//------------------------------//
// Part 5: Free is so Bucked 
// Story: Marepocalypse Now! 
// by Lethally Insane 
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Part 5: Free is so bucked.

Day Five

(Prospective: Free Writer)

I blinked open my eyes, midmorning sunlight was filtering through the few hole we hadn't patched in the lab. I got up from a cot we had set up from the supply closet. The Iron and the new guy were talking in near one of the lab benches, I decided to make myself of use and start the coffee. I went into Marmalade’s lab station and rummaged through it until I found the coffee beans. I found the old coffee machine we kept in the back for times like this.

The coffee machine was old, it broke about a week into regular use here. The heating pan had shorted out and since the budget was tight that month we had used a bunsen burner instead. The slag it produced was terrible, but it was the caffeine in it that mattered. I brewed myself a cup and went over to Iron and was it Page? Yeah. 

“Oh hey,” Page said. “ what’s up.”
“Not much.” I said, taking a gulp of the “coffee”.
“It that coffee?” he asked.
“Yeah.” I said.
“Lemme get some of that.” he said taking the cup.
“You might not like it.” I snickered.
“Relax.” he dismissed, knocking it back. “Ugh what is this? It tastes so bad.”
“Coffee brewed with a bunsen burner.” I answered. “What are you guys talking about anyways?”
“Page was telling me what’s going on in Manehattan.” Iron said.
“How are things going up there?” I asked.
“My bosses are went near crazy looking for me after I stayed past my off days.” He said.
“Yeah, they sent me to come find him.” Page said.
“Why did it take you so long?” I asked.
“Well,” he sighed. “ I got off at Canterlot, they closed the railways down here. Then, I walked all the way to the edge of Ponyville, only to be chased into the forest by a bunch of mares.”
“Yeah, we’re on our own out here.” I said.
“Actually, that brings up a good point.” Iron mused. “ I’m gonna need to borrow Free for a second Page.”
“Okay.” He said, turning to the lab stations. “ Can I touch any of these?”
“No.” I said walking away.

I sat down near the edge of the room. Iron slumped down next to me.

“So back in the house, Marmalade started to tell me something.” he began. “ He said something about you guys having a third lab partner.”
“Well yeah.” I shrugged. “ You know her. I kinda figured you already knew that she worked with us.”
“Wait I know her?” he asked.
“Yeah remember Sandy Storms?” I asked. “ she hung out with us in school for a bit?”
“No.” he groaned. “ I guess we’re getting older huh? I think I have too much stress to deal with up in Manehattan.”
“Fine.” I laughed. “ Sandy was placed on our research team a month after it was created. I hang out with her and Marmalade all the time. We do scrabble on Tuesdays. She usually stays after to clean up too.”
“Wow.” he said. “ Is she into you?”
“That’s the thing.” I huffed. “ I can’t tell. She hung out with us in school and works with me and I still can’t tell.”
“Why not.” he asked.
“It’s always been this way.” I rubbed my temples with the flats of my hooves. “ I’ve never been able to understand mares. Maybe that’s why I’m so paranoid about this time of year? Maybe it’s because I’m scared out of my wits because of either outcome.”
“What do you mean?” he asked. “ I don’t like this part of year just as much as you. What are you scared about anyway?”
“Well,” I breathed. “ I guess I’m just stressed. I mean, we’ve known each other as friends for two years. After she started working with us, I started to wonder if maybe she did. Then, then I think I started liking her. And it scared me out of my wits.”
“So you’re scared of romantic feelings.” he asked.
“It’s something I’ve always had trouble understanding them.” I said. “ Well, those and bee’s, I buckin hate bees.”
“Dude,” he laughed. “ bees really? They do a bunch of pollination and crap.”
“You’re scared of heights.” I shot back.
“There unnatural for earth ponies to like.” he said.
“Anyways,” I said. “ yes she was the only mare who could possibly figure out how to bring down the shield.”
“What about Princess Twilight.” he asked.
“She’s from Canterlot, and she’s an alicorn.” I said. “ I don’t think they are affected by it.”
“Good point.” he said.
“But it doesn’t matter anymore.” I groaned. “ This is all futile. I mean, this is going to be one of the next places that Sandy will check. I guess I finally got out foxed this year.”
“Well you went two years.” he pointed out.
“Wait, I can do something.” I said, an idea forming in my head. “ Yes, yes of course. I could at least get them out.”
“What?” Iron asked.
“I have to check on something, I’ll be back.” I said getting up.

I ran through the castle. Come on, I thought, central causeway, third hallway, fifth door on the right. The room itself was in shambles, but that wasn’t what mattered. On the left side of the room the wall was completely demolished, leading back into the everfree forest. We can go this way, I concluded.

I sprinted up to the lab.

“Somepony wake up Grassy.” I said.

“What’s up.” Page asked.
“They’ll be here soon.” I said grimly.
“Who?” he asked.
“Sandy and her posse.” I confirmed.
“What? she’s coming here?” Iron asked.
“Definitely,” I said. “ but I might be able to get you out.”
“Wait, wait one bucking second.” Grassy slurred from his cot. “ You’re phrasing, you make it seem like you won’t be leaving with us.”
“Well….” I sighed. “ I’m not. If I go with you than Sandy will just keep following. We can’t have that, now can we? Maybe if I stay, than at least you guys can escape.”
“No,” Iron said. “ there has to be a better way.”
“There isn’t I would be doing that right now if there was.” I laughed.
“Fine.” he said. “ We’ll meet up tomorrow at the trainstation.”
“I’ll see you there.” I said, hoof bumping him.

We walked to the room. Grassy was stumbling ahead of us, in a constant battle with gravity and the alcohol in his system.

“You should put as much distance between this place and you as fast as you can.” I suggested as they climbed down the rubble.

Then there was a whirring noise. Something shot from behind me and pulled Page back into the castle.

“Run!” I shouted as a magical glow enveloped me.

From its color I could tell whose it was.

“Hi Sandy.” I said through the aura.
“Hi Free.” she said, the lust practically dripping from her voice.
“Any chance I’m not going to get bucked?” I asked.
“Nope.” she chirped.
“Well, there goes two years of hiding.” I sighed.
“Thus, two years of searching finally pays off” she cooed.
“Wait you’ve been trying to buck me for two years?” I asked.
“Yeah, and now I finally caught you.” she laughed.
“Well, I guess you win.” I sighed. “ Oh well, I had a good run. I never imagined it would be you though.”
“Oh really.” she smirked, pulling me into a closet. “ Let’s see what you imagine after we’re done.”