//------------------------------// // Bonds We Almost Had // Story: Equine Royale // by MemoryLane //------------------------------// Spitfire was the last pony to run out of the ship, lucky her. She hoped and prayed that she'd be called first, so that she could get a head start. She feared that some pony may have lingered around the ship instead of taking of, running to wherever this place is... She peeked her head through the ships door and looked outside, and what she immediately noticed was that the ship was right on the beach, and there was a stairway leading to the hot sand below. She walked down the grey stairs and walked around the ship itself, which, surprisingly, wasn't very large at all. She stared out into the open sea, her heart dropping as she saw what must be miles upon miles of water, seeing no other land at all. She looked up and saw a blue shield over the whole island, or at least the part of the island she was currently on, anyways. But she didn't get her hopes up. Spitfire smiled, she had nothing to be worried about. This wasn't real, there is no way Celestia would make them do something like this. Maybe it's just some very thought out and elaborate prank of some sort? She felt the fear that she had previously had moments ago leave her body. On the other side of the beach, was a lively and lush jungle. Spitfire looked around to make sure the coast was clear, and when she was sure she was, she bolted inside the cover of the jungle. The jungle was large, many trees all over the place, with vines that hung almost to the ground. Spitfire realized that the trees will most likely be very difficult to fly through, and the vines wouldn't help much either. Great, her one advantage, stripped away from her. Again. The floor was visibly wet and muddy, at least where she was, anyways. Various green plants which names Spitfire couldn't recall scattered the ground, making the jungle even more beautiful, and ominous. Spitfire was starting to get a little nervous. She knew how to deal with pressure, she was a Wonderbolt after all, with her pal Soarin. She gasped as she remembered Soarin. "SOARI-" She started to scream, but seeing the error in her ways she clasped her hooves over her mouth. She tried to tell her how stupid she was in her head, since this wasn't even real, but the thought didn't stick around for long. Spitfire thought about Soarin, they were both superstars in many places of Ponyville and Canterlot for the speed and aerodynamics in the sky. Celestia even hired them personally, which filled her with the utmost pride. Soarin was a great friend. Spitfire had been training and exercising with him for as long as she could remember, and to be frank, she kind of liked him more than a friend. He was quite handsome, and very fun to be around. Spitfire found that out right in the beginning, and her thoughts of him hadn't changed since. Spitfire also found his love for pie amusing, especially since he once went to extreme measures to get it: stealing from a local pastry shop. Spitfire was dumbfounded when she found out, but Soarin somehow charmed his way out of jail, and into her wallet. She had to bail him out that day. She stopped running and hid behind a large bush, she took off her backpack and began to randomly pull things out of it, looking through her items. She wasn't very happy with what she got: Some food and water like Celestia promised, a sleeping bag, and an orange box cutter. How was she she supposed to 'defend' herself with a box cutter?! She lied down now, quite angry. She should've picked a different bag...Ugh She missed Soarin already. She wanted to find him, so they could try and figure a way out of this. Also, she just generally missed his presence. She calculated the chance of running into him, and not any pony else, and decided that the chances were slim. It wasn't going to be easy, even though he did leave the ship 25 minutes before she did, but knowing him, he probably wouldn't go too far. He's not one to be very independent, and during practice routines, would encourage Spitfire to do it with him, even if it's a stunt he's practiced a million times. She never really understood why. "SPITFIRE!?" A loud voice boomed behind her, making her visibly jump and instinctively reach for her box cutter. She stood up and aimed it at the Stallion right behind her and gasped as she stared into her most trusted partners eyes. She dropped the box cutter. "Soarin!" She yelled as she trotted up to him and hugged him, ever so glad that the 'chances' the came up with just a few moments a go were wrong. "Hey! There you are! I waited for you when I got off the ship!" He exclaimed, setting down his backpack as the mare hugged him. He happily returned the hug, but didn't want to awkwardly bask in it. "I'm so glad I found you! I don't want to be out here alone." Spitfire realized what she just said and gave Soarin a sly look. "I know it's a prank, you can stop now." Soarin looked from side to side, confused. "What do you mean?" "A 'battle to the death'? Haha! You expect me to believe that?" She laughed and punched her friends foreleg. "You had me going there for a second though." Soarin's eyes softened at his friends lack of understanding. "Spitfire...this isn't a prank, I think this is for real." "Okay, you can cut it out now..." "Spitfire, I mean it! This isn't a prank! Well, I don't think so. If it is then I didn't have anything to do with it!" He explained. Spitfire's eyes started to water as realization set in. So...this is...real after all? "But...I don't want to play..." Spitfire said, lying back down on the ground pitifully. Soarin walked up behind the mare and rested a hoof on her shoulder. "We don't have to, I'm sure there are others who don't want to play either. They can probably help us." Soarin said smartly. Spitfire nodded. It's true, maybe they could form a group, and somehow all together find a way off the island? Spitfire didn't know. She didn't know any of the other players, and who she could trust. Right now the only one was Soarin. Soarin lied down right next to the mare and sighed. "Things are going to be fine. We're going to make it out of here." Soarin spoke, Spitfire was going to object and say that apparently only one pony could leave(Which almost killed Spitfire inside, having to know that), but decided not to remind Soarin of it in an effort to not upset him. "I guess." Soarin looked at Spitfires backpack, and all of the contents that were spilled out all over the ground, also noticing the box cutter, since he had failed to notice it before. He scoffed. "I see you actually got a weapon in your bag...lucky." He stated. As he held up his randomly selected item: A box of matches. Spitfire laughed at him, and she thought she was having bad luck. What's good for the both of them is that both of their objects could come in handy at some point or another. Soarin put the matches back in his backpack, eying her intently. Spitfire decided that it would finally be the time to spill the beans. Only one pony was allowed to leave, so when it was all over it really wouldn't matter anymore. "Soarin..." She was blushing like mad. "Have you ever loved any pony before?" She asked. Spitfire immediately grasped his attention. Soarin didn't know how to respond, and his cheeks as well turned a light red hue. "I-I...well yes." Was all he could say. "Since neither one of us is probably not going to make it out alive...I just want to tell you something..." Spitfire paused and looked into the stallion's eyes, giving him the most sincere look she could muster. "I really like you..." She caught herself. "More than a friend, I should say." Soarin was shocked at her brashness at what she just said. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and it almost frightened him. He smiled down at the mare. "You may not believe this, but I really like you too..." Spitfire's heart fluttered. Did he just say that? She was cheering in her inner mind, this was too good to be true. Soarin looked at his surroundings for a moment, before rolling over to lie on his back, causing Spitfire to correct her position as well. She rested her head on his stomach. Soarin's mind was all over the place, almost like hysteria. There was no other options. "I'm so happy you said that!" Spitfire said honestly. She's never had anyone in her life like Soarin. He was always there for her, and was always kind and sweet by nature. She wanted this moment to last; she just wanted to be able to lie with him there forever, and look at the sky with him, where they both reign indifferently. "I'm happy you said that too." Soarin said. He stealthily grabbed the box cutter that was lying on the ground to his left, and wrapped his forearm around Spitfire's neck, hoisting her up to a sitting position along with him, he extended the blade and held it up to her neck. Soarin was panicking, and feared that she would one day forgive him for this. "Soarin! Soarin what are you doing!" Spitfire yelled as she saw him bring the blade to her neck. He wasn't going to kill her! She knew it! "You said it yourself, only one pony wins!" He said maniacally, cackling slightly. "I have a future! I can be a Wonderbolt Captain! Maybe I can help out fellow ponies overseas one day! Save LIVES!" He pressed the blade deeper into her neck, causing Spitfire to flinch. The blade was barely piercing her neck. Spitfire was pleading, her brain seemed like it was shattering inside of her mind. "Why? Why are you doing this..." She sobbed, tears soaking into Soarin's foreleg "What about you!?" He screamed. "You're nothing! You showed me everything you know, and then some. And with your moves along with mine, I'll be the new superstar around here!" He laughed. His eyes bugged out like a madpony. Spitfire felt tears fall down her face as she begged for her life, trying to push Soarins foreleg away from her neck, but the words he said stuck to her like glue. The words 'You're nothing' was nothing that she hadn't heard before, especially when she was younger when she was with her parents. She would hear it almost everyday, and Soarin's repetition of it only brought those feelings back again. I'm nothing... Spitfire's stopped trying to remove his forelegs from her neck, and Soarin took the chance. He raised Spitfire's chin and dug the blade into her cervix, ripping through muscle and skin as he dragged the blade to the other side of her neck. The line wasn't visible at first, but seconds later, blood began to pour from Spitfire's wound, once again soaking his coat along with her own. Spitfire tried to breathe, tried to speak, but the only thing that came out of her mouth was blood. She gargled as she felt her brain shutting down as blood continued to pour from her deep cut. Soarin let go of her as she fell to the ground. I'm...nothing... The amount of blood she was losing was to much for her body to ever recover from, and she died right there next to her murderous lover. *** Soarin stood up, attempting to wipe the blood off of his coat, but ultimately smearing it. I did it! I actually killed her! It was actually much easier than her would had imagined. He almost felt as if he had just cut through butter. "I'm going to win this!" He shouted. He tossed the box cutter far away into the bushes, since it was pretty useless at this point. There's no way he's going to kill again with it. He needed something else. Something more deadly... But how was he going to get one? He ran over to his and Spitfire's things, placing Spitfire's food and water into his own bag, he was sure Spitfire wouldn't really mind, anyways. He put the backpack on his back just as he heard a rustling behind him. He swiftly turned around to see a bright pink mare peering through the brush with manic eyes. Soarin knew her, everyone did. "Pinkie Pie?" He called out to her. Pinkie didn't move at first, but she stood up, soon enough. Soarin noticed how...odd she looked. Her hair was as straight as seaweed that came down to her knees, and a freakishly large smile bore her face. "Soarin...how nice to meet you. I see you found Spitfire..." She said, motioning over to Spitfire's motionless body. Soarin knew where this was headed, he had two choices, run or attack. Unfortunately, he had just unwittingly tossed his only weapon. "She...she threatened me! It was self defense!" He yelled. "Tsk tsk." Pinkie said, "I can tell when your lying, especially when I just saw everything." She said, pulling out a kitchen knife. Soarin was frantic. Pinkie waved the knife in the air towards him, taking little steps in his direction, and emitting a high pitched giggle. "Poor Soarin, you did have potential, didn't you?" She rasped, the smile fading from her lips, making her look so monotonous that it only frightened Soarin even more. "Too bad you just killed the only person who cared for you." Soarin was starting to regret his decision. " 'Superstar Found Stabbed To Death After Taking Out Equally Famous Flyer', I can almost see the headlines now..." She inched closer to him. "Stay away from me!" He hollered, getting ready to turn tail. His eyes wide with fear. This can't be happening! "Do you know who is going to kill that superstar of a stallion?" She asked, eying up her knife wondrously. Soarin had had enough, he ran towards the direction of the beach, anywhere, he'd do anything to get away from Pinkie. He turned and blindly started running full speed, but to his surprise, Pinkie was in front of him now, holding out her knife. Soarin's momentum prevented him from stopping and he ran straight into Pinkie's knife, piercing through his chest. Pinkie whispered in his ear as Soarin groaned in pain. "Pinkamena." She tore the blade out of the stallion's chest, and he promptly fell to the ground, holding a hoof over his wound. He stared up at the mare, who was cackling hysterically. His vision began to blur as she walked away. Death slowly, and painfully, crept over him. I'm so sorry Spitfire...Forgive me... #30. Spitfire, dead #25. Soarin, dead 28 to go