Runes and Mercenaries

"Wake up. Wake up Miss Vulsegardt."

Vulsegardt fell asleep on the table. She gets up and looks at Fedor. "...What?"

"I brought you something to eat." He puts down a plate with a few pieces of bread and cheese.

"Tastes like it's weeks old, but hey, I was hungry enough..." Fedor smiles.

"Thank you." She takes the plate and takes a bite of the cheese. "Not the most appetizing thing I've eaten."

Fedor chuckles. "So, what do the magical runes say?"

She looks at the book she was writing into the night before. "It's very strange. Certainly not Equestrian and probably not from Earth either."

"What do you mean?" Fedor asks.

Vulsegardt flips around the pages. "It mentions something about the unity of mind, body and spirit."

Fedor smirks. "That's it?"

"These things take time Mister Conhanger, it's difficult to translate them, I don't know who or what created them." Vulsegardt replies.

Fedor looks at her with a confused face. "Then how do you know what they mean?"

"This is my talent. The runes speak to me. Well, the runes and the translating book that covers half of everything. It's like a puzzle that needs to be put together."  She explains.

Fedor picks up his belongings. "Well, gather your pieces and quickly eat up. We have to leave. Now."

She looks at Fedor with concern on her face. "Why, what's wrong?"

"Three people who got massacred just came in Zed's. Two of them are already dead," Fedor answers.

"That's horrible." She replies with a small amount of sadness in her voice.

"Especially when Zed found the same substances on them, that were on my bite too."

"You don't think those creatures would come so far, do you?" Vulsegardt asks.

Fedor doesn't answer at first. "I don't know, what if this is more serious than we thought?"

Vulsegardt thinks for a moment. "They are just like rabid animals, Hayseed is full of those and everyone avoids Hayseed."

"We should still go," Fedor says.

"Very well." She puts the books into her bag quickly eats the bread and cheese that was offered earlier.

They leave the room and make their way towards the inn's exit. Just when they reach the door, Zed enters and blocks the way out. He was completely covered in blood. "Ah, Dell. Just in time to hear that the third patient died."

"That's...too bad." Fedor says with a sympathetic voice.

"They had similar wounds like you did. Just more severe. Like they were stabbed with a radioactive sword. You were bitten," Zed describes the wounds.

Vulsegardt takes a step forward. "Excuse me Zed, but we are in a hurry."

Zed looks at Vulsegardt. "Of course you are..." He looks at Fedor. "Mind telling me what fox carries around an extra limb in shape of a sword?"

"Bandits?" Fedor quickly answers.

Zed smirks. "There aren't any bandits in Everfree. Everyone shady is in here."

Fedor sighs. "I don't know what you want from me Zed."

"Last time wounds like these were made, Celestia came, took those people and took half the town with her! They were good people, but not as rich as you." Zed says in a slightly angry voice.

"I'm sorry Zed, but I really can't help you." Fedor tries to move around him.

Zed blocks Fedor again. "You're on government business aren't you?" Zed asks.

Vulsegardt speaks up. "That doesn't make it your business."

"Yes, it does! People here need help and I don't know what attacked them. In case someone else got stabbed I want to know how to help them. And you're not telling me what bit you." He looks at Fedor with an upset expression on his face.

"It was a mutated fox Zed. I don't know what it was. Now, let us through," Fedor says.

"That's what you all Canterlot assholes do. You only care for yourselves," Zed spits out an insult.

Vulsegardt again steps into the conversation. "We don't know anything Zed. But we are in a hurry and don't appreciate being interrogated like this."

Zed turns to Vulsegardt. "And where will you be going? Most of the vehicles here are not working since yesterday."

"We will walk." She answers.

"It's at least a three hour walk to the nearest town." Zed replies.

Vulsegardt slightly raises her voice. "Where we are going is none of your concern. Now step aside please."

Zed insulted, steps aside, letting Fedor and Vulsegardt pass. "That thing from years back is responsible for it isn't it? The man who Celestia took, he said that the project that was powering Equestrian machines did all this."

Fedor stops and turns around. "Why would you say that?"

"My brother Ted worked there. He vanished the same day that those people came here, just days before Celestia took the project out of business. No one was allowed in or out of Hayseed and I still haven't seen him ever since," Zed answers.

Fedor frowns. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Zed sighs. "And then news of a terrorist attack. Ted got killed on duty. End of story, no questions answered."

"Where are you going with this?" Vulsegardt asks.

"What caused your wounds?" Zed asks again.

Fedor stares at Zed for a moment then looks down. "Zed... I don't know what it was. All I know is that it wasn't natural. I can't help you, sorry."

Zed sighs and makes a disappointed face. "So it wasn't just a rabid animal?"

"I don't know what it was, but I assure you, we'll let the Government know and they will come here to help. I promise," Fedor promises.

Zed smirks. "I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing." He closes the door as Fedor and Vulsegardt leave.

Fedor turns around and catches up with Vulsegardt. "So, what's the plan?"

"We go for Ponyville. Take a train to Canterlot and tell them what's happening here,"  Vulsegardt replies. She thinks for a couple of moments. "What if these people were attacked by those monsters from Ares?"

"I don't know, I don't think so..." Fedor doesn't give an answer.

"How can you be sure?" Vulsegardt asks.

"They couldn't have caught up to us in such a short time, could they?" Fedor thinks.

Vulsegardt sighs. "I hope you're right."

They both wait until the big metal door opens and they leave through it. It was noon, but because of the forest around them, the sun could be barely seen through the thick trees. They walked about two hours, both observing the quiet forest around them.

Fedor turns to Vulsegardt. "Hey, Miss runes, why didn't we tell Zed about Ares?"

"I don't trust him. Anyone in that town for that matter," Vulsegardt answers.

Fedor slightly frowns. "He was trying to help those people."

"Most of them are criminals Mister Conhanger. We still don't know if that Zed is a doctor or a crazy butcher," Vulsegardt says.

"He's alright. He did help us after all." Fedor replies.

Vulsegardt smirks. "Yes, and keeps organs on a shelf like he is collecting figurines."

Fedor chuckles. "Organ donors?"

"I'm surprised he didn't turn us into donors," says Vulsegardt with a slight smile.

Fedor smiles. "I knew his brother. Smug person, but smart. Very smart."

As they take a turn they notice a Pegasus laying on the ground with a big cut barely below his neck. Vulsegardt quickly rushes to the Pegasus and examines him. "Oh no, Mister Conhanger, he's not breathing!"

Fedor observes the body from far, then begins to slowly approach them. "You might not want to be th-"

Before Fedor finished the sentence, the Pegasus opens his eyes, growls, quickly gets up and jumps on Vulsegardt, knocking her off. As Fedor begins to quickly approach he feels something pulling his belt. He turns around and notices the man who gave them transport to Everfree pulled Fedor's bag off which contained the expensive crystals he picked up at Ares.

"HEY!" He begins to chase the man as he runs away.

Vulsegardt trying to fend off the Pegasus, she punches him, knocking him away and she begins to crawl backwards. The Pegasus spreads his wings and jumps in Vulsegardt's direction. he lands a bit behind of her, he opens his jaws and sinks his teeth into Vulsegardt's leg. She let's out a scream of pain. As she screams Fedor turns around and begins to run towards her, while taking out his shotgun. He points it at the Pegasus. "Don't force me into spreading more blood on you!"

The Pegasus, ignoring Fedor sinks his teeth deeper and begins to shake his head. Blood begins to rush out of Vulsegardt's leg as she screams even more as tears begin to go down her face. Fedor doesn't think long, he pulls the trigger making a big hole in the Pegasuses head. He rushes towards him and pulls his teeth out of Vulsegardt's leg. "Oh God, are you alright?"

She lets out a cry as Fedor removes the jaw from her leg. "What do you think?!"

Fedor rips one of his sleeves of and wraps it around Vulsegardt's leg. Afterwards he takes a roll of duct tape and wraps that around the improvised bandage. "Bastard was waiting for us, he took all of my crystals."

Vulsegardt still unsettled. "Aah, it burns!"

"Don't worry, it's uh..." He notices small amounts of blood going below the tape he applied. "...Could be worse."

"What was that!?" Vulsegardt screams.

"I don't know! It looked like... Like... Something from Ares. Christ, what have we done..." He thinks for a moment. "Now we really need to get to Canterlot, can you walk?"

"It hurts so much, I... I can't..." Vulsegardt whimpers.

After a moment Fedor gets up and picks up Vulsegardt in a similar way to a piggyback. "I've got your back. Even though you're laying on mine..."

"Is this our fault?"  She begins to panic.

Fedor doesn't answer the same moment. "I-I don't know! I mean, I've heard that Everfree had some weird folk, but nothing like this! And I even got robbed too! Like it was staged or something. Bastard was waiting."

Vulsegardt breathing very quickly she says, "Whatever that was, it wasn't a pony! It was a monster!"

Fedor attempts to calm Vulsegardt down, "Calm down, we're gonna figure this out."

Vulsegardt slightly lowers her tone of voice "How?"

"We get out of the forest. Find the first person who can help us, then we go to Canterlot, someone has to answer for this," He answers.

For an hour, Fedor slowly moved along the path in front of them, every few minutes growls and animal noises were heard in the distance, making both Fedor and Vulsegardt nervous. They finally get out of the forest, or at least an area which wasn't festered with trees that blocked the sun.

Vulsegardt looks around and points. "Mister Conhanger look! A cottage!"

Fedor slowly moves himself and Vulsegardt towards the cottage through something that looked like a chicken pen, but was laying in pieces. As they near the cottage they notice a big hole in the wall.

Fedor looks from the side. "Damn, what went through here, a car?"

"I don't think there is much traffic here," Vulsegardt says.

Fedor smirks. "You don't say?"

He moves to the front door where there was a note nailed to it. Vulsegardt looks closely and begins to read. "Dear friends, I have decided I can no longer stay here, several of my critters went missing and I'm to afraid to go to Everfree ever since these strange animals appeared. I've tried talking to them, but they are to aggressive and they even attacked the chickens. My decision is final. I'm taking my critters and going with Pinkie and the Cakes to the Crystal Empire until further notice, I hope you understand. With love, Fluttershy."

"Does this mean anything to you?" Fedor asks.

"No. But whoever wrote it can't help us now, they probably left a few hours ago." She answers.

Something begins to slowly crawl out of the hole in the cottage. It was a human. Or at least, what remained of it, it had no body from the waste down, intestines following it as it crawls towards Fedor.

Fedor noticing the corpse slowly begins to walk backwards.

Vulsegardt begins to panic. "Get us away!"

He turns around and begins to slowly walk away, even with Vulsegardt on his back he was able to be faster than the creature.

They follow a dirt road. Vulsegardt still infused with fear. "Mister Conhanger?"

"Yeah?" Fedor looks slightly up.

"Is this our fault?" She asks.

He didn't answer.

"Is it?" She asks again.

Fedor changes the topic. "Can you walk on your own? My back is killing me."

Vulsegardt thinks for a moment. "I can try..."

Fedor puts her down on the ground, after that she tries to make a few steps. She limps. "I'll make it."

Fedor cringes as he looks at Vulsegardt's leg. "Yeah, no. The first house we find we ask for help. I don't know where this pony village hospital is and your leg is looking pretty bad," He says.

She gives back an optimistic look on her face. "It's not that bad."

He looks back with a smug expression. "Wish you had Zed here huh?"

Vulsegardt smirks. "I'd rather keep my leg."

He chuckles. "Alright, let's keep moving"

The walk on a dirt road lasted for half an hour passing through paths that lead to the forest, but they declined those paths and followed the one that avoided the forest. On some point in the distance they see a bright blue light that was a straight line across a field. Fedor waits for Vulsegardt to catch up and points towards the light. "Look Miss Vulsegardt! I think that that is an electric fence over there. Whoever lives there is probably well protected."

Vulsegardt limps next to Fedor and looks at the direction he was pointing in. She smiles. "So, that's where we are going?"

"Looks like it. Can you make it?" He asks with slight worry.

"Yes, I'll be fine." She replies.

Fedor relieved says, "Good. Come on."

They walk in a straight line, that led outside of the dirt path towards the blue light. They come to a large number of cylinders in a pattern of two standing cylinders, between those two were three horizontally positioned cylinders, all fused with electricity.

Fedor steps closer and examines the cylinders. "I was right. Fence. Pretty expensive one too. Probably our safest bet on sanctuary." He looks through the cylinders. "I see alot of trees and a corn field in the distance. Probably a farm."

"We should find and entrance then, ask the ponies living here if they are kind enough to let us stay." Vulsegardt suggests.

They begin to walk parallel with the fence, on one point they notice a yellow earth pony staring at them from the other side of the fence. Vulsegardt notices the spectator and moves closer. "Uhh, hello there, we could you use some help if you can please?"

The earth pony runs away.

Fedor raises his voice. "Hey wait, hey! Damn. She probably got scared of all that blood on your body."

Vulsegardt looks at herself and notices she is covered in the blood of the creature that bit her. "I suppose that's good enough of a reason."

They keep walking along with the fence until reaching a locked gate. Fedor begins to knock on the gate. "Hello? Would someone kindly open this door please?" He keeps hitting the gate.

Vulsegardt turns around and notices a small group of bloody creatures approaching them from the forest. She quickly stops Fedor from knocking. "Stop! You're attracting monsters!"

He looks behind him and notices three creatures approaching. Two Earth Ponies and a Human. All missing some body parts and covered in blood. Fedor quickly pulls out his shotgun, aims and pulls the trigger, but nothing happens, the gun was empty. The monsters begin to scream as they charge towards Fedor and Vulsegardt. Vulsegardt panicky, hides behind Fedor, as he uses the shotgun in his hand as a rod to punch the creatures, knocking them off their feet. But the earth pony creature doesn't fall down, instead it jumps up and knocks him down instead. It quickly attempts to bite Fedor's neck, as Fedor is barely holding the creature from away. Vulsegardt ineffectively tries to fend off the creature by hitting it with the shotgun with her magic. The human creature charges at Vulsegardt, she jumps back and closes her eyes, expecting the worst.

She hears five loud noises, similar to a shotgun fire. She opens her eyes to notice the creature that was charging at her was laying on the ground with severed legs, still alive crawling towards her. She looks at Fedor noticing that the creature on top of him has no head and the third creature missing most of its chest. The three monsters were still very much alive and angry. She turns to the gate noticing it was opened by two earth Ponies who had gear similar to a saddle on them, with shotguns attached to their right side. One Pony runs to Vulsegardt and helps her get up, while the other shoots the creatures a couple more times before helping Fedor up. They both drag Vulsegardt and Fedor behind the bars as the yellow Pony who was observing them earlier quickly pulls the lever on closing the door. The creatures get to the door and begin to hit and scratch on them but the door stays undamaged.

The mare who closed the door quickly runs to Fedor and snatches his shotgun before he was able to get up. she brings drops it in front of the older mare. "That's all they got."

The older mare looks at the shotgun and back at her. "Good thing you let us now, these two could have gotten killed."

"What do we do with them?" The younger mare asked.

"Leave that to your bother and me. Go in the house and wait there." She replies.

The pony frowns and leaves. Fedor gets up and shakes his head. He quickly steps to Vulsegardt and helps her up. "Are you alright?"

"I'm alive." She looks at the two ponies who saved her. "Oh, thank you so much!"

The mare steps to Vulsegardt and notices her injured leg. "What in tarnation happened to you?"

"We got attacked in the Everfree forest," Vulsegardt replies.

"Why in the hay would y'all be wandering over there? Haven't you heard what happened yesterday?" The mare asks.

Vulsegardt looks that mare with worry in her mind. "What did happen yesterday?"

"A dozen ponies got sent to the hospital yesterday, some violent creatures came from the Everfree attacking ponies around Ponyville. Many got scared and left town. Can't say I blame them." She steps closer and inspects Vulsegardt's improvised bandage. "What featherbrain would use duct tape to treat something like this?"

Fedor steps closer and raises his arm. "That would be me. It helped in stopping the bleeding."

The mare looks at Fedor. "Oh, sorry. I guess it's a good temporary solution."

"None taken. You did save us," He replies. We've been looking for help and a place to stay, we thought if you were kind enough to offer sanctuary? You have a very powerful fence protecting your property."

"I suppose you can stay for the night. Going to the hospital at this time isn't a very good idea considering all of these things roaming around," She agrees.

Fedor smiles. "Thank you, we appreciate it. I'm Fedor and this is Vulsegardt."

"Howdy Fedor." She points to the pony besides her. "This is my brother Big Macintosh and the little Pony who closed the door is Applebloom. Name's Applejack, welcome to Sweet Apple Acres."