The remnants

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
chapter 3
chapter 4
chapter 5
chapter 6

Chapter 1

Fourteen piles of ash littered the ground, the breeze gently blowing them away. It’s sad, I had to be the one to lay waste to them. Not like I enjoy it, I have to do it, it’s orders and if I don’t follow… well… I’m not entirely sure what the consequence is but I’m not one to question the rules. I don’t thoroughly enjoy this job, if anything it took my old life away. I barely remember anything before that day. That day everything was taken from me and I was dragged into this fight, this war.

This war has been going on for thirty-something years. I’ve been “doing my duty” and “doing my part” for around seven years of it. I never wanted to be here, I was in the draft. I was going to school, but I was brought into this mix up of bullets and blood. Those bleak past seven years I’ve been stuck underground, waiting for the enemy to trot over us and take us over. For those seven years I’ve missed the sun, it’s been years since I’ve seen it. Same with the moon, I’ve missed the sight of them both. I can’t wait till I can leave this hole in the ground and go back home.

We’re stationed in an underground cavern, inside housing a colony of about one hundred and fifty civilians. All living with this unclear-clouded vision of a better tomorrow past this hurdle, but all of us, the soldiers, know this war will kill us all. Celestia save us-if she can before we all decide to kill ourselves.

The cavern was quiet, low whistling from the entrance almost a half mile ahead of me, echoing through the twist and switchbacks from the enclosed labyrinth Behind me was a giant metal door, outlandish, huge. Pieces of metal plates and bolts strung together trying to hold the hunk of metal together. It was worn from Celestia knows what. I spent many hours a day re-enforcing it so it would function properly.

I was on guard duty, which means for three to four hours a day I had to stay by this door with this gun and “terminate” anypony who tried to get near that wasn’t one of our guys. I think it’s for a good reason, farther down the cavern I had posted signs. If you can’t read or follow simple directions what good are you?

For the hours I spent here, in front of this gate I remembered better times. Back when this war had never affected me, but that was when I was a young little colt. I always dreamed of being a writer, it was something I always wanted to do. I wrote stories all the time. My friends that I don’t remember back in Canterlot used to say there wasn’t a day I didn’t have a quill in hoof writing something. Those were better times. Better times for all of us. Now I’m here, waiting for another casualty created by me. I felt sick for doing it, I felt like a monster. I was just a grunt with a gun though, it’s my job, I have to do it-not like I want to-but it has to be done.

A gentle breeze blew in from the far off mouth of the cave. The smell of ash and charred wood filled my helmet with those sweet thick smells. They weren’t sweet to the senses but to my mind, the little tricks it played on it. It felt good to think of what the outside may look like, good or bad, it’s still just the though of what it’ll be like out there was fairly exciting.

The guys said to take up smoking, or drinking, or any kind of drug they fell into. I never saw the point in it; if you’re not happy with yourself do something about it. Don’t waste your time with needles and cigarettes. They said it’ll “remind me of home,” bull shit like that. I always considered writing to be my drug, when I wasn’t working the bench I was writing in my room. My usual stories were of ponies climbing to great heights just to fall to the inevitable hell that awaits them at the cliff. It’s sad but that’s what happens, the good that prosper get a bullet in the brain and the bad are the ones who pulled the trigger. That’s how the world turns though.

A great silence I just recognized hung in the air. Silence was good, it meant nothing was happening, but also it was ominous in a way. I never saw it as that though. Silence was good, it made me reminisce, made me think. I liked to have my thoughts to myself. It was calming, serene.

The silence was broken though by a metallic screech. The door behind me was grinding along rusted wheels to the left inching past slowly. Standing inside another stallion stood looking out into the cave from the giant door, the red eyes of his helmet glowing dimly. His voice sounded like static, broken up slightly by the suits microphone inside his helm.

“Kssshh… Crimson, you’re Kssshshift’s up. Ksssh.” His voice echoed.

I walked over to him and tapped his helmet lightly.

“Your internal mic is damaged, hit me up later in the bench so I can fix it up.” He nodded and proceeded past me into the cave.

I walked in and a cool chill ran down my spine and enveloped my armor in a cold wrap of ice almost. The door opened into another big steel door, not as big and outlandish as the outer one but still impressive. A panel was suspended on one of the short square walls. A green button and some smaller blue ones. I went over and pushed the blue button. Circling orange lights spun around the entrance. The sound of air pressure being released sounded its typical high-pitched shriek before the door slammed shut. The door’s locks hummed and spun behind the masses of metal spun together to for it. A long pause hung before the bolts and gears settled with little crackling noises.

The panel’s big green button no longer glowed but in its place a smaller deep blue colored button lit up. I pressed my hoof against it and a feminine robotic voice spoke.

“Decontamination process initiated. Please lock on air filters or securely enforce helmet now.” The voice commanded. I felt around the side of my helmet for the button that locked my helmet so it was airtight. I pressed it and with the decompressing sound the helmet sealed shut. My vision out the helmet shutter, or eyes whichever you prefer to call them, was reduced to blank white. After a few seconds the voice came back on.

“Decontamination complete, have a nice day.”

Ending on that the smaller door slid open, quicker than the outer one but not by much. I pulled my helmet and took a deep breathe and balanced the metal mask between my shoulder blades. A dim cobalt blue light emanated from inside the door. It opened to a big oval room the blue light reflecting off the walls. Rust spots painted the walls in a few spots and some lights were out leaving some dark sections in the room. White benches sat against some walls and small personnel doors were to the far left and right. One labeled “civilian wing” the other “Military Personnel Wing”. Guess which door I’m going in?

I walked over to the door labeled “Military Personnel Wing,” next to it was a panel with a single button on it and a scanner. Every soldier is given a barcode to gain access to these civilian restricted areas. I pulled the metal cuff covering my hoof; a barcode ran along the front of it. I place it under the scanner. This was tedious, I hated this job and it pissed me off that no one ever asked me what my opinions were. Whether I wanted to fight or not, what side I was fighting for. I was pulled from my life and thrown into this shitstorm. But that’s war, there’s nothing I could have done.

I remember the day they took me away from it, my life, my dream. I lived back in Canterlot. I was going to school there. “Canterlot Academy of the Arts.” I was studying to be a writer. I wanted to write novels that people would actually take time to read, I still believe with a good book the weight of these desperate times would ease up. I remember that fall day, it was my first year and I had been going there for about three weeks. I was packed to go to class, I had money so I could go to that little café down the street, I had my journal for writing some ideas down whenever I got them. I opened the door that fateful morning.

Two soldiers decked in full combat armor stood at the door. I knew what they were there for. I remember falling, my frame was crippled, I couldn’t move. I sat there taking in the situation. This was a death sentence. I started to cry a bit, one of the troops took his helmet off and touched my shoulder. I remember him saying, “You won’t even be here that long, the war is bound to be over soon.” I remember my little outbreak that landed me a parole officer. The troops are oblivious, they still are. Thinking they’re fighting for a good cause? They’re stupid, they don’t know that no one wins a war like this. Everypony will die in the end.

The hallways were bleak and grey with low humming pale green lights lighting the way down it’s dim corridors. The sweet wretched scent of lemon soap irradiated from he floor and floated to the ceiling leaving its chalky aroma suspended in the air. Down the hallways the smell of food broke the trace of that putrid lemony odor. Echoes of voices trailed off from down the metal halls, it was still quiet though, just quiet enough at least.

The thought of food trailed into my mind. At the thought of it made my stomach churn and moan. It had been hours since I’ve eaten and some food sounded great right now. Up ahead there was a fork in the road splitting off into two directions. A sign was lit up black font placed in front of a yellow light that shone brightly separating the two pathways. “Mess Hall, Medical Ward, Armory- Right.” bellow that sign read another; “Living Quarters, Supplies, Reck-Room, The Bench- left.” The bench was the engineer and mechanics worked, I was the only one who was an engineer and mechanic that was stationed here. I turned right diving deeper into the invisible fog that held that beautiful smell.

Up ahead a bright light shone through the hallway, the white glare from the opening lit up a small part of the floor that lay at the fine aperture. Along the wall a green light had an iridescent glow that showed dimly through the white light in the hallway. Approaching the light the smell was vivid and loomed in an addicting passion that enveloped the senses.

The doorway opened into a brightly lit white room. The bright lights that had been placed in the flooring illuminated the room with a sharp piercing light that reflected off the walls that met the eye with a burning intensity. The light bombarding my eyes strained my perception. I had to pause while my eyes adjusted to the new bright environment. Strung up along each wall were big propaganda posters, big and over exaggerated. “Your hooves can build a better tomorrow,” one says, “Celestia needs you to fight for the people,” another reads, then the one that makes me laugh each time; “Join the army, see the world.” What a bunch of bullshit that is. I’ve been stuck in a hole for 7 years and I haven’t seen daylight since that day so many years ago.

Inside six long tables sat horizontal to the exit/entrance. In the beginning we were expecting more soldiers, like forty or fifty. Now there are nine keeping around three hundred civilians safe. Outside is a war; no metaphor or joke, twenty miles west is the frontline. The eight here were the only ones to hold back a whole battalion, an army even, from coming in here and killing everyone. Notice how I said, “Hold back”? Yeah, none of us are experienced enough to hold off a squad let lone an army. We’re fucked here six ways to Sunday, we’re just waiting for the whole cave to shake with their marching hooves just to blow down our doors.

I know the stallions here, four would surrender becoming POWs, four of them would die fighting, and the only stallion I actually befriended and I would probably run for our lives. Strip our armor off, take some food and two gas masks and bolt for the nearest town. A part of me wants it to happen, but that’s just the feeling to escape I’ve adopted.

That friend of mine is one I met when I first arrived here. His name’s Blue mist, weird since I’m Crimson and he’s blue, he’s a blue pegasus if you hadn't guessed that already, from Cloudsdale, before the whole rainbow factory incident. He was drafted like me, but had just gotten out of flight school. He had his whole life ahead of him but it was cut short by this-this war. He wanted to cook. He had this big dream to become a royal chef and prepare food for the “fair Celestia” and the “Majestic Luna”. Hehe, he liked her. I remember he said back in his room he had posters of her an all of his walls. This war though divided that throne between Celestia and Luna and now, now we’re out here settling their war with our lives. It’s sad, but when or if we escape, I want to find him after this is over and have dinner with him, not in that way though, as friends.

I walked to the small huddle of soldiers, I think I miss counted; there are ten at the table not eight. I sat down at the far corner of the table outside of the clique of soldiers. They were talking, keeping the silence out of sight and out of mind. I tuned them out best I could and listened to the metallic warm hum from the lights and the vents, I was spacing out a little bit.

“Crimson!” someone called out breaking my trance. I looked over to the table with an attentive stare.

“What?” I asked quietly.

A big grey pegasii by the name of Smoke Screen motioned over to the commander, Silver. Silver was a hot shot, a real sparkly bastard. He had one of those douchey personalities you can’t stand, seriously! I hate his fucking guts. He’s a bright sparkly silver fucker with a jet-black mane, his breastplate decorated with medals that you don’t even need to work hard to get. I try to avoid him best I can.

“Crimson,” he said getting up from the table and trotting over to me in his typical pompous manner.

“Now that you’re here I’ve got some news.” He said sticking his chest out best he could.

Despite how big and tough he seemed he was short, very short, I think I’m taller than he is, I’ve never wanted to get close enough to him to check. He got close next to me and put a hoof around my shoulder.

“One is a high ranking officer that will be second in command around here.” He said addressing somepony who was new around the group of faces. Except, I couldn’t see his face, it was covered by a face wrap from his armor. A hood attached to a long parka like cloak shielded his mane. What stood out were his eyes, those dull green eyes. They were completely void of life as he looked up at Silver and nodded. They had no shine, blank almost.

“His name is Headstone, he’s from the frontline. So far he is the most experienced on the battlefront.” Silver made his first round around the table,

“I expect you all to show him your gratitude for risking his life on the front lines.” Everyone, almost in unison, rolled their eyes and sighed.

“The other,” he said walking behind an unfamiliar white-coated stallion with a grey mane containing black streaks in between, he was toward the small side.

“He’s a new recruit, Starblazer.” Silver said placing a hoof on his head.

Starblazer, I'm guessing, lowered his head and blushed a little. His face was kinda disappointed looking.

“This new little runt comes from Canterlot boys.” He said shaking his head and then letting it go and continued on his route around the table.

“Unfortunately he does not hail under my power,” Damn, he’s such an asshole.

“He is directly commanded be you.” He finished pointing a hoof at me.

“It’s your job to take care of him, he bunks with you, he eats with you, he works with you.” As Silver turned his back I boiled over.

“No,” I said standing up. Silver spun around and with some shock withdrew.

“Excuse me?” he said, sounding really pissed.

“Was that a question? Crimson?” I shook my head.

“No it was not but I don’t give a rat’s ass!” I said. Silver slammed his hoof on the table shaking it a bit.

“What was that? I didn’t give you an option, you will take him and you better like it.”

At that point I got into his face.

“I was forced to come here, I was forced out of my life, I was forced into this war, you are not going to force another thing into my life!” Silver stepped back and exhaled.

“Crimson,” his eyes darted at me, the blue piercing like knives.

“You remember that talk we had about a month ago?” Oh shit, he’s gonna pull that card.

“I am the only thing standing between you and a one way ticket to the frontline.” I stepped back and sat back down. He trotted over to me calmly.

“If you ever want hopes of going back to your old life you better follow your orders or the parole officer will here about this.” He leaned in close into my ears, so close I could feel the fur around his muzzle in my ear and he whispered.

“Then you will never go back to where you were.” I snapped, I could feel my blood boiling. He backed up smugly. Now he was at the perfect angle. I slammed my hooves on the table and lifted my whole body up and with all the hatred I built up I slammed my hind legs with the most powerful buck I’ve ever preformed right into his face.

As I made contact with his cheek cracking sounded all the way up his face, his body flying towards another set of tables and benches. He lay there on top of a mesh of tables and chairs. He coughed and spat up some blood onto the floor wiping the residual blood-saliva from his muzzle. He was not happy I could tell. He rubbed his jaw as he rose to three hooves, his mouth hung slack jawed.

“Well,” he said placing the fourth hoof on the floor.

“Now that you’ve broken my jaw and the whole side of my face are you good now?” He said calmly.

He lifted his hoof up and rubbed it again.

“I’ll give you points Crimson, that was a good shot.” Another stallion rushed to his side with some ice but Silver raised his hoof and he sat back down.

“I do think credit should be credited when it is deserved and that strike was good.” He said.

I’m confused, I expected him to lash at me back. He didn’t and that’s what’s scaring me.

“Look, Silver-“ He raised a hoof to me.

“No, don’t say anything.” I didn’t feel sympathy for him.

“I had been warned by the guards that took you from the academy how deadly you were from the waste down.” He sat back down at the table and took a drink from one of the glasses.

“You have three weeks,” he said.

“Wha-what do you mean?” I asked.

“Three weeks until what?”

Silver sighed slowly.

“Until the probation officer gets this and sends you to the front line.” It got quiet suddenly.

“Well, for the three weeks you’re here why not show the new guy the ropes.” A sly smirk crossed his muzzle.

“After all he will be replacing you.” I saw red, I lunged at him but three of the others seated at the table rose and held me back, just barely though.

“Woah!” He said backing up with a smile putting both hooves up.

I finally calmed down. The others still held me back, I stood and barred my teeth at him, I kept my head down looking up at him. He walked up and lifted my head up face him.

“Maybe we can arrange something?” he asked with a smug smile. He leaned in close and whispered something in my ear.

“If you do a favor for me later, I’ll do a favor for you.” He backed up with the same smile and walked out.

“Meet me in my quarters around twenty-one hundred sharp tonight for your assignment.” He said walking out towards one of the hallways that led to the barracks.

The others let me go and I dropped to the floor.

“Crimson.” Blue said to me coming to my side. His young orange eyes torn full of concern.

“Crimson, what’s going to happen to you?” He asked. He stood almost to eye level with me.

“Blue, It’s going to be fine.” I said smiling at him. I put a hoof around him and pulled him close.

“Nothing is going to happen to me.” Blue looked down at the floor.

“Okay Crimson, I’ll have to trust you.” He had a young innocence to him. He was a few years younger than I was but he had an innocent feel in his tone when he spoke, almost as if he was a young colt. I turned my attention from Blue’s dismal face to the crowd of chatting jarheads.

“So who’s this new guy I’m supposed to train?”

A larger yellow pegasii by the name of “Buster”, I think it is, looked next to him. A white earthpony sat slumped over asleep. The pegasii raised a leg and nudged him. He shot up from his slumber, his eyes a little pink. He rubbed them with that back of his hooves and looked at the yellow pegasii. Buster gestured over to me. The white stallion put his hooves on the table and lifted himself out of the seat. His hooves were huge, bigger than any others I’ve seen. He got up and rolled his shoulders back letting a crack out with each inch they went back. Finally he walked towards me, his eyes were half open his mouth hung low on his face but that might be from the angle his head was at. His ears weren’t up the also hung low. His maroon-burgandy eyes stood out above all else on him. Shinier new armor was cleaned and glowed on his body as he walked. Walking up to me he outstretched a hoof.

“My name’s Starblazer.” He said. His voice sounded worn and scratchy but young. His face looked that way, young, clean, new.

“I’m your new partner.” I grabbed his hoof and raised it once and lowered it down.

“It’ll be a pleasure working with you.” I nodded,

“hopefully it’ll be the same with you.” I said a half smile raised his cheek on one side.

“I think we’ll get along fine.” He said.

I sat back down at the table and he sat across from me. Blue found a seat right next to me.

“So Starblazer,” I said getting his attention.

“What’s your story.” He looked confused.

“Excuse me?” he said softly in the same scratchy tone.

“What’s your story? Where are you from? Why did you join?” His eyebrows raised above his mane that hung low into his face. He exhaled slightly and took a deep breathe in.

“Well,” he said.

“I think I should come off by saying that I volunteered.” He explained rubbing one of his large hooves through his nicely groomed mane.

“I needed the cash and my family needed a place to stay that was safe-“

“You have a family?” Blue piped up interrupting him.

“How old are you exactly? You don’t look much older that me.” Blue asked.

“I started my life young,” Starblazer said with a content smile. His eyes never changed from the half open position they were at, his mouth was the only real way he showed emotion.

“You and me are probably the same age.” Starblazer said.

“I had a kid at a young age, probably when you were just taking your flight test.” Blue’s eyes open wide, in shock most likely. I stepped in,

“So are you married?” I asked.

He lowered his head down resting his chin on his hooves that were crossed on the table.

“No, I have a girlfriend, it's our kid, but we’re not married.” I nodded.

“I see,” I said sitting back in my seat.

“So why did you join?” I asked. He raised his head from the table propped a hoof up under it.

“I didn’t feel safe with my family where we were living. I joined because they house the families of soldiers near military bases and they stay for free.” I nodded again closing my eyes.

“So yeah,” I heard him say.

“What about you?” A chill ran down my spine.

“I was-“ I shook my head.

“I was drafted.” Starblazer raised his eyebrows up under the hairline of his mane, pushing himself back putting his hooves on the table outstretching his forelegs out.

“Well, I’m sorry to hear that.” He said.

“What were you doing before the draft?” I tapped my hooves together slightly thinking whether or not to tell him.

“I-I was,” I hesitated for a second.

“I was going to school in the Canterlot Academy of the Arts.” He nodded slowly.

“I lived in a town just south of Canterlot.” He said.

“Back in Ponyville.” He crossed his hooves and looked at the table. He lifted a hoof and brushed his mane to the side.

All that remained was silence now with the background noise of the other ponies talking and eating. Starblazer dropped a hoof down below the table. His mane stayed gently in place as his body froze for a second. He lifted his head back up and a cigarette hung from his lips. He rolled his neck around and brought up a small lighter from a munitions pocket in his armor. Click click click went the lighter as he held it in one hoof and struck it with the other. A little flame lifted from the small metal box and lit the cig hanging between his lips. He took a long drag of it, pulled it away from his mouth and let out a plume of smoke up into the air. He looked over to me and gestured to it.

“I don’t smoke, Starblazer.” He nodded wit his eyes closed.

“You can call me Star.” He said. Blue looked over to a clock hanging on one of the far walls.

“Crimson, it’s two-0-thirty hours.” I looked at the clock and nodded

“I know.”

The realization that you are on your final death march before the hanging is a difficult one to cope with, and when it hits you, it hits hard. Silver spoke of an assignment he wanted me to do, but if it was anything I was thinking of I’d rather be on the front line. The fact that Silver has complete control over every move I make and that I tried cutting his strings, I might be screwed over more than I know.

I rose from the bench and grabbed my helmet off the table, carefully balancing it between my shoulder blades. I made my way back into the dark hallway. A certain musk hovered in the air, the scent of steel and dust once again filled my nose. That familiar odor was intriguing to me, it reminded me of home again.

I remember back in Canterlot one of the professors’ rooms I studied in smelled similar to that wretched perfume. Mostly because he’s old and his room was old. I don’t remember his name but I do remember I used to talk with him a lot after class. He would ramble on about old time-y days and old pony mythology. It was always good material to take down for some notes. His stories always gave me writing ideas. The most memorable one was of the old days with users of the elements of Harmony. I remember he told me about how those six ponies scaled a mountain and defended the town from a fierce dragon that would possibly kill everyone. It was only a mare’s tale though. If I do remember anything about that professor is that he gave me so much to write about, man do I miss those days.

After walking around the labyrinth of metal hallways and doors I finally came onto Silver’s room. The doors to his quarters were bigger and were two wide instead of one. One the left was a red scanner, a red button, and above it a camera. I stared at the camera for a few seconds and then pressed the red button. A metallic buzzer sounded on the other side of the doors and they slid open. I walked inside slowly. His room was large and circular, a main chandelier-like light hung from the ceiling in the center of the grey and silver room. At the far end was a large chair with two hind legs showing through the legs of the chair. The walls were blank and there was nothing in the room. Two shutter doors were on each side of the room, one probably leading to his bed and the other to the washroom.

I stood up strait and kept my legs close together in proper order.

“Silver you wanted to see me, sir?” I saw a muzzle look out from one of the sides of the couch with a big smug grin.

“Crimson, I didn’t expect you to make it.” I wanted to break out, say something like “of coarse I did you asshole now what do you want?” but I didn’t.

“What was my assignment?” Silver rose from the chair, he had no armor on, nor a jumpsuit he had no clothing on.

“Sir, aren’t you required to where a jumpsuit when not in uniform?” Uniform was referring to the armor not the jumpsuit for some weird reason.

“Crimson, ever since you started here I’ve had my eye on you.” He said circling me.

“Well, I see you’ve come here for that assignment?” I nodded slowly, something wasn’t right about him, he wasn’t normal.

“Take your armor off, say a while.” Silver said lying down on the floor. I was a little confused.

“Just take your armor off Crimson, we’re all stallions here!” I didn’t move. It took a second but I knew what he was up to.

“Silver, I know why you made me come here and I’m not going to do it.” His face turned. His collected calm face changed.

“What are you getting at?” He said with the same tone but with a different expression.

“You want to go to the front lines?” He asked now rising up to all four legs.

“Do you Crimson?” I turned my head away, keeping my posture as strait as possible.

“I’m going to give you a chance to not go to any of it and for you to stay here.” He walked around me circling, observing me at every angle. Like puma watching his helpless prey.

“You just need to do a simple thing,” He said stopping in front of me with his ass in my face.

“And you know exactly what that is.” My heart sank; I felt it drop through my chest. I let my frame cripple below me. I collapsed to the floor. I never wanted to have to do this; this was the one thing I never wanted to experience.

I exhaled deeply and counted to ten. I tried everything that I knew that would keep me calm. This fear of, Celestia I don’t even know what, was tearing my mind apart.

“It’s either this or dying. It’s either this or dying.” I kept telling myself. I bowed my head down.

“Fine,” I said quietly. Silver walked closer to me.

“What was that?” He asked pricking an ear up.

“Fine,” I said louder

“I’ll do whatever you want.” I looked back at him; a big, white, evil smile was painted across his face.

“Don’t worry,” He said.

“I’ll try to be gentle.”

Chapter 2

That morning a heavy toll was forced into my mind. I open one of the doors to Silver's room and stumbled out into the hallway. I had all my armor and clothes balanced on my back but they slid off as I stood in the dark hallway. It was early, everyone was asleep except me. I fell to the floor the darkened lights cast my lonesome shadow down the hallway in two directions splitting the black figure. I looked into the dimly lit corridors and then put the back of my head against the wall. "Celestia," i said breathing hard now almost on the verge of tears. I tucked my legs in, pulling my hind legs to my chest and holding on to them with my forelegs. "What sin have i done, to make these ponies tear me from my life, and now this."

A smell clung to me, a nasty musk of sweat and something else. I wanted a shower, something to wash away the essence of whatever foul smell was attached to my body. My mane fell into my face the sweat dripping off my bangs rolled off stinging my eyes. I couldn't sit outside this fucking place anymore, i need to go or else I'll go back into that room and kill that fucking bastard.

I got up slowly trying my best not to make noise. I rolled my shoulders back cracking them the noise echoed down the darkened,empty hallways. Doing the same with my back i arced it forward and the cracking of each vertebrae made me feel a little more at ease. Finally i place my helmet on quietly and put on my uniform as silent as i could and continued on down the hallway.

As I made my slow dragging pace forward. I kept my eyes locked on the floor looking through red visors. The heads up display flashed with oxygen levels indicated in bars below and a small geiger counter ticking to the left corner of my eye. This helmet was supposed to protect you from three shots to the head if the enemy was to shoot you there but something tells me it's not that powerful.

At long last my march was over and my quarters were just ahead. The light above my door had a makeshift sign above it that read "Crimson". I had put that there so many years ago, I put it there to no get lost so i could find my way back to my room and not confuse it with another. I have been here so long now I just know the god-damned way back to this place by heart. Something was mounted on the door though, a white rectangle of some sort hanging in the middle of the door.

Walking up to it, the square was a letter that was attached to the door by a circular magnet. The address was from the Canterlot Academy of the Arts. Blue leaf had covered the edges of the envelope and a red seal sealed it. I placed it in my mouth and with the same hoof that had the bar code printed on it placed it under the door. The red line went back and forth across my hoof and the a green light flashed where it had been. The door opened with a short whoosh.

Inside was a box, sitting at the foot of the door. It was a worn box, several stains covered the outside and it smelled of old wet paper, dust, and smoke all at the same time. It perplexed me, what was the doing here? I simply ignored it and moved on, pushing it out of the way of the door.

The inside of my room was small. Only about ten feet wide and about fifteen across. It had a bed, a desk, a clock, and a locker leaning on a wall. On the wall across from me was a door that opened up into the bathroom. The desk was across the way from my bed and had piles of blank papers on one side and on the other had a smaller stalk covered in writing. In the center of the two piles was another sheet of paper, half filled with writing, and a quill cartridge pen. The locker stood at the far corner of the room next to the bathroom door. It mostly held jumpsuits and some extra quills and paper and such. I tried to keep my room empty, as empty as possible.

I walked into the bathroom and turned on the water from the sink. Removing the helmet from my face i stared into my own eyes in the mirror hanging above the faucet. The deep purple hue they once were had faded to a dim violet grey. I missed that color, the color of innocence, the color of insolence, the shade of youth. Now that had changed. It was a color of experience a coat of knowing and intellect i did not appreciate. Those eyes i have missed so dearly though, those eyes I've envied will never return. I'd rather claw my own eyes out than have this be the color, the shade, the tint they will remain.

I looked at the red eyes of the helmet, eerily glowing. That metal helm angered me. It was symbolic for what my life had become: metallic, grey, dark, monotone, cold, dead, emotionless. The only three emotions i had now were anger, fear, and last but not least wanting. Once in a while that relaxing feel of peace will arise in my mind but only be shut out by the possibilities of how i would die in here. That mask stared me down now, it glowing red eyes flaring. The heathen of a face haunted me for too long for it to annoy me now. Out of pure frustration i picked up the helmet and looked at it.

"What the fuck did I do to deserve this?" I asked it. All it did was stare. I yelled at it now.

"What did I do?" Out of impulse I threw the Helmet. It bounced around the floor making clacks and dings until it sat in the middle of the floor between the shower and the toilet spinning.

All i could do was accept it. This was my life now, probably will be for a while. I picked up the Helmet and placed it on my head again. The heads up display was not on anymore. I tapped the side of it and it hummed to life again, but only the geiger counter was on.

I walked out of the bathroom over to the desk taking the letter and throwing it onto the desk, the thing spinning on entry to the table's surface. I turned my back on the desk and sat on my bed. My head hurt, i gripped my forehead. Looking over at the clock i didn't realize the time. The long hand had set at the eight, the other at the four. I had to be at the bench at five. It'll take me 20 minutes to get there. I guess I'm going to have to pass on sleep tonight.

Upon walking out i noticed he letter i had thrown onto the desk.

"Academy of the Arts?" I said aloud to the empty room.

"I wonder what they want?"

I grabbed it and placed it in one of the empty pouches in the utility strap tied to my waist. The door was still open to the hallway, a figure stood in the dark doorway. Light had illuminated his face from a small light hanging from it's mouth. It stood on its hind legs and leaned on one of the sides of the door.

"I take it this is your room?" It asked. I nodded.

"I got lost, going to the bench. Your room was the first I stumbled across." The light toned down a bit and then returned to it's normal brightness.

"Star?" I asked the figure.

"That you?"

"Yeah." He said calmly.

He dropped to all four hooves.

"We need to get to the bench and I'm completely lost." He said looking down the hall.

"I know where it is." I said walking out the door pushing past him.

"I figured." He said trotting up right next to me.

As we followed the dim lights something felt strange. The air felt heavy and thick. It had a strange smell to it. Starblazer stopped his march and had his nose in the air.

"Crimson," He said looking at the air vent above him.

"I'm not the only one that smells that right?" He asked. I nodded.

"Something's not right," I said to him.

''I'll check on the vents later." Something was definitely wrong with the air. Even as we went down the hall farther the smells remained and clung to the walls.

The bench was not too far ahead. The smell was almost repulsing me away. Down the hallway a glowing red sign hung at an angle. "Bench" was all it said, a smear of grease was slapped across the "N" leaving "Bech" hanging from the ceiling. Outside a massive cart was sitting on four wheels, rust covering the sides.

The Bench was just wall to wall parts and tools. Drawers and drawers of nuts, bolts, screws, and scrap metal that could be used to repair armor. In the center was a melting and torch table. The melting table was where you put in the mold of what you want the part to be and it melts it down according the the frame. The torch table was to finnish off and sharpen edges. On the outer rim of the room were tables covered in parts and old tools. Everything was covered in rust and had a metallic smell to it.

Starblazer walked into the room first.

"So is this where we work for now?" He asked looking around the tables. I walked over to a computer mounted into the wall at the far end of the room.

"Yeah, this is where we do our thing." I said looking at the repair orders.

Each day we get repair orders from the soldiers and from the civilians. As soon as we finish we take the part or whatever we fixed and bring it to the one who needed it. It was a broken cycle, yes, and an even more tiring one, but i have to do it.

I quickly scanned through the lists of things that needed repair.

"Helmet, mixer, audio file, outer camera" I read off out loud. I heard some clanking behind me. Whipping me head around to see Starblazer had pulled out a stool from under one of the tables.

"Dammit Star," I said turning back to the computer.

"You scared the shit outta me."

"Woah dude." He said.

"No need to get anal about everything, damn." He finished as i heard him dropping his sorry plot onto the seat. I didn't think he realized the sick context I took that for from what had happened the previous night. I got a chill from the thought.

A single idea crossed my mind. Why not kill him? It would be easy; take the cart outside and put a gas tank in it, put it in his room and open it and just wait for him to suffoca- Crimson! Dammit, Crimson this place is driving you insane. Listen to yourself, plotting murder? My thoughts were broken by the sound of Starblazer's voice.

"What's our first order?" He asked.

I scrolled back to the top.

"One of our crew members yesterday has a bad microphone in his helmet, needs some minor repairs." I said turning to one of the work benches. Starblazer looked out into the hallway.

"What was that?" He said getting off the chair.

"You heard that too right?" I looked at the door. A deep throat moaning echoed down the halls being slightly distorted by the sounds of static.

"What in the hell?" I went to look down the hallway, but-but something was odd. Besides the eerie noise the lights were down all the way down the halls, some lights flickering on and off and some only dimly lit the corridors. The moaning grew louder.

"Crimson, you hear that right?" I nodded. That noise is not normal, it's like a moaning but with a gargling. The slight distortion of the static made it even worse.

"I hear it, I have no clue what it is though."

Just then, one of the lights flickered on. A figure stood in the hallway. It's head crooked to one side, it's red jaw slung sideways. It was on two legs and it slowly trudged forward.

"Starblazer do you have a gun on you?" I asked him. I heard no response.

"Dammit Star! Do you have a gun on you?!" I asked again.

"No why?" He looked out the door and into the hallway.

"The fuck is that?" I heard him say under his breath.

The thing got closer. Like I said before, it's head was crooked to one side. It's jaw was hanging from it's face by Celestia knows what. It wore a helmet similar to mine but with the bottom half completely torn off. It's chest was opened up completely by what looked to be claws. One single part of one of the eyes opened up to reveal black. It had no eyes, or, it had eyes but they were black. A deep dark shade of pitch black even shadows couldn't replicate.

It stopped it's slow drag forward. The smell of blood was now overwhelming. The low sounds of dripping echoed from the thing, whatever it is. Looking closer, the bone in it's chest was warped. Like his rib cage went through a drill press.

"Starblazer get inside and radio for help." I said going out into the hallway. He nodded and went into the room. I stood there face to face with it. It was still on two legs and towered over me with that advantage. He looked down to me strangely. It then cocked it's head to the left now, almost flipping its whole head around with a loud crack.

"What are you?" I asked myself. When i finished saying that it charged.

I jumped sideways evading the rush from the creature. It turned around and bolted towards me. This time he was far enough away that i could ready myself to counter. I turned my back to him and locked my front hooves. Raising my hind legs I thrusted my hooves into it's face. A loud slam followed by an unholy crack dropped it to the floor. I turned to look at the damage.

I cracked the mask off its face and i was right the first time. No eyes, but red streaks leaked from where the eyes had been once. It's jaw was torn half off. Hanging by a thread of flesh but no bone. It's teeth were different. Normally blunt, they had sprouted wickedly. Twisted or strait, or a variation of the two. The were jagged and razor sharp, all covered in blood. The back of it's armor was torn open as well to where the spine was visible, coated in torn skin and tissue. It was a mess.

Something caught my eyes amongst the mound though. It's hoof's cuff had been torn off and a barcode was visible.

"Crimson!" I heard Starblazer call out.

"I got two or three guys to get down here ASAP." I heard him say as he trotted up to my side. I heard the metal clops against the ground stop.

"Wha-"

"He was a soldier. I saw him as we were switching shifts outside the door." Just now remembering the broken microphone on that stallion that i walked by.

His name was Dusty, I remember him fondly. He never quarreled with anypony and never had a second thought. He was a good pony by nature, calm and collected. He had a brother in Manehattan and his parents lived there too. He wanted to do some work to bring some coin in for the family, but now? Seeing his body laying there it made me feel horrible, like a monster.

"What happened to him?" All i could do was shake my head. My head wasn't the only thing shaking though, i could feel my legs shaking under my. I had to sit down now. Something hit me, I just killed somepony. A chill ran down my spine at the thought.

"Did-d-did I just murder somepony?" I asked anyone who would respond. Starblazer put a hoof on my shoulder.

"Crimson we don't have time, there might be more of those things." He said pulling on my shoulder. I nodded best i could through all my shaking.

What was that thing? Was it a pony? Was it dead? How did it get here? All these questions were racing in and out of my mind. A puddle had been created from the blood seeping from it's face. I looked down and it was on my hooves. Even through armor you can feel death and somepony else's blood could not get you any closer than dying on your own.

I lifted my hooves to my face. They were stained red, crimson red. It trailed down my foreleg and rolled off at the shoulder. There was so much blood, it was covering my hooves. They were shaking, my hooves that is. I couldn't control it my body just shook. So much blood. My head felt empty now, I felt dizzy. My vision became blurry. I stopped shaking but i felt lose like the whole world was shaking. Then I felt it, the gravity shifting and then black. All I could see was black. All I could feel was emptiness. For that spit second I felt myself drop out of consciousness.

chapter 3

An alarm broke my slumber. I looked over to the old clock on my dresser ringing loudly in my ear. The steel hammers mashing on the bell above the face of the clock.

“4:30, like always Crimson.” I said rising from my bed and swinging my legs around to get up. Looking out the curtains the moon was just going down, the sun not yet peaking his head over the horizon. The dim white lights of dawn casted their humble beams warmly on the surface of the shag-pink carpet.

Piles of clothes and paper covered the floor of my dorm room. All covered in writing from stories to poetry, from sonnets to songs, novels to Haiku. All were jumbled up and scattered in ugly yet beautiful piles. Some projects were finished some still needed work and-trust me, weren’t that good. I like that though, the fact that I’m flawed that not everything I write I enjoy. Makes me feel insolent but that’s a good thing. I make mistakes; it’s who I am.

I like my life, I like my dreams, I enjoy making ponies react to words and phrases. That’s why I’m going here, the Canterlot Academy of the Arts! It’s such a wonderful place. Being here made me see a brighter future. One where this war doesn’t exist and Everypony is sitting around in a circle, hoof in hoof reading and laughing. Not in that exact order but just seeing enjoyment on ponies’ faces in this hard time was uplifting.

I had high hopes though; I never expected this war though to stretch out this long. It had been going on since before I was born, but it has to end sometime right? Stallions my age were getting drafted left and right. Not going to lie, It is really scary, any moment you could get drafted. Look at the bright side though: higher girl to guy ratio though! And seriously, I’ve never seen better-looking ass than at this school. I’m not the best looking guy but since there’s not many around…

I hope I never get called to arms. I’d rather get murdered, raped, or Celestia knows whatever else than go to the draft. Those who get drafted don’t come back, not sure where they go. I thought about volunteering as a Military police, then I could still stay here and go to school and not have to do any fighting but I don’t know. It’s all just a real confusing time for everypony.

The window in the far corner seeped in light from the outside. It was white, cleansing, new, and crisp. It soaked up some lines of darkness and brought them clarity on the carpet. It was a new day; my professor was getting in from a trip from Saddle Arabia. He was here for about a week into our studies and was gone for four days. He gave us a spare project to work on while he was gone. I finished it before he left the following day he assigned it. It was by the door already in my saddlebag for class.

A bathroom sat across the way from my bed, it had a shower, a sink, and a toilet. Like the usual routine I always took a shower in the morning right after waking up. It felt good to have the hot water run down my back. The steaming water dripping through my mane. It was amazing to just get up and have your senses cleansed like this.

After I exited I scanned over myself in the mirror. My yellow mane glistened from the water that clung to the banks and locks, my eyes, bright purple. I’ve come to be a little narcissistic about my eyes; I have to be honest about this. They were the one quality I admired about myself that I felt truly proud of. They were bright and vivid, not a dark shade of stress or concern ever crossed them no matter what emotion I felt they always shone. They were young, new, and felt serene and peaceful. I wondered though, would they always look like this? Would they always be this bright hue? A part of me wants them to stay the way they are, but, something-something deep down sorta wants them to change.

I trotted out of the washroom and looked at the clock that hung on the wall. It was still early and since the professor has been out for days I’ve already had my things packed for a while now. I could leave early but I might as well just lay down for a bit. I should go early, grab some breakfast at that little café on Horseshoe Street and Acorn but I need the rest.

With that I trotted over to my bed and lay down. I set the alarm clock to 6:30, which would give me enough time to get to the classroom. I rolled over from my side onto my back and faced the ceiling. My eyes felt heavy and the comforting embrace of sleep coiled around my body. I stretched out and relaxed letting my body just float away.

Bam Bam Bam!

“Crimson, we need to speak with you.”

The voice broke me from my slumber. I looked over to the clock.

“Who is at my door at 5 in the morning?” I asked myself.

Bam Bam!

“Crimson! We know you’re in there!”

“Just a minute!” I called out to the visitor.

“Who the hell do they think they are anyway?”

I stumbled over to the door; the heavy humid air clung to the walls form the shower I took not too long ago. Walking to the door two bulky shadows were casted from the hallway onto the floor beneath my door.

I opened it slowly with a creak from the old door. Two giant Military Police stallions stood staring down at me, their helmets’ red eyes staring down at me. They stood at almost the same height with the almost the same amount of mass on their shoulders. Neither was armed but one held a clipboard with names on it, red lines drawn through a lot of the names. Then an idea popped into my head that they may be here because I did something wrong but then I remembered something horrible that made me hope that I broke the law instead.

“Are you Crimson?” One of the big ones said behind the metallic mask with a metallic scratchy tone. I nodded cautiously. They both looked at each other and nodded.

“Do you currently have any disabilities?” The other asked. I shook my head slowly.

“Might I ask, sirs, what is this about?” The one tallest of the two put out his right hoof.

“Welcome to the armed forces, you’ve just made the draft.”

My heart sank, it hurt, I couldn’t breathe. I shook my head.

“No, no there must be a mistake.” The both looked at each other, then one down to the clipboard.

“Crimson, sex: Male, Height: 5’7’’, color: red coat, yellow mane, race: earthpony, eye color: Violet. That sounds like your description, and it said you attended the Canterlot Academy of the Arts?”

I grabbed the clipboard from him. Is said everything about me, birth records, blood type, any type of disorder I had or do have but it was left blank. All I could do was shake my head.

“This isn’t right. This can’t be right!” I said throwing the clipboard down onto the floor.

“I’m not going! Not now! Not ever!” One placed a hoof on my shoulder.

“Kid, this war won’t be going on for very much longer,” he said in a comforting tone.

“In no more that two months time we would have won already and the enemy won’t even look at this great land called Equestria.”

I something, I don’t know if it was vomit or tears or both. I felt water running from my eyes. I tried to hold them back but it was no use.

One question come into my mind. I had to ask it.

“I’m going to the front lines, huh?” I asked sniveling a little. I felt the hoof lifted off my shoulder. It was silent now. I looked back up to them.

“I’m going to die out there aren’t I?” The one who placed his hoof on my shoulder looked away. I guess they’re looking for extra bodies out there to take the bullets so the stronger ones don’t take as many. I was going to die out there. The grim reaper appeared in front of me as these two wretched beings. This was not a sentence to fight, it was a sentence to death.

My legs gave out from under me. I fell to the floor my legs bent up under me. My face buried into the ground, tears streaming down my face. I let the tears roll out from my eyes but I made no noise. I remained there on the floor, silently crying.

“Oh, stop your crying!” One said. I snapped up to look at him, his figured blurred from the tears.

“You are such a little bitch! The enemy will want to kill you rather than keep you alive if you’re going to cry like that.” That broke something; I felt it snap in my brain. If he wants to screw with me so be it. They’re here to take my near perfect life away, I will not make them easy for them to take me.

Something, deep down, burned all of a sudden. I could feel it in my chest, physically and emotionally. I stood from the ground I had been crying on and looked that one right in those red eyes. I didn’t say anything I just stared for a minute. He backed up and motioned down the hallway. A plan had just hit me as I walked past the two. I don’t want to do this but I don’t want this to end, I value where I’ve gone too much to let it go this easily. My door is closing and I only have one chance to go back to where I was before it closed.

The hallway spelled fresh but bitter. The walls had their similar mediocre maroon and cream-colored stripes as the lights hung from high upon them. I looked down the hall at the door that led outside. Other dorms lined the walls going to it. Both of the soldiers walked next to me synchronized perfectly wit each other’s stride and posture.

Now was my time to do it, if not now I’m fucked forever. I waited until we got close to a door. I looked over to my right, as soon as he was in the center of the door I struck.

I threw my body at him slamming into him and throwing the mass of metal and horse through the door smashing it to pieces under him. He hit the floor with a thud, I was slightly knocked off balance but I regained myself. Looking back to my left I saw the big figure stand back. All I heard was “ The hell?” Before I lunged at him throwing my shoulder into him putting him into the wall opposite of the broken in door. His head flung back and with a clank against the wall he slumped down onto the floor, his body completely motionless.

I turned quick enough to see the other who was knocked through the door. He was crouched down, about to pounce on me. As soon as he left the ground I lifted my hind legs up and kicked. The buck hit him right in the face and cracked his mask down the center. He fell to the floor in a heap like the other.

The door at the end of the hallway glowed now. It was a way back to life, to keep it on the right track. I bolted to it, my writing class I was going to be late for but as long as I get there nothing mattered.

Before I touched the door it flung open, three more soldiers stood looking down at me, all the same height as the other two now knocked out in the hall behind me. One looked down the hallway and then at me.

Now it was over, they knew what I’ve done. It’s all over now, I’m never going to come back to this life, ever.

Light shone through my closed eyes in a blur as a distant muffled voice called out to me.

“Crimson!” I heard it call again.

“Crimson.” I heard it say quietly. My senses were not fully there. My hearing was jacked but my sight seemed fine. Touch came back, I didn’t certainly like that pain in the back of my head. Hearing finally came back.

I felt something all of a sudden, it took me a second to process what happened but it came to me. I opened my eyes a blue figure with a grey body attached to it. Then something wrapped something around me. Whatever it is it’s hugging me.

“Thank Celestia, I thought you were dead.” It said hugging me tighter.

That memory, that flashback hurt the mind. It pained me more than anypony could ever imagine. This was reoccurring in my dreams but now, this time it felt vivid, so life-like, so real. It didn’t change though. If I could go back now I would have. If I could change things I would. I would stop myself from opening the door. I would have put myself back into bed and wait till later, they would have been back but at least I would have had more of that old life to remember.

My vision came back, everything dropping from the pools of blurred color to focused detail and radical contour. The blue object that floated above my head was somepony I was more than happy to see. Blue stood over me looking down at me.

“Crimson!” He said as I sat up. I rubbed the back of my head.

“Blue, what happened? Where is Starblazer?” He looked over to the door and then to me.

“Who? The white stallion from before?” He asked with a puzzled look on his face. I nodded slowly. My head was splitting with pain now.

Blue simply shook his head.

“The last time I saw him was the other night.” I looked around. I was in the Bench; the air still reeked of that heavy gas and blood. Blood was almost all I could smell now. I looked over to the open door where that thing had died. Or so I thought.

“Where is it?” I asked under my breath.

“Where’s what?” Blue asked. All that remained was a bloodstain going down the hallway. I shot back to him.

“You didn’t see a body in the hallway coming here?” Blue was completely dumbfounded. He shook his head.

“Crimson, what’s happening?” He asked cautiously.

“Do you know what’s going on here?” He asked. I couldn’t say anything. In my mind I was trying to piece together what was going on but I was out of ideas.

The dim quiet was broken by a noise. A clatter echoed from down the corridor. Blue got up; I just now noticed the rifle around his body. He rose now to his hind legs and took cover to one of the sides of the door.

“Crimson,” He whispered. “No matter how much I’d like to leave with all this going on we need to figure out what the hell is going on.”

The clatter trailed off into another hall. Blue still held his rifle against his chest ready to shoot at anything that moved.

“They don’t die,” I heard him say. “No matter how many times I shoot them they won’t die.”

He never took his eyes off the hallway. His pupils were small, eyes full of fear. I could tell his whole body has been running on adrenaline. His hooves shook; his legs were shaking, his teeth chattering. Sweat dripped down his mane as heavy breathes of air pumped in and out of his chest, his torso flexing with each breath of air that he took in. He felt more than fear right now, I could tell, he felt the very essence of it that I have not hit yet or I must not be scared at all.

I walked over to him.

“Blue,” I said grabbing his face forcing him to face me. His pupils still small and his face still mortified.

“We need to find out where Starblazer went, then we need to leave.” His eyes remained the size of pebbles as he nodded quickly. He went from nodding to shaking his head.

“Crimson, I-I-I-I don’t know what to do.” He said sniveling a bit. He looked back up to me with a single tear running down his cheek.

“I watched one of those-those things r-r-rip somepony in half.” As I let go of his face he fell to the floor on his rear.

“One of those things had like swords-or something, coming out of where each of its hooves were.” He started shaking violently, might have been a shiver. I sat next to him, put a hoof around his shoulder.

“It stuck it through him, both went clear through him and then…” All he gave me was a gesture, flexing both his forelegs out then dropping them to the floor.

“That thing just threw the pieces on each side of the hallway.” He started to cry a bit.

“Crimson, I don’t want to die.” He said lunging at me, hugging me and digging his muzzle into my chest, crying.

“Not like that.” I was a little surprised but I got over the shock factor and just patted him on the back.

I always saw him as the little brother I never had. He always looked to me for guidance, always asking me things.. He was so curious about the world. He reminded me of a safe place, a place where this war had never infected it. His little knowledge of the world just seemed to be uplifting, that sweet innocence he had made up for all the flawed things about this place, these times, this dark remnant of a divided civilization. He was one of the few here I felt true sympathy for here in this hellhole.

I had nothing to say, all I could do is sit here awkwardly with him crying into my shoulder giving him as much comfort as I could.

“We’re going to be fine,” I said as comforting and soft as I could. “We’ll find Star and get out of here.” All he did was shake his head. I grabbed his face and lifted it to mine where we were at eye level.

“I’ll make sure you get out of here,” I said to him. He sat for a moment looking at me, processing what I told him. He looked at the ground wiping the tears from his face. He still had long stains coming from his eyes running down his cheeks. He wiped them sniveling a bit.

“Blue, I know you’re scared but I’m scared too.” I said to him standing up.

“But the more we’re scared the less we’re brave.” I stretched out a hoof and offered to pull him up.

“And right now being brave and staying alive, is all we can do.” He looked up to me as if he was a young colt who had just fallen off a scooter; tears in his eyes, his body slumped to one side of the floor. He wrapped his hoof around mine and I pulled him up.

The light that lit up the room was somewhat dim, the light had to be in the Bench, if the parts are exposed to the heavy radiation lights we have in the hallway they’d fall apart or compress and or decompress to fit the environment. It seemed darker though since the hallway lights were no longer working.

I looked into the hallway and it was black. The two turns at the very end of the hallway flickered light but it was sketchy, flashing on and off in random instances. Shining wet looking spots reflected some light off the walls the color though was distorted though in the red-ish liquid that was smeared down the surface and painted up the fortified rampart.

“Crimson,” Blue said from behind me.

“I want to go home,” I almost smirked at the comment, it sounded like something that a little colt would say but I understood what he meant.

“I do too, buddy.” I said agreeing with him.

“Say, Crimson,” He said as I felt him put a hoof on my back trying to get my attention. I looked back to him.

“What?”

“If I die here, you promise me you’ll bury me properly?”

“Blue!” I said poking him hard in the chest with my hoof.

“I will make sure on my life that you will come out of this alive.” I was furious he said that. It was hard to hear things like that, especially coming from someone so young in spirit; it sickens me to my core.

I looked back into the hallway and walked down the corridor as quietly as I could with the metal armor I had on. It was dark but everything was visible. Chucks of metal littered the floor and debris from who knows what was everywhere. All the bulbs in the ceiling were broken or out. The smell was unbearable; at that moment I remembered something, that smell from earlier. I looked back to Blue who was just about to walk out of the door.

“Blue! Grab your helmet!” He looked at me strangely, but did it anyway going back in. He came out with it on. I heard his microphone click on then really low volume static.

“Why do I need my helmet?” He asked. I looked up to one of the vents.

“There was a weird smell coming from the vents earlier, I don’t know if it has anything to do with what’s going on but I think it might be safe if we took some extra precautions. I turned back to him he was staring at the vents too. Then he looked back to me.

“Activate the air lock in the helmet.” He nodded and tapped the button on the side of the helm and the small whistling sound that I made screeched quietly.

“What about your helmet?” He asked.

“I’ll find one, but for now I think we should focus on finding Star.” We nodded and looked down the hallway. It was black except for the light at the turn ahead. A sign was semi lit up. An arrow pointed to the cafeteria that had a bloodstain smeared across it. Another group of words vaguely read Medical Ward I think, all I could see was “Me-ica- Wa-d”.

“Blue,” I said thinking about the decision I’d come to.

“I really hate to say this but we’re going to have to split up.” I looked over to him. He stood strait up staring at me with those red eyes.

“Are you dumb?!” He asked loudly.

“No joke are you fucking kidding me?” I was a little shocked by what he said.

“I’m sorry but have you ever seen a horror movie or read a book?” I sighed for a moment.

“Blue, that’s the movies this is real.” He nodded.

“Exactly, which means it’ll be even worse.”

“Those are fake, that stuff doesn’t happen in real life.”

“This stuff happens in the movies! If I know anything, we split up we will die!” He said pointing down the hallway. I looked at the sign.

“For right now you’ll have to trust me, I’m sorry but I swear, if anything happens you shout I will be there in seconds.” He looked down and sighed quietly.

“Promise?” I nodded. “Promise on my life.” He sighed with emphasis this time moving his shoulders synchronized with his breath.

“We’ll meet back here.” I pointed to his rifle. “Use it at anything that moves.” He looked at me with his head cocked sideways.

“What if it’s one of our guys?” I started to walk off.

As I turned the corner I looked back to him.

“It probably won’t be.”

chapter 4

It was dark, black almost. Little was visible in the dark; I could barely see my hooves below me as I walked. Outlines of things littered the hallway. Darker outlines that stood out among the rest of the blackened floor their shadows blending into the solid abyss I walked on. The metal boot covering my hoof sometimes slid on a wet substance that stuck to it slightly. Like walking across a corridor of liquid glue.

Up ahead a light was blinking randomly, flickering on and off with a small ticking sound. Clanking of metal plates and heavy objects fell in the distant hallways and rooms.

I came up to the light and looked up to it blood and brown stains had cover most of the broken shielding for it. Looking forward the other connecting hallways was fully lit to a fair degree. Some lights flickered from their fixtures others completely out and left black. A door was left open and a strange low screeching noise came from it.

I walked slowly down the hallway, crimson wet streaks painted the walls. Broken parts of panels and metal scattered all over the floor. It shocked me, all this had happened in the past twenty-four hours? This is insane in every aspect of the word. The damage looked like it had been through a war zone; blood everywhere, some pieces of torn cloth hanging between cracks in the walls, and what really sickened me the most small pieces of flesh that littered the hall.

“Starblazer.” I called out still walking deeper into the corridor. Then I heard the loud metal scream of an old vent opening. Something dropped to the floor behind me from the ceiling with a thud. It came from the hallway I was just in. I turned to the noise. Fierce moaning screeched out loudly from whatever was in the hallway in the opposite direction. I back peddled a bit before turning to a full gallop. I still turned behind me to see where it was.

Whatever it was it was fast, all I could see was a yellow blur moving on its hind legs. It wailed to where it hurt my ears. The frequency was splitting my head it was so high pitched. At that point I had to close my eyes to try to take the pain. When I did my hooves hit something and I fell forward tumbling down to the floor landing on my stomach.

I flipped over to see it on top of me. The thing was a yellow unicorn now it was something else. Eyes were replaced by gaping holes with blood dripping from the spaces. Razor like fangs were in place of where normal teeth were. Its hooves had sprouted cream-colored horns out the sides, which I’m guessing was bone, where trickles of blood had fallen off them. It was on top of me going after me with its knife like teeth, biting at everything trying to kill me, snapping every second trying to get a taste of my neck. I was pushing my forelegs against it best I could keeping out of reach of its biting jaw. I tried to reached a hind leg up to try to get it off but I couldn’t move it from under the beast.

It lunged at me while I was on the ground but I just barely moved my head out of the way to where it bit the floor with a grinding screech. It pulled its head back and lunged again. I thought I dodged it but a searing pain had jolted through my right shoulder. I looked over and it had its teeth buried into me. The pain was overwhelming. I let out a shriek and lifted my hoof up. I pulled it back and bucked it off with one hoof. It was still attached and ripped off a chunk of my shoulder and armor. I got up onto three hooves, my right I didn’t want to place on the floor from the pain.

The wound was open and stung like a bitch. Heat was irradiating from it as exposed outer muscle twitched slightly blood trickled down the armor plates fastened to my body. I rose to my hind legs, stumbling a bit because I got up on one hoof. I looked at it in what would have been its eyes. Red fluid dripped from its teeth sinisterly grinning. It opened them slightly and a long red and purple tongue that was forked at the end stretched out and licked its blood stained teeth.

“Come at me you gory bitch!” I screamed at it. Its body arched forward as it released another grimacing scream. I cover my ears by folding them down and covering them but it was no use. The sound put me onto the floor. My head was splitting and my brain didn’t know which to focus the pain on, my head or my shoulder. It got louder and all I could do was sit there and wait for it to stop. I felt something drip down from my nose, probably blood but I also felt it pouring down my throat. I opened my eyes and looked at it. Its mouth hung open wide, it could fit my whole head in its jaw but a gaping hole under its tongue.

Now I felt it, I felt something pop in my head. I fell to the floor the deafening sound was now unbearable all I could hear was ringing. Then it stopped. The pain had seised but the ringing,the loud ringing was all I could hear. I looked up and another figure was behind it a long piece of metal was shoved through its chest. Then it was thrown to the floor. I ignored it and touched a metal hoof to my ear and pulled it into my vision, red, then I did the same to my nose, red.

I looked up to the figure; Starblazer was there on his hide legs with a red stained makeshift blade in his hoof. He walked up to me and picked me up. I could feel how wide I had opened my eyes. He opened his mouth and said something but the ringing was so loud it’s all I could hear. He looked over to the left and he pointed in the direction. A door was in the place where he pointed, he opened it and walked me inside sitting me on the floor inside.

The ringing had eased up a little bit and I could hear but just barely. Starblazer looked at me with wide eyes holding my face. I could hear his voice but it was muffled so much by the ringing I couldn’t understand it.

The room was empty except for some candles that were lit in the corner. Starblazer had left my side now and stood by the door. He looked out into the hallway similar to how Blue did it but he seemed to have a limp. Looking closer he had a deep slice on his side and his hind leg had a similar incision towards the hoof of the right hind leg. His eyes though portrayed more of a sense of calmness rather than Blue had with fear. My hearing was starting to come back now and I could hear Starblazer’s heavy breathing. He looked over to me sitting on the floor, probably with a blankly shocked face, big stinging gash in my shoulder. He came over to my side and looked at my wound.

“You probably can’t hear me right now, you took a nasty hit there to the senses.” He said observing the bite marks in he skin and armor.

“I saw one of those ones, the ones that scream. It did what it did to you to another soldier.” He looked back out to the door when a clanking echoed down the hallway, then turned back to me.

“His head just popped like a balloon. Exploded, blood and brains everywhere.” He said as a chill ran up his body.

“I have no idea what’s going on here,” He said touching his wound on his side, his face cringed at the touch of it.

“But if we don’t leave, we will probably die here.” He smiled weakly.

“I wish you could hear me, if you can just say something.”

I rubbed my ear.

“I can hear you.” I said. His eyes remained half open as they always did but he had a big grin stretching across his face.

“I was coming to look for you,” He nodded.

“Crimson, you fainted hard when you saw all that blood.” He said.

“I left because I went to go get help.” I looked at him in disbelief.

“You can call anypony here from the intercom system.” I said. All he did was shake his head,

“If I knew that earlier I would have been there when you woke up, I’m sorry.” I waved my hoof.

“It’s alright, just don’t leave me alone again like that.” He smiled again and nodded.

I looked over to the door that opened to the eerie hallway. Noises irradiated, im not really sure what it is or was but it reverberated from the walls and echoed down all of the rooms and quarters, through the vents and air ducts, and the hallways and corridors.

To be honest I’ve never felt more fear in my entire life than I have now. In one part of my mind I thought of how to get out of here, on the other, I thought of all the possible ways I could die. I thought of this, and then I thought of Blue. Blue Mist, he was so young… well… younger than me, but he had dreams, he has big dreams and even now when all of us deserted our hopes and aspirations he still held his close. He often practiced cooking in the kitchen it was charming little novelty. He would take our normal crap we eat, throw some spices into it, or completely remake it, and it would be ten times better. I wanted to get him out of this, he’s seen enough already and I don’t want him to lose those bright youthful eyes like I have.

“Star,” I said getting his attention as he turned to me.

“We need to go to the medical wing, I sent Blue to find you, we split up.” He nodded.

“It wasn’t really a smart idea, don’t you watch movies?” He said with a smirk.

“Usually when you spli-“

“Yes, I know what happens.” He smirked, a bloodstain that had been splattered on his face slightly stretched with his flexing cheekbone.

“We need to backtrack to find him, I’m not really sure what direction I came from.” I said looking back into the hallway then back to Starblazer’s wound.

“Star, what happened?” He looked at me confused at me.

“What?” I motioned to the cut going down his waist.

“Oh damn, I didn’t see that before.” He said bringing a hoof to his side and then to his face like I did to see if it was still bleeding, it was. His hoof was drenched in the stuff. He moved stretching his side opening the wound more. He looked at his side confused. He was obviously pretending not to feel pain but it was easy to see.

“That’s funny, I can’t feel it.” He said he looked back to me.

“Forget about me, I’ll be fine, we have to find your little friend.” I nodded and we both started off down the hallway.

It was slow for me walking down that long passage diving deeper into the darkness. I could not explain the amount of pure agony my shoulder was hurt like. All I could do was push forward though. I could feel the inside of my armor getting moist and stained from the blood leaking from the massive incision on my torso.

The hallway up ahead turned into another deep dark corridor. It was black and flickering lights speckled down the hallway at the far end. It was where I’d come from. That unbearable musk irradiating from the vents filled my nostrils and made my eyes water slightly. Something was odd though, it peaked my curiosity. A low white fog had covered the floor. It was cold now, freezing almost. I could see my breath. Starblazer’s breath was visible, quick and small. Mine was long and bigger breathes. I was scared of-all those ideas on how the enemy could find us, now-now after all this, I’m not sure what I’m scared of anymore.

I thought of something I held so close but was so distant, emotion. I missed all of those that I had not experienced in a long while. That morning after I left Silver’s quarters I felt one that wasn’t a pleasant one but I missed it non-the less, sadness. Happiness I did not feel anymore, I might have once but it probably was not too memorable for me. Hope you ask? That’s not an emotion; it’s a worry, a bore, and a lie. What about anger? All the time, I haven’t gone a day without being angry. Fear, now that’s an interesting one, I’ve felt fear-I understand it quite well. This though, this is a new kind of fear, a fear I could not put into words on how scared I am right now.

“Crimson!” Starblazer said breaking my thoughts.

I looked over to him.

He wasn’t looking at me though, he was looking at the wall with signs mounted on it.

“You said he went into the infirmary right?” I nodded. I was still walking down the slim hallway. He looked behind him down the other passage.

“I told him to meet back here if he couldn’t find you.”

At that Starblazer turned his head away from what he was looking at and sat in front of the sign.

“I’m sorry Crimson.” I walked over to him.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

All he did was shake his head and point.

A small body was on the floor. The helmet was on and looked untouched. The body-the body was gruesome. I almost cried, not at the sight but at who it was. I had to turn away. I stumbled to one of the walls and slid down to the floor. I could feel the tears falling from my eyes, I tried to hold it but it wouldn’t stop. I sat there sniveling, Blue was gone now. I couldn’t protect him and now he’s gone.

Seven years, I’ve known him. He was one of the closest friends I had and probably the only friend I’ve had. When you lose someone like that, in a way so horrid that you could not possibly fathom why he or she deserved this you can only blame yourself. Many say it’s their fault but there was nothing they could do. Me though, I could have stopped this from ever happening. He was like a brother to me and now just a heap of remains on the floor. I felt sick to my stomach. I was the one who killed him, I made him go alone and now look what’s happened.

Now I’m alone in this world. The silence I’ve held so dearly I wanted to not be there, I wanted to hear his voice, I wanted to hear him alive again. I don’t want to leave here alone, I have Starblazer but this won’t be the same. I wish it was me and not him.

I crouched down and sat in front of the body and stared at the red eyes still glowing. Then scanning down his body to the floor. Despite how grotesque it was I had to say one last goodbye.

“Well,” I said with tears in my eyes. “I can’t believe you’re gone.” I said to the carcass.

“I wish it were me Blue, I really do.” I said looking back to the giant line between it’s chest and abdomen, every organ pulled out and torn to pieces. It was disgusting on every level but he was still my friend. I put my hooves around the body and pulled it close. I was full blown crying now. I hugged it tight, even though it was dead and he was not there I felt the need to.

I felt a hoof on my shoulder and I looked back still holding Blue’s body close to me.

“I’m sorry, Crimson.” I closed my eyes and exhaled.

“Star,” I said going back to Blue.

“You don’t need to stay here,” I said to him. I felt the hoof pulled of my shoulder.

“I won’t leave,” He said.

“No, you need to go.” I said Letting go of the corpse and watching the head sag over its chest.

“There’s no reason for you to stay.” I said.

I heard the low sound of metallic clops echo from behind me as he walked away.

I looked behind me but Starblazer hadn’t walked away, rather he went against the wall across from me and sat on the floor with his back against the wall.

“I’m not going to leave you Crimson, we need each other.” He said pulling a cigarette from a utility pouch on his belt and putting it to his lips. I looked back over to Blue’s body. I pulled the metal mask to me and placed my forehead against it. I only had one thing I could say…

“I’m sorry Blue.”

chapter 5

That moment when it all connected a dark shadow enveloped my mind. I felt sick to the mind. My senses were twisted in knots I didn’t know what to feel. Sorrow? Anger? It all hurt in my head. I felt the tears now running off my face onto the floor.

I backed up to the wall opposite of blue. While blood covered my chest and body I thought about all that I had ever done with him. That thought hurt. A deep cut to my brain, my mind swelled with pain and anger. I slammed a hoof into the wall as hard as I could.

“I could have saved him!”

“You would have died too.”

“He wouldn’t have died alone!” Starblazer looked onto the floor at the heap of organs that had been pulled out and were scattered across the surface of the walkway.

“You don’t understand, Star!”

“No I don’t Crimson, I don’t know what it’s like to lose a friend so close.” He said. I could tell something was on his mind.

“If we stay here though we will end up like him.” He said pointing to the mass of torn apart flesh and organs.

I looked at the body on the floor again.

“I-I wish I could have said goodbye,” I got up from my shifty legs and walked down the hall to the medical wing. I heard Star behind me closing the gap between us. I had to leave. If I stayed any longer I would have thrown up.

The walk down the hallway to the medical wing was cold and bleak. I felt almost nothing as my hooves automatically pushed me forward. I kept my face down focusing on the walkway my hooves were dragged onto. Starblazer kept pace next to me, looking back behind us and then ahead of us.

Hunger was starting to catch up with me now. The pain from an empty stomach matched with the punishing soreness from my shoulder was overwhelming. It seared throughout my body relentlessly. I needed food, I needed rest, I don’t know how I’m even still walking now.

Up ahead through the cold white mist that covered the floor, the hallways, left blank. No signs of blood or damage anywhere. It looked new even like nopony had even been there before.

On the floor was a medical clipboard. Starblazer quickened his pace from next to me to the pad on the floor. He picked it up slowly and flipped through the pages.

“Crimson,” he said, his eyes wide and confused.

“Read this.” I walked over to him. What could it have been? I grabbed it from his hoof and read what was on the page aloud.

-Dr. Steam Bolt report; entry 3-

The Biochemical weapon has been fully developed and the mixture has already gone through all of its stages. The final outcome could mean that the product should be ready to use in approximately one-to-two more days. According to the other researchers this is, as they say-not I, that this is a crime against nature and should be forbidden. They were the next test subjects and were used to fullest capacity. The gas worked perfectly except for a few minor details. We have gone through many different outcomes of what the gases side effects are. They will be listed in a follow up report. So far though, we have found that a certain gene that could be passed down hereditarily could negate the effects of the substance but the side effects will still occur just not as fatal. We are approaching the final stages before you are ready to use it, we will await you notice for extraction so Operation; Fin may occur.

“Who’s Dr. Steam Bolt?” I asked looking at the page.

“That’s not why I wanted to show you that.” Star said. He pointed to the top of the page. It was addressed to Princess Luna.

“So? It’s addressed to Princess Luna?”

He shook his head slowly.

“We’re sided with Celestia.”

Then it hit me. There has to be more here, I flipped past another page to look and see if they listed the test subjects. After one or two more pages a long list of names showed up. It reminded me of the draft papers from when I was sent here. Names, information, but- there was more. Side effects were labeled to another column, and then final outcome was listed in the last box. I read on.

Abnormal muscle and bone growth, sometimes exceeding past the skin’s boundaries. The bone growth when exhausted its limit will form at a sharp erect edge. The subjects all prefer to consume flesh of fauna rather than flora. Research will continue for more of these side effects.

“Star,” I said dropping the clipboard.

“D-d-do you understand any of this?” I asked.

“No,” He said walking past me.

“Right now I’m just as confused as you are.”

Then a heard it, a familiar scream, from farther down the halls.

chapter 6

I sprinted down the hallway towards the sound, my hooves burned with exhaustion but my body was not the main focus right now. My wellbeing did not matter at this point, if my assumption is correct.

I bolted down the hallway, the white walls and window of observing rooms flew past me. The walls seemed to continue forever in the long direction. Then I saw it. An open door casting it’s dark outline surrounding the lines of the door that stood out among the hundreds of doors lining the walls.

I slammed my hoof against the door and I felt a body fall into my forelegs gripping me tight. A metal mask dug into my shoulder, it hurt but I ignored the goring pain. A whining-crying noise came from the helmet. I pushed the little body away and looked at the mask. It sniveled as it stared at me. Slowly I took off its helmet. My body eased as I stared into the blue cerulean eyes, full of tears, and his dark blue mane damp from sweat.

“Crimson?” he asked cautiously.

All I could do was grab him, I couldn’t hold back the tears they poured from my eyes. I thought I had lost him, I was overly joyed to see his face again.

“I’m so glad to see you, bud,” I said squeezing harder as tears ran down my face. He looked back to the door with fear in his eyes.

Starblazer had come up from behind me, he sighed hard with a smile on his face.

“Looks like we found you.” he said kneeling down next to me.

“Are you okay?” He asked. I let go of the blue pegasii. Blue stood there timid and skittish looking back into the door.

“Crimson there’s something in there.” He said pointing a hoof in there.

Starblazer’s and my eyes locked and in unison we both nodded. I put my back against the door similar to as the other two did. I pushed inward, Starblazer following close behind me.

The room was dark, the power was out on the big empty chamber. A chilled air fell low and hung in the air, dry and stale. I shivered a little. Sparks shot out of a cord that hung suspended from the ceiling. It lit up the room flashing and flickering brightly. In the center of the room was a wooden platform with a collapsed mass of stallion sat. Hooks that were attached to the ends of ropes held his forelegs up, digging into the fetlocks and the sharp point extruding out of the forelegs.

His head was being held by the same grotesque way, the hooks around his neck instead. The face was unidentifiable; the skin had been peeled off completely and was draped around he wooden platform leaving the face muscle and inner tissue exposed to the air. Blood trickled down the suit of armor that it wore and leaked into pools on the floor.

“Oh my Celestia-“ I heard from behind me. I felt my stomach acting up; I was on the verge of throwing up. Vomit was bubbling at the top of my throat. Starblazer walked towards it slowly and cautiously. He outstretched a hoof to it, as soon as his metallic cuff touched it the skin fell off to the floor, peeling away more skin and muscle from the face. I couldn’t hold it now, my stomach lurched as I felt everything inside me come out through my mouth. It was sickening.

“It’s still warm,” He said looking at the door.

“Whoever did this isn’t too far.”

We both walked out, my legs still shaking from emptying my system off whatever I had in my stomach. Blue sat in the hallway gripping his head as he rocked back and forth. I picked up his chin and looked into his eyes.

“Blue, are you okay?” I asked him. He nodded but shakily. I looked down the hallway, besides what we had just witnessed, a trail of red horseshoes trailed off down the hall.

“Star!” I yelled. He snapped out from the room. I lifted a hoof to point at the trail I saw.

“Suppose that’s where the monster who did this went?” I asked him. Starblazer just nodded. I turned to Blue who was still sitting on the floor.

“Blue,” I said. On that he stood up straight.

“You take point, follow those tracks.” He nodded with some hesitation.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be right next to you.” Almost like a little colt, Blue walked ahead of me with some fear in his eyes on his low hanging head. As soon as he walked past me his pace picked up and he started running. Starblazer and I both followed close behind him.

The medical ward started to turn from an infirmary to a psychotic nightmare. Blood was strung to every wall, words written in it.

Help

RUN

DONT BECOME ONE

You Cann HIiide bUt i wIll fInd you!

DONT TURN BACK!

DIE DieD IE!

Those words struck a new feeling deep in my heart that the very ice in my soul cracked down and felt pain and worry more like that that I have not yet felt. These walls were painted with death. You could smell the death on the walls and on the floor, it was everywhere.

The horseshoe marks got smaller spaced and smaller spaced. Whoever it was-was slowing down now. Now ahead of us stood a small figure, sluggishly moving forward. A white lab coat cloaked his body, the back of his black and white mane had red specks covering it.

I heard a question that came from it.

“So, what are you looking for?” He asked melodically turning around. The lab coat he wore had brown and red stains painted on it, his eyes displayed a bright envious green against his light grey coat, his mane messy and out of place.

“I can’t help you in any way,” He said in his peculiar accent. When he said “way” it was almost like he said ‘vey’. His hooves looked like they had been dipped in blood. They were dripping onto the floor into a small puddle.

“I have no way to assist you, but, if you have any clues as to-I don’t know, maybe what this is that’s going on? I can help you.” He said gesturing a hoof out with sly eyes and a cocky smirk.

“But don’t take too long,” He said lowering the hoof.

“They’re coming for me.”

“What’s going on here?” Starblazer asked.

“The beginning!” He shouted to us three, the echo of his voice reverberating off the ghostly halls.

“And yet, the end.” He said grinning wickedly. Then a question came to me.

“How do we stop it?” I asked. He closed his eyes and shrugged.

“You can’t.” He said. Then he started laughing. Laughing wildly, not stopping. He laughed, he kept laughing. We all looked at each other and then back to him. All around us the walls shook. The screamed and screeched as something clanked against the trying to get out.

“Crimson,” I heard shakily from behind me.

“Stay calm.” I said still staring at the horse in front of me.

He still stood there manically laughing.

Then the vent flew open, and a mass of flesh and razor sharp bone fell on top of the stallion. The laughter turned to screams of agony and multiple bodies fell onto it. The overflowing creatures lowered a bit to show his face. His face was of sheer pain, then it went blank. His head twitched as the other things mutilated his body but his head had no emotion as it happened. Then it happened, something-long, cream-colored, sharp and jagged erupted from the middle of his forehead. His eyes rolled back as two more shot through his neck, turning it ripping his whole head off. And as the blood filled the hallway one noticed us.

It’s gaping holes in its face faced us. It’s body from the back was no longer anything that could resemble a pony or stallion. Muscle had been warped and twisted with the bone to make tall biped creatures with no skin and all muscle and bone. Blood dripped from the sharp appendages sticking out of their shoulders and at the end of what now look like arms. Teeth were no longer blunt but were replaced by jagged teeth like knives.

One stared at us and started making a clicking noise. The others took their attention off their mauling of the body of whoever that was.

“Star,” I said now realizing what the situation had come to.

“Take Blue and run.” I said.

“N-“

“This isn’t up for discussion!” I said raising my voice as I turned to him.

“Go now.” I said

I didn’t hear anything else.

Just the metallic clanks of hooves as they galloped away.

This is the final stand.

I won’t get my life back, as these creatures rush me I will be die and it will be brutal.

I have a good feeling Starblazer will take good care of Blue Mist.

Now those things are on the advance. I could fight them off but that won’t be smart, I’ll last longer but death is still inevitable.

I'll just stand here, wait for it with my eyes closed, i mean it won't hurt that bad if I don't see it coming right?

I guess this is goodbye cruel world then.