//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 // Story: Metro 2033: A Stalker's Tale // by Hurgusburgus //------------------------------// “Alyona-” “Bourbon. Don't. I'm not in the mood for this.” “But-” “I will beat you into a coma with a chair if you don't screw off.” “Big words for a woman drunk off her ass. I'm betting that hangover is hitting you pretty badly right now.” “Rrrrrruuuuuu~” “Bourbon, I would like to have a word with her. In private.” “Okay, princess.” The footsteps receded, followed by the sound of a door being closed. Then, I heard the clip-clop of hooves as a certain white somepony trotted over to my side, where poor, unfortunate me was lying face-down in a bed. My right foot was wrapped in bandages and soaked with some sort of healing potion. But that wasn't really the point. The point was that I was alone in the same room with probably a thousand pounds of pony who had a pig-sticker for a horn. And I'd bedded her sister. Or her sister bedded me. Irrelevant, in any case. “Grrrhk. Just make it less painful than this hangover, princess.” “What? No, you've misunderstood the situation. I'm not angry with you in any way, Alyona. Merely surprised.” “Yes, well, when you're drunk, you do stupid things. Sleeping with your sister was definitely not on my agenda when I came to the castle.” “It may be a surprise to you, but me and my sister also are ponies, and we also have needs.” “Please don't tell me that means you want to have your way with me, too.” I groaned beleagueredly, fighting back the urge to vomit. “W-what? No! I just want to tell you that speaking to Luna about this would be prudent. It'd be unwise to simply attempt to forget about what happened last night.” “I wasn't planning on trying to bury this. I will talk to her once this fucking hangover ends.” Soon as I'd said that, an odd wave of coldness rushed through me. With a noise that could be best described as 'squick', the hangover vanished. “Luna will be along shortly. Once you've hashed things out with her, so to speak, please come and see me afterwards. I have something to tell you that you'll definitely want to hear. Just ask one of the guards outside and they'll lead you to my chambers.” “Okay. Can do.” With that, the hoofsteps retreated as Celestia left the room. A moment later, the door opened again, letting in another pony as I slowly sat up, tidying my hair a little as I did so. “Are... are you alright, Alyona?” Luna's quiet, cautious voice reached my ears. “I think I'll be fine. Just... bedding royalty isn't how I saw the Gala working out for me yesterday.” She let out a nervous chuckle at that. “My sentiments exactly.” She scuffed her hoof on the carpet quietly for a moment. “So, er... Where do we exactly stand now?” “I've no idea, honestly. I would attribute yesterday's events to alcohol, but honestly... I kinda enjoyed it.” I smirked for a moment as I stood up, looking at the alicorn. “Imagine the look on others' faces when I tell them my first time was with a freaking mythological creature.” “Oh. That'd explain the stains on the bedsheets.” Luna hummed thoughtfully. “The question still remains, however.” “Well, um... I'm not exactly relationship material, just so you know. Pretty much my entire life has been risking my well-being for the Metro's well-being. But I am kinda curious, now – curious enough to consider it.” “One step at a time, then?” Luna chuckled softly. “One step at a time. It'd suck if one of us messed something up in the future and we'd hate each other until kingdom come. But we can hash out the details later.” “We're agreed, then.” “Da.” I had a couple of ideas about what Celestia wanted to talk to me about – either we were stranded in Equestria, or she'd found a way back to Earth. As it turned out, she had the latter to offer to me and Bourbon. The good news, however, didn't help prevent a borderline heart attack that I suffered when I saw the means of returning to Earth. A goddamned Dark One that materialised from nowhere. Immediately, I grabbed for the gun that wasn't there. Wide-eyed, I turned to look at Celestia, whom began to explain the why and how of things. “Alyona, please remain calm. He is not an enemy, and neither is his kind. In fact, he has come asking for help. If you are willing to listen, I will explain what I was told.” My eyes never leaving the immobile mutant, I nodded once and the alicorn began to speak. And, well... it was one of the most far-fetched tales I'd ever heard – that the Dark Ones wanted to co-exist with the inhabitants of Metro. Due to their mutations, they were able to live on the Surface, but were left unable to use any pre-war technology or devices still intact. Oh, and get this – Artyom, the kid Bourbon had tagged along with before? He was responsible for letting the Dark Ones into the Metro, after travelling to the Botanical Gardens' station as a kid with two friends. He, according to the Dark One's testimony, had opened the hermetic door sealing the entrance, been attacked by Howlers and saved by several Dark Ones, who'd chosen him as some sort of ambassador between humans and their kind. And now, as he was travelling to Ostankino Tower to aid the Rangers in launching a number of nukes against the Dark Ones' home, they'd tried to show their pacifistic intentions through a number of visions, even going so far as aiding and protecting him on his journey. Unfortunately, he remained undeterred, though I could understand his motivation – the mere presence of a Dark One was enough to drive the average man insane with fear, which was why so many of Exhibition station's defenders had died. Thus, they had turned to less than conventional means to call for aid. Through means Celestia tried unsuccessfully to explain – several times, might I add – the Dark Ones had devised this plan. “Ask yourself, Alyona – what would you do in the Dark Ones' place? Would you not endeavour to secure peace between your people and theirs? Artyom does not seem to be willing to listen to the Dark Ones' pleas – you must convince him to spare them. The Dark Ones aren't evil.” If there ever was a situation that 'food for thought' was meant for, it was this one. I could feel both Celestia and the Dark One eyeing me silently. A long, tense minute later, however, they received an answer, though I felt that I would regret it in the future. “Fine. Tell me what to do.” “We will return you and Bourbon to Moscow, but you will have to hurry – time is of the essence.” “We won't be able to rush through the Surface like you want us to – we'd draw too much attention from the wildlife and we'd get bogged down fighting the bastards off.” “That's why Luna will be accompanying you.” “I'm sorry, what? I think I just heard you say-” “She is well-versed in the arts of war and will be of immense aid to you, even if you draw undue attention.” “Princess, can we go back to the part where you intend to send your sister into a desolate, toxic wasteland that she barely knows about?” “She most assuredly can take care of herself. Besides, I believe the two of you have some things to talk about.” “Yes, we agreed to resolve it later, but still! Do you have any idea how dangerous Moscow is?” At that, she turned quite serious. “I do. The Dark One here has confirmed what you told me. I could form a unit of the Royal Guard, but that'd take more time, not to take in the logistics in equation. With Luna, you gain a considerable force multiplier, and she can take you above areas that cannot otherwise be traversed, if teleportation is out of question. She is also well-versed in sword combat. Besides, I think it'll be a good bonding experience for you two.” She smirked innocently at that. I swear, she was doing that on purpose. At that point, I pretty much gave up. “Ladno. But if she comes home in a bloodied bodybag, don't blame me, because I freakin' warned you.” “I doubt that any harm will come to you with Luna accompanying you.” “Well, how is she going to keep herself safe from the toxic air? Bet you didn't think about that.” At that, she smirked, clacking her forehooves together before spreading them apart, a rainbow bridging the gap between them. “Magic.” I wish I could say I didn't storm out like a petulant child. But that'd be a lie. Bourbon chuckled as he slapped the mag back in its place in his Kalash. “You know, Alyona, I never saw myself doing anything like this. Guess it'll be a tale for the ages, huh?” “Guess so.” I responded as we went over our inventory. “I just hope we live long enough to hear said tale.” The door to the room opened and we turned to look at Luna, who arrived wearing a simple black cloak, and a longsword in a holster strapped to her right side. “Well, I'm ready. How about you two?” “Just about finished, princess.” Bourbon responded, packing up several odds and ends in his backpack before putting it on. “Let's be quick about it, though. These clothes are made to keep me warm, not cool. Before long, I'll be sweating like a pig.” “So, uh, you're just taking a cape and a sword with you?” I asked the alicorn, to which she chuckled in return. “I have spent a millennia on the moon during my banishment, without air or warmth. I dare say that your Moscow will be a mere nuisance in comparison, bloodthirsty animals or not. And before you ask, I am accompanying you of my own volition.” “Then what's your angle, Luna?” I turned to face the alicorn. “I know how it feels to be feared and misunderstood, and thus shunned for that. Before my fall as Nightmare Moon, ponies didn't trust me, despite the fact that I kept them safe from nightmares. I could tell you more, but that would have to wait until later. Time is of the essence.” We nodded and scooped up the last of our odds and ends, shoving them haphazardly in our backpacks before following the alicorn back to Celestia's quarters. Well, Luna teleported us to there and Bourbon ended up running face-first into a wall as a result. Celestia was waiting for us, as was the Dark One. It still managed to creep me out by just standing there, doing nothing but staring at me. “Are you ready to return to Moscow, then?” The alabaster alicorn asked. Bourbon and I nodded, and Celestia turned to look at Luna, but her sister answered before she had the chance to ask anything. “I am still determined to follow them, sister. Have faith in us. We will accomplish this.” Celestia nodded faintly at that, and turned to look at the Dark One, her horn lighting up as it sent out a pulsing orb of magic towards the mutant. The Dark One reached out, somehow... manipulating the magic Celestia was emanating. The orb grew darker and, well... edgier, I guess is a word for it. Seeing the mutant perform such an act was the very definition of unsettling. It soon resolved into a fuzzy view that I'd recognize in the dead of night – Moscow. Bone-gnawing chill began to creep from the portal, causing both me and Bourbon to put our gasmasks on. And just in time, too, as cold winds began to hatefully howl through the opening, snowflakes whirling about. Without hesitation, the three of us went through, into the eternal gloom of Moscow. The next couple of hours would be forever remembered in history. But you'll have to wait until the next chapter. Because the author is a lazy and unimaginative slob. How old are you, some kinda starfish?