//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 New Days // Story: True Black // by Leonofsweden //------------------------------// True Black Chapter 10 New Days 1th of April It was almost midday before Lightning Strike and Black Star could finally leave the camp with their squad. The camp was now left in the capable hooves of Avarice. He had made a couple of changes to the soldiers coming with them. Some of the changes Lightning had not been too happy with. Two of her best defensive unicorns had been held back by Avarice, as well as one of her most trusted Pegasus scouts. Even though his reasoning for it was sound, she still thought that there were now lacking defensive qualities in the squad, and why Offshoot could not come with them, she never really got any good explanation for at all now that she thinking about it. Avarice had waved her concerns away rather brusquely. He felt it would be better with all-out offensive, the sort of smash your problem into the ground quickly and be done with it attitude. She had begrudgingly agreed to the plan, especially after Black Star stated that this was not a big issue, since twenty-two ponies against one Wolf was clearly overkill anyway. Lightning didn't share their opinion though. Both Avarice and Black Star were clearly looking at this like a field battle, which was a scenario she really couldn't see happening. Lobo would definitely not wait for them on an open field; especially not long enough for them to form up into any kind of formation. If they caught him in the city of North Bay, Lobo would most likely run. And if they bumped into each other on the open field or in some forest, Lightning felt that he would most likely start picking them off one by one from the shadows. Even after voicing her concerns, Avarice had still felt his approach was better and overruled her. Anyway Lightning didn't felt like arguing with them, to tell the truth she was quite happy with what had happened, mostly because of who was walking beside her right now. She glanced over at Black Star with quite an amused smirk across her face. Avarice had insisted that they pack as lightly as they conceivably could in order to make their pursuit of Lobo as fast as possible. This meant they more or less only had the armor and weapons they could carry on their backs, and that the only shelter they had with them were eleven small, two-pony tents. And since she and Black Star were the two highest ranking officers in the group, they were more or less expected to bunk together. The thought of her and Black Star squeezing in together in that little tent every night positively made her feel like she was flying. Suddenly looking down, her eyes widened. Oh buck! Lightning thought when she noted that she was several feet off the ground. She snapped her wings in and came back to the ground with little thump. Black Star was eyeing her curiously. “What was that about?” she asked knowingly. Lightning gave a little smirk. “Oh nothing… just… thought I saw something.” she said while giving Black Star a good once over with her eyes. She couldn't believe how pearl-white Black Star’s coat was, or how well it went with her black mane and that little blood red streak running through it, or how unfathomably seductive her white eyes were when she looked at her the way she did right now. Black Star smiled back at Lightning Strike. “Right… something interesting?” she asked innocently. Lightning lifted her eyes to meet Black Star's gaze. “Definitely…” she answered and gave Black Star a little peck at the chin. She smiled widely as they continued trotting down the path. Lightning could now hear little whispers behind them. She glanced back at the soldiers marching behind them. Every mare and stallion that had been whispering snapped their head forward when they noticed Lightning looking at them, one of the stallions even fired off a very fake smile and started sweating copiously when he met her eyes. Lightning turned her head back and looked straight ahead. “Maybe I should refrain from doing that in the open; I think I just blew our cover.” she stated. Black Star just sniggered and looked over at her. “I haven't said anything, mostly because I thought it was quite cute the way you try to keep quiet when we're together… But more or less the whole camp has known about us for a week now.” Black Star said while she giggled. Lightning gave her quite an annoyed look before turning her head back towards the rest of the squad. Every single pony following Lightning and Black Star was looking in every direction possible, except theirs. She huffed, and then started to smile wickedly at Black Star. “Well no need to keep quiet tonight then…” Lightning teased and then shot up into the air. She spun around so she could address the whole squad. “Okay, listen up you maggots! You all know we’re heading for North Bay! But if we keep up this measly pace, we’ll be lucky to arrive within three days! That's time we do not have the luxury of losing! We will be travelling at a steady gallop from here on out. That should cut our travel time down to two days. If I hear one complaint during the day, whoever makes it will be the one guarding the campfire tonight! Got it!!!” Lightning bellowed. Twenty speechless ponies were watching her and slowly nodded. “Good! Now move out!!!” she ordered and dropped back to the ground to set off at a steady gallop. Behind her she heard a couple of annoyed grunts, but no pony dared voice a complaint. **** “I still can't see why I couldn't pull the wagon? You’re just being stubborn and you know it, Hammer.” Bender's voice rang out through the woods. Hammer Song rolled her eyes and looked back at the great big stallion walking next to her. Why was he being such a nag about this? He had been like this all day, ever since she shoved him aside from the harness that morning when they left camp. “I'm not some dainty little mare, Bender! I pulled this thing from Everfree to here, if you don't remember. And now you're telling me I'm not strong enough to pull it back?” she said, a bit annoyed. Bender eyed her angrily. “That's not what I'm saying and you know it! I just want to pull my weight around here is all. In case you have forgotten, my stuff’s up on the wagon as well.” he said and gave a snort. Hammer grunted. That was true; there was actually more stuff on her wagon now than when she came up to this sorry excuse for a camp in the middle of nowhere. “Alright, we'll pull it every other day.” she said in the end. Bender immediately started strutting beside her, exceedingly pleased with himself for having won his first argument with Hammer Song since they had met. She couldn't help but smile while she looked at him; he was such an enormous giant of a stallion, but still he remained this little, adorable oaf of colt on the inside. It was quite staggering to her, and she liked him so much. He wasn't at all the type of Stallion she thought she would be attracted to. She looked straight ahead again. If they kept a good pace throughout the day, they would be able to reach a decent camping site where three major paths connected at the end of the woods. One road led to North Bay and the coast, the other headed towards Stalliongrad up closer to the mountains, while the middle one, which was the one they would use, headed down through the Empire towards Everfree. It would probably take them around two weeks to reach The Royal Pony Sisters’ Castle and the praetorian´s headquarters. Hammer Song had not been looking forward to the return trip home. It had been a long and boring walk to get her up North, but as she eyed the stallion walking next to her, she couldn't help but smile. No matter what happened, it would most likely be a much more enjoyable return trip. “You know I have a face as well. It's not too bad looking if I to do say so myself.” Hammer Song heard Bender say teasingly. She snapped her eyes away from Bender's flank, which she had been gawking at without realizing it. She gave a sheepish little smile and walked up to him. “Really? I hadn't actually noticed.” she answered him and proceeded to give him an exaggerated examination of his face. “Hmmm… Not that great to be honest; although, there are some parts I like.” Hammer Song teased him and pressed her muzzle onto Bender's, giving him a long kiss. When they broke apart, Bender was completely at a loss for words, as he looked down at her. She gave him a little wink and then continued to walk along the path. It's not even fair; I'll have him wrapped around my hooves at the end of the day. But then again, I don't think he will mind it at all, not with what I have planned for tonight. She thought and then smiled devilishly. **** Zig Zag woke up and carefully rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he gave a big yawn and stretched his hooves before flinging the cover off of himself. He jumped down onto the floor of his bedroom, and gave himself another stretch, then walked across the sparsely decorated room that was his bedchamber. He stopped at the top of the stairs, and looked down into the kitchen where he could see his mother preparing breakfast. Zig Zag smiled widely and trotted down. Bright Sky saw him coming down the stairs, and beamed happily at him. “Morning honey, did you sleep well?” she asked. Zig Zag nodded and walked over to sit down at his place at the dinner table. He was still a bit fuzzy because he had just woken up, but he was still rather surprised when he realized Cherry Blossom was sitting across from him at the table. He had not seen her sitting there while he came downstairs, although he decided not to think about it too much, instead sighing happily as he watched his mare friend. He couldn’t help but admire her glossy red coat and always well-kept green mane. However most of all he was now drowning in her stunning green eyes, while she smiled timidly back at him. Bright Sky came over carrying a plate, putting it down in front of him. Zig Zag looked at it enthusiastically when he realized it was his favorite dish, carrot and cauliflower pie. He grinned widely while he started eating. When he was halfway through his breakfast, he notices that Bright Sky and Cherry Blossom were both standing at the back door, making themselves ready to leave. Zig Zag looks at them curiously. “Aren't you guys going to eat?” he asked looking at the two empty chairs at the table. Bright Sky had picked up Cherry Blossom and was now cradling her as she looked back at him. “No honey. We don't need to eat any more.” she said while she looked at him quite sadly. “Why not?” Zig Zag wondered. Cherry Blossom giggled in Bright Sky's embrace. “Because we are dead, you silly colt…” she said with her typical little laugh. Zig Zag’s eyes went wide at the statement Cherry Blossom had just given, not believing a word of it; they were after all standing right in front of him, very much alive. Then he saw something move on the plate in front of him. He looked back down at the half-eaten pie and screamed. Maggots, cockroaches and all sorts of vermin were crawling in and out of the pie. Zig Zag violently shoved himself backwards tumbling onto the floor. As he looked up, he screamed even more fiercely, Zig Zag backpedaled until his rump hit the bottom of the stairs. Bright Sky was now standing pressed up against the back wall of the kitchen with Cherry Blossom in her embrace. But Cherry Blossom was now completely mashed up with several broken bones sticking out of her; she was almost smashed beyond recognition, and completely covered in blood. Bright Sky was holding her tenderly against her chest, while she looked at Zig Zag, her head tilted at an impossible angle as it rested against her shoulder. And the wall she was now part of was not made of wood. It was decomposing bodies of ponies all staring at him with a hollow eyes. All the corpses started to moan, hissing and screeching while they tried to get out of the wall so they could get him as well. Bright Sky and Cherry Blossom were slowly being pulled in amongst them. His mother smiled sadly at him. “Remember honey, you have to find Silver Pot; this was his fault.” she said in her usual loving manner. “Find him for us.” she said pleadingly. Terrified, Zig Zag turned around to run up the stairs. But there was no staircase there, only another wall of corpses reaching out for him. He tumbled backwards, turning around he could now see that all the walls were made of screeching and moaning corpses that were reaching for him. He felt something wet drip down on top of his head, making him looked up. The ceiling was completely covered in dead ponies, some with their intestine hanging out, dripping blood and other fluids down upon him. He screamed again, and looked desperately back towards Bright Sky and Cherry Blossom, but they were not there anymore. “Mummy! Cherry! Don't leave me! Please don't leave me!!!” He cried out frantically, but nothing answered him except the moaning and screeching corpses. All of a sudden he felt how the floor became slick and unstable. He just sat there hyperventilating with his eyes closed. He knew that the moment he opened them it would all be over, the dead ponies would get a hold of him and they would tear him apart. He could feel the slick rotting hooves and cold muzzle poking and prodding him, trying to make him open his eyes. He fought it for as long as it could. But when he felt several sets of teeth clamped onto his flesh, his eyes flew open, and he stared straight into the hollow eyes of a corpse. All around him the dead ponies smiled, and then they rushed him and pulled him down into darkness; while he gave one last blood curdling scream. **** Lobo was still lying curled up around the pup, to protect it from the storm that was now raging around them. It was a good thing they found shelter before the storm's full fury was unleashed. What had begun as a slow rain had turned into a downpour, and when the wind started howling around them, even Lobo found it was good they had not been caught out in it. He wasn't too worried about himself, but the pup would surely have suffered. Remarkably, and a bit worrisome, it had been asleep for close to twenty four hours now, and he had been awake the whole time. Lobo raised his head to have another look around; he would not allow anything to sneak up on them unnoticed. Not that he was really expecting to find anything, but that still didn't mean he'd stop keeping a close eye on their surroundings. Lobo had come to the conclusion that the storm was a blessing in disguise, because no pony would be foolish enough to go out searching for them in this harsh weather. His stomach growled, with a deep sigh he shifted a bit. He would have to hunt soon. It had been almost two days since he captured anything edible, but he still didn't want to leave the pup in case it woke up. Just then Lobo felt movement when the little thing started to squirm at his side, the pup was finally waking from its slumber, but instead of a gradual return to the world of the living, the pup bolted straight up, screaming its lungs out, while frantically looking around itself until its green eyes settled on him, as he looked down upon the pup with his yellow ones. The little thing’s eyes grew wide as he stared at Lobo in terror; he shot up onto his hooves scrambling to get away from the beast, never breaking eye contact with it. “Please don't run. It's not safe for you out there little one.” Lobo said quickly. Zig Zag sat frozen in place not knowing what to do, he looked at the enormous black monster while he continued to hyperventilate. “My name is Lobo. What's yours?” he asked. Zig Zag tilted his head in confusion, and then finally it clicked that the great black monster was actually talking to him. He looked around himself still not sure what he should be doing. “Ehhh… Zig Zag…” he answered in a trembling voice. Lobo nodded slowly and smiled at his newest addition to the litter. Immediately Zig Zag’s eyes went wide as they were drawn to Lobo´s gleaming teeth, and he stumbled back a few steps more. Lobo lost his smile when he realized it had frightened the pup. Right… probably shouldn't smile at him. More or less every single pony I've smiled at has had that exact same reaction. He thought and felt a little guilty. He countered by putting one ear down, and then tilting his head. That had been quite effective a couple of times, when he didn't want to seem to threatening. And it appeared to be working with the pup; Zig Zag’s ears came back forward, as he looked at the now not so overwhelmingly terrifying monster. “Sorry… I keep forgetting your species doesn’t have teeth like mine. I know they are quite scary if you haven't seen them before.” Lobo said while he slowly rolled over on his back. Zig Zag finally felt a little more at ease, when he looked at the big monster with its paws and legs sticking out in every which way. Their eyes met again, and for the first time since waking up, Zig Zag started to believe that maybe this big black beast wasn't out to hurt him after all. “That's better. You don't have to be afraid of me; I won't hurt you like those ponies.” Lobo said as he tried to put Zig Zag more at ease around him. Of course the mention of ponies had the opposite effect on Zig Zag, his face fell, while the memories of what had occurred the day before came crashing back into the forefront of his mind. “Mum!!!” Zig Zag cried out, at the same time as tears started flowing. He sank down onto the ground. “I'm sorry ma'am… I couldn't save you… It's all my fault…” Zig Zag sniffled while curled up into a ball again. “No!!!” Lobo said harshly. Zig Zag jumped at the tone of his voice, once again looking at the black beast fearfully. “No…” Lobo repeated much more softly and continued. “I do not know how the two of you came to be in that situation, but I cannot conceive any way of you being responsible for what happened.” “But… But… It has to be…” Zig Zag wailed, and then he started to tell Lobo about everything that had transpired during the last week, and even about Cherry Blossom and how it was his fault that she was dead, since she had asked if she could stay with him just before she died, and he had said no, because he had too much to do right then. At the end of the story, Zig Zag had his face buried into Lobo's fur covered chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Lobo was completely horrorstruck; he had thought his own existence had been a living nightmare. But upon hearing what this little pup had gone through, his heart had shattered completely. Lobo tenderly hugged the little one, and even though he realized Zig Zag didn't know all the facts that had led to their supposed executions, there still was one thing he knew for sure. “Listen to me, Zig Zag. It was not your fault that they killed your friend or your mother, and she would be very proud and happy that you are still alive.” Lobo said in no uncertain terms. Zig Zag looked up at him through tear filled eyes. “You think so…” he asked. “I know so. She sounds like a brave and wonderful mother, and she would never want anything bad to happen to you. It sounds like it was mostly Iron Rod and those city guards’ fault.” Lobo said as soothingly as he could. Zig Zag face turned into a vicious snarl at the mention of their mere names. “They should die!!! All of them! Especially Iron Rod!!! Why didn't you kill him!!! He was right there and you just ran away!!!” Zig Zag started screaming, while he hammered his front hooves into the side of Lobo´s face. He snapped his head away in surprise, and gave an involuntary little snarl. Nonetheless Zig Zag just stayed where he was, staring at Lobo, demanding an answer. Lobo suppressed his flash of anger very quickly. “I had to protect you. If I had tried to kill any of them after I saved you, you would most likely be dead right now.” he explained. Zig Zag did not seem happy with the answer. “Then I'll go back! They should die! Mom said so herself!!!” he screamed, and turned around. But before he even had a chance to take one step out into the storm, Lobo picked him up and turned him over onto his back. He held him down with one enormous paw, looking straight into the pup’s eyes from above. “And how would you achieve that, pup? Do you know how to hunt properly? I have seen what ponies are capable off, and as you are now, you'd be dead within minutes of stepping back into that place. How do you think your mother would react to that?!” Lobo growled down at Zig Zag. It worked for a second, and then Zig Zag anger got the better of him again, as his need for vengeance overruled all other thoughts. “I don't care! They killed my mother! You don't know what it feels like to lose everything!!!” he screamed up at the Wolf. Lobo froze as images of his home realm assaulted him. The Alfa Dire Wolf, his pack, his twin sister Lupus and most of all the eternal pups themselves. His whole body shook in anger and frustration, while he remembered how he was ripped out of his home by Black Star, and that he most likely would never be able to return to it again. For the first time in his life, Lobo felt tears running down his snout, while he growled viciously down at the little pup, which had unknowingly stabbed him very deeply indeed. Zig Zag could see how Lobo´s demeanor and mood had switched completely, and now lay trembling beneath his paw. With a last growl, Lobo let go of him, and moved in to the inner cliffs wall of their overhang shelter. “Fine, go get yourself killed! See if I care!!!” he growled angrily, and lay down facing the wall. Zig Zag slowly got to his hooves, while he looked at the big wolf who was now trying to stare a hole into the cliff face, while he was lost in guilty thoughts. Nice going growling at the pup! Get it together Lobo… He’s hurt, scared and most of all he's just a PUP! And who am I kidding… I'll never let him go back there to get killed… He thought while he looked back over his shoulder at the pup was now standing at the edge of the shelter, looking out into the storm a bit apprehensive. “Unfortunately you, or even the two of us, are not the only ones who have lost everything…” Lobo said in a sad voice. Zig Zag turned back towards the Wolf when he realized what Lobo had said to him. “What do you mean the two of us? You're so big… No one can take anything from you.” Zig Zag said as his childish logics deduced this to be true. Lobo gave a short laugh at the innocence of the statement. “I wish it were so…” Lobo answered, and then absentmindedly clicks the metal scales around his neck with his right paw. “You might think that I'm big and strong and free… I may look free but that's only because I carry my prison with me everywhere I go.” he said as he turned around to face the pup, then Lobo starting to tell the story of how he ended up being a physical Dire Wolf, leaving out the more gruesome parts of course. At the end of the story Zig Zag was sitting in front of Lobo with big, round eyes. He broke eye contact with Lobo and looked closely at the scales around Lobo's neck. “Sorry… I didn't know.” he said timidly. Lobo nodded. “It's okay; we've both been through a lot recently, without any of it being our own fault.” he answered. “Yeah… That's why I can't let them get away with what they did to mum.” Zig Zag said with determination in his eyes. Lobo looked down at him a little bit annoyed. “You can't go back there.” he said sternly. Zig Zag hopped up on his hooves. “I have to! I can't let them get away with this!” he shouted at Lobo. The Wolf gritted his teeth; he had to think of something to keep the pup from jumping headlong into an early grave. Then it hit him. “I guess I'll have to teach you then.” Lobo said. Zig Zag looked curiously at him. “Teach me what?” he wondered. “I'll teach you everything I know about hunting and fighting. I'll teach you things ponies never could. And when you're strong enough… I will even come back here with you.” Lobo said, it was all he could think to offer the angry pup, to keep him from running back there. He just hoped it would be enough. Zig Zag was looking out into the storm while the gears in his head were turning. He wanted to kill them now; the thought of Iron Rod being alive back at North Bay was making his insights feel like they were being scrubbed with sandpaper. At the same time, deep down he knew Lobo was right. He would die if he went back now. Zig Zag gritted his teeth in frustration. They should all die… They all laughed at mum! He thought, and in his mind, he could see the entire crowd, clapping their hooves and hollering in delight at the site of his dead mother. He hated them all so much he could barely keep it contained. Since he had been staring down into the floorboards after his mother had been hanged. He didn't know that the clapping and hollering he heard afterwards was the result of a few drunken ponies in front of the execution stage, so his hate was slowly starting to spread to every pony in North Bay. He looked back at Lobo with an inner fire lighting his eyes. “You promise to teach me everything you know?” he asked. Lobo looked at the little pup a bit apprehensively; he knew he would most likely regret this promise one-day. But if this is what it took to keep Zig Zag from getting himself killed right now, then so be it. “Yes, I will teach you how to survive.” he said with no uncertainty. “Okay I'll stay for now…” Zig Zag answered. Lobo nodded his approval and then gave a big yawn. He was so tired after being awake for so long, and the tension between the two of them hadn't helped either. “Good… Now I need to rest for a while. When I wake up again will start your training.” Lobo said as he lay down on his side to get comfortable. “But I'm not tired! I want to start now!” Zig Zag demanded loudly. Lobo gave a fierce growl in warning. “I have been watching over you for a night and a day now, so this time you will guard my back as I sleep, it's the way of the pack to help and protect each other, which seems to be quite a fair trade if you ask me.” Lobo stated while he looked at Zig Zag. Lobo would most likely wake up long before anything dangerous could get close to him, but giving the pup a purpose right now would only be good for him, otherwise he will probably do something stupid. “Okay…” Zig Zag answered. Lobo grunted his approval, and settled in for a long-overdue rest. **** Zig Zag was incredibly restless, as he looked over at the sleeping Wolf for what must have been the thousandth time that minute; he was almost hopping with pent-up frustration. The storm was still raging around them, so he couldn't really go anywhere, and Lobo had been sleeping for at least an hour now. Zig Zag wanted nothing more than to go back to North Bay and make all the ponies pay for what had happened to his mother. He was starting to hate them all more and more, and he was even feeling resentful that he was a pony himself. Why couldn't he be a big powerful monster wolf like Lobo, or a griffin maybe?! He started to explore the area under the overhang again, trying to find something to do. The overhang they were hiding under was about eighteen meters wide, and stood about ten meters out from the cliff face. As Zig Zag moved along the inner wall, he saw something gleaming on the ground. As he went over to investigate, he found that it was something very sharp. Deciding to have a closer look, he took it with him out into the gloomy light of the day; Zig Zag could now see that it was a piece of flint shaped as an arrow head. It had probably been there for a long while, but it was still wickedly sharp. He grinned as he looked at it, figuring he would probably be able to hurt a pony pretty badly with this. Although his hate originally focused on Iron Rod and the rest of the city guard, it was now spilling out over every pony back home. They had done nothing to help them, and even applauded when his mother died. It hurt so much inside thinking about it that he didn't know what to do. Why should any of you ponies get to live! I hate all of you. Why do I even have to be a stupid pony myself… Zig Zag thought as he eyed the piece of flint. He looked back at Lobo wishing he was just like him. Then he got an idea, maybe he couldn't be like Lobo. But there were other races he might be able to make itself look like. Zebras were more or less just earth ponies with stripes after all, a little too similar now that he thought about it. And there was another flaw with his idea; he realized he didn't know which way the stripes on a Zebra went. Were they horizontal or vertical? Zig Zag looks back at Lobo, feeling a bit envious. He was so big and strong, and looked so fearsome. Then Zig Zag got a very determined look in his eyes, and got to work. It didn't take long for the paint to be almost overwhelming, but Zig Zag welcomed it because he found it made the emotional pain on the inside more manageable, and it also stopped him from thinking about his mother or Cherry Blossom while he was flooding his mind with the physical pain instead. Relentlessly, Zig Zag continued, so he could keep his horrific memories at bay. After what felt like an eternity, he was done with the first one. Zig Zag was giddy and almost laughed straight out since he was practically high on the adrenaline and endorphins his body was releasing so he would be able to deal with the pain coursing through his brain. One done… Three to go… Zig Zag thought, feeling a bit lightheaded. He chuckled as he felt the tears running down his cheeks, he caught his breath, and then continued his painful work. **** Slowly Lobo´s eyes fluttered open; it took a couple of seconds to realize that the pup was standing in front of him in the fading light. Doing something that resembled wagging his tail. Lobo yawned before looking out over the now visible ocean and realized that the storm had died down quite a bit. And the rain had also stopped completely. “Come on we have to start training now!” Zig Zag said joyfully, as he bounced in anticipation. Lobo looked at the pup with a bit of concern; his eyes were completely blood shot, and the lines down his face told him that the pup had been crying a lot. But that wasn’t all that surprising, considering what he's been through the last couple of days. Still there was something off with him, Lobo couldn't put his paw on it, but there had been something. Zig Zag now gave Lobo the biggest smile he could, and Lobo's eyes went wide and he stared down at the young pony. “What have you done…” Lobo asked in horrified disbelief. Zig Zag smiled even brighter while proudly displaying the four new canines he had carved out of his four corner teeth. “See! I'm not a pony anymore! I'm just like you now!” he exclaimed joyfully. **** Thanks to Meeester for the Pre-read/Edit