And so it begins...
“Hey did you hear about who's going to be a princess,” Quick Silver began in an excited tone, “Apparently little miss magic got herself a promotion.”
“Of course we know who it is,” Dead Bolt said in a deadpan tone. “It was in the mission briefing or did yah forget to read yours again?” he continued as he pushed in a pile of bits into the center of the table.
“Well… I wouldn’t say forgot…I would go with the term... procrastinated,” Quick Silver said sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
“God you’re hopeless.”
“Hey!”
Dead Bolt only smirked as he looked back at his cards. “Are yah going to play or not ‘cause it’s your turn.”
“Yeah, Yeah, I’ll get to that,” He said walking over to the fridge to get another can of hard apple cider.
As he sat back down, Quick Silver took a look at his cards. “Damn it,” he thought to himself as he noticed that he had nothing but a pair in this round. “I’ll check,” Quick Silver finally said throwing some more bits on the center pile.
“Well you sure took your time with that didn't you?” Lock On said, “Anyways, I think that we need to celebrate in some way since everypony else is at the coronation while we are stuck out here with guard duty.”
“Yeah I know it sucks. Everypony else gets to do nothing and we're stuck out here.”
“Well when you think about it we’re doing nothing anyways.” Quick Silver said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Oh shut up."
"But still why are we out here? I mean what's the point when everypony is already in Canterlot and for anything else that posed a threat we could have, Capt. Shining Armor just conjure up a force field. And also what's with us going instead to a cabin of a normal military outpost?"
"Because we are meant to eliminate all threats coming out of the Everfree forest so we don't have to resort to that." Night Shade said walking in.
"Oh hey there, Sarge,” Quick Silver said, “but that doesn't explain why were in a cabin."
"Hey I'm not the one that assigned us here."
"I'm not saying that but still it would be nice if I knew why we're here not there"
Quick Silver was a Pegasus pony with a warm beige coat and brown mane. However, his eyes were a luminous shade of grey. He was one of the best scouts in the royal guard… however he could be a bit brighter in the head. Then there is Dead Bolt, he was an earth pony that had red coat and a silver mane. His bright neon blue eyes were hard to miss. Let’s not forget Lock On, He was also a Pegasus but he had a navy blue coat and a white mane. His eyes were light shade of green. Then there's Night Shade.He is a unicorn with a grey coat and black mane with a red accent. Not to mention his red eyes.
“Look does it even matter? Orders are orders so let's just get this job done,” he said as he threw himself onto the couch to try and get more sleep. As he lay there a can of apple cider landed onto his stomach."Hey watch it!" Night Shade complained
“Come on this is supposed to be a day of celebration. At least have a drink with us,” Lock On said not taking his eyes off the game.
With an over dramatic sigh, Night Shade levitated the can of cider off his stomach while cracking it open.
“Here’s to yet another princess,” he said with an unenergetic tone.
“Here-here,” they all replied in unison.
As they continued to play their game of poker, Night Shade kept on wondering why they really were sent out in the first place. Quick Silver had a point, Capt. Shining Armor could just form a barrier to keep things out. What would have been beneficial was to have some more hooves to help with protection inside the city walls not outside.
'Nothing ever comes out this far, not for the last few centuries at least. Night Shade thought to himself taking a swig of cider. He decided that it was a problem for another time as he dosed off to what sounded like Quick Silver complaining about somepony cheating.
=====
Night Shade woke up to the smell of something awful. Looking at the clock he seemed to have slept for several hours. Why didn’t they wake me up earlier, he thought as he looked out the window of the barracks only to be greeted by pitch black.
But what is that awful smell?
“Hey who was the idiot that thought they could cook,” He called back at the table.
All of them looked at each other with a puzzled look. “What are you talking about? We all have been here the whole time. ‘Cause you know that nothings happened.” Quick Silver said breaking the silence.
“Then…what’s giving off that bad sme-,” Night shade cut himself off as he realized what it was. ‘Damn it! Why didn't I see this coming sooner?’ He thought giving himself a mental face-hoof. He sprung from the couch and started to grab all the gear from his room
“Ummm, Sarge? Are you okay,” Lock On asked as he watched Night Shade frantically run around his room grabbing his gear.
“Yeah yah seem a bit off,” Dead bolt agreed.
“NO!!! I am not! Look we need to get ready now because of what’s out there,” Night Shade yelled as he strapped on the last of his golden armor. “Now grab your guns!”
“Look there is nothing that is coming let’s go into the kitchen to find out what that smell is,” Quick Silver said genuinely concerned, “I am sure that, Bolty here just forgot to put away the milk again.”
Looking back from out of his closet he was about to lose his temper when he saw it, a pair of glowing pale green eyes from outside the window, staring at him with a thirst for blood. I was too late, he thought to himself.
“Get your asses away from the windows!” He shouted as he charged at them with a 12-gauge shotgun. The window burst apart as the timberwolf pounced and bore its teeth into Quick Sliver’s neck. Night Shade and everypony else stood there horrified as blood now profusely spilled from the stake sized holes in his neck.
As he tried to claw at the teeth still grasping him like a vice only for it to tighten down. Lifting Quick Sliver off the ground it whaled him around and was met with several audible snaps.
Noticing that it's new toy was no longer alive after a few more violent shaking in its maw, the timberwolf threw Quick Silver against the wall with a resounding thud.
“Celestia, damn it go get your guns already!” Night Shade yelled as he tried to pump some rounds into the timberwolf. Tiny bits and pieces of wood splintered off of the beast only for them to come flying right back onto it.
‘Damn it,’ he thought as he and the beast stared at each other. The wolf's mouth still dripping from his friends blood, "You fucked with us for the last time." Night Shade seethed. From what it seemed like, the wolf reciprocated by giving a low growl.
Suddenly, the barrage of bullets turned into a hail storm of lead into the side of the beast. “Thought you might needed some help,” Dead bolt said smugly while his saddle-mounted mini-gun whirled to a halt.
"About fuck'n time. And why didn't you grab your guns when I gave you an order to do so," Night Shade yelled.
"Sorry sir, but we thought you were just going crazy. Since this is the first time this has happened in how many years."
Turning their attention back to the now literally falling apart timberwolf, as it tried to get back on its feet the entire back part of its body fell off from the lack of support. Pathetically, it crawled snapping at them in a futile attempt to taste flesh once again. Seconds later, Lock On walked in with his guns, "Well well it seems to have gotten ready for nothing. But since I'm here-" he stopped in front of the crippled beast and smiled wildly pouring a small cup of gasoline onto its face and then lit a match. "I might as well have some fun." he said as he tossed the match.
For several minutes, the beast howled in pain as its body became a bonfire.
"One of you go and check on Quick Silver." Night Shade tried to say over a whisper.
"Um, sir he's not going to have survived from becoming a chew toy."
"Just... check" Night Shade pleaded.
"Yes sir," Dead Bolt said as he walked over to the long since dead Quick Silver.
"Hey, Lock On," Night Shade said barely above a whisper.
"Yes sir?"
"Get on the horn with Canterlot. We need to tell them what-," he was cut off as several more timberwolves barged through the door.
"On second thought... Let's burn these fuckers!"
"With pleasure," Lock On said as his wicked smile crept back onto his face.
"Hey what about me don't ah get to have some fun too?" Dead Bolt said walking back towards them.
With that one of the timberwolf pounced barking maniacally at their new found prey. Lock On was the first to make a move as he stuck a burning wick into the glass jar full of his gasoline and threw it at the oncoming tinder box. Soon enough another timberwolf was engulfed in flames. However, it was able to keep its course and landed on top of Lock On and let its claws rip through his soft hide. He let out a wail as even he became a snack as the inferno dug its teeth into his neck.
"Shit! SHIT!" Dead Bolt screamed as he tried to hold off the other one now looking to join the frenzy. As the beast darted its way around Dead Bolt's line of fire. Soon enough even he became food as the timberwolf ripped through his armor like it wasn't even there.
"Damn it! Dead Bolt!" Night Shade yelled.
managing to get up onto his feet, Lock On gritted his teeth as pain flourished throughout his body. Not to mention that the timberwolf's teeth were still embed inside his neck. With his body waning on giving out he gripped the pins on the grenades strapped to his side and used the last of his strength to pull them out.
The ticking of the timers filled the room as Lock On passed out on the floor.
"What the hell is tha- OH SHIT!" Night Shade realized as the live grenades went off.
A barrage of splintered wood tore through the cabin in every which way. Even the last timberwolf fell to pieces for the shock wave.
Night Shade let out an intense cry of pain as he fell to the floor from all the pain. Groaning from failing to get up, his warm blood soaked his fur,
'This isn't good' he thought 'I've got to stop the bleeding. If I don't I'll-'
Ne was cut off as his head began to swim and his legs beginning to wobble. using the closest wall as support he tried to close his wounds with his magic but he couldn't focus hard enough.
While he was trying to close his wounds, he didn't notice that the timberwolf began to reform itself.
"Come on. Come on!" he said still trying to close his wounds.
His thoughts were immediately cut short as he heard a low growl. As he looked over to his side and saw that the timberwolf had fully formed again and was ready to strike. Him on the other hand not so much. 'Damn it why now?!' he thought staring into the beasts eyes now full of hunger and blood lust. Without any other warning, it charged forward with its maw agape.
Night Shade wasn't able to move out of the way in time as the timberwolf was unable to clench down on his neck it was however able to sink its teeth into his back even through the golden plated armor. Night Shade howled in pain as the timberwolf had caught its prey. Gripping the maw of the timberwolf in his magic with adrenaline now pumping through his veins, he tears out the timberwolf's teeth as even more warm crimson stained his coat. throwing the squirming wolf against the side again shattering it, Night Shade let out an agonizing groan as more pain washed over his already decrepit form.
Focusing on standing up was beginning to be all that he could do with his legs trembling under his weight. His eyes becoming heavier with every passing second; 'Damn it all I... I can't give now... but so... tired' that was that was going through his mind. Soon enough his vision began to blur and his head went blank letting his legs give out. Laying there he didn't feel the pain in-fact, he couldn't feel anything from his head swimming so much. Lying on his side, everything faded to a cold black, his body feeling like a lead weight.
=====
(Night Shade)
I woke up to the low humming of the lights. At first everything was a haze, when everything came into a clearer state I shot up from the bed only to regret it immediately as a massive wave of pain began to burn from my back followed suit by a sudden feeling of nausea.
“Fuck!!!” I cried as I fell back rubbing my head.
Letting the pain somewhat subside. I just stared at the ceiling as the beeping of machines accompanied the low background noise.
‘How? How am I still alive?’ I thought to myself.
“Well, well. Look who’s up.” Somepony giggled.
As I turned my head I noticed a white earth mare with and a pink mane tied back. She seemed to have a red cross as her cutie mark.
“And how is our little patient today?” She asked a bit of a too cheery.
“Nauseated and in pain sums it up” I said trying to get up again.
“Well that’s good to hear,” She said still in the cheery tone, “But you must lay still you lost an awful amount of blood.”
"Thanks for the concern," I said slowly trying to get back up again, "but—” I was interrupted when I felt her hoof jab my barely closed wounds.
“Fuck!” I cried out falling back once again, “What the hell was that for?!”
“You are in no condition to be moving let alone leaving,” she stated in a firm tone. "Now, I am going to give you a powerful pain killer.
Just bare with us"she said as she injected the serum into the IV.
Almost immediately, the pain subsided into a dull ache soon followed by the loss of feeling in most of my body.
“Well it seems you are keeping are patient entertained, Nurse Red Heart,” an older pony said as he walked in.
“You could say that,” She replied.
Turning his attention back to me,“You’re a lucky colt that a patrol found you.”
“And when exactly was that now,” I asked trying to get to the point.
“That was a days ago, it was a hell of a job putting you back together.” He said as he gave a hearty laugh. “You should be fine within a few days or so… Oh I hope you don’t mind me asking but—,” He hesitated with concern in his voice. “What did you do to even receive such a nasty bite on your back? Not to mention how much wood was imbedded in you left legs?”
What color in my face vanished as I sat there. Looking away I tried to tell them. “I was stationed down there... we were attacked.”
“During the coronation?”
“Yeah.”
“Shouldn't there have been several other ponies with you at that outpost?”
“We weren't at an outpost.”
"Why not?"
"How should I know... I just followed orders."
"But what happened to the ponies that were with you?"
“They’re… they’re not here anymore?”
“And what do you mean by that?” the Doctor asked a little hesitantly.
“They’re dead,” I finally said barely above a whisper bringing a hoof to my face to hide the tears now forming in my eyes."They were eaten by timberwolves... I-I couldn't do anything to stop them,"
I dared not look at their faces, although I could guess that they were of either of shock or fear.
For what seemed like several agonizing minutes the room went silent.
“D-doctor… I’m uhh… I’m going to see if the other patients need anything,” Nurse Red Heart stuttered finally breaking the silence as she walked out the door.
The doctor stood there for a while longer before turning his attention back.
“If you need anything, anything at all just—”
“Just… leave me alone for a little while.”
“S-sure just hit that button next to you on the side of the bed if you need anything.”
I didn't say anything, just kept my hoof over my face hiding the tears that were now flowing freely down my face.
Sitting there as silence over took the room once again was agonizing. ‘Damn it’ I thought slamming my hoof into the pillow. ‘Why did this have to happen? What point is there to this?’
Trying to push the thoughts to the back of my mind, I throw the covers over my head to get some sleep.
But it was in vain…
=====
“I hope you have a good reason to interrupt me, Iron Shield.” Celestia said very displeased tone.
“Your Highness, we have received word that Night Shade has been discharged from the hospital.”
“And why is this important to me might I ask?”
“Well you see he is the survivor of that incident a few days ago.”
“Ah yes. Well we might as well see if he’s doing alright. Where is his office?”
“Just follow me your Highness,” Iron Shield said opening the door.
“Very well,” she replied standing up putting away the heap of papers towering beside my desk.
Several minutes of walking down hallway after hallway her escort stopped at room and opened the door once again.
“Hello? Are you here Night Shade?” She asked in a warm tone. “Come now, is this anyway to greet somepony?” Looking around it looked like any other office with a desk and several seats for ponies to put their hooves up. However, it was empty none the less.
"Excuse me but I thought that this was his office?"
"This is your highness." Iron shield said
"then where is-" she cut off as a mare walked in with a box on her back.
"P-Princess! I didn't k-know that you would be here to greet m-me," she stammered while bowing not caring that her box fell on to the floor.
"Actually... I was wondering where Night Shade was. Since he had been through a traumatic experience I wanted to see if he was alright."
"Oh you mean the guy that just quit. I don't-"
"Wait he quit? When did this happen?" Celestia inturupted
"J-Just a few hours ago your h-highness." the mare stammered shrinking down as low as she possibly could.