Exhausted, sleep overtook my mind, I could only say that my mind wasn’t ready to clock out for the night. I couldn’t help but wonder how I wound up staying the night at Twilight’s? What happened to me? I couldn’t help but question if she was helping me or making my life more hellish to live with the constant prying into my curse.

As I rolled onto my back, I felt something hard and heavy land right on my stomach, that caused me to spring back to life. I felt the wind escape my lungs as sat up. I looked down at what landed on me. I wasn’t surprised that it was that familiar book, laying open in my lap with words fading onto the page,

”Good evening Jeff!”

“Ugh, Good night! I don’t want to be here right now…” I shoved bookie off the bed as I rolled back over onto my side to go back to sleep but I felt that book “body slam” the side of my head. Which of course didn’t help my headache any at all.

“FUCKIN’ HELL, What is it?!” I sat back up to glare at the book, as it hovered close to my face.

”Obviously, You are being called to mental base for a reason Jeff, now get your ass up and let’s find out what that is!”

With a grumble of annoyance, I got out of bed, Which two things caught my attention as I got up. One, my boots were back on, second, was my room looked different this time around. Instead of what must of been plain plywood walls, they had a natural look about them; They looked darker to the eye and there was a faint scent to the air, apples? Wait, can the walls be made out of-

“Bookie, what the hell happen to my room?”

Well Jeff, it seems that something changes with the cabin based on what you experience in the waking world. Like it looks like your plywood walls were replaced with Apple Tree wood.

“I see,” I looked down at the floor. Yup, the floor looked like it was refurbished with light brown plank board. Which something else caught my eye, a simple throw rug at the foot of my bed that also led to me noticing that the bed frame looked like it was made out of the same wood as the furniture in Twilight’s place.
“Also noticed some changes with everything else.” I looked back at the floating tome.

Correct, we should go to the library and look into these changes.

“Wait, can’t you just tell me?” I folded my arms looking at Bookie questionly, “If there is anyone that should know what the hell is going on should be you, but of course, you are sleeping while I’m awake- wait how did I know that?”

”Couldn’t of said it better myself Jeff, now, I think you should get your coat and let's head out.”
Without another word of objection, I walked towards the bedroom door, swiping my jacket on the way out. Closing the door behind me, I noticed bookie floating around me, I guess the floating feature is new too.

Walking down the hall, I noticed the old wall lanterns were replaced with a pair of ceiling lights that were already lit up with their plain glass covers projecting a calm white light over the hall. Along the walls, I could see something kinda erie as I walked by them; picture frames, empty, picture frames.

“Bookie, what the hell is all this?” I looked at the book as it opened with ink fading onto the pages,

Not sure myself, but I think as time goes on, we’ll find out.

“Right, this is really starting to feel like a game, as if I unlock a bunch of new things as I progress through life.”

”Could be, I mean, you were a big gamer years before the econ-collapse back home, so one would conclude that your mind is drawing upon that to better organize and understand everything.”

I walked out of the hallway into a living room, it was kinda furnished with a combination of the basic stuff at my shack like the coffee table, some cleaner handmade furniture like at the Apple’s place. Like the hallway, the walls and floor are made out of the similar material as like my bedroom.

“Gotta admit, I kinda like the new look, I’ll be an idiot to not think this will only get better with time.” I looked around the living room before I noticed the door with the library name plate on it. There we go! I walked over to the door and entered into the library.

Visible changes here too, It looked more cleaner than before, most of the furniture looked dusted, polished with the books looking newer or at least dust free. The material they are made out of now reflected the same oakwood as if from the golden Oak.

I looked around and noticed something that was starting to become slightly troubling, “Bookie, has Luna came in here like she did before?” As I looked at the book which it’s closed cover looked back at me before we both looked at my desk. Bookie floated over to the desk before acting like it was looking at something before turning to face me, it opened with Large arrow pointing down on the desktop.

As I walked over to the desk I noticed a scroll neatly placed on the desk. It was tied with a blue ribbon with a wax seal that covered the knot of the ribbon. The seal had a similar mark that resembled the tattoo or cutie mark (or whatever they are really called) on Princess Luna.

”Looks like she was here…”

“No shit.” I picked up the letter, removed the seal, which seemed to snap right off the ribbon; untied the ribbon then unrolled the scroll, I noticed book floating beside my head as I read the letter.

”This makes me wonder how she can get in here, doesn’t she need an active dreamscape to enter?” bookie tilted itself as it “looked” from the letter to me.

I rolled up the letter before setting it down. To my surprise, it floated up slowly before vanishing in a blink of blue light.
“The fuck?” I blinked looking at Bookie before shaking my head, “Must be the base keeping things clean.” I then looked around the room.

“Anyways, what brings me here tonight huh bookie?” I looked at the floating book that simply tilted slightly as a form of a shrug.

”SImple, ask your library that.
“Oh-kay?” I cocked a brow at him before looking back outward at the library before me.
“What brings me to the base tonight?” I asked aloud seconds before there was some thudding and clatter of noise from one of the hallways.

I heard something above me, looking up I noticed a large scroll floating down as well as-
“Oh shit!” I stepped back as an ammo can dropped down as well. Like it was just simply dropped from the third floor.

Both objects landed on the desktop before me. The scroll floated down with the care of a feather while the ammo can landed with a metallic thud with some of its contents rattling inside.

Hesitating to see if the can was going to explode, which it didn’t obviously, I stepped back up to the desk. I looked at the objects that sat on the center green mat on the desk. I started with the ammo can of course!

It was one of those fifty caliber ammo cans that were popular back home because people would either store the obvious inside them or use them to safely store important paperwork or whatever. I pulled the locking tab out then gently pull it up to open the lid.

I could of sworn there was something other than a piece of paper inside.

Picking it up, it looked like a list, a vaguely familiar one; one written by, me?

“Dah fuck? I don’t remember writing this.” I started to read it:

hiking backpack
Spare clothes
Fire starter
Preservation stuff
Gallon ziplock bags (lots, ---- will have the cleaning kit)
Sleeping bag
Travel pillow
200 .308
100 .40
Mags for both
Sapi plates
Plate carrier
Herbage
Food
Water (lots)

“Jesus, looks like I was getting ready for war…” I glanced to bookie who opened their covers to fade in their thoughts.

”It’s your list for your hunting trip, Jeff, don’t you remember?”

“Fuuuck, what was I huntin’ for, ISIS?” I laughed before it felt like my brain slammed into my skull like a semi pulling it’s emergency breaks, followed by a loud ringing in my ears and head with an equal amount of pain all over. I dropped the list as I collapsed onto my knees, holding my head in mute scream with only a few faint sounds that came out of my throat.

When I closed my eyes I could see images.

Randomized images, what are they? I think, I may know them, but how?
I saw the interior of my car in one, blurry, flashy picture still.
My room back in Medford in another.
The dirt patch along the old logging road, wait logging road?

My brain hummed with a strange flow of watery pain as more images invaded my mind,

Silhouettes, clothed ones, each in similar gear as myself, I can’t see their faces or make out voices.
Then things took a stranger turn as I caught speeding glimpses of other images, nothing really noteable aside from camping in the woods somewhere.
Shooting a deer nearly several meters away.
Getting in contact with some greedy hunters, I felt sick for a moment then it was gone. I know for a fact that no one really got hurt, just wounded feelings and ruined game meat. I then could hear something, two unidentifiable voices:

“Th--e, I’m set, h-- about you guys?”
“Jesus ----, got en--gh rounds t--re?”
“Oh, don’t you know -----? We are h--ting --IS not deer or ----!”

The conversation ended with laughter before everything went silent again with the rapid slideshow of unclear images continuing its bizarre, blurry barrage of images.
Then, I was seeing blips of the Everfree forest.
Then figures appearing around the trees.

It really wasn’t making any sense at all.

I then heard the similar gunshot like the one back in Twilight’s kitchen which was enough to bring me back out of this fucked up trance.

Taking a deep gasp of air, I opened my eyes to see only my library’s floor. I felt a gentle tap on my back before I slowly staggered back onto my feet. Looking up, I saw bookie with it’s pages open,

]”Holy shit Jeff, what was that all about?”

“Wi-wished I knew.” I stammered as I looked back at the desk top, my trip list sat with writing side up. My brain was buzzing with a collision of thoughts, wonky memories and images of just about everything from with in the past few hours to the past few weeks and beyond.
“I can’t understand why I can’t remember any of this.” I looked up to bookie who only replied with a giant question mark on a page.
“I mean, sure, it’s hard to remember everything from a single day second by second, yet, here I am barely remembering anything from before being laid down on the couch.” I grumbled, “Which seemed a little out of place for them to just let me crash there after watching me suffer another mental fit caused by, as what Alex would call, shell shock.” I huffed looking back down at the list again.

What was the hunting list for?
How could it help with what's wrong with me now?

As the mine fuck fog cleared away all i can think were questions to everything that had just happened as well before all this happened. Not to mention that I have no idea where to start with all this crap.

“Any ideas on this? I asked looking up to bookie who only replied with another question mark on the opposite page before flipping onto another set of plank pages.
“Right, as lost as I am, and you are a book of magic ink.” I noticed a text style deadpan face appear on a page before turning my attention to the large scroll on the desktop.

“Now, for this…” I picked it up before removing the rubber band to unroll it. As I did so, all I could see was a strange map, I mean, not really alien to me more like I can’t read this style of map. It looked like one of those maps that had a series of lines that would make up a mountain for example, I think one of the guys called it a topographic map.

It was easy but not easy to read this map for the lines of where roads, rivers, trails were all missing from this massive page of lines and misshapen circles. If there was a way to look this map up. Damn it I miss google…

“As this is a map I can’t understand, nor will it be useful here.” I set the map down on the desk as I looked over at Bookie.
“why don’t you ask.”
“I already did.”
“Try again...”

Placing my hands down on the desk I shook my head as i looked around the library. I’m not going to be able to wake up unless I do what is needed in here, so let's just get this shit over with. Taking a deep breath,
“Well, What the fuck do I do now?” I asked aloud, the map rattled on the desk. Looking down, I noticed the map shiver then rolled itself shut in an instant, causing me to quickly throw my hands up with one step back.
“Whoa, the hell?” I watched the map sit there for a moment before it snapped back open, unrolling itself as fast as it rolled up. I blinked at Bookie before looking at the map, instead of the line art of greens and whites, it was completely dark.

Stepping back up to the desk, I looked at the map closely. It was a dark gray for sure, only two landmarks were currently visible on the paper.

The massive canyon that Luna saved me from.
And the cabin or mental base.
Beyond that, was dark, instead of the gray landscape, black. Fog of war much?

“Sooo, the map changed into a more useful map, great.”
“Yep, now at least you won't get lost.”
“-And you are becoming as useful as a phone book…” I watched the pages turn again.
“Fuck you, at least you got someone to talk to!” followed by a rather impressive sketch of the familiar dirty bird on the opposite page. Looking back at the map, I was getting a vibe that for once, since I ran into this place, I was going to have to venture out there.

“This is the part I’m going to have to go outside for some reason huh?”
“Bingo, at least you got that much.”
“Right,” I scratched my nose at him, “In that case I’m going to need some gear before going back out there, ain’t no way i’m going to run into Mister Oily without a weapon!” As soon as I said that, there was a sudden clunk and shift of wood before I caught one of the rooms directly in front of us started to break down and reform into something else.

“I’m never going to get used to that…” I mumbled as we both watch (Bookie’s front cover was facing the same direction) the floor sank into what looked like concrete flooring followed by the ways forming into what looked like the walls of a garage of some sort. Seconds later, a work bench and some cabinets formed along the back wall of this garage.

“When I said I needed gear, I didn’t mean tools…” I folded my arms as I watched, wondering what this new room has anything to do with my “request”. It took a matter of minutes for the room to completely finish it’s redesign. Curiosity took over and I walked around towards the new room.

Drawing closer, I heard what sounded like stone cracking, I paused as I watched the floor of the garage split open, the halves of the floor sliding apart as something slowly raised out of the hole in the floor.

“Now that’s some secret agent shit there…” I pointed as what looked like a car, well, half a car; rose out of the hole before slowly lowering back down on the floor as it slid back shut. The seam of the crack faded as the floor became whole once more.

Facing me and bookie now, was what looked like a blank version of a dodge dart. Meaning a paintless version of it, not even a primer coat was present. What use is the trunk end of a car if i can’t even open the trunk?

“Okaaay, what do I do with this-?” I barely glanced at Bookie before I froze to the clunk of a trunk release. Looking back I noticed the trunk was slightly ajar; the interior light was even on, not sure how but i’m not going to question my mental library anymore.
Stepping up, I touched the trunk before pulling my hand back to look at the instant partial handprint I left on the metal. LIke as if I was touching a dusty car, there was a few faint splotches of color appeared where my fingers were. Looking at my hand I noticed no residue of any kind was on them.

Glancing at Bookie before shrugging the matter away. I gripped the trunk and lifted it open.

Inside, neatly arranged on the floor of the trunk was-

“Holy shit!” I gasped, “Everything is here…” I looked at all of the gear that was written on the list now sat neatly and cleanly inside of this trunk.

From left to right:

The green and gray hiking backpack, completely empty of course.
Surrounding the pack were several food items that I originally packed it with.
A stack of spare clothes
The fire starter, a chunk of magnesium with a metal rod attached to it.

The sleeping back was rolled up neatly on the opposite side of the trunk.

The travel pillow was seated next to the sleeping bag.

The towards the back of the trunk sat a rifle case with a pistol case underneath it

To pull it all together was my OD green plate carrier that had the integrated pistol holster.

Laying flat underneath it was the belt that had the canteen pouch, the dump pouch, the first aid pouch.

With a variety of other camping items lining every which way, I noticed the hunting stuff was missing, like the rock salt, the game bag and spare cleaning tools.

I looked at Bookie before we both nodded as we both looked back at the trunk of gear.

With a breath, “time to suit up.” I leaned into the trunk to start packing the hiking backpack.

“Are you sure about this?” My voice cut across those three like a wind chill, but Jagged didn’t cringe like the twins did. I could feel nothing more but my blood pulsate to a boiling point, I AM upset at these turn of events. How could this human still be active if not functioning normally as I was just told here.

“Yes, Sir.” The most stoic pony nodded calmly, “I have watched A strange occurrence as well.”

“Oh? What else could be going wrong with my spell!?”
“Well…”
“From what Jag told us, it could be malfunctioning.”
“WHAT?!” My metal hoof slammed on the table top with an audible bang, briefly hearing the old piece of Marvanian furniture goran, “What do you mean malfunctioning?! It shouldn’t be so at all! You dumbasses know that this magic, that I was given to by our allies, is not like ours, it can't just simply fall apart like some goddess damn contraption!” Another bang made one of the twins flinch.

“Sir, I can’t seem to understand it myself either, but I can honestly say it’s still holding.” I watch Jagged glance to the one of the twins with a look that could shrink a filly if they weren’t careful, “Though, I have to ask, sir, what kind of magic are we talking about here?”
“Magic that could kill an Alicorn, the kind of shit outside our world of existence, that kind.”
“I see…Yet, could there be a possibility that his displacement affected the effects of the mind spell?”
Jagged was talking about shit beyond the other’s two pay grade, “hold your shit talker for a moment Jagged-” I looked at the twins, “-you two!” I barked, “You are dismissed, this is a conversation you can’t understand, now beat it!”
“Yes, sir!” As fast as they spoke they were outside of my tent.

“Jagged, You bucking well know how much they know about our Allies and their power,”

“Uhh, aside from what we tell them, very little sir-”
“Yet, you’ll yammer on about it regardless of whoever is in earshot, might as well have one of the sisters be eavesdropping’ on us while taking a relaxing shit across the buckin’ camp!”
“That-uhhhh-”
“You get my meaning son, and you better buckin’ well know that if word gets out that buckin’ human is affected by magic beyond anypony’s knowledge, we, are, SUNK!” my metal hoof found the surface of the table with another audible bang, could’ve sworn the wood cracked lightly with the impact.
“Yes, sir…” I came from around the table and up to Jagged.

He stood the same height with me now, I’ve watched this colt grow since I had to take him in since those bucking humans killed his parents; Two of my best officers at that! Years of being under my command has shaped him into one of my best. Can’t help but keep seeing that unicorn arrogance coming out whenever he holds little regard for caution when talking about important information around those who shouldn’t be hearing it.

“Son, We have been at this since the Marvanis left nearly thirty years ago, You were barely ten when I took you in, You didn’t see what I had too see with the destruction they and those damnable Jumpers where capable of.”
“From what I can remember, sir, I know-”
“Yet, you don’t know at the same time kiddo.” I placed a gentle hoof on a shoulder.
“The Marvanis were going to liberate us from our own demise but the Shadanians sided with Celestia and pushed them out.”
“Yes, sir, your story is now a recitable, campfire tale, sir.”
“Indeed, I made sure at least more than me and some of the old Legion will remember how that: regardless of who we choose to fight with, it’s the same bloody result.” I paced around him like a drill instructor would a cadet, I don’t even need to read his face to know that he caught on, keeping his eyes forward. The only other sound to complement my voice was the metallic clink of my fake hooves.

“That’s why we are here and having a leaky mouth would only damn not only us but all of Equestria for they still have that Shadanian taint about them.”
“Yes, sir.” After making one loop around Jagged I stood in front of him again.
“So, that is why it is apparent, that we make sure that human didn’t make it out of this camp, that is why I had to use what little magic I was given to ensure he does not make it a month, now how long has it been?”
“Abou-”
“Don’t even buckin’ answer, we need to step it up now, for the more The element bearer of magic is around that human the more she’ll not only slip under his influence but figure out how to break the curse.” For once I saw a reaction from Jagged as he rolled his eyes at the mentioning of Twilight Sparkle.

“I’m just surprised that she isn’t under him already.”
“Hmm, a side of the possibility of dishonoring her status by rutting with a human, I can’t help that she is progressively giving us a reason more to consider her and the rest of the element bearers in collusion with him as well as traitors to Equestria for they are not stopping him, they are more likely helping him from all of your previous reports.”
“Which is a shame, for they are the main line of defense against most evils of our world.”
“Yet, most of those evils have been removed thanks to our now banished saviors.”
I walked over to my Mirror, it was a fully length mirror made out of the finest materials our saviors had brought with them. I could only look at myself in the reflection.

I was getting old for sure, my mane was losing its color. The muscle tone of my entire body still held its strength but was progressively fading under the veil of an aging coat. I was only in my nightwear tonight, but lacking the ability to sleep kept me up, now this shit is going to keep me up longer. The sleeves looked short over my fake limbs.

As memories started to invade my mind, “Jagged,” I sighed after taking a breath, “I do apologize for raising my voice,” I turned to look at the young unicorn, he was watching me.
“It’s only understandable, sir.” I walked back up to him.
“Still, you get it enough from Whindy as of late.” I cracked a smile despite my boiling mood.
“Eh-heh, yes, sir…” He replied looking down, his downhearted voice perked an ear.
“That explains my point right there though.”
“Sir?” He looked back up to me puzzled, “What do you mean?”

Before I replied, I walked over to the model globe of this world which sat in the corner of my abode. I glanced back to Jagged before gesturing to him to come over to me. He hesitated for a moment before walking over to me. I normally don’t do this because of how little we got, but, I think the poor stallion earned at least this much.

“Jagged,” I lifted the fake globe’s top, as it slid into the lower half, it revealed a personal bar. The dark wood had inserts carved into it’s top that seated six shot glasses in which they surrounded a bottle of a rare brew that only existed because of the Marvanis.

“The human affects everypony he comes in contact with, sometimes just talking to anypony else causes this effect.”
“As I have noticed,” He watched me remove two of these glasses, standing them on the top beside each other before lifting the short bottle of unique scotch, the label was faded but it still read Silverberg's Savings which must of been the brand of the humans that it belonged to.
“Even after talking with him that first time, she had become confused with the morals of your orders targeting the human for almost everything under Celestia’s sun.”

“Exactly,” As I maneuvered the objects, my hooves clicked as I gripped them. They even clicked as I removed the cork of the bottle before lifting it up to pour the glasses.
“The human is a problem no matter how you look at it.” I filled his glass then mine before setting the bottle down. I grabbed the two glasses before han-hoofing over his glass to him.

He carefully took it from me in his magic, “Thank you, sir.” I then looked at my own shot glass before looking up to Jagged.

“If he continues and wins over the ponies in Ponyville, it’ll be only a matter of time before humans become a welcomed species into our world again. Even if they are the most destructive animals in every sense as well if they ever return-”

“Yes, sir, however, I have to ask, what about the Element Barer’s?” I sighed looking back at my glass.

“LIke I said, the mane six are compromised from the get go since he was able to charm them like any human can. If that Shadanian officer can charm Celestia, then this Jeff, can charm any or all of those mares easily.”
“Don’t see how, “ Jagged murmured as we looked at eachother again,
“Here-” I raised my glass, “To a free Equestria and for calmer days ahead.” He nodded and the glass raised up to match my glass.

“For calmer days ahead indeed.” We clink glasses before knocking the aged brew back. The familiar liquor felt warm all the way down while I watched the Unicorn cough from the burn.

“My, goddess!” he managed during his coughing fit, “How long, you had this?” He floated the glass back into one of it’s empty spaces before letting it go.
“A long time, let’s just say that.”
“RIght…” He took a breath as the coughing subsided.

“Take the rest of the night off Jagged.” I nodded with a smile, “In fact, I think these new operations have stretched you both thin, so, you and Whindy have a few days reprieve to cool the irons before the fighting gets worse.”

“Ooooh, I, have to apologize for that-”
“No need.” I raised a hoof to him, “Before being deployed to this AO, that’s what happened between me and Rose,”
“Sir?”
“Fighting, we fought over the ideology of helping humans with their conflict against each other.” We both fell silent as I told him, but he needed to know where I was coming from.
“So, before letting it ruin another couple, I’ll put you both at ease.”
“Th-Thank you, sir.”

“Do not fret, I’ll have the twins take over for the time being; for I can use their, loudmouths, for what I have planned for the coming days.”
“What do you mean?”
“If he can sway them for just talking, then so can we. Just depends on what we say is the key.”
“I see.”

“As for now, we all just need to settle for the remainder of the night-”
“Oh, before we do, sir, I have yet to explain what I saw-”
“That, That is right-” I had set the glass down on the center table before going back for the bottle.
“Come, pull up a chair and tell me what that human did to give the idea of the spell malfunctioning.”

I had seated myself on one side of the center table or the map table. Jagged floated a chair to sit opposite of me. I was still curious and since I eased his nerves with the scotch, maybe he can tell me in proper detail.

“As you know, I had to sneak into the residence of Twilight Sparkle.”
“Which is surprising in itself for there is really no way into the Golden Oak unless you teleport or blink yourself inside.”
“Teleport came to mind on the fly so I did so to sneak inside, thankfully, she was fully engaged in pleasant conversation with the human to even notice me using my magic.”
“See, what did I tell you?”
“Exactly, sir. Now, when I managed to peek into their conversation I had heard they have found a way to make the curse visible.”
“As you have had mentioned before the twins started talking.”
“Y-yes, they seemed to have an ongoing debate over the name of this new substance, which for now is not really relevant.”
“Odd, never heard of any spell being transmuted into a physical substance, continue.”

“Right, so, after that had came to pass, the human asked Sparkle if she had found anything else on his ‘case’.”
“Active research into the curse, bucking figures…” By now I had poured a second glass and knocked it back.

“She learned from the Zebra hermit outside of town, how she heard strange thunder and saw flashes in the everfree forest.”
“Damn it…” I grunted tempted to pour another shot.
“She even went into detail about how she was taught a series of tapping to match the sound the hermit heard that night.” I fell silent as I shook my head to him.
“It, if I may-”
“Carry on.”
“-it went like this-” he then tapped on the table top with a hoof.

“Hmmm…”
“Then, she did a second set-”

“Bucking Tartarus…” I facehoofed.
“During both sets, the human seemed to have strange reactions to it; the first set it would look like the human’s shoulder flinched as if something was hitting his shoulder. Which brings to the second set, The third tap caused him to hit the deck.” He paused to think, I can see the uneasiness in his face.

“He then acted like he was lost in some sort of trance, he moved around the kitchen like as if he was hiding behind cover and fighting an invisible enemy with some strange weapon.”

“I know what that means…” I nodded with faint annoyance in my voice, “He is remembering.”
“He is? How?” That astonished Jagged as he simply dropped his story to listen to me.
“Yes, a part of him still remembers the battle that occured prior to his capture.”
“Sir?”
“You and your team were away during this, It was up to me and fellow legionnaires to chase him into the forest.”
“I don’t think his capture didn’t go well did it?”
“No, it did not…” I paused at the memory but it was the sudden but faint chill of my face plate to bring me back to the now, “Anything else?”

“No, sir, there is nothing else, just, that. He was lost in this trance for a short while before being pulled out of it but Sparkle verbally brought him back to reality.”
“Strange,” I paused to think. After clearing my throat, “That is enough Jagged, I don’t need to hear anymore, you are dismissed.” Jagged nodded in reply before standing up.

“But, Sir, what does this mean?”
“It means we’ll need to work hard to keep him from reaching a full recovery, If you want to still, come see me tomorrow if you want to help in anyway possible, otherwise, enjoy your RnR.”
“Yes, sir.” He turned to head for the front door flap before stopping to look back.
“Things have been gettin’ kinda hectic around here, so, thank you.”

“Have a good night Jagged.” I smiled warmly to him.
“You too, sir.” He saluted me in which I responded with a salute before he left.

As the tent flap came to full rest and no other pony was close by, I looked at my metal hooves. As my mind digested the new information from Jagged, I stared at the design work on my metal hooves.

Plain but functional, as I would wanted it when I had them made originally. The design start with a leather brace that would cover the disfigured forelegs as well protect from the outer betal brace work that would attach via clamps right below the biceps. The elbows were hooked up with dual hydraulic pistons that would assist with bending the limbs. The elbow was connected to a series of curved, metal scale plating that covered my forearms, mainly to protect the leather brace underneath. The wrist was simply covered by a hollow cover that was connected to the forearm that swivel freely to move with the wrist. The hoof itself was pretty much a hollow metal shoe that-well, simply lets me use my hoof again. A series of triggers operated by my disfigured foreleg allows me to pick up objects via crystal shards that flicker with enough personal magic to “grip” like any pony can naturally.

“I miss my real hooves.” I grumbled before my faceplate klinked with my teeth rubbing up against them.

“This too.” I touched the face plate. It was more or less a simple face cover that is attached to a series of braces that, unfortunately, was bolted into the exposed facial bones. Don’t want to try to remember the operation that was pulled off to put it all in. They said that brass would be easier to work with for the face but It took a year to get used to the permanent change to the taste in my mouth. Thankfully, enough of my face grew around it all to help make it easier for my face to flex and move with the plate.

I turned to look at the mirror that faced the table. I normally don’t pay attention to my “augmentations”. Yet, here I am, staring at them as memories swirled around them.

I looked at the bottle in front of me again, I reached to grab it. My hoof rapidly clicked with perfected fluidity as I gripped the neck of the bottle. Lifting it up, the elbow hissed quietly as it bend to pour the scotch into the shot glass.

Setting the bottle down I gripped the glass before looking back at at the mirror again before raising the glass to the mirror.

“To the humans that bucked me and this world over, may you burn slowly in tartarus.”

I think knocked the drink back before my hoof clicked rapidly to spin the glass before slapping it upside down on the table top.

I walked through the camp in the dark with my horn lighting the way. The night watch were making their rounds. Each patrol was at least two ponies strong with a unicorn in the pairings. As I walked by the armory tent, the Smithy and two assistants were working away on repairing gear and crafting other minor necessities in preparation of another expansion. Hinges, nails, various fasteners were being made from scrap and materials sparsely collected from the outside world. I heard the faint crackle of the barrier, a unicorn was spark testing it. Which I have done myself a few times, all you did was toss a spark of magic at the barrier and it would test the barrier’s functionality.

Only three times did a monster try to break in but the barrier held them back and only once did the barrier broke and something got through (more accurately, got out). Let that be the last time I left the camp undercolted.

The Canteen was still awake at this hour with chatter, clinking of tankards and clatter of dishes. It wasn’t really a proper dinner but for some reason it still worked for the many of us that live here. Picture it as a mead hall from years ago, where all the feasting and social interactions congregated there. While passing it, I could hear the hoofful of patrons joining together into a singing chorus which didn’t sound in key at all.

I was headed home, towards the residential housing of the camp. You can tell whos been living here the longest by the quality of their house. The newer members of the Guardians lived in tent like barracks while the older members progressively made their own cabin or cottage surrounding the current four barracks. There was a total of eight cabins and five cottages. The more well lived in cottages belong to either the senior members or the remaining Legion officers that remained in this camp. One can say that we didn’t live like bandits for sure.

The tent structures were actually made out of camouflage canvas to help provide some concealment from the sky if any curious pony would so happen to brave the forest to fly overhead for a peek. The barrier’s magic matrix consisted of not only deflective magic, but concealment magic as well, but not to a high degree, just enough to dissipate rising smoke and distort any possible line of sight from the outside. From what I also remember, Kilo and his fellow senior officers also imbued the barrier with magics provided by the Marvinies years ago. I know one of them was a mind spell of sort but everything else, classified.

The cabin whindy and I shared was one house away from the third barracks. As I closed in on the cabin, I smiled at the details. Our cabin was a single floor, three room building made out of everfree tree logs and hoof sawed plank roof. The slight incline that the cabin sat on was used by a small deck. I was lucky to score this spot long ago when I was given the clearance to build here. The deck view not only overlooked the camp, but also provided a decent view of the surrounding Everfree Forest and Ponyville beyond, Well, parts of it at least.

The cabin was surrounded by naturally growing shrubbery and a small tree grew close by. As I walked around I took a look through the window; the glow of crystal lamps illuminated the main room of the cabin which was mostly the living room. Trotting up to the door, the faint odor of cooking brushed my nose- Oh no, the odor consisted of three familiar things, sea salted steamed veggies, six bean stew, and the biggest give away of all: alfalfa sweet rolls.

Trying not to drool I took a deep breath before knocking on the door. An inaudible response came from inside before hearing the sound of hoofs walking up to the door.

“Wonder who be knockin-” I hear before the door opened.

Standing with the door open was the lovely Earth pony mare with her mane pulled back into a bun as a sign of somepony who had been cooking up a storm. She wasn’t wearing her armor but instead a brown apron. She was always a beauty to behold, no matter the attire. Not sure what I was going to do at this point but-

“Can I help ye, ser?” she asked with a smirk.
Shaking my head I remembered what I was doing finally, “Yes, ma’am, I was trotting by when I smelled the wonderful odor of fine cooking and I couldn’t resist at least a visit to complement the skillful dinner.” I slightly bowed my head to her.
“Ah, well, could offa ya a bite but ye be needin’ ta be trottin’ along lad, me mate be comin’ home any minute now,” she rolled her eyes waving me “along”, “I can at least humor ye by accepting the complement ya bold grunt, of course, if that pain in the arse gets here soon and catches ya standin’ here gawkin’ at his mare like this, he’ll not hesitate to put ya in ye proper place which be back in tha barracks in splints an bandages.”

I pretended to be shocked by her equally bold words, “W-Well, beg ya pardon ma’am, I was just merely passing by and it isn’t that often anypony here catches the scent of earth pony recipes being made with such skill.”
“Oh aye, ye an me stallion both can relate on that, at least he too appreciates me cookin’, not so much else if ya ask me.” she chuckled before leaning against the threshold, giving me those sly eyes, she was aiming low at this point.
“Of course, if he ain’ bein’ a pack arse fer tha boss, I be considerin’ to at least keep a space in our bed open fer him, of course, I think he be bet’er off under tha stars the way his temper be flarin’ like Celestia’s sun on a bad summer day.”
“Huh, sounds like he has been a bit of a shithead as of late, but I’m sure once he cools his bucking hooves and gets the chance to say sorry; he’ll really be lucky to come home to a lovely mare to accompany him at the table.” my sly smile caused her shake her head before stepping up, she gripped the cuff of my leather armor.
“Com’er, ya pain in tha arse!” she pulled me into a passionate kiss which felt like it lasted forever but was only a few moments before pulling away.
“Sorry for earlier today.” I slightly frowned, “I didn’t mean to snap or shout like that.”
“Dirty water under tha bridge luve, now git in here befor’ everythin’ gets chilled.”

“Yes, ma’am!” I quickly saluted before we both walked inside.

I closed the door behind us, I felt the warmth of the stove as my horn glowed which undid the clasp to my cloak and hung it up on a nearby peg. I turn to watch the natural sway of Whindy’s hips as she walked towards the wood stove that made the center of the whole cabin; she started to remove the first pot of dinner off the stove and carried it to the table near the kitchen space.

“Hold on love, let me help you with that.” I stepped over towards the stove, my horn glowed and I carefully lifted the pot out of her hoof as well the the other pot off the stove top. I floated them booth to the table. Glancing over to the stove, I opened one of the ovens to remove the tray that sat inside and placed it on one of the cooling racks.

“Aw, thanks luve, that helps a lot.” she smiled sweetly back at me before she walked over to the kitchen space to untie and hang up the apron.

“But, I ain’ be lettin’ ya sit at tha table less ye strip that rat’le off ye.” she turned to gesture to me then towards our room.

“Oh but don’t you like your soldier colt still dressed in all his glory?” I teased with her responding with a raspberry,

“As much I find an armored stallion attractive, we be livin’ in a proper home, not a buckin’ Canteen” she scorned, “Now get strippin’ ya cocky uni.”

“With pleasure earthy.” I winked at her before playfully prancing into our room to undo my armor.

“Ya be good at bein’ a stripper colt if we ain’ solderin’ for a livin’.” she jested as I took off my amor. She had followed and stood in the doorway of our room while my magic floated my suit of armor onto a rack nearby.

“Ha, ha, that would work but you’ll be thrashing every mare that would try to put a hoof on me.”

“Who sayin’ ye be showin’ off fer mares?” I paused at how much that sizzled before I continue to take my gear off. I floated my holster belt over to my side of the bed to keep it close as I always had.

“Now, now, If anything love, I’ll be showing only for you.”

“Aye, but ye wouldn’ get ya self ta get the pleasure permit for tha job, ya shy pony.” We both shared a laugh as each piece was removed. I not only felt the literal weight being lifted off but the weight of my duties going with them. When the final piece was removed. It felt like a breath of relief just as it was comforting when Whindy brushed her body up beside me, nuzzling her head against my neck.

“I’ be jus’ glad to be off duty.” she muttered as I nuzzled her in return.

“As am I Whindy.” We kissed, “let's go eat,” we ventured back into the living room towards the table where our dinner waited for us.

Since she cooked, I served. My telekinesis went to work placing the plates, utensils and slowly started to serve our dinner. Starting with filling her plate first, then mine next. I can really see how thankful she was when I took over getting this part of dinner done.

“So I gotta ask Whindy.” I questioned as we both started eating
“Hm?”
“How did you manage to time all this just right before I walked home?” she had to paused to finish a bite.
“Easy luv, I saw tha teleport from here.” She shrugged, “not ta mention I new how long a debriefin’ would normally take, so I prepared accordingly.” she spoke as she took the moment to undo her bun to let her uniquely gorgeous mane down.
“Right, keep forgetting the view from the deck.” she rolled her eyes again.
“How did that go by the by?” she asked in turn.
“Well, the boss almost blew his top over our new findings, again, but since it's about the primary subject, I won’t talk about it right now.”
“Thank ya luv, I ain’ be wantin’ to hear more ‘bout him tonight.”

She was referring to Jeff the human, since he had been the subject of our argument earlier today and the center of our current stress. It was a natural agreement to not talk about him while we were both off duty (even more so at the table). Really does confirm Kilo’s assumption over how the human’s influence affects everything around him. It still does even now. However, I’m just going to bury the human in the backyard of my mind for the time being.

“Which reminds me, Kilo has given us a few days off.” the fork she was using clattered onto the plate as she gawked at me in shock.
“Ex-excuse me, he did what?”
“He uhh, well,” I stammered to find the right words, gotta be considerate here; “He saw how the stress of the job was getting to us, so he gave us some time off so we can at least cool things down and relax.” she could only blink at me for a minute of silence before squinting at me quizzically.

“How many days we be talkin’ here?”
“I think up to a week, I’ll double check with him tomorrow.” she hummed for a moment before nodding before returning to her meal.

“Good, I’ve been missin’ us for a while.” I could see the relief on her face, “I jus want ta do nothin’ aside from the basics ‘round here, ye know what I mean.”

“Of course my love, arguing with you yesterday and today was not us for sure.” I sighed triumphantly.

Our conversation peacefully drifted into comfortable silence as we ate. I could sense the happiness build in her. Honestly, even though we have been working together everyday for years, I still missed her when on duty. Seeing her as my warrior mare is swell and sexy but being with her off duty is what makes my day truly shine.

She didn’t really need to tell me at the moment to let me know that she too felt the same. This could be what the doctor ordered. Even though this new mission had been active for only a few weeks, but it’s better to root out any troubles between us before they even could bloom into something worse.
Dinner was wonderful as always when made by a beautiful pro. Clean up was a cinch since I took over from here. I floated everything a piece at a time into the kitchen to either be cleaned or scrape the leftovers into fridge bins to stow away into the ice box.

As I started washing the dishes, I felt her nuzzle me as she came up beside me again.
“Thank ye fer the dishes luve.”
“My pleasure, I just want you to relax for the rest of the night while I’m home.” I nuzzled back before kissing her on the head.
“I’ll be on the deck, don’ tarry long.”
“Oh, You know it!” I winked at her as my magic once again went to work while I dried whatever came out of the rinse.

This chore was finished in two blinks of a wizards horn. It wasn’t much since it was the two of us eating together and this was also possible with that bottle of Sparkle Span I picked up from those salescolts the other day.

Drying off the countertop I hung the drying towel before going through the door that led onto the deck.

Our deck was furnished with planters at the corners with an outdoor table with matching chairs to seat four. A pair of training targets on the far end of the deck flanked a weight lifting set that we kept for the sake of both of us keeping our edge while off duty. However, for our current RnR, they won't be seeing any use any time soon.

Seated on a wooden bench fitted between two planters was the love of my life. She was gazing out at the encampment before looking back to greet me with her warm smile. Closing the door behind me, I walked up to the bench.

“May I have this seat?” I asked politely, referencing our skit from earlier.
“Of course good ser,” she shifted her body around as as we both sat with our limps tucked underneath us. As we got settled, she rested her head against me.
“Hm, This is better.”
“Indeed.” she kissed my cheek before nuzzling me. She gazed back out at the world in front of us. Thoughts swam around in my head, but were staying quiet as we both snuggled together for the simple sake of feeling the closeness of each other’s bodies.
“So glad we are getting some days off.” I spoke quietly, “Slowing down is what we need.” she didn’t really speak but voiced her agreement with a nuzzle, which also doubled as a subtle way to tell me to stop talking for when we sat together like this, it was a moment of silence for the both of us. One can say that, this was just a simple way to bond.

To elaborate on this tradition; this is what it is exactly, a tradition every time we were off duty or getting off duty at the end of the day or night. We came up with this after a very close call during an encounter with a wounded and pissed off manticor some time ago. Whindy, three under ranking grunts and myself were tasked with putting this thing out of its misery since it’s strange injuries were not healing and it was suffering some type of poison, however, it did not want to die peacefully.

It crushed one grunt’s skull, broke another’s spine, and sent me flying into a tree with the equal force of a charging bison. Whindy and the remaining grunt tag teamed the mad manticor ensnaring it’s legs in some rope and Whindy landed the final blow with a blade to the back of the neck.

When the dust settled, Whindy rushed to my side in a panic thinking she just watched her mate die. Unfortunately for fate, it wasn’t my time as I barely managed to cast an impact shield before I connected with the tree. I was still in pain with some minor sprains and fractures here and there but I was still breathing, the tree on the other hoof had slowly collapsed from the severe crack after we had walked away from the scene.

I was given medical reprieve for a few weeks but she wasn’t given the time off. So, whenever she came home, this is where we would always end up, snuggled together on the deck, looking out into encampment and the surrounding world. Mainly reminding the both of us that we are still here among the living; I did not mind it at all as for at that moment, I was convinced that I was meeting my fate that day. I was just very lucky for quick thinking.

We had our death scares before but something about that beast had changed us a bit for the better. Guess that is why she has been increasingly talking about our future when we can retire from the Guardians. There had been quite a few of us that did the exact same thing over the years, but there was always a larger amount of ponies that would volunteer to fight for Equestria even if it was in secret even the Royals have little clue of our existence. Ironically, you have to give thanks to the kingdom’s heros like the Mane six for the inspiration to join us.

As my mind replayed those memories, I noticed movement around the boss’s tent. A figure emerged from the tent flap.

“AGATE, QUARTZ,” I Hear the old commander’s voice bellow across the camp, “GET YOUR ASSES UP HERE!”

With in seconds, I noticed movement when two other figures started stumbling out of the canteen before running towards Kilo’s home.

That brought a chuckle from us both before settling down with a contented sigh. We looked at each other before kissing. We both knew that for once it wasn’t us he was calling for. I can only conclude that he was going to assign the twins the job of starting a campaign of stirring distrust between the citizens of Ponyville and the human.

Honestly, I don’t need to be thinking about him nor worry about those two nitwits as they can handle running their mouths more than they can fight. Trust me, Those two can put up a fight only when working together. Seperate them and they will crumble like stale bread.

If they can get passed our intimidating commanding officer, sure, they would do just great for the job at hoof here. But, if the human or his mane six catch on, it would be chaos.

I noticed her face out of the corner of my eye as I looked back out at the scenery. She seemed to be briefly distant in thought herself, a look of concern about-

“Jagged,” Her soft voice cut my thoughts like a sharp blade, “I was wonderin’.”
“Yes?” We looked at each other, her green eyes were like living emeralds in the faint glow of the night light.
“Have ya thought ‘bout, uhm, ‘bout wha’ we ‘ave been talkin’ ‘bout?” I knew what she was talking about. What exactly I was just thinking about, retirement, which in translation for us meant settling down to fully marry and raise a family.
“I have,” I nodded to her, “and Yes, We should start thinking about what to do when we are done with this outfit.”
“I got an idea,” she smiled becoming animated from my response. I can honestly say, that I felt a sudden spurt of relief from saying something so simple too. It was like we were finally making a step in the right direction for us.

“We start by moving out’ov this forest an maybe get to the outskirts of Canterlot city.”

“You mean, move to the Capital?”

“Yeah, get tha’ kind of home we’ve been dreamin’ ‘bout, maybe even copy wha’ we built ‘ere.”

I took the moment to look around us, i honestly like this place too, the layout was just perfect for everything we needed living here. My mind was honest to goddess printing out ideas for the new home too.

“Yeah, yeah, even finally open a larger section of land to set up that garden you’ve always wanted.”

“Righ’, even ya can set up a bet’er trainin’ spot fer ya when ye sign up fer the guard.”

“You remembered that I wanted to enlist didn’t you?”

“Yup, sure did luve, livin’ in this camp had turned ya inta Royal Guard material.”

I almost forgotten that I wanted to join the guard after leaving this secret mercenary life. Living, training and fighting along with Ivory Kilo had me convinced that I have a shot at the guard. There was really no life outside of what I know. It would just be a fitting transition to a normal life.

“An’...” She hesitated, the next part of this planning was coming up; “An’ when we finally can hav’ a foal?”

“That extra room wasn’t just for storage or a spare bedroom.” I smiled nodding towards the cabin, “You can say, that It was practice for building our child’s room.”

“Really?” She gasped in surprise, she took a split moment to think before- “Ya magnificen’ bastard!” she giggled as she nuzzled me, “So we be set on this?”

“Yep, as I think we mentioned before, this current venture will be our last, once it’s done, so are we.”

The excitement that was building from talking about it came to a sudden boiling point as she squeed with joy before nuzzeling and kissing me with happiness.

I can say that she remembered when I built that extended room to the cabin, sure we agreed it had some practical uses over the years but it progressively became clear to me that I had built this room to accommodate a plus one to our family.

“I love ya Jagged!” she beamed.

“I love you too Whindy.” I managed during her love bombardment, before returning the kissing with my own. The quick pecks progressively became deeper and deeper kisses. I don’t even need to try to sense that her intentions were drifting towards something we both enjoy.

After we broke away, “Whindy, If i’m not mistaken,” I spoke, can’t believe that bout of kissing caused me catch my breath,
“You are acting like you want-” she interrupted me with a gentle nip on my ear as she stood up from the bench. I briefly froze in place before looking at her.
“-Ye may be a snappy little sheit when tha job be pullin’ ya down, but tha don’ mean we can’ work somethin’ out to help put it “behind” us.”
I blinked for a moment before she turned with a playful swish of a tail to my face. She walked back towards the door with a slight exaggeration to the way her hips swayed.
“I-I-I think we should work on that then!” I quickly got off the bench and followed her after.

Besides, we both need to forget the world for a while. This wonderful RnR will be a cure to any weary grunt. Even when spending it alone with your mate!

”Wow, just like a wannabe soldier!”

“Oh ha, ha, Bookie,” I dead panned at the floating book before clipping the last flap to my mag pouches as I finished reading my carrier for the fourth coming trek into whatever the outside has instore for me.

“This was originally my airsoft gear before the economy went inverted and started falling apart.” I closed the trunk before picking up the now fully loaded hiking backpack and slinging onto my back. To my surprise, I can still carry all of this gear even after being bedridden for half the few months.

Then again, this is the dreamscape and not the real world...

”ah, so what now? You just going to head on outside with all that?”
“Of course, I’m getting a feeling that this is part of my recovery.”

”Could be, but i think that’s being a little over prepared for simply walking out there.”

After reading bookie’s pages,

“If you only knew what had happened before you came into existence.” I headed back to the desk to scoop up the map. I unrolled it then folded it down to size so I can at least fit into my dump pouch for the time being. Grabbing my rifle that dangled from the one point that was slung across my chest. I checked the chamber. One round was seated in. Closing the action I headed for the door.

Exiting my library, I headed across the hall, made a right to walk into the main room of the cabin. It was weird, I could of sworn the layout didn’t look like this when I walked into the library earlier. Oh well, let’s keep moving.

Stepping up to the front door I-

“What?” I looked at what should be the front door but there was no knob were it should be. There was only an outline of knob on the door.
“Was it like this before or after the library?” I looked at Bookie but it/his only response was a giant question mark on one of the pages.
“Right, you don’t know either.” I pressed up against the door.

Of course, it didn’t move. I pushed against the door, putting all of my might up against it which there was no reaction at all. Backing off I stepped back enough to grant the room for a boot up against the door. It felt like it was stuck but I could hear the whole thing rattle with faint give to the kick.
I kicked it again, nothing but a solid bang.

“Jesus, what the fuck is blocking the door?” I asked aloud, “Last I recall there was nothing but bleeding shells outside.” I resteadied my stance before shooting another boot leg into the door. Another bang. As I stepped back, I barely caught the blur of something flying into the door with a thud.

Bookie had slammed himself hardcover first against the door with no effect. After he slid onto the ground, the book opened,

”Hey, I tried!”

“‘A’ for effort…” I slid bookie off to the side with a boot before trying the door again. I cocked back then kicked the door with all my might. I gasped when I heard a cracking sound as my boot landed against the wood.

“There we go.” I braced, then repeated that kick. This time the door rattled in it’s hinges with another crackling of wood. It was starting to give, I just need one more kick and maybe it’ll be enough to push open. However, when I tried to kick a final time, I failed to notice something black appeared through the door. I saw a oily hand grab my foot in mid kick.

“Ah-Ah-aHHhh, It’s MoRe PoLIte to kNOck.” I hear a voice all around me, as if booming around my ears from a surround sound system.

“Oh you gotta be kiddin-” the arm flung my foot upward with a surprisingly strong jerk. Sending me flying into the stairs of that originally led upward. I landed not on but through the stairs as the boards splintered around me but to my relife, none ripped into me.

Looking from my new found hole, I watched as the whole door was engulfed in that black mess. Coming through was a figure. It looked humanoid as it stood on its knees before standing, tall, over me.

“IT’s NoT A good CHoicE TO WanT, to LeAAAvE.” Mr. Oily stood nearly seven feet tall, he was a solid oily mass of black oozing tar. He looked like he was attached to the mass that covered the door.

“Hello, Mister Oily,” I grumbled as I tried to clamber out of the wreckage, “What wonderful timing to be dropping by.”

“Don’T BE so SSSUrpise TO, See ME JEFFFF,” At least he isn’t stupid in the sarcasm department.
“Itsss, BEEn a wHIle-”

“Oh-” I dusted myself off as I stood up from the stairs. I glanced back to see the stairs slowly repairing itself. Score one for not being a completely useless mental base. Looking back, I noticed the figure stood with arms folded. His red eyes floated in eye sockets of neon green. He had no mouth but spoke with that distorted voice of his.
“Don’t be so clingy, it’s only been nearly two or so days since our last meet-”

“I WOuld NeveRrrr THink, YOU would EvER Sleeeep AGAinnn.”

“Oh hey now Fredy, I don’t give a shit about your damn feelings about being alone in my head, you were somehow put in here so forgive me for not saying sorry for not being around forever.”

“HA, I WILL never LeaaaVE, Yooou MUssst simply DO One THING to GET RiD of ME.[/]”

“Let me guess-” He then pointed at me, his voice seemed to reverberate with a faint black wave every time he spoke.

“SIMPLy Submit TO Me AND GIVE in TO My ContROL and All will end with EASE.” I noticed something moving behind him. Wait where’s bookie?

“Yeah, bullshit, I do that and all hell will break loose outside and They would have to either kill me or cuff me, either way, we all would be fucked then.”

Mr. Oily rolled his head back in slow distorted laughter, as the last “ha” sounded, he dragged out the end of that laugh before looking back down at me.

“Haaaaa, Nooo, JUst YoooU, IT is Your BoooDy.”

“Right, Which gives me to right to say fuck you and your demands, Now,” I filled my rifle with my hands, keeping it at rest for the moment, but repositioned it so I can snap the butt stock into my shoulder for a quick shot if I needed. That feeling that I’m going to need to do that was getting stronger.

“Do us and the world a favor, leave my brain and never come back.”

The beast slowly stepped towards me. Those eyes locked on me.

“I FEARed Thaaat YOOOu wouLD say SSSSUCH a THinG,” the hand he pointed at me with slowly came down at his side, the hand, wrist and forearm became enveloped in a shadowy mist.

“SOOOO, I WIll Have TO DO The neXT BESSSST thing.” the mist faded, in their place was an object shaped like a long- FUCK a sword!

“AND Take IT by FORRRRCE!”

“BOOKIE!” I called out planting the stock up against my. As I raised up, the book flew by and gave that massive head a good whack. The only reaction was the head shook as he snapped a look at the book that wobbled before floating backwards from him.

He looked back as I side stepped to my right, the Colt raised, I squeezed the trigger twice.
Blue pock marks ripped through his chest as he recoiled with the impacts. There was a growl that reverberated throughout his body minus the glowing holes in him. I think I pissed him off.
He lunged forward with a roar, that blade stabbing towards me. I dodged out of the way, diving for the collection of chairs and coffee table. Mr. Oily swung his arm around his head before bringing the arm down with such force that it sliced through the stairs and some of the walkway above with ease. The slice finishing it’s trip through two of the chairs and into the floor.

I rolled away with difficulty to scramble onto a knee, I made my rifle roar as it spat three more shots into Mr. Oily. I can at least point out where I hit him with the blue marks that splattered across his left arm, center chest and shoulder. He grunted his annoyance.

“YouRRR EARRRth WEAPon willll NOOOOt SAve YoU, NOOOW give IN TO ME!”
“Hell no, You get out of my head!” I shouted firing twice more. A mark appeared on his stomach and lower chest. I’m going to need a fucking cannon to stop this monster. IF ONLY I GOT RIFTED IN WITH A SHOTGUN!!

I had to back up as he lunged again, hitting nothing but air as I dropped down just, I felt the wind from that strike. Fuck, I can’t QTE this shit forever, I need to get passed him and get out of the cabin! There has to be a way to cut- wait, what about- OH SHIT!

I wasn’t paying attention at but when I saw something blur towards me, I dove forward but I felt the tip of that blade catch my pack. With momentum still moving the blade, I was helpless as I was taken with it.

The floor came up really fast as I slid into the wall. Slightly dazed, I watched as the massive monster walked towards me. Blinking the blurring vision away, I looked passed him. The whole time I didn’t notice the rope like mass that seemed to lead from behind Mr. Oily and connected to the door.

Explains why he can’t move so fast aside from striking. He is intruding in my base and therefore has no real power here. That must mean- I looked up intime to see a black oozy hand reach down to grab me by the scruff of my carrier before hosting my off the floor. I had to grib onto the wrist to not only try to pry the hand off but to keep myself from being strangled by my own gear.

“SUBmit OR Be TRAppED here!”
“N-Never, B-But b-before,” I struggled holding as best as I could, “G-Got one th-thing to say-” I had to chance letting one of my hands go to reach for my vest.
“Think f-fast bitch!” He squinted at me before looking at my moving hand just in time to see the muzzle flash of my High point.

His head snapped back as his gripped went slack, dropping my heavy ass onto the floor.

Landing hard, I rolled onto my side, gripped the pistol in both hands to take a quick aim at the rope. I dumped the mag into that rope. A few misses but four hits later and the rope was thinned with a blue light around the mark.

Dropping the pistol, I looked up to only roll way from an incoming arm blade as it ripped into the floor instead. As he struggled against my living floor, I stood on my knees. Gripping the rifle against. Raised up and fired till I watch that rope give with an audible SNAP.

Mr. Oily looked towards the sound before glaring at me.

His entire body collapsed into a liquid, splashing onto the floor before it seeped through the boards,
“I WILL be WaIting JEFFFF-” Were his last words as the last of the oily liquid vaporized.

I sat there for a moment as silence filled the room once more. Not waiting around I change magazines before letting my rifle dangle to pick up the pistol. I dropped the empty mag before loading a fresh mag from my vest.

“That-” I breathed, “-sucked.” I snapped the slide forward before resting the hammer.

Holstering the handgun, I stood/staggered back onto my own feet before looking around at the carnage that monster left behind. The black slice marks that decorated everywhere he swung was slowly closing up with some of the furniture ever more slowly repairing itself.

It was strange but come to think of it: if he is living evil, then it would make sense that everything he damaged would take longer to fix. I’m just glad he didn’t stab me…

I didn’t want to take a moment to check if my pack was damaged. If none of it’s contents were not all over the floor, then that’s good for me. Holding my rifle again, I looked up to see bookie shaking itself free of that black substance before opening it’s covers.

“I seriously doubt I’ll be able to do that again, I dare not want my pages ruined with that shit!”
“And I don’t want to be that close to him again.” I stepped over to the door.

Examining it and to my surprise, it looked more aged than it did before. It looked like it was slowly dissolving from being used by Mister Oily. Fine by me. I looked over to bookie who was floating near me by now.
“Now, about this.” I braced again before giving the door another, if not slightly less steady, kick. Sounded like something snapped in the frame before the door drifted open with an audible creak from it’s overstressed hinges. Not going to question how many more times I had to kick this stupid thing if it weren't for that near-death interruption.

As it did, I had the colt rifle raised, ready to plug another nasty if it was waiting on the other side the whole time. Thankfully, there was nothing. Creeping forward, I panned around with weapon raised as I looked around outside the now open door.

Clear, I lowered my weapon.

Outside looked as same as it did as I left it before. The landscape was a shade darker when I last saw it, the bloody shell snow was long gone but instead of a flat plane was some sort of forest in front of me. I can only guess that there was more changes going on aside from the cabin.

“Well, you coming bookie?” I asked looking at the floating book.

”when it isn’t dark,” I read on his page, ”I’ll join you, but for now, you are on your own buddy.”

“Gee, thanks, If I get taken out there, I’ll remember who to blame.” I smiled at him as his pages filled with this time an image of the same middle finger with a another hand pointing at me.
“Love you too, and Don’t miss me to much.” I turned toward the darkness outside the doorway.

Taking a deep breath I took one step after another. My hands gripping the rifle tighter as I ventured into the darkness of my own cursed mind.

Author's Notes:

Ugh....this one took a while because of the romantic bit here, it's not really one of my strong suits for making a story but I think I'll get better at it as time goes on.

also, can anyone else spot the cloud of foreshadowing in this chapter?