Devil's Due the flip side of the coin

Chapters

Chapter 1 Awakening
Chapter 2 Escape
Chapter 3 Nightmare
Chapter 4 Peace
Chapter 5 Lonesome
Chapter 6 Hunting
Chapter 7 New face
Chapter 8 A step closer
Chapter 9 Good old day's
Chapter 10 Set backs

Chapter 1 Awakening

Author's note: Starting out need comments to make improvements.

Also look at Devil's Due by my good friend All American... cough promoting his stuff with link.

A great story you should have already read.

Only when done with this one of course.

It was a bright sun that shown across the forest; its rays cascaded through the tree like little strips of beauty reaching towards the ground as a man would reach to hold and love his child.

“No, no, no, no, no, nooooo!” I laid then bolted upright, shouting in abject terror as I woke up.

I rapidly checked myself for any shrapnel or burns. My suit was still clean except for dust… and grass? ‘Where the hell am I?’

The land that had shit brown trees and gunmetal gray buildings where I was ‘working’ was now replaced by a long vibrant green forest stretching for miles in all directions. I got up and began to survey my surroundings only to find myself in a world that looked vivid and untamed; I found some, if not all, things I had on my person when I left. My older SVD appeared a bit battered seeing as the bolt looked to be jammed. I kicked the bolt and hoped to free it up. Success! Thank god for Russian engineering. I looked to my side-arm for the comfort of something a little more familiar than my surroundings. ‘Ryan gave me this before I left. Haven’t even fired it once yet, I hope it works.’ I proceeded to check the slide.

My only protection in this shitty predicament was an M9 Beretta with a few mags (9mm), my father’s old SVD 'Cold war piece of shit is older than me and still shoots to kill’ with a good amount of mags (7.62x39mm Russian) , a few packs of smokes, sunglasses. Hey got to look good when in combat, night vision goggles (NVGs for the low light missions, P.M.C.s got to be ready), and my Kit (Backpack with three days’ worth of rations, a canteen, flares, compass, knife, a very resilient wrist watch (I wear it so the clock is right under my palm), some non- and lethal grenades and my woodland grassy ghillie suit.

Ok, ok, not the best way I’ve been left somewhere alone, but thankfully whoever left me here left my pants intact. So I set off to… well… somewhere.

I walked through the woods at a cautious pace, all be it in a very lazy manner. ‘Hey ‘middle of nowhere’! Who the fucks gonna ride my ass, let alone the fact I have no idea where I am! All of a sudden I hear a rustle in the leaves about 20 meters above me. I went prone near a tree covering my left flank with bushes to my right. ‘At least I have some cover.’ I heard the noise of some kind of bird flapping its wings; from the noise it had to be a big-son-of-a-bitch. I laid there quiet and unmoving.

The area around me was calm almost asleep. The trees seemed to sway in defiance of the lack of wind. And as I heard the sound again I got ready with my SVD, and stayed down as grass in the lining of a forest. It flew by in a few passes then landed in a clearing just in front of me.

It was about four feet tall, had brown- white feathers, but had the body of a lion; the head, claws and wings of an eagle. ‘Holy shit I am trapped in a DND game!’ I looked at the beast in astonishment. I gasped without realizing it, giving away my position. It turned its head towards me, looked right at me than spoke.

“Who’s there?” It said in a voice feminine to my ears.

I did not speak back I did not want to believe this was at all possible. For a moment I thought I may have been dreaming, but my heart pounded like the first time I ever saw combat. I knew I had to do something to gain any intel on my new zone of deployment.

“Hey there bird thingy.” I said trying to fake a calm voice. While I lined up the sights to get a fire lane going.

“Who? What? Where are you?” She said in utter confusion.

Its eagle eyes still not a match for human engineering. With my ghillie suit I was one with the world around me just another blade of grass in a sea of green.

It said aloud, “Hey this is not cool, come out.”

Cool? Who speaks like that?

The wind bellowed for a moment in a hard gust, as it spoke again, “Hey this is not cool at all, don’t be lame.”

My better judgment was over ridden by my complete lack of knowledge of this strange new place and just wishing to talk to someone to learn anything about how I got here. I raised myself up from my cover like a ghost form nature, covered in her works. I began to speak to it, as I took the ghillie’s mask off.

“Hey, chicken wing don’t be afraid.” I said as a joke to break the ice.

“Hey I am not a chicken. I am a proud member of the Griffon Kingdoms Army.” She said with undue pride in her voice.

“Ok then umm… Army huh…” my voice trailed off as I thought about how bad this might end up for me.

“You, you look like that creature that repelled the attack on Ponyville.” She said rising a little off the ground with her wings and moving closer to me.

“What happened?” I asked backing away slowly to not bring any more attention to myself.

“You even have the same weird weapons.” She said as she now hovered around me like a bird of prey inspecting its catch.

“You mean my manly arms.” I said to distract her.

“No but you and you things are coming with me.” She said while swooping down before me trying to look intimidating as she looked me coldly in the eyes.

“Let me think… hmm… Fuck you.” I lowered my hand as I spoke and grabbed my M9 from its holster.

She backed away a little at its sight, but stayed much closer than I wished. So I fired a single round to scare her off. She flew up over the tree tops and out of my field of view, lost in a sea of leaves. She left only a trail of light brown feathers in her wake. I picked one up as a trophy. Can’t wait to hear the cheers for this fucker. Then I started off walking again thinking she’d left. The area around me was utterly quiet for a while now. Well I might just start to miss her. Oh well, this quiet still beats any possible jail time.

After about twenty minutes of stumbling around in the woods lost, I heard the sound of wings flapping again, Oh fuck… The sound was much louder or just closer now maybe a few more have come seeking me. I heard a whistling noise and as I ducked a spear hit the tree next to me. And with that five of them now descend from above the trees. This time wearing some kind of metal plate armor and armed with mostly spears. I bolted to the right using the trees to cover my escape.

My only thought being of the scene from ‘Apocalypse Now’ with the song ‘Flight of the Valkyries’ playing in my mind as adrenalin kicked in. ‘Thank anything they don’t have rockets…’ Another spear hit the ground a few meters away in front of me; I dodged narrowly avoiding the obstacle as I ran. The noise got even closer. I saw my chance to evade my pursuers in a slope coming up. I slid down the slope and lay silent at the bottom. Four of the ‘super chickens’ flew over without noticing me. Where is the last one? Maybe off to get reinforcements?

I got up off the ground and listened… and nothing. Must have lost them, hehe still got it. I walked no more than 5 meters when I heard it again, this time stronger and faster than before. I turned towards the noise, and was greeted with the sight of the female from before charging at me. I tried to dive out of the way, but she was too quick. She slams me and sends me flying and as I hit my head on the tree I crash into. My vision fades as they surrounded me. I tried to reach for my M9, but my body was unresponsive.

She smirked as she approached me, “Whose the chicken now?”

I smiled and laugh, “I surrender and automatically volunteer for treason.”

“Loser.” She said with a sense of triumph in her voice. Another one walks over and punches me in the mouth plunging me into unconsciousness.

Chapter 2 Escape

Author's note: Umm... I got nothing. So here some poetry.

Away in a madhouse, confined to my bed

From visions and nightmares that filled me with dread

The Doctor has sweetly inserted a probe

To sever completely my prefrontal lobe

Electroshock therapy, mind-numbing pills:

They change my behavior to cure all my ills

I love Asylum, my own padded cell

I'll stay here forever, for outside it's Hell

A nice way to kick off right?

I awoke in a rather dark and quant jail cell with only light being from a small window I could not even fit my arm through. My gear was gone and most of my body aching. I searched around for at least an idea of what to do. I find only bars with a table with my weapons just out of reach and the bones of someone long before me in the corner. Well staying here is not a plan, thanks buddy. I so need to get out of this like I need to quit drinkin. I could use a drink for this shit. As I thought about my next actions a guard steps in front of my cell. He wore the same armor as those who caught me. It only really exposed their stomach and neck.

“Prisoner, you are to be taken for questioning. Prepare yourself and be ready in the hours to come. You will tell us of yourself and your weapons or we will beat it from you.” Then he slid a tray under the bars.

“You know when I break your wish bone, just hope it comes true for your sake.” I said in anger.

“Yeah, yeah hold your breath, you’re gonna need it for the captain.” The guard said while he walked away laughing.

‘I’m out, and no one’s gonna be my shower daddy!’ I looked to the tray for a means of escape, saw only a bowl of what smelled like shit and a spoon. ‘Ok let’s Shaw shank this then.’ I began to try to excavate the wall with the spoon. After a substantial amount of digging and no progress, I stopped. Where is the easy puzzle to get out? Or just some damn help… I looked at the spoon my only thing I had. Hey this is kind of sharp now I poked at the fresh edge and my finger started to bleed a little ok… more shank less shaw. I saw fit to spend the rest of the time I had sharpening the end of the spoon against the wall.

***

After about three hours my weapon was sharpened and ready. Just in time as a guard hovers before me and my bars.

“Prisoner, the Captain is ready for you now.” The guard said as he opened the cell to lead me to my fate.

I hid the shank just a little up my sleeve, “Ok, ok, I just hope he has a bottle of vodka.”

The guard grunted in anger, “Now prisoner!” and hit me in the back.

I followed him for a couple seconds then fell to the ground the guard agitated said, “Get up prisoner.”

I faked some pain in my leg, “Ow! I can’t move.”

The guard sighed then walked over, “What now?”

He started to lean over and inspect my leg.

I saw my time to strike “Got ya!” I said as I repeatedly shoved the sharped end of the spoon into the guard’s stomach. He writhed in pain for a moment and tried to scream, but I covered his mouth with my hand. As I looked the guard in his fearful and pained eyes I spoke:

“Shh, it will be over soon.” I said as I ran the blade across his neck in a quick motion, and cut what I hoped was his jugular. I let go, then he fell to the floor silent in a pool of his own crimson blood.

Fuck, I really am gonna need a drink after this. Usually I don’t have to see their face. I ran over to the table and collected my weapons and gear. It was all there down to the last bullet. Well at least this is going for me.’ I put my ghillie back on. It fit me like a second skin. I checked my SVD. Dad, if you help me get out of this, I will owe you another drink. It was ready. As I looked down the hall at the body sorry man.” Wrong place, wrong time.” I set off in the opposite direction.

I moved at a slow, quiet, and cautious pace down several hall ways, but I had no idea where I was going. Damn this place is a labyrinth; hope I don’t see anyone else. Can’t bear to do that again. I weaved through many doors as I started to find my way, evading all patrols in my way. I heard a big group running down the hall maybe 20 meters away, so I hid in a dark crevice in the side of a door way and raised the M9 cradling it against my face. They got closer; I started to hear two of them speak.

“Gilda, why were you not guarding the prisoner? This is all your fault!”

“Sir… I did not know I had to, I am just the fastest scout.” A female spoke sounding like the one that captured me, her voice seemed to crack with fear. Her name is Gilda well at least someone else is in the shit too.

“I don’t care. The griffon-he-killed’s blood is on your hands.” I could practically smell them as they pass. The large one wore red armor with a think gold trim like some kind of Roman general.

“Sir, I will find him and see him brought to justice!” She said with zeal and confidence. Maybe even a little dissent.

“See that you do.” Their voices trailed off into the distance.

Oh, that was too close. I stood up and continued down the hall away from the fading footsteps of my pursuers. I started to run. I heard nothing coming ahead. So I sped up, as it was a greater concern to me to get out quicker than make a stealthy exit. I soon heard a growing roar as more guards seemed to enter the area. Oh just what I need. I looked for some kind of cover, but found none, Damn, damn, damn! The sound grew ever stronger; I started to look to the doors for a hope at getting out. I try door after door to find them locked, Fuck me, I’m boned! until I happened upon an unlocked one. Wooo! Close call again. I closed the door behind me locked it and then in seconds heard the soldiers stop with a sudden end to the clanging of their armor. I put my ear to the door, to take a listen.

“Search the rooms! He may be hiding anywhere.” The voice of the large one I heard with that one he called Gilda.

“Yes sir!” at least ten must have sounded off with.

Damn it, why can’t I get a break? As I tried to think about any kind of a way to evade what at this point must be certain death, I looked at a window much bigger than the one in my cell. Well fuck, fear of heights versus fear of death. I will drink till I can’t feel anything if I make it.’ I looked around the room. It looks like an office of some kind. I heard them break in a door three doors down. I searched for anything to buy me time and found nothing. They smashed another door this time two doors down. I took out some string from my backpack and a grenade ‘He he he, boom. You are going down with me.’ The next door was broken into leaving only mine left. I ran over to the window opened it and hear them begin to beat on the door, Only shot. The door gave way as I jumped.

I fell from the window in a spin ‘I don’t want to die!’ I huddled myself in a ball to at least cushion me from the fall, I slammed into a roof below with the force of something like god shitting on you from the heavens. I opened my eyes for the first time since I jumped. I started to laugh hysterically, ‘Wow, I have a guardian angel.’ Then I felt myself start to slip towards the right side, ‘Soooo close!’ I stretched my arms and legs out looking for footing or a thing to grab, but found myself only closer to the edge. As I started to fall, I prayed. I am not religious.

I fell towards the ground as I closed my eyes accepting my fate. I fell only about eight feet. I got up off the ground and looked at the window I jumped from; it was only 20 feet up. ‘Oh come on…’ I dusted myself off and checked my gear. All there, good. I bolted off into the direction of some forest in the distance.

*******

After about three hours of sneaking throughout the forest and slipping past a few search teams, I could only run so long I needed a place to sleep. ‘So tired, adrenalin fading, need to… sleep.’ I heard the damned noise of the super chickens flying only meters above me, so I hid under some brush lying still to not gain any attention. While lying in the muck I saw Gilda. She flew down to tree level and looked as if she was scanning the land with her eyes. ‘Damn she’s pissed off. Must have been something I said.’

She wore no armor; only a scowl accompanied by two others as well as some officer all clad in armor and where equally angry. My heart stopped as she passed overhead. She and her friends hovered for a moment looking around. They continued to search then one of them pointed in my direction. I can’t even breathe ‘If they spotted me, well then I least am gonna make it hurt!’

I readied my rifle and put the cross hair over Gilda’s head. She turned to meet my single eye’s gaze. Her eyes met with mine through the scope as I slowly pulled the trigger. A quote my best friend Ryan used to say came to mind.

Sorry, but this game was rigged from start.

As the captain griffon who was much larger than the rest. Wearing armor gilded in gold with a base of ebony, and a helmet that was akin to those worn by centurions of old began to swoop in front of her. He hovered in front of Gilda looking over towards me shouted then raised his arm, as if to give the attack order.

His head jerked back as the round tore through his eye socket and out the back of his skull; he fell from the sky like a stone. I felt some remorse for him, but even more for Gilda. I knew the feeling of having someone’s brains and blood splattered against you; in a flash the one standing before you, just gone. He must have just misaligned the bullet with his skull just enough to have it miss her only cutting her cheek. She fell from the sky like an angel with its wings clipped, out of shock… or panic.

The rest of what must have been some kind of captain’s team began to charge at my position. I frantically unloaded five rounds, three hit their mark in the chest of the one flying farthest right, his armor doing nothing to stop the 7.62x39mm round. The other two rounds graze the one farthest left in the chest and wing right wing he drops like a stone out of the air in pain.

The last two griffons came closer than I had wanted them to; I heard their strained breaths as I reached for my sidearm. I quickly popped off three rounds into the one just in front of me, but the other used his friend as quick cover. His spear was a mere foot away from taking me out, I lurched back a little to get a better shot but fell. As I fell he seemed to be coming even faster but this did not save him. Time seemed to slow down as I shot seven rounds into him, even as I hit the ground and he fell atop my legs. A deep crunching noise is accompanied by a pain in my right shoulder. I looked at it; the spear just missed me leaving only a painful gash. I started to laugh. "Well, that was sweet. Still can’t believe I John Wu-ed that shit. All that’s missing are the doves."

I pushed the dead weight off me and got up off the ground. I heard a moan and remembered I had only grazed her. I walked over holding my right arm as pain shot up it. Gilda’s eyes shown with fear, hatred, and adrenalin. I pulled the handgun to meet her face and spoke.

“You live because I need you to tell them I am not to be followed. Got it?” I said lying to myself as if I really stand a chance against any more of you.

I almost could make out tears or hate her blue eyes as she only shook her head.

“Now piss off!” I said pointing towards the sky above the trees with the handgun.

She flew away wobbly and in pain. I needed to find shelter. I can’t be sitting out in the open any longer. ‘Maybe I should’ve just killed her?’ Might’ve given me more time, but I could not think about it now. I might have just made a monster, or just a bigger one. I smelled a strange enticing odor coming more and more from a cave just in the distance.

The caves entrance was jagged like the teeth of a shark. As I entered, the odor seemed to fill my mind with joy and bliss. I ran deeper into the cave not even caring as it got darker. I eventually reached the mouth of a large tunnel network. I dropped my gear to cover my wound with some bandages from my kit, and then fell on to the ground to slip into a needed sleep…

Chapter 3 Nightmare

Author's note: It was like killing a puppy, but I did it for you. Yes I see you in the back, this is for you. I am making more and have some others already made.

I when I awoke it was dark like the heart of a Daemon. I scrambled around in the dark to find any trace of my backpack. I found it on my left just within reach. I pulled a flare from the bag 'Let there be light!' The area around me was bathed in a familiar eerie red glow. Normally, it would be a joyous time. I hoped help would soon arrive but this was no mission.

I put my gear on and stretched my aching muscles. As the red glow started to die down, I put my NVG on over my eyes. The fading red was replaced by an emerald green world. I felt right at home. Though, as I looked around, I felt the distinct sense of being lost. Running here without putting any markings down was not my best idea. But hey, might as well have been knocking on death’s door.

After what my watch said was an hour, I made my way out of this ever expanding cave and started to smell something. It was not sweet or enticing as the smell that first lead me to this cave. No, it was one smell I could distinguish all too well, one I smelled to many times before; it was the smell of death. I raised my weapon and began to crouch-walk to keep my profile low. I search carefully around the moist and quiet tunnel with my M9 at the ready. ‘Sorry dad but you’re just not built for these types of engagements.’

I happened across the source of the familiar odor. It was a dead griffon that looked like a civilian or some kind of scout. The body was laid up against the wall as if she was set here or the poor sod just died here. She reeked of death and decay, her belly was receded to the point I could make out organs and bones. ‘She starved…’ Yet she had a smile of happiness on her face. Her eyes were still open like emerald green pools in my NVG’s vision, I ran my hand over her eyes to close them and set off again.

I was still very unaware of where the fuck I was going and kept at a slow pace so I wouldn’t wear myself down. I began to think of my mother and how much I missed her. I wondered how she would feel about what I really did. ‘Hell, she probably still thinks I am a truck mechanic at some cushy base in Europe. I never had the heart to tell her, after what happened to dad I almost could not enlist.’ As I rounded another bend, I started to feel more depressed at the shear amount of hopelessness I felt as I saw the body from before. ‘This place is maze, where’s my damn cheese?’ I stopped for a moment to gather my thoughts. My mind was filled with images of home and I started to remember the last time I saw her before this deployment.

***

I was dropped off in front of an old looking large apartment building. Its walls where painted with a faded blue. I walked up three flights of stairs to the hallway leading to my old home. I slung the strap of my bag containing my gear over my shoulder and heard the sound of a child playing by throwing a red ball against the wall. The ball hit the wall and rolled over to me. I picked up the ball as the child ran over. The boy had to be only ten years old. He stared at my uniform.

“Mister, are you in the army?”

I smiled with pride “Yes, yes I am.”

“Did you ever kill anyone?” he asked coyly.

“No I haven’t.” I lied as I handed him back his ball.

“That’s ok. Dad says our army is full of pussies anyways.” Then the child walked away.

'Note to self; kill that kid’s parents.'

I now walked down the doors counting 31, 32, 33, and 34. Home at last. I knocked on the door and got myself ready. It has always been hard on her since we moved to the states, even before I left for my first tour. She opened the door. Her hazel eyes beamed as she saw me. Mom’s hair was starting to show some gray but she still looked like she could only be about fifty from just how fit she was.

“Alex, thank god your home!” She said while hugging me.

“Great to see you’re not mad at me.”

“If you just had picked something safe, I wouldn’t have to worry.” as she let go of me.

“I love you too.” I said while laughing.

“Don’t just stand there, come in come in. Army food does nothing for you. You must be starving! Get in here already.” as she pushed me into our home.

I walked through the home went straight to the kitchen grabbed a beer and then sat in the living room to drink. I watched the TV; some bullshit Russian cop drama was on ‘Why the hell do you move, but still watch Russian TV? Wait what am I thinking? She is old now and pretty alone when I’m not here.’

I finished the beer and got up to get another only to hear mother busy in the kitchen. I said loud enough for her to hear me the little ways away she was.

“I’m gonna go take a nap and check on my room, call me when dinners’ ready.” I said as I walked down the same too-small hallway like I did when I was her ‘little soldier’.

“Ok, just don’t make a mess.”

My room was still very clean as if no one entered, but the lack of dust betrayed that thought. Mom must have been cleaning up while I was away. The room really did not change much at all over the years, never really stayed here anyways. My Xbox 360 in the corner with a small TV was calling me. I walked over to the Xbox turned it on. I checked my messages. Same old bullshit, ‘Message to all friends, insert random stupid shit here’. I played a few matches on Fight Night round 3 and did ok. After a while, I heard mother yell.

“Dinners ready and stop playing those games. I can hear you swearing from here.”

“Ok, ok, I’m coming!” as I got up to turn the Xbox off.

I walked into the kitchen grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat at the table. My mother looked very happy as she put a bowl of beef stew before me. I smiled than began to eat. I was just happy to see that she was ok and the money I sent to her left her at least in a good mood.

“When are you gonna get married?”

“When I find someone more insane than me, I will.” I smirked a little while I said it.

“You know that’s not gonna happen.” she laughed a bit.

“A man can dream.” I said theatrically.

“What about Sarah, she seemed nice?”

“No she sent me the old, ‘We can’t be together anymore, but we can still be friends.’ letter.”

“See, you should just stay home and find a new job…” I cut her rant off.

“Look, I am here for only one day and have to leave early in the morning. Please can we not have this talk?” I pleaded with her.

She just nodded her head in a sad ‘yes’ and we both finished our food in silence. I after I finished my food I got up and walked down to my room closed the door then went to sleep. That was when I still was U.S. Army but those days are long gone.

*******************************************************************

‘Man I would give anything to see her again…’ I heard a sound. No, a faint voice and familiar was speaking out against the dark and eerie silence.

“Alex? Where are you Alex?” a distant whisper said.

I was not even able to tell if the sound was my own homesickness playing tricks on me or if it was her; my mother. Whatever it was, it spoke again.

‘Well fuck it! Wouldn’t be the strangest thing that happened to me today. Hell, I’ve seen talking animals running around like some kind of Disney Empire.’ I felt myself drawn to a tunnel that I heard the faint noise of steps being taken. I ran down the tunnel. Its walls were lined with strange holes that something like a four foot tall bug would sleep in. ‘Ok, weird. Better get ready to go on a bug hunt.’ I checked the mag on the M9. Still fresh and ready to take on whatever tries me down here.

I rounded another bend then stood before a large chamber. Its walls lined with numerous holes and freaky glowing sacs with what had to be eggs floating in them. And pools of a strange green liquid that lined a portion of the floor gave off the aroma that lead me to the cave in the first place. I could not even see the very back of the chamber. It was still shrouded in darkness. I readied my weapon and started to sweep the chamber looking for anything out to kill me. I heard a faint crying come from the very end of the room. I twisted my body towards the noise and slowly went near the crying. My pulse started to quicken, unsure of what the hell I would find down here.

I peeked over a few rocks and saw. ‘Is, is that a bug baby thing?’ It was a small creature black fur like a stuffed animal, teeth like little dull razors, and tiny claws. ‘D’awwww it’s so cute, I want to love it and hold it and name it George.’ I stepped close to the small creature. It looked right up at me then giggled. I said to it “Awe little guy, why are you all alone down here?”

It then burst into green flames. ‘Oh shit! It’s explosive?!’ I kick it away from me then I dived behind some rocks to escape what I thought was going to be like a claymore going off. I sat still for a second. I heard nothing and peered over my cover. It was not the same creature anymore. It looked like it tried to mimic a human form but failed horribly.

The sight was hideous. Malformed bones out of place, its own eyes distorted, and its once black flesh now a bit like skin. Its new ‘skin’ was something like if you threw a hairy man into a dryer turned it on and left him to die there. I looked at the creature in horror ‘Oh my god… I have seen men blown apart by mortar shells, but this…’ it began to cry. I felt pity for the creature I draw my M9 and leveled it pointing to its forehead. ‘It’s in pain…?’ I started to speak to it in hopes I could easy its pain.

“It’s ok little guy… this won’t hurt a bit.”

I cover my eyes with the back of my left hand.

“I’m sorry.” I said with voice quivering.

A shot rang out. ‘I’ve never had to do a mercy killing before…’ A grave silence fills the air I can’t bear to look at the body. I turned away from it and started to walk away ‘Man, I am not in Disney World any more…’ I heard a loud screeching noise that pierced my ear drums. Then a loud rumble began. I started to run, not wanting to stick around for the mommy to come. ‘Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck!’

I ran as fast as I could. My eyes darted from wall to wall as much larger and vicious versions of the previous creature started to come out the walls. They came like a black tide, teeth like white daggers. Their claws now swiped at me like a sea of knives. ‘Game over man, game over!’ I ran dodging from side to side while occasionally firing at the ones that got too close.

I jumped over one that fell from the ceiling. It turned to face me teeth bared and gave chase. I frantically try to gain any speed knowing that if I fall behind, I will stand no chance. I started to grab anything form my bag I could use to aid in my escape. I pulled out a flare, lit it and tossed it behind me as I ran. I hoped since I was underground that they could not handle the light, sadly it was just lost in wave of black that enveloped the light like water absorbing a sand castle. I found finally find a frag grenade; I clutch it close to my chest.

‘Please do something, anything!’

I pulled the pin held it, 1…2…3…4, then threw it behind myself. It flew through the air; my last saving grace. As it hit the floor, bounced once, twice, then rolled. It started to be kicked around by the trampling monsters before it went off in a brilliant display. Shards tore through them like meteors in the night’s sky. At least ten fell because of how close they were in proximity to the blast.

I looked back only for a moment. They ran atop the bodies of their fallen. Though they lost so many, they pursued without hesitation. I started to lose hope that I would make it at all. Something inside me was telling me, ‘Just give up’ but I looked at the M9 and read it’s engraving along the length barrel;

‘Surviving is the glory of war.’

I took another look back as I continued to run with renewed vigor. They lost some distance on me but showed no signs of stopping. I turned back to face forward and I began to see the small glimpses of light coming from the tunnels’ exit. I surged with confidence as I rounded one of the bends and saw an opening of light. I popped up my NVGs and looked to my escape, squinting my eyes as they adjusted to the new light. The walls of the tunnel seemed old and crumbly as I entered the end of the path. The light enveloped me as I pulled one more grenade out from my bag. I kissed the side of it and pulled the pin. I threw it in the cave and jumped into the sunlight.

I fell to the ground with a sudden crash and the cave roared as the mouth fell into itself like a collapsing star. I got up laughing hysterically.

“I made it! I fucking made it!” my words slowly devolved into cheers, thank-you’s and just plain laughter.

I saw a road a ways in the distance through a not-so-dense spot it the trees. I set off towards it hoping to see something friendly for once.

I made it to the road and the pain in my legs is indescribable. My only thought was of hope, rescue, or just a place to rest. I saw a horse drawn carriage coming towards me just down the road. I waved my arms frantically to get its drivers attention but saw there is no one driving it. I tried to limp towards the carriage with all my strength, but my consciousness was starting to fade from the pain and fatigue. I fell to the ground. I took my ghillie mask off to catch any air I could. I tried to crawl towards the carriage. My vision faded as I reached my hand out and passed out…

Chapter 4 Peace

Author's note: So yeah more learning about his personalty and past. Also him getting a damn break.

We all did shit we were not proud of and tried to bury it, but sometimes it just says with you or becomes you.

Well more on that story as this one goes on...

The sun’s warm light bathed my face with its warmth. My eyes started to open little by little as birds chirped in the distance. My eyes finally opened to allow me a less restricted view on my surroundings. I saw that I was on the floor of a rather nicely furnished bedroom, laid across a mattress only barely breaking the six foot mark. I sat up to stretch my arms, and as I did so I felt a pain in my right shoulder. “Ow fuck.” I said as I rubbed my left hand against the feeling of fresh bandages.

I started to survey the room. I saw an electric lamp, a bookcase filled to the brim with medical texts ‘Well at least my heroes speak English’ and other humanoid made objects just smaller. ‘I am not in Kansas anymore.’ I continued to marvel at how small everything was. ‘Aww, five by three bed. How tiny are these people? At least they’re not the size of those super chickens.’ Then I saw my gear neatly laid on a chair. Ghillie suit draped over the back, just a large chunck of the forest in my eyes. My weapons and backpack set up against the right front leg of the chair.

As I looked at my gear, I noticed a piece of paper on the table next to my things. I stood up wobbly, as blood started to flow through my still-asleep legs. I started to walk over to the note in hopes of some answers. I made it to the table and began to read the note.

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I was worried when you were dropped off in front of my door by a passing carriage. I am sorry if I could not be there to see to you. I went to get medicine for Germaneigh. Please make yourself at home.

Best wishes,

Golden Heart

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‘German… eigh? Someone needs to spell check.’ I said while I put on my gear. I walked much better with the little movement that I got in. I thought about my next move hoping to have some spontaneous moment of genius and figure out where I was. Unfortunately I was interrupted by my growling stomach. ‘Well, I could stay a while.’ I proceeded out the door to a hallway leading to a flight of stairs going down a level. As I walked down the hallway, I saw many pictures along the walls. But they were strange, the pictures where of animals as though they lived the life shown.

The pictures told a story of a gray unicorn with brown hair with what looked like the Red Cross symbol of his side hind leg. ‘At this point, kind of used to the weird…’ They showed him at his earliest years, then at a small red school house, a graduation, pictures of another one I guessed to be female with them holding each other, him in front of a hospital, the couple from pictures passed with little ponies around them, them in the later years, and then finally the female one only a little older looking now and alone.

As I made it down to the bottom of the stairs I looked around the home. The home was a cozy ranch house with a large floor plan. The lamps and other appliances show they have some electricity here. ‘Their relationship with technology is schizophrenic at best.’ My stomach rumbled again. I headed off to what looked like a kitchen.

The floor was made up of laminated tiles and the walls covered in a comforting floral design. The cabinets were made of wood. I saw a small white fridge tucked away in the corner. I walked over to grab something to eat. I was well stocked with all types of vegan like food. There were eggs, but that was the extent of my savior’s carnivorous tendencies. I grabbed three eggs, a jug of milk and a stick of butter. I loaded everything into my arms then set it all on the counter next to a gas stove top.

I searched the wooden cabinets for a bowl, found many plates and something more. A cabinet full of all manner of bottles and cans of alcohol. ‘That… that’s just beautiful.’ I started to just grab any within reach and mind you it was only like five feet off the ground. I disregarded the ingredients to make that I set out and just walked into another room.

I plopped down onto a small couch that to me was more like a big love seat and kicked my feet up on the tiny coffee table in front of me. I began to drink… and drink… and drink. By the time I finished my arm-full of booze, I wasn’t even buzzed. It looked like a frat party had exploded. Bottles and cans lined the area around me like a fortress of alcoholism. ‘I must have reached some nirvana state of drinking… got to drink more just to be sure.’ I walked back into the kitchen. This time I took all the cans and bottles in the cabinet and tried my hardest to get thrashed…

After ten cans of beer, three bottles of ‘Apple Jack Daniels(?)’ and anything else I could stomach, I still really did not feel any different. But the house was now very much different. Its floor lined with the cans, bottles and other things I drank. The mess was just awful and I would have cleaned it up, but I found something more interesting. While I searched for the bathroom I happened on a locked door.

The door looked too enticing to pass up. I pulled my knife out and pressed it against the lock and hammered it once with my fist. The delightful noise of the tumbler breaking was accompanied by the door slowly opening inward. ‘Well at least that still works.’ I pushed the door in slowly and stepped in to see a study. Well it looked like a study. Shelves of full books lined its walls, a small wooden desk stood in the very middle, a window on the left that illuminated the room with a grandfather clock on the right. The desk had a lamp on it along with a blank sheet of paper and a quill next to some ink. But my eye was drawn more to a large parchment that hung behind the desk. I walked closer to see it better.

It was a map. It showed the Griffon Kingdoms ‘Well I am not going back there soon.’ Germaneigh and other random plays on location names from my world. ‘Did a five year old draw this? No… too neat. Damn is this place just a cruel joke on me?’ I took the map and folded it to put it in my bag.

I stepped over and looked through the window, was still light out. I looked at my watch and set it to the time on the grandfather clock ten a.m. I looked at the paper on the desk feeling bad about the fact I planned on leaving before they got back. I sat at the desk to write something down.

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Dear Umm… who ever

I am sorry about the door to your study. I will pay for that later. Drank all your booze too. I’m not too sorry because it was watered down or something, so it’s like I did you a favor. I cleaned up most of the mess I have made and left to go to the capital.

Hope you’re not mad,

Alex Litivnova

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With that out of the way, I head out the study and all the way back to the kitchen to start. Ok so I did a pretty half-assed cleanup effort but hey, I tried. After I gathered some of what I left all over the home, I stopped at the bathroom for a last pee break.

I entered the bathroom and it was like a horror story. I was a big guy like Ryan, only not as heavy but just as tall. The room was cramped. The toilet and bath were way smaller than I was used to. Thank god I did not have to shit, because I think I would have either clogged it or smashed it. I finished my pee break and headed back out the door. I walked a short ways and found myself before the way outside. I opened the door and set off again into the noontime sunlight.

***

I wandered down the road from the ranch home for a long while. I felt as if I had walked for miles. I checked my watch, only three o clock. I pressed down the lonesome road devoid of life. The road was utterly silent as I walked. My mind began to wonder into the memories of past, to pass the time.

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I wiped a tear from my left eye. Both of my eyes were tearing up. I had been staring intently out the side of an aircraft for more than an hour at the endless mountains and small valleys with even smaller villages within them. I did not stare at this less than hospitable landscape because I was sightseeing; it was my job and the jobs of at least eight other men.

I was into the second hour of a routine hunt flight. A helo-borne search-and-destroy operation. This was when a recon unit, or in my case a P.M.C. Wet-work team, would board a Blackhawk and, with cover from a Cobra Gunship, would conduct an aerial patrol over the unit’s area of responsibility. This was done to intercept enemy resupply transports, which included any pedestrian, pack animal or motorized traffic that was not using officially designated roads in the area or was out past curfew.

Or that was what was I told officially. Unofficially we really just did raids against any targets outside of U.S. jurisdiction. Towns, civilians, VIP exfil and assassinations were our area of responsibility. A long time ago, such a thing as a job would have repulsed me, but by now I knew I can do more from the shadows to win wars far more than under politicians. Got paid better too and that certainly helps.

The resupply Caravans usually had big payoffs for us in weapons and from higher ups. The variety of trophies was rather wide everything from rockets to rifles, RPGs to Italian anti-tank mines. Each successful hit meant several less rocket attacks, convoy ambushes and IED explosions, which meant less loss of U.S. and our own lives.

We saw a caravan 400 meters in the distance, usually they did not go into this zone because we had free fire orders, it was a two camel caravan with a five-man escort. The Cobra’s gun feint was as effective signal for them to stop. The escort started to run, they soon realized that could be misconstrued, so they stopped and raised their arms. The Blackhawk dropped us as an inspection group. Me and the team off within 50 meters distance of the caravan. The team consisted of two SAW gunners, our radioman armed with an AKS 74 with Gp-25 underbarrel grenade launcher, a squad interpreter armed with an M4 and myself with my trusty SVD that, at this range, was more like a battle rifle than a sniper rifle.

The Cobras continued to hover around us to provide cover as needed. The interpreter was first to make contact with the escort. He yelled for them to get on their knees in Arabic. They reluctantly obeyed by dropping to the ground and putting their hands behind their heads.

The interpreter began to search the contents of one of the camel’s packs. I stared at the escort through the sights of my gun never taking a chance. I lost too many people to take any chances. They looked to be about in their thirties all of them. None of them however were wearing any weapons or ammo, not even a knife between them. The interpreter and squad leader spoke out against the wind blowing gently across the sands in the background.

“We have ourselves a couple of Muj there.” He smirked while pulling what had to be a relic and not a weapon; he pulled out a Lee Enfield and then some RPG rockets.

“Looks like a couple of sympathizers to me. And we do have our orders.” He said as he raised his M4 to the back of the head of one of the escorts with one hand so causally.

All the men were now pleading, begging and trying to get him to stop. But it was in vain. We had our orders, so he simply replied in a cold voice.

“Line up.” Once again in Arabic.

They stood up shaking with fear and adrenaline. They were herded over to the right side facing towards their begotten cargo by the two SAW gunners…

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I looked up at the sky. It was gonna be dark soon, so I better settle in for the night. I had covered a good amount of distance in a few-hour’s walk. I looked about the side of the road and saw an abandoned campsite. The fire was dying down yet still looked so inviting. I walked over to it. I proceeded to grab some brush and sticks from the trees around me to feed the flames, but noticed a newspaper on the ground near a small log. Headline read like something I never thought would’ve happened, even in fairy tale land.

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Newly found creature saves town!

A strange creature armed with stranger weapons has saved Ponyville. He defended the town from an onslaught of Changelings, after he killed roughly thirty of the creatures in an in suing battle. A local guardsman had this to say, “If it were not for Ryan we might all not be here right now.” As reports flood in many say that this Ryan was armed with a strange device that made a tremendous noise as it fired.

*************************************************************************************

A picture from the battle is posted below.

The picture was of Ryan? He was wearing a black suit with the symbol of a M1911 firing over hundreds of shell casings emblazed on it. He stood there with a G36c he one handed pointing into the face of one of those black creatures I ran into in the underground. It was him, it had to be him.

As I placed more wood onto the now lively fire, I was consumed by the thought I may have something in this strange place from home. ‘Even if he looks different now.’ I would have pressed on forward to try to find him, but that was a task for tomorrow.

I had let the fire die down. I laid down a makeshift bed from things in my bag. I lied there tossing and turning, but eventually stopped. I dreamed smiling at the thoughts of seeing him or anyone else again. I soon fell fast asleep beside the glow of the dying flames.

Chapter 5 Lonesome

Author’s note: Well umm yeah did not think anyone really was going to read this… so damn got to make more.

Also I use his flash backs and memories as fade to black because it’s just much more entertaining right?

I was stirred from my sleep by the sounds of birds chirping in the misty forest around me. I rose from the ground to stretch my legs a little and gather up my makeshift bed. After eating a can of some kind of fruit I liberated from the home I stayed in yesterday, I readied myself for the long trek south towards Equestria and Ponyville. I knew I would just have to go south to find those places; the problem was how far I’d have to go…

I looked down a long and somber road. I was miles from any sign of life, except the birds hopefully not in league with the Griffons. I started down the road and walked for about an hour before boredom kicked in. I always hated down-time. War was my element, my curse and my joy. I hated down-time because I always got all ‘soul search-y’ remembering the great operations and the ones best left buried. As I walked the path I receded back into the depths of my mind to either entertain or horrify myself.

The two SAW gunners moved to follow the squad leader’s orders. All five escorts of the caravan were lined up. Some praying to their respective gods while others just stood quietly with fear awaiting their fate. Then the burst of machined death that broke the calm of the wind around me rang out as the gunners opened fire. The squad leader’s eyes looked over the dead causally as he gave another order.

“You all know the drill. Burn the bodies and gear.” He said with a voice of indifference.

I knew what I needed to do. I took two charges of C4 from my kit and placed them on the weapons the now-dead camels were carrying as the two gunners grabbed some gas from the helicopter. I set both timers to give us time to leave without seeing the mess. Both gunners now finished with dowsing the piled up bodies in gasoline and lined up with me awaiting orders from the lead. I grabbed a cigarette from a fresh pack in my front pocket, and a lighter from the another pocket. The lead spoke again.

“Another day, another tally.” He grabbed the lighter from my hand.

He then flicked it open, flame almost in my face. “Live a little longer.” Then threw it on to the pile of the dead setting it ablaze.

I reacted brashly still with a cigarette in my mouth, “Scott. Seriously. Fuck you.”

He just laughed at my comment replying only with, “Alex, when are you going to learn to have fun.”

“Go to hell.” I replied with as I went back to the chopper.

“See you there.” He said as he waved the rest of our team back to the chopper.

I sat across from him in the all black interior of the Blackhawk. We lifted off the ground about 100 meters and headed off back to base. I glared at Scott in utter distain. I hated the fucker. I would have killed him, if the Board of Directors did not in deem him the ‘right choice’ to lead this team. As we neared home base the radio in the cockpit came to life with chatter.

“Echo Five this is Command, copy.” The radio bellowed.

“This is Echo Five, copy loud and clear.” The pilot said.

“I have new orders for your cargo.”

The pilot turned his head and yelled back at us, “Phone for you.”

Scott grabbed a radio receiver from one of the panels overlooking our seats and began to listen.

Scott was the one who the people upstairs always talked to first. He was the one who made sure we were never there, in and out, no traces. Sure, I killed people, but that sadistic asshole would do it just for fun. Women, children, anything with a pulse were not against his rules of engagement. Maybe that’s why he was the lead… and why shit like that was common around him.

I could see where this was going. I began to check my weapons and ammo. The rest of the team followed suit. Scott ordered us to check comms. I checked my ear piece and awaited orders. He then gave us our PDAs.

The PDAs came to life with the voice of someone from the senior staff. The map on screen showed a small outlining farm on the outskirts of what barley could be called a village. The debriefing began.

“Whiskey, you are the element we are sending in to extract a downed U.S. pilot named John Michel.” Said a voice over the speakers of the PDAs.

John? I knew John. I served with him for my first tour. Hell, I did not just know him I went to high school with him. I met his wife Janet, his two kids Gabe and Kelly, and even stayed at his home for a while when I was down on my luck. To find he was the VIP we were sent to conduct an exfiltration on was difficult for me. Sure, it mattered that I got the job done, but I never had a job be as personal as this. I had to make sure this did not go south… or else he would not go home.

“You will be dropped north of the village. This is a daylight raid people. The clock is ticking, a sand storm is due to hit the area in about an hour. So keep it quick and quiet.”

“Any air support?” Scott asked.

“Negative. You are the only bird in the area, and your only support.”

Scott had begun to twist on a silencer. I did the same as well as our radioman. I could not take the SVD for this kind of engagement so I took the MP7 from the cockpit, the pilot did not seem to care. The two SAW gunners bumped fists. The one on the right replied to the scene with only.

“Sweet air support. We got you little girls from up here.”

The other one chimed in laughing, “Give us a good show!”

Scott merely looked at me and the radioman. He started to speak as we reached the insertion point.

“Ok, we have a daylight raid so we have to keep this low profile. Sounds and heads low.”

We were dropped in at five p.m. on the dot. We stood just a short hike away from the village and even farther away from our objective, John. The mission was time sensitive but we could not risk spooking the insurgents and blow our rescue. We had to hoof it in. The sand around us was kicked up by a rather strong gust of wind as we walked towards the village. Scott murmured

“Let’s get this over quick. The sand storm is coming in faster than I’m comfortable with.”

Scott, the radioman and I all dress in the civilian clothes native to the area. We have our weapons and faces concealed under robes and face wraps. We finally entered the village after crossing the insufferable sands. The village was quiet, calm and serene. Its streets lined with a few cars, a small amount of people talking amongst themselves and the tiny shops that littered the streets. Its buildings were either brick and mortar or just the same color as the sands with alleyways on the right side.

I scanned the roof tops with my eyes and felt out of my element. Normally, I would be up there not here on ground the target of a lucky pot shot. I had extensive training in CQC and fast assault breaching skills. But I always preferred staying away from an open fire fight.

As we walked onto the village’s main road the town’s people one by one began to disappear behind closed doors and windows. I looked about the once-inhabited street. It began to empty out into a kill zone.

“Fuck me. This is why I stay far the fuck away from you.” I said in a barely-contained rage.

“Quit your bitching.” Scott remarked back at me.

“Shh, guys I think I saw some kind of light up there on that roof.” The radioman pointed at a three story building in front of us maybe a hundred meters away.

The building really had no special markings or look about it. My eyes ran along the length of the two story building and stopped at the sight of some kind of glare. A chill ran down my spine as I yelled out.

“Sniper!” My voice cracked with fear.

As if waiting to be named, a shot rang out. The noise was so distinctive of a 7.62x55R mm Russian, the standard SVD round. I did not need the noise to tell me what was fired, because I could already see the carnage as the round tore through the radioman’s chest leaving a gaping exit wound. It dropped him dead still clasping at his wound no more than five meters in front of me.

The adrenaline kicked in as I ran off the street into an alleyway on the right jumping over a wooden crate. Scott stayed on the road taking cover behind a white parked car. Various calibers of bullets punched into the car and the ground around it. A few insurgents came out of some of the buildings overlooking the street shooting at him.

I ran through the alleyway jumping over tipped over trash cans and other rubble as I pulled the MP7 from its hiding place. A door opened in front of me just eight meters away. I slammed into the door knocking the man behind it down to the ground. I then fired eight rounds through the door into him leaving him dead. I then set back off in a sprint to circle around to the snipers position.

The sound of a raging battle was still heard from the street to my left. I made it to the door of the building the sniper was using at his hunting post. I heard him pop off a few more shots, the shell casings raining down on top of me.

I set up in front of the door. “Three… Two… One…” I kick the door open to see nothing out of the ordinary, just chairs and a table set for dinner. I cautiously approached the stairs leading to the floors above. I kept the MP7 at eye level as I went up the stairs, its silencer leading my way. The second floor was very dark al the curtains close leaving the area in a darkened haze. I check all corners along the length of the second floor; the roof top was all that was left.

I stopped at the door leading to the roof and listened for the sound of the sniper firing… nothing well at least nothing from him. The street still rang with Scott’s desperate fight against the insurgents. ‘Must be reloading.’ I kicked open the door. The sun’s bright light burned my eyes as I went through the threshold of the doorway.

As I stepped out into the open air of the roof top I yelled. “Where’s your god now motherfucker… where did you go?”

The sky now growing darker with the coming storm was all I met up there or so I thought…

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I trekked down the winding road for a couple of hours. I was starting to wonder if wandering towards this Equestria place was a good idea. Maybe I am gonna be wanted there as well. I thought back to the Griffon’s. Why the hell did they want to capture me anyways? I didn’t look too appetizing or anything.

“Speak of the devils…” My voice faded into silence.

I saw a large group of the super chickens headed by none either than Gilda. ‘Damn she’s going to be a bigger pain in my ass than a knife-happy ex.’ I went prone and rolled off to the side and into a ditch. She led them with eyes full of a bestial rage, not the once pale blue I remember from our first in counter. ‘Seems she learned to keep herself some with a few meat shields.’ I count off twelve enemies not including her.

I knew at this point that, I would be hunted down like a dog… well two can play at that game. I understood war like this, they clearly did not, otherwise I would’ve been in their claws a while ago. I understood how dangerous this new land was now. Candy land had its share of bad guys. Sure there were no snipers, mines or tanks, but something even worse like those creatures in the tunnels. As they passed above I heard her speak to her subordinates.

“Fan out find this human and bring him to me.” Gilda said with authority showing in here voice.

‘Bad call, numbers where your only chance.” I looked at her through the SVD’s scope.

“But Sargent Gilda, orders where to kill the human and bring his belongings back to the kingdom.” A griffon soldier asked with a bit of fear permeating his voice.

‘I like her plan more, even if it is a little clingy.’

Her eyes looked like pools of fire as she responded to the soldier, “I don’t care what the Captain said! You bring him to me first, alive.”

The soldier shook in his boots… hmm… claws as he followed his orders and flew off with the rest of the team supporting her in all different directions. My eye followed her through my scope for a while. She now wore armor similar to that officer-looking one from their last attempt to re-capture me. It was plate mail with black base and golden trim. She wore a helmet with red fabric going down its back.

She ordered a few more from her group to search for me down the road ahead. She now flew with two in tow. They proceeded flew in a pattern in the sky above as if they were vultures on the scent of death. I slowly crawled in my prone position deeper into the forest, this time not giving myself away to them.

This time I had a plan…

Chapter 6 Hunting

Author’s note: “Tree cancer”: Noun, Nickname given to rookie training snipers who fail to remember that grass does not grow on trees. Ever see a pile of grass on one side of a tree? No? That’s why I put it up.

Think ‘tumor’ but at the base of a tree. Just for future reference for non-snipers.

Also sorry to any people of faith angered in this post… shit got real.

“’And there were no survivors.’ I hope they write that in the paper for this one.” I remarked as I went over the plan in my head.

I have been stuck in these kinds of shitty situations before… except for the whole ‘talking animal’ part. I knew what to expect. Enemy numbers? Guess and expect more. Unit patterns and loadouts? Nothing beats observation. Terrain? My field. All that was left was to get some intel on their force’s numbers, possible reinforcements and if they have a camp nearby.

Normally I would have a satellite uplink showing me real time imagery of my operational zone. Sadly I didn’t have that luxury… Oh well, I love a challenge. I stalked one of the two-man griffon search teams. I knew if some go missing they would pull more forces to search for them. I continued to follow them as they flew amongst the trees. Two soldiers armed with light plate mail that had no real identifying qualities and spears. As they flew lazily the lack of discipline showed. They barely gave a cursory glance at the area with their eyes.

“Too easy…” I whispered to myself while still in pursuit.

The two soldiers that I followed stopped for a moment. I went prone away from the trees around me so I did not look like ‘tree cancer’. I listened closely but the wind started to kick up. A storm was coming in perfect cover to mask my shots.

As the first crack of thunder rang out I saw the two griffons shudder then land on to the ground.

‘Well that makes this even easier.’ Since they landed on the ground I was now open to CQC. I wondered how long this storm could last. I laid a mere 40 meters away from them. My rifle trained on the one walking behind the lead. As I looked through the scope the flash of lightning illumined my targets.

“Should have stayed home…” I fired the SVD while thunder cracked around me.

The round tore through the side of soldier’s helmet. It did nothing to stop the 7.62mm round. He fell to the ground motionless and quiet. The soldier in front of him did not seem to notice and continued walking.

I lined up the crosshairs over the second soldier still walking unaware of his coming doom. As the next flash of lightning came he began to turn around. His mouth in slow motion through my scope began to mouth the words. ‘You… still… here…?’

Just as he turned around fully to see his comrade dead, thunder broke the silence. As he opened his mouth for the last time to scream I fired a round. It left a gnarled wound as it passed through his neck. Blood spurted from the wound as he choked on his last words. I ran over to him like a hunter to inspect his kill.

As I made my way to him, his eyes followed me with fear and contempt. Once I reached him he tried to speak but nothing sounding like words could be heard. I said to him in a cold voice,

“Now stay quiet.” His eyes looked as if he was about to fade into the Nether.

I spoke once more knowing this was going to be the last thing he will ever hear, “I going have a talk with your boss lady.” I said while loading new rounds into my rifle.

As his eyes slowly lost any light of consciousness, I dragged him and his friend out from the clearing they landed in and dumped them under some shrubbery. I took off again into the forest staying off paths and out of clearings as I looked for more of the prey. My mind raced with thoughts of other kills as I slowly traversed the forest like the shadow of death its self.

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As I burst through the door to the roof I had my weapon drawn and pointed forward. The light of the sun was slowly consumed over by the coming sandstorm. I hear the slightest step as I was being charged by the sniper I designated as my prey.

He lunged at my chest with a soviet-era looking blade in his hand. I blocked with my MP7 using it to deflect the blade’s advance. He dislodged the weapon from my hands with a punch and I fell to the ground. I began to crawl away from him. Thoughts of death permeated my mind. He began to run his blade against the door as he approached speaking broken English.

“You die infidel.” He said as he grabbed my leg and pulled me back.

As he pulled I was dragged over a piece of rubble a bit jagged and the size of a small rock. He flipped me over on to my back as I slipped the rubble into my right hand. He stood over me with a ski mask. His eyes were a dark hazel color. He raised the knife to my throat. I said some words in hopes of turning the tides.

“Infidel this!” I screamed as I slammed the rock sized piece of rubble against his hand knocking the blade from it.

I surged up tackling him in the stomach knocking him back. As he was pushed back he repeatedly elbowed me in my back. I ignored the pain knowing even if I gave up him wouldn’t. We both slammed through the wooden door I had entered from. Shards of wood and splinters followed us both as we fell down the flight of stairs.

As we tumbled down to the eventual stop we went blow for blow; punches to the face, body and arms. We both hit the floor hard, I felt as if I broke a rib. He rose up first. I jumped up to my feet yelling.

“Come on bitch! I am going to send you to your bullshit god.”

I charged at him. The world was gone to me, lost in adrenaline and self-preservation. It was me or him as I rammed into him knocking him onto a table. With his back to the table he frantically grasped around for anything to use against me. He grabbed a bottle and swung at me. I blocked it with my left arm. The glass shattered as it hit me. Shards drove deep into my arm as I yelled in pain.

I punched him in the face once… twice… three times. I would have punched forever lost in the primal rage that has allowed our species to become dominant. But he found another bottle from the table and slammed it against my head. The pain I felt was immense. It felt like going ten rounds with Mike Tyson and then getting skull fucked by Ron Jeremy.

I dropped to the ground onto my knees as he got off the table and kicked me in the chest. He started running for the stairs leading back up to the roof. I knew if he made it I was a dead man. I ran after him up the stairs stepping over splintered wood. The sunlight that shown through the hole that used to be a door was briefly blocked out by his silhouette darting left.

As I again crossed the threshold of the doorway leading out onto the roof I made a sharp right. The now darker sky was accompanied by a harsh wind. I could see that he made it to his rifle so I rushed him with reckless abandon. He was only just picking the rifle up as he turned to see me charging.

He levels the rifle at me and fired. In my state, I could barely tell as I bashed the rifle from his hands with my fists. I grabbed him by the mask tearing it from his face. His young tan face showed an expression of horror as if I was a bloodthirsty hound of war.

And maybe at that moment… I was…

I then grabbed him by the collar and placed my free hand onto his shirt. I lifted him off the ground with my arms and slam him atop the railing of the roof. His face showed utter terror as he spoke again in broken English.

“Please no…” his voice cracked.

“Eat a dick.” I said plainly as I flipped him over the railing to his death.

I stared as he fell. His eyes looked back up at me locked in the moment. In his last moments he stared into my eyes and I his… all I could do was smile when he hit the ground.

I could still hear the sound of Scott’s battle with the insurgents. I turned to the SVD picking it up to check the mag. It had three rounds in it. I posted up where that former sniper was. I loaded the mag back into the gun in a single fluid motion. I scanned the ground level with its scope. Four targets varying distances.

“Where’s your god now!” I shouted as I fired the first shot.

It tore into the spine and chest cavity of the one farthest to the left. I dropped him dead in a pool of his own blood. I leveled the sight on the next one in the line. I fired another round. This one plastered the poor sod’s brains all over a wall. I searched for the last two seeing them now pinned by Scott’s counter assault.

He advanced forward inhumanly, showing no fear as he let loose with bursts from his M4. The two cowering behind the car seemed to be talking. Both faced each other. They looked like they could be brothers or father and son. I leveled the rifle at the one on the right.

The one on the right looked afraid and put his weapon down. The one on the left started to yell; probably at the sight of this family member’s surrender. I spoke out against the torrent of Scott’s gunfire.

“You’ve made your choice.” I said as I fired a round aimed at the one on the right’s head.

The round tore into his face leaving it looking as though it had been put through a meat grinder. Blood, bone and brain showered the one on the right. He fell backwards onto the ground. Covered in another man’s blood he looked at his hands dropping his weapon. Scott now made it around the car I followed him with the scope. He turned around the side of the car they had used as a tactical hiding spot.

He then let his weapon down. He held it with one arm pointing to the ground. He slowly walked towards the man that was covered in blood. I placed my hand on the earpiece to ask him what the hell he was doing. But his voice beat mine.

“Well, well, well looks like he had a change of heart.” his voice was cheery.

The man he spoke to just stayed on the ground fixated on his hands.

“What, are you deaf now?” he said as he grabbed the man by his blood stained shirt.

“Fuck it. I wanted this to be a bit spiritual but I guess I can send you to your god with these words:” Scott said as he raised his M4 to the man’s face.

The man looked up at Scott, his eyes were blank as if he were already dead.

“You made the wrong choice.”

A shot rang out echoing into the distance…

*************************************************************************************

I happened across another squad, this time with five in the group. The rain had been falling harshly for almost an hour. The light of their lanterns was what allowed me to see them through the storm. They looked to be gathering themselves up to head out to their camp. I knew this was my time to find their leader again.

I followed from a safe distance. I stalked them like a shadow follows you in the sun. I followed them to the point where I lost them in a mass of tents and other temporary structures. I had to wait for them to send out search teams for the two left behind. Then I will strike at their heart…

As I waited, my mind again fell into its old habits recounting tales best left buried.

*************************************************************************************

The echo of the shot was now being muffled by the sandstorm. It was not yet here in force but the sand started to sting like razors against any exposed flesh. Scott’s voice broke out from the howling wind;

“Fuck running on Zulu time! We do this shit my way!”

I respond back with, “Orders…”

“Orders? You know this went tits up right?” He replied back with his jovial asshole sarcasm.

“Yes mother fucker, but we still have a mission.” I yelled as I ran down the flight of stairs and out the front door of the building I shot from.

As I raced over to Scott I was greeted with the sight of him looting the corpse of the man he killed in cold blood. He turned and looked me right in the eyes.

“We are going to get him out. The mission stands even if we’re a man down.” Scott pulls two grenades from his vest out from under his robes. He handed them to me.

“You know what you’ve got to do, right?” He said as he turned to the car opening the door with the keys he found.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Save one for yourself. Use the other on the dead.” He stepped into the car and turned on the engine.

I ran over to the site off the radioman’s body. I knew we could not leave a trace like this. I knew orders where to leave nothing. So I pulled the pin holding it one… two… three… four… I tossed it on to the body. I ran back to the car Scott commandeered not looking back at the body as the sound was confirmation that the deed was done.

I hopped into the passenger’s seat and we set off towards John. I murmured to myself as we drove and the sand was kicking up more and more.

“I’m bringing you home.”

Chapter 7 New face

Author’s note: Does anyone read these? If you do than sorry I rant.

Blue Angels are a trick flying group made up of U.S. Air Force pilots.

On an unrelated note: Who doesn’t like deadly women come on…

Umm yeah saw fit to see if I could… work in a weird angle with this one sorry just wanted to see if I could go anywhere. Also I am sorry for any weird boners from this one. Shit got weird…

Ok back on with the show we go.

As we rode out to the farmhouse, the sandstorm enveloped the sky and world around us. The car bounced and jumped from the lack of any kind of paved road. Its windows were being sand blasted by the storm, while my eyes were locked on to the PDA as its light illuminated my face while I stared at the map. It was our only guide through this shit storm.

We went off-road to cover more ground in shorter time. As we reached the farmhouse the storm came on full force the sand destroyed any visage of sight. We had run the clock too long; the helicopter could not land here, we were alone.

We parked the car fairly close to a two story building. I could not make out any other attributes because of the storm. The car engine’s roared, muffled by the howling wind and the scything sand. We step out into the open air and moved up to the farmhouse. Time seemed to sit at a standstill. I formed up on the door, me on the right, Scott on the left. Scott kicked the door in as I started the breach. As I went through the threshold of the door, I saw three men all around a table eating. They all rose from their table as I opened fire, the rounds tearing through them like Paper-mâché. Their clothes stained with their own blood. The rounds plastered the wall behind them, leaving fist sized holes. Scott took the left flank, taking out two with his M4, leaving them stuck up against the wall, painting it in their blood.

We stacked up at the stairs leading to the next floor. I rushed up, sand and dust falling from me as I ran. I reached the top, scanning the area as I saw three doors; two on the sides and one at the end of a hallway. I posted up on the left side, Scott the right. We opened the doors in unison, looking throughout the two bed rooms. We find no sign of John, just the bedding of some of his captors. We looked down the hallway at the last door to be opened. He had to be in there. Unless intel dropped the ball he had to be behind that door. I called out to Scott over the earpiece.

“Last door, I take right, you take left?” I asked with excitement in my voice.

“Just don’t fuck it up.” He said as he posted up left of the door, ready to kick it in.

I posted right. My heartbeat grew erratic as I pressed up against the wall and began to count.

One… Two… Three…

Scott kicked it down. I charged in…

***********************************************************************************

They are finally leaving. Now it’s time to find the head bitch bird. As I approached, they all scrambled around the camp. I noticed there had to be at least fifty armed combatants. The rain was still falling hard. They began to leave the camp in large groups.

‘Maybe they lost more in the storm?’

I looked around for a viable sniper position. I needed to get some visuals on the target on camps interior. I found my way to a small hill with little tree cover.

‘Not really an issue now since they are as grounded as I am for now.’

I looked about the camp with the variable zoom of my SVD’s scope. I saw a few guards on patrol with lit lanterns, some other guards asleep in a few of the tents. I counted only about thirteen griffon guards.

“Expect more.” I whispered to myself as I continued to search the camp for Chicken wing.

There were a few more tents in the far back. One looked to be some sort of a medical tent, another to be a large mess hall tent. As I looked some more along the very center of the camp, I saw Gilda speaking in front of some kind of ornate red command tent. The large tent’s red color stood out against the sea of white.

“There you are Chicken wing.” I whispered to myself as I trained the cross hair over her head.

I stopped breathing, just holding it in to steady the shot. I began to tighten my finger against the trigger.

Three guards bolted out in front of her obscuring my shot. I let my finger off the trigger, swearing loudly in my mind. Gilda dismissed the guards with a hand gesture then stepped into the command tent.

It was late, so this was as good a time as any to try to sneak in.

I got up from my post, receded back into the forest blending in, becoming just another blade of grass or moss covered rock. I set myself to enter the camp from the behind, where the mess and medical tents were. I checked my bag, not much left. Got to use this sparingly.

I approached the medical tent, no one was in there except what I assumed was the field surgeon. I saw him asleep at the head of a desk unarmored. I did not want to leave any bodies here until I at least got my target. But taking him out would cause them to be slowed down even more. With no leader or support, I could leave them all here for days, maybe even weeks.

I crept into the tent quietly, as to not disturb his slumber. I really did not want to kill him. In my book, he was a noncombatant. I needed to leave them as far in the shit as possible, just so I can get breathing room to make it to Equestria, Were hopefully there are more peaceful people there.

I crept up behind him, realizing that I couldn’t make a mess. The knife was out. I had to use my hands. I quickly grabbed him into a head lock cutting off any air to his lungs. He kicked, thrashed and tried with all his might to get free. His wings fluttered wildly but then their strength started to fade, as he slowly lost consciousness. I held him like that for another minute, just to be sure and then slowly laid him on the floor. Thunder cracked out against the silence of his death. I picked up the body and laid him on one of the makeshift beds in the tent. I turned him facing away from the outside. Then I set off to find my real problem.

As I crouched near a few tents to get a better handle on my position, I heard the sounds of an interrogation. A few hits would sound off like someone beating a person. Then a gruff voice relatedly asked,

“The location of the human, now!”

This was followed by a crying female voice, pleading with only;

“I don’t know!”

I posted up, ready to enter the room. I could not bear the thought of any civilians being harmed because of me. I readied myself for entry. I just hoped I could save her before she took any real damage. I entered the tent that the horrid noise came from.

The sight was as strange as it was sad. A griffon was beating a small candy colored horse with a baton. The horse cried with pain after each blow. She looked to be the one from the pictures in the house I woke up in a day ago. Her fur was a candy coat of light green and her mane was a green with darker highlights.

‘Fuck, this is my fault.’

The griffon began to stop and then started to speak.

“This is justice, tell us where he is!” The griffon raised his baton for another blow.

I stopped him. Grabbing him from behind. I had him in a head lock, tightening my grip as I spoke.

“Justice isn’t blind... it’s behind you…”

I in a quick motion began to twist. He struggled fiercely, trying to pull himself from my grasp, but his efforts were futile. The sickening sound of the vertebrae snapping in his neck was accompanied by him jerking around a little, before finally going limp. I dropped him onto the ground as the thunder broke, then silence once more. I looked at the teary eyed horse creature sitting on the ground. I knelt down in front of her trying to seem like I posed no threat to her. I stuck out my hand. She just began to back away while on still the ground. I spoke softly,

“Come on. You can’t stay here. I’ll get you out of here.” I said while extending my hand towards her.

“No, no, this is your fault I should have never helped you.” She said still backing away and trembling with tears running down her cheeks.

“I-I’m sorry… I did not want any of this…” I said with genuine sadness in my voice.

“You’re a monster just like them. That’s why they want you!” She said in a voice growing louder.

“Shut the fuck up…” I said with anger in my voice but still trying to hold back yelling. “What? Do you want to die? Then just keep on yellin’.” I said. “Please, I just want you safe.” I stuck out my hand to wipe some of the tears from her face.

She shuddered, but this time she did not back away. She just sobbed some more quietly. I asked her a few questions to get her mind off this ordeal.

“What’s your name?”

“Golden Heart...”

“That’s a lovely name. Do you have any family?” I asked trying to convey a sense of safety with my tone.

“Some in Germaneigh...” She said, her crying subsided.

“OK good. I will take you to them. Can you walk?” I asked, while moving the body of the griffon behind some boxes in the tent.

“Yes, a little. But my leg hurts. I’m not sure if I could make it that far.” She said, much calmer now.

“It’s OK, I can carry you out of here.” I said, kneeling down to let her on my back.

She climbed up, her body was not heavy. I set her on my back so that I could still walk and crouch, but really had no use of my arms because I had to hold her up. I was about to leave the tent when I heard the noise of a griffon coming closer. I scrambled to hide in the shadows. I hoped they could conceal a six foot tall man, made of grass and the candy colored horse on my back. Not my best plan, but I just hoped luck was on my side.

The griffon entered the tent, his eyes were a sleepy shade of blue. He yawned, then called out,

“Thunder, you in here?”

“…” Nothing spoke, save the rain outside.

“Guess not...” The thunder of the storm cracked outside. Golden Heart shuddered.

The griffon turned around and headed out side. My eyes were sharp with adrenaline and determination. I waited for a moment, then came out from the shadows. I peered around the way out of the tent.

“Clear...”

I began to sneak around with Golden Heart still on my back. I should have left her… but I couldn’t. I am not going to have anyone else die because of my poor judgment. I had to get her out of here. I saw the lights of two lanterns slowly approaching. I hid behind some boxes. I set her down to give my back a break. She and I waited as the slowly came by, then passed. I checked my handgun.

I cocked it, kept it in my right hand, while I arranged Golden Heart back atop of my backpack. I used my left arm to hold her now, not as stable, but now my right arm is free to defend us if need be. I headed out the back of the camp, by the medical tent. She saw the griffon I killed, lying on the bed as we passed. She asked the question I did not want to hear.

“Is he dead?” She asked.

I did not want to frighten her any more than she already had been. The griffon wore no armor and no sign of being a hostile. I could not tell her I killed a medic in cold blood. So I lied.

“No, just asleep.” I said in a quiet voice.

“Good.” She said as she held on tighter.

We made it out of that mine field, but into another. Now with two prisoners gone, they would hunt us down like dogs and she would just slow me down. As I rounded off the side of the hill I first took a look at the camp from. I knew I would have to end this here and now. The rain seemed to grow stronger with every passing hour. Thunder clapped as I spoke to Golden Heart.

“I need you to hide here ok?” I asked, putting her down near a hollowed out log.

“Why!? I thought we were leaving!?” Her voice, strained with exasperation.

“We are, I just need to make sure they don’t follow us for the way to Germaneigh. Ok? Don’t worry if you hide in there. They won’t find you, just wait for me here.” I said pushing her towards the log.

“I don’t want to stay here another second!” She slammed her hoof down.

I could not leave. I had to make sure this camp was leaderless, and that’s what stops armies. But I knew I had to explain this in a more sensitive why.

“Look, I just want you to be safe. I am going to stop them from being able to follow us.” I said finally able to shove her into the log for cover.

“I am leaving this rifle with you. It’s very important to me. I am leaving it with you so you know I will come back.” I said as I put the SVD into the log with her.

“What are you going to do?” She asked.

“Cut the head off the snake...” I said as I set off again into the camp, checking my M9.

This time I had to leave a lot of them on the ground. I could not have a full force empty their numbers against me; I would be overrun in seconds. I crept past the medical tent with my knife in my left and M9 in the right. I saw no one, so continued on towards the center to Gilda.

I was on the right side of a row of tents. I turned at bend to see to guards standing at a crossroad. I crouch-ran over to the other row, the guards did not seem to notice. I sneaked by them again, to cross the makeshift cross roads. I now passed where I had meet Golden Heart. I was on the right track now. Thunder cracked again. I made my way pass a few more tents, as I heard the noise of two guards running, their splashes giving them away. I hid in one of the many tents. They began to search for someone. I heard one of them speak.

“I can’t find Thunder anywhere.”

“He’s got to be here somewhere.”

I froze up next to the entrance to the tent. There was no cover here, just a bedroll. I got ready, with the M9 aimed at head level to stop anything that came in. But I had to adjust still not used to my foes height. As they entered the tent, a flash of lighting follow through the opening.

I fired, as thunder clapped ever louder outside killing one instantly. The one I shot began to fall forward as his friend turned at the sight of his friend’s death to look at me. I surged forward with my blade drawn and drove it deep into the throat of the griffon. They both fell to the ground in a pool of blood. I kicked them over to the side. The once white tent now had a red splatter print around a small hole in its side. I can’t hide this, so I got ready to expect more issues with my plan.

Thunder broke as I rounded the corner to see if anything was there. I saw nothing, so I proceeded forward, ever closer to my goal. The rain still fell harshly around me as I crept along, reaching the red command tent. Never knew why officers had to distinguish themselves so much from common troops, but it just made my job easier.

I entered her tent with weapon drawn. I saw her back turned to me while she was reading something over. I walked forward, silently studying her form to see if she knew I was there. Her feathered body showed no signs of anticipation of an attack. From this angle, she kind of reminded me of a girl I used to date on and off but that bitch was deadlier than me. Hell, she almost killed me. I raised my M9 to level it off, aimed for her head. She turned around.

Her eyes were a soft shade of blue. But at the sight of me, they changed to looked as if she would set me on fire with her mind. I laugh nervously. I may have the gun but the daggers she stared at me cut into my soul.

‘Damn, how can someone be soooo pissed off?’

I took off the ghille’s hood and spoke to ask her some questions.

“What the fuck is your deal, just leave me alone and I would not have to bury you assholes.”

“No...I am going to bury you. You think you can beat me? I caught you before and I will do it again.” Her voice expressed utter hatred towards me.

“Well Chicken wing, I guess this is good bye…” I began to pull the trigger as thunder broke.

But she had other plans. She quickly swiped a small blade from her slick black armor. I dodge rolled the blade it, practically giving me a crew cut as it ran through my hair. I yelled as I raised the weapon to meet her again.

“Nice try-OH SHIT!”

She charged into me with claws bared. I tried to fire, but she knocked the gun from my grasp. As I fell onto the ground, I pulled her down. Our faces almost touched. I felt something I could not explain. I wanted her dead… or more?

“We meet again, m’lady.” I said sarcastically as I threw a punch aimed for her throat.

She blocked it and swiped her claw across my face. She got me good, cutting three deep wounds into my face, just under the eyes. I got her hard in the side with a knee. She got knocked off balance for a moment. I turned around on the ground trying to crawl over to my M9. I grabbed it with my left arm. I rejoiced for a moment, only to feel her claw around my leg pulling me back.

She flipped me over onto my back and held my arms down. Her face bore the scar of the round I meant for her, but her good leader took instead. She had her face low. With both my arms pinned, I began to kick my legs. She gave me no chance to escape. She laughed her voice sweet like honey.

“Aww… beat you already. I can’t believe that you thought you could win.” Her face was so close, beckoning me.

I head-butted her, she took the hit and lifted her right arm to retaliate. She raised her right arm up straightening her claw like a row of bayonets aimed right at my head.

“You can’t beat me! I am the best around!” She said.

“Not the face!” I yelled.

I squirmed under her grasp, dodging her first attempt. She reacted quickly, readying her arm now aimed for my chest. I swung my right fist a hard-right to her side. She doubled over a little in pain. I threw her off me. I swung my M9 to meet her face. Her eyes showed no fear and were as inviting as a cozy fire.

She ran her claw over the gun and my hand. I yelled out in pain. It felt like paper cut from sticking your hand into a paper shredder. I dropped the gun and she dove back at me. Now face to face again on the ground I chuckled while I said.

“We got to stop meeting like this. Someone’s going to get the wrong idea.” I said while I punched her with my left, to get her off me.

“Ha, if you were funny maybe I’ll let you live.” She said, wiping a little blood from her check.

I pulled out my knife and pointed it towards her. She bared her claws in kind of the same motion. I cracked my neck and said.

“Come on. Do you think I can’t kill you?” I said. Inside I shuddered to think if they had two people this vicious on me.

“Aww… you think you stand a chance. How cute.” She said as she charged.

“Thank you!” I said, as I blocked a flurry of blows with my knife and set off with a few of my own.

I was swiped up the arm by her ravenous claw. I grabbed her, pulled her close. I ran my hand through her feathers until I felt the joint. I smiled as her face met with mine in a kiss.

“Remember this.”

I began the motion to break her arm like a twig, but was blindsided by her...tail?

“What!? That’s cheating.” I said, as I fell to her tail grabbing my leg.

“All’s fair in love and war.” She said with excitement in her voice.

She grabbed my arm and rolled me over her back and wings. As I rolled over, I saw my gun inches away. When I hit the dirt, I reached out grabbing for it with my hand. Thunder rang out again. I pulled the gun over to my hands and turned to see Gilda was not there.

“Here chicky, chicky, chicky I have corn.” I said as I searched for her.

Then I saw a feather fall seemingly out from the top of the tent.

“Oh… I forgot you could do that.” I said as I saw her flying above me.

I frantically fired eight shots at her. She spun and dodged like one of the Blue Angels by my world. The bullets tore through the command tent’s roof. The roof gave in, letting the rain in. I looked at Gilda as I aimed again. The sight of lighting in the distance was behind her. As the thunder broke, she flew off quicker than I could get a bead on her.

“Why ya’ runnin’?” I yelled, while I beat my left arm off my chest in triumph.

As I finished my sentence, four guards stormed in the front of the tent. I unloaded the rest of the magazine, dispatching them in the torrent of gun fire. I began to reload when I heard more coming in. I grabbed a smoke grenade, pulled the pin and threw it at them approaching, hitting one with it as smoke bellowed out.

Using the cover, I took the knife to the tent’s wall. I cut a long stretch down and slipped out through the hole. I ran down the rows of tents as the rain poured heavier and stronger. I saw no guards as I ran. Probably all at the command tent looking for me. I turned the bend after the cross roads. Lighting and thunder marked the skies as I ran pass the makeshift cross roads.

I made it to the medical tent with no one in sight. I turned the corner to see a single griffon shaking the dead medic lying in the bed. I threw the knife at him; it sinks deep into his side. He yelled as he wrenched in pain. I kept running by him. As I made it past him, I pulled the blade from him and pistol whipped him in the neck. I continued out to the forest, past the hill and to where I hid my rifle and Golden Heart.

Chapter 8 A step closer

Author's note: Eww he thought about fucking the seven herbs and spices out of Gilda... 'shudders'... gross.

Trying to get it all to line up for the confrontation.

Back on with the show.

With the rain still steadily falling around me, I made it back to my rifle and Golden Heart. The ground had the consistency of wet shit. I knelt down next to the log hid her in and asked.

“You ok?” In the calmest voice I could muster.

“Yes, can we please get out of here how?” Golden Heart said while leaving the log.

I grabbed my rifle she so carelessly left behind. I slung her and my rifle onto my back. I covered her with any cloth the rags I could find in my bag to keep the rain off her. We set off leaving only boot-shaped puddles. I left our griffon pursuers in a big hurt. I shouldn’t hear from them for a while. I just hope Gilda does not recover quickly. In this state I think she would have an easy time taking me down.

***

After about three hours of trekking through what the map called The Forsaken Forest? ‘Wow that’s dark, even for Candy Land.’ I reached an area of flatlands approximately ten kilometers from Germaneigh. I was tired, wet and my back hurt from carrying this pony all the way here. She fell asleep about an hour ago. At least the rain had died down as the day slowly grew to become night.

I did not want to go any further nor did I have the strength to. I searched for a place to make camp. I found a nice spot with several trees for cover and some dead wood. I attempted to lay her down gently but stumbled and almost dropped her. I set her down next to a tree and fell backwards. I could have slipped away into to sleep but I knew I needed to warm myself and her up. I grudgingly got up and began to collect sticks to make a fire.

Every time I knelt to pick one up or just walk my body reacted with a painful “No. Fuck you.” My muscles ached, my body was soaked and my face was still bleeding a little from my last encounter with Chicken wing. I had finally finished making the fire as its embers warmed me. I could’ve sworn I heard them calling and inviting me to sit and rest. I took off the ghillie and placed it over the dreaming Golden Heart. She looked to be having a good dream. She was smiling and squiggling under the suit I had laid atop her. I sat down beside the fire I made in a small but dense stand of trees. The flames danced hypnotically as I sat poking the sticks around to keep the fire going. I slowly found myself growing ever more tired. My eyes closed. I jerked forward a little as I forced them open again. Then after about ten more minutes, I fell fast asleep. I began to remember ever-haunting past before long.

*************************************************************************************

As I charged in, I saw two insurgents wearing civilian clothes armed with AK-47s standing around a large flipped over table. My face was covered by a large cloth wrap so the muzzle flashes got lost in its array of strange red hues. I fired a storm of silenced gunfire taking out two insurgents as I entered. I saw John still in Air Force uniform and tied down to a chair in the middle of the room. Scott entered right behind me firing covering my flank taking one out on the right, plastering him against the wall leaving it soaked in his blood. I dove onto John knocking him to the ground in a single, fluid motion. I shielded him with my body while waiting to be fired at. I covered him with my back so I could try to shoot first if need be.

An insurgent wearing dark woodland fatigues and his face covered popped out from behind the over-turned table firing. Scott took four rounds to the chest and one to the right arm falling in a spray of blood and a yell of horrendous pain. I opened up on the insurgent firing rounds without a single shred of mercy. Even as he fell behind the table I didn’t let up I kept up the fire until clicking was all that was heard from my weapon.

I rose up to my feet dropping the empty MP7 and switching to my side arm. The M9 shook in my hands as I looked around franticly from any other hostiles. I saw nothing but the gray inside of the room. I then ran over to John. He was still alive. His face and body showed signs of being beaten badly by his captors. I heard a cough as I freed John from his chair prison by cutting the rope restraining him. I got up and ran over to Scott who was bleeding badly with several gaping wounds in his chest. His vest did not do much to stop any of the insurgents’ gunfire.

“*Cough* you still got that grenade?” He said as he lied there in a slowly spreading pool of blood.

“Yes.” I said removing it from my bag as John rose up off the floor and took an AK-47 from one of the dead insurgents.

“Give it here. *cough*” he said snatching it form my hand.

The sound of the door down stairs smashing against the wall as people stormed in. I looked at Scott who crawled over leaving a trail of blood closed the door to the room and posted up in front of it with his M4 drawn.

“Always leave one for yourself.” He said in a cold voice.

I nodded and yelled to John, “We’re leaving.”

John replied back as I opened the window letting in the howling wind and sand, “Who are you?”

“Ghosts.” I replied while pushing him towards the window.

The sound of people running up the stairs broke through the bellowing wind. The sand began to engulf the room leaving nothing untouched.

I jumped out the window falling only a few meters to the ground below. I hit the dirt with a small cloud of sand being kicked up. The sandstorm still raged like a daemon wishing to strip the flesh from your bones using the sand as its blades. John jumped next and fell beside me making an audible crack when he fell. The sound of the door being smashed in followed by a torrent of gunfire and an exploding grenade was all we heard as we ran from the farmhouse.

We ran like men possessed, as though ‘fatigue’ was a word that was alien to us. I lead the way as John ran just behind me with a limp. I could barely see a damn thing as the sand just washes over the land like a sea of brown.

Then we heard the noise of engines roaring in the distance slowly getting louder behind us…

*************************************************************************************

I winched from the feeling of someone touching my head. I almost swung for the first thing I saw but my body was unresponsive. I looked to see what had touched me. I saw Golden Heart her face was kind and she spoke in an almost motherly tone.

“You’re burning up. I can’t believe you didn’t catch your death of cold last night.” She said as she riffled through my bag.

Normally I would have been happy to get a little motherly bedside manner but this only made me miss the cute human nurses. I felt very tired with my warm ghillie suit draped over me like a child’s blanket.

She took a metal can from my bag and opened it with her mouth. She then walked back to me and spoke again.

“Here, eat something.” She said in a sweet voice.

My stomach rumbled, “Eww. That was in your mouth.” I said with a sneeze.

She seemed pissed, “Why do you have to be so rude!” She said putting the can down out of reach.

My stomach rumbled again. This time much louder as if yelling to me ‘suck it up’.

“I do it because ever since I came to this

hellhole

I have been fighting to stay alive.” I said as I reached for the can of food. “Also I could use a drink and a smoke.” I said with a I don’t care tone.

She pushed the yellow labeled metal can over to me. I began to scarf down the food as if it was the last in the world. It was some canned pineapple stuff but still tasted as sweet as if it was picked today. It must have been from the stuff I took from her home. I finished the food and began to get up from the makeshift bed roll.

She pushed me down with a hoof. “Rest, you’re still sick.”

I protested angrily, “No, I can make it.”

She tried to hold me down but I still proved stronger even if I was sick. I began to gather my things but choosing not to put on the suit for this one. I was going to an urban area no point looking like grass with no grass around. I ached but I did not want to stop now I needed to get her along safe and find Ryan. I grabbed a pack of smokes from my bag and took out a single cigarette. I lit it and enjoyed it like it was going to be my last. I had been trying to quit for a while but shit like this always rejuvenates me.

“Can you walk now?” I asked Golden Heart impatiently tapping my foot as I sneezed again.

“Yes, but I am more worried about…” she said in a kind voice.

I interrupted her, “Well don’t be. I am

going

to get you to Germaneigh and then I am leaving.” I said as if I did not care. I just want her to get home to clear my conscience.

I stumbled a bit as I began to lead the way but I gained my composure to walk normally again. We walked through the open flatlands. The sun was out now. With the rain stopped the world was once again a vibrant green. The sun shown its light down upon me wearing my black uniform I normally wore under my ghillie. The sun and sky held the world in their arms like a child holds their favorite toy. For the first time since I got here I have truly felt safe, maybe even happy.

Yet some thoughts could not escape my mind for long. I kept finding myself thinking back to my fight with Gilda. I looked over every detail of her stance, weapons she used, and her…

My mind personified my thoughts with an image. She stood their arms crossed as if waiting for something. She had her slick black armor as if she was some kind of spec-ops member. A belt of knives ran across her shoulder. The background just a blur and her feathers were unruffled. Looking like a statue, enticing to the eyes like an angel of war.

‘I wonder if she thought that way about me too.’

I shake my head of those thoughts. ‘Damn, maybe I should’ve laid down awhile longer. Or at least played some good music and had a few drinks in me before I even considered that… Eww! How would that even… Ugh I need a fucking break.’

As we came to a great gray wall of stone I wiped the sweat from my brow. I sneezed again. ’Damn it! I don’t have time for this crap.’ There were many terraces, old looking buildings and castle-like fortifications all made from a dark gray stone. It felt as if I had gone back to the Middle Ages, and as much as I wanted to, I could not stand by gawking. She explained that her people call themselves ponies. She even told me of the pegasi and unicorns.

‘Great, more flying ones and ones that use the force. This is getting better all the time. Hehe, still no a match for a decent firearm.’ I thought as I checked my SVD’s mag.

We walked into the town of Flankfurt. ‘God the puns are going to kill me before the griffons can.’ I was met with stares and doors closing. I gripped my rifle tightly in my hands. I had too many bad days start like that before. They all seemed to stare at me and my SVD as if afraid or anxious. We made it to the town square. The streets were deserted. The once very loud town now seemed dead or abandoned like Youngstown. Golden Heart’s voice broke the silence.

“There! My son lives right there!” She said happily as she trotted over to the door.

I began to walk away sneezing again. She turned around at the sound and asked in a sad voice.

“You’re not coming in?”

“No I have to find my family now.” I said as left.

While walking away I shouted, “Just remember gifts and money are to be sent to ‘Alex Litivnova’!”

She grabbed something from inside the home and trotted out to hand me it with her mouth.

“Eww, gross! Why the ‘mouth thing’ again, really?” I said sarcastically as she dropped several gold coins into my hand.

“They’re called ‘bits’, that’s the currency of Equestria. You can use them to take the train to get yourself closer to home.”

She said happily as she told me where to go to find the train station.

‘Even in Candy Land money exists.’

“Thank you! It’s not beer, but it will do.” I said as I walked away with a renewed sneeze and another trophy.

I walked along the gray cobble stone streets for ten minutes until I finally found the train station. A pony sat at the desk of the ticket counter reading the newspaper floating in front of himself with his horn glowing and sticking out from behind the paper. ‘Do the Jedi feel the Force in this one?’ I thought as I smirked then inspected the paper hovering before me. The paper’s headline read: Human appointed Lieutenant General of Celestia’s guard.

‘Damn you’ve been busy Ryan. Where the hell is my medal? I saved some damsels too!’ I shrugged. ‘Who’s this

Celestia

character anyway?’

I coughed then spoke to the pony sitting at the desk.

“I’d like a ticket to Equestria please.”

“The train only runs to…” He lowered the paper and stopped staring at me.

“Where does it stop?” I asked in a peaceful manner sneezing once more at the end.

“It s-s-stops at T-Trottingham.” He said as if he was afraid of my non-existent authority.

“Good. Thank you. When does the train set off at?”

“In three minutes.” He said handing me a ticket.

“How much will that run me?” I said pulling some of the gold coins from my pocket.

“Nothing for you. Do hurry, the train will leave soon.” His voice seemed nervous.

I took the ticket and walked my tired and broken body over to the train. The white pony conductor dressed in a blue hat and coat shouted “Last call!” and I rushed over to enter the train. I handed the now very quiet conductor the ticket. I sat at the back of a pretty much empty train car save for a few ponies in some of the seats in front of me.

The train’s interior was very relaxing its seats all a velvet red and very comfy. I took up two seats of my row. I looked around for anything to read or entertain myself for the long ride ahead. ‘How long is this going to take?’

A sea green female pony dressed in a similar kind of uniform was walking by when I stopped her.

“How long does the ride take?” I asked the pony trying to convey he I don’t shoot you on sight.

“About a day.” She said in a cheery voice. ‘Well at least someone is happy to see me for once.’

“Can I have a newspaper to read?” I asked with a sneeze.

“Sure let me just get one from the back and a tissue.” She trotted off happily.

I looked out the window the sun has not ever shone this bright since I have been here. ‘Perhaps my luck is changing?’ I thought as I waited for the train to get moving and for my paper. She came back with a paper and a tissue. I said my ‘thank you’ and went to reading. ‘Winter starts in about a week, more headlines about Ryan ‘generally’ being a badass. Ryan used to be just another face in the crowd back in Youngstown.’ I smirked ‘Well at least he found something good here.’

The train slowly began to move forward as I lost myself in the paper…

Chapter 9 Good old day's

Author’s note: General Twelve-Gauge… Damn that’s cheesier than a nacho cheese burrito thrown onto a five cheese stuff crust pizza. I guess in candy land you can be as ridiculous as you want… sweet.

Well seeing as this is now a solo job I will try to keep Ryan in character but shit happens.

I really did a good job All American did not yell at me or change Ryan’s dialog so fuck yeah.

Speaking of that flag waving asshol… O you’re here hey I just umm… not fair.

All American’s note: Yes, this is All American here. I just wanted to say that this story is totally not canon in my story but I will be editing Ryan and Dash’s dialogue. I will be using Alex in my story later (with a few changes) but me and Tech-pri3st’s story are separate takes on the story.

Tech-pri3st here again still alive. How did you like our guest speaker? Nothing like being held at gunpoint… back on with the show!

As I sat in the red velvet seat of the train I started to read the paper but my mind wandered and began to think of the good old days.

*************************************************************************************

The light of the afternoon’s sun shone through the blinds of the window. Traffic and police sirens could be heard in distance. “Just another bright day in Youngstown.” I mumbled as I turned over in the bed away from the light in an attempt to get some more sleep. I heard the distinct ringing of my cellphone somewhere in the room. I reached out my hand to grab the phone from the usual place I left it before I went to bed.

I searched the night stand with my hand, lazily. Not finding it, I opened my eyes and found I was not in my room. I sprang up from the bed and found that this was not even my home. The wall had pictures of people I’ve never seen before in my life or just didn’t remember.

“Damn it. I need to find my pants.” I said with a whisper to not disturb the girl lying in the bed I had occupied only moments before.

I searched the floor for any article of clothing to cover my naked form. The cellphone rang again this time I was able to find where the noise came from. I searched a pile of supposedly the sleeping girl’s clothes to find my phone and boxers.

“Hello?” I said while jumping on one foot putting on the boxers and holding the phone with my head against my shoulder.

“Wake up you Chernobyl-mutant-looking motherfucker!” Ryan said over the phone in his trademark asshole humor.

“I am up! I just can’t find my pants…” My voice trailed off as I searched the room’s floor.

“God damn it. You need me to come get you?” He said in a disappointed if not caring tone.

“Found shirt… Where the fuck are my pants...” I said annoyed as I searched.

“Did I drive here?” I asked Ryan as I put on the shirt.

“You drive when we go out? Hahahaha!” His voice boomed with laughter through the phone at the end.

“Haha… very funny. Yes come get me where ever the fuck I am.” I said as I hung up the phone.

I could not find my pants anywhere in the room I snuck out the bedrooms door without disturbing the sleeping girl. As I walked down the hallway in search of my lost pants I crept over sleeping bodies strung about the floor, all over the couch and any other place they found as bedding in there drunk states.

“I love the smell of vodka in the morning.” I said picking up a bottle of it still unopened on the floor.

“Well fuck it! I am going to make me some… what time is it?” I checked my wristwatch. “Lunch!”

I wandered into the kitchen as I drank from the bottle. I walked over a collage kid cuddling a 20oz beer.

“Light weight.” I said in a superior tone as I drank and stepped over him.

I opened the fridge and searched for something to cook up. I found bacon, some hotdogs, random cheeses that did not smell fresh and pants? ‘What the fuck are my pants doing in here?’ The pants I had been searching for all this time were neatly folded and tucked away behind the milk with my wallet and keys on top. The wallet had the same thing inscribed on it as the wallet from Pulp Fiction. ‘Badass Motherfucker’ was printed across it. Keys were to my home, car and armory. Can’t leave without ‘em.

I pulled my things from the fridge and put on my pants. They were cold like a Siberian winter but I could not go out without them. I placed my wallet and keys into my right pocket and phone into left after I checked it to see Ryan texted had texted me to come outside.

As I opened the door, the sun’s wondrous light blinded me the world’s colors too bright for my hung-over eyes to process. I lifted my left arm to shield my eyes as I took another sip from the bottle. I saw Ryan’s Ford sedan. It was a piece of shit but hey, it got us around.

As I walked over to find him playing with the radio he turned through the stations a rather great song came on. It was going to be a great day.

He rolled down the window and stuck his head and arm out, “Finally!”

I lifted my arms up in a jovial manner, “Party has arrived!”

“Get in the damn car.” He said in a pissed-off tone.

I got in to the car the radio kept blaring song after song. The ride started off kind of quiet but it always led to a little humor in the end. He broke the awkward music-filled silence.

“So you have fun with that one girl last night?” He asked calmly now.

“Yep. But I think she was a coke-head.” I said with a smirk.

“Wait. Why?” He asked in a concerned voice.

“’Cause while I was smashing that ass she got a nose bleed. So I either she did some coke or I literally fucked her brains out.” I said laughing.

“This is why we can’t have any nice things. You always break them.” He said with a smile.

“So did you get anything good out of last night?” I asked as I fiddled with the glove box always got bored on the long rides home.

“No, because someone has to keep their fucking pants on and drive your ass home.” He said sarcastically.

“Oh come on. I bet I could hook you up with a nice girl. Easy on the eyes and smarter than your dumb ass.” I said very cheery and laughing at the end.

“I’ll pass. You usually can’t control yourself. You’d probably fuck anything on all fours.” He said while laughing at the end.

“Ha funny… If you were any more broody, you’d be a Sith Lord.” I said with a big smile.

He stared daggers at me looking rather pissed off.

I acted like he was force choking me. I grabbed my throat and made choking noises as I spoke.

“No… I’m… sorry… my Lord…”

He smiled “I find your lack of faith disturbing.”

“See? Better. But really are you ok? I have not seen much of you whenever I am back and I always need my wingman.” I asked with concern in my voice.

“Look. I’m ok… I just have had a hard time sleeping.” He said but his voice and body language betrayed him. He was always bad at lying.

“Come on, don’t bullshit me man!” I said in a serious tone for once in my life in the States.

“We can talk about this later, this is your stop.” He pulled a sharp turn and slid into the parking spot next to my car in front of my apartment.

“Still drive like you’re a Duke boy huh?” I said as I left the car closing the door. I turned around to tell him one last thing.

“We will talk about it later today, alright?” I asked with worry showing on my face.

“Yes. See you soon. I just need to go to work then get home for a drink. I’ll call you later.” He said then drove off.

*************************************************************************************

“Maybe I should have pushed back that talk. Maybe he wouldn’t have disappeared that day…” I said aloud.

Just then I heard a strange noise come from the roof of the train. It sounded like footsteps?

Chapter 10 Set backs

Author's note: Sorry about the wait I have been busy. Grad parties, music making and random bullshit.

I feel kind of rusty like word has been covered in webs or something. So let me just get back into the groove of things.

Sex, Drugs and Dubstep. Not the best set of life plans to cram writing in but hey I do it for you.

Okay lets get this pony show going.

The sound of footsteps dissipated into the noise of the wind and that of the train’s engine. The world just outside the window flew by. The trees looked like they were all preparing for the winter. My mind began to wander. I always hated long rides anywhere. I was just about to go to sleep when I saw a feather fall across the plain of glass. I shook my head and looked again.

“It was probably nothing… I must be getting paranoid.” I shook my head again.

The female earth pony who gave me the newspaper was walking by as I shook my head.

“Are you ok?” She asked in a friendly tone.

“Fine, but I could use a drink and none of that watered down shit either.” I said while I took another cigarette from my pocket and put into my mouth. It’s a victory smoke, so I lit it.

“I sincerely apologize, but we don’t serve alcohol on this train Sir.” She said still in a still friendly manner.

“Then can I just get a sandwich or something?” I asked with a little disappointment in my face as I blew smoke into her’s.

“*Cough* Sure. But could you not do that in here? She while waving her hoof to get the smoke away from her.

“No, but how’s about that sandwich?” I asked indifferently towards her as I inhaled once more.

“Would *cough* you please not do that in there?” She said losing her friendly tone and waving her hoof to beat back the smoke.

“If you bring me that sandwich, sure, if not then ‘no’.” I said while blowing a rather big puff of smoke into her face.

She had the look of a disgruntled worker now but she put on a kind face and spoke again.

“Sure I will be right back.” She said as she trotted off.

I continued my smoke enjoying every moment knowing that I’d run out eventually. I sat there waiting for the much needed food to arrive. I was hungry. Surviving off of some canned fruit for several days is something I never thought would happen. Neither was ending up in Candy Land but here I am.

I heard the noise of footsteps again coming from above me on the train’s roof. The sound stopped again as the earth pony came back.

“I just need some food and rest.” I said aloud as she came up to stand only about at my chin when I am sitting my seat. She held a plate in her mouth with a rather delicious looking sandwich on it. Might have been the hunger talking but that was one of the best looking things I have ever seen in this place.

I grabbed the sandwich from the plate with my left arm. Cigarette was still in my right hand as she began to put the plate down and I had at the morsel. I began the first bite the texture… was strange like lettuce no it was some kind of greenery though. I took a few more bites to find it had no beef, chicken or any speck of protein. I lifted the top slice of bread to find the sandwich covered in grass and hay.

“What the fuck is this? You could’ve at least put meat on it. Damn did you spit in it too?” I said holding the sandwich in front of her like one holds a dog’s nose to a shit it took on the rug.

“What’s wrong with it? If this is a joke, then you have a sick sense of humor.” She said her voice betrayed her calm face she was pissed. She pushed the sandwich away.

“I do have a sick sense of humor but that’s not the point. As for what’s wrong with it? It’s not food for one and it tastes like nature blew a fat load onto a piece of toast.” I said annoyed. It didn’t help I was bitter from all the crap I had to deal with over my time here in Candy Land but this just pushed me to be an asshole.

“I could go make you another if you did not like this one.” She said with her voice expressing sadness and face anger.

“No.” I said taking another long breath taking in the smoke and exhaling it right into her face again.

“*cough* Then can you please put that out?” She asked annoyed.

“Gladly.” I said smug as I took another strong puff then put the cigarette out on top of the sandwich while blowing the smoke into her face.

She trotted away down the aisle in between the rows rather sad looking. I was still hungry and that horrid food did not change that. I opened another can I took from that home two days back. It was canned strawberries. I began to drink the fruit juice from the can. It hit the spot even if all I wanted was a nice piece of chicken right now.

After I finished the can and left it for the cleanup staff to take care of I began to wonder if I really evaded Gilda, I mean chicken wing, for the time being. I started to remember her face as I checked the wound she’d left on along my right arm and across my face. I was not wearing the ghillie so I was able to freely check the wounds. They still stung quite fiercely as I wrapped them up in cloth from my bag.

I checked over my body looking for other wounds I found little except for what she had done to me. My black uniform was a sharp contrast to the red seats and brown interior of the train as the other ponies stared at me while I bandaged myself up. I looked up at them and they turned from my gaze. Fine, I did not need friends for this ride.

I began to check over my things in the bag. I took several mags for the M9 out checking them and putting them into the breast pockets of my uniform. My rifle was neatly place in the seat next to me with its barrel facing upwards. I felt nature call so I got up and looked for the bathroom.

I walked through the aisle as I found my way to a door marked with a picture of two ponies side by side. I could not tell if it was coed or something else but I did not really care as I opened the door. It was quiet. Thank god that it did not start off with a scream. I would not like to look like a perv in front of these animals.

I locked the door and proceeded to let lose the hounds of war so to speak. After I was finished I started to wash my hands. I began to rinse my face with splashes of water I looked at the mirror. My brown eyes were tired and faded. My hair was an utter mess. Spending days out in the woods and rain went a long way towards making you look like you were homeless. My beard was coming in like a thick five o clock shadow. I began to shave with the knife I kept in a leg holster on my right leg.

It irritated my face but if I was going to see the man who, for most of my life was like my brother, I wanted to look better groomed. I finished shaving leaving very little stubble, if any. I washed my face once more. I while I brought my hands full of water to my face I found myself looking at the mirror again.

My eyes focused on the claw mark that ran across my left cheek to just past my right eye. I felt a sting a little from the pain, but mostly from pride. I had fought on numerous fronts. Afghanistan, Georgia and even some Black Ops in Syria, but she still got the better of me. Why? I took my right hand to search for my trophy I took from her when we first met in the forest.

I pulled her large brown feather from one of the pouches of my uniform. I studied the feather as if it would tell me anything. I started to think about her face, her voice and her body. I shook my head then put the large feather into the lapel of my collar as a reminder.

I heard someone speaking to another person through the door.

“He’s in here.” A frightened female voice said.

“Thank you the Griffon kingdoms applaud you for your aid in catching this criminal.” A smug voice said.

I readied my handgun cocked it and aimed at the door.

“Well at least they didn’t catch me with my pants down.” I said in a whisper as a knock came to the door.

“We know you’re in there! Surrender and we will not harm you!” I soldier said amongst the clanging of his armor as he readied himself.

“I was just about to say that.” I replied back with a snicker.

“We will bust the door down and take you by force if need be.” The voice said now a little pissed.

“I killed, like eight of you a day ago. You think you’re going to fare any better?” I said as I readied myself to breach out the door.

“That’s it scum, I’m taking you down!” The voice said in a rage.

“Don’t bother!” I said as I fired eight rounds through the door and kicked it open. The Griffon soldier’s body was pushed aside by the door as I bolted out with weapon drawn.

The Griffon I just made into a six piece meal had friends. There were five others they looked like the normal rank and file except their armor shared Gilda’s eerie black shine.

“Those better than you have tried!” I said as I desperately unloaded the rest of the mag.

I took out three with the single burst of gunfire. One fell amidst the rows of seats his blood added to the red of the seat behind him. The other two still stood upright. Their comrades used them to shield themselves from my weapon. I began to reload dropping the spent mag. They saw their time to strike.

They charged at me with reckless abandon. I pulled the knife from its holster as one reached with claws bared at my chest. I turned to the side and his claw just missed me. I ran the knife along the top of his arm until it reached his throat as he passed.

The blade cut into his neck with a deep tearing sound. Blood sprayed from the wound as he fell to the ground. His much larger comrade was already on me as I turned to fight back. I felt a sharp pain in my side as he smashed into me grabbing me with his claws by the right side and throat. He lifted me up off the ground throwing me over his shoulders as he flew up into the ceiling crushing me between the roof and his body.

I coughed up some blood and yelled in pain as I bounced off the ceiling like a ragdoll. When he dropped me onto the ground it felt as if the was just been hit by a freight train. I held the blade tightly in my hand as I struggled to get back on my feet. I holstered the handgun knowing he would not give me time for a reload anyways. He laughed as he landed back on the ground.

He then balled his claws into fists and slammed them together. The act reminded me of the Rocky movie except this time the Russian was the underdog.

“I am Alex Litivnova and I must break you.” I smirked and said aloud panting a little from the pain.

He merely looked at me like a bird of prey looks at a field mouse. He let out a roar as he charged again. I swept past him ducking under his charge to stab him in the right side leaving the blade inside him. I stopped and turned around to inspect the damage.

“Minimal.” I said sadly as I rose back up off the ground.

He stood there looking at me then at the wound. He smirked as he pulled the blade from his right side. He held the blade in his hand inspecting it with his ice cold eyes.

“You needed this you know.” He said as he dropped the blade onto the floor and took his helmet off with both hands tossing it aside.

“I still have my hands.” I said while getting into a boxing stance readying my fists and body.

He let out a bellowing laugh as he charged in flying over the seat and aisle. I charged as well with a howl as if I was a wolf going for the throat. I met him with both arms as he surged forward. I slammed into him, but he was like the Berlin Wall. Except this one showed no signs of going down.

I pushed him back with all my might but I only moved him a meter. God damn I wish Ryan was here. I could use him like that one time at the bar. The Colossal Griffon trooper was taller than me by at least a foot when standing on his hind legs. He let lose a savage punch for my face I blocked it with my arm but still buckled under the force.

I punched him several times just under the chest plate of his armor. He grabbed me by the right and left shoulder to throw me again. I tried to slip out from his grasp but he was too strong and he threw me over a few rows of seats against the wall of the back of the train. When I landed, I felt as if God himself said ‘fuck you’ to me in the form of a punch. I grasped my side as I rose up off the ground he already was just a few meters away from me by the time I got up.

I swung for his face with a weak punch. He grabbed my fist almost enveloping my whole hand as he pulled me closer. I fell forward towards him. He grabbed my uniform’s shirt and tossed me over his shoulder into the row of seats that I had left my gear in.

I fell onto the floor in front of my original seat. The SVD fell right onto my chest. I turned the rifle frantically towards the aisle he would come at me from. As he turned the corner to see me with my weapon his fiendish smile turned sour.

I shot him three times in the chest. The rounds tore through his armor and body. Blood and splintered bone covered the seats across from me. Yet he still stood upright only falling to his knees. I moved forward and I planted the barrel of the SVD under his chin.

“Nice try.” I said looking right at his rage filled eyes.

I pulled the trigger plastering the ceiling with his blood and brains leaving a stain and hole for the next riders to see. I got up and looked around wiping the blood from my mouth and searching around. I found no survivors of mine or their brutality. Five civilian ponies sat dead throughout the seats with their throats cut.

“Damn how could they do that without anyone making any noise?” I asked already knowing the answer.

I checked the body of my large would-be assassin. His armor told me all I needed to know. These were not the punk rank-and-file these were Spec Ops, the big boys. Seems I made quite the impression with Griffon command. I walked over and retrieved my knife from the floor and put it back into its holster.

As I checked the body of the large one I just killed I found a blood stained piece of paper tucked away in a pouch on his armor. The piece of paper read as follows.

*************************************************************************************

I’m sending you and your team in to take care of the human. I don’t want him leaving the train at it the correct stop. If you can take him alive do so but this is not your primary objective. He may know a lot about combat but he is a liability here. Your rules of engagement are as follows: All on that train have to die, no witnesses and bodies are to be removed. We can’t let the Equestrian’s get wind of this, so I need this cleared quietly.

When I am done leading the dweeb General 12-Gauge off our trail, I will meet up with you and your team. Remember, his equipment is the objective here. Only try to take him alive if you can.

-Sargent Gilda

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“She’s like a crazed ex.” I said as I stood back up to look around.

I looked about the scene with pity and anger. Was this my fault? These civvies did not ask for this. I walked down the aisle and over the body of the linebacker sized griffon. I felt a sense of being watched as I looked around.

As I looked around with my rifle slung over my shoulder, I saw Gilda again. She had a smirk on as she flew towards the window. I pulled the rifle off my back dropping the note onto the floor. Even as I brought the weapon up at her she still showed a face of blind confidence. I fired off several shots. She evaded around in a swooping motion letting the shots break the glass for her.

She flew through the broken open window tackling me out the opposite window. I smashed through the glass shards rained all around us as she flew upward corkscrewing towards the roof of the train. As she went towards the train’s roof she let go of me and I fell onto the train in utter agony.

When I slammed into the top of the train I felt my grip on my rifle loosen. I heard her land on the train no more than a meter or two away. I rose to my knees firing more rounds. Even as she flew up to evade I tried to stay on target but she moved far too quickly. I fired until only an audible click could be heard.

She swooped back around to hit me once more. I used the rifle as a barrier between us as she tackled me down. Her face was warm as we flew together with my face pressed against her’s for a moment. For a second, I imagined that this was all just a weird dream. But then the sudden crash back onto the train brought me away from any warmth that thought gave me.

I hit the train hard my bones rattled with the force of the slam. Gilda landed in front of me again. I swiped at her legs with my rifle as if it was a baseball bat in a desperate attempt to get some room. I hit her hard in the right leg but she did not fall. She grabbed the rifle and pulled me towards her. She grabbed me by my throat and dragged me over to the edge of the roof.

She pulled the SVD out of my hands with her left claw and still held me with her right by the throat. She looked me in the eyes. In my peripheral vision I could see a bridge coming up. Her eyes were still that of an ice queen but also of something more. She studied me her eyes going back and forth down my body until they stopped at my collar. Her eyes, if even for a moment, were no longer an icy blue but rather a warmer sky blue.

She lifted me over the edge. My feet fought to stay in contact with the edge. She looked at her left arm with the rifle in it and laughed.

“You made a big mess here. One I now have to clean up.” She said as she drove her face closer.

“So we can’t end our game yet. I have to let you go for now… with a gift and a thank you.” She put her beak to my lips.

Her beak was warm and sweet as she gave me a passionate kiss. My eyes widened unable to comprehend what was going on. Her tongue invaded my mouth like an armored column into a nation. I tried to resist her advances but could not break free from her. Her tongue met mine and then just as quickly as she began, she stopped.

“Thanks again for your stuff dweeb!” She said with pride in her voice. “I will see you again soon.”

She let go of me. I fell backwards to the sight of her warm smiling face and her waving her right arm goodbye with my SVD still in her left. I closed my eyes thinking that this was the end. As I came closer and closer to the ground I found myself still thinking about her...