On The Rocks, Part 3

On the Rocks, Part 3

>The sunlight that was filtering down through the grate in the roof of Haven is starting to come in at an angle again.
>Soon, you, No-Name, will be sent out with the other young stallions to raid.
>Hate raids, but No-Lips say’s it’s important.
>Bring mares from other Herds back to No-Lips Herd, make No-Lips Herd strong again.
>Lost so many Fluffies in the past few days.
>Herd is now only thirty strong.
>Last week, it was over forty.
>Mares of No-Lips Herd cry. Many were taken from their own Herds. They miss their Old Herds sometimes, but they know No-Lips is best Smarty Friend.
>Clover is crying and leaning her head into your chest.
>”Clover not haf sad wa-was, No-Name not make Owies for new Herd-friends.” You promise her.
>”Clover miss Mumma, miss Brudda. No-Lips say No-Lips Herd only haf room for young mares.” She whispers, staring at her foals. “Miss Special Friend. He nice. Bring Clover nice nummies.”
>You give Clover the best not-Special Hug you can. She’s a friend. You wish you could make her happier.
>No-Lips is waiting for all the young stallions at the entrance to Haven. You, Wittles and Honey are the last three to arrive.
>”Young Mares!” No-Lips shouts, glaring at you all. “No-Lips Herd need only Young Mares. Not Foals, not Old Fluffies, not more Stallions!”
>”Know is scary. Know Fluffy feel big saddies to make other Fluffies scared.” He continues, marching up and down the line of stallions, all of whom are totally focused on him. “Most Smarty Friends are Dumb Friends! Abandon Friends to swave own Fluff! Let Foals have saddies so they can pway! Not share nummies with Fluffy Mummas!”
>”You bring back Mares to No-Lips Herd! We look after Mares, make happy, not saddies, gif good nummies, safe pwace to haf Foals!” No-Lips turns and stares you right in the eyes. “No hurt Mares if Fluffies not have to. Dumb Friends not care if Mare go wit’ No-Lips Friends. Smarty Friends will be angwy with Fluffies if Mares go wit’ you, them, you fight.”
>”We weady, No-Lips!” Honey boasts, puffing his chest out with pride. “Honey bwing back Mares, keep No-Lips Herd stwong!”
>”Zodd weady. Fight Smarty Friend, take all Mares.” Zodd rumbles, baring his teeth in what could be a smile or a snarl.
>”No-Name weady!” You pipe up. “No-Name find Mares who be saddies, and bwing back to No-Lips!”
>The other stallions start making promises as well.
>It’s scary, but there’s a part of you that’s excited too.
>No-Lips Herd is strongest in Underground.
>Some Herds try to find Haven, but never get past the Munstas.
>Rat Munstas eat them.
>Big Metal Munstas drag them down the tunnels and crush them.
>Two-Leg Munstas snatch them up and take them away.
>Nobody knows what Two-Leg Munstas do with Fluffies they catch.
>”Den Raid starts!” No-Lips yells, trotting to the side and waving a hoof towards the twisting passageway between the piles of old Poop and Papers, and the glowing Mushrooms. “Bring back Mares, or no come back to Haven till you do!”
>Zodd gives an excited cry and charges, and you find yourself giving chase.
>Something deep inside you enjoys this.
>It’s scary, but you not mind so much. More excited than when playing with Rock-Balls or having Special Hugs.
>You feel indestructible.
>Everyone follows the way the Red Straws are pointing on the Fluffy Markers.
>Is direction of Stinky Waters, where most Fluffy Herds go at the end of the day.
>Water is dirty there, and air full of small biting things, but it safe from Two-Leg Munstas and only have small number of Rat Munstas.
>Is long run, but no Metal Munstas this way. No need to grab each other and hope Metal Munstas not grab you and drag you down tunnels.
>See daylight in grates above. Daylight is going sideways now, turning darker.
>Sun gets angry morning and afternoon. You think it must, because it makes light angry colour.
>Smell is getting worse. Underground never smell pretty, but closer Raiders get to Stinky Waters, worse smell gets.
>Worse than Fluffy Poop. Smells of rancid water and rotting food and a hundred other things that not good for Fluffies.
>Tunnel opens up after last turn of the tunnel.
>Sun is hiding behind big tall things, glaring angrily at you.
>You can hear the babble of Fluffy Ponies in the distance.
>Zodd stops and sniffs the air.
>Several Fluffies who could not stop in time run into the back of him and bounce off, saying “Owies!” and “Why Zodd stop!”
>Wittles bounces off Zodd, clutching his muzzle and whining about “Nose make Owies-Wa-wa!”
>”Zodd smell Munsta?” You ask, coming up to stand at Zodd’s side. If there is a Munsta, Zodd might be the only one who could stop it.
>”Zodd smell Mares.” He rumbles.
>His No-no’s is standing out.
>It scares you. No-no’s aren’t supposed to be that big.
>You can smell it too, now that you’re out of the Underground.
>A strange smell. Peach made that smell when you first join No-Lip’s Herd. Made your No-no’s be naughty, but Peach waved her rear in your face till you couldn’t take it anymore and gave her Special Hugs.
>Most of the other Stallions are sniffing the air, grinning and babbling to each other.
>”We have Special Hugs, then take Mares back?” Wittles asks hopefully.
>”Maybe.” Zodd grunts, looking back to the tunnel with a strange expression on his face. “No-Lips say he wan Mares ... not say we not have Special Hugs.”
>”Every Fluffy!” Honey shouts, drawing attention to him. “Every Fluffy remember Raid, wat do?”
>A few shake their heads, confused.
>”Fluffies must get a Mare each. No go back to Haven without Mare!” Honey says, Fluff puffed out. “Two Mares better, but One Mare enough. No pwaying wit other Herds. No join other Herds! Fluffies must ....!”
>”No-Lips say no Foals, no Stallions!” Zodd rumbles, pushing Honey aside with a hoof. “Zodd not wan wait, Zodd go now!”
>In ones and twos, the Raiders drift away, seeking out that wonderful scent.
>Honey and Wittles trot off together, babbling about having Special Friends all their own, not having to share with Zodd.
>Blue-Horn gives you a withering look and runs off on his own as well.
>You’re on your own.
>Follow a small path through the Stinky Waters. Wawa’s bad here, green stuff on the water, nasty biting things swim in it.
>Lots of piles of strange things, almost as big as Tall Things surrounding the Park.
>Some are dark and scary, lots of holes in them.
>Some have lots of pretty colours.
>You wander amongst the piles, leaving special hoof-marks to mark the way you came.
>Drag hoof through dirt and make ‘V’ shape to point way back to Underground.
>Making another special hoof-mark when hear voices.
>You crouch down behind a rusty pipe and peer around to look.
>It’s a small herd. You can only see ten Fluffies.
>Two Unicorns are arguing. One is Pale Green, the other, Bright Yellow
>”I Smarty Friend!” Pale Green says angrily, puffing up his cheeks at the other Unicorn.
>”You Dumb Friend! I Smarty Friend! Dumb Friend not let Herd sleep in Park!” Bright Yellow replies, just as angry, and responds by puffing up his cheeks as well.
>”YOU DUMB FRIEND!” Pale Green shrieks, jumping up and down on the spot, his fluff sticking straight out. “DUMB FRIEND KNOW PARK NOT SAFE!”
>”NOT CALL SMARTY FRIEND DUMB, DUMB FRIEND!” Bright Yellow screams back, also jumping up and down with rage.
>The majority of the Herd is watching this conflict with awe. A pair of Fluffies, however, are closer to you. One is so round her feet barely touch the ground. The other is nuzzling her face and trying to rub a patch of that horrible slime off the Round Fluffy’s neck with a hoof.
>You creep closer to inspect them as the shouting match between the two Unicorns gets louder and more intense.
>They are both screaming “DUMB DUMB DUMB!” at each other as loud as they can, their horns making coloured sparks that fly back and forth at each other.
>You can see the Round Fluffy is a Mare, she is with foal, her eight teats all swollen and protruding from her fluff.
>The second Fluffy smells like a Mare, sounds like a Mare, but you can’t be too sure. It is getting very dark, after all ....
>”No wan’...” The Round Fluffy groans, her pale brown fluff matted with sweat. “Wan’ happies, not saddies.”
>”Gween stuff weaving.” The second Fluffy murmurs, scraping her hooves on a nearby rock before having another attempt at wiping the slime off the Round Fluffy. “Bwan be pwetty soon.” The Second Fluffy is a darker red-brown colour.
>”Wed be good Fwiend.” ‘Bwan’ sighs as the Argument continues. Now the Unicorns are just squealing at each other.
>There’s a few more hidey-places between you and this Herd. A ripped towel hanging off a jagged piece of scrap-metal, an empty milk-crate, a fridge lying on its side with the doors open and a TV case.
>Not want to scare Herd, just want a Mare.
>Sneak up beind ‘Wed’ and tap her tail with your nose.
>She turns to look at you, mouth open.
>”No make noise! No-Name not scawy!” You whisper, holding a hoof in front of your muzzle. “Wed not happy wit Herd? Bwan not happy?”
>”Wed ... not wike Herd.” She admits, crouching down next to her pregnant friend and looking at you with a curious expression. “Not seen No-Name. What Herd you from.”
>”No-Lips.” You admit proudly, puffing out your chest. “No-Lips not wike Dumb Friends wike them.” You point a hoof at the two Unicorns, who have stopped bouncing and have collapsed on the ground, shaking from exhaustion, but still yelling insults at each other. “No-Lips keeps Herd safe, pways wit foals, takes care of Fluffies. He true Smarty Friend.”
>”But .... but this is Wed’s Herd. Wed be part of Herd since ... Wed no can remember when not part of herd.” Wed whispers, looking at the small Herd with undisguised fear and confusion.
>”No-Lips no hurt Fluffy Mummas?” Bwanasks, staring hard at you, her legs moving softly to prop herself onto her distended belly. “Fluffy Mummas wuved in No-Lips Herd?”
>”No-Lips wuvs Fluffies. Wuvs Old Fluffies, Stallions, Mares, Foals. No-Lips not hurt Fluffies unless they very silly.” You promise.
>The two Unicorns are glaring at each other, slowly rising to their feet.
>Pale-Green’s face has a few black spots on it.
>So does Bright-Yellow’s face.
>They burned each other with their sparks.
>”Herd not need Two Smarty Friends.” Pale-Green snarls, lowering his horn to point at Bright-Yellow’s throat.
>”You go, or Swun give biggest owies!” Bright-Yellow yells back, also lowering his horn.
>Both horns are glowing with magic, sparks flying out furiously.
>”Bwan go with No-Name.” The pregnant Mare says suddenly, rising to her feet with a great amount of wobbling.
>”But is Herd. Our Herd. We go? Weawy?” Wed asks, tears in her eyes.
>”Bwan tired of Unicorns. Tired of sparks that make Funny Water make Hot-Owies when Swun and Minty yell at each other.” The Pregnant Mare replies, shuffling past you and back down the way you came, snuffling the ground. “Not wan sleep wit small things biting Bwan’s nose and ears. No wan eat yikky foodies, when Swun and Minty eat nummies.”
>”Wed, come wit No-Name and Bwan.” You beg, reaching out with a hoof to touch her own hoof. “Not safe, Wed’s Herd too small, Smarty Friends not care ‘bout other Fluffies.”
>Wed sniffles, but follows after Bwan, and you follow after them, telling them to look for ‘V’ shapes on the ground.
>”Smartie Thing.” Bwan complements you, back-tracking from one of the branching passages after you call her back and explain the marks again.
>You only hope the other Stallions are having as much luck as you.


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>Honey and You are about to Raid a Herd. You’re excited, your heart is bouncing around in your chest.
>”Wittles, weady?” Honey asks, straining against the Hooman Thing on top of the mountain.
>”Wittles weady, Honey!” You whisper back and help.
>Done this before.
>Push heavy thing down near Herd, it make lots of noise and scare Herd, make it scatter.
>Mares stay with Fluffy Mammas and Foals. Most of the time.
>Stallions scream and either try to fight or run away.
>You feel the Hooman Thing start to give, then it slowly rolls down the ‘mountain’, picking up speed and knocking more Hooman Things off the mountain and down to where the Herd is trying to sleep.
>The portable radio crashes down like a thunder-bolt in the middle of the Fluffy Head, narrowly missing a Pegasus who responds by releasing both an ear-piercing scream of terror and his bowels.
>Predictably, most of the Herd scatters, bumping into each other, trying desperately to climb the surrounding ‘mountains’ or fleeing in shrieking terror down the narrow valleys between the mountains of trash.
>A handful of stallions and mares have remained behind to guard the pregnant mares, but the avalanche of cans, empty CD cases and other refuse has rattled them.
>Give Honey an evil look.
>Honey returns the look, the takes a deep breath and starts shouting.
>”Munsta wan eat Stallions! MUNSTA EAT ALL STALLIONS!” He roars at the top of his lungs.
>The Stallions start to pee in fright, but they don’t abandon the Mares.
>”Do again, but make scarier!” You egg on Honey, staring down at the Mares. They look so pretty! You want One, no, Two Special Friends!
>”MUNSTA EAT STALLIONS! STALLIONS RUN, MUNSTA NOT CATCH, NOT EAT!” Honey gives a second bellow.
>That’s it for the Stallions.
>Something just came crashing down and sent half the Herd running.
>Now some hideous Munsta in the dark is going to eat them if they stay.
>Kicking the Mares that are trying to give them Hugs to make them brave, the Stallions all race away, squealing in terror.
>The Mares are all crying now, hugging each other and the Fluffy Mummas.
>Is time to be Brave Fluffies now.
>Run down the back of the mountain. It’s harder than climbing, because Sun is almost gone now, shadows longer, can almost not see not-owies places to walk.
>Rush around the base of the mountain to see the Mares hugging the Fluffy Mummas.
>One was so scared, she started to poop.
>No, not poop, babies!
>Is bad. No-Lips said no Foals.
>Not take her.
>”We hewp!” Honey says, tail waving in the air. “We take Mares to safe pwace!”
>”No can take Foals!” You add, shooting Honey a look. “We sowwy, no Foals! No can take Foals!”
>Terrified, the Mares rush over to hug you. The Pregnant Mares, the Fluffy Mummas, waddle over as well, begging to go to the Safe Pwace.
>The Fluffy Mumma who gave birth is cuddling and hudding her babies, whispering to them that they are very good, that Herd will wuv them.
>There are three Mares. Four Fluffy Mummas, not counting the one that had babies.
>Maybe three Mares be your Special Friends?
>No, wait, then who Honey have for Special Friends?
>Two Special Friends for you, One for Honey then.
>”Fuh’wow Wittles an’ Honey!” You shout, leading them back around the mountain. “We go Underground, we go to No-Lips Herd. Safe! Warm for Mares and Foals.” You promise.
>Crying, shaking with fear, the Mares follow, helping the Fluffy Mummas along as best they can, with Honey bringing up the rear.
>By the time the New Mother looks up to ask other Fluffies to wuv her babies as well, you’re all long gone.
>She curls up around her Foals, shaking from the fear and the cold.
>Her Herd is scattered and terrified. They might not come back tonight. It be hard to stay warm without Hugs in Stinky Waters.
>”W-where fwiends?” She whispers, tears falling down her face as the babies slowly nuzzle their way to her teats and begin to feed. “Why not take Tongs wit? Tongs Good Fluffy.”
>Slowly, the Herd trickles back in, covered in muck, mud and pee, whimpering and crying.
>The Stallions come over to give her hugs, saying they are ‘Sowwy’.
>Then, panic from their Smarty Friend, the Pegasus that almost got crushed.
>”Where Mares?” He shouts, running around the Herd’s favourite sleeping ground. “Where Mares go! Why not come back!”
>”Friends help.” Tongs replies, happy to be Hugged and warm again. “Wittles an’ Honey take Mares to safe pwace.”
>The Pegasus looks at her for long seconds, then starts to scream with frustration, running around and head-butting the remaining Stallions, scaring everyone and forcing them together around Tongs.
>”Every Fluffy is DUMB!” Smarty Friend screams, stamping his hooves on the ground and grinding his teeth.
>”W-w-why? Why Smarty Friend hurt Fluffy?” One of the Stallions asks, nursing a sore leg.
>”Because Herd has NO FRIENDS CALLED WITTLES AN’ HONEY!” The Smarty Friend yells back.
>Most of the Mares are gone.
>Almost all the Foals.
>Only four Mares remain in his Herd.
>If he chases after the thieves, he could lose the rest of his herd.
>If he stays, there are only four Mares.
>The Herd will have to disband and join other Herds.
>Screaming his frustrations to the night sky, the Pegasus flaps his little wings as hard as he can and starts climbing the mountain of trash.
>Those are his Mares! Nobody takes them away! Nobody!


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>”I Smarty Friend! I say who give Special Hugs!” The annoying Pink Fluffy is screaming at you.
>Don’t care, have Mare.
>Zodd too big for Pink Fluffy to hurt anyway.
>At least, you thought so, then his kicks you on the nose.
>OWIES! It make sad Wawas come! You totter backwards, releasing the Mare and holding both front hooves up to your nose.
>”Big Fluffy is Big, but Smarty Friend know how make Owies!” The Pink Fluffy yells again, puffing out his cheeks at you. “You go, not Special Hug Gum’s Mares! My Mares!”
>”Zodd’s Mares now!” You shout back, standing up and advancing on this ‘Gum’.
>You’ve got several inches on him, not including the Fluff.
>He goes to kick you again.
>You stand up on your back legs, and he misses.
>Then you fall down again.
>Your hooves hit his head.
>He goes to the ground with a whimper.
>Jump on his head a few times to make a point.
>”ZODD IS NEW SMARTY FRIEND!” You roar at the Herd, who are holding each other and whimpering. “All Mares come with Zodd, or I give all Fluffies big owies!”
>Your No-no’s is throbbing. The Mare you were special Hugging has run back to her Herd and is being given Hugs.
>Smarty Friend is wobbling back to his feet.
>”My ... Herd! Meany Fluffy ... goes!” He grunts, staggering around to bump ineffectively against your neck.
>”Pink Fluffy is weak! Small! Not Smarty Friend, just Dumb!” You grunt back, kicking him in the leg and making his front half fall down.
>You walk around him, and see his hind-quarters still in the air.
>No-no’s still throbbing.
>Dumb Friend not a Mare. No-Lips not care if you Bad Special Hug Dumb Friend, right?
>Bad Special Hugs.
>”WAAAAAAAH! No! Owies! Gum not wike! Pwease!” He squeals as you mount him, thrusting ineffectively until your No-no’s find the right place.
>Feels different from a Mare. Not bad different, just different-different.
>Still feels good.
>Gum’s Herd is watching, stunned, as you give Bad Special Hugs to Gum.
>”Gum now wike! Pwease! Gum’s Poopy-Hole feels bad! Owies! No!” He whimpers, but Gum isn’t big enough to push you away. “Gum not Smarty Pony! Zodd Smarty Pony! Pwease stop, Gum sowwy, Gum sowwwwyyyyy!”
>You feel ... powerful. Gum bigger than No-Lips, but you make him do what you want.
>He even call you Smarty Pony.
>You finish, and then roll off Gum.
>Gum curls up into a ball, crying and whimpering.
>Glare at his Herd, who are now staring at you with big, frightened eyes.
>”Mares come with Zodd, or Zodd make Bad Special Hugs with everyone!” You threaten, puffing up your cheeks and making your Fluff stand on end.
>Half the Herd shrieks and runs away, or tries to.
>They’re bouncing off each other, hitting each other with their hooves as they try to scramble up the walls of garbage and then falling down, half-burying themselves in garbage.
>Their yelling is making your ears hurt.
>Your heart won’t stop beating so fast.
>Make the owies stop.
>You lash out at a Fluffy Mumma who tried to run past, hitting her in the neck with a hoof.
>She squeals and falls over, begging for help.
>This gives you an idea.
>You charge into the panicking herd, biting, kicking, headbutting.
>You are Zodd the Smarty Pony!
>Zodd the Big Fluffy!
>Zodd the Unstoppable!
>Stallions turn to you, afraid to turn their rear ends to face your wrath, and you stomp on their faces.
>Foals scream in pain as you trample over them to give Bad Special Hugs to the Mares.
>The Mares hold each other and cry out for help as you give them Bad Special Hugs.
>By the time your heart has stopped pounding, the Herd has mostly fled.
>Your heart sinks.
>It happened again.
>No-Lips be so angry ....
>Wait, what did Blue-Horn say?
>”Zodd is Good Fluffy, but No-Lips is Mean Fluffy. Always makes Zodd go look for Munstas. Always makes Zodd carry Treasures.”
>Maybe Blue-Horn right.
>And this not only Herd in Stinky Waters.
>Stepping on the crying form of Gum, who looks at the shattered remains of his Herd with a look of horror on his face, you stride out into the canyons and mountains of garbage looking for another Herd to claim.