Stronghold: New Beginnings.

Chapter 5:

The Arrival of Max Stronghold.

Two years have passed, and Jake and I have grown both stronger and wiser. I was talking to Jake one day about the dream I had a year ago, and he seems to agree with me when I said that I believed Reggie was alive. He told me these exact words; “I agree. There's no way that punk just...died along with the rest of the Earth. If he was strong enough to make the sun blow up, he's strong enough to survive the blast.” On that same day, the bunker's alarm went off, and said, “We have reached the Pony Galaxy. Landing in two minutes. Brace for impact, for it is indeed imminent.”

We reacted a little too late, and soon, flames engulfed our bunker as we were about to crash into the planet. In a matter of seconds, I was able to look out a window, see an old, battered hut, scream bloody murder at the top of my lungs, and crash against the bunker door.

And then...everything went black.

When I woke up, I was stripped of my Muscle-T and my Leather duster. I had an ace bandage wrapped around my abdomen and my right shoulder. I was in a hammock, and when I turned my head to the right, so was Jake. He looked in worse shape then I did. He had an ace bandage wrapped around his forehead, his abdomen, and his left arm. I looked to the left, and saw a kitchen, where a...(I must be either dead, or insane, I thought) zebra  was cooking in a large pot.

She turned in our direction, and said, “Ah, you are awake. I bandaged you, since you were in a damaged state.” Then she said, “I am Zecora, healer and herbs specialist.” “...Hello, Zecora. I am Max Stronghold, and my friend here is Jake Abercrombie. We are extremely grateful for your assistance, for as you can obviously see, we crash landed on your planet. Sorry about that. The bunker wasn't strong enough to control it's landing.”

“Why have you landed on this planet? Do you assist the tyrant Reggie Phillips?” “Heck no. If anything, I'm the reason for his crooked nose. I broke it by punching him in the face. He blew up his planet, and it also was our planet. And besi—wait, did you say 'Tyrant' Reggie Phillips?” “Yes, I did.” So I then said, “I'm gonna kill that son of a—Is there anything I could do to help free you from his cold, evil hands?” “No. No there isn't. You're still hurt. As well as your friend.”

“How's about I help anyway?” And I got up, felling no pain as I ripped off the ace bandage from my body. I looked down at my body, and saw scars where the ace bandage covered my abdomen, as well as my right shoulder. “How is that possible? No one could ever heal that fast.” “Well, I guess I have a somewhat high-powered hemoglobin system. Come on, Jake!” He got up as well, but decided to keep the bandages on. “You can never be too sure, Bro.”

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What happened here, Max? The place looks like a ghost-town.” “Remember, Jake. There's a reason for that.” I said as we went into the village near the forest Zecora lives in. We came across a building with a sign that said “Sugar cube Corner.” I went in, and saw that the inside looked terrible. Not only that, but I heard a crying noise from above us. We rushed towards the counter, jumped over it, went up a flight of stairs or two, and followed the noise.

It was coming from a room two feet away. We entered, and saw two little baby horses in a crib, crying. I felt so sorry for them, so I came up to the crib, and sang a lullaby. The crying ceased, and they just stared, their eyes drooping. By the end of my lullaby, they were sleeping, drool escaping their mouths, which I wiped away using their shirts. I lowered the crib door, and kissed both babies on the forehead.

Then I raised the crib door, when I heard footsteps coming from the hall. I sprang into fighting position, one arm blocking the crib, the other in a fist. Jake got into fighting position too. We were determined to protect these two babies, no matter the circumstance.

Then whoever was in the hallway entered, and it turned out to be a pink pony with long, straight pink hair. “Oh, it's just the mother. I thought for a second there, it was Reggie. Sorry to trespass, but we heard them crying, so I sang them a lullaby so they could sleep.” “Oh no no no. I'm not their mother. I'm their caretaker. Their parents are dead. They were part of the rebellion against Reggie, and they were tortured to death by the tyrant himself.”

“Then, who are you?” I asked. “I'm Pinkamena Diane Pie. But you can call me Pinkie Pie, and before the tyrant came to Equestria, I had curly, frizzy hair. I was always happy, and I always threw parties. Those babies, Pound Cake and Carrot Cake, are the only ones left in this house, other than me. You see, when Reggie came, My hair flopped from being sad.

He destroyed everything fun. Then, out of nowhere, this gloomy fog came and darkened the skies. We try to fight him, but we're on the losing side. I pray every night that somepony will 'turn the tables' if you will.”

“I think you've met that 'somepony'. You see, Reggie once was my friend, up until he blew up my planet. I'd like to help you win the war. Already, I've realized you suffered for far too long. If you have any friends, I'd like to meet them, and tell them my plan of action.” Pinkie Pie smiled, and I was starting to see her mane and tail frizz up. Her coat, mane, and tail became a brighter shade of pink. And just like that, she had a wild look in her eyes.

“Thankyouthankyouthankyou! Thank you so much! I'd like you to meet my friend Fluttershy first. I think it's time she's had some comfort. She's so scared, she won't come out of her cottage anymore.” “Alright. I will. Jake, come on.” “Hold on, I'm coming.”

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“Whoa.” Were Jake's exact words as we came across the cottage of Pinkie's friend Fluttershy. “I guess Reggie's the reason for Fluttershy's fear. He probably tried to kidnap her for some reason” I told Jake as I knocked on the door. I heard someone inside say “Go away.” in a whispering voice. “We're not here to hurt you. We just came to talk to you.” I said to the voice inside the cottage. Then I heard footsteps, followed by the turning of a doorknob, and who I saw was shocking.

The pony facing me was amazing. She had long pink hair, a light yellow coat, and lovely ice-blue eyes. I guess she was a Pegasus, because she had wings. She looked scared though, and it made me sad to see her that way. “Don't worry. I'm not here to hurt you, okay?” I said calmly. I put my hand under her chin, and looked at her, explaining that I had a plan to get rid of the tyrant. She started to cry, and I brushed away the tears. Then I asked if Jake and I could come in. I guess you could say I'm kind of a softie when I'm not fighting.

“So, what is this plan of yours? After all, I doubt it will work. None of the plans the rebels use ever work. I've lost hope. He's killed those who he captures. It's like as though he sees things happen, before they happen. He's too strong.” “Not as strong as me, Fluttershy. I broke his nose, and I intend to break other parts of his body as well. Now, I have a plan, but first, I need your help to tell the rebels...and, your friends.

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“Well, um, here's everypony...I think.” said Fluttershy. “Good. We'll need everyone's help for this.” I said.