The Fringe: Deadweight

A few hours later they had resupplied and made there way out of the ravine. They walked for a few hours well into the heat of the day. Bugs buzzed around them. Colby swatted at them as they walked but crash stopped suddenly.

"Hold up Colby, there's something up ahead". Interrupted Crash his ears perking up.

"Oh now what? Not even a mile away and you already sense trouble?" Said Colby.

"Shush!!!" Replied crash annoyingly.

"Ok ok sorry, let's go"

Crash nods and pulls out his bow unfolding it and slowly sliding a green arrow into it. Through the mist the blurry shape of a creature could be seen. It was walking away from them and was oblivious to there presence.

They got within a couple meters before stopping. Colby raised his gun and pressed a finger to his lips. Crash nodded and started to count down from three silently. They both jumped out into a clearing startling a rugged, yet beautiful pony.

Crash and Colby looked on at the startled pony in front of them. The pony was dirty and covered in soot but seemed happy eating a small bag of apples. Lowering his Bow Crash chuckled at the sight before them. The pony was a bright yellow with a purple mane and tail.

"Don't worry Colby, it's just one of them dam Equestrian folk you were talking about". Scoffed Crash.

"I can see that ya hair ball".

Colby lowered his gun and took a few steps towards the pony. It dropped the apple that was in it's mouth and let out a shriek of terror.

Colby jumped back in surprise his paws going for the rifle.

"Hey put that gun away before ya kill someone you stupid Feline"! Exclaimed Crash grabbing the gun out of Colby's hands.

"I'm just being careful that pony has gone feral"!

"Or maybe you just scared it shit-less with your ugly face"! Yelled Crash.

Colby shook his head and turned gazing into the grey, misty forest. Crash folded his bow and slowly put it back into the Quiver. He carefully approached the pony who was now curled up on the ground hiding her face and shaking. Crash laid a paw on the ponies back and her head shot up.

"AHHHH No PLEASE No"!!

Screamed the pony her eyes darting back and forth in fear. "IM NOT GOING BACK!! Please!!"

Crash put a paw around her mouth and hugged her until she stopped screaming. After a minute he let her go and she slumped to the ground with her eyes closed. Crash stood up and took a few steps back.

"did ya kill her Crash"? Asked Colby walking up behind him.

"no, I think she just wore herself out and fainted, poor thing looks like she's been through hell and back".

Colby nodded looking at the scratches and dirt covering the ponies yellow coat. It was obvious she has been living rough. On the other hand, materials and stable living were hard to come by due to the war. Fresh fruit such as those apples were even more rare.

"I think we should stay the night here until this pony wakes up".

"Yea good idea, if she ever does wake up she looks half starved".

"But she has those apples, there pretty darn rare these days".

Crash shrugs and takes off his quiver setting it on the ground behind him. Colby does the same taking his backpack off as well. He then retrieves two rolled up mats and lays them out.

"I bet she stole them from the Hr, they seem to eat the same foods as us".

"Possibly, to be honest I think she grew them...with her magic! Look"!

Colby points at the horn on top of the ponies head. Crash walks over and kneels in front of the sleeping pony getting a better look.

"Magic huh? Well that is about as crazy as you swimming Colby".

"You won't believe anything about ponies even when there's one right in front of you"?

"Nope, you might as well give up".

Colby glares at crash and sits down on his mat. Behind him the last rays of the sun could be seen poking through the purple green sky. The mist had cleared and the burned trees stood silent watching them.

"Man this place gives me the creeps...ever wondered what it was like before they arrived here"?

Crash shrugged and got back up brushing the grey dust on his fur. He moves over to sit down on his own mat and proceeds to go through Colby's bag of provisions. They had packed only a few essentials to take on the hike to the HR base.

"Beats me, when they attacked I was stuck underground in a prison chained to you".

"Yeah, those were the days...even though we were stupid the whole world made sense".

"So your saying us being stuck out here running errands for a Government full of cowards is not normal"? Replied crash raising an eyebrow and grinning.

Colby chuckled at this and laid down looking up at the sky. It was too dark by now to see anything and the world above them had turned into a hazy purple/Black Sky. Crash pulled out a water canteen and unscrewed the cap taking a few swigs before handing it to Colby.

"Thanks, what do we have left"?

"Two more canteens of water, some of those tasteless ration bars, some matches, a length of good rope and a map of this region."

Colby nodded and took a few sips of the water before twisting the cap on and handing it back. Crash returned all the supplies back to the bag and lays down as well.

"Should we make a fire crash"?

"Without the trees or any cover a fire would be a beacon to anything in a fifty mile range".

"But it's cold, are you sure"?

Crash rolls over and closes his eyes letting out a sigh.

"Yes I'm sure Colby now get some sleep, were almost to the target and we need to have the strength to fight...and deal with the pony".

"She will be quiet the handful".

"Well if it's anything like the kids back at the palace this will be fun".

Colby nods and rolls over as well and soon the forest is quiet again except the Distant music and the snoring of the two companions.

The next morning Colby is woken up to a fierce wind blowing over the camp. Getting up he shivers a bit noticing that the sun could not be seen through the morning sky. At least he thought it was morning, the dark sky; now a deep red and purple could never be used to tell the time.

He picks up his rifle and slings it over his back looking over the camp. The pony was curled up next to Crash looking quiet peaceful. He noticed her bag of Apples were gone. Probably blew away or taken by wild creatures. He shrugged and brushed some dirt off his back and shivered a bit more reminding him of the cold. He looked over to his companion.

Crash snored and stirred a bit and Colby took the incentive to give his rabbit companion a slight nudge with his foot. In reflex crash shot out and slapped his foot rolling over moaning. It would appear not even the chilling cold of a morning without the rising sun would wake someone from deep sleep. Or a rabbit furry with a habit of sleeping like a king.

"Goooo away"!

Colby chuckled a bit and gave him a rougher push with his foot and was met with another slap and a louder moan of annoyance. Colby tried again getting the same results. The pony across the camp started to stir a bit.

"Come on crash get up"!

"Mmmmmmmm noo"

"I thought I was the day sleeper but I guess not, we gotta hit the road"!

Crash was silent for a bit and Colby thought he had fallen back asleep. Eventually  waiting patiently was getting frustratingly difficult for him. He soon grabbed the blanket that crash had wrapped himself in and pulled as hard as he could. In a matter of seconds the blanket popped free sending crash rolling into the dust. It was a sight for sore eyes.

"HEY?!!"

Colby took a step back laughing his head  off while the pissed of rabbit got up stamping his foot on the ground spraying the dust that was clinging to his fur into the air. He stood there with his fists clenched glaring at Colby.

"That was a stupid move Colby I'm gonna strangle you"!

Colby takes a few steps back chuckling and holding his hands

out.

"Easy there buddy I'm just

trying to help you out".

"Well you could of done it in a polite, sweet manner"!!

Colby rolls his eyes and shrugs. He walks over and starts to put all the supplies back into there bags. He half listens to Crash's rant as he rolls up there sleeping mattresses.

"You could of said please, or given me breakfast in bed or something". Yelled crash still standing there fuming.

"Yea you would of magically heard me say please in your sleep".

"The breakfast in bed would wake me up".

"Hehe sure it would". Scoffed Colby rolling his eyes at the thought of making crash a buffet in bed.

Colby finished packing the last of the supplies into a bag. Slinging it over his back he grabbed his rifle and turns back to crash. He looks at Colby with crossed arms and a grin on his face.

"Trust me Colby, You know the smell of a hot meal would have woken me up".

They both laugh at that as the sun Finally shines it's way weakly through the clouds. The wind dies down a bit and in there loudness the pony behind them stirs and wakes.

She looks up at them In fear "Uh...um hello"?

The two furry soldiers turn and look at the pony behind them in surprise. The forest is quiet again and Colby grins as crash takes a step towards the pony.

"It's good to see Your awake, how do you feel".

The ponies eyes look distant as she struggles to focus on the two furies. She takes a step forward cautiously not taking her eyes off of them. Crash and Colby watch patiently.

She sits down quietly looking up at them wide wide blue eyes. "I feel, cold...who...what are you"?

"Don't worry, were friends we won't hurt you". Said Crash holding his paws up smiling. "We don't mean you any harm".

The pony looked at him with wide eyes. She looked uncertain and hesitant of the two furies standing before her. She looked around blinking her eyes adjusting to the dim light.

"Uh..where...where are my apples"?

Colby chuckled rolling his eyes. "There gone, you passed out after we found you".

Crash held up a paw to silence his friend. "On the other hand can you please tell us who you are, and what your doing out here". He looked around motioning at the wasteland before adding: "alone"?

The pony thought for a few seconds before closing her eyes and tilting her head to the ground hiding her face in her mane. Behind crash, Colby let out a groan of frustration.

"This is hopeless, she won't talk and were wasting time".

Crash turned to face him quickly. "She needs our help and we can't leave her to die out here".

"She is a burden and a distraction to the mission". Replied Colby harshly weighing the rifle in his paws. "Let's shoot her and end her misery and be on our way".

Crash shook his head and glanced back at the pony who was still huddled on the ground. "No, that's wrong...if we do that we will be just as bad as the humans".

"Fine, then let's just go, give her a match and a ration bar and leave her alone".

"Ok, let me try one more time to get her to talk". Pleaded crash.

"Fine".

Crash silently thanked him before turning and kneeling in the dirt facing the pony. He spoke softly to her. Colby watched in amusement noticing it was getting lighter out.

"Hey, it's ok...we can help you".

Said crash softly to the pony. "Can you tell me your name"?

The pony stirred and looked up at him. A tear slid down her cheek dropping onto the grey dirt underneath them. She spoke in a soft voice that trembled but held more confidence than before.

"My my...names...sparkle dancer".

"Hi sparkle, I'm Crash...you can trust me". Said Crash smiling softly at her.

"H-Hi Crash". She smiled back pushing the hair out of her eyes with a hoof.

"Can you tell us what your doing out here"?

Sparkle shook her head slowly her eyes pleading as she looked up at him. Crash nodded understanding it would be hard to talk about something terrible. This pony was scarred for life but they needed to trust each other.

"I see how it is sparkle, but were on a mission...we can't take you with"

The ponies eyes grow wide again and she visibly starts to panic. Colby sighs and walks away grabbing the rest of there supplies. Crash keeps his attention on the pony and touches her mane softly.

"Hey come now sparkle...we will leave you here, then when were done we can come back for you". Said crash.

Sparkle smiles a little and looks up at him. She then stands up and takes a deep breath of air before turning around looking at the camp. In the next few seconds she had let out a bloodcurdling scream and dropped to the ground.

Crash bounded over to her in confusion. "Hey hey? What's wrong?"

Sparkle let out another scream and looked up from the fetal position she was in. Her eyes were full of fear but in a different way. With a whimper she lifted a hoof pointing into the misty distance of the burned forest. Crash and Colby followed her hoof before resting there gaze on hunk of steel in the distance.

Colby caught his breath and stepped back. "Oh shit."