Ascend Through Darkness Ch. 2: Takeo and Applejack
Ponyville was once again under the attack of the undead. But this time, things were different. With the arrival of Tank Dempsey, Nikolai Belinski, Takeo Masaki, and Doctor Edward Richtofen, the town had zombie slaying experts on their side. Though most of the ponyfolk were doubtful of their usefulness, the humans knew exactly how to deal with zombies, be it human or animal. Takeo decided to team up with Applejack and protect Sweet Apple Acres from the dead. He felt that this farmer pony would be the most practical and down-to-earth character out of the group. Rainbow Dash's attitude reminded him far too much of the American. An overbearing personality was something he wanted to escape from. Rarity's overall prissiness got on his nerves. Her attention to even minute details was remarkable, but she would usually go overboard with it. Fluttershy gave off a weak and nervous aura; something he did not appreciate or respect out on the battlefield. Pinkie Pie's random nature was, strange, to say the least for Takeo. It gave him a headache just trying to comprehend the pink pony's actions. Twilight would have been his next choice were it not for the Doctor. His evil presence and lack of sanity nearly threw the Japanese over the edge. He can only hope that Richtofen's dark influence won't get a hold of the unicorn. As the duo made their way up a dirt path, he noticed the strong scent of apples. It seems they were close to Sweet Apple Acres.
"So, Applejack-san, your family owns this whole plot of land?" Takeo gestured towards the rows of trees in the distance. It seemed to stretch beyond the horizon.
"That's right. Been in the family for as long as I could remember. Its somethin' anypony could be proud of. Say, I know you're itchin' to get into the brawl, but you don't look so good." The earth pony had been referring to the numerous bandages and bloodstains that covered the human's uniform and body. There were also fresh wounds strewn across his back from his previous skirmish with the undead. It was true that he was hurt and tired, but he refused to show weakness to the ponies. It would have been most dishonorable of Takeo to even think of doing such a thing.
"Hmph, I will show you what an honorable warrior is truly capable of. Leave it to Takeo to bring light into this dark place!"
"Ya got, confidence, I'll give you that. I reckon you're the type that won't do somethin' stupid anyway. We'll head to the barn so I can bring you up to date with what's been going on around Ponyville." The duo quicken their pace towards the large red building to find that Big Macintosh, Applejack's older brother, was already waiting for them within.
"Howdy, Applejack. Who's the newcomer?" He cautiously walks closer to the human, who was surprisingly taller than him.
"Takeo, allow me to introduce you to my brother, Big Mac. He's here to help us push back the zombies." The crimson pony's stoic expression changed to one of happiness.
"Well, I'll be. Mighty glad to have ya here, Takeo." He merely nodded. He was still trying to wrap his mind on how a family of ponies can own farmland.
"Alright, y'all. The three of us are gonna patrol the orchards and make sure that these undead marauders get what they deserve! We've already got the rest of the Apple family protecting the buildings, so we don't need to worry about that. Splitting up may sound like a good idea, but we'd be at greater risk of dying. So we gotta watch each other's back. Everypony got that?" Her question was met with nods from the others. Although Takeo did not enjoy being ordered around by most people, let alone ponies, he had to keep his mouth shut if he wanted these allies. Besides, it was refreshing to get away from that drunkard, Nikolai. Absentmindedly, he reached for his weapon, an AK74-fu2, and lamented over the lack of ammo. He only had three clips to spare before the gun itself becomes useless. Despite the absence of a light source, it still gave off an eerie glow. This was attributed to the element "115" which caused the gun to become even more powerful than its original counterpart, the AK74-u.
"Since we are here, I wonder if we will see the Pack-a-Punch machine somewhere…"Takeo quietly said to himself. He looked up to the stares of the Apple siblings.
"Whatcha got there, Takeo?" Applejack asked. They had never seen such an odd contraption before. Nopony before today knew what a gun is.
"This, this is one of the many tools I use to slay the unholy. It is a devastating weapon of destruction only meant for the most honorable of warriors. You will see it in action soon enough."
"I hope those fancy words aren't just for show! Alright fellas, let's get to it!" The trio exits the barn to be greeted by the wide expanse of the Sweet Apple Acres. As they began their patrol of the acres, they noticed something in the far distance. At first, it was nothing more but dots in the sky. Then, it became clear all too soon. Zombie Pegasuses can be seen flapping their wings towards the farmland. A legion of pony zombies loomed over the horizon, marching to feast upon the living. Takeo looked to his allies. Although they were visibly trembling in fear, they stood their ground. He could see a multitude of emotions in their eyes. Anxiety, determination, hatred, they were all present. Slowly, Takeo has come to the realization that he no longer felt honor bound to protect these ponyfolk. It was no longer an obligation, rather an impulse to help those in need. It was an alien feeling for him. Normally, he would've fought for himself. He could care less if the other humans were taken down as they only teamed up to merely survive. However, these ponies have proved to be an altogether different case.
"I will not allow these damn beasts to cut into our flesh," Takeo stepped forward. "They will bow down before us! Big Mac, allow me to ride on your back. I'll be sure to protect your flanks."
"Eyup, sure thing, partner." He wasn't given much of a choice as the human had already mounted himself on top of his back. Once there, Takeo pulls out his katana and points it to the sky.
"We will fight through the scourge! Banzai!" Yelling out his signature battle cry, the ponies charged towards the undead horde. Applejack readied her lasso, tying up groups of zombies together in an effort slow them down. She would then finish them off with a powerful rear kick, splattering gore and pieces of brain everywhere.
"Heh, just like buckin' apples!" Big Mac used his size advantage and superior strength to trample and ram into the zombies. It was odd to have a rider on his back while he was fighting, but he soon got used to it. The duo quickly adapted to each other's way of fighting. Takeo was slicing heads off incoming zombies who dared to try and feast on them. Though it had been a while since the Japanese soldier had used his blade, it had not rust or dull in the slightest. It was refreshing for Takeo to finally use a proper blade. As interesting as the sickle and the bowie knife were, they could never hold a candle to his katana. What was left of the fear and anxiety earlier had all but vanished, replaced with adrenaline and a sense of accomplishment. With the combined efforts of the three, the undead didn't stand a chance. And Takeo didn't even have to use his gun! However, it wasn't long before the zombie Pegasuses swooped in from the skies, nearly knocking Takeo off of Big Mac.
"Ergh, annoying flies! I need you two to cover my back so I can get a clear shot at them!" He jumped off of Big Mac before either he or Applejack could ask what he meant. A sword would not do well against an opponent with great mobility. He placed his sword back in its sheath and pullrf out his gun to deal with the circling vultures. Conserving ammo was Takeo's specialty. This, in turn, meant that he was the best at getting headshots and ensuring the kill. Now oblivious to the carnage around him, he moved his sights to the spot he predicted the fliers would be at. All his concentration was on the flying zombies. With the pull of a trigger, he opened fire, dropping the zombies from the skies with each successive burst. He turned towards the Apple siblings to find that they had just finished off the last of the horde.
"Well, no rest for the weary," Applejack said. "Let's get to the buildings to check up on the rest." Though she didn't show it, the earth pony had many questions swimming in her head concerning Takeo. What was his past like? How did he get here? And what was the loud, strange mechanism he held in his hands? Was it some kind of powerful sorcery that didn't belong in Equestria? But, there was no time for an interview. She had to ensure the future of the Apple family by surviving this apocalypse first. The three broke out into a sprint, hoping that their home was secured. As they drew nearer, the sounds of conflict can be heard, growing louder with each step taken. This only urged the trio to further quicken their pace. It wasn't long before they saw the battlefield. The zombies were engaged in a fierce battle with the Apple family. Unfortunately, some of the family members had already fallen; their limp bodies lay dead on the floor. This only deepened Applejack's hatred towards the undead. Without a word, she charged headlong into the fray, oblivious to the cries of her big brother.
"Damn that foal! She's gonna end up killing herself like this. Sorry Takeo, but I'm going after her." Big Mac ran after his sister to ensure her safety. He was now alone in the midst of the chaos, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
"For glory!" Once more, the bushido warrior drew his katana, ready to tear the zombies asunder. His closest target was a rather large group of zombies who were slowly cornering some of the Apple family. With a mighty cry, he charged at them, slashing his way through the numbers. With each swing of his sword, limbs and flesh would fly everywhere, bathing the ground in their festering blood. Soon, there was nothing left of the enemy. With the smaller group of earth ponies saved, Takeo ran towards more zombies, carving a path through the carnage. He came upon another small gathering of the Apple family; though this time they were putting up a good fight. He raises his sword in the air, ready to slice through the sinews of the undead marauders. There were nothing but clean cuts from the samurai; a testament to his swordsmanship. Though there were more allies to rely upon in battle, the enemy ranks have also considerably grown in size. Fatigue soon began to affect Takeo. His movements were slightly sluggish and his vision became somewhat blurred. To top it off, his body hasn't fully recovered from his last encounter with Nazi zombies back on earth. Still, he pushed onward. For an honorable warrior such as himself, the only path is to move forward. There is no such thing as going back.
"Do not be so anxious to cross swords with Takeo," he called out. "I cannot be defeated by the damned!" His words unknowingly brought inspiration to the Apple family, effectively boosting their morale. Though they were all tired, they knew with this strange creature on their side, victory would be ensured. His authoritative presence was so strong, that the others couldn't help but rally around him, as if he was their new leader. Taking notice of this, he gave them one simple order.
"Their numbers are diminishing! All we must do now is push them back. Drive them back, away from Sweet Apple Acres! Banzai!" With Takeo at the helm, he and the Apple family charged at a furious pace in an effort to destroy the zombies in one final attack. He was ready to die for any honorable cause. After all, life was light compared to honor. The tables were turning in the ponies' favor as more of the zombies remained dead. Everywhere around him was some sort of conflict between the living and the dead. He needed to end the fight quickly before casualties can mount up. After killing a few more zombies, he placed his sword back in its sheath and pulls out his trusty AK74fu-2. With precise accuracy, he was able to kill many more with just a few bullets in his clip. Even in the heat of battle, the gun's echoing fire rang out in everyone's ears.
"For the Emperor!" With his last clip, he fires wildly at the remaining zombies, effectively killing them. Once the gun was empty making an audible "click," he straped it around his back and pulled out his katana once more. He waited and waited with baited breath, feeling that battle might not be over just yet. Silence ensued, and not a single creature stirred for that tense moment. Sensing that all the zombies were gone, he let out a sigh and placed his sword in its sheath. Their victory over the zombies was met with a deafening cheer from the whole group. It was only now that he noticed that neither Applejack nor Big Mac was present in the crowd. Takeo opted to walk away from the group in favor of finding the ponies that he was familiar with. However, he did not get very far when he was stopped by a filly with a pale olive coat and a brilliant crimson mane with an equally bright ribbon adorning the top of her head. She looked up to him in a mixture of awe and curiosity. He merely raised his eyebrows at her gaping.
"Is there something I can do for you, little one?" He was beginning to fear that he may be trying to converse with a mute pony until she finally spoke up.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said with a notable southern accent. It seemed to have run in the family. "I didn't mean to stare. Its just that you're so different from anything I've ever seen. My name's Apple Bloom. What's yours?"
"My name is Takeo Masaki. I am a captain of the Japanese Imperial Army." He didn't really know why he added that last part. After all, do these ponies even know what Japan or Earth is? The humans had never of Equestria before this. Then again, Richtofen did mention something about Gersch's coordinates taking them to Ponyville before they jumped into the black hole…
"Hee hee, that's a funny name. You look mighty tired. Why don't you come inside and we'll get you fixed up?"
"I would like that very much. Domo." It had been so long since either he or his team had a proper establishment to rest in. Even a basic shack with simple bedding would've been great.
"Alrighty then! Follow me, Applejack and Big Mac are inside. Although, you may want to avoid my sister for a little while."
"Why is that? Did something happen?" He noticed a slightly glum expression had appeared on the filly's face.
"Well, they got into an argument, and big sis usually likes to be alone afterwards. Its sort of a family thing. Here, let me get the door for ya." As both filly and human enter the household, he noticed how spacious the interior was. Even for one of his stature, the house proved to be large enough to comfortably fit him. Judging from the ovens and the pantries, they were most likely in the kitchen. "You can take a seat over there in the dining room. I'll be back with you in a bit." Following Apple Bloom's instructions, he sat on top of one of the haystacks that acted as chairs for ponies. Admittedly, it was also quite comfortable for the posteriors of humans as well. He did not have to wait long for the filly to return with a tray of cupcakes and a bottle of apple juice.
"Here ya go, mister! Its all for you." After saying his thanks, she got up and left, saying she had other things to attend to. It was at this time that he was finally able to fully comprehend his surroundings. Never in his wildest dreams would he ever talk with ponies that could casually strike a conversation with him. Hell, as far as he knew, his team was the first humans to ever set foot in Equestria! Despite this, there were some frighteningly similar things between human and pony culture that he took note of. Farms, towns and cities were the first similarities that he noticed. Even the architecture in some of the buildings he had seen bore a great resemblance to earth. But, how did they manage all this construction and carpentry? They only had hooves with no hands, let alone opposable thumbs to hold on to objects. Before he could rack his brain more on the matter, Big Mac entered the dining room.
"Hey there, Takeo. If its alright, I'd like to speak to ya." The large pony situated himself on another haystack across from the human, who patiently waited.
"Is there something troubling you, Big Mac?" he inquired.
"Yes, there is. Its about my sisters. Ever since all of this fightin' started, I fear for their safety. More so than usual."
"Which was why you ran after Applejack."
"Eyup. As much as I hate to lose family members to conflict, I'd never be able to live with myself if I let any kind of harm fall on any of my sisters. What kind of a big brother would I be?"
"And you wish to ask me a favor pertaining to your younger siblings."
"You catch on quick, partner. No wonder my sister has taken a shinin' to ya. Anyway, if anythin' were to happen to me, I want you to protect them in my stead."
"Why would you trust a stranger with the lives of your loved ones?"
"I, I don't know. There's just somethin' about you that makes you incredibly trustworthy. You seem to know how to deal with the zombies, at the very least."
"Hm, reasonable. How will you know that I simply won't turn my back to them in their time of need?" Big Mac took a moment to consider his answer, before settling on one word.
"Honor." At this, Takeo raised his eyebrows at the crimson pony. For a while, he stared at him square in the eye, unnerving him in the process. Then, he started laughing. It started low, but grew louder and louder, echoing throughout the empty dining room.
"Very well! I will do you this favor. Rest assured, my equine friend. No harm shall fall upon us while I'm around. I'll stake my honor and life on it."
"Thanks a bunch, Takeo. I knew I could count on you. Well, I'd better get goin'. I still have some unsorted business to finish up."
"Oh, there is one more thing I would like to say."
"What is it?"
"Give my regards to the chef. These are the best damn cupcakes I ever had in my life!"
AN: Up next is the misadventures of Rainbow Dash and Tank Dempsey!