Metrot City Taleby ErtzertChaptersAct 1, 1: (J) The Heart of Luna(J) Chapter 2(J) Act 1 Conclusion(J): Act 1/2 IntermissionAct 1, 1: (J) The Heart of LunaUgh, I hate hospitals, I thought as I walked towards the Heart of Luna Medical Center. As the doors slid open, the wretched smells of disinfectant and sickness mixed in my nose. Approaching the front desk, I pulled my hood down. The mare sitting there was typing away on her computer, fingers fast as lightning, unaware of my presence. “Nice Min-Taur. Mark Five?” I asked politely, startling the worker. With a giggle, the clerk’s mechanical digits receded back into her hooves as she turned to me. “I wish - Mark Three. Checking in, visiting or picking up, sir?” she asked, smiling. “Picking up. I’m looking for a Raphael Martin, miss Florel,” I responded, shooting a glance at the cute mare’s nametag. I think I can deal with dating a modded mare if she’s as cute as this one. The worker turned back to the computer and began typing again. “It seems mister Martin left a special request...Only a short list of people are allowed to visit him,” she said nervously. Not perfect with interacting with other ponies, I thought. “I have to ask you for your name and some photo identification, please.” Hovering my wallet out of my sweatshirt’s pocket, I shot the worker a smile. “Name is Joseph Quartz, and here’s my ID...Think I could get your number, cutie?” We chuckled. She gave the card a quick look as she scribbled on a scrap of paper. “OK then, Joseph, mister Martin is in room 409.” I took the scrap and placed it in my wallet. “Checking in, visiting or picking up, sirs?” I heard her ask again as I entered the elevator. First time in years I’ve gotten somepony’s number without using any trickery. With a ding, the elevator doors slid open, and I left. 403...405...407...409. “Hey, Raphael, it’s check-out...time?” Upon entering the room, I was greeted by a floating pistol aimed directly at my face. The unicorn behind the firearm was a bright blue, reminiscent of the egotistical unicorn performer spoken of in old mare’s tales, with a purple and dark blue dyed mane. “Woah, Rea-Rea, gun down! Gun down! That’s J-Q, don’t you recognize him?” the stallion laying in the hospital bed questioned. The mare turned towards the speaker, pistol still floating in my face. “As in me ‘ighschool ex?” she asked before looking back at me. “Yeah, I suppose it could be ‘im.” I don’t like ponies pointing things in my face. Especially if those things could potentially ruin my day, I thought, grumbling. “Yes, Reagan, that J-Q.” I walked past her as she holstered the pistol. “Alright, Raphey, time to head home,” I said, helping my friend up. As he stood, the light glared off his metallic legs. With a clank, he stepped off the bed. “Glad I won’t have to eat more hospital food for a while...say, you didn’t happen to see a Dirty Dog stand on your way here, did you?” Raphael asked as we left his room. I shook my head in response as a loud bang echoed through the halls. Another followed, beginning a series of echoing gunshots. “Wait ‘ere, boys,” Reagan said, hovering her pistol over to Raphael before pulling out another from seemingly nowhere and entering the lift alone. I stared at the stallion now standing on his rear legs, as he held the metal contraption in one robotic hand, flexing the fingers on the other. “Do you have to do that now? It’s kinda creeping me out.” “No other reason for me to do it now." He gave me a taunting smile. "Besides, I thought you were one of those hume-boos?” “Hey, ponies with hands and humans are completely different things.” We argued for about a half-hour, trying to ignore to the gunshots echoing from the lobby. Ding! Raphael pointed his gun towards the elevator as the doors opened and a trio of unicorns dressed in grey clothing exited. “Oh thank Celestia, you two are still here,” the leading pony said with relief. “What’s going on down there?” my pink-maned friend asked, lowering the pistol. “An unknown gang, sir. Decent hardware, and Reagan thinks they came here for you,” another of the trio spoke, saluting Raphael. “She told us to take you and your friend out the back while she collected the security footage, sir.” Well, I may still be at risk of getting shot, but at least I’ll be out of this foul place soon enough, I thought as the three ponies led us into the elevator. The metal doors slid open, and two of our escorts immediately stuck their heads out to check for potential threats. “Oi, get back ‘ere, I ain’t through wit’ you yet!” I heard. “We’re clear. Hang a right here, gents.” We made a mad dash to the right of the lift. As we passed through the lobby, Raphael turned and fired a few shots at a pair of stragglers from the attack. Charging by the front desk, I spotted a beautiful mare lying on the floor, her otherwise perfect face ruined by a hole between her eyes. “Now that’s just not fair!” I cried, not stopping. I get a drop-dead gorgeous mare’s number, and she winds up...dead, within an hour. Why do you hate me, karma? ________ Barreling through a door, we were greeted by the sight of a Carbby - One of the many human vehicles redesigned for use by Equestrians. “Please for the love of Celestia know how to drive,” I whispered as a number of bullets whizzed by my head, making emptying my bladder mid-gallop a very likely event. Leaping in through an open window, I crouched in the rear of the vehicle. “Drive! Drive! Drive!” I shouted. What did I do to deserve this!? The vehicle’s tires screeched as we sped away. “Drop us off at seventy-eight Oakwind street,” I heard Raphael say over my crying. “And quit bawling, Joey! You’re a grown stallion, for Luna’s sake!” I kept sobbing. “You’re gonna have to grow a pair, bud, because after what happened today - Listen to me!” he shouted. “After what happened today, you’re gonna be helping me, Reagan, and a bunch of other ponies clean up this city...and trust me, it’s only gonna get worse.” “Can we really trust him, Raphey? He seems to be a pretty big coward," the driver said. For a short while, the only sound in the van was my sobbing as Raphael thought. “Well, we'll just have to fix that, then.” _______________ A.N Firstly - To whoever is reading this during the approval process: Thank you. I appreciate you taking time to read over this and whatnot, especially considering you're doing it during your free time. Secondly - A note to anyone and everyone who has read this far: Depending on how well this chapter is received, I may or may not just stick a "Completed" tag on the story. I would require about a week or two to decide, so please, read, comment, and give a thumb. Please, if you comment, leave some constructive criticism, since it makes improving my work easier for me, and we all know people want quality stories here. Alternatively - Because I'm not unreasonable - If enough people say this chapter could have been better, I will consider rewriting this one. It'll save me another terrible, TERRIBLE story, and it's easier to restart something if you're still fairly early on. (J) Chapter 2Chap. 2a The clock struck six, and as always, on the second chime, the familiar theme of the news rang from my television. “Belle Ri'Viere reporting here on Metrot City News at Six,” the lovely blonde mare spoke as another bird flew into my freshly-cleaned window with a dull thud. “New information regarding the shooting that took place at the Heart of Luna Medical Center four days ago has come to light.” I redirected my attention towards the newspony.“Witnesses state that, prior to the actual shooting, a brown unicorn in a white and pink hooded sweater requested the number of the room that high-value individual Raphael Martin was staying in as he recovered from augmentation surgery, and is believed to be involved in some way.” “Shortly after the unicorn departed from the front desk, a group of ponies sporting rusted modifications approached the mare working there, and requested information regarding the patient in question.” As relevant as the news was to me, I found it difficult to remain focused on it, and returned to staring at my window as birds slammed into it. “Relevant security footage of the areas affected by gunfire is not available for examination, and Heart of Luna security states that it cannot be located. The footage in question is presumed stolen. In other news, avian creatures have been inexplicably flying into-” I sighed and turned the television off. Every single time. If they can’t find it, it was stolen. As another bird impacted my window, my door opened. I spun my head around to see what had opened it as a gun fired off. The pony standing in the doorway stumbled to the side as his firearm fell. “Joey, please tell me you’re in ‘ere,” Reagan said before tripping into my apartment and dropping a rough red and white rag. Even from across the room, I could almost see straight through a hole in her foreleg. I jumped off my sofa and hurried to my friend. “What happened, Rea-Rea? Why did you shoot that stallion?” I questioned as I helped her up. “Not important. You just need t'know that we gotta get you outta ‘ere, Joey, else you’ll be in a right good position fer a cap in your arse,” Reagan responded. “Take that colt’s piece. You’ll need it more than ‘e will, all things considered. And leave the rag, it ain't gonna 'elp much in the - ugh - state it's in.” I helped the wounded mare out the door and levitated the fallen gun into my shirt pocket. “Got a friend - Ah, careful! Got a friend downstairs keepin’ watch for any other threats. Think ye can ‘andle ‘aulin’ me around on your back? Make for a quicker escape than ‘elpin me walk.” How heavy could she be? I thought as she hovered into the air. My legs nearly gave way when I placed her on my back. “Thank Celestia we’re only on the third floor, and thank Luna there’s an elevator,” I heard Reagan comment as I slowly made my way towards the lift. ________ Sirens blared through the streets as I dropped Reagan near the back of a heavily modified human truck. A mare with a dull red mane, and a dust-brown coat stepped out of the vehicle as the blue pony climbed in.“Awful heavy for such a small pony, isn’t she?” she asked, staring at our friend with a mocking smile. “I’m Aubrey. Safe to assume you’re this Quartz stallion she’s been telling me about?” I nodded, and the sirens grew louder. “Nice to meet you, but we can talk later. Hop in. Back seat’s free,” she said calmly. I swore I could see a hint of worry in her eyes. I pulled the door open and immediately loved the mare. Four human-made rifles and an assortment of smaller human-made firearms sitting in one seat, and a large machine-gun mounted in front of another seat, turned to face the rear of the vehicle, barrel sticking through the window. “Woah...'Ahs...'ahs a lo'a blood,” Reagan said. As I climbed in and looked through the window to the bed of the truck, I saw the wounded unicorn laying in a large pool of blood staring back at me. “‘Ey...any chance we could ‘urry and...and get to a medic or some...somethin’?” she queried before passing out. “Yeah, maybe we should, she’s looking pretty-” the truck sped off, and the door slammed into my rear, knocking me snout-first into a rifle. The tires screeched as we made a sharp turn, and one of the windows shattered as a bullet flew through the glass. “Mount that MG and protect us, for Luna’s sake!” Aubrey snapped. Oh Celestia, why do you do this to me!? I thought as the fear-tears began rolling for the second time this week. I peered through the blurring sight of the gun and spotted a large truck chasing us, with modified ponies leaning out of the windows, firing at us. The roof of the truck’s bed blocked the driver from my sight, though. I magically held the trigger down as I began crying. "Don't hit any civvies!" she shouted. ________ The truck skidded to a stop inside of a warehouse. “Get somepony with medical experience out here RIGHT NOW!” Aubrey yelled as she left the truck. A pair of unicorns in white coats dashed to the rear of the vehicle to pull the barely-moving form of Reagan from the back. One of the ponies jabbed a syringe into the blue mare’s bloody foreleg as the other wrapped a thick cloth around it. “Hole’s been there for almost ten minutes now, the only thing we had to put pressure on it only lasted three, and as far as I know, that’s the only wound she has,” Aubrey explained to the medic-ponies as the four disappeared through a pair of doors. “So, Reamun’s finally been taken down a notch, I see,” Raphael stated calmly from above, leaning on a safety-rail. "I hope the medics have an extra leg mod..." I gave him a confused look. “Rea-Rea just took a bullet in the leg, I’m sure she’ll be fine,” I responded. “Not sure where you got that crazy thought in your head.” Raphael vaulted over the railing and landed beside me. “You saw the damage that bullet caused, though. Decently sized, almost clean through...Best-case scenario, she needs a new foreleg. Worst case?” He turned to look at me. “The stuff those two injected her with doesn’t work, and we risk putting more lives at risk with a funeral,” he spoke in a solemn voice. “Look, we’re better off just hoping she comes out alright. Head through the doors those ponies took, take a right, try and find an open bed and get some rest. You’ll need it.” What would happen if...whatever that stuff was didn't work? And how would a funeral put us at risk? ________ Steadying my rifle, I fired another round. “Four hits in a row, not bad...for a beginner.” Raphael and Aubrey had spent the week following Reagan's injury teaching me the proper ways to use various firearms, using Ponybots as targets. “Just remember to try and aim for the head.” Aubrey smiled at me. “To simulate how much harder it is to do when they’re firing back, take down all the bots without taking more than three hits. They’ll only be firing paintballs, so you don’t have to worry about dying,” she explained, using her magic to supply six robotic equestrians with paintball guns. The horn used to signal the beginning of exercises blew, and I dove for cover as a barrage of tiny colored spheres flew past me. I peeked from behind my protection and fired three rounds off, only hitting a single bot. “How exactly did you convince me to do this, again?” I asked, diving behind a nearby pillar, narrowly avoiding another barrage of paint. “'Learn or die', Joey,” Raphael spoke in a bored voice. “You’re opening yourself up for an ambush, so pay attention.” Oh right, that, I thought, sliding out of cover and firing as I went, hitting another three. Two bots left. Excitement filling me, I outright abandoned my cover and took aim. Bang. Five down, one to go...Bang! The nearby double doors shot open, slamming into the walls, and scaring me enough to drop my rifle and take a dozen paintballs to the chest. “I’m back, everypony, and better than ever!” the bright-blue pony who entered the room announced, lifting a shining metal foreleg up. “Oi, Joey, y’know you’re not sapposed ta get ‘it, dontcha?” Aubrey, Raphael and many other ponies flocked to Reagan, and I levitated the rifle in front of me. “Very funny, Reagan. Look, I’ll be over there in a sec, just want to...” Click. Click. So I would’ve failed even if Rea-Rea hadn’t come in. Stupid small magazine! I thought angrily, hurling the rifle at the last ponybot. I stood up and shook as much of the paint out of my fur as I could. Pat! “Yow!” A paintball struck my rump. “Well, Rea-Rea, why don’t treat us all to some Dirty Dogs to celebrate your swift recovery?” Raphael suggested. Reagan and Aubrey beamed at the emerald pony’s mention of the famous tofu-veggiedogs. “Except you. No veggiedogs for you.” Raphael pointed at a blue pegasus reading a Playpony in the corner. He looks sad, now. ________ “I swear, I could almost hear the bits jingling in that pony’s head,” I said, downing half of my Dirty Dog in one bite. “I blame Reagan,” Aubrey remarked. The bright-blue mare trotted along beside us, four bags of veggiedogs bouncing on her back with each step. Devouring her third dog with a single bite, the blue mare moaned with pleasure. “Hegh, what can I say, I love me some double-dees,” she spoke through her full mouth. Come on everypony, smile smile smi-ile! Fill my heart up with sun-shine sun-shine! Aubrey’s phone rang. All I really need’s a - Click! “H-hello?” she said, red as a tomato. “The stuff's in? Okay, I can be back in...twenty.” Raphael, Reagan and I giggled like schoolfillies at the dusty mare’s chosen ringtone. “Hey, I don’t bust your chops over your crazy obsessions, so don’t bust mine for liking the old Element of Laughter’s singing!” she shouted, somehow turning more red. As our sniggering calmed, I wiped a tear from my eye. “Please, Aubrey, everypony knows the Element of Magic had the best singing voice of the six.” “You mean the Element of Loyalty, of course?” Raphael asked jokingly. “Neigh, I think ‘e means the Element o’ Kindness...Don’t ya, Joey?” “Let’s not start when we all know Twilight was the best singer, and all-around coolest Element.” “R.D was the coolest! She could do a Sonic Rainboom, after all!” “Flu’uhshy bea’ the shnot ouvva a bear for Luna’sh shake!” Reagan claimed, spitting chunks of her food with every word before finally swallowing. “‘At not cool ‘nough for you three?” Aubrey groaned as she turned from our argument and trotted away. “I gotta go, important shipment came in. Meet me back at the warehouse in three hours,” she ordered. Reagan, Raphael and I continued arguing. After her continuous attempts to talk through her food, I stuffed my hoof into the blue mare’s mouth. “You can eat, and you can talk, Rea-Rea, but you can’t eat and talk.” ________ Five shipping containers sat side-by-side in the massive warehouse, piquing my curiosity when I saw them. “Got ‘em all checked out for ya, Rexx: Four crates of sub-machineguns; three crates of ammo; and a half-dozen crates of body armor and H.U.D Goggles,” Aubrey said to a large, hunched dog standing on its rear legs as it adjusted its green silk vest and collar. “Thank you, pony. Perhaps the Dirt Runners will use you for any future orders that may be needed,” Rexx replied, grabbing one of the dusty unicorn’s hooves and shaking it furiously before stepping to a nearby open ponyhole. “Brutus, Ripper, Sam, get up here,” the dog called into the hole. Two dogs the size of burly stallions climbed out, followed by one barely bigger than a foal. “Knock yourselves out, boys. Container three’s all your stuff.” Aubrey trotted over to us. “There you are. Raphael, could you take Joey and go tell Shawn his gear’s in?” she asked. “You know both of them better than me or Reagan.” The emerald pony shook his head. “No can do, cous’. Didn’t you hear? He got himself extradited back to Germaney,” he answered with a sigh. “Bonne Elass replaced him.” Raphael's mouth formed itself into a scowl as he said the name. “Tell Bonne the stuff Shawn ordered is in, then. Let her know that she has until next Tuesday to pick it up before I just distribute it amongst whatever Diamondflanks haven’t been equipped yet.” Raphael shrugged and nodded, still scowling. “I can let Henry know about his stuff, Reagan, so I guess you can just...go play your video games or something, I don’t know.” The blue mare grinned and pumped her mechanical foreleg in the air, as if she'd just won a foal's game. The pink and green pony gestured for me to follow him as Reagan hopped away cheerfully. “Come on, we’re going for a drive.” We left the warehouse and headed towards the beat-up Carbby that saved my life at the hospital. “So what’s the deal with that Diamond Dog Aubrey was talking to?” I asked, jumping into the back of the vehicle. “And the ‘Dirt Runners’ and ‘Diamondflanks’?” Raphael started the vehicle, and we slowly backed out onto an empty street. “You’ll see.” The vehicle turned and stopped before lurching forward. ________ Chap 2b ________ We had stopped in a poorly maintained district of Metrot City, and descended into the subway. After traveling through the tunnels, hoping no trains would pass through along the way, we arrived at an empty doorway, torn strips of yellow caution tape hanging from the frame. “Looks like the city finally decided to try closing this area off,” my emerald companion spoke. “Careful, Joey, the tape wasn’t just for decoration, the equipment here is actually pretty dangerous.” Raphael led me through multiple rooms full of old electrical generators, bare wires, leaking pipes, and rats. Lots of rats. “Where exactly are we, Raphey?” I asked, sidestepping a small herd of rats. “A tunnel.” Very funny, smartflank. "You know what I meant." We turned another corner and stopped in front of a large vault door. “Well, we are currently under the Eighth District Metal Refinery.” Raphael tapped a code into a keypad on the wall. The metal door slowly slid open, allowing us to climb the large stairwell on the other side. “With metals being as scarce as they are in Equestria, you’d think a refinery would be more difficult to take control of than this one was,” the emerald pony said, ascending the stairs. “If metal’s such a rarity, then why use it all on guns, ammo and vehicles?” “All that stuff’s imported from the Human planet. It gets modified by a poorly-funded group of Equestrians before getting sent here, so it's pretty low-quality stuff compared to when it's fresh. All of the metals found on this planet, on the other hoof, go towards stuff like buildings and repairs. Necessary stuff, you know?” Our conversation continued until we reached the ground floor of the refinery. “Joey...welcome to the E.D.M.R, better known as the Watcher Hideaway.” Unicorns, Earth Ponies and Pegasi were scattered all around the inside of the building, conversing with each other, firing at cans or watching small computer screens. “Anyone see Bonne?” Raphael inquired loudly. “Anypony?” “What is it, Raphael?” A naked yellow mare stumbled through a doorway, trying to pat her mane down. She let out a deep, lengthy yawn. Feeling a phantom winger coming on here. The emerald pony’s expression said more than he ever could about the mare he stood before being in charge. “Aubrey says Shawn’s order’s in. You have until next Tuesday to pick it up,” he said, his voice lined with the kind of disappointment one would expect only from a parent whose teenage foal had disobeyed them...or a pony whose dog had just left a fresh 'present' on their floor. “And for the princess’ sakes, if you're gonna play leader to the Watchers, act like it.” Bonne rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine, fine, mother.” The sleepy golden mare turned her gaze to me. “Who’re you and what do you want?” I can see why Raphael sounded the way he did, I silently thought, staring intently at the beautiful, shapely... “He can talk, right?” “This is Joey Quartz, Bonne. He wants to join us,” my emerald companion spoke. “Well, in that case, I suppose you’re welcome here, as long as you can get a recommendation from four other members of the Society.” The golden mare yawned again. “They can be from any of the four central gangs that make up the Society, but I can’t accept any less than four different ponies,” she explained. “And if you try to tell anypony not in the Society about this base...I’ll know. And I’ll have that pretty mech eye of yours on my end-table within a day.” “That’s your only warning. Now get cracking, so I can get back to my stallions.” (J) Act 1 ConclusionBonne turned and began walking back to the room she had come from, but stopped at the door. “Actually, Raphael, I have something I need to discuss with you,” she said, flicking her tail at the emerald pony to signal him to follow. But...I-I never told anypony about my eye! Raphael followed the golden mare into her room, shuddering at what she could have in mind. Bonne slammed the door immediately after the emerald pony passed it. I shook my thoughts towards the two gangsters, crept up to the door and put my ear against it. “What is it, Bonne?” “Well, since you finally got those mods like you-” “Finally? I told you I got them the day after I got out of the hospital.” “Don’t interrupt me. Since you finally got those mods, you actually have some use besides just delivering messages, and-” “Gee, what a kind thing to say.” “Don’t complain, because I will not hesitate to boot you right out that door if you do.” “Like that’d do anything.” “I could find something worse, if that’s what you want? “Doesn’t matter what you did, you’d have your colts working you the entire time.” “'Working me'? Grow a pair already!” "You're a filthy whorse!! "Just because I like a good party doesn't make me a whorse!" “'Like a good party'? Firstly, that's not a normal party, and secondly, you will have sex with *anything that moves*, because you are a WHORSE.” Bonne attempted to say something, but was interrupted again. "I'm sorry, what was that? I couldn't hear you through all the-" “Just shut the buck up and get out already! By Celestia, just LEAVE! I'll deal with this when you stop acting like such a foal.” “As if I give a buck.” I hurried away from the door as Raphael kicked it open. “Let’s go, Joey. You still need three more recommendations,” he said as he walked by. I could almost hear the pure hatred towards the golden mare in his voice. “We can get you one from Rea-Rea and one from Aubrey no problem, but the fourth one could be a challenge.” That escalated rather quickly. I nervously chuckled. “Wait, three? I thought she said...” I paused as the emerald pony turned and glared at me. "I'm not deaf, Joey. I’m supplying a recommendation.” He continued walking to the staircase we arrived from. “What in the hoof was Shawn thinking, leaving HER in charge...” ________ “So, your eye’s really mechanical?” Raphael finally spoke. He had been silent the entire trip back to the Diamondflanks warehouse. I quietly nodded. I had always been disturbed by modified ponies...they had always seemed unnatural, like abominations, and that hadn’t helped my condition. “Which eye, anyways?” the emerald pony asked, peering into my eyes as if he was searching for my soul. I pushed my friend away. “It’s my right one." Raphael gave me a look that said he didn't believe me. "I could disconnect it and pull it out if you want?" He chuckled and shook his head. We entered the warehouse and headed for the staircase to the basement. “What happened, anyways?” he queried. “I don’t remember you ever needing to go to a hospital when we were foals.” I ducked to avoid a stray ball. “I was just born blind in that eye, nothing special. Gotta get it replaced every few years, though.” A pegasus attempted to dash by me, almost knocking me to the ground, but was caught by Raphael. “You see Reagan or Aubrey? We need to talk to them,” he said. Raphael’s catch struggled to break free from the robotic vice-grip. “Rea’ said she gon' back to the I-C’s hideout, and I ain’t seen hide no’ hair a’ Aubrey! Now lemme go, you freaka nature!” Silence. This is gonna be good. Raphael’s expression did not change. “...You’re gonna regret saying that.” The emerald pony swung his free foreleg, and with a loud crack, the pegasus flew back a few feet and landed on his back, his snout bleeding profusely. I could see at least four teeth scattered around where the injured pony landed. “You picked the wrong day to insult me, punk. Next time, I won’t hesitate to dust your skull.” Raphael’s glare alone would have been a bigger scare than the threat. “Now shove off.” The pegasus only groaned. “We probably should’ve asked if he knew where the ‘I-C’ hideout was.” “...Probably, yes.” We left the bloodied pony and descended into the entertainment area. Seven big-screen plasma TVs hung from the wall; Four sat in a square-shape in the middle of the room. Two sat in front of ponies, with controllers floating between them and the television. Raphael went over to one of the game-systems, and I flopped down onto a couch in front of an unused television, turning it on. Time flew by like a Wonderbolt as I mindlessly watched the moving images. ________ The sun shone through the cloudless sky as my sixteen beautiful and shapely mareslaves carried me over to my poolside love-nest. I jumped onto the massive heart-shaped bed and took off my diamond-studded ruby sunglasses. My giggling mareslaves all leapt up with me. "Oh, maid!" I called out. "Ah, there you are, Rea-Rea. Be a dear and get me and my darlings some drinks,” I said to the blue mare wearing a frilly black-and-white skirt. “And don’t hesitate to let that tail of yours snap a little, baby.” Reagan bowed and left, every step making her tail flick her skirt up enough to see- *SMACK!* “Ouch! What in the hoof was that for!?” I shouted, falling off the couch. “So I’m not good ‘nough ta be one o’ your mareslaves, now?” the infuriated Reagan asked. “And wha’s with that comment about lettin’ me tail snap ‘a little’?” She smacked me again. “I don’t know ‘ow to do anythin’ ‘a little’!” “That’s what you’re hitting me for? Because you were only a sexy maid in my dream?” The blue mare swung again. “Yes!” Reagan raised her hoof to swing again, but lowered it again as machine guns began firing above. “...The ponybots weren’t out when I came down ‘ere...” The mare stood still, mental gears slowly turning, as if they were rusted and hadn’t moved in years. "Could you move so I can get up, now?" A bleeding unicorn tumbled down the stairs after a few moments. “Not a drill! Under attack! Not! A! Drill!” he announced, shooting right back up. Reagan remained still for a moment, letting the pony’s words sink in. “Everypony grab a gun! No, two! N'ah bollocks, grab all the guns you can carry, and get up there!” Chairs and couches were knocked over as pegasi, unicorns, and modified earth-ponies alike vaulted them, a variety of weaponry in their combined arsenal, including rifles, sub-machine guns, pistols and shotguns. I spotted Raphael slowly climbing the stairs, his robotic fingers wrapped around the handles of a minigun. “No kill like overkill, Joseph!” he yelled over the gunfire. “Where the hay did you find a minigun!?” “I have no idea!” He began cackling as the rotary cannon spun up. Bullets flew from the barrels as their casings pelted me from above. I nudged my way past the burly emerald pony and levitated a fallen Diamondflank’s rifle to my side. Diving for cover, I got a glimpse of the few attackers that had been gunned down. Brown clothing, helmets and ski-masks, shining metal fore and rear legs. All of the corpses had been armed with machine guns or rifles, and none had horns or wings. Raphael had begun moving forward, minigun barrels still spinning as we provided cover fire. Leaning over to pick up the body of a fallen foe, the emerald pony kept his gun steady, as if the metal death-bringer weighed as much as a newborn kitten. The corpse served as an efficient shield from the hail of bullets coming from around the ponyhole in the middle of the warehouse. Raphael threw his lead-filled protector down the hole and aimed his gun down after it. The screams of dozens of ponies filled the hideout as they were mowed down by the pure metal wrath that flew from the many spinning barrels of the gun. Hearing their cries of pain, I felt as though I was going to be sick. “So...” Raphael dropped his gun and turned, forelegs crossed. “Who’s gonna warn the Runners?” ________ The sewers connecting the Diamondflank and Dirt Runner hideouts were surprisingly clean. ”How do we even know any of those ponies are left?” I asked, narrowly avoiding stepping on a herd of rats. More stinking rats...I. Hate. RATS. Reagan levitated a torn patch into my face. “Tha’s a Celestial Force patch, and they’re the only competent level of law-enforcement in all of Equestria,” she explained. The patch was a small, winged sun with the number 418 stitched into it. “They ain't allowed anywhere near guns until they've gone through proper tactical and teamwork trainin'. We need to make sure they didn’t ‘it the Runners. If they did, we need to get ‘em ‘elp ASAP.” We walked on, the sewers silent save for our hoofsteps and the occasional pipe leaking. I gave in and let out a low sigh. “Rea-Rea...how do you do it?” The blue mare turned to give me a confused look. “I mean, how do you ponies...you know, kill so...so easily? So...guiltlessly?” “You’re daft, Joey,” she whispered. “I can’t kill somepony ‘guiltlessly’. No sane pony can. I gotta live with the knowledge and guilt of ‘avin’ lost track of ‘ow many ponies I’ve killed, 'ow many lives I've ended...families I've torn apart...” She paused in thought. “S’not a pleasant feelin’, I can tell you tha’ much, but I live with it. All for the safety o’ Metrot City and ‘er citizens and whatnot. It's earned me a spot in 'ell, and I embrace that fact.” I almost regretted asking. “C’mon, we’re almost there,” Reagan announced. All of a sudden, a large shadowy creature barreled around the corner, smashing into us. “Eeh, help! Help! Weird ponies attack! Kill many Runners! Hurt more! Steal Pack Leader!” it yelled, sounding as if it was on the verge of crying. “We fight back, but Pack Leader captured! Not know where they take him!” “They got you guys, too? And they took Rexx?” I asked. “No, not Rexx! Zippy! Weird ponies take Zippy!” Reagan pushed the panicked Diamond Dog off of her. “Well, this is a right good loada 'ay.” The blue mare shook herself clean of dog fur. “You’re the fastest one ‘ere, dog, so ‘aul it to the Diamondflanks and bring a couple medics to the rest o’ the Runners.” The dog saluted and rushed towards the warehouse. “What now? Dogs already knew about the Celestial Force, so our job’s done, unless you've got medical experience?” I shook my head. "Thought as much." We kept moving towards the Dirt Runner hideout, hoping for a quick way out of the sewers. “...Dirty Dogs?” I suggested. The blue mare chuckled and shoved me. “Works for me. Oh, a little birdy told me you’d be in need of a pony to get you into the Watchers?” I smacked my hoof into my forehead. How the hoof did I forget that? “Since tha’s settled then, ‘ow about I get you started on your watching duties?” Reagan asked, slowly levitating her shirt over her- *SNAP!* Reagan’s tail struck my face, breaking me out of my daydream. “I know I’m a sexy beast, Joey, but that don’t mean I approve of you fantasizing about me when I'm right 'ere,” she said, tail-whipping her flank as she walked on. "Mmm!" END OF ACT I ____ AN Act conclusions will hopefully be the only parts with author's notes from here on, and only if I have anything to say/ask. You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but if you do, just drop a comment. Why do you like/dislike this story? And one more thing: (Completely optional, of course) please direct people you think might enjoy it to this story. TY for reading so far! (J): Act 1/2 IntermissionThe virus had only hit the past week, but the Manehattan City airport looked as though it had endured years of the chaos that came with an apocalypse. A camouflaged pony crept through the entrance to the ruins. Carefully stepping over abandoned baggage, benches and corpses, Reagan levitated her rifle from her flank and checked the magazine, scanning her immediate area for movement. All clear, she thought. Ducking behind a counter, she removed her helmet and dropped a duffel bag she had been carrying on the ground in front of her. Reagan opened the bag and took inventory. Satisfied with her scavenged supplies, her headset clicked and glowed orange for a moment. “Oi, you ready for takeoff, ‘enry?” The small device buzzed and crackled. “I will be by the time you get here. How soon can you make it?” “I’m by a metal detector near the entrance right now. Not sure if it still works or not, and tha’s a chance I’d really rather not take, so I’d say between twenty minutes to an hour.” A few high-pitched screeches pierced the shattered windows. Reagan levitated her bag back over her shoulder. “Good timing, I guess...No point in not risking it, so I think I can be there in a few minutes,” the unicorn said as she passed through the arch, sounding the alarm. “Oh sweet Celestia tha’s loud!” More screeches could be heard, despite the blaring siren. “I'd be able to hear that from where I am even without the headset!” The blue mare began charging through the airport ruins, bounding over suitcases, chairs and what remained of corpses. “I’m at gate twenty-nine, Reamun.” The unicorn read the gate numbers as she dashed by them. Twenty-two, twenty three, twenty four. A loud crash came from behind. Believing she’d meet a painful and bloody end if she turned, Reagan kept her pace until she reached her destination. Oh ‘ell no, the gate’s not even open! she thought, panicking. No time to look for a switch to open this... Trying to magically pry open the pneumatic doors, the fearful mare glanced behind her. A horde of undead were charging towards her at top speed, the limbs of some rotting off, leading them to be trampled under the hooves of others. “Oh Celestia ‘elp me.” Levitating her rifle back in front of her, Reagan took aim and fired. Each round struck flesh, and each pull of the trigger dropped singles or pairs of the zombified ponies. Click! The sound of the rifle jamming filled the mare with more dread than she had ever felt before. Dozens of charging dead, two hundred yards away. Letting her rifle fall back to her flank, she put her hooves to work trying to open her escape route. One-eighty yards. Faith dwindling swiftly, she pushed herself as hard as she could. Nothing. One-twenty yards. The horde closing in faster than she’d ever seen, the blue mare’s fight-or-flight instinct kicked in. Bashing at the door in an attempt to weaken it, the unicorn’s horn glowed brighter than before. Fifty yards. Finally, the doors gave way, and the unicorn dove through them, despair giving way to hope as she charged and slid through the plane's open doorway. “Close it, now!” Reagan slammed the door behind her. She had barely reached safety. WINNERS: REAGAN R. REAMUN; HENRY AVAN ICEDAY ________ I threw my headset towards the nearest wall, hitting a passing blue pegasus in the head. “HOW!?” I yelled, shaking from anger. Reagan laughed. “I tell you every time we play, Joey, you can’t beat me and ‘Enry.” Raphael, Aubrey, Reagan, Henry - The leader of the Iced Colts - and I had been attempting to see who could last the longest in the popular survival horror game, The Trotting Dead. “You know it was just luck that you got through that, right, Reamun?” Henry asked. “Your gun was jammed and had a small army of zombies swarming you,” The pink pony pointed out. “Hey, how’d you three die, anyways?” Aubrey and Raphael hadn’t spoken since their eliminations. “I got blown out of the top story of a building,” I said crossing my forelegs. The dusty unicorn grumbled to herself. “Bandits stole my stuff and gunned me down.” She scowled. Aubrey was the biggest sore loser I’d ever met, and such an embarrassing loss wouldn’t be taken well. Raphael nervously grabbed at his collar and loosened it. “I, uh, took Aubrey's stuff and gunned her down before my buds...yeah.” The emerald pony got an angry look from the Diamondflank leader that said more than words possibly could have. “Hey, don’t you give me that look.” “I’ll give you whatever look I want to!” Reagan levitated a small phone from her pocket as she got up and stretched, Henry following suit. “Okay, Quartz, you got my support. Not many ponies can die in T.T.D in such a glorious way. I’ll tell Bonne she should let you into the Watchers,” the pink pony said before trotting off. “I need your ‘elp with something, Joey,” the unicorn said, pulling me out of my seat and towards the elevator that led to the underground parking lot of the Iced Colt’s home. The blue mare magically yanked me into the elevator. “What could you possibly need my help with, Rea-Rea?” I asked as the doors closed and the box started moving. “I’m ‘ungry and broke,” she answered. “So?” “So, you’re going to be a good coltfriend and get me some lunch.” “We haven't dated since highschool, Reagan.” The elevator stopping surprised me, and the unicorn lifted me into the air with her as she hopped off. “Tha’s what you think, sweetie.” “Hey!” I flailed around in the air, trying to break out of the levitation spell. After a few seconds, I gave up with a groan. “Well, do I at least get a say in where we go?” I asked. “No.” ____ Quick note: I'm sorry this took as long as it did (and that it's so short), but due to schooling and the fact that I can only work when I'm alone (which is fairly rare nowadays), delays are sadly inevitable. I'll try and have the next chapter done within a week or two, but I can only guarantee that I want it to be longer than this one. And please, if you have friends looking for a story to read, tell them I forced you to suggest this one.
Act 1, 1: (J) The Heart of LunaUgh, I hate hospitals, I thought as I walked towards the Heart of Luna Medical Center. As the doors slid open, the wretched smells of disinfectant and sickness mixed in my nose. Approaching the front desk, I pulled my hood down. The mare sitting there was typing away on her computer, fingers fast as lightning, unaware of my presence. “Nice Min-Taur. Mark Five?” I asked politely, startling the worker. With a giggle, the clerk’s mechanical digits receded back into her hooves as she turned to me. “I wish - Mark Three. Checking in, visiting or picking up, sir?” she asked, smiling. “Picking up. I’m looking for a Raphael Martin, miss Florel,” I responded, shooting a glance at the cute mare’s nametag. I think I can deal with dating a modded mare if she’s as cute as this one. The worker turned back to the computer and began typing again. “It seems mister Martin left a special request...Only a short list of people are allowed to visit him,” she said nervously. Not perfect with interacting with other ponies, I thought. “I have to ask you for your name and some photo identification, please.” Hovering my wallet out of my sweatshirt’s pocket, I shot the worker a smile. “Name is Joseph Quartz, and here’s my ID...Think I could get your number, cutie?” We chuckled. She gave the card a quick look as she scribbled on a scrap of paper. “OK then, Joseph, mister Martin is in room 409.” I took the scrap and placed it in my wallet. “Checking in, visiting or picking up, sirs?” I heard her ask again as I entered the elevator. First time in years I’ve gotten somepony’s number without using any trickery. With a ding, the elevator doors slid open, and I left. 403...405...407...409. “Hey, Raphael, it’s check-out...time?” Upon entering the room, I was greeted by a floating pistol aimed directly at my face. The unicorn behind the firearm was a bright blue, reminiscent of the egotistical unicorn performer spoken of in old mare’s tales, with a purple and dark blue dyed mane. “Woah, Rea-Rea, gun down! Gun down! That’s J-Q, don’t you recognize him?” the stallion laying in the hospital bed questioned. The mare turned towards the speaker, pistol still floating in my face. “As in me ‘ighschool ex?” she asked before looking back at me. “Yeah, I suppose it could be ‘im.” I don’t like ponies pointing things in my face. Especially if those things could potentially ruin my day, I thought, grumbling. “Yes, Reagan, that J-Q.” I walked past her as she holstered the pistol. “Alright, Raphey, time to head home,” I said, helping my friend up. As he stood, the light glared off his metallic legs. With a clank, he stepped off the bed. “Glad I won’t have to eat more hospital food for a while...say, you didn’t happen to see a Dirty Dog stand on your way here, did you?” Raphael asked as we left his room. I shook my head in response as a loud bang echoed through the halls. Another followed, beginning a series of echoing gunshots. “Wait ‘ere, boys,” Reagan said, hovering her pistol over to Raphael before pulling out another from seemingly nowhere and entering the lift alone. I stared at the stallion now standing on his rear legs, as he held the metal contraption in one robotic hand, flexing the fingers on the other. “Do you have to do that now? It’s kinda creeping me out.” “No other reason for me to do it now." He gave me a taunting smile. "Besides, I thought you were one of those hume-boos?” “Hey, ponies with hands and humans are completely different things.” We argued for about a half-hour, trying to ignore to the gunshots echoing from the lobby. Ding! Raphael pointed his gun towards the elevator as the doors opened and a trio of unicorns dressed in grey clothing exited. “Oh thank Celestia, you two are still here,” the leading pony said with relief. “What’s going on down there?” my pink-maned friend asked, lowering the pistol. “An unknown gang, sir. Decent hardware, and Reagan thinks they came here for you,” another of the trio spoke, saluting Raphael. “She told us to take you and your friend out the back while she collected the security footage, sir.” Well, I may still be at risk of getting shot, but at least I’ll be out of this foul place soon enough, I thought as the three ponies led us into the elevator. The metal doors slid open, and two of our escorts immediately stuck their heads out to check for potential threats. “Oi, get back ‘ere, I ain’t through wit’ you yet!” I heard. “We’re clear. Hang a right here, gents.” We made a mad dash to the right of the lift. As we passed through the lobby, Raphael turned and fired a few shots at a pair of stragglers from the attack. Charging by the front desk, I spotted a beautiful mare lying on the floor, her otherwise perfect face ruined by a hole between her eyes. “Now that’s just not fair!” I cried, not stopping. I get a drop-dead gorgeous mare’s number, and she winds up...dead, within an hour. Why do you hate me, karma? ________ Barreling through a door, we were greeted by the sight of a Carbby - One of the many human vehicles redesigned for use by Equestrians. “Please for the love of Celestia know how to drive,” I whispered as a number of bullets whizzed by my head, making emptying my bladder mid-gallop a very likely event. Leaping in through an open window, I crouched in the rear of the vehicle. “Drive! Drive! Drive!” I shouted. What did I do to deserve this!? The vehicle’s tires screeched as we sped away. “Drop us off at seventy-eight Oakwind street,” I heard Raphael say over my crying. “And quit bawling, Joey! You’re a grown stallion, for Luna’s sake!” I kept sobbing. “You’re gonna have to grow a pair, bud, because after what happened today - Listen to me!” he shouted. “After what happened today, you’re gonna be helping me, Reagan, and a bunch of other ponies clean up this city...and trust me, it’s only gonna get worse.” “Can we really trust him, Raphey? He seems to be a pretty big coward," the driver said. For a short while, the only sound in the van was my sobbing as Raphael thought. “Well, we'll just have to fix that, then.” _______________ A.N Firstly - To whoever is reading this during the approval process: Thank you. I appreciate you taking time to read over this and whatnot, especially considering you're doing it during your free time. Secondly - A note to anyone and everyone who has read this far: Depending on how well this chapter is received, I may or may not just stick a "Completed" tag on the story. I would require about a week or two to decide, so please, read, comment, and give a thumb. Please, if you comment, leave some constructive criticism, since it makes improving my work easier for me, and we all know people want quality stories here. Alternatively - Because I'm not unreasonable - If enough people say this chapter could have been better, I will consider rewriting this one. It'll save me another terrible, TERRIBLE story, and it's easier to restart something if you're still fairly early on.
(J) Chapter 2Chap. 2a The clock struck six, and as always, on the second chime, the familiar theme of the news rang from my television. “Belle Ri'Viere reporting here on Metrot City News at Six,” the lovely blonde mare spoke as another bird flew into my freshly-cleaned window with a dull thud. “New information regarding the shooting that took place at the Heart of Luna Medical Center four days ago has come to light.” I redirected my attention towards the newspony.“Witnesses state that, prior to the actual shooting, a brown unicorn in a white and pink hooded sweater requested the number of the room that high-value individual Raphael Martin was staying in as he recovered from augmentation surgery, and is believed to be involved in some way.” “Shortly after the unicorn departed from the front desk, a group of ponies sporting rusted modifications approached the mare working there, and requested information regarding the patient in question.” As relevant as the news was to me, I found it difficult to remain focused on it, and returned to staring at my window as birds slammed into it. “Relevant security footage of the areas affected by gunfire is not available for examination, and Heart of Luna security states that it cannot be located. The footage in question is presumed stolen. In other news, avian creatures have been inexplicably flying into-” I sighed and turned the television off. Every single time. If they can’t find it, it was stolen. As another bird impacted my window, my door opened. I spun my head around to see what had opened it as a gun fired off. The pony standing in the doorway stumbled to the side as his firearm fell. “Joey, please tell me you’re in ‘ere,” Reagan said before tripping into my apartment and dropping a rough red and white rag. Even from across the room, I could almost see straight through a hole in her foreleg. I jumped off my sofa and hurried to my friend. “What happened, Rea-Rea? Why did you shoot that stallion?” I questioned as I helped her up. “Not important. You just need t'know that we gotta get you outta ‘ere, Joey, else you’ll be in a right good position fer a cap in your arse,” Reagan responded. “Take that colt’s piece. You’ll need it more than ‘e will, all things considered. And leave the rag, it ain't gonna 'elp much in the - ugh - state it's in.” I helped the wounded mare out the door and levitated the fallen gun into my shirt pocket. “Got a friend - Ah, careful! Got a friend downstairs keepin’ watch for any other threats. Think ye can ‘andle ‘aulin’ me around on your back? Make for a quicker escape than ‘elpin me walk.” How heavy could she be? I thought as she hovered into the air. My legs nearly gave way when I placed her on my back. “Thank Celestia we’re only on the third floor, and thank Luna there’s an elevator,” I heard Reagan comment as I slowly made my way towards the lift. ________ Sirens blared through the streets as I dropped Reagan near the back of a heavily modified human truck. A mare with a dull red mane, and a dust-brown coat stepped out of the vehicle as the blue pony climbed in.“Awful heavy for such a small pony, isn’t she?” she asked, staring at our friend with a mocking smile. “I’m Aubrey. Safe to assume you’re this Quartz stallion she’s been telling me about?” I nodded, and the sirens grew louder. “Nice to meet you, but we can talk later. Hop in. Back seat’s free,” she said calmly. I swore I could see a hint of worry in her eyes. I pulled the door open and immediately loved the mare. Four human-made rifles and an assortment of smaller human-made firearms sitting in one seat, and a large machine-gun mounted in front of another seat, turned to face the rear of the vehicle, barrel sticking through the window. “Woah...'Ahs...'ahs a lo'a blood,” Reagan said. As I climbed in and looked through the window to the bed of the truck, I saw the wounded unicorn laying in a large pool of blood staring back at me. “‘Ey...any chance we could ‘urry and...and get to a medic or some...somethin’?” she queried before passing out. “Yeah, maybe we should, she’s looking pretty-” the truck sped off, and the door slammed into my rear, knocking me snout-first into a rifle. The tires screeched as we made a sharp turn, and one of the windows shattered as a bullet flew through the glass. “Mount that MG and protect us, for Luna’s sake!” Aubrey snapped. Oh Celestia, why do you do this to me!? I thought as the fear-tears began rolling for the second time this week. I peered through the blurring sight of the gun and spotted a large truck chasing us, with modified ponies leaning out of the windows, firing at us. The roof of the truck’s bed blocked the driver from my sight, though. I magically held the trigger down as I began crying. "Don't hit any civvies!" she shouted. ________ The truck skidded to a stop inside of a warehouse. “Get somepony with medical experience out here RIGHT NOW!” Aubrey yelled as she left the truck. A pair of unicorns in white coats dashed to the rear of the vehicle to pull the barely-moving form of Reagan from the back. One of the ponies jabbed a syringe into the blue mare’s bloody foreleg as the other wrapped a thick cloth around it. “Hole’s been there for almost ten minutes now, the only thing we had to put pressure on it only lasted three, and as far as I know, that’s the only wound she has,” Aubrey explained to the medic-ponies as the four disappeared through a pair of doors. “So, Reamun’s finally been taken down a notch, I see,” Raphael stated calmly from above, leaning on a safety-rail. "I hope the medics have an extra leg mod..." I gave him a confused look. “Rea-Rea just took a bullet in the leg, I’m sure she’ll be fine,” I responded. “Not sure where you got that crazy thought in your head.” Raphael vaulted over the railing and landed beside me. “You saw the damage that bullet caused, though. Decently sized, almost clean through...Best-case scenario, she needs a new foreleg. Worst case?” He turned to look at me. “The stuff those two injected her with doesn’t work, and we risk putting more lives at risk with a funeral,” he spoke in a solemn voice. “Look, we’re better off just hoping she comes out alright. Head through the doors those ponies took, take a right, try and find an open bed and get some rest. You’ll need it.” What would happen if...whatever that stuff was didn't work? And how would a funeral put us at risk? ________ Steadying my rifle, I fired another round. “Four hits in a row, not bad...for a beginner.” Raphael and Aubrey had spent the week following Reagan's injury teaching me the proper ways to use various firearms, using Ponybots as targets. “Just remember to try and aim for the head.” Aubrey smiled at me. “To simulate how much harder it is to do when they’re firing back, take down all the bots without taking more than three hits. They’ll only be firing paintballs, so you don’t have to worry about dying,” she explained, using her magic to supply six robotic equestrians with paintball guns. The horn used to signal the beginning of exercises blew, and I dove for cover as a barrage of tiny colored spheres flew past me. I peeked from behind my protection and fired three rounds off, only hitting a single bot. “How exactly did you convince me to do this, again?” I asked, diving behind a nearby pillar, narrowly avoiding another barrage of paint. “'Learn or die', Joey,” Raphael spoke in a bored voice. “You’re opening yourself up for an ambush, so pay attention.” Oh right, that, I thought, sliding out of cover and firing as I went, hitting another three. Two bots left. Excitement filling me, I outright abandoned my cover and took aim. Bang. Five down, one to go...Bang! The nearby double doors shot open, slamming into the walls, and scaring me enough to drop my rifle and take a dozen paintballs to the chest. “I’m back, everypony, and better than ever!” the bright-blue pony who entered the room announced, lifting a shining metal foreleg up. “Oi, Joey, y’know you’re not sapposed ta get ‘it, dontcha?” Aubrey, Raphael and many other ponies flocked to Reagan, and I levitated the rifle in front of me. “Very funny, Reagan. Look, I’ll be over there in a sec, just want to...” Click. Click. So I would’ve failed even if Rea-Rea hadn’t come in. Stupid small magazine! I thought angrily, hurling the rifle at the last ponybot. I stood up and shook as much of the paint out of my fur as I could. Pat! “Yow!” A paintball struck my rump. “Well, Rea-Rea, why don’t treat us all to some Dirty Dogs to celebrate your swift recovery?” Raphael suggested. Reagan and Aubrey beamed at the emerald pony’s mention of the famous tofu-veggiedogs. “Except you. No veggiedogs for you.” Raphael pointed at a blue pegasus reading a Playpony in the corner. He looks sad, now. ________ “I swear, I could almost hear the bits jingling in that pony’s head,” I said, downing half of my Dirty Dog in one bite. “I blame Reagan,” Aubrey remarked. The bright-blue mare trotted along beside us, four bags of veggiedogs bouncing on her back with each step. Devouring her third dog with a single bite, the blue mare moaned with pleasure. “Hegh, what can I say, I love me some double-dees,” she spoke through her full mouth. Come on everypony, smile smile smi-ile! Fill my heart up with sun-shine sun-shine! Aubrey’s phone rang. All I really need’s a - Click! “H-hello?” she said, red as a tomato. “The stuff's in? Okay, I can be back in...twenty.” Raphael, Reagan and I giggled like schoolfillies at the dusty mare’s chosen ringtone. “Hey, I don’t bust your chops over your crazy obsessions, so don’t bust mine for liking the old Element of Laughter’s singing!” she shouted, somehow turning more red. As our sniggering calmed, I wiped a tear from my eye. “Please, Aubrey, everypony knows the Element of Magic had the best singing voice of the six.” “You mean the Element of Loyalty, of course?” Raphael asked jokingly. “Neigh, I think ‘e means the Element o’ Kindness...Don’t ya, Joey?” “Let’s not start when we all know Twilight was the best singer, and all-around coolest Element.” “R.D was the coolest! She could do a Sonic Rainboom, after all!” “Flu’uhshy bea’ the shnot ouvva a bear for Luna’sh shake!” Reagan claimed, spitting chunks of her food with every word before finally swallowing. “‘At not cool ‘nough for you three?” Aubrey groaned as she turned from our argument and trotted away. “I gotta go, important shipment came in. Meet me back at the warehouse in three hours,” she ordered. Reagan, Raphael and I continued arguing. After her continuous attempts to talk through her food, I stuffed my hoof into the blue mare’s mouth. “You can eat, and you can talk, Rea-Rea, but you can’t eat and talk.” ________ Five shipping containers sat side-by-side in the massive warehouse, piquing my curiosity when I saw them. “Got ‘em all checked out for ya, Rexx: Four crates of sub-machineguns; three crates of ammo; and a half-dozen crates of body armor and H.U.D Goggles,” Aubrey said to a large, hunched dog standing on its rear legs as it adjusted its green silk vest and collar. “Thank you, pony. Perhaps the Dirt Runners will use you for any future orders that may be needed,” Rexx replied, grabbing one of the dusty unicorn’s hooves and shaking it furiously before stepping to a nearby open ponyhole. “Brutus, Ripper, Sam, get up here,” the dog called into the hole. Two dogs the size of burly stallions climbed out, followed by one barely bigger than a foal. “Knock yourselves out, boys. Container three’s all your stuff.” Aubrey trotted over to us. “There you are. Raphael, could you take Joey and go tell Shawn his gear’s in?” she asked. “You know both of them better than me or Reagan.” The emerald pony shook his head. “No can do, cous’. Didn’t you hear? He got himself extradited back to Germaney,” he answered with a sigh. “Bonne Elass replaced him.” Raphael's mouth formed itself into a scowl as he said the name. “Tell Bonne the stuff Shawn ordered is in, then. Let her know that she has until next Tuesday to pick it up before I just distribute it amongst whatever Diamondflanks haven’t been equipped yet.” Raphael shrugged and nodded, still scowling. “I can let Henry know about his stuff, Reagan, so I guess you can just...go play your video games or something, I don’t know.” The blue mare grinned and pumped her mechanical foreleg in the air, as if she'd just won a foal's game. The pink and green pony gestured for me to follow him as Reagan hopped away cheerfully. “Come on, we’re going for a drive.” We left the warehouse and headed towards the beat-up Carbby that saved my life at the hospital. “So what’s the deal with that Diamond Dog Aubrey was talking to?” I asked, jumping into the back of the vehicle. “And the ‘Dirt Runners’ and ‘Diamondflanks’?” Raphael started the vehicle, and we slowly backed out onto an empty street. “You’ll see.” The vehicle turned and stopped before lurching forward. ________ Chap 2b ________ We had stopped in a poorly maintained district of Metrot City, and descended into the subway. After traveling through the tunnels, hoping no trains would pass through along the way, we arrived at an empty doorway, torn strips of yellow caution tape hanging from the frame. “Looks like the city finally decided to try closing this area off,” my emerald companion spoke. “Careful, Joey, the tape wasn’t just for decoration, the equipment here is actually pretty dangerous.” Raphael led me through multiple rooms full of old electrical generators, bare wires, leaking pipes, and rats. Lots of rats. “Where exactly are we, Raphey?” I asked, sidestepping a small herd of rats. “A tunnel.” Very funny, smartflank. "You know what I meant." We turned another corner and stopped in front of a large vault door. “Well, we are currently under the Eighth District Metal Refinery.” Raphael tapped a code into a keypad on the wall. The metal door slowly slid open, allowing us to climb the large stairwell on the other side. “With metals being as scarce as they are in Equestria, you’d think a refinery would be more difficult to take control of than this one was,” the emerald pony said, ascending the stairs. “If metal’s such a rarity, then why use it all on guns, ammo and vehicles?” “All that stuff’s imported from the Human planet. It gets modified by a poorly-funded group of Equestrians before getting sent here, so it's pretty low-quality stuff compared to when it's fresh. All of the metals found on this planet, on the other hoof, go towards stuff like buildings and repairs. Necessary stuff, you know?” Our conversation continued until we reached the ground floor of the refinery. “Joey...welcome to the E.D.M.R, better known as the Watcher Hideaway.” Unicorns, Earth Ponies and Pegasi were scattered all around the inside of the building, conversing with each other, firing at cans or watching small computer screens. “Anyone see Bonne?” Raphael inquired loudly. “Anypony?” “What is it, Raphael?” A naked yellow mare stumbled through a doorway, trying to pat her mane down. She let out a deep, lengthy yawn. Feeling a phantom winger coming on here. The emerald pony’s expression said more than he ever could about the mare he stood before being in charge. “Aubrey says Shawn’s order’s in. You have until next Tuesday to pick it up,” he said, his voice lined with the kind of disappointment one would expect only from a parent whose teenage foal had disobeyed them...or a pony whose dog had just left a fresh 'present' on their floor. “And for the princess’ sakes, if you're gonna play leader to the Watchers, act like it.” Bonne rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine, fine, mother.” The sleepy golden mare turned her gaze to me. “Who’re you and what do you want?” I can see why Raphael sounded the way he did, I silently thought, staring intently at the beautiful, shapely... “He can talk, right?” “This is Joey Quartz, Bonne. He wants to join us,” my emerald companion spoke. “Well, in that case, I suppose you’re welcome here, as long as you can get a recommendation from four other members of the Society.” The golden mare yawned again. “They can be from any of the four central gangs that make up the Society, but I can’t accept any less than four different ponies,” she explained. “And if you try to tell anypony not in the Society about this base...I’ll know. And I’ll have that pretty mech eye of yours on my end-table within a day.” “That’s your only warning. Now get cracking, so I can get back to my stallions.”
(J) Act 1 ConclusionBonne turned and began walking back to the room she had come from, but stopped at the door. “Actually, Raphael, I have something I need to discuss with you,” she said, flicking her tail at the emerald pony to signal him to follow. But...I-I never told anypony about my eye! Raphael followed the golden mare into her room, shuddering at what she could have in mind. Bonne slammed the door immediately after the emerald pony passed it. I shook my thoughts towards the two gangsters, crept up to the door and put my ear against it. “What is it, Bonne?” “Well, since you finally got those mods like you-” “Finally? I told you I got them the day after I got out of the hospital.” “Don’t interrupt me. Since you finally got those mods, you actually have some use besides just delivering messages, and-” “Gee, what a kind thing to say.” “Don’t complain, because I will not hesitate to boot you right out that door if you do.” “Like that’d do anything.” “I could find something worse, if that’s what you want? “Doesn’t matter what you did, you’d have your colts working you the entire time.” “'Working me'? Grow a pair already!” "You're a filthy whorse!! "Just because I like a good party doesn't make me a whorse!" “'Like a good party'? Firstly, that's not a normal party, and secondly, you will have sex with *anything that moves*, because you are a WHORSE.” Bonne attempted to say something, but was interrupted again. "I'm sorry, what was that? I couldn't hear you through all the-" “Just shut the buck up and get out already! By Celestia, just LEAVE! I'll deal with this when you stop acting like such a foal.” “As if I give a buck.” I hurried away from the door as Raphael kicked it open. “Let’s go, Joey. You still need three more recommendations,” he said as he walked by. I could almost hear the pure hatred towards the golden mare in his voice. “We can get you one from Rea-Rea and one from Aubrey no problem, but the fourth one could be a challenge.” That escalated rather quickly. I nervously chuckled. “Wait, three? I thought she said...” I paused as the emerald pony turned and glared at me. "I'm not deaf, Joey. I’m supplying a recommendation.” He continued walking to the staircase we arrived from. “What in the hoof was Shawn thinking, leaving HER in charge...” ________ “So, your eye’s really mechanical?” Raphael finally spoke. He had been silent the entire trip back to the Diamondflanks warehouse. I quietly nodded. I had always been disturbed by modified ponies...they had always seemed unnatural, like abominations, and that hadn’t helped my condition. “Which eye, anyways?” the emerald pony asked, peering into my eyes as if he was searching for my soul. I pushed my friend away. “It’s my right one." Raphael gave me a look that said he didn't believe me. "I could disconnect it and pull it out if you want?" He chuckled and shook his head. We entered the warehouse and headed for the staircase to the basement. “What happened, anyways?” he queried. “I don’t remember you ever needing to go to a hospital when we were foals.” I ducked to avoid a stray ball. “I was just born blind in that eye, nothing special. Gotta get it replaced every few years, though.” A pegasus attempted to dash by me, almost knocking me to the ground, but was caught by Raphael. “You see Reagan or Aubrey? We need to talk to them,” he said. Raphael’s catch struggled to break free from the robotic vice-grip. “Rea’ said she gon' back to the I-C’s hideout, and I ain’t seen hide no’ hair a’ Aubrey! Now lemme go, you freaka nature!” Silence. This is gonna be good. Raphael’s expression did not change. “...You’re gonna regret saying that.” The emerald pony swung his free foreleg, and with a loud crack, the pegasus flew back a few feet and landed on his back, his snout bleeding profusely. I could see at least four teeth scattered around where the injured pony landed. “You picked the wrong day to insult me, punk. Next time, I won’t hesitate to dust your skull.” Raphael’s glare alone would have been a bigger scare than the threat. “Now shove off.” The pegasus only groaned. “We probably should’ve asked if he knew where the ‘I-C’ hideout was.” “...Probably, yes.” We left the bloodied pony and descended into the entertainment area. Seven big-screen plasma TVs hung from the wall; Four sat in a square-shape in the middle of the room. Two sat in front of ponies, with controllers floating between them and the television. Raphael went over to one of the game-systems, and I flopped down onto a couch in front of an unused television, turning it on. Time flew by like a Wonderbolt as I mindlessly watched the moving images. ________ The sun shone through the cloudless sky as my sixteen beautiful and shapely mareslaves carried me over to my poolside love-nest. I jumped onto the massive heart-shaped bed and took off my diamond-studded ruby sunglasses. My giggling mareslaves all leapt up with me. "Oh, maid!" I called out. "Ah, there you are, Rea-Rea. Be a dear and get me and my darlings some drinks,” I said to the blue mare wearing a frilly black-and-white skirt. “And don’t hesitate to let that tail of yours snap a little, baby.” Reagan bowed and left, every step making her tail flick her skirt up enough to see- *SMACK!* “Ouch! What in the hoof was that for!?” I shouted, falling off the couch. “So I’m not good ‘nough ta be one o’ your mareslaves, now?” the infuriated Reagan asked. “And wha’s with that comment about lettin’ me tail snap ‘a little’?” She smacked me again. “I don’t know ‘ow to do anythin’ ‘a little’!” “That’s what you’re hitting me for? Because you were only a sexy maid in my dream?” The blue mare swung again. “Yes!” Reagan raised her hoof to swing again, but lowered it again as machine guns began firing above. “...The ponybots weren’t out when I came down ‘ere...” The mare stood still, mental gears slowly turning, as if they were rusted and hadn’t moved in years. "Could you move so I can get up, now?" A bleeding unicorn tumbled down the stairs after a few moments. “Not a drill! Under attack! Not! A! Drill!” he announced, shooting right back up. Reagan remained still for a moment, letting the pony’s words sink in. “Everypony grab a gun! No, two! N'ah bollocks, grab all the guns you can carry, and get up there!” Chairs and couches were knocked over as pegasi, unicorns, and modified earth-ponies alike vaulted them, a variety of weaponry in their combined arsenal, including rifles, sub-machine guns, pistols and shotguns. I spotted Raphael slowly climbing the stairs, his robotic fingers wrapped around the handles of a minigun. “No kill like overkill, Joseph!” he yelled over the gunfire. “Where the hay did you find a minigun!?” “I have no idea!” He began cackling as the rotary cannon spun up. Bullets flew from the barrels as their casings pelted me from above. I nudged my way past the burly emerald pony and levitated a fallen Diamondflank’s rifle to my side. Diving for cover, I got a glimpse of the few attackers that had been gunned down. Brown clothing, helmets and ski-masks, shining metal fore and rear legs. All of the corpses had been armed with machine guns or rifles, and none had horns or wings. Raphael had begun moving forward, minigun barrels still spinning as we provided cover fire. Leaning over to pick up the body of a fallen foe, the emerald pony kept his gun steady, as if the metal death-bringer weighed as much as a newborn kitten. The corpse served as an efficient shield from the hail of bullets coming from around the ponyhole in the middle of the warehouse. Raphael threw his lead-filled protector down the hole and aimed his gun down after it. The screams of dozens of ponies filled the hideout as they were mowed down by the pure metal wrath that flew from the many spinning barrels of the gun. Hearing their cries of pain, I felt as though I was going to be sick. “So...” Raphael dropped his gun and turned, forelegs crossed. “Who’s gonna warn the Runners?” ________ The sewers connecting the Diamondflank and Dirt Runner hideouts were surprisingly clean. ”How do we even know any of those ponies are left?” I asked, narrowly avoiding stepping on a herd of rats. More stinking rats...I. Hate. RATS. Reagan levitated a torn patch into my face. “Tha’s a Celestial Force patch, and they’re the only competent level of law-enforcement in all of Equestria,” she explained. The patch was a small, winged sun with the number 418 stitched into it. “They ain't allowed anywhere near guns until they've gone through proper tactical and teamwork trainin'. We need to make sure they didn’t ‘it the Runners. If they did, we need to get ‘em ‘elp ASAP.” We walked on, the sewers silent save for our hoofsteps and the occasional pipe leaking. I gave in and let out a low sigh. “Rea-Rea...how do you do it?” The blue mare turned to give me a confused look. “I mean, how do you ponies...you know, kill so...so easily? So...guiltlessly?” “You’re daft, Joey,” she whispered. “I can’t kill somepony ‘guiltlessly’. No sane pony can. I gotta live with the knowledge and guilt of ‘avin’ lost track of ‘ow many ponies I’ve killed, 'ow many lives I've ended...families I've torn apart...” She paused in thought. “S’not a pleasant feelin’, I can tell you tha’ much, but I live with it. All for the safety o’ Metrot City and ‘er citizens and whatnot. It's earned me a spot in 'ell, and I embrace that fact.” I almost regretted asking. “C’mon, we’re almost there,” Reagan announced. All of a sudden, a large shadowy creature barreled around the corner, smashing into us. “Eeh, help! Help! Weird ponies attack! Kill many Runners! Hurt more! Steal Pack Leader!” it yelled, sounding as if it was on the verge of crying. “We fight back, but Pack Leader captured! Not know where they take him!” “They got you guys, too? And they took Rexx?” I asked. “No, not Rexx! Zippy! Weird ponies take Zippy!” Reagan pushed the panicked Diamond Dog off of her. “Well, this is a right good loada 'ay.” The blue mare shook herself clean of dog fur. “You’re the fastest one ‘ere, dog, so ‘aul it to the Diamondflanks and bring a couple medics to the rest o’ the Runners.” The dog saluted and rushed towards the warehouse. “What now? Dogs already knew about the Celestial Force, so our job’s done, unless you've got medical experience?” I shook my head. "Thought as much." We kept moving towards the Dirt Runner hideout, hoping for a quick way out of the sewers. “...Dirty Dogs?” I suggested. The blue mare chuckled and shoved me. “Works for me. Oh, a little birdy told me you’d be in need of a pony to get you into the Watchers?” I smacked my hoof into my forehead. How the hoof did I forget that? “Since tha’s settled then, ‘ow about I get you started on your watching duties?” Reagan asked, slowly levitating her shirt over her- *SNAP!* Reagan’s tail struck my face, breaking me out of my daydream. “I know I’m a sexy beast, Joey, but that don’t mean I approve of you fantasizing about me when I'm right 'ere,” she said, tail-whipping her flank as she walked on. "Mmm!" END OF ACT I ____ AN Act conclusions will hopefully be the only parts with author's notes from here on, and only if I have anything to say/ask. You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but if you do, just drop a comment. Why do you like/dislike this story? And one more thing: (Completely optional, of course) please direct people you think might enjoy it to this story. TY for reading so far!
(J): Act 1/2 IntermissionThe virus had only hit the past week, but the Manehattan City airport looked as though it had endured years of the chaos that came with an apocalypse. A camouflaged pony crept through the entrance to the ruins. Carefully stepping over abandoned baggage, benches and corpses, Reagan levitated her rifle from her flank and checked the magazine, scanning her immediate area for movement. All clear, she thought. Ducking behind a counter, she removed her helmet and dropped a duffel bag she had been carrying on the ground in front of her. Reagan opened the bag and took inventory. Satisfied with her scavenged supplies, her headset clicked and glowed orange for a moment. “Oi, you ready for takeoff, ‘enry?” The small device buzzed and crackled. “I will be by the time you get here. How soon can you make it?” “I’m by a metal detector near the entrance right now. Not sure if it still works or not, and tha’s a chance I’d really rather not take, so I’d say between twenty minutes to an hour.” A few high-pitched screeches pierced the shattered windows. Reagan levitated her bag back over her shoulder. “Good timing, I guess...No point in not risking it, so I think I can be there in a few minutes,” the unicorn said as she passed through the arch, sounding the alarm. “Oh sweet Celestia tha’s loud!” More screeches could be heard, despite the blaring siren. “I'd be able to hear that from where I am even without the headset!” The blue mare began charging through the airport ruins, bounding over suitcases, chairs and what remained of corpses. “I’m at gate twenty-nine, Reamun.” The unicorn read the gate numbers as she dashed by them. Twenty-two, twenty three, twenty four. A loud crash came from behind. Believing she’d meet a painful and bloody end if she turned, Reagan kept her pace until she reached her destination. Oh ‘ell no, the gate’s not even open! she thought, panicking. No time to look for a switch to open this... Trying to magically pry open the pneumatic doors, the fearful mare glanced behind her. A horde of undead were charging towards her at top speed, the limbs of some rotting off, leading them to be trampled under the hooves of others. “Oh Celestia ‘elp me.” Levitating her rifle back in front of her, Reagan took aim and fired. Each round struck flesh, and each pull of the trigger dropped singles or pairs of the zombified ponies. Click! The sound of the rifle jamming filled the mare with more dread than she had ever felt before. Dozens of charging dead, two hundred yards away. Letting her rifle fall back to her flank, she put her hooves to work trying to open her escape route. One-eighty yards. Faith dwindling swiftly, she pushed herself as hard as she could. Nothing. One-twenty yards. The horde closing in faster than she’d ever seen, the blue mare’s fight-or-flight instinct kicked in. Bashing at the door in an attempt to weaken it, the unicorn’s horn glowed brighter than before. Fifty yards. Finally, the doors gave way, and the unicorn dove through them, despair giving way to hope as she charged and slid through the plane's open doorway. “Close it, now!” Reagan slammed the door behind her. She had barely reached safety. WINNERS: REAGAN R. REAMUN; HENRY AVAN ICEDAY ________ I threw my headset towards the nearest wall, hitting a passing blue pegasus in the head. “HOW!?” I yelled, shaking from anger. Reagan laughed. “I tell you every time we play, Joey, you can’t beat me and ‘Enry.” Raphael, Aubrey, Reagan, Henry - The leader of the Iced Colts - and I had been attempting to see who could last the longest in the popular survival horror game, The Trotting Dead. “You know it was just luck that you got through that, right, Reamun?” Henry asked. “Your gun was jammed and had a small army of zombies swarming you,” The pink pony pointed out. “Hey, how’d you three die, anyways?” Aubrey and Raphael hadn’t spoken since their eliminations. “I got blown out of the top story of a building,” I said crossing my forelegs. The dusty unicorn grumbled to herself. “Bandits stole my stuff and gunned me down.” She scowled. Aubrey was the biggest sore loser I’d ever met, and such an embarrassing loss wouldn’t be taken well. Raphael nervously grabbed at his collar and loosened it. “I, uh, took Aubrey's stuff and gunned her down before my buds...yeah.” The emerald pony got an angry look from the Diamondflank leader that said more than words possibly could have. “Hey, don’t you give me that look.” “I’ll give you whatever look I want to!” Reagan levitated a small phone from her pocket as she got up and stretched, Henry following suit. “Okay, Quartz, you got my support. Not many ponies can die in T.T.D in such a glorious way. I’ll tell Bonne she should let you into the Watchers,” the pink pony said before trotting off. “I need your ‘elp with something, Joey,” the unicorn said, pulling me out of my seat and towards the elevator that led to the underground parking lot of the Iced Colt’s home. The blue mare magically yanked me into the elevator. “What could you possibly need my help with, Rea-Rea?” I asked as the doors closed and the box started moving. “I’m ‘ungry and broke,” she answered. “So?” “So, you’re going to be a good coltfriend and get me some lunch.” “We haven't dated since highschool, Reagan.” The elevator stopping surprised me, and the unicorn lifted me into the air with her as she hopped off. “Tha’s what you think, sweetie.” “Hey!” I flailed around in the air, trying to break out of the levitation spell. After a few seconds, I gave up with a groan. “Well, do I at least get a say in where we go?” I asked. “No.” ____ Quick note: I'm sorry this took as long as it did (and that it's so short), but due to schooling and the fact that I can only work when I'm alone (which is fairly rare nowadays), delays are sadly inevitable. I'll try and have the next chapter done within a week or two, but I can only guarantee that I want it to be longer than this one. And please, if you have friends looking for a story to read, tell them I forced you to suggest this one.
