An Anomaly Too Far

"A grenade with a seven second fuse will always burn down in four seconds." – Murphy's many laws

Date: Unkown
Location: Unknown
Mission: Locate two VIPs for the former ruler of Equestria and ensure their wellbeing

Nightmares. One of the few things I don't miss about the zone were the nightmares, you see if you sleep in the Zone, you are almost guaranteed to have some weird fucked up nightmare every single time you want to sleep. Most folks just take some psi meds and call it a day, but newer stalkers didn't have that luxury. It was just one of the many thing's stalkers had to deal with, this however was different very different.

It was strange, in my dream I found myself back in Limansk walking the old, ruined streets till I came across the site wear those young stalkers meet their end. But instead of them or monolith for that matter I saw some else entirely. It looked just like Faust except for a few differences. She still had a horn and wings, but she was a mix of Dark blues and her outfit bore a crescent moon on the front. She had locked eyes with me and in that single moment I felt a cold chill run down my spine. It was almost as if she was trying to size up or fucking kill me with just her eyes. Kinda reminds me of when I went to boot camp and at every turn you see a Drill with that same 1000-yard stare of death.

It was a weird feeling, but after I took in all her features, she had fit the description of one of Faust's daughters. But why the fuck would one be in my dream of all fucking places, it made no goddamn sense. Then I notice she was about to approach me when all of a sudden, the land scape before me shook and crumbled right in front of me.

To say I was ripped violently from my dream would be an understatement, and something I wish was just a onetime thing. But Murphy had other plans for me this night. Just then an ear-piercing scream came from my left followed by the sound of howling. I am normally not one to be a fucking hero especially in this state, but if someone is out hear then maybe they can lead be to a town or a bar.... I hope.

Grabbing my pack and rifle I made a mad dash wincing at every step with my bad leg. Surprisingly where the scream originated from was only about 60 meters away. As I got close i started to hear what sounded like shouting from a woman in fear for her life. Rifle at the ready i move pass one last bush and found myself on some sort of dedicated trail. Thank fuck, Looking toward the source of the commotion. I saw what looked like Two dogs, except they are on their hind legs.....wearing clothes. I couldn't she their victims just yet but they were now aware of my presence, the larger one had what looked like either a large knife or a machete of some kind. Then they spoke to me in their best attempt at scaring me off.

"Whata we have here another pony coming to save the day eh".

" it looks like it , Say why don't you just hand over you bits so you don't have to end up like one of them" the Other dog then turns and point to two people on the ground one of them bleeding out of multiple wounds.

Wait did he say pony? And these dogs speak fucking English too? I should have just took my chances with the fucking crazy exo dude.

Then after thinking about the situation before I had few Options to take so I chose the most reasonable one. Warn them once and if they don't listen, just shoot the fuckers.

"I would suggest you back away from the two horses take what you got and fuck off otherwise I will have to put you down"

The dogs were taken aback by this look at eachother with a wide grin and dash at me in an attempt to bum rush me. Do they not know what a fucking gun is? or are they just suicidal?

"Wrong choice you fucking mutt" Those were the last words they would ever hear before i put three rounds into both of them. They dropped like a sack of potatoes, quick and clean. Now I made more pressing matters, the two civilians, one of which is currently dying of blood loss.

After reaching them I managed to get a better look at them and their injuries. I was fucking sick after looking at this, it was a small child and I assume her sister? or Mother? That didn't matter now i needed to do something fast. The older female had a dark gray coat with blond hair along with a bubbles ass tattoo? Fucking weird, but that's not important right now, I have to try and stabilize this chick. putting my nods away and turning on my head lamp I look over to the kid and say.

"Don't worry kid I do my best to save her but i need you do help me ok?"

"umm...wh-at do you..need me to do mister" the little girl next to says tears flowing rapidly down her cheeks.

"Just talk to her and make sure she doesn't fall asleep ok." As I say this i begin to pull out my Trama kit, Normal this kind of kit isn't best suited for field surgery, but I have to make do with what I got. I begin with treating the worst of the cuts and suture them at carefully as possible, it didn't look good for her all she could be writhe and scream in pain. I had given her one of my morphine surettes to dull the pain, it had help but she lost a lot of blood in the process.

After a Teeth clenching hour I manage to stabilize her however with all her injuries, moving her would not be wise. I looked over to this young girl and without a word she bolted towards me and hugged me as hard as she can.

"Is my mom going to be ok mister?" she asked looking up at me with tears still running down her eyes.

"She will be ok kid, but we need to take her to a doctor. Do you know where we could find one?"

After rubbing her eyes, she then answered,

" I know here one is if we follow the trail we can head back home."

"Great kid, now look I will follow you while i carry you mom ok, so just lead the way."

After nodding to me request I look over to the horse lady on the ground. Normally moving a patient with wounds like this is not the best course of action, but I don't really have a choice right now so I will just have to be as careful as possible. I picked her up princess style in my arms and looked over to the small girl letting her know i am ready to move out.

I swear to god if my fucking friends ever hear of me helping weird horse people, i would be looked at like i am a Freedom member trying to fuck a bloodsucker high on coke. Or I would become the next laughing stock for the base for the rest of time....I am never telling anyone till the day I die what i did here.

Thankfully the trek out of the forest was uneventful, I however am fucking tired as hell and leg is not doing well either. But when reached the exit of the forest it opened up to wide open plains. I spotted a small town more than likely the destination in question. But I am in no state to keep moving so I put down the horse girl and took a seat right next to her.

But when I looked over towards the kid, I noticed she stopped dead in her tracks. A first I thought nothing of it I was too tired and damn near combat ineffective to notice her change in behavior. Thats when I saw her kneel to the ground and instantly, I raised my rifle and got in front of the injured mare.

Then in a single moment i found myself surrounded on all sides my dark horses wearing some kind of armor you'd see in medieval movies. Right in front of me stood the horse I saw briefly in my dreams, and she still had that fucking killer thousand-yard stare.

"I HAVE SEEN THOU IN THE LAND OF DREAMS. WHAT FOUL BEAST ART THOU, AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ONE OF THINE SUBJECTS!?" The one from my dream spoke very fucking loudly and with authority in a weird Shakespearian accent.

Knowing I would make it far on foot and getting in a fight with them would be less than ideal, i lower my rifle and right when i was about to answer her questions. The little girl ran to me and hugged my leg tightly damn near screaming to everyone.

"PLEASE DONT HURT HIM HE SAVED ME AND MY MOMMY!"

After this little outburst the large blue horse looked at me and this time without trying to blow my eardrums out asked

"Is this true creature? did you save these ponies in the forest?"

Finally getting and opportunity to explain myself I look down towards the injured mare and say.

"Yes, saved them from being chopped up, now if you don't mind this woman needs urgent medical care so I suggest you take her to a hospital, unless you want to keep playing twenty questions?"

Dead fucking silence...The look on all their faces was that of shock and confusion, until one of the armored ones spoke up.

"YOU DARE SPEAK TO PRINCESS LUNA IN THAT MANNER YOU BEAST! "

Then right after this outburst the large horse in front one me, now that I know is named Luna spoke up in a quick response.

"SILENCE, he is correct we shall not delay anymore; I shall take the mare to Ponyville hospital immediately. As for you i still have many questions but you too seemed to be injured as well."

Her horn glowed vibrant blue, and I realized that when a horn does that, thanks to Faust, that some magic bullshit is about to happen. Within a second my vison faded and I found myself in a deep slumber, or she just fucking killed me. Either way I managed to find of the sisters Faust mentioned so yay... I guess.

I hope they have good food at this hospital.....