Day 1 - For Daddy Star Breaker
September 22nd, 2010. Better known as doomsday really. That is when Eqestria's end began.
I was only ten years old at the time, living with my family of course. I lived in a small house in Ponyville, with my fatass lazy mother, my 2 brothers, one older and one younger, and my brave father. We were a lower class family, the kind of family that was first to go on doomsday. Salvation was reserved to those who were rich, or those with the incredible will to survive.
Being rich was much simpler.
Anyways, nopony really knows why or how this all started, but we do know that it It all began to spread because of some careless ponies, ones that were too lazy to run from the Zomponies. Those ponies got bit, turned, and then they set out to turn others into Zomponies. It's so simple, yet such a deadly cycle. It wouldn't be until a few years later to where the virus would grow airborne.
That day ended, and the only one out of our family to survive besides myself (That I know of for sure.) was my father. For the first five years of the apocalypse, he raised me to be a warrior, a different one than he was too. You see, unlike him, he was trained pre-doomsday, many years before the first bite. Me however? I was raised to show no mercy, in a world that would give me none in return.
Therefore, that's what I did.
For five years, he raised me to be like this. At age 15, I began to forget my magical abilities all together, only retaining the ability to levitate small objects. I became a killer, efficient with most weapons. When my father died, I continued my training alone. At 17, I had heard something through the grapevine.
It turns out that patient zero, the infected Zompony who started this all, still lives in Ponyville after all this time. Rumor has it that when this pony is killed, all of the other Zomponies will die along with him or her. And since Zomponies cannot die of old age, I'll have to kill it myself. However, with age comes wisdom. This does not exclude Zomponies. Strength also comes with age as well as a few other powers.
At last, I have grown to full stallionhood. I am now age eighteen, with eight years of intense training under my belt. I'm confident that I can kill this pony, and end this nightmare once and for all. I pray that Celestia is watching over me. I will avenge my father.
This I know for sure!
Day 1 - For Daddy Star Breaker
0900 hours
South of Old Ponyville.
I never wanted to come back here. Ever. But I had no choice. Patient Zero is somewhere within these makeshift walls and barricades that was once a settlement before it was overrun by Raiders and Zomponies. Some minor gangs of Raiders may still be hanging around, but if they stand in my way, they will be dealt with, severely.
Ignoring the disgusting smell of rotting flesh, I walked slowly through the busted down gate, broadsword drawn. No Zomponies could be seen, but I could just smell them. Either their own smell or the smell of their dinner lingered. I don't like this.
I've heard through the settlements of Las Pegasus, the last settlement I was at a few weeks ago, that Old Ponyville is extremely dangerous, due to it's high amount of Raider activity and it's mysterious zombie rumors. Those that brave to scavenge this area say that Zomponies are the strongest from here. With the exception of patient zero, I think that's ridiculous.
Carefully, I braved through the smell, inching closer and closer to this really big hill. It was clear with every step I took up it that this was the lesser part of Ponyville. There were only a hoof full of houses here and there, and they were almost always spread apart a good distance, more than the average Ponyville house was.
The houses only made me raise my guard. The windows were borded and the door shut. I could hear noises coming from the biggest house. I could hear no mindless growls or intelligent talking, so that means inside could be either Raiders or Zomponies. This made me nervous. I could feel some of my mane hairs stand on end.
Keeping that in the back of my mind, I climbed the hill, which seemed to be getting steeper and more narrow. It finally crested off into a cliff on the top. When I reached the top, I had a very beautiful view... of decayed society all around me. From left to right, I saw what was once farmland for the once prosperous Sweet Apple Acres. My old schoolhouse where Cheerilee used to teach me and my classmates. I could see town hall, the old Carousel Boutique, even Twilight Sparkle's library! It all started to come back to me.
Unfortunately the sweet memories would have to wait. Behind me, I could hear hoofsteps and evil laughter. Quickly, I turned around.
"Heh heh heh..." Cackled a female raider. "Check it out boys!"
Celestia damnit! They would be raiders too, instead of the common infected! Three of them were all dressed in makeshift armor. 2 were stallions, the other was a mare. Their armor was made out of random pieces of metal. Sheet metal, wire, springs, spikes. All sorts of things. All three had menacing looks aimed right at me, looks to kill too. Maybe even worse...
The other one however, I could easily tell was a slave. I grimaced at the poor mare, not because of her status, but because of the sick sorry flank ponies that gave her said status. She's probably for those Raiders that get lonely at night, if you know what I mean. However, she looked scared and confused, meaning that she must be a brand new slave. Maybe they haven't broken her in then.
They won't get the chance on my watch.
The stallion on the very right was holding the reins on the unicorn that was enslaved. I began to back away, as they grew closer. The one holding the reins of the unicorn stood back towards a tree.
"Whatd'ya think boss?" Asks the girl. "A nice young stallion? Ooohh. He's cute. We could use another boy toy."
"B-boy toy?" I muttered, as one of my back hoofs fell off of the cliff that I was backed into.
"No. We have enough slaves to feed and care for." He said. "This one will either join us or die. He looks strong. He may be of great use to us, the Steel Feathers."
My face flustered with anger. "How about I do neither of those things?" I suggested, knowing what response I would get.
The 2 raiders drew their weapons from their backs. The female had a machete, covered in dry blood, the male had a club with a nail through it. All I had was my dull and rusted sword.
"You don't have a choice, now do you?" Said the leader, holding the club's pointy thing to my temple.
I dropped my rusted sword. "No... I do not." I said, as they grabbed me by my front hoofs and yanking me towards the slave.
They threw me in the dust, right next to her. She shared a worry glance. Then, they instructed me to stand still. Quickly, they threw a rope around my neck.
"We could use a strong back like you, you know?" He said as he began to put a bit in my mouth.
While the stallion did that, the mare looked on top of the hill where I stood not even three minutes ago. The sick pervert holding the reins on the unicorn mare couldn't stop staring at her to save his life so, I figured it was time for some action.
I gripped the bit as hard as I could, as adrenaline flowed through my body. I attacked, with all that I could, tackling the leader that was trying to turn me into one of them. The other 2 reacted and started to charge over to help his friend, however, the mare's life was cut short when I stabbed her through the neck with my horn.
Jerking away from her, I went for the other stallion, who picked up the mare's machete. He swung it horizontally at me, causing it to bite into my fur, leaving a very large cut down my front right leg. I was not too happy. I bucked him back, making him accidentally fall into the slave. My attention was now on the leader, who was on the ground. I spit my bit at him, noting the teeth marks that I compressed into the metal.
"On your hoofs..." I demanded, not daring to take my eyes off of him for a second.
In my enraged fighting state, I couldn't hear the moaning and growling that came from behind me, right next to the raider and the slave. Just as I was about to attack the leader, I could hear the sound of flesh tearing from bone, a sound that we were all familiar with.
Both the leader and I looked over to the Raider. A typical Zompony had just taken a fresh bite out of his flank, right when he wasn't looking. He had a perfect bite mark, just several inches from his tail. As the pegasi Zompony just sat there and munched, the Raider fell into a shocked state as blood flowed down his flank and legs. The pain had to have been severe. The rather subtle Zompony began to bend it's neck down to sniff the liquid they treasured. The slave almost grew as afraid as the Zompony victim did.
"Aaaaahhhh!!!" She screamed, while desperately trying to get away from it.
Although the bitten Raider dropped to the ground, he still clung to the slaves rein as if the Raider boss was whipping him right then and there. The slave desperately pulled at the ground, trying to get away as the Zombie now had smelled her fear. I had to act.
"Hold on!" I cried to her, getting up and running from the leading Raider.
Unfortunately, he had other plans on me. Before I knew it, I was seeing stars. That goddamn raider conked me on the head! Luckily, the spike missed my temple, but the blunt end of the club definitely struck, causing me to fall on the ground, blind. I began to have a small panic attack. I just knew that the Raider was going to hit me again, only this time, he wouldn't let the spike miss my head. Thankfully, my vision returned faster than I thought it was, although it was very blurry.
"Stupid wastlander!" He said, swinging the club like a maniac towards me. "You'll pay!!! TAKE THIS!!!"
He swung the club upwards, swinging it quite skillfully! Damn, I wish I wouldn't have dropped my sword. I could hear the Zompony from earlier, and the girl screaming to get away from it. The attack made me back up. Clumsily, I lost my balance, and that's when it happened...
When I regained my footing with my already sliced open leg, the bastard smashed into it hard, nail and all. I could hear a crack, and could feel my leg painfully snap inwards.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" I screamed louder than the Zompony food by the slave.
The pain was excruciating, but that wasn't the worst part. The slave was now doomed to die now that I could not get to her, and likely, so was I. I could not move. All I could do was suffer on the ground in pain. Father, I have failed.
But just when I thought it was all over, it wasn't...
The barbaric raider brought his club up to another swing after putting the bloody spike to my head. I closed my eyes, waiting for the impact, but it never came. Instead, I heard a hoof strike against the raider's head, then what sounded like his body smacking against the tree by the slave. Not even five seconds later, I remember hearing that Zompony scream, before it's head was smashed in.
It grew eerily quiet. All I could hear now was the shaky breath of the female. I got up off the ground, barely limping on three very tired and sore hoofs. I looked around, wondering just what the hell saved my life. I saw nopony anywhere. The leader of the raiders was nearly unconscious, but he was still breathing. His friend was slowly being turned into one of them. Looking into their eyes got me furious.
"Stupid bastard!" Was the last thing both of them heard before I smashed their heads in with 2 hoofs, one broken and bleeding, the other simply sore.
Blood stained my black fur. My breathing was very heavy now. Too heavy! I turned my head to see the young white unicorn mare look at me in fear. I watched the male release her reins as life slowly left his body.
"Are you okay?" I asked her, while being careful to pick her up without me falling to the ground.
She looked at me with a devious smile. "I am now, thanks to you, stud."
I couldn't help but blush as I began to grab at the bit in her mouth. However, she stood up too fast. She begin to eye me and circle around me, making me feel very uncomfortable.
For anypony else, this mare would definitely turn on the average stallion, especially with her very revealing and kinky clothing on, most likely given to her by raiders. She looked like an angel, in all honesty with her snow white fur and her lavender and light pink mane. She had one of those little saddles on too, as well as that bit that's still in her mouth, despite her old master being dead. She also had socks up the majority of her legs. They were only 2 different colors, but both of them matched her colors perfectly. She had a dark pink heart with an arrow straight through it as a cutie mark.
Out of nervousness, I pulled out my pack of cigarettes. Only four left, but that's okay for now. I took it, put it in my mouth and lit it. Then, I put the pack back in my bag.
"So cutie," She began. "What's your name?"
I took a drag and shook my head. "Stardust." I told her plainly, not wanting to even hear her name.
But she said it anyway...
"I'm Sweetie Belle." She tells me. "Thank you very much for saving my life, sweetness! It was very brave of you to do so."
That reminded me, I didn't save her life! I should be dead right now. Someone saved both of our lives. Before I could ponder the idea any more this... "Sweetie Belle" tugged on the base of my tail with her mouth.
"Is there any way I can repay such a handsome gentleman such as yourself?" She asked, winking at me.
"Yes. Stay the hell away from raiders. You'll keep your virginity a bit longer that way." I told her, as I began to walk away.
She didn't like that. "Wh-wh-wait! You don't want me to do anything for you? Or to you?"
I grew disgusted at her behavior. "Were you a whore before the raiders got a hold of you or something?!"
I tried to make it sting, but it failed. "No." She told me in a less energetic tone. "I just like a stallion's company, that's all."
I smiled deviously at her. "Well, you and me both." I told her. "But that's beside the point..."
"Let me come with you!" She begged, grabbing at me again. "I promise I'll be a good girl."
"No chance!" I yelled. "I travel alone. Always have. Got it?"
"B-bb-bu..." she began to stutter.
"Nonsense you 2!" A mysterious voice with a slightly southern accent yelled to us. "I'll need you both, you know... Stardust? Judging by the condition of your front leg, I think you're going to need a mare who knows how to stitch that up before you get infected. Sweetie Belle is that mare."
The voice referring to us called from the hill that I was once standing on before I was attacked. It was a female for sure, but I was more concerned with how she knew my name. She wore a burlap hood over her face. Her fur was a dark and old looking orange color. Her main and tail were a very faint blonde color. Bangs loosely covered her unknown color of eyes when she turned to face us.
"Hey! How do you know who I am?!" I shouted at her.
Then, the pony swiftly made her way off the hill and to Sweetie Belle and I.
"Well! Hmph! You're welcome!" She said, tapping me on the nose. "I didn't have to save your lives you know..."
So, it was her who saved us? As much as I hate to admit it, I'm very glad that she did. I still have a mission, one that I don't plan on failing.
"Huh, I would have figured something out." I told her, while looking away.
"I know who you are..." She began by gently grabbing my broken leg. "...because I know what you are trying to do."
This was surprising. None of this made any sense. The only pony I had ever told I was going to kill patient zero was my own father! And that was only days before he died.
Never the less, I disregarded it. "Really? So you know why I'm here?"
She nods.
"You also know why I cannot be wasting any more time with you girls!" I told them, as I yanked my broken hoof away. "Good day to... raagghhh!!!"
In my speech, I completely forgot that my leg was broken. Quickly, I collapsed to the ground, only for the other 2 girls to pick me up.
"Don't be a fool..." Said the mystery mare. "Going after patient zero, the strongest and oldest Zompony of them all with a broken front right leg and without any armor or a weapon? That's suicide!"
Again, I hated to admit it, but she was absolutely correct. I was too busy trying to get the hell away from these ponies to realize that. Father would be ashamed. He always said that I was headstrong. I think he's right.
"Who... who are you?" I asked, while holding back cries of pain.
She smiled under that hood of hers. "I... am the Mastermind. I was once called something else, but you may refer to me as the Mastermind."
Sweetie Belle looked to me. Her eyes said, "What the hell is with this basket case?" I mentally agreed with her, as I allowed the Mastermind to continue.
"You see, Star Dust, we share a common goal you and I." She mentioned.
"What?! How!" I said, angrily, the pain of my leg starting to get to me.
"We both want what's best for the majority of ponykind, do we not?" She began. "You think it's best that you kill patient zero."
She stopped to take a deep breath. Then exhaled. I blew my smoke away from the girls, and then threw my cigarette away.
"I, however, think that creating a place where everypony can survive together is a better idea." She stated.
"You mean like a settlement?" Sweetie Belle added. "But there is only a million of those out in Equestria."
"Ah, ah, ah. Those are not settlements, those are mere places where ponies squabble to find a place to sleep, or some food and water." She said, making sure to emphasize that a mere settlement is not what she had in mind.
"Listen. Those settlements are missing something that I have plenty of." She said, twisting a rock in her hoofs. "Do you know what that is?"
"Basic necessities?" Answered Sweetie.
"A decent place to have one?" I answered.
"Wrong." She told us. "Leadership. You 2 should consider yourselves very lucky! Join me! Together, we can create a place where our children can grow safely, without having to worry about what's outside. We can create a place where we can not only survive, we can live. We can create... a utopia!"
A utopia? The perfect society? Was there even one of those before the apocalypse? Hell, I can't remember, but the idea sounds crazy! I had so many questions.
"Where would this, 'utopia' even be at, Mastermind?" I asked her.
"Right here! In Ponyville!" She said as if that could be done overnight.
"But... you don't understand, raiders come here constantly!" Sweetie Belle mentioned. "That's how I was captured!"
"Look, I know it sounds crazy, but this WILL work, as long as I have your loyalty to the end." She said with hope compacted into her words. "Don't you see? This is the start of peace! Together, we will build a city where supplies are shared for all, where a pony can rest without having to be concerned if their brains are going to be consumed. I can't do it alone you know..."
"I... I just don't understand." I began. "You're going to create a town with only three ponies?"
"Oh no no no no." She said, shaking her head rapidly at me. "This will be as big as canterlot in the future! Just you wait!"
"Where would we even begin to build at?" Asked Sweetie Belle.
"There is a circular building, one where clothing used to be created." Said the Mastermind.
"WAIT!!! You're talking about The Carousel Boutique, aren't you? I used to live there!" Said a cheery Sweetie Belle.
"Hmmm, the round building would provide a great 360 degree view..." Said my father in me out loud.
"So, I need to know right now if you 2 are with me..." She said, holding out her hoof in between us three.
Quickly, Sweetie Belle took it. No questions asked. I, however, had to think about it. Is there a downside to this? Creating a peaceful establishment in the very middle of the wasteland would make us a great target, but also many ponies would happen by us too! Can she do this? Can she really create a utopia? This, "Mastermind"?
I came to a conclusion.
"I... will help you." I told her, as I began to put my hoof in. "If, and only if..."
"Yes?" Asked the Mastermind.
"I can still continue my mission of killing patient zero." I said blandly as I smacked my hoof into the middle of theirs.
She nodded yes, Sweetie Belle cheered loudly, and I wondered just what in the hell I have gotten myself into.
Day 2 - Mutual Friends
I'm very quickly starting to regret this, but as of now, I have no choice! My front right leg is broken. To try and survive on my own right now would be a very stupid idea. Luckily, it wasn't nearly as severe as I thought it was, although it did break inward. Sweetie Belle insists that it's just a small fracture where the nail went in, but what the hell does she know?
Anyways, after we agreed to follow this Mastermind, we quickly headed to Sweetie Belle's childhood home, A.K.A, the Carousel Boutique, where Sweetie Belle treated my wounds rather well, actually. I remember this place as a colt. I never went inside, not one time, but my father would often take my mother here for a fancy dress or 2 on special occasions. Rarity, the one who ran the shop, and oddly enough, the older sister of Sweetie Belle, used to run it. Despite her extremely generous prices, she had a respectable business, and raked in quite the bits!
Well, that was before all this shit went down that is...
We have managed to turn this little house/business into quite the mini fortress. With some two by fours, we boarded up the windows, and any other weak spots in the building. We even dug a trench around the Carousel Boutique! Now, anything that's not directly headed to the door will fall into a six foot trench with makeshift wooden pikes. Since I was unable to dig, that was my job. Sharpening dozens of stupid little sticks.
Yesterday, that's all I did. Celestiadammit did it ever get boring. Sharpen one end to a point. Sharpen the other.Plant in the ground. Repeat until trench becomes deadly. Sometimes, that's what survival is. Boring. However, it can be very important if you know what your doing. Even though the trench was my idea, the stakes were the brilliant idea of the Mastermind. I still don't know who this pony is. She never takes that damn hood off, and she never let's us see her cutie mark. "Bad memories..." She would tell us before walking away and ordering us to do something else. "That is no longer my special talent...."
Now? It's morning, but hardly morning at all. The Mastermind got us both up at this ridiculous hour, instructing us 2 that it's time to go to work.
"Sleep well?" She asked us, as she tossed some more fuel into the fire that was burning carefully in the center of the house.
"No, but what else is new..." Sweetie Belle replied, climbing lazily out of her sleeping bag.
The Mastermind handed us a plate, each with a large cup of coffee and 2 servings of sustenance. This sustenance I speak of isn't literally just food in general, it was a wasteland cuisine. All it is is a hoof full of dried grass with a large blade tying it all together into a micro bushel. Very easy to obtain, very easy to eat, store, grow, make. It's even tasty too! Hence the name, sustenance.
Sweetie Belle and I sat practically flank to flank by the fire, eating our breakfast. She even scooted her sleeping bag closer to mine, just so that she could. Although she immensely enjoyed cuddling with me and I did not, I just cuddled with her anyways, telling her not to take it the wrong way. I'd always make up an excuse like, "I'm cold!" or, "Sorry, there's a rock under the left side of my sleeping bag." The mastermind sat on the opposite side of the fire, watching us eat.
"Stardust? Sweetie Belle?" She said, as both of us looked to her. "I want to thank you once again for having faith in me. I know that if everyone will allow me to lead them, we can create something great!"
"Sure! No problem!" Said the energy ball, called Sweetie Belle. "What else were we going to do anyways?"
What else? Well, that's simple. Not be accompanied by a mare who I swear is hiding something, and a teenage filly who can't respect that I swing for the same team!!!
"With all due respect, Mastermind," I began to say. "You know that most towns around here have doctors, inns, guards. All that good stuff. How do you expect us to obtain these things?"
"That's all in due time, my friend. We need more ponies for that." She said, as she stirred the embers to the fire. "Anyways, what we're going to do today is important. I have enough food and water to support us for about three days."
"So, you want us to go get some?" Asked Sweetie Belle.
The Mastermind only stood up and giggled. "No. That's what I'll be doing. You 2 however will be doing something else..."
Hidden under the counter of the old store was something very heavy and large. I could tell, because when she went to grab it, it clanked heavily under the counter. There were 2 things, one was clearly made of steel, the other I could not identify.
"Today, I will be looking for food and water, as well as some other survivors." She mentioned. "What I need you two to do is thin out the Zompony population north of here. I haven't advanced to that part of town yet, but odds are, that's where the majority of this town's supplies will be at. There will likely be about... oh a half of a horde of Zomponies to the north, waiting for you. Maybe even some Runners."
I need to explain something to you. You see, there are three stages to the Zompony disease that we know of. The first stage is a Zomponies first few months of death. You know, when one becomes bitten and infected. These are your average, stereotypical Zomponies. You know, the ones that only mumble and grog around, craving only the flesh of the living? These are the most numerous, about 90 percent of Zomponies in Equestria. We simply refer to them as... well, Zomponies!
The next one's are the Zomponies that have gained experience and some knowledge, the ones that survive for over a good year, maybe even longer. These are the runners that the Mastermind mentioned. These Zomponies are much more vicious and dangerous than the regular ones. They are stronger, and much, much faster, capable of even full on sprints! They have learned coordination just as well as us living ponies have. They will stop at absolutely nothing to reach their prey, especially when you make eye contact with them. In numbers, many survivors stand no chance unless very heavily armed.
Finally, we reach what we like to call, Tanks. These are the most dangerous of Zomponies. One can easily wipe out a group of hunters or scavenging teams, leaving absolutely zero survivors, or even a trace of a group sometimes. In hordes, they can take over entire towns and settlements with ease, although they generally travel alone. Odds are because they are very few in number. Usually, a Zompony doesn't live to become a Tank. They will kill, even if they don't have or want to eat. They show signs of intelligence, even capable of small sentences! They show absolutely no sign of pain. They are very tough, hence the name, Tanks also have the unique ability to control what the host once was, meaning that if one is a pegasus or a unicorn, they will be able to fly and use magic respectively. A Tank will not stop, even if they are missing all of their legs. They will crawl with their necks towards you until they have been decapitated, which only the heaviest weapons can do so.
I have never seen a tank, nor do I want to. Nopony does really, but then again, nopony wants to see a Celestiadamn Zompony at all! My father told me that he once fought three with his old scavenging team. He said that the heaviest crossbows wouldn't even make them flinch, even if hit straight through the eye. He told me that a swing to an area with lots of bones will dull or even break common swords!
I pray to Celestia that we do not meet one of these ponies today...
"How many Zomponies are we talking here? I'm not about to die today!" I told her.
"Who said anything about dying?" Said the Mastermind, who revealed what was under the counter.
The first thing she pulled out was a very large claymore. I instantly fell in love with the sword. It was the finest sword I've ever seen! It reminded me a lot of my father's blade. The metal was polished to perfection, the hilt of the claymore looked very fitting, as if it was born to be held by me. The edge of the sword was sharpened perfectly as well!
The second thing she pulled out was a small, wooden crossbow. Very simple, but it looked to be in very good condition. Personally, I am not partial to crossbows. They tend to break easily and can be inaccurate, but this one looked rather sturdy and sighted. The Masterminds struggle to pull the crossbows string back showed me that it had a lot of pounds of force behind the arrow. This is good.
I stood up to look at the weapons closer. "M-my Celestia! Where in Equestria did you get these?" I had to ask, as I eyed both weapons like candy.
"These came straight from the royal guard's armory!" She said, as if we should be impressed.
I was greatly.
"You mean THE royal guard?" Asked Sweetie Belle, who picked up the crossbow carefully.
"The very same that kept the princesses safe day and night." She said with a nod. "I assume the crossbow is yours Sweetie Belle?"
She nodded, sticking her tongue at me. Jokes on her, I wanted the claymore anyways. The Mastermind instructed me to pick it up. I didn't hesitate to do so at all. Surprisingly, it was light. The weight of the sword felt perfectly, even in my left hoof, although claymores are always 2 hoofed weapons. The balance of the blade was slightly off, most likely due to the sheer length of it. I felt pride that I was holding a similar (And very likely the same blade) as my father had before me.
"Listen to me very carefully..." Said the Mastermind in a very cold tone. "We don't have much time! The Zomponies are likely inactive at this time. I'm going to scavenge for supplies and survivors. It's breakfast time, so be very careful of runners if they are active. Do you understand me? Your job is to kill as many of those bastards as possible, without dying yourself. This will guarantee our safety of further exploring Old Ponyville."
"I can handle that." I told her with a nod. "Sweetie Belle?"
"Hmph!" She said, throwing the crossbow over her back. "Yes. I'm ready."
The Mastermind handed me the sheathe to the claymore and a quiver of bolts for Sweetie. She then headed for the door. "Good. There's not a moment to lose. Be safe. Come back to me ALIVE!!! You are no good to me dead."
I facehoofed right then and there. "No shit..." I had to mutter as I stormed out the door.
In my arrogance, I practically bolted out of the door, going slightly to the left outside. Guess what I forgot was there? The stupid pit of wooden spears! I know I was going to fall into it, so before that could happen, I jumped over the small corner to the other side, then I sighed in relief. Sweetie Belle and the Mastermind walked out the door much slower than I did, actually remembering the pit of death. The Mastermind shook her head, then begin to whisper in Sweetie Belle's ear.
"Sweetie? I want you to keep a very close eye on him." She told her. "Stardust is more than capable of handling himself... when he has all of his legs fully functional! This task I am asking of you is foals play because of this."
Sweetie gasped. "What?! Y-you consider putting our lives in danger like this foals play? There are only 2 of us, and we're going against half of a horde with runners? Minimum?"
The Mastermind said nothing in return, and began walking south, back to where I was attacked, not even saying goodbye. Sweetie Belle shared a concerned glance with me.
"Forget it." I told her. "We have our assignment. Let's get it done! I'm eager to test out this sword."
Ten minutes or so passed as we creeped deeper and deeper into Old Ponyville. So far, there were no signs of anything. Even the stench of Zomponies were non existent. A different stench had my attention. As a matter of fact, I smelt burning things, as if a pony was using anything to start a fire. I could not see the smoke, but I was almost certain there was a fire somewhere.
We edged near the small creek that ran through Old Ponyville. Up ahead was an average ordinary house. We decided to use it for cover and check it out for supplies. However, the door was locked. I pushed on it and pushed on it, but the door wouldn't budge.
"Well, just break it down." She said, making sure to keep her voice down.
Not a smart call by Sweetie Belle. Breaking the door down would surely grab the attention of both Zomponies and Raiders, especially if there were any inside. The windows around it were too high up for me to enter through, and there was no doors on the three sides that we checked other than this one. It seemed that breaking the door down was the only option.
"Sweetie Belle?" I asked. "Are you strong enough to buck it down? I can't buck..."
"Oh? Why is that?" She asked me.
Again, this girl refuses to use her brain. I held out my right hoof to her, making her blush and saying, "Oh yeah. Heh heh..."
Suddenly, I realized something. I'm right hoofed! Attacking with my left hoof wouldn't be as effective. I hate those small little odds that stack against me because I think about them all the time.
They begin to add up.
I stood back, then nodded at Sweetie Belle to break the door down. She turned her flank to the door and pushed her weight to the front of her body to buck the door down. Suddenly, however, I began to smell a very pungent smell of flesh. It hit me out of absolutely nowhere.
"WAIT!!!" I yelled at her, instantly regretting the yell.
My voice echoed in the still morning. For a moment, I froze, trying to listen to any noises that may be a response to my own.
Sweetie was confused. "Stardust? Wha..."
"Ssshhh..." I shushed her as silently as I could.
Something was wrong. Hairs began to stand on the back of my neck like crazy. I was unsure exactly why, but something was nagging at me badly. I then glanced at the small alley created by the house and the house between it.
"Sweetie Belle, keep your eyes sharp!" I told her sternly.
In response to this, she loaded her first bolt into the crossbow, ready to fire if need be. Carefully, I crept against the house, wishing that the dry grass wouldn't be so damn noisy. I drew my sword quietly with my left hoof, then barely placed it around the corner. The polish on the sword worked as a good mirror for me.
"Just as I thought..." I whispered to Sweetie Belle, nodding my head away from her to signal I needed her over here.
In the thin point of view I had, I could see at least half a dozen ponies, but I could only see the legs of one blueish-purple pony. I made a note that her tail was a light blue color. I could see she was wearing something. It was an almost a black purple color, but it had a crescent moon on it. It looked to be some piece of armor. The Zomponies seemed to be in their inactive states. I grabbed Sweetie Belle and brought her closer to me.
"Sweetie Belle..." I whispered to her again. "I need you to get that door open. Right now. Do it quietly."
She smiled at me, then pecked me on the cheek, causing me to both blush and grimace. "You got it, cute one!" She told me.
Now is not the time for this bullshit. Just as I instructed her to do, she began to open the door, using a bolt to jab at the lock. I went back to peering at the tall pony. I tiled my sword up slowly to get a better view. It seemed that the large pony was a pegasus from what I could tell. I tilted it up higher and higher slowly, until I could see the back of the pony's neck. She was facing directly away from me, but then, she moved suddenly, causing me to jerk behind cover.
My heart was beating at a million miles per hour now! I thought it was all over. That she may have saw me. The sheer size of that pony had to almost be double my own! Then, I could hear a crack, another noise that startled the hell out of me. When I looked to Sweetie Belle, she had the door opened. Without wasting any time at all, I entered the dark house and shut the door behind me.
"It's so dark, I can't see a thing!" Sweetie Belle yelled as she grabbed a torch.
"Shut up! Do you not know that there is a big ass Zompony on the other side of these walls?" I snapped at her once again.
We lit the torch with my lighter, but upstairs, there was a light, as if a torch was already burning up there. I didn't dare go up those stairs. I knew that they would creek the moment that we stepped on one. The lights began to grow closer to us, and I could hear talking.
Fuck! Raiders!!!
"Oh no!" Screamed Sweetie Belle. "AAAAA..."
Her screamed was cut short when I held her snout shut and threw ourselves under the stairs. She learned her lesson the first time she encountered Raiders. I can't imagine how scared she is right now.
"Someone is here!" Said a female voice. "Let's go check it out!"
I was sweating bricks now. Sweetie Belle was quaking in her hoofs, but I dared not release my grip on her face in the slightest for fear that she may blow our cover.
"Show yourself! Raiders? Or friendly?" Asked a different voice. "Please... come out. We mean ya no harm. See?"
2 weapons came crashing down the stairs, making an insanely loud noise. So loud, Sweetie Belle's scream left her mouth somehow! I decided it was time to reveal myself. No raider would ever drop their weapons and tell us "Please."
"Hello?" I told them back. "Friendly. Friendly! Please reveal yourselves."
Quickly, they trotted down the stairs. An orange pegasus with a violet colored mane and a yellow earth pony with a crimson colored mane revealed themselves to us. They were both around the same age as me and Sweetie Belle. Speaking of her, her fear turned instantly into hope when she saw their faces.
"Applebloom! Scootaloo!" She yelled, going in for a big hug.
They rejoiced and rejoiced. All three of the girls did, as if they didn't have a crisis on our hoofs. I, on the other hoof, kept my sword in hoof and ready to strike if necessary. These dumbasses were making far too much noise. I know for sure the Zomponies would have been all over us by now if they weren't resting. Finally, they shut their face holes!
"I can't believe y'all are alive!" Said the earth pony with a hick accent, much thicker than the Masterminds. "We thought you would have been turned into a slave for sure, Sweetie Belle!"
She giggled seductively for a long time. I knew they were aimed straight for me too. Screw my life...
"I would have, if it weren't for this handsome stud right here..." She said, grabbing at my tail with her magic.
Instantly, I stood up and gave them a nasty glare. The three made their way around me and sat next to the wall where the Zomponies were on the other side.
Morons...
"Are we glad to see you, especially a friendly face!" Said the pegasus. "Say, what's your name, sir?"
At least this one was well mannered. "I'm called, Stardust." I told her. "We were sent here to eradicate the Zomponies in this area."
The 2 gave each other a satisfied look, then nodded at me, picking up their weapons. "Ya don't gotta worry bout that!" Said the earth pony. "We already took care of that for ya."
"Impressive." I told them, actually feeling happy. "We didn't even have to lift a hoof, and we already found 2 survivors!"
"You girls gotta come back with us, immediately!" Cheered Sweetie Belle. "Before something bad happens."
The earth pony, who I eventually figured out was called Applebloom, sat right next to the wall.
"I don't know yall it's been a..."
Then, it happened. It freaking happened! A Zompony pierced straight through the flimsy wooden walls with it's great sized horn. The other 2 girls screamed, as the horn impaled Applebloom, right through her left eye, causing it to pop out quickly. The other few Zomponies next to that giant one started banging at the door!
"No no no no..." I said, beginning to panic. "Girls! Ready for battle. Scootaloo? I hope you're a good fighter!"
Then, a hoof pierced through the wall. It was the exact same color as that giant pony earlier, but that's impossible. She was a pegasus, not a unicorn. Her other hoof struck straight through, grabbing the suffering Applebloom tightly and yanking her as well as the whole wall out. Light poured into the dark house, but neither the big Zompony nor Applebloom were anywhere to be seen.
The door quit banging for a minute, and all we could hear was flesh being devoured and ripped off the bone, like a stallion that hasn't eaten in his entire life! The only thing that remained of poor Applebloom was that bow that was in her hair. I picked it up with my bad hoof and clenched it tightly. Then, the eating of flesh ceased. When it stopped, the tall pony walked over to where the hole in the wall was ripped. Quickly, I put the bow in my mane for safe keeping. Slowly, she turned to face us with a blank look on her face.
I then saw the impossible!
"Kill... me..." She whispered. "K-k...k..."
This is so bad! That was not just a big Zompony or even a runner. It was a tank! A celestiadamn tank this whole freaking time! Not just any tank either. It was a certain alicorn princess.
"No..." I whispered.
...to be continued...
Author's Note
2 chapters in 2 days. That's really good for me! Hopefully, I can do the same tommorow.
Remember boys and girls, I accept OC's if you would like yours to be in this. Utopia needs live ponies to help it grow you know...
