Second Chances Chapter 8 - WAAAGH!

>You hold on to the railing…and your lunch, as the chariot makes a fast descent towards the center of P0nyville.
>The town resembled something you saw out of a history textbook about World War II. Buildings lay shattered and smouldering, with fires still raging in various areas. You recoil as reality flashes, a fresh explosion detonating near Town Hall, the report ringing in your ears as you strain to listen to Fuzzy.
>He wasn’t exactly tickled when he asked if you had military experience, and your answer was that you played Call of Duty once.
>Not that he likely understood what Call of Duty was, he at least figured out what that meant.
>”Alright. The Princesses and their personal guard have gone to ensure the safety of the townsfolk, they’re believed to have escaped due east,” Fuzzy barks, Twilight covering her head with her hooves. “When I say go, we jump and get into cover ASAP. Got that?”
>You nod hastily as you feel the chariot level out and slow down.
>”Good…now GO!”
>Picking up Twilight in your arms, your sword and shield on your back, you inch over to the edge of the chariot as Fuzzy Hooves flares his wings, taking to the sky.
>Hey Anon, got a minute?
>Now’s not a good time, Brain.
>You see the ground moving below you. You close your eyes, grip a shivering Twilight Sparkle tightly in your arms, and take your leap.
>I just thought of something.
>Brain, I swear to god, this had better be really important.
>Anon, you’re no soldier. What the actual hell do you think you’re doing?
>…..
>…HOLY CRAP WHAT THE BUCK AM I DOING?!
>You scream as the ground rises up to meet you, tucking and rolling as you hit the ground, the world shaking from another explosion.
>Ow, that hurt.
>”Ow…that hurt,” Twilight says under you as she wriggles free. The two of you scramble behind a blasted section of wall.
“Twilight?”
>”Yes?”
“You ever get the feeling that this is a bad idea?”
>Twilight pauses and looks down before looking up at you. “The Princess believes we can do this…and if we can’t, there’s no one else who can. Come on, Anon.”
>Well shit, you just got told to nut up by a magic purple p0ny, Anon.
>Your powers of observation never cease to amaze me.
>Gritting your teeth, you poke your uncovered head up above the edge of the wall, greeted by a blazing hail of…
>Silence?
“Huh…seems that they stopped.”

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>”OY. YOU BOYZ GON’AN UZED UP ALL DA ROKKITZ!”
>Warboss Skabskab smacked one of the boyz with the flat end of his choppa. Skabskab was hardly the biggest or strongest of orks, but when you’re one of six that aren’t sure of how exactly they wound up going from that stinking swamp to the middle of a city filled with strange horse-like creatures, it’s not hard to claim the title.
>”Boss, we’z be Orkz! ‘at good iz bein’ Orkz if we’z ain’t shootin’ an’ stompin?!”
>Skabskab chewed on his tongue absentmindedly. Taking a moment to stare off into the woods near where you set up camp, the warboss saw what looked like a particularly tasty rabbit.
>”ALRIGHT BOYZ, WE’Z BEEN BOMBIN’ DESE ‘ERE P0NIEZ FO’ LONG ENUF. IT’Z TIME TA’ GO AN’ GET SUM T’CHEW ON!”
>The rest of the boyz seemed to cheer. Apparently this was a really good idea.
>”OY, DREGGOB. BRING TA’ SHOOTAZ YA’ GRETCHIN SHITE!”
> The Ork known as Dreggob Mekstuf winced a little at the Warboss’ command. He didn’t seem any less physically imposing than the rest of his kin, but something about this one was…off. For an Ork, He wasn’t very “orkey,” or “da’ best at ta’ shootin’ an’ stompin’.”
>Made a decent pack mule, though.
“R…right boss, I’z bringin’ da shootaz…” Lifting a heavy box onto his back with little effort, he sat it down in the middle of the boyz, earning a backhand out of the cluster for his effort as the other five armed up.
>”ALRIGHT BOYZ, LET’Z GO GIT’ US SUM P0NIEZ TA’ EAT! DREGGOB, YOU’Z STAY ‘ERE AND GUARD DA’ BASE WIT’ DAT CHOPPA.” Warboss Skabskab tosses a crude axe at Dreggob’s feet. “IF YA’Z LUCKEE WE’Z BRING YA’ SUM BONES TA’ EAT!”
>And with a mighty “WAAAAAAAAAAAGH!,” the Orks storm off towards P0nyville.
>Dreggob picks up the choppa and staggers around the camp aimlessly. He felt his blood boil, the rage of his people when called by the WAAAGH!
“I’m az orkey az any Ork!”
>Dreggob’s gaze followed the tree line of the Everfree Forest. Off in the distance, he swore he could see a quaint little cottage.
“An’ I’z gon’ta PROVE IT’Z!”
>Raising his choppa, Dreggob takes off running towards he cottage, owned unbeknownst to him by a pegasus p0ny named Fluttershy.

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>You step slowly into the street, half-cowering behind your shield as Twilight sticks near you, placing a hoof on your leg. “We can do this Anon.”
“Y-yeah…got it.” You gulp, her reassurances doing nothing to keep the Harmony Blade from rattling in your hand. You nearly jump out of your skin as Fuzzy Hooves lands next to you.
>”Alright…I see no sign of the enemy, but there’s signs of activity near the edge of Everfree Forest…it might be an encampment.” Fuzzy’s eyes continuously scan the horizon. His cool demeanor gives you some comfort. “Now, we need to clear the major buildings and look for survivors, than we-“
>Fuzzy is cut off with a scream as a shoota’ bolt impacts him in the leg, his body crumpling to the dust as you react in a snap, cowering behind your shield as you and Twilight drag him off back behind the wall under a hail of bolter fire.
>”LOOK BOYZ, DERE’S A STINKIN’ HUMIE WIT DA P0NIEZ! WAAAAAAAAGH!”
>The sound of that carrying over the gunfire would make you soil yourself if you could spare the nerves to operate the relevant equipment. Instead, it takes all of your willpower to hold your shield between the three of you and the rapidly disappearing wall.
“Oh shit…oh shit…oh shit…I shouldn’t be here…”
>Gritting your teeth, you speak inside your own mind, even as the last of the wall fades away under the gunfire. As bullets start to pepper the dirt around the three of you, you mutter under your breath.
“…stupid…this is all stupid, but I sure as hell am not going to die here!”
>Twilight goes to say something, but can only look on with mouth agape as your eyes begin to glow a brilliant purple.
“LIKE HELL I’M GOING TO DIE LIKE THIS! YOU STUPID SHIELD, PROTECT US!”
>Almost as if on command, runic lines in the shield radiating from the symbol of the sun and moon, glowing that same vivid violet. From the edges of the shield, bands of magical transluscent energy extend from all sides, biting into the dust, resembling the wings of a great bird. You stop feeling the impact of every bullet as they dissolve harmlessly against your barrier.
>”Great! Hold it right there!” Twilight grits her teeth as she channels her own magic, focusing power in the tip of her horn. The Element of Magic on her chest glows quietly as the ball of energy gathers before rocketing into the sky.
“…Twilight, I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to shoot the bad guys.”
>”Wait for it.”
>The three of you look up as the ball hangs in the sky overhead before exploding into a shower of magical bolts, raining down on the Orks down the street in a hail of explosions and certain death.
>Twilight Sparkle just fired off a goddamn cluster bomb.
“Wow. Good going Twi.”
>Twilight grins sheepishly, breathing heavily. “That’s hard to do. Takes a lot out of ya…”
>”WAAAAAAAGH!”
>Oh goddamnit.
>Your barrier drops as you see one of the orks charges you with a rather brutal-looking sword raised high. He seems covered in blood, but the bodies of his two companions behind him doesn’t seem to be any better off.
>”Oh Celestia…what is that?” Twilight’s jaw hangs open in horror, falling to her haunches. It seems the cluster bomb took more out of her than she thought.
>Fuzzy could only grit his teeth and look at the oncoming savage.
>Brain, hold on to the jimmies, because this shit’s about to happen.
>Bracing yourself behind your shield, you hold your sword out fully extended to your side, visualizing in your mind the fight earlier against the ghost of Star Swirl.
>Like before, the blade begins to glow a dull violet.
>You really, really hope this works.
“HYAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
>With a somewhat crackly war-cry, you swing the sword in three great arcs in front of you, leaving a trail of purple magical energy in three crescents. After a brief delay, the crescents shoot out ahead in order of their creation.
>They seem to pass through the Ork, who stops in his tracks, growing silent.”
“…Oh fu-“
>And promptly falls apart in a mess of cleanly-sliced chunks.
“….”
>Twilight turns away, unprepared for the mess your technique made. Fuzzy, meanwhile, nods approvingly.
>”Anon…” Twilight starts. “…I’m sorry, but I need to get Fuzzy out of here. We’ll go try to meet up with Princess Celestia and send help…but until then, you need to go find any more survivors.”
>You stand and look back at Twilight.
“I know…Go.”
>Twilight smiles. “I know you can do it.”
>After helping her get Fuzzy Hooves onto her back, she turns to leave before Fuzzy taps her with his hoof, looking up at you.
>”Anon…I think I see what the Princess sees in you. Good luck…soldier.”
>And with that, the two run off towards the edge of town.
>Feels good, man.
>You approach the other two bodies that were shooting at you, poking them with the tip of your blade.
>Yep, dead.
>You notice two sets of tracks leading away from the position, heading towards another part of town.
>Guess we’re not done yet, brain.
>I hope you know what you’re doing, Anon, and not just playing hero for the feels.
>You shake your head and begin to follow the tracks, shield at the ready, to…

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>…Sugarcube Corner, or what was left of it.
>As you press yourself against the wall next to the open door, you can hear the sound of glass and plates breaking, along with a familiar voice.
>”GET OUT OF HERE YOU BIG SMELLY….THINGS!”
>Pinkie Pie!
>”WAAAAAAAGH!” was the reply.
>You’re really getting sick of hearing that.
>”I’Z DA BIGGEST AN’ STRONGEST OF ALL DA’ ORKZ! STOP THROWN’ CUPCAKES!”
>…wat.
>You peek your head around the corner. Indeed, you see a pair of Orks between you and the counter, where Pinkie stands, throwing a cupcake at the Ork with deadly accuracy.
>Well, deadly if that Ork had diabetes.
>Damn Pinkie, you wonderful, crazy bastard.
>Pinkie eeps as her face drains of color. Apparently, she’s out of stuff to throw.
>The Orks raise their melee weapons.
>If you use your Crescent Slash, you might hit Pinkie.
>Making names up now, brain?
>Forget about that, Pinkie!
>Guess…*gulp* it’s time to get messy.
>With a yell, you charge into the building, sword at the ready. All three of the occupants turn to face you as you plunge the Harmony Blade into the chest of the nearest Ork before anyone has a chance to react. The Ork falls as you pull the sword from it.
>”ANONYMOUS!” Pinkie’s eyes light up at her apparent savior’s arrival as you turn to face the other one, her wide smile turning to a scowl as she eyes the survivor.
>”WAAAAAAAGH!”
>Good god, stop doing that!
>You grip your sword, holding your shield at the ready as it charges you. Like a matador, you sidestep the rampaging green thing, ducking under the swinging choppa as you slash at it’s knees.
>Your gambit works as the Ork crashes into the tables. On pure adrenaline, you run up and jump on the creature’s back while he’s stunned.
>With a blood-curdling yell driven as much by survival instinct than any kind of warrior instinct, you plunge the blade into the back of the Ork’s neck, and with a wrench, send the head rolling away, blood spraying from the wound and covering you head to toe.
>Ewww….
>Hopping off the body of the fallen Ork, you shake the blood off the sword as you return it to the scabbard on your back, securing the shield on top of it. You turn to Pinkie Pie, who seems to be coming off the adrenaline rush.
>Matter of fact, so are you.
“Pinkie…are…are you alright?”
>She doesn’t respond as tears well in her eyes. With a wimper, she runs over and buries her face in your blood-stained torso, sobbing heavily. She tries to speak between her cries, but doesn’t seem to be having much luck.
“Shhh…Pinkie, it’s alright, you’re safe now. I’m here…” You kneel down so that she’s more on your level, hugging her firmly as she cries into your shoulder.
“It’s alright, they’re all gone…”

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>Dis’ iz a ni’c lit’l cottage.
>Ya’ tink ta’ yerselfz. It hurtz.
>Ye’ slam ya fizt on ta’ dorr.
>’dere’s a little yella’ p0ni in ta’ corna.
>Ya’ liftz yer’ choppa over ye’ head.
>”I’M DREGGOB, DA BIGGEST’ AN’ STRONGEST OF ALL DA’ ORKS!”
>Ooooo, sayin’ datz makez ya’ feel good!
>Ya’ charge inta’ da’ house, ready for da’ choppin’ and da’ stompin’!