEARROOOM WOOOOMMMM
That infernal gunfire began eagerly again, now that friendly planes were out of the crossfire.
She eyed the blazing island once more, gawking at the grand display of dominance she found herself witnessing.
"Any creature with this level of firepower would conquer nations," she muttered to herself. An image of Canterlot completely leveled to the ground pierced her mind, destroyed by a naval salvo from the Pennsylvania.
Once again, she reminded herself to never piss off James' home nation.
Aside from the naval cannons and droning off engines, the ride had been mostly peaceful, the sea passively rocking the AMTRAC as they slowly made their approach.
PLUUUSSHHHH!
"Well, so much for a peaceful approach," she thought to herself, instantly reminded of where she was.
Huge geysers of water were now peppering the area around each landing craft, the Japanese having seen fit to return fire now. Each shell made a horrible scream as it screeched towards the water, detonating with a loud spray of water drenching the unfortunate Marines in salty seawater.
The mortars began to put each Marine on edge. A replacement private had begun uttering the Lord's Prayer while another unfortunate fellow threw up his lunch at his feet. The men in the compartment crouched down underneath the metal of the ship, shielding their body as best as they could.
She could make out the sandy beach now, picking out shifting movements in Marine colors inching across the sand. Huge geysers of sand exploded out every so often, Japanese mortars finding their mark as they pelted the beach with artillery counterfire.
CHUCK-CHUCK RATTA RATA RATA
The two Browning gunmen began to open fire towards the mass of ripped up palm trees and smoking bushes. Their red tracers cut through the already destroyed jungle, taking off loose branches and cutting down the large leaves of the trees.
BABOOM CREEEEEAAAK
Luna heard the most horrid creak and scraping of metal she'd ever heard to her left. Grimacing, she looked over to see a smoking, burning AMTRAC slowly sinking into the surf. Its front half, precisely where the gunners would be, had been completely separated from the rest of the craft. The troop compartment was leaking gross, mangled Marine body parts into the water, the sea eagerly lapping them into its pull, before it sank into the coral reefs below them.
A small lurch imbalanced the Marines a little, stepping back to keep themselves upright still. She looked down to see that the AMTRAC had reached solid land again and was sitting just outside of the surf's reach now.
"Alright, over the sides men! Let's go! Let's go!" the first sergeant E.B Salt yelled.
The Marines hoisted themselves up to the edge of the metal craft, hugging the side as they kept a low profile. A great sense of urgency pervaded their haggard, bewildered faces, falling awkwardly onto the sand below.
FWANG THWOOM CLANG! Machine gun fire flew past them, some hitting the landing craft with a loud bang on the metal.
Younger James grabbed his bag and clambered over the edge of the craft. Jumping down with him, the two of them hit the dirt prone and took in their surroundings.
Masses of men lay dead on the sands of Peleliu, baking in the blazing sun. Many were missing limbs, shot off by the shrapnel and concussive force of the artillery that was pelting their position. Steady oozes of blood drained into the sea, coloring it a sickly, crimson red as it washed out to sea. Thousands of green Japanese tracers flew over their heads, prompting many of the Marine's faces to rekindle their close, personal relationship with the ground. Jets of sand shot up every few seconds from an exploded shell, each one taking a few Marines with it.
It was absolute CHAOS.
This was not the peaceful landing of Gloucester. The Japs fire was like an angry hornet's nest that had just been kicked. They wanted these Americans off their island and off their lawn and their response showed it.
James' persona had changed as well. His face had only fear written across its white, pale face as he cowered on the ground, sheltering himself as best he could from the shelling. His hands clutched his helmet as he grimaced in terror, his legs not moving an inch. His composure was slipping faster and faster as he continued to sit there.
"C'mon! You gotta keep moving Do- SHUCK!" a sergeant had come up beside him to urge him forward, but his reward was a round through the head.
James gave out a restrained scream, his hands flying up in a defensive posture, protecting himself from the blood that splattered all over him. Swiftly crawling over to the sergeant, he checked him over for signs of life and found none.
He shook his head, "C'mon, pull yourself together, Milligan. The men need you. Get off the beach, Get off the beach, Get off the beach," he began repeating over and over to himself as he inched his way towards the mangled treeline.
Finding his way over the small ridge of sand, he tumbled over it into a crater, finding his platoon hugging the side of it. With haste, he crawled up to where they had taken a position, stopping by one of the company lieutenants.
"Is anybody hurt, Sir?" he shouted over the noise.
"We're fine! But Mad Dog's been calling for a corpsman over-"
"CORPSMAN!"
"-There! We'll be fine, get over there Doc!" he pointed to their right where the voice came from.
James clambered through the dirt, charred bushes shifting as he dragged himself. Coming to another crater, he rolled into it, keeping himself low to the ground, and gazed up to the men sheltering themselves.
Mad Dog was griping the telephone of a radio, stretching the cord out from the back of the radioman. His knuckles were white from tension as if he were trying to choke out the poor mouthpiece with his hand.
"If you don't get those rounds down range, my men are all dead!" he screamed into the mic, making a very pissed, furious looking expression towards the poor microphone.
Shifting his attention away from Mad Dog, the radioman looked much worse for wear. A trickle of his blood was oozing from his shoulder down the coral gravel, collecting at the bottom of it. Two of his buddies were next to him, firmly pressing their hands down into the wound.
James went into an autopilot mode, his face neutralizing itself of all emotion. Whipping out Sulfa powder and a battle dressing, he dutifully began treating the man's wounds, quick and swift but careful to not aggravate him with more pain as much as he could.
"I can't move my arm, Doc," the radioman cried, kicking his feet a little as he suffered through the pain.
"I know, son. I'm sorry," he warmly replied like a concerned mother.
"Am I gonna be okay?"
"Absolutely. You got your ticket off this island for awhile. Say hi to the nurses for me on the hospital ship," he jested with the young radioman, "Stay here until the stretcher team evacuates you."
"Goddamnit! We gotta keep moving forward men! Let's go!" Luna heard Mad Dog say, pushing his men out of the crater.
The radioman stayed put as the rest of the squad crouched out of the shell hole they had positioned themselves in. Moving from cover to cover, they inched their way towards their objective, the airfield. A burning concrete rubble lay just ahead of them, remnants of a pillbox housing a machine gun crew that was harassing the beach. The remaining trees of the jungle were starting to become more numerous, these ones being lucky enough to survive the pre-invasion shelling. Luna followed behind the squad, huddled over keeping a low profile beside her guide. Young James was crouch-running alongside his company commander, both of them keeping as low as they could.
"Captain, look out!" James yelled as a Japanese popped out of the earth, the business end of his rifle brought to bear right at Mad Dog.
James, reacting as quick as lightning, grabbed the collar of his commander's shirt and whipped him back behind cover.
BANG! The Japanese man's bullet whizzed by them, just barely missing his target.
Mad Dog, seeing his chance, regained his balance quickly and brought his Tommy gun to his shoulder, squeezing off a burst just as the Japanese man was about to disappear back into his defensive hole. Sprays of blood erupted from the enemy as he fell over backwards dead.
"You saved my life, Doc. Thank you," he thanked his savior.
"You would have done it for me, sir," he acknowledged before motioning forwards, eager to keep advancing.
The squad, having halted themselves, upon seeing the silent order from Mad Dog, resumed their slow advance, anxiously eyeing the ground for any other hiding Japanese.
Smoke began to fill the area ahead of them, the Navy having fired white phosphorous smoke rounds to cover the Marines advance to the perimeter of the airfield. Two other Marines with them eyed each other uncertainly before slowly crouching their way towards the smoke. The rest of the squad began to follow suit, their silhouettes disappearing in the thick, cloudy smoke. James took the step after them, his camouflaged helmet disappearing into the unknown after them.
The memory began to fade away.
Peleliu was looking to be a stunnningly different fight from the start. Already, she noticed a startling increase in aggression from the Japanese to hold their land, if the chaos on the beach was anything to go by. Gone were the days of unopposed landings into the jungle, this fight would have to be earned inch by inch in sweat, blood, and lots of .30-06 rounds. She shuddered a little at the thought of the nightmarish maelstrom of gunfire and shelling she had witnessed. Her thoughts went back to the AMTRAC that was blown in half.
Those poor men...
"I think that's all I can take for tonight," she shivered, "Will you walk me home?"
"Of course, Luna. Anytime," he gripped her hands, her magic soon warping them out.
"What a day", she thought to herself. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.9: An Actual Date | The air was somber, quiet, stilly blowing the softly nestled grass on the side. The only stand-out sounds were the loud THUKs of hooves striking the dirt and the restrained pitter patter of brown, leather shoes upon the ground.
The night was calm, peaceful even. No clouds hung in the Canterlot sky, some pegasi seeing fit to hold them until the next scheduled rainfall. A quarter moon illuminated their path faintly enough, the mountain trail just discernible to keep track of as they trudged downward.
"Nice night," James commented.
"Thanks, I made it myself," she smugly grinned back at him.
"Shuddup," he laughed.
The dirt trail up the mountain abruptly ended, her hooves landing on the solid stone-paved roads of the metropolitan. Street lights illuminated them as they stepped onto the sidewalk.
"You know, minus today which I'm not counting, I don't think I've asked you on a proper date, befitting of a lady of your status," he mused, his eyes gently glancing over her.
"Hmm, I thought most of these little get-togethers were dates," she replied, an eyebrow raised and a humble smirk displayed.
"I guess so. But I'm talking a proper one, you know, I take you somewhere nice, buy us some food, and we talk, or... something," the man mumbled somewhat confused.
"What do you have in mind?" she humored him. The two of them turned left onto Shoe Street, the streetlight over them blinding their eyes for a moment.
"I don't know. Still not too familiar with the city to be honest. Most of my time is spent at the University," he stroked his chin, a soft whispering noise rumbling off of the whiskers. A small silence overtook the two as they thought of somewhere to go.
"OHH, I know! Why don't you go with me to the Canterlot Fair? It'll be fun and I never have anyone to go with, aside from dearest sister," a bit of sarcasm dripped off of that last statement.
"Well," he paused, sighing a little, "What goes on at a genuine Equestrian fair? Ah can't say I've heard of this shindig," a little bit of his mountain accent peaked through, the warm tone causing tingles in her stomach.
"You'll love it! It's got rides, carnival games, food from all kinds of creatures from Equus, and the newest event, a city-wide water balloon fight!" she excitedly blustered.
A half-confused, half-intrigued grin plastered itself across his face, "A water balloon fight? Whose idea was that?"
"The Element of Laughter was one of its coordinators last year and it was a big hit with the local populace. I didn't participate last year, but I was told there were gangs of contestants waring in the streets and painting our landscape with balloons by the bushel. The cleanup was a mess, but I've never seen the citizens or Celly so happy!" her face's wide, saccharine smile infectiously crept its way onto the man's own, his restrained curious grin replaced with a gleeful one.
"Wow, sounds like a real hoot. What's the prize for winning?" he inquired.
"1000 bits and 4 barrels of the Apple family's finest Apple Cider," James could almost taste the amount of excitement in her voice.
"What's so special about some apple cider?" his face scrunched in confusion.
She let out a small gasp, a look of disbelief scrunched across her muzzle, "What do you mean what's so special about their apple cider? It's Apple Family Apple Cider! I'd sooner go to war with Equestria's allies if it meant tasting that sweet nectar of life."
Well, that confused smile only got bigger as he stopped in his tracks looking at her like she'd sprouted a horn out of her nose, "Would you really go to war over some glorified apple juice?"
She scrunched her nose and admitted defeat, "Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating its quality a little bit, but it's exorbitantly expensive and flies off the shelves faster than I can buy it!"
He let out a chuckle, waving his hand out in front of him, "You're their princess! Just force them to let you buy it!"
"Just because I'm one of their diarchs doesn't mean I get to abuse my power," she gave a deadpan, sideways glance.
He chuckled again, shaking his head and continuing his walk, "You're certainly better than human monarchs then," he paused for a moment, "So, it really means that much to you?"
She rubbed the back of her neck, "Well, it wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't get some, but it would mean a great deal to me if I could get my hands on some of that cider," she admitted.
A determined grin greeted her as she looked up at him, a breeze blowing his shirt a little, "Alright, then you and I are gonna get that cider. Are we allowed to team up in this competition?"
"Yes, last year most ponies who entered were in teams," she responded.
"Good, then let's team up together. When is the fair coming to town?" he stepped down off the curb with a jolt before walking across the street.
"About a week from now. It's starts Saturday morning at Canterlot Park. Why don't you meet me there?" the two stopped in front of the castle gate, the female guards in the two towers eyeing them inquisitively.
"Sure, I look forward to it. Until then," he held out his arms, beckoning her in for a hug which she gladly took. The two guards eyes widened, small smiles creeping across their faces at the juicy gossip bait they'd just witnessed.
The two separated, James slowly backing away with a smile, "Be well, Luna," he said with a wave before turning back towards the street and strolling home.
Luna let out a sigh before waving her hands towards the guard, the two of them quickly opening the gates for her.
"Not a word about this, you two," she leveled a finger at the both of them.
"Awwww," one of them grumbled, griping her spear and resuming her post with a huff.
With that loose end taken care of, she calmly strode her way through the castle towards her chambers, scheming how she and her friend would take home the ultimate prize.
"Such excitement," she muttered gleefully before climbing up the stairs and into her bedroom, ready for what lay ahead of her.
"Given this many grams of ethanol and this many grams of potassium permanganate, what is the theoretical yield of acetaldehyde going to be?"
The gentle, mountain voice of James boomed through the lecture hall. The furious scribbles of quills filled the room as the small band of students sitting at the tables diligently worked away at the problem.
"Small crowd today," James thought to himself, his eyes scanning over the pastel colored ponies picking out his students.
"Anybody have an answer?" he addressed the group.
A few shook their heads at him, each still intently scribbling away at their calculations. He took a seat at his desk, leaning back into the backstop, and watched his students.
What a unique bunch they were.
There was the stallion from Fillydelphia, Ironwood, the first of his generation to attend college out of his family of blue collar farmers and laborers. His work betrayed an eagerness to learn the material and his eyes carried that similar gleam when he discussed chemistry, much like James.
"Oh yeah, he'll be staying for Organic. I gotta make him my research assistant when the time comes," he mused to himself.
Then there was little Miss Crystal Light from Canterlot who so obviously liked Ironwood that James was surprised she hadn't jumped him yet. Long glances, a few flutters of the eyelashes, and practically molesting him with her eyes, it was startlingly obvious to everyone except for Ironwood. James knew he was dense, but this stallion could bend light around his head well enough to make a black hole blush.
"I should put those two together during the next group project. They'd make such a cute couple," he chuckled to himself.
Thinking about Crystal again, he was hesitant to allow her into his program, figuring she wouldn't be able to keep up with the material like her male classmates. But, frankly, he didn't want to overstep his bounds with Celestia by raising a fuss over it. She was gracious enough to provide him funding and pull some strings to get him his job. He could put up with a woman in his higher education class since she'd probably drop out within the first few days.
Boy did he get proven wrong about her.
Crystal was by far one of the best mathematicians he had ever met. Even without an abacus or other form of calculator, she blew her classmates out of the water with the speed and accuracy she performed her calculations. Her aptitude for chemistry and mathematics was inhuman, which frankly it was, since she isn't human anyway! She asked questions, participated in lecture, and excelled in the wet lab work. Quite impressive for a woman indeed!
"I dreaded having to teach her, but now I'd be sad to see her leave," he thought to himself.
There was also the sisters, Lily and Marigold, who he was certain knew of the nature of his relationship with Luna. Occasional nosy-looking glances and excited, whispered chattering were common from the two, both placing their hypotheses above participating in the classwork at times. Many a time, he had heard them conversing with each other after class about the frequent appearances that their Lunar Diarch had been making to his lectures. They meant well and were polite, kind, and respectful to him, which he appreciated, but their tests and grasp of the knowledge betrayed a melancholic disinterest in the material. He doubted they would stay for the second semester of his General Chemistry portion.
"I got about 2.31 grams of aci- acetal- the product Professor," Crystal predictably was the first to finish the question, her clear azure eyes meeting his own with a curious look.
"Sharp as ever, Miss Light,"
"Yes, that's correct. And it's acetaldehyde, but it's fine if you can't pronounce it right away. That's an organic molecule and they tend to have much different names compared to our normal inorganic compounds. Anyways," he began to write on the board underneath the full reaction he had drawn, "Theoretically speaking, this is how much product we should get by running this reaction. However, unless you're some sort of chemistry protege or really lucky, almost no one will ever get the theoretical yield. Instead, we measure our success based on the percentage of the theoretical yield we produce, the percent yield."
As he continued to write, his eyes picked up the hands on his watch, the idle ticking of the device drowned out by the hard strokes of the chalk.
"Hmmm, well, we can lecture that next class. I'll let you guys go early today. Enjoy your weekend and I hope to see you all at the fair!" He smiled, giving a wave to his students signaling their exit.
A few, quiet "Thank you Professor"s and shuffling of seats later, he found his lecture hall completely empty now. Deciding to leave the text on the board for next week's lessons, the man gathered his notes together in a few folders and stuffed them into his briefcase without attention to organization.
A faded white blob of movement to his right caught the corner of his eye, gently floating out of view just as quickly. He paused, setting his briefcase down in his chair and glanced over at the culprit, balancing on its middle from a fold.
He remembered when this was taken. The picture, now grasped lightly between the two chalky white fingertips of the professor, showed a exhausted looking James standing with a few men in his platoon. Darkened, dry eyes stared back at him, sleep having avoided each of the men during their stay on the island. Even through the black and white faded quality, he could almost feel how bloodshot his eyes were, a feeling he was not happy to be reacquainted with. Their cheekbones stuck out like sore thumbs and their arms, at least the ones without weapons in them, looked heavy, sunken, and fatigued. All of them had mild, soft smiles on their faces, but they lacked sincerity and any real joviality to them, forced ones for the news reels back home.
May 27, 1945 - The photo had written on its back in script.
The ever present discomfort and disgust that visited him began to creep its way back into him.
"Enough of that," he thought to himself.
Today was supposed to be a happy day, a nice date with Luna at the fair and a friendly competition amongst the community. Of all days, he refused to let the war sully this one.
So, with briefcase in hand and determination in his heart, he strode out of his classroom towards his home to get ready.
For tonight, he would make a princess swoon.
"Hey James!"
He swung his head to see a jubilant Luna waving at him through a crowd of 5-7 ponies. Altering his course, he strolled over, gracefully shifting his way through the crowd before stopping in front of her.
She was dressed about as casually as a princess could, at least, in his eyes. Her attire was a light yellow t-shirt, a tad baggy around her sides, that came down comfortably around her waist. As in many other of their get-togethers, she wore her skirt that rode down to above her knees, showing off her neatly groomed legs to her charge. All of her royal regalia had been left back in her chambers, even the golden bracelets he had seen her in many a time. The only hanging jewelry on her was her moon penchant from her mother.
In short, she looked gracefully attractive in his eyes.
"Hey Lu, nice to see you could make it," he gave her a hug.
"Oh, and miss all this?" she quipped back, separating herself from the embrace.
He separated as well, taking a stance in front of her and putting his hands in his pockets, "It's good to see you."
"And you as well. Shall we?" she gestured to the entrance into the fair.
"But of course. You lead the way," he spoke.
The Canterlot Fair was certainly a lot like other town and traveling fairs he'd been too.
Upon entrance and admission to the event, they found themselves in front of a large, paved walkway dotted with booths, stands, and exhibits. Each one was dolled up in vibrant colors, the tarp overhanging each tent dripping with saturation. There was a general hustle and bustle amongst the event with sweeping crowds of ponies, friends, families, and business folks perusing through the usual fair activities. Pegasi flew up above bobbing and weaving around to the different areas easily like swans.
It was somewhat loud with voices of the salesponies shouting and haggling with the fair-goers. Clinking and clanging of metal plates, dishes, poles, and metal cut in every so often, quickly drowned again by the voices of ponies around it.
"I don't know about you, but I could go for some food. How bout you?" James questioned, a bit of his soft mountain accent peaking through.
"Mm, yes please," she smiled, before leading him over to the tents selling food.
The food available was largely Equestrian. Flower sandwiches, hayburgers, daffodil salads, bread, mashed potatoes, casseroles, you name it. It was there.
Each seller vied for the attention of the fair patrons, waving their hands and loudly yelling their wares. The two of them chose to stay farther back, not wanting to garner attention considering their princess was amongst them, and read off the menus.
"Have you ever had a Filly Cheeserose? I must say, the steamed petals go excellently with the cheddar," James' blue companion suggested.
"I appreciate the offer, Lu, but I don't eat flowers. I simply smell them," he chuckled, a warm smile emanating affection, "If you want that though, go right ahead, I can wait."
Fishing her bit purse off of her waist, she calmly walked towards the booth owner to order a Filly Cheeserose. James wasn't glancing in her direction, instead reading through the other menus, but he heard a few gasps and what sounded like a mare desperately neatening her table. He smiled at the exchange, figuring he'd be here for a little while while Luna tried to calm the seller.
Occupying himself, he continued to skim through the food that was available to him with an indecisive "hmm". This fair was made for ponies and the food that was available to him really reflected it. Sure, he could have some potatoes or bread again, but that was boring. He had that normally anyway at his home. James was at the fair and he might as well try to sample some of the exotic recipes these Equestrians had to offer.
Daffodil and Marigold Sandwiches, Hay Caesar Salads, Fish and Beef Burgers, Strogan-
Wait a second...
James did what his students called a "double-take", backtracking a few steps and staring at a particular menu again to see if his eyes were screwed in correctly. Squinting and rubbing them slightly, he strained to read the white chalk text upon the standing, small blackboard.
Sure enough, he had read right. In big letters lay the word of the hour;
BEEF
James didn't know he could still sprint as quickly as he could during the war. Apparently he could, the rapidly dissipating dirt cloud he had left behind him betraying his skill.
"Huuuhh, that smells heavenly..." he melted internally.
Yes, it truly was the odor of the gods. The smell of roasting meat, the tang and heat of the spices, and the carbon vapor of the grill assaulted his nostrils at once. If there was anything that could have gotten him to finish off smell alone, he was certain he had found the culprit.
Laying in front of him was a sullen-looking, feathered bird creature of some sorts. Their eyes stared off to the side in a disappointed way, their chin resting in their brown and black splotched hand as they leaned against the table slightly outside the tent. She, at least it looked like a she if the protrusion on her chest was anything to go by, possessed a brown complexion on most of her body with a tuft of gray fur cascaded around her neck and a bit hanging in front of her chest. A large, red apron lay over her shirt with assorted black charcoal stains adoring it. Majestic, large wings sat submissively folded behind her, almost looking bored themselves.
"Excuse me," James got her attention. The woman, not noticing his arrival, quickly got up from her melancholic rest and put on a smile.
"Hey there! Didn't see you come up. You interested in anything?" she asked, gesturing to grill behind her steadily letting off smoke through the exhaust hole in her tent.
"Oh you have no idea," James uncharacteristically sighed, "I just want to make sure I'm not dreaming. Do you happen to sell hamburgers here?"
"Hamburgers?" the woman stared confused at him, "I don't know what those are, but I sell beef and fish burgers. It's my people's take on the popular hayburger these Equestrians have."
"My apologies, hamburgers is what my people call beef burgers," he chuckled, a small smile on his face.
"No worries. Then, yes, I do sell hamburgers," she emphasized the last word, "As you can see, they're not exactly too popular," she finished, her pointed beak somehow frowning a little.
Taking a look at his surroundings, she certainly was right. Nobody bothered to come to her stand, most patrons taking special care to walk around it. A few gave errant stares at her and himself before quickly looking away and shuffling along, hoping they hadn't been seen taking a peek. The stares, he had gotten used to. It was just apart of living around ponies he reckoned. But they seemed to upset the poor "bird" woman each time she caught one of them doing it.
Parents subtlety shuffled their foals along and glanced critically over at the woman.
"Just like the colored folk that would pass through town," he reminisced.
"Why is that?" he asked, likely knowing the answer already.
"These ponies, they're herbivores. Maybe they don't outright say it, but certain..."diets", and those who indulge in them, aren't exactly welcome around here," she gestured with a nod back to her currently simmering burgers.
He supposed that was fair. Perhaps it was some leftover instincts from before their civilization, prey species and all. But this was a civil society, with modern amenities and such. Surely, the ponies would be able to look past all of that.
"Well, that diet is definitely welcome around me. I haven't had a hamburger or any meat of any sort in 4 months and I would REALLY like one. How much?" he reached for his coin purse.
Her face instantly brightened up, the melancholic negativity banished from her in an instant.
"6 bits!" she excitedly hurried back into her tent and began preparing the delectable delicacy for him.
Tossing the golden coins onto the table, he heard her again, "What do you like on it?"
"Y'all got ketchup?"
"I don't know what that is!" he heard her yell from inside the tent.
"Alright, put some lettuce and onions on it if you've got any. Oh, and some pickles if you've got those too!" he added in.
James hadn't felt so giddy since that one Christmas back in '39. His feet tapped the ground in a rapid rhythm and he shook with glee.
After a few seconds, the woman came out, holding a steaming, slightly blackened burger on a breaded bun, the condiments he had asked for spilling out onto the plate she held in her palm.
Setting it down in front of him and collecting her earnings, she gave a smile, "I hope you enjoy it."
She folded her arms and smiled, waiting for him to sample her food. Taking the bread into his hands and grasping it firmly, he took a big bite out of the burger, some of the juice dripping out onto his index finger. A few of the onion slices dropped onto the plate, landing with a soft clink.
An explosion of flavor hit his mouth, one he thought he'd never experience again.
"Oh beef, I'll never leave you again," he thought to himself.
God, it was so good. Maybe his mouth was embellishing the flavor a bit too much, but he didn't care. He had a burger in his hand and darnit he was gonna enjoy it. His mouth chewed the food up so fast he thought his jaw was ready to unhinge itself.
"Well, do you like it?" the woman wore an uneasy, worried expression.
James barely constrained a moan, "I LOVE it. This is fantastic!" He took another large bite out of the delicacy.
Her smile quickly returned, clapping her hands together, "Oh, I'm so happy you think so!"
James, not really paying attention anymore, continued to devour his burger with a ferocity of a wildcat. He paused for a moment, his mouth still in mid-chew, "Ya know, I don't fink ah've ever seen you around town before. What's yer name and what are ya?"
"I'm Marnie and I'm a gryphon. Pleased to meet ya," she thrust her hand to shake.
James, shaking his hand free of grease and using a nearby napkin to clean it, took her hand in his own, giving it a firm shake, "James Milligan, Chemistry Professor at Canterlot University by appointment from the Princess Celestia. Uh, human," he finished with a smile.
"Chemistry huh? Ain't that like alchemy?" she replied curiously.
"It certainly is similar, but no. Alchemy is a bit different," he clarified, taking another bite out of his burger, "Mmhph, this is really good. Where did you buy this meat from? I need to get my hands on it!"
She was about to answer, but her statement was cut short by someone coming towards them. Flicking his head to his left, he saw Luna approaching, a foil-wrapped, steaming sandwich grasped in her hand.
A big grin spread across his face, "Look Luna! Hamburgers!"
He thrust the half-eaten sandwich out to her like a child showing off a toy to his mother.
Luna forced a smile, "Ohhhhh, that's, wonderful James," slowly pushing it away back to him. The man eagerly took it back and began nibbling on it again.
"Princess Luna, it... it is an honor for you to grace my stand with your presence," Marnie gave a bow to the Lunar Princess.
"Please, please rise. No need for the formalities while at the fair. I see you've met my... ummm... acquaintance, James," she gestured to the man who was, quite atypically, chowing down on his burger gleefully.
"Yes, I'm happy he did. He seems to really like the Griffonized hayburgers that I sell," she giggled, still watching him chow down on his burger.
"Indeed he does. Well James, shall we?" Luna flicked her head towards the rides set up to their distant right.
"Sure," he answered her, turning his head back to the griffon, "Hey! It was really nice meeting you, Marnie, but I'm gonna have to cut our conversation short. Why don't you come visit me at my home? I live just up the mountain if you follow the trail. Should lead you straight to my quaint little cabin," he pointed up at his home, the cabin obscured by the distance and blocked by a steeple.
"Of course. I'll come say hi in a few days. It was great meeting you, James," she waved to them both as they began to walk away, "I'll see you then!"
"See you later!" he waved back.
Luna looked back, watching the gryphon disappear back into her tent, "Nice girl. Good to see you're making friends."
He nodded, "Nice girl indeed. Reminds me of a few folks from Canton. Real salt of the earth feeling about her, I tell ya." He held out his hand, "So, what do you want to do first?"
"I have a few ideas," she grasped his hand, took a bite out of her Filly Cheeserose, and lead him towards the rides.
"Alright, let's see what the rest of the day's got for me," he thought to himself, before smiling.
For once, the war didn't enter his mind. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.10: The Fair | A midnight blue hand firmly grasped James' salmon and white one, Luna bobbing and weaving them gracefully through the crowd like a cat. Soon, the two of them came out the other side, standing in a bustling, busy center plaza holding the rides and games of the fair.
Crowds of pastel saturated ponies milled about the different stands, a few occupying each booth and playing the game. Little fillies and colts ran around gleefully with their fathers and mothers keeping close watch over them. Groups of young adults sat off to the side conversing with one another over menial things.
Delicious smells wafted into his nostrils, blown over from the food section by a gentle breeze. The scent was barely there, only a glimpse of the wonderful food that they had taken their exodus from, but it was enticing nonetheless. Tent flap ends from the booths wiggled in the gentle breeze in a restrained dance and the small flags topping the canopy followed. A great Ferris wheel towered over the both of them to their left, its metal supports blocking out some of the mid-afternoon sun. The voices of the game ponies competed for dominance with the fair-goers, their yells being drowned out by the loud conversations of the patrons.
"So, what do you want to do first? We got the whole day ahead of us," James asked the Prussian blue alicorn.
"Hmm, why not indulge in some fair game whimsy, my barely furred gentlecolt?" she snarked a little, a smile adorned on her face. She held up her hand, gesturing it over to another row, this time filled with an assortment of carnival and fair games instead of food counters.
There were the usuals: dart throwing, bobbing for apples ran by an especially enthusiastic-looking orange mare in a Texas Stetson, ring tossing. Each were being run by very friendly, amicable-looking ponies which warmed the man's heart, endearingly watching the interactions between the patrons and the owners.
However, one caught his eye, a classic in his eyes and one he could definitely win.
"Hey, let's try out that one," he raised his finger to the booth, drawing the attention of the lunar princess away from the group of ponies staring at them to the game.
The good 'ol fashioned cup knockdown game. Throw a ball and knock all the cups down to win a prize. A warm sense of familiarity and nostalgia flooded into him, his memories wandering back to summer fairs long ago, long before the war.
The booth itself was very pedestrian compared to the extravagant colors and stand-out features of others. Its plain oak counter was worn, not dirty or decaying, but it had seen its fair share of use. A large, chocolate brown tarp hung in the distant back of the tent with two clips holding it from the top of the tent, likely a backdrop to catch the balls thrown its way. Resting in front of it, two wooden stands had sprout from the dirt, arraying ornate plastic cups in a stacked pyramid. The cups themselves contrasted with the drab cinnamon look of the tent, its artistry possessing saturated light blues and crimson reds instead of a dull brown palette. Little cartoon ponies danced happily on the cups sides, their smiles infectiously instilling a mirth into the viewer. They reminded him of a circus getup, similar to the ones he had been to as a boy.
Finally, a chocolate brown, grizzled, jovial middle-aged stallion was occupying the counter, shooting a giddy smile towards the two of them.
"Well howdy there, how can a- OH! Princess Luna, I am honored that you would come to mah booth," his accent betrayed his Appleloosan origin, "I hope y'all are having an excellent day!"
"We certainly are," she gave a respectful nod back to the older stallion, "How much for a game?"
"1 bit for 1 throw, 3 bits for 3 throws. If you knock down all the cups, y'all can have yer pick of the prizes," he flashed a toothy grin at the pair.
"Okay," James agreed, fishing out a bit from his coin pocket and setting it down gently on the wooden counter. The coin clinked softly against it before being whisked off the counter by the gamepony. Collecting his wares, the stallion tossed a smooth white ball to James, the man catching it as nonchalantly as grabbing a newspaper in the morning.
"Go ahead and give it yer best shot, son."
James eyed his target like a general strategizing over a map. What kind of pitch should he use to ensure maximum potential knockdowns? He noticed that the spacing of the cups were carefully arranged. The bottom three cups were spaced far enough away from each other that if he aimed for one side of the pyramid, the other corner cup wouldn't be jostled enough to topple over, losing him the game.
"Clever man," he thought to himself. It seemed the gamemaster had a few tricks up his sleeve.
So, his fastball was out of the question. But, if he could somehow curve it around the sides, coming at it from the right corner piece, he may be able to knock the cups into each other and earn himself a win.
It had been awhile since he'd thrown it and this certainly was no baseball, this ball lacking the grooves of one, but he could possibly pull a win out if he threw his breaking ball. So with his mind made up, he took a few strides back from the stand, holding his left hand out and twisting his right hand into the desired grip.
Was he taking a harmless fair/carnival game way too seriously? Probably. But, like Dad used to say, "Play to win always."
So with that, his stance taken, ball gripped the way he wanted, and aiming off to the right to compensate for the spin, he began his windup, taking a step back with his left leg, bringing his knee up to his chest, taking a big step forward, and rocketing the ball towards the cup.
Initially, the ball didn't start to break towards the side, causing a twinge of doubt to creep through his lean frame. But soon enough, the spin from his grip began to take hold and quickly "slid" the ball to the left, his breaking ball finding its mark on the right corner cup and knocking it into the other bottom two, toppling the stack over. A muffled POOMF and a clatter of plastic cups hitting each other on the ground confirmed his victory.
"Still got it," he triumphantly smiled to himself.
"Looks like we got ah winner!" the stallion give a gentle clap in commendation.
"Thank ya kindly sir," James nodded.
"Such an interesting throw. How did you do that? Any pony who tried that would surely fall over from that... elaborate motion you did," he waved his hand in a circle in emphasis of his legs, his tail swishing a bit from mild curiosity.
"Used to pitch in high school. Had a killer slider back in the day; called it 'Jim's Schlippin Slider'. Not what it used to be, but I still got it," he restrained a smirk, a little piece of it creeping onto the corners of his lips.
"Pitch? What do you mean?" he gazed at Luna, his heart jumping as he gazed at her cute confused look, her head tilted slightly to its side.
He threw up his hand as if remembering a crucial answer after a test, "Right, I forgot. I played as a pitcher in baseball. Old sport I used to do as a boy. With all the similarities pony culture has with humanity's, I'm surprised baseball hasn't made the proverbial dimensional leap here."
"Hmm, I wouldn't know. It has been some time since I've indulged in a sport. Perhaps you should ask Rainbow Dash if you should ever meet her," she smiled, placing down a bit, taking the ball from the gamepony, and taking a shot at her stack.
Unlike the muddy red-brown haired man's throw, her ball flew with much less grace and agility, instead clambering into the cups head-on at a much slower speed. She was not as successful, the left corner of the pyramid stack remaining standing.
"Aw thundershowers," her mouth contorted into an innocent pout.
"Better luck next time, your Majesty," the stallion assured, popping the golden, grooved bit into his coin pocket and beginning the work to collect the cups and restack them, "Now, what will the strapping young stallion take home for his prize?"
"Hmmm, I don't know. Lu, you want anything?"
"That stuffed manticore looks positively adorable," she pointed to the small twelve inch long plush toy.
"Alright, one stuffed manticore for the lovely Princess!" the gamepony handed off the prize to James, who in turn gave it over to his date.
Luna, after giving the toy a hug, brandished her new prize in her right hand like one holds a small dog, "Thank you James. That was very kind of you."
"Think nothing of it. What are you going to name him?" he asked, the two of them walking away from the stand and bidding the nice stallion farewell.
"Something vicious. Something terrifying. Something that could strike fear into even that insufferable bird my sister keeps," she put her hand to her chin, "How about... Harold?"
James let out a quick laugh, "Harold? Sounds like some guy who does your taxes who lives in those new suburbs in New York instead of a terrifying animal."
"It's a work in progress! And how dare you insult his name? You'll hurt his feelings!" she let out a chuckle, giving him a playful hit that bounced harmlessly off his bicep.
"Harold's mother shouldn't have given him such a stupid name," he traded back with her, his smile growing as he put his hands up to defend himself.
"Well, I think it's a lovely name so NYEH!" her long equine tongue stuck out at him in the universal gesture of 'NEENER NEENER NEEEENER'.
The man admitted his defeat, rolling his eyes, "Whatever. So, what next?"
"There's some ponies here I want you to meet and one of them should be riiiiight... here," she crowed, stopping the two of them in front of that orange pony with the Stetson.
"Howdy there Princess! Nice to see ya came to the fair!"
Wow, if this mare wasn't a pony, he swore that she'd fit right in with the girls down in Dixie. Long, well-groomed golden locks of hair, a patch of freckles upon her orange furred face, and the physique of a working girl, she looked the part of a Southern plantation owner's daughter. Her hands wore leather gloves, hiding the likely calloused hands underneath it. She was shorter than him, the top of her head only coming to his neck, but that was par for the course considering he towered over most ponies. Her blue jeans fit snugly around her bottom and the red plaid button-up shirt complemented the look quite nicely. The top two buttons remained opened, revealing the white undershirt hiding behind the plaid.
For a tiny pony, she looked really strong as well, her muscles defined and lean.
"Hello Fair Applejack. Have you met my friend, James? He's that 'human' the papers were talking of awhile back," Luna offered, gesturing to him.
"Well howdy Mr. James. Pleasure to meet you," she held out her hand which James gladly took, matching her incredibly strong grip with his own.
"And you as well. Where do you hail from?" he inquired of the mare.
"I live in the little village by that forest called Ponyville. Mah family owns the apple plantation just a ways out of town," she gestured in the general direction of said town.
"Oh, you that apple farmer who makes the cider that's throwing everyone in a tizzy?" he adjured.
"The one and only," she tipped her hat, letting go of the man's hand, "How have you been settlin' in here in Equestria?"
"Some days are good. Some days not so much. Pony folk are nice enough, but I get stares from a few on the streets still. Princess Celestia has been very kind to me. She gave me my job teaching, was nice enough to give me those flattering compliments during that public address, and... well, has been a good friend. More than I would have initially expected of a head of state," he gestured over to Luna, "And here I am hanging out with her sister. So, I've been settling quite well. Ponies have been mostly kind to me and I can respect that."
"I am so glad! I know we ponies can be a bit wary of new creatures, but ah hope we can start to work past it. Celestia knows I've learned my lesson from a certain zebra," she glanced off to the side in remembrance of something.
"I hope you've been enjoying yourself today, but is Twilight attending today? I'd love to see her before the competition," Luna ran her hand through her ethereal mane, her ears slightly shifting back.
"Ah believe she's with Princess Celestia right now over there," she remarked, pointing to her a ways down.
"Thank you Applejack. Give little Applebloom my greetings!" she waved as she started walking towards her sister and student.
"Be well, Miss. Nice to meet you," James followed behind his date, giving his own stiff wave.
"See ya, sugarcube!"
It wasn't a terribly long walk as he followed dutifully behind Luna. Celly was easy to pick out, which was surprising to the gentleman. Most of the time, ponies seemed to flock around her where ever she went, but the area in front of her was peculiarly vacant.
"I thought that fat white blob in the distance was you," Luna snarked at her older sister.
"Goodness Luna, not even a hello for your dear old sister," Celestia smirked back, folding her arms underneath her bust, "Good to see you."
"And you too, Tia," she replied, giving her Celestia a chaste hug.
James scratched his head, allowing the sisters to have their moment, before Celestia noticed him.
"Ah, if it isn't my 'Royal' Chemistry Professor. How goes the school year, James?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "Well enough I suppose. It's still a little early and most of the students are trying to find their bearings. I imagine a complete upheaval of your understanding of the natural world can do that to you," he joked. The unknown purple pony, he presumed she was Twilight, was studying him fiercely as he talked with the solar princess, her eyes drinking in every detail on him.
"But when the students grasp what you're showing them, I swear it will be worth it. It's why I love to be a teacher," Celestia smiled, gesturing over to her right, "Speaking of my students, James, I don't believe you've met my star student Twilight Sparkle."
The man towered over the violet pony, holding out his comically large hand for a handshake, "Charmed."
She said nothing at first, taking his hand in her own and giving it a shake, "My goodness, the newspapers said you were big, but you are simply too massive to describe."
"You callin' me fat?" he snapped at her roughly.
Twilight lost her composure swiftly, sputtering and raising her hands, "What? No no! Not at all! I was simpl-"
"Heh heh! No it's fine, it's fine! I was just messing with you!" he laughed, waving his hand dismissively.
"I get that comment a lot," he said, putting a good-natured smile on his face, shrugging off the admittingly worn-out notion of his height, before letting go of her hand.
"So, you're the 'interdimensional alien' with weird hooves. Can't believe I'm meeting the greatest scientific discovery of our time," Twilight seemed to be leaping in place, her enthusiastic excitement barely being constrained behind the wide grin on her muzzle. Her tail swished happily behind her as she looked him up and down.
"Unless you've got any other featherless bipeds walking around here, then yup, that'd be me," he rested his hand on his chest.
"We have plenty of featherless bipeds here, James. I'm not sure what you mean by that," Luna interjected.
He sighed, "You ruined it, Lu. It was an old phrase I heard from a philosophy major friend of mine to describe humans. Can't remember who originally said it though."
"Whatever. It's nice to meet you Twilight and as Celestia said, name's James Milligan and I am a professor of Chemistry at the University," he put his hands into his pockets and took a step back, resuming his original position.
"Chemistry? Can't say I've heard of that," she tilted her head, her face constricting into confusion.
"It's apparently fairly new around here, or so I've been told. It's the study of matter and the natural world, primarily concerning itself with the study of the atom and the compounds it makes," he clarified, satisfied with his answer.
Her confusion seemed to only intensify, "What's an atom?"
"Right. They don't know what atoms are," he thought to himself, giving himself an internal slap on the forehead. He can still remember that astonished gasp he let out when he learned of pony's complete ignorance of basic elementary chemistry.
"Atoms are made of a positively charged nucleus and negatively charged orbiting electrons which constantly are in motion," he made a spinning gesture with his finger in an attempt to visualize the motion of electrons.
"Wait, how can humans observe these 'electrons' without being overtaken by their anger and misery?"
"Baby steps, Jim. Baby steps," he thought as he tried to figure out a way to simplify down year's worth of study, "We say it's negative just as a way to classify them. We denote like that to rationalize its tendency to be pulled towards its opposite, in this case, the 'positive' nucleus."
"But still, what does that have to do with nature?" she asked of him.
Yet again, James found himself slightly dumbfounded as he again tried to rationalize how these ponies had gotten this far without fumbling upon grade school chemistry. How they managed to scrape together a headache medication, let alone an accredited, functional study of medicine, without working out chemical bonding and compounds baffled him.
Recovering from his shock, he decided to pose a question to help her figure it out, "Twilight, what is water made of?"
"Wha-What do you mean 'What is water made of'? It's water! One of the four elements from which Equus' creatures get their innate magic from and which makes up a portion of the material plane! Tha-That's like asking what the wind is made of!" the poor purple pony blathered out.
"Wind's made of about 80% nitrogen rounding up and 20% oxygen, plus some other trace argon, hydrogen, and some other inert gases," he stated with all the nonchalance of a grandmother talking about her favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Twilight looked like a sputtering, confuzzled mess, trying and failing to hold herself together. All three mares stared at him like he had told them one of the universe's most guarded secrets, each in varying degrees of severity.
Seeing the collective silence and gaping from Twilight, he took that as his moment to continue, "Wind, like everything else, is made up of atoms. Nitrogen and Oxygen are atoms. The grass is atoms. I," he gestured to himself with his hands, "Am atoms. All of nature is made of atoms, and that's why I study them."
Twilight began to recover from her little episode, "Mr. James, you must understand that I'd like to see some proof of this before I can entertain these atom's existence. As an amateur scientist, I must insist."
"Good. I'm glad you're not just believing me on my word alone. If you're in town for awhile, come on up to my cabin just over yonder," he pointed up to his cabin on the side of the mountain, "And Celestia, why don't you come too? I can put some tea on the kettle and we can chat."
"My, that would sound lovely, James. Thank you," Celestia hummed.
A comfortable silence rested over the four of them, Twilight still muttering something about 'knowing the makeup of wind', James kicking the dirt a little, and the two sisters observing them.
But that silence was soon ended as a loud announcement was made near the center plaza.
"Oh! The competition must be starting!" Twilight yelled, starting to run off to join the rapidly accruing, loud crowd of ponies, "Nice meeting you James!"
"You too Twilight! Come by my house, we'll chat!" he yelled to her, cupping his hands around his mouth.
He and Luna dissociated themselves into the crowd, looking up at a raised wooden stage. Standing on said stage was none other than Applejack, holding a card in one hand and a glowing, deep pink crystal in the other. Her large braid blew in the wind as she waited patiently for everyone to gather around her.
"Is, Is this thing on?" she muttered into the crystal, her sweet accent being projected by the crystal in her hand.
"Hey y'all, welcome to the second annual uhh... Super Fun Exciting Water Balloon Battle Royale? Ok Pinkie. Uh, welcome to the competition. Hope y'all have been enjoying the day just as much as I have. So before we start, let me read off the rules to ya," she switched her cards and squinted a little at the text.
"So, if you're hit directly at any point by another player's balloon, you're eliminated from the game. You can leave or do something else, but you're out. If you or your team is the last surviving, you win the grand prize of 15 liters of mah family's Famous Apple Cider and 1000 bits. Now, we've cornered off a large swath of the city for the arena this year. It's much bigger than last year's and we've made a few uhh... 'adjustments' to make it a little more interesting. If at any point you go outside the arena while you're still in, you are eliminated. Other contestants may use this to force you out and eliminate you that way if they wish."
She shifted her cards again, "Pegasi may hover no more than 6 feet off the ground. Anymore will result in a disqualification," she heard groans from the pegasi contestants, "Hey its to keep things fair for tha' rest of us alright? I don' wanna hear it."
"Unicorns may use magic only to propel the balloons. Any use of magic to alter the properties of the balloon or its contents will also result in an elimination. The use of tools are allowed for any party to use if they wish," she continued.
"And finally, no fightin' is allowed, but you can use yer hands to push or tackle your opponent out. No hurtin' each other y'all. This is supposed to be a friendly competition," she crossed her arms, watching a few earth ponies disappointingly put away a few 'dangerous'-looking weapons.
"So that's that! You'll have 5 minutes to get yourself into the arena before the fun begins. Best of luck to you all. There's about 100 contestants this year, so try to stay dry out there! Over here, we'll issue you your starting ammunition in a bag. Careful to not let them burst!" she added at the end as she gestured over to a gleeful, bubbly pink pony holding bags full of water balloons.
Walking over and grabbing two bags from the pink pony, who somehow knew his name, he returned to his date and handed her the satchel filled with their slippery weapons.
"Alright, so what's the plan?" he asked.
"Don't know. T'would really depend on where they've made the arena this year. I think we should try to keep out of sight, let the populace destroy themselves, and pelt the stragglers," she muttered, checking her satchel and adjusting it comfortably.
"Hey speaking of when we fight," he rustled through the inside of his jacket, apparently trying to fish something out of the inside pockets, "Since you were really intent on winning this, I, shall we say, made a few things that could help us win."
Her curiosity peaked now, she peered over at his hands finding in his firm grip a pair of hastily put-together slingshots. The dusty-brown, dead sticks looked like they had just fallen off of the tree, but were thick in diameter. There were signs of wood carving adjustments, particularly near the vertex where the two shoots met in the middle. At the bottom on the handle, she felt a patch of deep black tape wrapped around it for better grip. She grabbed one from him and gave a pull on the elastic string, testing the integrity of the branch.
Sitting in the middle of the weapon, held up only by the elastic, strechy bands, was a white, concave-in cup, presumably where new balloons would be loaded in. It had the size and shape of a small lid, dangerously similar to the ones on top of a sugar container for tea, just without the handle. She smiled as she took a practice aim with the DIY slingshot.
"James, you didn't have to do this," she muttered.
"Yeah, I suppose I didn't. But, it seems winning this means a lot to you, so I figured this would be the best way to help," he rubbed the back of his neck and put his satchel on like a bandolier.
"Thank you James," she crowed, "Now, let's go win us some cider!"
Finding the outside of the arena, they took refuge in a nearby alleyway, far away from any other contestants, and waited for the starting whistle. She tucked Harold into her bag nice and snug, far away from any potential 'danger' that could befall the innocent manticore.
"Alright y'all! 3... 2... 1..., GO!" the twang of Applejack's voice projected through the streets, aided by the pink amplifying crystal.
The sound of exploding water balloons hit her equine ears almost immediately, the furry appendages swiveling around to pick up every sound.
She gave herself a small smile, slouching back on the brick walled alley.
The game was afoot! |
Put it to Rest | Ch.11: "Skirmishing" with the Locals | All things considered, this competition was going quite smoothly. That might have this in the bag!
PLUSH! WAP! GLOOSH!
Ok, scratch that. Things just got bad .
James felt his legs do his patented 'run like a bitch' move, dragging Luna along with him by her hand. Seriously, with all his combat experience, how had he let the "enemy" get the drop on him?
PLUSH!
"Hot damn, that was really close. Are they even trying to hit Luna?" he asked himself.
Luna was barely ducking, watching the harmless balloons sail right over her towards her charge. He turned around to catch who was trying to get them. James spied a particularly devilish-looking lime unicorn evilly grinning at him from the stairs of a fire exit, whipping a pristine blue water balloon straight at his face with her magic. He ducked down just in time, pulling the Lunar Princess down with him.
"Apparently not...," he grumbled to himself, "Stupid ponies and their love for their princess."
Well, that mare is definitely going on his list of ponies to take out. He flipped her off as they rounded the alley corner's exit, narrowly dodging another balloon thrown by her earth pony teammate.
Really, considering his combat experience, he was shocked with how he let those ponies get the drop on them. With how loud pony hooves are on metal and paved roads, anyone with the mental acuity of a concussed chihuahua could have heard them coming. He made a silent note to himself to get his ears checked out.
The scene before them reflected a hellish chaos of the funnest degree. Bands of ponies warred through the street, taking cover in whatever piece of solid they could find. Stretchy, colorful balloon debris lay limply in the paved, white streets with the warm evening sun beating down on them, draining some of their saturation. Pegasus dove, dipped, and dodged around, hovering close to the ground and slapping balloons towards their enemies with their wings. He saw one clever, lithe Pegasus mare using a garbage lid she had found to deflect any watery ammunition thrown her way. Unicorns blasted their horns with magic as they catapulted the deadly ordinance towards their opponents from behind their cover. He chuckled at some of their outfits, a couple wearing a goofy-looking camouflage and war paint on their furry cheeks.
Screeches, laughing, and grumbles pierced his ears, seeing big smiles wiped across the pony's faces as they 'fought' each other. Those who were eliminated were walking back to the staging area, laughing and conversing with each other happily. It was an adorable sight and he would have stopped to observe if they weren't being 'shot' at.
"We need to get high ground," he yelled to Luna.
"Duck in here! Maybe we can lose the others," she gestured to another alleyway.
Seeing no other choice, he did as he was told, crouching into the alley and slumping down beside a rancid smelling dumpster as he formulated a plan. Luna maintained a certain distance from the cover, opting instead to squat down in front of him than to hug the dumpster.
"Are we allowed onto the roofs? That'd be a perfect spot to pick off the stragglers," he inquired of Luna.
"I don't see why not. Fair Applejack did not say it wasn't allowed," she replied, adjusting a few strands of ethereal hair out of her face.
He picked out a fire escape staircase, the black, flaking paint of the metal barely glistening from the light illuminating the alley.
"Alright, let's get up there," he pointed to the ladder as he jogged over to it, "I'll go up first to make sure it's safe to climb and then you can follow."
He leaped up, grabbing the 7th handlebar of the ladder and began clambering his way up the ladder. The structure screeched, the old metal adjusting to the new weight thrust upon it. It shook from the heavy footfalls of the tall man, his feet banging on the handles as he pulled himself upward.
Luna only smirked as she watched him hurriedly claw his way up the stairs. Flexing her wings, she gave a big flap of her wings as she hovered on up.
As she passed him, he stopped on a stair and leaned on the railing with an expression that can only be described as quiet frustration.
"Stupid pony princesses and their wings...," he muttered to himself as he continued his laborious trek up the fire exit.
Coming to the final platform just below the roof he stood in front of a window, mantling himself up to the top, awkwardly swinging his legs over the side, and setting himself down on the gravely floor.
He spotted Luna hugging the side of a skylight, preparing her slingshot with a balloon in the cup.
PLUSH!
Across the gap on the roof of the other building, a group of young adult pegasi lobbed the aquatic ordinance towards them rapidly, although quite inaccurately to boot.
James dove out of the way of the near miss, scraping his hands a little as he landed on the hard floor. Regaining his composure in a split second, his training kicked in as he army-crawled his way to Luna, slumping up against the wall with her.
"Seems these guys had the same idea as us," he wheezed, pulling out his own slingshot and loading it with a balloon.
"Indeed. That brown earth pony has been most voracious in trying to eliminate me," she smirked, popping out of her cover and letting the slingshot fly. Milliseconds later, a loud PLUSH! and annoyed DAMMIT! told her that her aim was true.
"Ooh, these are really fun!" she held up her slingshot with a satisfied grin.
"That they are. Reminds me of when I was a boy hunting squirrels with Arles," he peaked over cover, dodging out of the way of a shot, and let fly his response. It cantered the side landing a good 4 feet in front of his target and splattering over the rocky floor of the roof, "Looks like my aim isn't what it used to be though."
Luna shot again, this time hitting her poor target across the cheek with some force. The young adult stumbled backwards, holding their cheek a little.
"Sorry fair citizen!" Luna apologized, waving her hand just above the cover.
"It's alright, your Majesty," the stallion grunted back, taking his leave down through the building out of the arena.
James eyed Luna with slight intrigue, "You know, for a head of state, you are awfully casual with your citizens," letting another balloon fly off of his slingshot.
"Twilight's been encouraging me to be more personable with the public. Seeing that they are smiling and laughing instead of whimpering and cowering," she grunted in frustration, a balloon she had loaded into the cup exploding in her face, "I prefer it this way."
She wiped the water out of her now damp fur, shaking it off onto the ground. While she did, James let loose another balloon towards the final two opponents hovering around on their side. This time, his aim was true, slamming into the stomach of a teal pegasus stallion.
The remaining stallion, now alone, chose to abandon his position on the roof and disengage from the fight. He dipped off the side, mantling over the stone edges of the roof and presumably floated down to the floor, out of sight from the duo.
"Huh," he started, "That went well."
He scratched his arm while walking out of cover, "I think he's gone, Lu. Y'all can come out now."
She was a little unsure, more hesitant to step out for fear of the pegasus doubling back to get them. After a few seconds of creeping out from her makeshift skylight cover, Luna stood back up at her full height, a satisfied grin covering her face.
"Goddess, that was thrilling! The intensity, the exhilaration, the primal urge to compete and win! Oh, I haven't felt this way in years!" she jumped a little in excitement.
"We're not out of the woods yet. There's plenty of other contestants to be eliminated down on the street," he informed her while walking over to the side and readying his slingshot once more.
Luna, realizing their opportunity, quickly joined him on the side, peering down at the street a few stories under them.
Most of the previous contestants they once saw had been eliminated, the street now a mostly vacant, cluttered mess of a road. Bits and pieces of balloons were scattered all around like a confetti cannon had blown its load. Damp, wet spots peppered the littered street randomly, aftermaths of the watery bombs detonating on its floor. A few errand crumpled newspapers blew in the wind. From up above they could see a few stragglers skirmishing in the streets, both sides using trash cans, closed-down street carts, and lamp posts as cover. While they were shielded from each other, their hastily-acquired shelters provided no protection from the onslaught the duo was about to unleash.
In other words, it was a turkey shoot. They went to work, their fire accurately eliminating all who opposed them. Some tried to return fire but were met with a hailstorm of precisely aimed liquid death. A small crowd of ponies were slowly walking their way out of the arena. Soon, no more contestants lay before them, only a pile of detonated balloon scrap.
"Shoot, did we get all 'em?" he breathed as he kept a watchful eye over the arena.
"I don't know. Let us descend to the lower ground and look," she said, mantling over the side and floating herself down on her wings.
"Dangit, wait for me woman!" he clambered down the fire exit after her.
Jumping off the ladder and landing with a grunt, he crouched down out of instinct and walked over to where Luna was. She was splayed against the wall of the alley while she periodically surveyed the now empty street.
"I think we've won," she crept out slowly, a small, satisfied smile trying to slink onto her face, but was restrained.
The two hesitantly slithered towards the middle of the street, ammo at the ready for some elaborately laid ambush. Their heads were on a swivel, eyes darting to every window, roof, and piece of cover they could find. The duo walked as quietly as they could to the center before relaxing, seeing no other contestants left at their side of the arena.
"Shoot," James hollered in his mountain accent, "I think we've got this little shindig in the bag!"
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," a voice interjected.
"Dammit, I just had to run my mouth..." he hung his head, turning around to face this new voice that so rudely interrupted his victory.
Standing before him, at a hand-length shorter than him, was Celestia, a water balloon armed and at the ready. Ducking out from behind her cover, Twilight joined the confrontation, she also ready to dispense glorious balloon goodness upon the Lunar Princess and her date.
"Et tu, Celestia?" Luna shot an accusatory finger towards her sister.
"Now now, no need to be rude, little sister. I must thank you for eliminating our little ponies from the contest. It would've been exhausting having to throw that much ammo at them, but you two came along and did the job for me. Bravo," she had a smug smile that betrayed a bit of whimsy, her eyes reflecting this notion, "And now that everyone else is gone, that only leaves two loose ends. Guess this is the end of the line for the both of you."
Luna laughed mockingly, answering her in a hint of playfulness in her voice, "You are most mistaken dearest sister. The only end I see is your fat, cake-filled rump eating my watery justice," she hefted a balloon into her slingshot.
"Princess Celestia's behind is not fat. It is shapely and nice-looking!" Twilight interjected, quick to defend her idol and mentor.
"Careful there, Twilight. You go any deeper, your nose'll get brown," James snarked.
"Hey!"
"Anyway," Celestia interrupted, "We'll be taking home that cider, so I suggest you pick the easy way and walk out on your own. I'd hate to sully that beautiful mane of yours."
"Thank you Celestia, but I'm afraid I can't do that," Luna replied, a whimsical twinkle in her eye.
"Then I'm afraid you leave me no choice," Celestia, with a similar gleam in her eye, whipped the balloon towards her, the golden glow of her magic exploding the balloon forwards while somehow not detonating it. The projectile screamed as it ripped its way through the air towards the blue alicorn.
Luna barely dodged out of the way, sidestepping just in the nick of time, and threw her own in retaliation. It landed with a loud PLUSH! signaling its failure to hit.
James, similarly, readied his slingshot, whipping the string back with a mighty pull. As the cord left the gentle grasp of his fingers, the force from the throw caused it to prematurely explode, showering the man's face in the clear liquid. He gasped and grunted, the water blinding his eyes and stinging them a little. He wildly wiped at his eyes while backpedaling away, desperate to give himself some sort of advantage before the likely counterattack.
Said counterattack did happen as he saw a faint white blob lob a shot at him, missing just in front of his feet and landing with a muffled SPLAT! Thankfully, the near miss gave him enough time to restore his vision, quickly taking in his surroundings.
Luna was standing off to the side now as well as Twilight, a large wet spot darkening the fabric of her shirt and causing it to cling to her. Luna cupped her hands around her mouth, "James, it's up to you now!" She pointed her finger towards Celestia who was advancing towards him quite briskly.
"Crap!" he reached into his satchel, desperately clawing for the final shot that would win them the competition, but felt nothing but empty air. He looked into the cloth bag, only to find nothing!
Looking back up, Celestia looked like a high school linebacker ready to make the sack and she was closing in.
"Am I really about to grapple with a princess who controls the sun?"
Apparently yes!
The porcelain white alicorn barreled into him like a bus, James just holding onto his balance as he backpedaled from the 130lbs of weight he just took. She lowered her torso down, trying to minimize her frame, and placed her hands on his stomach. trying to push him. He took a swift look back and realized how close he was to the border of the arena.
And he also realized, in his blind stupor trying to figure things out, she had nearly pushed him there!
Not wanting to go down without a fight, he shoved back against her, his palm straining against her collarbone as he slowly pried the sun goddess off of him. Losing her position, she gripped his arms near the shoulder and renewed her assault.
He looked down at her in disbelief as he actually began to lose some ground. He strained his muscles, planting his heels as firmly as he could into the road.
"Damn, Celestia is freaking strong!"
She had a slight smile, not malicious, but in anticipation of an approaching victory. A glint of playfulness in her eye relaxed him a little, but she certainly didn't let up on her assault. In fact, she threw even more of herself into him, desperate to claim that last inch of ground before the prize was hers.
Thinking quickly, instead of continuing to fight a losing battle, he began to pull him towards him. Stepping out of the way, he planted his foot in front of her legs and tripped her, the momentum taking care of the rest as she stumbled over his leg.
She caught herself, barely keeping herself from taking an involuntary road nap, and turned back around to face him. She gazed down at the line of chalk that marked the outside of the arena, a respectful grin upon her face.
"It appears I have been bested," she conceded, giving a small bow.
"Ah reckon so. No hard feelings Celly?" he inquired.
"Oh, of course not! That was so exciting!" she smiled, giving him a handshake.
"Great! But damn woman, you've got some muscles underneath all that. You been working out?" he clutched his shoulder and rolled the joint to stretch it out.
"I suppose one must keep themselves in good shape if they want to move a star around the heavens," she shrugged, a little sarcasm laced into her speech.
It was at this moment that another ball of child-like energy came crashing into him, "We did it! We did it! We did it! We won!"
Luna clutched his sides in a crushing bearhug, squeezing him like a toothpaste roll.
"HRK, AIR- LUNA!" he choked out, prying the Lunar Princess off his sides and gasping for air.
"Luna, my goodness, you squeeze him anymore, you'll make his innards burst," Celestia reprimanded.
She restrained herself, if only a little, and bounced in place while the man caught his breath.
"So," he started, "Where do we get our prize?"
"I believe we must talk to Applejack. That glorious nectar of apples will be ours!" she cheered as she grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
He resisted lightly, "Still on for tea, Tia?"
"Of course. I'll stop by sometime this week after classes," she smirked at her sister's frantic excitement, "I'll see you two later. Luna, see you back at the castle."
He waved, finally giving in and letting him be led to their prize. Luna shot off like a methed-out beagle, dragging him along with him.
"Boy, what a day," he chuckled to himself as he was dragged along.
"What a day indeed." |
Put it to Rest | Ch.12: To Beat the Heat | "Huh, you know, this stuff is pretty good."
"See, I told you so!" a finger pointed sharply at the man.
"Alright," James set his glass down on the table next to his rocking chair, "It's not 'I'd go back to war' kind of great, but if I want some apple cider, I'll be sure to buy it from that Stetson girl."
Luna giggled, "Her name was Applejack, you big dork."
"The hell's a dork?" he took another swig off his glass, "Hmmph, tasty."
"I don't quite know what a 'dork' is, but Twilight said it a few times in our lessons and I like the way it sounds," she poured herself another glass and set the jug down on the table with a weighty THUNK.
"Whatever," he folded his hands in his lap and rocked the chair. It creaked and groaned a bit from the weight, the wood in need of some work.
A silent breeze blew through the mountain cabin's yard and swished the plants in his garden around, a dance that each participated in. Soft, saccharine aromas of his flowers pleasantly flooded into her gaping nostrils as she admired the grand landscape of her nation before her. The view up here truly was breathtaking and she was lucky that James was so willing to share this part of his life with her. Birds chirped idly as they nestled themselves down for the evening. Leaves crinkled and beat against one another as the breeze took some off of their branches, scattering them down the incline. James breathed a deep sigh.
"This is nice," he crowed, shuffling his feet, "Thanks for letting me use that prize money from last week to buy some more supplies. You didn't have to do that, you know."
She scoffed, waving her hand dismissively, "Think nothing of it, my good stallion. I didn't need nor want the money, just this sweet nectar."
"Regardless of your reasons, I appreciate the gift," he assured her, squeezing her hand in appreciation.
"You are welcome," she smiled, squeezing back.
A pleasant silence once again set itself amongst the two, neither seeking to break it and ruin the moment for some time. But, eventually, Luna spoke once more.
"How have the nightmares been?" she asked.
James paused for a moment, the question clearly catching him off guard, and laid his glass down on the table, "Fine."
That was a lie. The whole week after the festival, she searched for him in the dreamscape diligently, but found no sphere corresponding to him, telling her once again that he was staying awake.
"James you're lying and I know it. Tell me the truth," she demanded, her tone a little more forceful than she intended.
"Look, I'm a 28 year old man and I can solve my own damn problems. Just cause I got a few night terrors don't mean I can't fix it on my own," he snapped back.
She dialed back her tone to try to deescalate the situation, softening it as best she could, "Of course you can, James. But I'm able to help. I want to help you."
"You help me enough by just being my friend and listening to me. I don't need you to poke your horn into every facet of my life," he continued, his voice stern and defensive, "If I can't even control my own thoughts, what kind of a man am I?"
She paused and drank in what she had heard, "You're a good man, James. Just because you have problems in your life doesn't mean you have to solve it alone. It's ok to ask for help when you're sad," she consoled.
"It's not how a man ought to conduct himself," he murmured with a small frown.
"Hmph, well perhaps that may be back on Earth, but Equestria is different," she promised in a more upbeat tone, "Will you at least tell me about what your nightmares are about?"
He didn't answer at first, instead taking a few swigs of his cider. His eyes looked downcast and fatigued, quite unusual for a sunny, happy Saturday that they had. He frowned and idly swirled his glass around like an anxious tick. His foot bounced up and down nervously, making the wood of the porch creak a little from the weight.
"Since we talked about it, and even before then, when I go to sleep, I'm afraid when I open my eyes, I'll be back on Peleliu," James finally confessed, "Gloucester and Okinawa were terrible. Any battle will be like that, but Peleliu," he choked, "Peleliu was a whole different animal..."
"It was so," he stopped briefly to find the right way to describe it, "Incredibly intense. It was unlike anything I have experienced in my life, easily. The Japs were more ferocious, brutal, merciless. Being there was a constant maelstrom of artillery, disease, heat, and death; everything I had learned from Cape Gloucester was tested to the utmost extremes."
He focused on a porcelain white flower swaying in his garden as if he were trying to count the petals, "I may forget the pain of war and the temporary suffering as I grow old. My eyes, which once analyzed gunshot and stab wounds, may not remember the sight of screaming Marines. But, the fear and absolute terror I felt on Peleliu, that shall be with me to the end of my days," he spoke soberly.
He shuffled in his chair and breathed a deep sigh, "Well, you got me thinking about it again. We might as well continue where we left off," he finished and offered his hand, resting it gently on the polished wooden table.
Luna hesitantly took it in her own, "Are you sure James? This doesn't seem to be a good time."
"No, if I don't talk about it now, it'll be in my head for the rest of the night," he said.
"Alright, if you insist."
And they were off.
The charcoal black shadow of James' mind enveloped them. The only light illuminating their surroundings was that emanating off their persons.
But this did not last for long, for in a moment, James began his memory and the void was banished back to whence it came once more.
Peleliu hadn't changed a bit since she last 'saw' it. Sandstone colored coral rock crinkled beneath her with jagged edges cutting its way into any crevice it could find. Smoke steadily blackened the sky directly above them like a grim shadow, the ash of the bombardment ahead of them raining down on them like snow. The animals had scurried away for cover, none daring to challenge the humans who now fought upon their island.
Unfortunately, she was once again reacquainted with that oppressive heat, her fur already starting to dampen itself with sweat. Looking around her, the Marines were much the same.
She did not know how long it had been since they had landed, but from the clues she could surmise, they had to have been here for a couple hours. Their dungaree jackets and shirts were drenched with sweat. Pools of it gathered below their collars and absorbed back into the fabric. The grunt's necks gleamed in the sunlight, some severely red from burning already. A few, as they walked, made muffled SCHLOPs from their boondockers, no doubt from the ponds of sweat in their heels. If the heat and smoke of the island weren't drowning out her sense of smell, she surely would have breathed in their stench, no doubt reeking to the high heavens.
This island was becoming an oven and the Marines quickly realized they were about to be roast turkey if they didn't get out of the sun soon.
A private took a swig out of his canteen as he huddled into what little shade he could find.
"Try to save your water Private. Supply's having a hard time getting extra water on shore. Don't know how long we'll be short," a corporal advised the young man.
The platoon was stopped behind a thick layer of brush providing ample concealment from the enemy holed up in the airfield. Men huddled around trees and high bushes to find any shade they could. Most conversed with one another quietly, trying to forget the conditions they were subjected to. Some others, though, fiddled with their weapons, wiping off any dirt, coral, or grime that had accumulated in the couple hours on the beach. At each time, at least 3 men were drinking from their canteens, the supply of each trooper running low swiftly.
She finally spotted James leaning over a couple men lying in the shade, feeding them water through a canteen.
"That's it Private. Drink up," he consoled, tipping the canteen more and gripping the private's chin.
"I don't... feel so good Doc," the private strained to utter his sentence, his face colored red like a tomato with sweat glistening all over his body. He breathed fast, showing a great struggle to get his breaths in, and seemed to be out of it.
"I know, son. The heat blows, but you'll be back on ship soon enough. Just rest easy while we get the AMTRACs here," he used the sleeve of his shirt to wipe away the sweat from the young man's forehead.
"Can... Can I get some more water?" he struggled out.
"I want to, but I've got to get some of this to your other squadmates. I'll try to get some water for you as soon as I can," he leaned over another man suffering from heat exhaustion, an burly NCO, while continuing to talk, "Just don't move, stay in the shade, and try to think about home."
She watched as he fed water to the other supine Marines, taking care to divide up his dwindling ration equally among them. It was barely enough, each Marine voicing their need to him, but it was all he had. The tap had run dry, much to their dismay. Leaving them in the care of one of the mortarmen for a few minutes, Luna followed him as he crouched his way to the northern side of their position, just outside the large, open area of the airfield. He stopped just beside Mad Dog and First Sergeant Salt, eyeing the airfield through their binoculars.
"Hey Skipper, any news on the water yet?" James took a knee next to his company commander, resting his arm on his kneecap and gazing out at the open airfield.
"Supply's working on it," Mad Dog replied half-heartedly, his attention clearly focused on the airfield the 5th Marines were about to assault come the next day.
"Sir, I really need that water. A fifth of our company is suffering from heat exhaustion and the rest of my platoon's canteens are gonna be empty real soon. Miller's been scrounging as much water as he can as well as Perconte. Do you have any sort of ETA or idea when it'll be here?" James responded more poignantly, his tone sounding more insubordinate than he normally would allow.
If it was any other enlisted man or junior NCO that had addressed their commanding officer with the slight lip James had just given, he was sure he would've received the chewing-out of his lifetime. Salt certainly was giving him the stink-eye for his barely constrained dereliction.
Thankfully, the Captain didn't notice or chose to ignore it, "I'm sorry, Doc. I didn't mean to come off sounding uncaring. The water should be on its way soon. I've got a detail out waiting on the beach. Hopefully, the damn Supply officers will do their job for once," he mumbled, looking through his binoculars once more.
James studied him curiously, "If you don't mind me asking sir, what are you looking at?"
"Ah, I was just curious. 5th Marines are gonna hit the airfield tomorrow. I wanted to check it out before they did," he answered, still peering through his binoculars, "God, they're gonna catch hell."
"You think so sir?" he asked.
"I'd be surprised if they didn't! Airfield's the whole reason we're here, even more for the Japs. I'd think it's a trap if they weren't shooting at us the moment we stepped onto the tarmac," he chuckled, "Boy, am I glad I don't have to assault that..."
"Amen," Salt agreed.
James nodded, "Alright sir, I've gotta get back to it. Thanks for the update."
"No problem, Doc," his Captain gave a brief salute which James returned respectfully.
Crouching his way back and staying behind the concealment of the thick brush, he made his way back to the rest of the platoon, their condition having not changed in the last few minutes he was away. Most were starting to dig their foxholes for the night, the evening sun starting to settle down but not letting up in frying the Marines. He relieved the mortarman of his detail, thanking him for his time, and resumed care for his patients, desperately trying to find ways to cool them with what little resources he had in the blistering heat.
"Some of the boys in the 5th Marines found water!" a frantic replacement private scrambled in with his pivotal announcement.
Muffled whispers of "Water?", "They got water!" diffused their way through the ranks of the enlisted men, a glimpse of hope starting to show across their faces.
"Hey, settle down, the lot of ya!" the Lieutenant barked his order to the platoon, "Jenkins, Gates, you go with him and check it out. See if you can get some for the rest of the platoon."
He turned his attention to James, "Doc, you go too. Make sure the water wasn't poisoned or tampered with by the Nips."
"Aye, sir," he began to carry out his order swiftly. Grabbing his supplies off of the rock he laid them beside, he strapped them on, checked his pistol, and marched with the other three Marines towards the site.
It wasn't far to the 5th Marines position, just a short block's length away, and the four of them found the large group of Marines crowding around a hole in the ground. James pushed his way through to see what was going on. Luna followed with her James right behind her.
About 3-4 feet in the ground lay a expansive, dirty pool of water about 4 feet across. It was murky, opaque with gravel and coral dust floating around in it, a far cry from the fresh, treated water she so gratefully enjoyed back at the castle. Bits of gray, ashy dirt floated on the surface like little islands and bounced into each other idly. A strange smell emanated off it, not quite right but not repulsive either.
What made Luna really gag was the short Marine standing in the water up to his calves, contaminating it with his sweaty feet, and handing up helmets full of water to his comrades, who seemingly didn't care that they were drinking someone's foot sweat. Other men thrust their helmets to him, eager to get their hands on relief from their dehydration.
"Get some water over here for me, will ya?" one private thrust out his canteen to the man.
"HEY!" James yelled over the commotion, "Don't drink the water! It might be poisoned!"
As if ordained by God or fate, depending on one's beliefs, one Marine, who just finished drinking half a helmet full of water, piped up while clutching his stomach, "I don't feel good," and promptly dropped to the floor.
James let out an exasperated sigh, "Dammit."
He moved to pick the man up and carry him back to his unit's corpsman. He pointed to a few men, "You, you, and you, help me take this man back to your unit. The rest of you, go back to your units and stay there. Dump all of that water out."
The three he pointed to began ambling their way back to their unit, carrying the passed out man by his arms and legs, while James began to treat him. The crowd started to disperse, each one going back to his post, grumbles and groaning clear to hear. Unfortunately, they'd have to wait a little longer for reprieve, and it bothered them to no end.
"Damn this heat," a Marine grumbled to his buddy while walking back. The other nodded in agreement.
But alas, the heat cared not for what a few Americans say about it, for it continued its oppressions well into the evening.
Luna watched in mild fascination as James went through treating various heat casualties of the 5th Marines, electing to lend a hand to their 'Doc' for a few minutes. When he was finished, he put on his helmet, adjusted his pack, and walked back to his unit, keeping a low profile the whole way there to not attract attention.
He arrived safely back at their position, now greeted by dozens of foxholes and the Marines occupying them talking with each other. The heat had thankfully started to die down, although it certainly wasn't much. The sun was gradually making its way down towards the horizon, but it wasn't going to set before giving them a few more sunburns. If he weren't in front of the rest of his unit, James would've flipped off the celestial star, but refrained.
Luna noticed that the heat casualties had been evacuated in his absence, which seemed to bring some semblance of happiness to the corpsman, if evidenced by the small, barely perceptible smile on his face.
"Hey Jim, where ya been?" Howard waved over to him from their foxhole, grabbing both his foxhole buddy's and Luna's attention. He scooted himself over as James joined him in the fighting hole.
"Huh, I could ask you the same thing," he confusedly asked. Howard had simply disappeared after the beach landing, probably out on some patrol or clearing out a bunker.
"Out on a detail bringing supplies in, which I heard you were awfully insistent on getting," he poked a finger at him, taking a swig out of his canteen.
"Yeah, so was everyone else," he chuckled, "Hey, uh, can I get some of that?"
He gestured to his canteen, which Howard kindly obliged him with, strangely with a sinister looking smile. James dismissed it, his dehydration overpowering his curiosity for the peculiar gaze. He took a large gulp, swinging his head all the way back, and swallowed a huge portion down.
Almost immediately, he hacked and coughed out the remaining water in his mouth, its wet droplets splattering all over the opposite side of their hole. James wheezed, coughed, and heaved as his stomach quite emphatically rejected the cool water he had tried to force down his gullet.
When he had finally gained his composure, after quite a while, he peeked his eye through the canteen and stared at its contents for the perceived culprit.
"Howard," he mumbled with all the restraint of a saint, "Why is there oil in your water?"
"Ah well," Howard barely contained a snort, "Water resupply... snirk, came in those big oil drums that we would clean on Pavuvu."
James continued to barely constrain his composure, "And you neglected to tell me this, why?"
"Ah just wanted to see the look on your face, Jim," and upon utterance, Howard lost it in a fit of giggles.
James, for the most part, took it rather well, only giving his good friend a hard shove and rolling his eyes. For all they had experienced that day, a little harmless 'practical joke' was the least of his problems.
Unfortunately, his dehydration was still one of them and it wasn't getting any better. He eyed the liquid tepidly, wondering if another swig of polluted water would be worth the pain of the motor oil cocktail floating around in the water.
Well, he reached his answer pretty quick, as he steeled his face and tipped the canteen again.
Oh God, it was like drinking gasoline and motor oil while polishing your penis with paint thinner! The foul stench rising through his nostrils while painfully swallowing it all down made the experience even worse. He fought back his body's urges to throw it back up, practically deepthroating his fist with how firmly he was pressing it against his zipped-closed mouth. The water gave one last 'screw you' to him as it set its bitter aftertaste on his taste buds, the filmy residue probably clinging to his teeth and eating away his gums.
"God, you got any whiskey to wash that stuff down?" James asked, grimacing.
"Yeah, here," Howard offered a thin flask to him, grabbing his own ration from his coat pocket and snapped the top off.
"Happy D-Day Jim," he toasted and took a swig, James doing the same as the twilight started to overtake the sun.
As the two were enjoying their shot, the order rang out, "The smoking lamp is out!" All talk ceased, all lights put out, and rifles cocked at the ready.
"I'll take first watch, Jim. Get yourself some sleep," Howard grabbed his Garand before he faded from view, along with the rest of the squad.
Once again, the two of them deposited themselves into the inky limbo of James' psyche.
"I do not envy you James. To think your commanders were so careless in the storage of their water rations!" Luna scoffed.
"Oh, indeed. We cursed those supply officers, and to an extent ourselves, for the gross incompetence they'd displayed with their choice of 'storage' for our water," he added.
"Yourselves? Why would you curse yourselves for their mistake?" she tilted her head in mild bewilderment.
"Well," he rubbed the back of his neck, "One of the details back on Pavuvu for the enlisted was cleaning out those oil drums. We'd spend a lot of our time, well not our since I wasn't apart of those details, scrubbing them out for the next campaign. Maybe it was careless of our officers to choose to stow the water in improper storage, but it was somewhat our fault that the water was polluted because we didn't clean them properly and shirked off on duty."
"Perhaps, but it was still irresponsible of your leaders to do such a thing to you," Luna doubled down.
"Amen to that," he agreed.
"Tensions were high as the night set in. I'm sure you can understand that the possibility of a visit from a Japanese infiltrator was alarming to say the least. We were all on our guard and on that night, I was no different."
Night had fallen upon the land, the dim twilight beaten back by the encompassing darkness of midnight. She found James sitting quietly in his foxhole, breathing slowly and watching the treeline ahead of him for movement. Howard dozed peacefully beside him, his rifle cradled like a babe in his arms with all the gentleness of a new mother. No light and no sound was seen or heard by the Marines, the sentries keeping an astute watch for enemies around them.
James himself was tired, that much was plain to see. His eyes were slightly bloodshot and dry from use. His clean shaven face was dirty and his eyes sunk into fleshy bags. Certainly, he was holding on by a thread, only keeping himself awake by idly flicking a piece of metal on the 'Tommy' gun he was brandishing.
"Wait, where did you get that, James?" Luna interrupted her own observations.
"Ah right, forgot about that. Miller had asked to be issued a Thompson for this campaign, and since the Skipper had a few lying around in inventory all unissued, he was obliged. He was courteous enough to lend me it every so often during the nights, this being one of them, and we ended up sharing it throughout the campaign," he educated her like she was one of his students, "Very nice firearm if I say so."
Satisfied with his explanation, she turned her attention back to the sitting zombie before her as he fought himself to stay awake.
"I guess old habits die hard," she remarked to herself.
Just then, a shuffling of the coral rock caught the 'zombie's' attention. That sure woke him up!
He sprang up in his foxhole, sitting in a ready position as he scanned his surroundings for the disturbance. Only silence greeted him, the noise having gone dark swiftly.
Just as he was about to sink down into the hole again, thinking it was some bird, the shuffling happened again, this time a little louder.
Ok, that was definitely not a bird. The sound was too loud to be caused by any of the small birds that lived on this island.
In fact, the interval was an awful lot like that of the infiltrator who attacked him on Gloucester; shuffle, silence, shamble, silence.
It was another repeat from Gloucester. Any moment now the Jap was gonna sprint out of the brush with his saber raised ready to kill him.
He raised his Tommy towards the sound and issued the challenge.
"Password," he firmly spoke, not making the mistake of issuing the challenge silently again.
The Jap fell silent, but continued in a matter of moments.
"Password!" he began to put pressure on the trigger, ready to release a burst.
No answer. The noise was close enough now that the Jap definitely wasn't planning on throwing a grenade at him. He was going to use a knife, bayonet, or pistol. James shuddered at the thought of having to engage in hand-to-hand combat with a Jap infiltrator should he lose his gun.
Shuffle...
He was ready for him, applying more pressure on the trigger.
Sift...
A hair falling on his finger would be enough to set the SMG off. He held his breath, the tension and stress building up inside him like a gas without escape. This Jap was toast.
"Hey Doc, you got any water?"
James released all the tension built up in him by letting out a exhale, gasping for air as he lowered his gun and wiped his forehead. God, he almost shot one of his own Marines!
"Who is that?" James demanded furiously.
"Jim, it's me! Jenkins," The voice identified himself, the thin man finally coming into his view peeking his head into the foxhole.
"Jenkins, for Christ' sake, I almost shot you!" he choked out breathing heavily.
That got Jenkins' attention, his face going pale almost instantly.
"Shoot Jim, I uh... I thought you knew it was me," Jenkins meekly coughed.
"Knew it was you? How the hell am I supposed to know it was you when you didn't answer my challenge?" his anger was replacing his fear and realization.
The lanky man didn't answer, looking off to the side in clear embarrassment.
Luna watched in awe as James chewed out one of his closest friends with the vulgarity only a seasoned sailor could muster.
"Well that was certainly something," Luna remarked stunned by what she just witnessed.
"Indeed it was," James replied, "God that would've been horrible."
"What?"
"If I actually shot him. Now that I'm thinking about it, I just, man I would have been mortified," James shook his head, "No one would have blamed me. I wouldn't have gotten in trouble. Jenkins clearly was out of his foxhole at night and he didn't IMMEDIATELY respond to my challenge. But the thought of having killed one of my closest friends during the war due to a misunderstanding," he shuddered, "I would never forget it."
Never forget it; Luna supposed that was understating the thought, but stayed silent, letting the man talk his woes out.
"C'mon, let's keep going. We got a long way ahead of us and we don't have much time. Shall we?"
Soon, they were off once more back to that accursed island. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.13: Brutalized | Heat.
A piece of shrapnel thumped a tree trunk next to him, precisely where his head was a split second earlier. Another Jap round blew up beside him, the hot wind from the shell hitting his cheek with a warm POOF, the shrapnel probably smacking into another poor sod who would need his help. The near miss would have frightened him more if it wasn't for-
"AHHH DOC HELP ME!"
Well, that.
Poor kid ate metal right to the face from the artillery round. Several jagged solid pieces were settled into his cheek and unfortunately, his eye. The flesh was mangled beyond James' own ability to repair it, the white of the kid's eyeball now painted crimson red with his own blood. His face was definitely scarred for life.
Kid...
Too many of them lay dead behind him as they pushed south, slain by their enemy's sword. This one must have been no older than 17, probably didn't even graduate high school. His boyish features still showed, his cheeks youthful and his jawline still undeveloped. His legs, kicking up coral under him, were skinny and gangly, not fully grown in with the rest of his body yet. His arms were much the same, skinny and thrashing wildly as James worked to treat the injuries.
"Doc, am I ever gonna see again?" the 'boy' cried, looking James right in the eye with his good one.
"Oh sure you will, but don't move your eyes anymore! You'll make it worse!," he tried to comfort him with a gentle voice, well, as gentle as you can in a warzone, and grabbed his arms and dragged him to better cover near their line. James strained himself over his patient, trying to shield him with his own body as best he could while he hauled him by his armpits. Finally coming to a dip in the terrain, James all but flopped down to the deck and diligently continued his work on his patient.
The mortar barrage was finally coming to an end, the last of the shells hitting a palm tree with a loud BANG!. The wood shattered, bits of the cream colored matter slamming into the terrain with mighty THUNKS.
Breathing a sigh of relief, "Private, get the stretcher team up here!" James barked the order to a enlisted man taking cover underneath a fallen tree trunk. Dutifully, the private cradled his rifle in his arms and crawled off to grab the team.
Why did he ever sign up to do this job? He could've gotten a cushy supply ship station or navigated for an aircraft carrier. But no, instead, he signed up to tell Private Snuffy here that he essentially was never going to see out of two eyes again.
"God, basic never could've prepared me for this..."
"Alright, Private, we're gonna get you to Doc Hallsey at Battalion. He'll fix you up right as rain. So just hang in there," he consoled, keeping pressure on his external bleeds.
"But," he strained to speak, his breathing getting faster as shock began to set in, which James began immediately treating for, "What if- What if Doc Hallsey can't fix my eye? What will I do?"
"Well, look on the bright side. You'll look like a badass back home with an eyepatch on," he joked, wrapping a bandage nice and snug around his other injuries, "The chicks'll love you!"
"Heh," the private weakly chuckled, "If you say so Doc. Least I'm getting out of here."
His mood seemed to improve after remembering that fact, a small smile weakly making its way onto his dirty, coral dusted face. The war was over for him and he would surely be heading back to the States.
Hearing shuffling behind him, James turned to see the stretcher team had arrived, the four of them carrying their rifles in their rights hands while handling the stretcher with their left.
"I heard you called," the smiling face of Howard greeted James as he laid the stretcher down.
"That I did. Help me load him in," James gestured to his patient.
The three other men followed suit, two of them grabbing the patient with Howard and James and the other keeping a lookout with his rifle at the ready. The four of them worked quickly, not wanting to be caught in another barrage or in an ambush, to secure the private to the stretcher. Finally getting him up on the fabric, James stood up a little in a low crouch, the others joining him in a similar position.
"Alright let's get him back to-" James bent down a little to grasp the handle
BANG!
The stretcher bearer behind him fell to the ground dead instantly, his head spraying blood all over James' helmet and face as he did. He sputtered and spat the blood out in shock, flinging himself into cover.
"SNIPER!" Howard yelled, taking cover as well.
"That was definitely aimed for me." If he had moved his head just a split second later, his head would have been 'split' all over the deck.
The sniper must have been seen him treating the private and knew he'd call for a stretcher team, deciding to bide his time before he struck. He had just brought more Marines to this damn Nip's kill box.
"Does anybody see him?" one stretcher bearer yelled, scrunching himself down on the deck as much as he could.
"No! I don't know where that came from!" Howard replied.
"Keep him bottled up while I get help!" one stretcher bearer began crawling away through a thick patch of bushes. Howard fired off a few rounds randomly to cover his retreat.
James realized in their mad dash for cover that the patient was still laying out in the open by the small dip, easily exposed to the Jap sniper. Quickly, he eyed up the trees and then his patient in a second, trying to find a way to get him out of the line of fire.
"Hoooh, you can do this Jim," he psyched himself up, getting ready to make a mad sprint for his Marine. "Let's-
The Jap fired again, this time striking the immobilized man in the stretcher straight in the forehead. He slumped instantly, all his muscles relaxed at once, and he fell over dead, his face expressionless.
"No..." James' heart broke internally for the boy's mother.
"Goddamnit, you Jap son of a bitch!" Howard yelled, squeezing off a few rounds and expending his clip with a loud PING!
The sniper fired again, missing Howard by a hair. He could hear the frustrated chattering from the Jap as he fumbled with his rifle's bolt.
It was now a race against each other, Howard scrambling to load his M1, while James heard the desperate babbling of the Jap somewhere trying to bolt his rifle. He strained his ears trying to find which tree the Nip had tied himself to, pulling his .45 out to try and buy his friend some time.
The sniper was quicker as he squeezed off a round, the Arisaka sounding off with a loud BANG!, and struck Howard right in his arm.
"Howard! Howard you ok?" James frantically screamed.
"URHHH! Yeah I'm fine, but, GOD this hurts!" he grit his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut, clutching the wound as he scrunched himself into the tree further to make his profile as small as he could.
ROOOOOAR - The sound of an engine assaulted their ears, rising above the frantic maelstrom of gunshots and muffled cries of pain from Howard. James tore his gaze from his comrade, and they were greeted by one of the greatest things they could have seen in that moment.
The Jap couldn't have picked a worse time to fire, because the stretcher bearer had come back. And this time,
He brought a tank with him.
Riding on the back of the Sherman, he had seen the Jap's muzzle flash just in time. He yelled to the tank commander, who had peeked his head out slightly from his cupola with his radio in hand, pointed the sniper out with his finger like an accusing lawyer, and took cover behind the turret. A metallic WHIIIR hit their ears as the 75mm cannon turned its muzzle towards its target. The coaxial MG ripped through the tree, kicking palm leaves into the air with reckless abandon.
WAM BAM! The gunner fired the piece into the tree, sending shrapnel flying all over the place in front of them and pieces of the bark smashed into James' cheek.
With a low whine, much like a death rattle, the thick, tall tree came tumbling down, hitting the deck with a mighty crash at the end. Laying beneath the thick trunk, now sprawled out prone, was the corpse of the Japanese sniper, his innards and stomach 'juiced' out on the sandy coral rock beside him. On his shoulders, he bore a full, thick set of branches and palm leaves, worn like a lion's mane to camouflage himself. His Arisaka rifle was nowhere to be found on his person. The concussive blast of the tank shell likely blew it off of his arm along with the rest of his hand, if the bloody stump where his right hand used to be indicated anything.
The job complete, the stretcher man tapped the top of the commander's hatch in a sign of thanks and hopped off the back of the tank. Coming out of cover and checking that the coast was clear, James rushed over to Howard, already ripping open a pack of Sulfa powder to throw on the wound.
"How you feelin' Howard?" James asked as he poured the powder onto the wound.
"Just peachy Jim. Just peachy," he slumped down against the tree trunk and whipped out his whiskey ration, taking a sip and holding his arm out to Doc.
"Next time you want to be target practice for Jap snipers, at least make it somewhat difficult for him to hit you, you fat lard!" James quipped, wrapping a bandage around his arm.
"Yeah, well I'll keep that in mind next time," he stowed his whiskey in his pocket, his eyes wandering over to the dead frame of the replacement laying in the stretcher, "Did you know him?"
James didn't have to look to know who he was talking about, "No, only been three days of the campaign. He was a replacement after all."
"San Anton," Howard muttered, wincing as James hit a painful spot, "He barely looked like he could shave."
James replied with nothing, focusing on his work.
"Hate seeing 'em get killed, ya know?" he continued, now sipping his canteen of oily water, "They're so wide-eyed, so awed, so frightened, so... innocent. It's like putting your childhood dog down."
Again, James didn't respond, just nodding his head, and put the final touches on his treatment on Howard's arm, sitting down along side him and propping up his knee.
His eyes wandered over to the dead sniper, who was now being gleefully looted of possessions by two of the stretcher bearers, the other checking the body of their fallen comrade.
"How come they don't just surrender," James growled, his brows furrowing down in a scowl, "They got nowhere to run on this damn rock. No reinforcements, no supply, no hope. But they kill us anyway. Why?"
Howard was silent for a moment, pulling a Raleigh out from its pack and lighting it up, "Cause they're Japs."
Brief in its life, but meaningful in its content, the answer given was the only explanation James could come up with for their enemy's stubborn refusal to give up.
He eyed the dead replacement's body, "Just... fuck the Nips."
Howard eyes raised a brow at his friend's uncommon use of strong language, but nodded in agreement, "Here, here."
"Smoke?" Howard offered his cigarette to his foxhole buddy.
The corpsman shakily took the sizzling cigarette and brought it to his mouth, exhaling the smoke into the air with a long sigh.
Off in the distance, James and Luna observed the pair of friends as they quietly exchanged the smoke between each other in a respectful silence. James had elected to lean himself against a jungle tree, folding his arms and putting his weight on his left shoulder. Luna stood next to him with an expressionless face, an almost indifferent look that threatened to overtake her.
It was strange. For once in her time experiencing James' memories, Luna felt nothing. Well, no. That wasn't quite describing it. She felt horrible and quite sad that this young, wounded replacement had been so cold-heartedly shot by the sniper. And she certainly felt anger, though less intense as James, that all this needless violence, death, and suffering were just... allowed to keep happening by whatever higher power governed this world.
No, this new feeling was apathy, a desensitization to what she saw, a lack of empathy for the Japanese.
Just a few weeks ago, she would have hurled, scoffed, and wept at what she was looking at, much like the first combat back on Gloucester. She had felt at least a modicum of empathy for the Japanese soldiers who threw themselves at the Marines' line. Perhaps it was her ignorance of who they were and their character.
She looked at the now steaming corpse roasting in the 100 degree heat and felt nothing for him.
"I think I understand now," she muttered to the man next to her. He turned his head to her inquisitively, cocking his brow.
"Understand what?" the question came out with a great deal of curiosity.
"I think I understand now why you've hated your enemy so much," she didn't look away from the corpse, but remained trained on it.
James eyed her with concern and a little trepidation, "How do you feel?"
How did she feel? That was certainly the question of the day.
"I feel," she paused, trying to properly think of the right words to express herself, "Just apathetic. Fatalistic I guess?"
He gave no response at first, but continued, "You wanna talk about it?"
She sat down underneath a tree and leaned against the trunk, James following in her example, "I just... don't understand why these soldiers continue to fight you. Why they are so brutal and almost remorseless in their actions. Just, why'd this happen?"
"That's an excellent question for which I do not know the answer. Hell if I know the politics and reasons why they attacked us. I was just a simple corn and dairy farm boy from Kentucky," he coughed, "But the sentiment you have was shared by every man who fought on this god-forsaken piece of rock. Because of the Japanese's brutality and ruthlessness, there was little compassion for our enemy. And I guess, you understand that feeling now."
"I suppose I do," she grunted.
"Do you want to keep going tonight? If this is too much, we can stop," he asked with concern.
"No, I think I'll be fine," she wasn't exactly sure, but in wanting to continue helping her friend, she would press on.
James shrugged his shoulders, "Okay then. If you say so."
"The 7th Marines were tasked with pushing south down the island and securing it before moving north with the rest of the division. I suppose it's quite convenient that you mentioned your growing distaste for the Japanese because this feeling began to affect the men of my platoon in more ways than you'd think. The effects of prolonged combat, constant terror, and lack of sleep culminated into the love of many Marines growing cold, especially in when it came to the treatment of our enemy."
BOOM! WAM BAM! BANG BANG BANG!
The distant maelstrom of artillery, explosions, gunshots, and plane engines roared on like a raging forge fire behind them. Up on the high, jagged hills of Bloody Nose Ridge, the column of the marching B company could see the creators of those sounds bashing into the earth, the distance making the shell explosions look no more harmful than a puff of smoke. The fighting looked desperate and brutal, dragging on with a ferocity that no man envied dealing with.
"Boy do I ever feel sorry for the 1st Marines," one young Gloucester veteran sighed with his head turned back watching the fight.
"You said it. Those old salts are catching hell up there," a mortarman added, giving a nod of sympathy to the unfortunate Marines.
"Won't be long before Rupertus throws us into the fray up there too," a new voice added.
"God I hope you're wrong, Flume," James groaned, tripping over a unruly little rock, but caught himself.
Luna eyed the new man up with an analytical gaze. It was rare that James addressed many Marines by their names unless he knew them somewhat well.
Deacon Flume, as odd of a name he had, was much different in comparison to the other stinking, sweaty Marines walking in the column. For one, he carried three massive metal tanks on his back that he looked to be struggling with as they marched onward. It jostled, banged, and dragged him down with every step he took. Discrete, individual pipes and nozzles jutted out from the top of the tank and around to a peculiar tube-shaped gun in his hands.
The man himself was peculiar in appearance as well, which stuck out like a sore thumb. He was a stocky man of Flemish descent, built with more muscle and brawn than many of his other leaner, skinnier counterparts. He was tall, much like James' height, and towered over the other Marines. Messy brown hair spilled out of the helmet of the broad shouldered man's head with a brown 'five-o-clock' shadow hugging his round jaw. His clothes were an absolute mess with sweat stains, dirt, coral dust, and gel stains dotting the army green boondocker fatigues. But this condition was common among all the Marines marching. Being filthy came with being in a combat zone after all. On his helmet, he had pulled the brown, sandstone camouflaged canvas cover down from the webbing over his neck to protect it from sunburn. Sweat poured down the sides of the cover like rain, dripping into the fabric and evaporating almost immediately in the sun.
On his face, he had a sort of 'war-paint' but instead of paint, it was a gel, which James explained was a flame-resistant gel that protected his face.
"Why would he need such a thing?" she asked.
"Well, he's carrying a flamethrower. You know, might get hot," James snarked.
"A flamethrower?" The man had mentioned it before, but she hadn't actually seen one in front of her, "Why would you need such a, barbaric weapon?"
He gestured forward with his hand, beginning to march along with the Marines, "You'll see," he brought his finger up in front of his mouth, signaling her to be silent.
"Least we're off the front for now and doing bypass duty. So much for '4 days of hard fighting'," Flume made a goofy, mocking impression of their commander.
"Straight dope. If we're lucky, maybe they already killed themselves and we'll have light duty," one of the rifleman hooted, knowing this would not be the case.
"Knock it out you two, we're getting close," the sergeant in command of the patrol hissed at the Marines. All talking ceased as they got down to a crouch, inching their ways closer and closer to their objective.
Finally, the pillbox came into view. Built into a hill only about 15 feet up, the opening of the box was finally spotted, the rifleman from earlier pointing at it and picking it out. It was so well-camouflaged that Luna surely would've walked right by it if she was in their shoes. The Japs had done their very best to hide the silhouette. Tree branches, leaves, and grass hugged the outside concrete around the opening which blended perfectly with the environment. The branches hung down over the mouth of the pillbox that obscured it and the concrete was painted a dull green that was similar to the foliage.
"You think they've seen us?" a private asked.
"I'm sure they'd've shot at us by now," his corporal responded back.
"Maybe they've abandoned it?" he reasoned.
"Shh, you two. Alright, we're sneaking around the sides slowly, stay out of the kill box. Flume if they start opening up, I might need you to blast the opening and get 'em out of their hidey-hole. The rest of you, on me and stay quiet!" the sergeant briefed his men and they quickly began to carry out the order.
Slowly and steadily, the Marines crept their ways towards the enemy. Each trained a close eye on the thin, long strip of black, just waiting to bolt if a machine gun started blasting them. Thankfully, nothing had happened yet, so they kept right on going.
The men were tense, as one should expect since the Japs could open fire at any moment. A bead of sweat ran down the side of the sergeant's face. If it was from fear or the heat, Luna couldn't tell.
They were close to the fortification now, a brisk run's length away. Some stopped briefly to check on their comrades behind them.
RATTA RATTA RAT RAT RATTA
And there it was. A Jap machine gun ripped into a few poor souls still on the edge of the kill box and cut them down, dead almost instantly. The rest of the unit made a mad scramble to the top of the box and threw themselves on the deck, now laying atop the grassy, leaf covered top of the concrete.
In their haste, however, most of the men did not immediately see the rush of Japanese soldiers charging out of their emplacement with their bayonets affixed. One unfortunate young Marine was among them, taking cover just outside the sunken path that led to the entrance. The Jap was quicker than he and before he could raise his rifle in defense, the soldier had gored him in the abdomen, the blade sticking out the back and covered in his blood.
James, the one next to her, had closed his eyes and turned away from the spectacle, grimacing while he did.
He quickly dispatched the ambusher with a shot from his .45, while the rest of the group swiftly shot down the other ambushers. Rushing over to him, he whipped out his dressings and rendered aid to the soul.
Blood was spattering and swiftly leaving the kid's body, collecting near the floor underneath his back.
"Crap it probably hit his kidney," he hissed to himself.
The Nip was oh so gracious enough to pull his bayonet out before falling to the ground dead, cutting the private up even more.
"Damn Nip..."
James struggled, wrestled, and fought with the bleed, applying apt pressure, hemostatic bandaging, anything he could, but it was all for naught. The kid was visibly pale, rapidly losing blood, and before long, fell over dead. He cursed to himself, closed the deceased' eyes, and moved on, deeming to return to the body after combat. He took cover behind the concrete and assessed the situation as best he could from his vantage point.
A rifleman sat just beside the machine gun opening and was tossing in grenades like T-Shirts at a ballgame. They went off with muffled BANGs and loud screams from the Japs, who responded in tow with suppressing fire and grenades of their own. Most missed their targets, the grenades rolling down the hill or getting kicked away by attentive Marines. Flume was spotted slowly creeping his way towards the opening and getting into his position.
Before long, he was ready. Signaling to his buddy, his assistant turned a hexagonal knob on the top of the tank. A pipe pressurized itself, jumping from the influx of liquid running through it.
He depressed the trigger and with a loud wwoooOOOOOSSH, fire SHOT out of the nozzle and flooded into the compartment. For a brief moment before it was engulfed in flames, Luna was able to glimpse the wide-eyed stares of shock, fear, and terror on the Japanese soldier's faces.
Flume was liberal on the trigger, deeming to just let it fly off the handle and use the concrete to manage the little recoil. The flames jutted out of the box and the room filled with a charcoal, black smoke which now leaked through any oriface it could find. The smell of burning liquids, gas, napalm, whatever it was, filled her nostrils as she took in the horrid sight.
But the worst of it was the screams.
The Japs screeched bloody murder as fire clung to their clothes like a strong glue. They spewed out the entrance brushing at their clothes, legs, arms, anywhere that was enflamed. Some threw themselves to the ground and tried to roll around to put themselves out. They chattered and wailed in their native tongue. Some gasped for air, the flames striping the oxygen out of the air around them. Other's grenades went off from the heat, their torsos exploding into a reddish pile of meaty mashed potatoes.
All these were swiftly cut down, the barrels of their weapons hot with the heat of the rounds.
"Cease fire on the line!" the sergeant gave the order. All fire stopped immediately.
"Is that all of 'em?" a corporal asked.
"You four, clear the room, the rest of you keep an eye out and make sure each Jap is dead," the sergeant gave his orders.
Soon, the four of them crept into the pillbox, James hanging out near the door out of sight in case any straggling Japs set an ambush.
But, he heard no gunshots, only ones coming from outside from his comrades shooting the bodies.
"All clear!" came the call from the PFC. Since no one was immediately hurt, James decided to have a look inside the pesky pillbox.
Stepping over through the metal door, the odor of burnt, rotting flesh nearly choked his nostrils, coughing at the sudden surprise of terrible smells. His eyes watered and he brought his elbow up to stifle his coughs. Taking a moment to regain his composure, he finally took in the environment around him.
The pill box had been separated into two compartments, one with the machine gun nest, and the other where the men relaxed, rested, and kept their supplies. Charred black residue clung to the sides of the walls, the leftovers of Flume's flames most likely. The bodies of the unfortunate Japs lay on the floor with their remnants absolutely scorched. Grimaces of pain and agony were painted across their faces, their final moments of terror a monument for all to see. They looked mangled, grotesque, inhuman, pathetic, not the pride of the Emperor's army.
Most of the squad were 'liberating' some loot off the corpses and seeing that no one was in immediate danger, James decided to join in.
He spotted a spiffy, charcoal Jap officer's uniform and went to work. A few pictures of family, which he returned to their pockets, a folded Jap flag, and a Nambu pistol, he had struck the jackpot on this corpse! Grinning a unsettling smile, he stowed his booty into his bags, unloading the officer's pistol and saving the ammo to prevent a negligent discharge.
Moving onto the next carcass, he recommenced the process once more of fumbling around in the cadaver's pockets. But as he did, he spotted movement as a private from the clearing detail walked back into the back compartment. Something on one of the dead seemed to catch his eye and walking over to what he had seen, he bent down to get a closer look.
Rising from his spot, James watched the Marine afar off, interested to see just what had grabbed his attention. Bending down to rest on his heels, the Marine pulled out his KABAR knife and prodded the man's mouth open.
Reaching in with the tip of his KABAR, he began prodding and thrusting into the Jap's teeth to claim his prize, or, prizes, a pristine set of gold teeth. This was a common practice among Marines, one which James found revolting.
However, unlike most cases when gold extraction took place, the Jap was still alive.
He couldn't move very well due to what was likely partial and total paralysis in some parts of his body. His legs kicked behind him and he thrashed his mouth weakly. He fought, spat, and kicked, trying to get away from his torturer. His arms, strangely, were completely still, giving James further evidence of his paralysis.
The Marine private, however, merely looked annoyed by his enemy's actions, planting his hand firmly down on his forehead in an attempt to hold him still.
James couldn't believe what he was seeing, "Shoot that man! Put him out of his misery!"
"Shove off Doc, I'm just collecting some gold," the man nonchalantly muttered back.
"Private, you shoot that man now! This is cruel!" he shouted.
The private merely grunted harder in annoyance. James heard some shuffling to his right and before long heard a gunshot. His corporal had joined the two and had put a bullet in the Jap's head, ending his life swiftly.
"Private, next time Doc tells you to do something, you do it immediately! You understand?" the corporal yelled at his subordinate with a great deal of frustration.
"Yes corporal," he heard a response back.
The memory faded with the three of them returning to looting the dead, a shocked look still emblazoned on James.
"What would compel that man to do such a thing?" the apathy Luna had once been feeling had been banished, replaced with pure surprise and shock.
"I don't know," James shrugged.
"Just... goddess," she muttered.
James breathed a long sigh, "I know. It's unfortunate, but war makes men mad."
He folded his hands behind his back and stood stoically, "I suppose he had become so fatalistic, he just didn't care anymore. Peleliu, in many ways, was worse than my other fights because it dehumanized us the most. Time lost all meaning. Life had no meaning. Our civilized practices were eroded away and made savages of us all. Err, well most of us. We existed in an environment that was totally incomprehensible; a world of horror from which freedom seemed less likely day by day." He shook his head, "I know much of our change in behavior might seem sudden to you. I've glossed over a huge portion of our day to day lives to keep this short. But Peleliu, and just being on it, brutalized us to the point of not recognizing what was acceptable and unacceptable. The constant fear, loss of friends, shelling, it barbarized us just as much as it did the Japs, and it made many of us forget certain moral limits to a fighter's actions in a war."
Luna was silent, still shocked at what she had seen, but soon spoke, "I can't comprehend why. Just why? Most every conflict between nations I've faced as a princess has been able to be solved without a war. Why did these things have to happen?"
He said nothing, instead breathing out another long sigh, "That is something I ask of myself, and more importantly God, many a nightly basis. Why?"
"Why indeed Miss Luna?" |
Put it to Rest | Ch.14: Reunion | "It wasn't long until we had our own turn to throw ourselves at Bloody Nose Ridge. After securing the south part of the horseshoe island, we rested for a few days before receiving orders to relieve the 1st Marines and press the fight on," James narrated, folding his hands behind his back and generating the memory.
Peleliu's dull, sandstone colors always displeased Luna's eyes, which she supposed was good since it reflected the misery and suffering that happened on a day-to-day basis. Still, it left a bitter taste in her mouth as she was greeted by the melancholic coral once more.
Rising high above the two of them lay the ridge, or really 'ridges', in question. And clearly, it had seen better days. Jutting out, the three peaks hosted steep drop-offs, the rock in said drop-off bleached from the constant sun exposure. Between the three ridges lay a small "valley", more of a large circle of land, just below the peaks with three small, inclined ramps of land separating the ridges from each other. In a way, Luna reckoned they looked like giant fingers, like a thumb, index, and middle finger had reached out of the earth to grab at something, the land falling out between the fingers as they did.
What was left of the foliage, trees, and shrubbery was burned to charcoal, crackled, and mangled in the most gruesome of ways. A plume of steady, caustic smoke and ash rose into the sky, blocking out the sun only partially and giving the Marines some MUCH needed reprieve from the heat, if only a little bit. But alas, what heat they missed from the sun, the fires burning brightly in the valley repaid them tenfold. She could feel the fierceness of the blaze on her fur, her ears falling back on instinct to protect themselves. In the distance, her ears picked up the intensity with which the fire devoured the trees, the plentiful, dry leaves providing ample fuel for the raging inferno to spread. As for the flames themselves, the size and magnitude of the column was a sight to behold. They were easily as tall as her tower at the palace, reaching high enough to pluck any pegasus out of the sky that would dare to approach it. The blaze had forked itself into two now, spreading to opposite sides as it continued to destroy everything in its path.
In short, the fire was catastrophic and she was sure that if such a grand flame had broken out in Canterlot, no firefighter would ever be able to put it out.
While she was gazing at the sight, a US plane bounded towards Bloody Nose Ridge with incredible speed before dropping a large metal canister, its payload, off from its wing into the far side of the valley. It exploded and burst into flames with a loud KEERROOOW, starting a fire at a untouched section of trees. The plane, as quickly as it arrived, speedily made its return to its carrier, making an abrupt 180 degree bank. She watched it go, spotting the carrier group lazily floating in the water like distant giants. Compared to what lay ahead, the Navy ships looked quite peaceful, such a strict contrast to the hellish conditions they were heading into.
On a more 'nearby' level, she and James were once again standing amongst the men of the 7th Marines, trudging their way up the slim incline towards the mammoth ridges. Most walked with a exhausted, limp gait, as if lifting their feet was a Herculean task itself. They were dirty, stinking, and rotten, smelling of feces and sweat. The Devil Dogs had stubbles on their chins, dirt smeared on their cheeks, grease and oil stains on their jackets, and muddy field shoes.
Their eyes showed only dejection, despondency, and fatigue with such ferocity that she could not describe it. It was like watching a convict walk to their own execution.
That was more close to the truth than she realized at the moment.
The men walking down the slope parallel to them were in even worse dire straits. Their sanitation was just as bad, if not worse than the 7th Marines. Dirt, grime, and most gruesomely blood clung to them like a forest tick. Men had head bandages on, some were missing legs and were limping or being carried down, some had their arms immobilized in a sling. It was a rarity to find a man who wasn't injured, maimed, wounded, or suffering from some affliction as she passed by them.
Grimly, she also noticed their number was cut significantly short for what a company size should be.
The company commander for this section was approaching up ahead, rendering nods and salutes back to each of the enlisted men who saluted him.
He nodded towards Mad Dog, who was a man ahead of Luna and James, "You're up Glenn. Give 'em hell."
"Will do, Reeves," the Captain nodded respectfully back and continued stomping along towards the inferno.
One private of James' company waved towards another enlisted man in the opposite column, "Hey ya got any ammo? Food? Smokes?"
"Yeah, sure. You're gonna need it," he shirked off his bandolier of M1 ammo, handing it off to the private, and rustled through his pack for his remaining K rations.
Seeing the trade prompted the other Marines to start handing off their unneeded supplies to their replacements. Units of fire, weapons, ammunition, water, rations, smokes, anything that could be useful was handed off to the fresh meat heading into the grinder. Marines exchanged hellos, greeted buddies from different units, and talked as much as they could while the column was moving.
"Excuse me Corporal, where's your platoon's corpsman?" James stepped out of line to grab the corporal's attention.
"Doc's dead," the corporal muttered with a gloomy melancholy.
"Well, were you able to recover his supplies?" James asked, a little frustrated.
"Don't know honestly," he responded with a Midwestern accent, "Try checking with Doc Trelvey. He should be coming up the way soon." With that said, the corporal stepped back into line, getting into step while lighting up a Raleigh.
Yelling a 'thank you' down the line to the corporal, James picked up the step in his column again. But soon, an annoying detail hit him as he marched up the incline. He had no real way of identifying this 'Doc Trelvey' from the rest of the Marines, failing to ask the corporal any distinguishing features. After all, most corpsman had quickly ditched any Red Cross uniforms, insignia, or any other identifying attributes that could make them a target out on the battlefield. He cursed at himself for his blunder.
To try and make up for his mistake, he began scanning the faces passing by him for some sort of clue. Most didn't care that he was basically staring at them as the Marines passed by with an apathy that could rival a teenage girl's.
Eventually, after a few seconds of trying, he spotted a stretcher team that was carrying a casualty down, a man hovering over him like a hawk studying its prey. He had a hunch that he might be the man he was looking.
"Hey you Doc Trelvey?" he waved his hand to grab the man's attention.
"The one and only. What can I do for you?" he was old, well, old compared to the majority of the Marines he treated. He looked a crisp, mature 30 at least by Luna's guess. His voice crackled and sounded strained, likely from all the yelling he'd done.
"You got any morphine left? Had to use most 'a mine down on the last skirmishes. Oh, and splints if you can spare any," he petitioned the grizzled veteran.
"Jim?" a raspy, boyish voice called out to him from below, a voice he would know anywhere.
"Arles?"
Sure enough, lying in the stretcher was none other than his old childhood friend, who still looked as boyish and young as the day he left him for basic training. The short, skinny little man's hip was shot up something fierce, the bloody bandages around his waist and hip told him anything. It bent in a weird way, almost uncomfortably, and James couldn't tell if it was due to how he was laid in the stretcher or from a combat injury. He was as dirty as the rest of the raggedy Marines, but he had more than his fair share of scratches, bruises, and other minor injuries.
A far cry from the smiling, toothy character he had grown up flying kites and shooting marbles with.
"Arles! How ya been?" he motioned to the stretcher bearers with his hand, "Why don't you guys take five."
The bearers shrugged and laid their casualty down, "Alright, but be quick. We need to stay with our unit."
The four of them stepped aside with their rifles at the ready, lying down against some sizeable rocks, and began to take a smoke break.
Turning back to his friend, he checked for any signs of danger, which there were none immediately by them, and smiled, "It's good to see you old friend."
Arles shuffled in the stretcher, wincing painfully as he did, "Yeah, you too. How's the war treating you, 'Doc'," he laced some mirth into the title, chuckling.
"A hell of a lot better than it's treatin' you. What happened?" James demanded, looking over him like a frantic mother.
"Ah," Arles waved his hand dismissively, "Don't worry about me. Sniper nipped me on the hip. Mighta' chipped some of my bone off, ah think."
"Why aren't you screamin' bloody murder?" James jabbered back.
"Well, you see Jim, Doc's got this crazy thing called morphine. Ya might've heard of it," Arles giggled like a high teenager, devolving into a small fit.
"Screw you Arles, you shrimpy oaf," he would've shoved him in a friendly manner, but one probably shouldn't shove or jostle a wounded person unless needed.
Arles composed himself well enough, and smiled up a morphine-induced grin, "You're losin' your accent."
James hadn't noticed. He'd been so caught up in the duties, he simply hadn't paid attention to such meaningless things like an accent.
"Am I?" he spoke, shifting himself more comfortably.
"Yup, you been hanging around them city boys, ain't ya? James Milligan's too good for us country bumpkins and yokels now," Arles continued to smile as he joked with his friend.
"Ah you know that ain't true, Arles. Ah'll always be a country boy at heart. And who are you callin' a yokel?" James smiled back, letting off a happy sigh for once, before his mood dampened again, "How was it up there?"
"Gosh we caught hell up there," he shuddered, "Those slant-eyed chattering Nips just wouldn't die. They shelled us, bombed us, came at us at night. Worse than Guadalcanal."
He looked James in the eye, "They're dug in like ticks on a deer up there. They threw everything they had at us without a moment's rest and they ain't stoppin' yet. So you promise you'll be careful up there, Jim?
"Course I will," he gripped his bag tightly as he gave his promise, "I ain't exactly privy to losing my mortal coil just yet."
"How are you feeling?" James asked
Arles didn't speak at first, frowning and looking off to the side at the stretcher bearers who were starting to get up from their smoke break, "I'm just tired man," He dimly smiled again, "It's my third campaign. Ah don't think they'll try to send me back to the front again, not with this. Got the million-dollar wound. So, guess I'm going home."
"Yeah, guess you are," James nodded, "Will you write me?"
"'Course 'ah will. Wouldn't miss it for the world," Arles muttered.
James heard a shuffling of the rock behind him, "Catchup time is over gentlemen. Let's move out."
Nodding to the senior corpsman, James stood himself up on his feet, the stretcher bearers grasping the thin, pole handles of the carrier, and gazed down at Arles, "It was good to see you again, old friend."
"Likewise," Arles agreed. He weakly brought his arm up and grasped at the tie of his watch, fumbling and floundering with it from his morphine-induced faintness, "Here Jim, I want you to take my watch. Bring you some good luck when you're up on the ridge," he thrust out the watch towards James.
It was cheap, not at all something a rich man would wear. The leather was dim and faded from use, the loose hinges squeaked as it flopped about, and the clock bore scratch marks on the glass from shrapnel. But James looked as though he was being handed a $10,000 lottery ticket.
He humbly accepted the gift, grasping the watch gently out of the man's hand, and strapped it to his wrist with a loud squeak, "Thank you Arles."
The men started to move on, the corpsman hanging back to James' left, "Be well Jim. Make it home safe."
"Be well Arles," he waved weakly back to his friend who disappeared behind the mass of the two men carrying him down.
"Good kid he was. Hate to see him go in some way," Doc Trelvey chuckled to James, "Always had a joke on his lip and a story to tell. It's nice to meet the famous 'Jimmy', the accomplice to the thievery of that 'Merry Oldsmobile'."
"Hey we were just taking it for a joyride and we were gonna return it. Not my fault that the only person with a car in town just happened to leave it unlocked and just sitting outside," James laughed, "Anyway, you got my morphine and splints or not?"
"Sure, got some right here," Trelvey handed off the supplies quickly, James stuffing them into his pockets, pack, and gear just as quickly. Both were eager to rejoin their units, lest they get left behind.
"Good luck," Trelvey nodded.
"God bless," James waved, turning around and running up the column to catch up with his unit, disappearing into the hell that awaited him.
With that, the scene faded from view and put the two onlookers back in the cloud of black.
None said anything for a few seconds, but Luna finally broke the pause, "Do you still have that watch?"
James flinched, as if he had been broken from staring off into space, "Hmm?"
"The watch. The watch Arles gave you. Do you still have it?" she repeated the question.
"Yes," he huffed, "Yes I do. It's one of the things I was wearing when I appeared here, days before I met you. It is one of my most treasured possessions and a great reminder of home."
She shuffled her hooves against the non-existent floor, "Do you miss him?"
He was quiet, focusing intently on a spot in the void, "Yes, of course I do. I miss a lot of folk, Howard, Jenkins, Mom, Dad," he shook his head and sighed, "Missing them won't bring them here. Crying and whining about it won't change nothing, but, well, I'm still sad about it."
"As I'd expect of someone who lost everything they knew in a manner of seconds," she gave him a warm hug on his side, nestling her cheek affectionately into his arm. He responded with his own side hug, embracing her as best he could.
Breaking the hug, he chuckled half-heartedly, "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Luna smiled back and folded her arms, "So, where do we go from here?"
"Well, ah'm a little tired, so I think we'll just skip ahead a bit," he rubbed at his eyes a little and cleared his throat, "We fought for thirty days on Bloody Nose Ridge, thirty long, sleep-deprived, terrifying days and nights of constant fighting. Lost a lot of good men, most of our officers; we came down that ridge utterly decimated. 46% casualties, and I the only one to have not been wounded of the enlisted men. I think Mad Dog was the only remaining officer of the original bunch we entered Peleliu with. The going was tough, not only because we were under constant threat, but Howard was not with me for most of it. I missed him more than I was willing to admit up on that cursed piece of land. The only good day I had during that time was when his jovial raggedy-ass hopped into my foxhole like nothing had happened. Seems I've always gravitated towards the lighthearted type."
He chuckled for a few seconds before continuing, folding his hands behind his back stalwartly, "We were relieved off the line 15 October by the 5th Marines and awaited on the beach for a few days to board ship. And it was at that time I began to reflect on the things I had seen and heard."
Leaves blew in an errant, soft evening sea breeze as the ocean lapped at the sand a couple yards away from her. Dashing, vibrant colors danced in the sky as the sun cast itself closer and closer to the horizon. For once, Luna felt a coolness to the air, instead of a raging, blistering heat like she had grown accustomed to. It was such an abrupt contrast to the status quo that was not unwelcome. The air smelled of seawater, the taste of the warm saline sea flooding her nostrils instantly.
The beach was peaceful, almost like one of those pleasant beach resort ads in those magazines her sister peruses through.
A soft shuffling of cloth brought her eyes down to see James rocking quietly in a jungle hammock, the knots tied between two palm trees. He lay quietly in his rack, the mosquito netting tucked firmly into the cloth, writing in his makeshift journal, which by now had accumulated much of the wear and tear she had seen on it. Burn marks, scratches, rips, all kinds of blemishes graced the pages of the little book. But James didn't seem to care, passing over the marks with his fountain pen as if they weren't even there. His eyes were squinted in focus, diligently ordaining each stroke of his pen in just the right way. The elegant, cursive handwriting stuck out like a sore-thumb against the dirty, worn background it was being written upon.
A few feet away from him, Howard was dozing quietly in his own hammock, his eyes closed softly shut as he hummed a tune. His helmet lay squarely on his lean chest, rising and falling steadily with his breathing. His black hair was groomed, washed, and well-combed. His uniform was no longer filthy, a fresh clean one nestled comfortably on his person. HIs stubble had been shaved off and he looked well-rested.
What was most endearing to her was the small, content smile on his face as he reached his hand out and rocked his hammock back and forth.
James on the other hand looked much less peaceful than his friend. His face was scrunched up in a way that made him look angry, even though he likely wasn't. She heard tense scraping of the paper, his hand pressing the pen down more firmly into the paper.
For a moment though, he suddenly stopped his writing, dotting the period at the end of sentence, and stared off into the brush, intently deep in his own thoughts. His eyes were expressionless and his face was much more neutral than before. His thumb rested under his chin like a great Equestrian philosopher of old as he pondered some unknown thought.
Unsatisfied with his own thoughts, he turned towards his friend, "Howard?"
Howard's eyes remained closed, his tune coming to halt, "Yeah Jim?"
"Why'd we fight on Peleliu?"
He didn't answer at first, his mouth scrunching up in mild confusion, "Why do you ask?"
James closed his little makeshift journal, marking his page by leaving the pen in the spine, "Well, I was thinking. I just don't know why we spent all that time fighting on this rock. I mean, you heard it from the Captain, McArthur attacked the Phillipines a few days after we landed. We already got airfields that can strike Japan if those West Point lieutenants from supply are to be believed. So, I'm wondering why we bothered to capture Peleliu in the first place."
Howard didn't say anything, his own mind deep in thought just as James was a few moments before.
"Gosh, I-I don't really know," he finally answered, gazing over at James with a bewildered stare.
The two men were silent then. Neither needed to say anything more. James turned over in his hammock and gazed at the soft, fabric roof, while Howard watched the lapping sea with a uneasy weight in his gut.
Had their suffering truly been in vain? Did all the men who fought on this rock do so for nothing?
They knew the answer, and it stung worse than any Jap round that could hurt them.
And with those thoughts, James pulled them out, putting them back in the pleasant, peaceful evening of Equestria.
Luna's eyes crustily opened as the late, late dusk greeted her.
Late dusk?
Realizing how late she was, she scrambled off the deck down to the edge of the ridge overlook. Channeling her magic into her horn and reaching out to grasp the moon, she tugged it out from the horizon into its place. The final rays of sunlight were beaten away as the sun fell below the horizon.
Oh, Tia was going to have a field day over this. "So, was he good?", "Glad you've been practicing your horizontal tango with James!", "Does his carpet match his drapes?"
Ughh... they're not even good jokes. She thinks she's sooo funny.
James had calmly strolled off the deck and stood next to her, "You ok?"
She pressed down her skirt and straightened herself out, "I'm terribly sorry, James. I just realized I was incredibly late in my duty of raising the moon. You'll have to forgive me."
"Oh, it's alright. I shouldn't have kept you so long. If anything it was my fault," he gestured to himself.
"No worries," she rebutted, leaning up against the railing and enjoying the cool night breeze.
The two leaned against his railing and were content to enjoy the night for a few seconds, taking in the sounds of birds, insects, and the idleness of it all. But soon, Luna propped herself back up, "Well, I suppose I should be going James. The responsibilities of a leader waits for no one."
"I think they can make an exception for you. Wait here for a second," he said and walked up his porch and back into his home.
Luna smiled with intrigue. Did he buy something for her? Perhaps a gift or flowers?
He wasn't long, taking only a few seconds, and came back out, closing his door gently.
"Luna, we've been friends for awhile. You've helped me through so much these past weeks, so I want you to have this."
In his fingers was the little journal he had kept during the war, scratches and all.
She took it from his hands and gazed at the faded cover, "James you don't have to do this if you don't want to. I mean, this is your journal."
"I appreciate the sentiment. But I want you to read it. I've left so many things out. So many memories that are just, too painful to see again. Things that are best left written on paper and forgotten in the mind. But, also, I suppose this is an apology for being snappy with you today. You've only been trying to help and it was wrong of me to be rude to you. And don't lie. I know you've been at least mildly curious," he rubbed away some of the tiredness of his eyes and yawned, "Scuse me."
Caught red-handed. She had been very curious to what he had been writing in the book.
"Well," she paused, "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now if you don't mind, I think I'm going to try to get some sleep, if it'll come," he started up the stairs of his deck and looked back at her, "Be well, Luna."
"Be well, Jim," she snarked, giving him a wave off.
He laughed briefly, waved back, and closed the door behind him.
With that, she channeled her magic and was back in the castle in a flash, intrigued by what she might read. |
Put it to Rest | Journal Entry 1 | December 17, 1943
Oh the anticipation she felt, she almost couldn't bear to keep reading. But the neat cursive handwriting drew Luna in once more.
I've never been much of a writer or author like them city boys up in New England and such. Yet, here I am. Scribbling my rambling thoughts down in a Bible. Mama would be draggin' me by the ear to the church if she found out about it! Although, I'm sure God would cut me some slack if he knew my condition.
I don't want to forget what may lie ahead of me. Maybe, in some way, it will help me along the line to write my thoughts down, whether to remember or to use them to instruct the later generation. I'm not sure which.
Camp's been alight with activity and it's only been my first day! Met the other medics and they seem nice enough. Guy named Arthur Miller and I hit it off immediately, what with us being replacements and Southern boys. He is a somber fellow, very prone to anxiety. He seems to be the only one acknowledging the great endeavor that lays ahead of us coming in the next days, always worrying about this situation or that or 'what if this happens' and such. I kid him, tease him when he gets like that, but I don't tell that I feel the exact same way.
Doubts and anxiety crowd my mind, never resting no matter where I am. I don't know how to describe it well, but I'll try my best.
I am fearful, afraid, which I suppose is natural for any man. But, I am less afraid about being shot, killed, or wounded than I am afraid about letting my unit down. I've never experienced combat, being shot at, shelled, like Perconte. Will I do my duty? Will I perform when I'm called upon? Or will I chicken out like the yellow-bellied coward that I am? Will I become catatonic on the beach? Such thoughts plague me and I pray to the Lord that He gives me guidance and strength in the coming conflict.
Well, sounds like I'm needed for a detail. Bye for now.
December 25, 1943
Well, tonight's the night.
Tomorrow, at 0800, we shall assault the beach of Cape Gloucester. I shudder to think what we shall face on the way in.
Staring down the barrel of one's possible death certainly makes them introspective. I sit outside my tent, unable to sleep, feeling exactly that. It is strange to me, and I ponder whether or not the other men of my unit feel the same way tonight. I don't really think so, but maybe they are, who knows.
I have reflected upon my life up and am afraid. Not only due to the possible physical endeavor I'm about to face, but upon the prospect that I may leave this world without having made any sort of impact upon it. I want to make something out of my life; goals, ambitions, a family. I feel more worried about not having accomplished everything I've wanted to in life rather than the great possibility of death.
Listen to me. Whining because I didn't enough trophies or do enough in my life. Guess it must sound pretty stupid, huh?
Maybe I'm just trying to distract myself.
Men will be shot, maimed, killed, wounded, mangled, strangled, whatever other ways we might die that I'm forgetting, tomorrow. I feel utterly terrified right now. I can't sleep at all, and I think Miller is much the same, though he has not joined me out here. Terrified that I might be maimed for the rest of my life. Terrified that my buddies might die.
Terrified that I will seize up and not perform my duties.
Any moment now, I feel that the others will see through my disguise of silent stoic confidence and point me out for the coward that I am.
I have prayed the Lord's Prayer five times now, hoping He will give me the strength to do my duty, to not let down my unit, and to give me strength if my death does come.
Alright, might as well get some sleep. Here's hoping I'll still be alive to write again.
December 26, 1943
The Lord has allowed me to see another sunset and I thank Him for it.
We saw action today, my first engagement with the enemy. It was as bad as everyone said it would be, but I feel a great relief has washed over me now that I've survived the ordeal. I suppose it is the fear of the unknown that has left me, now that I know what to expect of a combat encounter. I feel scared, but my fear is not as debilitating as it was when we started onto the island this morning.
I am glad to have survived, but relief from my fear has brought new obstacles to light that I had been previously ignoring. For one, this miserable island! It's swampy, hot, wet, and stinks! I have to ask why the British even bothered to set foot on this island, much less want to occupy it! Same goes for the Japs.
The heat here is sweltering, but manageable. There's ample shade from the sun in the jungle, although I already dread the disease that will be rampant the longer we stay here. Here's hoping the Japs decide to just fall on their bayonets and we can leave! A man can dream I guess...
As for the combat, it was intense and utterly baffling to me. Japs came out of the trees and just charged straight at us! Threw themselves straight at our line! It has confused me to no end that such a modern military would commit to such primeval, outdated tactics, much less against machine guns! I almost admire the Nip soldier in a way. I know if Mad Dog had given such a command, it would've been met with staunch grumbling and court martials.
As you can expect, Journal, it went about as well for the Japs as you'd expect. We cut them down mercilessly, barely any making it up to our line. Had to treat a few causalities, most will live as far as I can tell, but the enemy made a few lethal hits on some of my guys. Travis is no doubt still devastated about Carver. The two of 'em went through boot camp and Guadalcanal together, nearly inseparable. Such a great young mind who wanted to alleviate suffering taken from the world too soon.
What a pity. What a waste.
I also was witness to one of the dirtiest tricks I've yet, and now understand the hatred that the Guadalcanal veterans have for the Japanese. We lost a private to a suicide attack by one of the "dead" Japanese soldiers. Poor kid picked the wrong body to loot. Nip was sitting on a grenade the whole time just waiting for some Marine to come by. I think Travis is still wiping the blood and guts from that private off the barrel of his machine gun. Ugh, it makes me sick just thinking about it.
I'm glad Perconte drilled into me to never help a fallen Jap. I now understand why he said it...
I hope Miller fares better than us. I haven't heard from him since we boarded our landing crafts. Hopefully, he is well.
Well, journal, looks like the smoking lamp's out. Guess I'll have to call it quits for tonight. Until tomorrow, if there is one for me. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.15: Tea | Goodness, it had been too long since she had force-marched herself up a mountain this far. She really needed to lay off her Daddy's burgers.
Marnie trudged up the gravely dirt incline that led up Canterlot mountain with a heavy breath. Her paws strained themselves against the path, kicking up dust and pebbles and messing her pristinely groomed hair with dirt.
But thankfully, this torturous march would be at its end soon, for her objective for walking this far in the first place came into view as she braved the last incline. Standing in front of her was the house of James, the strange human who she had met earlier in the year. The house itself was basic, common in its materials, but pleasant in its design, giving her a gentle, warm feeling about the place. The dark walnut wood contrasted nicely against the backdrop of the abrasive, coarse mountain rock and reminded her of home.
Something peculiar she noticed about his home was his unusual disregard for shaking the leaves of his trees around his property, as she would expect of an Equestrian during the mid-October fall. Why, as she was coming up here, every pony was busy about the city, running to and fro, shaking or bucking the leaves down and collecting them, all in their effort to prepare for autumn.
But not him. He seemed content to let his trees work at their own time, allowing the wind to lazily blow them off when they were ready. Marnie smiled at this. It was comforting to know that she wasn't the only one who didn't fit in around here, who didn't immediately assimilate the Equestrian's customs into their lives.
But she wasn't here to see the house. And the person she was here to find was sitting quietly in his rocking chair on his porch whittling away at a slab of wood.
He noticed her movement and stopped his whittling, "Well strap me up and call me a pinata. Marnie! It's good to see you again!" The lean gentleman stood up from his chair and walked down the steps to greet her properly.
"Hi James. It's good to see you again as well," she held out her talons to shake his hand which he gladly took, "I'm sorry it took so long for me to come see you. You know how business can be."
"Oh I'm sure of it. My invitation didn't come with an expiration date, ya know. Why, you could have shown up in a Uranium-238 half life and it still woulda been fine," he chuckled with an infectious smile.
Marnie gave him a confused smile and a raise of her eyebrow, "Uh, what is that?"
"What's what?"
"That 'Urineium' you were talking about," she clarified, still quite confuzzled.
"Um, you-, another time. Point is it's a really REALLY long time," he chuckled again and beckoned to the door, "Please, come on in. Get you out of the cold."
It wasn't very cold at all. In fact, she thought it was quite cozy outside, her fur providing ample insulation. But then again, he wasn't like her. He was quite furless, his white, pale skin easily seen with her incredibly good eyes. He wore a jacket around himself and his cheeks were rosy from the outdoors.
She stepped across the threshold into the foyer of the house and followed James to the kitchen.
Greeting her was a smooth, granite island countertop that lay in the middle of the room, laden with various books, papers, cookbooks, and other things of the academic sort. Each were stacked or laid out neatly in their own little section of the island, displaying an order to the chaos.
Surrounding the island was another granite countertop, this one holding dark brown, wooden cupboards and cabinets. The granite shone brightly in the light peaking in through the partially opened window, the polish work immaculately done.
"Please, have a seat. I'll put some tea on for us. What kind do you like?" James warmly asked.
"Um," she replied softly, "I've never tried tea before."
James stopped abruptly and turned his head around, giving her a confused look, "Wait, you've never had tea? Not even like, a cheap black tea? Not once?"
She shrugged, her feathers ruffling and scratching behind her, "I didn't have the opportunity to growing up."
The man resumed preparing the tea, picking out a blend for her to try out, "Well, where did you grow up?"
And there it was, the most loaded, baggage-laden question she'd been asked. Painful memories briefly, if only for a split-second, flashed before her eyes, her home burning, the worried, desperate look on her dad's face, HIS forces moving in.
James noticed her discomfort immediately and became concerned, "Hey, if you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to."
Marnie shook away the memories and raised her hand in apology, "Thank you, I appreciate it, but I'll tell you some of it."
She adjusted herself in her seat as James watched the near-boiling water in his pot, "You ever heard of the Griffon Empire?"
"In passing from Luna, but not much in detail. I only know that they aren't really around anymore," he stirred the pot with a wooden spoon, trying to occupy himself as he waited for it to boil more.
"She's right. I come from there, or, what's left of it. I lived in the plains a few miles away from Griffonstone, the capital. Daddy and I were cooks and farmers, growing wheat and barley on the side," she explained.
"What happened to you mom?" the water was at a clean boil, the plume of steam erupting up and condensing on the drywall ceiling.
"She left my dad when I was young. Didn't want to spend the rest of her days as a farmer. Told him she wanted to do something with her life and not be stuck as some common peasant. Well, I said good riddance. Didn't need her then, don't need her now," she huffed, her frustration and hurt shown clearly to James.
He decided to not push the subject, not wanting to open up old scars, "How was growing up with your dad?"
"Wonderful, he was a good griffon. Dad had a real kindness to him that just, oozed out of him wherever he went. Wasn't greedy like the city dwellers, wasn't a cheat, helped his neighbors, and showed great care for our animals. He set a great example for me, how a growing young hen should conduct herself," she smiled at the memory of her father.
He noticed that she was speaking in the past tense about her father, "What happened to him?"
"Civil war. Kithro the Merciless thought he could do better on the throne and challenged our Emperor. The war was long, hard, and brutal. It took my home... and my father from me," she paused at the end, allowing herself a moment before continuing, "I managed to escape from the Usurper's army, fleeing my home with only my clothes, my father's sword, a few photos, and whatever money I could scrounge before they got there. The war wasn't going well for the Empire, and I knew if I stayed, I'd likely end up raped and stabbed. So, I fled to Equestria, headed north along the coast and walked across the bridge. Soon enough, I came here and I've lived here ever since."
James was quiet, his eyes scanning her gently, "Damn, that's, that's terrible. And I guess, the Griffons never recovered?"
"No, last I heard, Griffonstone is in ruin and the flock are starving," she grasped onto her cup, softly steaming away its heat, and peered into the tea tepidly, "So this is tea? Doesn't look very quenching."
He shrugged, gently sitting down in his own chair with a piping hot cup of tea as well, "Well, I wouldn't say it's meant to quench thirst, more to be enjoyed. And besides, looks can be deceiving, as I'm sure you're well aware of."
She glanced at him again for but a second, catching his comment, before sipping from the warm cup in her hands, "It's a little bland," she quipped, but took another sip again, "But at the same time, pleasant."
James chuckled, stirring in a cube of sugar into his own tea and tapping the rim of the cup with his spoon, "I'm glad you like it. Though, I won't claim to be the best tea maker out there. I'm sure the Brits I worked with would be appalled that I served you such a cup. Celly has always been the tea master of this household, through and through."
"Nonsense, James. It's lovely," she took another sip and smiled warmly, "It's like a glass of whiskey on a cold winter's night."
"Interesting way of putting it," he smiled, drinking some of his tea. He set the cup down and folded his hands, "Do you think you'll ever go back?"
She sighed, a small frown replacing her pleasant grin, "I want to; I really do. I miss my people, my nation, my culture. I don't know if I belong with the ponies. They've made that much clear enough to me with the way they are around me. But, my country is in shambles. It isn't safe to go back, and I don't know if it will be again in my lifetime."
She chuckled, not in mirth but as if realizing something, "It's funny. I always looked down on ponies for their ways, their timid demeanors, and their constant, just, cutesy happiness to them. But now here I am, a refugee from a dying empire who fled to them for help. I suppose I'm just getting what I deserve."
"No one deserves to lose their home, livelihood, and their family. I doubt that your forced removal from your homeland was any sort of cosmic punishment. Bad things happen at random to people. It's just a fact of life, an unfortunate one at that," he sipped his tea stoically, shifting his seat over a little to better focus on his guest.
"And how would you know?" she asked.
"Oh, you could say I've been around the block a few times," he suggested, with a grandfatherly, wise smile.
She didn't really know how to feel about that, not to mention her curiosity of what James meant by his last sentence. But, she elected to let it be for now and switch the topic to a less painful one.
"So, you said you want to know where I get my product from?" queried Marnie, stretching out her talons underneath the table.
"In a way yes. I've been dying to get my hands on some cow and chicken, but no one sells them in Canterlot. Just ain't that kind of town I'm afraid," he shook his head.
"Couple 'o Griffin refugee sellers out West can get me some good cow stock, but the journey can be long. Don't head out there too often, so I've been hunting out in the Whitetail Woods. Packed to the brim with good venison and game and always turns up something since these Equestrian's don't hunt."
"Well, if you wouldn't mind, I'd love to accompany you on one of these trips the next time you go. It's hard to find any game up here aside from the billygoats and mountain rams. Can't say they look too appetizing," he chuckled, glancing out at the mountain rock just past his grassy backyard.
"Sure. I'm curious to see how you hunt, human. You don't look all that intimidating, no offense," she eyed up his lean, slim figure and lack of claws with a mild smugness.
"Oh, Marnie, the more you come to know me, you'll find that I'm just full of surprises," he countered.
A pleasant silence fell upon the two of them once more, neither one really knowing what to say at the moment.
"So, how are you with cooking fish?" James asked.
"Fillet, frying, boiling, grilling, searing, you name it, I can do it," she blazoned with confidence and pride in her skills.
A creaking of wood on wood flicked her ear as the man got up from his chair, adjusting his jacket around his chest, "Well, let's go fishing then. You down?"
She also got up, her own chair creaking much like his, "Course. What are we fishing for?"
"Should be some salmon still jumping upstream around this time of year, though we missed the best time to net 'em. I think most of them should be up by a little pond a bit up the mountain. Should be spawning right now, easy pickings," he handed her a metal bucket to hold their catch. He began to walk into another room, a storage room or something similar, and grabbed his fishing rods and baits.
Soon they found themselves starting up another path towards their mountain pond. James looked like he had no problem with the incline at all, whereas Marnie started to huff once more. Like an idiot, she remembered her wings, chastising herself silently for her blunder.
"So, Marnie, there's a holiday coming up, a human one, sometime after Nightmare NIght. One where a person of your skills is greatly appreciated. I wanted to know if you would want to help me out with it," he inquired of her.
She smiled slyly, "What did you have in mind?" |
Put it to Rest | Journal Entry 2 | January 3, 1944
Last two weeks sucked, that much is certain.
We caught hell up by Suicide Creek. Just happened to waltz right in front of a fortified Japanese pillbox. I can almost imagine the sneering, snickering smile that dirty Nip had when we walked over the hill in front of his machine gun. I'm sure he couldn't believe his luck!
Of course, we took fire. Couple rounds ripped right through a few Marines I forget the names of. Poor sods were dead pretty much on arrival, 'cept for the kid who took the round through his femur.
Lord, I still hear his screams at night. Keeps me up knowing the man's final moments were spent in pure, unrivaled agony. I wish I could've at least given him morphine before he went from blood loss. I was too slow, too far away.
Damn that slant-eyed Nip.
It feels like I've failed my comrades, which I know isn't true. You can't fix everyone, you can't be everywhere at once, as the Petty Officer would say. But I can't shake my feeling of failure from my stomach. Many a night has been spent bargaining with myself. Perhaps if I'd been here, or if I had my splint out already when I was crawling to him, maybe then he would've lived.
But, these thoughts won't bring the man back. My 'what-ifs' can't bring his mother's son back.
We lost Uler too. Just lost too much blood before I got there to get the tourniquet on. It only strengthened my feeling of uselessness and failure as I watched the light fade out of his eyes.
It is unsettling to look upon a freshly-made corpse. It has not ceased to cause me discomfort. The way their eyes glaze over, just lost in space. The way their mouths hang limply open. Their fingers relaxing themselves into that death curl. I suppose I might never become used to it. It just feels so, wrong.
I might never shake the sight of corpses out of my head for as long as I live. It's not a thought I cherish...
January 4, 1944
I killed a man today.
Nip was sneaking up on me, the little rat. Thought me and Howard were fast asleep, easy pickings for the Emperor's 'finest'.
It was so quick, so instant. I didn't even have to think.
He was dead before I even realized what happened. One minute I hear the shout of his babbling language, the next he's dead and I've got my KABAR in his belly. Even now, his body lays decaying a bit away from me.
I'm unsure of how to feel about what happened right now. At first, I felt some sort of disgust. I guess, a fear of myself, or some sort - I can't quite find the word at the moment. I'm happy to be alive, but I felt this twisting, contorting pit in my stomach at the clear, present pain and agony I caused another young man before I snuffed out his mortal coil. It still frightens me as I think back to his face.
But then again, he would have done that to me without hesitation and I'm sure with much less reservation.
As I thought of our enemy, I felt my mind fill with a new feeling, a broiling hatred for the Japanese. A hatred for their tactics, that they'd tried to fight dirty and kill me in my sleep. That they fight so hard for a worthless piece of swamp and marshland. That they forced a bunch of gullible young men like me to come out here and fight them back.
Today, we happened upon the corpse of a dead Marine, which was strange on its own. The boys are usually very protective of their dead buddies and do just about anything they can to extract them for burial. I now see why.
The dead man's ears had been cut off and placed facing up around the sides of the man's nose, kind of making a morbid, bloody 'butterfly' out of his ears and nose. He had been scalped, no doubt taken as a trophy, and badly maimed, I only hope after death. His skin was all cut up with deep slashes from some swing happy Jap officer. But what was most disturbing was that the man's penis had been cut off and stuffed firmly into his own mouth.
I wanted to kill every last Jap I saw after I saw what they'd done to him. It confounds me that men could conduct themselves in such a way, to do things to another. I hate the Japanese soldier, but I don't think I'd ever do such a thing to a Jap corpse.
I suppose it is just the nature of war.
A heavy, twisting rain has started to fall on the island and has been roaring outside. I only hope it lets up soon. I think the boys will start calling me a squid like the rest of the Navy boys if my foxhole fills up any more!
January 19, 1944
I have forgotten the war.
I realized this today as I huddled myself in the ammo depot tent, trying to keep as warm as I could in my poncho.
15 long, tiring, damn-near unbearable days of rain have demoralized our ranks and are destroying what little sanity I have left. I haven't thought about a Jap attack in days; Hasn't even crossed my mind. I'm sure they're having a grand ol' time, sitting in their bunkers and tunnels as they wait this out.
I have forgotten the war. My battle is with myself. My battle is to stay sane.
To think that continuous rain could have this effect on a man, I would have laughed in the face of anyone who tried to convince me of it. It's just rain after all!
Disease has run rampant and I'm being worked to the bone. Trench foot, jungle rot, dysentery, everyone's got something. I watched a man today peel layers of dead, disgusting skin of his feet with the non-sharp end of his KABAR. It came off like grated cheese! Even on my own person, my skin crawls and peels from the constant saturation of water that bombards it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It blisters and wrinkles with no relief. No one can find a spot to get dry in, not even the lean-tos with our supplies are safe. Our jungle hammocks, which Mad Dog scrambled to get for us as quickly as he could - bless his soul, can barely keep the rain out. Just one gust of wind through the mosquito netting and the cycle begins again.
I can't blame the privates who have tried to end it on their own. In fact, I sympathize with them. Seems the only way off this rock is in a bodybag. But I'd never have the strength to go through with it. Howard, Jenkins, Miller, Mom and Dad, I couldn't do that to them - They'd be devastated.
I am so unbelievably exhausted. I am tired to my bones and I can't take this place anymore. Everyday, I wonder if today is the day I can finally get shot and be done with this. To finally have relief.
Why do you let this happen, God? Do You even care about us raggedy Marines? I pray for rest but it never comes. I pray for an end to this battle, but yet we press on, whittled away day by day by this hellish rain season.
Looks like I'm needed once more. Got a malaria case I gotta take back to the Battalion Aid station. If this guy's lucky, maybe he'll get sick enough to let him go back to Australia.
Until next time. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.16: A Fireside Chat | It was starting to become cold now, much to James dismay.
Now that wasn't to say that he completely disliked the cold. Snow was fun for the first few weeks that you saw it. The fluffy blanket of warmth-sapping crystals gave a quiet ambiance to the environment which he found extremely pleasant. But when there wasn't any snow, he found the cold to be more of a pain. The hassle of wrangling a jacket every time he wanted to go out peeved him, if however minor. Kentucky autumns weren't the worst; he could survive that. But the Equestrians, when they brought late fall in, they brought it in hard.
The air was no longer the crisp, gentle warmth of September and early October. For now it was frosty, nipping at his cheeks and skin with the ferocity of a snowstorm and reddening them like Santa in those old Coca-Cola ads he saw back in '46. His mountain trail "sidewalk" was wet with a sprinkling of snow, the late fall weather freezing much of the condensation higher up. A harsh cool wind blew his light scarf to and fro as he carefully stepped around wet mud spots on his road. His hands were freezing with frost-nip biting at the tips, the cloth gloves doing little to protect his white, lithe hands from the soft dusting of snow and wind around him.
Just a month ago, the mountain was teeming with colors; oranges, yellows, reds, all expected of an October day. Such a quick switch to the miserable November cold.
Maybe he was just a wuss. Yes, James decided he had a certain displeasure for the cold here in Equestria. But whatever sort of vendetta he had against the brazen, unforgiving cold of the nation could wait. He wouldn't want to keep Tia too long.
"Left on Hoof St and should be there," he muttered to himself.
He found it quite silly she even gave him directions in the first place. It certainly isn't hard to pick out the building the entire city was made for in the first place. Equestrians spared no expense on the extravagance of their palaces and government buildings. The damn palace practically screamed at him to stare at it, much like "an attention starved valley girl with a fat check from her dad" as Mad Dog used to joke of his hometown women. Its tall spires resolutely stood over the city, keeping watch like a sentry back on Peleliu, and weren't hard to miss at all.
He slipped a little on some clear ice blended onto the sidewalk, almost loosing his balance like a dunce.
"Ah, don't blow it in front of the guards. Lord knows they'll never let ya live it down, Jim," he mentally berated himself, adjusting his coat and striding towards the gate.
"Halt, state your business!" came the call down from the twin guard towers.
"I'm here for tea with your head of state!" he cupped his hands around his mouth as he shouted.
"Come on in James!" the gruff, feminine voice yelled back.
Soon, the strong, heavy metal gates swung open, slowly collapsing in towards the palace. He gave a salute to the guard on the right in thanks and took a nice stride into the courtyard. He heard the BANG-CLANG of hoofsteps on marble battlements clambering down stairs to his left. Turning to it with a knowing smirk, he was greeted by one of Canterlot's finest, huffing and puffing in front of him like she'd ran a marathon.
James hadn't known Corona for long, but she could only be described as... well, brash, impulsive, uncouth, the complete opposite of a proper lady.
"So got anything for us?" the solar guard huffed as she continued to catch her breath.
"Oh, I don't know. Seems my coffers are running a little dry from all these visits we've been having," he smirked playfully.
"Aw come on Jamesy. You don't got anything? We're bored to death up there!" she pouted playfully back at him, sticking her lip out a little to seal the deal.
"Ah ah'm just kidding. Course I got some stuff for 'ya," he fumbled into his coat jacket, his hands shaking from the bitter frostnip taking hold on the tips.
His hands slipped over the packaging a little, the cloth glove fingers sliding all over the plastic wrap, but soon he fished out his 'goods' for the two guardsmares.
Cigarettes, candy, snacks, playing cards. The infantryman's boredom killers for a sucky detail. Her face lit up with glee as she snatched the goods out of his grasp and started stashing her contraband away in the pockets around her armor.
Hey, who said sliding the guards a few things under the table was wrong? Didn't hurt to build some good rep with the only ponies who knew how to handle weapons around here.
"Oh, and for Middy up there, I know she liked those Lucky Strikes last time I passed through, so I figured I'd give her one of my few remaining packs," he fished out the mentioned cigarettes and started to hand it over.
"I've always wanted to try one of those ever since she told me of them back at the barracks! Why don't ya share the first few with us?" she ripped the pristine plastic wrap off and nipped a cigarette out from the rest.
"Eh, sure, why not?" he fumbled through his coat again for his ZIppo lighter from the war, opening it up with the distinct CLINK! Grabbing his own cigarette, he lit hers before getting to his own and took in a big puff, exhaling with a long, contented sigh.
"Never get tired of these," he chuckled in relation to the brand, "So, anyone suspect anything concerning the two princesses and I?"
She let out her own long sigh, the nicotine smoke rising up with the biting November wind and dispersing, "Well, you did shove our immortal sun goddess princess to the ground after grappling with her, so there's always rumors. But, as far as I am concerned, you and Luna are still just that, rumors," she took another puff of her Lucky Strike.
"Good, good. I don't know what kind of trouble our relationship would cause if word got out at the wrong time," he leaned up against the castle wall and folded his arms.
"Eh, honestly, I think no pony'll care, like myself. You worry too much, Jamesy," a flick of the tail as she swatted at some non-existent bug.
"From my limited knowledge of ponies here, Miss Corona, you are most certainly the exception, not the rule," he laughed, fishing out a small flask of whiskey and taking a shot to warm himself. Finishing his swig, he offered it over to the guard.
"On the job, mate," she held up her hand in refusal.
"Suit yourself. It's freezing out here," he shivered a little, as if mentioning the cold would somehow make its effects worse, "Well, we will see in the future. Who knows what the Lord holds in store for us?"
"Never struck me for the religious type, but hey. You do you chief," she started back up to her post, having dawdled for long enough, "Don't bone the princess too hard there James!"
Mama would've tanned her hide so well, she could've been used as a warning to his cows for misbehavior. He was glad for her sake that she wasn't his sister, chuckling at the perverse language as he made his way towards the castle entrance.
Once more, guards pulled open the heavy doors of the castle and allowed him entrance.
A blast of warmth banished the cold at once as the tall doors were closed behind him, the cold wind giving him one last puff on the back of his neck before it went. A large, roaring fire sat nestled in the far end of the foyer, letting off idle CRACKS and POPs from the rapidly burning wood. The smell was immaculate, the soft, pleasant wood aroma reminding him of days gone by of camping trips with Arles to the mountains.
The architects and interior designers seriously should get pensions from the crown, for he was certain that their work could prevent wars with their beauty. It's design struck him as very Roman, but also Victorian in some ways. Ornate enfilades dotted the receiving hall, each with their own web of opulent marble work crafted around the edges. Glamorous, lavish paintings hung high above on the wall; portraits, epics, and histories long since past captured by the brush of a talented Equestrian artist. The room proclaimed the power and majesty of the Equestrian royalty.
Tia sure knew how to pick 'em.
"Mr. Milligan, welcome to Canterlot Palace. I'm here to escort you to the Princess' study for your visit with her."
"Please Sunny, you were there when I popped into this world. I think we can drop the formalities and just greet each other like normal people," the man replied with an amiable Southern smile.
"If you insist, James," the cream pony replied, "Follow me, if you please."
The trip to the study wasn't particularly challenging to the man and today was no different. He'd made the trek aplenty of occasions in his small time here in the Equine nation. He didn't really need Sunny to lead him to her Majesty's study, but it was always nice to catch up with the overworked, cool assistant to the Sun princess.
Stepping into the room, he bid the assistant farewell, giving a small wave, and walked into the study, the door softly shut behind him.
Rows upon rows of books surrounded the man, the cases growing high up, scraping the ceiling like a New York skyscraper. James was glad he wasn't claustrophobic, for he was sure the oppressive 'gaze' of the sturdy bookshelves closing around him would send him into a tizzy.
A small fire, much more quaint and restrained than that of the foyer, crackled quietly on the side of the room, flooding the room with its warmth as it did. A few feet away lay a ornate, finely crafted wooden desk arrayed with assorted books, papers, quills, and other such office sorts, all neatly stacked and ordered. What didn't match was the simple, plain looking wooden chair that accompanied it. Compared to the opulent, powerful design of what he'd seen, the plebian-looking chair stuck out like a turd in a punchbowl.
Function over form, he supposed.
Tearing himself away from the room itself, his eyes settled on the pony he came to see in the first place. A patient smile rested on her graceful features as she quietly read a book, probably waiting for him to come sit down next to her in his armchair. On a stand next to her lay a silver tray with an equally silver tea set. Next to the pot, as in Celestia's style, two pieces of red velvet cake lay on thin, small plates with similarly small silverware to the right of them.
She took a sip of tea from her own cup, "You're a little late," she chuckled, her eyes not leaving the text of her novel.
"What can I say? Your ponies' weather held me up. It ain't easy walking down a mountain dirt road that's been wet with snow and ice for the last two days," he shimmied himself out of his long coat and gloves, resting it over the chair as he took his seat next to her.
"Oh dear, if only there were some sort of... appendage that could mitigate such a dangerous, uncomfortable plight," she flicked a puff of air towards him with her folded wings.
"Go to hell you big white slut," he swatted at her wings.
He grasped the pot and poured himself a cup of tea while she took the plate of cake into one hand and a fork in the other, "Careful there, Mr. Milligan. My ponies might torch your house if they hear you say such things to their goddess," she leveled her fork at him, a snarky smile gracing her soft, motherly face.
"I'm sure I can handle a few pint-sized pegasi TP-ing my house, Tia," he sipped his tea after adding a few sugar cubes in.
"Heh, I guess you could," she paused as she took a bite out of her cake, "How have you been?"
"Oh, just hanging in there. Not much to report really, just teaching, gardening, seeing your sister, the usual," he grabbed an ottoman and propped his feet up, nestling himself into the chair more as he relaxed by the fire.
"Tell me of the students. How have they taken to their studies?"
He smiled. Of course she would ask about his students, being a teacher and mentor herself. It was always comforting to know that she cared about them, just as much as he did.
"I think Crystal Light and Ironwood are finally a thing. Took 'im long enough to notice the poor girl. They've both been doing excellently and I couldn't be more proud of them. I've been considering taking them under my wing and giving them positions in my lab, once I'm finished teaching the next couple years."
She clapped her hands together, "Aww, I wish them my congratulations."
"They are something, ain't they?" he sipped his tea and set it down on the table, "Otherwise, we've been chugging along. I simply adore my students. Very pleasant to talk with and teach.
He took a pause for a second, "How's ruling the kingdom been?"
She scoffed, smiling and waving her hand down as she sipped her black tea, "Oh, you would not believe the deviousness I had to read through this week. Lord Cloudsmonth of Cloudsmonth Construction tried to sneak a clause into his work contract with the crown asking for an extra 100,000 bits for the community center I commissioned in the West Side borough."
He raised his brow, "Ok. What's the problem then? If the guy believes his labor is worth more, I don't see the problem in asking for a raise, so to speak."
Celestia took a bite out of her cake, "The treasury is already paying him and his workers 1,000,000 bits and providing all the materials he needs to start constructing. I'd say that's more than enough for both his wages and his worker's. He stuck this clause on the 30th page in fine print, labeling it as 'Other Expenses' and dressed in a disguise of more bureaucracy. It may seem like he isn't being sleazy to someone outside of the bureaucratic sphere, but you do this job long enough and you pick up on the patterns."
He nodded his head, "Can't argue with that logic. Guy really tried to pull the rug over ya."
She shook her head in disappointment, "If he wanted a raise in the contract, I would've gladly given it to him. But it's the principle of what he did that disappoints me," she sipped her tea and gazed at the fire, "It's disheartening."
He joined her in watching the dance of the flames, shifting his legs more comfortably, "I figured it'd be par for the course when you take the title of princess."
The corners of her lips rose barely enough to be seen, "Oh, it is. Ponies have tried this trick for centuries and thankfully, with the help of my aides or my keen eye, I've not fallen victim to them most of the time. I suppose watching ponies time after time repeat the same mistakes over and over again, watching history repeat itself, it changes your views on pony nature and depresses you, especially when you live as long of a life as I have."
James turned his head and looked at her, her white fur shifting ever so slightly from the heat of the fire pushing against it, "How long have you lived, Tia?"
Her playful smile returned and she gasped jovially, "Now James, hasn't anyone told you not to ask a girl her age?" she finished by batting him on the shoulder.
"Age is just a number, you big white baby," he leveled a finger at her.
"Well, the only answer you're going to get is a long time, James Milligan," she stuck her tongue out at him in a reminiscent way of Luna.
"You look so old, I bet DNA hadn't been made when you were born," he laughed.
That earned him a strong punch to his right bicep, reminding him of that fat alicorn strength he'd felt the day of the fair. He yelped, clutching his arm and massaging it, "I guess I deserve that."
A comfortable silence rested upon the two as James continued to nurse his arm, "How have you stayed sane for all these years? I mean, a 'long time' is a really LONG time, especially when, well, loved ones leave this life without you."
She paused, her face contorted in a sort of reminiscent way, "I guess, you just become used to it, in some morbid sort of way. It becomes a sort of cycle every 80 or so years of friends, students, family, or loved ones passing away and being replaced again with new friends or their kin. I remember those I lost, the wonderful times I got to spend with them, but I move on eventually. I'm thankful that I got the gift to know them in life, but there are always new friends to be made, new skills to be learned, new inventions to make. I try to find something new and exciting about life and I suppose, that's what keeps me grounded. That, and of course, Luna."
He said nothing, gazing at her with a neutral expression, "Were you or Luna ever married in your lives?"
"I was once, I had just ascended. But Luna, no, she was banished too soon to really form any relationships with any stallions of our day," she crossed her legs and sipped her tea.
"If you don't mind me asking, why haven't you married again after all these years?" he asked.
"My husband and I were married when I was 25 and at the time, we were of similar age. But when he passed, I just couldn't bring myself to love another stallion. You lose a lot of attraction for any stallion that you're 1000 years older than. Plus, my mind had been so focused on ruling the kingdom that I simply didn't have time to cultivate those relationships as well I could when I was a carefree, young mare. I guess Luna hasn't become that way, due to her little 'vacation'."
She adjusted her legs and propped her chin in her hand, "Maybe one day I'll marry again, but for now, that's in the distant future. What I don't think is in the distant future is my sister's marriage," she turned to him with a smile.
He chuckled, "Please Celestia. We've only been dating for what, 2-3 months now? Hold your horses there, sweetpea."
"Maybe so, but I think the wedding bells will toll for you two soon, Mr. Milligan. Soon, indeed," she perked up as if remembering something important, "OH, before I forget, I was asked by dearest Sister to hand this invitation off to you in her absence. She's asked you to be her plus one for my niece's wedding."
He took the ornate invitation into his hand and looked it over, "You have a niece?"
"Yes, and she's being married to my Captain of the Guard. She is quite eager to meet you."
"Gotta get myself fitted for a tux I guess. God, it's gonna be sweaty in that tux cause of the summer," he folded up the invitation and put it into his inner pocket, "How come I've never met this niece of yours? Figured she would've popped up sometime in my time here."
"She's out on a diplomatic mission at the moment. They'd made the engagement before she left, but left the planning to me. But I've told her all about you, so prepare yourself James," she laughed a mirthy chuckle.
"What's she like then? The way you're describing her is making me worry," he smiled slightly unnerved.
"Now now, James, that would be telling. I assure you that you have nothing to worry about," she took a final sip of her tea, setting the cup down on the tray with a soft clink.
"Well, since we're just handing out all sorts of invites," he took a bite out of his cake, setting his fork down on the plate, "I'm having a little get-together at my home to celebrate a holiday and I wanted to know if you'd like to come."
She shuffled in her seat and smiled, "A human holiday? I'd love to be one of the first ponies to celebrate it. When is this little 'get-together'?"
"Last Thursday of this month. Bring a LOT of food with you. We're gonna have a, I suppose, very big feast the day of, so bring your appetite and your sweet tooth," he took the last bite of his cake, finishing it with a satisfying gulp.
"Sounds like my kind of party and it'll be so good to get out of the castle. Of course I'll be there, James."
The grandfather clock in the corner of the room struck 6, the clangs ringing through the room.
"Well, looks like duty calls once more," she said, shoving the last few bites of cake down her gullet to not waste, "Do you need my assistant to show you the way out?"
"By any chance, where's your sister? I'd like to see her if she's available," he grabbed his coat from off the chair and laid it over his shoulder.
"She should be in her chambers, likely lounging until she takes over ruling. I'm sure she'd love to see you," Celestia smoothed out her dress and turned towards the door, "Just head up the stairs over to the left and then take a right when you reach the top. Knock on the door ahead. I'm sure you'll know when you're at her room."
"Well, that's definitely Luna's room."
It certainly was. The marble was replaced with a dark painted wood and was decorated with moon symbols. Two foreboding, beefy looking batmares stood guard outside of the door, ready to spring into action at the slightest movement against their princess.
He would have thought they were intimidating if they weren't a foot smaller than him, the cute little shortstacks.
"Halt, state your business," the lead guard ordered.
"I'm just here to visit my special somepony, no tricks or nothing. My name is James Milligan," he held up his hands and twirled around, showing he had no weapons on him.
"Stay where you are for a moment," she opened the door and peeked her head inside.
"Ma'am, James Milligan is outside your room to see you,"
"Send him right in!"
She took her head out and nodded to him, opening up the door wide for him to enter through.
Stepping through the cramped doorway, he saw the woman of his affections lying on her bed wearing baggy, comfy clothes, reading through his journal.
"Hello, my sweet night flower," he greeted her, hanging his coat up on a coat rack near the door.
"And a hello to you too, you handsome gentleman," she smiled, setting the booklet aside.
He sat himself down on the bed and laid beside her, resting his back against the backboard, "So, what are you up to?"
"Just reading through your entries, as you saw," she replied, tossing a strand of ethereal hair out of the front of her face.
"And?"
"Disturbing, but nothing that isn't expected, I suppose," she paused and twirled a strand of her hair in her hand, "It's good to see you."
"And you as well. How have you been?"
"Well. I haven't had many responsibilities this week and have been enjoying my off time with reading and other hobbies."
He wasn't really paying attention as she began to rattle off the various happenings of her week. He was too captivated by the lethal dose of cuteness he was witness to. She looked positively adorable, all wrapped up in her baggy sweatpants and comfy T-shirt. Her toothy grin, her pleasant and cheery demeanor, the glint in her eyes as she described her passions for her hobbies to him, it made him want to kiss her.
So he did.
He might have cut her off mid-sentence, but she didn't seem to mind as she all but began to fuse herself to him through their mouths, pushing into him with a ravenous ferocity. She pulled him close and held him there for awhile before the two finally separated for air. They smiled at each other, slightly out of breath.
"Hey," James smiled.
"Hey yourself," Luna smiled back.
He chuckled to himself, "I think, we should do that again."
Luna maneuvered her left arm behind herself and took grip of Harold the Manticore laying on her nightstand. She turned him around with a soft twist, his face no longer on the two of them, "That James... is a fantastic idea."
She lunged at him, resuming their lip lock as she took top.
He could get used to this REAL quick. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.17: Family | "Damn you, cold."
"OH, don't be such a baby James. It's just a little frosty air," a cheerful snark from a certain blue alicorn replied.
"Easy for you to say. Somebody was born with another hairy layer of insulation, unlike some furless mammal around here," sarcasm dripped out of his mouth as the man stepped up onto his porch, opening his door and shuffling in, Luna right behind him.
"All I hear are the words of a big, whiny, slightly educated foal who can't handle a little cold in his face," she stuck her tongue out at him and laid the bags of groceries and food she was carrying down on the granite island in his kitchen.
"Thank the Lord for internal heating. I'm so glad Equestrians figured it out before I popped into this place," he also laid down the brown, paper bags of groceries on the island and cracked his back, leaning up against a countertop behind him.
She put her hands on her hips and took in the disastrous condition of his kitchen. Ingredients, cookbooks, and supplies lay all over the countertops, the mess piercing even the most minute, small crevices of his kitchen. Flour was spread out on the left counter where he had made the pie crusts, some granules having fallen and sprinkled his wooden floors with the white powder. His sink was absolutely brimming with dirty dishes, mostly old pans, pots, and baking dishes and euuch, they smelled. Little spots of grease glistened on the granite from the glints of sun peaking through the blinds by the sink, some from butter and others from oil. It cast a very, well, there was no way around it. The kitchen was absolutely disgusting at the moment.
However, amongst the chaos, in a little corner lay some of the completed pies he had painstakingly worked to create the past few days, covered in a bit of wrap to preserve them for the next day. So, she supposed, at least something good came out of this messy maelstrom.
In her quiet observations, she hadn't noticed James starting to clean up said messes, having grabbed a sponge from his sink and was wiping some flour into his hand to dispose of. Her eyes, and more importantly, her nose traveled back to the sight of the pies.
"Look at those pies, Luna. Look at them being all vulnerable and... delicious," her internal monologue piped up.
Celestia may have the sweet tooth of the family, but that didn't mean Luna didn't enjoy the errant pastry or two. Plus, that pie looked really REALLY good. So, glancing back at him, she tip-toed her way towards her loot for a little taste test.
"Hup! Git!" the call from the man made her jump back into her previous position.
"What? I wasn't doing anything," Stallions normally buy playing dumb, right?
"Don't play coy with me. I know you're eyeing those pies up back there," he hadn't even stopped wiping up the counter, "You really are Celestia's sister. You better stop looking at those pies or do I gotta get the broom and sweep you out like a 'coon?"
Darn. Caught like a foal with their hand in the cookie jar. She relented, tearing her eyes away from those precious, delectable pies, and decided to help him clean up the day's mess. Grabbing the broom, she began to sweep the wooden floor.
When they were finished with their work, they set aside their tools and took a seat at the table, content to rest after their work.
"I never thought grease would be so eager to stick to granite. My elbow's sore from scrubbing that dang thing," he whined, massaging his elbow softly.
"You made quite the mess there, James," Luna responded.
"Ah, but it was for a worthy cause, was it not?" he nodded to the pies, "Hope they came out as good as my mother's raspberry pies."
"I'm sure they shall be most excellent, James. I'd wager it's quite hard to mess up a raspberry pie," she chuckled.
A comfortable silence settled upon the room as they both relaxed, the sun's rays peaking through the blinds as it started to settle down to the horizon.
"God, mess is gonna be even worse tomorrow. Hopefully Marnie'll go easy on my poor stove," the man pushed his chair out calmly, stretching his hands out in a huge stretch, "But that's another problem for another day. You have any plans for the rest of the day or night?"
"Nope, I've cleared my calendar for this. I am at your complete disposal," she smiled, folding her hands in front of her on the granite countertop, the cool, smooth surface causing a few goosebumps to rise under her fur.
"Well, thank you. I appreciate it. Then if you have nothing else to do, then come with me. I want to show you something," he gestured with his head towards the stairs, starting up the chocolate, wooden steps.
Her brow raised in a mild intrigue and she quickly got to her hooves, trailing up the stairs right behind him.
He led her to his room, shutting the door behind him softly, before gesturing over to a sort of spacious closet. He turned the smooth brass handle of the door and opened it up to pitch blackness.
"Ah, where's that switch for the mana light?" he fumbled around in the darkness for the light switch.
He found it, flipping it up, the light immediately illuminating the space, and she gazed in mild awe of what she saw.
The first thing she noticed was a rustic smell, a kind of wooden, dusty sort of odor. It made sense considering James lived in a wooden house, but this one was fresher and newer. It was pleasant in a simple way. Directly to her left lay a clothing rack with his assortment of collared shirts, jackets, brown coats, and official wear hanging on it. There were other folded T-Shirts, pants, and casual wear lying on the sanded, smooth floor underneath them.
But one of the pieces stood out and she easily recognized it, her eyes easily picking out the contrasting, dull colors. She looked to James who stood silently, sullenly gazing on the clothing. Before long, he broke his stance and walked towards the piece, plucking it off the rack by the hanger with the gentleness of a mother.
"Figured I'd let you see it. After all we've been through together," he flipped the jacket to its front, laying it on his chest so that Luna could better observe.
It was his dungaree jacket.
It looked like it had been through the ringer once and sent back again for extra. A few discolorations of the fabric here, burn marks around the hip there, one button missing, it had been through hell. There was a streak of tearing across the right arm that had been meticulously sewed back together with a green thread. Some frayed strings still stuck out from it showing the amateur work, but it was nonetheless effective in its job. The whole jacket was well ironed, straightened well, and clearly was as maintained as it could be. For an old war jacket, it looked remarkably good despite the imperfections.
"I didn't know you still had it with you. I thought it didn't make it through with you during the jump," she was almost astonished at its condition considering it had been through a war.
"Course it did. It was hanging in my old house when it got zapped here," he pressed his hand through the jacket, trying to smooth it out even more, "I should probably check up on the old place. I imagine the forest critters and plants have moved themselves in nice and comfy."
She reached out to touch it, caressing one of the burn marks with her hand and smiled slightly, "I'm sure you're right," she smirked, "I'd like to see you with it on."
He sighed, hanging up the jacket back on the rack, and softly smiled, "No, I don't think I ever want to put that jacket on ever again. But thank you nonetheless."
James drew her attention away from his old uniform, motioning over to the large, standing wooden dresser. She gave his jacket one last look before following him over to the other side of the room briskly.
What grabbed her eyes was a brightly colored, striped flag spread on the wall, held up by a few nails hammered into the wall. She only assumed it was his nation's flag, the remaining remnant or link he had to his old home apart from his memories. It hung proudly over them, centered over the dresser as smooth as could be. It bore no scratches, burns, tears, or rips unlike many of his other old war possessions, but remained untouched by the maelstrom of combat.
Just below the flag, more tokens of the past rested gently on old, worn nails driven into the wall. His .45 caliber pistol, which she had seen many a time in his memories, and a rifle, for which she forgot the name of.
"Here's what I really came here for," he grasped the smooth, wooden forestock with all the gentleness of a mother and pulled the slide open, checking if it was loaded. Seeing that it wasn't, he released the metal slide with a loud CLANK. He handed it to Luna.
"Would you like to hold it?" he held his outstretched left hand out to her as he grasped the wood of the rifle.
She was hesitant at first, the memories of what such a weapon in capable hands could do to another being still fresh in her mind. Slowly, she replaced his hand with her own, grabbing the forestock of the rifle and putting her right hand on the grip.
It was heavy, not so great that she couldn't manage it, but it definitely held a lot of weight. The wood was smooth and cool to the touch, her lithe, blue fingers easily sliding over it as she stroked down the side. The handle felt foreign to her, yet fit snugly into her hand like a glove as her finger found its way into the trigger.
"Huhp, huhp," James softly stuttered, reaching out gently and removing her finger from the trigger, "Sorry, forgot to mention it. But don't put your finger in the trigger unless you're ready to fire it. Just treat it like it's loaded, sweetpea."
It felt almost unnerving to her. She was reminded of its lethality in the subtle changes of James' person as she handled his weapon. His scrutinizing, watchful gaze roamed all over her, ready to intervene over any perceived mistake or danger that she might create.
Leveling the rifle, Luna raised it, keeping her finger out of the trigger this time, and looked down its sights. She strained her eyes as she tried to focus in on the tiny, tri-pointed front sight in the 'distance'.
"I don't know how you were able to carry this object around for so long James. Surely I'd have been tired by the end of the hour," she remarked, letting the gun down and handing it off to him, her arms enjoying the reprieve.
"I didn't carry a rifle in my time in the war. I bought this one off a surplus after I finished my contract," he too raised the gun to the ceiling, looking down the sights and aiming at a non-existent target, "Fine rifles these were. Figured they'd be great for hunting once I got back to Kentucky. So I got one."
He set the rifle softly on the wooden dresser, reaching out and grabbing his old handgun off the display. Repeating the process, he pulled the heavy slide back, checking the chamber for any round. He found none, and handed the pistol over to her.
This weapon, of course, was much lighter in her hand. The polished metal gleamed in the incandescent magical lighting as the smell of metal drifted into her nostrils. She rested the barrel in her hand and studied the markings on the slide, tracing her hand along the vertical indentations on the back part. While its maintanence work was superb, there were clear, minor scratches and scrapes on the handle and the slide, indicative of its history.
"I see you've kept this in fantastic condition, James," she turned it over to inspect the other side of the handgun.
"Thank you. They're not gonna be good for anything other than display or as a oversized paperweight soon enough. Might as well give 'em a little polish," he folded his arms and leaned back on the wall.
"Why's that, James?"
"I don't have much ammo for them anymore. Once I'm out, they're useless, except as clubs I guess."
She admired it for a few more seconds, pulling the slide back and locking it, before handing it back over to him, "Well, James, thank you for showing me your old mementos. I appreciate it."
"Oh I'm not just showing these to you. We're gonna fire them," he smiled, opening a drawer in the dresser and grabbing a few small packs out of it. Something softly jingled inside the boxes and clanged when he set them down roughly on the wood.
"Are you sure that is wise, James? I've never handled these machines before. Not like you," she frowned nervously, idly playing with a strand of her hair.
He continued his work, fishing out earplugs from the drawer below, and set those on the counter, "I'll be there every step of the way. It'll be fine. Heck, you'll think it's fun, I bet."
"Ok, if you say so."
She was starting to think this was a bad idea.
The bitter cold nipped at her jacket ferociously as she watched the man fumble with loading his pistol magazine. His gloves lazily hung out of his coat pocket, her ears swiveling to pick up the soft curses against the cold as he awkwardly shoved each round down the mag.
And there Luna clumsily stood, wondering if she should offer her help or not. She scratched at her ear, the earplug she had gracelessly placed there threatening to pop out.
It seemed James finally was satisfied, chuckling with a victorious laugh, and turned to her, holding the pistol in one hand and the loaded mag in the other, "Alright, we're ready. Are you ready?"
She anxiously smiled and hesitantly walked forward, "Are you sure about this James? This seems like a bad idea."
He waved his hand, "Honey, there is nothing to be afraid of. I know I've probably made you develop a few biases about these things, but they aren't gonna jump up and bite ya. As long as you're respectful with them, they can't hurt you."
She made the final step next to him and took the pistol and magazine from him, "Ok, then, how do I do this?"
He stood beside her right shoulder, "Here, you know what. I'll fire the first shot to show you how it looks and then you can fire the rest," he took the pistol back, gently snatched the magazine, loaded it, and hit the slide release. She jumped at the startling CHINK the slide made as it rocketed back to its resting position.
"You got your earplugs in? It's gonna be loud," he turned back to her, raising the handgun towards the target.
"Yeah."
BANG
A percussive blast hit her sternum with a soft thump and her ears shot back to protect themselves, the handgun jumping a bit in his hands. He wasn't kidding. It was oppressively LOUD. Sure, gunshots had always been loud in his memories, but hearing it with her own ears so close made it a much more personal affair. Suddenly those awkward feeling earplugs felt a whole lot better than before.
Out in the distance, a small puff of dirt marked where he had hit in the mound of frozen dirt.
"There, nothing to it. Now you try," he flipped the safety on and handed the weapon to her gently.
Gingerly, she picked up, mimicking the grip on the weapon he had, and took aim at the dirt.
"Just line up the sights and slowly squeeze the trigger when you're ready," he advised, reaching over her to flip the large thumb safety off.
Her nervousness returned full force as she stared down the barrel of the silvery handgun. The gun shook a bit as her hands struggled to not shiver. But, not one to lose her composure, she lined up the two sights with her eyes and took aim.
"Will the recoil hurt?"
"Not at all. Keep a firm grip on the weapon and it'll be fine," he hovered behind her, eyeing up the target with her.
So, with a little reassurance, slowly and steadily, she began to squeeze the heavy trigger, holding her breath as the anxiety built up in her. Any moment now, it would go off, as she internally braced for its impact.
BANG!
The pistol rocketed up and just as quickly fell back to where it was. A thick, warm, pungent odor rushed into her nostrils, the smoke drifting past her head in the November wind. As before, a puff of dirt shot up in the distance.
A surge of energy rushed through her as she smiled a large grin, "That was actually kind of fun, James!"
"Good! You still got about 5 rounds left in there. Let 'er rip!" he grinned back at her, walking off to the wooden table and loading a clip for the rifle.
BANG BANG BANG!
Wow, this was thrilling! He'd never mentioned how fun it could be to shoot a gun!
BANG BANG!
The slide locked back, signaling the total expenditure of her rounds. Stepping to her right, she turned to her special somepony with what she imagined was the dopiest, goofiest grin she'd mustered, "That was great James! I never thought that these things could be so thrilling!"
"I'm glad you enjoyed it! If you liked that, then try this on for size," he walked up to her gripping the rifle by its forestock and motioned it over to her.
Her arms dipped a little bit, not used to the sudden weight that was thrust into her arms. As quickly as they dipped, they had recovered. Gripping the rifle and keeping her finger out of the trigger, she eyed James with a little confusion, taking quick peeks at the metal slide that was locked back.
"So, how does one load this weapon, James?"
Grasped between his fingers was a clip of rounds, neatly lined and organized, "Take this, rest your hand against the slide and keep pressure on the handle, and then press the rounds into the chamber. Then when they're nice and secure, just let your hand go. Should slide in like a glove," she felt the cool metal against her skin as she took the clip from his hands.
Following his direction, she lay the side of her hand on the slide, checking back to make sure James' eye was closely on her. With her stability ensured, she continued, placing the rounds in the chamber, pushing down, immediately feeling the weight of the spring on her hand as the slide tried to push forward.
SCHING!
She let her thumb go as the slide rocketed forward. Raising the weapon, she gave James a confused glance, "How do I shoot this one?"
"So, you're just gonna... take this," he grabbed the stock and tried to nestle the stock into her shoulder. The key word being tried, as her breast was partially blocking the way, "Uh, could you move your 'girl' out of the way?"
"I could, but oh, this gun has my hands full. Could you be a dear and 'help' a poor girl like me out?" she fluttered the eyes at him a little, sealing the deal.
He obliged her with a smile, not one to be out-flirted, and copped a nice long feel after flipping the safety on near the trigger. He gave it a squeeze, earning a soft, pleasant sigh from Luna and a 'give it to me harder' stare. Seeing her subtle cues to continue, he prodded some more, massaging the soft flesh with great intrigue and a wicked smile on his face. Luna, on her part, was loving it, opening up her arms to allow him better access. His fingers slid down the rough, light cloth as he assaulted her breasts. He was tempted to lean down and play a little bit of tonsil hockey with her, but the fact that they were handling dangerous weapons in their hands at the moment was enough to tear his hands away from the heavenly cleavage of his girlfriend.
Having been satisfied and mentally filing the experience away for the spank-bank, he adjusted her chest well enough to fit the stock onto her shoulder and flipped the safety off for her.
Giving him a wink and a nod of thanks, she aimed down the sights and took aim at the target.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The rifle kicked much more, knocking into her shoulder with a fair amount of force. A much more potent aroma filled her nostrils where a cloud of smoke had been blown into her by the cold November wind. She coughed a tiny bit, resettled herself, and aimed again.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
PING!
The shrill, metallic ping caused her ears to swivel back, knocking one of her earplugs out into the cold, frozen dirt. The culprit of said sound clanged into the ground, hitting a tiny rock in the dirt, and shuffled in the wind.
"Quite the beauty, ain't she?" James whistled, picking up the en bloc clip and dusting it off.
"Yes she is. That was fun, though I think I liked your pistol better," she handed his rifle back to him. He pulled the charging handle and let the slide fall back into its resting position with a SHING! and pulling the trigger, the rifle sounding off with a muffled DUK.
"Eh, to each their own. I like 'em both about the same," he turned towards the slowly lowering sun, its rays peeking over a distant mountain, "Guess that's your queue babe."
"Indeed," Luna agreed. Idle clinks and clangs drifted into her ears as James cleaned up the expended brass.
She channeled her lunar magic into her horn and pulled the moon slowly up from the horizon into its place. Not wanting to put a lot of effort into today, Luna chose a few random constellations she could think of and set them in empty parts of the sky. Finishing the final touches, she tugged the stars of navigation to their designated spots and finished with a yawn.
"Aw, looks like somebody's tired," James crowed the last word with a sing-song voice.
"Yes, you could say that, Mr. Milligan. I'd fancy, what was that new phrase again? Hitting the hay," she joined him in walking into his home's back door, reaching it and shutting it behind her.
"I concur. I've got a big day of cooking and cleaning tomorrow and I want to make sure everything is perfect. Just the way Momma used to do it," he smiled reminiscently, "I really hope you all like it."
She smiled back, giving him a side hug as they walked upstairs to his bedroom, "I'm positive I will, James, because you've put so much effort in just to make your friends happy. I love that about you."
She saw only the faintest hint of a blush in the dim moonlight, but it was all she needed to see to know his feelings on the manner.
"Come, let's get to bed, shall we?"
"Hey, didja get my bird, Marnie?"
Of all the ways Luna imagined James could have greeted the griffoness chef, she didn't quite expect him to lead with that one in particular.
"Oh, well, you know they are a such a rare type and the hunt was so hard and I- just kidding, got it right here," Marnie held up the plucked, cleaned, and prepped corpse of a wild turkey.
Luna remembered a time when she would have been disgusted by such a sight. But the bloody corpse bred no queasiness or uneasiness in her, not after all the things she had seen since meeting James.
"Wonderful. Then you may join me in the kitchen and we shall make a feast to rival that of the finest chefs in this world," he clapped his hands together and led her towards the kitchen.
And what a feast he prepared indeed! Throughout the morning and early afternoon, the kitchen was ablaze with the most wonderful smells she'd ever had the pleasure to witness. The tang of seasonings, the roast of the turkey, which she admitted did smell somewhat delectable to her herbivore nose, the sweet, thick aroma of roasting oil, it was enough to make her look up from her book every now and again and just breathe it all in.
She was beginning to like this human holiday.
"James, I am confused as to why this Odyss...-eus was fighting this war in the first place," she looked up from one of the novels she was reading from James' study.
"Huh? Oh, you're reading The Odyssey right? There's another epic that I never got around to buying called The Illiad. That story happens before the events of the Odyssey."
As quickly as he had stopped cooking, he resumed, watching his potatoes as he mashed them up with a masher Marnie had brought with her.
"What's the Odyssey, James?" Marnie asked as she cut carrots for boiling.
"Oh, just an old myth from the Greeks. Great story if I might add, one of my favorite books to read," said James.
"Who were the Greeks?"
"An ancient people who lived out in a, I guess, penisula and a bunch of islands. I can rightly remember the word for a large group of islands," his eyes squinted in concentration.
"An archipelago," Luna smiled satisfied to herself.
"Yeah that's it. Well, they were a really influential people in the sciences, mathematics, philosophy, and, well, a lot of things. And their stories, especially their mythology, were captivating to me, as well as many of my other contemporaries."
"You never talked about them before," Marnie interjected, tossing her carrots into a boiling pot of water.
"Occasion never came up. It'd seem kind of weird to just talk about them out of the blue," he shrugged.
Just then, there was a deep knock on the door, "Oh, that must be the other guests. Marnie, could you keep an eye out on the food for a bit?" He didn't wait for an answer and was already in front of the door.
Swinging it open with a click, he was greeted with one of the most beautiful sights he'd laid his eyes on. Beautiful, but more in a majestic and cute kind of way, unlike the way he looked at Luna. Standing to his front stood a bright, pink pony, scratch that, alicorn, with long flowing, multi-colored hair that reached down below her chest. Her gaze was soft, a look of peace and tranquility with mild curiosity, as she laid her magenta eyes on him and looked him up and down. Her hands sat folded in front of her peacefully. She smiled.
"You said he was tall, Auntie, but he is something else," the lady giggled.
"Nice to meet you too," James chuckled back.
To the girl's left was Princess Superior with the Fat Posterior herself, "Yes, it is jarring at first, but it's just one of many things to like about him."
And of course to the girl's immediate right was Corona herself, wearing a great big grin underneath her armor.
"Please come in. Let me get you guys out of the cold," he motioned for them to come in, which they obliged, stepping over the threshold with loud thunks from their hooves against the wood.
"So, to whom do I have the pleasure of meeting, ma'am?" he folded his arms and smiled.
"James, I'd like you to meet my niece, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or Cadence," Celestia said. He held out his hand to give hers a shake.
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Cadence," he grasped her hand in his strong grip.
"And you as well, Mr...,"
"Milligan, but just call me James."
"James it is then," she nodded, "My, what a lovely home you have."
"Thank you. Your aunt here was kind enough to provide most of it to me," he gave a curt nod and a smile to said Princess, "Please, let us move this to the kitchen so I may continue preparing dinner."
The four of them stepped through into the kitchen, which prompted Luna to lower her book, "Hello Celly. So nice of you to cause that earthquake on your way in."
Celestia rolled her eyes, "Please, you're just jealous cause I got more of the curves in our family." She stuck her tongue out at her sister petulantly before devolving into giggles with her sister.
"Ah, fair Niece! Back from your diplomatic voyage! Come give your Auntie Luna a hug," she opened her arms wide, which Cadence happily obliged. They broke the hug and Cadence took a seat next to Luna, propping her chin up in her hand.
"So, James, I've heard all about you through my letters with Aunt Celestia. Tell me about yourself."
He opened up the oven door with a creak, "Well, I teach at the University. I'm an avid reader and piano player. I enjoy long walks up the mountain and I bang your aunt."
"James!"
James, for his part, managed to restrain his laughter only a little, quickly devolving into a fit of giggles and chuckles. Celestia also chuckled at the sight of her flustered, slightly blushing sister.
"Ok," he calmed himself from his laughing, "I haven't banged her yet, but it's in the to-do list. I'm sure you get it."
"Yes, I do," she smiled back at him. She sighed, "You know, I didn't expect a foreign alien to be so... normal."
"Sorry I couldn't live up to your expectations Miss Cadence," his lips curled down ever so slightly.
"Oh no no! I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, James. I just didn't think that my first contact with a being from another world would be as ordinary as it has been," she sputtered an apology.
"Trust me Niece. My James may look quite common to the laymare, but he is anything but normal once you get to know him," Luna affirmed with a knowing smile and nod.
"I'll take your word for it," she agreed, "I suppose I should have phrased my question better. I guess, I wanted to know how you've liked Equestria in your time being here."
He said nothing, focusing intently on his cooking for a moment, "Well, everyone's really nice here. Lot more trusting of their neighbors, and I suppose of me, than what I expected. I've gotten a much better treatment than what I would have expected for a unknown alien that just waltzes right into the middle of town. I'd half-expected to have been shot on sight," he rubbed the back of his head and nervously chuckled.
"Why on earth would we have done that?" Celestia countered, getting up to fix herself some tea and asking if Corona would like some.
"I mean, I'm just some stranger that just walked right through your town, who looks different and acts different. I thought it might've been a little more jarring for your average pony to see someone the likes of me, an alien, on a Tuesday morning."
"Is that how you acted around strangers back home that looked different from you, James?" Luna probed, leaning forward a little on the island. The rest of the mares there seemed to take a little more notice of the man, taking more glances in his direction. Even Marnie had slowed her cutting and was looking at him.
Once again, they heard no answer from James. From her vantage point, for only a moment, she saw his outer lip curl down to a frown. After a longer pause, which he played off as being focused on cooking, he spoke, "Well, maybe to some people."
He sighed, washing his hands with water, and dried them, "We were a real tight knit community, us folks from Canton. We didn't really like strangers too much, specifically Northerners from New England and especially the stuck-up city person. But we never treated them with outright hostility... Least not the white folk."
"The white folk?" Corona raised her brow in a bit of confusion.
He leaned on his counter behind him and shook his head, "Well, that's opening up a whole new issue that I don't have the time to explain in full detail. But, being the only one of your kind in a foreign land, well, changes a few ways you see the world, and I guess, the ways you act. Ponies treated me a certain way at first and I suppose it's given me a new perspective on how I've treated others in the past."
He walked to the stove and checked on a few dishes that were still cooking, "But that's all I have to say about that. Anyway Cadence, I'll say Equestria has been quite nice now that I'm starting to acclimate here. Very pleasant folk."
Cadence grunted in acknowledgement.
James clapped his hands, "So! This Shining Armor guy? You're getting hitched huh?"
Cadence smiled as she thought of her fiance, "Yes I am. He's a very pleasant, good stallion. I'm glad to have met him."
James nabbed a few pieces of carrot off of Marnie's cutting board, the bird flashing him a mildly annoyed look, "How come 'CRUNCH' you didn't bring him up here? I gotta get me some more male friends around here."
She gestured back towards the castle, "He's running final inspections for the new trainees being inducted into the guard as their senior commanding officer. It was important for him to be there."
"Ah, makes sense. Gives you a real sense of pride passing your final inspection," he smiled.
"You speak from experience. Were you in the Guard back on your world?" she propped her chin up in her hand.
"Yeah, I was in the military for a few years," he vaguely answered back. He saw Luna's left ear flick towards him, her eyes still reading the book she had in her hands.
"Interesting. What did you think of it?"
"It was... tiring, I suppose. There were some good and bad parts of it," he began to strain the pot of potatoes that had been boiling, catching the large tubers in his strainer as best he could.
"Did you like it? Most Guards, both mare and stallion, have told me that they've enjoyed serving," she asked.
"You sure they ain't just saying that to save face and kiss up, since, you know, you're a Princess?" he cocked a brow at her, loading the potatoes into a bowl and mashing them.
"Well, maybe some. But I'm sure some of them are telling the truth," she glanced towards Corona, who didn't move from her post.
"I'm sure there are a few," he sighed, letting out a deep breath, "My time in the military was hard and I wouldn't exactly say I liked it."
He continued with his vague answers which didn't seem to satisfy Cadence's curiosity, but seeing how the topic had visibly unnerved him, she decided not to press the issue further, Luna breathing an internal sigh of relief.
Cadence cleared her throat, "So, my Shining Armor is a little busy conducting final inspections which is why he was unable to join us tonight."
"I'd love to meet him someday, Miss Cadence," James grinned, trying to inject some mirth into the mood.
"I can imagine. I'm sure Twilight has already talked your ear off about him," she added.
"What does Twilight have to do with your husband-to-be?" he glanced back at Cadence with mild curiosity.
Celestia took this moment to butt back into the conversation, "Did she never tell you? Twilight is Shining Armor's sister. I'm surprised that it hadn't come up, given how she almost idolizes her older sibling."
"Huh, well how 'bout that? Quite the coincidence," he remarked, now mixing in different ingredients into the mashed potatoes.
"Not really. I was Twilight's foalsitter when she was just a filly and her brother's and my relationship just grew from there," she remembered.
Marnie took this moment to speak silently with James before turning back to what she was working on, "Well, looks like duty calls ladies. Gotta get back to focusing on the cooking, so just make yourselves comfortable and dinner will be ready in no time."
And ready it was.
Now at the turn of dusk, the sun sitting idly above the horizon, the mares waited at the table with restrained anticipation for the meal they were about to enjoy.
And before long, they heard shuffling from the kitchen, that shuffling turning into footsteps as James and Marnie came in carrying delectable smelling, mouth watering food of every kind. Buttered, garlic seasoned mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn casserole, a little pudding-like red sauce that James called 'cranberry sauce', bread biscuits with gravy that smelled heavenly, and pumpkin and raspberry pies for dessert.
But of course, the main dish that Marnie had so graciously brought this morning was a roasted, seasoned turkey, which the man placed in the center of the extended table.
Each pony wore their own emotions on their sleeve. Corona was eyeing up the potatoes like a man who struck water in the middle of a desert. Celestia looked pleased, amused even, while Luna simply sat with a soft smile of contentment and adoration, gazing down at the 'special' biscuits James had whipped up for her, these ones having bits of rose petals in them.
And, of course, Marnie held a smug grin, drinking in the attention to her cooking and inflating her ego as she carved out the breast of the turkey.
But before anyone could dig in, James stood up from his seat and motioned for everyone to be silent.
"I know y'all might have been wondering what this whole holiday is about. I don't want to get into the history of it all, so I'll keep it short. When my forefathers landed in America, the natives helped them grow and thrive in a land that was not their own, foreign and alien. And just as the natives helped my ancestors, so have you all helped me to thrive in a land that is not my own, but one day, I hope to call my home. At the turn of the harvest, when food was plentiful and the spirit's high, they prepared a great feast for the natives, a visible sign of friendship, comradery, and of thanks. And that is the reason my nation celebrated this holiday and we celebrate it today. We give thanks for what we have, for the people in our lives, for the possessions we have, and for all the good things God has given us."
He looked down sentimentally, "When I landed here, I thought my life was over. Everything I'd worked for, everything I'd endured for was gone. I have since moved past that, but the echoes of my previous life still are with me. It is because of you all that my time in Equestria has been so wonderful and restful. I am thankful for you all, that you are with me," he glanced down at Luna as he finished his speech, "You give my life meaning and for that, I am thankful."
Luna looked at him with a blush creeping across her face at his kind words. If her sister wasn't in front of her, Luna would have probably burst into tears of joy.
"Alright, that's enough sentimental jibber-jabber out of this old man. Everybody dig in!" he reached for a piece of turkey breast and the mashed potatoes.
In the 15 minutes that passed, the room was only filled with the sounds of clanking dishes, conversation, chewing, and the smells of home-cooked made-with-love food.
It was this scene that James watched with a stoic, softly grinning expression as he chewed his turkey and mashed potatoes, content to observe the familial display around him.
Familial. He hadn't felt this way for a long time...
His gaze fell upon a blue alicorn who was enjoying one of those biscuits he had worked to make for her. Feeling his look, she turned to him with a quizzical peek, "Is there something wrong, James?"
"No, I've never been better, sweetpea," he chuckled with a jovial smile.
"Then what is it?" she asked.
"Just admiring you, thas' all."
She blushed mildly, averting her eyes from him and looking at her plate, "Well, you just keep on admiring then, James Milligan."
A comfortable silence rested upon the two of them, with James not having looked away at all or wiped that smile off his face and Luna picking at the mashed potatoes with her fork.
"I love you, Luna."
The confession almost made her do a spit-take, barely restraining herself and her glee. Her heart thumped a thousand beats per minute as she peered over at him with a soft smile, "I love you too, James."
His smile got even wider as he reached with his hand to grasp hers. He stared deeply into her eyes, the stars in her mane just for a moment reflecting back at him through her eyes. They stayed like that, gazing into each other as if they were the only two beings left on the planet.
"I feel like maybe we should kiss or something, but there's some sauce on my lip that I can feel and there's this nasty piece of turkey between my teeth an-"
"Just shut up and kiss me, loverboy."
Luna reached over and did just that, melting into him for but the briefest of moments before pulling back and sitting down in her chair once more.
James felt a rush of endorphins, a feeling of power and invigoration, course through him. If he'd felt this way on Peleliu or Okinawa, that war would have been a breeze. Smiling slyly at his marefriend, he picked up his fork and resumed his meal.
But he knew now. Someday, whenever that might be, he was going to make that woman Princess his wife. |
Put it to Rest | Journal Entry 3 | April 9, 1944
I am glad to be off this miserable island and we didn't leave soon enough! Words cannot express how relieved I am that we will be leaving tonight.
Word was passed down the line that we'd finally be leaving, boarding ship and sailing to somewhere called Pavuvu. Can't say I've heard of the place, but that's the Pacific for you, I guess. They should've let us go months ago. It's not like the Japanese were fighting us anymore past January. Let the Army occupy this place and actually contribute to this damn war for once!
Frustration and dejection have been my two constant companions these past days. I am frustrated with my upper command, though I'll never verbalize it, and I am frustrated at, well, I suppose life in general. Everyday has been a challenge to slog through, every morning an uphill battle of attrition against rain, insects, malaria, disease, you name it. It's a maelstrom of every bad thing one can contract in a jungle. I could fix one guy, but another one will replace him immediately after. It's been a certain, shall I say, morale killer for myself and many a day I've felt useless and dejected, though I've never let the men know that.
But that's all behind me. I take solace in the fact that I've survived. I survived my first campaign. I've endured the most torturous, barbaric, difficult, and toilsome obstacles that life can throw at me and I can take the hits. If I was a younger man, I'm sure that'd give me an ego the size of the Empire State Building, but I think this battle has moved me past that bombastic, prideful stage of youth.
I am sitting on a pile of pillbox rubble with my unit, Howard to my left napping on a jagged piece of concrete (I never can understand how he can sleep anywhere! Laying my head on that hard piece of concrete would give me the fiercest headache imaginable!), and I feel some sort of introspection. I'm gazing at my friend's faces and seeing how this war has aged us. We were just young kids, hell we still are young kids, when we came in a year ago. Just regular folk living their lives to the best they could and now here we are. Sunken eyes, bony cheeks, filthy clothes, and looks of reservation and distance when not amongst buddies. They look as if they've tasted a thousand lifetimes and have no one to talk to about it.
It makes me understand my father's stories of the Great War veterans so much more. I hope that my friends shall not follow in their footsteps as we try to process what we've seen here.
Looks like we're boarding ship now. Here's seeing you on Pavuvu.
April 12, 1944
Well, we've arrived. And not soon enough.
I've decided that life on ship is not for me, or at least, life on a troop transport ship is not for me! Aside from morning calisthenics and PT, I've been bored out of my mind on ship! I suppose I was glad that I had no work or duty to do, but the options outside of that were pretty slim. The only things any of us really could do is go up on deck and watch the ocean for hours or, in my case, fix up some Marine's boo-boos when they don't want to go to the ship's doctor or corpsman (I will say Dr. Tavin is one mean motherf***, so I can't really blame them for not wanting to see him for a cut or other non-important thing).
That's not even mentioning the terrible air quality below deck. I swear they just pumped out the air, ran it through a few oranges or peaches to freshen it up a little bit, and then just pumped it back in. It was absolutely stifling and I feel that I would have suffocated if I slept another day on that ship.
It is surprising that this bothers me, considering the place I just left, but it is nonetheless peeving to me.
Pavuvu is an... interesting place. I can't say I've formulated an opinion on it yet, so I will just describe it here. It is incredibly muggy, intensely humid and hot (which I've grown quite used to now), a rock in the middle of nowhere, Pacific Ocean. From what the lieutenant told me, it was once a coconut plantation that was used by the natives before the war, but they abandoned it when the Japs took the Solomon Islands. Even now, as we've arrived, the remnants of their hasty flight is apparent. Discarded, unharvested coconut pits lay all over the loose sand on the beach. Strangely enough, they look half-dissolved, probably from the intense rain season that hit the islands when we were on Cape Gloucester. The trouble with that is now that they're cooking in the hot sun, this permeating, repulsive stench of rotten coconut is all I can smell right now. It can only be described as the worst stench I've ever had the displeasure of smelling outside of rotting bodies. Because this mush has covered the ground, many Marines have gotten stuck trying to navigate through it and lost their shoes. Now we squelch and squash through the rotting coconut barefoot while trying to clean it all up.
I can't even imagine the amount of disease I'm going to have to treat in the next few weeks.
We have no mess halls, no company street, no tents, nothing. Hell we don't even have fresh rations, forced by our commanders to subsist off of C rations. We gotta make our own camp with what supplies we've been given.
What a stark departure from the typical Pacific scene. I'd have thought Pavuvu would be an enticing beach, with colorful blossoms, green flora and fauna, the colorful tints of a beautiful sunset or sunrise on the horizon, and perhaps a few late night escapades with a fertile, enticing, and willing Native girl (Lord knows I could use the company of a woman...).
But no, we get rotting coconuts and ripped, wet cots to sleep on.
Another day in Uncle Sam's Misguided Children, as the saying goes around camp.
Looks like I'm needed for another detail before chow. I'll write again soon.
April 20, 1944
Well, we've at least settled in now, but the troubles have only begun.
We still sleep on ripped, old cots, but at least the Seabees were able to construct some tents for us to sleep in and paved dirt roads for us to walk on. (Bless them).
Showering has been a hassle and by hassle I mean non-existent. We have no showers or source of clean water on the island as we haven't constructed them yet. The only thing we can do to get clean is to wait for a errant rain, frantically strip ourselves to our birthday suits, lather ourselves in soap, and quickly try to scrub everything before the rain inevitably stops 10-15 seconds later. It has not been uncommon at any given time to see men, clad in the nude and holding a bar of soap, waiting outside their tents and looking up at the sky, waiting for the clouds out in the distance to blow our way.
I'm afraid I've seen more penises in the past week than anyone should see in a lifetime.
Rats have moved in and they've been nothing short of a nuisance. Perhaps not an egregious nuisance or one that really bothers us too much, but a nuisance nonetheless. Often they make little parties that try to raid our tents for food and treats during the night. It's not uncommon for one man to shuffle in his sleep, prompting the rats to scurry out of our tent in a fit of fear and waking up every man in their bunks. We've tried to control their population, but they prove to be resilient rodents, much like the Japanese in a pillbox.
But the animal who takes the cake of the biggest annoyance on this God-forsaken rock are these insufferable, beady-eyed little shits known as land crabs. These little disgusting gremlins get in everything. Our shoes, our bunks, socks, food, they somehow find a way. The act of putting on our shoes as we roll out of our bunks puts the fear of God into every man. No one wants to slip on their boondockers and feel a smooth, hard snip to the bottom of the food and beady little antennae prodding at their toes. It's enough to make even the saltiest of Marines scream in absolute terror and ain't no one blames them for it.
When I look at one, it makes me wonder how God could have made such a disgust and disgrace to nature with how ugly they are. The only thing they've been good for is meals, but preparing and cooking them is too much of a hassle for most to try.
God, I'm getting angry just by writing about them. I suppose I will put my pen down and walk for a bit, lest I rip the pages of this Bible with fierce, angered pen strokes.
April 24, 1944
Loneliness, I believe, emits a sort of sound. I think, perhaps, no one but us Marines stranded here on Pavuvu can hear it. But there is a sound loneliness emits and that sound has been in great supply here.
I'm sitting on the beach at the moment and watching the surf lap at the loose sand as I write this. And I've thought about my family and how much I miss them. Loneliness and especially homesickness has been plaguing me today. I heard about Opening Day at Wrigley Field with the Cubs vs. the Sox and it reminded me of just how isolated we are out here in the middle of the Pacific. Opening Day was weeks ago and here I am only hearing about it now! We haven't been able to set up radios or get a signal and our mail only gets delivered or sent out when the nearest supply ship docks at our port since we have no airfield constructed. The ship could take weeks to get here!
It makes me feel as if I've been forgotten, abandoned by my country and countrymen. I know this is not the case, but I still can't shake the feeling. The world passes us and leaves us behind and there's not a damn thing we can do about it. There's many times, this one included, that I've walked out here to the surf and just watched the sea, wondering if anyone knows where I am, thinks of me, or remembers me back home.
Perhaps to be forgotten is the worst part of Hell when one goes there. I could endure the fiercest fires and worst tortures they could throw at me, but knowing that no one would know where I was or remember me would be my breaking point. I've gotten just a taste of it here on Pavuvu and it's not something I'd wish upon anyone. To be forgotten by my loved ones is not a thought I'd ever relish.
I suppose I have it easy. I feel for the men who are married, separated from their wives and missing the intimacy they once had with them. I'd say we're all a little pent up out here, myself included. But I don't have a girl who's anxiously waiting for me that I'm thinking about 24/7 and I suppose that's a gift of some sorts.
This separation from, shall we say, the feminine touch, has made any pornography a valuable resource to have, even more valuable than gold. I've amassed a few contraband magazines from the States that I've traded for, though they've cost me an arm and a leg. After 'taking care' of myself, these magazines have gotten me off quite a few crappy details. Can't imagine cleaning barrels or giving the new replacements their shots is exactly fun work, but what do I know, right?
Well, I suppose I'm just going to sit here and enjoy this pleasant Pacific evening breeze blowing in. Best not to ruin a moment of peace when I have it, right?
Write again soon. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.18: The Final Campaign | "So, how are we feeling about our Lewis Structures and molecular geometries for the exam, mares and gentlecolts?"
Goodness, these students didn't have a clue of what he was talking about. He was certain that everything he had just lectured on went straight over their heads, much to his own frustrated dismay. Glazed looks and eyes betraying their barely contained bewilderment told him all he needed to know. At the very least, their diligent note-taking would mitigate some of the confusion upon review, but he foresaw a good lot of students coming to his office hours today looking for his help. Such was the case sometimes when it came to learning chemistry.
"I'm not seeing many confident faces in the room." That was the understatement of the month, but he continued to be patient with them.
Many of his students nodded their heads in agreement with his comment and he sighed, "Ok, I get that this is rough for you all, but we've got our final exam coming up on Thursday. This is a crucial concept to understand if you plan to continue in your studies in chemistry. Make sure to study up, do problems, and work out the difficulties you might have with this because it's only going to get harder from here in General Chemistry II. Chemistry is a science that is best learned with practice, much like magic. Keep up your studying."
He checked his watch, seeing that he was out of time, "Alright, we'll end class here. I've moved my office hours to 10 minutes from now, so if any of you have some immediate questions or need some more help, feel free to follow me back to my office."
Many students got up and left, James nodding to them as they left with a gentle smile, while half of his small class of 20 stayed behind.
He internally sighed, "Oh boy. Looks like I've got my work cut out for me."
An hour later, and many, many frustrated sighs from the students, his quaint, melancholic office was finally empty. He reclined back in his swivel chair and breathed a large sigh, relaxing his back into the chair and letting himself breathe for a moment. It was a long day, but he'd finally seen his lessons catching on with his students! That was encouraging at least.
But thankfully, he was done for the day and shuffled through his desk for his things, packing them into the brown, leather suitcase he'd become so known for around the campus. Through the shuffling paper and folder, he heard a set of hoofprints thump against the cheap, thin carpet outside.
"Knock knock, stranger," a tall, thin, cream mare leaned up against the doorframe.
"Hello, Ms. Dawn. What brings you to my office?"
Rising Dawn struck him as an anxious, wiry pegasus mare when he'd first met her at the start of his teaching employment at the college. Nervousness pervaded the room as soon as the Thaumaturgical Mathematics professor would get near him, eyes facing anywhere but his person, hands idly twirling hair or fidgeting with themselves. He supposed that the novelty and uncertainty surrounding himself, an alien to them, was causing her anxiety, so he dismissed her unusual behavior as fear of the unknown. Come to find out from other faculty members that she's just an anxious pony around new folk.
Which made the sudden drop-in to his office all the more perplexing.
"Oh, just popping in to catch up! How have you been?" she smiled confidently.
There was something about her that felt off to him. Her head seemed to be held higher, the angle of her neck ever so slightly above where he normally would see it. Her wings rested in a way that made her look bigger, flaring outward mildly like a majestic hawk rather than hugging her sides submissively. Her smile oozed self-confidence, one that was sure of herself and her place in the world, not like the wiry, timid, meek mare he had met and interacted with these past months.
Perhaps she had tried to improve herself? Maybe therapy or self-confidence classes? If that was the case, that was good for her, he reckoned.
"You know, Ms. Dawn? For the first time in awhile, I've been just great," he reclined back in his swivel chair, straightening out his legs in a stretch.
"Oh, that's wonderful! What's been happening that's got you in such a good mood?" she pulled up a chair.
The man internally sighed as she sat down for a discussion. He was hoping to just pack up his stuff and leave, his mental and physical exhaustion pressuring him to depart and retire to his reclining chair in his home.
"Well, I made some good progress today with my students in my office hours and I think they're starting to 'get' what I'm teaching. It was very fulfilling to watch," he rested his head in his hands, interlocking his fingers and letting his head lean on them, "And I've been seeing a girl and that's been going well. I think it might really go somewhere, if you know what I mean."
"Oh right! Your relationship with Princess Luna!"
Immediately, his brows creased downward as he shot an accusatory glare at the skinny professor, "How did you know I'm in a relationship with Princess Luna?"
For only the briefest moments, and James barely was able to catch it in her eye, panic and uncertainty flashed in the eyes of Rising Dawn before immediately returning to the bubbly confidence, "My students," she paused, "Have been talking about how the Princess has been showing up to our school quite frequently, mostly around your lecture hall. I thought it was just a rumor until I saw the both of you in that park by the fountain. It just confirmed it to me," she finished a little uneasily, like a child who had tried to tell a lie to their parents and hoped they'd bought it.
The professor was perceptive, catching the tail end change in her tone, but her reasoning made perfect sense to him and he softened the tension that had built inside of him, "Ah, I suppose that's a fair point. I'd imagined that the students were going to start asking questions and connecting the dots. Just hoped it wouldn't be this soon," he rubbed the back of his head.
"Oh you know the kids!" she waved her hand in front of her with a friendly smile, "They're a perceptive bunch, ya know?" she finished with a saccharine tone very unbecoming of her normal self.
"Yeah," he studied her for a moment, "Yeah, I guess... they are."
Rising Dawn seemed to ignore his pause, "So, since you're dating the Princess, I imagine you've been invited to the wedding of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza? Will you be in attendance?" She sat forward, appearing a little more focused on the conversation than before.
"Yes, I was invited and I guess I'll be going if it makes Luna happy," he smiled.
"Oh that's wonderful! Being invited to a spectacle like the Royal Wedding is really a once in a lifetime event! I would have loved to go," she smiled back, propping up her chin in her hand, "What kinds of ponies will be there? Do you know?"
He chuckled awkwardly, "Well, I don't really know and I'm not sure I'm at liberty to say. I think my good friend Twilight Sparkle will be there since she's the groom's sister, but can't say I know much aside from that, Ms. Dawn."
She didn't respond for a few milliseconds and held the same expression a little too long in James' opinion, like she was expecting something more, but didn't know what to say. She opted to wave her hand dismissively, "Oh, of course not, James. I can't expect you to know everything about something you were likely just invited to. No worries, " she gazed at the clock on his wall and got up, "Well, don't mind me. I'll be out of your mane, Mr. Milligan. Have a good day," and soon, it was just James once more.
He sat quietly as he processed the very strange and peculiar conversation he'd just had. Ms. Dawn was completely out of 'character' for herself that he'd come to know. What was once a wiry, anxious ball of nerves a few days ago was now a confident, upright, wide-smiling mare that wasn't afraid to talk to new folk. The complete 180 in personality baffled his brain's reasoning for such a thing. He concluded that maybe she was just having a REALLY good day and it reflected in her behavior.
Whatever. He was happy for her. For now, the only thing he cared about was going home and enjoying his tea before Luna came over for their little war memory 'get-togethers'.
He was about to drop the subject from his mind, but another perplexing realization came to him as he stepped outside into the frigid cold of mid-December.
He could've sworn Dawn's eyes were brown, not green.
Mmm, yes this was the best.
He was beginning to understand his father's strange love of sitting down in his easy chair after a hard day of farm work, for the feeling was simply satisfying. His tension from the day's troubles simply melted away as he squirmed himself deeper into the comforting cushions of his own easy chair, clutching his cup of hot tea. He closed his eyes and sighed a deep sigh of relaxation.
It was times like these where nothing in this life could bother him, not even the war.
The frigid, violent wind of the mid-December snowstorm blew heavily on his windows which voiced themselves with high-pitched creaks and groans as they resisted. A blistering cold creeped its way through the cracks where the window met the bottom of its frame, causing the man to wiggle his way deeper into his chair and blanket. He put the recliner up and rested his feet, warmed by moccasins.
Just as he was settling in, his door burst open with a BANG, snow and wind pouring into his home as his date wrestled the door shut.
"You know, most courteous folk would knock before bursting into someone's home," his mirthful sarcasm dripped into his speech, taking a sip of his tea.
"Hmm, perhaps. But then again, who said I'm a courteous mare, Mr. Milligan?"
"Touche, Luna," he motioned to the couch in his living room, "Come, sit. I imagine you wish to be far from that frigid cold that's blowing outside."
She nodded, taking her seat on the part of the couch closest to him. Not long after, she was handed a steaming cup of tea that James had poured for her, which she grasped gently with her hands, the intense heat of the cup quickly warming her chilled hands.
"What a week," she mused, gently sipping the tea and cringing from its ever so slightly too hot temperature.
"You said it, babe," James nodded, taking his own sip of his now much cooler tea.
She raised a brow and gazed him peculiarly, feeling rather confused, "You and your human phrases. What does a baby have to do with me?"
"Eh, I heard some of my old undergrad buddies call their girlfriends that. Just means an attractive young woman, s'far as I know. Meant nothing but love by it, sweetpea," he clarified, "I'm guessing you came by because you wanted to continue where we left off?"
"Only if you're comfortable with it."
"For now. The worst of it is past, but there's still more to come. We're almost through it," he looked at his tea, "But let's finish these first, shall we?"
"Once we left Peleliu, it was off to Pavuvu again. Compared to the smoking ridges and jagged coral rock, Pavuvu looked a lot more like that tropical paradise we'd all envisioned when we thought of the Pacific. None of us were happy to be there, but it was a hell of a lot better than where we came from."
He looked down to his right at her, "Nothing was really different about our little 'vacation' to Pavuvu from last time, so I'm just gonna skip ahead to the next campaign." She nodded in approval.
"Our next engagement and, although I didn't know it at the time, my final campaign would be fought on a little island about 300 miles away from my enemy's home nation called Okinawa."
Great green trees grew around them and the ground rose steadily up. James had placed them on a mountain that was steadily generating itself. Soon, it had outgrown the trees and placed them up high on an overlook, its summit depositing them down and growing a few meters more before ceasing. The view she saw was breathtaking and, much like James' overlook on his property, gave her a panoramic view of the entire island of Okinawa.
From her overlook, she spied great, green forests spanning across the island, with rich, turquoise blue water hugging the coasts. Two other prominent, but smaller mountains flanked the front and sides of the mountain she stood on, their summits also heavily forested with deep green plants. The island itself was skinny in her eyes, the width of it only about 7 miles wide according to James. Its shape, to her at least, looked as if it had been 'drawn into the ground' with a very large pencil made for a deity. Numerous fat peninsulas jutted off the sides forming bays and rich lagoons, each one containing a little village of homes with straw roofs over them. A great castle stood very off in the distance, its color a deep, saturated red on its beams and its slanted, 'pagoda' roof tinted an intense black. Around the castle contained much more flat terrain, more forest littering the landscape as well as farms.
A pleasant, warm breeze shifted her ethereal hair as the faintest twinge of bloomed flowers lazily drifted into her nostrils.
"Welcome to Okinawa, Luna. Well, what I think Okinawa was before I showed up," He gestured out towards the rest of the island with his hand.
"It's a very pretty island. I've never seen such crystal clear water with my own eyes," she looked down at the overlook before glancing back at the mountain summit behind her, "Where exactly are we in Okinawa? I'm sure you understand that I'm quite unfamiliar with where we are."
"This," he stomped his foot on the stony ground he stood on, "Is Mount Yonaha. We're on the northern portion of the island and a relatively, untouched part. It's where I spent a large amount of April patrolling."
He sat down with his feet hanging off the edge of a 20 foot dropoff, motioning with his head for Luna to come join him, "Okinawa, though I didn't really know it at the time, would be my final battle that I would have to participate in. By now, we'd been putting the heat on the Japs and we were getting very close to their home islands. As such, the fighting here was ferocious, brutal, and barbaric. Perhaps not as bad as Peleliu, but pretty close to it. They knew that if we won here, it would only be a matter of time before we'd be landing Marines on the shores of Tokyo. They had fully adopted the tactics of 'Defense In-Depth' used on Peleliu and had long since abandoned the wasteful and needless banzai charges from the Cape Gloucester and Guadalcanal campaigns. This made my stay on Okinawa a very frustrating and disheartening time."
He scratched the back of his neck and gazed out at the great, red castle, "Coming into the campaign, my morale was only slightly raised, knowing that soon enough, the war would finally, FINALLY, be over. But if the war was to be won, I knew, despite what my contract said, I would be pressed into participating in the invasion of Japan. The thought of possibly having to shoot at children was not one that was very pleasant to me."
"Children? Were your commanders ordering you to commit war crimes?" she asked with raised eyebrows and an only slightly surprised expression.
"You know the Japs by now, Lu. They would do whatever it takes to win and that includes recruiting young boys and children to resist our invasion. Nobody ever had to tell us this morbid fact because we all knew without even being asked," he sighed, "It was... sobering to say the least."
"I concur. I couldn't imagine having to live with that thought," Luna agreed.
"It wasn't comforting. But before we were set to invade Okinawa, we set sail to Guadalcanal for maneuvers and training for D-Day. And we had some... interesting adventures while staying there,"
The pleasant breeze stopped abruptly as the Okinawan landscape fell back into the blackness. Just as quickly, a new scene emerged, this one of a lush jungle with rich plant growth creating a thick canopy over them. Unlike Cape Gloucester, however, this jungle had the fingerprints of a well-developed camp cutting through it. A paved road had cut its way through the overgrowth and led to the perimeter of a large, sweeping encampment, the striped flag Luna had seen in James' closet hanging proudly over it. It was a bustling camp, alight with activity from Marines and sailors alike. "Jeeps", the motorized cart that just drove by them, came in and out, carrying supplies, personnel, and equipment.
"Guadalcanal was a lovely duty station and though most of my time was spent on maneuvers, I enjoyed what liberty I had around base. It brought me great pride to see the battle that turned the tide of our war and to know that it was my division that had brought it about. It filled me with great Esprit de Corpsand made me proud to be a member of B/2/7. Now, the training we did, I'm just going to skip over. It was what we got up to after our duties that was interesting," he squinted down at a distant Jeep rolling up the road, "I think that's me. Want to hitch a ride?"
"Sure!" she felt a mild excitement experiencing a ride in these "cars" James had spoken of.
As the Jeep got close enough, it had started to slow down, making it easy for them to jump on into the back. The occupants of the military vehicle paid no attention to their sudden boarding. She didn't recognize the driver, but James was sitting in the front, while Howard and Flume were sitting in the back. No one said anything, enjoying their newfound relaxation and relief from their difficult, demanding training. The cool breeze blowing in her face felt wonderful as they moseyed along towards their base.
"You know, this was the only time I'd ever ridden in a Jeep. The driver was some higher-up's personal chauffeur and offered to take us back while his superior officer stayed to watch another division's amphibious training. Gotta say, it's pretty nice being back on one of these things. First thing I should start working on with some Equestrian engineers when we get back," he chuckled.
Luna had the goofiest smile on, "Wow, these things are so much fun! Much better than those infernal chariots my sister always insists on using," she seemed entranced by the wheels.
"Yeah they are, aren't they?"
The car began to slow and slow until finally coming to a stop in front of a large building.
"Alright boys," the jeep driver turned to his passengers, "This'll be your stop."
"Hey, thanks again for the ride, pal," Howard smiled at the driver, slipping a mint silver dollar into the palm of his hand.
"Thanks yourself," the driver smiled like he had won the lottery, nodded to the group, and drove off the way he came.
As the Jeep drove away, Luna noticed that the group of men had already begun to walk away towards their tent to stow away gear on their racks. She and James quickly followed after them, staying relatively close to the mirthful bunch of Marines.
"Man, that last landing was tough. Thought the surf was gonna jump up and sweep me out to sea with how rough it was," Flume remarked, adjusting his grip on the big, empty flamethrower tank in his left hand, "I was afraid I was gonna flatten some poor sod if those waves kept knocking us around."
"Yeah, yah don't say...," Howard glared sarcastically at Flume with a knowing look.
"Ah sure hope the sea ain't that rough when we hit the beach on our next campaign," James had turned his head towards Flume who was walking to his left, "Ah can't say I-"
Something that James had seen had caused him to stop abruptly in his tracks. The two other men flanking his sides stopped as well, looking confused back at their buddy.
"What's the problem, Jim?" Howard took a few steps back and gazed in the direction James was looking.
"Check out the Seabee mess hall," he leveled a finger at the distant chow hall and seemed to have a craving look in his eyes.
Luna followed his finger and peeked in, squinting her eyes as she did. From what she could pick out, there were men in working clothes hauling pots and pans around the kitchen, putting food into metal trays, and cleaning the dim metal tables.
But the three of them paid no attention to the Navy cooks. No, what they had their eyes on was the food on the tables. On said tables, she saw Navy boys eating cooked chicken, mashed potatoes, drinking clean water, and digging into scoops of fresh vanilla ice cream in a separate bowl.
"WOW... real ice cream! Hey, look! They got Coca-Cola too!" Howard pointed out one Navy 'squid' with said refreshment.
"Man, what I'd give to get some of those potatoes. Just one day when I don't have to eat sea rations," Flume looked like he was about to drool.
Gone were the looks of exhaustion and debility. Now their eyes only betrayed a deep sense of craving and a ferocious appetite.
"We gotta get in there," Flume determined and the others nodded their heads in agreement.
Quickly and with great determination, they trotted as fast they could to their racks and stowed away their gear. They switched into some more comfortable clothes and promptly found themselves standing outside the Seabee's chow hall.
"Alright, let's just ease our way in. Let's just get in line and get what we can. Just book it back to our tent if the mess sergeant starts putting the screws in on us," James whispered to the other two, who nodded back at him.
James took a step up onto the wooden platform and walked calmly towards the chow line, keeping his head down and hidden behind his collar. A few seconds later, Howard walked in a few men behind him, with Flume following a couple seconds after as well.
No one seemed to acknowledge the men's intrusion into their mess hall, despite these three Marines sticking out like a used prophylactic on the sidewalk. Luna chuckled to herself at how these three thought in any way that they would blend in. It was somewhat hilarious witnessing their ignorance. Regardless of their ill-thought out plan, it somehow seemed to be working or the cooks just didn't care that they were there. She was banking on the latter option.
The three of them met up at a table off in the corner of the mess hall, big goofy smiles on their faces, "Chicken and potatoes! Oh how I've missed you!" James dug into his meal with all the grace of a ravenous bear. The other two were much the same.
"Ice cream! REAL, ice cream! I haven't had any since I left the States!" Howard scarfed down the sugary treat, the rapid clinks of his spoon marking his lightning fast pace.
Luna had a dumbfounded smile on her face as she observed the three of them all but inhale their food down their throats. Her eyebrows raised in awe as she watched Flume take an especially long chug on his Coca-Cola bottle, "I never thought one could be so excited over a very simple, plain meal."
"Hah!" James laughed, "You know, if I was in your shoes, I'd share that sentiment. But we had been subsisting off of C rations and we're feeling the squeeze of homesickness settle back in, courtesy of Pavuvu. In its own way, the simple meal of chicken, potatoes, Coke, and ice cream gave us just a taste of home, the now 'luxuries' we had so foolishly taken for granted as boys. And, if I might add, real food tastes a hell of a lot better than C rations," he chuckled mirthfully at his last statement.
"We thought we were so sneaky, masters of stealth pulling the rug over all the Seabees. It was a rare moment of youthful arrogance for ourselves. We came back the next day and the day after that and we were never caught. Soon we started bringing more of our friends and still, we were never thrown out by the MPs or mess sergeant. I thought we were really clever until I saw that sign hanging above," he gestured to said sign, Luna looking over to read it.
All Marines welcome in Chow Line after all Seabee Personnel have been Fed
She chuckled, bringing her hand up to her mouth to hide it, "I bet you felt real foolish."
"I sure did. They had known we were there all along. But I'm glad we had that experience. Strange as it may seem, my own foolishness made me feel, for just a moment, like the dumb youth that I actually was," he shrugged, folding his arms and leaning up against a wooden support beam, "After having to stay strong both emotionally and physically for so long, it felt nice to just... relax. Let out that proverbial breath I had been holding through a somewhat awkward and silly interaction. It felt peaceful to not have to think about the war and all of the problems it brought with it and just... be a kid again."
She grunted in agreement, her eyes settling back down on the group of ravenous men.
"Well, that's all that really happened here on Guadalcanal. We spent a week or so more before boarding ship and joining up with the invasion fleet," he said.
"Before long, we were steaming towards Okinawa, ready to end the war for good." |
Put it to Rest | Ch.19: Cruel Bombs | The sea lapped calmly at the side of the gray, melancholic Navy vessel Luna found herself standing on. Gone were the lush jungles of Guadalcanal, now replaced with a sight she had eerily become all too familiar with. Leaning over the sides of the railing, she gazed at what was undeniably Okinawa, looking pristine and peaceful on this warm, fresh morning. She shielded her eyes from the sun that just peaked over the summit of a mountain, its rays very annoyingly shining into her retinas. But soon, a cloud blew in front of that pesky star and her eyes were safe to look around once more.
"And here we are, Miss Luna," he held out his arms encompassing the island, "Once again, we find ourselves on the morning of a landing. And thankfully, the last time I'll have to see one again with my own eyes."
"Here's to that, babe," she inserted a little sarcasm.
"Don't get snippy with me, woman," he smiled.
At the tail end of his sentence, a loud BANG! from the vessel to their left sounded off, making her jump into James in surprise. Another shot from behind them, a loud FSSSSHHH! FSHHH FSSHHH! from the destroyer to their right firing off cylindrical shapes James called 'rockets' soon joined the fray. A cacophonous, piercing BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! from the battleship a ways down struck her sternum, pushing her back ever so slightly. Every ship began, in her mind, firing off every gun they had on their decks. What they did to the shores of Cape Gloucester didn't even compare to the raw, dominant show of strength and firepower these Americans were pouring onto the beach. The bombardment became so deafening, she could barely hear herself think, let alone hear anything James might say. She cupped her hands over her long ears, swiveling them back behind her head to protect them.
Gazing out at Okinawa, the once pristine tropical paradise was now a smoking, ashy hellscape, a maelstrom of exploding ordinance and napalm. Planes launched from aircraft carriers strafed to and fro, adding their own explosives to the assault. After three continuous minutes of bombardment, she looked expectantly at the ships, thinking they would stop or run out of ammunition, but yet they continued.
"Goddess!" she yelled over the commotion, "How can anyone survive that?"
"I don't know. But they always survived. I'm sure the most this did was tickle them in their cots underground," James yelled back. He too was covering his ears and gazing at the smoking shore.
After a few more seconds, the bombardment finally ceased, giving Luna's eardrums a much needed reprieve from the constant cacophony of noise.
Her pause didn't last long before a metallic CREAK and an opening of a door came from behind her. Turning, she spied the familiar sight of James and Howard coming on deck, the two of them putting their caps in their uniforms, but wearing no gear yet.
"Now, where have we seen this before?" James sarcastically muttered in reference to the beach, lighting up a chestnut pipe with Howard's lighter.
"I'd reckon Gloucester and Peleliu, Jim," Howard lit his cigarette, shielding it from the sea breeze with his hand before closing it with a CLINK, "Intelligence is expecting 80% causalities just on the beach."
"God damn...," James cursed, "Looks like I'm gonna have my work cut out for me. Least as long as I ain't dead as soon as I hit the beach."
Howard grunted, taking a drag of smoke and blowing it out, "I don't even know why we bomb the island's anymore. Must be a formality at this point. Hey there Japs! We're ready to fight!," he proclaimed in a mocking tone, making a few obscene gestures along with it.
James chuckled at his friend's antics, taking another drag on his pipe and breathing out, "You want the Tommy on the beach?"
"Nah, you're more of a target than I on that beach. You keep it for now. You'll need it more. Besides, if I die, I want to die holding Charlene," Luna could only guess he was referring to his rifle.
"Charlene? Out of all the girl's names you could have picked, you picked Charlene? That's such an ugly name," James joked.
"What do you got against Charlene? Charlene back home in Canton not give you any pussy?" Howard shot back.
"Shut up!" the weak comeback caused Howard to burst out into hard, ridiculing but good-natured chuckles. To which, James responded with a forceful shove, causing the short Texan to laugh at his friend harder.
Luna's ear swiveled, picking up the familiar, low drone of a plane engine, and the two men seemed to pick it up too, "Guess the flyboys are back at it again," Howard continued to calm himself from his chuckles.
But no blue Navy or Marine planes flew past them. Instead, she spotted a formation of planes in the distance flying at a steady speed over the island, heading straight towards them.
Next to Howard, James seemed to notice this too, "I don't think it's our flyboys, Howard."
The planes were getting bigger and bigger, where Luna could make out a distinct white paint job.
"Zeroes! Jap Zeroes!" A sailor a deck above them yelled. Sailors began scrambling around as a loud alarm went off, causing her to swivel her ears back.
"This is not a drill. This is not a drill. General quarters. General quarters. All hands man your battlestations!"
A flurry of red and orange tracers rocketed towards the incoming formations as each ship realized what was happening. The low drone of cruising aircraft soon broke into wild whines and dips, the Zeroes breaking formation and engaging their chosen targets.
Soon, all that was once left of the pleasant tropical morning was the beautiful sunrise off on the horizon, the rest being drowned out in the fierce fighting. But even this was being covered with a whirlwind of turbulent, intense gunfire, the blackish puffs of smoke blotting out the beautiful colors. Her ears were filled only by steady THOOM THOOM THOOM THOOM! of the ship's AA guns and the RATTA RATTA RATTA TAT of the .50 cals.
Already, flaming masses fell from the sky as the skilled anti-aircraft crews found their marks. The mangled wreckages crashed gracelessly into the eager mouth of the ocean which swallowed them whole. But Luna's eyes grew disinterested with the fates of the pilots that were shot down. Rather, she was focused intently on one Jap pilot who was in a terrible, irreversible dive towards an aircraft carrier, his machine guns firing wildly at refueling planes. And he was getting awfully close!
"What's he doing?" Luna asked James. He, however, said nothing, and gestured for her to keep watching.
"No...," Howard muttered, "There's no way he'll go through with it."
The gunners of the aircraft carrier threw everything they had at this swan-diving pilot. Gray-black puffs of smoke seemed to hug every piece of his plane as they tried desperately to stop his advance. A swift metallic creak pierced her ears as the ship executed an evasive maneuver, turning a hard left rudder in an attempt to avoid what was coming.
For those brief, horrible moments, Luna's breath hitched in her throat. In her many times watching James' memories of the war, she found herself completely stunned and horrified by what she was witnessing. Her apathy for the Japanese, for a brief moment, evaporated, being replaced with what she could only describe as quiet horror for what she thought the pilot was about to do.
It was as she feared.
BOOOOOOOOOOMM!
The aircraft carrier, the Enterprise she gleaned off of the chattering of the sailors above her, went up in a huge, orange flames, set ablaze as quick as a dry forest. The fire was intense, even from this distance. The wind blew towards her and she felt the powerful heat slam into her face, enough to cause her to shield herself from it. A secondary explosion went off, reigniting the flames anew as she saw tiny specks scramble around on the flat deck of the carrier. Some poor souls were swept right off its edge, blown away by the force of the shockwave.
"Holy shit!" Howard screamed in shock over the AA gunfire above, "They got the Enterprise!"
James, next to him, gasped in surprise, grabbed Howards right arm, and threw him to the ground, "And they're about to get us too! Get down!"
Luna, with only a split second, whipped around to see a Jap Zero gunning straight for the bridge of the troop transport ship. Out of reflex, she too threw herself on the deck, covering her head as she did.
KERRROOOOOOOOOWWW!
The most disturbing, unsettling CREAK of metal followed short after, the ship rocking to port from its sudden collision. If the explosion from the Enterprise was loud, this one was deafening. Luna clawed at her ears, trying vainly to rid them of their intense ringing. Extreme heat hugged her backside as the gasoline from the plane's engine burned bright and fiercely. She ground her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut, her senses struggling to drown out the violent stimulus bombarding her. James laid a hand on her back to comfort her, his other hand over his ears as well.
For a few seconds, all four of them laid there, desperately trying to recover from what they'd experienced. Howard was the first to get up.
"Jim, you ok?" he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and shook it.
"I'm fine. Are you ok?"
"Nothing hit me! Just a few scratches on my leg from shrapnel! Nothing serious," he looked up at the deck above them near the bridge, noting that the AA crew firing a few moments before had gone silent, "We gotta check on those squids up there! They might've gotten hit!"
Howard scrambled to his feet, James weakly following in his example, and ambled his way up the steep Naval stairs. He threw up a hand to protect his eyes from the blaze as he sprinted up. The corpsman, recovering from his shock, speedily ran after him, with Luna and James hot on his heels too.
Scrambling up, she was immediately made aware of the pilot's fate, or perhaps one of the AA gunner's fate, as she saw Howard slip a little on a patch of pinkish-red mush on the floor. She cringed, the juicy meat sound it made extremely unnerving to her. A piece of scalp with singed, onyx hair stuck to one of the doors on the ship and a half-finger lay by the railing, cut off at the middle joint.
Most of the crew lay dead, two face down with shrapnel cuts visible deep into their backs. They made no moves, looking eerily still, characteristic of freshly made dead corpses. A steady stream of blood pooled around their mangled, metal-ridden bodies, boiling as the fire inched ever so closer to them. The other two were in the blaze, laying motionless, the flames eating their corpses whole like a swarm of angry insects.
But one was alive, laying near the gun by the ammunition. His hands were up, his palms facing out trying to cover his face, and he squirmed desperately, feeling around in the air for something, anything, to grab onto and pull himself away. And unfortunately for him, the fire was creeping ever closer to his legs and towards the unfired AA ammunition.
Time was of the essence and the pair of them knew it. James was the first to reach the crewman, giving him a quick onceover and grabbing his shoulders, "Come on son! We got to move!"
"I can't see," his hands thrashed even wilder in the air, grimacing with a deep frown, "I can't fucking SEE!"
The man was getting more agitated and panicked, kicking his legs around. James shouted, "Howard, grab his left. I'll get his right!"
The fire was merely a few feet away by now. Any moment it would detonate.
The patient, on his part, seemed to be doing everything he could to wrest himself away from the pair trying to save his life, "What's happening? Why can't I see? Somebody help me! Please someone help me!"
"We're trying! C'mon, work with me kid! Work with me! You're gonna to be ok, but you have to help me before I can help you!" James pleaded with him. His eyes widened, panic starting to settle in, the fire mere inches away from the ammo magazine.
Getting far enough away, the two men set the crewman down on the deck, throwing their bodies over him, "Hang on kid!"
WHAM BAAAAAAAAAAM
The shockwave from the detonating ammunition slammed into the group, knocking Luna and James back against the railing. She shielded her eyes, feeling the incredible heat on her face, and swiveled her ears back. No doubt if this was a real situation and not just a memory, her chest and stomach would surely be burned to a crisp.
Fortunately, it seemed the three men below them had avoided such a fate, Howard's and James' clothes having some minor burn marks and perhaps some superficial burns. They stayed glued to the ground for a few more moments, making sure there would be no secondary explosion from undetonated munitions.
A few seconds later, the Marine and corpsman removed themselves from the injured sailor and Luna was finally able to get a good look at the damages. Of course, his face was badly cut up, with shrapnel cuts across his eyelids and likely some across his eyes. His cheeks were riddled with lacerations, one big one going from the corner of his mouth up to his cheekbones, and it looked deep. His hair was singed - Some patches of it were incinerated, leaving crimson, bald spots in what was once deep, chestnut hair. His blue denim shirt and lifejacket were burned, but thankfully, they seemed to have protected his chest and abdomen well enough to avoid much of the blast. Unfortunately, his sides were not so lucky.
Luna never knew that flesh could be so black and disgusting when burned this fiercely. Multiple burns hugged his back and sides, the once tender, supple flesh now more akin to charcoal than skin. The burns were deep and she doubted that this sailor would make it, no matter what James said to comfort and reassure him.
"We gotta get him to medical," James muttered under his breath to Howard.
"Oh really? NO shit, ya think?" the Texan lobbed back, "I don't think this kid'll even make it below deck, let alone to the medical bay. I mean, look at his back! I don't see how anyone could come back from that!"
"I know, but we gotta try! Even if it's just a chance!" James asserted.
They grabbed him by his limbs, the man screeching with pain as they lifted him up.
"Marines! What are you doing above deck?" a shout came from above them. Looking up, she spotted a young Ensign, clad in his clean, pressed trousers and uniform, likely just out of whatever academy he came from, leaning over the rails looking down at them.
"Sir! This man was hit by the Jap plane and needs a doctor! We're taking him down to medical!" Howard yelled back to the officer.
"Acknowledged. When you're done, stay below deck in the staging area! You'll be launching soon!" the Ensign ordered.
"Aye sir!" James yelled back, making for the stairs.
Awkwardly, the pair of them ambled back down the stairs with their causality in hand. They carried him about 10 meters down the deck before James stopped them both. He gazed down at the seaman's vacant, expressionless face and frowned. He set him down on the callous, gray metal floor, Howard following in his example, and sighed.
The man was dead.
Howard sighed too, "Well I guess that's it then."
"I guess it is," James parroted back, leaving the corpse and opening the door to below deck, "C'mon. There's nothing we can do for him now. We best be getting back to the staging area - I'm sure the Captain might be wondering where we are."
Howard gave the seaman one last look before following his friend down into the dark depths of the ship, "I think I'll go a little easier on these squids..."
The scene faded out, but instead of fading to black, Luna found herself back on the deck of the troop ship, this time higher up by the bridge, with a pristine view of the battle going on around them.
"They just don't give up, do they?" Luna gestured towards a flaming Jap plane, shot down during a dive towards a mean-looking battleship, "I mean, I thought I'd seen everything. I've seen the Japs shoot, stab, blow themselves up, make suicidal charges into certain death, and just about every irrational thing I can think of," she counted each horrible thing off on her fingers, "But, this..., this here takes the cake."
She continued her tangent, "After all this, I don't think I should even be surprised by this, but I am. How? How can one group of pon- people be so fanatical? I've dealt with ancient magical moon cults who were less passionate than this," she croaked out, leaning up against the rails with James joining her.
The man sighed, holding a neutral look on his face, "Cause they're Japs," he remarked.
And there it was. Now, she understood why Howard had said those three simple words to James all those weeks ago. Of everything she'd seen, all the memories she had witnessed, all she had learned, in her mind, there was no other way to rationalize it.
The AA fire started to die down, the Zeroes either having all found their marks or shot down. Hundreds and hundreds of pieces of fuselage, engine parts, and other pieces of plane rocked in the tumultuous surf below them. Smoking, immense columns of smoke spewed from all kinds of vessels, battleships, destroyers, cruisers, carriers, none were spared by the Japanese's fatal attack.
"Goddess, that was terrifying," Luna looked up at her man, "I..., I can't even imagine what it must've felt like to be attacked in this way."
He sighed, "It is as you said. Terrifying. I think at the time, I had grown so used to, these types of incidents, that I didn't really realize the gravity of my situation. Now, reliving it with you, it is sobering to really see and reflect on how close I was to death here. Just a shift to the right by that pilot and Howard and I would be nothing more than a thick paste on the walls."
"Thank the Goddess he missed you."
"Aye. Thank her indeed," he muttered. There was a natural pause in the conversation with the both of them taking in the aftermath of what they'd seen, gazing at ships, watching as the crews of brave men fight with the fires raging on their ships.
"Well, guess we'll keep moving on. We've got a whole battle just waiting for the two of us," he looked down at her with a little concern, "You sure you want to keep going tonight? Just want to make sure."
"Aye, I will be fine. Thank you though, James. But I think I'll be well enough to continue," she squeezed out a weak smile, flipping a piece of her mane out of the way of her eyes.
"Well then, after repulsing the Jap attack, we loaded up into our Higgins boats, each man anxious for what lay ahead, and steamed towards the coast of Okinawa."
"Most would not come back, including some of the oldest members of B/2/7." |
Put it to Rest | Journal Entry 4 | August 26, 1944
Word around camp is we're getting ready to assault the next target. Just rumors as far as I know, but it's only a matter of time before we're back in the fray. We've been doing more landing drills and maneuvers, so I'm certain we're assaulting something. I'm unsure of where we're headed, but word has it that McArthur's personally involved on this one. Sounds like it's gonna be big.
And here I was, starting to somewhat settle into life here in Pavuvu.
I feel I must apologize to you, journal, for not writing in some time. Unfortunately, nothing has been worth writing about, for most of our days are filled with dull, melancholic boredom. Life hasn't been great here, but we've been squeezing by and finding new ways to combat our monotonous routines.
We still have no showers, our bathing still done mostly in rain, and lack many basic necessities for a camp, but it's become somewhat of our new "normal" as sad and unfortunate as it is. We at least have been able to construct mess tents and a battalion headquarters, so the important things were taken care of.
The rats have evoked a begrudging respect from us for their nerves and great agility. Why, I saw one rat, when my buddy had lined up his pistol and took the shot, do a BACKFLIP out of the way and scurry away into the brush. It was the first and only time I've ever seen a rat do such a thing. For that, I can at least admit some modicrum of respect for their resilience.
The slimy land crabs still provoke nothing but disgust around camp. Good riddance I say...
I am thankful for the one truly joyful memory I can admit to having here. A comedian, one I'd never heard of until recently, by the name of Bob Hope flew out to our little rock in the middle of nowhere and put on for us a show. Now, you can imagine I'm sure, we've had nothing to do for the past three months aside from drills, PT, eating, crapping, and jacking off. You would think the show was going to be absolutely packed to the brim with every Marine that could fit.
And you'd be absolutely right.
We couldn't get close to enough seats for every man. Most of us just stood in the back, packed together like sardines just trying to get a glimpse of the stage. I was thankful that God made me as tall as I am, for seeing the stage was a breeze for guys like me. Poor Howard.
And boy, what a show it was! We laughed heartily, some falling out of their seats even! His delivery was superb, the jokes hilarious. I haven't had that much fun since I'd left the States. I'm sure most of the battalion was much the same.
It was a heartwarming reminder of home, to know that at least some people hadn't forgotten about us.
I won't lie. Near the beginning of the act, most of us were just trying to get a glimpse of those fine show girls that followed Mr. Hope on stage. WOOH. What fine, salacious outfits they had on! We strained and squinted our best just to get a glance at those legs, tantalizing us as they strode confidently around stage. We wooped and hollered at them, casting lewd remarks towards them, which they took with a smile.
I think that brunette gave me a wink. I've half a mind to find her and ask her out before she flies back.
(Luna rolled her eyes at the last line, but continued on.) ...
Ah, who am I kidding. She's just a show girl. I'm sure she meant nothing by it...
I distinctly remember a small fight breaking out to my right between a group of Marines over field glasses. Apparently, one of them had brought his binoculars with him and was able to get the prime, unobstructed view of the showgirl's bulging bosoms. The scuffle was allegedly over who would get to use them next.
Those lucky bastards.
I'm afraid I must go. Looks like Doc Hallsey needs help giving the Jarheads their pre-invasion shots. Best get to it.
Write again soon.
September 10, 1944
Well, we're back on ship and we've just arrived. For the past 5 days, we've been steaming towards the coast of a little island the lieutenant called "Peleliu", whatever that's supposed to mean. The fleet laid anchor a few hours ago and all of us caught the view of our next target.
I must say, Peleliu doesn't look all that threatening from way out here, but I know better. Japs are cooking us up a nice welcome party, I know it. Apparently, this is a real important strategic island that McArthur needs for his little operation out in the Philippines and he wants us poor ugly sods to go get it for him.
Yippee.
I suppose I shouldn't kid him too much. His drive to recapture the islands that brought about his striking defeat back in '42 is admirable. It seems he really does care for the civilians of the Philippines that he left to the Japs. Well, it at least looks that way to me. Then again, I'm only a lowly corpsman. What do I know of the intentions of a man I've never met? Regardless, I at least respect him a little bit for having the will to carry out his vision, even if it means throwing me and my buddies to the hounds in the process.
Whatever. Ain't no way out of it so might as well make the best of the situation.
A few destroyers pelted the big ridges with some shells as we watched. Seems the squids were trigger happy, not that I mind. But as I watched them bombard it, I couldn't help but get the most overwhelming feeling of dread as I gazed at the high ridges of Peleliu. Call it a superstition, a gut feeling, a premonition of God, whatever. But, I'm just getting this feeling that those ridges are going to be more trouble than they're worth to get.
Maybe it's the infantryman in me. After all, at least from my view here on the deck near the bridge, those ridges would be the perfect place to set a costly attritional defense. It would be, and I suppose will be, incredibly difficult to capture them if the Jap commander plays his cards right.
I only hope they choose to banzai us in the first day so we can leave as quick as we came. Intel says it should be a four day campaign; maybe the Japs can make it one? Ah, a man can dream.
The sun is starting to set now and I am growing tired.
Time for this corpsman to turn in. Hopefully will write soon.
September 15, 1944
My God, how am I alive? So many were cut down today; I haven't even a clue to how many were killed on those sandy shores. I almost found myself among them, hesitating out of the most extreme terror I've ever felt in my life on the beach. I can only thank the Lord that I snapped out of it and was able to get of the sand and into the burnt jungle.
The rest of the day is but a blur to me. So much stimuli was thrown at me in a few hours, I can't remember many details beyond a basic recollection. Much of the fighting was intense, much more so than anything we faced in Cape Gloucester. We really kicked the hornet's nest on this one. Japs have been trying to shell us non-stop throughout the day and I felt many a time my mental state slip for a second. I hope our artillery battalion finds those slant-eyed bastard's battery and rains hell on 'em.
I learned of the death of a well-liked Marine with my own eyes. Robert Cuppin, a 22-year old replacement from Ohio and an elementary school teacher, was blown to pieces by a Jap mortar, a near-direct hit. He was sitting to my left about 10-15 feet away from me, just smoking a cigarette and downing his canteen, when Japs let loose their artillery on our position. We all found cover in time, but Cuppin wasn't so lucky.
I can still see that bloody, gangly ring finger that landed in front of me. His golden wedding ring didn't have a scratch.
I didn't know him as well as some of the others, but I liked him. He was personable, an amicable, gentle man, great at expressing his thoughts in a jokeful, sarcastic way that always had us rolling. His wit was incredible and I will miss it dearly. He was one of the few men among us who was married and had a kid on the way. I can only give my condolences to his unborn child and now-widowed wife. Growing up without a dad, I can't imagine it will be an easy time.
I imagine he was wonderful with the children that he taught. I know if he was my teacher, I would've loved him.
Gates was great friends with him. He took it hard when I had to break the news to him. Hasn't said much since then, not that any of us blame him. I gave Gates Cuppin's wedding ring for safe-keeping until we can mail it back to his wife. I figured he would want to mail it himself, with them being close and all.
This heat has been incredibly intense, worse than any summer I've had in Canton. My boondockers squeak and squelch with sweat. My back is soaked, hair is wet with sweat, and I've got the most horrid sunburn on my hands and ears.
Lotta my men are already back aboard ship due to heat exhaustion. We ain't got enough water to keep cool from this 115 degree weather. Most of us have already drained our canteens and are beginning to feel the grip of dehydration. I've protected my own ration like a precious jewel, only taking little sips throughout the day. The fight with the Japs has quickly been forgotten. Now, water is our only primary goal.
Pray for me. Pray for us all. And most importantly, pray for rain.
The smoking lamp is out, so I must be going. I've got the first watch. Here's hoping no Japs come to pay us a visit tonight. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.20: Incompetent | SPLOOOOSH!
Luna threw out her hand and grasped at the sides of the landing craft, steadying herself from their sudden deposit into the ocean. James softly gripped her hand in an effort to help her up. The cables, which had let them down the port side, unhooked and the steady cranking could be heard on the deck as the sailors wound the heavy steel cables back up.
The engine roared to life, the boatswain taking hold of the wheel, and they inched their way towards the island.
This was it. The final landing.
From the way the men around Luna were speaking, this was going to hurt to watch. She didn't expect many of those around her to survive, much less make it off the beach. Much like Peleliu, she could almost feel the palpable anxiety emanating off the Marines, most wearing either worried or determined grimaces. The replacements, in particular, gripped their rifles harshly, their heads darting around at the slightest crack or bang of the metal. One looked as though he would throw up, the sea and the stress of battle getting to him all at once.
Mad Dog and some of the senior NCOs stood resolutely in the back. To an onlooker with no history with these men, they seemed to be quite nonchalant about what they were headed towards, most looking quite unconcerned. But Luna could see the quiet tells on their persons betraying their true feelings. Such is the life of a leader.
James himself looked better than he did during the landing at Peleliu. A few errant mortar shells landing in the sea didn't faze his impassive demeanor unlike the 'green' new guys. The rough sea smacked against the metal, letting out horrid whines and screeches, but this too had no effect on him.
Despite his detachment from their situation, silent tells showed his true emotions. His shoulders were tense, raised slightly and flexed. He fidgeted with a pack strap with his fingers and had his Thompson gripped tightly on its chestnut, smooth pistol grip. His eyes were far-off, the eyes of a man who had accepted whatever might happen to him.
"Load 'em up, gentlemen!" the order came from Mad Dog.
Each man gingerly picked out a magazine or a clip from their bandoliers, gracefully inserting them along their guides. A chorus of metal racking bashed into her ears as each man pulled the charging handles on their weapons.
Just then, a brave private stepped up on a little protrusion in the ship, peeking his head over the rim of the boat. This was enough to snap James out of whatever trance he was in. He reached out with his left hand, ready to pull the foolish Marine down and smoke him for his mistake. Just as he was about to grip his collar, the private shouted, "The landing is unopposed!"
That got the attention of every man, "Unopposed?" a machine gun crewman responded.
"Yeah, the 1st Marines are just strolling on. They ain't even gettin' shelled!" the private enthusiastically yelled over the surf and loud engine.
Now, other Marines were clambering up to get their own views, Luna following in their example. With the help of James giving her a boost, sure enough, she spied the shapes of Marines calmly walking onto the loose sand. Other larger landing crafts were depositing olive green Sherman tanks with no urgency whatsoever, leading the way through the forest.
A proverbial sigh of relief went through all the Marines onboard, knowing that death was thwarted another day. Tension spilled out of them in nervous laughter, sighs, and a gentle relaxation of their tense muscles. Luna overheard only snippets of lighthearted banter between two privates, something about this campaign being easier than they thought.
The craft lurched to a stop and the metal cranking of the door signaled their departure. It hit the sand with a muffled BAM.
"B company, let's move out! Out of the craft!" the Skipper commanded as the men spilled out of the boat speedily.
Each squad began to form up with their respective squad leaders and received their orders from their sergeants or corporals. In the confusion, Luna found that she had lost James amongst the crowds of men and equipment. After a bit of searching, she was able to spot the tall man listening to Mad Dog talk to a few officers and NCOs.
"Corporal Douglas, you've got the west sector of the forest as we push north. Intel doesn't expect much resistance from the Japs, but take a flame crew with you in case you run into some pillboxes. Lieutenant, you've got 1st and 5th squad. Your orders are simple. Engage the enemy and push forward. Hopefully, we'll be done by the end of the week and we can be off this place. Any questions?"
He was met with only silence from his men.
"Alright, let's get to it," the Captain grabbed his carbine and began to move out, each NCO and officer going off to their respective units.
She followed James closely as he found his way back to Howard, as she had come to expect.
"So, what's the dope?" Howard muttered as they adjusted their gear.
"We're pushing north, not much else to it," James shrugged, lifting his pack up on his shoulders more comfortably and adjusting his bandolier strap.
"What's the intel on that sector?" Howard asked, settling the buttstock of his rifle softly into the dirt.
"Don't know. But, it's the Japs, so I'm sure they're in there," James remarked. He shook his head in confusion as he gazed into the singed, bombarded forest, "Something's not right, Howard. I got a bad feeling about this whole thing."
"I think I know what you mean," the two began to move towards their Lieutenant who was about to brief his soldiers, "Why are the Japs just letting us waltz right on the beach? Specially when it's so close to the home islands."
"On the head there, Howard," James smirked, but it quickly went away, "I'm just saying. If they were comfortable enough to not even oppose our landing, I got this sinking pit in my stomach that whatever they have prepared for us is going to be the worst we've seen yet. I just can't shake it."
"I get ya, Jim. But, let's just focus on the now and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it," they reached the briefing circle, catching the tail end of the lieutenant's speech.
"Alright boys! Let's get out there and kick some Japanese ass!" the lieutenant finished with way too much enthusiasm. His tone, Luna remarked to herself, resembled more that of a hoofball coach trying to motivate their players than that of an officer briefing his soldiers of an attack. It was strange to her to see a man who walked with such unafraid swagger among the dreary, battle-hardened enlisted men. Talk about not reading the room.
"What do you think of the new lieutenant? Think his name is Cal," Howard muttered to James, moving himself into formation with the other Marines as they moved out, with James to his right.
"I'm not impressed. The guy has all the leadership skills of an inexperienced Scoutmaster. I'm not even sure he realizes he's in a war," James scoffed.
"Typical of those OCS cadets. Least they could have done was send us a prior enlisted Officer," Howard agreed, adjusting his rifle on his shoulder by the strap.
"Hey, here's hoping I'm wrong. All I'm saying is right now, he ain't coming close to being like Lumberjack," he shrugged.
"Did you find out what happened to Lumberjack? I was out on patrol by the Five Sisters when I heard he got hit," Howard asked.
"He got shrapnel to the stomach and broke a few ribs. They evacuated him after I brought him in. My guess? He probably got sent to Australia or Guadalcanal," James imparted. He made a deep grimace, "Shrapnel also got his balls. Guy was screaming at the top of his lungs clutching the family jewels."
"Owwww, oof. That is not a man I envy," Howard screwed his eyes shut and grimaced along with the corpsman.
"Yeah, I hope he can still have kids. Didn't look too good though. Maybe he made it back to the States," James offered, stepping over a large looking rock on the ground.
"Yeah, hopefully."
The column fell into a soft silence, the eeriness only broken by the thumps of boots on the ground, cracks of tree leaves, the sizzling embers of fire on the tree branches. The air reeked of smoke and napalm, the pungent odor penetrating into each man's nostrils. Even stranger, there was still no resistance from their enemy, not even a stray sniper or pillbox. There was absolutely nothing from them.
Luna's eyes soon fell upon her coltfriend who was marching along beside her. Her gaze followed his, finding that he was studying the new lieutenant intently, analyzing him with a scrutinizing look.
"If you looked at me as much as you looked at that man, I'd die a happy mare," she jested, nudging him in the side with her elbow.
Her jab broke him out of his thoughts, "Hmm?"
"You've been practically dressing down your commanding officer since we left the beach. What gives?" she asked.
"Oh, my apologies. I was just lost in thought," he shrugged.
"What were you thinking about?" she smiled, stepping over a large tree root.
"Our old lieutenant, 'Lumberjack'. The conversation I had with Howard just reminded me of him and I guess, I was wondering what ended up happening to him," he grunted, kicking a pebble into a tree, none of the Marines noticing it, "I wish I had tried to contact him after I got back to the States. He was a good man - and I'm sure he would have been a good friend outside of the military."
She nodded, her gaze shifting to his new lieutenant, Cal, who looked as if he was leading a troop of Mare Scouts on a camping trip rather than soldiers through a war zone, a big grin on his stocky face. He was a big man, striding confidently through the woods at his full height, while others kept their heads down and 'slouched' a little bit. She could make out Gunnery Sergeant Salt's exasperated face next to Cal, quiet annoyance plain to see, "It seems this one is not living up to his expectations," she joked with soft sarcasm.
"Aye, you're a perceptive lass," he inflected a horrible Scottish accent in a poor attempt at humor, though it still prompted a chuckle out of Luna, more out of its terribleness, "Yes, 2nd Lieutenant Calvin, or 'Cal' as we nicknamed him, was less than stellar when we first met him, as were most of the 'butterbars' we got shipped in as replacements. And like most OCS graduates, he was eager for guts and glory, and as I'm sure you've seen, didn't quite grasp the severity of his situation yet."
They got a little closer to the front, passing a few men in formation, and were able to pick up the conversation he was having with Salt, "Yes, those dirty Japs are done for. As soon as one of our guys gets hit, I'll grip my KABAR between my teeth and charge them with my .45. They won't know what hit 'em."
Salt, on his part, was excellent at concealing his frustration with his green lieutenant's cockiness, "Respectfully sir, it would be better if you stayed and commanded if we engage the enemy."
The veterans among the unit looked worriedly at one another, while the new men seemed completely unconcerned with their commanding officer's gung-ho attitude.
"Ah, you're right. Wouldn't want to leave you unprepared to do an officer's job!" Cal loudly pronounced while Salt, and many of the veteran NCOs, gritted his teeth.
"You know, I think you guys were just kidding us about the Japs," one replacement private to a veteran PFC. Luna's ears flicked backward to better eavesdrop on the conversation, "We've been on this island for hours now and there ain't no Nips in sight. Hell, boot camp was harder than this shit."
"Don't let the landing lull you into a false sense of well-being, boy. Them Japs are out there and when the shit hits the fan, this ain't gonna be easy no more. It's hell," a rugged, salty corporal answered for his PFC.
"If you say so, Corporal," the reply came, still sounding unconvinced.
The column came out of the forest to the sight of a well-kept, clean-looking Okinawan farm with open fields all around it. The house was painted a sandstone tan with straw, thatched roofing on top. The barn to its right was painted a similar color and showed no signs of tampering, activity, or sign of the enemy.
Immediately, the veterans of the unit crouched down a little bit, their heads on a swivel. The new men, noticing their change in behavior, were slower to mimic them, but soon followed in their example. Slowly, the Marines inched forwards toward the farmhouse, which in everyone's mind, was surely hiding a Jap sniper.
BANG!
A loud shot caused every man to dive for cover, each one hitting the deck. Frantic cries of "Where is he? Where is he?" came from Luna's left as the veteran riflemen hectically looked around for the perceived sniper.
Only one man was remaining standing, "Lieutenant! What are you doing? Get down!" the shout came from Salt.
Cal was completely unconcerned with the possible threat on their lives, lowering his rifle down from his shoulder and a boyish grin on his face. A thin, translucent waft of smoke came from the barrel of his rifle as he relaxed himself. Seeing that their CO was the one who fired, most of the Marines began to get up cautiously.
"What is it, sir? What did you see?" one private asked.
"I just wanted to see if I could hit that," he smiled back at the private, pointing out into the field.
The platoon followed his finger to find a Okinawan scarecrow standing in the field about 50 yards away, a puff of straw floating lazily in the air behind its head. A scowl fell on some veteran's faces behind the lieutenant while Gunnery Sergeant Salt struggled to maintain a neutral composure.
"Sir, we thought that a Jap shot at us. Respectfully, please refrain from firing unless you see a Jap," Salt said with extreme restraint. He turned to the Marines behind him, "Alright, Howard, Dandridge, take some men with you and clear the barn. You others, clear out that farmhouse. If we're clear, we'll take 20 before moving again. Fall out!"
The men swiftly followed the order, silently and cautiously approaching their objectives.
"I'll give him 5 days," James said of his CO to Howard.
"Three."
"You're on."
Howard gestured towards the barn with his head, James silently nodding in agreement.
"You, you, and you. You're with me and Dandridge," Howard picked out a few privates from amongst the group and crept towards the barn.
Thankfully and somewhat perplexingly in Luna's opinion, no shots were fired as they reached the barn door. The six men cautiously fanned out on the sides of the door with Howard and James ready to breach. Listening into the barn, Howard nodded again to James in a silent exchange, the two forming a plan for breaching instantly.
After a few seconds of waiting, Howard sprang up and whipped the door open, James scrambling in and sweeping the room. The other five quickly followed behind and swept above and in their corners.
"Clear!"
"Clear here!"
"Nothing here!"
Each man sounded the all-clear and they lowered their weapons, their muscles relaxing from the minor tension build up.
"The barn is clear Gunny!" Dandridge reported.
Each man began to explore through the barn, shifting around for any valuables or something else interesting. Two of the privates climbed up a ladder to the second floor and sat down, resting their weary muscles from the march.
Just then, a minor ruckus came from outside, behind the barn, which sounded like a shifting of mud and the stomp of something large. Immediately, Howard and James raised their weapons, rifle and Tommy at the ready. Creeping to the back doors, James spotted a small hole in a piece of dilapidated, semi-rotten wood, large enough to peek through. Tepidly, he peeked out the hole and spotted where the commotion was coming from.
"Come on, Lu. I want you to see this," James appeared at her side, his sudden appearance causing her to flinch.
"Goddess, for such a tall man, you sure are quiet on your hoov... feet," she shot him a disapproving look.
"Sorry. I'll wear a bell next time," he jested, gesturing to the now open barn doors, Howard and James already outside.
The two quickly caught up with the men, finding a most peculiar, yet familiar, creature. Coming up on James' side, she spotted an incredibly large, four-legged creature stuck in thick, heavy brown mud. Its snout was pointed, like hers, but only more pronounced. Its ears were larger than her own, but retained an extremely similar shape to her own. A faded deadgrass was its coat color, speckled with flakes or mud on its long, muscular back. Powerful nostrils blew out anxious, terrified breaths as the creature noticed the presence of the two men.
It began to panic, its legs frantically pulling at the mud, head whipping around, tail lashing, and eyes rolling back in its head.
"Easy! Easy there, boy!" Howard slung his rifle over his shoulder and threw his hands out to calm the beast.
Luna had an idea of what this creature was, but still couldn't put a name down to it. She had a sneaking suspicion that it was one of those 'coincidental similarities' James' and her own world shared.
"What is this thing?" she asked.
"That there," the man pointed at the hysterical beast, "Is a horse. And no, that's not with a 'wh' like you weird folks spell it, just an 'h'. That's just the name of the creature."
"Its face looks oddly similar to a pony's, just, longer I suppose," she reasoned.
"Well, in my world, a pony is just a smaller version of a horse, so I guess you're not far off," the beast let out a panicked whinny, making some of the men recoil back. But gradually, the equine was becoming calmer and calmer, back to a more docile state.
"And your people, they, 'ride' these things?" she cringed, angling her head down tepidly where the beast's penis would be.
"Get your mind out of the gutter, woman. Course we didn't do that. No, we would sit on its back and it would shuttle us around. Yuueck, hurts my mind just thinking about that," he grimaced a disgusted scowl, "You'll see what I mean."
She turned back to the group of men with a most peculiar predicament in their hands, "Damn, he's stuck in there good. How you think we're gonna get him out?" Howard inquired of the group.
"Get him out? He isn't our problem. It's the Okinawan's horse. They can get him when they come back," a city man grunted.
"He'll starve if we just leave him here," James shot back, slinging his Tommy over his shoulder and inspecting how deep the horse was.
"Hey, if you want to get him out, be my guest. Just don't rope me into it," the city private replied.
"Well shitface, if you're not gonna help, fine. You got any empty cartridge belts?" Dandridge gestured to the private, grabbing an empty bandolier off of him. Realizing the idea that Dandridge had, James and Howard gathered a few empty cartridge belts off themselves and another private.
Slowly and carefully, Howard slipped the thick belts underneath the horse, working his hands under its barrel through the viscous mud, until a strap was on either side. James and Dandridge did the same, working a total of four belts around the horse.
Gripping the ends of the belts, the three men readied themselves to lift, "Alright, on three. 1... 2... 3!" Dandridge gave the count.
The three men struggled to lift the heavy equine, their faces grimacing with exertion and their knuckles white from the force of their grips. They were able to budge the horse a few inches, causing it to work its front legs out. It frantically kicked up dirt as it tried to pull itself out, caking more mud onto its saturated fetlocks.
The city boys watched, offering useless advice in an half-baked attempt to be helpful. Their points were ignored, as the three adjusted their straps near the end of its barrel by the back legs and heaved once more.
Finally, the horse worked itself out of the muddy ditch, free at last. It shook itself, flecks of mud flying in all directions and painting the cheeks of the Marines with spots. Wiggling its ears and letting out a puff of air through its nose, it walked off, finding an adequate spot to graze and began to eat.
Satisfied with their work, the three sat against the barn, reveled in a job well done, and enjoyed their rest.
The order eventually came to move out, all the men around grumbling over their interruption of relaxation. The Marines grabbed their weapons, formed up near their inexperienced CO, and marched onward.
Howard and James brought up the rear this time, neither man saying much to each other, and continued their grueling march. Luna's ears, however, flicked behind her, picking up the soft thumps of hooves on packed dirt, similar to her own. The two men also picked up this noticeable discrepancy to the march cadence, looking behind them to find the deadgrass-colored horse following a few meters behind them.
"Huh, well I'll be. That little horse is following us," Howard muttered to James, their pace slowing a bit.
"Should we shoo him away?" James queried.
"I guess," Howard waved his hand at the creature, "Shoo! Shoo horse! Go on back home. It ain't safe,"
The horse, of course, didn't listen to Howard's commands. Because it doesn't know English, and it's a horse.
"I'm noticing it ain't leaving there, Howard," James chuckled at his friend's half-hearted attempts to dissuade the creature from following them, "Well, if he's gonna follow us, I'm sure he wouldn't mind carrying a few things for us."
And so, when they called ahead and informed their officers of the situation, the horse was incorporated into the march. The mortarmen, laden with heavy loads of ammunition and equipment, were noticeably thankful for the equine's presence, each man rubbing its snout gently and promising sugar for its troubles. It followed gently behind, barely even registering the weight on its back.
Seeing enough, James ended the memory and put them into the deep void of his mind once more.
"I missed that beast. He was a good horse, a dumb horse, but a good boy," he smiled retrospectively.
"Did he stay with you the whole time? It seems a little dangerous for that beast to be out in a warzone," Luna questioned.
"No, we had to part ways with him once we were ordered to the Southern section of the island, where the real fighting was. But, we had him all throughout our easy, pleasant stay in the North," he scratched at his beard, a hair falling off of it, "We eventually gave him a name, Mudpie, since we found him in the mud, but eventually, we just started calling him Dumbass," he laughed.
Luna gave him an incredulous look, folding her arms and raising her brow.
"What? He WAS a dumbass. Got himself stuck in so many things and nosing around in things he shouldn't have been nosing in," he chuckled in remembrance, "But then again, he was just a horse. Can't blame him for doing some stupid things here and there."
He sighed, "He loved attention, 'specially when he rubbed his snout. Very affectionate and happy to carry some weight for us if we needed the help."
"Guess it goes to show you how easy North Okinawa was for us when we had the luxury of a pack horse. It was so pleasant and comfortable that it lulled us into a false sense of well-being, even the veterans. We had fun camping out in the cool, warm spring weather of Okinawa and enjoying our leisurely duty. But soon, our pleasure cruise came to an end. The Army, and not to discredit the Army, was getting pummeled on the Shuri Line and we were ordered to the front to reinforce the line. And it was there where I witnessed some of the most horrible things the Japanese Army ever did. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.21: You're Done | Drip... drip... drip...
The soft, predictable pattern of water hitting the cold cavern floor greeted Rising Dawn as she shuffled her way into the cavern chamber. It was cold, not the biting, frigid cold of the overworld, but brisk nonetheless. This cavern didn't exactly come stocked with pony internal heating, so what can you do? She wrapped her cloak a little tighter around herself, her small breath clouds dissipating as soon as they left. The chamber was barely lit, the little visible light illuminating the two changeling guards to her left and right. They stood resolutely, not acknowledging her presence in the slightest, clutching their spears.
Queen Chrysalis was barely discernible through the thin shadows. Her muzzle stuck out in a solemn frown, not in anger or wrath, but quiet resentment. The fearsome emerald eyes judging Rising Dawn as she came to a stop unnerved her, causing her to put a little extra into her bow to calm whatever demon peered through those porcelain whites.
"Your Majesty, reporting," Rising Dawn respectfully spoke, the silent fear for the changeling in front of her growing inside her.
Chrysalis didn't respond for a moment, studying the poor mare with a scrutinizing gaze, before she scowled with a mighty frown, "Take that disguise off. I can't take any of you seriously when you come in looking like... them."
"Apologies, your Grace."
Tarsa's green magic burned around her, revealing the charcoal chitin and skin beneath. Rising from her bow, she stood up submissively, hands folded in front of her.
"Now, report. How goes your infiltration of the University?" Chrysalis demanded.
"Your Majesty, I've successfully replaced one of the Thaumatological Mathematics professors and disposed of her. No one suspects me or any knowledge of our coming invasion. Their young minds are weak and fragile. I doubt that they will pose any threat during the day of glory. Furthermore, I have successfully placed the shield-spell buster hexes around the campus and adjoining region, as per your request."
"Most excellent, Tarsa. Is that all?" her queen shot a wicked smile towards her.
"Well, there is one bit of information I think you should know," Tarsa tittered out, her nervousness starting to subside, "It's about that human."
"The alien that showed up a few months ago? What of him?" she barely discerned her queen raising her brow at her through the dim light.
"I am afraid he might be on to me. He seemed very suspicious the last time I talked with him and I'm worried he might pose a problem when we take the city."
"One creature will not be able to stop all of us. He will be easily dispatched by a few drones," Chrysalis waved her hand dismissively.
"Perhaps, my Queen. But he has weapons that I've seen, weapons that could kill faster than the eye can see. I watched him and the Moon Princess use them. I know he may be killed quick, but the loss of life on our part, I believe, may be too great. But I know where he keeps them. Perhaps, if we took them for ourselves, it may help," Tarsa illustrated.
Her queen said nothing, sitting back in the darkness, chin resting in her hand. A thought came to her, leaning back into the light, "You said that he was with Princess Luna at the time. How close are the two of them?"
"He told me that they were dating one another," Tarsa smiled sinisterly.
An evil chuckle gently defused out of the queen, "Tarsa, I think you just solved our little Princess Luna problem. If what you say is true, we might be able to keep that Lunar pest out of the fight entirely."
Chrysalis turned to the guard on her right, "Assemble a strike team. Shadow the man, figure out his routines, who he is, everything. When the time is right and I give the order, well, I'm sure Cadence would just love a cellmate to keep her company..."
"And you, Tarsa," her queen turned back to her with her characteristic wicked grin, "Get those weapons you speak of, if they truly pose that much of a threat to our invasion. Get them out of his hands, and I will take care of the rest."
She laid back in her throne with an approving motherly look, "You have done well, my child. A double ration from our supply for you tonight. You're dismissed."
"Thank you, my liege!" Tarsa performed an abrupt about-face and left, leaving only Chrysalis and her guards in the stingy, cool cave.
Sitting back in her chair, Chrysalis smiled to herself, "All according to plan. Come, little human. Let us see what you are made of."
SCHLOP SCHLOP SCHLOP
It was May now and with May came the wet season, or so Luna was told. What was once a dry, tropical paradise had quickly become eerily similar to Cape Gloucester, just without the lush jungles and nonstop rain. The boondocker boots, which she hardly could see through the dark of night, of each Marine was caked with wet, paste-like mud, hugging the hard fabric like a leech. Each man in their foxholes was dirty with the brown paste, some spread all over their sunburnt arms, some others having small globs of it in their stubble beards that had grown with the passage of time.
James was no different, his poncho caked with wet mud as he slept next to Howard in their foxhole.
It was a rare moment in the night where the rains ceased for a moment, giving the land, and more importantly the men, a much needed reprieve. The full moon peaked calmly over a cloud being blown away, bathing the muddy, ridged battlefield with a cold glow. Aside from the occasional rifle shot or machine gun burst in the distance, the night was surprisingly peaceful.
The position that they'd set up on was excellent. The Marines had shacked up on a steep ridge overlooking a mini valley of muddy ground separating them from the enemy, who had similarly dug defensive positions on their own ridge. Hastily dug entrenchments and machine gun pits protected their front, though their occupants looked less than enthused by the constant drainage of water into their position. In said valley was a kind of no-mans-land, containing destroyed buildings and abandoned equipment. Tiny streams of rainwater ran through the abandoned land, eroding the sediment and draining into a river that she could hear flowing heavily nearby.
A soft breeze interrupted the sereneness with a God-awful stench. Immediately, she knew it was the pungent odor of a decaying body, whether Marine or Japanese, she couldn't tell. Her eyes started to water and a mild nausea set in. She had smelled the decaying flesh of men before. Why was it so much more agonizing this time around? She reasoned it had to be the near constant saturation of water the corpses received.
Over a few seconds, she acclimated enough to the stench, but only barely. To her right, James seemed hardly bothered by it, instead looking on with a sad, demoralized grimace towards no-mans-land.
"I don't know if I can watch this. Not again," James turned away, opting to look at the muddy ground behind them.
Luna reached out to console him when she heard a faint sound of running off in the distance.
FWOOOOSH!
A blinding yellow flare shot up into the air on the Japanese side of the battlefield. A millisecond later, a Jap heavy mortar shell exploded in the back line and soon, a whole barrage of mortar shells screamed down at the entrenched Marines.
Marines caught outside their foxholes scrambled back to their positions, some of them screaming in terror as the artillery fell around them. James, having been abruptly awoken, sank as far into the mud as he possibly could, clutching his Tommy gun in his right while holding his helmet on his head with his left. Howard hugged his friend for dear life, gnashing his teeth and whimpering as the artillery blasted their position. The concussive blasts were absolutely deafening, close to bursting every man's eardrums as well as Luna's.
But, as quickly as the shelling started, it ended. Cautiously, James peaked out of his foxhole, head on a swivel looking out for injured Marines.
Luna's ears flicked towards the ridgeline. That running she heard was getting louder.
"TO ARMS! TO ARMS! THE JAPS ARE COMING!" the sentry, surprisingly unscathed by the bombardment, fired his rifle wildly at a target unseen by Luna, obscured underneath the ridgeline. Through the ringing in her ears, she could hear the distant, excited chitter and babbling of the Japanese in their native tongue.
PING!
The sentry's rifle was out and he frantically scrambled to both reload and fix his bayonet to the business end of his rifle. A Japanese soldier popped his head above the ridge and, before the Marine could respond, stabbed the sentry through the belly with his bayonet.
More Japanese soldiers flooded over the crest of the hill like fire ants after being disturbed. Many were swiftly cut down by aimed rifle and SMG fire, falling off the steep ridge and hitting the ground with a disturbing crunch. Some enemies got through, diving into Marine's foxholes and tussling ferociously with its occupants. Her heart twisted as her ears heard the leathery smooth sound of KABAR knives and bayonets being unsheathed, followed by the sickly squelch of the knife finding its mark. It was enough to nauseate her.
"God damnit. For once, I was having a restful sleep!" James yelled over the commotion to Howard.
"Quit yer whinin' and keep shooting!" the Texan shouted back.
To Luna's left, she heard the most gut-wrenching, horrific scream of pain she'd possibly heard in these memories. Both her, James, and Howard made the mistake of looking, immediately wishing that they'd hadn't. In one of the foxholes, she spied a Marine who laid dead on the crest of the entrenchment. In front of him stood his buddy and a Jap, caught without their weapons or knives and were locked in hand-to-hand combat. The Marine, probably desperate to save himself, had taken his two thumbs and was digging them into the Japanese man's eye sockets. The Nip clawed at the Marine, grabbing his mouth, nose, throat, scratching him, anything he could do to dislodge his assaulter off of him. It was to no avail, as the Jap fell over unconscious from the extreme pain and was quickly shot.
"God damn...," Howard mumbled under his breath, his mouth hanging slightly open.
"I might not ever forget that horrid scream," Luna thought to herself. She couldn't bare to look at the corpse, feeling some modicum of compassion for the soldier who was subjected to such a painful end.
James' and Howard's pause was brief. More Jap infiltrators were pouring into their position and time was short.
"CORPSMAN!"
"Duty calls, Howard. Cover me!" James gave a tap to the shoulder as a goodbye to his friend and jumped out of his foxhole, steaming towards the call.
Reaching the foxhole near the front of their position, he all but dove in headfirst, hitting the mud with a meaty THUK!
"Hey, how's it go--- ohhhhhh! Okay, you're getting morphine," James was met with a thankful nod, the patient barely holding his composure from the incredible pain. In the cool moonlight, Luna could only just make out what was happening, the occasional flashes of light from gunfire illuminating the three men.
For a man with a huge vertical cut that looked dangerously close to his femoral artery, his patient seemed to really be holding it together. His stress visibly oozed away as the syrette pierced his skin, a distant, but relieved smile spreading softly across his face.
"Give me that Sulfa, Corporal. Pressure! Pressure, private! Don't let up on it for a second. And you, get that stretcher team over here! The man's about to be whiter than my mother's china set!" he ordered, spreading Sulfa powder all over the long wound. The efficiency at which James worked was admirable. No longer was he the meek, worried corpsman she had watched earlier in the year. What knelt before her was the glare of a decisive, battle-hardened man who was determined and adept as his work. He was 'an Old Salt' now, as she had heard so many times from the replacements in these memories.
It wasn't long before the stretcher team had the patient loaded up and they were hauling him away. Watching as they left briefly, James grabbed his Tommy, lying softly in the mud and waiting for him dutifully, and started to climb out of the foxhole, leaving the remaining occupant to hold the line.
Luna noticed, out of the corner of her eye, a small ball shaped mass fly over the ridge, tumbling through the air and coming to a stop only three feet away from James. Her heart hitched in her throat, eyes widening at what just landed in front of him.
"GRENA-" BAAM!
James' warning and subsequent dive for cover was too late. The shrapnel cut into him with a sickly SLICE, ripping into his arm in an instant, turning what was once muddied, pale skin into a festering mess of blood, skin, and mangled flesh. Pieces of shrapnel penetrated his uniform all over his body, tearing up his torso and blowing a hole through his boondocker shoe. Smoke trickled softly out of the hole in the shoe, the frayed edges of the fabric singed a charcoal black.
Dazed and eyes glazed over, as if his brain was five seconds behind reality, James' training kicked in, his scratched, cut-up hands feeling around for his Thompson desperately in the dirt.
God, everything hurt. His head throbbed. His wounds stung and screamed at him as he slowly moved around in the mud. A morose odor of burning flesh trickled into his nose. He hoped that it wasn't his own flesh that was burnt, but he knew it was.
"Can't fucking see...," that snapped James out of his confusion real quick. With no regard for his own health, he quickly sat up, wincing in pain and clutching his chest. Turning to his right, the lone private left in the foxhole was lying on the ground and grasping at his face, his hands protecting his eyes from the outside world. Slowly and painfully, James crawled his way over to him.
"Everythings... ufff-, Okay. You're fine," he tried to reassure the boy.
Through the thin layer of gunfire smoke, a small Japanese soldier emerged over the crest of the ridge, his outline giving him away in the moonlight. He walked awkwardly, wearing oversized clothes that hung off him and carrying weight that he clearly was having trouble with. His hands held his bayoneted rifle clumsily, the muzzle only just being kept out of the mud. His legs were stubby, skinny, and not fully grown. His arms were much the same, too small and scrawny to carry the big rifle in his hands.
The realization hit Luna like a train. It wasn't aa soldier at all, but a boy, wearing a Jap uniform.
The little boy noticed James, still sitting in the foxhole, and charged at him, his bayonet barely level with the corpsman's torso. His arms shook from the strain of carrying a rifle much too big for himself.
James scrambled for his Thompson, finding it in a hurry, "Drop your weapon!" he yelled the command to the little Okinawan child.
Luna could see no hatred in the little boy's eyes, that characteristic animosity that marked a Japanese soldier. No enmity, no hostility, no bitterness, or disgust. The crystal blue eyes that stared back at her were that of an innocent child, caught up in over his head in a horrible situation, desperately trying to survive. Only desperation and intense fear were seen in those cerulean pools.
How horribly she wanted to jump in front of him, take him into her arms, and soothe his worries. To take him away from this horrid place and give him a happy life.
"DROP YOUR WEAPON! DO IT NOW!" James pleaded with the boy hopelessly, giving him much more time in his sights than he did any Japanese soldier.
The little boy didn't stop, his rifle shaking with strain, and continued his charge. What would be waiting for him back in the Japanese lines if he should turn back?
RATATATA
James' Thompson let out a short burst, the few rounds hitting the boy square in the face and chest. The boy fell gracelessly into the mud flat on his face, a giant splotch of mud flying a few feet forward as his head made contact. His oversized army cap flew off his head, carried by the wind a few inches before falling on a patch of grass. His rifle tumbled out of his hands, rolling inelegantly into the mud and coming to a rest.
Time seemed to stand still to James, his own wounds forgotten, as he sat fixated on the little boy's corpse.
A million thoughts raced through his mind, each one vying for his attention as he tried to process what he'd just done. The thought of the little boy's mother, no doubt in some Japanese work camp or a hostage, haunted him. His stomach sank as he realized the gravity of what had just happened in the three seconds before.
What was this intense guilt? He'd never felt this way about any Jap he shot, but then again, this was completely different. He had no doubt that this boy was pressed into service, if his oversized uniform and heavy rifle were anything to go by.
"It was him or me. It's just the nature of war," he rationalized to himself.
"You shot a child. You took a little boy away from his mother and you don't even feel sorry about it," another voice, much like his own, yet distorted and more sinister, shot back.
"He would've stabbed us. Killed our patient. We gave him a chance and he didn't take it."
"Do you honestly think that will change how you feel about what you've done?"
"... ... No."
Rapid footsteps splashed through the mud, Luna's ears flicking behind her. She turned to see Howard speedily approaching, the fighting having died down and leaving a mostly quiet night once more.
"Jim! Jim! You okay?" he yelled.
He came to a stop by the hole, close to Luna. He was confused, wondering what his friend was staring at, and followed his gaze. Seeing the boy's lifeless body, he glanced at the corpse for a few seconds and then turned back to James.
"You want to talk about it?" his voice was more caring than usual.
"No."
Howard crouched, slinging his rifle over his shoulder and checking over James and the private, "C'mon old friend. Let's get you two to the aid station. We're gonna get you fixed up."
He called a few unwounded men over, rushing over in an instant when they heard Doc was hit, and with their help, they lifted him out of the hole with Howard supporting James as they walked.
The memory finished and the scenery faded away, leaving Luna and James the only two occupants left in the void.
"James, I... I'm so sorry you had to do that."
The man spoke nothing, only idly looking at a point in the non-existent ground, and swallowed strenuously, "I know. I am too. But it doesn't change what I did, even if I had no choice."
He turned to properly look at Luna, a wetness and pain in his eyes, "I see the boy's face in my dreams all the time. I think of what kind of life he could have had if I had just, if I had just..., I don't know. Done something. Anything else. What a waste of a precious life. A waste of potential," he sighed, frowning and clenching his eyes for a second, and spoke once more, "There's one more thing to see and then, I hope at least, the war may finally be put to rest."
A tent sprang up around them, engulfing them in its canopy and blocking out the sunlight outside. A warm sea breeze rolled in through the flap, tossing it idly around random intervals. Cots with various wounded soldiers, some minor and others extreme, sat flanking the side portions of the tent, creating a small dirt path connecting the two entrances. James had obviously taken them to some hospital tent, most likely far behind the lines. The man gestured to Luna, nodding to a certain bed in the row, and motioned for her to walk over with him.
Coming to the bedside, she saw James laying there, staring up at the ceiling vacantly. His arm was in a sling, wrapped in a white, clean splint, and hugged his abdomen comfortably. There was a rather large bandage circled around his chest, covering the shrapnel wounds he received from the grenade. His foot was in a similar situation, but a small, golf ball sized patch of dried, maroon blood had bled through the white fabric of the dressing.
Her heart ached at his condition, even though she knew he would recover. The sound of footsteps behind her caused her ears to flick to its source. Before she could turn around, a mature looking doctor, perhaps in the age of 35-40, she couldn't tell, stepped up to James' bedside.
"Hey Jim. How are you feeling?" the warm doctor smiled down at him.
"Like I took a grenade to the face," the man sarcastically snapped, causing the doctor to frown. James face softened, seeing the doctor's disapproving look, "Sorry, Hallsey. I'm... fine, I guess."
He nestled a little further into his makeshift dungaree jacket pillow, "Any news from the front?"
"Word from Mad Dog is they're assaulting the Shuri Line and I'm about to get a ton more patients and death certificates to sign. But, it looks like we should hopefully be finishing up here soon."
The answer didn't seem to satisfy James, who seemed to expect more detail from the good doctor. He chose not to pry any further, "Well, once I get healed up, I guess I'll try to keep those certificates to a minimum for you, how about that?"
Hallsey sat down on the empty cot next to him and set his clipboard aside, "Well, yes. About that," he leaned forward, taking off his reading glasses and resting his arms on his legs, "I'm not sending you back to the front at all."
Confusion glazed over James' face, sitting up in his bed and causing him to wince a little bit, "What do you mean 'not sending me back to the front?' The boys need me."
"We've got a replacement coming in and with the injuries you've got, and considering how long they'll take to heal, I can't in good conscience send you back out there at all."
"Well, what does this mean then?"
"I'm sending you home, Jim," Doc Hallsey frowned, "You're done."
Hallsey stood up, putting his glasses back on and holding the clipboard behind his back, "Next ship out of here should be steaming towards Pearl for refueling and then back to San Diego. It's been wonderful serving with you, Jim, but I'm afraid our time has come to an end. Good luck back in the States."
With his announcement given, Hallsey took his leave to check on other patients.
The face she saw James make was perplexing. It looked as though both relief and uncertainty were trying to peak through, but he couldn't really decide what to feel. Eventually, he settled on satisfaction, a small, pleasant smile adorning his features.
"It's finally over," he muttered to himself, "I'm going home."
Luna's eyes opened softly, the dim mana light illuminating the room just enough to see around her. Her joints cracked as she stood up from her chair, twisting her back in an effort to crack her spine. James similarly stood up, his knees giving off tiny cracks as well.
"Boy, we gotta stop making these sessions run so long. I'm not sure my joints like it," he stretched his arms out behind him, letting out a big grunt.
"You said it," she replied.
Once the two had finished stretching for a moment, they turned to look at each other, James holding his hands behind him and Luna resting her arms gently underneath her chest.
"Well, you wanted to know about the war. And, well I'd reckon that was everything," James said.
"Thank you for sharing it with me. I know how hard it must have been to relive those memories again," Luna frowned.
"It was. But, I guess, in some way, I feel a little better. Like some tension was released in me," he took a deep breath, letting it slow, "So, thank you. You were right."
"Always happy to help, sweetpea," she warmly spoke his pet name for her.
James chuckled, laughing with that melodious baritone voice she loved, and smiled, "Will you help me with my nightmares, Luna?"
"You really mean it?" she looked at him hopefully
"Yes," he nodded, "The more and more we did this, the more I realized that I can't deal with this on my own. And seeing that boy again only solidified those feelings. For once, I am being honest with myself and with you."
He sighed, "I'm not okay. I don't feel okay at all. But with your help, maybe... maybe this can be the first step towards being okay again. Will you help me?"
"Oh James. That's all I've ever wanted to do from the beginning," she pulled him in for a hug, the tall man returning it eagerly.
"I don't deserve you," James mumbled into her ethereal mane.
"You're right," she laughed, "But I don't deserve you either. Isn't it nice that sometimes we get things that we don't deserve?"
"Yes," he pulled her in tighter, "Yes it is." |
Put it to Rest | Ch.22: A New War | It was unusually quiet for a beautiful June evening. A little too quiet in James' opinion, his nerves subconsciously on the lookout for an ambush, but that's what you get when you've lived through a war.
It was a calm night, that usual warm mountain breeze hitting his cheeks softly as he strode up the path to his home. The full moon shone fiercely tonight as it did the last week and a few days before that. Luna gave him the excuse that it was to celebrate the upcoming wedding of her niece.
"I didn't know you could just rearrange the cosmos for a couple of lovers. Is the moon gonna blind everyone the first night I touch your pussy?" he'd gotten a firm slap on the wrist for that one. He had shot a mocking, evil cackle at her, playfully rubbing his hands together like one of those super villains in those comic books, which had gotten her to chuckle heartily. He did love those joyful moments with her.
Ah yes, truly a gorgeous night. The only thing that would make it better would be the removal of that pink eyesore surrounding the city. He'd heard from Luna that there was a possible threat to the wedding, probably made by some upstart looking for fame in his opinion, but nevertheless, they had to take it seriously. After all, it WAS a royal wedding. Who knew what some people would do for whatever beliefs or personal gripes they held? It had cut into his time with Corona, who pulled the graveyard shift a few times much to her dismay, but otherwise, it sounded like nothing was going to come of the threat.
That pink shield ruined his view, but whatever. He can deal with it for another two days. For now, the only thing he was worried about was finishing some work and enjoying a cup of tea and a novel before bed.
He closed his door behind him, the metal hinges creaking a little. After taking off his jacket and hat and hanging them on his coat rack, he slowly made his way up to his room, letting out a big yawn as he rounded the top banister.
"Gosh, maybe I should forget the tea and just hit the sack..."
His inner monologue paused as he passed over his room's threshold. Standing to the right of his wooden vanity was Luna, whose eyes looked visibly panicked at the sight of him. She flinched for but a millisecond as she noticed his arrival, but this was soon replaced with a warm smile.
"Oh! Hey honey. I didn't hear you come in!" Luna's smile got a little wider, which he thought unsettling, but he chose to say nothing. Best to pick your battles with your woman, as Dad would say.
"Hey sweetpea. Not that I'm not happy to see you or anything, but what are you doing in my home?" he queried. Actually, he never recalled giving Luna a key. Maybe Celly had a backup at the castle for emergencies he didn't know about? He wouldn't be surprised. Tia could be quite the worrier over, to be quite frank, non-issues in his eyes. Regardless of Tia's tendencies towards trepidation, he stepped up to his girlfriend and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek.
"I left my, uh, moon penchant here when we last saw each other. I thought I left it in your living room, but I can't find it anywhere," she frowned.
He looked down at the floor, "Oh well, in that case, I'll help you find it. Do you think it might have fallen on th- GOOD Lord! What happened to your leg?" He pointed down at her lacerated, bleeding leg with great concern.
She, surprised and confused, looked down at her leg to see three long lacerations along her leg, which were bleeding slowly and steadily down her fur, "OH! I'm sorry. I fell and cut myself on some fallen tree bark on the way here."
"Don't be sorry. Well why didn't you get yourself cleaned up first before you went looking around for your necklace in my house? Come here and sit. Let me have a look," he sat down on his bed, patting the spot next to him, which Luna obliged.
Her face was an odd mixture of uneasiness and anxiety, like a child caught in a lie way over their heads. An odd expression to have, but he'd ask her about it after she isn't bleeding on his carpet.
"Oh my, that's a deep cut. It's almost like you've been stepping through.... glass," he trailed off at the last word.
"Dear?" Luna scrunched her brows in confusion.
"Its, it's nothing, Lu. Let's get you patched up. Just hang tight and I'll go get you some gauze and disinfectant," he put on a reassuring, caring smile.
"Are you sure? I can come with you to the closet to-"
"Stay here, sweetheart. I got it," he asserted more sternly and got up to walk into his closet.
He had a sneaking suspicion that she wasn't telling him something. Hell, he wasn't even sure that was Luna back there, perhaps just a really, really good doppelganger. After all, how did she get into his house and why did she have a glass cut on her foot? But then again, what thief could perfectly copy both lifelike wings and a startlingly real-looking alicorn horn? Maybe magic? He didn't really understand it well enough to know of its capabilities. Maybe this pony was a very, VERY good illusionist. If that was the case, he had to take precautions.
He got into his closet and reached for his .45, gently opening the slide and locking it, and loaded a filled magazine in gingerly, not wanting to alert the possible thief.
"So Luna, how's your sister doing?" he asked, gently grabbing the slide and letting it slide a round into the chamber.
"Celestia's doing wonderfully! Still eating too much cake though."
Luna doesn't call her sister by her full name.
"Is that so? Well, I'm sure you can ask her about her diet from the castle prison then," he nudged the slide lock down with his thumb, the heavy metal sliding forward with a SHINK!
"Now," he snarled, aiming the silvery pistol at her, "Who are you really and what are you doing in my house?"
Her pearly whites got big real quick, her hands thrown up in a defensive, perhaps pleading gesture. She eyed the gun fearfully, "James! What are you doing with that? It's me! Luna!"
"Oh really? Then what's the name of the man who gave me this watch?" he held up his left hand, Arles' watch strapped comfortably around his wrist.
Luna was silent for a few seconds, eyes darting around for a few moments, and then scowled.
"GET HIM!"
She tried to lunge forward, reaching for the pistol in his hand. His ears picked up swift movement from behind him and he realized he'd been strung along until this thief's buddies could spring an ambush. He needed to act fast.
BLAM!
The .45 ACP evacuated her skull of its contents quickly, the doppelganger's corpse falling flat on its back. A bright green flash enveloped her body, revealing a black, chitinous bug woman laid dead.
No sooner had James shot the woman dead did he rotate around with his pistol, ready to fire at whoever was behind him. He didn't get the chance to, as in his quickness to catch the attacking intruder, James accidentally pistol whipped him in his face, sending him crashing into the door.
Someone grabbed his right arm, while another grabbed his left, intending to throw him down to the ground, but James resisted well enough to only be forced to a kneel. He wrestled with them, knocking them into the walls, kicking them, grabbing at their throats, scratching them even, but their grips remained firm. The one on the right tried to wrestle away his control of the pistol by grabbing the barrel, but he had made a painful mistake. James fired again and missed his target entirely. However, the concussive blast that roared out of the end of the handgun slammed into the attacker's fingers, causing him to hiss in pain and release his hold on the weapon.
James aimed to press his advantage, whipping the gun to the bug's head, and fired.
But the insect man was able to knock James' hand just a hair away from his face before he fired and the bullet instead sliced through its shoulders.
"Hurry brother! He is strong and iron-willed! Neutralize him!" he heard the one on the left scream.
He realized that in the commotion, the now bruised man he had pistol whipped had gotten up and had a spell charged on its horn.
"Sleep!" he heard the horn blast and something dense slam into his face.
And soon, the warrior's hands went limp and he saw only blackness.
Slek was not having a good day.
His broodsister lay dead bleeding all over the carpet 4 feet to his left and his two Changeling brothers lay beaten, bloodied, and bruised, with a few scratch marks near their faces.
"For such an ugly, hairless minotaur, he fought with the ferocity of a bugbear," one of his brothers scowled, nursing a sickly, deep green bruise on his hardened black skin.
"Tarsa was right. He would've been a problem. It is good our queen was wise enough to remove this threat before our invasion," his other brother frowned, "If only she had bandaged that wound. Could've saved us the trouble if she'd listened to our advice. I was told that she was one of our best infiltrators. Now I'm not so sure."
"Still your tongue, Bolith, before I cut it out. Tarsa, though she was foolish tonight, was still my broodsister and I shall not tolerate you scorning her," Slek shook his head and sighed as he gazed upon her body, "Well, I suppose we've got what we came for. Bolith, grab the gun and the man. Loik, grab Tarsa's body. Let's get back to the hive. This will all be worth it when we achieve glorious victory tomorrow."
Something was pulsing in James' head and it was becoming really uncomfortable. Did he pour a little too much whiskey last night?
His eyes opened crustily, weakly squinting as the very dim light in the room flooded into his pupils. He groaned, the headache somehow becoming even worse than before, and tried to sit up. His joints and spine crinkled and cracked sickeningly, their whines making the man fear the worst.
"Uhhhhfff," he put his face into his hands and groaned, "Where am I?"
"You're under Canterlot. Is that you, James?" a weak feminine voice spoke out of the darkness.
The speaking of his name returned some of James' mental acuity and it caused him to swiftly look around for whoever had spoken to him. His memory of the assault flooded back all at once and his adrenaline started to spike once more in anticipation for another attack or interrogation.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" he challenged.
Weakly, he heard the shuffle of hooves on the hard rock, the steps sounding soft and delicate. Out stepped the bride to be, Cadence, adorned in nothing but dirty, ripped clothes and dull, bronze horseshoes. Her hair looked a mess, the pinks and purples ripped and torn with frayed ends. She'd been beaten and a few bruises were visible on her cheeks and arms. Her beautiful, full wings were tied behind her, unable to move or flex themselves. The ropes that bound her glowed with a soft, green luminesence, with some sort of magic surrounding them. To him, it looked incredibly uncomfortable. His anger softened at the sight of a friendly face, but his guard remained up.
"How do I know you're not one of those bug... pony things?"
"We celebrated a human holiday called Thanksgiving and my first words to you were about your height," she quickly replied, coming to a stop and sitting down next to him.
"Alright, I guess you're the real Cadence. What's happening? Do you know what's going on?" he rubbed his eyes and looked around their makeshift prison cell groggily.
"We've been foalnapped by Changelings and imprisoned here for Celestia knows how long," she frowned, folding her hands in her lap.
"Changelings? You mean those bug things?"
"Yes, those bug things," she replied.
He sat up properly now, "What are they? And is there any light around here? I can barely see you."
"Sorry, here. Let me just," she lit her horn with a luminosity spell, the dim pink light properly illuminating her slim, petite form, "There we go. To put it simply, they're parasites. They feed off love you have for others and it gives them power."
"Well, what do they want with me? I can't imagine why they'd----. Ohhhh," the sudden realization hit him like a Jeep.
"You're the coltfriend to one of the most powerful alicorns in our nation," she snorted, "I would have been surprised if they didn't try to get you."
She sighed and frowned, "But, regardless of that, I am sorry that you're down here."
"Don't be sorry. It's not your fault, Cadence," he stood up, stretching his arms out and rolling his neck. He looked down at her face, "My God, Cadence. You look positively parched."
The corners of her mouth weakly turned upwards in an attempt of a smile, "They've barely kept me alive, only occasionally dropping food or water down here."
Her eyes grew sad and the perpetual frown she had been wearing before returned, "Some wedding day I've been having. I can't imagine what that... that bitch is doing to my Shining."
"Who? Who are you talking about?" James puzzled, walking over to a boulder and laying his back against it.
"Queen Chrysalis. She's in charge of the Changeling hive and is the one who had us foalnapped," they heard a muffled shaking above them, "And she's responsible for that invasion that's going on topside."
"Invasion?" he scratched his chin, "What does she want with Equestria?"
"I don't know, but I do know that my wedding has provided the perfect opportunity for her to try to take over."
"Maybe so. I can't imagine she'll get past Celestia or Luna though. I ain't ever seen them lose a fight, but then again, I ain't seen them really in a fight, so make of that what you will," he offered.
"Your faith in Celestia and Luna's magical and fighting skills are well-placed. I only hope that they will be able to find us soon," her stomach grumbled grossly and her eyes scrunched up in anguish, "This day was supposed to be perfect. How could it have gone like this? It isn't fair."
He softly scooted over to her side and placed a warm, comforting hand on her shoulder, "I'm sorry, Cadence. You're right. It isn't fair at all," he chuckled half-heartedly, "Well, in my line of work, you just come to accept that fact."
She wiped her eyes of a few tears that were threatening to fall, "Sounds like you speak from experience."
He paused for a moment, "Yes. Yes, you could say that, Cadence."
She sniffled, "What do we do now?"
James stood up, rolling up his sleeves and looking towards the walls of their prison, "Now, we find a way to get out of here. If what you say is true, Canterlot's gonna need all the help it can get to repel this invasion. We can't sit this one out."
"I've tried everyway I can to leave James, but there's no way out. The only opening is the hole they dropped us through and they've got that sealed off right now."
He looked to her wings, "Well, they've gotta open it back up eventually. Here, let me get those restraints off of you. Maybe you can fly up there and get us out of here."
He reached for the ropes to pull them off, but they proved to be a struggle. Whoever had tied them clearly knew what they were doing, "God, this is worse than that fucking Gordian knot." Whatever magic that had been enchanted onto them wasn't making it much easier, as to him, there was some kind of force that was resisting his movements, similar to a strong wind on bridge.
But, with much cursing and effort, he finally was able to untie the ropes, discarding them on the ground inelegantly to his left.
A genuine smile, quite a pretty one in James' opinion, spread across Cadence's face as she flexed her wings for the first time in a long while, "Ah, that feels so much better. Thank you James."
"You are most welcome, Miss Cadence," he looked up to the ceiling of the cave, trying to find the exit/entrance Cadence spoke of, "Well, looks like we're in for a wait. Unless you can blow a hole through a cave system."
"Perhaps if I was outside this chamber, but the enchantments in the walls of the cave will nullify any magic I throw at them," she replied.
"Well then," he sat down against the cave wall, Cadence following his example and sitting down next to him, "Now we wait."
It had been many hours. James couldn't really tell how many, but it had been awhile. Cadence had taken to telling him her story, her life and how she got where she is now and the such. It had helped to pass the monotony of being imprisoned by evil bug pony things, which James had never in a million years imagined he would think he'd find himself butting heads with.
He was thirsty and hungry, two things he'd hoped he would never deal with again after the war. His stomach made quiet, muffled growls and rumbles which were starting to feel painful to him. He hoped that Cadence didn't hear them. She seemed the type to worry, especially in the condition she was in at this present moment.
"And that's when he proposed. And now we're here," she gestured to the cave.
"Hmm," he grunted in response, lost in thought. Cadence trailed off at the end, seeing that the conversation had reached its comfortable end, and folded her hands over her stomach as she laid back against the cool cave walls.
The two of them were silent for a few awkward moments. James still seemed lost in his own thoughts and Cadence was looking nervously off to her side, her thumbs idly fumbling with each other.
But soon, she spoke again, "Do you ever think we'll get out of here?"
"What do you mean?" he pulled himself out of his thoughts and turned towards her.
"I just," she brushed an idle strand of her hair out of her eye, "I'm just worried we'll never make it out of here. I mean, if I even make out of this cave, there's got to be many Changelings guarding the exit. I'd barely be able to take one of them right now, much less a swarm of them."
He sighed, seeing the wisdom in her words, "I know, Cadence. But it's the only option we have right now."
"What if we never get out of here? What if we die in this hole?" she whimpered.
"Then we die," he flatly grunted. Cadence flinched at his coarseness.
"You sound so disinterested in your own demise," she reckoned.
"When you've faced your own death as much as I have in my life, its sting becomes less of a terrifying possibility and more of an everyday part of life."
"You don't even sound scared," she divulged with a small, somewhat reassured smile on her face.
"HAH," he fake laughed, "Of course I'm scared. God, I'm terrified of what these things could do to me. But the way I see it, and the way I saw it when I was in the military, it's best to not worry about things that you can't change. You're just giving yourself anxiety over something you can't control. And if it's my time to die, and I sure hope that it isn't, then it's my time."
"That's a very mature, if a little morbid, way of looking at life," she remarked to him.
"Thank you," he warmly replied.
BOOOM!
The cave walls exploded inwards, scattering singed, heated rock everywhere. Cadence was quick enough to cast a shield in front of them, the jagged shards of death bouncing harmlessly off the pink wall and landing gracelessly on the floor.
The both of them coughed heavily as the dust settled. Standing in that train sized hole that was just created stood Twilight.
"Oh Twilight! Thank Celestia you're here!" Cadence shouted with relief.
Her eyes widened as she realized Twilight was charging a nasty looking spell on her horn, rage and murder filling her purple eyes.
"WAIT! DON'T SHOOT! WE'RE FRIENDLY!" James shouted to Twilight, who whipped towards him.
"NO! I won't let you trick me again, Changelings!"
"Twilight, get that fucking horn out of my face or so help me God, I will rip it off your skull and shove it up your ass so hard, it's gonna take a major operation to get my arm out," his voice boomed with authority, faltering the young unicorn's resolve a little.
She stared at him for a few moments before she finally let up on her spell, the magic dispersing like a vapor.
"Thank you," he relaxed, letting his arms fall back to their sides, "Boy am I glad to see you, Twilight. I thought nobody would ever find us."
Cadence took a step forward, but Twilight quickly lit her horn again, "Uh uh uh. I may know he's real, but I'm not so sure about you. Prove to me that you're the real Cadence."
"Sunshine sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hands and do a little shake," the pink alicorn sang in a melodic, yet silly voice. This placated Twilight's fury immediately as James watched her fling herself into Cadence's arms in a huge hug.
"Oh Cadence! I'm so glad I found you!" Twilight grinned, nestling herself deeper into the hug.
"So am I. I thought I might never leave here, but that smart little filly I foalsat has proved me wrong," Cadence smiled eagerly back down at her.
"If you two are done catching up, let's get moving. We're busting out of here," James nodded to the 'opening' Twilight had created.
Twilight broke the hug, "We have to get out of here. We have to stop that... fake Cadence!"
"Chrysalis, you mean," James added. Twilight raised a brow, "We'll explain on the way. For now, you're right."
He stepped through the hole and turned back to them, "We've got a wedding to crash, ladies." |
Put it to Rest | Ch.23: Spelunking | "What is taking that man so long?"
Luna wondered aloud to herself, dragging her ornate, rich blue colored brush through her mane gently. He said he would be here 45 minutes ago, yet here she still stood, alone. She glanced over to the grandfather clock resting in the corner of her chambers and sighed.
The ceremony would be happening within the next couple of hours. Maybe he didn't care to get to an event early, but she'd specifically asked him to be early. He wasn't one to go back on his word.
Maybe she should just do a quick teleport to check up on him. A swift in and out. Maybe he got held up by problems with his suit or some other minor problem sprang up. They'd be back in the castle in no time.
With her mind made up, she started to channel her magic to her horn, the soft blue luminescence growing brighter and brighter, before she blinked away from her room.
In an instant, her deep blue colored chambers were replaced with the outside of James' house, the still air of her room switched with a soft mountain breeze befitting of the altitude. Nothing seemed amiss as she stood outside, which calmed that little voice in her head that assumed the catastrophic worst. Stepping up to the door, she gave it a vigorous knock.
"James! James, are you in there?" she yelled through the door.
For ten seconds she waited for something, a loud shuffling of feet down the stairs or a hasty tapping of his polished, leather shoes he wore so much. But none came.
She tried the door and found that it was unlocked. Which was strange, because James never came into his house without locking the door behind him. Perhaps he forgot when he left? If he's even left his house yet. Shutting the door behind her and locking it for him, even stranger, she found the house devoid of any activity.
"James! Are you almost ready? We've got to get to the ceremony," she yelled up the stairs. She waited for a response, but again, none came.
Something was definitely up. She jogged up the stairs and came to the bedroom door, which was also closed, "James, this better not be some elaborate prank you're pulling on me. Are you in there? I'm starting to get worried."
No response.
"Alright, I'm coming in! If this is some joke or prank to scare me, I'll banish you to the moon!" she grabbed the door handle and forced it open.
She gasped, her hands covering her mouth, "JAMES!"
"So, there was signs of a fight and blood was all over the floor?" Celestia asked worriedly, sitting her and Luna down on her bed in Celestia's chambers. The two looked dressed to the nines, Celestia opting for a modest, yet beautiful deep maroon dress as per Cadence's request. Her hair was restrained in a neat braid, adorned with flowers between its seams.
"Yes, around his bed and on the floor. His room was ransacked and everything was thrown out of place," Luna rested her forehead in her hands and whimpered, "I don't know what to do, Tia. Where could those bastards have taken him?"
Celestia put a comforting arm around her sister, "It's going to be ok, dear Luna. Let's try to think this through. I've already have the guards investigating the city for any sign of him. Do you know anypony that wanted him harmed, or more seriously, wanted to get to you somehow? I fear that this may be politically or personally motivated."
Luna sniffled, daintily wiping away a single tear that threatened to come out, "No, I don't know of anypony. But they must have been planning this for awhile."
Celestia's brows scrunched at this and she leaned in a little closer, "How do you know?"
"His firearms were gone. Taken by whoever did this, I'd wager," Luna explained.
"Firearms? What's a firearm and more importantly, what do they look like? Maybe if we can find a clue to where they took them, we can find him," Celestia added.
Luna paused for a moment, "They're like, gosh what's equivalent to a gun? Um, they're like a bow and arrow, but instead of an arrow, it fires a small rock called a bullet really, REALLY, fast. They're long and cylindrical in shape and made out of wood. The point is, no one... err, no pony else knew about them except for James and myself. And I suppose now you too, although I don't think he'll mind. They had to have been watching him for awhile."
"Hmm," Celestia pursed her lips, "What a wedding. First Twilight and now a foalnapping. I'm starting to think that this wedding has been cursed."
"What happened to Twilight?" Luna inquired, turning herself towards her sister.
"She-"
Just then, a firm knock on the door interrupted their conversation, "Princess Luna! There is a letter for you, ma'am!" The guard shouted through the thick mahogany door.
Giving each other a puzzled look, both got up from the bed and went over to the door. Standing outside was one of her night guards, who presented the letter to her, "Ma'am."
"Thank you, soldier," Celestia nodded.
"Lieutenant Dusk asked me to inform you that we have found no sign of Mr. Milligan yet, but we are continuing to look. We will keep you updated," the guard informed.
"Thank you, that will be all. Report back to us if you learn anything," Luna requested. The guardspony gave a swift salute, did an about face, and started the walk back to her unit.
There was no return address on it, only the neat black ink in the center detailing the castle's mailing address. Eyeing the thin, white paper letter incredulously, Luna set to work opening it up, a thin sheet of paper being its only contents. The handwriting was fine, elegantly written in neat cursive.
Greetings
If you are reading this, then you have learned of Mr. James Milligan's foalnapping and are no doubt scouring the city for the culprits. Rest assured, we are responsible for his abduction.
We ask for no ransom, no amnesty for crimes, no tax cuts, no extortion. We are not in the business of such petty things. If you wish for Mr. Milligan to be returned unharmed, then you will do something for us.
You will go to Whitetail Woods. Follow the path in from the east and continue until you come to a stop at a crossroads in the middle of the forest. You will await further instructions upon reaching this point.
No guards, no tricks, nothing. If we catch any hint of an ambush or trap, then the man will be returned to you in pieces. Do not try to find us. Do not come after us. Trust us, we will evade whatever you try to entrap us in and it will only hurt your dear old coltfriend in the process.
And remember, smile. We will be watching.
For a moment, Luna said nothing. She was scowling, her fists shaking in an extreme anger as she gripped the page as tightly as she could without ripping it. The page was soon incinerated away, the ashes burned away in a intense magical blue fire.
"I'll kill them," she burned with rage, "When I get my hands on them, I'll send them into orbit!"
Celestia, too, was frowning, though with much less ferocity, "Normally I'd agree, but remember what they said. I hate for us to be extorted like this, but I'm afraid we don't have a choice. At least, until we get a clue as to where James is being held."
Luna softened only slightly and sighed, "I guess that's it then. We'll just have to play along."
"Take the Night Raiders with you. I don't know what's waiting for you, but I won't send you in there without some of our best shadowing you," Celestia added.
"Agreed. Be safe, sister. I'll keep you posted on what's happening when I get there."
Chrysalis' day was going just perfectly. Everything had gone exactly as planned. The purple brat has been neutralized and no pony suspects a thing.
She floated another pink flower into her braid, delicately placing it amongst the bouquet that now rested in the beautiful "false" mane.
"Soon," she gazed into her reflection in the vanity mirror, smiling to herself, "Soon, I will be Queen of so much more."
Her eyes soon fell upon a certain drawer in her dresser, the middle one to be precise. Walking over to it, she gave the handle a swift yank, pulling it open to reveal the silvery, glistening weapon that Tarsa and her team had procured for her. Gently picking it up, she analyzed its smooth metal with extreme scrutiny. For the past day, she'd been no closer to unlocking the secret to its power since the moment she was given it. The only setback in this whole plan had been Tarsa's death, as she was the only one of her hive who had knowledge of how to work the human's machine. And she now laid buried back in the desert.
Its 'latch', or she assumed that was what it was called, in the center of the guard had been locked in place, unmoved no matter how much force she exerted with her finger. Lest she make a mistake or hurt herself, she had chosen to lay it aside until now. Perhaps a little 'chat' with her hostage after this invasion might enlighten her to the inner workings of his machine, but for now, she was content to tinker with it.
She was looking down the hole in the front end of the gun when she heard a knock on the door,
"Who is it?" she inflected that disgustingly saccharine tone that Cadence spoke in. She couldn't wait for when she could drop the disguise and talk normally again.
"A friend," a gruff, deep voice replied.
"Enter," she gave the command, dropping the sweet voice for a more relaxed, normal tone.
A white, muscular unicorn wearing a staff uniform stepped through the door and closed it behind him, "My Queen, I bring news."
"Well then, get to it," she snapped.
"I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that your letter has been delivered to the Night Princess and our scouts have spotted her approaching the outside of Whitetail Woods. No guard detachment or escort have been seen with her as of now," the 'stallion' replied.
She smiled to herself, "Excellent. With Luna out on that wild goose chase, it should give us plenty of time to take out that Solar Nuisance before she realizes we strung her along. Fantastic work, drone. What's the bad news?"
The drone's smile faltered slightly, "The human hostage has escaped with Cadence. We've lost track of them in the caves and we believe they might be headed back to the castle."
Chrysalis remained expressionless for a moment, not moving, took in a deep breath and sighed, letting it out slowly as she tried to calm the frustration settling in, "Drone, I'm sure you are aware that our plan depends on our ability to keep those two imprisoned, correct?"
The drone gulped, "Yes, your Majesty."
"Then, I'll make this clear. Find them! Even if you have to burn this city to the ground or it's our asses if the Alicorns find out before our army is through!" she restrained her voice from full-on yelling, though only just.
"Yes, your Majesty. This is only a minor setback to a- a- foolproof plan," he sputtered, bowing to his Queen.
"See to it that it is," she commanded, nodding towards the door. The drone swiftly exited, leaving Chrysalis alone once more.
"Minor setback. Just a minor setback, Chryssie. Everything's still going to plan. Just a few hiccups," she muttered to herself as she set herself to work on her appearance once more.
Spelunking was rough and James decided that if he ever got out of here, he'd never walk through another unexplored cave for the rest of his days.
Much of the last hour had been an awkward shuffle through the cave system, with him mostly guessing where they were going and hoping it was a way out. And with the limited light available from the two mares behind him, he'd tripped over one too many loose rocks and he was starting to lose his patience with those traitorous pebbles.
"James, do you have any idea where we're going?" Twilight asked incredulously, eyeing up her surroundings as if they'd somehow direct them to the safety above.
"Nope," he matter-of-factly answered, stepping over a crystal blocking their way, "In case you didn't know, the Changelings didn't give me a map when they tossed me down here, so I'm throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks."
"Wonderful," he could feel Twilight roll her eyes behind him, but they continued to trudge onward.
Despite his distaste for being stranded in the depths of Canterlot, he had to admit that the scenery around him was pretty. He could make out intricate, colorful crystal structures that were growing on all sorts of surfaces in the cave. They glowed softly and pleasantly from the magical light the two mares were emitting, giving it a holographic, moving pattern that he was entranced by as they continued down the path. He would have felt bad for being here, disturbing this hallowed, peaceful ground with his presence, if they weren't trapped down here.
Just then, they heard the loud clop of hooves on rock. He quickly motioned the girls, who had fallen a little behind him, to take cover by some rocks, which he did himself. Thinking swiftly, he gestured for them to cut the lights, supplanting them into the natural darkness of the caves. Settling into a crouch behind a sizeable boulder near the wall of the cave, he slowly peeked over the crest of his cover to try to see who was down here.
"Of course it had to be Changelings..." he thought to himself.
A patrol of the black bugs was passing by, heading in the direction of their 'cell', a twinge of worry nipping at his chest that the Changelings had learned of their escape. There was about four, he couldn't tell from the distance, and they were closing towards them fast. As they drew nearer, their own lights illuminated them enough for James to see what he was dealing with.
There was four of them to be precise, three of them large and bulky and another slim and more curvy than the others, probably a female. Each had a weapon of some sort, two with short swords, one with a knife, and the mare had a sleek dagger. James pursed his lips. He definitely couldn't take them all, especially when they had knives and he was noticeably weaponless. He had an alicorn on his side, but he wasn't sure of how well Cadence did in a fight. He simply didn't know her well enough yet. If the bovine feces hit the fan, at the very least, he was sure that Twilight could magic up some sort of solution to get them out of here.
Hopefully.
With that in mind, he remained put, electing to just let them pass and book it for whatever entrance they came through. At this point, he was just eager to get out of these caves, consequences be damned.
The Changelings were right next to them now, only five feet away from his group. He held his breath and was as still as he could be, hoping that the girls were following in his example. He tensed as they passed by, afraid that any adjustment or movement, no matter how slight, would alert them to his presence. A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek, tickling his face in that annoying way.
Thankfully, the three leads passed without a hitch, continuing on towards the cell. The female brought up the rear of the pack and stopped for a moment.
"Hey, what are you stopping for?" one of the others asked.
"Just catching my breath; you guys go on ahead. I'll won't be too far behind. I trust you can handle yourselves while I'm gone?" she replied with a fangy smile.
"Yeah yeah. We'll see you there," he waved a hand dismissively and continued on his way. Soon, she was 'alone'. She sat by a rock and stretched out her right arm, massaging it every so often. From what he could see over his cover, it seemed her joint or perhaps her tendon was bothering her.
"Alright woman. Let's get it moving already," James impatiently thought to himself.
After a minute or two, he couldn't tell, the changeling was starting to wrap it up, getting to her hooves and continuing towards their cell. She was just about past Cadence and Twilight when he heard a noise, a shuffling of rock, come from where the two mares were hiding.
And unfortunately, the changeling heard it too.
"Who's there?" she whipped to her right and stared at Cadence and Twilight's cover. After studying the spot for a few seconds, the changeling started to creep towards it as stealthily as she could.
"Is anyone there? Come out now and I won't hurt you," she had her dagger out now, silently and slowly drawing it out from its sheath.
If she got any closer, Cadence and Twilight would certainly be discovered. So with his mind made up, he carefully crept out from his hiding spot and towards the intruder's back. Quietly, he nabbed a sizeable rock from the floor and crouched down, inching his way ever closer.
The changeling stopped just short of the boulder and smiled evilly, "Alright, I warned you," she muttered, peeking over the rock. Her eyes widened, "TH-"
James had sprinted to close the three foot distance between the two of them. His target tried to turn around, but was too late as he gave his weapon a mighty swing, its blunt, flat face connecting with the back of her head with a sickening, gruesome WAP! Even James cringed at the ungodly sound he just heard. The changeling fell to the ground gracelessly, not bothering or not able to break her fall, likely the latter. Quickly, the man followed up with another strike to her face, her eyes widened, this one finishing the job. Green blood splattered onto his hands and arms as he tried to catch his breath from the adrenaline that was coursing through his veins.
God, he hated killing like this. It was so much more of a personal affair as opposed to a gun, to see the clear pain and despair he caused another being. Regardless, he'd have to deal with that later. This changeling mare's cronies might've heard him brutally murder her, so it'd be best to leave while they still had the chance.
"C'mon," he grunted like nothing happened, "We gotta get moving again before those guys come back."
Cadence looked aghast like she was in the midst of a panic attack. If they stayed near the body any longer, he was sure that would be manifested.
"Oh my Goddess! Oh my Goddess, you killed her! You killed her!" Cadence panicked, scrambling away from James without thinking with a scared look in her eyes.
Twilight said nothing, which he found strange, settling into a stunned silence and an all-too familiar look in her own eyes. He'd have to talk to her later once this was all over. God forbid she end up like him...
"I know - I'm sorry you had to see that, but we gotta go!" he reasoned.
Cadence was hyperventilating and clutching her chest, on the verge of crying, "I can't do this, I can't do this!"
James did not have the time for this. He hated that he had to be like this, but if they didn't leave soon, they were toast. Quickly and swiftly, he grabbed the both of them by the arms, hoisted them up on their hooves, and dragged them along in the opposite direction. The two mares fumbled over their steps initially, but eventually they settled into a jog. This sudden movement did nothing to ease Cadence's frenzy, only amplifying her panic.
Eventually, after about a minute, he decided to stop, not seeing or hearing any pursuers behind them. He released his hold on them and laid against a boulder, both Cadence and Twilight doing the same. The three of them tried to catch their breaths as they rested, Cadence calming down from her fit of terror.
"Wh... Why did you do it?" Cadence finally squeezed out softly.
"Because she would've killed you. And I won't let that happen," James nonchalantly answered back. Instantly, he felt a pang of guilt for how coarse and apathetic he was treating her, especially since it seemed this was her first time witnessing a murder.
"Couldn't you have done something else?" she reasoned, pleaded even.
"Cadence. Look at me. Twilight, you too," he met Cadence's wet, magenta eyes, "I know what you just saw was traumatizing. These feelings you have..., well, it's normal to feel this way. I'm sorry for sounding so apathetic about what you had to see, but like you said, this is an invasion. These guys are not here to spread the... what's the slogan I hear from ponies all the time..., the magic of friendship. They're invading us and they're not above killing a few peo- ponies to get what they feel they deserve. Including you. And the only way we're gonna keep them from killing us is killing them."
James sighed sadly, "That's just the nature of war. And unfortunately, we've just been plunged into one. That's going to mean killing a few changelings along the way if we're going to beat these guys back and get you back to your husband, Cadence."
The two of them said nothing, Twilight nervously glancing off to the side and Cadence wiping a tear from her eye.
James stood up, gazing off towards a little speck of light in the distance, "Alright, c'mon y'all. I think I see the way out of here."
And sure enough, it was.
Climbing out of the tunnel entrance, James crawled across the grass, pulling himself completely out of the hole, and laughed as the sun's warm rays bathed him in light once more. He was incredibly happy to be out of that cave finally.
Twilight and Cadence soon followed behind him, both of them taking a pause as well as they took in the warm spring day.
"Oh thank God. I'm never going underground again," he muttered to both of them.
"You said it, James," Twilight breathed, letting out a happy sigh.
They sat there for only a few seconds before James remembered who had put them down there in the first place, "Alright ladies. Enough dilly dally. Cadence, we gotta get you back to the castle and stop that wedding!"
The pink alicorn got to her hooves quickly, "Right. Since we're short on time, ready yourself, James. I'll teleport us there."
She gazed at the castle with a hateful glare in her eye, "I'm coming for you, bitch." |
Put it to Rest | Ch.24: The Queen Revealed | POP!
Cadence's magic dumped the three of them unceremoniously onto the castle grounds, landing in the main courtyard with a THUD and a few curses on James' part.
"Sorry! It's been a little while since I teleported three ponies," Cadence apologized, dusting the dirt off of her tattered clothes, "Oh dear, James, you feeling okay?"
James felt a little sick, a sign of Cadence's mistake, and stayed sitting down for a moment more to let his body catch its proverbial breath, "I'm fine, but remind me to never teleport with you again. I don't think my stomach would be too happy."
"HALT! In the name of the Crown, put your hands in the air!" A feminine, but forceful shout came from in front of them.
The order was obeyed swiftly by all three as they got to their feet. Approaching them and leveling spears at them were three Solar guards, fanning out to the three's flanks.
"Corona, I know you're just doing your job, but for the love of God, put your spear down. I'm too damn tired and I'm this close to committing a war crime on the next person to threaten me," James boomed, still keeping his hands in the air.
"James?" Corona's face relaxed with relief as she gestured to her fellow guardsmares to lower their weapons, "Goddess, where have you been? We've been tearing the city apart looking for you!"
"I'll tell you on the way, but it's imperative that we get to the Princess and the ceremony. She and everyone in that hall is in danger!"
"What do you mean? Who's threatening the Princess?" she lost her balance for a moment as James pushed past her, soon following him along with the others.
"The Cadence about to be married is an imposter and she intends to invade the city with an army, if what Cadence here has told me is true!"
Corona gave a glance back to Cadence, who shot an apologetic smile and wave towards her, "My oh my. I get the feeling I'm gonna have to earn my paycheck tonight."
She shot a glance to her subordinate, "Send a runner to Princess Luna immediately and inform her that James has been recovered. Pass along this possible threat to the Lieutenant, we will inform the Crown."
"Yes, Ma'am," she quickly flew off to carry out her orders.
A low rumble of the ground stopped them in their tracks, the pink shield above them flickering off for a split second before hastily reappearing once more.
"That doesn't sound good," Corona mumbled.
"No it doesn't. Come on, we have to stop that wedding," James motioned to the door.
The trip to the great hall was brief and swift, Corona taking point to guide them there. Coming to the ornately decorated, wide double doors, James abruptly stopped in front of them.
"Alright, what's our move here?" he confided, the others formed a group huddle around him.
"If we can get her to reveal herself and her true nature, Princess Celestia should be able to take care of her," Twilight chimed in.
"Are you confident in her abilities to dispose of this imposter? We don't even know who she is or what she can do, especially since she's leading a supposed siege on the city," James suggested, a small crease in his brow.
Twilight snorted, waving her hand dismissively, "I haven't seen Princess Celestia fight someone she couldn't handle. We can count on her."
"If you all can handle this, and I agree that the Princess should be more than enough to handle this imposter, I need to regroup with my squad and lieutenant to repel this possible invasion. There should be guardsmares stationed in there that should be able to help you," Corona stated as she got to her hooves.
"Be well, and Be safe, Corona. I don't want to have to be your pallbearer at your funeral just yet," James nodded.
"I'll be fine, James. Be safe," and with that, she started to jog away.
With Corona having left, he turned back to Twilight, "That reminds me Twilight. What about the other Changelings outside? We can't just waltz in and---"
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there, James, but right now, my husband is about to be married off to some insect tyrant and I refuse to let that happen. Now can we get in there and stop this bitch?" Cadence abruptly cut him off with an annoyed, retributive glare.
He sighed, rising to his feet, "Yeah, you're right. Come on, y'all, let's get this over with."
And with those words said, he shoved the heavy doors open in a surprising display of strength, one that even he was startled by.
"Made in God's own image, yes sir," he muttered, eying up his muscles.
"Stop the wedding!" Cadence shouted, crossing into the great hall with Twilight and glaring at the imposter.
The crowd gasped, looking to each other with a startled and confused manner. A faint whisper permeated through the bodies of ponies to gauge what was happening.
"Two Princesses?" James heard the southern drawl of Applejack, "But how can that be?"
"She's a Changeling! She takes the form of somepony you love and gains power off the love you have towards them!" Cadence explained, taking a step forward past James and standing defiantly towards the imposter.
"How did you get past my gu- bridesmaids?" the imposter snarled.
"Guess your bridesmaids aren't as good as you think. Now, I'm only going to ask this once, but step away from Mr. Armor and put your hands behind your head," James threatened.
The fake Cadence laughed, "And what are you going to do to make me? I've already got your aces in the hole."
She held up her dress for James to see his .45 nestled comfortably in her garter belt on her left leg. James cursed silently to himself, the suspicions in the back of his mind coming true. He put on a cocky, sure look, "Ah yes, bravo. You got my gun. But I don't need a pistol or a rifle, which I also assume you swiped, to kick your ass."
"Oh hoh hoh," she continued to laugh, her horn pulsing with green magic. There was a flash of light and the once pink, supple skin the imposter once had began to burn away to black, chitinous skin via a ferocious green magical flame. It seemed not to bother her as she kept that sinister look on the whole time she transformed. Supple, majestic pink wings turned to spidery, silky ones. Soon, Queen Chrysalis in all her glory stood before them, still clad in the wedding dress, but without her veil.
"You're a clever man. It seems I underestimated you, but no longer," her pointed snake tongue wove around in the air in some form of 'intimidation' stance, "I have Shining Armor under my total control. And when my changelings break the shield, we'll be able to DEVOUR so much love, that we will be more powerful than we ever dreamed of!"
"Shining Armor's shield will prevent them from ever making it through!" Cadence shot back, a twinge of desperation in her eyes.
Chrysalis cackled to herself, placing a hand on her chest, "Oh, don't you think I've planned for that, dearie?"
James shot forward in an attempt to restrain her.
"Ah ah ah, we wouldn't want dear Luna to go to the caves, now would we?" she threatened.
"Wha- What did you do to her?" he faltered, burning with a newfound anger. Celestia looked both worried and furious as well; he couldn't tell which one.
"That's for me to know. And if you wish for her pretty little fingers to remain on her hand, you three will stay right where you are," the queen smiled malevolently.
Twilight, Cadence, and James, however reluctantly, did as they were told and stood down.
Chrysalis continued, "Ever since I took your place, Cadence, I've been feeding off the love this stallion has for you. Every moment, he grows weaker and weaker. His love is sweet and rich in energy. Why it's the most invigorated I've felt in a long while. And when my changelings taste his love, they will be unstoppable. First, we take Canterlot and then, All of Equestria!"
"No, you won't," Celestia glowered, taking a step towards Chrysalis, "You may have weakened Shining Armor's shield spell, but since you have so foolishly revealed yourself."
Her horn lit up with the soft yellow glow James had become so familiar with, Chrysalis following in her example, "I shall protect my subjects from you!"
James' eyes hurt as they strained to protect themselves from the explosion of yellow and green light that shot from Celestia's and Chrysalis' horns. The raw power was enough to knock him down to his knees, similar to a really windy day back in Kentucky, as he and many others moved their hands over their eyes and watched.
Their attacks met in the middle and soon it was a battle of magical strength, both straining and wrestling for control. It was maybe five seconds, but soon and to the surprise of everypony in the room, the sickly green beam was slowly gaining ground. Celestia's eyes widened, struggling more and more against Chrysalis' attack, but it was too late. She was thrown back, sliding across the marble floor, dazed with crackles of green lightning coursing around her horn.
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight shouted, running over to her. The crowd screamed and panicked, most rushing out of the room in desperation
Even Chrysalis herself was surprised by her victory, standing there with an astonished expression for but a millisecond. Quickly, a cocky, arrogant grin spread across her face and she evilly laughed.
"Go, you must get the elements of harmony, quick- argh!- ly, Twilight," James overheard Celestia mutter to Twilight and her friends. Cadence tried to rush towards her husband while Chrysalis was distracted, but was knocked unconscious swiftly with a spell from her and trapped in a gooey substance.
He heard a rustling of dresses behind him and he turned to see the six girls, and most of the guests, hurrying for the exit. Chrysalis, hissing at the group, swung the doors shut with her magic, trapping them in. Her ingenious plan would have succeeded to, if there wasn't a white fist heading straight for her jaw.
James' fist connected, letting out a harsh WAP, and Chrysalis staggered backwards before falling into the pulpit.
"I've just about had it up to hear with you," James barked, backing up from the dazed queen and trying not to show how painful his hand felt from the punch, "Get up. GET UP! We ain't finished yet!"
Chrysalis looked dazed for a moment, her eyes unfocused and her mouth slightly agape. She had the most piercing of headaches, but quickly snapped to James.
"You insufferable man!" Chrysalis hissed back, getting to her hooves and wiping away some green blood that trickled out of her nose. James put his fists up, hoping to bait her into a fistfight with him. Smartly, she backed away and lit her horn again.
He sprinted forward, needing to act quickly before he took a face full of magic, and threw a punch again. Chrysalis was ready this time, daintily dodging out of his way, and shooting a bolt of magic at his back. It singed his clothes and he let out a grunt of pain as his skin burned. He recovered quickly, whipping around to face her, and eyed his pistol, still strapped neatly in her belt. He was surprised she hadn't pulled it out already and shot him, which he may be able to use to his advantage. If he could just get to it...
He wasn't paying attention for a split second and narrowly dodged another punch. He could feel the force of the air hit his cheeks as her fist sailed by him. He was about to retaliate with his own strike, but she'd already grabbed his head in her magic and threw him into the wooden pulpit. His skull made contact and the mahogany pulpit made a nice head shaped crack in its frame. Bits of jagged planks fell to the ground aside a crumpled James.
God, everything hurt. His eyes saw stars and static as he tried to reorient himself, his arms and legs swinging wildly around as he tried to grab onto something and get back up. His head throbbed something fierce and the pain was almost too much to bear. Another swift kick to his liver made him double over in agony and clutch at his abdomen, feeling as though he would throw up.
Damn, this bitch was strong, both physically and magically. He suppressed the twinge of hopelessness that was starting to surface in his mind and slowly turned to face his opponent again. His legs were about level with her knees and seeing his opportunity to recover, he gave a brutal kick to her right kneecap as she was charging a nasty looking spell. Chrysalis hissed in pain, similar to an insect, and backed away from him quickly, clutching her knee in agony. It gave him enough time to get to his feet again and capitalize on his advantage. He ran at her like a linebacker, grabbed her by the collar of the dress, and threw her down on the ground. Sitting over her chest, he repeatedly punched and smacked her brutally, some of her green blood flying to the side after a particularly hard one. She lit her horn to try and get him off her, but he grabbed it by the shaft and began to bang her head against the floor.
Chrysalis was able to desperately wrest her hands out of his restraints, delivered a punch across his lip, and threw him off her with a surprising show of strength. She shot away from him like a deer and was up again.
She eyed him like an angry lion, eager to devour and destroy her prey. James didn't give her the chance to, as he was upon her once more. She threw up a quick shield, James barreling into it and only being temporarily stopped, and frantically reached for the pistol on her belt. He wildly smashed and struck the magical defense as she did, the magic starting to flounder under his continuous pressure. Just as she fished out the silvery piece, her shield shattered into pieces and scattered across the floor like glass before disappearing. She leveled the barrel of the gun to James face, but he quickly slapped it out of her hands, the handgun skidding across the marble a few feet away from them. He jabbed again, the pale knuckles whiffing entirely as she leaned away and delivered her own forceful strike to his face. His cheek cut on her coarse chitinous knuckle and some blood flew out of his mouth.
She pressed her advantage, taking control of the fight and advancing on him. He weakly put up his arms to block his face, but it didn't do much to stop her advance. A particularly hard punch hit him in his rib and knocked some of the air out of him, more speckles of blood flying out of his mouth as he stumbled backwards.
This was going from bad to worse. He hadn't anticipated Chrysalis being as strong as Celestia and certainly couldn't keep this up much longer. Hopefully, Twilight and her friends were on their way here and could finish the job. He dodged a punch weakly and landed a punch across her snout. This short-lived victory became his downfall as Chrysalis delivered an extra hard strike across his cheek.
It dazed him enough as he stumbled backward and fell to the ground, groaning from the pain. He felt his eye swelling and more blood starting to trickle out of his nose. His hands weakly reached for his face in an attempt to nurse his wounds, his head pounding and throbbing as he desperately tried to get back up. The hard clop of hooves reached his ears as he heard his enemy walk away, stop, and presumably grab something off the ground, at least he thought so. Now, her hoof falls were becoming closer and he tried to frailly crawl back away from her.
He mustered the strength to look up, seeing Chrysalis smiling wickedly and leveling the barrel of a familiar handgun towards his face.
"Any last words, you insolent man? Tell me..., I must hear them before you die," she chuckled.
He saw a flash of blue magic behind Chrysalis.
"Yeah, I do," he smiled back up at her, "Hi Honey."
Chrysalis' face dropped, her stupid smile wiped away in an instant. She whipped around to see a very VERY angry Princess Luna behind her. As he gazed into his beautiful beau's face, the only description he could come up with for how furious she looked was 'murder-fuck'. As in, the glare she gave Chrysalis suggested that she would murder the queen and promptly fuck her corpse so there was no chance that she could ever find her way into Heaven. He felt both aroused in a weird way and terrified to see this pissed off.
No words were exchanged as Luna promptly blasted Chrysalis with some death spell. He didn't really know what the exact spell was, but it didn't look like it had anything but murder on its mind. The queen had thrown a hasty shield up, but the sheer power in the beam pushed her meters back. Honestly, he was surprised he wasn't vaporized as soon as Luna shot the damn thing, not that he was complaining. He flexed his abdomen to try to get up and help his girl, but it quickly voiced its pain to him, his muscles failing and forcing him back down, only able to watch and hope Luna could finish the job.
Luna didn't let up, shooting another spell towards Chrysalis, and ferociously attacked her shield. The queen was slipping, James could see her clearly getting tired, but was still a threat. She shot a spell through her shield, singing Luna on the shoulder. His beautiful mare let out a screech of pain, which was enough to get James to try to sit up again and help fight. Luna was quick on the 'retaliatory draw' and shot a spell towards her, knocking Chrysalis back a little more and finally breaking her shield. She reached for the queen's neck, but Chrysalis was fast enough to catch Luna's wrists. A struggle ensued, horns crossed and neither giving up ground, as each grit their teeth in exertion. They stayed locked like this for about 10 seconds, but slowly, Luna began to lose ground as Chrysalis began to push Luna's hands away from her neck. Luna was pushed farther and farther back until Chrysalis let go and gave a swift punch across Luna's face, the blue alicorn falling to the ground.
James shot up, quick enough that he could retaliate but not fast enough for Chrysalis to hear. Before she could hit Luna again, or even worse hit her with a spell, he was on her, wrapping his arms around her neck and wrestling her away from Luna. Chrysalis sputtered for air, her hands flying to her neck to get him off. Her legs kicked, she coughed and struggled, but his hold was firm. Her charcoal black face started to turn red and punched wildly at anywhere on his person.
Unfortunately for him, she landed another solid elbow to his abdomen, possibly hitting his liver or another important organ again. He stumbled backwards in pain, heaving a little as his stomach suppressed the urge to throw up. His head pulsed with pain and his stumbling and head pain caused him to lose his balance, gracelessly flopping onto the deck again. He grappled with himself, wanting to stay down and try to recover, but his soul pushed him on.
He could hear the intense spell battle going on, the two monarchs having switched to a battle of magic from a physical one. James painfully turned himself over, the sudden pressure on his stomach causing the urge to vomit to return in full force. His right side stung in searing, burning agony, clenching his teeth and suppressing the urge to scream. With his right arm guarding his abdomen, he pitifully crawled with his left arm towards his silvery pistol.
God, this feels as bad as when he got hit by that grenade, though with much less burning. How did his younger self ever push through this much pain?
Miraculously, he completed his Herculean task, fumbling with the pistol before finally getting a good enough grip on it. His arms shook while he weakly pushed himself up.
Luna landed a hit on the mad queen, knocking her backwards and skidding across the floor. She stopped about 6 feet away from James, looking badly bruised, beaten, and running on fumes.
"Hey," James weakly yelled to her.
She glanced at him, a streak of green blood falling from her mouth.
"Safety was on, dipshit."
BLAM! BLAM!
Chrysalis' head exploded with green blood, two neat, but large .45 holes planted squarely in her forehead, her blood pooling underneath it and staining the pristine, white marble a sickly green.
After a few seconds, for the first time in awhile, James relaxed. He let out a long, relieved exhale, his shoulders softening and his body eased.
It was as he was easing himself, and consequently as the adrenaline was leaving, that he was reminded of something. That something being the excruciating amount of pain that he was in. Everything returned at once as it hit him just how bad of a shape he was in.
His fingers began to get that prickly feeling and his head was starting to spin. With his few remaining seconds, he sat down on the marble floor, laid his head down with what little strength he had left, and promptly passed out, the frightened yelp of his Princess being the last thing he heard before being whisked off to his involuntary nap. |
Put it to Rest | Ch.25: Finality | Consciousness.
Groggily, James felt something soft and silky on his back as his brain started its hard restart.
Was it already time to go teach the students? It felt like he'd just laid his head down a few moments ago. His ears could pick up a hushed drone of the AC fan running and, huh, an annoying beeping sound. He willed his abs to get up out of bed, but he was met with an piercing, cutting pain in his stomach, the attempt killed as soon as it started. Deciding that it wasn't worth the trouble, he flopped back on what he thought was a bed and tried to open his eyes.
His eyes were crusty with that green crud near the creases of the lids and struggled to open. He was greeted by melancholic, drab, but blinding white light as the overhead mana lights beat down on his face. He groaned, shutting his eyes again as a headache started to settle in.
"He's awake!" he heard some voice say, well, somewhere. He couldn't really tell. Some shuffling and what sounded like a doorknob turning indicated that whoever said that had left.
Okay, just slowly open those eyes. Maybe it'll be less sucky this time.
Once again, he set to the Herculean task of opening his eyes, cracking open the lids as gingerly and as slowly as he was able to in his weak state. The sun-like light beat its illuminating rays into his retinas, but he found that this time the strain was much more manageable and he was able to get a look at his surroundings.
James found himself in a white, melancholic bed in a plain, drab, white hospital room, devoid of any ponies or visitors. Well, at the moment. He was sure whoever had spoken was likely fetching a doctor and some visitors, more than likely his Princess among them.
Everything hurt. His abdomen was extraordinarily sore, worse than any bruising or wound he'd received in a long time. He wrinkled his nose, his cheek muscles slow to act, and dislodged his nasal cannula from his nostrils. His arm sluggishly pushed it back into place, taking in a deep breath of air into his lungs and letting it out with a slow exhale. His legs could only be described as having been steamrolled by train and weighed down with concrete blocks while hanging off a ledge. They lay gracelessly at the foot of the bed and he didn't even want to try to move them, lest he inflict even more pain on himself.
He tensed a little as he moved his arm up to his covers. With a grit in his teeth and more than a few groans and curses of pain, James took a gander at his chest and stomach to assess the damage.
God, that bitch really did a number on him.
His whole right abdomen was covered in blue, blackish-red bruises and that was only around the edges of his bandaging. He couldn't imagine what it was like underneath his bloody dressings. Probably should ask a nurse to change those soon, from the looks of them. His chest similarly was wrapped in white bandaging and some type of hard splint. He internally groaned at the fact that he likely fractured his ribs, as if the inconvenience of breaking a rib was more agonizing than the actual pain of fracturing one.
The door swung open abruptly, giving the man a horrid fright, and in walked a pegasus and a unicorn doctor and, of course, Luna.
"Hey Doc," he struggled to mutter out, finding it a little hard to concentrate.
"You wake up after two days, having me and Tia worried sick, and your first words are 'Hey Doc'?" his marefriend choked out, some tears forming around the outsides of her eyes.
James opened his mouth to speak again, but the doctor held up his hand, "I wouldn't try to speak too much for now, Mr. Milligan. You've been through quite a lot."
James grunted, minutely adjusting himself in bed, "What's... the damage?"
The doctor flipped through the paperwork he had in his hands, "Likely concussion, two fractured ribs, a ruptured liver which we had to operate on immediately, first degree burns, and some ruptured blood vessels in your cheek. Frankly, it is nothing short of a medical miracle that you are still alive, let alone breathing and cognizant. It's good to see, at least on a surface level, the concussion isn't too severe. We'll have to screen you sometime for that," he gestured to the doctor behind him, "Ms. Steady Hands, our surgeon, was able to successfully stop the bleeding and fix what was left of your liver. She very likely saved your life, sir."
James weakly stuck out his hand to shake the mare's hand, "I... owe you one, Ma'am. I can't thank you enough for saving my life."
The surgeon grasped his hand gingerly, softly shaking it to not aggravate his wounds, "You're very welcome. It was an honor to operate on the man who saved our nation."
"Well, I wouldn't exactly say I did that, but thank you. You're very kind," he curled his mouth to, he hoped, some semblance of a smile.
The surgeon smiled, "Now, we're going to have to keep you for a couple more days to monitor you for any infections and to ensure no complications from the surgery arise. I'm sure you understand, yes?"
"Yes, of course," he agreed, "Whatever you recommend, Doc, I'll do it."
"Wonderful. In that case, I'll leave you two to catch up. A nurse should be in to change your bandages later tonight. Your Majesty, Mr. Milligan," she nodded to them both and, with a gesture to the door to the other doctor, left the room, leaving them alone.
Neither said anything to the other. James felt a sort of tension, the kind of tension that you get when you feel you're in some sort of trouble. Whether he actually was, he didn't really know. He couldn't quite pinpoint what Luna was feeling towards him at the moment, but he imagined he wasn't good based on her expression. Might as well rip the Band-Aid off now...
"Hi, sweetheart," he gave a sheepish smile up at her in some effort to calm her.
It did not.
"For two days," she began, "For two days! I've been worried sick about you! Absolutely terrified that the man I've grown to love might drop dead! Don't you 'Hi Sweetheart' me!"
"I'm sorry, Lu. I can't imagine how hard it was for you, but it's not like I wanted to be like this," he defended himself.
"You could've at least stayed out of the fight once I got there! You were in no state to continue; you almost killed yourself!" she shot back in a righteous anger.
"I wouldn't let that woman lay a finger on you without a fight and you know that, Luna," his brows creased down.
"I know, I know. I just, I just...," new tears threatened to spill out of the corners of her eyes once more, "I couldn't..."
The water works burst as she started to cry softly into her hands. His heart was moved with compassion and with what strength he could muster, he weakly pulled her into his embrace. She climbed into his bed and just hugged him around the waist, sobbing and letting out all her pent-up emotions that had been running high the past days. He rubbed her lower back softly with his thumb and softly consoled her.
"Oh, sweetheart," he whispered, his soft baritone voice sounding like rich music to her, " There, there. It's okay. Everything's going to be okay."
She continued to sob, though it was becoming softer and softer as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear. He rocked them both gently and quietly soothed her for a few minutes.
Soon, the faint beeping of the monitors were the only sounds in the room. Luna sighed, wiping her eye, "I'm sorry, James. Here I am, an alicorn princess and ruler of a nation, and I come in and ruin your gown. Heh, I must look a sight."
"Nonsense, you can come in and ruin my gown with your tears any day," he joked, trying in some way to inject some mirth into the mood, "Besides, that little glob of snot in your nose really accentuates that astral, stellar beauty to you."
That joke was worth it, as he watched Luna do a sickeningly cute scrunch of her face, trying to look angry and contain her chuckling at the same time, "Eat dirt, James Milligan," she hmphed at him and grabbed a tissue from the box on the nightstand.
He exaggeratedly rolled his eyes in a clear sarcastic manner, "Oh, you alicorns. So emotional."
He smiled and laughed as a few soft taps on his shoulder assaulted him in place of her usual play punches or slaps.
"Ahhhh, help me doctor! I'm being assaulted by a huge drama queen," he threw his hands up in mock terror, which earned him more glares from his beau, "Come here you!"
In a surprising amount of dexterity, surprising himself even, he was able to grasp her around her waist and pull her into him further, blowing a few raspberries into her mane and causing her to giggle.
"Stop it, James!" she laughed in a tone that clearly told him to do it more.
Next, his tickling assault came swiftly and he dug into all of her sensitive places, making her squeal and desperately try to pull away.
"AHH, JAMES! Stop it! Stop it!" she pushed to try to free herself, but the man still had some fight in him, holding on to her with a surprising amount of grip. He giggled heartily, having successfully changed the mood, and ravenously continued his attack on his girl.
Finally she was able to pry herself off of him and glanced back at him with an fake frown.
"I'm sorry, couldn't help myself. The opportunity was too irresistable to not take," he held out his arms again, weakly holding them up, "Promise, I won't tickle you anymore."
Hesitantly, and with some trepidation, she nestled herself back into his embrace, nestling herself into his chest, which caused a spike of pain to shoot through him. Seeing this, Luna let up a little on the cuddles and looked up with concern.
"I'm fine. I'm fine," he held up his hand to soothe her worries, "Now, no more crying. No more tears. I couldn't bear to see another tear fall across your pretty face. I know what happened to me was.... frightening, to say the least. But, that being said, I'm gonna be back to tip-top shape in no time."
She sighed, melting into him even further than she had, "Okay. I think I can do that. Maybe a few more moments like this and I can turn the waterworks off."
He chuckled, "Water works? When did you get such a wise mouth, Princess?"
"The moment I'd started talking to a furless ape that stole my heart," she matter-of-factly shot back.
He pondered this with a smirk, "Fair enough."
They laid there for awhile, neither wanting to let the other go.
Walking was hard and right now, James really preferred not to do it. His crutch whined under his weight with metal scrapes as it adjusted to the force he put on it. His hands firmly gripped the handle as he carefully and hesitantly took his wobbly, shaky steps.
He grunted, whether in frustration or in pain, he couldn't really nail it down. Both were really how he felt at the present moment. Another shaky step forward, he stumbled a little and both a blue and feathery hand shot out to catch him lest he fall. He huffed in frustration, but pressed on, determined in his goal.
"I never thought walking with a crutch would be so," he limped on his bad leg, "Infuriating."
"Well, it's only for a week honey. Then, you'll be back to your normal self in no time," Luna comforted her clearly frustrated man.
"Or does the little bubby need to nurse his boo boos a little more?" Marnie snickered.
"Shaddup, ya stupid bird. When I get out of this crutch, I'm gonna kick your ass," he snarked at her.
"Oh, what are you gonna do, gimpy; Hobble at me to death?"
"Why you-" James lifted his left fist at her.
A group of maids passed the group of them by and gave a bow to both Luna and James, smiling up at him, before continuing down the hall and leaving. James playful 'anger' evaporated and he paused, looking puzzled.
"I'm confused. Why did they bow to me, Luna? They never did before," he glanced back at the maids.
Luna chuckled, "Well, we wanted to keep it a surprise, but you know how maids are. Can't keep their mouths shut to save their lives," she paused as she pondered her statement, "Huh, we should probably have some sort of meeting about that. Wouldn't want them blurting out national secrets to the other nations."
She glanced back at him and smiled, "For your actions in service to Equestria and the Crown, you are being knighted. To answer your question, no, they are not required to bow to you. At least, not yet. But the maids have a great deal of respect for you for what you did, so I suppose they are choosing to bow a little earlier than needed."
James gave a soft smile, "Knighted, eh? Sir James W. Milligan. I like the sound of that."
Luna saccharinely grinned back at him, "Good. I'm glad you like it. Now, if you two are fine to continue without me, I'm afraid I must attend to some meetings that I can't put off. I'll see you later tonight, dear?"
"Wouldn't miss it, sweetpea," he replied.
With a chaste kiss on his cheek and a hug for Marnie, the Lunar Princess made her departure, the heavy wooden doors closing behind her with a BOOM.
James gave a glance towards the opposite door which would lead out to the courtyard and out of the castle, "Marnie, come with me. We're going out to town."
"Going out? I don't know if that's such a good idea, James. No offense, but your leg is looking pretty weak still and I don't know if the doctors want you out of the castle just yet. You sure you're in good enough shape?" Marnie asked, with a hint of motherly concern in her voice.
"No, not really. But with what we're going to buy, and I'm sure you can probably guess what that something is, it's important for me to be in person to get it. I've been thinking about it for a long time," he hobbled his way towards the door with some trouble.
Marnie gazed down at the floor and concentrated for a moment, before her eyes lit up with glee, "You don't mean?"
"Yes, I mean that," he smiled, "Now are you coming? Or does this crippled man have to meet you there?"
She didn't need to be asked twice.
It had been two weeks, not that James could really tell. The time passed so quick, he hardly had the chance to process it. How quick the weeks of one's life passes. It'd be a sobering thought if he wasn't so happy. He'd thankfully recovered with mostly no issues, aside from that small limp in his leg he still had and a certain tenderness around his liver.
But enough on that. For tonight was the night. He was finally gonna do it. With much planning and conspiring with Marnie and Celestia, he was finally confident enough to go through with it. Now all he had to do was wait.
It was a warm, pleasant June evening, the distant bullfrogs of the lake croaking in their distinct 'out-of-tune guitar' calls. The cicadas hummed heavily in his trees, seeking mates for themselves and adding their own boisterous commotions to what would be a quiet, peaceful night. Not that he minded. It was a lovely reminder of his old home as he whittled away at the block of oak wood.
"I think you," he warmly muttered to the inanimate wood, "Will be a bear. Yes, you'll go nicely on the mantle of my fireplace."
He set to work on his project and waited for his beau to arrive. It was dusk now, the sun steadily setting below the horizon, so he doubted she would be long before she was in his arms again.
The distant sound of a teleportation knocked him out of his whittling trance and he spotted Luna coming over the crest of the incline that stopped just as she got to his house. She had a tantalizing set of black pants that fit well against her legs, accentuating her curves and hugging her hips in just the way he liked. Her shirt was plainer than her pants, adopting a simple yellow t-shirt to blend with her blue coat. Her face was alight with an excited smile and had that air of gracefulness and elegance that he both loved and respected about her.
Luna had dressed to make him look, and who was he to deny indulging in some staring?
"Hey honey," she warmly greeted him, coming to the stairs and holding her arms out in a hug.
He said nothing to her at first, only gazing at her with a smile, "You look good."
She smiled, "Thank you, James." Still, her arms were held out, "So, you gonna hug me or am I going to have to keep standing here?"[
"Perhaps," he grinned at her like a certain gloating cat, "How long are you willing to stand there and wait?"
"Oh, quit it with your little games and hug me, or I'll pry those arms open and make you hug me," she shot him a playful, yet determined glare.
"You can pry a hug from me from my cold dead hands. And even then, good luck! Because I will have put glue on my cold dead hands," he folded his arms and turned his nose up at her with a HHMPH.
"Have it your way then, you vexatious man," she shot her hands towards his folded arms to wrest them away.
"Help help! I'm being involuntarily embraced! Rape rape!" he joked and backpedaled away, carrying the spry, petite mare with him as she held onto him.
He pretended to struggle for a little while longer as they play-fought each other, but he finally relented and wrapped her into a hug. As strong as he could in his state. After all, he was still recovering, technically.
"Now, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" she grinned at him, the two of them sitting down in his rocking chairs on the wooden deck.
He settled into his chair and gazed at her, "Luna, I can't begin to tell you how wonderful of a pony you are. Since you've come into my life, you've changed everything about me for the better, both with my past and my present."
Christ, he didn't feel like he was very good at this emotional talk, but Luna seemed to be beaming at him. Guess he was doing something right.
"You're the most virtuous, kind, beautiful, and graceful mare I've ever met in all my travels and wanderings. I could not imagine my life without you in it," he spoke softly.
Luna was starting to well up, small tears poking out at the corners of her eyes, but she stayed silent, quietly urging him to go on.
"For a time before I really got to know you, many days I thought of ending it, to save myself from all the suffering, pain, and devastation I'd been through during the war, plus my involuntary exile from my home, my friends, my family, and my people. It'd be just a whole lot easier if you're dead, you know? But, I can honestly say that you coming into my life, and our subsequent friendship and relationship, saved me. That means more to me than you can ever imagine."
He fished out the small box in his pocket, opened it, and presented it to her in his left hand, "I can't postpone these feelings for you any longer. So, Princess Luna of Equestria, will you be my wife?"
Luna struggled to hold in her tears and fanned her face. To him, it looked as though she was holding in one of her ugly, snotty cries that she'd have when she was really emotional about something.
"You kn- kn- know," she stuttered out, "I promised myself, that I wouldn't cry when this day came," she grabbed a tissue out of James' hand, which he had put a box of out here ahead of time, and blew her nose, "But it's getting really hard."
"Alright, just repeat after me. I'm not gonna cry," he smiled at her.
"I'm, I'm not gonna cry," she said as she continued to cry, trying to curl her mouth into a smile, but failing horribly.
"Then, I'd love to know your answer. You got me on the edge of my seat here," he joked.
"Yes, of course my answer is yes," she held out her hand for him to put the ring on, which he obliged. It slid on comfortably and lay nestled on her ring finger.
He got up, holding out his arms for an embrace, which she all but crashed into. The floodgates opened as she sobbed happy tears all over his shirt.
He couldn't care at all.
The two of them held each other for awhile, basking in the moment as they say. James reflected on his life as he gazed out at the setting sun and on the new life he was starting for himself here in Equestria. He didn't know what kind of challenges lay ahead of him or what other bizarre, extraordinary things this land would throw at him, but the thought of facing those times of troubles with the woman in his arms brought him a peace that surpassed his understanding.
After all, if they'd faced the war together and come out like this, they could kick life's ass if they wanted.
As for the war, well, it had lost its sting. Some of it at least.
And for that, James was forever thankful to the mare he held dear.
He watched the sun dip below the horizon, eager to see what life held for him in his coming days. |
Put it to Rest | Epilogue 1 | "Hey Sunshine, how is your day going?" He greeted one of the castle's maids, the heavy marble doors closing behind him, with a grunt from both guardsmares as they strained to close them.
"Very well, my Prince. Thankfully, your rambunctious children have managed to not cause as many messes today as I'd expected," she answered respectfully with a bow.
He sighed and smiled, "I'm working on it with them. But they're kids. It happens."
"Of course. It is no trouble, sire," she assured.
"Maybe so, but I will not have my children grow and rule a kingdom without learning some courtesy towards others," he glanced at the clock, seeing that it had struck 4, "Why don't you head home for the day? I can take the children off of your hands. Your shift should be ending soon anyway, yes?"
"Thank you sire. I'll take my leave," she bowed and left through a hallway towards the maid's quarters.
The corner of his mouth dipped ever so slightly. He still hadn't fully gotten used to being treated like royalty, since he technically was now. Something about it rubbed him the wrong way, like he was saying he was better than everyone.
Whatever. It is what it is. He had more important things to attend to. Or in this case, more important children to attend to.
His trip to the castle's recently created nursery wasn't long and he knew it by heart now. The long, torchlit corridors passed him by quick and he was soon face to face with his darling two children.
He found his 11 year old boy, Peter, quietly reading a book about the Pillars in his favorite chair and it seemed he was quite sucked into it, as he hardly acknowledged James' entrance. Ever the reader, he is. He takes after his mother and his mentor, Twilight Sparkle.His light blue hair, which James had to admit was shocking to see when his son came out of the womb, danced in a non-existent wind, much like his mother's and a signifier of his incredible magical prowess, having been able to learn the spell on a basic level quickly. Luna was over the moon when she heard that her human son had taken to magic as much as he did, and he was certainly taking his lessons with his mother to heart. He watched as Peter raised his hand, his sky blue aura grasping the paper, and turned the page, getting lost in the book once more.
His 7 year old filly, Sonata, on the other hand, was stretching her wings, flying around near the ceiling and quite literally bouncing off the walls, emitting a saccharine, childish laughter. He spied the nurse gazing up at her anxiously, anticipating that any second now she would get hurt and come crashing down. Luna had told him that she and Celestia had been eager fliers when they were young, but this filly seemed like she was on crack and caffeine all the time. She spotted him as she banked around the light fixture and beamed at him.
"Daddy Daddy! Will you play trains with me?" the deep white filly rocketed down from her flight, James just barely throwing his arms out to catch her and dodging her little horn from scratching his face. He saw the nurse breathe a sigh of relief.
"UMMPH," he grunted as he adjusted to the new weight in his arms, "Honey, what have your mother and I told you about landing on us?"
She frowned under her father's gaze, but grumbled out a, "Sorry Daddy."
He kissed her forehead and gave her a big bear hug, making her squeal in delight, "It's okay, but please don't do it anymore."
He held his daughter and looked over to his son, who had at least looked up from his book, "Hello Father," he spoke mildly.
Peter's piercing sapphire eyes, so similar to his mother's, gazed up at him with a quiet, subtle admiration and respect, "How was school, son? Did you have a good day?"
"Yeah, it was fine. Charcoal got dared to put a bit up his nose and then cough it out today," he smiled, that tiny bit of immature boyish youth showing on his cheeks, laughing at the memory.
James both smirked and creased his eyebrows disbelievingly, "Ironwood's colt? And why would he do that?"
"Well, we said we'd buy him another piece of pizza with the bit if he actually did it, so he did it," he giggled, putting his book down on his little table.
"He actually coughed it out?" he looked down at his son with a shocked and incredulous frown, a small feeling of pride for the colt in question, "I'm both impressed and concerned. Don't do that anymore, kiddo. He could have seriously hurt himself if that coin got caught anywhere inside his nose."
His son gave a non-committal grunt, pretending in that childish way to have not heard his father's admonishment. Not wanting to push the issue, he turned to the twitching ball of energy in his hands, otherwise known as his daughter, "Now, what's this about playing trains? Did your new connector tracks come in?"
"Oh they're so wonderful, Daddy!" she shot into a giggly rant on how new and exciting her wooden connector tracks were.
The smile he had as he listened to his daughter babble and excitedly ramble about her wooden train tracks and toy trains could not have been wiped from his face even if the burliest earth pony headbutted him and dragged him through a rock field. Peter had dismissed himself quietly and gone back to his book in his chair, his sister more than eager to take up their father's time with animated gestures and more than a few gasps for breath in-between.
Finally, he and his daughter set to work constructing the tracks for which they would play trains, fitting each piece where his daughter wanted to put it. Soon, they had an impressive track and Sonata laughingly grasped her toys, guiding them down the track and making cute little "NEEROW" sounds, her father matching her with equally exaggerated sounds as he played with his own trains.
Gosh, she was so much like her mother.
"Goodness, sweetheart, this is a mighty fine track you built with me. Maybe we should call the Department of Transport and tell them we got a new tracklayer for hire," that comment caused an idea to pop in his head, "Say, this summer, why don't we go down to the trainyard and ride around on a few of them, Sonata? Maybe we can go to Ponyville. Would you like to do that with me sometime?"
"REALLY?" his daughter, in her characteristic innocent enthusiasm, smiled up at him with that cute smile with that missing front tooth.
"Sure, I'd love to," he gave his daughter a one armed hug and kissed her cheek. Having received his answer, the two set back to their play for another hour.
RIIIIING
The dinner bell let out its whine, the three occupants of the room looking up from their activities.
"Yay! It's dinnertime!" Sonata enthusiastically yelled, scrambling up from her trains and running towards the door.
"Great, I'm starving," Peter muttered, marking his place in his book and setting it on his table. He got out of his chair and frowned, "Maybe Mom will actually be there for once."
James didn't acknowledge it externally, but he couldn't help but notice the disappointment and frustration laced into that last comment from his son. For the sake of keeping the peace, he ignored it and ushered his children to the dining hall.
"Hi Auntie Celestia!" Sonata rushed out of her father's grasp to give her aunt a big hug, which the motherly alicorn returned wholeheartedly.
"Good evening, Sonata. My, it was only yesterday I saw you, yet you've grown so much!" she grinned at the young alicorn filly, picking her up and holding Sonata on her left arm. As Celestia turned around, the door from the great hall swung open to reveal Luna, clad in her royal garb and wearing an exhausted, done-with-your-shit frown on her face. The frown was wiped from her mouth as she saw her family, a big smile replacing it.
"Mommy! Mommy! Hi!" she waved eagerly to her mother.
"Hello my sweet night song," she nuzzled her daughter and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek, turning to look down at her son, "Good evening, Peter."
"Mother," he smiled up at her, giving her a quick hug and scurrying to his seat, the others following in his example.
Celestia let Sonata down and beckoned her to her place, the filly electing to sit by her mother and Peter choosing to sit next to his father.
"Man, I don't know about y'all, but I'm starvin'. What's on the docket for tonight, Clover?" James gestured to the castle's cook.
"Ah, today we've cooked Master Peter's favorite dish, steak and mashed potates, as requested, for his excellent performance on his magical exam. The staff and I are very proud of you, young Prince," he gave the boy a ruffle of his hair, eliciting a chuckle and a swat from Peter.
"As are your mother and I, right dear?" he motioned for Luna to get involved in the conversation.
"Hmm? Oh! I'm sorry!" she had been absentmindedly staring off into space, "Yes, what your father said is right, my son. I'm very proud of you acing your exams! You've been excelling in our lessons and I couldn't be more ecstatic that you've been doing well."
James could tell Peter took offense to his mother's inattention at first, but he hid it well, "Thank you mom."
The servers began to lay out the food on the massive oak table, Luna and Celestia opting for an extra helping of mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. Soon, the sounds of fine silverware hitting porcelain and glass plates were all that was heard in the room.
"So, I guess the border disputes are going unresolved, I presume?" James chimed in, a mouthful of a medium rare steak still being chewed.
Luna and Celestia let out a tired groan, "Goddesses, the Gryphons just won't let up! They still insist that the plot of land that their farmers built on is theirs! It's clearly within our borders and those stubborn hens just won't concede to us that they were wrong," Celestia complained.
"Look, I know this probably sounds stupid to you guys, considering I've nowhere near the experience you have with ruling, but why not just give them the land? It's just one farm," James naively suggested.
"It's not about the land, sweetheart, but it is about the principle of what they're doing," his wife replied.
He grunted in understanding and left it at that. Celestia turned to Peter, who had been quiet up to this point, "How were your studies today, Peter?"
"It was good. I had a problem with the transitory connector for an illusion spell that I was hoping you could help me with later. It was really hard to get down," he prattled.
"I certainly can. If you want, we can do it after dinner," Celestia smiled at him, 'biting' into a spoonful of mashed potatoes.
"Well, actually, I was hoping we could play some catch later, Dad. Could we?" he looked expectantly up at his father.
"Sure, we can," James replied, "We can throw the ball till your aunt lowers the sun."
"Thank you, Dad."
"Ground ball," James tossed a grounder to his son, Peter fielding it with the technique James had Peter practice. A couple seconds later, the ball snapped back into his leather glove as he received the throw, "And he's out."
"You're getting real good son. You thinking about joining the baseball team?" he smiled at his son, throwing the ball back to him, "Be just like your old man. Heck, with how you're growing, I'd reckon you'd be a great first baseman."
"Maybe," Peter shrugged, "I don't know if Mom would like it. She'd probably say it'd distract me from magic. Besides, I don't even know how to hit well."
James snorted, "Nonsense. I'm sure your mother would be ecstatic if you tried out for sports, especially for baseball, given our family's history with it."
"Hmm," Peter grunted, uncertain, "I just don't know."
"You'll never know unless you try."
"If you say so, Dad."
The two continued on in silence for several more minutes, throwing the baseball back and forth, with James throwing in a few grounders and pop-ups for Peter to practice fielding. The cool April air rustled the trees of the castle garden, blowing some of the flower petals off of it and on to their grassy field. Dusk started to settle in.
"Son," James broke the silence, "I know you can get a little upset that your mom flakes out on a lot of... events, I guess, with you. I imagine you feel like she doesn't want to spend much time with you, yes?"
His son said nothing, but his eyes betrayed that James' assumption was correct. His glove snapped as Peter caught the ball.
"It's okay to feel that way and I know you're upset. Sometimes I wish Mom would spend a little more time with me too, but she has to run a kingdom. That's just the cards she was dealt in life and she has to play with them. Don't push your mom away just because you can't see her often. I know she wants nothing more than to be involved in your life 24/7 the way I can be," James sighed sadly, "Someday, son, the only people you'll have left from your family are your mom and your sister. Cherish them and hold them close. Cut your mom a little slack, and I know she'll be there for you when it counts."
Peter sighed, "Alright, Dad."
It was starting to become too dark to play anymore, so the two of them began to head towards the door, the castle guardsmares watching over them following behind.
"C'mon, let's get to bed now," he smiled down at his son and ruffled his waving hair, "Thanks for playing with me. It's fun throwing the ball with you."
"Anytime, son," he mocked his father's accent and chuckled, earning him a raspberry from his father and a light, playful shove.
He did enjoy these moments with his boy.
The children had been put to bed and the increasingly enticing draw of sleep clawed at James soon enough. He had forgone his work clothes, pressing the wrinkles from them and neatly hanging them in his closet, and all but threw himself into his boxers and T-Shirt. He raised the covers and all but flopped into bed.
"God, these kids of ours, sweetpea. They suck the energy out of this man," he remarked to his wife who marked her place in her book and set it down on her nightstand.
"Well, that definitely is your fault. I'm sure it's those human genes that make our children the way they are," she smirked.
He smiled playfully down at her before wrapping his arm around her, "I'd like to know your standard of research for that specified hypothesis, Luna."
"I'm the Princess. What I say is always 100% true."
"Whatever happened to not abusing your power?"
"That can be discarded when it befits me. And winning battles of wit with my husband is definitely a time when my power is absolute."
"Tyrant," he stuck his tongue out.
"Ape," she shot back.
He chuckled, giving her a kiss on her head, "Thank you for the help with that nightmare yesterday."
"Think nothing of it, my dear," she reached to switch the light off on her lamp, "Good night."
"Good night, Luna," he laid his head down on his pillow, closing his eyes.
All things considered, he had a pretty good life. A wonderful job teaching at the university, breakthrough research in applied chemistry and magic, two beautiful children, and a lovely wife. He was loved by the citizens of Equestria, respected, had an important and useful job, and couldn't be more happy that he was dumped in this land. If during the war, he had been told that he would have had all of this and that his life would have taken such a drastic turn, he would have laughed in their faces.
Truly, James was hap-
He felt his wife's muzzle press against his neck and her hand fumble around his boxers for his penis.
In response, he reached his hand back and rubbed a few fingers gently around her marehood. He felt her smile into his neck.
Well, looks like sleep would have to wait.
Not that he cared.
THE END |
Put it to Rest | Epilogue 2 | "Prince Peter, thank you for coming. We're honored by your presence."
"Please, just call me Pete. There is no need for the formalities behind closed doors, but thank you nonetheless," his smooth baritone voice dripped with his usual paternal tone that he frequently addressed his subjects with.
The editor nodded and pushed off the smooth wood floor, maneuvering his swivel chair towards a shelf containing a myriad of tapes, discs, and files. Grabbing a disc off of the top shelf, he gazed at Peter and raised his hand, "Well, we've got most of the final cuts made and it should be ready to be broadcasted to the theaters. I was hoping the whole Royal Family could come to view it before it makes its debut, but I'd be completely satisfied with your opinion."
The editor sighed, curling his smile into a small frown, "Your father, well, he was a great man. I'm sorry about the whole... well, you know," he did a circular gesture with his hand.
"It's fine," Peter mumbled. He gestured to the small monitor sitting on the metal table near a large soundboard, "Please. After you."
The pony nodded, placing the disc into the player, and working a few knobs on the machine, the display shot to life with a pristine, old photo of Peter's dad, a long, long time ago, during some better days.
He felt a stab of that pain he'd become all too familiar with lately, but like so many other times, he suppressed it. The TV started a drab, soft music soundtrack as the program began to play. ...
Dad, in many ways, was a very private man.
An image of himself popped up, sitting with the interviewers that had contacted him all those months ago.
"He was born as a farmer on Earth to a poor family in a place called Kentucky. He was a straight shooter. If you asked him a question, he'd give you a straight, blunt answer. Always a gentleman. Always."
The shot cut to his mother in that same interview, almost as youthful as she was when he was born
"He had a very happy childhood. Full of love and community with his fellow people. All throughout...our years together, he always spoke fondly of his birthplace, even though he hadn't seen it in over 200 years. Equestria was always home to him, even throughout his 243 years of life, but he never forgot his hometown."
Sonata was next. She had forgone her usual royal regalia he'd seen her wear so often when conducting court with Mom. It was almost unusual to see her without it.
"Daddy was always interested in anything scientific. He loved to 'tinker' with his chemicals and just see what he could make with them. He had a great interest in birds, naturalism, playing his piano. Oh, he loved to go fishing with Ms. Marnie back in the day. Dad just was a real hobbyist, you know? He loved to use his gifts for others. That's just who he was as a person."
The program cut to a few pictures of Dad, holding Sonata as a baby, standing outside the University with Aunt Tia and Mom, his wedding photos.
"For the longest time, Dad didn't want to write the book for the public. I guess, he originally wrote it... for us. So we could know, just what happened to him. But it was only after many years, and much persuasion from us, giving the reasons why it would be good for the public to know, only then did he finally decide to publish it into general circulation."
"My James," Mom came on, "Oh, he was always nervous, to some extent. Tense. It eased through the years, but it was always there. In the first years of our courtship and marriage, he always felt that he was fine, even though he wasn't. It took a long time for him to open up to me about his wartime experiences. Even longer for the children, far past a few decades.
He had terrible nightmares, almost all of his life. I don't know if I was able to help him get over his experiences completely. He... knew, that the war had had an impact on him, but he fought it all his life, even at the end. He had a terrible struggle in those years and that makes a terrible impression on a young man."
The shot cut to Peter.
"My father was particularly bothered by loud bangs, sudden noises, pegasi flying really fast over him that sounded somewhat like an airplane. Oh, especially fireworks for an incredibly long time. Basically anything that resembled artillery or gunfire. He would be so unnerved."
"There was one time, when I was a boy, maybe 12 or so. I was running around with my toy gun he'd made for me and I was hiding in my parent's wardrobe, hoping to pop out and scare one of them with my gun for a good laugh. Dad was the one who found me and I shot out, with this gun in his face."
"The next thing I knew, I was promptly grabbed by the scruff of my shirt and thrown on the ground by Dad with his hands on my neck."
"Now, now he quickly realized what was going on and nothing happened past that. He was able to compose himself and such, but it was really one of the first times that I was clued in that something incredibly bad had happened to my father. I don't think he ever really forgave himself for that, even though I've long since let that go."
A more sinister track came on as an old interview of Dad (maybe 10 years ago? Peter couldn't quite remember) appeared. His old man did not look any more aged than he was at 40 years old , yet his body looked more broken, worn down. He had sank into his favorite easy chair, resting his joints that by then were wasting away.
"There's not a day that goes by where I don't think about it. And if I do, I try to force myself to think about all the good times that I had. The wonderful friends that I'd made, some things that we found funny."
"But you also will remember your dead friends and... how many of them there were. It's so hard to accept, even today, some 200 years later, that the friends that you made are gone. That I alone am left. It's such a potent, deflating shock to your heart to know that the man you just woke up next to or the buddy you shared a can of peaches with that morning was just, gone. You can't ever share a meal with them or shoot dice with them or, or help them write letters home. They were here when you woke up and now they're gone. And, it's something that you can't ever forget."
The scene faded to Peter walking through the garden and park his father had planted at the University, the camera focusing in on the plethora of different flowers and trees James had painstakingly maintained.
"Whenever we had the various shrinks come to help Dad, and when Sonata and I thought we were up to the challenge to somehow help bear the extraordinary burden the war placed on him, inevitably, the question was always asked, 'How does the war make you feel?' Looking back on it, I thought that was such a stupid question to ask. But Dad, ever the patient man he was, always answered gently with a old saying from Earth that he had read about in an old war memoir.
'My past is an armor that I cannot take off, no matter how many times you tell me that the war is over.'
In the spirit of that saying, he planted this memorial park here to remember his friends and the people that he left behind.
The camera finally came to rest on a plaque that was placed under a cherry blossom tree
To my buddies Arthur, Howard, Jenkins, Gates, Arles, and Flume, who fought by my side through Cape Gloucester, the sweltering heat of Peleliu, and the bitter battles of Okinawa - To the Marines that fell that I couldn't help - To those who I left behind - To my mother, father, and family that are still on Earth - And most importantly, to my lovely wife Luna and my children, Peter and Sonata, this park is fondly and proudly dedicated.
SEMPER FI
and I miss you
The camera cut to Peter, sitting in his chair once more at the interview.
"Even after the disease took his memory," Peter paused for a long while, breathing in a shaky sigh, "And he forgot all of us," another long pause, "He never forgot the war. He never forgot being in the Pacific."
The film cut to black.
A somber, overcast wind blew Peter's ethereal hair tepidly as he walked through the streets of Canterlot. His unfocused gaze lay idly upon the tiled sidewalk as motorized carts passed by in the street. The whole city seemed so much less colored, more drab and gray, less full of the life and beauty it daily projected. The wind in its sails appeared to have ceased, as if the very city itself recognized the tremendous loss of a great man. Thankfully, his illusionary disguise was working quite well, as no one accosted him with bows, asks for autographs, or other such things. Not that he despised to do those things for his ponies, but his mood couldn't handle it at the moment.
His thoughts were a haze, like the troubled sea that could not rest. But the one unifying factor was that each of his thoughts lingered on his father.
Dad. His death had been difficult to bear for Peter. His guiding force, the man who taught him to rule and to be both a man and a proper Equestrian.
He frustratedly kicked a innocent rock across the tiles he walked upon. Why did it have to be this way? His father, a brilliant man who invented slow aging with his team of chemists and unicorns. The man who guided his kingdom through Tirek, invasions, Chrysalis, and unrest. The man who raised two children to be good, upstanding rulers.
It wasn't fair! Just because he was born of an alicorn, he gets to be immortal, but Dad didn't? No one deserved to live a longer life than his father did, yet he was taken away like the rest of the mortals.
It wasn't fair to watch a brilliant, gentle man waste away as that infernal disease took the memories of his life away from him. To watch him deteriorate from a humble, intelligent family man to a babbling, fearful, and irritable husk of his former self.
It wasn't fair.
Days ago, he would have cried, wept, screamed at this injustice, to call out God on his gross mistreatment of his most devoted follower. Now though? He was just angry. Angry at what or who, he didn't really care anymore. Angry at Sonata for not visiting Dad as much, angry at Mom for not putting him on that medication as quick as Peter said she should, angry at those tepid doctors for not acting as quick as he wanted.
In his stewing anger, he hadn't realized that he had walked himself, almost on autopilot, back onto the castle grounds. Standing in the main courtyard, he spat on the ground, removed his disguise, and walked towards the gardens. Perhaps another stroll would clear his head, or at least, clear it enough to get back to his duties.
As he quietly stewed in his frustrations, Peter walked over the wooden bridge that crested over the small stream running through the quiet castle garden. He spotted his father's large, marble, monumental gravestone up ahead. Most didn't know he was buried here. After all, he was a well-loved ruler and the ponies needed their own funeral for him.
He stiffened for but a moment as he spotted his mother standing quietly in front of her husband's grave. He hadn't expected her to be out. She'd barely left her room for the past month. It was unsettling to him how broken she looked. Her mane did not wave in that non-existent wind and the constellations in them seemed all that much dimmer. She did not cry, scream, weep, pray, only somberly gazed at James' headstone, the wind in her sails firmly gone. And from the brief glint he saw from her hands, her fingers were holding Dad's wedding ring.
Peter silently and respectfully slinked up next to her, crossing his hands behind his back, and joined her.
James W. Milligan
Husband, Father, Ruler
An exemplary soldier and accomplished scientist
We miss you dearly
Mom didn't acknowledge his presence for awhile and he was content to let them quietly pay their respects for awhile. A gust of overcast wind blew their hair gently as the cool air graced his nostrils.
"Hi Mom," he broke the silence, stepping a little closer to her.
"Hello son," Luna replied in a shaky voice.
His heart broke a little as he looked at her. He didn't really know how to respond for awhile, "Are you okay?"
Mom was silent for a moment, "No, I, suh-... no. No, I'm not."
He reached his arm around her and gave her a side hug, "Yeah, neither am I," he candidly admitted.
"I miss him," Luna honestly replied, "Goddess, I miss your father so much," she fidgeted with his wedding ring in his hand.
"Me too, Ma," his reply was short yet again, "How's Sonata? Haven't seen her for a few days now."
Luna spoke nothing for a moment, "She's been handling court recently. Your aunt has been gradually handing out more of our responsibilities to her." She sighed, depositing her husband's ring into the pocket of her sweatpants, "Honestly, I just think that's how she's choosing to cope. I've let her be."
His mother turned to him and gazed up at him warmly, or as warmly as she could muster, "And you my son? What have you been up to? I've not seen you much at all either. I'm sorry for that," she wrapped her left arm around his back and softly caressed him, holding him close.
"I was meeting with the filmmakers. You know, the interviewers from a month back? The documentary and film should be ready to be released soon. They're hoping for us to attend the premiere. I'm assuming you want to go?"
"Of course," she reached up to brush a little flake of skin off of her cheek, "And how have you been?"
"Oh, how do you think I've been?" Peter snapped, his waving hair glowing for a split second as his frustration surfaced again. He heard his mother's ears splay down on her head and sighed, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped."
"It's okay, Peter. Something's troubling you, I see," she correctly guessed.
"That easy huh?" he joked, running a hand through his hair, "Yeah, I guess you could say I'm a little upset."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"I just," he paused with a frown, "I guess I'm just angry. This isn't fair. This isn't right! How can this happen? Didn't Dad lead a good life? He didn't deserve to lose his memories. I didn't deserve this! YOU don't deserve this."
His rambling was cut short, his tears starting to well up as he fought back a lump of his throat, "I don't understand. I just don't understand Mom. Why did this happen to him? Why do I have to live on and Dad has to die?"
Luna pursed her lips and hugged her son, gently stroking him as a few tears spilled out onto the dirt.
After awhile, she wiped his cheek again and spoke, "Oh Peter. My sweet, kind little boy. You are absolutely right. We don't deserve to have this happen to us."
He looked confusedly down at Luna. She continued, "Your father was a great man and experienced a great amount of pain in his life. But he also experienced an even more abundant amount of joy, most specially because of you and Sonata."
"I won't claim to understand why we have been saddled with the burden of immortality. Losing your loved ones as you live on is a great pain that never fully loses its sting, my son, but you can only grow around it. All you can do is remember the wonderful times you shared with that pony and be glad that we were blessed enough to know them."
She smiled up at her son in an attempt to comfort him, "Sometimes bad things will happen to good people. Your father knew that fact very well and he accepted that. Yes, he led a good life, but ultimately that doesn't excuse a person from hardship nor their death, even one as old as your father."
She sighed, "I know that might not help, but unfortunately that's the cards we've been dealt, Peter."
Peter frowned weakly and fiddled with his hands, "You and I have seen friends and family pass on again and again, but this time, this time is worse. I don't know if I can bear this."
"In time, as always, it will pass. But I must confess, I feel much the same way," she gazed up at the castle windows and mustered up a small smile, "Would you like to come eat with me? I think the chefs are almost done with Tia's pastries. I'm sure she'd love the company."
"Sure. Anything to take my mind off all this," he muttered, putting his arm around Luna's shoulders and smiling softly, "I love you, Mom."
"Oh, I love you more," she cheekily replied, reaching up to give him a motherly kiss on his scratchy, whiskered cheek.
As the two of them walked over the stone bridge towards the castle, he looked back upon his father's gravestone, "Goodbye, Dad. I miss you."
The heavy steel doors of the castle closed behind Peter and with it, the stoic chemist was finally able to rest. |
LEGO Equestria Girls 7 | pre | The two brothers turned to Twilight and smiled. "Well, if it isn't our old loyal customer, Twilight Sparkle!" greeted Flim.
"A real pleasure to see you again after the Shadowbolts were disbanded," added Flam.
"And to answer your questions," continued Flim, "while normally we would be operating our Pick-A-Brick distribution warehouse, we've been forced to close it down for the next few weeks due to extensive repairs."
"Who knew a burst steam pipe could cause that much damage?" remarked Flam with a shrug.
"As you might expect," continued Flim, "this unfortunate disaster has left us without our usual daily occupation or means of income."
"But when we heard about the numerous job offerings with the opening of Equestria Land," continued Flam, "we knew that this was just the opportunity we needed to help us get through these hard times."
"And seeing as you're here and we have a job to do, care to give our ring toss game a try?" asked Flim as he offered one of the green rings to Twilight.
"For a dear friend like you, the first toss will be on the house!" added Flam.
Twilight glanced over at the bottles, then smiled and replied, "This game does look easy, and a free trial run is hard to resist."
Sunset set the box of fries she was carrying down on the booth's counter as she suddenly grabbed Twilight by the shoulder and spun her around so they were both facing away from Flim and Flam, then quietly cautioned, "Twilight, they're just giving you the old bump-and-tingle to lure you in. These games are rigged."
"Slanderous!" exclaimed Flim, sounding offended.
"Libelous!" exclaimed Flam in a similar tone.
Sunset frowned and rolled her eyes at their over-the-top antics.
"Do you know what's not rigged?" explained Twilight with a smile as she adjusted her glasses. "The laws of physics. Assuming no air resistance and a vertical displacement of zero, horizontal displacement equals initial projectile velocity squared times the sine of twice the launch angle divided by the acceleration due to gravity."
Sunset stared at Twilight with a blank expression and blinked once.
"Wow!" remarked Flim with enthusiasm. "Now there's somebody who knows a thing or two about a thing or two!"
"But actions speak louder than words, so let's see if you can put your money where your mouth is," stated Flam as he handed one of the rings over to Twilight.
"Gladly," declared Twilight proudly as she grabbed the ring and held it up towards the bottles. She took her time to get her aim just right, and once she was confident she had the ideal trajectory, she tossed the ring. The ring hooked onto the neck of one of the bottles and ended up rapidly spinning around it, but not yet quite landing as required to win.
"Oh, the suspense!" shouted Flim dramatically.
"The drama!" shouted Flam in a similar tone.
"I can't watch!"
"Hold me!"
The two brothers hugged each other tightly and shuddered in mock fear.
Twilight and Sunset watched eagerly as the ring continued spinning around the neck of that bottle. The spinning ring soon began to slow down, but just as it seemed it would finally land, it suddenly bounced right off the bottle and landed on the ground. Twilight's jaw dropped, then she groaned in frustration and pounded the booth's counter.
"You were pretty close, though," assured Sunset with a smile. "Maybe we could try just one more time?"
Twilight smiled back at Sunset and nodded. "Totally worth another shot," she said in agreement. "And seeing as I've used up my free first toss..." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a strip of tickets. "I'll need to use some of these."
Flim and Flam turned to each other, smiled slyly, and gave each other a light fist-bump.
Not far away, Applejack had wandered aimlessly though the park to end up near some of the concession stands. As she walked, she stared at the park map in her hands, occasionally turning the map around and scratching the back of her head in confusion. Eventually, she let out a huff of frustration and sloppily folded up her map and shoved it in her pocket. "This place sure ain't much fun without a friend by mah side," she grumbled.
"Apples! Caramel apples over here!" called out a guy from one of the nearby concession stands. "We've got red and green and everything in between!"
Applejack froze on the spot as she realized she recognized that voice. She turned to where it came from and saw a stand that seemed to be serving caramel apples. It briefly occurred to her that, had she and Rarity gotten the jobs they had originally applied for, this was where they would've been working. But what really caught her attention at this moment was seeing a rather familiar face standing behind the service counter. "Micro Chips?" she asked in confusion as she approached the caramel apple stand.
Instead of his standard clothes, Micro Chips had dark green on his legs, pale green on his torso and upper arms, a red bowtie piece around his neck, and printed on his torso were brown suspenders and apples all over the shirt. The lavender guy with blue hair and black glasses turned to the approaching apple farmer and offered, "Caramel apple?"
"Uh, Ah'm Applejack," said Appelajck. "Caramel Apple is the name of one of mah cousins."
"I wasn't trying to identify you by name," clarified Micro Chips. "I was offering to sell you one of these delicious caramel apples."
"So you're who they hired to be the caramel apple... girl?" asked Applejack. "Ah thought you were one of those tech specialists who work for the LEGO Team."
"That and being one of the core members of the reserve team who are called in whenever you and your friends are unavailable," acknowledged Micro Chips. "Originally, I came here to offer my tech skills when I heard they would have a server room on the park grounds. But before I got a chance to inspect whatever they had set up, Vignette Valencia came over and offered me this job for the summer, claiming that she was looking for 'cool nerd chic'. Not exactly my area of expertise, but how could I resist an opportunity to look cool in front of everyone?"
Micro Chips decided to smugly demonstrate his coolness as he dipped an apple on a stick into a vat of caramel. But when he tried to pull the apple out, that batch of caramel proved to be a little too sticky. He struggled to pull the apple free, and when that sticky caramel finally snapped off, the force of achieving that was enough to throw him back into one of the other caramel apples on display and end up with it stuck on his arm. As he then struggled to pull that caramel apple off his arm, he stumbled backwards into some more caramel apples on display.
Applejack couldn't help but flinch and cringe as she watched Micro Chips become increasingly entangled with caramel and getting apples on sticks stuck all over his body.
Eventually, Micro Chips stopped struggling, sighed in defeat, and reluctantly asked, "Do you by any chance have a knife or samurai sword or several tiny but very sharp nail clippers?"
Applejack facepalmed at the epic fail she had just witnessed. She was about to say something when she faintly heard a familiar voice in the distance. She glanced back and saw Vignette walking with Fluttershy towards the candy-themed attraction. She was suddenly curious about what they were discussing and wanted to follow them, but the sound of a thud brought her attention back to Micro Chips, who had now disappeared behind the counter.
"And now I'm stuck to the ground," muttered Micro Chips.
Applejack sighed and grumbled, "Lucky for you Ah always carry a pocketknife." She then hopped over the counter and began to help free the nerd entrapped in caramel.
Meanwhile, the conversation continued between Vignette and Fluttershy as they walked behind the giant candy structure with a tunnel through the middle. Vignette excitedly continued, "I know what you're thinking. 'But, Vignette, how can I ever thank you for coming up with such a brilliant idea for the parade?'"
"Actually, I'm thinking more along the lines of 'I don't understand,'" responded Fluttershy hesitantly. "You want me to pretend I'm someone else tonight? No offense, but if you're advertising the Rainbooms as the main attraction of the parade, wouldn't it make sense to just let us do what we normally do? I mean, that's what everyone will be expecting from us."
Vignette scoffed and replied, "Expected is boring! If we're really gonna wow the crowd, what we need is something totally new and never before seen. Everyone in the band has a new role. It's part of my bold, new, vision! All caps, Helvetica, sixty-five. For you, you'll be 'Fluttershy: Bad Girl'!"
Fluttershy froze in shock at that suggestion. She was already hesitant enough to perform in front of a massive crowd, but to do so in an image she was completely uncomfortable with was downright paralyzing to her.
"Spiked hair, ripped tights," continued Vignetted, oblivious to Fluttershy's reaction. "I've already commissioned and A-list graffiti-slash-sneaker artist to tag up a custom guitar for you to play. How do you feel about skulls?"
Fluttershy's shocked stance and stare had remained unchanged. In her view, there were so many things completely wrong with that entire description that she had no idea how to even react.
"B.Y.B.B." insisted Vignette.
Fluttershy thought of many ways to respond. She could've told her that none of her friends would ever approve of that. She could've told her that she can't force such a drastic change on someone and already make plans without her permission. She could've told her that she should better recognize the "be yourself" part of her philosophy before coming up with such wildly out there ideas. But, being the kind and shy girl she was, Fluttershy nervously responded, "Uh, maybe I, um... shouldn't do it. Like... at all."
Vignette immediately frowned. She was so convinced that her ideas were the best thing ever that she couldn't believe that one of the performers would refuse to give it a full endorsement. She glanced down at her magically enhanced phone in her hands, then smiled as she came up with a new plan to make things much easier. "You're right," she said contently. "If collab-ing isn't your thing, that's your life decision to make. But I just thought of a way for us both to get exactly what we want."
"You did?" asked Fluttershy, now starting to feel a little more optimistic.
"Of course!" declared Vignette. "Getting what I want is what I do best, sweetie." She then held up her phone and pointed it at Fluttershy. "Now say 'Cheese!'"
Fluttershy's expression turned to confusion just before Vignette took a picture of her. This quickly transformed Fluttershy into a holographic image which was then pulled into the phone and vanished.
"Sorry, Fluttershy," remarked Vignette with no remorse at all. "You'll thank me later."
In a featureless white area, the holographic image of Fluttershy suddenly materialized and transformed her back into a regular minifig. She glanced around in confusion and worriedly called out, "Um, excuse me? Vignette?" She hesitantly took a few steps forward. "Where am I?"
"Huh? Wha...?"
Fluttershy immediately spun around to see what appeared to be some kind of security guard sitting on the ground, who seemingly had just woken up from a nap.
"Aw, man," groaned the tired security guard. "Am I ever gonna wake up from this weird dream?"
Fluttershy uneasily replied, "Uh, I'm afraid this isn't a dream, mister..."
"Cranky Doodle," replied the security guard. "And what makes you so sure I'm not dreaming?"
"Well, my friend Pinkie Pie says subjecting yourself to pain is a good way to know for sure," replied Fluttershy. "Not that I'd want to hurt you in any way."
Cranky shrugged and decided to test the theory by placing his hand under his rear and sitting down on it. "Ow!" he shouted as pulled his hand out from under his butt. After shrugging off the crushing pain in that hand, he asked, "So if this isn't a dream, what exactly happened to us?"
"I don't know for sure," replied Fluttershy as she stared down at her feet. "I was just talking with Vignette Valencia when she suddenly decided to take a picture of me with her phone, and then... I'm suddenly right here."
Cranky crossed his arms and grumbled, "Next time I see her, I'll be sure to have a word with her about this."
Fluttershy hesitantly asked, "Um, if you don't mind me asking... how long have you been here?"
Cranky shrugged and asked, "When's opening day for Equestria Land?"
"That's today," replied Fluttershy.
"Then I've been stuck in this weird place for two days now," stated Cranky in a resigned tone. After a brief pause, he looked up at Fluttershy and asked, "Do you have any snacks with you? I considered trying that stress salad over there, but, well... I don't wanna take my chances on something that's been sitting around for so long."
Fluttershy glanced around and soon found the salad bowl Cranky was referring to. She walked over to it and saw that the salad inside had indeed started going bad from sitting around for likely many days. She sighed and sadly remarked, "I sure wish it was still fresh. I'm feeling stressed right now..." |
LEGO Equestria Girls 7 | Strange Disappearances | Chapter 4
Strange Disappearances
After helping Micro Chips out of a rather sticky situation, Applejack was curious to find out what Vignette had been discussing with Fluttershy. She was unable to find either of them after wandering around for half an hour, so she decided to try calling Fluttershy to see if they could meet up somewhere, but every attempt to call her ended up going to voicemail. Now getting a little concerned, she decided her best chance of finding Fluttershy was to find Vignette, but although she had no idea where to find the park's PR manager, she was confident her friend Rarity would know where she would likely be. And thankfully for Applejack, she knew exactly where to find the fashionista.
Applejack walked over to the massive hangar and stepped through the regular doorway into the building. She glanced around at the numerous floats being assembled -- brick by brick by the workers wearing hardhats and orange safety vests. None of the numerous people moving around seemed to mind her presence, so she walked forward through the middle of the hangar as she continued to glance around for any sign of her friend.
At the other end of the building, Rarity was on a western themed float as she put the final touches on a cowboy costume that one of the performers was already wearing. "And... finished!" she declared with satisfaction. She then reached over to pick up an electric plug. "Let there be light!" She then connected the plug.
The cowboy costume became illuminated with dozens of little decorative lights all over it, and the performer wearing it gave Rarity a smile of approval.
Rarity let out a sigh of relief and remarked, "Maybe tonight won't be a disaster after all."
BZZZZTT!
The lights suddenly short circuited, shutting off the lights and electrocuting the performer, who twitched and jerked uncontrollably for a few seconds before he collapsed on his back. As wisps of black smoke began to rise from the ruined costume, one assistant quickly rushed in with a bucket of water and dumped it over the fallen performer. This attempt to mitigate a fire hazard only resulted in further jolting for the unfortunate performer. Once the electric current stopped coursing through the ruined costume, the performer on the floor weakly said, "I'm okay."
Confirmation that the performer was not seriously hurt did little to ease Rarity's nerves. After witnessing the latest in a series of minor things not quite going according to plan, she was on the verge of completely losing it. Summoning what little sanity she had left, she calmly told all the people around her, "Will you, uh, excuse me for a moment?"
As a few assistants tended to the electrocuted performer and his ruined outfit, Rarity walked in a dignified manner towards a nearby large pile of clothes, then promptly collapsed face-first into the pile and started shouting and thrashing her limbs around furiously. The clothes muffled her shouts enough that no one could understand what she was saying, but her body language was enough to convince all the nearby assistants to back away from her at once.
Applejack happened to be passing by when she heard the muffled wailing of Rarity, so she walked over to her friend and greeted, "Hey, Rarity. How's--?"
Rarity suddenly leaped off the pile of clothes and furiously shouted, "I wasn't having a meltdown! Who said I was having a meltdown?! I AM NOT HAVING A MELTDOWN!!"
"Whoa, easy there," Applejack carefully responded. "Ah, uh, just came by to ask if ya seen Fluttershy 'round here lately. See, she went wanderin' off with Vignette an' then just disappeared."
Rarity glared at Applejack and asked, "Are you honestly asking me this right now?"
"Oh, it's not that Ah don't trust Vignette, if that's what you're thinkin'," assured Applejack.
"We're in a giant fun park with fifty thousand people," scolded Rarity. "Of course you can't find her." She then suddenly gasped and worriedly muttered, "Fifty thousand people... all looking at my costumes!"
"Are you seriously not concerned about Fluttershy?" asked Applejack in disbelief. "She's one of our closest friends!"
"That's a hundred thousand individual eyes," Rarity continued muttering fearfully. "And that doesn't take into account any one-eyed pirates or three-eyed aliens..."
"Fine!" declared Applejack in frustration. "If you ain't gonna worry 'bout her, then Ah'll just have to track her down mahself! An' when Ah find her, Ah'll be sure to let her know that ya don't even care about her one bit!" She then turned away and stormed off back towards the door out the front of the building.
Rarity had apparently not reacted at all to any of what Applejack had shouted back at her. Instead, she remained petrified in terror for a few more seconds before she suddenly hollered, "SOMEBODY GET ME A BIGGER PILE OF CLOTHES TO SCREAM INTO!!"
BEEP... BEEP... BEEP... BEEP...
A small truck slowly backed up towards Rarity, then stopped and tipped its bed back to dump a much bigger pile of clothes right on top of her.
"Ugh, ask and you shall receive..." came Rarity's muffled response from under the pile.
At the ring toss booth, Sunset tossed another ring towards the bottles. The ring hooked around the neck of one of the bottles, spun around it for a second, then bounced right off the bottle. "Come on!" she shouted furiously as she slammed her fists against the counter.
After yet another failure, Twilight opened a notebook she had been carrying around and began frantically scribbling ideas and calculations on its pages.
Meanwhile, Flim counted up the tickets from the small pile they had collected from Twilight and Sunset, then turned to Flam. Flam used a calculator to crunch the numbers, then turned to his brother and smiled, who then smiled back at him.
Sunset growled in frustration, then turned to Twilight and firmly asked, "All right, what's next? What are we doing? How are we going to win this?!"
Twilight continued scribbling in her notebook for a few more seconds, then smiled as she turned to the brothers in the booth and boasted, "Guess who just mapped out a perfect projectile trajectory taking into account propulsion, gravity, and aerodynamic drag? This gal! Betcha thought I forgot about friction, air drag, and veering initial velocities. Well, guess what? I didn't!"
Flim and Flam stared at Twilight with dumbstruck looks on their faces.
"What she said!" insisted Sunset as she held out another bunch of tickets to go for yet another round.
The brothers glanced at each other and shrugged with smiles on their faces.
"You know what they say..." began Flim.
"...hundredth time's the charm," finished Flam.
When the tickets and rings were exchanged once more, Sunset picked up one of the rings and held it up. She allowed Twilight to make all the subtle adjustments to her aim and posture to hopefully ensure the highest probable chance of achieving the elusive winning shot. Once Twilight was confident everything was as close to perfection as physically possible, she smiled and nodded at Sunset. With that gesture of confirmation, Sunset swung her arm back and prepared to make the toss.
"Howdy, y'all!"
Applejack's sudden arrival behind their backs startled Twilight and Sunset, causing Sunset to fling the ring way off course. The ring flew over the booth, bounced off the bell atop the high striker, deflected off the frame of another booth, and finally slammed into an ice cream sundae on a table between a mother and young boy. The ice cream splattered all over the boy, who then began to cry loudly. "Just when I finally got him to calm down..." grumbled the mother.
With their latest toss totally wasted, Twilight and Sunset both glared back at their friend and furiously shouted, "Applejack!"
"Sorry. Didn't mean to throw off your game," said Applejack as she defensively held up her hands. She then lowered her hands and continued, "Ah was just wonderin' if either of ya have seen Fluttershy. It's been hours since Ah last saw her, an' her phone's goin' straight to voicemail. I keep thinkin' somethin' real bad might've happened."
Sunset took a deep breath to calm herself, then assured her friend, "Lighten up, Applejack. There's not always a villain with Equestrian magic out to get us. If it makes you feel better, I promise I'll text you right away if Twilight or I see any sign of Fluttershy."
"Thanks, Sunset," said Applejack with a smile. "Good to know that even in the heat of whatever ya got goin' on here, y'all still care about one of our close friends." She then sourly grumbled under her breath, "Unlike a certain other friend of ours."
"On a side note," Twilight spoke up, "do you have any tickets we can borrow? We're kinda starting to run low."
Applejack glanced past her friends to see Flim and Flam dumping a large pile of tickets into a large sack. When they noticed the apple farmer watching them, Flam quickly hid the sack behind his back while he and his brother whistled innocently and glanced away from her gaze.
Applejack rolled her eyes as she reached into her pocket and pulled out many strips of tickets. "Here, take 'em all," she muttered as she handed over the tickets. "Not like Ah'm gonna be usin' 'em, anyway."
Sunset and Twilight both smiled as they took the tickets from Applejack. Sunset then clenched her fists around the tickets in her hands and firmly stated, "I don't like to lose." She then turned around and slapped those tickets down onto the counter.
Applejack didn't say a word as she shook her head in disapproval and then walked away.
Sunset once again picked up one of the rings, but before she made another attempt to toss it, she paused and glanced back at Applejack waking away. Then in a swift series of moves, she set down the ring, opened Twilight's notebook, and pulled Twilight close to her and held up the opened notebook so Flim and Flam couldn't see their faces. "Spike once told me you secretly put tracking devices in our phones," whispered Sunset. "Do you think you can use that to find Fluttershy?"
Twilight's eyes widened in shock as she quietly asked, "When did he tell you about that?"
"Juniper Montage," stated Sunset.
"Right, when we all got pulled into that magic mirror," muttered Twilight.
"He called me when the signals from all of your phones vanished because of that," explained Sunset. "I doubt anything similar happened to Fluttershy today, but if you have a way to be sure of that, I don't see any reason not to."
"Unfortunately, I hadn't anticipated a need for it today," explained Twilight. "The system is currently switched off, and since Spike came here to the park with us, I can't ask him to simply go into my lab and switch it back on." She then pulled out her phone. "I could remotely activate and then access it, but I'm afraid it may take some time to set everything up."
Sunset set down the notebook and spoke up, "The way things have been going here, I'd say we've got plenty of time." She then picked up the green ring again and went back to preparing her next toss attempt.
Near the roller coaster at the far side of the park, Rainbow Dash had long since recovered from her nausea after her first -- and so far only -- ride on the roller coaster, but that did little to ease her nerves. She was practically frozen in terror as she watched the train of cars rush along the track once again. Without any of her friends around, she was already building up a sweat as she nervously glanced around for any excuse for a distraction. She soon got just what she needed when she saw her friend Applejack approaching.
"Hey, Applejack!" greeted Rainbow Dash enthusiastically. There was subtle hesitation in her voice as she continued, "I was just about to ride this thing for, like, the tenth time already!"
A red-haired little girl standing next to Rainbow Dash coughed intentionally with a look of disbelief on her face.
Rainbow quickly shushed the little girl and harshly whispered, "Not a word outta you!"
The little girl rolled her eyes and walked away.
"Right..." muttered Applejack. As much as she would normally welcome the opportunity to taunt Rainbow for her hypocrisy, she had more important issues to deal with right now, so she spoke up, "Anyway, Ah was just wonderin' if you've seen Fluttershy anywhere."
"Oh, she was with me," explained Rainbow Dash, "super scared of this ride, but she got a text from Vignette and went off to have a little chat with her."
"An' she hasn't come back yet?" asked Applejack.
"Now that you mention it," replied Rainbow, "she did promise she would be back as soon as possible. I dunno how long I've been waiting here, but I trust her to keep her word."
"Well, if she does show up, Ah guess she'll most likely try to find ya right here," acknowledged Applejack. "Just be sure to let me know if she shows up, alright?"
"Sure thing," assured Rainbow with a smile.
Applejack responded with a smile and a nod, then turned and began walking away.
Rainbow Dash then quickly called out to her friend, "Oh! And if you see her first, tell her she still owes me a roller coaster ride!" She turned her attention back to the roller coaster and gulped nervously as she watched it rush along the tracks once again.
Less than a minute later, Rainbow heard a ping from her phone and felt it vibrate in her pocket. She took it out and read the text she had just received. When she noticed it was from Vignette, she shrugged and remarked, "I guess I could just ask her directly where Fluttershy went." She put her phone back in her pocket and began walking towards the hangar building where Vignette wanted to talk with her.
Now that Rainbow actually had a good reason to get away from that terrifying roller coaster, she was already starting to feel much better -- not that she would ever admit it to any of her friends, of course.
Applejack continued wandering around the park, trying to search for Fluttershy in all the places she had not yet checked. As she walked beside the bumper cars, she continued reading the slightly crumpled map in her hands in an effort to figure out where she should go next. Suddenly, a sharp whistle from someone startled Applejack and caused her to nearly drop her map, only to have it suddenly yanked out of her hands by Pinkie Pie.
"No frowning allowed!" Pinkie firmly declared right in Applejack's face. Instead of her usual outfit, Pinkie now had dark blue on her legs, pale green on her left arm and the left half of her torso, pale yellow on her right arm and the right half of her torso, and an oversized pale green cap on top of her hair piece, with all of those things covered in various brown stains and the occasional bit of refuse. She also had what appeared to be a pair of macaroni art badges, one on the left front of her torso and the other on the front of her big cap.
"Uh... what?" muttered Applejack in confusion.
Pinkie continued to stare hard at Applejack. As she then crumpled the map and tossed it over her shoulder into a trashcan, she stated in a serious tone, "As 'Fun Inspector', I'm a little concerned about what I'm seeing here." She waved her hand in front of Applejack's face, but then her oversized hat slipped down to cover her eyes.
"Pinkie Pie?" asked Applejack. "Don't tell me you're workin' for the park now, too."
Pinkie pushed her hat back up as she giggled and replied cheerfully, "No, silly! Fun Inspectors are freelance! And don't get paid! And totally made up by me earlier today when I saw a little girl crying because she dropped her ice cream, and I said to myself, 'Pinkie Pie, this place isn't as fun as it could be!'" After all of the wild gestures she made as she spoke, her oversized hat slipped down over her eyes again.
"Uh, Ah'm pretty sure the people who actually work here won't take kindly to seein' some fake official runnin' around the park," Applejack pointed out carefully. "Especially since ya look like ya just went dumpster divin'."
Pinkie pushed her hat back up again and blissfully continued, "I see you noticed my official Fun Inspector uniform. I made it out of things I found in that dumpster behind the hangar, but you can't even tell the difference! If anything, Rarity might've handled this stuff before she decided to let it go, so I decided to give it a better purpose, just like me!" She then casually reached behind her rear, ripped off a dirty lollipop that had been stuck to the back of her pants, and began to bring it towards her mouth.
Applejack immediately slapped the filthy treat out of Pinkie's hand, then took a breath to calm herself and said, "Look, Pinkie, Ah don't have time for this nonsense. Quite frankly, the only thing that could make me happy right now is if ya happen to know where Fluttershy is."
With a smile still on her face, Pinkie shrugged and replied, "Sorry, can't help you on that one. But I do know where to find my new Deputy Fun Inspector. And she's right here!" She swiftly pulled out another macaroni art badge and slapped it onto Applejack's chest. "Ta-da! Now you have full access to the entire park, Deputy Fun Inspector!"
Applejack glanced down at the handmade badge, then took it off and irritably stated, "Pinkie, ya don't have the authority to gimme that kind of authority. It don't work like that."
Pinkie quickly snatched the badge out of Applejack's hand and slapped it back on her chest. "You said you wanted a job in this park, and I'm giving it to you!" insisted Pinkie. "No give-backsies!" She then turned Applejack around and shoved her away. "Now go start fun inspecting over by the ferris wheel! I'll cover the concession stands!" She then turned and began happily skipping away.
Applejack glanced back at Pinkie, then shook her head and muttered, "Ah guess it's just one of those days for Pinkie." Having asked all of her friends and now without a map of the park, she decided to just go on ahead towards the ferris wheel.
Back at the ring toss booth, it was all more of the same for Twilight and Sunset. They had made numerous attempts to toss any of the rings onto any of the bottlenecks, and still they had zero successful hits.
After making the usual exchange of tickets for rings, Sunset turned to Twilight and said with determination, "All right... we've tried frisbee style... we've tried the straight launcher... we've tried the slinger toss... we've tried the boomerang... we've tried high lobbing... we've tried the pincer move... we've tried the flying saucer... what's our next tactic?"
Twilight flipped through her notebook past all those failed strategies. When she reached a page that had not yet been crossed out, she smiled and pointed at the diagram she had drawn as she proudly stated, "Hwacha method!"
Sunset quickly studied the diagram and concluded, "So just throw a whole bunch of 'em at once? Worth a shot." She gathered up all of the available rings on the counter and barely managed to grasp them all at once in her hands. "This one's gotta work. This one has to work!" Despite her awkward grip on the projectiles, she made sure to aim for the center of the table to maximize their chances of getting at least one ring to land successfully. Once she was sure her aim was perfect, she made the massive toss.
The big clump of rings did hit the middle of the set of bottles as hoped for, but somehow, every single one of those rings managed to bounce away and land on the ground.
Off to the side, Flim and Flam had long since lost all enthusiasm.
"Oh, wow," muttered Flim in a bored tone.
"So close," added Flam in a similar tone.
Sunset and Twilight both stared in disbelief at their latest failure. They both groaned at they turned away and slid down against the side of the counter until their rears hit the ground.
"I feel like my hands are about to fall off," moaned Sunset. Sure enough, both of her hands slid out of their sockets in her arms and clattered on the ground.
Twilight flipped through all the pages of her notebook again and again. From front to back, the clean and precise scientific charts and diagrams gradually gave way to sloppy sketches and doodles. "It all looks the same..." mumbled Twilight, sounding almost delirious. "Is this real life...? How long have we been here...?"
While the two girls had slumped from endless failure, the two brothers took a moment to observe some other park guests and noticed how some seemed to be steering clear of their ring toss booth. Flim turned to his brother and whispered, "I highly suggest for everyone's sake that we put an end to this right away. If they continue like this, not only will it be bad for them, but it will also give everyone else the impression this game is completely impossible and therefore not worth their time and money."
"Indeed," agreed Flam quietly. "We've made a fortune off them already, but there's only so much you can make off of a single customer." He reached up towards the displayed prizes and took down a large stuffed parakeet. "It's time to move them along and let someone else give it a go."
The brothers leaned over the counter to look down at the two girls. "Uh, hey, listen, girls," Flim spoke up. "We applaud you for a level of persistence we rarely see in anyone."
"And we've agreed that you at least deserve a reward for your impressive efforts," added Flam in sympathy. "How about you just take this parakeet and go home?"
Sunset immediately stood up and suddenly smacked the stuffed parakeet out of Flam's hands as she furiously shouted, "IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PARAKEET!!"
The stuffed parakeet flew through the air and ended up right in the hands of the very same young boy who had been splattered with ice cream earlier. As the little boy smiled and hugged the giant stuffed animal, his mother silently decided to let him keep it rather than return it from where it was lost, justifying it as a good deed from those girls to make up for what had happened earlier.
With her hands still missing, Sunset scraped her arms across the counter until she managed to loop one of the rings around her left wrist. "I don't care if I have to fling it off the stubs of my arms!" she furiously declared. "I AM GONNA WIN THIS!!"
Twilight quickly gathered up Sunset's hands and stood up as she protested, "Sunset, stop! This has gone far enough!" She grasped Sunset's right arm and reattached one of her hands to it. "You said it yourself at the start of this whole mess. These games are rigged." Sunset grabbed the ring with her right hand and took it off her left wrist, allowing Twilight to reattach the other hand. "How about we use what few tickets we have left to get ourselves some ice cream?"
Sunset stared at the green ring in her hand for a moment, then let out a sigh of defeat and muttered, "You're right. Why didn't I listen to myself? We never even had a chance." She then carelessly tossed the ring behind her back as she and Twilight began to walk away.
That one particular ring flew back into the booth and, of all the places it could've gone, it miraculously made a perfect landing right on the neck of one of the bottles.
"Wow!" exclaimed Flim in astonishment. "Did ya see that, everyone?!"
"If she could do it with a blind toss behind her back," declared Flam to a rapidly gathering crowd, "then surely those of you who actually try are guaranteed to win!"
That remarkable display had made many of the nearby park guests very excited for the ring toss game, and they quickly started handing in tickets to make their own attempts to win.
Of course, that commotion had been loud enough to catch the attention of Twilight and Sunset, who had managed to walk only a short distance by the time they noticed what was going on.
"Seriously?!" exclaimed Twilight in disbelief. "Now we finally got a successful hit?! And it came from a completely random blind toss?!" When she didn't hear any reaction from her friend, she turned to Sunset, only to see that she was apparently so stunned that she was practically frozen stiff. "Uh, Sunset?" asked Twilight in concern as she waved her hand in front of Sunset's face -- stuck with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. She then lightly nudged Sunset, but she remained as stiff as a statue.
Meanwhile, Flim and Flam were more than happy to be collecting tickets from new participants for the first time in hours. "I have to say, this worked quite well," remarked Flim as he gathered the newly collected tickets.
"You said it, dear brother of mine," agreed Flam as he handed out the rings to the new players.
Flim picked up the gathered tickets and walked to the back of the booth, but then suddenly stopped and exclaimed, "Hey! What happened to the rest of our tickets?!"
Flam quickly stood beside his brother and they both stared at the empty space on the floor. "That's odd," he noted as he scratched his head in confusion. "I could've sworn I left them right here."
While Sunset was still in too much shock to react, Twilight had been able to overhear the odd mystery that Flim and Flam was suddenly faced with. But right at that moment, she also noticed two minifigs suddenly run away from behind the booth, each of whom were carrying a large sack in their arms. Knowing there was little time to lose, Twilight turned to her unmoving friend and urgently said, "C'mon, Sunset! There's two robbers getting away!"
Sunset finally snapped out of her shock just as Twilight grabbed her hand and began pulling her in the direction the lavender girl had seen those robbers escape. "Hey, easy! I'm right behind ya!" exclaimed Sunset as she let go of Twilight's hand and continued following after her.
Meanwhile, the two robbers snickered mischievously as they made their getaway with their ill-gotten loot. "Who are the suckers now, huh?" remarked one robber tauntingly, speaking with a gravelly gangster voice.
"Yeah, we sure showed them!" agreed the other robber, speaking with a deeper dim-witted voice.
The two robbers didn't make it much further before their sacks full of tickets were suddenly lifted into the air, and since they refused to let go of them, they were left dangling helplessly beneath the hovering sacks.
Twilight held up her glowing hands, using her magical powers to levitate the sacks up and hold the robbers in place, while Sunset glared at the two robbers.
"Aw, fudge!" groaned the first robber.
"Hey, haven't we seen them before?" asked the second robber.
"Rocky and Mugsy," noted Sunset in contempt. "Two of the most incompetent crooks in all of the Lego World. Did you really think you even had something to gain from stealing all those tickets?"
The second robber, Mugsy, shrugged and replied, "We figured it had to be worth something if those two guys were so happy to have a whole bunch of 'em."
"Lemme guess," grumbled the first robber, Rocky, "you're gonna give all these tickets back to those guys, ain't ya?"
Sunset and Twilight glanced at each other, then smiled slyly and turned their attention back to the robbers. "Actually," Twilight spoke up, "since those tickets were scammed from us, we'll let you go if you agree to give those tickets back to us."
"Aww, do we have to?" moaned Mugsy.
"Eh, let 'em have their loot," responded Rocky in a resigned tone. "Better to get away empty-handed than to get busted and thrown in jail." He let go of his sack and dropped to the ground.
Mugsy hesitated for a moment, but soon followed his accomplice's example and also let go of his sack and dropped to the ground.
Twilight levitated the two sacks over to herself and Sunset. They checked inside both bags and confirmed they were filled with all the tickets they had wasted at the ring toss booth. They both shared a smile, but then frowned when they noticed the two robbers were still standing where they had landed.
"What are you two brick-heads waiting for?" scolded Sunset. "Get outta here before my friend and I change our minds!"
Rocky and Mugsy quickly glanced at each other, then they both mumbled various words of agreement as they ran off.
Sunset shook her head as she sighed and grumbled, "Those two will never learn..." She then turned to Twilight and asked, "So what now?"
"Simple," replied Twilight. "We'll reimburse these tickets to recoup our losses, so it'll be as if we had never carelessly blown a fortune on that one booth. Once our finances are secure again, then we'll go ahead and get that ice cream I promised."
"Sounds good to me," agreed Sunset as she grabbed one of the sacks full of tickets.
Twilight grabbed the other sack full of tickets and walked with Sunset to the park's ATM to exchange their tickets back. Neither of them ever gave a second thought to whatever Flim and Flam might be going through right now.
Applejack made it to the ferris wheel as insisted by Pinkie Pie, but with absolutely no idea what to do, she decided to just sit down on a bench and gather her thoughts. Fluttershy had gone missing quite some time ago and she had asked all of her friends to help find her. Although none of them had agreed to actively help her, many of them did promise to at least keep an eye out for her. The only one who had seemed completely dismissive of Fluttershy's well-being was Rarity.
Just thinking about Rarity made Applejack cringe in disgust. As much as she understood her friend having so much to do in so little time, she did feel quite hurt that Rarity seemed to pay much more attention to the parade preparations than the feelings of her own closest friends. Especially frustrating was how hostile Rarity got simply at the mention that Fluttershy had gone missing, as if the safety of their close friend was merely a distraction to be ignored at all costs.
If anything, the only "friend" Rarity seemed to have any respect for today was Vignette Valencia, who she had never even met prior to accepting her new job at the park just two weeks ago. She certainly seemed to have no hesitation with wasting time trying desperately to stay on Vignette's good side. And when Vignette practically criticized Applejack for her lack of social media exposure, Rarity had made no effort at all to defend her against such a condescending attitude.
But now that Applejack thought about it, she couldn't recall any of her other friends seeming to have any issues with Vignette, and actually seemed pretty okay with Rarity being friends with her. And when Fluttershy went missing, none of her friends appeared to regard it quite as seriously as she did. In fact, in was possible that her bias against Vignette might actually be clouding her judgement and preventing her from seriously considering more reasonable explanations.
"...Or maybe Ah want her to be my prime suspect because she's Rarity's new best friend at the park," muttered Applejack worriedly to herself. "Am Ah goin' crazy over a whole lot o' nothin'?"
"What's that badge ya got there?!"
Applejack lightly gasped as she was startled and turned to the source of that voice. Standing beside the bench she sat on was a security guard -- dressed in the standard uniform of navy blue pants, white shirt with a black tie, and a navy blue cap with a security badge on the front -- with light pink skin and messy grey hair and a mustache on his face. Applejack saw the sternly serious look on his face, then glanced down at his hand and saw that it was pointing specifically to the macaroni art badge that Pinkie had given her. Upon realizing that, she awkwardly explained, "Oh! Uh... Y-Y-You see, it's--"
"It's a crime to fake security badges, you know!" scolded the security guard. "I'm a fake cop, but I can send ya to real jail!" He then held out his hand, silently demanding Applejack to hand over the badge.
Not wanting to make the situation any worse, Applejack stood up and handed over the badge as she carefully said, "Uh, if you'll just let me explain, officer, Ah'm lookin' for mah friend an'--"
"Shush!" the security guard demanded firmly as he swiped the badge out of Applejack's hands. "Hands on your head! No suddenly moves! Got that?!"
Applejack had no choice but to immediately comply with the security guard's demands. As she turned away and held her hands against the sides of her head, she couldn't help but bitterly think, If this ends badly, then Ah swear Ah'll get back at ya for this, Pinkie. Cupcake bribery ain't gonna do ya any good this time.
While Applejack nervously held perfectly still, the security guard closely inspected the handmade macaroni art badge he had taken from her. After a few seconds, he suddenly smiled and remarked, "Well why didn't ya tell me you were a Deputy Fun Inspector?"
With a confused expression on her face, Applejack immediately turned to the security guard, then narrowed her eyes and asked, "Seriously?"
The security guard stuck the handmade badge back onto Applejack and said in a more relaxed tone, "I am so sorry about that, ma'am. I can see you're doing your rounds, so I might as well make up for this misunderstanding by giving you access to my workstation. Right this way, please." He began to walk away as he gestured for Applejack to follow.
Either Pinkie Pie's been spreadin' crazy lies everywhere again, or this guy is just flat-out stupid, thought Applejack in disbelief as she shook her head and followed after the security guard.
After a short walk, the two minifigs arrived at a small building with no windows and only a single door. The security guard took out a key, unlocked the door, and then stepped inside. "Here you are, ma'am," said the security guard as Applejack followed him into his workstation. "It hasn't been fun inspected in years."
Applejack wasn't exactly the kind of person who was okay with going along with something that just wasn't true under any circumstances, so she facepalmed and grumbled, "Ah'm tryin' to tell ya, mah friend made this badge. It ain't real."
"Oh, an undercover Fun Inspector," the security guard slyly replied. "I get it. Anyway, have fun 'not inspecting' my workstation. Wink, wink." He winked twice at Applejack as he said that last part.
"How many times do Ah have to say it?" asked Applejack in exasperation.
The security guard simply walked past Applejack towards the door, turned back to wink twice more at her, then shut the door, leaving her alone inside his workstation.
Applejack rolled her eyes and grumbled under her breath, "Ugh, if Ah had to bet between Pinkie lyin' or that guy bein' dumb, Ah'd put mah money on both of 'em at the same time." She glanced around at the security workstation and her attention soon focused on the security monitors at the opposite side of the room from the door. She shrugged and muttered, "Well, no point in passin' up an opportunity like this."
Applejack sat down in the chair in front of the security monitors. She remembered all too well how poorly things had gone the last time she found herself in a security control room, so she decided to not touch anything and simply observe what was being displayed on the monitors. She glanced back and forth between each of the monitors, but then she focused her attention on one displaying the exterior of the hangar building when she saw Rainbow Dash walking alongside Vignette.
Vignette led Rainbow Dash around to the back of the hangar building as she continued speaking, "Rarity told me you're the coolest, smartest friend who knows what's the opposite of down. What's up!"
Rainbow Dash chuckled and remarked, "True."
Once they were completely out of sight of all the park guests, Vignette stopped walking and excitedly explained, "I have a bold new vision for the Rainbooms that you are going to love!"
Rainbow Dash frowned and raised an eyebrow as she asked, "You wanna change something about my band?"
"Just hear me out on this," continued Vignette proudly. "I'm calling it The Throwbacks! Capital T, hashtag T.B.T., Throwback Today. Or for short, T.C.T.H.T.B.T, pronounced 'ta-ca-ta-ca-ba-ta'!"
Rainbow Dash crossed her arms and muttered, "Yeah, I'm not buying it yet."
"Oh, the best is yet to come," continued Vignette. "You are going to represent the touchstones of cool throughout the ages."
Rainbow Dash smiled and said, "Okay, now I'm starting to like it, and I assume I'll like what you say next."
Vignette made dramatic gestures as she declared, "Your role will be 'Rainbow Dash: Fifties Sockhop Sweetheart'!"
Rainbow's smile immediately fell. As far as she was concerned, that idea was the exact opposite of coolness.
Vignette blissfully continued, "Poodle skirt, adorable blond hair. Do you mind tossing that hair piece of yours? I only ask because I've already got an ideal replacement for you."
"Uh, there is no way I'm losing this hair," insisted Rainbow Dash as she ran her hand over her rainbow hair piece. "I can't be Rainbow Dash without the 'Rainbow' part."
Vignette glared at Rainbow. She just couldn't believe that a second member of the band was also refusing to fully agree with her brilliant vision. Some might consider that a sign the idea might not be so good after all, but Vignette was so persistent to prove her greatness that backing off from any aspect of her vision was simply unthinkable. She decided to give Rainbow one last chance to change her mind by reminding her of her famous catchphrase. "B.Y.B.B.?"
"B.I.A.A.T.B. But I already am the best?" argued Rainbow. "Seriously, the Rainbooms are already awesome just the way we are. The fans are gonna wanna see us as us, and not as some cheap knockoff wannabes. Like my friend Applejack says, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.'"
In the Lego World, calling someone or something a "cheap knockoff" was considered highly offensive, so of course Vignette did not take that accusation lightly. She huffed and grumbled, "Well if you insist on just, ugh, being your lame self or whatever, then at least let me take a picture of the real you."
Before Rainbow had a chance to react, Vignette held up her magically enhanced phone and took a picture of her. This quickly transformed Rainbow Dash into a holographic image which was then pulled into the phone and vanished.
Back in the security room, Applejack had watched everything happen on that monitor. Although there wasn't any audio to help her understand what was going on, there was no way she could deny the sight of Vignette's phone somehow causing Rainbow Dash to suddenly vanish.
Applejack gasped in shock and exclaimed, "Vignette is zappin' mah friends with a magical phone?! Ah knew she was up to somethin'! Just wasn't expectin' somethin' so magic an' evil..." As she watch Vignette walk away on the monitor, she muttered, "She makes 'em disappear, but where did they go?"
Applejack tried to think of any possible reasons for why Vignette would do such a terrible thing to her friends, but then she shook her head and urgently said to herself, "What am Ah doin'? Thinkin' about motives can wait. Ah gotta take action right away! Ah gotta warn the rest of mah friends before she does the same thing to all of 'em!" She pulled out her phone to check the time and saw that it was starting to get close to four in the afternoon. "Good thing we agreed to meet up at a certain place an' time, so Ah know exactly where to find 'em."
With no time to lose, Applejack got up out of the chair, walked out the door out of the security workstation, and began rushing towards the hangar where the parade was being prepared.
Meanwhile, in a featureless white room, the holographic image of Rainbow Dash suddenly materialized and transformed her back into a regular minifig. She glanced around in confusion and quickly noticed Fluttershy sitting on the floor. "Aw man!" she groaned. "Are we trapped in a magical phone?"
Fluttershy nodded without saying a word.
"Typical..." grumbled Rainbow. She looked around and soon saw the bowl full of spoiled salad. "I'm not eating that," she muttered under her breath.
"Oh great, another one?" asked security guard Cranky Doodle, who was sitting on the floor behind Rainbow. "Unless you have reason to believe otherwise, I'd say Vignette is practically on a rampage at this point."
Rainbow turned back to face the grouchy security guard and said, "She wants to turn our band into something she seems to think will be awesome, but any sane person would know is totally uncool."
"And she thinks getting rid of you will solve her issues?" asked Cranky incredulously. He crossed his arms and grumbled, "There's no way she can keep this up. Sooner or later, people are gonna get suspicious that we've gone missing, and when they realize Vignette was the last person seen with all of us, it won't be long before they realize what's really going on. Mark my words, it's only a matter of time before someone puts a stop to Vignette's rampage, one way or another."
"But what'll happen to us?" asked Fluttershy.
Cranky just shrugged and replied, "Beats me."
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash looked at each other worriedly. Neither of them could deny how scary it was to think that, being at the mercy of someone as selfish as Vignette, there might not even be a way for them to escape. |
LEGO Equestria Girls 7 | Unwanted Upgrades | Chapter 5
Unwanted Upgrades
By late afternoon on opening day at Equestria Land, final preparations for the upcoming light show parade were well underway. Final assembly of all the floats had been completed and were now being arranged into a proper order of when each would leave the building. The performers went through final fittings of their costumes and rehearsed their choreography as much as they could in what little time they had left. All of the assistants were running around in a hectic rush all over the building as they swiftly tried to make last-minute deliveries of just about anything to keep things running smoothly. And in the middle of all of this was lead costume designer Rarity, personally overseeing all of the final preparations.
"One hour until wheels up, everyone!" Rarity urgently called out as she quickly scribbled something onto a paper and then tossed the clipboard toward an assistant passing by. "The light parade waits for no one! Tick-tock! Tick-tock!"
Not far behind Rarity stood Vignette Valencia with a smug look on her face. "Big night tonight, Rare," Vignette spoke up confidently, catching Rarity's attention. "Perhaps the biggest of all time. Definitely the biggest of your life. I'm excited for you." She finished her remarks with a friendly wink.
"You're not worried?" asked Rarity as she increasingly struggled to keep her cool. "Uh, not that I'm worried, unless you're worried, in which case, I'm very, very worried!"
"There's no room for self-doubt," assured Vignette as she stood beside Rarity and put an arm around her shoulders. "You've gotta get rid of it faster than a pleated cargo skort."
Both Rarity and Vignette immediately shuddered at the mere thought of such a hideous crime against fashion.
Vignette let go of Rarity and walked over to take a closer look at a nearby mannequin displaying one of many dresses designed by Rarity for the parade. "So I love everything you've done here," commented Vignette. "One thought -- do we want the costumes to have lights on them?"
Remembering the electrical incident earlier that day, Rarity tried to voice an objection to that suggestion, but Vignette just continued speaking.
"Eh, you've got time," noted Vignette with a shrug. "I think we should start from scratch."
"What?!" asked Rarity in shock and disbelief. "But... but the parade is on in only a couple hours! It's simply unrealistic to make such a drastic request at this stage!"
"I'm sure you'll manage," responded Vignette dismissively. "It's what I hired you for. B-T-Dubs, every amazing fashion vlogger and Snapgab celeb's gonna be here tonight! No presh." As far as she was concerned, there was nothing more left to be said, so she simply walked away without even bothering to see or hear any reaction from Rarity.
Rarity's anxiety levels had skyrocketed so much that she was practically petrified for a moment before she finally muttered worriedly, "Really? 'Cause I'm feeling presh..." She was soon snapped out of her impending panic when she saw one of the performers in costume walk by, and she was not pleased with that costume's design. "Why am I seeing neon pink and yellow on that dragon's tail?!" she called out furiously. "Is this a beast of legend or a safety vest?!"
As Rarity stormed off to deal with yet another suboptimal design, Vignette made her way out the backdoor of the building. She was momentarily startled when someone passed by right in front of her, but then let out a sigh of relief when she saw it was just that hologram security guard in a royal sentry uniform she had created a couple days ago. As she watched that virtual guard continue his ceaseless patrol along the side of the building, she noticed a cardboard box had been left in the guard's path, and when he reached it, he just passed right through it like it wasn't even there -- though the hologram's temporary distortion probably indicated it was more like he was the one that wasn't even there.
"That sure doesn't seem right," muttered Vignette. She pulled out her phone and opened up that app she had used to create the guard. She was about to check the settings when she noticed a notification for new updates that were ready to install. She decided to go ahead and install those updates, then watched the progress bar fill up in only a matter of seconds. With that done, she checked the settings and saw among many of the new features was a toggle to "solidify" an active hologram. She pointed her phone at the patrolling guard and tapped that toggle option, then watched as he marched back towards the box and then tripped over it and stumbled to the ground.
As that virtual guard stood back up to resume his patrol, Vignette smiled and confidently muttered, "If all else fails, this is just the thing I need to make everything perfect." With that minor issue taken care of, she headed back inside the building and made her way over to her office.
Despite the immense stress of overseeing all the preparations, Rarity had made sure to remember her promise to meet with her friends at a specific time to prepare themselves for their role as the main performance for the parade. To save precious time, she has instructed some assistants to guide her friends to the float they would be performing on, ensuring that she could immediately meet with all of them at once and then just as quickly return to her other important tasks.
The float that the Rainbooms were due to perform on was built like a stage that had a purple backdrop bordered by a large grey arch shaped like a giant horseshoe, and the lower sides of the float surrounding that stage were white with decals of swirling patterns to resemble clouds. As Rarity arrived at this float, what she saw left her with mixed feelings. She was pleased to see that the assistants assigned to retrieve their instruments had successfully delivered them all without any unacceptable delays, but she was upset to see only half of her friends -- Sunset, Twilight, and Pinkie -- had arrived on time for preparations and rehearsal.
The three girls who were already present on the float were in the middle of being measured by some assistants so their costumes could be properly fitted for them. "Stop it! That tickles!" giggled Pinkie Pie as she kept fidgeting each time the measuring tape was wrapped around various parts of her.
"Why are we even doing this?" asked the assistant who was measuring Twilight. "Isn't every minifig supposed to be exactly the same size?"
The assistant who was measuring Sunset shrugged and replied, "Beats me, but as long as we get paid to follow whatever orders we're given, I'm not gonna complain."
Rarity glanced over at the instruments and her attention focused on Applejack's bass guitar. Although they had met and spoken a couple times earlier that day, their most recent encounter had ended in disagreement over Applejack insisting that some petty issue she already forgot about was more important than preparing for the parade. Rarity huffed and grumbled, "I suppose Applejack has better things to do than final fittings and sound check."
"Don't be mad at her," argued Sunset as the assistants finished up with her and the others. "She's been looking for Fluttershy all afternoon, and it wouldn't surprise me if Rainbow Dash decided to help her out before coming here."
"Don't tell me who to be annoyed with!" snapped Rarity.
That sudden and vicious reaction from Rarity caused Sunset, Twilight, and Pinkie to glance at each other worriedly. Sunset leaned close to Twilight and discreetly whispered, "How's progress on the you-know-what?"
Twilight, knowing that Sunset was referring to her attempt to remotely access her secret tracking system of her friends' phones, pulled out her phone and glanced at it for a few seconds, then put it away as she sighed and muttered, "Still loading."
Pinkie Pie -- who always made it her personal obligation to ensure that everyone around her had a happy smile on their faces -- jumped off the float and landed in front of Rarity. "I know you're stressed, Rarity," she assured her friend, "but I'm sure you've got something totally amazing up your sleeve!" She then suddenly grasped Rarity's bare arms and held them up at various angles as she added, "You did remember to wear sleeves with amazing things up them, right?"
Rarity quickly slapped Pinkie's hands off her arms and scolded, "Pinkie Pie, this is hardly the time for your unreasonable antics. I need you and the others to take all of this very seriously! This parade could be the one defining moment of my entire livelihood, and I will not accept anything less than absolute perfection!"
"As someone who admittingly still struggles with a desire for perfection," Twilight spoke up, "I can say from experience that you're only setting yourself up for failure with that kind of attitude. I would highly recommend that you take a step back and try to think about all of this from a more realistic perspective."
"Twilight, darling, I can hardly afford such a luxury at a time like this," insisted Rarity in frustration.
"STOP!!"
Everyone in the area immediately turned to the source of that shout and saw Applejack marching with determination towards the Rainbooms' float. Her expression quickly softened when she noticed all the surrounding assistants had stopped in their tracks to stare at her.
"Oh! Uh, not everybody stop," clarified Applejack in embarrassment as she continued walking forward. "Ah just meant mah friends. The rest of y'all keep doin' what you're doin', sewin' up them, uh, clothes an' whatnot."
The numerous assistants quickly resumed their various tasks, many of them now choosing to stay clear of Applejack and her friends.
"Where have you been?!" demanded Rarity.
Having moved past the embarrassment of drawing too much attention to herself, Applejack regained her determination as she firmly said, "Nobody go anywhere with Vignette, understood?"
As Pinkie Pie backed up and jumped to sit upon the edge of the float, Twilight, Sunset, and Pinkie glanced at each other and muttered various words of confusion.
Applejack was unaware that Vignette was currently inside her office, which happened to be right on the other side of the wall behind the Rainbooms' float, so she had been able to overhear Applejack's word of caution. She immediately took cover behind the portion of the wall that was between the door and the window to prevent anyone from noticing her presence. She wasn't sure how, but that apple farmer was somehow onto her, and she knew she had to think of something to discourage any suspicion. She glanced at her desk and noticed someone had decided to plug their phone into her recharger cable. Normally, she would complain about someone committing such a blatant disregard of her office space without her knowledge, but seeing that plain regular phone just sitting there on her desk gave her an idea.
Back outside near the Rainbooms' float, Rarity grabbed Applejack and shoved her towards the float as she grumbled, "You can explain yourself after the parade. I'm sure--"
Applejack immediately shrugged off her friend's grip on her and sharply responded, "No, Rarity, this cannot wait. Vignette is evil!"
Vignette decided that now would be the perfect time to make her presence known, so she casually opened the door and stepped out of her office, convinced that her timing would be ideal to minimize Applejack's credibility.
Sure enough, Rarity's shock at Applejack's accusation quickly turned to mortification when she heard the door close and saw Vignette standing right behind her.
Pinkie remained sitting upon the edge of the float as she loudly whispered, "Applejack, she's right over there!"
Applejack ignored the awkwardness that had just built around her and firmly continued, "Ah know Fluttershy was last seen hours ago goin' somewhere with Vignette, an' Ah saw her from the security office when she made Rainbow Dash disappear with her phone!"
"How did you get access to the security office?" asked Sunset.
"Trust me, ya wouldn't believe how pathetic security is 'round here," replied Applejack. "The guy practically welcomed me into his office with open arms!" She turned her furious glare to Vignette as she continued, "Point is, Ah know what Ah saw! Ten eggs in a chicken coop says it's Equestrian magic."
"Oh, honey, delusional isn't your color," said Vignette dismissively in a sweet tone as she tugged at the back of Applejack's hair piece. "You're an autumn." She then let go of Applejack's hair and proceeded to occupy herself with the plain purple phone in her hand.
"If you're so innocent, then how do ya explain this?!" accused Applejack as she swiped the phone out of Vignette's hands, brought up its camera feature, and aimed it at a nearby pink dress on a mannequin. "Say goodbye to your mannequin thingy!"
Applejack quickly took a few pictures of the target object, but against her expectations, nothing out of the ordinary happened at all. "Uh, hang on..." she muttered uneasily as she started randomly tapping buttons on the phone. "Watch it... disappear!"
As Applejack seemingly made a complete fool of herself, Rarity crossed her arms and turned away, feeling absolutely humiliated that someone she considered a friend would behave in such an awful manner in front of someone who had done everything to encourage her efforts for the parade.
"Uh, Ah think Ah hash-gabbed mah snap-tag or all in the-- Ugh, Ah can't figure out these new fandangled apps," grumbled Applejack in frustration. She quickly realized what she had just said and mumbled in embarrassment, "Ah sound just like Granny Smith..."
Little did any of the Equestria Girls know, Vignette had made sure to conspicuously hold the regular phone she had found on her desk, while keeping her magically enhanced phone hidden in her pocket. With that bit of deception successful, Vignette casually took the regular phone out of Applejack's hands and sweetly said, "I just saw your friends, Rare. They're in wardrobe and they're fine." She walked over to stand beside Rarity and took a selfie with her on that regular phone.
"Are you sure?" asked Rarity.
"And looking good in your costumes, by the way," complimented Vignette, which brought a smile to Rarity's face.
Applejack facepalmed and exclaimed, "Seriously?! You're gonna take her word at face value over the word of one of your real friends?! Sunset! Come over here an' check her!"
Before Sunset had a chance to speak up, Rarity scolded, "Applejack, the parade is less than an hour away and--"
"This is bigger than the parade, Rarity!" insisted Applejack.
"Nothing's bigger than the parade, Applejack!" argued Rarity.
Applejack gasped in shock, then furrowed her brow and sharply responded, "Ah know ya didn't just say that about your missin' friends!"
"Don't mind me, ladies," Vignette spoke up smugly as she walked away from between the arguing Rarity and Applejack. "I'm just gonna let you two sort this out amongst yourselves." As she walked away, she encountered a group of assistants who had stopped to watch the escalating conflict, so she tossed the regular phone towards one of them and spoke up, "Move along, people. Nothing to see here."
All of the assistants quickly rushed off to resume their various tasks.
"Admit it, Applejack!" exclaimed Rarity furiously. "You don't care about my parade!"
"'Mah parade'?! This ain't about you!" Applejack shot back. "She's done somethin' to our friends!"
"Is this about our friends or about you and Vignette?" argued Rarity indignantly. "Ever since she gave me this opportunity, you've been jealous because she sees my potential but she didn't hire you!"
Sunset, Twilight, and Pinkie felt helpless as they watched the argument between Rarity and Applejack continue to heat up.
"You girls, please stop!" begged Twilight.
"This isn't like you!" exclaimed Sunset worriedly.
"Don't say something you'll regret!" cried Pinkie desperately.
The pleas of their friends went ignored as Applejack shouted back, "In case you've forgotten, ya didn't even want the job when it was first offered, an' the only reason ya took it was because Ah told ya to go for it! You accepted this opportunity because of me, an' this is the thanks Ah get?! Even worse, you're so blind that you can't even see Vignette's been usin' ya! You only like her because she's always blowin' smoke up your chimney, but that's what she does to everyone! YOU'RE NOT THAT SPECIAL!!"
As soon as those final words left Applejack's mouth, all of the girls were completely stunned, including Applejack herself. The feelings of intense anger between Rarity and Applejack quickly evaporated, leaving Rarity hurt and Applejack ashamed.
After a moment of awkward silence, Applejack shamefully muttered, "Maybe Ah should just... go."
"Yes... maybe you should," Rarity bitterly agreed.
Applejack turned away and lowered her head in shame as she slowly walked towards the nearest door out of the building.
"Applejack, wait!" Sunset called out.
With Applejack gone, Rarity finally broke down and started sobbing as she ran towards Vignette's office.
"Rarity!" Pinkie cried out as she hopped off the float and ran after her hurt friend.
As Rarity entered the office and slammed the door shut, Vignette -- who had been standing on the sidelines the whole time -- walked forward and blocked Pinkie's path. "Waiting is for waiters, ladies," she said smugly as she pulled out her actual phone and wrapped her arm around Pinkie's neck. "We're better off without her."
"What do you mean by 'we'?" asked Twilight as both she and Sunset frowned and clenched their fists.
"The Throwbacks, formerly known as the Rainbooms," answered Vignette as she hugged a nonconsenting Pinkie Pie closer to her.
Sunset jumped off the float and yanked Pinkie out of Vignette's grasp. As Twilight also jumped off the float to join them, Sunset asked suspiciously, "Hang on, why does 'we' include you?"
"Obviously, somebody needs to fill Applejuice's spot," explained Vignette proudly, "and since it's so last-minute, we are lucky to have someone with as much talent and vision as moi."
"Uh... you?" asked Pinkie, completely baffled.
"And not just that," added Vignette excitedly, "we'll be playing a song I wrote!"
The three present Equestria Girls had their hands on their hips and glared at Vignette as Sunset firmly explained, "Okay, one; you are not in the band! You also sure as heck don't have our permission to change the band's name, and if you've already been spreading word of your unauthorized name change, we can have you sued for false advertisement. And two; just because our friends had a fight doesn't automatically mean one of them is permanently kicked out of the group, which is why we are absolutely not performing without Applejack."
"Which is her name, by the way," emphasized Pinkie in displeasure. "Not 'Applejuice'."
"And you know what?" continued Twilight with growing determination. "She's not usually one to make up crazy lies, like, ever."
"Yeah, that's usually my shtick!" added Pinkie, her expression just as serious as those of her friends beside her. "She's supposed to be the reliable, dependable one!"
Sunset slowly raised her fists as she concluded, "So all that stuff she said about you..."
Vignette had remained completely relaxed in the face of all those accusations -- even keeping most of her attention down at her phone the whole time -- and when they gave her the chance to respond, she just shrugged and contently replied, "Meh, all true."
Pinkie immediately gasped and tearfully exclaimed, "Holy spaghetti! How could you do such a horrible thing to our friends?!"
"Like this!" replied Vignette as she immediately held up her phone at the three girls and took a picture of them before they had a chance to take even a single step forward. The magically enhanced device quickly transformed the three of them into holographic images which were then pulled into the phone and vanished.
Now standing completely alone, Vignette's smile grew as she said to herself, "Now let's see if this Equestrian magique is all it's cracked up to be..." She swiped through the pictures of the five girls she had taken and settled on Sunset Shimmer as her test model. She then quickly swiped through some various costumes and decided to go with an excessively frilly princess dress. "Looking much better already..."
Vignette repeated the process with the other four girls in her collection. She gave Fluttershy a hardcore punk design with wildly messy hair, provided Rainbow Dash with a highly feminine dress and excessive makeup, applied a sporty uniform on Twilight without glasses, and finally put Pinkie Pie into some restrictive business attire with straight hair. With all five girls now in her envisioned "Throwback" costumes, she swiped the finalized models up onto the performance stage float, where those holograms suddenly appeared with their own musical instruments already in hand.
With her work complete, Vignette sighed in satisfaction and happily remarked, "I wish I'd had this thing years ago! Just think how perfect my life could've looked!"
It was at this moment that Rarity finally opened the door and stepped out of the office room, still sniffling away her last remaining tears.
Upon seeing her favorite employee return, Vignette squealed excitedly as she pulled Rarity close to her and gestured towards the holograms. "Rare, you are not gonna believe this!" she exclaimed cheerfully.
Rarity pushed herself out of Vignette's grip and walked slowly towards the float. "What... What is this?" she asked quietly. She noticed that standing on that mobile stage were five holograms that resembled her friends, but dressed up in garish costumes that she knew would horribly clash with their respective styles. But what made those holograms especially creepy was how they stood perfectly still like statues with unblinking gazes that stared straight ahead and unnaturally big smiles on their faces.
Growing increasingly freaked out, Rarity turned back to Vignette and hesitantly asked, "W-What am I looking at?"
"Your friends, but better!" Vignette proudly answered as she placed an arm around Rarity's shoulders. "Do you love it? Of course you do! Now we can make the parade exactly how I want it!"
"How... you want it?" asked Rarity in shock as she pushed herself out of Vignette's grip and slowly backed away. "You said you hired me for my vision!"
Vignette shrugged and shamelessly admitted, "Well, I needed your vision to bring out my vision. And thanks to this new app I've got, I can easily fill in any gaps you left behind. Nobody will ever notice the difference!" She then turned her attention down at her phone without a care in the world.
Rarity turned around to face the holograms on the stage. She hesitantly stepped forward and reached out to grab the leg of who she believed to be her friend Fluttershy. When her hand passed right though that ghostly leg, she recoiled in horror and disbelief.
"Oh! Right. I should probably apply those upgrades I just downloaded," noted Vignette as she quickly tapped on her phone. Seconds later, the holograms took on a more solidified appearance, allowing the bright colors on their costumes to really stand out. However, those holograms still remained completely still, as she had not yet given them any movement commands. "Looking even better already! I'll assign their moves just before the parade starts, which should be enough to make them really stand out like no other band had ever done in history!"
Rarity turned back to Vignette and fearfully asked, "Vignette... wh-what is going on here? Where are my friends?!"
"Like, trapped in the internet as zeroes and ones or erased from existence or something?" replied Vignette nonchalantly with a shrug. "Don't know, don't care."
"What?!" exclaimed Rarity, aghast.
Vignette began casually pacing back and forth as she explained, "See, like, my phone somehow became magique or something, and now it has this wonderful power where whenever I take a picture of something, it disappears, and then I can customize them with a swipe of my hand and make them real again. Or... real enough to matter, but hey, blah-blah-blah, O.M.G., I'm boring myself just talking about this stuff. This whole monologuing thing is so not my style."
As Vignette spoke, Rarity felt increasingly hurt, terrified, and above all else... betrayed. She had placed so much faith and trust in Vignette over the past two weeks, and hearing her confess to practically wiping out nearly all of her friends and behave like it was no big deal was an absolute act of treachery beyond imagination. But even worse for Rarity was the sudden realization that, despite how wild and crazy those claims had sounded at the time, Applejack turned out to be completely right! She had ignored Applejack's warnings all day long, and now all of their friends had paid the price for her blind envy. All of these feeling crashing together in such a short amount of time caused another emotion to quickly rise within her -- rage.
As soon as Vignette finished her monologue, Rarity furiously shouted, "Bring back my friends this instant!"
Vignette smirked and responded, "Fine. If you wanna be with them so bad, I'll do you one last favor." She held up her phone and aimed it at Rarity. "You're welcome."
Rarity had only enough time to gasp and hold up her hands before Vignette took a picture of her. |
LEGO Equestria Girls 7 | Mending Friendships | Chapter 6
Mending Friendships
Inside the strange featureless white room, Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, and Pinkie Pie materialized from holographic images and quickly turned back into regular minifigs. They glanced around saw that sharing this strange place with them were their missing friends Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, along with who appeared to be a security guard.
"Whoa! Three at once?" noted the guard, Cranky Doodle, in shock. "Vignette's really gone mad..."
"How bad is it?" asked Rainbow. "Last I heard, Vignette wanted to change the name of our band and force us to wear some wacky costumes that are so not our style."
Fluttershy silently nodded in agreement.
"Oh, it's gotten way worse," explained Pinkie Pie in her usual rapid pace. "Applejack was onto her, but she sweet-talked Rarity into believing her, so Applejack and Rarity had a big fight and ran off in opposite directions, and that was when that heartless meanie Vignette swooped in to tell us that, on top of everything you just said, she was taking AJ's place in the band and demanding we sing one her songs, but we told her no on all levels and realized Applejack was probably right all along, so Vignette admitted to all the evil things she did and then zapped us right here!"
"What?!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "Okay, it's bad enough that she's practically hijacked our band -- seriously, anyone who's gonna watch the parade will realize they won't be seeing the Rainbooms as promised, and as a result will totally hate whatever whack-job Vignette tries to replace it with. But turning two of our friends against each other is going too far!"
Twilight groaned and grumbled, "I just can't believe we got ourselves trapped in Vignette's phone."
"Kinda reminds me of that time Juniper Montage trapped us inside a magical mirror," remarked Pinkie. "Only this time, we actually have walls in this weird white place." Pinkie demonstrated her observation by leaning her back against one of the walls surrounding the room.
"At least Rarity and Applejack are still free," noted Sunset. "If they can set aside their differences and stop fighting, they might be able to get us out of here."
"That's a big 'if'," Twilight spoke up, "and even if they do reconcile, I honestly have a hard time believing they can do anything to get us out of here."
"Well it's not like there's anything we can do from the inside," grumbled Rainbow Dash as she crossed her arms.
"Not necessarily," responded Twilight with a smile as she pulled out her phone. "If we're inside a phone with internet access, we can hack our way out!" As she glanced around at her friends, she sheepishly added, "Well, I can. Maybe..."
"Better than just sitting around hoping to get rescued," acknowledged Sunset with a shrug.
Twilight turned her phone on and almost immediately paused for a moment, then sighed and muttered, "Figures..." She turned to Sunset and quietly said, "That you-know-what thing finished downloading just before Vignette trapped us in here."
"Talk about too little too late," grumbled Sunset.
"What are you talking about?" asked Rainbow Dash as she raised an eyebrow.
Twilight uneasily glanced around at her friends, then sighed and reluctantly explained, "I, uh, wanted to create a system that would allow me to keep track of where my friends are, just in case if one of them went missing, so I... secretly installed a tracking system into all of your phones."
"You've been spying on us?!" asked Rainbow Dash accusingly.
"No! Of course not!" insisted Twilight defensively. "Like I said, it's intended to help me find any of you in case if you go missing, so as a way to assure everyone I have no intentions to abuse it, I typically leave that tracking system switched off. Unfortunately, that meant that when I heard about Fluttershy going missing, I had to go through the lengthy process of remotely activating and accessing that system."
"And that download took so long that by the time it finally finished, we already knew what happened to Fluttershy and Rainbow, so now all that effort has turned out to be totally pointless," deduced Pinkie.
"Exactly," confirmed Twilight. She looked down at her phone and added, "Not only that, but there's something about this place that seems to somehow block any signals from getting through, so even if my system had already been activated, it wouldn't have been able to find them anyway."
"Okay, so the secret tracking system turned out to be pretty pointless," stated Sunset. "Do you still think you can hack us out of here?"
"Well, the signal-blocking has reduced my options," admitted Twilight, "but since this is supposed to be Vignette's phone we're trapped inside, it should still be possible for me to access and utilize it to our advantage. In other words, I might be able to use Vignette's own phone against her."
"If you really think you can do that, then go for it!" encouraged Rainbow Dash.
"Then I'd better get to work," said Twilight as she began tapping away on her phone.
As Twilight got started on her hacking efforts, Fluttershy worriedly muttered, "Oh, I hope Rarity and Applejack are okay. I wish we knew what's going on out there."
"If neither of them show up here in the next few minutes, I'd call that a win," stated Cranky Doodle as he sat down on the floor and rested his back against the wall.
In the part of the hangar building where all the floats were parked, Vignette had aimed her magically enhanced phone at Rarity and taken a picture of her, intending to easily get rid of her as she had done to the rest of the Equestria Girls. "Sorry, Rare," she remarked smugly. "Guess you're not so 'rare' after all."
But when Vignette actually bothered to glance up from her phone, she was shocked to discover that Rarity was still standing there right in front of her, completely unaltered in any way. By the look on her face, Rarity seemed just as surprised as Vignette to have avoided whatever fate had befallen her friends.
"Okay, that was your cue to disappear!" complained Vignette as she held out her phone and tried again to take a picture of Rarity.
Rarity again reacted by holding up her hands in front of herself. This reflex caused her to use her magical power to summon a diamond shield which, upon being photographed by Vignette's phone, turned into a holographic image that was then pulled into the phone and vanished. Rarity now realized that by having that magical diamond shield blocking the phone's view of her, she was effectively protected from its effects like some sort of breakaway armor.
Knowing she now had an upper hand against her foe, Rarity smirked and remarked, "Never underestimate a good accessory!"
Vignette held up her phone and again tried to get rid of Rarity by taking a picture of her, but again Rarity blocked the effort with another diamond shield. "Stop un-magique-ing my magique thingy!" whined Vignette before making another attempt to photograph Rarity with her magical phone.
Rarity blocked that attempt with yet another diamond shield. "I can't believe I actually listened to you over Applejack!" she furiously shouted, then unleashed a spray of smaller diamonds directly into Vignette's face.
"Ow! Hey! Watch the face!" cried Vignette as she held up her arms to protect herself.
"Oh, that's the idea, darling," quipped Rarity as she maintained the bombardment while also summoning another large diamond shield, which she then flung around to strike the back of Vignette's legs, flipping her into the air before she slammed onto the floor on her back.
Rarity had hoped that would give her an opening to swipe the magical phone out of Vignette's hands, but that arrogant diva had kept it close to her chest when she fell, so Rarity decided not to risk it. Instead, she quickly dove for cover behind one of the nearby floats.
Vignette took a few seconds to recover from that hard fall, then slightly winced as she stood back up. She glanced around and was momentarily frustrated to see no sign of Rarity anywhere, but as soon as she spotted her adversary standing out in the open, she didn't hesitate to use her phone again. The image was captured by her magical phone, but the shape of the resulting hologram suggested it was actually just another one of those diamond shields displaying a reflection of Rarity.
Rarity had in fact summoned numerous diamond shields and scattered them around the area at just the right angles to create a series of reflections between herself and Vignette, allowing them to see each other without Vignette being able to use her magical phone. Of course, after Vignette got rid of the diamond that showed the reflection to her, Rarity simply summoned another diamond to replace it.
"That's a good mirror trick, Rare, but it won't save you," remarked Vignette tauntingly. "You can't hide forever."
"Not necessarily," countered Rarity. "I need only to hide long enough to exchange some minor conversation."
"What's there to talk about?" asked Vignette with disinterest as she crossed her arms and frowned.
"For starters," replied Rarity firmly, "I do not appreciate you working my posterior off for the past two weeks, only to suddenly find out that you had intended to take all the credit for yourself all along! Plagiarism at its worst!"
"And why should that matter to me?" retorted Vignette. "All the hard work is already done, so I don't need you anymore. Especially now that I've got the power to make everything how I want it, and everyone will learn to love it!"
"That's delusional thinking, and you should know it!" argued Rarity. "Just because you can change something doesn't necessarily make it better."
"But of course I can," insisted Vignette as she started glancing around in all directions. "That's the whole point of B.Y.B.B. in the first place." She was beginning to realize that if she could keep this silly conversation going, she could figure out which direction Rarity's voice was coming from and ambush her.
"One does not simply slather paint on a canvas and expect to instantly create a world-renowned masterpiece," stated Rarity. "Especially worse if you choose to do so over a preexisting masterpiece, which is precisely what you are attempting to do to the Rainbooms."
"The Throwbacks will be ten times bigger than the Rainbooms!" argued Vignette. "I've studied plenty of online stats to be sure of it."
"Statistics are meaningless in the face of broken promises!" Rarity shot back. "When you offered to make the Rainbooms the centerpiece of the parade, I was under the impression that we would be performing just as our fans would typically expect from us. If you run the parade with that cheap knockoff you call a band, there is no doubt in my mind that everyone shall loudly voice their displeasure, and you'd better believe that I shall inform them that the entirety of the blame should rest squarely on your shoulders!"
By this point, Vignette was now confident she knew where Rarity's voice was coming from. She smiled menacingly as she began to approach the nearby float, only to have yet another diamond shield suddenly be summoned, which slammed right into her face and stopped her in her tracks.
"Nice try, darling," taunted Rarity, "but these are two-way mirrors. Any attempts at an ambush shall be futile."
Vignette growled and punched the diamond shield that had blocked her, only to yelp in pain and shake that now very sore hand around when that shield proved to be completely immobile.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry," mocked Rarity with a naughty smile. "Did you not remember that diamonds are one of the hardest naturally-occurring materials in the universe?"
"That is, like, so unfair!" whined Vignette.
"Says the woman who used petty flattery to turn me against my best friends!" retorted Rarity furiously. "How dare you toy with my emotions?! I should have known better than to trust some celebrity I just met over the most honest and dependable of all my friends. I never thought I would ever say such a ghastly thing about you, Vignette Valencia, but you are not a role model. You're a monster!"
"Ugh! Why do you insist on treating me like I'm some kind of worthless villain?" asked Vignette irritably.
"Because you're behavior at this time is precisely that of a worthless villain!" replied Rarity firmly. "In case if it's escaped your notice, my friends and I are members of the LEGO Team, an organization intended as a force for good. After what you've so heartlessly done to my friends and fellow teammates, I swear in Ole's name that you will be brought to justice!"
"Look, Rare, I don't have time for any more of this nonsense," grumbled Vignette nonchalantly. "Either finish your job or get outta my sight, 'cause this all-important light parade is not gonna wait on our little squabble."
"Fine!" snapped Rarity as she dispersed the diamond mirrors. "You go ahead and worry about your silly little parade! But I intend to finally focus on matters that are truly important, starting with the one person who needs me now more than ever before!" She immediately summoned a diamond shield and flung it under the float directly towards Vignette, once again knocking that arrogant celebrity off her feet and causing her to slam down onto the floor. Rarity didn't waste a second as she quickly surrounded herself with diamond shields and rushed for the nearest exit out of the building.
Vignette groaned as she pushed herself off the floor. By the time she was back on her feet, she watched Rarity push open the door and rush outside. She crossed her arms as she huffed and grumbled, "U-G-H, Whatevs! I don't need you anyway." She then snapped her hand.
All of the assistants in that part of building immediately rushed over to Vignette.
"Attention, random people who work for me!" Vignette spoke up irritably. "I am now the lead costume designer because our former lead costume designer is being H.B.W. Herself, but worse! Now pretend I just gave you an inspiring speech and get back to work!"
None of the assistants asked any questions as they immediately rushed off to resume their various tasks.
With that business taken care of, Vignette marched over to the exit Rarity had fled through. As she stepped outside, it was obvious that Rarity was already long gone, but Vignette wasn't about to give up that easily.
Vignette held up her phone as she brought up that special app that stored everything she had photographed. "If you think you can escape from me that easily, you thought wrong," she grumbled as she swiped through her options and settled on the model of that security guard from a few days ago. "Let's see how you'll deal with this." Vignette swiped up the image of that guy in a royal sentry uniform, causing a hologram of him to appear in front of her. She had already set the advanced options to automatically apply the recent upgrades, so that hologram quickly solidified into something that resembled a real minifig.
But Vignette wasn't stopping there. She swiped that image up again, creating another copy of that security guard. She swiped it up again to create another one, then another one, and another, and another...
Evening was beginning to descend over the theme park of Equestria Land. Guests continued to enjoy the various rides and attractions as lights started coming on all over the park. Eventually, the moment everyone had waited all day for had finally arrived, as a brief musical tone rang out on megaphones all over the park to signal that the light parade to celebrate the park's grand opening would soon begin. Guests from every corner of the park quickly finished whatever activities they were in the middle of and began to rush towards the center of the park to gather along the parade route that was already being marked by some workers. While most of the guests were excited to see the upcoming parade, there was one minifig in particular who instead felt dejected upon hearing the announcement.
Applejack had been wandering around aimlessly for the last few minutes after she had shamefully walked away from her friends following her big fight with Rarity. She had ended up near the log flume ride by the time she heard the announcement tone, and as the excited guests rushed past her, it finally hit her just how bad things had really gotten between her friends, and she had no one to blame but herself. She groaned in frustration and grumbled, "If only Ah had done somethin' or said somethin' different, maybe none of this woulda happened." She let out a sad sigh. "Ah really screwed things up with Rarity..."
"Applejack!"
Applejack gasped in shock and quickly turned around to see Rarity was running towards her with a look of desperation on her face. "Rarity?!" she called out, both relieved and confused.
Once Rarity reached her friend, she slouched forward with her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. Between pants, she desperately begged, "Please... don't go!"
Applejack raised an eyebrow and muttered in confusion, "Uh... what are ya--?"
"You were right," admitted Rarity as soon as she had caught her breath. "I got carried away and let this stupid parade become the only thing that mattered to me! And I foolishly let Vignette manipulate me with false flattery into forgetting what really matters..." She smiled. "My friends."
As Rarity made her confession, Applejack smiled to hear her friend had finally come to her senses. In an effort to make amends, she placed a hand on Rarity's shoulder and assured her, "Come on, now. Your talent puts you so far beyond the need for flattery."
"Stop flattering me!" protested Rarity as she brushed Applejack's hand off her. "I'm not finished apologizing!"
Applejack chuckled and conceded, "You're right, that was a bit too much, too soon."
Rarity took a deep breath to calm herself and continued, "I'm sorry we lost sight of why we applied for summer jobs here in the first place."
"An' Ah'm sorry Ah got jealous," admitted Applejack shamefully. "All this time Ah thought Ah was bein' honest with you about not likin' Vignette, Ah wasn't bein' honest with mahself. Ah felt like Ah was losin' mah best friend."
"You didn't," assured Rarity as she grasped both of Applejack's hands. "Caramel apple girls to the end?"
"Wouldn't have it any other way," replied Applejack with a smile and a nod before they both shared a friendly hug. Their friendship had been strained to the breaking point today, and now it had mended with renewed strength.
The close hug lasted only a few seconds before Rarity suddenly gasped and exclaimed, "Our friends!" She pushed Applejack away so they could see each other in the eye as she hastily continued, "Vignette has them all trapped in the internet! She confessed to everything you accused her of with no remorse whatsoever! We have to get them out! We have to save them!"
"What?!" exclaimed Applejack in shock as she pushed herself out of Rarity's grasp and took a step back. Despite being completely vindicated, she knew this was hardly the time to gloat about it. The rest of their friends were in trouble and they had to do something, so she spoke up with determination, "We've been wastin' all this time chin-waggin' about feelin's?! We need to get crackin' on a rescue plan!"
"Where should we start?" asked Rarity.
Applejack was about to respond when she suddenly heard the ringtone from her phone and felt it vibrate in her pocket. She pulled out her phone and her eyes widened when she saw who was calling her. She glanced up at Rarity and said in astonishment, "It's Twilight..."
That shocking revelation filled Rarity with a renewed sense of hope and determination. When Vignette had confessed to her nefarious actions, she had admitted with complete disregard that she had no idea what happened to everything she made disappear with her magical phone. That kind of uncertainty had left Rarity dreading the possibility that her friends had simply ceased to exist and thus rescuing them would have been impossible. But receiving a phone call from one of them confirmed that, whatever actually happened, at least they were still alive. "What are you waiting for?" asked Rarity urgently. "Answer it!"
Applejack nodded as she tapped her phone to put it on speaker so Rarity could listen in, then answered the call and asked, "Twilight?"
"It worked!" responded Twilight's voice on the phone. "Applejack, we're stuck in Vignette's phone! I found a way to hack her apple popper app to route a VoIP connection to your IP address!"
Applejack glanced over at Rarity in confusion, but her friend responded with only a shrug. "Uh... magic. Got it," responded Applejack with uncertainty.
"First of all," continued Twilight, "is Rarity anywhere near you?"
"Yes, I'm right here, darling!" responded Rarity. "And I can assure you that I now realize my side of the conflict was absolutely wrong, especially after Vignette exposed her true colors. It turns out she had been using me all along so she could take all the credit for the parade herself."
"What?!" exclaimed Applejack in shock. That was news to her as much as it was for the others, and it made her quite infuriated. "It's bad enough she drove us apart by inflatin' your ego, but to also make ya do all that hard an' honest work for nothin' while she takes all the glory is goin' too far! Ah don't care how many fans she's got -- she's goin' down!"
"I wholeheartedly share in that sentiment," agreed Rarity with determination. "She had attempted to capture me with the rest of our friends, but I was able to resist and barely managed to escape."
"We figured you fought back against Vignette when we saw all those diamond shields of yours suddenly show up in here," noted Twilight over the phone. "I have to say, using them as disposable shielding was quite ingenious."
"To tell you the truth," admitted Rarity, "the first of them was merely a fortunate accident which I then quickly exploited to my advantage."
"Save the stories of heroics for later!" Applejack spoke up. "Right now, we gotta figure out a way to get y'all outta there!"
"Right," responded Twilight. "Listen, I've come up with a plan to set all of this right. You'll need to remotely install a virus that creates a backdoor admin account, which you can use to reset all the permissions on Vignette's phone and make a proxy backup. That should get us out of here! How much coding do you know?"
As Twilight explained her plan, Applejack and Rarity shared a look suggesting to each other that neither of them were able to make any sense of it. Once Twilight was finished speaking, Applejack replied, "Uh, none. Of course, you'd probably already know that if ya remembered what happened the last time Ah tried hackin' a computer system."
"When was that?" asked Twilight.
"How could ya not--" began Applejack irritably, only to suddenly realize something. She then grumbled, "Right, that was back when the other Twilight was on the team. Long story short, Pinkie couldn't help due to gettin' her head stuck inside a trashcan, so Ah spent hours in the control room mashin' buttons an' gettin' nowhere, only for Pinkie to do the whole job in one move after she finally got rid of that trashcan."
"I'm afraid I cannot be of much assistance either," Rarity spoke up. "I had to hire a professional service to help me build a website for my business."
"Service..." mumbled Applejack under her breath, that word somehow starting to ring a bell in the back of her mind. "Server..." She then suddenly gasped in shock, then snapped her hand and excitedly spoke up, "That's it! Ah saw Micro Chips earlier today an' he said somethin' about there bein' a server room somewhere in this park! Would that be of any help?"
Twilight responded, "If that server system is connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot that Vignette has been using for internet access while on the park grounds, then perhaps if you were to connect your device directly to those servers, it might provide enough computing power for me to remotely proceed with the plan myself."
"Then it seems our objective is clear now," stated Rarity. "We must find and obtain access to this server room. But how?"
As they had been talking, Applejack had noticed some minifigs occasionally passing by -- no doubt on their way to watch the upcoming parade -- but didn't bother paying any attention to any of them. However, it was at this moment that she noticed one nearby minifig was the very same security guard she had encountered earlier that day. As much as she despised lying, she knew that relying on his ineptitude could possibly be her best chance to help her friends.
"Ah might have just the ticket we need," said Applejack as she eyed that security guard. She turned her attention back to her phone and added, "Better mute the call on your end, Twilight. Can't afford any interruptions for this part."
"Understood," responded Twilight over the phone.
There wasn't exactly an indicator on her phone to tell Applejack that the caller on the other side was muted, so she had to trust that Twilight had followed her advice. She handed her phone over to Rarity, reached into her pocket and pulled out the macaroni art badge that Pinkie had given to her earlier that day, and then rushed towards the security guard.
"Excuse me!" She called out, catching the security guard's attention. As she stopped in front of him, she held up her badge and continued, "It's me again, that 'Deputy Fun Inspector'. Just, uh, tryin' to finish mah rounds here, but, uh, a few locked doors have gotten in mah way. Do ya mind if Ah, uh, borrow your keys?" Her speech was always impaired whenever she tried to lie, but she hoped it was good enough to fool the guard.
"Oh! Yes! Of course!" agreed the security guard eagerly as he grabbed his set of keys from his belt and handed them over to Applejack. "Just make sure you return them to my workstation before my shift is over." He then turned away and resumed walking toward his destination.
Applejack smiled as she glanced down at those keys in her hand, then turned around and walked back to Rarity.
"I can't believe he was really that gullible," said Rarity in astonishment.
"Told ya security 'round here's pathetic," remarked Applejack as she continued walking, prompting Rarity to follow. "Quite frankly, Ah wouldn't be surprised if Vignette was the one who hired him."
"At this point, I would be inclined to agree," replied Rarity. "Now that I've had the chance to know her on a personal level, she does strike me as the type of person who would value appearances over merits. Whatever that man's shortcomings are, he does seem to pull off the gruff look of a stereotypical security guard."
As they got close to the small security building, Applejack took back her phone and said, "All right, Ah'd say you're in the clear to unmute now, Twilight. Rarity an' Ah are at the security office where Ah saw Vignette zap away Rainbow Dash. Ah reckon we might find somethin' in here that can help us figure out where that server room is."
"That's sounds like a reasonable assessment," responded Twilight over the phone. "Be sure to keep us posted."
"You got it," confirmed Applejack as she used one of the keys to unlock the door. She and Rarity stepped into the security room and glanced around. To the right were the security monitors displaying images of various locations throughout the park. To the left were a bunch of filing cabinets along with a desk.
"I'll start searching through the paper files," stated Rarity as she walked over to the filing cabinets.
As Applejack tried to figure out where to begin her search, her gaze settled on the live video feed being displayed on the monitors. Despite the fact that it was starting to get dark outside, enough lights were on to show that large crowds of people were already starting to gather in certain areas. The parade was still a few more minutes away from its official starting time, but seeing the size of those crowds left her feeling quite unnerved. Since Rarity was obviously no longer there to oversee final preparations, there was no way to know for sure what kind of show was waiting to be unveiled. With the kind of power Vignette had in the grasp of her hand, anything could be possible, and Applejack would be lying if she said she wasn't dreading what Vignette was planning to do next with that power.
"I believe I may have found something of value," Rarity spoke up.
Applejack quickly shook her head to break the stare she had on those monitors before she turned to Rarity, who set down a large unrolled sheet of paper onto the desk.
"This appears to be a complete floor plan of all the service buildings in the park," noted Rarity. She pointed at one particular small building located between the big roller coaster and the ferris wheel at the far end of the park. "Take a look at this one right here."
Applejack leaned forward to look closely at that specific building. She noticed it was marked with a handwritten message that said, "Server Room. KEEP OUT!" She held up her phone and reported to her entrapped friends, "The note on that buildin' says, 'server room, keep out'. Ah don't know 'bout y'all, but that sure seems mighty suspicious if ya ask me."
"Not only that, but I also recognize the handwriting," Rarity pointed out. "It's Vignette's handwriting!"
"Okay, she's definitely tryin' to hide somethin' in there," concluded Applejack. "Let's head on over there an' find out what's what."
As Rarity rolled up and put away that map, she cautioned, "If Vignette truly intended to keep the contents of that room a secret, there's little doubt the door will surely be locked."
"Then it's a good thing we got the security keys," remarked Applejack as she held up and jingled that set of keys. "Now let's move out!"
Applejack rushed out of the security room with Rarity following right behind, who made sure to close the door on their way out. It took about a minute of running, but the two girls eventually arrived at the small building that had been marked as the supposed Server Room. This building consisted of only a single floor, had no windows at all, and just a single solid door on the front wall.
Applejack held up her phone and asked, "You still with us, Twilight?"
"Still listening in, loud and clear," confirmed Twilight through the phone.
"Okay, we're at the server room now," reported Applejack. She tried opening the door, but, just as Rarity had suspected, it was locked. "Once Ah can figure which of these keys can open the door, we'll head inside an' see what we got to work with."
Applejack handed her phone over to Rarity so she could handle the keys. The first key she tried didn't work, neither did the second key, but the third key was able to turn and produce a faint click noise. Applejack and Rarity smiled at each other, then pushed the unlocked door open.
The interior of the room was surprisingly bright, forcing Applejack and Rarity to put a hand in front of their eyes until they were adjusted to the light. Once they could see clearly into the room, they were shocked to discover that this completely white room with bright ceiling lights contained absolutely nothing except for six minifigs -- five of whom happened to be their missing friends.
"Seriously, y'all?" asked Applejack in confusion and mild disappointment.
Twilight -- still holding her phone against the side of her head -- stared with a blank look on her face at Applejack and Rarity, glanced back at the rest of her friends, then glanced forward again. She slowly lowered her phone and ended her call as she said with embarrassment, "Ohhhhhh, Vignette's phone actually teleported us into this particular room on the park grounds."
"We were just sitting in a white room this whole time?!" asked Sunset furiously.
"Wait, you girls didn't know that?" asked Pinkie in confusion as she leaned against one of the walls.
Sunset's face started turning red with rage as she turned to Pinkie and exclaimed, "And you didn't bother telling us that?!"
Pinkie just shrugged and replied, "What was the point? The door was locked, had no handle on the inside, and it blended in with the walls so good that even I had a hard time trying to find it."
Rainbow Dash facepalmed and grumbled, "Couldn't you have just used your exploding candy powers to blow a hole in one of these walls?"
"Sorry, I ate the last of my on-hand stash before Vignette zapped us in here," confessed Pinkie.
It was at this moment that the one minifig in this room who was not among the group of friends -- security officer Cranky Doodle -- suddenly rushed out the door and shoved his way past Applejack and Rarity. "Freedom!" he cried with relief as he fell to his knees and started kissing the pavement outside the building. "I swear I will never take anything in life for granted ever again!" He then heard a ping and felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, so he took out his phone and checked what kind of notification he just received. As soon as he read it, he immediately stood back up and pocketed his phone as he urgently exclaimed, "Oh, shoot! I gotta get home and turn on the TV! The baseball All-Stars game is on tonight!" Without another word, he quickly ran off towards the main entrance of the park.
"Now there's a man with skewed priorities," remarked Rarity under her breath.
Fluttershy checked a notification she had also suddenly received on her phone. She then glanced up at Applejack and asked, "Um, Applejack? Did you try sending me a voicemail a few hours ago? Somehow, I just received it right now."
"Huh, that's odd," noted Applejack as she scratched her head in confusion while she took her phone back from Rarity. "Ah tried callin' ya numerous times after ya went missin'. Why is it only now that Ah'm able to contact ya?"
Twilight looked down at her phone for a moment, then smiled as she spoke up, "I may have a hypothesis." She began typing something on her phone as she continued, "Applejack, I want you to step outside, shut the door, count to ten, then reopen the door."
Applejack stared at Twilight in confusion for a moment, then shrugged and stepped back outside as she pulled the door shut. While her friends waited inside, she silently counted slowly to ten, then opened the door again. As soon as she pushed that door open, she heard a ping from her phone. She checked her phone, then stared at Twilight with another confused expression.
"I sent that text less than a second after you closed that door," explained Twilight. "I can't determine how or why, but there's something about the molecular structure of these walls that prevents any cell phone signals from passing through.
"But if nobody could call us inside and we couldn't call anybody outside, how were you able to call Applejack?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"I did say I was able to hack through Vignette's phone to get the call out," Twilight pointed out with a hint of pride. "My best theory is that this room is somehow linked to Vignette's phone, explaining not only why we were sent here of all places, but also a potential reason for why she didn't want anyone to access this room, as Rarity and Applejack had reported to us."
Just then, a holographic image of a minifig suddenly materialized in the middle of the room, startling all the girls. Once the image transformed back into a real minifig, it was revealed to be Micro Chips, still wearing his caramel apple vendor uniform and holding a caramel apple in his hand.
"Micro Chips?!" asked Twilight in shock. "Did Vignette use her phone to take a picture of you just now?"
Micro Chips glanced around in confusion as he uneasily explained, "I was just minding my own business making perfect caramel apples when suddenly Vignette saw me and said I wasn't as cool a nerd as she thought, then she took my picture and I ended up here, violating all known laws of space and time."
"At the very least," assured Applejack as she took a step forward, "Ah can tell ya that this here place we're in is the so-called server room that Vignette apparently didn't want ya to take a look at."
Micro Chips glanced around again, focusing more on the surrounding room this time. After a moment, he quietly remarked, "This has gotta be one of the weirdest cover-ups I've ever heard of."
"Girls, this is bad!" Sunset spoke up in a serious tone. "Vignette is no longer holding back! She's almost certainly putting herself into the parade in our absence, and she's using her phone to change whatever she doesn't like!"
"What happens if she decides she doesn't like the crowd?" asked Fluttershy worriedly.
"Everyone in the park will be watching that parade!" noted Twilight with concern. "The estimate we've heard for the total number of park guests today is approximately fifty thousand! If her phone teleports that many people into this tiny room at the same time--"
Pinkie Pie suddenly gasped, then hugged Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy tightly together with her as she exclaimed, "Squish City!"
"I was about to describe the lethality of such an action," Twilight quietly added, "but... sure, we'll go with that."
Rarity gasped in horror and exclaimed, "Applejack, our sisters are in that crowd! We've got to stop her at once!"
"You do realize that if we stop the parade, no one will see all your hard work," Applejack pointed out.
Rarity smiled and replied, "Someone reminded me that none of that matters without my friends."
Applejack smiled back and quipped, "Now there's a girl who's got her priorities straight."
"We'd better hurry!" Sunset spoke up urgently as she ran through the doorway out of the empty white room. "I'm sure Vignette's getting more corrupted by Equestrian magic every minute!"
Knowing there was little time to lose, the rest of the group -- including Micro Chips -- followed Sunset out of the room. However, they had made it only a few steps outside when they suddenly saw the security guard Cranky Doodle hurled through the air and hit the ground at their feet, forcing the group to stop and look down at him.
Having landed on his back, Cranky groaned in pain for a moment before he looked up at the group gathered around him. "Well, I guess I can forget about watching baseball tonight," he spoke up. "We're under attack by a bunch of clones of, well... me."
All eight minifigs in the group followed Cranky's gaze straight ahead. Standing before the group were well over a dozen copies of Cranky Doodle himself. These holographic copies were wearing various costumes -- some wore the royal sentry uniform of a red coat and a tall black hat, others worse white sailor uniforms, a few others wore medieval armor, and a few more of them wore black ninja robes -- but all of them had the same look of fierceness and determination on their faces.
Applejack sighed and grumbled, "Why must these things never come easy?" |
LEGO Equestria Girls 7 | Corruption Deleted | Chapter 7
Corruption Deleted
It seemed the Equestria Girls were once again faced with a large crisis unleashed by an individual corrupted by Equestrian magic. Although they had successfully escaped and knew exactly where they had to go next, their path ahead was blocked by over a dozen digital copies of a certain security guard, all set to strike at any moment.
The real version of that security guard, Cranky Doodle -- who had been trapped alongside them -- stood up from where he had fallen, took away the caramel apple Micro Chips had been holding in his hand, and spoke up, "You girls go ahead and do what you always do in these situations. I'll just take shelter in here until it's all over." He then rushed back into the small building containing the empty white room and shut the door.
All eight minifigs in the group glanced back at the building, then Fluttershy asked, "Um, he does realize that door can't be opened from the inside, right?"
"We'll worry about him later," replied Sunset with determination as she turned forward to the hologram guards. "We need to get to Vignette as soon as possible, and it looks like we'll first have to get past her goons."
"No problem!" remarked Rainbow Dash confidently before she charged at one of the guards in a royal sentry uniform. The guard rushed at her and tried to take her down, but she dodged the attack and swiftly spun around, delivering a roundhouse kick to that guard's chest hard enough to shatter him to pieces that clattered all over the pavement. "Ha! Too easy!"
But almost immediately after those minifig pieces had settled on the ground, they rapidly flickered in and out of existence before they completely vanished, then the suddenly rebuilt guard rapidly flickered in and out of existence until he was fully restored back to normal right on the spot where he had fallen.
"What the--?!" exclaimed Rainbow in shock.
"That thing just respawned like some sort of video game character!" noted Twilight in astonishment.
The respawned guard quickly made another attempt to strike Rainbow Dash, but she was able to easily dodge it. She was unable to follow that up with a counterattack as she was forced to dodge an attack from another hologram guard, this one wearing medieval armor. At the same time, all the other digital guards began to charge at the rest of the Equestria Girls.
"An' now we start the big fight," grumbled Applejack before charging ahead to confront the oncoming guards. She swiftly punched one to the left, one to the right, and one directly in front of her, shattering all three of them with just one punch each. But just like with the first guard, the scattered parts flickered away, then the restored guards flickered back into existence.
For the most part, many of the girls tried to avoid getting hit by those digital guards, but they tried to help each other out whenever they could. Sunset used her advanced combat skills to fend off every guard that came at her, but their rapid respawn rate left her fighting the same two particular guards -- one a royal sentry, the other a sailor -- over and over again. Twilight used her telekinetic magic to lift one guard in medieval armor that came at her, then slammed him into the ground to easily shatter him to pieces, only for him to respawn seconds later. Pinkie Pie danced around one guard in a ninja outfit, taunting him with every missed strike at her. Rarity used her diamond shields to simply shove away any guards that got too close to her, sometimes shoving away two or even three at a time. Fluttershy did little more than dodge every attack directed at her, sometimes causing two guards to smack each other to pieces.
As the fight between real girls and hologram guards played out, Micro Chips held back and made no attempt to join the battle. He was well aware of how terrible he was at physical combat, but as a fellow LEGO Team member, he knew he had to do something to help them out. He looked back at the small building they had escaped from, then glanced around and smiled as he came up with an idea. With a plan in mind, he began to quickly harvest Lego parts from various objects nearby such as benches, vending machines, and lampposts.
Sunset noticed Micro Chips running around and gathering parts, so as she punched yet another digital guard, she spoke up, "What are you up to, Micro Chips?"
"I'm building a computer terminal," responded Micro Chips as he continued his efforts. "If that white room is somehow linked to Vignette's phone, then building a terminal connected directly to the building could provide me with access to that system, allowing me to remotely hack that phone and delete whatever program is being used to sustain those holographic guards. It might also allow me to eliminate whatever magic power is possessing that phone, which means we may not have to directly confront Vignette to stop her." By the time he finished his explanation, he had gathered enough parts and began quickly assembling them.
Click! Clack! Click! Clack! Click! Clack!
"Good thinking, Micro Chips!" praised Twilight as she used her magic to send a guard in a sailor uniform flipping through the air. "We'll hold off these cyber projections so you can accomplish that."
Like most members of the LEGO Team, Micro Chips had creative talents as a Master Builder, so it took him only a matter of seconds to fully complete his computer terminal. The console consisted of a large keyboard, four monitors, and a lever that could be shifted into four different positions. He booted up the computer system, then started rapidly tapping away on the keyboard. Although the four monitors each displayed different programs, his hacking efforts would show up on only one of them at a time, so every few seconds, he would shift the lever into a different position, allowing him operate on a different monitor.
Rainbow Dash noticed the usage of that lever on the computer terminal. "I'm no computer expert, but that lever seems a bit too much work," she spoke up with uncertainty as she grabbed a charging holographic guard and hurled him into another guard, shattering them both.
"Trust me, this is much more efficient than hitting control-alt-delete every thirty seconds," assured Micro Chips as he flipped the lever again and continued hacking.
The girls continued to fight well against the holographic guards, usually taking just a few quick moves to shatter them to pieces. However, those holographic projections kept restoring themselves just as quickly as they were taken out, so the fight had essentially reached a massive stalemate.
Applejack slammed one of the guards in medieval armor against the ground, then glanced back at Micro Chips and hollered, "Hurry it up over there! We can't keep doin' this for much longer!"
"I'm trying my best!" insisted Micro Chips as he flipped the lever again and continue rapidly typing. "I think I might've located the program, but it's proving to be unbelievable resilient to everything I can throw at it! It's like I'm dealing with some sort of advanced A.I. that keeps anticipating my every attempt."
"If only these projections weren't the advanced upgraded versions," lamented Rarity as she used a diamond shield to slice through three guards in a row, separating their torsos from their legs. "When I first laid eyes on the holographic copies Vignette made for her vision of our band, my hand was able to pass right through them like they weren't even there. That reminded her to apply some upgrades she claimed to have recently downloaded, one of which undoubtedly made these things solid to the touch." As she spoke, she continued using her diamond shields to strike and shove away any other digital guards that came her way.
Micro Chips suddenly stopped typing and smiled. "That gives me an idea," he spoke up. "Hang on while I try something different!" He flipped the lever again and resumed rapidly typing.
Meanwhile, the girls still continued to fight off the holographic guards, but fatigue was starting to become a serious concern as the fight dragged on, especially since those digital projections were incapable of exhaustion like real people. They started making more desperate moves, such as Applejack occasionally head-butting an oncoming guard, Twilight using her telekinesis to simply tear apart any guards coming at her, and Rarity slamming two diamond shields together against a couple guards and sending their shattered pieces flying in all directions.
"Let's dance!" taunted Pinkie Pie as she grabbed one guard in a sailor uniform and spun him around herself a few times before letting go, sending him flying away and smashing to pieces upon slamming into the wall of a nearby building.
"Hurry it up, geek!" hollered Rainbow Dash as she punched yet another holographic guard in the face. "We're running out of time!"
"Almost..." muttered Micro Chips as he flipped the lever yet again and continued rapidly typing. After only a few more seconds, he finally hit the enter key and declared, "Done!"
The effect was felt immediately by both the holograms and the girls. The evil projections suddenly lost their solid state and passed right through their opponents, while the girls were briefly thrown off balance when their attacks suddenly didn't connect. Both sides paused in confusion for a moment before turning towards Micro Chips.
"Success!" declared Micro Chips triumphantly as his raised both of his fists up. He then relaxed his stance and explained, "I was able to reset some of the definitions on that special app, effectively negating the upgraded content and thus rendering the system back to its original standard state."
"Nicely done, Micro Chips," acknowledged Rarity. "It seems my earlier observations provided the key to our triumph over these cyber duplicates."
The smile on Micro Chips' face quickly fell when he noticed something suddenly show up on one of the monitors on the computer terminal. "Uh-oh, it's trying to automatically reinstall those upgrades!" he alerted everyone. He immediately flipped the lever again and resumed rapidly typing as he explained, "I can slow down the process with a DDoS attack, but you girls have to hurry! If I can't delete the software, then the only other option is to destroy the hardware."
"Vignette's phone," acknowledged Sunset with determination. "Let's go!"
"Could we at least acquire ourselves some motorized transport?" asked Rarity. "As much as I desire putting an immediate stop to Vignette, I am afraid that I'm nearing the point of exhaustion."
"No problem!" declared Pinkie Pie cheerfully before she swiftly started gathering Lego parts from some nearby benches, streetlights, and hotdog carts. In her usual style, she appeared to be in many places at once as she rapidly assembled all the Lego parts she had gathered.
Whoosh! Click! Clack! Whoosh! Clack! Click! Whoosh! Click! Clack! Click! Clack!
In only a matter of seconds, Pinkie had built a simple motorized cart. "One cart, ready to roll!" she declared cheerfully.
"But there's only six seats on it," Twilight pointed out.
"That's okay," assured Rainbow Dash. "I'll just run ahead on my own. I've actually got an idea on how to stop Vignette. Meet ya there!" She then rushed off towards the middle of the park, her magical super speed making her appear as a rainbow motion blur.
With that minor issue dealt with, the rest of the girls climbed into the cart -- Twilight and Fluttershy in the back seat, Rarity and Applejack in the middle seat, and Sunset and Pinkie in the front seat with Sunset at the steering wheel. Sunset started up the motor and quickly drove the cart towards the parade route near the middle of the theme park.
Meanwhile, Micro Chips continued typing away on the computer terminal, desperately buying as much time as he could to help the girls. The holographic Cranky Doodle copies had now swarmed around Micro Chips in a futile attempt to subdue him. No matter how much they tried to grab at him, their phantom state prevented them from having any physical affect, but that was not to say they had no effect at all.
"Would you cyber ghosts cut it out already?!" snapped Micro Chips irritably. "I'm trying to concentrate here!"
Startled by that outburst, the holograms collectively decided to take a step back and stay clear of the hacker at work.
At the middle of Equestria Land, the gathered crowd was cheering as the floats began to roll out of the hangar building and slowly moved forward along the parade route. The first float was candy themed, consisting of a giant gumball dispenser surrounded by large candy canes and dancing performers who were dressed in various oversized candy wrappers. The second float was wild west themed, consisting of a saloon behind performers in cowboy costumes, some of whom hurled lassos at some prop cattle at the front of the float. The third float was the performance stage, upon which Vignette Valencia and her Throwbacks were playing a song.
Prior to the start of the parade, Vignette had programed the five holograms on the stage to play their respective instruments to provide the music for her song. She had no musical talent at all, so she just selected whatever available samples of audio she liked best and had them play it on repeat. However, just moments before the actual start of the parade, those holograms had suddenly glitched back to their non-solid forms. She was confused when she discovered the recent upgrade was suddenly gone, and even more so when attempting to reinstall that upgrade ended up going way too slow to be ready for the parade. Since the musical acts were still correctly programed, she decided to just go ahead with the show, figuring that the holograms not being solid would have no effect on the performance.
As the performance stage float rolled along the parade route, the five Throwbacks stood in place and moved almost robotically as they played standard fragments of rock music on their provided instruments, but with each of them programed to play separate tracks, there was little to no harmony between their vastly different tunes. While the holograms seemed lifeless and uncoordinated, Vignette tried to more than make up for it by loudly singing into the microphone in her hand, despite having very little experience as a singer. "Be yourself, but better!" she sang, seemingly unaware of how horribly off-key she was. "Or don't be yourself at all! Follow Vignette on Snapgab! That's V-I-G-N-E-T-T-EEEEEE!"
SCREEEEEEEEEE!
That audio feedback broke Vignette out of the grove she was in, which allowed her to notice that the initially cheerful crowd had now considerably soured.
"What the brick is this?" asked one guy in the crowd.
"This is so lame," grumbled one girl in the crowd.
"Those girls would never dress like that!" accused another girl in the crowd.
"We were promised the Rainbooms! Not some cheap knockoff!" exclaimed another guy in the crowd furiously.
"Your music stinks!" shouted yet another guy in the crowd before chucking a rotten tomato towards Vignette.
Vignette narrowly dodged the disgusting projectile. As further jeers from the crowd continued to be directed at her, she growled furiously and threw the microphone down onto the stage floor. "This crowd isn't cheering enough for my taste," she grumbled. She then grinned wickedly as she pulled out her magically enhanced phone. "Luckily, that can be tweaked with the flick of a hand." She quickly brought up what was now easily her favorite app and aimed her phone a random portion of the crowd -- which happened to include Spike and the three girls collectively known as the Creative Mark Crusaders. "Say 'cheese', everyone!" she spoke up tauntingly as she prepared to take the picture.
Clunk!
Vignette suddenly found herself thrown forward and down onto the stage floor. She was momentarily stunned by the impact, but then she rolled over and saw a large harpoon was now hooked onto the top of the stage backdrop. That harpoon had yanked the top of the stage back, causing the float to pivot on its rear wheels and flip the front end upwards, which was what had thrown Vignette off her feet.
The harpoon was tied to a rope, and the other end of that rope was attached to a turret that Rainbow Dash had swiftly built atop the hangar building. "Yeah!" cheered Rainbow Dash from her seat on that turret as she pumped her fist up in the air. "Nailed it on the first shot!"
Vignette glared at the rainbow girl -- not bothering to question how she had managed to escape from wherever she had ended up -- then stood up again and aimed her phone at that meddler. But due to the float no longer having any forward momentum and the harpoon rope holding tight, the weight of the front end caused the float to roll backwards a little and pivot forward on its rear wheels, sending the front end slamming back onto the ground. That impact again threw Vignette towards the front of the float, this time sending her down onto her back.
The crowd had since fallen silent as they witnessed the rather strange interruption. But then one section of the crowd was startled and forced to move aside from a cart that was heading directly towards the hooked float.
Beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep!
"Make way! Coming through!" called out Sunset impatiently as she drove swiftly but carefully through the crowd, giving the people just enough time to move aside while still moving ahead. After a few seconds, the cart and its six passengers had made it through the crowd and onto the parade route. Sunset stopped the cart in the middle of the parade route -- in an effort to block any attempts by Vignette to continue the parade-- and shut off the motor.
Vignette grunted in pain as she sat up. She then got back up on her feet and turned around just in time to see most of the Equestria Girls climb out of that cart, who were then swiftly joined by Rainbow Dash through her speedy rainbow motion blur.
"Sorry to rain on your parade," Rarity spoke up defiantly.
Applejack couldn't help but smirk and remark, "Good one, Rarity,"
Rarity winked at Applejack, then turned back to Vignette and continued, "But I'm afraid this event is canceled. Now turn off your phone and hand it over!"
The people in the surrounding crowd glanced back and forth between the Equestria Girls and Vignette while muttering various words of confusion.
Vignette held her phone defensively close as she arrogantly asked, "Are you honestly asking a social media star to hand over her phone?"
"If ya mean the one that's been infected by Equestrian magic an' corrupted you into a reckless villain, then yes, she is," Applejack firmly replied.
Many people in the crowd gasped at the revelation that what was happing before their very eyes was actually another one of those big magical incidents that had on previous occasions caused all kinds of madness and destruction.
"Rarity, this is the version of your friends that will be popular," argued Vignette as she gestured back at the holograms of the Throwbacks -- who were currently standing perfectly still and did absolutely nothing like a bunch of statues. "I have the metrics to back that up!"
Rarity and Applejack both crossed their arms as they shared a look of disapproval, then turned their gazes back to Vignette without saying a word.
"Doesn't matter if they're real!" insisted Vignette desperately. "It's what you show people online! This is your chance to be everything you've always wanted!"
"No!" Rarity shot back defiantly. "It's a chance to merely look like everything I've always wanted!" She started to relax as she turned back to the others girls. "What I really want has been right in front of me the whole time..." She smiled at Applejack and held out her hand, to which Applejack also smiled and grasped with her own hand. "My friends!"
Around Rarity and Applejack, the rest of their friends also joined together. Sunset and Twilight joined hands with each other, with Twilight's other hand grasping Applejack's free hand. Pinkie Pie joined hands with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, with Fluttershy grasping Rarity's free hand. With all seven girls now hand in hand, their magical geodes started to glow. The intensely bright glow quickly covered their bodies as they began to rise up into the air. After a few seconds, the glow faded, revealing the seven Equestria Girls were now hovering in the air in their ponied up forms -- they all had pony ears and longer hair like a tail, while some had either feathered wings on their back or a unicorn horn on their head -- and their outfits had changed to be just like what they were given during the previous magical incident involving the Memory Stone.
Vignette stared up at the magical girls hovering before her. "Okay, that's pretty impressive," she admitted, "but I've already seen it in a video, so--"
"Silence!" shouted Rarity firmly down at Vignette. "No amount of online success is worth it without my real life friends to share in it!" She glanced left and right at her friends and smiled at them all, and they all smiled back at her.
Now joined together for a single cause, the seven girls channeled the magical energy within their geodes, bringing it all together upon Rarity in the middle of the group. Sparks of magical energy danced along Rarity's arms as she let go of her friends, then channeled that energy into a long glowing whip. She swung that magical whip around once and then swiftly flicked it straight down directly at the phone in Vignette's hand.
CRACK!
Vignette yelped as the magical whip pierced right through her phone. That 1x2 tile was split lengthwise in half as it flew out of her hand, and the two halves clattered to the floor of the stage. With that phone now completely destroyed, the magical energy trapped within was dispersed into nothing, and the custom design on the back of those halves reverted from a furiously scowling face back to the content smiling face it originally was. Without the magically enhanced apps from that phone, all of the holograms created by it -- both the Throwbacks and the security guard clones all over the park -- quickly flickered out of existence.
"What have you done?!" exclaimed Vignette furiously as she fell to her knees. "Now how can things ever be perfect?!"
The Equestria Girls slowly descended to land in front of Vignette upon the performance stage float. "I love nothing more than someone telling me I made a perfect outfit," acknowledged Rarity, "but I'd say you got a bit carried away."
"I-I... guess so..." confessed Vignette hesitantly.
"You guess so?!" asked Applejack in disbelief. "You replaced our friends with virtual holograms an' were about to cram an entire crowd of people into a room no bigger than a Manehattan apartment!"
That revelation caused the crowd to gasp and start muttering words of displeasure.
"I-I... I had no idea..." muttered Vignette uneasily.
Sunset turned to Rarity and Applejack, both of whom turned to her and nodded. With that silent approval from her friends, she walked over to Vignette. "You sure about that?" she asked as she knelt down and grasped Vignette's arm, which immediately caused her body to stiffen and her eyes glow white as she peered into Vignette's memory.
It had been only a few hours after Vignette discovered the new magical ability that her phone now suddenly possessed. As much as she wished to try it out on many other things, she figured it wouldn't be really necessary just yet with the opening of Equestria Land still two weeks away. Besides, she had plenty of other obligations to take care of, such as hiring a new lead parade costume designer on such short notice. Thankfully, she was pleasantly surprised to see one of the recent applicants for some other job in the park had a very promising resume, which she was currently reading on her phone as she walked around the far end of the park near the big roller coaster and the ferris wheel.
"I think this Rarity girl might be just the right kind of person I need to pull off this parade," she noted to herself in satisfaction. Now that she was convinced she had found the perfect individual to fill the sudden vacancy, she began composing an email to inform her soon-to-be new and highly trusted employee.
"Huh? How did that stress salad get in here?"
When Vignette had discovered her phone's new ability, it was her stress salad that she had made disappear, so upon hearing about that particular kind of item, she immediately stopped what she was doing and turned to the source of that voice. She saw a security guard looking through an open doorway into a small building. Not hesitating to find answers, she quickly walked over to the building and lightly shoved the security guard out of the way. She looked inside the building and saw that it consisted of a single room with white walls, floor, and ceiling with bright overhead lights, and within that room was nothing more than a bowl of salad. She glanced at the photo she had recently taken and, sure enough, it was a perfect match to the one sitting in this weird room.
"Is that salad yours, Miss Valencia?" asked the security guard.
Vignette glanced back at the security guard she had quickly forgotten about, looked over at the bowl of salad sitting alone in the empty white room, then back to the guard and responded, "Uh, yes! I was... planning to do a photo shoot in here! But all the other props have yet to arrive, so, uh, could you please lock this door so no one tries to come in and steal it?" It was all a total lie, and she hoped the guard would buy it.
The security guard stared at Vignette with a raised eyebrow for a moment, then just shrugged and remarked, "Eh, you're the boss." He then pulled the door closed and used his keys to lock it shut.
"And while you're at it," added Vignette, "could you unlock the door to your workstation? I'd like to make a quick note on the floor plans so everyone knows that room will be occupied."
"Sure thing," acknowledged the security guard as he began walking back to said workstation.
As Vignette followed him, she decided to take this time to resume her email response to the one who would soon be the new lead parade costume designer. She had just barely finished and sent that email by the time they arrived at the security office.
As the guard left to do his rounds elsewhere, Vignette pulled out the floor plans and unrolled the one showing that building at the far end of the park. She set that sheet of paper down on the desk and grabbed a nearby pen. Now what kind of note should I write that'll make sure everyone will stay away from that room? she thought to herself. She didn't think the photoshoot room excuse she gave to that security guard would be good enough for most people, and she had no idea what that rather peculiar room was actually intended for anyway, so she thought about it and eventually settled on some tech terminology, since it was somehow linked to her phone. Unable to come up with anything better, she decided to simply call it a server room, with the additional note to "Keep Out".
With that taken care of, Vignette put the floor plans back and left the security office. Now that she was confident no one would stumble across what appeared to be a storage room of things she would photograph on her newly enhanced phone, she decided to try some subtle experimentation over the next few days to figure out for sure what her phone was really capable of now. Unfortunately, with so many last-minute preparations and unforeseen setbacks over the next two weeks, she was unable to make any attempts to learn more about her new phone until just a couple days before opening day, when a sleeping Cranky Doodle became only the second thing to ever be captured by that magically enhanced device.
Sunset's body relaxed and her eyes returned to normal as her glimpse into Vignette's mind ended. She stepped back and suddenly exclaimed furiously, "You were aware of that room all along, weren't you?!"
The rest of the girls gasped at that revelation, as did much of the crowd followed by more words of displeasure.
Vignette chuckled nervously and awkwardly explained, "I, uh, guess I forgot all about it. Too many other things to keep track of in a place like this, you understand, right?"
"You should've been much more responsible with that kind of magic right from the start," argued Sunset. "Let's hope for your sake you can afford a good lawyer, because once the lawsuits start heading your way, you won't be able to use ignorance as a defense."
"You sure got that right!"
All the girls on the performance stage float turned to the crowd and saw standing in front of everyone with his arms crossed and an angry look on his face was a certain businessman they were all familiar with.
"Filthy Rich?" asked Vignette, unable to hide her shock. "What are you doing here?"
"As owner of Equestria Land," explained Filthy Rich with a tone of disapproval, "it was practically an obligation for me to attend what you've insisted to be the most significant event on opening day. I must say I am very disappointed in you, Miss Valencia, not because of the parade, but because you failed to obey one of the most important rules I insisted upon all of my employees: If you notice anything weird that one might consider caused by magic, report it immediately. Need I remind you why I instated that rule to all of my businesses?"
"It was done in response to that incident at Lego City involving Gloriosa Daisy," answered Vignette, struggling to hide the nervous tone in her voice.
"Precisely!" Filthy Rich sharply continued. "That incident was a PR nightmare that forced me to significantly restructure every business affiliate under my name, all because I made the mistake of not respecting a powerful force that continues to affect our world in unpredictable ways. I've already had my reputation tarnished by one magical incident, and I refuse to let it happen again! Therefore, effective immediately... you're fired."
"What?!" exclaimed Vignette in shock. "Surely you don't have to go that far, right?!"
"If you had done the right thing and turned in that phone the moment you realized it was suddenly more powerful than usual, then perhaps you could've kept your job," explained Filthy Rich. "Instead, you kept that thing to yourself and abused its power, all without my knowledge. This incident was entirely your doing, so cutting all ties with you right here and now is the only way to ensure that I won't face any liability for your actions." He then pulled out his phone and started dialing. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make a few calls to try finding a new PR manager for this park." He gave a fierce glare toward Vignette as he sharply added, "Preferably someone who actually cares about public relations." He then held his phone up to the side of his head as he began walking away.
Vignette slumped and let out a sad sigh. "I should've been better than this," she muttered shamefully. "How could B.Y.B.B. have failed me so horribly?"
"It's not a bad thing to want to be better," assured Rarity, "but not at the expense of other people." She smiled as she glanced around at the other girls. "And especially not your friends."
"Friends?" muttered Vignette. She sighed as she stood up and turned away from the girls, then sadly confessed, "I have three million followers, but no real friends. How pathetic is that?" She sulked in silence for a moment, but when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned back and was surprised to see the smiling face of Rarity.
"You've got one... if you want," offered Rarity.
"Make that two," agreed Applejack as she stepped forward.
"Are you sure?" asked Vignette hesitantly. "Even after everything I did to you?"
"Let's just say we're known to be a rather forgiving group," Rarity slyly remarked.
"An' if you really are sorry for what you did," assured Applejack, "Ah can promise the worst you'll get will probably be a few months of community service."
Vignette smiled slightly and softly said, "I think I can be okay with that." She then shared a friendly embrace with Rarity.
It was at this moment when the surrounding crowd began to cheer excitedly.
As the Equestria Girls glanced over the crowd of minifigs, Pinkie Pie asked, "Why are they clapping? Do they even know what's going on?"
Fluttershy responded with only a shrug.
Rainbow Dash had pulled out her phone and checked something on it. "Whoa!" She spoke up excitedly. "The Rainbooms are trending on SnapGab!"
Pinkie glanced over at Rainbow's phone and upon reading one of the displayed comments, she excitedly exclaimed, "People are saying that rainbow laser thing was the coolest light parade show they've ever seen!"
Everyone on the float glanced across the crowd and saw the thousands of gathered people were taking pictures of them and chatting cheerfully with each other.
"Hey, maybe the parade ain't ruined after all!" remarked Applejack with a friendly smile towards Rarity.
"We do still have our real instruments up there," Sunset pointed out as she gestured at the main part of the performance stage.
Rainbow Dash turned to Fluttershy and asked, "You're not too nervous?"
"I should ask you the same thing," Fluttershy playfully retorted.
Rainbow nudged her elbow against Fluttershy and they both shared a giggle.
Rarity turned to Applejack and asked, "Do you mind if I start us off? I know just the song we should play for this occasion."
Applejack smiled and nodded an approval.
"Don't worry about me, girls," assured Vignette as she gathered the fragments of her destroyed phone and made her way off the float. "This show's all about you, as it should be."
The seven Equestria Girls -- or rather, for this occasion, the Sonic Rainbooms -- gathered their instruments together, took their places on the stage, and did a brief sound check. Once they were sure everything was all set for the show, Rarity started off the first song of the evening, with best friend Applejack sharing the lead with her throughout much of that first song. The latest threat from Equestrian magic had been dealt with, and now it was time to celebrate. |
LEGO Equestria Girls 7 | Epilogue | Epilogue
It was now almost midnight, which was closing time for Equestria Land. The few thousand remaining guests who had not already left were now gradually making their way through the exit gates back to the parking lot. Among these departing guests were the Equestria Girls -- who had turned back into regular minifigs and regained their regular outfits after the end of their band's performance -- along with Spike and the Creative Mark Crusaders. Now that they were all heading home after their band's performance, the girls also had to carry their instruments with them -- for which Pinkie had to make use of that cart she had built in order to carry her drum set. As they left through the gates and started walking across the parking lot, they continued to talk about the events of the remarkable day they had just experienced.
"I'm glad Micro Chips actually remembered to let that security guard out of that weird room, once those holographic clones were gone," noted Twilight. "I guess we were having so much fun on stage that we completely forgot about that guy."
"I actually feel bad for Cranky Doodle," admitted Fluttershy. "He sounded like he was really looking forward to watching that baseball game."
"Either way, he should be glad we helped him out," said Rainbow Dash. "I wouldn't mind missing even a Wonderbolts stunt show if it meant saving the lives of my friends."
"At least the Crystal Girls will be able to report good news to Princess Cadance when they return to the Castle Region," Twilight pointed out. "Filthy Rich had not only obeyed all zoning laws with the construction of this park, but he also made all the right decisions he could've made in response to this latest magical incident."
"I'm just relieved that we not only stopped Vignette from causing any serious harm," noted Sunset, "but also made her understand that what she did was wrong."
"Indeed," agreed Rarity, "though it is quite a shame it had to come at the cost of her position as PR manager at Equestria Land."
"Not to mention her reputation on SnapGab," added Pinkie as she glanced down at her phone in her hand while slowly driving that cart beside her friends as they walked. "I had no idea it was even possible to lose over a million followers in only a matter of hours."
"To say nothin' of all those hateful comments that have been bombardin' her SnapGab account," noted Apple Bloom as she and her two best friends were also looking down at their phones as they walked.
"You said it," agreed Scootaloo as she shook her head in disbelief. "Even though she did do some awful things, she doesn't deserve to be trashed and trolled this badly."
"And to think I was so looking forward to getting a chance to see her in person," lamented Sweetie Belle. "But the very moment it actually happened, it turns out she would've done something totally evil to all of us and was stopped only at the last second."
"You're welcome, by the way!" quipped Rainbow Dash smugly.
Rarity turned to Applejack and hesitantly suggested, "Seeing as Vignette is without her phone and thus incapable of internet access for the time being, perhaps we should refrain from mentioning these online woes at her court hearing tomorrow."
Applejack, who always valued honesty more than almost anything else, took a moment to consider Rarity's suggestion, then spoke up, "Well, maybe not go into any details 'bout how bad it really is, but we should at least let her know that loggin' onto SnapGab might not be such a good idea for her anytime soon. Besides, now that she needs to find a new job, this could be a good chance for her to build some real connections with other people. She just needs to find what she's good at an' stick with it."
"Easier said than done, darling," responded Rarity uneasily. "Vignette has practically made her whole livelihood revolve exclusively around internet stardom for years." She then smiled as she spoke up, "Even so, I shall remain cautiously optimistic for her sake. If she does end up sentenced to a few months of community service, as we anticipate, then all those charitable activities shall go a long way towards helping her rebuild her tarnished reputation. Given enough time, I believe she may have what it takes to prove herself to be a true role model worthy of the popularity she once took for granted."
"So that's another person corrupted by evil magic who we've beaten and turned into one of our friends," remarked Rainbow Dash proudly as she arrived at the parking spot where she left her blue motorcycle. "All in a day's work! We're getting good at this." She threw on her helmet, hopped onto the seat, and started up the engine, all while keeping her guitar strapped to her back. "See ya tomorrow!" The motorcycle engine rumbled loudly as she pulled out of the parking spot and headed out to begin her ride home.
A few seconds later, the group had reached Pinkie Pie's van. As Pinkie stopped her cart and started loading her drum set into the back of her van, Apple Bloom turned to Spike and asked, "Are ya still sure you won't ride home with us?"
"Definitely!" replied Spike without hesitation. "I'd rather spend my entire monthly allowance on a cab ride than take my chances with Pinkie Pie ever again."
"That's okay," assured Pinkie as she shut the rear door. "I needed some extra space to pack my drums anyway." As she hopped into the cart, she turned back to the three younger girls and said, "You three can just wait in the van. I gotta return this cart before we can get going." She then began to drive off back towards the park entrance.
"Ah ain't exactly comfortable 'bout leaving you girls unsupervised this late at night," stated Applejack as she slung her bass guitar over her shoulder, "so Rarity an' Ah will keep ya company 'till Pinkie gets back."
"I do appreciate you providing me with a ride home," Rarity spoke up as she slung her keytar over her shoulder. "My car is still in the repair shop, so I've had to rely on mass transit to get around town lately. Of course, I haven't stayed at the park this late at night over the last few days, so I can't exactly rely on the schedule I've gotten used to."
"Just doin' what any good friend should do," assured Applejack with a smile. "Consider it a favor to make up for the way Ah behaved earlier today."
"Please, Applejack, I was clearly much more in the wrong than you were," insisted Rarity. "If anything, I should owe you a favor to atone for my atrocious behavior earlier today."
"Oh, just kiss already!" snapped Scootaloo irritably.
Rarity and Applejack turned to the three young girls, glanced back at each other, then turned back to the girls while awkwardly stammering over each other as they struggled to get over the shock of that accusation.
"Mah barn door don't swing that way!" Applejack firmly insisted.
"And I've fawned over plenty of boys over the years to know with certainty where my preferences lie," insisted Rarity indignantly.
"C'mon, Scootaloo," complained Sweetie Belle, "just because there's nothing wrong with certain girls liking other girls doesn't mean it's okay to assume any girl could be like that."
"Yeah, how would ya like it if someone suddenly shouted for you to kiss a girl?" argued Apple Bloom.
Scootaloo huffed and crossed her arms as she grumbled, "I have no comment on that."
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shared a laugh at Scootaloo's expense, which Applejack and Rarity couldn't help but soon join in laughter as well.
Meanwhile, Sunset, Twilight, Fluttershy, and Spike continued to make their way across the parking lot. "I still don't think you should take a cab home, Spike," argued Twilight. "That money could be better spent on more important things."
"You mean like those science journals with expensive subscriptions that you never bother to read?" retorted Spike.
"They're reference material!" countered Twilight. "I'll read them when I have need for that information."
"It's okay, Twilight," assured Fluttershy. "I can give Spike a ride home. I should have just enough room inside my car."
"Now that you're offering, I guess I'll be cool with that," agreed Spike. "Out of all you girls, I actually trust you the most to obey all the rules of the road."
"Are you sure you know where to go to reach our apartment building?" asked Twilight.
"We've been friends for some time now," assured Fluttershy. "I always make sure to know where to find my friends if I ever need them. Besides, my car does come with GPS."
It wasn't long before they reached Fluttershy's car. As Spike climbed into the passenger seat, Fluttershy placed her tambourine inside the car's trunk and then climbed into the driver's seat. Fluttershy took her time going over the usual safety checks before she started up the engine and began to drive away.
Not much time later, Sunset and Twilight arrived at Sunset's red convertible. Sunset tossed her guitar into the backseat before hopping into the driver's seat, while Twilight climbed into the passenger seat beside her. Once both girls were buckled up, Sunset started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.
A few minutes later, as Sunset and Twilight cruised down the road on their way back into the city, Twilight spoke up, "It's quite unfortunate, really. Last time we tried to take a vacation together, it was marred by that incident involving the Memory Stone. Now, an attempt to spend just one day off at a new amusement park has been overshadowed by a social media diva with a magical phone."
"The feeling's mutual," agreed Sunset. "It sure would be nice to go somewhere that we didn't have to worry about Equestrian magic for once. Though considering just how widespread it's been getting lately, we might as well have to go all the way out to the middle of the ocean."
It may have been an offhand remark, but Sunset's suggestion was something Twilight found quite intriguing. After thinking about it for a moment, Twilight muttered, "I have occasionally considered the idea of going on a luxury cruise." As she began to smile, she turned to Sunset and said, "I'll look into it and see what's available. If I find something that can work for all of us, I'll be sure to inform you and the others."
"Now that's something I can look forward to," remarked Sunset contently. |
Hello From The Other Side | pre | "You're just using an excuse to be a glutton!"
"Nonsense," Celestia said with a dismissive wave of her hoof.
Suddenly a ringing sound filled the room. "Oh dear!" Discord said, pulling out an alarm clock. "I almost forgot I have afternoon tea with Fluttershy today! Sorry ladies, I'm afraid I'm going to have to take off for now. Perhaps if you two are still here and Equestria isn't in the middle of a national crisis then we can continue this fun later. Ta-ta for now!" The draconequus then disappeared, leaving the two alicorns alone in the room.
Luna then looked back at the cake. "So...is that lemon-flavored?"
"Of course." Celestia offered a plate and fork with her magic. "You're more than welcome to have some."
Luna snorted. "I don't think I have a choice since you'll finish it all. Honestly, I'll be surprised if you don't gain ten pounds."
Celestia rolled her eyes and the two ate silently for a few minutes. "So...what happened?"
"Oh...it's quite the story I can promise you that." |
Hello From The Other Side | ...As Long As Luna Gets Her Frap | Sunset Shimmer and the others had met up at the Sweet Shoppe early in the morning at Twilight's insistence. Apparently she had news about the current state of Camp Everfree. "Well, I have good news and I have bad news," Twilight said as they were all enjoying assorted baked goods with some morning coffee.
"Alright, might as well as well give us the good news first," Sunset replied.
"The good news is that from the dance and donations that were given afterwards, we've received over eight thousand dollars," Twilight replied.
"Awesome!" Rainbow said with a mouthful of scone as pumped her fist.
"And the bad news?" Applejack asked.
"Well...despite our best efforts we still need another couple thousand for Gloria and Timber to be able to pay everything off," Twilight said sadly.
"Oh dear..." Rarity said.
"Wait...is that literally a couple like two thousand or do you mean more than that?" Pinkie asked.
"Technically its $2,351" Twilight replied.
"That's still a lot of money..." Fluttershy said.
"Oh, then why didn't you say so?" Pinkie asked, scratching her head.
"So what can we do?" Sunset asked. "I mean, we could try to ask for more donations but I think everyone who has paid isn't going to be so willing to give up more...not that we could ask them to anyway."
"We could always do another runway show..." Rarity suggested.
"No!" both Rainbow and Applejack said quite loudly.
"Hmph, it was only a suggestion..." Rarity muttered.
"Oh I know, we could all try entering one of those sweepstakes where they bring the check to your door!" Pinkie suggested.
"Not a bad idea, but even if we had a chance we wouldn't get the money til it's too late," Twilight said.
Sunset sighed. "I don't want to give up on this but...I feel like we're out of options."
"Well I dunno," Rainbow said. "I mean, you could always sell that bike of yours and get a good-"
"Absolutely not," Sunset snapped. "And before you ask it, I'm not writing to Princess Twilight for a loan."
"Didn't you say ya got a good exchange rate on them...what'ya call them...bits?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah but that was technically my money," Sunset asked. "Not that Twilight wouldn't give it to me I just don't...feel right about it."
Suddenly Pinkie's body and hair twitched slightly. "Whoa, where did that come from?"
"Is that your Pinkie sense again?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yeah, but it hasn't gone off like that since Everfree I think," Pinkie said. "Somehow I think nowadays it's attuned to picking up magical oddities."
"Oh no..." Sunset groaned. "No offense but I'd really like a break from that please."
Pinkie twitched. "Well, whatever it is, its getting closer."
"Well, not like I had anything better to do today," Rainbow said. "I say bring it on-whuhhhhh..." Rainbow's eyes suddenly widened and her mouth hung open.
"Darling, what's wrong?" Rarity asked.
"Is she having a stroke?" Pinkie asked.
Rainbow apparently was looking at the window as she pointed behind them. "You...are not gonna believe this..." The girls looked in her direction and that's when they saw them.
The two women that walked in certainly looked like Principals Celestia and Luna, but the clothing they wore was...something most people haven't seen in a very long time. Celestia had gone with a simple look of wearing jeans with a t-shirt and a matching jean jacket. It was Luna however that really got everyone's attention. She was wearing a blue blouse with a silver-gray skirt, the kind that reflected off sunlight, which showed off her legs along with a pair of high-heels. Both of them entered the building, taking off the shades they were wearing.
"Um...did I miss something here?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah...I had no idea Luna had such nice legs," Rainbow commented.
"Are you...drooling?" Applejack asked.
"Oh no, did they change today to 80's Day and no one told me!?" Pinkie almost shrieked.
"I think we're all missing the picture here," Sunset deadpanned.
"Indeed, the fashion is totally out of style now," Rarity said. "But I'll give them credit for being bold." Sunset just facepalmed.
Meanwhile, Celestia and Luna were looking around, noticing quickly how everyone was looking at them. "Okay, this is kind of weird..." Celestia said.
"They're staring at us..." Luna said.
"I'm starting to think maybe these weren't the best choice of clothes," Celestia conceded. "Doesn't matter, just act normal."
The two of them went to the front counter where Mrs. Cake was standing at the register. "Oh my," Mrs. Cake chuckled. "Seeing the two of you wearing that takes me back. What can I get you?"
"I got this Tia," Luna said, who apparently knew the lingo around these parts. "I'd like a frap..."
"A frappucino?" Mrs. Cake asked, looking a little confused.
"A frap...venti...mocha," Luna said, staring at the board.
"Luna, you don't need a 'frap'," Celestia sighed. "You already had your morning caffeine."
"Yeah well you don't need a croissant do you?" Luna replied.
"Um...I can give you two more time if you-"
"Two tall mango teas," Celestia said quite tersely.
"Ugh, fine," Luna grumbled.
"Okay...well that'll be $5.50 then."
Celestia then realized she made a colossal error. "Um...Mrs. Cake, this is kind of awkward but...do you take bits?"
"Bits?" Mrs. Cake asked. "If you mean change of course, as long as they aren't pennies, please."
"How about if they're gold?" Celestia asked as she pulled out five bits.
The poor woman looked as if she was going to have a heart attack. "Oh my...well..." She glanced around for a moment. "I suppose that could work...its real right."
"Of course," Celestia smiled.
"Right, two mango teas it is then."
The two of them waited at the counter and Celestia looked up at one of the overhanging mirrors and her heart almost stopped. "Luna," she said quietly. "She's right behind us."
"Hmm?" Luna glanced up at the mirror and realized who she was talking about. "Oh...so that's Sunset Shimmer. She's a very pretty girl." She grinned slightly. "Well how about that...? You have an opportunity to go say hello to her."
"I...um..."
Luna looked over to her concerned. "Wait...don't tell me you're getting cold feet now?"
"It's a touchy subject sister," Celestia whispered. "If she finds out its me, I'm not sure how'd she react. She may think I'm here to take her back or-"
"Or you could just tell her the truth. Hmm...so that's what the Elements look like as humans. Wait...why is Rainbow Dash staring at me like that?"
Rainbow noticed that Luna noticed her looking and she quickly turned away. "Shit."
"Okay, what's going on with you?" Applejack asked.
"It's nothing!" Rainbow snapped.
"Sure..."
"Is it just me...or does something seem off about them?" Sunset asked.
"Well, their attire is off that's for sure," Twilight commented.
"Okay, I'm getting to the bottom of this," Pinkie said as she got up. "I need to know for sure if today's Tacky Day or 80's Day."
"Wait Pinkie-"
"Oh no she's coming over," Luna said.
"Hi Principal Celestia, hi Vice-Principal Luna!" Pinkie said as she came between them. "We never see you two come in here!"
"Oh...well...isn't that something then?" Celestia replied hesitantly.
"But I have to know...is today Throwback Day?" Honestly, they didn't give it an official name, or at least to Pinkie's knowledge.
"Oh...well...you know, these clothes have been sitting in the closet for awhile so..." Luna began.
"I know what you mean!" Pinkie said happily. "You two should've told me and we could've celebrated it together! Oh! Since you're here, you want to sit with us?"
"Oh that's a very kind offer Pinkie but we're kind of in a hurry," Celestia said somewhat frantically.
"Nonsense sister," Luna grinned evilly. "We got plenty of time to chat and catch up."
Celestia wanted to give her the worst glare possible but instead managed a smile in front of Pinkie. "Well...why not?"
"Awesome!" Pinkie practically pushed the two sisters over to the group. "Hey girls, is it alright if these two join us?"
The girls looked to one another. "Um...sure?" Sunset replied as she got up. "I'll grab a couple chairs."
It wasn't that Celestia didn't want to sit with them, it was that she knew Sunset was a bright pony...person and if anyone could figure her out it'd be Sunset. Still, it was too late now to just run out of the building. Pinkie then went back and got the two their tea.
"Actually Principal Celestia, we're kind of glad you're here," Twilight said as the two sat down in the circle. "We're having a bit of trouble meeting our goal for paying off Camp Everfree. You think you might have any ideas?"
"Okay Celestia, play this cool," Celestia told herself. "You've been in these situations before and surely you can find an answer...let's see..." "Well...I suppose I should ask when the deadline is?"
"End of the month," Applejack said. "We still need over two thousand dollars to break even."
"That's a lot of money..."
Luna cleared her throat. "I think I might have a solution?"
"We're all ears," Rarity replied.
"Car wash."
"Huh?" Sunset asked.
"You know...a car wash," Luna replied. "You know...since there are a lot of cars here."
"Well...it's not a bad idea..." Sunset said. "But..."
"Actually I think its perfect," Rainbow grinned. "Think about it, a bunch of guys seeing all of us in bathing suits washing cars...they'll pay whatever we charge!"
"Um...I don't mind wearing a bathing suit but...I think everyone will just be staring at us then," Fluttershy said.
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "That's the idea Fluttershy."
"I think maybe if you do that you might want...others of the opposite gender working with you," Celestia said.
It was silent for a few moments and finally Sunset had to ask. "Principal Celestia, is everything alright?" Celestia seemed to stiffen slightly. "No offense, but you two are acting weird..."
"It's more her actually," Luna said matter-of-factly.
"Shut up Luna."
"I asked for a frap, and she wouldn't let me get one," Luna said.
"Every morning you want a frap, you don't need a frap Luna," Celestia said sternly.
"But it makes me happy!"
The girls stayed quiet while the bantering continued. "So uh...I like the look Vice-Principal Luna," Rainbow said casually.
Luna smiled. "Thank you. I had a feeling you did since you couldn't seem to take your eyes off my skirt...or was it my legs?"
"Um!" Rainbow suddenly blushed red. "I-I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Well, I wish we could stay longer girls but we have to get going," Celestia said, giving Luna a look that told her to go along with it.
"Indeed," Luna said as she got up. "Sorry we couldn't be much help with the fundraiser...but the car wash isn't such a bad idea..."
The two of them waved goodbye before they left the building. "Ya know...looking back at that just now...something did seem kind of off," Applejack commented.
Sunset didn't reply. She kept staring at the door with a slight look of suspicion.
"Well that could've gone much worse," Celestia grumbled as she paced around the living room.
"Sister, you're worrying too much," Luna assured her. "I know I wasn't there when it happened but I think you and Sunset need some closure."
"I know that!" Celestia almost snapped. "I just...I knew one day we'd meet again but I didn't think under these circumstances. If I'm here, she may feel threatened and I don't want that. I could explain myself away but she may lose whatever trust she has for me. I think we should go back."
"Celestia." She heard the tone in Luna's voice that told her she was being dead serious now. "First of all, I don't think she would come to that conclusion so quickly. Even so, it's better you tell her before she finds out. I didn't tell you about the Tantabus before right?"
"Right...and I admit I was kind of upset you didn't come to me straight away about it," Celestia said softly.
"And I felt terrible. In fact, I felt terrible that I could confide in Twilight Sparkle much easier than you because I felt she understood me better. My point being is, don't let this eat away at your soul dear sister." She then smiled slightly. "Besides, you're supposed to be the open one of the two of us remember?"
Celestia smiled. "Alright...I'm not sure yet how I'm going to do this but...I'll just tell her whether in a letter or person what's going on and why I'm here."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The two of them looked towards one another before Celestia went to the door and opened it. Right in front of her stood her former student.
"We need to talk," Sunset said. Her serious demeanor shifted slightly as a smile formed on her face. "It's been a long time, Princess." |
Hello From The Other Side | Sunset Shimmer, Heroine of Worlds | At the moment, Celestia realized she had two choices. Either she could slam the door in Sunset's face, or she could act like she had no idea what the girl was talking about...and then slam the door in her face. Celestia decided to go with the third option.
She sighed slightly and gave her former student a small smile. "Yes it has my former student...I have to know was I really that obvious?"
Sunset smirked slightly. "Well, to be honest...I kind of cheated. I may have gained a few abilities since coming here. You sounded a bit nervous when you first saw me."
Celestia froze slightly. Telepathy? That was a rare trait among unicorns. But now it made sense. "I see... well I shouldn't be too surprised considering-" The wind was suddenly knocked out of her as she felt Sunset almost slam into her. It took her a moment to realize that the girl was hugging her. "Oh...um..."
"I know...this is awkward isn't it?" Sunset asked.
"Well...I didn't imagine we'd meet under these circumstances," Celestia sighed. "You might as well come in so we can explain ourselves."
Sunset pulled away for a moment. "Wait a minute...you mean it's you and...?" Celestia just smiled as she led her inside.
"Who's at the door sister?" Luna peered around the corner near the kitchen and saw the two of them. "Oh...she found out didn't she?"
"It would seem so," Celestia said. "Sunset, I don't believe you two have properly met."
Sunset couldn't believe it. "So that's really-"
"Yes."
Sunset bowed rather clumsily. "I-It's an honor to finally meet you Your Majesty."
"That won't be necessary," Luna said with a smile. "As far as we're concerned, I am merely a Vice-Principal of Canterlot High, nothing more. It is a pleasure to finally meet you as well Sunset Shimmer. Celestia always spoke highly of you and I hope she did the same while I was...absent."
"Oh uh..."
"...Your hesitation is disturbing..."
"N-No she said nothing bad!" Sunset said quickly but then she saw that Luna was smirking. "Oh...you were messing with me. Speaking of which, where are Principal Celestia and Luna?"
"I think we should sit down before we get into that story," Celestia said as the three of them sat down on the large couch. "As it turns out, apparently this world's Luna wanted to...see what was on the other side."
"Seriously?" Sunset asked. "I didn't think they'd care for that."
"I'm surprised my counterpart even agreed to it," Celestia said. "Needless to say, they apparently made it to Equestria in one piece."
"Let me guess...they ended up in Ponyville?"
"Oh yes."
"Did Twilight freak out?"
"Indeed," Luna replied. "My sister felt it was necessary to come at once, much to her dismay."
Sunset snorted. That sounded like Twilight alright. "And you decided to come here?"
"We figured it was an opportunity to understand each other's worlds better," Celestia said. "I...wasn't anticipating running into you and when I did I became...worried."
"You thought I'd think you were here to take me away?" Sunset guessed.
"How did she-?" Luna began.
"She's telepathic now sister."
"Seriously?" Luna's eyes widened. "But that's...it's a very rare talent even amongst the greatest of mages."
"Well, it's not just telepathy," Sunset said. "When I touch people...I can see into their memories."
The two sisters looked stunned. "This is incredible," Celestia said. "Wait...before...did you-?"
"Oh no, I didn't," Sunset said quickly. "I can control it a little better now. I probably should explain but I'll give you all the condensed version: we found a cave that contained these small geodes and I'm guessing they harness the same power as the Elements."
"Interesting," Luna pondered. "Was this...in the Everfree Forest by chance?"
"Yeah, just like in..." Sunset went quiet for a moment trying to process everything.
"It seems the Elements' reach extends that of Equestria," Celestia concluded. "And it would seem here that Sunset herself has become an Element...but of what I wonder?"
"They didn't have a sign so I have no idea," Sunset said.
"Well, I'm going to head to my room, I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about," Luna said as she got up and left the room.
It was silent for a few moments. "So um...how is Twilight?" Sunset asked.
"She's doing well, all things considered," Celestia said. "She came to a crossroads just recently when it came to her own student."
"Oh that's right, she mentioned that before," Sunset said. "So uh...are you planning on taking another student?"
"Hmm...that's an idea I've pondered for awhile now actually," Celestia said, a finger to her chin. She then smirked slightly. "You wouldn't possibly be asking for me to be your teacher again are you?"
"W-What no!" Sunset almost yelled. "I mean, no I didn't think about it because...well...I kind of blew it the last time." She sighed slightly. "You know...ever since Twilight got me back on the right path I've...felt terrible about what I did and what I said. I really took your teachings and wisdom for granted. I'm so sorry..."
"Honestly, I feel we're both to blame," Celestia said as she put a hand on Sunset's shoulder. "When I saw that you were striving to be better I admit I...saw a bit of my sister in you and as such I became more controlling, even when I told myself I should've been more open-minded. If I had only just talked to you instead of prohibiting you things could've been...different."
Sunset suddenly chuckled. "You know...for awhile I always did think what would've happened if I had stayed as your pupil. Maybe I would've been a princess after all, maybe not...but after everything Twilight did for me, I realize know I probably couldn't have done half the things she accomplished so...maybe this was supposed to happen."
Celestia smiled. "I think it also shows me that not even I can teach someone everything..."
"So um...are we okay now?" Sunset asked.
"I think so," Celestia smiled as the two shared another hug. "And for the record, there was never a time where I was going to come in and snatch you away."
Sunset grinned. "I know...that wasn't your style anyway. So...how long are you two going to be here?"
"I told those two we'd return before sunfall," Celestia said. She looked at the clock and saw it was only after eleven. "Hmm...it almost feels like time here goes much slower..."
"Well...that would give us some time to catch up right?" Sunset asked.
"Indeed, especially since the cat is out of the bag."
"I just can't believe you're letting those two run Equestria."
"It was an off day...besides we pretty much showed them the basics of magic use. It shouldn't be an issue."
"There's just one other thing that's bugging me," Sunset pondered.
"What's that?"
"How the heck did you two drive back here from the school?"
Meanwhile at the school, what was left of the statue outside of Canterlot High stood quiet as time passed. The portal suddenly started to ripple and it turned a red color. The rippling started to increase more and more, a sign that something was coming through. The light grew brighter and brighter until someone finally came through.
"-yooooouuuuuuuuu Summmmeeerrrrrsssssss-!" the woman screamed until she suddenly hit the ground hard. Groaning slightly, the woman looked around slightly before getting to her feet. "...This isn't Maretropolis."
The woman wore mostly purple, purple slacks and a purple jacket which contrasted with her green exotic-looking hair. She looked around and realized the area was completely foreign to her. "I see Matterhorn...you thought you could get rid of me by banishing me to another dimension." The woman started to chuckle which soon broke down into hysterical laughter. "You fools! By ridding me you've doomed this entire world! But I suppose I should be thankful. Now then...there's much to be done! Ahahaha!" The woman laughed as she ran out of the parking lot towards downtown Canterlot.
For the next half hour, Celestia and Sunset conversed about what had been going in Equestria and this world as well. Celestia had been very impressed by what she had seen so far, especially with technology. Sunset couldn't believe her former teacher was able to teach herself to drive a car so easily.
"Well when you've been the princess of Equestria so many generations," Celestia said somewhat smugly. "You tend to pick up on things rather easily."
"Uh-huh...so how's that phone treating you?"
"...I'm working on it..."
Sunset then decided perhaps it was time to get to know the Princess of Night herself. Of course, she brought nothing up about Nightmare Moon and neither did Luna, but then again she was slightly distracted at the moment.
"Are you kidding me!? You own all this!?" Sunset exclaimed as she stared around Luna's room.
"Well, technically it's Vice-Principal Luna's but she never said I couldn't play."
"Wait...what's your username?"
"TheDarKnight1000."
"No way...I've been playing with Luna all this time and she never told me!?"
"Her collection is quite impressive I must say. Now then Sunset Shimmer, as Princess of Equestria, I offer you a challenge...if you can best me in this challenge I promise I will make sure all of Equestria will remember your name: Sunset Shimmer, heroine of worlds!"
Sunset grinned devilishly. "I accept your challenge Princess."
"Then let us begin!"
Celestia helped herself to the fridge as she looked for something to eat. Truthfully, she really did crave a croissant at the cafe and wished she had just stayed and got it. She looked through and saw there was a large jug of orange juice inside and poured herself a glass. "I'll pay her back...eventually." She then saw inside that there was a large chocolate cake, a triple-decker by her guess and it was covered in chocolate icing and Oreo cookies.
Celestia found herself drooling already. "Oh come to mama you sweet thing..." She wasn't going to eat the whole thing but she did cut herself quite the hefty piece. "Again, I'll pay her back."
The first bite was heavenly and she felt like her entire body was going to melt. "I haven't tasted anything this amazing since...when was that sweet convention?"
She took another bite and wondered what Luna and Sunset were up to. Knowing Sunset, she was probably star-stuck that she got to meet Luna. Luna had that effect on others. She went over to Luna's room, the door open this time and as she peeked inside she saw a scene she'd never forget.
"You're going down Princess of the Night!" Sunset yelled as she wore a similar headset to Luna's, the gameplay on the television showing explosions and carnage.
"Ah, you're a worthy challenger Sunset Shimmer!" Luna yelled in return. "But there's so much I can still teach you!"
Celestia just stared at the pair as they continued their game, laughing at one another and cheering when one of them got killed. She then slipped out of the room and went back to the kitchen shaking her head. "Maybe she would've done better as Luna's student," she wondered. She couldn't help but smile a bit. "Now that would've been a nightmare..." |
Hello From The Other Side | Let the Princess Win | Mane-iac had to hand it to Matterhorn, she was wise to get rid of her via portal to a different dimension. But apparently the girl had no idea where she had sent her. "How sloppy of you," Mane-iac thought with amusement. "Oh well, it's my problem now isn't it?"
Considering this place was obviously not Maretropolis and no one was threatening to call the police, she decided it was best to act like a normal citizen, at least for the time being. At worst, people would think the woman needed a major haircut. "I feel the need to stop by the nearest hair salon..."
But they would have to wait. She already had a plan in mind but without her minions or the black market to depend on, she'd have to resort to more basic means, hence her trip to the local department store. But before that, she'd need something to get around in.
Luckily, she managed to find a white van on her way into town. The best part was the fact that the idiot left his keys in the car and the door unlocked. Were people here that confident about their possessions not being stolen? Mane-iac sure wasn't complaining. "Sorry dear, I have to borrow this," she said somewhat sadly as she got into the front seat and started the engine. She shifted into drive and drove off before the owner could come running out and scream at her.
Well, that was the easy part. Now she would have to find all the materials she needed for her new plan. Luckily, the chemical concoction she had been holding onto survived the trip over. She took out the small bottle of concentrated formula. "Oh the things we can do to this town," she chuckled.
Building a bomb was easy if you knew all the components, which you could find anywhere. Again, with her resources stuck back in Maretropolis, she'd have to resort to explosive material such as fertilizer. Lots and lots of fertilizer.
Before she got up, she took a look in the mirror, finally noticing her attire. "Huh...I can't deny it looks good but it's just not...me..." She needed a wardrobe change but she'd worry about that later.
She parked in the front of the store by the front door. Of course, she was probably going to get a ticket but that wasn't her problem was it? Going inside, it was easy to find everything she needed. You needed brains and brawn to be one of Maretropolis' most wanted so she knew exactly what she needed.
After getting all the parts required plus half a dozen small bags of fertilizer, she made her way towards the front door. "Excuse me ma'am, checkout's over here?" Mane-iac looked over to the man at the checkout desk.
"Oh I'm terribly sorry," she said sweetly as she walked over. "Every store is different so I get lost around here."
"That's nice but you need to bring your stuff over here so I can scan it."
"Oh...right...here's the thing," Mane-iac said as she leaned against the table, almost in the man's face. "See I'm afraid coming over here has left me in a bad situation financially and considering all that's in there is going to raise a red flag anyway..." The man had no time to react as her hair grabbed him and slammed his head into the wood, knocking him out. "Oh, really? You'll let me take it for free? You're such a kind person...the city will thank you for this later." She then cackled as she left the building. If anyone had managed to witness the scene, they certainly weren't brave enough to confront the woman.
As soon as she packed everything, she quickly drove off. The police would be notified eventually so for now she'd have to lay low. As she drove further downtown, she passed by the large concert hall and looked over to see a large sign depicting an event taking place tonight at seven.
Mane-iac grinned. "Well, well, well...I think I just found my first target..."
It was about two hours later when Sunset and Luna finally called it quits. "You are certainly a worthy adversary Sunset," Luna declared. "You obviously have much experience."
"Well I'm surprised you're as good as you are and you've only been here only half a day," Sunset said. "Did they create video games over there while I've been gone?"
"Not yet sadly, as least not with this kind of technology," Luna said sadly. "If my counterpart is just as good, one of these days we will have to do battle." Sunset snorted at the idea.
"Are you two finally done?" Celestia asked, who again was in the doorway.
Both of them blushed. "Were we really playing that long?" Luna asked.
"Yes, but I'm glad to see you two are bonding," Celestia replied, smiling. "Luna, I know it may still be early but...I have a strange feeling that we should head back and check on Equestria."
"Oh sister, there's no way those two could have caused any trouble," Luna said with a wave of her hand. "Besides, Twilight can handle things if need be."
"But that's what I worry about," Celestia argued. "What if she finds out it isn't us over there?"
"Wait...Twilight doesn't know you two are over here?" Sunset asked.
"No...Celestia thought she could be clever and pull one over Twilight," Luna said.
"I didn't see the harm in it, considering we weren't going to be gone long," Celestia explained.
"Oh boy...well maybe she's right," Sunset said. "I can take you two back to the school."
Luna sighed. "Alright fine... but what if everything's alright then?"
"Luna..."
"Fine, fine we'll go."
"Just one thing?" Sunset asked. "No offense but um...do you two think you could change into something more...current?" Both sisters looked at one another and started laughing.
Equestria
The sound of the clock ticking echoed throughout the quiet room. Both sisters were sitting on their thrones, looking as bored as ever. "Well...I suppose it was only a matter of time before we were going to run out of things to do," Luna grumbled.
She then heard a snore beside her and saw that her sister had fallen asleep, partly from doing nothing but also because she had a full stomach. Luna sighed. "Figures..." She then got up and decided to take a stroll through the castle grounds.
It certainly was strange to see walking, talking equines about but Luna couldn't deny the world of its beauty and...quietness. Sure, their world was mostly the same but they had buildings, cars, computers, etc. Here it was like they've gone back in time, to a time where life was a lot less...complicated.
Maybe that's why she wanted to come here, to get away from the usual. But alas, even here she has duties to fulfill. Perhaps it may be a boring day to her and her sister, but to the princesses it was probably one of the few off days they had. Now it seemed that she appreciated only having to worry over a high school instead of an entire country.
As she kept walking, she noticed she was being followed. She stopped and noticed the two members of the Lunar Guard standing at attention behind her. "...Have you two always been following me?"
The two ponies looked at one another. "Of course Your Majesty," one of them, a female said. "It's our duty is it not?" While Luna relished in the idea of having her own Guard and having them do whatever she wanted, she didn't like the idea of always being watched.
"Of course..." Luna said. She then studied the guard who had spoken closer. "Take off your helmet."
The pony looked confused as she pulled off her helmet and that's when Luna realized something was different. The pony looked equine but the anatomy was slightly different. Even so she looked...
"Oh my gosh," Luna said, going over and putting her hooves on the pony's cheeks. "You are adorable."
The mare started to blush as the other looked at Luna in confusion. "Um...thank you Your Highness?"
"Oh that's right," Luna remembered. "The princess did say they were known as thestrals...oh I want to take one home with me and snuggle with it." She then cleared her throat. "You'll forgive me..."
"S-Sergeant Sabre ma'am," the thestral stuttered.
"Yes." She looked to the two of them. "I need you two to do something for me."
"Anything Your Majesty," Sabre said.
"My sister and I have to go to Ponyville for a bit. However, the Guard cannot know about this. It's...secret business."
"Okay?"
"Can you arrange us a chariot?"
"At once ma'am." Sabre saluted as she put her helmet back on. "We'll have them meet you in the gardens."
"Thank you." Luna then returned to the throne room where her sister was still sleeping. "Celestia? Wake up, we need to get going." Of course, Celestia only responded with a loud snore. "Seriously sister, wake up!" She tried nudging her but that didn't seem to have anymore effect. She then spotted a vase full of flowers nearby and dragged it over with her magic, tipping it over and dropping the water on her face.
"Agh! TO THE DUNGEON!" Well, apparently she learned the Royal Canterlot Voice rather quickly. "L-Luna?"
"Sorry Tia, the cake really did a number apparently. We have a carriage awaiting us."
"Huh?" Celestia then got to her feet. "Why? Are the princesses back?"
"No, I arranged the carriage."
"You? Why?" She looked at the clock. "It's still kind of early don't you think?"
"Perhaps, but I admit maybe we've stayed here long enough. It's not that I want to leave but..."
"But?"
"Perhaps its just intuition or something magical-related with this place but I feel...slightly uneasy."
"Luna, if you're worried that some national crisis-"
"That isn't it, though yes that would be an issue; I just think perhaps we've had enough fun for today."
Celestia was surprised to hear that coming from her own sister. "Wait, you're not worried the other Luna is playing your-"
"No...but if she scratched anything I will kill her."
The two alicorns then went out to the gardens (after Celestia insisted on writing a small note letting anyone know the two were running an errand) as the midnight blue carriage awaited them. "At least it looks comfortable," Celestia commented as the two went inside.
"Well, what else would you expect from the Lunar Guard?" Luna said quite smugly. "But seriously, I had no idea thestrals could be so cute!"
"You can't take one home...cause then it'll turn into a human," Celestia reminded her as the carriage took off.
"Hmm...yes that is true."
It was only when they were about halfway to Ponyville that Celestia realized something. "Wait a minute, if we land in Ponyville, everyone's going to see us!"
"...Yeah I didn't think of that one thoroughly did I?"
"Don't worry, I have an idea," Celestia said as she opened her window and looked towards the pegasus stallions pulling the carriage. "Excuse me!" The carriage slowed down as the two ponies looked to her. "Sorry to interrupt you but...instead of landing in Ponyville we need you to stop right above Ponyville Castle...like maybe a hundred meters up?" The one pegasus stared at his partner who only shrugged in confusion.
Once they had finally reached Ponyville, they were so high up one would have to crane their neck in order to see them right above the castle. "Wait, are you sure about this?" Luna asked.
"Don't worry sister, we have wings after all so we can just float down," Celestia said. She then opened the door and waved to the two pegasi. "Thank you for the ride!" She then jumped out. Luna just shook her head and followed suit.
"Is it just me or has today been very weird?" one of the pegasi asked.
"Totally weird," the other pegasus nodded.
It wasn't the most graceful landing Princess Celestia would ever have, and maybe it was fortunate that being an alicorn made one immortal (again, pony world physics apparently do not coincide with earth physics) since the landing she made probably would've twisted something. Needless to say, her legs hurt after that.
Luna wasn't as fortunate, deciding to use her sister as a landing pad. "Thank you sister," Celestia said bemused as she lay sprawled out.
"Well you were so confident this was such a good idea," Luna said as she managed to get up. "Well, at least we managed to reach the front door without any unwanted attention.
"Princess Celestia? Princess Luna?" The two of them looked behind them to see Starlight Glimmer staring at them with a large bag of produce.
"I stand corrected," Luna sighed. She then put on a smile. "Starlight Glimmer, what a...surprise to see you."
"Um...right," Starlight said. "Did you two need to see Twilight about something?"
"Well...not exactly," Celestia said. "Alright Celestia, play it cool and she'll suspect nothing..." "We just needed to...see that room again with the mirror but we didn't want to disturb Twilight of course."
"Oh I'm sure she won't mind," Starlight said as she walked up to the door. "I'll just-"
"No," Celestia said, putting a hoof on her shoulder. "She really can't know we're here."
Starlight suddenly looked suspicious. "Alright, what's going on here?"
"Should we just tell her sister?" Luna asked.
Celestia sighed. "I guess we don't have a choice. Starlight, I know we may look like the princesses but-"
"Wait a minute." Starlight's horn suddenly glowed and she appeared to perform some sort of scanning spell. "Wait...no...you're not changelings are you?"
"No," Celestia said, now looking annoyed. "That mirror you saw that goes to another world. We're from that world."
"I knew it!" Starlight almost shouted. "I knew there was something funny going on here! So wait...where are...?"
"They're on the other side," Luna explained.
"Oh...and Twilight doesn't know does she?"
"No and we hope we can keep it that way," Celestia said. "Can we just get to that room please?"
"Alright, I'll show you the way," Starlight sighed. "But if we get caught, I'm not getting thrown under the carriage."
She opened the doors and led the two alicorns inside. "Twilight should be in her office in the library," Starlight said. "And Spike should be over at Rarity's currently so I think the coast should be clear...follow me."
She led them down rows of doors before she found the second to last door on the right. "Here we go."
"Wait, how do you know which one is which?" Luna asked.
"Believe me, I've gotten lost here so many times so I literally marked each door with a marker spell that'll tell me which place is which." She opened the door and went inside. However, as the three walked inside, they suddenly stopped in their tracks.
"Hello Starlight, Princesses." The large white rotating chair that certainly wasn't there before turned which revealed Twilight's presence. She was about to say something more but then realized she put too much oomph into her spin and now she was facing to the left of them. "Wait a minute..." She shifted so she was now looking straight at them. "Ahem...as I was saying...hello ladies. What a surprise to see you all here."
She then got up and walked towards them slowly. "It really is a surprise to see you two again, especially since we just saw each other about six hours ago."
"They just wanted to come see the portal again," Starlight explained.
"Oh really?" Twilight looked at the two suspiciously. "And why is that, 'Princess' Celestia?"
"She knows...or at least she suspects it," Celestia thought. "Time to put those acting lessons to good use." "Before we departed last time, I couldn't help but notice something was...off about the portal and even though I tried to brush it off, the feeling kept nagging me."
Twilight suddenly looked surprised. "Really?" She went over to the portal and studied it closely. "Everything seems in working order. I admit this thing doesn't get used very often so..." She then chuckled. "Oh I see what you're doing...you're trying to throw me off with an excuse. But why don't you two tell me why you're really here?"
"You know...um...I'm just gonna get going now, bye!" Starlight said, teleporting quickly before Twilight decided to stop her.
"...I'll be having a word with her later," Twilight said. "Anyway, you two better start explaining yourselves."
"I don't appreciate your tone Twilight," Celestia said. "You sound like you suspect us of something."
"Of course I do!" Well, she wasn't one hundred percent certain...maybe ninety-six. "You two switched places with the princesses didn't you!?"
"Now why would we do that?" Luna asked.
"I...I don't know!" Twilight yelled. "But I pick up on the little things you know. When you two left, it was Celestia without the crown who used the teleportation spell. Now how would Principal Celestia know that spell? The truth is she didn't and it was Princess Celestia who did the spell."
"I'm not seeing the relevance here," Celestia said.
Twilight was now gritting her teeth and ready to scream. They were definitely cool-headed, much more than she imagined. "I suppose they have Princess Celestia to thank for that," she grumbled in her head. Then all of a sudden a smirk came to her face as it finally hit her. That was it.
"Alright...I may not have concrete evidence that a switch was made...but I can still prove you two are in fact Principals Celestia and Luna!" She smiled as a number of books suddenly appeared in her possession. "These books contain a lot of information about the princesses, information you two should already know." She then grinned. "So if I'm wrong about this, then it should be easy right?"
"You're...going to quiz us?" Luna said, her bravado started to slip.
"Of course. You two know how much I love quizzes...or do you?" She then opened one of the books. "So...what do you say?"
"I think this is rather ridiculous," Luna said. "We don't have time to answer-"
"We accept."
"What?" Luna stared at her sister, her look of determination never fading. "Celestia, you can't be serious!?"
"Oh just humor her Luna," Celestia said. "Like she said, she loves quizzes." Luna could only facehoof horribly.
"Great!" Twilight said happily. She then looked through her book. "Okay, first question. This is an easy one: what is the name of Princess Celestia's pet?"
"Philomena of course," Celestia said. Thank goodness for notes.
"...Okay, maybe too easy," Twilight grumbled slightly. "Okay, next question: what's Luna's favorite cake?"
"Um..." Luna thought for a moment. "Black Forest?"
"..." Twilight suddenly tossed the book across the room. "Okay, those were just lucky guesses. Now we're going to go a little bit more current: Luna, you have to answer this one yourself: when we dealt with the Tantabus before, do you remember why that creature was created in the first place?" She then smirked at her. "Better yet, do you even know what a Tantabus is?"
Luna scoffed. "Of course I know what a Tantabus is..." However, she didn't know the answer to that question. Well, if there was one thing she was good at in school it was throwing out answers. "It's because...well...do I really have to say it?"
"Yes! You do!" Twilight glared at her.
"Is this what happened to you Luna?" Luna thought to herself. "Is that what caused you to turn evil?" She sighed. "Fine, I don't know. I don't know because I'm not Princess Luna and she's not Princess Celestia. I'm tired of playing this game so can we just go home now?" Celestia just shook her head disappointingly.
Twilight froze for a second. This...this wasn't how she imagined it would be ending. "Oh come on! At least put a little more effort into it!" Well, this wasn't as much fun as she thought. She sighed. "Look...I'm not...angry I just...who's idea was it in the first place?"
"Technically it was their idea," Celestia said. "I don't think she meant any harm in it."
"Well she could've told me and saved me all the stress," Twilight grumbled. "Still, I guess I can't really blame you two, not completely anyway. But why didn't you two tell me?"
"We thought if we could get away with it without you knowing we would," Celestia said, bowing her head slightly. "We're sorry..."
Twilight looked uncomfortable. "This is...kind of weird. Having you two bowing and apologizing to me. Well, I suppose we can go look for them on the other side. Do you know where they are?"
"Well, if they didn't trash the car then hopefully they're at our house," Luna said.
"Wait a minute...you let them into your house willingly!?" Twilight almost yelled.
"Considering we're pretty much all the same I don't think it's as bad as it sounds," Celestia said calmly. "Then again, if they broke anything..."
"I can see you look worried so we'll just head over there right away. Follow me." Twilight was about to step into the portal when her muzzle hit the glass. "Huh?" She tapped the mirror slightly. "This can't be right...the portal should be open."
"I think I now understand your uneasiness dear sister," Celestia whispered.
"Oh no, no no no nonononononono! Twilight shrieked as she went around the portal. "This can't be happening! This is absolutely the worst time for this thing to break! We need those two back to lower the sun and raise the moon."
"You know they taught us to do that..." Luna said.
"That's not the point! If something happens in Equestria, we need Princess Celestia and Princess Luna!" Twilight took a deep breath. "Okay, no need to panic, I'll just disassemble everything and figure out the problem that way."
"Um...is the mirror supposed to be turning red?" Celestia asked.
"Huh?" Twilight looked at the mirror and saw the glass turning a blood red. "No...it really shouldn't be doing that..." Suddenly the portal opened and the three of them felt themselves get sucked in. "No it's really not supposed to do this!" Twilight screamed as she was pulled inside.
The two alicorns tried to grab hold of something but even with their strength they were still being pulled in. "Hold on Luna!" Celestia managed to grab her with a wing. "We have to go in there! We can't just leave Twilight behind!"
"Are you kidding me!?" Luna yelled back as books started to fly around the room. "How do we know that isn't a portal to Hell!?"
"Oh for crying out loud Luna, enough with the damn video game-!" Suddenly a book hit her straight in the head, causing Celestia to lose her grip around the bookshelf as the two were then sucked into the portal. Once they went through, the portal closed once again, leaving the room a complete mess.
There was then a knock on the door. "Twilight?" Starlight opened the door and looked inside, suddenly gawking at the entire mess. "Oh great...am I gonna have to report alicorn on alicorn violence...?" |
Hello From The Other Side | Annnnnd We're Stuck | Princess Celestia wasn't sure if she was more surprised by how good a driver Sunset was or the car she drove. "This car looks expensive," she commented as she sat in the passenger seat while Luna sat in the back.
"It...wasn't cheap," Sunset said as she took a right towards the school.
"You know, I was wondering what happened to the money in the Treasury," Celestia commented with a small smirk. "Quite a bit of it was missing after you left."
"That's...um..."
"Well as long as you're happy with it," Celestia said contently. "And I hope you have good insurance."
Once they finally reached the parking lot, the three of them got out and made their way towards the statue. "You know Sunset," Luna began. "It's not too late. Now is a good time as any if you wish to come back to visit Equestria."
Sunset froze in her tracks. The idea had come to her plenty of times in the past, especially whenever she passed by the portal. Her one obstacle was finally out of the way so why was she still hesitating? "I want to, I really do," she said, looking to both princesses. "It's just...well I wouldn't feel good about leaving my friends behind. I'd have to let them know personally."
"We understand," Celestia nodded. She went over and gave her former student a hug. "I'm sure it's been said before but I will say it again: you are always welcome to come visit."
"I promise you won't have to wait long," Sunset smiled. "I could always come later tonight too you know."
"I think we'd like that," Luna said. "After all, there's much more we'd like to know about this place." She then hesitated, not sure how to say her goodbyes. Sunset grinned slightly as she went up and gave Luna a hug as well, much to her surprise. "I guess this is goodbye for now..." she added, blushing a bit in embarrassment.
Celestia turned around towards the portal. "I suppose it's time for us-" She stopped and her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Something's wrong..."
"What do you mean?" Sunset asked.
"I knew my powers would be diminished coming here but...I can still make out the magical currents around the portal." And something was definitely off. She went up to the portal and reached out with her hand, only to touch solid granite. "It's as I feared," Celestia said gravely. "The portal has been closed."
"What!?" Luna and Sunset both yelled.
"But this doesn't make any sense," Sunset said as she went up and put her hands against the side of the statue. "Why would it stop working like that?"
"Luna, you can sense it too correct?" Celestia asked.
"Yes...it's very faint but..."
Celestia nodded. "That's the problem. Luna and I are perceptive towards magical currents, just like Discord can detect magical imbalances, and this portal should be overflowing with magical current. It's almost as if the other side has been cut off."
"You mean in Equestria," Sunset confirmed. "Maybe she took the portal she has offline? She told me the one in the Crystal Empire only opens every thirty moons."
"Perhaps..." Celestia said. "Wait..." She then backed up slightly. "Something's coming..."
The three of them backed away as the portal began to glow red again. "That's definitely never happened before..." Sunset commented.
The three of them braced themselves for whatever was about to come through. Five seconds later, as something finally did come through, Sunset could only stare in surprise. "Twilight?"
Princess Twilight groaned as she got up to her feet slowly, rubbing her head. "Sunset? Is that-?" She looked towards Celestia and Luna and her expression suddenly soured. "Oh. Hello Princesses."
It wasn't long before two more people came through the portal and it was hard for Sunset to believe she was seeing double. The two women opened their eyes and looked around. "Are we home?" Vice-Principal Luna asked.
"Oh thank goodness," Principal Celestia sighed in relief. "That trip was worse than the first time."
"Wait a minute," Sunset said. She was thankful the two pairs of women weren't wearing similar outfits. "How did you guys get back here? I thought the portal was closed."
Twilight jumped slightly as her words brought her back to reality. "Oh no!" She went back up to the portal and just as she feared, it was closed once again. "This is really bad!"
"Twilight, what's going on?" Sunset asked.
Twilight suddenly laughed bitterly. "What's going on? Oh I'll tell you what's going on." She turned around and the anger on her face caused Sunset to flinch. "Princess Celestia and Luna thought it would be such a great idea to switch places with their counterparts here just so they could go sightseeing. Normally I wouldn't have an issue with that but they didn't feel the need to tell me!" She glared at the two princesses and Sunset was surprised to see the two of them hanging their heads.
"And now because of this great idea we're all now stuck here and Equestria has three of their leaders missing!" Twilight spat. "Let's not forget the fact that now there's no one formally in charge of Canterlot and no one to raise the sun and moon! But hey, it was worth it right!?"
"Twilight..." Sunset said.
"No, she's right Sunset," Princess Celestia said. She looked at her other former student. "It was irresponsible of me to do this without you knowing. If there's anyone solely to blame, it is me. I truly am sorry Twilight..."
Twilight's mask crumbled and her face drooped as she let out a sigh. "No, don't be sorry, I just really needed to let that out. Now's not the time for us to be bickering though." She leaned against the wall and thought for a moment. "There's a slight time difference between worlds so even if it takes awhile to get back, we may still get home just in time..."
"I just want to know why the portal stopped working," Sunset asked. "And how did you two get through anyway?"
"The portal opened by itself and it sucked us in," Twilight said. "It's never done that before... but as for why it's not working I may know why."
"Well, we're certainly all ears," Luna said.
"Sunset, do you have paper and pen?" Twilight asked. "This might be easier to explain on paper."
"Sure." Sunset went through her bag and got out a notebook and pen and handed it to her.
"Thank you." Twilight took the pen and drew a straight line with two dots at the end marked A and B. Everyone gathered around and watched her. "Okay, let's pretend dot A is Equestria and dot B is this world. The line is represented as the portal between these two worlds. More specifically, dot A is the mirror in the Crystal Empire." She drew two small circles above and below the line. "Now let's say hypothetically there were two other dimensions and they shared some resemblances just like here and Equestria. Let's say a connection is made via these two dimensions." She then drew a line connecting the two circles. "Now do you see the issue here?"
"The lines intersect," Celestia said.
"Exactly. Again, this is just a theory but I think somehow these two streams as we're going to call them crossed and what happens when you run into an intersection?"
"Oh I see what you're saying," Sunset said. "So its possible something may have gotten caught in the intersection and wounded up here instead of where they were supposed to go."
"So why did the portal close then?" Princess Luna asked.
Twilight looked down in embarrassment. "Actually...that's my fault. When I created my portal I installed a...well I guess you could call it a safety feature, in case something like this happened. As I said, the connection is a straight line between points. If something disturbs that connection, it becomes severed to prevent anyone else from coming through."
"Oh I see," Luna said. "The foreign object coming through is like a contagion and the portal runs a quarantine procedure which is only lifted when the foreign object is eradicated."
"That's...one way to put it, yes," Twilight replied.
"If that's true, then how did you three manage to get through to this side?" Princess Celestia asked.
"That I'm not so sure of," Twilight replied, looking puzzled. "It's possible since I'm the Element of Magic I was able to...'override the protocol' as Luna would put it."
"Okay, so we need to find out who came through the portal and find a way to send them back," Sunset said. "Shouldn't be too difficult right?" She got weird looks in response.
"Well, it's partly our fault that we got you all in this mess," Celestia said. "So we'll help anyway we can."
"We're most appreciative of that," Princess Celestia nodded. "So...where to look first?"
Suddenly, they heard the sound of sirens. "I'd say that's a good place to start," Luna said.
With six people now, Sunset's car was a little cramped inside but they managed to get into downtown without much incident. They parked nearby a department store which was currently surrounded by police cars.
There was a small group of people outside witnessing the entire scene as the six of them went over to look for themselves. "What happened?" Twilight asked.
"Shoplifting," a man said. "Apparently some crazy woman came in and stole a whole bunch of stuff like fertilizer and all that. The cashier said the woman knocked him out but get this: he says she did it with her hair. The guy must've really gotten knocked out or something..."
The group glanced at one another and then Sunset gestured for them to go over by one of the walkway benches. "Sounds like we found our person," Sunset said.
"He said the woman used her hair to knock the guy out?" Twilight asked. She thought for a moment and her eyes widened. "Oh no..."
"What, what is it?" Sunset asked. "You know who it is?"
"Well...I think," Twilight said. "But it's kind of hard to believe."
"Twilight, after what's been going on for the last couple months I don't think you even need to say that," Sunset deadpanned.
"Ain't that the truth..." Celestia muttered.
"Alright well, a while ago in Equestria, the girls and I traveled to this world inside a comic book. We became a group of ponies known as the Power Ponies."
"Oh yeah, I remember seeing those comics back then," Sunset nodded.
"Anyway, we faced off against a villain known as the Mane-iac who fits that exact description the cashier made."
"Crazy and has magical hair," Princess Celestia said. "Yep, that sounds like something that would be written in Equestria..."
"Wait a minute, so you're saying this person escaped from a comic book and somehow managed to end up here?" Princess Luna asked.
"I don't think so necessarily," Twilight said. "The events that took place in that world were based on the comic book that Spike had. Who's to say there isn't a dimension where a place like Maretropolis actually exists?"
"So we're going against a supervillain," Sunset groaned. "Well, I can't say it's the weirdest foe we've ever faced. Should we gather up the girls?"
"I think so," Twilight replied. "We need to find out what the Mane-iac is up to and fast."
Once they managed to gather up all the girls (after of course they switched cars since Twilight was having a hard time being scrunched up next to her mentor and her mentor's counterpart) and meeting back at Celestia and Luna's house, it took a bit to get everyone back on track due to the girls finding out that that Celestia and Luna were actually royalty. Rarity was the worst of them all. "You have no idea what a honor this is," Rarity said who had taken Princess Celestia's hands into hers. "We're very thankful to have a friend like Twilight."
"W-Well we're just glad she's been able to help," Princess Celestia said, smiling awkwardly.
Rainbow thought this was the coolest thing ever while thankfully Fluttershy and Applejack were a little more controlled in their reactions. Twilight was definitely intrigued. "So...they're like goddesses in your world?" she asked her counterpart.
"To some...yes," Princess Twilight grimaced. "But please don't treat them that way."
And Pinkie...well she acted in the most appropriate Pinkie way. "Oh my gosh this is amazing! It's like you two are twins...wait does that mean you're quadruplets? Does that even happen like that at birth? Who cares, we should totally have a big counterpart party! Ooh Twilight, why don't you invite us from the other side as well!?"
"No!" Princess Twilight said sharply. "Can we please get back on track?"
Sunset managed to explain everything that had happened and surprisingly the girls found this much harder to believe. "So let me get this straight darling," Rarity said. "You're saying some woman in major need of a hair salon came from a world full of superheroes and somehow managed to get caught between dimensions and ended up here and that's why you three are now stuck here?"
"Pretty much," Princess Twilight replied.
"That's awesome!" Rainbow asked. "I can't believe the Mane-iac is here! I'd totally ask for her autograph if she wasn't trying to kill me."
"So this Rainbow Dash likes comics I take it?" Princess Luna asked.
"Pft, you kidding, I have a full drawer of comics!" Rainbow bragged.
"Wait a minute, you call me an egghead for reading history books but it's okay for you to have comics!?" Twilight almost snapped.
"First of all, history books are boring."
"Well, Ah've heard crazier things happen and lately all it's ever been is crazy," Applejack commented. "So what're we gonna do then?"
"Rainbow can probably back me up on this but obviously the woman is psychotic, meaning she takes pleasure in chaos," Princess Twilight said. "Huh...reminds me of someone else I know..." "Apparently she stole some stuff from a department store. Fertilizer, pieces of metal, stuff like that."
"Oh well that's easy to figure out," Rainbow said. "She's building a bomb."
"A bomb!?" Everyone cried out.
"Well, it makes sense," Applejack added. "Fertilizer is probably the cheapest and least suspicious product to buy but whoa nelly is it explosive."
"A-And you want us to deal with this?" Fluttershy asked. "Shouldn't we call the police?"
"I doubt they'd believe us," Sunset said. "And when you mention the world 'bomb' in a sentence sure it gets their attention but if we have no proof of such a thing we'll be in serious trouble."
"I also think if we did that it would tip her off," Princess Twilight said. "She doesn't know about us, although she may think we're the Power Ponies in human form if she happens to recognize us."
"Then all we need to do is find out where she's going to strike," Luna said. "Is there anything going on tonight?"
"Oh, the Canterlot Orchestra is performing tonight at the downtown concert hall," Pinkie said casually. "Seven o'clock if I'm not mistaken. Oh, and Octavia's going to be there too!"
"Makes sense," Rainbow said. "She'd target a place with a large amount of people in it."
"Okay, it's worth a shot," Princess Twilight said. "I don't know if we'll be able to get in but I have a plan. Rarity, you wouldn't by chance have any dresses perfect for the occasion would you?"
"Do you even have to ask darling?" Rarity winked.
"Okay, we have about three hours. We'll head over to Rarity's and I'll go into detail how we'll stop the Mane-iac. Any questions?"
There were none and the girls headed back to their cars and headed back to Rarity's house. Before Rarity left however, she was then stopped by Celestia and Luna. "Rarity, I was just thinking," Celestia said. "I'm not saying Twilight's plan won't work but I think Luna and I have come up with a plan B just in case." She then whispered her plan into Rarity's ear.
"Oh my...well if you think that's wise then I'm more than happy to help." Rarity's eyes suddenly glittered. "And I know just the person who can help us." |
Hello From The Other Side | One Word: Rarity | Once everyone arrived at Rarity's house, Princess Twilight went into her plan: there would be two groups, one with her and both princesses to go after Mane-iac while the rest formed the other group and would look for the bomb. She was certain that the villain would be in the area since as Rainbow put it, "Villains love having a front-row seat." Sunset was slightly disappointed that she wouldn't be able to work with her former teacher but Twilight assured her if they managed to find the bomb and it couldn't be defused in time, they'd need all the help they can get to evacuate everyone.
Rarity's part was to find the appropriate wardrobe for everyone. After all, one had to look their best, even in an impending crisis. Showing off her variety of clothing that she had in mind, everyone was content but again Sunset was confused. "So why am I dressing up as a chauffeur?" she asked.
"Because we need a driver and I managed to get a hold of someone who owes me a favor," Rarity said simply. "Besides, I think the look would suit you."
It was about an hour before the show began that the girls began to get dressed. At least for the three princesses they were used to running around in high heels and the dresses were short enough to avoid being tripped on. It wasn't what they had in mind but as Twilight knew, it was hard to argue with Rarity.
Shortly before they were to leave, a large black limousine came up to the edge of Rarity's driveway. The man was the burly type but he seemed rather cheery when he was talking to Rarity once she came out and spoke to him. "On second thought, I think I'm okay with this idea," Sunset commented from the window.
Soon everyone made their way towards the car, all except Rarity, Celestia, and Luna. "I actually need to run a few errands before we go downtown," Rarity explained. "We'll meet you there later on."
"Oh Luna, before you go..." Princess Luna said.
"What is it?" Luna asked.
"I thought it best to bring this to your attention but..." Princess Luna glanced behind her for a moment before she leaned in and whispered, "There's the possibility you may have to put out a restraining order on Rainbow Dash in the future..." Luna then left with a disturbed look on her face.
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were both quite impressed with the layout of the car. "I think this is actually more comfortable than the carriages back home," Celestia said. "I am kind of curious what kind of favor that man asked for Rarity."
The window in front rolled down and Sunset popped her head inside. "Everyone comfortable?" she asked.
"Yep!" Everyone else replied.
"Huh, ya know Rarity was right, the look does suit ya," Applejack smiled.
Sunset blushed slightly as she tipped her cap a bit lower. "I guess so...I've never driven one of these before so..."
"Well Rarity wanted me to tell you 'not a scratch darling'," Fluttershy reminded her.
"Oh don't worry, we're quite aware of how good a driver Sunset is," Princess Luna said.
"I'm closing this window now."
They made their way downtown and with the current traffic it took them about half an hour before they finally reached the concert hall. Sunset dropped them off before taking the car over to valet parking.
"Did Rarity even say how much the tickets were?" Rainbow asked as the group got in line.
"I think she said twelve dollars," Twilight replied.
Rainbow looked annoyed. "The show better be worth it."
Meanwhile, it was only about ten minutes before show time and Octavia was tuning her cello on stage along with her colleagues. It was a big moment for her, as with any concert, but to actually be performing with the Canterlot Orchestra was the opportunity of a lifetime. If she played her part well (a silly statement to say but she couldn't deny that she was nervous), there was the possibility that she'd be able to stay on and continue on with the orchestra. If not, hopefully someone in the audience would at least take notice for her. A scholarship to the Manehattan School of Arts would be most welcome as well.
Her phone vibrated next to her and she sighed. She only had the phone on her in case of an emergency but she was hoping no one would be contacting her tonight. Mom and Dad had already wished her luck so it couldn't be them. She picked up her phone and looked at the text.
Heyy just wanted to wish you luck tonight I got a surprise for you
Octavia smiled slightly. Typical Vinyl Scratch. She at least had an idea of what that surprise could be.
Hmm sounds rather nice. You better be here right now to see me or else I'll be most displeased!
Vinyl didn't respond but Octavia had a good feeling the DJ was probably grinning to herself. If all went well tonight she would definitely be in a good mood and willing to...celebrate with her dear friend.
By the time Twilight and the others got in, the show had already started, Tchaitrotsky's Waltz of the Flowers Op. 71 playing in the background. "Sheesh, took long enough," Rainbow complained.
"Alright, we're in so now what?" Applejack asked.
"Celestia, Luna, and I are going to check the upper floors to see wherever Mane-iac might be hiding," Princess Twilight said. "You guys check around the entire room to see where the bomb could be. She could've put it underneath any single chair."
"That's a lot of chairs though," Pinkie commented.
"Hence why you're the bigger group," Princess Twilight said. "I don't know where Rarity and Principals Celestia and Luna are but I hope they get here soon."
"We don't have much time," Celestia said. "We might as well get started."
"How are you three going to get past security though?" Twilight asked.
"We...may have a few cards up our sleeves," Princess Twilight responded.
Pinkie snorted. "Silly Twilight, you're not wearing any sleeves." Everyone groaned at the statement.
"Alright, once Sunset gets here we'll fill her in," Rainbow said. "Time to save the day once again!"
The two groups went their separate ways. Twilight and the two princesses found a set of stairs that led to the upper balconies. "'A few cards up our sleeves'?" Luna asked. "Do explain that one Twilight."
"Well surely you three can use magic right?" Twilight asked as she glanced around for any guards.
"We...actually never tried," Celestia shrugged slightly. "But I imagine if we confront Mane-iac it would be nice to have."
"Huh," Luna commented. "And here I thought you meant use our appealing looks to...how do they say it? Wrap anyone around our fingers?"
Meanwhile, the girls were spread across the room, acting as if they were looking for a seat but were trying to look under any of the chairs if they could. Luckily, the lights had been dimmed so anyone not paying attention to the performance wouldn't have noticed them so easily. Rainbow looked over to where she saw Applejack and got her attention with a thumbs up sign, asking if she found anything. Applejack shook her head.
The other girls spent the next ten minutes, looking around as best they could but had similar luck. Finally they regrouped near the exit. "Nothing huh?" Rainbow asked.
"If she hid in here, she hid it well," Pinkie said. "Even my Pinkie Sense wasn't picking up on anything."
It was at that moment that Sunset finally made it inside. "By the looks on your faces I can't tell whether you found anything or not," she said.
"Unfortunately not," Twilight sighed. "I was just thinking though, would she detonate it in the middle of the show?"
"Hmm...well honestly if we go by movie standards, they usually wait for the climatic moment," Sunset said. "The show is a little more than an hour right? We should just take a breather and rethink this."
"Well, if you say so," Fluttershy said.
They managed to find a full row unattended and they all sat down. "Seriously, where the hell is Rarity?" Rainbow asked. "I'm about tempted to call her now."
"Knowing her, it's gotta be important," Applejack said. "Well, to her anyway."
They went silent for a few moments, letting the music reach their ears which would hopefully calm them down. That's when Twilight heard it. It was very faint, but she could hear a beeping sound. "Girls?" she then said hesitantly.
"What?" Sunset asked.
Twilight didn't respond and instead got out of her chair and got on her knees, looking underneath her chair. "Um...I got good news and bad news..."
"What's the good news?" Applejack was hesitant to ask.
"The good news is that there's definitely a bomb in this building." Twilight then came back up with a small laptop in her hand. "The bad news is that I think I just found the timer..."
Princess Twilight realized too late the small problem with her planning: she really should have brought walkie-talkies with her, even if someone had to buy them. They provided a quicker response time than phones, which again she now realized she nor the princesses did not have. Their only hope now was to find Mane-iac and make her tell them where the bomb was.
They had looked all around but Mane-iac could not be found. One would think a woman with hair so long would stand out. "We're running out of hiding places," Celestia commented.
"Then there's only one other place to look," Twilight said as she looked around. The building had a flat top so there had to be an access way to the roof. "It'd be easier to teleport but it only works if you know the destination you're going to. And I don't think teleportation really works in this world."
"Wait," Luna said. "Surely there'd be an elevator right?"
"It's possible," Celestia said.
Luna pointed to a door with a sign that said "Staff Only". "That looks like a good place to start."
They went through the door and much to their surprise there was an elevator, which was probably used by maintenance crews from time to time. "Well that was easy," Twilight said. However, she regretted her words instantly when she realized the elevator required a key.
"Who would've thought technology could be this complicated?" Luna groaned.
Suddenly they heard the door open behind them. "Excuse me, you're not supposed to be back here." They turned around and saw a young man dressed in formal attire. He didn't look like security but judging by the tag he was wearing he had to be part of the building's staff.
"I got this," Celestia murmured. "We're so sorry," she said out loud. "We were just looking for the bathroom and I guess we got lost." She went over to the man and casually put a hand on his shoulder and turned him around. "You'll have to forgive us of course..." Judging by the man's reaction, he didn't seem to be too upset by the sudden intrusion.
While she was talking, Luna looked around and spotted a vase on one of the tables. Twilight managed to follow her gaze and when she saw Luna step toward it, panic filled her voice. "Luna...no..."
Luna didn't listen and grabbed the vase. With the man's back towards her, she crept up to him and raised the vase before smashing it against the man's head, knocking him out.
Celestia stared at the unconscious man before staring at her sister. "I had it taken care of..."
"Luna what did you do!?" Twilight almost yelled.
"What?" Luna asked. "Someone had to do it and considering I've already done enough bad things in my life I figured better me than you two." She then grabbed the key around the man's neck. "Besides, we need this don't we?" Twilight and Celestia glanced at one another. Luna was going to get a serious talk once they got home.
Luna inserted the key into the panel and pushed the button which glowed white. Soon the doors opened with a chime and the two got in. Twilight pushed the button for the roof and the doors closed before the elevator jolted upward.
"Just be ready for anything," Celestia said. "Twilight, how exactly do you use your powers here?"
"I...don't know?" Twilight replied. "It just...kind of happens..."
"Wonderful," Luna said.
The elevator soon stopped and once the doors opened they were met with a cool breeze. They went outside and realized just how quiet it was. Near the edge of the roof in front of them, they saw someone waiting for them. As they approached slowly, the person started clapping their hands together.
"Well, well, well," the Mane-iac said, the grin on her apparent. She was wearing an outfit that Twilight recognized the last time the two of them met. While she now appeared human, her hair certainly hadn't changed in length or volatility. "Fate is a funny thing sometimes isn't it? I should've known you'd come and find me Matterhorn."
"Sorry to disappoint you Mane-iac but I'm not her, though we have met once before," Twilight said.
Mane-iac cackled. "Disappointed? Well, I admit perhaps I am a little bit. I wanted to see the look on my greatest foe's face when my little plan goes into fruition!"
"Is this what you take pleasure from?" Celestia asked. "The need to blow up innocent civilians?"
Mane-iac laughed even harder. "Oh look, Professor Celestia as well! Well...okay maybe not considering the circumstances...but who said anything about blowing up anyone?"
"We know there's a bomb involved!" Twilight snapped. "And we'll find it before you can detonate it!"
"Hmm...very perceptive..." Mane-iac said. "You and Matterhorn do share a lot in common...I suppose my paper trail made it a bit obvious. But again...who said anything about blowing up anything?"
There was a long pause. "Just what are you up to?"
"Ooh the blue one finally gets it!" Mane-iac grinned. "Yes, there is a bomb and while it will detonate, destruction is not my intention." She pulled out a small flask? "See this? This is a small concentrated formula of my own design, one I'm very proud of. You see, once the bomb goes off, this liquid will be turned into vapor and...well let's just say once our friends downstairs get a whiff of it things are going to get a little...crazy..."
The three of them stared at the woman in horror. "It's a drug!?" Twilight snapped.
"Oh, it's much more than that," Mane-iac said. She then turned around to face the night sky and opened her arms wide. "The formula will cause unprovoked chaos, fear, and insanity amongst all individuals and while I admit it's only a small amount that I was able to take with me, I think it'll leave quite the impact on this city, don't you think?"
"You're going to tell us where that bomb is right now!" Celestia yelled.
"It's too late," Mane-iac said. "Even if you killed me, the process has already begun. See, I don't have a detonator on me, which I admit offers me no leverage but then again...I always did want to finish things off with a bang. I'm sure by now your friends have already discovered this themselves..."
The laptop that Twilight was staring at only had one program running and it appeared to be recording the sounds of the orchestra playing before them. "Wait, you said detonator but all I'm seeing is soundwaves," Rainbow commented.
"I could be very wrong about this," Twilight said. "But I think this bomb has been programmed to detonate possibly at the end of this concert."
"You mean we can't disconnect it?" Sunset asked.
"I could try," Twilight said. "But I have to be very careful about this."
"Wait, what's that note on the side there?" Pinkie asked.
"It says... Aase's Death," Fluttershy read.
"Wait...isn't that the song playing right now?" Sunset asked.
"Oh no..." Twilight said.
"You see, I thought it only clever to detonate this little beauty when everyone least expects it, in a state of bliss," Mane-iac said. "I believe I chose...ah yes the song that's currently playing right now." She glanced at a watch in her possession and her grin only widened.
"And it seems as if you're all running out of time," she said. "Well, since you three are up here you'll all be spared but your friends...well I'm afraid it's too late for them. Once the song reaches its conclusion its game over."
"No!" Twilight made her way towards the elevator but Celestia stopped her. "Celestia I can't-!"
"You know we won't be able to save them in time," Celestia said calmly. "But that doesn't mean we won't find a way to reverse this."
"Hmm...I sense a deal coming," Mane-iac said. "That's right, I may have a cure in mind...but of course you'd have to follow my rules. But before that, why don't we just savor these last precious seconds. Oh the sounds of screams always seem to soothe my heart..."
Twilight wanted to hurt her so badly, magic or not but she knew she had no choice. "I'm so sorry girls..." she thought. "We completely underestimated her..."
The concert hall was large so even on the roof they were able to hear the music playing. The music was decrescendoing slowly and it was only a matter of seconds before the end would come. And that was when the unexpected happened.
Just when it seemed everything went quiet, a loud beat filled the room below them. Mane-iac could only stare in shock. "W-What's going on? What's the meaning of this!?"
The sound seemed to hit Twilight's ears and even she was stunned. However, a grin came to her face as a slight giggle escaped her lips. "One word: Rarity..."
The audience and especially the players on stage were very confused as to what was going on. As if that wasn't enough, a fog machine had been turned on as fog slowly crept onto the stage and the doors in the back suddenly opened.
Out of the shadows came Rarity in a beautiful elegant dress and high heels, her keytar strapped around her neck as she played the song's opening tune, sashaying back and forth as she gave a sultry gaze towards the audience. Right behind her Principal Celestia was wearing sunglasses which she casually took off as she wore a mesmerizing blue dress while carrying a microphone and Vice-Principal Luna who oddly was wearing a tuxedo.
The girls could only stare in shock. "Oh my God..." Sunset said.
"We're screwed," Rainbow said.
We're talking away
I don't know what
I'm to say I'll say it anyway
Today's another day to find you
Shying away
I'll be coming for your love, okay?
"Wow, Celestia's got quite the pipes on her!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"No, this can't be happening," Mane-iac said, almost pacing on the roof. "I had this perfectly planned out. There's no way you could've-"
"That's the thing," Celestia said quite smugly. "We didn't know, but apparently our counterparts were prepared nonetheless. Maybe it's you that underestimated us."
"Agh, it doesn't matter!" Mane-iac snapped. "You can't stop the bomb from detonating! The second the music stops its over! I won't lose!"
"I think we've heard enough," Luna said angrily as she stepped forward. Twilight wasn't quite sure how it happened, but in the next few seconds, the Mane-iac was suddenly blasted backwards by some sort of force and fell off the roof, screaming.
The three of them looked on in horror as Luna looked at her hands. "Whoops..."
Twilight went over to the edge of the roof and looked down. "It's okay, she fell in a dumpster. I hope the garbage cushioned her fall." It seemed only fitting.
Octavia wasn't sure what was going on but as soon as the beat first started, she knew what was going on. "Vinyl..." she thought with a slight frown. Even stranger was the fact of seeing not only Rarity but Principals Celestia and Luna.
Luna suddenly made her way over to the conductor and tried to take his baton. The older man wasn't so willing to give it up until Luna gave him a stare that would quell a Doberman and he let go of it. The conductor huffed as he stomped off stage.
Luna was ready to take control and at that moment Octavia thought, "The bloody hell with it..." as she started playing with the music, her colleagues at first staring at her and soon joining in.
"Okay, we need to focus now," Sunset said. "Twilight, please tell me you can break into this thing."
Twilight spent the next few moments inputting code to try to crack through the software's security. "It's...no good. Whatever the Mane-iac's using it's pretty encrypted."
"Well, maybe we can disable it another way, like with a virus?" Applejack suggested.
"Right, like I have a USB full of malware with me," Twilight grumbled.
"Um...does that computer have internet capability?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yeah, it's running on Wi-Fi somewhere," Twilight replied.
"Try...um...CrunchySauce.com," Fluttershy said softly. Everyone stared at her. "It's a porn site that's known to give your computer viruses and stuff..."
"Uh..." Rainbow said.
Fluttershy rolled her eyes. "I had to borrow my brother's laptop one time and he forgot to delete his history page."
"Well, it's a worth a shot," Sunset said.
"Right...volume muted..." Twilight grimaced.
Oh the things that you say
Is it live or
Just to play my worries away
You're all the things I've got to remember
You're shying away
I'll be coming for you anyway
Celestia was making her way around the stage and stood behind Luna as she glanced in her direction. Luna managed to look back and smiled slightly before giving her a wink. The audience was certainly intrigued by the performance as they weren't getting up, which the two women weren't sure was a good thing or not.
Twilight meanwhile had found the site and of course was grossed out by the videos she saw. "Yep, this looks chock full of viruses."
"Damn that's some pretty kinky stuff," Rainbow said as Twilight opened multiple windows with different videos.
"Hey, I think it's working," Sunset said as she noticed the pages were starting to lag.
"We better hurry cause those three are running out of song," Applejack said. Rarity seemed to be sharing the same concern as a look of worry came across her face.
"Okay...hold on..." Twilight said. The screen was starting to flicker and smoke was starting to come out of the laptop. Then the most beautiful message came across the screen.
Error!
This program has stopped working. OK
"Yes!" Twilight yelled. She got up trying to wave the three of them down. Celestia managed to catch it and gave her a sister a thumbs up as the song finally hit its conclusion.
The crowd then erupted in cheers as everyone got to their feet and applauded as the three of them bowed before Luna gestured to the orchestra as well. They had no idea what had just happened but they seemed to go along with it.
It was only at the end that the three Princesses managed to find them. "You guys did it!" Twilight said as she gave Sunset a hug.
"Don't thank us, thank those three up there," Sunset said.
Princess Twilight stared at the three in surprise. "Wait..." It was only when Rarity finally managed to get off the stage and come up to them that Twilight asked the question. "How did you guys know the bomb was going to go off at the end of the song?"
"It was?" Rarity genuinely looked shocked. "Honestly darling, we had no idea. We just thought if we extended the concert a bit it would give you all more time." She then giggled. "And I must say, I never knew our own principals could be such professional performers..." |
Hello From The Other Side | We Can Go Home Now Right? | Mane-iac couldn't tell what was worse, the pain of being outwitted once again or the pain upon impact of falling into a dumpster. She could still move her limbs around so nothing appeared to be broken but she'd probably have some nasty bruises for a couple of days.
It was only when there was a flash of green light as a portal suddenly appeared in the alleyway and a figure stepped that Mane-iac figured out there was something worse than her two other options. "You seem worse for ware," Matterhorn says as she approached the villain.
A small chuckle escaped Mane-iac's lips. "Come to gloat before you take me away?"
"No, though I am glad to see you haven't caused too much trouble here," Matterhorn replied as she glanced around the alleyway. "Of course, you were never meant to be here in the first place."
"Oh I noticed..." Mane-iac said as she managed to roll off the top of the dumpster and fell onto the ground, coughing slightly. "Still...before I go...there's just one last thing..."
"Mane-iac, don't bother," Matterhorn warned her. "It's over."
"Oh really? We'll see about that!" Mane-iac had grabbed the flask in her pocket and tried to throw into Matterhorn's face...only to miss her by about three inches. "...Goddamnit!" she snapped in frustration as she sat on the ground and crossed her arms. "Well go ahead and beat me up like you always do." Matterhorn didn't move. "Well what are you waiting for, get on with it!"
"No."
Mane-iac raised an eyebrow in confusion. Matterhorn sighed. "We've been doing this for a long time Mane-iac, and there's going to come a point whether I end up killing you or you end up killing me. I realize now that you take pleasure in chaos because you're alone and you need a friend. I value friendship more than anything not just because it's the right thing but because it made me a better person. I don't know what happened that day to cause you to turn your life around the way you did but...I want to help you and perhaps we can help one another." She then kneeled down next to her foe and extended her hand. "What do you say?"
Mane-iac looked at her and then down to her hand, the look of surprise never leaving her face. She then gently swatted her hand away. "No." She then got up slowly as she coughed again slightly from the pain. "No. I'm sorry but...it's too late for me now." She then turned around and looked towards the sky. "But you know...even though I haven't been here that long, I think I've had enough of this place..."
Matterhorn smiled slightly. "Nothing compares to Maretropolis does it?"
Mane-iac smiled in return. "I suppose you're right..." She turned around to face her foe. "Very well Matterhorn...let's go home..."
The two of them walked back towards the open portal. "By the way, are you curious to know what my diabolical plan was this time?"
"Not really but I suppose I'll humor you just this one time..."
"Well, I can honestly say that was quite the night," Principal Celestia said as she and the others were standing outside the concert hall.
"You're telling me," Luna said. "I didn't realize waving a baton around was so complicated."
Both their counterparts started laughing. "Here we thought we knew each other so well," Princess Celestia said. "But it seems we were mistaken."
"Yes, you couldn't have gotten us up on that stage so easily," Princess Luna commented.
"How did you even get backstage?" Sunset asked.
"When I gave Vinyl a call to borrow her and her equipment, she said she had a friend who had a key to the back entrance of the building," Rarity said. "That made getting the equipment inside much easier."
"And let me guess, you hooked up the equipment to the speakers?" Twilight asked.
"Indeed and it's a good thing too," Celestia said. "If we were even a second too late it might've been the end."
"We...and I mean Twilight of course almost had a heart attack," Princess Luna grinned.
Twilight glared up at her. "It's not funny."
"Well, I'm just glad that's over," Applejack said. "I wonder where that Mane-iac went."
Suddenly Rainbow Dash zoomed up right next to her. "She wasn't back there."
"There's no way she could walk off a fall that easily," Sunset stated.
"Well, when I got over there, I just saw a flash of green light before it disappeared," Rainbow said. "Maybe she went back to where she belonged."
"I'm willing to accept that," Rarity said.
"So now what?" Sunset asked.
Princess Twilight looked to both Celestia and Luna. "Well...we probably need to get home," she said. "Now that Mane-iac is gone maybe the portal started working again."
"Aw, but we were gonna celebrate," Pinkie whined.
"Well...the night is still young," Princess Celestia said. "What do you think Luna? Do you think you can wait another hour before raising the moon?"
"I think I can handle it," Luna smiled.
"Well in that case, I say this calls for pizza," Principal Celestia said. "You're all welcome to come by our place!"
"Hell yeah!" Rainbow said.
The Princess of Friendship smiled. "Alright, alright, I suppose one hour couldn't hurt..."
Celestia and Luna decided to go all out, getting two pizzas, a box of chicken wings, two sodas and two of those lava cakes that everyone likes. Pinkie chipped in with some desserts of her own as well as providing her playlists that played throughout the entire house. Okay, maybe the whole event lasted over an hour but who was counting.
"So, I never asked but...how did you take the news?" Princess Twilight asked Sunset as the two of them were hanging out in the kitchen.
"Oh, with Celestia?" Sunset chuckled slightly. "It was...interesting. Without my new powers I probably wouldn't have known but...we talked about stuff and...I think we're good now."
"I'm glad to hear it," Twilight said. "She's really wanted to see you."
"Yeah..." Sunset took a sip of soda. Suddenly Applejack, Pinkie, and Rarity came into the room and they were all snickering. "What...what's going on?"
"Well..." Applejack began.
"Vice-Principal Luna just invited Rainbow Dash back to her room," Rarity giggled slightly.
"And it's funny because I think Rainbow Dash totally has the hots for Luna!" Pinkie finished.
Twilight suddenly spit out the soda she was about to swallow and started coughing. "W-What!?"
"Oh no..." Sunset snickered. "You don't think...?"
"Mmmmhhmmm," Rarity responded.
"Like what you see?" Luna grinned.
Oh Rainbow didn't like, she loved what she was seeing. "Ohmygosh ohmygosh!" She stared at the entire entertainment system. "This is awesome!"
"Thank you," Luna said. "Considering it's summertime I won't be as busy with schoolwork so...if you're ever interested in coming over..."
"I'll be here in a heartbeat!"
"I thought you'd say that," Luna grinned. "So...what should we play first?"
After two hours, Twilight was starting to get anxious, even though she didn't want the party to end right away. "Don't worry Twilight, I'm sure Equestria will still be in one piece once we get home," Princess Celestia assured her.
Saying goodbye was never fun but Twilight knew they'd all see each other again. "Well, that was definitely one of the more...stranger adventures I've ever been on," she said. "I wish we could stay but..."
"We know, duty calls," Rarity said.
"It truly was a pleasure to meet you two," Principal Celestia said. "I just hope we didn't end up causing any trouble in the castle."
"Oh don't worry, it's nothing they haven't dealt with before," Princess Celestia laughed.
"I hope you can come by sometime Princess," Luna grinned. "I think you and I have a score to settle."
"Very well, I'll make sure to check my calendar," Princess Luna smiled. "Just be ready to meet thy doom."
The girls all shared one last hug. "You know, it's still kind of weird hugging yourself, you know?" Twilight asked.
"Oh trust me, I feel the same way," Princess Twilight said with a slight smile.
"We can drive you back to the school," Celestia offered as she took out her keys.
The five of them made their way towards the car before Princess Celestia stopped and turned around. "Sunset? Have you made your decision?"
Sunset suddenly looked uncomfortable as six pairs of eyes stared at her. "Well..."
"I understand if you still need some time of course," Celestia said.
"Oh come on Sunset," Rainbow grinned. "Go ahead. It's home after all right?"
"Wait...you're all okay with this?" Sunset asked.
"Of course we are," Fluttershy said. "We want you to be happy."
"Yes darling, its your real home after all," Rarity said.
"Yeah, plus its not like you won't be able to come back!" Pinkie assured her.
"Just make sure you do before another crisis comes around," Applejack said with a wink.
"Well...in that case..." Sunset then grabbed her bag and took out her notebook before handing it to Twilight. "Here. If you write in this you can contact either me or Twilight and we'll be here in a flash."
"Oh...thank you," Twilight said as she took the book. "But why me?"
"You're pretty much the leader now," Sunset grinned. She glanced over at Princess Twilight. "That's how it is in our world anyway."
Twilight smiled and nodded. "Well in that case...hopefully I won't have to use it."
There was again another hug before Sunset went to join the others. "So...this is really happening?" Princess Twilight asked.
"Yep, it's happening," Sunset smiled.
Twilight suddenly laughed gleefully as she gave her friend a hug, one that was almost choking the poor girl. "This is great! I can show you all of Ponyville, my friends there, my former student and then maybe a magic duel!"
"A magic duel? Seriously?" Sunset asked.
"Actually I'd like to see that for myself," Princess Celestia said. "But let's head home before we get carried away."
The six of them got into the car and soon they drove off. "You know sister, I was just thinking of something," Princess Luna said. "We may not see these two for awhile, you know, since life at the castle can be quite a hassle at times. I figured we could give these two one last thing to remember us with?"
"What did you have in mind?" Princess Celestia asked.
"Well, I think we both have the hang of using magic here now and...well since Luna's driving I'm sure she'd enjoy this...could we spare a few minutes?"
"Hmm...very well."
"Wait a moment, what are you two-? Twilight started to say but Sunset laughed.
"Just go with it Twilight."
Both princesses snapped their fingers at the exact same time and suddenly the car started to float into the air. As it lifted up, it suddenly changed shape from a car to a spaceship from one of Luna's video games.
"Oh hell yes!" Luna yelled as the ship suddenly zoomed off into the horizon. |
Hello From The Other Side | Ah Yes, We Need An Epilogue Don't We? | Starlight was pacing back and forth near the mirror. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know that the mirror had been the culprit behind the disappearance of the three princesses. Actually, make that one princess and two ponies that look like the princesses but...aren't princesses?
Starlight groaned slightly. It wasn't like she could go through the portal herself since it wouldn't let her. Besides, someone had to look over the castle. Spike had returned earlier and she had to make up an excuse that Twilight was running an errand. Luckily, since that was almost a daily habit of hers, Spike didn't find it suspicious at all.
She looked at the clock. It was already past the time where Luna was supposed to raise the moon and eventually ponies would start noticing if they haven't already. Finally, Starlight had it and went up to the mirror. "Twilight, I don't know if you can hear me but you better get your flank back here now or we're going to have a real royal problem!"
Perhaps it was mere coincidence or maybe somehow, somewhere Twilight managed to hear her but the portal suddenly activated as four currents of magic started to flow through the machinery towards where the mirror was connected. It was a good thing Starlight decided to move out of the way when she did, for the portal suddenly sent four figures out towards a large pile of books.
Three alicorns and a unicorn groaned as they emerged from a sea of book. "Okay...I think I need to make some calibrations on the...exiting phase.
"You guys are back!" Starlight said as she helped pick up the fallen books. "Oh thank Celestia..."
"Huh...?" Celestia asked. "Oh sorry...I think I'm still feeling a bit of jet lag from the trip..."
Starlight then looked to the unicorn. "Oh...hello. I'm guessing you must be Sunset Shimmer?"
"That would be me. Starlight right?" Sunset asked as she got up on two feet before starting to lose her balance. "Okay...hold on...I got this..." She managed to catch herself as she stood on two feet. However, a stare from Starlight made her remember where she was as she landed on four feet with a sheepish smile. "Hehe...it's been awhile since I stood on four feet."
"I didn't think I'd be so happy to be home," Celestia said with a yawn.
"Indeed," Luna said. "What time is it anyway?"
"Er...way past time for you to raise the moon?" Starlight asked.
"It's that late already?" Celestia asked. "Well, that's a problem we can both easily fix." Both princesses looked out towards the window as the sun quickly (perhaps too quick) set and the moon rose into the sky. "There, that takes care of that. I'm ready to turn in early I think."
"Um...what exactly happened over there?" Starlight asked.
"It's a long story," Twilight smiled slightly. "One I'd be happy to explain. Sunset, if its alright with you, you can stay here for the night."
"Sure, I have no problem with that," Sunset replied.
"Great!" Twilight pulled both unicorns into a hug with her wings. "Nothing beats having a slumber party in the library!" Both Starlight and Sunset glanced at one another and couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, I suppose we should be returning to the castle now," Luna said. "No doubt the staff are wondering where we are."
"Not that it would be the first time," Celestia chuckled. "Sunset, maybe not tomorrow but if you plan on staying here awhile perhaps we can grab lunch sometime."
"You can count on it," Sunset said.
Celestia smiled. "Then we'll bid you three good night." The two princesses teleported out of the castle.
Sunset looked around the room. "Nice place. How exactly did this get here again?"
"Again, that's a long story," Twilight said. "But enough about that, now that Sunset's here I can finally see her power in action!"
"This isn't going to involve making a mess is it?" Starlight asked. Both girls started laughing.
Upon returning to Canterlot Castle, both Celestia and Luna realized it was quiet, which for them was always a good sign. "Well, they certainly didn't destroy the castle while we were gone," Luna commented.
"No and that I'm grateful for," Celestia said. She yawned again. I guess my body isn't used to dimension traveling anymore. I'm going to sleep like a little filly tonight."
"Well, I hope the ponies in Equestria don't mind if I take a small nap as well," Luna said, starting to feel groggy as well.
"Princesses!" They looked over and saw Raven, Celestia's secretary, running down the steps.
"Raven, what's wrong?" Celestia asked, suddenly alert.
"Where have you two been!?" Raven paused for a moment realizing she just yelled at the two most powerful beings in Equestria. "I-I mean we were worried sick!"
"My apologies Raven," Celestia said. "We had something to attend to."
"Oh...well I hope everything is alright," Raven said. "My apologies Your Majesties, I'll be going home now." She then trotted towards the front doors.
"Well aside from scaring the staff, it seems everything is in order," Luna said.
"I hope so," Celestia said. "I'm going to the throne room just to make sure no letters or anything have been sent. I'll see you in the morning then."
"Goodnight sister," Luna said as she watched her sister head towards the throne room.
Celestia opened the doors and again everything was in the right place. But then something caught her nose and her eyes widened once she saw what was sitting near the throne. "No..." She quickly trotted over and saw the half-eaten cake. "No... she didn't! That was mine and she...NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Luna was already making her way towards her chambers when she heard her sister screaming. She sighed slightly. "It would appear somepony has eaten the royal cake...poor Tia won't be able to sleep easy now..."
She opened the doors to her chambers and the first thing she noticed was a thestral sitting erotically on her bed. Luna didn't show any emotion on her face as she stared at the member of her Guard. "Sergeant Sabre...just what are you doing?"
The tone in her voice told Sabre that she wasn't playing around. She got up quickly with a blush on her face and stood at attention. "M-My apologies Princess, I thought you-"
"Sergeant, I am very tired and I want to catch some sleep before I need to tend to my nightly duties," Luna said simply.
"Y-Yes Your Highness." Sabre walked quickly out of the room before the doors closed behind her.
Luna sighed as she floated up slightly and crashed onto her bed. Once she closed her eyes, she knew that sleep was imminent. However, she was aware of Sabre's presence outside her door. She sighed again as the door opened again. "Very well Sabre, we may cuddle...but save the playing around until after I've rested." |
Hello From The Other Side | Official Random Bonus Chapter #1 | Kenny G was playing softly in the background as Rainbow Dash took in the scene before her. She wasn't sure how or when, but she found herself in the bathroom and saw that the bathtub was currently occupied. "Why Rainbow Dash, you naughty girl, sneaking up on your principal like this...~" Luna was sitting in that bathtub, her body thankfully obscured by the bubbles in the water as she stared at the teenager with a Cheshire grin.
"I-I thought the room was unoccupied," Rainbow said, suddenly remembering to look away as she went towards the door. "I'll just see myself out and pretend-"
"Rainbow Dash."
Rainbow stiffened. The tone in her voice wasn't harsh but rather sweet and for some reason her legs suddenly felt like jelly. She couldn't help but turn around. "There's no need to be embarrassed," Luna said with a wide smile. "Did you really think this was mere coincidence?" To sell her point, she decided to extend out a leg into the air, allowing Rainbow a good view of her smooth, wet skin.
If Rainbow wasn't blushing before, she sure was now. "Y-You mean...?"
"Oh yes, it was quite obvious from the expressions you gave me...or rather my Equestrian counterpart. But I can assure you we're both the same in...certain assets."
"Oh my gosh..."
"Come here Rainbow." Luna grinned. "And don't think I can't give you detention or something just because we're not currently in school.
Rainbow knew this was wrong, so so wrong...and yet she was moving forward towards the gorgeous woman. Who cared what anyone thought? She was hot, and the mysterious aura she carried with her made her all the more appealing.
Once she was near the edge of the tub, Luna's predatory grin only grew. "We're going to have so much fun...~" She suddenly got up and grabbed Rainbow, pulling her into the tub with her.
Rainbow suddenly woke, sitting up as she felt a cold sweat on her back, or rather the sheets stuck to her backside. Due to the summer heat, she decided to sleep naked to keep her cool but now she just felt sticky. She panted slightly as what she just dreamed was still imprinted in her brain.
She looked down towards her sheets and noticed a large wet spot... and she quickly found out it wasn't sweat. "Aw crap!" she groaned as her head fell back onto the pillow. She couldn't believe it.
"I think I'm in love with Vice-Principal Luna..."
Luna suddenly woke up in the middle of the night, her eyes wide in shock. "What was...oh no..." Thankfully she was wearing a nightgown and didn't have any sort of episode but... "What the hell was I doing in a tub? And what the hell was Rainbow Dash..."
Her recollection came back to her as she zoned out for a moment. "Oh no...am I developing feelings toward Rainbow Dash?" |
Hello From The Other Side | Official Bonus Chapter #2 | The sunlight managed to peek through Sunset's eyes as she slowly awoke. She opened her eyes, first noticing the familiar interior of the room that matched most of Ponyville Castle. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, Sunset paused for a moment as she had to remember she was once again equine. A small smile crept into her face.
The previous evening, after the princesses had returned to Canterlot, Sunset, Starlight, and Twilight had gone to the library and they had spent the next few hours talking, mostly about what had been going in Equestria recently, but also about the human world for Starlight's benefit. Starlight seemed very curious about the place and while she didn't say anything, Sunset spotted her look of interest, a look she probably had many times under Celestia's tutelage.
It only became slightly uncomfortable once Twilight asked about Sunset's reaction when reuniting with her former teacher. Sunset had no issue telling them that the reunion had been for the most part uneventful (she decided not to mention the whole scene at Sugar Cube Corner) and they were able to reconcile. And then of course she and Princess Luna had some time to get to know each other.
It was only when Starlight asked about what drove the two apart that both Twilight and Sunset became uncomfortable. She wasn't proud to admit it, but she was power hungry and she couldn't have cared less about friendship. However, once she mentioned about Twilight helping her, her tone became more upbeat. In the end, she had said, maybe it was all supposed to happen. She certainly didn't have any regrets about it now.
The evening had continued on with Sunset practicing with her magic, looking up spells she had almost forgotten about. Seeing her magic first-hand, both Twilight and Starlight were impressed with her skills. Sunset made sure to remind Twilight that a magic duel was in order before she went back. By the time they all finally turned in for the night, it was well past one.
Sunset had opened the door out of the guest room and saw that the row of doors were similar to the one she was stepping out of. "Well, this isn't disorienting at all," she thought as she looked down both ways. Now she wished she had paid more attention to where she had been coming from.
"It's a little confusing isn't it?" Sunset jumped at the sudden voice and turned around to see Starlight addressing her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I was about to come get you since Spike's making breakfast."
"It's alright." Sunset looked around again. "Is this how it felt when you first came here?"
"Pretty much," Starlight said as she motioned Sunset to follow her. "I've been trying to convince Twilight that we need put up signs or something but she's convinced that only takes away the fun of exploring the castle."
"Yeah, that sounds like her," Sunset commented. "Wait...so Spike's practically the head chef here?"
"Yep, Twilight still hasn't filed that request for members of the Royal Guard or any aides," Starlight replied. "But I guess since she's an alicorn she hardly needs any protection."
They finally reached the throne room where they found Twilight reading, you guessed it, a book while eating a stack of pancakes. She looked up and smiled at Sunset. "Morning Sunset. I hope you don't mind pancakes for breakfast. Spike's are probably the best here in Ponyville."
"Just make sure to check for rubies and sapphires," Starlight joked.
Twilight giggled. "Don't worry, he saves that extra ingredient for himself. Come take a seat."
Sunset looked at the other thrones, noticing the cutie marks. "You sure?"
"Oh don't worry, no one will mind," Twilight assured her.
Sunset then decided to sit at Fluttershy's throne and used her magic to drag a plate of pancakes and a fork over to herself. "Can I just say your castle is complicated."
"What? No it's not," Twilight dismissed the thought with a wave of her hoof. "Starlight figured it out."
"After about a month perhaps," Starlight grumbled slightly.
Twilight rolled her eyes slightly. "But I suppose it would be more convenient for others visiting the castle."
"Speaking of which, anything important happening today?" Sunset asked as she took a big bite of pancakes.
Twilight sighed. "Nothing unfortunately." She glanced at the map. "I was hoping the map would have something for me to do but of course, nothing."
"Well, maybe you could go somewhere, like a trip or vacation?" Sunset suggested. "Or we can make it an all girls trip to Las Pegasus?"
"Hm...I don't know," Twilight said. "I guess what I want to do is visit...well..."
"Back there huh?" Sunset asked, knowing exactly what she meant.
"Yeah." Twilight sighed again. "But I can't just leave the castle. Somepony has to be here in case of an emergency."
She then noticed the smirk on Sunset's face. "I don't like the look on your face."
"All I was going to say was that there is someone who can take your place."
"Wait you mean-?" Twilight's eyes narrowed. "Oh no no, I'm not doing that."
"Why not?" Sunset asked. "It's not like she hasn't wanted to check out Equestria."
"Alright, you two lost me," Starlight said.
"Sunset thinks I should trade places with my counterpart," Twilight said. "I'm not going to do that to her."
"She's perfectly capable of using magic now," Sunset stated. "Besides, it's not like Starlight and I can't help her out."
"Wait, don't drag me into-!"
"She'll be fine," Sunset assured her. Her grin then widened. "Besides, it's only proper payback for what Celestia and Luna did right?"
Twilight stared at her. "Seriously? You think I'd do this just to spite those two?" She got up in a huff, turning around to leave. "I'm not even mad about that anymore. So what, right?" She headed towards the door in a light trot. "I'll just write a letter to Celestia saying I'll be taking some time off and-"
She got to the door and paused for a moment. It didn't take much for the two unicorns to see something was on Twilight's mind. "You know what?" She turned around and looked at her friends. "Screw it. If they get mad about this I'll be sure to call them out on what they did. Can you get a hold of Twilight?"
Sunset smiled. "Just get me a quill."
To be continued in...
Hello From The Other Side 2 |
Fate Fell Short | pre | "It's been a minute," Spike said with a shrug. "A very glorious minute, I might add."
Poptart reached over and gave Spike a quick hoof bump. "Nice, nice. Not meaning to mow your grass or anything, but Trixie is pretty hot if I do say so myself. Looks like we both lucked out as far as mares go, huh?"
The idea of dating Trixie being referred to as anything short of irreparable misfortune was a foreign idea to Spike, but for the sake of keeping the charade going he kept his opinions to himself. At least he could be honest about her being cute. She was a looker, if nothing else.
"You got that right," Spike said. "Hopefully there'll be plenty more where that came from in the future."
"Word up."
The two shared a quick laugh before silence once again found its way between them.
"So," Poptart said, drumming his hooves on the table. "They've been in the bathroom for a bit. I hope they're okay."
Spike waved a claw. "No worries, man. I've known those two for long enough. Whatever is going on in there will only work itself out in due time... And speaking of them!"
Spike and Poptart turned their heads to see Trixie and Starlight approaching them at a rapid pace.
"Well, Spike, I think it's time for the most great and powerful couple in all of Ponyville to get going with the rest of our date."
Spike's eyes nearly boggled at his fake marefriend's declaration. "Rest of our date?"
"Ah, then let's not keep your mare waiting!" Poptart said with a gentle shove on Spike's shoulder.
The dragon turned and rolled his eyes at Poptart, while Trixie wrapped her hooves around her drake before anything else could happen.
Starlight took her seat beside her stallion and nuzzled into his shoulder. "Mine," she muttered.
Poptart smirked. "Same."
"Come on, Spike, let's head back to Twilight's before her food gets cold."
Spike nodded, and stood up. He turned to the two and smiled. "It was nice seeing you, Starlight." Then, he turned to her boyfriend. "And it was surprisingly nice meeting you, Poptart."
"The pleasure is all mine, Spike," Poptart replied, his hoof looped around his mare. "The pleasure is all mine. Wait... surprisingly?"
Trixie stood gobsmacked, while Spike tugged at Trixie's hoof with his claw.
"Come on, Trixie, let's go."
The took a few steps away before the visage of Poptart and Starlight watching their exit caught her eye.
"Wait, Spike," she whispered.
"What?" he asked back with yet another eye roll.
Trixie had to show Starlight how serious she was about Spike. Or at least how serious she was pretending to be. Trixie had never been wrong before and she didn't plan on starting now.
"Kiss me."
His eyes flew out of his head. "What?"
"Just do it... please... for Trixie."
Spike grimaced and then noticed the two ponies still at the booth watching him leave and then it made sense... in a weird, cosmic sort of way. "Fine, but you owe me."
Trixie puckered her lips out like a mailbox waiting for a package, but nothing could have prepared her for the sensation of being kissed by a dragon.
Spike wrapped his arms around her and pulled her toward him, gently yet purposefully pushing his lips to hers. She unwittingly felt her heart jump at the action... and the strong arms wrapped around her... and the strange yet sultry scent of the cologne he wore for the evening...
And then it was over.
Trixie, despite her sudden state of shock, took a moment to look back at her rivals for the night at their booth. Both had eyes wider than saucers and mouths hanging to the table.
Mission accomplished, and then some.
"Alright, Trixie, let's go," Spike said, taking her hoof once more.
Trixie shook her head in an attempt to fully extricate herself of the kiss-induced trance. "B-But Trixie did not get the response she was looking for and--"
Spike growled at her. "And this is reality, where not everything goes your way, so let's get a move on to Manehattan. We don't have much time before the train leaves and--"
Trixie began moving with the dragon, her eyes now focused on his gaze. "Wait, aren't we going to Twilight's? And how do you know when the train goes?"
"We'll just hand the food to Twilight's guards. If they're smart, they'll haul it all up to Twilight's room without a word. If they're not... Twilight is going to scream at them for eating her favorite food," Spike said with a chuckle. "As for the train, let's say... I've been there a couple times."
"Alright, if that's what you think is best."
The two walked out, carrying a whole supply of burgers and drinks to a mare who desperately needed it.
"But, Spike, just one question, if you don't mind," Trixie said, looking to the dragon next to her. "W-Where did one such as yourself learn to kiss like... like... that?"
Spike smirked. "I guess it's just instinctive. I kinda just went with the flow. I wonder what I could do if I had some practice?"
Trixie felt a shiver run down her spine. "Trixie.... could nearly picture that."
And picture that she did.
It was a long trip to Manehattan. Or at least that's how it felt for the two of them. Where they had nothing but snark, jabs, and general tomfoolery dominating their conversations up until this point, they now had silence, awkwardness, and the occasional glance in each other's directions.
"So, did you see the look on that guard's face?" Spike asked, barely earning a nod out of Trixie. "I'm pretty sure he thought all that food was for him."
"Mm, yeah... whatever." Trixie sighed and rested back into her train seat.
This whole ride had been nearly impossible for the two of them. What went wrong was a mystery to Spike... and in some ways it was still a mystery to Trixie. But something just wasn't right.
Luckily, the sudden stop of the train Manehattan train station was an excuse to progress their night forward and get away from the nonsense overtaking them.
Spike rose from his seat, reaching out a claw to help Trixie up from hers. She actually took it and rose from her seat as well. That's when Spike knew things were wrong. Trixie? Accepting an act of kindness and affection without a smart-mouth or conceited retort?
Forget the talk with Poptart; this was uncharted territory.
The two made their way out of the train and out into the station. It took them all of a few seconds to get out into the streets. The cool night air blew over them. The stars hung high in the sky... or at least they assumed they did, but the city lights and pollution made a clear visage impossible.
Life in Manehattan was... vastly different from Ponyville. From the times that Spike had his escapades in the city, he remembered how the towers, although full of life, were lifeless. They soared to the skies, something that Ponyville was very far off from. And the ponies who would come out of those lifeless husks were the ones that Spike worried the most.
He and Trixie trekked through the streets of Manehattan. Ponies of the night were much more drab. They clung to the sidewalk, keeping their distance from one another as they clip-clopped across the beaten pavement. Spike knew to do the same. It was all tradition. As long as you see who passes you, nothing would come of you. Stray from the alleyways, unless you knew the going-ons of the place.
And Spike knew them well. It was like a second Ponyville, only it took him a bit longer to memorize the paths than he would have liked.
"Keep close, Trixie, okay?"
Trixie bobbed her head absent-mindedly, her eyes glazing over the dull candlelight glow of the city lamps.
Spike carried his noble companion through the many intersections and dimly lit alleyways. He remembered how disgusting they were. Most alleyways were filled with the sludge of ponies' leftover garbage. Sometimes boxes with the occasional rat or hobo found their way in their track making Trixie nearly launch them into the air. Thankfully, Spike knew how to calm her down, letting the rat scurry into a nearby dumpster, while the hobo followed suit, seeking refuge from the great and wrath-bringing mare named Trixie.
After their many confrontations with the city's wildlife, Spike and Trixie eventually ended up in a park, one with a singular wavy path that weaved between the oak and weeping willows of Manehattan's major park. Since the park was a long horizontal strip, Spike thought he could just take her through there instead, since not many ponies walked through the park at this time of night.
Spike, however, didn't plan for Trixie to stop in the center of the lone bridge of the park.
"Trixie?"
He looked at her. She was staring off, wide-eyed, looking at all the passing carriages and ponies. Why was she just standing there, so.. Distant? She hasn't been acting herself since the train ride, and he needed to know why.
"Trixie?"
The mare jolted out of her trance, her hooves gripping onto the edge of the bridge. "S-Spike?"
Spike strolled to her side. "I'm here. Look, what's going on?"
The pounding of hooves. The night lights of the skyscrapers. The filth of the alleyways.
"I-I don't know..."
Spike sighed and looked around. Where the hell can I find a--he spotted a lone bench beside a low-level lamp.
"Come on, let's rest for a moment, okay?" Spike said, nudging her towards the bench.
Slowly, the couple meandered over to the long bench, worn by neglect. Spike was the first to sit down on the bench. The poor piece of lumber creaked in response, making Trixie raise a brow at him.
"Come on, it's not going to crumble if you sit on it."
Trixie rolled her eyes and sat down beside him. Like he said, the bench didn't crumble. Unfortunately, it wasn't happy that she sat down, either.
"See? No cracks!" Spike said with a smile.
Trixie wasn't having any of it. She scooted away from him, her eyes tired, and her face lit with a dull white haze.
"So, as much joy as I get in seeing you taken down a peg, I can't help but get depressed seeing you like this." Spike shook his head. "So, what's up? Spike the beans, the whole beans and nothing but the beans."
Trixie grimaced. "Meh. Trixie just... I just don't wanna do this anymore."
"Do wh--"
"This!" Trixie thrust her hooves in the air, rapidly pointing back between herself and Spike. "This isn't what Trixie had in mind!"
And then the floodgates were open.
There was something to be said for the sadness of seeing somepony completely broken and Spike was getting a full-on view of it before his very eyes. Every ounce of cockiness and confidence had disappeared from Trixie's demeanor like the last donut at fat camp. Spike searched his mind far and wide for something, anything to lighten the mood as her eyes streamed forth a river of tears, but he couldn't find anything. And if Spike couldn't find something about somepony to mock or make fun of, then things were serious.
Trixie let out a string of pitiful sobs and moans only muffled by the fact her face was buried into her hooves. There was nothing intelligent coming out of her mouth at his point, only pained whines and blubbering.
Spike, for his part, was not sure how to approach this situation. His usual response to a mare crying in his vicinity was to find the nearest area without a crying mare and make haste towards it. But this time, he just couldn't leave. Although it was technically a hoax, they were on a date and he had some responsibility to make her feel better.
He scooched toward her and gently placed an arm around her. "Um, there there?"
His modicum of affection was immediately answered with Trixie turning herself and burrowing herself into him, tears and all. She wrapped her hooves around him, head nuzzled into his shoulder and she let the tears fly with no remorse.
Spike still wasn't sure what to do, so he figured he'd take a page from How to Survive Your First Date: The Guide to Not Screwing Up and wait out the storm until it passed. He wrapped his arms around the broken mare and held her close to him. It wasn't much, but it at least was something. An A for effort and all.
After a few minutes, Trixie finally calmed down and released herself from the dragon.
"T-Trixie is sorry, Spike... for her outburst."
Spike waved it off. "Eh, no worries. I've seen worse. Until you've seen Twilight's bedhead, you don't know true horror."
Trixie chuckled a bit through the remaining tears. "Trixie believes you."
A brief moment of silence held a place in the air as Trixie finished up her sobbing. It wasn't awkward this time, however. Instead, it was almost relaxing. Nothing helps the atmosphere than a nice emotional outburst, after all.
"So," Spike said, finally breaking the static. "You think you're ready to talk about what's going on?"
Trixie released a long-winded sigh and nodded. "Trixie is ready."
"Then shoot. I'm all ears."
"Trixie... had a realization." She turned her gaze to the dragon and looked at him in the eyes. "She's not jealous of Starlight."
Spike blinked. "Oh? You know, you could've saved us some trouble if you realized that, I don't know," Spike checked an imaginary watch, "six hours ago."
The mare deadpanned. "Yes, you are correct. But, Trixie didn't realize it until, well, a short time ago."
Spike nodded. "Okay, for the sake of my own sanity, please explain. If you're not actually jealous of her, then why'd you go through all this trouble in the first place? There has to be some reason or logic behind--" Spike took a moment to reflect on the mare he was talking to. "I'm sure you had some misguided belief that led you to all this."
"Yes, she did." Trixie leaned forward and rested her head on the table. "Trixie thought she was jealous. But, in reality, Trixie was... scared."
Spike nearly fell out his seat. "I'm sorry, did you just admit a flaw? About yourself? That's it. It's all over. It's a sign of the end times. Time to head to the bunkers and hide the foals--" He was quickly shut up by a whack to his head.
"Yes, Trixie admits she was scared. But please, don't tell anypony. Trixie does still wish to retain some dignity."
Spike chuckled. "Dignity? You? You're not exactly rolling in i--" It was at this moment Spike remembered that being smacked hurt and decided to reevaluate his choice of words. "Of course, I won't tell anypony. What were you afraid of?"
The blue mare looked at him. "Trixie doesn't have many friends. Starlight is, well, she's one of my only friends. My best friend. So, the idea of her being with another pony, especially a boyfriend... Trixie feels replaced. Like, Trixie won't be her closest friend anymore. That's frightening, to say the least."
Spike nodded. "I get that."
"And it took so long for Trixie to find a best friend like Starlight," she continued. "And... I don't know if I can ever find another one. I thought, maybe finding my own boyfriend would show her that I could find a new friend to replace her... just as easily as she replaced me."
Spike couldn't believe his ears... or his heart. He actually felt sorry for her.
"Trixie, if I may ask, what exactly led you to this sudden conclusion? You were kinda hellbent on showing her up until we left the restaurant."
Her face immediately heated up. "Trixie... would rather not say."
"C'mon, we're being honest here, right? Like I said... I won't tell anypony. You have my word."
She shook her head. "It's not just anypony that I'm worried about telling. It's anydragon, too."
A few sparks bounced from Spike's cranium. "Okay, now you've lost me."
"Ugh, it was you!" Trixie swung around to face him. "It was the kiss we had. It... was enjoyable. It... captured Trixie's heart."
Spike, for once in his snarky, adult life... was speechless. "Umm... what?"
Trixie's face continued to heat up. "The kiss was... quite enjoyable to Trixie. It made her... quite happy. And when Trixie realized how it made her feel, she realized she'd never want to deny her best friend that feeling. Starlight deserves to feel that way. Trixie's selfishness shouldn't get in the way of that."
"Wait, wait, wait." Spike waved his claws. "You're telling me that when I kissed you, it actually made you change your entire way of thinking?"
Trixie simply nodded, attempting to hide her gaze behind her mane.
Spike began wearing his own blush at this point. "Well, I'm not sure if I should feel flattered or terrified. I guess it must be true love, huh?" He punctuated his comment with a slight chuckle, only to receive a heartbreaking look from his date. "Okay, okay, bad time for jokes. But! I am glad you told me."
A slight smile began to form on her lips. "Really?"
"Mhm," Spike said with a nod. "I suppose it's only fair I let you in on a little secret."
Trixie gave him a curious look. "Okay. What would that be?"
"I, maybe kinda sorta," Spike took a deep breath and watched his own dignity fly down the toilet, "liked the kiss, too."
And now both of their faces were bright red.
Spike composed himself and continued. "Sure, it was all pretend and you were paying me to play along, but kissing you... was kinda nice. I can't really explain it without sounding like a weird, dollar store greeting card, so I won't even try. Point is, I felt the same as you, so don't feel weird about it."
Trixie laughed. "I don't think it's possible not to feel weird about this."
Spike grinned. "No joke. This is one weird situation to lead to a first date. But hey, sometimes that's just how it goes, right? Or at least that's what all those cheesy romance novels taught me."
And now they both broke out into a fit of laughter. The awkwardness and malice of the night was all in the past and instead they were actually enjoying each other's company for the first time.
As they finally settled down, Spike stood up from his seat, followed soon after by Trixie.
"So, now that we've officially poured our hearts out and thoroughly searched the black holes that somehow count as our souls, I think there's only one thing left to do."
"What's that? Please, don't make me confess to Starlight. Trixie refuses."
Spike shook his head. "Don't worry. I don't think Equestria is ready for you to be that humble. But, I do think we need to get some closure."
Trixie rubbed her chin. "What's your proposition for such a task?"
"We tell Starlight and Poptart that we're happy for them. And then we make up some crazy story about why we had to break up so things can go back to normal and we can hate each other like old times. I'll even pretend to be the bad guy if you want."
Trixie chuckled. "Good plan. But, Trixie does have one request in regards to this."
"Which is?"
"Perhaps... perhaps we can pretend to be together a little bit longer. Just a few days, or a week or three. Just to make sure Starlight believes I was telling the truth."
Spike eyed her for a moment before giving her a quick wink. "Fair enough. But don't expect me to pay every time we go out."
"Agreed. Trixie does have some pride left."
The two began their slow walk back toward the train station. However, it was briefly interrupted by Trixie hopping in front of Spike.
"Spike? Trixie has just one more request."
"Oh boy, here we go. Let's hear it."
She nervously bit her lip and looked up at him. "Kiss me... please?"
Spike attempted to find some sort of mockery in her eyes, but there was none to be found; only sincerity.
"Huh. Honesty and kindness is a good look for you. Might I suggest you wear it more often?"
She pouted ever so slightly. "Please? I'll even throw in a few extra bits like we talked about at the--"
She was shut up by a soft kiss. Spike's lips met with hers, this time with much less aggression and much more emotion. It lasted only for a moment before he separated.
"Keep your bits. I doubt you had enough, anyway."
Trixie chuckled ever so slightly, still caught up in the haze of the kiss.
"Besides, I only do things I wanna do, not things I have to do. I'm kinda selfish like that."
He reached out a claw and gently took Trixie's hoof in it, and they trekked their way back to the train station. It was a long day, and they had a long trip ahead of them back home, but for once, at least a few things made sense.
Well, as much sense as such a weird first date could make. |
Fate Fell Short | I'll Leave When I Wanna | The next day...
Starlight was reading a book on her bed. It was a good book, about how the world was not going to roll her if she was one step ahead of it. The characters were really engaging, discussing the reality that, well, not everything goes according to plan. Sometimes life has this way of telling ponies things, and well...
"Hey, Starlight!"
"Come in!" Starlight said, shuffling her book into her bookcase.
The door to her bedroom swung wide open. "Thought, I'd swing by to talk to you about something important."
"Something import--"
Starlight gasped. In front of her were two ponies--or, well, a pony and a dragon.
"Starlight, I'd like you to formally meet Trixie, my marefriend."
She felt like her brows had reached the top of her forehead. There was no way she could take this situation head-on again.
"Look, I'm still trying to comprehend that you two are dating and--" Suddenly, her eyes lit up. Her body shook on the mattress. "Wait, formally meet? I thought you two did that with Poptart and I yesterday?"
Trixie stepped forward, smiling and nuzzling into her dragon. "Trixie had realized something. Something important."
"And that is...?"
Then, Starlight's nightmares came to life. Her friend, a mare of great power and strength, smirked at her and said three tantalizing words that scorched her skin.
"Kisses are hot."
And suddenly, Starlight felt like she was on fire.
"Poptart! They weren't faking it! They're actually together!"
"And what do you want me to do about it?"
"I don't know, poof this reality out of this atmosphere?!"
"If I knew the spell, I wouldn't want that to happen!"
"Why? Are you mad?"
"No, because then I may not be with you!"
"Oh, Celestia, then knock me out so I don't have to see tomorrow!"
Poptart rolled his eyes. "Mares these days." He looked at the castle and smiled. "Guess we really did pick the best ones out of the bunch, eh, Spike?" |
Aftermath | pre | Spike nodded, jogging away to do as asked.
Rarity hummed a bit as she focused in on the stitching before sighing and dropping the dress and the facade both.
She trotted over to a wall, settled on her haunches, and pressed her forehead against the wall. She performed a series of controlled breathing exercises. While she did that, she closed her eyes for good measure.
"Right... You are to meet with Applejack and... and... her...," she said to herself through gritted teeth.
A gentle voice spoke from behind her, just above a whisper and eternally passive in tone. Rarity knew the yellow pegasus voice quite well. "What's wrong?"
"Oh Fluttershy... I am to support Applejack as she escorts... erg... Faith... across Equestria on a tour of apologies... and is that supposed to make anypony feel the least bit better for what she did?" growled Rarity.
"You don't believe her?"
"Oh... I-I...," Rarity took a breath and started again.
"I do... Honestly, I do. She does seem sincere. But I cannot help thinking of... of Sweetie Belle stumbling upon her one day and trusting her, thus following her into a terrible trap... and when I think of that?" Rarity's hoof denting the wall answered her own question.
Fluttershy trotted up closer to Rarity and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"Calm down, Rarity..."
Rarity turned to Fluttershy and rushed into a hug with her, trembling and crying.
Fluttershy sighed and wrapped her forelegs and wings around Rarity.
"None of that happened... Sweetie was never in any danger... and you can prepare her for any that might come. And don't think for a moment that we'll leave you to do that alone, Rarity... We're all here for you and for the Crusaders," Fluttershy reassured.
"Fluttershy, dear, it is all I can do to avoid thinking of trampling her into the dirt... I do not know how I am going to manage restraint on a lengthy trip across the country by her side," said Rarity quietly.
"You talk about her a lot... I haven't heard you speak about Black Soul even once... Why?" asked Fluttershy.
"Because, dear, I cannot even acknowledge his existence let alone offer him any portion of my mind to occupy!" she hissed, startling Fluttershy, "Oh, I'm sorry dear... I didn't mean to startle you."
"It's alright. I just... I haven't seen you this angry or... um... hateful before," replied Fluttershy.
"Yes... I... I am not myself I must admit... I do hope I can find a way to calm myself... I shall be terrible company for Applejack otherwise," admitted Rarity.
"She'll do whatever she can to help you. You know that," said Fluttershy.
Twilight gazed out across her throne room, taking in all of the stained glass windows with the various points in history noteworthy to be recorded in this chamber of memories. Starlight's visage finally graced these windows, her triumph that changed the tide of the changeling war recorded for posterity. She knew that, as time moved on, she would be reciting history more and more often.
She traced her gaze along the walls. She saw the scenes telling the story of the triumph of the Elements of Nightmare Moon, over Discord... She thought of Spike's courage in the face of true darkness when Sombra returned... of how much she and her friends had struggled through to bring peace to what was now her country...
Then she thought of what she'd just discovered... a hidden, secret, darkness... a turmoil beneath the surface that created doubt in her heart. Ponies were hurting ponies in horrifying ways she hadn't dreamed possible. It terrified her, for this was her country now. It was her responsibility to see that Equestria remained peaceful.
It just didn't seem real to her that so much threat could come from within its borders.
She sighed. She would convene the Council of Friendship when Applejack and Rarity returned. From there, they would all discuss their choices. She just didn't feel like there were very many.
She closed her eyes. A wisp of dark smoke trailed briefly from her eyes as she reigned in her rage. A deep breath, slowly taken in through her nostrils, preceded her teleport.
Rainbow Dash adjusted her goggles, and then her wings as she prepared for descent. It wasn't a routine or training. She simply needed to feel air through her wings. She tucked her legs, thus increasing her speed as she watched the grassy field approach quickly.
She closed her eyes and tucked her wings in next, thus allowing gravity to take complete control. The air rushed past her, filling her ears with a deafening roar. It wasn't enough. She grit her teeth and waited. The ground resumed its hasty approach, mercilessly threatening her very life. She threw open her wings. Her hooves traced grooves through the grass as she leveled out at the very last possible safe moment, all without opening her eyes.
She sailed past trees. She weaved around them with her eyes closed. She revelled in the rush of adrenaline. But, all too soon, her momentum was spent. She skid across the grass on all fours before slowing to a stop. Her breathing was ragged from the exertion. She hung her head, keeping her eyes closed as she relished the build-up of sweat foaming through her coat.
"Rainbow Dash!" cried a familiar voice.
Rainbow cringed at the voice. She loved who it belonged to like a big sister would, but she did not want herself to be seen like this by Scootaloo of all ponies. She worked to stabilize her own breathing before turning to face the oncoming filly.
She regained her composure before Scootaloo closed the distance between them. She sighed as she answered.
"Scoot! What's up?" she called out.
"That looked really dangerous Rainbow Dash! It was awesome!"
Rainbow Dash grunted, holding out a hoof to stall Scootaloo.
"No, no... Scootaloo... What I just did was not awesome it was stupid. Please don't ever do what I just did, okay?" said Rainbow, forgetting who she was speaking to. Scootaloo looked downcast at the rebuke, and Rainbow knew precisely why.
"Oh, Squirt... I-I'm sorry... I wasn't thinking," said Rainbow quickly.
Scootaloo sniffled as she turned away from Rainbow Dash, who quickly threw open her wings and zipped a quick arc to land herself in front of Scootaloo once more. In an instant, her foreleg wrapped around Scootaloo's neck. A wing draped over her.
"I'm sorry, Scoot... I'm so sorry... That was awful of me to say... Look... I really only meant I don't want you to take any more serious risks... I get how a stunt isn't really a stunt without some danger, and if you want to start performing I'll happily come to watch you... andmaybesupervise... but what I just did was... it was beyond all that. It was super dangerous, and I shouldn't have done it at all," Rainbow softly explained.
"What's wrong, Rainbow Dash?" asked Scootaloo quietly.
Rainbow sighed inwardly. Scootaloo had been growing as much as any of her friends. She wasn't so naive anymore. Rainbow couldn't lie to her very well and didn't really like to anyway. Applejack would have her head for doing that anyway.
"I... I don't know how to explain it... and I don't really want to, okay? You just... be a kid. Focus on growing up and let me be the grown-up, okay?" she said quietly.
"Is this about what happened to Trixie?" Scootaloo checked. Upon asking, she noticed that Rainbow tensed up immediately.
"What do you know about that?" asked Rainbow tentatively.
"Nothing! Nopony will talk to us! What's wrong with her?" asked Scootaloo.
"She's... she's hurting, badly... she's sort of sick... but we'll get her better. I... Just... Trust me on this, okay? You really don't want to know," Rainbow assured.
Scootaloo thought about that and sighed. She knew then that she'd never get a straight answer from Rainbow Dash. She resigned herself to not knowing, and to hugging Rainbow back.
Rarity sighed as she tightened the strap on her saddlebags and blew a kiss to Sweetie Belle.
"Stay safe now, dear... Pinkie Pie will come around to check on you. I am sure she will bring you treats of all kinds," she said with a slight hint of disapproval in her tone. Sweetie grinned.
"I'm going to be traveling with Applejack... We're to start here in Ponyville. I'll be meeting them on the west edge of town," Rarity went on.
Sweetie nodded.
"You are welcome to have your friends over as well. I don't believe I shall be more than a few weeks," stated Rarity.
Sweetie blinked, "Weeks?" she echoed.
"Yes, dear. We have a lot of country to cover, including the outer settlements... I can't really explain everything about this trip, but I will try to return as soon as I am able. Alright?"
"I'll be okay Rarity," assured Sweetie.
"Oh, I don't doubt that... You can also seek out Fluttershy if you find yourself in need of any help... Rainbow Dash is probably around too... I can't speak for Princess Twilight, but I know she'll do what she can. And do not forget about Spikey Wikey," Rarity said, the last name producing a smile on her face.
"I know Rarity!" Sweetie said impatiently.
Rarity sighed and nodded. Of course, Sweetie could take care of herself now. She turned and exited the Boutique, thus starting her journey to the west edge of the town.
"So far so good, Faith," said Applejack.
"I... I guess so," Faith returned quietly.
"Y'all're brave. Don't sell yerself short," replied Applejack.
In that moment, a white unicorn mare with a spectacularly curled mane trotted up to Applejack with only a nod of acknowledgment.
"Rares?" asked Applejack.
Rarity snorted and gestured to Applejack with her head, Applejack complied by following Rarity a little way away from Faith.
"What is it?" asked Applejack.
"While I am loathe to disrespect Twilight by refusing to help when she asks it of me... I do not know how long I will be able to keep myself from attacking that mare. Kindly remind me why we are doing this?" said Rarity in a much-too-sweet tone.
"She's a victim too, Rares... Ah know that's kinda hard ta swallow... but she was his first. She was terrified, an' doin' what she thought she had to just to survive... Now it's wrong she didn't ever consider any of them ponies she was lurin' into the trap, but she's sorry for it just the same... Ah don't like what she did, but... Ah think she's okay," replied Applejack.
Rarity's eye visibly twitched as she nodded along with Applejack's words. Before long, her features softened and she sighed.
"Oh... Applejack," began Rarity, "I do understand. I am terribly sorry, I do not mean to be such a tiresome mare... Do you know what I keep thinking about?"
Applejack raised an eyebrow.
"Blueblood," spat Rarity.
"That pig of a fellar from the gala?" asked Applejack.
"The very same, yes. I do not understand how I could have been so blind... How could I not see the signs within the first few moments of meeting him? I shudder to think what sort of cretin he is when not in the public eye, do you understand?"
"Ah reckon ah do, yeah. But Rares, yer a lot tougher than ya think... Don't think he'd stand a chance against ya," replied Applejack.
"I suppose... but I am hardly the only mare to have been taken with his... erm... well his status and his appearance, frankly," Rarity confided.
"So what's this really about then?" asked Applejack.
"What ever do you mean, dear?"
"Ah don't see how that pompous idiot can be upsettin' ya this much after this much time, even with what we know about that Black Soul feller," Applejack began.
Rarity nodded along.
"So what's the truth then? What's really got ya so upset?"
"I continue to think of... of Sweetie... and her friends... Just gone, we know not where and suddenly there we are... Our baby sisters aren't there, and we never even saw them leave!"
Applejack raised an eyebrow.
"That's a tad dramatic, no?" asked Applejack.
"Dear, do you have any idea what I would do to the pony that hurt Sweetie in that way?"
"Ain't half as much as me n' Big Mac n' Granny would do ta anypony that hurt Applebloom like that," stated Applejack firmly.
"Yes, quite," replied Rarity.
"It's just very difficult for me, I am trying very hard to get that out of my mind... To remember that none of them got hurt," said Rarity.
Applejack trotted nearer to Rarity and placed a hoof on her shoulder, before drawing in a bit closer and gazing directly into her eyes.
"It didn't happen. She's safe n' sound at the Boutique, ya got Pinkie n' Fluttershy n' Twi n' my Dash to keep an eye on 'em all. Y'all know they won't get anywhere near hurt with them to look after 'em," said Applejack solemnly.
Rarity nodded, and smiled faintly, "You are a dear, Applejack... And you are, of course, quite right. They are safe... But..."
"But...?" Applejack coaxed.
Rarity sighed and turned to look at Faith, who for her part looked terribly uncomfortable standing there on her own in the middle of the road, staring at the gravel or her hooves as her tail swished back and forth.
"How do I... get along with her?" asked Rarity delicately.
"Ya start by havin' an honest talk. You don't like what she did? Ya tell her, but ya don't hold it over her head. See what she's like... Ah kinda like her, to be honest. She ain't a bad pony, just... just did some real bad things for bad reasons," said Applejack.
Rarity sighed, slipping a hoof through her mane and readjusting her posture before nodded and trotting over to Faith.
"Ahem," began Rarity, "Faith?"
Faith looked up at Rarity, a little taken aback at the unpleasantness she saw in the sapphire eyes.
"I am Rarity," stated Rarity.
"U-uh... H-Hi. M-My name is Faith," stammered Faith.
"Yes, dear, I know. You seem nervous," observed Rarity.
"You hate me," Faith stated.
"I... do not," admitted Rarity.
"You... you don't?" asked Faith.
"I thought that I did, I admit... but no, I do not. I do not like what you did, I have no reason to. Nopony does. I understand that you felt you did not have any choice, and I regret that you did. It hurt a great many ponies, you hurt a great many ponies," Rarity stopped to breathe and collect her thoughts, her tone had been gradually intensifying as she spoke.
"I... I'm sorry dear, let me start again," Rarity said, taking another deep breath to center herself.
"I am giving you a chance. My friends are doing much the same, I see no reason I cannot manage it. However, I want to be very clear: I do not approve of what you did," Rarity stated.
Faith nodded, "Oh, of course. I don't either. I'm so sorry, and I know that isn't anywhere near enough. But I am. Miss Rarity-"
"Just Rarity, if you please," interrupted Rarity.
"Uh, okay. Rarity... I promise you, I want to make things right... At least as much as I can. I know that isn't much... I-I know that I was horrid...," said Faith.
Rarity sighed and placed a hoof on Faith's withers, calming and quieting her.
"Say no more... I understand you regret your actions. But it is not me you must apologize to, hence our journey," Rarity stated as she observed several pegasi clumsily placing fresh clouds in the sky. Weather hadn't been the same since Rainbow retired from it to accommodate her Wonderbolts schedule and teaching schedule.
"I suppose the rain will be a bit late today?" Rarity asked as she turned to Applejack.
"Uh... Dash ain't really keeping up with that no more," replied Applejack with a chuckle.
"Oh," said Rarity.
Applejack smiled at Rarity. "You feelin' any better?"
"Yes I am, dear. Thank you," said Rarity.
The trio of ponies gathered together and set off.
"Where are we going next, then?"
"Las Pegasus is our next stop," said Applejack with a sigh.
The vibrant pink mare hummed to herself as she poured a measure of flower into a mixing bowl with water and began to mix them.
A jingle sounded, letting Pinkie know that a customer had arrived. She noted it, but did not turn to address the pony who had entered. She continued, instead, to hum. A pale cerise unicorn mare trotted around the counter, her belly swollen and her gait slow.
"Oh! Sugar Belle!" Pinkie cheered happily.
"Hello Pinkie," said Sugar Belle.
"How are you feeling? Are you sure you're up to being here?"
"Yes," said Sugar Belle with a giggle, "I'm fine... A little tired, little sore... but I'm fine."
"You're due really soon, huh?"
"Weeks, maybe," replied Sugar Belle.
"Aw! Are you excited?"
"More scared than excited, really," answered Sugar Belle.
"How's Big Macintosh doing?" asked Pinkie.
Sugar Belle giggled. "He's terrified."
Pinkie Pie smiled while she resumed mixing her flour then adding sugar next.
"What are you making?" asked Sugar Belle.
"I'm not sure yet," replied Pinkie.
"Are you thinking about her?" asked Sugar Belle.
"No. Him," replied Pinkie.
"Who?" asked Sugar Belle.
Pinkie had forgotten that Black Soul's presence hadn't been explained outside of her circle of friends, but she supposed that wasn't important now.
"He's called Black Soul. He used her to... to get more... and and...," Pinkie started, but quickly devolved into hysterics. She threw the spoon she'd been using to mix across the room and the bowl the other way.
Sugar Belle blinked. She stepped back in alarm as Pinkie screamed and slammed a hoof into the counter. She became incoherent rather quickly as Sugar Belle watched in terror.
The bell over the door jingled once again, admitting another pony.
"Pinkie!" cried Sugar Belle, "Calm down! Please!"
The other pony maneuvered themselves between Sugar Belle and Pinkie Pie just as Pinkie Pie released a pan wildly out of control. It connected with the brilliant amaranth coat of the hulking stallion, and doing little more than annoy him.
Big Macintosh made his way toward the hysterical and outraged Pinkie and threw a foreleg around her, pulling her into a hug. She flailed and beat on him with everything she had. He took every hit until she tired herself out and fell into his embrace.
"Easy Pinkie... Yer gonna hurt yerself or somepony else, and ya don't want that," said Big Macintosh.
Pinkie cried into Big Mac's shoulder as he stroked her mane. Sugar Belle joined them a moment later, nuzzling Pinkie Pie.
"This is upsetting you more than I thought," said Sugar Belle.
Fluttershy sat in her chair, sipping tea.
Discord sat in his chair, sipping the cup which held his tea.
"So how are you doing, Fluttershy?" Discord asked.
"Um... I'm okay," she replied.
"Really?" asked Discord, surprise clearly written across his features. In bold letters, colored blue.
"Well... Maybe not okay... but I'll get there. I'm worried about my friends. I know they're taking this much harder than I am," she replied quietly.
Discord's face softened.
"You really are too kind, Fluttershy... I am not asking about our friends, I am asking about you," he clarified.
"Oh... right," she replied quietly.
"Well...?" Discord coaxed.
"It's hard, Discord... Part of me wants to ask you to... to fix everything, just... erase their memories... but... but I know that's not right...," she said.
"And I am not capable of that anyway, Fluttershy... Sure I can twist ponies around, invert their personalities to a degree... but I can't erase memories, especially not ones that painful."
Fluttershy sniffled and closed her eyes. She shuddered. Discord placed his lion's paw on her head and gently pulled her into a hug.
"They'll get all the help that they need now... Princess Twilight will see to that, and I will help however I can. There is no magical cure for this, Fluttershy. I am sorry to say that," said Discord, completely sincere.
"No... no that's... That can't be true... You have to be able to do something! You're Discord! Reality bows to you! How can you not help?!" she shrieked.
"Fluttershy... I am not choosing to not help. I am just not able to do what you described. It isn't in my power... and believe me, that is unpleasant to say... I am Discord after all," he replied.
"No! That's... That's...," Fluttershy choked on a sob as Discord hugged her tight.
"I'm sorry, Fluttershy... Truly, I am," replied Discord.
The chromatic maned mare trotted through town rather than fly or even just hover. She looked up, took in the blue of the sky, the sparse clouds, noting how oddly placed they were and that they appeared to be water-bearing.
"Uh... Who the hey did that?" she wondered aloud.
"Rainbow Dash!" called a familiar stallion.
Rainbow turned to see Thunderlane flying down to meet her. His Wonderbolts uniform already sweat through from exertion. "What's up Thunderlane?"
"You're wanted back at HQ, Crash," he said simply.
Rainbow blinked. It wasn't necessarily unusual, but it wasn't typically urgent.
"Any idea what's going on?" she checked.
"Captain said she needed to talk to you personally. Didn't go into specifics with me," replied Thunderlane.
"Okay, well... I'll see you back at HQ then," said Rainbow Dash.
"You have to come n-," began Thunderlane, only to stop as he saw the image of Rainbow Dash fade into a rainbow contrail that passed him by.
"Oh... You meant...," he said with a sigh as he shook his head.
Pinkie Pie swallowed as she finally shed the last of her tears. She pulled away from Big Macintosh and Sugar Belle.
"I'm sorry, you guys... I'm so super sorry Sugar Belle. I put you and the baby in danger like that," she started to ramble.
Sugar Belle smiled as she pressed a forehoof to Pinkie's chest.
"Calm down, hun. It's okay... No harm done. Are you feeling any better?" asked Sugar Belle.
"No... No, not really. I feel worse now... I was an angry, stupid pony and I could have hurt you... and...," she turned her gaze to Big Macintosh who was nursing several bruises and searching for bandages.
Sugar Belle looked to Big Macintosh. "Oh sweetheart, you really took a walloping, huh?"
"Eeyup."
Sugar Belle turned back to Pinkie Pie. "My husband will be alright... But you know that. He's tougher than most. Softy, true... but you won't find too many ponies better in a fight," she said.
Pinkie Pie swallowed and nodded.
"Ah'm fine Ms. Pie," he assured Pinkie.
"P-Pinkie," said Pinkie.
"Aright, Ah'm fine Pinkie. Just a few little bruises. Nothin' I can't handle," he said.
Sugar Belle smiled, kissing his cheek as he passed her by.
"It's been like this... uh... sorta... I get... really mad and really scary... and I mean I scare myself... because I'm not really... I feel like I'm just watching while my body gets... um... violent," said Pinkie quietly.
"Okay... and you're calm now?"
Pinkie nodded.
"What's going through your mind, hun?" asked Sugar Belle.
"I'm scared... I don't want to hurt anypony... well... there is one pony I would reeeeeally like to hurt," Pinkie admitted.
"But you can't, can you?" Sugar Belle asked.
Pinkie shook her head.
"Why not?"
Pinkie sighed. Her mane began to deflate as she spoke. "Because it would be wrong, and it wouldn't make anything better. I wouldn't really feel better."
"True... true...," said Sugar Belle softly.
Pinkie slumped into Sugar Belle's forelegs, seeking a hug and receiving one.
Fluttershy's cottage remained tranquil. A small table and chair were set in her den. Discord sat on her couch as they both continued enjoying steaming cups of tea. The chittering of critters was in force this day as well as a general sense of tension which pervaded the atmosphere.
Fluttershy exhaled and stood from her chair as she carefully placed her teacup on her table.
"Discord... I need to take a trot... or... or something. I'm sorry. I hope you won't be offended," said Fluttershy.
"Oh pish posh. Do you really think I'd leave you alone at a time like this?" replied Discord.
"What do you mean?" asked Fluttershy.
"Oh, I'm coming with you of course," said Discord.
"Okay, that sounds nice... Thank you," replied Fluttershy.
Together they exited Fluttershy's cottage and began a trek toward the Whitetail Woods.
"Discord?"
"Yes, Fluttershy?"
"What was it like for you?" asked Fluttershy.
"What was... oh, the statue?" he asked.
Fluttershy nodded slowly.
"Well... It wasn't enjoyable. It was really boring actually... but Fluttershy, it wasn't the same. I hated it, but... It would have been much worse for Trixie," said Discord.
"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked.
"I may have been conscious, Fluttershy... but I wasn't alive," he said.
Fluttershy shuddered.
"My thoughts were disembodied, sort of... I had no flesh. I was stone except for my mind, so I could not act, merely exist... I felt no pain, I did not have to breathe... It was boring to be sure, but Trixie would have been feeling everything... so... I don't fully know or understand what she went through," said Discord.
Fluttershy shuddered as her eyes shrank to pinpricks and she stared straight through Discord.
Discord frowned, sighed, then snapped his claws. He and Fluttershy appeared at the Sweet Feather Sanctuary where the animals turned to see a disturbed Fluttershy and immediately set to comfort her. Discord exhaled a breath through his mismatched nostrils and stepped back. He'd never been much good at comforting anypony. It wasn't playing to his strengths. However, he knew Fluttershy quite well so he knew that this might help.
Harry scooped Fluttershy up into a hug while several birds, squirrels, and chipmunks gathered around her or landed on her and chittered or chirped at her. Harry let out a low growl.
Discord raised an eyebrow, folding his lion's leg and eagle talon over one another.
He simply watched, hoping that she'd come out of this somehow.
Rainbow Dash alit at the entrance to the Wonderbolts HQ & Gym. She trotted through the doors then through the locker room. Along the way, she passed discarded towels as well as the array of pictures from the Wild Blue Yonder only featuring one new addition: her. It had closed just after her time in Las Pegasus with the Gold Horseshoe Gals.
The door to Spitfire's office was closed, but Rainbow knew it was not locked. Behind that door was Spitfire. She sat at her desk while going over papers and, this time of year, choosing who would be invited to the Wonderbolts Academy to try for entry. Talent was not in short supply in Equestrian air, but talent good enough for the Wonderbolts was hard won.
Rainbow sighed. Those were fond memories. Except for her friends being in danger. She shook her head to clear away the old thoughts, then raised a foreleg and knocked on the door.
"Come in!" yelled Spitfire.
Rainbow stepped through, using her teeth to manipulate the doorknob. Once turned, she pushed it in then stepped in. Once inside, she used a hindleg to close the door and a wing to salute Spitfire as she stood at attention.
"At ease, Crash," said Spitfire with a smile.
"Captain, what's the emergency?" asked Rainbow, a little tension creeping into her voice even as her body relaxed.
"Emergency? No, no emergency, though I did want you here as soon as possible," Spitfire clarified.
Rainbow Dash waited in silence. Spitfire would pick up the conversation when she was ready.
"I'm gettin' old, Crash. My wings don't respond like they used to. I'm thinkin' it's about time I retire," said Spitfire.
Rainbow blinked, caught off guard at this information.
"Re...Retire?" she asked, slightly dumbfounded.
"Yep. Gotta tuck the wings away eventually," said Spitfire, dragging a hoof through her mane which included grey streaks clashing with her orange and amber mane.
"Where's that leave us, Cap?" asked Rainbow.
"To the point. I like that. That's why I called you Crash. I gotta hand the team over to a pony I trust to keep them in top form while also keeping with our principles. Soarin fell out last year...," Spitfire trailed off. Talking about Soarin was difficult for any of the team. Rainbow took a breath.
"...So?" asked Rainbow.
"When I take off in a couple months, you're going to be promoted to Captain. This team will be yours. You will be responsible for shaping it and shaping the ponies on it. You'll be the one to choose who makes it and who doesn't. You might get to enjoy yelling at 'em," Spitfire said with a smirk.
Rainbow's jaw dropped.
The trees, hills, and occasional out of the way building passed by lazily as the train click-clacked down the tracks toward its next stop. Faith leaned against the glass. Her ears drooped and her eyes half-lidded in thought and sorrow. She sighed and closed her eyes the rest of the way. Her forehead pressing against the glass.
"What's on yer mind, sugarcube?" asked Applejack from the seat right next to her.
"Everything...," Faith replied.
"That's quite a lot, dear," said Rarity from the seat behind Faith.
Faith didn't reply. A tear slipped from her eye, painting a line down her muzzle before it dripped onto the glass and continued its journey.
"I'm... I'm a murderer...," she said quietly as her voice cracked and more tears came.
Applejack placed a hoof on her shoulder, but remained silent.
"Dear, that's... a bit much, no?" said Rarity.
"What?" asked Faith.
"Alright, you did participate in a series of horrid crimes against equinity... You seem... kind, really... so I imagine the weight of that guilt is quite something. But... Murderer? Dear, you did not kill a single one of them. An absolutely horrid stallion is responsible for that...," said Rarity, surprise evident in her voice.
Applejack nodded, gently massaging Faith's shoulder.
"I suppose you felt... erm... cornered?" supplied Rarity.
Faith didn't respond in any way, just remained quietly crying as Applejack continued to try to comfort her.
"If you are going to remain silent, then I'm afraid there isn't much I can do for you," Rarity huffed.
Fluttershy wept into Harry's coat. Discord frowned and floated up to her. His lion's paw stroked her mane.
"There... there?" he tried lamely.
"Thank you, Discord... Harry... everyone," she said to the various creatures.
"This is... I have never seen you this upset before," said Discord.
Fluttershy looked at him.
"I... I know this is upsetting, and... I knew this was quite bad... but this? Why Fluttershy?" asked Discord.
Fluttershy swallowed and looked away.
Pinkie Pie picked up a toppled pan and brought it to the sink. She was in the midst of cleaning up the mess she had made. Big Macintosh and Sugar Belle had parted ways after making sure she was calm and feeling better.
She sighed as she collected a spatula, placing it in the sink. The sound of water splashing sounded as the spatula began to sink beneath the surface. She turned away and grabbed a cloth which she used to wipe up the wet flour that had splattered across the shop during her fit.
The bell above the door sounded. Another customer entered the shop. Purple scales and green spines were joined by the sound of gentle wing flaps as Spike hovered and observed the mess.
"Whoa," said Spike.
"Hi Spike," said Pinkie.
"What happened here?" he asked.
"I did," replied Pinkie.
Spike hovered over to a broom. He collected it and began to sweep around the kitchen.
"You're pretty upset, huh?" Spike guessed.
"Yeah...," said Pinkie.
Spike scanned the kitchen, and nodded.
"Right, okay. Why don't you go get yourself a milkshake or something? Maybe find one of your friends? I'll clean this place up," Spike volunteered.
Pinkie wore a wan smile as she nodded gratefully at Spike. She immediately strode through Sugarcube Corner's door and into Ponyville.
"Thank you," faded into the air as the door swung shut.
Spike nodded and proceeded with sweeping.
Rainbow shook her head and closed her jaw, taking a breath before she spoke.
"You... what? Me? C-Captain?" she said unintelligently.
Spitfire nodded.
"Wh... uh... Thank you, Captain... I'm really honored," said Rainbow Dash.
"Don't be. This job is a huge pain in the flank," said Spitfire with a light chuckle.
"I... I guess I accept," said Rainbow.
"You guess?" asked Spitfire.
Rainbow took a breath, "Yeah. Um... I want to. I'm gonna have to talk it over with Applejack to make sure I have the time and she's okay with me being away more...," she said.
"Applejack? What?" asked Spitfire.
Rainbow smiled, a slight blush painting her cheeks. "Yeah. You met her, remember?"
'Sure I do. Why does she have a say in your life?" asked Spitfire.
"Uh... We're together." Rainbow admitted with a brighter blush.
"Oh, you are?"
Rainbow nodded.
"Congrats. Hopefully she doesn't ball and chain you from this, eh?" said Spitfire.
Rainbow laughed. "Yeah. I don't think that'll happen.
"Look, I'm really grateful for this. I am. I'm sorry I'm not more excited. It's... It's just a tough time right now. Some stuff's been going on back home and it's hitting everyone kinda hard. Do you mind if I take a week off?" Rainbow's tone had shifted all over the place as she spoke, ending in a nervous chuckle.
"A week? Sure. Why not? Take it. Get better. Be in top form when you get back," Spitfire commanded before returning to paperwork.
Pinkie's travels brought her to Ponyville's cemetery, where she took a particular trail to a specific grave. Once there, she sat down and sighed.
"Hi Cranky...," sighed Pinkie.
"I know I don't come here often enough... I can't smile here. It's too hard... but I wanted to talk to you... I'm being a bit selfish, I know... but I know you don't mind that, not really...," she began.
"It's hard right now... Trixie is hurting so badly... and she probably feels completely alone, even with all of us in the room... She can't see that this isn't a dream... I... um... I went with Twilight to the doctor to get updates on her... to understand everything she needs," said Pinkie.
"Miss Sparkle, Miss Pie," greeted the doctor.
Twilight nodded, and Pinkie didn't really register his words. She just stared ahead, past his desk at the wall behind that desk, into nothing.
"As you know, I have ordered several tests of Trixie's well being and functionality. I have received results," he began. Pinkie looked at him finally, he offered her a small smile.
"The atrophy to her muscles is quite significant, and I can't be sure she'll ever properly walk again. Not yet, at least. She cannot move under her own power, and it will take quite a lot of time and effort to get her moving on her own again. The atrophy to her magical nerves is possibly worse. It does not appear she will ever regain full use of it. Miss Sparkle, I will entrust you with some exercises that can help with that.
You will have noticed that she is covered in sores. Her coat is riddled with holes from these. Those are very painful, but it will be difficult to avoid pressure on those, so I will be prescribing a regimen of various pain killers and topical ointments to aid in her recovery.
She is currently extremely light-sensitive. She is unable to keep her eyes open in even basic lighting, and it will take some time for her eyes to adjust. After that, her ears are also quite sensitive. Try to speak quietly to her for a while. Let her get used to hearing sounds again."
The doctor sighed as he shuffled through his file.
"She is not breathing well. I think she does not understand that she can take a full, deep, breath now. Which brings me to the deeper damage. She is mute because she cannot accept that this is real. We do not know the extent of what she dealt it, of what she was put through. We do know that she was isolated for a very long time, so there is a great deal of mental damage that needs to be addressed.
"However, this is not my area of expertise. I have contacted a colleague I trust with this case, but I will not share anything with your consent, Princess."
Twilight swallowed, and spoke. "Please, contact your colleague and let them know I'm fine with it."
Pinkie's mane grew darker and straighter with every new bit of information the doctor shared. She sank to the floor. Her eyes grew watery and downcast.
Twilight gently rubbed her withers with a hoof.
"Doctor," asked Twilight, "Is she going to be alright?"
"Eventually. Yes. She will not, however, be the same," he clarified.
Twilight and Pinkie exited into the hallway just outside of the doctor's office before Pinkie broke down.
Twilight immediately pulled Pinkie into a hug, stroking her mane with a forehoof and whispering to her.
"Pinkie? What's wrong?"
"Oh Twilight," lamented Pinkie, "How can I ever get any of them to smile again?"
Twilight swallowed as she continued to stroke Pinkie's mane.
"I don't know, Pinkie... I don't know," answered Twilight in a hurt tone.
"It hurts, Twi... She's a friend... And she's hurting and... and I don't know how to make her smile again... How to make her feel okay," sobbed Pinkie.
"None of us knows that, Pinkie, but we're going to support her and help her every way we can," assured Twilight.
"Is that all we can do?" pleaded Pinkie.
"For now, Pinkie... It's a step at a time, and our first step is to get her functioning again," replied Twilight.
"What about the pony that did this to her? To all of them?"
"She'll be dealt with," Twilight promised.
"But... what made her do this? Why did she hurt them so much?" cried Pinkie.
"I really don't know... but I'll find out," Twilight said, coldness creeping into her tone.
Pinkie sighed as she rested a hoof on Cranky's grave.
"I don't know what to do... No party is going to fix this," her voice cracked as she spoke, tears spilling openly at the painful admission. |
Star Ponies Anthro | pre | Fluttershy looked at the gem and saw it had transformed into a butterfly she smiled and said "it's the same as my cutie mark"
As she shook hand with the other admirals who offered their congratulations Celestia said "wear it with pride."
Pinkie Pie
Pinkie Pie went to a courtyard and stood alongside the other cadets when a stallion with a light grey coat and a black mane and tail with a hint of grey approached. He paced back and forth as he addressed the cadets. " I am Capitan Comet Burst the Equestrian Confederation will be awarding six achievements to those who can excel at one or more of these attributes Kindness, laughter, generosity, honesty, loyalty and magic. The pony who excels in that field will receive not only the achievement but a commission on the E.N.S Wonderbolt. Now for our mission we will be traveling to the planet Bahlam to provide relief efforts to some Confederation colonists any questions?" No pony said anything Comet said "meet me at launch pad H at 14:30 hrs. dismissed."
Pinkie went to the launch pad and saw Comet Burst standing near the ship holding a clipboard "welcome to the E.N.S Breezie name?"
Pinkie said "Pinkie Pie."
Comet looked at his clipboard "you're position is science officer."
Pinkie said "science is not my best subject."
Comet said don't worry this is merely a training exercise and training in all fields is what makes us better." He placed at hand on her shoulder "when I was a cadet I was placed at an engineering station that was my weak spot my strength is tactical." He smiled "I did better than I thought I would and I know you'll do fine."
Pinkie saluted and boarded the ship she went to a lift and said "bridge" the lift activated and after a moment the doors opened and she entered the bridge. There were 3 chairs in the center. In front of them were 2 consoles with chairs in front of them was a giant screen embedded into the wall.
Comets voice came over the intercom "attention cadet's report to the briefing room at once."
Pinkie went to the briefing room and met 5 other ponies sitting at a table.
As Pinkie sat down Comet said "now that every pony is here let us introduce ourselves."
Comet went first "I'm Comet Burst."
A mare with a yellow coat with a purple mane and tail stood up "Cherry Eclipse."
Next was a stallion with a green coat and a teal mane and tail "Emerald Firefly."
After that was another stallion with a light blue coat yellow mane and tail "Crescent Star."
Followed by a mare with a orange coat and a light red mane and tail "Rose Blossom."
Pinkie said "I'm Pinkie Pie."
Comet said "now that we all know each other here is our mission we are to deliver various supplies to the planet Pentar in the Egeria system."
Cherry Eclipse scoffed "that's it?"
Comet said "don't take this assignment too lightly the planet is the 4th in a system of 7 the planet is surrounded by asteroids. He got up and activated a screen and showed an animation of the planet he explained "Pentar once had 3 moons Inuus, Sancus and Cardea. Then 87 years ago a massive asteroid struck Sancus" the crew watched as the animation showed an asteroid 1/3 the size of the moon slammed into the lunar body pushing it into Cardea. When the 2 bodies collided they shattered fragments slammed into Inuus causing massive craters pushing massive amounts of dust high above the surface the remaining debris encircled the planet. Comet continued "the moon Cardea's core was rich in radium. Some pieces of the moons core fell to the planet below radium is a radioactive substance iut contaminated the biosphere. It will take them 30 years to remove it. In the meantime the Confederation has agreed to send supplies to them until they can decontaminate the biosphere. Navigating through this field is very difficult several ships have been severely damaged or destroyed. As he turned off the screen he said "since the debris field is so treacherous I will take the helm, any questions?"
Crescent Star asked "can we use the transportation device?"
Comet said "no the radium rich rocks scramble the signals rendering it useless any other questions?" No pony said anything he nodded "dismissed."
After the briefing they went to the bridge Comet said "take your stations."
Crescent Star went to navigation.
Cherry Eclipse went to helm.
Emerald Firefly went to tactical.
Rose Blossom went to the engineering station.
Pinkie went to the science station.
Comet said "helm set course for Pentar velocity 6.5."
Cherry Eclipse said "course and speed set."
Comet said "initiate."
Once the engines were engaged Cherry said "we will arrive in the Egeria system in 6 hrs."
As the ship entered the Egeria system Crescent Star said "we will be arriving at Pentar soon."
The ship soon came to the planet Pentar Comet said "Crescent Star I'll take the helm" Crescent nodded and stood up as Comet sat down. He pressed several buttons as the ship entered the asteroids the area near the equator was the thinnest region. He navigated through the flying boulders some were massive others were very small. The rocks tumbled some crashed into each other Comet navigated past several. Suddenly a loud bang rocked the ship causing the aft section to list 45⁰ and the crew was knocked off their feet others were thrown from their seats."
Emerald Firefly said "Capitan a 10 meter asteroid struck our engines we're venting plasma."
Rose Blossom said "engineering reports a hull breech emergency bulkheads are in place."
Just then another bang rocked the ship and the lights went out and the emergency lights came on.
Rose Blossom said "main power is off line auxiliary compensating."
Cherry Eclipse said "helm not responding."
Comet said "were caught in the planets gravitational pull" as the ship entered the planets atmosphere Comet shouted "prepare for impact!"
The crew watched as trees quickly came into view the ship tilted 34⁰ to the right crew lurched as the ship crashed into the trees. The ship skidded along breaking and uprooting several trees and soon came to a stop as the crew got to their feet.
Once the ship came to a stop Comet asked "is every pony alright"
Every pony nodded and said they were alright.
Comet said "damage report."
Rose Blossom said "main engines are inoperable and the communications relay is damaged."
Comet said "Cadet Firefly you and Pinkie go outside and assess the damage to the ship Rose Blossom and Cherry Eclipse provide cover if needed, Crescent Star I'll need your help getting the communication relay online then we can send out a distress signal."
Cherry Eclipse, Emerald firefly, Pinkie Pie and Rose Blossom traveled along the corridors and soon found a massive hull breach and used it as an exit. The planet was sub-tropical there were trees everywhere except the trail the ship made as they walked on the cracked and broken hull.
Pinkie said wiping her forehead "wow it's hot."
Cherry Eclipse pulled out a scanner "the temperature is 34⁰ C."
Emerald Firefly also performed a scan "no hostile lifeforms detected."
Rose Blossom walked to the aft section and pulled out a communication device "Cadet Blossom to Comet."
A voice replied "Comet here."
Rose Blossom said "the hull is breached there is a 71.3 centimeter hole we crawled out of and there is a 7 meter hole near the engines and the core is venting plasma" suddenly an explosion shook the ship. The cadets were knocked off their feet as a huge ploom of smoke rose into the air. When they got to their feet they saw blue flames coming out of the hole they could feel an intense heat and backed away. Cherry Eclipse did another scan and said "not good" she took out her communication device.
"Cherry Eclipse to Comet" a voice replied "Comet here" Cherry said "Capitan we have a situation the plasma vents have caught fire" Comet groaned "meet us 500 meters to the north Cherry asked "why?"
Comet shouted "NO TIME TO EXPLAIN CADET JUST MOVE IT!"
Cherry turned to the other cadets "you heard the Capitan" when they arrived at the designated location and met up with the others. Cherry Eclipse asked "Comet why did you have us meet out here?"
Comet pointed towards the wreckage in the distance as it exploded in a huge fireball producing a small shockwave that traveled for 200 meters. The blast knocked down more trees and set fire to everything within a 140 meter range.
Comet said "I gathered what provisions I could and a portable distress beacon" as he activated the device.
Emerald Firefly asked "how long until were rescued?"
Comet said "not long a few days."
A few days after the crew of the Breezie were rescued Pinkie and Comet were sitting in Admiral Celestia's office.
Comet recounted what happened on Pentar after he finished he said "during the time we were marooned Pinkie kept us entertained with her strong optimism, stories and jokes. If not for her high spirits moral would have been lost. Such cheerfulness is a rare commodity based on her endless merriment I would like to recommend Pinkie Pie for the achievement of laughter."
Admiral Celestia nodded I agree what do you think Luna, Cadence?"
Both Luna and Cadence nodded.
Admiral Luna said "yes I recommend Pinkie Pie for the achievement."
Vice Admiral Cadence said "I also recommend Pinkie Pie for the achievement."
Admiral Celestia smiled as she stood up walked over to the wall activated her horn and magically unlocked the safe she reached in and pulled out a small box. She then returned to the table and opened the box inside were 3 gemstones blue, purple and lavender. She levitated the blue gem and placed it into Pinkies hands the gem glowed then flashed with a red light. The light was bright but not blinding after the light faded Pinkie looked at the gem and saw it had transformed into a balloon the same as her cutie mark.
Celestia smiled "wear it with pride."
Comet said "congratulations."
Pinkie smiled "thank you."
Rarity
Rarity went to the courtyard and stood alongside the other cadets when a cream colored Earth pony mare with a yellow mane and tail stepped out. She paced back and forth with her hands behind her back as she addressed the recruits "I am Commander Golden Sunshine. The Canterlot Confederation will be awarding six achievements to those who can excel at one or more of these attributes Kindness, laughter, generosity, honesty, loyalty and magic. The pony who excels in that field will receive not only the achievement but a commission on the E.N.S Wonderbolt. Any questions?" No pony said anything Golden Sunshine said "meet me at launch pad H at 14:30 hrs. dismissed."
Rarity went to the pad and Cmdr. Sunshine stood there holding a clipboard "welcome to the E.N.S Fire Flight name?"
Rarity said "Rarity."
Sunshine looked at her clipboard "you're on navigation."
Rarity saluted and boarded the ship as she entered went down a corridor to a lift as she entered she said "bridge" the lift activated and the after a moment the doors opened and she entered the bridge. She saw 2 consoles with chairs behind them in front of them was a giant screen embedded into the wall. She looked at the console it looked user friendly.
She sat in the chair and looked at the console when the doors opened and Cmdr. Sunshine and 4 other ponies exited the lift.
Cmdr. Sunshine said "now that every pony is here let us introduce ourselves. "
A unicorn stallion with a navy blue coat and a blonde mane and tail stepped forward "Magic Sunbeam" then stepped back.
An Earth pony mare with a red coat and a pink mane and tail was next "Pearly Sapphire."
Next was a pegasus stallion with a light blue coat and a blonde mane and tail stepped forward "Velvet Lightning."
Last was a unicorn stallion with a brown coat and a lighter shade of brown mane and tail "Spring Monsoon."
Rarity smiled and introduced herself.
Cmdr. Sunshine nodded "now that introductions are out of the way we can discuss our mission we are going to the planet Imoraha they are experiencing a planet wide crisis. Recently their star had a massive coronal mass ejection producing a massive geomagnetic storm it struck the planet several days ago the geo storm severely damaged their infrastructure. Our mission is to deliver food and clothing and assist them with the manufacturing of fabrics. That will help them until they can rebuild their infrastructure do any of you have any experience with manufacturing fabrics?"
Rarity smiled she knew about creating fabrics it was a hobby she dabbled in she raised her hand "I have experience in producing outfits."
Sunshine nodded "very good when we arrive you're in charge of manufacturing" Rarity clapped her hands together now every pony take your stations. Rarity took the helm, Velvet Lightning navigation, Pearly Sapphire tactical, Spring Monsoon engineering and Magic Sunbeam science."
Once they reached Imoraha they traveled to the surface the inhabitance were unusual the stood on 4 legs but also had arms on their torsos. The crew began assisting with the food and clothing the inhabitants were amazed at Rarity's skill with fabrics.
A tall stallion came up to Rarity and said "greetings I am Sarclox prime minister of Imoraha" he extended a hand as Rarity shook it "your work and supplies are greatly appreciated."
Rarity smiled "happy to help."
Sarclox said "I'm impressed with your manufacturing skills and I hear you're teaching others and not asking for anything in return."
Rarity nodded "is that a bad thing?"
Sarclox shook his head "no its just unusual on this planet we use a bartering system the other members of your crew are bartering for things it's rare to meet someone who is willing to do something for free."
Rarity smiled again and said "I'm just happy to help out."
After the mission conceded the Fire Flight returned to Canterlot Academy Rarity and Cmdr. Sunshine were in Admiral Celestia's office
Cmdr. Sunshine said "Admiral, Rarity was the only member of the crew who donated her skills and services for free in spite of the planets bartering custom. Based on that act of liberality I would like to recommend Rarity for the achievement of generosity."
Admiral Celestia nodded I agree what do you think Luna, Cadence?"
Both Luna and Cadence nodded.
Admiral Luna said "yes I recommend Rarity for the achievement."
Vice Admiral Cadence said "I also recommend Rarity for the achievement."
Admiral Celestia smiled as she stood up walked over to the wall activated her horn and magically unlocked the safe she reached in and pulled out a small box. She then returned to the table and opened the box inside were 2 gemstones one purple one lavender. She levitated the purple gem and placed it into Rarity's hands the gem glowed then flashed with a purple light. The light was bright but not blinding after the light faded Rarity looked at the gem and saw it had transformed into a diamond the same as her cutie mark.
Celestia smiled "wear it with pride."
Sunshine said "congratulations."
Twilight
Twilight went to a courtyard and stood alongside the other cadets she noticed they were all Earth ponies then a red Earth pony stallion with a light blue mane and tail stepped out. He paced back and forth as he addressed the group "I am Capitan Blue Ember. The Canterlot Confederation will be awarding six achievements to those who can excel at one or more of these attributes Kindness, laughter, generosity, honesty, loyalty and magic. The pony who excels in that field will receive not only the achievement but a commission on the E.N.S Wonderbolt. We will be traveling to the planet Alecto any questions?" No pony said anything Blue Ember said "meet me at launch pad J at 14:30 hrs. dismissed."
Twilight went to the pad and Capitan Ember stood there holding a clipboard "welcome to the E.N.S Nimbus name?"
Twilight said "Twilight Sparkle."
Capitan Ember looked at his clipboard then at Twilight and smirked "your my first officer in the event I am injured or killed you're in command."
Twilight blinked "me?"
Ember nodded "yes your academy test scores were exemplary all cadets who score between 3.7-5.0 earn the commission of first officer" he smiled "you scored 4.6."
Twilight nodded and saluted "I'll do my best" and boarded the ship as she entered went down a hall to a lift and said "bridge" the lift activated and the after a moment the doors opened and she entered the bridge. She saw there were 2 chairs in the center in front of them were the 2 consoles with chairs in front of them was a giant screen embedded into the wall.
Soon Capitan Ember and the rest of the crew entered the bridge Ember said "now that we are all here let us introduce ourselves."
A lime green mare with a forest green mane and tail stepped forward "Twirling Lime."
Next was a mare with a light brown coat and an orange mane and tail "Autumn Serenity."
A red stallion with a blonde mane and tail stepped forward "Mystic Thunder."
Next was a mare with a peach coat and the same color mane and tail only a lighter shade stepped forward "Peachy Skies."
Next was a stallion with a navy blue coat and a golden mane and tail stepped forward "Shining Nectar,"
Twilight stepped forward "Twilight Sparkle."
Ember smiled now that introductions are out of the way I can inform you about our mission we are going to the planet Alecto. We will pick up ambassador Cloudy Twirl and take him to his home world Karkinos. The planet is close to griffin territory so we will be on the lookout for griffin raiders" he smiled "every pony take your stations."
Twirling Lime took navigation, Autumn Serenity tactical, Mystic Thunder science, Peachy Skies took engineering and Shining Nectar took the helm.
Twilight sat in the chair next to Blue Ember.
After the crew completed their mission and was leaving Karkinos they were preparing to return to Confederation territory, when Autumn Serenity said "Capitan were receiving a distress signal from a Confederation colony."
Ember asked "can you locate the source?"
Autumn Serenity said "it's coming from the planet Anemoi in the Hedone system audio only."
Ember said "put it through."
A voice came through "this is Prime Minister Aidos of the Confederation planet Anemoi we are under attack were attempting to rally our def-" the sound abruptly stopped.
Autumn Serenity said "we've lost contact sir."
Ember said "set course for Anemoi maximum velocity."
Shining Nectar said "course and speed set."
Ember said "initiate."
Twirling Lime said "we will arrive in one hour."
When they arrived Ember said "see if you can contact the colony."
Autumn Serenity said "no response."
Ember said "Twirling Lime scan the planet."
Twirling Lime said "sir the colony is gone!"
Ember said "how is that possible?"
Twirling Lime said "there is nothing there only giant craters where the capital and surrounding towns should be."
Ember was about to say something when Autumn Serenity said "Capitan there is a ship on an intercept course."
Ember asked "can you identify it?"
Autumn Serenity said "I'm not sure it's not like any ship I've ever seen before."
Ember said "on viewer."
The screen lit up and a ship could be seen approaching it was unlike any ship he or the crew had ever seen before.
Ember said "condition yellow."
As the ship came closer they could make out more details it was huge and had the body of a canine with large pointed ears on its head.
Ember said "Autumn Serenity open a communication channel."
Autumn Serenity said "no response."
Ember said "Twirling Lime scan the ship."
Twirling said "the ship's hull cannot be penetrated by our scanners."
Ember was about to say something when Twirling Lime said "Capitan I'm detecting an energy buildup from the ship."
Twilight said "raise shields."
Suddenly the alien ship fired a set of red energy bolts from its eyes the bolts striking the ship shaking it causing the crew to stammer
Ember shouted RETURN FIRE!"
The Nimbus fired 3 green energy bolts at the alien ship Twirling Lime said "our weapons are not having any affect." As the alien ship fired again the ship listed 45⁰ Ember was thrown from his chair his head hitting the floor hard.
Twilight came to his side "CAPIATN!"
Ember moaned softly then fell unconscious.
Twilight said "medical team to the bridge."
A medical team came to the bridge and took Ember to the medical bay.
Twilight sat in the Capitan's chair when Twirling Lime said "were receiving a message from the other ship."
Twilight said "on viewer."
The screen lit up and a being that looked like a cybernetic canine appeared on the screen it was partially metallic with one red laser eye.
Twilight said "I am Twilight Sparkle first officer of the Nimbus why did you attack this ship?"
The being spoke in a semi-robotic voice. "I Hobnil commander of the Votan you ship valuable to us you surrender in name of Kuber Koira empire."
Twilight asked "if we refuse?"
Hobnil grinned showing sharp teeth "your ship damaged I give you choice surrender or we destroy you."
Twilight thought for a moment "give me time."
Hobnil said "I give you 15 of your minutes" the screen went blank."
Twilight turned to the crew I'm open to suggestions."
Before any of the crew could respond a voice came over the communication system "engineering to bridge."
Twilight responded "this is the bridge Twilight here."
The voice said "this is Sapphire Almond we have a problem in the engine room and need your assistance."
Twilight said "I'm on my way" she stood up and said "Twirling Lime you have the bridge."
She went to the engine room and met Sapphire Almond who said "we have a problem the engine core is damaged and the ejection systems are jammed. If we don't remove it in the next 10 minutes it will collapse and destroy the ship."
Twilight asked what about manual ejection?"
Sapphire Almond pointed to a door "the manual ejection is on the other side of that door and about 200,000 rads of radiation"
Twilight asked what about transporting out into space?"
Sapphire Almond said "we can't there is too much radiation."
Suddenly a console exploded in a shower of sparks Sapphire Almond ran over and checked "no no no this is very bad the electromagnetic clamps just collapsed we have 2 minutes."
Twilight said "I'm going to try something stand back" she closed her eyes and her horn began to glow it grew brighter a bright flash filled the room. She went to a console and said "Twilight to bridge raise the shields."
Suddenly the ship shook then a voice came over the communication system Twirling Lime to Twilight."
Twilight pressed a button Twilight here report."
Twirling Lime said "good news commander the alien ship has been destroyed."
Twilight said "very good for Confederation space" turning to Sapphire Almond best possible speed" she went to the medical bay and met Dr. Cheery Flitter she asked "how's Capitan Ember?"
Dr. Flitter said "he suffered a concussion but will be fine."
Twilight asked "can I see him? Dr. Flitter nodded "yes but be brief he needs to rest."
Twilight went to Capitan Ember's bedside and smiled "how are you feeling"
Ember said slightly groggily "my head hurts but I'm good how's my ship?"
Twilight smiled "it's in good condition I'll keeping your seat warm oh and...."
Ember raised an eyebrow "what happened?"
Twilight closed her eyes and told him about the events in the engine room and the alien ultimatum to her surprise he wasn't angry. He just nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder "your quick thinking saved us."
After the Nimbus returned to Confederation territory Twilight and Ember were sitting in Admiral Celestia's office.
Ember recounted the events of the Nimbus being attacked by an unknown race and how Twilight took command of the ship and used teleportation magic to eject the damaged engine core before it exploded.
Admiral Luna asked "what happened to the alien ship?"
Ember said "she threw the damaged engine core at them" Twilight just sank slightly in her seat as the admirals looked at her. He continued "based her quick thinking and degree of magical prowess I would like to recommend Twilight Sparkle for the achievement of magic."
Admiral Celestia nodded I agree what do you think Luna, Cadence?"
Both Luna and Cadence nodded.
Admiral Luna said "yes I recommend Twilight Sparkle for the achievement."
Vice Admiral Cadence said "I also recommend Twilight Sparkle for the achievement."
Admiral Celestia smiled as she stood up walked over to the wall activated her horn and magically unlocked the safe she reached in and pulled out a small box. She then returned to the table and opened the box inside was a lavender gemstone. She levitated the gem and placed it into Twilight's hands the gem glowed then flashed with lavender light. The light was bright but not blinding after the light faded Twilight looked at the gem and saw it had transformed into a star the same as her cutie mark.
Celestia smiled "wear it with pride."
Ember said "congratulations." |
UNCOVERING | pre | Before Bluey could react, he was tackled to the ground with a thud, and an gasp emitted from him. His father's body was on top of him, with enough weight to not suffocate him. For a moment, he was dazed from the surprise attack. A second later, however, he felt something that was all too familiar on his abdomen. Suddenly, Bluey snapped himself out of his daze and looked at his parent. Due to an obstructing foreleg, he could only see half of his father's tilted head. His left eye looked back at him with a mischievous look in it.
Bluey started to panic; his eyes slowly turned into pinpricks. "L-Look, Father, y-you don't have to do t-this!" He stuttered, his body lightly shaking, "W-We can t-talk thro-o-ough thi-" He was abruptly cut off before he could finish his sentence.
"Hehe, nice try, son," his father chuckled before he continued, "but you'll have to suffer the consequences of your actions!" He then opened his mouth, tilted his head backward, and sucked in a lot of air. At that moment, he looked like a shocked pony who had been told the news that his wife was pregnant.
Bluey's eyes bulged out of their sockets as he cried out, "W-wait, NO-" before he could finish his sentence, the stallion immediately brought down his muzzle and blew raspberries onto his child's tummy.
"EEEEEEEEK!" Bluey shrieked as the highly tickly sensation swept over him like a hurricane. He wriggled and bucked wildly under his father's weight, attempting to escape the ticklish onslaught brought on by him. He turned to the left and then to the right, but he wasn't able to escape the strong grip of his parent. All he could do at the moment was laugh his head off as the stallion continued to blow raspberries into his bare abdomen.
"P-Please, Father, stop!" Bluey cried out between his laughter, praying to the Harmony above that his father would stop the madness. To the colt's dismay, however, the stallion ignored the plea and continued tickling him.
Finally, after what felt like a long time (even though it was only about thirty seconds), his father stopped tickling him, giving Bluey some time to breathe. He gladly lolled and breathed a lot of air into his lungs, thankful that the nightmare was over. He lay on the floor, his strength mostly drained from the chaos. For a time, he was content where he was, rejuvenating his strength.
"Are you alright, Blue?" his father asked Bluey. He didn't respond until he felt some sort of weight added to his chest.
He opened his eyes and saw his father's head resting on top of his foreleg, which was on his chest. While his face had a smile on it, there was a hint of concern.
"What d-do you think, father?" Bluey asked with a slight stutter in his voice.
His father chuckled before replying, "Well, if you ask me, you look fine."
Bluey replied with a huff, "If by 'fine' you mean nearly out of breath and my strength mostly sucked out of me, sure..."
"Gasp! Was that disrespect I heard, my son?!" His father asked with feigned surprise. He then smirked evilly and continued, "Looks like you need to be punished again, Bluey."
The colt felt his eyes bulge out again as he panickedly replied, "F-Father, please, I don't w-want to be tickled agai-" He was cut off by a hearty laugh from the stallion.
"Haha! I was just joking, son," he replied with a cheeky smile.
Bluey rolled his eyes as he sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness, Father. Please don't do that again..." He said it with a whine in his voice.
The father chuckled as he got off of the colt and helped him to his hooves. He replied, "Hehe, no promises, Blue."
Bluey huffed in reply before he said, with a determined look on his face, "One day, father, I will take my revenge on you." He pointed a hoof at the stallion. "You will receive it when you least expect it!" he proclaimed as he flashed a grin.
The black unicorn smirked and said, "We'll see about that, Son. For now..." He took on a serious expression, puffed out his chest, and placed a hoof on it. "I am unstoppab-"
A couple of hoofsteps accompanied by a creaking noise and a familiar feminine voice interrupted him before he could finish his sentence. The voice seemed to be coming from around the bend at the end of the hallway.
"Bright and Bluey Writingson, are y'all sleeping or something? It's getting late! Hurry up for breakfast!" The mare's voice
"Whoops!" The father, now known as Bright, exclaimed with an embarrassed look as he turned his head to look behind him towards the end of the hall. He then replied to the one who called from downstairs, saying, "We are coming down soon, honey!"
"Well, you better! Don't make me come up there and drag y'all's butts to the dining table!" The mare called back with feigned anger and a playful tone to her voice. The hoofsteps audibly trotted down some steps and away to someplace in the house. The stallion chuckled before he looked back at his son, a sly grin now on his face.
"Alright, Blue, we have to hurry downstairs to where your mother and sister are so that we can eat breakfa-" His stomach growled abruptly, as if in anticipation and delight at the thought of food. Bluey giggled at the sound. "As I was saying!" his father continued with a slight irritation at the interruption. "We can eat breakfast, and you and your sister can go to school while your mother and I go to work."
"Sure, Father. Let's go!" replied Bluey excitedly.
With that, the black stallion turned and walked toward the end of the hall, and Bluey followed him. Their combined hoofsteps sounded like a cacophony of sporadic knocks on wood. They passed by three doors before they reached the end of the corridor and rounded the corner to the staircase. Bright was the first to descend the stairs, with his son following close behind. When they arrived on the ground-floor landing, they trotted down the short hallway before they came across a T-intersection. A smell of cooked eggs, hay, and a soup of some kind hit them, which caused the empty food storage organ of the adult unicorn to growl again. The scent was coming from the left doorway.
"Ah, the smell of cooked eggs and hay, and your mother's special broth for breakfast!" He exclaimed excitedly as he licked his lips. Bluey tilted his head and looked at his father with some confusion.
"Uh, Father, what is a 'broth'?"
Bright stopped and turned his head to look at his son. He then responded with a wave of his foreleg, "Oh, well, it is just a fancy word for a soup."
"Oh, alright," Bluey replied before he continued with a determined tone. "C'mon, Father, let's go and eat!!" With that, he trotted forward and into the left doorway. His father chuckled before he followed his son.
When they entered, they were met with a dining room mixed with a kitchen. In front of them was a round table with four chairs, and beyond them, in the corner, was the kitchen with the cupboards, stove, sink, and oven. On the table were four bowls, each filled with fried eggs and hay, and they were placed in front of each chair. Hanging from the ceiling overhead was a lit chandelier that had a similar design to the single one in Bluey's bathroom. Next to the kitchen's stove, was a window with its curtains partially lifted, allowing some sunlight to pour in.
Sitting on one of the chairs was Bluey's twin sister, a dark gray-furred unicorn with a long, red mane. She had a cutie mark that showed a bunch of papers with a symbol of a mouth next to them. The filly was about the same size as her brother. At that moment, she was facing away from them and was looking at the mare across from her.
The mare in question was a blue-furred unicorn with red streaks that ran across her navy blue mane. On her flank was a sewing machine with a ball of yarn next to it. She, too, faced away from the colt and the stallion and looked at the stove that had a metal pot over it. A giant wooden spoon encased in a teal glow hovered beside her. The mother and daughter were busy conversing.
"So, that is how you make that soup, Ma?" The unicorn filly asked with a tilt of her head.
"Yes, darling, as far as I remember it from my mother, your grandmother," she replied before she noisily tapped the spoon against the pot.
With the sound of Bright and Bluey's hoofsteps, they turned and looked at them. Both of their faces showed that they were relieved at their arrival.
"Finally, I thought I would have to drag both of your rumps here!" exclaimed the mare jokingly as she flicked off the stove and walked toward the dining table, placing the spoon into the pot.
"Well, we have arrived!" replied Bright as he went and sat on a chair across from his daughter, his front legs ahead of his rear ones. "So, there's no need to do that!" He chortled.
"G'morning, Mother, and good morning, Sis," said Bluey as he greeted his sister and mother with a smile.
His sister waved her hoof at him and smiled back. She replied, "Good morning, TB." One of her black eyes winked at him.
Bluey felt a little embarrassed about the nickname Lily gave him. He felt it was too childish, even though he himself was not even a stallion yet.
"Good morning, hun!" His mother responded as she brought the pot from the stove to the table with her telekinesis. The soup in the pot had steam coming from it like smoke from a chimney. She then brought up the spoon and gave each of the bowls a healthy serving. Bluey's stomach growled loudly, and his mouth started to water at the food. His mother put a hoof to her lips and snickered; his father flashed a grin at him; and his sister giggled. Bluey's cheeks started to burn from embarrassment, and he looked at them with a goofy smile.
"Sounds like somepony is starving, eh?"
"S-something like t-that, Mother," Bluey replied sheepishly as he hopped into the chair next to his sister. When he first glanced at his bowl of fried eggs and hay, he fell into a trance and forgot the embarrassing incident from earlier. His mother sat down next to her husband and asked something, which startled him and brought him back to reality.
"Alright, is every pony ready?" She looked around the table at her family members.
"I sure am, Ma," Bluey's sister replied.
"You bet I am! I can't wait to taste your 'broth', as father liked to call it," the blue colt replied excitedly. The mare chuckled in amusement before her gray eyes looked at her husband.
He winked and said, "Ready when you are, Martha."
The unicorn mare, now known as Martha, giggled and proclaimed, "Alright, everypony, let's 'dig into the meals,' as they say!"
"Woohoo!" The siblings rejoiced.
"Finally..."
Bluey thought about using the spoon his mother gave him to eat the soup, but he decided not to because he was far too hungry to conjure up his telekinesis.
With that, all of the family bent their necks forward and started to eat their meals. A loud cacophony of slurping and munching sounded throughout the room. For several minutes, it was like this. The ponies didn't talk to one another, as they were all busy eating from their respective bowls. When the family was finished, as if they were of one mind, they laid back into their chairs and sighed in unison. Their eyes were closed, and their mouths were slightly ajar in relief. A moment later, Bluey was the first to talk.
"Wow, that was pretty good, Mother," Bluey said before he opened his eyes and looked at her with a big grin. "Thank you so much!"
His sister also praised her mother, saying, "As Bluey stated, thanks for the food, Ma; it was indeed good!"
His mother's face blushed as she replied, "Why, thank you, Bluey and Lilly! It's good to know y'all have some manners, unlike your father here..." She jabbed a hoof at her husband's shoulder with a smirk. The stallion, who was resting peacefully, jerked himself upright with a surprised grunt.
He then laughed and defended himself, saying, "Haha! Woah, hey! I too was about to congratulate you, honey!"
"Well, you were too slow!"
The couple chortled while their children looked on with smiles. After the shenanigans died down, silence returned to the room. For a couple of seconds, there was only the loud ticking of a clock in the next room, and some birds chirped outside. The blue unicorn mare was the first to speak up, ending the silence.
"Has anypony heard the news that the Royal Sisters will be joining the Nightmare Night festival here in Ponyville?" Martha asked as she looked around the table.
"Wait, really?" Lilly asked with surprise evident in her voice and wide eyes. "I didn't know that they were going to come here!"
"Mhm," the mother replied. "They are planning to celebrate the festival with the Element Bearers and Princess Twilight Sparkle."
The blue unicorn colt gaped at her before replying, "Woah! That's so cool! I can't wait to see them! Who will be coming here?"
It looked like the mare was about to respond, but before she could, her husband replied first, "I've heard that all three of them would be coming here." He then exited his chair, lit up his horn, and levitated all of the bowls with a light gray glow towards the sink. What he had said surprised the siblings, as they both looked at him with astonishment and excitement.
"EEEE!" Lily squealed, her forelegs and body shook excitedly. "I can't wait to see them! Oh, I cannot wait!"
"All three of them?" Bluey, who was far more composed compared to his sister, asked with an amused look as he leaned over with interest. His forelegs rested on the table. The stallion chuckled at the colt's and Lily's reactions and nodded.
"Yes, Son, Princess Celestia and her two sisters, Princesses Luna and Moonshine, are going to be in this town tonight for the holiday."
After a couple of moments, the gray unicorn filly, who became calmer than before, lifted a hoof and asked, "Pa, if I may ask, where did you and Ma get this information? I don't remember this being in the town gossip, newspapers, or at school." Before he could reply to the question, his wife spoke up to him.
"Thank you for the help, honey; I appreciate it," Martha smiled as she got up and trotted toward the sink. She then used her magic to levitate them over a trash basket and dumped the remaining contents into it. Next, she turned the faucet on and started to clean the bowls with a sponge.
"You're welcome, Marthie," the stallion responded with her nickname before he walked to one of the kitchen's drawers and levitated a cup out of it. He then continued, "As I was about to explain, a letter that arrived an hour ago from your cousin, Fierce Fighter, after he told us many things, said that he overheard a lot of rumors that the Princesses are planning to come to Ponyville this evening."
Bluey raised an eyebrow at the name.
"Fierce Fighter? Do you mean the one with the red fur and brown mane, Father?" When the stallion nodded, he looked at his sister, who looked back at him with the same confusion. Fierce Fighter was a friendly, patriotic pegasus who was a distant cousin to Bluey. Occasionally, he would come by their house whenever the annual family reunion took place. Other than that, however, they didn't see or talk to each other. While the blue colt never had anything against the soldier, he wasn't necessarily close to him either.
The colt turned his gaze back at his father, who was pouring water into his cup from a levitated jug, and asked again, "Wasn't he supposed to be stationed in Cloudsdale?"
"Well," Bright brought the cup to his lips and sipped some water from it. When he was finished, he hovered and placed it on the table. He resumed, "According to the letter, he was moved from there to Canterlot for a reason he didn't state." He ended with a shrug.
"Hmm, interesting...," Bluey muttered as he looked at his hooves. Before he could ask another question, the clock in the other room began to ring with a repeated bong. All of them widened their eyes as realization hit them.
BONG
BONG
BONG
"Oh no! We forgot about the time!" Martha Writingson wailed dramatically as she quickly finished cleaning the last bowl and placed it into a small metal dish rack that was next to the sink. With that, she whirled around and told her still-frozen children, "Kids, hurry and pack up your things! We're all going to be late!"
Immediately, as if time itself had sped up, Bluey and his sister swiftly hopped out of their respective chairs and galloped out of the room. Bluey was the first to climb up the stairs, with his sibling not too far behind. Several times he nearly tripped, but either through sheer luck or divine internvention, he was able to make it to the top intact. After he turned the corner and went through the seemingly long hallway, he arrived at his bedroom and trotted to his bathroom. When he got inside, he quickly searched for the toothbrush and toothpaste.
"Ugh, where are they? Aha!" Bluey exclaimed as he found the toothbrush and toothpaste sitting on top of the toilet. He focused on his magic, lighting up his horn with a familiar glow. Carefully, he unscrewed the cap from the tube, placed it near the edge of the sink, and hovered the brush and paste over the sink. He then got onto the stool, which helped him see himself fully in the mirror. With the help of the mirror, he started to brush his teeth. When a minute had passed, he took out the toothbrush and rinsed his mouth using the water from the faucet.
After he placed the toiletries where he first saw them, he left the bathroom and walked to his desk with the bare window over it. When he squinted through the blinding sun, he saw that it was higher in the sky than when he last saw it. Groaning in frustration, he quickly pushed his chair aside and found his saddlebag under it. Using his magic again, he dragged the bag out and hovered it onto his back, making sure that it was secured and wouldn't fall off easily. He then used his mouth to grab his schoolbooks and other necessities, inserting them into the opening of the saddlebag.
"Bluey!" He heard Lilly calling from down the hall. Looking up, he saw his sibling looking at him from the end of the hallway, in front of her bedroom door. She had a saddlebag on her back and an anxious look on her face. She continued, "Are you ready yet? Pa and Ma are waiting downstairs."
Grunting, Bluey pushed his chair back into its place in front of his desk and quickly trotted out of his bedroom and through the hall. When he was only a couple of hooves away, he replied, "I'm ready now; let's head down, Sis."
His sister quickly nodded before she turned, went around the corner, and trotted down the staircase. Bluey then followed her, not far behind. With each step, the worn wooden stairs creaked. When they arrived at the bottom, the twins went down the short hall and went through the right doorway.
Bluey and Lilly found themselves in the den. Across from them, a couch sat in front of a fireplace encased in a stone chimney; the other portions that led upward were hidden from sight by the ceiling. Hanging above the mouth of the furnace was a big, square-shaped analog clock; the second hand loudly ticked away the seconds. An unlit chandelier that looked identical to the one in the dining room hung above the space between the couch and the chimney.
To their left was the front door with two rectangular windows on opposite sides of the doorway; their curtains were partially opened to allow sunlight into the relatively dark room. The two located their parents, who waited patiently in front of the door; they both seemed to relax when they laid their eyes on them.
"Finally, it took you long enough!" said Bright Writingson with relief in his tone. His wife, Martha, spoke next, worry and concern returned to her features.
"Are you both prepared? Saddlebags, books, everything?" When Bluey and Lily nodded, she sighed in relief, and she returned to a relaxed position. Martha then turned to Bright and said to him, "Alright, let's go, honey."
With that, the unicorn stallion lit up his horn and pulled the door open. Sunlight immediately poured through the opened doorway like a tsunami, bathing them in brilliant white.
"You all go first," he said with a smile as he stepped aside.
"Thanks, Bright," his wife thanked him as she trotted forward and through the doorway. The siblings followed suit, making sure to thank their father for his manners.
"Thanks, Father."
"Thank you, Pa!"
He replied to them, "You're welcome!" With all of his family outside, he took a last glance around the living room before he walked through the entrance and closed the door.
>--==[}_____{]==--<
END OF CHAPTER 1
EDITED ON OCTOBER 1 and 8, 2023 |
Revenge | pre | "Why are we turning lights out?"
"It makes it harder for the Scavengers to find us."
"Can't the LRSAS just beat them back with their guns and tanks?"
"You'd like to think, but Scavengers are known to overwhelm the LRSA with large numbers, often outnumbering them 3 to 1 or worse. It's easier not to take the risk." I nodded. I suppose that made sense. Ponies all over the room got to work storing all of their property in their lockers and crawling into bed for the night. I decided to stay awake a little longer.
When the soldier flicked off the light I remained sitting on the end of my bed. Somepony somewhere in the room snored and I clenched my teeth. Had I not been in this compound I'd have shoved a cork in his mouth but I didn't have that chance. It amused me when somepony close to him did so for me. I removed my hat and placed it in my lap. How was I supposed to help anypony? The Scavengers were so large and powerful that the LRSA with all their tanks and machine guns struggled to cope with them. What could I, a bisexual nineteen year old short little unicorn with limited experience, do what the LRSA and the NSA combined couldn't? I guess it was time I accepted the reality of the situation. There was no way I was going to make any difference and I should just accept it. I should just stay here in this LRSA compound and wait until somepony with some actual power sorted this out. Still the thought of just sitting by as the LRSA did all the work whilst the Scavengers were still committing atrocities to pony kind hurt bad and filled my heart with lead. Could I join the LRSA and fight with them? No, the LRSA had a very strict 'No Mares' policy within their armed forces. Apparently they were 'distracting'. I would just have to wait this out. I lay back on the bunk with my hat resting on my chest. I wanted to cry. Not for any real reason, just for the sake of feeling sorry for myself. But I bit my lip and tried my best to stay strong before I ultimately drifted off to sleep.
I woke in the morning with a head like hell and a look like death. My mane was sticking off in every which way and my eyes refused to open fully. It was still quite early in the morning and most of the other ponies were still asleep. I had always been an early riser. It was something that annoyed me. Whilst other ponies would be having a lovely long lie in on the weekends, I'd be up and at 'em at four in the morning. I half fell out of the bunk and straightened my hat on my head. I caught a quick glance at myself in a mirror and immediately removed my hat again and attempted to fix my mane as well as I could. I turned my pullover the right way round (I honestly have no idea how it had reversed itself) and then replaced my hat on my head once more. With a nod to assure myself that I was looking presentable I looked up to see if Wraith was still asleep. One of his forelegs dangled down one side, his other rested under his chest as usual. He must wake up every morning with a terribly painful hoof. I shook my head and fastened my belt around my waist, sliding my (empty) Glock into it and taking a deep breath to try and clear my fuzzy brain.
Outside was a rather pleasant view of the horizon. Or at least it would have been a pleasant view if it wasn't interrupted by a chain-link fence. The guards on either side were the same ones I'd seen yesterday and they looked ready to drop on the spot if they lost focus. They were standing stock still at the position of attention and must have been doing so all night. For their sake I hoped they were relieved soon; one of them only had one eye open and his head was beginning to droop onto his chest. On the 'street' were various different ponies, mostly LRSA going about their business but there were a few refugee ponies amongst them. It seemed that the general direction of travel was in the direction of the mess hall. I joined the flow and followed them.
The mess hall was predominantly separated into various sections. I'm not sure if there was a rule about where certain ponies should sit but they did seem to be sat in groups. The entire right side was dominated by refugees, with a few LRSA ponies interspersed between them, and the left was mostly LRSA. Almost right next to the counter sat the officers, who were easily identifiable from their rather ridiculous peaked caps. Closest to the door were the low ranking Privates and Junior NCOs and sandwiched in between them were the Sergeants and Warrant Officers. The hall was not overly crowded at this hour and there were still plenty of seats left. One advantage of waking early (although there aren't many) is that you get the best stuff at breakfast. I joined an admittedly rather long queue to get food, standing behind a rather skinny LRSA Corporal with a smooth looking pistol strapped at his waist. Another pony quickly came to stand behind me and it was a Private with no helmet on with a very neatly ironed uniform. I snorted derisively. Such things were a waste of time; whilst you're busy ironing your uniform you could be out there saving lives but no, obviously looking nice is top priority to this lot.
The stallion behind the counter was dressed in an LRSA uniform as well, but he had a white apron on over it and instead of a steel helmet he had a chef's hat perched on his head. He looked rather silly but I wasn't prepared to tell him that in case he decided not to feed me. I wasn't exactly spoiled for choice though. On one side there was a tray full of greenery, on the other was a tray of toast and in the middle was a selection of drinks. So basically my choice was celery or toast. The toast wasn't even done how I liked it; golden brown but not black so that it's still crispy but won't cover whatever you're wearing in annoying crumbs. They also didn't have any marmalade. I ended up biting the metaphoric bullet and received three slices of the (burnt) toast, and poured myself a mug of water. Charred toast and water, you can't beat the five star cuisine at the LRSA compound.
I took my breakfast in my magic and carried it over to a table of the right of the room where most of the refugees were sat. I chose a seat on its own so Wraith could join me if he got here in time. I began to absentmindedly crunch on my first slice of toast, getting annoyed as crumbs all over my pullover, and was then aware of a pony sitting down on my left. I turned to look at them and saw it as the Private who'd joined the queue behind me. He said nothing and ate his toast, which had been smothered in butter to the point where you could no longer discern between bread and dairy. He also had a mug of water, which he left almost completely untouched as he ate.
I swallowed the mouthful of toast and prepared to take another, but the Private began to say something in German and I decided to wait until he finished. He was looking at me, an expectant look on his face whilst I sat there with a half-eaten slice of toast floating in front of my face looking rather stupid. I gathered my wits and made my reply, "Sprechen Sie Englisch?"
"Oh, sorry. I forgot that you refugees don't speak my language."
"That's okay, I'm amazed that you speak mine. So far only the officers and few others have demonstrated such an ability."
"A lot of us actually speak English, but few of us can be bothered to use it."
"Oh. Well now I feel stupid."
"Don't. Anyway, I said, 'I like your hat. It makes you look like a cowgirl'."
"That's what I was going for."
"Are you?"
"No. Just a regular city filly with an active imagination." I was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. What was this Private getting at? What was he trying to accomplish.
He was an earth pony, with a dark grey coat and a black mane that looked a little too long for LRSA standards. His uniform hugged his figure tightly, despite his rather skinny build and helped to pronounce his chest and shoulders. I took a closer look at the tag on his lapel. It was in German so I didn't understand any of it but it had a picture of a telephone on it so I assumed he worked in comms. He bowed his head to me, "My name is Arno. What is yours?"
"I'm Bucky. That's it."
"You look very nice this morning Bucky. Did you sleep well?"
"Quite."
"I haven't seen you around before. Are you new here?"
"Yes. I arrived yesterday."
"Well, welcome to the compound. I hope we can make you feel as safe as possible."
"Yea, thanks."
He continued to talk, and I continued to listen, paying little actual attention and nodding occasionally or muttering the occasional, "Mmhmm," or. "Yea." Occasionally he would say something that would require an actual response, where I'd give him a brief comment before moving on. I almost jumped out of my fur when Wraith appeared seemingly out of nowhere next to me and sipped from a cup containing some form of hot coffee. Arno looked at him and scrunched his nose slightly. Wraith looked at Arno. Several awkward moments ensued in which I asked the pony opposite if there was any marmalade. Wraith coughed, "Yes?"
"Who are you?"
"Wraith. I'm with her don't worry," Wraith gestured vaguely in my direction. I shrunk back into my seat.
"Huh. Is he your coltfriend or something?"
"No! No, no, no, no, no, no. He's not my coltfriend, he's just my... uh... my companion? No my comrade. He's my sort of tutor in a way," I smiled awkwardly and couldn't help notice Wraith look a little disappointed with my response. I blushed but hid it by burying my face in my mug and draining it of its full contents.
Arno sipped carefully from his mug. He spoke to Wraith again, "So you don't mind me talking to her?"
"No. I'm just her companion." That comment carried a degree of ice that made me die a little inside. Had I offended him?
"Cool." I decided now would be a good time to pipe in.
"Let me just say; I'm a lesbian." Wraith immediately adopted a confused look and shot me a glance that sort of asked whether I was being serious. Arno snorted into his mug as some water shot up his nose. He coughed and spluttered a couple of times before he was able to talk again. When he did he gave a nervous chuckle.
"Wow, uh, okay. Well that's nice. Huh. Sheisse, look at the time, I really must get going or my Gruppenfuhrer will give me guard duty. Auf Wiedersehen, meine Kameraden." He quickly scarfed down his last slice of toast and threw the tray onto a rack as he left, ears flattened down against his skull and a flurry of red on his face.
I celebrated a small victory by leaning back in my chair whilst two ponies on the other side of the table giggled. Wraith stared at me and it took me a moment to remember why, "Oh don't worry, I'm not really. I just wanted to get rid of him." Wraith gave a sigh of... was it relief? No, probably just exasperation. I laughed to myself, "Well, better finish my toast. We've got work to do!" |
Revenge | Chapter 5 | Chapter 5
Wraith and I both finished what food we wanted for our breakfast and I left a subtle hint to the chef pony to get some marmalade. I made the hint in the form of a loud statement about how much I loved marmalade and how disappointed I was that there was a distinct lack of it. He'd shot me a cold stare and immediately went back to serving the rest of the ponies in the queue. I'm telling you, if there's no marmalade on that counter tomorrow morning then I'm filing a complaint with the head of catering.
Outside it was now looking like more of a normal day, and by that I mean it was a sensible waking time. Pretty much all of the LRSA personnel were awake by this time and some of the refugees (but most of them were still in their pits). Black clad LRSA ponies were trotting, jogging and galloping all over the campus, doing all of the necessary jobs that kept them running. A Private walked past pushing a cart of laundry towards a small hut that was likely where the washing took place whilst a Sergeant sprinted past with three more Privates in tow, headed in the general direction of the main gate. I felt the urge to pull my weight and do something. What I really wanted was a chance to mix amongst the soldiers and see if I could learn anything that could be useful to me. Wraith was having a similar idea.
I stopped to speak to a Private who trotted past, putting a hoof on his shoulder to attract his attention. He stopped and gave me a look of contempt, "Was? Was wunschen Sie?"
"Come on, I know you speak English." He snorted and nodded with a derisive look painted over his muzzle. "So, do you have any jobs that need done around here? Anything we can help with?"
He shrugged, "I do not know. Ask an officer." Note to self; never ask anything from a Private.
"Okay, I'll do that." He snorted again and resumed his casual trot, not going anywhere in particular. It made me laugh how he'd been so curt with me despite his apparent lack of objective.
Officers in the LRSA proved hard to find unless they were stopping you at check points. Most of them tended to hide themselves away in the central complex doing administrative work. The only officers we were liable to find were field officers or those in charge of supervision. Wraith and I collectively decided that it would be sensible to check by the main gate as we assumed there would be one stationed there. We made our way in the direction of the entrance, passing various other refugees milling around or playing games and LRSA personnel going about their business. I was rather impressed as a stallion with a very heavy looking machine gun around his neck walked past with a few boxes of ammunition at his sides like saddlebags and a belt across his chest. He was very large and quite intimidating and I was pleased that he was on our side and not the Scavengers. Although the Scavengers likely had plenty of these brutes of their own.
As we turned the corner that took us to the gate I walked right into a black suited stallion. He stumbled backwards and I stumbled forwards with him, righting myself before I fell. He managed to maintain his balance as well and immediately went to straighten his uniform and fix the peaked cap on his head. The stallion was a young officer with a soft face and kind eyes. He was only a second lieutenant in rank so he was inexperienced and relatively new. I immediately apologised in an attempt to save myself from a bollocking but he waved it off, "No, no, the fault is mine for not paying attention. Can I help you?"
I exhaled in relief, "It's so nice to hear a friendly voice. Usually officers around these parts will take any opportunity to shout at me."
"Shouting is the job of the NCOs. Officers should do the disciplinary work whilst the NCOs do the scaring. Anyway, can I help you?"
"Yes, actually. My companion and I," Wraith snorted and I cringed. "Were looking for jobs to do. Really it's a case of can we help you?"
The officer placed a hoof to his muzzle and furrowed his brow in thought. It took him a few moments to actually say something.
"What are your skills?"
"I can stitch fabric."
"I can fix weapons," Wraith added. The officer thought for a few moments.
"We are in desperate need of a good sewer. Some of our uniforms are getting pretty worn out. We have quite a few armourers of our own though. Can you do anything else?"
"I can shoot."
"Really? Would you be interested in joining our ranks? There's a recruiting officer in the main building."
"No."
"Oh. Okay then, well I suppose you could help out on the ranges if you like. I warn you that unless you're a member of the LRSA you won't get any pay." I smiled.
"That's okay, the only thing we want to earn is our keep."
"Well that's good to hear. If you want to head to the laundry hut you can ask some of the ponies there if they want anything repaired. And if you want to head over to the range you could help ponies to shoot better or something like that."
We both thanked the officer for the advice and he went to leave. I stopped him just as he walked past us. I asked his name. He chuckled and pointed to his name tag, "I'm Otto. I work in intelligence. If there's anything else you need, just ask somepony around and they'll tell you where to find me. Auf Wiedersehen!"
"Yea, yea. Thanks." He lowered his head and went back to his stroll. I glanced up at Wraith. "It's nice to see a friendly face for once. Somepony who doesn't want to splatter our brains out."
"I'm going to the range," Wraith turned about and headed towards the rifle ranges. I watched him go, remaining motionless until he was blocked from my view by a group of LRSA soldiers on a jog. I sighed to myself as I made my way towards what I assumed was the laundry hut.
There were no guards posted outside this building. Inside were two ponies (both Privates), one operating the machinery that cleaned all of the uniforms, the other folding and sorting them so that they could be returned to their respective owners. They were very pleased to hear that I was willing to help them and they provided me with a needle and thread and a box of fabric that they said was used to make their clothing. It was a lightweight material that was kind of like cotton and handled in a similar fashion. I found cotton to be a very easy material to work with and one of the Privates provided me with a stack of uniforms that needed mending. I set about my work, not paying too much attention, thinking more about Wraith. He seemed very offended by what I'd said; him being my companion. Was it just the term he didn't like? Maybe I should refer to him not as a companion but as a friend? Or maybe he wanted me to call him something like teacher or mentor? Or maybe it was the exact opposite, maybe he thought that after all we'd been through he deserved to be called more than that. What did he want me to do? If he was trying to drop subtle hints he was being a little too subtle for me.
I picked up the next uniform in the pile. I'd done three so far, all of which simply needed a quick touch up to try and remove scuff marks from the elbows, but this next uniform was different. It had a line of small holes running all the way across the torso from the right hip to the left shoulder. I turned it around. The holes on the back were significantly larger than those on the front, "What happened to this?"
"Machinegun fire. Poor colt didn't even know what hit him."
"You just recycle old uniforms?"
"We don't have the resources to make more and getting them shipped here is a waste of valuable fuel and manpower. My own uniform has a large hole in the side where a sniper's bullet has passed through it," he showed me where the hole had been patched over. "Last colt to own that one was young, I'd say seventeen at the most."
I turned the uniform over again. The bullets must have punched right through the soldier's ballistic armour, then right through him, then right out the back. He'd only been seventeen. He was two years younger than me and he'd been cut down before he'd had a real taste of the world. He was just a colt. He didn't deserve to die. Did he die knowing that he was fighting a losing battle, or was he delirious from propaganda and died in a vain attempt to save the day? Either way, nopony that young should have to die on a battlefield.
I put the uniform down. I couldn't bring myself to do any more. I wasn't going to fix this uniform knowing that some other young colt would only wear it and die too. I thanked the Privates for their time and left without a backwards glance. I had to act. There was no way I was going to sit by and let this murder continue indefinitely. If I was going to die I'd rather die attempting to make a difference, with a pistol in one hoof and a knife in the other. Wraith and I had to speak to the officer in charge. We had to gain access to that central building.
I found Wraith on the rifle range, teaching a young stallion how to hold a rifle properly. I could tell he was getting rather frustrated from the way he ran his hoof through his mane every time the stallion did something wrong. The stallion wore a loose black shirt with the sleeves rolled up halfway and was holding a hunting rifle in his hooves in a very awkward position. Wraith unslung his own rifle and showed the stallion the proper technique, then demonstrated a suitable firing stance. I interrupted their training session just as the stallion asked, "Can't I just stand how I want? What difference does it make?"
"Whether you shoot well or whether you shoot poorly, that's what difference it makes!"
"Yeah, but it just seems so impractical, ya know? I mean, can I just stand like this? It's so much more comfortable."
"No, you can't stand like that because the recoil will knock you over! Do you know anything about firearms beyond 'bang'?" I thought this would be a good opportunity to interject and I hastily apologised to the stallion before pulling Wraith aside. He silently fumed before turning to me. "These ponies are unteachable! They don't have the necessary respect for their weapons needed to master the art of shooting. What do you want?"
"We have to talk to the commanding officer. We need to get out of here."
"Why, are the Scavengers coming?"
"No, but I can't just sit here and let the LRSA do all the work. They're slow and it takes too long for them to get anything done. I think they'd rather sit here and wait for the Scavengers to attack than do anything about them." Wraith nodded in agreement.
"I concur, and I can't stand to be around this lot for one minute longer than I have to."
"So we speak to the commander tomorrow morning?"
"Yes. We say it is urgent. That we have important information or something. Anything to get us out of here."
I nodded and turned to leave Wraith with his new student. He almost yelled in annoyance as the stallion asked what I assumed was another stupid question and I afforded myself a small smile. I spent the rest of my afternoon cleaning my Glock as Wraith had taught me to, ensuring that all of the parts were working properly and that it wasn't going to give up on me when I needed it. I hastily wolfed down my dinner, which consisted of more bread (and no more marmalade) and some form of oat meal that almost made me sick to look at. Night came around soon after and most of the refugees were back in the barracks, and most of the LRSA personnel were preparing for sentry or getting ready for a night's rest. I had originally planned to spend the remaining time I had in the barracks reading, but the noise drove me away. I had a mild headache and the last thing I needed was the noise of foals screaming all around me. Instead I had taken refuge in the rifle range, sitting on the bench and gazing up at the stars. It was too dark for reading and I was enjoying the peace and quiet.
I leaned back and sighed. My body felt worn out from everything it had been put through. The memories of my old life seemed distant, despite the fact it had been just more than a week since I'd been forced away; since the Scavengers changed my life forever. It hadn't all been hard knocks and heartbreak though. I'd met Wraith, and Mystery, and Eagle. I'd discovered more about myself than I wanted to know and I'd learnt many new things, forcing myself to adapt. I'd done things, seen things that no pony should have to. I'd taken lives. For some reason I wished that I'd never been born. All I knew was struggle. Death and despair seemed to follow me like a plague. It was like I was cursed. I glanced left, I glanced right. I was completely alone.
I subtly snaked a hoof down to my legs. Cut me some slack, I was a horny nineteen year old who'd known nothing but trauma for the past week, I needed something I could enjoy. I flinched slightly, surprised by how sensitive I was to my own touch. I kind of played around a little trying to conjure up some image that I could use, trying to draw on my recent experiences for inspiration. Then I heard a voice to my right, "There you are." I yelped in immediate panic, snapping my hoof back to my side and clamping my legs together, a deep blush appearing on my face. I looked to see who it was that had disturbed me in the deeply personal moment and saw Wraith standing at the entrance to the range. I exhaled deeply and relaxed my shoulders slightly.
"Fuck, don't sneak up on me like that. You scared me half to death."
"Sorry. I just wanted to know where you were."
"I'm right here. Why, is something wrong? Has somepony asked to see me?"
"No. You weren't in the barracks. I wanted to know that you were safe."
"Yea, yea I'm fine," I sighed to myself. I was silently willing Wraith to go away and leave me alone, but then I said. "Wait, are you implying that I can't take care of myself? I'll have you know that I've spent the majority of my life catering for myself and I don't need you to constantly be looking out for me! The NSA molly coddled me enough. I don't want you to do so as well. Jeeze, I can't get a minutes peace!" In hindsight that was a bit of an overreaction but Wraith had interrupted a rather intimate moment and I wasn't best pleased. Wraith looked down at the floor.
"Sorry. I'll go."
"Wait. I'm sorry I snapped at you. I'm just a little stressed out at the moment and I kinda wanted some along time for once."
"That's okay. I understand."
Wraith turned to leave and when he was out of view I tried to return to my fantasies but found that I couldn't bring me self to summon up the energy. Frustrated, I yelled quietly to myself and picked myself up, slowly walking back to the barracks before they closed it and I was locked out. Few ponies were around at this time, and the only ones I did meet were LRSA personnel. I passed a group of stallions armed with submachine guns donning a strange type of uniform that made them look like bushes and a set of goggles that looked like binoculars but with green lenses. There were no lights in the compound and anypony still awake by this point had to navigate by vision were possible, and memory were it was not.
When I got back to the barracks the guards were just about to close up and I managed to slip in past them and get to my bunk before they locked the doors. To my amazement some of the ponies here were already sleeping. I couldn't sleep. I simply lay on my bed, wide awake if anything but with a throbbing headache. Looks like Wraiths surprise had made it worse. I would have laid thinking but my painful head made that impossible, so I just lay there like a fish, not doing or thinking of anything in particular, just waiting to fall asleep.
As is the general cycle, morning came a few hours later. I'd fallen asleep eventually and must have slept for a good few hours, but it felt like I'd just woken up from a five minute doze. It was substantially later than the time I usually woke at (I'd have gauged the time to be about nine o'clock) and I didn't feel much like dragging myself out of my bunk. However, today was important and I needed to get ready. Today Wraith and I confronted the encampment's commanding officer about further plans. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. Originally I was spurred on by the fear of being killed, raped and tortured by Scavengers but it had been a while since I'd seen the dreaded khaki uniform (I hadn't delved into my saddlebags for the entirety of our stay so I hadn't even seen Wraith's) and fear of being captured was what seemed like a distant memory. Just another reason to get back into the fray. There were ponies out there, innocent ponies who just wanted a quiet life, who were being brutally murdered or kidnapped by these savages and I couldn't sit by on my arse and watch it go on from behind a chain link fence and a cohort of machineguns.
I debated whether or not to wear my belt and decided to just settle for throwing it over my back. I fixed my hat on my head and made my move for the door. I passed a mirror on the way and caught a glimpse of myself as I walked past. Then I back peddled furiously to get a better look. The last time I looked in a mirror my clothes were fresh, my mane and tale were neatly brushed and my fur was well washed, glistening I dare say. As I stared back into my reflection I struggled to accept that it was me I was looking at. My mane was a mess of hair like I'd never seen. The style was the same but odd tufts stuck out and it was a little more bedraggled. My fur was dirty, covered in sand, mud and blood and my clothes were likewise stained. There was even a tear in my pullover that I hadn't noticed before. The lack of a shower had really taken its toll on me. I also reminded myself how I hadn't washed my clothes in over a week, or even taken them off for that matter. I immediately felt filthy and made a mental note to dive into the first stream, lake, river, reservoir, fountain, puddle or sink I came across.
The sun was a little duller than it had been in previous days and the air was much cooler, with a slight cold breeze beginning to pick up from the west. I glanced over at the horizon and noticed a large mass of miserable grey clouds looming. Typical that the day I chose to leave was the day that the weather decided it wanted to piss in my face. I half walked half trudged my way to the mess hall and sat down with my toast (still not done right and still without marmalade) and slowly crunched on it. I made a quick mental checklist of all the things Wraith and I needed. We still had plenty of food left over from the Wanderers (who had been pretty generous); we would have to get our ammunition back from the LRSA and water was beginning to run short so that would need replenishing. I couldn't bring to mind anything else we could possibly need.
I began to seriously consider putting butter on my toast to give it some form of flavour (I actually hated butter with a passion, hence my reluctance) when Wraith joined me. I looked up at him, "Where have you been?"
"About."
"Thanks. How infallibly useful."
"You're a little grumpy. Cheer yourself up before we speak to the commandant."
"Can I be grumpy until then?" It wasn't that I was pissed off with Wraith, it was a combination of various things. For a start I was getting restless. On top of that I was tired (apparently the longer I sleep the worse I feel) and to top everything off Wraith had interrupted a very private moment last night and I wasn't ready to fully forgive him for that.
"I suppose I can't stop you."
"No. When did you want to have this chat?"
"As soon as possible. I want to get out of here. I don't like being surrounded by all these soldiers who'd likely shoot me on the spot if they knew where I came from. I want to get out of here soon."
"I agree. Is there anything you desperately need that we don't already have?"
"No."
"Good, because I wasn't readily prepared to get it for you."
When I again finished my breakfast and made my anything but subtle complaint about the lack of marmalade (not for my sake but for the sake of everypony that had to eat this tasteless bread without the sweet flavours of the appropriate topping) I put my belt on properly and did my best to make myself look vaguely presentable. This basically consisted of straightening my hat again and not much else. Wraith and I made the short trip to the entrance of the main tower. The door was doubled, with two very stern looking guards outside (and I could have sworn I'd seen a sniper up on the top of the tower looking down on us). The guards didn't look in any position to let us in but we needed to talk with the commanding officer so I was prepared to do almost anything (the key word here is almost) to get us in.
"Hello fine sirs."
"Go away." A good start. They were evidently very friendly. I'd already given Wraith prior warning to the fact that I was going to try and use manipulation to get past them, and that he shouldn't interrupt me. The key to manipulation is to find a weakness and exploit it. For Wraith all I had to do was pick up on the fact that he found me annoying. These guards though would likely be a tougher nut to crack.
"We want to speak to your commanding officer."
"Has he sent for you?"
"No."
"Then go away." I frowned. I was beginning to very strongly dislike this pony's attitude. He was a muscular earth pony armed with a large shotgun and holding the rank of Sergeant. I looked over at his friend, who hadn't even glanced in our direction so far. He was considerably younger, ranking only as a Private and was armed with the standard issue assault rifle of the LRSA. I called over to him.
"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes." He still refused to move. This guy was pretty good at the whole 'stand here and don't move thing' although I think he took it a little too literally for his own good. I studied his physique and his general aura. He was quite lanky and looked maybe a year older than me. His uniform was perfect (as in literally there wasn't a fault in it) and his rifle was spotlessly clean, as was his helmet. I averted my gaze from the rather steely Sergeant and sauntered over to the young Private. "So, how long have you been here?" He refused to respond. I swear if this little bastard didn't move at some point I was going to punch him in the face, then see how he responded. The Sergeant coughed.
"You may speak freely, Private." The Private merely nodded.
"Yes Sergeant. I've been here for two years. I signed up four years ago though. I was stationed in Leipzig before being transferred here."
I raised an eyebrow. Is that so? I smiled to myself. I now had information that I could use to get under his skin. Hopefully I could come up with something that would convince him to let us in. I cleared my throat, "So, you've come here all the way from Germany?"
"Yes."
"Did you have family there?"
"Just my mother. My father left when I was young."
"Mine too," this was a lie, but he didn't know that. "I bet you miss your mother."
"Yes, but I write to her."
"Does she write back?" The Private cleared his throat before continuing. A sure sign that I was beginning to get somewhere.
"Um... No."
"Mmm, shame that. Mine doesn't either. I keep writing but she never responds. I know where she is, but I don't have the resources to visit her, see? I was looking to speak to your commandant to see if I could requisition some supplies for a journey. I won't take long, I promise. Maybe when you're on leave we could get together at some point?"
"Uuh, I... I guess."
"So, are you going to let me in?" I made sure to turn slightly to one side when I asked this, giving a quick flick of the tail which had the effect of attracting attention to my rear. I could see the stallion swallow quietly. I knew how to get my way with colts.
"I... uh... I'm not supposed to let you in without consent from my Sergeant." The Sergeant groaned.
"Let them in. I'm sick of listening to her."
I gave an internal whoop of joy and smiled to myself as the evidently quite flustered stallion tapped a rather long password into a panel next to the door. I heard a buzz and then a click and the stallion pushed the door open. Wraith entered first, without even a nod in either direction, and I quickly followed suit, making sure to give another quick flick of my tail as I walked past. It served me no real benefit now that I'd already achieved my goal but I just liked to mess with stallions. They were so easy to manipulate it was almost laughable, particularly young ones.
The doors closed behind us and I paid attention to my new surroundings. The room we were in was fairly large, with a well polished floor, white walls and a few doors leading off into various side rooms. There were noticed boards pinned up all over the walls with various messages and memoirs tacked to them. The door directly ahead had a plate on it, reading 'Leutnant Karl Blitzen, Verwaltung'. I hadn't a clue what it meant but I assumed it was an officer and I assumed it was someone I needed to talk to so I knocked on the door and waited for a response. After a few moments I heard the officer call, "Jawohl?" I pushed open the door and peeped in. The officer was leaning back in his chair and staring at me as if expecting me to say something. He wasn't dressed in the usual dark uniforms of the LRSA but was instead wearing a metallic grey uniform and instead of silver rank stripes he had gold. He continued to stare at me and I stared back. I gulped.
"Hi?"
"Was ist los?"
"No, I don't speak German. Can you speak English?"
"Civilians are not allowed in the central tower. Who let you in and why?"
"We want to speak to the commandant."
"Why?"
"We have information about nearby Scavenger movements that could be of great importance." The officer removed his peaked cap and stroked back his mane. I could tell he was pondering what I'd just said and silently debating whether or not he should tell me where to go. Ultimately he replaced his cap on his head and nodded.
"Okay, if you go through the door on your right you will find a stairwell. Go up until you reach the very top and then tell the guards what you told me. I'll telephone ahead and let them know you are coming."
I thanked him and closed his door. I gestured to Wraith that we should go and he nodded, following me as I pushed open the door to the stairwell and began to climb. By the time I reached the top my legs were aching. It was deceptively higher than it looked and the stairs seemed to go on forever. I pushed open a door into a large room that was similar to the one below but smaller and with fewer extra doors. There was a door that lead to what I assumed was a balcony, a door that was sign posted but in German not English, so I had no idea what it was. The only remaining door was dead ahead with another two guard ponies standing outside. These were both Sergeants in ranks and both armed with shotguns. They also were dressed in the drab grey I'd seen on the officer on the first floor and I assumed that that was the uniform of the ponies in the central tower. The door had a plate on it like the one below which read 'Oberstleutnant Jurgen Fetlok, Kommandant'. I was preparing to flaunt my ass for the guards again but they recognised us as the ponies who'd been referenced by the lieutenant below and let us in with little argument. I nodded as I entered and was quite impressed by the layout of the room.
The centre piece of the room was a large wooden desk, upon which were pens, paper and various other items of stationery. There were a few paintings adorning the walls and several rows of filing cabinets along the back. There was a German flag draped across the front of the desk with a name plate that was almost identical to the one on the door except in the form of a prism perched on top. The pony behind the desk looked fairly experienced and wore the same grey uniform (which I was beginning to think was a little boring) but seemed to present himself with an air of superiority which annoyed me greatly. The most interesting part of the room, however, was how the mutants cradle on his desk click clacked from side to side. Kind of puts into perspective how neat and orderly (and uninteresting) the rest of the room was. The officer looked up from some riveting looking paperwork in order to address us, "Guten Tag. I am Lieutenant Colonel Fetlok. Please sit down." I accepted the invitation and to my surprise so did Wraith. This was actually the first time he'd accepted a seat from anypony.
The Lieutenant Colonel clacked his hooves together in thought, mimicking almost the noise of the mutants cradle which still dominated my attention. Eventually he said, "My Lieutenant warned me of your arrival. He said you have information on Scavenger movements. Is this so?"
"No," I immediately replied.
"Yes," Wraith replied immediately after me. The officer looked from me to Wraith, with a vaguely confused look on his face. Wraith stared blankly at the officer. I stared with interest at the mutants cradle. The officer coughed.
"Who do I believe?"
"We have information on possible Scavenger movements in the area. See, we recently escaped from the Scavengers and they are liable to be hunting us. If they follow a logical path then they will end up here like we did. I recommend that..."
"I don't need you to recommend me anything. Need I remind you who the Lieutenant Colonel is here?" Wraith silenced himself, the loathing in his eyes capable of boiling water. "You recently escaped? How?" This was when I chimed in.
"Wraith infiltrated their ranks, stole a uniform, freed me from the cell and we both high tailed it out of the place." The officer stared at me sceptically. I could tell he didn't believe my story.
After several awkward minutes of silence the officer coughed again, "A day or two ago, my operator received a transmission from one of our forward sentries stating that two extra refugees were headed our way. They also warned us that one of them was a Scavenger. Moments later you two arrived. Now that could just be coincidence, but I don't think so. One of you is a Scavenger. Who?" Shit. I'd forgotten about radios and their ability to convey long distance information. I tried to think of something clever to say that would get us out of having to answer him but Wraith spoke up first.
"Me. I'm a Scavenger." The officer furrowed his brow.
"You are brave to admit to such a thing. Your kind are the lowest forms of pony kind this planet has ever seen, other than the Nazis." That had to sting. "We don't tolerate Scavengers. My soldiers have been keeping close watch on both of you. They are getting restless and if I were you I would consider leaving." I brightened up at that.
"That's actually what we wanted to do. Do you have any suggestions as to where we can go to from here? Anywhere that may be more willing to shelter us?"
"You may try visiting the Wanderer town of Refuge. If they live up to their namesake then they'd likely be willing to take you in. However, reaching it will either require you to make a very large trek through some heavily forested areas or travel straight through Scavenger territory. Not that you'd mind that of course. There have also been reports of sightings of Factory personnel in the area."
I nodded to myself. That sounded like the sort of place we needed to go, but I was not overjoyed at the mention of 'Scavenger territory' or 'Factory personnel'. Both were very bad news, "How long would it take us to reach Refuge if we travelled through the forest?"
"At a good pace, I'd say a week or two."
"And if we went through Scavenger territory?"
"You'd probably manage it in about three days, given that you don't run into any Scavengers on your journey." Well, it was like being between a rock and a hard place. One route would take us weeks of perilous journeying; the other would take us days of even more perilous journeying. I had a quiet conversation with Wraith about which course of action we should take. In the end, despite my protests, we decided on making the journey through Scavenger land and hoped to get lucky. As Wraith very rightly pointed out, we didn't have enough supplies for a week long journey.
We concluded our meeting by asking where we could refill our canteens and reclaim the weapons and ammunition confiscated from us. The officer directed us to the armoury, where we would be guided to a room filled with weapons and ammunition confiscated from refugees, where we could reclaim our lost ammunition. As for canteen refills, he suggested we just went to the mess hall. I thanked him (although I wasn't very thankful at all) and Wraith and I left the room. I was looking forward to turning my back on the place. The LRSA routine didn't sit well with me and I didn't like being constantly surrounded by Germans who thought they were better than me.
Half way down the stairs, however, who should I run into but Arno, the stallion who worked in comms that had tried to hit on me. I almost ran headlong into him and nearly knocked him down the stairs. He righted himself and straightened his uniform, "Careful. You could have killed me!"
"Get out of my way, Arno, I'm busy."
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" He asked, putting himself defiantly between me and the remainder of the stairs. I swear, I wanted to buck this guy in the face.
"Arno, get out of my way. This is important."
"Hardly. What could you be doing that's so important? I'm fairly certain my work is more important than yours."
"Arno, I swear, get out of my way or I'm going to make sure you fall down every one of the remaining stairs. If your work is so important then how can you afford to stop and block my path?" The stallion did nothing but shrug. That was it, I'd had enough. I let an aura encase my horn with a massive surge of energy I flung Arno against a wall as he cried, "Donner und Blitzen!" He hit the wall with a thud and groaned. I ran past him down the stairs and had I been able to I would have made a very disrespectful sign. Wraith followed close behind me.
I skidded on the floor of the main lobby and ran headlong into the door, which failed to open. I ended up hitting it hard with a loud thunk that knocked me backwards onto my rump. The Lieutenant in the room behind me opened the door and looked out, calling something in German. At the same time the doors slid open as the Private poked a concerned looking face into the hall. I stood up, fixed my hat and gave him a coy wink as I walked past. Wraith gave him a look that would have killed him were it able to. I groaned in frustration, "I can't take any more of this. We need to go. These LRSA ponies are going to drive me to insanity." I would actually go so far as saying that my time with the Scavengers was more pleasant. At least in the cell I had Mystery to talk to and I was left alone most of the time.
Wraith and I refilled our canteens at the mess hall and, having checked that we had all of our equipment, made our way to the armoury to reclaim our ammunition. The armourer was another Lieutenant, his name tag reading 'Leutnant Augpolitz, Waffenschmied'. He was a little kinder than most of the other ponies we'd encountered and immediately agreed to take us to the room containing all of the refugee's ammunition. He located the boxes that matched our details and handed them to us. We filled our saddlebags and pockets with the loose rounds and clips before I piped up in confusion, "Hang on, where's my bayonet?"
"Excuse me?"
"I had a German bayonet before I came here and it's not in this box. Where is it?"
"It was confiscated as property of the LRSA. We took it to better arm our own troops." All I had now was my kitchen knife that I'd raided from Cinnamon's corpse. I scowled to myself. These LRSA ponies were beginning to annoy me more than Scavengers. Actually no, the Scavengers annoyed me a lot more. These ponies were just very frustrating. When Wraith certified that he had all that he'd come in with, we left the armoury and headed straight for the main gate. The officer in command pointed us in the direction of Refuge and we set course, leaving the encampment. The gates closed behind us and I felt very exposed again. But I also felt free. No more LRSA ponies to tell me what to do! I was a bit upset about again leaving a well-fortified area in which I'd likely be safe, but I had my reasons for leaving, and Wraith and I both bowed our heads and began the next stage of our journey. |
Revenge | Chapter 6 | Chapter 6
Then we were bowing our heads as rain began the first stage of its journey. It began as a light spit but very quickly turned itself into a downpour to end all downpours. Rain hammered down on my hat, beating my head like an abusive parent and soaking me through to the skin. I was cold, wet, tired and generally quite miserable. The only positive thing I could find in my situation was the fact that the Scavengers were likely a little less willing to go hunting for us in the pouring rain. They were likely tucked away in shelters or keeping warm and dry and generally doing the smart thing and avoiding the rain.
The terrain left a lot to be desired. The ground beneath our hooves quickly turned to mud and there was little cover save from a few trees. What little foliage there was was jagged or covered in some sort of pointy appendage that made them less than appealing for shelter. Wraith and I had only been walking for a few hours but I was beginning to get very tired of the activity. On top of a small rise I spied a small (and relatively run down) shack and pointed this out to Wraith. If anything it would give us some shelter from the rain and the increasingly powerful wind. He agreed but suggested we go in ready for a fight as with such little shelter, the Scavengers had likely already occupied it.
We made our way towards it, Wraith hanging back slightly and aiming his (now fully loaded) rifle at the only window that faced us. There didn't appear to by anypony inside and I stood myself by the door, pistol at the ready gripped in my magic. I'd realised that it would be much more efficient if I fired the weapon this way where possible, leaving my hooves free for activities such as running or hitting ponies in the face. Wraith joined me, standing on the other side of the door. I took a deep breath and watched carefully as Wraith silently counted down from three... two... one.
As he reached the final count he turned and barged into the door, shoulder first, bringing his rifle to bear. I swung in after him pointing my pistol into the room but relying on Wraith to pull the shots. The hut (which was composed of a single room) was completely void of pony life, save for me and Wraith of course. I slid my pistol back into its holster and surveyed the interior. There was a round table at near enough the centre and two chairs, one of which was over turned. There was an oven which I doubted still worked and a fridge, which I likewise doubted the functionality of and dreaded opening for fear of the stench of rotten food. There was also a cupboard above the work surface and a steel safe which looked firmly shut. Wraith slung his rifle back over his back.
I shut the door to keep out the wind and sat myself down at the table, "So what do we do now?"
"We can't wait this storm out for long or the Scavengers will find us. I suggest we spend the night, then get on the move again." I nodded in agreement. Until then I'd do my best to try and relax. The first thing I did was turn my attention to the steel safe. I wasn't a master locksmith and lockpicking wasn't really my talent, but I did have a little experience with the art from my thieving days. I asked Wraith is he had a bobby pin on him and instead he handed me a set of keys, "It's probably one of these."
"Where did you get them?"
"They were on top of the safe." I blushed with embarrassment and began the process of finding the correct key. It was the sixth one along out of a total of six. With a sigh I twisted the key in the lock and heard a satisfying click as the deadbolt slid out of place. I pulled back on the keys, forcing the door to swing open and reveal the safe's contents.
Inside the rather gloomy safe was a small pistol (which was a different shape to any I'd seen before) and what looked like a bag of bullets. I took the pistol and the bag of rounds and showed them to Wraith. He cocked back the pistol to check if there were any rounds left in the chamber before declaring, "It's a HK USP, chambered in the same size as your Glock. I'm assuming those rounds are 9mm. Let me see them," he emptied the rounds out onto the table. They looked a little weird, with the tips of the bullets bent inwards. Wraith smiled, "Hollow point ammunition. Load that up into your pistol and it's going to wreak some havoc." I scooped up the bullets in one hoof. Wraith proceeded to show me how to load, of 'bomb', magazines with rounds and soon I had a magazine of eight hollow point rounds ready to go and another seven in back up. I put the clip in one of my magazine pouches and tipped the rest of the loose rounds into a compartment in my saddlebags for later use.
Well with the thrill of the safe over I decided to see what I could find in the cupboard. There wasn't a lot in there. However, I was overjoyed to find an (unopened) jar of marmalade, which I hastily tucked into my saddlebags underneath Wraith's uniform. That was the point where I removed his uniform and threw it over his head, "I don't need to carry this anymore." He didn't answer with words and simply slipped the khaki tunic over his head and straightened the brassard. There was nothing else in the cupboard worth looting so I peeked into the oven, which was empty. I refrained from opening the fridge for aforementioned reasons.
There was only one window in the entire hut, which provided what would, under normal circumstances, have been quite a nice view. There were two door, one which we'd come through and one which I assumed led to the back garden. I was correct, and as I opened the door what felt like a bucket's worth of water tipped onto my head, causing my hat to droop down over my eyes. Severely unamused, I glanced up to see what had soaked me further. It was a drain pipe which had broken from all of the rain water collecting in it. I snorted in derision. The back garden was fenced off from the rest of the terrain and had a gate mounted in it towards the far end. There was also a very large water tank in one corner with a less equally large wooden tub positioned underneath a tap. I twisted the tap experimentally and a stream of water flowed into the already full tub. I stuck my tongue out to taste the water from the tap. It tasted clean and relatively fresh. That was good; we had a source of clean water. I twisted the tap again to turn it off so as not to waste anymore of the water, then returned to the comforts of the indoors.
To my vague dismay, Wraith had opened the fridge door. To my vague disappointment, there were no freshly severed heads or other body parts which would indicate that the Scavengers had been through the area recently. Instead there was just a pony's skull, so either the Scavengers hadn't been here in a while or they'd just sheared the head of all its meat. That's kind of why I'd have preferred to find somepony's head; then there would be no doubt in my mind that the Scavenger's frequented this place. Wraith sniffed, "Nice."
"Hey, these are your comrades here."
"That's not why I joined the Scavengers."
"Well, you fly with the crows you can expect to be shot at." Wraith nodded.
I spent the rest of the afternoon on edge, expecting to see Scavengers every time I looked out the window. It confused me a little though. Why would somepony want to live out here, far from any form of civilisation? I mean, the only reason the LRSA compound was there was because the Scavengers infested the area like ants infest sugar water and the city of Refuge was a Wanderer city established after the revolution. The nearest major city to us was probably either Manehattan or Fillydelphia, but both were some way off. It didn't look like a farming district, so maybe they just liked their solitude? Well, the arrival of the Scavengers must have come as quite a surprise for the inhabitants of this little shack.
I occupied myself by searching the cabin top to bottom for extra supplies. All I found, though, were solemn reminders of a hard struggle. On one wall was a fairly large blood splatter that had dried over time, and on the floor nearby were several loose teeth. There were scrapes all along the walls, holes in the table and floor and spent shell casings around both doors. I looked carefully at the safe. I noticed that on the floor near were I'd found it was a large scrape as if somepony had dropped it and tried moving it. The safe itself was stained with dried blood on one side and only now did I notice the bloody meat cleaver on the work surface. The surface itself was so heavily stained with blood that the material beneath was almost unrecognisable (some form of granite which was polished smooth). I picked up the cleaver and tested the edge with my hoof. The edge was rather blunt. It must have been a slow and painful death.
Above the work surface, in the wooden walls, I found some marks. They looked like etchings made with a chisel and I soon discerned names. There was 'Thunder', then 'Carbine', then 'Tsunami' but the clearest of all (and also the biggest) was 'Splinter'. I showed Wraith, "Grim, huh?" Wraith failed to reply. He simply stared at the last name on the list. "What? Is something wrong?"
"That," he said, pointing his hoof at the final etching. "Is an evil beast." He was almost shaking, as if in fear. He clapped a hoof to his forehead and sat back down at the table, a look of pain twisting his face. Concern immediately dominated mine and I quickly asked him what was wrong. He waved a hoof at me, "Nothing. Nothing's wrong. Bad memories. I'm fine."
"You didn't have anything to do with," I waved my hoof around generally. "This? Did you?"
"Lord no, but I don't like seeing that last name. Leave me alone. I'm fine." I tried to assist further but Wraith insisted that I just ignore him (several times) so I eventually gave up. I stared at the name. It didn't strike any chords with me. To me it was just a well carved memoir of the horrible pony who'd performed this awful deed. Still, I added it to memory. Maybe someday it would become useful. I added all the other names to my repertoire as well, extending the list of ponies that I wanted revenge on. If I wasn't careful I would be putting half of Equestria to death.
I would have enjoyed watching the sunset, but the rain and cloud made it impossible to see the sun at all, so one moment I was in daylight, then the next it had gone dark. Wraith dug around in the garden (not literally) until he uncovered a lamp in an old chest that had been tucked up against the exterior wall. After some serious effort we managed to get it lit. It was hard to do without any matches, but Wraith found a small cigarette lighter discarded and buried in the grass outside, so we used what little fuel was left in that to light the lamp. I huddled close to it, not really for warmth but because I felt a lot safer nearer to the light. I ate an apple that I had left over from my time with the Wanderers just to tide me over until I could come across a more substantial meal and drank from my canteen. I wasn't massively worried about using too much water, as the tank outside had more than enough water to refill both of our canteens several times over.
The night was quite thick, as was the rain, and it was hard to see very far in any direction. However, around midnight, Wraith blew out the lamp and ducked down in cover. He quickly whispered, "I can see lights. Probably benign, but I'm not taking the chance. I glanced out the window. Sure enough, four lights could be seen slicing through the darkness, like the beams from a torch. I couldn't discern whom they belonged to, but they were definitely moving and heading in our direction. I told Wraith this and he swore under his breath. He cocked his rifle to check if it was loaded, then proceeded to actually load it. I slid my clip of hollow points into my pistol, ready to start shooting should hell break loose.
Wraith and I waited with held breath for a few minutes. I could feel the grip of my pistol beginning to get slippery as I sweated with fear. I hated fighting Scavengers. The only time I had come anywhere close to it, I'd been captured and taken as a slave. I wasn't too eager to repeat that, especially not with this lot who appeared to be a lot more violent than the Scavengers that had invaded my home. I could hear voices over the sound of heavy rain. One of them was definitely feminine. I heard her say something, then receive a reply from what sounded like a stallion. The two others didn't do much talking so I couldn't tell much about them. I hoped they were friendlies.
The voices got louder and louder until I could hear them on the opposite side of the wall. I heard the mare say, "I wouldn't get your hopes up," before the front door was opened. The mare stepped in and shone her torch around. From what I could discern, she had a pastel green coat and a more minty coloured mane. Her mane was swept back and it made her look like she'd flown through a wind tunnel (which she hadn't, she was a unicorn) and on her head slanted at a jaunty angle was a garrison cap. My heart sank when I saw the unmistakable khaki tunic. It was soaking wet and clung tightly to her body. Her cutie mark was a toothbrush. In her hooves she clutched a sizeable assault rifle with the torch attached to a rail on the side. Underneath the weapon on a separate rail was a long tube with a trigger system of its own. The weapon was rather intimidating. She shone the torch over the work surface, then over the open safe. She frowned and cocked her assault rifle. She shone the torch over the table, spotting the still smoking lamp. She called over, "Hey guys, I think somepony's been here."
I would have silently cursed if my throat wasn't constricted with fear. Wraith put a hoof over his eyes as the Scavenger shone her torch over his face. The Scavenger called back, "T'sokay guys! It's just another one of us." As soon as she'd finished talking I stood up, lined up my sights and fired off a single round at the mare's head. I recoiled in surprise as her face exploded, a massive hole appearing in her head where once her eyes, muzzle and general facial features had been. She stumbled backwards and hit the wall, sliding down it and leaving a thick trail of fresh, blackish red blood in her wake. These hollow points were horrific.
I heard a loud yell of, "SHIT!" and readied myself to make another shot. Something was thrown through the window. It appeared to be a long metal tube covered in holes. I looked suspiciously at it and then was forced to cover my eyes as it emitted a violent flash of white light. I stumbled backwards, my vision completely shot and my ears ringing. I heard another gunshot and then the cocking of a rifle. I franticly and furiously rubbed my eyes in an attempt to restore my vision. I was entering a blind panic. Ha, blind panic! I just got that! I was scared that I'd been permanently blinded, but slowly my vision returned to me. I managed to make out the corpse of another Scavenger on the floor at the hooves of the first one, this time a stallion, his shotgun lying at my hooves. I picked it up. The device was unfamiliar to me. None of the NSA guards had ever wielded a shotgun so I had no idea how to properly operate it. Still, it had a trigger so I assumed that it worked in a similar way to my pistol.
The back door flew open and a very large and aggressive Raider-in-Training stepped through the door, a foreboding looking hatchet in his hooves. He made an attempt to swing at me but before he could hit me I brought the shotgun to bear on his torso. I pulled the trigger and the weapon jarred against my hooves. The recoil was significantly higher than on my pistol but I fought to keep control. The loud bang that the shotgun made was quite satisfying, and I saw the Scavenger's chest cavity implode as the force of the shell shattered his ribcage and sternum, sending bone fragments into his internal organs and spattering blood and organ parts over the floor behind him. He fell backwards and there was another splash of blood. If I thought my hollow points were gruesome, then I'd evidently never seen the destructive force of a shotgun up close.
There was a brief calm when all I could hear was my own heavy breathing and the rain hammering down on all sides. Three down. There was still one left. I flung myself out of the back door and swung my new shotgun around, the torch underneath the barrel illuminating the garden. The Scavenger was nowhere to be seen. Then a spray of bullets hit the wall inches from me and I ducked in cover. The final Scavenger was hiding behind the water tank. I counted to three before running out and ducking behind the other side of the tank. I knew the Scavenger was just on the other side and he knew I was too. I wanted to get out before he did, so I hurtled around the side of the tank and pointed the shotgun at the Scavenger's head. I pulled on the trigger. He put a hoof in front of his face to block the shot. Nothing happened. The shotgun just clicked as I pulled the trigger. The Scavenger realised that his head was still intact and cast me a malicious grin.
I stumbled backwards as the Scavenger pulled out a large knife, the blade viciously serrated on one side. I drew my kitchen knife. I wasn't fantastic at hoof to hoof fighting but the shotgun had just decided to give up on me and I didn't trust my pistol at the moment, not at such close range where he could easily disarm me and leave me open to attack. He made an arcing overhead swing which I dodged with ease, twisting to one side so that the blade sliced harmlessly through the air. I made a jab at his ribcage, intent on going up between two ribs and hitting his heart, but he made a small leap backwards to avoid my thrust. He started to plan a little more tactically, now aware of my ability to defend myself. He made a jab at my side but I suspected it to be a feint. I knocked the blade away with my hoof but kept my knife ready. I had suspected right and the stallion swung an aggressive hoof at my temple, expecting me to be distracted by his attack. I sliced at his oncoming hoof with the knife and heard the satisfying thud of metal hitting flesh. He yelped as the blade of my knife nicked at his skin, drawing blood.
The Scavenger growled and prepared for another attack. He lurched forwards. I stuck my knife out in front of me and felt him slide down its length. I peeked at the Scavenger. He'd impaled himself on my knife, the blade stabbing into his belly and blood seeping over my hooves. I screamed and pushed him off my knife. I looked down at his lifeless body. On closer examination I noticed a large hole through his head. I looked up. Wraith cocked his rifle as he stood in the doorway. I had been so deeply zoned in on my fight I hadn't even heard the shot. I gave Wraith a nod of thanks and asked if he would help me drag the body inside. I wanted to do my looting in the dry.
After we had lined up all the bodies against a wall and shut all the doors we attempted to reignite the lamp. The fuel in our lighter died just before it caught and I quietly cursed. I rounded on the pony I'd been fighting in melee combat and dug a hoof into his tunic's chest pocket. I found what I'd been hoping for, a packet of cigarettes and a box of matches. I struck a match and lit the lamp. I tucked the box into my saddlebags for use later, then prepared to toss the cigarettes out of the window. Wraith stopped me. I looked at him, puzzled, "You don't smoke, do you?"
"No, but cigarettes are a valuable commodity amongst the Scavengers. They could be useful." I nodded and put them in with the matches. With some light now on the subject I began to loot the bodies.
I started with the mare. I picked up her assault rifle and placed it on the table. Wraith picked it up, removed the magazine and cocked it before applying the safety catch. He held the rifle in his hooves, "One M16 assault rifle with underslung grenade launcher."
"What?"
"This thing here," he pointed at the tube with the individual trigger system. "Is a grenade launcher." He pushed the tube forward and a thick slug like round fell out. "And one fragmentation grenade."
"It doesn't look like the grenade you showed me a while ago."
"Just like not all rounds are the same, neither are all grenades." I nodded. The world of firearms and explosives was more vast and diverse than I gave it credit for. This seemed to be a recurring theme with me. Wraith stood the grenade on the inert end and placed the empty assault rifle on the table, removing the torch as he did so and placing it to one side, "And a torch." I checked the mare's holster and found a pistol identical to mine. I grinned.
"One Glock."
"One Glock 17," Wraith corrected me. "There's more than one type of Glock."
"What's mine?"
"A 17."
I removed the magazine, cocked the pistol and re-bombed the round that was ejected. I placed the empty pistol and the magazine on the table. Wraith clicked on the safety catch. Wraith's practical OCD over weapons was useful at times but annoying at others. I searched the rest of the Scavenger's apparel and found three more clips for the Glock, two more for the assault rifle, one extra grenade, a hunting knife and a scrunched up piece of paper. I placed everything on the table but the paper, which I unravelled. I blushed hotly and quickly scrunched it back up, concealing it in my saddlebags. Wraith counted through all of the extra kit and then brushed it all to one side of the table, taking care not to knock over the grenades.
Then I turned to the pony that Wraith had shot whilst I was blinded. I placed his shotgun on the table. Wraith picked it up, "A Benelli M3, 12 gauge."
"It's not working."
"What?"
"It's not working anymore. I tried to shoot that last Scavenger with it but it just clicked." Wraith said nothing and simply placed a hoof on the bottom of the barrel, pumping it back and expelling an empty shell from the chamber. The shell was large and a deep crimson with a brass base. It had burst at the top. Wraith smiled, "Did you try doing that?"
"No."
"With most shotguns you need to pump this part here after every shot." Wraith repeatedly pumped the shotgun until all the shells had shot from the side. He lined them up on the table next to the now empty shotgun. He declared that there were seven rounds left and I found another eight in the Scavenger's chest pocket. The Scavenger lacked a pistol but instead had a small weapon that looked like a cross between an ice axe and a hatchet. I placed it on the table. Wraith smiled, "One tomahawk."
The next Scavenger along was the Raider-in-Training. I placed his hatchet on the table and searched for a holster. I eventually found it and drew his pistol. It was very heavy and much larger than any pistol I'd seen before. I placed it on the table and Wraith gave a low whistle. He removed the magazine, ejected the remaining round and flicked on the safety, "One Desert Eagle."
"So what's that then?" I could see that the rounds that this thing was packing were a lot larger than any I'd seen. Whatever it was it was powerful.
"Fifty calibre heavy pistol. If you get shot by one of these then it doesn't matter what you're wearing or what you're hiding behind. Let's hope they don't have too many of these things." The officer also had a set of binoculars, a torch, a packet of cigarettes (pocketed) and a stick of chewing gum (devoured).
Finally I turned on my late nemesis. I placed his knife on the table. Wraith laughed, "One kayaking knife." I looked for a pistol and found none. I put his primary weapon on the table. It was the same as the one I'd seen Tenner using back at the Wanderer village. Wraith did all the usual safety checks, then declared, "One Skorpian submachine gun." Also on the Scavenger was a glowstick (for some reason) and a small pistol that looked too weak to do any damage. I found three spare rounds for it and showed it to Wraith. He identified it as a flare gun, then proceeded to ask, "You didn't see any flares go up, did you?"
"No, why?"
"With such a large territory sector it's likely that these Scavengers use flares to communicate quickly." That made sense. In rain like this a radio would have been all but useless and waving flags around was inefficient at the best of times.
Wraith and I were both impressed by our haul, and I decided to take the large pistol with me, tucking it into my saddlebags. I also took the tomahawk to replace my kitchen knife (after the bloody Germans had confiscated my bayonet) but I left all of the heavy weapons. I also took as much of the ammunition as I could in case I ever needed it. Wraith took very little (actually I don't think he took anything) and all that we didn't bring we tried to fit into the safe. We got all the pistols in there as well as some miscellaneous items but the heavier weapons we had to hide underneath the floor boards. Now in the event of having to return here we would be much better equipped. We locked the safe and Wraith put the keys with the heavy weapons. He said that if they were going to get captured he didn't want the Scavengers getting hold of the keys. I silently wondered what the other five keys were for, but not for long. Such things fail to interest me most of the time.
We decided then that sentries would be needed. I offered for first shift, which Wraith accepted, falling asleep in the chair. I spent most of my shift on the other chair, gazing blankly out of the window. When it was quite apparent to me that nothing was going to happen I committed the cardinal sin of sentries and left my post. I stood up from my chair and yawned. I was looking forward to when Wraith took over from me. I gazed at him, sleeping on the chair with his right foreleg hanging at his side, his left resting on his chest. I took a sniff of his mane. To my surprise it smelt vaguely like charcoal. I turned back to my post with a defiant look. I shouldn't be taking every sentry job as an opportunity to visually molest Wraith. I resumed my seat at my sentry post, gazing out of the window, staring at the rain but thinking of Wraith. My mind wandered and I immediately lassoed it in again. From what I'd recently seen I didn't want my emotions to have free reign over my mind. I woke Wraith up a few minutes later so he could begin his shift. I sat on the chair and put my hat down over my face, closing my eyes and falling into a very welcome sleep.
I expected to wake in the morning to some sunshine, the storm having broken. I expected the grass to still be soaked and the sweet smell of a storm gone by but no. When I woke the storm was still raging and now some thunder had been thrown into the mix. I heard a loud boom from quite a long way away, but still, I wasn't best pleased at the weather. It was times like this when I wished I was back in the days of weather ponies. Unfortunately I wasn't, so I simply had to grit my teeth and bear the horrible weather.
When I opened the door I was immediately buffeted by a gust of wind that nearly knocked me backwards. It didn't though, so I maintained my dignity. Wraith and I pushed out of the shack and continued on our heading, the rain driving into our faces and the wind making the going hard. Typical, really, that the day I decide to begin a long distance trek is the day that a colossal storm kicked off. That sort of thing seemed to always happen to me. I could hear thunder a long way off and knew that there was still the worst to come. I had to remove my hat and stuff it into my saddlebags in order to prevent it from flying off into the distance. The downside to this was that my mane got absolutely drenched. The sludge under our feet made walking even harder, and the mud caking my hooves made them feel like lead.
After a good couple of hours we may have gone a kilometre or two, but no more. Wraith and I decided that it just wasn't worth it and we'd have to take up refuge in someplace. We kept our eyes open (as much as was possible in the torrential downpour we were stuck in) for shelter along our path but couldn't see much in any direction. At least if any Scavenger patrols were headed our way they'd likely walk straight past us.
Soon we did find a shelter (or more we walked headlong into it) in the form of what appeared to be an old cafe. If I squinted through the rain, I could make out a cobbled street and a few houses. We'd stumbled across a long abandoned village and we were very pleased to see it, immediately ducking into the shelter of the doorway. We shut the door tight behind us to keep out the rain. I took in the room as a whole. There was a staircase behind the counter that lead upstairs, and upon the counter was a cash register that had a bullet hole in the side. There were several tables scattered across the room with the chairs stacked on top, except one which had two chairs pushed under it. There were a few paintings hanging on the wall, most of which were askew, and a few stacked up against the side wall. A lot of the paintings had been defaced in some way, usually with graphic graffiti. Polystyrene and porcelain coffee cups were stacked behind the counter on shelves with a few loose ones alone sitting on the tables or on the floor. It wasn't massively tidy, but at least it was shelter from the driving rain.
The first thing I did having set about my duties was open up the cash register. It made a loud and satisfying 'ching' as I did so. There was no money in it (no bits that is) but it was loaded with loose bullets of all shapes and sizes. There was one that was easily the length of my horn (which, for your information, was slightly larger than average for my height and I was quite proud of it). I closed the register and it clicked. I looked under the counter for anything useful. There was another of those steel safes, however this one looked severely battered, as if the Scavengers had really tried hard to get it open. There were scrape marks all along the faces, the lock had been battered by something blunt and there were several small dents in it from where the Scavengers had likely been shooting at it. It looked so worn that the door seemed ready to come off its hinges. I tugged on it but it wouldn't budge. I enveloped the door in a field of my magic and put as much force behind it as I could. I heard it creak once before pulling loose with a loud metallic snapping sound.
I looked into the surprisingly still well protected hollow. There was a small pistol with a couple of loose clips and a bag full of what appeared to be bullets, but I couldn't tell. Also inside was stack of log books, likely the cafe's inventory and bank records. Whilst the books were useless to me, I did take out the pistol, ammunition and bag. The bag chinked, which was promising. The pistol made me laugh quietly to myself. It was just big enough to be considered the same size as my hoof, and I struggled to imagine it doing any considerable damage to anything. The bullets looked the same as the ones my Glock used though, so that was a good sign. I emptied the contents on the bag onto the table. I was slightly disappointed when no bullets came out, but instead a shower of golden coins clattered onto the desk. There were easily a couple hundred bits there. Whilst usually such a sight would have made me salivate, this money was next to useless to us out here. Still, I took about fifty of the coins and put them in my saddlebags, which were beginning to get very heavy. I would have to do a sort of them whenever I got to Refuge.
Wraith was beginning to strip his rifle for cleaning. I debated doing the same but ultimately decided to check what was upstairs. Besides, weapon cleaning was boring. I climbed my way up the stairs but froze just before I reached the top step. From here I could peer through the banister and see what was up here and whether or not there was anything to be worried about. This looked to be a residential area, likely where the old cafe owner lived. It was well furnished with a writing desk, a bedside table, a large oaken wardrobe, what looked like an artificial bush suit, a sniper rifle, a light machinegun and two Scavengers with no tunics on laying on the bed and making out with each other. For the record, their tunics were at the foot of the bed, so I knew they were Scavengers. The window was open slightly, making the curtains flap in the breeze. I loved how outside the weather had gone all balls up, but inside there was just a light breeze. It made the room feel rather fresh and clean, despite likely having not been cleaned in a very long time. There were a few drops of rain that made it into the room, soaking the floorboards below the window.
I ducked my head down. Either these Scavengers were too heavily absorbed in their own passion to hear us, or they thought we were Scavengers. I slowly began to back my way back down the stairs as things got a little more intimate and alerted Wraith to their presence. He reached for his pistol but I stopped him, "I think they think we're Scavengers or they'd have come down to kill us already."
"So what better time to kill them? When they least expect it, before they kill us when we least expect it."
"Yea, but..."
"What?" I blushed and whispered the next bit.
"They're kind of... You know... having sex." Wraith blinked, entirely uninterested.
"And?"
"It's kind of a little rude to kill them when they're doing the face down tango, isn't it?"
"Would they extend the same courtesy to you?"
"No, probably not, but I'm trying to be bigger than they are. I don't want to stoop down to their level." Wraith nodded. We had to be the bigger ponies here. It was true, if I was having a private moment they wouldn't hesitate to put a knife in my back, but I didn't want to be like the Scavengers any more than I could help, so I simply sat at a table trying not to hear the commotion upstairs. I was rather surprised when I heard a loud thud, but then rolled my eyes as the usual noises continued.
I eventually did begin cleaning my weapon, and was rather surprised when the noises kept going after I had finished cleaning it for the second time. Seriously though, how long can two Scavengers bonk each other for? I think soon after that they 'finished' and the noises stopped. I looked over at Wraith; he had just finished loading his rifle. He cocked the rifle and prepared for a firefight. I loaded my hollow points. Gruesome though they were (and likely illegal) they were very effective and could turn even my pistol into a powerful weapon to be reasoned with. I could hear the Scavengers talking but couldn't quite make out what they were saying. It sounded like the stallion was agreeing with something from the tone of his voice. I heard the sound of something heavy being picked up and readied myself.
I heard the stallion at the top of the stairs, "Do you want a coffee or not?"
"I'm not drinking that crap. You can't make a decent coffee worth shit!"
"Hey, I don't work here arsehole! You can make your own coffee." I heard a laugh and then the sound of somepony descending the stairs. As soon as the stallion's muzzle came into view I clapped my hoof over it and put the pistol to his head, dragging him off to one side. He immediately tried to scream but failed. He still wasn't wearing his tunic, but he now had a garrison cap on his head. Wraith pointed his rifle at the Scavenger's head and whispered, "If you make a sound, I'll end you."
"I can't hear any coffee being made, are you having problems with the machine again?" Wraith poked the rifle into the Scavenger's forehead.
"Answer her. And answer her properly." Wraith nodded at me and I took my hoof off his mouth, ready to pull the trigger if he made any sign of screaming for help.
"Yea. It's being a little faulty again."
"Hurry up well, I need you back up here."
"I'm a little tied up here.
Wraith pushed the Scavenger into a chair and kept his rifle on him. He whispered over to me, "Go get the other one." I nodded. I crept up the stairs as quietly as I could. When I was about half way up the stairs the mare called back down.
"Hang on a sec, what about the other guys down there. I haven't heard anything from them?" I froze completely. I waited for the stallion to respond and after a while he called back up.
"Yea, yea. They're a little quiet. Speak up guys." Nothing more followed. I was back to creeping. The mare was beginning to get suspicious and I had to subdue her before she came down to see what was going on. When I got to the top of the stairs I saw the mare with her tunic on (but not done up), resting the sniper rifle on the window sill and peering down the scope. She turned to look at me and I froze in place. She stared at me and I stared back. She blinked once, "You don't look like a Scavenger." I lunged forwards but she was a little quick for me, reversing the rifle and smashing the butt into my temple. I stumbled and fell to the floor, pain searing through my head and making my vision flash. My head was buzzing and my ears were ringing. My pistol had fallen to the floor with a clunk and the Scavenger rounded on me.
"This one's not very friendly!" She picked me up by the collar of my jumper and slammed me against the wall. My vision was still swimming slightly and it was making me feel slightly sick. The Scavenger took a handkerchief out of her pocket and blindfolded me, completely blocking out my vision. I felt her throw me onto the bed. Likely this was a measure to make sure she didn't make too much noise. Wraith was in a bit of a stalemate. He couldn't take his rifle of the stallion and help me or the Scavenger would come up behind him and stab him in the back. Likewise he couldn't leave me at the mercy of this deranged lunatic. I just hoped he made up his mind quickly, and whatever he decided to do I hoped it would help me escape.
I felt the Scavenger push me against the wall again, this time face first, my muzzle smashing into the woodwork painfully. She grabbed my hooves and pulled my forelegs back, eliciting a howl of pain. The agony shooting through my collar bones was horrific. It felt as though she was intent on pulling my legs off. I felt her slap a set of cold metal cuffs on my hooves, locking them and trapping my legs behind my back. I lit up my horn, but without the ability to see I couldn't direct its energy in any particular direction. I think I managed to knock over a plant pot, but not much more. The mare dug her hoof into my back, "Stop that or I'll cut off your horn." I let the aura die down and screamed again. The Scavenger grabbed my mane and pulled my head back, tying a gag into my mouth. She pulled me back and pushed me onto the bed where I sat myself up, moaning in pain and fear. I heard the Scavenger pick up my pistol. She called down the stairs, "Okay, listen here, whoever you are! I know you've got my coltfriend hostage, but I've got one of your number up here with me and she's in no fit state to fight. If any one of you come up these stairs before my coltfriend is set free, I'll scatter her brains." Interesting. Her choice of words indicated that she thought there were more of us than just me and Wraith. Maybe Wraith could use that to his advantage, if he was smart enough.
The Scavenger pushed the barrel of my pistol under my chin. I panted in fear. Only I knew the true destructive power of the rounds currently held in the weapon. A shot from my pistol with normal ammunition I could probably survive, but having witnessed the effectiveness of the hollow points, I didn't have high hopes of surviving, particularly at this range. The Scavenger pulled on my mane again and I grunted in pain. She took my gag out of my mouth briefly, "Scream, little filly! I want them to hear your pain." She gave my mane a hard tug and I screamed, my voice reaching pitches I didn't know it could reach. I was terrified. I was completely at this Scavenger's mercy. If only I'd just shot instead of trying to capture her. Then I wouldn't be having my mane pulled whilst blindfolded and cuffed.
I decided to call out, "Wraith? Wraith help me!"
"How many of you are there?"
"There are three more downstairs and more on their way. If you don't let me go then we'll kill you first."
"Who do you work for exactly? You're not LRSA and there's no way that the NSA have the balls to stumble into our territory. Talk, you little bitch!" Pain shot through my sternum as though the mare had just bucked me in the chest and I fell backwards. I would have screamed but the blow knocked the air out of my lungs and sent pain rocketing through my torso. I gasped whilst trying to regain my breath. I wheezed a quiet, "I work for the Regulators. We're trying to restore order to Equestria." I'd just made the faction up, but it made me sound vaguely important and I hoped it would scare her into thinking I was with a group capable of wielding revenge.
"I've never heard of them. You're lying!"
I heard the Scavenger pick up something heavy. I assumed it was her rifle. She hopped onto the bed next to me and I waited in anticipation of an incoming blow. I felt her swing what felt like the butt of her rifle up between my legs and I howled in agony. I crossed my legs and rolled over onto my side, biting down on the bed sheets to stifle my cries. She grabbed hold of me and forced me back onto my back, "Tell me the truth or I'll break your fucking legs!" I panted in panic. I soon got back the will to speak, but my speech was interspersed with gasps of pain and fear.
"I-I'm a freelancer! It's just me and my friends."
"Right, so there is nopony else?"
"N-no. Just us."
"Good. Then not many ponies will care what I do to you!" I felt her stamp on my sternum, hard. I was confident that if she did that again then it would shatter. I would have screamed but the blow forced the air back out of my lungs again.
The mare laughed maniacally. I could tell she was enjoying this. Enjoying hurting me. I was silently willing for Wraith to just forget his hostage and come and save me. Whatever happened, I didn't want to die like this. The mare lifted up my jumper until it was hanging over my face, exposing my midriff. I felt something cold and sharp press in between two of my ribs. She whispered close to my ear, "I'm going to give your friends five minutes. If they haven't let my coltfriend go by then. I'm going to kill you. Until then, you're my hostage. Now be a good filly and open wide." I did as she commanded but dreaded the outcome. It was surprisingly better than I expected. All she did was spit in my mouth and gag me again. Whilst it was disgusting, it wasn't as bad as what I had anticipated.
I moaned quietly into my gag. The pain from between my legs and in my chest was horrible. The Scavenger was pacing slowly. After the first minute passed she called down the stairs again, "I'm not happy with having to wait this long! How about I do some more damage to your friend?" I groaned. Here we go again. I felt the blade of her knife on my face. For one horrible moment I was sure she was going to stab me in the eye or something, but she simply cut a gash from underneath my left eye across to the base of my neck. I howled into my gag as her knife split my fur and skin and spilled my blood. I kicked my hind legs furiously, getting a lucky strike on the Scavenger's side. It didn't do anything other than piss her off a little more, and she cuffed my hind legs as well to stop me thrashing. She came up close to me again, "Do that again, my little filly, and I'll cut off your horn and push it up your ass!" I stopped struggling. My blindfold was beginning to soak with tears as I literally cried in agony and morbid fear.
She returned to pacing. I was counting the seconds. Every one of them I was willing Wraith to just appear and rescue me, or just anypony at all, but nothing happened. The second minute passed. The Scavenger growled, "Ding dong! That's another minute! Keep this up and the only thing left of your companion will be a nice fur coat!" The Scavenger came towards me again. "Your friends must not care about you all that much for them to not have attempted a rescue yet. I'm disappointed." My heart sank. Wraith was still a Scavenger, really. He said he wasn't, but he really was. He had the uniform and everything. Could he possibly just turn his back on me when the going got tough? Had the stallion we'd captured downstairs swung him back round to their way of thinking? I hadn't thought it possible but I'd already proved that Wraith was mentally weak. It just took some well-spoken words to convince him to swap sides.
The mare threw herself onto the bed next to me. She stroked her hoof along my mane in a patronising way, "You were so cock sure coming up here, weren't you? You thought you could catch me off guard? I'm not as thick as my coltfriend I'm afraid. As you found out, much to your misfortune." The Scavenger yanked on my mane again. I screamed into the gag as she did so. She didn't stop though. She just kept pulling on my mane harder and harder until I was sure she would simply yank it out. She stopped though, but instead she wacked me in the face, making my head spin again. Thankfully the bed absorbed most of the energy, or my nose would likely have broken. The Scavenger chuckled, "If this keeps up for much longer, I'm going to ram my knife between your legs, understand?" I nodded furiously. I was now silently praying for Wraith to save me. Please, for the love of all that was still good in the world, somepony, anypony please help me.
I counted the seconds, watching Wraith's remaining saving time dwindle into non-existence. He was running out of time to help. If he didn't show up soon then I would never be able to have foals. Thirty seconds. I was sobbing into my gag, preparing to beg for mercy should I get the chance. Twenty seconds. I would do anything, please just make it end. Fifteen seconds. Ten. Nine. Eight. "Time's up! That's another minute gone by!" Wait, what? She was either counting faster than me or she had started sooner. Either way, I still squealed and forced myself onto my belly in order to protect my precious genetalia. The mare didn't sound perturbed, "Oh, well I suppose that'll do too! Get ready for the pain of a lifetime!" I could hear her pace towards me, I could see in my mind's eye her preparing her knife. I felt her pull on my tail and I screamed again. Had my legs still been free I would have kicked her as hard as I could, but alas, I was powerless. I could mentally see her ready up, preparing to strike.
I heard the sound of metal rupturing flesh and felt hot blood spatter across my back. Had she done it? That didn't hurt much at all. I didn't even scream. I couldn't feel any knife sticking into me, nor was there any agonising pain. Maybe the shock had killed me. Was I dead? I felt something heavy fall onto my back, then something rolled me over. I felt my gag get pulled from my mouth and the first thing I did was blurt out, "Please! I'll do anything you want! Don't hurt me anymore!"
"Bucky, it's me!" Wraith pulled off my blindfold, light rushing into my eyes and temporarily blinding me. I winced and looked up to see Wraith looking down on me in concern.
"You took your time! Do you have any idea what I've been through up here?"
"A little gratitude wouldn't go amiss."
"Gratitude? It took you four or so minutes to do anything! What were you doing down there? Playing Texas Hold'em with our hostage?"
"Actually I was trying to think of a way to save you without getting you killed! It's not that easy juggling two hostages at once!"
"Oh shut up and get these cuffs off me! I don't care what happened down there! Just get me as far away from this Scavenger lunatic as possible!" I turned my head to look into the eyes of the mare that had tortured me. There was a trail of blood pooling in the corner of her mouth and I could see a large kitchen knife in her back. Wraith hastily went about searching for the keys and quickly undid my cuffs.
The minute I was free I leapt up from the bed and backpedalled furiously. If there was any place I wanted to be, it was far away from her. That was the most traumatic experience of my entire life and aspects of it haunt me to this day. This simply served as a well needed reminder of what I was fighting to end. I poked the corpse once. It didn't move. I pulled the knife from her back and a fountain of blood left with it. I rolled the body over and picked it up by the collar of the mare's tunic, "How do you like getting stabbed in the face?" I yelled as I slammed the blade of the knife between the mare's eyes. It didn't get very far, being stopped by her skull, but it was the principle that mattered. I dropped the corpse and spat in her eye. "I'll keep my horn on my head where it belongs thanks." |
Revenge | Chapter 7 | Chapter 7
I sat on the first floor of the cafe, a blanket wrapped round me, shivering feverishly. I now had a large scar under my left eye and my mane was more dishevelled than before. I looked over at the body of the stallion with hate. Wraith had stabbed him in the neck with his hunting knife. There hadn't even been a shout. After that he just had to wait for the ideal moment to rescue me. He had silently waited at the bottom of the stairs, eavesdropping. He heard what the mare had said and, going on the assumption that she would be facing away from the stairs, he'd picked up the biggest knife he could see and crept up the stairs. When he saw the mare with her knife raised above her head, he acted swiftly, ramming his own weapon just to the right of the mare's spinal column. She had been killed instantly.
After my traumatic torture session Wraith had set about looting the bodies. Our haul wasn't fantastic. It consisted of a Bizon submachine gun, an SVD Dragunov, a few knives, two sets of hoofcuffs, another carton of cigarettes, what Wraith called a 'Ghillie Suit' and several chipped coffee cups. Wraith was, at that moment, rummaging through the cafe's inventory, searching for food. When he came back he dropped a box of apples that were still relatively fresh on the floor, helping himself to one. I didn't feel like eating. I got up and walked over to the window. Well, I say I walked, it was more like a hobble. The pain between my back legs was still terrible. Wraith deduced that I would be in no fit state to walk for at least a day.
I peered through the shutters. It was still raining hard. The lightning had now begun and I could see white arks of electricity shoot across the gloomy sky before hearing a rumble of thunder. I had already looked through the desk, wardrobe and bedside table upstairs. They yielded nothing interesting and I assumed that he Scavenger's had already looted the useful stuff. Wraith had set about sorting through the ammunition in the cash register. Most of it was just random shrapnel (not quite literally, although there were a few bits of actually random shrapnel in there), but he did manage to put together about a clips worth of 'tracer' rounds. He said that they would fit my pistol and there were enough there for a single clip. He explained that, when fired, the rounds would generate a slight glow, helping to track the trajectory of the bullet. He recommended that I replace the last round of each magazine with a tracer, so that I knew when I needed to reload. I did as he suggested, but left the hollow point magazine untouched, still in my pistol.
I was in a very bad mood. I felt ready to stab out the eyes of the first pony that got in my way. Wraith said that the day was getting short and that we would need to sort out bedding. I nodded but outright refused to sleep in the bed upstairs. Mostly it was because of the horrific experience I had had on it (some of my blood had dripped onto the sheets, and it just acted as a solemn reminder of what had happened) but also partly because I was aware of what the two Scavengers had been doing on it prior to my torture. Wraith agreed. He found some loose sheets in the cafe's inventory and suggested that we sleep on them. It was better than nothing and it made a pleasant change to sleeping on the cold floor, letting my body heat seep into the ground.
"Do we have to do sentries again?"
"I'm afraid so."
"Aaaaaaaaw! Can't I just have tonight off?"
"I need to sleep too, and there has to be somepony watching for Scavengers, or we could both be tortured next." I whined again, throwing my head back in exasperation. "Look, I don't know what I can say to make you feel better. What you've been through is... it's a lot. I've been through a lot too. I've had nopony there to look after me. If you knew what I've seen... What I've... Done, you would understand." I sniffed. Why did my life have to be so complicated? I held out my forelegs and put on my best adorable face.
"Can I have a hug?" Wraith looked awkwardly from side to side, not quite sure how to respond. I simply sat there with my fore legs outstretched giving him puppy dog eyes as I sat there on my haunches. Eventually, he rather cautiously wrapped his fore legs around me, and I wrapped mine around him. It was perhaps the first friendly contact I'd received in a while. It felt good.
Wraith broke the contact and went back to laying out our bedding. An awkward silence fell between us. Wraith coughed, "I can take first shift if you want. You can get some sleep, try and relax and all." I nodded.
"Yea. Yea, okay." I stood myself back up and hobbled over to the light switch. I gave it a click and a single bulb in the ceiling flickered into life, casting a white glow on the room and letting out a slight hum. That seemed to be a recurring problem with lights in Equestria. At least the light worked. Wraith told me to turn the light off, explaining that if we left it on then the Scavenger's would very quickly locate us. I nodded and flicked off the light. Only then did I realise how dark it actually was. It wasn't night time dark, but it was still pretty dark.
I told Wraith that I was going to look upstairs; see if I could find anything more. He nodded and let me go, staying and trying to figure out how the coffee machine worked. I slowly made my way to the top of the stairs. In truth, I was looking for a toilet (I hadn't... been for a while), but I was also quite interested in finding something that may be hidden from view. What wasn't so hidden from view was a door that led off to another room. I hadn't seen the door before, but I pushed it open anyway. I clicked on the light and felt a brief pang of relief when I recognised the white interior. After my private moment that desperately needed to get done, I searched in the cabinet to see what I could find. I found a packet of what looked like Paracetemol and a small box of 'blood thinners'. I assumed that the owner of this cafe was diabetic. I wasn't diabetic (thankfully) but I did take the tablets just in case. Of... something.
When I got down stairs again, Wraith was examining the small 'hoof-pistol' I'd found in the safe. I asked about it. He said that it was a, "Kahr PM9. It's designed to be concealed easily on somepony's person."
"I doesn't look like it packs enough firepower to punch through a piece of paper."
"It can do some damage, but it's next to useless against any form of decent body armour, you're right. Did you find anything upstairs?"
"Some pain killers and some blood thinners, but that's about all."
"Good." Another awkward silence fell between us. It was strange; we never really tended to have any awkward silences. For some reason I'd completely run out of things to say. Wraith wasn't an avid talker when he didn't need to be, but I was quite the chatter so for me to run out of things to say was a little... odd. I put it down to trauma.
As night fell Wraith kept his promise and took up post at the window as sentry. I lay down on the sheets Wraith had laid out and yawned. I needed a good rest. I'd been through quite a lot recently and a solid night's sleep would be great. Unfortunately, I was to be woken in a few hours for my sentry duty and I wasn't looking forward to it. Still, I closed my eyes and tried to drift off to sleep, failing several times. All I could do was think about my torture. The pain in my groin still throbbed away and I had a very bad headache. In the end I decided to swallow one of the painkilling tablets to try and dull some of the terrible agony. It worked to a limited degree, about enough to kill my headache and make the pain between my hind legs less prominent. Still, all I could think of was the darkness of my blindfold, the horror I felt as the Scavenger prepared to rob me of my (what I assumed to be rather attractive) rear. I had a restless sleep, plagued with nightmares, the details of which don't warrant describing, but were quite bad. I can remember waking up more tired than when I'd gone to sleep. Wraith was shaking my shoulder, whispering for me to get up.
I yawned and stretched, "All right, I'll take my post," another yawn. "Get some sleep. You're going to need the rest."
"I-it's not your turn for sentry yet."
"What?"
"It's only been two and a half hours."
"So you woke me up with two and a half hours of sleep still left? Why would somepony do that? Also, you've left your post." Wraith hung his head briefly before rebutting with,
"Don't pretend you don't do it. I'm not as heavy a sleeper as I look; did you like the smell of my mane?" I blushed hotly. What else had he seen me do whilst I thought he was asleep? I hoped not too much. I tried to stifle another yawn but failed, yawning for a good few seconds before final closing my mouth again. I will admit, I was still very tired, but Wraith had just revealed that he was a very convincing fake sleeper and I was quite scared to think of what else he knew. He sighed quietly. He looked very tired. His eyes were bloodshot and he struggled to keep them open. I could tell he was really trying hard. Then I remembered he had another two and a half hours of sentry. I hoped he had the ability to stay awake that long. I placed my concern forward and he chuckled, gesturing at a pyramid of empty cups, "I've been drinking plenty of coffee."
There was a long silence, which I ultimately broke, "So... uh... Why did you wake me up again?"
"Oh. Well, I know how traumatic torture can be and... I wanted to make sure you were okay. What with the post-traumatic stress and all." I blinked a couple of times.
"What do you really want?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all." He kicked his foreleg a couple of times, looking slightly to one side of me.
"If you're trying to drop hints, you're failing. Really badly, actually."
"Okay. So I... well... I wanted... Oh for fuck's sake, hang on," he took a single deep breath. "I wanted to... hug you again. Just because, you know, you've been through so much and I know how... comforting... how comforting it can be... so..." he trailed off after that. I said nothing. I wasn't sure whether he was trying to tell me something, but wasn't prepared to make any attempt at guessing what it was. I guess what I did get out of that was that Wraith was not a smooth talker when it came to mares.
Still, he did a good job at making me feel sorry for him. I wrapped my forelegs around him again. He was a very fragile stallion. Like glass, except that he doesn't break if your drop him. So I guess he's not like glass at all. I should probably have thought that analogy through a little better. Still, I enjoyed holding him in my hooves, resting my head in the crook of his neck. It was, as he'd said, comforting. After a few moments like that I let him go.
"All better?"
"I guess."
"Are you going to get back to your post now?"
"I suppose." He picked up his rifle by the sling and slowly walked back to the chair, sitting himself down and gazing out of the window. A flash of lightning shot across the sky. It gave his face a very impressive glow. I truly felt sorry for the stallion. He'd been living a life of misery and all I'd done was drag him along into mine. He didn't deserve this. Still, he'd gotten himself into it; he'd decided to join the Scavengers. I rested my head back on my hooves, closing my eyes. I still loved him though.
When he woke me up again the first thing I said was, "Is it actually my shift or do you just want me to hug you again?"
"It's actually your shift now."
"Fiiine." I dragged myself off the floor and half walked, half stumbled towards the chair that we were using for a sentry post. Wraith had taken off his tunic and flung it around the back of the chair. I sat down and stared out into the rainy night, looking out for any suspicious movement or lights. I squinted as I thought I saw a silhouette in the second story window of the building opposite. It looked like somepony was staring down at me, watching me. A flash of lightning illuminated the street, and the silhouette turned out to be nothing. Just a figment of my overactive imagination.
One hour ticked by. I was beginning to get very bored. I glanced over at Wraith, not sure whether or not he was actually asleep. It was quite a clear line of sight between where Wraith had laid our bedding. He must have done that on purpose. I still wasn't sure whether or not he was fake sleeping again. His head was facing the counter, however, so he wasn't looking in my direction. Still, I didn't get up. I was determined to spend one full shift on sentry without getting up. But it was hideously boring. I desperately searched for something to do to kill some time. I had my Glock and everything in my belt pouches. I cursed quietly. I'd left my saddlebags on the counter, so I couldn't get that piece of paper I'd found in my last lodging in Savengerville. I couldn't get up to use the coffee machine. I didn't even like coffee anyway. I swatted away a naughty thought. That would be wrong. Very wrong.
But it was very tempting. I made sure that Wraith was definitely not looking at me (which he wasn't) and took his tunic off the back of the chair. I should just stop before I did something I regretted. But it felt good to be bad, so I put my hoof into his chest pocket. The first thing I took out was an empty shell casing. A little odd to be carrying that around, but I put it back and felt around for more things. I found three loose cigarettes, likely his wages, and put them back in. I wanted to put everything back that I took out, so that Wraith wouldn't know that I'd been rummaging through his pockets. I contemplated searching through his saddlebags too, but decided against it. It was bad enough that I was looking through his uniform; I think searching his saddlebags would have been a step too far. There were also a few loose bits in there, but not much else.
I moved on from his chest pocket. Oh, this was so naughty! It was exciting though. There were two more external pockets but I knew from looting experience that the Scavenger tunics had one internal pocket. I decided to finish searching the exterior pockets first. I started with the right pocket. In it there was a photograph, folded in half. I unfolded it and saw it was a colour photograph of six Scavengers. I recognised the one on the far left as Wraith, with a very serious look on his face, holding his rifle. Next to him on the right was a magenta pegasus mare with a shotgun, a stupid grin on her face. Next to her was a mare who looked a little older than Wraith did in the photograph. She had a mane that was a similar colour to mine, but with a sort of golden yellow fur coat. She was a unicorn too, and across her back was an assault rifle. Next to her was an intimidating looking stallion holding a submachine gun and a chisel. The look on his face filled me with fear. I could just make out the rank of Tactical on his brassard, but in terms of specialisation, he was a Sadist for sure. Next to the Sadist was a pony that looked even younger than Wraith, wielding a pistol. The colt grinned cruelly, and I was fairly certain that blood was smeared over his hooves. On the extreme right was a rather strong looking mare with a large rocket launcher over one shoulder. She was an earth pony, with a forest green Mohawk and a tooth pick in her mouth. I shivered. Wraith had a nasty looking section. I folded up the photograph again and put it back in his pocket. There wasn't anything else there.
In his left pocket was a collection of empty stripper clips for his rifle. I suppose they were there so he could re-bomb them, given the chance. There was nothing else in that pocket, which only left his internal one. I put my hoof into it, and drew out what appeared to be a small notebook with a pen stuck into the binding. I debated whether or not to open the notebook. This was about to get really private, and I wasn't quite sure what I was going to find. Should I, shouldn't I? This was going against everything I'd been taught was right. But I'd also been taught that stealing and killing and masturbating were wrong, but I'd done all those. Well, if I was digging a hole, might as well see how deep I could make it. I turned the cover and looked at the first page. It was just full of the same two words, 'I'm Sorry' repeated for the entire page. This carried on for three pages. It confused me. Why would he write the same two words on every page for about three pages? I flipped to the next page. It was a drawing. It was a very good drawing. I didn't know Wraith could draw. It was a mare with a cowgirl hat on, looking rather upset, sitting in a cage. It took me a few moments to realise it was me.
I was surprised. How long ago had Wraith drawn this? I hadn't seen him do it, so maybe it was whilst I was behind bars? I flipped to the next page. Another drawing. This time there was another pony in it, much smaller than the cowgirl pony. The young filly was poking at the ground whilst the cowgirl looked over her shoulder, a defiant look on her face. The filly was Mystery. It was as though Wraith had been documenting my life, from the point at which I was captured. I flipped the page again. Several pieces of chalk hanging from the ceiling by threads, somepony in the distance balancing on one hind leg, fixing another piece to the ceiling. I flipped to the next page, expecting to see another sketch, but being greeted by words. 'I've made my decision. I'm leaving. I've had it with the Scavengers. I'm taking the cowgirl pony with me. If she agrees to come that is. She looks like the sort of pony that wouldn't give up on a good cause.' That's all the page had on it.
I was so absorbed in reading through Wraith's notebook, I had completely zoned out everything else. The lightning flashes, the driving rain, the howling wind; all completely zoned out. I turned the page. 'On sentry. Cowgirl pony has joined me. She's called Bucky. Nice name. She's got the potential to really make a difference. Heh, this is like a diary almost.' The next page was another sketch, this time of me sleeping. He'd drawn me in a pretty suggestive position, which made me wonder whether I really slept like that. Put it this way, I'm pretty certain my rump was never that high in the air. Maybe, I don't know, I'm asleep at that point. The next page, more text 'Can't stop thinking about Bucky. I don't know what it is about her that makes me feel like this. Whatever it is, I hope she doesn't change it.' Another drawing after that, this time of me sitting on a fence, swinging my legs. At no point had I ever sat on a fence and swung my legs, so Wraith was evidently making stuff up by this point. Oh dear, Wraith, let's hope you've not taken this too far. Hypocrite alert. I was sensing a pattern; Text, drawing, text, drawing, text, drawing. I turned the page, expecting more text.
I wasn't disappointed. 'Taught Bucky to shoot. She's a natural. I've never seen anypony grasp the art so quickly. She looks so... I don't want to write it... 'cute' when she shoots. Weird, I know, but it's true. I don't know if she's noticed me looking at her. If she has, she does a good job of hiding it.' The next drawing was me sleeping with an assault rifle curled up in my hooves. I thought it was quite incredible how Wraith could draw all this from just his imagination. They were a little rough, but they were very detailed. I read the next page intently, eager to learn more about Wraith's personal life. I shouldn't be reading this. This is for Wraith's eyes, not mine. But, I've read this far. Might as well keep going. 'We've left the Wanderers far behind. I swear that Bucky gets better looking every day. She looked so proper when she arrived, but she looks a lot... wilder now. I like it. I'm glad it's just me and her again. She's almost too good to be true.' This page simply consisted of a Glock and a hat. No pony in this one, but it was a lot more detailed than the others. He must have spent a lot of time on this.
I'd lost track of what time it was. I peered over my shoulder to see if Wraith was still looking away. He was. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief, turning back to the notebook. 'Not a second goes by when I don't think of her in some way. Everything she does is adorable. The way she walks, the way she talks, everything. I couldn't wish for a better mare to spend my time with. I just hope she feels the same way.' The next drawing was of me laying against a rock, my hat over my face and my hooves resting on my belly, my hind legs crossed over. I eagerly turned to read more. I knew I shouldn't, but I had to. 'I hate the LRSA. There's nothing that could possibly annoy me more. Their rules and regulations are bullshit. At least I have Bucky here to keep me sane. She vastly out shadows any mare I've ever seen.' Then there was a drawing of me arguing with a German officer. The likeness was so uncanny I could tell which officer it was. It was the one on the second sentry position, just outside the compound. Hang on, how had Wraith managed to get this notebook out of my saddlebags whilst we were in the compound? Had he kept it in his saddlebags until recently or had he been delving into mine when I wasn't looking? Not that I had anything to hide in them of course. The next drawing was of me laying down on my belly, my rear towards the viewer. I wondered whether Wraith had drawn that from life or whether his imagination was running wild at this point.
The next page was when it got really interesting. 'Some German thought he could hit on Bucky. She's mine and I won't let anypony else have her. Bucky managed to diffuse the situation though, otherwise I would have probably have had to take the German away for a few minutes. She likens me to a companion. Well, at least now I know where I stand.' The next drawing was of Wraith, looking rather down. It was rather poignant, tugging on one of my heart strings. Had that comment really hurt Wraith that much? I flipped to the next page. Maybe it would get a little cheerier from there. 'Bucky was showing off to another German. Maybe she doesn't share the way I feel for her. Well, it's nice to dream.' Then there was a drawing of me strutting past that Private from the central building, who was staring at my rear with hearts for eyes and his tongue lolling out of his mouth. Oh Wraith, you couldn't have interpreted that any worse.
I turned the page again. 'Only just found a dry place to stay. Bucky looks amazing with her mane wet. She's so sexy this way. Shame she doesn't like me as much as I like her. I feel so bad for liking her.' A drawing of me with my mane wet, giving a sort of coy stare. I'll admit, if that's what my mane actually looked like wet, then I agreed; I was pretty damn sexy. The next entry looked recent. It was again another text entry. 'I got a hug from Bucky. I hugged Bucky! My heart's in my mouth, I can't believe it. The thought of it makes me light headed. Maybe she does like me after all! This is incredible! No mare's ever liked me before.' A drawing of me and Wraith sharing an embrace. I expected there not to be any more entries after that, but I was wrong. There was another text entry. 'I just got my second hug from Bucky. Two, in one day! Is it sad that I'm counting? I've never felt like this before. No mare has ever made me feel like this. I wanted to hold her in my hooves for ever and never let go. Her body was so warm and comforting. Her breath on my neck sent shivers down my spine. Never have I felt as elated as this.' I flipped to see if there was a drawing, but there wasn't. He mustn't have gotten round to it yet. I prepared to put the notebook back, so that he wouldn't know I'd read any of it.
The small book vanished from my hooves. What? Where did it go? I hadn't dropped it, had I? I almost wanted to reach for my Glock and cap myself in the head when I heard a whisper next to my ear, "Enjoying that, were you?" I broke out in a sweat.
"I... uh..."
"How could you?"
"I was bored!"
"So you went through my tunic pockets? Then you looked through my notebook. Why would you do that?" I was silent. I simply bowed my head. I had intended for him never to know, but that was all out of the window now. I was in hot water of the worst variety. Wraith turned and I heard him slowly begin to walk away. Then he stopped. I half expected him to shoot me in the back of the head, but he simply walked back and snatched his tunic off my lap. It stung. I heard him slowly ascend the stairs. What hurt the most was how he'd refused to talk to me after that. I wanted him to shout at me, tell me off, pull my hair or hit me in the face. It was his silence that hurt the most. All I could hear now was the driving rain and the wind howling constantly.
You know when you're digging a hole, just to see how deep you can make it, and then someone on the surface tips all the dirt you've dug out back in on top of you? Well, neither do I really, but I can imagine what it's like, and that's what I felt like at the moment.
I knew it was wrong, I knew I shouldn't have done it. I butted my head against the window until I was sure it was about to crack. I rested my head against the cold glass. Why hadn't I listened to my common sense? Why did I always have to get myself into trouble? I picked up an empty cup and threw it against the wall in frustration. It shattered into several small pieces in front of the door. It did little to make me feel better and I simply rested my head against my chest and sobbed. I was sorry, so very sorry. Why? Why? Why? It wasn't as though I didn't have a choice. I shouldn't have been prying though Wraith's personal stuff.
I couldn't hear anything upstairs. I looked out of the window. There was nothing there expect the wind and the houses opposite. That silhouette was back. "Fuck you," I said under my breath, as a flash of lightning proved again that nothing was actually there. I made a mental note to check in the house tomorrow and see what was causing the shape. I made my way past the counter and slowly began to climb the stairs. I peered through the banister. Wraith was curled up on the bed, sleeping, his tunic next to him and his notebook tucked under him. I made my way up the rest of the stairs. I slowly hobbled over to the bed, looking down at Wraith as he slept. I leant close to his ear and whispered a soft, "I'm sorry," before kissing him gently on the forehead. For several minutes I stood there, my head drooping down, my ears flattened against my skull.
Than Wraith sat bolt upright as somepony screamed downstairs, "GAH! Fuck! What the hell is all this stuff?" Wraith stared at me for a moment. I blinked. Then Wraith kicked himself into combat mode. He grabbed his rifle by the sling, cocking it once, ready to shoot. I prepared my pistol for firing, ready for a conflict. Somepony had managed to break in downstairs whilst I had left my sentry post. I heard a loud crunch and then another scream, likely from the same pony, who I assumed was a stallion from his voice. I heard a mare call, "Keep your eyes peeled, they've booby trapped this place!"
Wraith was already half way down the stairs, rifle cocked and ready. A stallion let out a low whistle, "Holy shit guys, look at this." I assumed they'd found the bodies of the Scavengers we'd killed. I also assumed that these were more Scavengers we were dealing with. I saw torch beams flickering around downstairs. I heard the mare speak again, "Go search upstairs."
"Yea, yea, give me a minute." I took this opportunity to survey the scene. I poked my head around the corner to see into the room. There was a mare wielding a battered looking sledge hammer, with a torch attached to her steel helmet. She was clearly the one in charge and I could see from her rank insignia that she was a Commander.
For further reference, ranks in the Scavengers run as follows. For junior recruits and non-commissioned officers, the ranks start with Recruit, followed by Corporal (Wraith was a Corporal, in fact most Scavengers after their first year are promoted to Corporal), then First Class, then Sergeant, then Tactical, then Second Class (for some reason Second Class was superior to First Class), then Master and then Sub-Officer. The ranks for the officers are separated into three categories: Junior ranks, Senior ranks and Marshall ranks. The junior ranks consist of Raider-in-Training, Raider, and Commander. Senior ranks consist of Assault Commander, Troop Leader, and Group Leader. Then the Marshall ranks, which consist of Vice Marshall, Marshall, Chief Marshall, and finally Supreme Marshall, the highest rank in the Scavenger faction.
The Commander was pacing about the room, kicking at the bedding that Wraith had lain down. Wielding an assault rifle and shining a torch onto the bodies of our last victims was a young looking First Class. He had a garrison cap on at a jaunty angle and appeared to have a katana on his back. Sitting in a chair whimpering in agony was a young Corporal. He was also a stallion and had taken his helmet off and placed it on the table next to him. He was holding out his front hooves to a young mare Corporal with a white armband on. I hadn't seen Scavengers with white armbands on in the past, but I assumed that she was a medic. She also had a helmet which she had set beside her. The two both had assault rifles which were leaning against the wall. I glanced over at the door. The Scavengers had managed to open the door without knocking anything over with any noise, but there was a pool of blood at the entrance. Some light was glinting from the base of the young stallion Corporal's hooves. He'd stepped on the shattered coffee cup I'd thrown at the wall and the ceramic shards had gone straight into his hooves.
I aimed my pistol at the officer's head. She gazed in my direction, the torch on her head temporarily blinding me. The mare shouted, "Hey! There's one here!" Before charging and vaulting the counter. I fired off a single shot from my pistol. The shot missed its intended target (her head) but buried itself in her right shoulder, the hollow points going to work rending her flesh and almost severing her foreleg. She howled in pain and fell forwards, doing a rather artistic forward roll before coming to a stop on the floor, clutching her shoulder and whining in pain. There was a pool of blood on the floor where she'd come to a stop. All the other ponies were now looking at me. The First Class pointed his assault rifle at me and I ducked behind cover before he fired a burst of three rounds. The rounds went straight through the wall next to me and I swore quietly. Whatever rounds he was packing, they weren't standard.
I waited for the First Class to show himself but he didn't. I heard a soft click and I shot Wraith a quick glance before he threw something round the corner. It was the stick grenade we'd found a long time ago. There was a loud bang as the grenade detonated and I peered round to survey the damage. The First Class was had been spattered against one wall, and all items of furniture in the area had splintered. The corpses of the Scavengers we'd killed earlier were nowhere to be seen. I rounded the corner, my pistol pointed at the two Corporals. Wraith came in after me, his rifle pointed at the pair as well. They both threw their hooves in the air. The mare whimpered slightly, "P-please! I'm just a medic!"
"Yea! And- and I'm wounded!"
"Don't kill us!" Despite their pleas, I kept my pistol on them. I didn't trust Scavengers further than I could accurately shoot them. Wraith came and stood next to me, his rifle levelled at the head of the medic. He picked up the two assault rifles and carried them off back to where we were standing. The intruders were now severely less powerful.
I heard a loud scrape behind me. To my amazement I looked over my shoulder to see the blood stained Commander wielding her sledge hammer in her one good fore hoof. She yelled, "Cowards! Don't surrender! Fight! Kill them!" She arced the hammer towards me in one overhead swipe. I dodged. The hammer smashed into the floorboards and stuck there. I put the pistol into the base of the Commander's neck. She made an attempt to reach her own pistol but I pulled the trigger before she managed it. The hollow point round blew out her throat in a shower of blood. Her head was hanging from a few tendons as her spine was severed and flesh decorated the floor below her. Her body fell limp, a loud thud announcing her final impact with the floor.
The stallion Corporal who'd stood on the coffee cup had a look of pure terror on his face, whilst the Medic didn't seem fazed by the gore. Wraith pulled me over by the collar, "What do we do with these two?" He whispered.
"I'm so sorry."
"For what?"
"Reading your notebook. It was wrong and I shouldn't have done it."
"Forget that for now! What do we do with these two? We don't have the resources nor the time for prisoners." I thought for a moment.
"We can't let them go. They'd bring more of them down on our heads."
"Right. I say we just kill them."
"But they've surrendered! They're not threatening us." Then my face lit up as I got an idea. "Use the cuffs we found! Cuff them both to the bed posts upstairs, then leave them for their comrades to find!"
"I suppose that would work. Do you have the cuffs?"
"And the keys, yes."
Wraith pointed his rifle at the Scavengers, "Up the stairs, both of you, now!"
The wounded Corporal whined, "But I can't walk!"
Wraith sighed, "Can you carry him?" The Medic nodded. "Good. Get going."
The Medic grunted as she carried her wounded comrade up the stairs. I heard her mutter, "Freeloader," under her breath. She set the corporal down on the bed and stood looking at us. "What are you going to do with us?" I pulled out a set of the cuffs.
"Lie down next to him." The Medic groaned and reluctantly lay down next to the Corporal. I cuffed the Medic's hoof to the Corporal's then cuffed his other hoof to the bed post. The Medic shot me a cold look and I stuck my tongue out at her. Wraith and I packed up our gear and made our way down the stairs. I overheard the Corporal say, "You know, this is pretty hot." The Medic sighed.
"Shut up. I would rather be anywhere but here with you." I chuckled. It was clear that these two weren't on best terms.
I looted the corpses of the First Class and the Commander. I didn't find many useful items, but I was surprised when I showed Wraith the rounds the First Class was packing and he whistled. He stuffed the rounds into his saddlebags, explaining that they were Armour Piercing rounds. The bullets were tipped with tungsten to ensure that they went straight through a wide variety of armour, including tank armour. That would explain how easily they went through the wall next to me. The Commander was carrying a Glock with her, but it only held standard ammunition. I took it anyway, the Glock and the ammo. I liked the idea of having a back-up Glock. Wraith examined the rifles, "AK47s, the lot of them. Oh, no wait this one's an AK74. Yea, Soviet weapons. These AK47s are almost indestructible. There's nothing you can do to these things to break them short of taking them apart or chain sawing them in half." I wasn't sure it was possible to make a weapon that reliable, but Wraith was the expert, so I went on his judgement.
"Fuck off!"
"Come on, we have nothing better to do!"
"Uurgh! You're so sleazy! I wouldn't have sex with you if you were the last stallion alive!" I laughed to myself and so did Wraith. I walked to the bottom of the stairs and called up, "Keep it down up there! We're trying to get some sleep!" The Medic shouted back.
"Please get me away from this guy, I can't stand him!" She squealed. "I swear, if you touch me there again I'm going to rip off your dick!"
Wraith went back to sleep on the sheets (this time with his tunic and notebook kept close) and I resumed my sentry post. Fortunately the little episode had killed a lot of time. I now only had half an hour until morning. I sat and watched the rain. It looked as though it was getting a little lighter. Was the storm almost over? I didn't want to get my hopes up but some dry weather would really help us make some serious progress. I wasn't sure how far we still had to go, because I hadn't seen a map before leaving and I had no idea how far we'd travelled.
Morning rose and the adrenaline that had kept me awake began to wear off. I was a little drowsy and I didn't want to stand up, but Wraith dragged me out of my chair and threw my saddlebags over my back for me. I politely pushed him away when he moved to tighten the straps for me, much preferring to do it myself. I went up to check on our resident lovebirds. The Corporal had fallen asleep but the Medic was still wide awake, her hind legs tucked against her chest with her tail wrapped around her. I laughed, "Having fun?"
"No."
"Shame. Well my partner and I are going for a little stroll. You'll be okay here, won't you?"
"No! Please! Take me with you! Don't leave me here with him!" I chuckled, turning my back on her and walking slowly down the stairs.
"Good bye. Don't let anypony in, don't set fire to anything and don't sell the house!" That's what my mother had always said to me if she ever went anywhere without me. I heard the Medic whine a little and shake the bed in frustration.
"At least put him somewhere else! Hello? I know you're still there. Pay attention to me!"
I re-joined Wraith downstairs. I nodded that I was ready to go and he slung his rifle over his back. We carefully stepped over the remaining porcelain fragments on the floor and pushed the door open. I heard the Medic scream before I shut the door and left the two of them to their fate. I asked Wraith which way we were supposed to be heading and he pointed in a direction. We set off walking, prepared for a long journey. At least the rain was clearing up. After about two hours the rain had died down to a light drizzle and the wind was at a level at which I felt safe to put my hat on again. One thing the rain had done for me was give me a good wash.
Nothing really happened for a good few hours. We kept walking, relieved slightly when the rain completely stopped and the first rays of sunshine showed themselves. We decided to take a break, now that the rain and wind had stopped and the sun was out, to rest a little and regain our strength. I parked my rump on a patch of grass and shook off my saddlebags, letting them fall to the floor. Wraith hung his on a branch of a nearby tree. I sat happily munching on some of the food from my saddlebags. Wraith didn't eat much (he ate another apple) and simply sat and stared into the ground.
I swallowed what was left of the chocolate I had been eating (I reasoned that I could easily walk off the calories) and asked, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
"It's something, that much I do know. Come on, what's the matter?" Wraith sniffed.
"I... I suppose you know now."
"Know what? You have to stop being so cryptic all the time."
"Know that I... Kinda... Like you." He blushed, glancing off to one side and avoiding eye contact (I twice attempted to meet his gaze but on both occasions he turned his head to look in the other direction). I gulped.
"Yea. I do." Silence. There was still a light breeze to interrupt the heat of the sun, and the sound of the leaves rustling in nearby trees was all I could hear. Wraith rubbed one of his forelegs nervously.
"I know how much you hate Scavengers. You have very good reason to. I understand if you don't like me in that way. It's not like I'm not used to it. I'm happy to just be your companion, if that's what you'd prefer." He went silent for a while, "Did you like my drawings?" I giggled.
"Do I really sleep with my butt in the air like that?"
He laughed nervously, "No. Only that once. I... thought it was cute."
He ran a hoof through his mane. His hoof was shaking. He was practically shaking all over. I found it rather amusing how he was so confident when his life was in danger, but terrified when it came to talking to mares. It was ironic really. And it was cute. I shuffled over to him slowly. I rested my head on his shoulder and nuzzled him slightly. I could feel his breathing quicken and his heart rate sky rocketed. He didn't comment, but he didn't do anything else either. I turned my head slightly to gently rub my muzzle against his neck. He gasped a little. I glanced up at him and he looked down at me. I clutched his mane gently with my hoof, not sure of what to do next.
We both glanced off to one side. I chuckled awkwardly. I was so new to this. I'd done the whole seduction thing a few times before, but I'd never before actually gotten this close to anypony. Not in this way at least. I gulped once. My mouth was dry. I felt like a fool. I had no idea what to do. I looked back up at Wraith and he looked back down at me. I moved a little closer, practically panting nervously. Our noses touched. I could feel his breath coming short and quick. I imagined mine was the same. Slowly, ever so slowly, I closed the remaining distance between us. Our lips touched. Holy shit, I was kissing somepony! Oh shit... I was kissing somepony. What if I sucked? What if I was the worst kisser in all of Equestria? I didn't know what I was doing. I was going based on what felt right and what I'd read in romance novels. Hey, I'm a filly, I'm aloud to read that sort of thing!
I pressed my lips onto Wraith's a little harder. I nervously held the pose, to see if he was going to do anything, but he was about as experienced as I was, so we were both clueless. Eventually I decided to throw all restraints out the window. I gently poked my tongue against Wraith's lips. I felt him pull back slightly and I was terrified that I'd done something wrong. But this is what they did in all the novels, it couldn't be wrong! Wraith relaxed again, and slowly I began to push my tongue past his lips into his mouth. I brushed my tongue against his. I was kissing! My first proper kiss.
We spent a few minutes like that, gently playing with each-others' tongues as we both kissed for the first time. Eventually I pulled away (after remembering how much breathing was important) and quietly panted, trying to gasp in as much air as possible. I was blushing heavily and I was feeling very hot under my jumper and hat. I had the heaviest blush of my life plastered over my face and I looked away shyly, "Well. That was... nice."
Wraith nodded, "Mmhmm." Silence.
"Should we... get going then? We don't want the Scavengers to catch us."
"Yea, yea, we should go now."
I strapped my saddlebags back over my back and prepared to leave. I had a kind of 'ohmygosh' reflex kicking off in my brain, whilst the more logical side of it was trying to regain control. Finally, at the age of nineteen, I had had my first kiss. Oh how amazing it felt. I felt on top of the world. I gave a mental whoop of joy. Nothing could bring my spirits down now; except maybe another storm, but that was about it. Only then did I realise that I was walking. I'd just sort of started to walk alongside Wraith without even thinking about it. I looked around, "Hang on, aren't we meant to be going that way?" I gestured over my shoulder with my hoof.
"No, I'm sure we're meant to be going this way."
I looked from side to side, "Uh, no, it's this way. Look, we've passed that tree before!"
"No we haven't. I've never seen it before."
"I have. We should be going that way."
Oh, and getting lost. That could bring my spirits down a little too. Basically, Wraith and I were both suggesting travelling in opposite directions. We had no idea where we were, no which direction we'd been heading in previously. We were, quite frankly, completely lost. Lost in the heart of Scavenger territory. I sat down and clapped my hooves to the sides of my head, "Okay, don't panic. We can fix this! Which direction was that village in?"
"It was back there."
"Hmm. I thought it was back that way."
"Well it can't be both."
"No shit! Oh this is not good." I began to panic slightly. The last thing I wanted to do was get lost in an area where I was basically surrounded on all sides by Scavengers. The landscape was almost featureless, with just a few trees indistinguishable from each other. The best solution at the moment was to just pick a direction and walk in it.
Wraith did his best to reassure me that we were going the right way, but as we set off again, I still wasn't sure. I believed that we were just walking back to the village we'd come from, but Wraith seemed confident that we were on course for Refuge. I didn't know whether to trust him or my instincts. After several kilometres and no sign of the village, it seemed as though Wraith had been right all along and we were heading for Refuge.
The next thing I remembered was a face full of dirt as Wraith pulled me to the floor. I looked up (rather annoyed) and saw, not very far away, a group of about eight Scavengers standing about in a rough circle. In the middle were two ponies fighting each other. Wraith began to crawl forward on his belly, from shrub to shrub, trying to get a better view. I followed close behind. I wondered for a moment about two things, the first was why were there a group of Scavengers fighting each other in the arse end of nowhere, the second was why there were so many Scavengers. Scavengers usually travelled around in groups of three (although in this area it seemed to be four), not eight or nine.
Wraith and I had managed to crawl within hearing distance, and we were close enough to make out facial features. We were crouched behind a bush, peering through. The circle of Scavengers was composed of eight, ranging from a young Recruit who looked about eleven, to a Raider who looked quite hardy. They were cheering and calling at the two ponies in the middle. One was a large and formidable Assault Commander wielding a combat knife, his garrison cap on at an angle and his tunic open. He had a studded collar around his neck and a set of blood red combat goggles. The pony he was fighting was garbed in Wanderer attire. He was young, but older than me, I'd say about twenty. He also had a combat knife but looked much less skilled than the Assault Commander.
I saw off to one side of the group two bodies. They were both Wanderers. One of them had a deep gash in their throat. They were about the same age as the pony currently in the middle of the circle, but she was a mare. Next to her was a pony who'd had his gut sliced open, his intestines and other organs spilling onto the ground next to him. He was quite a bit older than the other two, I'd say thirty three. On the opposite side of the circle were three sets of saddlebags, likely belonging to the unfortunate Wanderers. My theory was that they had been travelling to Refuge like us, but had been picked up by a (rather large) Scavenger patrol. Now they were fighting for their lives against a very skilled Assault Commander. Well, one of them was; the others had lost.
I saw the Wanderer make a lunge for the officer's ribs. The attack was dodged with ease. The officer clutched hold of the Wanderer, turned him around and planted a knee between his hind legs. He taunted the crippled stallion, "Come on! At least try!" The stallion slowly raised himself from his position on the floor and made a quick jab, aimed at the officer's throat. The officer ducked under the attack, grasped the stallion round the middle and stabbed the blade of the knife into his stomach, twisting it horribly to ensure maximum damage. The stallion choked, coughed up a little blood, then fell to the floor, limp and not moving. The surrounding Scavengers cheered in delight and one dragged the corpse off to one side.
One of the Scavengers branched off from the others and headed for the bush behind which we were hiding. Of course he would though, because bad things seem to be attracted to me like iron to a very powerful magnet. The Scavenger lit up a cigarette, a plume of fowl smelling smoke shooting into the air as he did so, and prepared for the necessary business that befalls all living things, mostly animals. I shuffled backwards slightly, which had the undue effect of creating an audible rustling noise that painted a puzzled look on the Scavenger's face. He slung the assault rifle off his back and started to push aside branches, peering through gaps trying to find us. I held my breath, not to avoid being found but to avoid inhaling his cigarette smoke, but this proved to be an unwise tactic. Eventually I ran out of held breath and had to gasp in more air. I did so silently, but all I could taste was the acrid smoke from the Scavenger's cigarette, making me cough and splutter.
The Scavenger recoiled in surprise. He reached a hoof into the bush and grabbed hold of my jumper, pulling hard. I tumbled out of the foliage, the Scavenger hoisting me up by my garment. Wraith leapt out of the bush next to him, attempting to land a blow on his temple, but the rustling of the bush alerted him to Wraith's presence and he immediately brought his assault rifle to bear, wielding it in a single hoof. Wraith froze where he was. The Scavenger seemed a little confused. Wraith was in Scavenger attire, but had been attempting to attack him. The Scavenger called over one of his companions, an attractive young mare in the sense that she had a nice mane. Apart from that, she was nothing special.
The Scavenger (stallion) grasped me around the neck and began to pull me along behind him, "Giddyup! Grab the other one. He may look like a Scavenger but he sure as hell isn't!" Wraith initially resisted, but the mare pointed a shotgun at his head until he complied, leading him behind me until we were on the outskirts of the circle. Every Scavenger there turned to look at us, including the Assault Commander, who sneered at me. It made him look very unattractive, not that he was very attractive in the first place.
The Scavenger with me in a headlock called out in a sing song voice, "Look what we have here! More meat!" The Assault Commander laughed.
"She's not going to be much of a challenge."
"Well we'll put him in first!" The mare pushed Wraith into the middle of the circle. She stripped him of his equipment and pressed a knife into his right fore hoof. "Fight, little colt!" I had my saddlebags and belt taken from me and added to the pile of equipment they'd looted from the Wanderers. The stallion released me from my headlock, but stood close by with his assault rifle over his back, ready to turn on me if I ran. I gagged again. If there was one thing I hated, it was the stench of cigarettes.
The Scavengers began to cheer again as Wraith and the Assault Commander circled each other, sizing each other up. I couldn't watch. But I had to! Maybe I could spot something that could help Wraith. The Assault Commander wasn't letting any gaps appear in his guard, but Wraith was waiting for him to make the first move. For a while nothing happened before the young eleven year old Recruit called out a curt, "Get on with it!" The Assault Commander made a jab at Wraith's ribs. Wraith parried the blow but the officer clutched hold of Wraith's dominant right fore leg, pulling on it hard. Wraith stumbled past the officer, who slashed him down the back. Wraith winced in pain, but to his credit he didn't scream. The officer laughed, encouraged by Wraith's pain. I gasped in shock, almost wanting to avert my gaze. Wraith was quickly getting his arse handed to him.
Wraith prepared himself to go back on the defence. His wounded back didn't help his guard though, and he struggled to maintain an upright posture. The Assault Commander jabbed at Wraith's left hip. Wraith again parried the blow, rightly suspecting a feint. The officer then jabbed at Wraith's right shoulder with his free hoof. Wraith blocked the quick attack, but hadn't expected yet another attack, and as a result didn't catch the officer as he stabbed him in the right shoulder. The blade split his uniform and pierced his flesh, blood seeping out past the blade and down his foreleg. This time Wraith did scream, clutching at the knife embedded in his shoulder. I gasped again, the colour draining from my face. Wraith grimaced, but held onto the knife, not letting the Assault Commander twist it or pull it out. He was stifling the blood flow, preventing massive blood loss.
The Assault Commander snarled, attempting to pull the knife out of Wraith's mutilated flesh. Wraith quickly stabbed at the officer's hip as he was distracted. The attack didn't have much force behind it, his arm wounded and with a knife sticking out of it, but it succeeded in eliciting a yelp of pain. The officer planted his hoof in Wraith's face, causing him to lose his grip on both knives. Wraith was now completely unarmed, clutching at his wounded shoulder. The officer pulled the knife from his hip and wielded it alongside his other blade. Wraith nimbly dodged an attack, but winced at the pain in both his shoulder and his back. Wraith could keep dodging and avoiding conflict, but only for so long. I had to help him. Fast.
I thought quickly, relying on the one thing I knew would get attention: a stallion's testosterone fuelled brain. I clutched hold of the collar of the stallion guarding me. He immediately began to assume I was attacking him, attempting to push me off. I flicked the cigarette from his mouth (it was annoying me greatly) and pulled him down to the floor, a coy look on my face. It was a façade, but he didn't know that. His sex drive immediately kicked into overdrive, and a stupid grin crossed his face as he clutched hold of my hips, eagerly. I was determined not to let him get too frisky, so I swung one of my hind legs up, hard and fast, catching him in the groin. He winced, he groaned, I pushed him to one side as he lay in a heap clutching at his mutilated crotch. I say again, there are some serious disadvantages to being a stallion. The Scavengers that formed the circle hadn't noticed, too intent on watching Wraith dance around the Assault Commander as he made attack after attack, getting very annoyed.
I rushed over to my belt, grabbing my pistol from its holster and checking my magazine. Satisfied that it was loaded, I flicked off the safety and swung around, pointing the pistol at the officer. He turned around as Wraith made a quick dart to one side. He looked up at me. Wasting no time I pulled the trigger, a shot ringing out and sending a hollow point round through the left lens of the officer's goggles, shattering it before passing through his eye and shredding his brain. He stumbled backwards, dropping both knives to the floor. He fell back, hitting the floor with a thud, blood dribbling down from the shattered lens over his face. The Scavengers in the circle looked at me unanimously, as did Wraith, clutching his shoulder. Before anypony reacted, I shot another Scavenger, trying to narrow down the competition as much as possible. The shot caught the Scavenger in the heart, dropping them before they even knew what had hit them (a hollow point round).
The Scavengers kicked into action, grabbing at their weapons and preparing to shoot me down. I saw (and heard) a Sadist call out to his companions, "Catch her alive! I want to make her suffer!" I gulped. I'd been tortured once by a Hunter, I didn't want to be tortured by a professional Sadist. The nearest Scavenger to me pulled a strange looking pistol out of his holster, preparing to fire at me. Before he could I shot him, the bullet hitting his sternum and shattering it. He collapsed to the floor, then I ran, the remaining Scavengers giving chase. The eleven year old Recruit was surprisingly quick and led the way.
I didn't get very far before I felt hooves grab at my hind leg. I looked back to see the young Recruit grabbing at me, trying to drag me back. I used me magic, taking hold of my pistol and butting him in the head with it. It wasn't lethal, but it stunned him and got him off my leg. Almost immediately I was grabbed by another Scavenger. I swung my pistol into his stomach and fired a shot. He stumbled, clutching at his belly, before falling back dead. Another Scavenger with a pipe wrench held above her head rounded on me. I quickly bucked her in the face and she fell back, clutching her muzzle. She hit the ground with an odd crack, and I saw she'd hit her head on a well concealed rock, cracking her skull and killing her almost instantly.
I yelped as a ball of fire crashed into the grass next to me, singeing it black. I spun around to face my assailant, a unicorn summoning fire with her horn. I was amazed; I didn't know such magic was possible. The unicorn prepared another fiery projectile and launched it in my direction. I leapt to one side to avoid it but the end of my tail was still caught in the blast, igniting it. I stamped it out quickly before it could burn too much of my tail and then looked back up to see the Sadist from earlier standing next to the mare. He raised his submachine gun and fired three shots. The first one shot over my back, but missed. The second one was more accurate and caught me in the rump, embedding itself in my flesh and crippling movement in my rear left leg. I yelped as the pain shot up the left side of my body and I fell to the floor. I looked back at the wound. It was bleeding quite badly and I could see the hole in my flank, just to one side of my cutie mark (but fortunately it had caught a little of it). The bullet hadn't gone all the way through but had fortunately been stopped by my flesh. Say what you like, I don't have a fat ass! The third bullet missed, whizzing past where my leg had been before I fell.
The young recruit leaped at me, wielding a meat cleaver and brandishing it menacingly. I lit up my horn, encasing the rock the unfortunate mare whom I'd bucked in the face had fallen on. I flung the rock at the colt, striking him in the temple and knocking him down. I saw a dribble of blood seep from his nose. I chocked. Killing other ponies was bad, and I'd only recently gotten over that. But killing a young colt? He was practically a foal! He didn't deserve to die, surely? I couldn't justify it. I just couldn't. There was no way in all of Equestria that that was right. I sobbed. I looked down at the now lifeless body of the colt, not moving, not breathing. I was shaken beyond my limits.
I didn't even notice as the Sadist who'd shot me fell from a bullet to the back of the head. I didn't see the unicorn mare get engulfed in fire and debris as a grenade exploded nearby. I didn't see the well-armed and armoured Wanderers rush towards me, a wounded Wraith slung over the back of a medical pony. I didn't hear them ask me if I was okay. The reason I managed to get all that in writing is because Wraith would later tell me what happened. In any case, the first I knew of their presence was when the leader slapped me in the face. I looked up at him, tears in my eyes.
He was in the usual Wanderer attire, expect he had riot armour protecting his body and a steel helmet with a visor on his head. Next to him was an assault rifle with a vicious bayonet slung underneath. I only half listened to what he was saying, "Are you okay? You have a nasty looking wound there. Give me your hoof, I'll help you. We need to get you out of here before the Scavengers raise the alarm, come on!"
I did nothing. I just stared at him. In a choked voice I murmured, "I-I killed him."
The Wanderer looked down at the dead colt, "I'm sorry about that. There's nothing we can do about that now! Come on, we have to go! My comrades have got all of your gear, let's get moving, quickly!"
"He didn't deserve to die. He was just a colt. What have I become?" I clapped my hooves to my temples. My head was throbbing. I was a savage. A brute. I was no better than the ponies I was trying to stop.
The stallion shook his head. He tossed his rifle to a nearby Wanderer; he clutched the sling in his mouth. The stallion slipped a hoof under my bulk and flung me onto his back. He started to trot at an alarming rate, making resting over his back rather uncomfortable. Plus, I had to share the space with his bulky riot armour, which was less than pleasant to lie on. I could see Wraith being escorted close by. There were five Wanderers in all, all of which were covered from head to foot in old riot armour. The commander and the stallion I assumed to be the 2nd in Command both wielded assault rifles. The medical pony (also a stallion) had a white helmet with a red cross painted on the front, as well as the same red cross on the chest plate of his armour. He had a submachine gun at his hip. A youngish mare walked slightly ahead of us. She was a unicorn, with a belt of grenades around her waist and a grenade launcher held in her magic. The other Wanderer (who funnily enough was also a stallion) had a scoped rifle slung over his back, leading the way.
I was still in shock. I imagined that my hair had turned white, but it hadn't. I turned my head to try and talk to the stallion carrying me, "I killed that colt."
"Are you proud of that?"
"No."
"Then I feel sorry for you. Now's not the time to dwelling on that. We need to get you to Refuge before the Scavengers catch up with us." I was still very upset. I sobbed again, wiping my face with my hoof. The pain in my rear was horrible; it felt like my left haunch had been carved out of stone. I looked back the way we came. With a sniff I asked a burning question.
"Why are there so many Scavengers here?"
"The Scavengers are very eager to keep trespassers out of this area. Recon suggests that they have a munitions cache close by here and they patrol it frequently, with much larger sections than normal. The Wanderers you saw were members of our scout party. There were originally eight, but the other five fled when the patrol showed up. The ones you saw were the officers."
"Is Refuge far?" I was seriously concerned about my internal organs pulping as I bounced up and down on the Wanderer's armour.
"No. It's a few miles on from here. Sit tight, we'll get you there as soon as we can." Wraith had been right. We had been going the right way after all. |
Revenge | Chapter 8 | Chapter 8
Refuge was quite an impressive feat of engineering. I remember seeing it for the first time and thinking 'What is this? A fortress?' The city was completely surrounded by a wall of brick, well-constructed by some pretty skilled builders. There were towers every one hundred metres or so, likely erected by some very powerful magic users. In each tower were three guards, a sniper, a machine gunner, and somepony to operate the searchlights that had been hoisted up. The gate was constructed of what appeared to be several smaller gates welded together, operated by two pulley systems that ultimately made them swing inwards. Outside the gate were two sentry positions, composed of several walls of sandbags, with barbed wire strung along the exterior to stop invaders getting too close.
The Wanderer captain (as I shall now call him, I wasn't sure if the Wanderers had a rank structure and I'm still not) stopped at one of these sentry posts. In a chair on the other side of the wall of sandbags was a mare, a rifle over her lap. Also in the post were two other ponies, one pony operating a field telephone, the other cooking on a small stove. I mean a really small stove; it was like a small cuboid with a fuel that looked suspiciously like cocaine, but probably wasn't. I don't think cocaine is that flammable. Anyway, the captain flashed identification and the mare nodded, "How many in your party, sir?"
"Five, including me, plus two casualties."
"Okay, can you count them in for me? Let me know if there's anypony you don't recognise. Sparkplug, can you get on the phone and let the guards on the pulleys know that we've got ponies to come in?" The stallion on the phone nodded and began to speak into the headset.
The captain stood to one side of the sentry post, counting in each member of his crew. He'd laid me on the floor next to him so he didn't have to hold me whilst he did so. He first counted the medical pony as he walked past, letting the guard know that the Scavenger was actually a friend and not a threat to them. The guard nodded, but didn't seem overly convinced. He counted the grenade totting mare as she walked past, then the sniper pony, then his 2IC. He finally counted himself. He turned to the mare, "All present and accounted for. What of the survivors from the scout party?"
"Still patching up in the medical ward last I checked. What of the commanders? Any sight of them?" The captain bowed his head. He removed his helmet, holding it to his chest.
"There shall be mourning to do tonight."
The mare sighed, removing her helmet too, "That's a shame. I'll notify their families."
"That would be kind of you. Thanks." The mare waved a hoof as if to say 'no problem'.
The gates opened slowly, creaking slightly as they did so. When they'd been fully opened, the mare nodded, "Okay, you're good to go through. Remember to sign in with the Border Office."
"I won't." The captain picked me up and flung me back over his back. I wheezed as I hit his armour. I was seriously more worried about my ribs than I was about my bullet wound at this point. It was a wonder I could still breathe. He let the rest of his crew walk in first. I noticed that Wraith had had his shoulder wound patched up by the medic. He also had a makeshift bandage over his back, stemming the blood flow and holding off infection. The captain carried me through, and then the gates closed behind us. The ponies that had rescued me milled around waiting for orders. The captain sighed once, "Shrap, can you take this one to the medical ward? You take that one too Truman. The rest of you go back to your duties. I'll sign you all in at the Border Office." There was a chorus of 'yes sirs' before everypony went about their duties.
The mare with the grenade launcher handed her weapon to the sniper pony, before accepting me onto her back. She smiled, "You okay up there?"
"Yep. Try and walk a little smoother than you captain. I'm not sure my ribs can take it!" She chuckled.
"I'll try. That's quite a nasty wound. You're going to need to get that patched up before it goes septic."
"Thanks genius." She chuckled again and then set about taking me to the medical ward. The ride was a lot smoother on her back, with less jostling and bumping about to be done, and more chilling and focusing on the pain in my rear, which was getting quite bad. My haunch had moved on from feeling like stone to feeling like steel. The pony carrying me I assumed was called Shrap, whilst the medic supporting Wraith must have be Truman. I tried to remember those names.
The medical ward was thankfully quite close to the entrance. Outside were several ponies, stallions and mares, in white clothes with red crosses adorning their chests. They were all either milling around, carrying medical supplies on their backs or bearing stretchers between two of them, a wounded pony laying upon them, or just empty and waiting to receive more. I noticed that the building looked like a professional hospital, and decided that there must be some very skilled ponies living there. The hospital had full electricity as well and they looked to be stocked up to the eyeballs with medical supplies. They likely had a few professional doctors on campus too.
Shrap carried me through the main doors and placed me in a chair. I yelped in pain, so she quickly lifted me up again and lay me on a sofa to one side. That was far more comfortable, and I sighed as I relaxed on the fabric seat. The main lobby was large, with doors and corridors leading off to several different departments. Shrap went over to a desk and a receptionist wearing what in my opinion was a very sexy nurse's uniform smiled at her and said something I couldn't catch. Shrap gestured over to me and the receptionist nodded, picking up a telephone and dialling a number. A different receptionist (wearing a much less sexy nurse's uniform) spoke to Truman, who was still supporting Wraith.
I was surprised when, in a few minutes, a nurse poked my shoulder and asked, "Are you the mare called Bucky?"
"Yes. What of it?"
"I'm here to take you to a room where you can have your wound treated. Can you walk?"
"No."
"Okay, I'll carry you." I was thrown onto the nurse pony's back (I was beginning to miss independent walking) and carried down a corridor with a sign over it saying 'Combat Wounds'. I was a little shocked to see how densely populated the wing was. In every room we passed (the nurse and I) there were rows and rows of bunks with wounded ponies lying on them, groaning in pain or resting and letting their bodies recover after their surgery. The majority of the ponies were Wanderers, with wounds ranging from concussions, bullet wounds, stab wounds, burns and shrapnel damage all the way to missing legs, mangled wings or horns, missing eyes or shredded flesh. It was quite a ghastly sight. I also saw, amongst the Wanderers, some black clad LRSA personnel, most of which had minor wounds compared to some of the Wanderers that were close by. I saw two ponies standing talking to each other, one on crutches and one with a patch over his right eye, who both wore the iconic blue berets of the NSA. I wondered how they'd come to be out here so far from any established NSA compound. Maybe refugees like me, but I didn't think I recognised their crests. I only caught a quick glimpse of them as the nurse carried me past, and all the NSA crests looked the same anyway, at least from a distance. In one room, a mare standing over him treated a rather bad burn all along his left side, was a stallion in a khaki tunic which dangled loosely from his right shoulder. I was quite surprised to see the Wanderers treating Scavengers here.
The nurse took me into a room which was only about half full and laid me on a bed. It was rather comfortable (deceptively comfortable actually, the mattresses looked like slabs of marble) and I felt quite relaxed. It was just like the sort of medical beds you see in television programmes, with the clipboards on the end and the low tables to one side. I was disappointed when I realised I didn't have a heart rate monitor or one of those long pole things with the blood bags hanging from them, but hey, you can't have it all.
The nurse smiled at me, "We're quite under staffed at the moment and we have a lot of casualties to treat, so expect quite a wait before a doctor comes to look at you. In the meantime I'm going to treat your wound to stop it getting infected, okay?"
"Whatever you have to do, you're the medical expert." I felt quite exposed, lying on the bed whilst the nurse prepared a rag of antiseptic, gazing at the hole in my rump and humming softly to herself as she worked. I yelped in surprise as something cold touched the (very painful) bullet wound and stung like crazy.
"Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention; this is going to sting quite a lot." I chuckled. As if I wasn't used to pain. It did sting quite a bit though, and I winced as the nurse stroked the cloth gently over my wound. After a minute or two she smiled at me again, "All done! You should be okay for now; I've also put a patch on to stop it bleeding too much. Wait here for about an hour or two and a surgeon will be with you. If you need anything, ring the bell and somepony will come to help you. Okay?"
"Thank you. For everything, thank you." She smiled.
"Just doing my job." She turned her back on me and walked out of the room.
As I lay waiting for the doctor Wraith was brought in and laid on the bed next to me. The nurse helping him was a little less friendly than mine, and she didn't add any of the smiles or 'are you okays' that mine had. It was probably on account of his uniform, and I'd heard several Wanderers refer to the Scavenger uniform as 'Bastard Khaki'. When she left, Wraith fell asleep almost immediately, which was fine by me. He needed rest. I decided to take the opportunity to scope out who else I was in the room with.
The room was about half full with ponies, medical staff and patients alike. There were two doctors in the room, who were scanning the ranks looking for ponies that needed more urgent aid, before pointing them out to some stretcher bearers who would carry them off to an operating theatre to get treated. The room smelt strongly of antiseptic, but that wasn't much of a surprise. There were nurses scurrying about conducting various duties. After a while I managed to figure out who the head nurse was, a young stallion who had a red armband on his left leg, as well as the usual white garb with red cross. He was patrolling up and down the room, monitoring the activity of each nurse under his command and directing them where they were needed. Most nurses were busy either helping patients who had already been treated back into their bunks or provided basic first aid to those who needed it. There were a few that sat in chairs and happily chatted with their patients, but they usually weren't there for long before the head nurse redirected them else were.
In terms of patients, there were quite a few. The ones closest to the door had already been treated. Most of them had bandages on, around their waists, chests and heads, stemming the blood flow after bullets and shrapnel had been removed. Some had slings around their forelegs, supporting broken bones whilst other had crutches for broken hind legs. Some had eye patches where they'd either lost an eye or been blinded by gas or shrapnel. It was actually quite a well-known fact that the Scavengers had previously deployed gas and other chemical weapons in combat, and several ponies had been harmed for life by the weapons. Some ponies had bandages covering whole sides of their body, encasing half their face or wrapping around their entire leg where they'd been burned by incendiaries. One poor mare had a set of crutches and a bandage around a stump where her right hind leg had once been.
I did find it quite amusing when I noticed a Scavenger and an Equestrian LRSA soldier in adjacent beds. One (the LRSA soldier) had a bullet wound in his shoulder which had been bandaged; the other (the Scavenger) had several bandages along one leg where he'd been hit by shrapnel. They seemed to be having a rather heated debate, and after eavesdropping for a few minutes, I found out that they'd actually been in the same firefight before being wounded. They were both insisting that their respective sides had won the fight, but none of them seemed to be making any head way.
I lay in my bed for about two hours, watching the other patients or just relaxing with my eyes closed, letting my imagination flow. I hadn't slept in a while, but the pain in my rear was preventing me from drifting off, so I just dozed. I couldn't get over the fact that I'd finally kissed somepony. It's childish I know. I shouldn't go on about it but it was so exciting at the time and it was dominating my thoughts, demanding my attention. And I was more than happy to devote all of my attention to it. I'd always known it would be fun, that it would feel good, but I'd had no idea that it would have been that good. I recall in my early adolescent years (after I'd started to become really interested in stallions) sitting watching the colts about my age walk past, going about their daily duties. Some of them I liked and had a bit of a crush on, most I didn't. In an NSA compound, most of the colts aren't anything special. A lot of them end up joining the militia or the guard, and they were the really boring ones. I always fancied the ones who planned to be merchants, scientists, architects and so on. Most of all I liked the ones who insisted that they were going to go and explore Equestria, searching for wonders that had been lost after the Revolution.
Actually there was only one stallion like that, and his name was North Point. Oh, he was such a dreamy stallion. He was a pegasus and he was the colt that all of the fillies my age were really in to. He was good looking, smart, charismatic and adventurous. His father was in the guard and had actually been a member of the Engineering Corps of our town. As an engineer he'd travelled to several NSA towns to do maintenance work and every time he came back to our district he would tell North stories about his travels. North would then pass those stories on to anypony that would listen. I can remember sitting on a bench one afternoon and eavesdropping as he told a group of three fillies about his father's trip to Canterlot (which was the biggest and best NSA town; anypony who got there was either minted or very good at their job), "Apparently all the houses there are three stories tall! There are shops on every street corner and the streets are so clean they shine! The guards there where gold uniforms and they carry guns bigger than any we've got here. The ponies there are all very wealthy and spend their time oblivious to the horrors of the wilderness, instead looking though shop windows or sitting in cafes sipping coffee."
"That sounds wonderful," said one filly.
"Will you take me there someday?" said another. North smiled.
"Someday, fillies, I'm going to take you all to Canterlot! I'm going to go out there into the wilderness and carve a path straight to the city and you can all join me!" He was so cocky, but he could afford to be.
The fillies would swoon as he cast them a coy wink and I would feel my heart flutter. I wondered if he'd ever take me to Canterlot too. He never really noticed me, far more interested in daydreaming about the adventures he'd have than mares. Still, I can remember imagining what it would be like to kiss him. I didn't know much about kissing, but from what I'd seen on park benches I knew enough to fuel my fantasies. I can remember talking to one filly who'd actually been privileged enough to get to that stage with him. I remember asking, "What's it like?"
"What?"
"You know," I winked, nudging her shoulder. "What's it like to make out with North?"
"It's like eating the most delicious and passionate ice cream in all of Equestria," she'd replied going all dreamy eyed. I remember feeling all fuzzy after that. Had I had wings, they'd have pompfed.
I'd listen in to his stories, listening intently as he went on about great cities like Manehattan, Canterlot, Fillydelphia, Trottingham and so on. I would remember choice phrases that he'd say to other mares like, "I can only dream of how wonderful you'd look in their clothes." Or "I'm sure that that would suit you marvellously." He was so refined in the way he spoke. Then when I was alone in my parent's house and all I could think about was him, I'd cast my mind back and remember those phrases, imagining he'd addressed them to me. "Yes, Bucky, someday you and I will see all of Fillydelphia!"
"Someday, Bucky, we're going to Canterlot! First Class, all expenses paid, we're going there and we're going to have a blast!"
Oh, but I shouldn't dwell on past crushes and fantasies. If I just went on about all the things I conjured up and all the stallions (and admittedly a few mares) I wanted to make out with, I'd be here for months. I was awoken from my rather pleasant doze when a doctor shook my shoulder, "Hello? Are you awake?"
"I am now."
"I'm ready to treat you now. You'll be taken to my theatre on a stretcher. Try not to worry. It'll all be over soon." I nodded, confirming that I'd understood. The doctor stepped out of the way of the two mares carrying a stretcher between them. The doctor picked me up gingerly and placed me on the stretcher, which felt a lot less comfortable than the bed. The mares began to move me out of the room. I looked back at Wraith. He'd already been treated and was now fast asleep again, fresh bandages on his wound and the gash down his back sewn up. I hoped everything had gone okay.
I was carried down a well-lit corridor, the lights blinding me as I looked at them. I looked to one side instead to save my eyesight. The doctor held a door open for the mares, who thanked him and carried me inside, resting me on an operating table before leaving the room. There was only one other pony in the room, a stallion with a surgical mask. The doctor thanked the nurses and shut the door, before turning back to me, "My name is doctor Blood Drop, but a lot of patients find that a little intimidating, so you can just call me doctor, or Stan."
"Why Stan?"
"I like that name. Don't worry, I do have an actual doctor's degree, and I'm perfectly qualified. Now, I see you've suffered a bullet wound to the flank. We get that quite a bit. It seems a pretty good place to aim if you want to cripple somepony. Now, let's have a look here." Stan (I'm calling him that because I think it's funny) donned a surgical mask and carefully removed the patch from my wound. It was a little sticky, but came free relatively painlessly. Stan nodded, "Okay, it doesn't look infected. You're very lucky. Most of the time a wound like this wouldn't take long to turn bad. Okay, would you like me to apply an anaesthetic, or are you okay to just bite down on a rag?"
"I'd much prefer the anaesthetic."
"Very well. Um, Silence, could you knock this pony out for me?"
The last thing I remember about the operation was a mask being placed over my muzzle, then everything going blurry, then blackness. When I woke up, I was back on my bed, only a slight ache in my flank. I glanced down at it. Stan had done a god job, removing the bullet, cleaning the wound and finally stitching it up with orders to 'let it rest so it can heal properly' (that's what the nurse told me he'd said). There was also a dish on the table next to me. Not a big one, it was quite small, so I picked it up and looked inside. I laughed. Stan clearly had a sense of humour. Inside the dish was a small, rounded lump of metal, washed clean. It was the bullet from my wound, and next to it on a separate piece of paper was a small note reading, "Be careful next time! Regards, Stan." I kept that bullet. I still have it. I've kept it to this day, as a reminder of my first real war wound. The funniest aspect of my situation? North never did get to explore the wilderness. He never went to Canterlot, or Manehattan, or Fillydelphia, or Trottingham, or even Appleloosa. He joined the guard when he reached the right age, and only after my surgery did I recognise the NSA stallion on crutches, with his perfect mane, flawless coat and stunning smile. It was all rather ironic really. ***
I spent the rest of that day, plus the entire of the next letting my wound properly heal. Stan had come to visit me on the second day to check on my progress and said that I should be able to walk by morning the next day, albeit gingerly. I would have to wait another one or two days for my walking ability to be fully restored, at which time I was to come back to have the stitches removed and any remaining wounds healed by some magic. Why not use magic to treat the wound as it was? Because it was found out during the Revolution that magic was only a temporary fix for larger wounds. It would heal over the visible areas, but put too much strain on the wounded area and it would split open more severely than the original wound and several revolutionaries had been killed through such faults. As a result, it was agreed that proper medical equipment would be used first, and then once the wound had almost fully healed, magic would be used to tidy up and trim round the edges.
When morning came the next day, I carefully hauled myself out of the bunk, immediately noticing how stiff my wounded leg was. It hurt to move it, but with some effort I managed to make a few lengths of the room, only twice getting in the way of the head nurse. I was relieved to be able to walk again, even if it was a little painful. I looked over at Wraith, sadness striking me like a baseball bat. There had been some bad news. Wraith's back had become infected, and there was a chance that the infection would leave him paralysed. The thought of Wraith being unable to move for the rest of his life hurt me more than any bullet wound. The doctors had treated it to the best of their ability and had given Wraith a powerful dose of antibiotics, but now only fate would tell. He was still resting, his wounds far more severe than mine. He had made a huge sacrifice. I only wished I could repay him in some way. Short of throwing myself in front of a moving train to knock him out of the way, though, I wasn't sure precisely how.
I decided I'd had it with this hospital, with its sterilised rooms and smart arse doctors (all though it did have some nice nurses). I asked to be discharged that very day, and after Stan came by to check on my condition, he authorised the discharge. He said I would be okay if I was careful and didn't put too much strain on my leg. He advised against strenuous activity, and suggested I took it easy for a few days, perhaps visit one of the town's bars, of which he said it had many. I thanked him for all he'd done and he smiled, bowing his head and modestly putting it down to his brilliant skill as a doctor, and not even mentioning the fact that it was hardly a severe wound.
I waited a few minutes whilst a Wanderer brought all my equipment over from the store house, and I happily accepted it off him, glad to have my saddlebags back on my back (despite how heavy they were) and my belt around my waist, my Glock at my side. I limped out of the hospital and took in a breath of unsterilized air. The Wanderer that had brought me my gear put a hoof on my shoulder, "You'll need a place to stay. If you have the bits, you can rent yourself out a room in one of the inns or a hotel if you're really well off. If not, you can always go to the Immigration Officer and they'd be happy to accommodate you. If you'd rather stay in a room of your own and not share with thirty or so other refugees, you're always welcome to stay with me, should you need to." I thanked him for the advice, now glad that I'd scooped up those bits at the cafe.
I waved the stallion goodbye before slowly but surely setting off down the street, looking for a good inn. I stopped a mare in the street, who said that there was an inn called "The Flamethrower" just around the corner that had good food and drink and had modest prices for some pretty good rooms. I thanked her by sliding a packet of cigarettes into her chest pocket. She smiled and thanked me for the gift that I was only too happy to pass on. Like I have said before, I hate cigarettes.
I found The Flamethrower after a brief scout about. It was hard to miss. It was quite a large building, the name of the inn scrawled over a large wooden sign that hung over the door. It also had a picture of a Wanderer pony wielding a menacing weapon spewing flames in a wide arc, what looked like an oxygen tank on his back, but which was likely fuel for his weapon. I pushed open the door and was immediately greeted by a glorious smell of proper food and the sound of upbeat music reaching my ears. It had been a while since I'd been anywhere this hospitable (apart from the hospital, but that was cheating) and I was excited at the prospect of actually having a good time.
The inn was full of ponies, mares and stallions alike, sitting around circular tables with mugs of drink in their hooves, drinking and laughing together. The bar was on the far side of the room, behind which stood a mare with a bright red peaked cap on her head, slanted sideways. She was attracting a lot of looks from hopeful stallions, but she paid them no heed. She must have received a lot of tips. There was a stage on the left side of the room, relative to the door, upon which stood a mare in a drab green uniform with a tin helmet on, singing into a microphone. To one side of the stage a stallion with a hat that made him look like he was directly out of the seventies played a slightly out of tune piano with the help of his horn's magic. There was a fire in the room too, or more accurately there was a fireplace, but no fire. It was far too hot for that.
I made my way through the packed inn, eventually reached the bar, sitting on a stool and waiting patiently for the barmare to pay attention to me. She had just popped out from behind the bar to deliver a tray of drinks to a group of four young stallions sitting around a table near the stage, one of whom made some form of either sexist or immature comment, which warranted a slap in the face. The mare placed the tray on her back and said, "Excuse me, sir, you shall not refer to me in such a manner, or I'll have you barred." There was a chorus of 'ooooh' and the other three stallions began to tut and waggle their hooves at their friend, who fended them off by shoving his hoof in the face of the nearest stallion. The barmare turned around and shook her head, rolling her eyes before returning to the bar.
I raised a hoof to try and attract attention, but she was distracted by a different mare who ordered a drink. I sighed and waited my turn, watching as the barmare filled a mug with a frothy liquid, before passing it to the mare and charging her two bits. There was an exchange of coins, a ching from a cash register and then a call of, "Who's next?" A field of hooves went up, but the barmare decided to pay attention to me first, "Hey there. How can I help you? I haven't seen you before."
"I was just brought here. I have a hell of a story to tell, but I've just recovered from a rather painful wound and I'm a little tired. I was just wondering if I could get a room here and perhaps a drink?"
"If you've got thirty bits then I can get you a room key. As for drinks, we have a wide selection on offer. If you're a softy you can stick with a simply tap water, or perhaps a soft drink. If you're a real pony, you could go for one of our many ales, or if you're seriously hard core then consider ordering out strongest cocktail, the appropriately named 'Flamethrower'! So what'll it be?"
I was a bit flustered from the long list of drinks I could potentially be ordering, but I blinked myself back into reality and said, "Oh, uh, yea I'll have a room please, and maybe just a tap water."
"Really? Come on! For a mare who's survived in open combat, you really want to be stepping up to an ale! We've got a wide selection on offer. Our ale of the day is an old brew, 'Hearthswarmer', but that's only for serious ale drinkers. A novice like you would probably be safer with a 'Remedy'. That's an ale brewed right here in Refuge. It's not very strong but it's got a kick to it, with a heart-warming effect and a good taste. If you like I can get you the drinks menu?" I was again blown back by the diatribe of drinking vocab, but eventually came round again. I glanced off to one side awkwardly. I'd never had alcohol before. I'd never even touched a drop of the liquor in my father's bar at home after both my parents had died. I took a deep breath as I made my decision.
"Okay. One room and a Remedy, please."
The barmare smiled, "Thata girl! I knew I could convert you! That'll be thirty two bits in total." I fished around in my saddlebags looking for the bits from the cafe. Locating them, I counted out thirty five bits and placed them on the bar. The mare counted them, "You've given me three extra bits. Is that 'keep the change' or a calculation error?" I winked at her and flashed her a smile.
"Keep the change." She smiled back at me and added my change to the register. She fished a key off a hook and placed it on the bar in front of me, before cleaning a fresh mug and filling it from a tap with an admittedly rather delicious look, before slamming that down next to my key.
"Your room is the first on the left as you go up the stairs. Enjoy your ale." She winked and I smiled back.
I picked up the key and put it in my hat. I didn't have any pockets in my jumper and I didn't want to put it in my saddlebags. I'd just have to fish it out again later. I wrapped my hoof around the mug, gazing into the liquid inside. On second thoughts, maybe I should have started with a simple cider as opposed to this ale. I felt a little nervous having never drank alcohol before. I'd never even had a sip of champagne at weddings. I picked up the mug and swilled around the liquid. Oh well. I'd paid for it already, I might as well drink it. I placed my lips around the edge of the mug, tipping my head back slightly and letting my first sip of alcohol slip down my throat.
It had a bitter taste, which I didn't like. But it had subtle fruity undertones which I did, and the bitterness took on a rather appealing taste after a while. The liquid wasn't very thick and quite mild, but it was refreshingly cool and made me feel fuzzy. I smiled to myself. This stuff was good. Why'd I never had any of this before? I took another sip of the ale, relishing in the oral cacophony of flavours before settling down again, ready for my next taste. I was aware that alcohol was addictive, but it was nothing I couldn't handle.
The singer on the stage bowed to a round of applause from the drinkers, several wolf whistles going up as she re-joined a group of mares at a table towards the back. The barmare went over to the stage and spoke into the microphone, "That was a wonderful performance there. Does anypony else want to come up and share their talents with us? What about you lot at that table there? Yeah, come on, you look like you've got some skill! Hey, if you don't you'll at least give us all a laugh! Come on, get up here!" The group she'd pointed out stood up and made their way to the stage to a round of applause. They were all dressed in the standard wanderer outfit, but they all had the same golden pin on their shirts. The group consisted of four ponies, two stallions and two mares.
One of the stallions (who had a sky blue coat and black mane) requisitioned an acoustic guitar and quickly tuned it. One of the mares took the place of the pianist, making a few test taps at some of the keys. The other stallion picked up a bass guitar from the back of the stage and checked it was tuned, whilst the remaining mare set up behind a makeshift drum kit, producing two sticks from under her tunic. The lead stallion walked up to the mike. I would have joined in in the next round of applause but I had my ale at my muzzle and was enjoying its flavours once again. I'd already drank about half of the mug. The stallion put on a charismatic smile, "Hey chaps. Um, well we're not exactly brilliant but, we hope you enjoy our performance." The stallion had an accent that definitely wasn't Equestrian. He sounded British, but I couldn't tell where exactly from. He was well spoken, and seemed to know how to win over a crowd. He quietly counted to four before strumming softly on his guitar and singing into the microphone.
I finished my ale and slammed it down on the desk, licking my lips. That had tasted great. My head felt like a bubble bath and my vision blurred slightly. I blinked and it cleared but I definitely felt a little dizzy. It was nothing, surely, I was just tired. The perfect thing for me was another ale, just to take the edge of my fatigue. Yes, that sounded like a good idea to me. I signalled for the barmare and asked for another Remedy. When I went to say 'please' I was a little amused when it came out as 'pleashe'. The barmare chuckled, "Wow, this isn't even a strong ale. You've only had one mug and you're already tipsy. You really are new to this. There you go, but that's your limit, okay? No more after that."
"Trusht me! I'm fine! I've been through a lot, I know what I'm doing."
"Mmm. Sure." I forked over another two bits and received another mug of the delicious beverage, immediately sipping from the top, foam clinging to my nose. I snorted and giggled, licking the foam from my muzzle.
The British pony had picked up the song a bit. Now he was jumping up and down and strumming enthusiastically on the guitar as the pianist stood up and strummed out a kick ass solo whilst the drummer bashed away and the bass player stood there casually plucking at his strings. I threw my free hoof into the air and yelled a loud, "Woooooo!" The stallion looked over at me and winked, as the piano solo ended and he went back to singing. He had a heavenly voice, so rich and soothing. He was pretty hot too. No, I was loyal to Wraith. Wait, were Wraith and I... going out? Were we marefriend and coltfriend yet? Is that what one kiss made us? Was I ready for commitment like this?
Who the fuck cared? I had my ale and some pretty killer music and I was pretty damn pleased with myself for no reason at all. The song ended and I joined in the applauding, letting out a wolf whistle as the four of them bowed in unison. They left their instruments at the back of the stage (where applicable) and a rather disgruntled pianist re-joined his rightful place at his piano. Three members of the group veered off back to their table whilst the sky blue stallion who I fancied came over to the bar and sat next to me, ordering four drinks. The barmare smiled at him, "That was a pretty cool performance." The stallion shrugged.
"I've been playing guitar for a long time. It's second nature to me."
"I love your accent by the way. Where are you from?"
"Cornwall, southwest England. Do you think my accent could get me a discount on this lot? It's my turn to buy this round and I'm not doing too great on cash."
"Tell you what, they're on the house. Consider it payment for your performance." The stallion gave a very crisp thank you which I found very posh and I leaned on the bar. Or I attempted to lean on the bar; my elbow missed and I slipped.
The stallion grabbed hold of me and helped me back up, "Careful there chap! Watch where you're putting your limbs."
"You're pretty hot."
"I'm flattered. What's your name?"
"Bucky," I hiccupped.
"Charmed. I'm Francis. You're that mare from the NSA aren't you? The one crusading around the wilderness fighting the Scavengers?" I was only half listening to that. I swallowed my final drop of ale and slammed the mug back onto the bar. I stared blankly for a second as my vision swam a little, then brought my bubble bath brain back to reality.
"Yea! Yea, I'm that mare. How'd you know?"
"It's my job to know things."
"What are you, some kind of spy?" I said with a chuckle. "Have you been stalking me or something? 'Cause I'm flattered, I really am!" I went to take another sip of ale before I remembered I'd finished it. Francis chuckled.
"Sort of. I prefer Intelligence Officer. I get paid to know everything important that goes on in the wilderness, and that means you." I looked to one side, my head spinning and making it hard to focus.
The barmare was taking her time with Francis' drinks, making sure to clean each individual mug several times before slowly filling it, adding little drops very slowly to the top as the liquid slowly filled. She was watching me talk to Francis, obviously quite amused. Francis tapped the bar, patiently waiting for the drinks to finally arrive. He returned to talking to me as he waited, "You just got out of hospital. Was you're wound bad? Did they fix it okay?" I thought for a moment about what he'd said, trying to remember how to speak English. When I'd figured out what it was he'd actually asked and remembered that I had indeed been wounded, I burped loudly before answering him.
"Uh, yea. No it wasn't that bad. Hurt like shit, though. I'm glad it's gone. That hole was ruining my beautiful ass." He chuckled.
"Mmm. It is quite a beautiful ass," he said, returning his attention to the barmare and tapping his hooves on the bar in annoyance. The mare smiled benignly as if nothing was wrong. I stifled another belch before yawning widely. I looked back at him.
"Are you any good at kissing?"
"I like the think I know my stuff."
"Wanna give me a few pointers?"
"Are you hitting on me?"
"Shut up and give me a kiss handsome!" I forced my lips onto his aggressively. He recoiled backwards in surprise before pushing me away gently, chuckling nervously.
"No, ta. I've already got a marefriend. I think you need to go up to bed. Come on, I'll escort you upstairs if you like."
I yawned again, giving a slight hiccup before swinging myself off the barstool and yelling a little louder than I probably should have, "I-I can make my way up the shtairs perfectly well, taaaaaa!" I stumbled towards the stairway before looking back at Francis. "I don't need you to show me how to climb shtairs! Good night!" I threw myself onto the stairs, missing a step and tripping slightly before righting myself. Eventually (after much stumbling) I made it to the top of the stairs, where I promptly struggled to get the key into the lock. Once I finally managed it, it took several attempts to get it twisted in the right direction before the door flung inwards and in I stumbled. I pulled the key out of the door, slammed it, locked it again, then threw myself onto the bed where I laughed to myself. It felt good to be alive. I threw my newly fixed rump into the air and stared at it, "I'm all better," I slurred. "All... all... b-better." With that I fell asleep, my rear high in the air.
Most of this I was told by the barmare, but the last bit I recall from what little memory I still possess of the night.
When I at last did wake the next day, I had a splitting headache. I clapped a hoof to my forehead (which actually made it worse), and swung myself off the bed lethargically. I didn't want to get up, but I felt I had to. I gazed at the wall clock in the room. It was one o'clock in the afternoon. I groaned. When I'd mustered the energy to move again, it was very slowly and unsurely. I pushed my way into a side room which turned out to be a bathroom (with a full bath and everything). I nodded, this was good. I promptly threw my head over the toilet and threw up violently. After some seriously painful retching, I gathered my senses. Last night I'd felt on top of the world, this morning (afternoon) I felt like the world had kicked me in the forehead. I cleaned up lazily before leaving the room (after only just remembering to pick up the key before I did so). I locked the door before going downstairs.
The inn was slightly less packed now than it had been the night before. There were far fewer ponies sitting around tables and next to nopony sitting at the bar. A few of the ponies were in a similar state to me, clutching their heads or rushing into the nearest water closet to empty the contents of their stomachs. I saw that Francis and his friends were still at their table, now all feverishly scribbling on pieces of paper which looked like official documents. I wondered briefly how they were all still awake after evidently not sleeping (their manes were rather dishevelled and their eyes were bloodshot), but then quickly stopped thinking as my head throbbed angrily.
I sat down at the bar, and the same barmare as last night greeted me with a kind, "Good afternoon. What can I get for you?" I looked at her, annoyed by her cheery personality. She didn't look like she'd been up all night; if she had then she was good at hiding it.
"What's your ale of the day?"
"I don't think that alcohol is the best thing for you now."
"Look, if ale made me feel good, then that's what I need now, 'cause I feel like crap."
"Say hello to the hangover, nature's way of grounding you. And whilst I would be legally bound to sell you our ale of the day, we don't serve ale before 5pm. So, what can I get for you besides that?" She smiled annoyingly again.
I hit my head against the bar with a loud thunk (bad idea) and winced. So the alcohol had induced this. Okay, I wasn't going to drink too much ever again; this was worse than getting shot. I pulled myself back to attention (in a way) and sighed, "Fine. I'll have a tap water please."
"Coming right up!" She made an artistic twirl, picked up a glass and promptly filled it with clear water. She slid it over the bar towards me. I nudged it with my hoof and promptly inquired as to how much I owed her. She smiled, "Tap water's free of charge."
"I wish you'd told me that last night!" I groaned, very annoyed. I downed the glass quickly and asked for another, which she provided.
Fifteen glasses of water later I felt a little better. My headache had subsided a little and I felt a bit more hydrated, in that now I wasn't scared that my piss would be a darker shade of brown than my fur. I promptly returned to my room, where I splashed my face with water to try and wake myself up a little, grabbed my belt with Glock in holster, shoved about ten of my remaining eleven bits into a pouch and then left, shutting and locking the door behind me. I walked down the stairs and straight out of the inn, sunlight flooding my vision. At least now it was definitely looking a lot nicer. On the downside, I was rather sensitive to bright light in my current state and so I cringed and had to push my hat down almost over my eyes to make seeing bearable again.
I walked down streets of ponies happily chatting or buying things, with foals playing in the street and the occasional armed Wanderer walking past. This was so much more pleasant than the almost fascist ways of the NSA. Back in my old compound, the streets were relentlessly patrolled by Militia or Guards, there was no such thing as a 'nice cafe' and playing in parks was discouraged as it 'spoilt the pleasant silence for other ponies'. Here young foals could chase each other all they liked. There were ponies sitting in buildings with large front windows sipping on hot drinks and the armed Wanderers were actually friendly. They would occasionally stop to chat with other ponies in the streets or occasionally they would be stopped by a group of foals who wanted to stare at their armour or weapons, marvelling as the Wanderer would place a bit into the pocket of one of them before striding off on their duty. I actual dare to say it; this place was... nice. It was just generally nice. I actually felt safer here than I did in the LRSA compound.
Eventually I arrived at the hospital, where I promptly asked to see Wraith. The receptionist (a stallion with a brilliant purple mane) nodded and called for a nurse to escort me. He arrived promptly and walked alongside me down the lengthy corridor, passing rooms full of wounded ponies. We reached Wraith's room and I couldn't help noticing that, after one night, what had previously been a half full room was now completely full of wounded ponies. My bed was now occupied by a Russian LRSA soldier. He'd already been treated, but judging by the nature of his dressings I assumed he'd received a nasty spray of shrapnel to the face. If he'd been a looker before, he certainly wasn't now.
I took my attention away from the pony I didn't know and turned it on the pony I did. Wraith was still asleep, sleeping in the way he always did, with Stan standing at the end of his bed, reading the chart. He noticed me and smiled. I smiled too when I realised he was the bearer of good news, "Good news!" yes he started like that. "Your friend has managed to beat back the infection to a level where it doesn't seem too serious. Once his wounds have healed up he'll just need a course of antibiotics to clear away the infection, but we're no longer worrying about that. We expect him to be ready to go back to his normal life by the end of the week, if not sooner. You must be relieved."
"Yes, quite. Thank you, Stan."
"Not a problem at all. This is what I'm paid to do! That and stab already wounded ponies with my surgical instruments. Good day!" He called, as he left the room behind a set of stretcher bearers. Upon the stretcher was a wounded Wanderer, clutching a vicious bullet wound in his shoulder. The entry hole itself was nothing special, but the fur around the wound had burnt off, as had his clothing, and his flesh was now bubbling and hissing painfully. He was gritting his teeth hard. I was kind of surprised to see such catastrophic damage from a single bullet wound. The bullet had likely been laced with something; a toxin or chemical of some description. I winced, pitying him.
I pulled up a chair next to Wraith's bed. Despite his uncanny ability to fake sleep, I knew he was truly knocked out. His breathing was heavier than usual, and there was a small strand of saliva hanging from the corner of his mouth. I found it rather amusing, so I chuckled softly. He'd been through a lot. I could see it in his persona. His reluctance to speak to others, his secluded personality, his wounds both physical and mental. It was a miracle he was still breathing at all. I knew he couldn't hear me, so words were useless (as was everything else, really), so instead I simply kissed him gently before rising to leave. I left a message with the receptionist, basically saying that when Wraith was discharged he was to go to the inn called Flamethrower, where I was lodged. The receptionist made a note of this and assured me that it would be passed on to him when he was discharged from care. |
Revenge | Chapter 9 | Chapter 9
The rest of the week passed uneventfully. I spent my time reorganising my saddlebags, which I need not tell you was one heck of a chore. I had taken things out of my saddlebags that could be added to my belt, including the remaining bits, some spare bullets, and the large pistol from the shack. The pistol didn't have a holster of its own, so I fashioned one out of some scrap material. They were only makeshift and rather shoddy looking, but they got the job done. The stitching wasn't particularly durable either (a combination of poor material and terrible thread) so I double fastened the pistols to my belt with clips already present. That way, if the holsters failed, the pistol would still remain attached.
After I had finally sorted out my saddlebags (resulting in a much lighter pack), I spent the rest of my time scoping out the town. I found a nice looking store that sold decent looking supplies, including food and canteens of water, and I also managed to locate an armourer. It wasn't as impressive as the ones the Scavengers had (because all the best weapons were probably in their main armoury) but it did sell a variety of weapons, ammunition types and armour. I paid particularly close attention to the armour.
The memory of my wound still fresh in my mind, I was now aware of how serious a bullet wound could be, so I was looking for something that would protect my more important areas. They had a full set of police riot armour, consisting of padded body suit and helmet complete with visor, and it was a reasonable price, but way out of my price range. Everything was out of my price range. I didn't have many bits left. Also amongst their collection was a set of pre-revolutionary combat armour worn by the Equestrian Military and a greyish-purple uniform and garrison cap. The combat armour looked very durable and was designed to be light weight. It had several pads composed of composite materials (that is metal, ceramic, air, ceramic and metal, in that order) across the chest and around the joints. I was particularly pleased to note that it came with pads that extended to shield the rear from fire, which would have come in useful a few days ago. The set included a combat helmet that looked a little too large for me. As for the purple tunic... well, it just looked silly. Who would wear such a uniform? I left the armourer without making a purchase, much to the armourer's annoyance.
I returned to the hospital a total of three times. Twice to see Wraith (who was recovering marvellously) and once to have my wound fully sealed by magic. I was annoyed to see that the wound hadn't ruined my cutie mark, which I still hated. Why couldn't it have been something cool instead of a bloody plate? I'm going off on a tangent again, I'll stop. Wraith had been sleeping both times I went to see him, but that didn't surprise me. He needed the rest. I made sure that they still remembered my message and, on confirmation that they did, I left to await Wraith's arrival at the inn.
It was another day before he showed up. I was sitting at the bar absentmindedly cleaning my Glock (for the third time that afternoon) when somepony sat on the stool next to me. I looked up and saw Wraith, the last pony I'd expected to see, his uniform torn and bloodied where it had been sliced open. He had a serious case of bed-head and probably needed a little more time to recover full control over his legs having been bed ridden for almost a full week, but mostly he was fully healed. I was pleased to see him, nay, I was overjoyed. Ecstatic. We'd not been together in a while and I was beginning to get quite lonely on my own. The first thing I did when I recognised it was him was throw my fore legs around his neck and lock him in a tight embrace. Wraith chuckled nervously as the hug went on a little longer than he would have liked (and probably a little longer than was safe), but eventually I granted him full control of his body again.
He leaned onto the bar, "What have you been doing whilst I was away?"
"Various things. I've scoped out a few places to get some gear, but I'm running low on bits. I've also sorted my saddlebags out and you have to try the ale here!" There was a resounding snap as I let the action on my Glock go forward, setting the hammer back into place by pulling the trigger. Don't worry, the thing wasn't loaded. I called back to mind the memory of the ale. Ever since my horrific hangover (which, okay, I admit, wasn't that bad), I had held off drinking it. But, Wraith had just re-joined the ranks and it was a cause to celebrate. Wraith was a little wary of trying alcohol. He said he wasn't sure it was very good for him but I quickly silenced him by ordering two Remedies, passing over the four bits charge and sliding one of the mugs over to Wraith, who eyed it suspiciously. I'd already started to drink mine, "Come on! Try it, it's delicious."
"But... I'm not sure. Won't it give me a hangover?"
"Nah, one mug and you'll be fine. Trust me, any more than that and you'll be on the floor."
The barmare laughed, "Hah! Only if you have the tolerance of a humming bird! That's our weakest ale and she was off her face after only two drinks." Wraith nodded, still a little cautious.
He eventually brought himself to pick up the drink and ever so carefully sipped from the top. He sputtered and coughed and immediately set the drink down again, "No. No, that's horrible."
"What are you talking about?"
"It's far too bitter. It's just not nice." I shrugged. I was a little annoyed at the fact I'd still had to pay for it (imagine those last three words being shouted, that's pretty much how much it annoyed me) but I wasn't going to force it down his throat for the sake of getting my money's worth. It wasn't really worth it. Besides, the look on the barmare's face was good enough to keep me quiet.
I looked over my shoulder at Francis. He and his crew were still there (having had little sleep over the course of the week), filling out forms, reading maps and going through records. I was intrigued by their activities and wanted desperately to know what it was they were actually doing, but they were very good at covering it up every time I tried to get close. It was strange. They didn't look to me like Wanderers (despite their garments) and they talked and acted more like the LRSA. But the LRSA didn't field spies; they didn't have the manpower, nor the skill of subtlety. The Scavengers did field spies, but their spies worked alone and were often more like assassins, trained to take down key enemies. The pins that Francis and his cohort wore were likewise intriguing. They were all identical, and seemed to me to consist of a spear and two swords through a circle. The swords were crossed, but the spear was upright. It was an odd emblem that I hadn't seen before in the wilderness, but was likely of importance. I'd asked the barmare and several other ponies about it but none of them knew what the symbol meant, nor what the ponies were doing here. They'd just arrived one day and said they were waiting for somepony.
When I was done staring at the covert ponies, I noticed that Wraith was now drinking from a glass of tap water. A thought struck me. I didn't have anywhere near enough bits for a second room. That, on its own, wouldn't have been a problem. The problem arose when I considered the fact that there was only one bed. Sleeping arrangements would be complicated (and likely turn into a drawn out game of 'no, I insist'). I did feel, however, that Wraith should be allowed to have the bed, what with his bad back and everything. Still, I didn't much like the sound of sleeping in the floor. Could we... share the bed? No. No, no, no, no, no. Naughty Bucky! Don't think about such things! Somepony might begin to think you actually have sexual urges! As if I've been doing a good job of hiding it thus far.
I pondered, silently turning over possibilities in my head. Eventually I formulated my plan. I would simply have to put up with either sleeping on the floor or on a stool at the bar. Unless Wraith could come up with some better plan, that was what I was going with. I looked over at Wraith. How much had he changed since I'd first met him? For a start, I'd never have imagined getting into a relationship with him. He'd not changed much physically, but mentally he'd improved. He was more open to conversation, less awkward around others and more open to his sense of humour. It was good to see him being a little more... open. Then again, maybe it wasn't that he'd changed, maybe I was just finding out new things about him.
I suppose I'd changed quite a lot too, though. I'd killed ponies now. I had that to deal with. I'd killed a young colt and that was only just beginning to sink in. I'd become a lot more tactical, more sceptical, more cunning. I'd developed traits that the NSA had suppressed, like the ability to seduce the ponies with as many brains in their testicles as in their skulls, and skills in shooting and CQC. Physically I'd changed as well. I was a lot dirtier now (naughty Bucky, bad thoughts) due to lack of proper showering apparatus. My mane was longer and less tidy, and my tail was a little burnt. My clothes were beginning to get quite worn as well and my jumper had become horribly threadbare where my saddlebags had been chafing me. I'd lost weight as well, but in exchange I'd developed more muscle, which I was quite pleased with. I'd never had a problem with my weight, and I was never overly conscious about it, but it felt good to see myself in the mirror and smile at how amazing my figure was. To me, anyway. And I'd figured out that I was bi. Oh what an adventure that had been!
Now let's quickly steer away from that topic. Wraith was talking to the barmare (curse her, stealing my stallion) so I swung myself around on my stool and once again surveyed the area. The four spy ponies (as I call them) were busy playing around with a small radio set, inaudible over the noise of the chatter, and still boring. I checked the time. Roughly midday. I was beginning to get very bored sitting around, and the thought of cleaning my Glock again made me want to put my head through a wall. I asked Wraith if he wanted to go for a walk, to which he replied, "Nah. My back's still killing me. Where's our room?"
"First up the stairs, on the left. Here's the key. Get some rest and... I dunno, I'll see you later? I guess?"
"Yea, right." Wraith stood up and nodded a goodbye to the barmare, who smiled as a response. Wraith quickly vanished up the stairs and I sighed. So, looks like I was taking another walk.
Walking is good for ponies. It helps to clear the mind, and aids in lateral thinking. It also helps to keep one fit and active. It can aid in discovery and encourages exploration and is generally a good overall activity. That was, word for word, a quote from our minister back at the NSA. However, it can get quite boring when you do it for seven or so hours. I'd ultimately decided to take a walk around the entire perimeter of Refuge, looking for anything that could possibly be of use to us. Don't ask me why, ponies do strange things when they're bored. There were many cafes and inns. A few hotels were dotted about. Some weapon and armour shops here or there. A youth hostel. A small doctor's clinic. I think I also saw a sex shop. Not that I went anywhere near that of course. I wouldn't give these ponies any ammunition to use against me later if I could help it.
Night began to fall abnormally soon. Maybe the days were just getting shorter, as per the usual for the time of year? Whatever the reason, I eventually had to make my way back to the Flamethrower to catch some sleep before my next riveting day of activity in Refuge. The streets at night were actually quite poorly lit. Lampposts were not a common sight along the streets, and all buildings were required by local law to close their blinds at night. The only light in the streets were from the torches fixed to the armour of the garrisoned soldiers. They would patrol in pairs. From what I could tell, there would be one patrol 'leader' who carried a rifle, shotgun, or sub machinegun. The leader would constantly be on the lookout, following a predetermined route. With them would be a patrol 'soldier' who carried a smaller weapon, like a pistol, and sported a set of radio equipment. The patrols were not exactly frequent, and they would always stay on the same side of the street, meaning that the entire of the other side was almost constantly swathed in shadow.
I decided to move along the shadowy areas. For one, the torches of the patrollers kept blinding me every time they turned around. For another, I thought it made me look cool. I would slink along in the shadows and pretend I was an elite agent, tasked with making it back to the inn undetected. As a result, I was constantly hiding behind bins or mailboxes whenever some patrollers turned to move in my direction. It was actually quite fun, and I ended up having quite a good time doing it.
At one point, I snuck into an alleyway to avoid some guards who turned around a little too quickly for my liking. I was nearing my destination, and actually I was quite close to the barracks. I'd have judged it to be just on the other street. I honestly had no idea, and for all I knew it was on the other side of town. Well, I plastered myself against the wall and waited patiently for the guards to pass, ready to make my next daring move which involved me dashing behind a chalkboard outside a cafe. There was a faint scuffle of hooves behind me, and somepony said something in a low voice. I turned. Who was down this alleyway? Thieves, homeless ponies? More guards for me to avoid?
I could vaguely make out the outlines of three ponies, huddled together and crouching down in front of the barracks wall. They looked a little shifty to me. I moved to get a better view of them. From my new vantage point, I could make out individuals. One was crouching and fiddling with something I couldn't quite make out. He had a strange sort of field cap on his head, and a scarf that extended to cover his muzzle. To one side, a mare crouched low, cradling a sub machinegun. She, likewise, possessed the strange cap and scarf. The final pony, armed with a long rifle, was flattened against the wall and scanning the streets for movement. This was all very mysterious. I readied my Glock.
The stallion crouched down by the wall rose and nodded at the mare, who nodded back. The ponies began to slowly make their way towards me, crossing the streets and watching for guards. I frowned. I didn't like these ponies. Glock ready for shooting, I stepped into their path and raised my pistol. What was I doing? They vastly outnumbered me, by two, which isn't exactly very vast, but they most certainly outgunned me. I yelled at them, "Hey! What're you doing?" My intention was to attract the guards. It worked, and I heard the scrabbling of hooves and a shout from down the road. The ponies froze and looked at me. I kept my pistol on them. They didn't seem prepared to attack me, as none of them made any move to raise their weapons.
Suddenly, my vision juddered and I felt something blunt make contact with the back of my head. Everything went blurry as I crumpled to the floor. I looked around in a daze. Another of the mysterious ponies was standing behind me, wielding a truncheon and staring down at me through a set of pitch black combat goggles. I noticed, pinned to his uniform, a strange looking cross that glinted slightly in the moonlight. I counted two more ponies behind him, wielding weapons of their own. Six, in total. Six mysterious ponies that seemed intent to cause harm.
But then my vision was shot by a colossal boom that shook the ground violently and sent dust flying into the air. The entire street was lit with bright yellow light as flames began to lick around the buildings. I saw one of the six ponies fall as shrapnel hit them in the back of the head. The other ponies immediately bolted. I heard two shots fire and two screams before the raiders vanished entirely. Guards began to flood the streets, buckets of water clutched in their mouths. Civilians began to scream as they left their houses to see what catastrophe had befallen them. A siren went up and soon soldiers appeared, hefting assault rifles and donning full riot armour. I could hear the baying of hounds as the city suddenly became full of ponies, all on the hunt for the saboteurs.
A guard crouched down, picking me up and yelling at me. My vision was still swimming and I felt sick. I turned my head to one side and heaved, my head throbbing with pain and the guard stumbling back slightly. I wretched again, more blinding agony shooting through my head before I blacked out, the world falling away from me as I hit the floor once again. ***
I remember waking up briefly several times, only to fall back into a state of blackness. I can remember seeing ponies scurrying around, brief snippets of conversation, medical staff all around. Every time I woke up my vision would swim, my head would throb, I would vomit violently again and then blackout once more. This happened time and time again, each time I fought to stay awake.
It was after several desperate attempts to remain conscious that I finally managed it, but only barely. I felt like throwing up again, but the last few times I'd awoken all I'd managed to do was dry heave a few times, so I fought to control the feeling. A soldier bearing a red cross on his helmet sat next to me, and the minute he realised I was awake he reached out to support me. I thanked him in a hoarse voice, and he gave me two tablets and a canteen. I swallowed the tablets (with difficulty), fought to control another heave and simply sat up with my head in my hooves.
At last, my headache began to clear (the tablets were some sort of aspirin) and I was able to think clearly again. The medic explained that he was concerned I'd been concussed, what with my continuous blackouts and throwing up. I waved him off, insisting I was fine, but my head kept swimming and when I tried to stand up I fell over, hard. The medic shook his head, "No, you've definitely got something wrong. Lay back down, you need treatment. Do you remember where you are?"
"No, not really."
"Do you remember your name?"
"B-something."
"Do you remember where you come from?"
"I don't fucking know! How is this helping?"
"Calm down. You're going to need to wait a few minutes to regain your memory. You've suffered a nasty blow to the head. Lay down, and please rest. I'm going to fetch you some more painkillers. Don't go anywhere."
The medic sat me down on some bedding. I refused to lay down, so he eventually just let me sit, then rushed off to find me those painkillers. The fires still raged on, and the street had essentially become a makeshift triage centre. All along the streets were medical ponies and soldiers. Next to me on either side were ponies with head injuries, victims of shrapnel, burn victims, and so on. Across the street, I could see a series of closed up bags, each of which contained the body of a Wanderer. I counted eight in total. On top of six were helmets and weapons, and behind all of them were monuments made out of wood. Upon them were likely the names of the deceased, but I couldn't read them from my position.
I looked around for Wraith. I couldn't see him amongst the disorganised chaos. I did see Stan, though, donning his doctor's overalls and a combat helmet, treating some of the ponies further along the line. The medic returned to my side, handing me some more tablets, which I took. They quickly helped to numb some of my pain, but my head still hurt. At least I was beginning to get my memory back.
I decided to try walking again. I shakily got to my hooves, and the medic moved to catch me, but my legs held. I began to shakily make my way down the street, looking from side to side and gazing at the terrain. The building I'd seen the saboteurs crouching before was now only half standing, and still smouldering. There were ponies inside it, helping to shift rubble and look for any ponies trapped inside. I only now recognised the building as a barracks. The two buildings on either side had gotten away mostly undamaged, but there was a large gaping hole in one of them and the other had been scorched up one side. There was also a small crater in the road and several large faults now split the ground.
What had happened? How had those ponies gotten in? Why had I tried to stop them? Why did I have so many questions? Why were my thighs and belly soaking wet? Actually, I didn't want to think about that. I found my hat (which had fallen from my head when I was struck) and perched it back atop my mane, now feeling a little better. I stumbled slightly, still not quite right, but I was at least able to function at a respectable capacity.
Soon the sound of echoing gunshots drifted my way and I looked about in confusion. I saw a Wanderer come pelting down the road yelling something, inaudible over the sounds of chaos. When he got close enough, I could just make out him saying, "The Scavengers are attacking!" before three bullets buried themselves in the base of his neck. He fell and tumbled, doing a small forward roll before he came to rest several feet away. The armed Wanderers around me soon kicked into action, scampering into alleyways, dragging the wounded into cover and preparing themselves for a fight. As I squinted through the smoke of the fires I could make out the dancing silhouettes of oncoming combatants, and above the crackle of flames I could make out cheers and snide remarks.
Another thing that was quite prominent after that was the sound of gunfire and the whistling of bullets passing by me. I ducked down quickly and grabbed a sub machinegun from a nearby Wanderer (dead), essentially flinging myself behind the nearest solid object that could provide me with at least some cover. As I cowered behind the rubbish bins (which evidently hadn't been emptied recently) I heard the Scavengers approaching, drawing ever nearer. With each thud of their collective hoof strikes on the ground they became a little clearer through the smoke. And a little easier to pull a shot on.
With one swift motion I rose up into a firing stance, resting my weapon on the bin lids and keeping my head as low as possible. Before any of the Scavengers noticed me I lined my sights up with the nearest of them and let loose a five round burst. Immediately I heard shouts from the oncoming invaders as they scampered away from my hail of bullets, and I saw one of the figures collapse where they stood as they succumbed to the lead sent their way. I heard return fire, and crouched back down into cover as fire from two different sources shot past my cover where my head had been.
Why did I always manage to get tangled up with the Scavengers in some way, no matter where I went? It was as if they were hell bent on hunting me down, and they wouldn't rest until I stopped them, by putting the biggest spanner in their works that I could find. As another bullet shot past and pinged off the concrete, I saw the Wanderer's up the road prepare for a counter attack. As if on cue, three Wanderers poked their weapons out from cover and unleashed death on the Scavengers. I counted one sub machinegun and two assault rifles. All in all, the burst managed to cut down another Scavenger and I heard the reassuring scream of another one being wounded.
As the wounded Scavenger continued to scream, I prepared myself for another burst. This time I peeped around the side, so that if a Scavenger had his sights trained on my previous position he wouldn't see me. I looked for silhouettes or the revealing muzzle flash of firearms, but I saw nothing. Only when I heard a slight scrabble on a loose bit of debris did I think to check my flank. Sure enough, the Scavengers were advancing slowly and quietly up both sides of the streets, sticking to the walls and keeping low to hide their shadows. Eager to pull off a shot before they reached me, I picked a small alleyway slightly further down towards my own lines and made a dash. As I ran, I clutched the sub machinegun in my magical aura and pointed the barrel of my weapon down range at the nearest Scavenger and let loose.
The sub machinegun was difficult to control when you made any sustained bursts. The recoil seemed to double with every bullet that passed through, but I controlled it. I fired a good, long burst right down the Scavenger's advancing line, shredding the nearest one and silencing the next. The next Scavenger along ducked their head and made to fire back at me, but by that point I was already hidden in the alleyway, swearing as I fought with my weapon. One unfortunate drawback to automatic weapons was their tendency to jam, and it seemed that everything had to go wrong before fate would be satisfied with me.
I struggled to clear the weapon; two rounds had tried to load themselves into the breach simultaneously and thus it had blocked. All the while I was aware that the Scavengers were getting closer. I heard my Wanderer friends provide another volley of fire, and I heard Scavenger return fire, but I couldn't tell which side was doing the screaming by this point. At last I cleared the blockage, but in doing so I'd had to remove the magazine, so I was currently holding a useless firearm. I motioned to reinsert the clip, but a Scavenger decided to come in line with me at that point and move to take cover in the same alleyway.
As our eyes met in the smoke filled alleyway, the sounds of gunfire and war raging around us, time seemed to stop. I stared into his deep, crystal blue eyes as he stared back at me. It was as though we were the only two ponies in the world. His mane flowed down his neck like a river; he gripped his weapon in those strong hooves of his with such confidence. As we moved a little closer, I...
Smashed him round the head with the butt of my weapon and knocked him out cold. The force of the swing jarred against my hooves painfully, but he'd slammed his head against the wall as he fell so there was no chance of him getting back up any time soon. I'll admit, I felt a little sorry for him, but maybe he should've, I don't know, not joined the bad guys? Giving up on the useless sub machinegun, I picked up his assault rifle and readied myself, preparing to put it to good use. It was substantially heavier than any weapon I'd used before, so I was expecting it to have some kick.
I rounded on the Scavenger closest to me as I swung the weapon around the corner. The mare had been lining up to take a shot and my sudden presence had startled her. As she went to readjust her aim, I put a single bullet into her head at close range, knocking the helmet clean off her head and throwing her backwards. Another Scavenger prepared to hurl a grenade at me, holding the explosive in a magical aura and leaning backwards to put more force behind it. I didn't give him the satisfaction of blowing me apart, and I put two bullets into him before he even made the forward throwing motion. It was quite amusing watching the grenade fly backwards through the air and watching a group of Scavengers scrabble out of the way to avoid the blast. The grenade went off with an almighty boom, showering the nearby Scavengers in debris and knocking one of them to the floor, his shotgun clattering against the road as he fell.
I cast a brief look back at the Wanderers fighting to protect their land. There were several of the ponies lying dead on the pavement, their weapons at their sides and large holes in their helmets and body armour. That riot armour was utterly useless! I could see Stan in his white coat and combat helmet, wielding a small handgun and shakily leaning on a wall in an alleyway. I heard him yell something about being a doctor, and his purpose being to heal ponies, not kill them. I also noticed that a fallen Scavenger lay no more than a few feet away from his position. Had Stan killed them?
Exposition time over, I made a hurried dash back along the street towards the bulk of the defending forces (who were doing an admittedly admirable job of holding the Scavengers off). You know that feeling when something you used to believe in is suddenly completely outclassed by something you considered worse at the time? That's what it feels to realise that the Wanderers, a non-military group of peace loving, agricultural ponies were better at defending themselves than the NS-fucking-A. I was beginning to seriously doubt my allegiance to them by this point. Maybe I should convert to Wandererism?
I darted behind a small pile of rubble and began making a quick search of the dead Wanderer next to me. I took his ammunition and the binoculars from around his neck, using them to peer through the smoke and spy on the Scavenger movements. Most of them were ducking down in cover to avoid being shot by the defending forces, but I could see a group of three Scavengers slowly making their way up the frontline, a very large looking weapon carried between them. I pointed the group out to any Wanderer that was within earshot (which turned out to be none) and prepared to fire on the group.
Unfortunately, the smoke made accurate shooting at range difficult, and my first burst seemed to have no effect on them. They all dived into the crater in the ground created by the grenade and began setting up shop. The weapon was brought to bear; resting on a bipod whilst one of the other crew members went about loaded the weapon with a sizeable box of ammunition. The third crew member started to spray down range with a sub machinegun, hitting nothing and ultimately just wasting ammunition.
With a colossal tearing noise like somepony ripping a ream of paper in half, the weapon opened fire. The machinegun filled the entire street with stray bullets, not killing anypony but keeping our heads down and preventing us from making counter fire. The machinegun let off another stream of bullets, this time bringing down two Wanderers who had tried to fire on them during the lull. I waited for my moment, not knowing exactly how long it would take for the group to start reloading. I peered at them with my binoculars, keeping myself as small as possible and trying not to draw attention to myself. The group was still busy hosing down the street ahead of them, but this came at an advantage to me. With the street so full of crossfire from the machinegun, most of the Scavengers had stopped moving to avoid being caught by a stray round. All I had to do was wait.
Waiting turned out to be troublesome as the machinegun seemed to never run out of ammunition. On three occasions I was sure that they'd be reloading, only to be forced back into cover by another burst of rapid fire. The Scavengers had moved very slowly forwards and were getting closer. Something had to be done about that machine gun or I'd be in some rather serious trouble. The heroic thing to do would have been to throw myself over the rubble, charge towards the weapon, spray into them with my assault rifle and then use the machinegun to mow down the remaining Scavengers, but I wasn't really in the mood for suicide.
Instead, I picked my shots, switching to semi-automatic fire and waiting for lulls in the shooting. Every time the machine gun stopped firing, I very quickly poked my head out of cover and fired a single shot at the nearest approaching Scavenger. The Wanderers who could see me quickly adopted the strategy as well, firing during lulls and hoping to knock out the weapon crew of the machine gun. It had a very demoralising effect on the Scavengers, and I could see them getting more and more reluctant to move. Before long, the machine gun ran out of ammunition and the crew hastily began to reload.
By the looks of things, the Wanderer captain in the street took the opportunity to initiate a charge. With a loud cry of defiance, he and all of the remaining Wanderers in the street took to charging the Scavenger position in one last act of self-sacrifice. It was actually a very impressive display. I joined in, charging alongside my Wanderer allies, narrowing the distance between the two parties that had been fighting for the past multitude of minutes.
A Wanderer to my right hurled a grenade at the machinegun, and I could hear as well as see the entire group become engulfed by flames as they were permanently put out of action. There was a series of firecracker like noises as their remaining ammunition caught fire. With their machinegun now out of action, and with a wall of defiant Wanderers advancing rapidly towards them, I could see the Scavengers beginning to falter. They were slowly moving backwards, firing less frequently, getting less and less accurate. All it would take was one more backbreaking move and the lot of them would be in retreat.
That one more backbreaking move came in the form of three soft thumps. From behind me, three Wanderers armed with grenade launchers fired onto the Scavenger lines, the explosives landing hard and knocking down a large number of the remaining Scavengers. The effect was instantaneous. In a Mexican wave of sorts, the Scavengers turned and fled back down the streets, some dropping their weapons as they did so, most of them screaming about how they weren't ready to die and how this was supposed to be an easy operation.
There was a resounding cheer of, "Oorah!" from the triumphant defenders, who all held their weapons or helmets in the air, jeering at the broken invaders and embracing each other. It felt good. For me, it was my first significant victory against the Scavengers, and it felt bloody good! As the reality of my achievement dawned on me, the grin on my muzzle began to grow wider, until I was openly beaming. With a roar I flung my hat into the air, letting it drift slowly downwards on the battle ravaged street. I watched it fall. I watched it sway from side to side, mesmerised by its movements.
It came to rest in the small ditch that had once been the refuge of the Scavenger machinegun team. With a slightly annoyed grunt, I went to retrieve it. Along the way I walked past the corpses of the unsuccessful attackers, who had fallen in so many strange shapes and forms that one could call them a modern art piece. That is, of course, if one was twisted enough to do so. For a second there I questioned my own sanity, before letting my concern die. I was still perfectly sane. These ponies were getting what was coming to them.
The ditch was not massively deep, but there was enough rubble around the depression to provide decent cover from fire. Unfortunately for the three Scavengers that had once inhabited it, grenades were its Achilles heel, so to speak. The ditch actually made my stomach turn slightly. I'd seen some pretty horrific things up until this point, but the carnage in this small hole in the ground was unlike anything I'd ever seen. There was a pony that was missing both of his front legs, his helmet nowhere to be seen and his uniform in tatters. Another (on the other side) was missing half of his face, as well as a large section of his midriff. His uniform was in such a state it may as well not have existed. As for the third pony (the gunner), the only parts of him that remained in the ditch were his fore hoofs, one of which was still resting on top of the weapon. The ditch was a small slice of hell, and my hat had landed right in the middle of a small patch of shredded muscle and flesh.
It had taken quite a bit of effort to not heave again, but I managed, mostly by imagining that I was playing that popular Nightmare Night game, where somepony's mother hands around a bowl of things that feel like body parts. It worked well enough, and I managed to retrieve my hat, returning it to my head. I threw the assault rifle into the pit and made my way back to the Wanderer lines. Whilst heavier firearms like rifles and shotguns were very destructive (and rather fun), I still preferred my pistol. That may have been a decision drawn from bias, or maybe it was just the right firearm for me, who knows?
I heard a thud and turned my attention to a sudden brilliant explosion that had gone off a few streets away, followed by a furious exchange of gunfire. Evidently we hadn't won just yet. Still, I carried on my way, pleased with my own efforts. I kicked aside a Scavenger helmet as I walked past, the steel bowl clattering loudly as it rolled off in an awkward direction. I noticed that most of the Wanderers that had been fighting in my street had vanished, likely shifting their position to counter the Scavengers wherever they were making their counterattacks, but some still remained to act as sentries. Most notably, Stan was there, treating some of the wounded. He was visibly shaken, and I got the feeling that this was his first time in active combat. I pitied him. Your first time is scary enough, never mind when it's with Scavengers. I just realised that I could've phrased that a lot better.
I was intent on celebrating the victory with the Wanderers, but before I could I was pulled along down an alley by somepony else, clearly in a hurry to get me somewhere. As we emerged into the next street, I felt saddlebags find their way onto my back and then a slap on the back of the head. The pony set off in front of me, moving at a brisk pace. Only now did I recognise him as Wraith. He'd brought his own saddlebags as well, with his rifle slung over his back in its normal place. I remained motionless for a while, admittedly rather confused. He didn't even stop, but instead just looked over his shoulder a called back to me, "Come on! We're going. We can't stay here. Not anymore."
"Why not?"
"I'll explain later, just hurry up!"
I did as instructed, not wishing to get left behind. I had to trot slightly faster than normal to catch up with him, and then keep trotting just to keep pace. He was a quick walker when he wanted to be. And he had a lot of stamina. Admittedly, I was a little concerned. Where were we going? What would become of us? I didn't know. Still, I had to go. I couldn't stay here in Refuge whilst Wraith was off exploring the world. For a start, it wasn't fair. I was the one that wanted to bring down the Scavengers, it was my family that had been torn apart by the bastards, so it should be me that did the bringing down. Selfish? Maybe. But I didn't see anypony else doing it, so why not me?
Wraith took me to the other side of the town, where there was another, much smaller gate that I hadn't noticed before. It was already open, as if they'd been expecting us, and I saw a few Wanderers standing around, manning the mechanisms. Wraith led me out of the gate, and I heard it shut behind me. I actually felt a little upset to be leaving the safety and security of the friendly Wanderer town. I was going to miss the quaint atmosphere of a little town in the country. I was going to miss the Flamethrower, with its Remedies and its barmares that I never got the opportunity to drunkenly chat up. Maybe Wraith would take me somewhere with more security, more alcohol and more attractive barmares. I inquired.
"So, where actually are we going?"
"I don't think you'll like it."
"Then why are we going there, and why didn't I get a say in it?"
"Because it doesn't matter where we go, we can't stay here. The Scavengers have attacked, and they're not going to give up until the town is there's."
"So we should stay and help them defend their homes!" I was having flash backs from my own town. The refugees fleeing as fast as they could, the fires raging, the Scavengers parading through the streets with their rifles raised and their machineguns chattering. I didn't want that to happen to another town. It felt like I was betraying them.
"We can't help them. Do you remember what happened before you were knocked out? Right, well you'll have seen the raiders? Those are Scavenger commandos. They're selected from the most skilled and most loyal Scavengers to conduct raids on enemy territory before the main force invades. If we stayed for too long then it would only be a matter of time before one of them takes us down, either in combat or as an assassination mission."
He fell silent after that. We walked off in a seemingly random direction for a while. I silently fumed. I still felt like I was betraying the Wanderers. I thought of Francis, and of the barmare, and of Stan. All of them would die at the hands of the Scavengers. And I would have to live with that. I could live with killing, if given time. I could live with killing a colt, if given more time and a lot of alcohol. But I couldn't live with the feeling of betrayal. It was the worst feeling, and it made me sick to my stomach. Do you know what felt worse? Actually, it felt quite weird. I felt like I was more loyal to the Wanderers than the NSA. In fact, ya know what? Fuck it. I was changing my allegiance. From this moment on, I'm not a refugee from the NSA, I'm a Wanderer. Well, that's odd, I was expecting to feel something there. Nope, nothing, didn't feel a thing. Not even a shred of remorse.
Having finally (but admittedly rather quickly) come to terms with my alliance shift, I turned my attention on our destination. Three more times I questioned Wraith, and all three times he refused to reply. It was as though he was hiding something from me, something he didn't want me to know. I was beginning to get a little suspicious of him. It was true, I confess, that I loved him. He was good looking in a rugged, outdoorsy kind of way, and I found all his little quirks cute and his secluded personality gave me a little project to work on, trying to get him to show his true colours. But whilst love is a powerful force, it wasn't powerful enough to stop me worrying about him. Was he trying to betray me? Had he already done so? He was being very quiet as he led me into unknown territory. It's true, I wanted him to show his true colours. I just didn't want those colours to be fifty shades of khaki. |
Revenge | Chapter 10 | Chapter 10
"Alright, stop!" I stamped my hoof into the ground hard, demanding Wraith's attention. He halted, but did nothing else. I was... I suppose I could say extremely angry. And frustrated, and tired. When you walk for a day without substantial rest periods, or any sleep, you start to get like that. Wraith had said very little, but now I needed to know what was going on, and why we couldn't stop. Wraith turned to look at me.
"What?"
"We're stopping here," as in, the arse end of nowhere. "You're going to tell me what's going on, and where we're going, and I'm going to sit here and not move until you do." True to my word, I fell back onto the ground and waited, silently. My leg (the one that had been wounded) was starting to ache again, and I was glad of the rest.
Wraith was quiet for a moment, before sighing and saying, "I suppose now would be a good time."
"Yesterday would have been a good time."
"Alright, fine. I trust you remember Francis?" I gulped, inaudibly. It wasn't cheating, I'd been drunk at the time, and it was only a kiss! "Well, I was speaking to him a bit when you went out. I told him about our plans to bring down the Scavengers. He said that those that he worked for would help, and then he told me where to go in order to find them."
"So he gave you the location of his headquarters?"
"Well... no, not exactly. He gave me the location of a rendezvous point. If we go there, and then wait for a while, then somepony on patrol will come and pick us up. From there we will be escorted to their headquarters. That's all I know."
A lot to take in at once, but at least it was something. I processed all that Wraith had said, before reaching my own conclusions. Basically, he'd made a decision about my future without consulting me first. How did we know Francis could be trusted? How did I know Wraith could be trusted? Despite how much I wanted to ignore it, I couldn't shift the feeling that he was betraying me. I wasn't going to voice my concern, in case he turned on me, but from now on I was going to keep a very close eye on him. Maybe I'd catch him whispering into a radio set or passing notes with a spy. Maybe. I went on to ask, "So we're headed for the rendezvous point now, then?"
"Well..."
"For fuck sake, there's more?"
"You see, it's not quite as straight forward as that. The only rendezvous point within reasonable distance happens to be... Well it happens to be in the territory of the Factory. And to get there we need to pass through the Ruins."
I could do little but look at Wraith with a look of incredulity on my face. To sum things up briefly for you, the Factory would utterly annihilate us if given the chance, and the Ruins were a no-go area for anypony who wasn't in the LRSA or the Scavengers. Even then, the average life expectancy for a fresh soldier was one week. The Ruins, for those who don't know, are the remains of one of pre-revolutionary Equestria's diplomatic hubs, Ponyville. It started as a small village, but then it started growing and growing until it became a metropolis to rival Canterlot. Then, post-revolution, it was taken over by the NSA, before being lost to Scavengers. Turns out that the NSA in the area had forgotten to lock down the heavy artillery guns that were kept in the sector, and the Scavengers nicked them. Then they proceeded to reduce the city to rubble, before taking it over themselves. Now, it's heavily fought over by battle hardened Scavengers and units from the Equestrian, French, and Russian LRSA detachments.
Quite simply, it was suicidal and stupid.
"You haven't thought this through very well, have you?"
"It didn't sound so bad when he pitched it to me."
"Right, from now on, I make the calls, okay? Good. There is no way I'm going to the Ruins. I'm rather against getting myself killed. Do we have any other plans?"
"Um... no. I don't really know where we are. I've never been this far south. I only know how to get to the Ruins, and I also know that this area is prized Scavenger land. This is a small path carved by Wanderers, and the Scavengers tend not to actively patrol it, primarily due to manpower restrictions, but also because the Wanderers defend this route well. Or, did, anyway. They also tend not to use this route, because of it's exposed nature. There's nothing really here until we get to the Ruins, and if they strayed in here then they'd be easy targets for Wanderer patrols. Straying off in any direction, however, could prove catastrophic. We're likely to get picked up by a patrol pretty quickly. And we can't really go back to Refuge."
"Why not?"
"Because the Scavengers are already in the process of capturing it, and I don't think they'd be too keen to open the gates for us again. We leaved so quickly we probably looked like spies."
I laughed, marvelling at the hopelessness of the situation, "So we're fucked if we keep going, and fucked if we go anywhere else? Oh, how brilliant! No, really, good job Wraith. Good bloody job. You have, for all intents and purposes, royally fucked up! What were you thinking? How was this plan ever going to work? Where you high when you made this decision, or just drunk? Okay, I'm never going to let you make the decisions again, because evidently you just cannot be trusted to think things through! Typical stupid stallion."
I would have carried on ranting, going on to talk about how I knew something like this was going to happen, and about how I should have just taken the risk and gone alone after my initial escape, and how I should never have trusted a Scavenger. I would have done all that, if Wraith hadn't started crying. That was honestly the last thing I had expected him to do. I had expected him to throw himself at me and try to hit me, or even to point his rifle at me, or to reveal that he was, in fact, a traitor, and all of a sudden for a contingent of Scavengers to appear from nowhere, ultimately leading to a massive battle in which I would escape by the skin of my teeth, coming back to take my revenge with the backing of the LRSA against the Scavengers, of which Wraith was now the leader, finishing in one huge crescendo where I have one final showdown with Wraith to determine the fate of Equestria. Actually, that's a pretty good plot line.
But no. None of the above. He just stood there and started to cry. I stood there and just looked at him. What does one do in this situation? I don't know, I'm not a mother! He wasn't making any sound, but his eyes had glistened over and there were tears adorning his face. In a very quiet, rather pathetic voice, he murmured, "I'm not stupid."
"Okay, well, maybe you aren't stupid, but... but you still should've asked me about it first." I tried to maintain a strong resolve.
"You hate me now, don't you?"
"No, no. I don't hate you, I'm just... angry and tired and really frustrated, that's all."
"Don't lie to me. I know you hate me. Don't worry about it though; everypony does."
"I'm sure not everypony hates you. It's just because you wear the uniform of a Scavenger, that's all. It's nothing to do with your personality, or your looks, or anything like that."
He shook his head, gently, then more vigorously. I could see him barring his teeth and soon I could hear him growling, "No. No, you don't understand. I'm a Scavenger because everypony hates me, not the other way around. You don't know what I've seen. If you did, you'd understand."
"You're right," I wrapped my fore legs around his neck, pulling him close, trying to calm him down. "You're right, I don't know what you've seen. I suppose I don't really understand. But you can help me to understand. Tell me why you became a Scavenger. You say it's because everypony hates you. Why do you say that?"
Wraith growled at me angrily, before he calmed down enough to be able to make more placid sounds. After a very long period of silence, during which I contemplated whether or not he was actually going to say anything, he started speaking in a voice that was hard to hear, even in such close proximity, "I suppose I'll start by saying I wasn't born a Scavenger. Some are. Their parents are both Scavengers, so they are born to be Scavengers. Not me. I was a Wanderer for most of my early life. My parents were both hard working earth ponies, and they both lived in a small agricultural community that grew wheat. As such, most of my early memories are of the wheat farm my parents tended to."
"Naturally, being the only son of two farming ponies, they had me working hard to teach me the essentials of the work I was to do. Every morning I was to be awake by five, and I never went to bed earlier than eleven at night. In between those hours there was never any time for play. Whilst my father showed me how to sew wheat seeds or taught me how to fire a shotgun, all the other colts and fillies of my age would be busy running around and playing with each other. Not me. I never had any friends. Nopony ever spoke to me, so I never spoke back. My parent's didn't like noise very much, so I was never allowed to talk unless ordered to. Most of my time I had my lips sealed."
"That wouldn't have been so bad. I could have dealt with that. But my father was quick to temper. If I made mistakes, or spoke out of line, I would be punished. Punishments were nothing new in the community, and the residents used a wide variety of different techniques to discipline their foals, but my father took no prisoners. If I did have to be punished, he would hoist me up onto a cross and tie me in place, leaving me there for the rest of the day and overnight to act as a scarecrow. Other times, when it was more convenient, he would just hit me or yell at me. He forbade many things, including chocolate, any drink that wasn't water, any book that wasn't about farming, but most of all, he forbade me from ever talking to mares."
"Naturally, there came a point when I was fourteen when I wanted to start meeting a few of the fillies of the community. Most of them were nothing special, but I did really like one of them. She was an only child, like me, and she was a very gifted craftspony. She was the same age as me, and she would always stop at my father's farm every Thursday to mend anything that needed mending. I started to eagerly await her visits, but, as I said, my father would never let me speak to her. In fact, I wasn't ever allowed within ten feet of her. He said that I shouldn't like a mare for her looks, and that I should save myself for somepony who would be able to help on the farm, sewing seeds and harvesting crops."
"But I was intent on getting my way. I began to dream up fantasies, and I took up drawing. I taught myself, stealing paper and pens from my mother to work with. Every Thursday, when she arrived to fix the broken things, I would sit on the little section of roof outside my bedroom window and draw her in some pose or other. I had my dreams as well. When I went to bed every night, I was kept awake thinking about her. I can remember coming up with an extremely detailed plan to kidnap her, steal some supplies and then run off with her somewhere far away where we'd never be found and where we could be alone together. I can still remember the secret code that I came up with to keep my writing from looking suspicious."
"But, as with all good things, my dreams had to come to an end. It was a Thursday, like every other, and she'd come round to fix our water tank, which was leaking. After months of mental preparation and planning, I snuck out from the house and hid amongst the wheat, using it to conceal my movements. I navigated my way around until I came across the water tank, and there she was, crouched down with a determined look on her face as she examined her collection of tools. She started as I drew close, giggling and commenting on how she hadn't heard me coming. I told her that I liked her. She said she'd never heard me speak before, and that she'd assumed that I was a mute. I chuckled in response, now extremely nervous and not sure what to do. I suppose she took the lead from there."
"It was only a few minutes or so. Very nervous and very unsure of what to do, we both embraced each other tightly. I can remember her laughing as she commented on how tightly I was gripping onto her. I said that I was scared. She told me not to be scared. She ran a hoof through my mane, and as I calmed down and loosened my grip, she moved back slightly and kissed me. I had no idea what I was doing, but then again, neither did she, and so we ended up making a complete mess of our first kiss, but we enjoyed it none the less. We were about to kiss again, but then my dream come true was quickly shattered."
"Needless to say, my father was not happy. He'd come to check on her progress with the tank, and instead he'd found us together, committing what he considered to be the greatest crime I could have committed. She was told never to return to the farm, and I was punished more severely than I had ever been punished before. My father ransacked my room, collecting everything that I had drawn and everything that I had written, piling them up outside and setting fire to them all. All of my dreams, and all of my passion, just... gone. Reduced to ash. And he'd done it as easily as he'd spat in my face and disowned me. From then on I was to sleep outside, and I was never, ever to leave the perimeter fence for any reason. I lived for two years like that, up until I was sixteen."
"But then everything changed. The Scavengers came. The community had been pretty quiet for years. The Scavengers had never really bothered about it until now, and when they came, they came in force. The first we knew about it was the scent of smoke as they set fire to our wheat crop. Then it was chaos as bullets were flying everywhere and fires raged, ponies screaming all over the place and the Scavengers laughing maniacally as they slaughtered the populace. They stormed my house, and my father attempted to fight back with his shotgun. He took one down, before he was subdued by a blow to the head."
"And then they found me. It was a sadist, and he was big and fierce and very frightening. He dragged me outside to the main plaza, where all of the survivors of the attack had been rounded up. They were all under armed guard, the Scavengers ready to put a bullet into anypony who ran. My father and mother were amongst them, and so, to my despair, was my only childhood romance. The sadist asked me whether I wanted to join my family, or whether I wanted to join the Scavengers. Without a moment's hesitation, I accepted the garrison cap he held out to me and fit it onto my head. From that moment my fate was sealed."
"There was a resounding cheer from the Scavengers as their newest recruit beamed with pride. The Wanderers being held prisoner looked on me with contempt, but as I realised that it was just the same look that they'd always given me, I turned my own heart into ice. They pulled forward my parents, and shoved them down before me. I remember growling at them and saying, 'Who's in charge now?' The sadist laughed and pushed something into my hoof, before taking a few steps back and watching. There was silence as every Scavenger and Wanderer watched and waited, all staring at me and anxiously awaiting my next move."
"I looked down into my hoof. I clasped the pistol tightly, the metal feeling cold and smooth in my grip. I looked down at my father, who looked up at me, fury in his eyes. He said one thing to me, 'I always knew you were just a stupid young colt.'
'I'm not stupid,' I said, before I raised the pistol and, without even a shadow of doubt in my mind, shot him between the eyes. I remember my mother screaming before I cut her short, putting two more rounds into her head before howling in rage myself. Sixteen years of hatred had been released in those few seconds, and I felt powerful. I felt like I could do anything."
"Then, before I could say anything, there was a series of resounding cracks as the Scavengers all cocked their weapons in unison. With a deafening roar they opened fire, gunning down every Wanderer that stood before them, including the only mare I had ever loved, and the only pony who had ever loved me. But when I looked into her eyes in her final moments before the Scavenger bullets pierced her flesh, I did not see fear, or hatred, as I had expected to see. I saw only sadness. But I did nothing to try and save her. I just watched her die, like all the rest. I saw her chest explode as she was filled with lead. I saw her eyes lose all life and her face lose all expression. As she crumpled to the floor to lie in a bloody heap, something drifted down to lay atop her corpse. It was something that she always had with her, at all times."
"A black, homemade cowgirl hat." |
Revenge | Chapter 11 | Chapter 11
Wait, Wraith had been a farmer? Sorry, that's probably not what I should have drawn from that, but I wouldn't have placed him as the farming type. Still, what it did do for me was give me a good opportunity for reflection. Now everything made sense. The reason why Wraith freed me from the Scavengers, the reason why he journeyed with me, the reason why he was so adamant about keeping me alive, even putting himself in harm's way to do it. And the reason he'd tried to keep me from the invading Scavengers. He saw me as a chance to do right what he'd done wrong in the past.
"So you see," he sniffled. "It's not because I'm a Scavenger that everypony hates me, it's because everypony hates me that I'm a Scavenger!" In what appeared to be a fit of rage he drove his fore hoof so hard into the ground that it kicked up dust and left a deep imprint. He was avoiding eye contact with me (despite how many times I tried to cunningly manoeuvre myself to catch his gaze), and despite trying to keep himself together, I could see his eyes glistening over with tears again. It was strange. I'd always known that Wraith was an emotional pony, and his emotions could swing on a bit and were often rather extreme, but I'd never once imagined him actually crying. It was such a pure expression of his inner turmoil. It had been made quite apparent to me that it took a lot to make him cry. Even when he'd been stabbed through the shoulder he'd kept a stiff upper lip. It was beautiful to see him in such a state of sadness.
It was strange, but I feel like I can honestly and truly say that everything that had happened between us up to this point was for null, because it wasn't until that moment that I'd seen what Wraith really looked like. He was tall, strong, rugged, and handsome in a very outdoorsy sense, as I've said before. He had brilliant red eyes and a fine black coat, and a char grey mane and tail, both unkempt, but the way they both flowed made it look oddly deliberate. All of these external things are all superficial. I confess that, before, I'd loved him for his looks. But now that I'd gotten the opportunity to glimpse into his inner persona, I realised that there were better reasons to love him. He was emotional, and beneath his harsh exterior personality was a kindness, and a tenderness that I knew he possessed, but had had suppressed by the Scavengers. In his eyes, and in his tears, I could see a pony that longed to be free, a pony that was smart, and only wanted to do what was right. It was still Wraith, but it was the Wraith that he'd never let anypony see.
His tears were infectious, and before I could react I felt moisture accumulating at the corners of my eyes. In a blur of flailing hooves and series of hurried apologies and hushes, I had my hooves around his neck. I was amazed by how shallow I could possibly be. My parents had raised me better than that, for the period of time in which they'd been alive. I buried my face into the crook of Wraith's neck, the muscles tensing from the contact. His legs were beginning to buckle under the extra weight (shut up!) and before he collapsed I released him and fell back onto my rear. He did likewise, and spent the next few minutes sniffling and wiping at his eyes. I found it both amusing and upsetting every time he growled and swatted at his tears, indignantly trying not to show his sensitive side. I wanted to tell him to stop and to just let himself be sad, but I knew he wouldn't have it. For so long he'd been told that sadness was a sign of weakness, and even now he stood by those values of concrete resolve.
For I dare say a quarter of an hour we sat in near silence. I didn't know what I was supposed to say. I'd judged Wraith before I'd properly gotten to know him, and I hated myself for it. I'd never look at him the same way again. From now on, I would see him not as a companion, or as somepony to help fuel my night times fantasies, but as my coltfriend. I mean properly this time, and not just that superficial shit that I'd previously claimed was a relationship. Now I was serious. Now I was going to act like a grown up mare, as opposed to letting myself live with the mentality of a sixteen year old. Wraith had feelings, and I had to respect that.
As time dragged on, I became conscious of the fact that we had to get to moving again. If we stayed for much longer, we'd have burned half the day. I tentatively tapped Wraith's fore leg in an attempt to stir him. As a tensile spring shooting back into place, Wraith snapped into alertness as if I'd just hit his 'on' switch. In the expanse of our silence he'd reverted back into his cold, military precision character, and in no time at all was back on his hooves and marching in the direction of the Ruins. Without even looking back he called for me to follow, which I did. I made haste, attempting to catch up with him and his absurdly large stride.
Unfortunately (or arguably, very fortunately) nothing of particular interest happened during the next few days of our travels. The sky became overcast and we were beginning to worry that it was threatening rain, but none fell. I do remember, however, feeling a distinct bout of homesickness. It was just as I was bedding down for another cold night on the hard dirt with tears in my clothes and an aching leg, that I made the mistake of casting my mind back to my family. When I thought of my parents, the usual wave of emotions came over me. I felt nothing for my father beyond the need to avenge him, but for my mother I felt that sense of despair hit me like a rifle butt to the head. I thought of my old home, the one that the Scavengers had overrun in an act of brutal savagery, and I felt anger, but mostly longing to be back under the protection of the NSA, to be back in the boring, controlled lifestyle that I'd spent most of my life in. Sure, being out here in the wild was fun and all, so long as you weren't getting shot at, but even that came with its own sense of adrenaline. I'd met some amazing ponies, like Eagle and Wraith and the baremare (that I didn't get the name of, shit), but life had been so much easier behind the white and blue screen of NSA Watchponies and militia. But then I had to remind myself that I wasn't an NSA brat anymore. I was a Wanderer, and that meant I could be whatever I wanted. I could be the most colossal bitch that Equestria had ever known! Should it so please me.
I didn't get anything more out of Wraith. The first sign of actual emotion from him came when we saw the first of the skyscrapers of the Ruins, just peaking up over the top of a hill. Wraith and I stopped and gazed in silent awe. Never before had I, nor Wraith I presume, seen a building so big before. Each one must have been a hundred stories high, with windows on ever floor covering every square inch of the impressive structures. At least, there should have been windows covering every square inch of the impressive structures, but most of them had been shot out by bullets or artillery fire. There was smoke rising from certain choice buildings, and a fire or two raged amongst the canopy of the mighty metropolis.
It was at about that time that Wraith and I ducked our heads and covered our ears as a massive, earthshattering boom sent loose debris bouncing slightly. Seconds later, an explosion the size of which I had never witnessed prior tore out a huge chunk of one of the skyscrapers and sent it hurtling towards the streets below. I felt sorry for anypony who was trapped beneath that. I looked at Wraith for reassurance that what we were doing was not something akin to putting a pistol in our mouths, but he looked about as confident as I did. As in, not at all.
We decided not to venture into the Ruins without some clear plan as to what we were doing (I had taken the opportunity during our journey to try and hammer the importance of planning into Wraith's head), so we set up temporary camp and started brainstorming. Admittedly, brainstorming was difficult when, every once in a while, the pounding of long range artillery interrupted what would have normally been a pleasant silence. By late afternoon I was grinding my teeth in frustration. How did anypony rest in this place? How had I not heard these guns all the way back in Refuge? My heart went out to all of the LRSA ponies forced to endure such torture on a regular basis. As for the Scavengers, they could all get blown to pieces for all I cared. It did take me a while to figure out, actually, but the sound of artillery fire was actually coming from two different directions. My only theory was that one side was the LRSA artillery, and the other side was the artillery stolen by the Scavengers.
As night fell, we set off, plan formulated and ready to be implemented. Basically, don't get found. Try and sneak through without being picked up by either side if possible. If that didn't work, then run to the LRSA for help. If we ended up behind Scavenger lines, then we'd have to try and do a little roleplaying. I was confident in my ability to play the part of a slave, so I wasn't too worried about that, but from Eagle's description of how Scavengers in these parts operated, I wasn't particularly keen to have to resort to such actions. We had some ground to cover before we actually made it to the outskirts of the Ruins, but my heart was in my mouth the entire time. I was expecting this to be a lot more challenging that anything I'd done before.
Our approach to the Ruins continued as the night became absolute. We made slow progress, each of us diving for the nearest scrap of spare cover every time we heard the thumping of the artillery. It was a good way before we reached the outer suburbs, consisting mostly of small, shattered houses and war-torn small streets. Wraith kept low as we passed through this area, moving very quickly to avoid being caught in the open. When I asked why he was being so cautious, he replied by telling me that Scavengers worked well in ruined areas. They could set up a sniper in a bombed out house, or a machinegun behind some rubble, and you wouldn't know a thing about it until you'd been punched full of holes. Upon hearing this, I adopted a similar stance, moving extremely carefully to try and avoid being spotted.
At one point, as we were beginning to near the outer limits of the big city, we both had to skirt around a small minefield at a cross road. The mines were almost undetectable, but Wraith spotted them with a combination of keen vision and inherent caution. Plus, he knew Scavenger tactics. The mines were placed underneath slabs of concrete or plasterboard or similar items of rubble. The idea was that if the rubble was disturbed in any way, the mine would be detonated and blow off the hooves of whoever walked over them. A rather gruesome way to go, but apparently it worked, otherwise the Scavengers wouldn't do it.
On recollection, I would probably say that the short space of time we spent making our way through the suburbs was the most nerve wracking time of my life. I remember, quite vividly, making my way down a street with Wraith a few feet ahead of me, and hearing another boom of artillery fire. This had become commonplace; the artillery would fire about once every sixty seconds. I was keeping an eye open for the glint that would indicate a telescopic lens when about ten or so metres down the road along which I'd just come the earth was torn up with an almighty roar and flung high into the air, completely obliterating the surrounding terrain. Chunks of earth and asphalt were thrown around as though they were weightless, and a gargantuan tongue of fire licked up from the area of impact. The detonation was so loud that it shook the ground around it and set my ears ringing. The shell had landed so close to me that, had I been just a few seconds slower, it would have ended me. In pure terror I scrabbled backwards away from the carnage, eyes wide, heart rocketing in my chest, nothing but fear coursing its way through my veins as I looked fiery oblivion straight in the face. When Wraith pulled me up and dusted me down, I was shaken to the edge of my wits. Every snapping twig, every distant chatter of gunfire, every chirp of crickets sent me reeling for the nearest cover, terrified that the noise was sure to take me, sure to be the one that ended my existence. I have honestly never been more scared in my entire life.
I was still a nervous wreck when we reached the outskirts of the metropolis, just as the moon had passed its peak. Here, the buildings began to tower hundreds, thousands of stories high into the air. The main street was six lanes wide, three on either side, separated down the middle by a row of concrete jersey barriers. There were street light every five or six metres down the pavement, and the street stretched on for as far as the eye could see, branching off occasionally into side roads. A fine layer of dust and soot hung in the air, creating an artificial smog that seemed to reduce viewing distance significantly. Everything beyond a certain point simply faded into the grey mist, and every sound made beyond that was distant and seemed to echo. The lights didn't work, so the power was out throughout the whole metropolis. Every so often, one could hear a violent exchange of gunfire, which soon ceased, followed by numerous intermittent shots as the victors mopped up whatever was left of the enemy forces.
The Ruins. We had to traverse the Ruins. The streets in this place extended for several hundred kilometres, and it was very easy to get lost. Wraith seemed less fazed by the situation than me, and set off with almost no hesitation whatsoever. With a look over his shoulder he encouraged me forward. He didn't stop walking though. With what I'm sure was an audible gulp, I entered the Ruins.
I felt tainted just by walking in the dusty, battered streets. Everywhere I looked there were signs of past conflicts; signs of death. Here or there, a lamppost would be lying on its side or be bent to one side. The jersey barriers that ran along the central street were covered with marks from where bullets and incendiaries had struck, grazed, or scorched the surface. The buildings themselves missed most of their windows, and some had even partially collapsed, spilling rubble into the streets and forming areas of effective cover, and good places to spring ambushes. As such, I felt slightly more nervous than normal whenever passing as pile of suspicious rubble.
My hoof suddenly sank into something soft and squishy that definitely wasn't road. I could feel a little moisture collecting around the base of my hoof and winced at the unpleasant experience. Half fearing moving, and half dreading not, I lifted my hoof out of the substance I'd stepped in. I closed both eyes and took several long breaths. As an almighty feat of courage, I peered cautiously down at the ground. What I saw made me whimper and cower slightly.
When I looked more closely, I noticed something about the place that I'd missed before. Everywhere, scattered over the road, buried amongst the rubble and leaning up against jersey barriers, were hundreds of brutalised, horribly distorted corpses. Everywhere I looked there were seldom fewer than five in any one area. Some had their limbs tied up in knots or twisted in ways I previously thought impossible. Some were missing legs or heads or wings or horns and others were simply represented by a dismembered torso flung against a wall. Ponies slumped and lay in a multitude of poses, some still clutching onto their weapons, or holding their wounded or missing appendages as if still hanging on for dear life. When I looked down at my hooves, I saw the body of a soldier so heavily caked in mud, soot and blood that I could barely make him out from the road. Around my hoof, a thick film of blood was staining my fur, and slowly oozing off the edge to drip noiselessly onto the floor. The blood was dirty, filled with so much dirt and gravel that it was almost black.
Wraith came over to see what had halted me. I was personally terrified, unable (or unwilling) to move in any way lest I put my hoof into another body. Wraith, being the Scavenger that he was, saw the opportunity in the situation. He grabbed onto the shoulders of the soldier and heaved, lifting him up from the ground with a shower of debris. With a grunt of exertion, he dragged the raggedy corpse along the road and leaned it up against a jersey barrier in the middle of the road. I came over to observe, my hoof making a horrible squelching noise whenever I took a step forward. It took all of my resolve not to scream.
With expert care and practised ease, Wraith set about scavenging for useful supplies. He first removed the soldier's helmet, which came away cleanly. I hadn't realised before, but the helmet actually had a pair of goggles attached to it. With them removed, I could see the stallion's dirty fur and filthy mane, and his eyes which were a deep blue. They didn't shimmer or shine like most that I'd seen, but were dull and lifeless, as though they were painted onto stone. I also noted, with some disgust, that one eye looked in a completely different direction to the other. The soldier must have been hit so hard by whatever it was that had killed him that it had knocked one eye off centre.
Wraith began sifting through the soldier's assault webbing. He began by opening the top two pockets, drawing out several sachets of sugar. Wraith looked at the writing on the side, "Russians." He pocketed the sugar, and began sifting through his other pockets. There was little more to be found, apart from a half empty water canteen and a couple magazines of ammunition. Wraith fumbled around the soldier's shoulders again and found a sling that ran the length of his torso. With a tug, the sling came away, and with it came a mud covered assault rifle. Wraith gave it a clean off with his sleeve, checking that none of the vital components were blocked, and handed it to me, "Take this."
"I'd rather not."
"Take it. You'll need more firepower than just a pistol if you're going to survive here." Rather regretfully, I took the rifle from him (along with the spare ammunition) and slung it over my neck, letting it dangle in front of me.
Wraith found nothing more, and so he closed the soldier's eyes in a final show of respect, and lay the soldier on his back, resting his helmet on his chest. Wraith briefly bowed his head before setting forward again. I followed closer behind now than before, my eyes now scanning the ground for more bodies. The last thing I wanted to do was stand on another corpse. Wraith assured me that he would try and fix up my new rifle a bit once he found some spare parts, and I merely nodded my head and grunted slightly by way of reply. I wasn't feeling very talkative.
Darkness seemed to complete itself almost immediately. If the smog wasn't thick enough before, now seeing more than a few feet in any direction was challenging where it was particularly thick. Wraith had the two of us halt briefly for about five minutes as he was certain he could hear the rumbling of metal treads over concrete. Either he had a sixth sense or he was hearing things, because I personally heard nothing at all beyond the booming artillery. We both had a collective heart attack when we thought we saw a Scavenger patrol in the distance, but when Wraith peered through his scope what we'd originally thought had been a row of murderers turned out to be some small stacks of rubble that were slightly higher than the rest.
When I looked back the way we'd come, I could no longer see the grasslands of Equestria behind us. All I could see were more buildings and more smog. I could now see how it was so easy to get lost and disoriented in this place; everything looked exactly the same. Wraith informed me that we should hunker down and sit the night out, as the Scavengers in this region tended to be more active during the moonlit hours. The problem, however, was not remaining undetected, but finding a place in which one could remain undetected in the first place. Shelter was actually surprisingly hard to come by. Almost everything was completely shot to pieces and most buildings were so heavily damaged or filled with rubble that they offered no protection from the elements (nor enemy fire) at all.
Purely by chance, I happened to round a mound of rubble to come face to face with a tripod mounted heavy machinegun. I remained stock still as I stared down the sooty, rifled barrel, alerting Wraith to my location by coughing slightly. He sighed and grabbed hold of my collar, rather forcefully pulling me behind the mound of rubble and into the corner of a shot out building, in which the machinegun had been set up. He gestured silently to the soldier slumped over the weapon, his hoof still resting on the trigger, and sighed. I felt vaguely like he was patronising me, but shrugged it off. We were both under stress and sparking a confrontation with him would have achieved nothing.
The machinegun nest was actually in a pretty advantageous location. It was right on the corner of a four way crossroad, with a large arc of fire and protected by a short wall of rubble. If I squinted, I could see a particularly high density of bodies trapped within the arc of the weapon. The nest itself was relatively spacious. The machinegun took up quite a lot of space on its own, but there was still space for the two roll mats on the floor, weighed down on each corner by a large chunk of stone, and for a small cache of ammunition boxes in one corner. There was only one soldier in the nest, but I was assured that LRSA machinegun teams frequently worked in threes, with one gunner, one loader, and one spotter that also acted as a defender to prevent the weapon from being flanked.
Wraith was keen to search the body of the gunner. He went through the same process as before. When he went to remove the soldier's helmet, it came away sticky. Covering almost the soldier's entire face was a thick layer of gluey blood. It was hard to see where the actual wound was, because everything looked so savagely mangled, but it looked as though whatever had hit him had been big, and had hit him hard. Wraith found another rifle and more ammunition. He passed me the rounds and confiscated my rifle, saying he would replace anything that needed replacing where he could. Instead of assault webbing, the soldier had two belts of ammunition strapped around his chest. They were massive bullets, half with red tips and the other half with black tips. Wraith ignored them, and after searching the ammunition boxes, declared that there was no more ammunition worth salvaging.
I was rather grateful when Wraith called first sentry, and so with weariness weighing down on me, I flung myself onto one of the roll mats and curled up from the cold. I then rolled onto the other roll mat as I felt something warm and moist beneath me. I was lulled to sleep by the clinking and clanking of weapons being disassembled, and my own tired, heavy breathing. It was cold, bitterly cold, but thankfully it was dry and there wasn't any rain on the horizon as far as I could see. Eventually I drifted off to sleep, but it was a restless sleep, and I woke up more tired than when I'd gone to sleep in the first place.
When I did wake up, there was almost no visible difference in the surroundings. The smog was still there and still thicker than cement. Bodies still lay in their hundreds. I had silently been hoping that this wasn't happening, but it was. Wraith was sitting next to the machinegun, staring out across the street. He hadn't slept, nor had he even woken me up. I had no idea what the time of day was, but it felt like early morning. Whatever had distracted his attention was probably something worth looking at. I pulled myself back up to my hooves, everything aching and a chill in my bones. I shook my head, replaced my hat on my head, and went to sit next to Wraith. He didn't look at me. He sat still.
I tapped him on the shoulder, "What're you looking at?"
Wraith silently handed me his rifle and pointed. His face was expressionless. I looked through the rifle's scope, for the first time seeing Wraith's crosshairs. A long, thin needle poked up from the bottom and two shorter bars met just short of the middle, branching off from the sides. I don't know how he shot accurately with that crosshair. I focused the lens on a lamppost across the street which Wraith had pointed at. What I saw was not encouraging. Suspended from a combination of ropes and chains from the lamppost was the body of a stallion, clad in the black armour of the LRSA. He spun ever so slightly in the light breeze that blew through the streets. A sign hung over his torso read 'I'm an LRSA coward'.
I handed Wraith's rifle back to him. He slung it over his back and coughed, "It's called 'ruining'. The Scavengers came up with it. You take a prisoner, suspend him from a lamppost or something high up, and then stab him in the rear hooves so that he bleeds onto the floor. It's slow, it's painful, and it's ethically fucked up." Wraith spat on the ground in disgust. He grabbed hold of the sling of the assault rifle we'd collected last night and threw it to me. I clutched it in my magic and slung it over my neck, so that it once again hung before me. Wraith had fixed it up nice. Previously it had been completely concealed behind a mask of dirt and mud, but Wraith had cleaned it up and now I could see the exposed black metal and polymer in all its glory. Wraith also pointed out that he'd replaced the bolt and recoil assembly, as well as swapped out the flash eliminator. He said that the original one had been an older variant that wasn't quite as effective.
Without any further word nor warning, Wraith kicked himself into gear and stepped off into the street. I followed quickly behind, having to readjust my new rifle to stop it knocking against one of my legs. I caught up with him and spoke in a hushed voice, "Shouldn't we be taking it a little more carefully? Walking straight down the middle of the street doesn't sound like the best way to avoid being caught."
"This place is teeming with personnel representative of both sides. They patrol these streets constantly, day and night. If they're going to find us, then they'll find us. And they will find us. All we can do is delay it for as long as possible. As soon as we come across a patrol, even if we're hidden under the road then they'll find us."
"Oh what an uplifting thought. What happened to the 'don't get caught' part of the plan?"
Wraith was silent at that. Nevertheless, he still made no attempt to conceal himself.
As we walked, we both scanned the buildings and streets ahead for threats. We must have walked for hours, but every hour seemed to drag on like a day. We had a very close encounter with a patrol at one point. Neither of us could discern what faction the patrol belonged to, but Wraith spotted them ahead at a crossroad and spied on them for a while through his scope. We spent a few minutes watching them. I spent the whole time tense. If we could see them then surely they could see us? There were about ten of them in total, all brandishing firearms of some variety and all waiting, seemingly in ambush, for somepony to pass by. We made the unanimous conclusion that continuing on our current heading would be a suicidal affair, so we backtracked a bit and turned off into a side road, hoping to dodge around them.
The side road was substantially thinner than the main street. It consisted only of a few lanes, and was not as well developed, nor as heavily strewn with corpses. Actually, I noticed a gradually increasing number of Scavenger bodies building up in place of LRSA. Wraith assured me that that meant we were heading towards LRSA lines. Still, just because the LRSA weren't as murderous as the Scavengers, in this scenario coming across them would likely prove fatal. The LRSA had been so used to seeing nothing but Scavengers and their own troops that anypony that wasn't wearing their uniform was considered a threat. If the LRSA found us wandering the streets, they'd almost surely put us down, or at least fire upon us.
We peered down alleyways and rubble strewn streets, trying to find a way to get back on our previous facing. Eventual Wraith had to admit that we were lost, and I had to admit that I was completely disoriented. I didn't know from which direction I'd come, nor which direction I was supposed to be heading. To make matters worse, the sun was beginning to go down again, and I could hear the sounds of gunfire a few streets down. We needed to find someplace to bed down for the night, but no open opportunities presented themselves. We'd have to do some serious searching.
It was during such a search, when Wraith was busy scoping out an alleyway, that I stumbled upon our solution. Or, to be more precise, our solution stumbled across me. I was checking out an old mortar emplacement, weighing up the pros and cons of its sheltering prospects. Wraith was not far off; within shouting distance. The emplacement was of decent size, with a few roll mats still out that the crew had forgotten to reclaim. The sandbag wall made a good wind break and, despite the absence of the main weapon itself, looked like a good position from which to stage a defence should we come under attack. There was a box of mortar shells still in the emplacement, that we could probably make into booby traps should the need arise.
I straightened up, having been bending down to inspect the roll mats, looking for punctures or, indeed, traps set by the previous occupants. When my head reappeared over the sandbags, I was immediately called to attention by a voice off in another direction, "Halt! State your business." I remained silent, instead searching for the source of the voice. After some seriously hard core looking, I spotted the silhouette of somepony atop a pile of rubble, aiming a scoped rifle towards me. They were completely alone, as far as I could tell, which I saw as odd. Both factions here tended to move in large groups. Taking a risk, I decided to offer a reply.
"I'm looking for shelter. My companion's not far off. Would you be able to provide us with residence for a while?"
I felt like that was a pretty ballsy move to make. If this pony did turn out to be LRSA or Scavenger then I'd likely lose my brains. The pony moved slowly towards me, never once taking their rifle off me. As they approached the edge of the emplacement, they slung the weapon over their back and vaulted over the sandbag wall to join me, coming a little closer than I would have liked. There was a sharp striking noise and suddenly the emplacement was illuminated by the glow of a match that the pony held between us.
It was a stallion, that became immediately evident, but such an out of place stallion I had never seen. In this world of black, grey, and khaki, to see a pony that was almost completely pink was definitely odd. His fur was a bright pink, his mane was pink, heck, even his eyes were a pale shade of pink. He wore what looked to be the uniform of the LRSA, but it certainly was not regulation equipment. It had been converted, by some miracle of needlework that surpassed my own ability, into a rather fashionable black waistcoat, with a large, black, leather belt with a shiny silver buckle. The stallion had across his back his rifle, which looked vaguely similar to Wraith's and also sported a telescopic scope. The stallion definitely had a ruggedness about him, but it was a sort of refined ruggedness that seemed to contrast with Wraith's rough-around-the-edges survivalist kind of outdoorsy ruggedness.
He seemed to take a similar interest in me, his eyes darting over every aspect of my form whilst I waited awkwardly for the match to burn down to his fur. He dropped it with a yelp as the small flame singed him slightly, casting us both back into darkness. There was a quiet snap and a curse, before he finally managed to light another match. When he did, he wasted no time in probing deeper into my affairs, "You're not with the Scavengers?"
"No."
"Or the LRSA?"
"No. If it helps then I'm a Wanderer."
"And this companion of yours is supposedly a Wanderer too?"
"Well," I began, conscious that this was an important question that required a careful response. "He's technically a Wanderer. He wears the uniform of a Scavenger but I assure you that he is a perfectly reasonable stallion."
My new friend sniffed slightly, "If you can prove it then I might consider letting the two of you stay with me for a while. I am the proud owner of one of the only remaining safe spots in the Ruins, and it just so happens that I always keep rooms free for just such occasions as this. After all, you never know when you're going to meet some new friends." Almost all of that he managed to say in the space of a few seconds. He was a rather impressive talker, if that was an attribute that could be held to one's credit. After what he'd actually said managed to sink through, I nodded by way of reply and scampered out of the mortar pit to drag Wraith back.
I found him behind a wall of sandbags a little way off down the street. He was busy struggling with the lock on an ammunition box, trying to force his knife blade into the mechanism and break the pins. I grabbed him by the back of his collar using my magic and essentially dragged him along the floor back to the mortar pit. I could just have talked to him and asked for him to follow me back, but that would have involved conversation and I was beginning to just get desperate for shelter before a patrol stumbled across us. We didn't have much time for chat.
I let go of Wraith and he shot me a rather disgruntled look before turning to the figure I'd spoken to earlier. Neither spoke for a while, as if they were sizing each other up for some fight. Eventually I was forced to break the silence before it dragged on too long, "Wraith, here's somepony who's offering us shelter. Make a good impression."
"So you're this lovely mare's travelling companion? Scavenger, are you?"
Wraith frowned and looked close to releasing a growl, "No. I detest the Scavengers and everything they stand for. Their brutality has caused harm on an unforgivable scale. I would rather cut out my own eyes than work for the Scavengers again."
"So you're a pretty die-hard anti-Scavenger are you? I suppose I can believe that, judging from the fact that you haven't killed me yet. Well, I suppose I should lead you two to safety before the LRSA get here. First patrol is due to pass in about three minutes so let's move."
The stallion made a quick about turn and set off over the rubble, moving quickly and nimbly, with practised grace. Or at least, it looked practiced. Nopony moved that effortlessly through rubble without some serious practise. Wraith followed close behind him, his natural ruggedness giving him an advantage over the rough terrain. I brought up the rear, my movement rather critically impaired by the debris. I stumbled several times and the two stallions had to wait for me briefly so I could catch up.
Fortunately, we quickly branched off into one of the many tall buildings, now entering a series of winding corridors. The place looked like an old office block to me. We moved carefully down a corridor with ceiling panels missing and strip lights hanging suspended from frayed cables. Most of the doors were either smashed in or missing entirely, and there was the occasional body of a sniper that had been caught off guard. The corridor ended in a caved in section of ceiling, and so we had to detour through a series of interconnected work spaces. There were desks lined up in what had probably once been neat rows, with stacks of loose paper scattered all over the floor. Many of the items of furniture had been overturned and were full of bullet holes, serving as a grim reminder of how dangerous this place was.
I stopped to pick up a piece of paper from one of the desks. I felt a desire to know what this place was all about before it was blown apart by high explosives and tracers. I read it as I walked, keeping one eye on the ponies in front of me and one on the sheet. It was nothing particularly interesting. Apparently the building had been the headquarters of a shipping company, and what I was reading was their monthly expenditure budget. I discarded the page once I lost interest, which was admittedly very quickly.
After a quick trip through a canteen, we stopped before a supply closet. The closet itself was nothing special from the outside, just a plain wooden door built into the wall. The door was the exact same colour as the surrounding furniture (white) and there was simply a small hole where the door handle had once been. Unless one was specifically looking for it, they would probably have missed it. In the heat of combat, they'd definitely have missed it. I suppose that was what our new landlord had been going for.
To demonstrate that he was still full of surprises, he produced from the pocket of his waistcoat a polished silver door handle that fitted nicely into the hole in the door. With a twist and a click, the door swung open. I think it's fair to say that I was a little underwhelmed by what I saw. It was just an ordinary supply closet with nothing really special about it. There was a series of shelves on the back wall, on which were bottles of bleach and several other dangerous looking chemicals, and a towel hung suspended on one side next to a radiator, which presumably didn't work anymore.
"Is this it?" Wraith said, not me.
"My friend, you underestimate me!" He seemed abnormally happy for somepony that literally lived in a warzone. "Peek behind that towel there."
Wraith did as instructed and stepped into the closet, clutching one corner of the towel and lifting it up to look behind. After a few moments of silence, "Is this it?"
"No. Allow me to show you what I have beyond the entrance corridor! You don't go into somepony's house and assume that the first room you see is the only one in the house, do you? No, I should think not! Please follow me. Don't get lost, it is only a straight corridor after all."
I playfully (and unintentionally) pushed past Wraith and stepped into the corridor. It was pitch black inside, and making out anything in the distance was a chore at best. I started walking, my hooves seeming worryingly loud on the concrete like flooring. Wraith closed the door to the closet and followed quickly behind me, speaking in a hushed voice close to me ear, "He talks too much."
"I think anypony that talks around you talks too much."
"Mmm." I think it only supported Wraith's comment when the stallion started rattling off more sentences in our general direction. The experience was rather unpleasantly like being machine gunned.
Eventually, after what seemed like hours of walking in a straight line, I stumbled into the back of our guide and brought myself to a stop. I still couldn't see a thing, but I could hear a door being opened directly in front of me and could only wish that we weren't entering another long corridor. There was a snap like a switch being thrown and suddenly I was aware of a loud hum. In just a few more seconds the hallway was filled with flickering white light as a row of strip lights came on along the corridor. They blinded me at first, my eyes having become unaccustomed to bright light, but eventually I adapted and regained use of my vision. I could make out the stallion standing in the doorway, ushering us in quietly before flicking a switch just outside the door and once again killing the lights, "Sorry for the darkness. You understand that I can't leave lights on outside or I run the risk of being caught. Now that we're in here, however, it should be safe to turn on a few lamps. Don't move in case you knock into something. There are quite a lot of things of value in this room and I don't want any of them to get damaged. Let's see, where's the switch? Ah, got it!"
In an instant we were surrounded on all sides by strange and fantastic creations bathed in the golden light of many old desk lamps scattered about the room. I rubbed my hooves gently over the soft, deep red carpet, enjoying the sensation of something benign against my hooves as opposed to the hostile concrete and packed dirt I was used to. The walls were covered in a dark green fabric, with a sort of golden trim around the edges. It was a little frayed in some areas, but was still a damn sight more impressive than anything I'd seen in a while. The NSA could do with taking a leaf out of this guy's book. The room looked like what you would expect to see in a Cluedo mansion.
But all of the lavish decoration (that must have taken a lot of time to put in place) had nothing on what lined the walls on either side of the door. In the room there were about six pedestals that stood maybe a foot or two off the ground, and upon each were perhaps the most intricate and detailed sculptures of ponies I'd ever seen. I walked up to the closest one and looked carefully at it. It was uncanny the realism that came through. It was as though the mare I was looking at was alive, with a coat of finely trimmed sky blue fur, and a mane that flowed down her neck in such a way that I could have sworn it was real pony hair. It probably was, actually. The mare I was admiring was stood with one hoof raised as if preparing to enter a gallop, her face pulling off a look of steely determination. Oddly enough, she was wearing a tight fitting blazer and tie, a plain white shirt underneath, buttoned all the way up. The whole thing was so peculiar, and I noticed as I looked around that the other pedestals also sported their own mannequin, all equally detailed, and all sporting equally fancy and sophisticated garments. They all stood motionless in various poses, with a mix of expressions and styles. There were a few stallions, some mares, and one colt that looked to be in his late teens.
Our host beamed at me, clearly delighted by my interest in his collection, "You like them? I make them all myself. I'm rather skilled with a needle, see, and I'm fascinated by the past. All the garments you see here are modelled off old drawings I found during my travels. They're all pre-revolutionary clothes, the sorts of things our grand-fathers would have worn at parties. This particular piece here is what was known as 'formal dress', consisting of a blazer, waistcoat and tie. It was a garment worn on special occasions, typically during social gatherings. Everything about the suit is important, including the front button arrangement, the lapel style, the pocket placement and type, and so on."
"I see," I was rather blown back by the response. I thought he was just a collector, but my respect for him as a fellow needle worker immediately shot up when I heard he made the garments himself. What fascinated me more, however, was how he acquired his models. I asked him about it when he next had to stop and take a breath. He replied by smiling and tilting his head slightly.
"Well, what with high quality mannequins being in short supply these days, I'm forced to improvise. What you're seeing are sculptures that I have made out of what I have readily available."
"They're very life like."
"Yes, I take great pride in my work, and I put a lot of effort into making each one look perfect. It takes several days to create each individual mannequin, but I think it's worth it for the aesthetic appeal."
During our conversation, Wraith had gone a-wandering and was investigating some of the other rooms. He called to us from the next room, and we both motioned to join him to see what exactly had caught his interest. He was standing before a table with several names carved into it. They were structured in a way that seemed to follow a particular pattern, and when Wraith asked what it was his reply was simply, "My family tree. Or what I know of it at least. As with almost everything you'll see here, I made it myself. Took a lot of work to trace my lineage back that far, I might add. This is me here," he pressed his hoof against the name at the bottom of one of the branches. "Perky Pie. And look, if you follow the tree you can trace it all the way back to my grandmother. Thing is, I haven't quite managed to complete the tree. I know my mother had three siblings, and I know that all of them had foals too, but there's no record of their names as far as I can tell. Somewhere out there are my three lost cousins, and someday I'll find them and we'll all live as one big family." Perky seemed to stare wistfully off into the distance as he said that, as if he had suddenly lost contact with reality. I had to dig him gently in the shoulder to bring him back and when I did he seemed somewhat disoriented and confused.
After explaining to him that we were not invaders and that he'd let us in voluntarily, he resumed his default excitable attitude. With a spring in his step he led us off through a series of smaller rooms explaining that he would show us where we'd be staying. At one point, Wraith stopped before a locked door (so far the only door that actually existed besides the one to the main corridor). He tapped it with his hoof and listened, "What's behind here exactly?"
"That's my room, friend, and I suggest you don't inquire further. I do all of my most intricate work in there, and should you enter you might ruin something or other. It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that I don't want you interfering with anything. You're welcome to explore anywhere else you wish, but just stay out of my room. It's kind of a privacy thing, you know."
"Right." Wraith eyed the door suspiciously as if he was half expecting to see some sort of occult ritual going on behind it. He followed on behind us, but every second he spent around Perky seemed tense.
Perky entered the final room at the end of the series and made a rather extravagant bowing gesture, "Your quarters, my lady."
"Um... thanks. There's really no need to address me like that. You can just call me Bucky."
"Nonsense! I insist that you allow me to treat you as proper guests. I don't get visitors often, as you can imagine, and I want to make this experience special for the both of us. So please, enter. Become accustomed to your surroundings and, when you're ready, join me for some evening drinks. I'll be in the room with my family tree."
I raised an eyebrow, taken aback by his formality but nonetheless rather excited by the prospect of being a classy guest as opposed to a dirty lodger, "I think I will. Thanks."
"My pleasure. And you, sir, please take the time to settle in. I trust that everything will be to your satisfaction."
Wraith was less formal with his reply, simply snarling slightly and giving a low grunt by way of reply.
Perky vanished back the way we'd come and I stepped in to take in what I hoped would become my new surroundings. I rather liked the idea of staying here in security, away from the trouble of the world and safe. The bedroom was relatively large, and was just as finely decorated as the rest of the shelter. There were two beds, both readily made, and a large cupboard that took up an entire wall. There was a screen behind which one could change in peace, and two bedside tables for the storage of much smaller items. Excited, I slung my assault rifle over one of the bedposts and dived onto the bed, the sensation of lying on a proper mattress sending waves of euphoria through my tired and battered body. Wraith came to stand next to me, looking down at me from his vantage point at the top of his neck. I gazed tenderly back at him. Young, immature Bucky would have grabbed at him and made his mane a little messier than usual, but grown up, sensible Bucky realised that that wasn't a good idea. I could show my affection in a much kinder way. I smiled up at him and kissed him ever so gently, the motion not being much more than a gentle brush of lips on lips, but it was enough to make Wraith blush hotly.
I sighed and stretched, making myself as comfortable as possible. I wondered if this place had a shower, and if so if it was available for rent. I really needed a wash. I probably stank something terrible. Wraith had sat down on his own bed, looking around with his eyes narrowed. I decided to be the first to comment, "I like him. He's really friendly and very generous to let us stay here."
"I don't trust him."
"Oh? And why's that?"
"It all seems a little too convenient for me. You know, how he just so happens to have one spare room available for visitors, and how in said room there just so happens to be exactly two beds, and he just so happens to have the same interests as you. He's even got a locked room that he suspiciously forbids us from entering, and his speech pattern is very vague, as if he's trying to hide something."
"Oh, put your tinfoil hat back on. Can't you just accept that he's a nice guy trying to do a nice thing for us?"
"If there's one thing I've learnt in all of my years of experience, it's that nopony is ever as nice as they first seem. Everypony has a secret that they're not sharing, and everypony will do their best to prevent you from finding out what it is."
"Even me?"
"Well... I suppose you're the exception to the rule."
I snorted. Typical Wraith, never trusting anypony that was in any way suspicious. Sure, Perky was a little quirky, but that didn't mean he was hiding something. Admittedly, I was a little curious to find out how he'd managed to renovate this place so well in the middle of a war zone. Maybe the materials he needed were just close at hand? He was clearly a skilled craftspony, so it wouldn't surprise me to find out that he'd decorated the place himself. Well, whatever Wraith thought, I was going to enjoy myself here. We couldn't stay forever, we still had to get out of the Ruins and reach that rendezvous point, but until we left I was going to have a good time. Right now, I was going to rest up for a while, and then I was going to have drinks and discuss stitching techniques and generally make something of the night. I yawned and rolled over, allowing myself to drift off into a light snooze. |
Revenge | Chapter 12 | Chapter 12
I awoke from my light snooze feeling refreshed. My limbs ached slightly less, my head didn't throb as much, I felt less agitated and twitchy. The sheets I'd been lying on were now filthy, however. I hadn't realised how dirty I really was, but I think my fur would've been turned completely brown by dirt, had it not already been brown. My clothing wasn't in a much better state, but at least it still did its job of staying on my body. Dust flew off into the air in a big ploom as I blew on my hat, something that I immediately regretted doing. Having resettled it on my head, I checked that my pistol was at my side (as it should be!) and glanced over at Wraith. Fatigue had gotten the better of him, and he'd dropped off into an apparently very deep sleep. It wasn't like Wraith to sleep so well, even when he was exhausted. I suppose the sensation of being in safety and on a comfortable mattress had been too much for him to resist.
Satisfied with my appearance and ready to present myself for what I was, I left the room and made my way down the corridor to where our host assured us he'd be. On the way, I took in my surroundings. It wasn't exactly Canterlot fine wine and dining, but in a place like the Ruins it was certainly a damn site better than anything else. I could see myself getting used to this place. I passed the door that I'd been forbidden from opening, and briefly toyed with the idea of peaking inside. But, judging from the last time I'd peaked inside somepony's private property, I concluded that that wouldn't be a good idea. After all, I didn't want to get us kicked out having only just arrived.
True to his word, Perky was sitting alone in a high backed chair, a small table to one side upon which stood a lavish collection of drinks. It was a hard-core alcoholics heaven. I came to join him, taking my place in another chair close by, and waiting for him to initiate conversation. He remained silent for a disturbingly long time, simply trailing his hoof around the rim of his glass. His rifle leant against the table, polished wood and metal gleaming in the orange lamp light. I shuffled awkwardly, until eventually his head rose and his face lit up, "Oh good, you came. Sorry, I wasn't paying attention, how long have you been here?"
"Going on a minute and a half."
"My apologies, allow me to get you a drink of something. What's your poison?"
I eyed the collection of drinks cautiously. The liquids stood in many glass bottles of so many different shapes and sizes, ranging from tall cylindrical ones to short angular ones. There were so many diverse colours, and I wanted to try them all, but my experiences with alcohol hadn't exactly been... enjoyable. At least not the morning after. I decided to give in to my temptation. After all, one drink wouldn't hurt, "What's that one?" I prodded a bottle with my hoof. The liquid inside was clear and looked safe enough to drink.
"Tequila," Pinkie said, sucking air in between his teeth. "Are you sure?"
"Why? What's wrong with it?"
"You'll be on your face in seconds flat. If that's what you want, however, I'm not going to object." He reached for a second glass, but I stopped him, suggesting that maybe that wasn't the best decision after all.
I spent ages quizzing him on his array of beverages. Prior to that evening I wasn't aware that so much variety existed. What's that? Whiskey. What's that? Schnapps. What's that? That's also schnapps. What's that? Sherry. So many choices for getting hammered, but not a single cider or mild ale. Not wanting to appear rude, I eventually just jabbed my hoof at one of the bottles and said, "Just whatever that is then."
"You're not going to ask what it is?"
"I don't want to know what it is, because if I know then I'll say no."
"Very well, I shall not argue longer." With an eccentric and artistic style Perky poured a seemingly miniscule amount of the clear liquid into a stout glass and passed it to me with a smile. I was slightly disheartened by how little of it there was, but also slightly intimidated. It seemed strange, but the sheer lack of volume in the glass made me nervous, and for a second I debated whether or not I should just give it back and pass on the whole drinks front entirely.
"So," began Perky, drinking from his glass of what he labelled as Sherry. "What do you want to discuss?"
I swilled my alcohol around in my glass for a moment as I mulled the question over. What did I want to know first? Let's see, I wanted some information on the LRSA and Scavenger lines if that was possible, and I wanted to know a bit about their respective strength. I wanted to know how long it would take me and Wraith to navigate out of the Ruins, and what the safest way of doing so was. Additionally, I wanted to know the extent of the territory controlled by the Factory beyond the Ruins, but I had little faith in Perky's ability to supply that particular knowledge. I sorted out my priorities and then got to asking, "How long will it take me and my companion to get out of the Ruins."
"Well that's dependant on which path you take," he said, very matter-of-factly. "You can travel through the neutral no-man's land. That's basically any main street, but that's not something I would recommend. It's quick, but it's patrolled frequently and it's a hot zone for conflict. By contrast you could potentially hitch a lift with the LRSA. I've been here for a while and I've been watching the Russians that operate in this area. By now I know all of their supply routes and troop movements. If you're lucky, you could catch a truck up to the other end of the Ruins, which is where the other Russian LRSA sector is located. Scavenger territory is a definite no-go, however, so stay well away from that."
Troop movements? That sounded tactical and important. I queried further, "Why are the LRSA moving their troops about? Surely it would make more sense to keep experienced soldiers where they are?"
"Indeed, but the LRSA sectors further upstream see much less heavy fighting, so they swap troops between their sectors so they can get a bit of R&R. That is, of course, until the Scavengers change tact again. Last year it was the other way around, and it was very quiet down here. Just last week, however, I was almost hit by an artillery shell, so the tables have rather turned.
I nodded, taking interest in his information. All of this could become useful later on, so I needed to pay attention. My mind was split between two tasks - listening to Perky and formulating a plan to get the LRSA on side. I drained my glass as I thought. It immediately felt like somepony had hit me in the head with a hammer. Fire flared up in my heart and a distinct warmth manifested in my belly. Blimey, that was good stuff!
As Perky refilled my glass at my request, I grilled him further for information. The sides here were fairly evenly matched. The LRSA had a relatively small force of well trained and battle-hardened infantry soldiers, supported by their heavy artillery and a small collection of armoured units. That meant tanks. The LRSA had active tanks in this very sector. That didn't make me feel very good about myself. What did I do when I came up against one of those fire spitting, death bringing, skull crushing monsters? By contrast, the Scavengers had vastly superior numbers, and whilst most were hardened by endless combat, they were generally very young and not particularly well trained. Where the Scavengers had the advantage, however, was their knowledge of the area. They were all native Equestrians, unlike the LRSA who all came from Russia and other foreign countries. As such, they were familiar with the local architecture and knew how the underground sewage systems worked, meaning they could spring a surprise attack behind LRSA lines at a moment's notice. All of this Perky told me, and as he went on to talk about their respective weapons and equipment, I downed my newly refilled glass of alcohol. It felt really good. I pulled a face when I swallowed it (the taste wasn't wonderful), but it was worth the throat burning sensation for the rewards that came afterwards. And I didn't even feel particularly tipsy, either. Maybe I was building a tolerance.
Wraith came in shortly after, drowsy and in a very dull mood. He slumped himself into a chair and rested his rifle over his lap, promptly falling asleep again before Perky could even offer him a drink. Thankfully, Wraith was a silent sleeper, and his presence did little to distract me. Perky continued to talk, and I continued to listen, only intervening occasionally when he went slightly off topic. And by slightly I mean grossly, as he tended to go off on a completely different tangent whenever he mentioned anything with even minor relevance to something else. I got the knack of pouring my own drink, and did so on a few occasions as he talked. The drink was like a lubricant that kept me from getting stuck. It kept my brain alert, and that was good, because I needed to be alert.
When I'd got all of the information I needed, I thanked him kindly. I stood up with my drink encased in my magic, making for the doorway. Perky immediately stood up. He grabbed hold of his rifle and motioned to follow me, a look of concern in his eyes, "Where are you going?"
"I'm just going back to my room. Oh, actually, do you have a shower? I really need to wash up."
"Oh... Okay. Yea, okay, that's cool. In your room there's another door to your right that should take you to a shower area."
"Thanks." I gestured at his rifle. "What's with the firepower?"
"It's... It's in case you were thinking of leaving. You know, I can't have you leading the LRSA right to my doorstep, so I would have to accompany you."
"Oh right. Yea, I suppose that makes sense. Well, see ya. Have fun with Wraith."
And so I left the two alone to sort out their differences whilst I sought a long awaited shower. The only other thing I needed now was a washing machine and a lot of thread, but I supposed that would come in time. Maybe as a fellow needle worker he could lend me some supplies. Then again, with stitching materials likely in short supply, maybe not. I drank what remained in my glass, feeling that joyous kick in the head that I'd come to associate with this particular drink. I was regretting not asking what it was now. The shower was exactly where Perky said it would be, and like the rest of the 'house' it was well kitted out. The shower itself looked old, and I wasn't sure exactly what quality the water coming out of it would be, but the rest looked pretty nice. There was a chipped sink, and a small cabinet that I could only assume contained some form of medicine (or was intended to anyway). There was a rail along one wall, over which several towels were slung. This was going to feel so good.
I stripped quickly, my jumper, hat and belt all being stacked on top of one another neatly. I stumbled slightly as I turned back towards the shower. Okay, maybe I was a little tipsy, but I wasn't drunk. It didn't feel the same as last time. My head wasn't swimming for a start, but I did have a warm burning in my stomach. With only the slightest of hiccups, I clambered into the shower and experimented with the hot and cold taps for a bit. It came as a shock to me when the water rained down blisteringly cold whenever I turned the hot tap, but I quickly shut it off and gave a twist of the cold tap instead. The water that flowed was luxuriously warm, and I giggled to myself in ecstasy. Despite the taps being the wrong way around, it felt so unbelievably good to at last wash myself clean of the dirt and blood that covered my form. The water came out clear, and ran out a dirty brown. I tilted my head back to catch my mane in the flow, feeling it immediately become several times lighter as all of the mud that had accumulated over time washed out of it. Never before had I been so grateful for clean, hot water. I twirled under the stream. The feeling of all that cleansing water trickling down behind my ears, down my neck, and over my body was something just short of orgasmic. I ran my hooves through my mane and over my body a couple more times to really give myself a thorough cleaning.
After spending something close to half an hour cleaning myself, I grudgingly shut off the flow of water. As soon as it stopped I found myself wishing for it to return. Stepping out of the shower, I reached for one of the towels from the railing, beginning by aggressively towelling my mane to a state of semi-dryness. As soon as the rest of my body was at least mostly dry, I flung the towel over my back and sighed, knowing that what I'd just experienced was something that I likely wouldn't come to know again for some time. I left the towel at the foot of my bed, not entirely sure what I was supposed to do with it, but deciding it would be best to just leave it for the time being. I went to slip my jumper over my head, but hesitated. It was still filthy, and I didn't want to get my newly cleaned body dirty so soon. I wanted to stay clean for at least a while. I settled for just donning my hat and strapping my belt around my waist, assuring myself that I'd get my jumper cleaned at some point before I left.
What dawned on me having now completed my essential tasks was the knowledge that I had nothing to do. For the first time in a very long time, I actually had nothing to do. I didn't have to worry about approaching Scavengers, I didn't have to worry about any sentry duty, heck I didn't even need to worry about weapon cleaning thanks to Wraith. What was I to do? Wraith seemed to have a few hobbies of his own to keep himself occupied, but I myself was without entertainment. Well, that wasn't exactly true, because I did have one or two books still on me, but I'd already read both of them and knew how they ended. I jumped backwards, landing on the bed with a loud whump and resting my hooves behind my head, staring blankly up at the ceiling. Maybe this was a good opportunity to just think to myself.
What actually was I doing here? Simple, I was on my way to take down the Scavengers, that was what I was doing here. But what actually, specifically was I doing here? What did I hope to achieve from any of this? Essentially, it was me and Wraith versus an army of several million angry, aggressive maniacs that lived to kill and enjoyed inflicting harm. Those weren't exactly good odds. Sure, we theoretically had the support of the LRSA, the NSA, and the Wanderers, but there was no common leadership, no common aim. I recalled that the same reason was what got Equestria into this situation in the first place - lack of a common goal. The LRSA wanted to re-establish the government, the NSA wanted to protect its citizens, and the Wanderers just wanted peace. They could all work together if they tried, but ultimately to no end. When the situation was broken down into its simplest components, the Scavengers had only one goal in mind, anarchy, whilst the rest of us were divided. That was why they were so successful, because they all supported each other. That was what I needed to happen amongst the rest of us common ponies.
Maybe that was it! Maybe that was how I went about bringing down the Scavengers. Instead of trying to take them all on myself, or trying to sabotage them in some way, I instead needed to find a way to unite all of the other factions against them. The LRSA had the firepower, the NSA had the strongholds, the Wanderers had the numbers and the manpower - when all was said and done, that was enough to really make a difference. All I had to do was bridge the gap between them somehow. Maybe the ponies I was on my way to meet would help me in that regard? How much power did they actually possess? I would probably find out when I got to meet them properly, but maybe they had the resources I needed to unite the various other factions. At last, at long last, it seemed that I had an achievable goal. I wasn't planning to bring down the Scavengers on my own anymore, because that was ultimately impossible, but now all I needed to do was rally the forces of free Equestria. That was doable, and above all, would work. If I could pull this off, then the days of the Scavenger movement would be numbered.
Wraith slunk his way into the room, head bowed low and with his mane concealing a large portion of his face. From what I could see, a scowl was playing at his muzzle, and his entire body was tense, almost sending visible quivers over his form. I sat up, concerning immediately taking precedence in my mind, "What's the matter?"
"That devious little snake."
"What's he done now? Broken your rattle?" I afforded myself a slight smirk. It wasn't often that I got one over on Wraith. Unfortunately, Wraith didn't take it in such good humour.
"Don't patronise me. Listen, do whatever you need to do and then we're on our way. I'm not staying here longer than I have to."
"Okay, what's he done to upset you?" I swung my legs over the end of the bed, stretching them experimentally. With a yawn I prepared myself for a rant, but finding to my surprise a much more subdued response.
"He's got something shifty about him. There's too much here to put down to coincidence. I'll find out what's really going on here and expose him for what he is." He raised his voice to an amplitude I'd never heard his voice reach before (and wow could he shout when he wanted to). "You hear that? I'm on to you, you twitchy little crook!"
By way of response, Perky called back, "Okay! Tell me how that goes!"
I sighed and planted my face into my hoof. What was Wraith's problem? He sat on the end of his bed and just glared passive-aggressively at the door, his rifle on his lap. In an attempt to find a calming activity that would keep me from dwelling on things, I searched for a needle and thread. My jumper was in dire need of some repairs, and my hat could do with touching up, but what I really wanted to do was sew a few extra pockets into my belt. I had so much kit tucked away in my saddlebags that would be better distributed amongst my person for easy access - things like food, small equipment, extra ammunition and many more things besides.
Fortunately, thread was an abundant resource, and needles were easy to come by, and (after asking very nicely) Perky even fetched me some fabric to make some substantial repairs. He also gave me some leather, explaining how it would make a better pocket than fabric, and would be far more durable. I had never worked with leather before (it wasn't common in the NSA, as it was seen as a military resource like metal) and so I was clueless as to how it would handle, but I was keen to experiment and I wasn't warming to the idea of leaving any time soon. Besides, I needed to eventually refill my canteen and restock my larder, and I felt like it would be a good idea to get practice field stripping my new rifle. In truth, however, I was looking forward to my first opportunity to fire it, just to see how much of a kick it had.
I set about my work, eager to once more feel the glorious sensations of needle passing through fabric. The material Perky had given me felt like it was wool or cotton based, which played right into my wheelhouse. With practiced ease I started to patch up the holes that were appearing in my jumper. There were several tears all over it, which were easily fixed with just a few stitches. The primary cause for concern was on either side, where my saddlebags had chafed against me. The material there was so threadbare it was in danger of rubbing away completely, and it was apparent from initial observation that a few stitches would not be enough to fix it. Threadbare material was a nightmare for any needle worker, because any repairs you try and put into them won't be supported by the weakened underlying material. I didn't want to have to stitch myself an entirely new jumper, so I pondered for a while. At last, after a good few minutes of thinking, I came up with a solution. I put a little reinforcing into the fabric itself, stitching over where the material was wearing away (just to provide a little extra strength) and then sewed a few layers of fabric into the inside of my saddlebags to act as makeshift padding. Whilst it wasn't going to fix the problem completely, it would help to slow down further chafing, at least for a while, as the smooth texture of the fabric wouldn't wear away my clothes as much as the abrasive burlap of my saddlebags.
I ended up not putting any repairs into my hat. It wasn't that badly damaged anyway, and any repairs I made on it wouldn't really have had much point, considering how the only damage to it was some minor scratching here or there. It was hardly worth even considering. The whole repair session had taken me a good few hours, but it had felt wonderful to get the opportunity to once again sit down and do something I was good at without a Scavenger peering at me through binoculars. With a renewed sense of pride I slipped my jumper back over my head and shifted a little to see if it was still comfortable. Yep, I was still golden. I looked over at Wraith, who had given up staring maliciously through the doorway and was just lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He had his rifle resting over his chest, and every once in a while he'd cock it slowly, as if deep in thought. I stabbed the needle into the spool of thread I'd been using and stood, my saddlebags still on the table with my hat resting atop them. The time must have been approaching midnight, if not then definitely early morning. I definitely felt drowsy, and the alcohol I'd consumed earlier wasn't helping that, but I felt happy and unnecessarily pleased with myself, so things were alright.
Enjoying the calm, I came to stand by Wraith, gazing down at him as he continued to just stare up at the ceiling. He turned his head slightly to look at me. Immediately I could see emotion building in him. His stare was different, not his usual disinterested look. He looked sad. He sighed. I felt a need to comfort him, to console him, "What's the matter?" I sat down on the floor next to him, so I could be at eye level. He looked back up at the ceiling.
"I don't know. I'm just paranoid. I know something's up here. Nopony who lives in the Ruins could possibly be sane, being surrounded by constant artillery and endlessly under threat. I've met Scavengers who were transferred from here and every one of them was cold, calculating, and sceptical. They wouldn't trust anypony, not even their friends that they'd transferred with. They'd all been betrayed one too many times, and they were all jittery as shit. I swear, you could cough around them and they'd break your front legs. I just fail to believe that somepony could live here and still possess any marbles at all." I reached out a hoof to gently stroke Wraith's mane.
"Listen, it may well be that you're right, but until we can prove it can you try to get along? We'll just get what we need from him, and then we'll be on our way again. He hasn't tried to kill us yet, at least that's something. Look at me," he did, and I kissed him gently. "Things are gonna be fine. Try not to worry and just relax. Enjoy the comfort whilst you can, because it's not going to last for too long."
I raised myself back up onto all fours and smiled. Wraith smiled back, but I could tell he still wasn't convinced. I removed my belt from around my waist and slung it over my bedpost, resuming my place in my bed. I curled up on the mattress. Tomorrow, I was going to try and get all the supplies we needed, and then we'd go. Then again, it would probably be best not to rush back into the fray. Tomorrow I'd get supplies, then we'd wait another day to make sure we were fully rested up, and then we'd go. I could feel myself beginning to drift. Everything was going to be fine, everything was going to work out for us. ***
Oh glorious sleep, why must awakening succeed you? As I sat up I immediately winced as my head throbbed aggressively in protest. I resisted the temptation to lay back down (I would only fall asleep again) and rolled myself out of bed. As in, literally rolled myself out. I hit the floor with a thud and groaned in pain. I wasn't used to sleeping so well. I got shakily to my hooves and yawned. Scratching my mane, I checked if Wraith was still asleep. He wasn't, and in fact wasn't even in the room. That would probably have concerned me, but at that moment I wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep. I planted my hat onto my head and pulled it down over my oversensitive eyes, shielding them from the comparatively blinding light.
The day passed as uneventfully as a day can pass in anarchic Equestria. I spent most of my time at the desk in my room toiling away with the fabric and leather provided to me. Turns out, leather is a bitch to work with. It's extremely tough and doesn't take a needle well, and the thread has to be double or in some places even triple reinforced to stop it snapping. It took me a few hours and several failed experiments to finally get the hang of working with it. By the time mid-afternoon rolled around (I assumed, as there was no definitive method of time keeping), I had fashioned myself some satisfactory equipment. I had made myself a new holster, and whilst rather crude and basic in design, was made very visually appealing by the golden thread I'd stitched it with. It looked like some sort of old antique from years back. My Glock fit nicely into it, and I fastened it to my belt in place of the old one. The next notable addition to my gear was a bandolier I'd based of ones I'd seen the Scavengers use. It was simply a leather strap that crossed my chest diagonally, with three pouches sewn into it. I designated one pouch for spare magazines, one for loose rounds, and one for emergency snacks (because walking is tiring work and you don't want to stop every half hour to pull sugar out of your saddlebags).The only other change I'd made to my gear was the addition of a new fabric strip along the inside of my belt to stop it chafing me. Oh, and on the aesthetics side, I'd taken to wearing a knot of black cloth around my neck, kind of as homage to the whole farming culture of the Wanderers that I was now affiliated with.
Pushing myself away from the desk, I grabbed the sling of my rifle and let it hang around my neck in front of me, as I had become accustomed to doing. I was considering painting it at some point, making it really unique to me. I wanted a sort of crimsony scheme, with scarlet highlights on the end of the barrel and around certain components. I also wanted to swap the crappy polymer stock with a nice wooden one, just to really bring out that rustic feel that appealed to me so. So enthralled was I in imagining how I could customize my weapon that I walked straight past Wraith, standing outside the door to Perky's room with his ear planted firmly against it. I spent a moment or two toying with the collar of my jumper, and then immediately put myself into reverse gear and scooted back along the carpet to where Wraith was stood, casting him an incredulous gaze. He pulled me away to the main room, as if keen to speak to me but fearing that Perky would overhear.
"That was a little rough, don't you think?" I growled, massaging the back of my neck. He really had pulled quite hard. "What's the big problem then? Is he practising voodoo?"
"He's just muttering to himself. He's hasn't stood up or walked about or even moved for maybe an hour."
"You've been standing outside his door for an hour?"
"Two, I think. Don't give me that look, I know he's up to something. He may not want us in his room for 'privacy reasons', but there's definitely more to it than that."
"He's probably jacking off or something." I said that as if it was no big deal (which, admittedly, to me it wasn't), but this afforded me a cold look from Wraith, who seemed to have turned slightly sour at the mention of... self-stimulation.
"That's disgusting."
"Hey, at least it doesn't hurt anypony."
"It's still disgusting. It's not right. You should be saving yourself for when it's really special."
"Hey, my midnights are really special." He glared at me, and I decided it would be better to stop baiting him. He probably had some deep-founded moral beliefs on the subject and it would likely only lead to a rather heated argument.
We spent the next few minutes debating an alternative subject. Wraith was considering just storming in to see what all the secrecy was about, but I was feeling a little more reserved. Reason numero uno, he'd probably kill us, or at least attempt to. That would not be a favourable outcome, and we'd be forced out of the safety of his home a lot sooner than I would have liked. Secondly, there was the chance that we may not like what we saw. Thirdly, there was a chance that there was nothing going on at all, and my theory that Wraith was just being paranoid would be proven correct. This had the undesirable consequence of destroying the trust bond that we currently shared (or I currently shared) with him, and possibly inspire resentment. My final reason, which I never voiced for apparent reasons, was that maybe he was just having a good old fun time, and that was certainly something that I could do without seeing. It ultimately boiled down to one pivotal argument - Wraith was going in whether I was or not, and that was not subject to change.
What Wraith left me with was a toss-up between whether I supported him in this venture, or whether I supported Perky. In the end, I decided I'd side with Wraith, simply because, no matter the outcome, I would be spending a lot more time around him than around Perky, and he may have felt slightly betrayed had I not taken his side. Plus, I was his unofficially announced but still rather obvious marefriend, and it was kind of my job to back him up in this sort of thing. But Wraith was making the moves and doing the arguing. Really my only job was to act as an arbiter to prevent hooves from flying, because there was no way in the whole of the Ruins that I was going to be throwing the punches. With minds set and bravado at a worrying high, Wraith and I set about confronting Perky about his secrecy.
Wraith motioned to clutch the handle to the door. I leaned against the wall and watched him, my face remaining as passive as possible. Part of me wanted to see him chicken out, but part of me also wanted to see if he had the balls to do what he claimed he was going to do. Wraith was brave and everything, but he wasn't very good in a head to head argument, particularly when he was in the wrong (or when mares were involved). Wraith shrugged slightly, his rifle rejigging across his back into a more comfortable position, and with a stern nod of his head he twisted the handle and pulled the door open. Then he realised it was a push door and pushed it instead, a noticeable blush appearing at the tips of his ears.
Utter silence.
I mean literally, complete and utter silence. The minute that door opened, Perky shut the fuck up faster than a prisoner before a Doberman. The room was dark, with no lights on what so ever, probably because there were no lights in the room to be turned on. The room was exceptionally long, but not particularly wide, making it resemble a corridor more than a room. At the opposite end of the room was Perky, sat in a chair at a desk, his back to us. It was hard to tell, but it looked like he was shaking slightly. Wraith and I stood motionless, awaiting his response to our intrusion. He didn't move. I could hear the slow, controlled, inward and outward rhythm of his breathing. He dropped something onto the desk. It made a metallic clacking noise as it hit the wood. Perky rested his hooves by his sides.
Silence.
"You shouldn't be in here." His voice carried a very dangerous tone that I was not happy hearing. It was the same tone that usually preceded the hurried removal of a vital organ. "But seeing as you are, and there is no sense in hiding anymore, perhaps you'd like to see what I'm working on." That was honestly the last thing I wanted to do, and I felt that it would be much safer to just close the door. Really I'd expected it just to be like any normal room, and I just expected to see Perky performing some mundane task like tailoring (which he was supposedly very good at), or drawing or weapon maintenance or... other activities that shall remain nameless. Really, this whole room was the exact polar opposite of what we'd already seen, and seemed to perfectly mirror the side of his personality that he'd shown us.
Wraith, ever the straightforward one, made his way into the room without so much as a second thought and made his way to stand next to Perky. Intent on not being left out, I followed behind him, but I was far more cautious in my approach, keeping my mind focused so I could quickly bring my pistol to bear if Perky tried anything. Wraith took up post on Perky's left, and I on his right. I looked down at the desk. Perky, clearly an avid needle craftspony, had before him an amalgamation of various different tools, varying from simple needles to more surgical instruments such as scalpels. To one side was a stack of fabric of various colours, and a collection of spools of different threads, with such a variety of colour and thickness I'd never seen before, even in a professional tailor's shop. In the centre of the desk was Perky's project, a small fabric pony with a quaint little Scavenger tunic over its little body. It was actually kind of adorable.
"I told you it was nothing to worry about." I jabbed Wraith in the side and frowned at him. Wraith said nothing. In fact, he didn't even acknowledge my jab. He just stared down at the pony doll on the desk, with its Scavenger uniform and black fabric body and bright red button eyes. Hang on a second. I looked back at the doll. I looked back up at Wraith. Okay, that was a little creepy. Even the rank on the Scavenger tunic matched Wraith's. Perky pushed the doll aside and pulled out a box from under the desk. Wordlessly, he slid it onto the desk and flipped off the lid, pulling out of it another fabric doll. This one was likewise finely crafted, but was made predominantly of brown fabric, with a little black jumper and hat. Perky stood it next to the Wraith doll. In the following time, he removed something close to fifteen or so other dolls, each one different and each one likely reminiscent of another pony.
I started to slowly make my way back towards the door. No way was I staying in this place a moment longer. Perky was a lot creepier than I had initially given credit for. As I slowly backed away, Perky growled, "I wouldn't if I were you. That's what the rest of them did. You don't understand do you? What it's like to be alone for most of your life? All I want is a friend. Why do they always try to run?" In seconds few, Perky had reached into the box again and drawn an old metal pistol, turning it on me and preparing to fire. I made to draw my pistol but before I could Wraith had thumped Perky in the temple. He collapsed and groaned, clutching at the side of his head. I looked at Wraith.
"I told you there was something wrong."
"Yea okay, fair enough. Now let's go!"
"Agreed." Wraith and I both high tailed it out of the room, grabbing all of our property and bolting for the door. I flung it open with my magic before we reached it and Wraith slid cleanly through the opening.
There was a crack of rifle fire from behind me and the head of the mannequin closest to me was carved open, spattering gore over the wall and inspiring new horror in me. They weren't mannequins at all. They were still ponies. But how? Why? What psycho did that to other ponies? With no time to spare and give the thought much attention, I disappeared through the door just as Perky had loaded another round into the chamber, ready to fire once again upon me. Now I understood the function of a long and straight corridor. Perky could quite easily fire straight down it and not even worry about aiming. It wasn't like there were many places to hide. To buy some extra time, I slammed the door shut with my magic. It would hold Perky back for all of half a second, but maybe that was all we needed.
The clattering sound of eight hooves on concrete was all I could hear, until at last I ploughed through the towel that concealed the corridor's entrance. Wraith already had the door to the closet open and I wasted no time ducking through it. A shot rang out and a bullet pinged off the wall in front of the towel, ricocheting and only narrowly missing Wraith's right ear. With a growl he unslung his own rifle and brought it to bear down the passageway, firing once before cocking and slamming the door behind him as he came to join me. Even now I could hear the sound of Perky hurtling down the corridor to try and catch us.
Wraith and I ran. We had no idea whether the direction in which we were running would lead us back to the streets of the Ruins, but we didn't care. At the moment, our biggest ally was the fact that Perky couldn't tell where we were going. Perky knew the corridors of the building better than we did, but he didn't know in which way we'd run, nor in which direction we intended to go. We'd deliberately not chosen the route we'd taken on the way here, as it was the most obvious path to take and Perky would have assumed we'd go that way. Instead, we took a much more intricate series of corridors and rooms, constantly changing direction and hoping against hope that we wouldn't get trapped inside the building. All we needed was to find a way back down to street level.
At one point we did actually run into Perky (I know, what are the chances?) We turned a corner into a conference room and there he was, having just emerged from a completely different corridor. There was fury in his eyes and with a yell that put a dragon to shame he began to send bullets our way with his rifle. Fortunately we managed to lose him, but it had been close. Perky was quick, and he was either insane or just really determined, because it seemed like he never tired. We spent what felt like hours running through the maze of corridors, hoping against hope that we weren't running into a dead end.
I was panting furiously from the physical effort, the weight of my saddlebags and rifle only making it worse. My lungs were on fire, and my breathing was laboured and shallow. Wraith even seemed to be struggling somewhat, with his mane drenched in sweat and his hooves starting to drag slightly. I thought the chase would never end but, just as I was starting to give up all hope, we turned into a room with one wall filled with blown out windows. Wraith didn't even stop to check what was below, he just hurled himself out of the window and down into the street below. Fortunately, we weren't many stories up, and he landed in the street with a forward roll to absorb some of the impact, straightening himself and panting to catch his breath. Fortunately for him, he hadn't landed amongst a pack of Scavengers. Rather unfortunately (for him in particular) he had landed amongst a pack of Russians, clad in the black uniform of the LRSA. They also had quite a bit more firepower than Wraith. Six rifles against one wasn't exactly what I would call good odds, not to mention the added damage of a 125mm cannon. Every Russian soldier in the entire patrol had their rifles trained on Wraith, and their officer was barking at him aggressively. I got the feeling that I'd have to intervene.
Taking care not to kill myself on the way down, I nonetheless still managed to trip over as I reached the ground, attracting some attention from the nearest soldier. He rounded on me and kept his rifle trained at my head, attempting to give me instructions but clearly not understanding that not everypony spoke Russian. I stood, which inspired a lot of anger in the soldier who stuck the barrel of his rifle into the side of my head, as if I'd just done something wrong. The officer (a stallion of average height but with a face as angular as a box) slung his rifle over his back and turned to look at me. He was stood in front of the behemoth of a vehicle that currently remained still, its engine noisily growling beneath its armoured housing. The commander of the tank poked his out of the hatch, a sub machinegun in one hoof, but the officer in charge motioned for him to stand down and get back in his tank. He looked at me. Hopefully he was like the Germans and spoke English.
"Who are you?"
Hooray! A language I could understand, "I'm Bucky, sir. My companion over there and I are both Wanderers and we're just a little lost. Would you mind helping us?"
The officer scoffed, which I found rather rude, and so too did every other soldier within earshot of me. The officer walked over to and grabbed Wraith by the collar of his tunic, pulling on him with enough force to make him almost fall over himself. The officer essentially dragged Wraith in front of me, "That is not a Wanderer."
"Please, I assure you, his uniform does not reflect his allegiance. He's as much a Wanderer as I am."
"And how do we know you are a Wanderer? Maybe you are a Scavenger as well?"
"Please, my friend and I are not affiliated with the Scavengers in any way. We are trying our best to avoid them and fight back against them. If you can offer us LRSA protection, we are willing to help you fight against the Scavengers if we can, at least for a while."
The officer shook his head, not believing (or maybe just not understanding) a word I'd just said. He gave Wraith a hard shove and he fell face first onto the floor, a satisfying thud kicking up a small cloud of dust. In an instant one of the Russian soldiers grabbed me from behind and pulled hard, immediately pressing his pistol under my muzzle. The officer drew his own pistol, and in an execution style pose with his hoof in Wraith's back, aimed it at his head. My mind was racing, searching for a solution, but none presented themselves. As I was sure the officer was about to put a bullet into the base of Wraith's skull, a crack rang out from somewhere in one of the nearby buildings, and the officer dropped as his shoulder was torn open, inspiring a shriek of pain as he lay in the street clutching at his wound, bone fragments sticking into his flesh.
In a flurry of activity, the Russians had their weapons ready and were returning fire, taking cover wherever they could and unloading round after round on the building Wraith and I had just escaped from. From about three stories up, I could see a tall pink pony clutching at a bolt action rifle. There was a glint of sunlight and I found myself staring into the pony's telescopic sight. Before Perky could put me down and out, however, I had darted away and was hiding behind the behemoth of a tank that the Russians had with them. Wraith was likewise scurrying to get out of the crossfire. I was hoping against hope that none of the LRSA decided to turn their rifle on him for an easy kill shot.
What the fuck did Perky think he was doing? Even I wouldn't think of opening fire on a fully armed LRSA patrol, even if they didn't have a tank. It was basically like putting your own head on the chopping block. Shots continued to be exchanged, most of which came from the barrels of the LRSA, but there was the occasional ping of the side of the tank's armour or the satisfying thud of a bullet making contact with flesh. The officer had been dragged over to cover away from the action, and was being treated by the patrol's medic. Elsewhere, two other soldiers lay dead, and the gunner on top of the tank was slumped over his machinegun, bleeding over the components and occasionally twitching spastically.
There was a loud, mechanical whirring sound as the tank's turret began to rotate slowly. I peered over the hull, up at Perky's position. He'd retreated back, likely to avoid the wrath of the armoured beast. The massive barrel of the tank elevated, before coming to a halt and all fire from the LRSA soldiers ceasing. For a brief moment, there was silence. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of the officer still screaming from behind cover. Suddenly, a muffled shout came from the interior of the tank, and there was an earthshattering boom. The force of the shot sent a colossal cloud of dust and debris around the hull airborne. My ears began to ring noisily and my vision shook. I bounced slightly in my position, being flung forward as I lost my balance. When I tested with my hoof, there was a small trickle of blood dribbling from my nose. Behind me, a large portion of the building's face had collapsed and was still collapsing into the street, kicking up more dust and sending tremors through the earth.
When the dust settled and the ringing in my ears subsided somewhat, the street was a completely different picture. The building was missing a large portion of its near face, and a fresh pile of rubble maybe a story or two high had accumulated on the road. Everypony, LRSA soldiers included, were almost completely covered in dust. In total, three of the soldiers lay dead, the officer was wounded, and there was one soldier missing completely. Wordlessly, after wiping their goggles clean, the soldiers set about clearing up their dead. It was rather disturbing watching the way they went about it. They picked up their late comrades, threw them over their backs, and lay them on the hull of the tank over the engine, literally just piling them on top of one another, their weapons clattering against the metal of the vehicle. The still whimpering officer was rested against the back of the turret, next to the dead stallions, a fresh dressing on his shoulder which looked to still be bleeding profusely. One of the soldiers on foot hopped up into the tank turret, setting himself up behind the machinegun on the turret.
I was grabbed aggressively by the collar and dragged off out of the road into the cover of another building. The soldiers had seemed to have completely forgotten about me and Wraith, and with only a superficial sweep of the immediate area, they began to move on, the engine of the tank roaring loudly as it lurched forward. The soldiers, now down five members, were severely shaken, moving with far more caution. I looked at Wraith, who was crouched in the shadows a few feet from me, peering through a shot out window. He watched the soldiers walk past. He turned to me, "And that's why we don't trust the LRSA."
"Here's a suggestion, why not take off the Scavenger uniform? I'm not sure you've noticed, but it's caused far too many problems thus far."
"And what do you suppose I wear instead?"
"Anything? Literally anything? I mean really, go naked if you have to, it would be better than flaunting Bastard Khaki."
"But all of my stuff's in my pockets. Where do I keep everything then?"
"Why are you so reluctant to get rid of it? If it's true that you hate the Scavengers as much as me you should have no problem burning it."
"It's just the convenience of it. It's got plenty of storage in it and it's actually relatively comfortable."
"Okay, you're swapping it out at the next available opportunity."
Wraith snorted, leaning back against a pile of rubble. It was beginning to get dark again. I fell onto my haunches and sighed my deepest, most heartfelt sigh. We'd been here, what, a couple days maybe, and we'd made almost no progress what so ever. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know which way we'd been coming from nor which way we'd been going. The only thing that Wraith and I could do for the moment was keep ourselves alive until we found some way out. We needed a plan, and a plan I was determined to devise in as short a space of time as possible. Ideally we'd be hitching a ride with the LRSA, but that would prove more difficult than I'd first thought (bearing in mind that neither I nor Wraith spoke a word of Russian), and I didn't much fancy going it alone. If Wraith could ditch his uniform somewhere and grab one from the LRSA then maybe we could convince them that he was an Equestrian soldier who'd gotten separated? It would be a long shot but with a few well-placed words and a little flaunting of the old faithful then maybe we...
"I think I've got a plan."
"Do you remember what happened last time you had a plan?" Maybe it was me being competitive or cautious, but I really wanted to come up with our next plan. "Oh wait, this is the result."
"Okay, yea, I fucked up. Hear me out on this one, okay? Right, it's quite simple... we get help from the Scavengers."
"That's a terrible plan." There were so many holes in this plan you could turn it into a golf course. What was Wraith playing at exactly? How would that ever work?
"No, come on, let me explain myself. We get you a uniform, then we look around or wait for a Scavenger patrol. We convince them that our own patrol was gunned down by the LRSA and we narrowly escaped with our lives. Upon convincing them of our legitimacy, we follow them back to their sector, pull some strings, maybe sabotage a thing or two, and then hop aboard a truck to the other side of the city. At least then we'll know where we're going."
"That's still a terrible plan."
"Do you have a better one?"
Damn, he had me there. True, my plan to get us hitched to the LRSA wasn't exactly bullet proof and relied on inordinate amounts of luck, but I'd much prefer my chances with the Russians than with the savages. The more I thought about it the more I realised how grim the situation was. It was honestly like having to choose between a rape dungeon and a torture chamber. On one hoof, you'll never be able to look at your privates ever again without having flashbacks, and on the other you'd probably not be able to walk properly ever again. Actually, those are interchangeable. Maybe that meant something.
"Okay, so assuming we do actually manage to convince a patrol we're their friends and somehow get past the sentries, how do we remain unnoticed? Surely at some point somepony's going to tip of the brass as to our presence, and when they found no mention of us in their system, we're essentially screwed."
"The system can be cheated. Once we're in, we integrate ourselves into their workings. We find jobs to do and attach ourselves to a Raider and by the time they start looking for us our names are all over the bloody place. If they try and dig any deeper they'll get swamped by all the conflicting information and lose track of us. Essentially we'll be ghosts in the machine."
"And how are you so sure this will work?" Granted, Wraith had one big advantage over me. He knew the inner workings of the Scavenger system and probably knew all of the kinks and loopholes that would get whatever we needed. This I knew, and this I expected him to use as his main point of argument, but instead he stood himself up and turned to profile, giving me a good view of his flank.
"What do you think this means?" He gestured vaguely at his cutie mark. It was simply a door cracked ajar, with a thin ray of light spilling out of it.
"I dunno. Preparation?"
"Infiltration. Throughout my years as a Scavenger I've figured out how to get into and out of favourable positions before anypony notices me. Harken back to my days as a Wanderer and I could get anywhere I wanted on the farm almost effortlessly. The only drawback was that my father was very good at finding me. Call it counter-infiltration. In any case, I know how to get somepony into a system, and there's no system I know better than that of the Scavengers. Trust me, I know what I'm doing."
Dammit Wraith! I hated it when the Scavengers were mentioned in my presence, and I wasn't necessarily over joyed about walking amongst them in broad daylight. Plus, I hadn't forgotten about Wraith's stories of the Ruins and those who inhabit them. Besides, I noticed one critical flaw in his plan, "What about passports?"
"What about them?"
"The Scavengers have passports, don't they? They use them to get in and out of their districts. You've got one and all."
"Oh, yea. No, that's district specific. It's not standard regulation. The Scavengers here don't use them. It's easy enough for the LRSA to forge passports so they rely on passwords instead. And if we're tailing another patrol chances are we won't be called upon to supply one. The system here isn't as streamlined as you'd like to think."
"How do you know all this about the Ruins? You've never even served here, have you?"
"No. But I've heard stories. I've kept my ear to the door for many years now and I know a lot of the inner workings of several key districts, this one included, now stop arguing!" Wraith winced slightly and put a hoof in the small of his back. "I think I've trapped a nerve."
"Well serves you right for jumping out of a window."
After much searching (mostly on my part, as Wraith was all but paralysed by the twinges in his back) we eventually found a place to settle down for the remainder of the night. As I sat hunched over with my legs tucked close to my body, I scanned the streets before me for signs of movement. We'd set up shop in what looked to have been an old garage, but which had been heavily bombed to block off access to the remainder of the buildings. This had the added benefit of providing us with a rubble barricade between us and the street, but with still enough roof left to keep us sheltered. That was primarily what had made the location so attractive in the first place.
As Wraith slept behind me, I shivered in silence. What was I doing here? I ought to be tucked up in bed back with the NSA, letting the Militia and Watchponies do the sentry duty for me. I wasn't supposed to be out here in the most dangerous place in all of Equestria, scared for my life in dark streets, distant artillery booming endlessly in both my ears. I sucked on the end of a pencil. I'd rifled through a few filing cabinets before my turn on sentry, and had recovered a very tattered old jotter and a pencil, which I now kept on me for just such boring occasions as these. I went to take up the pencil with my magic, but then remembered that magic let off a glow which could be seen by a Scavenger, and switched immediately to using my hoof instead. I was equally proficient with both, a trait that not many unicorns possessed.
I couldn't see three inches in front of my face. Well, that's a lie, I could see a little. I could see as far as my rear hooves tucked beneath me, but that was about it. It was dreadfully cold, too. Eventually, I tapped my pencil against the jotter and went to making a few brief notes down the margin. I signed it off with a title, 'Reasons to stay alive'. I felt that if I had a conclusive list of things that I needed to accomplish before the Scavengers cut my lungs out, it would work as an incentive not to give up. Right at the top of the list was 'To save Equestria'. There weren't many reasons, however, and the full list consisted of:
'To save Equestria'
'To take revenge on Scavengers'
'To avenge my parents'
'To rescue Mystery'
'To live long enough to start a family.'
That was it. I ended up deciding against adding 'To bitch slap the NSA', but only because I actually felt sorry for them. All of the poor buggers were just desperate to live normal lives, but had to accept that the country they inhabited was infested with murderers, arsonists, maniacs, rapists and foreign soldiers. In reality, it was hardly a country at all. The entire of Equestria was just one big warzone. And that was why I had to stay alive, so I could turn it back into a country again and not a place in which everypony lived in fear. I closed the jotter and slid the pencil into the binding, returning to combo to my saddlebags.
When I looked into myself (for some spiritual reason or other) I wasn't sure what exactly it was I was finding. I didn't know whether I was excited for the future or terrified of it. The image of a once again free Equestria was certainly exciting, and the idea of at last being able to settle down and not have to carry a pistol about every day seemed like a nice idea. I felt like I wanted to have foals at some point, probably not for a while, but at some point. But then, the idea that the Scavengers could ruin all of that was a frightening prospect. And what happened if they reformed? If what was left of them when (or if) they were defeated banded together again and terrorised the new, unprepared Equestria? There would be bloodshed on an unimaginable scale, and that was something I didn't want to have to see.
All the more reason to keep fighting, I suppose. |
Revenge | Chapter 13 | Chapter 13
Wraith and I were forced from our sanctuary rather abruptly the following morning. I'd finished my sentry shift at some point after one in the morning and Wraith had taken my place. Less than an hour later he grabbed me by the collar and was marching me out into the street, with words to the effect of, "We have to keep moving. It's not safe here anymore." When I challenged Wraith, he pointed at one of the buildings opposite our shelter. I scanned its face briefly. Approximately five stories up I could make out the silhouette of somepony sitting in the window, gazing down at us with a rifle clutched in one hoof. Immediately I felt the bottom of my stomach drop. I tried not to let my imagination wander. It was probably nothing to worry about, or they'd have attacked us by now. Still, what if it was...
But it wasn't. It couldn't be.
Wraith and I kept walking.
We eventually stumbled upon a four way intersection, and quickly adopted a stance of caution. It was apparent to me by this point that intersections were essentially kill zones. A single machine gun was capable of covering the entire area and completely denying infantry movement, or a single well placed sniper could halt the advance of even an armoured column. Plus, there was a lot of rubble to conceal an ambush behind and anypony could be watching from the windows above. Wraith and I kept as low as possible, moving painfully slowly and only ever into an area of cover.
My worst fears were confirmed when we neared the middle of the intersection. This place had once been the site of at least one ambush, with corpses from both sides slumped over each other and suffering an extraordinary variety of injures, from gunshot wounds to stab wounds to blunt trauma to severe burning. However, ever the opportunists, we silently went about scavenging for supplies. Wraith pointed out that we'd need to find a Scavenger's uniform that was still mostly intact, and so I added that to my battlefield shopping list. I drew the pistol of one of the Scavengers and slid out the magazine, pleased to see more hollow point ammunition. I slid the full magazine into my pistol in place of the partially emptied one that had been seated inside for a while, and discarded the emptied firearm. I also looted a few more assault rifle magazines off the LRSA, and nicked a small bottle of vodka from a Scavenger. In truth, I'd thought it was water at first, but as soon as I removed the cap it was quite apparent that it wasn't. The strong scent was reminiscent of falling headfirst down an escalator.
When I reunited with Wraith, I found that he had been unsuccessful in finding me a uniform worth wearing. All of them were damaged in some way that made them unusable, like they were riddled with gunshots or featured a prominent bayonet slash or something similar. Ideally we wanted a Scavenger who'd been killed by a headshot, or by some form of blunt object. What Wraith did recover for me, however, was a Scavenger's garrison cap. It was at least part of the uniform, and whilst not actually essential, would hopefully trick the odd patrol if they spotted me from a distance. When Wraith tried to force it onto my head, I swatted at him, annoyed. I had become very attached to my own hat and I didn't really want to trade it out for a dirty, tattered Scavenger garment, but eventually I conceded. With spite, I slid my hat into my saddlebags and positioned the cap on my head, slightly to the side of my horn and on a jaunty angle. Already I felt tainted by what it represented. I was worried that wearing it for too long would corrupt my soul with its dark influence. I wanted to remove it and fling it into the dust, but I didn't because it would have annoyed Wraith and frankly I didn't want to argue with him by that point. I just wanted this whole ordeal to be over as soon as possible, and sparking as few conflicts as possible seemed the best way of doing so.
We continued in the direction of Scavenger lines, trudging slowly through the streets and stopping to inspect ever dead Scavenger we came across in the vain hope that their uniform was wearable. After several hours of searching and yielding no results, we pulled up next to the shattered corpse of a Russian tank, a large hole punched into the side of the turret and with the remains of the commander's lower half still visible inside. The rest of the tank's interior looked to have received a rapid redecorating at the adept hands of a rocket propelled grenade. Around the tank were numerous bodies in LRSA black, either sprawled on their backs or sides or lying doubled over, still clutching at their weapons or at gaps in their body where gaps should not be. I also spotted another LRSA officer, only this one was hanging from a lamppost and had a makeshift wooden sign hanging around his neck.
'Get out of our country!'
On closer observation, I noticed several other LRSA soldiers dangling from lampposts, ranging from section commanders to average infantrymen. It was quite apparent by now that this was Scavenger territory, and I expected it to not be long before we ran into our first patrol. Which made finding that uniform more important than ever. Wraith and I scoured the streets, but most of the bodies were LRSA and of little use to us. We did find the odd dead Scavenger, but they were mostly shot full of holes (and one unfortunate individual looked to have been crushed underneath the rolling treads of a tank).
As we moved deeper into unexplored territory, the signs of Scavenger influence only became more and more apparent. It got to the point where it was almost impossible to see a lamppost without an LRSA soldier suspended from it, and abandoned weapon posts became more frequent. Most of them still had weapons in them, likely so that the Scavengers could quickly re-crew them in the event of an attack. LRSA bodies became widespread, often pushed to the sides of the road or the pavements, piled up sometimes two or three high, turning the roads into effective chokepoints. I saw another LRSA tank which looked to have been heavily beaten about, and only a few yards upstream I found the discarded rocket launcher which had silenced it.
Wraith and I eventually stumbled upon something which proved to hold great promise. Behind a combination of rubble, sandbags and twisted metal, we found what looked to be a sniper's nest. Wraith vaulted the short wall and I quickly followed suit, noticing immediately that the nest was larger than it appeared. It extended back into the nearest building, and the space itself was deeper than it had looked from outside. There was, slumped against a wall, the body of a Scavenger. I knew from experience that the only sort of weapon that shredded somepony up like that was a grenade or similar explosive. The only thing worth taking off him would have been his rifle, but it was a slow, cumbersome old bolt action that nevertheless proved a relief to Wraith, who quickly emptied it of its ammunition.
Whilst Wraith dug around looking for hidden weapons or ammunition, I ventured deeper into the nest. I found myself stood in a room which had largely collapsed, but would still have been roomy enough to house a platoon's worth of soldiers. The only soldiers in there, however, were two Scavengers, both dead. The one closest to me was slumped over a stack of ammunition boxes, a sub machinegun dangling around his hoof from its sling. Next to him, propped up on a bipod, was a huge rifle the likes of which I'd never seen. It was bulky and certainly looked extremely heavy, with a bolt the size of my horn and a barrel the length of my foreleg. I couldn't fathom what such a monstrous rifle could be used for, but whatever it was I didn't want to find myself on the receiving end, that much I knew. The other Scavenger, sprawled face first into the dirt and surrounded by rubble, didn't seem to be holding any weaponry, but closer inspection revealed the bulk of a shotgun poking out from beneath her. I rolled her over onto her back, inspiring a small column of dust to rise into the air. The Scavenger must have had an unpleasant end, with the barrel of her shotgun leaving a clear impression in her throat. When I tried lifting her slightly, her head flopped over into a position that should have been impossible for a head to be in.
What demanded my interest, however, was the integrity of her uniform. She had on her head the usual Scavenger helmet, but a sizeable dent in the side prevented me from removing it. Despite this, the rest of her garb was in impressive condition. The uniform itself was only covered in a layer of dust and dirt, and featured no prominent tears or holes that would have implied a gunshot wound or similar combat inflicted ailment. I looked up to the ceiling and found myself staring up into the next floor. I came to believe that, somehow, the ceiling had collapsed and caved the side of the mare's skull in, after which she'd fallen on her shotgun and broken her neck. That was my working theory, anyway. In reality it didn't really matter, because here I was presented with the gold dust that I'd been looking for. If it weren't for one thing.
Her brassard.
On her foreleg was the usual Scavenger brassard, but the patches sewn onto it made me wrinkle my nose. There was the triple chevron synonymous of a Sergeant, and the small stylised knife that came only with Sadists. At that moment I didn't care if it was the only intact uniform in the Ruins, I didn't want to be labelled as a Sadist. In an attempt to remedy this, I tried removing the brassard from the sniper slumped next to the doomsday rifle, which bore the crosshairs of a Hunter. This plan seemed fool proof to me, until I considered the criteria for being a Hunter. It required accuracy at range and an actual hunting ability, two things that I did not possess. I could probably hold my own at distance, but my current weapon configuration didn't exactly lend itself to long range combat, and I found that telescopic lenses made me dizzy. Additionally, there were also sewn in rankings on the collar and left foreleg of each Scavenger uniform, which I couldn't have removed and replaced with my current array of tools. Plus, I picked up a sense of urgency when I heard a shout in the street ahead. Against my better judgement, I stuffed my jumper into my saddlebags and pulled on the uniform, feeling quickly contaminated by the knowledge of what it was I was representing. I hoisted the body of the mare I'd stripped onto my back and threw her into a corner behind a load of rubble, in the hope that any Scavengers who ventured in wouldn't find her and see through my disguise.
"You there, where'd you come from?"
"Wanderer village up north."
"When will the artillery stop?"
"The artillery stops at 15:60."
I made my way cautiously towards the actual sniper's post. Wraith was there, rifle slung over his back, hoisting himself out of the pit and back into the street. As I poked my head out to look around, I found the muzzle of an LSW poking into the side of my head. The Scavenger behind the weapon growled at me before making any further comment, "And who exactly are you?"
"She's my section 2IC," Wraith responded for me, casting me a glance as if expecting me to continue.
"We're on our way back from patrol. We ran into an LRSA armoured patrol and they silenced our only anti-tank weapon before we could bring guns to bear. Most of my section was cut down before we could find effective cover, including our IC. When there were only three of us left I sounded a retreat, but a marksman cut down our gunner before he could get very far. We're all that's left."
I prayed to every god that I knew existed (which wasn't many) that they bought the story. The Raider in command of the section hopped down into the pit with me. She was a unicorn, like me, with what must have at some point been a brilliant golden coat, but now was more of a dirty yellow. She looked me over, "Nice Russian rifle. Where'd you get that?"
"I ran out of rounds for my own rifle. Not keen on charging up to a tank with my bayonet I grabbed the nearest firearm I could and started sending fire down range. On the retreat I dropped my old rifle to lighten my load. That was where my gunner made his mistake. Far too attached to his weapon to leave it behind. Slowed him down."
The Raider sniffed once, "Fair enough, I suppose. It's good to see you, Sergeant. How long have you been here?"
"Couple hours at most. We've been on the trot for a while trying to get back without getting picked off by LRSA clean up groups."
"Well I've got the rest of my route to finish, but once we get back I'll see about integrating you and your Hunter into my section. Fuck knows I need a better non-com," she whispered closer to my ear. "My Sergeant's utterly useless. He just got transferred and he doesn't have a clue what he's doing. I could do with some more experienced leadership."
The Raider pulled herself out of the pit and held down a hoof to help me hoist myself up. The wall was just high enough that I was able to see over it, but my short stature made climbing out on my own rather difficult. Now back on street level, I could see the full extent of the Scavenger section upon us. The Raider was remarkably young for an officer, maybe only a year or two older than me, and the rest of her section looked to be of a similar bracket. The oldest one there was probably only twenty three. There were seven of them in total, the Raider included. There was the stallion with the LSW (who looked to be the eldest, and bore the rank of First Class), and a single Hunter armed with a modern, polymer sniper rifle. One was a Sadist, crossed with an impressive variety of sharp implements, and the others were all Scavengers. I could see the section's Sergeant at the back, clutching an assault rifle in his hooves and with an expression of abstract horror painting his features. He looked gaunt and probably hadn't slept well in weeks. I can imagine that I didn't look too much better.
My new commanding officer called the patrol in together and made the announcement that Wraith and I would be joining the section for the remainder of the patrol. She split the section in half, with the existing Sergeant, the LSW gunner, the Hunter and one of the basic Scavengers into one half, and with her, me, Wraith, the Sadist and the other Scavenger in the other. The officer gave the two halves designations of Charlie fireteam (which was her section) and Delta fireteam (under the jurisdiction of the existing Sergeant). The officer also stripped the existing Sergeant of his post as section 2IC and passed it on to me. I'd expected the Sergeant to be annoyed or even openly angry at the proposition of essentially being demoted, but he actually looked somewhat relieved to have his responsibilities cut down. I, on the other hoof, was a little dismayed at being delegated the job of section 2IC. I suppose I'd just have to keep up the façade and hope not to encounter the LRSA on this patrol. I wasn't sure if I could bring myself to fight for the Scavengers.
"So how much longer are we on patrol?"
"We reach Cadence Street just ahead and take the right headed due south. We continue until we reach the turnoff for Cuthbert Street then break off down that way. All we do then is carry on our course until we're back on home ground. Brings us back to C-East. So what sector are you from? I'm guessing B-South, am I right?"
"Yep. How'd you guess?" I honestly had no idea what she was going on about, and her explanation did little to help me gauge distance. Cadence Street? Were these names that the Scavengers had come up with or had I just missed all of the street signs? And what was the whole C-East and B-South thing all about? I'd never known Scavengers to use such a system before, but judging from what I'd seen thus far the Scavengers in the Ruins tended to do a lot of things differently.
"Well, it was just an educated guess really. If you were on patrol and managed to find yourself just outside C-North, and B-South is the next most northerly sector, it was logical to assume you'd come from there."
I continued to walk, following just behind the Raider. My hope was that if we were spotted by an LRSA sniper they would be blinded by the opportunity to take down a more high value target than me, giving me plenty of time to run to cover. We passed the shot up tank that Wraith and I had encountered a while back, and carried on, paying it no heed. It was only a matter of a few minutes after that we found ourselves at the junction to the main road, or 'Cadence Street' as I suppose it was being called. I was a little annoyed when it occurred to me that I'd just been to this junction a few hours ago, and all I'd done since then was retrace my steps back.
"So you're a Sadist too, huh?" The section's existing Sadist pulled herself into step next to me. She was younger than me (I'd say seventeen) and her body was criss-crossed in every possible place with knives and hooks and axes and a variety of other bladed tools and weapons. She looked like a walking butcher's shop.
"Yeah. I suppose." It pained me to say, but it was the guise that I had to assume if I were to remain unsuspicious.
"How long've you been one? How long've you been a Scavenger?"
"I've been a Scavenger all my life and I've been a Sadist since I was seven."
"Woah! You're really fucking experienced then! No wonder you're a Sergeant already. Hey, is that the cross of honour?"
I looked down at the various patches and ribbons adorning my chest. One of which was a cross of black metal, outlined in silver. I assumed that was what she was talking about, "Yeah, it is. Earned that three years ago."
"How?"
"Took down an LRSA patrol alone, armed only with a knife. All my comrades were dead, save my commander who was wounded. He saw me do it and had me recommended."
"Cool! I want one someday. I want to be a commando at some point, ya know, one of the elite. I've been training all my life, and I'm just waiting for the choice moment to show Stitcher what I've got!"
"Stitcher?"
"The Raider. She's my IC and I'm her Sadist. Although, looks like I've got some competition now, huh? Well, competition's no bad thing. Just don't go ruining my moment, okay? You don't know how much it means to me."
"Oh, I needn't worry."
As we continued on our course, we were abruptly deafened by the roar and crash of an artillery shell striking home in a nearby street. We waited for a moment, each one of us listening to the crumbling of rubble falling into the road. Stitcher turned to look back at us, "Hope nopony was under that."
"Discord have mercy on those who were," the Sadist chimed, twisting her right fore hoof above her head in an elaborate manner. I say Stitcher roll her eyes somewhat before continuing on her way, the rest of us close behind in staggered formation, looking for cover where possible. My unwanted friend soon began talking again. "Are you a chaotic?"
"A what?"
"Do you believe in the great Discord?"
"The who?"
"The embodiment of chaos. He is the one that watches over we Scavengers, we who are his children of chaos. Those who believe and choose to praise the great father of our kin shall be summoned at the time of their death by the spirits of those before them, and shall be granted new life so they can continue our father's war of disorder. That is why I believe, so that when I die I can continue to fight in the khaki of my brethren. Praise mighty Discord!" she did that weird hoof twirl thing again, and I caught another of the Scavengers in the other fireteam perform the same action, calling back to the Sadist.
I quickly lengthened my stride, determined to get away from the religious fanatic. I caught up with the Raider, who immediately turned to me and sighed, "Don't tell me you believe in all that shit?"
"No. Until now I had no idea what it was."
"It's this new thing that's sweeping the ranks. It's this idea that some ancient spirit of chaos is the father of the Scavengers and is the one who sends us all to fight against the foreign invaders and those who seek to oppress us with order. Something like that. Load of bollocks if you ask me. I've tried introducing them to the idea of the revolution, the one that happened like three generations ago, but they just shout at me and call me a heretic and say that I will be eternally imprisoned by the devil Celestia, whoever the fuck that is. It scares me how popular this whole idea is amongst the lower ranks."
We passed by another side street, the opening to which was almost completely barred by rubble, save for a small path that looked artificially cleared. It wouldn't have surprised me if a machinegun nest was set up behind it. The streets were eerily silent. There was a series of crackling snaps as distant gunfire announced the clashing of forces, and the regular thump of the long range guns resounded through the earth, but on Cadence Street nothing moved aside from a lone Scavenger patrol. I glanced over at the other fireteam, keeping low and moving along in the cover of the jersey barriers. I stumbled and fell face first into the ground, a small plume of dust collecting around me. My new Raider halted and looked back at me, "Watch yourself there."
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
"Hey, don't apologise. Just keep your eyes open from now on, eh?"
I was promptly grabbed from behind by the Sadist and hoisted back onto my hooves, set in motion again with a hard (and uncomfortable) slap on the back. With a glare I looked back over my shoulder at the crater I'd fallen into.
To say that nothing happened for a while would be an understatement. The patrol that Wraith and I had fallen into a while back was nowhere to be seen, and there was no activity from either side. Cuthbert Street turned out to be a little further on than I'd thought, a total of maybe sixteen or seventeen side streets later? When we did make the turn off, a sense of... I dare say relief washed over me. I knew that I was just striding confidently back into Scavenger territory, but quite frankly even a night with the Scavengers sounded nice to me at that point. I was abysmally tired and my legs were aching. It was as if my rest at Perky's hadn't done me much good at all. I went to pull my hat down over my eyes a little, shielding them somewhat from the glare, but then remembered that I was wearing a garrison cap and not my usual head garment. With a yawn I tripped slightly over my own hooves but managed to keep myself upright. I was going to look forward to a decent bed tonight.
We walked down Cuthbert Street for almost a full quarter of an hour, before things suddenly went tits up. I was once again only half minding what was going on, but I was forced back into reality very suddenly when I heard the unmistakable crack of a rifle. There was a thud as something was hit and the whole patrol scrambled, diving for cover. I found myself behind a pile of old sandbags, Stitcher to one side of me and the Sadist to the other. Wraith and the other Scavenger in our fireteam were slightly further behind, lying flat behind a short wall. Stitcher peered over our cover. When she ducked back down I asked, "Who's hit?"
"The Sergeant. Can't tell where he's hit from here but I'm gonna try and find that sniper."
She called out, "Did anypony see that sniper?" A chorus of reports came back, all of which answered in the negative. "Okay, nopony move until we put eyes on him. He'll probably be in a building somewhere."
Everypony in the patrol went to scanning the building faces for movement, or for the distinguishing marks of a sniper's nest. It was maybe five minutes before the Sadist next to me quickly deafened me by unleashing a vicious burst from her sub machinegun. I had to shake my head to clear the ringing in my ears, and I heard her calling, "I saw him! He got away though. I tried to nail him but he was gone before I could get properly zeroed."
"Where're his friends? Did you see any more?"
"Nah, just the one. I reckon he's got our positioned keyed in though, so we should probably high tail it out of here before they come looking to clean up."
"Agreed, let's move. Let's get out of here everypony! Somebody grab that poor bastard on the way, I'm not leaving him here for the LRSA!"
Stitcher began a steady trot, keeping at a brisk pace that I was forced to follow. Behind me the Sadist, Wraith and the remaining Scavenger followed suit, weapons clattering against bodies and hooves clopping against concrete. The other fireteam (now down one soldier and with one burdened with the corpse) were moving at a slightly slower pace. Each and every one of us was now on edge and scanning for movement. At the first sign of trouble I was diving for the nearest solid barricade. The downside of wearing a Scavenger uniform was that now I was more vulnerable to the LRSA. And the sniper hadn't nailed the Raider, like I'd have expected, but he nailed the Sergeant. Was I next?
Maybe about another fifteen minutes later I was actually delighted to see one of the most heavily fortified street sections I'd ever seen. On both sides of the street were dug in machineguns, each of which sported a three pony crew. There were snipers bristling the windows of the buildings either side of the street and there was even a full anti-tank gun a little further back. Stitcher made her way towards the barricade and was called to halt by one of the machinegun crews, specifically by the stallion clutching a shotgun in his hooves that looked to be the gun's commander. Stitcher did as commanded, and was quickly asked a series of code questions, to which she replied the answers. She was welcomed by the commander, who beckoned her over to the nest, helping her down like a true gentlecolt. He turned his attention to the remainder of our patrol, and called over, "Okay, come in one at a time. Anypony that attempts to run through or turns to run away will be put down without question."
With what I hoped wasn't an audible gulp I made my way slowly towards the nest, aware constantly of the many sights now trained onto me. The commander himself had his shotgun raised and I found myself staring down the barrel of a smooth-bore twelve gauge before Stitcher finally said, "Two." The commander lowered his firearm and helped me down into the pit, which reminded me strongly of the sniper's nest I'd picked up my uniform in. It too extended into the side building slightly, and I discovered that there were actually three more ponies further back, totalling six in the nest. They sat around in the back, one cleaning his rifle, one sleeping, the other juggling. Yes, she was juggling, fancy that. Juggling grenades.
Behind me I heard, "Three," and the Sadist hopped down into the nest and joined me. Wraith was next in on the count of four. He and I tucked ourselves away in one corner, furthest away from the Scavengers already inhabiting the hollow. From here, we were able to talk without being heard, so long as we talked quietly. I opened up conversation with, "So now what?"
"Well, we've got ourselves a Raider to latch onto. I don't think we should stay here long; just long enough to hop on a transport up to the other side. Then all we have to do is vanish into the night."
"You make this sound easy."
"You have to trust me. I know what I'm doing. This is familiar territory for me."
"Yea. Whatever gets me out of this uniform quickest. I think it's actually slowly corrupting me."
"Relax. We'll be given a quarters soon enough. Try and make friends. Blend in and do as they do. Act as if this is nothing new. If you don't understand something, give a generic response that won't arouse suspicion."
"Make friends with this lot? I suppose you want me to pull out my teeth while I'm at it."
Wraith's only response was a slight sneer. We spent a good while after in silence, waiting patiently as every member of the patrol was counted in, ending with the Scavenger that carried the body of the Sergeant. I heard Stitcher share words with the commander of the gun nest before joining the rest of her patrol in the hollow, sitting down next to me and playing with her garrison cap. I yawned wide, exhaustion quickly catching up on me. The Raider chuckled, "Tired?"
"You have absolutely... no idea."
"I have some."
"Why are we just sitting about?"
"Standard procedure. We have to wait ten minutes before being allowed to enter properly. Helps to confuse anypony following us and means the guards have a surplus force to draw upon in the event that we're attacked. Surely you knew that?"
"Procedures are different where I come from. We usually just go straight in, and only the officer stays behind."
"Mmm. Right. Well, if you just wait this out you and your Sergeant can come with me to the garrison area. I'll have you signed into my barracks but I'm afraid Corporals aren't allowed in the same barracks. I'll sign him in to the JNCO's area. Once there you can rest up if you want. Don't worry about any of the admin, I'll take care of that. I just need to sign you on to the register and have you assigned to my section. They're not going to argue, now that I've lost my existing Sergeant. Lucky you, eh?"
"Yeah. Lucky me."
"It's annoying, actually. That's the third Sergeant who's died under my command."
I looked at her askance, trying to detect any humour in the statement.
Ten minutes passed, thankfully without an attack, and we were allowed to enter the area properly. The road stretched off slightly further down before opening into a large plaza or square. Most of the rubble there had been cleared and in place a series of large tents had been erected. There were also a few stout concrete buildings that the Scavengers had obviously built since their arrival. Immediately I was on edge. I'd never seen so many Scavengers in one place. There were Scavengers sitting on top of ammunition crates talking, walking to and from buildings, performing weapon maintenance, eating in an open sided mess tent, and there were even two ponies playing tennis. They all looked exhausted, dirty, and a vague air of agitation and unrest seemed to hang over the whole place. I was certain they'd take any opportunity to rip me apart if they knew who I really was.
Stitcher's section dispersed as soon as she'd debriefed them and filtered off into the sea of khaki before me. I must say, if the LRSA had managed to land an artillery strike in that place, it would have caused casualties on a catastrophic scale. I caught a face full of cigarette smoke from a passing mare and glared at her. Stitcher was quick to take me and Wraith by the nose and half drag us to the garrison, where she directed us to our respective cabins. Wraith quickly stepped off and into the Corporal's barracks, but Stitcher directed me towards a different building, and in something I'd be inclined to describe as a coo simply said, "Our barracks is over here."
Upon reaching the door to the barracks Stitcher pushed it open and allowed herself to enter. I followed in soon behind, taking in the view. The main room was big, with two staircases on either end leading off into unseen second stories. There was a door in the back wall, and another in the right wall behind a counter. The room was occupied by a variety of different Scavengers, ranging in rank from Sergeant all the way up to Group Leader. There was a collection of tables scattered at odd intervals throughout the room and at each was a group of Scavengers, either playing games, drinking, talking, or pretending that nopony else on the table was there. Stitcher wheeled me towards the counter and sat me down before it, planting herself beside me and attracting the attention of the stallion behind it.
The stallion in question was quick to pay heed to us, holding only the rank of Corporal, and as he leant on the counter I could smell mint on his breath, which was a pleasant change from fag smoke. He glanced between the two of us before turning his attention towards Stitcher, and asking in something vaguely reminiscent of a polite tone, "What can I get you?"
"Straight vodka."
"On rocks?"
"No, just vodka." The stallion nodded his head slightly before turning his back on us and playing around with an extensive rack of liquors. He soon spun himself around and landed a short glass on the counter with a thunk, before requesting three cigarettes from Stitcher. Only when the necessary payment had made it into his free hoof did the stallion release the drink.
Stitcher now satisfied with her lot the stallion turned his attention to me, and with an inquisitive rise of the eyebrow asked, "And you? I've not seen you before, did you just get promoted?"
"No, I'm being transferred here."
"Hmm. Fair enough, I suppose. What can I get you?"
"I dunno. I'm not hugely familiar with alcohol."
"Okay, well, this is gin, rum, schnapps, tequila, vodka, whisky, sherry, absinthe..."
"Ale?"
"Ale is a pussy's drink."
The stallion leant even further towards me and for some reason I felt like I was being put under pressure. In mild panic I vaguely gestured in Stitcher's direction and just said, "Whatever she's having."
"Are you sure?" he asked as more of a mockery than a legitimate question.
"Yes, I'm sure. And just a word of warning, Corporal, you shall address me with the proper respect that I'm due, or I'll put your head through the wall." I rose myself up to my full height (which was admittedly not very high) and leant over the counter, attempting to intimidate the stallion before me. My goal was to impress Stitcher somewhat; I didn't want her to see me as a pushover. My actions had the desired effect and I could see the stallion shrink back slightly away from me. I don't know whether it was my words or my rank or my appearance as a Sadist but he only replied in a very meagre voice.
"Yes Sergeant."
I fell back into my seat and sniffed. Stitcher chuckled, downing her drink and saying in a hoarse voice, "Little harsh, huh?"
"I don't appreciate disrespect."
"Fair enough." The Corporal slid my drink towards me and I dug some cigarettes out of my tunic pocket, placing them on the counter. As I sat and absentmindedly ran my hoof around the rim of the glass, I couldn't help thinking about how good it felt to have authority. This must have been how the LRSA officers felt. In one swift motion I drained my glass and coughed slightly as I did. It wasn't unpleasant (well, the taste wasn't great), and it had a rather warming effect. It actually reminded me of something. It was the same feeling that Perky's liquor had given me way back when. It was a good feeling and I'd missed it somewhat in the past few days.
I sat with Stitcher for maybe about half an hour, in which time I had a few more drinks (which she paid for, get in!) before things in the barracks started getting a little rowdy. A lot of alcohol had been flowing throughout the day and some of the officers were starting to get somewhat loud, with maybe one or two instances of Raiders dancing on their tables. A small group of ponies armed with musical instruments started to pump heavy metal music into the room and all semblances of normality basically crumbled after that. Commanders and Troop Leaders alike were making fools of themselves in front of each other and there was a sudden sharp spike in interest in the bar. I didn't much like being surrounded by drunken, dirty Scavenger officers, and Stitcher seemed to pick up on this as she quickly pulled me away from the bar and wheeled me towards a flight of stairs. As the bar disappeared behind a wall of ponies I whined as my head swam a little.
I stumbled up the stairs and down a seemingly endless corridor before Stitcher came to a halt and I ploughed right into the back of her, "Whoa! Steady on there. There'll be plenty of time for that later."
"What?"
"Nothing, just teasing. Right, say hello to your new home." Stitcher fitted a key into a lock and swung the door open, revealing a sizeable living quarters. The room was of average size, with a bunk pushed against one wall, one on top of the other. There was a sofa set up opposite, and a single window opposite the door, with a desk underneath for paperwork or something. There was also a large cabinet which I assumed was either a weapon locker or just a locker for general use. Or, who knows, maybe both? The walls were bare concrete, but the floor was carpeted with similar material to the stuff I'd seen in Perky's abode. Maybe this was where he got his materials.
You can be sure I wasted no time waiting for invitations. Before Stitcher could protest I was in the room and on the sofa, burying my face into the soft surface so deeply that I was in danger of asphyxiating. Stitcher made no comments, entering casually after me and locking the door again behind her. As I remained incapacitated on the sofa she flung her assault rifle into the weapons locker and grabbed the chair under the desk, falling into it and slouching at a rather extreme angle, "You good?"
"Eeyup."
"You're bottom bunk."
"M'kay."
"Pass us that rifle."
"No ta."
"Sergeant, give me your rifle." I looked up at Stitcher from my position on the sofa. Reluctantly I unslung my new rifle and passed it to her, butt first. She took it from me and looked it over, inspecting various elements and checking some of the parts. Eventually she placed in the locker next to hers and resumed her seat. "Nice rifle. I thought the Russians were phasing out those old receivers though. Didn't think there were any still in service."
"Neither did I."
I shuffled about a bit to get more comfortable. Then I shuffled a little more. Something in my tunic pocket was digging into my ribs and making my life miserable. I swung myself into a seated position and dug it out of my pocket. A small bottle of vodka stared back up at me. I hadn't even know I'd put it in my pocket, I thought the one I'd looted was still in my saddlebags. Maybe the Scavenger I'd nicked the uniform from had had it. Whatever the scenario, Stitcher was quick to notice it, "You know we're not supposed to have alcohol in the living quarters."
"No I didn't."
"Those are the rules of this sector. Still," Stitcher pulled a flask out of her inner pocket. "It's not like that's ever stopped me." I grinned stupidly. Stitcher took one big swig from the flask and passed it to me with instructions of, "Smell that." I did, and immediately my nose was assaulted by the powerful scent of strong spirits.
"What... is this stuff?" I had to cough in the middle of my sentence. Whatever it was, it wasn't vodka.
"Tequila. I dunno, I have a certain fondness for it, but it's ridiculously expensive at the bar so I stick to other drinks down there. Have a bit if you want. Whoa, not too much!"
Two big swigs of tequila later, my brain was so heavily doused in alcohol that even the most simple tasks became a challenge. I couldn't even pass Stitcher's flask back in one go, and it took me several attempts to figure out which one of her was the real one. She gave me a disappointed look as she turned the flask upside down and only a small dribble leaked out, "Hey, remember when I said this stuff was expensive?"
"Ah, ish fine. 'Ave my vodka." I pressed the bottle of vodka into her chest and let go. She thankfully caught it before it hit the ground, and quickly made to unscrew the cap. I leant back on the sofa and closed my eyes. My head was swimming and I felt dizzy as all shit, but I could also feel this wave of childish excitement coming over me. As if for no reason at all, I broke out into a small fit of chuckles, which rapidly escalated into uncontrollable laughter as Stitcher questioned what I found so funny.
If I thought I was drunk back at the Flamethrower then this was verging on paralytic. Back then my head had been swimming and I was struggling to comprehend certain things. Loss of certain inhibitors also seemed prominent. By contrast, I now didn't even trust myself to stand and I couldn't form a coherent thought for more than about two seconds. I hiccupped loudly which had the unfortunate consequence of making me feel rather sick. As dampened heavy metal music drifted up from downstairs I rubbed my stomach in an attempt to settle it a little whilst Stitcher sat and drink slowly from my vodka bottle. She was clearly a lot more tolerant of alcohol than I was, and by appearances she wasn't even tipsy even after having consumed something close to half a bottle of vodka and a swig of tequila. Then again, by appearances there were also three of her and she was steadily moving round in little circles. I closed my eyes again as the motion started to make me feel nauseous.
I spent the rest of the evening basically comatose on the sofa as my body struggled to cope with the huge influx of alcohol. Even when somepony from downstairs came to our door and said something about somepony wanting to see me I didn't respond with anything more than a moan. Only when Stitcher started talking to me did I show any form of life other than the occasional sickening hiccup. Stitcher yawned to herself before turning to me and throwing a question my way, "So, got any special someponies?"
"Eeyup. I'm in with muh Corporal."
"Really? I thought I sensed something between you. There was definitely more than just squadly companionship there. What's he like?"
"He'sh got a real rough tongue."
"That's not what I meant, I mean what's his personality like? What is it about him that you like?"
"I really like 'is mane."
"Yea, and what else?" Stitcher kept probing me for info and I was all too happy to provide it. It's not like she was asking me anything dangerous, after all; just filly talk. Gossip.
"I dunno. He'sh got pretty eyesh and he'sh really awkward 'round maresh. It'sh kinda funny actually. And he'sh really kind and sh-shy. Ooh the room'sh shpinning."
"Tequila'll do that to you, here," Stitcher motioned to help move me onto the bed, but I bat her away (perhaps a little too aggressively?).
"Feck off! I'm fi-fine here."
"Really? Okay, cool, I guess. Listen, just a as a heads up, I don't care if you have a hangover from Pandemonium, you'll still have to rouse yourself at the same time as the rest of us. We have an early morning patrol tomorrow and I need you there. And if you're going to be sick, go back into the corridor and it's three doors down to the right. Don't be sick on any of my shit or I'll kick your harbour lights in." I waved Stitcher off as she left the room. I wasn't sure where she was going or what she was doing, but at that moment it didn't bother me. Nothing bothered me, I was blind drunk. I think I fell asleep after that.
Upon waking my hindsight quickly kicked in, and it was telling me bad things. Maybe drinking my arse off hadn't been such a good idea. Stitcher kept punching me in the leg systematically repeating the words, "Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get up." I groaned and flailed uselessly at her, before rolling myself over and falling to the floor again. I lay there for a moment, my face buried in the carpet. The material was actually pretty rough, particularly against soft fur like mine, but that didn't stop me from rubbing my muzzle into it vigorously in an attempt to gain something describable as awakeness. My head was thumping angrily and every time it did a sharp pain flared up behind my eyes, agonisingly painfully. Eventually I managed to haul myself to my hooves, clapping a hoof to the side of my head as I did so to try and soothe the migraine.
"Oh, you're awake then? Good. You've got a little time to get yourself sorted, initial section parade is only at oh'six hundred. Once you've got yourself back to your senses meet me downstairs and I'll give you a short brief for the day. Toodles!" In a manner that felt like smug superiority she waved me goodbye as she stepped out into the hallway, shutting the door behind her and leaving me to my own vices. Which consisted mostly of moaning and clutching my skull. In an attempt to get some more clean air into the room I stumbled over to and threw open the window, poking my head out and letting the early morning breeze blow through my mane. It was rather relaxing.
And when I opened my eyes, I beheld the full scale of Scavenger operations in this sector. The building I was in was only one of many, scattered all over the place in a desperately random assortment. There were many, much smaller buildings around too, interspersed with the odd tent or two, and with so many khaki clad murderers stumbling around in the early morning it looked like a mud flow. Even my drink addled mind found room to be impressed by it all. It seemed so random but it was really so organised. Everything, everypony had its place. If only the LRSA could score a hit on this camp. Preferably whilst I wasn't in it.
I had to rub my eyes a few times, partly to detract from some of the pain building up behind them, and partly in disbelief. As I scanned the building faces of old Ponyville, I thought I saw something. Somepony, rather. Stood in one of the buildings across from me, peering through a pair of sizeable binoculars, scrutinising. They didn't wear Bastard Khaki. They looked LRSA, but lacked a lot of the features. He let go of the binoculars and in their place appeared a pair of large, deep set pink eyes. Mad eyes, filled with rage. He must have seen me looking. With nary a backwards glance he seemed to just vanish into the shadows of the building, almost as though he'd never been there. And maybe he hadn't. I was probably seeing things.
It took me maybe fifteen minutes of washing, vomiting and preparing my equipment before my brain reached such a state that I could process what I'd seen. It dawned on me just as I shouldered my rifle, ready to meet with Stitcher downstairs. My eyes went wide.
How did he get here?
Then I felt sick again. |
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