Chapter 30 Long Day
When the sun lifted over the horizon the next morning, it was not bright. I could tell the moment I blinked into the dawn that there was something off about today. There were low clouds in the sky, and the sunlight looked dim. I took a few steps out of the tent I had slept in, putting a hoof to my forehead to cover my eyes as I looked up at the sky.
"I have a feeling…" I said aloud.
Wonder had just krept outside as well, "That tonight's not gonna be a good night." he glanced at me.
"I sense a strange magic on the air." Erza had come to the center of the row of tents, staring at the horizon.
"The clouds are centering over the city, that way!" Pumpkin was pointing toward central Bittsberg. "Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!" she was bouncing up and down.
"It's bound to be Circle of Ash," said Combat Zone. "If we don't do something quick, we'll lose any chance of getting Bittsberg back."
"You have a point." said Erza. "However, we must wait for our scouts to return."
I sat down in the dust, watching my friends, old and new, rattle on about the whole thing. None of them seemed to know what to decide. The ground beneath me was cold, dry and hard. It honestly hurt to sit on, and I didn't think I could sit here and do nothing any longer. So I stood up. I don't know what got in my head, but I turned tail and began running toward the ominous clouds. It had begun to rain.
"OJ!" Wonder gasped.
"What is he doing?!" somepony else yelled in surprise.
The Guardian was calling for me as well. I don't think they realized I was heading straight into the heart of the city, ready to do something, anything—I was jerked back when somepony bit down on my tail, stopping me in my tracks. It was Poptart, he'd been sitting at the edge of the camp. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I'm going to fight the big bad meanie." I pouted. A few rain droplets hit me on the nose. "Eep!"
"Right. Without a plan? Without any friends or backup? You even left behind your power saddle, the only thing giving you a fighting chance in the first place." Poptart shook his head.
Erza stopped in front of us, by her side was the Guardian, and my other friends. "The small raider pony may be right about one thing," she stated, "going out alone is the wrong thing to do. But our fighting chance doesn't come from fancy armor or powerful guns." she stared down the ex-raider, "It comes from the strength we get from our friends. OJ, you should have learned by now, with ponies like the Guardian by your side, with the friends you care about fighting with you, nothing can stop you."
I glanced at the ponies gathered here, Pumpkin Spice who had joined us out of the blue when she should've stayed at the Bridge with the General. Yet, she had defied all odds. She smiled at me, "I couldn't have done it without my friends with me you know! I'd be a goner in that city all by myself!"
I glanced from her to Wonder, "I know…I don't know what I was thinking. I was just in a rush."
"Why don't we take a moment to make a plan!" Erza said. "Then we will know what to do from here." Most of the ponies dispersed, but Wonder was one of the few who stayed behind.
"OJ, there's something about the city isn't there?"
I craned my neck, looking over my shoulder, "There always has been Wonder."
Wonder poked me on the shoulder, his face close to mine. I glanced up into his big sparkling eyes, like gems. "It's Blitzfire isn't it?"
"I—!" I choked on words.
"Listen kid," said Poptart, "I heard stories of the two of you. My favorite was that blasted high school! How you killed that timber-claw," he laughed. "But this isn't the Bittsberg you knew. Something has changed about the ashlings since Combat last saw them too. I wasn't around back then, but from Combat's face every time you ponies talk about taking on the Circle. I know the city has changed."
"In such a short amount of time too," Wonder sighed.
I moved my face up, my nose bumping his. "Eep!" I gasped, falling backward, my backside slamming into the compacted ground. "S-sorry!"
Wonder held a hoof up to his snout, possibly trying to hide a blush, "Cutie," he winked. He turned around and went back into the camp.
It was sometime later when Ashe Erza burst from the war tent in full battle armor fit for an alicorn. It had wisps of metal that seemed to smoke off of it and almost disappear into a spectral plane, however, it was obvious that was impossible. Right? Wonder and I had been playing a game of marbles with a couple of soldiers when she came bursting forth, and side-by-side, we fawned, "Lady Ashe!"
"So beautiful!" I whispered.
"The Circle have attacked us, and stole all we hold dear. Now we must reclaim what was once ours!" she called to the sky, holding a sword high that matched her armor. The soldiers in the camp stomped their hooves, cheering. "With help from the Guardian, I have devised our attack strategy." another cheer lifted, then the camp went still, complete focus on the Colonel.
The Guardian and Pumpkin emerged from the tent. The Guardian passed a look over the camp. "We are splitting our group into many smaller battalions."
Pumpkin jumped into the air, "I'd say it's like picking through the city with a fine tooth comb, but that's because I'm a mane stylist." she giggled into her hooves.
"We have the details of your assignments listed here," the Guardian held up some documents. "Erza will be in charge of the first few groups heading straight for the compound we believe the storm is centered on, I will be in charge of the team circling around."
Pumpkin Spice popped up next to me, "and youuuuu, the Puppydog, gets to choose who you gooooo with. Hehe," then she was next to the war council again.
"Wait what?" I stepped forward, a bit confused.
"Puppydog," said the Guardian, "we've decided to give you a bit more independence on this."
The Colonel nodded to me, "It was clear to me when you rushed off this morning that we can't control you like a child. You need room to grow, and with that room comes responsibility."
"So," the Guardian brought himself up, "I've drawn out two teams that could work the best for you. You can go with Wonder and Pumpkin and a couple of other soldiers," Wonder and Pumpkin smiled toward me, to my left.
"Or," said Erza, gesturing to the right, "you could join some soldiers with Combat, Poptart and the Twin Mages, Tip and Rig. One option you join me heading for the compound," in the direction she'd pointed, where the raiders stood, Combat nodded, indicating he would be heading with her group.
"The other option is with me," said the Guardian, "circling around to take them by surprise."
I had a huge choice in front of me, and I glanced down at my legs, spotting my Pip-Buck. "I-I…"
"Whatever you choose, we'll still be by your side Cutie," said Wonder with a smile.
I looked over to Poptart, who nodded in my direction, "Hey kid, if it wasn't for you, I don't think I would've realized my true mission. So you're fine going off with your friends. I'll find my way just fine."
That made me smile, but I froze when I glanced back at the Guardian. My Guardian. "But why would you want me to go by myself?"
"You won't be alone OJ," he told me, "If you go off with Wonder and Pumpkin Spice, I'll only be a few blocks and a radio tap away, plus you'll learn responsibility of being team leader."
"Well I say if he goes off with Combat Zone and his, he learns observational skills that are essential in any battle." said Erza.
"Right, keeping an eye on our mutual allies." the Guardian laughed. I saw Combat roll his eyes and I smiled at him. He was so taken aback by my kind look that the only thing he could think to do was stick his tongue out at me. I laughed loudly then.
"Okay!" I wiped a tear away from the laughter, "I get it then! And I think I understand too, about friends." I looked at Wonder and gushed at him, "I'm gonna go with you guys, I can't be afraid of going the long way, and I gotta have faith in the ex-raiders."
"I appreciate that," said Poptart.
"Who ever said we were ex-raiders?" said Combat with a snarl. "I'm taking this city back."
"No!" said Erza boastfully, "We are taking this city back, and mark my words, you have seen the last of your raider days, whether by this blade, or by retribution."
We all laughed as we began our separate journeys for the compound. Into the city we went.
(Chapter 31 set for 4/4/18 at 8:30am CT
This chapter is much shorter than most of the others before it, but I think it is still very impactful. Orange Juice learns a very important lesson here, by finally coming to a realization that he'd already learned it throughout the course of the story. He's learned the importance of the strength his friends have given him, and the strength they will still continue to give him throughout the upcoming battles, no matter which direction he chooses. Although I must admit, I have been inspired lately by an anime I'm watching, Fairytale. The characters in the anime have a very strong connection through the bonds of their friendship.
Of course, we couldn't avoid mentioning Ravager Blitzfire once again in this story. It's kinda like a tv show, or anime. You get an arc where they are a main character for a bit, but eventually they gotta go, but there'll be mention of them later on too. To be honest, I have been trying to avoid even mentioning his name since he left the story back in chapter 21. But it's almost 10 chapters later, and you kinda gotta look back on certain things. Especially when OJ is surrounded by reminders of him.
Anyway, this chapter marks another milestone in OJ's character development. And at the end of this arc, he'll probably have undergone many more bits of development. He's already changed so much since the beginning too! I think looking at him now, he's getting closer and closer to the Puppydog I think Yolo imagined, the one who fights alongside the Guardian in the final stages of his story, Stable 28. This is getting exciting, and OJ is becoming that strong individual we've all known he can be.
As a sidenote, I wanna mention that the title of this chapter comes from a lyric in the song See You Again. "It's been a long day, without you, my friend..."
So! Let's look forward to the future chapters, as I think this story may draw to a close as does Stable 28. I cannot wait to see what happens! Love ya guys! Thank you ^^ )
Brohoof! /)