A new face

As Zark walked down the empty streets, a chill ran down his spine. Something was off. Something wasn't right. "Better keep my eyes peeled..." He said to himself. Turning down a corner, he saw something fly past him. Out of reflex, he jumped back, readying himself for whatever it was he saw. He waited for a bit, just to be safe, then continued down the road.

"Thats a bit strange..." Zark thought to himself. "It was probably a damn bird or something... Man I hate bir-" Zark was cut off by the shadow again, he saw it. He knew he did. He spun around and yelled, "I know you’re here! I saw you! Come out and face me!" As the silence settled in, Zark felt like a fool. "What am I thinking? Only ponies in those dumb story's say that." Zark thought he heard a shattering sound. Running towards the sound, he saw that somepony had smashed a window of a building. Zark knew he shouldn't have gone in, but he did anyways. He really couldn't stay out of trouble for very long...

Inside of the building was just some shards of glass and a bit of blood leading upstairs, nothing unusual- wait. Blood? "They must have cut themselves... Better follow this, because why not?" He continued through the building, following the quickly depleting trail of blood. Soon the blood was nothing. The trail had ended, and it stopped in front of an open window. "Coincidence? I think not!" Zark said to himself, and climbed out the window onto the roof. "They couldn't have gone far..." As he stood there on the roof, he was completely unaware of the pony silently creeping up behind him. "Well, I guess I was wron-" He was once again cut off as the pony tackled him, sending them flying off the roof. "What’s your problem?!" Zark said, pulling himself off the ground. It wasn't a long fall. Only about ten feet. Maybe more. I don't know. But anyways, the pony just stood there, wearing a black outfit-type-thing, covering his face. "Who are you and why are you here?" The mysterious pony asked. "Um, well, I was sort of looking for somepony to talk to about that village that was destroyed around here. I found a rock thingy there, so I asked Twilight to study it for me. Well, she asked me if she could. Not me. But the strange thing is, when I got here,it was empty!" Zark stuttered out, clearly shocked. "That still doesn't tell me who you are." His voice sounded cold. "I-I'm Zark, Zark Tomb." He stuttered. “Where are you from?” The pony demanded. “Um... Nowhere really. I just walk around place to place. Why do you need to know?” The pony walked up to him, and took off his veil. “I am a royal guard of Princess Luna herself.” The pony was all brown, mane, coat, and tail. He was wearing glasses. Oh shit. Zark thought, picking himself off the ground. “Um... Nice to meet you?” “Yes. Nice to meet you too.” He replied. Feeling slightly unnerved, Zark asked,"So, why did Luna send you?" The pony turned to him,"A town nearby was burnt down and raided. I came here to evacuate everypony before the same happened here... I had sort of a hard time getting Twilight out, though. She didn't want to leave her books. Typical Twilight..." "Um... I don't  think I know your name." Zark asked. "Spark. My name is Spark. That's all I'm saying." He replied. "Oh, okay. Nice to meet you Spark. So... What now?" Well, why don't you help me with the rest of my patrol?" Zark thought for a moment. "Okay, sure." And with that, Spark took off into the sky. "Hey! Wait for me!" and shot off after him.

"Man... Sure is nice up here today." Zark said trying to make a conversation. "Yes, I guess it is. Well, apart from the smoke it is." Spark replied. "So, where are you from?" Zark looked at him for a second. "Well, I don’t really know. You see, I have amnesia, so I can’t remember..." Spark's grin faded. "Oh, sorry. I didn't know-" Just then a shout rang out. "What was that?!" Zark asked. "Sounds like somepony who needs help!" Spark said  and dove towards the scream. Zark close behind. The screaming was more like crying. Helpless. Weak. Alone.

"Over there!" Zark said, pointing to a nearby field. In the field was a gray pony covered in blood. "I got it!" Spark said and landed on the ground, making his way over to the pony. Zark landed next to him. “What’s wrong?” “I really don’t know. He’s just... sitting there. Crying...” Zark walked up to the strange new pony. “Hello? What’s your name? Is there something wrong?” The grey pony looked up at him, and continued crying. No sound. Just the tears. Fluid, leaking from his eyes. There was a strange, awkward, moment of silence.

"They're dead..." the pony said, breaking the silence. "My friends... My family... They are all gone..." Zark felt a ping of sadness and empathy in his heart. "I-I'm so sorry. I didn't know, or I would have left you alone." The pony stood up. Inhaling with shaky breath, he said,"No, no. It's okay. I needed someone to talk to. Would... Would you mind if I tagged along with you guys?" Spark walked forward,"Not at all. So, what did you say happen to you family?" A tear ran down the grey pony's face. "I woke up one day, and my town was on fire... I don't know how or why it was, it just was... I... I didn't see my family anywhere... So I left the town. I escaped... They-" The pony choked up for a moment,"They didn't. And I left one of my only friends to die in a burning building..." Zark and Spark just stood there for a moment. Processing what they had just heard.

"Man... I'm sorry. I really am... I didn't know... That." Spark said awkwardly. "No. It's fine. As I told Zark, I needed someone to talk to..." The pony said. "Uh, I-I don't think you've told us your name. What is it?" Zark asked. "Thunder. Thunder Bolt." "I'm Spark. And he's Zark." Spark said, pointing to me. "So, let's get going shall we?" Thunder and Zark nodded in approval, and took off into the afternoon's smoky skies.