Quill didn't know what to think at this point. All he could do was accept the fact that they now had someone who actually had an idea of what they were doing with them, even if they left the rest of the group in the dark. They finally reached their final destination and found a suitable house to lay low in before sunrise. It was large enough for the five of them and gave them some room to maneuver. The Military stallion walked in, and dropped the large duffle bag he was carrying on a bed and started sorting through it.
"Right. First off I apologize for my less than kind first impressions, but protocol can be strict in certain cases. You were armed with a restricted weapon and for that you were to be seen as threats until evaluated. Never got the chance to evaluate you properly, but from what I saw you are no lot of criminal" He said turning around and handing quill bag. "Your Dragonbreath rounds back, plus a few more rounds. When my team was forced to leave me, they left me two duffle bags of equipment should I need it. Unfortunately, I cut most of it out for the sake of mobility, but kept what I thought would be useful. I have plenty of ammo, more than I really know what to do with to be fair. I figured seeing as I was here I could try and find some survivors who hadn't succumb to the infection and get them out with me. I would need a way to help keep them safe, so I kept some other things" He said, pulling out a small case.
"Before this all happened, the Griffons were starting to show more hostilities and with the ever growing threat of war Luna ordered a large sum of money to go to the production of fire arms that any race of pony could use. You have the Shotgun MkI. They didn't need to do much to it to improve it so really once you know how to use that, you know how to use any shotgun you find. Lucky your friend knows how to use one" The Stallion said, trying for humor. "I have the Assault Rifle MkIII. Semi Automatic, which means one bullet fired per pull of the trigger, and fully automatic, which means as long as I hold the trigger, it keeps firing. However it is unreliable in fully automatic and I don't suggest ever using it" He said, placing the gun on the bed.
The Stallion then opened the case, showing what looked like the shotgun and the Assault Rifle combined. "This, is the Assault Carbine MkVII. Luna favored this one, and so she kept pouring money into it until it did what it was supposed to do perfectly. It is a Slow fire semi automatic. Pull the trigger, it fires, but the trigger takes a moment to fully reset. For the more subtle shooter. Has a four times optical scope on it to give improved accuracy over range" He finally finished before looking at the group. He reached up and took his helmet off and uncovered his face, revealing a Tan Stallion with a Grey mane. "My name is Sergeant First Class SilverWing of the Royal Guard Special Operations team. If we are going to work together and live, we are going to have to play nice" He finished, giving a smile.
Quill breathed a sigh of relief. There actually WAS a pony under there after all. Quill then looked at the weapons. "So... What exactly was the point in you telling us all of this? Cause at the moment you kinda seem like a kid showing off his new Hearths Warming gifts. We appreciate the power and all but seriously? No need to give us the lowdown on them all, seeing as we aren't technically allowed to have them" He said, looking at Silverwing.
Silverwing nodded. "Yea your right, you aren't allowed to have them. However, due to the state of Canterlot, and the fact that I am currently the highest ranking official in the city since our HVI got out, I enact a kind of Martial Law. I let you keep your weapon, so may as well arm as many of you as possible. Once we leave Canterlot though, I will be forced to confiscate all the weapons on your persons, as well as anything that goes with them down to the very last screw. Civilians were never meant to know these existed, and I am disappointed that your cousin took the liberty to not only tell you about them, but how to operate one. These are still incredibly classified" He said, picking up the Carbine and putting it together. He thrust it into Octavia's hands, and looked at her. "Can you shoot?" He asked.
Octavia blinked and looked at the weapon. Jeez it was fancy despite being made out of wood and metal. Octavia nodded "Yes, I believe I could put this to some use. Is there anything really different between using this and the shotgun?" She asked.
Silver shook his head "Other than the fact that it has a detachable box magazine and not and attached tube magazine, it's pretty much the same. It uses a different round than the shotgun, but the same as my assault rifle so we should be good" He smiled at her. Octavia smiled back and looked the gun over curiously.
Silver then turned to Vinyl next and withdrew his side arm. "This is a pistol. For short range defense really. simplest weapon I have and I have never seen you use a weapon" He said, not trying to sound condescending.
Vynil just looked at the gun and shook her head. "Naw, I'm good with my pipe. Guns complicate things I find" She said pushing it back to him. Silverwing didn't seem to like that idea.
"We have four adults and a child. I have four guns. Taking the gun improves our chances of suvivabili..." He said before he was cut off.
"I am not a kid" Sweetie Belle squeaked adorably. Everyone but Quill just stared at her for a second before Octavia leaned down and put a hand on Sweetie Belles shoulder
"I understand it may seem like the Sweetie, but we all think you might be a little too young for guns" She said kindly. Sweetie Belle gave Octavia the most aggravated glare Quill had ever seen in his life.
"I'm Eighteen years old, graduated highschool, and was in Canterlot to get my application forms for the Royal Canterlot Academy. I'm not a child, I'm a dwarf" She said so coldly that Quill almost burst into laughter. Octavia stared at Sweetie Belle, blinking several times and looking at Silverwing.
"Anyway you can confirm this?" She asked
Silverwing shrugged. "That depends. When we got our mission, we were told that our H.V.I said he would try to gather as many survivors as he could. We were all given a list of secondary list of targets who were put on priority. When we showed up, our original was the only one, saying he tried and failed. Once I was abandoned I turned off that feature. I would rather not know if one of the infected were one of our targets" He said picking up his helmet. He put it on and ran a finger over a rune, causing a magical glow to take the visor. After a few moments, he removed the helmet and laughed.
"Sweetie Belle. Sister of Rarity, Element of Generosity. Priority classification two. Eighteen years of age, and graduated from ponyville high. Yep, she's 18 alright" He chuckled. Everyone stared at Sweetie Belle, who crossed her arms and tapped her foot. Quill couldn't help but start laughing.
"What!" Sweetie Belle squeaked, throwing her arms up. Quill couldn't help himself! He just found Sweetie Belle to be the most adorable 18 year old he had ever met!
"I'm sorry Sweetie, I swear I think of you as an adult, but your just too cute sometimes" He said, which brought Vinyl and Octavia into a fit of giggles.
Sweetie Belle raged silently until Silverwing handed her the Pistol. "I guess this is yours. Your as good as anybody in this group with a little practice" He said with a small smile. Sweetie Belle looked over the gun with a curious caution, then look up at Silverwing.
"How do you use it?"
Silverwing stiffled a snort and motioned to the door. "Come on, I'll show you how to use it in the other room. Don't want anyone in here hurt if we have any accidents" He smiled, leading the filly out the door and into the next room.
"Then there were three?" He said with a nervous smile. Vinyl just gave him that cheeky glare again, but Octavia seemed to have other plans.
"Actually two. I figure I can go next door and get some fun in with this new... Toy of mine" She giggled. "Have fun you two!" She said, waving as she walked out the door.
Quill gulped.
"So... Tavi's pretty hot isn't she?" Vinyl said after a few minutes passed. Quill just groaned. "Oh come on! Don't play that card on me, I saw you staring at her ass earlier" she laughed, poking him in the ribs.
Quill just wanted to die. He looked at it ONCE! When it was Literally in his face as she climbed over something! "Come on Vinyl! I don't even see her as a possible prospect!" He said through his hands.
Vinyl looked at him with annoyance. "Hey! Is there something you wanna tell me? Cause if you got a problem with Tavi you get a problem with me!" She growled, taking a step forward with a fist raised up to quills face.
Quill just slumped. "Well, she's gay isn't she? Like she's cute but you two are together aren't you?" He asked sheepishly. Vinyls angry look switched to mild shock and confusion before she burst out laughing.
"Tavi?! Gay?! Oh my god I think my sides are going to explode!" She cackled, falling to the floor. Quill felt really stupid now. "Dude! I don't think Tavi could be any straighter than she is right now! Like sure, I may like to get between a girls legs, but Tavi's the type of gal who love hard and natural inside her" She laughed.
Quill started hyperventilating. If his mother knew he was a part of this conversation... Even if it was once sided... By Celestia's flaming ass he could FEEL the slipper flying from the afterlife. Vinyl started to die down a bit. "Hey would you stop drooling on me?" She asked opening her eyes. She looked at him confused until something wet fell into her eyes, causing her to yelp. "Awe man what the fuck was that?" She gasped, rubbing at her eye. Quill walked up to her...
CRASH!
... But he was interrupted... Before he could even ask, he heard Sweetie Belle scream at the top of her lung and he was in motion. Silvers Crazy, and he just let Sweetie Belle go to a room with him alone. Stupid! Stupid stupid stupid! He swore to whatever gods that were watching him that if Silver so much as laid a FINGER on Sweetie Belle in anyway that could be deemed wrong, he was going to beat him to death.
He slammed against the door but it was jammed pretty tight. He didn't even budge the door a little! His fear spiked a little at this realization, but his idea of the situation changed when Sweetie Belle screamed again.
"Noooo! It's me!! Sweetie Belle! Your sister!!!!" She shrieked before becoming incoherent. He then heard the gurgling snarl of and infected. This changed things. This changed things a lot! Fire burned through Quills veins as he took a step back and kicked the door. The Door snapped out of the frame from the force of his kick, and he was able to tear it out of the doorway, letting him see the scene inside.
Sweetie Belle was curled up in a corner of the room, the pistol in her hands but it wasn't pointing at anything. She was just staring at the infected laying a foot away from her, trying to grab her. The thing that bothered Quill the most though... Was that it was Rarity... Quill ran over and kicked the dead mare in the side, knocking her away from Sweetie Belle but also freeing her leg so she could move freely again. When she got up, Quill almost lost his lunch. The Mares chest was still torn open, and the arm that was missing, had a flurry of vines hanging out from it. Not a pretty sight to be sure.... Made even worse when she screamed at him, more vines coming out of her mouth and whipping around at him. He had her attention though...
"Rarity" Finished her scream, and suddenly the vines coming out of her arms were around his neck. This wasn't good... "Sweetie... Belle" He gurgled "My... Knife" He gasped, his feet no longer having anything to support him. Sweetie Belle just sat the, eyes clenched shut with her hands over her ears, muttering something to herself. He croaked and gurgled, kicking at the air trying to get out of the dead mares grasp. Black dots started to swim in his vision and things started to get dark.
BANG
Suddenly Quill was on the floor, and rarity was missing the top of her skull. The creature stood for a moment before the rest of her body slumped to the floor. Octavia quickly started to try and wake Silverwing while Quill went over to Sweetie Belle who threw herself into his arms whimpering. "How's Silver?" Quill asked, picking Sweetie Belle up. Silver stirred and got up, looking around. "Sunnova Bitch!" He swore "She came out of the roof. Took part of the ceiling to the head. Is everyone alright?" He asked looking around.
Everyone nodded, but the Octavia took a look around the room. "Where is Vinyl?" She asked. Everyone looked at each other in confusion. "She was with me in the other room" Quill said, shrugging. Octavia left the room and the remaining looked at each other.
"Oh my god Vinyl!" They heard Octavia shout. The three ran into the other room to see Vinyl laying in a corner, looking like death warmed over. Her eyes were dim, her hair had stuck to her face with sweat, and her breathing was short and raspy. She was bleeding from the nose, and one of her ears. Octavia was sitting in front of her, holding her face to get a good look at her. "Vinyl? Vinyl! Come on! Tell us what happened!" She asked.
Silverwing looked grim, pulling a pair of gloves out of his pocket. He put them on and lightly grabbed Octavia by the shoulder. "Excuse me if you will" He said, kneeling in front of Vinyl. "Vinyl, I need you to do me a favor ok?" He asked. The white mare just looked at him and nodded. "I need you to let me put a cloth over your mouth so I can look at you, alright?" He asked. Vinyl just nodded again. Silver pulled a large cloth out of his bag and tied it around Vinyls head, making sure it covered her nose and muzzle. He then pulled out a small pen light and shined it in her eyes. They contracted near instantly. He snapped his fingers in her ears, and they hardly twitched. Silver frowned, digging into his bag and pulled out a small tin. He opened it, covered his face with his arm and waved it in front of her nose. She didn't react.
Silver stood up and walked over to where he put down his gear, picking up his face mask and helmet. Everyone in the room aside from Vinyl looked at him curiously. "She's infected" he said in his old cold tone. Octavia, stumbled against the wall and slid down, looking at Vinyl.
"How did she get infected? Nothing is in here?" Octavia asked quietly. That's when Quill remembered.
"Before the whole ordeal with rarity, she said something dripped in her eye" Quill said. Silver light sighed, walking over to Sweetie Belle and taking the Pistol.
"I think you should all leave..."
Octavia looked at him, tears flooding from her eyes. "Y-your... Your not going to kill her are you? You can't kill her! Please you can't kill her!" She begged, crawling to Silver and grabbing onto the lower straps of his vest. "Please... She's like my sister... She IS my sister! Isn't there some other way?" She pleaded.
Quill look at Sweetie Belle, who was looking on in silence. Everyone knew what this infection could do, her more than anything at this point. He felt he should tell her to leave... But something told him she should be here.
Silverwing looked down at Octavia and brushed a tear out of her eye. He shook his head. "I'm sorry Octavia. We don't have a cure... Or at least I don't, and Vinyl isn't going to last more than an hour if she's lucky at this rate. We will never be able to get out of the city or get her somewhere that would have the cure if any exists in time. Without air support Vinyl is as good as gone. I just want to spare her the agony of being taken over" He said.
Octavia's eyes angered and she pushed Silver with all her might, standing over Vinyl protectively. "I won't let you kill her! You kill her your going to have to get through me first!" She screamed at him, angry tears flowing freely down her face. The group stood in an awkward silence.
"T-Tavi... Is that you?" Vinyl rasped from the floor. Octavia spun around and was in front of Vinyl, almost nose to nose. Were it not for the cloth over Vinyls face, everyone would have been a lot less willing to let her do that. "Tavi... Please... Don't do anything stupid alright? That's my job remember?" She asked, looking the grey mare in the eye. Even with the cloth, you could see Vinyl grinning.
Octavia let out a sobbing laugh, stroking Vinyls hair softly. "I can't let you die Vinyl. I don't know what my life would be like without you" She sobbed.
"Your life?" Vinyl asked. "Less... Stressful... I would say" she responded. You could hear her struggle to laugh. "I'm dead Tavi. I can feel it. Don't die trying to keep me out of a grave when I am already in it. The world would miss you" She said, reaching up slowly and placing a hand on Octavia's cheek. Octavia just cried.
"Hey... Full Metal... If I'm going to die at least let me be comfortable. I wanna feel like I'm going to bed... In my own bed... Before all this bullshit happened" She rasped weakly. She was getting weaker and weaker with every passing sentence and Quill was surprised. Silverwing took a step, but Octavia stopped him, pulling his knife out of his sheath and glaring daggers at him. "Your not touching her till I say so you understand" She practically snarled. Silver just put his hands up and took a step back.
Octavia walked over to Vinyl Scratch and kneeled in front of her again. "Are... Are you sure you want it exactly like at home?" She asked. Vinyl tried to laugh but only coughed, a red splotch starting to form on the cloth. "I'm dying... What do I care about modesty? Get these horseapples off me. If I can have my PJ's... Then I ain't gonna wear anything" She gasped. Octavia nodded and bit her lip before bringing the knife down the front of Vinyls shirt.
Normally, Quill would look away. He was raised that it was wrong to look at a mare naked unless you were married, but right now it seemed different. It was like he was looking at Vinyl for the first time, and actually seeing at her. Seeing Vinyl as who she was. Quill saw her cutie mark clear as day, and was rather surprised by it. It was so simple... Two eighth notes. Something seemed weird about them... But he didn't pay that any mind. He remembered it so that he would always know who Vinyl was, and not just what she looked like.
Octavia picked the smaller mare up and walked over to the bed, placing Vinyl softly on it. She groaned, and Octavia rolled her onto her side and Vinyl seemed to relax. "So... Much... Better" She rasped, before rolling her eyes to try and see Tavi. "Sing me a lullaby would you?" She asked, sending Octavia into a fresh wave of tears. She was breaking. She walked over to Silver and thrusted the knife into his hands. "You make sure she doesn't realize a thing you understand me... I see even a little pain in her eyes I swear to Celestia I will kill you" She hissed.
Octavia turned back to Vinyl and sat down on the bed. Quill and Sweetie Belle moved to stand just a little way off from the bed, and Silver silently walked behind Vinyl. He took his helmet and mask off to let everyone see his face, and even he wasn't able to hold back his tears. There wasn't a dry eye in the room, and yet here Vinyl was smiling. He was always told strange things came over ponies when they died...
Octavia opened her mouth and closed it, biting her finger and shaking her head. "I don't know what to sing. I play the Cello... I don't sing" She whispered. Vinyl slumped visibly. "try... Voice... Beautiful". Quill was shocked. He still managed to get words out. Octavia opened her mouth again, but all that came out was a choked squeal and she clamped it shut again. She looked positively heart broken, and still she couldn't do this. Octavia was finally starting to fully crack. She was shaking and rocking back and forth, whimpering into her hands. She couldn't even look at Vinyl!
Good night my angel time to close, your eyes
And save these questions for another day.
I think I know what you've been asking, me
I think you know what I've been trying to say...
Sweetie Belle... With the most beautiful voice any of them had heard had started to sing. Everyone looked at her in total shock, causing Sweetie to fumble a bit and stop. Octavia stood up and looked at her, shaking her head. "Please don't stop..." She asked, moving to lay next to Vinyl. She looked the dying mare in the eyes and weakly smiled, still crying. Sweetie Belle nodded.
I promised I would never leave, you
And you should always know
Where ever you may go, no matter where you are
I never will be far... away
Sweetie Belle continued, singing the instrumental break. Octavia had pulled Vinyl into a lovers embrace, and Silverwing quitly wiped at his eyes. Even quill was silently crying, but he wasn't ashamed to let it show. Vinyl looked into Octavias eyes. and no matter how weak she was everyone knew she was not going to stop until the end.
Good Night my angel now it's time, to sleep
And still so many things I want, to say.
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an Emerald, bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep...
The water's dark and deep,
inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me
Again Sweetie Belle sang the Instrumental break, but this time it seemed oddly... final. Vinyl Scratch was getting weaker and weaker every second she tried to fight, and Silverwing knew this. Her legs started to shake, but Octavia made Vinyl keep looking her in the eye, stroking her blue mane and cooing too her softly. Silverwing leaned forward, and with only the slightest motion, ended Vinyls life. Not even Octavia realized this happened through her tear filled eyes.
Good night my angel now it's time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life, has been
Someday we'll all be gone, but lullabies go on and on
They never die, that's how you and I....
Will live....
Sweetie ended the song, and Octavia finally snapped. "Oh Vinyl I am so sorry!" She sobbed into the mares mane. "Why did I leave you... Why didn't I wait a little while to go and practice with that stupid fucking gun!" She cried. Silver walked over and grabbed her shoulders. "Come on... We have to go..." He said softly. Octavia didn't fight, but her eyes never left Vinyls motionless body. "Vinyl I am so sorry!" She yelled, collapsing at the door. Silver grabbed her around the waist, and Octavia weakly fought trying to go back into the room. Quill and Sweetie had already grabbed their stuff and were waiting outside.
"We have to get her out of her" Silver said, practically carrying the now uncontrollably sobbing mare. Quill nodded and took Sweetie Belle down the stairs, followed by Silver carrying Octavia bridal style with the mare weeping into his neck.
Silver carried Octavia to the next place they were going to hole up, with Quill and Sweetie Belle keeping an eye out. Quill had stayed behind for a few moment, and unloaded a full tube of Dragonbreath rounds into the house which had attracted a lot of the infected to the building. They seemed to like light it seemed, but that didn't matter. Vinyls last act was making it easier for them to live...
Even if it was for one more night.