Blacklight Retribution: Ondra's Fall

“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.