Chapter 7: From pouting, comes progress.
Francis sulked his way through the streets of Ponyville, ignoring the waves and greetings from others around him. His ears were flat against his head and he wore an angry expression.
"Stupid ponies, stupid slutty pink ponies... Stupid cupcakes." He mumbled to himself. He hated the fact the incident with Pinkie Pie was bothering him so much. It wasn't like he was a pony.
"Well, technically I am... Goddamn it. Keep it together, Francis." He told himself. He sighed and hung his head low. "Ah, fuck this. I'm going to see what the others are doing..."
He quickly picked up the pace to the Library, trying to remember exactly where it was. He chuckled lightly as he followed the drag marks he left in the dirt streets.
"Ah, my tracking abilities amaze even myself!" He chuckled. "Now to see if Louis got his ass tattoo. I bet it's for being stupid. HA!" With that thought in his head, he quickly ran through the streets, wanting to humiliate Mr. Sunshine with all his heart.
Twilight and Louis had been spending most of the day down in the cellar with all of Twilight's science kits, computers, and magical objects. Twilight hated to ask, but he seemed like the only pony to go to for computer issues. Louis lifted his head out of the hatch on the back of the large machine, covered in a layer of dust.
"Alright, Twilight. That should do it." Louis said happily. "Now, I'm not familiar with these kinds of computers, but it seemed that the cooling vent was covered with these little buggers." He said, holding a hoof out with dust bunnies in it. He chuckled and pat the things on the head, which cooed in response.
"It's funny. Back where we're from, dust bunnies are just piles of lint. Here? They're living beings." He gently placed them down and they hopped underneath a bookshelf. Twilight smiled at Louis' compassion for all things living.
"That was very sweet of you to let them go. They're considered pests here and no pony shows them that kind of kindness." She tolled him. He got a disbelieving look on his face.
"Those cute things? Man, I'd hate to meet the pony who can kill them."
The two shared a laugh together when a knock came at the front door.
"Hello? Hey Louis? Open the goddamn door, powder puff!" Francis yelled from outside. Louis rolled his eyes and followed Twilight back up the stairs. They got there as Spike opened the door and let him in.
"Hey Louis!" He chuckled. "Hows the hunt for your ass mark?" Francis craned his head to check, and seeing that Louis was still a blank flank, chuckled. "Well, still don't have it yet, huh?" He asked. Louis sighed and rubbed a hoof on his forehead.
"No, Francis, I don't. You don't have... yours... Oh my god." Louis' mouth fell open as Francis turned to walk away. Francis arched a brow and looked at Louis, who was barely able to hold back the laughter, Twilight seemed to be doing the same.
"What the hell is wrong with you two?" He asked. Spike came back in the room and, noticing what they all saw, began to laugh uncontrollably on the floor. Twilight and Louis followed a second later.
"Francis! You got your Cutie Mark!" Louis yelled between fits of laughter. Francis smiled and looked to his flank.
"Ha! Told you I'd get my ass tattoo first! I bet it's something cool, like a motorcycle, or a vest, or-" His eyes widened in fear and embarrassment when he saw his Cutie Mark.
There, on his flank for the whole world to see, was a Cutie Mark of a Cupcake tray filled with rainbow colored cupcakes. His face turned bright red and he spat on the ground.
"I knew cooking was a goddamn horrible idea." He pouted. Twilight walked over and placed a hoof on his shoulder.
"It's okay Francis. It's your special talent! You should be proud you earned yours in less than four hours. Applejack and Rarity's sisters have been trying to get theirs for over six months now."
"Well, I do get the job done quickly." He said happily, then frowned when Louis started laughing again. "Not like that, asshole!" He shot back. Twilight rolled her eyes and joined in the laughing. It seemed the former Zombie hunters were adjusting to their peaceful way of living. She wondered how Zoey was doing on the farm...
"Fuck this, fuck apples, and fuck you." Zoey spat, yanking the yoke off her neck. Applejack sighed and trotted after her.
"Look, Ah'm sorry if I over worked ya on yer first day, but ya can't quit that easily! You're a strong mare and you'll find yer grove in no time at all." She assured. Zoey exhaled explosively and turned to Applejack.
"I'm not a mare! I'm a girl, a human! This bet was stupid and pointless. Why is your Princess so cocky?" She asked, falling on her haunches. Applejack sat beside her and sighed.
"She's not the kinda pony to back down from a challenge. Ya gotta prove to her who the stronger mare is. I'm rootin' for ya, just so ya know. I don't think she'll last a week in yer realm." Applejack chuckled. Zoey joined in and soon the two were laughing hard. Zoey recovered first and sighed.
"Sorry about freaking out like that. It's just... been a hard few days." She sighed. AJ was curious and knew talking about things always made them better.
"Tell me, sugar cube. What's tha matter?" She asked. Zoey thought about just keeping the pain she felt from Bill's death all to herself. It was hard to come to terms with. He was there for her since their chance meeting in the city. He saved her ass more than once, and she returned the favor in kind on multiple occasions as well. Maybe talking about it with someone would help her out.
"Just... an old friend we had was killed a few days ago saving our lives." She said in a whisper. Applejack held a hoof to her mouth and choked on her words. She knew something was wrong, but didn't expect it to be that bad.
"A-Ah'm sorry, Zoey. But, he loved ya enough to sacrifice himself. That's gotta count fer somethin', right?" She asked. Zoey looked at Applejack and wrapped her in a hug.
"I guess you're right. It's good to have girl talk, since I've been stuck with nothing but men the past two weeks." She mused. AJ chuckled and nodded.
"That was mah life in high school. Ah hated being around girls. I was one of tha stallions." She rubbed the back of her neck and smiled sheepishly. "Although, ah guess you didn't have much of a choice, huh?"
Zoey shook her head. "Nope. But, I wouldn't trade those two idiots for anything in the world. We became family in those two weeks, and family always sticks together."
Applejack was surprised. It was like Zoey was some long lost Apple. She held their ideals to the 'T'. She smiled at Zoey and wrapped a foreleg around her neck.
"Far as ah'm concerned, y'all are an honorary member of the Apple family. Glad you're here." She said, breaking the embrace. She stood and stretched. "Ah gotta go bring the load to the barn. You coming?" She asked.
Zoey shook her head. "Nah. I think I'll just stay here for a bit, watch the sunset." She said. AJ tipped her hat and walked off. Zoey sighed and looked at the setting sun, watching for the first hint of stars.
"Mind if ah join yah?" A low southern drawl said from behind. Zoey turned to see the large, red stallion behind her, smiling. She shrugged and nodded.
"Go ahead." She said, gesturing to the grass. Big Mac sat on his haunches next to her and sighed, repositioning the wheat stalk in his mouth to the other side.
"Seems ya found mah thinkin' spot, little lady." He said with a chuckle. Zoey smiled at him and shrugged.
"It's a nice spot. Come here often?" She asked. He nodded and laid down beside her, looking up at the sky.
"Every night before ah go to bed. Soothes mah soul just watchin' the sun set. Celestia does a beautiful job..." He trailed off, remembering Applejack tell him about the bet and how Celestia was gone. "Who's setting the sun?" He asked.
Zoey had the answer. "Apparently, according to Twilight, Luna can lower and raise the sun as well. She just doesn't want anybody to know about it. Might cause an uproar or something. I don't know, I wasn't really listening." She admitted. Big Mac chuckled and sighed.
"So, how d'ya like bein' a mare?" He asked.
"Not bad. Kind of annoying at times, but it's okay." She said, wiggling her legs around in the air. Big Mac smiled and nodded.
"If... ya don't mind mah boldness, Ah think yer quite attractive." He admitted, blushing slightly. Zoey smiled and winked.
"You're not the first guy to tell me that. It get's kinda annoying hearing it non-stop..." She said. Big Mac sunk his head into his shoulders and his blush deepened.
"But, you genuinely meant it. I can tell. You aren't like the guys where I'm from, who only say I'm pretty or sexy just to get a piece of ass, you know? But, thank you, Big Mac."
He sighed and his cheeks returned to normal. "Ya know, we have extra room in tha house. Ya don't have ta sleep in that musty ol' barn." He told her. She raised a brow and frowned.
"That extra room wouldn't happen to be yours, would it?" She asked cautiously. His eyes widened and he shook his head.
"No! Ah'm a Stallion o' principles, missy. It's an extra room, yer own bed an' everythin'. So, how 'bout it? Ya interested?" He asked. She pat her chin and nodded.
"Sure. It beats hay, right?" He chuckled and nodded, standing and stretching his aching joints. The two walked back into the house without another word.
Loner continued the trudge back to the hide out completely overloaded. He had Celestia piggy backed, he now carried all their weapons, and he had the gas tanks in his arms. He was lucky Allan and Cho were up on the roofs covering him, otherwise he'd be dead.
Tia continued to sob into his neck, wetting his shirt. She had nearly died today and found out she could probably never go home. He'd probably be crying to if he was faced with that.
Well, he was facing that, except instead of crying, he killed everything in sight...
The bay doors were opened from the inside, allowing Loner entrance. Cho took the gas cans and Allan took his weapons. Loner kept Tia tight on his back and grabbed a few medical supplies.
"Tia needs surgery. Don't disturb us until it's done. Got it?" He ordered. Allan and Cho nodded and Loner walked to a CEDA medical tent they scavenged. He set Celestia down on one of the cots and gave her a warm smile.
She was banged up good. Her left orbit had nearly been shattered, and he could tell she had significant brain swelling. Her collar bone could be seen through her light skin, bent at an odd angle. That was the first thing that needed to be fixed.
"Tia? This is gonna hurt like a mother fucker, but you gotta try and stay still, alright?" He pleaded. She inhaled deeply with a quiver and nodded.
He took out 'Score Keeper' and sliced her shirt off. He took the thin bit of bone and counted down.
"Alright. 3, 2,-" He pushed it in on two and Celestia screamed in agony. The sun goddess would normally use magic to dull pain, or even heal herself. But this forsaken land had taken her very life line away. She was completely at the mercy of somepony she didn't even know. She never had to take commands before, or do laborious tasks. Or, get her face bashed in by a Zombie. Celestia's anger was now bubbling over the pot. She yelled in a voice she hadn't yelled in for over a thousand years.
"THOU SAYEST ON THREE, YOU WRETCH!" She yelled in the royal Canterlot voice. Her eyes seeped anger and hatred, which Loner matched with ease.
"Well excuse ME for helping some stuck up pony princess who thought it'd be a smart idea to get herself mixed up in the ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE!!" He matched her tone, the two were now face to face. It was a stand off the likes of which Celestia had not seen since the battle for Stalliongrad.
"Yo? Everything a'ight in there?" Allan yelled.
"GO THE FUCK AWAY ALLAN!" They yelled in unison. Allan raised his hands and quickly ran off. Celestia continued the stare down. No way was she backing down from this.
"How DARE you treat royalty in such a manner! If I had the mind to I'd behead you myself!" She hissed. Loner pulled out his pistol and pressed it to her forehead.
"Can't behead someone when you're dead, your Majesty." He goaded. She slapped him as hard as she could across the face.
"The nerve!" Tia growled. "You dare threaten my life AND mock my title?!" Loner held his hand to his face, then cracked a smile, then that smile became a full blown laugh.
"Why are you laughing?!" She demanded. He didn't answer, just continued to cackle in her face. Her face turned bright red and she turned away, folding her arms in a huff.
"Tia. I saved your life today! And, I'm offering to help you with your injuries! Could you just please, calm the fuck down and let me do my job? Hmm?" He asked, holding up the medical pack.
She finally relented. "Alright... Do what needs to be done." She sighed. Loner nodded and gestured to the table. She laid down on the cold slab and shivered.
"Alright. I need to repair your orbit. It was hit pretty good. I'm gonna have to knock you out for this one." He said. Tia gasped and shot up.
"You will not hit me!" She shrieked. Loner took out a bottle and shook it in his hands.
"Relax. I'm using chloroform. It'll make you sleepy, then you'll pass out. I promise you'll be okay. Trust me." He told her.
"Just one thing." She asked quickly. He turned to her as he doused a rag in the chemical. "How do you know how to preform surgery?"
He smiled and held the rag to her face. She began to fade in and out of consciousness, but before she blacked out, she heard him say, "That was another life, Tia... Another good life..."