Chapters The great blue line, blocking me from my dreams. I look out everyday, hoping to see a shape made out in the horizon, but it never appears. Equestria is what I'm talking about, land of green plains and many creatures, little and big. Father kept saying
That land is no longer safe... It's full of savages ever since their princess has fallen
but I don't believe him, I can see more out there, but only a glimpse. I shall leave sooner or later, for the stars be my compass to where I need to go.
"Star, wake up," A voice said behind the void of my mind. "Starlesa Moondust, Wake up," It started to said as it pushed me out of dark and into the light. Waking up sucks when you dream about something you wanted to much. I felt a gentle sensation of laughter to be let out, I slowly opened my eyes to see.
"Father I'm awake, stop it," I said through my giggles as father tickled me awake. His methods prove very effective then just shouting or shaking one.
"You need to get your dress on missy, we're meeting with the other houses today," He said as he spat the feather out. "And your mother's funeral today," He said with a sad tone. I totally forgot about mother's funeral was today. She was murdered by somepony for, just reasons unknown. Some say its because she's a unicorn while others say it was political. Reasons ponies argue are absurd nowadays.
"Why today for everything," I muttered to myself. I was hoping for a few more hours of sleep.
"I don't know why, but do get dress and ready please," Father said before leaving my room. What a cheerful old pony. I just walked up to my closet, looking for my purple and sleek black dress. Not the fanciest out of the bunch, it stood out. I grabbed it and proceeded to put it on... and I was failing already, normally mother helps with her magic but with her gone it proved challenging. Finally fitting my wings through the slits and proceeded outside.
Same cold damp cave floor, with the dim lights for others living among us. I felt a faint tap on my shoulder and turned around to see who it was.
"Sorry to bother you Miss Moondust but you missed your dueling practice yesterday," The olden unicorn stallion said.
"Ace, I promise to come today to make it up, after the meeting and funeral and once I'm out of this dress," I replied.
"You do look stunning in that dress, why not go to the shop with me once you're done?" Ace asked with an eyebrow raised.
"You're a bit too old for me Ace, and you know the true reason why I reject stallions," I said, blushing very little.
"Yes, the thing this very place doesn't want. You'll need to tell your father soon, or at the very least leave," Ace said, rubbing my one bat ear. I just rolled my eyes before trotting away. "Do remember to come after all of this, you need your lessons on how to handle a pistol without magic," He shouted towards me before I got out of his range. Gee, I must be some kind of mare for stallions to be all over me. Beauty or nobility, which is the real reason why they are kissing my hoof? Both seems about correct as I trotted faster to the funeral grounds. Got to be there before the ceremony starts, I'm known for coming late.
Only my father and few friends came, sitting down on the available benches. Mother was one with the ponies but those who didn't show up were afraid of being targeted. I don't blame their weariness. Only other pony who I noticed was Sugar Pop. She's a unicorn who came here from Equestria a while back. We were filly friends and mother just loved to hang out with her mother. I understand why she was here, her mother most likely was too upset to come. I just wished for this to be over with so we can get the meeting done with. Dueling practice takes up a lot of my time and I wish to get it over with.
Grand Hall, where the four houses meet. Bluefang, Silverwing, and Mellowhoof, the other three houses. Mine, the Moondust, were the bottom tier one, least favored by civilians but still important to running this place. We handle the crimes while other handle the taxes and other boring jobs. That's one reason why I have dueling practice.
"Hello there gentlecolts, I brought my daughter here with me today, if that's fine with you all," Father said.
"The young lady, she is welcomed anytime," Mellowhoof, the youngest of them said, kissing my hoof. I blushed at that comment and pulled my hoof from his grasp.
"Now's not the to flirt with the lady Mellowhoof," Silverwing said, glaring at him. "We have business to attend too" He said, gesturing to the meeting room.
"I just remembered father, I had lessons with Ace today, I need to get to them," I said, backing away.
"Yes the lessons, go ahead. The meeting won't be for long," Father said, gesturing me to go. I left the room and quickly ran home. I needed this dress off before doing anything else. Being pestered by a father at the age of 20 sucked.
Taking my dress off and quickly getting my holster and dueling pistol equipped, along with barding to protect from the bullets. They were pellets yes but they do sting and damage my hide and I rather keep it intact. Leaving for the dueling grounds, I made sure nothing was out of place.
"You need to learn that magic doesn't make handling a gun any easier," Ace said. "It makes it harder for the opponent to win," He said before drawing his with his magic. "You need to break their focus or beat them at a draw," He said before putting his gun away.
He stood on the opposite side and gestured to start. I got into my stance and was waiting for the countdown. Heartbeat, slowing down and time itself. I drew the gun as the last number lingered away and shot it towards Ace. I leaned to my left to dodge his incoming bullet before hearing my impact.
"Surprised you don't have two pistols for a cutie mark," Ace grunted with pain. "You are getting better, just know not to slow down in an actual fight," He said as I helped him up.
"Cutie marks are a weird magic. Define one true self and yet I have this single star," I said. "I don't understand what it means," I said, holding him upwards as he regain his balance.
"Try outshining everypony else at anything you put your heart to," He said lamely. "You beat your teacher who was a master at this art," He said as he started trotting home. I myself, started to walk home and thought about what he said. Outshine, it could be true, being better at what I put my mind to. I'll see once it comes true later in another activity.
Author's Note
Hope you all enjoyed, I edited this heavily from the first version of it. Leave feedback, it is needed and I promise to make more soon.
Knock knock, get out of my head. Knock knock, starting to lose. Knock, my eyes go open at the sound. Signal to get moving, don't have much time before the patrol comes, they are strict when it comes to night. Bat ponies are part bat yes but we are part ponies and that pony part needs to sleep at night. Just have to get my saddle bags and... oh no. I need to hurry now, I hear the yelling.
I got up and got to my bags and quickly put them on. Next I creaked the window open and planned the flight path. Need to stick to the shadows, the night vision doesn't help so much when it's pure obsidian. Guards trotting below, need to wait till they pass. This isn't going as planned, I just want to see that land across the sea. My urge to go is going to make me sloppy, must control myself. Victory is near and I just need to be patient.
"Don't mess up now Star, not to hasty," I muttered to myself. Guards passed the window, jumping out and spreading my wings out. Tapped my window closed and sweet, outside now to get out of the... oh fuck. Towers? Since when did we add towers to our security, they don't seem to look upwards but that's still risky. The lights are off but the moonlight reflects perfectly off of it. Damn, this is going to be hard then I hoped for. Make a plan quick before more guards come passing by.
That's it! The docks, if I could just fly down there fast enough and get underwater. Perfect, just have to wait for the right... NOW! Flying fast enough to not get noticed, I just realized how bad of a plan this was. They would hear the impact with the water. I braced myself, widening myself to slow me down before I hit the water. Whew! Now to drop...
"Freeze where you are," An officer said. Without thinking, I dropped in and started swimming, using my wings to propel me forward. Soaking wet is not a good feeling with a skintight suit. Only way to stay concealed, but to late for that. I need to swim to shore outside the cave, hide and start flying. Our leathery wings are good for flying while wet, one good thing. Why my mother gene's give me no fangs or eyes, I would like to have some sight in darkness and also fangs to bite somepony in defense. Not now for DNA, now is for swimming.
I felt a grip of sand, pulling wait... more like scratching senselessly. I just swam up to see the shore, quite away from the cave. Now I need to set my destination, lets see... the star that is the brightest points to, wait that's north not Equestria. The moon sets to the east? Or was it west... damn I wish I could remember. Screw it, I'll just follow the tides, wait those go inwards to land. I'm a scientist that study's energy not astrology or navigation. Fly in that general direction, I'll reach it soon.
Sunrise already? I only been flying for a few minutes... or was it hours? Welp, going downwards now... crashing now I am crashing now!
"Pennilope, you alright?" A green stallion said.
"I think so? I don' know," The pink mare, who I assume is Pennilope said. Gee she has a fine flan... I mean what? Oh god, she caught my eye, this is why I shouldn't crash land into pretty mares.
"I think it's one of 'em bat ponies," The stallion said. Gee, I wonder how he figured it out. I need something else to say instead of gee.
"Any help?" I asked. They just looked at me weirdly, of course they would.
"Sorry friend, but we can't understand your squeaky squeaks" Pennilope said. What? Ace understood me fine and he's a unicorn, how come they can't ohhh, there was some kind of magic field in the cave wasn't there. Welcome to Equestria young mare, you can't speak to anypony here so what are your choices? I honestly don't want to choose, I have them decide what to do with me not able to speak to them. Gee what a dream can get you, a sexy mare in the fresh green plains... fuck I used that word again.
Author's Note
Leave feedback it is needed, hoped you enjoy and I'm gonna spend some extra time on chapter 2 for y'all who are liking this story so far.
Chapter 2: Sightseeing
Thump thump, thump thump, thump thump. Ack, head is swollen and heart beating like crazy. I'm on some sort of loft, weird... I think after an accidental attack that I should be left in the middle. Wait, that noise of bickering... could it be those two?
"Look Cloverul, I know bringing a stranger with us is dangerous but that's the least we can do," The mare said. Loving her already, Pennilope I think her name is.
"Now, I'm not sayin its wrong, but she did crash into us and we don't have to feel any sympathy towards her," Cloverul said. I leaned forward, sitting on the bed, looking towards them. Wait! Is it just me or is my vision like, really blurry. Brain damage or eye damage or something, I study power management not the fucking body.
"Hey, look who's up Cloverul," Pennilope said as she snapped something on my neck. I tried to take it off but it wouldn't budge. "Now we can see if this so communicator works, now speak," She said, directing that at me.
"I'm not a dog," I said, crossing my hooves. "And I'm not okay, my vision is wacky and I can't see anything," I said before they even asked. Dumb question to ask someone after they crashed.
"At least it works," Pennilope said before walking closer to me. "You might need some glasses, your eyes might be a bit damaged," She said, booping my nose. Damn, she must know. Am I really that easy to read?
"Pennilope stop flirting with the stranger," Cloverul said, geez party killer. "I don't care if you think she's cute, she probably likes stallions," He said, like he's making some sort of statement. He might just take getting used to. She gave a small kiss on my cheek, instantly making my wings poof a little. Now's the time to hide under the blanket and blush away in shame.
"I think she likes me," Pennilope said, making me blush harder. Sorry that I like attractive mares, I can't help myself sometimes.
"That depends, does she like ponies that are a little young?" Cloverul said with a smirk. Oh no, I can't date a teenager. Ruining everything for me and maybe her.
"I think I'm old enough, 17 is pretty good," Pennilope said. Choices, she is just old enough in my range and can do some pleasurable acts but being 3 years younger is something that I should think about. Damn, I'll hate myself later.
"If you could get me some glasses, I would be very thankful," I said to them. I feel like I was going to seduce them as a reward, ew. I should keep my mouth shut, saying anything else will make it more awkward then it already is.
"Lets get goi... what was that noise?" Cloverul asked. More ponies, great great... the way he said it, it wasn't great. "Bandits... fuck, Pennilope and you, do something that will distract them while I try to get them from behind," Cloverul said with sympathy. Nothing sympathetic about that, now what are we going to do while mister lucky charm here is getting to his position? Cloverul left through the back door and then the mare jumped into bed with me. Her plan must be going already.
"Shhhh, just pretend you're sleeping. They'll try to take us prisoner after waking us up, that should buy Cloverul some time," Pennilope said, great so I close my eyes and ju... oh, I see, look like a couple that just fallen asleep. Her head on my chest, I decided to make it look a bit more realistic and move my hoof around her, I didn't say I don't like this but honestly I think this would be nice if it weren't a distraction.
The door banged open, telling by the hoofsteps, there are three of them. They are moving slowly, they think there are traps here? Wouldn't blame them for being cautious.
"Hey there pretties, wakey wakey," One of the bandits said. Sounds like a normal stallion to me, besides the point I felt a warm barrel to my head.
"Huh?" Pennilope said in a fake waking up tone. Professional actor right here. "What's goin' on here?" Pennilope said with a western accent. Wonder what else she can do... a Manehattan accent? I should stay calm with that gun pointing at my head. "Can you get that gun out of her face... please," Pennilope asked kindly. I felt the gun moved away from my skull, I think I can 'wake up' now.
"Honey who are these ponies?" I asked her, pretending to be tired. "I didn't know we have guest... so early," I said with the fakest grin I could pull off. Much harder then it looks.
"A gay couple huh, prove it," Another bandit said. Perverted much? I thought I was bad once I came here. "Do something more then kissing," He said with a glare, great. We're about to get killed, I wasn't going to die so what did I do? I flipped Pennilope over and got on top of her. I covered her mouth with a kiss as I began to slowly move. Cloverul please come soon, I don't think she can take anymore of this. She's blushing all over, and giving little sighs of pleasure... she would like it if it was different time. Bang bang bang! Three dead bodies and one pissed looking Cloverul covered in blood, looking to shoot my head off about now.
"Cloverul wait!" Pennilope shouted. "It wasn't her fault I swear," She said, trying to calm him down.
"Her sleeping with you doesn't help" He argued, still pointing a gun at me. I could see this as a guardians point of view and completely understand.
"She acted like that to keep us from getting killed. They asked for us to prove a fake relationship, and she just... started right away to not get us killed. Cloverul please listen to me," Pennilope said. She can just say that she likes me and hope that it helps her out but I don't think it will.
"I'm sorry miss, please come with me, I need to talk to you in private," He said, gesturing me to follow him. We left into a different room. "Thank you, I'm just a bit protective about her... she likes you and that act, hit me a bit more then her," He said with a sadden tone.
"Sorry Cloverul, I can see your guardian perspective on that stunt," I said, trying to calm him down. "My name is Starlesa by the way, nothing fancy,"
"Starlesa, well, we should be heading off to Lew Weave's shop," Cloverul said, as he started packing his few things. I walked out to talk to Pennilope about it.
"Hey Pennilope, sorry about that stunt," I said, rubbing my neck nervously.
"You did what you have to Starlesa," Pennilope said, as she packed her few items.
"To avoid more embarrassment, I'll wait outside," I said, leaving the room.
"I never said that I disliked it," She said, just barely out of range of my hearing. Heh, just wait for them to get ready and start walking to the shop. At least I can see enough to traverse this building.
A run down shop, perfect for somepony like her. I just hope she isn't holding any guns at my head.
"Hello, welcome to Weaver's Delight, how can I he... Clo? Pen? Back so soon?" Lew asked.
"Afraid so, with our blind bat pony friend," Cloverul said.
"Yes, a bat pony. Come deary, let us see to it," She said, leading me to the back. "Name please?" She asked.
"Starlesa Moondust," I stated.
"A noble, don't see that everyday," Lew said. Such enthusiasm in her voice. "Pen has been talking about you, how adorable you are and... other things," She said with a cough.
"I know, either that or be shot by bandits, not a very welcoming stay to be dead," I said in a bad jokingly tone.
"Here we go, violet glasses to go with your hide and mane," She said respectfully. "You'll be spending the night here, so I'll let you and Pen have the room downstairs... just do keep quiet," She whispered to me. That fluttered my day brightly.
"You wanna have some fun before going to bed?" I asked her.
"Thought that I'm too young for you, and Cloverul would kill you Star," She replied grimly.
"Oh Penni, what would you do if I held you down?" I said as I pinned her down. She tried to get up but failed then started slinging her hooves around, until I kissed her. When she was dazed, I set down, closing us together. I smiled and she just blushed. I began the fluent motion and heard her peep. She kept getting redder and redder like she has never down this before, then again she is 17, just legal... is there even laws anymore? Anyhow, her beads of sweat was a sign that she is taking pleasure with this. Her legs started twitching and soon enough she ended with a sigh of pleasure.
"Sweet dreams Penni," I said, as I laid down next to her.
"I will," She said with a satisfied grin, point one for me. I finally closed my eyes and drift off to the dreamscape.
Author's Note
Welcome, hoped you enjoyed and... sorry for taking so long. Force vacation sucks and yeah... no computer so I apologize and that won't be happening again any time soon.
Chapter 3: Gossip in Ponyville
Lying down next to a beautiful mare, what else could I wish for, I mean rea... oh fuck. Clover (yes I gave him a nickname too) was staring at me. This was bad bad o so bad.
"Hey there Clover, I didn't see you there," I said, with an embarrassed sigh. I am so fucked, I don't think I'll live through this.
"You finally woo her into bed, didn't ya?" He rhetorically asked. I just gave the slightest nod, hoping he won't kill me. "Next time, try nibbling her ear," He said. Whew, not going to kill me.
"I'll try to remember," I said, blushing little. "I thought you were going to shoot me honestly," I said, brushing my mane out of my face.
"I need to accept she's growing, to me she's a daughter and I think you could tell," He explained. Obvious as it was, I saw his fatherly side. Strict as can be honestly. "Do take care of her... she deserves somepony who likes her, after all, I'm the closest to family she has," He said. Wow, something with bandits I guess, seeing how Clover could tell when they were coming. "Just a warning... don't be surprise when she talks about children, it's just... she can't... have any," He finally spat out. Oh, its either he's trying to get me away from her or its all true. So much to take in, just need to calm down.
"You're looking out for her, I know that. Seeing somepony go away is hard," I said with a sad tone. "My mother passed away recently," I said, rubbing my neck to try and keep my cool. "You're heart is in the right place Clover, you just need to act in a different way sometimes. Anyways, where are we going to next?" I asked, trying to push the subject away.
"Ponyville, there we can stay away from bandits. Defense is good and friends are helpful there," He said, understanding me wanting to abandon that thought. "You got a few more minutes with her before we leave, I say get to know her," Clover said before leaving the room.
"Hey Penni, I know you overheard," I said to her.
"Hmmm?" She questioned.
"You aren't the quiet sleeping pony," I said, that's a start. "What do you actually like about me besides my looks?" I asked deeply, lets just see how honest she can be.
"You are smart and act that way too in life threatening situations, you keep calm when somepony is about to shoot you which takes guts," She answered in a list. Then again we haven't been with each other for long. "Now vice versa, tell me," She demanded.
"You're nice, risky, bright, and for some odd reason flirty," I listed off. Could make it longer but eh.
"Risky? I'm not risky," She said.
"Hooking up with a total stranger without getting to know them is risky," I said.
"You're right," She said, scooting closer to me. "I guess I just rushed off a bit too fast," She said, with her head leaning on my shoulder.
"Yea, but you seem nice enough to put up with," I said while rubbing her mane. "We'll make it work somehow," I said, reassuring her. A thud came from downstairs, and something breaking. Penni covered my mouth before I can speak.
"Bandits are here... put this on, its a mk.1 hoof held bow device prototype, Hoof-Bow for short," Penni said, helping me get it over my hoof. "It's a long range, bow like weapon all built into this contraption. Tap the buttons on top with the other hoof to reload or fire," She explained quickly. "Now... out the window, shu," She said, pointing at the window. Come up from behind and take them out. Seems simple enough, hopefully.
I quickly jumped out the window, flapped my wings to settle my fall and started sneaking around the corner. Wait, how do I get this to star... oh that's cool. I pressed a button and a miniature bow like thing popped out of this. Let's just hope it works well enough. Two ponies inside, that seems easy enough... ouch. Oh no you aren't screaming. Fla-tit, arrow punctured the throat of an attacking earth pony. These arrows are sharp, but how much do I have left? Not now, got to sneak to the front door. Kay, doorway, lean in and aim for the head. Unicorn is more dangerous, that magic isn't making it easy soooo... Fla-tit, one done so reload and... hide. He has a fucking machinegun in his mouth. Run out of ammo soon please, it can't have that much ammo for such a small gun. Shooting gone, jumped inside and an arrow pierced his chest.
"I didn't expect that junk you call a weapon to work Pennilope," Clover said impressed. "Neither did I expect you to be so good at using it," Questioning my skills of a slinger.
"Dueling practice back home, bested my unicorn teacher so I guess I can easily take three ponies on," I said, bragging really badly for anyone's sake. "Should we be heading to Ponyville?" I asked rhetorically. I really wonder if the bandits would track us all the way to Ponyville, if it has as much defense as Clover said, I think they wouldn't want to charge us then.
"Yeah... lets get going then," Clover said, starting to walk out the store. "Stay safe Lew," And we walked out of the building to Ponyville.
Ponyville, its surrounded by a wooden wall around the perimeter of the town. He wasn't kidding about the defense, every second a pony walks around with a gun. This is a safe place, about time I stay somewhere without being killed. I mean hunted down, it's like saying I was killed many times. No immortality for me, no sir.
"Why is everypony looking at me weirdly?" I asked Clover, who just smirked.
"It's either because you're a bat pony or that you're with Pennilope... maybe both, who knows," Clover said. Is Penni really that bad or something? And what's wrong with my bat poniness!
"Welcome to Ponyville, how can I help y'all?" A young mare asked.
"Apple Bloom, now's not the time to introduce you to nobility but we need a place to rest," Clover said quickly. Nobility... what? What noble... oh me, he's talking about me. Using my title, that sly coop but who am I to blame him.
"Nobility? You mean her?" She said, pointing at me. Feeling the royal greeting already. "I didn't expect a noble to come here, I'm sorry miss..."
"Moondust, Starlesa Moondust," I said formally. Not my style, but it works right now. "All I do request is that why is everypony staring at me?" I asked formally still.
"We got word them... emhem... that Pennilope found... somepony to be with her... which is why everypony is staring," Apple Bloom said. Geez, is Penn that bad still? I wonder what got her this remarkable rank of jokester.
"Any problem with her?" I asked nicely. Try to keep cool Star.
"Not unless you count being the only lesbian pony here," She said nervously. Really now? That's why she's a joke to this whole town?! God damn this place is horrible to talk in.
"Enough with the daily news but can I just get a place with my friends to spend the night?" I asked, on the tip of exploding.
"Yeh, sure... just walk down the path and that house at the end is your place. Take the keys and go," Apple Bloom said, pointing in the direction. Gladly ready to have some privacy. How the fuck did they find out about me and Penni already? That seems nearly Impossible.
"Big house for the three of us. About time somewhere we can be safe," I said aloud.
"Just expect a royal welcome soon, they tend to hold up on that nobility thing," Clover said while he rested in a chair. Lazy lazy, what do you mean by royal... a basket of fruit? That seems fine with me, ooooo strawberries. Just take one and... Penni you bitch.
"Give it back," I said.
"Hmmmm, why? Do you like these?" She asked.
"Yes now give it back," I demanded this time.
"How about I... put this on your nose and you don't touch it?" She said, gently putting one on my nose. Drool slipped out of my mouth and a puddle began to form. Why do you do this? WHY!? Fuck it, I took it off and eat it. She can't just tease me like that, it doesn't work like that. "I guess you do like them... but what do you like more?" She asked. Oh what the fuck Penni, choose you over strawberries? This is stupid.
"You of course," I said quickly, is she trying to get attention?
"You can never be safe Star... even if Apple Bloom is trying to win your heart," She said, wait what?
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"We used to like each other, she just stopped and so did I. Everypony knew about me already, but only her closest friends knew about her," She said. "This is how she woos ponies to her," That makes a tad bit sense.
"I would never choose somepony else over you," I said, reassuring her. "Only you blush and make the cutest noise while doing so," That sealed it away with her blushing and smiling little.
"Thanks, I guess if you really think so about me," She said, still blushing. "Why you say that in front of Cloverul, couldn't you wait till we were in private?" She asked.
"If I'm not apart of it, then I'm fine with it," He said, then continued to ignore us.
"You are little but still mine to keep," I said to Penni, hugging her. "I'm not going to leave you, even if we just met. The gossip I can handle if it means staying with you for the rest of my life," I said, hugging her still. I hope this moment never goes away.
Author's Note
Took awhile but whew, finally done. Leave feedback... hoped you enjoyed yadee yadee ya. Leave questions and things I can do to make this story better and I mean it when I say I'll listen to you guys if you do.
Chapter 4: Noble, The Caretaker Heroine
"We need to get moving now!" Clover shouted at the both of us. That is not how you want to wake up in the morning.
"Why? This is the safest place you said," I said, losing my concern quickly.
"It's just, they tracked us here and he sent Dirty Rat after us," Clover said quickly. Dirty Rat... sounds familiar, where did I hear that name before? Back home in the cave? It can't be that dealer who hides aboard the supply boat. I had my chance to kill him, be a unknown hero but I couldn't, but if he's after us then it self defense which I can live by.
"What's his boss' name?" I asked Clover, who just starting making nervous gestures.
"Ehhhh... his name is... well its Petty Ruby," Clover spat out.
"I am soo scared of him," I said, making a fake scared look. "Just find him, tell him he's been challenged to a duel and blah blah blah,"
"Duel? A duel?! Why would you want to duel him?!" Clover scolded. I raised my hoof in protest and was about to explain myself. "You know what, I'll tell him about this 'duel' so get ready," He walked backwards out of the room and closed the doors. Penni looked towards me all worried. I wrapped my wing around her, moving her mane out of her eyes and kissed her forehead. She smiled and kissed me back. I must've been the most innocent thing before coming here, All these thoughts that have to wait till after the duel.
I got up from bed and headed towards the door. I looked back to see Penni, back asleep and safe. I leave the room and on my way to the outside world. Big mistake to challenge a criminal to an honor system like that but my cockiness got the better of me. There's no way he could turn down in offer like that, but then again... I don't expect him to play by the rules so much. To see such a crowd to watch a simple duel is not good. I trotted up to see him in his former 'glory' posing to be a famous gunslinger.
"Isn't it nobility at its finest. Decided to bathe in sunlight?" He asked rhetorically. "Oh and your eyes, those glasses go soooo welllll but I guess the brightness just doesn't adjust to everypony now does it," I don't like his attitude. Time slowed down and he continued to chatter away. Second time happening, means that something unexpected is going to happen. I flew at him, faster then ever and dove right behind him. Then a bullet whizzed through his throat, covering me in his dark blood. I activated my hoof-bow and aimed where the bullet came from. A little figure appeared but instead of shooting again, it left the scene. Time resumed and everypony is in a panic. Clover ran towards me in the midst of chaos, navigating through the pandemonium.`
"Are you okay Miss Moondust?" Clover asked within the shouting and screaming of the town. I looked fearful that instead of answering his question, I ran with Rat's cloak. (Sure, call me a grave robber but I deserved it for that devious plan of his.) The estate was fine but muffled screams came through the walls. I forgot to deactivate my hoof-bow but I'm glad now that I didn't. I saw a bandits, guarding Penni with some punk-ass leader interrogating her. She was gagged, had a switchblade stabbed through her right hoof, and tears streaking down her cheeks. I took aim and two fla-tits later, the bodyguards are twitching on the floor. Leaning in to see the boss more clearly, instead I get a stock to my head from a tall unicorn that appeared behind me.
"You've been quite the trouble for us, good thing you won't be here longer," She said, giving me a snarky glare. She was going to smash my head in again, but I blocked it with my reinforced hoof. I tried to trip her but she teleported away. I turned to see her with a knife. I got up and ready to fight, but I don't have any melee weapons to fight back with. Fairness is to high on my books to just simply shoot her but also she could catch it in mid flight and use it against me. Swipe after swipe I dodge, one manage to slice across my foreleg but then ricochet off my hoof-bow. Fairness isn't a reason to die for, while she was distracted I shot a arrow for her chest, instead with my unsteadiness I manage to pierce through her eye. Dumb luck, now I understand why they call it that.
I ran to Penni, who was still tied up in the chair with her hoof dripping blood. I pulled the knife out and heard her muffled scream again, I took the duct tape gag off (along with some hair off of her hide) and untied her. She fell on me, low breathing and tears still dripping. Driblets of blood fell onto the floor, I was worried and carried her to the bathroom to find some supplies. Setting her down, I ransacked the cabinets in search for bandages and something to clean the wound. Found some in the back of the mirror's built in cabinet and some rubbing alcohol. The wound went through her entire hoof, oh this was going to burn for her. Dabbing a piece of cloth with the alcohol, I tended to her wound, she let out a hiss of pain which is good, she's still alive. Wrapping the bandages around her wound, its really bad but hopefully it stays. She tried to move but I pushed her down to prevent her from making anything worse.
"Shhhh, Penni please don't worry. You're safe now and nopony is coming to hurt you," I said, rubbing her cheek carefully. They aren't going to touch her again, not until I'm dead. I helped her up and brought her to our room, setting her down onto the bed. "I'll be back Penni, don't worry," Kissing her forehead and leaving the room.
I heard arguing downstairs, I went to check it out and it turns out to be a white mare and Clover.
"Scootaloo knows some safe way to Canterlot, why can't you tell me where she is?" He asked quite angrily.
"Like I said, I promise to keep her position secret," The white mare said with a hint of frustration. Took a glance at me she did. "Scootaloo lives near the everfree forest, in Fluttershy's old cottage," She blurted out then covered her mouth. "You didn't hear that from me."
"Alrighty then, Clover take care of Penni while I visit this Scootaloo," I said, pointing a hoof upstairs. He nodded and ran up them. "You can go now," Pointing a hoof at the door, gesturing the white mare to leave.
"My name is Sweetie Belle, at least you could learn it," She snarled, leaving the estate. I got a meeting with a certain pony and I'm feeling a little funny about her. Wait... why did she blurt out Scootaloo's position to me? My nobility is a charm at times and a curse during others.
A wrecked olden cottage, windows barred and doors creaking with a sloppy sign saying Scootaloo's house, stay away. Couldn't just come here first instead of interrogating her Clover? Just focus ahead and knock on the door and... that's no good if it opens right before you knock. I enter wearily, expecting something, not expecting a skinny Pegasus with a familiar cutie mark. Didn't Sweetie Belle have a shield with some sort of symbol in it? Wait, didn't Applebloom too? Now's not the time to talk about cutie marks.
"You'll need a train to get there," She answered before me even asking, strange. "A favor for a favor if I may propose, the route for a deed," Oh no. "I'll just asked you to take the filly with you to Canterlot, then give her over to the palace," Why? Is she reading my thoughts and what filly?
"Why do you need an escort for the filly?" I asked. She grinned and showed me the white filly, her wings were glorious but her horn was much more majestic... wait what? This isn't possible, another alicorn here?
"Celestia's kin... surprised to see me with it? I am myself but the isolation was necessary to keep ponies from freaking out," She said while I was still gaping at the filly. "Tulip Passion her name is, Celestia loved tulips. Rainbow vouch for me to take care of her after all this nonsense happened, I didn't even want it but it's too late now," Makes sense why she wants this, but do I really want to be a foalsitter for an ruler's daughter?
"If its the only way then yes," I said, hoping nothing bad to come to the future ruler.
Author's Note
Sorry about this taking awhile, planned this chapter ahead (and some binge playing of fallout 4 and other games) but hopes of enjoyment are here and thanks for taking time to read my cringiness of a story.
Rubbing Penni's mane, she's adorable when she sleeps. Those bastards hurt her, she needs every calm moment to relax. As bad as I want to take the fight to them, I'm not enough to take on a group of murdering thieves. The door creaked open, popping out the white filly that I have to bring with me. I continue trying to comfort Penni, she's just so little compared to the bandits and they took advantage of that.
"You know we're not leaving till tomorrow Tulip," I said, addressing the filly.
"I know... just wanted to thank you for taking me along," She said in quite a down mood.
"Well... you're welcome. Try and get some sleep now," I said to the mopey filly.
"I know some healing, not magic of course but enough to see if that is going to be okay or not," She said, pointing to Penni's bandaged hoof.
"If you want to take a look at it sure... just don't hurt her," I said sympathetically. She just nodded and began to unwrap the bandages. Penni just shook a little but still asleep.
"Through the hoof, small incision though. Switchblade or a small knife wound, You cleaned the wound?" She asked. I just nodded and she went back to work. "Wound already clean, bandages are too little for this amount of bleed. Any absorbent cloth here?" I looked around and found a thick jacket. Cutting in with an arrow from my hoof bow, big enough to fit around a hoof. Handing her the cloth. "This will work well enough. Just as long as that hoof doesn't get put through stress it should heal fine," She said, turning around to exit.
"Thank you Tulip," I said. She nodded and walked out, leaving me and Penni alone once again. How am I going to keep her safe if we traveling all the way to Appleloosa? It's crazy and stupid thought but it's just a thought.
"Star..." Penni croaked.
"Shhhh, its okay Penni, I'm here," I said, comforting her.
"I know, its you I'm worried about," She said.
"Me? Why?" I asked confused.
"You need sleep, just lie down Star and sleep," She said with a tone of worriment.
"Fine," I said, lying down next to her. "If it makes you feel better,"
"You know it's going to be okay. Big Mac is coming along since he got business in Appleloosa," She said.
"Like that'll help much," I said with a roll of my eyes.
"It's Big Mac... Star, he's quite the shot with a gun, but not as skilled as tricking a sniper still," She said with a smile.
"Hey, I have my moments to slow down time and see a lens flare off of a scope," I said with confidence... and cockiness.
"You sound like that crazy doctor here, name is Doctor too and talks about time and space. Travel in time or something like that but no pony listened to him..." She stopped. She sighed and continued. "Besides a mail mare... who is a bit crazy herself but the town loves her, not her mix ups though. Anyways, she's been traveling around with the doctor and stuff but don't ask me where. Blue boxy thingy they go in which makes no since because its soo small," She said, before I stopped her.
"Let me guess, it disappears into thin air and they have adventures through any time or universe," I said, soaring my hoof in the air.
"Its weird I know, but ask anyone in town about those two and you'll get the same answer," She said. "Besides them, is everything ready to leave in the morning?"
"All ready, adventuring through time and space," I said, remaking the motion.
Author's Note
Leave feedback and thank you
Chapter 6: Adventure Awaits
Left, Right, so so oh so uptight. Everywhere I feel like an ambush will come out and take us out. The extra gun of Macintosh gives us a edge in gunfight. What happened to the old mayor anyways? Went to Canterlot to stop the disarray of ponies I heard, but the logic would be that ponies panic in Ponyville and just confusing? I'm pretty sure the mayor is smarter then that. it feels off, save that for later and focus on the now. Cliffs of valleys is a good place to hide, surprise, witness anything in the center. Train system in Ponyville is busted and its safer to travel on hoof nowadays. Safest path my flank, no path is safe when it screams ambuscade. I think that's the reasoning behind the silence because if it was safe, there wouldn't be a need for silence. The dread rises as we get farther, farther... father.
Why did I leave my home... it was a fine place without killer ponies. What does father think of me now? Hurt? Disgraced? Dead? What is known of me is not known unless you're with me right now. Focus Starlesa, focus. I can't be distracted by my own thoughts of guilt... or is it homesickness? AUGH, why do emotions carry so much power?!
Stay focus Starlesa, anything could come out around any corners and you would be to busy worrying about the past. If a group of bandits were to attack, you'll be dead so pay attention and nothing can surprise you, or can it? Why do you do this to yourself Starlesa? Ask too much questions and overthink the current situation. Would help if Macintosh or anypony would talk. But that's the thing, I heard fighting and due to the battiness of my ear, I heard it before anyone else did.
"There's fighting ahead, sounds a bit rough ahead," I told the others.
"We're going to check it out then, if it's the bandits, they'll need help," Clover said. Macintosh just nodded his head and we sped up a bit. Once we did get near the fighting, near because we saw plenty of blood to show that we are getting closer and the noise being louder. As we lurked we saw a minotaur wielding a battle axe and a type of shotgun, slashing bandits with the right and blowing the brains with the left. Unicorn prepares a spell and I aimed above the head of the minotaur, three seconds later, a dead unicorn was laying down next to the minotaur's feet. Teleportation is a hard spell to cast I heard, so they have a lot of advance unicorns or just very lucky. There's something up with them and I'll find out about it later.
"You help an unfamiliar face in the heat of battle and don't expect any rewards, I don't think wasting ammunition was intelligent but you're quick-witted," The minotaur said.
"Well, the least you could do and tell us your name," I said kindly. (trying not to piss off the giant bull)
"Bella, Bellathorn if you prefer the whole thing," She responded.
"Nice to meet ya Bella," Penni said, holding her hoof out. Bella took the hoof and shook. "My name is Pennilope and might I say that your combat skills are might impressive,"
"Yeah, we could use someone like you with us on our way to Appleloosa," Clover Said.
"My destination is on the way," Bella said with thought. "Sticking with others would make the journey less harsh."
"That's... reassuring?" I said with slight concern. Then again, a badass like her would be hard to deny having around. She doesn't seem evil at all but a bit crazy like a barbarian. Either way, I'm grateful for having her with us. Still within the valley of death and I just want to leave. I can fly but I don't want to leave the others behind.
Now coming up to a hill going up, I felt my mood rise to see this death path be left behind as we are met with open meadows. Still quite the walk to Appleloosa though, we won't be anywhere close until we hit the desert. We did get enough supplies before venturing out this far, so we should be fine when it comes to that. The green-brown grass looks beautiful in its own way though. Wait, why am I think about the grass all of a sudden? My thought wanders to much when it comes to these sights.
"We should start following the trail now to Appleloosa," Clover Said.
"It would be smarter to stay off trail, it seems like a natural place for bandits to set up. The amount of highway tolls or just straight up robberies would be greater on a path leading to your destination," Bella said.
"Our ammunitions might run dry if we walk and shoot down every bandit on the path and until they are stopped for sure, new ones would take their place," I said. "It would be better if we continue in the field towards Appleloosa where we have less chances of meeting up with any, plus Macintosh can guide us." With a nod, Macintosh led us off road and towards our destination. We should be there within 2 days Macintosh told us before we left. 2 days of on hoof travel through meadows and desert, not how I planned on living my life here.
The sun began to set into a wonderful twilight, spreading across the sky. That means we should start looking for a spot to anchor down for the night. Poor Tulip I on my back fast asleep and Penni is starting to show her limp off a bit with her tire eyes showing as well. The amount of stress I've been through is quite a lot. Seeing her like that keeps me going. But the shots of bullets pinging off of metal hit my ears first.
"Keep a slow pace," I warned. "I hear gunshots ahead and they don't seem friendly." This time, we get another shot at sneaking up on bandits. Thank you ears for being so keen.
As we closed in, the gunshots rang closer, and soon we saw a assortment of pipes bending up and down and structure, some even penetrating the earth. We saw a couple griffons pinned down by gunfire and the bandits keeping them down were high up. The arsenal these ones have are of a different league. The last few I fought had pistols and smgs but these had full on assault classed weaponry. Fully automatic and semi automatic rifles aimed down and suppressing the griffins before they can even peep a shot at them. Luckily enough, my skill could take them down in no time. Just the amount of energy I used today I can expect not doing much for longer. I dropped Tulip off onto Penni and toke to the air.
The cover they have is impossible to pass with bullets. Only shots that are aimed had chances of hitting but the griffins were pinned and unable to move. Unlike griffins and pegasi, bat ponies had developed wings to fly swiftly without sound, but with this we can't fly as fast. Sneaking up on those bastards shouldn't be too hard to do but seeing how dead accurate their shots are, I shouldn't take them as casuals.
As I fly above them, they continue to shout orders. They were moving ammo boxes up to keep the barrage going until they are dead. Sadly, they couldn't keep it up any longer. A few quick shots to the back of their heads and they were out. Then as the next came up the stairs, an arrow went into his throat to keep him silent. Down the steps and into the covered area, there were five of them gathering equipment to replace the silent gunshots. It didn't help that the fifth one was behind me and almost got the jump on me. But dodging at the last second and my vision tinted with blue, I turn towards her and shot an arrow at her face. I then proceeded to line up the next four shots and take them all down. Stealth operations at its finest.
As I finished up with the bandits, I heard hoofsteps coming up the steps. As I turned toward the door I was met with a barrel pointed right at me.
"Stay right there scavver," The griffin stated. "I will shoot if needed."
"Of course when you realize the true threat is me, its to late though," I said, cockily. "These bandits would've had you folks down in no time if it wasn't for me."
"Hah, like they could keep us down," The griffin replied. "But owing favors isn't something I like to do. My squad will be leaving so if you come to the griffin lands, hit up Victor."
"I plan on doing so if in need," I said. Not too soon after, my group arrived and the griffins left. We now have a solid place to sleep and we can get some more ammunition with us, as well as some new weapons to use. I would love to test out that semi auto rifle soon.
As the griffins set off and we get the place secured, we decided on sleeping inside the break room as its called. With the sleeping bags we have, and the shifts we are sure to be fine for the night. The moonlight in the sky shines elegantly off the metal pipes. The reflection could only be seen at close distance, but still is a beautiful sight. The night will be long but it should be a nice break from walking and give the non-combatants rest for a full night.
As the moon set position at the highest position in the sky, I continued looking throughout the night at the main path. I sighed as the breeze flew past me, giving a chill down my neck. The soothing wind brought peace to this watch and the wasteland itself.
"You know the night is still long, and you can't stay up for the whole of it," said a voice from behind. The smirking stallion Cloverul, was staring at the stars. "You should get some rest while I take shift."
"You may be right, but seeing the sky like this reminds me of my home sometimes," I replied. "It's so peaceful and nice to be out here and looking at the same sky I did while I was a filly."
"You sound a but homesick, you did run away if I was right because normal ponies don't just fly from another place, they would just take a ship to travel," He said. "After all, you are a noble who ditched duties for their own stubborn, selfish reasons."
"No need to remind me," I pouted. "I was always like this and only few others knew this side of me, one being my not so recently deceased mother and another being my dueling teacher. Its hard being a noble sometimes, especially one of my kind, constantly rejecting the other houses."
"Do you ever wonder about returning home?" he asked. I wondered many times if I could go back without hatred surrounding me. It would be pleasant to think that hope would be on my side, but after leaving I knew that going back would be the worst nagging sentence of my life.
"I would love to now, knowing this wasn't the life I had in mind." I said, reassuring myself. "But I knew what I was doing when I left. Its not the kind of place you would expect an easy life, we are very tight about outsiders. I'll be heading off the bed now so keep a good eye out on any passersby." As I head into the sheltered break room.
The cool metal of the floor stayed with me all the way to Penni's cot, with Tulip sharing it. The white filly was fast asleep next to the pink mare of my love, and to end the night, I kissed Penni's forehead good night.
Author's Note
Welcome back after a 2 year hiatus or about. Please leave any feedback so that I may improve this story for the better.
Chapter 8: Journey on the Tracks
The land rolls by as the train continues forward. Cargo with cargo and guards posted everywhere. We past Dodge City without any hassle so they must have moved on.
"Starlesa you should calm down." Tulip said, a bit worried.
"Not now, those things don't just wander off like that." I replied. I continued looking out the window and expecting some sort of attack. I know we aren't in the clear at all, after what happened there. Another few hours and we should be in Canterlot. This is dangerous territory we are currently crossing and should be weary. I look around the carriage we are in, it's reinforced window and siding along with supplies under seats and even more inside the caboose makes this train quite a worthy target for supplies. The open fields next to the distant town is giving me no ease at all. Seeing that once full of monsters town being completely empty just has an eerie feel to it. I just have this gut feeling that something bad will happen.
The train began to shook as we continued forward. It doesn't help with the hoofsteps on top of the carriage. The guards started shouting orders and got into defensive positions.
"Ready up everypony, expect a fight." one of the guards said. I got my rifle set while Clover readied his SMG and Bella cocked her Assault Rifle.
"I'm taking the fight to them, you two do the best you can keeping them off." I said before jumping out and flying towards the top of the train. The speed was quicker then my normal pace, thankfully I was close already so I easily got atop. The wind flowing through my mane and the bandits in front with explosives to blow the train of tracks. I aimed down the sights of my rifle and shot the 3 of them. I looked around at the nearby Cliffside and saw where the bandits were jumping from. Some started to shoot at me. These aren't just casuals, these are highly trained with better equipment than normal. The bullets grazed me as I try to aim, but no luck. I armed my hoof bow and took shots at them that way, only hitting few of them. Luckily the distance between the rest went away as we sped off. The bandits that jumped on were handled by the guards at the back on the train.
But just like that, in a flash, the two guards heads fell clean off their heads. Shortly after I felt a gash across my side. Holding it, I looked around and saw a Pegasus with bladed wings. I dodges out of the way of the next attack and took aim. The speed of the train and the Pegasus made it hard to even get a proper shot off. I took aim with my rifle once again and shot towards the Pegasus. Injuring her, she landed on the train. Seeing the skull on her armor told me she is of high ranking. She grinned towards me and dashed in my direction. I tried to take aim but she knocked the rifle out of my hoofs and off the train. Now in hoof to hoof combat, I'm seeing a great disadvantage here. She extended her hoof and out came a blade. Now at an extreme disadvantage, I would need another plan. She treaded closer by the second and I decided then, what to do. Jumping off the front of the train, I opened my wings and grabbed the side of it. Holding on I see the Pegasus chase after me, with her glaring blades out. I let go and went towards the caboose, grabbing onto the door, I opened and went through. Quickly I closed the door.
Blades tore through the reinforced door as she was stabbing for anyone inside, but that's the moment of silence I heard everything going downhill. The shouting in the carriage went dark, and so did my vision as everything around me flew around the closed off cart.
I woke up on my old bed, full of sweat. Just then my father walked through the door to my room.
"What has gotten into you?" He asked.
"I was just on a train and also I..." I stopped. This is one of those clichés dream after being knocked out. That means I'm still in danger. But that doesn't help the fact of the reality before me shifting.
I woke up to a wreckage of the place, burning wood and metal everywhere. I staggered along the debris and try to find my footing. This isn't the greatest of situations to be in, even without that flying blender. I looked through the flames and ash seeing nothing else but reflections of my past. The heat of the flames set across my body as I looked out towards the open fields, nothing but grass. I looked towards Canterlot and saw the city, and we were sooo close to it. Know this is how it ends, is just sad. I finally met the mare of my life and made wonderful friends, but this was a good life lived short. I need to get better, to protect everyone, even her. The blood started to rush now as tears fell down my cheeks. This was the end, I couldn't protect anyone, even myself. I'm scraped and full of cuts. The end of the line is here, and it ends with regrets of not being good enough to finish this life to the fullest. Now I understood why father was so scared of this place, these bandits seemed just everyday ponies with no knowledge in combat, but really they are just a bunch of savages, tearing the place up. I don't stand a chance against them at all, neither does Appleloosa, or Ponyville, I don't think even Canterlot could either. Ruby is one mean bastard, and he knows the next card before he even draws. As my vision dims, I see the last look of ash and fell to the ground, beaten by the horrors of Equestria.
Author's Note
Hoped you enjoy reading and please do leave feedback.
Chapter 9: Bleeding Halls
Cold steel under my back, blood dripping under me. I could barely move with the restraints holding me down and I could barely see. The cuts in my hide started dripping blood slower as I gain full control. My cheek has a burn sensation and I could barely feel anything below. As I struggled and mare walked in to the room, and recognizing those hoofsteps, it was someone familiar. The heavied armor Pegasus walked in glaring at me with disgust.
"When they wanted to torture you, I didn't think it was like this." She said. "Some methods are gruesome, but taking a ponies marehood away from her is something else." Undoing the restraints, she sighed and turned around towards the door. "These bastards have a problem that need fixing, their money isn't worth it anymore." She stated as she walked off.
I stood up, shaking and having problems just walking small steps. I wobbled to the door and caught myself on the wall. I struggled to continue into the hallway, leaving a trail of blood mixed with other fluids. The deep pit of grey and cold followed me all the way down as I stagger across, one blood print at a time. The wound on my forehead started to dripped down in my eye, tinting my vision with crimson. Anger building up, I starter moving faster. Shrugging the pain off, I continued down, blind with rage.
I pushed to door open, revealing another blood mess. The only thing that made me loose control was the sight of the familiar green hide and golden mane. Grabbing the nearest sharp object, I looked at the two ponies, full of blood. I walked up to them and with a evil grin on my face. Stabbing through the throat of one, then slashing through the throat of the other, splashing blood everywhere. I tasted copper in my mouth as I was gleefully slaughtering them. I looked at the murdered, desecrated, body of Cloverul. Seeing this sight made me worry about the others but filled me with even more rage then before. I saw a bag in the corner, clearly thrown there as if unimportant. I took a look and saw paper, food, and other things. I took it and walked out of the room. Forgive me Clover but I don't have time to give you a proper passing to the other world.
Continuing my path of blood and chaos, I marched onward, giving zero fucks about stealth at this point. I'm going to get out of here and going to see Penni one last time. Even if she's dead. The steel now feels warm under my hoof of blood. I continued until I came upon a window, full of a crimson sky. I look out and saw that I was high up, so I would have to walk down all the way there, meaning plenty of floors to clear out of here. Seeing my grinning reflection in the window, I knew I lost it, but it doesn't matter now. Its too late for mercy now, all I have to give is hatred and vengeance.
I opened the next door to reveal a weapon compound. The guards aimed at me, but wavered, seeing my full of blood, glaring into their tainted souls. Without hesitation, I charged them with the blade in hoof and stabbed the throat of the first one. Ribbing it out, blood spilling out, turning to the other. He fired a shot but missed, looking scared. Before I knew it, there was a scalpel between his eyes. I pulled the bloody tool out, only to receive a broken mess. Discarding the now useless weapon, I turn towards the cache of weapons, only being met with a few to select. I spotted a holster and equipped it. Pulling out a six-shooter from it, I knew this was the appropriate sidearm for me. Checking the current amount of rounds and the amount of ammunition I found around the room, I was set. I exited the room into the hallway, seeing the my trail of blood leading to my current position. I spun the revolver and grinned, this was it, every one of those bastards are fucked. I go to the stairwell, looking at the sets of stairs I'll be walking down. Plenty of floors to clean of this parasite, Lets hope that fucker is somewhere. Continuing my genocide of this building, I opened the door to the next floor. I was met with patrolling guards. I looked down the sights, lined up my shot, and boom. Brains splattered onto the floor and the other guard turned my direction. Not quick enough as his twitching body laid there on the floor. I'm noticing a trend of two guards everywhere. As long as this keeps up, I'll be just fine for now.
Clearing them out left and right as if this was just a nest of rodents. No good rodents who needed to be wiped out from this place. I had no place in this world anymore, I'm just as corrupted as them, but I'm taking them to hell with me. I've came upon a door, looking different from others. I kicked it down, scanning the room. I saw a evil grinning pony, staring right at me. I shot him, but the bullet deflected off a shield. This guy isn't going down easily.
"I'm surprised you made it here, honestly am." he said. "You don't look very well though." He was a regular earth pony, but with that protective shield, it means a unicorn is nearby. "Oh but look at this, there he is." Pressing a button, lighting up the place. The unicorn showed up, horn dimly glowing as he is chained up. The one unicorn who did this to me. I stared him in the eyes, like daggers darting into his soul. He cowered before me, but this was unlike him from before. Last time he was screaming, being an alpha male... but now this is sad. My heart dropped at the sight, I did the only thing I really wanted done, revenge. I shot the horn of him, interrupting the spell. Then I aimed at the smirking stallion, the only one who could, Petty Ruby. I looked him dead in the eyes before releasing the last bullet into his brain. I spat on his corpse and put away the revolver, that was for Cloverul.
I unbound the stallion and walked off. The hallway was filled with blood and corpses, nothing else. I walked down the steps, to the final floor, the first. Opening the door, I was met with a clean room, nothing wrong at all. I started to stagger down, losing my adrenaline from the fight. I reached the front door, looked up, and saw something beautiful. The face of my lover, the one I tried so hard to protect. I was able to see her face once more before passing away. I smiled as I fell to the floor, drenched with blood, unable to tell which is my own.
"She's in horrible conditions Pennilope, there is nearly no chance of her recovering." A familiar tone stated. "Her wounds were cause from sharp jagged objects so not a regular knife, but also these burn marks shows that a heated object was pressed onto her skin, and do I have to explain what happened anywhere else?"
"But she made it that far, she has to be ok." A upset mare muttered. "She can't just leave us now."
"Pennilope she has been fucked over, both figuratively and literally." Who I knew as Tulip said. "She is a mess and even if she does pull through, what would happen then? She was covered in blood when we found her and that wasn't all hers, she is not sane, her mental state is not normal."
"I know her though, she wouldn't hurt anyone innocent." Penni said. I couldn't open my eye after hearing those words. How many of them did I slaughter and how many of them could've been innocent bystanders. No, they all were the same, the only ones that weren't armed were the ones I caught by surprise. I thought it has been long enough for this charades of fake sleeping.
I opened my eyes to the wooden ceiling of the building we are in. I looked over my mummified body to see Tulip and Penni. I wanted to sit up at the time but my whole body was sore. I heard a disappointed sigh from the filly.
"She's awake now." Sighed Tulip. "She shouldn't wake up like this, she's not stable at all."
"She looks fine though, she is alright, right?" Penni asked. I heard a big sigh break the argument between them.
"She doesn't even show signs of pain after all that has happened around her, she is just pushing them out of her head so she doesn't feel the pain." A huffy tone said. "She doesn't have any little remorse for it, this just shows how much she lost it."
"Bella!" Penni exclaimed. "Star wouldn't change like that, plus its normal to hide those feelings, not everyone likes talking about it, especially if you are trying to just tough it out." with a disappointed sigh.
"GAH! We used every last bit of medical supplies from that building!" Tulip screamed. "Bella come with me and help me look for some more." as she stomped towards the door with Bella following. I was left alone with Penni now, as those two went to find more supplies for me.
"Here Star, I want to show you something." Penni said, helping me up. I leaned on her as my legs grew weak. She led me down to the other end of the room where the curtains blocked a door. She moved them and opened the door, leading to a balcony. I looked up into the sky full of light, the gentle embrace of the moon giving us a peaceful setting once again. The sky suddenly lit up with colors, gentle yet a sight to see. I was in awe, even after all that happened to me. I know these lights too, these are what my mother named me after, Starleian Array, they shine every few years across Equestria all the way to the Luna Ocean. I always enjoyed looking at them back home, it brings me hope. I feel a hoof wipe at my cheek.
"Its a wonderful sight Star, its okay to cry." Penni said soothingly. I didn't want to at all, but her words tugged at my heart. I couldn't stop my tears anymore. I burst out, letting all my sorrows out. I cried into her coat, drenching it with my tears. I felt her comforting hooves around me, embracing me. I sniffled as I looked at her, this mare's eyes were shining, reflecting my poor form back at me. I looked like a mess, bandages around me as if I'm dressing up for a costume party, and most of them were wet from blood. She smiled at me, giving me a warm feeling again. I didn't want to let go, I knew this was how it was meant to be. "Oh thank you Star for bringing his bag." She said. "He had important things in there, also enough rations to keep us going for a bit."
"Sorry for stopping this touching moment, but we should discuss where we are going." Tulip said, interrupting us. "I got a map of this general area, and it looks like we are close enough to Fillydelphia."
"We got out of Manehatten, so if we go south we should hit Fillydelphia." Bella added. "If we leave soon, we should be able to reach it in about a day, of course I would be carrying Starlesa all the way."
"Sounds good, should we start leaving now?" Penni asked. "I'll get packed up right away." She said, bringing me inside with her. I was brought back to the couch that I was laying on before. She set me down and went to gather the few supplies we have. I looked around but the blurry mess of a room, unable to perceive much of it. I heard the rustling of bags being packed and zipped as everyone was getting ready. "I forgot, but Clover got these for you." Passing a case towards me.
I opened up the small case to another pair of glasses, perfect for the occasion. I put them on and was introduced into the clear world. I looked up to Bella offering her hand towards me. I grabbed it and was pulled up into her arms. I think I overdid it with the massacre at the Manehatten tower, walking around with my wounds and pushing myself, now I'm next to useless with anything that isn't lighter then a pen. Now we walk towards Phillydelphia.
Chapter 7: Appleloosa and Abominations
Another day passes by and with the six of us trotting down the path, we finally see the grand sight of Appleloosa. The way here gotten pretty tricky once we had to cross the Ghastly Gorge. To be honest, hearing that we had to go south to reach Canterlot by train didn't make much sense to me, but my maps were not up to date and in the pass few years, Equestria has been entering a new age. Many railroads were made to connect surrounding cities without having to go to the middle of equestrian, making shipping and traveling easier. This boosted the economy a decent amount, now the only reason we can't go straight from Ponyville is that the tracks are out and busted so the train can't go through.
This western town was in relatively good shape with a general barricade around it. Due to the size they really don't need much of one to begin with. Macintosh said that the train that was bringing supplies to Canterlot was about to leave and we should be able to catch it. Now the problem is convincing them to hop on it towards Canterlot. Payment really isn't much of an option for us and asking nicely wouldn't do much either... maybe Macintosh could help us out a bit.
"Hey Macintosh, would you be able you help us get on the train?" I asked. He shakes his head no. "Would there be anyone that could help us?" He nodded as we were allowed into the town. Okay, that's a bit better. All bets on them helping us should hopefully be good with Macintosh on our side.
We come up to a building that appears to be where this friend of Macintosh's is. After Macintosh, we walked in slowly into a dim area. The building had cells in the back and was lit by natural light through a window. There was a stallion behind the desk, snoozing away while a bug-like pony walked up to us.
"Is there something that I could help you with?" He asked politely. His sleek obsidian shell and bright green eye gives him a different vibe, including the holes throughout his body.
"He's just here for a little visit Changer, that's all." Said the stallion who was snoozing a bit ago. His yellow coat and rust-color mane under his hat showed. "Cousins should visit more often after all."
"Just a simple supply pickup Braeburn." Macintosh stated.
"Simple doesn't explain the guests you brought with ya." Braeburn said.
"Well Braeburn, we kind of need a ride to Canterlot and were hoping to use the train you have to help us." I said.
"Just gimme a second with Macintosh and I'll help ya with your problem." He replied. A discussion later about a small caravan detachment sent with Macintosh to Ponyville for supplies and family debt, he finally turned to us.
"You want to use the train as passage?" He asked. "Sorry, no can do. Not enough room for passengers and enough guards to keep it safe."
"Its the only way there though, how else are we supposed to reach it?" I said desperately. He turned around and thought about it.
"We could strike a deal with each other." He said. "You and Changer go down to Dodge City and see what happened there. I lost word from a fellow from over there and I need to know what happened. However its going to only be you and Changer because I want it done silently."
"Isn't that on the way though?" I questioned.
"Exactly why I'm setting this deal." He said. "There might be danger and I would like to know before I send the delivery off, so that's where you come in backing up Changer and scout it out, so do we have a deal?" Extending his hoof towards me.
Not much of a option here to decline, so its the only way. "Sure, I'll accept." I said, shaking his hoof.
"Star, what are we going to do then?" Penni asked me.
"Just sit tight here and wait till I get back, it will be a quick and easy, in and out trip." I said, relieving her a bit. To be honest, I don't really know how long it would take. So now I have to go on a stealth mission this kid Changer (who is younger but also a Changeling as what they are called).
Kissing Penni goodbye, I went off towards Dodge City. The trip was short but still a few hours at most, thankfully we could both fly so it was quicker then walking on hoof. But the horror was once we reached there. The barrier was burnt and busted into splinters, along with the houses. But all the ponies there were mauled to death, intestines sprung everywhere as if it were a party of gore. The sight was horrifying and smelled rotten. Seeing the corpses on the floor and puddles of blood that looks like it was slung everywhere made me weary. But what got me the most was the lack of bullet holes but the obvious fact that a pony was behind this. This may take longer then I thought.
Checking every building out on the right while Changer got the other side, we slowly scouted the town out. The true horror is the one house we met up at was completely clean, lack of blood, or anything. I went in first with Changer following behind. It was clear besides the trapdoor there, giving off an eerie aura. I opened it, and checked out. It was clear as far as I could see, so I went down. The darkness didn't help and once again, I wished I had my father's genes for eyes. The tunnel continued down and eventually I saw lights.
The lights turned out to be a monitor, for a computer which is of the latest technology but what its doing down here is weird. I press a button on it and the screen lit up. A camera feed of the town being wiped out was on it. Ponies with bloodshot eyes and claws sharper then knives. They also have other parts of different species, now realizing those claws look like griffons but sharpen. Those wings looked bigger then they should for a regular pony. Chimeras are a creature, but these are those abominations versions. The unicorn in background controlling them gave the hint, but to see this horrifying act in process scared me. Seeing now that the town was torn to shreds by abominations like these, it scared me more to see that unicorn wearing the same sort of symbol on the cloak that I took off of Rat. Bandits having magic like that on their side makes them horrifying and also doesn't help that he isn't the leader behind it all. Once the leader goes down, it sure isn't bring the rest down with him.
After the video was done playing, it began to restart. I pressed a button and it stopped then a disc-like object came out of the computer. I took it and instantly knew that it was the video on this. I pocketed the disc and then shouting was heard. It was the time to bail out. Changer ran down the hall and I was after him. We were met with a horrifying face of an abomination waiting for us up the trapdoor. A quick shot to the face and we turned around back down to the tunnel. The door cracked and busted with splinters blasting everywhere. This chimera was a different sort from the feed. Tentacles flailing from the body and dead glaring eyes beaded at us. In the seconds of us spotting it, it charged at an incredible speed, catching up to us. The arrow in its head was seeping with ooze and clearly hadn't damage it at all. The hallway finally expanded into the room and as soon as we hit the point, we both dodged out of the way of the charging beast.
The chimera went straight into the computer and set aflame. It walked out of the electrical fire unfazed and staring right at us with those unmoving eyes. It slowly lurked towards us as we looked for an exit.
"Changer look for an exit!" I screamed. "I keep this thing distracted." Looking into its eyes. As Changer flies off, I shoot at the abomination to draw its attention. This didn't go as well as planned because it was still aflame. A tentacle from the monster slams down towards me. Dodging out of the way, I continue shooting at it. These things are almost unkillable, the easiest way would to take out the controller but I don't see her anywhere close. The monster tries striking at me again as I dodge it's attacks.
"I found the exit!" Shouted Changer. "Hurry over here!"
"On my way!" I shouted back, flying full speed. The trapdoor he found was open I flew out. Changer was close after until a tentacle grabbed his leg. He was pulled down and crashed into the floor. I looked around my surroundings to see for anything to cut at it. I looked to my right at the kitchen and found a knife. I grabbed it and flew back down full force. My vision tinted with blue as time slowed down, I hacked at the tentacle which held Changer and dodged the one that aimed for me. "Hurry out of here!"
With a nod he left and I followed after, slamming the trapdoor down. The smell of gas inside was not welcoming as all. We both sprinted out of the house but not before the trapdoor splatter over the room. Seeing the monster glisten under the moonlight with a toxic look. Then the thought hit me, as I aimed for the stove through the window. Releasing an arrow and hitting the metal stove creating a spark before the house went up into flames with a loud boom. The creature inside now hopefully in pieces and burning in that home. Without second thoughts we started to fly out of there.
In the dead of night, we came upon Appleloosa in silence. We entered the town and went straight towards Braeburn's office. Upon entering, the candlelit room was dim and we saw him sitting there.
"What did you find out?" He asked. I tossed the disk in is direction as proof.
"A massacre and monsters made of ponies." I stated. "Pony-made chimeras are what those things are and they are under controlled of those bandits."
"This is troublesome, the train will need more guards to get past that area." He mumbled. "A deals a deal so I'll send word to let you and your pals board tomorrow."
I nodded and walked out of there. I needed rest before tomorrow and I wanted to try and forget about that mess. I walked to where we were told to sleep. A small house for us to share. I entered and walked towards the bed that had both Penni and Tulip on it. The couch had Bella passed out on it with her legs hanging off. Then the recliner chair had Clover lying and snoozing off. I crawled into bed with my dear Penni and Tulip and decided it was time to drift off.
Author's Note
Thanks for reading and do please leave feedback on anything I could do to improve.
