Ch. 3 Second Impact, Third Strike

"Man, why did you have to have a rainbow colored mane for? That just screams out fruity."

"Excuse me? I happen to be born this way and for your information mister; I am not a fillyfooler!"

"Whatever you say, Butch."

"Ha, say what you want Tank. But we won't be in need of your services at the moment. So why don't you just go back to whatever planet you're from and get the hell out of my face!"

"You're one to talk, Rainbow Bitch! You've got fuckin' wings, for Pete's sake! Why don't you fly away from me so that I can kill in peace?" This close. He was this close to breaking the pegasus's jaw shut with his fists. He didn't care what anyone else would've thought of him. All the Marine ever wanted was for her to shut up. Their incessant arguing had distracted them so much that they haven't even realized they had reached their destination. It was the western bridge that connected Ponyville with the Everfree Forest. Nearly as wide as an airfield strip, the bridge itself was incredibly spacious. Made out of cobblestone, it gave off a rather antiquated feel with its arced design. Normally, it would've been free of debris and clutter. But, since it was a key area to defend, barricades of all sorts were strewn across the bridge as a last line of defense. Stationed along the bridge were some of the Royal Pegasus Guards of Canterlot. Unlilke most ponies, these soldiers were clad in golden armor and were quite large for pegasuses. One of them walks up to the arguing pair and immediately silenced them by stomping the ground. Rainbow Dash and Dempsey turned their attention to the offending pony only to be met with a glare. This caused Rainbow Dash to straighten up, as if she were in boot camp. Dempsey, however, remained pissed off.

"Rainbow Dash," he began. "who, or what is this?" he gestured towards the human who gave him an annoyed look.

"Oh, him? Uh, he's just here to help us with the infestation, Captain. That's all." Not satisfied with her answer, he walked up to the human, staring him straight in the eye. Dempsey's scowl only intensified.

"Hmph, if he wishes to help us, then he would do well in following my orders," he turns his attention to his men. "Alright, colts! I want three squadrons circling the skies around Ponyville. If you see anypony in need, do not hesitate to give them assistance. The rest of you shall remain here with me to defend the bridge. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir!" His whole unit, including Rainbow Dash shouted. With that, they flew to their stations, leaving about 20 pegasuses on the bridge.

"You there! What is your name, creature?" He wasn't the type of pony to welcome any newcomer into his unit, especially if the newcomer in question wasn't a pony. If it wasn't clear that the Captain didn't like the Dempsey, he did his damn best to clarify his hatred now.

"Ha, isn't that cute? The little pony thinks he's a badass!"

"Don't even think of trying anything funny, cretin. Otherwise, you may just find your skull beneath my hooves." With that, he walked away and began giving more instructions to his men. Rainbow Dash hovered up to Dempsey and began to speak.

"Whoa, you shouldn't have pissed off Captain Storm like that."

"And why is that? He's gonna make a bitchfest out of everything now, or what?"

"Actually, that's exactly it. Things are just going to get harder from here on out."

"Well guess what? Since I'm here, this little zombie outbreak is gonna be over with pretty damn soon. That pussy captain of yours can sit on his ass and watch as I mop the floor with those bone junkies!" Dempsey prepped his double barreled shotgun dubbed Hades for the upcoming fight. Originally, it was an Olympia, a shotgun meant for skeet shooting. After going through the process of the Pack-a-Punch machine, it was able to fire incendiary rounds. The mare looked at his mechanism in awe. Her eyes sparkled at the sheen it reflected.

"Oooh, that looks pretty cool, actually!" She almost felt like Pinkie Pie for wanting to touch the shotgun so bad. Thankfully, Dempsey had pulled the gun away which brought the pegasus out of her trance.

"Sorry, missy. No one but me gets to touch my guns. Still, you do have an eye for good weaponry." Quickly reverting back to her old self, Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves across her chest and looked at the Marine cautiously.

"So? What the heck is it suppose to do?"

"Oh, you'll see what it does soon enough." Dempsey quietly chuckled, which unnerved the mare. Captain Storm returns to the pair with an unimproved mood and new orders.

"I want you two at the frontlines. Everypony's already at their stations. I suggest you hurry before I get drastic." Rainbow Dash saluted Captain Storm before she and Dempsey depart. With the Captain's back to them, the human gave him the finger, which caused the rainbow mare to roll her eyes. Arriving at the front part of the bridge, Rainbow Dash was surprised to find that nobody else was there with them.

"H-hey, where is everypony? Don't tell me its just us two!" Panic had begun to encroach within her mind. The Marine, however, remained nonchalant to the situation.

"Who cares? We don't need pussies getting in the way. At least, I don't." Rainbow Dash looks at him with an incredulous expression.

"Are you nuts? Before you came along, the zombies would easily outnumber us. Now that its just you and me, shit's gonna get worse!" Normally, the mare would hardly ever use such foul language. Perhaps it was the American's influence on her behavior.

"Hm, let's see here… a thousand zombies versus one Dempsey. Yeah, that sounds about fair."

"Are you even listening to me? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Listen here, Butch. I've just about had it with your constant bitching. If you're so concerned about dying, why don't you go cry to Captain Storm for reinforcements? It would make both of our lives a helluva lot easier! Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to feed the maggot whores some hot lead." Before the pegasus in question could retort, he dashed off into the forest. Rainbow Dash was never a coward, and she would definitely never run away from a fight. But why had the Captain abandon the two at the frontlines? The battle hasn't even started and the disloyalty became clear. She didn't really enjoy his presence, but she knew he was a colt of honor. He would never do something like this to her! Perhaps it had something to do with the arrival of Dempsey in this world. It was then that she decided to confront Captain Storm about this issue another time. Right now, she had some zombie ponies to slaughter. And she wasn't about to leave Dempsey all alone in the Everfree Forest. No matter how aggravating he was.

"Ka-fucking-boom freak bags! I can't believe you nasty squags thought you stood a chance against me!" Tank Dempsey was a man of action. To him, there was no such thing as a before or after a war. Give him a loaded gun, a good woman and something to shoot at and he'll be happy. As of now, all he needed is a lady friend. Primarily using Hades, the scent of burning flesh gave him encouragement for more slaughter. Although somewhat cumbersome to reload, double-barreled shotguns were some of Dempsey's favorite weapons to use. Due to his liberal usage of the incendiary rounds, he had set the surrounding trees on fire, creating a thick, black smoke around the area. It was only a minor annoyance to him, having been surrounded by flames before. But, the fire did little to impede the zombies themselves. They would simply walk through, igniting themselves in the process. It would melt the flesh in some areas of the body, exposing the bone and releasing a noxious fume that could only compare to festering road kill. All of this amounted to a good time for the American. Suddenly, a flash of blue streaked passed him followed by a rainbow. The sheer force of the shockwave nearly knocked Dempsey off his feet. Then, a loud explosion-like noise rippled across the battlefield, leaving dead zombies and a giant rainbow overhead. The hurricane-like winds that ensued fanned the flames into nothing but dying embers. He shielded his eyes as debris began to encircle the battlefield. Somehow, he had a feeling that this was all a certain pegasus's doing.

"What the fuck was that?" He shouted.

"My signature move, the Sonic Rainboom!" A familiar voice replied. He saw Rainbow Dash descending from the skies with a large smile plastered on her face.

"You know, you could've given me a warning before you go off like a freakin' nuke!"

"It wouldn't have mattered. I was breaking the sound barrier so you would've heard the boom before me." Refusing to show his astonishment, he shields it by casually berating her.

"Geez, what the hell is with you and rainbows? Why couldn't you pick a cooler color like red or something?"

"Rainbows are most certainly cool! You just haven't realized it yet. Although red could make for an interesting display…"

"Hmph. By the way, why were you so concerned about losing the fight? I mean, you've got that sonic boom shit."

"Well, I guess I'll have to come clean. You see, I haven't actually perfected the technique. I've been able to do it a couple of times after the competition, but its still pretty damn hard to nail it perfectly. And I couldn't just leave you alone to fend off these creeps. Nopony gets left behind, even if they're not exactly ponies in the first place."

"You know, you remind me of Tak. You're loyal, honest and reliable to boot. Hell, the flyboys back at base would've loved to see some of your fancy maneuvers. I gotta admit, you're a badass, despite being associated with rainbows." The mare couldn't help but blush at the first nice thing the Marine had said about her. But, there was something else that he had said that caused her ears to perk up.

"Wait, you mean there are some of you guys that can fly?"

"Heh, not exactly on their own accord. You see, we've got technology on our side and pilots would fly on an airplane…" Their conversation about his home planet continued on as they strolled back to the bridge to report the good news to Captain Storm. Despite the battle being over, the Captain was still ordering his colts around, ensuring that the barricades are to his liking. Never in his wildest dreams would he ever think of meeting a human. The colt had only heard of humans through fairy tales. With them in Equestria, it felt like their problems had only just begun. He had feigned ignorance to those two to keep them off of his back. Only the royalty needed to know about these humans. As he checked the perimeter, Storm ushered one of his men to him.

"Take this note," he commanded. "Dear Princess Luna, I am afraid we are going to have bigger problems than zombies. We've got four powerful humans in our midst. Though they may seem helpful, I fear they may grow too strong for us to handle. For now, I will await your further orders."

Why? Why of all ponies did it have to be her and Fluttershy who had to deal with a drunkard? This was the single thought that had been going through Rarity's mind ever since Nikolai tagged along. She was no stranger to alcohol, but this strange man takes drinking to a whole new level! Poor Fluttershy could barely stand his abrasive attitude. Nonetheless, the unlikely trio had their orders from the Mayor; protect the shopping districts and assist anypony who hasn't made it to the safe house yet. Much to the relief of Fluttershy, she was able to get away from the Russian to help a few stray ponies here and there. The pegasus was almost reluctant to return to Rarity, but she did not want the unicorn to deal with him alone. Nikolai himself had become unusually silent lately. At first, he thought his vodka had gone bad and he was having hallucinations about brightly colored, talking ponies. Unfortunately, he knew Russian vodka was the best. It never went bad (in his opinion). In an effort to get his mind off of the subject of horses, he blearily grabbed a hold of his weapon, the FN FAL. Of course, like his other comrades, it went through the Pack-a-Punch machine, turning it into the EPC WIN. Instead of a single-shot mode, the EPC WIN was a three-burst rifle. It also came with a reflex sight which comes with a nifty reticule of a smiley face. Rarity couldn't help but stare at the gun in Nikolai's hands. The intricate designing in the metal gave it a foreign, almost Celtic look to it. The wooden parts of the gun remained unchanged, giving a nice, stark contrast to the gun that was simply appealing to the eye. Feeling eyes boring into him, Nikolai turned to Rarity with a silly grin fixed on his face.

"She's pretty, no?" He asked, gesturing towards his gun.

"Uh, yes, gorgeous," The unicorn replied rather nervously. She still did not know what humans were capable of. But if they were so willing to fight, perhaps they were stronger than they look. "What exactly is 'she'?"

"You mean you don't know? Bah, I hope this place has vodka, then! If you guys don't know what a gun is, we're probably gonna be fucked later on."

"Gun?" She repeated, hoping to have pronounced the foreign word properly.

"I'm probably not the best person to ask for knowledge. You know, because I'm so drunk and all that," For someone who was constantly drunk, he was surprisingly logical. "Hey, what's up with your flying buddy? He's been awfully quiet. Maybe he need drink of Nikolai's vodka." But, he was still inebriated, no matter what anyone said. The pegasus in question merely squeaked at the sudden attention. She tried her best to shrink behind Rarity's form while the unicorn tried to explain to Nikolai that her "flying buddy" was a pegasus and was indeed a female. Unfortunately, her sophisticated vocabulary fell on deaf, drunken ears as Nikolai truly tried his best to listen to what the unicorn had to say. Suddenly, the Russian pointed his gun upwards and fired three rounds into the sky, startling both Rarity and Fluttershy.

"Sorry about that. I had to make sure I'm hearing things correctly."

"Well, you could've given us a little warning! If the zombies don't kill me with their stench, your frightening mechanism will! Can't you make it quieter or something to that effect?" With his headache getting worse with each word coming out of her mouth, it would only be a matter of time before the Nikolai's short fuse lit.

"I think someone should put a silencer on your muzzle! All this bitching and moaning, like my third wife!"

"Um… guys?"

"How dare you speak to a lady like that! Have you no dignity? Somepony should show you your place!"

"Sheesh, what is it with you women and your elegance shit? And here I thought my fourth wife was the biggest bitch."

"…Hello? I think we should-"

"And what is that suppose to mean, you drunken cur? I have a mind to turn that 'gun' of yours into cashmere!"

"You touch me or any of my belongings, I kill you! Sounds like fair trade."

"I really think that-"

"Ha, I wouldn't dare touch you with a 10 foot pole! You are that atrocious to me."

"That's fucking fantastic because Nikolai won't be coming to save your ass."

"ZOMBIE PONIES!" Fluttershy's sudden outburst brought both Rarity and Nikolai out of their heated argument. They turned to see the zombies already closing in on the town from the hills. Taking the initiative, the trio charged onwards in an effort to cut off the entrances from the incoming attacks. With the engagement now outside of Ponyville, they went all out. While Fluttershy took to the sky to combat them, Rarity engaged the closest group of zombies with her limited offensive magic. Meanwhile, Nikolai picked off the undead crowd from afar by the dozen. Though their numbers were enormous to the ponies, Nikolai knew this was nothing compared to his previous fights with the living dead. Admittedly, he can understand their desperate struggle as their technology was not as advanced as the humans. From as much as he knew, only unicorns had the power to use magic which left the rest with close quarters combat. This makes them even more vulnerable to the infection, which only made things harder. It was only now that the Russian truly appreciated the worth of a gun, even if he did have a sickle for those close encounters.

"Ugh, this is worse than mud and dirt combined! Can't these maggots explode a little more neatly? Its times like these that I wish I was born a pegasus so that I can be above this mess." Even in the heat of battle, Rarity had tidiness to complain about.

"You know, these hell pigs are almost as bad as your whining, Rarity."

"I am not whining. I am complaining. If you want whining, I will gladly show you during a more appropriate situation." He merely groaned in response. As the fighting continued on, both the ponies were becoming exhausted, as they were still not used to the hard labor. Nikolai, on the other hand, was barely breaking a sweat. This provided comfort to the ponies, yet it aggravated Rarity all at the same time. She did not like being bested by someone as uncouth as Nikolai, even if she is in his home field. It wasn't long before Fluttershy descended to the ground, landing next to Rarity.

"I'm sorry," she began. "I just can't keep this up. There weren't this many before."

"I understand, dear. Just stick close to me and we'll get through this. I know you're exhausted, but I'm going to need you to watch my rear. Can you do that for me?" Feeling somewhat energized by her friend's words, the pegasus gave a slow nod. Once more, they resume the carnage. Despite their efforts, it almost felt like all was for naught. Wave after wave of undead came at them in an endless fashion. Rarity was beginning to feel the stress of constantly using magic and resorted to kicking them, much to her chagrin. She would have to bathe in her most luxurious bubble bath if she can get out of this mess alive. Fluttershy was not faring well either. The constant fighting took its toll on her health. It didn't help that she wasn't use to the constant strenuous activities that fighting brought either. She was becoming weary, keeping her eyes open was becoming a cumbersome task. She knew that if she fell asleep here, she'd be dead for sure. Then, the ponies' most horrible scenario came to life as Nikolai cursed out loud.

"Fuck! Out of ammo!"

AN: Hooray for cliffhangers. And if it wasn't evident, Dempsey and Rainbow Dash aren't my favorite characters.