The Poncho Chronicles IV: Through the Portal

by BRyeMC

Wanted

Poncho, Clyde, Tyrone, and Wahlburn made it back to the Las Pegas airport about an hour after leaving Area Fifty-Juan. It took them a shorter time returning to the airport than it took to get to the base because they wanted to get home. As they were ordered tickets for a flight back to Canterlot, Poncho stopped them.
“Don’t buy me one. I’m not going back to Canterlot yet.” Clyde, Tyrone, and Wahlburn turned around to look at him. Poncho was staring at the ground trying to avoid any confrontation.
“The fuck you mean you aren’t coming back?” asked Wahlburn. “Are you staying here?”
Poncho shook his head. “No, I need to go somewhere, that’s all.”
“Where dawg?” said Tyrone.
“I can’t tell you guys. It’s something I just have to do.” Poncho stepped away from them as the three hesitantly waved and walked away from him. They didn’t speak about Poncho the rest of the way to their seats on the plane.
The three of them sat in a row together with Wahlburn being the the middle of them, Tyrone had the aisle seat, and Clyde had the window. Wahlburn complained most of the flight due to not having enough room. Clyde ignored him by listening to music and falling asleep. Tyrone also fell asleep after seeing the plane didn’t have a sexy flight attendant for him to look at.

Five hours later, but technically eight, they arrived back in Canterlot. They went through the routine that they’ve been accustomed to during the past few months and exited the terminal. Tyrone flagged down a cab and told him to take them to Verona.
“I think I’m done with air travel for awhile,” said Tyrone in the back of the cab as they were on the road to their hometown. “I just want to chill, you feel me?”
“I feel you,” said Wahlburn. “I have a whole bag of weed to smoke.” After he stopped talking, he looked down and yelled. “Fuck! I forgot I don’t have any friends to smoke with now!” He looked over at Clyde, who was ignoring his gaze on purpose. “Hey-”
“No.”
“Come on man. Why the hell not?”
“I don’t want to become you.”
Wahlburn looked at him dumbfounded as Tyrone laughed. “I don’t know if that’s a compliment or not. Could you at least get Spike to come to my house?”
Clyde shook his head. “Nah, I’m not feeling that. Why can’t you get him?”
“I’m going to get killed man!” he yelled with slight fear. Tyrone laughed again while Clyde shrugged. Wahlburn looked away to watch the landscape around them change as they were nearing the outskirts of Verona.
The cab dropped them off at Wahlburn’s apartment. Tyrone paid the cab and he quickly rode off. “Well, looks like it’s just us three in this town now.”
“More like two,” said Wahlburn looking at Clyde.
“I still live here. I don’t tend to stay here though because it’s boring and my apartment is lame.”
Tyrone patted Clyde on the back. “That’s alright man, I would leave this place too if it wasn’t for Junior. Guess I should hit the road and go check in with him and BC.” He turned towards Wahlburn to say something, but saw a pony wearing sunglasses walk out from behind the front corner of the building.
“Excuse me gentlemen,” said the stallion. His mane was slicked back and he was wearing a dark leather jacket. “Do any of you fine, cool, looking dudes know the time?”
Tyrone looked at his watch. “Yeah mayne, it’s about ‘tree fiddy’.”
“3:50? Alright man, cool. I’m late for my hangout with some friends.” The slicked-maned stallion began to walk away but stopped. He turned slowly around and looked at the group. “Hey, do you fine dudes know of a Wahlburn?”
Clyde and Tyrone quickly glanced at Wahlburn who gave a blank look. “I know Wahlburn,” said Wahlburn himself. “He’s a pretty cool dude. Everyone I know calls him a badass.”
The stallion grabbed onto the ends of his sunglasses and lowered them. “Where can I find this Wahlburn?”
“If you look hard enough, I’m sure you find him,” replied Wahlburn.
“What?”
“I’m Wahlburn you dipshit.”
The mention of ‘Wahlburn’ made the stallion pull out a small handgun from his jacket and point it straight at him. Wahlburn, who saw the gun as it left his jacket, quickly smacked it out of his hoof, and tackled the stallion to the ground. Tyrone ran over to the gun and picked it up so the stranger wouldn’t get it and Clyde helped Wahlburn hold the stallion on the ground.
“Who the fuck are you?” asked Wahlburn in the stranger’s face. The stranger didn’t answer. “Answer me you fuck!” Wahlburn punched him straight in the jaw. The impact turned the stranger’s face to the side. Wahlburn kept punching him in the face, alternating sides, until the stranger finally gasped and began to plead for mercy.
“Stop!” yelled the stranger, blood coming from his mouth and nose. “I’ll tell you everything! Just don’t kill me!”
Wahlburn pulled away his hoof and grabbed the stranger by the collar of the jacket. “Do tell before I change my mind.”
“Okay! We were sent here to find certain ponies around these parts. Our leader wanted us to persuade or kidnap to join our cause! I was in charge of finding two ponies named Poncho and Wahlburn!”
Wahlburn kept staring at him while Tyrone and Clyde looked at each other confused.
“Who were the others you were looking for?” asked Clyde. He didn’t know why he asked because he already knew the answer.
The stranger looked down at his jacket. “I have a list in my pocket! My group decided to split up and search the Canterlot area for them!” Clyde continued to hold the stranger down as Wahlburn dug into the leather jacket’s pocket. After a brief feel, he pulled out a small piece of paper. Wahlburn handed the paper to Clyde and grabbed the stranger by the collar again.
Clyde turned the note around and began skimming through it:

Clyde kept studying the note as Wahlburn gripped the collar tighter which made the stranger yelp in fear. “Who is this this leader and why does he want these ponies?” asked Clyde.
The stranger shook his head rapidly. “No! I can’t say it!” Wahlburn looked at Clyde who gave a nod. Wahlburn smiled and punched the stranger in the face some more. As Wahlburn was busy, Clyde showed Tyrone the list. After five or six more punches, the stranger yelled. “FINE! I’ll do it!”
“We’re listening dawg,” said Tyrone still examining the pistol.
“I’m from a hitman group our leader, Arlin, sent.” The three nodded as they guessed right. “Since they destroyed his cloning machine, it was time for payback. A group of three, including myself, was sent here a few minutes ago.”
“So what do the notes beside the names mean?” questioned Clyde.
“The location and how to break their will to join us,” said the stranger. He quickly smiled. “In fact, my group is probably already at the targets by now. I’m glad I’m a good at stalling, isn’t that right guys?” The stranger took out a small box from his jacket’s pocket and threw it at the ground. Soon, he magically teleported out of Wahlburn’s grip.
“What the-?” asked Wahlburn in wonder. “Hey guys, did you see-” As he turned around he saw both Clyde and Tyrone with their mouths open. Wahlburn was about to ask what was going on, but he too realized what was wrong.
“Junior!!” yelled Tyrone. With the butt of the pistol in his mouth, he quickly spun around and began running towards the opposite end of Verona, towards his home. Clyde quickly did the same, but turned towards the exit towards Ponyville. As he began running, Wahlburn chased him down.
“Brother, I’ll come help you!” yelled Wahlburn. Clyde ignored him, but he knew he was too focused on getting to Rarity as soon as possible. They both ran as fast as they could towards Ponyville. Wahlburn slowed down some, but Clyde kept pushing harder and faster. As they passed Sweet Apple Acres, Clyde slowed down to a fast jog waiting for Wahlburn to catch up. When he finally caught up, Clyde sprinted off again while Wahlburn sighed.
When Clyde entered Ponyville’s town square, Rarity’s necklace flashed and began to burn his chest. Worried, he looked behind him to see Wahlburn slowly walking towards him and gazing at Twilight’s library in the distance. Instead of waiting, he bolted towards Rarity’s home. As he got there, he felt the necklace burn again and his stomach dropped.
The front door of the Carousel Boutique was wide open. As he was about to step inside, Wahlburn slid under the front window to the side of the doorway and nodded to Clyde. As Clyde nodded back, he ran inside to find Rarity.
The main lobby of the building was empty, except the boxes and racks of fabric and dresses. There were a few mannequins still standing around, but Clyde knew nothing really changed. As he walked near the kitchen, he heard a noise from the room beside it. It was the same room where Patel came to talk to him about leaving for a few days to stop Arlin. Clyde quietly walked through the kitchen and as he looked over the corner of the doorway into the relax room, he saw a stallion that looked similar to the one he met a few minutes ago in Verona. Clyde felt anger building up in him as he stepped into the room.
“Where is she?” asked Clyde with fire in his voice.
The stallion turned around and looked stunned. “That dumb bitch kicked me and ran away. I’m only here for you though, Clyde.” He laughed and pulled out a pistol that was the same model as the one he seen a few minutes ago.
Clyde froze in place and started to back up. “D-Don’t do this here, let’s take this outside.” He continued to walk backwards, hoping he would take the bait.
The stallion smiled and walked forwards. “I’m not here to kill you anyways.” Clyde walked back into the lobby of the building and turned towards the door while remaining his backwards walk. The pistol wielding stallion continued to follow him out the door. As Clyde walked out into the fresh air and sunshine, he quickly looked at Wahlburn who was waiting by the door. To make it not look suspicious, Clyde glanced the opposite way and also to the sky. The stallion laughed as he saw Clyde back into the tree close to the building.
“Looks like you’re stuck now!” As the stallion walked up to him, still with the pistol being aimed, Wahlburn snuck up and smacked the pistol out of his hoof. The stranger watched it fly by, as Clyde tackled the stallion and Wahlburn ran after the pistol.
The stallion was much stronger than Clyde first assumed as he quickly sat up and slammed Clyde into the tree trunk. Clyde gasped at the loss of breath and pushed the stallion back onto the ground. As he held them there for a few seconds, Wahlburn ran up and pistol whipped the stallion on the side of the head. As soon as the pistol impact happened, the stallion fell unconscious. Clyde crawled away from him and looked at Wahlburn.
“Is he dead?” asked Clyde.
“No, I think he’s just knocked the fuck out. I wanted to tie him up and interrogate him.” Wahlburn looked around and at the Carousel Boutique. “Does she have rope or something in there?”
Clyde nodded then gasped again. He forgot about why he rushed here in the first place. He quickly got up and ran inside as Wahlburn followed him. Clyde pointed to the small closet at the side of the room where Rarity kept rope was. It technically wasn’t hers as it was used for one of Applejack’s outfits Rarity made her. As Wahlburn grabbed it, he looked back at Clyde.
“Take your time brother, I’ll tie this dude up and show him to someone.” Clyde nodded as Wahlburn gave a salute and closed the front door behind him. Clyde briefly watched Wahlburn’s attempt to tie up the stallion with the rope out the window. After an unsuccessful attempt, Wahlburn tied the rope as a collar and dragged the stallion away from the building, towards the center of the town. Clyde turned around and bolted up the stairs.
“Rarity? Rarity, where are you?” called out Clyde as he entered the second floor. He looked in the hallway and saw that her bedroom door was closed. He walked over to it and tried to open it. Something was blocking the door. He put his ear up to the door and heard faint sobs. Clyde tried again with a little more force which moved the door opened some more. He knocked on the door. “Rarity. Please open the door.”
He waited a few seconds and tried again, she didn’t move the objects blocking the door, but he managed to push them over. As he walked into the room he saw that the object blocking the door was a lone mannequin. He looked over at the bed and saw bump under the covers. He walked up to it and pulled them down, showing Rarity with black streaks down her face due to her mascara. As he was about to hug her, she quickly pulled him onto the bed and held onto him.
“Y-You came back!” she said with more tears flooding down her face. She attacked him with a barrage of kisses and hugged him tightly. She was shaking and crying at such a rapid rate, Clyde didn’t know what was going on.
“Of course I came back,” said Clyde. He laid his chin on her head. He felt her shaking so he wrapped his arms around her. “Why would I not come back?”
Rarity sat there for a few moments, just crying and shaking, holding onto him as Clyde sat there and embraced her. After calming down a bit, she spoke back up. “Y-You never answered my necklace flashes back. I got scared that you died or threw it away.”
Clyde looked down at her. “You know I would never throw anything you made for me away.” He felt her snuggle into him more as he placed his chin back on top of her head. “I was on my way here as fast as I could when my necklace began burning me. What happened here?” He felt her shift slightly away from him and sat up.
Rarity looked at him with sad eyes as her horn began glowing light blue. Before Clyde could say anything, Rarity leaned forward and placed the base of her horn on Clyde’s forehead. Rarity stared into his eyes as he felt a sudden rush of thoughts and soon, the room around him began to blur.

Rarity sat in the kitchen, drinking some tea, when a knock on the door was heard. She turned her head. “I wonder who that could be. It might be Clyde!” She quickly hopped off the chair and began prancing towards the door. “On second thought, Clyde wouldn’t knock on the door. He would just open it and walk in...” She slowed to a halt at the door and opened it.
“Hello, welcome to the Carousel Boutique, I am Rarity. How may I help you?” She looked at the stallion at the door. As he looked at her, he took out a small comb from his pocket and combed his slicked mane.
“Why hello fair lady,” said the stallion. “I was wondering if you could sell me a suit of some sorts. I need one for a meeting with some friends tomorrow.”
“Suits?” asked Rarity. She frowned. “I’m afraid I don’t normally make outfits for stallions, unless they are for my Clyde and he needs to match my elegant outfit.”
“Well, that’s a bummer.” The stallion sighed and stared at her again. He lowered his dark sunglasses. “Why don’t I take you out or something?”
Rarity looked at him with anger. “No. I have a boyfriend who is very important to me.”
The stallion laughed. He pulled out a small pistol and placed it right below her horn. “I meant the other take out.”
Rarity froze in fear as she looked at the small barrel of the gun above her eyes. She began to shake. “N-No, don’t-”
The stallion placed his free hoof on the side of her face. “Such a shame some pretty mare like you has to go through this.” He moved his hoof down her face and onto her side. “Turn around.”
Rarity stood there and gasped. “W-What?”
“You heard me!” He placed the pistol in his mouth and with both hooves grabbed onto Rarity’s side. He turned her around and laughed. “Oh how fun this will be!” He kept his hooves on her sides as Rarity gulped. As soon, as he touched her tail with his hoof to brush it aside, Rarity sprung onto her front hooves and kicked the stallion in the chest with her hind legs.
The stallion fell to the ground in pain, holding his chest, as Rarity ran upstairs as fast as she could, tears flowing through the wind. She ran into her room and moved a single mannequin in front of the door to help barricade and hid under the covers of her bed.
She looked down at her necklace and kissed it rapidly as many times as she could. She hugged her pillow and with tears still running down her face, kissed the necklace rapidly again.
“Please, Clyde. Please come home...”

Clyde blinked multiple times as the memory faded from his mind. Rarity withdrew from his forehead and snuggled down into him again. Clyde stared at the wall to find words to describe his feelings but was unable to think. He placed his head on hers again as she started to stop shaking and her crying was turning into sniffles.
After twenty minutes of silence and sniffles, Rarity fell asleep. Clyde, who still was in the same position, didn’t want to wake her so he tried to fall asleep too. He felt her slumber breathing on his chest and on his chin so he tried to copy it. Without too much trouble, Clyde fell asleep still holding onto her. His only thoughts before falling asleep were solely about Rarity.