It’s years before the Nightmare Moon or Discord incidents. The two sisters rule over Canterlot and the land around it, but now a new threat has risen. New beasts have risen from the forest and have pushed the two sisters and their citizens back. Soldiers and mercenaries are a luxury and here we follow the story of two mercenaries.
Stripes the large zebra walked down the back streets in Canterlot to meet with his partner. His hair was in dreadlocks on one side, hanging on the right side shaven as he walked on. He is a tall fellow and a prime definition of the term “Tank”. Soon he comes up to a Bar named. “Fangs and Talons” a Bar for the less “accepted” races of the wide world. As he enters, the smell of beer, blood and filth hit his nostrils burning them slightly while the noise of the place assaulted his ears. Bat ponies, gryphons even a minotaur or two, were all either talking, drinking...or well fighting.
Soon he sees the familiar face of his companion Crosshot and he walks over and sits across from her “Hmm you sure pick the classy places.”
The bat pony is downing a Drink. Her old lunar guard armour is battered and worn. Her fur a light grey and her mane a deep blue. She isn’t unscaved by the horrors of these attacks, her left ear is half ripped off with teeth mark scars still in it and her left eye blinded. She keeps a white medical patch over her eye, she never likes to talk about it and simply ignores it when somepony asks what happened.
She grins. “Only place I could go without getting weird looks for being a bat pony.”
Stripes chuckles as he looks around at the few patrons. Most looked at Cross with either lust, depression, or just interest in her wounds. “I wouldn't say that now cross.” He chuckled again. “Looks like you have a few admirers.”
She laughs and rubs her neck. “Yeah...I haven't bought one of my drinks tonight...it’s all been them…” She says kinda slurred.
Stipes shakes his head and sighs. “...You know...I heard female ponies were meant to be Elegant and well...feminine” He laughed.
Crosshot chuckled. “...Guess I am half zebra then.” She grins as Stripes growls playfully at the insult. “Ha...yeah suuuuure…” He said.
She smiles and stands shakily. “I’m going to get some rest” She staggered off and went up the stairs.
Stripes watched her leave and then is about to stand up but the bar owner, an old Gryphon starts to clean up Crosshot’s mugs and he looks at Stipes.
“Some gal you got there.” Chukled the old bartender. “I don't know how you control a lass like that...but it’s good to see the young ones finding love.”
*Stripes almost chokes on his drink* “We’re not datei-.” He's cut off by the old Gryphon. “Yeah yeah they all say that.” He walks off and goes back to serving drinks.
Stripes mumbles to himself. “ Damn old man...I cant belive him”. He walks up the stairs and sees crosshot lying on the floor drunkenly singing. “WHAt...Do you DOOO with a DRUNKEN SAILOR!?...E...early...i...IN THE...Morning? *She soon just lies happily. Strips laughs quietly to himself as he walks up to her. He picks her up with ease and walks into their shared room. He places her in her bed and tucks her in before he walks over and lies down on the sofa. He stares at the roof for a bit before passing out.
Soon it’s the Morning and Stirpes is sleeping sound...until a glass of water is dumped over his head making him shoot up to the sound of laughter.
He rubs his eyes and sees Crosshot laughing her ass off next to him and a glass next to her. Stripes growls and sits up and looks at her “You can be a really big bitch sometimes you know?”
She calms down laughing a bit, stands up and wipes her left eye. “Ohhh yeah, I know you always get up kinda early so i decided to give you a shower.”
Stripes growls lightly “Great now i am all wet”.
“Hey i have it bad, I’m still hungover.” *she stomps her foot* Stirpes stands and stretches. “Sooo, we're moving out to protect some town from the Fallen.”
Crosshot seems,a bit nervous. “Oh ok.” She picks up her bags and walks off towards the door, waiting for Stripes
Stripes walks over and picks up a larger bag holding the tent, supplies and his own personal gear. “ Let's move.” He walks off and Cross follows behind.
Soon, they are walking down a path and after a while they have made some nice progress. It's getting to nightfall and stripes breaks the silence. “I Think we should set down for the night.” He steps off the road and drops his bags. Cross sets her’s down and props her crossbow against them.
Stripes stretches. “I’ll go get some firewood.” He says as he walks off.
Crosshot sits down and lies back, relaxing and staring up at the stars.
Stirpes is picking up branches and putting them on his back and soon he hears rustling. “Cross?” A spear comes flying out and hits a tree near him. “Oh! In the name of The desert sands!” He runs out of the forest towards the camp as the goblins come out and chase him throwing spears and axes.
Cross hears the sounds of hooves hitting rock and dirt, she sits up and sees Stripes running for his gear with six to seven goblins closing in behind him. She panics, hops up and grabs her crossbow. She loads it and aims in waiting. Once one starts to run straight, she fires and hits him right in the eye with a skull crushing crack.
Stipes runs up and grabs his shield and sword. One of the goblins jumps at him he smacks it away with his shield. Strips growls and rams the blade into it’s chest, ripping it out. He turns just in time to take an axe to the shoulder, making him yelp and slide back. He looks up and sees it wasn’t from a goblin… but from a fallen a Pony who has fallen to the hive mind and is now a living breathing monster of plant and tree. A mutant who is nothing but a killing machine stands in front of him. His once proud knight armour ripped and smashed. Vines break through his skin, twisting and writhing as they grow out from his body. A warhammer being held up in the air by his magic. Stripes growls and rips the axe out, dropping it to his side. He slides his hind leg across the dirt, seemingly mockingly, making a line as he raises his shield, waiting as Cross deals with the goblins.
The Knight charges at Stipes and slams down his hammer. Stipes hops to the side and tries to stab only to be side swiped by the hammer, knocking him onto his side. He has to roll to evade the next slam. He kicks the fallens hind legs, making it tumble a bit. Stripes gets up and smacks his shield threateningly. The fallen growls at the taunt and charges, he seems to emit a red glow. Stripes slams into the charging knight with full force, sending him staggering backwards. Stripes runs up and slashes down the fallen’s face with his razor sharp blade. The fallen reels back then lunges forward slamming his hammer down but it only hits Stripe’s shield. Stripes grabs the hammer ripping it from the weak magical grip. He spins the hammer around, brandishing its chipped axe blade on the back. He slams the blade into his chest and rips it out as he spins. Stripes follows through with his spin, turning the hammer once more. The hammer’s head gleams in the moonlight as Stripes raises it high into the air then brings it slamming down crushing the fallen’s helmet and the skull within with ease.
Stripes growls but soon doubles over breathing deeply to calm himself down. He remembers Crosshot and the goblins then quickly turns to see her shooting the last one as it crawls away.
Cross growls. “ Damn things...you ok stripes?”
Stripes holds his shoulder. “ Fine.”
Cross cringes, walks up and sits him down”I’ll get your shoulder fixed up.” She opens her bag and takes out some alcohol and soaks a rag in it.
Stripes snickers. “I bet that wasn't just for medical reasons. You have tha- AHHHH!”
She pushes the soaked rag on the wound. “What was that?” She laughs...Soon she has Stripes patched up and they go back to camp.
She lies down. “ No fire I guess?”.
Stripes sighs.“Yeah sorry.” He rubs his neck with a shiver.
Cross shivers from the cold air in the tent and tries to sleep but she soon feels something move up to her. She turns and sees Stripe’s back pressed against hers “Umms Stripes ?”
“Yes ?”
“You’re comfy.” She turns and spoons him making them both blush as she giggles.
Stripes clears his throat as his face burns brighter “I-I hope you get some sleep, Cross. We got a long walk in for us...”
Author's Note
This is my first story so if you fully read through it thank you very much and i must ask you to leave what you thought in the comments and if you have any criticism please tell me
