Unloved

We traveled back to Fluttershy's cottage. I went into her basement where my workbench and gun locker was contained. I was always a firearm enthusiast and loved going to the range as my hobby. I've had this interest ever since I was 14. I got extremely familiar with all kinds of firearms, from going to gun shows and just by talking to a few firearm store owners. I knew how to field strip an Ar-15 and reassemble it in no time. I was surprised how well she took on this hobby, since I got her used to my collection. I showed her all the proper stances and basics of firearm safety, as she was a quick learner. You think that someone with a heart of kindness wouldn't take lightly to firearms, but she actually enjoyed going to the range from time to time. That was one unique characteristic about her, she loved trying new things once she opened up to you.

I...have another confession to make, I was a prepper. I knew deep down inside that America's financial situation was going to escalate into chaos, with possible rioting and looters running down the street. I wanted to be a survivor, not a victim to some idiot who didn't see the warning signs. So, I gathered my own funds to spend on a few of my own firearms. Thankfully, I will never see that day if everything went to shit in America, as I now lived in security in Equestria. That's one major worry I didn't have to be consumed by.

I gathered my personal gear back from Earth to help find Fluttershy her missing friends. She quickly fed all of her animals, told Angel to look after her pets, made lunch for the both of us, and gathered up all of her equiptment for searching. She barely ate anything...due to her worry that something terrible happened to her friends.I saw the warning signs of a dangerous situation, and this one was definitely screaming it's name right into my face. I preplanned and rethough what I needed to bring along with us. We both had no idea what we would be facing in the near future, and looking back...I wish I brought along more firepower for both of us....

I overlooked the possiblities and brought light gear with me, thinking that this was going to be a quick search for the missing girls.

My firearms consisted of a Glock 19 with 4 preloaded mags, my tactical vest with holster and pouches, and a MSAR STG-556 rifle(a personal favorite) with five 30 round translucent amber magazines.

The things I carried were a backpack with glowsticks (for exploring new territory), food ration bars (in case we couldn't find food), LED headlights (you can wear around your head with your hands free), a firestriker, some hygine and clothing gear, a small swiss army knife, bandages, and a small personal medkit. I also carried a kukri machete for any brush we might run into, and for combat purposes in case things got ugly.

Fluttershy brought along with her some premade food, a lantern, and her backpack made for ponies with her trademark butterflies on both sides.

We traveled with the search party from the town hall from here on there. Celestia's royal guards tagged along to the outside of Everfree forest where we all regrouped.

Some other of the humans in our party were armed with the firearms they brought back from Earth. Ar-15’s, Ak’s, and their prefered sidearms that they used for EDC(every day carry). The humans distributed walkie talkies to all of us, and told us to randevú within approxmately 3 hours from the time of the search. We all split up in groups of two(one human to one pony within a search party).

We walked into the dark forest. Fluttershy was unconfortable within the enviroment we were in. I couldn’t really blame her, as this place was miserable and gloomy looking. Applejack’s hat was last seen outside of a trail leading into the Everfree forest. Why would Applejack leave her trustworthy hat behind? This was a question that plagued both of our minds.

Fluttershy lit her lantern as I switched on my led headlight, keeping my rifle close at bay. We ventured near the area were Applejacks hat was last spotted, while keeping Fluttershy close for confort. Fluttershy pointed out...hoof prints imprinted in the soft ground near the spot of Applejack's hat. Her trademark hat was still laying on the ground. Fluttershy placed in her backpack. I told her to stop so that we could alert the other parties to our findings.

I radio’ed on my walkie talkie back to the search parties

“We have possible hoofprints near the coordinates of Applejack's hat, We are going to investigate the trail of hoofprints, Over."

“Roger that.” Said one of the humans in respond to my transmission.

“Alright, let’s see where this trail takes us to...."

There goes Fluttershy with her rants of fear again. She normally isn't like this around when I'm around. She's more assertive when she's in my presense. I must give her some motivation when I'm around her, but this time...it wasn't working.

“Oh dear....I hope Applejack is safe.” Fluttershy said in concern.

The trail of hooves led us to a clear path of foilage within the forest. What was interesting about this path, was the dying plant life located on parallel sides of the hoof trail. However, the plant living around the trail flourished with life. In this strait trail....was the wretch of something dreadful in the atmosphere.

Fluttershy looked up to me and said

“I’m getting really bad vibes from this trail...maybe we should regroup with the party."

I heard an unknown whispering...coming from within the trail that blocked out Fluttershy's voice as she said this to me.
She couldn’t hear it...but I could.

“Did you...just hear a whispering noise just now?”

Fluttershy was thrown off by my question. She said with a curious look in response to me.

“Um...no?”

As we continued on the trail, the whispering became louder.

“Damn! what the hell is that noise?”

“I don’t hear anything dear.” Fluttershy remarked.

As we continued on the path of Applejack's hooftrail, we found another clue. Applejack's tail ribbon was on the side of the hoof trail. Fluttershy picked it up with her hoof and placed in her bag, along the side of her hat.

I radio’ed back to the search parties “We found Applejack's tail ribbon at these coordinates, Over”.

“....I…..Sorr….Can…ou…re...that…ease?”

The transmission was breaking up badly from the other side. It was distorted and inaudiable to us.

“Hello? Can you hear me? Please respond, over.” I said loudly into the talkie.

“I…..ou…..king…p..... "

“Look!” said Fluttershy pointing with her hoof. I looked up after being frustrated with the talkie.

What stood before us was, what looked like...an old abandoned opening to an underground cement bunker. A cement underground bunker? What the hell? Was a human preparing for nuclear armageddon in Equestria? The hoof prints led directly into the opening of this place.

“Great, your telling me that Applejack wondered off into this?” I said while looking at Fluttershy.

“I….I don’t know why she would do such a thing.” Fluttershy said in disbelief.

“I think...we should wait for the group to find us."

I sighed to her. There was no way in hell that the group was going to find us, as it was getting close to nightfall. We had better luck moving on that trying to regroup with the other search parties.I had to respond something that made sense to her to ease her mind.

“Well…look. I’ll investigate the entryway of this place and see if I can find any more clues. I want you to stay...right behind me Flutters. Keep an eye out for the group." I told her while I took assertive command of the situation.

“Ahhh…Ok.” Fluttershy said in submission. As I pointed my LED headlight into the dark gaping hole, I could barely see a beam of light within 10 feet in front of me....