Blacklight Retribution: Ondra's Fall

Chapters

A Stranger on a Stranger World
Eventful Library
Reparations
Smooth (Landing)
Recollection
More Recollecting
Poet
First (Second) Encounter
The Dark Resolution
Tell me about the Stars
Crystal Clear Game Plan
Tyrant's Second Fall
Stranger on a Stranger World
TEASER

A Stranger on a Stranger World

“There was a time when we thought we all had it worked out. A time when we all thought it was going alright for us; of course, that’s not how the world works.”

-Unknown

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I wake up... Could have sworn I was dead. But I woke up and I look around. I see that I’m in a forest, looking like it was almost sundown. The important thing was I was alive, but for what? I was just another man doing what he knew was right... What he thought was right... Then I passed out again, my surroundings.

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The Void

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“Ah I see you have awakened,” a mysterious voice hissed from the shadows of... My mind?

“Who are you, and what do you want?” it was a question, it wasn’t a very original question, but it was a question.

“We are the most powerful being in this land, and you will aid us in our freedom,” the voice was coming from lazily floating dust, blue dust. This dust was regrouping, forming into something, I tensed up, the form finished into a... Blue horse? With a horn? AND WINGS?! “You will lead us to our great return!” the form of dust then lunged at me, with something sharp... And long, not the way I thought I would go a second time. Something was holding me down, I closed my eyes in defeat, then it hit me. For a dream this really hurt, but I accepted that pain, for I had already died.

“We have preserved thy form, in exchange for a deal. Help us escape our prisons and we will give thee what is most desired,” she was bluffing, “Your way home...” This sent a shiver up my spine, reason being was because I don’t know what horrors await me back at Earth and questions reeling at my head, what was there to get back to? Would it be worth it to help this entity, what would happen to others? As some would say... YOLO. I had to give this a chance, this was my only way back, to protect what I held dear to myself. To get back to my friends,with hope that they’d still be alive. Ah hell what the fuck am I saying? They’re dead, and the only reason the realist part of me is saying is that there will only be a world to save, nothing else.

“What do I have to do,” I knew I was going to regret this somehow, “to free you.”

“We appreciate thy decision, though we will warn thee. Your form has changed since it has entered our world, so tread carefully.”

“Noted,” I respond.

“We need thou to incapacitate, this,” a large white horse with wings and horns were shown, I assumed this was my target to non-lethally kill.

“Non-lethally kill, huh? That’s new, I’ll try,” I chimed.

“We have plans for this one, specific individual, for she is the reason we were banished to the moon for many millennia.” Hearing that, I just shrug, I quit trying to make sense of it all after I saw a horse with wings and a horn.

“Good luck, my great vessel,”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everfree

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Vital signs reaching critical levels,” said my suit AI as the aforementioned status barely shown on my HUD with flickers of lights, my helmet was damaged and running out of power, telling me shit I already knew. I stood up, but having problems so I look around. Touching the ground was a weird sensation, because it felt like I was touching it with one object instead of the usual six I pick myself up with: the palm and the five fingers. A hoof, what the hell happened to me? Was the explosion that bad?

I manage to develop only enough knowledge of my current motor controls to drag myself to a nearby pond. What I saw was another stranger thing besides my hooves, my armor had been turned into that of an equine’s structure, it was unmistakable. The helmet was working, just barely. I’m talking about enough energy to only recharge the HRV and nothing else, that didn’t bother me, at least I knew where everything organic and emitting heat was, should be easy enough.

I look back at where I was, I didn’t get a better look. It was a crater, much like ones where you’d crash into from re-entry, but what would I know about that? The world’s economy has turned into the kind of shit that cannot recover itself that we had to resort the becoming a wasteland. A kind of wasteland that shown no sign of relenting. That’s another story for another time.

After some time in my area of the forest, I learn my motor skills more thoroughly and finally got used to being quadruped. Running literally became a second nature for my legs, even though they looked like hammered-shit. Seems everything that happened in Earth followed me to here. I wonder what else did. I hope nothing did, and at that moment I heard a crack behind me. I took to the bush, and initiated Hyper Reality Vision. What I saw was a group of quadrupeds, but in a dog like form. Must be scouts of the alpha predators of this forest. I reach for my machete, because I know my lock to it should be able to handle anything. I realised I was an equine, Sonofabitch, and cursed more to myself until I felt the machete, remove itself from the sheath. I look back and my machete is glowing white, or concrete grey? Giving it a few test swings, I was satisfied that I could move the thing with lethal speed and accuracy, not that I preferred this over using it with hands, still took some effort.

The group was closing in at thirty feet, I prepared my self. Taking one last look at my only hope to getting out of here when hostilities unsu, and one last look at the sun if things go to high hell for me... Dying again? I think I could almost manage that, having that one last laugh, they were already closing in at fifteen feet, Damn! Time really passes by when you think of something else... Ten feet from my crater and one of them already started growling and turned it’s head towards me. These looks rabid, I guess I can kill them. Wasting no time I rushed towards the first to notice me and I hack at it.

This certainly was more fun than using hands because I could rotate, pull, thrust, and cut through with the machete more than the human could imagine. Being done with cutting the first like [like a twitcher, heh, I was a fan of the necromorph theory, so what? Last I heard, that only happened one-hundred fifty years ago on the Gulf of Mexico] I move to the next two, who in which were conveniently placed in a way that it was beyond easy to take them out with one strong and precise blow. No blood, thank god I don’t have to clean my shit... The wood is moving... Really? With no hesitation I used HRV to look for the area with the most heat emitting off, or rather the direction hoping to see civilization. I saw many signatures south-west; relevant to the sun, towards what I hoped was civilization. With that out of the way, I ran, only problem was my HRV was having problems, Note to self, see to it that the HRV is repaired before use. I then heard voices, faint voices from my location towards the same direction towards civilization. I ran to a different bush, I could account for at least three voices, barely coherent and the wolves were starting to reform.

“We don’t know what this is so keep your eyes open for anything strange, I know we’re in the Everfree, but you should distinguish what is of this Forest and what’s not,” female voices is what I could tell, it’s a search party of females?

“Look sugar-cube,” western accent... What the hell? “ whatever’s out here might be more dangerous than the things that are already out here in this darn forest, now Ah want to go home before supper so this is going to be the last place to look and then we go back, got it?”

“Yeah, AJ’s right, we need to get back, it’s getting too late to keep looking for what ever ended up here,” another voice, at least I was correct.

And with that last sentence of theirs, the wolves started growling from cover at the group of five, now that I see more of them. The group consisting of: purple, blue, orange, white, and yellow individuals. I was a stranger on a strange world, and I’m one with no knowledge about it.

I could see their eyes now, there was just something about them when they saw the wolves. IT was unmistakable, I saw eyes showing innocents, I haven’t seen those in years... How? I decided it was my duty to protect them as if it was a childhood dream, I just wanted to see a part of my life that was most enjoyable, when people didn’t want to see the world burn before the very eyes of those who enjoyed it more them.

I did the same tactic as I did on my last encounter with these wolves, they didn’t learn because I get them from behind, and the only one to notice me was the last one, in which I cut several pieces of wood to see if it would start reforming again when its limbs are severed to what I considered “BEYOND REPAIR”.

That action of heroism, and strength only got me a hit to the face, considering I was in a pretty bad condition, they probably thought I was a monster, with all those cuts and bruises and ruined armor. The last thing I saw was a blue blur straight towards me like a MAG round. I could see a yellow pegasus, it looked like it was out cold. Also a white Unicorn in a similar state? Everything was blacked-out

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some time before the explosion

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Just leave me, Mate!” Stranger coughed out, his mouth still barely dripping with blood.

“Shut the hell up! We’ll make it!” I yelled back with a bit of fatigue.

“Come on Ondra, the rest of the team is dead, I can’t do shit,” I keep running while carrying him by his shoulder. I found a spot we could hide from the infected, so I dove into that room with Dickson letting out a soft grunt. “You know, a man once told me. That a good man knows what’s right, but a smart man knows when he’s lost.”

“You’re going to make it, Freddie, it’s just a scratch we’ll get you fixed up!” I hissed with heavy breathing.

“You’re a bad liar,Poet,”

“My name is Ryman, not Poet. Just stop talking, you’ll get through this”

“Heh, the door is not too far, here,” he gave me his snub nose revolver.

“What? What is this,” my question was not about what the snub nose was, I’m glad he took the hint.

“I said the door is not too far, there’s a full cylinder on that piece, make it count,” he pulled out a hardsuit designator.

“That’s a one-way trip, they’ll take you out before you take half of them with you,”

“I know that... Just promise me something. If I don’t make it, you’ll get this done, right?” oh how I had wish I would have said, We’ll get this done, Freddie, you and me. But sadly, that was not the case.

“I’ll get it done,” I sigh with defeat.

“Good, I’m glad to hear that,” I didn’t notice he was designating the entire time, a hardsuit fell right in front of our door. He was limping over to the hardsuit as the infected were screeching at the sound of a falling hardsuit. “Hey, I”m sorry about Poet, man,” He had a solemn look about him as he closed the hardsuit on himself.

“Me too... Me too,” and with that, I ran for the control room, already hearing the screaming, the flamethrower and minigun of the hardsuit. “You will not be forgotten, not over my dead body.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Local Clinic: Ponyville, Equestria

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I feel myself get back to reality as I started to feel my limbs again.

“He’s waking up,”

“No duh, Twilight, we see that. Why did we help this thing by the way?” this voice interrupted the first. I manage to open my eyes, staring into the almighty ominous ceiling, the reason being ominous was because I did not know what I was about to see if I looked down, I was on a bed, no mistaking that. My armor... Where had it gone? I’m naked, not necessarily, I was in a gown, I hadn’t looked down, the feelings of what was on me were unmistakable. This was the time I look down.

“Sorry about that, Rainbow Dash is xenophobic,” the purple one said, the purple PONY said!?

“No, that was not it, it was teaching this thing a lesson it would never forget when it threatens us,” this much came from the columbian blue [A/N The color’s hex values implied, by technological law, that her coat was Columbia Blue] pony, with... A rainbow mane?

I only stared at the audacity of the Rainbow Pony. She was definitely the one who knocked me out, and has entitlement to be that full of herself?

“It was only tryin’ to help us, Rainbow Dash, you didn’t understand what it was trying to do,”

Noticing all these crazy names and the marking on their flanks, I assumed I needed an appropriate name; I look down, looking for a marking of my own. It was Crescent moon with a black and white flame? I had a concrete grey coat, with some of my tail and mane hanging across my peripheral vision, these two being black, grey, and white, just like the bow on my mark. Considering I had the color scheme, I got the first part down. I just needed-

“What’s yer name?” asked the orange, blonde: Applejack... I need to come up with something fast.

“ARE YOU SERIOUS, APPLEJACK?! LOOK AT ITS WINGS, IT’S NOT NATURAL, IT’S NOT GOING TO PLAY NICE!” I cringed a little because of the screaming at me... Wings? I look back and there they were... Metal wings? Why? I could move them, I’ll learn how to fly later.

“It probably doesn’t want to talk because of the injuries RAINBOW DASH worsened,”

“My name is: Midnight Flame,” wow... That was one hell of a long shot and way to be original, considering that my mark was about the moon with a blatant flame in it’s crescent, I thought it was rather appropriate. I face-palmed... Face-hoofed...

“Midnight Flame, interesting, how did you end up in the everfree forest? And with those injuries, you looked pretty messed up before Rainbow Dash showed up, and how did you get those wings?” Asked the purple one, to which I eventually know as Twilight Sparkle.

“I... Don’t know,” I lied™.

“Ah, well I need to get back to the library. Midnight Flame, ask around. Meet me at the library, I’m going to ask you some questions when you’re ready,”

I gave a stiff nod, and I ask, “Wait, where are my things?”

“Just ask them, I don’t know where they placed it all after we brought them here for you,”

Now was the time to ask.

“Where do I go to find a white, tall alicorn?” I asked with the worst poker face I could not block.

“SEE?! I TOLD YOU HE WAS UP TO NO GOOD!” Rainbow Dash snapped at me

“WAIT! Look, I know that was a strange question, but this is the most unique form of pegasi I had ever seen in my life as a student of Celestia herself,” She might be an obstacle, “it would be important to let her know that he exists!” with a huff, and some visible air through Rainbow Dash’s nostrils, she let herself out. “Sorry about that, she can get a little out of hand sometimes,”

“It’s *cough* fine,” heh, blood managed to end up on my hoof, this earned a gasp from the group of ponies, there was something in all their eyes, innocents? I haven’t seen those in a long time

“Heh, I’ve been through worse,” I chuckled.

“Worse? What the hay kind of things have you been going through?” Applejack asked.

“Death,” and with that, they all just stared mouth agape.

“What... What do you mean?” asked the lavender unicorn.

“To answer your question... I. Died. I think,” I emphasized those last two showing that I had lost my life doing something for what I cared about. “We were trying everything we could to save our entire race, until everything was ruined by someone who had known we were coming. Someone betrayed us, became corrupt by the influence of our enemy, and we were ruined, and along with every hope we had to do what he had to.” I look down at my bed sheets, these wrinkles of the white cloth suddenly becoming the most interesting things in my mind, the way they have no repeating patterns, unpredictable, just like life itself, though it was all not based on white values.

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” she responded with drooping ears, interesting feature to represent that kind of feeling.

“I’ve already gone past that, do not worry,” I gave a weak smile, since I was still weak on this bed, it’s very comfortable now that I think about it, I hadn’t paid much attention because we became hard-asses when it came to military training and training to get through fatigue. I could rest on a pure-wood stool and sleep to recover myself.

“Since you just got here and have nowhere to stay, I’ll let you rest at my library once you’re discharged from the hospital.

“Thank you,” I let out with a little crack due to injury.

“It’s fine, save your strength, the doctors say you’re going to be out soon,” soon in a hospital often meant later.

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Canterlot, Equestria: Castle Grounds

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Luna woke up with a jolt, feeling like she just got stung by a bee. Celestia came to her room with a slightly loud thump to the door.

“Is everything alright, sister?” a concerned look on her face.

“Yes, I’m fine. For now, feels like something bad returned,” Luna said.

“That anomaly, we both felt it. I traced it back to ponyville. We should travel there to see what the problem was, it could be something that we need to take care of before long,” Celestia becoming more serious in her decision.

“Understood,” and with that, they were on their way to Ponyville.

Eventful Library

“It’s not the dying that scares me... It’s not making a difference before I do,”

-Unknown

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Light began seeping into my eyes, so I bolt upright to a sitting position. I’m still on my medical bed, The doctors said I was ready to leave tomorrow yesterday,

“Um... Midnight Flame? You can leave now, you’re things are at the lobby. Don’t worry, no pony had tampered with the items. I’ll show you the way out,” the nurse known as “Nurse Redheart” shown me out.

“Where is the library? I’m supposed to go there for something important,” I asked.

“It’s that way, just that general direction,” it looked like north east judging from the position of the sun. Next thing I know I see leaves of a gigantic tree.

“Is that tree the library?” I asked with a hint of doubt.

“Yes, yes it is,” she responded.

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I arrive at the “library”. Pretty stranger architecture if you ask me, this place seems like the kind of structure that would fall because of the natural growth itself. I knock on the door with my hoof, at least my hand... hoof-eye coordination was decent.

“Ah, hello, Midnight. Come on in,” Twilight answered, I didn’t notice her opening the door. I really need to fix myself up.

“I just got from the hospital, you had some questions to ask me?” I said. This was going to be a long day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After answering some of the most trivial questions I could be asked, it ends with “How are you liking Ponyville so far?”

“I wouldn’t know, I just use my cloak to get to your place without anyone noticing,” I shrugged.

“What? Why would you not anyone to notice you?”

“Your rainbow friend wants to kill me, I have metal wings which would freak everyone out and call your military to detain me for scientific experiments, and I’m just not in the mood to talk to anyone,”

“I supposed that’s fair, I’ll show you to the room,” the “room” was probably the best thing of comfort I had ever seen in months, maybe years. WAY BETTER THAN MY BUNKS IN BASE. I give a hug, the kind of hug that would be considered a “Spur-of-the-moment” kind of hug. I bolt back when I realised what I had done.

“I’m sorry, it’s just... It’s been sometime since I’ve seen a room like this, that I would be able to rest in,” I smiled the best I could without showing blatant blushing, I think that failed.

“It’s alright, just make sure you won’t cause problems,” I think she had the same reaction as I did, that made it fair. I took a deep breath.

“What can I do to repay you?” I asked with calm gratitude.

“Oh don’t worry about it, I let you in here because it can get a little lonely sometimes,” I was very surprised, not by that entire phrase itself, but the poker face she held after what I just pulled after saying that.

I fix my room up, and I actually feel neat, actually living in a place like this. I would never go back to Earth, that hellhole of dipshits that know nothing about what to do with power. It all just seemed serene, until I realised that the world doesn’t work that way. There was a knocking on the front door.

“TWILIGHT SPARKLE OPEN THE DOOR THIS INSTANT!” yelled a voice that sounded like it had great authority. Sparkle was not around, and she was probably too busy, so I went to the door myself and tried opening it.

“Hello? What do you ne-?” I was interrupted by seeing two alicorns, the ones Twilight told me about: a blue one; which I assumed was Luna, and a white, taller one; which had to be Celestia. Considering they were the most important royalty to this land, I tried something. I addressed them correctly. I clear my throat.

“Salutations, your majesties, what is it you need?” smooth.

“Your death,” I froze, just like everything around me. Then I felt it.

Something was coming out of me, it was coming out in small gases everywhere on me as it pushed me back to the wall of the house.

“Luna, now!” the white one commanded. Luna then sent a dark blue beam right at me, still weak from the gasses that came out of me. So, this is how it ends? NO

The gases somehow prevented my death, and went into Luna.

“Luna! NO!” Celestia sounded like a mother who had lost her child right in front of her. We were all pushed away from the now-possessed Luna, the kind that Twilight vaguely described to me as, Nightmare Moon.

“WE ARE FREE! AT LAST WE CAN ENACT ETERNAL GLORY TO OUR VERY EXISTENCE!” This was going to be a hard choice: let her rule this land with a dark authority? Or help these ponies on this predicament?

Suddenly, six mares came rushing through the door with jewelry on them... Really? Now’s not the time to look “nice”.

“HAH, THAT WILL NOT WORK ANYMORE, LITTLE PONIES, FOR WE HAVE DISABLED YOU!” This evil Nightmare Moon seems pretty full of herself, even though she managed to pin those six against the wall, making them unable to use the jewelry to their “advantage”... WHAT ADVANTAGE, IT’S JEWELRY FOR FUCK’S SAKE.

“So, my Midnight Flame, how should I thank you for my freedom?” she turned towards me sounding a bit sultry.

“No! Don’t do it, Nightmare Moon will deceive you!” Celestia yelled at the top of her lungs despite her hurt self.

“You said that you would bring me home, back to... Earth?” I asked shakily.

“You CELESTIA DAMNED COWARD, I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE WHEN I FIRST SAW YOU!” I cringed a little at this coming from the Rainbow Dash, the most arrogant pony I know so far.

“Midnight Flame, please use the right judgement,” Twilight pleaded, sounding like she was going to magic kindergarten because of me.

“Too much time has been used listening to these foals, choose now!” Nightmare Moon pushed on. After all these ponies have done for me, I couldn’t have done that to them, to leave them, for it would leave a very bad part of my story when I tell the tale, if I even get back to earth a different way to tell the tale.

“I choose to side with you, my majesty,” I said submissively.

“You chose well, we shall rule Equestria TOGE-”

“OVER MY FUCKING DEAD BODY!” I tackle her, right there, I’m surprised it worked. I telekinetically unsheathed my machete, with my mind. I will never live down how cool that is, I swiftly swing it at her in ways a human can’t... *Crack*... No... She broke my machete. This can’t happen, that was.

“That was a gift from my friend,” looking down at the two pieces that used to be whole that served me so well, “AND YOU RUINED IT!” This time I used wings, they’re metal, so they’ll last right? Wrong, the wings were morphing, turning into things I would never imagine a wing turning into. A shield on my left and a blade shape on my right? This felt like medieval warfare already.

“When I sent you from that world, I ended your friend’s life,” what? “I thought that was enough motivation to do whatever anypony asks of you, I was wrong. I am free; however, you are a huge unfortunate waste of resources at this point, good bye.” she charged her horn preparing to send a beam, a beam very similar to the first that came from Luna. I dodged it, rage filling my mind, I notice orange light coming from behind me, my metal morphing wins have fire?! Pushing through, my wings slice passed Nightmare Moon. Yelling with despair, she shrinks, thank god that didn’t kill her. I would have caused a war because I killed a member of Royalty. How did not kill her? I was not about to question my fortune and further.

“Why did you do it?” Nightmare Moon’s existence in Luna still noticeable. She had a smile on her face.

“Because you were perfect,” Luna came back, sleeping. I look down at the ground, I didn’t notice the six becoming free from the restraints, and Celestia is standing again. I walk back to my machete, picking the two pieces up, and I place them on a table. I open a recorder and say these words.

“Guys, I don’t know if you can hear me, I don’t know if you guys care. This message is to all of you who helped me, helped me get through the worst of things. I never did get to say my thanks and apologies to those who needed and deserved them, all I want to say now, is that I’m not going home. Not in a long time.”

“Midnight Flame... Was it?” I turn to see Luna, having a pained face of gratitude.

“We-I wanted to thank you for saving me from possession of Nightmare Moon,”

“But at what cost? I don’t know my way ho-” my eyes were closed the entire time, but I was interrupted when I felt lips pressing against mine, I open them and I see Luna’s face. She was kissing me? We stopped after a moment after the ponies in the room gasped, except for Celestia.

“A little something to remember me by,” she said with a wink, and Celestia moved in.

“With nothing to do with our world, I thank you on the behalf of my little ponies, for saving Luna from her corrupt self and selflessly saving our harmony in the process,” she bowed to me, so did Luna. Royalty bowing to me, eh? This seemed to good. Something crashed into me, Me and I big Mouth.

“Look,” the Rainbow one who crashed into me looked back at her friends, Twilight Sparkle giving her a “go on” motion, “sorry for the way I acted and the things I said to you.”

“This is so uncool,” she blatantly mutter to herself. I push her off myself with irritation.

“Look if you don’t mean it, then you might as well just shut the fuck up, I have no time to deal with your shit,” maybe I yelled too loud on that part, “I need to be alone,” and with that, I take my leave with the broken machete, and recorder.

“If you want, I could send my blacksmiths to repair that blade of yours,” Luna offered.

“No,” I answered flatly, I leave with the door closing behind me. That commotion summoned the lot of ponies I was avoiding on my way here, way to remember to use cloak.

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO OUR PRINCESSES?!”

“WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN THAT LIBRARY?!”

“DO YOU HAVE PICTURES?!”

I groan in disgust, I have had enough of these ponies. I activated cloak, the satisfying sound of digital chipping on my armor turned invisible.

“WHAT THE BUCK JUST HAPPENED?! WHERE IS HE? FIND HIM!”

I calmly trot along towards the everfree, back to my spot. A crater, where I had originated to this world from. I wish you were here to help me, Freddie. A twig cracked behind me, but I don’t turn around, still looking at my machete and recorder on a rock.

“You know you did well, why did you run?” Luna asked, definitely not the person I was expecting.

“There were repercussions of ending Nightmare Moon, such as one as significant as preventing my only possible way home,” I said having a bit of disappointment on my face.

“You’re in another dimension, magic is not that advanced to travel different dimensions. Besides, would it not be strange to see that the planets revolve around a sun? Ridiculous!”

I guess that explained why Twilight was so heliocentric, I didn’t bother interrupting her on that subject; or any subject for that matter, while she was questioning me.

“Yes,” a long pause, “that would be ridiculous.” I continue to stare into Luna’s eyes. I swear , you could easily get lost in those without you noticing. She blushed and turned her head away.

“If there is anything you need, anything at all. Just let me know, I should be able to help,” a bag, most likely filled with coins, was passed to me, “Just a little reward that is part of something greater in a future,” she winked, and flew off too fast to be considered normal speed, and I would know. I’ve seen a lot of pegasi fly by in what I assumed was a “Casual” manner.

I take my recorder and start a new log.

“I may not be in earth, but this place is better. I might even be able to start a new life... A Bright New Life...”

“I forgot to mention!” came Luna’s voice, “The tabloids won’t take our word about what happened today for some reason.”

“I’m guessing that’s not all,” it was obvious, she had a look of shame.

“No, it’s not. The first words I said to you when you opened that door. That was not me, Nightmare Moon had already taken part of me as I saw you, I’m sorry for anything that may have chilled you to the marrow of your bone.”

“It’s alright, you gave me quite the scare, Nightmare Moon,” I said playfully.

“Yes, alright, I’m glad those problem is solved, the tabloids still want to talk to you,” She continued.

“Yes, I’ll be right there, I have take care of something first,” like polishing my machete to put away in the everfree, the bury one of the last traces of me being in Earth.

Reparations

The day before the Mission

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Heh, you feeling lucky, Poet?” the reason I had taken the name Poet was because I was the next commanding officer for the team, not that I enjoyed being given that kind of responsibility. It all seemed like they were depending on me, not that I already knew that, but depending on me like I was to help them with personal problems. I could lead a squad, not to boast, perfectly well under pressure and fire. Tactical views were my specialty, and personally. I’m not a poet, not that I disliked the real poet speaking in rhymes or profound speeches.

“No. And I don’t like this mission, Stranger,” I respond with a lot of concern in my voice.

“Ah save it, you know you can do this, that’s why I’m your second in command. If anyone can lead us, you can. Besides, we’ll make’em pay for what they did to Poet,” a hint of triumph in his voice, I became irritated.

“You don’t understand, these insurgence are not the kind of people we always face in our normal missions. Do you know how easy it is to place a “proxy” somewhere and say, ‘it’s a guaranteed kill and will stay that way’, and get blown up by the enemy shooting it instead?”

“You’re just speaking rubbish, that’s never happened,” if only he knew. Prox mines were always a pain in general firefights, I always try to flank while my team game suppressing fire, and the world just goes, ‘NOPE™, PROX MINE’. Every time I manage to dodge or shoot them before I get to close.

“Look, just tell the others to be careful. I don’t want to lose anyone else.” a bit of sads plastered on my face.

“Ryman,” good to see he still knows I’m Ryman, “everything is going to be fine, just stay cool and look around. You’ll figure out a way to get through this.” Wow. Way to put my thoughts back to square one. Jesus.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ponyville, Equestria

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Alright everypony, this meeting is about one of our newest and bravest ponies Ponyville has to offer. Really? Come on, I was about to send their world into the hands of an evil tyrant and they thank me? I would have accepted a few jeers, but what came was a surprise... Because life just likes fucking with me like that.

Everyone gasped at the look of not only my wings, but my armor. It had been torn to shreds, my concrete grey coat showing off at the cut parts, and some to a lot of blood on those cuts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EverFree: 15 minutes ago

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I started my way to Ponyville, the town I grew to protect and live in. It was a peaceful walk, right up until I ran something I basically predicted I was going to walk into. There they were: timberwolves. A ferocious as ever, to my surprised they were the same ones I faced last time. One of them had limbs that looked like they were barely holding themselves together. I looked at the most broken one, with a small smile creeping up on my face. I let out a snicker, they knew what laughing was. Which was unfortunate, they howled, which was not a good sign. Next thing I know I was surrounded.

I made my wings take the same forms when I ended Nightmare Moon. Shield to the left, and blade to the right, these forms were original to me as medieval warfare. They had virtual games that had medieval warfare. Their gameplay systems were shit, I have to admit, but given the right adaptations, you get past that shit, and you get good at going around it.

The first one lunged at me, I planned not to let these things regenerate... Reform, so I put all my effort into cutting the significant looking pieces like the neck, back legs and the spinal stick holding everything together. To be honest I was entirely focused on the spine. A second one got the drop on me. Leaving some scratches on my back, this was going to be one long ass fight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everfree: 5 minutes later

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The last one was starting to back away from me, I was not sure why. Maybe because of the amount of damage I took and still hitting? Or was there something behind me? I start to crane my neck slowly towards my rear... Nothing, now I know what Isaac felt like. I gave myself a little laugh, one that was pretty enjoyable because, not many war veterans get a good laugh, don’t they?

I found a pond, and I try to wash myself, I needed to get to that meeting. It was very soon, so I had to hurry. When I “bathed”, meaning I just dump myself into the water without my armor, the cuts were still bleeding. I was about to decide to clean myself thoroughly... AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME FOH DAT! I hastily place my armor, the cuts only somewhat hurting as I put them on. Heh, they were soaking my blood. I wonder what they think about ‘blood’ red armor?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ponyville, Equestria

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“And so, that’s how I got here in this current state,” that whole story earning some people leaving and some other groups muttering agreement or disagreement. I had explained how I got here to them before I explained my little fiasco at the Everfree. I saw a hoof raise.

“If you got sent here by Nightmare Moon, wouldn’t that make you evil?” asked a child, an orange young pegasus with purple mane.

“I almost became, evil. Until I decided not to side with Nightmare Moon. The reason she brought me here; however, I will not answer that question,” I added the last part with some authoritative voice, showing that I really, really, don’t want to talk about it.

“What were humans like?” a ‘green?’ pony asked.

“What is your name?” I asked flatly.

“Lyra, sir,”

“Ok, Lyra, what do you think about the people who like doing bad things to others?”

“They’re bad, but I believe that they can change with a little acceptance,” oh she’s a naive, one that.

“Humans are like the bad part of ponies, except they won’t change. No matter who they’re with or what they do. They will never change, I lost hope of that little sentiment when I lost one of my friend to it,” remembering how Poet died, emotions almost took the best of me. I almost started choking up.

“So... Next question!” I yelled with false enthusiasm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some time during the end of meeting

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Thank you for your patience with meeting our new pony, hero, and friend,” I tensed up a little, friends? I lost them, you insensitive bi-woah... ok... Got to calm down, these ponies deserve none of it.

“Would you like to say anything before you leave this pedestal?”

“Hmm,” while tapping my chin with hoof, “Nnahh!” [Applejack Approved]

“Alright then, we’re done here! Another cheer for Midnight Flame here, and as always have a smile on your face!”

Walking down the stage was actually easy, heh. I used cloak, but let’s be honest, it was fun watching the ponies become astonished to non-magic cloaking technology. I arrive at the library, considering that is now my living place. I knock on the door... I knock on the door... Okay, let’s try that again... I knock on the door...

“*sigh*Anyone in there?” I groaned. I take a chance at pushing down the knob to the door. Heh, open... *GENIUS*.

“Hello? Anyone in here?”

“You!” I look around, would have been helpful with HRV, I must have misplaced it in the library, I’ll take a look around later

“Just when I thought you were a good pony! I found this!” I found her, Rainbow Dash, not that I didn’t know it was her at first. The very thing that made my tactics efficient, my HRV helmet.

“What are you doing with that?”

“Destroying it!” IS SHE FUCKING SERIOUS?!

“NO!” I lunge at her to stop her from destroying one of my most advanced pieces of technology Nightmare Moon brought with me. Rainbow Dash [*sigh*] used dodge.

“Why should I not? Pervert?” are you fucking serious?

“Are you fucking serious? The most advanced in military technology, and you think I use it to look at erotic things?! Maybe YOU would enjoy that!!!” I was obviously emphasizing her mane, I’m mean come on. She’s just letting out ‘TASTE THE RAINBOW’ with that look. She glared at me, it was the kind of glare you wouldn’t want to do anything other than hold still because, the females were capable of such stares that they were able to threaten anything you held dear to yourself, especially porn... NOT THAT I USE THAT SHIT.

“Look, we’ll cut a deal,” the negotiative type? I like that, “If this bit lands on [no information available about bits], it’s mine. And if it lands on this side showing [no information available on bits], it’s yours,” coins don’t count as negotiable for me, but at least I knew it was not going to be destroyed.

She flipped the coin, I could feel the world around me stopping. I looked at that coin thinking, if you ruin this for me, I swear I will focus my very being into bending each and everyone of your kind, making you fucking WORTHLESS, it landed. With a thump. Making that coin noise as it spins on the surface. It landed on my side, of sweet jesus how I was happy. I fucking jumped in circles squealing yes.

With a groan, she gives it to me.

“If I catch you using that thing to spy on others, you will not feel the end of it,”

“I can already feel it,”

“What the hay is that supposed to mean?”

“The world may never know...”

She gives me another threatening look and flies away... That ass is actually... What? WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME?! THESE ARE PONIES AND … oh... I’m a pony as well *DERP*

“What went on here?” a voice asked. I turn around and I see a Twilight, in front of a twilight.

Roll on the floor laughing [ROFL] at my little word play, Twilight probably thinking I’m still insane from Nightmare Moon.

“Rainbow Dash came by. To discuss a few things with me,” I manage to get my poker face on.

“About what?” I put my helmet on, I couldn’t talk about it.

“Nothing,” I said flatly under my helmet.

“I know you’re lying, and I could even place you in front of Applejack for Equestria’s worst liar,” not sure whether to be amused or offended.

“I was talking about what to do to get some currency around here, you know to pay for all you’ve done for me here.

“As I said, it’s nothing for you to worry about,” this bitch really doesn’t know I’ll still insist? “But Rarity might want some help at the boutique,” ah thank god.

“Which way to the boutique?” I asked with a bit a relief.

“That way,” she pointed a hoof towards a very stupid structure... That’s a boutique? Fine.

“Spike is probably already there, so you may find less things to do,” I shrug, at least I’m going something.

I arrive at the boutique... I knock, just like any normal person *cough*Rainbow Dash*Cough* would do.

“Cooommmminnngggg!” jesus, I need to get my mind out of the gutter, or else I am going to corrupt these ponies, I’m taking no part of it.

“Ah, you’re that new stallion that*GASP*[IKR? Couldn’t find the right onomatopoeia for it],”

“Is something the matter,” I decided to talk ‘properly’. Judging from the curls and place she works at, she may have some ‘refined’ taste.

“Is something that matter?! Your clothes! They’re all broken and bashed up! That simply will not do!”

“But I came here to help out around here, not get my clothes fi-” she gives one of those stares that scare you... I’m afraid of no man... But that... Thing... It scares me...

“Why yes of course, I’ll let you fix them uhehehehehe,” I shrink, to the point I felt like I was in elementary again.

I went into the boutique, everything was clean... Too clean. I must find this Spike responsible for preventing me from doing productive shit.

“I will have this fixed and ready for you to wear in no time, darling. Fear not! For Lady Rarity will turn this abomination into something greater,” with that gleam in her eyes I was wondering if she’d do more harm than good...

MAN THIS IS SO BORING, I HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING TODAY,

“Finished!” What? After two hours? Fine.

“Thank you, Miss Rarity, I really do owe you,” Walking into the room Rarity was working on my armor.

“Oh don’t mention it, darling, it had to be done!”

Walking into the room, I could only conjure the appropriate face for this phrase:

“Y U DO DIS?!”

Smooth (Landing)

Ever had that feeling when your sibling ruined something you cherished so dearly? Like maybe trading cards that they ‘accidentally’ burned. I have to say, maybe I over-exaggerated my feelings when I entered the room of my armor. It went more like this...

“What. Have. You. Done?!” I asked in a tense voice, looking at what used to be my glorious armor when I lead my team to victory.

“Why I have redone the entire design! The armor needed a bit more color!” this mare didn’t understand why I chose monochromatic shades on my armor.

“Do you understand why I chose to have black, grey, and white on my armor, and only those colors?” my voice having a bit of anger, she took the hint, and shook her head.

“Through joining the team that I was a part of saving our race, I quickly realised the corruption of power within our own people. They started using others for their own benefit, and leaving those unable to contribute to them to rot under their success. No matter how much I try, that mindset will always exist somewhere, where there is potential growth of influence. It is when people view the world in two perspectives: one that seems ‘Evil, and one that seems ‘good’. Understanding the conflict between the two allows you to come up with a solution for both sides or either sides, if one so chooses. Understanding the conflict between these two forces are like understanding the conflict of black and white. The line between them, blurs into grey as the intelligent and sensible ones realise the truth, and grow sympathy for both sides. That is when an ultimatum develops, an extremely difficult decision.”

“I’m sorry, Midnight Flame, I truly am. I did not realise-”

“Buuutt, I’ll give this a try,” I gave a wink as I try it on. She blushed at her own actions, she wouldn’t have known, who would have? In this kind of world? Too much harmony for that mess.

As I put the last piece of armor, my chest plate. I sigh in myself at what I would consider disappointment. The color scheme on my armor that adorned the spec-ops black color was entirely replaced with a dark blue. The color scheme that then covered the secondary parts of my armor were entirely replaced with... Light blue.

“I think it really matches you,” Rarity said under a blatant nervous voice.

“No need to apologize, I just need to-” What I saw was probably the worst possible thing that happened to my armor. The emblem, it was replaced with three diamonds.

“Well I just simply had to put a trademark on my works, you would never know when a pony would want to steal your ideas, did you ever have that happen to you?” I know that feeling too well.

“Look, I’ll just go. Maybe some other ponies need my help with something. I’ll be going, in this,” yes, I know I had cloak, but I just decided to show it off. Besides, hiding because of something like this was considered a weakness.

“Hey! Your armor, it looks funny!” spouted an arrogant Rainbow Dash.

“Nice to see your face too, Rainbow,” I muttered loud enough for her to hear. She moved closer, noticing my emblem. Some moments later she rolled on the floor laughing [ROFL], for some time. I swear I could get a promotion for introducing this as a ‘taunt’ if I ever get back to earth. Imagine that: soldiers with taunts, but with this taunt? It, someday, would bring world peace if it was introduced into the world. Some day...

“What’s so funny? The way I actually wear something unlike you?” hoping it was a good comeback.

“Nice try with that comeback, you foal. Besides, I don’t need clothes, no normal pony really wears them unless they’re uniform,” I clear my throat to gesture to all of me, “of something that is well known, like a WonderBolt,” I’m going to have to play along, maybe she doesn’t know that I don’t know what a damn WonderBolt is.

“I’ll just go now, oh wait! I know what I came here for!”

“You were planning on me landing right in front of you?”

“No... What if I said yes?” she gave me a glare, “You’re never going to drop what went down in the library about my HRV are you?”

“Not until you do something for me,” She said with a bit of determination. She really wanted to get something done, “I need help taking out these clouds, today I need to get somewhere and these clouds are not helping any.”

“Pegasi, control clouds?”

“No. We buck’em,” I’m assuming we’re kicking them to be safe.

“Fair enough, how do we do that?”

“You serious?” I put on a poker face.

“What?”

“You don’t know how to control clouds?”

“Ok, maybe you haven’t noticed that I’m extremely new here and these wings are an extremely new thing for me,” I take a deep breath, I exhale, thinking of the repercussions of what I am about to ask, “Will you teach me how to-”

“OH OF COURSE I WILL! MEET ME AT THE LIBRARY BYE!” She flew off pretty fast, a little too fast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rainbow Dash’s Perspective

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh this is going to be awesome! My first real student to help learn how to fly [scootaloo’s training doesn’t count, she’s only able to use those wings as forward propulsion after all]. Mom, Dad. If you can see me now from your busy jobs, you’d be so proud I’ll guarantee it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Golden Oaks Library

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So Rainbow Dash is supposed to help you learn how to fly? Are those wings even capable of manipulating the air pressure the lift you? Metal does not exactly work well,” Twilight asked with a bit of concern in her voice.

“What’s wrong with Rainbow Dash helping me learn how to fly?” I asked. This must be the repercussions of asking Rainbow Dash to teach me how to fly.

“Well for one, she’s a very tough motivator, meaning she will break you,” please I’ve been through worse at basic training, “and another: you and her are not exactly at the best of terms together.”

“I’ll deal with it, flying huh? Ever wondered how that feels like?”

“I didn’t really care about that kind of thing. Besides, knowledge is power,” she answered with a ‘matter-o-factly’ tone of voice.

“I will give you the satisfaction to let you within your own judgments,” she just shrugged as Rainbow Dash arrived on the spot.

“You ready to fly?” Rainbow said with a smug look on her face.

“You ready to teach me?” I said back.

“Let’s see how those wings work,” she stepped forward, I stand up straight, wings spread.

“See anything stranger other than the fact that they are metal?”

“Try heating them up, I saw fire from your wings when you used them the last time,” she looked like a diligent chemist looking closely at a chemical that has the potential to explode in her face.

“They fired up when I got angry, after realising that she killed my frie-” mud splattered all over my face... This was the last straw, if she thought she could... Wait, I know what she’s doing, she might get killed, I’ll be no part of it. I take a deep breath with my eyes closed.

“Look Rainbow Dash, why are you so interested in my wings of fire?” she had a look of disappointment on her face.

“I just wanted to see it,” Dash huffed.

“I’ll try to see how to control it, right now I need to learn how to fly,” her face then brightened up.

“Alright then! First thing’s first! Your wings are the most important part of your life, they are your reason you are a pegasus, do you understand?” This is going to take some time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Moments Later [After Basics]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If there was one thing I was not prepared for besides, Dash’s harsh training. It would be heights. I try to hide the fact that I’m afraid of heights from Rainbow Dash, I think I’m doing pretty well.

“Look, if you are afraid of heights, you can’t really fly,” sonofabitch, “we need to get rid of that!” I felt a pair of hooves then lifting me from the ground.

“Rainbow Dash waht R U DOING?!” her determined look not faltering.

“Rainbow DASH!” her face now scrunched up in concentration to lifting me up.

“STAHP!!!” her eyes are showing fatigue... Oh god.

“DASH! Oh god oh man oh god oh man oh god oh man oh GOD!”

I embrace her as tight as I could, then I hoped that spreading my wings would help soften our velocity, my wings were shut tight. God damn this fear of heights, it’s disabled me... There was only one hope for both of us, or just Rainbow Dash. I notice her eyes shaking awake, but too late. We were too close to the ground for Rainbow Dash to lift us with her wings. I fell to my last resort: I wrap my wings around Rainbow dash, utilizing both my wings to morph into semi-spheres, producing a protective metal bubble before we crashed. The last thing I saw was Rainbow Dash rolling out of my grasp once we crashed and a wave of blood going away from me on my ground.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mission Drop-Off Point

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You really think this is it?” Stranger asked, sounding like a child that’s gambling.

“What are you talking about?” I respond with a hint of irritation in my voice

“You know the end of the infection, you think we can really do it?”

“I kept asking myself that at the mission briefing. I think now’s not the time to ask yourself that now.”

“Ok, boss,” Stranger saluted.

“Where are we supposed to go anyway?” Tanny asked; our main support gunner.

“A gigantic building that looks like it holds tech advanced enough to house a cure for this infection? Right there, dumbass. Or did you not pay attention to the briefing?” Our sassy little Medic: Raven answered.

“Hey, now. We’re a team, maybe a man short, but we’re a team, so start acting like it: RAVEN,” I scolded, mainly towards Raven.

“Not my fault Rocky here’s got more bullets than brains. He carries a minigun for christ’s sake.”

“What are you saying about my minigun? It’s the best thing in military gatling history!”

“Care to elaborate?” Raven asked.

“It weighs two-hundred fifty kilograms and fires two-hundred dollar, custom tool cartridges at two-thousand rounds per-minute.”

Raven stared blankly.

“It costs two-hundred thousand dollars to fire this weapon. For twelve seconds.” a menacing look on his face to complement the emphasis on the ‘twelve’. Then he just starts laughing like he heard a knee-slapping joke.

“What did I tell you? More bullets than brain!” Raven continued.

“Can the brain outsmart a bullet?” Tanny asked, hoping it was a good comeback.

“Can the bullet get through my armor?” I have to admit, she’s the most armored on our squad, but I decided against intervening. I could hear disappointed muttering from Tanny, for even I don’t understand why the medic is more armored than a support gunner.

“Briefing shown that that is the correct building, we should approach it stealthily, intel’s thermal scans movement that seems human but cold, so they’re dead. Keep HRV checks ready for any surprises.”

“Roger,” they all answered in unison.

This was going to be one interesting fight.

Recollection

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some time before Explosion

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Have you ever felt that chill up your spine just because you’re somewhere and nothing’s happening to you?” Raven asked.

“You’re talking ‘bout Slender Man? In a time like this?” Stranger asked.

“No, that’s not what I’m talking about. This doesn’t fit, if there really was a cure, don’t you think we’d all be safe right now? Why us? It seems like other squads are better for this job than us,” Raven darting her HRV all over the horizon is not helping much, because that made us feel afraid as well.

“The infected, only dominate by overwhelming. You’d never know when the element of surprise is with us,”

“Wait, wait. I’m getting something,” Stranger said.

“What? What is it?” Raven asked sounding a bit uncomfortable.

“Look, there,” We turned to see and heard a scream. Wait no, multiple screams.

“Poet... Poet? POET!” Raven called out.

“What? What is it?” I answered.

“It’s the infected!”

“NO shit!” I said.

“What are we going to do?! There’s not enough ammo in the world!”

“Then we’ll make some up!” Tanny hollered, pulling out a hardsuit designator.

“Where the hell did you get that?” I asked in astonishment.

“Someone take my minigun! We’ll get through this!”

“I think you’re being over-confident, Tanny,” Stranger chimed.

“We were all over-confident when we agreed to be in this mission to find the damn cure for this pandemic! Don’t let me down, guys!” One of Tanny’s last words.

“Don’t you fucking die on me!” I pleaded.

“We both know I can’t promise that,” the hardsuit landed, and Tanny opening the suit up to enter. It was going to be an interesting firefight against the infected: three infantry and a hardsuit.

“Y’all know, what to do! Take’em out! We have to before we can get to that building!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everfree

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Light was landing into my eyes, so I wake up. Oh god, of all the places to land at, why this god forsaken forest? I dart my head around looking for Rainbow Dash, yeah she’s still there. I try to stand up, now I’m walking limp because my right foreleg is hurting most. This kind of crash looked like it was going to put either of us out longer than the other, so I figured I should carry her. Pretty difficult task, considering I was walking limp and my telekinesis was weak as well from the crash. Sure there were many other wounds because of the branches and twigs that we fell through to get in this situation. I notice blood dripping from my right foreleg. I start coughing, I see blood from that coughing fit. If I was going to save Rainbow Dash, I was going to deal with what I’m having while carrying her to Ponyville.

It was sometime past noon, so I could see perfectly well, not that it mattered. There was a lot of things that blocked my field of vision towards Ponyville, but I know the direction.

After a good 5 minutes of limp walking, I stumble across something I wish I hadn’t stumbled upon. It looked like a lion, with a scorpion tail. I couldn’t remember what else was mashed into this abomination. It looked uglier than those super infected, an infected mutated in size and has the strength to prove it.

I still had telekinesis, so I was lazy. I lifted the lion, and started adding pressure. All it did was roar in protest, I kept applying more pressure. I didn’t care about it’s life, I only cared about efficiency, especially with the amount of energy I’m using. If this cat was to whimper in submission, I would let it go. If it just keeps being a dick, It’s going to have organs touching places where it should not touch.

Finally it let out a whimper, hoping that I would let it go. I through it port side and it looked like it was trying to run away. Emphasis on trying. I get a small laugh from that, then I stop myself. Goddamn, you’re one twisted bastard. I thought to myself. I lift Rainbow Dash to my back, wondering how the hell she did not wake up to that yelling from that lion hybrid, or something.

Nothing happened except more limp walking towards ponyville, holy shit we were far. I know we were just practicing. Alright I’ll make a confession, I didn’t open my eyes while gliding down to the ground. It will all black for me while I hoped the angle of my wings were correct, until I felt like we were too close to continue caring about it, so I morphed them into protection.

Disappointed in myself, I swore that if I’m going to be a pegasus, then I better fucking act like it. I gotta get rid of my fear of heights.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ponyville Clinic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Now how do you explain yourself for all this?” Nurse Redheart asked, like my mom.

“Explain MYself? Just ask Rainbow Dash when she wakes up, she can give you the story!”

“She’s out cold, and you’re the only one available to give us information,” Redheart said back calmly.

“Look, I just want to go back to the libra-”

“Nope, you need medical attention yourself,”

“I’m fine, ‘tis but a flesh wound,” I said back.

“Which is what I specialise in, follow me,” goddamn it. I follow, because the populace just like insisting on helping me with this.

After some time with examination, I finally get to go back to the -

“We need you to stay in the clinic for that foreleg,” sonofabitch.

“I said, I’m fine. Rainbow Dash needs it more than I do,” I said to Redheart. She stared at me, jesus christ, these ponies might be the end of me.

“Fine, I’ll go,” I muttered in submission.

“Excellent! Right this way!” Redheart suddenly brightening up and with a smile. I was going to be on a medical bed for a long time.

I decided to let myself take a nap, a real nap.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some time before the Explosion

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Heh, you know what’s strange, Poet?” Stranger asked. I finished off the last infected with my snub nose revolver.

“What?” I asked.

“The way HQ called this mission: Onslaught, they seem pretty laid back about this shit, huh?” he had a point, HQ seemed like they were not taking this mission as seriously as we are.

“So? What’s your point? I know I’m doing this, do you?”

“I know we’re doing this. It’s just that. They don’t seem to care,”

“They will start caring when we get this done, don’t you want that?” I asked, Stranger having a face full of thought, he looked back at me.

“Right,” he shrugs and moves to the others. I take a deep breath, Let’s hope this doesn’t go to shit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ten minutes later

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You know something Poet?” Stranger asked.

“Don’t you ask me about everything?” I said back.

“No no it’s not that. Look, how many super infected have we encountered, whoever has that kind of control could mean it’s a set up. I mean think about it, it would be super easy if we face one at a time? I guarantee you, those things exist to be as a big as Tanny’s hardsuit,” I have a concerned look.

“You have a point, get to Tanny about that. I’ll see to it that we get ready for that,” I ordered.

“Yes, I’ll get right into that,” Stranger Saluted.

“You’re fucking jinxing it, Freddie,” I muttered mostly to myself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ponyville Clinic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That was a very comforting nap, I’m already feeling better. Suddenly I hear hooves clopping my direction. I couldn’t tell how many sets because I wasn’t used to hearing more than 8 steps at once. The doors open, and I could see the six mares that enter the room, then Nurse Redheart.

“Go on Rainbow,” Applejack gently pushed Rainbow Dash with her head.

“Look, thank you for saving my life, I don’t know what happened there,” I stare blankly with no expressions, then I just turn my head back to the window.

“I wasn’t about to let my coach die before she teached me how to fly wasn’t I?” I said

“You mean? You’ll let me teach you? After what I did?” Rainbow Dash’s face creeping up a smile.

“Yes, after all ‘A pegasus is nothing without his wings’,” I paraphrased Rainbow Dash’s terminology.

“Oh thank you thank you thank you!” she lunged at me for a hug. Some moments passed like that, then she broke the hug with a little blush on her face. I cracked a weak smile, failing because of the pain she caused hugging me. I grunted in pain, holding my right foreleg.

“Oh sorry!” Rainbow Dash apologised sheepishly.

“It’s *agghmmmm* alright, Rainbow Dash,” I painfully said.

“Oh Midnight Flame, I have wonderful news for you!” Rarity said, I had a bad feeling about this.

“What would that be?” I asked hoping not for the worst.

“I fixed up your armor and changed what I had done to your armor. It’s just amazing!” she said with blatant gleam in her eyes. We have different tastes, so I was preparing myself for the worst.

“I’ll see to it,” I plastered a false smile on myself, I think it worked.

“The doctors say, you’ll be out before long, Midnight Flame. So don’t worry,” worry? What’s to worry? I just barely survived a thousand-foot fall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Operation: Onslaught

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We were really cutting it close that time, Stranger was hit by multiple infected, but he’s fine... I think.

“Don’t worry mate, it’s just a bloody flesh wound,” Freddie [Stranger] laughed.

“Don’t you fucking tell me not to worry, man. Tanny wasn’t there to help your sorry ass our of that situation!” I yelled back.

“Look, I’m sorry. Ok? One of them just got the drop on me I’m fine,”

“The only reason you’re fine is because you’re not infected, I don’t see a trace of it on you according to Raven,” I stated with a concerned look on my face.

“Raven, tell Poet that I’m fine, you’re the medic here after all,” Stranger pleaded.

“Unless you’re forgetting about that brute force you were hit by, you’re fine. Don’t worry Poet, none of us died yet. We’ll get through this,” wow, way to reassure me with that kind of terminology.

“Yeah... We’ll get through this,” I muttered to myself as the three went into their inventories to check their stuff.

Some time had passed as we were walking to our objective, it was a long walk. We prepared for that walk, but no one could have prepared for the militia. These paramilitary Bastards were definitely part of ‘The Order’, the same terrorist group responsible for the infection that spread across the world.

“Hey Poet, look,” Stranger pointed towards a squad of red lighted foot-mobiles.

“I got this,” Raven said, aiming her anti-material rifle [cheap as fuck] at the squad.

“Wait!” I hissed loud enough for Raven to hear, “This needs to be taken seriously, you can’t just snipe an entire squad and hope they won’t notice!” Raven then placed her rifle back on her strap.

“Thank you,” I sighed in Relief.

“Then how do you propose we do this?” Raven at least did not ask disrespectfully.

“I still have my cloaking module, I can move across without being seen. Place your suppressors, Stranger on me, you too have a cloaking module. Raven will provide over-watch for the soldiers that have IR, and Tanny with the hardsuit will provide as last resort if things go too far south on us this time.”

“Roger,” they all saluted in unison.

May God Help Us All...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Canterlot, Castle Grounds

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Luna, are you alright?” Celestia asked, Luna was dreaming. [I don’t have the mind or vulgar terminology to develop details for those dreams] about the stallion that had saved her from her own darkness.

“Uh, yes of course we are fine, sister. Everything is fine,” Luna was trying to speak straight without showing any signs of discomfort.

“You were thinking about that stallion again, right?” Celestia asked, Luna looked down at the ground in childish shame, “Don’t worry, I do not mind. You can visit him if you want, I need to take care of some things anyway.”

“Oh really? Thank you!,” Luna clears her throat, “I mean: Thank you, sister,” Luna repeated with an attempt at a serious response.

This is the funny side of you I enjoy most, Celestia giggled to herself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ponyville, Random rooftops

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So? What do you think of the new visitor?” asked an ominous voice.

“If we can drive him the right direction, we may even be able to gain his alliance to our side,” a second voice answered.

“Information states, from that purple unicorn, that the stallion has abilities that no normal pegasi does,” the first voice stated.

“Like what?” the second voice inquired.

“It can see through walls, it has the ability to become invisible, its wings are not only metal but can morph shape, and had telekinesis,” the first voice said matter-o-factly.

“If we can get that kind of individual in our ranks, it will be a big step towards the end of our campaign,”

“Of course it would, tell the others about this individual. We need him,”

“Understood,” and with that, one of them flew off.

“Long live the Hive... Or, heh, what’s left of it,”

More Recollecting

“Oh for fuck’s sake, why can’t anyone else use the minigun? My arms didn’t sign up for this!” Stranger groaned in irritation.

“You have the minigun because you agreed to take it from Tanny,” I deadpanned.

“Yes, and you have taken great care of it, Stranger,” Tanny said, opening his hardsuit, we were having a break. I know right? We’re professionals of war that take breaks?! How surprising.

Freddie [Stranger] gave another groan in response to him finally realising that he DID agree to take the minigun.

“Why can’t I use the hardsuit, while you use the minigun?” Stranger asked.

“Because she said she wanted to see new people,” Tanny said matter-o-factly.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Stranger gently placing the minigun on the floor. This earned a glare from Tanny, “you sleep with the damned thing don’t you?”

“So what if I do?” Tanny shrugged, “You’d never know when people would want to take something as precious as this from your grasp!” he stated pointing at the minigun.

“Okay then. What’s her name?” Stranger asked with friendly hostility... I think.

“Her name’s Shascha,” Tanny said, pulling his face up towards the sky with indignation.

Both Stranger and I face-palmed, though Stranger’s being more offensive of course.

“You fucking got that name from that one game! What is it... I know its name but-”

“But nothing, you’re just mad because you don’t have a love life!” Tanny smirked.

Before Stranger could say anything, as ironic as what Tanny said, I urged Freddie [Stranger] from saying anything that could ruin our friendships.

“Hah. Friendship is magic, I guess, stops ya from being shot at by your own,” Stranger laughs and apologizes to Tanny. They forget that conversation ever happened. Hm, Friendship is Magic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ponyville Clinic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Everything is checked out, you’re free to go, Midnight Flame. Just try not to hurt yourself out there,” Redheart said trotting along towards maybe a random patient in another room of the hospital.

“Very funny, Redheart,” I chuckled to no one in particular... Hm, maybe I should use ‘pony’?

“So, you ready to fly?” goddamn it, now’s not the time.

“Uh, look Rainbow Dash, as much as I would love to resume training, I just came from the hospital. And I’m trying to make a full recovery here.” I said, trying not to hurt the lady’s feelings.

“Oh, alright,” she threw glares at me, “But just remember, this is going to bite you in the flank later.”

“Yeah, you would like to bite that,” I chimed like an immature middle schooler learning his first bully phrases.

“Oh I would,” holy shit. She fucking said that in a sultry manner, guess I’ll play along.

“Ok, see ya!” I responded... Or I can just go to the library right now before that got out of hand. Jesus these ponies are crazy.

After confirming that the Rainbow Mare wasn’t around. I activate cloak, the sound of digital chittering was so satisfy-

“It’s YOU! STOP RIGHT THERE!” Oh for fuck’s sake. I silently flank the mare that was trying to get my attention, “I need to talk to you!” I got behind her, I was about to deactivate cloak.

The instant my hand just touched the button, not press it, she turned around and embraced me. I manage to turn off cloak while I was being choked, in the hopes that she would let me go.

She let me go, “*Cough*Why*Wheeze*How*Cough-cough-COUGH*!”

“Silly, pony. You know you can’t move around me without me noticing,” the pink, poofy maned mare giggled.

“How in high hell did you see me?” I asked with a most intrigued face and tone.

“I could sense you with my Pinkie sense! Ponies around here decided to call it that!” she answered with a gleeful smile.

“I’ll just get going,” I reactivate my cloak, and the moment the digital chittering stops. This Pinkie grabs me again.

“WAIT! I HAVEN’T GIVEN YOU A WELCOME TO PONYVILLE PARTY YET!” exclaimed the despairing mare.

“You can,” it was hard to talk while I was in her embrace, “host it somewhere! I’ll be there, I promise!” I desperately said.

She lets me go.

“Pinkie Promise?” I deadpanned.

“What?” I asked.

“Cross my heart; hope to fly, [then] stick a cupcake in my eye,” she gave a determined look after that little demonstration. I repeated the action, but when I got to the ‘stick a cupcake in my eye’ part, I didn’t really press on to my eye, instead the mare pushed my arm more into it.

“WHAT THE HELL?!” and it really hurt.

“Everypony’s supposed to press on their eye harder than that,” her voice changed to a sinister tone.

“Or else, I will place their eyes on my new recipe,” she was still smiling after what she had just said, I felt a shiver to my very spine.

“Oh, um... Of course,” this bitch is crazy, “I’ll just be on my way. Heh heh, DON’T KILL ME!” I run as far as my recently-injured legs can carry me.

“Hm, why would I want to kill him? What a silly pony,” Pinkie Pie giggled and bounced along.

I arrive to the library, still in good shape, after what it’s been through. I knock on the door.

“It’s open!” called Twilight’s voice.

I enter and give myself a sigh in relief.

“You have no idea how happy I am to finally be in the library,” I took another deep breath and made my way to my room.

“Oh, I can imagine, you met Pinkie Pie,” Twilight gave a smug look.

“How do you know about that?” I asked, having a poker face.

“Pinkie Pie just left before you got here,” she was looking at me like a math problem, “and before you ask anything about her. It’s really Pinkie Sense, I quit making sense of it after I placed her in my laboratory and figured out nothing.” she gave me a sympathetic smile. I was not about to ask of Pinkie Promise, because the only thing I needed to know was the gesture.

“I’ll just be in my room,” I tiredly said.

“But you haven’t eaten lunch yet,” you’re not my mom.

“Not hungry, besides. I’m trying to get to my room!”

“Well alright then, we’ll leave some leftovers for you however. At least take an apple,”

“I’ll take it!” an apple was definitely better than an MRE from base. I took it with my telekinesis.

“I will never get used to that. A pegasus with telekinesis? This could be a scientific breakthrough!” Twilight beamed.

“Don’t get your hope up. The last time I was experimented on, it didn’t go so well,” I hope she was not going to pry.

“Fair enough,” oh thank the lords.

“Thank you. You know where to find me if you need me,” I started my way to the room. There was knocking on the door. I tense up.

“Is it Pinkie? Again?” I asked with a bit of disdain in my voice.

“I’m not expecting her right now, I’ll check,” Twilight trotted towards the door. The person behind it was beyond any of my guesses.

“Hello? Oh Princess Luna!” Twilight bowed after bolting backwards from the door. I decided to just give her a stiff nod when she looked at me.

“Oh greetings, Midnight Flame! Will you do the honors,” what is she planning? “of joining me for lunch?” … What?

“Sure,” I shrugged.

“Oh so you don’t accept our food, but accept hers? That’s just,” she gave a frustrated huff, and looked up at her ceiling with indignation. Women...

“I also have matters to discuss with you, Midnight Flame. For something has happened, and Celestia knows what did.” Luna said with a bit of pride, not that puffing her chest after relaying such a message was a dead give-away.

“This should be interesting,” I plaster an interested smile on my face, Luna looked away with blush. I feel sad for her, the redness really shows up on a blue coat.

“When are we leaving?” I asked as I walk towards my HRV helmet.

“In five minutes,” Luna responded.

“We can leave now if you want,” placing the HRV helmet on my head with my telekinesis.

“Very well then. Right this way, we have transport ready,” Luna gestured to a chariot with two pegasi... There’s slavery in this world?

“Isn’t that slavery?” I pointed my hoof towards the two.

Luna gave me an offended look, “That is not slavery, I assure you. They get paid for this, quite generously, if I may add.”

“Whatever,” I shrugged, I was still afraid of heights. At least I had reliable [I think] protection like the chariot itself.

We hopped on to the chariot, and Luna sent us away. The view was beautiful, but I still feel parts of me breaking as I felt like I was going to have another fall to my death. I shake my head in hopes of relieving of that stress. I take my helmet off.

“I see you’re afraid of heights, Midnight Flame,” unfortunately I blushed and turn away so fast, it seemed possible to get whiplash.

“No, it’s fine. Just thinking about other things,”

“I know you’re lying, but ok. What other things?” I gave her a glare, at least she didn’t laugh at probably the only pegasus afraid of heights.

“The things I still care about when I was in my own world,” I look down with a solemn look on my face.

“I can sympathize with you, you know. Being banished to the moon for a thousand years could probably be the equivalent of your displacement.”

What did she know? Knowing about how you know your friends are dead, and knowing that there was a higher chance that you couldn’t do anything about it?! What the hell did she know?! Fortunately I prevented myself from having an outburst of such a topic, all holding those feelings down by looking down.

“It was... Difficult, during the time that made the very reason I was banished,” she put up a saddened look, I guess it was my time to intervene. God I hope this doesn’t end badly.

“Look,” she turned her head towards me, “I may not know about what happened between you and Celestia and every other person-”

“Pony,” are you fucking kidding me.

“PONY, but that is in the past. You have to let go, I know I haven’t let go, but I’m trying. And I suggest you try to do so as well,” I put up a sheepish smile, knowing that could have just discouraged her very progress of recovering from such an imprisonment.

“Thank you,” she said with gratitude, “And thank you again for saving me from Nightmare Moon.”

I gave a stiff nod, then she placed me under her embrace. It felt... Nice, having the empathy of another person from your words and/or actions.

“I’m sure Celestia has something good planned for you, given that you HAVE saved Equestria and me,” she giggled. I hope so too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Operation Black Gauntlet: 5 days before explosion

Before Poet died

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So tell me again, why are we approaching the mission objective like this?” I asked with worry cracking my voice.

“Because, Ryman, hardsuits are the only option we have. An orbital drop is currently the best way to get to the good end of this mission,” Poet responded.

“What’s wrong, Ryman? Ya chicken,” Stranger chirped.

“How about you piss off? This is my problem, not yours,” I snapped back at him.

“Heh, pussy. Hardsuits should be able to handle the impact, mate,” Stranger continued.

“Don’t you think about the stuff that would happen against that statistic? I’ve seen hardsuits fall on something between their legs, and the thing snapped in two!” I exclaimed.

“Yeah? That’s because the agency unfortunately trusted that kind of resource to some blubbering idiot thinking it was a good idea to designate under a roof top!” Stranger laughed.

“Ryman, seriously. Come on now, this is important. If we let the Order take this base, we’ll definitely lose whatever leverage we have against them on this sector,” Poet stated flatly.

“Alright, fine. If we don’t make it because of a landing fail it’s on your ass,”

“I’ll take your word on that,” Poet laughed heartily. She was always the cheery one...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Canterlot, Equestria: Castle Grounds

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ah, we’re finally here. Now if you’ll follow me, Midnight,” Luna looked back, “Midnight?”

“I’m right here,” Luna gasped at swung a bitch slap with her hoof right across my face. It fucking hurt. I disabled my cloak, “Agghh! Why would you do that?!”

Luna huffed and turned towards the sky with indignation, “That’s exactly what you get for sneaking up on ponies,” she fell into a laughing fit right after she finished that phrase.

“That was so funny!” Luna said in between breaths as she laughed.

“Laugh it up, laugh it up,” I rub my hoof to my face to stop the pain, “Where do we go now?”

“To my sister’s throne, she’s waiting for us there. I’ll lead the way,” Luna gestured with a hoof to follow.

The architecture was just amazing, halls looked exactly the same. Nothing looked broken or dying of old age. Whoever came up with placing royalty on a side of a mountain was stupid however.

“WE thought it would look nice,” Luna interrupted... Oh boy she read my mind.

“Oh and we’re here,” how did I not notice a door that was significantly bigger than the rest?

We enter the room... It not even a throne room, it was a fucking throne corridor. The length of the corridor was mass, it looked like they invented molecular storage to make it look smaller on the outside by bigger on the inside.

“Ah, Midnight Flame. Good to see you, I thank you again for saving my sister from Nightmare Moon,” the Royalty gave me a smile of gratitude.

“I try my best... What did you need to see me about?”

“Oh yes, of course that,” she was trying to remember, “The crystal kingdom has returned.”

This earned a gasp from Luna, and me being clueless, but I hide that fact with an interesting face and a slow nod.

“Twilight Sparkle will inform you about this Crystal Empire when she departs for it. Your assignment, protect the elements of Harmony,” she said.

“The jewelry?” I deadpanned, why would I need to protect something less important than the ones who wear-

“The six mares that wear them,” oh yes, of course I thought of that, silly me.

“When do they leave?” I ask.

“When I inform Twilight Sparkle that she will go, right now we need to find you a team,” Celestia said without falter.

“What? A team? Are you sure?”

“This team will not be with you on your mission to the Empire, they will be with you on the following missions,” this gave me a sigh of relief. I don’t do well with teams, the last time I had lead a team, well. My tactics were not good enough, I lost them.

“We understand your concern about the future of whoever you will lead, but rest assured. These are the best of the best we are going to send for you,” Celestia said with a soft smile.

My leadership obviously wasn’t enough to keep my team alive.

“What happened to letting go of your past, Midnight Flame. I thought you were the one who said that?” Luna asked.

“I did not say I already let go of that... I said I was trying,” I said, looking down once again.

“We have reserved a room on this castle for you, this guard will lead the way,” Luna gestured toward the said guard.

“Pleasure to meet you, uh...”

“Armor, Captain Shining Armor. If you’ll follow me, your room is this way,”

“Heh, nice to meet you Shining Armor, a bit ironic because you’re not wearing shining armor, eh?”

“Bit Ironic that the princesses are holding you with hospitality after being sent here my NIGHTMARE MOON herself! You could stab us in the back for all I care!” he snapped back at me with fury in his eyes, this was my time to step off.

“Woah, sir. Please, I do not want any trouble,”

“I know you won’t cause any, because I’ll be there to end you if you ever do,” he gave a sinister look.

“Your room is right there... Sir,” hissed and gestured towards a door, that lead to my room.

“Hey! Where are you going?” I asked as this Shining bastard was trotting away.

“Confidential mission, you’ll never understand!” He responded with blatant apprehension.

“I don’t even want to ask anymore,” I muttered to myself.

So I see the brave champion has proven himself worthy of a task from Celestia herself.

“Who are you and what do you-ah fuck it. All you mysterious entities of magic have been fucking with my head too much, I’ll go to sleep. Tell me the important news when I’m awake, I’m going to sleep. Go fuck yourself,” I groan in annoyance, I just want to go to sleep.

A foul-mouth as well, quite char-

“Only to your sorry ass. I just want to sleep, it’s been a long day. Not my fault I have hostilities towards those who try to keep me awake when I really... Really... Need... Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..........” I dosed off. Probably not the best time because there was a magical entity in my head that wants to mess with me... I’ll deal with it in my head, because that’s basically where he is, I was just way too lazy and tired to deal with shit.

Poet

“All hardsuits! In the ready!” Poet reported on squad comms, she always was the one with enthusiasm, more than all of us really.

“Remember people, we’re going in hot. They don’t know we’re dropping in with these hardsuits though, be ready because they can get their launchers ready so drop the infantry first. And destroy any technical that seems an equal threat to infantry with launchers,” Poet continued, we were all confident in this mission, considering Poet was the one leading us. I had full confidence in her, maybe even more than the rest of the team combined.

“Oh, and Ryman? Try not to get yourself killed, I want to be able to grab a drink with ya after this mission,” Poet chimed, the rest of the team snickered within the comms, their mics were on voice activation.

“It’s not like that, guys!” I have to admit, I had a crush on Poet, but we never got to that part.

“Don’t worry, Ryman, you’ll get that ass eventually!” Stranger laughed so hard he ended up spinning the minigun, “OH SHIT! Come on... Come on... And, don’t worry, mates, nothing bad will happen” the minigun stopped spinning, much to our relief.

“Freddie, one more slip up like that, you’re getting shot in the foot. You already owe me twenty dollars for that shit,” Poet snapped at him.

“What shit?! I didn’t... Oh... Fine, fuck it,” Stranger groaned in submission, this earned a chuckled from me.

“That’s what I thought,” Poet continued, “now let’s get this done right and fast, I want to be home before long. You all ready to drop?!”

“Roger,”

“Affirmative,”

“Yes,”

“Aye Aye,”

“Ready,”

I facepalmed, we really need to be more coordinated with that. The cargo doors below us opened, exposing clouds, heh. They won’t know what hit’em for at least ten seconds.

The gears of the harnesses for our hardsuits clicked, and we were dropping. I was probably the one trying my hardest to keep my cool while my organs were floating in my body, it was the most painful feeling. I thought I was going to die, just like all those other times I’ve taken rides on roller coasters.

“Ryman! You there?!” Stranger yelled on comms.

“What the fuck do you want?! I’m trying to BREATH HERE!” I take a quick breath.

“Think nice thoughts!” Stranger laughed.

“Oh piss OFF!” I yelled back in comms.

After some time dropping, Poet finally went in comms, “Alright people, we’re close! Touch down in ten, nine,” I take another deep breath.

“eight,” I look at my hud with the weapons check.

“seven,” I get a feel of the arms’ movement.

“six,” I then get a feel of my legs.

“five,” these were the longest seconds of my life.

“four,” I look around to my fellow hardsuits, falling with me. I see Poet’s hardsuit, falling boredly like the rest.

“three,” then there was a little crack on that, “oh shit! I’m hit, I’m hit!”

I notice smoke coming from her railgun arm, this will not end well.

“AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH*Static*,” was the last transmission on squad comms.

“Poet?! NO! LINDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-” I was interrupted by sudden force, we landed.

“Ryman, she’s gone-” Stranger tried to comfort me.

“YOU DON’T FUCKING KNOW THAT! She’s... She’s going to make it!” I burned my afterburners towards her crash, it was not too far.

“Ryman, you need to stick to the plan, we need to take this base. We can’t just take it will only the three of us!”

“No! I can reach her, buy me some time!”

“Fuck! Alright everyone! Suppressing fire on that bunker! Get Ryman some room,” Stranger commanded to the other two.

“Why are we letting Ryman playing Romeo?” Raven asked with a grunt, they were already taking fire.

“Because that’s are fucking squad leader, ya wench. Now keep firing!”

“Ah! There’s too many!” Tanny yelled.

“I can reach her!” I snapped back at him, at that moment my afterburners died, “FUCK! Screw this!” I open my hardsuit hatch.

“Ryman? RYMAN! Now’s NOT THE TIME TO GO YOLO ON THIS SHIT,”

“YOLO!” I scream at the top of my lungs.

“If that man drunk, I thought he was going to get drunk AFTER this miss-” Raven was interrupted by a rocket, she then laid out a bestial cry and shot the said rocketeer with both minigun and railgun for five seconds. Tanny and Stranger stayed silent as they kept firing, hoping not to get in the way of Raven.

“Grazing hit, Grazing hit! Still operational: armor is 68% integrity!” she reported.

“SO DAMNED CLOSE!” Stranger screamed.

“WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY?!” Raven threatened Stranger by pointed the railgun while shooting the minigun at said enemies.

“I almost got the headshot on that guy with the RAIL!” Stranger said, I knew he was lying. I was almost to Poet’s hardsuit.

“I’m almost there!”

“You’ve been fucking saying that! We’re losing our shit here!” Raven answered with irritation.

“I’ll flank around once I get to her!” I finally made it. Holy shit am I glad to use an M4X rifle, those things are light.

“Poet! Linda, you there?!” I scream to the top of my lungs looking for her in the crash.

“Take him out!” I heard an elderly voice.

“NO!” Linda?! I turn to the voice, there were three riflemen aiming right at me, I slowly drop my weapon and put my hands behind my head. I knew I didn’t have superhuman abilities to survive gunshots from three men.

“So this is Ryman? The best of your agency? Bad history? Whole family killed by our Order? Seems like the perfect specime-”

“How the hell do you know about that? About me?!” I ask.

“Well, you see,” he gestured to one of the rifleman, next thing I know I get shot in the leg. This was very painful, I let out a grunt in pain, kneeling down holding to my injured leg.

“NO! You bastard!” Poet tried throwing punches towards the officer.

“As I was saying: there are important matters that you wouldn’t understand, anomalies of your world that are beyond any technological advancement, even your petty HRV,”

“You have alien tech?” I asked with obvious doubt lingering in my voice.

“Ah, quite the contrary. I did not bring anything from Eq-I mean my world,” he clears his throat, what the fuck was he up to? I couldn’t see his face, he had full armor, the kind that officers wear if it wasn’t obvious enough, “I was looking for the perfect vessel for my rule, and now I just have one thing left to do,” he shot a corrosive round my way. I just know it was corrosive, there is no mistaking it.

“RYMAN!” Poet screamed, then turned to the officer, “What did you do?! That’s not normal corrosive!”

“Oh well she is a bright one!” he chuckled. There was a short static on our comms.

“Ryman! What’s going on?! The enemy are retreating! Wait... The bodies! They’re disappearing?! What is this shi-” Stranger as cut off, seems the officer had a jammer.

“Well that was a rude interruption don’t you think? Oh don’t waste your energy, you’re going to be dead in a matter of minutes, pick him up. There is something I would like you to see,”

One of the riflemen walked to me to drag me towards the officer, then picked me up to stand, facing Linda [Poet].

“Oh you sick bastards! You’re not going to live through this!” I yelled at him, knowing what’s going to happen.

“Well it seems you’re the one that’s outnumbered isn’t it? So I can assure my victory for this part,” I looked down hoping that, with a stroke of luck, anything would prevent this from happening right now, “EYES FORWARD, Ryman, Pay attention!”

The bastard points a heavy pistol at Poet, who was letting a tear roll through her eye.

“Goodbye... Ondr-” she was interrupted by the high-powered round going through her chest.

“You MOTHERFUCKER!” I struggle as hard as I can, two more came to keep me down.

“Now is time for you to join me on my journey,” the officer gave a sinister laugh and took taser.

“What do you want from me?”

“I have certain tasks to do, but I’m not most suited for them. Now I just need you to do the heavy lifting for me, quite simple if you think about it,” he answered.

“The fuck makes you think I’ll do any-” he interrupted me with the taser. I was telling my whole body not to fall to the electricity.

“Resisting just makes it harder for you. I suggest you just let yourself fall. You. Will. Not. Win,” I felt the electricity becoming more intense with that last word.

“You know what? This is getting old, I’ll just find a different person, It’s not that hard real-”

The wall came crashing down with a hardsuit afterburning into one of the riflemen, then a second came through railing the other in the face. The third just murdered by the minigun.

“Missed us?” Stranger said, making his hardsuit do the most retarded thing the engineers placed on the hardsuits.

“Well, seems I have overstayed my welcome here, carry on, but remember Ryman. I’ll be watching you,” officer gave the *watching you* gesture.

Then he did the strangest thing, he pulled out his heavy pistol. In front of the hardsuit squad, what was he going to do?

“I suggest you drop that damned thing before you cause anymore harm, you hear me?”

“Harm? No, not to you,” he gave one last laugh before pointing the pistol to his skull and pulled the trigger. Gray matter splattering all over the floor and what not.

“The Order are full of crazy bastards, know what I’m saying,” Tanny gave a chuckle, then looked at Poet she was still shaking, “Oh my god... What happened?” he asked with concern, I rushed to Poet’s side.

“Ryman,” she was now coughing blood.

“No! Stop talking, we can get you to the medivac, you can make it,” I pleaded, “You’re going to be fine, it’s just a scratch, we’ll get you fixed up!” various tears rolling through my eyes.

“You’re a bad liar, Ondra,” she chuckled, “Please... Just hold me.”

I comply, placing her under tight embrace.

“I’m so sorry it has to end this way, but,” she continued coughing, maybe some blood ended up on my right shoulder but I didn’t care, “just know that. I will never forget you.”

Her body now became limp, her head hanging backwards. I gave full sobs, Poet was dead... And there was not a damn thing I could do about it.

“No... no...” I quietly sobbed.

“Ryman,”

“No, no, no...” I continued. Stranger grabbed me, making me let go of Poet’s empty embrace.

“We still got a mission to do!” Stranger yelled.

I wipe tears with my left arm, “She’s all I had...”

“This virus still needs to be stopped; she knew how important it was to do so,” Stranger said while pointing at Poet, “And we all will do this, FOR HER!” Stranger shook me.

“Understand?!”

“Yeah,”

“Understand?”

“Yeah,”

“Then let’s go! Come on, we got to move slow. They destroyed Ryman’s hardsuit while we couldn’t protect it. Let’s go, Ondra, we all know HQ’s not going to hear the last of this from both of us,” Freddie [Stranger] patted me on the back.

I take Linda’s [Poet] tags, and take one last look at her before we walk out. Stranger looking at me thoroughly.

“Hey, you alright, man? You look like you took a corrosive to the chest,” Stranger asked worriedly.

“I’m fine, don’t make me go to medical, you twat,” I spat back.

“Heh, good to have you back, Ryman,” Stranger chuckled.

“Yeah... Good to be back,” I shake my head roughly before moving out.

I really hope that the bullet doesn’t really affect me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Canterlot, Equestria: Castle Grounds

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up, did my morning routine, and just noticed how nice the room was. I knew it was going to look nice because it was part of a damn castle of royalty, but this was unexpected. It made my bunk beds back at earth look like Rats’ holes. Then there was knocking on the door.

“Come in,” I answered, the door opening revealing a guard.

“What do you want?” I asked in a tired voice.

“The princesses want to see you,” I shook my head to make myself less tired, didn’t work.

“I’ll be right there, let me get ready,”

“I’ll be right outside,”

Telekinesis made everything so easy, like jedis with the force, so cleaning the room wasn’t hard and it didn’t take too long.

I walk out of my room, that guard still being at the right of it, “I’m ready to go,”

“Follow me,” the guard motioned me to do so, “if you don’t mind me asking. What are you?”

He was looking at my metal wings, “I keep asking myself the same question,” I chuckled. Then start lifting the HRV helmet to my side with telekinesis.

“And you have Unicorn Telekinesis? How is that possible?”

“The same way, I got here. Breaking the laws of physics,” I deadpanned.

“I’m not even going to ask anymore. Well, we made it, they’re expecting you. I had to say it again, sorry.” he saluted and walked to the side of the door, opening it for me.

When I entered the room, I noticed the same six mares from Ponyville. I sighed in annoyance, this is going to be a long trip.

“Oh, Midnight Flame! What are you doing here?” Twilight asked.

“I have your armor fixed and ready to go,” Rarity paused with a sheepish smile, “but it’s in my boutique, and I wasn’t expecting you here.”

A pink blur lunged at me, placing me under a familiar embrace, “Silly pony! You couldn’t wait for your party so you came to me?! How FUN!”

“Now’s not the time to party, Pinkie Pie, We’re leaving for the Crystal Empire. If what-oh sorry. Celestia says that this Kingdom may be difficult to recover, we’re going there to lift their spirits!”

“What about me, Twilight? Where do I go?” a pre-adolescent voice asked, which revealed to be a reptile... A dragon? Really? This must be Twilight’s ‘Spike’, she mentioned earlier.

“I’m afraid you will stay here in either Canterlot or Ponyville, We can’t risk your health, Spike, for you’re a domestic Dragon.”

“What does that mean?” ‘Spike’ asked.

“It means you need to stay home, I’ll tell you another time, right now, I have another thing to say,” Celestia clears her throat, “Midnight Flame here will join you on your journeys, to assist with any problems you may encounter in the Empire or travels towards it, is that understood?”

“Yes. Of course, Princess,” Twilight answered.

“Good. And Twilight,”

“Yes?”

“No need for formalities when you’re my student,”

“Oh... uh of course, Princess,” with precise timing, Celestia face-hoofed while all the elements were not looking. Impressive, Celestia, impressive.

“You all may leave now, get ready to board the train, it will leave for the Crystal Empire soon,” and with that, all the elements walked away. Once the room was cleared, Celestia made sure only the three of us (including Luna) were the only ones able to hear our conversation.

“I untrust the safety of the element bearers in your hooves, is that understood?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I had no idea what I was going to be up against.

“An ancient evil rests upon that kingdom, which is why I see that you’re fit for the job of their protection,”

“I’ll see to it that they are protected, where is this kingdom?” I asked.

“It is up the frozen north, and you’re not going to fly there,” What? Why, “You’re going to board the same train,” oh god.

“I don’t think it is a good idea,” I stated flatly.

“Too bad, you’re going,” well... There was no use arguing against royalty, and I know.

“When is this train departing?”

“Ten minutes, I have reserved some items for you to handle the frozen north, just tell the ticket master that Celestia sent you, he’ll definitely understand. You’re the only pegasus with metal wings,”

I chuckled at that, “I’ll be going now,”

“Good luck, Midnight Flame. And Return safely,” Celestia said after me.

I pressed my cloak... I pressed my cloak... Shit, my armor is still with Rarity, I can’t use cloak. This will be interesting.

I walk towards a train depot, because a train depot is a pretty significant looking structure so I didn’t need directions. Directions were not a problem though, everyone was looking and walking away from me like I was an abomination, a freak of nature, you name it. The other problem was, I didn’t know where the only train depot was so...

“Um, excuse me. Where is the nearest train station?” I asked, unsure what to make of the situation.

“Uh huh, well the freak show is that direction, good sir. Now if you may be so bold-”

“Where is the fucking train station?!” I had no time to deal with rich, and snobbish pieces of shit like this one. I used my telekinesis to pin him to a wall, breaking his... Cane... Why? Just why?

“I will not answer to a ruffian such as yourself,” this guy just bolted his head up to the sky with eyes closed with a ‘hmph’. This guy was asking for it, I use telekinesis to pickpocket him. I find a monocle, I float it to the ground where my right hoof used to be, threatening to step on it.

“NO! Stop! I’ll tell you, please just don’t destroy it! It came from one of the most elegant brands in Canterlot!” This motherfucker obviously doesn’t know what the meaning of loss means, “The Train station is that way, take a left, then right. It’s all straight after that!” He hastily finished.

“I think it’s time you know what it means to lose something important,” I stop on the monocle five times, three other times for good measure. I was seriously pissed.

“NOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!” he ‘cried?’ I don’t know, “You will pay for this, for I am Prince Blueblood, Nephew of Princess Celestia herself. You will not hear the end of this! Guards! GUARDS!!!” I could only snicker as I looked at the Prince grief over a piece of fucking glass.

“Yes! This is him, that wretched fool! Seize him!” the guards only looked at each other before gulping in fear as I held a face of boredom, as I slowly morph my wings into lethal blades. As this continued for a good five seconds, the two guards scurry away in fright.

“Oh for the love of-” I pin him to the wall once more, with a bladed wing near his neck.

“You think I am afraid of you?” the ‘prince’ gave me a pre-adolescent bully’s smile.

“No, but I will say this: You’re kind of people are the reason others are suffering. You’re taking everything for granted, even you title as a fucking nephew of ‘Princess Celestia Herself’,” I added mockery to that last part.

“But if you ever go to the damned Princess to report me,” I leaned closer, my blade having more intense contact with his neck, not bleeding him, “not she, not a soul in the world is going to care about someone who doesn’t know what the true meaning of loss!”

I precisely cut this ‘BlueBlood’’s suit in places that make it look like he came from a zombie apocalypse. I let him go... And he’s crying? Really?

“You will pay for what you have done,” he sobbed... Oh dear lord I better leave this fucker alone, “You will pay!” I turned towards my direction for the Train Station. I noticed the two guards behind me. I stop, slowly unfolding my wings into blades once again.

“What do you two want?” I had that intimidating look on my face again.

“We just wanted to say thank you,” the one on the left said sheepishly.

“Yeah, he deserved it,” the second one smile heartily.

“Good to know there are good people in an environment like this, both of you did good not to try anything against me,” I responded.

“Hah! We wouldn’t try, if we could!” the first one said pointing at my blades.

I refolded them to my back, “oh, sorry about that.”

“It’s alright, good sir. Good luck on your travels!”

And with that, they walk away. This was a good day, but not finished. I still needed to get to the train station.

I arrive at the train depot moments later, people still avoiding me because of my wings, I was hoping this wouldn’t become a problem that I would have to deal with for a day. If it comes to that, I’ll just wear a cloth cloak hiding them.

I stumble upon what I assumed was the ticket master, I was just on time for the train.

“Hm,” taking a look around the train, “Celestia sent me.”

“You? You don’t look like the person she se-”

I spread my metal wings and morph them into random shapes that came to my mind.

“Oh uh,” he stammered a bit, “Of course, Celestia had sent someone to place your things in this car, sir. Enjoy your travels.”

“Yes, I will,” I muttered to myself.

The train car was like any train car, but old like it was from the 1900’s. Those things looked luxurious yet looked as though they would break down any moment. That did not bother me much, what did was the individuals on the train I was on.

“Oh, Midnight Flame! You’re here, I thought you were going to get to the Empire some way else,” Twilight said.

“That’s what I thought, but my things are already in the cargo sector of this train. Where is it?” I asked.

“I sent those things in, it’s just winter clothes don’t worry, nothing too important,” Twilight Shrugged.

“Ok then,” I turned to see the others staring at me... I’m guessing it is because I was the only male in the damn ride, this is not going to end well. Rainbow Dash then broke a long silence.

“You getting better with those wings?” Rainbow asked.

“I don’t fly, I can use them though,” I answered.

“Alright then,” Rainbow Started walking towards a bunk.

“This is going to be a long trip, this is the Frozen North after all,” Twilight stated

“How long will it take?”

“Enough,” Twilight answered.

“Enough for what?” I was definitely not gonna like this.

“To talk with us,” oh great god in heaven, please help me, “If you’re going to help us on this test, you might as well know us.”

“Oh... ‘kay...” I deadpanned, this was going to take a while.

“Ah, yes, of course. Midnight Flame, you wouldn’t believe the trouble I got through to come up with a design for your armor!” Rarity beamed.

“Oh forget that! He has his SPYING HELMET WITH HIM. Do you guys know what it does?!” Rainbow Dash, I swear, if you get my shit taken away on this train ride...

“It’s Hyper Reality Vision! It detects chosen heat signatures through structures! Chosen het structures are cycled through by the user!” Pinkie Pie took the words right out of my mouth... How the hell did she know about BlackLight Technology? Twilight mouthed the words to me: “It’s just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie”

“It shows on the helmet!” She took my helmet.

“Hey! Give that back!”

“See, girls? H... R... V!”

“This guy brought the helmet, so I should take it. It invades our privacy,” oh the irony, she has a damn rainbow mane and tail.

“Invasion of privacy? What about our privacy? You have the helmet right now!” I pointed at her with an accusing hoof. Rainbow Dash then glared daggers at me.

“Fine! Take your helmet, I don’t want it anyway!” ah women... Their reasoning is still a mystery to me here.

“Midnight Flame, please don’t tell me you don’t use that technology to spy on others!” Rarity asked.

“If I say yes, will you ALL leave me alone? I’m trying to think here!” I snapped back.

“And I thought this ride would go better for all parties, we’ll be in the other car if you need us,” Twilight said before closing the door behind her to the other train car... At least I’m alone, away from those six crazies, but I never met the yellow one; she seemed shy. Eh, I’ll just leave her alone, better for both of us. There was Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Twilight, then Applejack... Applejack was pretty silent, I’ll look into it later.

First (Second) Encounter

I was walking in darkness, not sure of where I was going. I kept walking until I saw a silhouette of a person that was slumped to a wall. As I got closer I noticed he was bloody, a little closer and I could make up some specifications about him... Freddie?

“Why did you do it, Ryman?” he coughed.

“What? What do you mean?”

Freddie chuckled, and continued coughing, “You should have died instead of Poet, you know. She was a better leader than you’ll ever be...” he continued coughing, then wheezed to a motionless state.

“Freddie. Freddie? Freddie!” I tried to run towards him, then the infected were running after me. Everything was moving fast around me, the infected were faster than me, this was my end.

The infected just ignored me, still running towards Stranger.

“Freddie! FREDDIE! GET OUT OF THERE! STRANGER!” I called towards him, but he didn’t move. As the infected were tearing his limbs piece by piece, black smoke was emitting from his broken parts...

“What? What is this?! What is happening!” I called out to the sky, this was super-natural. The sky started making a hole, a very interesting hole.

I continued to look up, and noticed three forms coming down from the sky.

A male, and two females... As I got close they were... Oh my god.

“Tanny? Raven? POET?!” they all just had blank expressions staring at me, with their cold eyes. Just... Staring at me.

“Guys, Stranger needs help! He’s-”

“He’s dead, all because of you,” Poet stated flatly.

“What? I tried all I could why are you saying this?!”

“You were always the most useless one, Ryman,” Tanny said.

Something brushed past me... It was Freddie, his body was eaten, wasted away. He had become one of them, the infected. His armor showing torn tissue, and blood spurting out from those said areas, it was something of a horror movie. I needed to keep calm, or else they would win. I could not let that happen, these people... They are not my friends, they’re something else.

“Why did you leave us, Ondra?” they all said in unison.

“I didn’t leave you guys! I did what I had to!”

They still had those blank expressions on their faces, then smiles were slowly forming on each of them.

“What’s goin-?”

“Thank you for your answer, Ondra,” Linda [Poet] said, her face becoming more maniacal, “Now... Time join us!”

Poet and the others had sinister smiles on their faces before Stranger lunged at me with bestial cries of an infected.

“NO! Get the fuck off me!” I manage to push him off without him biting me.

“Resistance is pointless,” Linda chimed. Stranger was growling at me like an animal, backing away from me slowly, keeping his glare on me. There was more screaming, more infected.

I look around me, the walls were being climbed by multiple infected, this was going to be the end of me.

“I’m sorry... I’m so... Sorry,” I let out a tear. The infected still running after me.

“I just don’t know what went wrong...” I pull out a grenade from my pouch, unfortunately Freddie grabbed it from my hands and, “AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH! What the fuck?!” ripped some flesh off my arm, I grab my pistol and shoot Stranger in the skull.

“I’m sorry, Freddie,” the grenade was damaged, and one infected got to me. I put one last sad smile to my face, “I tried.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Train Ride: Arrival

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I got up from the floor with a bolt and yell of fear, breathing was ragged. And the six mares were staring at me. Oh shit.

“Are you ok? You sleep on the floor and you were talking in your sleep,” Twilight was the first to speak among the expressionless group.

“So he’s a pervert, AND he’s crazy,” Rainbow Dash said, rolling her eyes.

“I’m FINE,” I snapped back at her, realising my tone of voice, I calm down, “I’m... Fine.”

Twilight gave me a concerned look, but I dismissed it with a hoof, “Where to for the Crystal Empire? Or Kingdom or whatever?” I asked.

“According to Celestia, the Empire is just two miles northeast of us, my brother will meet us half-way,” I didn’t care to know who her brother was, knowing these six was already enough.

“Then let’s get moving,” I said.

“Wait! You forgot your things in the train,” Twilight pointed at the train, it still had cargo that Celestia sent for.

“I’ll check it out, go on ahead. I’ll catch up,” I said, waving a hoof.

“Understood,” Twilight responded, “Let’s go girls, this empire won’t help itself.”

Rarity was then squealing with joy rambling on about how elegant this Empire was, considering it was ‘Crystal’.

“Rarity, ya need to focus on the task at hand. We got to help these people out, and we’re the selected to do so. Do you know ye’re doing this? You don’t seem like it.”

Rarity them ‘hmph’ed and bolted her head up to the sky with indignation.

I continued towards the train’s cargo hold, where my things were held. It was a mystery: what she gave me for this mission. Most likely there was winter gear to survive the bitter cold of the North.

Arriving to my cargo, I opened it, and there was a black box with Luna’s mark on it. There was some winter gear, as I was clearing out the box, there was a letter on the black box inside the box. [BOXEPTION]. I open the letter revealing these words:

Dear Midnight Flame,

As I remember, you didn’t want that old thing of your repaired. Maybe I understood why, but I’m not risking giving you a wrong answer on paper. What is inside my box carries magic powers even beyond Twilight’s I hope that you will use it in correct judgement. Consider this as another part of my thanks for saving me from Nightmare Moon.

Sincere Regards,

Princess Luna (of the Night)

P.S. Don’t tell Celestia, I gave you this.

I place the letter back in the envelope, about to open what surprise was in the box.

“Luna, you stubborn bitch,” I chuckled, as I took out a once-broken machete, my machete. I have to admit, I was impressed on how she found it. The blade now sported a polished black look, almost looks tougher than the normal alloy that the Blacklight Agency uses.

I lifted it with my telekinesis, and I felt that it was lighter than before, was this the magic she was talking about? Reducing the weight of the blade? This was cool in a lack of other good words to describe this phenomenon. I also found a sheath for it in it’s box, so I strapped it around me and I placed the machete inside the sheath, noticing the words on it:

“For there will be darkness, when there is light; but knowing their differences, you’re one to be bright,” I assumed that being bright referred to intelligence. I grabbed my winter gear and started my way Northeast, I could see the six still moving so I move fast to catch up with them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two Minutes Later

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I thanked whatever non-living deity that the snow wasn’t too thick, or else I would never catch up.

“Being a little slow there, Flame,” Rainbow Dash taunted, “Maybe if you could use your wings-”

“Oh piss off, Rainbow,” I said tiredly, “at least I can use them in more ways than flying!” I continued my ragged breath.

“I see somepony!” Twilight said lighting up her horn to get through the fog.

Sometime was spent by that pony to move towards us.

“Twily!” well shit, it was that bastard Shining Armor. He glared at me, pointed a hostile hoof, “What is HE doing here?” I gave him a bored look.

“I’m here, under Celestia’s request, to protect these six,” I stated flatly, keeping eye contact with the stallion that doesn’t like my wings. He probably thought I was some sort of medical experiment that gone wrong and wants to kill everyone.

“Well you’d best not do anything stupid,” He responded cold-heartedly. I was getting tired of this hostility towards me because of my physical state, my wings, and ability to use telekinesis and what not.

“You got something to say to me? Say it now you fucking coward, or else just stay out of my way and let me do my fucking job,” I snapped back at him with a cold face. Shining Armor started walking towards me, then Twilight stopped him.

“Stop! Just please don’t do anything bad!” Twilight pleaded, then took a deep breath, “We need to get to the Crystal Empire and we haven’t got there yet!”

“It’s just that way, it’s not too long,” Shining Armor pointed... Northeast, the way we were headed, but why did it feel like it was closer than Celestia said it would? I was not going to bother with it.

“Then let’s get going,” I advance beyond the group, it was a calm walk in a mild blizzard.

“Guys,” but Shining fucking Armor had to ruin that, “We have to move fast, NOW!”

“Why?” then I saw what he was talking about. A black cloud was advancing towards us, I looked at it with with widened eyes. This must be the ancient evil Celestia was talking about, I started walking slowly towards it.

“What are you doing?!” Twilight called out for me, I ignored her as I unsheathed my machete, not feeling like it has anti-evil magic or something. I was confident that I could take care of it for these six to ‘restore’ the empire. I gave my blade a few testing swings, there was a blue trail? This must be another addition Luna added to the magic, very impressive, and hopefully it could over power this cloud. Of ‘ancient evil’

“Bring it!” I yell at the top of my lungs, I gave the cloud a good swing. It did split the cloud, but did one of the strangest things a cloud could do... I think it howled in pain? Eh, this is a magical world; I gave it more swings. After some more, it engulfed me in darkness.

“My my, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen your kind, obviously they advanced more since I last visited,” a voice hissed from the darkness... That voice, it sounds like-

“Ah! And I see you remember me! How amusing, and I thought I had to activate the chemical I placed on you,” no... No fucking way.

“Show yourself, YOU BASTARD!”

“Oh, I will be doing a lot of that in due time. Right now, you just need to learn your place,” there was an ominous pause, “You’re mine, and there is not a thing you can do to change that. Not the elements, nor your abilities will change that.”

There was the wind again, but there was a lot of cutting involve, I could only grunt in pain after the first five cuts were inflicted on me. This was the time I had enough.

“You will not win! You fucking hear me?! I will END you for ALL you have DONE!” I felt a same surge of power as I fought Nightmare Moon... It felt... Good!

“Hm, seems your power has become more powerful than before,” I’m starting to pinpoint the source of that voice, “No matter, you will die here and now, it’s a minor setback really. I’ll just find anoth-”

I crash into a thicker part of the cloud, it felt like a body. I hit him! I did it, it’s over! The blade, as I’m sure, has ended his lif-

“Nice try, Flame. I’ll take care of you next time,” Goddamnit, “but remember. You will not be so lucky to land another hit like that,” we’ll see about that.

The cloud was showing a shiver of light, I started my way in a full sprint, ready to punch through the wall with the flaming wings.

As I got to the end, I was getting cut all over me. I had to get through the wall, this damn cloud shall not be the end of me... Not yet...

“See you next time,” were the last words of the voice as I punched through the cloud. Rolling through the blizzard for some time since there was some extra force from the cloud, I tried to protect my face from getting too much snow. The rolling stops and I see seven ponies staring at me.

I pushed myself back up, “What?”

“That,” Rainbow Dash said, probably going to call me stupid, “Was,” here is comes, “Awesome!” What?

“What?” I repeated after my mind

“You came crashing through that cloud like it was nothing with wings of fire, how can that not be cool!” Rainbow Dash punched me in the shoulder, I flinched because there was a cut there. Rainbow Dash smiled sheepishly after she noticed I was in pain.

“I still think you’re a pervert though,” heh, good to have her back.

“That took a lot of guts,” Shining Armor said, “I got to say, no normal stallion would do that kind of thing for our safety,” I just closed my eyes an stiffly nodded in fast succession.

“The crystal Empire is this way, we’re not too far,” He continued.

And we walked.

“So what did you see?” for a solid three minutes before Twilight asked.

“Nothing,” I responded flatly.

“I know for a fact you still can’t control that power of yours,” Twilight accused quietly.

“Heh, you win. I didn’t see anything, but a voice was talking to me,” I might as well spill the beans, “it sounded like the voice that killed my squad mates and possible the entire reason I’m in this strange world.” Twilight nodded in curiousity.

“I plan to find him,” I started, “and kill him.” I tested my machete, then placed it back in my sheath. Twilight looked at me with mouth agape.

“You can’t just kill ponies!” Twilight hissed, pleading me to not think that.

“And why can’t I, because what we’re dealing with is another immortal god?” I mocked.

“No! Because it’s wrong,” oh good god in heaven.

I just stare at her with a blank expression and looked back at our group and path.

“Are you still going to kill?” really?

“That thing ended the lives of my squad mates right in front of me,” I snapped, “sent me to this world, and is probably going to kill me IF I don’t kill HIM first!” I took a deep breath. Twilight having a worried look on her face.

“I am not going to let him live after what he has done,”

“How do you know it’s him?” Twilight asked.

“I don’t, but he tried kill me and is still going to try. I’ll kill him before he succeeds, and I’ll find out whether he was responsible or not, it will be a ‘hitting two birds with one stone’ kind of thing.

“Let’s just go,” Twilight groaned in submission, “BUT!” oh boy.

“Only in one condition,”

“Name it,”

“Have fun and be happy,” are you serious, “I’m not going to be able to complete this assignment if not everypony’s happy. Including you.”

I face-hoofed, “Do we have a deal?”

I groaned in submission, “We have a deal.”

“Good,” Twilight beamed, having a smug look on her face, “Race you to the group!”

I continued walking at my own pace, Twilight not noticing that she has a large ass lead. I noticed her... Oh god I’m being sexually attracted to these ponies again... Gotta pull myself together, I have that god to kill...

The Dark Resolution

“Midnight! You’re not helping, you’re supposed to be happy,” Twilight exclaimed, trying to go over the entire situation with me again.

“Ah, by the contrary, you said that to complete this assignment,” I leaned forward with a smug look, “EVERYpony needs to be happy, and from what I can see here. They’re all pathetic heaps of crystal equine anatomy.”

Twilight rolled her eyes and groaned in irritation, “I guess I’ll have to cope with it. You’d better be smiling and happy at the end of this assignment!”

I scoffed at the sentiment and walked with the group, towards a castle.

“Damn, this place is impressive. Crystal, eh?” I somewhat awed. My tastes were different from the six, I usually prefered seeing impressive things that save lives or make that job easier.

“The architecture was developed by many ponies who virtually worked on structural integrity while holding crystal elegance.” I kept a falsely interested face keeping eye contact with Twilight, waiting for her to continu-aaaaannnd she blushes and turns away... I was about to hear the most important parts of architecture and she couldn’t handle my interested stare, oh well. We continued to walk, until I was stopped from Shining Armor.

“Here is how it’s going to go down, and you better listen well, creature,” he gave me a hostile glare, and I kept a bored face, “If you try anything, ANYTHING. You will wish you didn’t get here. We were sent here to help this empire recover itself from it’s own fall, and I’m here to protect the ponies doing that. Not you, or anything involved WITH you is going to get in my way, you got that!”

Now was my time to push him away, he was really stabbing me with his hoof.

“I know I’m doing this,” I use telekinesis to lift him to my wing blade, barely touching him, “Do you?”

He snorted, and I let him go. We gave each other last glances, Shining Armor’s more hostile and continued following the group.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seven minutes Later: Crystal Empire’s Royalty Palace

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We arrive to the door leading to the royalty chamber.

“Here it is, the royal chambers,” Twilight said, concern looming on her face, “here goes nothing.”

I place a hoof on her shoulder, “ARE you ready for this?” placing a bit of emphasis on ‘are’, Shining Armor giving me the most threatening glare I’ve seen against me.

Twilight sighed, “Yes.”

She pushes those doors open, and we enter.

As we started walking through the doorway, I noticed a... Pink... Alicorn? Seriously, a legit alicorn that’s pink, how strange can this world g-forget it.

She looked tired, looked like she was deprived of her sleep for a week.

“Twilight!” she shot up with a mother’s smile after she noticed Twilight within fluttering eyes.

“Cadence!” Twilight cheered back, rushing towards her.

“Sun-shine, sun-shine! Lady bugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” they cheerfully played in unison with gestures that looked like it came from their childhoods. They went into giggling fits and I noticed one thing during that whole fiasco: The Alicorn’s Horn was emitting energy the entire time-next thing I know she groans in pain and Shining Armor.

I noticed something else at the corner of my eye. There was a bipedal form moving about the chamber... A child? It was difficult to see because of the size of this place. I started walking to it’s last seen location, A human? In this world? A human CHILD?! I felt like I needed to investigate why she was here, in this world only for ponies. Poor child might think a pony was her mother.

“Midnight, where are you going?” Twilight asked, a curious look on her face.

“Oh this is the Midnight that saved Princess Luna from Nightmare Moon?” Cadence asked with a falsely tired smile. I couldn’t blame her, she was the one generating the force field protecting this place from that darkness all that time we were on our way here.

I gave her a stiff nod, “Yes,” I stated flatly.

“My that must have been difficult to handle without getting yourself hurt,” Cadence responded with a bit of concern.

I nod with a bored expression to the... Third princess? I noticed Shining Armor growing red, most likely off of anger.

“Show some respect to the princess, you foal!” I gave Shining Armor that ‘really?’ look then turned back to the princess.

“Please tell this military jock to get off my ass,” I requested without emotion, this earned a gasp from the entire group. Some faces of disapproval from the group, especially Captain Armor. The military jock started walking towards me. Then unsheathed some sort of blade, pretty much lethal enough to kill me. He brought that thing up to my neck, I still held a bored expression.

“Apologize to the princess now! You’re not supposed to be in this world!” wow, so arrogant, “You’re not supposed to exist! So apologize.”

I morph a wing into a blade without him noticing, “I am ready to die,” I press a blade to his heart and neck.

“Are you?” this captain glanced at my blades and let me go.

“Are you both done?” the sound of authority was pretty surprising coming from the Princess Cadence, “Shining Armor, you know better than to do that just because of his current form! I know you’re better than a racist!”

“But, you don-”

“No, you don’t understand!” Cadence interrupted, this was getting more interesting, “I know this stallion has done nothing to you, so just stop this right now!”

The Captain muttered to himself, “Understood.”

Cadence’s face brightened up, “Good. Now Midnight... eh...”

“-Flame,” I continued for her.

“Ah yes, Midnight Flame. What is your business here?” Cadence asked with a curious smile.

“To protect the elements of harmony,” I answered just like every other time someone asked me.

“I see. Good, I’m assuming Celestia sent for you?”

“Yes,”

“Then I know all of us will be on good terms, right. Shiny?” I couldn’t hold a snickering noise when I heard that pet name of his. He glared at me after my giggling fit, and walked towards Cadence.

“Of course,” Shining said with a false smile.

“Good!” Cadence then hugged the captain? Oh well, I’ll see if I need to care about it later.

“I need to see something,” I cut through the peace like a hot knife through butter.

“What is it?” Twilight asked.

“Something,” I repeated, “Important. I’ll see to it that I take care of it alone, I’ll be back.”

I stated my way to the door, until Rainbow Dash stopped me.

“How do we know you’re not going to betray us?” she started, “ Are you a spy?”

She pushed her face closer to mine at that last one, I went in to close that gap to nuzzle her nose.

She yelped like a schoolgirl bolting away from me with a blush and holding her face with her forehooves. I started laughing for some time, and instantly recovered my bored expression, “You don’t.” then I gently used my wing to push her out of the way.

Walking around downtown, I noticed the girl again, running fast. It looked like she was running away from something, she ran into an alleyway, but I didn’t see what was chasing her. I started my way into that alleyway. It was my little sister... No... She died during the first months after the first infection! She was there, in an upright fetus position, looked like she was crying into her knees and there was... Blood... All over her, What the hell happened?. I continue to walk to her.

“Sarah?! Sarah I’m here! What’s wro-”

“YOU FAILED,” She screeched at me, and grabbed my by the head and continued screaming at my face with a bloodied face. Everything went black... For a while.

“Where am I?” I was in a groundless space, all dark.

“You’re in the void, mate,” I sighed.

“This is getting old, you piece of shit,” I said to the voice that sounded like Freddie.

“Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m Freddie. Remember?”

A silhouette of Freddie appeared. Then started pointing at something behind me.

“HOLY JEE-WILIKERS BATMAN! WHAT IN HOLY TITTY SPRINKLES IS THAT?!” he screamed at the top of his lungs, I started turning my head... Very slowly, towards what he was talking about. I felt him slap me at the back of my head.

“I don’t have a lot of time so I’m going to make this brief,” he started, “the darkness-”

“Now is not the time to spoil that surprise isn’t it?” a sinister voice interrupted, it was that darkness.

“NO! I need more time! Ryman, LISTEN TO ME! Do not agree with what that bastard says, he will kill you and the others if you do! DO YOU UNDERSTA-”

“I think you gave too much,” the Darkness started, “It is time for you to go.”

“WAI-” he poofed into thin air.

“What do you want from me?” I asked.

“You will see soon enough, but for now. Understand that an ultimatum will come, and you will have to make the right choice.”

The form dissipated into the dark, and the background started forming color. This wasn’t the Crystal Empire... It was my home? I was still a pony...

“Ondra?” it was the voice of my little sister: Sarah.

“Sarah?!” I shouted, “Where are you? I’m here!”

“Ondra,” there was a distinctive noise of sobbing coming from her voice, “why did you leave us? Why did you leave mom and dad?”

I found her, she was in the similar fetus position. All bloody.

“You’re not real,” I started, “You died, I did all I could to help you, mom, AND dad!”

“It could have been better if you just died,” she continued sobbing.

“I get that a lot,” I chuckled at her attempt to bring me down.

“He’s giving you a chance to go home, you know,” I noticed this.

“Oh?” this was going to be a lie.

“He has enough power to do so,” her voice changed from a pathetic to a sinister child’s voice, “And all you have to do.”

She stood up and came closer to my ear, “Is kill the elements.”

I froze... Was this worth it? What would happen if I were to fail such a challenge.

Ruining a new set of lives in a new world would not fill my conscious with honor, but disgrace and shame. I decided to play along.

“When does it have to happen?” I asked the false sister hoping that she wouldn’t notice that I am completely against this.

“When it counts most. You’ll see it,” she started chuckling then deforms into dust. And I lost conscious.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crystal Empire/Kingdom: Royal Chamber

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wake up with weak eyes.

“Ah, I see the new comer is awake,” I heard Cadence’s voice.

“I told you he’s going to stab us in the back!” Rainbow Dash snarled.

“Rainbow, you don’t know that yet,” Twilight said calmly, turning towards me with an expectant look.

“I’m not going to tell you to believe me. I’m going to tell you what I saw,” the entire room was silent with hostility, confusion, and worry all the same, “the darkness wants me to kill you all...”

The entire party gasped, “That’s not going to happen,” I growled.

I have decided that these ponies did not deserve any of this corruption, I had to stop the darkness. These ponies have done nothing but give me hospitality, and I will not let them fall.

“It told me that it has enough energy to send me back home,” I look down to my hooves and wings, “but there’s just nothing to get back to... My friends are dead, I failed my mission-”

“You don’t know that!” Twilight interrupted at that part. I stare at her with a confused mask.

“What?” dumbfounded by her exclamation, I glance at Twilight from the ground, she was walking towards me, “Twilight I-” I give a startled ‘oof’ when she pulled me into an embrace.

“You’ve done more things than any other normal stallion would do for a bunch of people he had just met! Don’t tell me somepony like you can lose himself this easily! Don’t help us because you think you’ve lost everything and have nothing else to lose! Help us because you know you’ve done everything right!” she hugged tighter with me not knowing what to do the entire time but to try to subtly get air, “You’re one of the best heroes Equestria could hope to have, and one of the best stallions to meet! I am NOT going to lose you over this ‘Darkness’!”

“Twilight-” I started, but interrupted, she was still hugging me.

I never tried to look at the positive parts of my predicament... Maybe NOW is the best time to really let go of it all. I’ve got a new thing to fight for...

I lay my head down on her shoulder letting out tears through both my eyes, “Thank you.”

And that was when I truly smiled... This assignment was going to be a success...

Tell me about the Stars

Before enlistment to Blacklight: Retribution

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I haul ass towards sneakily towards a little shack, the infected didn’t seem to care too much about that one building.

We made it, and then we rested... For a time.

“Big brother,” Sarah coughed, “Tell me about the stars.”

We barely escaped with our lives and were just sitting in an abandoned area, hoping that the chaos would die down. I decided to humor her, it could make both of us feel better.

“Well,” I started, letting off a sniffle, “Everything, including the stars, were placed randomly by the viable theory of the ‘Big Bang’.”

“What is the Big Bang?”

“It was the explosion that let off all matter into space,” I started using gestures to illustrate matter being sent off into random directions. Sarah started giggling at my silliness, until she started coughing.

I try to bring her into embrace, but she stopped me.

“No, Ondra, you might catch it from me,” she said regaining her composure after the coughing.

“We’ll find a cure,” I place a hand on her shoulder, “don’t worry.”

“You’re a bad liar, Big Bro,” She put up an affectionate smile, her optimism was piercing through me like a knife.

“NO!” I hissed, “I will not lose you over this!”

“Not like mom and dad!” I continued. Sarah was letting out tears and shaking her head.

“Both you and I know I’m not going to make it,” she started pulling something out of her pocket... A chibi soldier with HRV, I let out quiet sobs.

“You are the best brother anyone could have,” she placed the chibi in my dropped hands, “I mean it with all my heart.”

I try again to bring her into embrace; she let me, she even placed her arms around me. She was NOT turned yet.

“You know what is going to happen when I’m done, right?” She knew what was going to happen, her childhood was ruined by the spread of the infection and the one who created it. Knowing that she knew her fate only made it hurt more.

I felt contact at my holster, I instantly place a hand on it.

“No,” firmly preventing Sarah from having it, “We’ll find a cure, and get you fixed up, I promise mom and dad!”

“Then I’ll tell them it’s my fault that you broke that promise,” Sarah put up a soft smile.

“I... I do not want to do it now,” I paused, with tears on my cheeks, “Please.”

“Help’s not even going to arrive for both of us, huh?” Sarah questioned, I was about to protest until, “You’re going to have to get it yourself.”

I gave a solemn nod, I felt her hand gently shake my shoulder, Sarah having a soft smile.

“Tell me about the moon!” she quietly beamed, and started coughing so I tried comforting her before the extraordinary explanation.

“Well,” I chuckled, “It all started when our solar system was still young...”

I heard noises, footsteps... And voices?

“What is it?” Sarah whispered.

I shushed her with a finger to her lips and one to mine.

“Could be our help,” I whispered back, “I’ll take a look.”

I moved crouch towards the door that was in between our possible hope for survival.

As I got closer the said footsteps and voices were getting closer as well.

I touch the doorknob and prepared myself for what was behind it.

I opened it and surely enough there was a military squad... Wait, no.

I immediately close the door rushing towards my sister.

“Isn’t it our help?” she asked confusingly.

“No,” I hissed, “Its ‘The Order’’s militia.”

The Order were the ones responsible for the outbreaks of this virus of the undead, and they proudly announced a paramilitary group to eliminate survivors. Sarah knew who these people were, she knew these were the people responsible for the death of many and our parents. A very frightened face crept up to her.

“I will NOT let them take you,” I embrace her harder as I prepare to lift her, “I promise.”

I felt her sob on my chest, “Don’t make a girl a promise.”

She has that chibi in her hand again, “If you know you can’t keep it.”

Sarah placed that chibi into my pocket, “Please don’t make me be the death of you.”

My sister continued sobbing into my chest; I needed to get her safe, no matter what.

“Just hold on, Sarah, hang on tight,” she only looked at the door that separated us from that militia squad, “we’ll make it.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crystal Kingdom/Empire

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was still in Twilight’s embrace.

“Thank you,” I rested my head on her shoulder, letting tears walk through my cheeks and into her coat and mane. We broke the embrace with Twilight having an emotional smile and glistening eyes from her tears, why was she crying for me?

“Uh,” smooth, “Sorry! I mean, for letting my tears getting on yourself!” I somewhat panicked.

“It’s alright,” Twilight responded with a sheepish smile.

Rainbow Dash was the most noticeable with her giggling fit.

“HAHAHAHAHA! That’s soooooo uncool! Get those tears off your face!” Rainbow Snapped at me, like an elementary bully.

I hung my head looking at the ground, with a face of nostalgia... Good old days when I was bullied in elementary. I gave a soft chuckle-

“Rainbow Dash! How rude! You don’t know what he has been throu-” Rarity spoke, but interrupted.

“It’s fine, Rarity... It’s... Fine. I’ve come to terms with losing what mattered to me most on my world. It’s time I face what’s ahead, and protect what’s really important.”

“And what the hay IS important to you, FLAME?” Rainbow Shot, earning the shaking of heads from disapproval and glares from others.

I look at her with a bored face, then turned towards the chamber exits and started walking.

“Hey! Where do you think YOU’RE going?” Rainbow called after me.

I did what any smart and sensible man would do...

“Hey! Don’t ignore me!” I ignore her, leaving a smug look on my face with my back turned towards her.

“Unbelievable!” Rainbow groaned.

“You and I need to have a SERIOUS talk about being an element of harmony, darling,” I heard Rarity hiss as I close the doors.

SO you reached peace with your past? the voice of darkness chimed.

“Whatever you’re planning... It’s over, you bastard!” I gritted my teeth... Hearing a voice was taking energy from me... And that sonofabitch was taking a lot out of me.

You do not have a chance at success... I can ensure that.

“And how are you going to do that?” I asked expectantly.

You will see soon enough

After some time letting that useless conversation sink into my head, someone popped out of the door... Rainbow Dash.

“What do you want” I asked with an irritated voice and a face to match.

She winced at this reaction, “Uh, hey listen..."

She was rubbing the back of her head with a unreasonably flexible hoof, “I wanted to say I am sorry for that, the things you've gone through must have been beyond bad.”

She pushed out that hoof... Was I supposed to fist pump it?

“Friends?” I looked confused a little, then regained composure.

I pushed out my following hoof, and pressed on it, “Friends.”

As a way to confirm my friendship, I lunge at her to give the same hug Twilight had given me.

She yelped like a schoolgirl, the same way not too long ago, the other mares were watching with faces of adoration and approval.

Rainbow Dash glared at her friends then me, “So anyway,” she was blushing.

“I have been assigned to entertain the crystal ponies with jousting,” oh now this will be fun, “So-”

“I’d be glad to join you,” I playfully push her shoulder, “where is it?”

I couldn't really take her seriously because she was having an angry face and had a blatant blush. I let out a snickering fit, “Ok, ok I’m finished... Where is it?”

“Follow me,” she gestured with a hoof, I follow.

We started walking down the road towards the jousting tournament... It was pegasus and a weirder pegasus (You know who it is), against the crystal ponies (The normal people because this is their land) who enlisted for this strange event.

“I haven’t really asked you,” Rainbow Dash started, “What happened to you before you got in Equestria?”

I look down in false sadness, “Just as I said to all of you before Twilight happened.”

I shrug, but Rainbow Dash having a more sad approach to it.

“You really lost your friends?”

I gave a slow nod, “To something that I’m sure would never come to this world.”

“Which was?”

“Humanity,” I said sternly.

“What is that?”

“The kind of person I was, a bipedal and sentient species like all of you,”

“Why do you not want it to come here?”

“Greed comes with many things leading to many other things,” I glance at her, “Do you really want to hear this?”

She shrugged, “We have a long walk ahead of us.”

I give a light sigh, “Greed is the only reason why humanity is a corrupt species. When someone do something great, others look up to that person... And others want to end that success.”

I shake my head in mild disappointment, “As that mind set grew wild, people started separating themselves from others that, in their opinion, are against their beliefs. It’s what made us kill each other for over a millenia.”

“That mindset then developed enough to unleash a force that would kill everyone in my time period,” I look down at the ground disappointedly, “Some men are not looking for anything reasonable like money or fame. Some men might not even want to see what world they live in.”

“Some men,” I breathed, “just want to see that world burn.”

I then went into a trance about all that happened because of the human mind, the way it develops ways to cease desire, the way it-

“We’re here,” oh well, I’ll think about it later.

“What’s our jousting gear like?”

“It’s old fashioned, but it gets the job done,” Rainbow mused.

“I’ll see to it I’ll beat the almighty Rainbow Dash,” I lifted my hooves in a mocking manner to emphasise the challenge, she looked at me with a challenging look.

“You want to bet?” she snarled.

“Oh I got something!” I did a drum roll with my forehooves, “You make me a sandwich.”

I flash a mischievous grin, Rainbow looked confused... Heh, seems male domination is not what happens around this world.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” before I could say anything, I decided to leave my customs where they stay.

“Just make me a sandwich when I win,” I sighed at resisting my urge.

“You’re not going to win,” she pushed a hoof to my chest, “You’re going to take me to dinner, the most expensive place.”

She THEN flashed a mischievous grin on her face, I may be a hero, but I ain’t rich. I started taking some thought about it, should I lose to get dinner that I can’t afford with Rainbow, or try my damndest to get that sandwich... Eh, her cooking might not be good, I’m not even confident about her sandwich. One thing was certain; however, I NEEDED to make this look good.

“Deal?” she struck a hoof out.

I pushed my following hoof, “Deal.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jousting Events: Preparations

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You still haven’t told me,” Rainbow Dash gave me an expectant look.

“Told you what? I’m not going to talk about my past anymore!” I groaned, putting armor on myself and learning how to hold the jousting stick.

“No no no, not that,” she dismissed with a hoof, “Why do you only want a sandwich.”

This was going to be a difficult answer... Wait! I got it!

“Where I come from,” I cleared my throat, fingers (Metaphorically) crossed, “Sandwiches are heroes.”

I gave a sheepish smile, and Rainbow Dash glared at me, “I’ll see you when you pay for my dinner.”

“Wait,” I called towards her, “This dinner.”

She looked back with a curious look.

“You call in this dinner whenever you want to?”

“I’m not about to make you broke,” she walked towards me, “not yet.”

She gave me a smug look, “Preparations are about to end, time to get your things ready. Let’s make one good show they’ll never forget!”

We walked out of the exits, and saw other contestants from other exits.

The audience was not even an audience, it looked like they did not want to me there. They were depressed.

“Jesus, Rainbow,” I hissed as quietly as I could, “Should we even try? They don’t look like they want a show!”

“Just follow my lead,” she winked back at me... Oh god this is not going to end well.

“Citizens of the Crystal Empire!” she bellowed towards the depressing audience, “today you will experience one of the most intense jousting tournaments in your history! Prepare yourselves!”

I was too busy fidgeting with my jousting stick as it kept falling.

“FUCK THIS!” I shake the stick vigorously off myself and let my left wing mimic the shape in its place.

The crowd gasped at my display, I could tell they didn’t know what ‘FUCK’ meant because they were focusing on my wing.

Rainbow Dash didn’t falter and took the hint... The show must go on, “ARE YOU ALL READY!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, the crowd spontaneously popped into transparency and light reflection glares.

“What,” I breathed, “The fuck just happened?”

Rainbow trotted over to me hissing, “Stick to the plan, this is how they lift their spirits.”

I smirked, “This will be interesting.”

“I thought so,” she pushed a playful hoof to my shoulder, “Let’s get this done!”

Crystal Clear Game Plan

“Big Brother,” Sarah whispered to me. I was loading a fresh magazine into my pistol.

“What is it?” I asked.

“You’re going to have to make me a promise over yours,” she quietly stated.

I look at her, she took the hint to continue, “Do not make me the reason you die.”

I shake my head, “I’m not going to die, none of us are.”

I understood what she was saying. She did not want to be the reason I become depressed if I lose her... I will NOT lose her, not to this infection, not to anyone or anything! She’s all I got...

“Those bastards are going to if anyone,” I pointed my pistol towards the door.

“Come on,” letting my arms prepare to carry her, “we’re going through the back door, it’s safe.”

“Come on, you said it yourself,” Sarah chimed, “There is no safe. There is only safer.”

I stop to look like I was thinking about that, “Whatever.”

“Ondra,” Sarah started, hugging me tighter, “before we go through those doors.”

I look at her, she was sobbing.

“What happened to mom or dad was not your fault, and never say it was.”

This time I paused to really think about that.

“You did what you could. I know that better than you do,” she sniffled, “You’re going to have to change that oversight or it will ruin you. I can’t have that happening to my one and only big brother can I? Mom and dad would agree.”

I let out a tear, and shrugged it away, “Come on, let’s get going.”

Sarah clinged to me as she did with the chibi.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crystal Empire/Kingdom: Jousting Tournament

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The matches that I thought were going to be boring were actually intense. Knowing that the more dominant player per match has a chance to face you, which makes my job at winning harder. They let me use my morphing wing, much to my surprise, to compete. I didn’t really think it was fair.

“And the winning champion is once again: Midnight FLAME!” the announcer bellowed through the loudspeakers. The crowd went wild, I was silent because I didn’t really know what to do with myself when there was a lot of praise sent towards me. Rainbow Dash of course handled it like the egotistic woman she was back in Ponyville.

She was doing aerial stunts she did to pass her time, and did dance moves in the air yelling in success when she wins EACH match.

I was only surprised it never got old with the audience.

Though I understood why...

Rainbow Dash actually looked... What’s that word? Awesome? Yeah, I’ll just use her word.

She looked amazing in that armor, unfortunately she caught me looking almost every time.

This was not going to end well for me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Outskirts; unknown town

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ondra, I hear them,” Sarah whispered.

“Yes, I know. They’re to the left,” I whispered back.

“Then we go right,”

“We would be making too much noise going right, I need to find something to distract them,”

“Well make it quick, they’re not going to focus too much on it for too long,”

“I know,” I take a quick look around us, I spot a bottle. Must have come from a sewage bum that lost himself to the infected or the Order’s Militia.

I poke my head around the corner with Sarah slumped on a wall.

“This will work,” I said twisting the bottle around.

Sarah gave me a nod, I poked my head around again only to be welcomed with about three lights.

“Target confirmed! Fire!” next thing I know there was bullets flailing in my direction, but I pull my head back behind the wall.

“SHIT!” I screamed.

“Sarah hold on!” I rush over to Sarah, who had a frightened face.

“Just stay with me, hold on tight!”

I started carrying Sarah to safety, “I’ve got enough ammo to take care of this squad!”

They started opening fire after they made it around the corner.

“Big Brother,” Sarah called out to me behind the noise of the gunfire, “BIG BROTHER!”

“What?!” Sarah was poking me with a frightened face then held out a... Grenade?!

“I’ll see what I can do!” I grab the nade, it was HE for christ sake, and Sarah nodded as she covered her ears.

“Here’s a grenade for you FUCKERS!” that HE nade was a beautiful glow in the sewage dark, and I waited for the explosion.

“Guys! Grena-!” boom.

I pop my head out of cover to see what was left... Nothing, I give a little cheer of victory for that moment.

“They’re gone, Sarah,” I gesture towards her, “C’mon, let’s get you up.”

“How did they see you? You didn’t even pop your head out that first time and they were ready to shoot,” she asked with a worried expression.

“That’s what I’m about to find out,” looking for an intact soldier, I looked at Sarah in a way I thought this could be life scarring for Sar-

“Don’t start with that, you’re not mom or dad,” Sarah punched me in the shoulder, focusing on looking for an intact soldier.

“Over there,” Sarah called out pointing to a rifleman that looked like all his equipment was at least intact

“Let’s see what they got,” I gently put her down and approached the soldier.

“His helmet,” Sarah breathed, “it doesn’t look like anything I recognize, not even any military use anything like this it looks like EVA if anything.”

“I told you to stop playing those video games,” Sarah dismissed it with a playful flip of the bird.

I chuckle at that, “Whatever, you think you know anything about this model?”

Sarah looked closer, “I said it doesn’t look like anything I recognize, but hey look.”

She started putting up a mocking face [*GENIUS*], “Here’s a button, put it on and push it.”

I stared at her like she was telling me to jump off a bridge, “You serious?”

Sarah cleared her throat, “As others would say: ‘NO BALLZ’ ‘YOU WON’T’!”

She broke into a giggling fit, then started bending over due to pain.

I rush to her side, “I’m FINE! Really, I’m fine. Just check it out, it could save ya.”

I gave a submissive nod, “HRV... Huh, what do you supposed that means?”

Sarah gave me a deadpanned look, “Right, right, nothing you recognize alright.”

I put the helmet on and push the button...

Everything was seen, I mean everything. I was at silent awe at this until.

“Woah,” I heard sarah gasped, I remove the helmet and looked for her.

“Sarah! What are you doing?!” I hissed between my teeth.

“What?” Sarah removed her helmet, “I wanted to try one myself. Don’t you dare tell me to throw it away.”

I give a sigh of relief, I thought the damn thing could kill a child just by using it.

“Ok,” I dismissed with a hand, “Let’s get whatever we need to get going, we’re not that far from safe zone.”

“You,” Sarah started pointed expectantly, “YOU are going to the safety zone, there is no cure. You and I know that best, heck it was on the damn new reports: Latest vaccination tests failed.”

I glared at her, “Latest, Sarah, they’re still trying.”

“I know,” she slowly nodded, “but not enough to save me from this.”

“Let’s just get going,” Sarah was still rummaging through a rifleman’s things, “What are you doing?”

“This guy looked like the most significant of the squad, he might have something import-”

“Aha!” she cheered with joy.

“What is it?”

“This,” she held out a snub nose revolver.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I facepalmed.

“You really want to start this now?” she glared at me threateningly.

“Fine, but promise me something,” I held out a hand to place on her shoulder, “DO not make this thing be the end of your life.”

“I know,” she put her own helmet on, “I know I’m not going to do it, you will.”

she placed a shoulder on me that she thought could comfort me after what she had just said.

“Now come on, let’s get moving, your carrying me remember?”

“At least I got a gun, right?” she finished.

I open my mouth and started moving my arms in protest, but I close my mouth and put my hands down. Now’s not the time.

“Fine,” and with that, we carried along through the sewage, under all that has been taken away from us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crystal Empire/Kingdom: Jousting Tournament Final

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There I was prepared to compete in the final jousting match.

Of course this final match was against Rainbow Dash.

The other contestants were either too weak or too depressed to be a real foe in this tournament.

That made it more worrying for all of us, because whatever these crystal people saw, we were going to face it.

Rainbow Dash on the other hand was obviously pretty cool about this situation, a little too cool.

It seemed like she was not taking this seriously and just wanted an expensive dinner that I have to pay for, she was going to make my sandwich... As some of my old friends would say:

“GET TO THE KITCHEN!”

That was not going to be my battle cry... It was going to be something a little more uncontroversial.

We both prepared for an all out sprint, Rainbow Dash looking like she’ll start first.

And then, I did the same, “FOR NARNIA!”

What? It was something.

We were closing our distance pretty fast, my wing stick still formed and hard, ready to dominate the mare... Fuck...

Almost there, and-

“SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-” how the hell did that not work?!

I was sent flying into the air, my first instinct was to reform my jousting stick into my normal wing.

I tried to recover to the best of my ability, I tried keeping my wings straight and I finally recovered and turned towards the staging grounds gliding effortlessly after taking such a hit.

I get closer to the ground and noticed some clouds forming... That same cloud from outside.

I finally land, I was surprised nothing fundamental to my walking wasn’t badly hurt to an impact like that. I continued to stare at that cloud forming above the... Main palace?

“Hah, looks like I wo-!”

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” I interrupted Rainbow Dash.

“What?” she looked at the main palace and its cloud.

“Oh,” Rainbow started rubbing the back of her head, “I kinda didn’t trust you with tha-”

I manage to interrupt her with my glare, “You know what? Fuck you, I’ll buy your dinner later, like. WHEN YOU TRUST ME, I’ve got someone to kill up there.”

Rainbow’s eyes widened at my phrase, “What?!”

I jabbed a hoof to her chest, but instantly recoiled it. My beef isn't with these mares, but the sick man who killed everything I cared about back home, it was my closure.

“Stay out of my way,” I growled, Rainbow Dash only looking at me with shock, slowly putting a hoof to her chest to ‘heal’ the part I hit.

“Come on, flying should not be that hard, right? Heh, right,” I mumble to myself.

“Just like the eagles you saw in the internet, man, come on,” I started pumping my wings.

“Some forward speed shouldn’t hurt,” I notice a clearing, this should do for my need for speed.

“And,” I started pumping my wings harder, like I was swimming with my arms, “GO!”

I went in to an all out sprint much like in the tournament.

This is for all of you guys, I close my eyes as I felt my ground separating from my hooves.

I continue pumping my wings for a solid ten seconds, then opened my eyes.

“OH SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTT,” I screamed as I continued to soar through the air.

“Calm down you foal,”

“Rainbow Dash?!” I yelled through the cutting winds, “I told you to stay out of my way!”

“I’m not stopping you!” she glided under me, then I felt some lift from my belly, “I’m here to help!”

“There’s something going on at the crystal Palace!”

“YOU DON’T SAY?!” how the hell did she know about that phrase?!

“I’m going to give you some speed so you better know how to work those wings!”

“What?! I thou-!”

Too late, my support vanished from beneath my and I given more speed than I could handle...

Or so I thought.

I tried morphing my wings a in a manner those fighter jets do when they go super sonic, that kind of speed was unnecessary because the palace was a little too clo-

I crashed through a window.

This ended up in a very, very bad landing. Luckily I formed my wings the same way when I saved Rainbow Dash from that little training fiasco.

“Ohhhh, my head,” I continued to grunt in pain, my wings were strong, but not that strong.

“Flame! What are you doing here?” A purple mare gasped: Twilight

“Investigating,” I started walking past her, “What do you know?”

“The crystal heart is the power source to the harmony of these ponies, and King Sombra hid it somewhere.”

“And you placed a fake instead of the original?”

“How...”

“I saw some ponies that were actually happy in this kingdom, now let’s get looking.”

“Right,” Twilight sighed, “You have a clue where an evil tyrant would hide everyone’s hope to taking him down?”

This was a tough one, “Hm. Right where no one would dare go to while he breaths, maybe his bed, maybe his restroom.” I take a look at his chambers.

“Hey Twilight,” I said staring at that throne.

“Yes?”

“This tyrant guy, Sombra,” I continued to stare at the throne, “He had a lot of magic, right?”

“Yes?”

“Follow me,” I started walking my way to the throne with my eyes fixed on the top of it, the most significant looking thing on top of it, as I got closer it seemed more and more discolored.

“Take a look at that crystal at the top,” I pointed a hoof, “See anything?”

Twilight started squinting at the black sheep that I saw, then she gasped, “OF COURSE! King Sombra had a magic lock to prevent other from getting to it, he did not destroy it, after all it was his source of power.”

I take a glance at Twilight then continued to stare at that displaced crystal, “Do your thang.”

I noticed she was concentrating on something, then her eyes starting glowing with the colors that I thought represented the evil of this world.

“Hey,” I called out to her quietly, “You there? You look like you’re going to shit.”

She continued like this, and then a huge beam of the said colors popped from her horn.

“GODDAMNIT! DON’T LET IT TAKE YOU!” I tackle her to the ground, Twilight giving a yelp of surprise, like she was going to be raped.

“What? What happened?” Twilight was rubbing her temples.

“I thought I was going to lose ya there, you ok?”

Twilight blinked at me, I’m assuming she took that the wrong way... Goddamnit she blushed.

“Let’s just get goi-” I was interrupted by a passage that creaked open.

I blinked, “Well, let’s get to it.”

Walking towards the entrance, I was stopped by Twilight’s hoof, “Promise me something, Flame.”

Oh god, the feeling of deja vu, “What?”

“Don’t make me the reason you go away,” she requested.

I’m going to make sure, “I’m confused.”

“That magic outburst I had, if that happens again, please don’t do that again,” she looked at the ground in shame, “I might... I might...”

She was hesitating.

“Kill me?” her head shot up like she heard she was going to be banished from Equestria.

“F-Flame, I-”

“Look,” I place a reassuring hoof to her shoulder, “After all that has happened to me, I have come to terms with my past. I know I’ve done what I could, and that is now all I care about. The last thing I want is for all of you to feel bad when I... Go away.”

“But... But...”

“No ‘buts’. You said it yourself: to complete this task, everypony (heh) needs to smile.”

I look to my hooves and metal wings, probably the last time I look at them.

“I’ll promise you something, and it’s definitely something I can keep.”

She looked at me expectantly, on the verge of developing tears, I understood completely. To be the reason why someone died, maybe I wasn’t the real reason a certain death happens, but I know what it feels like to regret not doing enough, and regretting to let that feeling slide for some time before realising. I was someone significant to all these people in a good way, and they might feel they had not done enough to keep that character alive in their story full of harmony.

“When I die, you’ll find a smile on my face,” I demonstrated that smile as I see that my HRV helmet is strapped around my back, it’s ready to be in use. This was a good thing.

“Now what do you say we get this done, yeah?” I playfully push a hoof on her shoulder.

Twilight blinked to the ground, How can he just be so light hearted about the end of his life?

Tyrant's Second Fall

“Heh, you know something, Ondra?” Sarah asked.

I look back at her on my back, “I’m pretty heavy on your back.”

I chuckle at her saying this, “You saying I can’t handle it?”

“No, I’m saying I’m feeling bad for making you carry me the entire way there, you’re looking winded.”

“Nah, I’ll push through it,”

“Let me walk limp with you, please,” she requested, “This is becoming too much for you.”

“Next thing you know, you’re too tired to outrun them because you carried me too much.”

“Nonsense,” I dismiss with a hand, “You know how I’m a long distance runner for Track.”

“That’s not enough to run a distance that is a street, we’re going to have to get into the city at some point, and stealth might not keep us safe for a while. Anyone can easily tell that they can smell us.”

“I said nonsense,” I lifted my pistol, “We both have guns.”

“Why didn’t you pick up a rifle again?”

“They were broken, they are pretty light so they were thrown hard to the walls either by the explosion or be being thrown because of the soldiers being affected BY the explosion.”

“Now see?” she started, “You’re getting tired just by taking the energy to use your head to understand some things and using energy to talk. Now let me down so I can walk, my leg’s not broken.”

I take a deep breath, “Fine, but just-”

She was already walking a little bit ahead of me, “Hey!”

Sarah finally looked back at me, but with a bit of irritation, “Whaaaaaaat?”

“At the first - the FIRST sign of danger, I’m carrying you,” I pointed a finger at her to emphasise my point, “Understood?”

She gave a heavy sigh, “I am so glad you’re one who comes up with compromise.”

I take another look at our path, it’s going to take a while. I will NOT lose her to this, I keep repeating this to myself like a mantra... She’s all I got... She’s all I got... I will NOT lose her to this...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crystal Royal Chamber: Unknown Path

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I place the helmet on my head and scanned through the cavern that led below.

“Nothing down there,” I remove the helmet and place it back on my strap, “But the question is, how far down is it?”

Twilight only shrugged, “I don’t know, I guess we’ll have to find out. You scared yet?”

I chuckled at this, “Me? Scared? This is one of the many holes I’ve explored,” I instantly went into a snickering fit. Twilight didn’t understand this; which was, I guess, a good thing.

“Let’s go,” she gestured to me after looking at me like I was retarded, “the crystal ponies need this to be done.”

After some time moving down these seemingly endless stairs, Twilight asked, “Hey, Flame, mind if you check what is going on outside? We need to know what the situation is out there.”

“Sure thing,” and with that, I start using those wings for direct vertical propulsion.

Flying sure was a neat experience, felt like you were the most important being in the world. I suppose that’s not how other pegasi feel because flying was a normal thing for all of them. Surely enough, I’m the first human being to be turned into a pony that has wings.

I made it to the top, we did not make much progress; but with Twilight still moving, I could tell this needed to be quick.

I basically run towards a window to look outside, it was all the same. Some ponies here and there, some ponies depressed and some ponies happy.

Thunder caught my attention and I looked to the horizon, the protection bubble that was making a serene background from the bitter cold was fluctuating back and forth. Surely enough this was a valid thing to point out that we NEED to hurry. I start my way to get to the passage.

“Twilight! It’s bad, WE NEED TO HURRY!” no response, maybe I needed to fucking scream that.

“TWILIGHT! WE NEED TO HURRY!” no response, and I was not hearing hoof steps [heh].

“I’m coming down there!” I holler out, preparing my wings for free fall towards the bottom, the stairs were far enough, I think.

I walk out of the edge and let my self free fall, as I try to adjust my wings to just place drag on the falling speed. I wouldn’t want to be falling at terminal velocity wouldn’t I?

Flapping the wings would be too risky, so I decide against it; however, seeing as I was basically falling at terminal velocity, I needed to improvise. I needed to improvise a landing.

I start to morph my wings in the way I prevented Rainbow Dash’s death, voil-

“AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!” the landing interrupted me, earning a bellow of pain from me.

I stumble to stand up and notice that my wing took damage, it didn’t look bad. I just noticed that I hit a very, very, very sensitive spot.

More importantly, “Twilight, there you are! You weren’t answering, so,” she was still ignoring me, just staring into a part of a wall that was framed by a door frame.

I approach the door, “Yo, Twilight, you ok?”

I start shaking her, this got her out of her trance. It looked like she was having it pretty rough in her own head, there were tears and she was holding on to her temples like there was that really bad headache.

“What?” Twilight stuttered, “What happened?”

“You were staring at that wall,” I deadpanned, staring into said wall, what was so special about it?

“NO! Don’t look into it!” Twilight shook my head away from the door frame, “It brings out your worst fears!”

“Worst fears? The magic must be getting you high,” I sigh in relief, nothing was entirely wrong right?

“What do you mean ‘getting high’?”

I dismiss that with a hoof, “Forget about it. What did you see?”

“My worst fears,” Twilight looked at the ground like it was horrible remembering it.

“What were they?” I brought my face closer with an intrigued face.

“I don’t want to say,” she shook her head.

I continued to stare at her with the same distance, I could tell she was feeling my stare. And she was losing it.

Her head shot up and, “I failed my task and I was no longer Celestia’s student! Happy?!”

I went into a snickering fit, “Was being studious really all this girl cared about? Oh well,” I thought to myself.

“What in Equestria is so funny?! That was not a laughing matter!” Twilight stomped her hoof.

When I stopped laughing to myself, I straightened myself to see that she was staring at me.

“What?” I look with a poker face that ‘for-chan’ site had a lot of; the internet was a magical place, dating from the 1998. May seem like just decades ago, but a lot of people thought of it to be stupid that an old man like me was looking at this stuff, my sister introduced me to the most hilarious ‘rage-comics’ I’ve ever seen. Made me feel seventy years younger.

“Look at the door,” she firmly said, I complied. Worriedly.

“Uh huh?” I was staring at the door.

I look back at Twilight who was glaring at me.

“What?!” I cried out, I thought she was going to kill me.

She shook her head and sighed, “I’ll look into it later. You were not affected by the dark magic.”

Hearing this made me feel like I heard I was immune to the infection. I was not immune to the infection.

Hoping to change her subject, “Let’s get this door open, what do you have to do to not get affected by the dark magic?”

Twilight looked like she was figuring something out, “Some kind of counter... Oh, I know!”

White and bright light was charging from her horn... Light magic? I saw a lot of things on the internet after my sister introduced me to the wonders and corruption of the internet.

The part of the wall that was framed by the door started opening.

“That does not make any fucking sense, we’re in a damned basement,” I deadpanned towards the daylight.

Twilight looked at me, “Magic can do many things,” she looked at me again with an intrigued face, “What does ‘fucking’ mean?”

I looked at her with my poker face, the very same poker face when I explained the birds and the bees with Sarah.

“It’s something I use when I’m angry, or anything I use,” I approached her and put a hoof on her shoulder, “That word stays down here, you hear me?”

She complied as the door was completely open, “Good, now let’s se-”

I was interrupted by the unmistakable bunch of fabric as the chibi... How the hell did it get here?

I approach the doll.

“What is it, Flame?” I ignore her as I lifted it up, it was the authentic chibi my sister gave me. The very same question keeps popping my head: WHY IS IT HERE!?

I continue staring at it until.

“FLAME!”

I cover my ears and shake my head at the instant headache from that scream.

“WHAT?!” I appropriately scream back.

“You were staring at blank space! Are you going to be ok?”

It wasn’t real... It wasn’t real... It wasn’t fucking real... I need to finish this.

“Let’s just go,” I dismiss with a hoof and look up, “We’re supposed to get up there?”

Twilight sighed in disappointment, either to me ignoring her questions or more stairs.

I heard her mutter to herself, “Stairs.”

“I’ll meet you up there,” I prepared my wings.

“Wait! What about me?”

“I’m not confident in my abilities of flying to carry a woman just yet. Besides, you’re a unicorn, you’ll figure something out with your ingenuity!” I argued defensively, then I took off.

“MIDNIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHT!” she called after me as I flew, I chuckled at this.

Flying straight up sure was a challenge, and I was almost there as some time past flying.

“MIDNIGHT!”

“Waoh! Twilight, I knew you’d figure something out!”

“Not with your help!” she was sliding on her hoofs upside down on the flat part of the stairs, she used magic to decrease friction with her hooves? Impressive.

“Keep it up! We’re almost there!” I called out to her, she nodded in return.

We WERE almost there, aaaaaaaannnnd we made it.

“That was one hell of a work out, huh?” I panted, as my wings took some energy out of me.

Twilight just glared at me, I let my head down to get some energy back.

“So where is this crystal heart?”

“There,” Twilight said in awe as she pointed with a hoof, “C’mon! Let’s get to it!”

“Twilight, wait!” I called out to her, “IT’S A TRAP!”

Getting to the heart, she was still safe, was I wro-

And a lot of thorns came out of nowhere, great.

“IT’S A TRAP!” Twilight exclaimed, I basically face-hoofed.

“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that,” I mutter to myself.

“Is there anyway I could help?!” I said through the thorns.

“No!” there was a pause, “Wait! Yes!”

Another pause.

“What is it, woman?!”

“GET THE HEART!” I saw her fiddling her forelegs to move that heart, “HERE! Get it to the bottom! You’ll see the generator, place it there and this dark magic will dissipate!”

“You sure!?”

“No!” she yelled back.

I catch the heart, it was pretty light; which was pretty strange, but I had no time to question about it for the world of the crystal ponies already is becoming reduced to the bitter cold. I needed to hurry.

I kinda remember where this thing is. At the bottom of the palace, it looked like there were two cones aimed at each other perfectly vertical, that had to be it.

“I’ll be back!” I yelled towards her, and prepared to dive off the window. This was going to be one of those moments where I save the day in blazing glory, I was ready... I think.

Dropping down was pretty scary at first, we were pretty high. The architecture of this damned empire was going to have a piece of my mind.

There was enough distance between me and ground to start picking up speed, it would be pretty simple to just drop down and guide that momentum circling the entire palace right?

The world just went ‘NOPE.AVI’ and let the winds come at me, making difficult turn into an understatement of understatements. The cold winds in my eyes and trying to hold on to the crystal heart.

I heard a roar right behind me, I look back and see that black cloud. Some of it forming into a pony’s head: Sombra?

“GIVE ME THE HEART!” it bellowed after me, this was the bad guy I was supposed to keep the heart from so I’ll keep it away from him.

“FLAME!” I heard a voice in front of me, so I turned my head forward.

“CADENCE?!” then something pierced through me, it made a sharp pain that was worse than being hit by a MAG round.

“So this is what it feels like to get shot through the stomach?” I thought to myself, grinding my teeth trying to hold on to the now bloody crystal heart, I grunt in pain as I was caught by Cadence.

“Hold on!”

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!” I heard the disgusting voice of the tyrant.

My vision became blurry, most likely because of the blood I was losing by velocity and the wound. I could tell; however, that the crystal heart was in good hands.

“THE CRYSTAL HEART! IS MINE!” the tyrant yelled again.

Those good hands... Hooves were not going to last as I saw Sombra prepare another strike of magic, I prepared for that by getting my machete out of my sheath with my telekinesis.

I was preparing to shoot that machete like when I placed Dead Space, my friends thought I had no taste in gaming, but never mind that. Aiming the machete at sombra was still pretty difficult as flying was also difficult for Cadence, but were were almost there.

“Today,” I notice that we were steady, and took the opportunity, “You lose.”

His magic went out the same time as my machete, at least I was sure her was going to die by my machete... I think.

I jump from Cadence, leaving the heart on her hair.

She snapped her head back, “FLAME, NO!”

Protecting a princess felt like something almost as good as doing something in a blaze of glory, the reason that is is because I was going to die, and not brag about it. I was able to say something really fast:

“I REGRET NOTHING!” I bellowed with all my might as that magic strike hit me again, right in the chest. Make that two MAG rounds I know the feeling of being pierced by, it is fucking painful.

As I was falling I thought about what I had done. Whether it be good or ba-

“I got ya!” Rainbow Dash... Caught me, I’ll think about that shit later, right now, I’m dying on a rainbow maned egotistic female pony. All in a day’s work.

My vision and hearing all became dark, I was losin’ it, and I was losin’ it fast.

I hear the muffled voices of Twilight... And Cadence... And others.

“He will be alright, right?” I heard twilight ask in a pleading voice.

Silence... News must be grim.

“But I tried to catch him!” I heard Rainbow Dash.

“I’m sorry,” Cadence voice came to my ears.

I tried to open my eyes, then I noticed that Twilight took notice of this.

“He’s awake! Oh thank Celestia he’s awake!” Twilight came to me with a relieved face.

“You’re going to make it, Midnight, I promise!” Rainbow Dash said, “I WAS the one who caught you!”

I saw Twilight glare at her, and this earned a little chuckled from me, “You’re a bad liar, Dashie.”

I never thought I would be the one to say that.

“You’re assignment is complete, how do you feel, Twilight?” I said weakly, trying to lighten the mood.

“What? That’s all you cared about?!”

“Of course it was,” I coughed a little blood, “It was what YOU cared about, right?”

She looked taken back from what I said, then I closed my eyes.

“Remember when I said, ‘I’ll have a smile on my face at the end of this’?”

I assumed she nodded, so I let a smile on my face as I could feel the blood streaming from my mouth.

“Midnight,” I felt shaking... Twilight.

“Midnight?” she was becoming choked up.

“Midnight!” it’s a real shame she has to witness death.

“MIDNIGHT!” I could hear sobbing, like she was saying she could have done more but some part of her that she thought she could control stopped her. I couldn't blame her, anyone could feel that way, and lose themselves. In all honesty I blame myself, I’m going to die... For real.

I was slowly losing consciousness as I felt her head rest on my chest sobbing into my coat.

“So this is how it ends?”

Stranger on a Stranger World

That's right folks! The second story on this epic journey has arrived

http://www.fimfiction.net/story/113262/stranger-on-a-stranger-world

Thank you all for giving time to read this stuff, y'all are the best!

TEASER

"You ready?" Ditto asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be," the subordinate responded.

"That was not your attitude when you just came to this world," she glared, "You're very important to me, you're another changeling that is not attached to any queen, don't you feel anything about that?"

He shrugged, "I can care less, let's just get to him. If he's my friend, he might know something about how we BOTH got here."

Ditto knew he was talking about him and that strange Pegasus.

"If this friend of yours really knows you, then you need to act quick about it," Ditto sighed, "How did you find him again and how I didn't?"

He shrugged, "I don't know, I just notice something chemically interesting about him if that makes any sense."

Ditto groaned, "Please don't tell me you have a thing about stallions."

"NO! I'm not HOMOSEXUAL! That's sick, that's just rude!"

Ditto chuckled, "Now that was funny."

She looked into the landscape that was fluctuating in a bubble, "We'll shall we?"

"Ladies first," he mocked.

"Lady? You must be thinking of someone else, Stranger..."