Tales by Balefirelight (a Fallout: Equestria Group Collab)

Insight

by Sophos

Whatareyoudoing?Whatareyoudoing?Whatareyoudoing?

“Nothing.”

You're gonna die! You idiot! You're gonna die if you don't do something!

“Shhhh!” The mare next to me made eyes like the Moon in disturbed water. “Stop mumbling to yourself” She whispered. “You'll get us killed!”

She means killed quicker, you can't win this lottery! You know you can't!

“S-sorry.” I said so quietly, as to hide my accent. I didn't know what the others would think if they-

WHO CARES!? Not that Zebra, not that headless corpse, not YOU! DO something you fucking COWARD!

“I...can't.”

This is why your parents never made it in the Legion. This is why they fled. This is why you're gonna die like they did, only to other Zebras instead of Ponies. I bet they smell the fear in your blood.

“Shhhhh!” The mare pleaded again. “Please.”

Please let her die maybe? You're worse than those that stoned your parents. Here you are, acting just like a Pony, when you know the exact outcome. The Legion are right; you do deserve this, but more than the others. Keep clinging to that ticket like the shit stain you are.

“N-no one will follow me-”

That is because they CAN'T DO MATH! That is because, unlike YOU, they don't know any better but to hope that everyone but them gets the short end of the stick! But most of all, it's because you wont even TRY!

“H-HEY, FEATHERED ASSHAT!” My right hooves forward, then left, and then right again. I was out of the line and staring down, mostly because I didn't dare to blink, the Decanus. “You can take this lottery ticket, and wipe yourself with it.” I looked to the townsponies. “And YOU! Don't you know odds!  If we fight back, even unarmed, maybe SOME of us can escape! In fact, I hope this IS the winning ticket!” I tore my parchment asunder.

“Kill, that feisty one.” The Decanus said evenly, in Zebra tongue.

ACT FAST! Before you DIE like a fucking FOOL!

“DO IT YOURSELF, or are you chicken!?” I flapped my forelegs like wings. “Boc-boc! BOC-BOC!”

What part of ''ACT FAST,'' ''DIE,'' and ''FOOL'' made you decide to taunt the Decanus like a chicken?

“Belay that order.” The Decanus said as he strolled towards me, cracking his neck. “What is your name? I think I will honour your spine with a proper grave.”

“Uh- uhm. My name doesn't matter!”

“Suit yourself, but I will see your face at least.” He drew his gladius.

You can't hide you idiot. You'll fight better without the hood anyway.

“FINE!” I slipped off my hooded sweater, I felt so very exposed to the gazes of the townsponies, then my droopy pants. “It will just get in the way anyway. Let's do this, ungulam ut ungulam.”

The Decanus halted, smiled, then tossed his blade into the sand.

WHY ARE YOU STILL LOOKING AT THE-

He was on me in a second, his claws dug into both my shoulders. I kicked forward in a panicked frenzy; a few blows landed cleanly, particularly one that landed on the tip of his beak. He responded by pecking me in the eye; I neighed and reared, as I felt a pinch of eyelid get torn from my face. I toppled backward and he followed. I struck repeatedly with four hooves, and he traded each for claws tore at either side of my muzzle. I felt his ribs give a little, but he showed no sings of slowing down. Blood streamed from my flayed lips into my ears, turning every gasp or laugh into one garbled mess. I still hear, and feel, his claws against my exposed teeth.

Fucking try something else! Like, perhaps, a style of combat he's NOT TRAINED IN!

I reached out and hugged him too close to strike, then squeezed. He rose, pulling me up with him, and raked his claws across my forearms and knees. I was practically blind with my right eye in his feathers; I tried to open the left, but fear had sealed it shut. I waited till I felt a claw in my neck, let go, and snapped at it.

*Screeeech* With a savage strength, he lifted me into the air and tossed me into the line of townsponies. They scattered from me, but not far; one Pony lifted me up.

“C'mon! You can do this!” She told me. As she steadied me, I felt cold metal against my chest. Blood caking in my ears, I could barely hear the Decanus approaching behind me; I took the knife in my white-hot, shredded maw. I heard him pounce, and met him in the air. He fell backward, and I followed. The knife was lodged deep between his ribs, separating them, but I drug it across his belly anyway.

“My name is Coal,” I spat a glob of blood in his trembling face. “...Chamber.” I turned to the other townsponies. “What? WHAT ARE YOU PANSIES WAITING FOR?”

*************************

We threw ourselves at the invaders despite the odds, despite our wounds, despite our fear, despite every one of us that fell; till the the last Equine, me.

“I think, you wonder why it is you are captured not dead?” Asked a Zebra with a thick accent.

“Mnuuuh.” I mumbled through my broken jaw, then shook me head.

Yes you do. Who are you trying to fool, them or us? Since this started, you've known exactly where this could lead. Where it can only go from here. Welcome home.