Aftercase part 5

>"I had a family!"
>"Why did you do it!"
>"It was my son's birthday!"
>A group of griffins walks towards you.
>"Why?"
"Leave me alone!"
>You stumble back to find an invisible wall behind you.
>You try and look away from their rotting faces.
"Stop!"
>The continue to walk slowly towards you as you try and scramble away.
" HELP ME!"
>The invisible wall gives way and you fall onto your back.
>You feel your hand land in a pool of liquid.
>Looking at the floor you see a blood trail leading up to the body of Hammer Fell.
"NO! No no no no."
>You look back around towards the griffins that's still perusing you.
>"MAJOR! SKIPPER! Anyone! Hammer Fell needs help!."
>Upon calling their names you see their blooded bodies lay motionless in front of you.

>A piercing scream catches your attention.
>You spot Little Bale being held by one of the griffins.
>No, this isn't happening...
>You got to you hooves and ran towards the griffin.
>As you jump towards him you fell yourself falling into darkness.
>You scream as you fall into the abyss.
>THUD!

>You fell a sharp pain in your chest as you kick and scream.
>"BOY!"
>You hear Hammer Fells voice.
>"Wake up boy! You're dreaming."

>You wake up to find yourself on the floor next to the bunk with Hammer Fell front hooves around you.
>Your breathing slows down as you regain your thoughts.

>"Boy?"
"Hammer Fell? Where Skipper and Major!?"
>You look around

>"Present."
>You see Skipper wave a hoof at you.

>"Still here."
>Major waves a talon.

"Littl-"
>"I'm right here mister Jax."
>The small filly waves a hoof from the chest of drawers.

>You feel the tears run down your cheeks as feel relief that your friends are safe.
"All of you...all of your were...and Little Bale.."

>"Shhh ,there boy. It was just a dream."
>He holds you close.

>After seeing if you was ok, everyone went on with the plan.
>Major went straight to the market place to drill the new militia.
>Hammer Fell searched the market for any ponies with any smithing talents.
>Skipper went to find the village mayor for help finding maps of the surrounding area.
>And you, you were set developing tactics for the earth ponies using muskets.

"Fire!"
>You yell as a stallion fires his musket.
>The musket had its trigger guard removed for easy firing.
>Unsafe? Yes. But for now you have to wait until you come up with a new trigger system for hooves.
>You look ahead to see a can get shot off a rock a hundred yards away.

>"Easy."
>The stallion announces with a proud look on his face.
>"I bet I can hit that can at four times the distance"

"I doubt it. Those muskets firing distance is about hundred and fifty yards, and that's with perfect firing conditions."

>"What about your gun?"

"My gun?"

>"Yeah, what's the distance on that?"
>Come to think of it you haven't tested this gun fully yet.
>You only been using it at close range.

"That's classified."
>You reply thinking fast on your hooves.
>You didn't want the stallion to know you wasn't sure.
"Besides, this gun is designed with fingers in mind."
>You show him the trigger.

>"Pfft no problem."
>You watch as the stallion pulls out the ramrod from the musket.
>"Pass it here."

>You pass him the gun and explain how to use it.
>You knew what he was thinking and it was dangerous.
>But buck it, it's for science.
>The stallion lays down and puts the rod through the trigger guard.
>Holding the rod in one hoof and the barrel with the other he awkwardly shifts himself to aim the gun.

>You order for a can to be placed four hundred yards away.
>Waiting for the firing range to be clear you take a quick look at how he's positioned as cogs start to turn in your mind.
"FIRE!"
>He pulls back the rod.
>The Hammer Field Rifle let out a thunderous clap.
>You hear a quiet pang in the distance.
>He actually hit the can.

"What's your name?"
>You speak up in an assertive voice mimicking Majors from yesterday.
>You made sure you act the part.

>"Snow Peaks sir."
>He passes back your gun.

"Very well, Sharpie. I'll be keeping an eye on you."

>"It's Snow - Peaks sir..."

"I know Sharpie. But it was a human tradition for the higher ups to name their soldiers."
>You gave him a poor excuse of a salute.
>Well, how you imagine the humans did it.
"You're dissmissed. I got some checking up to do. I'll be contacting you later."
>Sharpie, not too sure what to do with himself nods and trots away.

>Later on that day you meet up with Hammer Fell at the blacksmiths.
>You couldn't smell any coal or smoke so you guess there haven't been much progress.
"Hammer Fell?"

>"Over here boy!"
>You see Hammer Fell on a workbench looking over some blueprints.

"Any luck?"

>"Some, the good news is that there many ponies who can smith here. The bad news is that I can't come up with any idea's the trigger system for the new rifles."

>You smile at him.
"I think I may have an answer."
>You continue to explain how the stallion fired your gun.

>"Boy I could buck you over the moon for giving over your rifle so easily. Other than that I think you have cracked it."
>Hammer Fell puts a pencil in his magic and starts to draw the new trigger.
>The blueprints now show the trigger on the side of the gun. Instead of being curved it sticks out about two inches, enough for a hoof to pull back.
>It even has a small joint so it can be folded in for a safety lock.

>The rest of the gun had other small edits.
>The stock of the gun is now more ergonomic for the ponies shoulders as well as the magazine slot being moved along slightly to cater for the new trigger mechanism.

>"Now, isn't she beautiful."
>The unicorn holds up the blue prints to you.
>"I call it The Hammer Fell Mark Two's"
>You groan at the name.

"Why not call it The Revenger?"
>You suggest half jokingly.

>Hammer Fell deadpans.
>"That's a stupid name boy."
>Turning around with a sigh, he places the blueprints back down and scribbles 'Revenger' next to the name.
>"There, it can be the nick name for it."

>With that Hammer Fell start to work on creating the new guns with help from the new recruited smiths.
>After the day was done, you make your way to the inn's bar located downstairs.
>The mare inn keeper kindly allowed you to use the bar after hours and all to yourselves.
>You watch Hammer Fell make his way from the bar carrying four pints of ale plus a small glass of apple juice in his magic and places them on the table.

>"Isn't Jax here too young to drink?"
>An exhausted Major speaks up as the pint slides in front of you.

>"I think we broken enough laws today without worrying about age restrictions on alcohol. Besides the boy earned it."
>You take a sip of your ale.
>The rest of the table looks at you as you start to sputter as the froth goes up your nose.
>In return you become the laughing stock.

>"Easy there Jax. You meant to drink it, not snort it."
>Skipper jokes before taking a huge gulp of his ale.

>After the laughing the griffin brings order to the table.
>"Right time for a debrief. I've been drilling discipline in the new militia as well teaching them basic spear techniques. I couldn't do much until the new guns arrive. "
>He looks at Hammer Fell.

>"Right...Thanks to me and the boy, we have made huge progress on the new guns. Hopefully we have our first couple made by early afternoon tomorrow with thanks to the village smiths. "
>The old unicorn then looks at Skipper for his turn.

>"I can say the mayor of this village is a lovely mare..."
>He says with a grin.

>"Dammit Skipper..."
>Major covers his face with his talon.

>"Well excuse me, I was implying that she let me and Little Bale take a peek in the village archives and I found this..."
>Skipper goes in his saddle bag and pulls out a map and displays it on the table.
>"I also found this. I guess it's more of your thing Jax."
>He passes you some old photo's.
>In one of the photo's, a group of human soldiers are sat on top on what seems be a cannon on strange flat wheels.
>"Impressive isn't it? It's called a Tank."

>"I heard one of those things took on a whole army near Appleloosa. The old Union at the time suffered over a thousand casualties. "
>Hammer Fell speaks over the table.
>"Though over the years I guess the figures may have been overestimated."

>You flick through the other photo's of human soldiers until one catches your attention.
>Within the photo of a few human soldiers posing, you notice something completely out of place.
>In the background you see a figure that looks like a satyr caught unaware by the snapshot.
>Judging by the height, it looks like an adult.

>"Are you okay there boy? You look like you saw a ghost."
"This photo in the upper right corner. What does that look like to you?"
>You pass the photo over to the unicorn.
>"There's nothing there, just dirt and grass."

"What?"

>Hammer Fell hands you back the photo.
>Whatever that figure was, it's now gone.
>"I think you had enough ale for one day boy."
>Hammer Fell laughs as you noticed you hardly touched your drink.
>You could've sworn you saw something there.

>Major, Hammer Fell and Skipper continue to talk among themselves.
>You tuck the photos into your bag and stood up from the table.

“I’m turning in for the night, so you all tomorrow.”
>With good-nights said, you head towards the bedroom.


>You lay in your bed worrying about the nightmare last night.
>You try and think of nice things hoping it’ll transfer over to your dreams.
>Closing your eyes, you quickly fall asleep.

>You are surrounded by the familiar blackness you’ve gotten used to the last few nights.
>You hope it isn’t the start of a nightmare like last night but Luna will show up again.

>As right on cue, the princess of the night once again emerges from the dark.

“Can- Can you speak?”
>You call out to her.”

>Luna pauses for a while as she hesitates.
>”Yes my little satyr, but direct communication requires more magic. The last few nights I had many dreams to visit.”

“Why do you visit my dreams?”

>”You just peek one curiosity, that is all. I’ve been using you to enter the dreamscape over the last few nights.”

“Then why do you give me these snippets of the past?”

>Luna lets out a small laugh.
>”Because thou is asking questions, and one is answering them.”

“One last question, I know I’ve asking a lot lately…”

>Luna gives a gracious smile and interrupts you.
>”There’s nothing thou can do with the nightmares nor can I. My magic is far too weak to help every pony with their dreams, too many broken spirits and minds.”
>You notice the smile has now evaporated from Luna’s face.

“I see..”
>You feel grief wash over you knowing you gave up your rights to peaceful dreams. Just like Hammer Fell said.

>”One must leave you now satyr as pressing matters need attending.”
>Luna starts to fade into the blackness.
>”I grant you one last peaceful dream Jax. Remember it well.”

“Luna!”
>It was too late, she was gone.
>You find yourself in a peaceful grassy park.
>The sky is rich blue and the sun is shining brightly.
>You look around to see two figures standing in the distance.
>One shaped like a human and the other a pony.

“Mom? Dad?”

>”Hey son.”
>The dream seemed to last forever.
>You wake up with tears at the corners of your eyes.
>You’ve must of been crying in real life too.

>”Pfft...Go and put a tin hat on, you conspiracy nut.”
>You hear Majors voice.

>”I tell you. The Fillydelphia experiment did happen!.”
>You here Skipper call back.
>”Towards the end of the war, Twilight Sparkle tried to send a ship full of soldiers back in time.”

>”Still calling pony feathers on this one.”

>”Really? After the experiments failure, due to ponies being horrifically merged with the woodwork - the element of magic went into hiding.”

>”And where is this ship now?”

>”No pony knows.”

>You hear Hammer Fell laugh.
>”Get used to it Major, Skippers full of these stories.”

>”They're NOT stories! I read about them in books!”
>Skipper snaps.

>”Ever heard of a story book Skipper?”
>The old unicorn retorts.

>”Come Little Bale, let find you some work to do today.”
>Skipper grumbles as he leaves the room.

>You climb down from your bunk.

>”Ah about time you woke up boy.”
>Hammer Fell turns towards you.
>”We got a busy day today. Time to get started.”
>The unicorns stomach rumbles.
>”Errr maybe after a quick breakfast...”

>After breakfast you return to your makeshift firing range.
>Major sent a unicorn and a satyr over to you who had promising aim with the muskets.
>You wonder why the griffin sent you these two as the plan was you to develop tactics for earth ponies with the new guns.

>You walk over a inspect the satyr first.
>He’s about your height, with light blue hair and white hooves.
>He’s wearing what seems to be a old dusty white boiler suit with the sleeves rolled up.

“I haven't seen you around before.”

>”Been hiding Sir, a group of four of us fled to the mountains when the NU came.”

“So a coward then?”
>You pretended to be very unimpressed with him.
>You have been watching Major drill the other soldiers quite a bit this morning.
>So you start intimating his tactics on training.

>”What!? No Sir. We were under equipped and outnumbered. The hiding was tactical.”
>You raise an eyebrow.

“So were we, when we arrived...”

>The other satyr remains silent.
>You decide to mess with him a bit more.

“Whats with this?”
>You pull on the arm of his boiler suit.

>”It was my mother's idea Sir. Being white it made us harder to spot in the snow.”

>That’s quite a good idea. Thinking back to the photo’s you seen and what you read some humans used camouflage actively.
>It wasn’t adopted by the NU or the old Equestrian Royal army as it was seen as cowardly and dishonorable to hide and shoot.


“I like this idea. Can your mother get some more?”

>”Yes, she can Sir. They used to be used in the mines years ago. She got a huge stockpile of them.”

“If they were used in the mines why are they white, surely that's dangerous?”

>”They haven’t been dyed orange yet Sir.”
>Dumbfounded by the simple answer you move away from the subject.

“Obviously. Anyway make you way to the Range Momma Colt. Lets see you shoot.”

>You watch the satyr you dubbed Momma Colt fire a new Hammer Fell Mark One that was made just a hour earlier.
>Pang!
>Like Sharpie he hits the can at four hundred yards.

“Very good…”
>You turn and call for Sharpie.
>You see him run towards you from the blacksmiths.

>”Sir?”
>You notice Sharpie carrying a Revenger on his back.

“I want you to train with Momma Colt over here.”
>Sharpie laughs behind his hoof at the satyr's given name.

>Waiting the two greet each other then start to practice you make your way over to the unicorn that Major also sent over.
>As you look at the unicorn you notice that she a mare.
>How didn’t you notice that?
>If you going to survive through this, you need be more observant.

>She stood there scuffing he hooves on the snow.
>She had a light dusty brown coat with a white mane.

>You guess the ponies coats are less colorful around here.

>”Sir.”
>She speaks up.

>You didn’t want her in your command. You read that the humans only had males in their army and so did the Union
>You devise a plan to send her away.

“Okay, if you want be under my command, you have to shoot a can from six hundred yards away.”
>You knew that’s impossible regarding the Hammer Fields four hundred yard firing distance.

>”I was told it was a four hundred yard distance.”

“You were told wrong.”

>The two of you make your way to the firing range.
>You ask Momma boy to hand her his rifle.

>The can is moved back by another two hundred yards.

>The mare aims the gun in her magic.
>You notice she is aiming to high, even if the rifle had a firing range at that distance the bullet will just fly over and miss.
>You shrug.

“Fire!”
>The rifle lets of a round.
>PANG!

>You stand there speechless.
>How?

“Do it again!”
>You wave over to a pony to set the can back up.
>You want to make sure that was just a fluke.

“Fire!”
>She fires the rifle again.
>PANG!
>Once again the can gets shot down.

“How?”

>You say quietly.

>”Easy. I aimed higher so as the bullet loses momentum, it falls and hits the can.”
>She looks at you smugly.
>”So...am I in?”

“Go and practice with the others. I’ll get you gun commissioned soon.”
>You walk away from the group.

>”Sir?”
>The female unicorn speaks up.
>”You haven’t given me a name!”

“You’re Lucky I guess.”
>You reply not turning around.

>You walk away towards Major to question him on the soldier his is sending you.
>He is standing in-front of many stallions carrying a spear.
>Where are their muskets.

"Major?"

>"Jax. Give me a moment."

>"EYES FORWARD!"
>He yells at the soldiers.
>You flinch at at the loudness of his voice.
>They all snap to attention.

>"What is it?"

"The soldiers your sending me...and also about the spears?"

>"TAKE FIVE!"
>He yells.
>"Now, I sent you a satyr because he is more useful with the new rifles. Also I gave up on on giving the earth ponies the rifles. They are too awkward to be efficient in battle. So I have started training them with spears also."

"But they wouldn't have a chance against..."

>Major places a talon over your mouth.
>"Shh! I know that! but remember the NU guns have a long reload time. Spear ponies do still have a place in battle."

"I can see there use for attacking when the enemies reloading."

>"Exactly, I have asked Hammer Fell to add 'bayonets' to the new rifles and remaining muskets. For now we are just practicing with spears. Talk to Skipper, he has a plan to put them in trenches."