Resistance: The Equestrian War Effort

I slowed my gallop as I neared a dilapidated building.

I felt cold and hollow. A small teardrop managed to squeeze its way out of my eye. I’d dug myself neck-deep into a complicated dilemma, one that would be hard to escape from.

My mind was so focused on BlackJack, I had nearly forgotten why I had left the library in the first place. I eyed the shack over. Thin aluminum sheets made up the walls, a large assortment of wooden boards acted as a ceiling. The shack stood out awkwardly, it seemed to have no place with the rest of Sparkville’s artistic structures.

Most ponies would’ve passed it by without a second thought. Luckily, I’m not most ponies. The shack contained a hefty two-way radio, along with several bottles of sarsaparilla. After I had finished placing the equipment into the saddlebags,  I started to think twice about bringing the radio. That thing was heavy!

I developed some options. I could go back to the library, but that would mean seeing BlackJack. I could leave the radio for the time being, and return for it at the end of the day. I decided this would be the best course of action. I left the radio in the corner of the shack.

I spent four more hours looting the abandoned town of Sparkville. Occasionally, I found some useful objects. Small motors. Watches. Healthy foods.

I galloped to a blacksmith's shop in the distance.

As I was looting Sparkville’s abandoned black smithy, several low growls caught my attention.

I paused for several minutes. More growls were coming from outside the shop. I levitated my new rifle, aiming in the direction of the door. To my surprise, a steel tube started to glow atop the weapon. I peered down the tube. Through the tube, I saw the outlines of three yellow figures making their way to the Blacksmith’s door.

Shaking, almost violently, I pulled the trigger.

E-dum! E-dum! E-dum!

The three yellow figures fell, disappearing as they hit the ground.

I stood prostrate for what felt like hours. Finally, I mustered enough courage to exit the shop. The bodies of three Chimera lay sprawled on the ground, gaping holes in each of their chests. They were soaked in pools of their own blood. I retreated, feeling my rear hit the stone wall of the shop.

I sidled around the wall, trying to keep as much distance as possible from the bodies.  When I had placed enough yards between myself and the bodies, I galloped away as fast as I could.The sun began to set in the distance.

I sped towards the library, BlackJack and Fidelis stood alert by the entrance.

I heard a faint, “There she is!” from Fidelis.

Fidelis was the first to speak to me. "Are you alright? We heard gunshots."

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just three of ‘em. They were caught off guard, so they weren’t hard to take down.”

BlackJack released a relieved sigh.

Rip Corde trotted to meet me.“So, what did’ja bring home?”

I showed  her the plunder. I removed the steel, food, watches, and other supplies from the saddlebag. At the bottom of the first bag lay several bottles of Sarsaparilla. Sarsaparilla…I had forgotten the radio!

“Hold on, I forgot something!  I’ll be right back.”

As I moved away from the library, Rip Corde stomped on my tail, stopping me in my tracks.

“Hey! What’s the big deal?”

“That’s enough for today. We don’t need you risking your flank again, especially this late.”

She was right. The curtain of nightfall had already began covering the sky.

I drooped my ears. “Okay…”

An hour later, everypony had gathered around the make-shift bar.

“So, how do ya’ like the new toy?”  Rip Corde asked.

I stared upwards, envisioning the rifle in my mind.

“I dunno. It’s pretty cool, I guess.”

Rip Corde looked as if she expected more. “Pretty cool? I’d say it deserves a heap more than that!”

I shrugged. “That’s all I can really say. It’s just cool to me.”

Rolling her eyes, she poured me a glass of Applejack Daniels.“Ah, whatever. Here, Tipsy, er, Vita. Drink up.”

I looked at the drink, embarrassment and guilt reflected from the glass. “I’m good.”

Rip Corde snatched the glass from in front of me. “Well, then! Don’t mind if I do!”

In a flash, she had finished the alcohol.

Everypony's conversation directed towards whether or not to look for survivors.

BlackJack and Deadeye showed a strong indifference towards the thought. "The smaller our group, the less likely we are to be attacked."

"B-J, we've already been attacked! Or did you forget the bodies rotting in the street? We need more ponies, we aren't gonna survive very long by ourselves, " Rip Corde rebuked.

"And besides, we need to keep a steady population. These things came here to exterminate us. The smaller we keep our group, the closer they are to reaching that goal," Fidelis added.

"I just don't want to be held responsible for anything that happens to anypony."

After a few more minutes of listening to them argue, I spoke up. “I’m gonna go crash, guys.”

Everypony gave a quick nod, in acknowledgement.

Once again, I trotted to the denim couch. I was almost afraid to fall asleep, sure I would once again suffer at the hooves of the recurring nightmare. So, I simply rested on the couch, staring into the distance.

After some time, BlackJack appeared from behind an assortment of books.

“Uh, Heya, Vita. Are you awake?”

I sat upright on the couch.

He continued, “Oh, okay. So um, I wanted to talk to you about what happened last night…”

I interrupted him. “Ok, but first, BlackJack… I’ve got to tell you something.  Now, You’ve gotta promise that you won't freak out, alright?”

“Sure, of course.” BlackJack looked at me expectantly.

At that moment, I choked up. Was I really going to go through with this?

“Well, uh, BlackJack…” I couldn’t find the right words.

Yes, I could. They were, “I’m Fifteen,” but heck knows I wasn’t going to say that.

I directed the subject back to BlackJack. “On second thought, why don’t we start with you, first?”

“Alright, well, let’s see…Um, Vita, look…I want you to know that I don’t really think of you like...  well, a marefriend. Not that it really, matters, I mean, nothing too serious really happened last night. Both you and I were drunk, so… I’m sorry, Vita. I just don’t like you like that. I think of you more like, well, a sister.”

“Really? That’s awesome!” I leapt from the couch in delight. BlackJack himself solved the awkwardness for me!

Scandal averted!

Relief flooded over me. I had one less thing to worry about.

I drew my attention back to BlackJack. I could practically feel the confusion emanating from him.

“Er…I mean, uh… It wouldn’t have worked out, anyway.”

Disturbed, he nodded his head.

After a moment of silence, he spoke up. “Oh, yeah, what did you want to speak to me about?”

“Oh, um, basically, just the same thing,” I lied.

He nodded, and trotted to a mattress a few yards away.

I closed my eyes, finally able to sleep.