In Whitetail forest was a Zombie ghoul who was wandering aimlessly. It stopped suddenly looking around and sniffed the air it shivered when it smelled food. It turned towards the smell which it followed until it arrived at a cliff. In front of the ghoul was a small town that had a large sign the read No Zebra, but it was missing the B in zebra, so it actually said No Zera. The ghoul’s stomach growled at the thought of all the food it could find, it let out a ferocious roar that was cut short by it’s head exploding into bloody chunks.

“Boom Headshot!” I yelled excitedly to myself lowering my sniper and turned to my left to see my friend Sparkler who was a silver unicorn mare asleep against the wall spooning with her sniper rifle. “Hey Sparky wake up it is your turn for sniper duty,” I said as I shook the sleeping mare awake.

“Okay, okay Blossom I’m awake,” The silver mare yawned and stretched as she stood up. “You seem to be in more of a hurry than normal,” The unicorn noted rubbing her left eye.

“Well of course, it is a special day after all,” I exclaimed happily hugging my best friend.

“And that is?” Sparkler asked curious about what I was talking about, then her eyes lit up with realization. “Oh it’s your sister’s wedding,” She said with glee. “Make sure you bring me some cake okay.”

“I will Sparkler,” I assure my friend before I raised my hoof to my head and Sparkler did the same. ”may Celestia guide your hoof so you never miss,” I start our farewell before Sparkler added.

“And may Luna guard your dreams from evil,” the silver unicorn finished with a smile. “Alright you gotta get going girl before your sister starts to worry.”

“Okay see you soon Sparkler,” I said to Sparkler as I ran out of the room and ran into Corpse Maker who was a tall lanky stallion with black patches on his ragged, dark grey hide, and dark blue mane. “Good evening,” I greeted. He rolled his eyes, mumbled incoherently and strode on past me as if I wasn't there.

I continued to the local pub to grab the cake for my little sister’s wedding. I stopped when I heard low voices behind the pub, the first being a deep one with a Bucklin accent, and the second being a rough deep voice with a Trottingham accent that seemed to be coming from the voice box of a riot gear helmet, or power helmet. “I told you already, I can't do this. I can’t keep this up, knowing what I’ve done,” the second voice seemed to begged.

“You know what the boss will do to you if he hears that you're quitting,” the first voice said. “He’ll kill you Cards,” he warned the second voice.

“I deserve it after what I’ve done,” the second voice, Cards I think, said. I decided to move on, when voices raised, then there was a chuffing noise before all was quiet. I heard a bang from something being kicked, and hoof steps behind me, and turned to find the gate, to the rear patio of the old pub, wide open with bloody hoof prints leading away, and into the desert.

A pegasus in faded black elite riot gear with a white peace sign with three pink butterflies on the left side of the helmet, and a black armored duster staggered out on his hind legs with a chrome double barreled riot shotgun with a zebra style redwood stock in his left hoof, but it wasn't a hoof. Not as nice as my rifle, and it was a strange sight nonetheless. He then looked down at the blood on his armor before cursing about a silencer and charging into the desert, following the blood, as he himself bled. It smelled like, wait wine?

I shrugged before walking into the pub and was hit by the heavy smell of booze. I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out a piece of paper that had the cake order written in neat writing. I dodged a lot of the wandering drunks until I found Cheesecake who was on register duty today. “Hey cheese how’s the Twins doing today?” I asked the pretty graham colored pegasus mare. She moved her pure white mane to the side to get a better look at me with her cherry red eyes.

“Oh their doing swell Radiant like little angels,” she said giving her wings a happy little flap.

“That is wonderful Cheesecake,” I compliment with a happy smile before putting my cake order paper on the counter. “Anyway I need to pick up the cake for the wedding today,” I say proudly to the pegasus.

“Of course dear,” she said grabbing the order ticket and flew into the kitchen there was a sound of pots and pans clanging before a white stallion with black swirls all over his body. His horn gave off a faint brown glow as he levitated a medium white cake that had two little hoof carved wooden figures of the bride and groom. “Ooh that's pretty,” I comment as Marble Cake, who was the stallion carrying the cake.

“It sure is Radiant,” The Stallion agreed before he set the cake down on the counter. “So are you excited for the wedding?”

“Of course I am,” I answered with excitement. “My little sister is getting married today,” I say excitedly grabbing the cake in my magic gently. “Anyway I gotta hurry I am the best mare at the wedding,” I waved goodbye and left the pub, once outside I began heading toward a white building. The building was decorated by three symbols a sun, a moon, and a crystal heart. Walking inside I was greeted by a pink unicorn with a pale pink mane who greeted me with a hug.

“Hey big sis,” She greeted with a smile.

"Hi Cherry Blossom,” I greeted my little sister who was dressed in our mother’s wedding dress. “You look amazing,” I compliment the bride to be, though I soon noticed something a bit off about her attire. Around her neck was a gold pentagon charm with a star connecting at all five points, she noticed me looking at it.

“So you noticed my newest piece in my collection,” She said showing off the necklace. You see my sister is an enchanted jewelry maker and is the reason why our town is a trade route for a lot of caravans. “It was enchanted to bring good fortune to anyone who wears it,” She uses her magic to take the necklace off and put it around my neck.

“I can’t accept this,” I tell her confused as to why she would give me this especially on her wedding day. “Not on your wedding day.”

“You can and you will,” She tells me pointing her hoof at my chest. “I made it for you since you seemed so miserable after mom died,” She added with a sad look in her eyes.

“Hey it is your wedding day,” I tried comforting her by hugging her again. “And mom would be upset with me if I ruined your big day.”

“I guess you’re right,” Cherry agreed with a happy giggle. “You can put the cake over there next to the gifts on that table over there,” She pointed to a table stacked high with wedding gifts.

“Yes ma’am,” I say with a playful salute, and levitated the cake to the table and set it down on the table careful not to cause the table up end. “Anything else commander Cherry Blossom,” I asked playfully.

“Yes,” she said in a commanding voice before smiling. “I need you get ready for the wedding, you can’t come dressed in that dusty old coat you wear to work,” She pointed to my old hand me down coat I got from my mom who told me it was our great, great, great, great grandmother’s.

“I guess you're right,” I said sheepishly. I saw something red behind the chapel, but it disappeared as soon as I saw it, so I thought nothing of it as I followed my sister. I followed her until we arrive in the back of the chapel where Cherry opened a door revealing a silky white dress with some amethyst stars sown into the dress in a firework blossom like my cutie mark.

Oh my Celestia I love it, I thought to myself then I looked at my sister. “Are you serious Cherry you know I don’t like dresses,” I lied my eyes quickly dart to the left and then to the right.

“Sure you don’t,” Cherry said sarcastically with a knowing grin. “But can you do it for your little sister,” She said giving me the puppy dog eyes.

“Only for you sis,” I say with a smile hugging her. “Anyway you need to get ready for the ceremony,” I said pushing her out of the room. “I uh gotta get dressed for the wedding in this ugly thing,” I said with a fake frown with my eyes shifting back and forth, before closing the door.

Finally alone with this beautiful dress, I thought with a wide smile on my face as I took off the dusty old coat and grabbed the dress, slipping it on I looked in a mirror the dressed matched my turquoise coat and raspberry mane that ranges from rose to dark raspberry. “Mare you look good,” I tell my reflection before I walk over to my dusty coat and pulled a revolver and a bag filled with what appears to be gum. “Just in case,” I tell myself before strapping the holster to my gun to my hind leg and but the dress over it concealing the weapon.

“Hey hurry up Radiant the ceremony is about to start,” My sister said knocking on the door. I quickly took the bag of ‘gum’ and hid it in the ammo pocket of the holster for safe keeping.

“I’m coming,” I answer as I opened the door and was greeted by sister wearing a wedding veil. “You look gorgeous sis,” I say complimenting the Pink unicorn. “If we were not related I would be jealous,” I said jokingly as she gave me a smile before hitting me in the arm.

“Shut up,” She said laughing. “Makes me second guess about you walking me down the aisle,” She joked before nudging me and I heard music start. I didn’t respond instead I walked beside beside Cherry as she walked towards the priest and a stallion dressed in a tuxedo.

We part ways when we reach her future husband and the Priest while I sat down a little ways away. The priest cleared his throat before he started, “Ladies and Gentlecolts, we gather here today to-.”

I stopped paying attention there when I saw a shining object in the distance, I stood up but before I could Identify what it was. My attention was drawn back to the priest who was about to ask the question we all wanted to hear.

“Do you Cherry Blossom take Stampede as your lawful wedded husband ‘til death shall you part,” the priest asked them.

“I do,” she answered eagerly.

“Do you Stampede take Cherry Blossom as your lawfully wedded wife ‘til death do you part,” the priest ask the groom.

But before the groom could answer his head was blown to bloody chunks that splattered all over Cherry’s wedding dress and she screamed in terror. From the time it took to hear the shot , which I determined was a mile away, and from a .308 by the damage.As the others all panicked as shots rang out from several red helmet wearing mercs opened fire outside with their assault rifles around town.

I acted quickly by tackling my sister to the ground as the mercs kicked down the door and shots passed over our heads, I dragged her over to the gift table that was to our right and flipped it over protecting us from the bullets.

“Cherry stay down!” I tell her before drawing my revolver from it’s holster and with a deep breath for focus I rose from the cover everything slowed as adrenaline flowed through my veins. I saw five red helmets followed with five squeezes of the trigger from my revolver and five soft thuds as five bodies hit the ground. I grabbed my sister, “Cherry stay close to me okay.”

“O-okay Radiant,” She said as she stood next to me.

“I need to get to my gear Cherry,” I inform her as we slowly made our way to the back room stepping over the bodies of friends and family as we did so Cherry almost slipped in a pool of blood. I looked at who it was and I had a sickening feeling in my gut, for it was Cheesecake she was shot in her throat her cherry red eyes showed fear which was her last emotion. Cherry let out a squeak before I covered her mouth, I heard hoof steps closing in.

As soon as I seen the shadow I drew my gun and pointed it at the pony, only to find a 9 millimeter pointed in my face by a familiar unicorn. “Blossom thank Celestia your okay,” Sparkler said happy to see me.

“What’s it like out there Sparky?” I asked the silver unicorn as I walked into the room and grabbed my coat and used my magic to take off the dress.

“It’s a bloodbath out there Blossom,” She informed me as I put on my dust old coat. “And I brought you this,” She said tossing me a lever-action rifle.

“Thanks Sparky,” I said, before turning to my sister.“Cherry, you need to stay here,” I said sternly.

“But I want to stay with you,” she whimpered scared.“People are dying, and I don't want to lose you too,” she cried as she threw her forelegs around me.

“Be strong Cherry. I promise I’ll be back,” I said gently pushing her away.

“You better, or you'll regret it,” she said in between sobs I nodded in agreement,

“Let’s go.” I say to Sparks before we stepped out back to back, and shot at countless mercs dropping several, and a few were dropped by a stranger from afar. The wounds looked like those from a .50 cal. round, but this took a back seat in my mind as we twisted and turned. They rushed us, the first to charge me had a combat knife.

I dodged his attack, and put a bullet through his chest before shooting another through the skull that had snuck up on my blind side. I was struck in the shoulder, I grunted in pain before firing back catching the merc in the throat. Three exploded into a bloody paste from around the corner, followed by the delayed roar of a big gun.

“Split up, we need to catch these bastards.” I tell Sparkler when there are no more nearby. I motioned for her to go east and I run to the west side of town, and pick up one of the BM60 MG and checked the clip twenty rounds, plenty.I reload the rifle before scouting out the courier office. It was empty, so I moved to the pub.

I stopped at the door when I heard steps. I kicked in the door, and emptied the magazine on three heavily armored bucks in power armor. They dropped like flies and I collected their ammo. I then went to the back where I heard whimpering, and nearly broke down when I saw a filly, who held a hacksaw to her chained, half sawed foreleg.

She cried when she saw me, but soon stopped as the pain and blood loss caught up with her. I had to cut it off, and did before I cauterize the wound on the burning stove. I cried as I bandaged her stump, and gave her a healing potion.

How could they do this to a kid? I wrapped her in a blanket, and left her my revolver and five rounds before putting her in a safe place behind the fridge. I turned to leave, and entered the dining area before I saw Sparky, facing me. Her eyes were wide, and blood dripped from her muzzle.

“Sparky, you good,” I asked. She stood there, and choked out, “I'm sorry.” That's when I noticed them. There were hooks and strings hooked to her body, almost like a puppet, and I gasped as they threw her at me with her gun trained on me, and a shot from it grazed my ear, as I dove out of the way. She cried out as the wire went taught, and was forced to turn, and buck me in the face. She cried before being flung at me with a cleaver. I picked up a bayonet from the ground, and blocked, but she kicked me, and swung at my side before I cut the wire holding her foreleg.
It reattached, and she leaped at me, swinging the cleaver.

“I’m sorry,” I yelled, and grabbed a hammer before smashing her horn, causing her to scream and me to cry.

“Kill me,” she screamed.

“No,” I screamed as I cut at the wire once more, only for the same result to occur.

“It's the only way,” she yelled as she was forced to buck me in the face again. I stumbled and fell as she rose on her hind legs and dropped, but she was struck by the sniper’s shot before she was released and fell beside me, struggling to breathe.

“NO!” I Screamed scrambling next to her.

“Blossom,” she choked coughing up blood.

“Yes Sparky.,” I answer crying.

“May Celestia guide your hoof so you never miss,” She struggled to say tears were sliding down her face.

“And may Luna guard your dreams from darkness,” I finished the tears getting worse as she went limp and her eyes closed for good. I heard loud steps behind me and my sadness turned to blinding rage, I used my magic to grab a piece of the ‘gum’ from the bag, quickly shoving it into my mouth and was hit by the feeling of my muscles tensing and growing underneath my fur increasing my strength and endurance. Just in time too cause I was hit immediately by a massive hoof that sent me rolling on the ground. I felt no pain from the blow however getting to my hooves and raised Sparkler’s 9 Millimeter at a red armored giant.

I am going to kill this bastard for what he did to Sparkler, I thought in rage before firing the pistol at the red giants weak points, his joints but to my dismay the shots were ineffective. He got closer and closer until hes was on top of me her reached at me the ends of his hooves turned into talons, grabbing me threw me again but this time my adrenaline kicked into overdrive. My surroundings slowed and I saw a way to blind the fucker.

I fired the pistol at one of the power armored goons who lay dead on the ground. The bullet bounced off the chest plate and hit him straight in the left eye. He screamed in pain as I stand up from being thrown my mouth tasted like copper, seems I have a busted lip.

“YOU BITCH!!” he roared as he charged at me. I tried to dodge the giant but he was quicker than I thought his claw grabbed my head and began to slam me repeatedly into the ground crushing my bones. As he did so, he eventually stopped and left me on the ground, raised his hoof to finish me until he was shot by a revolver.

“Stay away from my sister!!” I heard Cherry yell.

“CHERRY RUN!” I yell to my sister as I reach into my coat to grab a grenade when he kicked me to the side and walked back to me.

“NO GET AWAY FROM ME!” I hear cherry yell turning to look at her she was being tied down by two of other mercs.

“Now it is good night for you,” The giant said raising his hoof once more, but before he could finish the job a rocket hit him in the side sending us both flying. I was in so much pain that I passed out but before I did I saw a robo-pony wearing a dirty stetson. Then everything went black.

End of Prologue

Author's Note

for those of you who want stats here.
S:6 P:8 E:5 C:7 I:5 A:5 L:4

there you go