Paradise
Chapter 43: Change
Previous Chapter Next Chapter<><><> Two Weeks Later, H & Z, Cabin <><><>
Over the last Two weeks since their “first date” things had not continued to go peacefully as they had been.
Despite the cull that Hank, Luna and Celestia had conducted in the Everfree that had ended with a good square mile of forest reduced to ash, and hundreds of Shuck’s sent to hell, their numbers had bounced back and they had started pestering the border of the Everfree once again. At first it was just cursory signs like a few tracks in the mud, but it had quickly grown into kill sites and eventually drag lanes.
Other than pissing off the human greatly, it had proved to the man that there was something orchestrating the wolves, something that had thoughts, something that had a mission to destroy. Hank hadn’t forgotten the events of the last excursion, anything but, he had thought about them again and again.
While analytical and calculating it wouldn’t be words someone who had seen Hank operate would use to describe him, the further couldn’t be further from the truth. While true that the man had no issues with improvisation and adapting to unforeseen circumstances his initial instinct was to study and build a target profile if he was able.
Needless to say Hank had studied the Shucks a lot in his numerous encounters. Everything from how they moved, how they scanned their surroundings, how they communicated, how they fought, was scrutinized in his mind and compared to subsequent encounters.
Every instance about his times among the beasts was standard, typical, normal even, when compared to other meetings. That was except during his joint operation with the princesses. Not only had the Shucks shown a greatly improved sense of tactics when they flanked, but they also retreated and regrouped, attacking in defined waves.
Shucks never retreated.
That was the first outlying data point in Hank’s mind. The second and most glaring was the behavior of his phone.
Sat at the workbench, phone in his hand, Hank looked through his music library idly as he thought about the events of that fateful day and rethought, rethought again, unwilling to accept what he knew to be true.
He knew for an absolute fact that his phone had not played the music of its own volition through some kind of glitch or even possible moisture build up. Not only had his phone never done that before when along with him, but it was also on full silent with all volumes locked to none.
As if that wasn’t enough he hadn’t even been on the music application that day and always quit each application fully once he was done to preserve battery life regardless. And as if that wasn’t enough he had watched the phone cycle through songs before eventually finding Free Bird and selecting a precise point in the song!
Huffing and setting the phone down Hank stood from the bench and made his way to the racks of materials he had finally organized and just stared at his various items, still lost in thought.
The real kicker was that when he had laid on the phone to muffle it and the song had started playing FROM THE SKY.
Huffing to himself the human’s face hardened when he could deny it no longer. There was no other semi logical explanation.
It was obvious to the man as he stared at the pounds upon pounds of gunpowder and pipe sections, but he didn’t want it to be because he knew what it meant.
The reason why the Shuck’s had acted so differently than when in their small elements closer to the edge of the Everfree was because they were under control, and closer to the source of their control.
And the reason why he phone had acted as if it was under control by… something, was because it was! The same something that was controlling the Shucks like some kind of wicked hive mind was the same thing that had grasped control of whatever it could to get him and the royal sisters caught and out of the way, in the form of his phone. It just hadn’t accounted for the fact that every human in existence fights better with Free Bird playing and that Celestia would whip a nuclear bomb out of her back pocket. Rookie mistake.
While the instance of whatever it was controlling his phone initially didn’t hold water since all of his possessions from home were immune from magic, if what Hank was thinking was true it only emboldened his idea more because what he was thinking wasn’t natural in the slightest.
It wasn’t even natural in a land full of unnatural things like walking, talking, magical horses; what Hank was thinking was firmly in the supernatural even for the land he found himself in. And if some entity that was said to be some supernatural legend even to magical horses did possibly exist, who was to say it couldn’t figure out a way to get three people it wanted killed by means of remote control.
Hank didn’t know any details about the Everfree spirits or whatever they were called, other than that the good side was supposedly a huge moss covered moose, and that the bad side was some dark foreboding black werewolf.
What he did know was that he had a target, and a situation that if not handled would lead to a lot of deaths by the end of winter. In essence Hank was out of time, out of options, and lacking information other than what his gut was telling him and a soft confirmation that the spirits existed from Celestia and Luna.
It wasn’t a favorable situation but the man operated best with his back against the proverbial and actual wall. With the change in weather under full swing, with each night getting cooler than the last Hank knew fall was on its last legs and so was his window of opportunity for doing what needed to be done in weather that wouldn’t kill him.
Taking a few of the containers of gunpowder down from the top shelf along with a few sections of galvanized steel pipe and end caps, Hank sighed when the weight of what he was about to do hit him.
He had no ideas on the proper method to kill an evil forest spirit or god or whatever it was but he did know that he had plenty of ordinance, bullets, knives, and that they had never let him down before.
<><><><><><>
“I do not support your idea.” Zecora said firmly with a frown as she watched him prepare for his hair brained mission.
“Look hun, I told you. This is just gonna be a quick scouting mission to a deeper part of the forest so I can see what’s goin’ on.” Hank said in a complete lie.
“Really? Then why are you making so many bombs?” Zecora cocked her head to the side, “Surely you don’t think I’m dumb enough to believe that do you?”
“I don’t think you’re dumb at all Z.” Hank set the pipe down and turned to face the zebra, “But you don’t know how I do this kinda thing.”
“Bull shit.” Zecora rolled her eyes, using one of the swears she had picked up from the human, “I know exactly how you operate. You go in like a rabid dog and kill everything in your path and get yourself nearly killed in the process.”
“Not thi-”
“But this time you’re out of your depth. You can’t possibly take on a whole forest of wolves at your lonesome. And don’t take that as a challenge cause I can see that look in your eye.”
“Hun there- there's no look in my eye. I’m not trying to wipe out anything right now, I just need to know what’s going on.” Hank defended.
“Right.” Zecora sat down and crossed her hooves, “And what exactly are you going to do even if you find anything?”
“I’m gonna come back and let Luna and Celestia know if I find anything.”
Not buying it for a second Zecora shook her head, “You expect me to believe that? You handle things yourself, me and you both know that, if the opportunity presents itself you’ll take it and wind up dead. This isn’t like before, this isn’t like the cave, the deep Everfree is a place that swallows up lives worse than any monster alive. Entire towns of every background, entire armies, have disappeared never to be seen again!”
“That’s why I’m going alone.” Hank explained, only making Zecora huff and stomp her hooves.
“How is that a good thing!? Did you not hear a single thing I just said!?”
“Because a large element like a town or an army can’t go in unnoticed, and if noticed can’t break contact. I can. That’s what the bombs are for, if I begin to be pursued I can pop one of these behind me and get away during the explosion.”
“You think that will work?” Zecora asked rhetorically, not trusting his words.
“I know damn well that it works.” Hank’s eyes hardened, “You forget that I spent five God damned years doing exactly what I just explained.”
Sighing, Zecora’s ears laid down, “You said it yourself though, you Celestia and Luna were almost killed the last time you went just a few kilohoofs into the Everfree and you’re wanting to go in thirty!”
“Around thirty, following the river.” The man clarified.
“Whatever! If it was too much for you and both immortal princesses of the sun and moon, what makes you think you can go six times as far?”
“Because I’m avoiding direct action unlike last time.” Hank pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned back against the bench, “Look hun, if you would have seen a third of the shit I did before I came here you’d think this little scouting trip was nothin’.”
“It’s still an awful idea that you are not obligated to carry out.” Zecora held firm in her opinion.
“I know I’m not, but if not me then who?”
“Oh I don’t know… Maybe the royal guard? The ponies responsible for keeping the kingdom safe?” Zecora laughed out in exasperation.
“If they were sent in all it would result in is dead guards and a lot of dead ponies when nothin’ gets done.” The man shook his head.
“Still-”
“Zecora look.” Hank cut the zebra off, “I’m getting tired of fighting these wolves. I’m getting tired of feeling like at a moment's notice anyone I love and care about is at risk of being torn apart. I’ve lived with this worry in the back of my mind constantly for half a decade now. I’m. Sick. Of. It.”
Taking a breath to take back control of himself Hank ran his fingers through his hair, “I at least want a stable place to lay my head at night, and as long as these Shucks are around that ain’t gonna happen.”
“H-Honey I get it but please, maybe we could just move?”
Shaking his head the human dismissed her idea, “I’m done runnin’. If I leave then the ponies still here are mince meat for what is comin’. This issue needs resolved, and at this rate I’m gonna burn through everything I have doin’ a whole lot of nothing.”
While she knew he was right about what would happen if he left, Zecora still did not approve of his solo mission, “I still do not like it.”
“I know you don’t.” Hank said softly, “And I don’t expect you to, I just need you to trust me. Because if the head of this snake ain’t cut off soon that snake is gonna get all of us regardless of what I or Luna, or Celestia does.”
Mulling it over for Zecora’s eyes fell to the floor where she clamped them shut hard and did her best to keep from thinking about the worst case scenario.
“And you know what you’re doing?” She asked looking back up.
“I have more experience than you could possibly know.” Hank reassured with a small smile.
“How long will you be gone?”
“A week, week and a half tops.”
“Why so long?” Zecora asked, now even less thrilled with the idea.
“Going fast is out of the question when it comes to this line of work, you gotta take it slow to stay undetected. A week allows for two days in, two days out, and three days of observation if it even takes that long.” Hank explained like the seasoned professional he was.
“Will I be able to talk to you over the radio?” Zecora asked with a small amount of hope.
“No.” Hank answered snuffing out the last little ember of comfort she had left, “I have to go in completely darked out, not to mention the radios would cut out the second I get more than half a mile into the forest due to how dense it is.
“When would you be leaving?” Zecora asked as her heart sank.
“Three days. I still have some stuff to get set up and settled.”
“Okay.” Zecora sighed, “But we’re still gonna talk more about this, got it?”
“I got it hun.” Hank smiled.
<><><> Two days before infil, Hank, Cabin <><><>
With all ten of the bombs made to his deadly specification, packed full of gunpowder and ball bearings, perfectly timed with ten second fuses. Hank set about perfecting everything in his arsonal to make sure every variable for failure was eliminated or at least minimized.
First he siliconed the fuse holes and threads of the bombs to make sure the powder would stay primed and dry. A lesson he had learned when fighting during a misty spring day where his ordinance had failed from the ingress of moisture and failed to explode after he had startled up a nest of fifty infected that had set up shop in an old barn.
Secondly had secured the fusing to the body of the bombs so that they would not fall out in transit or be yanked out when he wanted to pull one, or fly off mid air. This was a lesson he had learned when just such a thing had happened and ended up igniting the explosive payload early causing it to detonate as he was still getting clear, resulting in yet more shrapnel wounds and a ruptured eardrum.
Other than practicing his perfected craft and checking everything five times for any possible errors, the man had dug out his three day assault pack and hand made pipe bomb pouches to put on his ALICE belt and suspenders.
Gathering and packing the equipment hadn’t been hard, it wasn’t anything new. Mostly consisting of extra ammo, ordinance, extra changes of socks, a cold weather layer, and a few canteens for water along with purification tablets.
Of course he also packed two MREs and plenty of jerky as well since he knew he couldn’t risk lighting any fires to cook or purify water. Other than the usual stuff though there was nothing out of the ordinary that he didn’t carry everyday.
What he was truly working on now was a special gift for Zecora and using the time he worked on it to sort his mind out.
He had wanted to give her something ever since she gave him that amazing bow, even if he couldn’t shoot it that great. And what better to give in return for a weapon than another weapon. As such the man stood in front of the old single shot break action twenty gauge shotgun as he sanded on the new forend he had carved for it, finishing out its rough edges.
He had decided on the old shotgun for one because he never used it, and two because it used ammo he never did. That and because he figured the heavy twenty gauge deer gun would have recoil Zecora could manage while still offering a good deal of lethality, unlike a .22.
Carving out the new forend and buttstock out of native wood had not been hard but was something that took a good deal of time. It was a step that needed to be done however. The man had rather quickly realized that ponies, through some force of magic, could pick up and hold objects that they shouldn’t.
It looked rather comical, like a coffee mug being glued to the inside of their hoof for example, but it worked, somehow. As such Hank had to replace the surfaces that Zecroa would use to hold the gun with wood that her hooves could stick to. Everything else like the trigger and lever to actuate the break action didn’t have to be from Equiis since those surfaces just needed to be pushed or pulled but did need to be enlarged a little.
Also, the trigger guard needed to be removed to fit the stretched trigger and allow access for her hoof to press. Thankfully, as with all break action shotguns the internal mechanism was dead simple and a new trigger could be filed into shape with hand tools easily, just as with the enlarged lever on the tang to allow the shotgun to open.
The only downside was that there wasn’t enough time to get fancy with the gun and make it pretty like he would like for Zecora’s first present. That was something he could rectify when he got back, he just wanted to give her something and provide her better protection when he was gone. He was confident that she would be a good shot, if her performance with the bow was any indication.
It was clear to the man that he’d have to work through the night to make the deadline as it was anyways. At least it’d give him plenty of time to think about just how he was going to finish what the stupid forest fuck had started.
<><><> One day before infil, Hank, Cabin<><><>
Looking over his creation Hank tapped his foot. The opening mechanism had been more tricky than he predicted and ate into more time than he had, meaning he had less time for the trigger and wood finishing.
Rolling it over in his hands a few times, inspecting it, the man grumbled a little at the file marks on the made from scratch trigger he was unable to get out before heat treating it meaning they were really stuck in there now.
Reminding to himself that the most important thing was that it worked, the human calmed a little. At least the profile of the new stock turned out good, being much more friendly to the shape of Zecora’s shoulder structure, even if the stain was a shade too light.
Giving the Shuck leather sling a tug and the shell holder on the stock a brush with his fingers the man smiled, the sling was what he was most proud of, it had turned out pretty clean for a quick two hour job, and the side saddle hadn’t turned out too bad either for how tough Shuck leather was. Nodding to himself, Hank grabbed the gun and threw it over his shoulder while picking up the box of 20 gauge slugs and the old steel plate that would act as their target.
The bright sun made the man squint as he exited the shop Hank grabbed his spade in his free hand and walked aways towards the treeline before spearing the spade into the ground and using it as a post to prop the steel plate up on.
Walking back towards the cabin Hank called out for the zebra, “Hey Zecora! Come here!”
A few seconds passing the door to the cabin eventually swung open allowing for Zecora to peak her head out curiously.
“C’mere.” The man beckoned with his hand prompting Zecora to break into a slow trot towards him.
“What is it?” The zebra inquired as she approached the smiling man.
“Check this out.” The man offered, pulling the gun from his back and showing it to Zecroa who looked over the gun, looking for what was so extraordinary about this one compared to the dozens of others.
“What is the-”
“Cover your ears.” Hank cut her off, loading a slug and shouldering the modified shotgun the best he could with the greatly shortened stock. Cocking the hammer and aiming low on the forty five pound steel plate so the slug wouldn’t topple it over, Hank barely pressed the lengthened trigger making causing the hammer to fall, and as result, the slug to fly down range smacking into the steel plate with a heavy thwack.
Laughing a little at the lightness of the trigger due to the leverage of the lengthened nature of it the man looked down to Zecora who looked away from the target plate and up to him as he broke the shotgun open, sending the spent, smoking shell rearwards.
Tracing the shell as it flew out of the gun for a second Zecroa looked back up to Hank a little confused as to why he had shown her the gun. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen the man use the weapons before so she didn’t know what was so special about this one.
“That is nice dear… and I’m sorry, but I don’t know what is so special about this one?” Zecora said, offering an apologetic smile.
“It really isn't anything special at its base.” Hank admitted holding the shotgun in both hands and looking at it from muzzle to butt, “It’s just an old Stevens break action single twenty gauge. But what is special about it is that it’s the first, and only, Stevens break action single twenty gauge fitted with Equestrian wood and custom made to fit a pony’s…. Or zebra’s dimensions.”
Smiling, Hank held the shotgun out to Zecora who looked between it and the man too stunned to speak.
“W- wait. You… You made this for me?” Zecora asked, slowly reaching out with her hoof toward the weapon.
“All yours hun.” Hank confirmed with a nod, handing the shotgun to his girlfriend who cradled it in her arms while staring up at the human, still shocked.
“Well are you just going to stare at me or do you want to shoot it?” The man laughed.
Slowly nodding Zecora smiled as well, “I’m not sure how to, however…”
“Yeah, Yeah. I know, I’ll show ya.” Hank dismissed.
Thanks to the shotgun being as simple as they come, besides two pieces of steel pipe you slam together, teaching the Zebra the manual of arms was very simple. She had quickly fallen into the modified sitting shooting stance and held the weapon comfortably as she practiced dry firing, reloading it. Nodding as he watched the zebra go through the motions as he commanded, Hank nodded.
“Don’t be afraid of the gun and lean away from it, lean into it, take control.” The human advised critiquing Zecora’s stance slightly. It was funny teaching the zebra how to shoot because even though she was completely different from a human bodily she had many of the same issues that many new shooters did. He’d be interested to see if she had a bad case of flinch or not.
Satisfied with her dry fire practice Hank nodded from his position beside her, “If you’re ready to do it for real I think you’re ready.”
Pausing in her motions Zecora brought her cheek up from the stock and looked up to the man, “I am ready.”
“That’s the spirit.” Hank smiled at the confidence in her tone, “Now you know how to load the gun in theory, and which side of the shell goes into the gun, but it's up to you on how you get it there. The rounds are obviously from Earth so your hooves won't stick to them like anything else from my home.
“I know exactly what I will do.” Zecora grinned as Hank gave her an ‘oh really’ look.
“Ight then Annie Oakly, on my command.”
Stepping behind Zecora Hank cleared his throat, “Open.”
Watching as she followed his command Zecora broke the shotgun open with ease thanks to the enlarged lever and held it at the ready waiting for the next command.
“Load.”
Curious on how exactly she would load the shotgun without fingers, or her hooves ability to stick to things Hank’s eyes widened in surprise when she brought her mouth to the rear most shell in the side saddle and pulled it free with her teeth before bringing it to the breach and sliding it in with no hang ups.
“That works.” The human commented, getting a sly smile from the zebra over her shoulder.
“Lock.”
Looking back forward, Zecora held onto the gun tightly and closed it just as Hank had shown her, resulting in a quick and positive click as the shotgun was brought into battery.
“Cock.”
Pulling the hammer back, Zecora made sure to stay clear of the touchy trigger as she brought the gun properly into her shoulder and looked down its sights, closing her left eye as she focused on the front post in the center of the steel plate.
“Fire when ready.” Hank finally said as he leant forwards and gently cupped both of her ears to protect them from the noise of the impending blast.
Looking forward as he waited for Zecora to pull the trigger he felt the zebra take a deep breath and knew the shot was coming soon. Sure enough, about half way through her exhale Zecora brought her hoof to the trigger and lit the round off causing the gun to buck back into her shoulder roughly and the slug to fly toward the steel plate resulting in… nothing.
Pulling his hands away from the zebra’s ears Hank stood up straight looking over the plate, not seeing any new hits, or having heard one.
“Eject.” Hank commanded, causing a still smoking empty twenty gauge shell to fly past his head less than a second later.
“I didn’t even hit it.” Zecora sighed, lowering the shotgun to her lap.
“I’ll go check.” Hank said as he started toward the plate that was twenty yards away leaving Zecora to rub her right shoulder.
Scanning the plate all the while he approached it the man hummed shen he continued to see no new hits on it but paused when he noticed daylight coming through the hole in the middle on the plate that would’ve been used to mount it to a bar.
Picking up the pace while laughing to himself as he got closer it became more clear that Zecora had sent the slug right through the open hole in the plate and punched a sixty one cal hole in the spade that was holding the plate up.
“Yeah, you didn’t hit the plate Zecora.” Hank called back to the zebra who was still sitting in the same spot, “You put it through the damned bullseye!”
Kicking the plate down Hank revealed the hole in the blade of the shovel for Zecora to see perking her up a little bit.
Picking the plate backup Hank started to walk back toward the armed zebra, “I’m starting to regret giving you that cause you’re already a little too good with it.” He kidded with a wide smile on his face.
Proud of herself with her first shot and Hank’s impressed reaction, Zecora smiled wide as she rubbed her shoulder, “I’ve had plenty of practice staying still when shooting,” the zebra explained, “This one sure hurts more than a bow however.”
“Lot more powerful too.” Hank mused as he approached the sitting zebra, “Make sure you’re holding it tight into your shoulder. Really pull it back into the shoulder pocket.”
Nodding, Zecora grabbed the shotgun and broke it back open, “Can I go again?”
“You got a gun, Z. You can do whatever you want.” The man said with a wide toothy grin.
<><><> Zero Hour <><><>
All his preparations made, materials gathered, mags loaded, plans thought and re-thought, Hank dripped the last bit of oil into the oil port on the side of the bolt carrier group of his old AR-15 and racked the bolt back and forth a handful of times ensuring the oil penetrated all the way into the BCG.
Carbine ready, the man gave it a fast visual inspection from suppressor to butt and nodded to himself before picking up the magazine on the table loaded with soft point hunting ammo and inserting it into the rifle, giving it a tap for good measure.
Opening the door to the cabin and stepping outside he closed it behind himself and Zecora before starting his walk to the back of the property where the stream came through the trees. Walking in silence Hank racked the rifle and put it on safe, making sure to close the dust cover as well before looking down to Zecora who had an obvious sorrowful look on her face.
“Don’t worry too much hun.” The human said with a small smile in an attempt to comfort the zebra.
With a heavy sigh Zecora slumped further at his words, “Nothing you say could make me worry less.”
Stopping at the edge of the woods next to the stream Hank simply nodded while looking down to his mate, “I understand.”
Stood in silence, looking into each other's eyes for a few tense moments as the gentle wind rattled the dying leaves on the trees, Zecora was the first to look away with a shaky sigh.
Fear and worry filling her mind and heart Zecora sniffled, “I’m scared Hank.”
“Nothing is going to happen to you Z. The cats are still here, you have the 240 in the cabin with two hundred rounds linked up, and your new “spear”. The man chuckled in an attempt to lighten the mood.
His attempt at humor completely ignored by the worried zebra, Zecora just shook her head sorrowfully, “I'm not scared for me, Hank. I'm scared for you. I’m scared this is the last time I will ever see you again, the last time I will ever talk to you, the last time I will feel your touch.”
“Zecora.” Hank sighed, getting down on a knee to be closer to her, “I love you with every fiber of my being and I’m coming back. I won’t lie and say I won’t get hurt but I’m dying in there, this isn’t a combat operation.”
Lying straight through his teeth, just like he was good at, in an attempt to comfort his partner Hank brought his hand to the side of Zecora’s face making her look at him as he smiled.
Her eyes wet with tears of worry as she thought about the worst, his smile did little to reassure her, “I can’t lose you Hank. I could never love someone as I love you. I don’t know what I would do if you don’t come back.”
“It’s a good thing you don’t need to know that then, cause I’m comin’ back. I don’t care if it's a week or three, I will be back. You know I mean that.” A serious tone in his voice the man promised the zebra.
No other option than to accept his words Zecora knew it was impossible to talk the man out of his plan no matter how hard she tried, he was just too stubborn. So with a deep breath Zecora straightened her posture and looked up to the man with a nod, “I know.”
Happy to see the zebra calming down Hank smiled and rubbed her back.
“I do have a stipulation however.” Zecora said looking directly into his eyes.
“Which is?” Hank asked with a curious raise of his eyebrow.
“If you go on this… suicidal quest, when you get back and the next season comes around we are starting a family. If you get to do ridiculously stupid antics like this I get to have a family.”
“I’ll think abo-”
“No you won’t.” Zecora cut off, her face deadly serious, “There’s no thinking about it. We are. That is final.”
Surprised at her sudden serious attitude and tone Hank sat up a little straighter, “I do suppose that’s fair.”
“Good.” The zebra nodded again, hopping up onto her hind hooves to get closer to the man’s eye level, “Now kiss me and leave before I get sadder.”
Doing just as she said Hank let Zecora decide how long the kiss lasted, only breaking when she started to pull away.
“Now get moving you big bald monkey.” She pushed him away with a sad smile.
“Whatever you say, horse.” Hank shot back with a wiry grin while standing to his full height and turning toward the forest.
Stopping with one foot past the grass of the clearing Hank turned back and looked at Zecora with a smile, “I love you hun.”
“I love you too.” Zecora smiled as she started crying again.
Turning away from the zebra with great physical and emotional effort Hank hardened his gaze, wiping all the pleasant memories from his mind while pulling back on the charging handle of the carbine, charging it in one quick violent motion before flicking it on safe and closing the dust cover.
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