Metro: A New World

I had no idea where the Dark Ones had taken me. Hell? Their realm? Purgatory? When I woke up, nothing prepared me for what I encountered. Not even fighting my way through post-apocalyptic Moscow was good enough.

I felt a cold breeze against my face. As I slowly blinked the sleepiness away, I found myself looking up at the sky, with the sun shining brightly overhead. What worried me was that the sky was a clear blue, and not a toxic brown-red tinge that was hanging over Moscow. I slowly regained my senses and sat up. In front of me were...trees? And not the one's I'm familiar with seeing. These trees were in full bloom and all had healthy brown coats. The air was also...surprisingly fresh. It lightly tickled the insides of my lungs. It was refreshing to not smell the dankness of the metros or be breathing through a gas mask.

Please be a dream.

I pinched my cheeks. I felt pain. PAIN. Wherever the Dark Ones had taken me, it was a good distance from Russia. I quickly checked if all my gear was still on me. My revolver was in my holster, fully loaded. My automatic shotgun was strapped to my back, while Miller's Kalash 2012 was right beside me. Both were fully loaded. I checked my backpack and found extra ammo for my weapons. I began to feel a slight sense of paranoia build in the back of my mind. Ignoring it, I checked for my last two things, my gas mask and combat knife. My mask was clipped to my belt, while my knife was still in my right boot.

Now that that's over, time to figure out where the hell I am.

I immediately began walking in a random direction and hoped for the best. As I walked through the forest, I began to see if I could piece together where I was. I tried to focus, but the only thing I could remember was being dragged into my own bed by the Dark Ones.

....His suffering....       ....Will be painful....

I whipped around, aiming my Kalash. No sigh of a Dark One behind me. I stayed in that position for a good while, seeing if anything would approach me. Nothing came. I quickly resumed my walk at a faster pace, hoping to find some sort of clue as to where I am. As I continued deeper into the forest. I heard the sound of rustling nearby. Utilizing my training, I ducked behind the nearest tree and waited. I aimed my rifle to see if anything, or anyone, would appear. Sure enough, a doe appeared and began to pick at the grass below her. My stomach growled. I hadn't had a decent meal in days. Seizing the opportunity for a nice meal, I aimed my Kalash at her. I centered the scope on her head and put my finger on the trigger. I took a few deep breaths to lower my heart rate. I could hear my heart beat in my ears. I waited for the perfect moment. Time began to slow. Right before I fired, more rustling broke my concentration. The doe's child appeared and began to affectionately rub against her legs. I lowered my rifle. I'm not about to take away a creature's mother, even at the cost of my starvation.

I continued to press forward, passing by the deer. They watched me as I walked, wondering if whether to run or stay. I didn't bother, I just continued walking, proceeding further into the forest.

Elsewhere....

A canary yellow pegasus was minding her own business, tending to her animals. She was feeding her chickens her special brand of grains.

"Eat up, my darlings." said Fluttershy. The pegasus began humming a tune as she returned to her humble cottage. Upon entering, the surrounding animals gave her warm greetings. Well...most did. A rather cross looking rabbit was sitting in the middle of the room with his arms folded.

"Angel, what's wrong?"

The snow white rabbit procured a cookbook, flipped a few pages, and pointed to a rather difficult, but delicious salad.

The pegasus sighed "Angel, didn't we have this conversation already?"

The stubborn rabbit pointed angrily at the picture.

"I told you, carrots are just as healthy as that."

Fed up with his host, the rabbit threw the book up in anger and marched out the front door. He then slammed it angrily behind him.

"Angel! Wait!" yelled Fluttershy, but not to loudly. The rabbit was having none of it as it walked into the Everfree forest. Fluttershy began to cry. The flapping of wings above broke the pegasi's sobbing.

"Hey, Fluttershy." said Rainbow Dash.

*Sniff* "Hey, Rainbow." Fluttershy wiped some of her tears.

Dash suddenly became concerned "Is something wrong?"

"Angel *Sniff* left me."

The cyan pegasus immediately brought her friend close for a hug "There, there. There's no need to cry. You know why?"

*Sniff* "Why?"

"Because I'm gonna help you get him back."

Fluttershy returned Rainbow's embrace "Thanks, Rainbow."

The cyan pegasus broke the hug "Now, let's go get Angel."

My stomach felt as if it were eating itself. The blueberries I had found apparently didn't satisfy my ravenous hunger. In the distance, I spotted a clearing. I quickened my pace and stopped in the middle of said clearing. I looked around. I felt like a mouse in a maze, and any second now, some horrible monstrosity might attack me. I set down my backpack and began rummaging through the pockets. After a minute of searching, I found what I was looking for, my compass. I examined it, and, apparently, I was going east. Swearing under my breath, I turned until the arrow pointed north. Upon doing so, I placed my compass in my pocked and prepared to move. That is, until the sound of more rustling alerted me. I drew my Kalash, hoping it's something I could kill without guilt. To my surprise, a small white bunny rabbit popped out of the bush in front of me.

"You can't be serious."

The rabbit apparently didn't hear me as it continued to move closer and closer to me. When it reached my boot, it fell on it's rear, shook its head, and looked up. I could see the fear grow in his eyes. The rabbit's body began to shake, as if I was the most terrifying thing it had ever seen. I holstered my Kalash and drew my revolver, no sense in overkill. I aimed the pistol at the rabbit's head.

"Sorry, little one. But it's for the greater good."

I placed my finger on the trigger.

"Angel! Angel, where are you?!" yelled a distant voice.

"Fuck!" I said under my breath.

Wait....voices. Someone else is here! But I have no idea who. Better take the safe option.

The rabbit covered its eyes with its paws, waiting for an end that would never come. I hid behind some bushes, hoping whoever was calling for Angel would appear. After a few minutes, the rabbit looked around for my presence. It didn't see me. It then breathed a sigh of relief. Do rabbits sigh? Hell if I know.

"Angel! Where are you, buddy?" yelled Rainbow.

"Oh, it's hopeless." somberly said Fluttershy.

"Hey, I promised to find Angel. Don't lose hope yet. After all, the sun's still out."

The yellow pegasus toughened up "You're right."

"Good. Now. I'm going to fly up and see if I can get a better view from up there. Understood?"

"Understood." Rainbow then flew up into the sky and sped off in a random direction. The yellow pegasus continued further until she saw a clearing. Getting closer, she saw her bunny sitting in the middle of the clearing.

"Angel!" yelled Fluttershy as she embraced her pet. The rabbit returned the warm embrace. "Don't you ever leave me again."

My eyes practically bulged out of my skull. Before me was a yellow pegasus, a winged horse from fantasy stories, sitting in the middle of the clearing embracing her rabbit. I groaned quietly and tried to stealthily move away from the clearing.

SNAP

Damn it all.

I turned to see the yellow pegasus turn around and look at me. Her reaction was the same as her pet's, but amplified by a thousand by her quivering lip and shaking body.

Oh no.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" screamed the pegasus.

Perfect.

"Where in the hay is this rabbit?!" asked Rainbow to herself. She had been flying over the Everfree Forest for about five minutes and came up with nothing. Sighing, she admitted defeat.

"It looks like I failed...."

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Rainbow stopped in her tracks and turned around "That was Fluttershy." She immediately picked up the pace to hopefully save her childhood friend.

"Don't worry, Fluttershy. I'm coming!"

The pegasus before was hyperventilating. I probably gave the poor thing a heart attack with my appearance. I slowly approached the rather small pegasus. If I remember, small horses were called...ponies? I think this matches the description, if you remove the wings and turn her mane and skin a more natural color. I continued to slowly advance on the frightened pony. As I grew closer, I swear her pupils were shrinking more and more to the size of specks. I extended a hand and was met with a frighted squeak. The pony retreated away from me. I felt a pang of guilt in my heart. Was I truly that frightening? I brought my hand back to me and tried to make myself as non-threatening as possible. I placed my backpack, shotgun, and Kalash on the ground and tried again to approach the pony. I extended my arm a second time. This time, the pony tentatively approached it. It then softly nuzzled my hand. Her mane felt remarkably soft. The pony crept closer and closer to me. I slowly extended my other hand and brought it in for a hug. I didn't press against her to hard, for I feared she was quite fragile.

"I'm sorry." I apologized. I began to softly cry.

"It's okay."

I stopped crying and back peddled away from the pony. The pony was quite shocked from my action and looked at me with a concerned face, like a mother would. We stared at each other for a few minutes before I decided to break the tension.

"Do...do you understand me?" I asked.

The pegasus dug at the ground with her hoof "Yes."

I slowly extended my arm to touch her. She warmly nuzzled my hand again. "I still can't believe this is happening."

She looked into my eyes. She could probably tell I've been through a lot.

"Again, forgive me. I'm not used to creatures being this....nice."

She gave me a warm, reassuring smile "Don't fret about it. It was all a misunderstanding."

"Since you can talk, I assume you have a name?"

"My name...is..."

"Don't worry, I won't laugh."

"...Fluttershy."

I tried my dear hardest to not laugh. What a ridiculous name, but I shouldn't really judge.

"Hello, Fluttershy. My name is Artyom."

"...Artyom?"

"That's right."

"That's a nice name."

"Thank you." My stomach then decided it was the best time to grumble. Loudly.

"Damn." I swore under my breath.

"Are...are you hungry?"

I hung my head in shame "Yes."

"Don't worry, I have plenty of food at---"

"GET AWAY FROM MY FRIEND!!" I whipped around to see who said that and found myself being hit in the chest. I fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

"Ahhh...."

I slowly got back up to my feet, only to receive a blow to my head which dropped me back into the dirt.

"Rainbow! What are you---"

"Relax, Fluttershy. I got this." The attacker emphasized the second part. I had to do something. I got back up a second time, and was promptly grabbed and thrown against a tree. My back hit the tree hard, but not hard enough to break it.

"Time to end this!" I saw the cyan pegasus fly up into the sky. She then turned around and made a straight dash toward me. I placed my hand on my revolver. I had no other choice. I drew my sidearm and aimed it as the attacking pegasus approached. I could see the look of confusion on her face as she came closer. I put my finger on the trigger. My vision began to blur. I fired. Before my vision faded, I saw the cyan pegasus hit the ground, hard. I then passed out as I heard Fluttershy screaming her friend's name behind choked sobs.

....He has begun....his downward spiral....