A/N: The next few chapters will be the groups on their own adventures for the day. Enjoy! Rate and comment please!!
Me and RD were in the front seats while Shadow and AJ were in the back of my Focus. It was all quiet, I needed some music to calm myself. I plugged in my Ipod and started playing some music.
Ahh it was like the old days, playing this with Pancho and Shadow in my garage, and old friends in that garage band we had. God we sucked, but we enjoyed ourselves.
It took a moment of prodding from Applejack to snap me out of my nostalgic day dreaming.
“Uh, don’t mean ta’ bother ya, but where ‘sactly we headed, and ain’t this music a bit loud?” asked AJ in that southern slang of hers.
“Oh, an open area. Open where we can do a lot of stuff, and see any zombies from a far if we are noticed. There’s no sneaking up on us there. And hey, this is goo music. Dash seems to enjoy it." I point out RD slowly bobbing her head, leading to a full on head banging.
“Oh, ‘nd what are these, ‘Zombies’ you keep yappin about? They them things you” she took a pause, perhaps to grasp what we did to save them yesterday. “killed?”
“Yes, those. But, thing is they aren’t really alive.” I tried to conjure up a good explanation for it all.
“What in tarnation do ya mean they ain’t alive? They were walking and moving!” AJ couldn’t believe what I was saying, even RD was staring at us, mainly me, making me blush a bit.
“They aren’t really alive! In short, this disease they have, it kills you. But, it then brings the brain back to life, but only a part that just makes you a mindless killing machine. What they are. Plus, they feel no pain. You can only stop them if you destroy the brain or remove the head all together. Just a simple stab or shot to the chest won’t do a thing. That’s the crazy part about it all.”
Only the music played, all of us just listening, or thinking about all this.
At least that’s what I assumed.
“YES. FINALLY WE’RE HERE!” Shadow was happy; he was cooped up in that car for a bit.
“Woah, this looks like some sort of sport type of place” RD in awe of the giant baseball diamond in from of her.
“Ha, that’s exactly right Dash. Was a fun sport called baseball. Maybe once we are done of this zombie issue we can play and I can teach you” I said while smiling at her.
She caught me, giving me an awkward smile back.
“Yeah, huh, that sounds, nice” As she grabbed the back of her neck, looking away.
“So what are we doin here?” Aj said, getting impatient.
“We’re gonna run over basics in this world. Unfortunately we can’t run over super basics, you just got to dive right into it. Running, and defense. Right?” Shadow asked looking towards me.
“Right. Basically, in this world, there’s the first rule of dealing with zombies right in front of you: Kick ass, or Haul ass.”
“Haul what?” RD was confused already, great.
“Run, fast.” I quickly responded.
“Oh, well I can do that! I was the fastest flyer in all of Equestria! I can out-whatever-you-called-it those things no sweat!” RD pridefully puffed out her chest.
“Oh really? Race me to that tree over there?” I said with a quite smirk.
“You’re on! Ready set go!” She quickly counted off before running.
Rather, taking 2 steps before falling flat on her face.
“Now, THAT right there, is why we are out here today, my students” I playfully said, offering my hand to RD, before she slapped it away in embaressment.
Oh man, hurt ego. Even worse, hurt RAINBOW DASH ego.
“Hey Dash, it’s ok! You’re new to this. You’ll get it over time. I’m sure you can get faster than all of us at some point!” I tried to console her.
“Well, I don’t know, ah think she might have a problem getting past yours truly” AJ cut in, not making things any better.
“Bad timing AJ” Shadow whispered to her.
“Oh, is that a challenge?” I hear Rainbow say while still looking down at the ground, sounding a bit perked up.
“Cause if it is, YOU’RE ON APPLEJACK!” Rainbow stands up, ready to race.
AJ adjusts her hat, smirks, and begins to run.
Only thing is, she does that Rainbow had just done a minute ago.
“I think you girls need to practice a bit first, hehe” I say giggling. Shadow couldn’t stop laughing, it was hard not to. “Ok Shadow help out AJ and I got Rainbow. Let’s see whose girl is better after an hour.”
“You’re on fool. AJ will kick Ranbow’s butt!”
“Hah! In your dreams maybe!” I respond, everyone in good spirits finally. “Alright Rainbow, let’s go practice.”
*Skipping an hour ahead, both sides practicing and drilling, with a bunch of pep talks mixed I there*
“Alright, let’s see who’s faster. Though, I think we all know Rainbow is gonna win” I say smiling at her. She returns the smile, yet still keeps her prideful look in front of the others.
“So, let’s say, from here to the first to that tree, about a 50 yard run.” Shadow calls out, seeming confident in AJ.
“Sounds good. Girls?” I ask. They both nod in agreement of terms.
“Ok,” Shadow calls out, both girls are now lined up. “ready, set………………………………………………………”
“DAMMIT SHADOW CALL IT OUT ALREADY” I scream, annoyed but laughing at his humor.
“…………………………………..GO!” And with that both girls sped off, a huge improvement from before. You could see how well they ran, and ran quick. Both of the, sprinting at full speeds, and Shadow and I watching and cheering. Both girls were neck and neck, until he hear a unified *SLAP* against the goal tree.
“I WON!!” Rainbow jumped up, cheering.
“Nyuh-uh! Ah won that race! Admit it Rainbow Dash!” AJ disputed.
“No way!! I obviously won that, you’re just jealous” Rainbow responded, puffing out her chest once again.
“How bout a tie?” I come in compromising.
“Ugh, fiinnee” Rainbow, unhappily, agreed to.
“Yeah, guess so” AJ said as she kicked the dirt on the ground.
“Well with that done, next up is-“
*thump*
We all quickly turn around, and see a zombie walking towards us.
“Perfect.” I whisper as I see it. “Shadow, let’s rope this guy up. You distract him, and I will rope him.”
Shadow nods and begins waving his arms to get its attention. It works. As it walks over towards him, I come from behind and tackle the thing to the ground. As it squirms to get up and make me lunch, I tie up its hands before it does anything. Next I get more rope and wrap some over its mouth, making sure it won’t bite us. Finally, I tie a knot around its neck, and leave a lot more, so it’s on it like a leash. Both girls just stand in awe how quickly and efficiently we contained it, as well as not acting scared one bit.
“Them things are mighty creepy. How you not scared of em?” AJ thinks outloud.
“We’ve dealt with them a lot longer in many situations, just one doesn’t faze us” Shadow responded.
“Oh…” AJ didn’t have much of a response. I tie up the zombie to a pole, and if these things could look pissed off, I bet this guy is just livid.
“Ok girls, next is defense against these things.” I sound confident in the beginning of the lesson. “Like I said, our motto is ‘Kick Ass or Haul Ass’, so we just worked on Hauling ass and you girls are looking great there. So if there are ever too many, remember, haul ass!!”
The girls nod, looking as serious as ever. Though, possibly uneasy about what might come of this lesson.
“But if there are only a couple, best thing is to kick ass. So, we have a volunteer” I say pointing towards the tied up, helpless zombie. “and we will practice a few things. At the end, one of you will have to put it down.”
“You mean…” RD gulps “…kill it?”
“Yes, Rainbow. Unfortunately, in the world we live in now, its kill or be killed. And since I don’t want ANYTHING to happen to you girls, this lesson is highly important.”
Both girls seem to grasp the grim reality we live in, that there is no easy way to live with these zombies.
“First rule: Aim for the head. These things can only be killed by the head, so you aim there. If they are hurt in the stomach…” I take out my knife and stab it in the chest. It doesn’t flinch, and keeps squirming. “… It will keep trying to make you lunch. But if it’s stabbed in the head, it will be done for. These things are luckily, soft. Now watch”
I cut the rope holding the zombies’ hands together.
“When they grab you, if you have a weapon, you cut those hands or arms off” I let it grab me, but I swiftly grab an arm and pretend to cut it. “See? Not too difficult, right?” I hold out my knife towards the girls. “Now, one of you, first, stab its stomach. Just get used to the feeling of violence.”
Both girls are extremely hesitant, and look at each other, and back at the knife, and then back at each other.
“*sigh*, I’ll go first.” Rainbow shyly responds, taking the knife from my hands.
*BOOM*
“CRAP! The hell was that?” I yell out. Seeing some smoke come up about a mile or 2 away, I think that’s where Pancho and company are.
“Seems like a car explosion, probably Pancho messing with stuff as always.” Shadow responded, calm as can be.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” I put my focus back on Rainbow, “just remember, this won’t cause it any pain. It’s ALREADY DEAD.”
She nods, and she closes her eyes and looks away as she thrusts her arm towards the gut of the zombie. The squishing sound made makes her cringe a bit, but it goes away. She slowly pulls out the knife, and finally opens her eyes and looks at me.
“Very good Dash. Now, you’re turn AJ”
Rainbow hands off the knife to AJ, who reluctantly takes it. She walks towards the zombie, it making muffled grunts and groans, reaching out for AJ. But she was much more accepting to the idea of a deadly world, and stabs the monster straight in the chest with a grunt and a glare towards it. She quickly pulls out, steps back, and breathes.
“Again, very well AJ. Next is the hand removal. AJ since you have the knife mind just keep goin?”
“Not really, no.” she responds, walking back towards the monster.
She turns around and lets it grab her on the shoulder. As soon as it does she quickly grabs its hand, ducks and turns around, twisting the zombies arm. She flings the knife downwards towards its wrist and cuts it off. Very quick. Very efficient. Very deadly.
“Well done AJ! Welp, I guess it’s Rainbows turn. You ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be I guess” she says as she tapers off.
AJ hands her the knife, and Rainbow turns around. She takes a deep breath and lets the zombie grab her.
Only this time at the moment it grabs her, she panics. And even worse, it managed to chew through the rope.
“OH SHIT” I gasp as I see it grabbing her and bringing her neck towards its mouth. It was hungry.
“HEELLP. GET IT OFF ME!” She screams and drops the knife.
I get my pistol out ready to blow its brains out, but I hear AJ call me off.
“Ah got this Matt, stand back” She runs over to the zombie, and turns quickly as she lifts her leg and kicked the zombie in the skull.
It flew right off its shoulders, landing a good 10 feet away from us. The zombie went limp, releasing its grasp of Rainbow.
Me and Shadow were stunned, both from the zombie nearly getting to Rainbow, but from AJ, literally kicking a zombie’s head off.
We quickly shook off the shock and went to RD’s comfort. She was crying, scared.
“It was just too much. When we first got here one almost got me, and I just remembered that when it grabbed now, I couldn’t handle it. I’m sorry Matt” she struggled to keep from a total breakdown.
“It’s ok, you did fine. We can work on this some other time. Let’s go home, k? And by the way, nice save there AJ." I say as she blushes a bit from the compliment.
She nods, all the other agree and we heads towards the car.
As we head back my phone goes off, I take it out to see it’s Pancho.
Huh, I wonder what he wants.