//------------------------------// // Chapter Seventeen: Home Stretch // Story: The Conversion Bureau: The Land Downunder // by Da Bunnana King //------------------------------// The Conversion Bureau: The Land Downunder By Da Bunnana King Chapter Seventeen: Home Stretch === We trotted through the crumbling buildings that were scars of when the world was thrown asunder when China spread its Communist ideals through Asia and the Pacific islands. The ones who didn’t conform were crushed or became experiments in what the scientist created. Sadly, Australia was one of the rare nations that had a natural supply of raw resources and natural fuels; we had enough land for factories to be created to spit out tanks, guns, ammunition, explosives, and planes. Hay when push came to shove most of the Australian Special Forces just let the factories run and stole the shipment. Smart idea but many died in the factories. These buildings were destroyed by bombs and artillery shells in order to destroy communications and an eye on advancing forces, but the shelling also opened up new tactics. “Sniper!” I yelled as a patch of dust kicked up in front of me nearly causing me to rear up in fright. Shadow and Jack scattered and I galloped to a smouldering building. I placed Remi down and struggled to get the bags off; I looked at her and saw terror in her eyes. It broke my heart to leave her like this but there was a mad man somewhere in our path to freedom. I hugged her tight and prayed to Celestia that whatever attacked us left us. “Runey?” asked Remi as I held her tight to me. “Yes, Remi?” I asked back as I held her tight and began looking for anything that would be the shooter. I swear I can hear him moving but it was muffled by our hearts pounding, and my fear overwhelming all my senses. “Are we going to be okay?” “We are, but let’s be quiet so the bad man goes away,” I said as I could almost hear his footsteps approaching me. They were heavy yet muffled amongst the rubble. I could hear his boots grinding the stone and moving small pebbles in front of his path. I could almost hear him breathing as he approached us, I could hear the rounds in his pocket clink against each other. The footsteps stopped right in front of us, he was in front of us but he didn’t seem to see Remi or I huddling in the corner in pure terror. He chambered another round into the rifle letting the spent round fall towards the ground giving an all horrifying chink noise as it hit. His breaths were heavy and they smelt of tobacco and rum. He grumbled to himself and began to walk away, grinding the small pebbles that lined his path. I breathed a sigh of relief which man him stop in his tracks and turn around. “I know you're there, pony,” he said in a crackly voice as he advanced towards Remi and me. Terror gripped me once again as his feet were in front of us again and his long arm stretched out and grabbed me by the mane. He hoisted me to his face which reeked of tobacco and sweat. His white skin was covered with grime and dirt with a long gash down the right side of his face. The scar blinded him in one eye causing it to cloud over blocking the bright blue eyes. “So you thought you could sneak up on me and try to ponify me?” he asked as I struggled to free myself. “Let me go, please.” I pleaded as I could faintly hear the soft swishing noise of wings beating against the air. “No, I don’t think so and don’t think your Royal Guard friends can help you either.” He said as I could feel the air softly blow my mane. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but please let me go,” I pleaded again as his iron like grip ceased on me as I dropped to the ground. Behind the unconscious sniper was a tan pegasus sporting a reinforced combat vest modelled his equine physique. He had a short well groomed brown mane and light orange eyes, but the feathers on his wings were a sandy yellow color. “Are you alright son?” he asked in a Southern accent. “Yeah, I’ve been through worse, but thank Celestia you got here in the nick of time otherwise Remi would be an orphan.” I said as I went back to the terrified foal and hugged her hard letting her know she was going to be alright, “But who are you anyway?” I asked as I placed Remi on my back. “They call me Sandstorm and I’m one of the guards that goes out on recon from the Bureau that’s not so far from here.” Sandstorm said as he picked up our saddle bags, “Well I can’t begin to thank you enough for saving me but you came from a bureau not so far from here?” I asked as I began to formulate a plan to get to Equestria myself for I was sure that Shadow and Jack had fled when the sniper attacked me or when Sandstorm came. “Yes indeed, but may I ask what two newfoals are doing here by themselves?” he pressed. “Well, you see,” I began as I began to improvise a background on the spot, “I came out here to try and get to the docks to hop aboard a boat to Equestria but I ran into this man.” “I see, but why through old town?” “It’s the quickest way to the docks from Spring Hill.” I said as I pointed to the west to a large hill with many housing commission buildings on them. “I see, so may I ask what your names are?” “My name is Blue Rune and the filly on my back is Remi, my little foal.” I said confidently, “I see. Well then mister Rune, if you would like I can escort you to the docks where a boat to Equestria should be waiting for the newfoals that come out of the bureau every day or so.” he proposed as he slung a saddle bag on his back. “I would like that very much, seeing as you know your way around the place better than I.” I said as we began to trot downhill towards the heart of the destroyed town, which was rumoured to have the elite of the elite living there in high-rises. Why they lived in a smouldering wreck of a city beats me but I couldn’t care as I could almost smell the salt from the sea. === I stood there on the dock alongside Remi who was staring at the large sail boat that had many ponies on the deck moving boxes or cleaning the deck itself. To say the least it was a large well built boat reminiscent of the old trading boats from the medieval ages. “Well this is where we part ways sir and your new life begins in Equestria.” Sandstorm said as he secured the two saddle bags to me. “But talk to Captain Saltwater before settiling down into a cabin just to tell him he’ll have an extra passenger.” He said as he trotted away to a gleaming white bureau amongst the large shiny high-rises that surrounded it. “Won’t he be mad?” I asked before he unfurled his wings. “No, this is very common for ponies to board ships without any prior notice, but I have to get back to the bureau for a report so goodbye my friends and safe travels!” he shouted as he flew towards the bureau. “Come on Remi, let’s get on that ship,” I said as we trotted up the gangplank. “Yay we’re going to Equestria!” she cheered as I approached a light blue stallion with a small picture of a ship as a cutie mark. “Umm excuse me, would you happen to be the captain of this ship?” I asked as he turned around to reveal a dark blue beard on his chin that covered most of his muzzle and chin. “I would be the captain of this fine ship yarg,” He said in a voice that sounded far to reminiscent of a pirate. “I see, well I would like to head to Equestria on this vessel if that could be possible.” I stated as I could almost hear Remi giggling at the old stallion’s beard. “Sure thing, just put yer baggage below and we’ll be setting sail for Equestria and we’ll be there by sun rise tomorrow, yarg.” He said as he pointed to a door on the aft of the ship. “Thank you, come on Remi.” I said as I herded Remi towards the door as I could hear the gangplank be pulled away from the ship. We trotted to the first cabin which was located below the ship’s deck; it was decent sized for a ship’s cabin having two hammocks and a large wardrobe to one side with yellow seashell wallpaper. I tossed the saddle bags inside the wardrobe while Remi attempted to climb up into a hammock. “Can I have a helping hoof?” she asked as I lifted her up with my head. “There you go, now we’ve had a long day so I think it’s time for some well-deserved rest,” I said as I struggled to get into the hammock. “But I’m not tired,” she whined while yawning. “Yes you are and all little foals need their rest to become big and strong.” I said as I began to relax into the canvas hammock. “Alright-y then, goodnight Runey,” she said as I could hear her beginning to snore. “Goodnight Remi,” I said as I drifted into the first night of blissful sleep I have had in years as the ship silently sailed through the night towards the ever growing bubble that was Equestria, our new home where we could start new lives as true Equestrians. The End === Authors Notes: Well here we are. At the end of a long rode for this fic that I have been pouring most of my waking hours into, but I would like to take a moment to thank all those people from the IRC and skype that have helped me correct my grammar throughout and given me the encouragement to continue writing it. I also want to thank all those who tracked this and commented in the comments about this crazy story that I made one day during a long study session of biology during my final exams. So thanks and hopefully I will write more of the adventures of Blue Rune and Remi in Equestria or more TCB fics (Like that isn’t expected), so I look forward to the angry comments about grammar in the fics to come. Thank you. -Da Bunnana King