Five bullets. That was all Jacob had left. That and food, but that didn't matter. Jacob slowly counts again. Still five bullets.
"God dammit." Jacob sighs.
"Umm... can I ask what's wrong?" Fluttershy asks.
Jacob had gotten used to her sneaking up on him by now. "Just low on bullets, that's all." Jacob replies.
"Oh. Um, okay, if you say so." Fluttershy whispers, and begins to shy away.
It was still early in the morning. The group were at Fluttershy's cottage, which was near Foal Mountain. When Rarity asked how she'd built it, Fluttershy responded, "I, w-well, the animals here helped me." Jacob had finally admitted defeat to his sleepiness, and taken a nap. And now he was counting bullets.
"Why are you up so early anyways?" Jacob asks, trying to keep the situation from becomming awkward.
Fluttershy brightens up. "Oh, I always get up early to feed the animals! I can't ever forget that!" She exclaims.
"Can't live without them, huh?" Asks Jacob.
Fluttershy nods. "Don't you have something you can't live without?" She asks.
Jacob looks up to the sky. Something I can live without... The words echo in his head.
"Umm... hello? Did you hear me?" Fluttershy's voice snaps Jacob out of his train of thought.
"Yeah I did, let's see, something I can't live without... food! Yeah, can't live without food!" Jacob quickly replies.
"Umm... okay, if you say so..." Fluttershy quietly says, giving him a questioning look.
Great job, Jacob, you've successfully made this conversation awkward. Jacob thinks to himself, metally slapping himself.
Just then the Skull walks in. "I hope I am not intruding." He says with a hiss.
"Oh! Not at all!" Fluttershy exclaims.
"What do you want, Skullie?" Jacob asks.
"Skullie... hmm, not bad of a nickname. I think I'll keep it." The Skull, or Skullie, says to himself.
"Are you going to answer my question?" Jacob irritatingly asks. Fluttershy seems like a easily frightened type; he didn't want to scare her.
"Why Jacob, can't I just come and have a normal, peaceful conversation with you and your friends?" The Skull says in mock dismay. "Surely you aren't that mean."
"I don't mind you joining, if you want my opinion..." Flutershy whispers.
"Why of course! Everyone's opinion is important! Isn't that right, Jacob?" Skullie teases.
"Yeah sure. Whatever." Jacob grumbles. This giy was getting on his nerves.
Rarity and the fillies choose that moment to walk in. Rarity approvingly looks at Jacob.
"Looks like you had a good night's sleep." Rarity comments.
"Yup. Sure did." Jacob sarcastically mutters. "Had dreams of me being killed all night long." In truth that wasn't all; he had also had dreams of the others being killed too. But Jacob knew it was best not to mention this.
"I'm hungry!" Scoolatoo complains.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I'll get breakfast ready immediately!" Fluttershy exclaims.
And get ready immediatly she did. Soon breakfast was ready, and the group seated.
"So, why do your eyes glow?" Scoolatoo asks, curious as always.
"My 'eyes' are state-of-the-art cameras with LED lights mounted on them to aid my vision." Skull replies, seemingly never tired if this barrage of questions.
"Uh-huh." Scoolatoo says, obviously having no clue as to what he said meant. "Why don't you have any hair?" She asks.
"Because my head does not nead hair." Skullie replies.
"Sweetie finish your breakfast." Rarity tells Scoolatoo.
Scoolatoo sulks, but does as she is told.
After the group finishes breakfast, Jacob rins a quick inventory.
"Food, check. Shelter, check. Weapons, check." Jacob mumbles to himself as he looks over their supplies.
"Do I have to go?" Fluttershy nervously says. Rarity was trying to convince her to come with them to find the rest of the Bearers.
"Of course, dear! What are we going to do when we have all the Bearers and you're still in this little cottage? We can't just leave you here." Rarity states.
"Well, I don't think I'll be much help..." Fluttershy says.
"Oh, come on, Fluttershy, surely you don't really think you're not much help!" Rarity exclaims.
While Rarity continues to pursuade Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle watches Jacob double check their supplies.
"Where are we going next, Jacob?" Sweetie Belle asks.
"I... don't really have an idea." Jacob slowly admits.
"We could go to ponyville." Sweetie Belle states.
"Ponyville?" Jacob pulls out his map and quickly finds ponyville.
"Don't be silly, Sweetie Belle! There's no way they're still there!" Scoolatoo exclaims. She was sitting nearby, playing with Fluttershy's pet bunny Angel.
"I think at least one of the bearers would have stayed there." Sweetie Belle protests.
Jacob considers his options. Like Sweetie Belle says, there might be at least one of the Bearers left in Ponyville. Or he could look for them at the other towns and cities.
Or I could give up. Jacob thinks to himself. A look at his newfound companions quickly dissipates that thought.
"I think we have a better chance to find the Bearers of Harmony at Ponyville than the other towns." Jacob states.
After that everything proceeded quickly. Rarity managed to convince Fluttershy to come with them, and as a added bonus, assured her that the animals could take care of themselves.
"It's okay. They're more than capable of taking care of themselves." Rarity tells the nervous mare.
"I-if you say so..." Fluttershy whispers.
Fluttershy gives Angel instructions to feed the animals, and after promising to make him a carrot cake, Angel agrees.
They leave Fluttershy's cottage, with Jacob leading the way. Jacob makes sure to stay far away from any towns. If they were going to gather the Elements, detection had to be minimal.
Their food supply was low when they neared ponyville.
"We'll buy some food at the town." Jacob reassures.
The town was deserted. The buildings had fallen into disrepair, and plants sprouted out from buildings.
"Holy hell." Jacob mutters.
Rarity dashes into the town.
"Rarity wait!" Jacob yells, but Rarity ignores him. The fillies follow her, and the rest of the group had no choice but to do the same.
Rarity ran into what used to be a clothing store. The sign above it read, "Carousel Botique".
The group found Rarity sobbing in the middle of the store. The inside of the store was barren; everything was removed.
"My sister used to own this shop." Sweetie Belle explains.
"No...no..." Rarity sobs.
"She'll need some time by herself." The Skull says to Jacob. Jacob slowly nods.
"Stay here." Jacob says to Fluttershy and the two fillies. He then exits the store, Skull following close behind.
The rest of the town was no better. Paint was peeling off of the walls of buildings, and, to the disgust of Jacob, occasional bodies of ponies lay everywhere.
"They were shot." The Skull notes. "Must have died weeks ago." He adds.
They stop in front of a bakery.
"Could be some food left." Jacob says, more to himself than his humanoid partner. He silently opens the door to the bakery. Most of the rooms were without windows, leaving Jacob in total darkness most of the time. With his only light source the Skulls glowing eyes, Jacob navigated the shop. Suddenly a dead body catches Jacob's attention. What made him look was the fact that this body was human.
"What are human bodies doing here?" Jacob asks.
"Very creative." The Skull mumbles. Jacob whitls around to look at him.
"What?" Jacob asks.
"This guy wasn't just killed; he was murdered." The Skull explains. "Pretty recently too. I'd say he died... within three days."
"We've gotta get out of here!" Jacob exclaims. He turns around... and comes face to face with a pink mare. "Holy shit!" Jacob says, and pulls out his pistol out of reflex. The mare stares seemingly through him.
"They won't smile." The pink mare says. "THEY WON'T SMILE!" She loudly yells.
Jacob takes a step back. "Calm down ma'am," Jacob cautiously says, "explain to us who won't smile."
"Mr. and Ms. Cake." The mare stayes. She steps forward, and Jacob notices that she is coated with blood. "They won't smile anymore." She points toward two bodies, which Jacob assumes are Mr. and Ms. Cake.
The Skull laughs. "I think I like her." He comments.
"You're crazy." Jacob says to Skull.
"I think not. Either way, I'm not the one in danger here." Says the Skull.
"I wouldn't say that." The mare says. She pulls out a kitchen knife. "I think you're in danger." She hurls the knife. It hits the Skull, then falls to the floor with a clang. The mare's eyes widen with shock.
"So charming, so very charming." The Skull purrs.
"Pinkie Pie?" A voice says from the door. The pink mare turns around, and Jaocb follows her gaze.
Fluttershy was standing at the doorway. "Pinkie Pie, is that you?" She asks again.
"Fluttershy, get out of here! She's crazy!" Jacob exclaims. The pink mare's expression turns into one of disbelief at the name.
"F-fluttershy...?" The mare trails off. "Fluttershy, is that really you?" Suddenly the pink mare's face contorts. "No Pinkie, she left you here to die, remember?" The mare says in a low voice. Her face returns to normal. "N-no... she would never..." The mare trails off. "Oh yes she would. Just like all your other friends." She says in a deep voice.
Fluttershy nervously steps back. Jacob slowly makes his way to the exit.
"Pinkie, you know I would never betray you. We're friends, remember?" Fluttershy tenderly says.
Pinkie bursts into tears. "Fluttershy!" She screams, and tackles the poor pegasus. The pink mare's mane instantaneously puffs up, and she laughs with joy.
"...What the fuck is going on?" Jacob wispers to the Skull.
"Shut up and stop ruining the moment." The Skull replied.
Like I give a fuck about that in a situation like this Jacob thought to himself, but he thought better of saying it out loud.
"Pinkie, it's okay, those two are my friends." Fluttershy reassured Pinkie.
The pink mare turned around, and pointed a hoof at her eyes, then pointed at the two's eyes, which Jacob responded to by raising his middle finger. Of course the mare had no idea what that meant. But the Skull did, and Jacob found a fist hitting his face, knocking him to the ground.
"I take it that was an offensive gesture?" Pinkie asked flatly.
"Would you like to punch him too?" The Skull asked her.
Pinkie took a look at Jacob painfully sprawled on the floor. "No, I think he's had enough." She replied.
"Damn right." Jacob muttured as he got back up.
"Umm... Maybe we should go? I mean, Rarity is still waiting for us outside, and it would be rude to keep her waiting." Fluttershy advised, slightly concerned for Jacob.
As the group walked out, Rarity turned towards them, relief plain on your face, along with traces of tears. It was obvious she was still depressed about her store, but she tried her best to show no signs of it.
"Thank goodness you're safe! I was starting to think something happened..." Rarity trailed off as she saw the new group member.
"Hello Rarity." Pinky said in a emotionless tone.
"W-why hello there Pinky, I didn't recognise you for a second... Are you all right?" Rarity asked.
"Yeah, she's so fine she tried to kill us." Jacob stated.
Everybody was silent, each one's expression ranging from horrified, mildly irritated, and pure lack of intrest.
"... I think we should get going." Skull aaid to break the ice.
"Go to where? We have no clue of where to go." Rarity reminded the group.
"Um... Can I say something?" Fluttershy whispered, hiding her face even more as all attention was focused upon her.
"Go ahead dear." Rarity urged Fluttershy.
"Well... one of t-the birds in the forest told me it saw an town with just ponies in it... but I was too scared to leave my house..." Fluttershy told them.
"... And it never occured to you to tell us before now about this?" Jacob said rather calmly.
"... Better late then never..." Pinky said quietly. Jacob gave her an odd look, but decided against questioning her. He decided instead to ask a more important question.
"Do you know where this 'town' is?" Jacob asked.
The yellow mare nodded, and Jacob pulled out a map so Fluttershy could point to the location. Jacob looked at where the spot the timid bearer's hoof pointed at. The area was unlabled on the map, but was thankfully rather near to their current location.
"Looks like about a day and a half's walk." Jacob muttered.
"Then I think it would be best if we set camp here for the night." The Skull commented. Jacob realised that the nightfall was very near.
There were many buildings to stay in, all the group had to do was choose one. The building they chose was two-storied building. Like every other building, the abandaned home's paint had already worn off, and most of the inside and outside were in slight disrepair. It was, however, sturdy looking, and easily defendable, though Jacob was hoping for a little better. Soon the group was set for the night, with Jacob risking another night of sleep. Although he was far from admitting it, he was sure the Skull would hold his promise. For now.
