Paradise
Chapter 16: To Town
Previous Chapter Next Chapter“You really do make an excellent pillow Hank.” Zecora says as she laid atop my torso like a cat as I laid with my hands behind my head.
“Told ya that I’m comfortable.” I smile with my eyes shut, twitching as she re-positioned herself so her front hooves were resting on my pectorals.
“Very warm too.”
“Yeah I’ve always run a little hot, that’s why cold weather don't bother me so much.”
“I will keep that in mind when the weather starts to change. I absolutely hate cold weather.” She fidgets around while she speaks.
“Come over whenever you want.”
Lying still listening to the sounds of the birds singing outside in the late morning light I feel Zecora push herself into a sitting position on my chest.
“Um… Hank?” Zecora asks, her voice filled with question.
“Hmm?” Not opening my eyes I respond.
“What are those?” She asks lifting one of her hooves and pointing to something on my chest.
Opening my eyes I look to my chest and see that my nipples had made their presence known through the thin fabric of my shirt due to the rubbing around she did. Looking back to Zecora confused I raise an eyebrow, “Those would be my nipples?”
Look at them and then back to my eyes she looks back down, “Well I mean, I know you’re a male but why do you have nipples? You don’t feed young.”
“Right, but all mammalian species have nipples.” I explain.
“Not Zebras, or ponies, or minotaurs, or even gryphons. Well the males at least.”
“Really?” I set up a little making her have to reposition herself as well.
“Yes. I presume males of your species do?”
“Yeah, all male mammals on earth to my knowledge have nipples.” I answer honestly a little surprised at the revolation, “Well I guess when I was fighting those minotaurs in Appaloosa they didn’t have nipples, then again I wasn’t really focused on that part.”
“Huh well that’s kind’ve funny.” She smiles and starts to poke at them.
“H-Hey stop that,.” I slap her hoof away, “now they won’t go down for a while.”
“Wait they can become erect?” She snickers.
“Yes. You haven’t noticed them before now so where did you think they go when they ain’t pokin’ out like that? You think they just disappear?”
Going to poke me again I stop her hoof again with a light slap.
“No, I just… its funny to see nipples on a stallion.” She giggles again going for another poke that I immediately stop, “So are yours big or small?”
“That’s a little personal ain’t it?” I slap her hoof a little harder as she tries again.
“Well I guess, I was just curious is all. I’ve never seen nipples on a male before.” She answers still looking at them..
“They’re smaller than a females if that’s what your asking.” I say with a sigh.
“And compared to males…” She prys.
“Well… right at average for a guy… maybe a liiiitle bigger, but just a little, considering some guys have little bug bites for nipples. They’re more liable to get excited and become erect like that, definitely.”
“Oh really?” She gives a mischievous smirk.
“Yeah, got me made fun of in weight lifting class a lot.”
“Really?”
“Yep, it surprises me how many time they could make fun of the same thing and still think it was funny.”
“That is a dumb thing to pick fun at someone for, especially when everyone has the same thing.” She says trying to sneak in a poke.
“I know,” I push her hoof away, “but they’re all dead now, so who won in the long run? I did.” I laugh.
Setting her hoof down she looks to my eyes, “Why is the left one smaller than the right one?”
Pulling my left hand from under the back of my head I position it to my left breast and feel around trying to remember.
“Oh a piece of shrapnel slipped under my vest and carved out the top quarter of the areola and the top part of my nipple.” I simply answer pressing my finger into the slight depression.
“Oh my that’s terrible.” She gasps.
“Hurt like a bitch too, plenty of nerve endings in that area.” I nod tucking my hands back under my head.
Switching her gaze to my arms and then back to my face I could tell she was examining my scars and waited patiently until she stopped.
“So those scars don’t stop at your arms and neck?”
“Oh no no no no. I look like a damn cutting board Zecora.” I laugh adjusting my head and scratching the back of my scalp simultaneously.
“That’s a lot of injuries Hank.”
“I’m fully aware.” I say matter of factly.
“I think that you look really of good the way you are, I like the way the scars look.” She says randomly after staying quiet for a minute
Opening my eyes and looking to Zecora I raise my eyebrow again, “Really?”
“I just think that they fit you well, you look all scary and mean on the outside but when someone gets to know you they see just how caring and soft you are.” She pokes then thin layer of fat that covered the muscle of my torso with the tip of her hoof, “Although there’s a lot more firm than soft.” She whispers to herself poking at my stomach again.
“Oh I’m soft am I?” I ask amused.
“Where it counts.” She smiles quickly poking at my right nipple.
Staring daggers at her she giggles and does it again.
“Do that again and I’ll make you regret it.” I kiddingly threaten.
“Will you?” She pokes me again and laughs.
“You have one more before things are gonna get all flipped around for ya.” I squint my eyes at her.
“Oh?” She hold up her hoof and slowly lowers it before quickly poking me again.
Immediately snapping my hands from behind my head Zecora’s eyes widen as she tries to jump back but is too late and gets caught by my hands that grip strongly behind each of her front legs as my thighs raise and clamp her in place.
Rocking to the side I roll over so Zecora was on the bottom and pin her to the floor of the loft with my legs while pinning her arms by her head with my own. Eyes as wide as dinner plates as she stares up at me I smile back and chuckle.
“I warned ya.”
Still staring at me while breathing heavily I cock my head to the side and squint at her.
“Now what am I gonna do? You wouldn’t stop poking my in the nipples no matter what I said so…” I look away for a second before looking back, “Oh I know I’m gonna do the worst possible thing.”
Gulping at my statement she tries to squirm free but unknowingly lets me squeeze tighter with my thighs until she realizes that it was getting harder and harder to move.
“...I’m gonna tickle ya.” letting my left hand go from her arm I start to tickle all of the sensitive spots I’d learned about ponies: the sides, neck, anywhere on the barrel.
Laughing as she thrashed and bucked under me she tried to escape only making me double my efforts.
“S-stop P-p-PLEEEEEEASE!” She squealed.
“Do you admit that guys having nipples is better than them not?” I ask the silly question with a massive smile on my face.
“YeeeeEEESSS, A ThouSAND TIMES YESSS! M-MaKE it StOP”
Stopping my onslaught at the admission I take my hand from her right arm and lean back so I was more or less sitting up. Watching as the Zebra beneath me breathed heavily and laid her head to the side I laugh.
“So what did you learn?” I ask.
“That - huff - you weigh a lot.” Still out of breath she answers getting me to laugh.
Sliding off her I lay down next to her so I was facing her and smile, “Still a softie am I?”
Taking a deep breath she smiles, “Yes.”
“Damn, well I guess nothin’ wrong with that.” I tap her on the nose making her sneeze before propping myself up on my right elbow, “I think it may be time to finally get out of bed and get somethin’ done. Say do ya think you could tell me about those old folk tales of the Everfree? Now that you’re awake and all.”
“Um sure,” Sitting up herself she answers shaking her head at me, “I don’t know why you want to know these stories so much though.”
Picking her up and sliding down from the loft I grunt a little as I my feet hit the floor putting pressure on my knees, “Old legends and folklore always have some truth in them. Any information can help in the effort for survival.”
Setting her down I walk back over to the loft and grab my chest holster and revolver, “I mean what ya told be about those mongrels is good to know.”
“What that they are from the mid to deep Everfree and drink the blood from the prey they kill?”
Putting the chest holster on I nod, “Yeah.”
“How did that help?” She questions.
“Well it proves my theory that these Shucks ain’t a usual thing in this ecosystem and are displacing animals that are. What reason do those chupacabra lookin’ mother fuckers have be so close to the edge?”
“What else do you figure?” Putting on her signature golden hoop earrings she looks to me out of the corner of her eye.
“Well I mean these things looked starved, they fought with wild abandon because they were starving. I mean it was only until I killed the majority of them that they started to run.” Looking to her from where I was looking out of the window a moment before I continue, “You saw the one a brought back, ya said it yourself those things are naturally skinny and lithe, but that it was too skinny.”
“It was startlingly thin.” Putting her other hoop on she turns her head to me.
“Well, remember the day I came back and brought you here?”
“Can’t forget.”
“Well when I tracked you I came across a field of at least two dozen dead deer, you had to of seen it too.”
“I ran across a pack of Shucks dragging a few more deer into the clearing when I ran.”
“Yeah well when I came across the field there were deer literally ripped in half and the ground was red in blood, yet none of them were eaten.” Scratching my head I turn and walk over to the gun cabinet, “That is just a waste, predators usually don't kill without a need to eat, but Shucks do. Maybe they were bringing in a lot of food to feed those snappers or a even more menacing variant? Maybe they’re like a hive mind and feed a queen of something? I dunno.”
“By ‘big snapper’ do you mean that flatter massive jawed skull you have in your shed?”
“Yeah, those are the ones.” I confirm opening a can of .223, “You’ve never heard of those have you?”
Walking over next to me she brushes against my leg, “No, nothing that quite fits what that thing must of looked like,”
“That’s what I figured.” I say with a sigh.
“But this reminds me of a old story my grandmother told me plenty of times as a youngling.”
“What’s it about?”
“The balance of the forest and the two beings that represent each side.”
Stopping what I was doing I turn my head and look to the zebra next to me, “That sounds promising.”
<><><> 1st person, Hank, One Hour Later <><><>
Weaving some split green saplings between the stronger poles that made up the frame of the fence I slowly made my way around the garden while Zecora weeded and was being harassed by the frogs.
“Why do they keep sticking me with their tongues? Hey! Stop it!” She jumps away from a frog as it jumps at her screeching.
“They’re jus’ little assholes Z. Nothin’ I can do, even the Manticores are nervous of ‘em.”
“I see where they learned it.” She huffs making me laugh.
“From the best.” I proudly agree picking up another split stick, “I know we got off on a tangent but ya think you could tell me about that balance of the forest?”
“Mhm.” She answers taking a bite out of a cucumber she picked.
“Could ya throw me one of those too?” I ask before a cucumber is thrown at my face. Catching it I set it down next to me, “Thanks, now about this balance.”
“The Everfree is a ancient forest more akin to a singular living being, this makes it a hotspot for spiritual and other mystical beings, some that are easily as ancient as the forest itself.” She begins gaining a nostalgic look in her eyes, “ Two of the best known, yet least seen due to their reclusive nature, are the keepers of the entire forest.”
Listening with rapt attention I nod my head, “What do these keepers look like?”
“Since the beginning of early ponies, minotaurs, zebras, and even griffons there are drawn and written accounts of two beings, both seemingly larger than life. The bearer of life being a massive moose with large sparling antlers as sturdy as the strongest oak. Her coat being a deep brown but its entire form having moss and lichens covering and hanging from its hulking mass while its eyes glow a soft yellow.”
A smile across her face as she motions with her hooves she seems completely entranced by the description.
“Told by those who have been confronted by her she is said to be very mischievous, loving to scare and trick the being in her sights. It is also said the even for her massive size she steps across the ground silently; appearing behind you causing you to think you to feel a cold breeze across the back of your neck only to turn around and be face to face with her.”
“So it’s a she but has antlers?” I question.
“Ah yes, mother of the forest, while beings of this type are genderless all those who have seen it call it ‘she’ or ‘her’ when speaking of their encounter.” She answers my question looking at me with a twinkle in her eye I had never seen before, “The encounters are a just as unique. She is said to stare at whoever she has found until suddenly the being getting stared at is filled with fear and forced to run from her while she gives chase punishing them for their cowardice.”
Rubbing her hoofs together she looks to the trees behind us causing me to turn and see nothing, “She has never killed anyone however, seemingly giving chase for fun until just as fast as she appeared, vanishing without a sound. This has left every single person that as been lucky, or unlucky, enough to meet her different in subtle ways, yet all of them share one common change, a greatened sense of humility.”
Being highly intrigued I hummed in thought, “Where there is life there is always death.” I think aloud.
“You tell a very true truth.”
Looking up to Zecora she looks past me but right at me at the same time, “Things cannot live forever so the other half of this ancient balancing act is indeed death. The even more elusive half of this immortal pair forever locked in a un-winning battle is even more elusive in nature. For this reason few have seen him and even fewer have written their accounts or ever spoken of them.”
Pausing for a moment Zecora seems to think back to a previous memory.
“For those who have seen him and lived to tell the tale they write or speak of a tall and thin, yet muscular, werewolf. Most of the times the person catches him out of the corner of their eye and others run across him as he stands motionless in between the trees. One thing is sure though, while he may never directly kill anyone those who meet his black stare rarely make it out of the forest alive.”
“There is, however, a singular account by a long dead griffon where when encountering death face to face he heard a singular word whisper throughout his mind… ‘leave’. This leads many to think that the entity wants to keep outside beings out of the forest, and he does so well. The same griffon said that the werewolf never chased him, he never even moved, the griffon heard it in his mind that he was unworthy of a place like the Everfree and left immediately, losing a leg in the process to a timberwolf.”
“This is extremely interesting, are these beings well known?”
“They are more than just well known. They are widely believed in.”
“What causes the large base of belief?” Curious to what the members of this world believed in and worshiped I ask.
“The Everfree is a massive and mysterious place, filled to the brim with things that cannot be explained. This includes spectres, massive serpents, spiders the size of small houses, hundreds of abandoned communities that were there one day and gone the next, leaving no trace of the inhabitants, and much more. Due to this and the respect that is held universally for the forest and its trees many put lots of weight and belief into these tales, rightfully so as I may add.”
“Well if my experience so far is anythin’ to go by, strange ain’t very strange at all. Hell. I’d call it normal.” I laugh.
“Yes you have had quite the… active experience here.” She nods in agreement.
“Ugh… yes I have,” I laugh and rub my face, “I swear this place is gonna age me even more.”
“Actually you look better than you did when I first met you.”
A slow warm breeze blowing through like the first day of summer I look to the zebra, “How so?”
“Well you aren’t as… I don’t want to say pale because you’re still pale, but pasty maybe?” She explains.
“I can see that.” I agree.
“Plus you just look more healthy in general, plus stronger I’d even go as far to say that you are visibly bigger than when we first met.”
“Huh, could be I suppose,” I run my fingers through my shaggy hair, “Living here is a full body workout twelve hours out of the day. Plus with the way that bacteria works I guess it could enhance muscle growth.”
“Never thought of that, then again Nobody has ever had a living colony of it permanently living in their bodies either.” Her voice trails off at the end as she gives a nervous smile.
“I told ya it was fine Z, I ain’t mad, but I do need to find a gym so I can see how much stronger I am now… and how much I weigh.”
“That I’d like to see.”
“What, seeing how much I can lift?”
“Uh Yeah, you’re a entirely new species I want to see what you can do.”
“Well I Had just hit the four wheel club for squat at the end of my time on my old planet.”
“Four wheel club?” She asks with obvious confusion in her voice.
“Mhm, four forty five pound weights on each side of the bar or four hundred and five pounds total.” I explain, the zebra’s eyes widening a little.
“I wonder how much a pound is to a stone.”
“Me too. I think I have a old bathroom scale we can find out with somewhere though. Wanna find out?”
“What about the garden and the fence?”
“I can do that later.” I say while staying up, “Plus the frogs have been slowly surrounding you the entire time.”
“What? Ah!” Jumping up she runs between two of them before jumping the fence, “Green bastards.” She curses.
Laughing at her outburst I wave for her to follow me as I walk to the shed.
--
“This thing has ta be ‘round here somewhere. C’mon.” I huff getting irritable at the M.I.A. status of my scale.
“Just what kind of stuff do you have in all these blue containers?” Zecora asks from somewhere behind me.
“Dunno.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? You told me that you packed all of these.”
“Forgot.”
“Well I’m going to find out.” She says with a humpf.
“DON’T!” I turn around as fast as I could and hold out my hand.
Jumping back, startled from my sudden yell and movement, her eyes widen and her ears flatten against her skull, “Wha-Why?”
“Well I went through a bomb phase… never really got out of it,” I mumble, “ But I guarantee that one of those if filled with explosive materials and maybe a booby trap.” I sheepishly smile.
“Why in the world would you booby trap one of your own containers!?” Obviously upset with how close she may, or may not have, have been to blowing both of us up she asks.
“It’s funny.” I smile.
“How in tartarus is blowing yourself up funny!?”
“Because when you open the container and you see a string or a spring loaded something or other in there and you hear it click all you can really do is laugh.” I explain before going back to looking through my stuff.
“T-That’s not funny! That’s terrible!”
“I think it’s pretty funny.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Yes.” I say like it was common knowledge.
“W - why do you say that?”
“Why did you ask if you didn’t want an answer?” I look over my shoulder and huff.
“I wasn’t expecting an answer like that.”
“You haven’t seen how I really fight so you wouldn’t really know but apparently watching me fight is disturbing or something.” I grab onto a white square that was hiding under a few scraps of wood, “Plus nobody is really sane, some less than others, but nobody is really all there in their own little ways. Let’s figure out what a pound is to a stone though.” I hold up the scale in one hand changing the subject.
Turning the little dial on the bottom to zero in the scale I step back, “Go ahead and stand on it, make sure your full weight is on it.”
Stepping forward and onto the scale the disk turns inside and lands on forty three.
“Huh, looks like a stone is half a pound if you said you weigh around eighty stones.” I say as she steps off the scale. Walking over to where I had a ten pound dumbell I pick it up and walk back over to the scale before setting it down. Watching the dial move a quickly to the five pound mark I hum and nod my head, “Yep I was right.”
“Right about what?” She looks from me to the weight.
“The gravity here is half of what it is on Earth.”
“Wait, really?”
“Yep, that there’s a ten pound weight but it’s reading five as ya can see.” I point to it before picking it back up.
“So on your planet I would weigh eighty pounds?”
“Right, it’s also why I can run so fast, jump real high, and have less trouble lifting you up.”
“Huh so you have the ability to squat, I think that’s what you called it, eight hundred pounds?”
“... Yeah. That’s crazy.” I laugh, “How much is that compared to a pony?”
“Well if squat is what I think it is and if it were a Earth pony or Zebra and they were moderately strong I’d say three hundred and fifty stones once or twice. Average Earth ponies and Zebras don’t have crazy strength like is widely believed, they are usually able to lift fifty stones more than pegasi and unicorns on average though.”
“Gotcha, what about minotaurs?” I ask picking up the scale and walking to the door of the cabin.
“Well it is said that the old king of the minotaur empire, King Sterkur, was said to show his strength by carrying weights on his shoulders that weighed two thousand stones. He did this to show that even though he did not want to go conquer the other species he was far from weak.”
Stepping inside Zecora follows me, “It was very effective, until he left for one of his famous getaways to the Everfree and never returned.”
“Really?” I stop at the bathroom door and look to her.
“Yes. After his disappearance another family came to power using his possible death as a springboard, undoing the king’s effort of peace almost overnight. However, the newest King and his father were both direct descendants of Sterkur. Sterkur the forth, and as of now Sterkur the fifth; who is trying to get peace once again like his several times great grandfather.”
“Huh, that’s actually a really neat story. You’re jus’ full of those ain’t cha?”
“All part of being a shaman.” She smiles.
“I guess so,” I laugh, “Now one second, I’m gonna weigh myself.”
Looking at me strange she raises an eyebrow, “Why are you going to go in there to do it?”
“Because I’m going to get out of all my clothes so the reading is most accurate, clothes can easily add ten pounds.”
“Why do you have to hide your body? I don't wear any clothes, you’re not uncomfortable with that.”
“Not wearing clothes is normal to you jus’ like how wearin’ them is to me. Plus I feel like that is the last thing you would want to see.”
“For the last time Hank, you don’t look bad.” She frowns.
“Uh huh, sure.” I step into the bathroom before closing the door, hearing the zebra on the other side mumble something, “What was that?” I ask through the door taking off my shirt.
“You’re an idiot!” She responds.
“That’s old news.” I smirk untying my boots and taking them off.
“You can’t hide behind cloth your entire life.”
“Watch me you striped annoyance.” I snicker pulling down my pants.
Hearing her growl from the other side of the door she stomps closer to the door she taps on the door making me jolt and turn to the door with snarl.
“What if I just opened this door and took a look of you without clothes on?” I hear some snarkness in her voice.
“Do you want to see the cutting board that is my body?” I ask not amused my her antics.
Apparently hearing how my voice way anything but joking I hear her start to say something before stopping herself.
“Thought so.” I growl slipping off my pants and standing back up.
Stepping on the scale the numbers wiz by before landing on one-twenty five.
“Oh… Shit.” I say aloud.
“What is it?”
“I uh… you were right.” I say a more than a little surprised, stepping off the weight before going back on trying to get a different result.
“Right about what?” The zebra asks from the immediate opposite side of the door.
“I do in fact weigh a lot.” I announce stepping off the scale and grabbing my pants.
“How much?”
“Hundred and twenty five pounds.” Slipping my pants on I button them before slipping on my shirt.
“So that would be… Oh My Gods! Two Hundred and Fifty Stones!” She yells in astonishment.
“Or two hundred and fifty pounds on my home planet, yes.” Lacing up my boots I shake my head in disbelief, “I don’t have that much fat though.”
“Muscle weighs a lot more than fat for the area it takes up.” She adds.
“Right, but I don't look that muscular.”
“Oh stop trying to fish for compliments.”
“What I don’t have good muscle definition, never have.” Standing up I put on the old leather chest harness.
“Are you talking about those stallions where you can see every muscle and line in their body?”
“Yes.”
“You’re right you don’t have that, but it is very obvious that you have big muscles under your skin, maybe not like where you could trace every line of your muscles but definitely where you can see them move and ripple.”
“Huh, really?” I shrug my shoulders.
“Oh yeah, you have the kind of muscle that was formed by use, if you get what I am saying, practical muscle, not those big puffy things.”
“Well I got a compliment anyway didn’t I?” I laugh.
“Stuff it you monkey.”
“Or what you horse?” I immediately retort.
“I’ll come in there with my staff!”
“I thought you were female.”
“I am female what are you getting at?” She pauses for a second, “OH! Get your mind out of the gutter pervert.”
“Oh I’m the pervert huh?” I ask the door that Zecora was behind with the scale in my hand, “Don’t think I don’t catch you sneaking glances at my ass and crotch. You body heat thief.”
“Like you don’t look at mine!”
Opening the door I see the very red face of a zebra, “You wear no clothes and your tail can’t cover everything, I’m male, I’m not sorry for my biology and my likes.”
Setting the scale down on the counter next to the door I turn around and see that Zecora’s jaw had dropped at my comment taking a second she regains her composure, closes her mouth, and blinks her eyes a few times, “You are by far the most crude, foul mouthed, perverted stallion I know.”
“Don’t pretend you don't like it.” I say crossing my arms and leaning my hip into the counter.
“Never said that.” A slow smile starts to work its way onto her face.
“Gonna say, we sleep together.” I smile back.
Smiling at each other for a few seconds she hums, “I really like spending time with you Hank.”
“Same here Z, been too long since I had someone I can talk to like you.”
Starting into each others eyes we both break contact at the same time, both of us nervously chuckling. Rubbing the back of my neck I laugh a little before looking out of the kitchen window.
“You’re fat though.” Zecora says randomly.
Looking to her I see that she was snickering.
“Nah, I’m jus’ dense.” I state.
“You have that right.”
“Hey!” I turn my head to the zebra, “Not my fault I don't pick up every single social queue.”
“You’re still dense... both ways.”
“Yeah yeah.” I wave her off stepping toward and out the door to put the scale away.
“Two hundred and fifty stones. Wow. That’s actually impressive.” She comments as we walk into the shed.
“So my fat is impressive huh?” I laugh.
“I was only teasing about that.”
“I know, so am I.”
Setting the scale on my workbench I turn to see Zecora looking through the plastic tub she partially opened later.
“What were ya sayin’ again?” I ask wanting to know what she had to say.
“Oh well for your size you are very heavy,” She answers not looking away from the tub while reaching a hoof in, “Large minotaurs a foot taller than you and with bigger muscles would weigh around two hundred and fifty stones.”
“Well ya also have to factor in the fact that I’m from a planet with twice as much gravity, my body was built for greater weights.”
“You really should go to a gym sometime and see how much you can lift now, it'd be a spectacle.” Holding up an old black shirt that most definitely did not fit anymore the zebra continues, “You have some clean clothes in here.”
“Don’t fit.” Walking over next to her I squat down and take a look into the tub myself, “Oh yeah these are to small, all of em.” Picking up a shirt I look at the size and laugh, “Been a while since I’ve been able to wear mediums.”
“So this is just all old clothes?”
“Yep, I’ll prolly make some rags out of them, always need grease rags after all.” Picking up the lid I pop the left than right side on making it semi watertight ones again.
“Someday you should go through these.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” I agree, keeping it from Zecora how painful it was to go through things from my old life.
<><><> 1st person, Hank, Half Hour Later <><><>
“Here ya go Z, should be all charged up.” I take her radio off the charger and hand it to her.
“Thank you.” She nods taking the device.
“Remember to come back in a week to recharge the thing.” I remind.
“I know, I know. You must of told me a thousand times by now.” She rolls her eyes.
“Hey, I just want to make sure you’re safe.” I hold out my hands before lowering them to my sides and pulling my shirt down.
“Did I ever mention that you have large breasts for a stallion.”
“I do not have breasts. I have pectoral muscles, enough so my chest comes off my torso.” I grumble.
“Look like breasts to me. They even have nipples.” She points and laughs.
Scowling at the black and white annoyance I tilt my head back and look to the sky before letting out a slow growl. Returning my head back to normal I look to the Zebra well can breasts do this?” I ask before tensing my right then left peck over and over making them move up and down in a alternating pattern.
Starting at my chest she starts to go a little red in her cheeks.
“I mean you make fun of me but then you have your breasts down by your pussy. Or are those considered teats?”
Crossing my arms she gasps, “You’re not supposed to gaze at a mare like that.”
“I wasn’t gazing, I was observing. You wear no clothes for teats sake… Get it? Teats sake. Ha.”
Laughing at my own pun Zecora humpfs and turns around, “I’m going to leave now so you don’t gaze at me like some pervert.”
Only laughing harder at my statement she starts to walk towards the woods. Calming my laughter I wipe my eyes, “See ya later Z.” I call out with a wave.
Turning her head while still walking I notice the smile on her face before she waves back, “Good bye Hank.”
Watching the Zebra disappear into the brush, her staff and sattle bags in tow I hum, “Now what?”
Turning around I look to the unfinished garden fence but wave it off, “Nah.”
Idly walking into the shed I walk around looking over my stuff trying to think of something to do. Kicking the barrel of gas as I walk out for the shed into the sunlight I scratch my nose.
Checking my watch and seeing it was thirteen hundred I shrug my shoulders, “Might as well go inta town and ask her now instead a later.”
Stepping into the cabin I start to gather my regular kit.
Sighing my body relaxes from its usual tense state at the comfort of the kit I’d lived in for more time than I could remember.
Sliding two full magazines into the three magazine pouch on my pistol belt I top off the right pouch before picking up the remaining magazine and smoothly sliding it into the magazine well of the M16A4. Pulling back the charging handle with my first two fingers on my left hand I flick the safely on before walking toward the door, picking up my helmet and setting it on my head on the way.
Walking down the trail that eventually deposited me into pony land I keep my senses open while I made my way forward, enjoying the pleasant temperature and low humidity of the day’s weather.
Stepping through the matted down brush that hid the path to my home I step onto the hard dirt road and look right to Flutter’s house. Noticing that no lights were on inside and the animals were doing their thing I reason she must of been out and continue down the road toward the Apples’s property.
Approaching the first hill between Flutter’s place and the Apples’s I raise my rifle and put my finger on the trigger while flicking the safety off to make sure nothing would surprise me. Standing on top of the hill I slowly pan back and forth looking for targets. Not seeing anything that posed an immediate threat to me I lower my rifle and continue on my way.
Closing the distance to the arch in the fence of the orchard I slow my walking until I finally stop and look at it.
I know I’m not on the best terms with AJ but that doesn’t mean I don't care about her and Mac and them.
Lowering my head and sighing I take my first step onto the property before making my way down the long lane. Stepping through the trees I pause as I see a familiar orange pony wearing her stetson walk out of the barn, her head looking toward the ground.
Standing still hoping she wouldn’t notice me if I didn’t move. Walking toward the house I have no such luck as she raises her head and noticing me out of the corner of her eye. Freezing in place as well she slowly turns to face me.
Both of us unmoving as we stare at each other I can tell something is wrong with her and go to walk to her before stopping myself and returning my right foot back where it was. Looking at me and then back to the ground she looks back to me before taking a step forward, then another, then another as she walks toward me.
Stepping forward myself we meet in the middle where we both stop five feet apart and look at each other.
She’s tired.
Noticing the bags under her eyes and exhausted body language.
“Ah uh… jus’ wanted to thank ya fer what ya did for me during the questioning, Ah didn’t expect that to happen.”
“No problem.” I say flatly.
“Why did ya protect me?”
Raising an eyebrow at her I squint my eyes at her a little, “Because I care about you.”
“But you’re mad at me.”
Slinging my rifle on my shoulder I cross my arms, “Do you really think that lowly of me AJ? Do you think that jus’ because I’m upset at you I’d let harm onto you while I just sit and watch?”
Looking at her hooves she keeps her head bowed and sighs, “Ah jus’ figured you wouldn’t care after what Ah said to you.”
Shaking my head baffled I scoff, “I have no clue what I did or didn’t do to cause you to think of me like some cunt who only cares about people on his good side and stays ignorant and uncaring to those who are not but that’s not me.” I point out causing her to snap her head up and look at me before opening her mouth, “It’s clear ya don’t like me, that’s fine, but I still don’t want you or your family to get harmed in anyway.” I interrupt what she was going to say, “ Why do you think I stood at the front gate and killed a pack of timberwolves instead of jus’ running?” I motion with my arm behind me.
“A-Ah don’t not like you Hank, and I certainly don’t think you’re a… cunt,” She says the word like it hurt coming out, “I jus’, I jus’, I don't know. The way you looked when I said what I did and then what you told me you had jus’ got done doin’.” She pauses for a second and looks for the words, “Ah saw the R.P.O’s paper on ya and what ya did and how ya saved all those folk including my cousin, and then that you took time to hand deliver a letter for me I figured you’d want nothing to do with me.” She looks at me obviously upset.
“You made me feel like shit AJ,” I bluntly say making her deflate further, “You may not realize, but my word is one of the only things I have left and then when ya say that I know nothin’ about being honest and that all I say is a lie it hurt,” I explain the best I could, “So I’m keeping my age private knowledge, so what? You got things ya won’t tell, but you don’t see me calling your word shit because ya won’t tell the world.”
Looking off to my right into the trees I shake my head, “I realize that I don't show emotion hardly but I still have them, they’re dull, but they can still feel.”
“Ah’m sorry. Ah don’t know what steered me say what Ah did to ya but Ah apologize for what I said.” I turn my head and met her sincere eyes, “Ya didn’t deserve what Ah said to ya an’ its been naggin’ at me since you walked out the door that night. Ah really am sorry. It’s not like me to jus’ say somethin’ without thinkin’, especially when what Ah say was so rude.”
Standing in front of her looking down on her with my arms crossed I break eye contact with the pony and instead bring my gaze straight ahead, exhaling a long breath through my nose as I think over what she said, “It caught me off guard when ya said it and the day I had experienced had already shortened my fuze so I apologize for not conversing with you instead of jus’ runnin’ off.” Looking back to the pony I give a small smile before it quickly fades, “ I don’t know why you said it or what made ya, but I accept your apology if you accept mine.”
“As far as Ah’m concerned, You’ve done nothin’ wrong.” She gives a few solem chuckles, “Ah really don’t know where my outburst came from though, you’ve never wronged any of one bit. Ah’m also sorry if Ah made it seem like I disliked you, you jus’ confuse me and Ah don’t know what to say sometimes.” She rubs her forehead.
“What do ya mean?” I look to her uncrossing my arms.
“Well Ah jus’. Ah don't know what it is about ya, ya jus’ make me feel on edge when Ah’m around ya.”
“Well AJ I don’t know what ta say other than that I’d never hurt any of y’all intentionally, physically or otherwise.”
“Ah know ya wouldn’t Ah jus’... Ah don't know how Ah feel around ya.”
“Well that’s somethin’ you need to figure out yourself, but how about we put this being upset at each other behind us?”
“That sounds good.” She gives a small smile and nods, “Now not ta scurry off but Ah got a lot of work to catch up on.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Big Mac hurt himself applebucking a few days ago an’ now Ah gotta pick up the slack ‘fore the apples go bad.” She answers showing how tired she was.
“Nope,” I shake my head, “You’re done workin’ for the day, ya look like yer runnin’ on fumes.”
“Ah gotta get this done Hank, ya don’t understand.” She looks tiredly up to me.
“Nope.”
“Ah’m gonna go now, Ah’m glad we’re back to being friendly again, but Ah gotta get ta work.” She starts to back away.
“Nope.” I quickly lean down and snatch her up in my arms, holding her pressed to my torso as her head rested in the side of my neck.
“HEY! STOP! LET ME DOWN!” She yells struggling in my grip.
“No.” I simply state as I start to run my fingers through her mane making her breathing slow to a melodic in and out.
“Put me down darnit…” She slowly states as she stops struggling and hums letting her head rest on my shoulder.
“No can do AJ you’ll kill yourself if ya keep this up.” I deny her request in as soft of a voice as I could and scratch behind her ears making her hum again.
“Why do ya have to be so… why do ya smell so good.” She switches her train of thought mumbling as she sticks her cold nose into my neck and takes in a deep breath.
Standing awkwardly I continue to scratch the back of her neck until I feel her rest her head and fall into a slow and steady breathing pattern.
Gently patting her on the back of the head I start to walk smoothly as possible to the house. Opening the doors slowly and quietly I duck down and walk into the inside of the hallway to the living area where Granny most likely was.
Stepping into the room I’m met with the questioning eyes of Mac as he lays awkwardly on his side on the couch with his right leg stuck out at what looked like an uncomfortable angle. Turning and looking to my left I see Granny smiling at me as she rocked in her chair.
“Where is her bedroom?” Quietly ask the old mare.
“Up the stairs last door on the left.” She answers immediately, “When you’re done with her can you come down here for a second?”
Only nodding my head in response I turn and start to make my way up to the stairs, but not before noticing the nervous look Mac was directing toward Granny.
Reaching the room I open the door with my left hand and step inside the spacious mellow green room. Looking to the bed directly next to the door I bend over and pull back the sheets before using both hands to gently lay AJ down onto the bed.
Taking her hat off and putting on the peg stuck in the wall with a portion of rope hanging from it. Looking back to the fast asleep pony I start to tuck her in before freezing as she starts to mumble again.
Thinking she’d woke up I turn my head to look at her as she grabs onto one of her apple print pillows and pulls it close, “P-please harder, r-right… there…” She airily says, a small smile on her face.
Quietly laughing at what seemed to be a sleep deprivation onset wet dream, something that happened to me more than once, I pull the blanket up before standing up and shaking my head as she fidgeted around a little under the sheets, caught in whatever dream she was in.
“H-hank.”
I stop from where I was about to leave and slowly turn my head to the sleeping pony, my eyes wide in shock.
“doc please…”
Abort. Abort. Abort. Alarm bells go off in my mind making me quickly but quietly exit the room and close the door my breathing acting like I just ran five miles. Not knowing what to think I decide to not think about it at all and to focus on making myself look less panicked than I was before going down stairs. Taking a few deep breaths in and out I hit myself in the center of the chest a few times before taking one last large exhale and staring down the stairs.
Taking the stairs two at a time I reach the bottom in no time and once again meet with the two ponies in the family room.
“What’d ya need?” I look to Granny.
“Well Big Mac here done somethin’ ta his leg a few days ago and it hasn’t started to get better yet, but he won’t let nopony look at it because he’s ‘fraid to expose himself. If ya get what I’m sayin’.”
“Granny…” Mac whines in his baritone voice.
“Mac ya got ta get yer leg looked at my somepony, and since you’re bein’ such a stallion ‘bout it I figure that having somebody ya know look at it would be better than somepony ya don’t.” Granny explains to the visibly nervous stallion.
“Ah think it’s gettin’ better. Really.” He shakes his head and tries to move his right rear leg only to his own own chagrin as he hisses in pain.
Looking closely at his leg and how it was slightly pointed out, Superior anterior hip dislocation. I think in my head, “Mac I think you should listen to Granny here.”
“N-no I - I ain't gonna let ya.”
“Stop being such a baby Mac, Hank’s a doctor for Makers sake.” Granny says frustrated with the red pony.
“N-nope.” He firmly states.
“Mac I think you should jus’ let me do this.”
“Nope, I won’t let ya.”
“Mac c’mon! Go up to yer room if your worried ‘bout privacy!” Granny angrily frowns completely out of patience.”
“N-no.” He shakes his head gaining red to his face.
Looking at his leg I take a breath and harden my gaze before taking the slung rifle off my back and leaning it on the wall behind me, “I’m done askin’.”
Walking toward the stallion on the couch he looks to me with wide eyes and a nervous look on his face before putting his front hooves out in front of him in a feeble attempt to stop my advance. Thrusting his hooves at me to push me away as I got close I use my left hand and push on his extended arms so his face was in the back cushion of the couch before digging the same arms under his neck and wrapping it around before pulling him up.
“N-no, Please.” He pleads.
“The time for pleasantries is over.” I grunt wrapping my other arm around his midsection and pulling him up to my torso. Moving in my grip to much I adjust my grip so most of his weight was on my right forearm at my side while I held him in place with my left across his front.
Not saying a word I turn and start to the stairs and up them before stopping at the first door on the left because it was the furthest from AJ and entering. The pony in my grip whimpering slightly I turn and close the door before setting him on the bed.
Walking around to the other side of the bed so I was on his right side his eyes nervously follow me the whole way while he crosses his rear left leg over his right and uses his tail to further cover himself.
Front hooves folded like a dog rolling in the grass he hides part of his face from me. Stopping at the side of the bed I kneel down next to it.
“Now Mac we are both mature alright. It ain't nothin’ I ain't seen or done before. I’m not going to judge ya, I’m jus’ gonna fix ya.” I look to the nervous pony and try to reassure him.
“But yer gonna see all of…” He stops, unable to say the words.
“Cock and balls? Yeah. So?” I finish for him.
Gaining more red from what I said and breaking eye contact I look to the shite sheets and sigh, “Mac, there ain't nothin’ ta be embarrassed about.”
“But you’re another stallion.” She points out.
“Is that what yer worried ‘bout?” I Laugh, “This ain’t gay Mac, Nothin’ is happenin’ here.”
“I-it’s not that it that Ah… Ah uh…”
“Look, forget it, if ya don't want to that’s too damn bad. Either you open yer legs so I can see what’s goin’ on with ya or I’m going to pry them open.”
Whimpering again I glare at him, “This is happening either way Mac. One will hurt ya lots more.”
Switching from his leg to me a few times he clenches his eyes and opens his legs to I could get a closer look.
“Thank you.” I huff, leaning in to get a closer look to the inside of where his hip met his femur and connected with the ball joint.
“Damnit, I was right.” I more or less curse to myself switching my position to his hoof and ankle, “No foot droop, good.” I grab his hoof and move it around, “Can ya feel this?”
“E-Eyup.” She answers,
“Good. Now I want you to push against my hand as hard as ya can with only your hoof okay? Go.”
Holding my hand over his hoof he presses against it strong, showing no weakness, “Good. Did any part of you leg or anything go numb since this happened?” I ask.
Shaking his head ‘no’ from behind where he had his front legs covering his face I switch back to his thigh and start to run my fingers down where his torso and leg connected occasionally poking.
Taking a deep breath in at my sudden touch his eyes shoot open and he looks down to what I was doing with an extremely red face, even more red than usual that is.
“Any pain, soreness when I poked?”
“A-a little.”
“Okay good, your sciatic nerve isn't dead, and by how ya said your leg never fell asleep or lost feeling yer artery ain’t pinched causing bone death neither.”
“Ah’m sorry.” He apologizes ignoring what I just said.
“You’re sorry for getting an erection when I felt around an extremely sensitive area? Mac it’s biology, nothin to be sorry fer. Now bite this pillow.” I throw a white pillow into his face.
“W-What!?” He looks to me wide eyed.
“I ain’t gearin’ up to plow you up the ass jus’ bite the damn pillow and count to ten so I can hear you.” I look away from him and position my hands on his leg getting ready to reset it.
Looking back to him I nod, “Count.”
Listening to him muffledly count to ten I lay in wait for when he got to seven.
“Only wanna do this once.” I prepare myself, taking a deep breath in through my nose right as he got to six.
“Spteven.”
With a fast pull and push with a loud pop filling the room I count in my head ‘one’ before he starts screaming in pain, the pillow helping keep it quiet.
Watching as he moves his recently reset leg around as his back arches and falls back to the mattress as he writhes in pain still screaming I wait for the pain to subside.
“That’s always a bad one, no matter how tough ya are.” I state into the air, observing as he calmed down, his chest heaving as he took in deep breaths.
His screaming over with he weakly pushes the pillow away and looks to me with exhausted eyes, “Is it fixed?”
Giving a small smile I nod, “Yeah, jus’ be careful for a few weeks okay. Ya got real fuckin’ lucky, don't push it.” I use the bed as a point to stand up. Rolling my neck I walk around the bed and place my hand on the door knob.
“Uh, Hank?”
“Yeah?” I turn and look down to face Mac.
“Do ya not like us?” Saddened he asks.
“No.” I look at him strange, “What made ya think that?”
“When Thunderlane said what he did and then when ya left and said you’d stop showin’ up and then ya didn’t for a while I figured ya jus’ didn’t like us no more.”
Taking my hand from the door knob and turning to him I sigh, “I still think mighty highly of y’all, Thunderlane on the other hand I could throw in a ditch. I jus’ have a hard time with those memories, it was nothing against y’all, but I jus’... yeah ya get it.”
“Okay,” He nods, “Ah was jus’ ‘fraid you’d stopped comin’ by.”
“No need to worry ‘bout that,” I smile, “ but ya need yer rest and I need to go, so I’ll see ya later.” I open the door and step out into the hall, “Stay off that leg for a day or two.” I add pulling the door closed.
Turning from the room I make my way down the stairs one more time. Reaching the bottom of the stairs I immediately walk over to my rifle and inspect it before slinging it over my shoulder again.
“What’d ya do to him?” Granny looks to me amused.
“He had a dislocated hip, I popped it back into place.” I answer.
“He’ll be okay?”
“Yeah, if he doesn’t fuck it up again here in the near future.”
“How bad?”
“He got damn lucky, no nerve got pinched, not arteries got pinched, and his bone didn’t start to die.” Adjusting my belt and suspenders I explain, “Would ya watch him though for a while? Dislocations take a long time heal ta normal... if they do.”
“I’ll watch him,” She sighs, “thank ya fer helpin’ out again Hank.”
“Not a problem, it’s what I do.” I look up and nod.
“I’m glad yer in the neighborhood.” The old mare smiles, “Now what are ya up to?”
“I figure I’ll go pick some apples so when AJ wakes up she don’t have as much ta do. Mac won’t be doing any buckin’ for a week or more.”
“Ya have any idea what ta do?” Amused she smiles and shakes her head.
“I’ll figure it out.” I reply before walking for the front door before exiting onto the porch, the old boards creaking under my weight.
<><><> 1st person, Hank, 16:35 <><><>
The baskets arranged around the tree under the largest branches with the most apples I look at the tree before breaking into a run. Quickly coming onto the tree I jump into the air and twist to my left before loading my legs and releasing them right as I got in range.
A loud thud coming from the tree I fall to the ground quickly on my already bruised left shoulder making me wince. Pushing myself up I look and see that the majority of the apples were in the basket while a few had fallen to the ground.
Quickly gathering the stragglers while my sweat pours down my frame, flying off my hair as I look around and move, I pick up one basket before setting it onto another and jogging for the barn.
That’s most of what AJ started down in the north field. I think while I come up to the barn. Slowing to a stop inside I stack the two baskets next to the others I had brought in during my three hours of non stop back and forth.
Looking to my watch as I walk out of the barn, my lungs greedily taking in the cooling air, I take notice of the time and decide to get the two other baskets into the barn before going into town and asking Red what day she got off.
None of my gear on minus my chest holster I look down to my already stained white tee shirt and laugh at its sweat soaked and dirt / grass stained arms. Rolling my shoulders at the thought I hum in displasure at the stiffness of them, “Well that’s what I get fer dropping on them each a few hundred times,” chuckling I grab both my shoulders with the opposite hands and massage them a little to relieve the stiffness that had built up.
Reaching where I dropped my gear off I take the chest holster off before slipping on my plate carrier. My sweat covered shirt pressing tightly against my back I push down my growing feeling of displeasure and deal with it as I put on my belt and suspenders.
The cooling air I was thoroughly enjoying through my soaked shirt now stopped by the layers of steel plates, kevlar, nylon, and bullets hanging off my frame I sigh and grip my rifle tightly in both hands before starting for the road to town.
Set into a steady jog, that was more like a quick run thanks to the gravity on the planet, I make it to the hill in no time. Stopping for a second I scan the town, watching as the ponies mill about in the slowly lowering sun.
“Time to break the pleasant atmosphere.” Walking down the road I start back into a jog to conserve time. Close enough to see the ponies clearly, their ears rotate towards me at the sound of my gear clanking against itself and my heavy footfalls on the dirt road. Noticing my sudden presence a few of them scramble to enter their homes and get away while the other half stand and watch me while taking a few steps back.
Slowing to a walk I eye the ponies carefully as they do the same to me and make my way down main street.
Taking off my helmet and holding it under my left arm I run my fingers through my hair and shake loose the sweat that was sticking to it. Moving my hand back and forth rapidly little beads of sweat fly from my hair and coat my hand. The air feeling good on my scalp I consider leaving my helmet off but quickly shoot the idea down, the threat of ponies around me too great.
The big white three story Ponyville General Hospital coming up on my right I see Red Heart walk out of the doors and start to descend the stairs.
“Hey Red.” I raise my voice a little due to the distance between us and use my left hand to draw her attention.
‘O’ she opens her mouth before changing course and approaching me, a small smile on her face.
“Hank, how have you been?”
“Still breathin’.” I smile, “Yourself?”
“Tired but good, as usual.” The white pony punctuated with a deep breath.
“So what did ya find out about yer day off?” I question walking next to the pony at her pace.
“Well funny thing…” She laughs tuning her head to look at me.
“If ya tell me ya didn’t apply for a day off I swear Red.”
“Nononono, it’s the exact opposite, I got this weekend and the whole of next week off.”
“Seriously?” I raise an eyebrow in disbelief.
She nods.
“Bet that feels good.”
“I d-don’t know, it’s been so long since I’ve taken any time off.”
“How long has it been exactly?” I look to her while we make it out back to the edge of the square.
“Well about two years.” She sighs.
“God damn Red,” I huff, “That ain’t healthy.”
“I know but-”
“Equestria doesn't deserve to be tainted by your filth you ape!” I hear to my left and start to turn my head before something heavy and fast slams into the bottom lip of my helmet and head. Feeling my helmet fly off my head I crumple to to a knee using my left arm to cover my injured head while my eyes flash white and a filter of static distorts any sounds I hear.
“Go back to the woods with the other monstrosities you piece of shit!” I hear another muffled voice yell at me, another large, what I assumed to be stone, impacting my left thigh.
Spacial awareness coming back after what could of only been a few seconds, but what felt like minutes, I realize Red was still near me and frantically look for her. Thankfully already being in my line of sight that lined up with how I was protecting my head I saw that she was staring right at me while her eyes were open wide.
Everything still in slow motion due to the adrenaline that surged my system the second I got surprised and injured, an attribute I gained from repeated traumatic and extremely fast paced scenarios that gave me almost no time to think, I see a rock bounce off the ground, throwing a small amount of dust into the air before impacting her white chest making her flinch back.
My anger at a boiling point from getting attacked and hit in the head, I feel the same flip switch but magnified and look to the ground, a lone white brick with blood and matted hair stuck to its surface.
Grabbing the brick strongly in my right hand I throw it while also raising it to my feet, aiming for the leftmost attacker’s covered face while another stone was levitated in his magic. The brick traveling the ten meters extremely quickly leaves him no time to move, but he gets lucky as my throw was off only breaking his left leg front leg backwards making him drop the stone and fall to the same side on the ground instead of turning his face inside out.
The others rock in the air while I threw mine it impacts the front of my vest doing nothing but drawing my attention and pissing me off further.
Snapping my head to the other I push off and rush him right as he throws a rock resembling broken concrete at my head. Bringing my arms up to protect my face, my hands clamping down on top of my head to maximize strength of my form, the rock crashes into my left arm, glancing off.
Already knowing the arm was burst and torn open bad I ignore the pain and lower to the ground before pushing off in a pounce at the pony. Reaching out with my left hand I grab his throat while my forward momentum pushes him onto his back where I land on his stomach, clamping down instantly with my thighs.
Pulling my right arm back loading it I throw a powerful hook to the side of his face with a loud yell of anger. Head snapping to the side from the blow the pony appears to be knocked unconscious. Pushing myself up with the hand around his throat I keep my hand locked and pull the limp body up with me.
Standing, I place my right hand in the center of his chest, pulling him toward me before shot putting him directly into the wall of one of the buildings about ten feet away. Impacting with a thump I grab the handle of my knife and pull it out before walking toward the limp body of the pony. Switching to an ice pick grip I raise the knife beside my head ready to plunge it into the black coat of the pony repeatedly before a yip of pain grabs my attention to my left.
Looking to the side I saw the other unicorn had gotten up and was limping away into the crowd. Forgetting about turning the pony in front of me into a pin cushion I return the knife to its home and fastly stomp toward the pony, closing the distance rapidly as he stayed unaware of my presence.
Getting directly behind him I clamp both my hands down on either sides of his barrel, making him freeze before I squat down a little and tense my arms. In one smooth motion I use my legs core, chest, and arms to throw the pony straight up into the air.
Watching as he flailed around and screamed as he completed his arc and plummeted toward the ground I lay in wait for when he landed.
Hitting the ground with a crunch and snap that sounded like another leg breaking a scream of pain terrible enough to freeze any other man’s blood escapes his mouth as he contorts in pain. Walking the few feet to where he landed I grab his tail with both hands and with a yell that started at the bottom of my throat spin a half rotation before letting him fly toward the same building his friend crashed against as the yell escaped my mouth.
Watching him go he clears the building and lands on the roof with a thud. Looking to where I last saw him disappear over the building a second ago I growl before slowly tearing my eyes away, looking for my helmet.
Finding it easily next to where Red was standing, frozen like a statue staring at me, I walk over and pick it up and go to put it on before pausing. Bringing my left hand to where I could feel my head throbbing I push for a second feeling an obvious tear before bringing my hand in front of my face, my calloused skin covered in fresh, warm blood.
Holding the helmet by the rim in my left hand I pick up my rifle I dropped when the first brick hit me in the head, using my right hand to sling it on my shoulder.
“You alright?” I grumble looking over to Red.
Nodding her head in small and slow up and down motions I reach to my side and behind for my med kit.
The two snaps that held the nylon cover down popping with a familiar crispness I pull the plastic box from the pouch before opening it and pulling out a single gauze pad and a roll of compress. Ripping off the packaging with my teeth I spit out the pieces in my mouth while unfolding the gauze and placing it on my head wound. Unrolling the compress next I wrap it around my head in a way where it covered the least amount of sensory organs possible before tucking the end left into the top of the wrap to hold it in place until I could get home.
“Still wanna do dinner or no?” I ask the nurse.
“S-sure.” She answers sounding unsure.
“When?”
“Saturday.” She states with a waver in her voice.
Nodding in response I close up the mad kit and put it back in its pouch after some fumbling, the awkward placement not allowing for fast replacement.
“Your left eye.” Redheart randomly points out.
“What ‘bout it?”
“It’s completely red… dark, dark red.”
“Must’ve bust a blood vessel. Blood pressure peaked out again. Had to relieve pressure somewhere.” Running the back of my right hand across my mouth I look and see that it was in fact covered in blood, “Bloody nose as usual.” I grumble spitting a large glob of blood on the ground.
“Have a good night.” I turn and start to walk away before stopping and looking around to the crowd that looked at me horrified, watching my every move.
“Use this as a lesson to show what will happen if you make a attempt on my life or the especially people I care for. You might hurt me but I will end you. ” I growl looking around making sure to get a good look at every pony, “The only reason I didn’t kill these two today right in front of y’all is because there are kids here, next time however it won’t matter if your damn five year old is sat there watching, I’ll orphan the kid and mentally ruin them by ripping off your legs and beating you to death with them while they watch.”
The crowd gasping at my comment I spit out more blood, “Don’t make me prove it.” Starting to walk away again I stop once more, “Ya know for such a ‘tolerant’ society y’all really are xenophobes.”
Starting again I don't stop this time and start to make down the main road out of town, ponies that were attracted by the commotion leaving what they were doing to go see before stopping in their tracks as they saw me.
Keeping my eyes forward a large amount of guards quickly rounds a corner lead by one of the vendors that had a stand on the square before stopping in their tracks as well, backing up a few steps while their eyes widen.
Steadily approaching one levels her spear up at my chest making the tip dig into my plate carrier. Stopping I slowly look down to the pony as she shrinks back from my hate filled gaze. Grabbing the haft of the spear I rip it out of her grasp before holding it sideways and breaking it over my knee.
“Fuck you.” I spit throwing the two pieces to the ground and pushing through the group of guards, no other problems arising.
Not ten seconds later as I made my way down the road further Twilight and Rarity come around from the right where the tree was down the road.
“What happened?” Twilights asks.
“I have no idea, but I heard a loud yell before lots of screaming from around the square.” Rarity reports.
Coming around the corner they turn toward me and turn their heads looking at me at the same time. Stopping immediately I keep walking hoping to avoid the purple bitch.
“It was you wasn’t it?” I hear her say with disgust, “How many ponies do you have to hurt before you’re happy.”
Pissed off already her words set me off again.
“You cunt, why do you have to be such a goddamn bitch?” I turn and start fastly walking toward her.
Surprised at my response her eyes open wide while her pupils shrink.
“I try to be nice, I invite y’all to dinner to iron out our differences and try to at least be at peace but noooooooo. You call me a murderer before the trial was over. Guess what? Turns out I ain’t!” I huff.
“Well I’m done being nice you wasted cum load. You’ve pushed me too DAMN FAR!” I squat down right in front of her baring my teeth, “Maybe. Jus’ maybe. If you weren't such a racist xenophobic bitch ya would off asked ‘what happened’ instead of accusing me that I murdered again you would understand I did it out of self defence!” I jab her in the chest with a blood covered finger making her whimper, a small blood stain left on her purple coat.
“Do you think I wanted to get hit in the head with a FUCKIN’ BRICK jus’ for being who I am!? You see all this blood don’t cha? OH yes you do…” I growl, my eyes starting into hers, “You see all this blood leaking out of my nose and mouth, my left eye that burst and is redder than the fillin’ in cherry pie and the GODDAMN HOLE IN THE SIDE OF MY HEAD!” I rip off the bandage that was covering the gash and throw it in her face as the blood starts to flow from the wound freely again.
“I was attacked in front of children for coming into this worthless cesspool of hatred and ungrateful wastes. Do you know what I was doin’ here?” I pause for a second, the pony shaking under my gaze, “I was here gettin’ a time to come over to a overworked nurses’ house and cook dinner fer her, and I’m the monster?”
Starting at her I growl, “You’d be glad if I was dead right now, you’d be elated, you’re the monster here, not me.”
“All I Want TO DO IS SURVIVE AND HAVE FRIENDS I WON’T HAVE TO BURY IN TWO MONTHS!” I use both hands and grab her front legs before standing up holding her tightly in my grasp, “WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT!?” I yell the pony whimpering, eyes locked open as she stared at me with a terrified expression.
Letting go of her she falls to the ground on her ass and falls on her side. Bending over and sitting her up I squat back down to her level and glare at her, “I hate you so much you purple twat, I hate you so much.” Leaning back I sigh.
"From now on you better watch what comes out of the cock holster of your's because from now on consider our relationship violently hostile." I growl, "Push me any further and I'll show you how good of hunter a human can be."
Standing up I spit out a glob of blood and slowly turn, nothing going to stop me from leaving the town.
<><><><><><>
Vaulting over the white plank fence that marked off the Apple’s property to make sure none of them saw me in the state I was in I spit up more blood. Wiping my mouth with a groan I look around before slinking back into the trees.
Whipping the last bandages I had out of the kit I wrap my arm barely enough to stop any blood from seeping from the gash, and to hold the loose flap of skin in place. No bandages left I feel my head, no more blood flowing from the hole. Brushing some of the flaking blood from the area I bring my left hand in front of my face and rub my thumb across my fingers, grunting as I felt no wet.
The baskets sitting right where I left them a hour ago I stop and look at the baskets half full of apples as the trees rustled mockingly in the mild breeze and lowering sun. Slowly looking from the left to right, taking in the surreal beauty of the landscape I unclip my suspenders and throw them next to a tree before setting down my rifle as well.
Taking a deep breath I roll my shoulders and crack my neck, “We stop when the work is done.”