in a world ravaged by plague the only chance you have is to lock yourself away and hope for the best a group of friends makes it to a world nothing like there own it will change there lives forever
In a world ravaged by plague the only chance you have is to lock yourself away and hope for the best a group of friends makes it to a world nothing like there own it will change there lives forever bringing friendships to new ends and destroying others will they survive or will a plague be the least of there worries.
“We finally did it years of abuse and we finally pulled the trigger one the gun we stuffed in our fat greedy mouths; the year is 2087 and we as the human race have more than just fucked ourselves we extinguished the little flame we had left. As of 2013 we started to discover viruses and pathogens in the permafrost and ice the covered Greenland and Iceland. Over time we started to discover most that had no effect some had vary minor effects on humans all were mostly directed at extinct creatures, but then 2080 rolled around and there is absolutely no way to recover from this now. buried in the ice we found a body.
This body was 1.3 million years old and it had a note written in a language that we've never seen before it took us two years to decipher it...I..I knew we shouldn't have kept the body the signs were all there, the way this body was buried and how the note looked like it was written frantically.” after a long pause the video continued. “We found a virus in the body but not just one - millions all genetically identical this virus attack human cells and only human cells it killed just as fast as it infected and there is no cure you and anyone in the bunker are immune to the virus but we can't take the risk of you or anyone getting sick you'll be entering the facility at the beginning of the first day in the first month in 2082. Stay safe and good luck this is doctor nicks making my final recording”
Looking down at the paper i was handed before the bunker door slammed shut it saw a small list of people in the bunker and some info on the bunker itself. This bunker could house forty people but just had me and three others.(me)Rick blacktail, Thomas reinhart (requests: Tom), Alexis June (requests:Alex or June), Riley Quinn (requests: none). luckily i knew Alexis mostly because we when friends in high school. As for the others i have no idea who they are. The list had 7 other names on it but each one was crossed out with the words dead, deceased, or missing written next to it in the margin giving me a clear view of the world we now lived in. just go's to show how lucky we are to not be one of them.
Looking further down the page i saw some basic instructions i was to be the leader although i was only the military rank of corporal i was also the only one in here that spent any time in the military so i sorta made sense walking into the room the others were waiting in. grabbing a chair from the dining table (This bunker was fare to comfortable for my tastes but i'll live.) and turning it completely around to face the three on the couch near by --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas reinhart: mechanic/engineer Age: 24 occupation: construction and repair Admission because: hes is more than capable of handling repairs of any work needing to get done. Personality: thinks highly of himself, perverted/ lacks a mental filter for that, overall tolerable ________________________________________________________
Alexis June: translator/radio officer Age: 20 Occupation: journalist/field reporter Admission because: she is here to help maintain contact to the outside world and aloue easy access to most languages. Personality: loud, loves to party to electronic music, very friendly ________________________________________________________
Riley Quinn: cook/basic household tasks Age: 28 Occupation: maid/restaurant chef/baby sitter Admission because: everyone needs a motherly figure and a caregiver shell do the tasks most wont on there own Personality: shy, friendly, loves animals good at gardening. ________________________________________________________
Rick blacktail: leader/soldier/guardian Age: 20 Occupation: caption in US military tank company alpha Admission because: only person recommended with military training. Info states that he lead an entire tank company on his own after the original caption died and was promoted shortly after died. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personality:friendly, good with introverts and extroverts, promised to protect everyone when the need arises. Keeps to self unless needed.
OK that's actually pretty accurate and to think all i had to do is answer one hundred or so questions. “OK hello everyone my name is Rick i was told i would be your leader but please we only have to spend like two years of normal stay before we jump in the cryo pods and go from there. You don't have to treat me like a leader just expect occasional orders now as for your jobs tom you were tasked with maintenance and repair so just make sure shit works, the room you'll be in is down the hall to the left kitchen in the east wing .”
“OK not a problem.” Thomas said before picking up his duffel bag and heading to his new room. Looking over at Alex she was listening to music that was far too loud for her to hear me so i just ripped hers and Riley's papers out and hand it to them. Before walking off i look down at my paper and look over some of the info before walking to my room.
My room/office was in the north wing of the bunker as a walked down the hall to my room i would catch glances of equipment that was used to fix up the bunker but most of it had been sitting here for a while as most of it was rusted or just loosely placed about. Approaching my new room i started to see less and less equipment and more and more ferneture it's as if they didn't finish the bunker. Ignoring the piles of stuff i open the door to my room and find the room is very well kept having the desk in the front part of the room and the bed in the back and separated by a wall with and archway as a door.
Walking over to the desk i through my stuff down on the floor walked over to the bed and lie down just to relax. Looking up from the ceiling just thinking of what our goal is here. if the world's gone to shit it wouldn't matter what we did here we’ll probably spent our lives down here worthlessly doing nothing but dieing slower.
Hearing a knock at the door i got off the bed and walked over to the door the let them in before opening the door i asked who it was out of habit. “who is it.”
“Its me Alex i wanna talk to you.” a little confused on what she could have wanted i opened the door just enough to let my face poke through.
“Yeah whats up Alex how have you be…” staring wide eyed at her as she presses her lips to mine out of nowhere. All of a sudden my mind started to throw up flags definitely vary confused and unsure what to do as I've never been in this kind of situation. Slowly starting impressed with her the massive balls she had to do that she broke the embrace and walked off back down the hall. I wanted to say something but as far as i can tell the sound that came from my mouth might as well have been TV static. “Uuuuuuuuhhhhhhh OK bye...” I closed the door and went back to lying on the bed my eyes still wide open with my right eye twitching every so often.
Time: 12:35pm Date:12/31/2082
It's been a year since we entered this shit hole i think we all are just done with this shit we all just gave up so i started to craft weapons and tools out of shit i found lying around during holidays i took the more precious materials and made jewelry for the girls .Alex spent time writing books and short stories on the PC in my office being as it's the only one that works after getting parts from the other broken ones. Tom decided to have Riley grow some wheat and other crops and makes alcohol he ripped apart one of the unused bathrooms for the copper tubing and made a little brewery in the now empty bathroom. Riley decided she would do something more productive and took the room i used to use as a bedroom before i moved and made it into a very large farm having me build some new planter boxes and use all the dirt she had access to, she also took what resources we had and made us some new clothes.
We got bored and drunk a lot. Riley was the only one not to drink enough to black out so she kept the rest of us from doing anything stupid like making babies you know the normal stuff.
We walked into the room that had been locked from the inside for a year once the bunker door closed the timer started and now it was open This room was a bit dusty but otherwise untouched and clean walking into the room we started to notice that the equipment in here was high tech. “Being in the military normally means i see this kinda stuff but this was unreal I've never seen tech like this.” i say out loud to the group. Looking around the room i spot a monitor with some flashing text on it. Walking over to it the text read [ press enter to start blackwall program ] Unsure of what this program is i pressed enter and stepped back after a minute or so large amounts of text started to scroll down the screen the large pods on either side of the room opened and revealed some chairs with clothes on them each chair had a specific uniform on it made specifically for one of us and i particularly found it odd that this bunker had forty people on the list but only four pods leaning on the pod i started to put on my uniform making both girls blush while tom was oblivious but the room. Once i had my uniform on i looked around the room and noticed something out of place this room and everything in it was white but in the corner of the room there were four large chests a dark green color and where a little worse for wear. Walking Over to the stack of chests i noticed each one was addressed to Riley, Alex, tom, and me picking up my box i pushed it off to the side and called the others over
“Hey guys i got something with our names on them.” As the others walked over i handed them each their respective box then turned to mine all of a sudden i started to hear crying i turned towards the origins and saw Alex holding a photo close to her chest and she was crying looking over the other two they were in similar positions but tom was holding it together better he was holding a small watch and Riley was holding a blanket and stuffed animal, turning back to my box i opened it slowly and prepared for heartbreak. Looking into the box i saw my military combat armor along with my riffles and my pistol removing the items i saw another box made of some very nice wood this one had the words “only if” carved into the top picking up the box i opened it and pulled a sealed envelope from inside along with an old pocket watch opening the envelope i instantly recognized the handwriting…. It was my mother's.
Even after a year i still recognized the handwriting the room was dead silent, no one dared say a word we were all sobbing except for me i was completely speechless my eyes wide only placed onto words on the whole page “we're sorry” shaking the feelings from my head i continued to read. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nick we miss you greatly and wish to see you again in the future your baby brother is close to being born and were excited to have him i'm sorry you won't be there for it but we hope he'll grow up to be great like you
Miss you the family
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear: Nick Blacktail
We're sorry to have to send you this letter we regretfully inform you that your family has all passed due to the disease or otherwise your mother fell ill and passed giving birth to your baby brother who already had the disease but was immune carrier like you and he has been kept safe from all harm,your father died in car accident on his way to work a week before, and your sister from what we can assume had taken her own life because of stress from losing everyone she loved. We’re very sorry you had to find out this way. There's two items in your box that are what was left by your family and a remote. the remote will be used after you get back out of the pods.
sincerely Linda Graymor. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standing up and wiping the loose tears from my face i turned to the others to be met by their eyes on me as if waiting for an order. Nodding my head they stood up and walked over to there respective pods, as soon as they were in their pods and there doors were closed i picked up the second box from my chest of stuff and pulled the remote out of it. Glancing over the remote it was about the size of a credit card and only had one bottom on it labeled fifth pod putting the remote in the suits pocket i get into my pod and close the door.
When the pod door closed i was met with a sudden chill realizing that these where cryogenic freezing pods i realized that we were in this for the long haul, as the freezing slowed i started to notice blinding lights flashing outside the chamber the vary same lights that occurred during the experimental teleportation the military used during the martian war with the Korean republic witched claimed a lot of basses destroying most of mars's infrastructure and left most of the planet in waste . Leaning back against the chair i let my eyes close for what felt like the longest blink I've ever had.
Reopening my eyes to a new sight then the laboratory setting i was in before is was a little confused. The cryogenics started to release its hold on me giving me a better look at my surroundings, in the middle of clearing laid four pods and a pod about half the size of the others all of which were covered in dirt and debris each had moss and plants covering their surfaces. Making it seem as if the pods had been here for years reaching for the pod door release switch i pull the lever causing the door to fly open scaring off near by animals stepping out of the pod i looked at the other pods none seems to be damaged which reassured me that the others were safe.
stretching my limbs i walked over to tom's pod i looked for a manual release on the door finding the lever i pulled on it finding it kind of hard because of the rust build up. After some strong pulling and the occasional hitting with a rock i finally got the lever to move yanking it into its open position the door opened and tom fell out revealing his tired body. After some rest on the ground he got up and we started working on getting the others out with both of us it was surprisingly easy Riley's pod was open within seconds. Alex's was a bit more trouble because her pod had a tree growing on it and one of its roots went over the handle it took us about two minutes to cut the root from the handle with my knife which dulled it badly. Pulling the handle down the door opened taking the roots and dirt with it Alex crawled out and we walked over to where Riley was laying in the grass. The rest of us laid down next to her and we warmed ourselves in the early morning sun leaving a peaceful vibe in the air even though it was a dramatically different seen than our previous hole in the wall vault i think we were happy to have some change.
Twenty minutes pass and i stand up and look over to the fifth pod, pulling the small remote from my pocket i pressed the button a little green light lit up in the door causing me to wonder what was powering it was soon as the door opened i rejoiced. Walking over to the pod it had supplies of food water weapons cooking tools and a small cart to carry it in along with backpacks that had extra clothes in them pulling the cart out of the pod it revealed a pleasant surprise two German shepherd puppies picking up the box they where in i looked at the letter written on the side it said that they when to keep us safe and to comfort us when needed these puppies couldn't have been anymore than nine weeks old one sporting a long haired coat and the other the classic short but both had the signature German shepherd colors. Calling over to Riley she ran over seeing as i was holding something she grabbed the box and immediately fell in love with the pups looking into the back into the pod i found two guns a rifle and a shotgun. Pulling them both out i put them both onto the cart and wheeled it over to the group looking over them Alex and Riley were dealing with the still sleeping puppies and tom going through each of the pods grabbing our stuff and salvaging anything useful from the pods. Grabbing each of the backpacks from the cart tossed them in the ground each bag was specific to use making my job easy
“ OK girls Alex here's your bag and Riley hers your bag” i say as i hand each of them there bags full of clothes and toiletries.tom walked back over to the group and drops our personal stuff we were given before we left handing him his bag they each walked off somewhere to change from the vault suits that we were given to where in the pods. Saying behind to look after the dogs i walked over to the box and sat next to it looking down at the pups that have woken up and started to sun themselves. reaching my hand out i pick one of them up to look it over after a check to make sure that they were OK after that i checked gender the one i was holding was a girl,picking up the other i did the same and it was a boy. The only feature difference on the two was the coat making it easy to tell them apart the boy had the long coat and the girl had the short coat.
When Riley came back from changing she was wearing a pair of jeans a black top and had her long auburn hair tied up in a ponytail on the back of her head. Alex came out next wearing a pair of black jeans a fitting red top and gray sweat shirt that was unzipped about halfway leaving her jet black at the top and grey at the bottom hair hang loose . Tom came out from the other direction wearing a pair of brownish green cargo pants a black short sleeved shirt and grey baseball cap which he had turned around. Grabbing my bag i walked to the area that the girls had changed from, opening the bag i pulled out pair of jeans a beanie a thin black long sleeved shirt and a pair of under where pulling the pistol from the pocket of the vault suit i placed it on the ground unzipping the vault suit i changed into my new clothes then put all the vault suit into my bag.
Meeting backup with the group i placed my backpack of clothes on the ground and began looking through the cart finding a fifth backpack it was full of ammunition for my pistol the shotgun and the rifle in the backpack it had a list of the ammunition and the stuff in the cart looking over the list it had a week's worth of MRE’s for three meals a day if rationed to two meals a day would make it ten days rather than 7 and other necessary stuff like toilet paper, drinking water, flint and steel, and a bag of dog food that if rashend should last the pups until they're big enough to walk on the ground with us then we can start feeding them meat. Picking out some rounds for the shotgun i grabbed some slugs loaded them in the magazine tube and put some bird shot sens it's a twelve gauge i'm not worried about missing to bad. Grabbing the rifle i loaded a full magazine and then slung it over my back we don't need to hunt yet but it doesn't hurt to have it loaded. Loading the extra clips for my pistol i put it in my back pocket and put the bag of ammunition back on the cart. cleaning a spot on the cart i picked up the box that had the dogs in it and placed it in the spot.
Alex sprints over to one of the pods and unscrew the large bolt covers on the inside of the pods and places them in the box with the pups.
“What i figured it would make good blows for them for now.” she said with a smile.
“Yeah that works it gives them something to eat and drink out of.” pausing for a moment i thought of what we should do i mean there can't be anything living on this planet other than animals because we can't be on earth anymore it's impossible. “ so what do you guys think we should do wanna head out and find somewhere to make a camp or stay here for today.”
“We gotta head out how knows what animals herd us and are looking i don't wanna be around when a bear or something shows up looking for us.” tom said picking up his bag and putting his knife away after cleaning up a stick to walk with.
“Anyone opposed to this plan.” i say as i look amongest the group. “No OK guess we're heading out then.” grabbing the handle i start to walk towards the trees in the direction i assume to be north based on the where the sun was rising from.
________________________________________________________ Time: 8:12am Date: 6/10/1975 Location: Ponyville twilight's library the day of group's arrival
Twilight had just finished writing in her notebook and started staring out of her window at the direction of the everfree looking over the town as her friends were downstairs waiting for her to finish her work. Looking out to the ever free she saw something that caught her eye - a flash of light off deep in the everfree far from zecora's house. standing up she knew they had to go find out what it was, getting up from her bed she sprinted down stairs to meet her friends and spike. When she got to the bottom she looked at her friends pinkie was playing a game of chess with spike, rarity and fluttershy were quietly talking ad drinking tea on the sofa in the reading nook ,while apple jack and rainbow where in a fierce hoof wrestle trying to see who was stronger both seemed to be evenly matched until AJ faked a yawn to taunt rainbow and almost broke the table slamming rainbow's hoof to it.
“Girls i'm sorry to spoil the fun but we need to go into the everfree i was writing in my notebook and o say a flash of light i think someone needs our help spike wright a letter to princess celestia explaing that where going into the everfree to investigate a flash of light and that i'll write a report when we get back.” twilight said with no hesitation.
“When do we leave twi.” AJ said puffing up her chest a little.
“Immediately we just need to get some supplies go get your saddle bags girls.”
“what direction did it come from i could fly there in back to see what it is.” rainbow said stretching her wings out as if preparing to fly off.
“No rainbow if it's dangerous i don't want you getting hurt we will all go together it's so we have all the elements if we need them.” twilight says walking over to her desk digging through a pile of scrolls.
“Fine.” rainbow started making a poutty face that twilight just shrugged off.
All the girls went off to their respective houses to collect their things for the journey.
After about twenty minutes of walking we had to stop for a break, waiting for the girls to get back from the bathroom/bushes i walked over to the puppies box and picked one of them up gently petting the male one the head i realized we still need to name them.
“Hey tom what do you thi…” i didn't even make it through half of my sentence when a scream came from the a clearing that was less than a yard away from me and tom. giving the pup to tom i grab my shotgun and stuff a box of twelve gauge slugs in the pocket. “Stay here don't leave the cart i'm leaving the rifle with you just encase.”
Tom nods his head in agreement giving me the chance to run off to probably save a life. within thirty seconds i'm at the clearing staring at a gruesome scene Riley was lying in the ground pined in place by a log and Alex was up against a tree facing a lion scorpion bat thing. Know i had no time to stare i fire a round off into the air hoping to get the beast's attention.
“Oh shit” it worked probably a little too well, the beast turned and charged in my direction. i racked another round aiming my gun at its head waiting for the right moment to take the shot. Breathing out slowly i squeezed the trigger dropping the creature to the ground less than ten feet from me and sending a shower of blood in my direction. Racking another round i pick up the empty cartridges and run over to Alex and Riley. picking the long up off of Riley i could tell she was fine just unconscious, Alex was a different story she was bleeding from her thigh and bad i needed a first aid kit and without it she would die. Pulling my shirt off i started to tightly tie it around her leg just above the wound she was starting to lose consciousness from blood loss. Yelling for tom's help knowing he would hear me. It took him about a minute to pull the cart over. Grabbing the first aid kit from the cart i start to clean and bandage the wound.
When i was done my hands were bloody, Alex was safe, and it was about three o'clock. none of us had eaten and we needed to set up camp while me and Riley were taking care of Alex tom went over to the creature which he called a manticore because of mythology or something and he went and cut meat off of it for a meal he cut enough to have a meal for tonight and to make jerky out of for later. After some water and a good meal we sat and talked for a bit, well mostly Riley tom and Alex who was feeling better i took my shot gun and some food found a place i could keep a guard on and was preparing to stay up all night like i used to just to make sure nothing like that happen again.
Night was starting to fall and fast moving myself a little closer to camp to keep a better eye on things everyone was either going to sleep or was already there. Alex was having trouble sleeping because of her leg but we don't have any morphine to give her otherwise this would be easier.
“Hey i'm really sorry Alex i wish we had something to give you.” i say as sympathetic as i could be right now.
“Dude it's fine i'm not dead that all that matters, we’ll make it through this we just need to hold out and survive. Also thank you for patching me up i really appreciate it i'd be dead without you.” she said with a big smile plastered on her face.
“No problem i think i'm the only one here trained to administer first aid anyway.” we paused for a moment befor i spoke again remembering what i was gonna do before this incident happened. “Hey Alex, what do you think we should name the pups.”
“I like Lilly for the girl. Ill let you name the boy i mean he seem to take a liking to you more than anyone else.”
“You calling my unlikable.” i say with a fake serious tone
No you're just...well you is all. I don't know I've never met someone with such a strange personality. i mean you like making things, you like being around people but you have this aura about you that makes you hard to hate, your always happy even when you shouldn’t be for fucks sake you put yourself in harms way to protect me and Riley even though you just as easily could have been killed. You're just the kind of person they needed in that vault you always found a way to make people get along. I'm rambling but what i'm trying to say it that your awesome the way you are. don't change.”
Having Alex say that genuinely put a smile on my face it was short lived though night was upon us the only noise i could hear rustling in the bushes and the fire quietly crackling away. Adding another branch to the fire i started snapping some twigs and adding them as well.
*crack* “rainbow shhh” said a voice coming from the treeline.
"what it wasn't me." another voice said
“Nick what was that.” Alex said in a worried tone.
“I don't know but i intend to find out.” putting the sticks i had on the ground walked over to Alex and laid my jacket on her “stay low i don't know what could happen.” she nodded and stayed quiet.
Pulling my pistol from my back pocket i held it in my left hand and started making my way to the tree line taking light steps to not make to much noise.
“I swear i saw light up here somewhere through these trees.” the voice were much clearer and vary feminine
“Darlin i don't know what y'all were talking about when you said you say a light but is awfully dark don't you think we should head back.” this voice had a southerner accent to it a little confused on what they were talking about.
“Nonsense darling we have tents for a reason we broute camping stuff for this reason did we not.” these accents are all over the place this one's kinda Manhattan like.
“Yeah plus there is a clearing up here we'll stop there and camp out till morning.” the first voice spoke again
‘Shit they're coming this way OK there's no point in moving the camp so might as well let them find us’ i say in my head as to not alert them. Putting my pistol away i make my way back to camp to wait for who ever it is to get here.
“Alex it's someone i don't know who but we’ll just wait for them to make there way out of the tree line.” After a little bit i got no response, walking over i look at Alex who was now fast asleep with my jacket covering her “guess you were just cold.”
“Hey don't push rainbo….” without even looking at the objects i just wave them over some time passes and i think they made the decision on coming to our camp, but the strangest part was i heard the clicking of hooves on rocks and i know i didn't hear any horses.
Looking over to the group i just sat frozen in place just like they were there in front of me was 6 ponies each a strange hue of colors in the camp fire light. They seemed just as nervous as i did. One unicorn, two Pegasus, two normal, and an alicorn. Reaching for my pistol i pulled it out and placed it on the ground next to me. I look at the alicorn and just sorta stared for a bit.
“Ponies that's weird i heard voices not horse noises.” after i spoke there eyes seemed to grow wider making it seem like i just murdered someone the yellow and pink on seemed to hid herself more the blue one with the rainbow Maine seemed to glare at me more ready for a fight. The alicorns mouth just seemed to drop open.
Then i heard that voice again. “Uuuuuuuuhhhhhhh.” the alicorn spoke i was to confused and tired so i just shook my head and laid down on the ground pointing behind me
“You guys can set up your camp over there. Just don't wake them.” i said pointing back to my friends
“Um thank you sugarcube let's go girls.” the orange one with the hat said pushing her friends the direction i pointed.
The rest of the night i just stared at the fire trying to think of what i should do….i couldn't think of anything AND I STILL NEED TO NAME THE DOG!
When morning rolls around I spent most of it just lying on the ground telling myself it wasn't real. That I was just hallucinating or something. Sitting up I looked around at both camps to see that I was the only one up this early.
“Wow it's fucking quiet this early.” leaning for wards I put my hands on the ground and stretched by back trying to work out kinks from my dirt nap. Standing up I brushed dirt off my body and made my way to the cart to look for food to cook for breakfast. Digging through the cart I found a can of beans and a chunk of leftover manticore meat. After some failed attempts at restarting the fire I got it lit and opened the can placing it in the fire, we didn't have a pot to put it in but it works.
“Thank god for pull tops I don't even think we have a can opener.” I say to out loud but mostly to myself.
Hearing some noise inside of one of the nearby ponies tents I look in their direction to see if anyone was getting up. As soon as I did the rustling stopped replace by the replace by the familiar sound of a zipper being undone. Who ever it was hadn't left the tent they just left the door unzipped. Ignoring it I went back to cooking food for me and my friends.
Looking over my group I started to notice them tiring as the beans cooked. Cutting the meat up into four pieces and stabbed them onto the ends of sharpened sticks to cook. As that was happening I reached over and shook Alex gently to wake her up. as soon as she was awake I did it to Riley leaving tom alone because he was across the fire pit from me
“Morning guys how are you.” Riley said rubbing the sleep from her eyes
“I'm fine thank you Riley.”
“Alex you..o….k.” Riley started to trail off. Realizing what they were staring at I just sorta let It go for now.pulling some little dishes from the cart I put some beans and a chunk of meat on each of the trays and handed them to the girls well more like placed it in front of them.
Walking over to tom I shook him awake and placed the food in front of him. the box with the pups in it had been moved closer to the fire and near us but they didn't say all that warm I gave them a hand full of food and ate my food while I waited for them to finish. Once I had finished I noticed tom had finished but also was not staring at the tents like the girls where. Standing up I walked over to the box of puppies picked them both up paying my jacket in my lap I paced them both down and warmed them by the fire.
Hearing some rustling in the same tent as before who ever was sleeping in it finally started to come out. The noise stopped there as about a three second pause and then a very loud ear piercing scream from both the girls. Clutching my ears from the screams I let go to see both the girls and the yellow and pink Pegasus fainted and on the ground. Tom on the other hand was just dumbfounded by the sudden appearance of a horse walking out of a tent.
Getting up from my sitting position near the fire i picked up the pony and carried it back into its tent leaving the girls on the ground. i placed her in the bed covered her in the blanket and started to leave but was tackled to the floor by something blue. I wanna say i blacked out but really i was just face down on the floor of the tent now with a bleeding nose.
Feeling the weight of a pony on top of me i grabbed a leg a pulled it to the floor pinning it below me along with the body attached. Spitting blood from my mouth and wiping it from my face i stared down at the rainbow maned baster how tacked me.
“You know if your gonna tackle a soldier knock him out it will make it easier on you.” i say while smiling at the pony below me
“Bite me!” the pony's voice was gruff but still feminine.
Standing up i wiped more blood from my face and walked back to the group now seeing more of the ponies were awake and the girls were no longer passed out in fact they were on the other side of fire hiding behind tom who was staring blankly at the ponies who were eating food. the one i had pinned to the floor was rejoining the group and started glaring at me.
“OK so where should we start this morning.” I say as I look over the group of ponies. The pink one in the group seemed to be bouncing on her haunches while smiling from ear to ear. the purple alicorn was taking notes on an old fashioned quill and scroll. The white one sate on a vary fancy pillow while sipping tea while. The orange one was standing up looking at we the same way Alex does when I make puns very similar distaste in my being. Ignoring the mix of emotions I was receiving I turned towards my group
“Guys relax there not gonna hurt you any more than a fly seriously I've got this I'll do the talking.” They nodded and started to relax a bit “thank you.”
“May I ask your names.” The purple alicorn asked.
“Umm sure I'm rick blacktail that's Riley quinn, Alexis June she like Alex or June no that's Tomas reinhart he prefers tom…. what's yours.”
“My name is princess twilight sparkle and this is applejack, pinky pie, rarity, rainbow dash and fluttershy is still in the tent.”
“Nice to meet you all.” I say giving a light bow in the presence of royalty.
“Such a gentle colt and here I thought you were just a brute.” Rarity says as rainbow dash and applejack stare at me in mild astonishment.
“Thank you?” I say not sure whether to take it as a compliment or an insult.
“So we're did you guys come from.” Twilight asked scribbling more notes.
“Umm I would love to answer more questions but were losing daylight and need to keep heading north. We're trying to find a good place to set up a base to live at.”
“Oh why don't you come back to only vile with us. You can stay at the castle until you can afford homes.”twilight said teleporting the scroll and quill away.
“Wait really you would let us do that we barely know each other I don't wanna feel like I'm free loading.” I was actually shocked she would let us do that with no consequences.
“Of course you can stay I have one hundred and thirty guest rooms and only five are being used.” She said smiling at me. I Believe I've just made some new friends.
“Thank you so much princess I will do work around the castle to help pay for the rooms.”
“No need the maids will handle any mess just be friendly and have fun.” Smiling at her I turned towards my friends group.
“let's pack up and put the pups back in there box and we'll make our way to ponyville asap.” They nodded and dumped some water on the fire sending ash,steam and smoke into the air.
After about half and hour of packing we were on our way to ponyville. i was caring fluttershy's bag and pulling the cart while she looked at the puppies having never seen a breed like a German shepherd before. Stepping over a fallen tree i tried my best not to trip to prevent breaking fluttershy's stuff.
“Alex how are you holding up” i said looking over my shoulder at Alex who was being held up by tom and Riley while she limped along.
“I'm fine i just need to get somewhere and rest. You know if it weren't for you me and Riley would be dead so i'm not worried about the leg.”
“Alright let me know if you need help.” turning back around i started looking through the trees seeing only forest. Looking up towards the sky trusting the ponies that they knew where they were going.
‘You know i never thought my life would go from desolate wasteland to forested paradise in all of six hours.’ I was pulled by thought by the sudden urge i was falling when i realized i had just tripped it was too late i landed on my arm enough to break my fall but not enough to not let it hurt.dropping fluttershy's bag i put my hand on the ground and pushed myself back up repositioning my footing underneath me. Grabbing my arm i made sure i didn't break something. When the sound of laughter met my ears. I turned to see a pinky and rainbow laughing there asses off while the others looked on trying to see if i was ok. ignoring them i picked up fluttershy's bag and started walking again.ignoring any questions out of embarrassment i kept quiet and concentrated walking.
To hours of walking later and we finally arrived on the outskirts of ponyville.
“Alright here we are after a long time. Guys i'm gonna say this now we have to walk through town in order the get to the castle so please just don't draw too much attention.” Twilight said turning towards us making sure we were listening.
“Alright i'll be sure to keep my completely different form from the ever watching eyes of the public.” i say as sarcastically as possible without it being mean.
“Alright let's go i wanna get off my hooves and relax for a while.” apple jack said pushing her way past the girls and towards town followed by the others.
Stopping for a moment i put fluttershy's bag on the ground and walked over to Alex “here i'm gonna give you a piggy back ride the rest of the way to get you off your feet. Riley tome take the bag and cart and catch up to the group.” i say while reaching my hand towards Alex
“Alright see you when you catch back up man.” tom said walking over and grabbing the carts handlebar, Riley following after grabbing fluttershy's bag who was up with the others looking after the puppies while rarity held the box with magic as they called it.
Grabbing a hold of Alex's hand, turning around helped her adjust her self on my back. Standing up i got her into a spot where she wouldn't fall off easily.
“Are you sure you can hold my weight. I don't want you getting hurt.”
“I'll be fine i used to care two hundred pounds of gear back then i was in the military. So this is just like back then expect that your lighter than that.” walking back to the group who had stopped to wait we continued through the middle of town getting strange looks the whole way. It started to piss me off but having an injured group member prevented me from doing anything about it.
“How much longer do we have to walk i'm getting strange look and it's starting to piss me twilight.” “Not much further rick we're lucky that it's just past noon or we'd still be dealing with morning traffic.” Twilight said writing stuff down on a scroll.
Glancing up at the sky, it was cloudless the breeze made the air cool and calming it was if the world back home never fell. part looking down at the ground again i noticed applejack looking back at me with a questioning look on her face.
“What?” I asked i asked looting at her with a raised eyebrow.
“You OK sugarcube you zoned out for a bit.” she asked as we approached twilight's castle.
“Yeah i'm fine just remembering home is all.”
“OK just let me know if something is bothering ya.”
“No problem although i do have to ask what all do you guys do here. this town looks a little to relaxed to not have problems.”
We do all sorts a things partner mostly defend equestria from monsters but we still have fun. Let's say i show you and your gang around some time.
“That would be nice it would be easier to get a bases of the area that way.” I say glancing around at the passing ponies going about their day. One in particular stood out to me she was a grey Pegasus with a yellow Maine but what caught my eye the most was her eyes they were looking different directions. How she was able to fly straight i have know idea.
“Alright just me know when y'all would be up for it.” applejack said drawing me from staring at the Pegasus.
As we approached the door to the castle i was left slack jawed at its might. An entire castle made of crystal in the rough shape of a tree smack dab in the middle of town. Walking inside i was speechless leaving all the room silent as all but the ponies were silent. Hearing some clicking i looked up the stairs in front of us to see a lizard standing out in front of the group its only response was to stare at me and the other like we were to it.
After a brief introduction and by brief i mean the dragon who i learned name is spike sprinting out of the room screaming like a scared child. “So does he do that often.” i said glancing around the hall as we made our way to what i assumed was the throne room.
“No Not normally this is strange for him i'll have to talk to him later” twilight says while opening the door to the throne room with a gentle push of a hoof.
The room was beautiful the tapestries on the walls and artwork filled the room with color what i thought was the best was the gigantic map in the center of the room which was surrounded by chairs with the ‘cutie marks’ of the six ponies we followed in.
I opened my mouth and started to say something but was blinded by a bright flash of light. Blinking the white spots from my eyes i looked a twilight who was putting a quill back in an ink container. “ what was that light.” i asked aloud.
“She sent a letter to princess celestia telling her where back.” rainbow said flying over to her chair.
Looking back i saw fluttershy looking at Alex's bandages. “She’ll be fine i know enough about first aid to prevent the wound from killing here.”
“She should still go to the hospital that is if you don't mind.” Fluttershy said whispering the last part and blushing a little behind her maine.
“Shes right, where is the hospital i'll take Alex there” Tom walked up next to me and placed a hand on my shoulder i looked at him as we had a wordless conversation. I nodded and looked at the others.
“I'll take you Rarity, Fluttershy come with me.” applejack said walking towards the door. letting Alex off my back gently i handed her off to tom who put her on his back and followed the others out the door.
Riley had walked over and placed herself on a bench near the door. To get off her feet and relax for a bit for a timid girl she wasn't vary hesitant to make friends with a completely different race. I walked over and grabbed the cart pulling it next to Riley i started rummaging through it not looking for anything specific more or less just to look. Hearing some vary gentle flapping sounded like a very small bird.
“Yes Rainbow what is it.” I said turning around on my heels still crouched.
“I was just looking at your stuff it's very weird, what's this.” she flew over and picked up the shotgun and started looking down the barrel. i panicked and jerked the gun from her.
“DON'T DO THAT!” I shouted making rainbows ears splay back. I my be nice but when it comes to gun safety i'm very strict i even if its a BB gun.
“I'm sorry i didn't mean it.” she said looking down.
“No i'm sorry i didn't mean to yell it just you shouldn't point this end of a gun at yourself or anyone.”
“Its OK its your stuff i shouldn't have been touching it.”
“It's OK.” i reached up and scratched her behind the ear like i would a dog which made her push her head into my hand when I stopped she looked at me with a pout.
As i placed the shot gun back into the cart i continued to rummage through its contents. seeing a flash of light i just assumed it was twilight doing stuff again only to hear a voice i haven't heard before.
“Hello your name must be rick blacktail.” I turned around and was met with a vary mother smile attached to a white alicorn mare whose mane was two different shades of blue pink and a light mint green witch flowed in the nonexistent breeze.
“Yes that's me.” I blinked for a second remembering something about twilight contacting a princess celestia about meeting me. I saluted standing s straight as possible.
She jolted back a small look of shock on her face then looked at twilight. “You never told me he served in the army twilight.” she turned back to me and looked me over as i continued to salute. “At ease rick no need for such formalities.”.
“Apologies it's just what i was trained to do in the presence of anyone higher rank than me.”
“If you mind me asking what rank are you.” twilight added to princess celestia's and my conversation.
“I'm the captain of the united states tank company alpha, or was.”
“What happened to it?” celesta asked raising a questioning eyebrow with a slight tilt of her head.
“Whats a tank?” rainbow added from the other side of the room near Riley.
“Ill answer those later right now i need to shower, sleep.” as if on cue my stomach grouled. “And eat.”
“OK let's go into town and get some hay burgers or daisy sandwiches.” rainbow said flying up to our group.
“OK one, can't eat hay, or daisy's. Two i'd actually like a home cooked meal it's been a while.”
“A long while.” Riley said leaning on the wall behind her.
“OK me and rainbow can run to the market and pick up some stuff anything in particular you can think of.” twilight asked perking up
“Meat would be nice. That fake crap they gave us in the vault was garbage.” Riley said standing up and stretching her back. Even though i spent a year with her in the vault i never realized how fit she was. She had a gymnasts body how she managed to maintain that in the vault i have know idea.
“Yeah a nice steak or hell even some ribs that would be awesome.” i said placing my hand on my stomach getting hungrier as the though of real meet flashed in my mind. That manticore we ate was gross compared to a t bone steak.
“Uuuuhhhh,WHAT HOW COULD YOU EAT MEAT THAT'S DISGUSTING!” twilight screamed into my ears.
“We have to it's part of our diet it's literally the only way to keep protein in our bodies and make them usable.” I said holding my ear that was facing her. “Plus its how we involved see” pointing to my canines in my grin.
“I...i...i don't know what to say I've only ever met one meat eating creature and that was the griffons, but we can do our best to find you some i promise.” celestia said walking toward the door. “twilight rainbow dash i shale company on your journey to get supplies.”
“O...OK” twilight said a little stunned at the princess's reaction. “I just realized pinkies been quite the whole time we were taking. Pinkie are you gonna come with us? Pinkie?” twilight looked around the room for pinkie but not a trace was found. “Where could she have run off to.”
---somewhere in ponyville---
“This is gonna be the best party EVER!! Don't tell anyone OK reader.”
