9:26 AMCanterlot Palace, Canterlot Gardens
The bitter scent of fresh grass and the aroma of the sweeter roses and lilies welcomed me fully into the realm of consciousness. I was both awake and sore as I sat up, rubbing my eyes and brushing off a few grass blades glued to my hide by morning dew. I yawned loudly, without restraint or caution, and it felt great to be careless for once. Especially when I knew that I was in no danger, the Canterlot Gardens were completely encompassed by the palace itself. Isolated and safe.
That blue mat that I had intended to lie on throughout the entire night was beside me, as I had rolled off onto the ornate lawn of the Gardens in the night. My brown leather saddle bag and preferred weapon, an ash wood cricket bat, lie only a few feet away. Never played the game myself, but the sports equipment had gotten me out of more jams than I could count. The bat was stained with the dark blood of its previous victims, the splatters beginning to chip off the weapon. Cracks in the coagulated stains ran rampant along the entire length of the cricket bat.
I rose, rolling my head on my shoulders until I heard and felt the satisfying crack of vertebrate. Shaking out my morning grogginess, I tossed the saddle bag onto my back, but not before I fished out a generous stack of saltine crackers and eat them hungrily. Barely a breakfast, but it would keep me going, I guess. Slinging my holstered weapon on securely, I decided to finish off my objective.
The morning sun was soon blocked as I walked into Canterlot Palace, its grander and inspirational beauty had been nearly sucked out because of The Plague. It's thick and bright crimson banners that hung down the halls had been either torn or ripped down in the previous panic during the pandemic. The marble floors were dotted with bullet holes, dry blood, and various scuff marks that ruined the floors.
The enormous windows that I believed to be the highlight of the Palace's royal nature, were broken in, cracked or, in several cases, the entire frame knocked out or into the building. Corpses of my recent kills lie strewn on the floor, eight total, all with concave skulls.
I had been working to rid the place of all of its no-brainers, and I was nearly done liberating the Southern Wing which would mark the success of capturing the Lesser Hall. The Lesser Hall was really just the Palace's entrance followed by a large hall with four smaller corridors parallel to each other on each side of the hall. The Gardens marked the end of the Lesser Hall, but I still had one more corridor to clear and then I'd actually be able to sleep in one of the beds here.
Now I found myself emptied out into the actual Lesser Hall. I pulled out my bat, my teeth digging into the leather handle. This Hall had a forty foot high roof, with Gothic style support beams supporting the roof and the structure itself, all painted a pure white, with red and orange detailing here and there. Bodies, piled up along the long hallway, nearly five high and twenty long, made the room smell like what they were. Dead.
I could only marvel at the slaughter I had committed, smirking but suddenly forced to gag at the putrid stench of the decomposing corpses. Shaking out some jitters, I tightened my jaw and made my way toward my objective, the last corridor was near the actual entrance, which were two oversized oak doors. Each door was carved with intricate figures of the Princesses and various other being I couldn't recognize. Six mares is what they seemed to be, near the base of the door, their fore hooves spread skyward. Between her outstretched hooves was an individual emblem, but none I could recognize.
My hoof was a bit erratic as I placed it onto the doorknob, my breathing quickened upon hearing the shallow moans on the other side. Turning the knob was an ordeal as I pressed myself against the door and struggled to open the actual door. Every instinct in my body was screaming at me to keep the door shut. But my mind was much more determined, if not cautious, to complete my task. So the door slowly slid open, me leaving only a tiny crack open for me to peek into. I edged myself toward the small gap, and I looked in- but grunted in fright as a loud bang went off.
The no-brainers turned to me. Before they can direct a hungry growl toward me, I slammed the door shut and twisted the lock. I shot off the door as it began to buckle and loud snarls began to emanated from behind it. Rage built as I tossed my weapon to the floor, and stomped my hooves in fury.Celestia dammit!
Several more shots went of, making me hit the deck, the gunfire originating right outside the entrance door. The intensity of the gunfire increased, getting closer and closer. Acting quickly, I swept up my cricket bat and pressed up against the wall beside the main entrance, crouching so whoever was outside wouldn't get a look at me from the window above me. It wasn't long before they tried to open the door, unable to by the thick wooden bar I had used to keep the things out. I prayed that they would just leave, but apparently they were smarter than that.
" Is someone in there!?" A stallion yelled, his western accent cracked slightly as he yelled over the gunfire, " Let us in, please! There's walkers surrounding us, let us in!"
I relented to speak, wanting them to depart. But I still found myself answering them back, " Get outta here! I'm not letting you in! I... I..." I drifted off, and the entrance buckled practically in synch with the corpse filled corridor next to me.
Another series of shots erupted before a he spoke again, " Celestia dammit we have a kid with us! Let us in!" I cowered at the response, it felt like my heart had been shot. If I refused to open the door, I'd be condemning a child. That would've immediately made me rise and quickly toss the wooden bar off the door and let everyone in, which I did but stopped at the small obstruction. I hovered over it but didn't touch it, quivering in fear and suspicion. They could be lying to me, a bunch of bandits ready to charge in, kill me, and raid my supply.
So I spurted out another response, " I think you lying to me-"
This time a mare responded, " Open the damned door!" Her voice, the tone, the desperate shout was enough to make me scoop my weapon up again and unlatch the door. The wooden bar smacked me in the face as they slammed the door in, making me stagger back but still standing. The group of five rushed in but quickly turned to help me seal the door off again, all of us struggling to shut the heavy doors from the damned on the other side.
A pegasus with a leather vest, chestnut coat and blond locks shouted, " Its stuck! Their damned legs are in the way!" He was right, skeletal and rotting hooves stuck into through the small gap. They cracked as they broke from the extreme pressure but stayed put, thrashing around to try and grab their, hopefully, unattainable prize.
Everyone was pressed against the door, my own endurance began to fade and sweat covered my hide. Acting quickly and with nearly no thought, I spat out my wooden implement, pushed off the door and stole a large machete from a white mare. Working my way in between the group I began to hack at the limbs, cutting through the grey flesh and hard bone not as fast as I'd like.
I cut through the first leg, blood spurted onto my face but I neglected to recoil as I went to work on to the next one, bringing the blade down rapidly onto limb, blood spraying on everyone in a cold dark spray. The second leg fell, the bloodied limb making a wet smack. The gap between the two doors shrunk, crushing the topmost and last limb, the pressure making disturbing cracking sounds. The shallow moans and snarls from the no-brainers outside did little to deter my focus.
Adrenaline fueled and determined to survive, I let out a loud, very loud shout that I could muster from the machete handle in my mouth and brought the blade down on the last limb with all the strength I had left. It was a clean cut. The door finally shut, nearly as soon as the leather vested pegasi secured the bar in it place as we held the door.
Relief filled my mind and I dropped to the floor, panting loudly, my own limbs spread out like a starfish.
As I looked up at the ceiling, I heard numerous voices cheering, panting and giving me thanks for the help. I couldn't really focus on any of them as I panted loudly. The mare I had taken the blade from looked over me, her face unreadable. The machete that I still clenched in my maw soon slipped out and clattered on the floor
She swept aside some of her unkempt red-scale hair, " Thanks. You really saved our asses there."
I barely had any energy left to talk, just nodding an easily recognizable "You're Welcome."
She let a thin smile cross her lips as she levitated her weapon back into its holster, " Next time, keep your hooves to yourself."
***11:45 AMCanterlot Palace, The Lesser Hall
" Ah can't thank you enough ma'am." The chestnut pegasi identified as Rain Rider said with utmost gratitude," we've all gone through a lot since this all started." He sat on a small bed in the room I had assigned him in the north west corridor, it was the only place that was completely rid of the grime and muck of the cleared out no-brainers.
I shrugged, taking a seat on the small leather chair across from his bed, " Think nothing of it." But I couldn't stop thinking about it. I let in several ponies I only recently got to know and I was nervous, on edge. I always found it hard to hide my feelings, so Rider was able to easily read me.
He shifted on the bed, " Now ah know you might be a bit undone about us staying here. And I'll assure you that we aren't here to start a war." What are you talking about, seven on one. I doubt we'll have much of a war.
Rider continued, " So if you have any questions, you could ask me or anyone else. We could help out around if you need it."
I nodded briskly, my emotion dying down a bit. Something about him made me calm, me sinking in the chair a bit. Alright, questions first.
His accent is what intrigued me the most, " You don't seem to be from around here huh?"
Rider chuckled lightly, " Far from home. Me, Braeburn, an’ my friend Rose came up from Appleloosa. We picked up everyone else along the way up. They were camping along the roads and in the woods."
I cocked my head in confusion," Why would you come here? We were the hardest hit by all... this."
He shrugged," A lot of rumors were going around, refugee centers, survivor camps, I even heard there was some kind of cloud camp in the skies. An’ as you can see, there isn't a lot of evidence to go on. Canterlot seemed like the most likely place to be protected. It is the capital after all."
I wish it was too," Reminds me how everything has gone to shit."
" Yeah, it really has. The walkers have really taken over." I nodded and just sat there in a very awkward silence. Suddenly I laughed absurdly, surprising the pegasi who recoiled slightly," You alright there ma'am?"
My giggles died down, I wiped a tear from my eye, looking back at Rider, " Nothing, its just been so long since I actually talked to some pony. It feels good."
" Ah agree." He chuckled slightly. Its been awhile since I smiled, let alone burst out in a full out laugh. Well, I felt like I was here long enough so a I got up and was intending to leave for something to his me square in the head.
" You have any guys you can spare, I got a room full of no-brainers I need cleared out."
He pushed off the bed, landing square on his hooves, looking extra determined," You got this un’, an’ Rose will probably help us. Everyone else still might be a bit shook up." It was strange that he didn't seem fazed from the news that I practically threw at him. Well everyone figured the buckling doors had something sinister on the other side.
" Good. Be ready in an hour." He nodded sharply, and with that I intended to walk right out of the room but was called on by Rider.
" Hey."
I turned around to face him again," Hm."
" No-brainers?" He asked, smirking.
"Walkers?" I giggled.
" Eh, they're just names right?"
I nodded softly, then shrugging, " Yeah but I like it. Walkers. More succinct.
***11:57 PMCanterlot Palace, The Lesser Hall
I stared at the two buckling doors, my stare focused on the buckling palace entrance, three limbs lie near the base. The rank fluid produced by them soiled the ornate carvings, which I never fully appreciated their detail. Growls, snarl and banging were the only thing that I registered. The only thing that suddenly enraged me.
These doors were thick and strong but it would only be a matter of time before they were busted in. Same goes for the corridor on my left, with the added help of my guests we could clear out that location but it wouldn't matter. I could see the wooden bar develop hairline fractures across its body. Ever crack made me cringe. I know it was the right thing for them, but how about for me?
I have only know these ponies for a little over two hours, but I still debated whether they would just kill me and take this place for themselves. I've seen it happen before, but these ponies are hurt, hungry, and broken. And sincere.
My mind had gone a blank, my head moving slowly upward, eyes glazed upward. The blood that I had retained from the last conflict was gone now, I washed it away awhile ago. But its stench wasn't nearly wiped clean. The rotting, putrid, metal smell of the fluid was, at the very least, vomit inducing.
" Hey." I nearly jumped, as I twisted my head rapidly to had to face the voices owner. Rose Sherbet walked up beside me, her large machete secured at her side. She sported a ponytail, it tied up neatly with a worn, red bandana.
I sighed, " Hey." Looking back on the doors, I calmed down a bit, shifting the weight of my saddle bag slightly.
Rose walked a bit closer to the door, I didn't stop her, she knew how to handle herself. Especially with a three inch thick door for protection. She said, " This door isn't going to hold for long. And neither is that one."
" Yeah, I know that already," I replied smugly, " I just want to know how to get rid of them."
" Low on ammo, two unicorns to fire our guns," She shrugged," other than that we'd be fightin' with sticks and stones."
" Well," I gestured toward the corridor entrance, the white mare turning to face it," I’m getting a few of your guys to help me clear out the-"
She took a daunting step forward, " Who told you that?"
" Rider." I stood my ground, walkers were something to be fearful of, but a pony is a different story," You have a problem Rose?"
Her eyes narrowed," I’m going to have a talk with him. Were not helping you. We've lost too much already as is, we ca-"
I took a step forward," If you’re really concerned about keeping your group together and alive, then you'll help me."
The unicorn let out a dark laugh before facing me once again," Are you really treating me? Seven on one doesn't seem like very good odds for your end."
With very little thought I pointed behind her, she followed my hoof vaguely as it drifted onto the next buckling. I set my hoof down and replied a smug," If you want to stay here and not get gutted by the walkers, then you'll help me, and your people." Her glare was intense with rage but she knew I was right, regardless of her unwillingness to meet my aid. I’m making "good friends" already. Great...
" Okay," She grunted, " We'll help you."
I nodded sharply and was about to leave when she called out to me one more time. I turned to face her, her former anger stricken face now remorseful and full of sadness.
" I'm going to need your help with something Garnet."
***12:02 PMCanterlot Palace, The Lesser Hall
" Braeburn?" Rose peeked into the stallions room, me standing beside her. I couldn’t see inside but I heard some heavy breathing. Braeburn, when I first saw him, didn’t look to be the most stable pony I’ve seen. Pushing forty six, someone like him should be fine, but something was amiss about him. He seemed to always needed to be supported by one of his guys, he wasn’t in good health.
When I first saw him like this, I jumped to the most rational conclusion. He was bitten. But Rider told me he had heart problems, and even that paper thin explanation seemed to be flawed. But I couldn’t call him out on it, at least without having the entire group on my bad side.
Before I can make an accusation, a weak voice answered Rose's summons," Hey Rose. Come on-" He erupted in a coughing fit, then slowly continued,",on in." I followed close behind the mare as she entered the room. The room was pretty much untouched, even the rations I had provided from the Storeroom were just lying on the ornate wooden desk. Everything was exactly where it had been since they came, all except the bed, which the sick pony lie on.
He looked a mess, his face was slender and malnourished, color seemed to neglected his face. His eyes were body shot, sweat covered his body. His grey-orange hair did little to summarise the fact he was dying.
Rose rushed to his side and gave him a gentle hug, but the older stallion was so weak he could barely move. Only smiled at her friend's company.
" Its nice to see you sweetie." He spoke barely above a whisper.
" You-you too Braeburn." She sobbed, detaching from the sickly colt, wiping tears. He lied his chin down on a pillow, turning his head slightly to see me.
" Hello," Once again he coughed, but a thin line of blood dressed itself on the pure white fabric," again ma'am."
I swallowed a knot in my throat, " Hey." Was all I could squeeze out, I was at loss for words.
I leaned over to the sobbing mare and whispered, " He’s..." I drifted off, but nodded at my incomplete question. It wasn’t long before I pieced together what she was here to do. The thing is she wasn’t the one that wanted to do it, thats why she brought me here.
I pulled at her shoulder," Can I talk to you for a minute Rose?" She was reluctant to leave him alone again, so I was forced to leave the room and wait for her, she took a minute to come outside.
" I know you for two hours and you want me to be an executioner?" My voice was a mix of betrayal and pity, to see such a strong hearted pony breakdown in such a way and for her plan to get me to kill Braeburn.
Rose was still crying a bit, but she rubbed her eyes a bit for her reply," I’ve known Braeburn my entire life. He is the sweetest stallion I’ve ever known, he was like father to me. He was always there, I-I-I don’t know how to be there for him." Killing one of their group will get me on the groups back side, but right now, seeing this mare like this, I didn’t care about the group. This situation had to be handled delicately, or it'll just snowball into something I couldn’t control.
I had a million things to say, how I didn’t want to kill him, how was he bitten, how, how...
Only a few words came out of my mouth however, " Right Now, you need to be there," I lifted her chin up, our eyes met, hers full of self-loathing, mines with compassion," just spend some time with him, before he slips away. Don't you thinks thats best for him?"
She snapped her head away, turning away from me," I can’t just stand there and watch him die. I can’t let him just slip away like that." The sobbing mess looked down, little keeping her head up.
I took a step forward, " Thats not the point. Being there during his last moments is better than cutting him short." She considered the words carefully, I did as well. I don’t know what happened to me during that moment, for someone I barely knew, I actually shed compassion. Its was genuine. And it felt good to care for someone other than yourself.
" Yeah," Rose snapped me back into reality," your right."
I put a hoof on her shoulder, " I'll be here when you're ready, alright?" I wasn’t sure I could keep that promise, but that was enough for her to nod, and give me an unexpected hug. I stammered slightly, too shocked to return the gesture, especially since it lasted only a few second before I was left alone.
" Um..." Was the only thing I registered, felt a bit dizzy as I stood there.
When I finally gained my ability to think, but still just stood there and waited. Dreading the moment that the grieving mare would actually come out of the those closed doors.
***12:46 PMCanterlot Palace, The Lesser Hall
I had begun to drift off into a daydream, sitting beside the door. It had been over half an hour since she had been inside with Braeburn, and the time she was taking was starting to really bug me. I know that she needed closure but, impatience was getting the better of me.
I got up of the hard marble and took a moment to stretch my stiff limbs before knocking gently but just enough for Rose to hear me, " Rose is everything alright in there?" No response. I shrugged, but knocked one more time for reassurance.
This time I heard low pitched sobbing, she was still hurting, a twinge of guilt struck me as I tried to rush her mourning. But I still listened into the room, pressing my ear up against the door. Not much was being said from what I could hear, only soft crying. Was he already gone?
His condition warranted that he might have passed a dit earlier, but how long did it take someone to turn? I'd seen it happen a few times, I never took time but I would guess it took about an hour. Hit with this uncertainty, I knocked with greater force and distress, " Rose. Rose are you alright? Open the door." I jiggled the door knob, but it was know use, it was locked from the inside.
" Rose open the door!" I had begun to yell as the wailing had increased in volume, only worsening my distress. In the midst of my worries I had failed to realize that Rider and Hazelnut had come down the corridor in response to my shouts.
" What’s going on?" Rider asked as I snapped my head in his direction.
" Rose is in there with Braeburn." The tone in my voice told Rider everything, and he pulled out his military grade cavalry saber. The curved blade had a few nicks from his previous encounters with the undead, and likely the living. Hazel wordlessly cycled a round into his lever action repeater, both stallions taking position on the right side of the door and me the opposite.
Rider attempted to try to get Rose's response as I took out my own weapon, clenching it in my maw tightly, " Rose!" He half mumbled, half shouted from behind the sabers handle, " Let us in! We just want to help!" Only sobbing mixed with a low growl was heard, making me gasp sharply. With a reaction faster than anything Rider and Hazel had ever, I reared up in front of the door. And with all the strenght that my heritage provided me, I bucked the door clean off his hinges- the crack of wood and the loud ping of snapping metal was overcome by an immobilizing bang from within the room.
The three of us staggered for a moment, them from the gunshot, me from that and the energy I had spent. Even so, I was the first to recover, and russh into the room. My jaw literally dropped at the sight I saw, making my bat clatter to the ground. Rider and Hazel came in a second later to join in my reaction, but there emotions a bit more subdued.
My own hoof covered my mouth, " Oh sweet Celestia..."
Rose stood a few feet from us, her face stricken with fear. A a old flintlock pistol was still in her veil, still smoking from its recent discharge. The musket had met its obvious target, the collapsed body of Braeburn over the side of the bed, grey matter sprayed across the wall. Dark blood pooled around dead stallions head, originating from an inch wide hole in between his white, soulless eyes.
The spent pistol fell, to leave a weak Rose to be caught by, surprisingly, me. I held her in my hooves and held her in a gentle hug as she cried what tears that she had left. I stroked her rough locks, but it did little to subdue her as she quickly broke away from me to be by the passed Braeburns side.
She hovered over his body, lifting his head up, looking into his lifeless opticals, " No..." She said in a low whisper but it soon escalating call for him, " No! Please, No!" The broken mare kept calling to the corpse, caress the body in her hooves, yearning for the stallions life.
She sobbed loudly, engaging in a full on embrace with the corpse, " Braeburn..." Her voice was barely audible now, her voice used up. It was tough to watch, and I couldn’t bear it as I attempted to get up and support her, but Rider stopped me. I planned to protest but our eyes meet and I felt immediately his reasonings were just, and obeyed them.
We watched as she cried, and cried, whispering to body of a life long friend. She wasn’t ready to see him die, not even by her own hoof.
I wasn’t even ready to witness this.
***1:36 PMCanterlot Palace, The Lesser Hall
She wouldn't move, he wouldn't talk to anyone, just sat on the plush leather chair across from the corpse of Braeburn, his body covered in a white sheet. His brain matter and blood had been cleaned by me and in conjunction with Rider to give Rose a better place to think. I didn't know what she was thinking, but I knew she was hurt, broken. She needed someone else to help pick up the pieces.
" Hey." I announced softly as I entered the room, the mare was curled up in the chair, draped in a thick woolen blanket, staring at the body and didn't even glance at me. She was entirely unresponsive, her breathing was soft and nearly undetectable. It hurt to see her like this. Why?
There was always that strange motherly compassion I felt for her, was this trust? Was the sudden embrace earlier a sign of sincere trust on her end.
My eyes drifted onto the flintlock atop the sheeted corpse, it belonged to Rose but she obviously couldn't come to terms with her actions, abandoning the firearm was foreseen. I opened my mouth to say something, anything to get her to speak, bit I shut quickly. Nothing I could say could convince her to come out of her rut.
So I pushed a wooden chair that sat in the corner of the room beside Rose and sat next to her, peeling off my leather holster and saddlebag and setting them nearby. Silence took a fine grip on my mind, with the occasional realization of the ever strained doors just outside this bedroom.
Delaying the clearing of the corridor was probably a bad move tactically, but I would help the group recuperate after the death of such beloved stallion. So much sorrow held them, it even hurt me a bit to see everyone in such low spirits. What bothered me most was there kid- well, their fifteen year old teenager, Jet Emerald,didn't really seem to care about the event in the least, not a shred of emotion. Either he was broken or just stopped caring.
Either way, it showed how the groups was deteriorating as a whole.
It took around fifteen minutes for a voice to puncture the thick veil of silence, surprising me to face Rose, her tone weak and rough, refusing to face me, “ We came here a few days ago, we had ten of us then. Had a caravan wagon loaded with supplies when we got here on the Main Road.
“ As we neared the city, carts, bodies-” She sniffled a bit,” they packed the road up to main gate, so we camped out quarter mile out. We all sat by the fire, sung, laughed, and talked about ourselves, about the old world. I began to sing an old song I heard from my mother...
I was rather caught up in her tale, scooting a bit closer but noiselessly to avoid disturbing the peace, “ Everyone was looking at me, smiling. They looked at me, they were so happy. Then, um, Braeburn shouted from the cart that they were walkers coming. They came out of Everfree, took two of our guys but we drove them off.
She wiped a tear from her eye,” He didn't tell us, he d-didn't tell m-me.” She sobbed quietly, which was my cue to hop off the chair and stand beside her, and softly stroke her mane. She posed no objection.
I had nothing to say, there was nothing to say. Once she regained her composure she
continued, ” Why would he d-do that? Why? He kept it to himself, for what? It wasn't like we would get rid of him. Its just-Its just...”
Rose turned up to look at me, her eyes tinged a slight pink,” I didn't want him to turn. To die like this. H-he doesn't deserve-” She stretched a hoof toward the body,” this!” Rose was full of so many conflicting emotions, many sadding, some maddening, and few confusing her perception. This could spell the end of her sanity if closure wasn’t obtained. I doubted she was on the brink, even in the few hours we knew each other, she was better than this, and much, much stronger.
The unicorn reverted back to her meek curled form, staring at Braeburn, leaving me with nothing to say. From the recollection of this stallion from her perspective, he didn't deserve this kind of death. The fate that we all dreaded.
A thought popped in my head, immediately I worded it to break the silence,” He deserves a burial.” Rose perked up immediately as she looked up at me, I down at her.
She never gave me a response, but that look in her eye. It told me exactly what she wanted.
A second later she shot off the leather chair, too fast for me to react. The mourning mare stopped over the body, and stood there. She placed a hoof on the white sheet atop him, glaring at the flintlock. Then inwardly at herself.
***2:00 PMCanterlot Palace, The Lesser Hall
“ A burial huh,” Rider heaved as he pushed a overturned wooden cabinet beside the larger makeshift barricade surrounding the walker filled hallway, “ we never had time for something like this. But someone like him deserves it.” He pushed off the last piece of barricade, wiping a bead of sweat off his brow. I was nearby, nodding, leaning over the defence.
“ Rose is hurting,” I said, “ real bad.”
“ He was as a nice guy from what I heard,” The pegasus stood next to me, “ he always looked out for Rose. Was one heckuva stallion.”
I sighed, “ Wish I knew him better than.” An invisible but universal nod answered me as we stood there, barely shifting at the buckling and splintering blockade. We were waiting for Hazel and Jet, who was never considered to be one of defenders, given his age and inexperience. But he was the only other unicorn that could operate a gun, so his eagerness was much satisfied with this event.
I started to bore after a minute or so, and began to swag slightly, letting my eyes wander and soon found myself taking a sudden glance at Riders cutie mark. A pair of silver dog tags wrapped around the handle of a saber.
“ Soldier boy eh?” Was my silence breaker, him being caught off guard by the question.
“ Retired.” He said coldly. I didn't feel like I was crossing any boundaries unfortunately, so I let my curiosity get the better of me.
“ WIA?” Wounded In Action, something I picked up after martial law had been declared. Not the best way to learn military lingo.
I expected him to tell me off, but he just came out, “ It was during the Border Wars” I gasped inwardly. The Border Wars was a five month long war that happened over ten years ago with the increased zebra mineral mining in disputed islands within Equestrian controlled waters. Yielding a death toll of over a thousand dead, Equestria won a bloody and costly war. I didn't raise a question and let him continue, “ My company was sent to do overhead G-Powder bombing on Ilca Island. We all dove closer to our target at 1,000 feet, I could see the small island, It looked so green and pristine, so untouched.” He paused, looking past me, the sternest look on his face. I started to regret my decision.
But he began again, “ Heavy gatling shells started pelting us, at least thats what I was told afterward because I was the first to go down. Spun so fast, the blood from the shot covered my entire face. I nearly passed out before a friend of mine, Auto, caught me in mid air and evaced me to Base Camp. Then, after that I was honorably discharged.Pft,” He scoffed, “ I still had, heck, I still have enough fight in me for those zebra bastards.”
Odd, I thought, no scarring I could see. It was a war that happened when I was still a junior in highschool, so it might have faded away by now. My curiosity got the better of me when I noticed a very faint scar across his neck, possibly he was grazed. Makes sense.
I was so focused on his tale that I failed to realize I was reaching out to touch the former injury. Upon making contact, Rider, surprisingly didn't recoil like anyone else would. I felt the space on his hide, where the scar tissue had taken its place. As I gently pressed on the point of interest, Riders own hoof covered my own.
Surprised, I wordlessly looked up at the larger war veteran, who also looked down on me. His gentle sapphire eyes pierced into my own.
“ Uh...” I squeezed past my lips, not sure what was happening right now. I wasn't sure if I was okay or disapproved of it. But I was never able to decide as a loud hoot the silence, and interrupted the moment.
“ What's uh,” Jet Emerald joked, levitating a small carbine, “ happening over here, mm?”
Both of us separated, me stammering awkwardly and Rider producing a fabricated cough before changing the subject thankfully, “ Wheres Hazel? Still getting ready?”
With a smirk still plaster on his face, he answered smugly,” He’s getting some ammo, but what I want to know is, what's happening with you and captial girl eh?” Girl? Last time I check you barely qualify as a stallion. I insulted childishly, my brow caved in slightly but Rider was successful at telling him off on the topic, “ Drop it. Take your position and wait for Hazel.”
His sly grin faded as he took his position at the barricade, taking mid center alignment with the door. He looked like one of those city punks, a purple spike mohawk, electric violet coat paired with his gold earrings filled the stereotypical description pretty well. But his quill and paper cutie mark confused me, a writer is something I didn't envision Jet to be.
Casting the thought aside I said, “ Its about time we get ready huh?” Rider nodded.
We both took position opposite to each other beside the door, weapons primed and ready. I figured there were at least ten to twenty walkers inside, so we planned to let out steady flow of one to three out at a time, letting our two pony firing line take out the corpses. And if we had any drifters or they needed time to reload, me or Rider would take ‘em out.
I was so focused on the plan a few minutes ago, but now my mind seemed to be in a haze. I wasn't sure if what I was feeling was genuine, and I wasn't sure if I could ever come to terms with something like this. Painful memories of my very recent somepony flashed in my mind. His smart aleck personality, tender eyes, that cute laugh of his. A stallion’s laugh, cute. There were so many things we loved about each other, which only made my longing hurt all the more. Along with a mixture of fiery hatred.
“ Hey.” Rider’s mumble snapped me awake from my daze, “ You ready?” I took a quick glance at the barricade, seeing Hazel was in position with his own rifle, I gave a slow nod. I one fluid motion, I hurried down the length of the door and unlocked it, gripping the knob, but making sure not to twist it without Hazel’s approval.
Given a quick nod, I slowly twisted the knob and nearly flew off the door as the dead inside pushed with such force. But with the combined help of Rider, I was able to hold the door open in a way to let two cadavers squeeze their way through, their focus was keen on the two gunmen. The first in the lead, a mare that seemed to have been set aflame prior was the first to go down, its head snapping back with the force of the rifle round. The things blackened body crumbled but was stepped over by her partner, who seemed to have been a soldier, his navy blue woolen jacket was flawed by coagulated blood. He was able to walk two more feet before he was but down by Hazel, again.
I took a quick glance at Jet under gritted teeth, the teenager’s eyes were wide and he seemed to be shaking his weapon with obvious nervousness and fear. Maybe it was too much to ask of someone so young, but he wanted this, he damn well keep his promise.
“ Jet!” I shouted over the aggressive growls, catching the colt’s shaky attention, “ Get your shit together!”
“ I-I am,” He stammered, straightening himself and the rifle in his violet veil, “ I got this, I-I got this.” That wasn't very convincing, but I wasn’t able to react to his response as another walker began to squeeze its way through, its eyes locked on me and began to squirm in my direction. I expected for a rifle round cavity to materialize in its head, but all I heard was a series of clicks.
My head snapped nervously over to the garrison, Hazel was struggling to fix a jam, the brass cartridge wedged in the feeding tube below the rifle. Jet however, was fazed and refuse and to fire. Both fear and rage filled me as I tried to both edge away from the maw of the maggot ridden corpse and keep back the other corpses.
“ Jet! Hazel! Kill this thing” My voice cracked as the walker was almost free, close enough for me to smell the aroma of decay. Its eyes were the ever recognizable milky white, that only seemed to to track my erratic movements. Put simply, it was the scariest thing I have ever seen. Even if I’d seen millions before, this one was different, the one that would kill me.
I was on the verge of shouting a terrified cry when a long awaited rifle discharge was heard but the round dug into oak wood of the door. A quick look back at the barricade I was able to see Jet’s rifle smoking from a discharge, his expression dire.
“ The head! Head!” I shouted over the groans and growls, the walker was almost free.
“ I know I know!” The colt cycled another round and took careful aim, locking onto the head of the corpse.
Crack!
Brain matter splashed across the doors, coupled with the cadaver slumping to the ground, only its decayed hind legs caught behind the door. There was a mixture of pride and relief when I saw the threat diminish, and snapped back to the cowering Jet, “ Nice! Keep it up Jet!”
He was horrified rather than proud, so I doubted that he would discharge the weapon again. Hazel had finally freed the blockage from his rifle and cycled a fresh round in, waiting for the next target to come into his sights. I wasn't sure about letting any more of those things out as my endurance drained, and became an ordeal to hold the things back. My impute would go unheard as, the door buckled sharply, pushing both me and Rider outward.
“ Dammit!” He grunted as we both began to push back on the doors. As we performed this action, walkers began to pour out of the gap, neglecting us and heading toward Hazel and Jet. Hazel was fast, unbelievably fast, dropping five walkers in a few seconds. By the time we closed the doors, four walkers remained, three heading toward out riflemen and one to Rider. Jet wasn't as fast or as accurate as Hazel, missing his mark ever to shots.
The quantity of walkers had decreased tremendously, my guess would be at least two or three of them were trapped inside, judging on the growls. I figured, knowing that Hazel could handle a few more walkers, that aiding Rider would be my best move. I tightened my jaw around the cricket bat and rushed the walker closing in on Rider.
“ What are you do-” Jet managed to squeeze out before the door swung open and unleashed five of them. I failed to realize this fact as I brought my weapon down onto the cadavers skull, it was a strong blow but only powerful enough to stagger the thing.
Blood trickled down its face as he turned and half sprinted and half stumbled toward me. I was planning to strike him again but was beaten as a thin shining obelisk forced its way out of the creatures right eye. It soon withdrew and it slumped to the floor, leaving Rider in its place wielding a bloodied saber.
“ Are you insane!” He pushed past the sabers handle, a concentrated glare focused on me. I knew it was probably not the greatest strategy I've ever concocted, so responding would only waste time that was needed to eliminate the walkers.
All I did was turn and charge at the horde of dead flesh at least eight strong, and they wouldn’t be dwindling any time soon due to Hazel’s slow reloading process. But luckily they were all still focused on him so me and Rider could take them from behind. Before I could even come within five feet of the my first kill, I heard a desperate cry and the light hoof clanking of a deserter along with the shifting of the horde toward the shout. Jet had just abandoned the battlefield and the dead were chasing him.
Holding back my anger I chased down my first kill, a mare with a soiled dress, and brought down my weapon onto her skull. Luckily I wouldn't have to strike again as she fell into a heap immediately. Rider sprinted past me as I began build up my strength again, and drove his sharpened steel into another head. He struggled for a single second to pull the sword out of the hard bone, and spurted black bile a inch into the air. The thing emitted a low growl before it feel to the ground.
Crack!
I ducked slightly at the gun shot and twisted toward the sound, relieved to see Hazel was back to sharpshooting. I moved out of his line of fire and adhered to the right of the horde, keeping accidents to a minimum.
“ No! Please! Help me Hazel! Rider please!” The young stallion shouted on the top of his adolescent lungs, filled with pure fear as we all found ourselves in the Gardens. The now group of five undead had brought us into the Gardens as they chased down Jet. I was in a full on sprint as I tried to keep up with the crowd, Rider and Hazel slightly ahead of me. Hazel and Rider were able to get a kill a piece before Jet yelled a blood curdling cry, along with the tearing of pony flesh. The miniscule group of three formed small circle a dug their teeth into the kid, tearing out entrails with grey, decayed teeth and gums.
“ No!” Rider yelled as he pushed past Hazel, throwing him off balance and prolonging his well aimed shot. I had just caught up but stopped beside Hazel, who lowered his weapon to witness the onslaught of of the enraged pegasus. Flesh was cut, limbs were severed, heads rolled and brains destroyed. Those walkers were behind the door, the door I chose to abandon. Only a cold stare could express all the self-inflicted mental anguish within me.
Hazel rushed to Rider, who stood over Jet, bloodied with black bile and mck. Jet was still alive, from what I could see anyway was a heaving pile of torn flesh that lie on the now crimson blades of grass. Rider dropped his saber, and held a hoof out to the boy but recoiled in a fit of rage and mourning. He yelled at the top of his lungs, stomping his hoof into the field, tears streaming from his face.
Meanwhile, Hazel walked up to the suffering pony, and looked at him with a cold stare, one of pity and remorse. He cycled around, letting the spent brass casing fall to the ground. He leveled the rifle to the ponies head, putting tension on the trigger.
A lone tear flowed from my eye, “ I’m so sorry...”
Crack!
***3:37 PMCanterlot Gardens, Canterlot Palace
“ I’ve lost many things, much like all of you,” I said with the utmost truth, holding a makeshift sun grave marker, which consisted of twenty small sticks from the trees in the Garden bound together, “ much of my family I have heard nothing from, my child’s gone with some stranger. Many things come to me and stab my heart, the wound never heals. These two stallions are no different, maybe I’ve never known them much,” I turned away from the crowd of three to the two patches of moist dirt, “ but I see that both of them held a special place in your hearts, to evoke so much emotion. So much love.”
I walked over to the patches and jammed the marker into the dirt between them and backed away, looking back at the mourning party, all grief stricken faces, but Rose was still paralyzed by Braeburn’s death that her face was just blank.
Still, I finished on a subtle note, “ It hurts for me to see them go to.” I was hard to hold back tears, especially in mentioning of my adoptive son. But I managed to keep a cool head for long enough for everyone to scatter one by one, back to their bedrooms. All except me, as I decided to take one last look at the graves, one of a beloved stallion, the other of a kid who meet an all too soon demise.
Events like this only seem to remind me I’m not a survivalist, just some stupid journalist who feels like shes in touch with the world. When, I’m farther than I could even fathom.
It wasn't long until I started to sob softly, taking a seat on the soft grass, not knowing how long I would be in the throes of misery. All the weight of this was on my shoulders the blood was on my hooves. “ It was my...” I drifted off, realizing the the gentle crunch of grass blades suddenly materialized into the silence. I didn't turn around, just kept staring down, unable to face the visitor. It was so quiet, save the echoes of the dead, that I could hear the soft winds of summer. The gentle breeze of the warm air blown through the tall trees of the Gardens.
“ It-” I couldn't bring my voice up past my tears as they choked me. The pony behind me didn't move, but he spoke, revealing his identity.
“ We all have done things that we regret,” Rain Rider spoke sternly, “ things... things you’d rather never have happened. What happened here, it was out of your control, you coul-”
“ A fifteen year old colt is dead because of me!” I shouted, my voice full of rage and sorrow.
“ He’s dead because of the walkers, not you.”
“ The walkers I set free...” I spat wiping my eyes of still streaming tears. Rider took a moment to think, then walked up beside me, and embraced me in a warm hug. My eyes wide, I stammered in mid surprise, not realizing what he was doing.
Wanting some kind of relief, I wrapped my own hooves around him and returned the gesture, nuzzling a bit in his chest.
“ Bad things,” He whispered,” horrible things happen. Even before all this, but you always have to move on. Remember them. Him.” I was balling now, letting out all of my pent up sadness, fear, anger, and numerous of other negative emotions out, feeling so safe in his hooves.
He shushed me silently, stroking my mane, and even kissed me on the forehead. An act such as this would have turned my face a deep red, but I was still venting emotion.
“ I-I-I-” I stammered as he pulled himself and I to the ground, sitting beside each other as I rested on his shoulders. He didn't say anything, all he did was hold me.
And, for the first time in a long time, I felt safe.
And even more emotions for this stallion would rise in me from here on.
And I knew, because I had already accepted them
4:12 PMCanterlot Gardens, Canterlot Palace
I woke with a sudden start, the dimming but bright sky blinding me a bit. In the first few seconds of consciousness, I failed to relieve Hazel hovering over me, shaking me and Rider rigorously. Another second of thought needed to be mulled over before I could prepare proper response in the form of a quick head shake and me shooting up of the floor. Rider followed suit.
“ What’s wro-” I said, but Hazel put a hoof to his lips, then put one to his right ear. I knew I had fallen asleep with hundreds of walkers trying to get into the Palace, which I cursed myself for my negligence. But was nearly stunned to hear virtual silence, no buckling doors, no moans, nothing.
Suddenly, a few dozen shots went off, causing us all to duck down slightly. So, from what I could piece together, some gun happy ponies attracted the dead outside. This was either good for us, or bad if they survive and have sinister intentions.
“ How long has this been going on?” Rider whispered, to receive and unsure shrug from the questioned Hazel.
“ Get everyone here in the Gardens,” I ordered suddenly, confusing the stallions.
“ What do you mean by that?” Rider asked with genuine concern.
“ Since the walkers are gone, I'll go see if the other survivors are still alive,” I adjusted my sling containing my weapon, “ and lock ‘em out at the front gate, or at the very least it’ll keep whatever left out there out.”
“ You didn't answer my question?” Rider insisted, taking a step forward, as if to stop me.
“ You guys can stay in the Gardens in case we all need to bug out.” I was dead set on this plan, even if I had only just pieced it together. Rider was going to object planning to object, but Hazel’s hoof stopped him. Rider looked at Hazel for a bit, with slight anger but I could feel his petty anger subside. I knew what I was doing, I knew I had to keep these ponies safe. I felt like it was my obligation.
“ Hm,” Rider sighed, “ you better know what you're doing out there, and at least have Hazel come with you.”
He turned to face him, “ You okay with that?” There was no objection.
“ Right,” I said, pulling out my bat and gripping it tightly,” If anything goes sideways, Wait until we get back, and fly us out here one by one.” Not the best plan thats for sure, but it was the only one I had. Plus, I thought its was about time I get out of Canterlot.
“ Alright,” Rider replied. I began to walk away before he called to me again, “ Garnet.”
I turned, to see him walking toward me, then giving me a tight hug, something I was finally prepared to return, “ Your one of us now.” He whispered making my heart warm to those five words, I almost cried on the spot. But I kept it together long enough for us to disconnect, but stare for a bit into each others eyes.
I couldn't bring myself to just walk away without resolving some of my other pent up feelings for Rider. It was nearly impossible for me to move, and I knew how to resolve the issue.
I quickly lunged forward and planted a soft kiss on his cheek, feeling it appropriate given the current situation. I quickly pulled back, but found myself unable to face him as my face flushed a deep red. I couldn't see his reaction. His hoof lifting my chin up gently, and us staring passionately into each other’s eyes quickly answered my question. Then, he kissed me back.
It didn't last very long, but when we pulled back, I let out a soft gasp, looking up at him with his tender and loving eyes, “ Be safe Silver, I don't want to lose you too.” Those words felt all too familiar but they still seemed to make my seemingly weak knees figuratively buckle. Too fast for me to think, he gave me quick hug that seemed to snap me out of my trance.
“ I will.” I silently whispered, before I set off with Hazel to carry out my plan, with a slightly clouded head.
***4:20 PMFront Courtyard, Canterlot Palace
Rose pulled the Hazel pulled the right door of the enormous doorway open a bit for me to get a clear look outside into the Courtyard. There were a few bodies of slain walkers, but other than that, nothing.
“ Clear.” I whispered, and aided in the task of opening the entire door to let me and Hazel through. When I stepped out onto the soiled ornate marble of the Courtyard, I was immediately greeted by the rough glare of the Sun. It wasn't too much for me to handle, and shrugged it off quickly.
Hazel followed suit but Rose quickly retreated back inside, I had already told her what to do. But her blank expression wasn't all too convincing to me, but it was all I had. Too much had happened for anything more than a expressionless face to be a tad inappropriate.
The courtyard, compared to the rest of the Palace, was what some would call “ Discord’s Playground”. Bodies of both living and dead, littered the outer cobbled area, either torn apart, shot, or burned, and tangled in the dead hedges and flower patches. Fresh bullet casings littered the floor beneath my hooves, still shining in the dimming sun. Medicinal Tents, Military Barracks, and even a small tent city were cast to the sides of the Court Yard, some torn down but all, as I already knew, were picked clean.
It was a sick sight, but nothing that would faze me.
“ Hazel,” I said, him perking up slightly, “ cover me here, I’ll go take a look beyond the gates to see if their still around. If you hear anything, growl, gunshot, scream, whatever, you get ready for anything. I’ll come running, and if not...”
He looked at me, putting a hoof on my shoulder, a determined face staring back at me.He nodded and rested his rifle on top of the railing, staring down the sights, already prepared. Sighing, I walked down the stairs to the ground floor, onto the polished stone that seemed to be painted a fresh burgundy. A chill went down my spine as I worked my way down the Courtyard, on edge and extremely cautious.
It was incredibly silent, no sound past the gentle summer winds and the nearly silent grinding of hoof and rock. Little was keeping was from jumping up from surprise from my own breath, but I managed to contain myself, walking around corpse’s that I designated as “Maybe” as they had no visible bite or head trauma to keep them down. Just the sight of their corpse made my heart nearly jump out of my chest with the possibilities.
Soon, the Main Gate was reached, and, before I would even think about opening it, a quick OK signal back to Hazel was made, him holding a hoof up in response. I turned back, and ventured on pushing the gate open. The gate moved only a few inches before shot rang out and I immediately dove for cover behind a stone wall.
What the fuck!
Was what my puzzled mind came to as I cowered even more so to the ground as several more shots rang out, but none from Hazel. Fear was felt for the stallion, fear that made me realize this could be it. How I was going to die, by the hands of, Celestia knows who.
I’m not gonna die, I told myself sternly as more shots went off, for reasons I may never know, not like this...
“ HELLO!” A voice shouted, making my eyes go wide as I realized it was a mare, one that was very close. She gave her shout a minute to cement before she spoke again, but with added venom.
“ Alright bitches! We got one of your sniper so you could either come out now or we’ll have to smoke ya out!” Smoke us out? I questioned, before shuddering at the realization thea Hazel might be dead. Then an additional chill went through me when I realized that smoke was usually associated with fire. They were going to burn us alive.
My tactical choices are very slim, either run like heck or surrender to the enemy. Which was no different than death. I had little time to mull this over as my body acted first, running back to the Palace as fast as I could, swerving as much as I can to avoid sniper fire.
My mind was solely focused on getting back inside, so I failed to realize that Molotov Cocktails were being tossed over the tall stone walls, setting the dry grass and bodies ablaze. Sniper fire was lesser as they managed to miss every single shot when I finally reached Hazels position and catch a glimpse of his body and nearly stumbled over as I tried to stop and take position to the very alive Hazel.
He had taken a shot to the stomach, he was mortally wounded, blood pooling beneath him. My reaction was to fast for me to comprehend, and was even more puzzling when he stopped me, putting a hoof square on my chest.
“ No just let me-” I was surprised to realize he was meekly levitating his rifle to his side, “ you can't do this, we need you.” He didn't respond to my plea and turned onto his stomach, his face devoid of pain, and he pulled up his rifle onto the railing again and began returning fire. I was at loss for words, so tearful hug was all I could sum up.
“ Please...” No response.
With the heat of the flames intensifying, I had little choice to retreat back into the Palace and ran back to the Garden. Makeshift fire bombs were starting to come into the palace, burning everything in sight. Crackling wood, gun fire and gun shots filled the air.
I was halfway down the Lesser Hall when a cocktail beat me, lighting the area in front of me into embers. Some of the flaming oil splashed onto me, and I was able to quickly put out my right fore leg. Pain was numbed as I looked beyond the flames to see Rider beyond them, shouting for me to come to him as the flames had grown to height he couldn't pass without being set aflame.
Something struck me in the back of the leg paired with a loud bang, making me collapse to the force. My world spun, full of fire and it began to cloud in a dull haze.
No! Get up!
A light brown figure hovered over me, shaking my incoherent body.
Please! I can lose you! Don’t...
Muffled shouts and “loud” cracking went off to my left, but it didn't faze Rider, only making him come to a final decision.
I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry Silver.
He planted a soft peck onto my lips, me unable to respond to kiss.
I love you Silver....
Soon after, darkness consumed me. Darkness, that I strangely welcomed. Because for once, I might find peace in what might lie beyond my mortal body.
