//------------------------------// // 1: Hazardous Road Conditions // Story: Paradise Company // by UnkleBumbleHeck //------------------------------// Two Days Ago Somewhere in the Foothills South of Canterlot The roads out here were nothing like up North. Here, highways were usually just two lanes, maybe four. Anything else was the equivalent of a back road, or at least to me. I was making my way west, towards someplace called Ponyville. I'd heard it was a small town with a thriving racing scene, but that wasn't why I wanted to be there. Anything west of Canterlot was beyond the reach of the Red Clover. I wasn't sure how far out I was by now, but it was definitely far enough that I wouldn't have to worry about them finding me. I'd been driving for about sixteen hours, and my body was getting fed up with it. Didn't matter though, if the map I'd picked up was accurate then I was within a few dozen miles of the town. I'd played every song on my MP3 player multiple times, and I'd scanned through all the radio stations. Out here was hick country though, so the only thing on the radio was country music, or the occasional talk show. I settled for silence. With the radio off, I could listen to the sounds of my car. The V12 always had a beautiful sound, deep but not really aggressive, power merged with luxury. I rolled my window down for a moment, hoping to listen to the exhaust sound, but immediately put it back up. It was freezing outside. We were in the deep of winter, and out here the weather was rumored to be wild. The majority of Equestria's cities managed their own weather by the use of pegasi. Their ability to manipulate cloud formations and weather fronts meant bountiful harvests in agricultural zones, and sunny days every day in residential zones. But out here, this close to the Everfree, there wasn't a real weather management team to be had. Not for lack of trying, but due to the nature of the Everfree itself. I wondered if I was technically within the Everfree as I drove up a winding mountain road. It was snowing, and I could already feel my tires gripping the frigid road differently. Cold was never good for tires. I turned off cruise control and paid closer attention to what I was doing. I took my time as there wasn't anypony else around, but that made sense. It was past sunset after all, and in places like this ponies just didn't go out at night. After a few miles, the snow had become severe enough that I really wasn't able to maintain any decent amount of speed. Thankfully, I'd reached a downhill. At the crest where the uphill met the downhill there was an intersection before an overpass which straddled the ridge of the mountain I'd just climbed. I assumed it was some sort of highway or something, but couldn't see any sort of signage beyond a half rusted sign saying "Apple County." Apple County? I guess that made sense. I'd read somewhere that the town was founded by apple farmers. I wasn't feeling too confident about my hopes out here, but it was away from the Clover, and that was all that mattered. As I began the descent, I got a phone call. Guess there was cell reception on this side of the mountain. I answered via Bluetooth. "Hello?" I said, downshifting the car to a low gear to keep my speed down as I descended the mountain. "Ari? Listen, hun," the voice on the other side of the phone call said. It was Loko, a former coworker. He'd always looked after me, and I'd had a few debts to him that I'd since paid off. "You gotta come back. Okay? I know we've talked about this before, but you really don't know what you're doing." "Don't bother, Loko," I replied. "You're not going to convince me. I'm far enough now that it doesn't even matter, I'm long gone. I appreciate the concern, and all the help you've given me, but I've settled all that already. We're even." "This isn't about that, Ari. Come on, you know what they're like. Just stop your car, and turn around, okay?" How did he know I was in my car? Maybe he could hear it somehow through the sound deadening. "No chance. I'm through, with the Clover, with Manehattan, and all of it. Goodbye, Loko." I tapped the 'Hang Up' button on my steering wheel, and ended the call. That felt oddly refreshing, for some reason. I drove on for a minute or two, taking my time and moving slow. The road was totally snowed over now, so I couldn't risk going too fast or I'd lose control. As I rounded a slight bend in the road, I saw a vehicle stopped on the right side of the road. It wasn't moving, and I couldn't see any lights on, but it didn't have snow on it. Must've parked there recently. It was a very large pickup truck, entirely black and with blacked out windows. I figured I'd run into a lot of those sorts of vehicles out here. I disregarded it and kept on driving, but as I got nearer they cut on their lights. The truck had light bars all over it, front, sides and rear. The way it lit up the snow all around us made it nearly impossible to see the road! What the hell did this prick think they were doing? I couldn't speed up or I'd lose control, but I didn't want to spend any more time here than I had to. I thought about grabbing my rifle from the back seat, but thought better of it. Worst case scenario I can just hide with my magic. Didn't want to get into a gun fight as soon as I arrived in town. I came past the truck, and heard it start it's engine. It was a diesel, and it was ridiculously loud. What a total- The truck began speeding towards me, fast! It was plowing right through the snow, probably had four wheel drive! Ah, shit! What was this? Some kind of dumb prank by some high school kids? Did I speed up and risk spinning out, or pull over and risk having an altercation? It wasn't stopping! THUD. The front grill guard of the truck slammed into my car and I lost all control. They hit me with enough force to kill the motor! Shit! I frantically tried to crank the engine again as I slid to a stop in the middle of the road. No joy, the starter was just spinning and spinning. Come on! THUD. They hit me again! This time from the passenger side? The rear passenger window shattered and freezing air filled the cabin. What was this, a hit? Oh shit... THUD! They hit me again, right on the B-pillar. The front passenger window shattered and a crack formed in the windshield. I didn't even want to think of what the outside of the car looked like. Were they revving their engine at me? Wait, no... I looked to my left. I was moving towards the guardrail on the other side of the road! They were pushing me! I tried to grab my rifle with my magic but- THUD! My car slammed into the guard rail hard enough that it threw my head into my window. That hurt like a bitch! Okay you sunova, let's do this then! I went for my rifle again, but- THUD! I got rammed again, and the guard rail gave out. I looked to my left, there was just a valley. I looked to my right, I saw pure white. I looked left again, and saw what I was feeling. I was tumbling down the side of the mountain. ... "...Like a Marecedes or something, it's pretty banged up. I'm looking now!" ... "Shit, yeah somepony's in here, looks like a unicorn mare. Blue mane and coat. I saw another vehicle too, a truck. Don't know if they had- Oh, that's..." ... "Come on! Come on, open you fuck!" ... I lifted my head, or tried to. Instantly a sharp pain shot straight through my spine. I tried again and it didn't hurt, so I looked around. I had no idea where I was. I was in my car... What happened? Why was I on my side? "Hey! You're gonna be okay, just hang in there! I've got you!" A mare's voice called out. I looked around and felt another sharp pain. I winced and turned slowly to my right, and saw a purple pegasus mare wearing a thick parka trying to pry open the passenger door. Beyond her was pure white, and it was falling into my car and onto my face. It was snow, snow was falling through my passenger window. I wheezed and coughed as I tried to speak, and began to feel light headed. "No, just hang on! I can do this!" Everything went dark as I stared at the frantic mare.