//------------------------------// // Amity Eternal // Story: Equine Royale // by MemoryLane //------------------------------// The time was about 7:20 AM, and Colgate felt groggy. She wasn't used to these hours, she was usually asleep right now, lying in her comfy bed, dreaming of cute things. At the moment, she explored the island, and didn't see so much yet. Either this island is just plan huge, or she isn't good at navigation. Her conscience as leading towards the second one, however. BOOM Colgate jumped at the sound of what seemed to be an explosion. She looked up so see a giant mushroom of flames fly into the air. She knew that at least a few ponies died in that explosion...she wanted to know for sure, but she didn't want to go alone, so she kept on walking. The warm dew of the morning made Colgate shiver tremendously. She was never one for the cold. She liked warmth. She couldn't wait for the sun to shine down on her again, and warm up the planet as well. She held her axe in her hand carefully, in case someone snuck up on her, but even still she didn't plan on using it. There was no way she's contributing in playing this stupid game. Various bugs and mosquitoes nipped at her, aching to quench their thirst with her sweet and tangy blood. She swatted them away restlessly. "Ugh...I would have preferred my weapon be bug spray..." She muttered out loud to herself. The only things she heard so far that morning was a few screams from ponies she'd rather not know whom. It let her know that this is serious. She knew that she would most likely die out here. She didn't have the kind of "Killer" instincts. Nor any "Survival" instincts. All in all it just proves how screwed she is. She reached into her bag and took out a canteen, sipping on it briefly before putting it back. This is lame... The wind began to pick up, so she assumed to be going into the right direction. Suddenly, a voice was heard. "Hello every pony!" Celestia bellowed from some sort of speaker system. It broadcasted loudly throughout the entire island. Colgate groaned, What does she bucking want now? "I'n quite impressed to say that in only two hours, we have six deaths!" Colgates heart dropped. Six!? That's insane! "First to go are number's 25 and 30, Spitfire and Soarin. Looks like the Wonderbolts are going to be recruiting sometime soon." Colgate was getting angry. Celestia was acting as if this was a sick joke! "Then we have number 29, Berry Punch," Colgate remembered her. She wasn't surprised that she'd get eliminated so early in the game, being the clumsy drunk she is. "Number 23, Meadow Song. And number 12, Caramel!" Colgate didn't know Meadow Song, but Caramel? Wasn't he that colt cuddler that dated Big Mac a while back? "And lastly, number 18, Thunderlane! So far so good, keep it up everyone. Also, to start, take note, that there will only be one area that will be blocked off as of right now, the temple!" Colgate didn't even know that this place even had a temple. But she made a mental note to steer clear of it. "And with that, I bit ye all a good day!" Celestia said, before the speaker cut out. What nerve she had. She's enjoying this too much! Colgate sighed, she knew death was coming for her soon, but she didn't care. She tried to make the best of what she had right now...which all in all wasn't very much...just a bag. But even still. She walked into some sort of grass clearing and immediately noticed some sort of cliff. She also noticed a yellow object right on the edge...no...that couldn't be... "Fluttershy!" Colgate yelled, running over to Fluttershy. Colgate didn't know what to do except to poke and prod her to make sure she was still alive. Celestia didn't say she was, but she sure looked it. "Wake up!" Colgate yelled, Fluttershy barely even breathed. Colgate took out her canteen again and poured the cold water right over her face, and after much coughing and sputtering, Fluttershy opened her eyes. "Huh?" She said. Colgate hugged her. "You're okay!" She said, Fluttershy just looked up at her. "Who are you?" "Colgate." Fluttershy got to her feet and dusted herself off, a little disoriented and woozy. "Please don't come near me..." Fluttershy said backing away. "I don't want you to die too!" Colgate cocked her head. "I'm not going to die. I'm perfectly safe right now!" She assured. Fluttershy continued to back away. "My friends are dead...and I killed their murderer..." She confessed. "I'm a bad pony! I don't want to get you killed!" Tears fell from Fluttershy's eyes. "You don't have to worry about getting me killed..." Colgate said, looking over the cliff. Seeing Caramels remains at the bottom. "Whoa! You killed Caramel!?" She asked, Fluttershy hid behind her mane and sobbed a little louder. "I mean, did he attack you?" "...yes. He killed Meadow and Berry..." Fluttershy replied. "No way!" Colgate replied, she decided that maybe meager conversation would get Fluttershy to calm down a little bit. After all, she did just see three ponies die. "So you just threw him off the cliff? Never knew you had it in ya." "Yeah, me neither..." Fluttershy looked at the ground, enveloped in memories. "Hey look..." Colgate comforted, putting a hoof on her shoulder. "It's okay, things happen. It's not your fault. It was self defense." Colgate said. A smile appeared on Fluttershy's face. "Thanks." She whispered. "You're welcome." Colgate turned to walk back into the jungle, expecting Fluttershy to follow her. Instead, she stopped her. "Don't go that way." "Why? What's over there?" "Meadow and Berry." Colgate felt a twinge of sadness before turning left, and entering the jungle that way instead. "Sorry." "Oh, it's fine. I just didn't want you to go over there and discover them, since it's pretty...um...grotesque." She replied. Colgate felt terrible now. "Come on, let's get going. I heard a really big explosion earlier that I want to check out." Colgate said, making her way down a paved trail through the jungle, Fluttershy trotted along right behind her. "But-But what if the ponies that caused it are still there?" Fluttershy asked. She really couldn't handle losing another friend... "I doubt whoever was close enough to that blast is still alive...to be honest. That's probably how Spitfire and Soarin di-" She covered her mouth. She forgot that Fluttershy wasn't awake to hear the radio announcement. "Both wonder bolts are dead!?" Fluttershy asked, her eyes formed water in them. Oops.. "Anyways...it's best to stay away from a temple of some sort. Just so you know.." Colgate replied, Fluttershy only nodded this time and continued to follow the blue earth pony. Colgate and Fluttershy trotted in the direction of where Colgate saw the blast earlier, and to be honest it was quite farther away than expected. As they walked, Fluttershy's hope began to grow. She hoped that this time, no one could get in the way of her friendship, that's her and Colgate could make it out of there together. Fluttershy had never had any friends, and she knew exactly why. She had a slight tendency to be very shy. It always hurt her chances to meet other ponies, as she would freeze up most of the time, not even speaking. She had always wished that she had had more friends, but instead she resorted to making friends with many woodland creatures near her home. Although it wasn't the same, it had to do... But now, everything was going to change for the better. Meadow Song flashed through her head. Those were his last words before... "I think we're almost there.." Colgate said back to her. To be honest, she was surprised that Fluttershy was the only pony she had met so far. Fluttershy snapped back to reality as she saw smoke begin to form in the sky. Colgate was the first to see the remains. The blast must have been huge, since the cottage that was there is completely gone. All that's left is some wood, and a large black burn mark on the ground. Fire and smoke filled the area. Colgate noticed that the orange cottage right next to it has also taken some significant damage, as all the windows have been broken. Fluttershy noticed the remains right behind her, and gasped at all the destruction. "Who could have done something like this...?" Fluttershy asked, Colgate just shook her head unknowingly. "I have no idea, but what I'm wondering is what even did this in the first place..." "Maybe some sort of gas leak?" Fluttershy proposed. Colgate just shrugged, she had no clue. Although a gas leak seemed likely. "I also think I know who caused it.". Colgate's ears jolted upright. "You do? Who?" Fluttershy said nothing and pointed to the pool of blood on the ground near the cottage. Colgate ran full speed towards the strange pool of blood, only to find a black stallion. Colgate stared in awe at the body, while Fluttershy almost vomited. "Whoa...this must be Thunderlane..." He was lying on his back, with a few burn marks on his body, next to him was a few grenades. Colgate didn't touch them. She didn't know how they worked and was afraid of setting one off. "This is a lot of blood coming from a grenade...do you think he purposely blew himself up?" Fluttershy asked her. "No, he'd probably be in pieces, he was at least 20 feet away." Colgate curiously flipped him over, and gasped as she saw the kunai stuck in his neck. As she did, it unjammed a little bit, causing blood profusely squirt from his neck. Colgate took a few steps back when she realized she almost got covered in his blood. "That's disgusting!" She yelled. Fluttershy looked away. "I don't think it's safe here..." Fluttershy stated. Colgate sighed. "Look, it's safe. Who ever was here obviously left." She stated. "I'm not too sure about that..." A very rough voice said right behind them. Both ponies stopped and looked behind them to see Snowflake, emerging out of the bushes. Colgates eyes widened as she saw what his was holding in his hooves: a crossbow. "Fluttershy get out of here!" Colgate gestured to Fluttershy to run, but she didn't move. Snowflake raised the crossbow and fired the arrow straight though Colgates right eye. Fluttershy could literally hear the pop her eyeball made upon impact. Death was instantaneous for Colgate and she slid to the ground. "No!" Fluttershy cried. "Not again!" She lied down and cried on Colgates stomach. "...Don't leave me too..." Snowflake let out a hollow laugh at Fluttershy's pain and lowered his crossbow. He was going to have fun killing the timid little mare. He made his was closer for her. Fluttershy stood up, and observed the situation. She can't duck this time, or jump for that matter. There was nothing she could do...or wanted to do either. She had given up. All of her friends were dead...she didn't care anymore. She wanted Snowflake to kill her. Everypony she met died anyways. It's better this way, otherwise she might meet some other unlucky, fortunate soul. She closed her eyes and waited for Snowflake to get closer. When Snowflake was close enough to her, he laughed again at her puny stature, as he towered over her. Fluttershy was shaking uncontrollably from fear. She hoped that it would be quick. Snowflake picked up the mare by her neck, slowly hoisting her up into the air. The poor mare struggled to breathe, wheezing and gasping for precious air. He walked forward to the foundation where the cottage used to be. Where he found a foot long piece of metal still sticking straight up into the air that still survived the explosion. Fluttershy's eyes didn't open at all, and didn't know what to expect. Suddenly, he body slammed her fragile body onto to foundation, the piece of metal easily pierced her skin, and her lung. Fluttershy opened her eyes and immediately spat out blood, which got on her cheeks, chin, and chest. The pain hit her like a wall of bricks. She coughed and lied there, afraid to move. Afraid to make the pain worse. "Haha, now you stay there." Snowflake said, walking away, he looked into her bag which she had previously dropped and pulled out her weapon: A climbing rope. Snowflake shrugged and tossed the useless item away. Then he went over to Colgates back, his eyes lit up in joy as he saw her axe, he took it and swung it around in the air for some simple fun. Fluttershy watched as her and Colgate were robbed. She moved her gaze over to Colgate's body, as death finally came for her, slowly and painfully. "I....I'm c-coming...fri...ends..." She wheezed,for it hurt her to speak. She smiled at the fact that she would soon be reunited with her friends. Eventually, death took her, a smile still spread across her bloody face. #16 Colgate, dead #5 Fluttershy, dead 22 to go