Sentire blinks as she stood in a burnt forest and looks around to see the stallion doing the same as her and the dog scratching behind its ear. "Where are we?" she asks gripping her scythe tighter.
The dog sticks its tongue out as it kept scratching behind its ears. "Eh…a few miles from where you died. Maybe…give or take a few miles."
Sentire looks around faster at that and tries to spot the city buildings if any. "Manehattan…we have to go back."
"First, we have to find my comrade," the stallion says frowning.
"And you will," the dog says sniffing around before smiling and starts to walk off still sniffing. "Oh. Something smells fresh," he says heading through the forest; leaving the two to follow. The dog licks his lips before stopping and looking toward an upturned wagon with a few cloaked and armored bodies and crates of scrap and junk all over and in the wagon. "I smell meat," the dog says sticking his head into the many crates as he kept sniffing around.
Sentire gulps as she leans down and twitchingly pushes one over and almost barfs at the sight of the cut-up body. "Wha…this is not what I died in. How long have I been dead?"
"Not as long as I have," the stallion says.
The dog growls as he pulls his head out with a large piece of meat and swallows it whole. "I'll take you to the city. We can start there for you," he says getting onto the old path and looks back at them. "Well? Get on."
"Remember, you are the emergency food if need be," the stallion reminds.
"Oh, hush. You will get food soon enough. Just you wait," the dog says rolling its eyes as Sentire nervously gets on its back.
"I see they are still building them big. They compensating for something?" the stallion asks seeing the buildings.
"Um…kinda," Sentire explains unsure.
"Oh, so they do have small dicks," the dog says.
Sentire frowns slightly at their demeanor as the stallion gets on behind her and the dog suddenly takes off at high speeds; making them cling to the dog's fur. The large ruined city coming closer and letting Sentire see the damage since she last saw it. Windows were broken down and the ground cut up into pieces. Though it seems the monsters and creatures she saw while running wasn't there anymore as it was mostly empty. Looking around, she tries to spy anything familiar before the dog suddenly stops.
"Last stop. Well…where my nose led me. Your friend should be in this area," the dog says as the two get off as Sentire recognizes where she is.
"My old office," Sentire says looking up at the large building.
"Leone!" the stallion yells as loud as he could.
"You want the monsters and spirits to hear you?" the dog asks sarcastically.
"Leone!" the stallion yells again.
Sentire sighs before starting to walk into the building. "Seriously…how long was this?" she asks about to head towards the elevator without thinking and stops as she sees the crushed elevators. Upon seeing them, she did an about-face and heads toward the stairs as the stallion and dog came in, the stallion still calling out that one name.
"Leone! You up there?!" the stallion calls as the dog was getting annoyed at how he hasn't shut up yet.
Sentire frowns still at the useless noise before stopping at a certain floor and sees a large number of bloodstains around the doorway before walking through it. "Yes. Most…" the dog starts and looks toward the stallion at that, "mortals return to their most recent memory. Hoping to find something useful," the dog explains as Sentire walks around the upturned office walls that were tattered and full of mold before stopping at one area and looks into the space.
The stallion goes to the busted windows as the wind flies through the area and takes a deep breath. "Leone!"
"Quiet your stupid mouth. If your friend isn't going to call from the last fifty times, then your friend will never call back," the dog says and receives a sickle to the shoulder as the stallion frowns heavily at it.
"Did I ask for your opinion?" the stallion asks yanking the chain; making it slowly and painfully tear out of its shoulder.
The dog growls heavily as Sentire tries not to listen to them and follows her steps as she heads out of her old office space and heads toward the elevators before stopping and tearing up at the sight of the skeletons of the many bodies that laid against the door. "I'm…I'm sorry…I'm sorry guys…" Sentire quietly sobs before her ears perk up. A groan reaching her ears. "Guys?!" she calls out hopefully and catches the attention of the stallion and the dog as she runs off deeper into the office and stops. Another groan hits her ears and sees it came from behind a door. "Guys!" Sentire calls and tries to open the door before the handle broke off; leading her to look at it confused for a second before throwing it away and kicks the door open. "Guys! I'm…" Sentire stops as she sees she burst into another high-end office space. A body on the table as it slowly moves around. "He…hello?" Sentire calls carefully as she grips her scythe handle.
"What are you going on ab…Leone?" the stallion asks.
The body on the table groans again as it slowly sits up and seems to turn to see them at the doorway. "Tr…Trial?" it calls out in a female voice.
"Come on. We got work to do," Trial says sounding happy.
The female quickly gets up and rushes over to hug him. Sentire seeing the female was an earth pony with a pair of lion ears and large clawed hands. "You're Leone?"
"Who is she?" the female asks.
"A mare who is stuck with us," Trial says sounding annoyed.
Sentire holds up a hand. "Hi."
"I died though," Leone says.
"So did I…and her, but we are back from the dead tonight," Trial says with an afterthought.
"What? There is no way we get this for free," Leone says.
"Yeah…we kinda have to do their bidding, but we do get to die and pass on fully now. In a way better paradise than what they give everyone else," Trial explains.
"You have to be kidding," Leone says frowning and annoyed.
"Just you, me, and all our comrades," Trial says pulling her close.
"Oh…that sounds good," Leone says thinking on it. "Can we die right now?"
"You die right now and you will be sent back here," the dog says walking up as it limps and licks its large wound.
"What is that?!" Leone yells as she suddenly is clinging to Trial's head as she looks toward the large shadowy dog.
"Spirit dog. But I'm hoping lunch since there is no food here," Trial says glaring towards the dog as it shrugs and he picks Leone up and places her back on the ground.
"Her chest is about as big as mine," Sentire says.
Leone looks down and smiles towards her. "Got to keep myself fit."
"Or to distract the soldiers back then…should still work I would bet," Trial says to himself.
The dog scratches behind his ears as he grins toward Leone. "Man. I should have eaten you. But we must move on."
"Leone, you get the feeling of him betraying us, rip off his head," Trial instructs.
"Happy too," Leone says showing her claws from her hands.
"Is she always like this?" Sentire asks as the dog walks off.
"Mostly. She is my best friend and does keep my spirits up," Trial says as Leone goes back to hugging him.
"Ah…we should get moving. If it is, my apartment may be still up," Sentire says walking off.
"By the way, I got hungry. So while you weren't looking, I ate part of the main support," the dog says.
"Asshole!" Trial yells as the building starts to shake and they all run after the dog before stopping as the dog jumps out of the window and lands onto the building nearby; turning on the roof and smirks toward them.
"Anyone got a plan?" Sentire asks panicking.
"Leone," Trial starts and already Leone was picking him up before throwing him. Sentire watches in shock as he flew through the air and takes out his sickle and throws it toward the roof; catching the edge and hangs from the chain.
"Your turn," Leone says picking Sentire up and gets ready to throw her as the building starts to fall.
"I am going to enjoy killing you," Trial says advancing on the dog before being hit by Sentire.
"Ow. Ow. Ow!" Sentire calls out as they both tumble on the roof as Leone lands on the edge.
"Woo! Ten points!" Leone cheers as the building crash to the ground, mostly intact.
"Leone, we are killing and eating the dog," Trial informs.
"Oh goodie. I've been hankering for a kill," Leone says grinning toward the dog.
The dog chuckles a bit and only nods his head towards where the building was. "Take a look at the ground floor."
Sentire looks over the edge curiously and balks at the number of dark creatures roaming around the edge of the building and come crawling out of the collapsed building.
"You look more edible," Trial says advancing on him.
"But then you won't enjoy the cooked food we are heading to next," the dog says nodding his head again to a large light source coming from between the buildings. "Think about it. A large barbecued meal. All for you."
"Leone?" Trial asks.
Leone growls as her stomach growls alongside her. "Fine. But there better be a big meal or I'm putting you in a spitroast fire and having you on a table."
"You heard her," Trial says going over to Leone.
The dog sticks his tongue out grinning. "Fine by me. Now then, let's ride. No seriously, get on. The streets are swarming with those things and it would be better to ride with me," the dog explains as Sentire carefully gets on him again.
"Are we seriously doing this?" Leone asks looking towards Trial.
"Unfortunately," Trial says reluctantly getting on behind Sentire with Leone getting on behind him. "And you better hope there will be food or…"
The dog suddenly took off grinning as he starts jumping across rooftops towards the light source.
Dusk frowns as he pokes the dead corrupted crow as slime slides off of it and gets stuck on his quill. "Ew," he says simply and flicks the goop off as he writes into the scroll. His tattered mage robes hanging onto him as he brings another dead crow over and looks it over as it glows with some magic he pumped into it. "Still holding the magic and no closer…"
"Whatcha doin egghead?" a female voice asks.
"Testing magic on these things as always," Dusk says looking closely at the crows.
"Well, that can't be more fun than stuffing rabid varmints into a barrel," another female voice says sarcastically.
Dusk rolls his eyes. "It is to find a possible cure for all this trouble. Do you want your land back?"
"You hear that part of Manehattan collapsed?" Rainbow asks.
"Yeah. But then again, it is part of the old city. Far away from the settlement so it is nothing to worry about. The building probably gave away now," Dusk says still staring at the crows as Applejack covers Butterscotch's face with her hat to not let him see the cut open animals.
"Hard to believe we were born before these things existed," Butterscotch says.
"It's hard to believe this happened at all. Not even the princes know what happened," Dusk says finally turning away and facing them as he covers the crows with a cloth to let Butterscotch see again.
"Well, at least nothing is hap…" Applejack stopped when they heard a horrible pained roar.
"Oh crap," Dusk groans as he rushes out of his door and sees a large flying monster has come down and pounced one of the ponies around and is already pecking him. "Great. Just great," he says as his horn lights up before throwing his hand to send a ball of magic and makes a chunk of the monster's side explode and leave a big gaping hole.
"I think it went this way," a male voice calls on the other side of the city's stone walls.
Some armored skinsuit wearing pegasus flies in and lands nearby as they see the monster roaring at Dusk as he kept his magic charged. "As always, the unicorns always win," the fiery-haired one says crossing her arms.
"Hey captain," Rainbow says.
"Rainbow, still don't want to leave this place?" Spitfire asks frowning at her as Dusk sends a magical spike toward the monster and pins it toward the ground before it explodes and splits the monster into pieces.
"They seemed attracted here. So the team reports what could have caused the collapse of the buildings?" Rainbow asks.
"Just that the structure gave way. Usual things now and figure the other buildings will follow now," Spitfire says as Dusk looks over the monster.
"It sent the nest of monsters there into a spasm?" Applejack asks.
"Oddly enough, no signs of monster activity," Spitfire says thinking on it now.
"That is strange. You would think the settlement would be attacked because of it," Applejack says confused as Dusk comes back with more monster to work with.
"I know. That's why we are heading there in force to investigate," Spitfire informs looking to Rainbow.
"Really? Don't you want somepony to stay here to watch?" Rainbow asks a bit worried for her friends.
"All hands on deck Rainbow," Spitfire instructs.
"Fine. Let me get my suit," Rainbow says walking off.
Sentire grunts as the dog lands and shoves them forward as he stops just outside of some rusted metal sheet walls with barbed wires along the edges. "Your stop. I can't go in. They would shoot me on sight," the dog explains as they all start to get off.
"Wait…if that is East 43…and that's North 12…" Sentire says as she looks at the signs in the area. "Oh! My old apartment is here!" Sentire cheers as the dog start to walk away into the streets away from the walls.
"Oh good. A soft bed. But we want food," Leone says and brings Sentire's spirit down a little.
"Oh. Right. Sorry," she says going up to the wall before a large light was shined on them. "Um…hello?" she calls hesitantly.
"Shifters?" they hear from the wall.
"Nah. They would have burned by now," another voice says. "Alright. Get in here before the monsters do," the voice says as a part of the wall is moved away.
"Um…thanks…" Sentire says and Leone rushes past her as Trial follows behind; both eager for some food. Leaving Sentire to walk in as the gate closes behind them.
"Welcome to Manehattan," an armored pony says sitting down above them on a scaffolding. "Now then…"
"Where's the food?" Trial interrupts as he starts to smell the cooking meat.
"Take it easy buddy or we'll throw you out. Outsiders pay up. Living ones here can have for free if they work. Foals to a certain age can eat for free as well. Don't cause trouble or we'll throw you out. Don't bring monsters here or we'll throw you out. And don't antagonize the locals or…" the mare explains as she crosses her arms, staring down at them.
"You'll throw us out. Yeah, yeah. Food?" Leone interrupts impatiently.
"Courtyard," the mare says pointing and they both run off and leaves Sentire shaking her head embarrassed.
Sentire sighs and looks to where they went. "They do realize they have no bits, right?" she asks herself before following at a slower steady pace.
"Come on. We must have some gold," Leone says patting herself as they stood in a long line in a courtyard full of tables and ponies all over; going about their business in the shantytown style of a settlement. Complete with lines of clothing and armored walls lining the edges while many steel metal sheet buildings were built into the old buildings that still stand.
"I think I have some," Trial says digging into his clothes.
Sentire shakes her head as she walks by them and uses her old memory to follow her path to her old home. That was until she hits a metal wall and looks beyond to see that her apartment building is just on the other side. "Excuse me?" she calls to the guard on the wall who is holding a crossbow in his hands.
"What is it?" the guard asks back as he looks down at her.
"Is that building clear of monsters?" Sentire asks pointing to the building.
The guard blinks and looks at the building. "Mostly. Big guys are gone. Can't get rid of the rodents though," he explains as Sentire climbs the wall and lands on the other side. "Hey! Get back in here."
Sentire frowns as she rushes to the front door and heads inside.
"Idiot mare going to get herself killed," the guard says to himself as he goes back to his patrolling.
Sentire pants as she rushes up the steps to her floor and bursts through the door into her hall. Seeing the moonlight flicker through the windows and the wind blowing through the hall, she walks carefully through it. Passing by other apartments, most open or broken down, she stops at hers which was closed. Sentire reaches around the rim of the doorway and stops as she pulls out a key and quickly opens her door to a musty smelling home.
"Man. This didn't age well," Sentire says to herself as she walks through the place and shuts the door behind her. Alerting some of the rodents with the loud bang from below.
Sentire searches all over as she changed clothes to a freer moving clothes of a short pants and tight vest, she starts to pack her small laptop bag of some clothing that wasn't stained or ripped up. Canned food that looked okay enough to open up and even a first aid kit. "Okay. That should do it…wonder if they shut off the water?" Sentire asks herself as she peeks into her bathroom.
"Fuck. No gold or so-called 'bits'. And nothing to show for our hunger. I swear, I'm going to eat that dog. I don't care what he has to say," Trial says frowning as they walk through the settlement.
"Look at the bright side," Leone says grinning.
"Which is?" Trial asks as they head towards where Sentire went.
"We get our first kill and meal in a long time," Leone says grinning to him.
"Oh yeah. And I can't wait to roast it over one of these fires," Trial says smiling and waving his arm to the drum fires littered throughout the area.
"Hey! You two!" a guard calls.
"What is it?" Trial calls back annoyed.
"Are you with that busty mare that passed by here?" the guard asks frowning.
"What if we were?" Leone asks back.
"Because it looks like she is going to get herself killed now. And I sure as Solaris ain't going into where she went. Not my job," he says jerking a thumb towards the building.
Trial groans. "First the dog, now her. Great."
"Want to leave?" Leone asks hoping to find a direction to go.
"We grab something to eat, even if it is small, then we go haul her ass out of here. I am tired of this location anyways," Trial says.
"But we have nothing to pay…she said something about an apartment…maybe she has something to help pay for our food," Leone says realizing that Sentire might have some gold to spend.
"Oh fine! Let's just hurry!" Trial yells frustrated and jumps over the wall with Leone to the guard's surprise as they rush inside the building.
"Fucking ponies," the guard groans.
Sentire sighs in relief as she comes out of the bathroom and sets her vest right as she looks back to the wet bathroom. "At least it's running clean water," she says to herself as she goes to her bag and picks it up before grabbing her scythe and heads out before stopping and looking towards a cupboard. Opening it, she spies the bag of bits there and looks outside for a moment before sighing. "Those guys need it more. Maybe can trade it for something useful even," she says to herself as she packs the bag away into her bag.
A chittering reaches her ears and she quickly looks outside to see some red glowing eyes down the hall, many of them. "Oh shit," she peeps before the eyes screech out and charge at her. Sentire cries out and shuts her door before locking it. Bangs hit the door along with cries and screeches from the other side.
"Maybe I shouldn't have left alone." Sentire looks around for a way out and sees the windows but knows that is a long drop before catching anything.
"Busty mare!" Sentire hears Leone call from outside the door. Looking towards the door, she can hear the chittering moving away and prepares to open it as she hears some flesh being sliced apart. As the last chittering went away, she quickly opens the door to see Trial and Leone standing there bloodied as Leone eyes the rat-like monsters with hunger.
"Um…hey guys," Sentire starts.
"Don't hey us. Now, what is…did you clean yourself?" Trial asks as he notices the wet hair.
"Huh?" Sentire asks confused as she reaches up to her short hair. "Oh yeah. Lucky us, there is running water. But no heat so you have to take it cold."
"Running…water?" Leone asks confused; her hunger now forgotten.
"You guys don't know?" Sentire asks and gets some shakes of the head. "Um…huh. Guess it is tough to explain," she says before looking at their clothes again. "Come on. Might as well put some of my stuff to one last good use," she says pulling them inside and shuts the door after kicking away a few rat monsters out her door to shut it.
Sentire leads them to the bathroom and shows them the shower covered in some dirt on the walls while every other part of the room were covered in a layer of dust and dirt. "Here. You can clean yourself off here."
Both of them look to her as if she is crazy at that point.
Sentire rolls her eyes and turns the water on with a low pressure as it sends out water. "That's how," Sentire says pushing Leone inside and makes her jump in surprise at the cold water and feeling the freezing water on her.
"Don't you dare make a joke," Leone growls at Trial who was just smiling at her.
"I didn't say anything," Trial says starting to undress and step in.
"I'll leave you two alone," Sentire says stepping out and closing the door.
Sentire raises an eyebrow as she checks her bag before a few heavy thumps on the door alerted her and she looks through the peephole to see nothing. "Doggy?" she calls.
"Who else?" she hears; having her sigh and open the door to the dog walking in.
"Nice place. Needs a bit of cleanup," the dog says walking over to the couch and laying on it. "And drying."
"Well, we won't be staying too long," Sentire informs.
"True. But it's nice to enjoy the amenities," the dog says snuggling into the couch.
"That was actually pretty good," Leone says stepping out of the bathroom while drying herself off with a towel. "Never knew 'running water' would be pretty nice."
"Welcome to the future," Sentire says rolling her eyes amused. "Need fresher clothes?" she asks seeing the state of Leone's clothes and how ragged they became.
"They get the job done," Trial says in a towel as well.
"But if they fall apart now since they are old?" Sentire asks raising an eyebrow. "Anyway, you want some clothes Leone, you can head in there and choose what you want," she says pointing to her bedroom as she goes back to the kitchen area to find anything else to take.
"Well, for now, we won't have anything yet," Leone says before smacking Trial's flank as she walks past him.
Trial rolls his eyes amused as Leone goes to take a look. "So…you guys want food that badly," Sentire states taking a sack of something out of her bag.
"Yes," Leone says getting dressed.
Sentire digs into her sack and both Trial and Leone recognize the sound of clinking. "Well…would this do?" Sentire asks taking out a few bits as Leone rushes out in some of Sentire's clothing of a shirt and small pants.
"You being made into a meal is postponed," Trial says to the dog seriously.
"Told ya you would get some food," the dog retorts as he lays lazily on the couch still.
"An hour," Trial informs making the dog uneasy as he meant it.
"Just go," Sentire says rolling her eyes and instantly finds that Leone had rushed out and the bits have gone from her hand. Trial quickly dresses in his old clothes and follows her. Sentire slowly looks to the dog as he smirks at her. "No rutting," Sentire warns packing everything up.