We Shall Live Onby The philosopherChaptersPrologue: Dark ChangesI: The World as We Know ItII: By the FireIII: The Journey BeginsIV: SurvivalPrologue: Dark ChangesA grey coated unicorn with a rust colored mane and a jacket stood idley in the park. Iron Sights loved Ponyville, it was beautiful compared to Stalliongrad. Where his home town consisted of snow and icicles, Ponyville harbored flowers and birds. Nonetheless, Iron Sights still had a piece of home with him. It was a six round cyllender revlolver, made in his hometown. In fact, it was made in his very house. He called it the horseshoe for its stopping power. It was the first model he ever produced. He was proud of it, and carried the revolver wherever he went, partially for protection, but mostly as a trophy. He carried it even though guns were illegal outside of Stalliongrad. He watched as the robins damced around the trees and the grass waved at the wind. He found peace, beautiful, serene, peace. He stood in the middle of the park like a statue, admiring the calm silence for a few seconds longer. Then he heard the horrified shrieks of his fellow eqiunes. Iron Sight gazed ahead at a crowd of ponies fleeing for their lives. As the dust from their hooves began to clear Iron Sight began to see the silhouette of a feral beast. The dust had completely disappeared then when he saw the timberwolf chew on the neck of a green earth pony. Iron Sights pulled out his revolver from his right pocket. From his left, he pulled out two bullets slowly, almost casually. When he dropped his second bullet, he slowly picked it up from the ground and wiped it against his jacket as if it was a dusty button he had stumbled upon. The timberwolf sprinted to its new target. With its powerful legs it was able to cover half the distance between it and the foolish stallion, and it had no intention of slowing down. Iron Sights stared unimpressed at the rabid canine as it got closer and closer... BANG! The beast layed on the ground, its pathetic attempts to bark were nullified by the blood clogged in its throat. Iron Sights stared at his fallen foe, once more becoming a motionless statue. Many ponies were circling the scene. They stared in horror at the grey unicorn, at the wooden hellhound, then their gazes met the sky. The clouds, they were moving when their wasn't a pegasus in the sky! In the distance the howls of timberwolves and the roars of manticores began to surface. The thought of death consumed the mind of everpony. Some of the ponies listened in a stone-cold fear, while others fled to the nearest building possible. Others began murmuring of a massacre, of an apocalypse. But Iron Sights stood still. He understood what the clouds showed him, comprehended the screeches of the feral beast. In a low, bass toned voice,he spoke. "Alright everypony! Stay calm! We are going to survive this! We shall live on!" he bellowed. "We need to get into the urban streets! Get into the buildings! Offer help to anypony who needs shelter! Then barricade the door and windows! Move! Now! Be turned to exit the park, but not before logging his second bullet into the skull of the dieing timberwolf. I: The World as We Know It"Roadside," called Clear Sky, "Roadside Picnic! Get up, bro!" Dear Celestia, I swear there is no worse alarm clock than a friend. "Alright, alright. geez, man, patient much?" I didn't want to get out of bed at this hour, I didn't even want to wake up. And I certainly didn't want my brown coated, green-maned Pegasus friend to barging into my apartment room demanding me to get on my feet like a Canterlot drill sergeant. What would luck have it that all this ends up happening to me anyways? I somehow managed to exit my room, despite walking like some drunk stallion. "Roadside! What's taking so freaking long?!" What was taking so long?! Try I've just woken up from a peaceful nap! "What's the freaking rush, anyways?" I ask, resisting the temptation to collapse and continue my slumber on the hallway floor. "I want to finish our chores ASAP! Pound Cake said he'd try to save us a slice of Cake!" answered Clear Sky. That was enough to motivate me. I've had cake before. Tasteless bread with a bland sauce that ponies try to pass off as frosting, but the Cakes at Sugar Cube Corner, when they made enough bread and other necessary wheat foods, they put their sweat and blood into making cake that was the stuff of legends. It was made like the type of cake you could only get ten years ago, the kind of cake that I only had before the Everfree uprise. That's what they call it now. They couldn't call it anything else. It's not an apocalypse if we're still alive, right? There was no Armageddon, no global conflict, no cosmic judge punishing us. It was simply an uprise, the beasts lost their fear of leaving the forest. Clear Sky waited at the end of the hall. His face wore an expression of disappointment. "I don't think we're gonna have time for cake..." "Why?" I asked. "We're gonna be patrol duty again." he sighed. Now I wore a face of dissapointment. If it were harvesting, or perhaps cleaning, then we may have had a chance to race to Sugarcube Corner if we were fast enough. But patrols? No chance, the shifts were set in stone. I quickly ran back too my room and grabbed my rifle, a carbine, and my combat vest. I ran to the entrance of my room. Clear Sky was at the same place at the wall, but it was clear he had left to retrieve his equipment as well, for he too had a rifle. It had a long barrel and a fifteen round magazine with a rifle grip and wooden stock. My rifle had a barrel that was probably two thirds the length of Clear Sky's rifle barrel and had a wired stock. "How many mags will we need?" I shouted from my doorway. "Dunno" responded Clear Sky. "But we should probably bring a few, shouldn't we?." •••~••• We ran out of the apartmnent to a small restraint across the streets. The clouds that only shifted but never parted in the sky were as grey as my fur. The sky itself was as blue as blue as my mane... Or I assume it was. Sweet Celestia, I haven't seen the sky in ages. There were many ponies working, and a few foals playing. Why wouldn't there be? We lived in a green zone after all. We were safe here. Clear Sky and I entered the restraunt and headed to the table where a mint colored unicorn sat. "Um... Miss Heartstrings? We're he-" "I don't need you to confirm that." she snapped. She looked at us both, "It's fairly obvious that you're here." In more fear than respect I closed my mouth and prepared myself to listen to her orders. She placed a map of Ponyville on the table and laid it flat. There were many green, yellow, and red lines, which signified the green, yellow, and red zones, respectively. Lyra pointed on the map an area by the old elementry school. "We're expecting traders to arrive here from the 'Quills district' with metal so Iron Sights can produce more guns and bullets," she explained. Districts were the titles given to Green zones. They were typically named after a significant building. For instances, I live in the Sugarcube District. The "Quills district" received it's name because of a shop there that used to sell quills and sofas. "You two are going to stand guard until they get there." continued Lyra. "Make sure they don't have any trouble, understand? This shouldn't be too hard, you'll be staying inside the boundaries of the yellow zone." I quickly nodded, perhaps a bit too quickly. "Uh! Yes mam! Hey Clear Sky did you get all tha- Clear Sky?" I turned around to see him talking to Dinky Doo. She was a cute mare with a light purple coat and yellow mane. In all honesty I didn't mind the scene. I knew Clear Sky liked her, and that she liked him. Lyra, on the other hand, clearly did not tolerate the distraction. "Hey! Casa Nova! Were you listening to anything I said?!" Clear Sky jumped at the sound of Lyra's voice. He quickly pecked Dinky's lips and ran- only to freeze up when he realized what he did. They stared into each others eyes, and both of their cheeks became red tomatoes. I on the other hand was focusing on all my willpower not to roll on the floor and laugh hysterically. When Clear Sky finally walked back to my side, I surrendered to laughter. "That was hilarious!" I laughed. "Shut up!" "Relax, dude!" "Relax?!" He nearly shouted, "How can I relax?!" he craned his head down in shame. "I just made a fool of myself, and not just in front of Dinky Doo, I made a fool of myself with her!" I looked behind me. "Dinky doesn't seem to think of you as a fool." I smiled. Clear Sky turned his head to see a blushing Dinky smiling meekly at him, shuffling her right front hoof around the ground. Both her and clear sky broke their gazes in nervousness. •••~••• "The best part is that after you kissed her you froze for a good three seconds when you began to walk aw- Away!" I laughed. "Just drop it! Who asked you what you think?" I stared at him, confused. "You did. You asked me why I was laughing in the restraunt." "Shut up!" "Alright, alright. I'll stop talking about it." Our journey continued I silence until Clear sky and I saw the school, in which we immediately stopped. We dared not move closer to the building, there just wasn't something right about that building.For hours we looked out into the distance. Clear Sky was probably looking for the merchants, but I was looking at the grass. It disturbed me everytime it moved. Was it the wind playing it's soft melody for the grass to dance to, or was it a horrible beast tearing the brush aside as it crawled closer and closer to us? My nerves forced me to speek, "Hey- Hey Clear Sky! Do you see anything?" "No, I don't think the merchants will be here until later. But I'm still keeping an eye out-" "No! I mean in the grass, do you see anything?" "Oh mother of Luna..." Clear Sky muttered. It wasn't the first time we've had this conversation. "Roadside, listen carefully, cause I'm not gonna say it again. The yellow zones are just the edges of green zones. They were made so little fillies and foals wouldn't get too close to the red zones. Technically, yellow zones are part of the green zone. It's safe." he put an emphasis on safe. "I know," I insisted. "But still, haven't there been incidents in the yellow zones?" "Well of course!" he answered. "Sometimes if a beast is in a red zone it's gonna go cross into a yellow zone because it sees somepony." he explained. "Relax, Raidside it barely happened and when it does it's just like one timberwolf or something." "Yeah...I guess you're right." I said, but I still couldn't help but feel paranoid. Clear Sky diverted his attention to the school. "So, do you know why the school is so dangerous?" As a matter of fact, I did. "Yeah, some of the guards told me. They said there's something called a cockatrice in there." Clear Sky's eyes were pouring water in a fit of hilarity. "What?!" his response was more of a shout than an answer. "What the heck is a cockatrice?!" he said while he attempted to suppress his giggles. "A cockatrice." I explained, "It has the head of a chicken and the body of a snake, and it turns ponies to stone." "Are you serious?" he asked, " The head of a chicken on a snake?That's the silliest thing I've ever heard of! "In fact," he continued, "If I were to see one of those cockatrice things, I'd laugh at how silly it was!" "You don't understand!" I insisted. "The guardponies said that if you look into the eyes of a cockatrice, you will be turned to stone!" "That's so stupid! You mean to tell me that there is a cross of a chicken and a snake, that lives in a freaking school, that can turn animals to stones? What a load of hoarseapples!" He was right, it was a ridiculous story. I couldn't believe I believed it. A cockatrice? What a stupid concept. "Well- that's not all!" I defended. "Really?" Laughed Clear Sky. "By all means, do go on!" "Well it's not so much the cockatrice that's frightening!" I tried to explain. "I can tell!" Clear Sky joked. "No, seriously! Some of veteran guards, they said- they said that there's something wrong with the school!" Clear Sky paused, he was curious. "What do mean?" he asked. I smiled. I've reeled him in, got his attention, as any storyteller tries to do. I loved telling stories. It was an art, and an art I intended to perfect. After all, such a talent fitted perfectly with my closed- scroll cutie mark. "I can't tell you." I smiled, "Nopony knows what causes it... But there have been claims of strange phenominons at the school. "really?" he asked. "what are the phenominons?" "Some say there are ghosts. Others say if you listen close enough, you can hear the sound.... The sound... Of... Bells?" I stood there, confused. I swear to Clestia I could hear faintly in the distance the chants of school bells. I stared at the school, and before I knew it I was dragging my feet to the school too. As I approached the school, the ring of the bells became louder, and was beginning to form a duet with the increasing laughter of children. I had finally reached the playground. I saw the swings and carrousel were moving, as if being controlled by heavy winds, but there wasn't even a slight breeze! The sight was making me uneasy, nervous, when a bright light blinded me suddenly! I saw, with my own eyes, ponies laughing and playing on the jungle gym. Some were playing on the swings and even some spinning on the carousel. The sky was a light blue, and there was life. Sweet Celestia! The laughter of fillies and foals, the green in the grass, the bright colors of the colors shined likethe sun. The sun was still absent, but the light was omnipresent and shined just as bright. I couldn't help but smile at the what was occurring. There was no fear, no crying, no sadness. The only clouds I saw were a few of the white, soft kind that only complimented the light blue sky. ".....Roadside....." My name was being spoken by the world around me, the scource of the call was from all directions. "....Roadside... Hey! Roadside!" I... I know that voice! Where was Clear Sky? He was as visible as his call was traceable. "Roadside! Hey! We need to get out of here, now!" Suddenly I was pulled away from my beautiful dreams. The swings and monkey bars were empty of life, and the carousel was once more a lonely wheel. The worst part was, the playground wasn't empty. I wished the ponies would have vanished with the dream, but instead they became cold, lifeless statues the second I departed from my trance. There were dozens of them! Cold alone, with faces petrified and cursed to forever depict there last terrifying seconds. I wanted to scream, wail as if I knew every single one of them. Instead adrenaline had caused me to flee. Clear Sky and I gallloped to the edge of the damned school. I turned to look back at the equin pillars of salt. My blood froze as I saw a large, snake-like tail slither behind one of the statues. II: By the FireI was still shaken by the events at the school when the merchants arrived, but Clear Sky had calmed down a while ago. Maybe it's because he didn't see what I saw, didn't experience what I experienced. There were four ponies occupying the wagon. Only one of them reeked the smell of merchants, while the other two were simply guards. The third, a pegasus mare, stood out from the rest. Clear sky and I could hear the clanking of metal from every jolt the wagon gave as is loomed in closer and closer. "Hello!" said one of the pegasus mare. There was something odd about her. Were merchants supposed to have body armor and a rifle?. " Call me Raindrops! Are you two the ones who are gonna escort us to Iron Sights?" "Yeah." Naturally, I was quicker to respond upon hearing my master's name. "This way," I pointed. We walked for twenty minutes until we reached what used to be a tent used for fortune telling. If there were a sun it would be setting, but the only hint of the time was a small watch connected to my vest by something that could be described as a thick string, or thin rope. The entrance to the tent was covered by a thin layer of wood that acted as a makeshift door. Raindrops casually walked to to it and extended her hoof. I quickly intercepted between her and the door. "Wait!" I should have been calmer during the incident, but I had a bit of a spur-of- the-moment reaction. Raindrops looked at me with her head tilted, concerned about the sudden outburst. "hehe... sorry..." was all I could spit out, "But if the door is closed then my master can't be disturbed. Typically it means he's inserting the pearl inside a firearm." The secret to Springfield's success in weapons (and by that extension, the secret of his apprentice, Iron Sights himself) was because of a mysterious, green pearl he would place in the gun so the firing pin and charging handle wrapped around it. The pearl would then be synchronized with another pearl outside the gun, usually placed on the combat vest of a pony. The result was a telekinetic connection connecting directly with the gun and pony, allowing a pegasus or earth pony to wield a firearm like a unicorn. Some revolvers and pistols have been outfitted with pearls as well, but usually ponies just fire such weapons with their mouthes. Placing the pearl in a firearm was very delicate work. I learned the hard way that placing the pearl even a few millimeters off could render the psychic connection useless or jam the gun. I highly doubt my master would want five ponies barging in with the obnoxious clamoring of met of metal while performing such a fragile procedure. "Just leave the metal outside, He'll notice it. Trust me" This wasn't me speaking, but six years of fetching lunch and scrap metal for Iron Sight. "Alright then," said Raindrops, "I'm gonna... I'm gonna drop by Heartstring's place for a while." she decided. How did she know Lyra? Had they made dealings in the past? My thoughts were cut short by a bump in the side. I turned to see Clear Sky. He had a grin on his face, and I couldn't help but grin back. We raced to Sugarcube Corner. ---~--- "Sorry guys." said Pound Cake. "Mom and dad gave away the last of the cake a couple of hours ago." said the young colt with a supportive smile. "Awww mannnnnnn..." moaned Clear Sky. I didn't care. I didn't expect there to be any cake. Still, it didn't hurt to check, right? "You aren't even suppose to reserve treats, Pound Cake. It's not fair." We all turned to see Pumpkin Cake sitting at a table reading a newspaper. Why a ten year old would read a news paper I have no idea, and one printed ten years ago no less! "Pumpkin, haven't you read that, like, twenty times now?" teased Pound Cake. "That's beside the point," responded the sister to her brother. "Whatever." retorted Pound Cake. "So do you guys want any sweet besides a cake?" "I think I'll have a muffin."l I said. A tasteless, soggy muffin. "I'll have two blueberry muffins!" Exclaimed Clear Sky. Tasteless, soggy muffin, but with blueberries. The blueberries could even be fresh if you were lucky. "Is one for Dinky?" I asked. "Shut up." confirmed Clear Sky. •••~••• There was no light when we left Sugarcube Corner save a small area of illuninated clouds. No doubt the moon cowered behind there. A single light suddenly illuminated from the distance and danced in the wind. Clear Sky and I recognized it instantly. As we made our way to be campfire we pa ssed Lyra and Raindrops, and I couldn't help but overhear a conversation being exchanged between the two. "No!" Screamed Lyra, "No no no no no! Berry Punch, Minuette, Sea Swirl... WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'THEY'RE ALL DEAD'?!" "Our district was attacked by timberwolves again at the entrance. Berry, was on guard at the time." responded Raindrops. "Lyra... I'm sorry..." "I'm gonna miss them..." wepted Lyra. I had never seen our leader so... Broken. "So will I, Heartstrings," said Raindrops, holding back her tears, "so will I." Their tears continued to leak through there eyes. It was obvious by now that I was listening to their conversation, as I was staring in sympathy for them. Either they hadn't noticed me, or hadn't cared. "Don't worry Lyra," reassured Raindrops, "Bon Bon is still around. She told me to tell you you're still her best friend, she misses you, and...." Raindrops smiled, "and she's going to try to visit here soon." Lyra couldn't believe what she was had just heard. Forbidden Tartarus, I couldn't believe what I had just heard! What pony travels across Ponyville for a casual visit? No doubt they would have to travel throughlet a red zone! That's it! this "Bon Bon" must be insane! "...R-Really?" Lyra sounded like a school filly. "I haven't... I h-haven't seen her in such a l-long time.." "Yeah..." hushed Raindrops, like a mother."See? Everything is going to be alright..." When Lyra had finally dried her tears, she spoke. "Thank you, Raindrops. I'm glad you visited..... It's... Its nice to see a familiar face every once and a while." They laughed as they cried together while somepony added more logs to the fire. •••~••• I was alone when I reached the campfire. No doubt that Clear Sky was trying to find Dinky Do to give her that muffin. More ponies gathered around, including my mother and Iron Sights. Did I not mention it before? He was not only my master, but my foster father as well. He's always been like a father to me, I wonder if he knows that. Soon Clear Sky returned to the fire, and with Dinky at his side. I was happy for them. Dinky was especially excited about tonight, I could tell by the way she skipped to her seat next to Clear Sky. Her mother was going to speak. Ditzy Do was probably one of the greatest story tellers in the world. She spoke of adventures of both this era and the time before. It brought nostalgia from a better time, and I couldn't help but feel bad for the foals who could only imagine the world ten years ago. Before we had the honor of hearing Ditzy talk, trivial stories of our day were traded. Of course, I told everypony about the school. I smiled in satisfaction when the children began to cringe while the older ponies began to draw nearer. There were stories better than mine, of course. One of the guards was telling everypony that he saw a dragon earlier today, by the library. Dear Celestia, the mere thought of that unholy place brought chills up my spine. I had been there before, at the library. It was the only story I would never tell at the campfire. In fact I had the intentions of carrying this story to the grave. •••~••• Ever since there had been reports of strange phenomenons and a mysterious creature, the library, like the school, was deemed unsafe. It was on of the very few buildings considered a red zone in its self. Of course, Clear Sky and I, we've been to the library before, and we didn't recognize the danger at the time. I guess we had forgotten how much the world had changed. It was six years ago, I was only twelve and full of adventure but empty in wisdom. Maybe I still am. I fealt an urge to go to the mysterious synagogue of knowledge, because I had never spent much time there when I had the option too. I had nostalgia over experiences I would always complain to be tartarus. Four years ago, ten now, I could've gone to the library whenever I pleased, but would've past it without a second thought. Funny how life works. Clear Sky must've been consumed by the same thoughts I had. One day, he swiped a double-barrel shot gun from his father, and declaired he was to crusade to the library. If I wasn't a fool for letting him execute such a suicidal journey, then I was for joining him. I armed myself with a home made revolver, which Iron Sights had ordered me to make as a test to for his "engineering course". The trip to the library wasn't dangerous. The library was actually located in a green zone. No, wait, I'm sorry. It was a green zone six years ago, but now it is a yellow zone. Clear Sky and I Stares at the towering doorway of a proud oak tree. Neither of us were able to move while we were in the holy presence of the great tree. I finally took the first step, but froze once more. It was eventually Clear Sky who mustered the courage to open the door. Merciful Luna, was it magnificent! It was a castle of books, a temple of treasures. We continued to gaze in awe at the palace, when suddenly Clear Sky and I were No longer mere foals. No, we were stalkers! Brave ponies who travel into the red zones to gather precious artifacts from a more civilized age. Our double-barrel and revolver turned into a Machine gun and sniper. Our saddlebags and old, torned vests used to barely fight off the cold turned into kevlar armor, the state Of the art kind made by a "Miss Rarity". We handled every book with care. I found some Daring Do books that I would read when I was eight, before the uprise. I peeked into two... Odd books... a Metro 2033 and a Roadside Picnic. Huh... Something familiar... That's when I saw something in the corner of my eye. There were a thousand books in the shelf behind me, and yet one could not escape my attention. It could not merge back into the crowd, could no longer be an anonymous book in the shelf anymore. I drew closer to the book. It was blue with the golden head of a unicorn on it. I flipped through the holy pages of the strange gospel. It was an anthology book, but it seemed to be missing nearly two thousand pages! They weren't rippe out either, rather the pages served as a secret compartment. The pocket was empty save a simple image of six smiling mares. "Hey, Clear Sky! Check this out!" "Dude!" he yelled back from the second story. He must've flown up there, for the staricase was broken. "there's a locked door here! Help me open it!" "No!" I shouted back, "No, no! Check out what I found!" Clear Sky descended from the walkway and hovered to the ground. When he saw the photo he whistled. "Niiiiice" he stretched the word with a smile. That's not what I meant. "Who do you think these mares are?" I asked. "I dunno." answered Clear Sky. "That white one looks like Miss Rarity. You know, the one who makes the armor for ponies?" "yeah I know" my answer was empty, for I was still puzzling over who these six ponies could be. "And that other one looks like the mare who provides alot of the food for the districts." Continued Clear Sky. "Applejack! Yeah! That's it!" That made sense. Though I wish the cutie marks of Possible Applejack and Possible Rarity hadn't faded in the photo, it would've made it much easier to confirm our hypothesis. Suddenly we heard a monsterous roar from the other side of the locked door. Suddenly our armor melted back into vests, and our machine gun and sniper broke down into a simple double barrel and A lousy revolver once more. We fled like rabbits from the haunted building, never turning out heads to look back. •••~••• I still have that book, and I still wonder who those six mares are. I'd ask Miss Rarity or Miss Applejack, but Clear Sky and I vowed not to tell anypony-anypony- about the library. Now that I think about it, maybe that's why Raindrops dressed in armor, she was a stalker! Of course! In an instant silence fell as Ditzy began her story. "The world used to be dominated by ponies!" she began, "The pegasai manipulated the weather, the unicorns mastered culture, and the earth ponies were responsible for all that grew, be it a plant or an animal. "It was not a role of a king, nor dictator, nor slavemaster! It was a responsibility of a caretaker! Under Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, the world of Equestria flourished for both pony and beast!" she spoke like a priest. "But ther was an exeption! There was a small land alien to our customs, a small land where the animals and plants, even the weather! All followed the feral ideology of survival. It was a free for all! The ruler wasn't a king, but a survivor! Barely controlling itself, much less it's wild subjects! "One fateful day, this small land, this small land entitled as the Everfree Forest, declared war on the rest of Equestria! The skies rebelled against the pegasai! The beasted slaughtered the caretakers of the animals! Those hypocrites! When they finished, they feasted on the bones of the animals they so called freed!" Ditzy Doo paused and relaxed, but knew she hadn't finished her sermon. "I wish I could tell you all what lead to the tragic event, or why our resistance failed in seconds." she said in a much calmer tone than before, "but the truth is, I just don't know what went wrong!" Some of the older ponies laughed at this. I didn't get what was so funny. "Yes! Yes!" shouted Ditzy Doo, "Scream! Laugh! Rejoice! Take comfort to know we haven't lost!" Her last statement caught the attention of the entire crowd of the campfire, there wasn't a single pony who wasn't listening. "We may live under the mercy of the clouds, or at the rivalry of the beasts that used to roam the everfree, but we still stand together! We haven't succumbed to their philosophy of 'survival of the fittest'! Don't you see? As long as we are ponies, as long as we stand apart from the ways of the everfree creatures, we shall raise or flag of Equestria in victory!!!" Ponies cheered as soon as Ditzy silenced herself. They all clapped and shouted, and some of the guards began to stand in celebration. Victory, I never thought of our life that way. I liked the thought, it made the fire seem brighter And the clouds less thick. III: The Journey BeginsI guess it's no surprise Clear Sky and I were pinned to guard duty again. Why wouldn't we be? According to Lyra, we did "such a fantastic job yesterday..." What horseapples. That's all it was. The clouds moved ever do slowly as they usually did, and the silence lingered for hours, but was finally broken by the clammoring of metal. A pale cream earth pony was approaching us. She had a gas mask hanging on her neck and a brown vest and a red hankerchift. "I'm here to see a friend" was all the mare said. "Oh!" I exclaimed, "You must be Bon Bon!" She eyed me suspiciously. Her burning irises demanded me to know how some anonymous pony like me recognized her. "How do you know who I am?" she had quickly turned the greeting into an interrogation. "Oh! Uh, Lyra!" I said. "She's been looking forward to see you! So...uh...yeah..." the mare's demonic glare had pushed me into a cowardly silence. "we should... Uh, show you where Lyra is! Yeah!" said Clear Sky, breaking the quietude. ---~--- I couldn't understand why Bon Bon seemed so tense, we had enter the Green zone five minutes ago. Shouldn't we be safe? "Why are you looking so paranoid?" I couldn't help but ask. "You don't see them?" she asked. "See who?" asked Clear Sky, "See what?" I saw them too, mysterious silhouettes were circling around us like jackals. But I knew we were deep in the Green zone, the figures were no doubt other ponies. Was she okay? Was Bon Bon seeing the ponies for something else? "Bon Bon, relax." I said, "They're only ponies-" Suddenly I felt and saw the claws of a timberwolf lodge into my chest. •••~••• Never before haveI felt such terror in my life as I wrestled for my life against the beast to stop it from closing it's powerful jaws on my neck. An unholy horror filled me as I watched how futile my struggle was, the jaws were getting closer and closer to my sweat-drenched throat. BANG! Sap and blood drenched my face as the timberwolf's head exploded, thanks to the powerful shotgun wielded by Bon Bon. "Pick up your rifle." she ordered. As soon as the battle began, I degenerated to a simple beast. Kill or be killed was the only order my adrenaline-pulsing body obeyed. Gunfire emitted in all directions. The timberwolves wouldnt stop coming until either they or their victim laid dead on the ground. They circled us, barraged us from all sides. "Where are they?" I screamed "Behind!" yelled Clear Sky, "No, wait! In front! Look out! To the left!" "No! Wrong way! Wrong way! There's a bunch of them to your right!" I shouted. No, Merciful Celestia, turn around Clear Sky! Please! All I could do is shout a muted scream as Clear Sky turned a second to late and saw a massive timberwolf pounce on top of him. Then there was the roar of a second shotgun blast. Bon Bon was precise, careful. She didn't allow herself to become a degrading animal like Clear Sky or me. She moved gracefully, not in paranoia of what may be behind her, but in welcoming turn to embrace what she knew was facing her backside. She would adjust the sights of her gun, take careful aim, and fire in a smooth motion quicker than how I was raising mine to blind-fire. She truly was a stalker; she marked the borderline that differentiated predator from hunter. The scent of the district reeked with the nauseous Aroma of blood. The whole place became a warzone. I was not alone in this Tartarus, for I could hear gunfire and the wails of soldiers in the distance. Oh, Celestia! I could hear the screams of mares... I-I could hear the cries of children! •••~••• The streets were painted a sick red. The blood of ponies and beast were mixing into a gruesome river of blood. Walking down to the cafe that acted as our capital was the worse experience I've ever suffered from. Every face was a familiar face, every corpse was somepony I once knew. "What the in the name of Tartsrus was that?!" screamed Lyra to Iron Sights and a squad of guards, "Timberwolves have never gone so far as to breach our capital! They haven't even breached the green zone in years, we've made sure of that!" "And it's not just this place either.." Lyra was surprised to hear that voice of all voices behind her. "I wish we could've met during better terms." said Lyra to Bon Bon. "What do you know about this, stalker?" "I know that the attacks have been escalating, for one." answered Bon Bon. "Didn't Raindrops tell you? Quills District-" "I heard," said Lyra. She didn't want to think about her lost friends. "What about the Station District?" asked Bon Bon. "What? What happened there?" asked her longtime friend. "It came under attack of timberwolves as well-it was completely overwhelmed." The news disturbed Lyra. Districts had fallen before, but Station District was as heavily garded as Sugarcube District. "Carousel District was also attacked." announced Bon Bon. "Carousel is our armor provider..." started Lyra. "And your district provides districts all across Ponyville with weapons." Bon Bon added. "So if both of these districts fall..." "the rest of Ponyville wouldn't last lwouldn't last long after that, would it?" finished Iron Sights. Bon Bon shook her head. "I'm afraid not..." she said. The table shook as Lyra slammed her hoof on it. "Alright! If we want to survive, we must make it our priority to strengthen our borders. That means we're gonna need better guns. Iron Sights, I need you to dedicate your work to light machine guns from now on. First we arm our guards, then we provide Carousel District with some so-" "It's not gonna work." everypony, including myself, turned to the corner of the room. Ditzy sat there, with one eye staring into an abyss at the wall while the other was pasted to the floor. "Come again?" asked Lyra. "It won't work." "Then how are we to survive?" "In this world? We won't. Face it. The everfree is taking over-" "Thats funny hearing that from the pegasus who gave the district a freakin pep talk yesterday!"snapped Lyra. "Yesterday, the timberwolves stayed the buck outside." said Derpy."Yesterday, the bodies of ponies littering the ground weren't there! That was then! This is freaking now, Lyra! Let's face it! Game over! We aren't the supreme beings anymore! You've heard of survival of the fittest? Guess what Lyra, guess What? We've lost." "And so we just give up?! Screw you!" she yelled. "Derpy..." greeted Bon Bon nostalgically, despite the chaos around her. "We need to adapt! Learn to grab hold of life with teeth and claws-" "Ponies will never adapt to this world. We need to bring the old Equestria back." Lyra just stared at Ditzy, her anger slowly swelling. "Oh! Why didn't I think of that?!" her her voice dripped with bitter sarcasm. "Lets just get the old Equestria back! I was getting tired of this life anyways! Why the in the name of Tartarus don't we try that Luna-damned idea of yours! What do you plan to do, blow a dog whistle?" "In a matter of speaking," explained Ditzy, "Perhaps if we were to retrieve the elements of harmony..." "You've been by the campfire for to long, Ditzy." retorted Lyra. "There are no elements of harmony!" I've never seen Ditzy look so shocked. She was genuinely confused. Flabbergasted... like a foal who had just learned that Santa Claus didn't exist. It was an epression that was only worn when a pony felt that the world had been lieing to them for their entire life. She shook her head, "How can you forget them?" "What?" asked Lyra. "How can you forget what was known by everypony ten years ago?" "What are you talking about?" "You don't remember them? You don't remember Rainbow Dash? Rarity? Fluttershy? What about Applejack or Pinkie? What about Twilight? She was one of your closest friends Celestia dammit!" "Your crazy. What do Applejack or Rarity have to do with this?" "Or Rainbow Dash, for that matter." said Bon Bon. "What happened to Rainbow Dash, anyways?" asked Lyra. "She went to the everfree forest a few months ago... Haven't seen her since. Wouldn't worry about it thought... A stalker as tough as her can survive without trouble in there for that long..." Ditzy stood there in disbelief. "How-how?" she studdered, "How long has ten years been..." •••~••• I don't know what happened afterwards, for I was gone. I should have left earlier, I should have left as soon as I heard their names. Rarity... Applejack... That picture, from so many years ago... It had six mares. I've heard the tales by the fire, I knew the legend. There were six elements. Loyalty, laughter, generosity, honesty, kindness, and... What was it? The six one was some mystery element, wasn't it? I barged into my room. From under the bed I pulled out various clothes and disassembled skeletons of simple mechanisms, everything, until I found it. It was the same book, the one from the library, many years ago. There were times where I would pull it out and muse of the thought of living in s fairytale like in the stories. I would gaze for hours at the picture inside and study the faded blue sky behind the mares. I would imagine me smiling in the sun with them, or at least like them, and dice into an older world. Why didn't I notice it? The orange earth pony and the white unicorn, they really were Applejack and Rarity! And Ditzy said that they were once the elements of harmony? I guess it made sense. There were six of them after all. Could ponies even be the elements? Many of the stories in this book illustrated them as stones... I didn't hear the door open, but Luna above, did I hear it slam furiously. I turned to see Ditzy. Had she followed me this whole time? Why would she follow me home? Then again, a pony who just abandoned an important meeting right after their eyes sparked with an epiphany would look pretty suspicious, wouldn't they? She stared at me with know emotion. One of her eyes slowly advanced to the side, not moving after its gaze had touched the book. "What is that?" she asked. "Let me see!" She pushed me off to the side. She cradled it as if it was the saphire stone. She she reached the pocket that housed the photo, then turned to me. "Where did you get this?" "What?" was all I could spit out. "Where did you get this?!" "I, well, I snuck into the library-" "Do you know what this book is?! Do you know who these mares are?!" she shouted, "It's them! The elements! These are the bearers of elements of harmony!" The first thought in my mind was that Lyra was right, that Ditzy was naive to believe in the campfire stories. That she was crazy. But I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe she saw things beyond our eyes. Ditzy must've seen my doubts, though, because she craned her head down in impatient frustration. "These mares, they're the elements of harmony?" If their was anything I've ever regretted saying, it was that cursed sentence. "You believe me?" Asked Ditzy, her ears perking up as they consumed every word spoken. No. No I don't. I meant to ask if you think these mares are the elements of harmony. I wish I would have said that instead of nodding my head like little foal. "Excellent! This is perfect! Just perfect! I knew there was still hope!" she smiled. "What's going on here?" asked a voice from down the hall. It belonged to Iron Sights. "Whats going on in hear?" he asked as he stepped into my room. "What's that...." My heart froze in terror as he uttered the question. For six years I hid this book, the secret about the library from him. Dear Celestia, I am so screwed. "Your son retrieved this from the library." declaired Derpy. Dear Celestia, I am so, so screwed. "WHAT!? Roadside Picnic! What have I told you about the library?!" "Master, I'm eightteen! Have you no trust? Besides this was like six years ago-" Celestia banish me to the moon, why did I say that?! "WHAT!? WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME THIS?!" "probably later today, before he leaves." said Derpy. "What?!" My voice and Iron Sights formed a interrogative duet. "Well, you're going to have to find the elements, and the sooner the better, right?" said the grey Pegasus. "He can't! He's too young!" he turned to me, "Roadside, I'm sorry, I know you are all grown up, but this is beyond your capabilities you must understand this!" I completely understood. I'm eightteen, I'm a full grown stallion, but I was scared of the mission Ditzy was giving me. It called for a veteran, a stalker. I couldn't do this, it was suicide! "I never agreed to find the elements!" I defended. Derpy looked straight into my eyes. "Yes you did, Roadside. You accepted this mission the second you pulled it out of a dusty row in the library. You agreed to this mission the moment you left with it." I... I couldn't argue. It was as if she was a prophet for the fates; like she was a wolf among jackels. I didn't answer, instead a voice that wasn't mine, but still sounded like my own, began to speak. "All....alright....." neither Iron Sights or I could comprehend the words that came from mouth. What was I getting myself into? I shuttered at the thought. "Excellent...." smiled Ditzy. "You will leave-" "Next week." interrupted Iron Sights. Ditzy glared at him. "He needs to leave as soon as possible." "But I will finish the machine guns for Carousel District by next week. Bon Bon is going to deliver them. He can travel with her." Ditzy thought for a while, strategizing. "Fine, next week will be a perfect window of opportunity. It would be best to travel with a stalker. I'll talk to Bon Bon about letting you go with her." She turned from Iron Sights and I and walked towards the door, "You've been able to keep the secret about the library for six years, think you can keep this quest a secret for seven days?" She asked with her back facing us. IV: SurvivalThe week passed quickly, especially since I had no guard duty whatsoever. Instead, I was helping Iron Sights with the production of light machine guns. They were essentially a rifle, modified with a drum magazine, pistol grip, extended barrel, bipod, and an open bolt. "You know," said Iron Sights, "I think I'm going to make some more belt fed light machine guns instead of these guns after we ship them off." He turned to me, " What do you think? They take a while to make, but they would probably be finished by the time you get back from your quest." he smiled. I admired his optimism, the thought that I would actually live to return. The thought of death haunted me, but it was not quite as haunting at the thought of a death in vain. What if I die before I found the elements? Would my home fall? Would the rest of Ponyville follow? "Roadside, hey, listen." Iron Sights pulled out a .357 revolver. "This," he said as he held the gun in his hoof, as if it were one of the very elements I was searching for, "is the Horseshoe. It caused the first timberwolf casualty when this pit of Tartarus started, and it was the first firearm model I sold." I looked at the revolver, which glistened like gold. It's barrel was short, but it wasn't a snub nose. It was still long enough to suggest that this pistol was used for hunting, a sport that was only exercised in Stalliongrad. I levitated the relic. Its black body and oak grip made it beautiful. "I want you to have it." he said. It was obvious he did, why else would he present it? Still, that didn't make his declaration any less touching. "She's-she's so beautiful..." was all I could utter. "Isn't she?" smiled Iron Sights. "Take care of her, Roadside, and you can bet your flank she'll take care of you." I continued to admire the treasure. Her skin reminded me of the pictures of the night sky, and each shine off its black metal body were glistening stars. I finally holstered the pistol. "Thanks...." I felt like a little foal as I hugged him, "Thanks... Dad...." "You be careful, alright?" he asked as we seperated. "Of course, master!" I exclaim. "Good. You'll be leaving...." "Before four tomorrow morning." I smiled, "Guess Bon Bon's an early bird." "Alright. Just... Just be careful...." "I will." I answered before exiting. "I promise." I wondered if he saw me leaving his tent, or if he was seeing enter my coffin. •••~••• I wanted one more night to relax by the fire. Just one more night to feel warm. I was quickly gathered my ammunition, flashlight, canned foods, and other necessities into a saddlebag by my carbine in the corner. As if on cue Clear Sky barged into my room. "Hey Roadside-" "Holy bucking horsefeathers!" The ground was cold, and... Ow.... It does a number on one's head... "Clear Sky, what the buck?" I groaned. "Why are you packing?" he was analyzing my saddlebag, as if waiting for it to move. "Oh, I'm fine, thanks for asking." I glared, "Jackass." He was oblivious to my comment. "Are you going somewhere?" "No-" "Roadside!" boomed a familiar voice. Bon Bon stuck her head into my room, "Make sure everything is packed and ready, I want to leave first thing tomorrow...." her voice trailed off as she stared at a Clear Sky's inquisitive stare. "The buck you looking at?" she challenged. "Are you two going somewhere?" he squealed like a little fillie. "Wouldn't you like to know? Mind your own business!" she snapped before slamming the door. Clear Sky turned to me. "No." I answered tersely. I knew what he was going to ask. -•••~••• "Seriously, bro! What's up?" pestered Clear Sky. No, not pestered, he wasn't asking to join on some "little adventure". He was concerned, after all, we all lost enough comrades last week. "I'm going to help Bon Bon deliver the LMGs. Mechanics' business, you wouldn't understand." I fibbed. "And then what?" he asked, "You're coming back home?" I kept silent. " What's really happening?" "Nothing." He didn't continue to ask about the journey; but I knew the thoughts still lingered in his head. We had finally reached the campfire again. It was so bright, and yet it's never felt so cold. Bon Bon was sitting with Ditzy, who was talking to her daughter "..... But what about Canterlot?" asked Dinky. " Iron Sight said that Canterlot ordered numerous rifles and that his master Springfield included the blueprints for them. Perhaps Canterlot is surviving like we are." offered Ditzy. Bon Bon turned to her old friend, "Don't be silly, Derpy. Can't you see What's at Canterlot? Those huge swarms that fill the sky? Theirs no way any Canterlotian is left when there are that many dragons occupying the city." Dinky finally spoke, "What about Stalliongrad?" "Stalliongrad may have made it," said Derpy, The city was the only place to produce weapons in Equestria. And I heard there are tunnels there where it's been said that ponies could survive for years..." A spark of hope glistened in Dinky's eyes, "Really? Do you think any other place may have survived? How about Trottingham? Or Manehatton?" Ditzy just shook her head. "I don't think so, no cities outside of Stalliongrad had weapons, save here and Canterlot. How would the ponies fight off the creatures of the everfree?" "ahh... Manehatton..." Mused Bon Bon. "Do you remember that city, Derpy? the warm sun, the beaches, the breeze from the ocean- the cute stallions..." Ditzy giggled and blushed before turning to Bon Bon, "Yeah... Manehatton was some town." I swear her lazy eye was intentionally staring at me again, "What would you do if you could bring it back?" "I'd do anything," said Bon Bon, "anything to have things the way they were ten years ago." Clear Sky was sitting by Dinky again, I didn't like the conversation. He sounded like a pony who had just joined the militia, wondering if he would ever return to see his loved one again. Was he on guard duty tomorrow? I turned away from the conversation, and spent the rest of the evening staring at the fire. I wondered how much brighter would the sun would have been, and how warm it would be, too. ---~--- Bon Bon kicked me awake the next morning. "Get up." she commanded. "We're leaving. Now." I retrieved all my gear from the corner and quickly scrambled out of my room. Bon Bon was waiting outside the building with a small wagon filled with the light machine guns. "We'll take turns pulling the supplies, understood? Three hours per shift. Do you know the rules or the red zones?" I shook my head. I never knew a lawless world would have laws. "Keep an accurate and reliable account on your food, ammo and other supplies. If you get lost and you think you see a pony, make three circles with your flashlight. If whatever you see doesn't do that, then run. It's not a pony. Don't eat plants that you can't identify and filter any water you want to drink. Got it? Now let's move!" she growled impatiently. The walk out of the district was noiseless. I apreciated the muteness, for I was to afraid to speak to Bon Bon. The fact alone that she was a stalker made me feel like a pathetic ant. "Pick up the pace, Roadside!" she growled. Who was I to disobey a totally pissed off pony who killed blood-thirsty monsters for a living? "S-sorry!" I stammered. We had walked for four hours now and I was carrying the weapons now. "So....How far is the boutique district anyways? I've never been there before so-" "Shhhh..." hushed Bon Bon, "Did you hear that?" "What? What was it-" "Shhh!! Shut up." said Bon Bon, keeping her voice extremely low, "We're being watched. There's something following us." She turned and faced some nearby bushes behind us. Suddenly, one of them violently shuttered. Instinctively Bon Bon pulled out her rifle. BANG! BANG! "Bucking Horsefeathers! Stop shooting!" screamed a pony from the brush. "Who are you? Step out of the bushes. Do it Now!" A brown pegasus with a green mane stepped out from the brush. I couldn't believe it. "Clear Sky?" He smiled sheepishly, only to be hoisted into the air by Bon Bon's forelegs. "Why were you following us?!" "I- well-" "I said, why are you following us?" she repeated. "Well, I just wanted to help my friend out! I swear!" "And you thought the best way to do so was to stalk us?" "I-well.. funny story... you see..." I strayed from the heated discussion. Something caught my eye in the bush. There was something else hiding in the brush, I could tell by the occasional shudders. I could have sworn there was also the sound of raspy breathing... Then I saw it. The enraged, bloodshot eyes staring right at me. There was the mad lust to kill in those Celestia-forsaken eyes, and it brought a cold shiver down my spine. I felt paralyzed with fear, I felt everything tighten up in my body. A numbing cold began to overtake me as I stared into the haunting abyss of those irises. There was something disturbing about those eyes. My legs felt heavier, as if they were becoming stone. How I wished it were only a feeling! My legs, sweet Celestia, my legs! they were petrified! My whole body was turning into a statue, and all I could do is scream a muted scream. "Roadside! Horseapples, Roadside! what in Tartarus?!" Clear Sky's voice was only a faint echo. "Roadside, hang on!" Suddenly i was knocked over by a powerful force. Reality snapped back at me like a whip. "What? Huh?" The whole world seemed to be spinning, I felt completely disoriented. "What happened?" Bon Bon demanded to know. "I....I don't know.." I admitted. "Roadside, you were turning into a freakin statue! That's what happened! Bon Bon had to knock you over so you could snap out of it!" I turned to Bon-Bon, who simply grunted in annoyance. "We're moving. Now." she huffed, "You two try not to do anything stupid, got it? Or do I need to draw a picture to explain it to you two featherbrains?" I was actually grateful that Clear Sky followed us. Bon-Bon was only responsible for my safety until we reached the boutique, and after that, who was going to watch my back? ---~--- Ponyville was never a large city, thank Celestia for that. But the Red Zones were dangerous, and as soon as a pony stepped out they were being hunted, whether they knew it or not. If I only knew that earlier... "Holy Shit!" I screamed as the timberwolves pushed themselves our way with their powerful claws. They crushed large branches on the ground that were at least twice as sturdy as bones. There were maybe a bit more timberwolves then the amount we saw when we were ambushed in the Green Zone, but their numbers wouldn't make a difference to me. No, I would be terrified all the same. What truly frightened me was the unfamiliarity of the land. In the Sugarcube district, I knew where I was safe and where I could get trapped. I knew where to go to flank and where to avoid so I wouldn't be flanked. But here, in the Red zone, what was salvation and what was a trap? Bon Bon was pulling the cart away from the firefight, eager to escape. Clear Sky was wise enough to look her way and follow her. Firing the last bullets from my magazine, I quickly scampered after the two. My misfortune had resumed instantly. A Timberwolf appeared right in front of me like an apparition. Perhaps it had leapt from the side, or maybe it had simply appeared in my way. I didn't care, I was too shocked by the betrayal of my hooves. In one second they were taking me to the safety of my friends, the next moment they guided me to the snapping jaws of an oak beast. Instinct took over from there. I spun around and bucked its jaw, completely seperating it from its snout. It was the most basic and primal form of fighting, saving the lives of the first ponies to ever run through green fields, now saving my own life. The snap of the wood was the crap of a whip through to ears, screaming at me one order. Run. I didn't run to Bon Bon and Clear Sky, nor did I run to the safety of home- nature still held my reigns, guiding me in one direction: away. Somewhere, anywhere, that took me as far away from the jaws of the Timberwolf was fine to me! I just needed to get away! The Timberwolf was pursuing me. Somehow, the hellish creature had retrieved its jaw, now hungry for both flesh and revenge. The sinister glow in its eye, the twisted teeth, the gnarled root-like legs, all became clearer as the determined predator began to close the distance seperating us. Of course it was faster, no damn predator was ever made to be slower than prey. But I refused to falter. I will not surrender my life! Whatever energy and will I had left I dedicated to my hooves, now pounding the earth as they galloped to the abandoned buildings. Small cottages, humble shops, now lifeless derelicts, I prayed, would be my sanctuary. My sights homed in on a single building; a small house, with a straw roof littered with punctures and windows and an open doorway bard with ancient wood. There was a large space between the boards and the ground, too small for a Timberwolf, but large enough for a colt to fit through, maybe even a crouching stallion if he was small enough. I struggled to squeeze myself through the small space. I had to fit, I just had to! There wasn't enough time to turn back and find a different means to escape. I heard the crunching of dirt from behind me- the wooden hellhound was near! No, dammit no! I can't die! Not here, not now! I'm so close to safety! Just a bit farther, I can squeeze through! I need to squeeze through! The hound was so close I could hear the panting of its breath! Dammit! No! Please! I clawed the ground in a fruitless effort to pull myself through the door, but slippery dust just passed itself around my hooves. I needed to get through, but I couldn't! I was trapped, helpless like a child. Suddenly wooden claws seized my back, nearly tearing my flesh from me. Suddenly, all resistance ceased, and I launched myself from the small rathole that had trapped me. If the princesses still exist, then they were with me that day. The wooden claws were just the stubborn beams barricading the doorway, scraping the skin off my back as I- somehow- slipped through. I breathed in sweet relief... ...Only to see the teeth of the Timberwolf snap vigorously from below the planks. Terror returned as I helplessly scuttled to the end of the room. The Bruce's claws rapped around the boards, the wooden walls, and effortlessly began to tear them down. It was as if they weren't even their to begin with. It no longer ran, but confidently walked towards me, entertained by my terror of the inevitable. It savored every drop of my sweat, every sudden breath, every quickened heartbeat. It loved it all. My fear amused it. But hunger quickly returned to the demon, licking its lips one last time, he monster crouched, and pounced. •••~••• Silence, that was all. Even my breath couldn't be heard, for I kept it held within me. I must've squeezed my eyes shut, because I remember opening them at the sight of the creature, suspended in its moment of victory. No... It was not time that suspended it. If it were, the beast wouldn't have been twisting and whimpering like a little pup. It was trapped, caught by... Something... But what? The sunset stabbed the house through one of the openings through the roof, gladly answering my question. Strings shined from the light, silk chains ensnaring the Timberwolf. Webs. I gapped in horror, and realized the house was filled with them. I felt a tug on my hoof, only to realize it was caught in a cobweb. Quickly I freed it from its adhesive grip before my eyes began to explore the room again. Dear Celestia, there were webs everywhere- The strings restraining the Timberwolf began to shake. Violently. My eyes slowly drifted up, followed by the rest of my head..... It was impossible.... Holy shit! A spider, a black widow as large as a plow crawled towards the timberwolf, gluttonous thoughts radiating from its eyes. A single bite of its two large fangs stopped the canine's resistance in an instant. Then all was silent, even as the large arachnoid dragged the now dead predator into its web burrow above me. I felt trapped. I didn't want to leave, but I especially didn't want to approach the silk webs less I share the fate of the Timberwolf. Instead, I ate cold soup from a can, curled up, and prayed that I could fall asleep despite the frequent sounds of scuttling legs and shifting bodies throughout the night. The starlit sky was the only thing that could bring peace to me, and I found myself wondering if the world before me had the same tranquility of the stars, and... Where did it all go? Where could I find it?
Prologue: Dark ChangesA grey coated unicorn with a rust colored mane and a jacket stood idley in the park. Iron Sights loved Ponyville, it was beautiful compared to Stalliongrad. Where his home town consisted of snow and icicles, Ponyville harbored flowers and birds. Nonetheless, Iron Sights still had a piece of home with him. It was a six round cyllender revlolver, made in his hometown. In fact, it was made in his very house. He called it the horseshoe for its stopping power. It was the first model he ever produced. He was proud of it, and carried the revolver wherever he went, partially for protection, but mostly as a trophy. He carried it even though guns were illegal outside of Stalliongrad. He watched as the robins damced around the trees and the grass waved at the wind. He found peace, beautiful, serene, peace. He stood in the middle of the park like a statue, admiring the calm silence for a few seconds longer. Then he heard the horrified shrieks of his fellow eqiunes. Iron Sight gazed ahead at a crowd of ponies fleeing for their lives. As the dust from their hooves began to clear Iron Sight began to see the silhouette of a feral beast. The dust had completely disappeared then when he saw the timberwolf chew on the neck of a green earth pony. Iron Sights pulled out his revolver from his right pocket. From his left, he pulled out two bullets slowly, almost casually. When he dropped his second bullet, he slowly picked it up from the ground and wiped it against his jacket as if it was a dusty button he had stumbled upon. The timberwolf sprinted to its new target. With its powerful legs it was able to cover half the distance between it and the foolish stallion, and it had no intention of slowing down. Iron Sights stared unimpressed at the rabid canine as it got closer and closer... BANG! The beast layed on the ground, its pathetic attempts to bark were nullified by the blood clogged in its throat. Iron Sights stared at his fallen foe, once more becoming a motionless statue. Many ponies were circling the scene. They stared in horror at the grey unicorn, at the wooden hellhound, then their gazes met the sky. The clouds, they were moving when their wasn't a pegasus in the sky! In the distance the howls of timberwolves and the roars of manticores began to surface. The thought of death consumed the mind of everpony. Some of the ponies listened in a stone-cold fear, while others fled to the nearest building possible. Others began murmuring of a massacre, of an apocalypse. But Iron Sights stood still. He understood what the clouds showed him, comprehended the screeches of the feral beast. In a low, bass toned voice,he spoke. "Alright everypony! Stay calm! We are going to survive this! We shall live on!" he bellowed. "We need to get into the urban streets! Get into the buildings! Offer help to anypony who needs shelter! Then barricade the door and windows! Move! Now! Be turned to exit the park, but not before logging his second bullet into the skull of the dieing timberwolf.
I: The World as We Know It"Roadside," called Clear Sky, "Roadside Picnic! Get up, bro!" Dear Celestia, I swear there is no worse alarm clock than a friend. "Alright, alright. geez, man, patient much?" I didn't want to get out of bed at this hour, I didn't even want to wake up. And I certainly didn't want my brown coated, green-maned Pegasus friend to barging into my apartment room demanding me to get on my feet like a Canterlot drill sergeant. What would luck have it that all this ends up happening to me anyways? I somehow managed to exit my room, despite walking like some drunk stallion. "Roadside! What's taking so freaking long?!" What was taking so long?! Try I've just woken up from a peaceful nap! "What's the freaking rush, anyways?" I ask, resisting the temptation to collapse and continue my slumber on the hallway floor. "I want to finish our chores ASAP! Pound Cake said he'd try to save us a slice of Cake!" answered Clear Sky. That was enough to motivate me. I've had cake before. Tasteless bread with a bland sauce that ponies try to pass off as frosting, but the Cakes at Sugar Cube Corner, when they made enough bread and other necessary wheat foods, they put their sweat and blood into making cake that was the stuff of legends. It was made like the type of cake you could only get ten years ago, the kind of cake that I only had before the Everfree uprise. That's what they call it now. They couldn't call it anything else. It's not an apocalypse if we're still alive, right? There was no Armageddon, no global conflict, no cosmic judge punishing us. It was simply an uprise, the beasts lost their fear of leaving the forest. Clear Sky waited at the end of the hall. His face wore an expression of disappointment. "I don't think we're gonna have time for cake..." "Why?" I asked. "We're gonna be patrol duty again." he sighed. Now I wore a face of dissapointment. If it were harvesting, or perhaps cleaning, then we may have had a chance to race to Sugarcube Corner if we were fast enough. But patrols? No chance, the shifts were set in stone. I quickly ran back too my room and grabbed my rifle, a carbine, and my combat vest. I ran to the entrance of my room. Clear Sky was at the same place at the wall, but it was clear he had left to retrieve his equipment as well, for he too had a rifle. It had a long barrel and a fifteen round magazine with a rifle grip and wooden stock. My rifle had a barrel that was probably two thirds the length of Clear Sky's rifle barrel and had a wired stock. "How many mags will we need?" I shouted from my doorway. "Dunno" responded Clear Sky. "But we should probably bring a few, shouldn't we?." •••~••• We ran out of the apartmnent to a small restraint across the streets. The clouds that only shifted but never parted in the sky were as grey as my fur. The sky itself was as blue as blue as my mane... Or I assume it was. Sweet Celestia, I haven't seen the sky in ages. There were many ponies working, and a few foals playing. Why wouldn't there be? We lived in a green zone after all. We were safe here. Clear Sky and I entered the restraunt and headed to the table where a mint colored unicorn sat. "Um... Miss Heartstrings? We're he-" "I don't need you to confirm that." she snapped. She looked at us both, "It's fairly obvious that you're here." In more fear than respect I closed my mouth and prepared myself to listen to her orders. She placed a map of Ponyville on the table and laid it flat. There were many green, yellow, and red lines, which signified the green, yellow, and red zones, respectively. Lyra pointed on the map an area by the old elementry school. "We're expecting traders to arrive here from the 'Quills district' with metal so Iron Sights can produce more guns and bullets," she explained. Districts were the titles given to Green zones. They were typically named after a significant building. For instances, I live in the Sugarcube District. The "Quills district" received it's name because of a shop there that used to sell quills and sofas. "You two are going to stand guard until they get there." continued Lyra. "Make sure they don't have any trouble, understand? This shouldn't be too hard, you'll be staying inside the boundaries of the yellow zone." I quickly nodded, perhaps a bit too quickly. "Uh! Yes mam! Hey Clear Sky did you get all tha- Clear Sky?" I turned around to see him talking to Dinky Doo. She was a cute mare with a light purple coat and yellow mane. In all honesty I didn't mind the scene. I knew Clear Sky liked her, and that she liked him. Lyra, on the other hand, clearly did not tolerate the distraction. "Hey! Casa Nova! Were you listening to anything I said?!" Clear Sky jumped at the sound of Lyra's voice. He quickly pecked Dinky's lips and ran- only to freeze up when he realized what he did. They stared into each others eyes, and both of their cheeks became red tomatoes. I on the other hand was focusing on all my willpower not to roll on the floor and laugh hysterically. When Clear Sky finally walked back to my side, I surrendered to laughter. "That was hilarious!" I laughed. "Shut up!" "Relax, dude!" "Relax?!" He nearly shouted, "How can I relax?!" he craned his head down in shame. "I just made a fool of myself, and not just in front of Dinky Doo, I made a fool of myself with her!" I looked behind me. "Dinky doesn't seem to think of you as a fool." I smiled. Clear Sky turned his head to see a blushing Dinky smiling meekly at him, shuffling her right front hoof around the ground. Both her and clear sky broke their gazes in nervousness. •••~••• "The best part is that after you kissed her you froze for a good three seconds when you began to walk aw- Away!" I laughed. "Just drop it! Who asked you what you think?" I stared at him, confused. "You did. You asked me why I was laughing in the restraunt." "Shut up!" "Alright, alright. I'll stop talking about it." Our journey continued I silence until Clear sky and I saw the school, in which we immediately stopped. We dared not move closer to the building, there just wasn't something right about that building.For hours we looked out into the distance. Clear Sky was probably looking for the merchants, but I was looking at the grass. It disturbed me everytime it moved. Was it the wind playing it's soft melody for the grass to dance to, or was it a horrible beast tearing the brush aside as it crawled closer and closer to us? My nerves forced me to speek, "Hey- Hey Clear Sky! Do you see anything?" "No, I don't think the merchants will be here until later. But I'm still keeping an eye out-" "No! I mean in the grass, do you see anything?" "Oh mother of Luna..." Clear Sky muttered. It wasn't the first time we've had this conversation. "Roadside, listen carefully, cause I'm not gonna say it again. The yellow zones are just the edges of green zones. They were made so little fillies and foals wouldn't get too close to the red zones. Technically, yellow zones are part of the green zone. It's safe." he put an emphasis on safe. "I know," I insisted. "But still, haven't there been incidents in the yellow zones?" "Well of course!" he answered. "Sometimes if a beast is in a red zone it's gonna go cross into a yellow zone because it sees somepony." he explained. "Relax, Raidside it barely happened and when it does it's just like one timberwolf or something." "Yeah...I guess you're right." I said, but I still couldn't help but feel paranoid. Clear Sky diverted his attention to the school. "So, do you know why the school is so dangerous?" As a matter of fact, I did. "Yeah, some of the guards told me. They said there's something called a cockatrice in there." Clear Sky's eyes were pouring water in a fit of hilarity. "What?!" his response was more of a shout than an answer. "What the heck is a cockatrice?!" he said while he attempted to suppress his giggles. "A cockatrice." I explained, "It has the head of a chicken and the body of a snake, and it turns ponies to stone." "Are you serious?" he asked, " The head of a chicken on a snake?That's the silliest thing I've ever heard of! "In fact," he continued, "If I were to see one of those cockatrice things, I'd laugh at how silly it was!" "You don't understand!" I insisted. "The guardponies said that if you look into the eyes of a cockatrice, you will be turned to stone!" "That's so stupid! You mean to tell me that there is a cross of a chicken and a snake, that lives in a freaking school, that can turn animals to stones? What a load of hoarseapples!" He was right, it was a ridiculous story. I couldn't believe I believed it. A cockatrice? What a stupid concept. "Well- that's not all!" I defended. "Really?" Laughed Clear Sky. "By all means, do go on!" "Well it's not so much the cockatrice that's frightening!" I tried to explain. "I can tell!" Clear Sky joked. "No, seriously! Some of veteran guards, they said- they said that there's something wrong with the school!" Clear Sky paused, he was curious. "What do mean?" he asked. I smiled. I've reeled him in, got his attention, as any storyteller tries to do. I loved telling stories. It was an art, and an art I intended to perfect. After all, such a talent fitted perfectly with my closed- scroll cutie mark. "I can't tell you." I smiled, "Nopony knows what causes it... But there have been claims of strange phenominons at the school. "really?" he asked. "what are the phenominons?" "Some say there are ghosts. Others say if you listen close enough, you can hear the sound.... The sound... Of... Bells?" I stood there, confused. I swear to Clestia I could hear faintly in the distance the chants of school bells. I stared at the school, and before I knew it I was dragging my feet to the school too. As I approached the school, the ring of the bells became louder, and was beginning to form a duet with the increasing laughter of children. I had finally reached the playground. I saw the swings and carrousel were moving, as if being controlled by heavy winds, but there wasn't even a slight breeze! The sight was making me uneasy, nervous, when a bright light blinded me suddenly! I saw, with my own eyes, ponies laughing and playing on the jungle gym. Some were playing on the swings and even some spinning on the carousel. The sky was a light blue, and there was life. Sweet Celestia! The laughter of fillies and foals, the green in the grass, the bright colors of the colors shined likethe sun. The sun was still absent, but the light was omnipresent and shined just as bright. I couldn't help but smile at the what was occurring. There was no fear, no crying, no sadness. The only clouds I saw were a few of the white, soft kind that only complimented the light blue sky. ".....Roadside....." My name was being spoken by the world around me, the scource of the call was from all directions. "....Roadside... Hey! Roadside!" I... I know that voice! Where was Clear Sky? He was as visible as his call was traceable. "Roadside! Hey! We need to get out of here, now!" Suddenly I was pulled away from my beautiful dreams. The swings and monkey bars were empty of life, and the carousel was once more a lonely wheel. The worst part was, the playground wasn't empty. I wished the ponies would have vanished with the dream, but instead they became cold, lifeless statues the second I departed from my trance. There were dozens of them! Cold alone, with faces petrified and cursed to forever depict there last terrifying seconds. I wanted to scream, wail as if I knew every single one of them. Instead adrenaline had caused me to flee. Clear Sky and I gallloped to the edge of the damned school. I turned to look back at the equin pillars of salt. My blood froze as I saw a large, snake-like tail slither behind one of the statues.
II: By the FireI was still shaken by the events at the school when the merchants arrived, but Clear Sky had calmed down a while ago. Maybe it's because he didn't see what I saw, didn't experience what I experienced. There were four ponies occupying the wagon. Only one of them reeked the smell of merchants, while the other two were simply guards. The third, a pegasus mare, stood out from the rest. Clear sky and I could hear the clanking of metal from every jolt the wagon gave as is loomed in closer and closer. "Hello!" said one of the pegasus mare. There was something odd about her. Were merchants supposed to have body armor and a rifle?. " Call me Raindrops! Are you two the ones who are gonna escort us to Iron Sights?" "Yeah." Naturally, I was quicker to respond upon hearing my master's name. "This way," I pointed. We walked for twenty minutes until we reached what used to be a tent used for fortune telling. If there were a sun it would be setting, but the only hint of the time was a small watch connected to my vest by something that could be described as a thick string, or thin rope. The entrance to the tent was covered by a thin layer of wood that acted as a makeshift door. Raindrops casually walked to to it and extended her hoof. I quickly intercepted between her and the door. "Wait!" I should have been calmer during the incident, but I had a bit of a spur-of- the-moment reaction. Raindrops looked at me with her head tilted, concerned about the sudden outburst. "hehe... sorry..." was all I could spit out, "But if the door is closed then my master can't be disturbed. Typically it means he's inserting the pearl inside a firearm." The secret to Springfield's success in weapons (and by that extension, the secret of his apprentice, Iron Sights himself) was because of a mysterious, green pearl he would place in the gun so the firing pin and charging handle wrapped around it. The pearl would then be synchronized with another pearl outside the gun, usually placed on the combat vest of a pony. The result was a telekinetic connection connecting directly with the gun and pony, allowing a pegasus or earth pony to wield a firearm like a unicorn. Some revolvers and pistols have been outfitted with pearls as well, but usually ponies just fire such weapons with their mouthes. Placing the pearl in a firearm was very delicate work. I learned the hard way that placing the pearl even a few millimeters off could render the psychic connection useless or jam the gun. I highly doubt my master would want five ponies barging in with the obnoxious clamoring of met of metal while performing such a fragile procedure. "Just leave the metal outside, He'll notice it. Trust me" This wasn't me speaking, but six years of fetching lunch and scrap metal for Iron Sight. "Alright then," said Raindrops, "I'm gonna... I'm gonna drop by Heartstring's place for a while." she decided. How did she know Lyra? Had they made dealings in the past? My thoughts were cut short by a bump in the side. I turned to see Clear Sky. He had a grin on his face, and I couldn't help but grin back. We raced to Sugarcube Corner. ---~--- "Sorry guys." said Pound Cake. "Mom and dad gave away the last of the cake a couple of hours ago." said the young colt with a supportive smile. "Awww mannnnnnn..." moaned Clear Sky. I didn't care. I didn't expect there to be any cake. Still, it didn't hurt to check, right? "You aren't even suppose to reserve treats, Pound Cake. It's not fair." We all turned to see Pumpkin Cake sitting at a table reading a newspaper. Why a ten year old would read a news paper I have no idea, and one printed ten years ago no less! "Pumpkin, haven't you read that, like, twenty times now?" teased Pound Cake. "That's beside the point," responded the sister to her brother. "Whatever." retorted Pound Cake. "So do you guys want any sweet besides a cake?" "I think I'll have a muffin."l I said. A tasteless, soggy muffin. "I'll have two blueberry muffins!" Exclaimed Clear Sky. Tasteless, soggy muffin, but with blueberries. The blueberries could even be fresh if you were lucky. "Is one for Dinky?" I asked. "Shut up." confirmed Clear Sky. •••~••• There was no light when we left Sugarcube Corner save a small area of illuninated clouds. No doubt the moon cowered behind there. A single light suddenly illuminated from the distance and danced in the wind. Clear Sky and I recognized it instantly. As we made our way to be campfire we pa ssed Lyra and Raindrops, and I couldn't help but overhear a conversation being exchanged between the two. "No!" Screamed Lyra, "No no no no no! Berry Punch, Minuette, Sea Swirl... WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'THEY'RE ALL DEAD'?!" "Our district was attacked by timberwolves again at the entrance. Berry, was on guard at the time." responded Raindrops. "Lyra... I'm sorry..." "I'm gonna miss them..." wepted Lyra. I had never seen our leader so... Broken. "So will I, Heartstrings," said Raindrops, holding back her tears, "so will I." Their tears continued to leak through there eyes. It was obvious by now that I was listening to their conversation, as I was staring in sympathy for them. Either they hadn't noticed me, or hadn't cared. "Don't worry Lyra," reassured Raindrops, "Bon Bon is still around. She told me to tell you you're still her best friend, she misses you, and...." Raindrops smiled, "and she's going to try to visit here soon." Lyra couldn't believe what she was had just heard. Forbidden Tartarus, I couldn't believe what I had just heard! What pony travels across Ponyville for a casual visit? No doubt they would have to travel throughlet a red zone! That's it! this "Bon Bon" must be insane! "...R-Really?" Lyra sounded like a school filly. "I haven't... I h-haven't seen her in such a l-long time.." "Yeah..." hushed Raindrops, like a mother."See? Everything is going to be alright..." When Lyra had finally dried her tears, she spoke. "Thank you, Raindrops. I'm glad you visited..... It's... Its nice to see a familiar face every once and a while." They laughed as they cried together while somepony added more logs to the fire. •••~••• I was alone when I reached the campfire. No doubt that Clear Sky was trying to find Dinky Do to give her that muffin. More ponies gathered around, including my mother and Iron Sights. Did I not mention it before? He was not only my master, but my foster father as well. He's always been like a father to me, I wonder if he knows that. Soon Clear Sky returned to the fire, and with Dinky at his side. I was happy for them. Dinky was especially excited about tonight, I could tell by the way she skipped to her seat next to Clear Sky. Her mother was going to speak. Ditzy Do was probably one of the greatest story tellers in the world. She spoke of adventures of both this era and the time before. It brought nostalgia from a better time, and I couldn't help but feel bad for the foals who could only imagine the world ten years ago. Before we had the honor of hearing Ditzy talk, trivial stories of our day were traded. Of course, I told everypony about the school. I smiled in satisfaction when the children began to cringe while the older ponies began to draw nearer. There were stories better than mine, of course. One of the guards was telling everypony that he saw a dragon earlier today, by the library. Dear Celestia, the mere thought of that unholy place brought chills up my spine. I had been there before, at the library. It was the only story I would never tell at the campfire. In fact I had the intentions of carrying this story to the grave. •••~••• Ever since there had been reports of strange phenomenons and a mysterious creature, the library, like the school, was deemed unsafe. It was on of the very few buildings considered a red zone in its self. Of course, Clear Sky and I, we've been to the library before, and we didn't recognize the danger at the time. I guess we had forgotten how much the world had changed. It was six years ago, I was only twelve and full of adventure but empty in wisdom. Maybe I still am. I fealt an urge to go to the mysterious synagogue of knowledge, because I had never spent much time there when I had the option too. I had nostalgia over experiences I would always complain to be tartarus. Four years ago, ten now, I could've gone to the library whenever I pleased, but would've past it without a second thought. Funny how life works. Clear Sky must've been consumed by the same thoughts I had. One day, he swiped a double-barrel shot gun from his father, and declaired he was to crusade to the library. If I wasn't a fool for letting him execute such a suicidal journey, then I was for joining him. I armed myself with a home made revolver, which Iron Sights had ordered me to make as a test to for his "engineering course". The trip to the library wasn't dangerous. The library was actually located in a green zone. No, wait, I'm sorry. It was a green zone six years ago, but now it is a yellow zone. Clear Sky and I Stares at the towering doorway of a proud oak tree. Neither of us were able to move while we were in the holy presence of the great tree. I finally took the first step, but froze once more. It was eventually Clear Sky who mustered the courage to open the door. Merciful Luna, was it magnificent! It was a castle of books, a temple of treasures. We continued to gaze in awe at the palace, when suddenly Clear Sky and I were No longer mere foals. No, we were stalkers! Brave ponies who travel into the red zones to gather precious artifacts from a more civilized age. Our double-barrel and revolver turned into a Machine gun and sniper. Our saddlebags and old, torned vests used to barely fight off the cold turned into kevlar armor, the state Of the art kind made by a "Miss Rarity". We handled every book with care. I found some Daring Do books that I would read when I was eight, before the uprise. I peeked into two... Odd books... a Metro 2033 and a Roadside Picnic. Huh... Something familiar... That's when I saw something in the corner of my eye. There were a thousand books in the shelf behind me, and yet one could not escape my attention. It could not merge back into the crowd, could no longer be an anonymous book in the shelf anymore. I drew closer to the book. It was blue with the golden head of a unicorn on it. I flipped through the holy pages of the strange gospel. It was an anthology book, but it seemed to be missing nearly two thousand pages! They weren't rippe out either, rather the pages served as a secret compartment. The pocket was empty save a simple image of six smiling mares. "Hey, Clear Sky! Check this out!" "Dude!" he yelled back from the second story. He must've flown up there, for the staricase was broken. "there's a locked door here! Help me open it!" "No!" I shouted back, "No, no! Check out what I found!" Clear Sky descended from the walkway and hovered to the ground. When he saw the photo he whistled. "Niiiiice" he stretched the word with a smile. That's not what I meant. "Who do you think these mares are?" I asked. "I dunno." answered Clear Sky. "That white one looks like Miss Rarity. You know, the one who makes the armor for ponies?" "yeah I know" my answer was empty, for I was still puzzling over who these six ponies could be. "And that other one looks like the mare who provides alot of the food for the districts." Continued Clear Sky. "Applejack! Yeah! That's it!" That made sense. Though I wish the cutie marks of Possible Applejack and Possible Rarity hadn't faded in the photo, it would've made it much easier to confirm our hypothesis. Suddenly we heard a monsterous roar from the other side of the locked door. Suddenly our armor melted back into vests, and our machine gun and sniper broke down into a simple double barrel and A lousy revolver once more. We fled like rabbits from the haunted building, never turning out heads to look back. •••~••• I still have that book, and I still wonder who those six mares are. I'd ask Miss Rarity or Miss Applejack, but Clear Sky and I vowed not to tell anypony-anypony- about the library. Now that I think about it, maybe that's why Raindrops dressed in armor, she was a stalker! Of course! In an instant silence fell as Ditzy began her story. "The world used to be dominated by ponies!" she began, "The pegasai manipulated the weather, the unicorns mastered culture, and the earth ponies were responsible for all that grew, be it a plant or an animal. "It was not a role of a king, nor dictator, nor slavemaster! It was a responsibility of a caretaker! Under Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, the world of Equestria flourished for both pony and beast!" she spoke like a priest. "But ther was an exeption! There was a small land alien to our customs, a small land where the animals and plants, even the weather! All followed the feral ideology of survival. It was a free for all! The ruler wasn't a king, but a survivor! Barely controlling itself, much less it's wild subjects! "One fateful day, this small land, this small land entitled as the Everfree Forest, declared war on the rest of Equestria! The skies rebelled against the pegasai! The beasted slaughtered the caretakers of the animals! Those hypocrites! When they finished, they feasted on the bones of the animals they so called freed!" Ditzy Doo paused and relaxed, but knew she hadn't finished her sermon. "I wish I could tell you all what lead to the tragic event, or why our resistance failed in seconds." she said in a much calmer tone than before, "but the truth is, I just don't know what went wrong!" Some of the older ponies laughed at this. I didn't get what was so funny. "Yes! Yes!" shouted Ditzy Doo, "Scream! Laugh! Rejoice! Take comfort to know we haven't lost!" Her last statement caught the attention of the entire crowd of the campfire, there wasn't a single pony who wasn't listening. "We may live under the mercy of the clouds, or at the rivalry of the beasts that used to roam the everfree, but we still stand together! We haven't succumbed to their philosophy of 'survival of the fittest'! Don't you see? As long as we are ponies, as long as we stand apart from the ways of the everfree creatures, we shall raise or flag of Equestria in victory!!!" Ponies cheered as soon as Ditzy silenced herself. They all clapped and shouted, and some of the guards began to stand in celebration. Victory, I never thought of our life that way. I liked the thought, it made the fire seem brighter And the clouds less thick.
III: The Journey BeginsI guess it's no surprise Clear Sky and I were pinned to guard duty again. Why wouldn't we be? According to Lyra, we did "such a fantastic job yesterday..." What horseapples. That's all it was. The clouds moved ever do slowly as they usually did, and the silence lingered for hours, but was finally broken by the clammoring of metal. A pale cream earth pony was approaching us. She had a gas mask hanging on her neck and a brown vest and a red hankerchift. "I'm here to see a friend" was all the mare said. "Oh!" I exclaimed, "You must be Bon Bon!" She eyed me suspiciously. Her burning irises demanded me to know how some anonymous pony like me recognized her. "How do you know who I am?" she had quickly turned the greeting into an interrogation. "Oh! Uh, Lyra!" I said. "She's been looking forward to see you! So...uh...yeah..." the mare's demonic glare had pushed me into a cowardly silence. "we should... Uh, show you where Lyra is! Yeah!" said Clear Sky, breaking the quietude. ---~--- I couldn't understand why Bon Bon seemed so tense, we had enter the Green zone five minutes ago. Shouldn't we be safe? "Why are you looking so paranoid?" I couldn't help but ask. "You don't see them?" she asked. "See who?" asked Clear Sky, "See what?" I saw them too, mysterious silhouettes were circling around us like jackals. But I knew we were deep in the Green zone, the figures were no doubt other ponies. Was she okay? Was Bon Bon seeing the ponies for something else? "Bon Bon, relax." I said, "They're only ponies-" Suddenly I felt and saw the claws of a timberwolf lodge into my chest. •••~••• Never before haveI felt such terror in my life as I wrestled for my life against the beast to stop it from closing it's powerful jaws on my neck. An unholy horror filled me as I watched how futile my struggle was, the jaws were getting closer and closer to my sweat-drenched throat. BANG! Sap and blood drenched my face as the timberwolf's head exploded, thanks to the powerful shotgun wielded by Bon Bon. "Pick up your rifle." she ordered. As soon as the battle began, I degenerated to a simple beast. Kill or be killed was the only order my adrenaline-pulsing body obeyed. Gunfire emitted in all directions. The timberwolves wouldnt stop coming until either they or their victim laid dead on the ground. They circled us, barraged us from all sides. "Where are they?" I screamed "Behind!" yelled Clear Sky, "No, wait! In front! Look out! To the left!" "No! Wrong way! Wrong way! There's a bunch of them to your right!" I shouted. No, Merciful Celestia, turn around Clear Sky! Please! All I could do is shout a muted scream as Clear Sky turned a second to late and saw a massive timberwolf pounce on top of him. Then there was the roar of a second shotgun blast. Bon Bon was precise, careful. She didn't allow herself to become a degrading animal like Clear Sky or me. She moved gracefully, not in paranoia of what may be behind her, but in welcoming turn to embrace what she knew was facing her backside. She would adjust the sights of her gun, take careful aim, and fire in a smooth motion quicker than how I was raising mine to blind-fire. She truly was a stalker; she marked the borderline that differentiated predator from hunter. The scent of the district reeked with the nauseous Aroma of blood. The whole place became a warzone. I was not alone in this Tartarus, for I could hear gunfire and the wails of soldiers in the distance. Oh, Celestia! I could hear the screams of mares... I-I could hear the cries of children! •••~••• The streets were painted a sick red. The blood of ponies and beast were mixing into a gruesome river of blood. Walking down to the cafe that acted as our capital was the worse experience I've ever suffered from. Every face was a familiar face, every corpse was somepony I once knew. "What the in the name of Tartsrus was that?!" screamed Lyra to Iron Sights and a squad of guards, "Timberwolves have never gone so far as to breach our capital! They haven't even breached the green zone in years, we've made sure of that!" "And it's not just this place either.." Lyra was surprised to hear that voice of all voices behind her. "I wish we could've met during better terms." said Lyra to Bon Bon. "What do you know about this, stalker?" "I know that the attacks have been escalating, for one." answered Bon Bon. "Didn't Raindrops tell you? Quills District-" "I heard," said Lyra. She didn't want to think about her lost friends. "What about the Station District?" asked Bon Bon. "What? What happened there?" asked her longtime friend. "It came under attack of timberwolves as well-it was completely overwhelmed." The news disturbed Lyra. Districts had fallen before, but Station District was as heavily garded as Sugarcube District. "Carousel District was also attacked." announced Bon Bon. "Carousel is our armor provider..." started Lyra. "And your district provides districts all across Ponyville with weapons." Bon Bon added. "So if both of these districts fall..." "the rest of Ponyville wouldn't last lwouldn't last long after that, would it?" finished Iron Sights. Bon Bon shook her head. "I'm afraid not..." she said. The table shook as Lyra slammed her hoof on it. "Alright! If we want to survive, we must make it our priority to strengthen our borders. That means we're gonna need better guns. Iron Sights, I need you to dedicate your work to light machine guns from now on. First we arm our guards, then we provide Carousel District with some so-" "It's not gonna work." everypony, including myself, turned to the corner of the room. Ditzy sat there, with one eye staring into an abyss at the wall while the other was pasted to the floor. "Come again?" asked Lyra. "It won't work." "Then how are we to survive?" "In this world? We won't. Face it. The everfree is taking over-" "Thats funny hearing that from the pegasus who gave the district a freakin pep talk yesterday!"snapped Lyra. "Yesterday, the timberwolves stayed the buck outside." said Derpy."Yesterday, the bodies of ponies littering the ground weren't there! That was then! This is freaking now, Lyra! Let's face it! Game over! We aren't the supreme beings anymore! You've heard of survival of the fittest? Guess what Lyra, guess What? We've lost." "And so we just give up?! Screw you!" she yelled. "Derpy..." greeted Bon Bon nostalgically, despite the chaos around her. "We need to adapt! Learn to grab hold of life with teeth and claws-" "Ponies will never adapt to this world. We need to bring the old Equestria back." Lyra just stared at Ditzy, her anger slowly swelling. "Oh! Why didn't I think of that?!" her her voice dripped with bitter sarcasm. "Lets just get the old Equestria back! I was getting tired of this life anyways! Why the in the name of Tartarus don't we try that Luna-damned idea of yours! What do you plan to do, blow a dog whistle?" "In a matter of speaking," explained Ditzy, "Perhaps if we were to retrieve the elements of harmony..." "You've been by the campfire for to long, Ditzy." retorted Lyra. "There are no elements of harmony!" I've never seen Ditzy look so shocked. She was genuinely confused. Flabbergasted... like a foal who had just learned that Santa Claus didn't exist. It was an epression that was only worn when a pony felt that the world had been lieing to them for their entire life. She shook her head, "How can you forget them?" "What?" asked Lyra. "How can you forget what was known by everypony ten years ago?" "What are you talking about?" "You don't remember them? You don't remember Rainbow Dash? Rarity? Fluttershy? What about Applejack or Pinkie? What about Twilight? She was one of your closest friends Celestia dammit!" "Your crazy. What do Applejack or Rarity have to do with this?" "Or Rainbow Dash, for that matter." said Bon Bon. "What happened to Rainbow Dash, anyways?" asked Lyra. "She went to the everfree forest a few months ago... Haven't seen her since. Wouldn't worry about it thought... A stalker as tough as her can survive without trouble in there for that long..." Ditzy stood there in disbelief. "How-how?" she studdered, "How long has ten years been..." •••~••• I don't know what happened afterwards, for I was gone. I should have left earlier, I should have left as soon as I heard their names. Rarity... Applejack... That picture, from so many years ago... It had six mares. I've heard the tales by the fire, I knew the legend. There were six elements. Loyalty, laughter, generosity, honesty, kindness, and... What was it? The six one was some mystery element, wasn't it? I barged into my room. From under the bed I pulled out various clothes and disassembled skeletons of simple mechanisms, everything, until I found it. It was the same book, the one from the library, many years ago. There were times where I would pull it out and muse of the thought of living in s fairytale like in the stories. I would gaze for hours at the picture inside and study the faded blue sky behind the mares. I would imagine me smiling in the sun with them, or at least like them, and dice into an older world. Why didn't I notice it? The orange earth pony and the white unicorn, they really were Applejack and Rarity! And Ditzy said that they were once the elements of harmony? I guess it made sense. There were six of them after all. Could ponies even be the elements? Many of the stories in this book illustrated them as stones... I didn't hear the door open, but Luna above, did I hear it slam furiously. I turned to see Ditzy. Had she followed me this whole time? Why would she follow me home? Then again, a pony who just abandoned an important meeting right after their eyes sparked with an epiphany would look pretty suspicious, wouldn't they? She stared at me with know emotion. One of her eyes slowly advanced to the side, not moving after its gaze had touched the book. "What is that?" she asked. "Let me see!" She pushed me off to the side. She cradled it as if it was the saphire stone. She she reached the pocket that housed the photo, then turned to me. "Where did you get this?" "What?" was all I could spit out. "Where did you get this?!" "I, well, I snuck into the library-" "Do you know what this book is?! Do you know who these mares are?!" she shouted, "It's them! The elements! These are the bearers of elements of harmony!" The first thought in my mind was that Lyra was right, that Ditzy was naive to believe in the campfire stories. That she was crazy. But I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe she saw things beyond our eyes. Ditzy must've seen my doubts, though, because she craned her head down in impatient frustration. "These mares, they're the elements of harmony?" If their was anything I've ever regretted saying, it was that cursed sentence. "You believe me?" Asked Ditzy, her ears perking up as they consumed every word spoken. No. No I don't. I meant to ask if you think these mares are the elements of harmony. I wish I would have said that instead of nodding my head like little foal. "Excellent! This is perfect! Just perfect! I knew there was still hope!" she smiled. "What's going on here?" asked a voice from down the hall. It belonged to Iron Sights. "Whats going on in hear?" he asked as he stepped into my room. "What's that...." My heart froze in terror as he uttered the question. For six years I hid this book, the secret about the library from him. Dear Celestia, I am so screwed. "Your son retrieved this from the library." declaired Derpy. Dear Celestia, I am so, so screwed. "WHAT!? Roadside Picnic! What have I told you about the library?!" "Master, I'm eightteen! Have you no trust? Besides this was like six years ago-" Celestia banish me to the moon, why did I say that?! "WHAT!? WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME THIS?!" "probably later today, before he leaves." said Derpy. "What?!" My voice and Iron Sights formed a interrogative duet. "Well, you're going to have to find the elements, and the sooner the better, right?" said the grey Pegasus. "He can't! He's too young!" he turned to me, "Roadside, I'm sorry, I know you are all grown up, but this is beyond your capabilities you must understand this!" I completely understood. I'm eightteen, I'm a full grown stallion, but I was scared of the mission Ditzy was giving me. It called for a veteran, a stalker. I couldn't do this, it was suicide! "I never agreed to find the elements!" I defended. Derpy looked straight into my eyes. "Yes you did, Roadside. You accepted this mission the second you pulled it out of a dusty row in the library. You agreed to this mission the moment you left with it." I... I couldn't argue. It was as if she was a prophet for the fates; like she was a wolf among jackels. I didn't answer, instead a voice that wasn't mine, but still sounded like my own, began to speak. "All....alright....." neither Iron Sights or I could comprehend the words that came from mouth. What was I getting myself into? I shuttered at the thought. "Excellent...." smiled Ditzy. "You will leave-" "Next week." interrupted Iron Sights. Ditzy glared at him. "He needs to leave as soon as possible." "But I will finish the machine guns for Carousel District by next week. Bon Bon is going to deliver them. He can travel with her." Ditzy thought for a while, strategizing. "Fine, next week will be a perfect window of opportunity. It would be best to travel with a stalker. I'll talk to Bon Bon about letting you go with her." She turned from Iron Sights and I and walked towards the door, "You've been able to keep the secret about the library for six years, think you can keep this quest a secret for seven days?" She asked with her back facing us.
IV: SurvivalThe week passed quickly, especially since I had no guard duty whatsoever. Instead, I was helping Iron Sights with the production of light machine guns. They were essentially a rifle, modified with a drum magazine, pistol grip, extended barrel, bipod, and an open bolt. "You know," said Iron Sights, "I think I'm going to make some more belt fed light machine guns instead of these guns after we ship them off." He turned to me, " What do you think? They take a while to make, but they would probably be finished by the time you get back from your quest." he smiled. I admired his optimism, the thought that I would actually live to return. The thought of death haunted me, but it was not quite as haunting at the thought of a death in vain. What if I die before I found the elements? Would my home fall? Would the rest of Ponyville follow? "Roadside, hey, listen." Iron Sights pulled out a .357 revolver. "This," he said as he held the gun in his hoof, as if it were one of the very elements I was searching for, "is the Horseshoe. It caused the first timberwolf casualty when this pit of Tartarus started, and it was the first firearm model I sold." I looked at the revolver, which glistened like gold. It's barrel was short, but it wasn't a snub nose. It was still long enough to suggest that this pistol was used for hunting, a sport that was only exercised in Stalliongrad. I levitated the relic. Its black body and oak grip made it beautiful. "I want you to have it." he said. It was obvious he did, why else would he present it? Still, that didn't make his declaration any less touching. "She's-she's so beautiful..." was all I could utter. "Isn't she?" smiled Iron Sights. "Take care of her, Roadside, and you can bet your flank she'll take care of you." I continued to admire the treasure. Her skin reminded me of the pictures of the night sky, and each shine off its black metal body were glistening stars. I finally holstered the pistol. "Thanks...." I felt like a little foal as I hugged him, "Thanks... Dad...." "You be careful, alright?" he asked as we seperated. "Of course, master!" I exclaim. "Good. You'll be leaving...." "Before four tomorrow morning." I smiled, "Guess Bon Bon's an early bird." "Alright. Just... Just be careful...." "I will." I answered before exiting. "I promise." I wondered if he saw me leaving his tent, or if he was seeing enter my coffin. •••~••• I wanted one more night to relax by the fire. Just one more night to feel warm. I was quickly gathered my ammunition, flashlight, canned foods, and other necessities into a saddlebag by my carbine in the corner. As if on cue Clear Sky barged into my room. "Hey Roadside-" "Holy bucking horsefeathers!" The ground was cold, and... Ow.... It does a number on one's head... "Clear Sky, what the buck?" I groaned. "Why are you packing?" he was analyzing my saddlebag, as if waiting for it to move. "Oh, I'm fine, thanks for asking." I glared, "Jackass." He was oblivious to my comment. "Are you going somewhere?" "No-" "Roadside!" boomed a familiar voice. Bon Bon stuck her head into my room, "Make sure everything is packed and ready, I want to leave first thing tomorrow...." her voice trailed off as she stared at a Clear Sky's inquisitive stare. "The buck you looking at?" she challenged. "Are you two going somewhere?" he squealed like a little fillie. "Wouldn't you like to know? Mind your own business!" she snapped before slamming the door. Clear Sky turned to me. "No." I answered tersely. I knew what he was going to ask. -•••~••• "Seriously, bro! What's up?" pestered Clear Sky. No, not pestered, he wasn't asking to join on some "little adventure". He was concerned, after all, we all lost enough comrades last week. "I'm going to help Bon Bon deliver the LMGs. Mechanics' business, you wouldn't understand." I fibbed. "And then what?" he asked, "You're coming back home?" I kept silent. " What's really happening?" "Nothing." He didn't continue to ask about the journey; but I knew the thoughts still lingered in his head. We had finally reached the campfire again. It was so bright, and yet it's never felt so cold. Bon Bon was sitting with Ditzy, who was talking to her daughter "..... But what about Canterlot?" asked Dinky. " Iron Sight said that Canterlot ordered numerous rifles and that his master Springfield included the blueprints for them. Perhaps Canterlot is surviving like we are." offered Ditzy. Bon Bon turned to her old friend, "Don't be silly, Derpy. Can't you see What's at Canterlot? Those huge swarms that fill the sky? Theirs no way any Canterlotian is left when there are that many dragons occupying the city." Dinky finally spoke, "What about Stalliongrad?" "Stalliongrad may have made it," said Derpy, The city was the only place to produce weapons in Equestria. And I heard there are tunnels there where it's been said that ponies could survive for years..." A spark of hope glistened in Dinky's eyes, "Really? Do you think any other place may have survived? How about Trottingham? Or Manehatton?" Ditzy just shook her head. "I don't think so, no cities outside of Stalliongrad had weapons, save here and Canterlot. How would the ponies fight off the creatures of the everfree?" "ahh... Manehatton..." Mused Bon Bon. "Do you remember that city, Derpy? the warm sun, the beaches, the breeze from the ocean- the cute stallions..." Ditzy giggled and blushed before turning to Bon Bon, "Yeah... Manehatton was some town." I swear her lazy eye was intentionally staring at me again, "What would you do if you could bring it back?" "I'd do anything," said Bon Bon, "anything to have things the way they were ten years ago." Clear Sky was sitting by Dinky again, I didn't like the conversation. He sounded like a pony who had just joined the militia, wondering if he would ever return to see his loved one again. Was he on guard duty tomorrow? I turned away from the conversation, and spent the rest of the evening staring at the fire. I wondered how much brighter would the sun would have been, and how warm it would be, too. ---~--- Bon Bon kicked me awake the next morning. "Get up." she commanded. "We're leaving. Now." I retrieved all my gear from the corner and quickly scrambled out of my room. Bon Bon was waiting outside the building with a small wagon filled with the light machine guns. "We'll take turns pulling the supplies, understood? Three hours per shift. Do you know the rules or the red zones?" I shook my head. I never knew a lawless world would have laws. "Keep an accurate and reliable account on your food, ammo and other supplies. If you get lost and you think you see a pony, make three circles with your flashlight. If whatever you see doesn't do that, then run. It's not a pony. Don't eat plants that you can't identify and filter any water you want to drink. Got it? Now let's move!" she growled impatiently. The walk out of the district was noiseless. I apreciated the muteness, for I was to afraid to speak to Bon Bon. The fact alone that she was a stalker made me feel like a pathetic ant. "Pick up the pace, Roadside!" she growled. Who was I to disobey a totally pissed off pony who killed blood-thirsty monsters for a living? "S-sorry!" I stammered. We had walked for four hours now and I was carrying the weapons now. "So....How far is the boutique district anyways? I've never been there before so-" "Shhhh..." hushed Bon Bon, "Did you hear that?" "What? What was it-" "Shhh!! Shut up." said Bon Bon, keeping her voice extremely low, "We're being watched. There's something following us." She turned and faced some nearby bushes behind us. Suddenly, one of them violently shuttered. Instinctively Bon Bon pulled out her rifle. BANG! BANG! "Bucking Horsefeathers! Stop shooting!" screamed a pony from the brush. "Who are you? Step out of the bushes. Do it Now!" A brown pegasus with a green mane stepped out from the brush. I couldn't believe it. "Clear Sky?" He smiled sheepishly, only to be hoisted into the air by Bon Bon's forelegs. "Why were you following us?!" "I- well-" "I said, why are you following us?" she repeated. "Well, I just wanted to help my friend out! I swear!" "And you thought the best way to do so was to stalk us?" "I-well.. funny story... you see..." I strayed from the heated discussion. Something caught my eye in the bush. There was something else hiding in the brush, I could tell by the occasional shudders. I could have sworn there was also the sound of raspy breathing... Then I saw it. The enraged, bloodshot eyes staring right at me. There was the mad lust to kill in those Celestia-forsaken eyes, and it brought a cold shiver down my spine. I felt paralyzed with fear, I felt everything tighten up in my body. A numbing cold began to overtake me as I stared into the haunting abyss of those irises. There was something disturbing about those eyes. My legs felt heavier, as if they were becoming stone. How I wished it were only a feeling! My legs, sweet Celestia, my legs! they were petrified! My whole body was turning into a statue, and all I could do is scream a muted scream. "Roadside! Horseapples, Roadside! what in Tartarus?!" Clear Sky's voice was only a faint echo. "Roadside, hang on!" Suddenly i was knocked over by a powerful force. Reality snapped back at me like a whip. "What? Huh?" The whole world seemed to be spinning, I felt completely disoriented. "What happened?" Bon Bon demanded to know. "I....I don't know.." I admitted. "Roadside, you were turning into a freakin statue! That's what happened! Bon Bon had to knock you over so you could snap out of it!" I turned to Bon-Bon, who simply grunted in annoyance. "We're moving. Now." she huffed, "You two try not to do anything stupid, got it? Or do I need to draw a picture to explain it to you two featherbrains?" I was actually grateful that Clear Sky followed us. Bon-Bon was only responsible for my safety until we reached the boutique, and after that, who was going to watch my back? ---~--- Ponyville was never a large city, thank Celestia for that. But the Red Zones were dangerous, and as soon as a pony stepped out they were being hunted, whether they knew it or not. If I only knew that earlier... "Holy Shit!" I screamed as the timberwolves pushed themselves our way with their powerful claws. They crushed large branches on the ground that were at least twice as sturdy as bones. There were maybe a bit more timberwolves then the amount we saw when we were ambushed in the Green Zone, but their numbers wouldn't make a difference to me. No, I would be terrified all the same. What truly frightened me was the unfamiliarity of the land. In the Sugarcube district, I knew where I was safe and where I could get trapped. I knew where to go to flank and where to avoid so I wouldn't be flanked. But here, in the Red zone, what was salvation and what was a trap? Bon Bon was pulling the cart away from the firefight, eager to escape. Clear Sky was wise enough to look her way and follow her. Firing the last bullets from my magazine, I quickly scampered after the two. My misfortune had resumed instantly. A Timberwolf appeared right in front of me like an apparition. Perhaps it had leapt from the side, or maybe it had simply appeared in my way. I didn't care, I was too shocked by the betrayal of my hooves. In one second they were taking me to the safety of my friends, the next moment they guided me to the snapping jaws of an oak beast. Instinct took over from there. I spun around and bucked its jaw, completely seperating it from its snout. It was the most basic and primal form of fighting, saving the lives of the first ponies to ever run through green fields, now saving my own life. The snap of the wood was the crap of a whip through to ears, screaming at me one order. Run. I didn't run to Bon Bon and Clear Sky, nor did I run to the safety of home- nature still held my reigns, guiding me in one direction: away. Somewhere, anywhere, that took me as far away from the jaws of the Timberwolf was fine to me! I just needed to get away! The Timberwolf was pursuing me. Somehow, the hellish creature had retrieved its jaw, now hungry for both flesh and revenge. The sinister glow in its eye, the twisted teeth, the gnarled root-like legs, all became clearer as the determined predator began to close the distance seperating us. Of course it was faster, no damn predator was ever made to be slower than prey. But I refused to falter. I will not surrender my life! Whatever energy and will I had left I dedicated to my hooves, now pounding the earth as they galloped to the abandoned buildings. Small cottages, humble shops, now lifeless derelicts, I prayed, would be my sanctuary. My sights homed in on a single building; a small house, with a straw roof littered with punctures and windows and an open doorway bard with ancient wood. There was a large space between the boards and the ground, too small for a Timberwolf, but large enough for a colt to fit through, maybe even a crouching stallion if he was small enough. I struggled to squeeze myself through the small space. I had to fit, I just had to! There wasn't enough time to turn back and find a different means to escape. I heard the crunching of dirt from behind me- the wooden hellhound was near! No, dammit no! I can't die! Not here, not now! I'm so close to safety! Just a bit farther, I can squeeze through! I need to squeeze through! The hound was so close I could hear the panting of its breath! Dammit! No! Please! I clawed the ground in a fruitless effort to pull myself through the door, but slippery dust just passed itself around my hooves. I needed to get through, but I couldn't! I was trapped, helpless like a child. Suddenly wooden claws seized my back, nearly tearing my flesh from me. Suddenly, all resistance ceased, and I launched myself from the small rathole that had trapped me. If the princesses still exist, then they were with me that day. The wooden claws were just the stubborn beams barricading the doorway, scraping the skin off my back as I- somehow- slipped through. I breathed in sweet relief... ...Only to see the teeth of the Timberwolf snap vigorously from below the planks. Terror returned as I helplessly scuttled to the end of the room. The Bruce's claws rapped around the boards, the wooden walls, and effortlessly began to tear them down. It was as if they weren't even their to begin with. It no longer ran, but confidently walked towards me, entertained by my terror of the inevitable. It savored every drop of my sweat, every sudden breath, every quickened heartbeat. It loved it all. My fear amused it. But hunger quickly returned to the demon, licking its lips one last time, he monster crouched, and pounced. •••~••• Silence, that was all. Even my breath couldn't be heard, for I kept it held within me. I must've squeezed my eyes shut, because I remember opening them at the sight of the creature, suspended in its moment of victory. No... It was not time that suspended it. If it were, the beast wouldn't have been twisting and whimpering like a little pup. It was trapped, caught by... Something... But what? The sunset stabbed the house through one of the openings through the roof, gladly answering my question. Strings shined from the light, silk chains ensnaring the Timberwolf. Webs. I gapped in horror, and realized the house was filled with them. I felt a tug on my hoof, only to realize it was caught in a cobweb. Quickly I freed it from its adhesive grip before my eyes began to explore the room again. Dear Celestia, there were webs everywhere- The strings restraining the Timberwolf began to shake. Violently. My eyes slowly drifted up, followed by the rest of my head..... It was impossible.... Holy shit! A spider, a black widow as large as a plow crawled towards the timberwolf, gluttonous thoughts radiating from its eyes. A single bite of its two large fangs stopped the canine's resistance in an instant. Then all was silent, even as the large arachnoid dragged the now dead predator into its web burrow above me. I felt trapped. I didn't want to leave, but I especially didn't want to approach the silk webs less I share the fate of the Timberwolf. Instead, I ate cold soup from a can, curled up, and prayed that I could fall asleep despite the frequent sounds of scuttling legs and shifting bodies throughout the night. The starlit sky was the only thing that could bring peace to me, and I found myself wondering if the world before me had the same tranquility of the stars, and... Where did it all go? Where could I find it?
