A genetically altered soldier in the near future is sent for court matial when he kills his handlers a plane crash changes his life forever
When humanity opens Pandoras box on genetic engineering to rid the world of a cataclysmic plague. They had no idea it eventually would lead to the mass extinction of mankind and left behind the seeds of destruction for a species that inherited the Earth after the last of our people died out.
When the plague known as PAX-12 went from a local outbreak in Europe in 2035 to a full blown global pandemic people began to lose hope as millions died from internal bleeding. In only a few months after its discovery it had already killed 3.5 billion people worldwide. The worlds best scientists took drastic measures and removed any safeguards and regulations on medical research to find a cure.
The United States was the best chance for humanity as their top scientists and doctors were working diligently on a project known as Genesis I to manipulate human DNA to hard wire an immunity. It was only months later they had mapped out the entire human genome and made the breakthrough the world had been yearning for. The cure they labored so tirelessly over was available worldwide in days and within a couple of weeks the disease was all but eradicated.
Soon after the United States realized that this power in the wrong hands would be worse than any plague that mother nature could conjure and ordered the complete destruction of all the research labs that took part in the discovery nationwide. The scientists that worked on the project rioted and were enraged to see their work tossed away like garbage and set out for the remote regions of the world to perfect the art of creation of life.
They found refuge in Russia were they were welcomed with open arms by the highest tiers of their government and given access to unlimited funding to continue their work in secret. Their experiments focused on creating cloned human beings with god like abilities. They had the knowledge and many different strains of DNA available to begin harvesting human embryos from women volunteers all over Russia and splicing the new DNA material within them.
Out of the 100 women who volunteered and were inseminated with the modified embryos only 5 of the fetuses survived incubation and birth. I was one of three males and two females that survived these madmen playing god. We were deemed property of the state and taken away from our birth mothers at the age of seven and sent to various military academies to be trained by the countrys top advisers.
The other childrens talents was apparent immediately through either through incredible strength or unprecedented reflexes and agility and received specialized training to hone their skills. I was actually quite ordinary compared to them until I reached the age of sixteen and realized the gift I possessed within my body. When I started to get these debilitating migraines and couldn't perform my duties they sent me away for routine CT scans in Volgograd city hospital.
The doctors there were amazed by the activity going on inside my brain and requested to exclude me from my training to take part in Neurological tests. At first I was apprehensive and just wanted to return to the only family I've ever known since I was ripped from my parents but I never did have a choice in the matter. They kept me there at the hospital and had me sit in a sound proofed room with a helmet to detect brainwaves as I would meditate for hours at a time.
After a couple of weeks of relaxation my headaches were becoming much less frequent and the deeper that I would reach in to my thoughts the more I would have strange and distant visions. They were hazy at first but became much clearer over time as I grew stronger. When I told the doctors of the strange hallucinations I was having they were shocked beyond belief.
These visions I was having were the thoughts and memories of the doctors keeping me under observation. They then doubled my meditation time and before long I had realized the full potential of my curse. The Russian army at that time was desperate for men as the war with America overstretched our military they saw the great value in my abilities and as soon as I turned 18 they gave me an officers commission in military intelligence.
I stayed at base most of the time and was usually in charge of the high value prisoners and extracting information out of them without any effort saving many of our soldiers lives. I was however reprimanded many times for killing the captives after interrogation due to the fact that they had done unimaginably evil things and I had to witness those terrible events as if I had seen it with my own eyes.
I was starting to crack under the pressure and started to lose my own mind. I then requested a different assignment so I could keep my sanity. After many more requests and pleading they finally submitted and allowed me to take a job in the armys prestigious and very exclusive police force. I couldn't have been happier than the day I got my reassignment letter and away from the torture and pain of the interrogation rooms. That same day I on my way to Kiev for my first assignment.
It was absolute serenity for the first couple months I was stationed there. I would stand at a guard post for 10 hours a day and look for anything suspicious or out of the ordinary and return home to my private trailer at our forward operating base. We were at war but any one coming into major cities at that time was suspect and I had no problem differentiating the good people from the bad. I didn't really socialize with the other soldiers too often and was quite reclusive and shy and spent most of my time alone after my shift.
I did however have a friend in a stray Huskie puppy that instantly stole my heart when I found her curled up sleeping in the woods by a Pine tree just feet away from my checkpoint. She was absolutely adorable with a Snow White coat and a smoky Gray nose and with stunning Blue eyes as bright as the full moon.
Her fur hadnt grow in yet and was left shivering with the hostile and unforgiving environment she was abandoned in. I couldn't just leave her out there and took it upon myself to wrap her up gently in my winter jacket and took her back to my dormitory to feed her and keep her safe from the cruelty of the frigid weather.
Pets were restricted on base and I did my absolute best to keep her hidden from my superiors and only let her outside after dark. I had given her the name Venus after the Greek god of beauty. She was no bigger than my head but kept me company for many months as she grew bigger by the week and gave me something to look forward to after a long boring shift at the checkpoint. She couldn't say anything but I knew everyday I went home to a such a wonderful and innocent creature that only required my love and attention.
It was just another day at the booth when I saw a routine supply truck heading towards the checkpoint a hundred yards before mine. The war with America had reached its boiling point and any vehicle was subject for search even our own. I could sense there was something not quite right with the driver. He wore his nervousness like a thick jacket and I couldn't help myself but to pry deeper into his mind. It was then I realized why he was so shaky. He was an American driving one of our fuel trucks with a bomb powerful enough to wipe out 25% of our base.
I abandoned my post and sprinted at full speed towards the other checkpoint with my gun drawn and screaming at the top of my lungs for the other officers near the truck to get back. They looked at me with confusion when they finally heard me running and screaming wildly. When I got about halfway I could only watch in horror as the truck detonated and engulfed everything in fire. The concussion knocked me down and I could feel the the heat off the fire as pavement below me shook with the power of the explosion.
My eyesight was hazy and my ears were ringing so loudly that everything else was inaudible to me. I could however feel a sharp burning pain in my side and placed my hand at the source to see my hand covered in blood. I slump my head painfully towards the side where the pain was coming from to see a burning orange light and a pool of crimson red fluid on the road flowing through my uniform before I lost consciousness.
It would have been better if I had just died instead. But I woke up a day later to the blinding white lights of a infirmary. I could feel the tender wound sting and burn as I sat up from the bed and violently ripped off the numerous wires and clips from my body. I had a deep distrust of doctors and was only thinking of getting out of that building and back to my dorm.
I get off the bed and rip the paper gown off my body and look around for some kind of clothing to sneak out of the building with. A nurse enters my room alerted by the ruckus I was making a few moments later to see me buck naked searching the rooms closet for clothes. I heard the door open and had a stare down with this pretty young woman with a bright smile and beautiful green eyes. She was surprised to me up and active and pleaded with me to return to my bed.
I wasn't going to do no such thing and ran up and grabbed her by the arms and threw her on my bed. She started to struggle furiously as I bound her hands and feet with the IV tube. When she tried to call out for help I grabbed a piece of medical gauze on the table and wrapped it firmly around her mouth. She just laid there and tossed about as I grab what was left of my belongings.
I had my military ID and wallet which is all I needed and grabbed a nurses outfit made for the delivery of babies. Right before I walked out the door I look to the horrified face of the nurse I had bound and gagged staring back at me and apologized. I then hit the call button and calmly walked out the door.
I had no trouble at all exiting the building and to the street corner of the big city. It was kind of hard to wave a taxi in the city with blood streaming down my side but finally got one willing to take me back to base. From what I could see in the car I was still in Kiev and only minutes away from our forward operating base.
The taxi man drops me off by the city limits and I pay double my fare and thanked him kindly and waved him off before he got too close to the gates. I then walked a short distance up to the checkpoint where they drew their weapons and I instinctively put my hands towards the sky. They pat me down and my wallet falls out of the side pocket onto the pavement. One of the officers cautiously picked it up and opened it. He takes a good look at the ID inside and back at me before he closes and said. "I'm sorry to have done this but the entire base has been on lock down and everyone is to be searched. But it's good to see you back so soon."
I rip my wallet from his hand and nod as I walk past the booth into the base. I had only one thing on my mind as I ran to my dormitory. When I reached my trailer I was in shock to see all of my belongings and personal items scattered on the dirt like trash and the door was left wide open. I rush inside and look for my tiny friend in a completely bare and deserted living area
I couldnt find her any where inside the small cabin. And frantically rushed outside where my things were thrown when my eyes fixed on something small and White near the fence surrounding the base. I sprinted and prayed silently towards the object hoping they had just left her alone and she was waiting for my return.
I came only feet away from the object when my eyes rested upon a most God awful and emotionally scarring scene as the only friend I had ever had lay dead and motionless on the ground. I kneel down in disbelief and petted her side trying to wake her only to feel her body was as cold as a winter breeze. I pick her up gently and press her tightly against my chest. And I could feel the tears stream down my face and held her there in my arms.
I then wished I would have just died that day of the bombing and spared me this heartbreak. Nothing else could had brought me so much pain. Not even when I was ripped from my mother or under the hardest crucible of training the government could dish out I never shed not one tear ever. But her death had hurt me more than ever and filled my heart with sick bloodthirsty rage.
An officer on patrol spotted me and asked if I was okay. I could sense the lack of concern in his thoughts and knew that he wasn't responsible for what had happened and looked up at him with bloodshot and teared up eyes as I showed him my lifeless friend and asked. "How could they do this? What happened?"
He covered his mouth and gasped as I continued to bawl my eyes out still holding her. He walks over to my side and places a hand on my shoulder as he said softly. "Im so sorry, after the bombings our commander ordered all of the barracks for immediate search and seizure."
I shrug his hand off of my shoulder and walked back to the mess outside that was my personal belongings and gently set my tiny friend on the mud streaked mattress as I got my uniform on and my fold out shovel. I walked off base and into the frost covered evergreen forest . My wounds were still bleeding profusely and I could feel the stitches rip and tear my skin with every shovel of dirt I labored furiously to push up. I then buried her next to the tree I found her past my checkpoint and placed her favorite tennis ball that gave us so many hours of enjoyment.
I stood quietly for several minutes as the biting cold wind had calmed my senses. I felt so weak and ashamed of myself that I couldn't protect her from harm. The rage within me grew even hotter and my only thoughts at that point were revenge.
I return to my empty dorm besides the mattress and pillow I had picked up out of the yard and laid it on the floor and cried myself to sleep for the rest of the afternoon clear up until midnight. I woke up with dry groggy eyes with my body still bleeding and sore and stiff from my injuries. It was then that I made a very uncharacteristic decision.
I cleaned myself up as best I could and headed down the empty road of our base. I go to the armory and pick up my service rifle and a belt full of grenades that they just handed over to me. I made it look like I was going on patrol and exited loaded to the teeth with explosives.
The senior officers that were in charge of daily operations all slept in a duplex with their quarters all lined up at the other end of the base. I reach the building and take a quick peek inside. They were all sound asleep unaware of the Hell I was going to unleash upon them.
I thought of the consequences. Then I thought about Venus and that was all the motivation I needed to actually pull it off. I take off the grenade belt and pull a couple of the pins before I tossed halfway down the hall.
I walked calmly back outside and covered my ears. I heard a faint click followed by a ear shattering roar the rocked the ground. It blew the roof of the small metal building and a giant fireball shot out of the hole and lit up everything around me. I didn't kill them all at first as I saw one crawl out his uniform and body torn to pieces.
He didn't deserve any sympathy or mercy from me as I pulled out my knife and grabbed him by his hair and cut him ear to ear and let him choke and gargle violently on his own blood while he desperately tried to stop the bleeding with his hands. I looked him in the eyes with a sick and satisfied grin as he died in seconds.
One more limped out of the wreckage a few seconds later and I walked over to him and set my last grenade on his belt without him noticing and pulled the pin. I told him I would get help and ran a short distance and stopped to watch the fireworks. It exploded a second later putting him in various forms of dismemberment. His torso got some hang time before if fell back to Earth with a glorious thud.
The whole base came alive as sirens blared loudly and in seconds I had the entire contingent of our barracks circling me with their guns drawn. I toss my rifle to the side and dropped my bloody knife on the ground. I got down on my knees and put my hands behind my head.
I could feel my hands being pulled back and restrained before I was lifted up off the ground forcibly and put me in a SUV. They locked me up in the temporary jail and learned then that I was to stand trial in Moscow tomorrow. It would have been better if I had just been executed on the spot. I was already dead on the inside and really had no desire to carry on.
That morning I was taken to the airport were a large passenger plane was waiting for me. Inside the cargo bay of the craft was a body sized capsule and was placed inside it and strapped in before they closed the hatch. I couldn't see or hear nothing but could feel my seat shake and the G-forces of the plane taking off as it calmly smoothed out.
The Americans controlled over 8% of our lands and rendered some regions no fly zones that we had to cross on our journey due to the SAM sites that polluted the vast fields and countryside.
It must have been only an hour that had passed when I feel the contents of my stomach shift as the plane made a very sudden sharp turn. I figured we were preparing to land and didn't think nothing else of it. I then feel everything start to shake violently and felt my heart drop and skip a beat as it felt like I was free falling.
I floated out of my seat with my straps holding me down and my hands still restrained. I knew something was seriously wrong and was confirmed. When a force slammed me forward causing my head to crash into the door even with the straps on and knocking me out cold.
All I can remember was a White blinding light and not much else
I woke in a standing position up to a blinding red strobe light and I immediately begin to flail and kick around the tiny space I was confined in. In front of me the door to the chamber popped and screeched loudly as it opened slowly. I didn't know what horror awaited me behind it and closed my eyes and waited for the door to stop.
I didn't hear nothing and opened my eyes and to my surprise it was pitch black with the strobe light the only source of illumination. I rip the tape and wires off my body and exit the chamber. From what I could see there was no one around and from the looks of the tables and various medical instruments all covered in a thick layer of dust it seems like they awhile ago.
I fumble around the tables and find a Faraday flashlight and shook it violently before turning it on to have a better look. It was a enormous room spanning over ten acres at least with many stories and a high ceiling and crates stacked all around covered in netting. I continue to look around and almost dropped the light when I saw an enormous American flag that was tattered and torn hanging off a balcony.
I had gotten myself in one Hell of a predicament and wondered suspiciously were exactly was I. If I was going to find out I had to get out of there and hopefully not get caught.
It didn't take me long to find a massive steel door at the other end and wasted no time turning the lever and put all my strength into pushing it open. It would only go so far and I stopped pushing about halfway. I hurriedly step outside and in shock again that I was in some sort of tunnel dug into rock. I could see sunlight poking through what I thought was camouflage netting and was surprised to feel it and seen that was some form of vegetation.
I take a deep breath and poke my head out of the vines first to a breathtaking sight. I have heard from many people that America had the most beautiful forests in the world and only seen them in books until now. I step outside into the peaceful serene view and turn around to see an imposing mountain behind me beautifully adorned with lush green trees and grass.
It seemed that no one else was around and decided to go back inside and grab some essentials for an extended stay in the woods. I walk back inside and begin to start smashing crates open. Most of the contents were of no use to me but I did however find a room nearby full of American military gear.
If they did find me I would do my best to blend in. I put on a uniform and all the ceramic plate armor to go with it including a helmet. I then grabbed a rucksack and packed it with a tent, an air mattress, a couple of axes and knives, and plastic bladders to store water. The food had long went rotten and inedible. The last thing I grabbed was a dusty and slightly rusted M-4 carbine and a cleaning kit plus over a dozen magazines before I left.
I step back outside after closing the door and begin to put as much distance away as I could to avoid detection. I left a mark with my knife in a tree so I could find the place again easily if I had to. The mountain was only a few miles behind me and I was begging to feel dreary as the weight of my armor and the pack along with the blistering sun sapping my strength. I didn't walk much further and was relieved when I reached a small cave conveniently situated near the mouth of a fresh water stream.
I drank myself sick and decided to check out the cave that I would call home for now. It was only about the size of an average living room and more than enough room for my tent and some. In no time I set up a tent filled my plastic bladders with water and gathered enough wood for a fire before sundown.
I felt much better about my situation now and started a small fire before dark for heat and light as I relaxed for awhile and sat at the mouth of the cave while looking at the surroundings. It was a beautiful clear full moon night and even in the darkness the forest teemed with all sorts of life. I've been all over Russia during my childhood and never seen such beauty in our country.
I knew that tomorrow I would have to search for some kind of food and retreated to my tent to sleep off my exhaustion. I peacefully sleeping on my mat when I am awakened in the middle of the night by the deep and horrifying roar of nocturnal predators. There was no way I was sleeping through that and sat at the mouth of the cave with my gun hoping that I wasn't on the menu.
The sun poked it's head over the horizon and shone brightly on my face to welcome a brand new day. When I felt that it was safe enough I decided to walk outside and begin the search for food. I couldn't believe the variety of edible Black, Blue and Raspberry bushes only a small hike away from my camp and filled my bag along with Pecans and Peanuts that littered the forest floor until it was almost to heavy to carry.
I went back to camp and feasted on the easily found forage. I was full of energy and restless and decided to take a risk to venture out further towards a small hill just past my camp for a better view.
I stayed underneath the canopy avoiding the sun as I walked cautiously up the hill with my head on a swivel looking around for anything suspicious. It was so much easier to hike without that bag weighing me down. The armor was still heavy but necessary. It was the only thing keeping me from being shot on site.
I push through the briars and hedgerows and finally crested the top of the small hill. From there I could easily spot my camp and admired the massive expanse of forest that spanned for a few miles in every direction. I wasn't sure about what it was but saw the sure sign of smoke rising in the distance right behind me and was either a wildfire or a town but didn't want to find out either way.
I could speak English fluently but my accent would have been a dead giveaway. It's not like I could just stroll in their town and ask for directions back to Russia anyway. But at least there were people in close proximity
I kept my head down and returned to camp for rest throughout the afternoon until nightfall were I would stand guard at all hours of the night and listened to the nightmarish screeches and screams of other animals being killed and eaten.
Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months as leaves started to change on the Deciduous trees and fall off as the weather started to get colder and the easy food that was everywhere in the summer starting to get harder to find. I ventured out further from camp in search of food and found all the bushes stripped clean and bare as I walked about aimlessly and marking my trail on trees so as not to lose my way. I was on may way back to my camp when I saw something small out of the corner of my eye that made me drop down to a prone position and hide.
It was a Zebra and a baby one if that. It was only about three and a half feet tall with a brown cloak and shiny jewelry in its big floppy ears. I had never seen such a creature before and thought that Zebras only lived in Africa.
But whatever it was had carved a path in the dirt and was clearly visible and predictable. I figured if worse came to worst I would have to start trapping and eating animals to get through the winter. I didn't even like the thought of killing something but if I was to survive I would have too.
The next day I returned to the base where my journey began and commandeered a net and several ropes to set up a snare on the trail. It would have been much easier to shoot the prey and drag it back but I didn't want to telegraph my presence to everything within a few miles. And took the much quieter route with trapping instead.
I set the trap early the next morning on the dirt trail by a small sapling that could handle the tension and sprung it up carefully before covering the net in dead leaves.
I then took cover in the nearby bushes and waited patiently for hours on my quarry. I didn't move a muscle the whole time laying there and like a fool let my head fall into forearms as I fell asleep. I am awoke a few hours later by the snap and pop of the snare that caused me too shoot up from my hiding place and to see something quite strange tangled up in the net. It was smaller than the creature I saw yesterday and circled it many times to observe it closely as it dangled helplessly in the net at eye level. It was the strangest I had ever seen. It was definitely a Equine mammal with butter Yellow fur and a long and wavy light pink mane. It had bags strapped to its sides suggesting to me it was a pack animal that belonged to someone and had gotten lost.
It starts to struggle and whimper in a low soft tone and pulling out my knife I cut the rope holding the net up and let the prey fall into my arms. I then rushed back to camp carrying this tiny colorful creature on my back with it still in the net. When I got back to my cave I tied all four of its legs together and strung it up a few feet off the ground and sat perplexed at the strange creature.
When I removed the bag off its side I saw it had small wing like structures and upon closer observation saw that it was in fact a female. But the vivid colors suggested that it had to have belonged to someone and I was going to kill someones pet so I could eat. I just wanted to get it over with and pulled out my knife as she whimpered and struggled furiously even more. Before my blade came within inches from her neck I felt a sharp and debilitating sting on my ankle.
I drop the knife and turn my body towards the pain and saw a tiny White and fuzzy rabbit with his teeth latched on to my bare Achilles tendon. I immediately grab it by the buckskin and lifted it up to eye level with me as it flailed furiously with rage seething through its black beady eyes. I figured I had an easy meal when I heard something that made my jaw drop.
I heard a sharp squeal and in perfect English I heard my captive beg me to spare his life as she began to sob and cry as she said. "Please please don't hurt my Angel bunny. You can have me but please let him go. He means the world to me I beg of you to please let him go!"
I was wondering if I was hallucinating from the old stale berries I was eating and thinking it was just another one of my bad dreams. When I walked up to the fire and grabbed an ash and held it in my hand the pain I acknowledged was real. I then walk up to her and asked with apprehension. " Did you just say something?"
I was hoping for silence but after a few seconds she replied back with tears streaming out of her bright and enormous Teal eyes. " Yes please don't hurt my Angel bunny take me instead." I was absolutely dumbstruck and dropped the bunny and picked my knife up.
I walk up to her and cut the bindings holding her four legs and caught her before I gently set her on the ground before me. She wouldn't stand up and curled up on the cave floor with her gleaming eyes staring at me begging for mercy. I couldn't go through with it and told her to take her friend and leave.
She must have thought it was some cruel trick but eventually she worked up the courage to stand up and I noticed how long her hair really was. She meekly walks past me and nudged her friend and exits the cave very slowly. Right before she made it outside she looks back at me and said in a shy soft tone. "Thank you so much for not eating us. If your still hungry you can have the food in my bags."
As soon as she left I tore the bag open to find it full of wonderful apple pies and pastries. I devoured every last crumb and wondered what the Hell just happened. What ever that creature was it I definitely never seen anything like it.
The next morning I saw the first snowflake of winter and felt the chilly wind from the North as I sat alone in my cave. I hoped that strange talking creature from yesterday wouldn't say anything about me to anyone. Come to think of it I should have asked her where I was exactly. I was so freaked out by her ability to speak English the question never popped in my head which was a first for me.
The forest floor was now covered by snow as I watched as it gracefully fell from the sky. I hadn't bathed in over a week and was quite dirty due to the fact that the biting cold spring water would send my body straight into hypothermia. My food supplies were gone and I finished the last of the creatures food she left me this morning.
I wandered aimlessly around the forest looking for any kind of sustenance with none to be found anywhere. I follow my tracks in the snow back to the cave and and to my surprise the creature that stumbled into my trap was standing at the entrance. She had her back turned to me and when I was just feet away I cleared my throat loudly to get her attention.
She squeals and jumps to spread her wings and took to the air over my head faster than the blink of an eye. I was even more dumbstruck than ever she was just above the treetops as she looked down on me and slowly hovered back down to Earth.
It was an absolutely amazing sight. Her wings looked so tiny but strong enough to lift her body with ease. She then lands in front of me and for a moment there was an awkward silence between us.
She shuffles her hooves at the ground and looks down at ground when she asks. "Um how are you today?" I shrug my shoulders and said calmly. "Im okay" She perks up and lifted her head to smile weakly at me.
She stood quietly for a second and shifted her eyes back and forth then asks. " I'm so sorry to bother you but could I maybe get the bag I left here? You can keep the food but I really need it back please." I nod and enter the small cave where I open my tent to grab her sack and hand it back.
She put on a huge grin and thanked me. I wanted to get some information and then started to question her starting in a rude manner. "What are you?" She had the obvious look of confusion and giggled. "I'm a Pegasus silly." I've only thought they existed in stories of myth but I was now standing with a living breathing one and conversing with her.
I then ask still thinking how ridiculous this was "Where am I exactly." She looks even more perplexed than ever and replied bluntly. "The Everfree forest." I ask her if she has seen any others like me and she said shaking her head slowly back and forth. "I've been all over Equestria but I have never seen anything like you before."
I ask her were this Equestria was at and she giggles again and told me It was the entire known world of Equis. Now I was the one who was confused now more than ever. It must be a secluded island at the ass end of the world it had to be this is too strange to think it was the whole world.
I figured if I was going to get any straight answers I would have to read her thoughts. I didn't enjoy prying into minds all the time but sometimes it was necessary. I stand motionless in the frigid cold staring down at her and focusing in on what was her immediate thoughts.
Usually small children with vivid imaginations or people with a clear concise were difficult to read. But there was nothing going on in her head and left me in the gray. It's their guilt that gave me power and I had a hard time differentiating if she was stupid and mindless or just plain carefree.
She then starts to question me and asks. "Where are you from?" I snap out of the self induced trance and said slowly. "Russia" she ponders for a second before she said. "Never heard of such a place." I figured she wouldn't and face palmed . She then shuffled her hooves once again making marks in the snow and exposing dirt before she asked.
"If your lost you don't have to live out here in the forest. You can stay with me at my house. If you want too that is?" I gave her the stupidest look and asked. "Your house' you own a house."
She nods her head "I Sure do. Ever since my animal friends went into hibernation for the winter me and Angel get kind of lonely and I just wanted to give you a token of my gratitude for letting us go yesterday." I turn my head and look back in the cave and the bleak and torturous environment and turned back to her to see her grinning from ear to ear.
I didn't have to be a mind reader to see she wanted me to say yes. I thought about for awhile and weighed the advantages along with the risk. The climate was unforgiving and the food was all but gone. But I guess I would be nice to have something to talk to. Even a loner like myself could use company from time to time.
I nod my head and said yes. At that instant her wings spread out and she had the brightest gleam in her huge Teal eyes. I tell her I have to pack some things and grabbed my bag as she waited patiently on me outside to join her.
I wasn't going to take everything just my knife an axe and the gun before I rejoined her outside. I tell her we should get going before dark and she nods before we start our trip down the snowy trail.
On the way to her house she tells me her name is Fluttershy and she lives on the outskirts of the forest in a cottage. She tells me a little bit about their culture and was surprised by the fact that they had towns and cities and lived,worked and played like Humans.
I didn't say much only yes and no as she thoroughly questioned me on our 4 hour journey through the dead and lifeless forest. We finally reach a clearing and a simple stone walkway that led to a wooden bridge and past that was a 3/4 scale house it seemed.
It looked like it was built from an Oak tree and the roof looked rather flimsy because it looked like just leaves were covering it. She gets to a wooden door only about four feet tall and pushes it open. She walks inside and motions me to follow her inside the tiny house. I duck my head and throw my bag in first then entered to a shock.
The inside was beautifully decorated and the ceiling was about a foot over my head. It had a nice Victorian feel and finely crafted furniture all around the living area which made me wonder how she acquired it. I set my bag down gently on the rug by the door and scanned the area for anything suspicious.
She asks me to take a seat while she prepared something to eat. I sit down on a tiny sofa while she disappeared into another room. I continue to look around when I see the white Bunny from yesterday glaring angrily at me.
I pull out my knife and quietly made a cutting motion close to my neck and pointed at him. His beady Black eyes got insanely huge and he scampered off into his tiny box. My hostess walks back in and announces that dinner was ready and to join her in the dining room.
I happily comply and get off the tiny couch and listen to the wood floor creak and groan as I moved about and into the dining room. I was impressed that she could set a table and had a wide assortment of food in the middle of the large round table. I look at the tiny chair and set it off to the side and opted to kneel instead.
I take off my helmet and set it to the side. My scruffy black hair was long and wild looking and my beard was unkept and fully grown. I look back up at the jaw dropped expression of my host who then said. "Oh my' so thats whats under all that metal.
I smiled and chuckled at her and put my hands through my itchy beard. She tells me to eat whatever I pleased and we began to fill up our plates with the vegan cuisine. When I saw her use her mouth to spoon up salad to dump on her plate. I was repulsed and wondered if she used her mouth for everything including setting my plate on the table.
But I was so hungry any kind of food would have been sufficient and didn't care if it was sanitary. She didn't use any utensils and just dug her face into her plate. I grab the multi tool from my front pocket and pop the attached fork and spoon out and began to eat.
The noise of the fork scratching the plate caught the attention of Pegasus as she curiously observed the usual eating device in my hands. "What is that?" She asked. I stop eating for a moment and hold it up so she could have a better look and said. "It's a fork I use this to eat with instead of my dirty hands."
She smiles and we return to eating not saying a word until just about everything was gone. We finish up and I help her rinse the dishes and put them away. She was amazed that I could do the most difficult of tasks with ease because of my hands and opposible thumbs.
I follow back her back out to the living area and sit on the couch opposite her by the fireplace. I sat quietly and twiddled my thumbs while she read a book and worked up the nerve to ask. "Fluttershy this town you spoke of earlier Ponyville is it? Do you think that one of your kind might know how I can get home?"
She closes the book with her nose and rests her eyes on me and replied. "I have a friend in town named Twilight Sparkle. She's super smart and is a student under Princess Celestia. If anypony knows anything its her."
I ask her who this Celestia was and she chuckled. "She's the ruler of these lands. She lives in Canterlot palace and is the greatest of our leaders." She said I was beginning to learn more by the minute and she was starting to earn my trust little by little.
She looks at a small clock on an end table and yawns. "Look at the time we should be getting ready for bed don't you think?"
I nod and stand up to remove the plates of armor that was causing my body to sweat and set all the pieces by my bag. It felt so good to get that heavy burden off of me and I removed my shirt to expose my pale and bare skin to the warm air of the room. I was slightly more in terms of stature and bulk larger than most men as I was 6.2 foot and 185 pounds. She gasps at the sight of me and hovers slowly until she is just inches away making me feel slightly uncomfortable.
"Where is your fur? Did it all fall out?" I stood firm and silent even when she placed a hoof on my shoulder and worked it over my chest to the other one before she said. "Oh my! your skin is so soft and smooth."
I didn't particularly like being touched but let it slide due to the fact she was trying to be nice and I had no place to go. There had to be at least a foot of snow on the ground and it would be impossible to find my way back to camp. I grab my things and follow her. She leads me upstairs and down a hallway with three separate rooms.
She then enters the door at the end and I slowly walked in with my head on a swivel. It was an ordinary room with a large bed and a closet complete with a dresser and vanity. She looks back at me and asks. "Do you like it? If you don't you can have my room' I really don't mind at all."
I smiled and said in a polite manner. "It's perfect thank you." She excuses herself to let me get settled in before saying goodnight and exiting the room. I set my things down and lay face first on the bed. It wasn't too soft but not too firm it was just right much better than the mat at camp I had slept on for months.
I pull my knife out and set it under the pillow gripping it tightly in my hand. If something is going to try to kill me in my sleep they are in for a rude awakening. I lay my head to the side and stared at the window that let in some of the Moonlight.
I stare at it for quite awhile before my eyes got heavy and I slipped into sleep. The nightmares I had were of horrifying proportions. It seemed all the thoughts and memories of the people I have ever read were haunting me. The most god awful scenes of war, genocide, rape, and torture they all ran through my mind like I had witnessed them with my own eyes.
I woke up at the crack of dawn on the soft cool bed in a fetal position under the wool blanket. I felt like I hadn't even slept an hour and desperately rolled over to other side away from the window that the piercing light from the sun that lit up my face and tired and groggy eyes.
I hid my face under the blanket to block out the light and was slipping off into sleep when I hear the door creak open slowly. My eyes shot open like a wild animal and my body started to surge with adrenaline and my heart was pounding out of my chest. I wasn't going to wait for whatever it was to kill me and inconspicuously grabbed the knife from under the pillow. As soon as I heard slow footsteps on the wood floor I threw the warm blanket and heaved my chest and back into a sitting position with the knife firmly in my hands.
My heart rate and blood pressure dropped all at the same time when I saw the small Yellow and Pink colored mare standing in the doorway. I lay my head back down on the pillow and sighed deeply in relief. I could hear her footsteps as she walked and stopped at the bedside and said in her normal quiet voice. "My your awfully jumpy I'm so sorry to have startled you."
I roll my head over the pillow to face her and said gently "You have no idea." She hides her face behind that long mane before she said in a matter of fact tone "You know you talk in your sleep I heard it in my room and it sounded like you was having a really bad dream." I shifted my eyes back and forth I didn't know I talked in my sleep. I really wished they were just dreams but it was the grim reality that was my life and curse.
I continued to stare blankly at her before she asked. "Do you want to talk about? I know it works for me to deal with my nightmares by talking to somepony about them. But if you don't want to thats fine I won't force it on you."
I sit up again and rubbed my palms on my head before I looked down at the look of concern on her face and said. "I'm okay, You probably don't want to hear about it anyway." She slumps her head and nods when she suggested that I take a bath before we were to make our journey into town.
I roll my legs towards the bedside and let them hang for a second before I lay my bare feet on the cold wood floor. She stands at the doorway until I am fully standing up and moved my tired body to follow her into the hallway.
I wasn't sure what to expect when she pushed open the strange door to the bathroom and was a bit apprehensive to what it might look like. To my shock it was quite ordinary with a large circular garden tub big enough to accommodate 3 men filled with warm water steaming invitingly and making a calming haze throughout the room. I look down at my side at her and smiled. I walk inside the comfortably apportioned room and looked around at the beautiful room " If you need anything just call for me I'll be downstairs." She said with a smile before excusing herself and shutting the door behind her.
I wasted no time getting my pants and underwear off and almost leaping into the water like my life depended on it. I immediately scrub my face and hair vigorously and afterwards I just sat there and allowed the rest of my body to soak and relax. While I held my eyes closed with the warm water serenading me My thoughts then turned to this town she spoke of called Ponyville. I was honestly quite nervous about seeing more of these strange creatures and were they lived.
When my hands were starting to get pruny and pale I stepped out of the tub. And walked naked and soaking wet onto a pad that was in front of the vanity. Staring in the mirror I was in disbelief at how my facial features and physical appearance have changed over the last few months.
I grab the multi tool from my dirty pants and a bucket of water from the tub and flipped the straight razor from the tool. I began to carefully glide the cold steel blade over my face while watching myself in the mirror as the hair slowly began to disappear with each passing stroke. When I was satisfied with the work I dumped the water and wrapped a towel around me.
I heard a creak from behind the door that stopped me cold. I nonchalantly put my back against the wall grabbed the door handle and pulled it open in the blink of an eye. I see a blur of Pink and Yellow as my caretaker slammed the tile floor with a light thud.
I kneel at the side of my host and help her get back on her feet. I didn't even say a word yet before she frantically tried to explain herself. "I Um thought Um I heard a noise and Um thought you needed something. I'm sorry" I squinted my eyes and glared at her menacingly as she cringed before I cracked a smile that set her at ease and said. "Your fine I'm the one who should be sorry. You just scared me thats all."
I stand up and grab my clothes while she stood quietly by the door. I couldn't read her mind but I knew she was harmless and has been so nice and polite to me even though when we first met I was going to eat her. I really didn't care if she was spying on me. She may have been just curious about what I was exactly. I would be too if there was an alien in my home.
I turn around to see her staring with her head slightly tilted and said. "You look really good with all that hair on your face gone." I run my hands over my now smooth face and shot a grin at her.
I didn't want to put on the dirty clothes again so we walked downstairs and I grabbed the clean ones from my rucksack and hastily put them on. My little Yellow friend had her empty bags on her side ready to go while she waited for me to get fitted. The armor the Americans wore was bulky and very heavy but necessary. I wanted to be ready for anything so I grab the gun before she lead the way out the door.
There was a slight breeze and combined with winters chill bit sharply at my exposed face. We started past the bridge and on our way towards the sure sign of smoke coming from the town. We started to talk along the way mostly she asked me about were I lived and what I did for a living.
I was starting to warm up to her company and started to become more social. I tell her of my country and of the wars that plagued mankind since our existence. She gasps and her eyes got wide as I told her of how we destroyed our world. "That sounds like an awful place to live." I look down at her and put it bluntly. "Indeed"
There was a moment of silence and we just listened to our footsteps in the snow before she asked. "Have you ever had to kill your own kind?" I look down at her and stared into those big ocean Blue eyes and said nothing back not even a word. I think she knew very well what the answer was.
The silence continued until we come to an arched gate with the words "Sweet Apple Acres painted across it. Beyond the fence it looked like an ordinary farm complete with a huge red barn. There was no activity but I could see two sets footprints in the snow that led up the path further.
We continued walking for some time through the Evergreens when we reached a large clearing that was the outskirts of the town. It was actually quite large way beyond my expectations of what I thought it would be. When we got closer I could feel my senses spark.
There were two ponies at the gates that were much larger in size compared to Fluttetshy and masculine looking so I figured they were the stallions. I could sense their fear and intrigue as we walked by but they never said a word as we entered the gate. Fluttershy begins to give me the grand tour as the whole town seemed to have their eyes on us while we made our way to Twilight's house.
From what I've seen and heard they had a rich culture and history. I wondered how they built houses and statues without hands and was quite interested in their resourcefulness. The ponies were of all different varieties. They were in a multitude of vivid colors. Some had wings some of them had a horn on their head and some were quite plain looking.
We stop at a huge tree that had a tall wooden door. I stand perplexed up at the branches as Fluttershy walked up and gave it a few soft knocks. For a few seconds there was no answer as she turned around back to me and said "She must not be home."
There was a slight creak as the door slowly opened and revealed a tiny figure standing in the doorway.
She had very feminine features with a Lavender coat and Pink and Violet highlights streaming down her clean cut mane. "Hello Fluttershy." She said in a very cheery and warm tone. It caught her attention and she snapped her head back towards the door and said.
"Oh hello Twilight how are you today." Twilight grins happily with sparkling white teeth and replied. "Just fine Fluttershy who's your new friend." She looks at me then back at Twilight before she said. " I don't know his name but he can talk.
They both had their eyes fixed on me awaiting my answer and I finally stated my name. "Koba my name is Lieutenant, Koba Gagarov." Twilight squints hard at me and before she says. "Your a quite interesting character I've never seen anything like you before please come in you two it must be cold out there."
I sling the gun on my back and follow behind Fluttershy into the strange looking house. It looked so small but when I finally worked my body past the doorway I was again in astonishment at how spacious it was on the inside. I am lost in myself as I observed it top to bottom.
From what I could see it looked like a library with volumes of books alphabetically ordered in a neat fashion. I was lost in wonder at the small statues and busts of other ponies that adorned the main room. I completely disregarded the two as they chatted on and continued to wander about.
I was staring at a painting of a regal and beautiful looking pony with the caption below it that read "Princess Celestia ruler of Equestria". She didn't look like the evil dictator or cruel monarch as I had imagined her to be. She looked rather benevolent and merciful even with her blank expression on the painting she had the look and feel of kindness.
I continued to have a staring contest with the canvas when I hear a low and gentle grunt. I look down to see Fluttershy and her friend Twilight only inches away from me. "Beautiful isn't she?" Twilight asked with a sharp glimmer in her Purple eyes. I smile and nod politely when she asked. "Are you thirsty? Please have a seat and I will fetch you something to drink." I nod again and follow them back to the reading room and took a place next to Fluttershy on the cozy chair near the fireplace while Twilight excused herself to the other room.
I sat and twiddled my thumbs for a few seconds before I looked up at Fluttershy and asked. "Your friend do you think she help me?" She smiles and nods. "Don't worry she's the smartest Unicorn in Equestria. I'm sure she will help you if she cant our Princess Celestia can. Your in very good hands.
My mind was set as ease for the time being and I sat back in the chair and set my arms behind my head. I hear a clattering from behind and looked to see Twilight levitating a tray that had some warm liquid steaming from finely crafted China. My jaw nearly hit the floor at the sight. I wasn't as impressed with the Pegasus 's ability to fly as much as her ability to manipulate and levitate objects with the magic streaming like an aura from her horn.
She gently sets it down in the middle of the table and pours us all some of the tea. She just lifted up the cup and set it next to Fluttershy when a loud crash caught all of us by surprise and almost broke my neck to turn my head towards the noise. There was a Orange and blonde Earth pony with a Stetson hat standing at the doorway exhausted and out of breath.
She tried to explain her intrusion in between gasps and slowly made out. "Twilight,Fluttershy thank Celestia your here. Rarity 's sister has fallen into the well you have to help her." They both shot up off the chair and in seconds we were all out of the library and sprinting towards the center of town with me falling behind trying to catch up them.
We reach the community well and had to push our way through the crowd that had amassed around the tiny stone well with a hole only a foot and a half wide. They were all panicking and frantic waiting for Twilight to think of something. I could hear a faint cry for help coming from the hole and looked around desperately for a rope and found one conveniently by an old cart next to the road.
Twilight asked me what I was doing and I asked her to have some of the stallions hold the rope while I jumped in the hole to grab her. She pleads with me that its too dangerous and that it was a foolish idea. In my arrogance and urgency I shouted back at her. "You got a better idea?"
She didn't say a word and just took the rope in her mouth for few of the biggest stallions in town to grab it in their teeth and anchor themselves to the ground. I toss the rope down the hole with Twilight beside me and asked. "Whats her name do you know?" She was shaking in fear and anticipating disaster but she still answered. "Sweetie Belle her name is Sweetie Belle." I nod and position my body halfway in the mouth of the well before she asked. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I nod and said in confidence "I live for this shit!" Right before I quickly rappelled and descended the dark vertical tunnel. As I went down further the cries were coming in clearer and I could hear frantic splashing below.
I could feel the water leak into my boot and let the rest of my body slide into the pitch black and frigid cold water. It felt like needles stabbing me all over as I treaded the water that was only up to my stomach. I only looked around and called her by name for a few seconds and could clearly see a white figure floating motionless a few meters in front of me. I rushed over and grabbed the tiny figure to see that it was the small filly that was causing such a ruckus earlier not even making a sound now.
I got there just in time as I pressed her hard against my chest and felt her tiny heart pound on my arm. She was shaking and numb and had no strength left not even enough to speak but she was still alive. I waded through the water to the sign of daylight and grabbed the rope with my free hand.
I look up to the sky and saw a few heads looking down at me. I could hear Twilight's voice echo down "You okay Koba?" I shout back "I got her pull us up!" In that instant I felt the rope jerk almost dislocating my shoulder at the speed we were going. In a matter of seconds my head poked out and I pressed my legs against the walls of the well to brace myself and hand Sweetie Belle over to Twilight who quickly wrapped her shivering and wet body in blankets and had her sent off to the hospital in a covered cart with a red cross painted on the side.
I lift myself out of the stone prison and stepped onto solid ground. The crowd was still there and silent as the night and giving me the staredown. In an instant they started cheering wildly and stomping their hooves causing the ground beneath my feet to shake.
My body was drenched and my hands were so numb they were hard to articulate. I started shaking when the cold breeze passed through my clothes and froze my skin even more. Fluttershy gives me a blanket and I wrap it around my head and upper body to keep from going into hypothermic shock.
"That was amazing Koba. I can't believe it you saved her life!!" She said in an excited and unusually loud tone. I just smirk at her as Twilight walks up to me and says. "Sweetie Belle is going to be fine thanks to you Koba. That was very brave of you even though we just met you. We should be getting you back to the library now and get warmed up you must be freezing."
I nod and smile as I shivered"I'm sorry I yelled at you Twilight." She put on a huge grin and said. "Don't be you were incredible. Now hurry before you freeze to death." My clothes and armor were already stiff and crunched as I stood up and followed them back to the tree house while I shook furiously the whole way there.
Once inside I stand by the fireplace and place my hands as close as possible to the bright Orange and Red flame. My hands painfully lost their numbness stinging even worse than ever before I regained feeling in them. Twilight left us to go to the hospital when Fluttershy walks up beside me and asks "You okay?" I nod and clench my now fully functional hands.
"Could you please take off your clothes for me?" She asked. My eyes got as big and wide as they would go and had to make sure I heard that right and cleared my throat before I asked "Excuse me?" She grinned a little bit and explained. "I need to dry your clothes silly take them off please."
I sighed in relief and replied "right right." I said and asked her if there was anything I could wear in the meantime. "Um Twilight might have a dress you could borrow I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
I frowned and told her a blanket would be fine. She gives me a nod and stood there while I went into the laundry room and dropped my heavy soaked clothes. I air dry for a minute in the warm room and wrap myself in a giant comforter before I carried them with outstretched arms back to the reading room to sit down.
Fluttershy was standing by the altar with the light from the fire brightening up her big Teal eyes. She turns her head to me and said. "Here I'll take those you have a seat please." I quietly do as I am told and take a place on a large sofa and sat cross legged on the cushion and regained some of my lost body heat.
She disappears for a few moments before she came back at took a seat next to me on the large couch. There was silence between us for a while before she asked. "Are you still cold?" I shake my head no "No I'm fine thanks." She continues to stare at me with a huge smile that was starting to make me feel slightly uncomfortable.
"That was amazing what you did back there. But tell me did you worry while you was down there that you could have been seriously injured or killed?" The question made me think for awhile before I responded with my head turned away from her.
" I think of it like this Fluttershy. If I can save a life just one single life mine would be worth giving to save them. Death doesnt bother me at all because it would be a calm escape because pain and misery and death is all I have known my entire life."
I look back at Fluttershy who had tears welling up in her eyes with the look of shock on her expression. "Koba you must care about something or somepony don't you. Isn't there anything that makes your life worth living?"
I look at her with a blank stare and said. "At one time I was happy not so long ago until my own people the people I thought I could trust disassembled and destroyed my life. They took the only friend I ever had and killed her so I killed them."
I turn away from her and just stare off into space and could feel the tears stinging the corners of my eyes the more I thought about it. I then feel something press up against me and grab my waist. When I looked down she had latched herself to my side and squeezed me tightly while she sobbed quietly with her face in the blanket covering me. I really didn't have much experience in dealing with emotions of others but still tried to comfort her by wrapping my covered arm around her tiny body.
I tell Fluttershy I'm sorry to have upset her so much and rubbed her side gently trying to comfort her. She looks up at me with those big innocent eyes her tears making them sparkle even more than ever when she sobbed out. "There must be somepony else that cares about you isn't there? Somepony that would miss you dearly if you were to die?"
I shake my head no and she sniffles to catch her breath and said. " They may have destroyed your life and you lost hope for yourself but you have a wonderful and caring soul and no matter how hard they try they cannot take that away from you. You may have come from an evil place and it left it's mark on you but I can see that you are not evil. I know I've only known you two days but I can tell there is a lot of good in you."
I really didn't like talking about my feelings too often. But talking to this little creature made me realize that is what I needed the most. I stroked her side and wrapped both of my arms around her while I thanked her for putting things in perspective for me. It felt like a massive weight was lifted off my chest by this tiny little creature. I continued to hold her in the embrace even as my eyes grew heavy. Right before I slipped off into sleep I heard a small whisper "I'll make it my mission to give a reason to live."
I woke up alone on the couch still wrapped up in the blanket. It was still daylight and the fire still burned brightly in the stone fireplace. Sitting up I see no sign of Fluttershy in the eerily quiet reading room. My clothes were dry and folded neatly on a coffee table beside the couch.
I scan the room again before getting up and hastily getting dressed. The pendulum clock at the corner of the room read a little after three. It seemed so weird that most of their technology was based on ours only it was slightly retro like Victorian era tech. I sit back down on the couch again in silence watching the fire before the sure sound of footsteps on the hardwood floor grabbed my attention.
I turn to see Fluttershy in the middle of the room grinning from ear to ear. She trots over to the couch next to me and asks sweetly. "Feeling better?" I smile and nod at her before standing back up to stretch out my arms. She then asks if I would follow her into the dining room to meet her friends. I try to hide my nervousness from her with a smile and followed behind as she trotted back to the dining room.
Now I wasn't much for being very social and was quite awkward and shy around groups. But took a deep breath through my nose and out my mouth and helped to settle my anxiety somewhat. it couldn't be so bad I thought. As we walk through the library even more I am still intrigued of how they managed to fit all of the furniture and the entire space itself in this moderately sized tree.
She stops at a stained Oak door and gently nudges it open before we entered. Once inside I was in awe at the elegant decor of the room. A Crystal chandelier hung sparkling with the light of the sun giving it a angelic glow that reflected off the ceiling. It overhang a massive wooden round table with twelve matching chairs. All the china was stored in a elaborately decorated Cherry wood cabinet on display with the two toned wallpaper of White and Regal Purple topping off the accent of the room.
I look at the ponies sitting at the table staring back at me with complete silence in Twilight's dining room. I could feel their intrigue their wonder and their fear as if they wore it like a bad cologne. I only recognized the Orange and Blonde one from earlier as I took a seat at the other end of the table opposite them by my lonesome not even taking my eyes off them for a second.
Twilight introduced the others as Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack. They all looked worlds apart in terms of colors and personality as I would find out later. I introduced myself to them before Twilight laid the awful truth on me.
"Koba is it" she said "Where exactly did you come from?" I tap my hand nervously on the table before my response. "Russia" My home country is Russia." She squints her eyes at me before she said back in a matter a factual manner. " Thats what Fluttershy said but I looked all over the map and even asked our Princess Celestia if such a land existed. She has never heard of such a place either."
I ask politely for the map when she nods and levitated it over to me when I looked it over I almost passed out from shock. It wasn't just an island in the middle of nowhere as I had thought earlier. They knew of the Earths continents and named them. Some looked a little distorted and misshapened but North and South America were still clearly visible. In fact the only thing different was that Africa had moved up to join Europe.
I ask Twilight were we were on the map and she levitated a quill and pointed at were France would be. Now I was even more confused than ever and couldn't help myself but ask. "Are you sure any of you have never seen more like me?" They all shake their heads no and it left me in a self induced stupor as I became lost in thought.
I just sit staring at the map blankly like I was a zombie. I hear one of them clear their throat before I looked back up at them. Twilight looked even more confused now than ever and she asked. "How did you get here? In Equestria I mean?"
I figured they would find out sooner our later so I sighed deeply and made my explanation very clear to all of them. "I was on my way to court martial and public execution in Moscow our capital city for the killing of my superior officers. On the way there we were shot down by the Americans whom we are at war with at the time. When the plane crashes in the middle of a forest they must have took me prisoner and I woke up in a laboratory of some kind in the mountain range of the forest that Fluttershy found me in months after. I almost ate her after she fell into a trap I built due to the fact that all the bushes and trees had lost the food I depended on when winter came. I let her go and she was nice enough to let me stay at her house just a day ago.
All their eyes got huge and had tiny dialated pupils. As if they choreographed it together they all turned their heads to Fluttershy who wished then she could turn invisible by cringing in her chair. Twilight's voice got really soft and explains to her.
"Fluttershy I know your the element of kindness and you would bend over backwards to help somepony in need. But what are you doing bringing a dangerous creature like him to our town? Did you know about this, about what he has done?" Fluttershy nervously shakes her head yes and Twilight tries to reason with her.
"He was probably left for dead in the forest by his kind wherever they came from as punishment. You have to send him back he's too much of a risk to everyponies safety." It was all quiet for only but second before Fluttershy starts bawling and crying and hid her face in her forelegs in the table.
I really wouldn't have minded at that point if they sent me back to the forest. Being stuck in a world with talking ponies just seemed too much for me and if I had to die I would want to be alone anyway. Twilight tries to comfort Fluttershy when she looked up and pleaded with her. "Please Twilight don't do this please. You saw how he saved Sweetie Belle' s life today. He at the very least should be given a chance to live among us. There is no evil in him and I can prove it to you if you just give me some time."
She resumes her sobbing and Twilight looked back at the other four mares for their opinion on the matter. They showed hesitation but they all nodded in agreement before Twilight made the final decision. She looks at me with a death glare and announced. "As the elements of harmony of Equestria we have all decided that you shall be allowed to stay with us but be aware. Any infraction of our laws major or minor will be punishable by exile. I trust for Fluttershy' s sake and yours too that your really not evil and charge her with the task to show you proper pony behavior."
Fluttershy shot her head up and still sobbing she wrapped her front legs around her friend and repeated to her over and over again. "Thank you Twilight thank you. I wont let you down." I was honestly surprised that this little creature stood up for me and spared me certain death back in the forest. She really didnt owe me anything. Twilight looks back at me and asks. "This "lab" you spoke of earlier. Could you perhaps find your way back and show us all? It could help us find out what you are and how you came to be here."
I nod and just cut to the chase "Of course when do you want to go?" She tells me we will leave in the morning and will meet us at Fluttershy' s cottage. I really didnt want to go back to that cavern but they was offering to help me so I agreed. It was starting to get dark but before we left I had a meet and greet with the other four of their friends. They were quite nervous around me but it didn't stop them from asking general questions and killed a few minutes of time they talked mostly about my physical features and looked down when I felt a nudge at my side. It was the White unicorn mare I knew as Rarity. Her midnight Blue eyes looked up at me and sparkled in the dim light of the room almost hypnotizing me when she asks. "Could you maybe get down to eye level with me? I would love to see your face a little better."
I couldn't see the harm in it and kneeled down to her height on the tile floor. Her head was inches from mine and I can feel her warm breath on my face before she caught me completely by surprise when she wraps her forelegs around my neck and pressed her head and soft wet lips up to mine. I didn't blink even once as it seemed to last almost forever before she released me and pressed the side of her head against mine as she whispered in my ear. "Thank you so much darling for saving my Sweetie Belle she means everything to me. If you need anything, anything at all don't hesitate to ask."
My face had turned seven shades of red and sweat started to bead down my forehead. Applejack and Rainbow Dash wolf whistled as loud as possible echoing throughout the room making the moment even more uncomfortable for me. She sets her self down and just gives me the most devious smile to top it off. I could have just read what she was thinking but figured is was best to keep out maybe I don't want to know what was behind that grin. As a matter of fact the only one I couldn't link with in the room was Fluttershy for some reason. It was a good thing I can choose when to read minds but can sense what their feeling at the moment because it would drive me insane to have everyones thoughts constantly pop into my mind.
Fluttershy's timing couldn't have been more perfect when she asked if I was ready to go back to her house to get some rest. I look at her with urgency printed all over my face and nodded. We then walk back to the reading room and I grab the thick black plates of armor by the fireplace and hastily strap them on in a matter of a few seconds.
They talked about the plan for tomorrow in the reading room as I stood quietly by the door. When Fluttershy made her way back to me and was ready to go I pick up the rifle I left at the doorway and follow her out as she walked outside to a very dreary and cold outside.
It was just about dark with the orange sun barely visible to the west and the snow was gently falling in a flurry over a peaceful landscape of small houses and shops with warm low light from lanterns burning in the windows . The trees were covered in a thick sheet of ice giving them a beautiful luster. It was just us two walking on the main street with only our footsteps making sound.
Fluttershy finally broke the silence between us and said before she started to giggle "I see you made yourself a new friend." I looked down at her with a blank and serious expression and replied "It's not funny." She could see my irritability and confusion and tried to explain Rarity's situation. " After her parents died in a balloon crash when Sweetie Belle was only two years old she's the only family Rarity has left now. It broke her heart when they died but she found the strength to carry on and raise Sweetie Belle by herself and care for her like any parent would. She was just thanking you for saving her that's all I dont think she didn't meant to embarrass you like that."
Hearing that really made me bummed out. I could relate to her because I know what its like to have your parents ripped away so suddenly. With no sympathy I had answered back "I wasn't embarrassed I was just surprised thats all."
We past the town gates and into the woods that the trail cut through. It really looked creepy with the leafless trees making odd shapes in the mooonlight. All we heard was the crunching of snow from each other before I asked her a question that was burning me since this morning. "Fluttershy" I said she then looks up at me and smiles and said in her usual quiet tone. "Yes" I squint my eyes a bit and asked. "I didn't say anything strange in my sleep last night did I?"
She shakes her head no and said back. "Not really I only heard bits and pieces but it sounded like you were having an awful nightmare." I nod my head and we continued down the trail past Applejack's farm and finally made it back to her cottage.
We get inside the warm inviting and I take off the excess gear and set it off to the side by the door when Fluttershy says to me. " I'm going to take a bath before I make us something to eat you must be starving after today. Please just make yourself at home."
She goes upstairs and I took it upon myself to prepare the food. It couldn't be so hard I thought. I walk into the kitchen when I saw the small beady eyed white furball that Fluttershy named Angel. He flees at the very sight of me and left me alone in the kitchen thinking what a strange little creature he was.
The kitchen was setup like any other. It had a sink a wood stove and an Ice box. I set out the white porcelain plates from the cabinet on the table. I then grabbed some of the food from the fridge and began to slice it on an cutting board and set it on a serving tray.
It took no time at all to have it all finished and to clean everything up before Fluttershy walked inside the kitchen and gasped excitedly. "Oh my! You didnt have to do that!" I looked at her smiled and said. "I just wanted to say thanks for what you did today. Nobody sorry I mean nopony has ever stood up for me like that before."
Even through her butter Yellow coat I can see her face blush as she tries to hide it with her long Pink mane. "It wasn't a problem at all" she said softly and took a seat opposite me at the table. Her plain looking kitchen was silent for a few minutes before she gulped and asked me in the middle of eating. "I was just wondering do you have to eat meat to live?"
I choked on my food a little bit but answered her question with full honesty." Ive seen so much blood and death of my own people that even the thought of eating meat makes me sick to my stomach. If it is not necessary to my survival I won't kill any living to eat."
Her eyes got huge and dilated but she tries to hide her disgust from me and nods before she said "You don't have to worry. As long as your here with me I'll make sure your well fed and healthy." I couldn't help but gleefully smile at the tiny Yellow and Pink Pegasus that saved my life. I've only known her a few days but never in all my life have I experienced such unbreakable kindness from any living being Human or Pony. She was trying so hard to understand me and really appreciated her concern.
We both finish eating and I assist in helping to clean up and wash the dirty plates and put them away before we both head back to the living area of the cottage to relax for awhile for dinner settle in our stomachs. I sat on the velvet couch next to her while she read a book. The living area had a nice cozy feeling and was so warm and calming I couldn't help myself but yawn rudely while stretching out my arms.
She looks up at me with a smile away from her book and smiled "You read my mind." She said I couldn't help but chuckle a bit when she said that. When she asks whats so funny I just brush it off. "It's nothing nothing at all." She gets off the couch and puts her book away on the shelf.
She looks back at me and said "You can find your way back to your room can't you?" I cracked a smile and nodded back at her. "We got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Please try to get some sleep " she said blinking her eyes rapidly.
I follow her up the stairs and to the hallway that led to our rooms. She follows me to the door leading to mine in the dark and nudges it open for me." Here you are Koba you have a good night sweetheart." I walk into the plain plain and sparsely decorated room and shut the door behind me. It was way too warm for clothes in her house so I peeled them all off and set them on a night stand before I slipped naked under the blanket on the soft and plush mattress.
Sleep was almost impossible to avoid even after my nap earlier this afternoon. I tried to count backwards from 100 and only made it to 83 before sleep had taken hold of me. It put me in a state of bliss before the nightmares started to surface again.
They would start blurry and faded before they went full spectrum and vivid almost as if I was reliving all the most terrible moments of my life unfold again. The dreams were perpetual and would just keep coming becoming more and more intense when I thought they was over. My body wouldn't allow me to wake up from this misery that was my own mind and left me lay there on the bed tossing and turning.
I woke up late way past the crack of dawn. I just wanted to just lay there in a hot sweat that had soaked the back of my head onto the pillow. I could hear the faint noises coming from downstairs so I motivated myself off the bed to get dressed. I slip my pants and shirt on and sat with hands on my forehead on the bed as my thoughts ran wild with what had taken place within my own mind.
"What is wrong with me?" I ask myself. I never had such awful dreams like that before ever. I step off the bedside and onto the floor before I walked out of the room downstairs. The hustle and bustle of the six mares stomping loudly through the house stopped suddenly when I got to the living area.
I must have looked an absolute mess with my long scruffy Black hair that was stuck in a cowlicked pattern and my five 'o' clock shadow making my face appear wild and crazy again. Twilight and Fluttershy both approach me at the staircase before Fluttershy asks. "You don't look so good Koba. We can do this another time when your feeling better."
I slump my head towards the wood floor and hold up my palm at them. "I'm fine lets just do this." I said with an irritated and blunt tone. They both nod and Twilight then says to me. "We are ready when you are." I nod and walk over to pick up my rifle and armor and refitted myself in record time.
I stand by the door and wait for Fluttershy to push it open for me and was the first to walk outside before I do followed by the rest of the entourage. The White snow and the clear sky with the sun fully uncovered put major strain on my eyes as I squint to adjust to its sheer brilliance. I figured it was now or never and led the way to the forest that they had so many myths and stories about.
Twilight walked by my side as I navigated through the forest. There is no way I could miss the mountain I had looked upon for many month's before I found Fluttershy. We walked for hours as I guided them through the bleak and lifeless forest. They only exchanged small talk with each other as our journey stretched on into the early afternoon.
Twilight was the first to try to converse with me as we walked and asked. "What does that staff you carry do? Is it some form of strange magic?" I look down at the freezing cold hardened black steel and polymer that made up the assault rifle I was carrying and answered back "Yes it is something like magic." She paused for a moment then asks. " What does it do exactly?"
I look back at her and said with sheer coldness in my eyes. "It keeps me alive and makes everyone else dead." That explanation didn't shut her up as I had hoped instead she kept prying deeper. " Do you ever worry about dying?" She asked.
I give her a cold glare but answered back. "No not at all." She wasn't at all satisfied yet and asked me something completely out of line. "Do you enjoy killing?" I wanted so bad to show that little bitch first hand and choke the life out of her and curbstomp until her brains came out of the ears and nose. But my judgement was better than that and just shouted back at her. "Do you ever shut up?!!"
She turns her head back towards the trail and didn't even say a word until we reached the foot of the mountain. I tell them to pair up and search the trees for an X mark carved into it. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie stayed with me as the other four went their opposite ways around the steep mountain.
We stay in close proximity as Fluttershy hovered about checking tree to tree while Pinkie did some weird hopping about the other way I walk over to Fluttershy and ask. "Did you find anything?" She shakes her head no when we both hear a high pitched shout a short distance away. We get over to Pinkie who was standing and staring at a locust tree with the sure sign of an X carved into it. I can't believe Applejack and Rainbow Dash just passed it up.
"Good work Pinkie." I said in a calm pleased manner. "I'll wait here and you two go get the others. They both immediately comply and darted off. I turn and look at the entrance of the cavern. The opening was barely visible it still had the vines on it covered in snow and ice making it look like just another part of the landscape.
I could see Pinkie with Twilight and Rarity. I sit down in a rock and wait for the other three to converge on us. I sit and twiddled a stick with my knife when Rarity walks up next to me and asks. "Sweetie Belle just got released from the hospital this morning. And I was wondering if you would join us both for dinner at my house?" You can bring Fluttershy too if you like."
I shifted my eyes back and forth awkwardly but politely answered back. "I would like that very much." She squeals out loudly and said back. "My sister will be so happy she hasn't stopped talking about you since yesterday."
I smile and turn my head to the side where I saw Fluttershy and the other two walking back. We were all gathered up and they looked around trying to find out where this "Lab" I was talking about yesterday. Twilight was the first to ask. "So Koba? It this were you came from? It don't seem so special to me."
I get my butt off the cold rock and up to the vines and pushed them to the side like opening a curtain revealing a dark and dreadful looking cave. I walk in first with them following behind close. I could feel the fear and nervousness of them and could almost hear their hearts beat like a metronome.
It was extremely dark inside and silent besides a drip of water into a puddle every now and then. If I didn't have my hands out feeling a round in front of me I would have ran right into the huge metal door. I ask if them if they had a light source with them. In an instant the entire tunnel was flooded by piercing White light that Rarity was emitting from her horn.
I look back at her with my arm over my eyes and smiled "Thanks" I said before turning back to the door. I find the metal latch and slam it down. The door pops and shoots air out of the crevices kicking up dust. After the dramatic effect I pull the door open halfway and hold my hand up at the pitch black hallway and said with cockiness "ladies first" Twilight smirks at me and demanded. "No way!!! you go first."
I roll my eyes at her but walk in and waited at the doorway for them to follow. Rarity walks in first with her light shining brightly illuminating the painted hallway revealing more of the complex than a tiny flashlight ever could. The rest of the of the entourage followed in and we stood at the doorway for a minute before I shut the heavy metal door and latched it. Twilight walks up to me asks. "Wow you weren't kidding. Where do we start?" I tell her there must be a way to get the lights back on so we can explore the entirety of this compound unhindered by darkness. She looks up at me and says. "Let's get to it you lead the way. I nod and begin walking down the hallway stomping loudly on the Gray concrete floor. When we made it into the inner sanctum they all gasped at the size of it. Not even the radiating light from Rarity could reach the ceiling as it only would reach the first couple of stories.
They all stood dumbstruck and in awe to the fact that a world did exist at one time and it was right under their feet all this time. I snap my fingers loudly echoing throughout the complex at them to break the trance they was under. They snap to attention at me and looked around at each other. Fluttershy gasps and exclaimed. "We lost Pinkie Pie!!!"
They all scramble in all different directions calling her name when we hear her over in the far off corner standing in front of a door. She looks back at me and asks. "Koba is this what you were looking for?" The Yellow and Black sign that read "Engineering" was plainly written and left me in astonishment at the Pink pony that found it. I ask her how she knew that was the door and she cryptically explained. "I don't know it just felt right." I couldn't help but give her credit for being so intuitive and aware.
I pop the rigid steel vaulted door open first and walk inside the room. The walls were coated in a Lead casing riveted firmly. There was a sign sternly printed with the symbol that Radiation and Nuclear danger was ahead.
I ask only Rarity to follow me just in case in with the light so I could find the power source. I tell the others to stay put before we both delve deeper into the room until I find a Black control box with a faint red light shining on top of it. The smaller switches were aligned with a large lever at the top that was labeled main power. Rarity nudges my side and asks. "Is that what your looking for deary?" I look down and nod back at her.
I really wasn't sure about doing this it but it never stopped me before in the past as I reached up and pulled the handle down. Almost instantly after I pulled it a giant flat screen monitor came to life on the wall. It lit up the whole room in White light and initiated the startup sequence of the main reactor. I stand in front of it nonchalantly as it loaded without a hitch and watched it run the diagnostics. The core, water supply and cooling system along with the turbines were all still in stable condition.
I slide my fingers across the screen and finalize the process of restarting the core. Nothing happens at first so we walk back out were we left the others. Dash was the first to ask what was going on. "Well that was a waste of effort what were you two doing in there the whole time?"
I didn't say anything back I only pointed up at the roof where the floodlights started to flicker with an Orange glow. Within a few minutes the lights had fully illuminated the area and we had a full view of all of the surroundings. They all had their heads on a swivel scanning every foot of the cavern before Twilight asked. "They built all of this just for you?"
I look around the dusty and decrepit facility and answered back. "I have no idea why I was brought here. I was hoping that you would know."
She continues to look around and said "I have no idea either what this is and thats a first for me." I nodded and started to lead them through the first floor going door to door checking for anything of use or value to me while giving them the grand tour. We check every shipping container and crate but the only thing I found of any use was more clothes and a couple pairs of sunglasses that would cut out the snows blinding White glare. It would take days maybe weeks to search through everything in the cavern and decided call it a day. It was starting to get late already and Twilight had suggested to me that she write to a friend that worked in archaeology to check out the site for research.
I just wanted to leave and told them we would come back with Twilight's friend to search the rest of this place. I lead the way out checking the hallway for anything useful before we left the now brightly lit corridor. I unlatched the door and let them out first before I stepped outside and locked the massive steel door.
I turn to the entourage and ask Twilight. "Who is your friend? This archaeologist you spoke of earlier?" She answered in a sheepish tone. "Digger McClean" I laughed a little bit at that and said. "Of course it is"
We walk through the tunnel with the sunlight at the end the only source of light. Once again we were back outside and felt the warm radiant light of the Sun and my nerves settled as I took deep breaths through my nose and out my mouth. I really did have only one fear and that was claustrophobia and being in that complex really made me very nervous but I would never show my fear in front of anyone and usually just sucked it up and moved along.
I take a seat on a nearby rock and check out the commodities I had stuffed greedily into the bag. Along with the clothes and sunglasses I took a Mili spec labtop computer along with a solar charger and several hard drives stacked alphabetically in a box. I didn't know what was on them but it would keep me busy in the meantime and preoccupied until this whole mess was figured out.
While I was looking through the items acquired Fluttershy walks up to me quietly and asked. "Are you ready to go Koba?" I look up at her from my rucksack and smiled back in response I said. "Yes lets get going I got everything I need"
I sling the bag over my back and let the charger hang out of the opening to collect the suns blistering energy. We start walking back with Fluttershy beside me the whole time during the journey. After only getting halfway my legs were starting to ache from all the hiking we did today and with every step they got weaker and the pack along with my body armor wasn't making it any easier on me as I started to sweat profusely even in the frigid breeze as we pressed on.
The forest was eerily quiet and dead looking all the trees were in sick twisted formations with the ice coated on the giving them a luster as the sun hit them. Even with all the monsters and savage rabid beasts in hibernation the six mares were on full alert with their heads on a swivel scanning in a wide swath the surrounding path. I've only seen a few of these animals they feared so much up close and really didnt think they were all that dangerous but I've underestimated such things previously that I thought was nothing and I have been fooled before. As we kept on walking silently through the frigid woods when Fluttershy steps on a stick and it snaps quietly almost inaudible beneath her hoof causing her to shriek out insanely loud almost perforating my ear drums. I cover my ears as she jumped on me almost knocking me over as she grabbed my side and around my stomach with her diamond crushing grip.
They all stopped dead and turned back at me and her expecting to see some horrible flesh eating monster right on top of us only to see me stopped and with a confused and perplexed look on my face while Fluttershy was still gripping me firmly. She trembled and shook violently like her life was in mortal danger hiding her face under my armpit. Dash starts laughing hysterically and in between giggles she said. "What a scaredypony! Maybe you should have just stayed home Fluttershy" I knew Fluttershy was a timid little thing from firsthand experience and I was going to help work on that. I started to gently tap on her left wing and tell her its alright as Dash kept laughing like a madmare until Applejack shoulder checked her harshly silencing her laughter completely and almost tackling her to the ground and said to Dash. "Why do you have to be so mean sometimes Dash? Y'all know she can't help it."
There was silence for a moment before Twilight took back control of the group and boomed. "Lets get going we don't want to be out here past dark." I let the five mares get a head start on me and it gave us some privacy as I asked Fluttershy who still clung to my side like glue. "Are you okay? Can you walk?" She didn't say anything and I couldn't see her face but could hear her sobbing and wrapped my arm around her back to brace her and said. "It's okay I'll carry you back if you can't do it, just hold on."
I start walking again taking huge strides while following the tracks of the others before I finally caught up behind them like nothing happened and continued the hike. It's a good thing her body was very light and easy to carry even with one arm and her still holding on to me it was almost like carrying a giant stuffed animal. The others exchanged only small talk and chatter to pass the time and before we knew it we were out into the outskirts and back on the dirt path that was worn down with horseshoe tracks.
Fluttershy's house was only a few hundred yards away from the trail and I was relieved and almost ecstatic to see it because it meant I could shed all this extra weight off my body. We all stop at the front yard and I immediately drop the bag that was becoming a major burden on me and could feel my back release as the tension in it wore off. Fluttershy was still sobbing and sniffling and had soaked my side with her tears. I tell her we made it out of the forest and she lifts her head from the safety of my armpit and looks around the area with her bloodshot eyes.
She then asked me quietly almost whispering to set her down. I happily comply and set her up on the ground on her weak and shaking knees. I was almost expecting to watch her fall over and kneeled down next to her ready to stop her from falling over until she steadied her legs a few seconds later. Applejack walks over to us and asks Fluttershy. "You okay sugarcube?" Fluttershy nods and replies with a reassuring smile. "I'm fine thank you for asking."
She then changes the subject and requested to both of us. "We are having a cider party tomorrow night at our barn. It's a going to be a blast and half the town is going to be there y'all two should to it would be a good chance for Koba to meet the other ponies."
Fluttershy just shuffled her feet and kicked at the ground before she replied. "We would love to be there Applejack." She smiles ear to ear and excitedly shouted back. "Yee haww I knew you would say yes!!! Now it's a party!!"
I look down at Fluttershy who still was shaking furiously before asking her. "Rarity invited me over to her house for dinner would you like to come along?" She shifts her eyes back and forth and responded. "I'm sorry I can't my animals need fed and I have loads of chores to do. But you should go and have fun. If anybody can teach you on how to be a gentlecolt it would be Rarity."
I put my hand my hand across her back and stroked her soft thin coat. It was so smooth like she oiled it or something but it was super warm and fluffy. I almost forgot what I was going to say but spit it out anyway. "You'll be fine Fluttershy your friend Rainbow Dash probably didn't mean to hurt your feelings like that. When I get back from dinner I'll help you out with your chores and we can talk some more. Does that sound good?"
Her gloomy and lifeless expression changed dramatically and she cracked an adorable smile showing me those sparkling White teeth of hers. It made my day and maybe the month to see her smile like that. I never have been one to comfort others but It actually left me feeling warm on the inside and it felt good.
I tell her goodbye and would be back soon before I set my bag by the door so the computer could catch more sun to charge while I was gone. I started following the five mares that were making their way back to their homes in town. I talked to Applejack for a few minutes about the day's events while the other's chatted amongst themselves before she made it back to her farm about a half mile from Fluttershy's cottage. She seemed to be a very nice mare but as I would find out later she was the one who had the most guilt pent up in her mind and a very dark secret.
I catch up behind Rarity who was at the side of the pack. I wasn't good at being social and was working on it little by little by engaging in small talk with her. We talked about the weather and the complex for a minute before she changed the subject thankfully and said. "My sister has been dying to meet you and hasn't stopped talking about you since yesterday. So thats why she set up this dinner so you'll get to meet her and her friends at my house."
I could see the town was just in sight with the sure sign of smoke rising over a beautiful Orange and Purple sunset. It left me lost in thought as I walked on quietly down the snow covered road. At least here you didn't have to worry about bombings or checkpoints or other people trying to kill you because it just a thought running through their mind . It really was peaceful and calm. There appeared to be no wars between the different races of ponies and they all seemed to get along in perfect harmony maybe thats why there were no humans here.
When we made it to the front gates it put me out of the cloud of thoughts and onto the town and its inhabitants. It seemed like an ordinary day from what it looked like until the townsfolk spotted me. They all gathered around me in a circle chanting my name and stamping their hooves in unison. They ground shook violently as they chanted my name over and over again. I didn't really like all this attention but it didn't stop my cheeks from turning blood Red from embarrassment. We rudely push our way through the crowd that followed us all the way to Rarity 's carousel looking house. I squinted my eyes at the strange and somehow enchanting structure. All five of us entered the strange looking building to avoid the fanatic mob that had gathered on our tails. Even when Rarity shut the door you could still hear them chanting and cheering outside and pounding on the door.
The inside of her house was amazing as I inspect and look every detail top to bottom. It was had a cozy feel to it with its beautifully decorated walls and finely crafted wooden furniture. Rarity leads all of us as I continue to look around in astonishment through the house and to the dining room. There were plates and chairs set up already for us at the table and Rarity politely asks us to take our seats.
We all took our seats quietly and I take a place in the middle to give me a little space between me and the others Rarity excuses herself into the kitchen and the other four began to exchange small talk before something hit the White windowless door to the kitchen with a loud boom and almost made it fall off the hinges. In an instant I was surrounded by three small ponies that were making my head spin as they shrieked and squealed loudly at my sides.
I recognize Sweetie Belle immediately through the White fur and light Purple and Pink mane. She introduces me to her friends. The other two were Applebloom the Earth pony as well as Scootaloo the small pegasus. And apparently they were part of a secret society known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders from what they told me.
They then excuse themselves to set the food out on the table and disappeared back inside the kitchen. It was only a second after they went in that they were wheeling out a cart full of food that they cooked themselves. Twilight works some of her magic to help them and levitated the plates in front of each and everyone of us. I look down at the steaming pile of food before me. I grimaced at the smell of what looked like angel hair pasta along with a Tomato and Basil sauce with something else that I hoped was melted cheese on top. Sweetie Belle takes the empty seat right next to me and asks me in her high squeaky voice. "Is everything ok? Do you like it?"
I look at her and kept myself from gagging at the smell of the god awful abomination of culinary disaster in front of me and smiled. "It looks great Sweetie Belle. thank you so much for dinner." She gives me a huge grin before she dives her face into plate of slimy White and Red pasta.
I reach into my pocket for my multitool and slide the fork out. I observe the table and look around at the others who seemed to be enjoying it all to well before before taking the first bite. I dive the fork in the plate making a sick scratching noise like nails on a Blackboard and basically shoveled it in my mouth.
My first and immediate reaction was to vomit all over the Gray tablecloth. I have eaten some nasty and long expired rancid food before but this pushed the threshold of what I could take. They definitely wasn't going to be getting a cutie mark for cooking thats for damn sure.
It was all quite at the table not even a word was said until Twilight clears her throat and asked "So Koba what do you think about your stay so far?" I was honestly relieved that she addressed me so I could take my attention off dinner for the moment and replied back to her in a very cheesy manner. " I can't thank you all enough for taking me in and giving me a chance to live amongst your kind." She smiles and asked. "We hardly know anything about you is there anything that your really good at?"
I look around the table at the blank stares and expressions of the completely silent faces of the four mares and 3 fillies that quietly ate . I pondered for quite awhile if I should tell them about it or not before Twilight cleared her throat and asked again. "Well?" My forehead started to bead and sweat nervously ran down my cheek as my hands began to shake violently on the Oak table.
I was usually the one doing the interrogating and asking the questions so it just felt so awkward and unfamiliar to me. I felt a drop of sweat bead off my nose and it fell onto the table and landed almost with a thud on the White tablecloth due too the silence that had taken up the entire room. It just wasn't the time to tell them so I just stalled and nervously but calmly said back. "I am fluent in 4 other languages and thats about it. I'm actually quite ordinary compared to the other humans."
They all just looked at each other over the table and traded back their gazes with me satisfied with the lie I materialized. I could feel their anticipation and wonder as I just sat there and then returned my attention back to the plate of spaghetti in front of me and resumed eating in a nonchalant manner. They all did the same after a few seconds slowly and quietly. And for a good while the only sound that could be heard for a good while was slow munching and my fork scratching the porcelain plate like nails on a blackboard as they began to talk with each other.
I couldn't help myself anymore and let my curiosity get the better of me. I wanted to read Dash's mind she seemed to have to weakest mind and I wanted to just to dip my feet in the pool so to speak and to see what made her so abrasive and bitter all the time in the deep abyss of her mind. I put all my concentration into her and slowly her thoughts and memories began to unfold like pages in a book when I found something that was what caused her the most pain.
"It was almost like walking into a dream and I could almost taste the fresh clean air and feel the cool breeze of the eerily dark Blue sky far above the ground. Even though it was broad daylight you could easily see the stars shine brilliantly past the suns veil. Every sense of mine was heightened and were being stimulated beyond anything I have ever felt before almost like I lived it . It seemed like what I envisioned heaven would look like with clouds spanning as far as the eye could see and the ingenious works of architecture built from them that rivaled that of Roman style of building with high arches and Doric along with Ionic columns . There were plenty of Pegasus walking around on the clouds but their was one that caught my eye immediately as she walked between two older ponies.
I could recognize that Rainbow mane anywhere and concentrated even harder to get a closer look at them. The little cyan filly between them was crying her eyes out and her multicolored rainbow mane was so long that it dragged the clouds and was well taken care of and neatly brushed. They walked on towards a massive amphitheater with a huge banner that read " Cloudsdale Flight School Tryouts."
I wondered what had her so upset and tried even harder to concentrate almost losing my connection with her in the process to read the memory of her and her parents conversation. Her father was a stern looking stallion with a broad chest and shoulders with muscles that bulged through his dark Brown coat he had her big Magenta eyes that stared coldly and lifeless off into space. Her mother was a tall and slender skinny mare with a Cyan coat just like hers and beautiful shimmering hair that changed into a multitude of colors and shades when the sun hit it just right. It was just then her father broke the silence as he started to scold Dash
"You had better stop crying now Rainbow. You don't know the strings we had to pull too get you here so at the very least you should show a little appreciation." Her mother's midnight Blue eyes had started to tear up and she asked him. "Storm Cloud do we have to do this isn't there any other way?" He looks down at her and with not even an ounce of sympathy on his wrinkled and chiseled face said back. "No Prism this is the way it has to be."
They walk up to the steps of the building were all the fillies and their parents were gathered. Her mother was still crying but hugs her daughter tightly and kisses her cheek before saying. "It's time for you to go now Dashie do us proud and remember that the sky is not always the limit and your going to go far in life no matter what you decide to do. Goodbye my sweet little filly I'm going to miss you so much." Dash was still sniffling but she showed a little bravery and managed to crack a smile to her mother."Please mom I'm only going to be gone a few hours and stop being so mushy your embarrassing me in front of the other fillies please stop crying."
It was then the instructor's voice echoes throughout the crowd catching her attention as he calls out for all of the fillies and colts to line up and enter. She looks back her parents one last time before she joins the others and said "I love you mom and dad." She lines up in the column of other junior fliers through the doors and on to the track.
She walks down a long dark hallway with the clattering of hooves her only company on to the cloud turf. There she could see the table with the judges all conversing and looking over the new talent this year. Her knees were starting to shake uncontrollably making it almost impossible for her to stretch her legs to warm up and her heart was pounding so fast even the tiniest bit of physical exertion would have caused it to explode out of her chest. She tenses back up and focuses when behind her a giggle caught her attention and she slowly turns her head back followed by the rest of her body.
The three colts behind her she must have known and seen before because they knew her by name as the middle one started to laugh and tease her. "Aww would you look at that I guess Junior flight camp just wasn't enough for you Rainbow Crash. You better go get your mommy and cry on her shoulder again because I am going to make it my mission this year to rid myself of your irritating presence."
Her knees stop shaking and she stands taller puffing out her chest and boldly replied back. "Then you won't have a problem racing me in the first race would you? But if you don't want to thats fine save yourself the embarrassment." They all stood silent for just a moment before they all started laughing hysterically and rolling in the clouds. The middle one walks up to her just inches away from her face and grunted with his awful warm breath hitting her and she turned her face in grimace before he said. "Your on little filly I'm looking forward to putting an end to your flying career once and for all." He then walks off with his wild eyes never taking them off hers as he walked off with his friends who were still giggling. She took her mind off the competition focusing completely on what she had to do and what she was bred to do. She wasn't just any ordinary Pegasus as everypony thought. Her father was an Equinine a very rare minority of their species that is known for their incredible speed agility and endurance but also their arrogance and selfishness were just some of their traits.
A whistle pierced the silence to announce the racers to gather at the starting line in front of the judges for the first race. She walks up to the starting line and pauses. The only movement she made was to turn her head side to side to take one look at her competition. She turns her head back forward and assumes the starting position bending her front and hind legs. She was completely concentrated with every muscle in her body surging with raw power from years of training and exercise. It wouldn't have been good enough for her just to win she wanted to bury them.
It was like the six racers where frozen in time not even giving themselves a chance to breath until the whistle blew. Her body exploded off the platform when she jumped. Her wings swung so rapidly and furiously appearing to be just a faint blur of light.
The oval track was 1000 meters long and in less than 2 seconds she tore up 100 meters in a single sprint leaving all the others in a state of disorientation in the wake of the gale force winds that she left behind her. They desperately tried to catch up to her only to be slowed down by the residual energy that poured from her wings and kept them from even getting close to her. Her Magenta eyes were watering from the high speed air ripping her in the face but she had to keep them open she needed to see. Her vision was becoming blurry but she still could see the track as the barriers and empty grandstands . She had no idea how fast she was going and no perception of time as she circles the track over and over redundantly.
There wasn't a single Pegasus in the whole stadium that was going to get in her way to try and stop her in fear that they would be ran over by her. They just let her go watching the rainbow trail behind her go around and around until she completely exhausted herself and stopped at the starting strip on her platform.
Her body literally had nothing left to give as she panted profusely trying to force air back into her body. Her fur was glimmering in the sun giving her a glossy appearance from the sweat that ran off her body and now messy mane to her underside. One of the judges walks over to her and stands quietly as she caught her breath enough to speak. She looks up at the serious bold stare of his smoky Gray eyes and as he towered over her and assumed the worst.
His expression didn't even change in the least as he asked. "Rainbow Dash is it?" She nods and nervously stammered back almost choking on her own words "yyyess sir." He squints his eyes and tilts his broad neck bringing his face closer to hers. His face cracked a smile in a sick twisted fashion from his lack of experience using the expression but it was still reassuring to her none the less as he said. "I have been a professional racer for 20 years and a instructor for 6 but never in my entire career have I seen a filly as young as you are with scores that would beat half of our most elite fliers. Your a little rough around the edges and you need to hone your technique but we can work on that. I don't really give credit very often but I must say you were absolutely amazing. You really live up to what your cutie mark suggests Rainbow Dash."
She shifts her eyes back and forth in confusion before she looks back at her flank. Her heart almost stopped in disbelief as her eyes bulged out of her skull at the sight of her signature cutie mark of the White cloud and rainbow colored lightning bolt streaking through it. She couldn't have been more proud of herself than at that moment and there was nothing that was going to ruin this golden moment for her.
The other fillies and colts gathered around them as he gave her the full ride scholarship for flight school and all the training she would ever need before they exploded in a cheer chanting her name over and over again. The smile on her face stretched from ear to ear and all the blood in her body was in her face from blushing causing her to feel faint. The crowd of trainees eventually settles and resumes the second round of tryouts. She took a seat in the grandstands to rest not even paying attention to the others as they whizzed by her one after another occasionally blowing her hair about . She just couldn't wait for the day to be over so she tell her parents about it that was the only thing on her mind.
The colt that was so sure of himself earlier walked up and took a seat beside her with his face humbled and silent. Shes squints her eyes and gives him a menacing glare almost sure that he would accuse her of cheating. To her surprise he clears his throat and began by saying. "Uh Rainbow Dash you got a minute?" She was suspicious of what kind of angle he was trying and responded back with. "What do you want?" He still had that downtrodden look on his face but managed to say. "You were amazing today Dash I didn't think you had it in you." Her face cracks a smile and she modestly replies back. "It was nothing just a walk in the park."
He continues by saying. "I'm so sorry for bullying you all those years. As a matter a fact I've always sort of had a crush on you Rainbow. It was wrong of me to pick on so ruthlessly and today you taught me a very valuable lesson about karma and if anypony deserved that scholarship that pony was you. And maybe if you wanted could you maybe be my training partner if I get in and help me on my technique?"
She couldn't believe that the colt that bullied her for most of her natural life was giving her his most sincere apology and asking for her help. She just couldn't wipe that grin off her face no matter how hard she tried to be serious. She nodded and said back. "I would be happy too I hope you get in too and we could hang out together more."
His face brightened up and he let out a sly grin before she continued by saying. "Maybe we can... I don't know even exercise alone after dark if you know what I'm getting at handsome..?" His brown eyes widened and his pupils dilated with his jaw dropped at that statement from the dirty minded Pegasus. He was lost for words and his face started to blush making his cheeks beam Red as he said back. "Ooookay I'm looking forward to it. See you around Dash I wish you the best." She still had that menacing sadistic grin on her mug as he walked away as she said back. "You too Thunderhead."
She was once again alone to her thoughts as they raced back and forth. She sat there staring off into space for a half hour and didn't realize how far she was in her self induced trance until she heard a whistle blow and an announcement boomed from the lead instructor who called for all the participants to line up on the track. Her wings were extremely sore and ached causing her immense pain as she tried to move them so she opted to walk down instead from the stands.
All the others were anxiously waiting for the results and while the judges tallied the numbers the lead instructor walked down the line of junior fliers and stared them all down. He was a very stern looking stallion tall and broad and physically imposing as he walks to the end of the line and turns back down the line again as he began to lecture them about the schools tradition in his deep booming voice. "Cloudsdale Flight School is our most prestigious and historical institution. Some of the best fliers in all of Equestria have graduated from our school and made their marks in the history books and in our halls. Most of the students in our campus have rich parents and bought their way in. 98% of these young Pegasi do not graduate or drop out and the 2% that do are usually found right here. Our faculty at the school believe that every Pegasus is special and we set up these tryouts every year to give everypony a chance to attend our school. And today I believe we found that special pony in Miss Rainbow Dash and a few others in this crowd who showed great skill and potential would you please step up on the platform behind me Miss Dash."
Her face beamed a smile as she trotted up to the platform and took her place in the middle. He walks up to her and places a Red ribbon with a sparkling gold medallion in the middle of it on her chest. He shakes her hoof and gave her a smile before his voice boomed. "I'm looking forward to being your instructor you have a lot of heart kid." He then turns back to the others and continues by saying. "But she is not alone and in a moment we will announce the other contenders that have also made the cut."
He walks over to the judges table and for awhile they conversed back and forth before he is given a clipboard and he hastily makes his way back in front of the column of anxious colts and fillies. He looks down at it and raised his head again and bluntly announced the names of the other Pegasi that also had caught the judges eyes. "Shadow Storm, Thunderhead, Bulk Biceps, Cumulonimbus, please step forward take your places next to Miss Dash. They almost tripped over each other as they frantically ran up the steps and took their places standing nervously at attention with Dash in the middle who couldn't be any more calmer and relaxed.
He congratulates them all and they are all given the piece of paper guaranteeing them into one of the most elite flying schools in all of Equestria. He continues to talk for awhile more to the ponies that didn't make it cheering them up by saying "This may not have been your year but if you continue to work hard enough it will be rewarded I promise I hope to see you all again next year." He talked for a awhile longer to the Dash and the others and hands them a schedule before he promptly dismissed them all.
Outside the stadium the parents had herded at the front gates and talked with each other as they waited patiently before the front door burst open unleashing a flood of tiny multicolored ponies stampeding towards their parents. Dash couldn't have been more nonchalant even though she was so excited to tell her parents about today she held it all back as she slowly walked down the hall behind the mob of her peers and exited last out into the sunshine at the top of the steps.
She was expecting her parents to be out front but when she thoroughly scanned the crowd they were nowhere to be found. She wondered where they were and what could have been so important that they would forget to be there to pick her up. In a matter of a few minutes the crowd dissipated and she was left all alone on the steps as she sat and pondered. "Maybe they just forgot it would only be a few hours and they are at home?" She didn't want to sit there for too much longer after that before she decided to get up and walk back home by herself.
She walks through the crowded streets of the city scared out of her mind. Cloudsdale is unforgiving and is no place for a filly all by herself but she puts on a brave face and continues on for several more minutes until she reaches the block her family's estate was on. She walks up to the huge house and is shocked to see a for sale sign in the front yard and a strange stallion she never met before standing at the front door. She gets only a few feet away before she asks politely. "Excuse me sir who are you?" The pony turns around with a surprised look on his face as he looked down at her and said. "Well hello there little missy what's your business here." She was a little annoyed that this strange pony was asking her what she was doing at her own house and replied. "I should ask you the same thing. This is were me and my parents live who are you?"
He clears his throat and explained. " Thats very funny you shouldnt make jokes like that little filly but since you really want to know I'm Schister I work for Cloudsdale Realty and I'm trying selling the house. Yesterday a couple came to my office and wished to sell the estate for a steal so naturally I did pushed the paperwork. When I came here to talk with them a little more about the house they were already gone so they basically forfeited the estate to me and now I'm working on getting it sold." Tears started to stream out of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks she was starting to choke up but still asked him. "They...they left?"
He nods his head and coldly answered back. "Yes their gone and you better be too our I'm calling the police." She starts sobbing and choked up a request to him. "Can I please just go inside for a second please?" His face became even colder and serious as he scolded her. "You think your the only foal that has tried this prank on me before. You better motivate your flank out of here before I have you thrown in jail NOW SCRAM!!!"
She bolts back out into the street and sat down on the curb. She was so confused and scared as she thought to herself. "Where did they go? Why did they leave me? Is this all my fault they left? Do they not love me any more?"
It was then I lost the connection with her and I am bolted back to the familiar sight of the dinner table along with the seven ponies who had their eyes fixed on me.
They all had their eyes fixed on me with very confused looks and silently observed me as I shook my head back and forth vigorously trying my hardest to rid myself of the dizzy nauseating feeling that plagues me after every time I used this curse I possessed. Rarity cleared her throat and spoke to me asking in her usual polite manner showing her most sincere concern for me. "Are you alright dear? You really don't look so well.." I put my hands on my forehead and tilted my head down towards the table and replied back. " I think so but thanks for asking. Can I maybe please be excused? "
Twilight then interjected rudely and asked. " Whats wrong? It looked like you were turned to stone and we tried calling you by name but you haven't even so much as blinked for the last ten minutes are you sure your okay?" My hands and arms were starting to shake and my vision was becoming blurred out and hazy even their voices seemed like they were getting slower when Rarity asks. "Oh my are you sick darling? Would you like to lay down on my couch and rest for awhile?" I put my arms on the table using them as support as I stand up from the tiny chair almost falling over face first onto the table and slurred back. "No I will be fine Rarity but thank you.... anyway I think.... I just need to get some fresh air. Thank you for allowing me to be a guest in your home and thank you Sweetie Belle for dinner it was wonderful. We should do this again sometime." Pinkie jumps out of her seat then beams a huge smile and exclaims in her usual high pitched tone. "Bye now thanks for having dinner with us!!!" I smile back like nothing was wrong at the spastic Pink Earth pony with that huge grin still painted on her mug and nod before I struggle to make my way for the exit of the dining room giving it everything I had to walk in a straight line and not to pass out and hit the floor in front of them.
I was staggering as soon as I was out past the dining room door and desperately holding myself up on the walls of her house and anything sturdy enough to hold my body weight to keep my balance before I finally make my way to the front door. My body was so weak and my hands were still very shaky even turning the Brass door knob might as well have been a mission to Mars for me. But I do eventually get it open and just peaked my head outside to see that the docile mob that harassed us earlier had disappeared and the streets were empty as dusk had settled over the sleepy little town. I step outside and pause on the walkway to take a few deep breaths of the cold frosty air watching it form a white vapor over the streetlamps as I exhaled and to my surprise it did help ease my nausea and dizziness much quicker than I anticipated and it quickly faded and gave me much needed relief before I started the long lonely walk back to Fluttershy's cottage before nightfall.
The walk through the town and eventually the snow covered dirt trail back was so peaceful and serene as I hiked back on the path following my boot and their hoof prints. There was a slight flurry gently falling from a Orange overcast sky coating my shoulders and hair in a angelic white veil as I continued down the trail lost in thought about the revelation I had discovered about Dash unknowingly to her. In a way I could relate to what it felt like to be abandoned by the people who gave you life and had the sole responsibility to take care of you. I really could understand what she went through and felt sympathy for her now as my mind raced back and forth. """"That poor girl no wonder she was so bitter and selfish all the time. She probably had to grow up all on her own and it must have hurt her so bad that they just left her like that maybe I should....""""
My thoughts ceased immediately when I hear the faint sound of a twig snap followed by an low ominous roar very close behind me catching my full attention and stopping me dead in my tracks. My heart rate immediately began to soar and I could feel a chill run up my spinal column making the hair on the back of my neck stand firmly at attention. I could hear the slow footsteps behind me getting closer with a heavy thud that shook the ground beneath my feet.
My body tensed up like steel and I took a deep shallow breath to try and put a stop to my shakiness I had to keep my concentration and composure. I do it a few more times and in a matter of a few seconds my heartbeat began to wind down to a slow steady rhythm and I was prepared turn around at my own peril. So I suddenly turn my legs followed by the rest of my body in one fluid motion spreading my legs out towards the creature that had me in it's sights. When it came into view my eyes widened at the very sight of it I couldn't believe things like that existed I've never seen anything like it not even in my most terrible nightmares. It was no wonder the ponies were scared of the woods and rarely seen outside after dark. My pupils dilated and my heart skipped a beat in absolute horror at this beast who was now only a few yards away from me as it stared directly at me with it's glowing dark green eyes that shined with a most terrifying glare filling my soul with nameless fear. There were nothing to describe it so I softly said under my breath in the words of the Motherland "Yebat`"
It was clearly a Wolf but not like any I've ever seen before as it paced back and forth with it's head hung low never taking it's bright feral eyes off of me for even a millisecond. It stood at the very least six feet tall with mangy Gray fur that covered it's slender body with every bone clearly visible from days of starvation sticking straight up in the air like a rabid beast from the darkest depths of Tartarus. It's mouth then widened as it growled out in hunger and deadly intent showing me it's dark Brown gums and 3 inch razor sharp Yellow fangs that dripped with thick clear saliva that melted the snow beneath it in anticipation of making me it's next meal. There was no backing down at this point or any chance that I could run fast enough to evade it. This was going to be a fight a fight for my very survival there was just no other way for a positive outcome for me.
I then gently and slowly not even taking my eyes off this overgrown canine for a second place my hand at my side and unsheathed the only weapon I had available to me at the time. The Kenzo blade that my life now depended on was at our time a marvel of edged weapon design and modern military technology. It's blade was 10 inches long but only weighed 8 ounces and was made of high strength composites that was rust and break proof along with a infused synthetic Diamond edge that never needed sharpening or maintenance. I really regretted shedding all my body armor off at Fluttershy's but in a way it would prove to be an advantage.
When it sees the blade it takes an aggressive stance putting itself lower to the ground getting itself ready to lunge at me any second. If it thought for even a moment that it would call my bluff and that I would try to run away and give it the satisfaction of an easy meal ticket it was dead wrong. I start to move my legs slowly moving side to side trying to provoke it so it would make the age old mistake of being too anxious to take down it's opponent and give me an opportunity for a fair fight.
The stand off lasted a few minutes as the slow breeze was starting to get cold and unforgiving blowing my hair around and biting at my bare fingers making them almost go numb as I held on to my blade for dear life. It just continued to stare me down with it's starved eyes before it finally made it's move like I hoped it would. It used it's huge back legs and leaped several feet in an instant taking huge chunks of snow and dirt as it lunged forward hoping to pounce on me and crush me with it's body weight. As soon as he was airborne I side stepped out of it's way and he lands only inches away missing me completely and exposed his side to me. I took full advantage of the failed attempt as I lifted my arm and with ease drove my knife deep into it's side right above it's hind leg.
It let out an incredibly loud pained high pitch whine and frantically tried to turn it's head back to snap at me with its jaws unsuccessfully as I held my blade there and twisted it a little before I tore it back out viciously from it's body while screaming obscenities at the top of my lungs unleashing torrents of dark Red blood from it's hip as my blade slid out of it's body causing it to fall over on the snow. I jumped just a few feet back from it and watched as it struggled to stand back up with it's right leg quivering furiously in pain from the muscles and tendons that were just severed covering it's leg and the snow underneath it in blood. I just stood still and silent hoping that it would get smart and flee just like any predator would to avoid serious injury but it didnt and I made the mistake by not finishing it off when I had the chance. It probably hadn't eaten in a good while because as soon as it got to its feet it caught me completely by surprise and lunged at me again this time knocking me straight to the ground on top of me in an instant causing me to drop my knife as I fell and it bounced out of my reach just an arms length away from me.
It's giant front paws had my chest and groin pinned firmly to the ground I could feel my ribs cracking and breaking under it's weight as it opened it's mouth as far as it would go and went in for the kill. When I started to struggle and turn to free my body it dug it's huge jaws deep into my side tearing into my clothes and flesh just under the rib cage and began to twist it's massive head back and forth trying to tear my body apart as quickly as possible. The immense pain from his jaws crushing and tearing my insides caused me to cry out in pain like I never have before traveling deep throughout the woods echoing off into the wilderness for several miles. I could taste my own blood as I screamed beginning to fill my mouth spilling off on to my lips and down the side of my face from internal bleeding. I look off to my side and desperately tried to reach for the knife that was only a few feet away as it continues it's assault on my midsection causing a puddle of crimson Red blood to form underneath me. As I flailed my arm about on the ground it kicked up a decent sized rock about the size of my fist under the snow. The pain of it eating me alive was at the very threshold I could take and gave me almost superhuman strength as my body surged with adrenaline and unrelenting rage as I lifted it up and start beating it's forehead over and over again desperately trying to save myself with this rudimentary weapon I acquired. My arm moved in a constant steady beat hitting this monster with everything my body had left to give causing it's head to split open and bleed profusely with every blow that landed. After a few good strikes it whines out in pain and released me from the iron grip of it's mouth and front paws making the mistake of letting me go. It squats down and desperately tried to shake its head trying to get the blood that was now pouring from the top of it's head out of it's eyes.
I roll over painfully and crawl on my stomach clawing at the ground in desperation leaving a bright red streak of blood on the ground. Every inch felt like a mile and I pushing the very limits of Human determination and struggle the few feet to grab my knife. And no sooner that I grab my blade and turn over on my back it was at my midsection standing over me even more furious than ever as his face dripped with blood with the most insane look in it's eyes.
It just stands over top of me with sticky saliva and blood dripping on my jacket for a few seconds and I just laid there and waited for it to make it's move pretending to be completely defenseless. It's jaws then open as wide as they could possibly go and tilted it's head slightly to the right going straight for my neck. In that split second it lunged forward to hit me with the death blow.
I don't know if it was my adrenaline rush or due to massive blood loss but time felt like it was going slower and as it's giant head only came within arms length before I curled my back a little off the ground and with my Obsidian Black blade that still dripped with it's nasty thick blood I drove my knife straight into it's head right under the chin where the jaw ended almost penetrating all the way through the top of it's skull. It was only a few inches away from my face and I had now full control of it's head as the warm blood dripped on my clenched fist that held it firmly in place. It was still somewhat alive as I stared back into it's eyes and could feel the life slowly fading from the creature and it had the most painful saddened look in them. When I tear the blade back out of it the blood began pour from every orifice and I watched as it limped away in disorientation for only a few feet before falling to the ground causing a tremor that shook the ground when it did as it twitched it's legs before It let a gurgling blood curdling howl before it finally stopped moving all together.
I slump down on my back with my head tilted up looking at the cloudy sky watching the snowflakes fall. As soon as the adrenaline wore off after a few minutes of laying there the pain in my body was starting to go numb and I was starting to feel really faint and was struggling to keep my eyes open just for a few more minutes. I didn't even try to stop the bleeding as I just stared up at the sky with a big smile over my blood streaked face and awaited the inevitable. It wasn't even a minute later I hear the sound of multiple footsteps converging on me. I just had no more fight left in me and I just closed my eyes and hoped to fall into sleep before the rest of the pack got to me and devoured my still living body. It was only a few seconds after I closed my eyes I had this warm flushed feeling that put my mind and body at ease right before I lost consciousness.
It what seemed like an instant later I open my heavy eyes to the familiar sight of a cream colored ceiling and warm soothing scent of Lavender that filled the room. I tilt my head over the bedside towards the frost covered window and the sun welcomed me with its radiant glow beaming down on my face. The tenderness in my side and arms shot through my body like electricity making any sudden moment excruciatingly painful.
Taking a deep breath and using my arms to push my upper body groaning in agony as the tears that welled up in my eyes fell onto the soft cotton blanket as I struggled to prop myself up against the headboard. It felt like I was being torn in half The pain subsided shortly after the grueling misery of such a simple task was complete and my muscles could relax. The bandages that wrapped the lower portion of my torso were clearly visible now and out of curiosity I flipped the blanket over my side just to see just how severe the injuries sustained were.
To my surprise the wounds were neatly wrapped in clean bandages hugging the contours of my waist snuggly and my arms were cleaned and covered in a slimy ointment that glistened in the light. It never ceased to amaze me the capabilities of these odd creatures. They didn't have hands but understood the finer aspects of first aid and severe trauma control rivaling our own abilities.
I look up hearing the sounds of footsteps that thudded gradually closer to the doorway then stopped. The brass handle turned slowly and the door slowly swung open. In the doorway there was three short figures standing side by side. It was Fluttershy, Applejack And Pinkie Pie. I could feel there insurmountable concern disappear instantly as it turned into joy and suprise.
The looks on where faces of shock and awe as the stared at me speechless for a few moments. Tears of joy started to stream down Fluttershy's face as she smiled and broke the stalemate of silence as she blurted in her usual lovely voice. "Thank goodness you're still alive. I thought we were going to lose you forever." I gave her a reassuring smile and said back with slight cockiness. "It's going to take more than just an overgrown mutt to take me out."
They all gathered at the bedside and Applejack says to me. "You feeling ok big guy?" I just nodded my head and replied. "It hurts pretty bad but nothing serious." Pinkie jumped in excitedly "When we found you there was so much blood and some of your insides were on the outside and it was like really gross and you were like all passed out and couldn't speak so we panicked like. How are we going to fix you? So then we all brought you back here and Twilight with her freaky magic and Fluttershy put you back together and now your awake which made me super happy so I made you some get well cards and throwing you a party after you get better."
Flabbergasted by her eyewitness account and the giant stark grin on her face thinking to myself she really needs to lay off the sugar or switch to decaf as I nodded my head and said back. " Sounds great I would love too Pinkie." I turn to Fluttershy who in was a subject matter expert on rare and exotic animals and asked. "What exactly was that thing that attacked me? I never seen anything like it before?"
She cleared her throat and replied. "That was a Dire Wolf an extremely rare and dangerous predator that's usually only found high up in the mountains. They are very territorial and were almost made extinct long ago by the Dragons that ruthlessly hunted them. I've heard of them before and that one you killed was the first I've ever seen."
I heard Applejack's thick accent cut into our conversation as she said. "By the looks of those deep scars on your body you have been through way worse. Were you some kinda elite warrior back where your from?" My head turned to her and even though being reminded of the awful memories just gave her a glum stare and replied back. "War can be nasty business you either get good at it or die."
The look on her face from my response was of surprise and fear as she turned her head to the wooden floor shyly kicking at the floor with her hooves and said back. "I meant no offense pardner." I felt Fluttershy's hoof gently tap my arm and turned my attention back to her as she said. "Your welfare and happiness is the only thing that matters to me. If you feel uncomfortable about talking about it then its none of our business. There is good in you I can sense it."
I just turn my head too front of the bed and sighed. "I will tell you guys everything but first I have to figure out why I'm here in the first place. You might not like it but you deserve too know. Fluttershy's hoof taps me again on the arm turning my attention back to her she said. "You just worry about getting better for the meantime. We'll leave you be so you can rest. Let us know if you need anything ,anything at all."
They all exited out the door and quietly shut the door behind them leaving me all on my lonesome once again. I work my way painfully into a laying position and easily drifted off into sleep.
Over the course of the next few months of intense rehabilitation in the hands of my alien friends mostly Fluttershy making a full recovery by early Spring. In that short span of time I had worked on my manners and common courtesies with help from Rarity and built a solid rapport with the mane six who I was beginning to grow fond of their company. Also I had gotten myself a job in Ponyville as a farmhand in the Southern hayfields to help Fluttershy out of gratitude for her expenses in the animal care business she ran.
One day I was on my lunch break sitting in the shade up propped up on against an old Oak tree. My hair now completely covered my face and shoulders over a slightly more muscular frame than before from the couple of months of toil in the blistering heat of the dusty fields. Sitting quietly and munching on some Celery taking in the beautiful scenery listening to the songbirds who have just returned for the Southern lands filling the air with sweet music. It was then I saw Twilight and some strange pony I've never seen before approaching from a few yards away.
They get within a few feet if me and sit down on their haunches in the soft grass. Twilight clears her throat and in her usual polite voice and asks " Sorry to bother you at work. Are you busy at the moment Koba?" Her companion a tall and slender light Brown Pegasus mare with long smoky Gray hair and blue eyes that bulged out of her big Black framed glasses. Her feelings was of awe and disbelief like her mind was playing tricks on her as her eyes stuck to me like glue not saying a single word and breathing very heavily.
I just nod and reply back to her with a small grin. "No what's up Twily? Who's your friend?" Twilight looked over at her and she still just had that blank stare before she said. "Digger this is my friend Koba he was hoping you could shed some light on what happened to the rest of his kind and why he's here."
She slowly gets up and approaches me getting within a foot of me when she lifted her front hoof and extended out towards me. I was a bit confused at this gesture and stared at the appendage before it clicked in my mind her friendly intention. Grasping her hoof I shake it gently up and down as a sign of peace. She shrieks wildly startling me and turns back to her friend Twilight who had the biggest cockiest grin on her face as she exclaimed.
"Twilight this is incredible!!! Never in a million years thought I would ever have a face to face meeting with an actual breathing Sapient!!! This could be the discovery of a lifetime!!! Do you know what this means for my studies??" Twilight nods her head no almost as confused as me and surprised by her reaction as much as I was. She turned her attention back to me and with a much more calmer and subtle tone explained. "I'm sorry about that usually I don't get so hyped up over my work but just wanted to say I've been obsessed with your species since I was just a filly. When Twilight told me about you I just thought she was drunk or something but here I am talking to an actual living member of this great Sapient race that was lost to time. It truly is an honor to meet you Mr Koba."
After she finishes her rant I smiled and responded back politely brushing the hair out of my face with my hands so she could see my face more clearly. "I truly am flattered miss McClean. Twilight has told me you have extensive knowledge of archeology and quite frankly I'm Impressed by your intelligence so far. What have you discovered so far? Where did they all go?"
Her eyes turn down to the dirt and a moment later she replied when she looked up again. "I really don't know Mr Koba what happened to them. It's like they just vanished into thin air 2000 years ago. I have explored ancient ruins of your race before in my travels all over Equestria but it hasn't shed any light on their sudden disappearance."
She could see the look of disappointment on my face but reassured me by saying. "I'm sorry but if you want would you like to be my partner in research for awhile? There are still some mysteries with my most recent discoveries and who else other than you to help me. We can find the answer together."
I nod and replied with a smile with the small glimmer of hope that she could provide me. "Well the cut here is done for now. I have a few weeks of downtime until the next one is ready. If you want there is the cavern in the Northern mountains I still have yet to finish exploring if you want to tag along tommorrow."
Her eye's widen almost exploding at the request and immediately she squealed back at me. "Are you kidding!!??? I would love too!!! All my things are packed at Twilight's library ready to go just meet me at the Everfree junction at sunrise. I don't want too miss a second of this monumental opportunity to help you."
Her eagerness and foresight into planning this venture showed her unrelenting tenacity and unbreakable passion for knowledge. Even if I had said I didn't care to find out what happened to the Humans. She still would leave no stone on that mountain unturned in her quest for answers.
In compliance and nodding I said back to the eager Pegasus. "Meet me at Sweet Apple Acres tomorrow at the crack of dawn and bring what ever you'll think need. I would pack light if I were you it's quite a walk to get there." She nods and replies. "You're on!! See you then I'm going too let you get back to work see you in the morning."
Twilight says goodbye and they both make their way out. I could over hear Digger's voice even though she was a fair distance away as she talked Twilight's ear off about tomorrow. After they left I motivated myself back to work and within a few hours was on my way walking back to the cottage. Fluttershy was still at work so I started making the preparations for the journey packing some essential items into my ruck.
Fluttershy got the drop on me in the middle of it when she walked and startled me when she said. "Hey sweetie how was your day?" I froze and turn my head back at her like she had caught me doing something very bad. She had the most confused and concerned look on her face and asked me. "What are you doing?"
I sit down to get to eye level with her and said. "Twilight and her friend Digger came by work and seen me today and we talked about visiting the cavern for a few days. I'm going back to the mountains tomorrow to do some research with her and to find out what happened to the rest of my people."
She surprisingly gives me a smile and said. "That's wonderful too hear. What time are you leaving tomorrow?" I figured she would have had a stroke to hear that and it really caught me off guard but responded back swiftly. "Right before dawn." She gasps covering her mouth with her hoof and exclaimed. "Such a short time!!! I'll get dinner started right away and make you some snacks to take with you just in case you get hungry. And you should really get some rest too it's going to be a long day."
I smile brightly pleased by her reaction and thoughtfulness and replied. "Thank you so much. I'll help you fix dinner after this just give me a minute."
She walks off into the kitchen and I finish up a few minutes later and proceed to help her cook up a fantastic feast of all my favorite foods. We talked over dinner my plan and very soon after I helped her clean up was off to bed eager to start this venture. My excitement made sleep difficult but after tossing and turning for an hour I finally drifted off into slumber.
As I woke up reluctantly dragging myself out of the bed to get dressed and grab my things that were strewn about chaotically in the tiny room. Trying to make my way through the living area and to the front door as quiet as possible was next to impossible everything creaked and groan with every step. My hands reach out to grab the handle when I hear a gentle yawn that froze me in place and a soft voice whisper from behind "Are you leaving?"
I turn my head slowly too see Fluttershy still half asleep standing in robes and her long pink hair in a puffy mess. She had a confused look on and there was a moment of silence before I said back. "I'm so sorry I woke you. How did you get down here so fast?" trying to change the subject. She flitters her little wings at me and smiles.
I smiled back and said "I should probably get going Flutters I don't want to keep Digger waiting. Goodbye friend I'll see you in a few days if everything goes to plan." Turning back towards the door and pulling it open when she shouted. "Wait!!" Turning back to face her she came at me like a vicious dog wrapping her tiny body around my torso hugging me tightly and she whispered gently while pressing her head into my chest. "Please be careful Koba. I hope you find what your looking for out there."
I started feeling really strange like the inside of my body was burning up and my stomach started to feel weird like it was churning for some reason. Never before had that happened to me it was almost like being sick. After a few moments in the embrace and reluctantly having to set her down gently and managed to stammer out the words. "See you in a few days I... I... should be going goodbye.
Her face had the most disappointed look like she was about too cry and didn't want me to leave as I turned away from her and walked out the door closing it gently behind me. Walking down the Cobblestone road into town under the starlight my mind totally focused on the mission at hand. It was just about daybreak when I had reached the town square where Twilight and Digger were waiting with all their things packed on a small cart.
Digger and her were watching me impatiently as I walked up and had set my stuff down next to theirs to stretch out before the long trek. They both hadn't said a word too me yet as they just glared at me annoyed by my tardiness. Glaring back at them I shrugged my shoulders at them and asked in a very impolite tone "What?" Twilight points at the huge clock on the town hall and barked back at me. "Your late!!!" squinting at the clock and looking back to her confused and irritated at the same time and replied back.
"You said 6:00 what the Hell are you talking about?" Her eyes burned with anger as she shouts back at me unleashing her full fury on me. "Fifteen minutes prior Koba!!! Fifteen minutes!!!" Digger jumps in and was able to quickly deescalate the situation by explaining to us we were wasting valuable time arguing and that we should get a move on. I didn't take my eyes off of her for a millisecond as I picked up my ruck and we departed with me in the lead.
Not a single word was said until we stopped at a small creek crossing to eat and rest before we pushed on further into the forest. It was high noon by then and to continue in the sweltering heat of the dense vegetation for too much longer would have put us at risk of heat injuries. Keeping my distance from the two by the creek as I washed my face off of all the dust and sweat in the cool water Diggers face appeared in the waters reflection behind me and surprisingly she asked me with genuine concern. "You ok? You're not still mad are you?"
I crack a grin and said back. "No I'm fine." She then smiles back at me showing off her beautiful teeth and explains. "You'll have too excuse Twilight it's that time of year again and her hormones are out of control. She will want to rip your head off at times just don't let her get to you. It's an Equine thing just don't worry about her she'll come around."
I just nod in confusion and replied back to her. "We should probably get going now we don't want to be out here after dark." She nods back and asks me. "How much further do we have to go?" I look to the mountain that stood majestically towering over the landscape and said. "A fair distance."
After several more hours of walking we finally arrived at our destination before sunset. Me and Twilight were totally exhausted but Digger was brimming with energy and excitement when we arrived at the huge metal vault door that led into the inner sanctum. She places her hooves on the cold Steel and shrieked out. "You guys this is incredible!!!! It's actual Sapient architecture this must be at least a few centuries old!!"
I walk up to the latch and pull it down with a hard thrust causing the locking bolts to drop making a hard clunk as it slowly began too open. "You havent even seen the inside yet." I said while pulling the door exposing some of the light from the inside. Once it was cracked enough that we could all fit through I motioned for them to enter and they both slowly walked in with the cart and shortly after followed them in.
I shut the door behind me and locked it in place making a loud roar that echoed into the atrium. My entourage had already dropped the cart and Twilight was just sitting down no doubt just wanting to rest while Digger was just dumbstruck pacing around with her mouth open and her eyes full of wonder and sheer excitement. "I can't believe it all this time the greatest discovery known to Equestria had been right under our noses. Maybe this is the answer extinction of your kind Koba were do we begin?"
Twilight moaned out and said with little motivation in her voice. "Could we please just get some sleep and start in the morning? I'm so tired from that walk." She looked like she was going to drop and I felt bad for her so I made a suggestion to Digger that we should get some sleep so we could do a full walkthrough tomorrow. Surprisingly she agreed and we then moved to a empty room we found conveniently close to the entrance and started to unpack our things to get ready to rack out.
I pulled my portable mattress out of my ruck and let it fill itself up on the floor. It felt so good too take my dirty clothes off and lay down on it after walking all day and it wasn't long before the other two saw how comfortable it was climbed on it unexpectedly and laid down next to me. Twilight grinned at me and said. "Sorry for the intrusion but the floor is cold and you looked like you could use some company." I chuckled at her and got back up to shut the lights off before laying back down and covering myself up. It wasn't even five minutes of just laying there we all fell fast asleep.
I was woken up in the middle of the night by something thrashing around down in the adjacent hallway. Twilight and Digger were already awake and sitting up on the bed curious of what the racket was. "What is that noise Koba? Is there something out there?" Digger asked me scared out of her wits. It could have been but for some reason this awoke a nameless fear in my heart "Maybe I wasn't the only thing that they had locked up here." I thought to myself while jumping out of the bed putting my pants on and grabbing the pistol and flashlight from my bag.
I walk up to the door and press my body on the wall ready too pull it open when Twilight shouted. "Are you crazy!!? Do you even know whats out there!!?" I shot back with urgency and said. "Stay quiet!! If I don't come back in ten minutes get the fuck out of here!" The room went silent besides the loud thumping and I ripped the door open a moment later and exited into the narrow hallway.
I walked slowly down the dimly lit concourse with my weapon at the high ready waiting for someone or something to jump out at me and second. I could almost hear my heartbeat in my chest as my body trembled as I walked up to the metal door from which behind it was what the cause of the ominous disturbance. Putting myself against the wall and reaching out for the doorknob gently placing my hand on it. Taking a few deep breaths and turning very slowly on the cold brass doorknob until it stopped. I thought to myself "This is it." I push it open and charge into the room like a mad man scanning the corners and froze when I saw the source of the strange sound in the far right corner of the dark room. It was just a washing machine in the corner that was stuck on spin cycle and rattling against the wall violently.
It was such a relief to me and kind of funny at the same as I walked over to unplug it chuckling to myself quietly. Pulling the plug from the wall it steadily stopped moving until it made a sudden screeching halt effectively ceasing it's reign of terror. My body was still pretty shaken up by the event but had calmed well before I reentered the room whilst laughing my ass off too see Twilight and Digger hiding under a blanket.
They poke their heads out just barely from under their flawless concealment with looks of horror to see me giggling hysterically in the doorway. "Well what was it?" Digger asked. "Nothing nothing at all." Was my only reply as I casually turned the light off and crawled back into the bed still laughing quietly until I finally fell back to sleep.
That morning after wake up and breakfast we discussed which areas we should explore first. The facility was at least 4 miles long and 2 wide and covered 3 floors it would have taken weeks if not months to explore everything. I had made the suggestion that we should find a main terminal room that would have data on points of interest and access to all the computers inside the complex.
It was unanimously decided and we set out soon after in search for it down the long corridors and mazes of storage bays that have been derelict for ages. And finally after several hours of walking we came across a large bulkhead that caught my attention. We stop too examine it thoroughly and I just couldn't help but think that whatever was behind this door was really important.
At the top of the door was a sign that was barely legible but you could still make out some of the words through the flaking paint. "Restricted Access Level 6 Clearance Required." Digger and Twilight didn't see the importance of it but they were eager to help me get what I needed to crack the door open. After we found a large drill and Thermite compound along with demolition fuses and detonators.
I began to drill at the center of the lock slowly working it into the 5 inches of steel. It seemed like forever but the drill finally broke through into the locking mechanism and I started to pack the Thermite compound into it until it was completely filled to the hilt. I set the detonator and moved us back a good distance.
Grabbing the detonator and ripping the safety pin out I told the two to cover their ears. They laid down covering their heads behind a shipping container and slamming the clicker with all my might the charge set off with the most quiet "POOF" they get up and Twilight in her normal know it all fashion barked at me. "Its a dud!! All that time and work for nothing!!"
Just after that the door made a deafening clatter as it slightly became ajar letting out the smoke and dust from the charge. There was sheer silence from her and Digger as I ran up to pull the door open. As soon as it open and the smoke cleared I got a glimpse of what was inside.
I looked inside the small room and to my surprise and disappointment it was bare besides a small steel pedestal with a strange black metal device similar to that of a arm brace on it. It didn't really look like there was nothing special about it's appearance as we walked up to it when Digger asked. "What is it Koba?"
To be truthful I didn't know it was and shrugged at her. For all we knew it could been some kind of useless top secret can opener. After examining it thoroughly I slip it on and secure the device using the latches to my left arm and just as I had done so a red screen shot open on a holograph startling me with the words "Initializing Neural Lace with host in 3..2..1." It is then that a sharp pain shot up my arm burning me all the way up to my brain and before I could even scream or yelp my body had just lost consciousness causing me to hit the floor almost instantly.
When I started to come to my senses a few minutes later the first thing I heard was Twilight and Digger standing over top of me arguing about what they should do almost about to go hysterical the looked shocked when I opened my eyes and saw in the blur their body shapes. "Are you ok Koba!? Can you move?" Twilight asked. I slowly sit up and move my fingers and toes around to make sure this cheap "muscle stimulator" hadn't crippled me. I felt fine as a matter a fact even better than before almost like waking up from a long sleep.
The screen pops back up and a loading screen with the manufacturers logo that read in big letters "Aegis Nano Systems." After it ran through the start up a very artificial feminine voice made herself known to us . "Neural lace and self diagnostics complete. Shall I start the introduction?"
I really didn't know what else to say but yes and it made it's caveat about what she was. " Hello I am S.A.N.D.R.A the AI that regulates the stand alone nano device you are currently in possession of." I have many applications for the self preservation of the host as well as defensive and offensive capabilities for superior combat effectiveness."
AI's and nanotechnology were in it's infancy during my time and to find one this advanced it was mind blowing. "Who made you?" I asked her response was swift and monotoned. "I was created by Aegis Corp in 18 June 2186 by Dr. Gregory West under contract from the U.S Government. I was the apex of several failed prototypes for military applications. Most of my data logs were erased before storage and my most recent data sync was 2305 years 5 months 3 days and 11 hours ago. Do you have any other questions Mr Gagarov?"
"How do you know my name?" was my next question. Again she answered in a know it all fashion her name should have been Twilight to be honest. "My D.N.A records state that you are 1st Lieutenant Koba Gagarov of the Russian Federation Special Forces. Captured in 2060 by U.S. Special Forces and sent into CryoFreeze at the Aegis 4 Research and Development complex in France for genetic studies.
I was flabbergasted by this machines knowledge and began to ply it with even more questions. "What was your most recent data entry? and what happened to everyone?" It took Sandra a moment but she gave me a clear answer. "I need to sync up at the main terminal then I will be able to give you the answers you seek. It should be a few hundred meters down the concourse to your right. I will set a navpoint for you to follow." She seemed to just cut right to the job at hand which was fine with me.
Satisfied with her response we head back out with myself leading the way through the hallway following the navpoint. My entourage followed closely behind and it was long before we found the terminal room with another massive vault door protecting it. We stop a moment and examined it and it wasn't longbefore Digger sighs and smirked. "Are we gonna have to blow this door up too?"
I turn to her and before the words when slipped out of my mouth Sandra cut me off. "That will be completely unnecessary. I have the clearances to open it. Mr Gagarov just has to place his hand on the holopanel." This machine had never ceased to amaze me and to think that I've only tapped a fraction of it's potential. "Thank you Sandra and it's Koba from now on if you will." I said back and complied with it's order as I placed my hand on the cold glass panel until it flashed green and the door slid open.
The light from the inside flooded the hallway with a divine glow and when our eyes got adjusted we gazed upon a most macabre sight. To our horror there were skeletons in all corners of the large room. Some were still sitting in there seats with their skulls blown apart with long dried up blood spattered over the stations they were monitoring while others were strewn about as if they were trying to run away but were cut down and cruelly executed.
I look back to Twilight and Digger who were both terrified and trembling and all their fur was standing on end. I get on eye level squatting down to them and said. "It's ok if you guys want to leave. Do you know the way out?" They both nod nervously and I told them reassuringly. "It's fine just get your things and wait for me outside the entrance I'll be right behind you."
They both bolted back down the hall and in no time they were out of my sight. I stand back up took a deep breath and stepped inside onto the white tile floor that was littered with shell casings and they clattered and clanked with every step up to the main computer. I didn't waste anytime as I slammed my hand on the main data sync module it only took a few seconds but felt like an eternity as the data streamed to my device and gave me the okay to dismount.
I ran out of the room and sealed the door shut thankful to be out of that god awful tomb. As I was walking out Sandra shot up from the device and said to me in her robotic monotoned voice. "It appears that the last data entry was 3 weeks 14 hours and 34 seconds ago. I thought it was some kind of glitch and asked her. "How can that be no one has been in there for centuries?"
She goes on by saying. "The security log details a security lockout from 3 failed login attempts into a top tier data cabinet on the R&D network on that date. I'm trying to sift through the data to see who it was and their affiliation." This sent a nameless fear that forced my heart into my stomach. It had just hit me that I wasn't the only one. There was someone else here with me and now he or she was out there somewhere.
Scared and intrigued I ask Sandra. "What was in that data cabinet? She asks me pretending to be concerned. "Koba are you alright? My sensors indicate rapid heartbeat and unusually high blood pressure." Assuring her that I was okay she replies back "I have over 400 terabytes of data relating to whatever our unknown suspect was looking for."
When I finally made my way outside and felt the Sun's warm glow on my skin it was such a relief to be out of that god forsaken place. Twilight and Digger were ready to go chomping on the bit to leave me there if they had to wait one more minute. Their uneasiness was obviously shown when I asked if they were ready to go back to town they took the lead leaving me in the dust as they pulled the cart with explosive vigor down the dirt trail.
I had a lot on my mind and didn't want to race them back and took to a slow walk. There were so many scenarios playing out in mind about unknown revelation and hopefully Sandra would be able to help me make sense of it all. She kept me company through the walk back giving me status updates on her progress of deciphering the data up until she completed her tasks.
By the time I got to the village evening had set in and the streets were empty besides a few ponies who were shutting down their shops at the local bazaar so they could go home for the night. My body was weak from all the walking but my mind was restless I needed to find a quiet spot to read through those files. Fluttershy's cottage would have been ideal but it was quite a distance to walk and telling her about our little trip to the cave wouldn't have gone so well.
After a short recon there was an abandoned grain mill on the outskirts of town which was perfect for me to set my stuff down and gave me the privacy I needed. After setting my bag down and getting comfortable as possible on the hard concrete propping my back up on a worn wooden beam I call Sandra up from the device. "Yes Koba?" She said "How can I be of assistance?"
"Show me the most recent data entry." I replied anxiously. Her answer was swift and efficient as she pulled up a file and said. "The unknown user has been identified as Dr. Cassandra McLeod of Ageis Nano Systems Corp. Her file suggests that she defected from Centcom for the attempted sabotage on the U.S. funded research of genetically engineered super soldiers known as the "Zeus Project". She was caught tampering with the telepathy amplifier which controlled the soldiers and was sentenced to death in April 23rd 2071."
This peaked my interests and raised more questions than answers so for hours after that I read file after file on this "Zeus Project" What I found out was shocking almost surreal like something out of a movie. After Russia was defeated the Americans saw the potential in our genetic program and employed the help of our former scientists to create not only a handful of soldiers that were superior in all attributes but an entire legion consisting of 4 divisions of light, mechanized, airborne and spec ops infantry units. These soldiers were all controlled by telepathic commanders who were all just puppets on a string to a Hivemind on an orbital platform far above the Earth.
The U.S at that time was in danger of collapse due to overpopulation and lack of resources. They used these soldiers to conquer and decimate the foreign governments bringing the entire world under one flag. For sometime after that there was peace. The U.S saw no need for these soldiers anymore and after a failed attempt to shut down the Hivemind the soldiers became homicidal killing their creators in biblical proportions destroying everything in their path. Its not said if it was an mass extinction event but there are no other records after the event in 2073.
My mind was completely blown after reading this. Mankind's greatest achievement ended up being it's downfall. And in it's place a peaceful race known as Equestrians have made this world their home. It really seemed to make more sense now. But something was still bothering me. I had to find this Dr. McLeod I just had a bad feeling and finding her could the last piece of the puzzle.
