//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 Going on a Run // Story: Thief // by conTROLLER234 //------------------------------// Thief Chapter 8 Going on a run I don’t know how long it had been, the longest minutes of my life containing only the deathly silence inside the barn of the terrified ponies, and the one human that had the bravery, and now the anger to kill everything outside that was trying to get in. The sounds of banging wood and grunting as I swung the hatchet at and walker near me made each pony inside flinch. Soon, all the sounds stopped, the silence now complete. Fluttershy let out a quiet whimper, until the door opened slowly. Most of the ponies took a step back, the ones that were prepared to protect everypony else stepped forward, Rainbow Dash even grabbing a rake that was nearby. The barn doors opened to their full extent, to show John thankfully standing there. But standing beside him was a light gray-coated pegasus, with a faint yellow mane. Her eyes golden, and slightly off center. I stepped in with the pony at my side, blood on both of us, but mainly me. “I found the one that brought all those walkers here.” I didn’t have an expression that read angry, or even pissed. As almost always there was nothing on my face, but a relaxed, quiet look as I walked away from the saved pony. I walk up to the group, mostly looking at Applejack, causing her to gulp and back down slightly. “Do you have a shower around here?” Applejack’s eyes zoomed around the room, avoid my own before landing upon my face. “U-Uh, yep! There’s one inside the house, and one outside, but with those things out there-” “Thanks.” I cut her off, grabbing the rest of my clothes and equipment that I didn’t have on before. Taking everything, I walk back out of the barn. Leaving the ponies huddled together in a group. “He sure is...strange.” Applejack cut through the silence, relaxing. “Strange!? THAT is how you describe him!?!” Rarity scowled, still shaking in fear even though I had gone. “I don’t get how he does that without caring at all! Does he even have emotion?!” Dash chimed in, throwing her hooves up in agreement with Rarity. “GIRLS!” All of the arguing girls stop in immediate surprise as they turn to Fluttershy, who had stopped them of their conversing. Fluttershy’s ears went back, but she stood tall. “How can you talk about him like that behind his back?! He just saved all of us, and you’re accusing him of being heartless!” Rainbow looked as if she was going to speak up again, anger still on her face. But when she realized Fluttershy was right, she looked to the ground in shame, her anger subsiding and her tail whipping gently. “...You’re right.” Rarity let out a long, calming sigh. “I, suppose, that this is all just a bit much for us-” “That’s still no excuse to blame somepony else for something that’s not their fault!” Nopony had seen Fluttershy get angry like this before, especially directed at them. Fluttershy huffed and turned away. “You should all be ashamed of yourselves.” And with that, she flew out the barn window. Leaving the group to their thoughts. Outside, leaned up against the barn door was me, listening to Fluttershy’s lecture. A small grin seeps across my lips. “Maybe some of these ponies really aren’t so bad.” - - - - -Later- - - - - A few hours later, the sky had began to set; a lot quicker than normal. I had cleansed my clothes and body of all the gore and odor from the walkers, rinsing my weapons, too. By now, the ponies were finally relaxed. There wasn’t another walker or pony for miles, as far as I could see. I finished washing everything a while ago, but right now I was walking along the grounds, close to the barn and house. Impressed by how many fresh crops there were out there, and lots of apples. I decided that tomorrow I would get everyone to collect as much as possible, but before that we would need a fridge or something so they won’t rot... I also noted that we would have to set a boundary around everything, or anything we could. Even traps if we have the stuff for it. Now I could already tell that these ponies are herbivores, which means the hunting won’t be as hard. Just more for me, not that I cared what the others would think… See? There. You have to stop that. If you’re staying with them, at least be civil. I shook my head, going back to the barn. When I got there, all the ponies were conversing. Different groups of ponies talking about other things, but I didn’t see Fluttershy anywhere. I walked up to Twilight, who was with both Princesses. “Do you know where Fluttershy is? I uh, need to make sure everyone is here before nightfall.” What the hell was that hesitation for? Twilight turned to me and raised a slight eyebrow, catching the same thing. She let it go with a lazy sigh. “I’m not sure, she left after you did.” I let out an irritated sigh. “Alright, make sure no one leaves. I’ll be right back.” With that, I set off outside again. Once I left the barn, the sounds of birds chirping had disappeared and been replaced with crickets hidden in the unknown distance. But it wasn’t enough to cover the sound of the barn roof that gave away a quiet creak. Followed by a squeak, that came from a familiar pony. I looked up, but didn’t see anything at the angle I was at. I shrugged, even if she wasn’t up there it’s a good place to look over the property from. With that, I began climbing. A minute later I was on the rooftop of the barn. Fluttershy was there, as she had heard me climbing up. She looked at me, and once she realized who it was she relaxed. I wouldn’t have liked the idea of one of these ponies being able to hear me, but I was starting to trust them more and it was good they can hear quiet things. Especially Fluttershy. “W...W-What are you doing up here?” Fluttershy looked away, facing the sun as it went under the horizon. I didn’t answer, but I walked quietly over to her. I sat down beside her, and took off my mask. Looking down at it as I spoke. “Thanks for that.” She perked up. “Thanks..? For what?” “Doing what you did after I left the barn earlier. It’s nice to know someone cares for me too.” Once Fluttershy realized what I meant she blushed, poking the shingles of the barn roof. “O-Oh, that was no problem. It just made me upset to know that they didn’t care for what you did to help us. Even if they aren’t, I-I’m very thankful for what you did…” She hid behind her mane. “It’s no problem. I couldn’t have done it if I didn’t have somepony to save. O-Or a whole group.” I gulped internally. There was something special about this pony...I could feel it… “Anyways, you should probably go back inside.” I said, pulling my bow off my back and sliding in an arrow. My legs dangling over the edge. “You need your sleep.” “What about you?” Fluttershy didn’t move, but she looked at me. A tiny bit of her flush still on her face. Added with the orange sunlight, created (I’ll admit) a beautiful picture. I didn’t react to it though. “I’m keeping watch. Especially with the break out just happening, there’ll be walkers everywhere. I need to make sure none get near us.” “B-But, you need your sleep too! I can’t just leave you out here.” She responded, this time standing up and glaring down at me. I didn’t find it in the littlest bit intimidating, and I didn’t stand either. I calmly look back at her. “Relax. I’ve been on my own for years now, I can make a night. Just go get your sleep.” I gently pat her head. Fluttershy paused, looking down, before looking back at me. Quietly, she laid down beside me. “Okay, fine. But I’m not leaving.” I sighed, getting slightly irritated. “Fluttershy, don’t make this difficult-” “I’m not leaving.” She planted, not opening an eye as she relaxed. I opened my mouth to counter once again, but I never realized Fluttershy was this stubborn. If she wasn’t going to leave, I might as well enjoy her company. It’s been awhile since I’ve had that. I put down my bow beside me. The sun had already gone down, and the beautiful moon had risen along with the tiny stars far away. I let out a quiet yawn, then hear and feel Fluttershy move closer, her head gracefully resting on my thigh. Thankfully she was asleep, or at least had her eyes closed. As I had let out my own, barely-visible blush. My hand found its own way to her head, and soothingly began to stroke through her mane and around her ears, causing them to flick every time I went near them. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Fluttershy, though my smile disappeared as I hear the barn doors open. Twilight walked out, and looked around. “John?” “Up here.” I spoke quietly, and she looked up at me. She looked as if she was going to ask why I was up there, but she didn’t. “Did you find Fluttershy?” “Yes, she up here.” “...Are you coming down?” “I’m watching the perimeter for the night, and she wanted to stay up here with me.” Twilight’s eyes widened slightly. “O-Oh. Alright then...Um, good night!” She half-smiled, walking back into the barn. I simply nodded back to her before she left, then once she did it was back to the quiet sounds of distant crickets, and the faint sound of Fluttershy’s breathing. I sighed, my hand still on Fluttershy’s head, but barely moving. I stretched out my legs, and yawned once again. “Better get comfortable, gonna be a long night.” - - - - - The next morning, Fluttershy woke up, (Still on the roof obviously,) and let out a long yawn crossed with a stretch. When she finished, she looked around on the rooftop, seeing that John wasn’t there. She looked up, and the sun wasn’t even up yet. Though looking up, something else caught her eye. It was rising smoke, and what followed was an awful stench of rotting and burning corpses. She followed the smoke down to see a large pile of dead corpses, engulfed in flames. She saw me next to it, picking up the dead walkers from around the barn and tossing them into the large fire. She slowly got up and, opening her wings, hovered down off the roof to the ground. Loudly and suddenly the barn doors burst open, an angry Applejack stomping out and towards me. “What in Equestria do y’all think yer doin’!?” I look over at Applejack, poking at the fire with a big stick. “Morning to you too.” “The sun ain’t even up yet and yer already causin’ trouble!” AJ pointed to the smoke and the flames. “Ain’t that gonna attract those things!?” I shrugged. “Probably not. Walkers are attracted by smell and close sight, sound too. But it’s more important to burn these then let them lay around. If the disease gets airborne then we’re all screwed.” Applejack growled at him nevertheless. “Can’t ya just throw ‘em somewhere!?” I dropped the stick and glared back at her. “Look, I know what I’m doing. So let me do it!” “How do ah know it’s the right thing to do then!?” “You DON’T know! If I wasn’t here you’d be like these!” I pointed to the burning bodies. “Do you want to live, or die!? Because if you don’t want to go by my rules be my guest and leave!” Applejack gave me a death glare. “This is mah property, and MAH barn!” I raised my eyebrows sarcastically. “Oh, well this is my arm, and my shoe!” I pointed to each of them, earning an annoyed grunt from AJ. “Both of you, cut it out!” Fluttershy cut in, followed by a sigh. “Can’t we all just get along, please?” I crossed my arms. “I donno, can we?” I nodded at Jack. “Ah really don’t like that attitude of yers!” I threw my arms up. “And you think I like yours?!” “BBEEE QQUIEEEEETTT!!!!” Everyone backed down and looked to the barn door and spotted Rarity, whose main was all frizzled and tangled in a messy manor. Her face showed the anger of a bull as steam shot out of her nose. “It is BAD ENOUGH that I must sleep in a barn, but I need my BEAUTY SLEEP!! SO SHUT UUP!!” And with that, she slammed the door. The silence was so heavy you could hear her mumbling to herself inside. I turned and continued picking of the bodies. “I’ll prepare for a hoard to come this direction thanks to that.” I didn’t know when, but Applejack ended up helping me toss the rest of the corpses into the fire. Once we were done, I hadn’t noticed the sun come up. The ponies all came out of the barn, one by one. Once everyone was out, I called for a roll call. “Why?” Twilight straight up asked. “I need to make a head count, just so I know exactly how many, ponies are here.” After Twilight agreed, everyone gathered together in a somewhat organized line. I started counting. First off, there was obviously the six girls I met at the start, they were all there. The princesses too, that's eight. And then there was three fillies, a giant-ass red stallion, a mint-colored unicorn, and the gray pegasus I had saved yesterday. 14 ponies. 15 including myself. If I can control what happens here, we should keep that number for a long time. But that’s the problem, people like to do what they want. “14, 15 including me.” I explained. “That’s plenty enough to help defend this place. We’ll just have to organize some things and we’ll be good to go.” “What do we use to defend, though?” Rainbow Dash asked, and others nodded in agreement. I rubbed the back of my head. “First of all, a big fence around the perimeter or something like that would be good. Weapons, though, is a different story.” “How so?” One of the ponies asked. “Obviously, the unicorns are much safer for melee weapons, blunt and sharp. And I don’t suppose you have guns around here. So, I will need to gather up a team that is okay to get dirty to gather supplies.” I walked slightly, looking at them. “Well, dirty is an understatement. Anyone who isn’t afraid to kill, and won’t freeze during an attack.” “What do you need a group like that for?” Fluttershy said, barely above a whisper. But it was enough for me to hear. “We’re going on a run.”