To the Skies

Off the coast of the Mild West was an uncharted island. Known to its very different inhabitants, they called the island, Mareboune. On this small slice of The Known World lived a special race of pony. They stand and walk on their hind legs and where their front hooves should be, they have five opposable appendages. This race invented what they called a "firearm." Everypony on the island was born with a Cuite Mark. It could be of two things, it was possible for one to be born with a pistol on the foal's flank. This indicated that that you would be a soldier. It could also be that a foal would be born with a bullet on its flank, indicating that you would be a weponsmith. If you weren't cut out to be what your cutie mark indicated, they put you in a mine, Bringing up ores and making them into bars. Under some circumstances you would be chosen to be put in a shop. Or if you wielded a special talent, you would be whatever that talent is. Once a mare or stallion was to old to fire a weapon, they would continue to work in research facilities, developing and perfecting the technologies of the future.

Clark was in the firing range doing what he did best, hitting targets. He had been perfecting his skills over the past twelve years and he was a better shot than his instructor. Once Clark left the range we went to find his good friend, Brandy. They had known each other for as long as they could remember. "How ya doin', Brandy?" Clark said as he tipped his hat to his companion. "Same old, same old. Not a damn thing." Clark smirked as he knew his friend had a lot on her plate. "Need any help with anythin'?" Clark asked. "Uh yeah, I jammed my sidearm on the range today. Could you help we out with that?" Brandy asked, looking slightly red in the face because she couldn't unjam it herself. "Sure thing." Clark said as he took the slide off the pistol. Clark successfully un-jammed the gun. "Wait, it was THAT easy?" Brandy took the gun back from Clark. "Come on Brandy, I'll buy ya a coffee." Clark offered to Brandy. "Count me in." Brandy said as she walked to the coffee shop with Clark.

   Gorfhyn had spent the last few days without getting any sleep. He had been perfecting a flying contraption that could possibly get them off the island and see if there are any other settlements around their humble island. "Yes! I finally got it running! Chrystal hurry!" His partner in science, Chrystal ran into the room. "That's incredible, you got running. Now we just need to test it."

"What should we name such a magnificent innovation?"

"Hmmmm... I got nothing"

"How about, Airplane!"

"Sure lets go with that."

"Alright lets get the test pilot in here!" Gorfhyn yelled in excitement. As the test subject ran into the room, he almost tripped. As he stepped into the main seat he noticed that there were a lot of gauges and switches. "What are all of these for?" The test subject yelled over the sound of the engines. "Oh those are nothing! Now get the airplane in the skies!"

Clark and Brandy herd a very loud, strange sound. Instinctively, they both ran outside with their weapons drawn. What they were met with was a huge metal, what looked to be a bird in the air. Clark raised his automatic rife at the thing but brandy lowered the rife by the barrel. "That's what they been working on over at the Research facility." Brandy informed Clark so he didn't riddle the thing with holes and potentially killing the pilot. "What? They DO stuff over there? You're blowing my mind." Clark said sarcastically. "Come on Clark, Gorfhyn told us to meet him at the Research facility when he gets it flying." Brandy reminded Clark. "Oh yeah, right. Well, race you there!" With that, Clark and Brandy began sprinting toward their destination. Vaulting over benches, running up stairs, and taking to the rooftops of Mareboune. This ended with Brandy barely beating Clark to the building.

"You're late!" Yelled Gorthyn. "Better late than never, eh?" Said Clark as he walked into the building with Brandy and Gorthyn. "The day has come, you two and fifteen others will get into the Airplane and set off to find other settlements." Said Gorthyn to his guests. "The what?" Brandy asked the old stallion. "The Airplane, that's what I named it." "Well, all right then! Lets get to it!" With that, everyone heard the airplane land. "Before everypony boards, we will be giving you all what looks to be a backpack with a string attached to it. When the pilot tells to, jump out and pull the string." Chrystal said to everypony in the room. "Alright... Wait, WHAT?" Clark exclaimed as he was walking to the plane with all the other passengers. "Trust me, Clark. They work fine." Gorthyn told Clark. "Have ya tested 'em? Ever?" Clark replied. "Nope, Good luck!" Gorthyn yelled over the sound of the engines to Clark. "Damnit, we're screwed." Clark said to Brandy. "We'll be fine, trust me." Brandy said to Clark, hoping to calm him down.

"And we're off!" The pilot said to everypony in the plane upon takeoff. Twenty minutes pass before anypony says anything to each other. Night has fallen. "Ya ever think he's crazy, Brandy?" Clark asked Brandy. "Sometimes, why do you-" Brandy was cut off by the pilot. "Alright everypony, this is your stop!" "Are you gonna land?" Asked Clark. "Hell no, you're jumping, friend, why do you think you got the cool backpack? Just pull the string once you're under the clouds!" Shouted the pilot. "Well, shit. Alright, all or nothing!" Clark jumped first, followed by everyone else.

Everypony landed on the ground safely. "All right, listen up! They're is a town just north of here. Everypony, arm yourself. Expect the worst!" Clark told everypony. "Lets do this!" Somepony shouted, and with that everypony began to run north behind Clark. Clark has always been a leader. Ever since he was young. Once they arrived just outside the town, Clark nonverbally ordered the group to stop. "Hawkeye, scout the town before we enter." Whispered Clark. "Got it." Replied Hawkeye.

Once Hawkeye took his position on a hill, he noticed that the town was quiet. Appeared to be dead. No movement. No light from windows. Hawkeye ran back to Clark to report. "Sir, no movement. No lights." Said Hawkeye to Clark. "Perfect. Maybe we can wake someone someone up, eh?" Said Clark to the group. "Sure, why not." Brandy said to Clark. "Aye, Hawkeye, stay with the group. Me and Brandy will handle this." "No problem, Clark." "Brandy, lets get movin'." Clark and Brandy entered the town and found what looked to be a home in a tree. They both took positions on opposite sides of the door.

"Brandy, you know how to pick locks?" Whispered Clark.

"Why would I know how to pick locks?"

"Ugh, fine. Got a bobby pin?"

"Yeah, my last one."

"Give it here. I need it to pick the lock."

"Alright, here." Brandy hands the bobby pin to Clark.

"Here we go. Ok, just a little more to the right, annnd, got it. We're in."

The two walk into the house.