Deceit in the truths

Nate

With Mike by my side, we snuck our way through the train. A few of the ponies inside saw us but thankfully kept quiet. A conductor walked out of one of the cabins and almost ran straight into us before we pushed him back in and told him to stay. Once we reached the end of the train car, we opened the door and glanced out.

“All clear” I whispered as I walked across the gap and entered the next car. Hearing the sliding door shut, I moved on through the car. This appeared to be the cafe car, judging by the tables and plates of food strewn about. A group of ponies were hiding under a few of the tables but we ignored them.

“Alright, this isn’t going to be easy. We’ve got an unknown amount of hostiles and they have us surrounded. Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked Mike as I peered through the door leading to the outside.

“Do I really have a choice?” He asked with a mock chuckle.

“Nope.” I said as I kicked open the door and jumped down. One of the Hippogriffs, shocked by our exit, recoiled in fear. He didn’t have to suffer long as I sent two rounds through his chest. The muffled snaps died leaving an eerie silence about the area. Walking up to the body, I saw he still had a bit of life in his eyes. I placed my boot upon his throat and applied force. A ghastly crunch reverberated from his throat.

“اون چی بود؟” A voice sounded off from the other side of the train. I glanced to Mike and gave a panicked look. He was already ahead of me as he picked up the dead creature and placed it in a relaxed position. He motioned to me to follow as he crawled underneath the train. Not having a choice, I followed him. As soon as I was under four of the bandits surrounded the dead one.

“چه کار می کنید؟ این در هیچ زمان را برای استراحت است! هی ... شما؟” One of them yells before touching the corpse. His claw recoils as the corpses head lolls to the side. He tried to shout something but a thunderous report echoed throughout the landscape. His head exploded as the 40. caliber round blew through the birds skull. I quickly put rounds into the one next to him when another shot rang out and another bird dropped. I shot at the next one just as he took to the air. The rounds tore through his midsection and one of his wings, making him fall to the earth.

We laid in wait to see if anymore of the creatures would show up, but none did. I crawled out from under the train and walked towards the group of dead Hippogriffs. I heard a thick coughing from the side and walked towards it. The last Hippogriff I shot laid in a pool of blood and coughed violently. I approached him and raised my rifle.

“Wait!” I heard a heavily accented voice shout from behind me. I turned to find another of the bandits behind Mike with his sword across his throat. My heart thudded violently inside my chest and would be audible to any nearby.

“I’d suggest you drop your weapon creature.” It threatened. The look in Mike’s eyes told me otherwise. I glanced between the two while trying to think up a plan. I started to panic slightly when I couldn’t think up a plan that didn’t end in us dying.

“Nate…” I heard Mike growl out and the blade was pressed tighter into his throat. After some pushing, he got the blade far enough away to speak again. “Finish what you started, don’t worry bout me.” He said quickly and with the type of authority that I’ve learned not to question. I pulled the trigger.

BANG

Mike

I pushed heavily on the Hippogriffs arm, just enough to breath.

“Nate, finish what you started, don’t worry bout me.” I choked out as I stopped pushing on his arm. I reached down to my vest and removed another of my flashbangs, pulling the pin out with my belt buckle. I heard the muffled snap of Nate killing the wounded Hippogriff. As the pain of a blade being drawn across my throat set in, I heard the balance breaking bang of the flashbang, along with being completely blinded. The ringing in my ears was painful, very painful.

I passed out, when I woke up the world was still white, but I could see shapes and extreme colors like reds and greens. I didn’t need colors to see who was pulling me up.

“W-what?” I asked groggily as I stumble forward, being caught by Nate.

“You passed out from blood loss. I’m guessing he tried to cut an artery but didn’t get close enough. It was still enough that you passed out though. How’s your vision right now?” He asked me a bit shakily.

“Bad, I can’t see a whole lot. Reds and greens seem to be it.” I slurred out honestly.

“I’m surprised you can see that much, you were looking right at the flashbang when it went off. how bout your hearing?”

“It’s fuzzy but it’s there. I can hear well enough.” I said defensively. In all honesty I could barely hear shit but I wasn’t about to tell him that.

“Right, well since I doubt you’re telling me the truth, let’s get you checked out.” He said smugly.

“Why!? I said I’m fine!” I yelled out.

“How well can you hear when one of your ears is full of blood?” He asked smartly. I quickly brought a hand up to my ears and found my right one to be bleeding badly. I stumble a little at the sight of the blood but thankfully Nate caught me.

“Right, checkup, now, move.” Nate demanded as he ushered me forward. When we stepped (Hobbled) up the stairs, we ran (stumbled) down the corridors until we reached a room with a big red plus on the wall. Nate walked me (dragged me) to the counter and then everything went black.

Nate

“Fucking hell!” I yelled out as I felt Mike go limp. Come on you big oaf, hold out a bit longer…

“Alright, bring him over here!” I heard one of the nurses command. I hauled his big ass onto my shoulders and walked him to the table. Thankfully this was a first class train so medical staff were on board. I set him down, being mindful of his head and stepped back.

“We’re going to need some time, please, wait in the other car.” The doctor ordered. I tightened my fist and glared at the doctor.

“No way in hell I’m leaving.” I stated angrily.

“If you want to save his life you will leave.” I heard one of the male nurses say from the side. I walked out the door, leaving him on the ground with a new fist sized bruise on his muzzle.

Two Hours Later

Mike

I awoke to the sound of a constant beeping. I cracked open my eyes and was immediately blinded by the bright lights of the cabin. Closing my eyes quickly, I slowly opened them, letting them gradually adjust. I was laying on a small table, so small my legs were over the edge. there was a heart monitor to my side, along with various surgery tools. It was a small room, with a beige paint scheme about it. There was a small counter with a bruised pony behind it, along with a cabinet of medication.

“The fuck am I?” I groggily asked to no one in particular.

“MIKE!” I heard two voices yell from the other side of a door. Nate and Twilight came bursting through the door, Nate practically tripping over Twilight the whole way.

“Fucking hell am I glad to see you up!” Nate shouted with glee. He looked like hell, he was covered in dirt, mud, and a fair amount of sweat. I saw some blood across his chest piece as well.

“The fuck happened to you?” I asked tiredly, I was to tired to be that concerned.

“We had a stowaway.” Nate said ominously. Twilight sighed slightly and started shaking.

“Trouble?” I asked.

“Big trouble.”

“Great. I’ll be out in a sec.” I said getting him to nod and take Twilight out with him. I let out a loud grunt as I sat up and got my bearings. After a quick look around, I found my rifle in the corner. After taking it, I left to find Nate; I went through the door and came face to face with a heavily bound Nate. I looked on in concern before a very familiar voice echoed from behind me.

“Looks like the little bird is free again.” That same, thickly accented voice cooed. I turned to find him standing behind Twilight with Nates knife across her throat. “Now, about our earlier confrontation. I’ve learned the basic premise of that machine and have thoroughly disabled it.” He said smugly. I checked the rifle over and found the barrel and chamber to be filled with dried mud. I tossed the rifle to the ground and glared violently at the beast. “Now, your little friend here will...Expire soon if the debt isn’t paid. Six-hundr-” He never got to finish as a loud explosion rang through the cabin. The slug tore the front of his face to shreds, I didn’t care to see the back. His body stay still for a second before collapsing, freeing Twilight. I holstered my pistol and ran up to her.

She was shaking violently and glued her eyes shut out of fear. I quickly slid the knife toward Nate before picking her up. She gasped from the sudden motion and stared wildly at me.

“SNAP OUT OF IT!” I screamed as I dropped her to the deck. She let out an oomph as she hit the ground.

“WHAT DID YOU DO!?” She shouted hatefully.

“He ended out problem.” I heard Nate say from my side. I glanced back to see a whole bunch of cut rope. Shame, we could’ve used it…

“YOU KILLED HIM!” She shouted with a baleful glare towards us.

“Uh...The fuck did you think we did to the rest of them? They were bandits, they got off easy.” Nate said, letting the last bit fester in the air. Twilight looked on with shocked and hurting eyes.

“What are you…” She whispered quietly to herself.

“The good guys…”

Time passed quickly after the incident. Me and Nate threw the stiffs corpse off the train a few miles back and we’ve spent the rest of the time in silence. After clearing my weapon and a failed try at sleeping, I settled on watching the scenery pass. This place is too...Serene for people like us.

Lush landscapes filled with thousands of rolling hills and tall mountains passed by. Endless seas of flowers washed against the cabin for miles on end. Even the forest we spent so much time in rarely left our side. The whole ride, I could feel a change around us. Almost like every location had it’s own aura about it.

Twilight’s gaze has never left the window either, her body shows signs of calming. But I need not see her eyes to know there is still a void there. It’s never easy seeing your first death, no matter the justification for it.

After another hour of the peaceful backdrops, we started ascending one of the taller mountains. Looking out, I could see everything from the forest, to the valleys, to that small town of Ponyville and beyond. This view, so free of the carnage and destruction of war...It’s truly a thing worth living for.

“We’re almost there...Please don’t kill anypony there…” I heard the mares quiet voice ask.

“Tell them to keep their weapons the fuck away from us and we won’t have a problem.” I said simply. The large cityscape was starting to come into view. The massive buildings, long streets, large markets and shopping plaza’s, and of course the massive castle all surrounded us. The sounds of thousands of voices permeated the cabins walls and brought back memories of some of the larger settlements back in our world.

The train lolled to a stop and as the ear splitting screech of the brakes stopped, the doors opened. Our rag tag group gathered around the door leading to the platform before Twilight stepped off wordlessly. giving Nate a shrug, we stepped off as well. Almost immediately, all activity ceased around us. Ponies stopped talking, even moving and stared at us. The police force around us had horns aglow and swords drawn. And Twilight...Twilight just kept walking.

“That bitch! Umbra, you get left and rear, I got right and front. Keep the field of Fire at all costs. Be prepared for a fight if needed.” I harshly whispered to Nate. I heard the loud clack of his rifles bolt and cycled my own as well. Getting in a position to cover ourselves, we walked, staring down everypony around us as we went. The guards started shouting at us to halt but, ignoring them, we pressed on. We were halfway down the street before more guards showed up, effectively cutting off our route.

“Left, alley, 30 meters.” I heard nate say low enough to be heard only by me. Wordlessly, we changed course and moved through the narrow space. I walked backwards to cover our rear, when I saw the telltale shape of swords and armor coming up behind us.

“SHIFT IT!” I shouted as I took off past Nate. The heavy Pounding of our boots echoed through the confined space and I could hear the sharp clacking of hooves behind us. We poured on as much speed as we could and as soon as we reached the other end, we made a sharp right.

“Arrest them!” I heard shouts from...Above us? I didn’t have time to find the source as I was swiftly tackled to the hard, stone road. Rolling with the hit, I fought my way to the top of whoever tackled me. the pony had a blue mane with multiple hues in it and a stark white coat. That was all I registered as I drew my pistol and pressed it into the guards face.

“BACK THE FUCK UP OR HE’S DEAD!” I shouted to the contingent of guards surrounding us. Even without knowing what our weapons were or what they could do, the threat was not lost. We were locked in a stalemate of the highest degree. Thankfully, Nate managed to keep a calm, cool head about the situation.

“Where the fuck is Twilight!?!”

“Guards, stand down.” I heard an icy voice say from behind the masses. The guards gave various hateful glances at us but ultimately complied. “And you, let my guard go.” The voice commanded.

“I don’t think so.” I said slowly, not willing to give the only protection I had away.

“Uhh...Hamus? I think you may want to let him go…” I heard Nate say, sparing a glance, I saw him in a crouch with his rifle trained on one of the princesses. Her midnight blue coat seemed to contrast with the legion of white guards around her.

“You…” I said as I used my pistol, and by extension the guards face, to push myself up. “Princess Luna...I hear you wanted to see us.”

Author's Note

Sorry for the super short chapter but I wanted to get something out to you guys. I haven't had tons of time to work on this story what with me looking for another job and prepping to go to MEPS in the coming weeks. I'll try and do what I can and hopefully get something out again soon.