> Fallout: Equestria - Fragments Of Memories > by HPOD > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Confused > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I woke up slowly, by head ringing and my right leg foreleg burning with pain. I forced me self up and inspected the hurt leg and saw bone "I have a feeling that this is not good..." I could only assume that it was broken. After a while of shaking my head to try to get rid of the ringing i looked around, there where a lot of bodies that seemed to have no form of weapon or armor, further more the buildings in the area where on fire. I limped toward one of the bodies finding a metal pipe. I picked it up and ripped some of the cloths, i broke the bone as straight as possible soon after i fell down and with out even knowing it i was screaming in pain. Once i got grip of my self i pulled the metal pipe next to the bone and wrapped the piece of fabric as hard as possible around it, i sighed in pain and got up, looking around further only thing that got my attention at the moment was a poster, there was a picture of a yellow pegasus with a long pink mane "I think thats... What was it... Fluttershy? Butcherguy? Somethin' like that..." I mumbled to my self, after i looked at the words above the picture first 'War? Fear? Death? We must do better' I glanced at the bottom 'Ministry Of Peace.' I chuckled a bit after i finished reading the poster "This ministry of peace must have been quite bad at there job..." Now that i was done dealing with my wounds and inspecting my area i took a look at my self, i was wearing some beat up leather armor, it was covered in blood. "Huh... I think that is my blood..." And after i said that i felt very woozy from blood loss. I limped towards one of the builds that was not on fire anymore, once i got inside i looked around for some kind of weapon, medical equipment, or something to protect me better. As i walked around the building, which looked like a house, i looked threw my pockets find a note, i mumbled it out to my self "Miss, i would like you to protect the town of Spring Valley for a month. That should be long enough to establish it as a real town, you will be payed 300 cap. As you requested they all are Sparkle Cola as you asked, get it done and report back to Chocolate Loop in Appleloosa." All i could do then was let out a long sigh of relief "Well at lest i know who or what i need to find..." Once done talking to my self i kept walking around, on the ground i found a body of a pony wearing leather armor much like mine but it was a male version, i found a mark of a wolf in a circle with two rifle behind it. I turned to my own shoulder and wiped off the blood seeing the same mark, only it was much more wearing down. I sighed "Great more confusion... I don't even know my own name..." My brain only hurt after i let those words out of my mouth, I reached for his pocket and i noticed something i should have noticed a long time ago, talons "Huh... I guess i am not a pony... Cool?..." I dug threw his pockets and found nothing but another note that was basically the same just with a few differences, after ripping it up i pushed over his body and found a half empty health potion. After chugging it down i felt most of major wounds seal though my leg was still mangled, i walked towards the bathroom of the house and there was no mirror. I looked at the ground and carefully picked up a shard, i looked into it and saw a griffin with snow colored feathers "Huh... Not very dark colors" I dropped the pieces and left the house. Once i left i looked around further for some kind of weapon. Only thing i found that could work was a decently sharp kitchen knife the mouth of a ghoul pony. I grabbed the jaw of the ghoul and took the knife, I looked around on my armor and found a combat knife sheath. I slipped the knife inside "I wish i had a real combat knife..." I flapped my wings a bit trying to get air but my left wing was cut quite a bit and the pain was far to much to let me to get much higher then a wounded griffin can jump. After laying on the ground for a while in pain i got up and looked for a direction to go "Lets see... Sky..." I looked up seeing a full moon down towards one side of the valley and i looked the other side and saw a few beams of light "Huh... Well i guess i got two options... East or west... Sun or moon... Luna or Celestia..." I sat down and thought for a moment, as i looked at the directions there where passes "These options are awfully the same..." I got up and headed east. "Well at lest i will get some sun soon..." I chuckled a bit to my self at my own words, even though it really wasn't funny for a joke. I guess i was just trying to get my mind off of all the pain... But as i got deeper into the valley i heard crying, i pulled my knife out with my beak and rushed towards the sound, i stopped in front of a cave's door. I tried to open it but it was locked, i sighed a bit but when i heard the muffled cry again i jammed the knife into the lock and pulled sideways, soon the lock broke in half but sadly so did my knife. I after half a second of shaking the feeling of impending doom i opened the door. First thing i saw was the last thing i would have liked to see, it was around 4 ponies wearing makeshift armor, holding guns and melee weapons in different ways all crowded around a black griffin cub. I charged at the pastel horses, my beak clenched closed in the pain of my open wounds and my naturally healing wounds reopening rushed threw my body. After knocking over one of the ponies i turned, slashing the neck open of a unicorn getting ready to blast my face with a sawed of shotgun. I turned to face the 3 still alive, one unicorn and two earth ponies... I leaped at the unicorn wielding a makeshift spear, knocking him on his body. After ripping out his jugular with my beak i felt the pain of a bullet rip threw my side. I looked at the earth pony holding a 9mm pistol in his mouth, after forcing my body to shrug off another bullet to my shoulder i rushed forward and slashed his side. I slide, quickly turning to the last pony, a earth pony shaking in fear as it tries to aim a hunting rifle. I stood up and walked forward chucking "If you don't want to die... Drop the gun and run..." Right after i said that the pony fired a bullet, it whizzed pass my ear right before i picked up the makeshift spear and threw it into his eye. Last thing i did before passing out from blood loss was turn to the cub to make sure she was ok... Then darkness... > The Cub > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I woke up again, this time feeling nothing. I wasn't sure if that was normal or not, then again i don't think going to sleep for less the optimal reasons is normal. But regardless i sat up a bit and looked around at my body, all of my wounds where sealed and my leg was fitted normally. Only issue was that i wasn't clothed, but that did let me see that where my wounds where there was a lack of snow white feathers. I looked down at the side of what looked like just a medical bed, i let out a sigh of slight annoyance when i saw all of my gear just left on the ground in a scattered way. My armor, some simple cloths under cloths, my small bag, and the makeshift spear that i threw through the ponies eye, i didn't exactly know why that was taken with me but i shrugged it off. I got on my under cloths and put my bag on, slipping the armor inside a the bag, i grabbed the spear and looked at it a bit "Huh... Its not to bad... Might be a nice weapon..." I put it in a few little loops on my back and looked around what seemed to be a medical building. I walked up to the only living thing in the building, it was a male unicorn, from the back all i could tell was that he was teal with a white mane. It was... Quite a odd combination of colors. I just mentally shrugged and tapped his shoulder, he turned and from first glace he looked like a grizzled, tough, wasteland doctor... But the moment he saw me he let out a yelp and hid under a table, all i could do in response to that is sigh deeply. "Hey, pony. Could please stop trying to hide and get out here?" Slowly and shakily he got out, "H-Hello griffin..." He was even stuttering in fear... I didn't know it was that much possible to be a cliche, after waiting a absurdly long amount of time waiting for him to stop shaking i was finally able to speak with him "My name is... Uh..." I looked down at my self to try and make up a fitting name but, seeing nothing but snowy feathers, all i could come up with was "My name is Snowy Feather" I couldn't help but take a moment to marvel at the silliness of my own self made name. "W-Well Snowy... My n-name is P-Patches i am the one who got you b-back to good health after that cub dragged you here..." So that was the reason i am here and alive, i took a quick movement to try to figure out how a cub could have gotten my body here but i thought it was best to not question it "So, i got 2 questions... Where am i and where is the cub?" The unicorn scratched his scraggly beard for a moment "W-Well this is Appleloosa and the cub is... In town i think!" With the mostly useless information i left the building "Well... This is strange... Regardless it shouldn't be hard to find her... Its not that big of a place..." I looked around for a place the cub would be, only place that seemed like it would make sense was what looked like a diner. I shrugged and expanded my wings, after a short bit of gliding i found my self in front of the diner "Well... A diner would be the best place to ask about ponies... I mean if anypony comes threw the town they would have to stop by the diner... I guess..." Once i was done talking to my self i sat down on one of the outside stools "Well hello there! Didn't think i would ever see another griffin in these parts!" After letting the waitress mare finish rambling about how there is not to many new faces around here and such i was ready to ask my questions "Well hey, you ready to order something?" I felt my stomach grumble a bit even though i just wanted answers "Er... Ya..." I looked down at the menu, i looked for the cheapest things there "Uhh... Sparkle-Cola and... Mole rat stew?..." The waitress turned to leave "Oh wait miss! I had some questions" She turned around still with a smile on her face, which even though it really shouldn't the smile was annoying me slightly "Ya?" I let out a low sigh "Look, have you seen a griffin cub around here? And a, i think, pony named Chocolate Loops?..." The waitress smile faded a bit when i said Chocolate Loop's name "Ya... I know the where abouts of both, kinda, the cub said she would be in her room in the hotel last i saw her. But about Chocolate Loops..." When she said the name it sounded full of hate "She said that she was going to Hope..." I was quite happy to have gotten real info, though it was strange how she was talking about Chocolate Loops "Well that's all ma'am..." I sighed a bit and looked around as i waited for my food, all the ponies in the diner where glaceing at me a mumbling. I looked at the now visible mark on my shoulder "Well... Maybe i should scratch that off... After all don't even know what the mark means, could be saying i am a assassin..." after deciding i used my talons to claw a very small layer of leather where the mark was After a bit more waiting the waitress came back with my food and drink, the cola was taken from the bottle and put in a glass. She put down the soup and the cola in front of me "Any thing else you need miss?" I shook my head and took the old rusty spoon, soon after the waitress walked away I grunt a little as i looked at the spoon "Not sure if this is healthy to use..." But regardless of the healthy-ness of the meal or the utensil i started eating. Once i was done eating and paid i got up and left the diner "Right, lets see... The hotel... Huh, that cub seems like she knows her way around. And has a hotel room, wonder how much she pays for that..." I broke my train of questions and started looking for the town. After a while of looking i found it but not with out having to ignore the glare and glances of many ponies, when i entered the building i saw the cub sitting down on what i could only assume is a waiting bench, now that i got a better look at the cub the main thing that stuck out to me what golden feathers, and when i thought about it more the more i realized that we would both stick out very badly. "Oh! Your awake miss! I was thinking it would take more time for you to find me..." The cub said almost sadly "Huh? Why are you saying it like that? You wanted me to not find you this fast?" I asked trying to make sure that i didn't sound aggressive, i don't know how the cub acts and reacts so i was unsure how i should be acting towards her The cub giggled a bit "Oh well, i was hoping to be able to rest my wounds a bit before you found me" I wasn't sure what she meant but with only a little closer look i saw a badly sutured cut "I spent most of my caps on fixing you up that i had to fix my self up" And with that i felt very bad, but i assumed that showing that i felt bad would not make her feel very good "Eh, sorry about that" But now that i am face to face with the cub, i had to ask my self further why she took the spear with me And almost like the cub read my mind she said "Well i took the spear because you seemed good with it!" I was stunned "How did you know i was thinking that?" The cub's face turned serious "Because i am a Esper" All i could say to that was... "What?" "Just kidding!" And the cubs face returned to a smile. A facetalon was my only response "Well that's enough jokes out of me for now, my name is Luna" I was the cub was joking. Name of a pony princess and has golden feathers, none of that really made sense for the name "Rather you didn't lie about your name like that..." while i tried to still sound nice, the annoyance was quite clear in my voice "I am not a lier!" I gave a deadpan look and that seemed to force her to prove it "I was named by a pony and apparently my feathers use to be pure black!" I sighed, if 'Luna' was lieing then i had no way of making her tell the truth, though it didn't seem like she was "Fine, ill believe you... Lets talk in a bit more of a private place" is all i could say. If i said anything else it would be a questions and with all the ponies staring at us, i didn't think more questions would be good at the moment > Trotterson > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After a long time of arguing with the cub. I finally got Luna to be willing to take me to Hope, after Luna bought a few supplies we left Appleloosa "Hey... Snowy, why do you want to go to Hope anyway" I glanced at Luna "One, i told you to not call me Snowy! You can call me Snow... Two, i need to meet someone at Hope..." Luna just shrugged and started walking south east Luna sighed "Look... I cant fight and if we want to get to Hope in a good amount of days... We got to go threw the Chysipod valley..." I sighed know that this was going to bring a long story about what they where prewar and what they are now "What are they?..." Luna smiled happy and started explaining "Weeeeell, back before the bombs there where these cute bug ponies called changelings! These changelings where meanys, they hurt ponies and drank love! But when the bombs went 'BOOOOOM' they got blasted in there valley where they where hiding and the straaaaaange magic in there body mixed with the magic of the bombs! And now they..." Luna took another breath finally "They can no long change into different creatures and stuff but now they can change there bodies parts into weapons! The weapons ranging from dagger to rocket launcher mattering of the creatures own magical power blah blah blah!" Luna sat there for a moment trying to regain her breath I sighed, not at her strange way she wished to explain but instead the fact that she was right "Cool... Sounds like it a fun place to go kill stuff, come on..." I waved my talon and Luna jumped up and lead the way... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mommy..." I felt those words come from my mouth with out me having a choice of it, i looked around confused. I was very small like Luna, i was in not in my camp but in the wasteland... Soon a changeling appeared in front of me and slashed with some claws, i dived back to not get killed. I reached for my spear and it was gone "Mommy help me! Mommy please save me!" Right before the changeling stabbed me with its claws... I woke up I woke up drenched in sweat and tears coming down my face. The dream wasn't scary, it just for some reason felt... So close to me... That scared me, but what truly terrified me... Was that i was so defenseless, i was so weak, and no one was there to help me. I sat there crying more, even though i tried to stop my tears i just couldn't stop. Soon Luna walked into the tent "Uhh... You... Ok there Snow?" I couldn't respond, if said anything i knew that my voice would crack and i would cry more, so all i did was nod slowly. Luna sighed and walked over "Your not ok Snow..." She sat down next to me and put a small talon on my back, trying to calm me down even though she didn't know me or have any real reason to. I couldn't help but smile a bit "T-Thanks..." Luna smiled as my tears stopped. She started to get up but i pulled her back down "C-Can.... You just say there a... Little bit longer?" Luna quickly hugged me and snuggled in with me "Not... What i meant" I sighed "What ever... It works..." When we got up and left the tent "Hey... Luna... I-If you tell anyone what happened last night... I am going to cut you open and wear your insides as new armor..." Luna laughed and nodded "Alright! Gosh, your quite rude Miss 'Snowy-Night-Mare-Screams-A-Lot' " I just let out a very low hiss and waved for Luna to lead the way and she just laughed again and started walking After a long time of walking we reached a town right outside the valley, there was a large wall around the town and the valley "What going on here Luna?" Luna thought for a moment "Well... I guess this town is to keep people out of the valley" Luna shrugged, with the not very useful information i walked towards the gate A pony guard on top of the a catwalk on the gate raised a assault with magic "Hey! Stop there! What is your business here?" I sighed "Look here horse, my business is my business! Now lower that gun and open the damn gate!" The guard just let out a snort like sound and tighten her grip on the trigger Luna sighed "Look... Let me do the talking eh?" Luna walked close to the gate "Sorry about my... Uhh... Mom here, she isn't that nice. We want to go threw the valley to reach Hope" The guard laughed "Unless you want to be ripped apart, you need to go around the valley!" From what Luna said, going around would take a extra week and i could not do that Luna shrugged a bit "Well, if we do get killed its not really your issue is it?" The guard thought for a moment before opening the gate "Alright! Because its your problem if you get killed i will let you in" the guard called down and we walked threw the gate. The place had many ponies walking around and quite a few store stalls I looked down at Luna who was looking around happily "Oy, why did you call me your mom to the guard?" Luna shrugged "Rather i didn't explain how i am looking after you. I think you would like it better if ponies though you where watching after me" I hissed a bit "You are not looking after me! You are filly who cant fight god damn it!" Luna laughed and ran off to one of the stalls, i sighed with annoyance and followed "Well hello there griffins! Haven't seen anythings like you here in Trotterson! I am Chokecherry! Nice to meet you!" Her happiness... It... It hurt... "I am Snowy Feathers, you can call me Snow. And this here is my... Daughter... Luna" Luna smiled and waved "Well! Once again nice to meet you! Here we sell weapons and armor! And from the look of it both you and your daughter could use some of both, tell you want? Because i never met a griffin before and i don't see many families sticking together ill give you both a small discount!" I shrugged, after all it works for me I looked around for stuff for my self in the store and Luna did the same. I picked up a spear that looked a lot stronger, a few throwing spears, and lastly some black combat armor. I tossed the gear on the table and Luna set down a small compact .22 revolver with some ammo, no armor which annoyed me."How much for this Choke?" Chokecherry laughed "Oh please, call me Cherry. Anyway that would be..." She thought for a moment "I would say 200 caps, and i will throw in two free health potions" I was quite shocked and her generosity but i had no reason to say no. I dug threw my pack and found 50, Luna took out 100. We put them down and cherry counted "Alright... Only 150... Here, how about this. You do a job for me and i will let you take all of the gear and i will throw in some armor that can fit your daughter, you willing?" > The Request > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I couldn't help but mumble to my self "I cant believe i fucking agreed to this..." I said as i ducked behind a desk, right before a wave of lasers went over my head, Luna was next to be trying to not get in my way. Cherry wanted me to go into this steel processing factory place to get what she found, that being a stash of laser weapons left by a group of dead raiders before they activated the security system. Now i am hiding from turrets, what i think this deserves more then just some armor and what we where going to buy, mainly because we are still paying 150 still. "If i get back alive i am asking for a few more health potions and some more throwing spears..." I waited until the turret was done with its wave before i leaped out of the cover i flew at it, after a few slashes and a stab the turret blew up. I was sent down to the ground with a hard thud, i pushed my self up and the first thing i saw was another turret getting ready to blast, as the barrel started spinning i gasped. I had no time to run to cover, i used my wings as a shield to protect my major organs. It was a natural reaction, soon i heard one zap, a laser passing by my head, a clank, and more zaps. None of them hitting me, when i looked up i saw Luna tossing rocks and such at the turret keeping it from pointing back at me, i smirk and called to Cherry "Keep it up!" I jumped up into the air and took flight at the turret, i pushed the spear threw the hull of the turret until i heard the fission battery blow up inside the turret. I pulled out the spear and put it on my back, once i hit the ground i let out a sigh "Wow... That was fun! Can we blow for robots up!?" Luna said as she jumped from the desk I shook my head "Well we are going to have to if we go more into this place..." i sighed and looked around, i saw Luna taking a step ladder and putting it down next to a stack of cabinets to reach something on top "What are you doing? Just fly up..." Luna shook her head "I dont know how to fly, so i am just using this ladder!" I couldn't help but sigh "Ok one, why cant you fly? And two, that's a step ladder not a ladder..." Luna just shrugged "Well my mom and dad where killed from i learned and the earth pony that gave me the name and raised me couldn't fly... And he died before he could find a book or something on it..." She looked down sadly "Well, anyway whats the difference?" Her normal smile returned quickly I sighed again, i was noticing i was sighing far more then i should have been recently "Whats the difference? between the two type of ladders? What? No, i am not going into that right now!" Luna just shrugged and turned back to the stack. She grabbed what looked like a bb gun and some bbs "Aww... I thought this was a rifle or something..." But while she looked down sadly i smiled quite happily "Well that's not a waste of a find, you could use that to practice shooting with out wasting bullet" Luna smiled at the idea and put it on her back "Oh hey! Your smiling! I haven't seen you do that before!" And i quickly got rid of the smile "I was no smiling! That would be unprofessional of me!" I huffed and looked away as Luna started laughing. I took my spear out and headed from the reception room and more into the factory, a ponytectron turn towards us "STOP THERE AND SHOW ID OR BE DESTROYED" I sighed and took out my crude spear "Oy! How about THIS for ID!" I threw the spear threw the ponytechtron's head, right before it flew back and hit the ground it blew up. But sadly my spear blew up with the ponytechtron "Damn it... I was using that! Fucking thing..." I walked over and kicked the bots mangled head. After a bit of cussing at the dead bots body i turned to Luna "Lets keep going..." We headed up a set of metal stairs to a catwalk where another turret opened up. I sighed with annoyance i flew at it quickly, opening to be able to kill it before i started firing, but suddenly two ponytectrons come out corners "Damn it!" Luna looked around worried, soon she turned at one of the ponytectrons and yelled to me "Take out the sensor!" Luna leaped over the ponytectron and slashed the back. The ponytectron started firing at turret, i moved out of the lasers way i slashed what looked to me like a sensor and with the monument i let my self fall behind the only sane ponytectron and slashed the back in every way to make sure i got the sensor untel it fired at something that was not us. I watched as the three way laser show finished, first was the turret, second was the first slashed protectron, and forth was the one i slashed by me I sighed and sat down, Luna walked up to me and sat down next to me "Oh goddesses... That was crazy... Quick thinking there Luna..." But Luna didn't say anything, just nodded and held her front leg left in pain almost like she was trying to hide it "Huh? What are you doing there?..." I grabbed her talon and moved it out of the way seeing a mark of a laser "Oh man... Looks painful" I dug threw my bag and found some burn medicine and bandages. I rubbed some of the burn medicine and wrapped the bandages around it "Hey, why didn't you say that you where hurt?" Luna's eyes slowly filled with tears, soon she dove her head into my feathers and cried "I-I didn't want you to be disappointed in me!" I couldn't help but smile a bit, not because it was funny but because of how silly of foolish it was, no that was it... It was that it seemed pretty cute. I chuckled and put a hand on Luna's head, slowly rubbing down her feathers over and over again, trying to calm her "Don't worry... You didn't disappoint me... You did a very good job there..." Luna slowly stopped crying and looked up at me. And i quickly noticed that i was smiling. I was about to force my face to stop but, i choice that i can smile... You know, just this once, to make Luna feel better of course... Right? Soon we got up and looked around, on the ground near by was quite a few laser rifles and laser pistols. I collected them into a plastic bag. I looked down at Luna "Ready to go back?" Luna sniffed a bit and tried to wipe the tears from her eyes. Once her normal smile returned to her face she nodded "Then lets go..." > The Valley: Part 1 - First Blood > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We got back into town and headed for Chokecherry's stall, but she wasn't there. I slammed my talons on the desk a few times until she popped out of the back "Oh hello again! You done?" I nodded and put the plastic bag full of laser weapons on the stall "Oh great! Here you go!" She reached under the stall and put down all the stuff we grabbed and the armor for Luna. I took it but thought for a moment "That took a lot of effort..." I put the 150 caps on the desk "So throw in a few extra throwing spears and some more health potions" Chokecherry thought for a moment "Hmm... Well... Ok, ill give you 5 more throwing spears and 2 more healing potions" I looked to Luna to see if she agrees to the deal Luna nodded "Alright, that works for me" Cherry smiled and took the laser weapons and caps. I grabbed the gear and looked to Luna "Come on, lets get armored up and inspect this gear a bit more" After we got dressed in the armor, me being in a black combat armor and Luna being in some cut down green combat armor "Well... Its a bit to green for my liking but at lest i am a bit more protected!" Luna said happy, looking at her new gun. I just nodded, not listening that much as i looked at my spear "Official Stable Tec Royal Guard Spear MK V... Huh... Didn't know Stable Tec made spears..." I looked at the golden yellow colored spear "Huh, quite a fancy spear and it is in really good quality..." I put the spear on my back and looked at Luna who was shooting at some bottles she stacked on a log with her bb gun. She was a pretty good shot to, i was pretty happy that i now had a bit of support from a range. Only thing i worried was Luna acidently shooting me... But by now i trust her, a little, and so i turned to Luna "Hey, you ready to go Snowy?" "Yes... And stop calling me Snowy!" i yelled Luna laughed "But you told me that is your name!" I sighed "Ya... I know..." I REALLY need a new name for my self... This name is annoyingly feminine... Luna started to walk off further south in town, towards where Cherry said the gate to the Chysipod Valley. Apparently inside the Valley are many smaller towns and people though there mostly tribes who don't plan to leave anytime soon. The guard we met at the front gate met us at the gate one "Oy, you really going in there? A pony tribe, a buffalo tribe, a chysipod, or some wildlife will kill you in there. Hell there could be normal bandits that could kill you there..." I nodded to confirm that we will go inside "Well ok, i am betting on a chysipod killing and eating you..." once she was done the guard opened the gate. Luna looked down at the valley seeing a very all set of metal stairs going down "Well! This will be fun!" And we headed down... As we walked down i looked to Luna "Hey, whats with Crysipods? I mean, you said prewar they where changelings that stole and drank love... How do they do that now?" Luna grimaced "Well... Apparently kill there victim trying to make sure they make sure they don't hit the victims head and once done they carefully carve open there head. Once done they use magic on the brain to pull out the memories of love from the victims until the brain rots or the large amount of different chysipods magic melts the brain..." Luna informed me and all i felt was quite a bit of terror "Ya... I know... It sounds pretty bad..." I nodded slowly "Damn... This valley sounds like a hell whole..." That is all i could say... After a long time of walking we reached the bottom. I sighed out of relief of no more damn inclined walking and it was already dark, i dug threw my bag and took out camping supplies "Hey, lets set up camp and stay here for the night. Being so close to the stairs i am fairly sure that if anything comes to attack our camp the guards will shoot it down" Luna looked uneasy "You are fairly sure? So you don't know for a fact?" I nodded, not really getting the issue "Great... Looks like i am sleeping with my pistol tonight..." I just shrugged and kept setting up the two tents, bed rolls, and campfire. After a long restless night being worried about something trying to kill me and Luna ending up sleeping in my tent we packed up camp and headed south, deeper into valley. As we where walking i heard the sound of something running this way quite a distance "Wait... Luna stop and be hush..." I ducked down and put my ear on the ground "Yup... That is running..." I got up and looked around. Soon i saw two buffaloes rushing at us with makeshift weapons in there mouths. One having what looked like a bone with a rock tied to the front like a crude weapon, the other one having what looked like a makeshift machete. I sighed and pulled out my throwing spears, i lobbed a few at the club wielding buffalo. Soon Luna turned to where i was throwing and took out her pistol, i got onto my two back paws and held the spears in my talon as i kept throwing, Luna looked over at me and tried to do the same so she could hold her revolver easier. Once she manged to balanced she fired at the machete wielding buffalo, the buffaloes keep avoiding the attacks as they kept running "Damn it..." I looked at the spears left and there wasn't much more to spare, i put away the throwing spears and took out my guard spear i ran towards them, my spear readied for a charging stab. Once they got close enough to me the machete buffalo swung but i just flapped my wings once which gave me enough air to avoid the attack, i flipped threw the air to get behind the machete buffalo. I dug the spear into the back of buffalo's neck, once it fell i was forced to block a slash from the buffalo but he ended up being able to turn his head to get a good slash into my arm, i stumbled back falling onto my back but the buffalo didn't relent, he slowly walked over me. I tried to grab my spear but the buffalo knocked it away with his hoof, the buffalo smirked and tried to slash my neck open. My natural reaction was to cover my body with my wings, i screamed in pain as i felt the crude iron machete cut into my wings and i felt warm blood start pouring from the now fresh wounds, the buffalo grunted in anger and went in for another killing blow but soon he was shot in the head. I looked out of my wings and saw Luna standing there, shaking in fear and trauma from her recent kill. I rushed up and grabbed Luna as she sunk down to her knees. The pistol slipping from her talons as the tears started coming from her eyes "I-I just... Killed something... I-its my fault hes dead... I-I am a monster..." I rubbed her head and wiped her tears "Shhh... Its ok, it was them or us... Its there fault they attacked..." I kept trying to calm her down but Luna just kept crying, i couldn't help but feel a lot of the sadness Luna was feeling "B-But... We don't even know if... T-They where going to attack... I-Its my fault... Its... Its my..." I sighed I looked into her blank, crying eyes "They ran at us with weapons, they had it coming. And... Look, i know you don't want to hear this but this will be the first of many kills you will end up doing... But look, I killed far more people then you have, and i am not a bad griffin am i?" Luna slowly shook her head, tears still flowing but they started to end, i looked at her. Slowly feeling a little bit of a smile growing on my face and soon Luna cracked a small smile her self, all i could do then is hug her... > The Valley: Part 2 - Red Hooves > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We kept walking but i noticed that Luna has been walking closer to me then normal. I glanced over at her and noticed her... Hopping "What are you doing?" Luna kept hopping as she talked "I am playing a game! I am trying to not step on any of the cracks, oh and i am hopping to try and see if i can fly!" I looked down and saw that the ground was pretty much only cracks "Huh... Good idea, i guess..." I shrugged a bit and let he do her thing. But we both stopped moving completely when we heard a few screams and gun shots coming left of us quite a distance a way Luna looked a bit scared "We... We need to see if who ever they are need help!" I sighed, it could end up with us being dead because we ended up getting into something we cant handle "Grr... Alright fine, lets go" I started running towards the scream as Luna tried to keep up When we reached the reason of the scream we saw a large group of ponies with guns firing at buffalo who where just ignoring the none fatal bullets as they charged. Buffalo and ponies where dropping like flies, from my experience here the buffalo are most likely the ones who are the attackers but i couldn't know for sure but while it may end up with me making a really bad mistake i got up on my back paws and took out my throwing spears. I threw one into the side of a buffalo but it just ignored the spear and kept charging "Damn... These things but me on some kind of combat drug... Maybe Rage..." I put my throwing spears away and took out my guard spear "Well... I would get more direct hits with this..." I jumped up and flew towards the buffalo with the spear in its body, when i got close enough i stabbed it in the neck and the forced made both of us roll on the ground, after a bit of talon slashes and hoof punches i ended up on top of the buffalo. I ripped the spear out of his neck and repeatedly stabbed the buffalo in the face until it finally stopped moving, the combat just stopped as all eyes turned to me but i didn't falter. I grabbed my spear out of the bloody mass that was once a face and i charged at one of the stunned buffalo, i leaped over the buffalo and with one claw i managed to reach around the buffalo's neck and slash his jugular and with the talons holding the spear i threw my spear into the buffalo another buffalo's head. But even after the one cool motion i ended up falling on my face "Ah goddesses damn it..." I got up and saw one buffalo charge at me as the battle resumed, i tried to get back into stance but i didn't have time and the buffalo was able to stab into my torso with his horns, everything froze in my eyes. The whole world just stood still, i heard of this once... When someone is about to die everything stops and they get a moment to reflect. Once i got that thought out time sped up again and my vision slowly turned black... I woke up slowly feeling my lower torso burning in pain, probably where i was stabbed. I saw Luna and quite a few ponies i don't know standing over me, well no i knew one but that was only from seeing her in the battle "Ugh... Where the hell am i?..." Luna opened her mouth to explain but a large male pony wearing strange almost tribal armor cut her off "You are in the tribe of the Red Hooves" Luna just plopped on her flank and glared a bit at the pony. I forced my self i hold in a chuckle at Luna's reaction "Right... Red Hooves... Tribe... Fun..." But once i saw done being sarcastic i sat up quickly, realizing the information i was given "Woah wait! I saved a group from a tribe!? Huh... Thought i was killing tribal people where i attacked the buffalo..." The large pony laughed "Oh you did, you where killing a aggressive druggy tribe called the Wild Buffalo, not a very creative name huh?" I thought for a moment "Druggy huh? That why they weren't being effected by my attacks as much as they should have?" The large ponies face went a bit dark "Yes... Sad part is that almost all drugs out side of the valley you will find is made by them... And used by them... Using a large amount of different drugs they mange to get into a state where they will attack anything that is not a buffalo and they loose the ability to feel anything so they can fight until they are dead with no restraints..." I sighed, that was a bad mix I tried to get up to see if i could do anything but when i tried to a large shot of pain zipped threw my body, i tensed up due to the pain and fell on my face "Goddesses... Damn it..." The female pony i saw back at the fight laughed really hard "Tak ya mono chikon!" I looked at her confused as i forced my self back onto the quite... Low quality bed "O-Oh sorry..." She started speaking something i can understand "What i say was, silly chicken fall on face lots" And then i wished i didn't know what she said because my talons started to feel quite hungry for a female ponies blood... I sighed and saw Luna holding back a laugh "Ugh... You can laugh Luna..." And right when i said it Luna broke into the loudest laugh i have ever heard, i never though a cub could make me feel this bad just by laughing... I sighed one more time and after i tried to force my self up out of the bed again and this time with success. And while i was able to stand up and walk the wound still hurt quite a bit, i dug threw my bag and took out a health potion but the large male pony ripped it from my hands "No! Health potions are unholy and unnatural!" Luna thought for a moment "Unnatural?... But when i checked the ingredients label it said it was all natural..." The large male pony scoffed "Natural? Ha! Everything from the old world is unnatural" I took back the health potion "I am not part of this tribe, i can use what i want" I popped open the top and chugged down the health potion, i felt the large wholes in my torso slowly close mostly "Well... I guess i healed up enough to move and maybe fight..." I stood up on my back paws and took out my spear, slashing the air a bit to make sure i was healed enough "Ya... I should be good..." I put my spear on my back once again. and got geared up "Oy, you" I looked at the large male pony, and everyone looked shocked at how little i am caring about who he is "These Wild Buffalo sound like a issue for everyone and everything involved. So you willing to pay me or something if i kill them? Of course only the ones that fight back..." They all froze, seeming really shocked The large male pony stepped up "If you do that and come back alive i guess we can find something to give you but... I don't think your will come back alive..." I just laughed "We will see about that, lets go Luna..." > The Valley: Part 3 - Wild Buffalo > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We got close to the walls of the Wild Buffalo tribe, Luna looked towards me "Hey... You sure we can do this?" "We? Your not coming with me in there, you are going to stay up there and if i get into a bind you are going to need to swoop in and try to get me out of it" I pointed up at a ridge "And its a good point to snipe from" Luna looked confused "And how exactly am i going to get up there? Cant fly remember..." I grabbed her and took off to the ridge, once i got up there i put her on the ridge and drank down one more health potions just to make sure i was in the best condition i could be for now I took off my spear and flew down towards the camp. As i flew over i pulled my throwing spears out, tossing one at a armed buffalo guard and dropped down next to the body. I looked down at the body "Guess there not drugged up right now..." I shrugged and looked around, it seemed no one noticed yet, i stood up on my paws and took out my spear. I flew down at a group of buffalo talking and with a few quick slashes i managed to kill the group with out much issue, soon several of the buffalo's turned, for some reason pulling out guns and i found out my mistake... The drugged up are only when they are out and about attack, but also the ones that cant use guns from there mental state... "Ha! Look at this little griffin girl, coming in here thinking she can mess with us! Lets get her boys!" They immediately opened fire, but i had just enough time to leaped out of the spray of bullets, sadly none of the bullets hit there own allies. The buffalo which seemed to be only around 15 in total fighting i could only guess that there last little skirmish with the red hooves is why there is so little fighting, i guessed and hoped that the the ones that are not fighting is ponies, or well buffalo, that cant fight or that are fillies. I flew towards one but before i could even get my spear readied the buffalo was shot in the head, i smirk and mumbled "Nice work Luna..." I dropped and slide to keep my momentum and instantly sprung towards the one next to him and dug my spear into his neck, once he fell i kept two bullets hit my side, one of them being deflected completely from the armor and the other one getting threw into my side. I clenched beak in pain but still flung my self toward two more that where firing together, bullets flew past me as i closed my distance to them and when i was able to i dug my spear into the head of one and with the spear in the head i ripped it sideways, slashing up the other buffalo's side. The now wounded buffalo stumbled a bit with all the pain and seeing the gap in his stance i swiped his hooves, flipping him on his side and with he clear shot i stabbed my spear into his belly. Three more got to me as the rest looked around for the sniper, still trying to keep a eye on the battle but before i could get my spear up to try to defend my self a bullet broke through one of there head, another bullet hitting ones back, and a last one hitting another's leg. Clearly Luna's aim was getting quite a bit shaken due to trying to shoot fast, i was shocked at her aim with a .22 revolver at this distance but i couldn't keep thinking for any longer and so i looked to the two that where alive I leap forward using there shock of the wounds to my advantage to stab my spear into the chest of the leg wounded one but the one that was shot in the back recovered shockingly quick and fired a 9mm pistol into my side, the bullet barely broke my flesh after all the speed lost from going threw my armor but the pain was still real. I turned to stab him but something else knocked me down and my spear ended up slashing the leg of the target buffalo cutting the leg clean off, i rolled over seeing a shotgun being held by... A unicorn! I blinked for a moment in surprise at the chief looking unicorn but i quickly broke my train of thought out of my mind as fast as possible and grabbed the shotgun in my beak, i pulled my head left pulling the shotgun from the magic aura. I spit it out and lunged forward to stab the unicorn but i was blasted back by a wave of magic from the unicorn, i rolled a bit trying to force my self to stop sliding. Once i my footing back i stood on my paws again, i quickly pulled a throwing spear out and chucked it but the unicorn just grabbed it with levitation and flung it back 2x the speed i tossed it. I barely managed to get out of the way of the spear, i slipped my spear onto my back and picked up the shotgun, i fired quickly with out thinking because i still wanted to get the drop on him with the sudden shotgun blast and shockingly it worked. I pulled my spear off my back as the chief-unicorn-pony-thing stumbled back with pain coursing threw him, i smirked and flew forward jabbing my spear into the neck of the chief. Once i was able to i pulled my spear from the unicorns neck. I looked behind me to see three new buffalo bodies, i could only assume they tried to get involved in me and the chief's little duel and ended up getting shot by Luna. Two more looked at me and i reached for a throwing spear when i realized there was no throwing spears left "Oh goddesses gang bang me..." i waved my talon like i was waving them off and just as i though Luna would do, a bullet fired threw the head of the left buffalo.The right one looked scared as if i was some kind angry of goddess. But the right one still brought up a 10mm smg in his mouth, i tossed my spear a bit up and grabbed the very bottom of it and slapped the smg from his mouth. Once done i brought the spear up and quickly drove the spear down into the buffalo's head I turned to see 5 more buffalo that appeared in extreme fear but still readied there guns, i dashed forward at the group as one of them fell from Luna. I felt many bullets hit my armor and a few breaking threw as i charged, once i got close enough i fired the shotgun into one of there head and right after i threw the shotgun at a reloading buffalo and right after i ran at him pushing my spear threw the buffalo's skull. I turned and right after another buffalo was shot, with two left i smirked "Time for my signature move!" I ran forward at the two and leaped over the bunch, with my left hand i slashed the neck of one and with my right i stabbed the neck of the other one with my spear. And of course i fell on my face... I got up and wiped all the blood off of me, and of course in my typical fashion, i blacked out from blood loss... > The Valley: Part 4 - Magic > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I woke up slowly, i expected to be right back in the Red Hooves camp but it seems i was far more wrong then i could ever be. First thing i saw was Luna firing her revolver as laser and bullets flew around her, i looked around to see what was going on and i noticed that i was still in the Wild Buffalo camp and as i looked further i saw there where tons of Red Hooves behind cover and firing around us, there could have been hundreds there! I forced my self, noticing my wounds where fixed up with Red Hooves primitive medical supplies but that didn't bother me. I took my spear off my back and rushed next to Luna as she ducked down behind cover. "Oh your awake!" Luna said happily before she threw her self at me in a hug, i patted her back awkwardly due to not knowing what to do with this hug "There where a lot more Wild Buffalo so i ran off and got the Red Hooves!" I sighed "So its a war... Fun..." I looked up out of the cover and when i saw it... I screamed in anger "OH SCREW ALL OF YOU!!" I was looking at the unicorn... He was still alive and i had no idea how "Didn't i stab him in the neck!?" I ducked down right before a magic blast was sent at me "Damn it... Far to much ranged weapons being discharged for me to be able to get in there and use my spear..."Luna thought for a moment "Oh! I know!" She pulled a dead Red Hooves pony towards me and took a golden colored shield with a large gem on the inside from the dead ponies hoof, she handed it to me "You can use this!" I looked at the shield with annoyance "And how will this stop gu--" I stopped my complaint when i noticed it said Stable Tec MK V Guard Shield "Oh god damn it... Did they really do THIS much to get attention from the princesses?" I sighed and put it on my left front leg "But still, how will this stop all the bullets and lasers that will end up flying at me?" The female pony from before stopped firing a SMG and looked at me "Tak enatchama blou rana, kalnia chikon!?" She turned back and kept firing I sighed "What?..." She shook her head and ducked down "Sorry, i say 'It enchanted block bullet, ok chicken?' " I gritted my beak in anger at the chicken comment but at lest i got information "Enchanted huh? Wish my spear was enchanted..." I sighed and stood up "Lets hope this works!" I got onto my back paws and noticed that she shield was quite long, long enough to cover most of me so i could only assume it was a kite shield. I started to walk towards the Wild Buffalo group with my spear in my right talons and i heard the sound of bullets, lasers, and magic blasts from the unicorn hitting my shield to not much success. I laughed a bit at the power of the thing, but even though its good i knew i could still be hurt or killed, i noticed a strange panel on the inside of the kite shield a bit above the large gem. I pulled it sideways and it seemed to be a little window, and while i was inspecting the shield noticed it was slightly curved to protect me better now that i was done looking i tried to move faster but all the bullets and blasts made it impossible then a slow walk, after a bit i could see the fear in the buffalo's eyes as i got closer and closer, when i got close enough to them i pushed threw with my shield, when i got close enough to the unicorn i lower my shield and pointed it in anger "What the hell!? Why are you not dead!?" The war just stopped and all eyes where on us but the unicorn just laugh "I could say the same for you" I hissed a bit but he didn't falter, with a loud blast everything for we went white. I rubbed my eyes in pain and right after i felt the pain of a magic blast, i flew back and when i hit the ground my vision finally came back. I looked around and what i saw was horrifying, all the Wild Buffalo where dead and mangled and as soon as i saw that i turned my to see if the Red Hooves where ok, all of them where alive but running in fear Luna was looking around confused. The unicorn laughed "It seems my suspicions where right! Though i did loose my people... But at lest the Red Hooves are in fear and now that i got the information i need... It should be simple enough to kill you!" "You crazy asshole! You killed your own men! Ever heard of friendly fire you jackass!?" He just laughed and started sending blasts of magic, i quickly raised my shield to block the blasts but i still got knocked back further. After a bit of tumbling i forced my self up and noticed my spear was back near the unicorn "Damn..." I looked around my body for anything possible to use but there was nothing, i sighed and ran forward at the unicorn He laughed again "Quite brave... While i kill you let me tell you my tale, that way you can have something to think about in hell!" I just grunted and kept at him "I use to be a shaman for the Red Hooves..." He sent a large red magic blast at me, once it got close enough i smacked it with my shield which, to my surprise, dealt with the blast completely with out effecting my speed to much "But they didn't like how much i was working with studying the wild life and learning offensive magic..." He sent a large beam, i brought up my shield and even as the blast connected with my shield he still sent the beam. I dug my paws into the ground and gripped my left front leg with my right talon to try to hold my position still, soon after he let the beam end "So a warrior of the tribe burnt my work to the ground, so i..." He send another large wave and so i ran forward a bit more before bringing up my shield letting the wave pass over me "So i killed quite a few as i left! Then i came here..." The unicorn started building up energy and i immediately ran at him when i got the chance, his voice was forced as he was collecting magic "I came here... And... Started the... Wild Buffalo... So i could... Ruin the life of... As many normal... Ponies as possible... Including the ones... That work for... Me..." Soon with all the energy he collected he made a large ball of magic, i knew if he blasted me with that i would end up dead. My arms would be forced back by the shear force of the blast and with my body exposed i would be wiped away... With no idea on what to do i let instincts take over... I let my brain shut off and my body took over I dropped down onto 4 legs and dashed forward growling. When i got close enough i leaped up flew at him, i dug my talons into his chest and bit into his jugular. A instant kill for anything alive but i didn't stop there, my body just made me start eating him. When i realized what i was doing and snapped out of it my stomach was feeling sickly full... I cringed and got away from my body when i noticed the issue i made, the ball of magic started flickering and shaking from having nothing to direct it or control it. Soon it blew up with magic, i raised my shield to block the blast but i was still sent flying back. After a long time of me being flung and my wings flapping for control i ended up landing only a little bit always from Luna, and then... You guessed it! I passed out... > The Valley: Part 5 - Questions > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I got up, my head burning with pain "Why do i black out so damn much!?" Luna was looking down at me happily, i looked around and saw that i was still in the ruins of the Wild Buffalo camp "Hey Snowy, can i ask something?" Luna said, looking a bit confused I sighed "Its Snow but what?" She stopped for a moment, fidgeting a bit where she was sitting "Well... I got hit with the wave to but... I didn't pass out, why did you?" I growled "I don't know! Want me to pop you on the head and let you feel what its like to be knocked out!?" Luna laughed at my own expense as i got up and grabbed my shield and spear. I started digging threw the bodies scattered around for anything useful, Luna started flipping threw a book "Hey Snowy, do you ever think about love?" I stopped and turned, confusion was all that was going threw my mind right now "What? No!... Wait are you coming on to me because i WAY to o--" Luna interpreted me "No of course not! That would be gross, what i mean is... Just... Look at this..." Luna tossed the book to me and sat down on the ground with her head down, it was like she was confused or scared I sighed and caught it before it clocked me in the head "Lets see what the problem is shall we?..." I opened the book, though it was more like a notebook. I flipped threw countless pages of scribbles about magic mumbojumbo that i couldn't understand before i found what Luna was referring to, i read it out load to make sure i was reading what was on the page correctly "Day 235 of the 52's experiment. It seems the spell worked to make her normal though for some reason she choice a snow colored griffin form... She seemed to have wanted to join this merc group, i will have to looked further in... I think this is the Crysipod i was looking for..." I stopped and flipped to the next page "Day 438, 52 was attacked while she was guarding this town or something, seems there was some damage to the brain... Maybe she will forget about her self, if she does then a whole new test will be started. Guess we will have to find out..." It ended there, i knew this must have been the unicorns but... Luna looked up "I... I think the notebook is talking about you... You might be a..." She stopped and looked back down, i knew what she meant... She meant that i could be a Crysipod, but one that was reverted to the pre-war ways... "Hold on now! There is a HUGE issue with the stuff your saying! I would be weak as hell by now if i was a Crysipod from a lack of love or what ever!" I had to yell, i was mad! She was saying all this stuff when there was a issue with her claim! Luna just shook her head slowly "No... It... It makes so much sense... You get knocked out so much... Your getting more and more weak..." Luna said it in the sadist way, like i was killed or something I growled "I am not going to die, i am not a Cryispod, and i am not getting weak! But even if the whole Cryispod thing was true, what is worrying about it going to do about it!?" Luna sniffed a bit but slowly nodded and looked up, she had some tears coming down her face but she was smiling. I smiled back and got up "Lets go..." With she disturbing information still drifting around my head i helped Luna up and we headed out We started walking down deeper into the Valley, all i could think about was 'What am i? Who am i? Where was i from?' and all that crap, Luna looked up at me "Hey... There is no chance we cant get a explanation from the unicorn right?" I sighed "I hope not, i mean i ate his jugular. Not something that ponies can walk away from..." Luna looked down But of course she quickly looked back up with a new question "What IS the jugular?" I laughed, this was a question i could definitely answer I raised my neck and pointed a talon at my jugular "It is the most major blood... Thingy... In a living creature, cut that" I rubbed my talon on my jugular "And they will bleed out almost instantly, its science and stuff" Luna thought for a moment "Where did you learn that?" I opened my beak to say something when i stopped "I... Don't remember... Why?" Luna looked down "Well... That is a quick and effective way to kill something... With out you know... Hurting the brain..." I sighed "Its most likely a normal hunting thing for griffins ok? Just... Don't worry about it..." Luna shrugged a bit, it seems she has come to terms with it a bit. Which kinda annoyed me... "Well hey, at lest i can give you some advice that might help you" Luna looked back up at me as we kept walking "What?" I was a bit disturbed at how interested in the advice then she should be but i didn't worry about it "Well, If someone... Or something... Is wearing a helmet of some kind that you don't think you can shoot threw, aim for there neck. That way you are still getting a, most likely, fatal wound" Luna nodded as if she was thinking about it in depth, which scared me a bit more then it should have... > The Valley: Part 6 - Crys And Fire > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We where walking because that's all we could do, if we addressed any of the issues in our supplies or minds it would only bring us down. I mean we where pretty well fucked: no health potions left, no spears left, Luna was near running out of ammo, and my mind is looping with questions on what the hell i am So what do you do when you have nothing? You walk, you move, you head further in hopes things will get better... But it didn't... No it got worse fast... I just passed a red rock that looked like every other red rock when i heard Luna, a little bit behind me, yell. I turned quickly taking out my spear, what i saw horrified me... It was creatures much like bug but a bit more pony like and yet they where mangled and twisted. There where three in total all surrounding Luna, they got up onto back hooves and there front opens started popping and twisting. One turned its hooves into spiked fail like things, another turned its hooves into sword like weapons, and the last one turned its right hoof into a rifle while holding it better with it's left. I knew Luna was in a real issue here but i didn't know how i could help efficiently, but i didn't think about that like i normally do, instead i charged forward at the rifle hooves Crysipod. Before i could attack in anyway shape or form i saw fire rain down from the sky, i gasped and pounced towards Luna, i grabbed her and covered us with my shield to make sure we didn't get burnt. I watched as Crysipods burn to death in front of us, even though i knew Luna seen worse i still covered Luna's eyes... Even though she seen many horrible things this is not one that see needs to see. Once the fire stopped i stood up on my pack paws and pulled Luna up with me, i readied my shield and spear in case what ever brought down the fire was coming for us next. Soon a black drake landed in front of with its back to us, looking at it further it looked like a normal female drake: stands on two legs, two arms, two wings, that whole stuff but i noticed my self inspecting her... Features... After a bit of asking and battling my brain on why i am looking at her like that i shook my head, i ran at her. Her features was not going to distract me from my anger, she almost killed us! I slapped her in the back of the head, she turned and just now noticed us "Oh damn! Didn't know there where non crysipods down here. Meh..." She turned away "Oy! You almost killed us you damn drake!" I yelled at her, pointing my spear at her She laughed a bit before knocking my spear out of her face a bit "Ah calm down there angry feathers, i DIDN'T kill you did i?" She looked at me a bit further "Huh... Your pretty cute when you mad, wonder how cute you are when your not mad..." My face slowly turned red, was she flirting with me? No, i couldn't let that get to me. I looked over her further cheeking for what weapons she has, and what i saw kinda scared me. She had on her claws some metal claws, they must be for being able to use her claws much better, her cloths where some light armored duster gear, she tapped my head with a metal claw as i was lot in thought staring at her "Wow... You seem very... Interested in me~" My face turned more red as i leaped back from her, bringing back up my spear "S-Stop it!" I yelled at her, keeping my weapons up She giggled a bit, when i heard it i had to force my self to stay on guard because it was so cute, and then my brain went back into the what-are-you-thinking mode. She stepped forward a bit "Stop what? I am just talking to you" I glanced at Luna who was watching while being very confused I flew behind the drake, hitting her legs with my spear so she would drop to her knees. In once motion i tied her hands back with a small length of rope and tied her muzzle down a bit with another bit of rope to make sure if she breathed fire it would only be a little stream. I got back in front of her "Tell me your name and why you are here!" I had to act mean, if i didn't then i would probably be lost while looking at her chest... She could only mumble given the very small amount she can open her muzzle "My name is Meyra and i am here to kill some crysipods, i was hired to. Also you could at lest take me on a date before you start binding me~" I shook my head before blushing took over again But then i stopped "M-Meyra?" It was a really silly name, in fact it was a hilarious name! I had to literally bite my tongue to not break out in laughter though Luna was already laughing her ass off While still forcing my self to not laugh in untied Meyra, not seeing her as threat right now. She stood up and rubbed her wrists from the rope "Now that i am out of the bondage, though it was kinda fun, I am going to go..." I grabbed her tail before she flew away "Oh no you dont! I got more questions!" So she stopped trying to fly away and sat down. When she did i noticed that the sky was starting to turn the same color as Meyra's scales "We will deal with the questions tomorrow..." I let out a sigh, keeping a eye on Meyra as i took out my camping supplies... > Update! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- So this story wont be put on a 'There wont be any more chapters until later' hiatus, there will still be some chapters when ever i get a idea but working on a my new one will be put a little bit higher then FO:E F.O.M. on my work list. In the foot notes there will be a straw poll on what it should be because i have a few ideas but cant choice, the poll gives very general choices but my ideas are much more specific. If you don't like the idea of a new story just yet or don't like the choices in the poll there is a choice for that to. This update will not be deleted every and so if anyone reads this days after publish here is the date: 7/18/15 > The Valley: Part 7 - Crystal Company > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I woke up feeling quite well rested yet something was off, i felt something large and warm behind me. The warmth of what ever was behind me was making me want to go back to sleep but i was more curious of what it was then i was tired so i looked behind me and what i saw made me want to bury my face in my talons. It was Meyra cuddled up with me deeply in sleep, after i wiggled out of her grasp i put on my armor and gently kicked her "Oy! The hell are you doing in my tent!?" She woke up after a little bit of me kicking her "Hm? Oh your awake... Sorry i came in, it was just really cold out there and i felt you wouldn't care to much if i gave you a little company~" I felt pretty much half of the blood in my body move to my head and wings, after a bit of me trying to force my wing to stop getting more and more flexed while Meyra laughed at me, i pushed her out of tent and started packing up my stuff. I felt Meyra watching me pack up and soon Luna got up also. "Hey, you two haven't even given me your names yet nor told me what you plan for me to do" Meyra said while she put on her metal claws over her claws. I sighed slowly "I am Snowy Feathers, you can call me Feathers, and the cub is Luna. What i want you to do is lead us to what ever merc group you are apart of" I was thinking that there is a chance she could be from the mercs i was from, and maybe i will find this 'Loops' pony before even reaching Hope Luna walked over to me, seems she was already done packing "Snowy, are we going further?" Meyra smiled, seems she found a new name for me. Which makes me more annoyed then it should... "Well we are going to follow Meyra to where ever her little merc group is" I replied to Luna, but it seems she had another question on her mind but yet she seemed like she didn't want to say whatever it is "Huh? You got something else on your mind Luna?" Luna scratched the ground a bit with her talons seeming very nervous "Well uhh... Could erm... Never mind..." She just brushed off what ever was on her mind though she seemed quite sad. I smiled a bit, i tossed Luna up a bit and let her land on my back "How about i let you ride on my back? And with you on my back we can fly letting us move quite a bit faster" Luna smiled happily though she did seem like she still had something on her mind "Right, come on Meyra. Lead the way..." Meyra turned away from us, seeming like she enjoyed the little show. She lifted off the ground and flew east, i jumped up and few after the drake. While flying i heard Luna screech "Where to high!!! Let me down!!! I am going to die!!! To fast! To high!!!" I sighed, we weren't going nearly as fast as i could, not as high as i would like, and more! If she fell from here the worst she can probably do if she fell from here is break a bone "Don't worry! We are probably almost there cub!" i called back to Luna as i kept my pace. Meyra stopped flying and dropped down on a cliff in front of a quite large two story shack "Here we are! The Crystal Company HQ!" Meyra proclaimed excitedly. I sighed and shrugged, pushing the door open. When i did a large amount of mixed races, all looking very tough and grizzled and as soon as they all seen me everything stopped. Every living soul looked at me in shock, soon Meyra came in and looked around "Huh? What the hell? Why is every one so shocked? I know this griffin is one hot peace of ass but you guys shouldn't be this shocked!" And now there stares turned to Meyra and they all looked very aggressive at her. One pony walked up to Meyra an hit her in the stomach "Don't talk about Frost like that you dumb ass!" The drake was there coughing for quite a few minutes as swarms of the mercs came around me. They where all saying things like "Where have you been Frost!?" "Whos the cub Frost!?" "Whats with the armor Frost!?" "Are you hurt!?" "We missed you Frost!" And a few other things that i couldn't understand from all the words being yelled at me I started growling, getting more and more annoyed at the questions until it finally made me snapped "SHUT THE HELL UP!! My name is not Frost! Who cares about my armor! I dont know any of you!" Everyone stopped and back off, looking confused Meyra finally recovered from her sucker punch "Gah... What the hell? Is Snowy, Frost!?" I looked over at Meyra "And who the in the name of all that is fucking holy is Frost!?" I yelled at Meyra for answers She sighed "Well, it is apparently the name of our leader who was out doing a mission or something" And that made me understand what has happened. I was once the leader of this place, i turned around "Screw this..." I left the shack, i needed to kill something. I was frustrated and annoyed so i needed something like fighting to get my mind off of it. I slid down the side of the cliff with Luna still on my back Luna poked her head up to mine "Uhh... Snowy? Where are you going?" I sighed slowly "I was going to kill something to calm my self down but i think just relaxing will be better..." Luna nodded a bit and brought her head back away from my own. But once i got to the bottom i was taken off guard from a few bullet shots passing by my head, soon two unicorns i saw at the shack jumped in front of me "You damn griffin! Doesn't matter if you are Frost or not you are going to mess everything up by being alive here!" One of the ponies said. I slowly put Luna down off my back as she reached for her pistol, i waved a talon to stop her. "Calm down... I don't feel like killing you right now..." They looked at each other seeming kinda confused. "Well fine... Walk away, never come back, and we will kill and rip apart your cub while you walk off! You need to learn a lesson for trying to disrupt our new leadership" And when i heard that i instantly got my spear and shield ready I slowly got on my back paws and walked towards them, now towering over them "Don't you dare..." I felt my anger rise more and more as i slowly walk towards them, though i didn't notice as my eyes slowly developed into green flames "Talk about..." I moved faster then i ever had before. I leaped over one of them and kicked the ponies head into the ground, landing behind the now face planted body "My daughter like that!" I didn't even feel my self say that as i rushed forward, digging my spear into face planted unicorns neck and after spinning around the spear's handle i kicked the back of the other ponies head. Once done i ripped the spear out of the unicorn's neck and stabbed it into the other ponies body and something in my mind clicked as i realized what i did and said... > Company Divided: Part 1 - Answers > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I stood there for a moment, breathing hard even though i didn't even use that much physical energy. Soon the green fire developing my eyes dissipated, i felt much more out of energy then i should be but i didn't have time to rest and so i stumbled over to Luna, kneeling down in front of her "Are you ok?..." Luna just nodded, her eyes flicking between everything of importance in her gaze. It looked as if she had far to much going threw her mind, leaving her there paralyzed, her beak kept moving as if she was saying something but nothing came out from it "Luna... Calm down... One question at a time..." She finally got her mind in order "U-Uhm... Why did the unicorns attack you?" I thought for a moment back to what they said "Well... I am unsure, it was some pretty strange stuff they where saying..." She just shrugged off that answer and now finally looked up, looking into my eyes then gasped "W-Whats wrong with your eyes!?" She fell on her back from the shock of what ever is wrong with my eyes "What are you talking about?" I flipped over my shield and looked into recently shined metal of the shield and what i saw shocked me just as much Instead of my normal blue eyes i had green silted eyes, much like the crysipods eyes well no my eyes where exactly like them. And once i thought that my blood went cold, i tried to banish the thoughts to the farthest and deepest parts of my mind but yet i just couldn't and soon my mind was filling and twisting with things like 'I am a crysipod, it must be true, why am i this?' and more. After a long time of my brain trying to escape its self i was finally snapped out by Luna tapping me I shook my head and look over at her "I... Have one more question..." I sighed, i was in no state to really answer more questions but then again i did owe her some answers "Ya?..." My head was starting to hurt and i still felt really tired She looked down "Uh... Do you really... See me like y-your daughter?..." I felt my face turn a bit red, i didn't mean to say that before the fight but yet still it was true I nodded slowly feeling more and more embarrassed "Y-Ya..." I closed my eyes to help block my self from what ever amount of embarrassment i would feel but instead i felt a hug "T-Thats what i wanted to tell you before..." That was shocked me far more then it really should have and if i was to say anything i knew it could have just come out as squeak but yet i still tried to say something "Khaa..." That was the only thing that came out. So with words not working i decided to just hug her back, all we did was sit there embracing echother > Update 2! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guess what!? The new story is out and here is the link! Sadly that is all for now as i work on the new chapter of FOM and the new story here is the link: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/280690/the-breaking-skys enjoy! Or don't, do what you want > Company Divided: Part 2 - Misunderstanding > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Me and Luna where hugging for, well I don't know how long. But I was sure that it was far longer than I would like, mostly because Luna was practically hanging off of me in an attempt to hug me longer which much to my dismay worked. But what finally broke it was when I was struck which knocked me quite a bit back; when I finally could stop my eyes from spinning any further I saw what hit me: That being a large black drake named Meyra. I pushed myself up quick enough to avoid a slash from her metal claws “The hell Meyra!? What are you attacking me for!?” I ducked out of the way of a few more claw slashes but still ended up getting quite a bad cut on one of my front arms “Friendly fire you crazy bitch!” I screamed out at her before I leaped back from a flurry of draconic fire. “Why I am attacking you!? You just killed two of our best mercs!” I was about to tell her why but she slashed at me before I could. “You god damn griffin! I knew she was right!” I Meyra slashed again but instead of dodging I grabbed her wrist and spun around to her back to pin her down. “They attacked me first!” I yelled at Meyra while keeping her down “Wait… What do you mean ‘she was right’?” Meyra let out some flames in an attempt to burn be but, like normal creatures with a spine, was not able to bend her head back far enough to touch me with the flames “Could you use some of that fire to explain?...” Meyra stopped her fire and sighed. “Ugh… Loops told me that you were going to destroy the company, and it seems to be right!” She tried to pull her arms out of my grasp but I kept it still. “Wait… Loops? Huh… Heard that name before…” Then it clicked, Chocolate Loops… “Oh for fuck sake…” I let Meyra up “I think this is a big misunderstanding, she most likely thinks I am not Snowy, or Frost… Or whatever…” Meyra looked like she was torn between attacking me and not attacking me. She finally decided to stop and fly away, i sighed out of relief and looked towards Luna who was sitting there clearly confused about what just happened and so was i. So after me and Luna sat around wondering what the hell just happened for a few hours we got up and decided to head to the shack again, i put Luna on my back and few up towards it, once we got there i was stopped by a merc "Oy, Loops wants to see you" I just shrugged and waved a talon to try to tell him to lead the way, he nodded and started walking. Soon we reached a bookcase, the merc turned to Luna "You have to stay here cub" Luna let out a huff and sat down, once she was done the merc pushed the bookcase to the side reveling a large passage way to... I dont know, it was pure darkness with out a shred of light.