The walk to the cybernetics shop while short felt like the longest in our life. In just a few minutes we had been ripped out of our world and thrust into a harsh and truly unforgiving one called reality. As i walked I realized that it was foolish to think I could just live down here crafting cybernetics my entire life. As I learned in the five years I spent above ground with the dogs before the clinic was made by president Flutter Shy and ponyville re-settled. Being the only one of my kind I am scary and a target. In the end I was chosen for this job because I scared the ponies. Though why Sandy was being sent I had no idea, she was both older than me and Elder Barks direct blood related decedent.

We soon reached the shop located just a little ways off to the side of the clinic. The shop while still under ground was located in a small grotto; well hidden in the side of the hill that the clinic was located on. The cave opening had long since been boarded up and hidden. The only source of natural light was from a fairly large fissure in the ceiling. Bars covered the hole so no pony would accidentally fall in. the fissure was also used as a source of ventilation so the foundry’s smoke could escape. In the middle of the shop with several bags on the work table in front of him stood the imposing hunched form of Elder Feral Bark talking to a dirty gray pony with his rough growling voice echoing about the silent shop.

“Pony get sandwich.”

“Why?” the pony said.

“Because dog is hungry now stop asking questions and do as dog say before dog get mad.”

Elder feral bark said this last comment while leaning in closer to the pony’s face and growling sending the pony almost fleeing in terror. This sight made me involuntary chuckle while it was true Elder Feral Bark was bigger than most dogs and; his cybernetic right arm and eye caused him to look rather intimidating me and sandy knew how much of it was really an act.

While the pony moved hastily past us, me and Sandy walked forward to greet the gnarled old sand dog. As I entered the acrid smell of the shop hit mi nose causing my eyes to water a little.

“Hello elder.” I said bowing my head slightly.

“Hi dad” Sandy said with little enthusiasm the thought of why we where hear stilled weighed heavily on her. Elder bark smiled sadly at the two of us he replied in the barking sand dog tongue.

“Hello young ones it’s good to see you.”

Sandy was the first to reply. “Hello Elder I imagine you can guess why we are here.”

Nodding his head he simply turned back toward the table waving us over. Walking up to the table I saw the various things he was able collect four us. There were two neat stacks of supplies with two different suits of reinforced leather armor. Off to the side of the piles laid two energy weapons, a cloak, and some extra ammo for the two guns.

“This is what you will be able to take with you.” He explained while pointing to the stack on the left. “This stack is for Sandy. The other for you, Life.”

The last comment of his caught me off guard. He never called me by my actual name. I asked. “Elder why do you refer to me by that name?”

“You are no longer a pup and now both of you are leaving the den, to find a life of your own beyond the pack. Make no delusions both of you are not coming back at least not to live here.”

“What do you mean are we being exiled?” Sandy asked in a panicked tone.

“No you are not being exiled. There just comes a point in every creatures life when the must leave the den and explore the world around them, although there is more to it than that.” He paused for a moment adopting a small scowl.“The way the town set up the routs for the scouting parties was on a first come first serve biases. Seeing how the clinic took the longest time to choose the rout our scouts would check you two got left with the worst route. A move I believe was intentionally made to weaken my line of succession.”

“What. Why would they do that?” I asked.

“While it is true that compared to everyone else currently working the clinic. You two contribute the least amount to its overall operation. I believe that while anyone who knows you Life does not feel threatened. What you are, is unknown and that scares most things especially ponies. Sandy you are both a strong candidate for succession and a trouble maker. That makes you a threat to anyone who wants to succeed me and a general nuisance. Anyway enough of that, you are here to get equipped and learn about the route you will be taking. So get suited up, then I will tell you exactly what rout you will be following.”

On his command we began strapping all the equipment to our bodies. It was all roughly the same between us with only a few exceptions. For starters my armor had to custom tailored to me; and while I was shrugging it on some minor things had to be changed for it to fit me properly. There were no such issues with Sandy’s armor. The next difference was with the armor came a very large concealing cloak for me. Elder Bark instructed me that I was to wear it at all times; and while I was out near pony, town, or settlement, I was to hunch down and attempt to walk more like a sand dog to decrease my odds of not being attacked on sight.

Once everything was in place we moved onto the two energy weapons next. Elder Bark explained. “Unfortunately the only weapons I was able to get for you two was from my personal stash. You will have to decide between yourselves who gets what.”

There was a plasma pistol and a laser rifle both appeared to have been heavily modified. The plasma pistol had a blue energy field around the tip and the gem cells were set up like a revolver chamber four of them where loaded at once. The laser rifle’s cells where set up like a traditional assault rifle in a magazine style right in front of the trigger.

Elder Bark began to explain. “The laser rifle has been set up with rapid fire and a green energy beam. The green beam represents the magical radiation it is laced with, to poison any living thing hit with it. The plasma pistol is made to shoot faster at cost of damage but it also has larger ammo capacity.”

I let Sandy take her pick first seeing how unlike her I never really learned how to shoot. She chose the rifle and slung it on her back next to her pack. So I got the pistol and the holster that came with it, attaching it to my belt on my right side. Once everything was off the table Elder Bark rolled out a map with the various trade routes on it.

Tracing his claw along the eastern route he explained. “You two will be following this route through the Everfree down to New Appaloosa and up along the coast all the way to Manehattan. Next to Hoofington this is arguably the most dangerous of all the routes, so you will need to stay on your guard the entire time especially in the Everfree.

Taking time to look each of us in the eyes he continued. “In the Everfree it is of the utmost importance that you stay on the path and never stray off it, that is the only way you are going to be able to more-or-less get through the forest safely. The worst of the creatures in the Everfree tend to avoid the paths. Also you cannot sleep in the Everfree otherwise what remains of the black moss will get you. If you do have to stay the night in the Everfree try to find the zebra witches hut if at all possible for some reason all the creatures in the forest avoid it making it the only safe spot in the forest. After you manage to get out of the Everfree the rout will become a little less hazardous at least until you reach one of the city ruins as long as you are alert and careful you should be ok.”

***

A few hours later Sandy and I found ourselves standing at the edge of the Everfree the path we were supposed to follow stretched out before us quickly vanishing into the shadows of the forest. A place of legends and horror stories where even before the war ponies and other creatures rarely managed to survive traversing its depths. The forest had grown unchecked for a couple centuries increasing both the size of the overall forest and the threats found within.

Gulping I glanced at Sandy and began to stride forward after a moment’s hesitation Sandy fell in behind me holding her rifle tight and glancing around nervously. The moment we crossed the tree line the entire atmosphere changed and the air grew colder sending goose bumps up my arms. Looking back I checked how far into the forest we had walked and discovered we were barely three feet from the tree line. Turning back around I lowered my head and forced myself to walk further into the forest Sandy clung close to me keeping an eye behind us to such a degree we nearly had our back pressed together.

The entire atmosphere of the forest was oppressing and felt full of rage as if the very trees themselves hated our presence. I felt as though something was watching us constantly from every angle keeping me on edge and paranoid. As we ventured further and further into the forest it got darker as the canopy above our heads filtered out more and more of the suns light until it got to the point where I had to rummage around in my pack and pull out a lamp in near perfect darkness.

“Can you hurry up I think I hear something moving out there.” sandy whispered in a near panicked voice.

“I’m trying but this isn't easy.”

The sound Sandy was noticing was the rustling of underbrush and the creaking of wood as something seemed like it was circling us getting closer by the second. I began to frantically search for the little lamp I had, my heart racing as the sounds seemed to draw closer and closer until finally I felt it! My hand brushed against the small cylindrical gem-tech lamp quickly pulling it out I flicked it on flooding the small area with the artificial bluish light. The first thing I saw was sandy staring at me eyes wide mouth open a look of fear on her face as she slowly and shakily raised her paw pointing towards me stuttering.

“B-b-b-brak.” I swallowed hard and slowly turned looking behind me only to look straight in the large green eye of the thorny black vine coated Bracken Wolf it’s feted breath stinging my nostrils as it began to growl, it’s growl sounded like a cross between a rock slide and the splintering of trees as they fell.

Taking a couple of hesitant steps backwards it advanced as I walked backwards. My mind was blank with terror though at some point without thinking about it I had hooked the lamp to my belt and drawn my plasma pistol, and held it my hand shaking pointing at the very large creature in front of me. After a couple steps back I tripped over my pack falling backwards I fired accidentally. The blue plasma bolt from my pistol hitting it dead in the eye; the bracken wolf howled in pain its howl sounding like a thousand creatures of the forest screaming in pain. The combination of the fall and the howl snapped me out of my panicked stupor as I rolled off the bag and ran towards Sandy grabbing her snapping her out of her stupor. We ran a random direction just trying to get away from the massive monster behind us. It wasn't even a second before we heard the Bracken wolf chasing after us it running sounded like the creaking of old timbers. It gained ground fast everything that seemed to be slowing us down didn't seem to affect it I could practically feel it’s strangely cold breath on my neck.

The brush slapped my face as we ran barely able to see more than a foot ahead of us. Sandy was in front always faster than me with her weird hoping run. Glancing over my shoulder I saw the Bracken right behind me bright green fluid dripping from its eye socket glowing slightly.

Glancing back I saw that as it ran it phased trough the brush without even disturbing it. I looked forward just in time to see sandy stop in front of a large tree before she ran into it. Thinking quickly when I reached her without stopping I pushed her off to the left as I dived to the right causing the Bracken Wolf to run into the tree. When it hit the tree there was a bright flash of orange light and the wolf exploded. Green glowing fluid and bits of Bracken wolf splattered me covering me from head to…paw. Stranding up I looked around for Sandy calling her name.

“Sandy....Sandy!” I called in a loud whisper.

I heard a groan accompanied by a weak. “Over here.”

I spotted her splattered with the green blood and lying on the ground barely moving. I rushed over to her only to find her impaled on a wood spiked fence. The spike stuck clean trough her sides her blood mingling with the glowing wolfs as it poured out of the wounds. I stood there in shock unsure what to do as she groaned and tried not to move. Looking around franticly I noticed where in the Everfree we were.

The tree the wolf ran into was actually a strange hut made into the growing tree. Zebra masks and talismans hung from the branches, the door to the hut was open and peaking in I saw that except for some sparkle cola bottle on the floor and some other strange things and furniture the place was empty.

Running back out I carefully lifted Sandy off the spiked fence with her howling in pain and passing out I carried her into the hut and laid her on the old blood stained bed. Reaching for my pack I groaned realizing I never picked it up when we started to run. So instead I opened Sandy’s pack and pulled out all the medical supplies we had, and began to bandage her stuffing cotton into the wounds to help staunch the bleeding. Once done I sat down, my monkey paws covered in her blood and thought for a second.

Supposedly we were safe in this hut that much I knew but Sandy’s wound where serious....and my fault. Oh Celestia I’m so stupid if I hadn’t...No got to focus she need more medical help than what I just gave her If she is to survive she will need some alcohol to sterilize the wound and possibly a cybernetic patch. But how or where am I going to find that or get it?

I looked over at Sandy’s bag and noticed the map sticking out of it standing up I wiped the blood off my paws and pulled the map out of her pack. Unrolling it I laid it down on the table and lit some of the lamps around the hut to read it. Scanning it I looked for the hut I was in only to be disappointed to discover it wasn’t on the map. But something did catch my eye Red Eye’s Chapel. In the bit of history Elder Bark had taught us he spoke of some of the sand dogs being captured and forced to create cybernetics by an evil pony with a cybernetic red eye.

If this is the same red eye then he might have something I could use to patch up Sandy, but Elder Bark called him evil and well I am pretty much a monster will he even work with me? Sandy coughed roughly in her sleep spitting up a bit of blood in the process and wheezing. I don’t have a choice. This is likely the only hope she has of survival I don’t have much time.

Grabbing her pack I set out some water and food by the bed along with the painkillers sandy kept. Then I slung her pack over my shoulder grabbed her rifle, and head out shutting the hut door behind me. Facing the Everfree in front of me It felt darker more foreboding somehow now that I was alone. Gritting my teeth I set out in the rough direction of the Red Eyes Chapel alone in the ever free with the sun setting I had a feeling that things weren’t about to get easier.

***

It was official despite the map I was lost; the forest was to dark for me to see very far past the small circle of light cast from the lantern on my belt, and as I wandered the forest only got darker. Being alone deep in the untamed forest didn’t help to calm my nerves either making me jittery and jumpy at the slightest sound. I looked up at one of trees surrounding me the thought of climbing one had occurred to me earlier with disastrous consequences.

As I tried to scale it my hands kept finding thorns that seemed to grow as I climbed and hand-holds that seemed to disappear before I could use them. In the end I got about three feet off the ground only to fall with the same result every time I tried to climb a different tree so I gave up on that idea.

A sudden rustling noise distracted me from my thoughts as the sound of creaking timbers accompanied it. I looked around franticly drawing the laser rifle as I searched for the source of the noise my heart beating fast and loud in my chest. The creatures stepped into the circle of light one at a time, snarling an all too familiar sound like a rock slide crossed with splintering trees.

Bracken wolfs this time I had a good view of them as they surrounded me. They were huge big enough to almost swallow a pony whole. Their green eyes glowed in the artificial light cast by my small lantern. Their skin was comprised of gnarled black thorn vines twisting and twining around each other looking almost like exposed muscle the thorns looked almost like a thin layer of fur. Their paws were huge with long red blade like claws that looked like massive curved thorns.

They stopped just inside the circle of light growling but not approaching I just stood there unsure of what to do. My rifle pointed at them switching between them I counted five in all standing nearly shoulder to shoulder. After a few moments the two in front of me parted letting a sixth one enter this one was slightly larger than the others and had only one eye a glowing burnt hole was all that remained of the other eye. It looked me up and down as if gauging me. Then a thought struck me.

Was this the same wolf I had shot in the eye? That couldn’t be the case I had watched it explode when it ran into the wards on the witches tree hut.

It looked back at the other wolfs and gave a short bark. Suddenly I was side swiped by one of the wolves and the rifle was wrenched from my hands I looked over at the one that had my rifle. It looked back then proceeded to slowly and deliberately crush the rifle in its jaws. I watched in shock as the pieces fell to the ground. These things where sending me a clear message that my weapons wouldn’t help me now.

Tearing my eyes away I notice that there was an opening where the wolf had been and without hesitation I took the chance and ran through it as fast as I could. The wolves quickly chased after me howling I could feel their icy breath on my neck as I ran barely keeping ahead of them. As I ran I noticed a strange sound that the wolves where making between howls it was a strange choppy barking as if they were laughing. Soon I realized what they were doing. They were toying with me and leading me on. Eventually I assumed they would force me into a corner and kill me.

A fire rose inside me as my rage at my situation built then a thought occurred to me I still had the plasma pistol and the one wolf was still missing an eye.

Adrenaline surged inside me as a mad and impulsive plan formed and I acted. Moving faster than I thought possible, I suddenly switched direction. Jumping I grabbed a small tree with my right paw using my momentum I swung around tucking my legs up and drawing my plasma pistol at the same time with my left. I fired several times at the surprised Bracken wolf that was chasing me. The blue plasma splashing across its face burning everything it touched and blinding the wolf as it passed under me its thorns scraping the bottom of my boots. Carrying through with my swing I planted my feet on the side of the tree and sprang off it diving prepping myself to roll on impact, only to find impact never came as I fell into empty space the cliff wall rushing past me as I fell.

Author's Note

This chapter was problematic and nearly crashed my flash drive.

As always thanks be to my editor The TheCrimsonDM.

http://www.fimfiction.net/user/TheCrimsonDM