I stood in the burning remains of the camp. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and ozone. The battle didn't last very long, hour, hour and a half at most. I watched as they loaded Misty onto a medical vertabuck to fly her back to the Victorious. I watched as Quick argued with the medics telling him he couldn't go with her.

I walked up to one of the medics arguing with him. “Let him go, generals orders.” I lied. I didn't give a shit. They wouldn't ask the general if he gave that order over something like that anyways.

Quick climbed aboard the vertabuck and a few moments later it lifted off into the air and flew away.

Dozens of troops milled about the wreckage, searching for any surviving friends or enemies. It was the after-battle mop up.

A shot rang out from a few feet away.

I turned just in time to get a glimpse of the injured griffin aiming for me, a second before he was disintegrated by red beams of energy. At this point I just didn't give a shit.

The battle, though lasting no more than an hour and a half, seemed as if it lasted for days.

“Thunder get your ass aboard!” I heard Flurrys voice call out from a vertabuck preparing for takeoff.

I turned and walked towards it. Boarding it like a robot, zero emotion, of any kind.

I took the last seat as it began to lift into the air away from the charred area that used to be a camp.

I sat there, thinking about the past hour, letting it replay in my mind like a film.

“I bagged me at least four birds!” I heard one soldier boast to another.

“Nice. I got three.” He responded, less ecstatic than his friend.

Me? I couldn't even remember how many I had killed today. The three in the tunnels, the cave entrance guard, the ten sleeping griffins. After that it was all a blurr. It was like breathing, or blinking, you did it so often you almost seem to forget you're doing it.

“Thunder? Thunder! Snap out of it.” Flurry gave me a nudge to get my attention.

“Yes sir?” I asked.

“First of all, you look like shit.” He gave a small chuckle. I didn't hold it against him. He didn't know what I went through or what I did. “Anyways, General Lightning Arc wants to talk to you after you get cleaned up and have some chow.”

I nodded in compliance. He wanted an after action briefing. I began preparing what parts I’d tell him and what I planned to take to the grave.

*** *** ***

Once we landed back on the Victorious I made my way to my rack and threw my armor in my locker. I’d clean it later.

Next I made my way to the showers. Before I stepped under the water, I noticed myself in the mirror. My coat had blotches and streaks of color matching my yes. My mane was matted with it too. I hadn't noticed before, but my face was covered in blood. None of it mine. I wondered how much of it belonged to certain griffins, but ultimately gave up at the futile effort. I stepped under the steady, warm, fall of water, letting it wash away some of the blood, sweat, and dirt. I removed the soap from around my neck that II picked up from my locker and did my best to scrub away the sin.

After I finished with bathing I made my way to the medbay. I got my mouth patched up with a simple healing potion. It almost looked like nothing had ever happened except for a faint scar. Finally I made for the generals office. I skipped the chow hall, I didn't think I could stomach anything now anyways.

I arrived and stopped a few inches from the door and knocked. “Come in.” I heard his voice call from behind the door.

I opened the door, stepped inside, and let the door swing shut on its own.

“You wanted to see me sir?” I asked.

“Yes sergeant, I did. Have a seat.” He motioned with a hoof to the lounger in front of his desk. After I took my seat he began. “I want to know what happened Thunder.” He said plainly.

I sat there for a moment, then began. “I awoke in a cave. A dungeon of somesort. Quick was in there with me. So was Lieutenant Gale and five other troops. Gale and the five were killed before I could free myself from my bindings. I got free and killed General Whiplash.”

“You killed one of their commanding officers?” The general asked intrigued

“I assume sir. They were ordered to take us to his chamber, and thats where we awoke.” I gave him.

“Go on.” he said.

“Total the general killed twelve men.”

*** *** ***

I told the general what happened, leaving out me killing ten sleeping soldiers and how they were killing the mares in the tunnels.

“Well sergeant. Im sorry you had to witness such acts, but you did outstanding in the line of duty.” He tried to give me that as comfort, I felt. “I’m personally recommending your whole unit for a comendation.”

Its funny, I’d always wanted the medals and valor, but at this point I just didn't give a fuck.

“Thank you sir. What are we going to do about Rod?” I asked.

“Well, we're listing him as MIA until something comes up.” He told me. I was going to find him, I would die trying. “Thunder. There is one more thing I’d like to ask you. A favor.”

What could he possibly want from me now?

“We took a prisoner. We believe he’s a high ranker in their organization. I’d like you to interrogate him.” He looked me straight in the eyes the entire time he said that.

“Lead me to him sir.” I said without thinking of how to reply. I didn’t want to look at a griffin, let alone sit in a room and talk to him, but something answered for me.

The general hit a button on his intercom. “Captain, please take Sergeant Thunder to meet our guest.”

The door behind me opened after a few seconds and Captain Flurry stood there waiting for me.

I stood up and gave a salute to the general, which was returned, and left.

*** *** ***

After a short walk from the logistics department to the corrections wing, we came to a door beside another door. I guessed one led to the interrogation room and the other to an observation room with a one way window. He unlocked the door on the left and my theories were confirmed. The griffin sitting in the chair across from the table I had never seen before. I heard the door lock behind me and I took my seat. I saw his talons had been filed down so he couldn't do much damage with them. And his arms were bound with a zip tie.

I had a piece of paper with questions to ask him. “Name and rank?” I asked flatly. I didnt want to put up with any griffins shit right now.

Silence.

“Oh for fucks sake, name and rank?” I repeated myself.

“Do I know you?” He asked. That scratchy voice ringing in my ears and my eyes widening. “Ah, now you remember.” he said with a smug smirk. “I quite enjoyed watching the boys have fun with your female troops...” Wrong choice of words mother fucker.

Real calmly I nodded, as if not caring. Suddenly, I swung towards the door and lodged the chair under the knob; that would buy me some time. I walked over to him, and without a second thought, drove my hoof into his throat.

He hit the floor gasping for air and gagging at the sudden jab.

I moved around the chair. “What was that mother fucker?! You son of a mule!” I began stomping on him, hoping to break something. I wanted this to be painful.

By now I could hear the hooves against the door, trying to break in. I had a few more seconds left. A few seconds I wouldn’t waste. I grabbed his wing and held it outstretched. He tried to kick me to get me away but it didn't do more than annoy me.

I drove my hoof right into the joint of his wing, feeling and hearing an audible ‘pop’. He squawked in agony as the chair broke and the door was thrown open. Two MPs came storming in and tackled me into a wall. I didn't resist, but I kept screaming at the bird. “You’re dead you son of a mule! I swear to celestia! I WILL KILL YOU!” I screamed as they dragged me out of the room.

They took me to another room down the hall and sat me in a chair. They left and a few seconds later Captain Flurry came in. He sat down next to me and took his glasses off. His eyes were pink, just like his mane. I had to do my best not to laugh.

“Thunder, what the hell was that?” He asked.

I took a deep breath. “I lost my shit captain. The shit I saw down there. The shit he did.” The anger dripped from my words like venom.

He nodded a bit and stood up. “Are you cool now?”

I nodded, it wasn't a complete lie.

“Then get out of here. Don’t worry about it. I’ll say the bastard attacked you. Go get some sleep Thunder.” He sounded like he generally understood what I went through, but that was impossible. Nothing like these crimes could have been committed in the Enclave.

I stood and saluted the captain, then made my way out.

*** *** ***

The captain told me to get some sleep. But I couldn't, so I went to the next best place to forget the days events. The Victorious's bar. If I couldn't sleep away my thoughts, I could drown them in whiskey.

I entered and headed straight for the bar.

As I neared I noticed a familiar large pegasus. I figured Quick would be with Misty, but I don't blame him for turning up here. I took a seat next to him. He was hunched forward over his drink. A steely, sunken look on his face.

“A shot of Wild P, please.” I ordered as I sat there, looking forward. All pride aside, I was scared to know how bad she was.

“Hows it goin’ Quick?” I asked as my drink arrived. I picked it up in between my hooves.

“Fuck off…” he said quietly as I downed my drink.

“What?” I asked, not sure if I heard him correctly.

“I said fuck off!” He said, his voice raised, as he turned to face me.

I pulled back a bit from him suddenly turning on me like that.

“Quick, listen I’m here if you-”

I was cut short by him smashing his beer bottle on the counter, sending glass and beer all over the bar and floor.

“SHE NEEDED YOU DAMN IT! Why didn’t you get there in time!” He exploded on me.

I backed out of my seat. “Quick just calmed down! What are you talking about?”

The only answer I got was a bar stool thrown at me. I ducked just in time to let it sail overhead and explode against the wall.

Before I could recover he brought a hoof down onto my back, sending me sprawling on the floor. I tried to regain the breath I had just lost, but I was yanked into the air, and thrown across the room. I landed on a table, going right through it.

Damn he’s strong! I thought as I scrambled to my hooves. He wasn't on me quite yet, so I had a few seconds to ready myself. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I had to stop him.

As he came barreling at me I sidestepped out of his way and brought my hoof under him, right into his sternum.

I heard him wheeze as the breath left him from the hit.

As he fell to the floor, he began to do something I hadn’t expected. He began to cry. He said something inaudible through his blubbering.

I kneeled down next to him. “Quick, what happened?”

He looked up at me, tears of agony in his eyes, and said, “They raped her sarge! Those bastards raped her!” He bowed his head and kept crying. I sat there, awestruck to the fact. It was hard to believe such monsters could exist to do such things. Well, not after today.

I did the only thing I could do. I held him. I held him for what felt like hours until he finally stopped crying.

*** *** ***

After having a talk with the barmare, me and Quick left the bar, our wallets empty from some generous tipping.

We went back to our barracks, and from there went to our separate bunks. We both needed the sleep after this particularly emotionally stressful day.

I couldn't sleep just yet. I had to scrub my armor clean of all the blood im sure it was caked in. I opened my locker and pulled out a bucket for just the occasion and went to the bathrooms to fill it.

I got back and set it down next to my locker. I pulled out the light armor, and sure enough, covered in it. I didn't bother thinking about whose blood it was. I simply cleaned it all off. I removed the knife from it and removed it from it sheath.

I carefully cleaned the blade and mouth piece. Admiring the fine steel blade. It was black with a straight edge, and 7 inches long.

Next, I cleaned off its sheath that wasn’t spared from spurts of blood. Once it was clean I could read what was on it. ‘Keigh Bar.’

I slid the blade back into the sheath, and attached it back onto my armor. I placed the whole thing in my locker and shut it.

I decided i’d dump the water in the morning, I needed to sleep. I slid the bucket under my bunk, then crawled up under the sheets. My eyes lids were growing heavy. Even though I feared what thoughts would plague my dreams, I still greeted sleep with open, tired arms.

Author's Note

Id like to thank Silver String (aka JacksonKnight on deviantart.com) for taking the time to be my editor, and i'd also like to thank Arial Flux for such great feedback!