Shellshock

Name: Echo

Rank: -

Date: 12/01/1995

Time: 1200 Hours (12:00 pm)

Location: Rook Isles

"Watch that snip-", That was all Tank could say before a bolt from a high powered crossbow took his head clean off his shoulders and embedding itself in Dew's throat who was behind him. I saw of this happen through my scope in my sniper's nest within the clock tower at the end of Jester Street, nicknamed "Vulture's Alley".

I was the sniper and medic for my little militia christened "Silver's Savages". After tracing the shot from the fucker that killed Tank and Dew, I started calculating my shot.

Range: 1400 Meter

Wind Speed: 10 MPH, Headwind

Air Temperature: 100 FHR and 40% Humidity

I adjust my sight while waiting for the perfect moment to fire. I didn't have to wait long before that dumbass stuck his head in the window. I smile, knowing that this dude was going to fucking die.

SHUR-UNK

I watch as the bolt sliced clean through the air at 500 feet per second just before it tears into that guy's head and pinning him to the wall.

And that was number 435 I think to myself. I'll make it a point to take a souvenir from that guy before we head home.

I take grim satisfaction in his death before packing up my crossbow and taking up my secondary weapons: a set of  Kusarigamas.

As I jump from the window to the streets below; I can see the surviving members of my gang cornering the last of the rival gang members before tossing Molotov Cocktails at them. The screams of those burning alive were music to my ears.

As I touch down next to my best friend, Duster, I feel a strange tingle on my flank. I look back and see my newly formed cutie mark: a set of crossed scythes with a red cross in the middle and a crosshair over both.

XxX

Name: Echo

Rank: PFC

Date: 10/02/2013

Time: 0700 Hours (7:00 am)

Location: Ponyville, Echo's House

I woke up in a cold sweat.

Just another dream I tell myself.

I've been having these flashbacks every night since I got here from Rook. I see the violence, the death, and the most haunting: the wails of agony from the dying.

I get out of my bed and stumble into the bathroom and splash cold water on my face before checking myself in the mirror. My dark blue coat and spiky grey mane was dripping with sweat and water before I jumped into the shower.

I was having conflicting thoughts between my memories of committing the acts of violence during my time in the militia on Rook and what I'm gonna do on my date with Ember today.

What do I tell her? What would she think of me? Why did she agree to this? Was all of this a set up?

All of these thoughts have been floating around my head before I went to bed last night. I don't know why I had to get cold hooves about it now; I mean she did seem sincere about it. Besides, something was... different, about her compared to the other mares.

She didn't hate me; she gave me a chance and forgave me for what I did. Grrr. Why is this so difficult?

I shut off the water and towel off, my mane spiking up naturally.

"Let's get'er done."

XxX

Name: Ember

Date: 10/02/2013

Time: 0900 Hours (9:00 am)

Location: Ponyville, Ember's Apartment

Sleep, beautiful, blissful sleep.

That is, until I remember my date with Echo.

I jump out of bed and rush to the bathroom.

My red coat was a hot mess and my mane and tail looked like I got stuck by lightning.

I sighed, "Time to go and look gorgeous."

Thinking back to last night and our first encounter, the way he declined the chance to have sex with me before I insulted him and when he went off on me. Then he came back to apologize and asked me out.

Nopony's ever done that before... I ponder

Normally when I flirt with a stallion one of two things happens: 1) He jumps at the chance for a one night stand, or 2) He runs off.

At first I thought he would just blow me off, think I'm a slut, then continue on his merry way like almost everypony in

college, but he surprised me when he came back to apologize. Nopony has ever done that before.

He certainly is different.

XxX

Name: Echo

Rank: PFC

Date: 10/02/2013

Time: 1030 Hours (10:30 am)

Location: Ponyville, Market District

I trot down the main street decked out in my urban fatigues, a set of black cargo pants, and an olive drab long sleeve undershirt, with a smile on my face.

The funny thing is that I never smiled before today. Even my team's attempts were all in vein.

I guess Ember found my soft spot, I chuckle to myself.

I had my mission: Locate and purchase a gift for Ember by any means necessary.

I considered buying her a rose from the local flower shop, but quickly dismissed that idea after remembering what happened the last time.

Yeahhh, let's NOT go through that again I sigh to myself.

I continue past the flower shop and make my through the district

What to get her, what to get her? I ask myself. Gah! Nothing!

Just when all hope seemed lost, I saw it: a beautiful phoenix amulet that matched her coat and mane colors.

PERFECT! I cheer to myself.

I take the necklace and pay extra for a black velvet box.

I check the time on my watch.

1145 hours. Ok, now all I gotta do is get to Sugarcube Corner, and I'm golden I say to myself.

XxX

Name: Ember

Date: 10/02/2013

Time: 1150 Hours (11:50 am)

Location: Ponyville, Outside of Sugarcube Corner

I waited outside for my date.

What if he doesn't show up? What is he doesn't like me? I ask myself.

All of these doubts were plaguing my mind since this morning.

What if he's like Clean Cut? My eyes shrank in fear.

Clean Cut was my first coltfriend from when I was in medical school and was my 'first' if you get what I mean. He was a few years older then me, a brown earth pony with a black mane. After our 'fun time' I started to think that, love and sex was the same thing and started to crave sexual attention. Eventually my behavior drove him, and numerous other coltfriends away.

Just as I finish doubting myself, I see a familiar dark blue bat pony in his urban fatigues sprinting towards me before sliding to a stop.

XxX

Name: Echo

Rank: PFC

Date: 10/02/2013

Time: 1155 Hours (11:55 am)

Location: Ponyville, Sugarcube Corner

After sprinting for a good mile and a half, I finally made it.

"Sorry I'm late!", I apologize in a panicked tone before falling into a coughing fit.

She looks shocked. Either from my panicked tone, dusty appearance, or from the fact I thought I was late.

"You aren't late Echo, just calm down please." she reassures me.

I take some deep breaths to calm down and to relive the burning sensation in my lungs before looking back up at her.

"Better?" she asks.

"Better." I say with a smile. "Hungry?"

"Very." she says with a smile.

As we enter Sugarcube Corner, we can smell the sweets and other goods being cooked. I also notice the hostile stares at me from the patrons. Some of my happiness drained from me as I can hear the murmurs.

Good thing I packed my knife, just in case I mentally tell myself in an irritated tone

Pinkie comes to take our order "Hi! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! What can I get-" she cuts herself off when she notices who Ember was with. "You all." she finishes as her hair turns flat.

Here we go

Ember smiles politely before giving her order, "Hey Pinkie, I'll have the veggie burger and hay fries with a tea please." She says in a cheery voice

Pinkie writes her order down before glancing at me. Trying to avoid eye contact.

"And you?", she whispers in a voice that can rival Fluttershy's.

I try to smile, but it comes out as a grimace.

"I'll have the same. Just with a coffee. Black please."

She hastily scribbles my order down before making a bee-line to the kitchen.

So much for friendly

Looking down, I pray I didn't just embarrass Ember in public. Looking up though I can see she looks pissed.

Aw, fuck...

"That little bitch!" she snaps quietly.

I flinch. Expecting her to lay into me, to hate me like everypony else, to never want to speak to me again.

"She's an Element of Harmony. The very representation of 'friendship' and one of the friendliest ponies ever. Yet she

treated you like that!?" She says in a harsh whisper.

"Easy Ember. I'm use to it. There's no point in getting worked up over this," I say with a unconvincing smile. The hurt evident in my eyes.

"No Echo, it's not okay!" she continues, "Nopony, especially you, a soldier, deserves that!"

"It comes with the job. I fight for my fellow ponies’ freedom and this is them exercising their freedom of expression." I say

with a sad chuckle

"Echo..."

"It's fine. At least somepony likes me," I say with a warm smile which causes her to blush.

Heh, still got it

"Looks like our food's here." I say glancing over to the counter.

Pinkie comes back with our orders and that same expression on her face.

"Here you go," she mumbles before running off.

We roll our eyes as she runs back to the kitchen before digging in.

XxX

Name: Echo

Rank: PFC

Date: 10/02/2013

Time: 1455 Hours (2:55 am)

Location: Unchanged

We got to know each other about better over our lunch. We didn't even notice how much time had passed since we

started eating.

I never would've guessed her talent was not only being a bartender, but a part-time vet. She told me how she got her cutie

mark by helping a hurt cat. How her parents enrolled her into medical school.

I swore I saw a tear form up in her eye when she mentioned her family.

She never had a close relationship with her mother and older sister, but was extremely close to her father. Her voice

started to crack as she told me how he just vanished one day on a mission. Never to return.

I can see the hurt in her eyes. I know that feeling all to well. Never being able to see my loved ones again.

I get up from my seat and hug her, packing as much warmth and care as I can into the embrace while whispering words of sympathy to her. I can feel her tense up for a second before relaxing and burying her head in my neck.

"How?", she asks.

I lean back to look at her. Her yellow, tear stained eyes looking longingly into my red ones which are filled with

compassion.

"How do you know what it's like to lose your family?", she asks in a whimper.

I think long and hard on my response.

"Because I lost mine,” I answer.

She looks at me, wanting to ask about to ask how they died. However, I answer her before she could voice he question.

"I was nineteen. We were on a refugee boat heading from Rook Isles, the place where I'm from. They died about halfway through the trip by some waterborne virus. We didn't have any medicines, so they had to suffer. I was there to make their last few days of the trip as comfortable for them as possible.” I answer. I was trying to be strong for her, to assure her that everything was going to be alright. My faltering smile, cracking voice, and misty eyes betrayed me.

She then pulled me into another warm embrace. We were comforting each other. It was beautiful and heart-warming.

Until that prick, Thunderlane and his coltfriends fucked it up.

XxX

Name: Echo

Rank: PFC

Date: 10/02/2013

Time: 1400 Hours (3:00 pm)

Location: Unchanged

"Aw ain't that sweet? The freak and the slut having a heart-to-heart moment!" Thunderlane yells. His little gang of five all laughing at this.

I can feel Ember shaking in fear. She has every right to be afraid, Thunderlane and his gang is a notorious hate group.

They target any non-equines in Ponyville.

"Listen Ember,” I whisper to her, she looks up at me, "I'm gonna take these guys down. What I want you to do is get out of here and get to the base. Get Fuse, Stunner and the rest of my team. They'll know what to do."

"What? Hell no, I'm not leaving you here!"

"This isn't up for debate, as soon as I start swinging, you get out of here! I can handle these punks on my own."

"Well? Whatcha waitin' for? Turn the fuck aro-"

That was all Thunderlane could say before I spun around and caught him with a solid right hook, breaking his jaw.

"GO!", I yell.

I see Ember make it out of Sugarcube Corner, heading towards the base.

"By order of the Equestrian Military, I'm placing you under arrest for-", I was interrupted by a blue earth pony trying to bum rush me. I use my wings to jump up and somersault over him as he faceplants into the rear wall.

"Oh, now it's a party!", I yell before slipping my knife out of the hidden sheath strapped to my right hoof.

A brown pegasus tries to dive bomb me. I manage to catch him in a guillotine before performing a beautiful monkey flip and finishing with a wicked blood choke.

Another earth pony tries to buck me, but I evade and slash the tendons in his rear legs, ensuring that he won't be walking again.

Hearing him scream in agony causes me to have a flash back.

I can see the surviving members of my gang cornering the last of the rival gang members before tossing Molotov Cocktails at them. The screams of those burning alive were music to my ears.

My little flashback distracts me long enough for the blue earth pony to buck me square in the chest, sending me backwards into the wall.

Coughing and gasping for air, I start seeing doubles. I blink a few times to clear my head before taking stock of my current situation.

Ok, that's four fractured ribs, one or two are possibly broken, a mild concussion from when my head rebounded off the wall, a strained right wing, and my rear left leg is sprained, I sigh to myself, Fucking perfect.

I start to formulate a plan until the situation escalated to a whole new level.

So far, only three ponies remain Thunderlane that blue earth pony, and a light green unicorn.

Thunderlane somehow managed to take Pinkie hostage and is currently holding her as a meat shield.

Hmp, fuckin coward

"Give it up freak! I know you wouldn't risk this bitch! Especially an Element of Harmony! ", says Thunderlane. He's trying to sound tough, but I can tell he's scared shitless.

"Not necessarily.” I say nonchalantly, "to tell ya the truth: I can't care less about her, or the mane six." I'm only bluffing, but I pray to Celestia that he buys it.

Pinkie's face is the very definition of betrayal. Eyes wide in shock, tears streaking her cheeks, her lip quivering.

Come on take the bait, take it!

"Hm,” Thunderlane hums in mock thought, "so I guess you wouldn't mind if I have some fun?” he asks in a sinister voice.

SHIT! Ok, Plan B

"Listen Pinkie," I say as calmly as possible.

She looks at me, fear written all over her face.

"When I say 'now' I want you to shut your eyes as tightly as you can. Ok?"

She nods.

"I had enough of this, Bruiser, Comet, finish him!", Thunderlane bellowed.

Perfect

The blue earth pony, Bruiser, tried to splatter me all over the wall while Comet was right behind him.

"NOW!" I yell

I slash Bruiser's throat with my knife before throwing it right between Comet's eyes.

Next was Thunderlane.

I look him square in the eyes, fear paralyzing him as my eyes change from my normal sliced ones, to a strange pattern.

XxX

Name: Thunderlane

Date: 10/02/2013

Time: 1315 Hours (3:15 pm)

Location: Thunderlane's Mind

Omnipresent POV

The sky swirled until it was nothing but black clouds flying across a red sky. Thunderlane was tired to a jagged steel cross via barbed wire. Everything here was a different shade of black or white. In front of him stood Echo holding a sword.

"Thunderlane." He says without emotion.

Thunderlane is completely terrified, the smell of shame wafting through the air.

"You will suffer for your crimes against the weak and helpless." Echo continues before stabbing him in the side.

Thunderlane wails in agony as the sword continues to push deeper and deeper into his flesh.

"I wonder how long you can resist…" says Echo.

Thunderlane opened his eyes and stared at the non existent wound, but the pain lingered and there were now two Echoes standing before him.

"In the Null Void..." the one on the right said as he stabbed Thunderlane,"… I control time."

"Even the mass of objects." The one on the left added as he also stabbed him.

"You will be stabbed with a sword for the next seventy-two hours; I wonder how long you can stand it?" both say in unison.

After what seemed like days and thousands upon thousands of stabs later. Echo spoke once more,

"The time remaining is seventy-one hours, fifty-nine minutes, and fifty nine seconds."

Thunderlane can only sob as over a hundred Echoes approached him. Each and every one of them had a blood lust in their eyes.

Echo was merciless, extending the Null far beyond anything he had ever done before. Thunderlane's mind was destroyed by the ten month mark, but it didn't matter, nothing he could've done would've deterred Echo from exacting his own brand of justice.

XxX

Name: Echo

Rank: PFC

Date: 10/02/2013

Time: 1400 Hours (4:00 pm)

Location: Ponyville, Sugarcube Corner

As I collapsed the Null Void within Thunderlane's shattered mind, I clutched my eyes in my hooves, I felt blood dipping from them as if I was crying.

Panting and with my vision was failing, I can see Thunderlane on the ground muttering to himself while rocking on the floor with Pinkie safe and sound.

Mission accomplished I sighed to myself.

As my vision started to fade to black, I collapse on my back. I can faintly see my team bursting through the door with the mane 6 and Ember right behind them.

Before my vision and strength failed me, I called for Ember.

"Ember...” I call weakly, the adrenaline wearing off.

She rushes up to me. Tears straining her cheeks as she nuzzles me.

"I'm here Echo, I'm here,” she says in a soft voice.

"I'm sorry,” I say feebly, I start to cough up blood.

“What?” she asked quietly. “Why are you sorry?”

I reach into my breast pocket, retrieving the black, velvet box that held her gift before gently placing it in her hoof.'

"That our date had to end like this,” I laugh frailly before giving one last violent, bloody cough before blacking out.