Screaming and yelling... men roaring as they charged forwards. It echoed all around, even surpassing the noise generated by the thundering tanks. Gunfire, explosions, canons... all going off... artillery in the far off distance bombing the hell out of the battlefield.

My body was pulled off the ground, mud covering my face, along with my new service rifle. A hand wiped my face for me, the big man before me quickly doing his best to clean my face of any debris.

The dark storm clouds above us smothered out all traces of the sun, but were illuminated by the orange haze of burning buildings, flashes in the sky illuminated constantly like that of lightning, but in reality each flash came from a canon or something there of.

“Come on, the war won't win itself!” my big friend ordered as he began to pull me along, his scoped rifle carried along in his free hand. Rushing along, my head thumped and pounded, heart racing as bullets whizzed by us, explosions from mortar fire erupting just a few dozen feet away from us.

Some of our comrades charged alongside us, most being cut down in a matter of seconds or falling behind our incredible pace as we mindlessly rushed onward. Coming to a street corner, Derreck suddenly heaved me through a ramshackle window just as a stray bullet sprang off the wall where I had been standing in front of.

Himself hopping through the window, he pinned me to the ground. “Stay low... and follow me. There is a sniper in our midst,” he informed me and we slowly began to crawl along the floor, the battle outside continuing without us.

Coming to a stop, my big friend took a knee, leaning up against a semi-intact wall and peeping out through a crack. Looking back to me, he spoke. “Put your helmet on your knife, then slowly raise your helmet to the windowsill,” my friend ordered.

I did as he asked, carefully shimmying under the windowsill and raising my helmet with my knife. As the helmet neared visual height, my big friend began to speak. “And the so-called German elite sniper sees a Russian soldier peeking down to the street below... unaware he is being watched... the German sniper takes aim on the unknowing Russian and-” he is cut off as my helmet is suddenly blown away, a sniper shot blasting it.

My big friend took aim with his Mosin sniper rifle, taking steady aim as he spoke. “Little did the German know... he was being watched all along...” my friend trailed off as he slowly squeezed the trigger, the gun going off like a canon inside the bombed out room.

“And then, there was no more German sniper...” he trailed off and looked to me, reaching down to help me up off the floor. “Come, there will be more-”

My body jolted as I was poked in the side. I was kneeling, elbows on a table and my hands clasped together in front of my face.

“So what are we actually doing?” Echo began. “You've been 'praying' for over two hours...” she trailed off, wanting me to pick up.

“I uhm... well... I have a lot to repent for...” I replied and she perked a brow.

“Repent?” she asked curiously.

“To feel sorrow and guilt for sin,” I replied, looking up to the holy cross. It was a little different than the ones back on my world, this one instead being that of a pony version of Jesus. I wondered to myself that if this world was ruled by mystical princesses and the weather was controlled by pegasi... how exactly god and religion played into everything, but in the end just shrugged it off.

“This is silly. Can't you do this after?” she asked me but I stayed quiet. She huffed as I began to whisper my prayers, asking for forgiveness and to forgive me as I was about to sin yet again, though for the greater of ponykind.

“What are you saying?” Echo asked, leaning in to listen but I held my hand out, having her keep distance.

“My prayers are my own, and nopony else's. They are between myself and thy lord... but if you wish...” I trailed off and motioned to a spot beside me. “Perhaps you have something to repent for as well?” I offered but she shook her head.

“Listen Evan, it's okay and all that you believe in this but... it all seems pretty stupid and made up to me. Religion was never my thing, I'm a mare of science,” she replied and I just shrugged, then continued my prayers.

Echo sighed as I continued but I paid her no mind, finally finishing my prayers. “Amen.” I took one final look up to the cross... to the pony Jesus, crucified, whom was looking down to me.

A lone tear trickled out of my good eye, my damaged eye rather unresponsive. “Are you done yet?” Echo asked, a little impatient. I gently motioned for her to hush.

“Echo, you may not believe or have faith but please... do have a little respect,” I ushered and she exhaled.

“I don't mean disrespect, but we've been taking so many detours-” she was cut off as I opened the door to the lonesome church, a gust of wind blustering past. The church was in the middle of a barren field, a little run down and completely devoid of life, aside from the two of us.

I removed my heavy duster coat and offered it to her, Echo giving me a strange look. “It's mighty cold out there... figured you might want this. I'll be fine without it,” I replied, zipping up the combat suit that Rarity made me. Looking out to the sunset, I sighed. We were close, but still a day's walk away...

Third person,

Elsewhere...

A slime green stallion with two tone mane and hair stood before a lonesome trailer home. He featured the build of a gentlestallion. Combed mane and tail, brushed fur, refined suit coat. A mare sat on the steps of the trailer before him, being a little bit more lax in appearance.

Aside from her mane being rather well combed, the rest of her was disorganized. Her shirt was dirty with stains, her fur was rustled and patchy, and she didn't have much in the way of makeup for her facial features, being battered and scarred worse than most ponies would ever see.

She might strike one as a Frankenpony. She twirled a glass of whiskey around before pounding it back, then tossing aside the glass and simply drinking straight from the source.

Liquid huffed in slight dissatisfaction. Belle stifled a laugh, a bit of whiskey spewing out from her nostrils. “Agh! Damn! That... feels pretty good actually,” she commented before looking to Liquid. “So... the bitch woke up huh?” Belle asked rhetorically.

Liquid let out an unsettled exhale. “I'd prefer it if... you don't address her as such,” he told her in a calm yet very monotone voice. Belle looked to him, her facial features twisting into a frown as she glared at him with her one hellish red eye, the other missing and patched over.

“You know how I feel about her...” Belle trailed off in a disgruntled way and Liquid just sighed again.

“I know that... there's a stake driven between the two of you and that... the last time you and I saw each other wasn't... pleasant for either of us... but she is coming for us, and she's coming for blood,” Liquid said, his monotone voice rising in volume but just ever so slightly.

Belle combed the side of her mane over her damaged ear, the tip having been chewed off in a fight and as a result giving her an even more gruesome look.

“And you say she...” Belle trailed off, looking down to her bottle of nearly depleted whiskey. Looking back up to Liquid, she chuckled. “Killed... Death itself?” she laughed and Liquid joined in with her chuckle.

“No...” Liquid said in a more pleasant demeanor. "No, he wasn't actually... Death incarnate... he just called himself 'The Face of Death',” Liquid replied with a faint smile. Belle chuckling before her face turned to a more serious expression.

“So... why'd he call himself that?” she asked, no longer laughing about the matter.

Liquid just shrugged and laughed. “I dunno... I suppose he thought it... sounded cool. Should have called himself 'The mouthpiece',” Liquid smiled and Belle stifled a laugh before downing some more whiskey.

“Well ain't that the truth... but irregardless, I heard that bastard could heal any wound. Never die. Something about his soul being immortal, enchanted by dark magic. Cursed to forever walk Equestria while those he holds dear die all around him... heard he once regenerated after being completely disintegrated... and now 'she'... just somehow... found... a way to kill him?” Belle asked but Liquid shook his head.

“No... well, yes. The Face of Death was supposed to be immortal... as the legend goes... his very soul itself was cursed by dark magic... but it was not Echo he fell to, but rather a new companion of hers. It would seem that she has hired... a mercenary of sorts, one who is known as 'The White Skull'.” Liquid stood before her as Belle finished off her drink, taking a close look at the bottle before pitching it.

“The White Skull?” she asked curiously and Liquid nodded. “Who in Tartarus would call themselves that?” the mare asked and Liquid just shrugged.

“I'm sure he goes by something different but... that's just what ponies have started calling him. Apparently he wears a shirt with a white skull on it... or a white cross. Apparently he walks Equestria as a... punisher to the evil, a light in the darkness... or so they say,” Liquid informed. Belle leaned back, sighing to herself.

“And this... this punisher of evil, he... killed The Face of Death?” Liquid nodded. “And she has hired him to come after us?” Belle asked, to which Liquid merely nodded before speaking.

“It would appear so...” Liquid trailed off in silence before Belle quickly picked up with a laugh.

“Well damn... that bitch sure knows how to hold a grudge,” the mare laughed and Liquid looked to her with a silent glare, to which Belle quickly returned. “Or maybe... 'you'... just bring that out in ponies,” she quipped and Liquid sighed.

“I know that... my choice, didn't exactly please you but... I can't very well please everypony, now can I? Even if I could reverse time, I would make the same choice without a second thought... it's just the way it is, Belle,” Liquid told her sternly but the mare just scoffed.

“So then why are you here?” she asked in a cold way.

“Because I need your help. We need to stand together to stop her because... unless you stop hating me for who I chose, and start being afraid of her... then there is no doubt in my mind, she... or rather, her friend, will kill us all, and he'll be none the wiser,” Liquid stated. Belle sat there for a moment, considering for a moment to make another quippy comment but then deciding upon a more serious answer. She looked to him with a thousand yard expression, one that wasn't too gloomy but showed she had lost most hope in life.

“I... won't try to dodge guilt or... snake my way out of what I have comin'...” she mentioned and Liquid exhaled in an emotional way.

“Can't we just... let it all go? Forget the past?” Liquid mused and Belle returned his stare with a faint emotional one.

“After what we did...” Belle bit her lip for a moment as she pondered her thoughts. “That mare... deserves her revenge, and we deserve to die...” she trailed off and the duo simply stared at each other for a long period of silence.

A gust of sandy wind blew past the trailer home, emptiness all around. Belle broke the silence with a laugh. “Ah-ha-ha... but then again... so does she, so... we'll just have to wait and see... won't we?” Belle asked as she took out another bottle of whiskey...

Echo walked along the trail, illuminated by nothing more than the moon's gaze. The long, thick material duster coat kept her warm and cozy, the flaps dangling and dragging across the ground due to the coat's owner dawning a much larger frame.

A gentle breeze blew by, one that was enough to reveal her utility belt. The pearlized hilt of her knife glinting just slightly before the flaps of the coat settled against her sides once more.

Her companion walked tall, upright and with a powerful stance. The black fabric suit clung tight to his body. Though his aged facial features would depict him as one in his sixties, the man possessed physical prowess like that of a man in his prime years.

As they walked along the big man looked towards her, his gentle facial expression one of comfort for the mare. The handle of his massive handcannon gleamed in the night, the pearl grips sporting the legendary holy cross.

"Evan?" Echo asked gently, the man nodding. "Back at the hospital... you told that ditzy mare that... I was your friend..." she trailed off, hoping for him to pick up.

"Yeah... so?" he replied back casually.

"Did you... mean that?" she asked and he just nodded.

"Well sure... I mean... yeah. I trust you," he informed her, his words sinking deep.

"R-really? Y-you... trust me?" she asked and he nodded. "W-why?" she asked, hating herself inside just ever so slightly.

"Well I mean... you saved my life kid. If I didn't trust you after that... then... ha-ha," he chuckled. The mare smiled gingerly as they shared a brief moment of laughter.

“So...” Evan asked casually, gaining Echo's attention.

“So?” she asked back, not really getting a defined question.

“Well... what's your cutie mark supposed to mean?” he asked, her face flushing a deep hue of red as she tried to cover her flank with the duster coat, only to notice it was fully covered already.

“H-ha-have you been... ch-checking me out?” she stammered in a flustered way but the man shook his head.

“No... I took notice of it when we first met but never bothered to ask. I was... just wondering,” he replied calmly and without a hint of any intentions. Echo tried feverishly to conceal her growing blush but did a horrible job of doing so.

“W-w-well... I mean... ah-ha-ha... it's kind of silly really,” she chimed timidly and pulled aside the duster coat flaps around her flank, revealing her cutie mark. It was a long staff with a bladed hook at the top, with a sapphire stone near the base of the blade.

Evan looked to her flank, Echo's blush intensifying further. “D-don't look at me l-like that!” she squeaked, quickly covering herself. Evan just shrugged innocently as they continued on.

“So what does it mean? I hardly think that has much to do with science...” Evan inquired, Echo's facial expression going pale for a moment before picking up.

“W-well... it doesn't. You see... I always had a knack with bladed weaponry but... not for fighting, mostly for cutting up vegetables and fruits... and the sapphire stone means I'm an expert with identifying all manners of gems...” she trailed off and the man perked a brow.

Echo giggled and bumped into him playfully. “What? I was a kid once, you know. I liked... shiny things. Then as I got older I learned pretty quick how to cook and bake... that's why I keep this...” she trailed off and removed her concealed knife, the custom pearl grip nearly glowing under the moon's illumination. “As a reminder,” she informed him before sheathing it once more. "The handle broke when I was cutting up some apples, so I made it a handle out of some pearls I had... the two things I loved most in life..."

“So how'd you end up as a doctor?” Evan replied and she gave him a stunned look.

“A what?!” she commented back and Evan shook his head.

“Err... I mean, science... pony?” he asked, his lack of intelligence showing a little, making Echo giggle even more.

“Ah-ha... okay, I'll give you that one. I dunno, I just sort of... I dunno... eventually lost interest in gems when I got older. Started researching science and magic then... one day, BAM! I'm a scientist working at an academy in Hoofington... who woulda thunk it, huh?” she replied and the big man just shrugged, not knowing how to reply.

The duo continued on their path, gentle and frigid winds blowing past but still no signs of snow. Echo looked up to the moon glowing down upon them. A content feeling came across her as she looked to her big friend. The one who protected her... cared for her...

She leaned against him and he nearly gasped. “Ugh! S-sor-sorry...” he stammered nervously, nearly shaking as he stepped to the side. Echo gave him a confused look, her brow cocked high.

“What?” she asked, baffled and confused.

“I shouldn't take up so much of the path. Here you are nearly walking on the grass and...” he trailed off and took a step further away to give Echo more room on the trail. She rolled her eyes and trotted closer to the man yet again, trying to lean against him once more but again he sidestepped away. “Okay, now that's not even fair. You'd pretty much have the entire path to yourself,” Evan mentioned and Echo again rose her brows before sighing.

“No, you...” Echo trailed off before she could comment about his inability to notice affection. “I just want to lean against you,” she informed him.

“Well, if you're tired we could stop and make camp,” the man made note, his stupidity nearly making Echo fall over.

“I... I'm not... no, I-” she was cut off by Evan's grumbling stomach. She blinked in disbelief at the man's naive nature, not knowing how one could possibly be so dense.

However, despite this, the man was not naive towards his obvious hunger. “Well...” he trailed off and pointed to a small clearing near the path. “I think we'll make camp there,” he stated, unslinging the heavy pack on his back and setting it down.

Echo watched as the man quickly scrounged together a few sticks of kindling and paper then lit it up. Taking out some equipment, he set up a small stand over the fire, pouring water from his canteen into the pot and bringing it to a boil over the fire.

Evan broke Echo's train of thought with a rather simple question, but one that threw her off none the less. “Macaroni or instant noodles?” he asked, Echo being thrown back into reality.

“Huh... w-what?” she stammered and the man chuckled a brief laugh.

“I know it's not exactly five star but... macaroni or oriental noodles for supper?” he asked, still leaving Echo a stammering mess.

“Uhh... huh, I uhh... oriental macaroni?” she asked blankly and the man laughed.

“Well... uhm, I guess I'll just surprise you then,” he chuckled before adding a pack of dried oriental noodles to the water. Echo shook off the confusion and trotted out to the barren meadow that surrounded them. Most of the grass had withered and died off for the season. The ground was pretty stiff and hard, a result of the more frosty temperatures.

As she wandered along, she began to think back on the adventure they had embarked on. All the moments up until now. All the things the man... or rather, the two men, had taught her. All the compassion and care Evan had showed towards her. His selfless nature. His...

Looking back to the small campsite, Echo took note the man had shed the black combat suit and was in nothing more than a pair of underwear. A blush came across her cheeks as she bashfully turned away, leaving the man to his privacy.

She wandered out a little further, getting lost in thought. She began to drift into memories of her foalhood. Back when she used to collect gemstones just for the fun of it, collecting mass hoards and hiding them away, pretending she was a pirate or sometimes having treasure hunts with her friends.

She sighed as she remembered getting a little older and learning how to better use cutlery, both in passive and offensive ways, the latter mostly to make pretending to be a pirate a little more realistic.

Her thoughts drifted to that of when she met Liquid, how he had taught her so many things and how he had eventually-

A whistle broke her thoughts and she looked over to see the man waving to her. “They're done!” he called out. Echo came trotting back, noticing how the man was, oddly enough, still only dressed in his underwear.

Echo came over and rose a brow as she looked to the food the man had created. “Voila! Oriental noodles coated in macaroni cheese sauce... surprised?” he asked and the mare just blinked. “I know, I know, but hey... you were the one who suggested oriental macaroni,” he laughed, serving her a bowl of the strangely made food.

She shook off the baffled thoughts she had and decided to at least try it. Even if she was struck in confusion at the time, she had, non-knowingly, suggested the dish. Taking the chopsticks ever so carefully, she fed herself a small amount, mouthing it around to get a taste before swallowing.

It was hard for her to decipher but she ended on the thought that it wasn't too bad. The man looked to her, cheese sauce splattered across his lips. “Not bad, eh?” he replied as he licked his lips then slurped some more noodles, a long stringy one slapping at his face and giving him a cheesy whiplash.

The duo giggled as the man wiped his face off then licked the sauce from the palm of his hands and off his fingers, sucking them clean. The flames of the camp fire flickered beside them, illuminating them both in a mix of shadows and light. Echo watched in curiosity as the man suckled his fingers clean, a small hint of arousal striking her as she watched.

As soon as it hit her however, she forced it away, thinking nothing of it. The two of them chowed down on the strange dish, mostly in silence. Echo looked to the man's body, noticing how he wasn't shivering in the slightest despite the cold.

She also took note that despite his body having been aged, he still sported a strong, powerful appearance, one that would shadow most full grown stallions. Unlike Derreck, his body didn't appear as though it could have been chiseled from stone, but still had a smooth and soft looking appearance.

“Aren't you cold?” she asked and the man nodded. “So why don't you put something on?” she asked and he looked beneath him.

“Well... I was planning on snuggling into my sleeping bag after this but... well, that combat suit insulates body heat and what not... including body odors, so it'll start to stink pretty bad if I don't take off every now and then.

Echo took note of how warm it was under clothing while sitting this close to the fire, and how the duster coat was starting to get a little too toasty. She quickly shed the outer layer of clothing and relaxed with a sigh. “Huh... never noticed how hot it was getting,” she mentioned.

“Well... enjoy it while it lasts. Don't have anymore kindling. Had just enough for a small campfire to cook some noodles... oriental macaroni,” he laughed as he snuggled into his sleeping bag.

Echo sat outside her bag for a little longer, just watching the crackling fire as it started to die down. She turned to him with a more pressing issue. “So, tomorrow-” she was cut off by the man.

“Sssh, let's not talk about that,” he whispered and she rose a brow, figuring the topic to be pretty important. “Just... let it go for one night. Don't think about it. Replace all the hatred and vengeance with... happy thoughts,” he replied and she cocked a brow.

“Like what? This is the whole reason we're-” she was again cut off by the man whom sat up to speak.

“Wouldn't it be great to have some marshmallows right now? Roasting them over embers is perfect,” he stated and she was thrown into slight confusion. How did he get marshmallows from talking about what they had to do?

“Marshmallows?” she asked and he nodded.

“Yeah. Like... white, fluffy treats? Made mostly of sugar... you cook them over campfires... or make cookie biscuits with them...” he trailed off with a sigh. “Yeah... I remember as a kid, going out with my buddies, pitching a tent and having nothing but marshmallows and hotdogs for the weekend,” he informed her.

“Hotdogs?” she asked, having no idea what those were, and the man brushed it off.

“Uhh, never mind. Back on my world they were these deliciously... terrible food, made mostly of fatty chemicals and... anyway, haven't you ever roasted marshmallows before?” he asked and she nodded.

“I was a filly once, you know,” she commented and the man nodded.

“So talk about it...” he trailed off and she tilted her head to one side.

“About what?” she asked.

“Your foalhood... being a filly. Fun times, great memories... happy things?” he replied, laying back down and tucking his hands behind his head in a relaxed way. She looked to the man, most of his bulky torso still exposed, the fire casting shadows over his body.

“Well... I never got around to doing much...” she trailed off, figuring the man would drop it but instead he cocked his head up and looked to her with a 'Really?' kind of look. “I mean... well I wasn't too... I didn't... I guess a few times I hid some gems, made a treasure map and me and some friends tracked down the gems I hid...” she trailed off, most of her sentence a mutter.

“You guys probably laughed... squealed in excitement...” the man noted softly and Echo rolled her eyes but a faint smile still none-the-less crossed her lips as she stifled a chuckle.

“Well... I made a map, labeling it 'Peg Leg's treasure!'... a skull and crossbones was the mark of where the treasure was burried... I rolled up the map and stuck it in a bottle then tossed it in my friend's back yard. It wasn't long before she got us all to come over to her house... we were so young and silly... she actually thought it was Peg Leg's secret map to his treasure...” Echo trailed off, a tear of happiness trickling down her cheek.

“We spent nearly a week trying to find that... heh-heh, I think at one point I actually forgot I had buried the treasure and actually believed we were searching for Peg Leg's loot...” she trailed off, reminiscing in the memory.

“So what happened?” the man asked and Echo giggled.

“Well... eventually we found it... heh-heh... we felt like we had accomplished the greatest thing in the world... so, being young fillies and all, we traded in the gems at the local general store for some candy. I had spoke with the general store owner before that, and had him play like he really believed we had found Peg Leg's treasure... gosh, we got so much candy... I got a cavity from that actually,” she laughed, the man adding in a faint chuckle but had a smile just as bright as her own.

“See?” the man asked and at first she was confused by what he meant. “Happy thoughts,” he told her and she finally realized what he had meant. In that short time, she had completely forgotten about her vengeance and instead focused on the things that made life wonderful.

He leaned back and sighed, looking to the stars, and to the moon. Echo watched the man, slowly examining his body. How his chest lifted and settled with every breath. How his skin flickered with shadows from the now dim illumination of the dying campfire.

He seemed so dreamy-

She cut her thoughts short before her arousal spiked. Even so, she couldn't help but admire his body and physique. The man shivered briefly before snuggling into his bag. “Man... I'm really cold now...” he commented and Echo couldn't help herself but tease.

“Well... what if I helped you keep warm tonight?” she offered in a rather suggestive tone. The man blinked before nodding.

“Oh, hey, yeah that's a great idea! You're a unicorn,” he stated and she was nearly thrown back from his statement.

“W-wha... what does that have to do with it?” she asked, a little dumbfounded.

“Well, you could just cast a spell to keep the fire going and hot, right?” he asked and she dipped her head with a sigh that was followed by a soft giggling laugh.

“No... I may be a unicorn but I'm not that skilled with magic... no, I had something a little different in mind,” she informed him and he rose a brow.

“Well... but if you don't-” he cut himself off as Echo slowly took off her cloak and utility belt, using her hindleg to kick the belt aside before crawling towards him, swaying her flank side to side in a most suggestive way. The man swallowed hard as she crawled over his covered body.

“Wha-what are y-you d-doing?” he nearly gasped as her horn lit up, the zipper to his sleeping bag coming undone. The man's body began to shiver and shake in nervousness as Echo crawled atop his body, their bare bodies rubbing together as she sealed the bag once more.

“Keeping you warm,” Echo said to him in a hushed tone before she felt a rising presence growing between his legs. She smiled faintly, and rather coyly, as her own arousal began to strike her. The man's soft body against hers felt wonderful, sensual... erotic.

She took notice that the man was still shaking nervously. She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. “Just relax, I'll keep you warm,” she told him, but it only made the situation worsen as he began to jabber out random stuttered sentences.

“B-b-bah-but y-you're... I mean, I-I-I'M a... y-y-you...” he kept stammering as his member rose to full height, a sign of his body's natural arousal, though not a mental one. She ground her hips into his, her nethers getting moist and spreading her nectar against his briefs, dampening them slightly.

She leaned against his body with a quiet moan. “Just keep your hands away from my flanks...” she trailed off and leaned close to his ear. “Unless I tell you to...” she hushed into his ear, grinding her moist lips against his covered shaft. The smell of her arousal, and his musk, quickly spread through the enclosed sleeping bag.

Her horn lit up and began to tug on the waist of his undies. “You know... we can get warmer if you're not wearing anything,” she teased in a somewhat lustful voice, lost in her built up arousal.

Before another word could be spoke, before she could even blink, then man's body tensed and he slid himself out of the blanket in a blitz of motion, so fast Echo barely even saw him move.

He stood before her, naked due to his underwear being caught in her magical grasp. She was taken away in confusion as the man snatched up his battledress and holstered handgun. “Forget it!” he growled. “Not happening!” He stormed off, completely nude but seemingly unaffected by the cold exterior temperatures.

Echo was left in total, and rather baffled, shock by the fact the man hadn't made love with her...

Evan stormed into a small encirclement of trees, a pond of water in the middle but frozen over from the cold. The man hung up his uniform and handgun off a nearby tree branch before kneeling down to the ice covered pond and pressing his hand to it.

There was a bright, shimmering glow and within a matter of seconds, the ice melted away and the pond came back to life. Steaming with a comfortable, perhaps mildly hot, temperature, the man stepped into the oasis.

He let his body relax in the hot water, soaking away his problems and revitalizing his body and mind. He let his body float around in the water, calm as calm could be. The steam from the heat of the water made the area look like a sauna...

His hands stroked along his rather smooth and rippling body. They slowed every time he neared a scar, slowly trickling water over the old marks and caressing the area with his palms. He removed his eye patch for the time, stroking his left hand over the eye. The entire eye, iris, pupil and all, looked incredibly fogged, tainted white from the frostbite and inner damage he had received that he refused to have fixed.

It was only after his body began to prune did he slowly, and most regretfully, step out of the hot sauna-like pond. Wiping himself down with just his hands, he shook off before slipping into the battle suit and strapping the holy hand cannon to his thigh.

A look of plain expression came across his face as he walked back to the campfire, where a frantic Echo rushed over. “Evan, please, I'm so sorry I-” she was cut off as Evan held up his hand, covered by the textured fabric of the suit.

“Forget about it,” he told her before walking back to the campsite.

“Evan I just... I just kinda lost myself and-” again she was cut off as the man held up his hand.

“I said it before... forget it happened,” he said sternly, in a rather concerning deepening tone. Echo bit her lip as she sat down, guilt flowing through her for being so pushy and rushing things. She knew she shouldn't have but she almost thought for a moment he would have wanted that.

As she tried to come to terms with herself, she took notice the man was standing on the other side of the dying fire, back to her and looking out to the emptiness around them. “E-Evan... what are you doing?” she asked cautiously, not wanting to put further strain on their friendship, if that's what one would call it anymore.

“Standing guard,” he replied in a monotone voice. Echo nearly gasped.

“But you haven't slept in over a day! You must be exhausted. You just got out of the hospital for a heart attack the other day and haven't slept since!” she exclaimed and he nodded knowingly.

“I know. But after tomorrow's done... I can sleep all I want... so get some rest, tomorrow's gonna be a big day,” he told her but she rushed around to his front side.

“No way. We both gotta be on our ball game for this! I'll take first watch. You need some rest!” Echo tried to plead with him but he'd have none of it. “Evan, please. You can't push yourself that hard. Please just...” she trailed off and looked to him, trying to force tears to her eyes to get her point across.

He looked back to the sleeping bags. “You should get some rest kid. Don't worry, I won't let my guard down. You can trust me,” he assured her. Knowing she wouldn't be able change his mind, she instead began to walk back towards the sleeping bags.

Her ears perked as the man let out a long yawn of exhaustion, shaking his head and wiping his eye. Obvious to anypony who saw him, he was brutally exhausted, and pushing his body beyond every limit.

In her mind, she prayed for forgiveness as her horn began to glow. “I'm sorry,” she whispered just as she released a blasting spell that struck the big man in the back of the head. A lone gasp left his mouth as his eyes rolled into the back of his head, his body falling to the ground in a motionless heap.

His breathing resumed at a normal pace, but was interrupted every so often by a snore. “You need it more than I do,” Echo said in a caring way as she levitated over the man's sleeping bag and covered him with it.

Echo stood lonesome, letting the cool air calm her nerves. She thought for a moment what had come over her just prior. She knew she had begun to grow fond and affectionate for the man but never thought she'd fall for him. She let out a sigh, not looking back to him.

“I'm so sorry... for everything...” she hushed out an apology. A somewhat powerful gust of wind blustered past, one of unnatural origin. With it, the campfire was suddenly put out, even the ground where it had burned ceased to give off heat. Echo gasped as the fire was put out, the area now pitched in darkness, lit by nothing but the night sky above.

“Aww... drat...” she cursed, going over to inspect it, hoping there was still some way she could start the fire once again. As she inspected the fire, a towering presence rose up behind her, one of its eyes glowing a hellish red.

At first it had a very proper bipedal stance, but soon its shoulders began to spread out, its back hunched ever so slightly. His face protruded just ever so slightly, turning into a bit of a muzzle as his canines grew to unnatural size, the rest of his teeth becoming razor sharp. Long facial hair grew out around his cheeks and muzzle, giving him a wild appearance as he let out a most feral snarl.

The snarl caught Echo's attention but she barely even got to turn as the beast pounced upon her, tackling her to the ground with ferocious force. She let out a scream but as she felt the texture of its clothing, she knew whom it was.

“EVAN! IT'S ME!” She cried out but the beast lashed out wildly at her, nipping its teeth at her face. “EVAN, IT'S ME! ECHO!” she screamed out in fright, a little shocked that the man was somehow awake. Her spell had enough power to put anypony soundly to sleep for more than six hours... but perhaps he was far from similar to a pony.

The beast leaned its face close, its deep scars clearly visible and its bad eye glowing hellish red. “But it's not me!” the beast growled and Echo realized the dire situation she was in. Her horn lit up and blasted him in the face with a powerful energy surge but it barely even fizzled his facial fur.

“I should've known!” the feral Derreck grumbled as grabbed Echo by the throat with one hand and stood up, suspending her in the air. Her hindlegs kicked and flailed as both her forehooves tried to pry his hand from her throat, but to no avail. The beast's grip around her throat tightened immensely, threatening to snap her neck if he applied any more force. His entire physique bulked up, his now immense size stretching the fabric of his suit.

“Der- plea...” she gasped for air, barely able to even breath, let alone speak. Derreck threw her to the ground, with rather brutal force. Her body skipped along a few feet before she skidded to a stop, grunting in pain as several scratches stung with pain, dribbles of blood leaking from the scratches.

“Ahh... Derreck... please...” she cried out as she tried to crawl away from the lumbering beast.

From between his knuckles sprang the perfectly sharpened metallic blades, coated in a dark blue aura. He began to slowly and most ominously walk towards her while she tried feverishly to crawl away. “Please... please I didn't-” she was cut off by a loud snarl from the man.

“Everypony is sorry once it's too late... only once the damage has been done!” Derreck launched himself forward, cocking his bladed claws back for a fatal strike. Echo's eyes went wide as she faced what was sure to be her death.

A lone cry echoed throughout the empty fields as Derreck swung hard. Echo clenched her eyes and kept them shut, shuddering and shivering in fear as she waited for the inevitable...

But it never came. Instead she heard a crackling of energy. Opening her eyes, she gasped at the sight before her. Evan stood, a bit of a crouch in his stance as he held his left hand towards the other man.

Derreck's blades were just inches from the palm of Evan's hand, being stopped mid-strike by a powerful kinetic shield. Derreck grunted as his blades caused the shield to fizzle and crackle, but it held none the less. The shield sputtered and crackled, spurts of glossy blue energy fizzling to the ground from the strike point of where Derreck's blades were trying to penetrate. “Wha... what are you... doing?!” Derreck grumbled to the smaller man.

Evan placed his second hand behind the first, the intensity of the shield growing as he did so. “The... right thing...” he growled back just moments before there was a shock wave emitted from his palms, the force and momentum of Derreck's strike blown outwards.

The shock wave knocked Derreck back, propelling him through the air. He flipped mid-flight and landed on his feet. His eyes went wide as he realized he had nearly struck down his closest friend while trying to cut down Echo.

Rushing forwards at a blinding speed, Derreck caught the man just as he was about to collapse. Catching the man in his burly arms, he knelt down. Echo gasped and went to rush over but Derreck drew out Belladonna, lining up the sights with her head.

“Stay the fuck back, or I'll plug yah!” Derreck snarled, Echo nearly dropping to the ground in fright. He looked back down to Evan who was now in tears. There was a long silence before Derreck spoke. “Why did you spare her life?” he grumbled and Evan spoke through sniffled tears.

“I... I just... she-” Derreck cut him short.

“She shot you in the back!” he responded, to which Echo cut in.

“I put him to sleep!” she lashed out and the man looked to her with a petrifying glare.

“BY SHOOTING HIM IN THE FUCKING BACK!” he roared, making Echo back off for the time being. Evan continued to whimper in sadness and Derreck looked up to the mare. “Why don't you tell him?!” he roared at her, making her flinch.

“Tell him what?!” she yelled back, but in a voice not nearly as terrifying as the big man's.

“The truth!” he boomed and she scoffed at him.

“Yes... I know I shot you in the back, but I was just trying-” she was cut short by the man swearing.

“FUCK OFF WITH THAT HORSESHIT! Tell him why we're here! Tell him why we're after Liquid! Tell him everything!” Derreck boomed like thunder. Echo's words got caught up in her throat and she swallowed hard.

“W-what... what are you talking-” Derreck quickly cut her off, snarling like the wild beast he was whilst still cradling his dearest friend.

“Don't play games you stupid bitch! The truth! Or I'll tell him myself!” Derreck shouted. Echo swallowed hard and the smaller man looked to her.

“Tell me... tell me what? Echo, what is he talking about?” Evan asked innocently, still crying a bit. Echo bit her lip and gulped. At first she went to stay silent, hoping that Derreck was just bluffing. Derreck grumbled and went to speak.

“Fine! Fuck you. I'll tell him myself. She-” Echo cut him short.

“It was all a lie!” she cried out, catching Evan's immediate attention as tears started to build up in the mare's eyes. There was a silence before Echo too started to cry a little. “Evan I... I'm sorry. There was never a world ending device-” Derreck cut her short.

“Genetic virus,” he quipped and she tried to glare at him but he shot her down with a more fearsome glare, one that was gleaming with lust for death.

“It... it was a lie. He didn't have anything that threatened the world. I just... I...” she trailed off and began to cry.

“Don't try to pity yourself!” Derreck growled and Evan blinked in disbelief.

“Wha... what are you saying?” he asked but before Echo could answer with a heartfelt reply, Derreck cut in.

“She's trying to say she hired us to kill somepony clearly out of revenge. No satanic evil worshipers. No... kidnapped our best friend and is going to kill her lessen we give up a vial of... whatever. No... no nothing. Purely an assassination for personal issues.” Evan blinked in shock before looking to Echo.

“Evan, please it's not like that... I mean... well it is but...” she tried to speak through sorrowful sobs.

The man turned away from Echo, not wanting to hear another word. He instead hugged Derreck, crying into his chest as the big man began to rock him. “It's alright... sssh, it's alright, I'm here now. She can't hurt you anymore,” Derreck wooed him.

“I never meant to hurt him!” she screamed, standing upright in a defensive way as tears flowed down her cheeks. Derreck again drew Belladonna but this time Evan's hand resided atop the barrel and began to bring it down.

“Dont...” Evan whispered in such a soft tone that even Derreck was barely able to hear him.

“Give me one good reason I shouldn't tear this bitch limb from limb, ESPECIALLY after what she just did to you!” Derreck nearly roared, but kept his voice to a simmer in lieu of his close friend.

Evan swallowed and continued to pull the gun down. “Because... just because...” Evan whispered, tears still flowing from his eyes, dampening his eye patch. The big man cradled his friend, wooing him to sleep with the assurance that he'd watch over him.

Echo went to trot forwards but the big man held the handcannon towards her. “Not-one-more-step... you snaky... little cunt...” Derreck hissed and Echo's heart nearly sunk upon hearing those words.

“S-snake?” she whimpered and Derreck nose scrunched. “Y-you think I'm a... a snake?” Her voice trembled with emotion but Derreck could care less.

“Yeah... why? You have a better way of describing yourself? How else do you describe a slithery little cunt like yourself who shoots someone in the back?!” Derreck growled. Echo couldn't scream anymore. The will to fight back had been battered out of her for good. Instead she was filled with a guilty, sorrowful depression.

“I thought-” he cut her off quick.

“Well you thought wrong! Actually... you know what... from now on, stop thinking, because you're obviously not fucking good at it if you think shooting your friends in the back is helping!” Derreck roared while gently tucking Evan into a sleeping blanket and going to face Echo.

“I just... I-” she was again cut off by the fuming man.

“You what?! You lied to him! Pretended to be his friend so he'd open up to you mor-” she cut him short.

“NO! I... at first, yeah, I just pretended to like him. Truthfully I didn't want anything to do with you... either of you. I just wanted Liquid dead for what he did to me... but I... I fell in love-” Derreck cut her short.

“Oh how touching. 'You fell in love'... daww... SO YOU SHOT HIM IN THE BACK!” he roared right into her face, making her stagger back and stumble onto her haunches.

“I just...” she trailed off and Derreck growled, turning his back to her.

“You feel like shooting me in the back, Snake?” he snarled.

“I'M NOT A SNAKE!” she cried out and Derreck turned back to her.

“THEN WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU?! What kind of pony shoots their friend, someone they love, in the back?! He trusted you! And you fucking betrayed him, like the slithering little snake you are!” he roared, his words sinking in deep on Echo and putting her emotions to a maximum strain. Tears flowed out her eyes, her body stiff and tense.

Though it wasn't raining, dark clouds flooded the air above them, flashes of dark blue lightning flickering inside the clouds as thunder rumbled. Derreck scoffed. “You were more than just a friend to him...” Derreck mentioned in a somewhat calm tone, perking Echo's ears.

“I... I was?” she asked.

“Of course you were... he trusted you. Heart and soul he trusted you above all else, enough so that he disregarded Derpy's warnings about you... she's ever faithful to him you know. She'd never shoot him in the back like a snake,” Derreck taunted.

“Stop calling me a snake!” Echo lashed out.

“Well than maybe you shouldn't have shot Evan in the back like some traitorous cunt, SNAKE,” Derreck quipped. “Derpy was right... you couldn't be trusted... but even so, Evan disregarded her warning and entrusted you... letting you get close... that's the ultimate bond you know?” Derreck replied, perking Echo's ears once again.

“What is?” she asked.

“Trust. The ultimate bond of friendship. Without it there cannot be... you can't truly have honesty... caring... loyalty... you can't have anything if you don't truly trust someone. You can believe you do, but if you only believe than it's not really true, is it? And that man... the one you shot while he had his back to you... the one who trusted you to have his back... the one you lied to this entire time... he trusted you...” Derreck's feral appearance began to fade and a smile came across his face. “Snake.”

“I'm sorry, alright!” she cried out, tears flowing down her cheeks but Derreck just sneered.

“Trust... it's something so delicate yet so, so very powerful. The very basic foundation of friendship... of love... something you took for granted and now you think it can just be...” Derreck threw his hands in the air.

“Once trust is shattered... in much the same way you have severed yours with him... it is broken into a billion tiny shards and thrown into the winds... scattered across the lands... you broke his trust and now you'll just have to deal with that fact... Snake,” he growled, every time he called her Snake it hurt worse than the time before.

Swallowing hard, Echo tried to speak, but her voice was constantly interrupted by sobs of sorrow. “I... Liquid... he-” Derreck cut her short.

“I don't care what he did to you. I've read the reports. Scum of Equestria... but even so not really worth my time. I could be at home with my feet kicked up, not having to keep my friend safe from a backstabbing snake,” Derreck cursed her. It was the final straw as Echo collapsed to the ground in a sobbing mess, wishing she could take it all back.

She wished she had've told Evan the truth from the beginning. Wished she hadn't played him like a fiddle. Pretended to be his friend... and wished she had have never shot him in the back, even if it seemed like the right thing to do.

“I'm... I'm so sorry,” she whimpered, wishing she could crawl over and tell the man that, but the lumbering hulk between them was an impassible obstacle.

“Save it Snake... and know this. If you dare try and touch Evan, or shoot me in the back... I'll rip you in half with my bare fucking hands...”

Echo curled up on the cold, hard ground. She shivered to herself. Her face was damp from tears, her head hurt from all the crying... she felt a deep coldness within herself. Not one of temperature, but rather, one of guilt.

She held herself, trying to keep warm on the ground as she continued to whimper out tears. She had never felt so alone in her entire life...

The blindfold was taken off her face and she cringed for a moment, the light inside the laboratory a little bright compared to the darkness of the blindfold. Finally the disorientation passed and she was able to see properly.

“Voila!” Liquid presented her with a most cynical scene. In the middle of the room was a changeling, trapped inside a cage with its horn lopped off and wings cut short. Echo gasped.

“What... wha... I...” she stammered, the changeling huddled frightfully in the back of the cage.

“I know... wonderful isn't it?” Liquid replied but Echo quickly shook her head.

“No! That's terrible!” she nearly cried out and Liquid shot her a look.

“What?! No, Echo, think for a moment. Just... imagine the possibilities! If we could harness their power to feed off love... genetic coding for both magic and wings!” Liquid said, in an almost insane tone.

“H-how long have you... kept it like this?” Echo gasped and Liquid gave her an estranged look.

“Just a few months. My research is almost complete-” she cut him short.

“Liquid! That's terrible! You can't do this! Even to a changeling it's wrong-” Liquid cut her short.

“Slow down my love. Think about this. It could be a miraculous break through in medical science-” Liquid began.

“And take a massive leap back in civil rights?!” Echo gasped but Liquid seemed all to calm about the ordeal.

“Echo... I think you're overreacting-” she cut him short as she took a step back.

“Liquid... let it go,” she whispered to him and he again gave her a shocked look.

“You... you can't be serious!” he gasped and she nodded.

“As serious as I ever have been... Liquid... this is wrong on so many levels... you're keeping a living being captive against its will... not to mention having cut off its wings and horn... this is wrong on so many levels-” She was cut off as Liquid grabbed her, a little aggressively.

“Echo... you trust me, right?” He didn't get an immediate reply.

“Liquid... I love you... but this... this is too far. You... we, can not... do this,” she told him. “Let it go... or I will,” she warned and Liquid's lip twitched. Echo moved to break free of his grasp but Liquid's grip on her grew, his entire body tensing as he looked down to her.

“Echo... don't do this!” he warned. Time seemed to slow for her as she looked into her lover's eyes... then slowly to the tortured changeling that resided gloomily inside its cage. Finally her gaze returned to Liquid as time resumed. She felt her heart thumping in her chest and, for just an instant, she felt her heart skip as everything changed.

Her horn lit up in a bright glow, encasing Liquid's body in her magical aura and tossing him back against a far wall, slamming him into it with brutal force. He let out a howl of pain as Echo rushed to the cage in frantic panic.

“ECHO! DON'T YOU DARE!” Liquid screamed as he tried to find his balance, still disoriented from the blast. Echo fumbled with the cage's latch but resorted to instead using her magic to pry the cage's door open.

The changeling, looked to her with a most terrified look, petrified beyond belief about what horrible experiment might be next. “Run... go!” Echo cried to it. The changeling blinked, still terrified.

Echo grabbed the tortured creature with her magic and pulled it from the cage, setting it down on all fours before smacking it on the rump. “RUUUUUUUN!” she screamed, the creature not needing anymore incentive.

Liquid staggered to his hooves and looked with a most distraught glare, watching the love of his life release his greatest research project. “ECHO!” He roared as the changeling rushed for the door.

Just then, the door whizzed open and a rather unsuspecting mare entered, jotting notes down on a clipboard. The changeling came to a screeching halt as it was faced with the dilemma. The mare, her facial features twisted and scared, looked down to the changeling and attempted to grab it.

In a last ditch effort to free the changeling, Echo leapt into Belle, tackling her to the ground and clearing the way for the captive. The changeling took no time in rushing through the doorway, taking one last look back to its savior before rushing away to freedom.

Echo's breathing intensified, knowing full well what she had done. “You bitch!” Belle screamed, headbutting Echo and knocking her to her back. Liquid stormed over as Belle held her down, Echo squirming beneath her.

“You... you... how could you do that?!” Liquid yelled in frustration, months of research now thrown out the window.

Echo lashed back in retort. “How could YOU do that?!” she screamed, Liquid's face twisting into a snarly expression.

“I... you... you snake! You little snaky bitch!” Liquid snapped, his outburst hitting Echo hard as she winced.

Belle scoffed. “I told you we couldn't trust her!” she hissed at Liquid whom spat to the side, wiping a bit of blood from his lip.

“Irregardless...” his brow perked as he wandered over. “Hold her down... I'm going to claim what is rightfully mine!” he spoke in a deepening tone. Echo looked to him fearfully.

“Liquid! Wait... no, just think-” she was cut off as Belle slapped her across the cheek before promptly holding her face down into the floor, presented before Liquid whom licked his chops. Echo whimpered beneath the grasp Belle had on her, her back legs tight together with her tail wisped between them.

A look of great interest came across Liquid's face as her looked to her hidden nethers. Liquid stepped forwards in a show of dominance, using his magic to pry apart her legs. Echo let out a yelping cry as she tried to utilize her magic, but another headbutt from Belle cut her concentration short.

With her legs spread apart, Liquid pulled aside her tail. Echo whimpered out a plea that was cut off by a gasp as Liquid's tongue traced itself around her lower lips. Her back end attempted to clasp shut but Liquid's magic kept her rear end spread.

Another gasp came from her mouth as his tongue began to tease and taunt her, licking closer and closer to her slit with every passing moment. Her mind screamed out for her body to resist but even so her lower region began to resist the thoughts and give into the taunting pleasure.

Liquid pulled his face back from her flank and used his front hooves to spread her lips apart, getting a squeak from Echo. His expression turned to one of great accomplishment. “Oh please my love, don't try to deny it. You enjoy this. Your body tells the story in full truth,” he chuckled as he gazed to her now glistening pussy.

A presence bobbed between his legs, rock stiff and dribbling precum. A heavy musk flowed throughout the room, one that made Echo quiver. “Please... don't,” she whimpered, knowing full well what was coming.

Liquid climbed over top of his dominated mare, grasping her around the hip with his front hooves. Leaning down, he whispered a hiss into her ear. “Relax, my love...” he told her before biting the hide of her neck and gripping her hips tight as he pressed himself against her.

Echo whined beneath him, tears drizzling down her cheeks as she was held down against her will. Liquid shifted his hips a little and found his mark. He could feel her drooling wet pussy as he rubbed the length of his shaft against it, coating it in her juices.

Belle huffed in aggravation. “Why do you want her so badly?! She's just a stupid twat!” she scoffed in jealousy. Liquid ignored the other mare, focusing all his attention to the mare beneath him.

He pressed the tip of his cock to her entrance, a shudder of pleasure shaking his entire body and making his heart skip a beat. Echo's eyes clenched shut as she felt her lower lips begin to spread apart, his member beginning to invade her depths.

Biting her lips hard, she began to groan in mild pain as she was stretched, Liquid's thick cock slowly sliding into her velvety hole. A soft barrier obstructed Liquid's path for just a moment but was quickly broken as he shoved past it, emitting a scream of pain from Echo.

Liquid's brow perked as he drove himself balls deep, bottoming himself out against her cervix. Looking down, he saw a slight tinge of red dripping from her love hole and a look of lust came across his face.

He leaned into her a little, scrunching her body against the floor as he pinned her. He leaned down and gave Echo a kiss to her damp cheeks, whispering into her ear. “I'll make your first time one to remember,” he told her calmly, Echo whimpering out a whine of distress.

Liquid slowly pulled back, Echo's insides grasping at his cock as she was stretched to further accommodate his size. She groaned in pain but her lower region soon started to grow warm in pleasure, furthering her distress as her body began to enjoy her torture.

Liquid pulled all the way out, leaving the head of his cock pressed to her newly claimed pussy, dripping with slimy juice and just a slight tint of blood.

He pressed himself back inside of her, Echo gasping out a moan of pleasure against her will as she was violated. Liquid began to slowly thrust, Echo trying painfully to keep her mouth shut, biting her lips hard to try and keep her muffled moans to a minimum.

The feeling of pain had left her body and a warmth was starting to wash over her. She tried to force the pleasure away but it persisted past every mental barrier she could throw against it. Her insides began to constrict, tightening against the intrusive member.

She could feel the texture of his cock, sliding back and forth inside of her, slamming home with every thrust, forcing out involuntary moans of pleasure. Before she could even react, her body was flipped over, her back now to the ground. Liquid pressed himself against her, their bodies rubbing together in a way that would be intimate, had she not been forced against her will.

Liquid's hips pressed against hers as he continued his assault on her. Echo clenched her eyes shut as she felt her pending orgasm grow ever closer. She didn't want to indulge Liquid in such a triumph, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of pleasing her body in such a vile way.

Even so, Liquid could feel her body tensing up. He leaned down and began to slowly trail his tongue up her neck. Her body went rigid and she sucked in a deep inhale. Just as Liquid reached her face, he ground himself against her deepest depth, grinding the head of his cock against her cervix. His balls pressed against her puffy pussy lips, her pussy dripping with slimy juices.

Echo let out a shocked gasp of pleasure and Liquid sealed her lips with his own, pressing himself hard into her love tunnel as her body was shaken by a body numbing orgasm. The feeling of her inner muscles contracting against his shaft drove him over the edge and the duo fell into a simultaneous orgasm.

Liquid grunted fiercely as he himself endured the most powerful orgasm he had ever experienced. The head of his cock flared inside of the mare, a jet of cum erupting from the tip and blasting into her womb. Echo's body jolted from the feeling, tensing every time she felt another load of seed being dumped into her needy pussy.

Finally the duo came down from their orgasmic high. Finally finding her bearings, Echo went to lash out but was struck down by Belle whom remained vigilant the entire time. The mare was knocked into quick unconsciousness and left on the floor, a cum filled mess.

“So... what do we do with her now?” Belle asked and Liquid's lip twitched.

“I can still find some use for her body...”

Echo awoke with a gasp, springing herself free of the nightmare. Her body however, felt rather warm and cozy, despite the frigid air outside. Her heart rate began to slow as she realized she was safe, for the time being.

The rising sun in the distant horizon cast its gaze upon the cold world, making the hair along the back of Echo's neck prickle up as she laid on the cold ground. The gentle breeze outside blustered along the ground, its nippy and rather frosty temperature brushing past Echo's cheeks.

Taking note that her body was warm however, she looked to the covering that kept her warm. 'Evan's duster?' she thought to herself, wondering just how exactly she came into possession of the clothing if he and Derreck hated her...

She looked around but only for a moment as a shocking discovery hit her. There were bloodied bodies of ponies lying all around, several dozen feet away. She scrambled to her hooves in fright, some of the deceased corpses even being dismembered.

“Don't worry... they're dead,” spoke a dark voice. She looked over to the voice's owner and nearly gasped, her mouth gaping just ever so slightly. Standing dominant and strong, Derreck stood before several more bodies, a long draping black duster coat covering his body as he looked out to the distance, away from Echo and with his back turned to her.

His fists were still clenched, shiny blue metallic blades emerged from between his knuckles and still dripping with blood. Echo looked in a mix of fear and shock. All throughout the night she had never been disturbed in the slightest by the conflict that had went on in utter silence, and all the while he had stayed ever vigilant, despite being run down and exhausted.

The sun shone upon the big brutish man whom turned back to look at Echo. For a moment, she could swear his eyes were glowing hellish red, but discarded it as a probable distortion from the sun's gaze. His voice was crispy, dark, sinister but all the while true of cause. “Come on... we got a stallion to kill...”

Author's Notes:

The stallion sat on Derreck's lap, hushing out a sigh. "Mmm... look at you..." Liquid whispered as he trailed his hoof down Derreck's bare chest, gingerly caressing the man's scarred, yet muscular, exterior. "Such a... perfect physique... so beautiful..."

Derreck rose a brow as the stallion's hoof traveled lower and to his abdominal region. "Why... oh... how could she do this to you... drag you all across Equestria..." Liquid whispered, grinding his flank into Derreck's lap and holding the man close. The big man smirked faintly.

"Well... she's never tied me to a chair..." he quipped and Liquid sighed as he leaned back.

"Her loss..."