Between Life and Death

“We live in-*hic*-in a world with lies and-*hic*-and undead beings! We sing togeth-*hic*-gether as one!” Clockwork sung in his drunken state. The others attempted to put up with him but grew tired of it rather quickly. “WE, the people of the-*hic*-land! WE, the beings of the new! WE-*hic*-EE, the new beginning, of the life of the world-!”

“For the love of sanity, shut the hell up!” Arrowhead yelled at him. Clockwork stopped an looked at him.

“Who the he-*hic*-ell do you think you are to tell me-*hic*-ee what to do!?”

“Clockwork, stop, just stop.” Monochrome complained

“Screw you guys. *hic*. Anyone want a beer?”

“No.” Everyone ells said at once.

“Right, let me guess, *hic*, underage drinking thing right?”

“No, we just don’t want any.” Twilight replied. Clockwork shrugged his shoulders and continued drinking, he put the bottle he was holding up to his mouth and leaned his head back, and while doing that, he fell backwards off the rock he was sitting on, he fell onto his back then passed out into a deep sleep.

“Thank my dead sister.” Monochrome cheered.

“Yeah, now we just have to deal with his snoring.” Arrowhead added. “But I guess it isn’t as bad as his singing.”

“Trust me it isn’t. Ok, we made it to the top of a freezing mountain, we’ll make our way down tomorrow and continue to Blackwood, any objections?” Monochrome asked.

“Just one,” Applejack started. “We need food. I haven’t eaten for at least 4 days.”

“Don’t worry, before I left home with Twilight a managed to get a few things to bring on the trip.” Monochrome reached into the bag that Twilight packed an pulled out his backpack. He opened it up and pulled out a bag of marshmallows and a few metal sticks and passed them around to the others. “I know this isn’t much, but it’ll give us a bit more energy for the journey tomorrow.” He passed the bag around and they each took a few of the white puffs out of it. The skewered them with the sticks and held them over the fire.

“You’re right, it aint much, but I aint complaining.” Applejack laughed. After they finished eating they fell asleep, hours later when the sun rose and everyone woke up to the next day. Clockwork was the first one to awaken, and with a terrible hangover. He held his head as he stood up, he looked over to the others and saw they were asleep.

“Isn’t that adorable.” Clockwork smiled sinisterly. He pulled out his gun. “Wake up you sleeping bitches!” Clockwork yelled as he pointed his gun into the sky and fired. The others started freaking out and scrambling to get up. “good morning yah bitches!” he yelled. Monochrome snarled at him then approached him. He lifted his finger and pointed it at him for about a minute. “…Can I help you?”

“I swear, if you ever do that again, I will point that thing up your ass, and pull the trigger.” Monochrome snarled. Clockwork ignored him then walked over to the ledge. “Ok,” he yawned. “Everyone get packed, we’re leaving.” The others started groaning with annoyance as they packed everything away. After they got finished they started walking back down the mountain, and an hour later they made it half way to the base. “There is no way in hell you’re going to be able to get one of those things to run off a cliff.”

“You wanna bet?” arrowhead added.

“Fine, 500 bits says you can’t get one of those things to do that.”

“700 says I can.”

“Deal.” Monochrome and Arrowhead shook hands as the deal was struck.

“Is now the best time to be competing with each other?”  Nyx complained.

“Yes, yes it is.” The two said at once. After that they suddenly stopped as they approached a turn in the path.

“What is it?”

“One of those things is right around the corner. Monochrome make a cave for the others, I’m going to prove you wrong.” Arrowhead said smugly. Monochrome chuckled as he placed his hand on the stone wall, he waited a second, then at random the red stone turned into dust and he guided the others into the shallow cave. Once they were hidden Arrowhead walked around the corner and started yelling at the infected calling it a rotten chunk of meat and a maggot magnet. He growled at him then started rushing towards him. He took a few steps back until he was standing on the edge of the path, when it got close enough, he took a step out of the way and watched it plummet to its death. The others came rushing out of the cave and over to him. He held his hand up telling them to remain quite, then after a few seconds there was a thud and he lowered his hand and held it open in front of Monochrome.

“…Bitch, fine.” He pulled a small sack of money out of his pocket and handed it to him. “You got lucky, nothing more.” Arrowhead laughed as he put the money in one of the many pockets on his vest. After wards they continued walking down the mountain. Hours later they made it to the bottom and started walking through the waste land ahead of them.

“So, all we have to do, is cross the valley, and we’ll be in the swamps?” Clockwork asked.

“Yes, for the 9th time yes.” Arrowhead started complaining. He covered his ears as Clockwork continued talking. He turned around and was about to hit him until he saw a cloud of red dust in the distance. “…Son. Of  a. Bitch.”

“Something wrong-“

“Run, all of you run…Now!” Arrowhead yelled. The others didn’t ask what wass going on, they just started running with him.

“Arrow!” Twilight yelled as she caught up with him. “What’s going on?”

“Mad men, a group of people that roam around the valley. Bunch of dumb ass hics.” He groaned. As they ran the sound of their laughing and the music from their radio started getting louder.

“We can’t out run them!” Twilight started panicking. Arrowhead ignored her and kept running. As Monochrome ran he turned back and saw them, one of them climbed onto the back of their truck and armed a mounted gun on it and started shooting them. The bullets flew by them and hit the ground at their hooves.

“What the hell is with these guys-?!” Monochrome yelled

“Don’t ask!” Arrowhead interrupted. As they were running one of the bullets managed to hit Monochrome and ricochet off the back of his head.

“Gahh-Son Of A Bitch!”

“What happened?!”

“Those bastards shot me!”

“And your alive?!”

“I have flesh made of a steel titanium mix and bones made of diamond, of cores I’m alri-Gahh, damn it!” Monochrome yelled as another bullet ricochet off the back of his head. “You know what screw it! I’m gonna kill these bastards!” Monochrome slid to a stop. He turned around and pulled the black pole of his back and swung it to the sides reveling 3 blades. He faced the men chasing him, he swung his scythe causing a wave of magic to fly from it towards them. They swerved out of the way and continued driving towards him. He tightened his focus, and as he was about to attack again, another truck appear out of the cloud of dirt. “…Bitch.” He said to himself. The second truck moved to the side and launched a strange canister towards him. He landed heavily on the ground. Monochrome looked at it then without warning, the pannles on the side of it shot off and it started releasing a gas that made him feel sleepy. He started coughing, the fell straight to the ground and went unconscious. One of the trucks raced past him and continued chasing the others, the other one stayed there, the people on it got off and bound Monochromes hands behind his back and threw him onto the bed of the truck, they got back on then the driver drove them back to the cliff face.

“Arrow, I think we just lost Monochrome.” Twilight told him

“That aint good.” he replied.

“You guys go on ahead, I’ll stay.” Clockwork told them. He slowed down until he came to a complete stop. He pulled the GUAS off his back then turned around towards them. “Smile, you red-neck bastards.” Clockwork whispered to himself. He leveled the GUAS the fired it. The truck swerved out of the way causing the shot to miss and explode on the ground behind it. The blast managed to clear away some of the dust revealing a third truck which raced out and joined the first one. Clockwork placed the gun down and started reloading it, and before he could fire it again, the second truck shot at him. The shot hit the ground and exploded sending him flying. As he got up the same truck that shot at him drove by, the gunner pulled out a club and hit him causing him to black out. They did the same to him as they did to Monochrome, they bound his hand together then took him back to the cliff face.

“Arrow, I don’t we’re going to out run them.” Twilight told him.

“All of you keep running, I’ll stop them.”

“Red you can’t be serous!” Twilight started complaining.

“Still my job to defend royalty you know.” He opened his wings and started flying. He did a U-turn mid air and flied towards them. He drew his swords and got ready to attack. He landed on the hood of the truck. The gunner readied the gun and started shooting him. He ducked down and the bullets went right above his head. The gunner started aiming downwards and ended up shooting the window off and the engine. Red jumped to the side and onto the bed of the truck. The gunner let go of the gun and started fighting with him. He managed the throw a few punches but Red hit him too many times and he started swaying as he lost his balance. Red picked him up and threw him off the truck and into the red cloud. He then picked up the driver and threw him out causing the truck to spin out of control. He jumped into the air and started flying towards the others as the truck started rolling on its side until it came to a stop. He turned around and smiled as he saw the damage, but as he was about to fly off bullets came out of nowhere and hit his wings causing him to fall. As he started getting up a forth truck raced out of the cloud and attempted to run him over. He lied back down and it passed right over him. He opened his eyes and saw a random man wearing a welding mask and holding a pipe, and before he could react the man hit him and knocked him out, and just like the others he was tied up and token away.

“Arrowhead, I can’t keep running.”

“Don’t give up, we’re almost there!” the last six of them kept running. They turned back and saw about three other trucks following them. Two of them went around to the sides. Two of the people had lassos, they threw them out and caught Nyx and Agony, the trucks stopped and tripped them. They struggled to free themselves, but were eventually knocked out cold and taken away.

“No!” Twilight yelled. She wanted to go back and get Nyx and the others but Arrowhead demanded that they keep moving. Then eventually the third truck came up behind them. The gunner on the back leveled his gun and shot a net out of it that entangled Applejack And Fluttershy, the truck stopped. The gunner and the passenger got out and threw the two into the back. Twilight gave up, she stopped and turned around and started racing over to them. She pulled out her staff and was ready to attack them. She leaped into the air, the orb on the end of the staff started glowing, she slammed it onto the ground and a wave of magic started shooting out of the ground and headed to the truck. It launched it into the air and caused it to explode. She was about to do it again, but someone came up behind and knocked her unconscious. Arrowhead stopped, he turned around and saw nothing, nothing but the red cloud. He fell to the ground. He failed, it was his job to protect them, and he failed, and before he could do anything ells, his sight went completely black. Everything was cold and silent. He started opening his eyes and he saw himself being moved away from somewhere. His sight was blocked by the red fog but he knew he was moving. He couldn’t keep his eyes open and he ended up losing sight, next time he opened his eyes he heard someone talking, it was Applejack, she was yelling at someone. Arrowhead closed his eyes again and immediately opened them wide. He shook his head and started looking around.

“Where, am I?”

“Nice to know yer awake bud,” a mysterious man said to him. He looked over to his right and saw a man wearing jeans and a hat, nothing more. The sight of his hideus body sent shivers down Arrowhead’s spine.

“Who the hell are you?”

“My name’s Redneck, these are my boys, they aint important.” He stood up and his fat stomach seemed to grow. Arrowhead almost threw up when he started moving around. He closed his eyes and looked away from him.

“Why are you-“

“Just getting ready.” He paused and stretched.

“Getting ready for-Holly crap, I’m blind.” Arrowhead opened his eyes when he said that, when he did he saw him bending over right in front of him. “Ready for what?”

“Well, me and my boys call it a “play date” but you and yer “civilized” friends call it somthin ells.”

“…What?”

“Get off me yah fat blob!” Applejack yelled. Another one of the Mad Men forcing her to walk, she was shirtless but still had her bra on.

“Ey! Can I have this one?” the other man asked.

“All yours Poncho.” He told him. After that the other man lead her over to a table then bent her over on it.

“Wait, what are you…- Oh, please no!” Applejack started screaming. But before that man could actually do anything, there was what sounded like a roaring noise coming from behind one of the walls. Everything was silent except for the few tears hitting the floor from Applejack. After about a minute of pure silence, the wall exploded and someone flew right through the hole in it. He hit the wall and blood spurted out of his stomach and he had blood coming from his mouth, ears, and eyes. Everyone was focused on him, but after a second a dark figure appeared in the smoke, and when it cleared, it appeared to be Clockwork. He turned his head and saw the man holding Applejack.

“You get your hands off of her you fat ass bitch!” he yelled at the top of his lungs. He lifted his hand and punched him, and his fist went right through his hade and came out the other side of it. He picked up his now lifeless body and threw it at the other dead body.

“Hey you can’t just-!” and before Redneck could finish, Clockwork lifted his gun and blew his head off, covering the wall behind him with blood. He put his gun away and hurried over to Applejack.

“A.J., are you alright!?” he worried as he untied the rope binding her hands together. When she was freed she hugged him tightly, and he hugged her back. “Applejack, I promise you I will never let anything like that happen to you again.” He told her in a caring tone. Applejack started smiling, but she was still heavily crying.

“Not to ruin this moment between the two of you but uh…help?” Arrowhead interrupted them. Clockwork walked over to him and placed his hoof on his back, forcing him to lean forward. He drew his gun and shot the chain connecting him to the wall.

“Need help with the cuffs?”

“Nah, I got it.” Arrowhead replied. He stood up and bent forward, he twisted his wrist which opened his bow and caused one of the cuffs to break off. He flicked his other wrist and it shot out one of his arrows also breaking the other cuff.

“Thanks.”

“Not a problem.” Clockwork replied.

“Hey, I’ll be right back I need to get my shirt.” Applejack interrupted as she started walking into the other room.

“Can’t you leave it off? You look better this way.” Clockwork asked.

“If it was just me you and the girls…maybe, but since he and Monochrome are with us, no.” Clockwork sighed with sorrow as Applejack walked into the other room. A minute later she came out buttoning up her shirt.

“Clockwork, where are the others?” Arrowhead asked. Clockwork shrugged his shoulders.

“Get off of me you disgusting pervert!” Nyx yelled from another room. The others raced through the hole Clockwork made and saw her cornered by another one of the Mad Med, missing her shirt just like Applejack.

“Hey jackass!” Arrowhead yelled, the man looked at him and when he did an arrow flew right through his eye and pinned him to the stone wall, he didn’t scream in pain or anything, he died instantly. The others ran over to Nyx and untied her.

“Where’s my mom? Is she safe!?”

“Nyx calm down, we don’t know yet?” Applejack tried calming her down. There were another two screams coming from down the hall.

“Nyx get dressed, me and Arrow will be right back.” Clockwork told her as he ran off. He told Arrowhead to follow him as he passed by. When they turned the corner they saw Agony and Twilight being dragged.

“Arrowhead, help!” Twilight yelled. He raised his bow and shot the man dragging her in the back of his head. The other one turned around just in time to be shot by Clockwork. Twilight untied her slef using her magic and Agony did the same thing.

“Mom!” Nyx yelled as she went around the corner. She raced over to her and the two of them hugged. “Mom I was so worried about you, I thought- wait why a’m I hugging you your shirt less.” She let go of her then helped the two up.

“Where are the others-“ Twilight started but before she could say anything ells the wall collapsed. They all looked at what used to be a stone wall and saw Monochrome and Red standing there.

“…Good evening.” Monochrome calmly said to them. He walked over to them stepping over all the rubble and dead bodies. “So…why are you two shirtless?”

“Long story, don’t want to talk about it.” Twilight told them.

“Fair enough-“

“Your majesty I am So sorry I couldn’t protect you.” Red interrupted.

“Red, shut up, it’s not your fault.” Agony told him.

“Where is Fluttershy?” Monochrome interrupted them.

“Actually I think I saw her get dragged into one of the rooms you destroyed-or she could be through that door all the way over there.” Nyx pointed to the door in the room that Red and Monochrome were in, and standing in the door way is Fluttershy fully dressed. They all cheered and raced over to her, they asked how she escaped, and when they did she moved out of the way and looked into the room and saw a man cowering in fear in the corner. The men were shocked but the girls were just impressed.

“So, how do we get out of here?” Agony asked.

“Leave that to me.” Monochrome said. He walked over to one of the walls, he lifted his leg and kicked, the shock knocked down the wall he hit and several others. They raced through what was left of the cave and managed to finally get outside.

“Fresh air finally, I was getting sick of that sweaty smell.”

“Hey!” one of the Mad Men yelled as he raced out side.

“Get in the trucks!” Clockwork demanded, the all raced over to the trucks and paired up with 4 in one 5 in the other. No one knew how to start them. Clockwork snapped his fingers and just like the quads the engines roared to life and they drove off, the Mad Men didn’t waste time, they got into the trucks and followed them.

“Shit, what do we do?” Monochrome asked.

“Easy, do as I do.” Clockwork told him. He climbed out of his seat and onto the bed of the truck, Monochrome did the same thing. Then they both pulled back a bolt on the mounted guns which armed them, once they were armed, they laid waste to all the Mad Men destroying at least 12 trucks a second.

“Can you guys speed it up a bit? I’d rather not get killed.” Monochrome complained. Red and Arrowhead sped up and managed to get further away from the army following them. Monochrome and Clockwork continued shooting.

“Guys we got a problem!” Red yelled at them, they looked to the front and saw a giant crane equipped with a wrecking ball.

“Turn, turn, turn!” Monochrome yelled, and at the last second before the ball could hit them they turned out of the way and instead of hitting them it hit all the others. Monochrome started up the gun and started shooting the cockpits of the crane. The bullets just bounced off instead of going through the windows and killing the operator. “Bitch bullet proof casing.” Monochrome complained as he continued shooting. Clockwork got bored of him shooting ineffective rounds and fire an explosive round at it and managed the blow off half of it.

“Their, now kill him!” Clockwork yelled, Monochrome turned back at the crane and shot a single round that managed to hit him in his head. His head came off but his body fell and get caught on the controls causing the crane to go haywire. It started spinning out of control and hit all the other trucks that got near it. They left it as it is then continued driving out of the canyon. It was originally going to take at least a day, but now it only took 5 hours.