The gun, the knife, and the note
It was damp, and the floor beneath me was hard and cold. When I opened my eyes, there was a little amount of light illuminating the room I was in. From what I could see, the room was made of stone and the light shone through a wall of bars.
I got up off of the floor and stood. In the corner was a small, wooden chest that peeked my interest. I crouched over it and opened it, revealing a few items: a rusty key, a silver lighter, a hunting knife, and a small handgun with a detachable suppressor on it, along with some extra magazines for it. There was also a peculiar folded piece of paper in the chest. I opened it and read it.
Human, your mission is to escape this facility alive and unnoticed. In this chest are some your personal tools. The key is to the door to this room.
You know what to do.
-NOTE MAKER
Note maker? Who was he? More importantly, where was I? Why was I being called "human?" It was a strange sensation. I knew some things, like what the gun and the knife was, but I didn't know my name or who I was.
I wasn't scared, though. In fact, I was calm. I knew what needed to be done, and it would be done.
I took my items and unlocked the gate, careful not to alert anybody nearby. As I pocketed the key for future use, I checked the area for hiding spots or shadows. I was at the end of a hall, and I also notice that my cell was not the only room with stone walls. It seemed that the entire facility was made of stone and was lit with torches. Or maybe... I was underground. I needed to find an exit.
I carefully and quietly made my way down the hall. I soon approached an intersecting hallway to my left. I hugged the wall and slowed my approach.
Someone was walking towards me from that hall; I could tell by their footsteps. I put away the gun and readied my knife. The footsteps got closer and closer until they were right in front of me.
I quickly jabbed the knife forwards and stabbed the person in the chest. They coughed blood onto me as quickly pulled out the knife and sliced their throat open. They fell to the floor and started to bleed out before they even knew what had happened, making gurgling sounds as they did.
Letting out a breath of relief, I examined my victim. He, judging by his coughs and gurgles, was a tall dog-like creature. He was also wearing a vest and wielding a spear, which had tumbled to the floor during my attack. Before his blood started to pool, I dragged his body over to another cell and threw him in, along with his things.
I walked up the hall the dog had took and readied myself again when the corner came. This time, there were two.
"I'm telling ya," One said in a scratchy voice, "them ponies take us for granted! I mean they're making us babysit an ape!"
"They also said that they would pay us tonnes of gems in return," The other said in a slightly higher pitched, but equally rough voice.
I flicked off the safety on my handgun and grabbed the blade of the knife with my other hand. Stepping around the corner, I threw the knife into one of the dogs' head and as the other turned to me, I pulled the trigger with my other hand and shot the dog in the temple.
The dogs dropped dead and I hastily moved their corpses out of the way.
I wandered throughout the facility killing whoever stood in my way, until I happened upon a lone dog sleeping while sitting the floor. I snuck over to him and crouched in front of him. I put down the gun and put my knife on his throat. He would give me the answers I wanted.
With my other hand, I clamped his snout shut which woke him up. His eyes widened and his breaths became short, deep, and rapid. I opened my mouth to speak, but all I managed to do was breath on him. Curiously, I couldn't speak. The dog gave me a confused look and in anger I slit his throat.
With another question under my belt, I kicked the dog over in further anger. However, as the dog fell, a rather large piece of paper stuck out of his pocket. I pulled it out and examined it. It appeared to be a crudely drawn map of the facility. Luckily, the exit was not far from where I was. I left the map and continued towards the exit.
I turned a few corners and dispatched of a few dogs and made it to my destination. However, before I could leave I would need to kill the four guards currently at the entrance. They were idly talking and they had their guard down. Perfect. I grabbed the key from my pocket and threw it over their head. They all looked towards the sound and in that moment I picked off each one with my handgun. I quickly made my way past their bodies and outside.
As I ran, I looked back at my prison. The facility was built into the side of a large hill it seemed. A few steps out the door I stepped on something crunchy. I looked down to find another note waiting for me. I bent over and ran into the nearby forest before reading it.
Head right from here to reach a town. Find the bar and go inside. DO NOT GO ANYWHERE ELSE. You will arrive at midnight.
You know what to do.
-NOTE MAKER
Not wanting to invoke the wrath of the note maker, I walked to the right of the entrance.
I crossed a small bridge to get over to the town, and I was greeted by a small sign that said, "Welcome to Ponyville!" I walked past the sign and into Ponyville. The town was small and quiet, but that may be because it was the middle of the night. There were a few buildings that looked very suspicious: A crystal palace, a gingerbread house, a house in the clouds, and a farm that wasn't too far away from the town. However, the note maker had warned not to go anywhere but the bar.
The bar was easy enough to find. The neon signs that said "BAR" and "OPEN" were very helpful. I entered the bar to find it empty except for a strange creature sitting at the front counter. It looked like a horse, but smaller, curvier, and more colourful. It had dark blue fur and a black mane and tail. The creature also had a bat's wings and a picture of a moon with clouds floating in front of it on it's rear.
On the seat to it's left sat a large duffel bag with another note on it. On the counter in front of the bag was a small glass of brown liquid. Slowly and carefully, I approached the note on the bag, grabbed it, then read it.
Take a seat and have a drink.
Curious, I moved the duffel bag and sat down next to the horse thing. Then in a commanding, but smooth and feminine voice, she said, "I'm Cloud and I'll give you your jobs from now on. That's all you need to know about me." I nodded in understanding and took a sip of the brown liquid in front of me. It was bourbon.
"You'll come to the bar every night at seven. Sit in the back stall in the corner and wait for me. The note maker has also arranged for you to have free drinks here, considering the stressful nature of your occupation. If you haven't figured it out by now, then tough luck because I ain't allowed to tell you anything," She explained. That meant that she knew who I was. Maybe I could play nice and get her to answer some questions later.
Cloud then slid another note along the counter to me. I picked it up and read it.
This town is going to be your home. Get used to it. While you live here, you may notice that the town's ponies may regard you as strange or intriguing. However, some may consider you a threat to others. Be cautious. Avoid any unnecessary interactions with them. Most importantly, DO NOT LET ANYPONY FIND OUT WHAT YOU DO. Cloud will be the only one you talk to about your work. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT, YOU WILL BE ERASED.
Arrangements have been made with a local farmer to give you shelter in their barn. In the morning, the farmer will explain the details.
You know what to do.
-NOTE MAKER
"You probably saw the farm on your way here. It's called Sweet Apple Acres. The farmer there is a mare by the name of Apple Jack. If you want a peaceful time here, don't get on her bad side. You're free to go now," she explained as I finished my drink. I took the duffel bag, got up, and made it to the door before Cloud called to me, "You might want to change before sunrise, by the way."
I left the bar with more questions then answers, but I still had something to do. I made my way to the farm I had saw before and sure enough, the sign over the entrance said "Sweet Apple Acres." I walked to the barn and opened the door. The inside was what I expected: hay and farming equipment was scattered around. However, there was a faint light coming from the back. I closed the door and examined the lighted area to find a hay mattress and a gas lamp sitting nearby.
Opening the bag, I found piles of clothes inside. I changed out of my blood spattered clothes and into some linen pajamas. I guessed that they didn't expected me to sleep on hay naked. How thoughtful. I put the gun and knife into the bag before closing it. As I lay down on the mattress and turn off the lamp, I pulled out the lighter and started flicking it on and off. Something about this action felt comforting, like there was some deeper meaning to this lighter.
As I began to dwell on it, my fatigue got to me and I slowly fell asleep.
