Walk The Aftermath

"They should've been back by now. At least Windy should've."

Stone Temple aimed her gun the way that she had seen Windy Nights fly, and sighed as she set it down after a few moments of looking.

"Maybe they just got caught up talking because they found each other?"

"Doubt it. Angel told me to look out for her return in one hour exactly."

"How long has it been?"

Stone Temple looked through her scope one last time, scanning the west direction.

"Longer than that."

After a few more seconds, Redline came up into Stone Temple's tower.

"Shift's over Stone."

"Ok. How's my sister? She sounded pretty nervous over the walkie."

"Seems about fine, so don't worry none. Who's in the other 'gain?"

"High Road."

"Ah, right, thanks. Well, you go in take a break them, and I may also suggest gettin' a bite to eat."

"I surely will, thanks."

The two exchanged smiles, and Stone Temple ran inside the mini-mall, quickly spotting her sister.

"Hey."

"Hey. How are you?"

"Well, considering the circumstances, I'm feeling ok. What about you?"

"Tired, worried, wishing I was back home."

"I know how you feel, I miss home so much. By home I mean PonyVille, I was getting so sick of ManeHatten."

"Well, if there's any chance of us gettin' back home, it'll be wonderful having you back."

"It would be nice to be back. You ever wonder if maybe somewhere out there in this world, there's a farm just like the one at home?"

"You know, if there were one, one just like the old one, I wouldn't want it here. The farm was just, too prestine, to beautiful to ruin here."

"Guess that's a better way of looking at things."

Stone Temple smiled as she sat down beside her sister, back against the wall.

"Remember it? The farm?"

"I'd never forget. The house always smelling like mom's cooking, dad always telling us a story beside our bunk beds, spending stormy days out in the loft of the barn with Daisy."

"Dammit I miss Daisy. Dumbest dog on the planet but hell if she wasn't the cutest."

The two sisters chuckled, trying to ease the pain of what their lives had become. Stone Temple looked around at the head count, and having it seem rather low, turned to her sister.

"Where is everypony?"

"Well, you know where High Road and Redline are, ThunderBolt and Windy Nights are still out, and I think Stitch wanted FireStarter to look at something."

"What something?"

StarFire shrugged and pointed toward the rear exit.

"They went that way if you wanna find out."

"Well?"

"Well, the body seems to be in tact as much as it can be, aside from some minor rust spots and some abbrasions. However, we have several small problems."

"What problems?"

"For starters, this exhaust system is riddled with holes. It'll still run, but expect company, because it'll be loud. Second problem, there seems to be some wiring problems in the ignition system. Nithing I can't handle, it'll just take some time. Third, and this only is gonna be between you and me, ok?"

"Ok, what is it?"

FireStarter get off from his spot on the ground and stood up close to Stitch.

"This thing only has six seats. If you're planning to take all of us plus supplies, we're gonna need a bigger one."

"Maybe my intent wasn't to take you all."

"Well you know, I'd say the amount we've helped you out, we've kinda earned it."

"Well let's see if I have this right, even if you were the top contributer, there would still be some left behind. I'm judging this by character and contribution, and only so many can make it. If we use all six, here's what we got. Me, Redline, Angel, ThunderBolt, Bubble Blitz, and Windy Nights."

"That's still three of us left behind, you don't think that just maybe we could find another one?"

"Listen. There are only so many vehicles nearby, and none of them are very much bigger than this. Unfortunately, some will have to get left behind."

"Unless you can get two running."

The two stallions looked at Stone Temple, who was leaning against the doorway. Stitch looked to FireStarter, then back to Stone Temple as he walked towards her.

"Alright then, there's your next mission. Find another vehicle, and find a way to get it back here. You and your group can take one vehicle, the rest will take another. We get the fuck out of this place before those guys can come back and attack us."

"Deal."

Stone Temple's hoof commected with Stitch's, and the two nodded to each other as they shook.

"You'd better get to work."

Stitch said as he turned and looked at FireStarter before heading back inside. FireStarter sighed after the door closed and Stone Temple looked at him.

"Congratulations, you've officially bitten off more than either of us can chew."

The tent was just barely big enough for the three of them, so Shadow Spot would occaisionally leave to get some fresh air. When she came back in for roughly the sixth time, Windy Nights was trying to comb her hair with her hooves, and ThunderBolt was lying on the ground, facing the wall of the tent. Many silent, awkward moments passed before Shadow Spot sighed and looked at TunderBolt.

"So, how have you been?"

ThunderBolt didn't even look at, let alone respond to the mare. She shook her head and looked at Windy Nights.

"How about you, how are you doing?"

"Don't."

The two mares looked at ThunderBolt, who was now standing up and turning to face Shadow Spot.

"Been a long damn time hasn't it? Mind explainin' what was going on with mister freakshow earlier?"

"Don't even get started on him, I hate him just as much as you do. Besides Bolt, you know he's not exactly my type."

"Yeah, right, and you're still into dubstep, and you still own a club. Same pony as before, right?"

"What the hell is your problem ThunderBolt? I swear, nothing happened between WheelSmith and I."

"WheelSmith huh? So what's to stop 'WheelSmith' which is a really stupid name by the way, from getting what he wants?"

"Because.."

Shadow Spot poked her head out the tent's entrance and looked around. Nopony was in the immidiate area, the only guard on the wall she could see was looking off intonthe distance, and all the other lights in the tents were off. She pulled her head back in and motioned for the other two to come closer.

"I have a plan ok? If we can sneak out of here and get to those front doors I can get them open if we make an outside distraction loud enough. It's a longshot, but those work sometimes. So, you two in?"

"I'm in."

Windy Nights chimed as she put her hoof out with not hesitation. Shadow Spot smiled and put hers on top of it. The mares looked at ThunderBolt, who after a couple second smiled and walked over.

"You haven't changed one bit Shadow."

ThunderBolt wrapped his hooves around Shadow Spot in a quick hug before putting his hoof on top of the others.

"I'm in."

"Supposin' we can't?"

"I'm not saying that we can't, it's a matter of how smart an idea it is."

"What are you two bickering about?"

Stitch and Redline both turned to look at Angel Boulon, who had entered from the tower after speaking with High Road.

"Your husband is thinking about getting us all killed."

"Tell me something I don't know. What is it sweetie?"

"So, if them's guys is thinkin' 'bout attackin' us, what about a pre-emptive strike?"

"So, we hit them, before they can hit us? Could work, I suppose they wouldn't be expecting it."

"See? She get's it."

"Yes but getting it isn't the problem, it's the logistics. Every detail counts nowadays Redline, I thought you knew this. We have no location, we have no guess of how many ponies are there, and we have no idea how well armed they could be!"

Redline looked down at the ground and let out a long breath.

"Know what, what if I go get 'em?"

"Who?"

"Windy and Thunder. I'll go out tomorra and go look for 'em."

"No. We already have so few ponies here and if the worst has happened to them, we can't risk losing them."

"Well what the hell can we do then? Guarentee ya we's outnumbered and outgunned, and we don't exactly got much ammo to spare anyhow."

Stitch put a hoof to his chin in deep though for a second. Soon, he perked up, and even smiled slightly.

"Say, Redline, what all fo you know about cars?"

"Worked on a few, why d'ya ask?"

"I think I have a plan, go find Stone Temple and FireStarter for me."

"Move."

The trio quickly followed the command, and ducked down behind the tent. Shadow Spot peeked around the corner at the guard that was walking around, and motioned for the others to move again. When they stopped for the second time, they were up against the wall, close to the corner adjacent to the exit.

"Alright guys, it's basically a straight shot to the exit from here."

"Question, how the hell do get the gates open?"

"That won't matter, I have a plan. Since you two can fly, we could get out easy. But obviously I can't, and I don't know how keen you two are on carrying me."

"Not very."

"I'm with him."

"What I thought. Either way, that guard up there will walk over the doors at some point, and when he does, we're gonna push him off and let one of tee dead attack him."

"Question."

"Yes Bolt?"

"How does that help us escape?"

"In all the commotion, we'll either be able to slip out, or if we can find another way out, we do that."

ThunderBolt looked at Windy Nights, who was rather blank faced looking atbthe ground.

"You alright there?"

"I'm just thinking it over. There's no way somepony won't notice us. And even if a zombie gets to him, what's to say he won't just kill it, them most likely do the same to us?"

"Well, looks like we're gonna need a few more zombies."

"Dear lord, what convoluted plan are you thinking up ThunderBolt?"

"Answer me this, where are the vehicles in this llace kept?"

"Well, in the garage outside. There's a way into it from here, but getting one out without starting it or the door making noise is your problem."

"If you can get me a key to one of the vehicles, I can handle the rest. You'll just have to give me 'till morning."

"ThunderBolt, we don't have the time. That psycho wants to put us in one of those things they found StarFire in, remember?"

"Just trust me ok? I know what I'm doing."

The two mares of the group looked at each other, Shadow Spot shrugging and looking at ThunderBolt.

"The keys are kept in the storage tent in the corner to the northwest, the door is just to the left of it."

"Good, now I have one little thing."

"As always, what's your discrepancy this time?"

"There are still some innocent ponies here, do you think we could get them out in any way?"

"I can try to get some to leave just before morning, but I really can't promise anything."

"Well, as long as we can get out, and I can get back to Bubble Blitz, that's all I care about. I'll see you two in the morning."

ThunderBolt quickly checked the corner before darting over to a tent, then dissapearing behind a different one. Windy Nights turned to Shadow Spot with a confused look on her face.

"How the hell does he know what he's doing? Has he like, done this before?"

"Who knows, let's just hope it went right last time if so. We should get back to the tent, gonna need to be sharp tomorrow morning."

Redline's breath was almost visible in front of his face in the cool night air. His rifle was leaning against the wall to his right, while he was smoking a cigarette, leaning over the front. He looked over at the opposite tower, where Stone Temple was pouring a few pills into her hoof, quickly swallowing them followed by a gulp of water. Redline decided not to press about the pills, just in case it was a personal or embarrasing reason, and looked back at the city. He squinted as he saw a short flash of light coming from the way the enemies had walked.

"Shit."

He mutteref to himself, grabbing his rifle and aiming in at the driver.

"What the actual-"

The roar of the engine grew louder, and as the inside light of the RV flicked on, Redline saw the brilliant blue eyes through the familiar black and red mane.

"Son of a bitch."

Redline chuckled to himself, putting his rifle on his back and running down into the main building. The RV was just pulling up to the front gate as Redline reached it. ThunderBolt shut the car off and twirled the keys around in his wing as he got out.

"Oh hey."

"Where in the hell've ya been? And also, where'd'ya get this baby?"

"Oh, near a compound I was taken to. Same group that put StarFire in that trap. Say, anypony awake?"

"Yeah, probably are now, c'mon in."

Redline opened the gate so that ThunderBolt could get inside. As soon as the two stallions got inside, ThunderBolt ran over to where Angel Boulon had Bubble Blitz. The filly ran over to ThunderBolt, and he knelt down and embraced her.

"Hey, hey, it's alright sweetie, I'm ok."

"So what's going on?"

ThunderBolt looked up at High Road, and stood up fully upright. He looked back at Redline, then cleared his throat before walking closer to High Road.

"Well, Windy Nights, along with a friend of mine, they're in a camp out that way, and the guy running it is more than likely gonna get both of 'em killed when they see that I'm gone. So, here's the plan."

Shadow Spot was sitting outside the tent when the sun was rising, and High Road was inside, sleeping. WheelSmith walked outside of his tent, several others coming out of theirs as well. Shadow Spot gulped and looked toward the vehicle pool, hoping ThunderBolt really did know what he was doing. WheelSmith walked up to Shadow Spot and smiled at her, lifting her head up with his hoof.

"Good morning sunshine, ready for the execution?"

"Exec-, what?"

"You think I didn't hear? The little plan, that funny-talking one leaving here, him coming in to save you? Well, you'd better hope he comes quick, because you've got about five minutes."

WheelSmith drew a switchblade from the side of his holster and flipped it open beside Shadow Spot's neck.

"You were the last one I expected to betray me. Now, you'll be the last one that ever will."

After flipping the knife closed again, WheelSmith threw Shadow Spot toward center of the compound, where a guard took her and restrained her. Seconds later, Windy Nights emerged from the tent, WheelSmith holding a knife to her back.

"Comr in then, both of you, on your knees."

The mares followed the command, kneeling down facing the front gate.

"Dammit Bolt, where are you."

Shadow Spot muttered to herself as WheelSmith walked in front of them.

"Everypony, look and listen. The other night, you sae what happens when you betray those who took you in, fed you, armed you. Those who kept you off the streets, sheilded you from the hell outside these walls. These two are the last ponies that will ever betray me, or will ever betray any of you."

WheelSmith drew his revolver with his magig and aimed it in between Shadow Spot's eyes. He clicked the hammer back and looked back to the gathered survivors.

"This, is what happens when you turn your back on people!"

Just as he turned back to fire the gun, all the survivors turned when they heard a musical horn mixed with an engine slowing to idle. The two guards on top of the wall aimed their guns at the RV.

"Don't fire."

WheelSmith walked up the stairs onto the wall and looked at the RV as he switched his revolver for his SMG. After a few motionless seconds, the door opened, and a white flag waved around before ThunderBolt emerged.

"Hello then!"

"Well well, look who came crawling back."

"Sorry about the hard feelings and whatnot, just came for the pick-up, believe I ordered two mares?"

"Real funny. Why don't you do yourself a favour and drive right back outta here funny man, I got a new plan."

"Really, does it involve, this?"

On the last words, the two guards beside WheelSmith were shot in the head in rapid succession.

"Two shots in about two point oh three seconds. Now, I assure you I'll have absolutely no trouble with the rest of your compound, so why don't you just open up them fancy gates, and I can be on my way."

"Nice try, but you're too late, the execution's already taken place."

ThunderBolt, who was leaning against the front of the RV, put his two front hooves up and pushed himself forwards.

"I get it, I get it. When you're right, you're right."

ThunderBolt whistled for Redline to jump back in, and the vehicle started up and took off after both stallions were inside. WheelSmith chuckled and walked back down the stairs.

"That was your rescue plan? Birdbrain coming in and asking politely?"

He laughed as he walked up to Shadow Spot and smacked her in the side of the face with the stock of his gun. Shadow Spot was knocked unconcious, but WheelSmith chuckled and looked at her while speaking.

"He's really something, that one is. Too bad he has an terribly premature sense of when to quit."

"He's got great timing though."

Windy Nights said, promting WheelSmith to look at her. Once again, just before the trigger was pulled, the horn sounded again. This time however, the RV came crashing in through the front gates, making those unarmed scatter. ThunderBolt had his left wing out the window, shooting down any armed ponies with his revolver. Redline had the windows open, and was doing the same with his rifle. After they had all been cleared out, and only WheelSmith remained, the two mares started smiling. When WheelSmith had initially ducked for cover, he dropped his UMP, and now tried to levitate it before Redline shot it, pushing it further away as well as damaging it.

"Well well, quite the compound you got here isn't it? Anyways, since you two are with me, I suggest you just jump up and-"

ThunderBolt was cut off when Redline screamed out after being tased by a guard that was either hiding or not hit. ThunderBolt took no time in shooting the mare in the head, but unfortunatley was too late to prevent Redline from being incapacitated. WheelSmith drew with revolver with his hoof, and shot at Windy Nights. Windy Nights couldn't react fast enough, and the shot hit her just beside where her right wing connects to her body.

"No!"

ThunderBolt yelled as he jumped at WheelSmith, who fired a shot that fortunately missed. The revolver was knocked out of WheelSmith's grasp, and slid over to Windy Nights. Having the jump on him, ThunderBolt was able to land a few hits on WheelSmith, but soon the fight flipped, and WheelSmith was landing mutiple hits to ThunderBolt's face. After about nine or ten hits, ThunderBolt stopped fighting back, and WheelSmith smiled with blood-stained teeth as he drew his knife.

"Any last words you little freak?"

ThunderBolt looked to his left to spit some blood on the ground, and saw that Windy Nights was shakily grasping the revolver in her hooves. He smiled as he turned back to the other stallion.

"You're name is fucking stupid."

ThunderBolt turned his had to the side, the blood that came from the fired bullet racing through WheelSmith's head only splattering onto the side of his head. The stallion's body fell on top of him, and he pushed him off slowly, rolling over onto his stomach afterwards.

"Windy."

ThunderBolt started pushing himself off the ground as he watched the gun fall from Windy Night's hooves. As her head hit the asphalt, he crouched down beside her.

"Cmon...cmon...you can make it through this Windy."

At this point, Shadow Spot was starting to come to, and the first thing she saw she saw was ThunderBolt holding pressure on Windy Night's abdomen.

"Thunder, get her to the RV, I'll get your friend!"

Shadow Spot pushed herself off the ground and ran off to Redline.

"Hey, sir, wake up!"

When Redline opened his eyes, he shook his head and shot up, looking around.

"What happened?"

"No time, start the RV, we need to get out of here ASAP."

Redlime nodded and got off the ground with Shadow Spot's assistance. As he hopped in the vehicle, Shadow Spot ran over and helped ThunderBolt lift Windy Nights up and into the RV. The RV sped out of the compound, spinning a quick one hundered and eighty degrees before tearing out of the parking lot, leaving the remaining members stunned. Windy Nights was laying on the bed in the RV, ThunderBolt and Shadow Spot at either side. She was concious for the most part, but fading in and out every so often.

"Come on, you can get through this."

"How far to your camp?"

"At the speed we's goin', 'bout five minutes."

"We don't have that time."

Shadow Spot said to herself as she moved back to the bed. As she pulled out the knife she took from the kitchen, ThunderBolt's eyes widened.

"Woah woah woah, what're you doing there?"

"The bullet didn't go through, we gotta get it out and clean it up."

"Are you sure about this? It really doesn't seem sa-"

"Bolt, I need you to trust me on this. For her more than me."

ThunderBolt looked at Windy Nights, who was looking uo at him after just coming back into conciousness.

"What do you need?"

"Some alcohol, and some bandages or gauze. There should probably be a medkit somewhere on here."

"On it."

As ThunderBolt darted out of the bedroom to fetch the supplies, Shadow Spot exanined the wound.

"Almost all the way through. Ok sweetie, this is gonna hurt a hell of a lot if you can feel it, but you gotta be strong."

Windy Nights gave a weak nod to Shadow Spot just before she started slipping out of conciousness again. Shadow Spot wasted no time in cutting Windy Nights open just above the wing. Windy Nights gave a small cry of pain, but soon fell unconcious.

"Shit."

"Found it, here."

"Just in time."

Shadow Spot used the knife to pull the mishapen chuck of lead out of Windy Nights body, and tossd it aside as she took the medical kit in her magic.

"Ok, I need you to see if she's breathing, and if she isn't, you'll have to perform CPR."

"What? I don't know how to do that!"

"Now's a hell of a time to learn then isn't it?"

Shadow Spot quickly poured a rather copious amount of rubbing alcohol onto two sections of guaze and held them on both wounds. ThunderBolt softly put his head against Windy Nights' chest, and after hearing nothing, leaned back and took a deep breath.

"Guess we're doing this now."

Shadow Spot looked up from her bandaging to see ThunderBolt locking his lips onto Windy Nights', attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. After a few breaths, ThunderBolt moved his head back to Windy Nights' chest, and again heard nothing. He cursed under his breath, and Shadow quickly taped up the bandages.

"Here, I'll give it a shot."

ThunderBolt stepped back and nodded as Shadow Spot took in a deep breath, put her lips against the other mare's, and softly blew. After a few attempts, Windy Nights' eyes shot open. She pushed Shadow Spot away and began vomiting into the garbage can beside the bed.

"Oh come on, I can't look that bad."

"This isn't from you."

"I know. Welcome back soldier."

Shadow Spot walked to the other side of the bed and sat down, gently patting Windy Nights' back.

"Thank you, by the way."

"Hey, don't mention it."

As the three in the back felt the vehicle slow down and stop, ThunderBolt looked out the window at the compound, Angel standing in the gated front section with Bubble Blitz.

"Well, we're home."

"Good thing, we need to get Windy patched up and back up on her hooves."

"I'm fine, I've just never been shot before."

"Well, wouldn't it be nice if we could all say that."

"Unfortunately it seems like it may happen to all of us. Come on, I'll help you out."