//------------------------------// // Chapter one // Story: S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Days of Equestria // by Taranasauruso_o //------------------------------// -Chapter 1- The sky was smothered in grey clouds, blocking out the rays of the sun that hung so far above. Small drops of rain fell from the sky, pattering softly around the ground that surrounded Artyom’s hooves. The plains stretched on endlessly in front of him, disappearing over the horizon like a giant blanket gripping the ground. The plains where only broken by small trees and shrubs protruding from the sides of hills and mountains. Large cracks opened up in the side of the earth, scarring the landscape, but allowing for civilization to strive. Small towns were scattered on the edges of the gashes, thriving with life. One particular town caught Artyom’s eye, and he sighed with relief. He was almost there, soon, he could relax. He stepped forward, keeping his eyes on his destination as not to get lost. As he planted his first hoof down, a low growling sound emanated from behind him. Artyom whirled around to face the source of the noise, his horn glowing brightly in preparation. Something pounced onto him, throwing him off balance and he toppled into the dirt with a small “oof.” The thing was still on top of him, pinning his forelegs against the ground with it’s own. Artyom struggled, flinging his hindlegs from side to side in a desperate attempt to break free of the creature’s grasp. His horn began to glow brightly, and he used his magic to pick the thing up and throw it a small distance away. He pulled himself shakily to his hooves, turning to view the monster, his horn glowing. The creature pulled itself up, while turning it’s head to look at him. Artyom glared at the thing, a small trickle of blood dripping down his lip and over his chin. The creature turned its entire body towards him, shaking violently. Is it... laughing? Artyom asked himself. Suddenly the creature could not contain it’s composure any more, and it threw it’s head backwards, letting out a loud, booming laugh. “Oh, Artyom,” it chuckled, it’s voice low and husky. “You... you should’ve seen your face.” These words sent the creature into another fit of laughter. “Alexei?” Artyom asked, not sure if he recognized the monster before him. Alexei lifted himself to his full height, wiping some of the grime from his face with his forehoof. Without the dirt covering his features, Artyom could tell that it was Alexei who stood in front of him, beaming proudly at the prank he had just pulled. “I gotcha good, didn’t I?” Alexei asked, holding out a hoof in front of him. Artyom raised his own hoof and brought it together with his friend’s in a sign of greeting. “Ha, I guess you did,” Artyom told him, turning around to face his original destination. “C’mon, I’m almost to Yanov station. We can talk more on the way.” He began to walk in the direction of Yanov station, with Alexei in tow right behind him. “So, how’ve things been going with you, ‘marked one’?” Artyom turned his head to his friend, an annoyed smirk on his face, “I told you not to call me that. I’m just Artyom.” “Sure, whatever you say, ‘marked one’.” “Anyway, things have been great. In the entire time that I’ve been gone, only two emissions passed, both of which were low on the scale,” Artyom began, turning his eyes back to the path in front of them. “I traveled through the abandoned mines with a group of artifact hunters.” “Did you find any?” Alexei asked. “Any what?” “Artifacts,” said Alexei, clipping Artyom in the back of the head with his hoof. “Yeah, a few. But I sold them all at the Zaton markets,” Artyom said, rubbing the back of his head gingerly. “What did you do with the bits?” asked Alexei. The pair approached a crossroads, with a sign in the centre. It read: Pripyat, 19 miles north. The arrow pointed down another winding path that lead through the mountains. “Ah, you know, the usual. Got my vest repaired, brought some vodka, that kinda thing.” “You... wouldn’t happen to have any of that vodka left, would you?” asked Alexei, a hopeful look in his eyes. “Why, you thirsty?” Artyom reached behind him with his magic, rummaging in his saddlebags. After a few seconds of searching, a bottle emerged, surrounded in the white aura of Artyom’s magic. Artyom lost concentration as his hoof slid into a pot hole in the ground below him, causing the bottle to slip from his magical grasp. It clattered against the ground, but did not shatter. “Huh. Good thing these bottles are made of sterner stuff these days,” Alexei said, picking the bottle up with his own magic. Artyom smiled gratefully at his friend, “Thanks. You have no idea how much this cost me. I mean, fifty bits is a bit much, even for today’s standards.” “Fifty bits?” Alexei almost exploded. “You paid fifty bits!” Alexei looked towards his friend, a look of anger on his face. “That’s nearly half of what I make in one raid.” “Really? They don’t pay you enough, honestly.” “Well, we better not let this bottle go to waste, huh?” The pair were approaching the large, rusty iron doors that separated Yanov station from the outside world. Alexei raised his hoof as they got closer, and banged against the giant doors. “C’mon already, let us in.” “Who is it?” A muffled reply sounded from inside. “Alexei, and Artyom.” “Artyom? Really?” The gates swung open in a wide arc, and a brown unicorn stepped through the crack that had been created. “Wow, Artyom. Never thought I’d see you again.” “Full of surprises, ain’t he?” Alexei remarked, stepping through the doors. He motioned for Artyom to follow, and the two headed inside, leaving the gate pony to close the giant doors alone. **** “... and then I tore the beast off me, and blew it apart with my horn!” exclaimed Artyom. The small crowd of children that were gathered around him cheered him on, with cries of “woah,” and “amazing.” “Is that really true, mister Artyom?” one of the younger children asked, looking up towards Artyom. “Well, maybe I slightly over exaggerated, but yes, it is mostly true,” Artyom told the young pony. “Now, if you will all excuse me, I have some things to attend to.” The children ran off outside with a chorus of “thanks, mister.” Artyom stood up from were he had been sitting on the floor, and began his slow walk through the labyrinth of benches that made up the mess hall. Most of them were empty at the moment, as the stallions were out raiding for food and supplies. The only people that had stayed behind were either mares and foals, or ponies who were too old to fight. A bar stood alone in the far corner of the large hall, occupied by only two ponies, the bartender, and Alexei. Noticing his friend, Alexei waved his hoof towards Artyom, inviting him over. “Hey, hey Artyom! Come over here, I’ve got something to discuss with you.” Artyom pulled a second stool out from under the bench with his magic, and hoisted himself up next to Alexei. “Yes?” “Well,” Alexei began, pausing only to take a drink from his glass. “The bartender here has a bit of a problem, and I’ve offered to lend him a hoof. Last week, some bandits,” Alexei took another swig of his vodka, “took his last order of supplies, meaning that the camp is low on food and water. He’s offered to pay big money if we can get his order back here in one piece.” Alexei took one final swig from his cup and slammed it down against the bar top. “But, I’m going to need your help.” “Me? Why my help?” Artyom didn’t understand. Anything that he could do, Alexei could do as well. “The group made off to their hideaway in the centre of the swamp. Now, I ain’t ever been in there before, but you’ve told me plenty of times that you have.” “Yeah, but never to the bandits camp.” “C’mon Artyom, you must’ve seen something.” Alexei was right, Artyom had seen something. When he had been on one of his artifact hunts, he had caught a glimpse of the bandit’s camp between some trees. He hadn’t investigated, after all, he was on his own, and there were nearly twenty of them that stayed in the camp. “I may have seen something,” Artyom started. “But its not gonna be easy.” “Huh, this is me we’re talkin’ about here, not some sissy artifact hunter. I can handle it,” Alexei said confidently. Artyom sighed, “All right, I’ll go. But on one condition.” He looked his friend in the eyes as he said this, “I get half the pay, and half of whatever we find in the camp.” “Deal,” the two banged their hooves together in a sign of agreement. “We leave first thing tomorrow morning.” Artyom turned back to the bartender, who was smiling at him. “Two more vodkas,” he ordered, and the bartender hurried off into the back of his shop. He returned a few moments later with a bottle of vodka. He set it down in front of Artyom and Alexei. “On the house,” he smiled at the two. “Thanks,” they both said in unison, before turning back to each other and refilling their glasses. **** Alright, now I know not many people like this, so I'm not gonna update very often. If, however, you do like it, then why not leave a comment? Sorry for the short chapter, just had to get it out of my system.