A Mad Ghoul's Folly: The Captives

The Ghoul paced back and forth slowly. He was in no rush, time had little grip on him. All though, he was growing restless. It was taking far too long to bring in his new challenge, but he mustn't get too excited. Last time he let his eagerness cloud his judgement, The Ghoul had lost his prey. He must reign in his excitement, for his new challenge was a dragon. Not a big dragon mind you- probably had just started his hoard. But dragons were still dangerous, and thus, The Ghoul had to not let anything cloud his judgment.

The hunted, excited the ghoul. Not only had his mercenaries managed to capture a dragon, they also abducted a rather large gryphon. And this gryphon, was bigger than the dragon. There were two others that would partake in being hunted, both were earth ponies. One looked a touch fresh faced, and the other didn't appear to know much about combat. But The Ghoul could tell that they would do just fine. He had picked up quite a nack for chosing the best prey over the two centuries he had been alive. And over that course of time, The Ghoul had learned Manehattan- and the ruins it had become- much like how he knew every scratch and nick on his rifle.

A sharp tapping came from the otherside of the metal door, causing The Ghoul to halt in his slow pacing. "Come in," he rasped.

The door unlocked and slip open. An earth pony in leather barding and a face wrap stepped in. "Dispite 'difficulties', they are in the warehouse floor sir."

"Good good," The Ghoul's raspy voice said as he reached for his rifle. "I will be out shortly."

~~--~~

The hunter ghoul strode with purpose along the catwalk, his centuries old hooves clopping sharply on the metal. He entered into a three story tall warehouse. Despite its old age, the warehouse was in fantastic condition. This was due to a mix of Pre-war over engineering, lack of abuse from Manehattan's denizens, and The Ghoul making sure it was properly maintained when he occupied it. Along the perimeter, on the inside of the warehouse- both on the floor and catwalk above- were mercenaries that The Ghoul had hired. Those on the ground had Marksman Carbines or Assault Carbines. The ponies on the catwalk had various assortment of rifles, ranging from Assault Carbines to Battle Rifles. Their ammo was either Armor Piercing or Hollow Point, as well as the ponies on the ground. All of the guns were pointing at four individuals; A gryphon, a dragon, and two earth ponies. All four wore no armor other than the dragon and his hide; and had no weapons except their hooves or claws respectivly. Around each of their necks was an explosive collar. When the hunter ghoul's eyes fell upon the four, he smiled brightly.

"When the world ended in balefire and megaspells, nearly all life inside and out of Equestria was extinguished. It was a tragic event I witnessed first hoof. Mine eyes will forever remember that day. All though, a good thing came from it. The races whom had survived, were few, but strong. Only the strongest could survive the first half century. But now, races are growing soft again. Ponies who never leave Tenpony and Friendship City are growing soft. Weakness has no place in any race. The weak and fractured links in a chain must be cast aside. The same is for any race, if we have a weak link, we have to get rid of it, or it'll compromise the entire chain." The Ghoul said to the four.

Sparkfire stirred from his day dream about how he got here, it was quite embarrassing anyway... he was hired to do something simple and was paid a large amount of gems. Not having gems in the longest time, he gorged himself on them greedily, not noticing one was a gas canister. Needless to say he now knows why his employer pushed him to eat all those gems, and had a large cart with him...

Still, he tested the chains and looked around. He was surprised to see something actually large then him in the same circumstance and wondered how that griffon was over powered or out witted...

Kestrel, unlike Sparkfire, had remained alert and focused on the ghoul on the catwalks above. He sounded like one of those crazy idealist types...he sounded like Red-Eye. That alone was enough to get the ghoul on Kestrels bad side.

The fact that he had kidnapped him, stripped him bare as a hatchling, and slapped a slave collar on him also did not help things.

The massive hulk of a gryphon glared at that ghoul with a look that would freeze hellfire. His body, layered thick with powerful muscle, was scarred terribly. All manner of scars, jagged, smooth, short, long, some from knives, others from whips, even more from gunshots and burns.

The scars told the story of Kestrel's life, of the pain and suffering he had been through, of the mistakes he had so often made. The ones that spoke the loudest also happened to be the most recent, and the largest. Spanning from his left rear hip, to his front right shoulder, crossing over his back and wings alike, were four massive scars. The wounds they now covered would have had to have been terribly painful, if not nearly lethal.

The memory of that day was still fresh.

Kestrel could say he did not honestly care about that though. It was the fact that he had been stripped of his mask and collared that caused the storm of malice and bloodlust to rise within him. His mask...the one thing he cherished above all others, it had been taken. Stripped away and locked up by this damned rambling ghoul.

Kestrel decided right then, that he would kill him. That he would hold that pathetic creature down and tear the life from it with his talons alone.

But first he needed to see what this madman was planning.

Steel Gear had no idea he came into this place, a walk into the city and he gets captured. this day was not going to go so well for Steel if he didn't find a way to get out of this place, he already went through hello once. He isn't going to go through another one, he already tried to defend a pony once and failed in that he isn't going to fail again.

Steel looked up above him, the catwalks with a ghoul rambling on about something Steel didn't care, he would love for a chance to break his skull with his hooves. He probably stood a foot higher than the ghoul but he wouldnt know unless he was standing infront of him, but for now all he had to do was wait for the right time to strike. He felt the the collar on his neck, an object he didn't like on his neck.

Steel looked the others with him, a dragon and a gryphon were him. Captured as well like him, even another earth pony was here. Steel wondered what they will do or try to plan to get of here, if they tried to do anything. But Steel noticed the gryphon was taller than the dragon, he would have to make a mental note not to mess with him.

"Weakness in any race will bring the whole race down. When weak are allowed to live and breed, we get lazy and greedy. Greed is what killed the Old World. I will not see the mistakes of the past happen again. So you four will prove that you aren't weak." The Ghoul said, walking back and forth along the catwalk. "Each of you will be hunted by me and three of my best hunters. Out wit or kill the pony hunting you, and your collar will deactivate and pop off. You go past the red pylons, your head'll become jelly. If you aren't strong, you will die, plain and simple. But do not fret, I am a ghoul of my word. If you prove that you aren't weak, you will be freed."

Kestrel continued to glare icily at the ghoul as he spoke, taking every single word he spoke down on a mental file. He wanted to hunt them? To test his so called instincts against the groups own?

So be it.

Kestrel himself was a skilled hunter, and he actually had instincts and physiology to back him up. He was built to hunt, to kill. Nature had given him the tools to do so, and thus far they had never failed him.

As the ghoul mentioned the method of getting free of this place the gryphon began to scan for the possible 'Hunters'. If he could pick them out he would know who to look for, who to avoid.

Who to hunt.

If the ghoul wanted to play this game, he would find that Kestrel would not prove to be an easy quarry. The scars on his form were testament to his experience both as Hunter, and Hunted. This was nothing new to him.

The ghouls wanted to hunt them, him and the others for probably a reason that doesnt even matter anymore. This ghoul and his hunters are crazy, and how easy it was to be free.

Kill a hunter and the collar comes off, this may actually be easy for Steel if he managed to get close to a hunter. His hooves will probably be able to smash their skull or break their limbs, Steel stayed silent to see when it will start or if the others might speak.

He needed a plan but right now the plan seems to just survive, like how it was in Filly. This will probably be easy for Steel, but nothing is ever easy or normal in the wastes.

Sparkfire only gave a low growl as a response, he didn't take too kindly to being hunted nor did he appreciate being a captive. He looked over to the large griffon, recognizing him from the hospital and from around Stableton.

He wiggled toward the griffon, while keeping his eyes on the Ghoul and in a hushed tone he said, "Hey Kestrel, do you know whats going on?"

"The ghoul is a hunter and we are his quarry." Kestrel muttered back, never once taking his eyes off of their captor. The gryphon was mentally preparing himself for the trial to come, as well as physically. He shifted his bulk every so often, rolled a shoulder, or stretched a wing.

His guess? The ghoul was going to tell them to run, and get a head start. He'd need to be limber to get the most distance out of that time.

Suddenly, a loud voice was heard.

"Hey morgue ornament, how's about you shut the fuck up? I've got the headache from hell, and your raspy-ass fuckin' voice ain't helping in ANY way possible!"

Lucky Draw was sitting with his front hooves clamped over his ears, dark bags under his heavily dilated eyes. His bare body was trembling as if cold, and his mane and fur were messy and slick with sweat.

With his outburst over with, he returned to what he had been doing before: Watching one of the guards on the catwalks with a near unblinking glare. He whimpered slightly and muttered something unintelligible under his breath.

The Ghoul chuckled to himself. The smaller stallion certainly had balls of steel to out burst like that with so many guns pointing at him. Pacing a bit, The Ghoul couldn't help but smile.

"You certainly are VOCAL!" The Ghoul said, shouting 'vocal'. "If by luck or skill any of you do survive, all of your previous gear is in a lock box by the enterance to this warehouse. However, if my little ponies see you trying to get your gear while your collars are still on... Let's just say you have to worry about your gear ANYMORE." The Ghoul paced some more, getting eager to start. "You will receive one .45 Auto each along with two magazines for it. You should not require more."

A gun to actually fight back, seems easy enough to use. And the other earth pony just had to speak his smart mouth, but it didn't matter he just sped up the ghoul to pace back and forth.

Steel just sighed as he just stayed sitting down, against one of the walls. He looked onto the the others and listened to the question and found out why from the gryphon, but he had knew from the ghouls talk.

This day will not go the way he thought, like it matters, they had a chance to fight back, so why not take the chance to fight if he had it.

Steel waited for this little hunt to begin, but now all he had to do was just see who he would have to kill. He sighed and just stared blankly to the rest like he was back in filly, nothing to do but just stare and listen.

Sparkfire Stretched and growled, "The sooner you get this started, the sooner we kill your hunters and get out of here. So chop-chop, My bed time is approaching."

He didn't really need the guns, his breath and claws worked fine, but he wasn't sure about the two ponies, they might need all the help they could get.

Kestrel resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the words of the second earth pony. Idiot...was he trying to get shot? First part of being captured was to be polite to the one that captured you. If you don't pipe up you don't get shot down.

Ah well, at least he would be a good distraction.

At the mention of a gun Kestrel quirked a mental brow, though is actual face gave away nothing. So they too would be armed. Dangerous idea...giving a predator a weapon. But let the ghoul think himself better, it was a folly Kes would gladly exploit when the time came.

Kes took a mental note the rest of the conversation and then moved on. Like the others he was ready to start this Hunt and get it over with, unlike the others he did not voice this desire. Having an attitude was not the best plan right now. The best plan was to have a level head and sharp senses.

"You will get your weapon and then be released into the city. Do not go past the pylons or go above the tallest building or you will die and that won't be very fun." The Ghoul rasped and scratched his decayed looking throat. "I have decided I shall hunt the dragon. My protoge will hunt the gryphon." A larger earth pony in metal armor stepped forward. "And the earth ponies will be hunted by the Whisp twins." Two unicorns stepped forward from the crowd of armed ponies on the ground floor. They each had on combat armor, but one's armor was colored red. They also had face wraps and had no visible weapons. "Now gryphon, you have a two minute head start. I suggest you take it." The ghoul tossed a gryphon made .45 Auto on the ground along with two clips as the warehouse door rolled open. When it fully opened the ghoul spoke. "No one else move until I say."

Kestrel shifted his gaze from the ghoul to his Protoge' and began to study his new found rival. He was a large buck for sure, well built for the hunt but he failed to see the point of it all it would seem. He wore heavy armor, that would hinder him. It would jangle and click as he moved.

It was sturdy yes, unyielding and firm most definitely, but only a fool took heavy armor on a hunt. Kestrel knew this, and thus he always wore light or medium barding, and made sure the armor fit snugly against his muscled form.

He was a predator. This pony? He was nothing more than prey.

Kestrels gaze seemed to shift as he stared into the eyes of his hunter, each of his frigid golden orbs glassing over with a chilling predatory sheen; letting the one that was to hunt him know that his prey was not going to just lay down and take his death with pride.

It was only the clattering of a gun that managed to break the griffons attention, allowing the Protoge' a moments respite from Kestrel's unsettling gaze. Wordlessly, the griffon gathered up the gun and the magazines in ; loading one of them into the pistol and taking the other in his beak for the moment.

He had no holster so he was going to have to find something out in the ruins that would help him carry his ammunition. A simple task.

Kestrel then turned and began to trot out of the warehouse, but before he disappeared completely he turned his head back across his shoulder and gave one final look at his hunter.

"You best be keen." that look said. "You best be quick."

With that Kestrel vanished into the rubble and ruins beyond the Warehouse doors, moving at a steady jog. He wanted to put as much distance between himself and that building as possible.

He was careful to step only on the concrete or compacted earth below him as he jogged away. Stepping into the sandy soil or onto soft ground would have left prints behind; and that would have made this a short hunt indeed.

As he ran he began to study his environment. Scoping out the buildings and making note of any that could hold useful items or necessary materials.

Right now he was looking for a few kinds of buildings in particular; a house or hotel, and a hardware store to be specific. He needed to make something that could possibly give him a leg up in this hunt.

Lucky cringed at the ghoul's voice, and shakily scratched his foreleg with a hoof. He took one look at his would-be hunters and nearly yelped in fear.

"He's sending THEM after us, no, it can't be, pick the Grey Lurker on the overhead, or one of the Goblins! Don't send them, not them, not THEM," he muttered to himself, unaware of the other's ability to hear him. He shook as he stared in terror at the Whisp twins, breathing so hard he was nearly to the point of hyperventilating.

His gaze intently focused on the hunters, he did not notice the warehouse door open. A single thought permeated his mind: 'RUN'. However, the tan buck had heard and understood the ghoul's words, and so stood stock still. The alternative didn't appeal even to the delirious mind of the alcoholic stallion.

Steel listened to the earth pony who muttered to himself, was he really that scared of a unicorn. Probably some bad blood between them, but he didn't care probably he find a way to meet up with him later so he wouldn't go at it alone. But for now he had to wait for his turn, which may come in sooner that later if the dragon was the leaders hunt.

although he could tell he stood about a foot taller than the other earth pony, the other pony probably knew how to defend himself but with his mutters. That probably wasn't the case, but still a gun to actually fight off the hunter will prove useful.

The Ghoul watched the large gryphon leave. "Go and prepair your gear. Take your time, he only has a few blocks to hide in." The metal armor clad pony trotted down the catwalk, his metal covered hooves clinking sharply. The Ghoul turned back to face the rest of the captives. "I probably should have told him that there is a map under one of the plates. And so YOU, loud and ANNOYING eath pony. You are up next." The Ghoul said tossing another empty .45 Auto on the ground from the catwalk followed by two mags. "The unicorn in red will be hunting you. Two minutes. GO!"

It took Lucky less than two seconds to grab his weapon and ammo before dashing out the door. He gunned it hard, aiming only to get as far from the red-clad hunter as he could. He reached the end of the street and turned to the right, heading nowhere in particular.

After about a minute of running, he came to a stop in the middle of the street. He couldn't discern exactly where he was, or what buildings were around him, but he noticed the remains of an old pre-war vehicle of some sort, with just enough room to slide under.

"That'll do for now," the buck said to himself, and he crawled underneath the rusting heap. He quickly loaded the pistol, and jammed the other clip into the space between his hoof and pip-buck. It wasn't very comfortable, but it wouldn't slip out easy, and that was all that counted. Lucky looked up real quick, did a visual sweep of the area, and jammed the gun back into his mouth.

'Where is it? Where's it gonna come from?' He thought in a panic. 'What the hell am I gonna do?' Lucky squirmed back out into the street, and continued running, letting fate decide his next course of action.

Steel finally felt glad that that the other earth pony left, The ghoul was kinda right. His mutters were annoying, but like it even mattered. Now all he had to do was wait for his turn, he was most likely the next choice to be sent out.

A dragon was for the main attraction, and he was just the opener. But he still sat there and waited to be called on, no point in actually getting ready until your told to do so.

He just sat and stared at the dragon, "I guess Im next and you might be the last one, right? no point in sending me last, your a dragon. But anyways good luck, your need it." Steel said to the dragon with a blank expression, he cared but a dragon can take care of himself.

Sparkfire looked at the large pony and whispered, "If you can, find the other pony and stick together, you'll be easier to track that way but hopefully harder to take down..."

He looked back to the Ghoul, and spat on the ground. Eventually he would be call'd to be hunted... He just thought of Sky, and how he missed her company, her sharpshooting skills and how he never needed to look over his shoulder when she was around, that would have to be enough to keep him alive.

The Ghoul was about to speak when a grey combat armored earth pony trotted upt to him. "Sir, we have another earth pony. We believe he may be worth proving his strength."

"Oh?" The Ghoul rasped to the earth pony low enough so he could only hear. "and why can't he wait?"

"Well sir..." The earth pony said confidently. "He has knocked two ponies out when we took his hat and nearly killed another when his guitar was pried from his hooves."

The Ghoul let out a strange raspy sound that could have been described as a chuckle. "I see. Then strap on a bomb collar and bring him in." He turned back to the dragon and larger earth pony as the armored merc trotted away. "Looks like you'll have one more join you this day. He has proven himself worthy to test his strength today along side you." The Ghoul said as he heard a ruckus from one of the hallways. "Sounds like he's on his way."

Heavy hooves clopped against the hard floor as he was herded down a hallway by three ponies dressed in combat armor and wielding cattle prods. Rodeo walked appeared in the mouth of the hallway, and stopped to stare in at his two fellow captives with his signature glare. He recognized Spark immediately, the other pony, he did not know.

"Move!" one of the ponies said, zapping his flank with the prod.

Rodeo instinctively kicked a back leg and knocked it from the pony's grip, letting it fall to the floor. "Son, you poke me with that thin' one more time, n' Ah'll run it so far up yer ass, Ah'll be able ta put uh lightbulb n' yer mouth n' use ya as uh flashlight!"

The pony got the message, and picked up his prod. Rodeo wandered into the room, and stopped right in front of the others. He looked up at Spark, and gave a brief smile. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen the dragon.

"Spark," he said with a nod of his head. He'd have tilted his hat, but somepony had taken it, along with his guitar. Somepony had a death wish. But that was to be dealt with later.

Sparkfire stared at the new pony for a second, not recognizing him without his iconic hat. "Rodeo? Rodeo is that you?" A genuine smile appeared on the dragon's face as he was glad to see a more familiar face that wasn't planning on one day killing him.

He would have gotten up and lifted the pony up in an embrace, but his muscles were much more sore then he remember'd, "perhaps its that grenade I ate." he mused.

Still, he crawled to the new pony and sat, "I'm glad your still alive, friend."