Chapter 1 - A Tail to Fore-tale
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Journal Entry No. #234
The guys and I leave tonight for Los Pegasus, as ordered by Princess Celestia herself...I can't help but feel slighted, given the shove off to the battlefield...With who knows what! Rumor has it that Princess Twilight Sparkle is still holding up an outpost , along with her friends. Maybe the Elements of Harmony could save the civilians that remain, but that maybe asking for too much...I know my family was hit by the infection, and I can see that they aren't my family anymore...Orders are to shoot any infected civilians on sight...I just hope Princess Celestia knows what she's doing.
Sincerely, Celestia's humble soldier,
Orion Corrales,
Soldier 115; STARCHILD
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The audio blasts from the A113-Warbird Helicopter, spewing out a mashed distorted song of our proud country's national anthem. What was once a beautiful green luscious countryside, now remains an empty city, ruined buildings and crushed asphalt. The aerial view is just devastating, as our records indicate a population of one thousand three hundred and twenty four...and now looks like a ghostown. The other soldiers don't seem to distraught, as my Stallion troops crack plenty of humor.
"We got an issue number five forty-one, a douchebag on board, sir!"
"Calm down private, the battle is down there, not on board with us! Besides, if the douchebag you claim is on this here helicopter, your mom must be one sorry mare come the end of this month."
The two ponies chatter back and forward to eachother, buddies but still making fun of the strange alliance at hoof. It was Private Joker, Lt. Hudson, and Sgt. Ledhoof, all in "Company C", along with the pilot and myself, all killers to the core. I knew and fought alongside with each of these colts, and whether it was Pegasi, Unicorn, or Human, we were all brothers in this war... War...
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I stop and think for a second, gazing down at the chard landscape and realizing a possibility that I had kept to myself in denial for quite a while...Was I? Could I be the last...? I recall all the lost human casualties from the Battle at Manehattan...All my friends, gone...In one single day, they were all terminated...Executed on sight by both these Colts and myself; As ordered by Princess Celestia, under proclamation #52357, a Bio-hazard and a threat.
I recall that day so well, although I really wish I couldn't...Days like those make me regret even living, let alone even remaining sane. Most colts would have to be admitted to the mental ward for the things I've witnessed. Cities, villages, and towns, all incinerated to cease the spread of a mysterious infection, which ravages the body and poisons the mind. A state of unconsciousness, yet the only objectives in the infected being to eat, and kill, spreading complete chaos. I still remember the wall erected in remembrance of all the fallen species...The Human Monument, located in Canterlot Gardens, standing the largest of the four pillars...My whole family, friends, and soldier brethren carved into the statue in one day...
Am I...The last human?
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"Get a load of this guy, hey Starchild! You tripping balls or what? Lemme get some of that magic hay you're chewing on...It's go time, feet on the ground, soldier!"
I snap back to reality as the Sergeant gives an order, hoofing me my standard R34 Assault Rifle and a helmet; as reports indicate survivors opening fire on troops and anypony attempting to help. I whisper my prayers and check the magazine in my gun, pulling back the hammer and ensuring the safety is off. I am ready to follow orders and achieve kills in the name of Princess Celestia herself! Humans and Unicorns use guns while Earth Ponies and Pegasi manage mortars and explosives.
"Alright troops, we have orders to execute any threats to Twilight Sparkle and the mares present in this here town. Orders are to retrieve all survivors and the Elements of Harmony, no matter how heavy the condition...Rumor of a cure is floating around but I wouldn't get my hopes up. If the shit fits, wear it. I don't want any unnecessary casualties, alright soldiers? "
As always, the grunts that we are, reply with a loud an efficient...
"Sir yes, sir!"
I shout in harmony along with the other troops, each of us panning out the Town Square and verifying the dead landscape for life. Considered one of the dumbest cliche's of all time, we split up to cover more ground, and establish the full metered scan of the area. Lucky for me, I get the honor of exploring the old shopping complex that used to stand here, rubble and emptyness masking me as I creep through the entrance.
"Anypony out there? T.A.F.T.S. reporting to any distress..."
I shout out to the dark empty mall, two stories of shops that all echo back my offer of help...But alas I get nothing, I hear no reply back, just my footsteps shuffling back towards the entrance flooded by sunlight. Just as my investigation seems it's bleakest, I hear a sudden sound...
"H-Help! I have survivors...I can assure you the four of us are not infected."
...I breathe slowly, and turn back towards the pitch black...Could it be survivors untouched from the plague of infection? Or if I report this to the Sergeant, would it just be more target practice...?
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The mission is clear and I remain eager to see the outcome of this hellish nightmare, hoping for a cure of the Infection that threatens life as we know it. Eyes forward and guns pointed outward, hands ready to pull the trigger, ready to kill...As if taking another life would account to anything in this prolonging war. None the less, I take this cry for help on my own, without telling my team...