//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 An old friend // Story: Black Bloom 2 // by Bronycommander //------------------------------// Chapter 2: An old friend Jacob awoke up early for his shift. He had to smile as his wife and Apple Bloom were sleeping peaceful. Mia woke up in the morning. Apple Bloom walked in with a tray. “Good morning, mommy. Ah made you breakfast.” Mia smiled. “Thank you, sweetheart.” Apple Bloom had made a glass of juice and a bowl of oatmeal. “It was very good, Apple Bloom,” Mia said as she had finished Breakfast. Apple Bloom blushed. “Glad to hear it. Being in a family of farmers has its advantages.” A tear left her eye. “You miss your family, don’t you?” “Yes, mommy. Why are you in City 17, mommy? What happened to Black Mesa?” “Well, Apple Bloom, Black Mesa was destroyed by an atomic bomb. The USA was almost completely destroyed in the war. City 17 is in Eastern Europe. I can’t even remember its real name. If Breen hadn’t made a peace agreement, Humanity would have been wiped out. He lives in the citadel.” “That giant building?” “Yes.” “Did Daddy ever tell you, how’s work is as an officer of Civil Protection?” Mia chuckled, “It’s like his former job as security guard, which was also a reason why he joined them. He patrols the city in shifts. Many officers however beat unarmed Citizens with Stun Batons at the slightest provocation. Jacob is not like them. He only wants to protect me, since I am the only thing left, he has. He also tries to always be successful, as mission failure would result, that he would be separated from me. These Citizens are generally hated by non-civil officers, because these Citizens choose to be a part of the Combine, beating and arresting Citizens at their own discretion. Jacob however, remains friendly and respectful, despite being one of them.” “From mah view, he did the right thing. Do you want to play with me on the playground?” Mia grinned, “I would love it.” Jacobs shift was quiet. Sometimes he would take place in raids, but he wouldn’t beat a citizen just because he wanted to do it. As he had his break, he talked with Barney. “How’s it going, Calhoun?” “Good Jacob, how’s your wife? And Barney is just fine.” “She’s doing fine.” Making sure he wasn’t watched, he asked quietly, “Can you keep a secret?” “ Of course, what is it?” “Do you remember how I told you about that filly once?” “Yes, why?” “Because that filly has somehow come to City 17.” “You are kidding.” “No I don’t. If you want after our shift is over, I can show you her.” “I would want to meet her.” Barney was confused, but was ready. At Jacob's home, they saw how Mia played with Apple Bloom on the playground. They both had much fun. “Daddy!” Apple Bloom was happy to see him. “Hello Apple Bloom, may I introduce my colleague, Barney Calhoun?” Barney waved friendly. He had seen many weird things at Black Mesa, but never saw a talking Pony before. He knelled down. “Hello little one, I’m Barney Calhoun, nice to meet you.” “Ah’m Apple Bloom, Mr. Calhoun,” Apple Bloom replied politely and respectful. “Please, Barney is just fine.” “Do you want to come in, Barney?” “How could I refuse?” He said as Apple Bloom gave him puppy eyes. The rest of the day, Apple Bloom told him about her family and home. He was fascinated by it and promised that he would help her out, should she get into trouble. After he left, Apple Bloom was drawing a picture of her “parents". She stopped as she heard Mia crying. Apple Bloom saw them on the couch. “I can’t take it anymore.” Mia was hugged by Jacob. “Everything’s going to be okay.” “What are we going to do?” "We’ll think of something.” “When is it all going to end?” “Don’t worry.” “Please!” “It’s all right.” “Mommy?” Apple Bloom hugged her to cheer her up. “Ah drew something for you.” Apple Bloom showed them her picture. On it was Jacob in his security uniform with the word “Daddy” above him, Mia with the word “Mommy” and Konrad in his marine uniform with the word “Uncle." “That is beautiful. If Konrad was here to see this, he would like it. Anyway, time for dinner.” Mia hung the picture up before she prepared dinner. After Dinner, Apple Bloom was drawing another picture while Jacob and Mia cleaned the kitchen. Their hearts melted. Apple Bloom was asleep on the floor, with another picture on the ground. On it were her family and her friends with the words “I miss you” above them. Mia also hung this picture up. Jacob brought Apple Bloom into bed. He gave her a kiss in the forehead. “Sweet dreams, my dear daughter.” “I enjoy every minute with her Jacob.” "So I do. Even if it’s just a day ago, I hope her family finds her soon.” “I am sure they will.” This night, Apple Bloom had another nightmare. At first, she found herself in the guest bed. She heard Mia screaming. Apple Bloom ran in. She saw three men in uniform. One man, which was the leader, was beating Mia with a stick. He wore a white uniform. The other two were wearing brown and red uniforms with blood red/orange goggles. “Stop hurting my mommy!” The white Soldier looked up. “No! Spare her! She didn’t do anything!” Mia pleaded. The Soldier aimed his strange looking rifle at Apple Bloom. She screamed and tried to run. The Soldiers rifle made a charging up sound. A strange looking ball chased her. Despite her best attempts to flee, the ball reached her. Apple Bloom awoke in cold sweat, breathing heavily. Mia came in. “I heard you scream, are you all right?” “Ah had a nightmare, mommy!” Mia responded by picking her up, rocking her and humming a lullaby. Apple Bloom fell asleep. “Don’t worry Apple Bloom; no harm will come to you.” In the morning, Mia woke up. Jacob had already left for work. He said something about guarding a dam. Mia breakfasted. Apple Bloom walked in with a yawn. “Good morning, mommy!” “Morning sweetheart. Any nightmares?” “No, thanks to you!” She smiled. “I already made breakfast for you.” Apple Bloom enjoyed it. After breakfast, she helped Mia to clean the house. As reward, Mia tickled her. Apple Bloom was lying on the ground trying to catch her breath. An alert went off. Apple Bloom looked out of the window. “Seems like the citadel’s on full alert. I wonder why. I've never seen it lit up like that.” Mia saw how the citadel was changing her “state.” Mia walked away, while Apple Bloom looked still out of the window, curious. A Breencast started. “We now have direct confirmation of a disruptor in our midst, one who has acquired an almost messianic reputation in the minds of certain citizens. His figure is synonymous with the darkest urges of instinct, ignorance and decay. Some of the worst excesses of the Black Mesa Incident have been laid directly at his feet. And yet unsophisticated minds continue to imbue him with romantic power, giving him such dangerous poetic labels as the One Free Man, the Opener of the Way. Let me remind all citizens of the dangers of magical thinking. We have scarcely begun to climb from the dark pit of our species' evolution. Let us not slide backward into oblivion, just as we have finally begun to see the light. If you see this so-called Free Man, report him. Civic deeds do not go unrewarded. And contrariwise, complicity with his cause will not go unpunished.” She heard a humming sound. A City scanner saw her. He clicked, taking a photographic image of Apple Bloom. Ahh, mommy, Ah’m blind!” All she could see was white. Her vision returned. “That’s better.” An APC was stopping in front of the house. “Hide under the guest bed while I talk to the CP’s!” Mia looked worried at the CP’s that were about to enter the house. One of them pounded at the Door. “Just a moment.” She opened the door. “Can I help you?” She asked innocent. “Citizen, move back right now.” Mia obeyed. “Why are you here? I did nothing wrong.” A Metro cop searched the house. He found Apple Bloom cowering under the bed. She screamed in fear as the cop grabbed her. “Mommy! Help me!” She struggled in the arms of the officer, crying. Mia was about to punch the leader of the Metro Cops, but he saw this and blocked it. Then he beat Mia with his Stun Baton. Mia fell incapacitated to the ground, still aware. “Your Cooperation has been noted.” “Mommy! No!” Apple Bloom screamed before the CP knocked her out with the Stick. As they leaved, Mia cried. She tried to safe her, but the pain was too much. She could only watch. She wanted to be a mother, and failed. Apple Bloom regained consciousness. She was now restrained in an APC. Suddenly, she heard a voice. “Doc! The teleporter! It’s malfunctioning again!” Then, she was teleported away. She landed in water. She almost drowned as someone pulled her out of the water. “You’re all right?” “Yes. You’re saved mah life!” She looked her savior in the eyes. “Wait, Gordon?” “Apple Bloom?” Both were surprised to see each other.