Stripes of War

by Throne

Rating: mature
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Rainbow Dash, Angel, Sad, Fluttershy, Original Character, Adventure
Length: 7598

A young mare gets caught in the middle of a bitter war between the ponies of Equestria and the Zebra

A mare wakes up in the middle of an invasion with Zebra storming Ponyville as one of its first targets to send a message to Celestia. Confused, injured and suffering bad case of amnesia can she escape the war zone and survive or will the war of the ages take her life as well.

EDIT: I am aware of the fact the story has errors everpony so feel free to announce them if you wish but just letting you know ahead of time I am aware.

Published 2012-01-19 18:21:36 UTC
Last updated 2012-01-25 04:30:01 UTC

Chapter 1

Awaken

Pain washed over me jolting me awake, I groaned in pain but I couldn't even hear myself my ears ringing intensely blocking out all sound. Still incredibly disoriented I tried getting up only to have my right hind leg buckle under my weight sending another frustratingly noticeable wave of pain throughout my body once again. Breathing heavily I stared at the ground the road was cracked in many places with a small crater a few feet to my left, I was right next to a small building most likely someone's home so I rested against it taking as much weight off my leg as possible. Keeping my eyes open was painful so I closed them and tried to relax the ringing in my ears was still overpowering all other noise, and my heart was beating incredibly fast. I racked my brain trying to remember what was going on before I fell asleep but nothing would come to mind, I remember I was traveling to Ponyville for a package then nothing. The scary part was that, that one memory was all I could recall anything before or after was lost in a void of blackness.

Reopening my eyes I wish I didn't more adrenaline coursed through my body and my breathing grew more rapid, I was fighting shock but the world before me was too horrible. The town was in chaos, buildings were on fire, large balls of magic were flying through the air lighting more homes on fire while ponies struggled to escape some on fire as they ran out, bodies littered the streets along with the rubble and wreckage from sky wagons and surrounding buildings. I gagged but ended up coughing out a large amount of blood instead, my hearing finally returned slowly filling my head with screams and large explosions from every angle. It was all to much I was frozen, what do I do?

A stallion ran out of a burning house across the street from me and frowned when he saw me lying on the ground but dismissed me and turned around picking up his filly. He mouthed sorry to me as I tried to call him for help but my voice was gone and instead raspy coughs came out. Before I could react another magic missile struck his home causing a burning piece of wood to fall on him crushing his back and lighting the rest of him on fire along with the filly. "NO!" I finally managed to scream above all the commotion and desperately tried getting up the pain in my leg forcing me to a limp but I did not slow down determined to reach the filly before she died. Somehow the rest of the world was now gone from my mind, all I could see if the filly screaming for someone to help her and I wouldn't her down coughing out more blood as I tried speeding up. Right before I reached her she fell to the ground silent but I still wrapped my magic around her extinguishing the flame. "Please be alright! Please!" I managed to say between sobs kneeling next to her, she was shivering horribly, painful looking wounds spread across her entire body. "Please, please!" I tried turning her to face me but jerked back when she screamed in pain, on her own she turned only her head to me eyes full of terror and sadness.

She tried to speak mostly squeaking and grunting from the pain but finally managing to say a sentence. "It hurts so much Ms. please make it stop hurting." Tears once again streamed down my face, I felt so bad for the poor little girl she didn't deserve what was happening to her. I smiled trying to be brave and comforted her, she was braver than me holding back tears even though in unimaginable pain.

She looked to me for an answer but I didn't know what to say, I wasn't a doctor and I wasn't sure if I could do anything for her so I lied. "You're going to be fine little one, I promise." By now I was very aware of what was happening, well not what was happening but how much danger I was in but it didn't matter this filly was all that mattered I wouldn't leave her to die alone. Not all of her coat was burned away she looked like she would have grown up to be a beautiful mare in a couple years had this not happened. She had a beautiful pinkish mane and her mane was a mix of purple and white but most was black now some still red with embers. She squirmed and shivered uncomfortable and in pain but I wouldn't dare touch her afraid of another scream of agony. Instead I talked to her about how she would be okay and that after this we can go see her friends but she didn't respond just laying there quiet. Another explosion much closer to us than the others sent a gust of wind at us, my pitch black mane got in the way of my face until the wind passed and it settled back down. Small chunks of rubble flew down from the air around us but I placed my body between it and the filly sparing her from any excess pain, when the dust settled and I went back to my normal position she was smiling at me.

She stared at me with her smile for a moment before trying to speak again this time much more clearly. "Thank you Ms." I nodded not knowing what to say but smiling back at her as well. "It doesn't hurt anymore you were right I think I'm going to be okay!" She squeaked but I was in shock she looked in even worse condition than before how could she be in no pain at all, but then it suddenly hit me but I bit back tears as to not scare her.

"Yes see you're going to be fine." I cooed now stroking her mane gently.

The filly yawned at me and started closing her eyes. "I'm really tired Ms. can you please wake me up when papa wakes up?" I looked to her dad, he was nothing but a burned carcass not even recognizable as a pony anymore the fire must had been magically enchanted.

Regardless I nodded and stroked her mane again. "Of course I can, just rest up and everything will be okay." She closed her eyes completely and nodded mumbling something her self as she exhaled and never inhaled again.

I just sat there for a few moments staring at her chest but I was sure of it, it wasn't rising anymore I wanted to cry again but it seemed that this was the best thing that could have happened to her at this point. "This isn't fair." I said out loud to myself slamming my hoof against the ground in frustration, I was already emotionally exhausted. I looked over burned body and saw her cutie mark it was expensive looking tiara with jewels encrusted on the sides and front.I didn't want to look at her any more and instead focuses on my hind leg I couldn't see an open wound so it must just be a sprain, shaking it off I stood up again taking my eyes off the filly the scene hadn't changed much. More buildings were destroyed or on fire but the constant bombardment of missiles had stopped slowing to only the occasional explosion in the distance.

I felt something tug at my tail and quickly turned around but no one was there at first but then a grunt from below revealed a small rabbit looking at me with a worried expression. "I'm fine don't worry." I lied questioning why I was talking to a rabbit but he seemed to have understood me and pulled on my hoof and pointed to a small alley way that cut between the house the filly had came out off and a small flower shop. "Do...do you want me to follow you?" I asked and he quickly nodded and ran off with me following him.

The alley was fairly short but it led into another chaos ridden street, not as many bodies covered the street but the damage was still the same. The rabbit ran through the rubble with agility and I clumsily followed tripping over a few rocks on the way, he ran inside a house that wasn't on fire but had a big portion of the ceiling blown off. Now more hesitantly I followed him inside he ran up to a butter yellow pegasus tending to another ponies wound wincing and pleading forgiveness at whenever he grunted. I looked around the room and it was filled with about a dozen ponies sitting together on the floor looking at me with expressions of sorrow and relief except for two, one was with the pegasus and the other lay asleep on a couch. I walked in slowing as the rabbit tugged on the pegasus's mane and she looked to my direction her eyes were red and puffy from crying but she smiled at me finishing up with her patient and walking to me.

"Did Angel bring you here Ms.?" I nodded looking to the rabbit who stood on the pegasus's back pointing out his chest and smiling with pride at his accomplishment. "Okay, My...my name is Fluttershy." Her voice grew almost inaudible but I managed to understand what she said.

"Hello Fluttershy, what is going here?" I had no idea what was even happening and I wanted to know why that filly had to die. Fluttershy whimpered at the question hiding in her pink mane as her pet Angel patted her on the back.

Another pony from the group spoke up. "It's war cant you tell? The goddamn zebra are attacking killing everyone." Zebra? Why would the zebra attack Equestria, I tried to remember anything that would help answer that question but my mind came up blank.

"Fluttershy do you need any help?" At the sound of her name she recollected herself and looked at me with hopeful eyes.

"Do you have any medical training?" Of all the things it had to be that, I shook my head no and she slumped slightly disappointed. "Then I'm really sorry but no, just sit with the others please." She was so kind I had no problems listening to her like a school filly sitting down with group not really knowing what to do or expect. My head still pulsed with pain and my heart was broken from what happen to the filly just moments before, others were talking about escape and what was going on but I tuned them out picturing the filly smiling just before she died. I smiled with a tear going down my cheek at least she was happy in the end.

Just out of curiosity I watched Fluttershy as she tenderly cared for every pony making sure no one was left unattended to, it was truly amazing how far she was going to make sure the ponies were okay. A mare flinched when she tried to clean a cut and Fluttershy recoiled instantly and kept saying sorry over and over again even while the mare kept insisting that she was okay and grateful for the treatment but it didn't matter Fluttershy still kept apologizing till Angel calmed her down. After awhile she came back to me smiling, she looked exhausted from all the work. "Do you need anything?" I shook my head instantly hoping she would finally take a break but she just went back to the first pony in the order and started making sure all the wounds were clean and healing.

I couldn't help but speak out finally. "Hey Fluttershy?" She turned to me as well as a few of the other ponies no one had really talked much louder than a whisper. "Maybe you should take a break, you look exhausted." She shook her head saying she was fine but right after the rest of the group was nodding and agreeing telling her to get some rest to and eventually she succumbed to our demands and hovered over next to me and laid down.

"Thank you, what's your name?" She looked at me for the first time I noticed a cut on her cheek that still was a little red from blood. I don't know why but the fact that she had gotten hurt in all this filled me with so much blind rage that it was hard to contain.

I thought about it but I couldn't remember so I shrugged. "I don't remember anything."

She frowned and looked at me closer touching my head causing me to wince. "I'm sorry!" She started but I glared at her and she blushed. "Sorry for saying sorry so much." I shook my head but couldn't help grin at her behavior. "Anyways I'm no doctor but you must have a case of amnesia caused by some head injury, I'm sure if you give it some time you will remember everything." I smiled glad to hear the good news.

"So what are we going to do now?" It seems that all we have done so far is just sit around, I figured we should be trying to leave town or something.

She looked surprised that I asked her and stammered for a moment. "Oh....Don't ask me I'm not a leader I just wanted to help the ponies here I'm no Rainbow Dash." It sounded like she was talking about a person but I wasn't sure the name wasn't familiar to me.

"Hey we'll think of someth-." A blinding flash of white light cut me off causing the room to fill with screams like the outside had been when I had awoken. After a few seconds my vision returned but now 4 zebra stood in front of us grinning, they wore what looked like heavily padded armor and metal helmets both a shade of dark green. Each one had two rifles slung on both sides of their body mounted on some sort of saddle with mouth controls sticking of the saddle and leading up to the face so the guns could be fired quickly and easily. The screams had stopped though I could hear faint whimpers and prayers to Celestia.

One of the zebra finally spoke up looking at our group as a whole. "Everyone get up and get outside now, anyone who stays dies." Most ponies nodded and slowly started getting up Fluttershy got up and started coaxing some of the fillies into following her outside. I got up too and started following a pony in front of me she looked to the two ponies Fluttershy had tended too.

I looked at the zebra with an innocent look. "Excuse me what about the two ponies who can't get outside alone."

The zebra looked to them and smiled. "I suppose we can drag them outside don't worry they'll be fine."

I nodded satisfied and walked outside, two of the zebra made us get into a line all facing towards them in no particular order. Fluttershy was on my right, she still looked exhausted and on the brink of crying again but she didn't remaining quiet. The zebra inside were saying something to each other laughing before it grew silent for a few short seconds.

BLAM! BLAM!

Two gunshots rang out from inside the house, the other two zebra walking out moments later grinning the one I talked to gave me a wink and I shuttered giving him a death glare. One of the mares farther down the line cried out. "You monsters how could you!?" BLAM! Another bullet right between her head killed the mare before she could speak further.

"Shut up you worthless pieces of shit! Now we have been ordered to eradicate everyone here in your lovely town so we should start now don't you think?" He laughed at his own joke and a pony of the far left spat in his direction, the zebra looked at him annoyed. "I guess we can start from the left and work our way over." He calmly walked over to the pony on the left end and aimed his gun at him. "Goodbye." With one motion he blew a hole in his eye as he dropped to the ground dead. The next pony in line gasped and ran from the line but the other zebra tackled him to the ground. "Now, now guys that's cheating and cheaters never win." The zebra who killed the first pony in line pulled out his knife and stabbed the pony slowly cutting open his side and pulled out his knife, the pony screamed in agony but did not die. "We'll come back to you at the end." Still screaming he cursed at the zebra but he just walked away looking at the next person in line just two ponies down from me and fired killing another.

The pony next to me pleaded. "Please don't do this, please what did we ever do to you?" The zebra shrugged.

"I guess you didn't really do anything to me right?" She nodded instantly smiling at him, he lowered his gun but then shot her in the knee. The mare yelled out in pain falling down to one knee then to the ground when the zebra shot her other leg, her screams echoed through the street along with the stabbed stallion until he finally shot her in the head moments later.

"Run I'll distract them." Fluttershy whispered to me but I shook my head, I couldn't let them hurt her like the other two ponies it would crush me.

"Hello pony I guess it's your turn now?" I nodded quietly showing no emotion, which slightly irritated him. "Funny how life turns out alive one moment dead the next." I simply nodded again refusing to acknowledged him. "You're no fun." I shrugged keeping my blank face.

"Do it already." I mocked him and he scowled aiming the rife at my head. I watched him move his mouth to fire and braced myself for my death, I was more afraid for the kind pony next to me than I was for my own death.

"DON'T EVEN TRY IT YOU BASTARDS!" Someone screamed from the sky distracting me, the zebra started to turn as well but still fired hitting me right in the chest causing my legs to buckle and me to fall. The pain was intense but I refused to cry thinking about how the filly was able to hold back tears. I could see the blood seep from the wound, my dark red coat getting even darker as the blood poured over it my vision going blurry. I coughed a lot of blood and looked to zebra but he was dead a knife in his throat and a beautiful blue pegasus standing over him but her mane is what captivated me the most her luxurious rainbow mane flowing in the wind as she dove to the other zebra killing one with another knife. Fluttershy's face blocked the rest of fight as she looked at me panicking.

"You're going to be okay!" She yelled but I could still barely hear her voice, at first I thought she was whispering but it was my hearing that was feeling. My vision grew more blurry making it hard to make out anything farther than what was right in front of me. "Rainbow Dash help me she is bleeding everywhere!" I could make out Fluttershy yelling as she tried to close my wound with her hooves now crying openly. The blue pegasus must have yelled something back because Fluttershy turned back around but I couldn't even make out what she was saying anymore. It was cold causing me to shiver my vision now growing more dark than blurry, than in an instant all the pain in my body vanished causing me to smile. I laid directly on my back looking to the sky Fluttershy's head popping out in front of my vision still crying and yelling but I couldn't hear her anymore, the blue pony with the rainbow mane suddenly appeared on the other side of me yelling at me almost making it look like she was angry I got shot. I tried to fight to keep my eyes open but it was growing increasingly difficult to manage that, Fluttershy had a ripped piece of cloth in her mouth that was soaked with blood trying to seal my wound again. A sense of euphoria shot out throughout my entire body and I smiled at the two ponies still coughing out blood. Rainbow Dash looked at me confused then yelled something else but I couldn't make it out and Fluttershy just cried more and hugged my body but I couldn't even feel it. Finally refusing to fight no longer I closed my eyes letting the sense of euphoria flow freely and exhaled.

Chapter 2

Am I alive?

I was conscious as far as I can tell but my body wouldn't move and my eyes wouldn't open. What happen, I racked my brain trying to search for memories that just wouldn't appear. I could hear a faint, slow heart beat coming from my chest which relaxed me for the moment thought I was still frustrated about my memory. Chest, for some reason that seemed relevant but I couldn't think of the reason but it didn't matter suddenly it began to hurt incredibly badly. I would have screamed if I could but my mouth wouldn't open and I couldn't even force a grunt out but the pain was so intense like my own heart was being torn from my own chest. I could feel muscles beginning to tighten and cramp as feeling returned to them only adding to the excruciating pain coming from my chest, I wanted to die.

"Try.....keep going....she can......don't.....up!" Muffled voices appeared I couldn't make out everything as they were incredibly faint but steadily getting louder. "She's waking up keep going Twi!" The voices were getting louder and one sounded eerily familiar but I couldn't place my hoof on it. The pain was easing but it still was in the center of my mind, now that I could feel the rest of my body I noticed I was shaking horribly like a seizure. Then suddenly everything came into focus, the pain went away and the shaking stopped.

"Are you okay sugarcube?" I was breathing heavily and I felt sluggish and tired but my mind was focusing finally, I was on a bed an orange mare with a blonde mane sat to my immediate right just next to the bed looking at me. Where was I, I thought to my self trying to look around the room but too weak to turn from the mare. "Hey can you talk?" She asked her eyes trailing to my chest than back up to my eyes.

"I..I'm fine." I choked out my mouth dry.

She smiled instantly and turned to somepony out of my eyesight. "You did it Twi, you brought her back!" What was she talking about, brought me back from where and who was Twi? Even though I had just woke up I was incredibly tired and before the mare turned back around to me I fell asleep again not being able to fight the fatigue any longer.

********** ********** **********

I felt something gently nudging my shoulder but I ignored it, the bed was so comfortable and I was still groggy I would do anything for some more sleep. "Hello sleepy head can you uhm please look over here?" That voice it was familiar, my ear twitched and I forced my eyes open turning over onto my back in the bed to see who it was. It was Fluttershy, all at once everything from when I woke up in Ponyville hit me like meteor causing my breath to quicken. Fluttershy instantly looked worried and scanned over my body for any sign of anything that might be causing me pain. "Oh please don't worry are you in pain I can get something for you?"

I shook my head and tried sitting up in the bed, I felt slow but the feeling was quickly passing. "Fluttershy where are we?"

My question temporally startled her. "We are in the Everfree Forest in Zecora's home don't worry we are safe here."

I had a million questions who was Zecora, wasn't the Everfree Forest dangerous, why were the zebra attacking, how was I not dead but before I could ask a single one the mare I saw before I fell asleep walked in and looked to Fluttershy. "Hey there Fluttershy is she alright?"

She looked to me then back to the mare and nodded slowly. "Yes, I think she will be okay where is Twilight?" I listened intently to their conversation but couldn't really pull anything from it, I had no idea who they were talking about so I just sat there and said nothing.

The orange mare tilted her head out the door. "She's out there, you should go talk to her fill her in on our fighter here." Fluttershy nodded and smiled at me before walking outside the room, the mare waited till she left before walking up to my bed looking at me curiously. "So, beg mah pardon but who are ya?"

I truthfully didn't know so I just shrugged and stared at the door Fluttershy had closed behind her hoping she was going to be okay even though she said it was safe here. "I don't remember I'm sorry."

She looked at me sympathetically like she just knew I wasn't lying to her and shook her head. "This is just terrible what's goin on, t'aint right. But where are my manners I'm Applejack Fluttershy's and Rainbow Dash's friend." She extended her hoof to me and smiled.

I extended my own and formally greeted her, her accent reminded me of a cowpony but she still had well taught manner a respectful pony to say the least. "Hello Applejack, what's going on, Fluttershy said we were in the Everfree Forest."

Frowning she nodded and sat down next to the bed getting comfortable. "Yeah...We are so far it has been the safest place we could think off that was close to Ponyville." At the mention of her town she cracked in her speech before quickly recollecting herself. "Pardon." I nodded and urged her to continue her story and she nodded clearing her throat. "As ah was sayin, after Rainbow Dash found you and our friend Fluttershy, you were in pretty bad shape." She stopped and thought it over for a second. "Well actually you were dead from as far as they could tell. Fluttershy wouldn't let Rainbow leave you so they took you along back to me and Twilight at her library, the spells that enchanted the home protected it against the bombs, where Ponyville was having its last stand." She pointed to my chest and I looked down to see a nasty scar where my coat used to be, it looked like a 6 sided star and took up a large portion of my chest. "Fluttershy stopped your bleeding but you quit breathing before they even got you to us, outside a few Ponyville guards were fighting with the Zebra holding them off while twilight kept the shields up and tried to get Celestia to send a rescue team." Applejack looked toward the door and sighed. "Poor thing couldn't get through to the princesses without Spike, but anyways the Zebra quickly broke through defenses we had set up and only Twi's shield stood between us and them so in a desperate final act Twilight tried to teleport all the survivors outside Ponyville." She suddenly stomped her hoof on the floor cracking it slightly under the force. "She wasn't strong enough to get everyone out only me, you, Fluttershy, Rainbow, and a few other survivors still we didn't get even get out of Ponyville only down the street and before we escaped to the forest everyone but Fluttershy, me, Rainbow, you and Twi made it out. She was furious with her failure and made it her mission to save you once we made it to Zecora's house and somehow she did it even though both you and her passed out after the operation."

I couldn't believe the story yet every once of my being said she was telling the honest truth but how was that possible? No Pony can bring another pony from the cold clutches of death it was impossible, and was really everypony in Ponyville dead how could that be nothing made sense. Applejack looked close to tears after the story and kept her head down trying to avoid eye contact with me but I felt horrible for the mare who went through so much I felt bad for all of them they sounded like amazing people and they should deserve better. I wrapped by hooves around her and pulled her to me giving her a big hug as she started sobbing on my shoulder, she started talking about a farm Sweet Apple Acres and a filly called something Bloom I couldn't fully understand her through her sobs but it didn't matter I held her for a while until she let everything out. Slowly but surely the sobbing slowed to just a few tears and a runny nose, I felt slightly uncomfortable she looked the same age as me maybe even older yet I was holding her like she was my filly but I didn't let go, I didn't know her very well but she had a good heart and she deserved a friend right now. "You feel better?" I asked softly as she moved away from me back to her normal sitting position eyes red from crying.

"I feel...better." She looked at me and smiled. "Thanks for that, I really needed it." I smiled back and assured her it was no problem at all. "Twilight would probably want to see you too, you think your strong enough to walk?"

"Yeah I think so." I got up from the bed and stood up, Applejack leaned to me so I could use her for support until my nausea dispersed. "Thanks." I said following her to the door as she opened it. The next room was about twice as big as the one I was in, Fluttershy jumped up from the ground from seeing me walk and had a big smile on her face but she was the only one in the room. In the very center stood a large black cauldron and the walls of the room had creepy artifacts hung everywhere making it look like an alchemy shop, a small window revealed a large dark forest outside sending a shiver down my spine I was glad to be safe inside here. "Hi Fluttershy how are you?" I asked still looking around the eerie surroundings.

She must have noticed that the decor was unsettling because she quickly rushed to comfort me. "Oh don't worry you're safe here, it's a little creepy but our friend Zecora is different from other people from here." I didn't know what she meant but I nodded and sat down waiting for this Twilight to appear, Applejack walked to the front door and headed outside but Fluttershy assured me it was fine. After a few minutes of awkward silence I saw Applejack's head pass by the window then a purple unicorn and then....then a Zebra.

"Fluttershy run to the back room!" I jumped up from the floor and levitated a vase from a shelf ready to throw at the Zebra but Fluttershy didn't move only looked at me startled.

"What is it?" She asked.

"It's a Zebra Fluttershy now go!" I quickly answered as the door opened and the Zebra walked in.

"Wait it's not what you think." Fluttershy squeaked under the pressure but it was too late the vase was already on its way.

The Zebra turned to me in shock and anger. "What is this?" She closed her eyes and braced for impact but a purple field stopped it mid air inches from her face and got placed safety onto the ground.

The purple unicorn walked in behind the Zebra with Applejack following behind, she looked at me with sympathy instead of anger and the zebra mumbled something under breath as the unicorn patted her on the back. The Zebra turned from me and walked over to the cauldron and started mixing some sort of potion while the unicorn walked up to me. "Don't worry, Zecora doesn't want to hurt you." I'm all for everyone being equal and all but after what happened just a little while ago I'm not to keen on trusting a Zebra, Twilight seems to have noticed my reluctance to lower my guard and shakes her head. "Trust us we wouldn't have taken you somewhere dangerous." Applejack nodded agreeing from across the room now sitting down next to Fluttershy.

I looked to the Zebra but had to lower my head from the shame of trying to attack her. "Do not worry little one, you tried to protect a friend but I am also one." She had a funny way of speaking but her tone relaxed me.

"I'm sorry about that." I point to the vase before levitating it back to where it was originally careful not to break anything. "Are you the one who saved me, are you Twilight?" I asked the unicorn nodding to my question.

She looked to Applejack with a worried expression but Applejack simply sat there saying nothing probably thinking about that farm she had spoke of with the filly. "Yes I am Twilight, and don't thank me."

Why wouldn't I thank her she saved my life? I was baffled at her modesty but respected it. "Of course I'm going to thank you, wasn't it you that saved my life?"

She looked as if she wanted to cry and her eyes kept trailing down to my chest before she refocused on my eyes but it didn't bother me I understood it was a sight to see. "Because, I'm not sure how long you will stay alive." She pouted like she was embarrassed at her own failure.

My heart beat inside my chest slightly faster at the news. "What do you mean Twilight, you don't know how long I am going to live?"

She looked to Zecora who nodded and gestured her to keeping talking. "That's what I mean exactly. The magic I used to bring you back was dark magic I feel tainted just by using it and I know Celestia will not be pleased, dark magic is dangerous because it has unknown consequences." I listened intently to every word she spoke trying to piece everything together. "The operation Applejack told you about wasn't a medical one but more of a spiritual one, I was fishing for your soul and trying to bring it back to your body but that is only possible through dark magic. The thing is it wasn't working I couldn't get your entire soul back only a chunk but that wouldn't be enough to revive you, that's where the scary part comes in something else latched onto your body as well that completed the operation part of your soul was lost forever and that part that I got back connected with something else but I don't know what."

I was stunned what could possibly connect with a ponies soul, I rubbed my chest feeling the scar sending a shiver down my spine. "So you have no idea what it could be at all not even a guess?" Twilight shook her head and apologized but i went up and hugged her anyways. "It doesn't matter anyways I'm alive and it's thanks to you."

She blushed and said. "Oh please it was no problem at all!"

"No problem?" Applejack stood irritated with her friends honesty. "It was incredibly all sorts of magic was shooting across the room, I was afraid we would bring the entire house down Twi's eyes even turned pure white and she levitated in the air across from your bed." I turn to Twilight once again shocked from what I heard the event sounded like something from fiction but I doubted Applejack would lie.

"That sounds incredible Twilight!" I exclaimed making her blush further. "You must be a powerful unicorn I'm jealous."

"Please it's nothing Applejack over exaggerates." Applejack snorts at the comment but says nothing sitting back down to say something to Fluttershy who was looking at me worryingly after what Twilight had said about my soul. "So Applejack said you couldn't remember your name Stride."

"Stride?" Was that my name, it didn't sound familiar but then again I didn't remember anything either.

Twilight squirmed for a second not sure how to continue. "Well while I was doing the operation my mind connected with yours allowing me too see your memories for a few moments. All i could see was your name and that you where heading to Ponyville with a package after that it was just what you experienced yourself when you awoke in town." I frowned thinking of the filly I met, Twi looked to the ground knowing what I probably thinking about. "I'm sorry for the breach in privacy."

"No it's okay at least now I know my own name right?" I chuckled half heartily trying to seem casual but the room was filled with beaten and depressed ponies and one Zebra.

Rainbow Dash flew down to the front door and knocked before walking inside anyways. "We have a problem girls."

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It was the middle of the night from what I could tell from the window but seeing as how this was the Everfree Forest I couldn't be sure. I was still sore and tired from what Twilight had done to save my life but for some reason I just could not sleep, it wasn't that the floor was uncomfortable Zecora had tried her best to give us all a comfortable sleeping area. Dash had been scouting the forest trying to find other ponies who may have tried escaping but returned empty handed, sadly she apparently had spotted tracks from other Zebra in the area but they were a far distance from here. Even though she had assured us that they were far away one can't be a little nervous about it.

"Run friends to the bedroom and hide do not make a sound if you do you might be found!" Zecora shouted at us running to the window. "Some Zebra are coming quickly run!" Rainbow Dash was up in an instant waking Twilight and Applejack and dragging them to the bedroom.

"Stride you get Fluttershy!" Dash said forcefully opening the bedroom door Applejack and Twilight groggily following.

I stood up already full awake and nudged Fluttershy gently. "Wha-...Stride what is it?"

"Zebras Fluttershy we have to go hide in the back for a while okay?" I could see the fear in her eyes and nuzzled her softly calming her down before dragging her up to her feet and coaxing her to follow me.

Zecora turned to us looking away from the window. "Quickly young ones close the door." I nodded and shut it softly after Fluttershy walked in, Twilight and the rest of them sat in the corner of the bedroom partially covered by the bed only Rainbow Dash was standing watching the door closely.

"What's happening Rainbow?" Applejack finally asked after getting over her daze of being awaken so suddenly.

Rainbow Dash didn't saying anything but shouting from outside answered her question anyways, it was hard to overhear everything but it sounded like a group of 4 approaching the house Zecora seemed to have walked outside to meet them trying to distance us from them. I knew she was a zebra just like them but I was still dreadfully worried for her safety.

BLAM!

I froze, Rainbow Dash tensed and Fluttershy let out a whimper there was no scream or shouting after the shot just eerie silence until we heard the door open from outside the bed room. "Might as well loot the place don't want it to go to waste." I heard the other three Zebra agree as a wide array of sounds came from the main room.

"What happen to Zecora?" Twilight gasped shivering from fright as Applejack tried calming her down. Angel popped out of nowhere and nuzzled Fluttershy as she sat frozen in the farthest corner of the room.

The door to the bedroom started opening and in walked a Zebra but Rainbow Dash was ready and lunged at him knocking him to the ground and stomping hard on his throat. "That's what you bastards get." She said under her breath barely audible.

"HEY, what are you doing!" A Zebra said from the main room as he charged in with his friends, Rainbow Dash tried to attack each of them as well but no longer had the element of surprise and was bucked hard to the ground her body limp. "Whoa, look at what we got here, good thing we killed that traitor right away."

"What did you say?" Applejack stood up and yelled furious, her demeanor startled the Zebra for a moment before he smiled.

"Did you not hear me? We killed your friend she's outside right now rotting." That sent Applejack over the edge and she stared to move towards the Zebra but his friend instantly shot her with some sort of magical device that shocked her and forced her to the ground. "Hey no fighting we want this to be quick and easy." I turned to Twilight, if she was so powerful in magic she could save us but she just sat there staring back at me frozen.

Sighing I turned to the Zebra 3 total now that Dash killed one before she was knocked unconscious. "Just leave us alone." I said trying to sound intimidating but they just laughed one walked up to me with a sympathetic face. A second later I was on the ground my side on fire from the brutal kick he had delivered to my side causing me to cough out a small amount of blood. Ignoring the pain I jumped back up and bit the Zebra on the neck and tried to tear off flesh but it wasn't working still he was in great pain flailing around.

"Shoot her damn it what are you idiots doing!" He yelled but I ignored him closing my mouth further tearing the skin as he yelled. All that ended when a sharp pain entered my shoulder much worse that the buck to my side causing me to fall against the bed post. "About damn time." The Zebra said wincing at the injury on his neck. "Give me that bucking gun!" He grabbed the small fire arm in his mouth and walked back over to me still on the ground clutching my shoulder. "You bitch." He yelled at me, Fluttershy had tears streaming down her face as another Zebra eyed her body lustfully only enlarging my rage Twilight on the other had was standing now but still frozen. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were both limp on the ground most likely knocked out.

BLAM!

He fried the gun and I flinched closing my eyes but nothing happened, I didn't feel any pain or anything. "She's the....the...Sanguise Queen!" The Zebra screamed and I finally opened my eyes and stared at the bullet inches from my face floating in mid air. The only thing was that the thing that stopped it was blood....my blood. I looked to my shoulder and a trail of levitating blood seeped out of wound painlessly leading up to the bullet holding it right before my eyes but I wasn't controlling it. "By the stars what have we done!" The other zebra that had stared down Fluttershy choked out but a second later my blood formed into a sharp object like an arrow tip and it whizzed to the zebra impaling him the throat and killing him instantly.

"Whats happening?" I screamed to Twilight as she stared at me with shock and fear.

"I don't know!" She finally said trembling. Seconds later another arrow formed and shot straight into the eye of another Zebra leaving only the one that tried shooting me left.

"Please Sanguise Queen spare me!" He fell to his knees pleading, begging for his life but again with out my control my blood poured from my wound and started making its way towards him, he panicked and started running out the room but my blood almost like a tentacle grabbed and stopped him turning him towards me in the air his eyes were filled with fear. I couldn't move or look away, standing helplessly watching him begin to cry shouting prayers to people I've never heard of before. My blood worked its way up to the wound in his neck and started to seep into his body as his screams in tensed, moments later his chest expanded violently cracking ribs but not puncturing skin, he grew limp and my blood quickly retracted into my own body healing my wound instantly after.

Suddenly regaining control of my body I turned to Twilight who took a step back from me. "Twilight...that wasn't me!"

She just stared at me until finally opening her mouth. "Wha.....What are you?"