Missteps
The three creatures that had escaped Twilight were a breed apart from their fellow captives. On their homeworld, they had been the apex predators through their cunning and adaptability. When they’d run from Twilight, they’d gotten deep into the woods and then quickly climbed the trees, held their breath and waited. They were even able to slow their heartbeats, so there had been nothing to give away their hiding place. If those creatures had looked up, they would have seen them, but after a few moments of searching they’d turned away.
The leader waited another half-hour, and then signaled his companions to climb down. They then had an immediate conference for their next move. That purple one with the horn and wings was the greatest threat, so it somehow had to be eliminated. Direct confrontation was out of the question, as it had an energy weapon that could kill from a distance. But they all had its scent and could sense from great distances. They’d wait until the cover of darkness and track the purple beast to its lair. It had to sleep sometime.
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Roseluck slowly opened her eyes and stared down. She was being dragged away by one of those monsters that had attacked the hospital. Her limbs felt numb, and she could feel herself bleeding around the fangs of the creature that held her in its mouth. Fear flooded through her, but she couldn’t have moved if she’d tried, so she remained perfectly still. All she remembered was everything going black as it had attacked her, then waking up now. She cut her eyes to the right. She could see another pony being dragged, but she didn’t remember her name. And she was glad she didn’t know her, for the other pony’s eyes were open and staring and her mouth hung slack. Roseluck shut her eyes tight and prayed.
Now they had stopped, and the beast opened its jaws and let her fall. She thought about all the things she’d never get to do as her life passed before her. She knew she wasn’t brave and all her fears had come down to this moment. If only she’d fought back! If only she hadn’t fainted and at least ran, maybe she wouldn’t about to become a meal for these nightmares! All she could do now was face her death with some semblance of dignity, so she opened her eyes one last time. Both creatures had their backs to her and were starting in on the other pony. They were hideous, resembling some kind of bear but with scales and spikes instead of fur. She closed her eyes again, but couldn’t block out the sounds of ripping and tearing.
Then hope dawned inside her. Maybe, just maybe while they were occupied, she could slip away and then run. She tried to will her limbs to move, but could only manage the barest twitch. She involuntarily let out a sob as she struggled to get to her hooves. Move, pony! This is it, move! But her sob caught the attention of the monsters. They both turned and gazed at her with blood dripping from their maws. They approached her, fangs and claws at the ready.
Tears filled her eyes as she shut them tight again and begged, “P-Please…please don’t eat me!”
Then she heard a hiss come from behind her. Another creature must have been drawn by the scent of blood. As she kept her eyes tightly closed, she heard the first two growl uncertainly. Then, when a few moments passed and nothing else happened, she slowly opened her eyes. She couldn’t believe what she saw. Both beasts had turned to stone with looks of surprise frozen on their faces. She finally managed to turn her head and stare over her shoulder. A strange beast that looked like a cross between a chicken and a winged serpent stood there staring back at her. She had just enough time to think a cockatrice? before she herself became stone.
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Captain Nightfang knew something was wrong the moment he heard a twig snap in an area currently clear of his Guards. He turned his ears in that direction and listened. Something was approaching from behind him, making its way to his prisoners. He opened his mouth as if he were yawning, but sent out the subsonic alert signal to his bat ponies. He then slowly, casually turned to face whatever it was. Sending out his echolocation, he detected five invisible creatures that had now stopped and he could feel their eyes upon him. Then all hell broke loose.
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Saacs froze when the creature guarding the Antashi slowly turned and faced them. It had to be a coincidence it looking in their direction, for their cloaking armor made them and their weapons invisible. Then the creature pointed directly at them and shouted commands to its troops, removing all doubt.
“Fire!” cried Saacs, as they unleashed their energy weapons at the creatures. They managed to down several of them before the creatures retaliated with some sort of sonic attack that caused he and his team to fall to their knees and clutch their helmets. The pain was unbearable!
They were quickly surrounded and only their armor saved them for now, as the creatures used their primitive lances to strike them again and again.
“Fall back, fall back!” cried Saacs, but it was too late.
Stealth was their armor’s main component, so they weren’t designed to long withstand the type of punishment the creature’s weapons were unleashing. And their helmets did nothing to stop the sonic attack.
To his left he saw Arksin get hit with several thrown lances, which his armor withstood but the damage caused his cloak to fail, further exposing him to direct assault. Arksin cursed and quickly set his weapon to wide dispersal, but got off only one shot before he was brought down. Saacs turned and fired at the creature that was just about to stab Arksin through his helmet with its lance, a blow that would have killed him. Before he could fire again he was knocked over and his weapon was almost thrown out of his grasp.
He quickly gripped it and took aim, but he was then pinned to his stomach. He heard one of the creatures give a command and the ones holding him held off their attack. Still, he fought his weapon clear and fired. That was a mistake. The weapon’s discharge clearly showed its location, so it was knocked from his hand and his arm was stomped into the ground with such force it was shattered. Now damaged, his armor’s cloak fizzled and went out. He cried out in pain when his arm was crushed, but then behind him he clearly heard one of his team had changed the setting on his weapon and was now shooting to kill.
“No! Stand down! Stand down, they’ll kill you!” he shouted.
He heard several more discharges and screams from the creatures before they unleashed their sonic attack again. There was a single cry of great pain, and then he heard several metallic thuds as the creatures attacked. Then all was silence.
Saacs looked around as well as he could from the ground. He was surrounded by the creatures and all were glaring at him. Then their group parted, and the leader strode forward. It was limping on one side where the stun shot had grazed it, but it looked otherwise unaffected.
“Bring him to his knees,” said the leader.
The creatures forced him up to face it. Saacs clutched at his destroyed arm, clenched his teeth and looked around. All of his team were down, with lances that had been forced through their helmets.
“Jacco? Arksin? My team…”
“Good, you can communicate,” said the leader. At the creature’s words Saacs turned back to face it. It nodded in the fallen Hkari’s direction and grimly smiled. “They’re all dead.”
Saacs stared at the creature and felt such hatred boil inside him that for a moment it eclipsed the agony.
He shut his eyes and focused past the pain. “My…my Captain will…rescue me, beast,” he managed. “You…you will all…pay…for this!”
The creature shook its head. “I doubt that. My name is Captain Nightfang, not ‘beast’. You are only alive because I want answers: what are you, and why did you attack us?”
“I…am Security Chief Saacs, of…of the Hkari, beast.” He bit down on his lip as a wave of agony hit him. “We…we were sent to…to rescue those Antashi you captured.”
Nightfang looked behind him. “So that’s what they’re called.” He faced Saacs again. “They have committed several crimes on this world and will stand trial. It appears you will as well, if you don’t give me an excuse to kill you right now.”
Saacs’ head was now spinning as he fought to remain conscious, but he went through his options. His communicator was on his belt, but on his right side, out of reach of his uninjured arm. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his weapon lying a few feet away. He’d never make it to it before they brought him down, he knew. He looked again at his slain crew and a wave of guilt ran through him. There was nothing else to be done.
“I…need…medical attention. Just…just let me contact my ship.”
Nightfang turned and pointed at the bodies of his own slain troops. They had been torn apart by the Hkari weapon and they lay there still smoking.
“Not a chance.” He spoke to his Guards. “Search him.”
Saacs found himself thrown to the ground again and roughly searched. He ground his teeth as his arm came in contact with the earth and the agony shot through him, but he refused to give them the satisfaction of hearing him cry out. Anything that could be pried loose was taken from him and he knew that included his communicator. One thought sustained him: the Diligence had been monitoring their lifesigns and had probably sent another shuttle already. This was his last thought before he spiraled down into darkness.
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Science Officer Chapel stared at her monitor, then slowly faced her Captain.
“Confirmed, Sir. I detected weapons fire, then all lifesigns except Saacs’ went offline.”
The Captain slammed his fist down on his chair. “I told them not to engage! What was Saacs thinking?! What’s his condition?”
“He has sustained a broken arm and he has lost consciousness, but his other lifesigns are stable. The shuttle is still locked on him and transmitting his signal, but if he goes out of the shuttle’s range the planet’s atmosphere will interfere with the transmission and we’ll lose him. Respectfully suggest we mount a rescue effort before that happens.”
The Captain shook his head. “Enough damage has already been done. First by the Antashi, now by us.” He put his head in his hands, then spoke again.
“Prepare my personal shuttle. I must find this planet’s leader, then speak to them directly.”
The crew turned as one and looked at him. The Captain glanced up.
“What are you all staring at? I gave a direct order!”
Each crew member turned back to his or her station as activity resumed.
Lieutenant Chapel cleared her throat. “Permission to speak freely, Sir?”
The Captain shook his head. “Not here. Follow me.” He got up and made his way to the conference room just off the bridge as his Science Officer followed him. Once the doors closed he spun about and said, “I know what you’re going to say…that this is foolish and suicidal.”
“No, Sir…I was going to say you shouldn’t go alone.”
“Are you volunteering, Lieutenant? This could indeed be a one-way trip. If they weren’t hostile before, they most certainly are now.”
“I realize that, Sir. Which is why you need a team to go with you to show strength on our side.”
He shook his head again. “That’s the last thing we need now. We were not supposed to be on this planet, but we're in too deep to turn back now. We need to show we’re peaceful if we’re to get Saacs back, let alone those Antashi. Permission denied.”
The Lieutenant stepped back and nodded. The Captain smiled grimly. “I know you’ve always wanted command, Chapel. You’ll be in charge until I get back.”
He held up his hand before she could speak and said, “If I don’t make it back, contact the Stellar Authorities and give them a complete report. Do. NOT. Come after me. Saacs could not follow orders. Can you?”
Chapel stood at attention and saluted. “Always, Sir.”
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Some of the creatures preferred to hunt alone and some only sought specific prey. One of these was the Prrl, a beast that was able to blend into shadows and alter its skin to match its surroundings. Long and lithe, resembling a cross between a huge rat and a python, it had quickly separated itself from the large group. Once released from the ship, it had melted into the shadows and sought its preferred prey, the young of any species.
The Prrl had watched from the cover of trees when those two creatures had been taken down in the woods by these native beings. The big white one had particularly earned its respect, as it had killed without teeth or claws. That one would bear watching. The Prrl had followed from a distance and watched again as the group had entered a dwelling in the midst of fruit trees and came out with a large red being. It could smell the red one’s blood from its hiding place, which made its stomach growl. As it watched, a small one came out with the others and the Prrl paid close attention. It knew it could never catch it, not with all those others in the way. There had to be easier prey close by. Then the wind shifted, bringing with it the scent of many, many creatures like the ones before it.
Enough time had been spent here. It was time to resume the hunt.
It slipped from the trees and followed the scent. Soon, it found itself in the streets and alleyways of these beings’ dwellings. There were plenty of young ones here. Now all it had to do was find one alone.
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Even ponies that had not been at the hospital knew something very wrong was going on, for the sun was still up during the time it should have fallen a few hours ago. Word soon spread about the hospital incident, which compelled more than a few to shut themselves inside their dwellings. Others milled about, sharing their fears with each other and trying to understand their situation.
On the outskirts of town, in the poorer section, a certain crossed eyed pegasus was one of those who shut herself in with her foal. For her daughter’s sake, Derpy did her best to put on a brave face, but inside she was close to panicking as the unnatural afternoon wore on.
Dinky’s concern had been growing as she watched her mother go through their small house and check and recheck the doors and the windows, so finally she asked, “Mommy, is something wrong?”
“No, sweetie, everything’s fine. Mommy’s just making sure all the doors and windows are locked.”
“But why, Mommy? You look scared.”
Derpy felt her own face. “Do I? Mommy’s just a little nervous. I’ve never seen the sun stay up this long.”
“Did something happen to Princess Celestia? Is that why the sun is still up?”
“I don’t know, baby, but I do know that’s enough questions. Brush your teeth and go to bed.”
“But why?”
Derpy felt her patience slipping, so she spoke sharper than she intended.
“Dinky! Upstairs to bed! Now!”
Dinky burst into tears and ran up the stairs.
“Mommy’s sorry, Dinky!” she called, but all she heard was the bedroom door slam.
Derpy sighed. She very rarely lost her temper with her daughter and her yelling had only added to the uneasiness of this overlong day. She had to make it up to her. But how?
Derpy sat and thought. Maybe…maybe if she made her a snack? Something that wouldn’t take too long, but something she’d enjoy. Then it came to her: cookies! Dinky always loved cookies!
Filled with this new idea, she trotted up the stairs and knocked on her daughter’s door.
“Dinky? It’s Mommy. Would…would you like to help me make some cookies?”
Silence.
“Dinky?”
Finally there was a noise of something being pushed against the door.
“Go away!”
“Dinky…Mommy’s really, really sorry she yelled at you. Won’t you please come out?”
“Go away!”
Derpy sighed and descended the stairs. Maybe the smell of the cookies would help draw her daughter out. She went into the kitchen and got started.
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Princess Luna first stopped at the Apple Farm in search of her sister and the others. Fear shot through her when she saw the broken windows, which only increased as she went inside and saw the blood staining the floor. She inhaled deeply. She could just barely catch the scent of something unnatural in the farm house. Those creatures have been here.
Quickly exiting the home, she immediately made her way to Ponyville Hospital. Behind her, four-pony teams of Guards were scouring the Everfree, but if the scene at the farm was any indication, Luna knew she’d have to direct them to search the town as well. But first she must find her sister.
She landed in front of the hospital and saw the broken front doors. Through them she could see many ponies running about. Outside, off to one side, lay the body of one of those beasts. She could see its head had been crushed, but she wondered how many ponies it had injured or worse before it had been taken down. The same two of her Guards remained placed out front. They both bowed when she strode up to them.
“Corporal Sable. Private Nocturne. What has happened here?”
Sable quickly recounted all that had befallen them. When she had finished, Luna closed her eyes and said under her breath, “Will this nightmare never end?”
____________________________________________________________________________________
Derpy put the finishing touches on her baked goods. Much to her disappointment, the smell hadn’t coaxed her daughter from her room, so it was time for a little more persuasion. She carefully set the cookies on a plate, picked it up and took them upstairs. She knocked on the door.
“Dinnnnky…” she sing-songed. “Mommy’s got cooookies!”
There was no answer. Derpy set the plate down and knocked harder. Enough was enough.
Keeping her voice even she said, “Dinky. Open this door. Now.”
Still no answer.
“Alright, I’m coming in, young filly!” Derpy set her shoulder to the door and pushed. She could immediately tell something was wrong once she crossed the threshold. “Dinky?” She wasn’t on the bed or at her desk. Derpy ran in and looked under the bed, then in the closet, all the time saying, “no, no, no!”
Her heart started pounding when she saw the window was open. She ran to it, looked outside and screamed.
“Dinky!”
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I'm afraid this has gone from an intriguing and suspenseful HiE to a grueling horror-fest. Not to mention, it seems you've abandoned the original plot thread in favor of ponies getting violently slaughtered by obscure aliens. In other words, what made this story interesting before isn't even here now.
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6650290
Please be patient; I promise it gets better!
6650307okay I will be patient
6650100
Yes. I got that that too.
I think it's time to call it a day here.
Looks like the mulch has just started to have its long anticipated inelastic encounter with the pneumatic impeller
6651452
s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d0/63/95/d063957a0fd768f266e34fe45a764c38.jpg
Likes now equal 100 enjoy
6650319
Thank you, I appreciate that!
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6653703
I see what you did there...
6653930
MUCH appreciated!
6676288
Thank you for your interest in my dark tale, and I appreciate all your comments. Please continue.
Well your writing is pretty good, so I'm still reading, though like I said before, not a big fan of these aliens.
6693599
Thank you for that, and I hope you do continue reading. And no, none of the aliens are very likable at this point.
6692980
I'm not sure I understand your question.
I mean... at least she's not slowly dying anymore...?
I seriously hope he can.
If you kill Dinky I swear to god