Seaddle... 2 Hours Later...
Moore observed the dome that surround the large city. Seaddle was a barren wasteland, inside the dome lay a city in ruin. Buildings lay destroyed, blood littered the ground, though the bodies were nowhere to be seen. This was all very strange.
"Connors, confirm visual on target."
"Roger that Staff Sergeant, I have eyes on." Moore inspects his allies, each has attached the pendant of the pony they were living with. Looking to the guards, they carry good luck charms given to them by their families, each with the hope and intention of bringing them home safely. Moore gives a breath, and brings his hand to his ear.
"Mother Bird, we've arrived. Lower the shield."
"Lowering shield now." From the top, the dome slowly receded. The guards backed away slightly, but Moore threw his arm up to signal them to steady. His own breathing was not in the best shape, but he would manage. The shield gives off a slight hissing noise as it falls slowly to the ground, leaving room for the team to move in.
"No turning back..." He hears Adams say. Moore pats him on the back and moves forward, ordering the others to follow him.
"Mother Bird we're in, moving forward with the plan."
"Roger Staff Sergeant. Be careful, we've already lost this city even with over a hundred guards."
"Don't worry, we'll be careful." Moore reaches a door and holds out his arm. The guards and his men halt, and Moore slowly comes next to the door. He places his rifle forward, barrel first, and opens the door. He turns on his flashlight and looks around. There is a creaking door that is hanging by only one latch, a busted chair and a pool of blood, but no signs of life. He raises his hand and points at Barns, and then points at the hanging doorway.
"Got it, I'll check it out." He says as he brings his LMG forward. He slowly walks forward with ten guards, while Moore orders Adams to follow him while the others stand watch. Adams brings his rifle forward and follows his CO. Down a long hallway is a flight of stairs, though they appear weak, and strained. Moore tests the steps a few times, and though they creak under his weight, they seem safe to walk up on.
"Staff Sergeant this is Connors, there's a black fog heading into your position, recommend you keep at least one light source handy." He hears.
"Copy that Sergeant, we'll be ready for it." Moore places his back to a wall as the stairwell begins to wind, and peeks his head out from the corner.
"Clear." He brings his weapon forward once more, and checks corners of the stair well. The two Rangers reach a door way, and Moore checks the handle. Surely enough, it's unlocked. Moore gives Adams a nod and kicks down the door. He quickly places his back to the wall as his comrade charges in. He waits a few seconds until Adams deems it safe, and he walks in. Inside the room are wrecked paintings, destroyed pieces of furniture, and lifted floor panels. Moore notices a desktop still standing and decides to investigate. On the top of table is a journal, beaten and torn. He cautiously opens the first few pages, revealing a journal entry. Shocker. Moore motions for Adams to come closer and observes the entry.
Friday, August 18th
Today there was another outbreak, seven guards were attacked and absorbed the dark creatures. Three died right away, but the other four lost their sanity and started exhibiting symptoms. This breed of creatures seems to occupy the bodies of ponies and then corrupts them into becoming a hybrid. A vaccine is in the making, but it has been slow. Currently, there are sixty-seven who have become infected, and it does not seem to be communicable from those who carry the disease. Regardless, a cure must be found, or we will lose the town.
Moore is taken back, there were creatures who could corrupt the ponies? He tries to shake it off as he flips to the next page.
Monday, August 21st
It's been three days since my last entry... More have become infected, and the hunt for a vaccine is being abandoned. The creatures have all possessed a pony's body, and there over 2000 in the city. An evacuation by the Princess has been called, but it's too late for me. The creatures are waiting by my door, trying to break it down. If you are reading this, this is my final testimony and will. I pray that you will not suffer my fate.
"Staff Ser... C... he... me?" Moore comes out of his trance at the sound of the static words.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"Staff... Moo... there is too... ference... We... n't..." The signal ends, and Moore is unable to hear who ever was trying to contact him. He tries hitting the radio, but all he gets is bursts of static, then nothing.
"What's wrong sir?" Adams asks. Moore shakes his head.
"Lost communications, we're completely in the dark." After trying to find a few more entries, they give up and head back downstairs. He's just about to leave when Barns calls him over.
"John... you need to see this..." He says. Moore pauses for a moment, wondering what could be so important as to needing his attention. He walks through the doorway, and freezes, his mouth instantly hanging slightly open. It's a pony, but it's eyes have been pulled from it's sockets, leaving blood dropping from empty holes in it's head. It's head is impaled with a large nail, as is it's rear, leaving it suspended on the far wall. It's midsection has been cut open, leaving a pool of dripping blood onto the tile floor. At the end of the blood puddle is a message inscribed in blood. It says but one thing:
Feast on the Blood... Make them Die...
Twenty Minutes Later...
The darkness around Moore felt unnatural, and strange. Communications were still down. Nothing was present, this place was a ghost town.
"Man I got nothing dude... this place is dead..." Hans says as he looks around with his flashlight.
"Hooah." Daniels said in agreement. Just then a thumping noise is heard from a nearby house, and Moore turns to look at it. The wind echoes in his ear as he moves closer. It is dead quiet, but Moore knows that something is there. Raising his hand, and extends one finger in the direction of the door, and his team complies. A moan sounds and Moore steps back slightly. A guard begins to tremble, and Moore has to calm him slightly. Barns slowly opens the door, revealing a slightly open hatch in the middle of the room.
"Okay... THAT's normal..." Barns says sarcastically.
"Cut the chatter, we don't want to alert whatever's down there." Moore says as he opens the hatch. Cobwebs break apart as the door lifts away, revealing a dark, narrow passage way, going downward by stairs. He inspects the area with his flashlight.
"We're going down there are you nuts?" He hears Daniels ask.
"Staff Sergeant, I have to disagree with this." The captain of the guards says. Moore looks up to him.
"For all we know there are innocents down there, and they need our help. Now come on. We have a job to do." Moore lowered himself into the hole, and was soon followed by Adams and Barns, who didn't appear to be panicked by this. With time, the others also made their way down. The team finds themselves in a dark passage way, lit only by a scant few amount of torches on the walls. Moore shook his head. What was this a horror movie?
"Proceed with caution..." He says as he makes his way through the tunnel. He sweeps left and right several times, trying to make sure that nothing is there, but the chatter of his comrades is nerve racking.
"What are we gonna do now man?" Daniels asks.
"I'm freaking out man! I don't..." Hans tries to say.
"Shut up! Get a grip you two! We have the advantage, now stop whining like a bunch of sissies and take point." Moore says. He hears one of them gulp as one leads the way forward. A thump sounds and the young private almost screams, but is blocked by Barns' hand. Checking his right, Moore sees a small door, that is connected to a latch. He pulls up a hand, signaling the troops to stop. There seems to be hushed whispers inside. Moore slowly crouches down and grabs the latch. He pauses for a moment before wrapping his fingers around it. Even with his gloves on, he can feel the strange, almost corpse like coolness fill his hand. He begins to shake slightly, knowing that this affliction is not his PTSD, but fear. Come on, get a grip... He tells himself. Holding his breath, he gives the door a slight push, and it opens. Gun first, he walks in, signaling the others to follow.
"Anyone there?" He asks. Another thump sounds, and he turns to the direction of it. Daniels starts to pant heavily while Hans begins to ask for forgiveness of his sins.
"Will you two knock it off?" Moore says, nearing a shout.
"Hurry! They're getting closer!" He hears in a hushed tone. He turns, trying to find the source.
"Hello? Who's there?" He calls. He raises his gun slightly and tells Adams to take point. He nods and moves. Just then something shouts and pounces on him. Adams manages to flip it over his shoulder and slam it onto the floor. Afterwards pointing his rifle at it.
"Please no! Don't hurt me!" It shouts. Moore tells the Specialist to stand down, and he shines a flashlight, revealing a trembling female pegasus.
"Stand down! It's a civilian." He says. A couple of Guards rush over and help her up, although she's still breathing heavily. She backs away when she sees John and his men, and almost screams.
"Please don't freak out!" Barns nearly shouts. The pegasus stops mid scream and her eyes dart around the room. Barns keeps his hand held out, and the pony eventually shuts her mouth.
"What... What are you?" She asks with a trembling voice. Moore introduces himself and the others, after which another group of ponies reveal themselves, although cautious. The ponies reveal that they are all that's left of the "healthy" population, and the Chaos Bringers corrupted pony bodies, giving them more strength, abilities, and stamina. Moore takes this all in as they ask him to get them out of the city. They say there's only about 80 of them left, so it shouldn't be too hard. Just then, Moore hears a voice.
"You should have listened to the warnings Staff Sergeant." Moore turns his attention, aiming the weapon, but no one is there. His men, the guards, and the civies turn to try and find the source, but no one can find it.
"That him?" Adams asks as he checks behind him.
"Yeah... Mercuito..." He says as he turns back to his right. His palms begin to sweat, causing his gloves to stick to his hands.
"They were right! None leave here alive..." Moore turns back, although he hears an insane cackling in the distance.
"What was that?" Daniels asks with a tremble in his voice. Innocent ponies cower away, trying to protect their loved ones, while Guards stand in front of them. Moore and his men keep their rifles trained on the darkness. The cackling grows louder, and Moore tries to ease his breathing.
"Steady... Whatever comes out of there... Give em' hell..." He says. His hands tremble, and his breathing is uneven. A galloping sound is heard, and he looks to his right. Something, cackling like a maniac is charging at him. Moore takes the initiative and fires. The creature lets out a screech and skids to a halt in front of him. He shines his flashlight on it, revealing a pony. However, darkness swirls in it's eyes, evaporating in front of it, as his teeth drip the darkness like saliva, evaporating once it falls a few inches. Moore backs away in disgust, and the creature vanishes. Moore steps back, trying to keep hold of himself.
"You will pay for your arrogance Moore..." Mercuito says with a cackle in his voice. That's when they hear more cackling and moans. It grows steadily louder, and the group can hear Mercuito's sinister laughter. Moore turns and throws his arm over his one shoulder as he shouts;
"We gotta get out of here now! MOVE!"