Beyond The Red Horizon

by The Lost Sound

Rating: everyone
Tags: Sad, Tragedy, Anthro
Length: 3556

Equestria is under siege

In the year 2014, North Korea has united with South Korea in order to gain power over the world. The only way they can accomplish this task is to take over the world's superior continent…Equestria. We follow the story of a Ponyville High School student named Quickfire, who comes from a long line of military soldiers in her family; but she is not a fighter. Living with her mother gone in her life and as an only child, she had a hard time making friends but until her freshman year when she became friends with the Mane 6. So prepare yourself for this edge of your seat story about fighting for freedom and self-discovery.

*Note: This is an anthro story and it's a reference to the movie Red Dawn (2012).
The cover picture is the non-anthro version of Quickfire and of course in story terms, it was two years in the winter before the events in the story. Until I find an anthro artist that will be the cover picture.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-08-02 07:04:40 UTC

Chapter 1: Graduation Day

June 12, 2016, Ponyville High School

        "5!...4!...3!...2!...1!" The bell rings and the class of 2016 all celebrated and cheered as they are ready to leave this school. I really don't want to leave this school, I had a great time here. I had nice teachers, nice friends, and sometimes lunch didn't taste like crap. But it's time to move on I guess. I walk out the front door only to be blinded by the sun. I put on my shades and walked towards my car.

It’s a 1970 Chevy Chevelle because my father had it before I was born as a renovation project and when it was finished he gave it to me. I love my car; it has a glossy black paint job and red racing stripes going straight down the middle of it and my favorite part about the car is the interior!

It has black and red leather seats, which matches my mane. I was just about to get my keys from my bag until I heard "Quickfire!" from six different voices. I turn around and I see all my best friends.

"Hey girls!" I replied.

"Oh my gosh, can you believe that we’re graduating from high school!?" Pinkie exclaimed in her normal carefree attitude.

"Yeah, I can't believe either; it feels like we were just freshmen yesterday and seniors the next! What college are you planning to go to, Quickfire?" Twilight asked as she came up beside Pinkie.

"I was thinking about just going to the Ponyville Community College." I replied, scratching the back of my head with a hand.

"Aw, we're not going to be able to see each other that much. I’m going to Canterlot University!" Twilight responded, seeming more happy than depressed for some reason. I guess it’s because she’s going to college....so she can learn some more.

You can’t keep Twilight away from a good book.

The same could be said about Pinkie Pie and parties. Or Rainbow Dash with sports.

Er...I’m getting sidetracked.....Right.

“Oh, well...what about you girls?” I asked.

 I was hoping that at least two of them will go to same college. If not, my college years might just be the worst years of my life. Thinking about it, I might make new friends but these are not worth losing.

“I’m going to the same college you are going too, darling” Rarity responded as she styles her mane in my mirrors.

“Me too” Fluttershy replied

“Me three!” Pinkie replied as she jumps right in front of Fluttershy.

“Same here, sugarcube” Applejack replied

I took a moment to analyze the information that had been said in five seconds, but then I realized that Rainbow Dash hadn’t responded.

“What college are you going to Rainbow?” I asked

She looks nervous to answer this question. There was a moment of silence, me and the girls are just staring at her just waiting for her response. I started becoming impatient and I was about to yell at her until she said something.

“I can’t really decide where to go because I’m stuck in the middle of going to the Ponyville Community College or going to the Wonderbolts Academy.” Rainbow Dash (finally) responded

I pull out my phone and checked the time, it was 11:45 am. “Well if I were you Rainbow, I would just chose what my heart desires.” I said. Rainbow gave me a smile, I pull out my keys and unlocked the doors, “I have to go girls, my father is expecting me to be home now” I said as I opened the door.

“Ok we’ll talk to you later Quickfire” Twilight replied

“Try catch to catch my party tonight!” Pinkie exclaimed

“I’ll try” I replied

I close the door and started the car and shifted the gears into reverse. As I was backing out, the girls were waving goodbye. I waved backed and shifted the gears into drive, then I took off.After spending five minutes on the road, I made it home to see that my father hadn’t arrived yet. I parked in the driveway and turned off the car.

I thought to myself on how strange it was to not see my father home first. I pull out my house key and unlocked the door. Upon walking into my house, I saw a message on the answering machine.

I press play on the answering machine and it was a message from my father. "Hey sweetie, it's Dad. I'm sorry, I couldn't be home right to welcome you but I just got extra police work that needs to get done. Anyways, I will be home around one o'clock. I love you, Quickfire." The machine beeped indicating the end of the message.

It's normal for my father to not be here on time. I know it's not easy being the Sheriff of the Ponyville Police Department. Sometimes it's kind of sad that I have to watch him come home tired all the time, but he tells not worry though. I can understand because my father was in the military for 24 years before working for the police.

I walk over to the entertainment center and looked at a military picture of my mother. A tear comes down my face, my mother died when I was 10 in combat. Me and my father don't talk about her a lot because the event was more traumatic to my father because he watched her die. He couldn't do much to save her because he was wounded from a shot to the shoulder and he was weak from taking an RPG while he was in the car.

I walk to my room and quickly got out of my clothes and into my PJ's. I look into the mirror for a moment and thought about, how I don't have boyfriend? Seriously, who can not resist my beautiful red and black mane and my grey coat. My father says I have a unique mane color in the whole family on both sides because we have family members with just black manes and some with red manes, but I have a combo of both.

I go back out into the living room and turn on the TV. I always never liked what's playing on TV, it's always a rerun of the same shows. I ended up on the PNN channel, it was interesting. Besides talking about politics and the economy, they were talking about how two years ago; North Korea and South Korea united together. I don't like what's going on with that because who knows what they are planning.

After switching through a more channels, I fell asleep on the couch. An hour passes and I wake up to the sound of sirens, I get off the couch and look out the window. I see my father standing in front of his car, I ran outside and gave my father a big hug.

"Hey sweetie, congrats on graduating" he exclaimed

"Thank you, dad" I replied

"Why aren't you dressed?" he asked

"I wanted some extra sleep" I replied

"Well...go get dressed, I will be waiting out here" he said

I ran inside and into my room and got right back into my clothes I wore earlier. I grabbed my gold necklace with red and black gems embedded into each socket. I turned off the TV and walked out and locked the door behind me. I got into my father's car.

"Where are we going?" I asked

“That’s a surprise” he replied

I like surprises. Especially, when I get a surprise party from Pinkie every year on my birthday. I’m very curious on where my father is taking me. He barely taken me anywhere since I got my car, so it feels very strange having my father taking me somewhere after three years. I think he is taking me to the store or something, just get food and some weird spices that my father gets that make his food taste good.

After an hour on the road, I find myself in front of my favorite music store. I usually go here to see what new electronic songs came out. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of technology. That’s why I buy CD’s still but I still use IPod’s and computers; I’m not that old school.

“Do you know why we are here?” he asked

“No” I replied

“We are here to pick up your graduation gift” he said

He opened the car door and got out. I did same, but I wonder what my father got for my graduation gift? I was so excited for whatever he got me, but most likely it will be something that is related to my interest. My father opened the door and held it open for me, but upon walking in there was nothing special. It was the same old store that I always saw. My father handed me a blindfold.

“Put it on” He exclaimed

I put the blindfold on and my father grabbed my hand and walked me to a part of the store I have never been to before. It felt like the place was empty where I was, but I knew it wasn’t. I was very curious on what my gift was. I was about to take off the blindfold but my father slapped my hand away from my face.

“Not yet, Quickfire” He exclaimed

I wait a few more minutes and then my father told me to take off the blindfold. I take off the blindfold and I see a whole DJ set. My jaw dropped low to the floor and I was speechless, all I could do was stand there and stare at it. Eventually, I snapped out of it and gave my father a big hug. I let him free and I went to go check out the set up; it came with the usual things that you would see in a DJ set. Speakers, Microphones, Strobe Lights, Lasers, and other important features, but my favorite thing was the turntable. It was custom made just for me, it was black with red streaks and it had my name engraved on the side.

“So what do you think?” He asked

“I love it! Thank you, so much!” I replied

I gave my father another big hug

“I’m glad you like it, sweetie” He said

We grabbed everything and packed it into my father’s car and we headed back home. After another hour on the road, we finally made it home and took everything out and took it downstairs, where my future studio is planning to be. After we took everything downstairs, my father helped me set up everything. Ten minutes later, we finished. We both backed up and took a look at the set up.

“Is the start to your dream?” He asked

“Yeah this looks like the beginning, but I hope to progress from here” I replied

“You know I wanted you to go into military, but I’m not the one behind the wheel of your life. If you wanted to be a music producer, I want you to be the best music producer out there. You know even though your mother isn’t here with us, but you know she is very proud of you for graduating high school.” He said

I start to break down into tears and I hugged my father.

“I know it’s hard, Quickfire. But we have to live it” He said

I let go of my father and wiped the tears off my face. He put his left arm over my shoulders and we walked upstairs. Once upstairs he lifts up his arm from my shoulders and I sat down on the couch. My dad went into the kitchen and he came out with two cups of water. He handed me a cup and I took a quick sip. I put the cup on the table and me and my father sat there in silence for five minutes. Then it came to my mind, I was suppose to ask him something.

“So dad, Pinkie Pie is throwing a graduation party tonight. Is it ok, if I go?” I asked

“Sure, but I don’t want you drinking alcohol and I want to come home after your done. You can get yourself a boyfriend but I don’t want to go home with any boys” He replied

“Dad, you know Pinkie only serves fruit punch” I said

“I know that but there’s always that one party guest that brings alcohol to the party and starts serving it” He said

“Ok, I’ll be careful” I said

I get up from the couch and go to my room. I picked up my phone and turned it on, I got a text from Pinkie. She said the party is at seven o'clock, I check the time, it’s four o’clock. I decide to take a nap, after all there is nothing on TV and I’m thinking about testing my new equipment tomorrow. I wasn’t thinking about taking off the clothes I had on already, so I just laid down on my bed and five minutes later; I fell asleep. Two hours later, I wake up and it’s six o’clock. I get out of bed and walked out into the hallway. I see my father eating dinner at the table.

“Hey sleeping beauty, you’re awake” He said

“Be quiet” I said

He started smiling and I went into the bathroom to take a shower. Five minutes later, I come out and got dressed into new clean clothes. After that I went into the kitchen and got my dinner, it was just a normal salad. I was surprised that my dad didn’t cook up anything special for today. I grabbed a fork and started eating. After five minutes, I was finished; I took my plate and threw it in the sink. I look at the time, it’s 6:10. I went to my room and grabbed my phone and my keys and put on my shoes and headed for the door.

“I’m leaving!”  I yelled

“Ok!” He replied

I walked out the door and walked to my car. Before I got in, I decided to take a glimpse of the beautiful moon. I thought to myself how much of a nice job, Luna does to deliver a beautiful night. I unlocked the door and got into the car, I put the key into the ignition and started it up. I backed out of the driveway slowly, so I won’t hit my neighbor’s cat. He always seems to come out at night for some reason. I noticed he wasn’t there and I left the driveway. After 30 minutes on the road, I arrive at Sugarcube Corner and I see my friends waiting for me. I pull up along the curb and stopped the car.

“You made it!” Pinkie exclaimed in her usual excited mood

“Of course, I can’t miss one of your parties” I replied

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s head inside” Pinkie said

Me and the girls all walked into the party room and it looked like Pinkie invited the whole class of 2016 in here. The party looks like a club scene with the flashing lights, the lasers, the electronic music, and the drinks. Obviously, they weren’t alcoholic beverages. After we get inside, we all decided to split up and walk around ourselves. Its difficult trying to maneuver around in this crowd, it’s a good thing that in the future. I will be getting on stage from the back. I decided to go to the table and get some punch, I pour myself a cup and have a seat at a table. I sat there jamming out to all my favorite electronic songs, this DJ must know me or something. There was an opening in the crowd, I take a quick look at the stage and it’s Vinyl Scratch.

Vinyl is my DJ friend and she pretty much likes all the songs I like, so that probably explains why all my favorite songs are being played. For some reason, we hadn’t had the time to talk to much. I think it’s probably because she busy with her job being a DJ. I would go up and say hi to her, but she’s clearly busy. I continue to sit at the table by myself until some random guy sat down. I was really hoping that he doesn’t talk to me. He turns and looks at me.

“Hey, how its going?” He asked

Crap, I wasn’t expecting him to talk. Well I have to say something before he thinks I’m a social outcast.

“Nothing much, I’m just sitting here. Enjoying the music” I replied

“Yeah, dubstep is a pretty unique type of music. Anyway, what’s your name?” He asked

“I’m Quickfire” I replied

“Wait a second, you're that girl. Who’s the best female athlete in gym” He said

“Yeah, that’s me. Sports isn’t my gift I just do, what I have to do. You know the soldier thing” I said

“Really? You look like the sports type of girl. Anyways, I’m Nitro” He said

Nitro is the fastest guy in my gym class. He is also a jock; you know football and all that.

“It’s nice to meet you, Nitro” I said

“You know this is some badass electronic music, I like to make songs like this on my free time” He said

“Really! I do the same thing. It’s kind of strange though, I always thought that you would have a passion for sports” I said in a surprised tone

“Yeah, that’s what everyone thinks. It’s actually my father that is forcing me to play sports and become an allstar, but I want to make music” He said

“Your father needs to give you a little freedom on what you want to do. After all, it’s your life not his” I said

“That’s something that sheriff would say” He exclaimed

“You know the sheriff is my father” I said

“Really! He’s a very wise man” He said

“Yeah, most of the things that he say come from his father or his 24 years in the military. Pretty much, that rubs of him to me” I said

“Wow, 24 years” He said

“Eeyup, he’s a veteran” I said

“I thank your father for his service” He said

“I will tell him that, actually both sides of my family is all military” I said

“That means you have soldier blood inside you” He said

“I guess so, but I’m not joining the military” I said

“Why not?” He asked

“It’s not what I wanted to be, I wanted to be a music producer. Even though my father wants me to continue my family’s legacy, I have cousins that can do that. That’s why he let me chose what I wanted to be” I replied

“It was nice talking to you, Quickfire. I have to meet up with my friends. Here you can have my number and we will talk some more’ He said

He writes his number on a napkin and he handed it to me.

“I’ll talk to you later” I said

I finally alone at the table again and I can go back to listening to the music. Then suddenly, the power went out. Everybody awed as they knew that the party had to end and everyone headed for the exit. I got up from my seat and headed for the door. I made it outside to my friends standing together, I walk towards them and Pinkie seems to be sad that the party had to end.

“What’s wrong Pinkie?” I asked

“Oh nothing, I’m just disappointed that the party had to end early” Pinkie replied

“It’s ok, I had a good time. I have to go home now, my father is probably worried sick knowing that the power went out” I said

“Ok, I’m glad that you enjoyed the party. I’ll talk to later, Quickfire” she said

“Alright, I’ll see you all tomorrow” I said

They all said goodbye in unison and I started walking towards my car. I get in and start it up and started driving, I waved goodbye to my friends and I was on my way home. I arrive home to see my father looking out the front door with a candle in his hand. I pull up in the driveway and got out of my car and immediately locked it. I walked up the steps and my father opened the door for me.

        “Are you alright?” I asked

        “I’m fine. I’m just checking if you made it home safe” He replied

        “Ok” I replied

        I walked over to the entertainment center and grabbed one of the lit candles and walked into my room. I got out my clothes and back into my PJ’s I was wearing earlier today. I walk to my door and stuck my head out the doorway.

        “I going to bed” I said

        “Ok” He replied

        I closed the door and walked over to my bed. Before I laid down, I put the candle on the nightstand and make sure my windows are locked. Once I finished checking everything, I laid down on my comfortable bed that feels like a cloud for earth ponies. Within ten minutes, I started feeling sleepy and eventually fell into a deep sleep.