//------------------------------// // Day 1 - For Daddy Star Breaker // Story: Utopia // by Enraged Earnest //------------------------------// September 22nd, 2010. Better known as doomsday really. That is when Eqestria's end began. I was only ten years old at the time, living with my family of course. I lived in a small house in Ponyville, with my fatass lazy mother, my 2 brothers, one older and one younger, and my brave father. We were a lower class family, the kind of family that was first to go on doomsday. Salvation was reserved to those who were rich, or those with the incredible will to survive. Being rich was much simpler. Anyways, nopony really knows why or how this all started, but we do know that it It all began to spread because of some careless ponies, ones that were too lazy to run from the Zomponies. Those ponies got bit, turned, and then they set out to turn others into Zomponies. It's so simple, yet such a deadly cycle. It wouldn't be until a few years later to where the virus would grow airborne. That day ended, and the only one out of our family to survive besides myself (That I know of for sure.) was my father. For the first five years of the apocalypse, he raised me to be a warrior, a different one than he was too. You see, unlike him, he was trained pre-doomsday, many years before the first bite. Me however? I was raised to show no mercy, in a world that would give me none in return. Therefore, that's what I did. For five years, he raised me to be like this. At age 15, I began to forget my magical abilities all together, only retaining the ability to levitate small objects. I became a killer, efficient with most weapons. When my father died, I continued my training alone. At 17, I had heard something through the grapevine. It turns out that patient zero, the infected Zompony who started this all, still lives in Ponyville after all this time. Rumor has it that when this pony is killed, all of the other Zomponies will die along with him or her. And since Zomponies cannot die of old age, I'll have to kill it myself. However, with age comes wisdom. This does not exclude Zomponies. Strength also comes with age as well as a few other powers. At last, I have grown to full stallionhood. I am now age eighteen, with eight years of intense training under my belt. I'm confident that I can kill this pony, and end this nightmare once and for all. I pray that Celestia is watching over me. I will avenge my father. This I know for sure! Day 1 - For Daddy Star Breaker 0900 hours South of Old Ponyville. I never wanted to come back here. Ever. But I had no choice. Patient Zero is somewhere within these makeshift walls and barricades that was once a settlement before it was overrun by Raiders and Zomponies. Some minor gangs of Raiders may still be hanging around, but if they stand in my way, they will be dealt with, severely. Ignoring the disgusting smell of rotting flesh, I walked slowly through the busted down gate, broadsword drawn. No Zomponies could be seen, but I could just smell them. Either their own smell or the smell of their dinner lingered. I don't like this. I've heard through the settlements of Las Pegasus, the last settlement I was at a few weeks ago, that Old Ponyville is extremely dangerous, due to it's high amount of Raider activity and it's mysterious zombie rumors. Those that brave to scavenge this area say that Zomponies are the strongest from here. With the exception of patient zero, I think that's ridiculous. Carefully, I braved through the smell, inching closer and closer to this really big hill. It was clear with every step I took up it that this was the lesser part of Ponyville. There were only a hoof full of houses here and there, and they were almost always spread apart a good distance, more than the average Ponyville house was. The houses only made me raise my guard. The windows were borded and the door shut. I could hear noises coming from the biggest house. I could hear no mindless growls or intelligent talking, so that means inside could be either Raiders or Zomponies. This made me nervous. I could feel some of my mane hairs stand on end. Keeping that in the back of my mind, I climbed the hill, which seemed to be getting steeper and more narrow. It finally crested off into a cliff on the top. When I reached the top, I had a very beautiful view... of decayed society all around me. From left to right, I saw what was once farmland for the once prosperous Sweet Apple Acres. My old schoolhouse where Cheerilee used to teach me and my classmates. I could see town hall, the old Carousel Boutique, even Twilight Sparkle's library! It all started to come back to me. Unfortunately the sweet memories would have to wait. Behind me, I could hear hoofsteps and evil laughter. Quickly, I turned around. "Heh heh heh..." Cackled a female raider. "Check it out boys!" Celestia damnit! They would be raiders too, instead of the common infected! Three of them were all dressed in makeshift armor. 2 were stallions, the other was a mare. Their armor was made out of random pieces of metal. Sheet metal, wire, springs, spikes. All sorts of things. All three had menacing looks aimed right at me, looks to kill too. Maybe even worse... The other one however, I could easily tell was a slave. I grimaced at the poor mare, not because of her status, but because of the sick sorry flank ponies that gave her said status. She's probably for those Raiders that get lonely at night, if you know what I mean. However, she looked scared and confused, meaning that she must be a brand new slave. Maybe they haven't broken her in then. They won't get the chance on my watch. The stallion on the very right was holding the reins on the unicorn that was enslaved. I began to back away, as they grew closer. The one holding the reins of the unicorn stood back towards a tree. "Whatd'ya think boss?" Asks the girl. "A nice young stallion? Ooohh. He's cute. We could use another boy toy." "B-boy toy?" I muttered, as one of my back hoofs fell off of the cliff that I was backed into. "No. We have enough slaves to feed and care for." He said. "This one will either join us or die. He looks strong. He may be of great use to us, the Steel Feathers." My face flustered with anger. "How about I do neither of those things?" I suggested, knowing what response I would get. The 2 raiders drew their weapons from their backs. The female had a machete, covered in dry blood, the male had a club with a nail through it. All I had was my dull and rusted sword. "You don't have a choice, now do you?" Said the leader, holding the club's pointy thing to my temple. I dropped my rusted sword. "No... I do not." I said, as they grabbed me by my front hoofs and yanking me towards the slave. They threw me in the dust, right next to her. She shared a worry glance. Then, they instructed me to stand still. Quickly, they threw a rope around my neck. "We could use a strong back like you, you know?" He said as he began to put a bit in my mouth. While the stallion did that, the mare looked on top of the hill where I stood not even three minutes ago. The sick pervert holding the reins on the unicorn mare couldn't stop staring at her to save his life so, I figured it was time for some action. I gripped the bit as hard as I could, as adrenaline flowed through my body. I attacked, with all that I could, tackling the leader that was trying to turn me into one of them. The other 2 reacted and started to charge over to help his friend, however, the mare's life was cut short when I stabbed her through the neck with my horn. Jerking away from her, I went for the other stallion, who picked up the mare's machete. He swung it horizontally at me, causing it to bite into my fur, leaving a very large cut down my front right leg. I was not too happy. I bucked him back, making him accidentally fall into the slave. My attention was now on the leader, who was on the ground. I spit my bit at him, noting the teeth marks that I compressed into the metal. "On your hoofs..." I demanded, not daring to take my eyes off of him for a second. In my enraged fighting state, I couldn't hear the moaning and growling that came from behind me, right next to the raider and the slave. Just as I was about to attack the leader, I could hear the sound of flesh tearing from bone, a sound that we were all familiar with. Both the leader and I looked over to the Raider. A typical Zompony had just taken a fresh bite out of his flank, right when he wasn't looking. He had a perfect bite mark, just several inches from his tail. As the pegasi Zompony just sat there and munched, the Raider fell into a shocked state as blood flowed down his flank and legs. The pain had to have been severe. The rather subtle Zompony began to bend it's neck down to sniff the liquid they treasured. The slave almost grew as afraid as the Zompony victim did. "Aaaaahhhh!!!" She screamed, while desperately trying to get away from it. Although the bitten Raider dropped to the ground, he still clung to the slaves rein as if the Raider boss was whipping him right then and there. The slave desperately pulled at the ground, trying to get away as the Zombie now had smelled her fear. I had to act. "Hold on!" I cried to her, getting up and running from the leading Raider. Unfortunately, he had other plans on me. Before I knew it, I was seeing stars. That goddamn raider conked me on the head! Luckily, the spike missed my temple, but the blunt end of the club definitely struck, causing me to fall on the ground, blind. I began to have a small panic attack. I just knew that the Raider was going to hit me again, only this time, he wouldn't let the spike miss my head. Thankfully, my vision returned faster than I thought it was, although it was very blurry. "Stupid wastlander!" He said, swinging the club like a maniac towards me. "You'll pay!!! TAKE THIS!!!" He swung the club upwards, swinging it quite skillfully! Damn, I wish I wouldn't have dropped my sword. I could hear the Zompony from earlier, and the girl screaming to get away from it. The attack made me back up. Clumsily, I lost my balance, and that's when it happened... When I regained my footing with my already sliced open leg, the bastard smashed into it hard, nail and all. I could hear a crack, and could feel my leg painfully snap inwards. "AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" I screamed louder than the Zompony food by the slave. The pain was excruciating, but that wasn't the worst part. The slave was now doomed to die now that I could not get to her, and likely, so was I. I could not move. All I could do was suffer on the ground in pain. Father, I have failed. But just when I thought it was all over, it wasn't... The barbaric raider brought his club up to another swing after putting the bloody spike to my head. I closed my eyes, waiting for the impact, but it never came. Instead, I heard a hoof strike against the raider's head, then what sounded like his body smacking against the tree by the slave. Not even five seconds later, I remember hearing that Zompony scream, before it's head was smashed in. It grew eerily quiet. All I could hear now was the shaky breath of the female. I got up off the ground, barely limping on three very tired and sore hoofs. I looked around, wondering just what the hell saved my life. I saw nopony anywhere. The leader of the raiders was nearly unconscious, but he was still breathing. His friend was slowly being turned into one of them. Looking into their eyes got me furious. "Stupid bastard!" Was the last thing both of them heard before I smashed their heads in with 2 hoofs, one broken and bleeding, the other simply sore. Blood stained my black fur. My breathing was very heavy now. Too heavy! I turned my head to see the young white unicorn mare look at me in fear. I watched the male release her reins as life slowly left his body. "Are you okay?" I asked her, while being careful to pick her up without me falling to the ground. She looked at me with a devious smile. "I am now, thanks to you, stud." I couldn't help but blush as I began to grab at the bit in her mouth. However, she stood up too fast. She begin to eye me and circle around me, making me feel very uncomfortable. For anypony else, this mare would definitely turn on the average stallion, especially with her very revealing and kinky clothing on, most likely given to her by raiders. She looked like an angel, in all honesty with her snow white fur and her lavender and light pink mane. She had one of those little saddles on too, as well as that bit that's still in her mouth, despite her old master being dead. She also had socks up the majority of her legs. They were only 2 different colors, but both of them matched her colors perfectly. She had a dark pink heart with an arrow straight through it as a cutie mark. Out of nervousness, I pulled out my pack of cigarettes. Only four left, but that's okay for now. I took it, put it in my mouth and lit it. Then, I put the pack back in my bag. "So cutie," She began. "What's your name?" I took a drag and shook my head. "Stardust." I told her plainly, not wanting to even hear her name. But she said it anyway... "I'm Sweetie Belle." She tells me. "Thank you very much for saving my life, sweetness! It was very brave of you to do so." That reminded me, I didn't save her life! I should be dead right now. Someone saved both of our lives. Before I could ponder the idea any more this... "Sweetie Belle" tugged on the base of my tail with her mouth. "Is there any way I can repay such a handsome gentleman such as yourself?" She asked, winking at me. "Yes. Stay the hell away from raiders. You'll keep your virginity a bit longer that way." I told her, as I began to walk away. She didn't like that. "Wh-wh-wait! You don't want me to do anything for you? Or to you?" I grew disgusted at her behavior. "Were you a whore before the raiders got a hold of you or something?!" I tried to make it sting, but it failed. "No." She told me in a less energetic tone. "I just like a stallion's company, that's all." I smiled deviously at her. "Well, you and me both." I told her. "But that's beside the point..." "Let me come with you!" She begged, grabbing at me again. "I promise I'll be a good girl." "No chance!" I yelled. "I travel alone. Always have. Got it?" "B-bb-bu..." she began to stutter. "Nonsense you 2!" A mysterious voice with a slightly southern accent yelled to us. "I'll need you both, you know... Stardust? Judging by the condition of your front leg, I think you're going to need a mare who knows how to stitch that up before you get infected. Sweetie Belle is that mare." The voice referring to us called from the hill that I was once standing on before I was attacked. It was a female for sure, but I was more concerned with how she knew my name. She wore a burlap hood over her face. Her fur was a dark and old looking orange color. Her main and tail were a very faint blonde color. Bangs loosely covered her unknown color of eyes when she turned to face us. "Hey! How do you know who I am?!" I shouted at her. Then, the pony swiftly made her way off the hill and to Sweetie Belle and I. "Well! Hmph! You're welcome!" She said, tapping me on the nose. "I didn't have to save your lives you know..." So, it was her who saved us? As much as I hate to admit it, I'm very glad that she did. I still have a mission, one that I don't plan on failing. "Huh, I would have figured something out." I told her, while looking away. "I know who you are..." She began by gently grabbing my broken leg. "...because I know what you are trying to do." This was surprising. None of this made any sense. The only pony I had ever told I was going to kill patient zero was my own father! And that was only days before he died. Never the less, I disregarded it. "Really? So you know why I'm here?" She nods. "You also know why I cannot be wasting any more time with you girls!" I told them, as I yanked my broken hoof away. "Good day to... raagghhh!!!" In my speech, I completely forgot that my leg was broken. Quickly, I collapsed to the ground, only for the other 2 girls to pick me up. "Don't be a fool..." Said the mystery mare. "Going after patient zero, the strongest and oldest Zompony of them all with a broken front right leg and without any armor or a weapon? That's suicide!" Again, I hated to admit it, but she was absolutely correct. I was too busy trying to get the hell away from these ponies to realize that. Father would be ashamed. He always said that I was headstrong. I think he's right. "Who... who are you?" I asked, while holding back cries of pain. She smiled under that hood of hers. "I... am the Mastermind. I was once called something else, but you may refer to me as the Mastermind." Sweetie Belle looked to me. Her eyes said, "What the hell is with this basket case?" I mentally agreed with her, as I allowed the Mastermind to continue. "You see, Star Dust, we share a common goal you and I." She mentioned. "What?! How!" I said, angrily, the pain of my leg starting to get to me. "We both want what's best for the majority of ponykind, do we not?" She began. "You think it's best that you kill patient zero." She stopped to take a deep breath. Then exhaled. I blew my smoke away from the girls, and then threw my cigarette away. "I, however, think that creating a place where everypony can survive together is a better idea." She stated. "You mean like a settlement?" Sweetie Belle added. "But there is only a million of those out in Equestria." "Ah, ah, ah. Those are not settlements, those are mere places where ponies squabble to find a place to sleep, or some food and water." She said, making sure to emphasize that a mere settlement is not what she had in mind. "Listen. Those settlements are missing something that I have plenty of." She said, twisting a rock in her hoofs. "Do you know what that is?" "Basic necessities?" Answered Sweetie. "A decent place to have one?" I answered. "Wrong." She told us. "Leadership. You 2 should consider yourselves very lucky! Join me! Together, we can create a place where our children can grow safely, without having to worry about what's outside. We can create a place where we can not only survive, we can live. We can create... a utopia!" A utopia? The perfect society? Was there even one of those before the apocalypse? Hell, I can't remember, but the idea sounds crazy! I had so many questions. "Where would this, 'utopia' even be at, Mastermind?" I asked her. "Right here! In Ponyville!" She said as if that could be done overnight. "But... you don't understand, raiders come here constantly!" Sweetie Belle mentioned. "That's how I was captured!" "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but this WILL work, as long as I have your loyalty to the end." She said with hope compacted into her words. "Don't you see? This is the start of peace! Together, we will build a city where supplies are shared for all, where a pony can rest without having to be concerned if their brains are going to be consumed. I can't do it alone you know..." "I... I just don't understand." I began. "You're going to create a town with only three ponies?" "Oh no no no no." She said, shaking her head rapidly at me. "This will be as big as canterlot in the future! Just you wait!" "Where would we even begin to build at?" Asked Sweetie Belle. "There is a circular building, one where clothing used to be created." Said the Mastermind. "WAIT!!! You're talking about The Carousel Boutique, aren't you? I used to live there!" Said a cheery Sweetie Belle. "Hmmm, the round building would provide a great 360 degree view..." Said my father in me out loud. "So, I need to know right now if you 2 are with me..." She said, holding out her hoof in between us three. Quickly, Sweetie Belle took it. No questions asked. I, however, had to think about it. Is there a downside to this? Creating a peaceful establishment in the very middle of the wasteland would make us a great target, but also many ponies would happen by us too! Can she do this? Can she really create a utopia? This, "Mastermind"? I came to a conclusion. "I... will help you." I told her, as I began to put my hoof in. "If, and only if..." "Yes?" Asked the Mastermind. "I can still continue my mission of killing patient zero." I said blandly as I smacked my hoof into the middle of theirs. She nodded yes, Sweetie Belle cheered loudly, and I wondered just what in the hell I have gotten myself into.