Hunter of Ash and Cinder
Chapter 4: Take Me Down to Paradise City! Where life is dead and the people are shitty!
Previous Chapter Next ChapterHunter of Ash and Cinder
by ExoDemonG
First published
After being transported to Equestrian by some merchant guy, Jace goes off to protects everything he loves, as few as it seems.
I've lived for a long time, I've have seen things that would give anyone nightmares, I fought against beings that called themselves gods, even some that are older than gods. I've done things that I regret over the years for the name of some sort of protection.
I'm an Old Hunter, I hunt creatures and monsters that plague the land which the other hunters. They are new and most of them are going to die, but that's what you get with this kind of job.
My Name is Jace Belaguard, I'm the Hunter of Ash and Cinder, here's my messed up story.
This is a Displacement story and a revamp of my old story Magic: the Gathering Friendship is magic-I think?- (Edit: it's Re-revamp... is that a word? Read the old chapters before I take them down)
MlpxBloodborne
Also, this story is humanized, or in other words, everyone is a human... ish... more on below.
Unicorns are known as Magi, they look like half-elves and can use magic.
Pegasi are known as Skyborn, they can sprout wings when the want to fly.
Earth ponies are known as Terran, they look like humans that are REALLY strong.
Alicorns are known as Celestials, look like Magi but with wings... when they want to have them.
There are beings know as Beastkin, there are different sub-types. ex: Spike is a Beastkin of the dragon so he would look like a human but with dragon-like eyes and claws and a tail.
There are also beings that are half-breeds which are known as Cross-breeds.
Message:
“If you are in need of assistance, ring the bell four times and say your issue, if I deemed it worthy I will come.”
Return from Ash (or in this case stone)
“1,985 bottles of beer on the wall, 1,985 bottles of beer, take one down pass it around, 1,984 bottles of beer on the wall~”
I sang the beer song for the… Two-hundredth time since my imprisonment in stone from the last… what four thousand years? Anyway, I'm stuck here for as a statue in a cave under the old castle and let me tell you that being a piece of rock kinda sucks. One of the issues is that it's so boring, I already went through all my adventures that I have done so now I'm singing songs to pass the time. You know after being a statue for a long time would have made me insane huh, well after what I have seen all the nightmares I had to deal with I believed that I already lost my sanity, hell I didn’t think I had one, to begin with.
Oh, you don’t know who I am, I apologize about that. My name is Jace Belaguard, you may know me as the Hunter of Ash, the kingslayer or just The Hunter. But I used to be known by a different name Nick Smith, and I use to live a normal life until I went to Pax Prime. Just to keep this short I met someone that looked like the Merchant from Resident Evil 4 and offered me a deal for some Bloodborne weapons and I took them and then I got sent to the Land of Equestria from the show My little Pony, Friendship is Magic, yes I know of the show and it’s enjoyable, but there’s a lot of differences to this place than the show.
For one they are humans instead of ponies or anthro ponies and there’s are monsters from the games Bloodborne and I was fighting them for a very long time. I don’t know where I am in the story line but a few years back I felt a dark magic pulse coming from above me so I guess that would mean that was Nightmare Moon… I wonder how those two are doing? Tia and Lu I mean.
Now that I’m still stuck at a statue it’s time to go back to what I was doing, now where was I… oh yes.
“1,984 bottles of beer on the wall,1,9845 bottles of beer, take one down pass it around, 1,983 bottles of beer on the wall~”
Twilight
“Run Spike! They are gaining on us!” I yelled as I ran for dear life. We ran from Fairgate into the Everfree from the Plunder vines, at times Spike will blast them with his flames but they kept coming.
“They just don’t quit!” Spike yelled as he sprinted forward. I had to dodge or teleport through some trees just to keep ahead but I was running out of breath.
“I need… to… work out… some more.” I panted as I pushed my legs to run further.
“Twilight I see light up ahead! I seeEEEEEEEE-!” I heard Spike yell out and before I could look where I was going I stepped out of the trees and saw that there was no ground. I blinked a few times as I saw some birds flew by.
“AHHHHHHH!” I screamed as I fell down. Luckily my landing was soft, kind of. “Oww, what did I land on?”
“Vat vould mee by ead.” I heard someone talk under me. I looked down and saw Spike under me. I quickly got off him as he pushed off the ground and spat out dirt. I looked up to see the vines are coming down from the cliff and heading toward us. I looked around and saw a cave.
“Spike in here!” I said as I pulled him off the ground and we both enter the cave. We headed into the cave to get some distance out of them.
“Hey Twilight, their not following us,” Spike said as he looked behind. I stopped and looked back. It was true they were at the entrance of the cave, what’s more, weird is that they look… afraid to come in.
“What’s wrong you overgrown plant, to scared to come in and get us!” Spike yelled as he threw fire at them.
“Spike, I don’t think antagonizing them is going to help, also I think they're either scared of this place or…” I looked down the pitch black cave. “They're scared of something in here.”
Spike gulped at the thought. I looked around the place but the only way back where we came from and deeper in the cave.
“I think there’s maybe an exit deeper in the cave, let’s hope there’s is one,” I said.
“If not maybe we are gone long enough for the plants to get bored and leave,” Spike said to me. I smiled and we head deeper into the cave.
As we head down into the cave Spike found an old lantern that still works when he lit it. It shines brightly as we walked.
As we walked I thought back at what the rest of my friends said to me. They only saw me as a princess and not as a friend that knew them for three years.
“Twi, are you ok?” Spike asked me. I looked at him and gave him a small smile.
“I'm fine, just a lot has happened.” well it wasn't a lie but it's not the full truth. He came up to me and give me a hug. Before I turned into an alicorn Spike was a little bigger than me two years ago since one of the reasons that he didn't grow because he wasn't eating everything thing he needed.
"Don't worry sis, everything is going to be ok.” He told me “We just need to find an exit and then we-”
"STOP!!” I heard someone yell out. We both stopped where we are and looked around. We didn’t see anyone here. “Don’t take another step!”
“Wh-who are you? What do you mean?” I asked out.
“Look down.” The voice said. I looked down at the ground and with the light from the lantern, I saw a trail of ants right where I was about to step.
“Ants?” Spike said.
“Yes ants, they're the only company I have since I was stuck here. Oh, look! One of them has a leaf!” The voice said. I looked around to see where this voice is coming from.
“Who are you, where are you?” I asked the voice.
“Who I am is not important, where I am well taking a few steps forward and you will see. Don’t step on the ants!” The voice said. I looked at Spike and we stepped over the ants and walked forward. I saw crates and weapons all over the place and right at the back of the room what I saw was a statue of a being. We walked up to it and I got the feeling that’s it’s looking at us.
“Oh look, my old lantern I was wondering where I put it.” The statue said. I looked at Spike and back at the statue.
“You're… a talking statue.” Spike said to it.
“Yes I am and you’re a talking purple and green lizard.” The statue said to him.
“Hey! I’m a dragon!” Spike argued.
“They are also talking lizards.” The statue replied. Spike crossed his arms and huffed a bit. I took a step closer to the statue.
“Why are you here?” I asked him.
“Hmm… honestly, I don’t remember, it been so long since I was imprisoned that I might have forgotten.” The statue said.
“Well my name is Twilight Sparkle,”
“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Spike commented. I glared at him.
“Princess you say, well I would greet you properly but as you can see I can’t I’m stuck in a rock and a hard place.” The statue said as he started to laugh at his own joke.
“That was terrible,” Spike said to the statue.
“Anyway, do you have a name?” I asked.
“Hmm… well since I’m a statue you can call me… Hunter.” The statue said. I stopped and thought about it, Hunter, where have I heard that before?
“Alright Hunter, is there any other way out of here other than the way we came?” I asked. Hunter didn’t say anything for a couple moments as he thought.
“I believe there’s a hidden door on the left side, your right side, the wall that leads to the great tree.” He said. I went over to the wall and started to check the wall. Sure enough, there was a rune there, I put my hand on it and felt the magic activate and a door opened beside me. I heard Hunter chuckled a bit. “My sister loved secrets and hidden passageways, she installed them all over just for the hell of it.”
“Thank you for the help,” I said to him.
“It’s my pleasure, dear princess.” Hunter said. I eyed him for a second then headed into the passageway with Spike. After some time walking I started to hear voices coming from ahead.
“Well it was your idea to send her home Applejack!” I heard Rainbow yell.
“We all agreed that it was for the best, it was to protect her.” Applejack retorted. Me and Spike came to an opening and saw the Tree of Harmony being wrapped around by the plunder vines, also the fact that the cave was huge.
“Well let's just say that we had good intentions but I do have to say we might need Twilight for this.” Rarity said to them. I heard Applejack sighed.
“Ah thought sending her back home would be the best but-” She was cut off when the ground shook. They all looked around to see where it was coming from. “WHAT IN TARNATIONS IS THAT!”
I looked at where Applejack was looking at and my eyes widen at what I saw.
(Curse-Rotted Greatwood)
It was a living tree that was walking towards the Tree of Harmony, it had plunder vines all over it. In the blink of an eye, I saw the vines shot out and grabbed each of my friends. Fluttershy and Rarity screamed. Applejack and Rainbow tried to break free but couldn’t.
“Twilight look out!” Spike yelled as he pushed me. I was knocked to the ground and looked up to see Spike, my adopted little brother gets grabbed and pulled into the air. I screamed at him and saw the vines coming towards me. I panicked and scrambled to my feet and ran down the passageway.
I ran as fast as I could back to the room with the statue, as I came in I fell to my knees and started to cry. I just watched my friends and brother get taken away from me and I can’t do anything but run away.
“Twilight? What’s wrong?” I heard the voice of Hunter asked me. I looked at him with tears in my eyes.
“M-my friends have been taking from me by… by a walking tree.” I told him.
“A walking tree? Tell me what did it look like?” he asked. I wiped my tears away and described the tree to him. After I was done I heard him curse a bit.
“The Curse-Rotted Greatwood, I thought I took care of it back then, listen Twilight I wish I could help but I’m stuck here there’s nothing I can do.” He told me. I looked at for a moment then around the room, I saw weapons lying around. I got up and went over to them and started to pick them up. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to save my friends,” I told him as I picked up an axe.
“This is a very bad idea.” Hunter stated. I frowned at him.
“Look my friends and little brother are going to die, I’m not going to sit here and let them die,” I told him.
“No, I mean it’s a bad idea since you have no idea how to use that.” Hunter said.
“It can’t be that hard, you swing it around and try to hit something with it, what’s more, difficult than tha-” I moved my hand over some button and pressed it. It made the axe extended quickly. I yelped as it happened and the axe swung down into some crates.
“Told you.” He said. I glared at him and was going to say something until I heard something fell onto the ground, it sounded like a bell. I looked over and saw a small bell on the ground in front of me.
I stared at it for a moment, I felt the energy coming off it that I never felt before. It felt old very old.
“Twilight, do you want to save your friends?” Hunter asked me. I stared at the statue as his tone changed. “Well do you?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Well take that bell and ring it.” I blinked at him and looked at the small bell. How can a bell help?
“I… I don’t understand, how can a bell-”
“Twilight just shut up and ring the damn bell, lives are on the line!” He yelled at me. I blinked at him and looked at the bell again. I then picked the bell up and looked at it, it looked like a simple bell.
“I hope this works,” I said as I rang the bell. It made an echoing rang that bounced around the room. At first, nothing happened but after a minute, I heard it. The sound of something cracking. I turned to ask where that sound was coming from but the statue exploded. I covered my eyes so that the dust that was blown away from the explosion. I opened my eyes to see the axe in front of me and someone standing over it. I saw a clawed hand reached down and pick it up and set it on his shoulder. I looked him and saw that his face is covered up with a hat and facemask. All I could see is his eyes, they were dark blue.
“Well Twilight, it looked like it worked.”
Jace
I took a moment to stretch and move around a bit to see if anything is asleep. After that was done I started to look through the crates to see if I have anything to help in this fight. Out of all the weapons that are in somewhat good condition, there were three, the Hunter’s axe, the saw cleaver, and the Threaded cane. I frowned at this, a rifle spear would be nice but mine is back at the workshop. I went with the cane, had to go with the classics.
Next, I went to see if I could find a firearm of sorts. Sadly I couldn't find any and if I did I couldn't find any ammunition, I did find some firebombs so that’s something. I even found some fire paper, against a being like a giant tree zombie would be handy.
I turned to Twilight as she watched me and I gave her a nod saying that I was ready. We both headed into the passageway, after a few minutes we came to the room of the great tree. I looked over to the Rotten one and saw the vines that hold the rest of the mane six and Spike who was trying to blast the vines with his fire.
“Alright here’s the plan, I’m going to go down there and deal with that thing and you are going to stay here and-” I got cut off by Twilight.
“What no, I’m not going to sit here and watch, they are my friends and I want to save them, I may be a princess but I don’t want others to protect me because of it.” She told me.
“You didn’t let me finish, I want you to stay here and if you get any change start blasting the Rotten tree and it’s vines, also the catch your friends,” I replied. She just stared at me for a moment.
“Oh… wait what do you mean by-” I stood up and walked back a bit and stopped as I moved to the sides a bit to get the angle right. I flicked my wrist to make the cane transform to its second form when I did I sprinted forward and jumped into the room. I was heading towards the tree, I swung the whip at one of the arms of the tree and ride it Indiana Jones style. I landed on the ground in front of the Rotten wood and the other tree and looked at the Rotten wood. Taking the cane and hitting the butt end on the ground to make go back to its first form, I look at the monster I smiled a bit.
"Let’s start this hunt shall we." I said to it. It responded by trying to crush me with its foot. I dashed to the right of it and swiped at one of the boils on its legs. It took me two swings to make it burst, eww. I jumped back as it tried to slam at me with it’s… hand? I could never tell if it’s a hand or another foot. I moved around the back of the tree to get to its other boils as it started to shake. I looked up to see orbs starting to fall I had to move quickly to dodge the acid filled orbs.
Luckily I dodge all of them but it have me ended up in front of it as it swiped at me. I didn’t have time to dodge it so I braced myself. I got sent into a wall which knocked the air out of me. I blinked a few times and shook my head.
“I’m out of practice,” I muttered as I stood up. I grip my cane and flicked my wrist, I took one of the fire papers and rubbed it on the cane it set it ablaze. “Let’s see if you like this.”
I went to one of the other boils and saw that it was on one of its arms, it is a hand! I swiped at the boil and set that ablaze. I hear it scream which made me smile as I went after the other two which didn’t last long. Now that those are done I can deal with the ones in front of it. As I got there it tried to squash me but again I dodged it and went back into tearing at it.
As I saw doing that it started to lift up from the ground. Looking up I saw what it was doing.
“Oh for fuck sakes,” I said as I dashed away from it, it slammed back down spraying acid all over. If I keep my distance the acid will dissipate and go to a non-lethal state but what won't stop would be the smell. Lucky I have my mask enchanted to block all bad odors, I can't say the same for the others.
“Oh, Celestia that's dreadful!”
“Oh… my…”
“I think my going to be sick…”
“And ah thought the pig pens smelled bad.”
“HURL!!!!”
“Ahh! Pinkie, not on me!”
“Ugh… sorry Spike.”
I looked at the acid and saw that it was going to its safe state so I took another fire paper and went back at it. It took a few tries and some dashes to get out of harm's way but I got the last boil, now for round two. The front of the tree opened up and a giant arm comes out of it, I also saw the vines move to a more aggressive state. The ones that were holding the others let them go and sent them falling, luckily a purple aura went around them and moved them to just outside of the cave.
With them out of the way I can do some real damage to it. I jammed the cane into the ground and started to pull out the fire bombs. I lit one of them and throw it at the arm, I watched it hit the arm and bounced off, I looked at the other one in my hand and saw that the fuse wasn’t there. I cursed as the arm tried to hit me. I dashed around the attacks that it did plus the vines that were striking at me. Looking around I saw my cane and had a dumb idea, rushing for it I rolled into it to dodge a vine. I took it and set it to the second from and saw flames coming off it. I took all of my firebombs and threw them at the tree and swung the whip at one of the bombs.
It caused the bomb to explode which spread to the other which caused the space above me to fill with fire and burning plants. The Rotten Greatwood took some steps back and groaned in pain. I took the cane with my left hand and focus on my right. I felt my magic building up as sparks of electricity came off my clawed hand. I grip down on it which made a spear of lightning, I looked at the Greatwood and aimed.
“Eat This!!” I yelled as I threw the spear at it. Have you seen a lightning bolt hitting a tree? Well imagine that but a hundred times stronger. The spear hit the Greatwood and went right thru it, if trees could scream in pain I think it would be a low growling sound since that what it was doing. I watched it slowly turn into dust and felt the souls come into me, or is it blood echoes? I turned and saw the others come into the cave, I then saw a cyan blur that came right up to me.
“That. was. AWESOME!” Rainbow yelled in my face.
“Yeah! The giant tree monster was all like ‘Grr I’m a giant tree monster’ and you were like ‘Hiya! Whaa! Fire whip!’” Pinkie said as she was doing action movies, which were in my personal space which Rainbow was also was as well. I put two fingers on each of their heads and pushed them back.
“Personal space please,” I told them. I saw Fluttershy and Spike trying to get Twilight down as Applejack was standing away from the group, she didn’t look happy. I saw Rarity tying a bandana on to keep the acid smell, I guess she has perfume or something. I looked back at the Tree of Harmony and saw that the lightning spear missed it just by foot to the right, whoops.
“So now that over with, what now?” Twilight asked.
“I don’t know, we have to cure the Tree of Harmony but how do we do that?” Fluttershy said. I looked at the tree for a moment.
“Do you have any idea mister?” Pinkie said. I eyed her for a moment and thought on my answer.
“No.” I lied to her. I saw Aj looked at me and frowned, if I was anyone else she would have known that I was lying but I was a hunter, I lied to a lot of people so I got really good at it. I then turned and started to walk out of the cave.
“Wait where are you going, Hunter?” Twilight asked.
“I been a statue for who know’s how long so I want to go and look around, I know you can figure out how to save the tree,” I said to her as I walked out of the cave and out of earshot. “And to see an old friend.”
I walked through the forest at a brisk pace, this place used to be known as the forbidden woods and some other names but I liked the name Everfree, it has a nice ring to it. After navigating through the place I finally found the town Fairgate, I frowned a bit as it reminds me of the one place that used to be here but that’s the dream now, Neb saw to that.
I walked over to a tree and looked into town and saw Discord laying on a pink cloud, I frowned at this remembering the fights and contests we had back then. I took out a pebble that I had in my pocket and started to walk towards him. I looked down at the pebble, these things creep me out sometimes.
I walked slowly behind him being as quiet as I can, I got about three feet from him and again frowned. I took the pebble and flung it at him, it hit right in the back of his head.
“Ow! What was that?” He yelled as the pebble floated up to his hand. “A pebble? Why would anyone throw a pebble at me?”
“If you still had your skills from back then you could of dodge that,” I said to him. He froze for a second then got off his cloud and turned to me. He blinked at me for a few times.
“Jace? Is that really you?” He asked me.
“It is old friend looks like you're not crazy anymore,” I told him with a smile. He frowned a bit and rubbed his lion arm.
“It been so long yet you still treat me as a friend after all I did, I almost killed you.” He told me.
“It’s in the past and you were under the hunters bloodlust but now you’re better,” I reassured him. He looked at me and smiled.
“Jace It’s good to see you again.” He said.
“It’s good to see you too Gascoigne, it’s good to see you too.”
Author's Notes:
New revamped story :)
If I missed something and an error that I missed.
Oh! and for those who are wondering about what he's wearing, here you go:
see you all in the next chapter :)
![http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/bloodborne/images/9/9f/Small_Resonant_Bell_0.png/revision/latest?cb=20150407172049[/img]](http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/bloodborne/images/9/9f/Small_Resonant_Bell_0.png/revision/latest?cb=20150407172049[/img]){kind=link}
Family meet up and the Hunters Dream
After I met up with Gascoigne, who goes by Discord now, we walked into Fairgate and talked.
“So you been a statue this whole time. What happened?” Discord asked me as we passed a group that was trying to clean up a pile of dead plunder vines.
“Don't remember it been a long time since that I forgot what happened, I remember me and you, Star, and the king sending three sirens to how knows where ” I told him. Discord frowned at this.
“Just to let you know that was… almost fifty thousand years ago.” He explained. I walked in silence for a bit until I spoke.
“By the old ones I'm old.” was all I said before chuckling. Discord rolled his eyes at me.
“You laugh at the fact that you're older than everyone around you, I believe you’re insane Jace.” Discord commented. I kicked a rock and watched it go off into a bush.
“Being insane is more fun Discord,” I said to him, then a thought came to mind. “Oh Lord, everyone is dead I forgot about them.”
“You mean your old pals that were around before? I don't know about that last time I went to the valley but the pathway was sealed up and with everything me, Tia, and Lu we couldn't break it,” he said to me. I nodded as I plan on heading there as I saw Discord tilted his head a bit. “By the way, does those two know your up and about?”
I stopped and looked at him and to the forest as he did the same.
“No, but they will know in… 3...2...1..."
“WHAT!!!!” A loud yell came from the forest that shook the ground. I heard some glass breaking and yelling from around me as I shook my head.
“Well this is going to be interested, how long before they going to take before getting here?” I asked as I get ready for it.
“By the way of that yell, I believe thirty seconds, a minute tops.” Discord said as he moves out of the way. I looked over at him as he is now wearing an army uniform and saluting to me. I shook my head as I saw two blurs coming towards me, a white one and dark blue one, and then I got hit by them with the force of a freight train. I got launched backward into a building as I felt two beings hug me to death.
“You're alive! You're really are alive!” Luna said as she started crying. Celestia didn't say anything other then hug me tighter, I felt my lungs losing air.
“Nice… to see.... you two too but… I do need some...air!" I try to say. They let go of me as I gasped for air. After taking some deep breaths I looked at the two of them, Luna was wearing a dark blue dress with the moon on her left shoulder while Tia was wearing the same kind of dress it was white and with the sun on her right shoulder. I saw that she was crying. I wiped the tears away.
“Hey hey, no need for that,” I said to her. She shook her head.
“I thought you were gone again, we search for so long that I almost forgot what you looked like. After Luna was taken I thought that was it, but after she returned I prayed that you will too.” She said. I placed my hand on her shoulder and looked at her.
“Tia you should know by now that I will always come back and it would take a lot to stop me.” I stopped to think about it. “Well… other than your cooking."
Tia stared at me for a long minute before Lu started laughing which made Tia to repeatedly smack her.
“Will. You. Shut. Up! My cooking has gotten better over the years.” she said angrily. Luna laughter died down to giggling.
“Ya ya, your cooking has gotten better.” She said to her. As Tai looked back at me I saw Luna shaking her head and mouthing ‘Nooo’ to me. I rolled my eyes and looked over to see that Discord is walking off with a hardhat on.
“Well, how about we move this to someplace more comparable and a place with something to drink.”
Twilight
I walked quickly to Fairgate with my friends. We have restored the Tree of Harmony and brought the princesses back, that’s the plus side the downside is that Discord maybe has something to do with the plunder vines and the giant tree monster that attacked us… kinda. There was also the fact that we gave up the Elements of Harmony and now are stuck with some sort of box with six locks on it.
“Is anyone going to talk about how the princesses acted when we explained about that hunter guy? That was really weird.” Rainbow asked as she flew overhead.
“Maybe they know of him?” Fluttershy said.
“Well all I gotta say is that his outfit looks… dusty.” Rarity said as she almost tripped over a root from a tree. I had to admit I was wondering if they knew Hunter? They did yell with their Royle voices and bolted off that made Dash jealous.
“I don't know but we can ask them when we get back,” I said to them. It took us a few minutes but we finally got back to Ponyville and it looked… better than when we left. There were no plunder vines anywhere and I saw Discord sweeping with a broom, there was also ten other brooms around him doing the same thing. He also seemed more happy, he looked up and waved at us.
“Ahh and the stars of the show have returned, have a nice trip?” He asked us as he leans on the broom he was using. I glared at him.
“No we didn’t and it’s due to you planting the plunder vines!” I accused him. He simply rolled his eyes and started to float in the air on a pink cloud.
“Well yes I did, truth be told I didn’t know when they would sprout.” He said to me. I was going to yell at him some more but I stopped and stared at him.
“Wait… did you just a mite that you planted them?” I asked him. He nodded at me with a smile. I blinked at him and looked over to Applejack.
“He’s… telling the truth Twi, also don’t use me as a lie detector!” Aj said angrily. I looked back at Discord.
“Do you know where the Princesses are?” I asked him. Discord held his chin with his paw and thought about it.
“Well, there’s one standing right in front of me and another in the blasted north…”
“You know what I mean!” I yelled at him. He chuckled at me.
“Oh Twilight you need to relax, as for where old Sunny and Moony they are at your home drinking tea.” He said to me.
“Thanks,” I said as I started to walk away. My friends and I walked all the way to the Golden Oaks Library. As I reached the door it opened as Luna stepped out and saw us.
“Ahh Twilight and friends it’s good to see you all, would you all like some tea?” She asked us. I was taken back by the fact of how calm she is right know, with all that just happened.
“Umm, Princess Luna are you alright?” Rarity asked. Luna frowned at her.
“I’m perfectly fine, I don’t see why I wouldn’t be.”
“Well, there was the fact that you and Princess Celestia disappeared and the plunder vines and the craziness and…” Pinkie got interrupted by Dash covering her mouth. Luna rolled her eyes and let us in.
As I walked in the first thing I saw was Hunter sitting on the couch. I didn’t realize it before but he’s much taller than I thought he was, even on the couch he was about the same height as me standing. He had his hat and mask off as he drank some tea, he had dark blue hair and beard, he also had a scar over his left eye. I also saw Princess Celestia sitting beside him with her arms crossed and looking unhappy.
“I could have made the tea,” Celestia said as Hunter drink some of his tea.
“The last time you were in the kitchen you blew it up by making ice.” He told her. I saw her cheeks puff a bit and looked over at us.
“Oh, Twilight I didn’t know you returned, I hope we weren't intruding.” She said to me. I shook my head at her quickly.
“N-no Princess you don’t have to worry about that.” I stuttered. She giggled at me.
“Twilight you know that you don’t need to call me by my title, we’re equals now.” She told me. I blushed a bit. I looked at her and Hunter.
“Prin- I mean Celestia does you and Luna know of Hunter?” I asked her. I hear a chuckle from behind me.
“Hunter? So that’s the name you go by?” Luna said. Hunter shrugged at her.
“Hey when you’re a statue for so long your name means nothing really, but now that I’m out I should go by my real name.” He said. Celestia smiled and stood up.
“Twilight, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie I want to introduce you all to Jace Belaguard,” She looks over to him with a smile. “My older brother.”
Jace
As soon she said that Well all I gotta say is that I wish I had a camera since this was priceless, all of the mane six faces were funny. I covered my ears when I saw Luna did.
“WHAT!!” They all yelled. I chuckled a bit as I lowered my hands.
“Yeah, that never gets old,” I said. I saw Twilight look at me and then at Tia and back again.
“But… but you don’t look anything like each other, so how…” she started but stop when I looked at her with a hurt expression.
“Twilight how rude of you, I thought you would understand.” I started to rub my eyes as if I was wiping away tears. I saw glimpses of her looking around both confused and worried. This could have kept going but I got smacked in the arm by Tia.
“Stop that, you’ll make her go into a panic,” she said. I smiled and looked at the now confused looking Twilight.
“Okay, there’s really a reasonable reason for this.” I started to say.
“He’s adopted,” Luna said without missing a beat. I pointed at her and nodded.
“Yup pretty much,” I said. They looked at me with a little more at ease with that.
“So if you’re the brother of the Princesses… umm does that make you a… umm, a Prince?” Fluttershy asked. The three of us looked at her for a moment.
“No.” All three of us said.
“Wait what do ya mean no?” AJ asked. I looked at her and saw Tia was going to answer her.
“You see my dear stud-” she paused for a moment before continuing “ I mean friend , he might be our brother but he chooses not be a prince.” she explained.
“Also I had never liked the idea of being a prince, so there's that,” I told her. I looked over at everyone and finally getting to see them properly.
Twilight has sorta pale skin as there was a tan coming along and some of her hair behind one of her ears, her ears looked like half-elf ears. She wore what I can guess is a librarian outfit with a button up vest, white shirt and purple short skirt that showed her, now cut up legs.
Fluttershy wore a white tank top and jeans that hugged her… Ehem!... curves, really well. Her skin was fairly normal for a skyborne living on the ground, her hair is also tied into a ponytail that really show her face.
Applejack had her trademark hat on with her hair falling behind her. She wore a plaid shirt that was tied at her midriff with a brown jacket over it, she had jean shorts on and she had the farmer's tan.
Pinkie had normal skin and very poofy hair, it kinda looks like cotton candy. She wore a pink t-shirt with the phrase 'Keep calm and party on!’ on it with yellow pants.
Rarity had fair skin with her hair styled fancy with a twig sticking out of it. She wore a dark blue and purple dress shirt with black pants. I saw her checking that her clothes were ok, still not seeing the twig.
Rainbow had a tan and her hair short, like cut short, she wore one of those runner suits with a pair of shorts over them. She was floating in the air on with cyan wings on her back.
Spike wore a purple jacket with a black shirt underneath with black pants. He had brawler's gloves one with holes for his fingers which are also clawed. He had spiky green hair and green draconic eyes as well. He also was holding a locked box.
“Oh hey! A box!” I said as I stood in front of him and taking the box and looked at it. I looked over at Tia showing her the box. “Do we have any paper clips?”
“I don't think you can open it with paper clips,” Tia said. I tilted my head a bit.
“Have you tried?” I asked her. She stared at me for a moment as if she tempted to try and opened the magic box with paper clips.
“Jace I really doubt you can open the box that was given to us by the tree of harmony, with paper clips.” Twilight said in a ‘matter-of-fact' tone. I eyed her for a bit, I tossed the box to her.
“Alright miss know it all, how are you going to open it then,” I asked her. She looked at the box and turned it in her hands.
“Well… umm, we have to… find the keys to it and …. Uhh open it?” She said. I tilted my head a bit as I looked at her.
“Was that a question or an answer?” I asked. The young Magi looked at me, trying to find an answer, as Celestia stepped in.
“Twilight I believe that checking if everyone in town is alright. Discord may have caused some problems but he’s not one to hurt and bring pain.” I snorted at the last part. She shot me a look as I smiled. “But it’s better safe than sorry just to check.”
“A-alright.” she said. She walked over to a table and left the box there as she and the rest of them went out. I looked at Tia and Lu as they stared at the box.
“Staring at it won’t do anything,” I told them. They looked at me for a moment.
“Well we never saw anything like it before, I wonder what’s in it?” Tia wondered. I rolled my eyes at her since I knew what’s in it since I watched the show, I decided not to tell them since that would be spoilers.
“Don’t you two have nobles to see that you’re not gone forever.” I said to them. They both slumped a bit and Lu groaned a bit.
“I hate dealing nobles, there so uptight and everything.” Luna turned and pointed at her sister. “You’re dealing with them.”
“What! Why me!” Celestia cried.
“Because you’re better at it than me, and mostly I don’t want to.” She said as she crossed her arms. “Besides, I’m really close to getting my warrior to level 110.”Tia stared at her with a deadpan expression.
“You’re going to dump dealing with the nobles just so you can go and place a video game!”
“Hey, you did the same thing to me just so you can go to a baking store for cake.” Lu replied.
“The store was having a two for one sale, how can I miss it!” Celestia retorted. I watched them bicker for a bit as they disappeared into a white and blue flash. I shook my head and headed upstairs to find an empty room.
I found one after opening some other doors that were for bedrooms, a bathroom, and closets, so many closets. I stepped into the room and saw that it was a guest bedroom. I sat down cross-legged and closed my eyes. After a moment I felt myself slip into the dream.
I opened my eyes and saw that I was in the Hunter's Dream. I stood up and looked around to see that it still looked the same after all this time.
I saw the workshop and headed towards it. As I walked towards it I saw all the tombstones the surround the place, all the hunters that I may or may not have met. I got to the doors and opened them and saw the interior of the place. It brings back memories of my training days what I basically called my home.
As I looked around I heard footsteps coming from behind me. I turned to see the doll standing there.
“You have returned good hunter.” She said with a smile. I nodded to her.
“It’s good to see you too doll.” I told her. I looked around the place and saw my Estus flask sitting on the table, wow I haven’t seen that for a long time. I grabbed it and saw that it was full, normally I need a bonfire to fill it but placing it in one of the fountains works as well.
“How was your slumber?” the doll asked. I shrugged as I placed the cane on the wall. I looked at all the weapons that I found or made over the years.
“I didn't really sleep but it was uneventful to say at least.” I said to her. I looked at her as a question came to mind. “How's the world doing?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary, there are still beasts out there and the old ones stir, something is coming but I can't say when.” the fool explained. I frowned at this, the old ones are stirring that’s not good.
“I see, well we will deal with it when it gets here, so anything new?” I asked her.
"Yes there is, follow good hunter.” she said as she walked towards a door. As she got there she opened it and looked at me. I walked over to see what's what.
I saw that it was a room filled with different objects, I saw a tiara with a lighting bolt on it, a blue-green stone and… is that a bobblehead from Fallout?
“Okay… what did you get into collation nic-nacks?” I asked her. For the first time in like ever, she giggled.
“Good hunter, the objects you see are called tokens, they are connected to others that are known as Displaced.” she explained. Ohh… they are tokens, right then that makes more sense.
"So why are you showing me this?” I asked her. She closed the door then turn to walk out of the place. I followed her to where she was going. We stopped in front of one of the fountains.
"Dear hunter, you are one of these Displaced, and for that, you need one of these tokens.” She told me. I thought about it for a moment, if I remembered Displaced are people that can summon others by their token.
I went to my bag and pulled out a small bell.
“Will this work?” I asked her. She nodded.
“Yes, now you need to put some of your magic into it and make a message for others to hear, be warned not all displaced are good in nature.” she told me. I looked at the bell and started to put my magic into it. I saw an aura of red and gray surround it as embers floated off it.
Now for a message. I thought about it and came up with something that will give me the choice to accept or decline.
“If you are in need of assistance, ring the bell four times and say your issue, if I deemed it worthy I will come.” I said. I felt the magic settled in the bell. I handed it to the doll and watched her dropping it into the fountain.
"It is done, now do you have any other business?” She asked. I thought about it and shook my head. "Then good hunting.”
I went back to the spot where I came from. I kneel down at the spot and went felt myself returning to the waking world.
The first thing I realized as I returned to the waking world is that there were two others in the room. I didn’t open my eyes as I listen to what’s surrounding me. I heard two sources of breathing, one closer to me than the other, and they were young.
“Do you think he’s sleeping?” the one closer to me said.
“Maybe, he has his eyes closed.” the other said. They were both girls and might be around the ages of ten to twelve. I heard footsteps coming closer to me as I felt someone breathing on me.
“What are you doing!” The one girl said.
“What do you think, seeing if he’s really sleeping.” The close girl said.
“Nyx you can tell that he’s sleeping, why do you want to know something that you can see.” I felt the girl, Nyx I guess, move her head as some of her hair brush my face, I almost sneezed.
“Because maybe he’s not really sleeping, maybe he’s faking it.” Nyx said.
“From what your mom said he fought a giant evil tree monster by himself, I would think that anyone who would try that would be tired.” the girl said. She… had a point. Anyone who would do what I did would be tired or well dead but I been doing this for two lifetimes so I’m used to it.
“Well if he’s sleeping then why is he sitting like that?” Nyx asked. Ok, she’s about three inches from my face and my personal bubble is screaming at me to push her out of it. I have to end this.
I opened my eyes to see two teal eyes behind a pair of glasses. I saw them stare at me for a second before going small. She screamed and jump away from me as I stood up to take a look at them.
Nyx had tan skin and purple hair that was tied in a ponytail. She wore a green t-shirt with a shooting star on it and jeans. The other girl had dark orange hair and yellow/ orange eyes that reminded me of fireflies. She wore a white shirt with a sun with the phrase Praise the Sun!’ and some camo shorts. She had a necklace that had a blue gem attached to it. She didn’t look as surprised.
“See what happens to when you do something like that, this happens.” She said towards Nyx. Nyx got up and glared at the other girl.
“Shut up, anyway, we now know that’s he’s awake.” She said. I just looked at her.
“You should also know that it’s rude to get close to someone without asking them.” I told her. She just shifted a bit on the spot.
“S-sorry mister, we were just curious.” Nyx explained.
“We?” the other girl asked. Nyx looked at her and shrugged.
“Well you did follow me.” she said. I saw them stare at one another for some time as I sat down on the bed.
“Alright let’s leave ‘who followed who’ or whatever it is behind, what’s your names?” I asked them.
“I’m Nyx Sparkle, nice to meet you!” Nyx said with a smile.
“Hello, I’m Stella.” The other girl said. I stared at her for a minute. Stella… why does that name sound familiar…
“Right, I’m Jace Belaguard it’s nice to meet you two.” I said to them. I looked out of the window and saw that I saw gone for about an hour, dang going into the dream takes longer than I thought. “Where’s is everyone?”
“My mom is checking up on Discord then heading off to Canterlot, she won’t be back until later,” Nyx said as she crossed her arms and frowned. “And she didn’t bring me along.”
Stella rolled her eyes at Nyx as I looked at them. I have two girls with me and no one is around…
“Anyone up for some sweets?” I said to them. Their face up with Christmas trees.
“YES!” They both said. I chuckled and all of us went to Sugarcube Corner for some sweets.
Author's Notes:
New Chapter! If anyone remember from the old story then you would remember Stella :) Also NYX! xD
If you see any errors please point them out. Thank you.
See you all in the next chapter. :)
Old home, new friends, and zombies
I spent yesterday with Nyx and Stella, we hung out for it as the mane six went to figure out the locked box. You know the drill, six locks so six keys, where are they? I have no clue, go find them. That’s pretty much is the whole thing.
Today I was with Twilight as we walked in town.
“Where are we going?” Twilight asked me. I looked over at her and smiled.
“Just looking for my old place, it should be around her somewhere.” I told her. I looked around as we walked until I saw an open plot of land away from other buildings. I smiled and went to that plot and looked around on the ground.
“What are you looking for?” she asked me.
I looked at her for a moment before returning to searching. “You ask a lot of questions, now… it should be right... here!”
I found a rune on the ground and place my clawed hand on the ground and felt a pulse of magic on it. I stood up as the spell dissipate, revealing the building.
“Home sweet home.” I said as I moved over to the front door. I opened it and opened the door, I got hit with the smell of old books and steel. The place looked like it once was but with a layer of dust. I looked at the fireplace and saw only remnants of coals that were once there. I looked back and saw that Twilight was looking around in amazed at the whole thing.
“Welcome Twilight, to the Hunter’s workshop.”
“This… how did nobody see this, it has an invisibility spell on it, but…” I chuckled at her as she tried to figure out how this all works.
“It’s not really an invisibility spell, it’s more of an indifferent spell, you may have walked passed it before but you just didn’t notice or didn’t care about it.” I explained to her as I walked her to the door. “Now if you don’t mind, I have some cleaning to do.”
As much as I love the workshop, it’s home to me, there’s one problem with this one; it works on Doctor Who logic meaning that the inside is bigger than the outside. There are many rooms in here, and those rooms have rooms, and some of those rooms have rooms, etc, etc. What does that mean? Well… it means a lot of cleaning, I spent what feels like hours cleaning the main room, the infirmary, some bedrooms and the armory.
I sighed as I leaned on the wall. I looked around at the main room as something pulled at my senses. I looked down the hall at where it was coming from and headed towards it. I came to a room and opened the door and walked into one of the training rooms, at first I didn’t see anything but then I saw shapes. I waved my hand and allow the light to come on, I saw figures stumbling around a bit, one of them looked over at me.
“Uh, hello? What are you doing- WHOA!” I yelled as the one ran towards me and tried to bite me. I looked at the other and saw some simulations to them.
“Zombies… you gotta be kidding me!”
I groaned as I pulled out my cane and started to fight them. They… weren’t the toughest enemies I fought against, all they did was lunging at me. I took them out and cut their heads off, after I finished, I wiped the blood off and stomped on the heads of them.
“Now, how did you all get in here?” I said. I heard a ripping sound as a rift opened up. “Oh, what now!”
The pull of the rift was strong as I tried to fight it, that is until I slipped on a pool of blood.”
“YOU GOTTA BE FUCKING KIDDING ME!” I yelled as I went through the rift.
I was face down on the ground as I came too, I pushed myself up and took in my surroundings. I was in some sort of alleyway with trash everywhere. I picked myself up and dusted myself off.
“Okay, that was weird.” I said as I flicked my hand, then again, then for a third time. “Right, I now have no magic, great.”
I looked around and saw a body on the ground. I went over and saw that it was a man with a gun in his hand and another on his back. He looked like he shot himself, what the hell happened here. I bent down and started to take stuff off him, he had a pistol with fifteen shot left and a sniper with five. A dark brown trench coat, some jerky, a working flashlight, and a walkie talkie that I don’t know if it works.
“Right…” I said as I put on the coat, I left my old getup back in the shop so this will have to do. I shouldered the rifle and picked the pistol and headed out of the alley.
I got out of the alley and got a good look of the place. Well, holy shit!
“Wow… it looks like nature won the fight with the city.” I muttered to myself. I went off in a random direction to see where it leads me.
???
A loud roar was heard behind me as I continued running down the street. Through the corner of my eyes, I saw a glint and turned towards it, knowing what it was.
Running behind derelict cars, I had stopped once I was behind a minivan. I forcefully opened the trunk of the van, revealing one of the many weapons I had scattered around the area.
I stared at the rocket launcher with a single rocket left next to it before picking it up and loading up the rocket. Once I loaded it up, I climbed up the van and looked down the way I came, seeing the source of the roar.
It ran with a limped leg, meaning it was near death. Of course it was, it had just survived a house collapsing on top of him and I only hoped this would kill it.
Gripping the launcher, I began to focus my aim before finally firing. My arms swung upwards from the force and I fell back onto the floor with a loud thud. My ears were greeted with an explosion and with a groan, I stood back up.
“I guess I need to add rockets to the list of things I need.” I muttered as I walked out from behind the van, seeing what I could describe as a bloody mist.
I looked back, seeing nothing but trees, houses and the road. I was in an urban area of the city, no one really goes here for obvious reasons, but the there a few things worth the risk.
Shaking my head, I had decided to head back into the city. I looked up, seeing the sun in the middle of the sky. It was midday, I've got enough time to make it back.
Over an hour had passed, there hadn't been any sign of raiders or infected. I did managed to find some canned food a few bottles of water.
A few turns through alleyways, I had found a body of a dead scavenger and noticed that it was moved. I walked over the corpse, seeing nothing of use on it and walked out of the alley.
I saw another alley just on the other side of the road and beside was an apartment building. Running across the street, I had entered the alley before grabbing the fire escape ladder and climbing it.
Once on the fire escape, I pulled the ladder back up and began going a few floors before stopping at the fourth floor and spending the window before climbing inside.
I closed the window before looking at the room I stood in, seeing nothing but opened cans and empty bottles. I was home again.
I dropped my bag onto the floor before stretching, earning a few pops from my back. I took off my mask and placed on the counter, then went towards the light switch before flipping it but to no effect.
“Great, the generator is on the fritz again.” I muttered under my breath before walking back to my bag and unloading the contents of it.
It was mostly food, water, two 9mm full magazine clips and a broken hunting scope. Placing the broken scope next my mask and the two magazine clips on the table next to a few of my sidearms I then opened a bottle before chugging it down.
Water never worried me, seeing as the city had rivers here and there, but food was always a priority for me. Speaking of food, there were few apples that had rotten from being out of the fridge too long.
Looking at the black bag on the ground next to the counter, I walked over it and picked it up. I opened the window overlooking the streets and dumped the rotten apples out, letting it be food for the rats outside.
Once the bag was empty, I looked down and saw the mess of apples on the floor before closing the window. Throwing the bag onto the floor, I walked up to the front door.
I looked at the rifle leaning next to the door, it was my Nosler M48 TGR Hunting rifle with a fully detachable scope.
I picked it up along with ten rounds before opening the door and walked out of my room, leaving the door opened and heading towards the roof access.
After climbing up the stairs, I had walked out to the roof, seeing a cooler next to a lawn chair. I placed the rifle next to the chair before sitting down.
“Now…” I said, picking the rifle back and looking down the scope. I began looking down at the road beneath me before hearing the sounds of struggling.
Looking towards the source, I could see a scavenger fighting two infected runners. Focusing on the nearest runner, I fired.
Jace
Moving my way through the city I saw that there was little to no one around. I pulled my mask down to smell the place and quickly put it back on, I doubt that the enchantments are still up but the mask helps a bit. I smelled both the scents of rot and decay and the smell of the woods, kinda.
As I walked I heard the sound of movement from my right. I looked and saw two zombies come out of the building and saw me, I slowly went to my pistol, but stopped I have only fifteen bullets and it would make noise if I fire it, that would attract more of them.
I grip my cane and saw them rush at me, I jumped back and slashed at them, I missed by an inch and kept backing up. One of them was right in front of me and the other moved to the left of me, a loud bang and its head exploded. It fell to the ground, which made the one in front of me look that way, I took this chance to stab its head. The cane went right through it and as I pulled it out it fell to the ground. I place my boot on its head and stomped on it.
I looked at the other one and saw the entrance hole and looked where it came from, I saw a building with someone on top of it, narrowing my eyes I saw that the figure was trailing a gun onto me. I put my hands up and hold the cane above my head.
“You've got guts trying to fight them without a gun!” He yelled.
“Who says that I don’t have one, don’t want to waste bullets.” I yelled back. I looked around the place to see if more zombies came crawling out, rule one of dealing with zombies: loud noises attract more of them.
“You look lost, pal!” I heard him yell. I turned around and looked back at him.
“You could say that, mind if I come up I don’t like yelling stuff at you.” I yelled back.
“There's a fire escape in the alleyway!” He yelled back before leaving his spot. I looked over at the alleyway and headed over. When I got there I saw the fire escape, only that it wasn’t down. I shook my head and looked at the wall and backed up a bit before running towards it, then up it. I turned and grabbed the bars and pulled myself over it. I looked back and chuckled as I went up the escape.
After a few minutes I came to the top of the building and looked around. I saw the being leaning against a door into the building. He tilted his head at me.
“I'd normally shoot other scavengers in the city, but you seem to not belong here.” He said. I just shrugged.
“You could say that.” I told him as I looked over at the city. “So this will sound really weird but, where am I?”
“You're standing in the once proud city of Paradise.” He said with a roll of his eyes.
“Huh, not much of a paradise, but I’ve seen worse.” I told him. I looked down at my clawed hand and opened and closed it a few times. I pulled off the rifle and set it down. “Is it just you or are there others?”
“There are more survivors, most of them had high-tailed it out of the city.” He said as he walked to the edge with his rifle in hand. I nodded and looked away.
“Got a name? I’m Jace.” I told him.
“Ivan DeWitt.” He answered without looking and fired. Looking down, I could see what he fired at. It was another one of those zombies, this one carried a bag on its back.
“Nice shot.” I said to him. He nodded and turned to leave, to I guess to get the bag. “I got it.”
I looked down and stepped off the league. I fell for a few seconds until I kicked the side of the building sending me forward. I rolled to a stand and walked over to the body, grabbing the bag. I heard it groan so I punched it with my gauntlet hand, bashing its head in. I took the bag and went up the fire escape again.
When I got there I saw Ivan staring at me as I set the bag down and walked back where I was.
Ivan
Seeing the bag drop onto the floor, my gaze then landed on Jace before giving the streets one last look and saw nothing. I chambered another round and shouldered the rifle.
“What brings you into the city? People don't usually come here unless they're desperate.” I asked him as I walked passed him.
“Let's just say I just dropped in, oh and here.” he pulled something out of his coat and tossed it to me. I caught it and saw it was an unopened bag of jerky. “I don't eat much anyway, just small things here and there. I don't know how long I'm going to be here and with me, I would just lose it.”
I looked at the bag before shrugging and opened the door. I walked in, leaving the door open for Jace and continued walking down the stairs.
Once I was back on the fourth floor, I had waited for the newcomer before heading inside my room. After seeing him walk down the stairs, I entered my room and placed the rifle next to the door.
I walked over to the table, pulled a chair out before sitting on it, making me face the door as Jace walked in.
“I welcome you to my humble abode.” I said in a sarcastic manner. My place was shit, really, but it's where I sleep so I can't argue that much.
“Guess you haven't heard of spring cleaning.” I heard him mutter and rolled my eyes at the joke.
“So… what exactly brings you to the city?” I asked him again. He walks over and picks up an old toy that I found in my travels around the city, one of those cymbal monkeys.
“Well… there’s no real reason really, I just have the habit of showing up in places.” he told me. I frowned a bit and thought it over.
“There has to be a reason, it’s not like to appear in thin air.” He stared at me for a moment before sitting down against a wall.
“Traveling.”
“Traveling?”
“Yup, when hell broke loose I decide to travel, keep on the move youya know.” He explained. I eyed him for a bit.
“You best not be lying.” I said to him before standing up and heading towards the kitchen. “And for your information, everything went to hell over twenty years ago and you don't look older than thirty.” I said behind the counter.
“I take very good care of myself.” he said with a smile.
“Right.” I said as I took out a 9mm pistol from inside one of the drawers. “And what about your guns? It's not safe without at least an assault rifle or pump action shotgun.” I asked him. He stared at me for a moment, then pointed at the rifle next to the window.
“Well, I got that, and a pistol.” he said as he pulled out a 9mm. "Not much to work with but I’ve been in worst situations.”
I slightly shook my head. I looked through another drawer and found a pack of sticky notes. I heard clanging from behind me, I turned and saw Jace with that monkey and got it to work, which was something since it was broken when I found it.
It kept going for a second before he puts his hand between the monkey's arms. “Hush you.”
“How did you manage to fix that?” I asked him as I wrote down a few things on the small piece of paper before sticking it on the drawer. Once that was done, I walked over to the pile of canned food before picking four cans out of the pile.
“I have my ways, I'm one of those people who did many odd jobs to get by so I became a sort of Jack of trades.” he told me as he set the monkey down gently. "I'm also good at building and repairing stuff.”
“Maybe you'll be of use after all.” I mutter under my breath as I began placing the cans inside the drawer labeled Emergency only.
I turned just as Jace went from sitting to kneeling as he looked over at the window. "Alleyway, across the street.”
I went to the wall next to the window and peeked out, finally noticing that night had fallen. Across the street in the alleyway there were three figures walking out. I glanced over to Jace as he put one finger up.
“Before you ask, no they are not with me and how I know they are there I have really good hearing.”
“Must be the damn The Blood Skulls then.” I groaned before quickly grabbing my Hunting rifle again.
“Tell me if you can see them wearing spiked or salvaged metal armor.” I said to him before opening the window of the fire escape. Setting up, I looked down the scope, unable to see them clearly.
I moved a bit and saw something move into view. Jace crouches down and headed to a different alleyway and disappear into it. I blinked at this, for a big guy he moves fast.
I looked at the kitchen counter behind me, seeing my mask before quickly running towards it, picking it up then putting it on. Once back on the rifle, I pressed the small button on the side of my mask.
The lenses of the mask closed off before opening again, activating the night vision. Looking down the scope once more, I looked over the unknown figures and confirmed my suspicion.
Aiming towards the most heavily guarded one, I noticed his lack of headgear. I grinned before taking a deep breath.
Just as they stopped in the middle of the street, I pulled the trigger before reeling back a bit from the recoil. Pulling a small lever, opening the chamber for the bullet casing to pop out before putting in another fresh bullet.
Quickly aiming down the scope again, I aimed towards the man wearing scavenger’s trench coat that bore the Skull and fired once more, again reeling back from the recoil before popping the casing out and reloading.
I looked out the window, seeing the last one looking at me before taking out his assault carbine. He began firing at my position, making me unable to look out the window.
Leaving the rifle sticking out of the window and taking a quick peek towards the last man, seeing him hiding behind a derelict car.
Without looking through the scope, I pulled the trigger and almost lost my grip due to only holding the rifle with a single hand.
Jace
Even though I don’t have my magic the years of muscle memory of being a hunter never left. I ran towards the alleyway and saw a broken fire escape, using that I climbed it up it onto the roof. I quickly went over to the other side. I looked down and saw two groups of three, one group was heading down the alleyway towards Ivans home as another was heading a different direction, probably to flank the building. I looked up at the sky and saw that it was night time, I blinked at this and remembered my hunter training; my eyes adjust to the dark much quicker than normal and see as if it's day, whether it's from my magic or something else I don't know and honestly I don't care.
I looked around and saw a hatchet under a few boxes, I grabbed it and skirted around the ledge to the other group. I followed them for a bit until I heard the sound of gunfire. The group I was following spun around and went back where they came, this was the point I made myself known.
I jumped off the roof and landed on the one guy at the back of the group, I brought the hatchet down on his head and pulled it out and sprinted forward. The one guy brought his gun up to fire, but I grabbed it and pull the gun and him to me. I embedded the hatchet in his shoulder and used him as a shield as the last one opened fire on me. I moved my hand to the trigger of the gun and pointed it at the shooter's legs. The blast took the guy's leg off, he screamed in pain as I pushed the guy off me and walked over to him. I kicked the gun away and grabbed the guy's neck and lifted him up. At this time and during the fight I heard two shots ring out, I guess Ivan took care of them.
“Why hello there, nice night we’re having.” I said to him as he tried to pry my arm off. “I thought it was a nice night I came out for some stargazing, that is until a group of idiots came by and ruined it.”
“Let me go!” He said with a Spanish accent. I tilted my head a bit and looked around.
“What are you doing here?” I asked him bluntly.
“To kill the Ghost.” He said, struggling with his words. At this, I should take it seriously but…
“Aren’t you a bit old to chansing make believe?” I told him. He glared at me as he again tried to pry my hand. I then heard someone walking over to us. I turned and saw Ivan walking towards us. “Yo.”
Looking at Ivan, I noticed him wearing a gas mask as well as lenses glowing green. The man started struggling harder, almost as if his life depended on it.
“So… what do you want to do with him? Let him walk with a stump or...”
Ivin didn't answer only pulling out a 9mm pistol before firing at the guy's head. A bit of blood splattered on his mask and the man went limp. I sighed and dropped him and looked at the others as the sight settles in.
“Damn, old habits do die hard.” I muttered as I went over and took the hatchet and cleaned it. I saw that two of them have bags and a broken shotgun fell out, hmm, that could be a project for me to do if I'm stuck here.
“So… they seemed friendly.” I said to Ivan.
“I don't care much for jokes.” Was his reply before crouching onto the body and began looting the corpse. I rolled my eyes as I pulled the bag off the corpse and saw that the only things were a broken shotgun, some clothes and half of a piece of wood. I looked around in the alleyway and began to pick some stuff up, some pieces of metal, broken electronics, and a long metal pole. I turned and saw Ivan staring at me.
“Come on, if we stay here any longer we might come across some infected.” He said as he walked passed me. I quickly looted the rest of the body, a shotgun, ammo, and goggles, and followed Ivan. He didn't say much during the walk but if he did say something I didn't hear it since I was busy making measurements in my head.
Ivan
After making our way across the street, I had stopped just in front of the ladder. I looked back to the bodies of the dead gang members.
‘If there was one group, there's always more.’ I thought to myself before looking at Jace.
“You go on ahead, I'll scout around.” I told him before walking out to the street. Looking down at the heavily armored corpse, I saw that a flashlight hanging from the hip.
I bent over and picked it up before seeing if it would turn on. Once it turned on, I turned off the night vision of my mask before shining the light towards the cafe on the other side of the street. Moving the light towards the alleyway, I walked across the street and entered the alley.
I soon reached the center, seeing a cross way in the center. I flashed my light on each end, seeing nothing after hearing the crickets of silence.
I walked on the right pathway, this alleyway was littered with junk and scrap. I stopped and looked at the two buildings beside me. To my left was a very dirty window that was half boarded up, allowing me to see an abandon salon and to my left was a large hole in the wall.
Judging by the lack of bricks on my feet, this was a result of a break in. The building seemed like an old pawn shop, but by the looks of it, no one had looted anything from the place.
I then heard something running. Looking out at the streets, I couldn't see anything and turned around, intending to go back to my apartment, but stopped once again as I heard a can being kicked followed by a sound that is similar to a frog’s croak.
My eyes grew wide before breaking into a full sprint deeper into the alley, earning a screech from the monstrosity behind me. I heard it was closing it before tipping a trash can in its way, but heard it jump and with a side glance, I saw that it was on the wall still following me.
I managed to turn the corner just before it pounced, causing it to slam against the wall before quickly regaining its senses and continue the chase.
Once I ran out of the alley, I quickly spun around with the flashlight in hand before turning it on and began shining it on the monstrosity. I heard sizzling and its pained screech before dashing back into the alley.
I stood still waiting for the screeches to fade away into the distance. Once it did, I sighed before heading towards the fire escape.
“That was close.” I muttered under my breath as I climbed up the ladder. Once on the fire escape, I began going up the stairs.
Jace
“And this goes here and this goes there…” I muttered as I worked on a generator I found. I went exploring when I came back to the apartment, I headed down to the basement, that's surprisingly intact, and saw an old generator. Using the flashlight I found I took a look at it and saw some problems with it.
Sighing, I put the flashlight in my mouth and began working on it.
“And this should be do-AHH!” I yelled as the thing sparked once and began to hum. I stared at it for a bit before looking around some more, it seems that someone was going to do something and/or build something since there was some bricks, coal and an anvil. Seeing these things I knew that I could use them to build weapons.
I headed back up to the room and saw the light on. I turned and saw Ivan staring at me, again. “What?”
“Hasn't anyone taught you to not snoop in other people's home, especially nowadays.” He said. I tilted my head a bit.
“Nope.” I said as I settled down with the bag and pulled out the broken shotgun and started to fiddle with it. The outer case was busted, but the stuff inside was in good shape.
“Well, you shouldn't be, most of these things are ready to bust and trust me, I've looked for more.” He said as he placed the mask he wore on a table next to what looked like a car engine. I eyed it for a second before returning to my project.
“So… mind shedding some light on this ‘Ghost’ that one guy was talking about, now if you don't want to that's fine.” I asked without looking up.
“‘Ghost' is just a title. I was a part of an old group of ‘Ghosts' back when I was sixteen. We were a group of survivors that helped those in need. If anyone wanted a love one freed from the slavers, they’d contact us and we would delivered with little to no problem.” He said as he picked up an old monkey wrench.
“But then something happened.” I said as I pulled out an old radio and took it apart.
“Yeah, we were hunted down like animals by the infamous Blood Skullz. I'm the only one left and a bounty is on my head, but no matter how many patrols they sent or what weaponry they had, I will always be the last thing they'll never see.” He said as he began taking apart the engine.
I took the metal pole and made some mental calculations, I have everything to put it together, but not the equipment to put it together. Sighing, I put the pole down and started to that the other stuff out and took them apart as well, I have other plans for everything. Like landmines.
I looked out of the window and thought back to home, knowing that I would maybe not return scares me, but knowing me, I would just fall and get back in a dumb way, I looked back at Ivan.
“So you want me gone by tomorrow?” I asked him as I finished making my first trip mine, not a landmine but still.
“Your choice, not mine.” He answered after letting the wrench go and ripping something out of the engine. I eyed him for a second and went back to work.
“I think I might stick around, I get the feeling that things are going to become interesting.”
Author's Notes:
You know, I should put up a thing that says 'Will do crossovers and prequel to stories!' because I'm doing a lot of them :P
Anyway, another prequel chapter, well chapters since it was one giant chapter , with Legion.
If you see any errors, please comment on it so I can fix it, ty :)
See you in the next chapter :)
Take Me Down to Paradise City! Where life is dead and the people are shitty!
I moved through the streets at a brisk pace as I headed back to the apartment. It has been a few months since I arrived, but being here reminds me of my past with the zombies. Ivan calls them something else but I stuck with zombies.
I shifted the bag on my back a bit which had some unopened cans of food that I found and some rats strung up from my hunting. I turned the corner and saw one of the zombies walking around and rolled my eyes. I quietly sneaked up to it and decapitated it with my spear, yes a spear I found the equipment to build it. Ivan thought it was a stupid idea but I didn’t care, in the right hands, the spear came be deadly especially this one.
I got to the apartment and took my normal route, up the fire escape and into the building. I walked into the room and set the bag down on the counter. I looked and saw that Ivan wasn’t here. I put the cans away and put some in a place for emergencies when that’s done I looked around one last time and took my spear and flicked it a bit. The blade split open and revealed the barrel of a shotgun. I checked it if everything still worked and reset the spear. I went to a small table and began skinning the rats to make some jerky. I got through three and working on the last one went I heard the sound of footsteps. I had my spear close and slowed my skinning as the steps became louder.
“Why do you always do that?” I heard Ivan said as he entered. I sighed and resumed the last bit of skinning.
“Jerky last longer than most food and I found that smoker that works a while back, hate to not use it,” I said as I began making the jerky part.
“Right, anyways. I've gotten word from an old friend that there are two new scavengers out and about in the city.” He mentioned. I finished up the last bit and put the scraps into a bag of… well, rat hide. I turned to face Ivan.
“And we should be worried?” I asked him. He eyed me for a moment.
“Don't know but by the way, he mentioned them, it was as if they had appeared out of nowhere.” He answered. I stared at him for a minute, appeared out of nowhere? Like me?
“Maybe they are aliens,” I said. He groaned at me as I smiled.
“The one downside with you is that you have awful jokes.” He said to me. I shrugged as I took my spear and meat.
“Be back with more jerky,” I told him as I left the room. I headed two blocks down from the place until I came to an old building. Taking the window I went inside and searched for some boards when I found them I moved them out of the way and saw the smoker. It was in the corner of the building that I rigged that the smoke comes out of the building, it’s one way so no one can come in through the smoke hole.
I opened the smoker up and saw the jerky. I smiled and pulled out more wood chips and refill the tray and replaced the cooked ones with raw ones and reset the whole thing. Putting the border back and turned to leave when I heard something. I turned to the sound and looked around to see a wooden beam that was above me. I climbed up it and hid into the more shadowy part of it, I waited to see who is coming.
I saw two figures coming walking in. With the light coming in I saw that it was two females, one was younger than the other. The younger one have a purple shirt, and orange skirt. She also had black boots on as well. She had red and yellow hair and blue eyes. She also had a small backpack and a two-by-four in her hands.
The other was older with a black and green corset with black jeans and brown combat boots. She had tealish blue hair and green eyes. They look familiar to me, which I figured out when they started talking.
“You led us towards another scavenger.” I heard the older woman growl at the younger one.
“This place was empty, I swear.” Replied the younger woman with hate. I blinked at them. Really, it's Sunset and Chrysalis. How in the hell did they show up… Oh right nevermind. I pulled the walkie talkie out and click the button.
“Old building, two blocks down on the right side, with the red and green sign out front, found those two scavengers.” I said quietly. I put it away and watch them, time to mess with them.
I pulled out a rock from my pocket and threw it towards the door away from them. They heard it and spun around.
“Told you.” Chrysalis spat.
“I told you it was empty when I found it.” Sunset retorted.
“Whatever, be a good child and stay here I'll drive this scavenger out,” Chrysalis said as she walked out.
“Bitch,” Sunset said under her breath. She started to look around and walked towards the stuff covering the smoker. She placed a hand on it and moved it a bit. Oh no, you don't.
I dropped down quietly behind her and lean in. “Hello, Sunny.”
She spun around and swung the two-by-four, I caught it in one hand and grabbed her with the other.
“Ah ah ah, that's not nice, you see I have a few questions for you and bug breath,” I told her. She stared at me as I pulled the makeshift weapon out of her hands and pulled a cloth out. I quickly gagged her and tied her up. When that was done I took her weapon and threw it at some stuff, making a lot of noise.
I went and climbed the wall up to the roof. I saw Sunset watched me go with wide eyes as I waited, sure enough, bug breath came back.
“What was tha- what the hell happened to you!” she yelled at The tied up girl.
“Mhmm mhher!" Sunset tried to say with the gag in her mouth. Chrysalis sighed and walked over to her, Sunset shook her head at this. As soon as Chrysalis walked under me I dropped down behind her.
She spun around as I punched her, I pulled a knife and put it up to her neck. She stopped at this.
“Hello, poppet, nice to see you as I said to Sunny over there I have some questions for the two of you but we'll wait for my friend,” I said to her. I did the same thing to her as I did to Sunset and sat in front of them to wait. I saw they were glaring at me for the whole time.
Ivan
It had been a few months since Jace’s arrival and the Skullz attack. During these past few months, I had managed to get a good route towards the center of the city while Jace kept tinkering with a spear.
Of course, the Blood skullz wouldn't stop sending others to kill me, even after the first few warnings. After I had gone out at night again only a week after Jace’s arrival, nearly dying to the monstrosities. Jace had wondered what had taken me so long but the less anyone knows about those things the better.
Today was another average day for me. Get up, eat, take inventory then head out. Of course, I have extra things to do like make pathways across the roof of the building beside my apartment and to make sure that each building are clear of infected.
After setting a few planks of wood long enough to walk on, I had walked over to the other building before walking back, making sure that the wood could hold.
“Old building, two blocks down on the right side, with the red and green sign out front, found those two scavengers.” I heard Jace through the radio. I raised a brow before deciding to see for myself.
Walking towards the edge, I looked over the edge and saw that I was above the fire escape. Hopping over the edge, I landed on the fire escape before going down the stairs and jumping off before rolling on the floor to break the fall.
I had already wore my mask and hoodie as well has being armed with a Mp5 submachine gun, I didn't need to go to my room first. I broke into a full sprint, heading towards Jace’s location.
It had taken a bit of time but I had arrived at the building with the red and green sign. Once I neared the front door, I could hear muffled sounds.
I opened the door and was greeted with two women tied and gagged next to each other on the floor. Their attention were towards Jace before heading the loud creaking of the door opening. Their heads snapped towards my direction were surprised to see me.
“Am I interrupting something?” I asked, looking over to Jace
"Nope, not really just waiting for you so you can ask questions,” he said to me. I watched him as he went over to them and undid the gags.
“You bastard! Let us go!” the one with bacon hair yelled. Jace ignored her as he undid the others gag, she simply growled.
“There, now I don't think they are with the Blood skullz.” he said as he picked up his spear.
“Who are you and what are you doing in a place like this?” I asked the two of them.
“Who we are is none of your business.” The bacon haired girl answered with a growl. I frowned under my mask before taking a hold of the submachine gun hanging from the strap over my shoulder. I gave a quick look, making sure the girl saw it as well and she did. Her eyes showed fear.
“Really now? My little friend here says it is, you wouldn't want to get him upset, would you?” I asked her. I looked over at the other who just looked annoyed.
“Better answer him, he's not known for his patience.” I heard Jace say as he looked out of the street with his spear in hand. I don't understand why he has that thing, I tried to tell him to get rid of it since it doesn't help him in the long run but he said that since he made it he's going to use it and it has a surprise to it. I stopped asking after that. I heard a sigh from the green eyed one.
“I'm Chrysalis and she's Sunset.” Sunset glared at her as she rolled her eyes. “We're tied up and helpless so don't glare at me.”
“That answers the first question.” I said before straightening back up. “But what are you doing in a place like this?” I asked them again before letting my MP5 hang loosely by the strap.
"That depends, you mean right now, some time ago, or in general, because right now we're tied up answering questions, some time ago looking for a place to stay, in general… what do you think.” Sunset said. I chuckled a bit before saying anything else.
“You don't know what lurks around these streets, do you?” I asked her. The two looked at one another for a moment.
“... Others like you." Sunset said.
“Speaking of others, we got company," Jace said. I walked over to see a couple of runners just across the street. Jace immediately got down onto the floor while I kept looking out.
I slowly crouched down while hiding behind the wall. I took another look just as the Runners looked back the way they came before hearing a gurgled roar. After they heard the roar, the runners quickly ran into the alley across the street.
“That… doesn’t sound good.” Jace said.
“Carrier. We need to move, now.” I said to him. Jace nodded as I looked down the street. I stepped out of the building for a second when…
“Hey, what are you doing!?!” I heard Sunset yelled. I turned to see Jace picking the other two up. I raised an eyebrow as he frowned.
“Don't care what you think I'm not leaving these two here.” He said. I sighed before looking outside.
“Then we need to go out the back.” I said before closing the door and making my way towards the back. I stopped then looked back, seeing Jace holding onto the two women. “Cut their legs loose, otherwise they'll just be dead weight.” I said before finally reaching the door.
Jace
When I was on earth I used to watch zombie movies with some of my friends, now I feel like I’m in one. The four of us went out the back into the alleyways and headed back to the apartment, the only problem was that there was a horde of zombies out on the streets. We ran all around but we were boxed in so we climbed a fire escape to the roof of a building. As we got there I looked down into the streets, holy shit.
“Well, that’s just plain terrifying,” I said as I looked at the horde. I saw one of them were much bigger than the rest. “I guess that’s the Carrier, if so then like a friend of mine would say ‘That’s one ugly son of a bitch.’”
“There's another way in through the subway. I had managed to make a tunnel through the basement, the only downside is that the nearest entrance is about a few miles southeast.” I heard Ivan explain.
“A few miles! Through that!!” Sunset said as she pointed at the horde.
“Got a better idea? Because we’re all ears at the moment.” I said to her. She simply stared at me in silence. “I thought so.”
“Let's go if we hurry we'll be back before nightfall.” Ivan said before walking back towards the fire escape. I looked back in time just as he jumped across to another building. Sunset and Chrysalis watched that happened and looked over the edge.
‘Great I don’t believe they will jump over.’ I thought.
“Then why not you?” a voice said. I blinked and looked around.
‘The hell was that?!’
“A voice in your head, dipshit.” it replied. I frowned at this.
‘Okay, that’s rude.’
“This isn’t a good time to be talking about this, you better get moving.” I looked over and saw Ivan already two buildings away. I rolled my eyes and grabbed the other two. I backed up a bit to give me a running start. I hit the edge and jumped off it, landing on the other side without slowing down. I smiled and continued to follow Ivan.
After roof jumping, for some time we finally found the entrance to the subway. I had to carry the other two all the way which oddly I didn’t feel tired, is my magic slowly coming back? Are these Rifts leaking magic into this world? I looked up to the sky and saw that the sun was setting.
“Alright, I hate to say this but what’s down in the subway? Because I’m getting a bad feeling about the subway.” I said to Ivan as I pulled my bag of jerky out, I handed one to Ivan and the other two. Chrysalis took one but Sunset didn’t, she looks a bit green at the sight of them. I shrugged and took one out and started to eat it… it’s gamey.
“The subways are contaminated with the virus, making the air inside toxic.” Ivan said as he took off his mask. “So wearing a mask is the safe way to go.” He said as he handed me the mask. He then started rummaging around his back before pulling out two more masks.
“These are my last two masks, so don't break ‘em.” He said as He helped put both Sunset and Chrysalis with the masks. I looked at the mask he gave me and the other two.
“Oh hell no I’m not going to take the only thing to keep you alive,” I said as I handed the mask back. Ivan put his hand on the mask.
“I won't need it.” He said, pushing the mask back. I eyed him for a second looked at the mask. I sighed and put it on.
“So… how do I look?” I asked. Ivan groaned, I leaned in a bit. “You’re hiding something, I understand you don’t want to talk about it, everyone has secrets.”
“I will explain later, we need to move before-” Ivan was cut off by a distant howl. Eyes wide, He looked around but saw nothing.
“That, okay let’s go.” I finished him. I went over to the other two and picked them up. “Next stop, evil subway of DOOM!”
With that said I ran and jumped off the roof of the building and landed in front of the entrance of the subway. I looked back and saw Ivan followed behind as I put down my passengers.
“Don’t do that again.” Sunset said to me. I chuckled as I looked over at Ivan.
“Lead on fearless leader.”
“Once we get to the tracks, make sure you have the air canister clicked on,” Ivan said before taking out a flashlight. Another howl was heard behind us.
“Let's go,” Ivan said as he continued deeper into the subway. The three of us followed behind with me in the back with my spear. I heard a third howl coming much closer.
“Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope, soooooo much nope.” I said as I walked down into the subway.
We headed through the subway and got to the tracks. I checked if the air canister was on, after that we jumped onto the tracks and headed down them. As we walked down the tunnel I saw that there was a sorta mist in the air. I guess that’s the virus. I did notice Ivan breathing it in as if it was just normal air.
“Much as it’s it really nothing I don’t think we should breathe that in.” I heard the voice again.
‘Yeah, I don’t think I would like being a zombie.’ I thought back.
“What? No I mean if we inhale that stuff we’ll be really weak.” It said back. I was somewhat confused by this.
‘What do you mean?’
“As you know this stuff would turn humans and animals into those monsters we saw before right?” it started to explain.
‘Yeah?’
“Well we’re not human.” It simply said. I thought about it for a second.
‘How am I not human?’ I asked.
“Your fight with the Moon Presence.” it answered. Oh… OHHHH.
‘Right.’ I replied as I continued walking. We walked for about twenty minutes until we stopped, I moved up front to see what’s up, I got there and saw… a pig.
I slowly looked at Ivan as he looked at me, I ready my spear as he did with his rifle.
“What’s wrong with you two, it’s just a pig.” Sunset said.
“Really… really you just said that.” Chrysalis said. Before anything else was said, a rat had ran passed from under me before stopping just ahead of the pig. The rat had begun nibbling while the pig got closer.
Once the pig stopped, it did something I least expected.
Its head split in half, revealing a large fanged mouth before pouncing on the rat, devouring it with ease before the head reformed. No one said a thing at what just happened, a minute or so later I turned my spear into it’s second from.
“Nope!!!” both me and Ivan yelled as we unloaded on it. After a full minute of that we stopped and saw that the pig has more holes than it needed, oh and no head, legs and back as well.
“Pigs! Why always pigs, they are either multi-eyed ones or… or that!” I ranted.
“I’d rather not ask.” I heard Ivan mutter under his breath before shining the light forwards and continued on. I looked back and saw the other two staring at me.
“Don’t ask, just. Don’t.” I said to them. They walked in front of me and we all continued on. We kept walking for what I can guess is a few hours in silence until…
“Are we there yet.” Sunset said. I frowned at her, god is she this whiny in my world?
“No. We're not, isn't it obvious enough?” Ivan retorted. Chrysalis fell back towards me as the other two started fighting.
“You’re not as bother by this whole thing at all?” she asked.
“I seen a lot of shit in my life, I should say that to you.” I replied.
“I've seen my fair share of bloodshed but this...this, unlike anything I've ever seen.” Chrysalis said. I nodded before looking over to Ivan, seeing him standing still with Sunset looking at him weirdly.
“Hey, you arli-”
“Shh, listen.” He whispered. We stood in silence but nothing was heard, Sunset was about to say something but stopped as we heard it. Frog-like croaks were heard just ahead of us. We have seen a pig I really don't want to see what the frogs are.
“Shit.” Ivan whispered. Sunset didn't say a word, probably not wanting to make the situation worse. I grip my spear and looked at Chrysalis, I nodded to the other two to get closer.
“Keep quiet. They can't see or smell you.” Ivan said before walking slowly. I squinted my eyes a bit, seeing a shadowy figure standing in the middle of the tracks.
Ivan had picked up a rock before throwing it further down the tunnel. The figures head snapped towards the direction the rock went before walking towards it.
“What is that?” Sunset whispered. I looked over at Ivan, seeing his once green eyes a bloodshot red.
“No one knows but people had started calling it Monstrosity.” He answered. He took a deep breath before looking at us.
“We can't move on with that in our way,” Ivan whispered. I cocked a brow under the mask before asking him.
“Why not just kill it where it stands?” I asked him. He looked at me with an unamused look.
“If it was that easy, I would've killed it already but it's not. That thing can't be killed with bullets.” Ivan said.
“Great~” I groaned quietly. Another croak was heard in front of us and out from the darkness another had appeared but because it was dark, I could only see the silhouette. Then another croak followed by more and more.
I didn't know how but it was as if they surrounded us.
“The tunnel is located inside a maintenance room next to a small generator.” He began to explain before looking at me.
“I have a plan, just keep quiet and hold still,” Ivan said before straightening up into a standing position.
“What's the pla-” I was cut off by Ivan firing his submachine gun upwards. He then looked at me.
“Keep quiet and don't move until it's clear.” He said before running back the way we came, firing his gun as he did. The creatures around us immediately got all fours before breaking into full sprints.
They howled as they sprinted by us. The howling continued but slowly became distant and so did the gunfire. I watched them chase after Ivan as he and the rest disappeared.
“Let’s move.” I said to the other two. We continued on into the tunnel, I could still hear the gunfire going off for some time until it stopped. As we walk I saw Sunset look back at me at times, after the fifth time I got annoyed.
“You got a question to ask.” I said to her. She jumped a bit at what I said.
“Why did he do that? Using himself as a distraction, I mean.” She asked. I stared at her for a moment and thought about it.
“I can think of many reasons but I really don’t know him that well.” I replied. Sunset stopped walking and looked at me.
“You don’t know him, why don’t you know him?!” she asked.
“I never pry into someone's life unless they allow me to, but jumping topics what got you all pissed off, you sound like someone showed you something you wanted but ripped it away from you.” I said to her. Even with the mask, I saw her face became angry.
“That's none of your business.” She said. I stared at her for a moment and did something dumb.
“Well I’m making it my business, I didn’t say anything due to Ivan but now he’s not here, how did you get here?” I looked over at Chrysalis. “Both of you.”
“I went through the mirror portal.” Sunset answered. I looked at the former queen.
“I had found what could be best described as a rift. I was desperate to get away from everything and went through it.” She answered. That made me raise an eyebrow, a rift huh.
“Well, aren’t you going to laugh or call us crazy?” Sunset said to me. I stared at her for a bit.
“Why would I laugh, you’re one of Tia’s students until you became a spoiled brat.” I said as I began to walk.
“W-wait what!” Sunset yelled. I continued walking until I saw the generator. I got to it and looked around and found the door to the place. It was a big metal door that looks like it can stand up to a hit from a cannon. I grabbed the handle and pushed, hard, to open the door. After that I moved so the other two can get into the room, I walked in and closed the door while pointing my flashlight into the room. I saw what I can guess is the tunnel Ivan made to the apartment. I nodded to it.
“That should lead you to the safe house.” I told them.
“What are you going to do?” Chrysalis asked.
“I’m going to stay here and wait for Ivan for a bit, I’ll be up in a few.” I said to them. I turned to the door but stopped. “If you two take our stuff and bail you’ll find out I’m a lot scarier than these things.”
With that said I went out of the door and waited outside of it. I clicked my flashlight off and leaned onto the wall to wait.
Ivan
Running can take a lot out of someone, especially when their current attire consist of a hoodie, torn jeans and some old shoes not mention having a heavy bag. Despite all that, I could still run a marathon and back, at least when these things are chasing me.
I had used myself as a distraction after seeing no other way to reach the tunnel. I had initially used the MP5 to gain their full attention but after the first seven minutes, I had ran out of ammo and resorted to just yell at them.
Quickly rounding up another turn, leading me to one of the many service tunnels. I had taken out my flashlight before looking back in time to see one pounce.
I had dodged its pounce, making it hit one of the many pipes around the tunnel. Looking back again, this time, I had turned on the flashlight and shone the light at each of the monstrosities, allowing me to its true appearance.
They let out pained screeches as tried backing away. One of them let out a growl at me before being shone by the light, earning a pained screech from it as well.
“Come on you faceless fucks, afraid of a little light.” I mocked them as I slowly backed up. Each time one got closer, they’d be hit by the light. My back was against the wall, next to me was a lever with a warning on it. I knew what it was for, I only just hope this works, if even for just a moment.
I quickly took hold of the lever and flipped it back up, causing it to spark before the light of the tunnel turned on. As each light activated, the monstrosities were growing weaker.
I pulled out a combat knife with the intent to finish the job. Grabbing the nearest one, I jammed the knife into its open maw. I twisted the knife before pulling back out, spilling blood on the floor and knife. I walked towards another and did the same. Then another and another, this went on for at least five minutes before I had finished.
Looking down at one of the corpses, I placed my boot on its head before smashing under the soles of my boot. I let out an audible grunt before heading back.
It had taken longer than I had hoped to get back, I must be suffering from the loss of the adrenaline. With tiredness setting in, I had started yawning but ignored my own tiredness and pressed on.
After finally seeing the area I had initially ran from, I knew I was getting close. After a few more steps, I had squinted to see through the dark before noticing Jace leaning against the wall.
“I thought you’d be at the apartment by now,” I said to him. Jace looked over at me and shrugged.
“Let’s say that if you were running like hell you would need someone to open the door quickly.” he said.
“Right,” I said before opening the door. I walked in before Jace. After Jace walked in, he closed the door behind him.
“So… what the hell were those things?” he asked.
“They're known as Monstrosities. Tall, faceless and slender like humanoid infected with little to no resemblance to a normal human. They're something you would avoid at all cost.” I answered.
“Right, thanks for the info.” He looked over at the tunnel. “So what are your thought’s on the other two?”
“That is a question best asked at another time,” I told him as we began walking through the tunnel. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious.” he said. He looked at me and pointed at the mask. “You want this back?”
“Yeah,” I said, being reminded by my lack of mask. Jace reached up and pulled the mask off. He turned it in his hand as he pulled his mask that covered his mouth and nose. I saw his eyes narrow as if he was frowning.
“Never like these kinds of masks, always feels uncomfortable.” He said as he handed the mask back.
“Being comfortable doesn't work out here, you know that,” I told him. He chuckled a bit.
“I know,” he said. I rolled my eyes knowing that he was grinning. “I just prefer this kind of mask.”
“Come on. We need to hurry before the two of them break something.” I said as I sped up. I heard Jace follow behind with some heavy steps. As a few minutes past I heard a muffled howling sound coming from above, I stopped to listen. It… wasn’t anything that I heard before, I turned and saw Jace was listening as well but his face didn’t look as confused.
“What was that?” I asked him. He looked at me for a moment before answering.
“I don’t know but when we get up there I’m going to take a look.” He said. I stared at him before resumed walking. I heard him mutter something under his breath before I saw something familiar.
It was the hatch that led to the basement. I ran up to it before opening the hatch and climbing out. I looked around and smirked, seeing the basement.
“Let's go see what was making that noise,” I told Jace as he climbed out.
Jace
Entering through the basement we headed up to see if the other two haven't taken everything and left, lucky they didn't. Chrysalis was sitting by the window looking out into the night while Sunset was staring up at the ceiling. As we came in both heads turned to us.
Both stared with eyes and mouth agape. Following their gaze, I saw that they were looking at Ivan. With the small glance, I had noticed Ivan’s eyes were green again.
Whatever was said between the group was ignored and headed to my little area of the place, a work bench with a chair near the far corner. I went over and open one of the draws, I pulled out a few more shotgun rounds, and two of my creations that I made while I was here, a noise maker and a stake bomb. What? You never know when you need one. I felt someone tap me on the shoulder as I put the bomb into my pocket, I turned to see Ivan standing there.
“What are you doing?” He asked.
“Being paranoid,” I told him as I walked towards the door to leave. I heard him follow so I didn’t stop him from coming.
“What's making you so paranoid?” He asked. We move downstairs and headed outside.
“Everything, throughout my life I was always paranoid about everything and in those times it saved my life.” I looked over at him. “With that howl, it made me very paranoid.”
I went to the building across the street and climbed the fire escape, when I got there I heard Ivan follow behind. We jumped from rooftop to rooftop as we traveled towards the howling, as we did I saw down on the street blood splatters and some body parts laying around. We came to an edge of a building and crouched down. I peeked over and saw something that I didn’t want to see.
… What the living fuck was that? It looked like something from a horror movie. The only thing I saw that looked familiar was that it had a deformed head of a dog and it’s movements looked a lot like the werewolves that I hunted back home. Did one came through a rift and started eating people, even the zombies? If so the virus did an ungodly number onto it.
“What the fuck,” Ivan said as he walked up to the edge. I watched the beast as it ate whatever it got and let out another howl. It then started to smash it’s head on the wall, is it fighting the virus? Or trying to??
“So… remember what I said when we first met?” I asked him without taking my eyes off the beast.
“No.” He answered in a flat tone.
“Okay, luckily I do but to keep it short I didn’t lie to you I just… never told you the full truth.” I explained. I looked over at him as he was staring at him. “If I told you the full thing right there you would've thought that I was crazy.”
“Get to the point.” He said, eyes narrowing. I rolled my eyes.
“I’m from another world with magic and monsters and I lived ten plus lifetimes, know think about what you would've done if I straight up told you that.” I deadpanned. I turned and saw the beast was moving more into the alleyway but shook its head and smashed its head onto the wall.
“... We'll talk later, right now we should worry about that thing.” He said after a brief moment of silence. I nodded as I looked at the beast. It was moving its head back and forth a few times, I narrowed my eyes until it hit me.
“Ahh shit, this is not good,” I said.
“What do you mean?” Ivan said as the beast turned and looked around then at us.
“It know’s we’re here,” I said as I grabbed Ivan and pulled him back. It roared and jumped onto the roof. I pushed Ivan back and ready myself.
“Get back, I’ll distracted until you get a good shot,” I said as I charged at the beast. It roared again and took a swipe at me. I rolled under it and start stabbing it with my spear, I got a few hits in but they weren’t that deep. It tried to squash me with its body, I pulled away and turned my spear into its second form. I aimed and fired a few times but saw that it just pissed it off.
It roared again but the sound of a gunshot made it jerk its head. Ivan, now a few buildings away, was sniping the beast. It growled and began to move towards him but I got it’s attention with a few rounds of my spear. It swiped at me again but I dodge it by rolling to the side, only to hit me again with its backhand/claw, thing and sent me into a neighbor building.
I went through a few walls and floors and stopped at a big pile of rubble. Ow~.
I shook my head and looked around to see two or three big oil tanks, tapping them I heard and they were somewhat full with whatever. A plan formed as the beast crashed into the building and roared.
“I hope this works,” I muttered as I looked up at the roof. I start shooting at it, and reloading, and re-fired at it. The beast charged at me as I shot the last one and heard the beast groan, I rolled underneath it and jabbed the bomb onto its stomach, I uh think, and booked it out of there. It roared again but the sound of the place falling on top of it, I started to climb the building and just booked it away. I saw Ivan standing a few buildings away.
“RUN RUN RUN RUN!!!!!!” I yelled as I got to him, passed him, and jumped onto another building. About fifteen seconds passed as the building that was there exploded as a loud roar was heard from miles. I turned to the blast and saw the place burn.
“Yeah, there’s no way it could live through that,” I said. I sat down and stared at the fire, then started to laugh.
“Come on, you can laugh back at the apartment,” Ivan said as he turned around. I chuckled for a bit and got up and followed him back.
After some time we got to the roof of the apartment. I looked over at Ivan as I sat down on a box. “Well, I guess you have questions.”
“Why didn't you tell me sooner?” Ivan asked. I just stared at him.
“Let’s see, it was mostly the fact that you would have thought I was crazy and shot me in the head,” I told him. “Again, me being paranoid.”
“Like you aren't already crazy.” He retorted. I smiled at him.
“You have to be insane to understand the insane,” I said.
“I've spent the majority of my life living in this hell hole and witnessed the only ones I could call my friends be slaughtered, not to mention living alone for at least five years,” Ivan said. I nodded knowing the feeling very well.
“Well you have the other two to befriend, all I can say is that they have the same thing as me, not from this world I mean, but with some tough reality will help them,” I said looking up at the sky. The clouds moved and I saw the stars and moon.
“Come on, time to eat,” Ivan said before entering through the roof access door.
I looked up at the sky again and stared for a bit until I got up. I headed to the door until I stopped and looked out to the city. If the werewolf came through a rift then maybe I'll find another one and head back.
I sighed at this. “Knowing me, it will pop up at the odd time.”
Next Chapter: Story time! Pass the jerky. Estimated time remaining: 7 Hours, 39 MinutesAuthor's Notes:
This chapter was a bit more of a pain to deal with, something went weird from the transfer...
Anyway here's another chapter for you all :). if you see an error please leave in the comments so I can fix it :)
See you all in the next chapter :)