Chapter 1 - Hell's Reaper
Chapter 1 – Hell’s reaper.
“alright lover boy, let me guess you want to always be around her and protect her, don’t you?”
War, war had changed everything that life had to offer for the living. The breeze of the soft wind, the slick green grass and the warmth of the golden sun had been wiped away from the face of Equestria by war. between two nation it began. Demise, detestation and skirmish filled our motions and judgements like pawns. Faiths and dreams of the innocent turned to ash as the dreading sound of the alarms rang out as the mass destruction turned against the evolution as things will never be the same because of war, war never changes.
My vision angled towards the black void of the night. The instant taps of the rain was the tears of the gods and its thunder was the streaks of rage as it struck the world as if the gods itself despised the lands entire existence. Behind the stained filled glass, I sat back in my seat and raised my jug of rum with hoof in-between the handle at the storm’s childish temper and jugged down the lot like I hadn’t drank in a week. Once I was finished, I slammed down the jug with a stupid grin.
“ahhhh, this, this right here is the real deal, this shit is amazing pal, you've out did yourself?” I shouted, getting the bar tenders attention. The bar tender looked over with a smug smile as I laughed.
“aye, found that one in the basement today actually. Must have been the former's malt.” The orange stallion with grey jagged mane looked back down to the glass that he was cleaning with a stained cloth.
“ah, yes, yes.” I chuckled stupidly as I wobbled and stumbled on my hooves. “give me one more of them rum things would ye mate.” I tried to catch my balance as I slowly walked to the bar, giggling like a foal.
“don’t you think that’s enough? You’re going to end up like that pony over there.” The bar tender nodded towards a stallion that was flat out unconscious with multiple empty bottles on the table. I thought to do what every other pony would do in this type of situation which is take a full swig of rum out the shot glass, pick up the shot glass and launch it at the sleeping pony’s head. As soon as the glass connected to the pony’s head, the glass smashed into five bits and left the stallion still in his dreams but now bleeding with glass sticking in his head. I chuckled more as I sat on the stool by the bar, spinning on the stool and laughed as I slowly stopped facing the orange stallion.
“tough sleeper isn’t he.” I made the stallion, wait, no, what was his name again? Uhhh, mmmm, it’s fuckin, uhhhm… Radio! I made Radio grin.
“maybe, or the poor fucker is dead.” He shuck his head still grinning as he finished cleaning a glass and went for another. “he came in here several hours ago, he was moaning to himself about something out to get him. He looked a mess when he came to the bar, he wouldn’t stop twitching and had that wary look in him like he was on the edge of insanity but, I didn’t want to kick him out though, he was paying me good caps and that’s all I cared about to be honest.” Radio said in pity. I sighed.
“hmmm, sounds about right, life’s a bitch like Luna, ye dark blue bitch!” I shouted as I took my aim at the passed-out stallion again and thrown another glass.
“you can say that again.” Radio sighed.
“life’s a bitch.” I said again like he told me too. I don’t know why but I looked over to the stallion again and I gazed deeply as I can remember when I was like that, broken and lost. in fact, I was exactly like that. I was sitting exactly where he sat but in a different bar and the only difference is that he's dead and I’m alive. To be honest, that’s why I’m mostly in bars to drink myself to death but the day just won’t happen. I am simply immune to dying I suppose, or someone who I can’t tell is keeping me alive for the plot, I’ll give you a clue, his name rhymes with the word “Rowen.”
“I’ll throw him out if you pour me another shot.” I offered and I wasn’t taking a no for an answer.
“done.” He said, grabbing a new glass shot from the shelf, while I tried to walk to the stallion looting his corpse which rewarded in a few caps and a tin of Party-Time mentats and dragged him outside on the cracked road; left to rot or a snack for the ghouls. I walked back into the bar with the fresh rum sitting in the glass waiting to be drank. I swear I could hear the rum shout out to me to drink it.
“so, Tequila.” Radio said waving a cloth over his shoulder. “since we’ve been pals and for a while now, don’t you think it’s fair to let me on a few secrets of yours.” He asked, grinning as he leaned forward inquisitively.
“like what?” I asked.
“well, let’s start off with the fact that you are a zebra and have wings.” He said thoughtfully. For a moment the lazy effects of alcohol wore off.
“you knew? How did you know?” I said not so giddy anymore.
“it’s not hard to see that something is there, I can see them moving around under your trench coat mate.” He laughed. I gazed to my sides and noticed that there was two lumps from my wings sticking out from under my coat. I hummed softly and I chuckled once.
“nah mate, I’m just fat.” I said, trying to play it off.
“to be honest, that was my first assumption too, but it was obvious in the end.” Radio said. “I understand why you would cover your wings, a zebra and a Pegasus mixed together, you must be the most hated creature to walk the wasteland if ponies found out.” He said, looking more immersed to me.
“aye, why do you think I’m hiding them.” I said looking correspondingly back.
“so, how is it that you are a zebra and have wings.” He asked once again, and I frowned with a long sigh.
“I don’t know.” I replied and He frowned, disappointed with my answer.
“is that it? You don’t know? Surely you have some sort of clue why you’re like that.” He bellowed.
“well what can I say? My mums a zebra and my dad’s a Pegasus!” I babbled loudly. “I just woke up one day and found myself in a dead world, there you happy now.” I shouted as I slammed my hooves on the bar.
“okay, okay calm down. I was only asking.” Radio backed off and sighed then looked just above my eyes. “also, your hair colour. It’s quite unusual to see a zebra with a different hair colour than grey and your eye, what happened to it?”
I rumbled furiously and scowled deep into his eyes.
“you better stop asking me question mate otherwise I’ll fucking turn your walls red, you hear me.” I said looking eye to eye with the shuck pony.
“okay, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.” He pleaded his innocents. “here have another shot of…”
I couldn’t stand is voice any longer. his words stopped has his head blasted into meat and his blood splatted around him on the walls, the bar and me like a bloody piñata. His body fell to the ground leaving a pool of blood on the floor. I sat there unfazed as I held a revolver by my wings. Smoke escaping my weapon's chimney.
“you just had to say something, didn’t you, you gobshite. You had to mess with the drunken zebra thing didn't you.” I said to the corpse and I climbed over the bar grabbing alcohol, ammunition chems and I figured to take his saddle bag to cover my wings from leaving lumps from sticking out. Looking through the register, I grabbed all the caps I can stuff in my new saddle bag and walked off to the exit. Outside was my sky carriage with my bounty’s head inside and my supplies I salvaged from Hoofington. I linked myself with the carriage and I closed my eyes and smiled to the weather as the drizzle rain poured down on my heated face and it soothed my mind from the alcohol just for a second. Then, my wings popped through the holes and I took to the dark clouds with a powerful flap.
Hello fellow reader or listener. My name is Tequila, a bounty hunter and just a general killer if I get pissed off that is. I live far south-east of the main Equestrian lands in a small run-down stable called stable 45 in a little land called Britannia. the stable itself was clean and homey as not a soul made it to the stable door when the bombs dropped so as anyone would do is take it for yourself and make it my own. Life for me has been a lonely one but, I’m alright with that, no one to slow me down in the future but, yet again I wasn’t always alone, I had family and friends to look forward to but within one day that changed when a gang called the Righteous Wings showed up and killed everyone I loved. Now that, that changed my life, how I looked at things. I used to give ponies second chances, I use to try and guide those to a different path, hell, I use to offer other to join me but now I only care about is the ponies that deserve to have my blessing. Did I mention that bevies are my medicine to this wasteland? Rum, vodka, whiskey, gin and wine, there my precious. Drinking is the only way out this world and gets me in a good mood. In the far south-east, where stable I live in is an active city that wasn’t affected by the bombs much but it’s still a scruffy place called The Hood. This place is crawling with gangs, bandits and raiders and mostly ponies that are up to no good. It’s hard to find ponies who want to make the world a better place, honestly, I think the world is better off without heroes. I’m mean yeah, we need them but like everyone else they die because the wasteland always wins in the end no matter what. For example, I’ve heard a lot about this Stable Dweller, how she has recently free slaves from this Old Appleloosa place. It’s only a matter time for the wasteland to catch up to her and before we know it, she's dead along with her friends. That’s routine in this world and trust me I’m been around long enough to know, you see, I’m an old bastard. I’ve travelled the world not for fun or anything just a graft, just to take ponies souls for big bounties on their head from Hoofington to Manehattan, other than that, I would be ghostin’ in The Hood, it wasn’t fun or easy, but it was worth it for the wealth and freedom. I’ve had my fun in life, I guess, and I hope one day that it can come to an end very soon but it’s never the case. The wasteland has duffed me. The wasteland makes me suffer. Or maybe, it’s telling me something. survive and save others, live to your fullest. Be a hero again like the good old days. But the wasteland knows, and I know who I am and who I want to be cannot connect. Who I am now is a nopony. No one at all. Just somepony to stay away from.
As time flew by, the world became more visible. The morning light slowly faded in and eventually everything was crystal clear. I could make out the outlines of the unwavering mountains, the forbidden ocean as I made my way from Equestria thn as I crossed the sea, I could make out a ruin village below me on the edgy cliff. Black smoke rose from the village like a dragon’s fire, fire linked and infected the other buildings as a wild fire broke loose. Screams of ponies bellowed distantly begging for help and mercy as shots rang out. Bandits? Raiders? Slavers? Either way its none of my business, I might even join in if it means free loot but I’m happy of what I’ve got on me already or though it is tempting to grab some scran from the bakery, but I was not in the mood to get shot in the ass today. It’s too bad too, I’ve known some ponies down there that aren’t half bad, but I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, life’s a bitch. I stopped in mid-air as I hear my equipment crash in the carriage.
“fuck sake Disk.” I face hoofed. I looked back to see were the school was which was surrounded by ponies in rusted metal plates and fire power trying to breach the door. Without hesitation, I nosedived on the edge of the village and rested the carriage behind a group of boulders. I disconnected myself and ran to the back pulling out a bolt-action AS-50 sniper with a sling and a pre-war long sword with the mark Bestie along the shaft of the sword that was still sharp surprisingly and shining with its holster. checking the sniper’s mag for 50 BMG impact rounds, I wrapped both around my neck and waist.
“bullets? Check, sword? Check, alcohol? Check.” I said as I ran into the firefight with a menacing grin. Oh, I could get use to this.
Taking the dark alleyways and the burnt rooftops, I scaled my way to a small market the opposite side of the school, the founder, Solar Dusk didn’t long ago build the village and is mainly still in development of building more homes, market, trades centres and schools for The Hood. Solar Dusk accessed the schools and trade centre for the extra caps that he needed to continue his work. Disk is a younger brother of a pony that I know back in The Hood, I gave him my word to look after the kid. Scratchy has always kept his word for me, it’s time to keep mine too. Lifting my hood and snood up to my make my identity difficult to see. I mounted my rifle on a meat cart and took aim at the raiders with murderous intent.
“lets us in! we will only kill you quickly.” One bandit cackled.
“come on, let’s play a game outside?” another suggested crazily.
“go away, we don’t want to play.” A muffled foal's voice said inside. I lost my rag and opened fire through the metal helmet and skull of the pony and the pony fell lifeless. The others heard the loud roar of my weapon and turned to see his companion almost headless.
“what the fuck?” the crazed pony turned tense. “who the fuck did that! I’ll kill you!” he shouted wildly as the others around the school came to the front all wearing the same expression, murder. I pulled the cocking handle and let another fly into another’s eye, and she fell flat without a word. A pony that looked like the lead of the squad saw the flash from the muzzle and shouted my location.
“the cart! The bastard is at the cart!” and with that they all rounded on me. Some shot back and some legged it with machetes and axes. I smiled as I was hoping they did that. I fled around the corner of the building and flew up the slanted roof and waited.
“3,2,1.” I counted. As soon as I finished my count the two land mines, I left behind the cart exploded with bits of debris of the cart and ponies flying higher than the buildings. I whistled in awe as limps, organs, blood flew like fireworks. The others looked up anger and a bit of nerve. Once again, I mounted my rifle and took another life which got everyone attention to the roof.
“kill him! KILL HIM!” the leader boomed orders with fury and rage as he took aim himself. Bang, Bang, bang, and me and the leader was the only ones left alive. He glanced around him as if he was lost.
“AppleWing? Duster? Maggie?” he said pleading for a replied but nothing other than the other gun fires around us. Suddenly, reality hit him as he looked at the corpse.
“shit.” He whispered.
“aww, what’s wrong pal? Can’t fight alone?” I said gliding down from the roof tops and in front of him, grinning mavericky. He started to tremble as I pushed my rifle to my side and pulled out Bestie with my teeth, tasting the rubber grip and hearing a satisfying shing when pulled out. I lifted my hood and moved my snood down to meet eye to eye, face to face with him and then he looked at me with surprise as if he finally figured out what was on his mind.
“I see.” He said smiling in defeat. “the odds are not in my favour today, is it Hell’s reaper. The red-haired zebra, eye patch over your left eye, yep there’s no mistaking it, your Hell’s Reaper alright.”
My grin widened as I got closer and he moved backwards up the stairs to the school. The door of the school creaked at nosy foal creeped throw the crack and the stallion saw his opportunity and grabbed and shocked colt with his magic and put his gun to his head.
“back off or I’ll shoot him! I mean it!” he shouted and tightly pressed the gun hard against the shaking colts head. The foal tried to squeal and squirm to break free, but the stallion had the magic around him, keeping him hold like a chain with a lock.
“step back or I’ll shoot.” He shouted again but I didn’t back down, I continued walking.
“go on. shoot him.” I said encouraging his act. “he's not my son, I don’t even know him, the kid won’t help you live any longer, it will only make you look like a coward.” I said chillingly. The stallion was for a loss of words, he thought he was in control of the situation, he thought he could hide behind a defenceless foal. I’ve been in this situation a thousand times, in the end the hostage and the bastard always dies one way or another. It always doesn’t end well but sometimes there’s a chance.
“prepare to die.” I stud in a combat stance and ran towards them both. The gun pointed towards the foals head switched to me. Good. Seeing when he was about to fire was easy, he blinked in fear each time he fired so all I had to do was dodge and weave. Then, when I got close enough to impale them both he closed his eyes. Perfect. I struck his horn and the stallion went down in an agonising welp as his magic was no more. He dropped the child and his sidearm and kicked away, crawling.
“you—you bastard!” he cried in pain. “you will pay for this; the boss will kill you, I promise you that.” He held his horn tightly, squinting. I stud over him pitifully then I noticed something familiar. On the armour that covered his flank was one painted hoof stained on the armour. Of course, The Red Hoof gang.
“I’m looking forward to it mate.” I smiled before I pulled him to the stair case of the school and executed him as I took one slick slice throw his neck like a knife throw butter. His head tumbled down the stair case till the end. The blood each time it hit the stairs, the expression of fear each time he bounced, the way he was a stone-cold leader to a weak foal, it was music to my ears. I watched it roll and roll like a ball from a child. Speaking of children, I turned to the colt and he was shaking in fear and not once did his eyes leave mine. I moved towards him until my shadow covered him.
“s-sir, please don’t hurt me.” He stuttered.
“why? Have you done something bad?” I asked.
“n-no sir.” He replied
“then, there's no reason to hurt you mate.” I said with a reassuring smile and he tried to give one back, but he couldn’t stop trembling. “now, why don’t we go back inside.” I said helping the lad back to his hooves.
“thank you, sir.” He said. The colt pulled me back.
“was you really going to let him kill me?” he asked fearfully. I stopped and looked over my shoulder.
“well it was a 50 – 50 thing mate, I couldn’t back down to a shrimp like him.” I replied simply.
“oh. Okay.” He said confused. I crouched down and gave him a warming hug.
“don’t worry about it, you’re alive in the end, aren’t ye.” I said as I let go of him.
“I guess you’re right.” He said but still not sure of himself that I might turn about and eat him.
“I’m always right.”
“thanks again sir.”
The school wasn’t big at all, in fact it was only one room that probably fit about 20 or so foals. It was dark and gloomy when we entered, the windows were barricaded with planks of wood and tables that had bullet holes and axe marks from where they tried to enter. The lights where switched off and there seemed to have no one inside. My eyes narrowed as I saw a gap in the hurdle big enough for a pony to fit through then a few meters away was a red body on the floor. Looks like Disk is at school today. We walked throw the extra wooden chairs and tables that was left scattered and flipped with other stuff like bags and pack lunches left behind.
“where are your school mates?” I asked.
“wait here.” He said as he moved in front of me, looking left to right as he looked over the oak.
“Disk, come out its okay now, we’re safe.” There was no answer, just a deafening silence lingering. Then, I saw it with my one eye. I saw something out of place.
“don’t move!” I shouted but it was too late, the legs of the foal was blown off from the red lines of a claymore behind one of the flipped chairs. The body hit the far side of the wall, after that he did not move at all. He lied there, his soggy insides of his legs turned to mush, his uniform was demolished. It was safe to say he’s not getting back up at all. The only pony I know who would carry something like that around is Disk.
"verdoem dit!" I said in zebra. Yes, I can speak zebra if you didn't know that already. Disks head poked out behind the teacher’s desk with a black sidearm in his mouth and a victories grin.
“yeah, fuck you Bandits?” he spat out his weapon and I heard him shout with a cheering voice.
“dumbass, you missed.” I replied. Disk’s ears perked up and his eyes widened with joy.
“oh, hello Tequila, how have you been doing?” he asked like he did not just blow up some kid. “I haven’t seen you in ages.” He said jumping over the desk top and walking over towards me with a cool swag. The ruby red colt with a brown frisky mane and blue eyes wore a school uniform like the other colt but more intact and a black rucksack on his back. Disk was the younger brother of Scratchy who is a close friend of mine. I know Scratchy and Disk when they were first born. There farther, High Tide was a loyal follower when I was sane but his wife and himself was slaughtered in front of their own children. After that, I’ve been there closest farther figure ever since. I’d say I’ve done well raising them, it wasn’t hard if you asked me, yeah, they cried like a bitch at times, but I’ve taught them to feel nothing, pain, sadness, guilt has flew right passed them like wind. The 6 simple rules that I gave them were 1, never trust anyone you don’t know well enough, 2 it’s okay to kill if they deserve to die, 3 is never back down to no one even if your life and others are on the line, 4 is be the alpha everywhere you go, 5 is enjoy life to the fullest and 6 the most important one in my opinion is never ever fear taking others life or feel afraid of death. It has taken them a few years to practice the system which I respect a lot for, they still need to get the hang of it but one day it will snap into their head that this is the wasteland and the 6 rules will get them places. I call it the life’s a bitch lifestyle. It was tough for me, I had to learn the hard way these 6 steps on my own. Born and raised by only myself and the wasteland.
“not bad just though I would pick you up from school to day.” I said with an amusing grin.
“what? My lesson doesn’t finish in an hour.” He jokingly said. “hay where’s…” he looked over to the corpse and cringed. “Oooo that’s got to bloody hurt. Oi, Turner you okay?” he said with apologetic smile, but the foal said nothing. So, Disk picked up a lunchbox and throw it at him, still nothing.
“yeah, I hate to break it to ye, but I think he’s dead mate.” I said solemnly.
“yeah no shit.” He replied with a shake of his head. “now let’s go, the lesson was boring anyway.”
“wait, where is everyone?” I looked around.
“the teachers dead and the rest are in the basement.” He walked passed me to the exit.
“aren’t you going to tell them everything is safe now?”
“fuck it, let them grow a pair.” Disk said and we walked out with a grin on our faces. A 15-year-old colt, he is a natural born killer in my books. I’m such a good dad. God, imagine if I was in Celestia’s shoes. Ooof… that wouldn’t end well.
When we stepped out of the school area, the villages fire worsened as wooden buildings and ponies were being burnt to a crisp. The foreign toxic smoke made mine and Disk’s throats burn as we coughed like we had something stuck in our throats, we desperately rubbed our eyes from the itching as they watered like drops from a tap. Quickly, I lifted my hood and snood and Disk reached inside his bag and pulled out a bandana and wrapped it around his nose and mouth to keep the tainted air to a minimum.
“come’ ed, the carriage is on the other side of the village.” I said trying to see through the foggy grey smoke.
“couldn’t park closer to the school, could ye.” He said with a roll of his eyes and sulked.
“If I wanted the bellends to loot the carriage, I would of gave it to them, smart ass.” I answered back. “and besides we can have a little fun on the way, can’t we.” I said nudging his shoulder for a response. He rolled his eyes and smiled.
“touché, touché.” He said as he as he pulled out his 9mm pistol with a mouth grip.
The Red Hoof gang forces must have finished with the market and patrolled the streets for survivors. Me and Disk picked of the patrol easily from the shadows and the fiery smoke as with a few bangs from are weapons and they dropped like flies but of course it got the other bandits attention from my rifle and Disk’s pistol. We walked back onto the street.
“let’s not use our guns this time, didn’t realise that rounds are louder than the fir?” I said feeling kind of stupid, I knew I should have bought a suppressor for Bezzie. Yes, I called my rifle Bezzie because I thought it would go nicely with Bestie.
“okay, I wanted to get close up to these bitches anyway.” He grinned menacingly and put his sidearm away in his bag.
“that’s my lad.” I grinned back and pulled the sword from my holster as he did but he had a butcher’s knife. Looting the bodies for caps and ammunition or whatever we wanted, I saw the outlines of 5 ponies with pointy metal armour and weapons through the foggy fire.
“Disk the pillar.” I pointed to a cinder block pillar and Disk nodded and hid in its shadow as I waited behind flaming barrels stacked on one another.
“I’m sure I heard the shots fired this way.” A mare’s voice said throw the cackling blaze. The details started to fade in as the ponies wore gas masks and one other in the front had two canisters on his back and a tube connected to the base of the weapon that had a blue glow at the end like a blow touch.
“shit! A flame thrower.” I thought and as quick as I could I ran over to Disk’s cover.
“what the fuck are you doing?” Disk roared quietly.
“they have a flame thrower.” I exclaimed back.
“so, what, we’ll just shank him until he’s dead.” He answered back.
“no, just leave him till last and pick them of from the back.” I planned and he nodded in approval. The five ponies were on the other side of the pillar as I squeezed with Disk and they are now going to see the bodies.
“you’re losing it Sunshade, everypony here might as well be-
they finally spotted as they felt the gooey liquid on the hoofs as they stepped on them accidentally. I took that opportunity to move position behind a pile of dead bodies that the bandits piled together. The stallions, mares and foals blood created a pool as they all combined like a fucked-up family reunion. The revolting smell lingered in my nose as it was too strong for even a snood wasn’t thick enough to block the smell. I sighed at the faces; they died a painful death, some burnt alive and some shot or axed down like animals in a slaughter house.
“shit. Spread out, they had to still be here.” The pony with gas mask commanded. I glanced over to Disk who was looking right back, and I gave a nod and we both walked out, assassinating the back ponies with a slice to the neck, Disk jumped onto the pony’s neck and jammed the knife into the pony’s neck as he blocked his voice of noise, then the three in the front. By chance the pony with the flame thrower turned to see Disk and I who had taken down their comrades.
“there you are you little rats.” He shouted out and unleashed a heated hellish fire. Quickly, I lifted the dead corpse in front of me as the raw heat thrashed passed me as the body was taking most of the fire in my hooves. I looked to were Disk once was, but the red and orange fire blocked my view. I could feel the blazing flame around the body as my coat started to roast.
“Disk!” I shouted and a grunting came out as a response through the fire’s fury. Good he’s still alive.
“I’m going to do something stupid, get back.” I shouted through the fire.
“roger.” He said and with that I stud with the body and started to walk. Each step I took was more painful than the next, the heat me sweat poured out like a river, my eyes watered from the fumes and the corpse I held was starting to melt its bloody muscles was becoming more visible like ice.
“come on, come on!” I shouted to myself as I pushed myself to walking, my sword in my muzzle waiting to strike the pyro. The bastards, I could hear them chuckling and taunting me to fight back. Oh, just you wait till I get their you sons of a bitches. Then through hell, I felt it, I was in front of the flame thrower, I grinned, and I shoved the dead body in front of the barrel, stopping the fire completely. Even behind the mask, the eyes of the ponies was full of horror as I leapt into the air letting go of the body and the fire returned, the pony tried to pull up, but it was too late, my long sword decapitated the head of the pony.
“got ye.” I smiled then I saw fire pop out the canister like a fountain. “ah, verdomde narre.“ I said which translated to ah, fucking bollocks. he exploded as the I caught one of the canisters of gas and like fiery bomb, everyone in the area was blown away from the heated shock wave. I landed my back hearing a few cracks in my body as I whelped in pain from the landing on a stony surface. Slowly, I made my way up as well as the other two ponies left live but heavily wounded as bits of their coat was marked with bloody patches like mine, I had on my chest and legs. The fire was unbearable, I tried to breathe normally but not even the snood wasn’t helping me anymore. I choked and coughed ruthlessly as my lungs desperately begged for oxygen but known was around. The two ponies stud to their hooves, winces of pain. They rounded on me, one with a knife in his telekinetic grip and another with an axe. From out of know where, Disk came from the roof tops and landed on the axe pony’s back and chopped his neck making the bandit fall to a ground with a gag. Disk looked at me with blood splatted all over his coat and face and sat on the corpse as a chair. He pointed at the bandit as if to say well come on kill him. I rolled my eyes and grinned, getting to my hooves with a big push. The pony with the knife ran at me and I ducked under his side swing and it was my turn as he was wide open. I quickly, twirled to gather enough force to cut him in half. He saw what I was going to do and floated his knife to parry my attack but, all my might struck down on this poor soul and I felt his own knife driven into his own body. with a smooth slice, his organs and blood leaked, and his eyes fell lifeless before he dropped to the rocky path.
“took you long enough, I was starting to get bored up there.” Disk said tugging his knife of the neck of the dead pony.
“what? Can’t I have fun myself?” I asked with a smug grin. He rolled his eyes and we both continued throw the street like decayed demons.
We made it to the edge of the village with a few more encounters but nothing too serious, just a few noobies just brain dead. instead of going back to the carriage we went back in. why you ask? Because the main course was someone dangerous and has the big caps on him but, there’s a little twist. I’m not going to kill him, Disk is, I’m only going to help him out verbally. His first job, his first bounty will be today. The bounty was 5,000 caps and his name is Whitedeath, one of “The Lord’s” loyal unicorn henchman from the Red Hoof gang, his appearance is a brown coat, blond hair and green eyes. He wears a camouflaged uniform with webbing and sunglasses. His preferred weapon is an assault carbine and a 9mm sidearm. Wanted dead or alive.
“I think I’ll take him dead.” Disk said excitedly as he checked his ammo in the mag.
“it’s up to you, it’s your bounty.” I shrugged. “you do know that if you do take him in alive you get 25% more caps.”
“I know, I’m just not that fussed about caps, I just want to kill the motherfucker.” He replied simply.
“okay, how?”
He thought about it. clearly, I thought he would say shank him up his ass, but it came to a shock when he said.
“we’ll see where he is first, then I’ll decide.” He said, smiling. I smiled back.
“how are you going to find him?” I said quizzingly. I nodded awkwardly at the injured mare that was sitting, leaning on the wall, blood pouring down her mouth and holding her hoof to her impaled body. Disk smiled evilly and took out his red knife.
“torture.” He said looking deep into the terrified mares face, weakly shaking her head.
“correct answer, now I’m going to teach you a fun lesson today.” I chuckled as I walked over.
“please, don’t do this, I’ll tell you where Whitedeath is, please.” The hornless, pony said begging for her life.
“ah, ah let’s not get straight to talking.” I said sitting down beside her, leaning on the wall and wrapped my hoof around the back of her neck like pals. “here take this.” I said, handing over a dose of Hydra. She took it and her wounds closed.
“now, imagine this, you are a loyal soldier of Mr Whitedeath’s and you won’t tell my friend over there where he is, do this and I will let you go, hmm? Sound good?” I said with a reasonable smile. She opened her mouth to speak but then thought about it. She had no choice, she's fucked either way.
“you will let me go? How can I trust you?” she asked sceptically. “don’t worry, I’m got more than just hydra to keep you alive.” I said. She thought about it again stalling time. I frowned.
“okay let me make it clearer for you. You do this and I won’t kill you or don’t do this and we’ll kill you now.” I said losing my temper. She looked at me with shaken eyes.
“fine.” She finally said with an upset voice.
“good, Disk she’s all yours.” I said as he came over ready. “right, first thinks first what are you going to do to get her to talk?” I asked.
“stab her?” he asked confused. I laughed and waved my hoof at the buck
“no, no you ask where Whitedeath is first, maybe that will be a good start.”
“oh, right okay.” He cleared his voice. “where’s Whitedeath now?” He asked
“no, no be more threatening, she’s not going to tell you anything like that.” I said like a moany teacher.
“oh, I got it.” Disk pulled out his knife and jammed it half way throw her hind leg, she screamed out in agony. “where the fuck is White death.” He roared into her face. She looked at me with her eyes telling me, please let me tell him but I slowly shuck my head in disapproval as I stayed sat next to her, almost comforting her.
“damn it.” She said as she clinched her teeth in pain. “fuck you!” she shouted. Disk looked confused and looked at me with a tilted head.
“now what? The fucker doesn’t want to tell me where he is?” he asked, and my smile grown.
“now you torture her.” I said pulling out morphine and jabbed it in her leg. He looked at her and looked back me, blinking uselessly.
“how?” he said, cluelessly. I rolled my eyes and got up from the floor.
“easy, just hurt her as much as you can, just like you did but be more creative.” I said. His face lit up.
“okay, I’m good at that.” He said and got closer to her and wiggled his knife while the knife was lodged deep into her bone. She gave out another agonising scream as tears formed in her eyes.
“where is White death!” He shouted again and again she looked at me and I shuck my head again no. she said nothing. Disk looked back at me with a are you sure this is going to work face.
“okay, let’s try something else then, shall we?” I said thoughtfully. “maybe the revolver trick will work.” I said and he tilted his head.
“huh?” he replied.
“basically, you take five rounds out the revolver with only one round in the chamber then, you spin the chamber and you shot at the limb until she talks. It’ messes with the ponies head because the scariest thing is not knowing the known.” I explained.
“oh, I’ve heard of the game before, tried it once but I always won, and I got bored of it.” He rolled his eyes. “it kind of sucked.”
I looked at him in disbelief. There’s no way this kid had played zebra roulette before.
“how are you still alive?” I laughed.
“I don’t know.” He sighed. “anyway, come on I want to interrogate her.” he moaned.
“alright, alright.” I said and passed him my revolver that is set up for him.
“now, tell me where he is!” Disk pointed the barrel at her other untouched hind leg.
“wait please, just wait.” She said unable to move. Click.
“tell me where he is damn it!” He shouted. She looked at me, but I still shuck my head with a smile. Click.
“you think you’re lucky, do ye? Tell me where he is now!” He said once again but her eyes were glued to mine, but I wouldn’t let her spill it. Bang! The sound of the revolver rang out and she screamed at the top of her lungs. She held her leg in pain and yelled some more when the knife fell out her injured leg as she fell to one side. I walked over and lifted her back up and wrapped bandages around her legs and jabbed other morphine in her shot leg. I also gave her a healing potion just in case. Disk had got the drift and put another bullet in the chamber and spun it.
“let’s try again, now where is he.” He said coldly as he pointed the revolver at her knife wound. She looked at me once again with the same expression, breathing heavily but no. bang! The poor mare was breaking apart, as she screamed so badly, she almost broke her vocals. Tears formed more and more as she cried and cried. I walked over once again, and Disk had already put another bullet inside.
“please, no more.” She sobbed heavily.
“I know, I know, as soon as he points the gun at you, you can tell him, okay?” I whispered with a big smile as I placed another bandage over her wound with morphine but getting more sobs in return. I walked back.
“I won’t ask again, I’ll just keep pulling the trigger, now-“
“he is in the mayor’s office, west from here.” She panickingly spat out and… click. Disk pulled the trigger, click, she looked at Disk in horror.
“wait, wait, wait I told you…”
Click.
“…where he is, let me go!” she shouted putting her hooves in front of her face. Click.
“you, you said you would let me go!” she angrily roared at me.
“I said I’d let you go, I never said anything about Disk.” I chuckled. Her eyes widened as she looked down the barrel. Bang! Her head was knocked back and a fresh hole in her fore head was created, oily red blood dribbled down her frozen face.
“well then, let’s get a move on.” I said calmly.
“yep, let’s go.” Disk replied as he refilled his chamber and gave it back to me. We made our way to the west in search for the mayor’s office and something interesting was brought up by Disk.
“Tequila, what made you kill?” Disk asked out of nowhere.
“Huh?” I asked, took back by the question, but I embraced the thought.
“you must have gotten pretty mad to start killing like it’s nothing. Don’t you feel sorry for them?” he asked as we stopped down a smoke-filled alleyway.
“oi, look who's talking.” I laughed
“only cos I was born to kill thanks to you. Not to offend.”
“none taken. I see what you mean and the answer to that would be because I realise something years ago thanks to a few bastards along the way is that Equestria isn’t the type of place you can go around thinking everything is going to be okay, not anymore anyway.” I said fatherly.
“so, it’s okay to kill because everything is not okay?” he asked.
“not exactly, of course you kill to survives or because you need to but also, you can build companionship and friends to survive. Me, I work alone, I live alone and one day I’ll die alone.”
“why? Why would you want to be alone?” he asked a touch of concerned grow.
“simply because everyone would way me down and get in my way but not you and Scratchy, you two are just like me. A killer, fearless, a true prodigy, you two have adapted to the wasteland well just- just don’t get too adapted, I’ve been there and trust me I regret it and if I could go back in time and change what I did.” I said my smile upside down. Disk looked more concerned.
“wh-what happened?”
“I killed my marefriend and kids.” I said straight and Disk gasped.
“yo-you killed your marefriend and kids? Why?” he said ears perked down and trembling and I knew exactly why. Disk a 15 years old colt, fatherless, motherless, he never knew his dad or mother, neither did Scratchy. Disk looked up to me as a farther even though I’m not, I’m his closest thing to be called a dad. Telling him that I killed my foals must have put somethings in his mind. Who was his kids? Did he really kill them? Am I next?
“listen, it was my fault that my family died, I was with the wrong ponies and I now see that but trust me, I will kill the righteous wings if it was the last thing I do.” I said with rage bubbling up inside as I gazed at the floor as if I could set fire to it. Disk walked up to me.
“look at me.” He said
I did and got a heavy punch in return but then followed up with a damp, bloody hug and like that my rage was flushed down the toilet and felt the heart beat in the lad’s chest.
“I don’t think I can forgive ye for killing your own family but, I couldn’t say you wouldn’t be a good dad, so far, your doing a good job and I want to thank you for that. You could have left us stranded and hopeless, but you didn’t, you took us under your hoof and for that your 100% better than the old you.” He said finishing with a tear as he stepped back. I was at a loss of words, I wasn’t expecting him to thank me but to try and kill me. I sighed.
“well, well, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say the words thank you before.” I tried to laugh off the emotions.
“probably because I haven’t. you’re a special old bastard to me, don’t go getting yourself killed.” he said wiping his tear. I nodded and with that we continued. It was nice for him to be open like that, it’s good for him to, holding enough emotions can kill a pony. He's a good kid, I would happily put my life on the line for him. A true prodigy. We stopped at the end of the alleyway realising that the office was at the end of the road.
“listen.” I said getting back in serious mode. “I’m going to let you go on without me.” I said and he just wiped the warning with a swipe of his hoof.
“no problem, your fat ass would get me caught anyway.” He grinned.
“be safe, I’ll be watching.”
And with that, he went.
As I got on the roof tops with my rifle, I took aim on the position where Disk is. I spotted him behind flaming wooden crates from the development of the village, he looked over the box and quickly ducked. Two other bandits were roaming the area for ponies to kill. Silently though, Disk crept to the other side and hid as they walked passed. Mmmm, well at least he knows when and when not to kill. Didn’t think he could resist, saying that he has grown up since the day when killing was for fun. He was like a spoilt brat that didn’t know when to stop the last time I seen him. He moved on without getting caught but the challenge is soon to come. Getting in. I flew to the next roof top now side by side from a distance. I aimed up to the first floor to see bandits around a table playing cards then I aimed up at the second floor of the office window to see the old stallion battered and beaten to a pulp in the middle of the room, he was tied up on a chair with guards all around him sniggering at him. he was barely moving but I could see he was still alive from the slight movement when he breathed. I could give the signal to Disk but that would be helping, and I want him to do it by himself. Then, the pony himself walked into frame, playing with a long blade, White death, as exactly how he was described. He was talking to the trodden mayor, from my scope I could lip read what he was saying.
“where is it mayor, where’s the key.” He said. I couldn’t lip read Solar Dusk’s words since all I could see was the back of his head. Whatever, the mayor did say something, and White death didn’t like it. he sliced down on one of his hind leg and he gave a rusty, old scream. The white death, ugh his name is too long how about… Whitey for short, Whitey grinned evilly.
“how about now? You going to spill it, or do you want your hind leg?” he said. Solar Dusk shuck his head no and off went his hind leg. More and more shouts rang out, even I could hear him, and I was 50 meters away.
“I guess you’ll risk your life for this key.” Whitey wore a confident smile on his face. “how about we bring out a guest, shall we?” he said and moved out of frame and back with a small pony with a bag over her head. The mayor looked up and freaked out, he already knew who it was.
“let her go now! She has nothing to do with this, you want me, please have mercy on my daughter!” I heard him say as he tried to wiggle out his chair. I quickly, glanced down to Disk who had changed position closer to the building, peaking for an opening to get to his next spot. Hmmm, taking it easy, okay, I see you kid. Knowing that he was okay, I took aim to Whitey. He lifted the mask of the child and the filly wore a horrified expression. I growled like an animal, she wore the same expression as…
The morning light rose as me and my crew, Sandwich, Husky and Fleet headed back from our mission. We had had a long day of securing the Wolstein Village from the Red hoof gang. The Red Hoof gang is a massive clan, one of the biggest from the far south side apart from the firm which are gang that is the biggest with the Red hoof gang not far behind them. they get there name from Protection racketeering, murder, extortion, money laundering, loan sharking, bribery, counterfeiting, hijacking, smuggling, labour racketeering, gun-running, contract killing, robbery and assault but they are not our priority, the guards and security in The Hood can deal with them. the Red hoof gang have only one main goal in mind. The keys. I don’t know what the big deal is with the keys, but the gang would do anything to retrieve the artefacts. Today, we had just prevented another raid on the village with the help and security the parish had. Now, we headed back not to our base for payment but a barn not too far from the village to meet Vixen, the found of the Righteous Wings.
“oi, Tequila, why do you think that Vixen has ordered us to meet him at the farm instead of heading back to Haywood?” Husky asked with bags under his eyes as he yawned tiredly. “I’d rather get a kip.”
“I don’t know to be honest, right before the order he pulled me back to meet here. If we are lucky, it will be just a small meeting and not another all-nighter.” I said wings flapping as we all did a square formation. Me and Fleet in the front and Husky and Sandwich at the back.
“it bloody better not, I can barely keep my eyes open and plus I stink of shit, I need a shower.” Sandwich moped.
“surely not, Vixen is a nice stallion, he wouldn’t do that to us.” Fleet said as her mane blowing in the windy air.
“I think he would Fleet, the Red hoof gang is no joke these days, I think he would want us to set out to another village and set up camp for another wave of them bandits.” I sighed as that is the most likely outcome.
“why us? Why couldn’t it be Drizzle’s squad? I’m getting the impression that Vixen doesn’t like us that much.” Sandwich moaned.
“it’s not that, he probably expects more from us as we are his 3rd squad, Charlie team.” Fleet replied sensitively.
“your head is so far up his ass Fleet, one day you need to take your head out.” Sandwich replied back to Fleet.
“oi, enough you two, we’re here now.” I shouted back as I lead them to the red battered barn that was amazingly enough still standing. We landed at the giant double doors that was slightly open, and ora of light peeking through the crack. As leader of the group, I took the first step inside the barn and was surprised to see alpha team at Vixen’s side. Drizzle, Trinity, Charger and him, Cellio, never liked the bastard. I didn’t like the way he merrily and ruthlessly killed ponies, he also doesn’t like zebras with passion so he’s the one that picks on me. Everything I saw in him screamed death and misery.
“ah, Tequila, I trust that you have completed your task successfully.” Vixen said with a welcoming grin.
“yes sir.” I said. “can we get straight to it, we’re not in the mood to linger around.”
“I promise this won’t take long, so I’ll get to the point.” He cleared his voice. “Tequila, I am going to dismiss you from the Righteous wings permanently.” He said sadly. I froze, shocked.
“what?” I asked, stunned.
“Sir, you can't be serious, this is a joke. Right?” Fleet stepped forward.
“sadly, not Fleet, Tequila will no longer service us.” Vixen says.
“why? What have I done?” I asked desperately.
“oh, you have done nothing wrong.” Vixen laughed. “it’s who you are, we couldn’t care less if you are a one-eyed zebra with wings but you’re a good pony, too good to have. You was once a killer and a mean machine but ever since you met your marefriend and had a filly, you have gone too soft. Today you have not killed any of them bandits did you, you showed them mercy and let them go, didn’t you?” Vixen looked at me with an unimpressed frown.
“yes, yes I did. You orders were to protect the village, you didn’t say how I would do it. me and most of my team agreed to spare the bandits to give them a chance to think about how lucky they are and hopefully they would change their ways. It’s called giving a second chance to everyone that has done wrong. I gave them a chance of a new life.” I protested but Vixen looked intrigued.
“who was the one to refuse your order?” Vixen asked. I looked over to Sandwich who wore a bored face.
“it was Sandwich.” I said. Vixen looked Sandwich up and down with a pleasant nod and whispered in Cellio’s ear. I looked at him sceptically.
“why?” I asked.
“oh, I’m just thinking if I should keep Sandwich alive.” He said with a grin. My team froze but I readied my rifle but as quickly as I took aim, Cellio rounded on me like a shadow and tackled me to the floor pinning me down. I went to shout to my team to engage but before I could shout anything something hit me on the side of the head, and I blacked out in an instant.
Slowly, my eyes opened in a dizzy, blurry state as my throbbing head banged like drums, I could taste blood as a river ran down my muzzle. Sounds of crying and sniffs echoed as a mare tried to comfort her.
“it’s okay baby, don’t cry.” The mare said. Wait, that voice does sound familiar. I looked up still fuzzy, but I could see 4 pony shaped blurs standing on the two hind legs, the far left one looking a bit shorter than the rest. A foal? wait no. I blinked rapidly and surely got a bit of my vision and then only I could see that they weren’t on their hind legs but was chained to the wall by their hooves, hind legs floating from the floor like being pinned to a cross. Scruffy bags were placed over their heads and seemed to be suffering as they moaned in pain. me, I couldn’t move, I was chained to a chair my chest and hooves glued to the spot. I tried to move but all it did was make the chain cackle. I looked around. Other than the hanging bodies, I could see hay, hay and more hay so yeah, I’m in a barn, wait why am I in a barn? I thought… then it hit me like a bullet to my head, the memories.
“VIXEN!” I roared with boiling red rage as I used my might to try to break my chains but with no luck, I couldn’t break free but that did not stop my furious adrenaline temper to free myself as I couldn’t stand to sit in one spot while he is still alive.
“VIXEN! GET OUT NOW!” I roared again feeling my voice hurt. Then, the bastard came around the corner from a door way with alpha team and Sandwich looking smug and evil.
“look who finally woke up.” Cellio chuckled. I stared at him with wrath, seeing red.
“you!” I said low and dangerously. “where is my team?”
“wait, you don’t know? Well let me show you.” Vixen said happily. He walked over to the ponies on the wall and removed the masks to show Husky and Fleet’s face all bruised and messed up.
“Husk, Fleet!” I called out and in response then moaned alive.
“Tequila?” Husk asked as he spat out blood. I looked at the other two that was still masked. A filly and a mare. No, no they did not!
“you better let them go or I’ll kill you all, I don’t care!” my voice boomed but the threats were weak as they looked at me in amusement.
“oh, I guess you know who the other two are then ye?” Vixen grinned. I looked over to Sandwich who wore a face of an emotionless pony as he stared at me.
“what are you waiting for? Help us. We’re a team remember?” I said but nothing got to him. He walked forward and drove a knife into my flank. I yelped in pain able to keep in my screams.
“I never wanted to be in your team, I’ve never liked you or your team, it’s always spare them, spare that, you’re too weak to be with the Righteous wings.” He replied back slyly and walked back to where he was.
“you traitorous prick.” I said back as I breathed heavily holding back the whimpers of pain.
“come now Tequila, there’s no need to be angry beside you should spend they last minutes watching your family die.” Vixen reviled the faces of my marefriend, Sweetpea and my daughter, Peaky both looking at me, helplessly.
“Daddy!” Peaky cried out, tear stains darkened her coat. My heart skipped a beat as her face said a thousand words. Help, I’m scared, please, I want to go home, daddy, I’m hurting, it hurts so badly, get me down, please, daddy, come and save me, help mommy, daddy, I promise I won’t go in the woods again, I promise, I won’t ever steal from the market ever again, please, daddy just come and get me. Sweetpea’s face didn’t look much different but a pinch of courage was show as she swallowed trying to keep her nerve at bay. I growled in defeat.
“what do you want from me?”
“nothing, you have done everything for us and I’m grateful for your service, but you are not in use for us anymore. Just another useless tool to throw away you are.” Vixen said.
“what have my team and family got to do with this?” I asked more calmly now.
“your team followed your merciful orders which makes them just as bad as you and your family is what made you soft, you was the perfect soldier, you would have been my right wing pony, you could of took my spot as the boss when I finally died but you let this pathetic mare turn you into a wanna be hero and now you and your team and family will die because of you.”
Husky, a 23-year-old Pegasus stallion who had a milk white coat, blue grubby short mane and eyes with a ball as his cutie mark. He was our attacker, charging in head first, he was our assault. He was the one to put himself first in a fight for the sake of others. He lived in Haywood in a little shack with his sick mom who is dying from taint. He would work day and night for the caps he needed to treat her. If I would have to describe him in one word, it would be trustworthy. Too bad that his trust in me lead to his head being turned to mush as Chargers Mini gun had terminated him to a flesh of meat.
“NO, STOP, PLEASE!” Fleet shouted out, crying her eyes out. Sweetpea and Peaky looking in horror as blood managed to get over them. Fleet, a 21-year-old Pegasus mare who had a pale brown coat, dirt brown mane and sea blue eyes, her cutie mark is a plain brown book. She was our medic, calm and collected when she was on the battle field, always put others first before her own safety. if I had to describe her in one word it would be heroic. living in The Hood with her buckfriend, we would always bump into each other sometimes in The Hood, but I guess this isn’t the type of bump into she was expecting as the armoured Drizzle had forcefully shoved a sticky grenade in her muzzle. Fleet tried to gag it out, but it was too late as it went boom, her head disintegrated, blood and meat everywhere. I was helpless, speechless as I could only watch my loved ones perish with my own two eyes.
“please, stop.” I commanded powerlessly, they heard me, but none followed. Sweetpea was next and I wanted to run to her aid as I resisted once more but then, Sweetpea looked me fearlessly as if she had accepted what was going to happen to her, we looked eye to eye and she nodded once as if to say it’s okay, I’ll see you in the next life. I stopped the struggled at gazed with tears.
“ah, Mrs Sweetpea, its lovely to finally meet you after all this time.” Vixen looked up at her with a smug, punchable grin. She looked down at him with hatred.
“can’t say the same from up here.” She hissed and spat in his eye as he flinched away.
“you bitch!” he shouted and wiped her saliva from his face to his hoof as it drooled down. He smiled.
“Sandwich, prove your loyalty to the wing and kill this mare.” Vixen said, moving aside for Sandwich.
“sandwich. You don’t have to do this.” I said pleadingly. He looked back at me in abhorrence.
“I’m not weak.” He muttered and turned back to the ferocious mare and they looked eyes both gazing, carelessly. he took aim. Sweetpea, a 30-year-old earth pony mare who had strawberry milkshake pink coat, brown mare with three light to dark purple strips on her fringe and ice blue eyes and a black star as her cutie mark. An innocent mare from a village to a friend to the love of my life. To me, she was the next best thing to the warmth of a sun, she would brighten my day from the look at her gentle and kind ocean eyes. Her silk smooth coat and touch sends my chills air born as we would cuddle. The way she would kiss me with passion and care. The way she would treat me home when I got back from a fight. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we were happy, we were sad. We weren’t perfect and we understood that fact, that’s why we were meant to be together. When we had our first kid, it was so surreal, we did not expect to have Peaky, but it happened, and we took her with open arms. We dressed, we fed, we gave her medicine when she was sick, we played, we told her off, we protected her. Me and Sweetpea would die for our own flesh and blood. If I had to describe her in one word after all this time, it would be lovable. I don’t think I told her I loved her today, now I don’t think I can. Peaky screamed as the bastard didn’t kill her quickly but made sure she could die excruciatingly as he would first shoot her hind legs, blood dribbling down as Sweetpea eyes went wide with a soundless scream, then he would work his way up her legs with each shot from his machine gun.
“no, stop you meanie.” Peaky shouted, wiggling but he never stopped. She was getting tortured in a painful way. Sandwich would try and give her a healing potion, but she would spit it out and glare down on him, she wanted this end as quickly as possible.
“take it or you will die.” Sandwich said.
“what’s the point, I’m not going to give you the satisfaction.” She said with a painful snarl. He snarled back.
“I guess I’ll end you now if I can’t have my fun then.” Sandwich said aiming his weapon. She closed her eyes and waited vacantly.
“wait, no!” I shouted but the only thing that was talking was his bullets that met his mark.
“NO!” me and Peaky shouted as she was impaled by bullets. Memories among memories rolled back in slow motion like a slide show. I remembered the time we first met, it was in the north-east town of The Hood and a bandit was going to shoot her dead but me, I came to the rescue as always and a bit of connection when I laid eyes on her. I remember the time she would be so relieved to see me walk throw the door and would give me the biggest hug and a tea to feed my stomach. I remember the time we fought about the Righteous Wings and how I’ll end up dead. She was the first pony to know my little secret that day. I remember the day we made love with passion as we kissed and cuddled pleasurably. I remembered the day when we first realised that we had a baby, her face was not of a fear or concerned expression but full of excitement like a foal on her birthday. I remember the time we cried in happiness as we held our baby in our hooves. I remembered the day she would teach our daughter how to read and speak and write, feed her every day and would tell her stories when it was bed time. My marefriend was the world to me, the only reason I would live for was her and my daughter. Nothing else mattered other than them, there the reason I am where I am now and now seeing one of them leave this world was like cutting out a scoop of my heart. I will never see that majestic smile ever again. The gun fire stopped, and my eyes were pealed to my marefriend, holes and holes were created, and her red juices left. Tears started to form in my eye and even more from Peaky as she sobbed like she never had before and I was useless to comfort her, I wanted to hold her in my hooves and tell her everything was okay, but it wasn’t okay, not at all. I looked over to Cellio who was leaning against wood, smiling hysterically as he shamelessly chuckled. I clinched my teeth that my back-tooth cracked, I stared at him, feeling my head cover with murderous intent.
“I’m going to kill you all.” I threatened the killers with my words. “mark my words.”
“oh, I’m shivering in my boots over here.” Cellio mockingly said, getting up from the wall and trotting over in front of me. “you can’t do much from where your standing now can ye?” he laughed. “now watch as I’ll kill your only daughter.” Cellio said as he pulled me closer to Peaky who was wearing a face of horror. she squirmed and wiggled as she flapped her flightless wings trying to fly away but nothing, and she knew who was next. I looked down the line of dead bodies. Husky was demolished, Fleet blown to pieces and Sweetpea tormented. Now, it was Peaky’s turn. Peaky, an 8-year-old Pegasus filly who had a light smoky grey coat, a short light blond mane and light green eyes. What can I say? She was my heart and I was her armour and I would destroy anyone that would try to harm her. She was a bright kid, with a bright future ahead of her as a soldier, she never had much friends and took inspiration from me. If I had one word to describe her, it would be cheerful. I looked down and closed my eye, refusing to look at my daughter’s death. It was quick thank god, there was a thud of a knife that sounded to go right through her skull and into the wooden wall, she must have died quickly, not a word or sob responded. I couldn’t take it, I kept my head low knowing my own flesh and blood had just died right in front of me and I was too much of a coward to watch. I took Peaky’s tears and cried for her. My family, my crew died because of my stupidity. I wanted to be a hero, I wanted to help the world to be what it was 200 years ago but clearly it wasn’t meant to be. Instead of becoming a hero, I put everyone I love in danger and who’s blame is for that? Me of course. I spun around and there was Vixen looking pitifully at me.
“it didn’t have to be like this, you could have ignored that mare and continued working with us but as always, you have to do it your way because you know best, right?” he sighed.
“you’re a monster.” I responded with a dangerous scowl.
“like you once were Tequila, like you once were.” He replied and with thunderous knock of his pistol grip, I blacked out once again.
The next time I woke up, I was still strapped to the chair but this time I was outside the barn looking at a camp fire of dead bodies. I could see Husky and Fleet stacked on one another and I could see Sweetpea’s flack at the bottom and Peaky’s was probably somewhere behind them, melting to ashes. I think that’s when I clicked. What was I thinking? I couldn’t change anyone in this wasteland. The wasteland has a tight grip around their thoughts like a puppet. I looked deep into the fire and all I saw was pain and suffering from the wastelands creation. How did things in Equestria change? What made the wasteland? At that point in time, I don’t think I cared, I just wanted to kill something.
“you’re a fool.” Sandwich said from behind me.
“oh, I know.” I replied not bothering to escape. “all I wanted was a life where everyone was nice and peaceful.”
“that’s impossible.”
“I know, so I guess I’ll just kill everyone that deserves to die, including the entire Righteous Wings and you.” I said emotionless
“maybe in the afterlife.” He said and I felt the barrel touch the back of my head and bang, my world flew away once again. That was when I made an oath to myself to never become a hero and who ever fucks with me, hope Celestia and Luna is on your side.
Coming back to reality, I shuck my head angrily, I said I wouldn’t go back there but I couldn’t not forget the past, how could I? it’s all I have left. I looked down to where Disk once was to find that he was completely gone. The two guards at the at the front door, dead. The bandits playing cards blown up and upstairs, there he was having a scrap with Whitey, both dodging slices from their weapons, both missing by millimetres. All six pony guards from upstairs had been injured or died from Disk’s pistol or knife. I watched as Whitey was struggling to mark a blow on the small devil, for Disk’s side and speed he couldn’t keep up with him, I think Disk was toying with him, even though Whitey was a unicorn which was a huge advantage to him as Disk was only an earth pony. I smiled as I watched Disk taunt the frustrated stallion.
“stay still!” he shouted but Disk laughed and struck back to caught his flank with a scratch. They kept dancing for too long and I got bored. I jumped down from the roof, headed inside and up the stairs. I popped my head up the stairs and they were still at it. I sighed.
“hurry up Disk, I’m bloody starving.” I yelled over to Disk, waiting at the stairs. Disk rolled his eyes.
“fine.” He mumbled through his weapon. Disk dodged a few more times and then struck a heavy blow to his two-hind leg with one slice then his horn as Whitey took heavy breaths. He cried out in pain and fell to his side in anguish.
“you bastard!” he shouted.
“shut up you baby.” He said as he landed a few more blows to his neck until his head rolled off. I went over to the dusted curtains and ripped it off, put Whitey’s head inside, wrap it up with a knot and whala, a bag that was dripping blood.
“it- it’s you. Hell’s Reaper.” A voice said behind me. It was the three-legged Solar Dusk, he was flipped, still strapped on his chair with his legless limp bleeding fast, looking intensely at the both of us like we were killers. Then there was the little filly trying to unknot the rope with her teeth, blood splattered on her head. He noticed that I spotted her and went wide eyed.
“wait, please don’t take her away from me, she’s all I have left.” He said, begging. I looked to my side to see that Disk was behind me, peaking from my back side. He was… hiding? Surely not. I Turned from Disks odd behaviour and faced Solar Dusk.
“sorry what was that?” I asked.
“please don’t take-“
“ah, right okay, yeah I don’t want her, unless she’s worth taking.” I said. “is she with the Righteous Wings?”
“no, no she doesn’t even-
“then I don’t care mate.” I said as I went to turn for the stairs.
“why did you save us?” he asked as the filly untied him from the trap.
“I didn’t save anyone, Disk did so thank him, and he only did it for the caps that the cum coloured prick had on his head.” I moved so the both can see him. The little blood caked monster a few seconds ago was rubbing the outside of his leg and looking at the ground, blushing? What is up with him?
“th-thank you Disk, I owe you my life.” Solar held his hoof to his heart.
“Yes, thank you Disk.” The filly gratefully gave a small cute smile.
“n-n-n-n-no problem, Trinity.” He stuttered nervously. I looked at Disk so confused. What the actual fuck is wrong with this kid? Like honestly, you’re fighting to the death one moment then turned into a pussy the next.
“aren’t you in my school?” she asked, and Disk slowly looked up.
“yeah, I’m in all your lessons.” He said awkwardly and a for a second there was obstinate silence in the air.
“so, what will you two do now that you have your bounty?” Solar asked and I grinned.
“celebrate!” I said pulling out a tasty drink, Tequila.
Me, Disk with his bounty and the other two that kept their distance from us followed our lead and left the village to our carriage. Soon enough the Hood Air Force or the HAF finally came to the rescue to finish what I started and took Solar and Trinity in their own hooves and us well all we got is there thanks and pat on the back. We didn’t care though, we’ve got our caps. Disk let out a frustrated sigh.
“Disk? What the fuck was that?” I asked, angry that I couldn’t understand what happened to him.
“what the fuck was what?” he answered back like nothing happened.
“back in the village you was being a big wuss when I was talking to Solar.” I said.
“oh, that, I don’t know what it is but when I’m around her I just feel weird. My heart starts beating and I can’t stop thinking about her, I don’t know what it is.” He looked up to me, begging for my answer. I smiled and untensed as the thing that was bothering was clear as day now. I chuckled, which then turned into to a hysterical laughter.
“what? What’s so funny?” he said getting annoyed. I tried to answer, honestly, I did but it was too much, it was too funny.
“you-you-you…” I started to wheeze and laugh again, I put my drink down on the floor as my stomach tightening like a knot. “you like her you fucking mong.” I laughed once more, tears of joy flowed.
“I. Like. Her?” he said thoughtfully. “but I like you and I don’t feel weird.” He said.
“it’s a different type of like to me.” I said, wiping my tears and now calmed down as I picked up my tequila and took a swig. “alright lover boy, let me guess you want to always be around her and protect her, don’t ye?” I said with a grin and took another swig.
“yeah, I guess so. How would you know?” he asked like I was a mind reader.
“I’ve been there and done that mate. It’s called love.”
“Love? So, I love her, do I?” he said with a wondrous smile.
“by the look on your face, yeah you do.” I said. Wow, is, is he really in love. I guess it’s true what they say, they grow so fast, next week and I think he’ll start fuckin drowning himself with alcohol like an arl lad. Suddenly, I frowned and gloomily drank the rest of the tequila and thrown it away making it smash on the dead floor.
“listen, I’m not going to tell you to forget the love thing but let me tell you this. When she dies due to the wasteland or age, it will hurt you for the rest of your life, it will haunt you for the rest of your life, I promise you.” I frowned deeply. He looked over.
“like your marefriend?” he asked, and I swear I felt pain cut deeper into my heart.
“like my marefriend.” I replied miserably.
“I can take it.” he said, and I looked to the determent colt. I smiled. Just like I was.
“right then.” My mood brightened. “do you want to be with her?” I asked.
“yes, yeah I think I do.” He said happily.
“then you must be confident, don’t bloody be shy that will only make you look weak and scared.” I instructed and he nodded. “next is be yourself, no one in the world likes a fake so be yourself.” I said and once again he nodded. “and most importantly, kill anyone that would harm her, because that’s your girl and you will protect her no matter what.” I said finally and he nodded again but this time with a deadly grin.
“right, she’s going to be mine in no time.” He said excitedly.
“whoa, whoa, whoa there. Do you mean, we’re going to be together in no time? Just remember that she’s a pony not just meat you use.” I said, correcting him.
“right.” He said, agreeing and we continued walking to the resting carriage with a smile on our face, laughing and joking while the village and the lost souls burned behind us.
Finally, we made it to the carriage and I now realised that I was in the evening as the blurry ball through the sky had moved a few meters from its last location, damn, how long had it took? 3 hours? 4? I don’t know but it didn’t really matter we have got our bounties, we’re happy chaps.
“want some scran?” I asked as I went to the back of the carriage. God I was starving. I could eat a dragon if I had the chance.
“sure, any Crackers?” he asked.
“let me have a look.” I said as I put the key in the lock and opened the doors on the carriage and…
“who the fuck are you?” I shouted as I raised my rifle and the zebra who was stuffing herself with crackers looked back in shock and went to the corner of the carriage and swallowed.
“wait, wait, wait, wait don’t shoot.” She waved her hooves. Disk came around to nose.
“who the fuck is this?” Disk winced.
“I don’t know. Who the fuck are ye and how did you get in my carriage?” I asked, tempting to pull the trigger now.
“it’s not what it looks like, I jumped into your carriage when I was chased by them creatures from Hoofington.” The young zebra replied immediately.
“oh, that’s why there was ghouls messing with my carriage you little fucker.”
“I’m sorry.” She pleaded. I sighed and lowered my weapon as I jumped and sat down, picking up a packet of years old crisps. The zebra was only I’d say 16, wearing a customised security plated armour, covering her from neck to hooves and had something around her neck, a necklace? She also has a knife strapped on her front right leg and a no sighted hunting rifle around her back. She also wore a brutal scar along down her chest I would be proud to show off, actually, now that I look closely, she is a very strong zebra to the hood and core. She might actually give Disk a run for his caps.
“coming in?” I asked Disk and he shrugged and sat beside me as we both looked at her.
“so, let’s start off with your name?”
Footnote.
Level up.
Your tragic past has made you stronger than ever. Your companion admires you, which gives him the ability to take his combat skill to the next level in speed and strength.
is that it? you’re just going to bring up my past and say I got stronger because of it. come on,it’s the first chapter, give me at least an ability would ye, Owen.
Like what?
I don’t know maybe I can grow a horn and use magic?
Fuck off, the only thing I’m giving you is to be more dangerous with your sword.
Mmmm, okay that’s fair.
Tequila, you also have more handle and control of your long sword. There happy now?
Yes, yes, I am. Thank you.
Can I go now? I’m bloody starving and I’ve got college soon.
Sure, I’ll see ye next chapter yeah?
Yeah, why not. I am the one writing this shit. Bye.
Bye.
Author's Note
Hope you enjoyed my first ever chapter. Please let others know who are a big fan of the fandom. Also, I would love to get some feed back on my work. Peace ✌
chapter 2 part 1 - Amara.
Chapter 2 – Amara.
“hooo weee. You got yourself in a sticky situation didn’t y’all.”
no... not now. this can’t be happening to me. its chasing me. the shadow gets closer. I look into it. I see the red eyes. the horns. I must run. death is after me. it’s too early. my life has been so short. it’s only started to get good. I’ve experienced so little. now I’m at the mercy of this beast. I must escape. I try to run. but my legs tire fast. my will fades. then I trip. I break my shin on a rock. the pain. it burns like if I were thrown into the sun. blood runs from my leg. pours all over the ground. I look back. the beast is still chasing me. I get up. I feel my bones shift inside my leg. it tears my flesh. I fall back down. I can no longer feel half my leg. it only hangs off of a bit of skin. Lifelessly. I can’t just sit here. the beast is coming. it’s getting closer. tears running from my cheeks. I fear that this maybe it. I feel myself growing weak. but I must continue. I try to crawl. pain surging through my body with every movement. no! I scrape my chest on a sharp rock. death still charging at me. my wounds pour out even more blood. I can’t avoid it. death is racing toward me. I sob in tears. my face covered in scarlet. I lie helplessly. I think over my life. look for a good memory. I try to make my last breath last. but pain is too strong. my chest pain burns with intensity. then somehow. my body bursts into flames. the sky rains fire. my hooves burn with rage. I cannot put them out. pain so terrible. I weep at the sight of my wounds. the beast is almost near. my hope fades away. my passions are obliterated. I can’t stop the beast. my hooves turn to ash. the fire now burns my bones. the fire creeps up my arms. my leg pours out blood. my heart is failing. I lie helplessly. in pain as death creeps up on me. I try to scream. but blood creeps into my throat. and I choke, and cough. I cannot breathe. I turn my head to the side. I see something. I try to focus in. I see a light. a beautiful light. so beautiful. as the beast takes my life. I look upon this beauty in awe. and I feel completed. Am I ready?
The reminiscences of my past was shady. At an age where I couldn’t tell my left to right was constantly being threatened by the inert world. Walking deceased ponies, senseless raiders and egotistical bounty hunters seemed to pursuit us like animals. I couldn’t understand it, we are the good people, why would anyone would want to hurt us? My mama, Shea was a deferential zebra with a nature of being gentle and genuine. She’s the one who is always there when I’m sick or alone, she’s the light in the dark, I couldn’t ask for a better mama. My papa, Wolfnanaki is a gratified and proud warrior. My papa was always the one to come to my mama and my aid when we were in trouble. So many times, he had risked his own life for ours. He is an inspiring zebra and one day I will live up to his name as a Kriger, meaning to be a hero. I always liked the word hero, it’s a word that gives you joy and gives you the feeling of being safe and secured with in the arms of someone who will protect everyone no matter what. That was my dream. I want everyone to look up to me with a smile and say your my hero as everyone would shout out your name in glee as if the name meant peace to the wasteland.
Through the gloom, black day of the dead leaved woods. The speeding wind brushed in my peeking face like thousands of tiny pins poking and the rain made me shiver and drizzly. The squidgy, soggy taps each time my papa ran made me recoil in revulsion as the sound made me ill to my stomach. The smell and taste death on the tip of my tongue like a bitter spice. Faster and faster we went into the endless path to nowhere. I glance back to my mama to see her breathing excessively as she struggled to keep up. Mama wasn’t extremely fit like papa, there was no need too, but it has back-lashed on her deeply this time.
“come on, mama!” I shouted. She looked up and gave an exhausted smile of reassurance, but my eyes said otherwise. papa turned to see she was careworn. He panicked and looked forward for anything. Then, he stopped, and I almost fell of his leathery back.
“come down.” papa said, and I did and felt the liquid mud on the bottom of my hooves. “you see that cottage? Go there and hide. We will catch up, Amara.” He said pointing down another root that is just as dark as the other. I looked up at him feeling puny. “but papa, I’m scared.” I answered back, feeling my heart race. He gave me a fatherly smile and eased my heart.
“it’s going to be okay. The stars will look over your soul.” He said in a calming voice. Right, its going to be okay because papa was with us. I put on a brave face and nodded.
“good, now get gone.” He bumped my rump and for a second, I hesitated. I looked back at papa, but he wasn’t looking at me, he ran in the opposite direction, into the deathly void. I went to shout out loud, but I couldn’t find my voice. The wind picked up and the drizzle got heavier as I stud there alone. I looked down the hole with terror. Papa said there was a cottage and I could certainly see the outline of something curvy as it was twice the size my papa was. With shire terror, I felt something poke my flank and my instinct said to use all my power to my little legs and full on dash down the path. I dared not to glance back, not for a second, I’d rather die.
Against the dark night sky all I could see was the crumbling walls that were nothing more than a ghostly silhouette of some previous existence. I swore when the wind whistled through the trees, it almost sounded like laughter of children who once lived here and the caring call of a mother letting them know dinner was ready. Vividly I could picture my childhood. My friends, Bella. I wanted to rewind time to the days where I didn’t have to care about death, to the days where we played ball, played tag and whatever popped into our inspired minds. We could run wild without worries of the taint that roams the world invisibly. When I got closer, the grim and gloomy building was the worst excuse for a cottage I’d ever seen, it was more like a long-abandoned pile of wood rather than a once glamorous home. The doors and cracked windows were covered with a thick layer dust that looked like it has been untouched for years. The windows of the "cottage" looked back at me like the eyes of an empty soul, along with the grand door at the entryway to the "cottage" that seemed to give me the impression it was a gateway to a different world. The door creaked open, moving open a centimetre at a time. It could move faster, but the wood of the door has grown mouldy and soft with water and neglect, and if I pushed it harder, I’d probably push right through the door. Once I was inside, a thick coating of dust and moss coats was painted everything and the roof now sagged in the middle and were it not for a hole that let the pooled water escape as the rain lashed down,the furniture, untouched in decades, was decaying and frayed. I step tentatively, as there are already several dark holes where floorboards have snapped, weak from moss and pressured downwards by the weight of the gigantic dust bunnies that have formed. Cobwebs brush my face as step deeper into the house. A shiver rushes down my spine. I can't tell what, but there is something unbelievably spooky about this place. Now that I look closer, I now see that this place was once a firefight. Teeny, tiny black holes appeared almost everywhere, years old splatters of blood designed the barely standing walls almost like a blood bath. I gasped, years old bodies with thin skin and parched eyes as if the body had been sucked dry from all the liquid from inside as fly’s buzzed around the revolving smell. deep inside a rib of a unicorn was a rusted curved blade similar to my papa’s blade. I cringed at the body as its eyes dry and lifeless stared on in another direction. Don’t ask me why but I wanted it, to keep me safe. I clinched my teeth around the squashy grip and slowly pulled it out as I was afraid to wake it up. Abruptly, loud, booming shots rang outside the melancholy cottage and it finally came to my reality that I was being chased.my eyes dashed left from right for a hiding spot but only one came to mind. The floor boards. Quickly, I cantered to a holey floor that was in a far corner and realised that whatever is to come inside wouldn’t have to look far. I scanned around once more for something to cover me. Box? No. rug? No. I shivered at a thought that had popped into my head. A body? I didn’t want to, honestly, I thought made me want to threw up to my stomach, but it was the perfect thing to hide under. Who would want to go near a dead body? I gulped and tried to put on a brave mask on.
“please don’t wake up, please don’t wake up, please don’t wake up.” I muttered to myself as I slowly dragged the surprisingly light body across and over to my grave then the blackest black covered my like a blanket. In my hooves I held my blade across my chest, hugging it like a teddy my mama gave me when I was younger. As each bullet was fired by my papa, I jumped as my ears felt like they were going to bleed. I want it to stop, I want everything to stop and go away. I want to go back home to Chapel with Bella. My wish was granted as the single fire silenced in bliss. I peeked from under the skeleton with skin.
“papa? Mama? Are-
I quickly covered my muzzle as a tar black hoof stepped within the frame and I slowly lowered the body down. Tears started to swell up. Where’s mama? Where’s papa? Are they okay? Are they dead? Will I see them again? Who is this pony? Is the pony after me? Why? Why us? The questions came in like an uninvited guest to a party. Sobs, tears fled me as I tried so hard to hold my emotion in my cell. Then, my heart entirely stopped.
“where are you little one?” an unfamiliar voice said ominously. No, not now. I hid, quaking and sweating with fear as the steps creaked the floor boards overhead. I huddled with my weapon, Tears streamed silently down my face as I froze still like one of the dead bodies. I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. I wanted to be anywhere but here. I wanted to live.
“where are you?” he said once again closer this time, toying with me. I was losing my mind. I am going to be found and when he does find me, I don’t want to imagine what is going to be done to me. I don’t want to die. The daunting steps got nearer, and I held my breath not wanting to inhale. It stopped and for the longest time I thought he had found me but then the sound of nibbling and flesh being ripped off gave me shivers. Whatever this beast is, it was eating the years old body for a snack and I might be its main course. He made it through the skin and was now devouring the bodies system. I can smell it, the blood, the organs. I think I’m going to vomit. The sound of the ribs snapping is enough to make me snap into insanity. By the time he was done, he could see me through the body like a tunnel. This is it. I’m done for. At least I had 13 years of my life being young. I closed my eyes, still trembling fearfully and I waited.
“Tumbler.” A cold, lushest voice said from a distance. The sickening munching stopped, and the monster gulped its food.
“what are you doing?” a mare said dangerously.
“I was looking for that yummy treat you asked me to get then I got hun-"
His words was cut off by a thunderous bang and he felt to the ground.
“honestly, I have to do everything myself.” She said as she walked over and started to eat, not the body on top of me but him. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening and I don’t think I ever will. Don’t ask me when but I had blacked out when I covered my ears and closed my eyes shut.
“damn, you sure had it rough?” Disk said as he clicked open a hole in a can and took a sip. She snapped back to reality with a weepy face. Me on the other hand had WildPegasus on my left and a carton of fags on my right. I took a pull of the burning paper and exhaled smoke feeling the stress die down.
“yes, it was hard.” She said as she looked almost emotionless. “but that was years ago, I’ve gotten over it.” she gave a hesitant smile.
“you haven’t gotten over it.” I replied. “otherwise you wouldn’t be looking like a narky ass.”
“I have. It’s just sad thinking about the traumatising night.” She said narrowing her eyes. I leaned forward.
“you. Have. Not. Gotten. Over it.” I replied with a low tone. She did not argue with me but had looked at me equally. She was the first to look away and crossed her hooves.
“whatever.” She muttered. I smiled in victory.
“so, you said they ate each other, right? Do you mean ghouls?” I asked as she looked back.
“ghouls?” she said with a mad confused face. Great.
“you know, ponies from 200 years ago? They look like they’re dead but there alive?” I spoon fed her and then she clicked.
“you mean they creatures that chased me to you?”
“yes, them.” I rolled my eyes.
“n-no, I don’t think so. They didn’t look dead to me and plus they were talking.” She thought back.
“right then, they must have been cannibalised raiders.”
“cannibals?” she looked in shock.
“hey, I don’t know the details but it’s some kind of disease.” I shrugged and took another pull.
“would make sense too. Papa did say we had to be careful of raider a few hours before.” She sighed dejectedly. “I should have been stronger. I was too weak. I even if I did have a weapon to fight back but I did nothing but hide.”
“listen, you did that right think.” Disk stepped in. “for a thirteen-year-old, you did well to hold your own. you said you had a weapon to fight back, would you fight back?”
“I- I don’t know.” She said miserably. “no, no I wouldn’t but now I can, I’m not afraid to kill.” She said to herself. Hmmm, I’d press X to doubt. Ahhh, sarcasm, I’m lovin it.
“sure, yeah, whatever. Please continue.” I waved my hoof and took another pull and flicked it as the ash fell.
Slowly, my eyes opened and rubbed my eyes awake and the numbness of my bones started to ache stiffly as I yawned. I found it hard to breathe as I tried to gulps of here lingering, I was also hungry my stomach rumbled in its mood and most importantly, where am I? leisurely, the replay came back to me. How long had I been here? Feeling brave, I lifted the lid of my hole and took another peek and to my surprise it was gaudy morning, the yellowy solar flare shined through the door and windows as it reviled small bits of dust and spirits flying around in every direction like birds. The warmth of the air flowed through my nostrils as I sniffed the start of the new day which contained of raider pony’s blood and flesh.
“Mama? Papa?” I lifted the lid off and climbed up feeling joints crack within me as I stretched my hooves. I got a good look at the pony eater. He had a black tar coat and clay grey mane with yellow piss eyes. I looked down at my killer that was going to eat me alive, I felt nothing for the pony, I know a hero was meant to feel remorse for every pony, but I don’t think I wanted to be a hero today. Yesterday, I was on the edge of insanity as my limit as I was coming at an end or maybe I was already insane and I just didn’t know it yet but then something came over me, I wanted to cry out of pity but yet I shouldn’t because of what he was but I did anyway, I guess he was pony once, what happened to him before he ate ponies. Was he like my papa? Did he have children of his own? finally, I glanced away feeling more appeared and went to find others that were more important than a murder.
“Mama? Papa?” I cried out once again as I stepped throw the door frame warily then my heart bounced. Hundreds of bodies laid before me in a massacre. Limbs were dismantled, colour red infected the trees and path like a virus. My engine started to thump as my hooves got dirty in the red mud. I held my breath, looking at the bodies closely hoping for my mama and papa to not be in the number. Ducking and flipping the dead for their identity was leading to the next to the next to the next like an endless chain of death. The cold bodies looked at me with long and emotionless look as if they were blind. My heart raced as it came to the last few. As I continued, something was off, I don’t know how I didn’t see it in the first place but there was something unnatural about this. All the bodies were in one spot with the blood connecting together on the outside like a plate, but this was the strange part. The liquid red was used to make curvy, circle patterns. It was everywhere, trees, path even on some the ponies that for some reason had no bite marks just slash wounds that was also used in a scary way. Whoever had done this evil act is also every much dangerous. Then, in the corner of my eye I saw something extra to this malevolent art. A trail of two pair of red hoof steps was trailing of down a path way as if fleeing the crime scene but leaving evidence cliché. With terrible curiosity I followed the pair of tracks and came to a sudden stop. I trembled a grin. There were two outlines of ponies in the distance trotting away. I wasn’t for sure that it was mama and papa because of the lends flare from the sun but I knew it was them, how could I not know how they looked.
“Mama! Papa!” I shouted as I ran towards them, smiling ear to ear with a sprint of relief. I knew it, I just knew they wouldn’t be lost. Thank the stars. They didn’t move. They didn’t turn around to face me. Most of their grey coat had turned to a ruby red and something was dangling at the bottom of them. My run quickly turned to a walk as I was not too sure if I wanted to get any closer them.
“mama? Papa?” I said for the final time as I stepped in front of them at that moment a thousand knives impaled my heart at once as I saw not my mama and papa but only the coat, mane everything else was gone. I tumbled onto my rump and put my hoof to mouth in utter horror. I looked into their eyes… wait, no, they did not have eye. There sockets had been snatched out with force and replaced with a slender gaze. The body just swayed around like a leaf in the wind, no bones, no flesh, no muscles even no organs everything was ripped out and substituted for a white body with a rusty metal pole through the stomach and planted into the soil. Mama and papa was carefully skinned and was hanging on display on a mannequin like they were on for a sale. I felt my eyes start to hurt as forced tears swelled up once again as my eyes were pealed to my mama and papa’s coat. Something enhanced within me and before me I spewed my food as the ghastly taste stayed on the tip of my tongue.
“mama! Papa!” I cried out with endless sobs to the point that my eye was burning. Mama and papa were dead and right now I wanted to join them. After a good 10 minutes of my crying I got up, wiping my tears and nose, sniffling and at the corner of my eye a piece of paper was stabbed to a tree. It read: ‘hello there. If your reading this note then, you have seen my master piece. This is the start of my sculptured art. Please call me Tint. Tint Red. And for my work, call it a couples red work. Please spread the word thus my work shall continue its brilliants. I hope I run into you one day then you can have the honour to become something beautiful and inspiring. Your truly. Tint.’ I felt my lip twitch in anger as I scrupled the paper into the ball and throw it to one side and pulled the dagger out of the dead bark with a forceful pull. Walking around warily, I found the rest of mama and papa as a pile of bones and flesh was hiding behind a blonder with their stuff, weapons and all. All I took was my papa’s hunting rifle and the saddle bags that had ammunition, healing potions and food and water. I took one last look at mama and papa’s fur and walked towards them. I dropped everything and gave them both a hug. I felt nothing from them as I tried to squeeze hard, but the fur didn’t budge down like flesh within them. I was going to cry again but I stopped myself. No more. No more crying at all, ever. these are the last tear I shall shed until I die. Also, I think I can leave the hero stuff for another time. Right now, my goal is to find Tint Red and turn him red like he did to everyone that died that day.
“hmmm, your mum and dad died too? Good for nothing aren’t they.” Disk said jokingly as he smiled and popped open can of fizzy drink. She looked out raged from Disk’s comment.
“how dare you put disrespect on my mama and papa’s name. don’t you care about your-
“oi! Watch what you say bitch! I was just joking about!” Disk exclaimed back at the fuming zebra. I just watched the two noisy pair shouts on as I smoked the last of my fag and flicked it away.
“even if it was a joke. you should never, ever disrespect my mama and papa.” She shouted in his face.
“I was only trying to lighten the mood, and don’t you ever say I don’t care about my parents. I laugh about it because it’s better than crying and I think my mum and dad would want it that way.” He yelled back at her.
“death is no laughing matter Disk. Death means that you will never see them again.” She fought back.
“true but that only means that they are in a better place in heaven with the rest of their family. Doesn’t that make you happy?” he countered.
“well because of death I’m all alone with no one to trust.”
Disk was taken back that and thought for a bit.
“fine. Fair enough.” He said as he pulled out his sidearm and shot inches away from her face. “but, don’t ever and I mean ever tell me that I don’t care about my mum and dad.” He said as he jumped out the carriage. Amara looked shell shocked as held her breath for a second watch Disk disappear. I finally replied.
“please don’t mind him. He doesn’t like it when his dad and mum is said. You see, he has never seen his mum or dad before and can only remember them by my stories I tell about him. Disk does love his mum and dad very much, but he just doesn’t want to show it.” I said drinking down a bottle of Wild Pegasus. She sighed.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that. I was just in the heat of the moment.” She said.
“hay don’t say sorry to me. Say sorry to Disk.” I replied taking another sip of my bottle.
“your right.” She said as she got up from her rump and headed out. I stayed in the back of the carriage waiting for her to come back. There’s a few more things that I want to know like where she went, did she manage to kill Tint and why is there a foul under my hay bag asleep. I crept over and lifted the bag to see a sky light blue coated colt curled up on a patch of my hay where I sleep if I’m away from home, sucking his hoof in a deep sleep. The colt Pegasus was no higher than 3 years old and had some battle wounds himself.
“hay little bud, wake up.” I politely shuck the colt which resulted in him slowly opening his silver eye and looked at me. “come on buddy, I won’t hurt ye.” I crouched down as the blue colt rubbed his eyes and yawned as he stud up and walked over to me wrapping his hooves around my neck before falling back to sleep. Aww, aren’t fouls the cutest and innocent little creatures. Holding the colt in my front legs I stud up on my hind legs and sat back down stroking the little foul’s golden yellow mane as he snoozed of to the dream land.
“put him down now.” Amara stud on her hind legs levelling a hunting rifle at us two.
“careful there. You might hurt someone.” I smiled smugly. She shuck a bit as well as tense as I held the colt carefully.
“please, just put him down.” She pleaded.
“now listen if you shoot you might hit your little friend here or you could hit me and risk Disk taking your life.” I said trying to calm her down.
“that’s a dilemma I’m willing to take.” She said.
“you know what else would be a shitty dilemma?” Disk said as a butchers knife curled round her neck like a snake. “You dead and the colt all by himself, now get in or things will get rough.”
“you wouldn’t kill me, you’re too weak. You would have killed me by now if you had the balls.” She smiled. Disk grinned back twice as happily.
“oh, try me please. I’m on a kill streak right now and I’m more than happy to make you another number on my list.” he said, the knife pressed tightly against her neck. Her grin faded as she didn’t like the position, she was in.
“whoa, whoa, whoa there Disk, let’s not start killing the plot of this shit.” I said taking other sip of my alcohol with my wing.
"huh?" Disk looked at me, questionably.
"don't worry about it, now get in before I'll kill the lot of ye." I said.
"you wish." Disk muttered under his breath and took his attention to the baby. “what’s his name then Amara?” Disk asked like he definitely didn’t try to kill her. She hopped back in at sat opposite of us, nerves written all over her face. I leaned forward with the colt and gave it to her to calm her nerve.
“his name is Lucio. A name given by an old friend of mine.” She said with a deep frown. A frown that meant remorse.
They say once you have mastered being alone, you are ready for the company of others, that doesn't make it easy though. When everyone's life journey separated from my own, when the only heart beating in this forest belonged to me, it wasn't something most could take. For there are days when the brain becomes a cold fire, perhaps that is what others call panic, but when you are alone, who are you going to call? I guess the good news is that in time, after many unpleasant days, you are okay. Then you find joy again, or maybe it finds you. After that, your journey can change, take on new and exciting adventures... I wish I could wave a magic wand for my isolation, but there are somethings you must learn the hard way and I must endure my time alone. Carefully, I trotted along one side a shallow hill and the other a river. The river winds through the forest, welcoming stray flora that comes its way. It is part of this place, integral to life, yet also a thing unto itself. The river is always flowing, taking its willing passengers onward to the great ocean beyond. At the edges it tempts the dead soil to join the tampered waters just as much as the humble leaf litter that lies on top gently. The deceased forest was ancient. The trees thick and old, roots that were twisted. It might once have been filled with bird-song and animals that roamed. But now it was ages past its former glory. I took my direction aimlessly and with luck I found myself an exit to the spine-tingling death zone. Now that I’m finally back, it’s time to search my enigmatic target. Sitting on a black log I pulled out a folded map from the wasteland survival guide and looked carefully around me. There was the forest with three entrances, so which one was I at? I see that I was an open ocean away from my home Hoofington on my east. I looked up to find a massive tower that speared the orange clouds. Oh, there is the black invincible skyscraper. It looks like I was the closest one now the problem is whether I stay. snap! a branch went, and I quickly hopped down from the log and rested my rifle over the top towards the sound behind me. For a few shaken moments, I thought it was just my paranoia, but a few seconds had passed, distraught alive ponies with weak leather armour wrapped around them with blood stepped out of the forest. I was not a good shooter, no matter how much my papa taught me how to fire a gun. It was never my thing. I was never interested in guns. I was more into swords and blades or whatever was sharp enough. It was that it was more… easy to control but in order of killing an insane artiest I’ll have to practice.
“where did that little runt go? I’m hungry.” One raider sniffed the air like he had a sent. “She’s somewhere here, I can smell her zebra flesh.”
I focused my aim to his temple, the pointy sight on his head. Bang! My round went and it had grazed his cheek as he clinched out the way. A gruesome smile was slapped on his face as he found me.
“o nee.” I whispered and ducked down. Wait, how do I do the thingy again? I growled in frustration and throw down the rifle. I looked back over and… van kak. The three savage ponies ran towards me, there rotten tongues drooling with no weapons just the red teeth. It was three against one, how am I supposed to get out of this? I didn’t need to get out of this. I’ll just end it. I couldn’t run, not now. How was I supposed to kill Tint if I keep running. I stud my ground and pulled out my papa’s blade with my mouth and charged back at them which was the worst thing I could have done since I have no clue what I’m about to do. I closed my eyes and tried swinging it, but I felt no connection anywhere. I opened my eye for a brief second before I felt a daze as my mind went blank as I felt my body fly backwards. Did I just get hit by a train or a boat? Painfully, something had gave me great stress as my back struck the log that I once was sitting on. I slowly got back up on my hooves still waved back the blow, but I had shuck it off. They looked wild, feral. Theses ponies are no longer ponies but no better than my living dead things. What was I thinking? I got to get out of here. Fast. Quickly, I turned my back to them and bucked it picking my papa’s rifle on the way. No… not now. My hooves beneath me galloped feeling the mud flick behind me. This can’t be happening to me. I turned around and to my horror, they were chasing me and there getting closer. For the last time, I looked into them. Red forgotten eye, the horns of their race, I had to keep running. Death its self is after me. No, no it’s too early for this. I have barely lived; my life has been so short. now I’m at the mercy pony eating beasts. I ran and ran, I must escape. I try to run my fastest. but my legs; I don’t think I can carry on. I don’t know why I looked back, I knew they were still there. Maybe it was a dream and as soon as I woke up, I would be back in mama hooves but that’s a dream, this, this was too real to be a dream. I focused on the as didn’t think to look back as I tripped. bones broke in my shin on a rock. Oh, the stars, the pain. it burns like if I were thrown into the sun. the warm liquid flowed from my leg. It lied all over the ground. I look back again. the beasts still chasing me, and they did not slow down. Fearfully, I got up. I feel my bones shift and turn inside my leg. it tears my flesh, my muscles. With a scream, I fell back down. I can no longer feel half my leg. it only hangs off of a bit of coat. Lifelessly. Damn it, no, I can’t just sit here, there’s someone out there that needs to pay and plus the beasts is coming, it’s getting closer. tears ran from my cheeks as the pain was unbearable. Is this really it? I fear that this maybe it. I feel myself grow weak. but I must continue, I promised myself before anything that I would kill Tint. Dreadfully, I try to crawl. pain surging through my body with every movement. Then, a pain rushed through me once more. No! something under me had just scratched my chest deeply. death was still charging at me. my wounds, oh my wounds poured out even more blood. I couldn’t run, I can’t avoid it after all. death is racing toward me. I sob in tears. my face covered in scarlet. I lie helplessly. I think over my life. look for a good memory. I try to make my last breath last. but the pain is too much, too strong for me to bare. my chest pain burns with its fury. The steps got closer and before I knew it, they were there then somehow, my body bursts into flames. my hooves burn with rage. I cannot put them out. the pain, pain, pain, pain, it hurts so bad. I weep at the sight of my wounds. the beasts just above me. my hope fades away. my passions are obliterated. I can’t stop the beasts. my hooves turn to ash. the fire now burns my bones. the fire creeps up my arms. my leg pours out blood. my heart is failing. I lie helplessly. the pain as death nips up on me. I try to scream, but blood creeps into my throat. and I choke, and cough. I cannot breathe. I turn my head to the side. I see something. I try to focus in. I see a light. a beautiful light. so beautiful. as the beast takes my life. I look upon this beauty in awe. It’s just like a star. and I feel completed. Am I ready? No. No, I’m not. The light was flashing on and off like a signal. A signal for what? A signal that I’m going to die? A signal to run? But I can’t right now. I’m about to die. I focused in more and I could see that it wasn’t the stars light but bursts of fire coming out of a weapons barrel. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! It went but I couldn’t actually hear they fire. Is that one of the effects of death? Hmmm, peaceful. Just bliss. Suddenly, I was rolled onto my back which sparked more pain through my body, and then something was jabbed into me and something was flowing through my throat. I… I could finally breathe, the pain, it didn’t hurt as much. I blinked rapidly as everything was just a great blur.
“hooo weee. You got yourself in a sticky situation didn’t y’all.” a raspy, western voice said. Who? Who said that? You know what… who cares? I’m tired.
Though my eyes are opened suddenly, I can't think of why; my heart is pounding, mind empty. It's as if a hypodermic of adrenaline has been emptied into my carotid. I strain into the utter darkness, breathing rate beginning to steady. I looked around the room surprised to see a spotless bed room I was in… well as clean as it can be. There was only a mattress, a pillow, a blanket, a window and four walls with a door. The mattress on the floor was in a decent state. No springs poking out, A pillow which was stuffed with a soft material and the a curtain that acted as a cover for my body. I liked the patterns, its looks pretty and… ugh, no I’m not thinking about Tints art. I will never like his art. Its not even art, it just murder with style. I leaned up, half wary, half confused of where I am. Last thing I remember was… I quickly rushed to my hooves which I deeply regret as I fell back down to my pillow as the wounds in my chest had not healed. I muffled my screams of agony and I tried to calm and eventually I did. I let the fear sweat away for a bit and my anxiety was kicking in. Am I dead? If so, this is the lousiest afterlife. Am I alive? Sure, does feel like it. and how did I survive? I was being eaten the next and now I’m here. Did someone save me? The voice, who was it? slowly this time, I rose up and saw myself with white bandages around my chest from the deep cut I had, and my leg was amazingly enough mended. I sneakily walked towards the door and gently opened the door, but the creaking door gave me away. Damn it. why does everything has to be so loud when I’m trying to sneak.
“well, well look who’s up.” It was the same voice from before. I peeked through the small gap in the door and saw a… I don’t know what he was. He had a mane and a similar base of a pony, but its brown coat was thin and skinny that I could see his ribs and its joint on its legs. Its ears was twice as big as mine, its tail, thin and long with a bit a dark grey fur on the end like a candle and its mouth skin looked like it was half way melting. His green emerald eyes met mine.
“well don’t be a stranger little one, come in, come in.” he greeted me with a wave of a hoof and an old smile. I don’t know what it is with the deformed pony, but I don’t think he is much of a threat, he might be the pony that saved me. I looked around the room, glancing at every detail. furniture sown up, barricaded windows, a crib? It slowly swayed.
“o-okay.” I said and walked over. The smile on the pony faded as he looked towards my chest.
“you still above snakes?” he said. I tilted my head.
“above snakes?” I replied.
“yes, it means still alive.” He chuckled and looked back to what he was doing. In front of him was my papa’s rifle in pieces with other stuff like a black liquid and a stained black cloth.
“I-it still hurts. What are you doing to my papa’s weapon?” I asked as slowly sat down beside the weird pony.
“oh, sorry for not asking first but your sally was dirty, and I couldn’t leave it to rot otherwise it would be just as good as a wagon with no wheels.” He said, cleaning a long metal thing of the weapon.
“oh… okay.” I said as I sat in silence as I watched him dipping oil on the complex structure of the weapon and parts. “if you don’t mind me asking what are you?” I asked.
“me? I’m what some of you ponies call a mule but I am a donkey.” He said as he started to reattach my weapon.
“A donkey? What’s your name?” I said as I watched the donkey make my papa’s weapon whole again.
“here you go. my name is Jackass and this shit hole is my place.” He said waving his hooves up at the room with displeasure and looked back at me. “and this is where you’re going to stay and work for me for a while.” He added.
“Huh?” I said, taken back by what he said. “you can’t keep me here.” I barked.
“you owe me for saving your life and I have a few jobs that an old donkey like me can’t do these days.” He replied with a grin. “or you can get me enough caps to get me into Hoofington.”
Hoofington? Why would he want to go to Hoofington?
“why don’t you just go to Hoofington? It doesn’t cost nothing to get there.” I said.
“indeed, it is free to travel there but, I’m lacking drinks, foods, medical supplies to continue. I was on my way to Hoofington before I bumped into you that is. I saw you was going to die, and I almost left you there, but I’ve become soft over the years and I gave you most of my medical supplies to keep you alive which had took you a few days to recover. You owe us big time.” He said and with that I was doing little jobs for the old donkey.
2 years later, I was working in the north-west village of Equestria in the mines for coal and whatever is valuable to my bosses eyes, Lady Valentine, she runs a large trade company with in the village, selling coal and scraps of junk and sometimes gold if we found any. Jackass as a blacksmith, selling weapons and armour and buying junk that we needed for the house and us. We are now well stocked with food and drinks that we could made the trip to Hoofington and back and probably have some left over. The only issue is medical supplies. The village has the basic first aid equipment like bindings and cruchers for the physical injuries from the outside, but the inside of the body was where we was having problems. They don’t have medicinal machinery or medicine for the sickly, one by one we drop in our graves from radiation, mutation or some other viruses or illness we are not aware off and I’m more likely to catch it more than anyone down in the mines. Me and the others don’t go further than the banner blocking the rest of the tunnel with a warning of death. There was a time a curious colt had wondered inside the mines had never came back from his dark nightmare. Some had said that they heard voices, screaming at night, some said that they saw a ghost with black eyes and a pale white coat. Me, I don’t believe in the phenomena. I believe it’s all trolls and make believe or the mental state might be getting to them, Jackass has said the same thing, and he has been living here for years now and he had not seen anything out the ordinary, as far as I’ve been here, it’s been normal. Well, normal for me and Jackass. Swinging and connecting to the tunnels walls, I rubbed my brow as I’ve been at this for hours and had only corked out a few stumps of black stone from my area of the cave. The sound around me was the same old clanking sound of steal to rock with echoes, the same old smell of radiated nitrogen oxides which is a strong smell that can be smelt when mining and the same old view of rocks, rocks, maybe a few coals there and then and guess what, More rocks.
“hay Amara, how was your sleep?” Fudge asked from behind, walking with her pickaxe over her shoulder with a touched hard hat. The tanned, creamy coated mare said with a tired smile. Oh, did I mention that it was dawn. Yeah, sometimes I just can’t sleep, how could I these days.
“sleep? Good I guess, just thought I’d start early hours to get them extra caps.” I said with a yawn and a rub of my eye.
“sure, doesn’t look like you had a good one, you look like shit.” She said, mining beside me. I didn’t reply, I knew I looked like shit, I felt like shit as well. Its routine around here that everyone that is above the age of 14 to get a job or you’ll be stuck in the mines like me, the only reason that I’m down here is because I’m an outsider and a zebra which I wasn’t fond of, so I had a bit of back chat which end up with me working for nothing for a week. After that, I just put up with the abuse, it’s the same old, same old.
“I don’t know how you do it, Amara.” Fudge broke the silence.
“how to do what?” I said, eyes forward, focusing on mining.
“how you can take so much abuse from the village. I get it, they don’t like zebras much but it so wrong to see you like this.” Fudge said angrily.
“you didn’t like me at first. So, tell me why it’s now all of a sudden wrong to hate me.” I said bluntly. Fudge was taken back from my response.
“I didn’t know better, I was taught to stay away from zebras but that all changed because of you. You saved my life.”
I sighed frustratedly.
“listen, it’s been a long day and I’m tired. I’m sorry but I’m not in the mood to be giddy.” And with that we mined in silence, an awkward atmosphere covered us. When I first stepped into the village I was looked down upon as a weak, little zebra, now, I have a reputation for kicking ass, being the tough one, I had Jackass to thank for that, as old as he is, he knows how to keep fit and he dragged me into it, so now I’m a ripped freak. I had the structure and the mentality a god would be proud of. It’s hard to make friends around here, it’s rather because I’m a zebra or because I’m feared for my muscular appearance, either way, I was judged for who I am. I shouldn’t be complaining entirely, Fudge was one of them, but something happened one day, I saved her from being crushed from a collapsed building and she had being treating me like a friend ever since. I was a hero that day, and it had put a smile on my face but, not everyone looked at me like that, no, to them I was the same old zebra, even if I did save one of their own. to them, they were right, and I was wrong. On the railway tracks we stud as me and Fudge used our strength to push up a cart of coal. 2 caps for each coal we collected. Total bullshit the wage but this morning I was happy with the amount of coal I dug through the abused cave, the cart was half full with a little bit of Fudge’s help. I glanced over in her direction for a second and noticed that she wasn’t herself. She was meant to be happy and cheerful, damn me and my words. I sighed.
“I’ll split it with you, I’ll get half, you’ll get half and we’ll call it a day and head out to Ponyjoe’s.” I said giving a small smile. She looked back to me with a smile of her own.
“don’t be silly, I’ll take a quarter of the caps and then you’ll go to bed and rest then maybe me can go to ponyjoe’s.” She insisted. I nodded, not complaining with the idea and saw the morning shined at the end of the tunnel.
When I would walk cautiously home with my caps, I would always get snide eyes looking towards me, little horrible comments on my race, sometimes I’d get gangs squaring up to me demanding caps, all because I was a zebra. no pony trusted me and with the body I have, I don’t think anyone would want me near them. There was no other zebra around in Buck Vile, Just ponies, 1 zebra and 1 donkey. I just looked at the dry floor as I went, shameful for who I am, it’s enough to think to myself. Is my life worth living? And that thought fucking drives me up the wall! I have Jackass to look after, Tint to kill and most importantly, I need to stay alive for Lucio because in this wasteland, he needs me more than ever. I know what it feels like to be alone, and I’ll be damned if I was going to let him feel the pain I had. I knocked a coded pattern at Jackass’s door and waited a few seconds, hmm, must have gone out for a quick run around the village. I sighed and pulled out a key for the rusted lock. It took me a few goes to turn the key to the left as the stiff lock looked battered, it eventually opened and there was the foul sitter playing with Lucio and she looked at me with disgust then went back to playing.
“why didn’t you open the door?” I said miserably, hanging my saddle bag on a hanger with the rest of my weapons and Jackass's shit.
“I’m busy.”
Of course, she was, couldn’t move her fat ass up and open the door, could she. Super fucking busy that is. Hope that busy is big enough to ram it up your arse.
“right, well I’m of to bed.” I said with a wave of my hoof. “keep an eye on Lucio, I’m going to be out of it for a while.”
She didn’t say nothing but, I did feel the eyes on the back of my head, like a sniper getting ready to pull the trigger. I didn’t bother taking my clothes or hard hat off, I just simply jumped onto the bed and as easy as walking, I drifted to sleep. Into the nightmare I know all too well.
Looking through my unpatched eye, I drank the rest of my drink and moved onto the next one, with a pull of my teeth, the bottle cap went flying off. Disk in the other hoof was looking interested.
“so, you was being eaten? Tell me, how did it feel?” he asked too into the story. She shivered in a spook.
“like I said, it felt like I was on fire, a fire I couldn’t put out.” She said rubbing Lucio’s mane. “it felt like the organ and flesh was being ripped from my body.” she said as her whole-body shuck in goose bumps, almost waking up the colt.
“I was eaten once by ghouls myself, my whole bottom half of my body was completely torn, I had to use three hydras to grow them back to normal.” I said thoughtfully. Those were the good old days.
“okay, that’s a lie. You would have died the second you gave yourself the first hydra.” Disk said.
“it’s true. either way, I would had still lived. I’m just a stubborn bastard. I wonder what it would be like having no back legs… yeah that would actually suck major balls da.” I said feeling my back legs tingle. I wasn’t lying when I said I did get eaten.
“whatever.” He tusked, still not believing me.
“believe what you want, it happened.” I tusked back at him, grinning.
“do you two always act like little fouls?” she asked and we both nodded. “I should have known.”
We both laughed at her disappointed face. Disk was still in his teens so he as an excuse, but me, I just really don't give a fuck what anyone thinks. Disk is my mate and if I can’t be a colt like I once was, then I’d rather shoot myself. Its who I am or it’s what the alcohol turns me out to be. It’s like saying I have to act my age, no one likes to act their age so who ever says act your age, fuck you and suck my cock and balls bitches.
“so, you have lost your parents and was differentiated to your village. Any other sobs stories you wanna tell?” I said drinking my alcohol. Hold up. Is… is that… is that what I think it is? Is that a buzz I’m feeling. Oooooh my it is. I can feel myself grinning already. Oh, you don’t know how much I love this feeling. Disk shuck his head.
“I’ll never understand why you like alcohol, it tastes nasty.” He said. “please don’t mind this alcoholic, what happened next?” he asked as I laughed with hiccups.
The time where I fall asleep is the time when the nightmare would come. the nightmare was always the same. Waking up in a cottage Paralyzed, naked, cold. The unknown masked mass murder would come closer with the knife, making sweeping movements to an instrumental music only he could hear. He would be closer, then further away and then closer again like a glitch. The pony would dance around me deathly, cutting and swiping my flesh into patterns. The pain would be too great to the point that I would die, but I never do. It makes me think what is fake and what is real. My body crumpled to the dirt, leaves and mud met the side of my face and my knees curled up like an unborn. Then, like last time, my body went up in flames from the demented, crazed ponies eating my insides. As that happened, Lucio and Jackass would stand from a distance gazing blankly, unfazed by the zebra being eaten alive. I would open my mouth to speak but nothing would come. Eventually, they would turn around and walk away. The moment I would reach out with my hoof was the time I would wake up shivering and sweating ruthlessly. But, not once did I cry, no, I was not allowed to cry, I wouldn’t let myself cry, I wouldn’t give the satisfaction to Tint, I’m not a baby anymore. I’m not the weak, old Amara that I once was. I would take my sadness and turn it into rage. Rage to end Tint’s life. Before I die, I promise you that he or she will die by my hooves. Hatred doesn’t compare to what I have for that bastard. I rubbed my rinsed eyes as I raised from my mattress like a zombie in a wrecked uniform and hard hat. I sat on the end of the mattress feeling my aching legs straining for a stretch and with that, every joint on my bones clicked satisfyingly. I sighed and looked out of the window and the wasteland stared back at me with a promise of death one day. Oh, I don’t doubt that day will happen, just wait a bit for me, just a few things I must do before I go. To hell or heaven? At this point, I don’t know anymore. I got up on my hooves and walked through the door which was wide open, I mustn’t have shut the door behind me, then something thunderous knocked on our door.
“what the fuck?” I whispered, the first thing I saw when I stepped outside my door frame was South Paw, the foul sitter was circled in the corner with Lucio inside her embrace, then when I turned the corner from the hall way was Jackass, blocking the door with his body and might.
“what’s going on?” I shouted in shock. I have just woke up, I don’t deserve to wake up just for ghouls to start breaking in.
“it’s the village! There after you!” Jackass heaved back the force from the other side of the door. Sharply, I noticed that the boards on the windows were being forcefully pushed in by the angry mob outside. I quickly dashed over and pushed with every muscle I have in my body, even my head. I looked back to South Paw with serious alert.
“in Jackass’s room, under the bed is an under-ground passage way, take Lucio and wait on the other side for us.” I exclaimed and without any argument for once she went without a word, then I glanced to Jackass.
“why do they want me?” I shouted over the riot.
“they said something about a murder, I wasn’t paying attention if I’m being honest, I just don't want a bloody war in my house.” He said as he broke a sweat. Me? Murder? Okay, I look like I can kill someone but never someone in my village as much as I would wish to beat the snot out of a few of them… Actually, all of them… Except Fudge, she gets a smack around the head.
“what? How? I was in the mines for a few hours with Fudge and then I came back here and went to sleep. I didn’t lay a hoof on no pony, I swear.” I explained my innocents.
“I know, I believe you, just push that couch towards me.” He said as I could see the veins pop from his head. using my upper body strength, I held the barricade in-place as I tried to kick the couch towards Jackass. Jackass pulled the couch and flipped it sideways, covering the entire door. Quickly, he took my saddle bag and weapons and thrown them over to me. He joined me.
“you follow Lucio, I’ll be right behind you.” He ordered.
“no, you won’t, as soon as you let go of that, it will come down, I know that and you know that too, don’t be risking your life for me.” I replied.
“listen, I’ll be fine. They are here for you, not me, so go before we both get caught.” He bounced back.
“no, I won’t leave you. Not again. Never again.” I shouted and I wanted to cry so badly but, I didn’t. “if you die, I will never forgive myself.”
“listen, I know what you’ve been through and I do know where your coming from but please. You need to go, I need you to go. Lucio is waiting for you on the other side, he needs you.” He said gently. Damn you, damn you and your words.
“fine, but if you die, I’ll kill you in the afterlife.” I said was I wrapped one hoof around him in an embrace and finally let go of the barricade, picking up my stuff and ran towards his room. I looked back and he gave me a nod which I replied back with a nod from myself. Swiftly, I wrapped my papa’s melee weapon and my rifle around me as I went into the shared wardrobe to grab my combat armour with a quick grab of my teeth. South Paw was in such a rush that it the mattress is still flipped and the trap door wide open on its hinges. I sighed as I tipped the mattress and shut the door tight. As I shut the hidden door, the light from the evening was swallowed up by the darkness. from a distance, the old donkey must of gave in to the mob as the crash and crack of wood entered and the shouts became clearer.
“where is the zebra, donkey!” one mare shouted as the crowd went silent.
“zebra?” jackass said sounding elder and more innocent than he is.
“don’t act stupid you mule, we know she lives here so where is she.” Another stallion exclaimed.
“oh, that zebra. I haven’t seen her in quite some time, she might be still mining in the mines I’d say.” Jackass laughed cheerfully then followed with an old wheezy cough. Damn, since when had he been good at being old.
“that’s a lie, you know where she is so, you’re coming with us until you tell us.” The same stallion said as a pair of chains or shackles could be heard clanking together. I wanted to run out there and then, but I couldn’t, I had to stay hidden for Lucio. With a great and painful sigh, I turned and walked down the black tunnel. After I replaced my dull grey mining kit for my combat clothing, keeping the hard hat for the protection and for the torch that was attached at the top, setting everything in front of me into a virtual blaze. Each galloping step I took, each water drop that hit the puckered floor, each time I let out musky air was when a spirit replied like an echo. Every twist and turn of the snake was infinite black, a gloomy ambience remaining from the history it has. Jackass had said to use this tunnel in case of an emergency, to the top of the hill on the outskirts of Buck Vile, but he had never told me how far it would be to get there. Jackass, I hope he’s still alive. Right now, he's my world alongside Lucio, I don’t know what I’d do or go, he was my guide to life, he was my ticket to happiness, to freedom. I’ll rescue him, I’ll be a hero for him, no matter what, I’ll save him. I finally seen a light that was not my own and it have gave me the motivation to run faster, slowly turning the wide corner, I could see the natural light entering the cave and before me was South Paw and Lucio waiting at the end like I told them to do.
“is Lucio okay?” I asked as I got hold of him, analysing, he looked back at me with tearful eyes.
“h-he’s okay. Where is Jackass?” she asked, still in shock. As much as I hated this mare, she wasn’t all bad, not as bad as the rest of the village. I sighed agonisingly.
“they’ve got him, I’m going to save him, please, I know you hate me but, I need you to stay with Lucio.” I said, hunting through my saddle bag for the sealed bag of caps. “take it and stay here in the cave, here is some supplies to keep you two going.” I said, passing over drinks of apple sider, food and my papa’s blade. I swallowed to the next thing I was going to say. “and if I don’t come back till dawn, run away and please, look after Lucio.” I tried to looked at South Paw with a brave face and she looked back with a scared countenance.
“I-I-I will, I’ll go to the next village west from here, Mare Vile.” She said with whimpers. I hate to say it but, I felt for her. me and Jackass had dragged her into this mess and now she can't even go home to her village anymore knowing that she had been working for us for 3 months now, she can’t risk it, even if she is a pony, she was desperate, that desperate that she came to us for a job and we took her in, she knew she was going to be hated by the village for it, we warned her but, for her life sake, she worked for us. I gave her a hug which she was taken back by.
“before I go, I just want to say goodbye and I’m sorry for making your life hard.” I said in her ear. She hugged back tightly.
“I’m sorry too, I just have a lot of trust issues not with just zebras and donkeys but with ponies too. I don’t trust anyone but myself these days, so please, understand that I don’t hate you at all, you and Jackass are the closest things to real friends, especially you Amara, you are an amazing zebra, putting up with the hate and looking after Jackass, Lucio and even me at the same time like that is something that makes you special. I admire you, in a way, You’re my hero.” She said as little sobs came from the mares voice. I held her tightly with a heart filled smile as we finally departed from the grip. I crouched down and kissed Lucio on the head.
“I’ll be back, I promise.” I said softly like my mother would when I would start to cry and gave him a cuddle. “I will never leave you after this, I promise you my life on that.” I squeezed a little hard before I let go, he looked at me wiping his eyes and gave me a hopeful small smile and with that, I went on my way to the village which was now a death zone for zebras like me. I glanced back at the two and they headed back into the shadowed hole. I sighed with relief, I hope they will be okay there. I looked back at the distant village which was once my home, I walked towards it feeling… like a somebody. What South Paw told me must have had a heroic effect on me. I feel like a hero.
“so, you want to be a hero?” Disk said taking a sip of his can. “waste of a life if you ask me, not to offend ye, just my opinion.”
“what? Why would you think that?” she said her voice low, trying not to wake up Lucio.
“because I said so.” I stepped in the conversation. “being a hero means you jump into danger, that means you’re more likely to die for others and are expected to do suicidal, impossible jobs to make the world a better place, I’ve been there and done that so, riddle me that.” I crossed my arms with a smug grin. See, who says alcohol makes you stupid, because it doesn’t, you know why? Because I said so. Boom!
“okay, first of all Tequila, that wasn’t a riddle and second of all, alcohol clearly does make you stupid by the look on your face.” Disk laughed. Wait, did I say that out loud? Oh well. It doesn’t by the way, trust me.
“but yeah, what Tequila said is pretty much my way of seeing it. I don’t want to through my life away just because someone said so or because it makes the world a better place. If I’m doing something, I’m doing it because I want to or because it benefits me.” he held his ground. I held my bottle to Disk
“that's my boy.” I laughed and we bro hoofed.
“so, you’d rather let innocent ponies die, than help them. Do you know how sick that is.” She said. I smiled which made her uncomfortable.
“listen, I’ll tell you what I’ve told to my mates, one day your brain is going to click and realise that this is the wasteland, you can’t change ponies or save them because the wasteland is going to catch up to them one way or another, you heroes don’t prevent death or whatever you do these days, no, you just slow it down like slowing down time. It’s not heroic, it’s just pointless. If you ask me, you're the one making ponies suffer in this world by keeping them alive, not so heroic now, is it?” I explained but she was unruffled by my comment.
“you can believe what you will but, you will never stop me from doing the right thing, my papa was a hero and he told me to follow your heart and my heart says to save the wasteland.” She replied back with her belief.
“even if it cost your life?” Disk stepped back in.
“especially if it cost my life.” She responded almost instantly. Disk looked at Amara as if she was an idiot.
“is she a blert or has her head been kicked west.” Disk blurted out.
“fok jou!” Amara shouted in zebra.
“fuck you too bitch!” Disk shouted back and Amara's jaw was left wide open.
“you know zebra language?” she asked, shocked.
“ja.” Disk said which translates to yes. She looked back to me, her gob still open.
“what? The kid wanted to know zebra, so I taught him it, I don’t see what the big surprise is here.” I looked over to Disk, but he shrugged.
“I haven’t known a pony or anything that isn’t a zebra to know our language.” She said still surprised. “okay, what does strepe in pony language?” she quizzed.
“stripes.” he said plainly.
“stropers?”
“raiders.”
“hallo, ek is Amara en ek is 'n held.”
“hello, I’m Amara and I’m a hero.” Disk said bored. “can we stop now? This shit is getting old.”
Amara laughed in dismay almost waking up Lucio for the second time. I think she’s forgotten that she has a colt with her. Haha, I remember when I forgot to go home to Scratchy and Disk after a few bevvies at the bar, they kicked the shit out of me when they found me in a pile of black bags, full of garbage, still funny to remember though. I took a gander over to Amara who was fixated on the bag that was hanging from a peg and had my bounties head inside.
“Tequila, your bag is slightly leaking.” She said suspiciously.
“oh yeah, a pony’s head can do that with a clean cut.” I said drinking my alcohol.
“A what?” she gasped.
“A bounties head to be exact.” I replied. “his name is… his name is… shit, I forgot his name. Fuck it, his name is Larry now.” I laughed. Larry, sounds like a name Joe would start shouting for in a hoof shop, shouting for a random size. LARRYYY!!! I NEED A SIZE 7 TIMS!!!!!!
“you kill ponies for caps?” she asked.
“Ooo, speaking of bounties, I need to get mine in.” Disk said before jumping out and back in with a soaking bag and hung it up next to mine with a proud smile. Amara looked at us in disbelief.
“for what it’s worth, mine was a filly rapist and Disk’s was just a murdering cunt.” I added and she exhaled.
“Fine, that’s fair enough, just as long as there not innocent.” She said.
“yeah, can we get back to the story?” Disked asked and Amara nodded as she was thankful for the change of subject.
Footnote.
No level up.
Listening to others experiences in the waste-
Whoa, whoa, whoa there... no level up? why on Twilight's purple ass cheeks is there no level up?
Why'd you think you’re going to get a level up just for listen to Amara ramble on and on about her sad life and you just sat there, being a piss head like you always are.
listen, Owen, buddy, I know you and you know me for some time now. please give me anything.
I’m not giving you anything but, if you just listen to what I had to say, I was going to give a little passive to Disk.
which is
let me restart.
Footnote.
No level up.
Listening to others experiences in the wasteland has not affected your thoughts but your companion as learnt a few thing from Amara's past. Disk has a better understanding of the wasteland and the Equestrian main lands. 5+ intelligence.
fine, fine, fair enough but next episode you better give me something.
I don't think so pal, your still listening to Amara's story in the next part.
fuck you!
well fuck you too Tequila
