My Little Fortress : Losing is Funby PnoyChaptersChapter 1 : The EmbarkChapter 2 : Arrival-Embark and Game Info- UPDATES FREQUENTLYChapter 3 : Uninvited Guests and Welcome Refugees [INCOMPLETE]Chapter 1 : The Embark**My Little Fortress : Losing is Fun* - Chapter 1 : The Embark* By: TwiliteSpunklez (Now goes by Pnoy) Note: Following '***,' will be links to optional music to help set the mood for the following passages. One's without a link signify the end of previously playing music. (Be sure to open them in a new tab!) *** Recently the weather in Ponyville has changed for the worse. It was early spring in Ponyville and Winter Wrap Up had already taken place. But only a few short days after the end of winter, it started snowing again. The pegasus ponies baffled by the return of the winter weather, because normally they planned all the weather. Even if they had scheduled the sudden snow storm they wouldn't have had enough snowflakes ready for it. As most of the snowflakes were expended over winter. The pegasus ponies tried to break up the clouds just as they did during Winter Wrap Up, but with little effect. The clouds only returned a short time later after many hours of hard work to get rid of them. When it was clear to the ponies that they couldn't get rid of the clouds, they tried to wait it out. But after weeks of non-stop snowing and many ponies struggling to feed themselves, they decided they needed to leave Ponyville. Chosen by Mayor Mare, the Elements of Harmony were chosen to found a new town in an area far to the east of Ponyville on the other side of the Everfree forest. They decided it would be the best place to settle since it was rumored the land there was so favorable. The weather there mysteriously changed and scheduled itself. While none of the ponies knew why this occurred, they did know the changes followed a pattern and never really strayed far from it. Acting on this, they felt it would be safe to assume the weather there was still hospitable. Now our heroes, currently without Applejack, are parading through the streets of the frostbitten town in order to prepare for their journey. Many ponies came outside, dressed in winter gear, to give the friends a bittersweet farewell. Although they knew that eventually they would also move to their new home, they still had to say goodbye to many of the great memories they shared in Ponyville. However, little did they know, along with the naturally occurring weather, were more dangerous entities that existed outside the magical protection of Celestia. While inside Celestia's magical reach many predatory animals are driven out, and into the Surrounding landscapes. Her reach extended to the border between Ponyville and the Everfree forest, but they would go far beyond that border, with little connection to the Princess. *** "Where's Applejack?!" asked Twilight Sparkle as she walked with her other friends. "Sheis probaly back at her farm saying goodbye to her family, it really must be hard on her..." Answered Fluttershy with Angel riding on her back. "You think this is easy for the rest of us? I'm not gonna see Cloudsdale again! And what am I going to do now? I don't have a job!" Grumbled Rainbow Dash, guiding the oxen that pulled the caravan full of their equipment. "Rainbow, you know she's lived on that farm all her life with her family, and I don't think she ever expected to leave that farm. Its been in her family since Granny Smith's parents founded Ponyville, I think we can cut her some slack." stated Twilight Sparkle. "Yeah, but, all I'm saying is- ugh never mind." refuted the cyan, rainbow maned pegasus. "Look, it will all be fine, you'll see. It's not like anyone was hurt, or we won't be seeing anypony else again, we are just moving, that's all." Twilight reassured. "Oh look! There she is!" Shouted Pinkie Pie suddenly, prancing in the air, hoof pointing out towards the orange mare. She came into view around the corner of a building hauling a saddle bag full of seeds and tools. Following the honest earth pony was Big Mac also carrying seeds and tools. Once they caught up to each other, Twilight thought Applejack seemed unusually solemn. "Hey guys." greeted Applejack bluntly. "Is something the matter Applejack?" inquired Twilight. "Actually, I'm just learn'n to cope with the changes ah guess.." the orange earth pony started, "But, do ya think Big Mac'll be able to come with us?" "Oh uhm, I don't think it'll matter, in fact that would be nice to have him come along! But that'll be up to the Mayor." she answered. Big Mac just stood there with his large red scarf, stoically staring back at the group of friends. 'Never was a stallion of many words' Twilight thought to herself. 'But we could certainly use his size, I still don't know why the mayor thought it would be such a great idea to send just a small group of young mares like us out to found an entire town.' Applejack felt somewhat relieved to hear that Big Mac would be able to come with them. It meant a lot to Applejack more than her friends probably would have realized, she always was a family mare. "Well," Applejack sighed preparing herself for the inevitable, "We'd best get goin' wouldn't want to keep her wait'n, we got a job to do." "Agree'd, come on girls." Twilight gestured towards the Town Hall. As they approached the Town Hall, a sizable crowd, despite the weather, had formed outside in anticipation for the friends' departure. They made their way through the crowd of on looking ponies, many rather sad to see them departing, knowing they too would be following them. They continued up to the Town Hall's steps until they met the Mayor who was waiting for them behind a podium atop the stairs. "Hello girls..." The Mayor paused as she stared at Big Mac, "Big Mac, what are you doing here?" "We were hoping he could come with us." Stated Twilight. The Mayor took a moment to reply. "Well I suppose it would be for the best, he is a strong hard-working pony." She stated. "Big Mac, do you wish to go with them?" "Eeeyup." His ever so familiar reply. "It's settled then! Big Mac shall also accompany our ponies on their journey!" The Mayor announced to the rest of the ponies. The crowd of ponies responded with a rumbling hoof stomping, muffled by the laden snow. She motioned her hoof up to silence the crowd's applause. After a moment the rumbling of the hooves slowed to a stop and the Mayor began, "Today we say goodbye to our heroes that have saved us countless times already. Let it be known, though we are saying goodbye, that they are not leaving us, but instead, they leave for us!" The crowd began their applause again as if on cue. After a moment the stomping ceased and she resumed her speech, "Many of us here have lived in Ponyville for most of our lives, and we have seen it grow from just a small village, into a sizable town. But now changes beyond Celestia's control have forced us to take drastic action. In order to continue to thrive as a community we are forced to leave our homes in search for new ones. Although we are leaving many memories behind, many more await us in our new home." The Mayor paused for a moment and cleared her throat after taking a drink from her hot chocolate that sat on the podium. She continued her speech, which she had taken some time before to prepare. It was a strong and inspirational speech, but it couldn't do much to improve the situation that the ponies had left in front of them. "D-do you think this is the right thing to do?" Fluttershy quietly whispered to Rarity who stood next to her. Rarity's attention suddenly snapped to Fluttershy and she turned her head to look at the yellow pegasus. Being so immersed within the Mayor's speech, she almost forgot her friend was there. "What do you mean darling?" "Well... I mean, it just seems so, uhm... Sudden. Just packing up and leaving, everything." she emphasized. "Oh sweetie, you heard Twilight, it'll be fine, a girls just gotta get a little dirty sometimes to get some real work done, that's all. You'll see, once we get it all set up everything will be just like Ponyville, just think of it as a change of scenery!" assured Rarity. "I-I guess, I just don't have a good feeling about this..." Fluttershy said under her breath. *** Zecora combed through the plants for her missing herb. The zebra experienced trouble getting the herbs she needed for her latest brew because of the recent snow fall. Although where she lived wasn't necessarily affected by the change in weather like Ponyville was, many of the more tropical herbs couldn't survive the colder temperature that blown in from Ponyville. She had felt uneasy since leaving her hut to find the herbs she needed, as silence and a dense screen of fog began to form throughout the jungle. Zecora was used to living on her own, as she had for some time now. But to find these herbs, she was forced into an area she wasn't very familiar with. 'All is not well' the Zebra thought as she paused from her work. She stood for a moment feeling increasingly uncomfortable with her environment. Deciding she wasn't comfortable enough to continue, she started back towards her hut, but then she heard a snap behind her. She turned quickly to face her possible intruder. She didn't see anything but she didn't feel safe, there was something there. "Come out, who ever you a-" she was suddenly interrupted as a giant yellow and dotted feline pounced at the Zebra from the bushes. *** Zecora jumped in surprise, standing on her rear hooves flailing her front ones. The leopard immediately tackled Zecora to the ground with claws dug into the zebra's chest. Violently, Zecora kicked her back legs making contact with the leopards soft underbelly with both of her hooves. The contact was hard enough to bruise and knock the breath from the leopard but was not hard enough to throw the leopard off the Zebra. "STOP YOU MONSTER, I WILL BE FORCED TO DEFEND IF YOU CONTINUE TO OFFEND-" shouted Zecora until she was interrupted again with the leopard's teeth digging into her neck. Pain shot through her neck and she felt the walls of her throat punctured with a rush of blood spurting out. "Gk-krr," she gurgled as the blood filled her punctured throat. The flailing of her rear legs intensified but ultimately to weak to do anything as the pain overwhelmed her. The zebra's thoughts became clouded and she was unable to concentrate on protecting herself. 'W-whhha-a-attt' is all she could manage as she felt her head getting increasingly light from the lack of blood. The Leopard laid atop the Zebra with both rear and front claws now dug into the Zebra with its killing grasp being its fangs. She felt sharp, pinching on her chest and lower body where the leopard had dug its claws in. But those were nothing in comparison to the pain she felt in her throat. She felt four large fangs clasping increasingly harder on her neck. She couldn't breathe anymore as her own blood began filling her lungs. Her body reacted, and blood started getting ejected from her mouth as she coughed it up trying to clear her lungs. But as she coughed, it only served to rip her wounds open as the leopard's teeth held on harder, agitated with her struggling. She felt her limbs growing cold, and her head getting incredibly light and even colder. The world seemed as if it were spinning until a horrible ripping sensation flooded her stomach. "Nnn-ggqqquukkk-" she gurgled, in response to the leopard pushing its claws in and down the zebra's underbelly. She could only look in horror at the leopard's eyes that stared back at her with fire and rage. She could feel tears swelling up in her eyes, and everything going blurry as she felt her colon splash onto the ground. It shot a nauseating pain through her belly as the colon detached itself from the body and ripping out other essential organs with it. She felt her bowels release themselves and her bladder emptying, but the bladder broke, unleashing its contents all over the other organs and spraying onto the ground. The pain climaxed, with an emptiness in her body that she could not describe. The air licking the inside of her body, drying her flesh. Traces of urine she could feel burning and infecting her entrails. But suddenly the pain stopped. Almost as if by some kind of magic everything was cold and not even the sharpness of the leopard's fangs could bother her. She felt her consciousness fading as her eyes shut. Her last blood bubbling breath drew to a close. And in that moment, the zebra ceased to exist. The leopard continued its hold on the zebra's neck for a moment to be sure it was dead. Zecora's body laid there on its side covered in blood and partly in fluids released from her extremities. Her entrails laid falling out of her stomach on the ground getting stuck with dirt and other particles. Her saddlebag she had carried lied on the ground behind her with its contents spilled out across the ground. Her mane and coat dirtied with fresh blood and earth, along with traces of urine that had ejected from her bladder. Her expression, with closed eyes that leaked drying tears, left limp as her tongue protruded from her lifeless muzzle. When the leopard felt no more struggling from its meal, it let go and started sniffing the body. It realized it had spilled its urine and other excretions on itself inside the stomach cavity. The meat was spoiled in that area and noted to eat around it. It began eating and left the leopard well fed, and alive for another couple of days before it would need something else to eat. *** End of Chapter. I hope you enjoyed! This is different from the last version because I am taking a new approach to the back story and writing structure, this is only a prologue and the elements of Dwarf Fortress wont take over until the next chapter. Please leave comments below on suggestions, and errors you might find, I will make corrections to the best of my ability as I see them! Sorry for the Zecora scene if you weren't ready for that, but I wanted to emphasis on the possible dangers that lurk and await our ponies, because this is Dwarf Fortress, not a child's cartoon show anymore. Chapter 2 : Arrival**My Little Fortress : Losing is Fun* - Chapter 2 : Arrival* By: TwiliteSpunklez (Now goes by Pnoy) Note: Following '***,' will be links to optional music to help set the mood for the following passages. One's without a link signify the end of previously playing music. (Be sure to open them in a new tab!) Don't rush, it's best enjoyed slowly. *** Within the same ruins where Twilight Sparkle and the other Elements of Harmony had united to defeat Nightmare Moon, stood Luna in secrecy. She gazed out the decayed window that overlooked her once glorious kingdom. She looked back to the days when Celestia, her sister, had banished her from Equestria. Not many are alive from that time, non-alicorns were typically not immortal like alicorns were. However few powerful unicorns posses the ability to cast "Vita aeternum," granting them immortality. Whenever this was cast, it transformed the target into an alicorn as well. Although there were no known records of it ever being successfully cast, there was one pony which possessed the capacity for such magic. "Twilight Sparkle." she whispered to herself, glancing down to see a glistening piece of armor that laid broken before her. It was from her helmet she wore as Nightmare Moon, she sighed. "Forgive me." Many more minutes had passed as she continued to appreciate the beauty of the night she had brought forth. The land, encased in a blue shroud, the clear starry sky and distant blue mountains complemented the rural earth below, dotted with farms and towns which shone with lights. But where things were at peace, not to far, roared a fierce winter storm, concentrated on the immediate region's biggest town, Ponyville. Eventually, Luna could hear steps approaching her as they echoed through the ruined castle. Somepony was coming from the staircase that was at the other end of the once grand throne room. She turned her head to confirm the arrival's identity. "You're finally here." she spoke. "Sorry princess, I was almost seen on my way here but I managed to slip by." Replied a dark grey unicorn wearing Luna's night guard armor. "They have departed Ponyville your majesty." "Good." Luna commented, as she turned her attention back to the night baring landscape before her. "The mayor did well then, she follows orders nicely." Luna turned back to face the guard that stood near entrance of the staircase. "Is the storm still in effect?" "The pegasus have tried to break it up but your magic is powerful." Luna smirked. "Keeping Celestia oblivious isn't going to be easy." "Won't she write, or try to reach her student, Twilight?" Asked the guard. "She will try, and she will reach her. But by then it will be too late, the Signa will be breached." "Are you sure this is for the best?" "It's the only way." Responded Luna grimly. *** "Spike!" She paused expecting an answer, but none came... "SPIIIKEE!!!" yelled Twilight Sparkle about to throw a fit. She had meant to get Spike's attention for some time now. She stood outside the kitchen impatiently tapping her hoof on the hard wood floor, looking up the staircase for a small purple dragon descending its steps. When he didn't come down, she decided to see what the delay was. Twilight trotted over to the stair case and swiftly trotted up each step diligently, careful not to stumble. When she neared the top of the stair case she peeked her head over the wall looking into the bedroom. She saw Spike laying in his basket covered by his blanket. Confused as to why he didn't get up when she called him, she trotted over to him. 'That's odd usually he is always so punctual, maybe he isn't feeling good.' she thought to herself as she looked down over him. He wasn't moving much but she could tell he was breathing, barley. she gently poked Spike in the side and whispered, "Spike? Are you ok?" She didn't get much of a response other than a sigh, but he didn't show any signs of waking up. She started to panic as realization hit her. 'Oh no, he couldn't be! Not now!' she thought. She began to pace the room in her worry. 'How long has it been Twilight? It hasn't been that long has it? He couldn't be.... I-' she stopped pacing and hung her head low. "S...Spike..." She said without moving her head and opening her eyes as she felt tears welling up in them. "Spike..." She said desperately. "Please get up..." she asked one last time. But there was still only silence to answer her. She stood there for a moment, her back facing her beloved assistant, hoping, that for any reason, he would wake back up. But she knew he wasn't, he was a dragon and this was inevitable, he was hibernating. A dragon's childhood is short, and concludes when the dragon enters a near stasis state like hibernation. Although it is not entirely like hibernation, many refer to it as such, because it is similar to a long sleeping period that many mammals share during winter. But the body of the dragon didn't rest, and for 100 years he would stay in that state until he was fully grown. His body would continue to grow until reaching its fullest maturity. Twilight had been told when she first hatched Spike that she would have him as an assistant. But she always knew when it came time, they would be separated and Spike would go to live independently as a fully grown dragon. Usually when a dragon goes into hibernation, after 100 years they tend to suffer from amnesia, remembering little to nothing from their childhood. If Spike was hibernating, when he wakes back up, he most likely won't recognize Twilight. Typically fully grown dragons were aggressive and greedy by nature, far different from their childhood. They become almost non-sentient as instincts take over for a majority of their actions. So for Twilight's safety, Celestia would take Spike back, and let him grow in peace with in Canterlot castle and release him once he was awake. Once he was released he was free to live as he willed, and like most would probably fly to the colder, more mountainous northern region where many of the dragons lived in Equestria.'I--- I wish I could have said goodbye...' Suddenly Spike jumped up from his bed and ran to the window. Twilight heard the commotion and eagerly turned around to see him. "Oh Spike! I thought you w-" she started before being cut off by the purple dragon. "SHUT UP!" He screeched back at her, while still looking out the window intently. She was withdrawn by his sudden outburst and instantly her feelings felt hurt. She approached Spike unsure of what he was doing, "Spike.. what has gotten into you?" She asked firmly. "Shhh! Can't you tell I'm busy?" Spike replied impatiently. Twilight continued to stare at him from his side while he looked out the window. She wasn't sure what was going on with him but she didn't like it, he wasn't acting normal. After several long moments he began talking. "I just- I hear them, it's maddening. I don't know what they are! Auuuuuuugh!" He roared, "GET THEM OUT OF MY HEAD!" he whirled around, holding his hands over his ears. "The taunting! Make it stop!" "What? Spike? Spike!" Twilight put her hooves out to hold on to the dragon, but almost as if made of air, her hooves went directly through him. Twilight fell forward as the rest of her went through Spike and fell on to the floor next to the window. Just as the purple unicorn made her way back to her hooves, she turned to see a large rush of water flood into her bedroom and smack her against the opposing wall. She felt as if she was drowning and struggled to swim as the currents carried her around her room. Spike remained unaffected by the sudden appearance of the water and continued to flail around complaining about the voices in his head. But just as she had focused in on her situation the world started shaking violently and replaced by a blinding light. *** She awoke with a start, "Bw-ahhhh!" She gasped as she panted heavily for air. After taking a moment to collect herself she glanced at her surroundings. Applejack was standing over her with a bucket upside down and water dripping out of it. She looked down at herself and felt water dripping from her mane, and her coat was soaked from her head to her neck. They were in the middle of a forest when she had remembered what they were doing. "Ahm sorry sugar cube for the start, but I just couldn't wake y'all up fer nuthin'." Stated Applejack apologetically. "Oh, uh, it's fine, don't worry about it..." responded Twilight sounding drowsy. "It's nice and early so ah figured we could get goin' soon, once we had ourselves some breakfast n' all" replied Applejack merrily. "Don't worry bout' a thing Twi, Pinkies been makin' us a big breakfast." she said, pointing her hoof at the pink party pony slaving over a fire with smores. Twilight looked around to see Big Mac still asleep next to the caravan and Rainbow Dash coming back with Rarity and Fluttershy baring fruits. Twilight sighed as she stood up. "I had another dream about Spike." Applejack paused for a moment, she knew Spike was a touchy topic for her, they were really close. "Oh..." she paused, "Ahm sorry Twi, but you knew he had to leave eventually." "I know, I just can't get over it... but it was weird this time." Twilight stated. "The dream I mean, he woke up this time, and started yelling at me." "He was yellin' at you? What do ya mean?" Responded Applejack concerned. "I don't know he just kept yelling about voices he was hearing." Answered Twilight. "Listen Twi, it was just a bad dream, he's fine and he'll be all happy n' healthy when he gets back up. That's all that matters, ya want him to be happy don't-chya?" Applejack added. "Yeah.... I know..." Twilight sighed again. The ponies eventually gathered around Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie flipped the smores in a pan as if they were pancakes, but some how it worked and the smores, cooked perfectly. Don't question Pinkie physics. Once the smores appeared done she started handing one out to everypony. "Y'know Pinkie, these are really good! Why didn't I try smores for breakfast before!?" Rainbow Dash commented, contently munching on her smore. "I know right!? I was like, hmm, I don't have flour or milk or cheese or frosting or sugar or peanut butter or jam or jelly or bread or grapes or apples or muffins or cupcakes ORRRRRRRR cherries, so I thought that smores was the next best thing!" Shouted the pink pony merrily. Even in the rather unfortunate situation the ponies found themselves in, the party pony always managed to keep a smile on. The group chuckled at Pinkie's randomness and continued to snack on their freshly prepared smores. Big Mac woken up by the smell of smores and sounds of laughter, slowly got up and stretched. He gingerly made his way over to the little camp fire and was offered a generously sized smore. "Since you're so BIG, BIG mac, I thought I would make you a BIG breakfast!" Said the pink pony while holding out a tray with a triple sized smore resting on top, with extra chocolate goodness oozing out the sides. Although not a stallion for sweets, Big Mac decided to make an exception for the pink pony's treat. "Thank you." he said, taking the over burdened tray. The ponies continued to enjoy their time together, sitting around the campfire feasting on their smores, partaking in conversation and having a good time. After a while the camp fire died and they finished their meals. They packed up whatever items they needed, and continued to their destination. *** Big Mac was in the back of the group guiding the large oxen that pulled the caravan. Originally Rainbow Dash was tasked with this job before Big Mac joined the group. But when he joined, the job more suited Big Mac, and instead Rainbow Dash acted as a scout over head, flying above the thick Everfree forest canopy to get a good look of the terrain ahead. Fluttershy and Rarity were in the middle of the group behind Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy carried some of Big Mac's saddle bag and split the rest with Rarity to carry. Beside them walked and or hopped, Angel the bunny, and opalescence the cat. Pinkie Pie was bouncing happily along, singing various tunes to keep the group's spirits up and to help the time pass. Applejack was in front of Pinkie with Winona sleeping on her flank, she also carried her saddle bags she had earlier. In front of the group, usually assuming the leadership role was Twilight, she knew the directions to the site they were looking for and with her organizational skills they'd be prepared for anything. The group walking below could hear Rainbow Dash shouting from above. "Hey guys! There's something wrong ahead! There's a bunch of birds flying around something!" The cyan pegasus shouted. "Really? What kinda birds are they?" Twilight shouted back. "One sec. Imma go check it out!" responded Rainbow as she was heard flying away. Twilight would have told her to wait but she was already gone before she could say anything. "She shouldn't really go off by herself like that!" Mentioned Rarity. "You're right but now we gotta wait here for her, we don't know where she flew off too." answered Twilight. "Ah don't like this." mumbled Applejack. "Wh-what if they're vultures? You know vultures only fly around something if..." Fluttershy gulped, "... Y-you know." The group stopped to look at Fluttershy then looked back at each other and shared her concern. "Lets just hope for the best darling." comforted Rarity, patting Fluttershy's back with her hoof. The group waited there for a minute when they heard what sounded like Rainbow Dash whistling through the air. The whistling got louder and they even heard it go passed them, but when they shouted for her, she came back. She came through the canopy rather hard and smashed through several branches before landing on the ground kind of hard. She was out of breath and panting heavily. After she caught her breath she looked around frantically and hovered over too Big Mac and whispered into his ear. As she finished whatever she whispered to Big Mac, the rest of the group just watched as he nodded his head slowly and gave the reigns of the oxen to Rainbow Dash and headed off ahead of the group. "Rainbow Dash what exactly is goin' on here?" Questioned Applejack looking back at Rainbow Dash as Big Mac passed her, heading off to the direction Rainbow Dash flew from. "I agree, What is all the commotion over Rainbow?" joined Rarity. "Rainbow, what did you see?" Demanded Twilight. Rainbow continued to stare back at the group for a moment before landing back on the ground, and tugging the oxen forward with her. She approached her concerned friends who simply stood there and stared at her, waiting for her response. "I-" she began before dropping her head down and looking at the ground, fighting sobs. She looked back up at her friends with her watery eyes, "I-I saw Zecora..." she started, her voice sounded weak and still out of breath. "... A-and... She was dead." Fluttershy put her hoof over her mouth and gasped in shock. "Oh my..." she muttered. "W-What!?" Applejack's jaw dropped, "What in tarnation happened?!" she finished while grabbing her hat off her head and putting it to her chest. Twilight sat down in disbelief. "This is horrible! Oh sweet Celestia!" Rarity wailed as she started frantically pacing around the group. "I-I-I don't know, I-I just saw her body... I couldn't stay." Rainbow Dash mumbled shaking her head, trying to fight what she saw out of her head. Fluttershy who already had tears running down her face, approached and comforted the distressed cyan mare. She rested her head on her shoulder with her leg over Rainbow's back. "I'm so sorry you had seen something so..." she paused, "horrible." she said as easily as she could, pulling Rainbow in tight. "Thanks Fluttershy..." Rainbow Dash returned. "But... I just- I just don't know.." "Rainbow Dash, you have always been there for me, let me be here for you." Fluttershy started. " I've seen a lot of horrible things. I've cared for a lot of animals around here, and I've seen a lot of animals that have been hurt really bad. Some times it is even easier, and better to just put them to sleep, forever. But, nothing ever just dies, their souls leave to go somewhere else, they go to a place called 'Ulterius.'" Rainbow Dash looked up at Fluttershy slowly, her sobs giving way. "What's, that?" she asked, sniffling. "My parents told me when I was a little filly that it's a place all ponies and animals go when they die," Fluttershy responded, "I was told that it was a good place, where we can do anything we want, and live happily, forever, without anything to worry about. One day we would all have to go there, and when we do we could see our old friends who passed away, family and even old pets." "Wow Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash looked up to her, "Really, that makes me feel a lot better... But, what I saw..." Fluttershy put her hoof to Rainbow Dash's mouth, and hugged her tightly. Rainbow Dash surprised by her gesture, accepted it, and closed her eyes, leaning into her friend's caring arms. They sat there for a while without moving, almost as if meditating. Rainbow Dash hadn't really ever thought about death and the afterlife. She never really wanted too, she was scared of it more than anything else. She never had much of a family either, so no one really talked to her about that kind of thing so intimately. In a way, the only family she ever had were her closest friends, and before she met Rarity, Twilight, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie, her only closest friend was Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash was grateful for her friends she had, and she never wanted anything to happen to them. When she saw Zecora, more than anything else, the fear of her friends running into the same fate overwhelmed her. But somehow despite the circumstances, Fluttershy managed to calm her down ever so gracefully. 'Ulterius huh, if that place is real, then, I will never have to worry about losing my friends, we can live their together, forever.' she thought to herself. The idea of a place to be with the ponies she cared about the most, comforted her, and the more she thought about it, the less she grew weary of death. *** Big Mac made his way through the thick vegetation, following Rainbow Dash's directions. When he reached a river that Rainbow Dash had told him to look for, Zecora would be just on the other side, he waded through it only to find a horrid aroma to greet him. He gulped. 'Well, let's see what we got...' he thought, trying to break the uneasiness in his head. As he headed the direction where the smell seemed to becoming from he could only feel as if he wasn't alone. He continued towards the smell until he ran into a squabble of vultures fighting over a bone that still had flesh stuck to it. He knew what it was from and smacked the birds away with his hoof. Although vultures were rather big for birds, they weren't a match for the big and strong stallion. He stared down at the bone and sighed. 'Ah never seen't anything quite like this before...' he thought as he dug at the ground for a hole to rest the remains. ~~~ (Denotes a narrative from an omniscient figure) Violence wasn't common in Equestria, or at least in the area's where the ponies lived, under the umbrella of Celestia's protection. The heaviest of violence known to ponykind, being minor physical encounters to resolve a given argument. Few ponies ever saw any need to leave Celestia's protection since her rise to power, as she enhanced much of the land and fulfilled many of their needs. They always found the world outside Celestia's dominion, almost barren and withered compared to the region they lived. For the most part they were right, Celestia had enriched the environment so much, that many animals and other organisms in the surrounding area migrated into the flourishing region. However, despite the much more hospitable environment there were other regions of Equestria that maintained fruitful land. The Zebra nation rested in a desert region, though the majority of the land desolate, hosted large amounts of valuable resources and precious materials. The Griffin nation which sat in the more temperate, sub-arctic region, was home to more mountainous terrain where the griffins prospered and were better suited to live in. Celestia noticed the appearance of many more creatures, especially hostile ones. In response, she exiled the more aggressive-natured creatures from the areas with in her reach, in hopes of protecting her beloved subjects. Celestia's magic is powerful, and is the main component behind the prosperity of the thriving pony civilization. But the immortal goddess, is not without limitation. Though the spell appeared to play a passive role, it required much of Celestia's attention and magic. While the spell did not end, it capped her ability to use other magics. She was limited to basic magic while the spell was cast because it took such a large amount of magic to support, and what ever magic was left, which was little, she used for other spells. The protective and vitalizing barrier was known to the few that knew of its existence, as the Signa. ~~~ (Denotes the end of an omniscient monologue) Big Mac hardly knew Zecora but still felt a great deal of shock that something so horrible had happened to her. He didn't understand what killed her, and though a part of him didn't even have the desire to know, he had to make sure the others would be safe. 'CRACK' Big Mac spun around quickly ready to strike. "O- uh- I'm sorry!" Pinkie squealed as she winced at Big Mac's rather intimidating glare. Relieved to see it was just Pinkie Pie, Big Mac lightened up and stood straight from a battle ready pose he had taken. "Why Ah don't think you should be here right now..." he stated rather firmly. "Look, I might be a crazy pony and all, but I want to know what happened to Zecora if I'm going to be out here!" rebutted the pink pony. Somewhat surprised at the usually sporadic pony's more realistic approach to the situation, Big Mac hesitated in his response, "Well, ah just don't know if yer gonna like what you see." "This isn't about what I like or think, this is about our safety and if we are going to be out here we need to know what dangers are involved." replied Pinkie Pie. Big Mac was astonished at amount of uncharacteristic logic the pony had used, he submitted and nodded his head simply and gestured the pony to follow him and started down the path he was headed. The pink pony quickly caught up and they continued in the direction of the stench, but not for long as they rounded a large thicket of thorns to find the body amongst a patch of various herbs and wild flowers. Many of the plants were splattered with blood and the ground fared no better. Bits of flesh and hair lay strewn about, bones and many of the entrails appeared scattered. Many insects festered on the body but despite it all, the face remained almost entirely untouched, with the same limp, lifeless stare greeting the ponies. Pinkie Pie fell down on to her flank, gasped and covered her mouth with her hooves. Big Mac stared, though he had never seen anything so gruesome in his life he could tell from the scene that Zecora hadn't just died, instead she had been attacked, confirming his worst fears. He had hoped that she might have died of poisoning or maybe of an illness, but if she was attacked, the danger could still be near. "Pinkie Pie, come here." He wasn't given a response. "Pinkie?" he looked behind him where she was but she was gone. *** As Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash continued their time together, Twilight could only stare pointlessly ahead of her self. 'What in Celestia's name is going on!?' she thought to herself. 'How could she let something so horrible happen? Is something wrong with her? Is she getting weaker? Does this have something to do with the blizzard?' she continued in deep thought sitting helplessly on her flank. Rarity was anxiously pacing and speculated what could have caused such a horrible thing. 'M-m-maybe it was something she ate? How could she have eaten something poisonous, she was so good with herbs! Perhaps it was just of age getting the best of her, but she seemed so young!' she anxiously speculated. She took a break in her pacing to look at her friends when she noticed Pinkie Pie had went missing. She saw Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash sitting together and Twilight sitting by herself with an empty stare in her eyes as she looked blankly at Fluttershy and Rainbow who had their backs facing her. "T-Twilight?" Her name rang through her ears, as if some distant voice was shouting her name. Her head slowly turned towards Rarity who stared back at her with watery eyes which were wide with concern. "Huh?" she let out. "Have you seen Pinkie Pie?" she added. Suddenly snapped out of her haze, Twilight looked around her, unable to find her. "No I haven't where could she have gone?" There was a short pause as Twilight collaborated thoughts with Rarity, "Wait did she go with Big Mac?" Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash heard the commotion and got up to face Twilight and glanced back at each other "We didn't see her." They answered turning back to Twilight and Rarity. Suddenly they heard rustling in bushes near them. The group got up and faced the source of the disturbance. "Pinkie?" called out Rarity, peering into the vegetation. From the bushes emerged Big Mac, winded and panting heavily. He looked around at the friends and saw Pinkie wasn't there. "Ah lost her, she disappeared." Big Mac managed in between his breathing. Applejack put her hat back on that she had held against her. She ran over to the reigns of the Oxen and grabbed them from Dash and insisted, "C'mon guys we better go find her before somethin' horrible happens." The rest of the group quickly agreed and followed after Big Mac who ran back in the direction he came from. They eventually made their way past Zecora's remains but paid little attention to it except for Fluttershy who glanced at the body. She slowed down and frowned at the site but quickly brought her attention back to her friends that were speeding off ahead of her. She looked back at Zecora and said, "I'm so sorry, I hope you're in a better place." she managed before running after her friends. They ran through what seemed to be a recently trampled path through the foliage. After a while Rainbow Dash decided to take flight in order to look for her even though she had a hard time seeing through the canopy. Once she had flown above the canopy she immediately found that the forest ended only just up ahead and Pinkie Pie was sitting in the middle of a large field. "GUYS! I SEE HER!" She shouted. "Where is she!?" Shouted Twilight. "Shes straight ahead just keep going! The forest ends, she just sitting there!" She shouted back. Rainbow Dash bolted ahead and quickly caught up to Pinkie Pie and landed next to her. "Pinkie! Pinkie! Are you alright?" Rainbow Dash demanded. "I'm fine..." She returned solemnly. "Are you sure? You're not hurt or anything?" "I'm fine... Look, we're here..." She answered numbly. Rainbow Dash looked up and around, she was right, they had arrived at the spot the Mayor had described to them. But she still felt concerned for her friend. "Pinkie, look if you wanna talk about it-" "Thanks, really, but I'm fine, it's just a lot to take in." Pinkie Pie added. Rainbow Dash stared back at her friend confused, she knew something was up but she couldn't really figure it out. But she decided she would talk to her later about it. "Rainbow!" Rainbow Dash turned around and saw Twilight running at them as she came out of the tree line followed by Applejack, Big Mac, Fluttershy, and Rarity. "Guys, stop... we're fine." "What do you mean?" Twilight replied slowing to a stop a couple of feet behind Pinkie Pie. "We're here." she said, motioning to their surrounding. --.*=Strike the Earth=*.-- *** End of Chapter. I hope you enjoyed! Author Notes: A special thanks to my good friend: Prince Luminarium for being my ever so highly critical pre-reader and giving me great suggestions throughout my chapters so far, and for the many more to come! This was the last of the back story I should be doing and in the next chapter I'll start playing DF and start using DF to map out the story. I'd like to remind everyone AGAIN of the opportunity to get your oc ponies (self inserts are ok, as long as they have acceptable pony names) queued for inclusion in the game. I cannot tell you when/if your pony will be added in but I'll make a list below of people's oc ponies that are queued to be introduced into the game. Since your pony may be included in the game, he becomes one of the characters of the story! I can't promise you a major role in the story, but there defiantly is the chance that your character might become the hero that saves the day, gets into a serious relationship with the mane six (good or bad relationship,) or might just be mentioned on the side for being a good chef, or not mentioned at all, but you never know the amount of exposure you could get. As of now the que list is first come first serve and I don't have any requests so the list is empty, PM to get put on the list. Also I'd like to add that this story wont be so depressing all the time, I plan on covering all sorts of emotions and such, but the background story just happens to be this sad. look at me I'm rambling. See you guys in the next chapter! Current OC Que: (None) Edit: The list of queued ocs to be added will be updated per chapter. -Embark and Game Info- UPDATES FREQUENTLY**My Little Fortress : Losing is Fun* -Embark and Game Info-* !ATTENTION! THIS IS NOT A CHAPTER, THIS IS PURELY INFORMATIONAL !ATTENTION! Note: This is here because the two chapters before this had really nothing to do with Dwarf Fortress, Dwarf Fortress chapters follow this one. By: TwiliteSpunklez (Now goes by Pnoy) *** Chapter Status: *** Map of Embark: Game Window: Note: Window Ponies v1.5 will be providing me company as I play through my game :D! Also notice the windows I have minimized in the task bar. My Dwarf Fortress utilities that I'll be using to make this game possible is Runesmith (Dwarf hacking utility for pony customization), Dwarf Therapist (Pony job management and such), SoundSense (Audio mod) and of course the pony mod for Dwarf Fortress (at the time I acquired the mod it was only compatible with 31.25 of dwarf fortress and quite frankly I don't feel like updating atm.) *** So I'll be using this 'chapter,' to OCCASIONALLY, post pictures of the game n' such, don't expect much though, also updated OC pony list below. I actually plan on keeping the list here instead of clogging later chapters up with it. I'll keep track of the ponies that currently exist in the game, I'll also keep track of their health status but it will follow a spoiler warning as to prevent accidental spoilers. After that will come a gallery of my game which I will update leisurely. This will also feature general announcements and such so please refer back to this page often as I will have much to say! *** Announcements: News: Updated information on my chapters and such, some debugging and such too. Chapter 3 is currently being written. Old News: Game is official, I now have played through the game enough to write the next chapter, expect the newest chapter soon! This will be the first chapter to feature the actual lets play. *** Current OC Que: (NOTE: IF YOUR PONY WAS REMOVED, IT MAY MEAN THEY WERE ADDED TO THE GAME, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT SEE THEM MENTIONED IN THE STORY, NO GUARANTEES.) -Charles Locke (ClockworkMage) ___ -Mr. Ed (Zek) No picture. ___ *** WARNING SPOILERS BELOW DO NOT GO BELOW THIS LINE UNLESS YOU HAVE READ EVERYTHING UP TO DATE! White Space, for accidental spoiler prevention. Resident's of Harmony: Legend: Healthy Injured Critically wounded Deceased Twilight Sparkle Rainbow Dash Pinkie Pie Rarity Applejack Fluttershy Big Mac Golden Delicious Aloe Caramel Cheerilee Doctor Stable Thunderlane Apple Bumpkin Allie Way Ballad Lyra Comet Tail Cherry Cola Baritone Winter Storm DJ Pon-3 Al Amethyst Star Spitfire Diamond Tiara Braeburn Berry Punch Graphite Coconut Pipsqueak Arnie Silver Spoon Zecora Totals: 33 Alive 1 Dead Gallery: Coming soon! Or maybe eventually, but defiantly at some point. Chapter 3 : Uninvited Guests and Welcome Refugees [INCOMPLETE]**My Little Fortress : Losing is Fun* - Chapter 3 : Uninvited Guests and Welcome Refugees* By: Pnoy Note: Following '***,' will be links to optional music to help set the mood for the following passages. One's without a link signify the end of previously playing music. (Be sure to open them in a new tab!) *** *** TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK THUNK TINK TINK TINK TINK "Phhheeeeuuuuwww!" Rainbow hollered wiping away the sweat that percolated on her forehead. "Thi...TINK...s pretty tough work Rarit...TINK...m surprised you used t...TINK...o all this!" her voice echoing slightly as her words bounced off the walls of the long dark corridor they had dug out. TINK THUNK Rarity rested the heavy end of her pickax on the ground, and leaned on the handle. She looked over to the cyan pegasus who stood next to her, sharing the light that emanated from Rarity's horn. "Well darling, when you have been in the fashion business for as long as I have, you simply must learn to be resourceful. And if getting your hooves dirty, horrible no doubt, means getting that perfect ruby to go with your dress, you can bet your bits that the dirtiest mine wouldn't deter me." The pegasus raised an eyebrow, "Never woulda took you for that kinda girl Rare!" Rainbow playfully nudging the white unicorn with her hoof. "Hmph well, there's a lot to learn about me isn't there Dashie?" Rarity responded, shooting her pegasus friend a smirk and wink, Rarity's most devastating combo. Rainbow hesitated for a moment, 'Huh... I had no idea Rarity was so... in shape... But now that I think of it... her *shapes** are really... reeaallllyyy nice...* She felt an uneasy stirring sensation of infatuation in her stomach.'And those eyes... "er- Well, I guess we're done here. This is where Twilight wanted us to stop anyway." "Quite." Rarity agreed, "I guess we should head back up then?" She asked, glancing down the long, seemingly pointless tunnel Twilight had them dig. 'Hmm, maybe if I had some time with her alone...' "Ya know Rarity, now that I think about it, we never really got to spend a lot of time together." Rainbow added softly. "It seems that way doesn't it?" The white unicorn stated, "Perhaps we could spend a little time down here alone." She finished, leaning her pickax against the wall and lying next to Rainbow. 'W-wait, is she on to me already? What in Celestia was that *"alone,"** thing anyway?... Probably nothing, I got this.'* The pegasus cleared her throat and set aside her pickax. She moved hersel- CLANK The white unicorn jumped at the sudden noise while Rainbow Dash winced and chuckled weakly as clank reverberated through the tunnel. 'Stupid pickax, with its stupid design, who came up with that stupid thing anyway... The pegasus sighed quietly to herself. "Woops, heh..." Rainbow Dash muttered, getting herself comfortable next to her friend. From an outside perspective you would almost think the two were already dating, they sat only a hoof-full of inches apart. The two mares, for a moment, in utter silence, stared into one another's eyes. "Sooo-" Rainbow Dash started before being cut off by the white mare. "Dashie... Dear..." Rarity started, "I need a good friend's opinion, what do you think of my... tail?" The unicorn asked while playing with her tail and pulling it up her body. 'What kinda mare is she taking me for?' "W-what do you mean?" Rainbow inquired quickly. "I've been using a new conditioner for my tail and I feel like it takes away from its natural volume..." Rarity added, lying through her teeth. "Huh?" Rarity sighed. "Oh Rainbow Dash, you don't have to hide your feelings from me!" The white unicorn finished with a soft, caring tone. 'Why does everypony keep telling me that!' "Wait. What are you talking about!?" She asked, moving herself away from Rarity slightly. "You like me!" "WHAT?!" Rainbow Dash trying to play off the accusation. "Admit it! I am the most beautiful pony you have ever seen!" Rarity spoke while flaunting her mane. "Look Rarity, I don't know what's gotten into you bu-" The rainbow maned pegasus interrupted by Rarity's hoof covering her mouth. "Fine," Rarity started, "If you don't have the courage to admit it now..." The unicorn leaned over to her pegasus friend's ear using a quieter seductive, throaty murmur, "I'll be waiting..." Rarity stood up and levitated her pickax behind her as she headed for the staircase leading out of the tunnel they had dug. Rainbow Dash's lingering crimson eyes followed the beautiful fashionista as she departed. 'How does she know already!?! ... She's good...' The pegasus worked her way to her hooves and tucked her pickax under her wing. "I'll show her courage..." she mumbled under her breath as she headed out of the tunnel. *** Report 01 Thorn, Captain Designation: Settlement, Harmony Type: Monitoring; Intelligence Time of Operation: 04:40 -Controlled running water -Well -Courtyard -Palisade, moat, drawbridge -Equipped hospital -Dormitories -Assigned housing -Mass storage -Subterranean and surface irrigated farms Additional comments: Satisfactory progress and development. *** The pink maned pegasus stared carefully from under the table, into the hospital where she had heard a loud crash. "H-hello?" She nervously called. She only heard the distant wailing of the wind as it bore through the long open corridors of the subterranean fortress they called home. Many of the rooms lacked doors which Applejack promised her that she would start working on in the morning. Fluttershy had been fortunate enough to have gotten her own living quarters in the settlement, as most will likely have to live in a dormitory. Her quarters located, in the hospital wing, as Twilight only saw it fit to have the newly designated CMP (Chief Medical Pony) readily available if an emergency were to take place. As thrilled as Fluttershy was with her new home, she wasn't ecstatic about being separated from her friends that were all still in a small dorm together. Accustomed to life in her cottage, she was now somewhere new, and still beared scars from their encounter with Zecora's corpse. "EEEEEEEP!" Fluttershy squealed and panicked as a small furry figure came into view outside her doorway. Quickly Fluttershy realized it was only Winona. "Ohhh, Oh my," Fluttershy exhaling a sigh laden with relief, "Winona, you shouldn't sneak up on a pony like that." The brown dog returned a blank, curious gaze at the pegasus. Fluttershy giggled lightly, "Awww, why you're just a little sweetheart aren't you?" She began, climbing out from under the wooden table Applejack proudly labeled as her craftsponyship. The timid pony approached Winona and gave the small dog a good healthy petting. As with almost all animals, Winona was naturally attracted to her soft, motherly affection. "Would Winona like to go out?" She teased. Winona's ears immediately stood straight which seemingly triggered an episode of frantic dancing. Fluttershy read the Winona's excited energy as, 'GOODNESS YES, PLEASE TAKE ME!!!' And proceeded to walk with the small dog outside. They made their way through the hospital, the long corridors, passing by the dormitories where the others slept, the top of a spiraling staircase, a large open store-room which was full of various supplies and equipment until eventually they stood before the doorways that led outside to the courtyard. It was still very dark outside, the moon, barely visible over the horizon. And soon Celestia's sun would rise to greet the landscape. Although the darkness unsettled Fluttershy, she still decided to make the trip outside for Winona's sake. She stepped out and Winona took off passing the pegasus, plunging her nose into the ground. Fluttershy didn't go much farther past the doorway before stopping. She remained cautious, even though she was in the enclosed courtyard, other than being open to the sky. Her senses heightened and stood on guard for any kind of disturbances, she was concerned for the Winona's safety as she continued to wander farther and farther along her path, oblivious to anything around her. Eventually the small patchy brown and white dog finished her business without any problems, Fluttershy just glad the little escapade was over eagerly pressured Winona to come back inside. Using a hoof, held up to her mouth, she gave off a loud whistle to get the dog's attention and eventually Winona complied and started towards Fluttershy. As the dog neared the entrance Fluttershy gradually felt more comfortable as they neared the fortress' safety. The sky gradually began to grow brighter with the sun approaching the horizon as the moon made its hasty retreat. But Fluttershy kept getting the nagging feeling something was out there. Winona made her way past Fluttershy back inside, Fluttershy wasted no time following the canine inside. As they started their way through the main hall, Fluttershy suddenly felt her leg pulled out from under her and her body pulled back outside the door. "YAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! HELP ME!!!" She yelled, horrified for her life. She noticed a dark, bipedal creature, partly covered in feathers, bare where not, with wings that also served as arms, talons as hands and feet. It was no bigger than her but also much more slender, it small beady red eyes staring back at her. She kicked her legs at the bird-like creature trying to break its grasp. The yellow pegasus managed to kick and squirm her self free of her assailant and rapidly scrambled on her back away from the doorway it tried to pull her back through. Suddenly two more of the beasts arrived, and in a pack like mentality pursued Fluttershy. They were clumsy and chaotic at best, stepping and shoving each other to get to the frightened pink-maned pony, but their sharp talons were a real threat. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Winona growled, taking a protective place next to Fluttershy. The harpies continued to advance on Fluttershy, despite the dog's threats. Winona started barking ferociously as the creatures continued to get closer, and when they were too close Winona snapped and aggressively bit the closest offender. She managed to pierce the harpy's leathery leg and drew blood from where she latched on. The harpy screeched and kicked the mutt off. YELP The dog cried. Fluttershy was gravely concerned for the well-being of the dog, and desperately wanted to help, but was afraid of her own life as well. The three beasts turned their attention away from the pegasus and targeted the vulnerable mutt, backed into a wall. The bird-things prodded and provoked the trapped canine, every time it lashed out trying to ward off the intruders. While distracted by the dog's efforts, Fluttershy managed to get to her hooves and started yelling for her friends, "HEEEELLLLLPPPP SOMEPONY!!!! HEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!" She looked on at the situation frightened for Winona. One of the creatures managed to kick the small canine, sending it tumbling to the ground. The dog desperately tried to bite and kick itself away from the harpies, occasionally biting their arms or legs, but in the process getting hit and kicked many times. Fluttershy only helplessly looked on in horror at the engrossing violence that displayed before her. But a few moments later her friends and Big Mac turned the corner and met with Fluttershy at the other end of the corridor. "What in tarnation-" Applejack started but stopping at the sight of the harpies mauling Winona, immediately she charged after the creatures, Big Mac quickly followed suite. "Fluttershy what's going on!?" Twilight asked frantically. "I-I-I d-dont know! I was just w-walking Winona outside, and those horrible things showed up and tried to hurt me!" Without another moment Rainbow Dash flew towards the fight to help Applejack and Big Mac deal with the intruders. Applejack promptly arrived at the scene to relieve her pet from the aggressors. She charged into one of the monsters, sending it falling to the ground. Big Mac ran, and struck one of the bird-things with his front hoof, and the third one retaliated leaping at the red stallion. Big Mac managed to avoid the clumsy beast and delivered a swift buck to its ribs, fracturing many of its ribs, and it started wheezing as if having a hard time breathing. The rainbow maned pegasus landed next to the orange pony as the harpy managed to get back up. But as it did it suddenly emanated a purple aurora and was thrown back down the hall. It slid and eventually tumbled to a stop before the doorways having its breath knocked out of it. Big Mac dodged a slash from the harpy's talons and bucked it in the stomach, the forced sending the frail creature on its back and it immediately started retching up blood. The other harpy made its way back up despite its broken ribs and clear difficulties with breathing only to be charged by the big red stallion into the opposing wall. It fell back to the ground writhing in pain, and Big Mac landed a heavy hoof on its head. Big Mac's hoof easily broke through the hard bird skull, jamming shards of it through the birds brain, striking it down instantly. The depression in the made in the harpy's skull ripped the scalp open revealing much of the flesh that separated the skull from the skin. Under the weight of his hoof many of the creature's brains, squeezed out of the available openings and blood, splattering all over the wall. Good thing his coat was red to begin with. Before the harpy could managed its way back up Rainbow Dash managed to make her way to the fiend and delivered a kick to the harpy's body as it laid on the ground. The bird-thing screeched in agony as it received a forceful blow to its chin, kicking its head upwards and popping it out of its place, severing the spinal column from its head, its body seizured erratically for a moment before resting limp and lifeless. The last beast writhed in pain, rolling in its own pool of blood and vomit. KKeeeyAAWWWWW-YAWWWW it continuously howled. Applejack and Big Mac both started trampling the creature, cracks and snaps within the bird-things own body. Applejack reared up on her back legs and held her front hooves up high over the mangled harpy. With all of her might she brought down her hooves upon the harpy's head. In a massive explosion of gore, the head upon impact, caved in and from the top of the harpies head the brain, almost intact, encased in a gooey grey substance spilled out on to the floor. Blood poured out from the unrecognizable gore that once was where the harpy's head laid. There was a shared moment of silence among the heavy panting and occasional knocking of the harpy's bodies as they twitched. Winona broke the motionless hallway with a limp, and the blood stained Applejack ran over to her beloved pet. For the most part she appeared fine, Fluttershy soon came over and scooped up the small dog. She looked back at Applejack who just nodded, "Ah... Ah'll be there in a minute...." Fluttershy flew back through the corridors, heading towards the hospital where she planned on treating Winona for her injuries. Though the fight wasn't difficult, and nopony was hurt or injured otherwise, there was still a feeling of devastation. Rarity couldn't get over what she just saw, an absolute bloody massacre. She wanted to do so many things, anything other than be there, but she was so caught up in her thoughts she stared down the bloodied battleground blankly. Twilight's eyes were watering, "D-d-do... G-" not able to form a sentence, or thought, in her shock. She only stood there lifelessly, mouth ajar. Rainbow Dash stared down at her victim, its neck mangled and distorted. 'I-I-I just killed it' continuously looping through her thoughts. Applejack, still staring at the spot she had found Winona after the fight, didn't move and continued to stare at the ground. She eventually collapsed on the ground digging her head, speckled with blood, into her hooves, covered in blood. She started sobbing, perpetually reliving the traumatic events that just took place. 'W-what was goin' through mah head... ah just... ah didn't even think, ah just... just... murdered em'' Big Mac took a long, deep breath as he collected himself. 'Ah better stay strong fer the girls...' he thought to himself. Big Mac, without a word, threw the harpy he killed onto his back, blood still spilling out of its cratered skull, he also collected the other two corpses as headed towards the door, passing both the motionless mares. Applejack started sobbing, her sobs echoing through the hall, the only thing that filled the air other than the pungent smell of death and blood. *** Fluttershy had Winona laid down on a table as she looked over the dog's body for any severe or obvious injuries. Minor cuts and heavy bruising were prevalent throughout the small canine's body but that wasn't hardly anything to worry about. Fluttershy was relieved to see Winona wasn't too badly hurt and despite the recent events she wagged her tail happily as Fluttershy looked over her, even her tail's motions appeared somewhat stiff. Fluttershy spent some time nurturing the wounded dog, providing it with food and water while it rested and treating the open cuts to make sure they wouldn't get infected. After a moment Fluttershy noticed Applejack coming into the hospital. The pegasus trotted eagerly over to her orange friend quickly scanning her body for anything. Applejack took notice to Fluttershy's weary eyes, "Ah'm fine Fluttershy..." Putting a hoof up to stop Fluttershy from continuing her examination, "How's Winona?" The orange mare added. Fluttershy comforted to hear that she was alright, sighed and walked back over to Winona. "She'll be fine, there were some small cuts here and there, but nothing too serious..." She mentioned moving Winona's fur to show the cuts to Applejack. Applejack exhaled contently, "Thanks Fluttershy..." "Oh you don't have to thank me, I'm just glad no one is hurt." The earth pony grinned weakly at her friend and stood there quietly, her eyes wandering to the ground slowly. Fluttershy could tell there was something wrong. "Applejack, is something wrong?" The yellow pegasus asked. The honest pony struggled to hide the truth, she let a tear escape her already puffy eyes. "N-noo. Ah'm quite alright..." She mumbled, awkwardly shifting her head to the side and she fidgeted with her hoof, holding it off the ground, unique of her usual inability to lie. Fluttershy walked up to Applejack, "Applejack..." She began lowering her voice as gently as she could, "What is wrong?" Applejack closed her eyes but still didn't respond, tears still escaping her tightly shut eye lids. 'The fight must have been hard on her' Fluttershy stared at her friend for a minute, studying her every uncomfortable gesture, the silence was almost unbearable for the both of them. Fluttershy forced her way next to Applejack wrapping a hoof around her. The orange mare felt the pegasus's forehoof wrap over her shoulders and around her neck pulling her into the pink-maned pegasus's warm and welcoming body. the intensity of the affection Fluttershy was offering was just too much for the hardworking mare and she broke down before her friend, feeling weak and helpless but safe under her friend's care and compassion. Fluttershy hummed, and comforted her friend while Applejack continued to grieve. But somehow the earth mare felt relieved at the same time. Applejack was always the one who stood strong in the face of adversity, she was never given the chance to feel sorry or weak, and she often times would have never of dared to show those emotions to anypony. But somehow Fluttershy was different. The orange mare stopped sobbing for a moment and glanced up at the endearing pink-maned pegasus. Applejack felt compelled to do something neither of them would have expected ever happening. She kissed the pegasus on the cheek. *** Big Mac sighed as he unloaded the last of the dead menaces into their final resting place. As he looked to gather up the last of his equipment he noticed silhouettes on the horizon as the sun rested low in the calm, evening sky. He squinted into the blinding sunlight to make out the figures, after a moment he smiled and waved. Amethyst Star and Al, a unicorn mare and pegasus stallion carrying saddle bags stocked with food and with them a small messenger bird, approached the settlement. They could make out a rather large red pony waving at them in the distance and they assumed that must be Big Mac. "Oh look! I think that must be them! That's strange.. Wheres all the buildings?" The pinkish-lavender unicorn inquired. "Beats me..." The orange pegasus replied, slightly disgruntled. 'Why didn't we send out ponies that actually worked in construction for a living... But instead somepony thought it was a good idea to send out a bunch of kids...' the middle-aged pegasus mumbled impatiently to himself. Upon getting closer to the establishment they confirmed their suspicions, it was indeed Big Mac waiting outside the- what appeared to be a... Moat and wall? 'What in Equestria would they possibly need all this for!?' The suddenly alarmed pegasus thought, but suddenly impressed by the inherent labor and planning put into the courtyard's construction as the couple was greeted by the red earth stallion, and lead into the settlement over the draw bridge that laid a top the moat. Just as the two were getting adjusted to the- what would be their new home, Pinkie Pie burst into the courtyard in a parade of streamers and multicolored confetti baring platters of desserts and freshly prepared meals. Almost as if oblivious to any previous violence or blood shed that had recently shaken her friends. Eventually everypony made it outside to greet the new visitors, last to welcome Amethyst Star and Al was Fluttershy and Applejack who remained peculiarly close. After a while and a couple ice breaking conversations between the ponies the orange mare glanced at her pegasus partner. "Hay-uh, Flutter- wha' don't we er- go back to yer place for a bit'." She asked hesitantly. "Ah' mean, ah haven't got myself a proper place to sleep n' all with the work we've been doin'- n' ah haven't had time to make mah-self a bed." "Y-you mean you want to come sleep with me?" Fluttershy asked promptly, but blushing slightly after the weight of what she said took effect. "Heh," Applejack chuckled, blushing mildly while tipping her hat upwards out of habit. "Yeah, Ah- just... Shucks, ah don't know-" Before Applejack could finish the shy pegasus hushed her with a hoof and beckoned her to follow while she started to gingerly trot towards the hospital quarter. 'Well that was a heck a lot easier than ah' thought it would be...' She triumphantly thought to herself while she pursued. The others finished up, sharing snacks and drinks- all but Twilight who was a little preoccupied with her friends that she noticed sneaking off back into the fortress. 'I wonder what they could be up too...' As she was about to follow them she was stopped by Rarity. The white unicorn stuck her hoof out to stop the lavender, magic pony. "Let them be dear, Applejack needs this." "W-what do you mean?" Twilight confused as to what the fashionista might be suggesting. "Ever since we got here she has been working her flank off, and now she had to deal with those dreadful beasts, the least the darling could ask for is some relief, and if anyone knows how to comfort a friend in need it's Fluttershy." Twilight returned a blank stare. "Isn't it obvious?" "What's obvious?" Twilight replied becoming increasingly bewildered. "It comes with the gossip I suppose." Rarity stated, "Twi, sometimes a girl just needs a little bit of a stress reliever that only another girl can offer..." "Wait are you talking about..." Twilight felt embarrassed, "...Sex?" she finished in a whisper, making sure no other pony overheard. "Er! Well- Goodness..." Rarity withdrawn from her friend's nonchalant and liberal use of the term, "That is one way of putting it, yes." Normally the topic doesn't throw her through such a loop but she never imagined hearing the word come out of Twilight's mouth. *** post-party scene, Applejack and Fluttershy, night-time in Fluttershy's residence [sex] *** Luna and Celestia Conference *** Spitfire en-route bearing message from Celestia, ambushed by 2 harpies [gore] *** Comet Tail arrives *** Big Mac designated Sheriff *** Rainbow Dash forms militia, recruits Amethyst, and Al. *** dead livestock overnight, talons *** Big Mac camps out over night with livestock, attacked by 2 harpies. [gore] *** Twilight falls in love with Big Mac [shipping] *** Construction of barracks *** HUGE MIGRANT WAVE, huge party. [TwiMac][Raridash] *** End of Chapter Author Notes: [strike]Dis[/strike]claimer: HASBRO BELONGS TO MEEEEEE! THIS [strike]FAN[/strike]FICTION IS NOW CANON! TWILIGHT SPARKLE IS BEST PONY IS ALSO CANON!
Chapter 1 : The Embark**My Little Fortress : Losing is Fun* - Chapter 1 : The Embark* By: TwiliteSpunklez (Now goes by Pnoy) Note: Following '***,' will be links to optional music to help set the mood for the following passages. One's without a link signify the end of previously playing music. (Be sure to open them in a new tab!) *** Recently the weather in Ponyville has changed for the worse. It was early spring in Ponyville and Winter Wrap Up had already taken place. But only a few short days after the end of winter, it started snowing again. The pegasus ponies baffled by the return of the winter weather, because normally they planned all the weather. Even if they had scheduled the sudden snow storm they wouldn't have had enough snowflakes ready for it. As most of the snowflakes were expended over winter. The pegasus ponies tried to break up the clouds just as they did during Winter Wrap Up, but with little effect. The clouds only returned a short time later after many hours of hard work to get rid of them. When it was clear to the ponies that they couldn't get rid of the clouds, they tried to wait it out. But after weeks of non-stop snowing and many ponies struggling to feed themselves, they decided they needed to leave Ponyville. Chosen by Mayor Mare, the Elements of Harmony were chosen to found a new town in an area far to the east of Ponyville on the other side of the Everfree forest. They decided it would be the best place to settle since it was rumored the land there was so favorable. The weather there mysteriously changed and scheduled itself. While none of the ponies knew why this occurred, they did know the changes followed a pattern and never really strayed far from it. Acting on this, they felt it would be safe to assume the weather there was still hospitable. Now our heroes, currently without Applejack, are parading through the streets of the frostbitten town in order to prepare for their journey. Many ponies came outside, dressed in winter gear, to give the friends a bittersweet farewell. Although they knew that eventually they would also move to their new home, they still had to say goodbye to many of the great memories they shared in Ponyville. However, little did they know, along with the naturally occurring weather, were more dangerous entities that existed outside the magical protection of Celestia. While inside Celestia's magical reach many predatory animals are driven out, and into the Surrounding landscapes. Her reach extended to the border between Ponyville and the Everfree forest, but they would go far beyond that border, with little connection to the Princess. *** "Where's Applejack?!" asked Twilight Sparkle as she walked with her other friends. "Sheis probaly back at her farm saying goodbye to her family, it really must be hard on her..." Answered Fluttershy with Angel riding on her back. "You think this is easy for the rest of us? I'm not gonna see Cloudsdale again! And what am I going to do now? I don't have a job!" Grumbled Rainbow Dash, guiding the oxen that pulled the caravan full of their equipment. "Rainbow, you know she's lived on that farm all her life with her family, and I don't think she ever expected to leave that farm. Its been in her family since Granny Smith's parents founded Ponyville, I think we can cut her some slack." stated Twilight Sparkle. "Yeah, but, all I'm saying is- ugh never mind." refuted the cyan, rainbow maned pegasus. "Look, it will all be fine, you'll see. It's not like anyone was hurt, or we won't be seeing anypony else again, we are just moving, that's all." Twilight reassured. "Oh look! There she is!" Shouted Pinkie Pie suddenly, prancing in the air, hoof pointing out towards the orange mare. She came into view around the corner of a building hauling a saddle bag full of seeds and tools. Following the honest earth pony was Big Mac also carrying seeds and tools. Once they caught up to each other, Twilight thought Applejack seemed unusually solemn. "Hey guys." greeted Applejack bluntly. "Is something the matter Applejack?" inquired Twilight. "Actually, I'm just learn'n to cope with the changes ah guess.." the orange earth pony started, "But, do ya think Big Mac'll be able to come with us?" "Oh uhm, I don't think it'll matter, in fact that would be nice to have him come along! But that'll be up to the Mayor." she answered. Big Mac just stood there with his large red scarf, stoically staring back at the group of friends. 'Never was a stallion of many words' Twilight thought to herself. 'But we could certainly use his size, I still don't know why the mayor thought it would be such a great idea to send just a small group of young mares like us out to found an entire town.' Applejack felt somewhat relieved to hear that Big Mac would be able to come with them. It meant a lot to Applejack more than her friends probably would have realized, she always was a family mare. "Well," Applejack sighed preparing herself for the inevitable, "We'd best get goin' wouldn't want to keep her wait'n, we got a job to do." "Agree'd, come on girls." Twilight gestured towards the Town Hall. As they approached the Town Hall, a sizable crowd, despite the weather, had formed outside in anticipation for the friends' departure. They made their way through the crowd of on looking ponies, many rather sad to see them departing, knowing they too would be following them. They continued up to the Town Hall's steps until they met the Mayor who was waiting for them behind a podium atop the stairs. "Hello girls..." The Mayor paused as she stared at Big Mac, "Big Mac, what are you doing here?" "We were hoping he could come with us." Stated Twilight. The Mayor took a moment to reply. "Well I suppose it would be for the best, he is a strong hard-working pony." She stated. "Big Mac, do you wish to go with them?" "Eeeyup." His ever so familiar reply. "It's settled then! Big Mac shall also accompany our ponies on their journey!" The Mayor announced to the rest of the ponies. The crowd of ponies responded with a rumbling hoof stomping, muffled by the laden snow. She motioned her hoof up to silence the crowd's applause. After a moment the rumbling of the hooves slowed to a stop and the Mayor began, "Today we say goodbye to our heroes that have saved us countless times already. Let it be known, though we are saying goodbye, that they are not leaving us, but instead, they leave for us!" The crowd began their applause again as if on cue. After a moment the stomping ceased and she resumed her speech, "Many of us here have lived in Ponyville for most of our lives, and we have seen it grow from just a small village, into a sizable town. But now changes beyond Celestia's control have forced us to take drastic action. In order to continue to thrive as a community we are forced to leave our homes in search for new ones. Although we are leaving many memories behind, many more await us in our new home." The Mayor paused for a moment and cleared her throat after taking a drink from her hot chocolate that sat on the podium. She continued her speech, which she had taken some time before to prepare. It was a strong and inspirational speech, but it couldn't do much to improve the situation that the ponies had left in front of them. "D-do you think this is the right thing to do?" Fluttershy quietly whispered to Rarity who stood next to her. Rarity's attention suddenly snapped to Fluttershy and she turned her head to look at the yellow pegasus. Being so immersed within the Mayor's speech, she almost forgot her friend was there. "What do you mean darling?" "Well... I mean, it just seems so, uhm... Sudden. Just packing up and leaving, everything." she emphasized. "Oh sweetie, you heard Twilight, it'll be fine, a girls just gotta get a little dirty sometimes to get some real work done, that's all. You'll see, once we get it all set up everything will be just like Ponyville, just think of it as a change of scenery!" assured Rarity. "I-I guess, I just don't have a good feeling about this..." Fluttershy said under her breath. *** Zecora combed through the plants for her missing herb. The zebra experienced trouble getting the herbs she needed for her latest brew because of the recent snow fall. Although where she lived wasn't necessarily affected by the change in weather like Ponyville was, many of the more tropical herbs couldn't survive the colder temperature that blown in from Ponyville. She had felt uneasy since leaving her hut to find the herbs she needed, as silence and a dense screen of fog began to form throughout the jungle. Zecora was used to living on her own, as she had for some time now. But to find these herbs, she was forced into an area she wasn't very familiar with. 'All is not well' the Zebra thought as she paused from her work. She stood for a moment feeling increasingly uncomfortable with her environment. Deciding she wasn't comfortable enough to continue, she started back towards her hut, but then she heard a snap behind her. She turned quickly to face her possible intruder. She didn't see anything but she didn't feel safe, there was something there. "Come out, who ever you a-" she was suddenly interrupted as a giant yellow and dotted feline pounced at the Zebra from the bushes. *** Zecora jumped in surprise, standing on her rear hooves flailing her front ones. The leopard immediately tackled Zecora to the ground with claws dug into the zebra's chest. Violently, Zecora kicked her back legs making contact with the leopards soft underbelly with both of her hooves. The contact was hard enough to bruise and knock the breath from the leopard but was not hard enough to throw the leopard off the Zebra. "STOP YOU MONSTER, I WILL BE FORCED TO DEFEND IF YOU CONTINUE TO OFFEND-" shouted Zecora until she was interrupted again with the leopard's teeth digging into her neck. Pain shot through her neck and she felt the walls of her throat punctured with a rush of blood spurting out. "Gk-krr," she gurgled as the blood filled her punctured throat. The flailing of her rear legs intensified but ultimately to weak to do anything as the pain overwhelmed her. The zebra's thoughts became clouded and she was unable to concentrate on protecting herself. 'W-whhha-a-attt' is all she could manage as she felt her head getting increasingly light from the lack of blood. The Leopard laid atop the Zebra with both rear and front claws now dug into the Zebra with its killing grasp being its fangs. She felt sharp, pinching on her chest and lower body where the leopard had dug its claws in. But those were nothing in comparison to the pain she felt in her throat. She felt four large fangs clasping increasingly harder on her neck. She couldn't breathe anymore as her own blood began filling her lungs. Her body reacted, and blood started getting ejected from her mouth as she coughed it up trying to clear her lungs. But as she coughed, it only served to rip her wounds open as the leopard's teeth held on harder, agitated with her struggling. She felt her limbs growing cold, and her head getting incredibly light and even colder. The world seemed as if it were spinning until a horrible ripping sensation flooded her stomach. "Nnn-ggqqquukkk-" she gurgled, in response to the leopard pushing its claws in and down the zebra's underbelly. She could only look in horror at the leopard's eyes that stared back at her with fire and rage. She could feel tears swelling up in her eyes, and everything going blurry as she felt her colon splash onto the ground. It shot a nauseating pain through her belly as the colon detached itself from the body and ripping out other essential organs with it. She felt her bowels release themselves and her bladder emptying, but the bladder broke, unleashing its contents all over the other organs and spraying onto the ground. The pain climaxed, with an emptiness in her body that she could not describe. The air licking the inside of her body, drying her flesh. Traces of urine she could feel burning and infecting her entrails. But suddenly the pain stopped. Almost as if by some kind of magic everything was cold and not even the sharpness of the leopard's fangs could bother her. She felt her consciousness fading as her eyes shut. Her last blood bubbling breath drew to a close. And in that moment, the zebra ceased to exist. The leopard continued its hold on the zebra's neck for a moment to be sure it was dead. Zecora's body laid there on its side covered in blood and partly in fluids released from her extremities. Her entrails laid falling out of her stomach on the ground getting stuck with dirt and other particles. Her saddlebag she had carried lied on the ground behind her with its contents spilled out across the ground. Her mane and coat dirtied with fresh blood and earth, along with traces of urine that had ejected from her bladder. Her expression, with closed eyes that leaked drying tears, left limp as her tongue protruded from her lifeless muzzle. When the leopard felt no more struggling from its meal, it let go and started sniffing the body. It realized it had spilled its urine and other excretions on itself inside the stomach cavity. The meat was spoiled in that area and noted to eat around it. It began eating and left the leopard well fed, and alive for another couple of days before it would need something else to eat. *** End of Chapter. I hope you enjoyed! This is different from the last version because I am taking a new approach to the back story and writing structure, this is only a prologue and the elements of Dwarf Fortress wont take over until the next chapter. Please leave comments below on suggestions, and errors you might find, I will make corrections to the best of my ability as I see them! Sorry for the Zecora scene if you weren't ready for that, but I wanted to emphasis on the possible dangers that lurk and await our ponies, because this is Dwarf Fortress, not a child's cartoon show anymore.
Chapter 2 : Arrival**My Little Fortress : Losing is Fun* - Chapter 2 : Arrival* By: TwiliteSpunklez (Now goes by Pnoy) Note: Following '***,' will be links to optional music to help set the mood for the following passages. One's without a link signify the end of previously playing music. (Be sure to open them in a new tab!) Don't rush, it's best enjoyed slowly. *** Within the same ruins where Twilight Sparkle and the other Elements of Harmony had united to defeat Nightmare Moon, stood Luna in secrecy. She gazed out the decayed window that overlooked her once glorious kingdom. She looked back to the days when Celestia, her sister, had banished her from Equestria. Not many are alive from that time, non-alicorns were typically not immortal like alicorns were. However few powerful unicorns posses the ability to cast "Vita aeternum," granting them immortality. Whenever this was cast, it transformed the target into an alicorn as well. Although there were no known records of it ever being successfully cast, there was one pony which possessed the capacity for such magic. "Twilight Sparkle." she whispered to herself, glancing down to see a glistening piece of armor that laid broken before her. It was from her helmet she wore as Nightmare Moon, she sighed. "Forgive me." Many more minutes had passed as she continued to appreciate the beauty of the night she had brought forth. The land, encased in a blue shroud, the clear starry sky and distant blue mountains complemented the rural earth below, dotted with farms and towns which shone with lights. But where things were at peace, not to far, roared a fierce winter storm, concentrated on the immediate region's biggest town, Ponyville. Eventually, Luna could hear steps approaching her as they echoed through the ruined castle. Somepony was coming from the staircase that was at the other end of the once grand throne room. She turned her head to confirm the arrival's identity. "You're finally here." she spoke. "Sorry princess, I was almost seen on my way here but I managed to slip by." Replied a dark grey unicorn wearing Luna's night guard armor. "They have departed Ponyville your majesty." "Good." Luna commented, as she turned her attention back to the night baring landscape before her. "The mayor did well then, she follows orders nicely." Luna turned back to face the guard that stood near entrance of the staircase. "Is the storm still in effect?" "The pegasus have tried to break it up but your magic is powerful." Luna smirked. "Keeping Celestia oblivious isn't going to be easy." "Won't she write, or try to reach her student, Twilight?" Asked the guard. "She will try, and she will reach her. But by then it will be too late, the Signa will be breached." "Are you sure this is for the best?" "It's the only way." Responded Luna grimly. *** "Spike!" She paused expecting an answer, but none came... "SPIIIKEE!!!" yelled Twilight Sparkle about to throw a fit. She had meant to get Spike's attention for some time now. She stood outside the kitchen impatiently tapping her hoof on the hard wood floor, looking up the staircase for a small purple dragon descending its steps. When he didn't come down, she decided to see what the delay was. Twilight trotted over to the stair case and swiftly trotted up each step diligently, careful not to stumble. When she neared the top of the stair case she peeked her head over the wall looking into the bedroom. She saw Spike laying in his basket covered by his blanket. Confused as to why he didn't get up when she called him, she trotted over to him. 'That's odd usually he is always so punctual, maybe he isn't feeling good.' she thought to herself as she looked down over him. He wasn't moving much but she could tell he was breathing, barley. she gently poked Spike in the side and whispered, "Spike? Are you ok?" She didn't get much of a response other than a sigh, but he didn't show any signs of waking up. She started to panic as realization hit her. 'Oh no, he couldn't be! Not now!' she thought. She began to pace the room in her worry. 'How long has it been Twilight? It hasn't been that long has it? He couldn't be.... I-' she stopped pacing and hung her head low. "S...Spike..." She said without moving her head and opening her eyes as she felt tears welling up in them. "Spike..." She said desperately. "Please get up..." she asked one last time. But there was still only silence to answer her. She stood there for a moment, her back facing her beloved assistant, hoping, that for any reason, he would wake back up. But she knew he wasn't, he was a dragon and this was inevitable, he was hibernating. A dragon's childhood is short, and concludes when the dragon enters a near stasis state like hibernation. Although it is not entirely like hibernation, many refer to it as such, because it is similar to a long sleeping period that many mammals share during winter. But the body of the dragon didn't rest, and for 100 years he would stay in that state until he was fully grown. His body would continue to grow until reaching its fullest maturity. Twilight had been told when she first hatched Spike that she would have him as an assistant. But she always knew when it came time, they would be separated and Spike would go to live independently as a fully grown dragon. Usually when a dragon goes into hibernation, after 100 years they tend to suffer from amnesia, remembering little to nothing from their childhood. If Spike was hibernating, when he wakes back up, he most likely won't recognize Twilight. Typically fully grown dragons were aggressive and greedy by nature, far different from their childhood. They become almost non-sentient as instincts take over for a majority of their actions. So for Twilight's safety, Celestia would take Spike back, and let him grow in peace with in Canterlot castle and release him once he was awake. Once he was released he was free to live as he willed, and like most would probably fly to the colder, more mountainous northern region where many of the dragons lived in Equestria.'I--- I wish I could have said goodbye...' Suddenly Spike jumped up from his bed and ran to the window. Twilight heard the commotion and eagerly turned around to see him. "Oh Spike! I thought you w-" she started before being cut off by the purple dragon. "SHUT UP!" He screeched back at her, while still looking out the window intently. She was withdrawn by his sudden outburst and instantly her feelings felt hurt. She approached Spike unsure of what he was doing, "Spike.. what has gotten into you?" She asked firmly. "Shhh! Can't you tell I'm busy?" Spike replied impatiently. Twilight continued to stare at him from his side while he looked out the window. She wasn't sure what was going on with him but she didn't like it, he wasn't acting normal. After several long moments he began talking. "I just- I hear them, it's maddening. I don't know what they are! Auuuuuuugh!" He roared, "GET THEM OUT OF MY HEAD!" he whirled around, holding his hands over his ears. "The taunting! Make it stop!" "What? Spike? Spike!" Twilight put her hooves out to hold on to the dragon, but almost as if made of air, her hooves went directly through him. Twilight fell forward as the rest of her went through Spike and fell on to the floor next to the window. Just as the purple unicorn made her way back to her hooves, she turned to see a large rush of water flood into her bedroom and smack her against the opposing wall. She felt as if she was drowning and struggled to swim as the currents carried her around her room. Spike remained unaffected by the sudden appearance of the water and continued to flail around complaining about the voices in his head. But just as she had focused in on her situation the world started shaking violently and replaced by a blinding light. *** She awoke with a start, "Bw-ahhhh!" She gasped as she panted heavily for air. After taking a moment to collect herself she glanced at her surroundings. Applejack was standing over her with a bucket upside down and water dripping out of it. She looked down at herself and felt water dripping from her mane, and her coat was soaked from her head to her neck. They were in the middle of a forest when she had remembered what they were doing. "Ahm sorry sugar cube for the start, but I just couldn't wake y'all up fer nuthin'." Stated Applejack apologetically. "Oh, uh, it's fine, don't worry about it..." responded Twilight sounding drowsy. "It's nice and early so ah figured we could get goin' soon, once we had ourselves some breakfast n' all" replied Applejack merrily. "Don't worry bout' a thing Twi, Pinkies been makin' us a big breakfast." she said, pointing her hoof at the pink party pony slaving over a fire with smores. Twilight looked around to see Big Mac still asleep next to the caravan and Rainbow Dash coming back with Rarity and Fluttershy baring fruits. Twilight sighed as she stood up. "I had another dream about Spike." Applejack paused for a moment, she knew Spike was a touchy topic for her, they were really close. "Oh..." she paused, "Ahm sorry Twi, but you knew he had to leave eventually." "I know, I just can't get over it... but it was weird this time." Twilight stated. "The dream I mean, he woke up this time, and started yelling at me." "He was yellin' at you? What do ya mean?" Responded Applejack concerned. "I don't know he just kept yelling about voices he was hearing." Answered Twilight. "Listen Twi, it was just a bad dream, he's fine and he'll be all happy n' healthy when he gets back up. That's all that matters, ya want him to be happy don't-chya?" Applejack added. "Yeah.... I know..." Twilight sighed again. The ponies eventually gathered around Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie flipped the smores in a pan as if they were pancakes, but some how it worked and the smores, cooked perfectly. Don't question Pinkie physics. Once the smores appeared done she started handing one out to everypony. "Y'know Pinkie, these are really good! Why didn't I try smores for breakfast before!?" Rainbow Dash commented, contently munching on her smore. "I know right!? I was like, hmm, I don't have flour or milk or cheese or frosting or sugar or peanut butter or jam or jelly or bread or grapes or apples or muffins or cupcakes ORRRRRRRR cherries, so I thought that smores was the next best thing!" Shouted the pink pony merrily. Even in the rather unfortunate situation the ponies found themselves in, the party pony always managed to keep a smile on. The group chuckled at Pinkie's randomness and continued to snack on their freshly prepared smores. Big Mac woken up by the smell of smores and sounds of laughter, slowly got up and stretched. He gingerly made his way over to the little camp fire and was offered a generously sized smore. "Since you're so BIG, BIG mac, I thought I would make you a BIG breakfast!" Said the pink pony while holding out a tray with a triple sized smore resting on top, with extra chocolate goodness oozing out the sides. Although not a stallion for sweets, Big Mac decided to make an exception for the pink pony's treat. "Thank you." he said, taking the over burdened tray. The ponies continued to enjoy their time together, sitting around the campfire feasting on their smores, partaking in conversation and having a good time. After a while the camp fire died and they finished their meals. They packed up whatever items they needed, and continued to their destination. *** Big Mac was in the back of the group guiding the large oxen that pulled the caravan. Originally Rainbow Dash was tasked with this job before Big Mac joined the group. But when he joined, the job more suited Big Mac, and instead Rainbow Dash acted as a scout over head, flying above the thick Everfree forest canopy to get a good look of the terrain ahead. Fluttershy and Rarity were in the middle of the group behind Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy carried some of Big Mac's saddle bag and split the rest with Rarity to carry. Beside them walked and or hopped, Angel the bunny, and opalescence the cat. Pinkie Pie was bouncing happily along, singing various tunes to keep the group's spirits up and to help the time pass. Applejack was in front of Pinkie with Winona sleeping on her flank, she also carried her saddle bags she had earlier. In front of the group, usually assuming the leadership role was Twilight, she knew the directions to the site they were looking for and with her organizational skills they'd be prepared for anything. The group walking below could hear Rainbow Dash shouting from above. "Hey guys! There's something wrong ahead! There's a bunch of birds flying around something!" The cyan pegasus shouted. "Really? What kinda birds are they?" Twilight shouted back. "One sec. Imma go check it out!" responded Rainbow as she was heard flying away. Twilight would have told her to wait but she was already gone before she could say anything. "She shouldn't really go off by herself like that!" Mentioned Rarity. "You're right but now we gotta wait here for her, we don't know where she flew off too." answered Twilight. "Ah don't like this." mumbled Applejack. "Wh-what if they're vultures? You know vultures only fly around something if..." Fluttershy gulped, "... Y-you know." The group stopped to look at Fluttershy then looked back at each other and shared her concern. "Lets just hope for the best darling." comforted Rarity, patting Fluttershy's back with her hoof. The group waited there for a minute when they heard what sounded like Rainbow Dash whistling through the air. The whistling got louder and they even heard it go passed them, but when they shouted for her, she came back. She came through the canopy rather hard and smashed through several branches before landing on the ground kind of hard. She was out of breath and panting heavily. After she caught her breath she looked around frantically and hovered over too Big Mac and whispered into his ear. As she finished whatever she whispered to Big Mac, the rest of the group just watched as he nodded his head slowly and gave the reigns of the oxen to Rainbow Dash and headed off ahead of the group. "Rainbow Dash what exactly is goin' on here?" Questioned Applejack looking back at Rainbow Dash as Big Mac passed her, heading off to the direction Rainbow Dash flew from. "I agree, What is all the commotion over Rainbow?" joined Rarity. "Rainbow, what did you see?" Demanded Twilight. Rainbow continued to stare back at the group for a moment before landing back on the ground, and tugging the oxen forward with her. She approached her concerned friends who simply stood there and stared at her, waiting for her response. "I-" she began before dropping her head down and looking at the ground, fighting sobs. She looked back up at her friends with her watery eyes, "I-I saw Zecora..." she started, her voice sounded weak and still out of breath. "... A-and... She was dead." Fluttershy put her hoof over her mouth and gasped in shock. "Oh my..." she muttered. "W-What!?" Applejack's jaw dropped, "What in tarnation happened?!" she finished while grabbing her hat off her head and putting it to her chest. Twilight sat down in disbelief. "This is horrible! Oh sweet Celestia!" Rarity wailed as she started frantically pacing around the group. "I-I-I don't know, I-I just saw her body... I couldn't stay." Rainbow Dash mumbled shaking her head, trying to fight what she saw out of her head. Fluttershy who already had tears running down her face, approached and comforted the distressed cyan mare. She rested her head on her shoulder with her leg over Rainbow's back. "I'm so sorry you had seen something so..." she paused, "horrible." she said as easily as she could, pulling Rainbow in tight. "Thanks Fluttershy..." Rainbow Dash returned. "But... I just- I just don't know.." "Rainbow Dash, you have always been there for me, let me be here for you." Fluttershy started. " I've seen a lot of horrible things. I've cared for a lot of animals around here, and I've seen a lot of animals that have been hurt really bad. Some times it is even easier, and better to just put them to sleep, forever. But, nothing ever just dies, their souls leave to go somewhere else, they go to a place called 'Ulterius.'" Rainbow Dash looked up at Fluttershy slowly, her sobs giving way. "What's, that?" she asked, sniffling. "My parents told me when I was a little filly that it's a place all ponies and animals go when they die," Fluttershy responded, "I was told that it was a good place, where we can do anything we want, and live happily, forever, without anything to worry about. One day we would all have to go there, and when we do we could see our old friends who passed away, family and even old pets." "Wow Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash looked up to her, "Really, that makes me feel a lot better... But, what I saw..." Fluttershy put her hoof to Rainbow Dash's mouth, and hugged her tightly. Rainbow Dash surprised by her gesture, accepted it, and closed her eyes, leaning into her friend's caring arms. They sat there for a while without moving, almost as if meditating. Rainbow Dash hadn't really ever thought about death and the afterlife. She never really wanted too, she was scared of it more than anything else. She never had much of a family either, so no one really talked to her about that kind of thing so intimately. In a way, the only family she ever had were her closest friends, and before she met Rarity, Twilight, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie, her only closest friend was Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash was grateful for her friends she had, and she never wanted anything to happen to them. When she saw Zecora, more than anything else, the fear of her friends running into the same fate overwhelmed her. But somehow despite the circumstances, Fluttershy managed to calm her down ever so gracefully. 'Ulterius huh, if that place is real, then, I will never have to worry about losing my friends, we can live their together, forever.' she thought to herself. The idea of a place to be with the ponies she cared about the most, comforted her, and the more she thought about it, the less she grew weary of death. *** Big Mac made his way through the thick vegetation, following Rainbow Dash's directions. When he reached a river that Rainbow Dash had told him to look for, Zecora would be just on the other side, he waded through it only to find a horrid aroma to greet him. He gulped. 'Well, let's see what we got...' he thought, trying to break the uneasiness in his head. As he headed the direction where the smell seemed to becoming from he could only feel as if he wasn't alone. He continued towards the smell until he ran into a squabble of vultures fighting over a bone that still had flesh stuck to it. He knew what it was from and smacked the birds away with his hoof. Although vultures were rather big for birds, they weren't a match for the big and strong stallion. He stared down at the bone and sighed. 'Ah never seen't anything quite like this before...' he thought as he dug at the ground for a hole to rest the remains. ~~~ (Denotes a narrative from an omniscient figure) Violence wasn't common in Equestria, or at least in the area's where the ponies lived, under the umbrella of Celestia's protection. The heaviest of violence known to ponykind, being minor physical encounters to resolve a given argument. Few ponies ever saw any need to leave Celestia's protection since her rise to power, as she enhanced much of the land and fulfilled many of their needs. They always found the world outside Celestia's dominion, almost barren and withered compared to the region they lived. For the most part they were right, Celestia had enriched the environment so much, that many animals and other organisms in the surrounding area migrated into the flourishing region. However, despite the much more hospitable environment there were other regions of Equestria that maintained fruitful land. The Zebra nation rested in a desert region, though the majority of the land desolate, hosted large amounts of valuable resources and precious materials. The Griffin nation which sat in the more temperate, sub-arctic region, was home to more mountainous terrain where the griffins prospered and were better suited to live in. Celestia noticed the appearance of many more creatures, especially hostile ones. In response, she exiled the more aggressive-natured creatures from the areas with in her reach, in hopes of protecting her beloved subjects. Celestia's magic is powerful, and is the main component behind the prosperity of the thriving pony civilization. But the immortal goddess, is not without limitation. Though the spell appeared to play a passive role, it required much of Celestia's attention and magic. While the spell did not end, it capped her ability to use other magics. She was limited to basic magic while the spell was cast because it took such a large amount of magic to support, and what ever magic was left, which was little, she used for other spells. The protective and vitalizing barrier was known to the few that knew of its existence, as the Signa. ~~~ (Denotes the end of an omniscient monologue) Big Mac hardly knew Zecora but still felt a great deal of shock that something so horrible had happened to her. He didn't understand what killed her, and though a part of him didn't even have the desire to know, he had to make sure the others would be safe. 'CRACK' Big Mac spun around quickly ready to strike. "O- uh- I'm sorry!" Pinkie squealed as she winced at Big Mac's rather intimidating glare. Relieved to see it was just Pinkie Pie, Big Mac lightened up and stood straight from a battle ready pose he had taken. "Why Ah don't think you should be here right now..." he stated rather firmly. "Look, I might be a crazy pony and all, but I want to know what happened to Zecora if I'm going to be out here!" rebutted the pink pony. Somewhat surprised at the usually sporadic pony's more realistic approach to the situation, Big Mac hesitated in his response, "Well, ah just don't know if yer gonna like what you see." "This isn't about what I like or think, this is about our safety and if we are going to be out here we need to know what dangers are involved." replied Pinkie Pie. Big Mac was astonished at amount of uncharacteristic logic the pony had used, he submitted and nodded his head simply and gestured the pony to follow him and started down the path he was headed. The pink pony quickly caught up and they continued in the direction of the stench, but not for long as they rounded a large thicket of thorns to find the body amongst a patch of various herbs and wild flowers. Many of the plants were splattered with blood and the ground fared no better. Bits of flesh and hair lay strewn about, bones and many of the entrails appeared scattered. Many insects festered on the body but despite it all, the face remained almost entirely untouched, with the same limp, lifeless stare greeting the ponies. Pinkie Pie fell down on to her flank, gasped and covered her mouth with her hooves. Big Mac stared, though he had never seen anything so gruesome in his life he could tell from the scene that Zecora hadn't just died, instead she had been attacked, confirming his worst fears. He had hoped that she might have died of poisoning or maybe of an illness, but if she was attacked, the danger could still be near. "Pinkie Pie, come here." He wasn't given a response. "Pinkie?" he looked behind him where she was but she was gone. *** As Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash continued their time together, Twilight could only stare pointlessly ahead of her self. 'What in Celestia's name is going on!?' she thought to herself. 'How could she let something so horrible happen? Is something wrong with her? Is she getting weaker? Does this have something to do with the blizzard?' she continued in deep thought sitting helplessly on her flank. Rarity was anxiously pacing and speculated what could have caused such a horrible thing. 'M-m-maybe it was something she ate? How could she have eaten something poisonous, she was so good with herbs! Perhaps it was just of age getting the best of her, but she seemed so young!' she anxiously speculated. She took a break in her pacing to look at her friends when she noticed Pinkie Pie had went missing. She saw Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash sitting together and Twilight sitting by herself with an empty stare in her eyes as she looked blankly at Fluttershy and Rainbow who had their backs facing her. "T-Twilight?" Her name rang through her ears, as if some distant voice was shouting her name. Her head slowly turned towards Rarity who stared back at her with watery eyes which were wide with concern. "Huh?" she let out. "Have you seen Pinkie Pie?" she added. Suddenly snapped out of her haze, Twilight looked around her, unable to find her. "No I haven't where could she have gone?" There was a short pause as Twilight collaborated thoughts with Rarity, "Wait did she go with Big Mac?" Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash heard the commotion and got up to face Twilight and glanced back at each other "We didn't see her." They answered turning back to Twilight and Rarity. Suddenly they heard rustling in bushes near them. The group got up and faced the source of the disturbance. "Pinkie?" called out Rarity, peering into the vegetation. From the bushes emerged Big Mac, winded and panting heavily. He looked around at the friends and saw Pinkie wasn't there. "Ah lost her, she disappeared." Big Mac managed in between his breathing. Applejack put her hat back on that she had held against her. She ran over to the reigns of the Oxen and grabbed them from Dash and insisted, "C'mon guys we better go find her before somethin' horrible happens." The rest of the group quickly agreed and followed after Big Mac who ran back in the direction he came from. They eventually made their way past Zecora's remains but paid little attention to it except for Fluttershy who glanced at the body. She slowed down and frowned at the site but quickly brought her attention back to her friends that were speeding off ahead of her. She looked back at Zecora and said, "I'm so sorry, I hope you're in a better place." she managed before running after her friends. They ran through what seemed to be a recently trampled path through the foliage. After a while Rainbow Dash decided to take flight in order to look for her even though she had a hard time seeing through the canopy. Once she had flown above the canopy she immediately found that the forest ended only just up ahead and Pinkie Pie was sitting in the middle of a large field. "GUYS! I SEE HER!" She shouted. "Where is she!?" Shouted Twilight. "Shes straight ahead just keep going! The forest ends, she just sitting there!" She shouted back. Rainbow Dash bolted ahead and quickly caught up to Pinkie Pie and landed next to her. "Pinkie! Pinkie! Are you alright?" Rainbow Dash demanded. "I'm fine..." She returned solemnly. "Are you sure? You're not hurt or anything?" "I'm fine... Look, we're here..." She answered numbly. Rainbow Dash looked up and around, she was right, they had arrived at the spot the Mayor had described to them. But she still felt concerned for her friend. "Pinkie, look if you wanna talk about it-" "Thanks, really, but I'm fine, it's just a lot to take in." Pinkie Pie added. Rainbow Dash stared back at her friend confused, she knew something was up but she couldn't really figure it out. But she decided she would talk to her later about it. "Rainbow!" Rainbow Dash turned around and saw Twilight running at them as she came out of the tree line followed by Applejack, Big Mac, Fluttershy, and Rarity. "Guys, stop... we're fine." "What do you mean?" Twilight replied slowing to a stop a couple of feet behind Pinkie Pie. "We're here." she said, motioning to their surrounding. --.*=Strike the Earth=*.-- *** End of Chapter. I hope you enjoyed! Author Notes: A special thanks to my good friend: Prince Luminarium for being my ever so highly critical pre-reader and giving me great suggestions throughout my chapters so far, and for the many more to come! This was the last of the back story I should be doing and in the next chapter I'll start playing DF and start using DF to map out the story. I'd like to remind everyone AGAIN of the opportunity to get your oc ponies (self inserts are ok, as long as they have acceptable pony names) queued for inclusion in the game. I cannot tell you when/if your pony will be added in but I'll make a list below of people's oc ponies that are queued to be introduced into the game. Since your pony may be included in the game, he becomes one of the characters of the story! I can't promise you a major role in the story, but there defiantly is the chance that your character might become the hero that saves the day, gets into a serious relationship with the mane six (good or bad relationship,) or might just be mentioned on the side for being a good chef, or not mentioned at all, but you never know the amount of exposure you could get. As of now the que list is first come first serve and I don't have any requests so the list is empty, PM to get put on the list. Also I'd like to add that this story wont be so depressing all the time, I plan on covering all sorts of emotions and such, but the background story just happens to be this sad. look at me I'm rambling. See you guys in the next chapter! Current OC Que: (None) Edit: The list of queued ocs to be added will be updated per chapter.
-Embark and Game Info- UPDATES FREQUENTLY**My Little Fortress : Losing is Fun* -Embark and Game Info-* !ATTENTION! THIS IS NOT A CHAPTER, THIS IS PURELY INFORMATIONAL !ATTENTION! Note: This is here because the two chapters before this had really nothing to do with Dwarf Fortress, Dwarf Fortress chapters follow this one. By: TwiliteSpunklez (Now goes by Pnoy) *** Chapter Status: *** Map of Embark: Game Window: Note: Window Ponies v1.5 will be providing me company as I play through my game :D! Also notice the windows I have minimized in the task bar. My Dwarf Fortress utilities that I'll be using to make this game possible is Runesmith (Dwarf hacking utility for pony customization), Dwarf Therapist (Pony job management and such), SoundSense (Audio mod) and of course the pony mod for Dwarf Fortress (at the time I acquired the mod it was only compatible with 31.25 of dwarf fortress and quite frankly I don't feel like updating atm.) *** So I'll be using this 'chapter,' to OCCASIONALLY, post pictures of the game n' such, don't expect much though, also updated OC pony list below. I actually plan on keeping the list here instead of clogging later chapters up with it. I'll keep track of the ponies that currently exist in the game, I'll also keep track of their health status but it will follow a spoiler warning as to prevent accidental spoilers. After that will come a gallery of my game which I will update leisurely. This will also feature general announcements and such so please refer back to this page often as I will have much to say! *** Announcements: News: Updated information on my chapters and such, some debugging and such too. Chapter 3 is currently being written. Old News: Game is official, I now have played through the game enough to write the next chapter, expect the newest chapter soon! This will be the first chapter to feature the actual lets play. *** Current OC Que: (NOTE: IF YOUR PONY WAS REMOVED, IT MAY MEAN THEY WERE ADDED TO THE GAME, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT SEE THEM MENTIONED IN THE STORY, NO GUARANTEES.) -Charles Locke (ClockworkMage) ___ -Mr. Ed (Zek) No picture. ___ *** WARNING SPOILERS BELOW DO NOT GO BELOW THIS LINE UNLESS YOU HAVE READ EVERYTHING UP TO DATE! White Space, for accidental spoiler prevention. Resident's of Harmony: Legend: Healthy Injured Critically wounded Deceased Twilight Sparkle Rainbow Dash Pinkie Pie Rarity Applejack Fluttershy Big Mac Golden Delicious Aloe Caramel Cheerilee Doctor Stable Thunderlane Apple Bumpkin Allie Way Ballad Lyra Comet Tail Cherry Cola Baritone Winter Storm DJ Pon-3 Al Amethyst Star Spitfire Diamond Tiara Braeburn Berry Punch Graphite Coconut Pipsqueak Arnie Silver Spoon Zecora Totals: 33 Alive 1 Dead Gallery: Coming soon! Or maybe eventually, but defiantly at some point.
Chapter 3 : Uninvited Guests and Welcome Refugees [INCOMPLETE]**My Little Fortress : Losing is Fun* - Chapter 3 : Uninvited Guests and Welcome Refugees* By: Pnoy Note: Following '***,' will be links to optional music to help set the mood for the following passages. One's without a link signify the end of previously playing music. (Be sure to open them in a new tab!) *** *** TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK TINK THUNK TINK TINK TINK TINK "Phhheeeeuuuuwww!" Rainbow hollered wiping away the sweat that percolated on her forehead. "Thi...TINK...s pretty tough work Rarit...TINK...m surprised you used t...TINK...o all this!" her voice echoing slightly as her words bounced off the walls of the long dark corridor they had dug out. TINK THUNK Rarity rested the heavy end of her pickax on the ground, and leaned on the handle. She looked over to the cyan pegasus who stood next to her, sharing the light that emanated from Rarity's horn. "Well darling, when you have been in the fashion business for as long as I have, you simply must learn to be resourceful. And if getting your hooves dirty, horrible no doubt, means getting that perfect ruby to go with your dress, you can bet your bits that the dirtiest mine wouldn't deter me." The pegasus raised an eyebrow, "Never woulda took you for that kinda girl Rare!" Rainbow playfully nudging the white unicorn with her hoof. "Hmph well, there's a lot to learn about me isn't there Dashie?" Rarity responded, shooting her pegasus friend a smirk and wink, Rarity's most devastating combo. Rainbow hesitated for a moment, 'Huh... I had no idea Rarity was so... in shape... But now that I think of it... her *shapes** are really... reeaallllyyy nice...* She felt an uneasy stirring sensation of infatuation in her stomach.'And those eyes... "er- Well, I guess we're done here. This is where Twilight wanted us to stop anyway." "Quite." Rarity agreed, "I guess we should head back up then?" She asked, glancing down the long, seemingly pointless tunnel Twilight had them dig. 'Hmm, maybe if I had some time with her alone...' "Ya know Rarity, now that I think about it, we never really got to spend a lot of time together." Rainbow added softly. "It seems that way doesn't it?" The white unicorn stated, "Perhaps we could spend a little time down here alone." She finished, leaning her pickax against the wall and lying next to Rainbow. 'W-wait, is she on to me already? What in Celestia was that *"alone,"** thing anyway?... Probably nothing, I got this.'* The pegasus cleared her throat and set aside her pickax. She moved hersel- CLANK The white unicorn jumped at the sudden noise while Rainbow Dash winced and chuckled weakly as clank reverberated through the tunnel. 'Stupid pickax, with its stupid design, who came up with that stupid thing anyway... The pegasus sighed quietly to herself. "Woops, heh..." Rainbow Dash muttered, getting herself comfortable next to her friend. From an outside perspective you would almost think the two were already dating, they sat only a hoof-full of inches apart. The two mares, for a moment, in utter silence, stared into one another's eyes. "Sooo-" Rainbow Dash started before being cut off by the white mare. "Dashie... Dear..." Rarity started, "I need a good friend's opinion, what do you think of my... tail?" The unicorn asked while playing with her tail and pulling it up her body. 'What kinda mare is she taking me for?' "W-what do you mean?" Rainbow inquired quickly. "I've been using a new conditioner for my tail and I feel like it takes away from its natural volume..." Rarity added, lying through her teeth. "Huh?" Rarity sighed. "Oh Rainbow Dash, you don't have to hide your feelings from me!" The white unicorn finished with a soft, caring tone. 'Why does everypony keep telling me that!' "Wait. What are you talking about!?" She asked, moving herself away from Rarity slightly. "You like me!" "WHAT?!" Rainbow Dash trying to play off the accusation. "Admit it! I am the most beautiful pony you have ever seen!" Rarity spoke while flaunting her mane. "Look Rarity, I don't know what's gotten into you bu-" The rainbow maned pegasus interrupted by Rarity's hoof covering her mouth. "Fine," Rarity started, "If you don't have the courage to admit it now..." The unicorn leaned over to her pegasus friend's ear using a quieter seductive, throaty murmur, "I'll be waiting..." Rarity stood up and levitated her pickax behind her as she headed for the staircase leading out of the tunnel they had dug. Rainbow Dash's lingering crimson eyes followed the beautiful fashionista as she departed. 'How does she know already!?! ... She's good...' The pegasus worked her way to her hooves and tucked her pickax under her wing. "I'll show her courage..." she mumbled under her breath as she headed out of the tunnel. *** Report 01 Thorn, Captain Designation: Settlement, Harmony Type: Monitoring; Intelligence Time of Operation: 04:40 -Controlled running water -Well -Courtyard -Palisade, moat, drawbridge -Equipped hospital -Dormitories -Assigned housing -Mass storage -Subterranean and surface irrigated farms Additional comments: Satisfactory progress and development. *** The pink maned pegasus stared carefully from under the table, into the hospital where she had heard a loud crash. "H-hello?" She nervously called. She only heard the distant wailing of the wind as it bore through the long open corridors of the subterranean fortress they called home. Many of the rooms lacked doors which Applejack promised her that she would start working on in the morning. Fluttershy had been fortunate enough to have gotten her own living quarters in the settlement, as most will likely have to live in a dormitory. Her quarters located, in the hospital wing, as Twilight only saw it fit to have the newly designated CMP (Chief Medical Pony) readily available if an emergency were to take place. As thrilled as Fluttershy was with her new home, she wasn't ecstatic about being separated from her friends that were all still in a small dorm together. Accustomed to life in her cottage, she was now somewhere new, and still beared scars from their encounter with Zecora's corpse. "EEEEEEEP!" Fluttershy squealed and panicked as a small furry figure came into view outside her doorway. Quickly Fluttershy realized it was only Winona. "Ohhh, Oh my," Fluttershy exhaling a sigh laden with relief, "Winona, you shouldn't sneak up on a pony like that." The brown dog returned a blank, curious gaze at the pegasus. Fluttershy giggled lightly, "Awww, why you're just a little sweetheart aren't you?" She began, climbing out from under the wooden table Applejack proudly labeled as her craftsponyship. The timid pony approached Winona and gave the small dog a good healthy petting. As with almost all animals, Winona was naturally attracted to her soft, motherly affection. "Would Winona like to go out?" She teased. Winona's ears immediately stood straight which seemingly triggered an episode of frantic dancing. Fluttershy read the Winona's excited energy as, 'GOODNESS YES, PLEASE TAKE ME!!!' And proceeded to walk with the small dog outside. They made their way through the hospital, the long corridors, passing by the dormitories where the others slept, the top of a spiraling staircase, a large open store-room which was full of various supplies and equipment until eventually they stood before the doorways that led outside to the courtyard. It was still very dark outside, the moon, barely visible over the horizon. And soon Celestia's sun would rise to greet the landscape. Although the darkness unsettled Fluttershy, she still decided to make the trip outside for Winona's sake. She stepped out and Winona took off passing the pegasus, plunging her nose into the ground. Fluttershy didn't go much farther past the doorway before stopping. She remained cautious, even though she was in the enclosed courtyard, other than being open to the sky. Her senses heightened and stood on guard for any kind of disturbances, she was concerned for the Winona's safety as she continued to wander farther and farther along her path, oblivious to anything around her. Eventually the small patchy brown and white dog finished her business without any problems, Fluttershy just glad the little escapade was over eagerly pressured Winona to come back inside. Using a hoof, held up to her mouth, she gave off a loud whistle to get the dog's attention and eventually Winona complied and started towards Fluttershy. As the dog neared the entrance Fluttershy gradually felt more comfortable as they neared the fortress' safety. The sky gradually began to grow brighter with the sun approaching the horizon as the moon made its hasty retreat. But Fluttershy kept getting the nagging feeling something was out there. Winona made her way past Fluttershy back inside, Fluttershy wasted no time following the canine inside. As they started their way through the main hall, Fluttershy suddenly felt her leg pulled out from under her and her body pulled back outside the door. "YAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! HELP ME!!!" She yelled, horrified for her life. She noticed a dark, bipedal creature, partly covered in feathers, bare where not, with wings that also served as arms, talons as hands and feet. It was no bigger than her but also much more slender, it small beady red eyes staring back at her. She kicked her legs at the bird-like creature trying to break its grasp. The yellow pegasus managed to kick and squirm her self free of her assailant and rapidly scrambled on her back away from the doorway it tried to pull her back through. Suddenly two more of the beasts arrived, and in a pack like mentality pursued Fluttershy. They were clumsy and chaotic at best, stepping and shoving each other to get to the frightened pink-maned pony, but their sharp talons were a real threat. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Winona growled, taking a protective place next to Fluttershy. The harpies continued to advance on Fluttershy, despite the dog's threats. Winona started barking ferociously as the creatures continued to get closer, and when they were too close Winona snapped and aggressively bit the closest offender. She managed to pierce the harpy's leathery leg and drew blood from where she latched on. The harpy screeched and kicked the mutt off. YELP The dog cried. Fluttershy was gravely concerned for the well-being of the dog, and desperately wanted to help, but was afraid of her own life as well. The three beasts turned their attention away from the pegasus and targeted the vulnerable mutt, backed into a wall. The bird-things prodded and provoked the trapped canine, every time it lashed out trying to ward off the intruders. While distracted by the dog's efforts, Fluttershy managed to get to her hooves and started yelling for her friends, "HEEEELLLLLPPPP SOMEPONY!!!! HEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!" She looked on at the situation frightened for Winona. One of the creatures managed to kick the small canine, sending it tumbling to the ground. The dog desperately tried to bite and kick itself away from the harpies, occasionally biting their arms or legs, but in the process getting hit and kicked many times. Fluttershy only helplessly looked on in horror at the engrossing violence that displayed before her. But a few moments later her friends and Big Mac turned the corner and met with Fluttershy at the other end of the corridor. "What in tarnation-" Applejack started but stopping at the sight of the harpies mauling Winona, immediately she charged after the creatures, Big Mac quickly followed suite. "Fluttershy what's going on!?" Twilight asked frantically. "I-I-I d-dont know! I was just w-walking Winona outside, and those horrible things showed up and tried to hurt me!" Without another moment Rainbow Dash flew towards the fight to help Applejack and Big Mac deal with the intruders. Applejack promptly arrived at the scene to relieve her pet from the aggressors. She charged into one of the monsters, sending it falling to the ground. Big Mac ran, and struck one of the bird-things with his front hoof, and the third one retaliated leaping at the red stallion. Big Mac managed to avoid the clumsy beast and delivered a swift buck to its ribs, fracturing many of its ribs, and it started wheezing as if having a hard time breathing. The rainbow maned pegasus landed next to the orange pony as the harpy managed to get back up. But as it did it suddenly emanated a purple aurora and was thrown back down the hall. It slid and eventually tumbled to a stop before the doorways having its breath knocked out of it. Big Mac dodged a slash from the harpy's talons and bucked it in the stomach, the forced sending the frail creature on its back and it immediately started retching up blood. The other harpy made its way back up despite its broken ribs and clear difficulties with breathing only to be charged by the big red stallion into the opposing wall. It fell back to the ground writhing in pain, and Big Mac landed a heavy hoof on its head. Big Mac's hoof easily broke through the hard bird skull, jamming shards of it through the birds brain, striking it down instantly. The depression in the made in the harpy's skull ripped the scalp open revealing much of the flesh that separated the skull from the skin. Under the weight of his hoof many of the creature's brains, squeezed out of the available openings and blood, splattering all over the wall. Good thing his coat was red to begin with. Before the harpy could managed its way back up Rainbow Dash managed to make her way to the fiend and delivered a kick to the harpy's body as it laid on the ground. The bird-thing screeched in agony as it received a forceful blow to its chin, kicking its head upwards and popping it out of its place, severing the spinal column from its head, its body seizured erratically for a moment before resting limp and lifeless. The last beast writhed in pain, rolling in its own pool of blood and vomit. KKeeeyAAWWWWW-YAWWWW it continuously howled. Applejack and Big Mac both started trampling the creature, cracks and snaps within the bird-things own body. Applejack reared up on her back legs and held her front hooves up high over the mangled harpy. With all of her might she brought down her hooves upon the harpy's head. In a massive explosion of gore, the head upon impact, caved in and from the top of the harpies head the brain, almost intact, encased in a gooey grey substance spilled out on to the floor. Blood poured out from the unrecognizable gore that once was where the harpy's head laid. There was a shared moment of silence among the heavy panting and occasional knocking of the harpy's bodies as they twitched. Winona broke the motionless hallway with a limp, and the blood stained Applejack ran over to her beloved pet. For the most part she appeared fine, Fluttershy soon came over and scooped up the small dog. She looked back at Applejack who just nodded, "Ah... Ah'll be there in a minute...." Fluttershy flew back through the corridors, heading towards the hospital where she planned on treating Winona for her injuries. Though the fight wasn't difficult, and nopony was hurt or injured otherwise, there was still a feeling of devastation. Rarity couldn't get over what she just saw, an absolute bloody massacre. She wanted to do so many things, anything other than be there, but she was so caught up in her thoughts she stared down the bloodied battleground blankly. Twilight's eyes were watering, "D-d-do... G-" not able to form a sentence, or thought, in her shock. She only stood there lifelessly, mouth ajar. Rainbow Dash stared down at her victim, its neck mangled and distorted. 'I-I-I just killed it' continuously looping through her thoughts. Applejack, still staring at the spot she had found Winona after the fight, didn't move and continued to stare at the ground. She eventually collapsed on the ground digging her head, speckled with blood, into her hooves, covered in blood. She started sobbing, perpetually reliving the traumatic events that just took place. 'W-what was goin' through mah head... ah just... ah didn't even think, ah just... just... murdered em'' Big Mac took a long, deep breath as he collected himself. 'Ah better stay strong fer the girls...' he thought to himself. Big Mac, without a word, threw the harpy he killed onto his back, blood still spilling out of its cratered skull, he also collected the other two corpses as headed towards the door, passing both the motionless mares. Applejack started sobbing, her sobs echoing through the hall, the only thing that filled the air other than the pungent smell of death and blood. *** Fluttershy had Winona laid down on a table as she looked over the dog's body for any severe or obvious injuries. Minor cuts and heavy bruising were prevalent throughout the small canine's body but that wasn't hardly anything to worry about. Fluttershy was relieved to see Winona wasn't too badly hurt and despite the recent events she wagged her tail happily as Fluttershy looked over her, even her tail's motions appeared somewhat stiff. Fluttershy spent some time nurturing the wounded dog, providing it with food and water while it rested and treating the open cuts to make sure they wouldn't get infected. After a moment Fluttershy noticed Applejack coming into the hospital. The pegasus trotted eagerly over to her orange friend quickly scanning her body for anything. Applejack took notice to Fluttershy's weary eyes, "Ah'm fine Fluttershy..." Putting a hoof up to stop Fluttershy from continuing her examination, "How's Winona?" The orange mare added. Fluttershy comforted to hear that she was alright, sighed and walked back over to Winona. "She'll be fine, there were some small cuts here and there, but nothing too serious..." She mentioned moving Winona's fur to show the cuts to Applejack. Applejack exhaled contently, "Thanks Fluttershy..." "Oh you don't have to thank me, I'm just glad no one is hurt." The earth pony grinned weakly at her friend and stood there quietly, her eyes wandering to the ground slowly. Fluttershy could tell there was something wrong. "Applejack, is something wrong?" The yellow pegasus asked. The honest pony struggled to hide the truth, she let a tear escape her already puffy eyes. "N-noo. Ah'm quite alright..." She mumbled, awkwardly shifting her head to the side and she fidgeted with her hoof, holding it off the ground, unique of her usual inability to lie. Fluttershy walked up to Applejack, "Applejack..." She began lowering her voice as gently as she could, "What is wrong?" Applejack closed her eyes but still didn't respond, tears still escaping her tightly shut eye lids. 'The fight must have been hard on her' Fluttershy stared at her friend for a minute, studying her every uncomfortable gesture, the silence was almost unbearable for the both of them. Fluttershy forced her way next to Applejack wrapping a hoof around her. The orange mare felt the pegasus's forehoof wrap over her shoulders and around her neck pulling her into the pink-maned pegasus's warm and welcoming body. the intensity of the affection Fluttershy was offering was just too much for the hardworking mare and she broke down before her friend, feeling weak and helpless but safe under her friend's care and compassion. Fluttershy hummed, and comforted her friend while Applejack continued to grieve. But somehow the earth mare felt relieved at the same time. Applejack was always the one who stood strong in the face of adversity, she was never given the chance to feel sorry or weak, and she often times would have never of dared to show those emotions to anypony. But somehow Fluttershy was different. The orange mare stopped sobbing for a moment and glanced up at the endearing pink-maned pegasus. Applejack felt compelled to do something neither of them would have expected ever happening. She kissed the pegasus on the cheek. *** Big Mac sighed as he unloaded the last of the dead menaces into their final resting place. As he looked to gather up the last of his equipment he noticed silhouettes on the horizon as the sun rested low in the calm, evening sky. He squinted into the blinding sunlight to make out the figures, after a moment he smiled and waved. Amethyst Star and Al, a unicorn mare and pegasus stallion carrying saddle bags stocked with food and with them a small messenger bird, approached the settlement. They could make out a rather large red pony waving at them in the distance and they assumed that must be Big Mac. "Oh look! I think that must be them! That's strange.. Wheres all the buildings?" The pinkish-lavender unicorn inquired. "Beats me..." The orange pegasus replied, slightly disgruntled. 'Why didn't we send out ponies that actually worked in construction for a living... But instead somepony thought it was a good idea to send out a bunch of kids...' the middle-aged pegasus mumbled impatiently to himself. Upon getting closer to the establishment they confirmed their suspicions, it was indeed Big Mac waiting outside the- what appeared to be a... Moat and wall? 'What in Equestria would they possibly need all this for!?' The suddenly alarmed pegasus thought, but suddenly impressed by the inherent labor and planning put into the courtyard's construction as the couple was greeted by the red earth stallion, and lead into the settlement over the draw bridge that laid a top the moat. Just as the two were getting adjusted to the- what would be their new home, Pinkie Pie burst into the courtyard in a parade of streamers and multicolored confetti baring platters of desserts and freshly prepared meals. Almost as if oblivious to any previous violence or blood shed that had recently shaken her friends. Eventually everypony made it outside to greet the new visitors, last to welcome Amethyst Star and Al was Fluttershy and Applejack who remained peculiarly close. After a while and a couple ice breaking conversations between the ponies the orange mare glanced at her pegasus partner. "Hay-uh, Flutter- wha' don't we er- go back to yer place for a bit'." She asked hesitantly. "Ah' mean, ah haven't got myself a proper place to sleep n' all with the work we've been doin'- n' ah haven't had time to make mah-self a bed." "Y-you mean you want to come sleep with me?" Fluttershy asked promptly, but blushing slightly after the weight of what she said took effect. "Heh," Applejack chuckled, blushing mildly while tipping her hat upwards out of habit. "Yeah, Ah- just... Shucks, ah don't know-" Before Applejack could finish the shy pegasus hushed her with a hoof and beckoned her to follow while she started to gingerly trot towards the hospital quarter. 'Well that was a heck a lot easier than ah' thought it would be...' She triumphantly thought to herself while she pursued. The others finished up, sharing snacks and drinks- all but Twilight who was a little preoccupied with her friends that she noticed sneaking off back into the fortress. 'I wonder what they could be up too...' As she was about to follow them she was stopped by Rarity. The white unicorn stuck her hoof out to stop the lavender, magic pony. "Let them be dear, Applejack needs this." "W-what do you mean?" Twilight confused as to what the fashionista might be suggesting. "Ever since we got here she has been working her flank off, and now she had to deal with those dreadful beasts, the least the darling could ask for is some relief, and if anyone knows how to comfort a friend in need it's Fluttershy." Twilight returned a blank stare. "Isn't it obvious?" "What's obvious?" Twilight replied becoming increasingly bewildered. "It comes with the gossip I suppose." Rarity stated, "Twi, sometimes a girl just needs a little bit of a stress reliever that only another girl can offer..." "Wait are you talking about..." Twilight felt embarrassed, "...Sex?" she finished in a whisper, making sure no other pony overheard. "Er! Well- Goodness..." Rarity withdrawn from her friend's nonchalant and liberal use of the term, "That is one way of putting it, yes." Normally the topic doesn't throw her through such a loop but she never imagined hearing the word come out of Twilight's mouth. *** post-party scene, Applejack and Fluttershy, night-time in Fluttershy's residence [sex] *** Luna and Celestia Conference *** Spitfire en-route bearing message from Celestia, ambushed by 2 harpies [gore] *** Comet Tail arrives *** Big Mac designated Sheriff *** Rainbow Dash forms militia, recruits Amethyst, and Al. *** dead livestock overnight, talons *** Big Mac camps out over night with livestock, attacked by 2 harpies. [gore] *** Twilight falls in love with Big Mac [shipping] *** Construction of barracks *** HUGE MIGRANT WAVE, huge party. [TwiMac][Raridash] *** End of Chapter Author Notes: [strike]Dis[/strike]claimer: HASBRO BELONGS TO MEEEEEE! THIS [strike]FAN[/strike]FICTION IS NOW CANON! TWILIGHT SPARKLE IS BEST PONY IS ALSO CANON!
