Lyra sat in the passenger seat in the front. Savannah sat behind her
"Alright, Lyra program the GPS for WRKR station." Lyra nodded lifted the GPS with her magic placing in the name. It came up Lyra blinked looking at me with a chuckle.
"It's in Kalamazoo do we have enough gas to get there?" I turned the truck on seeing that we had enough gas.
"We have enough. You got all my tools Lyra?" Lyra looked in the back then nodding.
"Check. Now all you need to do is insult me."
I blinked looking at her from the corner of my eyes. "No, I am not going to do any longer Lyra."
Savannah laughed loudly. "You two act like a married couple."
Lyra blushed a deep red. "I am already married to a wonderful mare back home."
I laughed. "Eh, some would think any way we better get going. I don't know how long she will last." We drove off going through the very city of Battle Creek to get to Kalamazoo I never thought I would be on the road again to find another soul that needs to be rescued.
"Now I got my phone with me so I can keep in touch with George. In fact" I called him and the phone went right to it.
"Hello this is Geroge's Pizza can I take your order please?"
I rolled my eyes sighing. "Great your just my father. Anyway, George have you heard from her again?"
"Ah yes I have she is still locked in the room. The dogs thankfully can't get into her room. I told her to have some friends on their way to help her."
"Alright please don't tell her what is coming."
George laughed. "I told her two mares are coming along with another. She asked what is this other. I told her if she heard what I had to say she would think I am crazy. Then she added I have bat wings I can see in the darkness better then I used to. I have sharp teeth and I hunger for fruit. I look like a bat pony do you think the fact that I'm this that I would be scared? So I told her a dragon is coming. Then she laughed and I told I am not lying."
I gave a weak laugh. "Yeah, I wouldn't buy it either that I am a dragon unless I am stuck in this body. So yes I understand how she feels."
"Oh, and Wanda went to go chase after your dog. I need to go make sure he doesn’t get lost. So I will take my phone with me." He hanged up and I sighed great Toby getting lost.
"Heh, at least I am not taking care of that Mutt again." Lyra bluntly blurted out. "After that last time, I never want to take care of him again. Even though he is a sweet little boy when you feel awful and are sobbing and crying."
"So miss Lyra why do you refuse to tell us what happened?" I sighed I knew Savannah would ask these questions.
"I can't because I am trying to protect you. I can't tell you anything you will learn yourself later on."
Savannah rolled her eyes. "Lyra I was a marine I don't buy that bull. I understand that you have your secrets and that you have a home to get back to. I will allow this just this once Lyra. But I have a deep deep respect for the dragon you sit by. If you hurt her I will end your life."
Lyra turned to look at Savannah Lyra had horror in her eyes from the zebra’s words.
"She is kidding Lyra she is a marine that's her way of saying that she likes you." I looked at the rearview mirror and Savannah stared back at me with a very unhappy look in her eyes. She mouthed 'Wait till I get you alone we are going to have a long long talk.' I just winked at her she got even more anger in her eyes. I don't think she cared for that. I shook my head. I knew this wasn't going to be easy for me.
"It will take us about thirty minutes to get there. Lyra please tell me why did you tell Luna everything?"
Lyra smiled weakly. "Well, she is the one that oversees what we do here. She wanted to know why I was crying the last few times I talked with her. I told her the blunt truth, She was about to tell me to leave you alone and just come home. But I felt that you needed me. I know sadly I do have to return to my home sooner or later. I know you aren't ready for that but you have her and the others."
I sighed closing my eyes following the highway to get to Kalamazoo. Opening feeling the dread of the fact that she is going to be gone soon. It's not something I wanted I tried to ignore how I felt. I stopped we were a few miles away from Kalamazoo I turned off the car getting outputting my head on the wall that was used to block the sound of the highway from the people living behind it.
"Malla?" Lyra spoke looking up to me. I had tears in my eyes I was breaking down again. Well, I felt like I was. I felt the endless pain the fact I feel alone. I sniffed looking away.
"You would think it would be easy for me for you to go. I know you have to and I should follow the words that Luna said. I don't see it as being easy. You did so much for me and I haven't done a thing for you Lyra." I felt Lyra's hoof on my side I looked down at her with a weak sad smile.
"You have done more than you think Malla. You have helped me regain my ability to feel good about myself." Savannah got out of her seat I turned my neck to look at her. The anger I saw in her eyes vanished I smiled weakly to her.
"Maybe I need to learn to not be so angry myself Malla. You look at Lyra and what she said you did for her. You have done so much even for me. I know I won't say what you have done for me. You have shown how willing you're to risk your life to protect all of us. Your stories about your parents to George about them working at the same place he used to. Then how you are so kind as to Wanda when she broke down and held her close. You're that leader Lyra was looking for you just need to allow it to place it in your mind."
I nodded with a weak smile. " I think we better go get this gal before she loses it."
0000
Kalamazoo Radio station.
We parked as close as we could to the door. I looked at all the cars that are still here I looked to Lyra. She looked to the other cars rolling her eyes sighing.
"I thought we were here to save somepony not steal Malla."
I smirked. "Oh come on I am sure I could find something."
Savannah laughed. "So this is how she was the entire trip?"
Lyra looked behind to Savannah nodding. "Yes, she got even worse."
I shut the car off getting out looking around seeing all the dog packs wandering around the streets. When I got out the dogs stayed far away from us. I looked over to Lyra nodding to her.
"I want you to come in here playing your Lyre." Lyra smiled opening her bags that she brought with her Savannah stared at the bags she tried to look what's in them but she saw nothing. She pulled out a framed photo first showing off her wife.
"This is Bon Bon, my wife." She put it back inside the bag and then brought out her Lyre.
"Okay...." Savannah looked to me then to Lyra. "I didn't see anything in that."
Lyra blinked looking at the bag. Then back to me, she didn't seem to get it at first. Then I taped her horn with my claw and it finally hit her. Her cheeks turned red remembering Savannah never traveled with us as she and I did.
"It's a spell to keep others from thinking there is something to steal in my bags." I nodded looking towards the station the doors look like they were left unlocked. Lyra started to play the music-making the dogs stay even far away from us. I grabbed my cell phone calling George again.
"Hello, there is Georges booty call how may we help you?"
I sighed shaking my head. "George let her know we are here. We will try to find her but we don't know how much danger will be in here. Also, she should be fine if she starts hearing the music from Lyra."
"Alright, I will let her know. Anyway we got a hold of Toby now Wanda is feeding the chickens. Also I hope whoever you meet in there won't be scared of you."
I laughed. "Why would she be scared of me I am a sweet dragon."
Lyra laughed.
"Yes sweet till you tell her you can't take from a car or she can't flirt with the zebra here." I blinked turning to look at Lyra. Why would I flirt with Savannah did I flirt with her the last few times and I had no idea? Maybe my brain of feeling lonely is going to happen for a long time.
Savannah smirked she pulled Lyra aside as they whispered. I had no idea what is going on we are here to save someone and these too are flirting like its school. I remember the words from Lyra I have been tamed? How have I been tamed I don't get it. I'm starting to wonder if I am blunt of a joke but I highly doubt it maybe they wish to play jokes on me I am not sure at all.
"I will call you back but she is holding up in her office. She said's she is the DJ for that station. So It will be good to have a DJ with better taste in music than me."
I laughed.
"OH come on George we all know you're an old fool." George chuckled on the other side of the phone. Then he hanged up.
"Come on you two let’s get inside and find this gal." Savannah looked back from Lyra and then they started whispering again.
"We are coming I am just telling Savannah the best way to keep you in line when you get upset." I blinked sighing am I really that easy to read.
I went inside the station looking around it stank awfully since the trash hasn't been changed in a long time. Worms and maggots along with flies were all over the place. I wish I had a gas mask with me. When Savannah and Lyra came in behind me they both gagged.
"Oh, that's just as bad as smelling you on a warm day Malla." I turned my head staring at Lyra. " I'm on thin ice right now ain't I?"
I smirked. "No, I just know you're trying to make me happy since I know you will be leaving and I will need to get the last laugh sometime.."
Lyra laughed Savannah stayed beside the two of us as we looked through each of the doors odd that non of them are locked though.
"This is strange why are none of these doors locked?" Savannah asked.
"Maybe this gal has the keys with her and tried to get out but the dogs did show much or there could be others out there that don't wish to be known as of yet," Lyra added
I looked at the map that was on the wall tilting my head. "You two stay down here I will go find her."
The two mares looked at each other. "What do you wish us to do?"
I turned to them smiling. "Look for supplies batteries anything."
Lyra nodded looking over to Savannah who looked at Lyra. I could tell they didn't want to leave me alone. But I had to think. I stood in the hall looking at the stairs that will lead me to the new soul that recently returned. I closed my eyes not sure what to think.
"Malla..." Lyra said. I could tell she was worried the same with Savannah.
"Please do what I ask Lyra..." I turned to look at her emotions cold and closed. I even gave the same look to Savannah. Savannah gave me a slow nod.
"Come on Lyra lets allow Malla to have some time to think." I am happy Savannah understood while they both started to look in the rooms for supplies. Looking at the Map again she didn't know what room she was in but she said top floor. Up in there top floor is the DJ room.
I went upstairs I started to smell. something went I got to the second floor there I saw a body of a pony. Slowly I went to the pony feeling its pulse even though I did and he or she was pretty ripped up they gasped deeply opening their eyes weakly.
"H...H..help me..." He reached with his hoof from what I saw he lost so much blood. Before I could move I finally saw why a large group of Pumas lay not far from him. They acted like he was already did it made nose sense to me at all why would they even try to come here? It's a bit strange to me they would even try.
I learned what this was it was a trap set by them. I didn't know how to act looking down at the pony. I needed to save him but I needed to save myself. We couldn't help him. But we needed to do something I needed to. They were getting closer to me I got on my back legs and roared in anger it echoed through the area down the stairs. I heard hooves coming up the stairs.
" Malla...." Savannah stopped at the top seeing the pumas There had to be more three or four of them.
"Lyra take him..." I pointed to the stallion. "get him back to the others Savannah go with her. I will take care of this." They were about to argue with another large creature jumped down from above to try to get to them and landed right behind me. It was younger puma maybe a teen. I grabbed the pony in my arms leaning down to him. "I am sorry for this."
I tossed the bleeding pony to Lyra and Savannah quickly pouncing on the puma that tried to attack them. Lyra caught him in her magic but sadly it didn't slow his decent Savannah did what she could to make him land on her. She groaned and they quickly head downstairs to get away to safety. I tossed the one I was on down the stairs it hit the metal railing I heard a nasty crack in its leg and it lay there in pain whining and crying. I turned to the others standing on the back of my clawed feet again. I roared deeply showing my might and power to them.
The pumas all female from what I saw slowly backed up. I sighed picking up my phone calling George.
"Hey, Malla I had a feeling you would call. I got another voice message from her. She said she heard some dark evil roar. I said that is you. I said that you might have found whatever was after her."
" Yes I did find something look Savannah and Lyra are coming back without me. They have a wounded dying pony coming with them."
"Oh my Wanda get ready our skills are going to be needed." He hangs up and I sighed I knew we were going to need to find a doctor but I doubt that would happen anytime soon. I found another set of stairs leading me up I saw more blood looking away when I got upstairs to a scene of dogs I didn't want to see again. These dogs never stood a chance to whatever is in here.
I heard my phone ring and the phone was on speaker.
A soft female British voice spoke
"OI you git are you coming? I can't stay here forever thinking we will have some chips. Get your large lizard butt up here you American fool."
"Oh joy a female brit. I used to date always went you don't argue with them."
"Good girl you know never to argue with the better sex. Now get up here and save me but I don't need your pity. I have been in this state for almost three years and you Americans only care about how their butts and bust look." I sighed shaking my head.
"Are you done?"
"Did I say I was done?!"
"Look the world ended I am a dragon you're a pony. if we can move on we can try to change the issues of the past are you willing to do that or are you just going to keep insulting me?" She went silent for a moment.
"What do you mean the world ended?"
I sighed.
"The entire world ended from what I have learned the entire world vanished in one night and some started showing up on that day like me. I am sure there might be more out there. But I can't know for sure."
She sighed. "Okay, I am sorry I do this when I get upset. I came here as an exchange from London to learn American music. So I am told you need a DJ I will gather all my music in my bag here then wait for you to get here." I sighed nodding turning off my phone placing the phone in the pouch
I took a deep sniff looking at the meat. I couldn't stop myself I feel bad as I write this I could have been to her. But I was busy eating what was left of the dogs. An hour later while I was in the middle of a pile of bones burping. I just remembered I needed to save someone.
I slowly got up heading up the stairs I am sure there is something else in here that is causing more issues. But I had a feeling since all the humans are gone there is nothing to stop creatures from breaking into places like this or those timers and without power maybe some of the locks that are used with power and such would be hard.
I finally made it up to the stop floor sniffing around for her. I smelled that she has gone to the bathroom and well other things. Slowly followed the smell knocking on the door.
"Who is out there?!"
"The dragon you insulted. I am here to get you out of here." The mare opened the door she was a brown bat pony? She had yellow spots on very long ears yellow eyes and yellow mane.
"Took you long enough. Now let’s get going I'm tired of being here."
I nodded. "We can come here later looking for supplies."
I headed back down stairs I looked back to her she had no issues walking like the others did at first. I had no idea what to think of this gal. She didn't speak like I thought she would but I could tell she wasn't happy that I took so long.
"Stay close to me there are some nasty creatures in here. You're lucky we found you with the other pony."
She snorted. "That other pony is one of those rich nuts that tried to buy out this place. I may not like him but I do hope he heals up and then you can toss him out."
I heard my phone ring lifting up
"Savannah and Lyra are returning to you they brought the other pony to us. He's not doing to good if we don't find what we could use on us or a doctor he won't last long. But we can try to keep him alive for now."
"Alright good we will wait outside of.." I heard growls and roars of the pumas showing up. "Go now I will be behind you got to go George!!" I put my phone away turning to the creatures. The mare did what I told her to. She ran down the stairs these creatures didn't seem to get the message they wanted to mess with me again. I know who they were going after. I got on my back legs making myself look bigger.
I roared deeply and in anger my crest expanding to show I am bigger and stronger than them. Fluid dripping from my mouth causing the carpet to singe and burn a bit. We needed to come back to look for supplies so I had enough of this. I noticed only a few of the pumas remained I wonder if a few left after what I did to a young one. Only two charged me I grabbed one of them tossing them into a window that broke causing them to fall to the ground bellow.
The other got a good bite on my neck. Thankfully the scales were thick but it hurt still I coughed feeling air being taken from me. it was able to choke the air out of me. The other did the same I coughed I couldn't even move. As if it was so suddenly the three mares came back up the bat pony had a large shovel in her mouth smacking the puma in the face. Savannah had a chair piece she stabbed into the puma’s neck. Lyra used a trash can to smack the puma that the bat pony hit with the shovel.
The puma that had the chair stabbed into it died right away while the other backed up as I took deep breaths. Lyra had hate for the puma in her eyes. Her horn glowed brightly forcing the magic on the other puma’s neck to choke it out. But she did something I never thought she would do she did one quick move off her magic the bones int he pumas neck cracked as she broke the neck of the puma.
I stood up Lyra stood there at the body looking at me she was shaking.
"I....I took......took a life." Lyra worried shaking. I looked at the other two
"Go look for supplies it should be clear now. Check upstairs first." Savannah nodded she pulled Jenny Strong with her.
"Please come along miss strong, Malla needs to talk to her. I will explain who she is." The bat mare nodded. The two ran upstairs I looked at Lyra she started sobbing so hard. She had never taken a life before from how she acted. A mare not even from this world. She never took a life. I didn't know how to help her. So the only way I could was to hold her.
I held her close I let her cry while the others searched I stroked along her slowly. I wonder if she is the first from her world to kill? She is taking it so hard it makes me feel bad for her. Looking down at Lyra she looked away sobbing.
"I killed I killed.."
"Lyra relax you will be fine. You did it to save me. Come let’s find some supplies." Lyra sighed I knew she wouldn't be able to handle the fact she killed. But maybe Savannah can help her. The two of us went through the rest of the building. After an hour or so we found some canned foods that would have still been good. Some medicines that George will need to test to see if it can work with us. But we might need a doctor still. We got back to the car and drove off leaving the station behind. We rescued a new soul and now its time to go home.