//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 - The Long Road Back // Story: Pony-Z // by Black Light //------------------------------// The Long Road Back The small group approached the train. Pete, Matt, and the guards used their blades and killed any stragglers that didn’t chase after the bomb. Pete and Matt walked to the overturned train. “Looks like it derailed from a broken track.” Matt said looking at the rails. “Yeah, I guess it’s a good thing we stopped or this could have been us.” Pete responded. “But then you have to look at it the other way.” Matt said. “Yeah, this line only goes to two places, so who is on it and why?” Pete asked. “Only one way to find out.” Matt answered as he took a grip on the side of the train car and pulled himself on top of it so he could reach the door. He reached down and pulled Pete up to the side. “Looks jammed.” Pete said as he looked at the mangled door. Matt gave it an experimental tug. “Yeah, that’s real twisted up.” He said. Pete leaned over the side. “Pinkie, head back to the train and see if there are any tools in the supply boxes we could use. Jay, Liz go with her and keep her safe.” He told them. With a few nods they started back towards the train they came on. “What about us sir?” One of the guards questioned. “Keep your weapons at the ready, and keep a lookout for any zombies. If you see one don’t rush off and try to kill it though. Stay near the train and only kill the ones that have noticed you and are too close to the train.” He told them. “Yes sir.” They responded with a salute forming a perimeter around train. “Pete.” Jay called from the ground. Pete turned and saw Jay toss up a crowbar. Pete caught it and gave a nod of thanks. He gave it to Matt who stuck it in the small opening of the door and started to pull. With a loud creak and a snap the door was pushed away from the opening. Tossing the crow bar back down Matt and Pete pulled the door open the rest of the way. They immediately covered their noses and gaged slightly. “Hey Pinkie!” Pete called getting the attention of the mare. “This Princess Cadence, is she an alicorn as well.” “That’s right.” She answered. “Well I’ve got bad news, worse news, and good news.” Pete said. “First off, she’s in the train.” “What’s the bad news?” Pinkie asked. “That was the bad news.” He told her. “Worse news, the train has a lot of zombies in it.” Pinkie’s mane deflated. “Good news, she’s one of the few left in here that isn’t.” He finished looking into the train. Inside were a lot of guards most impaled on walls and the ceiling by scrap metal, most of them had already turned, but there were a few not impaled that luckily enough hadn’t been fatally injured and hadn’t turned. “Lower me down.” Pete said to Matt. Matt nodded and lowered Pete inside the train. As soon as he came into view the zombies inside started to trash about. Pete walked around observing the ponies that hadn’t turned yet. “Well, they don’t look like they have any fatal injuries so we don’t have to worry about them turning, but it doesn’t look like they’re going to be able to walk, or maybe even wake up.” Pete called up to Matt. Matt nodded and turned to guards. “Head to the train car, collect as much cloth and wooden boards or sticks that you can find.” He told them. “How many?” Matt asked Pete. “Looks like four guards and the princess.” Pete answered. “The guards look like they’ve taken most of the damage, protecting the princess most likely. She may be able to move on her own when she wakes up, but the guards definitely won’t.” Matt nodded in understanding. “Will we be able to get them out of there without hurting them further?” He asked. “With enough time yes, we’re going to need to clear out this car first though. Get around four guards to help search it thoroughly.” Pete told him. Matt nodded and pulled up four guards dropping them down into the car with Pete. The five in the car began to clear out the car. Leaving only them and the five who were unconscious. “Matt!” Pete called up seeing the man appear over them through the hole he continued. “Let’s start moving the injured out of the car.” “Alright you hand them up.” Matt responded setting his rifle next to him. The process was slow going. Pete picked up a pony and had to reach up high so Matt was able to hold onto them without hurting them. Matt lowered them down to Liz and Jay who put the five down onto the makeshift stretchers they had made. With Matt’s help Pete and the guards got out of the train car and back onto the ground. “Pinkie.” Pete said getting her attention. “How’s the train looking?” Pete asked. “Not good.” Pinkie answered. “Since it’s been without the proper maintenance for a while the sudden stop threw the axles off center. We won’t be going anywhere in this anymore.” She said. Pete sighed. “What does that mean?” Jay asked him. “It means we’re walking back.” Pete answered. “WHAT!?” Jay shouted. “Quiet!” Pete scolded. “What do you mean we’re walking back?!” Jay asked again a little quieter. “The trains busted, I’m almost positive no one here has the training or tools to fix it, so either we wait here for a miracle or we start making our way back on foot. I think the choice is rather obvious.” Pete told him. “But we’ve been traveling for what five-six hours?” Jay responded. “Seven actually.” Pete told him “Seven hours travel, by train. It’s probably going to be getting dark in eight or nine hours. How long will it take to make it back just walking and then we’ve got the added weight of the stretchers. We can only go maybe a tenth as fast as the train at best. That’s almost a three day walk if we never stop.” Jay ranted. “JAY, calm down!” Pete told him. “It’s obviously not the best solution, but it’s the only one we’ve got. We start making our way back now. We’ll stop and make camp when it starts to get dark. Take turns on lookout then move at first light.” Pete said to the group. “Pinkie, Matt, you two will just be walking. Everyone else pair up and take a stretcher.” Pete told them. Pete and Jay walked over and took the stretcher with the princess on it. The others all picked up the guard’s stretchers and they started making their way back down the tracks the way they came. ~~~Seven Hours Later~~~ The group had been walking for a long time now and were beginning to get tired. Pete looked up to the sky. He got everyone’s attention with a whistle. “We’re going to be setting up camp for the night. I want to get as much shelter as we can before night actually falls.” He told them all setting the princess’ stretcher onto the ground. “Matt do we have any portable tents?” “I’ve got two on me.” Matt answered. “Enough room for one and a half people each.” He said. “So around three ponies each?” Pete asked. “About.” Matt answered. “Alright get them set up, we’ll put the injured in them.” Pete told Matt. “Everybody else, try and find anything that can burn. We’re going to make a small fire.” The guards nodded and went off to search. “Jay you’ll take first watch, Liz your next, I’ll take next, Matt after me, and we’ll finish up with one of the guards right before sunrise. We’ll take two hour shifts each.” Pete told them. They nodded and each started to set up camp. The guards arrived with the wood and started to build a small fire pit, big enough for slight warmth, but small enough to not be too noticeable. The group sat around the small fire discussing the plan with the guards. One of the guards volunteered to take the final watch and the four explained to him how to be effective at it. “-Now if you see or hear anything that’s getting to close you-” Pete was saying but he stopped himself. “…Do you hear that?” He asked the group. As they began to listen they heard a small moan coming from inside one of the tents they had set up. Pete drew his sword quietly and went over to the entrance of the tent. With a quick twist of his wrist he used the sword to open the flap of the tent. Inside the tent the group saw the princess beginning to stir. Pete looked back to the group before reaching out and putting a hand on the princess’ shoulder. “Excuse me, are you okay?” He asked. “I- I think so.” The princess said groggily moving sluggishly. “Where am-” She stopped speaking as she looked over and saw Pete. Her eyes grew wide and she was suddenly tried to stand up so she could run, but she fell onto the ground. “Hey, hey. Take it easy.” Pete said helping her stand back up. “You- I’ve seen your kind before.” She said fearfully. “yes, yes, the initial infected we’ve heard.” Pete said rolling his eyes. “But tell me, do we look infected to you?” he asked. “…no.” She answered. “That’s right, now get some rest. We’re going to be getting up at dawn.” He said. “Why are you here?” the princess asked still hesitant. “Luna sent us. We’re here to rescue you.” Pete told her. “Aunt Luna sent you?” She asked surprised. “Yes, now get some sleep we need to-” Pete was suddenly cut off by the loud bang of a gunshot that echoed around the camp they had set up. Pete turned his head suddenly and saw a guard sitting on the ground after jumping back from surprise of the gunshot the smoking gun still next to him. Pete’s eyes shrunk to pin pricks in anger. “Pack up camp now!” he ordered. Matt, Jay, and Liz complied immediately. The guards and the princess still sat there stunned. The four pulled down the tents and packed them with practiced speed. “We need to move quickly before-” A loud moan was suddenly heard from just outside the camp. Pete turned and saw a zombie walking just outside the perimeter making its way inside. Another growl was heard and Pete turned around seeing another. “…Shit.” “Pete what’s the call?” Matt said pumping his shotgun. Pete turned. “Princess, can you run?” he asked. “I-I don’t know. I-” She was cut off as Pete suddenly reached down and picked her up and put her on his shoulder. “Now time for guessing.” Pete said. “Matt, Jay, Liz. Get the other injured. We need to leave now.” Each of them nodded and picked up an injured guard with Matt taking two. “Everyone run as fast as you can!” Pete shouted to the guards taking off running as he did. They complied immediately. The group was sprinting down the train tracks staying just out of reach of the horde chasing them. Pete suddenly skidded to a stop the group doing the same. “What’s wrong why are we stopping?” The princess asked. “Them.” Pete answered looking ahead on the tracks. The princess followed his gaze and saw another horde approaching. “Shit.” Matt said seeing the horde. “What do we do?” the princess asked. “Fight and try not to die.” Pete said putting her onto the ground and drawing his sword. “You don’t think you can take them all.” The princess said. “Well it’s either fight or die. I think I like my odds better with the former.” Pete told her. Pete turned and looked at the massive horde approaching. ‘There are too many of them to take at once.’ He looked to the side. ‘they’re all around us, nowhere to run.’ Pete readied his blade preparing for the first zombie to come within reach… but it never did. Pete was confused the zombies all seemed to be stopped just a few feet away. It was then that he noticed the slight shimmering surrounding the group. Pete looked behind him and saw the princess laying in the middle of the group her horn glowing with energy. ‘a shield spell… effective’ The shield around the group began to crack. ‘for a time.’ “Everyone gather as close as you can to the middle!” Pete shouted. The guards all gathered as close as they could to the center around the Princess. Pete stood at the edge of the shield. He put one of his hands on it. He felt a slight tingling sensation. ‘a wall of magic energy’ he heard a slight gasp behind him. Turning he saw the princess grab her head and her horn’s glow faded away. Pete’s eyes widened and he turned back seeing the shield start to vanish. He threw his hands forward and pressed his palms into the shield, they started to glow with their black aura as he did. The shield began to repair itself and once again formed into a complete shield. Behind him the princess gasped at seeing the human use magic. Pete looked behind him and looked at the group within the shield. He could feel his energy draining from the shield. He couldn’t keep the shield up forever, he needed to do something. ‘what can I do? I can’t hold this shield forever, and if we’re here when they break through… but we don’t have to be.’ Pete’s mind began to race. Back at the castle Twilight had discussed some of the higher level magic unicorns we’re capable of doing, one came to Pete’s mind. He grimaced, he got migraines just from levitating a glass for too long. He looked around. Not really many choices left. Pete closed his eyes and his hands began to glow brighter and brighter. “THIS IS GOING TO SUCK!” ~~~Canterlot Castle~~~ “They should’ve sent word by now.” Twilight said pacing around the throne room. “Calm down Twilight, I’m sure that they are all doing fine.” Luna told her looking over the documents in front of her. “But Princess I-” “Come on Twily, you’ve just got to put some faith in them.” Shining said interrupting her. “I’m sure that they’ll all be back before you can say-” Armor was interrupted by a loud pop and a bright flash blinding everyone in the room. The three blinked their eyes as their vision started to come back. In the center of the room stood the eleven that had left just that morning, an additional five ponies with them as well. Pete stood in the middle his hands still slightly lit with his aura. Blood was dripping out of his eyes, nose, and ears. “Hey, what do you know?” Pete said coughing slightly, hacking up blood at the same time. “It worked.” He said before falling onto the floor, a slight puddle of blood forming around his head. “PETE!”