Gears Keep Going... Even If They have To Stop

Okay... First thing wrong with this. Their weird... quadrupedal things. Never seen anything like 'em.

Secondly, they scream like little girls.

Third, why the hell are they so cute?

Fourth... the hell am I gonna do with them?

After sliding/climbing down the cliff face, I found this trio of... well I don't rightly know. I would have just left 'em, but since E-day, 'any and all new types of anything breathing is to be caught, if able, and taken to command for'... whatever the rest said. Anyway, I picked all three of them up and started walking north. It was a direction.

I had to leave the mulcher. That was the main thing pissing me off right now. I know it only had fifty rounds left but... it's a fucking mulcher! You don't leave something like that unless it's broken or empty! Ugh...

I pushed some branches out of the way, careful not to let any of them hit the...things. The good thing is, their so small I could carry them in one arm. Had my gorgon out in my other hand.

Shit... it's getting dark. Need a place to camp...

I made my way a thru the underbrush for about anther hour before seeing became a problem. Not that I couldn't see fine at night, I just didn't want to fall and crush these cute lit-*SMACK*

Before I could even finish that train of thought, I smacked my self up side the head with my gorgon. I now know why it only takes one swipe with this thing to kill a wretch. It fucking hurts. Which reminds me. I stopped and looked at where the wretch had slashed up my arms. They were the healed up fully. I holstered my gorgon, and reached back to check where the bullets had entered. The armor had already repaired itself, wasn't even a dent. Ah, the wonders of modern war time developments.

I continued walking for about another hour, till I came across a small trial. I could walk it, but it was a tight fit between the undergrowth. I knelt down to check for tracks. There were three fresh tracks, from at least a few hours ago. I grabbed one of the... hell, I need to call them something other then 'thing's'. Um... Quads? I... guess that would work for now. Hey! I just named a new species! Yeah for me...

Anyway, I studied one of their 'feet' and compared them to the tracks. Sure enough, they matched. They were headed west. There weren't any other tracks to go off of, so I headed west down the path. Maybe it would head me to where they lived. Oh hell... if there are more of these quads... are they hostile? Will I have to kill them?

...

Eh, fuck it. I don't care.

I headed west down the path. The sun had started to go past the horizon, so it started to get dark. Er. I quickened my pace a little in hopes of not having to sleep out here. I'm used to sleeping in shitty places. But this place... Just reeks of wrong. Especially if there are more of those multi-headed thing's out here. I mean, one was no problem. But, I don't have the mulcher anymore, and to fight one of those things with the protecting the quads? Hell-to-the-no.

After about half an hour the sun had fully gone down, and this place got fucking dark! I mean shit, I've been in parts of the hollow that were brighter than this crap. I could've popped a sick flare, but that would make me really good target. Good thing is, I could stay on the path easily thanks to he thick under brush lining the fucker.

After going for a bit longer, and contemplating just setting up camp here, I saw lights in the distance.

Zecora sipped some more of her herbal tea as she sat on one of her pillows. She looked towards the door and gave a worried sigh.

She was worried. The crusaders should have been and left hours ago. They were suppose to show up and 'help' her gather herbs in the Everfree today. But they had not shone up. At first she just thought they may have forgotten. But quickly ruled that out. Applebloom had promised, and she was a filly of her word. Then she had heard the most awful roar. Not one of the creatures that make the Everfree there home, those were common occurrence. Bu the roar she had heard today, from far away. It was something new, very askew.

She sipped some more of her herbal tea. Then got up and went to her cauldron. She leaned her head in and took a sip of the brew. Suddenly, a very loud series of knocking came from the front door.

She rushed over and opened the door.

"Who makes such a boom?

Surely not little Applebloo-"

Zecora looked up at the creature kneeling at her front door. The creature was very tall and bulky. It had weird metal sticking over the top of it's back, and she could clearly make out a blood covered knife atop one of them. But the one thing she was paying the most attention to, was that it had the crusaders under one of it's arms. Thinking quick, she spun one her fore hooves and planted a full buck right between where the creature legs met it's upper torso. The creature made a few sputtering noises as she spun around and planted her feet. Waiting for the creatures counter attack.

But the attack never came. It made some more sputtering noises, and growled a bit. But it did not attack. What it did do, was set the crusaders down on the ground in front of her door, stand up, and limp away. Muttering something and it started to cough. She was very confused by this.

She cautiously walked over and pulled the crusaders into her house. She stepped outside and closed the door. She turned around and saw the creature was standing a small ways away from her house. It had it's claws on it midsection and was doing some sort of deep breathing. It then made an 'urp' sound, ran over to a tree, and leaned on it as it threw up.

After the creature was done, it spit what bile remained in it's mouth, and spoke.

"That... is the last time I help anything not COG."

Zecora jumped as it spoke. She had not met anything like this creature that could speak. The creature then looked over it's shoulder at her. She splayed all her legs and put her head low to the ground showing off, giving the creature a scowl as she did so. It looked at her, she looked at it. The creature then sighed, and walked over to another tree. She turned as the creature walked, never taking her eyes of it. It turned her direction abruptly. Making her sink further to the ground, ready to charge.

It leaned back against the tree and then let itself fall to the ground. It let one of it's legs go straight, but kept the other at an angle and leaned one of it arms on top of it. The other arm was on top of the other leg. It looked her in the eye with a scowl.

"Ok," It spoke. "You hit me out of fear, I get that, I do. I'm willing to forgive that, in exchange for a civil discussion."

The words it spoke caught her off guard. She kept her stance and scowl. It rolled it's eyes.

"Look, Iv'e had a really shitty day. Can't we just talk?"

Again, she kept her stance. It brought on of it's claws up to it's head and rubbed it. But now that she could look at the claw better, the ends were too rounded to be claws, and it looked to be wearing some kind of metal glove. It's head shot up as it's claw pointed straight at her. She jumped a little at the sudden movement and boom of it's voice.

"Have I done anything to harm you!? I saved those little ones from a big multi-headed... thing! Doesn't that get a least a 'hello' around here?" It accented it's words with rapid movement of it's arms.

What the creature said would definitely explain why the crusaders hadn't shown up earlier. But she had no way of knowing if what it says is true or not. For a few moments she let this go thru her head. All the while the creature gave her a pleading look. She was about to respond, but the creature talked for first.

"Look... if you don't want me here, I'll go. But I really don't want to sleep out in the open here. As Iv'e said, I had a really bad day. I don't know where I am, where home is, or even which general direction. So please... just say something. Even if it's just 'go away'."

The look in it's eyes were sad, and what it said sounded true.

Zecora abruptly stood up from her stance, turned and walked back inside. The creature looked down at the ground with a neutral expression. It stood up as well, and turned to leave.

"Come inside!

Before I change my mind!"

The creature turned and gave slight smile. But that was wiped away, and replaced by the neutral expression from before. It walked over to the door and knelt down. It had to crawl, but it fit. Zecora closed the door soon after.

Well, that didn't go as expected. I thought as I crawled inside.

Once inside, I was able to stand up on my knees. I still had to duck my head a bit, but it was better than crawling around. The stripped quad closed the door after I was all the way in. The first thing that hit me about this place was the smell. It wasn't a bad smell, it was just strong. I looked around a bit, the place looked like an exotic spice rack. There were masks and bowls of stuff everywhere. In the middle was a big cauldron with a soupy substance boiling away in it. The stripped quad walked around me to the cauldron.

After the quad added a few things to it, and stirred it a few times. I heard movement over to my left. About two feet from me was the three I had saved. They moved a bit, as if trying to get comfy. I saw a pillow not to far off from them that was big enough. I reached over and carefully picked them up and knee shuffled over to the pillow. I set them down as carefully as I picked them up. Once all three of them were on the pillow, I slid onto my side, brought my feet in front of me, and crossed them into a sitting position.

I looked back over at where the stripped quad was, it was sitting on it's haunches looking over at me. Once it saw that I was looking back over, it spoke.

"Zecora is my name,

it is not of much fame.

Wondering the Everfree,

how crazy you must be."

"My names Dedrick." Not to be rude, I gave her my name. Also the name Everfree wasn't ringing any bells, and I know my geography pretty well, so I must be pretty far off not to know the name. "What country am I in?"

She gave me a quizzical look before she answered.

"How do you not know?

Maybe you are putting on a show?"

Great, now she thinks I'm lying.

"I really have no clue. I just woke up in the middle of a field. I also have never seen beings like yourself before."

She looked at me for a few moments, seemingly lost in thought.

"This land you are in is no small piece,

Equestria is a land of peace.

By the look of you,

the same cannot true.

The things on your back,

look to be for attack."

I looked at her for a second, deciding whether to ask her about the rhyming thing, but decided against it. Iv'e never heard of a place called Equestria, ignoring that she didn't know what a gun was, or a place that didn't know of war. Then a thought occurred to me.

"What's the name of this planet?"

She seemed really confused at this question. She sat there for way too long thinking of a response, or just thinking of how to make it rhyme. I really couldn't tell which. She finnaly answered after what seemed to be minutes.

"Tomorrow, I will take you to see twilight sparkle,

surely she can help with your debacle."

I gave a worried sigh. I wanted to ask more questions, but seeing as though she didn't have all the answers, or just didn't want to upset me with them... I couldn't tell, and thinking about it is making a bit angry.

"Maybe you should rest,

tomorrow you can continue your quest."

I looked back up at her. I guess my anger was showing a little bit. I just gave a shrug. She pointed a front limb over to my left. Looking over, I saw a small pile of pillows that was over next to the wall. I turned my head back towards her and gave nod that she returned. I got up onto my knees again, and knee shuffled over to the pile. I took the two biggest ones out of the pile, and set them up against a bare spot on the wall.

I proceeded to take my weapons off my back. I took off my sniper rifle first, and set it against the wall next to a nearby window. I took off my retro and then turned and laid my back against the pillows. It wasn't the best sleeping position, but try sleeping in a centaur with three other guys. Then you'll find the true meaning of discomfort.

I set my retro down next to me and laid my hand down on it. If I need to grab it, or someone tries to grab it, my hands already there. I looked back up at Zecora, she was scooping some of the soup, or what ever it was, out of the pot. She them picked up the bowl in her mouth. She walked over to the side of me and set the bowl down on the floor. I gave her a questioning look.

"Drink the brew,

It is my specialty stew."

With that, she walked back over and poured a bowl for herself. I picked up the bowl, and stared at the contents. It had a few pieces of what I guessed was vegetables. I sniffed it, it smelled like veggie stew. A few thoughts of poison and the like popped into my head. My stomach decided to remind me I haven't eaten in  a few hours. Fuck it. I took a mouthful. Oh my damn. It was actually delicious. Not that crap the cooks back in Jacinto made. I instantly inhaled the rest of the bowl. I'm sure I was making a pig out of myself for eating the way I did, but I didn't care. This shit was good. After finishing the bowl, I heard a slight bit of laughter.

Looking up, I saw Zecora laughing behind her front limb. I brought my hand other hand up off of my retro and rubbed the back of my head.

"Could I, um... have some more, please? It was very good." I asked while offering my bowl.

She gave me a smile before she answered.

"Of course you may,

the dept of saving these three must be payed.

And for one as big as you,

I'm sure I can part with some more stew."

I gave her a small smile as she took my bowl. She set the bowl I gave her down, grabbed the ladle, and then stopped. She looked down at the bowl and shook her head. She put the ladle back and walked over to a shelf. She stood up on her back legs and grabbed a bigger bowl off the shelf. She then walked back over the pot, set the bowl down, and grabbed the ladle. She filled it, after the ladle was put back, she went to pick up the bowl with her mouth... then stopped. She looked back up to me.

"I got this bowl for you,

so you could have more stew.

But-"

Before she could finish I had gotten up and shuffled over. She gave me another smile as I picked up the bowl. I was about to chug it like the first bowl, but I sopped myself. I set the bowl back down, and pulled my spoon out of my back pouch. I began to eat as Zecora pulled a pillow over next to me. She grabbed her bowl and began eating too.

For awhile, the sound of both of us eating was all that was heard. Until someone yelled behind me.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS ZEBRA SAVERS!!!!"

"Da fu-" Was all I got out as I turned to look behind me, just to get hit with a pillow. Scratch that, I was getting assaulted by pillows. The three little ones were throwing pillows at me. In response, I just turned back around and kept eating. Zecora jumped up and walked inbetween me and the little ones.

"Is this what you do,

to someone who saves you?"

"Huh?" All three of them said in unison.

"I heard your screams. Followed those till I came to a cliff. I saw a big, multi-headed thing. I killed it. Then climbed down the cliff, and found you three. So yeah, I saved you. Now let me eat." I don't like being rude, but god damn it, this is the best tasting food iv'e had in months and I want to eat it in peace. I heard the little ones move around a bit, then whispers. As long as I was left alone to eat, I didn't care what they were doing. Not like they were a potential threat.

I saw Zecora walk back over and grab three more bowls. She set them down and put a pillow down next to them. She then returned to her pillow and continued eating. The whispering continued for a little bit longer.

"Hey, come over and eat." I called out to the little ones. Their whispering stopped immediately.

I heard the clicking shuffle of their appendages, I then heard an exasperated sigh as one set of shuffling turned into walking. The purple haired winged one walked around Zecora and got up on the pillow. She gave me a glare, then laid down and began eating. I shrugged and ate another spoon full. After a few seconds the other two came over and laid down next to the winged one. Now that I wasn't worried about getting attacked, still am just less now that I'm inside, I got a good look at them.

The one with closest to me was the winged one. She had purple hair on her head and coming out the back like a tail, and if that was natural, then that is awesome. Her coat was orange, so was her wings. Her wings were the most peculiar to me. They were so small, maybe they just get bigger as she grows? Maybe their residual? I don't know. Either way, for wings to be able and lift something their size they would have to be enormous.

The next one over had a light purple and pink hair. Her coat was white. Bright white. I mean damn was it white. How the hell could anything have a coat that white. Also my theory on their hair being natural is looking good. She also had a horn. No damn clue what that was for. Might be for defense. It was small, so it might get bigger with maturity Same as with the wings, maybe?

The next one had red hair and an over sized bow in her hair. She didn't have any abnormal appendages. Guess that means she's... the normal type? Ugh, this is getting confusing. Her coat was a plain light yellow. She looked as I was looking her over. She shied away from my gaze and returned to her eating.

I sighed internally. I hate when people are afraid of me. I'm actually a nice guy. But because of how I look, most people think I'm evil. I think it's because of the bags under my eyes. Makes 'em look sunken. I'ts not my fault I get enough sleep. If the grubs would fuck off for a day, then I'd sleep more! Not to mention my height. I know that most gears are taller then normal people, but I was tall to begin with. Hell, my Dad was seven foot three, and I'm taller then he was! Damn it, I'm rambling in my head again. Fucking hell I hate being being out on my own. At least when I'm with other gears I can talk. I mean really talk. And I rambled off again. I need to focus. Make nice.

I finished off what was in my bowl and set it down in front of me.

"That was delicious, thanks Zecora." I said while giving her a smile.

"It was no problem,

You are very welcome." She said as she returned my smile.

"How are you guys enjoying yours little ones?"

The one with the horn in the middle looked up at me and gave me a small forced smile.

"It's g-good, um... T-thank you f-for saving us, mister." She squeaked out. I gave a light chuckle as I leaned back on my elbows and stuck brought my legs out from underneath of me.

"It was no problem. So. What are you your names?" I got back up on my knees and started shuffling over to the pillows I leaned against the wall.

"Oh! Well, I'm Sweetie Belle." She nudged the yellow one next her. I was behind them now, the pillows were on the other side of them.

"Ahm A-apple Bloom, sir. And thank you."

I got over to the pillows and turned to lay on them. I let out a content sigh as I got comfy again. I looked back over at the group of little ones and Zecora. She was getting more stew for herself. I looked back over at the little ones to see Sweetie belle whispering to the orange one. The orange one had her face in her bowl, seemingly ignoring the white one. This brought Applebloom into it, whispering at her too. I couldn't hear them very well from where I was sitting.

"Ugh! Fine!" The orange one yelled out. She turned her head to me. "I'm Scootaloo, thanks." Then she went right back to eating. I laughed a deep laugh at her. She immediately looked back up at me, mad.

"What? You think my name is silly?"

"No, no." I said while my laughter died down. "You just remind me of how stubborn my sister is." I said with a slight smile.

"Oh, you have a sister?" Asked Sweetie.

"Yeah, her names Natalie."

"That's a weird name." Said Scootaloo.

"Scoots! That's not very nice."

"It's alright Applebloom. Well, to me your names are kind of weird too."

"Well what's your weird name. Mr. Mctallenstein." Wow. They really are kids if that's the best she's got.

"It's Dedrick, Ms. insult-the-guy-who-saved-you." God I'm childish.

"Well, Dedric, what are you? Some giant shaved diamond dog?"

"First off, I have no idea what that is, secondly, I'm going to be the bigger man and ignore you." At least I know when to quit.

"Chicken." She's a child ignore her.

"Bawk, bawk, bawk!" Ugh... Now she's doing the noises.

I looked over at Zecora for help. She was covering her mouth with one of her front appendages, holding back laughter. Scootaloo kept making the noises. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. If I could sleep through a mortar barrage in a bunker, I can sleep through this. She stopped making the noise, and I thought she got bored and moved on. Oh how I was wrong. I suddenly felt something jump up on my chest. I brought my head up and opened my eyes to find Scootaloo staring at me.

"Can I help you?"

She reared up on her hind legs, tucked the front ones in, and started doing the noises in my face.

"Alright now your gonna get it!" Before she could react, I grabbed her with my hands, and started to tickle her. She yelled, screamed, thrashed, pleaded, giggled, all in vain to get me to stop. She had fallen down on my chest and I flipped her over to get better access to her belly. The other two ran over and giggled yelled at me to stop. They hopped up on my chest to try and tickle me back. My armor proved to thick for there efforts to penetrate. By this time I was chuckling heartily.

I could hear Zecora laughing as well. I then felt Scootaloo go limb against my onslaught, so I stopped, and went after the other two. I grabbed them both in one hand each. They fell down giggling against my chest, kicking at my hands with their small legs. They soon went limp as well, so I stopped. All three of them were breathing hard as I kept them from falling off me. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were giving off residual giggles, Scootaloo was quiet. I looked down at her. She was asleep again.

Sweetie Belle gave off a yawn, followed by Applebloom, followed be me. I lightly pushed the three of them closer together at the center of my chest. They cuddled together and gave a content sigh. I kept my arms around them just in case they roll in they're sleep. I looked over at Zecora to see her cleaning. I wanted to say something, but I didn't want to risk waking the little ones. It didn't take her long to put the bowls away. She then began to go around and put out the candles. When she was done, the only light remaining was that of the embers underneath the pot.

She then grabbed one of the bigger pillows and dragged over by my leg. She looked over at me and gave a smile and a nod, I returned the gesture. She then laid down on the pillow. I watched her for a bit. Till the raising and falling of her chest became the rhythmic tell tale sign that she was asleep. I then leaned my head back, and let myself drift off.

"So... you haven' told her yet?"

"No... But I will. I just...Can't find the words."

I looked up from the ground to look at Natalie playing on the playground with other children. I felt someone put their hand on top of mine.

"You will. I know it's hard." The other hand gripped mine. I looked over next to me, found myself lost into Rebecca's beautiful eyes. "But you'll have me to help you through it."

She gave me a light smile, as I flipped my hand around to hold hers. I gave her a smile in return.

"How could a guy like me, ever get a girl like you?"

"You couldn't. I had to let you take me out on a date because I lost that bet, remember?" I let out a small chuckle as I brought my free hand up to rub my face.

"I entirely forgot about that. Guess it's a good thing I could fix that car, huh?"

"I guess it was. Otherwise, I never would have seen how sweet you are." She beamed up at me as she spoke. "Now lean your tall ass down here so I can kiss you."

Instead of leaning down, I let go of her hand, and stood up from the bench I was sitting on. She gave me a look of confusion, till I leaned over and picked her up. She gave a yelp of surprise then started to giggle. I had her legs over one arm and supported her back with the other. She threw her arms around my neck and we kissed deeply.

We kissed for what seemed forever. Suddenly, the ground shook beneath me. I had to struggle to stay upright. I brought my face away from Rebecca's. I immediately turned around to look for Natalie. She was at the far end of the play ground. She had fallen over from the tremor. Then the ground shook again. I put Rebecca down.

"What is that? An earthquake?"

"I don't know, whatever it is it's not good. Let's get Natalie and get out of here." I began to jog in Natalie's direction, Rebecca right next to me. We got to her in no time. Kids all around us were crying for their parents as another tremor shook the ground.

"Brother! The monsters are coming!" Natalie cried as I picked her up.

Another, stronger, tremor shook the ground and I heard what sounded as an explosion from down the street. With that the tremors stopped. I heard yells and screams coming from the direction of the explosion. The sound of gun fire filled the air. I needed to think fast. I looked to Rebecca, she was starring at something in the distance.

I grabbed her hand and pulled her towards me. I shifted Natalie over to one arm and picked Rebecca up with my other arm. I began running away from the gun fire.

Thing was, the sound was coming from everywhere.