Chapter 2: New Beginnings

I stood at the stable door, wordless, devastated. I just watched my friends die in front of me. I slowly slumped to the ground. I wanted to cry, which I haven't done in a while, but, didn't. I took out the sound player and put it into my pip-buck. I was shocked to hear my father's voice.

"Terra...I'm sorry that I can't be there, with you. But, at least I could record this for you. Right now I'm gonna go to the wasteland... Terra, if I'm alive I will send you a transmission to your pip-buck in two days. I'm sorry...I love you."

I got up, now with a knowledge that my dad could be alive. Yet I still didn't know anything about where I should go. I turned on my pip-buck light and... saw skeletons, of ponies and zebras alike. That was not what I needed to see, so creepy! In front of me past the skeletons was a small tunnel. I started walking down the tunnel, soon the tunnel opened to a large cave. I saw a mining elevator, and more tunnels. There was also a sign in Arabic. I said out loud to my self "السرج شركة التعدين العربية السعودية" ("Saddle Arabia Mining Co.").

"So, my stable is built in a mine... cool!"

I walked to the mining elevator, hoping that it still worked. I pushed the button to call it, and a small wooden elevator came down. I stepped on to it. 'How do I go up?' I thought to myself. Then I noticed two buttons, one green with an arrow going up. I mentally slapped myself 'Duh!' I pushed the button, and the elevator started going up. After maybe a minute it stopped. Ahead was a small tunnel that ended with a wooden door slightly ajar, light streaming through it, as well as cold air. "If the air doesn't kill, I don't know what will." I pushed open the door, and was met with a blast of frigid air. I went through the door. Around me was snow, and mountains. I checked my pip-buck map. It said I was in the Pretora Mountains, a bunch of mountains in northeastern Saddle Arabia. and known to get snow. Looking down I saw an old road that headed west, and started walking on it.

***

I lost track of how long I walked. My barding was providing no protection from the cold. I kept going anyway with no clue where the road would take me. Eventually, I spotted a pony, an earth pony with an old rifle. He stared at me and said something in a language I did not know. "Bid end yamar neg zarts kharakh." The pony fired and hit me in the side, I fell over in pain. Another one appeared, this time a zebra. The zebra spoke to the pony in the same language. "Batbayar , saikhan olj bolno. cheif ene gichii butsaaj avchrakh bolomjiig olgodog." I heard the word Batbayer and guessed it was a name. The pony Batbayer spoke, "Ganzorig, tokhiroltsson . butsaaj tüüniig avchrakh bolomjiig olgodog." I guessed the zebra's name was Ganzorig. The two walked to where I was still laying on the ground, a bullet wound in my side. Batbayer forced me up, "Get up bitch!" he demanded. I didn't say anything, they didn't deserve to be talked to. "Oh, the bitch doesn't want to talk Ganzorig!" Batbayer said to Ganzorig. Ganzorig just laughed. "If the mare doesn't want to talk that's just fine." Ganzorig came up to me and put a rope around my muzzle, holding the rope in one of his hooves. "Let's just bring her back to the Yerönkhii, let him decide what to do with her." Batbayer looked annoyed but, agreed. "Fine." Ganzorig tugged the rope, forcing me to follow. Batbayer followed behind. I got a glimpse of Batbayer behind me. He was looking at my flanks. "Can you stop looking at my flanks?" I asked. Batbayer chuckled. "The bitch speaks!" Ganzorig turned and looked at him. "Batbayer, the Yerönkhii doesn't want anything happening to future slaves, you perverted retard." Batbayer said something in his language and walked up to Ganzorig.

***

We had been traveling for about an hour. I was cold, miserable, scared and angry! Batbayer and Ganzorig had been apparently arguing in their language. While they were distracted with each other I was able to "study" the rope. By the looks of it, it was old and worn out. I had to escape! So, I carefully chewed the rope. I couldn't bite the part around me but, I could bite near the end Ganzorig held. About the time they seemed bored with their argument, I was ready.

"Excuse me."

"What?" Ganzorig asked.

"Next time you have a prisoner, use a stronger rope!" I jerked hard on the rope. It broke and I started running, while I shook the rope off of my muzzle. A bullet whizzed past. I glanced back, Batbayer was shooting at me with his rifle. I continued running, then I felt a pain in my right hind leg and fell. A bullet had embedded into my leg just below my knee! I saw Batbayer and Ganzorig running at me, and in protest of my leg, got up and started running again. Not as fast this time. I went right down an intersection, the two still following me. I then saw a tunnel, it was blocked by rubble but I could see a hole at the bottom just big enough for me to fit. I got down and started crawling through the hole. My body was mostly through when I felt a pain in my tail and heard Batbayer's muffled voice. "Khen ch khaad khortong ni aldagdakh." I kicked out with my left leg, and Batbayer let go. I was able crawl the rest of the way. As I huddled inside the tunnel I heard Batbayer's voice full of anger "WHEN WE FIND YOU, BITCH YOU'RE DEAD, YOU HEAR ME DEAD!?" I hoped their armor and gear would keep them from squeezing in after me. I continued deeper into the tunnel, limping.

***

It was now night. I was very cold and low on energy, I walked slowly through the snowdrifts in the tunnel. I knew I needed to keep going.

"Screw this!" I fell to the ground, unable to continue. My vision was fading, yet I thought I saw a figure in the distance. The figure started running to me. I was so tired I didn't even care if it was an enemy. The figure was looking down at me.

"Are you alright?" the voice asked. I didn't answer. I felt myself being lifted off the ground. "Hang on." the voice told me. I was hovered in the air on something, then my vision turned black.

***

I wasn't dead, I opened my eyes slowly. Someone was standing in front of me, my vision adjusted and I saw a zebra stallion.

"Good, you're awake." the stallion said. "Thought you wouldn't wake up."

"What happened?" I asked. "You had hypothermia." the stallion responded. "I'm Ebrahim."

"Terra."

Ebrahim nodded. "Thanks for keeping me alive," I added. "It's not me you should be thanking," he told me. Ebrahim went to a door, "I'm gonna go get your actual savior, you stay here." "Okay," I answered. I was left alone. I slowly raised my head. I was covered in a blanket and a fire crackled near by. I was in a room with stone walls like the typical Arabic home. I could also see a large collection of medical supplies.

I waited for about five minutes. Ebrahim came back with another pony, a Pegasus. The Pegasus was wearing some sort of leather armor. His face was not covered. His fur was white, with a gold mane, and crystal blue eyes. His armor had slits on the sides for the wings. The Pegasus didn't look Saddle Arabian, he looked like an Equestrian. "Terra, this is Israel." Israel walked up. "Hi, I'm Israel." "Terra," I said and extended my hoof, he hesitated but shook it. Ebrahim stepped closer, "Israel is a mercenary, and comes to our town often." "What town, where am I anyway?" I asked. Israel answered, "You're in Petrena." I was able to get up, my stable barding still on. "Where can I get some armor?" I asked. "There's an armor smith in town." Israel responded. I realized Israel had no hint of an Arabic Accent. I looked at Ebrahim. "Can I go out?" He nodded, "Lead the way, Israel." I followed out of the room and out the front door. The town of Petrena was small, maybe ten buildings in all, most the size of a house. The town was on three sides surrounded by mountains. The only way in was a wooden wall with a deck at the top with ponies and zebras on it. Israel led me to a stone building, with no door, inside a unicorn was working on a sword. Israel nodded, I stepped forward.

"Excuse me."

The unicorn grunted.

"I'm looking for some armor that can withstand the cold of the mountains and the heat of the desert." The unicorn pointed a hoof toward a standard issued Saddle Arabian Combat Armor. The armor looked to be in pretty good condition. "How much is it?" "30 Dirham's."

I then realized I didn't have any Dirhams. Dirhams were, and are the currency of Saddle Arabia. Israel went up to the unicorn and payed him. I took the armor and started to put it on. I managed to get it on and it fit.As we left Isarel told me, "I can teach you how to use a gun." "Really?" He nodded. "Yes please,"I said. "Then follow."

Israel took off, I followed as best I could. We went through the gate, and into the mountains. Thankfully the run was short, just a few minutes. We came to a stop at an abandoned cabin. Israel flew over to a bench, clearing some snow off of it, (thick snow was coming down) He set three Arabic Sunset sarsaparilla bottles on the bench, then flew back and handed me a hunting rifle, that was in very good condition He gave me some ammo. "Shoot the bottles." Israel instructed. I stood up, (also not very sure how zebras can stand on their hind legs), aimed and fired. The shot went wild not hitting anything. "Firm grip" Israel told me. "If you don't have a firm grip your guns' recoil will knock you away!" I aimed again this time with a firm grip, and fired and hit a bottle. "Nice, now try to crouch, you'll get a better aim." I crouched down, aimed, and fired again, hitting a bottle. I looked at Israel and smiled, he was smiling back. That was interrupted by an explosion not so far off. I glanced at the mountains, a flying ship was falling down the mountain!

"What are they doing here?" Israel asked.

"What?"

"Never mind... lets check it out."

We headed towards the ship, it didn't take long to get to it. When we got there we saw that it was a wreck, dented in several places, and sparking. Should we go in?" I asked. Israel nodded "Yes, look for survivors." Israel opened the door, motioning to me to go in. I went in, wires dangled from the ceiling, still sparking. Israel entered after me.

"Check the back, I'll check the front." I nodded in response and headed back. I saw a door and wrenched it open. I was met with a horrifying sight. It looked like a cargo area filled with benches. Seated on each bench was a Pegasus, all were dead. I was hit by the smell of blood, and fought the urge to throw up. "Ugh." I heard a whimpering sound. I headed towards the sound and found a Pegasus colt. It was under some benches, and looked very damaged. The colt looked at me with hurt in his eye's.

"Please... help me," the colt begged. I went over and lifted the benches away.

"Israel!" I yelled.

"What?" came a reply.

"I found a survivor!" Israel ran over to me and saw the colt. "Let's get him to Ebrahim," Israel suggested. "Okay." I lifted the colt onto my back, and we left the ship. Suddenly we heard the sound of engines.

"Shit," Israel muttered.

"What is it?" I asked.

We turned around, and saw about fifteen ponies and zebras riding on motorcycles. They stopped about thirty feet from us. I recognized their armor. It was the same style as Batbayer and Ganzorig's. Their motorcycle's were fitted with light machine guns and they all had shotguns. One, who looked more important then the rest had a sawed-off shotgun. I didn't know what they were called. "Who are they?" I asked Israel. "They're Khans," Israel answered. The leader was a unicorn. They took off their helmet's, the leader's was the color of blood. The leader spoke in his language, "Ongots , bolon unaga khold . Kherev ta ingekh bol khor khokhirol uchruulsan baikh bolno."

"What?" Israel asked. The leader spoke again, "Step away from the plane, and the colt. If you do so you will not be harmed," he demanded. I looked at the colt on my back. "We'll never give you the colt!" I told him. The unicorn just chuckled, "Then you don't realize who you are dealing with. You are dealing with Yerönkhiidöö Blood. The number one general of the Ondör Darga!" Israel pulled something out of his armor's pocket. I couldn't tell what it was. "Find cover," Israel told me, "And start firing." He bit the thing he had, then threw it. The Khans scrambled. I took cover behind a boulder, Israel found cover as well. There was an explosion. I took the colt off my back and pulled out my hunting rifle. Some of the Khan's motorcycles were on fire, and about seven of them were laying on the ground, missing body parts. Blood was still alive and looked very angry. I aimed my rifle over the rock and fired at the Khans. I hit one in the thigh. Blood yelled, "Edgeer khoyor avch amid Bi tedniig khüsej baina!" I couldn't understand a word, but knew it wasn't anything nice. Israel pulled out a combat rifle and fired. One of the Khans fell. I fired at Blood. The bullet hit his armor but he still stood.

Blood fired his sawed-off shotgun, I ducked down just in time as pebbles showered me. Israel continued to fire until a bullet pierced his right shoulder. He fell to the ground clutching his shoulder as it bled. Five remained. As I was about to pop back out, a yellow canister landed nearby. I knew what it was... tear gas! I grabbed the colt and threw him towards the cover of a small boulder just as the tear gas went off. I was washed by yellow gas, my eyes started burning, my skin was burning. I ran away from the boulder and canister as fast as I could, coughing and gasping. I fell to the ground. I heard chuckling behind me. I looked back and saw it was Blood, and his shotgun was pointed at me. His shotgun was chrome. "Well, well, well... couldn't handle tear gas, huh?" "Screw you," I coughed. "Oh, a mare with an attitude!" "You're about to figure out why I call this gun 'Bleeding Glory'." Before he could fire, his face suddenly exploded. Israel stood close by. The remaining Khans got on motorcycles and drove off.

"You alright Terra?" Israel asked.

I started to get up, "Yeah, I'm ok."

"Good."

I looked at the sawed-off shotgun, and picked it up. The shotgun looked worn, but in decent condition. I went over to the colt and picked him up. "Let's go before they come back with reinforcement's," I suggested. Israel nodded, and we walked back to Petrena.

Footnote: level up

New perk added

Rifle expert: you've trained yourself in the use of any type of rifle, you gain 5% more damage when using any kind of rifle.