The night Strider spent in the cottage didn't keep him from getting back to work the next morning, not even the faint drizzle of whatever water was left in the clouds. He began working immediately, managed to fix the ships transportation bay doors and getting some of the left wing repaired. He continued for a few more days on the left wing, having Fluttershy as company every here and there. She'd begun to hang around the trooper, often moving some animal classes closer to the gunship so she could keep an eye on him.
Strider didn't mind, and neither did the animals the pegasus was teaching. In fact, a few even began helping him by bringing the correct tools from the toolbox and fetching him cups of water when he was exhausted.
This rotation hadn't been any different at the start, with Strider waking up early and immediately getting back to work. However, Fluttershy wasn't having any lessons that morning which was quite strange. This made him assume she went to town to get supplies and possibly meet up with her friends. Her absence didn't hinder Strider much, but he did miss glancing over his shoulder and seeing her coaching a struggling animal.
Still, that just meant he didn't have any distractions from his work, which was exactly what he was doing. The trooper twisted a screwdriver to the right as far as he could on a stubborn screw, until the tool locked in place for some reason. Strider looked at the screw which was still not completely tightened, before twisting the screwdriver again.
"Come on," Strider muttered, trying to tighten the screw.
After a few firm tugs, the screw finally began to move again. But when Strider turned the screwdriver one more time, the tools face broke off, part of it remaining lodged in the screw.
Strider looked at the broken tool for a second, before sighing in annoyance as he discarded it onto the bays metal floor. He reached down to his utility belt and opened up a pouch, exposing its shiny contents. Inside were a couple golden bits that Fluttershy had given him if he needed something from town.
"Hmm, how much would a screwdriver cost here?" Strider pondered to himself as he stood up and began walking towards town.
It didn't take long for Strider to arrive in Ponyville, even less to find his way towards the market. However, something seemed to be wrong, very wrong. For one thing, it was dead quiet, with not a single pony around. None were tending to gardens, none eating food in front of shops, none managing the market stands, none even roaming the streets.
Strider reached around his utility belt and grabbed the DC-17 blaster pistol he'd strapped to it and unhooked it, raising it up so he could aim down its top. He began walking around the market, checking every nook and cranny for any signs of life. His search of the market only uncovered a single mouse who was nibbling on a piece of discarded cheese.
After Strider was sure he had checked the whole market, he began walking down the street towards the more permanent shops that were in buildings. He made sure to keep both his eyes wide open, trying to find a pony, or a creature, or any sign of life.
Strider finally stopped walking when he spotted a lone hooded figure standing in the middle of the street. The trooper immediately took cover behind a wooden wagon, its large wooden frame hiding his armor from view.
The figure either didn't notice him, or didn't care and continued doing its thing. It patted what appeared to be a hoof into the ground, before letting it rest on the spot. It was walking on four hooves which made Strider assume it might be a pony. However, the towns-folks reactions told him that if it was a pony, then it was a dangerous pony.
Strider watched intently as the figure took one last look around, before trotting over to another spot in the street. They dug at the ground once again, before turning sharply over towards the wooden cart Strider was using as cover. The trooper quickly ducked behind the cart, debating whether or not to make his presence known yet.
When he peeked over the wagon again, his gaze was met by two glowing yellow eyes staring directly at him. He ducked again instictivly, priming the pistol in preparations to confront at the creature. However, when he looked back up again, the figure was gone.
"What the, where'd they go?" Strider wondered, getting up from his spot behind the wagon.
With the pistol still primed and ready, Strider began performing a perimeter check around the area. He checked the nearby alleyways, through old garbage cans, even the backs of wagons. But the figure remained hidden.
Eventually, Strider finished his sweep and went over to a house, holstering the pistol back onto his utility belt, before knocking on the house's door.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Strider called out.
The house remained quiet with nothing stirring within its walls, not even a mouse. Strider waited a few more minutes, before he turned and began walking away from the building. Hopefully Fluttershy had returned by now, and he had quite a few questions for her. As he passed through the town, ponies began emerging from their shelters and started resuming their jobs and tasks. It was yet another strange thing to of happened, and another talley on the invisible board for strange things to occur in that settlement...
Strider looking onwards at the cottage from the base of the hill it was built on, noticing the end of a pink tail flowing through the open doorway before the entrance was closed. He wondered how he'd managed to miss Fluttershy, but he also didn't know if she'd gone to Ponyville or went somewhere else. Still, he considered himself lucky that he'd returned around the same time as the pegasus, and advanced towards the door.
Knock Knock Knock. "Fluttershy? It's me, Strider. Can we talk quickly?" Strider asked through the door.
It didn't take long for Fluttershy to pull the door open and gesturing for him to enter. The trooper obliged, shutting the door behind himself before he sat down on the large green couch. Fluttershy also took a seat, but had chosen one of the green armchairs instead.
"Hello Strider," Fluttershy greeted happily. "what do you wanna talk about?"
"Did you go into town this morning?" Strider inquired.
"Oh, um, yes?"
"Well, I'd gone there a little while after you likely departed to purchase a new screwdriver. But when I got there, the place was deserted. With the exception of a cloaked figure that had glowing yellow eyes. Do you know who that was? Or what had happened?"
Fluttershy's smile faded and began fiddling with her fore-hooves for a few seconds, before looking up at Strider.
"T-That was Z-Zecora, a zebra." Fluttershy claimed.
"A zebra?" Strider questioned.
"She's sort of like a pony, but has unnatural stripes and does strange things to the dirt. She's mysterious, and really creepy." Fluttershy exclaimed.
Strider put a hand to his chin under his helmet, deep in thought. Ok, so there's a mysterious zebra scaring the townsfolk stiff. The zebra also seems to have strange unknown habits and/or abilities, as well as wears a hooded cloak and has glowing yellow eyes.
"Hmm, where does this 'Zecora' live?" Strider asked.
"That's the creepiest part. She lives in the Everfree Forest." Fluttershy stated.
Ok, that WAS strange. Strider hadn't see any weapons on Zecora, but the zebra was also wearing a cloak. Yet, any weapons that were small enough to be hidden under a cloak would probably not be enough to fend off the forest's inhabitants.
"Zecora is either brave, strong, or stupid." Strider muttered, more to himself than Fluttershy.
The pegasus still nodded, before glancing out the window at the setting star. Strider also took note of the lowering star, earning another question in his mind. How long had he been searching that town for Zecora?
"Well, I'll let you get some sleep. Thanks for the info." Strider thanked, standing up from his spot on the couch and began walking towards the front door.
"It wasn't a problem. Have a good night Strider." Fluttershy responded cheerfully.
Strider's hand locked up on the doorknob upon hearing those words. He couldn't help but smile as he turned back to face his friend.
"Good night Fluttershy."
With those words said, the trooper made his exit and shut the door to the cottage. He made his way over to the gunship and knelt down next to the left wing he'd been repairing. He absentmindedly reached for a screwdriver but quickly remembered why he had been in Ponyville.
"I'll need to get another one tomorrow." Strider told himself, hoisting himself into the transportation bay.
With a quick button press, the bays doors swung shut, blocking out the outside world. Strider quickly removed his armor, setting it down next to his makeshift bed he'd made earlier. Strider lied down on the bay's floor, his head on a pillow Fluttershy had generously given him. His black body glove was basically already a blanket that was always around his body, so he just shut his eyes and drifted off to sleep.