Bond’s between worlds ch 6

By Foxgear

Nico’s and Applejane’s age, 36, Mac’s age 12, Applejack age 10, Applebloom age 5

(Nico’s Log, June 21, 2005)

It’s been awhile since I reported in. A lot happened over the years. Firstly, I got married, in like 1992. My first child, Big Macintosh was born in 1993, and sweet Luna I was not ready for that. I never spent a lot of times with the foals back home, so I was a bit underprepared for a child. Luckily my sweet Applejane was there with me. She knew what she was doing. So much so that we had another child in 1995, a girl this time, Applejane named her Applejack.

The name threw me for a loop. I have a hard time warping my head around my daughter sharing the same name as one of my Commanders back home. It’s kind of weird.

Anyway, life got a little more chaotic with those two little tykes around. Days were long and exhausting and so were the nights. I still hunted monsters when I could, but I’ve had to enlist some help from my friend, and the best man at my wedding, Ferocious. He and his friend Stryker Six have been taking on my duties a lot recently. I’m a little worried that it’s hurting Ferocious’s relationship with Luna.

In 1999 Bailey and Granny Smith and Washington moved out of the farmhouse, letting me and Applejane move in and take over the farm. The two moved to a smaller farm closer to town. Granny caring for her father as his health had been in decline. Uncle Crab Apple moved away after getting hitched to an orange farming gal a year earlier.

A year later Applejane and I had our third child, another girl, Applebloom. She is an adorable little thing. I cherish every day I spent with my three little ones.

I hope they never end.

End of Nico’s log)

Nico stared at the newspaper, his eye fixated on the headline. Another missing person, a young girl, about sixteen years old by the name of Frost has been reported missing by her school and the foster home where she stayed. This would mark the sixth foster child to disappear in the past two months. The previous two had been named Terra and Vines. They disappeared last month.

A plate of eggs and bacon floated in front of his face, his wife leaned in and kissed his cheek as she set his breakfast and a cup of coffee down on the table. Her smile bright and warm. A severe contrast to his scowl and frown.

“What’s eating you up, Honey?” Applejane asked craning her neck to get a glimpse of the paper. Her smile dampening when she saw the headline. “Oh, another poor child missing again. It’s scary how often this happens.”

“Yeah,” He agreed gruffly as his eyes fell on his three children laughing carelessly as they played with their pancakes. His fingers tightened, nearly ripping the paper as he thought of someone taking his children. His blood boiled at the mere thought of it, he could feel his fangs aching his gums, growing with his anger. His magic got hard to control when he was angry. Taking a deep breath, he calmed down, his magic settling and his fangs returned to their normal size.

“Daddy! Look at the funny face!” Applejack squealed in delight as she held up her pancake cut up in a smiley face. He smiled at her as he refolded the paper, tossing the depressing news aside for now. It was summer and his kids were on summer break from school. He didn’t need to sour their day with adult things like this. Let the world be all rainbows and smiling pancakes because some day it wouldn’t be.

“That’s nice AJ, now eat your food. We got a lot of work to do today.”

“Is Uncle Feri coming over today?” She asked as she struck her fork with her pancake, taking the whole thing at once and tried to eat it off the fork. Of course, it was a mess in progress. The syrup was already running down her chin.

Feri was Applejack’s name for Ferocious. She many got it from Luna, who was always calling him that. Now that he thought about it, Applejack probably didn’t know Ferocious’s full name or if she did, couldn’t say it properly. That drawl she got from her mother had her taking speech lessons. Not that they were helping.

“We’ll see. Depends if he gets his own stuff done first.”

“Aww,” Applejack saw slouching on the table. “I was hoping he’d give me a ride on his bike again.”

From the kitchen sink, the sound of plates being dropped into the water caught everyone’s attention as Applejane stood with her back stiff. She turned around her eyes small and vicious looking.

“Ferocious gave you a ride on what?”

“His bike! The one like daddy’s that goes vroom, vroom!” Applejack said reeving her hands. It really didn’t help the twitch in his wife’s eye as her gaze fell on him.

“Nico…”

“Well would you look at that Big Mac, it’s time for chores. Can’t keep the horses and cattle waiting, can we?” Nico said as he hurriedly slipped on his boots under his wife’s intense frown. He looked over to Mac, who was struggling to pull on his own smaller and in his wife’s words, adorable, boots. Whatever they were called, they were keeping him tethered, so nuisance was his name for them.

“Oh, come on Janie, we let the kids ride horses by themselves. They’re just as safe on a bike.”

“I trust Abi and Booster, I don’t trust that machine.”

“You didn’t seem to mind riding last week.” Nico countered, to which Applejane’s lips curled as she huffed and turned away. He just landed himself in the doghouse with that one. Luckily, he knew how to get out that. “Kids, go outside and play, Macintosh go wait by the truck. I’ll be a few minutes.”

The kids scurried out of the house, leaving the two adults alone. Calmly Nico set his hands on Applejane’s shoulders and began to rub them. “If you really don’t like Ferocious giving them rides, I won’t let them ride. Does that sound good?”

Applejane turned around, breaking free of the massage, she glared at him, pouting, “As long as you guys don’t ride around too fast, no faster than a horse. Got it?”

“That’s all we do anyway,” He smiled placing a kiss on her forehead, “I gotta go, I’ll see you at dinner.”

Striding out the door Nico climbed in the pickup and drove off with Big Mac in tow.

After checking on the cattle pastured out between the Apple’s and Cherry’s land. The cattle were a side project to earn some more cash in the winter months. Nico decided to go to town to pick up a few things.

Walking down main street Nico watched Mac shyly trail beside him. A grin spread on his face as he watched his son’s eyes dart towards Cake’s bakery, Sugar cube Corner. Checking the time Nico concluded dinner was far enough away that a little treat wouldn’t spoil it.

“Don’t tell your mother now, but you also have to pick out some treats for your sisters.” He said firmly, getting an excited nod from Mac. His son didn’t talk much. It was just the way he was.

Walking into the bakery Nico watched as Mac’s eyes lit up at the sight of all the delicious treats. He let the young boy loose with a five-dollar bill, knowing he would behave himself, while he got himself some coffee. The usual old folks already had their spots for the morning. Bailey being one of them.

“Mr. Bailey,” Nico said respectfully as he sat down.

The wizened old man gave him a soft grunt, “Nearly twelve years after marrying my daughter and you still won’t call me father. What a card my son in law is, right fella’s?” Bailey jested, earning a chorus of chuckles from the gathered elderly. Mac joined them at the table, in his hands was a honeymooner, Applejane’s favorite treat and Mac’s. The young boy looked embarrassingly away from the older folks for his choice of treat.

The preferred choice for the elderly group was a plain glaze or turnover, Apple turnover if you were Bailey.

Ruffling his son’s hair Nico pushed Bailey’s mug aside to reveal a honeymooner hidden behind it.

“So, that’s where they get it from.” Nico joked, earning a laugh from the other old folks at Bailey’s expense. Bailey just huffed and sipped his coffee.

“What? An old man can’t try something new anymore?” Bailey grumbled snarking down the crème covered treat in record time, followed by a long gulp of coffee. “Are you drinking coffee yet young man?” Bailey said gesturing towards Mac, who shyly leaned closer to his father.

“Not yet, Grandpa Bailey, Mama say’s I’m too young.”

“Bah, I had you Mama drinking by the cup when she was ten! Get a good cup of mud in ya and you’ll have hair on your chest and a pair of stones so large you won’t be able to swim straight! A little whiskey added will kick the shyness right out of ya too!” Bailey bellowed loudly with a booming laugh.

Nico shook his head as he let his father in law ramble on. This was a common occurrence. It might as well be routine now. Midway through Bailey’s retelling of his adventures with the ever-famous Colonel Hunter Gathers. Nico checked his watch, reading ten thirty, Nico figured he and Mac best be going.

“We’ll have to finish another time. Mac and I have some other errands to run this morning.” Nico got up, drowning the last of his coffee and slamming the mug on the table. “See ya around Bailey, don’t be afraid to come visit sometime.”

“Same to you son, it’s not going to kill you to visit either.”

Nico smiled and nodded, “Noted.”

--break

“One drive chain, a new muffler, crankshaft, and one front and back tire. That’ll be eight hundred fifty-eight dollars and thirty-nine cents, Mr. Vega.” The store clerk of the Harley Davidson store said ringing up the bill.

A while ago Nico bought an old motorcycle from one of Ferocious’s associates. It was meant to be a side project he and Mac could work on together. Now it was turning into a money pit. Thank god Applejane don’t know about it. The bike as of now was over a three-thousand-dollar project in parts alone.

“Thanks, Drive Train, have a good day,” Nico said lumping the smaller items into Mac’s arms while taking the heavier parts himself. “We’ll drive around back for the tires.”

“Of course, thank you for your business, Mr. Vega.” The clerk waved as they exited the store.

Packing up the tires Nico checked his watch for what must be the tenth time this morning. It was eleven now, they should really be on their way home, but there was one more stop that had to be made. Climbing into the truck Nico made his way to a certain bar across town.

“You just stay in the cab Mac, I’ll only be a few minutes,” Nico told his son while rolling down the windows. “Don’t talk to strangers and all that stuff. Honk the horn if there’s trouble.” Mac nodded absent mindedly, too busy playing with his transformer toy. Nico let out a sigh as he shut the door and walked to the front of the bar. A group of rough looking bikers hung around the entrance smoking.

“Anyone you don’t know goes near that truck, break their legs,” he told the group. The big man in the center saluted as Nico walked inside.

Swan’s bar, Swan being Ferocious’s mother, hasn’t changed much since the first time he walked into it over twelve years ago. It was probably violating some sort of health or building code, but good luck trying to get anyone from city hall to come to this place. The bar also acted as the VFW for the town, so there was a lot of looking the other way done by the elected officials in the name of keeping their positions.

Walking to the Biker club side of the bar Nico was greeted by many familiar faces he’s come to recognize over the years. Like that one long bearded guy he was sure lived in the booth he was sitting in, Lazy Dan, the president of the club Del Moore Rio, and Stryker Six who was manning the bar today.

“Ferocious here?” He asked the blue haired man.

Stryker looked at him with tired eyes and pointed an ashen finger to the stairs, “Boss is in the same place he always is at this hour. Have fun waking his lazy ass up.” Nico tipped his hat and climbed the stairs.

About three years ago Ferocious gained ownership of the bar after the passing of his mother, Swan, it had been Nico’s first human funeral of someone he knew. Her passing had been peaceful. She died in her sleep after locking up the bar one night. A bottle of jack on the desk and a cigarette in her hand. Her lighter on the floor. So at least she didn’t burn the bar down at the end. That probably would have made her mad, if not for the dying first part. At least she was with Lon. Where ever ponies from Equestria end up in this world.

(That’s a good question. Do we go to this world’s version of the great beyond or our own, or is there just one big universal place we all go? Also, what form do you take? Will they be ponies or humans?)

Too confusing to think about right now, also he was at the top of the stairs.

“Hey Feri, you up yet?” He knocked loudly, receiving no answer. Rather than trying fruitlessly again Nico entered the office. And immediately wished he didn’t. Ferocious wasn’t alone up here. Curled up beside the red skinned man was the very contrasting blue and naked form of Luna, Ferocious’s girlfriend and one of Applejane’s best friends.

The thin white sheets laying over the couple did little to hide their bare bodies, so Nico back stepped out of the room. Each creek and crack sounding like thunder to his ears. A low groan escaped from Luna’s lips as the couple rustled beneath the blankets. Her eyelids fluttering open to reveal her teal eyes.

She stared at him and then looked herself. Her eyes shot open and she let out a terribly loud eek! Jumping over Ferocious’s muscled form, flashing her bare bottom to Nico as she crawled behind her boyfriend for cover.

Ferocious rolled over, his eyes half open and disinterested. “Hey, bud.” Was all he said before seemingly falling back to sleep. Nico waited a moment knowing what was going to happen and as sure as he could set his watch Ferocious’s eyes snapped open in surprise.

“Nico!”

“Now you wake up! What do I need to do? Shoot a gun? Have you ever heard of this neat little thing called an alarm clock?”

“Har, har, very funny Nico,” Ferocious groaned rising up in bed. His blankets hiding his shame or pride depending on who you asked. “And yes, I do have an alarm clock it’s right over… there…” The alarm clock lay thrown across the room in a million pieces. “Well, I guess that’s what that ringing was this morning. What time is it?”

“11:30 am,” Nico replied, showing his watch.

Ferocious let out a string of curses, “Shit, sorry man, get out of here for a minute and let me and Lunie get dressed. I’ll be right with you. Tell Stryker to get some steaks on the grill for me. I’m fucking hungry. (SLAP!) Ouch! What’s that for woman?”

“Don’t cuss so much!” Luna scolded. “I’ve picked enough bad habits from you already! I don’t need to start cussing in front of my students because of you!”

“I don’t see how this involves me.” Ferocious retorted earning another slap. “Better make that five minutes, Nico. There might be some angry morning sex to go with that steak.”

“Urgh! I don’t know why I love you sometimes!” Luna screamed in frustration as she gave Ferocious another slap.

Ferocious merely laughed at the hit, “Well, I know why I love you and I don’t even have a degree in anything. Told you college would rot your brain.”

“The only thing rotting my brain is the bottles of Jack and James!”

Nico wisely decided to sit out their little squabble and left the room. He might as well call Applejane and tell her they were going to miss dinner. She was not going to be happy when he got home. Sitting at the bar he ordered Ferocious’s steak and a hamburger for himself. He then went to the door and called for Mac to come to inside.

“Order whatever you want, looks like we’ll be eating here today,” Nico told him marching towards the pay phone in the corner. “Stryker, got some change?”

Stryker threw a hand full of quarters at him, the blue haired biker’s face scrunched up as Nico inserted the coins into the phone, “Don’t you have a cell phone yet? Swear you and the Boss are still living in the nineties.”

“The nineties were only five years ago. Nothings really changed.” Nico countered, to which Stryker sighed and walked away.

“Whatever, don’t come to me next time you need your computer fixed.”

Ignoring him Nico dialed in the number for home. Explaining to Applejane that he and Mac would be eating at Ferocious’s. She wasn’t happy. Understandable as she went through the trouble of making them dinner. Course she always made too much anyway. It just meant more leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

“You two going to be home before supper?” Applejane asked on the other end of the line.

“We should be. I didn’t mean to miss dinner, but I have some things I need to talk to Ferocious about and well you know Ferocious.”

“He was still asleep when you found him?”

“And Luna,” He added with a chuckle.

“I bet she wasn’t happy about that,” Applejane said with controlled laughter. “Almost wish you would have gotten a picture. Then I could show to Celestia and I could really see a show. Tia scolds Luna like my mother did me, it’s not fun being on the end of her scorn, but it’s fun to watch.”

“I bet Hun. I’ll see ya at supper, sorry again.” He hung up the phone and took his seat at the bar next to Mac. Their orders come a few minutes later with Ferocious coming down in time for his. Luna also joined them briefly but quickly ran back upstairs when she saw Mac sitting with them. She hadn’t been wearing the most children friendly clothes, namely short shorts and a cut up Tee shirt that barely reached past her breasts. She returned a few minutes later wearing jeans and a black tank top that was obviously Ferocious’s.

“Hi, Auntie Luna!” Mac said excitedly waving to the high school teacher. Both Luna and her sister Celestia went to college for education and taught at their old high school, Canterlot High, the town rumor was both sisters were going for the Principle and Vice Principle positions. They would be the youngest in the history of Canterlot if they got the jobs.

Which made Luna’s dating Ferocious, a biker bar owner, a very career hazardous relationship.

“Hi, Big Mac, enjoying your summer vacation?” The young apple boy nodded vigorously with the brightest smile that only a child could make. “That’s good. I hope you're excited for next year. Are you ready for the seventh grade?”

“You bet! That means you’ll be my teacher, right?”

“Principle, hopefully. But I’ll still sub-teach when needed and I am the school consular, so if you ever need to talk just come by for visit. My door is always open.”

“In more ways than one!” Ferocious laughed jovially. Earning a confused look from Mac and a death glare from Luna.

Nico wisely kept to his food and didn’t join in his friend’s banter, even as Ferocious reached out for a fist bump. “Little early for whiskey isn’t Feri?” He said was Ferocious poured another glass and then just drank from the bottle. Nico gave a cutting gesture to Stryker and he swapped the whiskey with a bottle of non-alcoholic cider while Feri was still laughing.

“Luna, why don’t you take Mac to the park. I have some things I need to talk to Feri about. Business stuff and all that, boring adult stuff and the like. Not much fun for a kid. Here’s some money in case the ice cream vendor comes around.”

“I don’t even get a please?” Luna said snidely as she took the cash and Mac’s hand. “Come on Mackie, there’s a good park only two blocks away. We’ll leave the hard working men to their business. Try not to drink till morning again after your meeting.”

“She’s got a hot tongue on her,” Stryker whistled after Luna was out of ear shot. “I’ll clean this up and meet you and the boss upstairs, Nico. Everything should be laid out on the desk.”

Nico tipped his hat, “Thanks, Stryker, sorry for the trouble.”

The bartender biker snorted, “You, trouble? Nah, just fucking fairy tale monster bullshit with you. Ah, good to swear again, thanks for sending the Miss of with the kid. Boss likes to keep things clean when she’s around. I’ll be up in five to tell you what we found out this week. I think you’ll be interested.”

“Oh yeah?”

Ferocious leaned in, grabbing Nico’s shoulder, “Oh yeah buddy, you won’t believe what we found.”

Upstairs Nico sat on the other side of Ferocious’s desk as the bar owner shifted through a stack of files. Stryker entered the room and locked the door behind him. The two proceeded to whisper back and forth, peeking Nico’s interest as they sorted through a bunch of photos.

“What’s so interesting?” Nico asked as Ferocious snapped the folder closed and handed it to him. Opening it up Nico was surprised to see three very familiar faces. He’d never forget that orange puff of hair.

“Our boys spotted them in town this last week. Multiple times. They have a daily pattern. Blue girl here goes to the bakery on the south side of town every morning for an order of rolls. Pinkie here is visits the gun and auto shop frequently. Orange practically lives at the spa. If you look at the earlier photos they arrived in town in near rags, the next picture is a week later. Their cleaned up with new clothes and spending more money than anyone in town could make in a month. Funny thing is nobody remembers them. We even asked the baker right after Blue left and the owner had no idea what we were talking about. I didn’t believe it when you first told us about them, but you're right, they’re using magic. I gotta say, they sure are prettier than the last monster.”

“They’re sirens, they’re meant to be pretty,” Nico said flipping through the notes. Mildly interested in what was written down. “Might be why they haven’t aged. It’s been twelve years since I last saw them and they still look like high schoolers.”

“That’s going to make it awkward to get rid of them,” Stryker noted, receiving looks from Nico and Ferocious. “What? All I’m saying it’s going to be a little harder to burn something human looking to ash. Last time the monster was ugly as a pig’s ass.”

“Stryker’s got a point, Nico. Killing monsters has been easy, fun even, but these girls just look a little too human to get into it.”

Stryker and Ferocious have been helping him fight monsters for several years now. Stryker already knowing because of Ferocious showing him his transformation. They’ve done good work and taken care of many troublesome beasts. These sirens would probably the most dangerous ones they’ve met yet. He knew that first hand. But he knew what his friends were saying. The sirens did look a lot like normal girls. They looked about the same age as the girls that were reported missing in the paper. Few years his little Applejack would be that age too.

It made him a little uneasily about the would deal.

“I’m more interested in their boss. If we can get by with just capturing them and getting them to spill what they know, I’ll see about sealing their powers or something. They could end up being very useful.” Nico stroked his morning stubble in thought. The more he thought about it, the more reasons he found to keep them alive. “Do you have a location?”

Ferocious smiled, “Wouldn’t be bothering you with this crap if we didn’t, would we? They’re here.” He pointed to the old industrial part of town. The factories have been shut down since the mid-nineties, but the buildings remained. Some richer folks have been buying the property and remaking them into homes and businesses. Some folks over in New Orleans have been doing the same thing Nico read somewhere once.

“We couldn’t find out the owner of the property, only that someone bought it and has been spilling money into it like no tomorrow. The place uses a lot of electricity too.” Stryker stated, pulling out the building plans. “We have two main entrances a few sides entrances for entry. I think this alleyway will be best. How do you want to handle this Nico?”

“We’ll go tonight, meet at the building at eleven, scope it out and breach inside before midnight. I’m assuming they’ll have the place enchanted to turn away outsiders. We’ll use this to our advantage and go in loud and proud, all guns blazing as they say.”

“Sounds like a plan, see you tonight Nico, it’s going to be a party!” Ferocious exclaimed.

(It’s certainly going to be something) Nico monologues, getting up to get Mac.

Nico sat in his lazy boy watching the evening news. The volume kept quiet as not to disturb his wife and kids. Checking the clock, he saw it has been one hour since everyone went to bed. He hated doing this. He hated faking not being able to sleep some nights so it was easier to get out of the house. He hated lying to his wife. Most of all he hated leaving his kids unprotected.

Quietly he got out of the recliner and made his way to the door, carrying his boots in his hands. His gear was at the shack in the west orchard, he’d gear up there and then go meet up with Ferocious and Stryker.

However, as he went for the door he heard the faintest sound of muffled footsteps. Setting his boots in the shadows by the door he walked towards the stairs just in time for Applejack to finish coming down the stairs. She was sniffing. Clutching dearly to the handmade blanket Granny Smith had made for her when she was born.

“Daddy? Is that you?” Applejack sniffed in the dim light of the TV.

“It’s me baby girl, what’s wrong?” He asked picking her up. She tucked her head in the nook of his neck, her little arms hugging tightly around his shoulders.

“I had a nightmare. I dreamed bad monsters were going to take you and mommy away! They were big and scary! Like in the books!”

Applejane read the children fairy tale books before setting them down to bed. Most of them were the general fairy tale stuff, but a few were also Apple family fables. One hundred percent true stories, straight from the barely sane, Goldie Delicious’s mouth. Some of the stories were very graphic too. Like the tell of Billy Gruff Apple fighting a troll over a bridge toll or something like that.

“It’s alright sweetie, you don’t need to worry about any no monsters getting daddy.” He told her as he brought Applejack back upstairs.

“Why is that?” She asked with curious green eyes as he tucked her under the blankets.

Nico kissed her forehead and said, “Because your daddy is so scary, he scares the monsters away!” He said with a bit dramatic flair. Applejack giggled as he raked his fingers over her belly, her usual bright smile returning. “You get back to bed. I’ll go take care of any monsters that might be around, ok?”

“Ok, I think there’s one under the bed.” Applejack muttered as she fell back asleep.

Nico sat there for a moment to watch her sleep, fondly brushing her wild blond hair from her eyes. A smile gracing his lips. It turned into a deep snarl as he got on his knees, reached under his daughter’s bed and pulled a black cloud from under it! The cloud screamed mutely in his pulsing blue grasp, his eyes sparkling with rage as he squeezed the cloud tighter.

It was a Nightmare. A monster that feeds on children’s nightmares. They don’t start them, but they make them worse. Sometimes they’ve been known to cause their victims to fall ill from the constant nightmares they inflict on them.

The nightmare still squirming in his grasp Nico hurried downstairs as quietly as he could, slipped on his boots and carried the screaming cloud into the orchard. There he let loose his fury! Letting his magic flare, revealing his draconic teeth and eyes to the nightmare.

“If I catch your kind around here again, I’ll hunt you down and exterminate you! I’ll leave you to boil in the sun!” Nico yelled at the trembling cloud. A Nightmare could only be truly killed by sunlight, but he found a little something that works too. Holding up a LED flashlight he flipped it on, the bright blue light roasting the cloud’s body away in an instant. “I want an answer! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”

The Nightmare Cloud nodded vigorously.

“Good, find your friends and spread the word. If I find another one of you in my house. You all die! Got it!” He released the cloud and it flew away as fast as it could. Normally he would have captured it and thrown in the sun in the morning, but he didn’t have time for that. Besides. This way might be more effective. A bandage over a long-term problem.

Nico checked his watch, “Ten twenty, better hurry.”

“You’re late,” Ferocious deadpanned when Nico arrived on the scene.

“I know, had to put the kids to bed. Nightmares you know?” Nico retorted humorously as he crouched beside Ferocious and Stryker. Just across the street lay the sirens lair. “You check out the place yet?”

“What else would we do for twenty minutes and you were right. There is an enchantment over the building. Made my ears tingle, while Stryker here didn’t feel anything.”

“Sorry for not being a magical pony or the baby child of magical ponies. I’m such a guy with guns.” Stryker retorted pulling two colt .45’s from under his coat. “So, we still going in blazing?”

Nico drew his own pistol, while Ferocious eagerly drew his claymore, “Yeah. They’ll know where here the moment we break the barrier, so take them out quickly. Ready? On three. One. Two. Three!”

The three sprinted across the street. The barrier sending a tingle down their spines as they charged their way through the front door. Inside the building, the main room was large open floor design with a pool in the middle. The sirens, in swimsuits, looked shocked at their arrival as they floated in the water.

Now one would assume this meant they had the advantage. Really humans were pathetic in the water, but these girls weren’t human. They were sirens. The sirens transformed, gaining transparent fins on their arms and legs and pony ears on their head. The red gems hanging from their neck glowed sucking in green mist from outside. Their magic increasing.

“Take them quick!” Nico yelled firing his entire clip at the girls, who summoned a wall of water to block the shots. Stryker ran left firing both pistols, the pink siren tracking his movements and firing a pressurized stream of water at him, cutting the floor like a hot knife through butter. Ferocious… was charging right at them with his claymore a blaze.

“Alright! Let’s have some fun!” The red biker yelled plunging his flaming blade into the water. An explosion resulted in the mixing of the two polarized elements. Sending Ferocious and the sirens flying! The three sirens landing apart from each other.

“Aria, Sonata, regroup!” Their puffy orange haired leader commanded. The two ran toward their leader, but Stryker’s barrage of bullets had them doing heel turns and ducking for cover.

Nico smirked, realizing their weakness, “Kept them apart! They can’t use instant magic like before separately! Divide and conquer!”

“He figured it out Adagio!” The blue one cried behind her cover. She peeked out, letting loose a high-pitched scream when she spotted Nico. “Ah, he’s still alive!”

“I can see that Sonata!” Adagio grounded out through clenched teeth. “Scatter! Meet up you know where!”

Sonata and Aria nodded, “Got it!” And ran off through the nearby doors.

“Stryker, Feri, go after them!” Nico ordered stepping out from cover. “I’ll take care of the puffy orange.” The two nodded and ran after the fleeing sirens. Leaving the two leaders to square off.

“So, you think you can take me?” Adagio said coyly, pulling water from the pool to surround her like a shield. Nico only grinned as he transformed, his wicked grin revealing his sharp draconic teeth while his tail swooshed excitedly behind him. Adagio’s eyes shrank in fear as she stared at the lightning dancing between his fingers.

“I’ve learned some new tricks since last time.” Adagio grimaced as Nico clenched his fist. “This time will be different.”

Sonata clamped her hands over her mouth. Her chest heaving heavily as the heavy booted footsteps of her pursuer thundered through the storage room. She pressed herself against a wooden crate. Her eyes darting fearfully towards the thundering footsteps. The tall blue haired man, Stryker is what Nico called him, passed by her. His pistols glinting in the moonlight. He didn’t have magic, but he terrified her. She bit her finger to keep from screaming out, the pain of her wound nearly unbearable.

She’s been shot. It hurt. It hurt a lot!

“Come out girly, I know you’re here, and I know your hurt. I don’t miss often. Good job erasing the blood trail. I wouldn’t have expected anyone to flood the entire room like that. Why don’t you give up and I’ll see about patching you up? Be as shame for you to lose a kidney or something.”

Sonata slumped down into the water. Rogue splinters scrapping her back as she did and the blood from her wound pooled around her. Biting her right middle finger, she moved her left hand over the wound. The pain made her bite her finger to muffle the scream.

(It’s only a matter of time,) Sonata thought dizzy as her vision blurred looking at the stream of her blood mixing with the water and floating out into the open. (It won’t take him long to find me.)

She fell against the crate with a thud. Her eyes fluttering in and out of consciousness as Stryker kneeled before her little hideaway.

“Shit, this is bad. Don’t worry girly, I’ll take care of you.” He said lifting her out from between the crates. Sonata’s limbs hanging limply in his arms. “Jeez, after what Nico said I didn’t think these girls would be so fragile.”

He had hit her in the side, close to her kidney, hopefully not too close. Good thing he hadn’t loaded hollow points tonight, otherwise they’d be no saving her. Walking outside Stryker tied her hands and pressed his hand against the wound with the bandana he kept in his pocket. With his other hand, he whipped out his cellphone.

“Nurse Nyx, we have a patient for you. Of the record, of course. Yes, yes, we’ll pay you. Come to this address…”

“Get back here!”

“Not a chance dumbass!” Aria retorted, firing a barrage of water arrows at Ferocious. The fiery man swung his sword, turning the water to steam. Gritting her teeth Aria scowled at her opponent as the claymore he wielded relit again. The damn sword was so annoying! Not only that it was making it so hot in here it was evaporating the water!

“Come on Raspberry! Let’s do this!” Ferocious taunted.

Aria growled as she formed a trident of water, a measly weapon, but it would do for now. “Come get it fire boy!”

“Gladly, I’ll make you pay for hurting my friend!” The cheery demur Ferocious had been putting up vanished in an instant, replaced with burning hot rage. The fire he made seemed to grow hotter too as Aria’s trident boiled in her hand, making her dispel the liquid weapon. The wooden crates caught fire as Ferocious swung his sword wildly, vaporizing the water and increasing the humidly. Aria gathered the moisture in the air and used it to form a whip of water and cracked it at Ferocious.

Again, the water weapon evaporated before it could even touch him.

(Great, he’s berserker type too,) Aria mused as she skillfully dodged Ferocious’s strikes. He clearly didn’t have any formal training. Good for her. But the heat he was putting out made it impossible to get near him. The very air was burning her throat and she was wearing a skimpy swimsuit for protection with her water supply disappearing by the second.

A heavy burning hand grabbed her shoulder, she shouldn’t have been spacing off! Who was she? Sonata?

Ferocious towered over her like he was Spartacus or something as monstrous and she had met Dracula! Also, she and her sisters might have been the inspiration for his three wives. Also, not the most important thing to be thinking about right now! Since there was a burning hot tip of steel pointing at her throat!

“I’d suggest you give up or I might slit your throat by accident.”

Aria raises her hands, Ferocious binding them tightly with a zip tie. “You’re not every good, good guys, you know? Threatening helpless maidens while their swimming? The scandal!”

“Keep up the sass, if you want, but we never said were good guys. Come on, let’s go. I’m sure my friends have yours rounded up by now.”

The building shook, thunder cracking from the main room causing the lights to burn out. Ferocious lit his blade for a light. Aria smirking in the orange glow.

“What was that you were staying?”

“Shut up.”

Lightning, this guy just had to have lightning! Were Adagio’s thoughts as she skidded across the slippery tiled floor. Electric shocks burst from the floor, arcing from puddle to puddle, also her hair was standing on end! That sucked! It will take forever to comb it down!

On top of that, there was the whole water conducting electricity thing. Elemental weaknesses were a bitch when you didn’t have the advantage. And right now, she didn’t have it.

Ducking behind the fake palm tree Adagio felt the tingle of static shocks pull at the hairs on her arms as lightning struck the fake tree. The insist chirp of lightning telling her predator was closing in on her.

She had no hope of defeating lighting with water and without the other two, her voice wouldn’t sway him under her spell. There was only one thing to do. Her boss wouldn’t like it, but what choice did she have? Also, screw her boss. It’s his fault she’s in this mess!

Making a break for it Adagio leaned down and slid across the slippery surface, using water to propel herself faster. Nico stood by the fake palm tree, gun in one hand and lightning in the other. He raised the gun as she hit the hidden switch on the wall. The wall turned and she disappeared behind it.

On the other side, Adagio panted for breath. Surprised that she had made it. The building’s dirty little secret. A secret lab. She stepped away from the secret door. The steel turning red. The sound of electricity buzzing telling her she didn’t have much time before Nico cut his way through.

The lab was moderate size. A lot of bloodied tools lay scattered about, along with notes, computers, test tubes, and much more. But what held Adagio’s attention where the two cages and what sat inside. Her master’s most recent pets. Both were female. He had a strange obsession with wanting females. Something about them being better stock for magic since they create life or something.

Whatever the reason. She didn’t care. As long his bloody hands stayed off her and her sisters, she’d bring him all the orphan girls he wanted.

“Get up girls, time to earn your keep!” She shouted opening the cages. The two staggered out of their cells, their eyes glassy and dead. Their spirits were broken long ago and their bodies… well, they wouldn’t be welcome in public anymore. Not with those looks.

The girl on the left, Subject four as she was branded. She was a tall girl with dull green hair and once had soft burnt wood colored skin. Now that skin was hard and covered in patches of stone. The stone forming a permanent armor on her body.

Next to her was the girl Adagio had snagged before their latest catch. Was Subject five. She had originally had blue hair and pink skin. Now. Now she was green. Green hair, light green skin, and green thorny vines growing out her wrists and ankles. A patch of vines covered up the girl’s modesty. Not that she had the mind to care.

“There’s an intruder. Go kill him and then his friends.” Adagio ordered. The two girls looked blankly at her before gaining a vicious look in their eyes. Snarling like animals. They rushed the door the moment it Nico finished cutting through it.

Nico looked surprised. The girls pouncing on him like a lion on a zebra. Adagio watched with glee as the subject four stabbed him with their sharpened rock nails, while subject five use her vines to ensnare him. Both tore through Nico’s armored coat, his blood flying in the air!

“That’s it! Get him! Kill him!” Adagio laughed.

Nico couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Two mostly naked girls came running at him like wild animals and tackled him! Dark magic oozed off their skin like they’ve been swimming it for weeks and maybe they have been, given how mad they looked. But that’s not what through him off his game. What shell-shocked him.

Was their faces.

He knew their faces. The same faces he’s seen for the past few weeks in the paper. They were two of the missing girls, Terra, and Vines. Except they weren’t human. They were twisted and changed both mentally and physically beyond repair. As the chainmail beneath his coat flew in the air Nico knew what he had to do.

“Dammit… fucking dammit!” Nico screamed in rage. He pulled his arm holding his pistol free and thrust into vine’s unprotected belly and unloaded the clip. The full metal jacket rounds blowing through her plant like body and leaving a fist-sized hole in her belly. The girl looked shocked as she fell back on her knees staring at the green blood that poured out her. Her eyes clear.

“What…what’s going on?” She asked with tears falling down her face. Her hands trembling as she held them over the hole in her belly. “Why am I green… why are these growing out my arms...why…do…I feel…so…sleepy…” Her eyes fluttered shut and she fell over dead.

Terra stopped her assault and poked at Vine’s lifeless body. Nico had read in the newspaper the two had been friends. He sighed, ejecting the spent clip and replacing it with a fresh one. Kneeling beside Terra, the stone girl looked up with tear filled eyes too. Her amber eyes stared at him and she pressed her head against the barrel of his pistol.

“Sorry, this isn’t going to be painless…” He fired, the first round cracking her stone skin, she screamed but did not fight back, he fired again, cracking the skin further. And he fired, and fired and fired! Slowly blowing a hole through to her skull. “Sorry.” He said firing the last round. Finally ending her life.

Dropping his gun Nico turned his eyes to Adagio. The orange siren gulped and backed further into the lab. Nico was on her in an instant! His eyes filled with rage as he grabbed her by her scrawny neck! His anger was so great that he was snarling, completely unable to form words as he squeezed the life from the siren. Her hands flailed, clawing at his arms, but he paid the uselessly flailing little mind.

“Nico,” Stryker said walking through the broken wall. Gun aimed at Nico’s head. “Let’s her go, it’s over.” Nico snarled, but let Adagio fall to the ground. She coughed hard, sucking in air. Stryker quickly tied her hands and duck taping her mouth. “Nyx is waiting outside. I’ll take her there with the other two. I’ll get a place to lock them up, set up later. For now, we’ll hold them at my place.”

“Sounds good,” Nico said, his transformation dissipating. “I’ll catch up. I’m going to look around this place quick. It seems… familiar.”

“Whatever, just don’t take you long. It’s about one in the morning, your family will be missing you soon.” Stryker leads Adagio away, pausing by the two bodies. “What are we going to do with them?”

“I’ll think of something,” Nico replied sorrowfully. “For now, wrap them up in some blankets.”

“Ok, boss.”

Alone Nico looked around the hidden lab. On the desk, he found notes documenting Terra and Vines extermination. Pictures showed every stage of it, from the beginning to the end. They weren’t pretty to look at. Every picture had the two young girls looking more and more terrified, till their minds were finally broken. His stomach twisted in rage at the sight of the pictures, but that wasn’t the end.

In the corner of some of the pictures, he could make out markings. Runes or script that he’s defiantly seen before. Walking deeper into the lab Nico found the magical sight where the girls had been changed into monsters. A faded chalk circle remained on the floor.

An alchemist circle.

Not just any circle either. He knew this pattern. In fact, it was the only pattern he knew. It was the same circle Doctor Hoofenstien and Doctor Madhoof used to make dragon ponies like him in Equestria.

There was only one person, no, only one pony in this world that could make this. Madhoof was alive and still up to his mad experiments. Somehow Nico wasn’t surprised. On the night, he was attacked outside Ferocious’s bar he had thought he’d seen Madhoof. He had played off as his imagination. When the orphans started disappearing, he hadn’t wanted to believe the mad scientist could still be alive, but deep down maybe he knew it was him. He just hadn’t wanted to accept it.

Nico clenched his fist. Cursing himself. It was his fault this happened to those girls. Because of his inaction, they were going to suffer.

“No more, I’m going to make this right. No matter what it takes.” He growled as he exited the lab.

Author's Notes:

It is hard to crunch the numbers to make the timeline make some sense. But I suppose that's what you get when you start winging multiple stories together.

Also somehow this story always gets the longest chapters some how.

One more chapter to the end of this little adventure.