//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 Aftermath // Story: The metal HAWKEN // by NinjaTurtle //------------------------------// Chapter 13 Aftermath I no longer cared. Everypony avoided the human due to the death I caused, but when faced with life or death, I know my answer. I hadn't got away unscathed by any means, with cuts and bruises over my body. The deep cut on my cheek had to be sealed and others plastered. My muscles ached and were sore. I could've fought for longer but that was more chance of me being fatally injured. The same nurse I saw last time entered with clipboard in her magic. She had a grim look. I didn't care. “Hello. You seem to have multiple bruises and cuts. Nothing serious. We advise you take it easy for a while. The steri strips can be removed in five days. Please prevent them from getting wet or it will come off. “ she said, using multiple short sentences. I looked at my hand, clenched it and released. I said my thanks and got up. I went to pick up my minigun, which I had brought just in case of backup of reinforcements. The ponies didn't know what it was but not a single pony had the guts to ask at the moment. I rested the barrel on my left shoulder so I could use my right hand. With a wave I left her. I left the hospital and walked out of town. I headed for the farm, which was the currently most isolated place I could go to to think. On the way out, I saw the two guards stare at me. I just walked away. I past the two ponies that survived and looked at them as they looked back in fear. The three leaders I knocked out were also being treated as I walked past. I continued my walk to the farm. I planned on going to the Everfree forest. There, I could do what I want in peace. Maybe even hunt another manticore or something while I'm at it. It had been a while since he had meat, and he wanted better food. DB was monitoring the edge of the forest. He walked past without a word. DB did not question him, which he expected. The forest was dark and slightly worrying, but natural. The creepy silence was welcoming to the racket from earlier. The small rustling of the bushes gave away the wind or the small critters inside. I stopped and looked around. A rabbit jumped from the bushes and past me. Running prey means chasing predators. I readied my gun, with the extra mags holstered in his pockets, and aimed. I waited patiently. Soon, a huge, long necked, multi-headed, golden scaled creature walked through the tree line. “A FUCKING HYDRA! “. NOPE, NOT A FUCKING CHANCE! I didn't bother with the heads, I mean, it's a hydra! Hopefully, it's reproductive factor didn't apply to its other organs. Or… I fired my pistol as I ran, aiming for the vital organs and chest area. As I got far enough away, I hid behind a tree and put my pistol away. I pulled my minigun from behind my back and revved it up. I stepped out from behind the tree and let loose. The hydra was riddled with bullets that ripped through the scales. The scales came back, and so did the internal organs. But they grew back with an extra one as well, and there's only so much space inside that body. The hydra charged me as the onslaught continued to tear through its flesh and body. It screeched in pain and stretched its neck to get me. It got closer and closer but eventually fell to the hail of lead. It's healing factor stopped as the once predator became my prey. --------------------- Celestia, canterlot castle. --------------------- Celestia was getting up from court, all the nobles finally satisfied. She walked down the halls to her bed chambers to take a break. She also wanted to send time with her sister today as they had arranged to walk together in the royal gardens later. As she opened her door, the familiar green smoke appeared and she received a message. The scroll formed and she caught it in her magical grip. Celestia opened the letter and started to read it. Dear Princess Celestia There was a fight in ponyville today. Multiple ponies, possibly a cult by their actions, attack Connor Irons. He fought their leaders and knocked them out. He then called in his mech which, after being provoked, attacked and KILLED all but two. The unconscious ponies are being treated for head trauma and the survivors are petrified of him. There were no other casualties other than that. Connor later walked of, even after only mild treatment for wounds that would looked very painful, and has not been seen or heard since. His mech reported seeing him enter the Everfree forest but has not been heard of since and gunshots were heard coming from the forest. Many town folk want him gone because he is too dangerous while others are trying to defend him by saying he was defending himself in his way. The guards don't want to go after him incase Connor takes it as a hostile gesture and attacks. We await for your answer. Your faithful student Twilight sparkle. Celestia re-read the letter before walking out her chamber to go find Luna. She needed to know of this situation. If the human was going rouge, then he could be a threat to Equestria. Or if he was defending himself, however brutal, he needed to be calmed and helped. She walked through the huge doors to the palace garden and saw Luna standing nearby. “Ah, hello sister, how are you? ” she said before realising the look on Celestia face. “Sister, what is wrong? “ she asked before her sister handed her the scroll. Celestia could see the her sisters reaction to the letter as it was one of shock, confusion and surprise. “What shall we do? The human has shown it is willing to harm others for its survival, but it did what he thought was right. It also has its partner that can save him and take on our small military itself from afar. “ Luna said, which didn't help Celestia with the dilemma. “We might have to appear in ponyville to confront him if this goes further. ”said Celestia. “I could go to him dreams to calm him, although he does the mind power to push me out. “ Luna said, looking at Celestia. “I shall have royal guards go look for him but not confront him. I shall send Twilight a letter on what to do. “ she said as they started their walk through the garden. --------------------- Twilight, golden oak library --------------------- Twilight paced her floor, worried about what was going to happen. Connor had walked out into the Everfree forest, which was to dangerous to search, and hadn't returned yet. While there, she had heard shots from what he called a “gun”, the loud bang easily recognisable. Spike was sorting the books like normal, but was now curious to what had happened outside. “Hey Twi, what happened out there that got you so worried. All I heard was ponies walking away from something and later a loud sound like an explosion. After that, the town went mostly silent. “ Spike said, still moving books around. “Connor was attacked by a group of ponies who wanted him huge machine, going on about titans or something. He knocked out their leaders and used his “L” device he calls a gun. The thing that instantly killed a changeling.“ Twilight said. Spike stopped and looked at her. “He killed changelings! “ he almost shouted. “Yes, he did. Anyway, he then used it again to call his mech. The cult attacked it. This caused it to go hostile and killed most of them with a single blast from his cylinder on its arm. It shot out multiple smaller cylinders which exploded when they hit the ground. ” she said. Spike then let his jaw drop. “He has explosives it can launch! Did anyone survive? ” asked Spike. “Only the unconscious leaders he fought and two other cultist survived. “ answered Twilight. Spike let his jaw drop. Twilight then took the papers about the mech and Connor and proceeded to write more about them on it. Her notes on them were ordered from there appearance, their behaviour and then miscellaneous facts. In her spare time, she tried to think of any reason why they had there traits. Twilight continued her writing for some time. By the time she looked up, it was night and she turned in for the night. Her writings were left, orderly on her desk. She climbed up on the bed and snuggled under her sheets. The darkness of sleep peacefully closed in and took her. --------------------- Connor Irons, Everfree forest --------------------- The campfire flickered in the darkness, bringing light to a forest more homely than anywhere in Equestria. The forest was a wild and uncontrolled thing that played by the rules. Predators ate prey, and that is how it should stay. The hydra meat roasted on a stick, releasing a nice smell that told of delicious food. Not having anything to talk to, I sat there and watched the fire. I would swivel my head around and look around just in case of animals wanting my food. Luckily, the other animals were nowhere to be seen, not even other manticores or hydras. I hadn't wasted the hydras scales either. I had a big patch of useable hydra skin I would probably turn into fingerless gloves and another strap to go on my uniform. I might have to ask to use some of Rarity's needles and threads, although, I wouldn't be able to tell her what for without her screaming or passing out. He took the hydra roast off the fire and blowed on it. After cooling it a bit, I took a bite. Surprisingly, it didn't taste like chicken. It tasted more like beef but not as tough. By the time I had finished the meal, the fire was starting to die down. Better get some sleep. He picked up his stuff and placed it by a tree, which i covered with branches to hide it from other things. I then climbed a tree and got comfy, not sleeping on the ground in case a predator finds me. The trees were, to my surprise, relatively soft as far as wood went. I drifted to sleep. Not long later, I was dreaming. It wasn't anything interesting, just my reimagining of my house as I remembered it. I sat there peacefully. Peacefully until a familiar pony entered. I turned to face Luna, the green stain not appearing on her side. She stood there in a royal manner and had a serious face. If I had learnt anything, I learnt that ponies relied heavily on body language, and hers wasn't good. “I'm going to guess you are here to either punish me, tell me off or you want answers to a question. If so, I'm not bothered. “ I said, frustration in my voice. “We understand you are not in a pleasant mood, but these matters are serious. We only want to know if you are going to harm more ponies? “ said the moon Princess. “Depends. I only killed in self defence and I showed mercy to the others that survived. I mean, I could of killed them, but I didn't. Besides, think of it from my point of view. I'm stuck on a alien planet, with alien culture, alien nature OTHER than the the Everfree forest and i am vastly outnumbered. My only hope is in some 'magical’ ponies to help, if I can go back at all. So tell me, what reason would I have to further harm ponies, unless my life is on the line? “ I finished. Luna had froze during the long rant. "But can we save a moaning and ear ache for a personal meeting? I'd rather like to forget the whole thing. " I said, quickly doing something to distract her. I switch the dream location. We were now in the mech hangers from the base I was assigned to, filled with other mechs, no people and was lit by the ceiling lights. The walls were barren of anything interesting, other than screws and bolts. The multitude of mechs I had in here were all mostly different classes, with two heavies, four mediums and a small mech. Luna broke out of her stupor and looked around. Her gaze wandered at the different war machines. She seemed to be most interested in one of the bigger ones, the seeker it was called. I smiled as her eyes finally fell back on to me. “What is this place? “ the Princess said, looking a bit surprised at the different mechs. “Mech hanger. Where they stayed when not in use. Just the first place that came to mind. “ I looked at her. End of chapter 13